Top Chef

While most of you are far, far away in your warm homes, where the outside air is above the teens on your thermometers, and your cities aren't covered under several inches of snow, we are. Which leads us to create a lot of indoor activities to keep Megan occupied. Luckily for me, Jillian's go to move to amuse Megan for a half hour or so is to do some baking. Yum.

You've seen various photos of the two of them in the kitchen before so there's no need to blather on about this particular incident. But the new twist this time is Megan got to lick the bowl after they were done mixing the brownie batter. A 'task' once gleefully doled out to me has now been usurped by the pint-sized one. Grrr. But when she looks so sweet, how can I possibly get mad?

And in holiday news, below is a picture I took of our house last night. I know the decorations are minimal this year, but you have to start somewhere. I wanted to line the roof line in white icicle lights but Jillian was adamant about me NOT getting on the roof, since the extension ladder we have wouldn't quite allow me to reach the peak. I'm sure over the next 350 days I can wear her down into submission. What you can't see is that I have about 80-90 feet of icicle lights along the fence line of the side of our house that the garage is blocking.

So based on seeing this picture and knowing I want to outline the roof line in icicle lights next year ... are there any other suggestions from you creative types. Bear in mind I'm NOT entertaining any suggestions that require the hiring of an electrician or the playing of Mannheim Steamroller Christmas music.