Day 127: how I spent the last day of 2010

Today was awesome.

First, I slept in.

Then Kelly, Andriana and I had lunch at the Knead and feed

and walked around Coupeville.

Soon it was time to party.

The end.

Day 126: island bound

Today's Plan:

1. play with kitties

2. do the dishes

3. take the kitties to stay with Uncle Alex and Aunt Kara

4. pick up Kelly on Queen Anne

5. pick up Andriana in Woodinville

6. drive north

7. stop for dinner at Flyer's in Oak Harbor

8. eat Kelly's cookie/brownie creation, 

drink hot chocolate with homemade marshmallows,

do a puzzle,

and practice karaoke...

Day 125: meet Bobby (sort of)

This is Bobby!

He's only a week younger than Dean, but a lot smaller.

I found out when I got him home that he was feral.

No wonder he goes running every time I move.

He also doesn't like to have his picture taken.

Cameras are scary.

He and Dean have been running around all day, chasing each other,

fighting over toys, and doing a little wrestling.

Basically, they are brothers from another mother.

I'm still waiting for the moment they curl up together in that bed.

I'm not sure how Dean feels about the situation...

He likes to hang out in the refrigerator.

Which is kind of weird.

Busy times around here!

Oh and I promise this will not become a blog dedicated to my cats...

I know it's starting to feel that way.

Day 124: mocs and breakin' the rules

I don't like to get too personal on this blog,

so I'll keep it cryptic and vague.

I feel like if emotional drama comes in waves,

I'm experiencing a storm surge.

I feel a pressing need to get in the car and head for higher ground.

But I have to stick it out.

I think I got Dean at exactly the right time...
When things slowed down and forced me to think about things.

It's so easy to love a kitten, and the kitten will always love you back.

Day 123: keep calm and carry on

Ok I promise not every day will be a cat picture but...

I've spent all day hanging out with this guy :)

Day 122: meet Dean

This is Dean, my new baby.

 

I have been wanting to get a couple kittens 

since Dinah passed away a month and a half ago.

I figured now would be the perfect time since I have another week off of work.

By the time I got to Homeward Pet there was only one little kitten left...

It was love at first sight.

He is the most affectionate little guy I've ever met.

He is three months old and they asked if he was too big for me.

Are you kidding? How could a kitten be too anything?

They will be getting more kittens on Wednesday 

and Dean will get along with just about anyone,

so I'll be finding him a little brother or sister in a few days.

He loves to bat things around the floor and sit in my ficus tree (see above).

He also loves to take naps on my face.

Sometimes he just wants me to carry him around while I do things one-handed.

I am so in love with this little guy already!

Day 121: crab cakes for christmas

Mmmm my dad made crab cakes for a Christmas dinner appetizer.

We had a nice Christmas morning with just the four of us.

We opened presents and I got some awesome things.

Santa was generous!

We had strata and took naps.

My aunt Susan and uncle Eric came over for dinner.

It was a nice relaxing evening.

Merry Christmas!

A Morton Family Tradition

Have you see this movie?

 

It's one of my favorites.

The DVD comes with a recipe for Meredith's Strata, a Morton family tradition.

Two years ago I decided to make it an Odle family tradition too.

I'm always sure to quote the movie while I make it.

This year I tried a new recipe, a Brie and Veggie Strata.

It's great because I can make it on xmas eve 

and just pop it in the oven for breakfast xmas morning.

Here are the key ingredients used (also eggs, milk, and seasonings):

You just layer everything and pour the egg/milk mixture over it. 

Let it sit in the fridge overnight.

Then bake for 45 minutes.

Yum!

I also had some fake bacon on the side ;)

What did you have for breakfast?

Day 120: xmas eve

 Spencer and Grandma Hadley, just chillin'

My dad must be telling a fascinating story...

We had my Grandma Hadley, Aunt Pam, and cousin Jeff over 

as well as our neighbors, the Herlihy's. 

It was pretty low key and we did some carol singing. 

Fun!

Holiday Baking Extravaganza

First up: sugar cookies. I used this recipe, which claims to be "the best".

I also made gingerbread cookies using Martha's recipe.

With the sugar cookies I made trees, santas, and arctic foxes.

With the gingerbread I made bears, moose, and squirrels.

Every surface of my little apartment was covered in cookies needing to be iced.

I think I made too many...

Then I made Peppermint Chocolate Fudge Cupcakes too...

I used this recipe that my dad found in the Seattle Times.

 That's not all, but I'm saving the rest for another post tomorrow...

I hope everyone is having a great holiday and eating lots of treats :)

Day 119: beer pong, it's been too long

 I don't remember the last time I played this - 

But it must have been college, so it's been a while.

So fun!

Hike: Bridal Veil Falls

First hike I've done in months - it was good to get back out there.

Day 118: 3rd annual ugly sweater pub crawl in Ballard

This is Barb and her new friend, Caleb.

More photos from the event:

Day 117: Japanese hotdogs?

Pike Place Market has a Japanese hotdog stand.

It sounded weird and looked weird, so we decided to try it.

But then it smelled weird and tasted weird...

Maybe because the tofu dog they used was the Italian flavored kind?

Sorry, not a fan. Maybe the ones with normal hotdogs taste better.

Day 116: the Unicorn

Nothing like a Monday night at the Unicorn on Capitol Hill.

I had a My Little Pony (left) and Lauren had a Unicorn Jizz (right).

We also tried the Narwhal balls, which were absolutely delicious.

Although, they burned my mouth. Hot potatoes.

Day 115: I love this city...

I read until noon.

Then spent hours walking around Discovery Park in the rare December sunshine.

Had a butternut squash enchilada in Madison Park.

Saw the gingerbread houses at the Sheraton and shopped downtown.

Finished up with bowling at the Garage on Capitol Hill. 

Where else can you do all of that in a day?

I love living in this city.

Day 114: tea party

I finally got to use my Martha Stewart holiday dishes...

Menu:

Tea Sandwiches (cucumber/cream cheese and egg salad)

Scones with Raspberry Jam

Savory Bites

Biscotti and Madelines

Tea (duh)

Day 113: teacher loot

Here's a peek at what I came home with today.

(In addition to the papers that I failed to finish grading before break...) 

My students were really generous this year.

Lots of homemade treats, chocolate, starbucks cards, and even Benefit makeup!

Being a teacher is pretty awesome sometimes...

10 things: winter break edition

Tomorrow is the last day of school before...

WINTER BREAK!

2 whole weeks of sweet freedom.

People often ask me,

"What are you going to do with all that time off?"

Um, not hard.

Here are 10 of the things I'm planning to do:

1. Watch Home Alone (hopefully both 1 and 2) 

while drinking double hot chocolates with whipped cream and sprinkles 

(Kate you'd better join me for this one).

2. See the Picasso exhibit at Seattle Art Museum.

(Eric and I have tickets for Tuesday!)

3. Make cookies and decorate them.

I got these cookie cutters from IKEA ages ago and haven't had a chance to use them:

I'm feeling inspired by this decorating idea from TweeLass:

4. 3rd Annual Ugly Sweater Ballard Pub Crawl

Yes, that's a real event.

Here's a photo from last year:

(oh and this year will be even better...)

5. Get pedicures with my momma.

6. Visit my Bellingham girls,

Stacy, Carrie and Alysn:

7. Velocity and Indian food (again, Kate, counting on you to be there for this).

8. Visit The Unicorn on Capitol Hill with Lauren.

9. Finally finish the book I started reading in August but kept putting aside because of Book Club obligations.

10. Work on some craft projects I have lying around.

Trust me, there are more.

Anyone else have fun plans for the next couple weeks?

Day 112: secret abominable snowman

This is my homeroom stuffing their faces during our holiday party today.

I made cupcakes and hot chocolate with marshmallows.

We did a gift exchange called Secret Abominable Snowman.

Most of them asked for (and received) candy.

Thus the face stuffing continued.

I feel bad for any teachers that had these kids after this...

On a sidenote, while googling "abominable" to make sure I spelled it right,

I found this photo:

It looks like he's stuffing his face too. 

Interesting.

Day 111: ready to grade...

In addition to yesterday's ficus purchase,

I found a new pillow and a lapdesk.

Add one electric blanket

and a stocking in the background,

and you have a great setup for grading.

Maybe I'll use it tomorrow night...

Day 110: ficus twins

I could probably write a whole post about how much I love IKEA.

It could include photos of every piece of furniture I own except the couch.

But I digress.

Today was awesome for three reasons:

1. They served pancakes for lunch in the cafeteria. 

It didn't matter that they weren't very good. 

Pancakes. For lunch. How could I possibly complain?

2. I finally got a full time continuing contract. 

It's my third year teaching, so this is good news.

3. My brother asked if I wanted to go to IKEA after work. 

Of course the answer was yes. 

We bought matching ficuses, as pictured above.

Sorry for the blurry phone picture.

I was probably just really excited about the ficuses and couldn't hold still.

Day 109: cookies

Once kids get to junior high,

they rarely give their teachers presents.

But when they do, I love it when it's food.

Especially homemade gingerbread cookies that she decorated.

SO GOOD.
Oh yeah and this photo depicts me eating one over a textbook.