Early Morning in the Moddy Household

Well hey there, good-lookin.

Since it's Valentine's weekend and all, we decided to make a batch of heart-shaped chocolate chip muffins this morning.  Chocolate chips, as long as they're smashed into muffins, make for a completely acceptable breakfast.

Also, one should not feel too incredibly special.  As I've shared before, this is the only muffin tin I own.  So, if I withhold the making of muffins throughout the year and reserve them solely for Valentine's week, it appears I've gone the extra mile in more ways than one, no?

I assumed that the heart in the muffins stood for love.  Kate, on the other hand, rightfully assumed that the heart wasn't just reserved for love, but also for "pumpin' all ya blood".  Thank you for the early mornin' visual.

And the finished product of the highly-esteemed just-add-water-recipe:


Note to self: tackle Kate's fingernails this weekend



Thanksgiving thoughts and trip recap

Is it just me or has everyone forgotten Thanksgiving this year? 


I mean, we haven't even had Thanksgiving yet and everyone is already moving on to Christmas.  Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas with all of my hot chocolate lovin' heart, but I also love Thanksgiving (and on a side note, would like for the traditional Thanksgiving feast to be worked into the dinner rotation year round).


I think my sis, Big Al, summed it up best when she said, "Respect the turkey."


I'm headed to the in-laws for Thanksgiving to enjoy some food, family, and farm time.  Where exactly is this place, you ask?  Click here in case you missed that post.  And while I'm talking about Thanksgiving, my mother-in-law, and food...you may want THIS RECIPE for your upcoming holiday feasts!  Last year she didn't include it in her menu and so no one would share what they were thankful for around the table before the meal.  Oh I'm kidding, but we did pout just a bit.  You don't just throw out a menu item involving cheese without good warning.  This year, I've already been told, that it has regained its rightful spot on the table. Thanksgiving is now complete.


Last week we went out of town again for M to the Izz-A's job.  Now you and I both know there's no need to do a recap of the same trip taken within less than a month apart.  Plus, I get tired of typing the name of that chicken joint we hang out at a lot because it has too many dashes in it (okay only two but who's counting?) and that throws off my typing speed.  And I'm pretty sure you don't want summaries of all the Dinosaur Train episodes we watched.  If you do, email me, and I'll hook you up.


So I'll share our lil' trip in the form of photographs (and a few captions).  Ya'll know I can't be completely wordless!

Why in the world are his socks like that?

Oh, that's right, because he does this.

Best smile ever

Love

Such a good lil' helper

And somehow we managed to make it home with yet another Olivia. 

We found a fun place called Johhny G's.  I can only assume that it's NOT named after Johnny Gill.

love this pic --  love her even more

Look who's learning to sit up by himself!

Coffee Punch

Some of you requested the recipe for the coffee punch that we served at my shower. So, without further ado, ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Miss Delicious to your recipe box.

Coffee Punch

*1 gallon strong coffee
*1 1/2 cups of sugar
*2 tbs vanilla
*1 quart of half and half
*1 gallon of vanilla ice cream
*French vanilla cappuccino dry powder mix (The recipe calls for the General Foods Individual packets --3 of them; but, we couldn't find the packets so we just bought the big container and estimated the amount. Just add some and taste it and continue this pattern until your taste buds start to smile)
*instant hot chocolate mix (optional... and the amount to add is up to you. I think it tastes equally delicious with and without it)

I know, I know, don't you just hate it when recipes aren't specific or don't have exact measurements for each ingredient? But it's okay, you really can't go wrong with this one. It's impossible for anything with sugar and half and half to taste bad. And really, you should make it to suit your personal taste. Some people prefer it really sweet, while others like it to be more of a rich coffee flavor. The amounts listed above are close to perfect, in my opinion.

1. Brew your coffee, add the sugar and vanilla, and chill.
2. In a blender, add some coffee, half and half, cappuccino powder, and ice. Blend together and pour in punch bowl. (Do this about 3 times) Then, just pour the rest of the coffee and half and half into the punch bowl and add ice cream.



Now don't go talkin' too much about this stuff in front of your regular cup o' morning joe. You'll give it a complex.

At this point I would have welcomed a Ladies Home Journal

Well, I walked away from my glucose tolerance test unscathed. But not without jumping through a few hoops.



For starters, as most of you know, you have to go without food before having this test done. Problem numero uno. This chick doesn't do well without food, pregnant or not.



Problem number two: After drinking the sugary liquid, I head back to the waiting room only to find that this is what they're coming at me with:






This, my friends, is the supply of reading materials I was working with.


My only thoughts were, "You're telling me I gotta sit in this waiting room for an hour and the best you've got to offer me is Seniors Guide?! Are you kiddin' me?!" I mean technically yes, I could use a few tips on where to get the biggest bang for my buck on elastic pants right about now. But that's beside the point. Stay with me.



So by the time they called for me to come back for the blood-drawing portion of my appointment, I was only about two articles short of being an expert on all things geriatric.



As I sat down and rolled my sleeve, the phlebotomist kept sniffing, sneezing and rubbing her eyes. "Sinuses," she says. "I promise I'm not contagious."


"No problem," I reply. I can deal with sinuses.




Just as she's getting all of her supplies lined up and ready to go, she starts complaining of how tired she was. And then I notice her doing a quick mathematical problem....on her fingers.


"It's way too early for me to be doing math....or to be a work for that matter." And then she laughs. Because we all know, or at least hope, a laugh takes the severity of an inappropriate statement down a few notches.


Okay now I start feeling a little uneasy. For starters, it's 9:45am. I don't think you can officially call that 'early'. Secondly, why are you telling me this? Thirdly, you better get your act together Sister, and I mean quick, fast, and in a hurry - because you're holding a needle, and my arm is your playground.


I actually turned my head, closed my eyes and prepared for the worse, but surprisingly she did a fine job. It didn't hurt any more than it normally does and I was outta there as fast as I could pull my sleeve down and give her a quick, "Thanks, have a good day."



On my way back to work I made a quick stop at Wal-mart for some more Palmer's Tummy Butter. Fifteen short minutes later I was heading out with four bags full of snacks. Never ever send a pregnant woman who has fasted since the night before into Wal-mart and think she'll come out with only Tummy Butter.



Oh, and I found a way to eat dessert for breakfast.



Lunch.



And dinner.

It claims that you can eat it as part of a tasty balanced breakfast.



I believe the tasty part. As far as balanced......I'm not so sure. But hey, it says it is, so I'm going with it. Besides, it's delicious times ten.

Gettin' Sugary With It

Tonight the fam and I hosted our first annual Christmas cookie decorating party. I just added the 'first annual' part, because I'm hoping to make it a tradition. We invited our family and friends for an evening of cookies, icing, and sprinkles.

I think we even ended up with sprinkles between our toes.

Last night I used refrigerated sugar cookie dough and just cut out Christmas shapes using cookie-cutters. To my surprise, my local grocery store had enough dough for about 4 dozen cookies. I usually can't depend on Dirty Harvey's for anything. (Note: Actual store name = Harvey's. The store before it was Big J, but I lovingly referred to it as Dirty J. All they did was change the sign out front, the inside stayed the same = dirty. So....until they give me a Publix, Harris Teeter, or in my dream world - a Whole Foods Market, I'll just refer to them as Dirty _____.) Ah, but I digress, I really was happy that I didn't have to make 4 dozen homemade sugar cookies.

And actually, truth be told, M to the Izz-A and Kate baked most of them while I went on a late night Wal-mart run to gather up a few last minute items. He makes me looks good. He really does.

Everyone showed up with their favorite cookie toppings and we went to town!

The cookies turned out even better than I imagined! Not too shabby!

Now, as to whether you'd wanna eat them is another story. I think the toppings are made of equal parts sugar, icing, and saliva! The kids licked their fingers at they went along!

Last week Kate and I decided to bake Daddy some homemade chocolate chip cookies using a recipe my sister, Sal Gal, told me about: Carol's Soft and Chewy Chocolate Chippies. I'm a really big fan of refrigerated cookie dough, but the holidays always get me in the mood for baking homemade goodies (in small amounts). Plus, Kate loves to help out in the kitchen and I thought it'd give us something to do other than stare at Wow, Wow Wuzzby on the T.V. The cookies were pretty simple to make and I have to tell ya, they must be fool proof, because Kate poured some extra baking soda into the dough and they still turned out. I mean really, how can a little extra baking soda harm a mound of sugary, chocolatey, cavity-inducing goodness? The answer is: it simple cannot.

M to the Izz-A is still working hard in our laundry room remodel. He's almost finished! Update with pics to follow as soon as it's complete...

Besides baking, I also think the holidays are a great time for crafts. However, when you child is only two, you've gotta think simple. Wait. Make that extra simple.



We've been doing a few crafts together in the evenings after dinner and so far have managed to make our house look pretty festive!

Our first craft was simply making a wreath out of her hand prints. They won't be that little forever....

Next, we wanted to get a little messier with the glue. The only thing this 'craft' (so simple it may not merit being called a craft) involves is tearing up all colors of construction paper and letting your little one glue them onto a Christmas tree...anywhere, no pattern, no rhyme or reason. It ends up so colorful. This was Kate's favorite activity so far. Add glue to the equation and you're sure to get a smile.

And last we made a snowflake using gumdrops and toothpicks. This one is always a hit because you can eat as you go along!

Now that I've crammed way too much into this post, I'm off to bed. I only have three days left and then I'm off work for the holidays...until January to be exact!

I told M to the Izz-A to remind me to have him take a pic of this belly I'm developing. He's now snoring in bed, and I have no picture. I'm gonna try to get it tomorrow. I'm 4 1/2 months already! Time flies when you're having fun...and eating everything in sight!

You get the idea

M to the Izz-A returns home tonight and I am about as excited as excited can get. I feel all giddy, like a high school girl waiting on her prom date, like a bride waiting on her groom on their wedding day, like a pregnant woman waiting on a sack full of Krystals.

Oops.

They all conjure up sweet thoughts in my mind.

So now you know what my thoughts will be consumed with today... tonight's sweet homecoming, not the Krystals.

Alright, maybe both.