#334 - lessons from grandpa

grandpa telling Baby O a bedtime story

Lessons Baby O learned from Grandpa
how to hug tightly
how to drink out of a water bottle
how to "caw" like a bird
how to build a snowman

#333 - Olympics

Ok, I couldn't let the Olympics pass without reflecting back on one of the coolest work experiences I've ever had.

This will be a long, wordy post (so feel free to click away now) but I want to remember this. And remember some other memories I have of the past...so this may be a little random and strange. A free flow of my thoughts...you've been warned.

For the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City I had the opportunity to work (in television) for the figure skating competitions.
That's me above (not the one on the ice, but the one filming). Can you guess who I am filming?

Wow, these pictures are bad...wish I would have had a better camera back then.

My job was to film all the figure skating practices - seriously a dream come true.

How much of a dream, you ask? Well, I remember when I was 10 years old, I took my little brother Brian outside in the snow and spun around like we were pairs figure skaters. Poor thing. I had just watched the Russian pair figure skaters win Gold and I thought my baby brother could be my skating partner...I think he was only 2...so I had to do the lifting. Oh, I was a strange child. Sorry Brian! Hope I didn't scar you!

Ok, back to the 2002 Olympics...

Luckily my cousin Lindsay let me stay at her place, so my commute wasn't that bad....huge thanks!

Also, my cousin Michelle stayed there with me...that was fun! She was working as a reporter up in Park City for the Olympics.

I worked 16 hour days (sometimes).

Up at 5:15am and not home until midnight.
I didn't have a cell phone...how did I survive without one?

I would call from pay phones to get in touch with people...do pay phones even exist anymore?

I hung out with my family for a day and that was so exciting!

I did keep a journal during this time and look what I wrote:
"Last night I was really confused about what I want to do with my life. I love the tv business, but you work super bad hours and almost every day. The pluses are that it is so cool and there are great people to work with."

If I could just go back to my confused self and let her (me) know that it would all work out. Oh, and I'd also tell myself to stay away from the Craft Services table. And to invest in real estate after the bubble burst. And buy a better camera.

Would I tell myself to stay in the tv business? Probably...I've gotten to do/see/work on some pretty amazing stuff and travel to some cool places.

But there is still a tiny piece of me that wishes I had a more "mom" friendly profession...one day ...one day.

But, you know, if I didn't choose this profession and work at the Olympics, I don't know if I would have ever traveled to the East Coast to work, meet my husband...get married and have 1.5 wonderful kids. Things all happen for a reason.
And guess what else I wrote in my journal. "Chatted with Scott Hamilton about the skaters." I mean, how cool is that...Scott Hamilton...he was a really nice guy.

Seriously...this was one of the coolest work experiences of my life...I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

#332 - I'm OK!

For the past few weeks, whenever Baby O (I really need to come up with a new name for him because he isn't a baby anymore) falls the first thing he says is, "I'm o.k., I'm o.k." and nods his head. This little first aid kit would be perfect for him. Aren't the bandaids cute!?

#331 - Peanut Butter & Banana Muffins

My mom gave me the cookbook Deceptively Delicious a while ago and after being snowed in and not eating the best in the past few weeks, I decided to make something just a little more healthy. Also, I wanted to make a snack for Baby O that wasn't "cookies" - that's all he asks for now.

I made a few modifications and I love that peanut butter is the "oil/fat" in this recipe.

Peanut Butter & Banana Muffins
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup natural peanut butter
1/2 cup carrot or cauliflower puree (I used carrots...steamed 2 medium sized carrots and then blended them)
1/2 cup banana puree (this is about one medium banana)
1 egg white (I used the whole egg b/c I was too lazy to take out the yolk)
1 cup whole-wheat flour (I used 7/8 cup whole wheat flour and about a 1/4 cup of oats)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions
Preheat oven to 350*. Line muffin tins with baking cups (I made small muffins). Mix 1/2 cup of brown sugar with peanut butter, carrot & banana puree, and the egg with a wooden spoon. Mix flour, (oats), baking powder, baking soda, salt and then stir into the wet ingredients. Don't overmix, it should be a little lumpy. Add the remaining 1/2 cup of brown sugar and only stir once or twice (this is what makes the muffins have bursts of sweetness.)

Pour into muffin liners and bake for about 15-20 minutes (depending on size of muffins.)

These are really moist and while they don't taste as devilish as Costco muffins, they are pretty good.

#330 - Alphabet "Boy" Card

I got this adorable card in the mail from my mom. I think it was used for my cousin Lizzy's baby shower. I just love how it spells out "boy"...you couldn't do that with the word, "girl".

When I first opened it, I thought just the letter, "o" was in blue for "Baby O", but I was pleasantly surprised when it spelled out "boy".

I can't wait to frame it in Baby O's room. It will be perfect for him and his new little brother coming soon.

And this card was brought to you by "prune orchard press"...my Aunt Sue's letterpress.

#329 - 4 movies

Here's 4 movies that Pepe and I have enjoyed in the past few months.

Believe it or not, this had a really good message to it.

I really like Ricky Gervais, funny movie and it also had a good message.

Cute, romantic comedy. Isn't what I expected.

I think we really liked this because it was based in Washington DC . . . lots of familiar places.

#328 - whip cream mohawk

We had some left over whip cream from the banana cream pie I made for Valentine's Day.
Baby O got into it and smeared it all over his hair.
I decided to give him a mohawk.
This was the best picture I could get before he smashed it...but he sure was cute!
I didn't wash it out all day because he smelled so good.

#327 - gummy vitamins

We really love these in our house. Baby O calls them"vai-tees". There is a coupon for $2 off at Costco this month, so if you've wanted to try them...now's the time.

#326 - Eating the Gold & Silver

So, to celebrate the Olympics (and President's Day), Baby O and I made Rolo Turtles.

All you need are pretzels, Rolos and pecans (or any other nut.) I love that the pretzel bag says, "The Pretzel Men"...where are the "Women"?

I've never been able to capture Baby O's attention very long (he's 1.7)...but he loved unwrapping the Rolos and putting them on top of the pretzels. He did a pretty good job and it was cute to see him trying to sneak a bite every now and then.

I had to capture a picture of the Rolo's wrappers...perfect color for the Olympics...Gold & Silver...Go Team USA!

Then you place them in the oven at 300-350 degrees for 4 minutes.

Then place a pecan (or other nut) on top of the melted Rolos.

I made half without nuts, but next time I think I would make them all with nuts...those were a hit, even with Baby O.

#325 - i want to remember

The other day Baby O was having a hard time going down for his nap (i think it was during the crazy winter weather here).
I had him put his monkey and one-legged Steve down for a nap too.
I walked in a few minutes later and this is what I saw.
Oh, he is so dang cute!