Oh eight

OMG!

Eventful days. Yesterday, we got a call that we have a match meeting next week! The expectant mother is 25 and is due in January with a baby girl! She is considering one other family so time will tell if we match.

Also, I took my final today in my Parent-Child Relations class so I am officially dunzo with that one. Work is quiet with students taking finals but I've got presents to wrap, a brunch menu to plan and books to read (not all at work, of course).

Shoes that did not work for me

MBT Lifestyle
Birkenstock Rio
Birkenstock Eaton
BMT Gil Fisherman
Earth Allure

Taboo

Ah, another fun weekend is dunzo. I took Friday off which gave me time to visit with Missy & Lo, clean my house and take a nap with my husbo. Saturday night we met some of the Winona crew at Chatterbox for dinner and came back to my house for games & cheesecake. We played Taboo, which always leads to interesting associations. Sunday, I did my bodysculpt class, got our neighbor Jean to take our Christmas photos in exchange for "punkin" bars and also had coffee with Sarah at Nina's Cafe. Quite the full weekend! I also managed to call my mom about a dozen time to just sigh into the phone and annoy her. What more could I ask for?

Palbicki's Punkin Bars

• 4 eggs
• 1 2/3 cups white sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 
  
• 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a medium bowl, mix the eggs, sugar, oil, and pumpkin with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Stir into the pumpkin mixture until thoroughly combined.
3. Spread the batter evenly into an ungreased 10x15 inch jellyroll pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in preheated oven. Cool before frosting.
4. To make the frosting, cream together the cream cheese and butter. Stir in vanilla. Add confectioners' sugar a little at a time, beating until mixture is smooth. Spread evenly on top of the cooled bars. Cut into squares.

I make the worst coffee.

I don't get it. Some say it's because I buy the cheap stuff. Others say it's because my coffee pot was $19.99( I mean it doesn't even warm it, I have to put it in the microwave (or radar range as my grandma would have said)). I would try harder but it's all just an excuse for me to go to a coffee shop.

Family dance...

My brother Casey sent me this great footage of that dance we did last Christmas...

Everest

After trekking home from the bus through unplowed walks in freezing temps, it was only right that Jake & I curl up to watch our favorite documentary Expedition on Everest on the Discovery Channel.

We booed big Tim Medvetz for being a pain in the butt and cheered when "asthmatic" Mogens Jensen finally agreed to use to oxygen in his 3rd attempt at Everest. It is really striking how these men risk their lives and give up all financial security just to "summit". Seems redunkulous to me but I won't go anywhere without my space heater and coffee creamer.