Yummy (times TWO!)

SNICKERDOODLES.

We spent the afternoon at my Mom’s yesterday and we made SNICKERDOODLES. The happiness that word brings to my soul is indescribable. A shortbread cookie coated in cinnamon and sugar. It’s like a tiny slice of heaven in my mouth. (I was going to say, on a plate, but that would be silly…everyone knows snickerdoodles last about 1.8 seconds on a plate before they are devoured.)

Well….at least it’s that way in my house.

Here’s the Toots sporting her Nannies cowgirl apron.

Side note: My mother totally should have been married to a cowboy. She would have been the perfect ranch wife. Up at the crack of dawn? Check. (Well, pre heart-bypass at least) Perfect housekeeper? Check. Amazing cook? Check. The ability to multi task like no other? Check. Able to make delicious homemade goodness out of four ingredients in the pantry? Check. The word “procrastinate” does not exist in my mother’s vocabulary. Oh the shame I must bring on her….

Tootsie loved every minute of it.

She stood still.
On a stool.
For 20 minutes.

I have decided that every Tuesday afternoon will be “Make homemade deliciousness at Nannies house”. The child LOVED IT!

I’m not sure what she loved more…dumping flour into a bowl.

Or eating the cinnamon and sugar between dipping the cookies.


I would totally post a picture of the finished product here but I was too busy shoving them in my mouth as fast as possible. Cookies. Yum…


And just to end this delicious post on an even YUMMIER note.

I saw this at Wal-Mart today. I mean SERIOUSLY? Seriously, yum.

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P.S. Head over to Becky's blog for an amazing Celebutante makeup giveaway. (Plus, her blog is just too fun to miss!)

Austin

People who know me may think that my favorite place in the world is Disney. I love Disney. L.O.V.E. it – but Disney is not my most happy place. That place is reserved in my heart for Austin.

Now…I totally DO NOT BELONG in Austin. I am not cool or bohemian enough to fit in such a place. I am too far along in my geekdom to actually LIVE there but in my fantasy life I am an Austin-ite.

In my fantasy life I live off of South Congress and I stop at Jo’s coffee every morning on my way to my “not trying to be cool” little boutique I own. I head to the Saxon Pub EVERY Monday night for a Bob Schneider show (in my fantasy life he may or may not be my secret husband….don’t worry, the Television Man knows this) and then I head to dinner in the Courtyard of the San Jose.

I’m not really sure exactly what it is about Austin that feels like HOME to me – but Austin is where my heart lives. So until my television man gets a wicked awesome job at ‘Austin City Limits’ or some such fabulousness I will just live there in my fantasy life – wishing I could spend my weekends with the Toots at Barton Springs Pool and my evenings watching the bats underneath Congress Bridge.

Where’s your fantasy life?

Our room at the San Jose

Breakfast at The Magnolia Cafe

Bob. That is all.

Waiting for Mr. Schneider with The Television Man.

Happy.

A beautiful day

A beautiful day with Audrey, Nannie, Poppa and the swans.

(Thanks Daddy for the 'oh so Audrey' video.)

Audrey and the swans from Leigh Middleton on Vimeo.

If you ever get the chance, take a drive to Heber Springs to see the swans. It's one of my favorite things about living in this state.

What the??!!

I have to make a confession.

My child…

Yes, this really adorable piggy tailed beauty.

Something has happened to her. I don’t know where she’s gone but I am searching for the pod the aliens have put her in.

You see, the past couple of weeks have been….interesting, to say the least. One must walk on eggshells around Audrey for fear of sudden DOOM falling upon them. Who knows what might trigger it? Having to put on her shirt or go to the potty. Or maybe asking her to eat her breakfast or HORROR OF HORRORS making her sit in the cart at Target.

So you see, what I’m trying to say is this child.

Yes, this adorable bathing beauty. She MAY POSSIBLY be possessed by demons. Erratic demons who have no idea what they’re really mad about – just that they are mad and they’re going to tell you about it. (Or possibly kick you in the face/shin/belly)

We started off great today. REALLY great. She was my Tootsie Dee. Sweet, cooperative, ate her breakfast and her lunch, left the “Chikilay” playground easily. I felt good, I felt confident, I felt like I could take her to TARGET!!

Target. My happy place. That is where things went sour. Fast.

Because you see, this child. This sweet little food snatcher. Well…she decided she didn’t want to be at Target anymore. When I had a full cart. And I was at the back of the store.

So this child. This sweet little bubble covered pee’er. She decided she wanted to “GO HOME!” and she wanted to “GET DOWN!” and she decided that the most effective way to convey that message to me was to kick! throw things! and SCREEEEAM!

The best part was her fit over her new pink microphone. Poppa had given her two dollars to get a toy. (Because this child NEEDS toys. You’ve seen her playroom. Bless her heart, the child is NEEDY.) She picked a pink microphone and before said meltdown she was singing away – happy as a wee pig in the sunshine.

Then, before I know it…she HATES the microphone. “I don’t WANT this microphone.!!!” I take it and put it on the shelf (and NO, not the correct shelf, get over it). Then she’s screaming “MY MIIIICROPHONE!! GIVE ME MY MIIIIIICROPHONE! OH NOOOOOOO!!!” I gave it back to her (because I am WEAK) and she throws it, again. “NO! I DON’T WANT THIS MICROPHONE!!! PUT IT UP!” I put it up and…well….you can probably guess what happened. (The microphone may be on the candy shelf of aisle 6.)

I had a moment. A moment where I just stopped around the clothing section and just stared at her. I didn’t know what to do – I was at a complete loss. I bribed her (PLEASE be quiet and Mommy will get you an Icee), KICK! I threatened her (BE QUIET NOW or when we get home you will go STRAIGHT to time out), WHAM! So I just stared at her and thought of better days. Days where a tiny braided beauty plays quietly with Mr. Potato Head.

Where has this girl gone? Can someone help me find her? PLEASE??!!! Because if she doesn’t return soon her Daddy may come home to find me in the corner sucking my thumb.

Corn Meal. . .

A story in pictures. (Alternatively titled, "Why Leigh should panic when Audrey is quiet for more than 2 minutes.)

She gets down on the floor...on the floor

Untitled from Leigh Middleton on Vimeo.

Conversation...

Sometimes being the mother of a 2 1/2 year old can be hard - but a majority of the time it's pretty stinking fabulous. I wish her conversations would stay this innocent forever.

Have I mentioned Audrey LOVES to talk? I don't know where she gets it. . .

Audrey talks...and talks...and talks from Leigh Middleton on Vimeo.