Quick Escape

After Joe and I dropped Madeleine off at camp, we treated ourselves to two nights at the Northernaire in Three Lakes, Wisconsin.

Joe had two words in mind when he found out we were headed to northern Wisconsin: supper club. How can I explain the concept of a supper club to those from out of state? Wikipedia does an average job, but still, there are aspects lacking on the Wiki page. And Joe, growing up in northern Wisconsin, is much more adept than I at spotting a real, live Wisconsin supper club. So Sunday night we found a place up in Eagle River that identified itself as a supper club and we both had decent steaks (quintessential supper club fair) and Joe had a whiskey old fashioned and, luckily, the supper club was well situated with a dining room full of windows overlooking one of the area's many lakes.

Monday we explored Three Lakes and Eagle River a bit more on foot but by noon we were out in a 14-foot Mirro Craft with a 25-horsepower outboard motor (in other words a small fishing boat w/one of those motors you steer with your hand, not a steering wheel) exploring the twenty-eight lake chain. We did not make it to all twenty-eight lakes. In fact, I think we only made it to seven or eight of the lakes, but we had such a fun afternoon. Straight away we ran into some loons floating around one of the lakes and they seemed completely unphased by our arrival, no matter how close we got.



Of course we cruised on over to the lake where Madeleine's camp is located and tried to spy on our little girl but, while we saw campers, we didn't see our camper but, still, I was able to snap some shots of the camp from the lake view.





At some point we stopped to eat our sandwiches in one of the lesser-traveled channels though, to be honest, most of the lakes were pretty empty in general.





Later that evening we sampled another supper club, though this one was far and away more the sort of thing I always envision when I hear the term supper club. Maybe that's because, in my mind, I'm still stuck on the idea that supper club=1985, so I'm always a tad disappointed to see the modernization of an old-fashioned supper club. This second supper club was, in all respects, still serving its clientele of the eighties and Joe and I were able to satisfy our supper club craving for the next two, three years (or more!). After that we saw Public Enemies (not very good, but fun since it was filmed in Wisconsin) and then back to our hotel to fall asleep to the sounds of loons out on the lake.

A very peaceful and much needed escape!

Camp

Joe and I dropped Madeleine off at camp on Sunday afternoon. Leaving church late Sunday morning we were a jovial threesome (Hank and Elisabeth departed with Grandfather after the conclusion of the service) but by the time we arrived at Madeleine's camp the camper had grown a bit more quiet. She was happy to see her friends. She was excited to spread out her sleeping bag on her bed in her dormitory-style room. And she looked relieved when she met her college-aged, friendly counselor for the week. Yet, still, it was obvious she was a bit apprehensive.

Still, though, the time came for Joe and me to leave. Madeleine gave us two rushed hugs, assuring us that she was going to be fine until pick-up time on Friday. Right now I'm sure she's having a wonderful time swimming, canoeing, hiking and all the rest of it. It's me who is going to have trouble waiting until Friday to see her again and hear how things went.

UPDATE: A letter arrived today from Madeleine. She wrote, "Camp is fun. I love (underlined twice) my counselor." The rest was about strange food that she couldn't identify, but the letter was upbeat and it was clear she's having a fun time. Whew!

Countdown

A busy next few days loom. Lots of preparations to make as different factions of our family move in different directions for various chunks of time. But, for today, I contemplate pharmacy runs for last minute odds and ends and a sleepover Madeleine has planned tonight with B_____. Today errands and laundry, tomorrow packing and, if there is time, maybe a trip down to Milwaukee's lakefront for the air and water show.

Joe misses out on all of this. Taking a few days off of work means lots of busy days prior. I don't expect to see much, if any, of him in the next few days. I can't decide if it's better to be cooped up in an office for sixteen hours or to be here with three kids doing laundry and running errands. Some days the office wins out, but on busy days like these have been for Joe I feel blessed to be sitting in my living room near an open window with actual real, fresh air filling my lungs and know that no matter what's on my plate today in just a few short days I will escape it all and be somewhere where no laundry or errands await (or kids either, for that matter!).

Zoo

When we woke yesterday the kids and I were greeted with a soft drizzle. Not enough to give any relief to parched grass and plants, but enough to cancel Madeleine's tennis lesson and prevent us from going to the pool. We decided to hit the zoo. (Please, please don't judge Hank by his ridiculous taste in eyewear).



Despite my irrational fear of the birds flying free in the aviary, the kids' interest was piqued by the temporary "Wings from Down Under" exhibit that friends recently described where parakeets, cockatiels and various other birds fly free and interact with visitors. I quickly gave my stick of birdseed away to the kids and was happily ignored for the whole of the time with the birds. The kids, however, quickly got over any trepidation they might have had and were delighted with the birds landing all over them.











I have to say, I think this is the best special exhibit I've seen at our zoo, and I would encourage all Milwaukee area folks to get down there to see it before it leaves.

Leave Me Alone!

I've gotten into the habit over the summer of waking up either just before the kids or just as they're waking up. My kids are 8, 6 and 3 (and, since it's relevant to this post, close to being 9, 7 and 4) so I don't think it's too much to ask for them to leave me alone for thirty minutes while I drink my coffee and check my email, check bloglines and surf some news sites, etc.

Apparently, though, some mornings it seems it is too much to ask.

What are you doing, Mom? What's that say, Mom? Can I go on your computer? Mom, I spilled my juice! Mom, what's the weather supposed to be like today? Mom, Mom, MOM!!!!

Don't they realize by now how much calmer and relaxed their mother is when they just leave me alone for that thirty minutes or do they honestly enjoy being parented all day by a cranky mother?

Zucchini

No one in my immediate family loves zucchini, including me. I mean, it's OK, but it's not something I crave in the summer, even when it's fresh. Still, though, we always somehow end up with some fresh zucchini multiple times a summer and I refuse to waste a perfectly good, healthy vegetable, so we eat what we're given and, despite the fact that it's not my favorite, I always appreciate the gift of fresh garden produce.

Last night I prepared it a new way and, I have to say, I've never liked it so well. I sautéed two zucchini in a bit of olive oil with some kosher salt until it was cooked through but still firm. I then threw it into a bowl and tossed with with some freshly ground pepper, freshly squeezed lemon juice (about half a lemon) and some diced scallions. It was quite good and even the kids ate their required portions with minimal fuss.

Church Behavior

Madeleine took it upon herself on the drive to church this morning to verbally instruct Elisabeth how to properly follow along during the service.

OK, Elisabeth, Madeleine began, when everyone stands up, you're going to stand too, OK?

OK, Madeleine, Elisabeth agreed.

And when we pray we bow our heads and fold our hands like this, OK?

OK, said the eager pupil, dutifully folding her hands.

And when Pastor starts his sermon, you daydream like this, Madeleine said as she placed a thoughtful expression on her face and gazed off into the distance.

Hmmm. I think we'll be placing Madeleine on a temporary tutoring suspension.

CBO Report

Long term federal budget outlook: unsustainable.

Hey, I have an idea-- let's create a massive new spending and entitlement program!

I pray sanity will prevail and this awful legislation-- if pushed through at all-- will at least be properly vetted and not jammed through before the August recess. Ugh, ugh, UGH.

Brewer Game

Joe and I like to try and get to Miller Park for a Brewer game at least a few times every season, and now that the kids are older they like to go too. For Father's Day we bought Joe tickets for a Friday night game and we all had a great time tailgating and watching the game from the nosebleed seats along the right field side.

This past Sunday our church hosted its annual Brewer outing, an event we had never attended before for various reasons. I am perfectly happy to watch a Brewer game from the nosebleed seats, but a member of our church works within the Brewer organization and the seats he reserved for us were MUCH more fun than the nosebleed seats. We were literally within shouting distance of Corey Hart and every time a ball was hit towards right field you could see it coming right at you. Here was our view.



Despite the Brewers pathetic play on Sunday, the game was still a lot of fun to watch and cheer. Hank loved following all the high school boys around.



And after the game the kids got to run the bases again, as they are able to do following most (all?) Sunday afternoon games.

Hank after rounding third base.



You can kind of see Madeleine's head poking up here (she's wearing a pink hat).



And Elisabeth running home while grudgingly holding Daddy's hand.

Doctor's Park

Out of all the Lake Michigan beaches I've visited (well, on the Wisconsin side, anyway) I think Doctor's Park in Fox Point is my favorite. It's only minutes north of the city, but it feels so unaffected and pristine once you made the hike down to the beach from the parking lot above. And on a day like yesterday, with a soft breeze coming in off the lake and good friends to chat and play with, it was the perfect spot to spend an afternoon.

Here is Elisabeth digging in the sand with a friend.



Madeleine with two of the three girls she'll be attending camp with in just a few weeks. The third girl came down to play later too, but I forgot to snap a picture--rats!



Hank had a ball on the-- what are they?--piers? breaker walls? The mass of kids enjoyed seeing how nimbly they could jump from one rock to the next and, of course, loved jumping in the water.



And as an added bonus for the first time ever I made the trip both down AND up without pushing a child in a stroller or carrying a child! I know it was only a temporary reprieve but, still, I appreciated the break.

Independence Day 2009

OK, so we celebrated Independence Day what, two weeks ago? Yes, I'm just getting around to posting pictures now. I'm going to blame my tardiness on the fact that we've been (or at least felt) unusually busy.

We started out the day as we usually do with the kids and me sleeping while Joe ran up to reserve a good spot for the parade and, as usual, he scored a great spot which was easily able to accommodate family and friends. Prior to leaving for the 11:30 a.m. parade, some of the neighborhood kids occupied themselves by decorating their bikes and riding up and down the sidewalk yelling (which, actually, aside from the American flags, isn't a whole lot different than what they do every other day).



After the parade family (Dad and Diana with Cloence and Blake joining us later) and friends headed back to our house for a cold salad and sandwich spread that included this seriously fantastic pasta salad that I copied from the Pioneer Woman. Try it. It's just fantastic.



Another shot of the food, this time trying to get a side view of my pregnant belly. Before you say, "Oh wow, you look so small!" let me just forewarn you that that comment grates on my nerves like no other. Yes, I'm tall. Yes, I carry my babies up and down more than out. For what it's worth, my belly is measuring larger than the weeks I am pregnant. Bottom line is, I may not look as big as you thought you did at this point (caveat: if you carried multiples, you win), but I can't breathe, walk or go more than sixty minutes without going to the bathroom so, trust you me, I am plenty big for this stage of pregnancy (33 weeks).



After we ate we sat outside chatting for hours while the kids played happily and quietly for just as long (a 4th of July miracle!) until about 7 p.m. when we headed to a local park to watch the fireworks. Dad had brought up sparklers for the kids so they entertained themselves with those for awhile as we waited until 9:30 for the show to start.





We finally got home from the fireworks around 10:45 p.m. Even Madeleine, who never admits fatigue, confessed that she was pretty tired so all three kids went right to bed, as did all two remaining adults and all felt satisfied at the end of the day that it had been another great Independence Day.

Candy

Question: What is fun about fun size candy bars?

Answer: Nothing. Absolutely nothing, especially when you're craving a serious sugar fix.

Book Recommendations

I'm doing some belated birthday shopping on Amazon, thanks to generous birthday gifts from Bob and Alex. In addition to some non-book items I'm interested in, I also confess I do love to have a pile of brand spanking new books waiting to be read that no one else has thumbed through, creased or otherwise left their mark (yes, yes, I know I have issues, but I figure if inhaling the smell of a brand new book is quirky, then I'll embrace the weirdness).

So, recommend away. What should I order? Some are some recent good reads? Or a favorite book that everyone should read?

Birthday Parties

Today a neighbor friend celebrated his third birthday. Instead of a full-blown bash with party favors, presents and organized games, kids of all ages congregated in the birthday honoree's backyard to sing to the birthday boy, watch him blow out his candles and, amongst themselves, organized a few impromptu games of Duck, Duck Goose and a few other games I wasn't familiar with. The kids happily ate their cake and drank their juice while the grown-ups chased newly toddling toddlers and chatted. Start to finish the party lasted about an hour. And you know what? No one missed the party favors. The mother was happy to have only a few homemade cards to deal with instead of piles of toys that would be forgotten tomorrow. Every child there was happy and smiling and had a fantastic time.

It's nice to be reminded sometimes of how nice and enjoyable simple can be.

Grounded

It's really not fair that by doing the right thing and grounding a certain eight-year-old for slapping her brother (across the face, no less!) is more punishment for me than for her. Her best friend just rang the doorbell asking if Madeleine could play. It was so tempting to just say, "Why yes, she can..." but alas, I did not. So here I sit on this gorgeous day paying bills and balancing our checkbook with a disgruntled eight-year-old in tow. Fun, fun, fun.

Diaper Bag

Look what I bought yesterday in pastel pink.

Oh, and I had a name monogrammed on it in scrip lettering...

I Love Summer

I really, really do. Sure, it's obnoxiously hot and I practically feel like we're going to melt when we're outside but still, when else but in the summer does it feel good to play in the water? Thankfully, unlike last year, Hank passed his swim test today at the JCC Outdoor Water Park (where we're members) so now I don't have to hear him complaining about how he's not allowed to climb the rock wall or run off the diving board. Now he is able to do both those things, and Hank is so proud of himself and feels very grown up.

Here are some action shots of the kids enjoying the pool.









And OK, so Elisabeth is not enjoying the water here. And, in fact, if this picture had audio you'd hear her whining, "Mo-OM! I want to go back in the pool! Put your camera away!" And so, after a few more shots I did, and we did go back in the pool. But getting action shots of E in the water? Impossible. My camera would be soaked in about half a second because that's how long it takes for Elisabeth to charge into water over her head.

iPhone

When my cell phone broke a few weeks ago I was perfectly content to renew our contract and get whatever free phone the company we went with had to give me. But Joe has wanted an iPhone for awhile. He has used a Blackberry for a few years now and he does need the email capabilities for work purposes and so last week he finally convinced me an iPhone was the way to go.

I sent him off to the AT&T store to figure it all out and bring home whatever for me. Imagine me surprise (and delight!) when he arrived home with not one, but two iPhones-- one for him and one for me.

I didn't ask for an iPhone and I didn't even think I particularly wanted one but, I have to say, it's really, really cool. It actually does a lot more than I thought it did and I am pretty excited to have it. So much for all my rants against technology, now I'm just as hyper-connected as everyone else. At least my hyper-connectivity comes in a pretty pink case.

Big Storms

The other night we were treated to some very loud, very wet thunderstorms. What happens when booming thunder cracks overheard so loudly that it shakes the house? Joe and I end up with a couple extra kids in bed with us.

Panic

Today I am thirty weeks pregnant. Thirty. Um, excuse me, but didn't I just find out I was pregnant, like, a day ago? I am in serious panic mode. We have done nothing--nothing!-- to prepare for this baby. We don't have a carseat or a place for her to sleep or anything.

Oh sure, we've been house hunting like crazy and meeting with an architect and a builder and it looks like we will be adding on this summer, but will that be done with the baby is born? Um, no.

I cannot believe how quickly this pregnancy has flown by. The end of August will be here before I know it. I sure hope we're ready by then.

Favre a Viking--Almost

Remember last year, after Brett Favre's first non-retirement retirement, how I was so upset about seeing him go play for another football team in the NFL?

Well even though the official announcement hasn't been made, it seems clear that Favre's second retirement is also going to end up being a non-retirement, only this time Favre is giving all Packer fans the finger as he does so by choosing to play for one of, if not the biggest, rivals of the Packers. And you know what? I just don't care. I can't wait to see Favre trotting out in his purple number four at Lambeau Field and to hear just how much his desire to exact revenge on the Packer organization has soured Packer fans on the former great one.

Seriously, Brett. Find a hobby.

Summer Preview

I did it again. After another fairly relaxed (schedule-wise) school year with lots of free time to make plans with friends or veg at home, I have overbooked our summer once again. I don't regret it yet since, really, summer break only started yesterday, but I'm having visions of how I'm going to feel in August after waddling around all summer trying to get kids to their various activities on time.

I have to say, though, that Elisabeth looked pretty darn cute at her swim lesson yesterday-- her first organized activity ever. I need to try and remember to flash a picture of her today before we leave.

This Weekend Again

These pictures are from Hank's end of the season soccer party last night. His coach came up with a unique story about each player and Hank's distinction ended up being that he is a total goofball (true) and the hardest kicker which is also true; that kid can send the ball flying across the field like nobody's business. Maybe someday he'll actually start aiming. Hank was thrilled with his coach's words.



The team minus one player who was already on vacation and also including their assistant coach who was gracious enough to host the party.



Hank showing off his soccer medal which has already found a home right beside his bed.

This Weekend

We stayed up late last night with some new friends and, to be perfectly honest, despite the late hour, I wish they could have stayed longer because we all just had so much fun. Well, at least Joe, the kids and I did though I suppose I shouldn't speak for our guests. Being tired-- and having tired kids-- is a small price to pay for a relaxing and enjoyable evening with friends, and one I would pay again.

But, as it is wont to do, the sun rose again on a new day this morning and with it a schedule packed with a first baseball game, a last soccer game (until next fall, anyway) and a soccer party tonight. Hank has declared after only one game that he loves baseball. I'm fairly certain that if you put Hank on any sort of sport's team and give him a uniform and a competitive objective that he'll love the sport, but he thinks it's novel every time he loves a new sport. Here are some pictures of the little slugger.

Waiting on second base to be hit home (in the dark green jersey).



Running to home plate.



After making it around the bases Hank saw my camera and just stood there and smiled. When I didn't take the picture quickly enough Hank just said, "Mooo-om!" and stood there smiling once again. I took the hint.



Racing his own team's shortstop to scoop up a ground ball.



The soccer game was fun too, especially since a good friend I haven't seen in awhile was there watching her daughter play Hank's team. It was fun to cheer for the Kangaroos one last time this season and to notice how far all the kids-- virtually absent of soccer knowledge at the beginning of the season-- have come since last fall.

And now we're back home. The kids are resting, I have pies cooling for tonight's party at one of Hank's soccer teammate's house. Hank hasn't taken his soccer uniform off since we got home over two hours ago and my guess is he's going to be wearing it a lot this summer.

Broken

Tuesday night Madeleine stood on the upstairs toilet to try and reach something in the medicine cabinet. Joe and I have told her eight hundred million, kazillion times to please not stand on the toilet b/c it puts too much stress on the hinges of the toilet seat cover and, besides, there's nothing in the medicine cabinet she needs or should have anyway. So, despite our warnings to not stand on the toilet seat she decided to ignore us and, yep, tore the toilet seat cover plum off. We now have a toilet seat coverless toilet until I can get to the hardware store (chances of that happening today? Magic 8 Ball says: "My sources say no"). On a scale of one to ten, this hits my irritation level at about a five or six.

Yesterday I made the kids popovers for breakfast. About thirty minutes after I had pulled the popovers out of the oven and closed the oven door the oven door literally just FELL OFF. No one was touching it, no one was near it (thankfully!), nothing. The kids and I just sat and stared at it for about a solid minute with our mouths hanging open. I was able to jam the door back on somehow, but there's no doubt that oven is on its last legs. Irritation level? Oh, about an eight.

Yet today is a new day. The sun is shining, the house is relatively clean and the kids are only doing a moderate amount of whining. As long as the refrigerator door doesn't spontaneously fall off, I think we'll be fine.

Storm Tracking

A few hours ago the local TV stations meteorology departments were in full on panic mode talking about the thunderstorms that were moving into the area. I don't know if you know this about me or not, but I'm obsessed with the weather (as a side note, if anyone is interested, my favorite site to check the local weather is WISN 12; their interactive radar is the coolest), so I had the radar up on my computer and had the local news on. I don't do this because I'm scared, I do this because besides my obvious issues of simply being obsessed with the weather and storm tracking, I really love thunderstorms. I was excited and wanted to know when to go to the window to watch the storm moving in.

My kids were excited too. As Madeleine pointed out, "Maybe we can have a cozy book night!" And then it started to rain. We got a crack or two of thunder and then... nothing. The clouds moved out over the lake and the sun came out.

Not long after Hank's friend A______, who lives three houses down, stopped over to see if Hank could play. As I heard them chatting at the door I heard A_____ say, "Did you guys have to go in your basement? We did because of all the bad storms." Hank's response? "No, I guess the storm must have only gone by your house. Or maybe our house is stronger."

Titanic: A Confession

I am embarrassed to admit this, but when Titanic was first released in movie theaters back in 1997 I saw it more than once. More than two times, even. Actually, I can't remember how many times I paid to see it when it was in the theaters, although the number five sticks in my head. The real answer though is way too many.

But it gets worse. Eventually it was released to video and I bought a copy. And watched it. Again and again and again.

Somehow I got it all out of my system (or, more probably, I met and married Joe and he refused to watch it) and my copy got shoved to the back of our video cabinet. I had not watched the movie in eight, almost nine years until last night. Last night TBS (or was it TNT?) was playing the movie and since Joe was busy pouring over legal paperwork I decided to watch it and see if it still held the same magic it once did to my college-aged self.

In a word, NO! Oh my goodness-- what was my college self thinking? That movie is just awful! The acting was decent, but the scriptwriting! Ew, ew, EW! Who thought it would be a good idea to write lines like "A woman's heart is a deep ocean of secrets..." or "They've got you trapped, Rose, and sooner or later that fire that I love about you..."? And what possessed Winslet and DiCaprio to utter such trite, poorly written words? And the writing of the characters; could they possibly have been more stereotypical? Ooooh, the rich fiance who is selfish, mean and controlling, or how about the poor boy trapped in third class without one flaw to mar his character. How groundbreaking!

I remember being annoyed with Hollywood that year for sneering at Titanic and for holding their noses when its director James Cameron accepted his award for Best Picture at the Oscars. Now I can only sympathize with them and hold my nose right along with them.

The only upshot of last night, besides prompting me to confess my ridiculous obsession to all the world and see the error of my ways, is that now I can finally clear out some space in our video collection.

Rhubarb

When I was a child I hated rhubarb season. Mom was a big dessert person and made them often, but in late spring, once her rhubarb was ready to harvest, the desserts all began to have one common denominator: rhubarb. I ate them grudgingly but always secretly couldn't wait until the rhubarb was all gone and we could get back to non-rhubarb desserts.

I don't know when it happened, but sometime in the past few years I started craving rhubarb desserts. Last year I finally bit the bullet and planted some rhubarb plants in our yard, but I can't harvest any until next year (and even then only sparingly). Well, wonder of wonders, Dad brought up a huge grocery bag of rhubarb yesterday full of freshly picked rhubarb that he was given by a friend.

Right now I have this cooling on my prep table:




It's rhubarb oatmeal pie and I can't wait to dig into it. In a few minutes I'm going to start a rhubarb compote which was, funnily enough, my absolute least favorite, most dreaded rhubarb concoction that Mom made every spring. Funny how time and maturity can change your taste buds.

Noise

My kids are not quiet, as kids go. I don't know that any kids are ever really quiet, but mine are extra not quiet.

So could someone please tell me why on earth my already loud children think they need to use a microphone to be heard!? Ugh, my ears are ringing and it's only 8:30 a.m.

Escape

When the kids are really being loud and obnoxious I have developed a plan of escape. I grab Joe's alarm clock/radio, turn on Charlie Sykes (local conservative talk radio host) and take a shower with the bathroom door shut tight and instructions to the kids that they're not to open the door unless the house is on fire. Sure, I end up frustrated with he current state of affairs in our state and nation, but at least by the time I get out the kids are back in my good graces.

Strong Willed Children

I made the mistake of categorizing a younger Hank as my spirited, strong-willed child. He had all the indicators and, to a degree, still does. After butting heads with him for his whole life I assured myself that any child that might come after him would be a more typical child like Madeleine. Oh, I don't mean to say Madeleine never misbehaves- of course she does-- but her misbehavior is more of the expected types of naughtiness that people expect from children, not the mentally draining, constantly exasperating child who continually feels the need to exert his or her independence and challenge every assertion a parent might make.

For us, Hank was our mentally taxing child. Or, so we thought.

Turns out he's got nothing on little Elisabeth. Boy oh boy, that girl is something, let me tell you. Part of it, I know, is her age. Or, at least that's what I'm going to keep telling myself on days like today.

Peppery Wisconsin Mascarpone Pasta Sauce with Bacon

I love, love, love this pasta. Love it! It's so easy, so yummy and, depending on the phase of the moon, the kids will even eat it (last time I made it they had seconds, last night Madeleine said she hated it).

2 tbsp. olive oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 shallots, diced
1 c. onion, diced
8 slices thick-sliced pepper bacon, cut in strips 1 in. long (if peppered bacon not available, add 1 tsp. course ground pepper)
14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes
8 oz. can tomato sauce
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
8 oz. Wisconsin Mascarpone cheese
3 tbsp. fresh basil leaves, julienned

Heat oil in large saute pan. Add garlic, shallots and onions; saute over medium heat until tender, about 5 mins. Do not brown. Stir in bacon. Raise heat to medium high and cook until bacon cooks through but does not crisp (if I'm dealing with especially fatty bacon I usually cook it almost completely through in the microwave before this step so that I can drain some of the fat). Add diced tomatoes and tomato sauce. Salt and pepper to taste. Simmer about 15 to 20 min., or until sauce thickens and reduces a little. Off heat, add Wisconsin Mascarpone cheese and basil. Stir well.

Toss with about 1/2 lb. cooked pasta (I prefer fettuccine, but any long, hollow pasta would be great).

Name Ideas

I'm taking suggestions. We're desperate here for girl names for this new little girl. We have a couple favorites, but nothing that we have hit upon where we've thought, "Ah ha! That's it!" For what it's worth, we had those moments with the three other kids' names. Heck, we've had that moment for this baby's just-in-case boy's name. But for a girl? Nope.

I feel like I've gone through every baby name book, every on-line baby site and our family tree about 8 million times and yet, still, nothing.

We need suggestions. Lots and lots of suggestions. No criteria, really. We tend to prefer family names and are, obviously, pretty traditional in our name choices, but at this point we're open to anything that we like. Suggest away!

Viking Fans Don't Want Favre

Heh, heh, heh.

What a coincidence; I don't want him anymore either.

Seriously, I loved Brett Favre. Loved him. But can't he just go away now?

Pin the Tail on the Pony

Madeleine believes no birthday party is complete without some party games so, for my birthday celebration this past Sunday afternoon in Silver Lake, she designed and illustrated Pin the Tail on the Pony. All attendees, large and small, were required to play.

First up was me and, thankfully, no one photographed my stint at stumbling around with a blindfold on trying to stick a black construction paper tail in the proper place. Spoiler alert: I lost.

I did get the group with Joe about to take his turn, though. 



And Dad, too. The kids thought it was pretty hilarious that he first attempted to stick the tail on the house instead of the picture of the pony.



The funniest moment, though, was Elisabeth's turn. Her best attempt at sticking her tail on the pony?



Yep. Her own rear end. Kids and adults laughed for quite some time over that little mishap.

And finally, the victor, my sister.



Her prize? A pack of gum. Oh, and a lot of laughs. Thanks for the game, Madeleine!

Now We Know

A woman, who's about our age, from our church just called Joe to ask a legal question and kept calling him Mr. O____. I guess that tells us which generation people at church think we belong to, even if our ages would seem to say otherwise. I was laughing when Joe told me and then I told Joe that I'm almost positive when she and I have talked before she's called me Cate. Joe's response: Well, isn't that almost worse? I'm still laughing.

Refrigerator Cleaning

For the most part, Joe and I do a reasonably decent job of eating leftovers that get shoved to the back of our refrigerator and, if we don't, we do modestly well at remembering to dispose of them instead of leaving them in the fridge to fester. Note, I used terms like "reasonably decent" and "modestly well" which, to me, implies that we do have our fair share of gross, unidentifiable containers of leftovers that I pull out of the darkest corners of fridge from time to time. Doesn't everyone? (If the answer is no, please don't tell me; I've got myself happily convinced this is the case.)

But what neither of us does well-- and I suppose since I'm the one home I take the bulk of the blame-- is actually cleaning the fridge. You know, pulling out shelves and drawers and actually using soap and water back in the recesses of the fridge that nobody likes to visit. Each time I do it-- and no, I won't tell you how frequently or not that is-- I am amazed at how fridge gunk forms. What is that stuff all the way underneath the vegetable crispers and, more importantly, how the heck did that stuff get there?

Today the gunk got to me and Elisabeth and I pulled out every item in the fridge and cleaned, scoured and washed. While I still wonder how that gunk got there and what exactly it was, I'm more interested that it's gone and can, once again, not cringe when someone outside of our immediate family opens our refrigerator.

Pathetic Gardening

Today is May 21 and I still haven't planted a thing-- no flowers, no vegetables, not one seed or plant anywhere. For the flowers that's not so abnormal, especially since we're still not entirely out of danger of cold temperatures at night, but for the vegetable garden, it's pathetic. Pathetic! I'm not going to have lettuce at this point until the frost comes again in the fall to kill it. Today. I must get the garden planted today.

OK, now it's written down, so it will happen... right?

Warmth

Yay! It was finally warm enough yesterday to do this...




and this...



and even this!



I love, love, love all this gorgeous weather!

Cell Phone

Last week I dropped my cell phone in my coffee cup-- my full of coffee coffee cup. I was outside trying to help one of the kids with something with one hand and balancing my phone and coffee cup in the other and my phone just slipped into the coffee. Whatever. No excuse necessary, it was stupid and now my phone won't work.

The silver lining is that our cell phone contract is up anyway so now we can renew and get some sort of free phone deal. But what's killing me while I look is all the extras these phones have. Sure I'd like to be able to check email remotely, but is it necessary for a home-schooling mom to be available to everyone eighteen different ways? No. I just need a phone that makes and receives phone calls. That's it.

Why does that seem like too much to ask?

Covered Wagon in the Dining Room

Yesterday morning just after the big kids got up they felt inspired to make our dining room table into the Ingalls' covered wagon and pretend they were traveling across the prairie. I tried my best to ignore the heap of blankets, pillows, books and other necessary items and had school in the living room, trying my best to ignore the disaster behind me. The adventure culminated with Madeleine and Hank sleeping in their covered wagon last night (i.e. under the dining room table). When they woke this morning both raved at how fun and comfortable it was. They're already planning an encore sometime soon with Elisabeth, who was meant to be included, but fell asleep by accident just after supper time.

Next time I'll take a picture; the whole scene was pretty elaborate.

Joe on TV

Hey, it's not every day your husband makes the local news.

Here's the link.

Joe was told by one reporter that he had on a great tie for TV. I agree; doesn't he look handsome?

Chores

I am starting to realize just how capable of housework my older two children are. Lucky them.

Elisabeth Bakes

This picture of Elisabeth baking just makes me laugh. She's started doing the hand-on-hip thing more and more lately and, for some reason, seeing a three-year-old in that pose is just comical.

2009 WPA Convention

As always, the Wisconsin Parent's Association home-schooling conference was informative and useful. I came home last night with lots of good ideas and, most importantly, a fresh outlook and attitude. I now more think of this annual weekend as a cheerleading session than a chance to learn things (which happens too). It's nice to know that there are others like Joe and me out there and even though I logically know they exist and run into them in the cyber world, it's a comfort to talk, face-to-face, with those in the same boat we are and share ideas and frustrations.

The weekend was so much more than just a home-schooling conference though. Each year we're lucky enough to have my in-laws take the kids for the weekend and Joe and I are able to have two and a half days and two whole nights totally on our own. The only unfortunate factor in all this is that we have a weekend alone in Oshkosh, Wisconsin versus, say, Chicago, or even Milwaukee.

I don't mean to knock Oshkosh. It's a fine place and certainly offers enough amenities for me to appreciate but, still, seeing the city always makes me sort of sad. Over the past few years we've seen truly unique and fine establishments (fine in their own right, not relative to the chain restaurants and hotels surrounding them) wither and slowly die until they eventually hang it up. It seems the entire downtown is a sea of "for lease" and "for sale" signs or, worse yet, just emptiness. Life in this city seems to exist almost solely near the outlet mall and aviation museum near the highway and that corridor offers little in the way of the unique.

We did, however, discover one little gem thanks to Nina over at The Other Side of the Ocean. "Didn't Nina blog about chocolate shops in the Fox Valley?" I asked Joe Sunday morning. He agreed she had, though neither of us could remember when. Google found the post quickly though and soon enough we were off to Oaks Candy Corner. We arrived before opening, however, and drove down to the marina instead and walked along the breakwater out into Lake Winnebago for about forty-five minutes while we waited. (The other Oshkosh candy shop mentioned in Nina's post-- Hughes Home Maid-- is closed on Sundays, apparently). Oaks Candy Corner's chocolates proved to be worth the wait and we were happy to leave laden with chocolate for ourselves and also as a thank-you gift for Joe's parents.

We arrived home last night around 4 p.m. after a relaxing drive home (with the kids) and I am still basking in the enjoyableness of the weekend.

Weekend Getaway

This afternoon we are home-school convention bound. The kids are going to stay with Joe's parents for two whole nights and Joe and I have two nights on our own. Woo-hoo!

I do, however, think it's funny that our big adults only weekend every year is a home-schooling conference... a weekend in which we listen, talk and think about kids.

Chocolate Fever

Hank told me that all little kids should read Chocolate Fever by Robert Kimmel Smith. Hank finished this book in less than a day (four chapters on the hour-long drive down to Silver Lake and the rest later that evening). I mention this only because Hank doesn't love reading like his older sister loves reading (i.e. to the exclusion of almost anything else some days). He likes it well enough, and as his confidence grows in what he's able to read (getting him over his fear of picking up a book longer than, say, a Magic Treehouse Book has been a challenge) he seems to like it even more, but Chocolate Fever was a real breakthrough for him in that it was longer than books he typically reads, the reading level was higher and-- the most important part-- it kept him engaged enough that he wanted to hurry and find time to get back to it.

A winner on all fronts, I would say!

Packer Game!

Last year Joe's aunt was kind enough to enter the Brown County Lottery on our behalf and won us four Packer tickets. They were tickets to a preseason game but still, for someone who had never been to a Packer game in her life, I was excited. Joe and I took the two older kids and we had a fantastic time.

This year Joe's aunt entered the lottery again and was again awarded four tickets. We were about to turn her down because of the new baby but then we discovered that they're regular season game tickets!!!! Oh my goodness, regular season home game tickets priced at face value? I am beyond excited!

I keep staring at the schedule trying to figure out which game we'll be awarded (we'll find out in July). I'm hoping for a later game, like November or December so we can easily leave Baby #4 (she really needs a name, doesn't she!) with my in-laws. One way or another, I am going to that game!

Too bad football season doesn't start for another three and a half months.

Lutheran Humor

So two Saturdays ago (the Saturday before Easter) Hank ran up to Joe with the following realization, "Dad! Tomorrow we can say the 'a' word again!!!!!"

Joe looked at me with an alarmed look on his face.

"Relax," I laughed. "He's talking about the 'a' word in the liturgy, not the 'a' word."

What Gives?

Every day Madeleine and Hank make their beds. They don't particularly love doing it, but it's just as ingrained in their morning routine now as getting dressed and brushing their teeth. But, like getting dressed and brushing their teeth, if they can get away with "forgetting" to do it, well, then they'll be as forgetful as they possibly can.

Now, most days I can easily help remind them, but Sunday mornings are tricky. Between getting myself ready for church, brushing multiple heads of hair and helping Joe finish getting the smaller ones dressed (yes, you read that correctly, Joe is the main one getting the kids ready for church every Sunday allowing me an extra twenty to thirty minutes of sleep. Isn't he sweet?) I just don't have time to check and see if the kids made their beds most Sunday mornings and, sadly, the kids have sort of gotten used to Sunday being a day that they don't have to make their beds (and yes, it drives me NUTS).

Yesterday, after church and lunch, I went out to run a few errands. By the time I got back Madeleine and Elisabeth were playing that they were the Ingalls' girls from Little House on the Prairie and the time frame they had chosen to play was when when the Ingalls family was traveling across the prairie in a covered wagon. Madeleine had neatly set up their beds, like so.



Isn't that nice and neat? I watched them play for awhile, crawl into their beds, pretend to sleep, wake up and then leave their beds to go play. How did they leave their pretend bed? Like this.



I grew somewhat optimistic. Maybe I had been unfairly maligning Madeleine and she really did care about leaving a bed nice and neat. I went upstairs to put away some soap, shampoo and the like hoping that maybe-- maybe-- a neatly made bed would await me upon my arrival upstairs.

And this, my friends, is what greeted me.





*Sigh*

Horseback Riding

Madeleine has had a hard time finding an activity she likes over the years. Honestly, I haven't too much cared if she ever found one; staying home and playing with friends is just as easy as running out to some sort of lesson or another. And growing up I never really took any sorts of lessons. We jut weren't close enough to make a weekly commitment very feasible.

But Madeleine has dabbled. She tried ballet. Gymnastics. And most recently ice-skating and horseback riding. The ice-skating she still enjoys, but the horseback riding she loves. She can be in the middle of the most fun game imaginable with her block friends and when I tell her it's time to leave for her riding lesson she immediately says good-bye and runs in to prepare herself. She wants to get to the stables early each week because she wants to learn more than just how to ride a horse, she wants to learn how to care for them also.

This is not an activity that is going to fall by the wayside anytime soon.

Madeleine cleaning out one of her favorite horses' hooves with a hoof pick.



Receiving help with adjusting her stirrups.



Brushing Caramello after her ride.

Random Stuff

Our phone works again. Whew. I never realized how many people only had our home phone number and not our cell phone numbers. On the bright side, though, voicemail was able to screen out the 8 gazillion calls we received Monday and Tuesday telling us who to vote for and I never had to listen to the robo calls.

Holy week was wonderful. Each year I am more and more thankful for such a wonderful church, church family and the family and friends we have and who share in our Easter Sunday festivities with us. My house hasn't recovered yet and physically I'm exhausted, but I am so thankful for all our Holy Week services, for a joyful Easter service and breakfast after and for everyone who celebrated at our home with us later that day.

The forecast predicts that we might hit the sixties by the end of the week. Horrah!

Still waiting on a renovation versus moving verdict. I wish our builder would hurry and call back. If we're going the addition route I want to hurry up and start!

Really having trouble deciding on a name for our new daughter. Joe and I just aren't reaching a consensus and while we still have lots of time I wish we had a shorter short list. I feel as if I scour our family trees in vain one more time that I just might scream.

Computers for All

The other day I signed Madeleine up for her first email account*. I had been meaning to for awhile; it provides a good opportunity for her to practice typing and improve her spelling, writing and the formation of a proper letter (well, a proper e-letter, as it is, I guess).

After getting it all set up and sending out a few test emails I sat her down in front of my Mac, showed her where to go, told her what her password was, etc., etc. and walked her through checking her account for the first time. She was giddy with excitement to see two unread messages in her box and promptly read them and replied. After finishing with her task she set the computer to the side, folded her arms, looked at me and said, "Well Mom, I guess I'll need my own computer now."

Keep dreamin', kid.

*For obvious reasons I am not going to post it on my blog, but if you want to email Madeleine feel free to email me and ask for her address.

Wonky Phone

Something is wrong with our home phone. It's not working. See the problem?

I've yet to bite the bullet and spend the requisite number of minutes on hold with SBC, press the right buttons, talk to their automated phone service and then, ultimately, schedule a service call, and many of you may have noticed this if you've tried calling us over the past few days.

It's annoying but, for now, call my cell. Sooner or later I'll deal with this. I promise.

No More Diapers

For more than eight and a half years someone in our home as been wearing diapers at any given moment and even, at times, more than two someones (those time frames were fleeting, thankfully). The point is, I've been changing these disgusting things for a loooong time. Eight and a half years is a really, really long time to go without having a break from changing diapers, trust me.

I am happy to report that the chain has been broken. We now have not one single, solitary child in our home wearing diapers. Yes, yes, I know it's only a temporary reprieve but hey, I'll take it.

The Baby is a...

On my mom's side of the family we have always joked about the abundance of girls. My mom's mom was one of three girls, my mom was one of three girls, my mom had a girl and my mom's sister had three girls. Yes, yes, I know the male determines the sex, so this wealth of girls is just a fluke.

Well, today we added to the fluke. I have two girls and one boy and, in about four more months our ultrasound today revealed that we will have another girl!

I can't really say I had too much of a preference one way or another, so I'm just excited to know, and now for you all to know.

Maternity Clothes

I have squeezed into my last pair of non-maternity pants for the foreseeable future. I tried the whole rubber-band-your-jeans-trick as long as I could. It's time to admit defeat and make the transition to maternity clothes.

Man, I hate maternity clothes.