Wednesday

Ritz Cracker Crumb Crusted Chicken or Lamb

jodie wanted lamb chops for her birthday dinner last week. i made them with this really yummy crust make from ritz crackers. tonight i put it on some chicken thighs and it was also really good. i didn't take any pictures. the chicken didn't look that pretty because the chicken got over browned. i'm still trying to figure out my new oven. here's the recipe...

...recipe my own creation
ritz crackers, crushed
garlic cloves, crushed
olive oil
sea salt
thyme or oregano or anything else you think would be good

Shelves



today dan went to ikea and bought some shelves for the girls room. we finally have somewhere to put all the toys! it's great not having them all over the floor. he also got us a set for the living room. i think putting those together is tomorrow morning's project.

Saturday

Dance Class

we signed jodie up for a dance class this week. she had her first class today. when i picked her up from the class she said it was "really fun". half way through the class they have a short break where they can eat a snack if they brought one. everybody else had brought their snack in a lunch box, but jodie did not have a lunch box. guess what we did on the way home? stopped to buy a lunch box. she was thrilled that the woolworths had a princess lunch box. she is now looking forward to using her new lunch box next saturday to bring her snack in.

Monday

Reconnected

now that we finally have internet access i've also been able to do a few more things along with blogging. today i placed my first online grocery order since being here. my groceries should arrive at my door tomorrow afternoon! no more carryinig! i also finally got to order something from amazon and use my gift certificate that andrew and mark gave me for my birthday! thankyou andrew and mark! i am now anxiously awaiting the arrival of Tender at the Bone: Growing Up at the Table by ruth reichl (dan got me Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise also by ruth reichl for my birthday and i absolutely loved it and didn't want the book to end), Radical Hospitality: Benedict's Way Of Love by daniel homan, and Bistro Cooking at Home by gordon hamersley.

Sunday

Jodie's Birthday



jodie turned 4 yesterday. we had a party at regents park. we brought a picnic lunch of fried chicken and the kids played on the playground. jodie had a great time! instead of cake we brought peppermint brownies that jodie decorated with princess decorations.

London Week 1

we're coming to the end of our second week here in london and i'm just now getting a chance to blog. i wrote this last week and never got a chance to post it.

London Week 1
Tuesday
Our first full day in London. Dan and I pick up the keys to our flat and go take a look at it. It seems smaller than we remember, but I discover that we have garbage disposal! Then we go and visit a few schools. It’s a bit disappointing. No one has time to talk to us. A couple schools have no room left. We get some lunch and then pick up a few groceries and some cleaning supplies. We can’t buy too much, only what we’re able to carry. I clean the floors in our flat (they’re really dusty from sitting empty for a couple of months) and Dan and Jeremy go and get our stuff that we have stored in London. While they’re gone I finish cleaning while the girls help. Then the girls watch a dvd and I take a nap. When dan gets back with our stuff we have dinner and then set up our air mattresses.

Tuesday dinner:
Fresh spinach tortellini bought from the store with olive oil and freshly grated parmesan cheese.
Salad
Baguette

Wednesday
Dan calls around to schools today. One school thinks they have one opening in year 1 for andi. We have an appointment to visit tomorrow morning! I go to the grocery store again and get something for lunch and dinner. Dan starts to work on getting phone and internet access, it is going to be a process. Dan buys one more air mattress for Jodie because she was the only one that didn’t have one. This evening we walked to regents park and discovered they have a great playground and sandbox. Dan discovers that our washer is also a drier! One less thing to buy and take up space! Work on upacking some boxes.
Wednesday dinner:

Salmon with Cajun seasoning
Fried potatoes
Salad

Thursday
We all go to the school this morning to talk to the head teacher. They definitely have a spot available in year 1 for andi. We also find out they have a nursery with places available for Jodie. We get a tour of the school and it is really nice. We have lunch at mcdonalds and do a little bit more shopping. We bought hangers and a pillow and looked for a kitchen trash can. Andi and I go back to the school later in the afternoon with all the paper work filled out to sign the girls up. I buy andi’s uniform shirts from the school. They only have one shirt in the smallest size. I’ll guess I’ll be washing it every night. The girls will start school on Monday.

Thursday dinner:
Roasted Chicken
Sauted asparagus

Friday
This afternoon we go to oxford circus to buy andi’s uniform. We get her a navy skirt and a pair of trousers and socks and shoes. Dan takes the standing order for our rent to the estate agent and they make plans to go for a drink later. We have dinner at Camden market.

Saturday
Our estate agent brings us some chairs that we can borrow for a little bit. We’ve just been sitting on the floor and our trunks for the last few days. We go to mcdonald’s for lunch on our way to ikea. We spend all afternoon getting to ikea and waking through ikea and getting home from ikea. The only thing we liked we’re a set of shelves. We didn’t buy anything. We picked up chicken from KFC on our way home for dinner. Our phone finally gets turned on!

Sunday
We went ot church on the corner this morning. It was fun seeing some people we had met last year. After church we have lunch at nando’s. dan checks his e-mail while we’re still in islington, they have free wifi on their main street. The girls and I go sit in borders. They look at the kid books while I look a t a knitting book. For dinner we have leftovers.

Monday
This is the girls first day of school. Andi woke up early this morning ready to go. She helped pack her lunch and was excited about getting to wear her uniform. I walked andi to school and we met her teacher. She seemed to settle right in. when I got back I took Jodie to starbucks for a little bit. Dan and Jodie and I went to order the girls a bunk bed. It will arrive on Thursday. We had lunch at home and then I walked Jodie to school. She had a wonderful time. On the way back from school I went grocery shopping. Then dan and I went to the bank and opened an account. I picked the girls up from school. Both of them seemed to really enjoy their first day and were looking forward to going back tomorrow. After we got home I layed down for a bit and ended up falling asleep until it was time to make dinner.

Monday dinner:
Baked chicken with potatoes
Sauted asparagus