<p>Momofboston…that sounds soooooo good! Worth a plane ticket to Boston! I’m getting so many ideas for yummy meals. Probably will need a new pants size before I go back to work!</p>
<p>Love all the descriptions of your traditional meals! I may have to incorporate some new sides into ours. It’s just the 4 of us and we grill a marinated beef tenderloin. One of the benefits of living in the south 
I also love hearing about the regional favorites, especially the seafood!</p>
<p>Thanks for the delicious sounding drink recipes Steve! Reminds me of a neighborhood progressive cocktail party we had one year. Each house served a signature drink. Thank goodness it was a culdesac and we were on foot! Might not be too late to organize one of those for New Year’s Eve?!</p>
<p>This whole college admission process is like dating, there is more love and attention when you playing hard to get - after D ignored Valpo and St. Louis U (didn’t reply to emails and phone calls from admission reps), we received letters from both colleges today, notifying about increases of original scholarships (Valpo from 18K to 22.5K, SLU from 14K to 16K).!!! I love this game!</p>
<p>Steve, I texted the drink recipes to my step-S, who is 25. They sound great!
Dinner here is beef tenderloin, scalloped potatoes, sour dough rolls, and a veggie TBD when I go shopping tomorrow. Then just Christmas cookies (which are tonight’s chore) for dessert. Easy, yummy, and it’s just the 6 of us. My mom does Christmas dinner, and it’s always incredible. She’s a gourmet cook so you never know what she will dream up.
Went shopping with D today, met my parents. Had a great morning. Came back and went out for a bit with H. quite sure my budget is beyond blown. The kids will be in pig heaven. I do huge amounts for Christmas, which isrobably dumb but so much fun. I need wrapping paper again. Tomorrow, early grocery trip, then a full day of football and wrapping. Christmas Eve, movies and hanging with all the kids. I. Love. Christmas.</p>
<p>Thanks, everyone for the virtual support. We have had a very trying week with DD13b.</p>
<p>DD13a was accepted to Miami University honors program today. Unexpected good news. She was very happy. </p>
<p>As for Christmas menus here is my recipe for a main dish:</p>
<p>Walker’s Special Standing Rib Roast (serves 1)
One fatty bone in rib roast (approx. 4 lbs)
Special seasoning (salt and pepper is what most people call it)
Bag o carrots
Bag o potatoes
One box of crappy generic beef broth
1.75 bottle of Woodford Reserve Bourbon
Soaked apple wood chips
Big Green Egg </p>
<p>Take roast out of fridge. Allow to rest and come to room temperature. Meanwhile
fill five shot glasses with Woodford Reserve. Drink three parts and reserve two. Take a nap. Wake up. Salt and pepper roast. Drink the two parts reserve bourbon. Skin carrots and potatoes. Fill five more shot glasses with bourbon. Throw potatoes and carrots in garbage and drink two more shot glasses. Laugh hysterically. Perform a tango with the roast and feed it to your grateful dog. Make a fire in the Big Green Egg. Drink three more shots and forget why you lit the grill. Throw beef broth down the drain. Throw shot glasses in the garbage. Drink directly from the bottle because cleaning up dishes would take skills you no longer have at this point. Merry Christmas.</p>
<p>Seven fishes tradition?? Please educate me!</p>
<p>I love hearing all these menus and routines…how do you guys do it all AND manage to raise such well rounded kidz?</p>
<p>We’ve had a couple smaller LACs (one here and one outta state) that are practically begging son to apply by promises of x amount of scholarship dollars. Cannot get son to budge…he is just not interested in LACs. Darn.</p>
<p>[About</a> The Feast of the Seven Fishes](<a href=“http://www.squidoo.com/feast-of-the-seven-fishes]About”>http://www.squidoo.com/feast-of-the-seven-fishes)</p>
<p>Walker, that is hilarious. I like your traditions :)</p>
<p>I have decide to add basil orange martinis the menu…</p>
<p>Walker, forget the tenderloin. I’m coming to your house. We get to be upstairs? Not in the basement?</p>
<p>@wahoo- I keep booze upstairs and down. No problems migrating between the two! Besides my basement has almost a full kitchen so we are covered.</p>
<p>What a fun day! Steve–I <em>love</em> the drink recipes. For the first time in my life I’ll be alone for Christmas (except for the dogs), and I am mos def looking for treats for myself. Anything with champagne is a good place to start.</p>
<p>Walker–I am so going to steal your recipe, and hang in there re: your daughter.</p>
<p>To snorkelmom–Walker has it right. It is <em>not</em> University of Miami-Ohio. It is Miami University. They will drum that into your head in Oxford. DS#2 is a sophomore there–it is a great school.</p>
<p>I was whining all week about DS#3 having gotten NO NEWS FROM ANYBODY. I was three hours away most of the day doing Christmas with my mom and one brother and his fam, just got home and was cursing the heavens as I was feeling around in the mailbox in the dark and once again there were NO BIG ENVELOPES. But I brought it in and lo and behold there is an acceptance in there! At least that’s what I’m assuming if it’s from Admissions and the back side says “CONGRATULATIONS.” St. Michael’s College in Vermont. First news we’ve had in weeks.</p>
<p>Anyway, I’m sitting here with my glogg watching Wizard of Oz and feeling fine.</p>
<p>Walker–we’ve been promoted outta the basement for the holidays. Yay! Congrats on D’s honor acceptance!</p>
<p>Ree–i clicked on the link. I took an online quiz and discovered me and only 18% of the respondents had never heard of seven fishes…the vast majority responded that they had heard of it. Oy.</p>
<p>Mylb----yay on the acceptance! Finally!</p>
<p>MyLB-yes, we know that. My bad-typo. So she has also applied to U of Miami (FL) and I sometimes type too fast. It will all come down to the $$ I guess we won’t know until March. So I’ll have to find a new bad habit to bide my time. ;)</p>
<p>Congratulations to both Walker’s DD’13a and MyLB’s DS’13! </p>
<p>Walker, I love your recipe for Standing Rib Roast! </p>
<p>Seriously, though, I have been thinking of doing a brandy marinated turkey recipe next year when I will only have the kids for a few weeks. There’s no way my H and I can eat all the turkey leftovers from the usual roast. With the marinade I can really just cook a thigh for dark meat and a breast for the white. Enough for the day and a little more. Plus most of the work is done during the two days before.</p>
<p>Hey 'rents!</p>
<p>I hope that everything’s going well for all of you! I’ve been SOO busy lately!</p>
<p>Updates: So, I didn’t get into Fordham. Which I honestly think is weird because two other kids in my school got in who don’t have as high of stats as I do, but whatever. That’s that.</p>
<p>I received a beanie from Emerson today and it made me so happy, oh my goodness! I can’t wait to attend the admitted students day in two months! AHH!</p>
<p>I think my decision is going to come down to between Emerson and Quinnipiac. I need Emerson to come through with financial aid, and I need to get more scholarships. Otherwise, I’ll end up at Quinnipiac, which is fine with me.</p>
<p>With that said, I’ve decided that I’m not going to apply to as many colleges as I said before. I’ve decided that I’m only going to call up UConn when their admissions office opens again and request a fee waiver so that I can finish my application to there. I’m also going to apply to either Manhattan College or St. John’s University. UConn is a match/target school for me, even though I’m pretty sure I’m going to get in. I know that I’m going to get into either Manhattan or St. John’s. They’re safeties for me. I just want to see what money I can get.</p>
<p>This means that I will have applied to the following schools: Emerson College: Accepted, Quinnipiac: Accepted, Marymount Manhattan College: Accepted, Central Conn. State University: Accepted, UConn, Manhattan or St. John’s, Fordham: Rejected, Barnard: Rejected.</p>
<p>That’s 8 schools total. Thus far, I’ve been accepted to 4, rejected to 2, and I’m applying to 2 more. I’m perfectly content with that.</p>
<p>I hope everyone has a nice holiday!</p>
<p>Swizzle, you have such a great, great attitude! </p>
<p>The drinks ALL sound amazing!! </p>
<p>The foods ALL sound amazing!!</p>
<p>All the talk about food made me realize that if I am cooking dinner for my family and my mom on Christmas, I actually have to go buy something… I seriously had not planned it all out… In fact, last Tuesday, I thought Christmas was TWO weeks away! Just spent 7 hours out tonight shopping with hubby. Walked out of Walmart after midnight! I am sooo behind this year… </p>
<p>Italian holidays - yep! Pasta! My m-i-l serves turkey AND lasagna on Thanksgiving! Makes for some great leftovers, and lots of 'em, as no one is hungry at all by the time the turkey part of the meal rolls around!</p>
<p>Swizzle–i was just wondering where you’d been…glad to have the update. Your plan sounds so well thought out. I’m happy for you and anxious to hear what the next phase brings! Good luck!</p>
<p>Congrats to everyone again. We were off doing the extended family Christmas thing yesterday. Today is clean the house day. DD is getting her Christmas present today–her boyfriend is coming home!! She doesn’t’ know that, he is going to surprise her at church tonight. We’ve been planning this for a couple weeks now. I can hardly wait. She is expecting him home next week sometime :D.</p>
<p>I keep thinking tonight is Christmas Eve, glad I really have one more day to get ready :D. I’m trying a new way to cook my prime rib and it sounds amazing. I can hardly wait for that. Our oldest and his girlfriend had a last minute change of plans for her family so they won’t be here to eat the prime rib–more for me :D.</p>
<p>Just came back from the midwest, picking up my oldest kid from college. lots of snow there!<br>
the recipes sound really yummy! I’m going to try that cranberry apple cobbler today! </p>
<p>Congrats Walker for A. Just lots of Hugs for you and B!</p>
<p>Great attitude Swizzle! I like your plan.</p>
<p>Unicameral, also, I think your plan sounds reasonable too. </p>
<p>thank you for all the support about the Girl Drama. I think saying “not inviting-not invited” (or close to that) is a good line. I’ve said similar to that, but this might work. also, I agree with the large drinking parties, I really dont mind she isnt going to those; but, it is sad for her. Now, for winter break, she did go out with a couple of kids last night. Came home with a flat tirre! drove on the rim… :{
DH not too pleased!<br>
Have a good and joyous holiday! Not sure I’ll be on CC for a few days.</p>
<p>Hello All!</p>
<p>I’m dropping in, as I’ve been MIA</p>
<pre><code>I was the Mom expecting the baby that was put on bedrest (served over 100 days) Our little Man arrived a little over 2 weeks ago (and ended up being induced at 40 weeks! How’s that for irony after spending 4 months trying to keep him from coming early). He is 100% healthy and is gorgeous.The other night I found my life hilarious as I changed my newborns diapers, while looking over to my left where DD13’ was working on her final College app.
</code></pre>
<p>Congrats to all the wonderful acceptances your kids have received! There are some amazing students and parents here!
I gotta say that the horrific events in Newtown, have really hit me hard! I have a Kindergartener, and a 3rd grader in addition to my now 2 week old and my DD13. Dropping them off to school has new meaning. DD13 had finals this past week. I usually give her the big “speech” I just hugged her and said do your best. She’s an amazing student, but I just wanted all my chicks safe in the nest, all of a sudden this entire adventure we’ve called college admissions seemed so small in perspective. God Bless those who are hurting.</p>
<p>Incidentally we got a big snow storm so one day of finals has been postponed until after break. DD13 was not thrilled.</p>
<p>That being said, we are now at the end of the admissions process and the waiting begins. This being our first heading to College, I for some reason spaced the chunk of cash it takes to send the SAT/ ACT/SAT IIs to all these colleges, then adding that to the application Fees really made me hit the floor ha! DD13 was fortunate that a few schools offered to waive them if she applied, still lesson learned for future children applying in my home.</p>
<p>Happy Holidays to all of you! I hope to join you in the hand wringing for the next few months!</p>