Baking Day

So how many kinds of cookies do you think you could fit in YOUR freezer? Well, if you’re Nola, the answer is at least a baker’s dozen.

Last Saturday was Annual Baking Day for Nola and QP, and Nola knocked out 11 of the 13 kinds of cookies on her list for this year. She gives away 40 assorted homemade cookie boxes to family and friends, and QP gifts her homemade chocolate chip cookies to co-workers every year as well. It’s a marathon of a day, beginning around 8am and not finishing until late afternoon. Care for a sneak peek?

Kenny and I were not a part of Baking Day in its entirety last year but we were in for the long haul this year. I even stepped up my game and actually got put to work this year, so I can officially say I was responsible for one type of cookie.

People usually pop in and out all day long, and this year was no exception. However, Baking Day 2011’s biggest addition was Jenn, who flew in from Chapel Hill on Thursday night to surprise QP for her birthday. Jenn and UJ were there most of the day, with Grams, Sherry, and James dropping by as well, and Kenny’s mom also came by later in the afternoon. We had a loud and noisy houseful of people, which is just what Baking Day calls for.

Lizzie, who was supposed to arrive around 8 that morning, didn’t show up until after 11. Sleep was apparently more important to her than baking! Her tardiness was quickly forgiven, though, and Nola and QP were finally able to present her with her official Baking Day attire: a custom-made t-shirt designating her as the “Cookie Bitch.”

Lizzie has become such a vital addition to the day, and Nola and QP affectionately bestowed the nickname on her last year. And she truly does live up to it, late or not! The kitchen still would have been bustling late into the night had Lizzie not joined in on the tradition of Baking Day, and I do believe that Nola and QP are eternally grateful for her help.

Riley was present for Baking Day as well, although it was a different experience for him this year. Instead of sitting contentedly in his Bumbo chair on top of the dining room table, he was weaving in and out of everyone most of the day, playing with his bells and his bus and occasionally being picked up so he could check out the action.

We took a short break for lunch on the back porch (oh, and Lizzie took a 30-second time out to stretch her piriformis muscle, naturally). Other than that, though, it was all cookies, all day.

However, there was one other small event that coincided with Baking Day 2011: the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta between the LSU Tigers and the Georgia Bulldogs. Once the last batch of cookies was pulled from the oven and the kitchen was (semi) cleaned up, all attention shifted to the television in the living room.

What a day. Countless cups of flour, sugar, and butter were transformed into many dozens of cookies, now safely stowed in the freezer, waiting to be distributed. Memories were made, and lots of laughs were had. Oh, and the Tigers beat the Bulldogs (42-10) to secure their spot in the BCS title game in New Orleans on January 9.

GEAUX TIGERS!!!

Eight Things

1. Sometimes when Riley and I are on a walk, I can tell when someone is doing laundry. I just love smelling that fresh, clean smell unexpectedly.

2. Kenny and I went out for our anniversary last Thursday night while Nola and Nopsi graciously watched the boy. We stopped in at Oak Wine Bar for a pre-dinner drink and then continued on to Rue 127 for dinner. We both enjoyed getting to spend a few hours alone together!

 

3. Have you discovered the magical awesomeness of Lemi Shine yet? If not, you must run out and get some now. It will change the way you feel about your dishwasher.

4. Nola has quite the collection of bell necklaces (lots of restaurants in New Orleans give them away throughout the holiday season), and Riley-bean discovered them the other day. I love that most of them are as long as he is tall.

  

5. Are you as obsessed with Pinterest as I am? If not, don’t do it. Don’t create an account. It will suck you in and you may never see your loved ones again. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

6. On Sunday morning, while I was sitting at the kitchen counter drinking coffee and Nola was at church praying for all of us, Kenny and Nopsi gave Riley a much needed haircut out on the driveway. Kenny assisted in distracting Riley (I looked out at one point and he had pulled down two big tree branches and was flapping them like wings. Why I didn’t get a picture of that, I have no idea.) while Nopsi snipped away.

 

And snip away he did. Nola was mighty upset with Nopsi when she saw what he did to her baby. Her most memorable comment?

“Poor darling boy. He looks like a raggamuffin. He should be given candles to sell on the street in the cold snowy winter.”

 

Nopsi’s reassurances that it would grow back did nothing to help the situation.

7. Kenny and I put together quite a tasty spread for the four of us to enjoy at home during the Saints game on Sunday night. While the boys in black and gold whooped up on the Lions, we snacked on grilled sausages, salsa, edamame dip, avocado crab dip, and cheddar bacon ranch dip.

Not surprisingly, the most popular item on the table was the dip with bacon in it, an insanely easy recipe I found on my beloved Pinterest. (Don’t do it. Don’t.)

8. Riley had his 15-month appointment with Dr. N on Monday morning, and he checked out just fine. He weighed in at 25 lbs, 12.5 oz (70%) and measured 31.75 inches tall (75%). He did get another round of shots (DTaP, Hib, and flu), which made him fairly unhappy, but he calmed down pretty quickly and even waved bye-bye to the nurse who stuck him. That’s my sweet boy!

Stripes, Lights, and Everything Nice

Since the weather turned cooler, I have noticed that many of Riley’s winter clothes are striped. He has actually noticed it too, staring down at his sleeves and trying to figure out how more than one color got there. He looks cute in just about anything, but I have come to love him in stripes, whether it be PJs, a shirt, or his hat; drinking his morning milk (with a new friend), playing with his toys, or on a wagon ride with his mama.

   

He even sleeps with stripes!

He was also in stripes the first couple of times he got up close to Nola’s newly decorated Christmas tree(s) early last week. Christmas has most definitely arrived here, with the house fully and completely bedecked and bedazzled with decorations and lights. It looks spectacular, and I’m just crossing my fingers that we can make it through the entire holiday season without anything breaking. My motto with Riley so far has been, “Just look, don’t touch.” We’ll see if that works for another month.

Riley is loving all of the lights, especially the ones outside on houses and in gardens. We’ve started taking a few early evening wagon rides right before dinner so he can check out all of our neighbors’ luminous displays. And I can’t wait to take him in Nopsi’s van…..there are lights up in it again this year!

  

However, this is what I am most happy about right now: Kenny recently spent a couple of hours at our storage unit, crawling around in tight, confined spaces searching for the bin that contained our Christmas stockings. I thought we would sadly be without them this year, but he managed somehow to unearth them and bring them to me. Such a sweet man I am married to. Thanks, Baby!

So, stockings have been found, trees have been put up, pine and cinnamon scents abound everywhere, and eggnog is in the fridge. I just love Christmastime.

Hope everyone’s holiday season is off to a warm and happy start!

Video Monday: Crib Crazy

Keep in mind, this behavior had been going on for a solid five minutes before I finally grabbed the camera and started recording.

Please enjoy my wonky child being, well, wonky.

Happy Monday!

Four Years with You

I loved you then.

I love you now.

I’ll love you always.

Happy Anniversary, Baby.