Taitai
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Post by Taitai on Dec 2, 2019 8:23:19 GMT -6
Happy December everyone! Thanksgiving (both the US and Canadian ones) is done, and now it’s time to close out the year with the rest of the holidays. Anyone have travel plans this month? Shopping all done? Excited for all the Christmas treats as I am?
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cythe
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Post by cythe on Dec 2, 2019 9:07:21 GMT -6
December.
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Post by CoachTsWife on Dec 2, 2019 9:30:47 GMT -6
Holy smokes cythe. We had HORRIFIC winds ALL WEEKEND, but dang. DNW 18 inches of snow.
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Post by CoachTsWife on Dec 2, 2019 9:43:11 GMT -6
We're actually in pretty good shape regarding Christmas gifts. We are are never as on-the-ball as we want and last year was complete chaos because DH hurt is back on 12/9 and the rest of the month was lost and we found ourselves Amazon priming all of the boy's Christmas gifts from a hospital room. We are in so much better shape this year (in so many ways).
DH is finally released to go back to work next Monday 12/9 (on the anniversary of his first back injury). Which is good because he's run out of PTO is in unpaid territory now. UGH. He still cannot control his foot though; it'll likely be months before the nerve fully heals.
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Taitai
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Post by Taitai on Dec 2, 2019 18:24:34 GMT -6
cythe Oh my - the first thought that crossed my mind was, “I hope they have a snow blower.” Thoughts and prayers to your back if you have to shovel! All that snow is really cool-looking though, spoken by someone who lives in the land of eternal summer 🤣 CoachTsWife Like was for you being in a better spot this year than last. I’m sorry your H isn’t 100% yet, and I hope the nerve damage in his foot improves. Fingers crossed his return to work goes well - you have had such a hard year, and I hope 2020 will have things go back to normal. You’ve shouldered so much for your family 💕
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Post by curmudgeon on Dec 3, 2019 14:51:38 GMT -6
cythe wow!! I’ve never seen that much snow and my first thought was that must be feet of it! Then I zoomed to the ruler. 😂 I have no idea how you deal with that besides making snow angels and snowmen. I need some Christmas cookies. Anyone have some favorites they make each year? Last year I made mint chocolate chip and they were so good.
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cythe
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Post by cythe on Dec 3, 2019 15:10:39 GMT -6
Well, the snow has stopped. The National Weather Service says 22.6 inches total. The snow plow came by and totally buried our mailbox. So...no mail for us today.
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danvers
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Post by danvers on Dec 3, 2019 18:57:41 GMT -6
cythe look at all that snow!!!!I love snow but I don’t relish the idea of being stuck inside with a toddler for days on end either! August Blooms I hope 2020 will be the year you and your H can put these medical woes behind you. curmudgeon I made pumpkin snickerdoodle the other day and they were delicious. I got the recipe on Pinterest somewhere but they were so soft and chewy and my H (who is super, super sensitive to any and all flavor or spice) couldn’t even taste the pumpkin. I will be making them again next week for a staff carry in!
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danvers
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Post by danvers on Dec 3, 2019 19:02:01 GMT -6
We are done buying for the girls and now just waiting for Amazon boxes to arrive. JCPenney was running a sale on Disney Barbie princesses so DD1 is getting all of them and I just never saw myself here as the mom of the girliest girl to ever girl. DD2 gets a hodgepodge of little things because her interests are all over the place.
Our master bedroom is a hot mess of boxes and wrapping paper and I really just need to make myself sit down, binge the remainder of The Crown Season 3, and wrap.
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Post by duskymonkey on Dec 3, 2019 22:27:13 GMT -6
I had a post almost all typed out this afternoon while lil fella was trying to nap. He was incredibly congested and it started last night and very quickly become worse throughout the day. Anyways I was just about to hit reply when he suddenly woke up shaking and crying and had trouble breathing. I dropped everything and called the doctor pronto and the nurse got me an appointment so it was a mad dash as it was already half past 3. Anyways I am glad I was that Crasian mom, turns out he has croup which we never encountered so unaware of symptoms and was prescribed Dex. So off to the pharmacy we went and just before we drove off, I decided to call to see how long it would take them to fill the prescription, they said it wasn't in yet and to call in 10 minutes or so but they were about 1 hour into filling prescriptions. I decided to call when I got there and they still haven't received it and by this time, it was almost 5 and the clinic was closing so I called the clinic and they said they had sent it, then they told me they had been having issues with electronic prescriptions to pharmacies the last couple of days and asked if I could come back and get a paper copy - I was already 20 minutes away so by the time I get there, they would be closed. Luckily I thought of the pharmacy at the hospital close to us which is affiliated with the clinic so I asked if they could transfer it over there and they said they could try. I decided to go home cos I needed to get dinner for DS and no use dragging lil fella around with me and being miserable. Anyways after much much calling around like a lunatic I finally got his prescription from the hospital and the pharmacist was super nice and prioritize my order. Seriously if I had waited for the other pharmacy to get it, we wouldn't have meds tonight and wouldn't have it either tomorrow because I called just before they closed at 9 and nada! nothing! So I am going to pat myself on the back for being THAT mom.
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Post by duskymonkey on Dec 3, 2019 22:51:55 GMT -6
cythe Whoa Nelly! that's quite a bit of snow. We had about 14 inches I think and it got really really cold into the single digits with crazy strong winds Saturday I think CoachTsWife ? We have a rain chain on the front of our house and the vessel it empties into is frozen solid - I'll try to take a pic tomorrow. danvers lots of snow is good, kids love them and can play outside! when it gets super cold is when it's unpleasant to go out but otherwise just toss them outside! I am so not ready for xmas even though we got our tree already this weekend and had a visit with Santa and got the lights up. Hoping we can start decorating it this week. The boys were so excited when they saw the lights. I haven't gotten anything for the boys yet and I am thinking we're just going to shop in the basement. I had gotten a huge pile of trains and tracks and in the last year nabbed other Legos and Bruder as well. I just have to wash and clean them up and order some parts for the Bruder and find boxes to fit them into. I almost forgot, I did get matching new outfits for the boys! I am so excited to dress them up in the same clothes. curmudgeon I love love mint anything and make what I call a peppermint pixie. I am not sure what I am making yet but did mix a double batch of sugar cookie this morning and will definitely be making Basler Brunsli. August Blooms those cookies are gluten free in their natural form. danvers I've never had a snickerdoodle before, maybe I should try it this year! Taitai, if you have a fan in your oven, I think it's convection and that would also explain why your top browned too fast. My mom's oven at home is gas and has a bottom and top heat control and is large in comparison to the ovens there. It was a huge investment for her as she was essentially the village baker and made wedding cakes and heaps of birthday cakes.
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Post by doodlemommy on Dec 4, 2019 10:36:21 GMT -6
That’s scary duskymonkey! Hope your little guy is feeling better!
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Post by doodlemommy on Dec 4, 2019 10:38:41 GMT -6
We are going to a Christmas light event (indoor) tonight and there is a big play place and train and stuff, my kids are going to loooovvve it. H and I are so excited to take them! It snowed a ton over night and I had left the sled in the yard 😬 So I made DS walk to school to drop off DD and that was a bad choice. I had DS2 in the wrap and ended up having to carry DS1 half the time. I will be trudging into my yard to dig out the sled before kindergarten pick up for sure
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Taitai
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Post by Taitai on Dec 4, 2019 18:20:39 GMT -6
duskymonkey Like is for you being super mom and thinking ahead! I’m so sorry your little guy has croup though 😩. I hope it clears up quickly and is all gone before your big trip to Chicago! danvers Little Taitai would have lost it to get all the Disney princess barbies for Christmas! Hope you get that wrapping and crown watching done soon! FFTC, I actually like wrapping presents! Oh, and I love snickerdoodles too. Please share the recipe! curmudgeon - we make cut out cookies each year that people love, along with chocolate crack. I’ll post the recipes when I get the chance. I remember your mint choc chip cookies from last year!
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Post by curmudgeon on Dec 4, 2019 18:28:45 GMT -6
My friend linked me to pecan pie bark. I may try making that this year. It looks easy enough!
I’m so happy I took off a few fridays this month. I need some time alone to wrap presents and shop for H.
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Post by August Blooms on Dec 4, 2019 23:16:27 GMT -6
duskymonkey Thanks for the recipe! danvers I’m still working my way through the Crown, I took a brief pause to watch the new season of Jack Ryan. I kept going into the November thread to reply and then got interrupted every time I hit send. I’ve been spending a lot of my time online shopping for furniture and Christmas. So many boxes! And the house looks great!
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Taitai
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Post by Taitai on Dec 5, 2019 7:49:44 GMT -6
August Blooms I’m so happy your house looks great after all the renovations and moving has been completed! It’s such a wonderful feeling to be content/happy with your surroundings, right? curmudgeon Ooooh - pecan pie bark sounds awesome. I love pecan pie, so I’m sure the bark would be right up my alley.
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Taitai
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Post by Taitai on Dec 5, 2019 7:54:38 GMT -6
Can eating a massive thanksgiving dinner and then taking care of the leftovers for 4 days after make your cycle come a week early? 😩😭. Whyyyyy only 3 weeks and then it get it again? I’m normally like clockwork every 28 days. Ughhhhh. At least this means I should be totally safe for our trip to the beach and a ski resort later this month. DNW to be dealing with my period on either of those trips.
On a happier note - we took DS1 to see Frozen 2 today. It was his first time ever in a movie theater, and I’d say overall it was a success. He got bored in the middle and asked a lot of questions throughout the movie in a loud voice, so I’m reaaaaalllly glad that we took him to the kids theater. I’m not sure if kids theaters are popular in the states, but it’s where they have a play area inside the movie theater (just below the screen), keep the lights dimly on, and they let kids make noise/run amok throughout the show. Took the pressure off me keeping him quiet! He did sit through the whole thing, so that’s good! I think he liked it...but I’m not sure he really understood a good chunk of it. Lots of emotions in that one! 🤣
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Post by August Blooms on Dec 5, 2019 20:03:22 GMT -6
Taitai They just converted a theater near us to a kids only. It’s such a great concept! And solidarity with the short cycle. It just happened to me, worst surprise. Beach and ski vacation? Sounds like a lot of fun!
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Taitai
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Post by Taitai on Dec 6, 2019 7:55:11 GMT -6
Taitai They just converted a theater near us to a kids only. It’s such a great concept! And solidarity with the short cycle. It just happened to me, worst surprise. Beach and ski vacation? Sounds like a lot of fun! Isn’t it such a good idea? The ones here even have like a big slide and play set inside the theater. It’s amazing and I wish they had children’s theaters everywhere. They also turn some rows into couches, so you can watch with your kids closer to you than in separate seats. I’m a fan. And yes - we decided to go to the extremes of Christmas travel this year - 3 days at a remote tropical beach in the southern part of our country, and then a flight a few days later up to the very northernmost spot in Japan for skiing. I think the kids will love it.
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Post by August Blooms on Dec 7, 2019 9:16:18 GMT -6
Taitai That sounds like a blast. Are you putting both kids in ski lessons?
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Post by August Blooms on Dec 7, 2019 9:20:18 GMT -6
I’ve come down with some sort of flu, just body aches and general fatigue. There’s this neighborhood about 20 minutes away and it does this huge Christmas light display so we went there last night to check it out and the went for GF fish and chips. After I spent most of the day at the children’s hospital which I had to drive to in the snow. It was a day so hopefully this doesn’t turn into anything. There’s a gluten free bakery that’s doing cookie decorating and I’m taking DD1 tomorrow.
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Post by curmudgeon on Dec 7, 2019 17:11:25 GMT -6
It’s been such nice weather here. I was outside with the kids and came in to H vacuuming and mopping. He has never ever done either in this house so I’m very 🤔 but appreciative?
I took the day off yesterday and knocked out most of the wrapping. In doing so I realized DS1 has double the amount of gifts as DS2. That doesn’t matter right? I keep telling myself he’s still too young to notice.
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Post by curmudgeon on Dec 7, 2019 17:12:58 GMT -6
And here’s DS2 enjoying some sushi yesterday.
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danvers
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Post by danvers on Dec 7, 2019 19:50:41 GMT -6
August Blooms I hope you can get a nap or two this weekend and feel better soon! What did you think of Jack Ryan season 2? I liked it a lot, but it had been so long since I’d seen season 1I had to keep asking H if so-and-so was in that last one or other plot points I’d forgotten. curmudgeon yea, DD1 here has more presents too. It was easier to buy for her because she can articulate what she wants. I was really grasping to come up with somethings for DD2 without adding to the chaos and clutter we seem to have.
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Post by curmudgeon on Dec 7, 2019 22:18:26 GMT -6
curmudgeon yea, DD1 here has more presents too. It was easier to buy for her because she can articulate what she wants. I was really grasping to come up with somethings for DD2 without adding to the chaos and clutter we seem to have. yes, I think this is our issue too. Also, he gets all of DS1’s old toys so between those and the few new things it seems like we have anything ever created already.
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Taitai
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Post by Taitai on Dec 8, 2019 7:58:33 GMT -6
August Blooms I’m sorry you’re sick! Like was for the gluten bakery cookie decorating and the cool lights display. I hope you are at 100% soon. I have had this sore, itchy throat for about 5 days now, and the kids have coughs. I just want it all to go away before we leave for our trips. We are putting DS1 in ski camp for the second year in a row, which is exciting. DS2 is still too little to start (they don’t do lessons or camp until age 3 in Japan), so he’s just going to sled and play in the snow 😊....and drink hot chocolate....and nap.....and watch Christmas videos with me while DH skis and DS1 is in camp 👍 curmudgeon I love that your DS2 is eating sushi!!! Both of our boys love sushi, and it’s so cute to hear DS2 ask for it! He only does avocado and tamago sushi now...what is yours eating? I don’t think I could get DS2 to eat raw fish yet. 99% sure he’s spit that out.
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Taitai
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Post by Taitai on Dec 8, 2019 8:03:19 GMT -6
We had a great Sunday today - the weather was perrrfect!! It was 75 F and breezy and the air quality was okay! That basically never happens here, so we took advantage of it and played outside most of the day. We also took the kids to a tasty Japanese restaurant that specializes in udon/soba noodles. The kids loved sitting at the tatami table, and this place brings kids meals on a serving platter that looks like a high speed Shinkansen Japanese bullet train. I love how kid friendly Japanese restaurants are here (and in Japan....for some reason I’ve found that Japanese restaurants in the USA aren’t really that kid friendly 🤷♀️).
Oh, and we watched Home Alone with DS1 during DS2’s afternoon nap. I totally forgot how violent the slap stick comedy in that is....😬😬. Maybe we’ll focus on Frosty and The Snowman next time we do a holiday video.
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Post by curmudgeon on Dec 8, 2019 8:07:22 GMT -6
Taitai in the pic he’s shoving raw salmon in his mouth and the roll has raw tuna I think (that was H’s so not sure what’s in it). He loves it. But he strongly dislikes cooked meat- like chicken, beef, pork, etc.
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Taitai
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Post by Taitai on Dec 8, 2019 8:15:57 GMT -6
Taitai in the pic he’s shoving raw salmon in his mouth and the roll has raw tuna I think (that was H’s so not sure what’s in it). He loves it. But he strongly dislikes cooked meat- like chicken, beef, pork, etc. I’m impressed - raw salmon and tuna are tricky textures for 2 year olds! Even the Japanese kids I know won’t normally want to eat the raw stuff until 3 or 4. I guess if you can’t get him I eat cooked meat, this is your alternative 🤣 My kids are also really hit or miss with meat in general. They like cooked fish (especially salmon and snow fish), but forget about steak, pork chops, or any other meat that is remotely chewy. Chicken, hot dogs, and ground pork/hamburger normally work out.
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