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Post by beaglemom on Jul 18, 2019 16:00:28 GMT
I am so, so sorry for your loss. Your grandbabies are so lucky to have you in their lives to keep her memory alive.
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Post by beaglemom on Jul 17, 2019 1:36:58 GMT
14 oz. bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
9 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
9 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
3 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
6 tbsp. unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
Pinch of salt
1 cup plus 2 tbsp. sour cream
To make the frosting, melt the chocolate in a heat-proof bowl set over a pot of simmering water. Set aside to cool until just barely warm. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Gradually mix in the confectioners’ sugar, cocoa powder and salt. Beat in the melted and cooled chocolate and then the sour cream. Continue beating until the mixture is smooth and well blended. Frost cupcakes immediately.
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Post by beaglemom on Jul 11, 2019 16:42:04 GMT
So fun!! If you need bay area ideas let me know!! I wish I could schedule you for a frosting lesson!!!
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Post by beaglemom on Jul 11, 2019 5:44:48 GMT
Never....the cleaners come once a week. I know they do my hardwood floors, I assume they do the bathroom floors as well.
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Post by beaglemom on Jul 7, 2019 0:20:35 GMT
Yup! We're up north....so nothing felt up here! |
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Post by beaglemom on Jul 2, 2019 5:37:01 GMT
My in-laws wanted to come over to celebrate my birthday (that was last Wednesday) for dinner tonight. They asked when was a good time to come. Dh said 6, since we are headed out of town tomorrow and need to pack. No one asked me what I wanted for dinner.
We have mil's car in our car app so we know where she is. At 6:05 her car left their house and started driving the opposite direction. At 6:45 we get a call from her that she had sent Fil to pick up the food and he was on his way back to get her and then they would be up. So in the meantime, I made dinner for the kids because they were melting down. They arrived at 7:20. Over half the food was stuff that I never eat and the rest was on the questionable side. We have been to the restaurant they got it from with them multiple times. They ordered one thing that is part of our normal order. And then gleefully commented that they don't have to make dinner for the next 2 nights.
Then time for my card. I open it up and it's a normal boring generic card. Then behind it is a card from the local movie chain. I open it up and it has a gift card with stocking on it. Dated Dec 10, 2018, it says to: DH (printed) & beaglemom (handwritten) From: Mom (printed) & dad (handwritten). Mil had dh as the person that she was supposed to buy stocking stuff for this past Christmas. So my "birthday" present was the thing she forgot to put in his stocking. Just further evidence that we are afterthoughts in their lives.
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Post by beaglemom on Jun 29, 2019 16:02:23 GMT
Every year I tell myself I am not going to get my hopes up for my birthday. Every year I am disappointed. Dh tries to claim that it is a self-fulfilling prophecy at this point. This year he had a man cold. I got up and got the kids ready for camp, took the big kids to camp and took the little kids with me. He was still asleep when we got back from taking the big kids. Then he went to the office to "work." Mumbled out "happy birthday." Wandered out at one point when I was furiously prepping for a meeting that I was having at the house and grabbed some food and then went back to the office. I put the two littles down for nap, the 3-year-old never actually napped. The people I had coming over arrived, we had a lovely lunch and meeting - and they gave me a hard time for not telling them it was my birthday. I told them I wanted it that day because otherwise, I would have just been hanging out by myself all day.
Then cleaned up everything after they left and went to pick up the big kids. Dh wandered out to say hi to the kids and then went back into his office, where he was playing video games. I dealt with the kids. At one point he asked about dinner and I said we could just do leftovers since we had a bunch. He wandered off again. I ended up cooking dinner. Earlier in the day, I had started making a cake (I love to bake), but then I felt really lame for making myself a cake so I didn't finish it. After did he asked where the cake was and I told him I didn't finish it.
He went upstairs to go to the bathroom while I was cleaning up from dinner and dealing with laundry and my parents showed up. Total surprise and I burst into tears. They hadn't called yet so I was feeling down that not even my parents had called. They brought some lovely flowers, cards, and some little fun thing. They were there for a good 15 minutes before dh appeared.
So the next morning he says he put on the calendar for Sunday that we are going to my parents to do birthday stuff. So we'll see how that goes. I did text my mom to ask if I could bring my cake - I have been asking for the last 5 years to make my own cake and she always tells me no and then buys something that isn't nearly as good as my cake. She said I could bring it this year, so I am happy about that!
So Friday morning I spent probably too much buying some custom fabric, I'm justifying it with the fact that I am 99% sure he still hasn't gotten me anything and if he ends up getting me anything it will probably be another board game or something like that. Which he has done the last 2-3 years and we have yet to play any of the ones he got me.
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Post by beaglemom on Jun 26, 2019 16:59:49 GMT
Thank you! That cake is beyond adorable!!
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Post by beaglemom on Jun 22, 2019 21:38:14 GMT
I thought it was interesting. We took the kids to Disney World for the first time in April. It was a pretty long trip. I have my Instagram locked down pretty well that anyone I am friends with there I am friends with in real life and would already know we were there. But after the first couple of days, I stopped posting. I was concerned that it was going to be seen as too much? I need to go through all the pictures I took and figure out what to do with them. I usually post everything to instagram because I use chatbooks to print out books for everything - because I just don't have the bandwidth to scrap stuff at the moment!
I think that we have all become a little obsessed!
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Post by beaglemom on Jun 22, 2019 1:23:35 GMT
WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE WHO JUST BAKE CAKES AND TAKE THEM PLACES AND HOW CAN I GET YOU INTO MY LIFE I have 2 cake Tupperware things and I have a stash of disposable ones. I average a cake a month. I am in a book club where I am younger than their youngest children (i'm in my 30s they are in their 70s and 80s). They have told me they don't care if I read the books as long as I bring my desserts. I often make cakes. I love making cakes! I don't love having them in my house - because I will eat them. I love getting invited places that I can bring desserts. I love baking!! |
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Post by beaglemom on Jun 22, 2019 1:15:13 GMT
My snoopy snow cone maker and my Baby sitters club book collection. I had 1-100+ and all the special ones. I was subscribed to the Scholastic monthly book thing for them for years and had all of them. I would love to have them for my daughter to read now. I think I donated them when I left for college.
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Post by beaglemom on Jun 20, 2019 16:26:56 GMT
I should add that I went to the doctor yesterday and was diagnosed with pink eye in both eyes and strep. So I wasn't just being a wuss about feeling crummy!
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Post by beaglemom on Jun 20, 2019 16:24:36 GMT
There was a second victim the night of the 18th. They believe they have the suspect in custody now. The road is back open. It looks/sounds like it was individuals from 30+ minutes away - so no local people involved. All very crazy!! Now dh promised he will no longer give me a hard time for making sure everything is locked up!
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Post by beaglemom on Jun 18, 2019 17:03:47 GMT
How scary! I couldn't have gone back to sleep! Why did they have the guns drawn on you and while corralling you?? I didn't get back to sleep, thankfully the 3, 6, and 8 year olds did. I think the guns were a precaution? Our Suburban was unlocked and next to the wall of our driveway (large retaining wall on the hillside) so we loaded the kids in there to hang out. We had one officer stay with us while the rest were searching. The kids were all a little uneasy this morning when we got them back up and asked a lot of questions, that we answered the best we could. The text alerts that keep coming through from the county say that they are investigating and that the road will remain closed indefinitely while they do their crime scene investigation. Craziness! |
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Post by beaglemom on Jun 18, 2019 16:34:02 GMT
They are still searching. There are multiple sheriff's vehicles at the top of our driveway (I can see them from the house). We have been in communication with our neighbors, one said that they are stationed right at our driveway with weapons visible and they checked her car when she drove by. I'm here with 3 of the kids till 3 or so (unless they tell us to leave!).
Thankfully one of our favorite neighbors is a retired Army Ranger and is hanging out at home today to make sure everything is okay. I have him on speed dial and we are all sharing info as we get it over text.
I'm hoping that they find whoever soon, dh and I are supposed to get to go out on a date night tonight. But I'm not sure I feel comfortable with a babysitter here if they haven't found the person.
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Post by beaglemom on Jun 18, 2019 14:23:43 GMT
One of my lovely children gave me germs and I'm feeling pretty crummy. Didn't have a great night sleep. But was finally passed out.
And then the doorbell rings at 5:35am.
Dh checks his phone (we have a nest doorbell) and sees that there is a police officer at the door and tells him via the phone that we will be right down. I stumble down to open the door and through the window on my way down see multiple officers with guns drawn in different places on our driveway. I open the door with my hands visible to find 3 officers right in the alcove at our front door.
They let us know that there was an incident on the main road about a mile from us and the police dogs led them to the property and they wanted to look around. We had to get our 4 kids (8, 6, 3, 1) out of bed and were corralled to the other side of the driveway and watched over by an officer with a semiautomatic weapon.
They searched the house (and left dirt all over my carpets) and under the house and all over our 5 acres. Then let us go back inside.
We had left our phones inside so I checked mine when I got in and saw that at 3:30 I had gotten a text alert from the county that there was a crime scene on the main road above us and that the road was closed from our road going north.
Googled and apparently a body was found at 11pm last night a mile or so from us and they are treating it as a homicide.
The 3, 6, 8 year olds went back to sleep, the 1 year old not so much. So we are up and I can't wait till nap time, I will be enjoying a nap along with the two littles today (the older ones will be at camp)!
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Post by beaglemom on Jun 15, 2019 1:46:58 GMT
We stayed at Rush Creek when they first opened in 2016. It was really nice; they had hiccups then because they had been open less than a month when we stayed but I'm sure they are running smoothly now.
Our last vacation was in Sydney, Australia and Auckland and Queenstown, New Zealand and we really enjoyed watching local programming. We caught a few cooking competition episodes and my DD kept commenting on how much nicer the Australian people are vs American. Also love watching local news to see what the news anchors are like. Yes, we are weird!!I don't think any of the hotels in the park have tvs in the rooms. Wawona (Big Tree Lodge) only has internet in the golf shop. We go every year for a week and don't miss tv or internet at all. |
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Post by beaglemom on Jun 14, 2019 1:11:38 GMT
Normally I would say hike! But if you can get a decent tour with the hotel that may be worth it. The parks have gotten so crowded that you aren't guaranteed parking down in the valley unless you are there super, super early. The Mariposa Grove is 100% worth doing - but I am not sure if they are doing the tram tours up there anymore...so it might be a hiking only situation. The Ahwahnee Hotel (or grand majestic whatever they are calling it) is amazing and worth going in to see. I was just reading an article that people were having to wait long wait times for the valley floor busses, so if you have something through your hotel that might be the best option.
Biking will get you around the valley floor - but not up to the actual falls. It would be a great way to see everything and to be able to stop and take the pictures you want and actually be outside. It will probably be very warm!! Pack more water than you think you will need, there are stores in the valley for water and snacks.
It is our favorite place in the world and we are heading up for the 4th of July, we have been going since I was a baby and now I get to take my kids! But we are just planning to stay up at our hotel, Wawona (Big Tree Lodge) while we are there because we don't want to deal with the craziness down in the valley since 4th of July is peak tourist time. But I have seen it all and hiked most of it!
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Post by beaglemom on Jun 9, 2019 17:24:10 GMT
Darks - cold
lights - cold
underwear and kids pjs - warm or hot
white towels - hot with bleach
sheets - also white so hot with bleach
kitchen towels - warm
kid's towels - hot
white clothes - warm with smart seek bleach
workout clothes - warm with extra soak
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Post by beaglemom on Jun 9, 2019 17:21:54 GMT
I do 2-4 loads a day. I have 4 kids ages 1, 3, 6, and 8. It never ends.....
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Post by beaglemom on Jun 9, 2019 17:15:42 GMT
I finally finished my degree (3years full time while working full time plus dealing with everything else in my life!). I heard on Friday that I get to stay in the school I’ve been teaching in all this time & I’m thrilled about my class for next year. DS is home from another successful year at uni. He’s done really well. Since he came home he has tidied & reorganised his room that I recently decorated for him. It looks great. This has prompted dd to sort her tip out & that’s looking great too. I’m enjoying a lovely day out with dh as we try to make the most of my newly free time! In 4 weeks dh & I head to Marrakech for a long weekend to celebrate our silver anniversary. The following week were throwing a big party to celebrate this & all the other great stuff from this year (degree, ds turning 21, dh’s new job etc). The weekend after that the four of us head to Europe for a fortnight seeing 4 cities. Two weeks after we get home from that, dd, ds & I set off driving to Denmark (where ds is studying next year), taking in a trip to Amsterdam along the way. Dd meanwhile is working hard both at college & in her weekend job. She’s just treated her & I to concert tickets later in the year (which thrilled her; she felt so grown up). She’s booking onto university open days & making great plans. We are very lucky & try to make the most of the opportunities our hard work brings us. This is awesome!! Congratulations on all the amazing things you guys have going on!! |
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Post by beaglemom on May 30, 2019 0:25:51 GMT
You look amazing! Your dress is incredible!!!
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Post by beaglemom on May 27, 2019 22:28:00 GMT
We have a Tesla Model S with Jump Seats in the trunk. So we have 2 rear facing in the back seat and the older two in the 5 point harnesses in the trunk. We have a Tesla Model X. We currently have it set up with the 2 rear facing on the outsides and the 8-year-old in the middle, she rode with her booster there. The 6-year-old is in the back. But you could do a 6 seater with the rear facing in the captain seats and the other two in the 3rd row. And in the Suburban we have the 2 rear facing on the driver's side and middle. The 3rd seat on that row folds down allowing access to the 3rd row for up to 3 more car seats.
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Post by beaglemom on May 19, 2019 19:33:30 GMT
At my parent's house. We were watching Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and he was laying with his head in my lap. 18 year together, 14 years married, and 4 kids later I still love kissing him!
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Post by beaglemom on May 17, 2019 4:55:08 GMT
I will usually answer that I've been sewing since I was 9 (I'm 62 now), and that I have a degree in Clothing & Textiles. There have been times when their response is to ask if I do alterations.  My standard response to that is "No, but if you know of a good alterations person I would love to have their name as I don't even do my own alterations!"  I love this answer and I am going to steal it!!! I am sure I am no where near as accomplished a seamstress as you and there is no way I would alter something! I would pay good money not to! |
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Post by beaglemom on May 16, 2019 18:26:10 GMT
I am struggling with the same thing, but my daughter is only 8. She is in the 90%+ for her height and weight. She has a belly and a bit of a sway back which makes the belly even more prominent. We just went to Disney World and the girls xl shirts were too tight (in my opinion) and super long! I have started trying to make more stuff for her because she isn't ready for juniors (not her style). But even with that I am having a hard time finding things that don't have bust room (she doesn't need that yet).
It is a huge struggle.
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Post by beaglemom on May 15, 2019 23:13:00 GMT
His mother. Their are triathlons practically every weekend in season. Let him change his plans and go. He just got the invite today. This is a half IronMan that he signed up for 6 months ago that is out of state. That he has purchased a plane ticket for and paid for a hotel room and paid $300+ to sign up for. If it was a regular local Olympic distance race he would not do it in a heartbeat. |
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Post by beaglemom on May 15, 2019 20:37:10 GMT
4 kids under the age of 6 with no DH there at the boss' house and not knowing anyone else? Hahahahahaha! Your idea about the rose bushes is more meaningful and you can have a nice dinner with them. Are you the Pea with the crazy in-law vacations? yup! |
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Post by beaglemom on May 15, 2019 20:35:51 GMT
How will your attendance/non-attendance make your MIL feel? 40 years is a long time, retirement is a big life accomplishment. Personally, unless she is someone who would sincerely tell you she didn’t care and not to bother coming, I’d go. And even then, I’d want to honor her work so I’d probably still go. I'm not sure. When we asked her and fil about the retirement situation a number of months ago they said something about there being a work thing. And at the time, the way it was said it sounded like it was really a work thing and that she didn't expect us to come. I have also asked my father in law a couple times in the last 6 months about it and whether we were going to do something else for her as a family and got wishy washiness from him. |
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Post by beaglemom on May 15, 2019 18:27:12 GMT
So funny that is what I was already planning before this invite came. Her roses got torn out a couple of years ago and I know she misses them. I was going to try to find a couple nice rose bushes to replace the ones she lost. To answer a couple questions/comments. We are local we see them about once a week. My kids are 8, 6, 3, 1 - if they were a little older I would consider taking them for a little bit, but wearing the 1 year old I would be chasing the 3 year old and it is at her bosses house - which I have no idea if it is child appropriate. And since it only had the +1 I didn't think it would be appropriate to take them. I responded to dh's email and said I didn't really want to go without him and the hassle of getting a babysitter. And he said No that's fine, I'll just send my regrets. So I am in the clear! Yay!! |
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