The Perfect Snow

This was the scene out our front door this morning.

And the backyard.
It was THE perfect snow. What's the perfect snow, you ask? Here are the qualifications:

1) not too little, not too much. about 2-6".

2) must show up on the weekend, when there are no plans to go anywhere.

3) cannot bring along its friends Rain, Sleet, and Ice.

4) has to melt within 3 days.

Officially, we got 5" in the backyard and 6" in the front. (Byron was very scientific about his measurements.) Don't know if we'll take the kids out to play, yet. We just don't get enough snow here to justify buying a new snowsuit and boots every year so the kids wouldn't be able to play long anyway. We're having plenty of fun inside though.

I love all the light we get in our south facing dining room from the sun reflecting off the snow.

Cincinnati Chili Dogs

Ok, I admit it. Chili dogs are pretty gross to look at, aren't they? But my husband recently requested them for his birthday dinner, and in this house we always honor birthday dinner requests. This is a recipe I adapted from allrecipes.com. This chili is Cincinnati style which means it's just meat, tomato sauce and spices. It's an acquired taste for some people, but that's ok, we love it and hope you will give it a try.

Cincinnati Chili Dogs

(adapted from allrecipes.com Cincinnati Chili I)

3 Cups beef broth

2 lbs. ground beef (do not brown)

1/4 C chili powder

1 t cinnamon

1 t cumin

1/2 t onion powder

1/2 t salt

1/4 t garlic powder

1/4 t allspice

1/4 ground cloves

1 (15 oz.) can tomato sauce

2 T cider vinegar

1 bay leaf

1 oz. unsweetened (baking) chocolate

8 hot dogs

8 hot dog buns

yellow prepared mustard

chopped raw onion

shredded cheddar cheese

hot sauce (optional)

Mix first 12 ingredients (beef broth through vinegar) in a medium pot. Stir vigorously until meat has fully broken up, almost into a paste-like consistency. Bring to a boil then add bay leaf and chocolate. Stir until chocolate melts. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, two hours or until desired consistency, stirring occasionally.

Warm hot dogs and place in buns. Top with mustard, chopped onion, chili, cheddar cheese and hot sauce.

This chili can also be served over hot cooked spaghetti and topped with shredded cheddar.

On Blogging...

I hate that it's been so long since I last posted. I never thought that going back to work full time would mean giving up my blog and cooking. But that's kind of what's happened. It's rare that I cook a meal from scratch at home anymore. And when I do, I'm too tired to post a picture and recipe. I am hopeful that when things here settle down and become more routine I can get back to doing those things I love. I have managed to start a new quilt this year (and no, I haven't even finished Leah's) but I can't tell you about it now because it's a surprise!

Even though I'm not posting as often, I still enjoy reading the blogs my friends and family keep. Here are my kiddos looking at pictures of their cousin Asher, on my sister-in-law, Kate's blog.

Leah is imitating Asher in this pic, who has just learned how to stick out his tongue.

Christmas 2009

Some pics from Christmas...

Brendan still has a thing for bows.

Maddie looked so cute in her little pig-tails.
Leah and Maddie had their first tea party.
Grumps taking it all in.

Leah playing Nana's new Wii with Mommy. (Note: Mario Kart makes me queasy.)
It was a Thomas the Train Christmas for Brendan. (My friend Karen gave me this sweatshirt as a hand-me-down which I wrapped up and passed off as a Santa gift. Tough economic times require creative gift giving. Thanks, Karen.)

He got Bertie the Bus from Nana and Grumps, which he promptly lost inside Grumps' sub-woofer. Bye-bye Bertie.

Leah refers to each Disney princess as "Tinkerbell". I think she's a little confused. Santa Nana brought her a "Tinkerbell" scooter.

Great times except I came down with a stomach virus Saturday night and missed the Christmas celebration with Byron's side of the family. To top it off, we got stranded on the way home by bad road conditions and had to take refuge in a bed and breakfast. The nice lady working at the inn hid her horror well when she saw us trudge in with 2 very wound up three year olds, one of whom had wet their pants in the car. And I looked like you-know-what after being up sick all night, wearing my pajamas, with no make-up on. She even gave us a discount on the the room rate. Guess she was our very own Christmas angel.

Getting Ready For Christmas

Ok, so this is not the best picture of the kids with Santa but at least they weren't crying.

It was nice of a neighborhood group to host this free visit-with-Santa event. They had this oversized Nativity scene set up that Brendan became fascinated with.

He had quite the animated, though one-sided, conversation with one of the wise men.
Here is Leah posing in front of our tree right before we left for their pre-school Christmas program. She loves this Christmas outfit Grandma bought for her, even insisted on sleeping in it (shoes and all) that night. Thanks for the tights, Nana.
Brendan looked very handsome as well, but could not be persuaded to smile for the camera.
This gingerbread man was a prop in Brendan's program. Leah likes to put it on and say she's wearing "people".
Brendan made this for me at pre-school. I think it's supposed to be a reindeer. What ever it was, it was delicious. Thanks, buddy.
I must confess, however, Edy's makes my favorite Christmas treat.
This has nothing to do with Christmas. I just happen to love this pic of Leah with her Nana.

Crazy Get-ups

You Want What For Christmas?

Leah wants Santa to bring her an ipod for Christmas. The grow up so fast, don't they? I swear she went straight from nursery rhymes to Jack White. Rock on, Leah.