As we round the corner of January 1, most of us settle down from the craziness of the holiday season. In our house, that settling down is delayed a week, because Sweets’ birthday is January 6 (which was Sunday of this past weekend). We didn’t have a lot planned over the weekend, but we did keep busy (I know, that must shock you – ha!).
Friday night was a quiet night at home where I cooked a very mediocre shrimp meal and we just enjoyed the feeling of the end of the week.
Saturday, we did our grocery shopping in the morning, as I had a bunch of cooking I planned to do over the course of the weekend. While Gavin napped that afternoon, I made Butternut Squash Mac n Cheese for a friend who recently had a baby (plus a little extra for us). The last time I made this recipe, I wasn’t in love with it … it’s a very rich meal and I didn’t fully enjoy it. This time, I used less squash and less blue cheese, replacing it with goat cheese. I think we found the perfect balance, because not only did I like it, but Gavin cleared his plate (and he wouldn’t even touch it last time). Saturday night, at Sweets’ request, we also went to see the Zoo Lights display at our local zoo. It was the last weekend for the display and it was the perfect time to go (MUCH less crazy than in December).
Sunday was Sweets’ birthday and Gavin’s first gift was sleeping until 9am. We all thanked him for that one. When he woke up, I handed Gavin a couple cards and small gift; he went running down the hallway into our bedroom, woke up Sweets saying “happy birthday to you.” It was so darling. After Sweets opened up his cards and gift, we sort of went into crazy overdrive, trying to eat breakfast, get dressed and make it to Gavin’s first music class of the session. Only, when we got to the building where he has class, we realized I screwed up and classes don’t start until next week. Whoops. So, we walked to a playground around the corner and let Gavin run around (in the FREEZING cold) for a bit before heading home. I started making turkey chili with lots of help from Gavin while Sweets went out to watch some football with a friend. Sweets’ parents came over later in the afternoon for Sweets’ birthday dinner.
For us, it was a relatively low-key weekend. We intended to take down our Christmas tree and pack away a few more things from our re-organizing stint the other week, but neither of those things happened. Rather, we strolled through the weekend, spent lots of time together and enjoyed celebrating Sweets turning another year older.
How did you spend your first full weekend in 2013?!?
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My first full weekend of 2013 was great! I went to a movie with Phil (Silver Linings Playbook), and then made chili for him and his roommates and we watched the game on Saturday night. Besides that, I got my car serviced, ran twice, studied, and made potato soup in my crock pot. So it was a good mix of having fun and being productive!
I am glad Sweets had a great birthday weekend! The pictures aren’t coming through for me for some reason, but I know from facebook that you had an adorable sous chef. :)
Happy belated birthday Sweets!
I just realized Gavin is wearing goggles on his head. It helps with cooking doesn’t it? CUTIE!
Sounds like a fun filled and foody weekend! I pinned both recipes! I love incorporating veggies in unconventional ways. And how did Sweets like the turkey chili? Was he convinced? (Sorry didn’t read your other post about the turkey chili). Happy birthday to Sweets! This past weekend we chilled at home, went to the park, and had a post-holiday get together with Alan’s old college friends, and went grocery shopping. Non eventful with no memorable tantrums. My kind of weekend :).
Love the picture of your sous chef! The first year we lived in Chicago, D and I went to the lights in Lincoln Park Zoo and we were completely blown away! We made it a point to go back every year after that. Glad you guys got to enjoy it too!
I love when kids start to understand birthdays and then want to help everyone open presents and sing the song. Super adorable.
My weekend was fairly low key. I hosted some girlfriends on Saturday (was supposed to be book club but really wasn’t) and Sunday had work friends over for a potluck brunch. Lots of fires in the fireplace and spending time around the house. Oh and I got to finally see The Hobbit!
Sounds like a great weekend! We had the restless jitters so on Saturday we wandered around a part of the downtown area (in the cold), checked out a new German brew for Knight, visited our newly redesigned City Library, and capped it off with hanging out at home. Sunday was just as busy- Barnes & Noble date with my folks, and then some errand running that afternoon. We did manage to take our Christmas lights down but the tree is still up (it will be WEIRD when we have a big gaping hole in our living room where the tree was.)
Happy belated birthday to Sweets! I love that Gavin was so excited to give Sweets his card and present. He also makes an adorable kitchen assistant. Sounds like it was a great weekend. I had a fun first full weekend as well. I met up with another blogger and her husband, spent some time reading, and spending some gift cards that I had received for Christmas. It was really nice.
Thank you for posting the butternut squash mac ‘n’ cheese recipe!! I’m totally going to make it at some point!
That sounds like a great weekend! That mac n cheese looks really good. I spent the weekend doing nothing because I got poison oak! It was painful to put pants on, so I didn’t. I missed out on a fun race and good times with friends.