Rare update...
Aug. 6th, 2006 04:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sublimatedangelYeesh. I've been terribly hermit-y and unproductive this summer. Sorry about that! Seriously, no updates for almost a month? That's not good.
So, what's been happening? Umm, well, there was the flurry of family birthdays, which always makes July a little crazy. Cassie and Mick hosted this year's party at their new place, which is incredibly huge and very nice. I dragged my mom down with us, which was good because Nate got a migraine halfway through the party and had to get away. I, you know... love my in-laws and everything, but they can be a bit... much. So it was good to have my mom there to chat with and stuff. Helena (Nate's stepsister) pretty much isolated herself and ignored us completely :( I don't know if she hates us or what (she avoided us at the previous family togetherness thing too) so that's kind of blah. I mean, we're the cool freaky relatives, you know? We're the best part of the step-family! But it's her call. Anyhow, got lots of good gifties and it was a nice party even taking the above into consideration. Yes. That was last Saturday.
Sunday we went over to the Tom-and-Leslay's house for a fun little party. A few new faces, but mostly people we've met at other Tom-and-Leslay events. A lot of them are friends from the dog park, and the toddler-friendly pups were all invited as well. Aww, they were just a super sweet bunch :) And a ton of yummy food! Nate had made up some homemade ice cream (strawberry/blueberry combo and also chocolate w/toffee) and it was delicious. If I'd realized how many people were coming, I might have made something decadent as well, but I suppose I don't have to use every social engagement as a chance to show off :P Just most of them!
What else? The new lawn we put in is doing quite well. Alex really loves to play in the sprinklers when they are on. He's such the cutest thing. He turns two later this month, which is kind of exciting and bittersweet and such. We have seen a few full-fledged "terrible twos" tantrums, but thankfully only a few. He's getting old enough that we need to start being careful of how much we spoil him... no fun for any of us, but he does need to know that he won't always get his way, and better to learn now than try to fix the bratty behavior later. He does make a frowny face when he doesn't get his way... I know I shouldn't laugh, but I can't help it! It's just so funny to see a two-year-old trying to look stern & solemn & disapproving. He's like, "Mommy, I'm very disappointed in you for taking away your car keys. I want you to go to your room and think about what you've done." Cracks me up every time (and no, he doesn't get the keys back.) He's slowly adding more words to his vocabulary. Unfortunutely, "bubbles" has become his generic way of saying "please gimme". It used to actually refer to "please blow bubbles", but then began referring to wanting other stuff on the shelf next to the bubbles, and so on. Enh, it'll pass, and in the meantime it's kind of cute. I just say the correct words as well.
We've gotten back into our nice summer weather (as compared to the suffocatingly hot part) so it's been beautiful outside. Nate did a great job getting the house super-clean on Friday night (I took the baby out for a few hours so he wouldn't be a hindrance) so it's beautiful inside too :) Of course, with a toddler, "perfectly clean" doesn't last very long, but we'll enjoy and extend it as long as we can. This weekend has been pretty good. My mom watched Alex overnight on Saturday so we could go out with our friends Mike & Shannon. Nate won a radio contest for four tickets to Tommy T's, which is a (chain?) comedy club that just opened up in Pleasanton (neighboring town). They do a full service restaurant, which was kind of nice.... other clubs we've gone to have just been drinks-only or occasionally appetizers. Food was a bit overpriced (of course) but pretty good, the waitress was wonderful, and the comics very funny. All in all, a great time and I think we might go back again sometime. Afterwards, we came back to our house for cards and conversation. Girls kicked the boys' butts, of course, because we rock like that :D and we were all in hysterics at one point. I think that's what I miss the most about socializing... I still love my friends who have moved far away, and we keep in touch. The love and friendship is still there. But there's just something about being together and laughing that just can't quite be replicated.
Currently waiting for a new cheesecake to be ready to come out of the oven. We were hoping for dinner guests but they're unable to make it :( Nate's also making mesquite-smoked chicken with thyme, which should be very yummy. Just got the smoker a couple weeks back, because ya know... we do love to grill and stuff, and yumm, smoked meat. Anyhow, over the years I'd managed to destroy all my cheap springform pans and so haven't been able to make cheesecake for a while. That's just a tragedy! But I got new ones for my birthday! Cheesecake!! Anyhow, I've been thinking a chocolate-covered-cherry cheesecake would be pretty fabulous, with cordial cherries crushed up inside and on top for decor, you know? Maybe some extra cherry extract in the mix. But I haven't really made chocolate cheesecakes in the past, so today is just a basic chocolate one (off epicurious.com, bien sur) to see how it turns out and if I think I can tinker with it. Should still be very very nummy. I might whip up some flavored whipped cream too (have extra whipping cream) but we will see.
Our next major house project is to tear down & rebuild the workshop out back. Major major project, but it needs to be done, badly. I think some of the guys have commited to coming and helping with that, so I'll probably just stay out of the way. Now that the lawns are done, I can work on the rest of the landscaping, too. We could still get another hot spell, so I probably won't do much of the actual planting until we're closer to autumn, but I can start choosing what I want to go where. I know that I do want at least a few more rosebushes, and I've been thinking about maybe spray-roses as well as the usual hybrid teas.
Okay, enough babble? At least for the moment. I'm sure I've forgotten lots of stuff, but you know... every little bit counts.
So, what's been happening? Umm, well, there was the flurry of family birthdays, which always makes July a little crazy. Cassie and Mick hosted this year's party at their new place, which is incredibly huge and very nice. I dragged my mom down with us, which was good because Nate got a migraine halfway through the party and had to get away. I, you know... love my in-laws and everything, but they can be a bit... much. So it was good to have my mom there to chat with and stuff. Helena (Nate's stepsister) pretty much isolated herself and ignored us completely :( I don't know if she hates us or what (she avoided us at the previous family togetherness thing too) so that's kind of blah. I mean, we're the cool freaky relatives, you know? We're the best part of the step-family! But it's her call. Anyhow, got lots of good gifties and it was a nice party even taking the above into consideration. Yes. That was last Saturday.
Sunday we went over to the Tom-and-Leslay's house for a fun little party. A few new faces, but mostly people we've met at other Tom-and-Leslay events. A lot of them are friends from the dog park, and the toddler-friendly pups were all invited as well. Aww, they were just a super sweet bunch :) And a ton of yummy food! Nate had made up some homemade ice cream (strawberry/blueberry combo and also chocolate w/toffee) and it was delicious. If I'd realized how many people were coming, I might have made something decadent as well, but I suppose I don't have to use every social engagement as a chance to show off :P Just most of them!
What else? The new lawn we put in is doing quite well. Alex really loves to play in the sprinklers when they are on. He's such the cutest thing. He turns two later this month, which is kind of exciting and bittersweet and such. We have seen a few full-fledged "terrible twos" tantrums, but thankfully only a few. He's getting old enough that we need to start being careful of how much we spoil him... no fun for any of us, but he does need to know that he won't always get his way, and better to learn now than try to fix the bratty behavior later. He does make a frowny face when he doesn't get his way... I know I shouldn't laugh, but I can't help it! It's just so funny to see a two-year-old trying to look stern & solemn & disapproving. He's like, "Mommy, I'm very disappointed in you for taking away your car keys. I want you to go to your room and think about what you've done." Cracks me up every time (and no, he doesn't get the keys back.) He's slowly adding more words to his vocabulary. Unfortunutely, "bubbles" has become his generic way of saying "please gimme". It used to actually refer to "please blow bubbles", but then began referring to wanting other stuff on the shelf next to the bubbles, and so on. Enh, it'll pass, and in the meantime it's kind of cute. I just say the correct words as well.
We've gotten back into our nice summer weather (as compared to the suffocatingly hot part) so it's been beautiful outside. Nate did a great job getting the house super-clean on Friday night (I took the baby out for a few hours so he wouldn't be a hindrance) so it's beautiful inside too :) Of course, with a toddler, "perfectly clean" doesn't last very long, but we'll enjoy and extend it as long as we can. This weekend has been pretty good. My mom watched Alex overnight on Saturday so we could go out with our friends Mike & Shannon. Nate won a radio contest for four tickets to Tommy T's, which is a (chain?) comedy club that just opened up in Pleasanton (neighboring town). They do a full service restaurant, which was kind of nice.... other clubs we've gone to have just been drinks-only or occasionally appetizers. Food was a bit overpriced (of course) but pretty good, the waitress was wonderful, and the comics very funny. All in all, a great time and I think we might go back again sometime. Afterwards, we came back to our house for cards and conversation. Girls kicked the boys' butts, of course, because we rock like that :D and we were all in hysterics at one point. I think that's what I miss the most about socializing... I still love my friends who have moved far away, and we keep in touch. The love and friendship is still there. But there's just something about being together and laughing that just can't quite be replicated.
Currently waiting for a new cheesecake to be ready to come out of the oven. We were hoping for dinner guests but they're unable to make it :( Nate's also making mesquite-smoked chicken with thyme, which should be very yummy. Just got the smoker a couple weeks back, because ya know... we do love to grill and stuff, and yumm, smoked meat. Anyhow, over the years I'd managed to destroy all my cheap springform pans and so haven't been able to make cheesecake for a while. That's just a tragedy! But I got new ones for my birthday! Cheesecake!! Anyhow, I've been thinking a chocolate-covered-cherry cheesecake would be pretty fabulous, with cordial cherries crushed up inside and on top for decor, you know? Maybe some extra cherry extract in the mix. But I haven't really made chocolate cheesecakes in the past, so today is just a basic chocolate one (off epicurious.com, bien sur) to see how it turns out and if I think I can tinker with it. Should still be very very nummy. I might whip up some flavored whipped cream too (have extra whipping cream) but we will see.
Our next major house project is to tear down & rebuild the workshop out back. Major major project, but it needs to be done, badly. I think some of the guys have commited to coming and helping with that, so I'll probably just stay out of the way. Now that the lawns are done, I can work on the rest of the landscaping, too. We could still get another hot spell, so I probably won't do much of the actual planting until we're closer to autumn, but I can start choosing what I want to go where. I know that I do want at least a few more rosebushes, and I've been thinking about maybe spray-roses as well as the usual hybrid teas.
Okay, enough babble? At least for the moment. I'm sure I've forgotten lots of stuff, but you know... every little bit counts.
