Chatterbox

Grant is talking up a storm these days. 

Enjoy a little storytime with one of his favorite books!

Mac-n-Cheese

I've always liked Panera, but this place earned an even bigger fan after last summer. Maybe it's because it was my refuge & sustenance after long days in stressful hospital waiting rooms. Or the fact that the brilliant folks in Castle Rock put in a drive-through Panera, which we frequented often burning up the highway running back and forth to Denver to the hospital. To date, Panera remains our go-to place for lunch dates and the occasional weekend breakfast.

So let's talk about Panera's Mac-n-Cheese, shall we? We have sampled many a variety of Mac-n-Cheese, and the Leahy boys are fine connoisseurs with discerning palates for this ooey-gooey-goodness. But the Panera version tops the list. The folks at Panera kicked the recipe up a notch. No fake orange cheese here. The white cheese makes all the difference. Move over, elbow macaroni. Say hello to shells.

One day last week after watching Grant inhale a bowl of this much-loved lunch staple, I decided to set out on a quest to recreate that Panera recipe. Except my challenge was made significantly easier by Google .... and Panera posting their recipe online. No secret recipes here. Just good grub. Bon appetit! Hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do!

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Panera Bread’s Signature Macaroni & Cheese
Adapted by Head Chef Dan Kish

Ingredients
1 (16-ounce) package of rigati pasta (or other small pasta shells)
¼ cup butter
½ cup all-purpose flour
2½ cups 2% reduced fat milk (or cream)
6 slices white American cheese, chopped
1 cup (8 ounces) shredded extra-sharp white Vermont cheddar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon hot sauce

Directions 

1. Prepare pasta according to package directions.
2. Melt butter over low heat. Whisk in flour and cook 1 minute, whisking constantly.
3. Gradually whisk in milk (or cream); cook over medium heat, whisking until mixture thickens and bubbles. Remove from heat.
4. Add cheeses, mustard, salt, and hot sauce, stirring until cheese melts and sauce is smooth.
5. Stir in pasta and cook over medium heat for 1 minute (or until thoroughly heated).

Serves 4 to 6

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Under the Weather

Perhaps it was all the birthday festivities of the past week catching up to us or one of the umpteen strains of various ailments floating around right now, but today we had two little men at home under the weather. Reid and Grant both had a version of a cold with a nasty cough and hoarse voice. We spent most of the day watching TV, resting, and lounging around. Here's a video of one cute laryngitis patient who has a side gig as a pirate. Arrrgh.

9

And now for the final celebration of our January Birthdaypalooza ... Luke's 9th Birthday on Jan. 24!

Oh, where to begin about Luke. Perhaps I'll start with some comments that Luke shared from some of his friends. When it's your birthday at school, they celebrate all the birthdays that month in one combined celebration by calling the kids up at lunch and giving them a Cadoozle pencil (very cool brightly colored mechanical pencil ... the No. 2 pencil would be way jealous.) Anyway, at lunch that day, several of his friends at school came up and shared some very kind comments with him. One of his playground basketball buddies said, "Luke, you are the only one who is always a good sport ... even when you aren't winning." Another boy told Luke he's nice to everyone at school so that's why everyone likes him. As Luke told these stories to us, it was so heartwarming to think about the young man he is becoming. So kind. So conscientious. Yet always up for an adventure. Our sweet Luke.

 Hoops in the house ... a new mini hoop!

It has been installed on the side

of the bunk bed. Keep in mind that

all that shooting, rebounding,

and possible fouling is VERY

loud in the rest of the house.

Add the Tron soundtrack (L&R's

music of choice for hoops). Hilarious!

This birthday year was a "party year" for Luke (odd # birthdays are parties, even # birthdays are adventures). His party locale of choice was Brunswick Zone XL. Laser tag. Pizza. Pop music. Arcade games. What's not to like?!

Designed by Mama

The Birthday Boy & His Buddies

 Who's ready for laser tag?

 Party Animals

 Look who fell asleep at the party!

Despite loud music, bowling, 

laser light shows, and screaming kids,

Grant slept through a majority of the party.

The Crew

 Reid and our Party Host Vanessa

bust a move doing some line dancing.

Luke is not a fan of birthday cake ...

so birthday brownies for him!

Make a wish!

Choo-Choo-TWO

Today our sweet Grant turned TWO! It is so hard to believe (and yes, I know it sounds cliche!) but these last two years have flown by. Grant is talking more and more, and he likes to break out some phrases on occasion. He is climbing up everything and loves to go swimming at the Y. He is full of such joy, and every day he makes us laugh. A lot. Someone once told me that the third child is the funny one ... the comedian. Yes, indeed. I think that may be the case with Grant. 

In true 2-year-old form and like the brothers before him, Grant is in a big train phase. In fact, he loves trains more than Luke and Reid ever did. (We won't mention how many times Polar Express has been watched by this Junior Conductor!) He can hear a train from a mile away and will stop and make sure everyone else is listening to the "CHOOOCHOOOO!" His train table in his room is one of his favorite spots to play, and books about Thomas (or "Mommats") are always the favorite at storytime. You will see that trains came in to play often in celebrating his second birthday!

SuperGrant!

What better way to spend the day

than at our favorite train park!

And it's a rare birthday in January when

you can play outside without a coat!

Brothers, Bakers & Candlestick Makers.

While Grant was napping, these brotherly bakers

helped to decorate Grant's train cake.

Gobs of frosting and M&Ms were used

in the artistic process of making this cake!

We celebrated with the birthday boy with lunch out 

at Salsa Brava, but later in the evening, 

we rolled out the red carpet (or tablecloth)

for cake, ice cream & presents!

 Make a wish!

 Enjoying the cake!

 All smiles for the birthday boy!

 Unwrapping a gift from the KC Leahys

with just a little help.

These boots were made for walking ...

and splashing ... and mud-puddle jumping!

And they might just be on the wrong feet!

Anyone up for a pizza party?

A Little about La-La

The post that follows is about a stuffed animal. We usually do not have such a great affinity for polyfilled furry friends (nor do we blog about them), but this is a special case. Our older two boys loved their pacifiers. Grant much preferred a fuzzy lion and his thumb. Here's the story of La-La...

For quite some time, Grant's very favorite toy was this stuffed lion named La-La. (When he was first learning to speak, he couldn't say "lion" so he called him La-La.) The joy that this little lion brought to our little Grant was beyond heartwarming, and they were inseparable. La-La usually just stayed around the house and didn't venture out much unless we traveled somewhere special.

 Grant & La-La enjoy the

beautiful view in Maui!

When La-La was new, 

he had a fluffy yellow coat!

But with time (and MANY washes)

he faded, but Grant's love for him did not.

For you see, La-La was Grant's sidekick.

He was there for playtime and naptime

and every fun moment in between.

(And how could this be a 

comfortable way to sleep?!)

We knew there would come a day when La-La would need to disappear. While Grant and La-La made quite the dynamic duo, Grant also sucked his thumb whenever he had La-La with him. Sometimes good friends can be bad influences, right? And sometimes Grant was a little too dependent and attached to his lion (read: tantrums ensued if we couldn't find La-La fast enough!) So after our Christmas trip to Kansas, La-La made a quiet exit to the boys' memento bin, and Grant learned to go on with daily life with a little more confidence on his own as a big boy. He still sucks his thumb on occasion when he's really tired, but the sassy fits of Terrible Twos are a little better now. 

As Grant celebrates Birthday #2, we wanted to take a moment to remember this phase and this furry friend who was such a big part of G's early days!

#36

A long time ago, I decided that when Luke was ready to learn to snowboard that I would join him and learn, too. After all, I've been skiing for 20+ years, so why not shake things up a little and try something new! Plus I thought it would be fun to learn a new sport to keep up with our boys! We scheduled a weekend family getaway to the mountains to kick off our January birthdaypalooza. This was the BEST of birthday weekends, and I feel so blessed that I celebrated #36 with so many fun family memories in one of our favorite parts of Colorado!

Gearing up!

Who's excited to snowboard? WE ARE!

(This is our view outside our hotel room.

Not too bad, eh? Gotta love Mt. Princeton!)

On the road again...

Headed to Monarch Mountain.

We had to stop at McDonald's first

for the boys to fuel up on pancakes!

And yes, it takes a lot of gear

stuffed in our car for a 

winter weekend adventure!

Waiting patiently.

Well, most of us.

Ready for our lesson.

Learning the basics with our instructor Taylor.

He was 20-something and had been 

snowboarding since he was 4.

You could tell he really enjoyed his job,

and he was an awesome instructor!

Luke & Taylor riding up the conveyor belt

on the bunny slope. Taylor called this

glass dome the "test tube." Funny.

\

Ready to ride!

When snowboarding, you either ride "regular"

with your left foot forward or "goofy" with your

right foot forward. Two goofy riders here!

After a day on the slopes,

there's no better way to celebrate

than with a nice family dinner.

And big smiles. 

(This is not the first you will 

see of this big Grant Grin.)

January Birthday Crew

 Happy, happy!

Happy Birthday, Mama! 

Who says you can't go swimming when it's 20 degrees outside?!

Always a fun time at the Mt. Princeton Hot Springs!

When we got into the pool, Reid yelled out, 

"Hey, people, let's get this party started!"

Love that boy.

 Day 2.

Game face.

Ready to go.

"Can I ski, too, PLEEEEEASE?" 

Scott and Reid head for the slopes.

Reid really got the hang of skiing this trip,

thanks to some great lessons by Dad.

Good times in the lodge with these two.

Have you noticed Grant's

BIG grin? He likes to say, 

"CHEEEEESE!" for photos now.

We like to say he's not afraid

to show off his chipped front tooth!

Smiling contest. 

 Reid on the loose!

 Small fall ... but getting up slowly.

 Back on track and great control!

 Way to go, Reid!

Break time!

 Celebrating #36 and #9!

 In line for the lift.

 Luke was such a natural at snowboarding.

He picked it up so quickly 

and LOVED every moment! 

This weekend goes on my list

of top motherhood memories.

I tried not to get too sentimental ... 

there's no crying in snowboarding!

 Look at him go!

 Mom's turn!

"YAY! I did it!"

Maybe you can teach

an old mom new tricks...

That's all, folks! Let's call it a day!