The 2011 Flashback Series: A Boy and His Papa

January 12th 2011:

Don came to plow the driveway after a big snow and Gabriel helped drive the tractor with his "Papa coat" (The Carhartt Don & Kathy got him that looks just like Don's). It was so cute I just had to take pictures.

He came in and said, "Momma, Papa helped me with the snow."

The 2011 Flashback Series: Happy New Year

January 1st 2011:

Because of all the traveling Mike does for work he accumulates a lot of SkyMiles with Delta. He was also very close to the next level for his SkyMiles account. A trip to Baltimore and back would put him right where he needed to be. So we decided to take advantage of that and take a little trip to see Cori and Paul for New Years Eve!

We flew out Thursday the 30th so Cori could pick us up at the airport after she got out of work. Got to her apartment late so we hung out for a little bit and went to sleep. On New Years Eve we stayed in our pj's ALL DAY! We played the Wii, watched movies and just hung out. I didn't even feel one bit guilty about leaving the kids. They had a ton of fun... Mia spent the holiday with Emma in Lansing and Gabriel was with Papa O and Grandma Kathy.

I didn't have any pictures of New Years either (I really must do better about taking pictures), but Cori took some.

umm... Happy New Year Mike, you might want to put away StarCraft for a little bit.

Cori and Paul know how to ring in the New Year

The 2011 Flashback Series: Christmas Goose

Way back in January (I think) I promised a Christmas time post because I had a funny goose story to share. I was waiting to get some pictures of Christmas for a while and then I think I just didn't do it. I still don't have any pictures of Christmas (I must do better this year!) but I can wait no longer.

Sometime in December 2010:

You always hear about "Christmas Goose" in stories. I have never prepared or eaten any kind of goose, but for some reason I really wanted to prepare a Christmas Goose.

Not knowing where to get a goose I called Walt at Prime Cuts and asked if they had one. He told me that he didn't have any but that he could order one. When he called back he told me he had to order them by the case and that meant he would have to get four. Because of the lack of interest in geese, he would order them if I wanted all 4. I was so excited that I was going to have my Christmas Goose I didn't ask any questions and told him "Yes!! Order them!! I will take them!!" He told me they ran about $6 per pound.

When Mike got home and I told him about my wonderful goose find and told him the price (per pound). He of course asked "well, how much does a goose weigh?" I had no clue... then I thought about it. It was less than a turkey I knew that, but no idea how much less. Mike called Prime Cuts back and asked if they knew how much a goose weighs. The answer he got was maybe around 16lbs. OH NO!!! I just ordered almost $400 worth of GOOSE?!?! Needless to say I was freaking out for a few days and calling people to let them know I had lost my mind.

Luckily, they didn't weigh 16lbs each and I am sure Walt gave us a great deal on my crazy goose adventure. It only ended up costing about $200 (a real relief) and turned out delicious when I used the recipe in my Everyday with Rachael Ray magazine.

The 2011 Flashback Series: Winter Solstice Party

I know I said "The 2011 Flashback Series" but the first two posts date back to 2010!

December 21st 2010:

Winter Solstice, what a great reason to get together and have a celebration! Chloe got two pinatas (one for the little kids and one for the big kids), we had a great bonfire, yummy pizza and of course wine & hot chocolate. We decided this party has to be an annual event and I am looking forward to this years celebration.

Lucy, Carson, Gabriel & Katy's pinata

Grandma had to help a little

and Cora

Jackpot!

Emma, Ryan, Myles & Mia's pinata.

No help was needed here!

It was a great night for a bonfire.

The 2011 Flashback Series:

I said it once (or quite a few times) and I have to say it again. I have really been slacking big time on the blog front. The past year has come and almost gone and what do I have to show for it? On here, not much. So I now welcome you to the 2011 Flashback Series. Between now and Christmas I will have caught up on almost 12 months of blog posts. Here goes... a lot of blogging.

Chickens and Ducks oh-my

Last time I blogged about our birds we were going to get chickens. Before the chicks arrived we decided (on the spur of the moment) to get ducks as well. And I am so glad we did because they are so much fun to watch and listen to.

We did lose one of the yellow ducks in the beginning. :(

When we ordered the chickens we told them we wanted straight run (both girls and boys) so we could have about 20 egg laying hens and 20 roosters for meat. When they arrived we found out they had ordered us ALL GIRLS! That's a lot of eggs, 40 chickens laying about an egg a day each... that is a little over 23 dozen eggs a week!! Good thing we have a big family to share them with.

We did end up getting one rooster, Mike says "Poor guy, he has 39 hens to nag him." I think he is doing just fine... he is even starting to crow.

I give up!

Finishing the picture thing is just not happening. I think it is time to just move on.