Friends — it is Friday! And the Friday before February Vacation for the schools here in New Hampshire. Colton got sent home from school with a fever yesterday (no fever or symptoms today) so his vacation got started about a day and a half early since they require students to be fever free for 24 hours before returning.
Colton has also been awake since 9:20 last night, so it’s been quite an evening/morning for Matthew and me. He shows no signs of slowing down so I have no idea what to expect as the day goes on. Life with a child with Level 3 Autism has so many ups and downs and February has been The Month Of Wonky Sleeping, so add this dip to the list for the month. And still — there’s plenty of places to find joy, right? Here are 3 things bringing me joy right now:
We have a ton of snow on the ground. These are the trails that Matthew created in our backyard with the snowblower and we have a massive snow slide going from our deck to our driveway. The kids are having so much fun with the snow despite how cold it’s been. Tomorrow the high will be 34ºF, which will be the first time we’ve gotten above freezing in weeks and weeks. It won’t be enough to melt anything and that’s good because I’m not looking forward to mud season.
I can’t stop listening to Not Like Us. I have been bopping around the house for 2 weeks straight thanks to Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl show. I am very late to the game but have fully arrived!
This cilantro dressing from This Savory Vegan is amazing and I’ve been putting it on top of everything. I sub out the vegan mayo for vegan yogurt and love it! I also keep the main recipe on this page, the Chipotle Sweet Potatoes and Chickpeas, stocked in my fridge along with some rice/quinoa and baked tofu. It’s the perfect go-to meal for me right now.
And that’s about all I have. Bryce has his first orthodontist appointment in a couple of hours so that will be a new adventure for us. It’s also pizza day and I’m looking forward to an easy dinner tonight. This weekend I will be working at the library, cooking, cleaning, and hopefully reading. If I’m extra lucky then I’ll be able to knit a little bit with some bourbon nearby. Whatever your weekend brings, I hope you find time for a few of the things you love. Take good care.
The Cozy Burrow 
So sorry about the lack of sleep. I hope Colton soon settles into a sleep pattern that coincides with the rest of the family’s. That dressing looks fantastic, and pouring over chickpeas/sweet potatoes, tofu, and rice sounds delicious. As we are mostly vegan, I will have to give it a try.
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Thank you, Laurie! It’s a rollercoaster over here, for sure! I think you’ll love the chipotle sweet potatoes and chickpea dish — it’s an excellent recipe! And the sauce makes it even more perfect. 🙂
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I hope Colton settles and gets some rest (and the fever stays away). I hope the weather allows you all to get out and enjoy the snow this weekend without being too cold and that you find some time for yourself.
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Thank you, Sarah! Colton has been sleeping a little more consistently since that crazy day and waking up between 4 and 4:15 – which is still early but much better than not at all!! And he’s healthy and happy – but now Matthew and I have fevers and coughs and general yuckiness, of course. It’s almost funny how predictable that was 😉
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Your snow trails are glorious ❤
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Thank you! They are so much fun!
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I love, love, love your snow cover… I much prefer a snowy white winter versus a dull brown/grey one! Not sleeping is such a challenge… for everyone! And good luck on the orthodontist path… yikes, at one point we had 3 kids all in braces. Hope your weekend is going smoothly!
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If it’s going to be so cold, then I’m happy there’s at least a ton of snow to show for it! And the orthodontist went fine. He’s not quite ready for the braces, so we’ll check again in 6 months. Whew!
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sending all the good vibes for sleep and the first braces appointment! I just finished Ch 4 in Dragonwyk – it pairs beautifully with coffee and I suspect it might also go well with bourbon. Happy Saturday!
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Thank you, Mary! I just read the opening pages of Dragonwyck (right up to the letter from the mysterious cousin or whoever) and I’m captivated! So excited to keep reading.
Braces are on hold for at least six months while we wait for him to lose a few more baby teeth – thank goodness!!
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I’m sure Bryce is relieved too!
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Wow that snow is something else!! I hope sleep settles down for you all soon, and that the weekend is a good one!
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Also, I meant to say, the latest Kendrick Lamar album is amazing! I watched the halftime show multiple times, so good.
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YES! I’m new to his work but it’s so much fun and so, so smart. I’m so happy they chose him for this year’s show!
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Thank you, Laila! We’re so lucky to have so much snow this year. We haven’t had piles like this in a few years!! I hope you had a lovely weekend!
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I sure hope Colton settles into a little better sleeping pattern. That has got to be so challenging. Your vegan food sounds delicious to me. I like to eat tofu but I am not very good at fixing it. Your snow cover is so lovely. I love a snowy winter.
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I also love snowy winters! It makes the cold feel much more worthwhile.
I’ve practiced making tofu for a while and have recently found a way that I really like: https://www.lazycatkitchen.com/vegan-bibimbap/#recipe-start
This recipe calls for silken tofu, but the marinating and baking process works for any style. I keep cooked tofu in the fridge to add to soups, salads, and ramen all of the time. It’s such an easy way to add plant based protein to any meal!
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Thanks for the link. I’m going to give this a try. I sure would like to conquer tofu!
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