Ending the Year With a Post (and an omelet recipe)

According to my last post, I was going to catch up and post some blog-worthy items. That was over five months ago, and here I sit--only hours away from 2009. Oh, well. Time to just wipe clean the slate. I'll end the year with a post and call it good. For this post, I will share my new favorite recipe for - strangely enough - omelets. Enjoy!


ZIPLOC OMELETS
*Ziploc sandwich bags
*eggs
*grated cheese
*diced green peppers
*chopped tomatoes
*crumbled bacon
*diced onion
*mushrooms
*whatever else you like to put in omelets

Beat 2 eggs and pour into sandwich bag. Add mix-ins. Remove air from bag, give it a good shake to mix ingredients, and place in a large pot of boiling water. Boil for 13-14 minutes. Cut top of bag and serve. (Just a tip--use a sharpie to write each person's name on their bag before starting)

Happy new year to you! May you enjoy the existential and metaphorical qualities of each omelet you consume in 2009.

I'll Catch Up...Later

I feel like I've fallen off the face of my blog. I have so many things to write about--things about the camping trip, things about my trip to Cali with Chris, and some of the random thoughts inspired by what has been almost an entire month away from home--but it's all just going to have to wait until I'm done living out of a suitcase.

I've taken pictures of things that pre-blog I would never have captured. But some things needed to be captured for pure illustrative reasons--I mean, I can't simply tell you about fried (?) eggs with perfectly round "yolks" at the Hampton Inn. I had to take a picture to share the weirdness with you.

I'll be up and blogging again as soon as I get home and unpack (which could take anywhere from 1 day to 1 month, depending on motivation).

Are We There Yet?

This past Saturday, Chris, Maisey, Marley and I started the the first leg of our trip to Colorado for a backpacking/hiking vacation on the Rainbow Trail with my parents. We traveled to Shawnee, Kansas where Dad and Mom live and promptly began the preparation for the adventure. The garage was transformed into Camping Central as Dad "built" the "staging area" using two saw horses and a fine piece of plywood. We started with backpack and sleeping bag inspection followed by an inventory of tools and cooking gear. When that task was complete, the four lists we had all made of things still needed was compiled into one master list, and all six of us piled into the 15 passenger van (how roomy!) to make the pilgrimage to Wal-Mart. We actually escaped from Wal-Mart not having purchased more than seven items that weren't on the list. That's amazing!

When we got back to Dad and Mom's, we rationed the food to put in our packs. Here's what we'll be dining on while on the trail:We also rationed out Off! wipes and Wet Ones and we each got a rain poncho. Even Maisey and Marley have their own little backpacks to help carry the load. But I have a hunch that we won't get too far before the contents of their backpacks, and probably the backpacks themselves, will end up in our packs. I predict a "it's too heavy, Mommy" complaint about 100 yards up the trail!

Sunday after church, we double checked that we had all supplies, food, clothing, etc., loaded up the van, and hit the road. Mom leaned up and asked me, "I wonder who will be the first to ask 'Are we there yet?'" It was Marley who broke the silence--not 10 minutes after Mom's query. Her unintentional comedic timing is genius.

I am so looking forward to this road trip with my family. So much fun has already been had in these past hours as we have recounted stories from times past. Maisey and Marley have provided comic relief with made-up jokes and phrases that can only come from the mouths of 5 and 7 year olds. Mom and I have cried our eyes out watching episodes of Little House on the Prairie. Chris has enjoyed sitting shotgun and talking to Dad about things ranging from ministry to farming. Dad has taught the value of a serendipitous stop versus the itinerary, allowing us to visit a giant sculpture of Buffalo Bill (gotta love Americana!)
I'm not going the be next to ask "Are we there yet?" We can take our time--I'm having too much fun!

Not Every Post Will be About Omelets...

One of my favorite restaurants in the world is First Watch. It's a fun, preppy breakfast/brunch/lunch cafe that Chris and I frequent whenever we get the chance (which isn't too often now--Joplin is the home of 7000 restaurants, only a few of which transcend mediocrity, and none of them a First Watch). My favorite First Watch of all is on Walnut Street in downtown Cincinnati. When Chris and I were first married, we would go to the aforementioned location on late Saturday mornings or Sunday after church. It wasn't long before we found ourselves in an ordering rut: Killer Cajun omelet (Chris' made with an extra egg), cup of coffee (decaf for me since I was pregnant with Maisey), and extra Santa Fe sauce (for both of us).

We were back in Cincinnati last week for the North American Christian Convention and we took the opportunity to go back to our old hang-out, first with some of the CIY staff, then again with Maisey and Marley. It was so fun to share with Maisey and Marley about the significance this particular restaurant held for us, about the first days of our married life, about the things we used to do, about how glad we are that God chose us to be their mommy and daddy. They were so gracious to oblige us as we waxed nostalgic; they didn't even roll their eyes.

When it came time to order, Chris stuck to the old standby but I ventured off the path into new menu territory. I ordered the Acapulco Express omelet. After the waitress walked away to put in our order, I felt regret mingled with sadness. I worried that this walk down memory lane would somehow be diminished by not ordering my usual. I knew I would not be disappointed with the Killer Cajun, so why did I find it necessary rock the boat? But all is well that ends well. Chris embraced the rut as he savored his omelet, my low-level grief was washed away with a sip of coffee (this time caffeinated) and a bite of my food, and Maisey and Marley had chocolate goatees from their chocolate chip pancakes. Perfection.

I look forward to future trips to the downtown Cincinnati First Watch with my family. I will probably stray again from the standard that is the Killer Cajun, but I will always be in a rut of telling our daughters our family story. There may come a day when they roll their eyes, but that's not going to stop me.

The Pressure of the First Post

How absurd to have blogger's block for the first post. It could be that it's 1:48 am. Instead of feeling the pressure to post something brilliant, I think I'll apply some pressure to my huge pilla and go to bed.