pretty freaky

I came across this old picture of Seth today. Does it remind you of anyone??

How about now?

the fourth day of christmas

(At least that’s how I’m choosing to see it – it’s still Christmas even if I am back at work!)

Anna thoroughly enjoyed her first Christmas! And we certainly enjoyed sharing it with her. Here are some photos from Christmas Eve (I haven’t uploaded pics from Chr. Day yet):

Inspecting her new tea set:

And her new doll:

And resting on a nearby panda bear (it was way past her bedtime!):

thirty-two for 32

I got this idea from my friend Emilie (though other friends have followed suit) and, since tomorrow is my 32nd birthday (!!!), I thought I’d share my goals (big and small) for the coming year with you all:

1. Knit a scarf
2. Sew a simple project—pillow cover, drapes, apron, etc.
3. Learn how to roast a chicken (I am told this is easy; for some reason it intimidates me)
4. Lose 20 more pounds. (I’ve lost 47 pounds since last year. Of course, I was 36 weeks pregnant on my last birthday so it sounds a lot more impressive than it really is! I can’t say I recommend labor & delivery as a weight loss strategy. It’s fast, but it’s kind of hard.)
5. Start a college fund for Anna
6. Do our wills & health care directives
7. Finish the wills & health care directives I was working on for my parents the day before Anna was born (sorry, Mom & Dad)
8. Get really comfortable shooting in manual mode on our camera
9. Watch the Oscar Best Picture nominees
10. Join a CSA and/or buy more local produce
11. Read Seth’s favorite book, Watership Down
12. Make a photo book of Anna’s first year
13. Floss my teeth every day
14. Send birthday cards on time
15. Have date nights with Seth once a week, even if they are at home!
16. Do something special for our five-year anniversary
17. Throw Anna’s first birthday party
18. Update all our life insurance policies
19. Really clean out my closet and give away clothes that don’t fit or that I no longer wear (I am moderately good about this, but could always be better)
20. Actually try yoga (I have a DVD that came highly recommended, but apparently just having the DVD doesn’t count as doing yoga)
21. Dip my baby toe into the stock market
22. Start doing guardian ad litem work
23. Run a 5K (Ha! Hahaha! But I thought I should challenge myself… ‘cause the knitting and sewing weren’t enough, I guess.)
24. Dust off my cello and re-learn some of the Bach cello suites
25. Organize my photos
26. Get frames for the miscellaneous artwork lying around
27. Keep a gratefulness journal
28. Find a signature dessert that I can learn to bake really well
29. Learn more about wine
30. Finish bottles of things (shampoo, cleaning products, etc.) before buying new ones
31. Read Crime and Punishment and Anna Karenina, two books I own but have never finished
32. Figure out what I want to do with my life (actually I think this is a lifelong pursuit, but I’ll include it here anyway, mostly for the sake of finishing this list!)

Whew! Now wish me luck!

getting ready for christmas!

… and lots more where those came from, here and here!

holiday letters

Dear Trader Joe’s,

Thank you for making my year-round grocery shopping and eating such a joyful experience. I don’t even remember what life was like before I found you. And at this time of year, I want to thank you especially for Candy Cane Joe-Joes. I think you might put crack in them, but I won’t tell anyone.

And last but not least, thank you for introducing me this year to Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels. They are heaven in my mouth (and only 2 Weight Watchers points).

Love,
Liz

Dear G. F. Handel,

Thank you for writing Messiah. (I learned in a master class a long time ago that it is not The Messiah. Just Messiah.) It is one of my favorite ways to celebrate the Advent/Christmas season. Especially “And he shall purify the sons of Levi.” You really hit the nail on the head with that one.

I feel quite sure you and I would be friends if we knew each other in real life. Is it okay for me to call you George?

Love,
Liz

Dear Aaron Sorkin,

Thank you for writing The West Wing. Seth and I have been enjoying the reruns for a couple of weeks now. You are brilliant. I bow at your feet. That is all.

Love,
Liz

norwegian almond bread

• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract
• 2/3 cup milk
• 1 1/4 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup melted margarine

Beat sugar, egg, extract, and milk, add flour and baking powder, finally add margarine. Pour into bundt cake pan sprayed with cooking spray (or specialized Scandinavian cake pan). Bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes. Edges must be golden brown. Cool in pan before removing. Bread will break if removed too soon. Sprinkle with confectionary sugar. Cool cake in pan before removing as it can break apart.

Variation: before pouring batter into pan, sprinkle sliced almonds on the bottom.

happy halloween...

...from our little penguin!

Lots more October photos are up here.