New camera

I'm popeye the sailor man.
Thinking about going down the slide.

Yes. I will go down the slide!

I did NOT put him in this kennel. He likes to climb in this one and Cosmo's soft crate. As you can see he was giving Kona a ball to keep him company.

He looks like a smartie pants in training. I think his first sentence will be something sarcastic.

Halloween Practice

So Brenda found this costume for Colin last year on clearance. I decided I better try it on to make sure it fits. It does as you can see for yourself. I need to find some black pants, and the outfit also has yellow feet I didn't subject him to this morning. When I put it on him I laughed so hard he was confused. He wasn't sure if he should laugh or cry. Then I put the hat on, and he couldn't figure it out. His neck is too short, so it doesn't really go under his chin, but fits more like a chin strap. But darn it's cute.

Batman never had to deal with this penguin.

Black Bean Burgers

So it's been challenging figuring out things to cook for just me and Colin. I want to cook and still make our food, but it's a pain cooking for one person and hoping a toddler will eat it as well. I've been pretty successful so far. The other challenge: simple things. Since Scott isn't here to help distract Colin, if we've had a bad day cooking is near impossible w/o constant whining and being pushed/pulled on by the little guy. So what I cook needs to be quick, and hopefully makes 2-3 meals for us--another reason Colin needs to like it. I also want it to be healthy with a good mix of vegetables and protein. Alas, it has been difficult. And finally, and equally as important, cheap or relatively so. Thus far we've had zucchini pasta (an old favorite--so easy), hamburger/potato/broccoli/cauliflower/tomato casserole--just starting to work on this one. Tonight though I think I hit a homerun. I know lots of people make bean burgers, but I've only tried one other time--with success--but I always forget what I do. I don't write my concoctions down usually b/c I don't measure things. I subscribe to the Mark Bittman style of cooking--in that you do what feels right. If you don't want to follow a recipe exactly, don't. So my style of cooking is a bit organic-w/o the organic products.

So on to the black bean burgers, which I should really call 3-bean burgers. Here's how they went down.

1 can black beans- mashed
1 can garbanzo beans/chick peas- mashed as best as you can
1/2 finely chopped med. onion
1/2 finely chopped red pepper
veggie puree (I used some I had frozen for Colin--it included lima beans, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and corn--sounds gross and icky, but it's a tasty combo)
oatmeal (the cheap uncooked kind in the big circular tube)--about a cup or more
salt
pepper
garlic, minced
2 eggs, lightly beaten

You mix all this stuff together. Then you cover and let chill until easily handled--about 1 hour.

Fry in olive oil or grill. I've done both when working w/bean burgers. The only problem is they crumble badly, so grilling is really messy.

I intended to serve on buns, but mine were freezer burned, so we just ate straight. I'm a ketchup girl, so that was my condiment of choice.

Some ideas for changing it up. I think I'll add a dash of hot sauce to the mix. Green chiles could be good, too. Could I make it like ground beef for lasagna? A bean loaf? Hmmm. Things to consider. I would have taken a picture, but I need a different memory card for my camera.

Weekend photos part 1

So our camera broke this weekend, so the grands have all the photos. All of these photos are from my dad, who we only saw briefly on Sunday. They were with us part of the time in St. Louis last weekend as well.

Update: instead of boots I opted for a camera since as previously mentioned, we got a new camera yesterday, but I'm still learning how to use it.

This shows up a bit grainy on the blog, but I love this pic!

Last weekend at the zoo.

Stuckmeyer Farms last weekend.

The b-day ended up lasting all weekend. We got to catch up a little bit w/college friends, play games w/Sarah and Mitch (plus some of their friends they loaned me for my b-day), and get pumpkins and apples from Eckert's. Colin loved Eckert's. I don't have any of these photos yet. But will post them soon.

Thanks to Sarah for making us do something just for me for my b-day (the game night).

Musings on turning 30--Caution post may be whiny and self-indulgent

So last night I had a total breakdown about turning 30. I did not want to go there. I don't know what the big deal is, but it made me feel really sorry for myself. I thought about all the things I don't like about my life/self, and basically worked myself into a major funk. I was feeling sorry for myself that we weren't doing anything for my b-day. Do you remember the pirate party for Scott? I was really upset. The mean reds--for all you Breakfast at Tiffany fans. Anyway--this morning--the actual day--things look a bit brighter. I woke up to a screaming baby at 6:30, but was able to calm him down w/in 10 min and head back to bed for a while. Then when C woke up at normal time, Scott got up with him, and let me sleep in for a while. I just laid under the covers trying to keep warm and going in and out of a light sleep. When I came down to the kitchen there were balloons and signs wishing me a happy b-day (a Dankel tradition) and the b-day singing. Colin wanted it to be sung again, so we had an encore performance. I got a super cute, vintage looking apron from Don and Brenda that I love! Scott was really excited about his gift for me, so he gave it to me as soon as he got here at 10:30 last night. Warning: if you knew us when we got engaged, it is a repeat performance. So I open the bag, and it's this really big, super nice toffee-colored purse w/chocolate colored accents. Very chic. I look at it, and can't even feign enthusiasm (much like seeing my first engagement ring). Instead I'm thinking, what the hell am I going to do with this purse? It's too nice to lug around all the time w/baby in tow. It will constantly slip off my arm, and I won't carry it due to the complete inconvenience of it. Plus it was pricey, so I also won't carry it b/c I won't want to get snacks and stickers and ink and who knows what else on it. Scott says, "Well, I got it for you for when we go someplace nice." I think when do we go any where nice? Needless to say he was very disappointed that I didn't swoon over the purse and I was disappointed he didn't get me something practical, more my style. Side note: Scott was ticked that I was so excited about an apron and not the purse. A man should never attempt to pick out a woman's purse. A woman has enough trouble picking out her own purse. I of course felt guilty that I didn't love the purse. I think I'll get boots instead. You know, it is a lot colder in Bloomington. Do you recall the whole cross country skiing thing?

Here's proof to the cold. Scott is rarely cold. He rarely wears a coat, even when others are freezing. He calls me Wednesday and asks me to bring him warmer clothes. He wants long-sleeved stuff and sweatshirts. Ha! So I think I might better invest in some nice boots. On principal I find Uggs really ugly, except the loafers--those are cute, but I think I might get something like them to keep my puppies warm. I might look stupid, but I won't suffer frost-bite.

Things I'm looking forward to:

We get to see our college friends this afternoon--down side, we won't get to hang out too much b/c we will have Colin with us--lots of reasons why no one else was available to watch him today.

We might go out tonight w/Sarah and Mitch. But what do you do post dinner? I think I'm old b/c I can't figure out what we should do, and games are more fun with over 4 people.

We might get to go apple picking tomorrow. I'm very excited about this. I think Colin will like it, and I've never done it before. Hopefully the weather cooperates and my parents will arrive at a time that makes it a viable option.

Hopefully selling our house soon and moving to Bloomington so we can all be together as a family again.

Play Date

I'm terrible about taking my camera places, but I remembered today. Colin had a playdate with his buddy Adam. Adam is just a couple months older than C, and they've known each other since birth. Adam has a sweet big sis, Hannah (age 4), that drew/stickered Colin's very first picture when he was born. We got to go and play with them today with their cousin Isabella the princess and their great mom, Jeanne. We had a good time, and Jeanne even fed us. What a sweetie. It's been so nice getting out of the house and hanging out with friends and their kids. In the last 2 weeks since we've been alone we've had 3 playdates. That's amazing considering we've only been at home 10 days. So thanks to my great friends for taking care of us, and keeping me and Colin from going stir crazy.

Posing for a pic in the little house the boys loved to play inside--before they figured out it was more fun to push it over. Boys will be boys. Isabella was looking at Jeanne instead of me and the camera.
Buds

I can never get him straight on. He won't sit/stand still long enough.

But this cutie knows how to pose for a photo!

It was a rainy day, so the kids had to play inside, but Colin loved all the different toys. It was the first time I've really seen him play with another kid, not just along side.

Fall Frolic

I took Colin to a Parents as Teachers Fall Frolic last night at a neighborhood park. It was a lot of fun for him. They had events for toddlers to preschoolers, so some of the stuff was a bit over his head--like the craft projects. If Scott had been there we might have tried more, but just trying to keep him seated on a picnic table is a full time job w/o helping him make everything. We did ice a cookie -i.e. he watched me ice a cookie. He then sat perfectly still at a picnic table (turned facing out), eating his cookie and watching the commotion. He was so cute--as were many of the kiddos. He raked leaves, scooped corn, sorted fall stuff, listened to sounds of fall things (like those nasty annoying seed pods, gum balls, acorns, etc) tasted apples, dug for apples in straw. The raking and digging were major favorites. Things he could have done but we didn't do was a wagon ride--line was too long, and various craft projects--fruit loop string necklace, playdough shapes, and a couple other things. He did get to play on the playground, but he doesn't climb up to the slides by himself yet, so it was hard for him to play since it was so crowded.

Colin LOVES the outdoors, and he generally throws a major fit when we have to come inside or leave a park. Here's a photo of him pining for outside right after we came inside.