Favorite Foods...

We are often asked if the girls are different. What are the differences? Who is more like Dave or me? Well, the only thing I can tell you for sure is that the girls are very different. Let's take the subject of food...

Some of Ev's favorite foods...
Salsa - and she likes it HOT!
Grapefruit juice - just learned this today
Seltzer Water - she calls it bubbly juice
Spicy Tomato Soup
Guacomole
Cheese Quesadillas
Pancakes with Strawberry Jam
Cream Cheese with Bagels (but she does not like generic bagels, only the good ones!)
Chicken Curry from Trader Joe's

Some of Erin's favorite foods...
BBQ sauce and Ketchup
Peas - and lots of them!
Hot Dogs and Chicken Nuggets
Chicken Soup - preferably made by GiGi - my mom

Somethings seem to be universally loved like goldfish and lemonade, but it is fun to see and celebrate their differences.

Another Walk Update

Well, I think I'll be back to walking tomorrow or Sunday. Probably not as fast and far as usual, but no longer limping like a nut!

I've raised $1,275 toward my walk which is great! If you've waited to donate, please help me out!! I can use all the help I can get. There is a link at the top of my blog.

I am looking forward to getting back in the swing of walking! And, the girls are asking to go to Bally's - all good things!

Ev's Update

Wednesday night I had dinner with my Dad after my mom had knee surgery. When I got home from dinner Ev was in bed with Dave. This is about as abnormal as it can get in our house. But, she was miserable - kept saying her ear hurt. We could not get her down to bed, so she slept with us - which was not a good nights sleep for anyone, but also not a big deal.

I took her to the doctor and she has a double ear infection! Yuck. My girls never get ear infections, so I don't know where this came from. Thankfully I was able to get her prescription in a chewable and she takes it like candy. Liquid medicine is torture!!!

She's feeling better already and I could not be happier!!!

Funny Erin Stories...

We went to a party at my brothers house for my nephews birthday. I took Erin to the bathroom to do her business. She looked at the potty and then me and then the potty. She said to me "Mom, that's a NICE potty!" Apparently my brother has a nicer toilet than me - and apparently Erin notices these kinds of things!

When the girls do use the potty and go #1 they get 1 M&M. #2 gives 2 M&Ms - nice system. Well, they hang out at my friend Jen's a few weeks ago while Dave and I went to a party for St. Patty's Day. Jen is far more generous than me. She gives 5 M&Ms if they go #1. The girls far prefer Jen's system. The day after we got home Erin made a nice little deposit and proceeded to tell me she'd like 5 M&Ms. I said that we get one. She said, "but, I really want 5." Well, don't we all!

As I am typing this blog I am listening to Erin chat over the monitor - Ev is still sleeping. Erin just yelled at a garbage truck - telling it Sissy is sleeping and it needs to be quieter. Never mind Erin screaming maybe waking Ev - it would have been the truck's fault. Then I heard her say to herself "Oh boy. I am wearing underpants. I know what that means." Good!

Walking Update....

Well, no walks for about a week. Why did I fall off the bandwagon? Well, I broke (or at least really smashed) my middle toe. I opened the fridge and a glass jar of jelly fell smack on my toe. It was shades of purple and black. It is now feeling pretty good. I should be able to resume my walks this weekend - yeah! What a dumb way to hurt yourself - I did not realize opening the fridge could cause bodily harm..........

Donations are Rolling In!!!

Yesterday I sent out over 100 e-mails asking for donations to my Breast Cancer Walk. I have been so thankful for the great response I have received. To date, I have raised $790. I still have a long way to go, but am off to a great start!! If you enjoy my blog and want to support me, please do so on the link on this site - at the top right.

Super Yummy Corned Beef...

This year I made my corned beef in the crock pot and it turned out great!!!

3 carrots, cut into 1 inch pieces
3-4 lbs corned beef brisket
2-3 onions, cut into quarters
10 small red potatoes, halved, 6 medium quartered, 4 large cut into six pieces
1 small head of cabbage, cut into wedges keeping the core on each wedge so they stay in wedges
1/2-2 teaspoon mustard powder
1/2-2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 sprig thyme
1 teaspoon sugar
12 ounces Guinness stout
1 cup water
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper

Place carrots into bottom of crock pot.

Add corned beef brisket & onions.

Mix together beer, water, sugar, dry mustard, garlic powder, sprig of thyme, salt and pepper.

Pour into crock pot.

Cover & cook on low heat for 8 hours.

If carrots and onions are tender you can remove them, placing them in a covered dish. Add cabbage wedges and potatoes to crock pot & push down into liquid.

Turn crock pot on high & cook 2 more hours adding back the veggies if removed just to warm.

I've fallen in love... with my bread machine!

When Dave and I got married I registered for a bread machine. And, like every other woman that gets a bread machine - it stayed packed away for years. A few weeks ago I was sick of paying a lot for bread filled with corn syrup, so I took it out and made a loaf - and it was great! So, I am now experimenting with all kids of bread recipes.

I especially love recipes without eggs or milk, as you can use the timer and have the loaf just in time for breakfast! What a treat!

I made this loaf for the President Obama inauguration party I went to - it was excellent!!

Hawaiian Bread
3/4 cup pineapple juice
1 egg
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 1/2 tablespoons honey
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups bread flour
2 tablespoons milk
2 teaspoons fast or quick rising yeast

Place ingredients in bread machine container in order directed by manufacturer.
Cycle: white, sweet, no timer.
Setting: light.

One for the books...

Dave here.

The other evening Nancy was preparing for the Twin's Club resale. She took the girls to the resale and I came by after work and brought them home while she stayed to help out more.

On the drive home Evelyn, Erin and I had a quite a nice little conversation. It's so neat being able to have multi-sentence discussions with them now. While were were on our way home Erin told me some "good news". Apparently she has a baby in her tummy. I'm guessing this is from talking about Kayte's baby that is in her tummy.

Once informed about this news I asked Erin, "What is your baby's name?"

"Uhm... baby Jesus," she told me.
I guess a dad can't really get mad at that.

One step at a time...

One step at a time my miles are adding up! And walking 5 miles is a breeze. Pretty soon I'll up my walks a bit beyond 5. The trick is I can't really increase them too much when I have the girls with me - they can't spend too much time at Bally's with me. So I think I'll switch some of my workouts to the evening when I can have more time to rack up the miles.

Stats:
Miles Walked: 50
Cross Training Time: 60
Blisters: 4
Pounds Lost: 5
Donations to Date: $45

So busy!

I have been so busy lately I have not had time to think - nevermind blog. I am the co-chair for my twins clubs resale - and this weekend is the last one I have any responsibility for! It is not that much work - just a bunch of last minute details. And since I am also selling stuff I am just swamped. Oh and don't forget I am walking like a crazy person!

But, the girls have been up to a lot lately.

They both caught a 24 hour bug last week. Ev had it worse than Erin. She woke on Friday and had her milk - only to vomit it all up about an hour later. I gave them both a very small breakfast of only crackers and really mild food and took Ev to the doctor. When I told the girls we were going to the doctor Erin asked if we were going to Dr. Baker (that's Curious George's doctor). This is a new office since we switched practices due to a move and new insurance. Of course my first encounter there left lots of memories. As we were waiting for a room to open Ev vomited all over me (I mean all over me!) and the office. So, we quickly then got a room and were able to settle down in there. After a while Erin walked over to me and told me my pants were very dirty - and smelly. Yep, they were. Erin did not want to make herself comfortable at the doctor - would not take off her jacket or sit down - she wanted to get the heck out of there! But, she did enjoy her lollipop. Dr said she just had a bug - sure enough the next day she was back to her old self!

At their babysitters they are working on letters. Today we are on C. They brought in lots of C items - cats, a camel, a cupcake and some other cute things.

Erin is not very big on naps lately. She'll stay in her room about an hour and then I usually let her out. She helps me prepare dinner. Yesterday we made salad dressing and lemonade and she thought that was a lot of fun!

And - not that I am potty training... But, the girls are doing pretty well using the potty and they enjoy their underpants. My biggest problem is not having time to really focus on this - especially with the walking. But, they are both doing great.

Tomorrow is supposed to be 60!!! I can't wait to get them outside to play! We might even try out a walk in the nice warm outdoors!! That'll feel like a heatwave................

30 and counting.......

Well, I am still walking! That's the good news. One step at a time. The bad news is that Ev got a bad stomach bug - probably from Bally's! But, she is fine and I am back in the routine. Last week I managed to get there for 15 miles of walking and 60 minutes of various cardio. I was pretty pleased with that! And, this week is off to a good start with 5 miles this morning.


Stats:
Miles Walked: 30
Cross Training Time: 60
Blisters: 4
Pounds Lost: 3