Surprise Date Night!

I still can't believe it. Rob told me last week to save Saturday night for him. He had something planned. Then he proceeds to tell me that Monkey will be sleeping over Grammy and Papa's, he just needed me to commit. Okay! Wow...I am not used to this. A night out just with my hubby and one that he planned all by himself...I didn't have to worry about what we were going to do or if everyone was having fun or how are we going to pay for this...he took care of it all and I got to relax...what is that again???

What a wonderful night! He started by taking me to Surf in Nashua- my favorite restaurant of all time. We had a drink at the bar and shared our favorite appetizer and salad. Just perfect. We used to say we love the drinks and apps and are usually too full by dinner so this time, we did it just right. (Maybe I should let him make the plans from now on!)

Then we headed out and to Manchester because he got tickets to one of my favorite bands....RASCAL FLATTS!!!! I still can't believe it.

They are one of the top selling country bands of all time and they sing some of our favorite songs...My Wish (which we used in Diana's first year birthday video)...What Hurts The Most...Life is a Highway and so many more.

They did not disappoint and it felt like we were teenagers on a date..we talked about that. Because of our life circumstances, we never had the fun...carefree dating life that so many couples enjoy...I actually never had that...always had to be grown up and serious and worry about how fast I could get married because that is what I was supposed to do.

All I have to say now is "God Bless the Broken Road That Lead Me Straight To You"

Thanks Rob..I had a blast and you planning everything means the world to me xoxoxo

Sign Time!

Corn Dip

and yet another recipe from Mel! I found another similar recipe and blended the two to make my own variation- a little less spice pretty much. Zack was too afraid to try it but Rob was none too thrilled with this one. This is a great appetizer option- a nice dip to bring to parties or have outside on your deck as you are grilling! Let me know what you think but it gets a thumbs up here in the Breton house!

Corn Dip

Ingredients:
3 (11oz.) cans of Mexican-style corn
1 (4oz.) can of diced green chilies, drained
1 cup sour cream
3/4 cup mayo
10 oz. of shredded cheddar cheese



Instructions:
Mix all ingredients and cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Best served with Fritos or Tostitos (the scoops are the bomb!)

Monkey Bread

I have been dying to try some of Mel's recipes (from The Larson Lingo). She makes everything look wonderful. I thought, what better time, than a snowy weekend. Another snowy weekend- yuck!

Well, I am so excited that I mastered the Monkey Bread. We are hosting Easter this year and I CANNOT WAIT! We will be going to mass (all of us- kids...both sets of parents...love it) and then we are coming back to our house for brunch.

Monkey bread will certainly be on the menu now. It is easy and a real kid-pleaser!

Enjoy!

Monkey Bread!
The Ingredients:
4 packages of Pillsbury Buttermilk Biscuits
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon, divided
1 cup brown sugar
1 stick butter
1 T of Karo Syrup



Directions:
In a saucepan, melt 1 cup brown sugar, 1 stick of butter, 1 t of cinnamon & 1 T of Karo syrup on low, stirring every minute or so.

While your sauce heating, cut your biscuits in half with kitchen scissors

Place the cut up biscuits into the ziplock, add 1/3 cup white sugar & 1 t of cinnamon into a large ziplock bag.

Shake the bag & make sure your biscuit pieces are nice & coated!

Keep stirring your brown sugar mixture until it is all melted

Put the coated biscuits into a Bundt pan (I spray mine with Pam) & drizzle butter/brown sugar mixture over the top of biscuits.




Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes until nice & golden.

Let cool in bundt pan for 10 minutes. Then, flip it onto a plate!

Perfection! Pull apart pieces and enjoy!

"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

UMD Memories

Spring Ball- Senior Year- with Kel and Steph

My friend Kelly, from college, messaged me today on Facebook and asked me to fill out this little survey. WOW! This really tested my memory! As I struggled to remember names of bars, etc, I found myself laughing and also getting that familiar pain in my heart...how I miss my friends and loves from UMD. My favorite part of college was always having friends around ALL THE TIME...you never had to be alone and that was wonderful. I replied to Kelly and though I would post it on my blog as she is one of my loyal followers as well. Love ya Kel and hope to see you soon xoxoxo

Here was my response:

Oh wow Kel- how fun! I may have to put this on my blog :) Ok- here goes nothing!

My UMD answers for the following are:

Favorite restaurant (depends on the year- sophomore year was Pizza Hut- remember the breadsticks? overall fave was D'Angelos and by Senior Year, close to graduating and entering the real world, my taste buds became more particular and I loved Freestone's on the waterfront in New Bedford)

Favorite meal at the cafe- in the dorms, it would've been the chicken patty sandwich (can still hear Brian and Kevin doing their chicken patty song) and then in the commuter cafe, as a junior and senior, it was the bagels- they were the bomb!

Favorite drink- at the time it was beer- 25 cent drafts at Matt Neil's- remember? ha ha!

Favorite bar- I can't believe I am struggling with remembering the names but I would say The Rat..before we were 21- so much more thrilling and then more underage bars would Giesta's...and what was the one down on the water in Fairhaven- LOVED it there too! Then there was the Palladium...remember that place? so many fun times there too

Favorite expression- I'm ALL SET and It's ALL GOOD/AG Baby

Best night out- one of the Senior Nights at the Rat stands out in my mind right now

Best night in- With Brian, freshman year

Craziest night out- one of many Junior Year- a party at Rotch St- that was my craziest year of all

Craziest trip/road trip- Cancun of course :)

Favorite song- All for Love by Color Me Bad- some close seconds include Baby Got Back and Informer and IF by Janet Jackson

Favorite experience- Guys and Dolls is at the top of mine too Kel- all of my theatre company experiences, my experiences working at the Disabled Student Services, Cancun and then living in the Dell- overall best was having friends to be with every day of my life in college

Most unusual experience? ummm...several...really can't mention here but yes....the walk of shame is included in them- ha ha

Thanks Kel- this was a blast and reminded me once again how much fun I had :)

Dear Diana (at 2 and 1/2) !

Dear Diana,

Wow! I don't even know how we got here. You are truly a little person now. This past week, more than any, I have had what I am calling "baby remorse". I have been flashing back so much, about times when you were a cooing baby...all drooley and such. I miss my little baby so much but I am so happy and grateful that you are a healthy, happy little girl. More and more, too, I feel like I have a little sidekick who enjoys the things I do. I know this feeling will only get stronger and I am so excited to share life with you.

You are quite the character. Not only do we notice it but all four of your grandparents do, your teachers do and even the other moms at dance class have made comments to me. You have quite the personality and you are such a ham!

I describe you to people like this- "she is like a boy- she just wants to run and jump!" It is so true. I also call you our "Energizer Bunny" because you continuously outlast all of us! I am in bed before you sometimes!

Some of your newest sayings that are quite comical are: Chuck E Cheese (your ch's are over pronounced ESPECIALLY when you are scared-hysterical) and Angela for that matter because the g also becomes a ch! (ha ha) Last week (this has been your newest catch phrase- you love saying you did things or saw people LAST WEEK. Pirate Booty (also a new favorite healthy snack)- you say it so cute but not when you yell it in church!!

Favorite activities: Dance Class (and of course the way you say that) is still #1. You LOVE going to class each week and Mama really messed up this week. It is school vacation week and the studio was closed and I didn't realize it until I pulled into the parking lot- although you were shocked and just stared at me scared for the longest time, you let it roll off your back and then lunch at McD's helped you fully recover.










You love going to Mimi and Papa's and playing with all of the toys they have bought you AND you especially love when they take you to Rain Forest Cafe (this is also something very funny that you say- you say it like you are a little Irish girl with a brogue "Rain Fod est" so precious. You are scared with some of the animals BUT love to face your fear...or obsess like someone else you picked that up from- ha ha! You have been spending more and more time with Papa Bob and Grammy and you have enjoyed some sleepovers there too. You walk like you "own the joint" . It is just hysterical. You love running around in their big family room and then also running between Papa Bob in the family room and Grammy down in the bedroom...you get a kick out of that. You also watch Scooby Doo with Grammy in her bed, on the computer. You say now, "Scooby Do Where Are You??" That always touches Zack because that was his thing to do with Aunt Syl. Two new favorite activities include bowling (just went once last week but you got a BIG kick out of it) and ice skating (2 times now and the smile never leaves your face). We also plan on doing swim class again this Spring..we like to keep you busy and burning that endless energy. At home, you love to be a Mama and take care of your babies. You have nicknamed all of your babies "Silly" because I have always called you that...from day one. So now you are the Mama and your babies are Silly.

Favorite shows: So Elmo is still a favorite but you really don't watch Sesame anymore (occasionally so Mama can feel like she still has a baby). The Fresh Beats are still a favorite and now you like to play along with your guitar or drums. Two weeks ago, you discovered Barney and Daddy said that he couldn't believe he was back here again. You are mesmerized with him the way you were with Elmo in the beginning- it is too cute. You also enjoy Dino Dan- that kills me- it is really the stereotypical boys show at 5pm and you don't move a muscle when it is on- I don't even understand what is going on with that show but it seems like you do! You still love the other Nick Jr shows too like Little Bill, Olivia, Ni Hao Kai Lan, Wonder Pets and Dora but most of the time you rather run around and play with your toys.

Favorite foods: Typical toddler- one week you love something, the next week you hate it. I am impressed, however, with your love of fruit, broccoli and green beans so we try to add these healthy elements to as many meals as possible.

You are so sensitive. When you truly cry (not the cry when you are angry/having a tantrum), I cry. You wear your heart on your sleeve like a few others I know and you are truly a caring and special little girl. When you think you have hurt someone's feelings, you quickly say "I sorry" and try to give them a hug. Pain in my heart.

I want you to keep that sensitivity and care in your heart forever.

I love you my baby bird.

Love, Mama

Dance Class!

So Mama messed up and forgot there was no dance class this past week (because of school vacation)...Miss Diana was none to pleased but actually took it pretty well!

Here are some more shots in her little outfit from the last few months

PS She has started rehearsing her dance recital number...stay tuned for Baby Bumble Bee!

Zack's Sophomore Year of Basketball

Zack is Co-Captain of the WHS Jaguar JV Basketball Team! The Jags destroyed Pelham- a sweet victory! So proud of Zack for not only his athletic and academic achievements but his maturity...we even got to meet his new, sweet girlfriend after the game :)






and Monkey had a blast...playing with Sabrina...hanging with Lisa and then of course with her "Dibbie"...she is always the life of the party!

Skating!

WOW! We all had a busy weekend BUT especially Monkey! After enjoying a string of bowling, we returned to the ice! We hit up the Ice Center in Salem for their public skating hour on Sunday. Well not all of us! This time Ally joined Daddy and Monkey on the ice and Zack and I "supervised" and took some pictures!

Here are a few (much tougher venue this time!)

Diana's 1st Time Bowling!

As soon as the nice gentleman put our bowling shoes on the counter, she pointed to the little ones and said "those are mine!" We didn't even know they made shoes that small- they were adorable!

Well Diana just loved it- of course she just threw the ball and most went into the gutter..she was antsy at first and just wanted to keep running and keep throwing balls but as time went on, she started to listen to us and even started to watch each ball go down the lane and see how many pins it hit.

Fun fun time...look at her in those shoes! :)

10 on 10: February 2011

So there is something in the blogging community called 10 on 10. On the 10th of the month, you are charged with taking 10 pictures throughout the day. The pictures should document the things you are going through on that day.

Well the last two months, since I discovered this fun project, the 10th has been on an office day for me and I am sure that no one wants to see several shots of my computer and phone and desk...well you get the picture.

Just for kicks, I did my 10 yesterday (oh yes on the 19th of February)..I guess that is quirky me. I just couldn't wait to partake in this AND yesterday was a super exciting and busy day (and my days are usually not that exciting so why not capture it when it comes by every so often!)

Here it goes!

We lost power! SHOCKER! Of course we did. We live in Windham and the wind blows the wrong way, we lose power. Early Saturday morning, the winds were up to 50 miles an hour! We woke up to this- cold house!


There was no power at Jazzercise either so headed over to the gym for a treadmill workout


Needed coffee after! No power = no keurig. Stopped at Dunks and horrified to find this note on the drive thru- BOO!


Since Diana slept over Grammy and Papa's on Friday night, she was still at their house warm (thanks to their generator) and we headed over to hang out for awhile...shower and have some quality time


Sheet music that Rob printed up for me so I was prepared for voice class. (Our theater director is offering a few of us, from the show, some voice classes at her studio in Nashua- will be getting some training for the next few weeks- so fun and these specific lessons are to train for auditions- so cool


The girls met for a quick lunch at Margarita's next to Michele's studio


Here is Michele in action with Becca (it is funny how my only peeps who never have a problem with me taking pictures for my blog are my theater peeps- go figure- just hysterical!)


Back at home, Rob and I catch up on Facebook while the Monk naps!


We grabbed a cas dinner over at the pub in town- J. Michael's- Monk enjoyed Mama's sunglasses and accessories more than her hot dog!


And we ended the day with an adventure! Monk's first time bowling! As soon as they put the shoes on the counter, she pointed to the little ones and said "those are mine" - separate post coming on that one- just too precious!