Coolers

I have a favorite house on Nakoma Road en route to EHS...it's a pale yellow, kind of French/Italian style home with arched windows and shutters.  I love this house and sometimes daydream of moving into this beauty.  Yesterday I saw a cooler near the front door and it made me sad.

A cooler at the front door is not good.  It means someone has died or someone is very sick.  My thoughts immediately fill with memories of putting food into a cooler at the Mettner's home for a pregnant Michelle and two little girls after Joe died.  It was kid-friendly foods and cookies bars for Michelle and pasta dishes that the girls would eat, often with toddler books or some little toys.  We did this for about a year or so and I cried every time I got back into the car.

I also vividly remember putting meals into the Phelan's cooler after Ann died leaving John with three teenage girls and two little boys.  We did this for about a year or so and I cried every time I got back into the car.

We also had a cooler in front of the Wolff's house when Alex was so sick...so many people wanted to help.  Luckily, we only needed to do this for a month or so and I cried every time I got back into the car. I was so happy to see that cooler gone when Alex recovered! 

Seeing a cooler by house is never a good thing...it means something very sad has happened and the people inside don't really care about eating, but the love going into the cooler is a good thing.  It makes me want to put something good into the cooler on Nakoma Road.

Heidi

White Chocolate Cinnamon Pretzels

Ingredients:
1 bag of pretzels (16-18 oz) I used the thatch ones because they would catch more chocolate
2/3 cup oil
1/3 cup sugar
1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ cup cinnamon sugar for sprinkling
1 cup white chocolate chips

Directions:
1.    Whisk together oil, sugar, and cinnamon.
2.    Pour pretzels into a microwave safe bowl and pour oil mixture in.  Stir until coated.
3.    Microwave for 1 minute, remove and stir.  Microwave 45 seconds more.
4.    Spread pretzels evenly onto two cookie sheets covered in parchment paper.
5.    While still warm, sprinkle cinnamon sugar generously.
6.   Melt white chocolate (on low heat, be careful not to burn) and drizzle over cooled pretzels.
7.    Store in an airtight container.

Pumpkin Chocolate & Peanut Butter Chip Cookies

Pumpkin Chocolate & Peanut Butter Chip Cookies
Yield: about 24 cookies

1 C. pumpkin puree
1/2 C. oil
1 egg
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 Tbsp. milk
2 C. flour
1 C. sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 C. mini chocolate chips
3/4 C. peanut butter chips
directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line cookie sheets with parchment paper (or grease them).
2. In a large bowl, combine pumpkin, oil, egg, vanilla and milk until smooth.
3. In another bowl, sift flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt together.
4. Add flour mixture to wet ingredients and mix until smooth (it will be quite stiff).
5. Stir in chocolate and peanut butter chips.
6. Place dough balls, about the size of a golf ball, on your cookie sheets and bake for 11-13 minute or until the edges start to turn golden.
7. Let cool on cooling racks.
Notes
Be sure to bake these all the way through. A gooey pumping cookie is not good.

what does your mantel look like.....

Ok, its not a mantel...just my shelf unit. I wish I had a fireplace. I do love this time of year for decorating! Fall into winter, so fun! Lily and I were a little behind this year. We got some orange and purple lights up last night. Also our skull head lights and tombstones are on the front lawn. We are set! Buying candy at the last minute...I do not need that around!!

So sissy...what does your mantel look like? love, k

the college stress

                                          



Now I get what you went through last year regarding college app's, essays, deadlines, scores and lots of stress! Evan has applied to 4 schools so far. Trying to get them all done by November 1. Organizing the information is stressful, but I think the worst stress is going to be the next 3-6 months waiting to hear.

His top choice right now is the U of M. He was impressed with the ROTC department. I really want him to go away, as we have talked about many times. I do know that when he is done with his 4 years, he will have to go away to train. So I think it will all even out. And, I also know he won't be wanting to come home much. I think he will be crushed if he doesn't get in there. His counselor said its hard to get in there now, not like it used to be...great :(  Because of financial reasons, it will be better if he is somewhat close, and for in state or reciprocity prices. We will keep looking into other colleges, and apply to others!

My hope for him is he gets in and goes somewhere he will love, no matter where it is!
love, k

emmy

So glad Emma came home! You must have been so excited in that house. I can't imagine not seeing Evan's face come through that door everyday after school. We want them to grow up, and become responsible, but there is a price. We have to let go, and let them grow. If they were kids that weren't so great to be around, it may not be so hard.

Now the holidays are coming and you will see her more often in the next few months! I bet she loves to be home as much as you all do. Peter has probably been staring at her, soaking his sister in. HA! Enjoy it!
love, k

this is our vice president?

What a joke! Not for long.
His performance was class less, scarey, and so cocky. He was trying to make up for Obama's short comings from his debate, huh, it didn't work. love, k

cold and rainy = football, food + family

It rained hard all night long.  Thank God, Chris got home a bit early last night and got all of the gutters cleaned out...not a drop of water in the basement.  It's been rainy all day - love it!  Emma is home for fall break and we've done a lot of relaxing. 

I vaguely remember being tired when I went home for the weekend (however, Kelly and I always found enough time for 3rd Street ;) in college and Emma seems exhausted...tired from all of her hard swimming, studying and social life.  It's 1 pm and she hasn't left the sofa...keeping Chris company watching ESPN College Game Day at Notre Dame!  Irish are 5-0 and playing Stanford today..."big, big game."  Last night we had tenderloin, au gratin potatoes and french bread with dried tomato butter...today all of that made great leftover steak sandwiches.  Emma also requested chili cheese dip and crab rangoon....my pleasure!  It's a perfect, lazy Saturday...Peter is playing some x-box until game time, Chris now napping on the floor and Emma texting her Butler friends.  She's meeting up with Karen and Meagan later, but it's interesting how she misses her Butler gang so much.  She has spent all of her time with us and we love it!

Peter needs to start looking at schools...can't believe we're getting close to visits for him!  Can't believe  you are sending in Evan's applications!!!!  I can't wait to help you with his party!!!  I still think about how much fun we had with Emma's party..thank God you and Mom were here to help me!

I LOVE cold and rainy days...candles lit, football on, yummy food and cat naps!  H.

my life...

During my "break" from campaigns, I've been a putzer.  I learned this great life skill from our Dad....when I don't have many commitments, I can putz all day...rearranging, cruising the web, reading, baking rum cakes, cooking pumpkin/butternut squash lasagne, cleaning closets, lunching with my friends, re-watching Parenthood (omg...so much is our life, but makes me NOT want to get my mammogram...jk), walking George/picking up pretty leaves, sleeping in until 6:30 a.m. (!)...basically just farting around.

Then, WHAMMO, I agree to help out a few campaigns for the next four weeks until election day and my internal campaign alarm clock kicks in and I'm up at 4:30 a.m. for the last two days, I start drinking coffee all day and I feel guilty going to the bathroom.

Oh well, there are bills and tuition to be paid...Peter needs all new clothes because he can't stop growing and Emma is always expensive.  So, enough putzing!  Sissy, you need to blog!!!  I know you're busy with a full time job, losing 30+ pounds, NOT PUTZING and 2 kids, but join me!

Oh yes, EMMA COMES HOME TODAY FOR FALL BREAK!!!

love, H

Obama's performance tonight...

like them? don't like them? gray or brown? I can't decide....