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Jan 06 2013

Our first snow (and my granny’s hot chocolate recipe!)

Last year, Indianapolis totally sucked in the snow accumulation department…this year wasn’t look much more promising, with days in the mid-60′s in early December. A few days after the kids’ Christmas break started, though, we fiiiiiinally got a nice little dumping of snow! I had a dilemma, though–Nicholas had outgrown his snow pants, and the temps were supposed to be getting back up into the 40′s later that day so I was worried the snow would all melt before he got a chance to explore the new all white and sparkly world.

Luckily, we’re raising a pretty confident little guy and rocking his big sister’s hot pink flowered, hand-me-down pants didn’t even have him batting an eye!;)

 

 

They were going to make a snow fort to have an epic snowball fight behind…it never amounted to much, but I’ll blog the legit snowball fight that went down at my parents’ house a few days after this, later this week!

 

I have a picture from two years ago when Joss was around 8 or 9 months old, and she just HATED the snow, the cold, and pretty much anything that didn’t involve sitting inside, sucking her thumb and snuggling her blanket. I’m happy that this year she’s actually the craziest when it comes to snow out of all of them! Sister will have packed snow inside her gloves and frozen snot dripping down her face and she will refuse to come in!

Love this handsome little man.

 

There is still a time and a place to suck your thumb while clutching your beloved “Gackie Boo” blanket in the Vanoven home, though;)

 

Now about that hot chocolate recipe!!!

 

get 4 1/2 cups  water boiling in a pot on the stove

Add-

1/2c sugar and 1 TBSP cocoa (pre mixed together)

and

1.5 cans evaporated milk

1/2 TBSP vanilla

reduce heat to simmer

**if you end up letting it sit on the stove for a while, make sure to have a spoon to skim the top off every now and then**

 

 enjoy.:)

 

 

Soaking in the last two full days of my kids’ break from school!

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Alicia - I love seeing your family posts! Always adorable.. But add an epic hot chocolate recipe to that?? I am a very happy reader. ;)

Oh and loving the flower pants! Confident little guy indeed. =)

Melinda - Your photos are amazing, I love them! And thank you for sharing your hot chocolate recipe! It’s really kind of you to do that, I will try it soon (:

Dec 30 2012

Chicago – day two!

Continuing from this post—-> http://rachelvanoven.com/blog/chicago-day-one/

We woke up the first day with no real plans, except Chicago pizza for lunch and knowing that we were catching a train home around 6 pm. So Brynn tore into her new American Girl toys while I checked out the Room Service menu, intent on getting some fruit after a day of vacation food snacking had me feeling queasy!

 

 

Brynn was so tickled when a tray of berries was brought in for us to share, the server was SO nice when he saw a giddy 9 year old who had never stayed in such a fancy hotel/ordered room service before and how she was smiling ear to ear!

Shortly after the berries were devoured, we heard another knock at the door, and lo and behold the server was back with a gleaming track stacked with rolls, scones and croissants, tiny jam jars, cold milk and a french press of coffee for us adults! He said to Brynn, “I didn’t realize there was a little princess staying in our hotel this morning! Thank you, for choosing our hotel!”

My heart was SO happy. Her face…it’s hard to sit here and describe it, without my eyes welling up. That man was an angel…representing all that is good in this world. How absolute strangers can make such a tiny tiny gesture without knowing just how magical their action is for someone else. He must have known how touched I was, when he caught my eye and I mouthed thank you. I of course tipped him gratefully, but I sure hope someone blesses the pants off of him. Thank you, Lord for people like him in this world.

 

 

From then on out, the mood was nothing but fun! A little Gangnam Style, anyone?

 

 

Then some dreaming…

 

 

We decided to grab a cab and head to the Navy Pier:)

 

I *love* this shot of Brynn.

 

 

The Navy Pier had their Winter Wonderfest going on–thank you to all of the Facebook fans who suggested we check it out!

It. Was. Awesome.

 Brynn’s grand finale of her Chicago magic trip was Build-A-Bear workshop:)Thank you to Nana and Pop for buying her little Bunsies outfit!

 

Everyone has their favorite Chicago pizza joint…mine is Bella Bacino’s on Wacker! I’ve been coming here since before Brynn was born!:)

 

And I couldn’t blog Chicago without including this guy;)

Until next year, Chi-town!
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Cari - Gooood night… she is absolutely gorgeous, Rachel!! What a blessing!

Adriana - Such amazing pictures and Brynn is such a beautiful girl! Her smile really lights up the room. Never stop smiling Brynn! On a side note I will have to check the pizza joint.

Caitlin Sullivan - So FUN!!! Found you through Bobbi (fellow Hoosier here) and have loved stepping into your world and your work. Glad you guys had a fun visit – I love a spontaneous CHI visit myself from time to time : )

Jacalyn - If only she knew just how beautiful she is!! What a precious gift <3