the sparkliest of detours and some soup

There were rumors swirling about on Wednesday and apparently mad rushes on grocery stores and gas stations but I was too busy packing lunches and sweeping floors and whining about not watching enough tv to notice.  And in our usual frenzy of a morning I shoved the gang out the door and we all headed into our day.  But somewhere between my kiddos coating their bodies in cornstarch and shaving cream

 and escaping death while rolling each other through the mat room in a doughnut, school was cancelled.
So I packed up Ian, drove the treacherous freeway home and we promptly took a nap.  My other two roomies slowly filed in like wet puppies and I received news that the city of Portland had collectively decided to throw in the towel and call the week a wrap.

After living in Chicago for ten years there is just something adorable about the panic that sets in over six inches of snow.  Here, there is no alternative.  There are no snow plows and salt trucks to set the roads right.  There is just the hope that your neighbor has chains you can borrow to go buy milk at any store brave enough to keep their doors open.
 I'm giddily aware that the best days aren't spent so much as wasted away with whimsy.  That the only thing I need to remember is to have mugs of hot cocoa ready for the taking. ( 1cup Ghiradelli's dark chocolate chips, 2 tablespoons sugar, 4 cups of hot milk and an immersion blender for the frothing:  bonus points for whipped cream, candy canes, marshmallows, caramel drizzle, and /or Kahlua)

 daddy gets a ride

Sabrina contemplating the new fireplace decor

 Only the essentials could bring them back inside to warm up.

Discussing important business with Tia

 Best Baked Potato Soup

 It's all about the toppings

 Trust me on this one:

Creamy Potato Soup

1-2 Lbs. Potatoes (I used 4 goldens but baby reds and a couple russets would work great) cut into spoon sized pieces

4 slices bacon (or more, whatever) diced

2 stalks celery diced

1 big onion diced

4 cups milk

1 cup water 

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

2 chicken bouillon cubes (or use chicken stock for the water & up the salt)

4 T butter

4T flour

1/4 cup heavy cream

green onions, chedder cheese, roasted garlic? for toppings

Boil the potatoes for 10 minutes, drain & let sit.  Use kitchen shears to cut up the bacon into small pieces and cook over medium until crispy.  Remove with a slotted spoon. (You can drain the bacon fat and use something else but it adds a ton of flavor)  Add the onion and celery to the bacon grease and cook about 5 minutes until soft.  Add the milk, water, bouillon cubes, salt and pepper and cook until hot but not really boiling, about 8 minutes.  In a small saucepan, melt the butter and cook until boiling, then add the flour to make a roux.  Cook for a minute or two to get rid of any flour-y taste and add some browned butter flavor.  Slowly add the roux to the soup while stirring.  Cook until thickened then add the potatoes and a splash of heavy cream.  Taste for seasonings.  Top with green onions, chedder cheese, roasted garlic (I've never tried it but it sounds yummy), and the leftover bacon bits.  Serve with buttermilk biscuits and jam or honey.  Enjoy the standing ovation from your family.

The goods...thursday edition

Did you hear that?  It was the sound of my heart's quiet applause as the sun fought for her place in the sky until a solid 5pm.  I know some of my peeps are buried under dozens of inches of fluffy white snow but here there is just enough sunshine to send my soul daydreaming about those lazy days ahead. Is it possible to be content with where you're at and still pine for the next chapter?  I say yes.
And until the days stretch long and my wardrobe consists of maxi-dresses and flip flops I will find solace in JCrews clearance section (50% off!)...Ina's dreamy Banana Crunch Muffins (use unsweetened coconut)...winter flower bouquets 3 weeks strong (yay for carnations!)...

in house date nights (high five Redbox and take out Thai food!) ...my Bon Appetite subscription (I forgive you for the January health issue, Toasted spelt soup with escarole and white beans, really BA?)...quiet mornings shaking off my insecurities (who knew there was so much hope in Job?  Grab some tissues and read 39:1-3) and empty calories (dang you Ina!)...my two smoochies playing like champs every Saturday a.m....aaand weekend trips hunting waterfalls

enjoying his last few hurrahs in the backpack

 Throwing rocks into the current

 sweetie pie

 self take

So maybe I haven't read a book in six months, we ate chocolate pancakes for dinner and I currently can't find my fridge,

it's almost February!  And nothing delivers more cheer than a preschooler reciting poetry.  I give you Winter Sweetness...by Langston News (What?  He was a real person.)

December photo round-up Part 2

There were just too many highlights from our Chicago trip for me to keep the round-up under 30.  Although these photos don't reflect the tantrums and meltdowns, they do reflect the love these five have for each other.  And don't even get me started on the dimples.

My troopers up at 3 and taking off by 6am

Snow, snow, snow!  Just ignore the major mom fail with not bringing snow boots and having to wrap my kids feet in plastic bags.  Sometimes you just got to roll old school.

 Oh, it's too much...that boy.

 When we are on babysitting duty we pull out all the fun stops.  And by fun stops I mean peppermint playdough, pirates booty, and a six hour movie marathon while Auntie B takes a long winters nap.

 How cute are these snow bunnies?

 Helping out with the big boys

 Wided-eyed at the Christmas Eve reading of T'was the Night Before Christmas

 The first gift of Christmas?  Matching jammies

 All dressed up for a downtown American Girl Place adventure

 The boys have their own plans...unfortunately the Sears tower was over a 3 hour wait so Ian spent his adventure day watching Planes on the ipad.  Next year buddy, next year. :)

 Meeting their personal shopper  (yes, I realize we were about ten light years from world reality)

 But Ni-Ni was so happy to spoil her girls...and as hard as this woman has worked in her lifetime, I was mostly content to let Ava into this crazy world.

Sweet girl

 Addie and Jenny Jeanette Hsieh

 Elia and Tracy Hsieh

Amarie's blond haired, blue eyed Carolyn Ariel Belle Cinderella Hsieh

 Ava and Martha Clarie American Girl Place Hsieh

 Elia got to show everyone where she takes ice skating lessons.

 Matching hearts and smiles

Mama's highlight though was an afternoon with this amazing mama and encourager in the trenches, Ms. J.B.  Even with the snow knee deep and the kiddos running amok we still managed to share a few memories and dreams for the new year.

 How cute is this five year old?

 And finally, no new years party is complete until someone takes their shirt off and the yearly puzzle is complete.  A Christmas miracle that all the pieces were found in this 30 year old Luke Skywalker gem.

 These two are racking up their frequent flier miles by the thousands.
Chicago never disappoints.