Happy Ever After?

I haven't written anything in a really long time, the words always seem to get stuck at the end of my fingertips and never quite make it onto the page. The brief moments when the words do come easy, I'm lucky to have a pen handy to capture them... Tonight was one of those rare nights...

no matter how I try
I just can’t walk away
as crazy as it is
I can’t commit to stay
hiding from the truth
I project it all on you
try to numb the pain
it’s the easy thing to do
can’t look myself in the mirror
for fear of what I’ll see
stuck somewhere in between
where I’ve been and where I want to be

the years will pass on by
and where will that leave me
naked in the dark
grasping for a dream
the question of tomorrow
is killing me today
and happy ever after
seems so far away

the harder that I try
the more you push away
and just when I’m about to leave
you beg me to please stay
with twisted hearts and tangled limbs
we reconcile once again
not knowing in our hearts
how this story’s going to end
so I’ll take a leap of faith
if you’ll jump with me
not sure where we are headed
we’ll have to wait and see

the years will pass on by
and where will that leave me
contentment in my heart
living out my dream
the promise of tomorrow
is thrilling me today
and happy ever after
doesn’t seem so far away

OH LAURYN, WHERE ART THOU???

Where was I in 2002 when this was released, living under a rock? I can't believe how incredible the Unplugged album is! The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was great but this tops it by a mile in my book! The acoustic guitar and her gorgeous voice are too much to handle! Is there any hope for another album? She's got five kids or something crazy with Rohan Marley, one of Bob Marley's sons, so that probably takes up a great deal of time, but please!! I WANT MORE!!!! Thank you pandora.com for the wake-up call!

I Find It Hard to Say (Rebel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ofe6sc6_CpI

Water (the follow-up to Rebel)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SF_KWhlxKyo

I LOVE YOU, WARREN HAYNES!!!

I have recently started a complete love affair with Warren Haynes. I've always admired him as an artist. He is so completely into what he does, he not only plays in The Allman Brothers, but also Gov't Mule and The Dead! Not to mention all of his solo projects! That man is dedicated!!! His live, acoustic album from Bonnaroo 2004 is so amazing...even though I was there in person, I didn't quite have such an appreciation for his ability to play the guitar and the beauty and rawness of his voice back then! I keep listening to it on repeat and it's one of those albums that every song is awesome! His lyrics are so much more than just words strewn together! I am also a huge Dave Matthews fan and I think that their musical styles are somewhat similar, although I will say that Warren has recently won my heart!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tOP1SVRbPMutube.com/watch?v=_tOP1SVRbPM
Beautifully Broken...(this is not the best version I've heard, the acoustic is amazing, but this is still a great example)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRapyEORGfA
Patchwork Quilt (acoustic version...tribute song to Jerry Garcia. Soooo good!!)

Here are some of my favorite lyrics from this one:

We were at Jones Beach
When we got the word
Saddest sound that I ever heard
The bluest note that nobody could play
Ravens sang with us that night on the stage
Tears of sadness, tears of rage
But nobody spoke, we all felt old
And in the way

So walk beside me
Or above me, I don't know

These days it sure seems
I'm lost where ever I go
God, how could you, I heard someone say
And what do we do with our lives now anyway?
Now that our North Star can no longer be found

But there's a banjo moon in a tie-dyed sky
Hippies dance and babies cry
Church bells ring as a silver-haired angel look down
And the blood of his music runs through the veins of our guitars
Bright lights, Dark Star

PECAN CRUSTED PORK CHOPS WITH SMASHED POTATOES AND GREEN BEANS

I have never been a fan of pork chops...just the thought of them takes me back to my childhood, where they made their less than welcomed appearance quite frequently on the dinner table. Just in the past few years, I have discovered how great pork tenderloin can be. But, pork chops have always been overlooked on my shopping trips due to our somewhat dry past. That is, until last night...

Scanning the meat selection at Giant Eagle late last night I came across some "manager specials" (my favorite). Something in me couldn't pass up two packages of boneless pork chops that totaled just under $3. (Hey, times are tough...I'm trying to save some $$ for the holidays :)

For dinner, I coated each pork chop with Annie's Organic Honey Mustard and rolled them in crushed pecans. I simply baked them in the oven at 350 degrees, covered, for about 25 minutes and then uncovered for another 5 or so. I served it with smashed redskin potatoes and green beans. The pork chops were a hit with everyone and I even impressed myself! They were so juicy, not at all dry like I remembered. Paired with the crunchy sweetness of the pecans and honey mustard flavor, I still can't believe how delicious yet simple this recipe was! This is an easy, go-to recipe that I will definitely use again when I come across another deal on the "other white meat".

Weekly Random Photo This photo was taken last year right after a big snow storm... I love how everything is frozen like a glass menagerie. The single set of footprints in the freshly fallen snow heading towards the house makes me want to curl up with a cup of hot cocoa and pray for a blizzard!

SANTA IS REALLY HOOKING UP

THE BEAN THIS CHRISTMAS

I have to confess, I am an Ebay junkie. I am not nearly as bad as my counterpart, but I have found some really great stuff. For Christmas this year, we decided to buy some of our gifts online. Ben has told us countless times that he wants cars from Santa so Mike set out to find some Hot Wheels accessories on ebay. Some of the gently used toys are a fraction of the cost compared to when purchased new and I guarantee that our two-year-old is not going to care that it didn't come pre-packaged with a bunch of those stupid twist-tie thingies connecting it to the box. In fact, I'm pretty sure when he wakes up to this entire Hot Wheels "metropolis" which is comprised of nine different parts of the city, he won't want to open a single other present before he plays with it!! The entire thing cost $50 and each city brand new is at least $20-30! His dad can't wait to set the whole thing up for him. It will be great to see his face light up when he sees this thing set up under the tree Christmas morning. I'm not sure who is going to have more fun playing with it, Ben or daddy! ;)

Have You Fiddled a Photo Before??
www.photofiddle.com
Here is another one of those sites that you can waste an enormous amount of time at checking out cool stuff! You can upload any picture from your computer and then choose from many different painting techniques to change it. It is really cool to look at your own photos as a watercolor painting or a great head shot as pop art. The best part, you can order the canvas prints at any size you want and they will deliver them to your doorstep.

Here is one I created of my house in the fall.
http://photofiddle.com/view_for_friend.php?num=714775&str=HZLDW6JK8E587VS27978JECTLC2J96ER
Enjoy! Maybe I'm crazy, but I think they would make great Christmas gifts!

"That Really Piss Me Off, Mom"

OMG!! I totally need to watch my mouth! I was just messing with the power connection (for the hundredth time) on the computer because it won't stay plugged in and I blurted out, "This thing really pisses me off!"

Ben has repeated it at least ten times and he is crashing his trucks together saying, "That really piss me off...mom, that really piss me off!"

OOOPPPSSS...I don't want to make a big deal about it or else it might seem even more appealing to say! Hopefully, by lunchtime he will have moved on to something else and forgotten it completely. I had better learn to sensor my "potty mouth" or else my two-year-old is going to have quite a colorful vocabulary!!!

High Fructose Corn Syrup is "Natural"???

Check out this commercial the Corn Refiners Association has been running...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEbRxTOyGf0

High fructose corn syrup is derived from corn...but cocaine is also derived from a plant, and I think we can all agree that it's not exactly "natural". Once something has been chemically altered, it's no longer "natural", no matter where it came from to begin with! I just thought this was such a crock!! They forgot to mention how much worse it is for you than sugar when not eaten in moderation!! Hello, we are Americans...we don't know how to do anything in moderation! Many other countries won't allow HFCS in their food products (as well as partially hydrogenated oils, which are a whole other can of worms for me), but the good 'ol U.S.A. will feed her people shit and have the audacity to lie in our faces about it! What's next, nicotine is fine in moderation too, huh? After all, tobacco is a plant!!!

Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps

Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps

18-in-1 Hemp Peppermint Pure-Castile Soap is made with organic oils and is certified Fair Trade. This liquid soap is the best stuff on earth! You can use it to lather up with in the shower, wash your hair, wash your face, clean the house, do the laundry...the list goes on and on.

I would highly recommend a scalp rub with this stuff. It is so tingly and invigorating! I wouldn't wash my hair with it every day, however, because the oils tend to build up a little bit over time and your hair gets kind of a weird texture to it. It is also a great face wash. I have normal/combination skin and it doesn't clog my pores ever! One final word of caution...I wouldn't use it where the sun doesn't shine...you might not exactly enjoy that kind of tingling!!

They also have bar soaps, which are great! They have a wide selection of scents such as citrus, lavender and one that is even safe for babies! It used to be really hard to find these soaps, but now you can find them at Giant Eagle, Kroger and even Target. If you haven't tried Dr. Bronner's, you're missing out!!

"I'VE GOT MYSELF A NEW MOTTO. IT SAYS, DON'T FORGET TO HAVE A GOOD TIME!"

I hate to admit, but it's been a quite a few years since Ani has come out with new material that I am absolutely in love with. Don't get me wrong, there are a few off the last albums that I listened to quite a bit and liked, but I wouldn't say I've fallen madly in love with anything in a while... that is, until now!

Red Letter Year has its ups and downs. Again, not an album you would continually listen to straight through, but each song is unique and worth at least a listen. Several songs, including Present/Infant, are somehow related to being a mom or having a baby. It means so much to me to hear my favorite artist put into words some of the feelings I have experienced as a mother myself . She is such a wordsmith!!! I have played #3 so many times, my own son has even told me, "nuff mom!" This one is so great, I have to share some of the lyrics with you...

"lately i've been glaring in the mirrors

picking myself apart

you'd think at my age i'd have thought of something better to do

than make insecurity into a full-time job

make insecurity into an art"

and...

"don't let the sellers of stuff

power enough

to rob you of your grace

love is all over the place"

Way Tight, song #5, is another favorite! I love the music and the lyrics so much on this one...it's just real life! Landing Gear, song #10, is also another great one about awaiting the birth of her baby. I suggest checking out Ani's website http://www.righteousbabe.com/ and you can preview each song and read the lyrics! It's a c.d. worth buying, in my opinion...it'll get plenty of play time, even if you do skip a few from time to time!

SILK NOG VS. EGG NOG:

THE SHOWDOWN

Every year, around this time, I start to feel really festive. The lights are hung outside, the tree is decorated, there are cookies in the cookie jar... Without fail, at some point, I break down and buy a carton off egg nog, only to have a small glass and let the rest of the nearly $5 carton go to waste, decomposing in the fridge until the last lights have come down in January! This year, I decided to give egg nog another shot and instantly remembered why I'm just not really a fan. The consistency is just too thick and the yellow color is an instant reminder that you are clogging your arteries with each sip. I tried adding spiced rum which helped water down the consistency, but I still wasn't impressed!

In the past few years, I've really grown to love soy milk. I've never really loved cow's milk anyway, so I actually kind of prefer the mild, somewhat nutty flavor. I have also learned that not all soy milks are created equal, and Silk is my favorite brand. While shopping last week, I came across Silk Nog, and I just had to try it. No eggs, no cream...how could they reproduce such a thing without the main ingredients? I'll tell you what, they can and they did!!! The consistency is thinner and the flavor is very similar to egg nog, but it just tastes lighter and so much more delicious! I would recommend to any egg nog fan, or even to those who are weary of the stuff...Try Silk Nog!!!! It tastes much better, in my opinion, and it's much better for you! For the perfect, no-fuss holiday drink, add spiced rum...

All will be merry and bright! Cheers!!!

CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF MARCELLA'S...

Last night we went to Marcella's at Polaris for Maggie's last dinner in Columbus before she leaves for Las Vegas. It was a free-for-all ordering frenzy and we ended up stuffed to the unbutton-your-top-button extreme! Well worth it, though! We ordered lots of cheese, (taleggio being my absolute favorite, with the goat cheese and pecorino not far behind) and salami, several delicious pizzas (roasted eggplant with ricotta cheese was my favorite), chicken parmesan and meatballs. We couldn't let Maggie leave Columbus without ordering profiteroles for dessert one last time, so we all made sure to help her finish them! There isn't much I wouldn't do for the pistachio ones...they're that good!

Afterwards, Maggie and I went to my mom's to watch Deperate Housewives and we made our own version of lemon(y) martinis. I was inspired by Mitchell's Pinapple Ginger drink from Jamie's birthday dinner last week. We grated fresh giner and mixed vodka and pinapple juice together and shook with ice. We strained it into martini glasses and got a bit tipsy. We also tried another variation of fresh squeezed lemon with cheap, dry champagne and a whopping dollop of lemon sorbet all in a martini glass. I'm a lemon fan, so I could drink either one all night long...however, it only took me 2 1/2 to spill some on the carpet and pass out with my clothes from earlier still on!

Have a safe trip, Maggie! You will be greatly missed...but I promise to take you up on that vacation very soon! Go out to Vegas and blow it up girl!

Oh, the bittersweet goodbyes... Why do all the good girls move away???? ;(

SOMETIMES IT'S WONDERFUL TO BE REMINDED

JUST HOW SMALL WE REALLY ARE

Standing next to such an enormous sandstone outcropping will certainly give you a little perspective. You can actually run your fingers across the marks that Native Americans left hundreds of years ago while sharpening their tools. It's an incredible feeling that washes over you when you realize that many others have stood in this place before you...inscribing in stone hundreds and hundreds of years ago, or back in 1995. Either way, it's even cooler to me that I can walk to it from my own house!

Each week, I'd like to share a random photograph with you that I enjoy. It could be from a trip or just around town. A friend of mine inspired me to do this, and I think it's a great way to share snapshots from my past. I hope you'll enjoy them!

No Place I'd Rather Be Than Here

There's No Place I'd Rather

Be Than Here

It's freezing cold outside and a blanket of white is steadily covering the ground. I'm curled up on the couch with the computer in my lap, the view of the snowy hillside out my window, a orange martini on the coffee table and the rare silence of an empty house. I am as present as I can possibly be...

Being anywhere but here right now would require me to move from this spot and I am perfectly content just as I am. Watching the bare branches collect snow and Chopper curiously sniffing around the yard is all the excitement I need right now. All too soon, this brief moment of serenity will be replaced with the robust reality of a two-year-old running around the house!

K-9 Companions

K-9 COMPANIONS:

OUR FOUR-LEGGED FAMILY

MEMBERS

Before Ben was part of the picture, we considered our dogs, Chopper and Hoshi, our children! Now that Ben is here, chasing them around, pulling their tails and playing fetch with them, they seem even more special to our family than I ever imagined possible! As aggressive as Hoshi, our female Akita, can be with other dogs and animals in general, she puts up with whatever Ben throws at her (sometimes literally). If she is completely annoyed, she picks up her old bones and moves to another room, sometimes only to come back out asking for more just a few minutes later! Chopper, our male German Shepherd, is more playful, but he will let Ben know if he's had enough tail-pulling or bear-hugging by letting out a little grunt. Then, he will try to escape to the front door and beg to be let outside.


We have one of those invincible fences around about an acre or so of our yard and the dogs spend the majority of their days outside, by choice. If it is extremely cold out, Hoshi will just give you this look and not even lift her head when you ask if she wants to go outside. Not Chopper, though. Any time, day or night, he is always ready to go outside! He could be in a deep sleep and if he hears you even putting your shoes on, he is up and at the door! He lives for playing fetch and he will absolutely drive you insane wanting you to throw his ball over and over and over again!!!! Now that Ben is able to throw the ball futher than just three feet, Chopper is his new best friend!

It's been so amazing watching their love (and tolerance ;) for Ben grow since the day we brought him home. In turn, it's made me love them even more, seeing how gentle and kind they are with him. If dad's tickling him or chasing him and Ben is screaming, the dogs want to make sure that everything is alright and there is no foul play! They are very protective of him and I think it's sweet.

Anyone who has dogs knows about the love and the bond that continually grows between you. Before I had my son, I had reservations about how my large dogs would behave around my precious baby because they had never really been around kids before. I thought they might be jealous or resent him because he would take some of our attention away from them, but that was not the case at all. In fact, they have loved him from day one and fully accept him into our pack!

A "BARK" goes out to all of our four-legged friends who are no longer with us... We miss you Diesel and Sunshine!!!

Christmas Cookie Bake-Out

On Friday I got together with a few girlfriends at my mom's house and we baked Christmas cookies all day. I was pretty exhausted from our Thanksgiving feast the day earlier at her house but I sucked it up and drove back to Columbus. My friend, Maggie, is moving to Vegas in less than a week, so that explains the christmas cookie bake out in November! After two hours of perusing the baking and alcohol isles of several grocery stores, we finally settled on some cookie cutters/decorations and Kahlua, White Chocolate Godiva liqueur, rum and egg nog. Now we were ready to bake some cookies...

Mint Chocolate Martinis
First and second drink (maybe third for some ;)


2 oz. Vodka (can omit if you are trying not to get smashed, I liked it better without)

2 oz. Godiva White Chocolate Liquior


2 oz. Kaluha (or coffee liquior)


1 oz. Peppermint Schnapps


Coat rim with Chocolate (we used mint chocolate ice cream topping) and dip in crushed peppermint. We were very generous with the chocolate!




Maggie's choice: Gingerbread Cut-outs dipped in White Chocolate


These cookies were easy to make and oh so yummy! We used a gingerbread mix from the baking isle (eek, I know, but we were baking quite a few different cookies and for the sake of time ;). The recipe actually called for a gingerbread roll found in the refrigerated section but we never did find that until after the fact! Anyways, we just floured the dough, rolled it out and cut out shapes with cutters. We made sure not to over-bake them because everyone agreed that soft cookies are better than crunchy ones!! While the cut-outs were baking, we melted butter (the recipe called for shortening, but we improvised) and white chocolate chips in a double-broiler (we added about 1 tsp. milk to thin out chocolate mixture) and dipped a portion of each baked cookie in it. To make them even prettier, we decorated the white chocolate with different sprinkles and decorations right after they were dipped. We placed each sheet in the freezer for a few minutes so the chocolate would harden and then we couldn't resist a taste-test. Seriously easy and actually very good, they are an easy addition to your holiday cookie list.



Marcie's choice: Snickerdoodles

These are a favorite dating back to my early college years. We took for granted just how easy this cookie is to bake and it ended up burning some in the batch. It might have had something to do with the martinis...just a thought!


1/2 c. butter

1 c. sugar

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. cream of tartar


1 egg


1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 c. flour


2 tbsp. sugar (separated for end)


1 tsp. cinnamon (separated for end)


Cream butter, sugar and egg. Combine the remainder of the ingredients and then add as much flour as you can, beating with a mixer. (Keep sugar and cinnamon separated to roll the cookie mixture in before you place on cookie sheets). Cover and refrigerate for 1 hr. (this step makes quite a difference). Preheat oven at 375 degrees and roll cookie dough into small balls, coating with sugar/cinnamon mixture and placing on baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Everyone's oven bakes a little different, but I wouldn't leave them in longer than 10-11 minutes. Remove when tops and edges are slightly golden brown. This cookie has a tendency to get really crunchy if over-baked!!




Spiked Egg Nog
Third, fourth (and maybe fifth) drink of the night!


equal parts spiced rum and egg nog...cookie decorating just got a lot more fun!



My choice: Chocolate Peppermint Brownie Cookies
I searched far and wide on the internet for this type of recipe and then doctored it accordingly. This cookie is already scarce in my cookie tins...It's mint-chocolately goodness is simply irresistable!


1 c. flour


1/2 c. unsalted butter (at room temp)

1/2 c. light brown sugar


1/2 c. sugar


1/3 c. cocoa


1 egg (at room temp)


1 tsp. vanilla


1/2 tsp. salt


1 tsp. baking powder


8 oz. York Peppermint Patty Hershy's Premier Baking Pieces (we substituted Andes mint baking pieces because we couldn't find the york pieces ANYWHERE)



Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper. In a medium-sized bowl, combine flour, cocoa, salt and baking powder. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla and combine thoroughly. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the sweetened butter and mix until a very thick dough forms. Use a spoon to fold in peppermint pieces and stir evenly. Form cookies by dropping 1 tsp. of dough on the sheet, 2 inches apart. Flatten slightly then bake until light brown, about 12 minutes. Remove to wire rack and cool. (Appx. 2 dozen)



Everyone's choice: Pressed Sugar Cookies


I have had a metal cookie press that was given to me by my mom years ago and I schlepped it to each house when I moved, never once using it but holding on to it "just in case" the time would arise. Maggie brought up making cookies with a cookie shooter and a little light came on in my head...I think I have one of those!!! We had no idea how to use it but it ended up being really easy and the shapes were so fun! We made little dogs, wreaths, trees, sunbursts...and then decorated them with sprinkles before we popped them in the oven. I'm afraid that pressed cookies might be my new "thing" for a while...everyone I know be prepared! You could make it even easier by buying refrigerated cookie dough or a mix in order to save time.


1/4 lb. buter (softened to room temp)


1/2 c. sugar

1 egg yolk


1/2 tsp. vanilla


1 1/2 c. flour


1/2 tsp. baking powder


1/8 tsp. salt

3 tsp. evaporated milk

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cream buter & sugar. Stir in egg and vanilla. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Add to other ingredients and mix well. Place in cookie press. Press onto ungreased cookie sheets & decorate before baking for 8-10 minutes. The smaller the cookie, the shorter the time in the oven. This is another cookie that will become super crunchy if over-baked. For the really small ones, we baked them for 5 minutes at the most! They are so pretty and are sure to dress up any plate of holiday cookies!


I had a great time baking (and eating) cookies all day...Thanks girls for making this a "bake-out" to remember! Now, if I could only exert a little self control and not eat them all in the next few days!

Welcome to my blog!

A year ago, I swore I'd never have one of these, but sometimes we end up eating our words! :) I wanted to create a place where I could share my interests and ideas with whoever wants to hear them! Some of the things I'll probably talk about often are...

-Benjamin, my 2 1/2 yr. old son. The little dude means the absolute world to me and I'm impressed daily with how truly amazing he is. Just yesterday, he randomly blurted out, "I'm two and you're twenty-eight, mom." How adorable (and smart) is that? Unfortunately, kids don't come with handbooks, so some moments aren't exactly pretty. As a first-time mom, it's kind of learn as you go, but I'm loving every minute of it!

-Food and drink. I am definitely someone who lives to eat and not the other way around! I'd love to share some of my family recipes as well as rave about my favorite restaurants. I've been on a Marcella's kick lately. I enjoy a good glass of wine (or two)...red or white, depending on the meal or season. I also love concocting mixed drinks, Mint Chocolate Martinis have been a recent favorite. The chocolate rim with the peppermint candy coating...bliss! Dessert and a buzz, all in one glass!

-Music. I guess you could say I have rather "eclectic" taste. I love everything from folk to rap, bluegrass to reggae, jam band to jazz and so on. For me, being at a live show is one of the greatest feelings because that intense energy that comes from the stage mixed with the crowd cannot be reproduced on a DVD no matter how hard they try. Just in one year alone while in college, I went to almost a hundred live shows! I recently stumbled upon http://www.pandora.com/ and I can't get enough! It is unlike any other internet radio and it will expand your music repertoire by introducing you to artists that you normally might not be exposed to based on the stations that you choose. The best part is that it's free! If you find a song that you like, you have the option to purchase it so that you can download it on your computer or phone. I know I sound like a paid advertisement, but you should check it out, seriously!

-Trips and Travels...Sometimes our adventures take us far away and sometimes they take place right in our backyard. Some of the fun things we did this year were visit friends in Florida, "lake-hopping" in our new boat and zip lining through the Hocking Hills. I am crossing my fingers that a tropical vacation will be in store for 2009, but I might end up with arthritis instead!

-Glass. In recent years I have grown such an appreciation for it. In my spare time (ha ha), I fuse glass and make jewelry and other functional pieces such as plates, platters, and ashtrays, etc. I'm really into hand-painting with liquid glass as well. It's such a great creative outlet and the concept of glass bending is extremely intriguing to me! Finding people who actually want to buy the artwork is the hard part!!!

-Books & Information...Whether its a book, magazine article, internet site/forum or newspaper story, if it's information worth sharing, I will. I love to curl up and read a good book, but with a hectic life, sometimes I get my fix by searching the web or reading a magazine. I am huge advocate for the library and we visit almost every week. I read to my son every night before bedtime for at least thirty minutes and he loves to "read" his books alone in his room when he's having quiet time. I think the amount of reading we do is directly related to his letter and number recognition...that, and a little help from PBS!

I'm sure my ranting will go on to include many other topics not mentioned here, but I figured I would warn you in advance about the things you'll probably hear about most! I hope you'll visit again and comment often!