Valentine's Day 2005...

Menu:

Maple Glazed Salmon w/ Fresh Pineapple Salsa
Fresh green beans with mushrooms and bacon

Dessert~
Home-made brownies, vanilla ice cream
drizzled with home-made raspberry sauce!

(recipe? Email Amy)

Now, at first, I have to admit to thinking, "MAPLE? Salmon? WHAT?!?!? Yuck!" But, as I looked at the other ingredients, it started to make sense... so I just jumped out there and tried it. It was GREAT! The flavors are fantastic and they go so well with the salmon - although, I suppose this recipe would also work quite well with chicken. I served the salmon over a bed of "European" greens. This is a mix that you can buy all ready to go in a bag in the produce section, it worked really well and the salmon and salsa looked really pretty on it.

Kid's Menu?

Pizza and sodas with a movie in the opposite end of the house! It worked out really well and everyone was happy with their Valentine's Day.

Mike is still working long hours down at the office. He's rarely home before 6:30pm and is at work by 8am every morning. We're still adjusting...

It's getting to be that time of year... the kids seem a bit disgruntled and antsy. We've had some nice weather lately (warmer with some sunshine) and I think it's a bit of a tease. They are ready for warmer weather and the school year is starting to wear on them. It's a good thing that Spring break is just around the corner. A week vacation should give them just what they need to make it down the final home stretch of the last 10 or 11 weeks of school.

I've said it a hundred times, I really don't understand these parents who look forward to seeing their kids go back to school after summer and winter vacation, spring break, etc. I prefer having my kids home, I have a good time with them and I think they have a good time being here with me, too. (No matter what they say... LOL)

January 30, 2005 - Mike got his new truck.



That's Katie at the wheel - Maggie and Ethan are in the back. It was a pretty big day for the whole family. Mike is thrilled with this truck... although the family has started referring to him as "Hot Rod Joe." He has put his CD holder in the truck and blares all of his music anytime he goes anywhere in it. It's great because the whole family can fit in it - and we bought new car seats for both cars now so that it's very easy for everyone to go no matter which vehicle we take.

Mike has been really busy since starting his new job appraising real estate (01/17). Lots of long hours and we're all trying to adjust to that ;o) Today is a pretty good example of us trying to adjust, school is out today for Lincoln's Birthday and we are all home. Mike is working... when he worked for the company he'd been with for 5 years - we had things arranged where he took off every day the kids had off, including a week at Christmas and a few days at Easter. So, if he were working for the other company he probably would have been home today.

Still, there are a lot of positives that come with this change. As soon as things start to level out a bit it will be a lot better.

Meanwhile, the kids and I are enjoying our day off. Kate and I are watching "Barefoot Contessa" (Ina Garten's show on the Food Network) and Ethan is in his room reading "Dr. No" and entertaining Maggie.