Meeting Ina

As far as collecting goes, I've decided that I'm sticking to one collection of things. I have McCoy pottery and Fiesta Ware, but I never seem to have a kitchen big enough to really show anything off at all. So I've decided to collect autographed cookbooks. I started when I met Julia Child in 2003, just months after her ninetieth birthday. It was amazing. I felt like I was in the room with the queen. The Queen of Cooking she was and forever will be in my mind. So I could not resist meeting Ina Garten. Amazing. I've used her cookbooks and watched the Barefoot Contessa for years. And we had the chance to meet her. I even had Vail practice, "Pleased to meet you" and she said it when we got to the table. Craziness. Only a few pix, but good enough for my memory book.

There is salad in my ice cream

Vail at a fancy restaurant. Last night we went to Mattar's Bistro. I would have never taken Vail to Mattar's before they renovated, but now it is so much kid-friendlier - if I can say that and not have the grammar police arrest me. And to be perfectly honest, it was the best meal I have EVER had there. But that aside, Vail had pasta with butter and cheese. After which she played circle time with Izzy. She was entertaining to the whole restaurant.

For dessert, she had a bowl of ice cream. We've learned the hard way about giving her chocolate in the evening, so she had a bowl of vanilla ice cream. It came in a martini shaped glass with whipped cream and a sprig of mint. As she wolfed down the ice cream, by herself, with a spoon, she asked about the sprig of mint. "What is this?" Then answered, "I know what it is. It's salad." Yes, Vail, salad. Everyone deserves a little salad in their ice cream.

Smart Cookie

Today Vail schooled me in the art of idioms. Vail told me this morning that she was very smart. I agreed, and thought it was ironic I was putting her "smart cookie" bib. I told her she was a smart cookie. She told me that cookies are not smart. They are yummy. Oh my, if only I knew that before I had my cookie take my SATs for me.

I thought I was a smart cookie this week. Forging my way into the library world, I purchased a WII for our department. In order to promote gaming and tween programs, I thought this would be a great way for us to get kids into the library. We shall see what the WII does for us. Only time will tell. One patron called me the coolest librarian EVER - well, now if that doesn't say success, I don't know what does. I think I'll put that on my resume.

Thanksgiving pictures

Vail's first picture with the camera.

Vail passing the cream to Mr. Litwhiler...

Thanksgiving Day

What better way to spend Thanksgiving than with family. Turkey, gravy, stuffing. My request - sweet potatoes with marshmallows. Chris' requests - green bean casserole and mashed potatoes. And I must admit, I make a slammin' green bean casserole. Even Mom liked it :-) Mom did everything perfectly. Vail loved it - especially the marshmallows on the sweet potatoes. After dinner, she donned her new undies from Mrs. B, and that is it, and ran crazy through the house. Hilarious. She was loving life. I am amazed how much she has grown over the past year. She tried everything at the dinner table with gusto. And I swear that book "How do dinosaurs eat their food" by Jane Yolen is helping with her manners. Perfectly perfect day.

Vail's Ralphie

One nanosecond of Sesame Street has halted our lives. When we were driving home from Annapolis last weekend, about ten miles from home, Vail stared longingly out the window and started saying that she couldn't reach Ralphie. Ralphie? Who is Ralphie? Then she started saying that Baby Bear couldn't get him. What on earth. So for an hour, as she worked her self up to tears, apologizing and crying, I remembered. LAST WEEK we were watching an episode of Sesame Street and Telly's pet parrot, Ralphie, flew away and he couldn't get him back. Now I am sure that Ralphie returned, as all good little friends do on Sesame Street, but we didn't finish watching the episode. Now Vail cries about Ralphie. I've tried to convince her that Ralphie returned. She doesn't believe me. It has been five days - she mentions Ralphie everyday. Sesame Street, please air Ralphie again!!!

Toddler-speak

Vail's new thing, and she always has something new, is calling Daddy-o "Mr. Handsome." Yesterday she asked, "Momma, where is Mr. Handsome?" I answered that I didn't know. And she said, "He's downstairs. He's so sweet." Ahhh, this is my little burgeoning flirt. And Daddy-o thinks that he can resist her requests/demands. Right. I think I'll start calling him Mr. Handsome and ask for a nice little sportscar!!

Halloween pictures

Vail in her parade at school.

Enjoying treats at school's Halloween party! Ladybugs are still the theme of the outfit :-)

Vail getting ready to go trick or treating.

Pictures from Vail's birthday

Vail and Lia on her birthday with special birthday cupcakes.

Vail and Lia at Vail's 2nd birthday party.

Vail with her pink pony.

Crocodile birthday cake!! Made by Lia.

Family!!!

Blogger world, officially entered...

Welcome to my world and blog. Today is Monday, November 10th. I am purely doing this blog as a beginning to blogging, to get our library blogs up and running with little or no hitches. Since I've never blogged, I'd much rather screw up my own blog than the library's. Look at that sacrifice, I know I know. :-)