It's Saint Patrick's Day, although we celebrated on Friday. But in honour, here is my favorite men's trio singing Danny Boy:
Mostly I'm just celebrating because the kids are back in school today, and I'm acknowledging this joyous event by cleaning my house from top to bottom because it's ICKY. I've also been on the phone for most of the morning as all of my fellow mothers, freed from a week spent endlessly amusing our always-grateful offspring, reached joyously for the phone to call me and make plans for later this week, which apparently will be a really social time in my life, filled with coffee visits and leisurely walks and playdates for The Baby. But today will be spent scrubbing my kitchen floor and vacuuming the inner workings of the couch and wiping grubby handprints off every vertical surface in my house, this brief martyrdom to acknowledge that my children were home and now they're off again.
At least I'm not these guys:
Sandwich One: Hey, buddy! Whatcha doing?
Sandwich Two: Just hanging out - AAAAAAAGGH!
SQUISH.
I LOVE making panini - there's something so very, very enjoyable about squishing sandwiches. And they're tasty, too - observe:
Note the delicious melted cheddar oozing out - good grief, why am I always so HUNGRY?
Heh - I just noticed that I got a bit carried away with Photoshop's blur feature and my plate looks like it's deliciously levitating above the table. Crazy.
And inside, there's roasted chicken, cheddar, red pepper, mozzarella and garlic mayonnaise - a concoction carefully assembled by The Girl, who has her own ideas about food. Simple and yet freakishly delicious. I wish I was eating this sandwich RIGHT NOW. But instead I had some rather uninspired leftovers and when I'm done writing, I'm off to clean some more, which is grimly pleasurable in the almost-quiet of the house, the sudden restfulness of just having one kid at home.
Oh, and for the first time in nearly nine years (give or take a few months in between babies), WE HAVE NO CHILDREN IN DIAPERS IN OUR HOUSE. This household may never purchase another bag of diapers again, which is both wildly cheering and stabbingly poignant and also - let's be frank - financially awesome. "More money for sandwiches!" I write, cheerfully, pretending that my heart isn't made out of Precious Moments figurines and melted cheese and wouldn't be happier with babies forever, that the door to that room hasn't closed forever, quietly but firmly, and there's no going back in.
Oh! So much to say.
1. I love "The Muppet Show."
2. Mmm... sandwiches. Would The Girl share her garlic mayo recipe?
3. We have just moved from one child in diapers to two children in diapers. The increase in expense (and trash) is amazing.
4. I was not prepared to tear up at the end of this post. *Sniff*
Beaker has the loveliest voice for that song. Truly.
And the baby stuff? Yeah. Oof.
Mmmm Panini! This looks great. I need to eat now.
Steph
Those sandwiches look delicious! I should only visit this site after I've had a nice lunch :)
We're headed toward the diaper-free zone too... with the same mixed feelings.
I love The Girl's panini recipe. Add a healthy sccop of sauerkraut and it would be perfect!
Two words: Cloth diapers. My baby #3 has allergies to many chemicals, so disposables were bad for him. We switched to cloth, and oh!, I love them. They're not what our mothers had to use with us. There's so many cute ones that for baby #4 I didn't even go woth disposables at all. She's almost potty trained (at 16 months, and because SHE started going by herself). Yes, amazing and not an ounce of credit to my mothering skills.
Those sandwiches look delish!
Precious moments figurines--perfect.
How can I get some of these cool toys you have? I have envy.
Oh man...I do love those Muppets! Fab panini...great combo of flavors on this one.
I have that Cuisinart Griddler and it is the GREATEST! I could seriously make every meal on it - and I practically do. This weekend for example, I made some wonderful grilled cheese sandwiches one day, fried some eggs another day and yesterday grilled meat on it. I promote it constantly as the best kitchen tool ever.
Ugh. Your killing me. I don't know if there will ever be a day when I will admit that I will not be having anymore babies. I'm afraid of what kind of pile of blubbery, mushy tears I would collapse into if I did.
On a happy note, that sandwich looks SOOOO good. Mmmmm!
Congratulations! (And not, I guess). We we sure love to be out of diapers here. More money for coffee. For the love of god, can someone please get me some coffee??
Congrats on being out of diapers. I think. For me, just when you get one out of them, it's time to have another. Too bad I can't. Sigh.
i could CHOW that sandwich right now!
I suddenly decided that I NEED to make that sandwich. Garlic mayo? YUM.
Mr. Blue is not anywhere nearly ready to potty train, and I can't WAIT for the day of no diapers. Does that make me abnormally unsentimental?
Oh dear - baby lust. I thought I was cured until I went to a first birthday party and nibbled on baby ears.
Nummy.
But my door is closed, and so I am off to make my own sandwich because that's an itch I can scratch.
Happy spring cleaning.
I really covet your panini press. I wish I had asked for THAT for Christmas, instead of that Williams & Sonoma Filled pancake pan, which I've used maybe once.
Those sandwiches look AWESOME! Love love LOVE the video!!!
hehe I will be humming Danny Boy all night!
The sandwiches look fantastic!
Isn't it bittersweet that your baby is growing up and yet there will be no other to replace that "baby" element?!?! I am struggling not to want just one more!
I closed that door, too. It reopened itself. Wonders that never cease! I respect your firmness and I'm positive you know what is what for your family, but you do not sound like a woman who's All Done, to me. I wouldn't say that except I'm the queen of firm and people said the same thing to me. over and over again. Also... panic panic... Why is my corned beef not getting tender???? It's been simmering forever! Hugs - M
Beck,
This weekend I cleaned out Claire's closet and gave away the remains of "playing house" materials to my sister. It's unbelievable - we've had housekeeping toys in our house now for 13 years. At least I will see them again. And at least Claire still plays dress-up, otherwise I would be in a puddle on the floor. That dress-up may never come out of her closet!
Oh, it's too weird to even stop to consider...
I think I'll go pull out my panini maker instead.
Even at the age of 30. I am still a Big Fan of Sesame Street. Great video, now this version has also become my favourite version of Danny Boy. *laugh*
I think spring brings on the baby lust...you are not the first I've heard recently wavering on her "all done" status.
Yummy sandwich. The Girl obviously takes after her mom in the kitchen!
Yum! Yum panini and Yum babies! I want both!
So I'm thinking....with all the good advertising for Cuisinart...maybe they should be supporting a kitchen renovation project at your house?
And those sandwiches look SO tasty!
Nothing makes my day like The Muppets!
I can't even think about no more babies...because when I do I can't stop. I have no idea if our door is just shut or nailed closed...
Those sandwiches look awesome!
I LOVE paninis!!!
Oh, to be free of diapers...
I've never had a panini! It looks scrumpdidliumptious!! (my hub hates it when I say that!)
I think I've said this before, but somehow we never really remember that last time we picked up our child, or rocked him so sleep, or fed her with a spoon. When we do it ... we do it. Then all of the sudden we look back and we are no longer doing it and we can't remember when we actually did it for the last time.
Sigh. No more babies is a hard place to be. I myself am craving a grandchild ... but I know AND HOPE it will be awhile since right now there are no daughters in law on the horizon.
And I make paninis on my Geo Foreman grill. It's cheating, but they are great. We have them every single Sat night for dinner.
I've said that before too.
I would not kick one of those sandwiches out of bed... Does that sound as weird as I think it does? What I mean to say is - Yes, the sandwiches. They look very good.
I loved the Muppets clip. LOVED.
those sandwiches look divine. i'm in a real sandwich phase right now and have been frequenting the nearest Subway way too often for my favourite roast beef/swiss cheese/tomatoes/pickles/hot peppers combo....a panini option would be perfect. in a few days/weeks, i'm heading back into the world of diapers - a world i've not been privy to for over a year!
I hear you. We are finally diaper free after 6 1/2 years (and three kids)! I gave away my last 1/2 case of diapers last week. It feels oh so good!