Eggnog

Eric and I were talking about eggnog the other day (I know...we're weird) and he was asking me about if it usually contained alcohol.  I thought it sometimes did, but I realized I didn't know much about eggnog...which happens to be one of my very favorite beverages!  So I decided to do a bit of research.

Eggnog

Origin is unknown, but believed to be English during medieval times.

Contains milk, sugar, raw eggs, spices (including nutmeg), brandy and sometimes cream.

English aristocrats drank it mainly because the ingredients were expensive.

After the movement to the new world in the 18th century, began using rum since brandy was heavily taxed.

During the Revolutionary War domestic whiskey and burbon were used due to the short supply of rum.

Drinking it cold and without alcohol has only been practiced since the 1960's.

Currently, commercially produced eggnog cannot contain raw eggs.

So, that is my brief history of eggnog.

Not that any of this matters.

All that matters is that it is delicious!

I will take it anyway I can...plain, as a latte, as a Godiva truffle, as IHOP pancakes, as ice cream...I'm not picky!

I know its not the Thanksgiving quite yet, but I bought my first half-gallon of the season today!  Yummmmmmmmm!

Quick trip to the mothership...

Shawn and I decided to make a quick trip back home to Indiana this week.  It wasn't exactly last minute, but we did throw it together fairly quickly (for me - the OCD planner - it seemed last minute).  Shawn's dad lost his job (and would appreciate prayers for finding a new job quickly) and we knew we weren't going to be able to visit them, or them us, for the holidays...so a long drive across the country with our dog began.

We made one quick stop in Indianapolis on the way up to Burlington to visit Theresa (of course)!  Sara came up for a quick visit too.  We didn't get nearly enough time, but that is what happens when we move so far away :(

We planned on taking a bunch of pictures of the fall leaves...I don't think I have appreciated how pretty fall is in a long time!  We forgot the camera battery charger, so we were only able to take a few :(  We certainly saw some really beautiful trees along our drive.  Especially through Arkansas...gorgeous!  We saw a lot of other crazy stuff on the drive too...that's a whole other story though!!

We decided that since we were going to be seeing his family we would bring our new camera and do some family pictures.  The sun didn't really cooperate exactly right, it was really windy, and Patrick didn't want to get his picture taken...but we did get some nice shots.  I know Shawn's parents are very happy with the pictures!

The dogs didn't exactly cooperate in the whole family shot.  Stormy was already pretty tired of Marcie!  Shawn and I were planning to get some pictures for our Christmas cards, but the battery died.  We'll get some in Austin instead...that makes more sense on a card from us anyway!  We did get a couple of cute family pictures though.

We had a nice visit with his family, but we're glad to be home.  Marcie was so out of her routine!  She did great though on the drive and in the hotel.  More so on the way home than the way there, but she'll be a seasoned traveler soon enough ;)  She's the most happy to be home though!

Happy Halloween

I know I'm a day early, but Shawn and I are both working long days tomorrow so we won't be able to enjoy the holiday.  Shawn finally let me buy Marcie a costume so I got her a super cute pumpkin costume.  She looks adorable...no matter what Shawn says!



I'm sure Mimi will take some pictures of Logan tomorrow...she better since I will miss it!

Happy Halloween!

More camera fun...with Logan!

Mimi brought Logan over this morning on her way to work so I could spend the day with him.  Luckily, Shawn didn't have to be at work until 1pm, so we both got to spend the morning with him!  Shawn decided it was time to whip out the new camera again...and we got some really cute pictures!



Now Logan and I are off to do some shopping together!

New Camera

Shawn and I have been talking for awhile about getting a new camera.  We had decided when we got married that we would get one when we had children...but we finally decided to jump the gun and just get one now.  We went to look at the stores over the weekend then did some research and got one today.  Love it!

We decided on an Olympus (because I love Olympus cameras...my current camera in an Olympus and it has lasted me quite a long time!).  Once it got it home we got it all together and started playing with it.  We got a package deal from Best Buy that included an additional lens and case, so I think we got a pretty good deal!

Here are some of the pictures we took today while playing with the different modes and lens.  We took some around the house and the others while we took Marcie for a walk on our apartment property.  She was quite a good model for our pictures :)  We have such a pretty dog!

Pumpkin Carving!

Shawn and I were out shopping today...enjoying a day with just about nothing important to do.   We decided to wander around Target (what else is better than that?).  We we wandering around the Halloween stuff (if you can find it through all the Christmas stuff that's out already...but that is another story) and I found something that I really wanted.  Well a few things.  Actually more than a few, but we settled on two things.  A really cool clear glass pumpkin shaped candy bowl with a lid and a pumpkin carving kit with stencils of characters from Monster's, Inc.   So cool!

So we decided to buy something pumpkins too and get the decorating going!  I bought a couple of small, decorative pumpkins to complete the centerpiece of my dining room table.

I decided to carve "Boo" in her monster costume.  It was hard!  There were a lot of details, but I think it came out pretty well!   Shawn decided to do the Green Lantern logo (probably because we bought that movie today too). 

I am totally new at the pumpkin carving thing, but I think we did pretty well!  I can't wait to do it again next year!  I also dug out some stuff I bought after Halloween last year and got Marcie in her scary "eyeball" scarf.  She was not really a fan.

She did like the bits of pumpkin she wouldn't stop eating though.  I hope they don't make her sick :( 

I love days like this...all day with my favorite guy!

Logan's First Trip to the Zoo!

Yesterday, Mimi and I both had the day off so we decided to take Logan to the zoo.  I have purchased a Groupon ages ago for the Capital of Texas Zoo (which is really more of a wild animal sanctuary, so it is small but easy to navigate with a curious toddler).

Logan came over to get Auntie Lisa all ready in his safari outfit.

The zoo was a perfect size.  It had a lot of animals you don't typically see at zoos and you were close enough to really see everything.  They still had a few of the big, cool animals though.  Logan had a GREAT time!

He pointed at everything!  Pointing is his new thing.

This capybara is huge!  I didn't know rodents could get so big!

Logan's favorite part of the day...the bridge.  He ran across this bridge probably 10 times, laughing out loud the whole time!

Piggies!!

He wanted to pet the pigs, but the pesky goat wouldn't get out of our way!  Mimi and I were pretty sure he was going to start hitting the goat like he does to the dogs at home when they are in his way!

He was so brave with the goats.  He fed them and petted them with no fear!

He was totally in awe of the lion.  It was the longest period of him standing still all day.  He just gazed at the lion...and pointed at him of course!

We thought this prairie dog was hilarious.  He was made a tunnel that lead him out of the his enclosure and he was making a new tunnel under the cage that the parrots were in.  He was right in front of us and as we stood watching him he started kicking rocks at us from inside his tunnel.  He thought he was being very threatening, but we just thought it was adorable!

Logan was totally worn out by the end of the zoo adventure.