Working Girl

Carl and Colten left to go to his mom's house earlier this week, leaving Emma and I home alone.  I won't lie it's nice to come home from work take a bubble bath and put on PJ's and have no one around to judge you.  Also Emma will eat leftovers indefinitely without raising an eyebrow.  The only downfall came when it was time for Emma to go back to daycare, she has been out since school got out, and apparently they have had a flu epidemic while we were gone that was raging the staff this week, when the Director called to warn me and let me know they were going to have some staff/child issues I decided that Emma would just come to work with me.  Emma grew up in our office, when she was 3 weeks old the '07 flood hit and our office and shops in Neodesha were victims of the flood, I swear I will be an one of those old ladies who when I am 100 years old I will sit around and talk about that summer.  It. was. terrible.

Emma was three weeks old, I put her in her sling and we never looked back.  She stayed at work until well after her first birthday, then the daycare had an opening and I grabbed it, Grandma took the news hard.

This week has reminded me of all the good things about having a child at the workplace.  There are lots of hugs, kisses, and snuggles.

Picnics with Lucy.

Oh and don't forget the candy.

But there is also work at the workplace, even more at the end of the year and being able to focus is difficult at times when someone wants to read or play.

I am so thankful that I work somewhere that my kiddos are welcome, but I am also thankful for a wonderful daycare whose staff's full time job is to pay attention, read, and engage my child, because I know I could never do that while trying to do my job.  But it is fun to spend a day or two with a little one running around, I know Monday will be very quite.

Do you ever take your little ones with you to work?  How do you juggle it?

Homamade Panini

As a sandwich lover I have been wanting a panini press for quite some time, when I came across this post at Iowa Girl Eats I decided to make a homemade version ASAP.

Leftover Christmas ham, swiss cheese, baby spinach leaves, and plain Jane bread with a spray of Pam on it before putting into the preheated pan.

Press in action.

After completion, the most beautiful sandwich ever made in this kitchen.

Verdict - amazing.  The sandwich was heated all the way through, the cheese was perfectly melted and the spinach slightly wilted, Emma said "This is the best sandwich ever" and promptly devoured her entire sandwich, I agreed 100%.

So now the question is do I really need a panini press?  They do look pretty cool and I do love gadgets, but until this methods proves problematic, I think I will stick with it.

Do you make homemade paninis?  What is your favorite combo on a sandwich?

Now that I have figured out a way to do them I have a feeling we will be enjoying these a lot.   I am dreaming of all the flavor combos, the main one one my mind would be smoked brisket and cheddar cheese.  Mmmmm. . .

Confessions

I know it's been awhile. . .

We have been eating an assortment of leftovers and take out since Thanksgiving, yep, since Thanksgiving. So no recipes to share :(

Nothing is happening around here lately, so I have nothing to blog about.  Except for my ever growing hatred of winter, why oh why must it be so dark and cold???  Although I am proud to report we are still running outside three times a week in the freezing cold.  Awesome or crazy the jury is still out.

I find when I sit down in the evening to blog I don't get back off the couch I usually read all the other blogs out there and do not get things done, then before I know it it's bed time.  This is not working out being a mom of three kiddos with laundry that piles up fast if I don't stay on top of it.  Not sure what to do about this, except not blog obviously, but that sucks!

I am working on Christmas shopping and although I have bought more Christmas presents locally, I have still had to resort to a lot of online shopping (at least my sales tax comes back to Fredonia, right).

I gave blood today, mostly for ulterior motives, I read somewhere it takes around 700 calories to remake the blood lost.  Oh and after one beer I am buzzed.  Score.

That basically sums up my last several weeks.  What have you been up to??