To Motherhood And Beyond...

Two Awesome Websites

2009-01-06T08:12:00.002-05:00

I don't have much time today because I have a meeting at church. But, I wanted to share two websites that Caleb and I have been enjoying thoroughly lately.

Starfall -- This is a fun phonics reading program. Caleb fell in love with it. Chris was working on my computer and I was trying to keep Caleb content. I had read about Starfall but never tried it with Caleb. I pulled it up and Caleb was smitten from the first click. He had to go to bed but he wanted to keep playing. I promised more Starfall tomorrow. ;-)

Worksheet Works This awesome website helps you generate your own worksheets. There are generators for Language Arts, Math, Puzzles, Geography, etc. Right now I am creating Letter Recognition pages and putting them in a folder. Caleb carries his "Letter Book" in the car and reads off all the letters he sees. (Note: I don't make him do any of this. He LOVES reading letters and if that makes him happy, it makes Mommy happy and a happier car ride.)

Enjoy your Tuesday!!

B is for Bear, Butterfly, Baker, & Bat

2009-01-05T05:30:00.000-05:00

My intention when starting this mini-preschool program with Caleb was to start a new letter on each Monday. I would have all the books and the little notebook ready to go by then. Well, the library is not cooperating or maybe I'm not getting my holds in on time. My goal is to not spend any money at this level of homeschooling. All the books are being checked out of the library and to get them I am having to place holds all over our library network. Thankfully, I can do all this online. Some of the books are taking FOREVER to arrive at my local library. I guess I will try to have the little notebook ready on Monday and then read the books as they arrive. Whoo! Mixing things up is the spice of life isn't it?! Especially with a two-year old. ;-)

Go Here to see the Letter A.

Notebook pages:

Cover Sheet
Tracer
B is For Bear
Bear Coloring Sheet
Butterfly Coloring Sheet
Life Cycle of a Monarch Butterfly
B is For Baker
Baker Coloring Sheet
B is For Bat
Bat Coloring Sheet
0-5 Coloring Sheet
6-11 Coloring Sheet
Benjamin Franklin Resume (cute)
Benjamin Franklin Coloring Sheet

Books:

As you saw from the previous list I listed all the books one by one right in the post. I have decided it would be much easier to just link to my Amazon Store so you can actually see the covers and not have to keep clicking over. The link is below.

Go Here to see Letter 'B' Reading List

Note: I have been using the booklist from Brightly Beaming Letter of the Week Curriclum as a springboard for finding great books each week. Go Here to see the entire list.

2009-01-01T00:01:00.003-05:00

Have You Ever Turbo Jam'd?!?!

2008-12-31T06:13:00.002-05:00

As everyone knows the coming of a New Year brings all kinds of changes and for me that means changes in my schedule. I will be taking my niece during the day three full days a week instead of 2 half days and one full day. I used to just stay home all day on Wednesdays and then hit the gym every other morning. I'm thinking that I may not get out quite as often as I used to. I was searching for a workout I could do from home.

My sister-in-law had been trying to get me to try Turbo Jam ever since she got it. She has used it to get back in shape after having her baby. I didn't doubt that the workout worked for her but I was feeling a bit too self-conscience about Jamming in my living room. Going to a spinning class was pushing it for me when it comes to group exercise. At least our spinning classes are in the dark.

I finally gave in and agreed to trying the first couple disks in the Turbo Jam program. Yes, I felt like a FOOL when doing some of those moves. I almost gave it up when Chris came home one day unexpectedly and caught me punching and kicking in my severely uncoordinated fashion. But, I was sweating and feeling the burn. The kicker (ha ha!) was when I woke up and realized that I was sore in the abs, etc. Hmmm! Maybe this workout really does work! I decided to give it a more thorough try.

I can now get through the 45 minute Cardio Party on disc 2 and live to tell the tale. I feel like collapsing at the end but I finish it. My sister-in-law and I will be switching discs soon and I will get to try out the other workouts. We'll see how it goes.

The Sickies and Such

2008-12-30T06:15:00.003-05:00

My poor sweet Caleb is sick with a cold this week. His nose is running like a waterfall and he can't seem to stop sneezing. When I woke him up yesterday he was acting like he was hungover or drunk. I hadn't given him any medicine so I figured the sickies in his head were making him feel woozy. Thankfully, he has been more willing than usual to get to bed on time and take good long naps. I am sure he will back to his normal, crazy self in no time.

I was a little unsure about starting Caleb's little preschool yesterday due to the cold but we did have a soft start. I introduced him to his "A" notebook and he found it fascinating. He just wanted to look at it and discuss the pictures. He then informed me that he wanted to color his "A's." He got cozy in his chair with his crayons and notebook and went to town. I think he colored a little bit on each page. As he did that I read to him from the Johnny Appleseed book and we both had a great time. I would count the first day as a success.

When Chris got home, I asked Caleb if he wanted to show Daddy his "school notebook." Caleb grabbed the notebook from me and ran to his Daddy. He opened it up and showed Chris all the A's. He even took Chris' hand and had him trace each A on one particular page. Oh, be still my heart! Chris is very happy with how things are going so far and he likes how I am doing the notebook and reading time.

I know we have only done this for one day but here is how I think the days are going go for at least a little while. Caleb and I will get the notebook out and he will color the pages while I read to him during that time. It looks like I might have to print out more coloring pages and check out more books to get through a week. I am not pushing for anything formal right. He is only 2! I want him to have fun and hopefully look forward to our "school time" each day. It is so much fun watching Caleb grow and become so interested in the world around him.

Week 1--Letter A

2008-12-29T08:00:00.004-05:00

'A' is for Ant, Alligator, Anteater, and Acorn

Update: Caleb is quite sick with a cold today. I hoped to start today, but we'll just have to see.

Start Here.

Notebook Pages:

Cover Sheet
Tracer Sheet
Ant Coloring Sheet
National Geographic Ant Fact Sheet
A is for Apple Tracer Sheet
Apple Coloring Sheet
Alligator Tracer Page
Alligator Coloring Sheet
Alligator Fact Sheet
Anteater Coloring Sheet
Anteater Fact Sheet
A is for Acorn Poster
Acorn Counting Sheet 1 & 2

Books we are reading this week:

The Apple Pie Tree
Life & Times Of The Apple
Johnny Appleseed: The Story of a Legend
Tiniest Acorn: A Story to Grow By
Dot & Jabber and the Great Acorn Mystery (Dot & Jabber)
The Escape of Marvin the Ape
From Acorn to Oak Tree (Welcome Books)

Go Here to see all these books in my Amazon store.

We will also be using some leftover Pinto Beans to work on counting, basic adding, and "building" letters.

It is 6 AM and I am Already up Blogging...Finding a New Normal

2008-12-29T06:11:00.002-05:00

Here I am at 6 o'clock in the morning, sitting at my desk, drinking my coffee, and writing in my blog. I am even dressed!! How in the world did this happen?? Let me tell you how this will be my new normal.

Right around the time my blog went by the wayside I started taking care of my little niece during the day. She stays with me when Mom is at work and Dad is either at school or work. It is a way for me to make a little money and a way for her to stay out of daycare. It has been a major adjustment having a baby around but I guess you could say it is training for when we have another little cutie. Blogging took a hit as I was adjusting to her.

Then Chris' job as a loan manager in a mortgage company he ran with a partner finally started taking a hit due to the economy. For awhile, our little county was in a bubble and Chris' company was closing enough loans for us to live quite comfortably when other companies were closing their doors. Chris and his partner weren't closing their doors but they were feeling the pinch.

Chris and I bought a house in a really nice neighborhood because we got an insane deal on it. We moved-in in mid-November. This house is smaller than our older house but it is most definitely an upgrade. Boxes everywhere and tons of stress to get it all done.

We moved in on a Saturday and on Monday Chris found out he had lost his job. It was just too much to stay open. Aaaaahhhhhhh!!! We both panicked for awhile and then we got busy..trusting in the Lord. Chris got to work looking for a new job, a new career and I got to work supporting him and making sure he moved forward with confidence.

After about a month of trying different options, Chris has a job with a water treatment company. He is on the lowest rung right now but the potential to move up and move up fast is great. He has to be at work at 6:30 am and it is a 45 minute drive. The radio goes off way too early at 5 am and we sleepily get out of bed. I make Chris a travel mug of coffee, he eats breakfast, and he heads out the door. I make my cup of coffee and come in here to blog. Caleb is still sleeping for probably another hour. Even though I am struggling to stay awake right now, I confess the alone time this early in the morning is almost refreshing...almost.

Now that the holidays are behind us, Chris and I are looking forward to establishing a new normal. Finding a new routine. This should be an interesting year. Please join me!

Merry Christmas!!!

2008-12-23T15:00:00.003-05:00

We are leaving for my family's Christmas celebration as soon as Chris gets off work tomorrow. I will be enjoying my family during that time and probably avoiding the computer. I will be back December 29th. See you then!!

The Boy Wants to Learn!!

2008-12-23T14:00:00.000-05:00

As Caleb grows older he is displaying an absolutely insatiable desire to learn. He will play with his Letters and Numbers for hours on end. He wants us to sing with him non-stop and the reading, oh the reading. He wants us to read to him all day long. Sweet Boy! We are kindred spirits.

The only problem is that this constant desire to learn can also get to be a little pesky at times. Sometimes Mommy needs to get housework done or get dinner on the table. I found myself pushing Caleb's requests to the side way too often. I never wanted to squelch his spirit but I also couldn't let my other responsibilities go to pot.

While I was putting together our New Year schedule, I decided to schedule time each day for "school." For one hour each day we will go over his letters, numbers, reading, etc. in a more formal fashion. The learning won't stop after that scheduled time but at least there is a time slot that is dedicated to it each day. I have always considered homeschooling Caleb, but I never thought we would start this early. We will be starting Dec. 29th. Here we go!!

So, what will we be doing? I have created a little notebook that will cover a letter a week. We will work our way through that little notebook during the week. I have made the notebook in a way that Caleb can color throughout and hopefully grow to love it. (I will have another post with links to all the pages in the notebook including links to the books we are reading that week.) Each notebook will hopefully cover the letter, letter sounds, science, numbers/counting, history, and art (coloring). Feel free to come back each week to get ideas or snatch the pages I'm using.

Disclaimer: I am VERY GREEN at this. Caleb is my first child and the first child I've ever homeschooled. There is a large learning curve. But, I would love to have company on this journey. Join me and let me know what you think!!

Yes, I am Back, But...

2008-12-23T13:45:00.003-05:00

I am back in the blogging world after an insanely long break. But, I want to make something clear before I move forward. Please see below. I found this manifesto awhile back and was intrigued how it liberates me and how I blog. This is how I see my blogging now.

* Because you shouldn't have to look at your blog like it is a treadmill.

* Because its okay to just say what you have to say. If that makes for a long post, fine. Short post, fine. Frequent post, fine. Infrequent post, fine.

* Because its okay to not always be enthralled with the sound of your own typing.

* Because sometimes less is more.

* Because only blogging when you feel truly inspired keeps up the integrity of your blog.

* Because they are probably not going to inscribe your stat, link and comment numbers on your tombstone.

* Because for most of us blogging is just a hobby. A way to express yourself and connect with others. You should not have to apologize for lapses in posts. Just take a step back and enjoy life, not everything you do has to be "bloggable".

* Because if you blog without obligation you will naturally keep your blog around longer, because it won't be a chore. Plus, just think you will be doing your part to eradicate post pollution. One post at a time. . .
.

I am back and I am happy to be back. Please join me!! We'll have a great time.

2008-05-28T19:16:00.002-04:00

So. Very. Tired.

'Night, 'Night!

2008-05-28T09:00:00.000-04:00

Oh that God would give every mother a vision of the glory and splendor of the work that is given to her when a babe is place in her bosom to be nursed and trained! Could she have but one glimpse in to the future of that life as it reaches on into eternity; could she look into its soul to see its possibilities; could she be made to understand her own personal responsibility for the training of this child, for the development of its life, and for its destiny,--she would see that in all God's world there is no other work so noble and so worthy of her best powers, and she would commit to no others hands the sacred and holy trust given to her.

~ J.R. Miller, Homemaking

This, That, and the Other

2008-05-27T18:17:00.002-04:00

There isn't much to say today.

We had a wonderful weekend and thoroughly enjoyed the extra day off on Memorial Day. It was spent having fun as a family at the Donut Shop, Veteran's park, pool, and at home. I am so sorry it is over!!

Today, I have been trying to catch up on my household chores, reading to Caleb, exercising at the YMCA, and preparing for the arrival of Baby B into our house during the day. Hmmmmm. I've kind of forgotten what it requires to take care of an itty bitty baby.

I got two new books from Amazon.com today and I think I will be curled up on the couch reading them tonight instead of blogging. I hope to be back tomorrow.

Till then!

2008-05-25T09:00:00.001-04:00

"By perseverance the snail reached the ark."

--Charles Spurgeon

Five Minutes From the Pound

2008-05-24T08:30:00.003-04:00

The saga between Hopper and Eowyn continues.

It was Wednesday evening at the usual time. Hopper came into our yard around 5:30 pm and Eowyn goes crazy. Nothing new there. Eowyn begged and begged to go outside and chase Hopper. (Note: I really should take a video of how Eowyn acts so y'all could see it.) I gave her a resounding, "NO!" because I've learned my lesson and I wasn't her out the door until Hopper has gone to his little burrow in the woods.

I was patiently waiting for Chris to come home so that I could head on to a end of the year MOPS party. I was trying to pick up the house before Chris got home and that included taking out the trash. I step out the door while sternly saying, "STAY!" Needless to say, you can't trust a Jack Russell to stay when a bunny is on the line.

Eowyn dashed out and stopped at the usual boundary. I thought, "Okay, good. She won't go into the woods this time. Maybe she's been shocked enough times now." (SIGH!) What was I thinking?! A bunny was on the line. Eowyn backed her little bottom up and shot right through the boundary. I'm thinking, "Shock! Shock! Shock! Dumb dog!"

I turn off the fence and patiently wait for Eowyn to come home. She knows who feeds her at the end of the day. After about ten minutes she pokes her head out of the thick brush and I notice something is missing. OH NO!! PLEASE, NO! She doesn't have her fence collar on anymore. She must've gotten her collar hung up on something (the brush was pretty thick and low to the ground) and she pulled out of it. (Note: Dog collars should always be loose enough so that they can pull out in an event just like this.) I felt a sinking feeling and I feared Chris coming home. Those collars are NOT cheap.

Chris comes home and I inform him of the situation. At this point, Eowyn has come home with a huge smile on her face and she is cooling off by laying on top of the AC vent. When Chris hears about the collar he is quite upset. I then say, "Um, in light of full disclosure, we are also up for getting more heartworm medicine. Eh!" That was the closest Eowyn has ever been to the pound. I said, "No, Honey! Our pound is a 'kill shelter!' We can't send Eowyn to her death!"

I think Eowyn sensed what was going on and she put on her best behavior. We could hear Caleb laughing in the background. Eowyn and Caleb were playing so hard and so well together. I could hear a very slight heart string plucked in Chris' heart (ever so slight, mind you). Chris says, "The good thing for Eowyn is that we can afford the collar and medicine." (Power of a budget, people.)

We may grumble all the way to the store to buy the collar, but Eowyn will live another day and with us.

Mom's Onion Rice

2008-05-23T07:25:00.000-04:00

This recipe is probably my most favorite way to eat rice. My Mom knew it was my favorite and made it often when I was home from school. I made it the other night and I couldn't help thinking about her the whole time. Miss you, Mom!!

Mom's Onion Rice

Ingredients:

3-4 tbls. of margarine
1 cup rice
1 chopped onion
2 cups water
1 chicken bouillon cube

Instructions:

Melt the margarine in a skillet. Brown the rice and chopped onion together. Add water and bouillon cube. Bring to a boil. Cover and cook until rice is tender.

This rice is perfect with chicken and a green veggie.

YUMMY!!!!

Someone I Want You To Meet.

2008-05-22T08:00:00.002-04:00

This is Hopper or at least that is what I've named him. Hi Hopper!!

Hopper is a wild bunny who lives in the woods right behind our house. This picture was taken when he came incredibly close to our back porch. He must've been feeling brave that day because we have a rather large backyard and he a good distance to travel to come this close. He (or she) comes out of the woods and into our yard just about every morning around 8:30ish and every evening about 5:30ish. He loves to eat the leaves and the clover that apparently grows in our yard.

Now, how do I know what time a seemingly quiet bunny comes into our yard?? It is because our eccentric dog, Eowyn, lets us know by barking, growling, yelping, whining, ~~busting an artery~~, jumping, and just making a rather annoying racket. She runs from window to window whining and yelping. She wants that bunny SOOOOO BAD!!!!! But, Mommy knows better because she has learned her lesson.

Eowyn is secured in our yard by a Petsafe Wireless Fence System That was one of the best purchases we have made in a long time. She rarely leaves the yard because her collar will give her a good jolt if she tries to go past her boundary. It has been long enough that she knows where her boundary is and rarely tests or crosses it. I can let her run outside without really caring about where she goes or how long she is out. She stays in the yard.

That is unless she sees Hopper or one of Hopper's relatives. You can't have just one bunny, right? If Eowyn sees Hopper in our yard she forgets that there is a "fence" that will shock the fool out of her until she comes back inside the boundary (the limit is 30 seconds...it is humane and approved by the ASPCA). If I let her out the door when she sees Hopper she runs with such reckless abandon after that bunny. It is almost like she was created to chase that bunny. Then Mommy has to turn off the fence and coax Eowyn back into the house which takes forever when there is a bunny on the line.

So, everyday at 8:30 am and 5:30 pm I am made aware of Hopper in the yard by my beloved, yet eccentric Jack Russell. She begs and pleads to be released but I have learned it is just better to let her be unfulfilled.

Hopper will live another day.

Yummy Peanut Butter Granola

2008-05-21T08:00:00.000-04:00

I made this recipe for Peanut Butter Granola last Friday and it turned out SO YUMMY. I was a little wary because my last attempt at granola was a complete flop. This one looked so easy and I had all the ingredients on hand so I gave it a try. I am so glad I did!

I would like to thank Tammy at Tammy's Recipes for posting this recipe on her blog which is where I found it.

EASY PEANUT BUTTER GRANOLA

Ingredients:

6 Tablespoons oil
1 Cup peanut butter
1.5 cups brown sugar
7 cups quick oats

Instructions:

1. Over low heat, melt together oil and peanut butter. Remove from heat, stir in sugar. Pour over oats and mix well.

2. Spread onto a large lightly greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes, stirring once or twice during heating if desired. Cook until granola is lightly toasted and golden (not burnt).

3. Store in canisters when cool. (I keep mine in a gallon sized plastic canister in the pantry.)

Note: This granola isn't crunchy. I took Tammy's advice and I also baked it longer than 20 minutes and turned the oven down to 300 degrees in the second half of baking to help dry it out more.

When served with milk, this recipe really does taste like a crumbled up peanut butter cookie in your milk. Chris gave raving reviews and Caleb can't get enough of it.

Going Pacifier Free

2008-05-20T08:00:00.006-04:00

Chris and I have decided it is time for Caleb to give up his beloved pacifier. Caleb is 22 months old now and we would really like him to pacifier-free by age two. We know that there is no reason to "push" him but we also know how easy it is to keep allowing it to go on too long.

Here is a little history....

First, I said "NO PACIFIERS" before he was born. He would breastfeed (which he did for four months) and would not be offered a pacifier. You don't have to take away something he doesn't know about, right? At four months he was weaned to the bottle, but he didn't want the bottle at first. He was a "Mama's boy" if you will. I had this grand idea that if he took a pacifier he would take the bottle. Mistake #1.

Second, we said we wouldn't upgrade his pacifiers from 0-3 months to 6-18 months size. I ended up buying him two of the bigger size swearing I would never buy replacements if they broke or were lost. Amazingly, I did keep that promise. Caleb got used to the new size and loved them. He would sleep so soundly with them. Mommy and Daddy got drunk on the ease of it.

Third, we swore we would take the paci away by one year old. That was right around the time of our trip to Poland. We could not take the paci away right before such an adventure when we would really need that vice. Time continues to march on and the paci is still there.

Fourth, Caleb is 18 months and we know it is time. We plan a trip to Rockford, Illinois that would require an 18 hour car drive. The paci would be very important for that, right?

The New Year gets here and we decide to try the "poke a hole in the tip" method of weaning him off the paci. We kept making the hold bigger and Caleb just compensated. It didn't faze him one bit.

Caleb is approaching two now and we know that this has gone on way too long. We know from experience how easy it is to just let it go. So, we set a date to make the hole in the tip count and that date was Sunday night. I took the scissors to the tip and cut a hole about the size of dime.

We put Caleb to bed and gave him his monkey, blanket, and paci. He sucked and sucked and there was a clear air sound. Yep, there was zero satisfaction there. We thought, "Here we go!" It was a long night. Caleb fussed and cried. We got him up twice to cuddle. He finally fell asleep after Chris allowed him to take his Letter "A" from his Fridge Phonics set. We checked on him later and he was fast asleep with the paci at the other end of the crib and the letter "A" in his grasp.

Whoo! We made it through the first night of Going Pacifier Free.

A Much Needed Bloggy Break Goes Much Too Long

2008-05-19T09:30:00.000-04:00

The title is all I have to say about my absence.

A couple of months ago (has it really been that long?) I found myself running out of bloggy ideas. That being said, there is plenty of stuff to write about over here in our household but I just couldn't formulate the ideas into words for some reason. I figured a little break would be all I needed to refresh my brain and come back with great fervor. I quickly filled up my blogging time with other activities and blogging took the back burner.

I can honestly say that I have missed blogging and a few people have mentioned that miss my blog too. My loving husband asked me if I have quit and even if I have he supports me because he knows I'll fill the time with other useful household activities. I LOVE HIM!! But, I really do miss the writing and self-expression.

I also want to say I'm sorry to my oh-so-loyal readers. I just checked my site meter and saw that I STILL have people coming by my little blog. I am honored you stuck with me this long. Thank you! I am back...as time allows. YEAH!!

This summer will be a great time to get back to it because I'll be embarking on a great adventure. I will be taking my niece into our house during the day while my sister-in-law goes to work. Little B (pseudonym) will be joining us when she is six weeks old. So, I will be go from mother on one to "mother" of two during the day. This should be interesting. Won't you join me on this adventure??

Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt

2008-03-01T08:00:00.001-05:00

THEME: PARTY

Here is Caleb opening all his presents with his Daddy at his 1 year birthday party back in July. It is amazing how much he has grown in only 7 months.

Doing Much Better!

2008-02-24T19:57:00.002-05:00

I haven't written until now because I didn't want to jinx myself by writing about it here.

I went to the doctor on Thursday to have my sinuses checked and I arrived convinced that I had a sinus infection, I would get an antibiotic and perhaps some decongestant, and I would be fine in a few days. Well, that just goes to show what I know.

The current Resident and the main Doctor both agreed that this is apparently "my season" for allergies and it is just my time to suffer. Ugh! Thankfully, they gave me a nasal spray steroid to snort everday to help keep things at bay. They said that I really should stay on it through May to get me through the heavy pollen season which is about to start here. I got the first month's worth of doses through office samples to try out and then I will get a prescription if I want to continue with it.

Well, I've been snorting each morning since Thursday and I have to say that I am MUCH BETTER. I have gotten so used to having a snotty head that having a regular, dry head felt too dry. I have gone at least two days without a sinus headache and I am loving it. So, this is what normal feels like?! I LIKE IT!

Thank you for any prayers that were offered for me!! They are working!!

SO CUTE!!

2008-02-22T15:46:00.002-05:00

OH MY GOODNESS!

Caleb and I went to the library yesterday to pick up a couple DVD's I put on hold for him. He got a Baby Einstein and a Little Einsteins video. Just let me say that Little Einsteins is BEYOND cute. The children in the video are adorable. The music is beautiful and it is so educational.

I have a feeling Caleb is going to get all the viewing he can out of this video before we have to turn it in. I already can't wait till the next one is available.

Finally Going

2008-02-21T08:22:00.003-05:00

I am never one to be excited about going to the doctor. Who is? But, today I am beyond thrilled that I will be sitting in a sterile waiting room, questioned, and poked and prodded. I just have to wait till 2:45 pm. I just pray that this doctor's visit is the end of all these sinus issues. I am tired of walking around with a mucus head.

The only thing I am really not looking forward to today is the fact that the doctor will probably have to touch my nose. I HATE for anyone to touch my nose!!! That includes Chris. When Chris is giving me one of his coveted face massages (a life saver during these icky sinus days) he knows to steer well clear of my nose. I could be fast asleep and if he touches my nose I will wake up with a quick, "Don't touch my nose!" I don't know why I am this way...just am, always have been.

Another thing is interesting about going to the doctor. Have you ever made an appointment for an ailment because you can't stand it anymore and when it is time for the visit your ailment is pretty much gone?? "Does this hurt?" "Um, No, but it would've really hurt two days ago." The symptoms are gone so you think "Maybe I should cancel the appointment, save the copay and my time." But, you know the moment you cancel the symptoms will come roaring back and probably worse and then you have to wait a week or two for another appointment. Needless to say, my sinuses actually feel pretty good day. No pain. No mucus head. I am still going though. Oh no! I know how this goes. I will go and describe my "alleged" sinus pain to the best of my ability.

Please pray this will be WIPED out and I can get back to normal...whatever that is.

See ya! Details later!

Breaking Stereotypes on the Road

2008-02-19T11:09:00.004-05:00

This morning I was driving home from running errands and exercising at the YMCA and I saw a fancy car riding my tail. I sighed and thought "Hot Shot! I'm not going to speed up for you!" (Note: the part of road I was on has a rather odd change in speed limits that I too don't agree with but that doesn't change the fact that it is the law and I should obey it). I figured this person was probably young and thought he/she was in bigger hurry than me. Can you tell I really don't like tailgaters?

Well, I looked again and saw that the "Hot Shot" was an elderly lady and presumably her husband in a Cadillac with a handicapped sign hanging from the rear view mirror. She was even making gestures at me.What in the world?! I turned onto the next road and that couple actually PASSED ME and zoomed away breaking all kinds of speed limits. HUH??

I guess this goes to show that stereotypes are no good. Lessons from the road.

When Will This Ickiness Be Over?!

2008-02-18T16:08:00.002-05:00

Right when I wrote my last post about being "Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired, I go and catch a stomach virus. Ugh!

Chris and I traveled to my home town for my Dad's 65th birthday. Along with my stepmom, we planned a lovely surprise birthday party for him. Their Sunday School and dancing friends were there along with my sister and her family and my brother. We totally got him! Ha! It was a great event.

Unfortunately, about an hour before Chris and I left for the party I got slammed with queaziness. It was like a sledgehammer. I figured it would go away as quickly as it came. Wrong! I spent the party sitting in a corner trying to not throw up. Finally, I requested to go back to my Dad's house and rest. I apologized to everyone profusely and off we went.

The rest of the night was spent lying in bed or "worshiping the porcelin god." I was miserable. Then, Chris came down with it too. The majority of the "bad" symptoms were gone by Sunday morning but we were both terribly weak with dehydration and achiness. We came back home and sipped our Ginger Ale or Gatorade and slowly muched our Saltines. We were in bed by 7:30 pm.

This morning I felt a good bit better because of the sleep. I go to get Caleb from his room and see that he has thrown up all over his crib. I strip him and his entire crib and both get thoroughly washed. I think this one episode is the extent of his sickness. He has been drinking his Pedialyte and eating crackers.

Chris and I will attempt a real meal tonight and retire early again. I have made my doctor's appointment to get my sinuses checked for Thursday. Hopefully, all this ickiness will be gone for good soon. Until then, I keep plugging along.

Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired

2008-02-15T13:26:00.002-05:00

I have this sinus issue that just won't go away. It has been lingering on the left side of my face for well over two months. It is like a headache that starts right above my teeth and radiates up my cheek, behind my eyeball, and well into my skull. Ugh! It is a headache that will not go away. I've been taking a sinus medication and it has been working but I think it has finally lost its potency. I've tried using my "Feel Better Bag" to help break up all the ickiness and drain the sinuses. That worked great...for awhile. Neither one works now. So, I am stuck with this headache. I have thrown in the towel and I am hoping to get into my doctor's office sometime next week.

I am just sick and tired of being sick and tired. Because of this sinus thing I am not sleeping well at night and that, of course, affects the rest of my day. I'm also greatly unmotivated during the day. I am unmotivated to work on the house, blog, or even work on losing weight. I am just BLAH!

I am sorry for my absence. Now you know why. Chris, Caleb, and I are going to see my Dad this weekend and hopefully that will help to lift my spirits. I will see you when I get back. Please pray the doctor is able to knock this junk to kingdom come. I actually miss my regular self.

What Will I Say Next?

2008-02-12T14:52:00.000-05:00

I am learning that as Mom you will find yourself saying the darndest things to you child(ren).

This morning Caleb and Eowyn were fighting over Eowyn's most treasured squeakie toy, Mousers. Caleb would steal it and run away and then Eowyn would return the favor. Whenever Eowyn stole Mousers back, Caleb would come running to me, fussing, like he was saying, "MOM!! She won't let me play with Mousers!" There was a lot of fussing, barking, growling, etc.

When I finally had had enough I yelled across the house, "If you don't stop fighting over that toy I am going to have to take it away from BOTH of you!!!!"

Note: This is to my 19 month old son and DOG!

What will it be like with more children?

Reading and Treadmills

2008-02-08T14:07:00.000-05:00

I have been exercising at the YMCA for the past six months now. I try to get on a treadmill or elliptical machine (or lift weights if I'm feeling extra jiggy) about four times a week. I usually bring my headphones so I can tune into one of the tv's and I also pick one of the magazines on the wall. Those magazines haven't changed for the past six months!! I have read every savory and unsavory article there is to be had. I have come to being bored while I exercise because there is nothing to do and I can't stare into space.

I had an epiphany the other day. While it is nice to "tune out" for about 45 minutes, I could really be using those 45 minutes to edify myself. Caleb is being taken care of and I don't have to worry about him. Why don't I bring a book every trip to the YMCA? I would probably be impressed how many books I could finish over time.

So, I'm going to start a list of books that I will call my "Treadmill Books." There will be a list on my sidebar of the books I plan to read and the books I am currently reading. I might even share my thoughts on these books. This is exerciting! I will be getting fit physically and mentally. Whoohoo!

Graphic From AllPosters.com

Sugar Refinery Explosion--Please Pray

2008-02-08T12:04:00.000-05:00

Not too far from where I live there was a major explosion at a Sugar Rifinery Plant last night. There are people who are still missing and many more are severely burned. Some of them have been airlifted to Augusta where the best burn center in the area is located. Many of those people are in critical condition. The fire is still burning this afternoon. We don't know what caused the explosion and subsequent fire. They are thinking it could be sugar dust that apparently is quite combustible. (Who knew!) Lots of unknowns right now.

You can read the story here.

There are reports of workers coming out the plant with 3rd degree burns all over and all they wanted to know was that their friends were okay.

Please pray for the workers and their families. Also, pray for the rescue workers and the medical teams treating the workers.

Thanks!

Better Than JiffY?!

2008-02-06T13:16:00.001-05:00

A HUGE event occurred last night that I just had to share with everyone and their brother, sister, whoever. I made some homemade cornbread (from scratch) last night to help lift up some leftover chili from the freezer. I've tried homemade cornbreads in the past but they turned out kind of blah, not sweet enough, or just too dry. A couple of times Chris has said to just make Jiffy from now on. But, I'm trying to make more and more things from scratch and not depend on "prepackaged" stuff. I have been determined to find "that cornbread" that would push Jiffy off the pedestal in Chris' mind.

Folks, I have found it!! It is called Grandmother's Buttermilk Cornbread and I got it off of Allrecipes.com. Perhaps it is the buttermilk or even the whole stick of butter, but Chris said that it is far better than Jiffy. He said it is just right in sweetness and moist. He even said I can put this recipe in the "Permanent Recipe Collection" to be made from now on. I have reached a milestone in my "Make It From Scratch" journey.

Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:
1/4 pound butter (1 stick)
2/3 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease an 8 inch square pan.

2. Melt butter in large skillet (I just nuked in the microwave in a safe bowl). Remove from heat and stir in sugar. Quickly add eggs and beat until well blended. Combine buttermilk with baking soda and stir into mixture in pan. Stir in cornmeal, flour, and salt until well blended and few lumps remain. Pour batter into the prepared pan.

3. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

ENJOY! I would love to hear from you if you have great success like I did!

Lose Weight and Save the Earth

2008-02-05T20:11:00.000-05:00

I came to a wonderful realization today. As I endeavor to lose weight I am also helping to save the earth! Not only am I getting smaller bit by bit but I am also reducing my "footprint" in the process. Ha!

How is this possible you ask?

Well, one of the habits I have adopted in my weight loss journey is to drink a TON of water everyday...a gallon to be exact. Needless to say, I have to go to the bathroom a hundred gazillion times a day.

I have found that I try to get through my errands as fast as possible and then I go straight home and I stay home. I just don't like to go potty in public restrooms if I can avoid it especially now that I have a wiggly toddler.

So, I am saving the earth by reducing how much I run my car and that saves energy, reduces fuel consumption, and reduces exaust in the air.

Who would've thought drinking so much water and having to pee every minute could do so much good!!

Who Do I Believe?

2008-02-04T20:15:00.000-05:00

Ever since Caleb and I heard from the doctor that he is underweight I have been talking to friends and family and there seems to be a consensus that Caleb is just fine and I have no reason to worry about his weight. He "comes by it naturally" everyone says because Caleb's Daddy is a smaller guy. Don't worry about his weight and don't try to make him gain too much weight too quickly. The doctor is crazy, they say. One friend even said we should go shopping for a new doctor! Gee Whiz!

Who do I listen to?? Do I listen to the person who has an education in pediatrics or do I listen to my friends and family? There is a huge agreement on the side of the friends. {SIGH!}

I have come to the conclusion that I will encourage Caleb to eat more but I will only offer him healthy foods with good-for-you ingredients. At least I'll know I'm not clogging up his arteries.

I plan on taking Caleb for his weight check in a couple of months but perhaps I'll request another doctor in the practice to get a second opinion. We'll see what happens!

Here's to yummy, healthy snacks!

My Little Guy is Lucky!

2008-01-30T14:04:00.000-05:00

Today was Caleb's 18 month appointment and it went pretty well except for the finger prick and the two shots he got. We also found out that my little string bean is underweight. He is almost 19 months old and he only weighs 22 pounds!! That would've been a good weight 6 months ago.

We feed him all day long. He eats whatever we eat and apparently that is keeping his weight down. He loves green beans, corn, noodles, bread, etc. Remember that I am trying to lose weight and that is reflected in my choices in lunch and dinner and since Caleb eats our table food, he is getting "lose weight" food. When given the choice between a chicken nugget and a green bean he will pick the green bean every time. Chris and I thought that was a great habit to be starting this early. We were wrong apparently. Beans have no fat and hardly any calories and an active 18 month boy needs calories, fat, and protein.

We also thought it was great he was drinking his whole milk throughout the day. Nope! Apparently, the whole milk is filling him up and he doesn't want to eat a decent amount of food which is where most of his calories need to come from. Milk in the morning and evening and water/juice during the day from now on. I guess that will help us stretch our milk budget farther.

I wish I was in Caleb's shoes. Instead of cutting out the sweets and the hamburgers, to hear the doctor say "Bring it on!" would be a dream of mine. He is so lucky! ;-)

The doctor told us to come back in two months for a weight check and she wants him to have gained 5 pounds by then. That is a lot for such an active little boy. I guess this is a great excuse to pick up my baking. I don't mind one bit, Buddy!

Guess What Today Is?!

2008-01-30T08:08:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday
To Me!!

WFMW--Rising Bread Dough

2008-01-30T08:00:00.000-05:00

The one thing that I really don't like is waiting for my bread dough to rise. It seems to take FOREVER!! It is slow especially this time of year because we keep the house at 68 degrees. I don't have the time to wait around for my bread to rise...things to do...places to go.

But, guess what?! I discovered a cool way to make my dough to rise quicker and it is super easy. This is not one of those fancy "proofing boxes." Nope! Super Easy!

All I do is take a microwave safe measuring cup and I pour some water into it. I then put the measuring cup in the microwave and nuke the water for about 30-45 seconds. The water is slightly bubbly and the microwave is full of lovely warm humidity.

I then stick the dough in the microwave and close the door.

The dough probably rises twice as quickly as before.

Using my warm, humid microwave to rise my bread dough Works For Me!

I Exercised My Civic Duty Today

2008-01-28T16:04:00.000-05:00

Caleb and I made a trip to Chris' office this afternoon so we could go vote in the primary as a family. The official primary is not till February 5th here in Georgia. But, today was the day you could go to the Registrar's office for advance voting. I can't resist an opportunity to skip long lines.

There were only two items on the ballot this time. The Presidental Primary was the first. I voted in the Republical primary and I voted for XXXXXXXXXX. Nope! Not gonna tell. It is called a private ballot for a reason and I really don't want this blog to become a political platform. I'll just say that I voted my conscience and for whom I thought had the most Biblical policies.

The second item on the ballot was a local issue. It was to vote yes or no on whether distilled spirits can be poured by the drink in this county. Yes. My county is still a "dry" county. Believe it or not! Hard liquor cannot be sold in any place within this county. Beer and wine can be sold in the grocery stores and in the restaurants but not hard liquor. The county is growing like crazy and there are some rather large restaurants that have voiced interest in coming in but can't due to the "liquor law." Needless to say, this is a rather hot topic around here especially among the church-going crowd. The options were to vote "yes" to allow the liquor and "no" to not allow it. I voted XXXXXXX. Once again, I don't want to start a debate. Thanks for understanding.

I felt good as I was leaving that I exercised my right AND duty to vote. Now I have bragging or griping rights however this primary turns out. ;-)

GO VOTE!!!

Graphic From AllPosters.com

Slow But Fairly Steady

2008-01-27T19:40:00.000-05:00

It has been about four weeks now since I started my journey in weight loss and if you look to the right you will see that I've lost six pounds so far. I've gone from 176 to 170. I was really hoping to have crossed over into the 160's this morning but alas, it wasn't meant to be. I only lost one pound this past week and I blame it completely on PMS and how our bodies just LOVE to hold onto every ounce it can for dear life. I ate very healthfully and I worked out like crazy and yet it was only a pound. But, that is OKAY!!! One pound is much better than zero and even better than gaining.

The trip to Atlanta with Chris during his Insurance class was expected to be a setback because I was out of my normal routine and surroundings. I could've gone to the YMCA that was walking distance away but I kept telling myself that it was just too cold to make the trek over there. I was dreading coming home and stepping up on the scale. But, I was extremely happy to find out that I had gained nothing. I didn't lose, but I didn't GAIN either. I was jumping up and down after that. I think it was the walking up and down all the stairs after Caleb that saved me.

This week was difficult because I craved everything that wasn't in my pantry. I ate more apples than I would like. I think apples have lost their intrigue. That's too bad because they do such a great job filling me up during that mid-afternoon slump. Chris and I also had a volunteer appreciation banquet to attend on Friday and the catered was Mmmm-mmmm GOOD. It was very hard to control portions. Then we went to Sonic after church because I was craving a cheeseburger and don't forget our weekly trip to McD's for our Sunday morning family date. Ugh! The one thing I did really well this week is that worked out FIVE times and I worked out hard on the elliptical machine at the YMCA each time. That's how I got that pound squeezed out after all. ;-)

It is now a new week and I have a clean slate. I will eat right, drink my water, and exercise like a maniac. Those pounds better run away in fear because I'm coming after them.

Graphic From AllPosters.com

Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt

2008-01-26T13:06:00.000-05:00

THEME: OLD-FASHIONED

WOW!! It has been way too long since I've done the Photo Hunt. Sorry for my absence. But, I am ready to be joining everyone each week. Here is my "Old-Fashioned" pick for this week.

I know my husband will just love me for this one. ;-) This is a picture of him receiving his very first Personal Computer for Christmas. The times and computers sure have changed, haven't they? Check out those clothes!! Hee hee! I Love You, Honey!

Give 'Em A Belly Scratch

2008-01-24T19:43:00.000-05:00

I get tears in my eyes every time I see it. ;-)

Now, Go Hug Your Dog!!!!!

Note: Sorry about how the video shows up before you hit play. ;-) I guess that's just part of being a dog...and we're for that too, huh?

Sometimes the Old Stuff Really Does Work

2008-01-24T13:38:00.000-05:00

I have been suffering from a horrible sinus issue for the past month or so. It always felt like the whole left side of my face was going to implode and I've been convinced I had a cavity because of the achy teeth on the left side. I was blessed when my Mother-in-Law recommended a great over the counter drug combination to help drain the sinuses. I could only take in the morning because anything 12 noon would keep me up all night long. So, I suffered in pain through the night and when I woke up in the morning. I figured I wanted to sleep more than I wanted the pain gone. My daytime was virtually pain-free because of these lovely drugs.

Last night I was so frustrated with my head that I decided to try another remedy recommended to me by my M.I.L. Why not try a hot compress on my face to help loosen the ickiness up? I haven't tried this because I was so stubborn and determined to let the drugs work. Surely you can't beat modern medicine, right?

I asked Chris to warm up my "Feel Better Bag" (a flannel bag that has rice and herbs in it that warms up in the microwave) and bring it to the bed. He lovingly did so and I put it right on the epicenter of the pain and tried to rest. Y'all, after a few minutes I could literally FEEL the junk break apart in my head and flow out of my sinuses. WOW!!! I fell asleep and enjoyed a pain free night.

This morning I woke up and realized that the pain was STILL GONE. The Feel Better Bag has a place of honor on my pillow and it will be used again tonight.

Isn't funny how the old stuff can really be better than the new stuff sometimes??

Homemade Dog Food?!?! Yes, I Did!

2008-01-23T16:05:00.000-05:00

A few weeks I posted about making Homemade Doggie Biscuits and what a hit they were with Eowyn. She ate her last one last night. I guess I'll have to make some more, huh? After I posted that recipe I got an email from my brother. He had forwarded my blog post to a friend and his friend responded with another biscuit recipe AND a recipe for dog food. Hmmmm. I was intrigued. I read over the recipe over and over and came to the conclusion that I actually had all the ingredients on hand and it looked easy enough. All the ingredients were leftovers from previous Angel Food Ministries boxes except for the oats and the eggs.

I am stranded at home today due to Chris' van being worked on, so I decided to take the plunge and actually make this homemade dog food.

Here is the recipe:
Ingredients:

3 cups dry beans (I used pinto beans)
3 Tbs. minced garlic
3 cups rice
1 lb. finely chopped meat
2 lbs. frozen chopped veggies
1 cup rolled oats
4 eggs, beaten

Instructions:

Rinse beans and soak overnight in 6 cups of water (Or you can bring them to a boil, set aside, covered, for 2-3 hours until they are hydrated).

Add the garlic and simmer for 2-3 hours or until the beans are tender.

Here are the beans as they simmer away.

While the beans are cooking, brown the meat in a pot, then add 5 cups of water and the rice. Simmer for 20 minutes, or until the rice is done, then add the veggies, oats and eggs.

Here is the meat all chopped up.

Combine the beans, meat, rice, and veggies.

Yum!! ;-) All Done!

Place in containers to freeze.

All ready for the freezer.

Note: The recipe I was given says this is enough for 12 meals for a 45 pound dog (1 1/2 cup servings). Eowyn is 13 pounds, so I expect it to last much longer.

I think we have a winner!

However,

It appears Eowyn doesn't like broccoli either.

Alpha Dog Gets Bumped to Beta Dog

2008-01-23T10:15:00.000-05:00

We have a CRAZY dog who is rather neurotic most of the time. She is sweet as can be and she has loved Caleb since the day the met. They are the best of friends and I couldn't ask for more. I love Eowyn as one of my own...almost. She is a dog after all.

One of her quirks is how she is 13 pounds going on 100 pounds. She things she is top dog of the neighborhood and she makes sure everyone on the street knows that. She barks at anyone who comes by and I've even seen our UPS man (who calls her "The Monster" lovingly, of course) running to his truck because she was chasing him. She chases all creatures out of her yard and often stands guard when she is outside. Gotta keep the family safe.

Unfortunately, Eowyn is a bully too. She bullies the smaller dogs in our family when we all get together. It is frustrating for us and for everyone else too. We often wonder if we should just leave her with a babysitter when we leave town.

Well, there was a shift this past week. Our Alpha dog became a Beta dog.

I was in the front yard with Eowyn and Caleb at my sister's house, playing. We brought Eowyn's wireless fence with us so she wouldn't leave the yard. I didn't see how it started, but at one point I heard some awful dog-fighting sounds. I quickly turned and saw Eowyn in a terrible fight with the next door Golden Retriever. This Retriever is a good 3 to 4 times bigger than Eowyn and she had Eowyn down on the ground. Eowyn was being DOMINATED!! I felt safe enough to break up the fight and Eowyn was yelping like I've never heard her yelp. I thought she was either bleeding, something was broken, or scared out of her mind. It turned it was the latter.

I put Eowyn in her kennel to calm down for the rest of the afternoon and she just shook and shook. For an entire day I had to carry Eowyn outside to go potty because she wouldn't go out there on her own. She continued to have shaking spells.

I think the shaking spells are over now. She is so happy to be home and some of the barking has returned. One good thing about this incident is that she is definitely more cuddly now.

Chris and I hope this domination will teach Eowyn that she is not queen of the world and she will be more respectful of other dogs and people. Hmmmm. We'll see.

Make It From Scratch Carnival--January 22nd

2008-01-22T09:39:00.000-05:00

Hello Everyone!!

Welcome to the Make It From Scratch Carnival! I am so excited to be hosting this week. Over the past few weeks I have really gotten into making more and more of our food from scratch. I am slowly becoming more aware of what we are putting into our body and I've come to the conclusion that the only way to not really worry about it is to just make as many things as I can from scratch. My mind is swimming with all the different things I want to try in the future (ex. jams and jellies, dog food, peanut butter, etc.). I am jumping head first into the "Make It From Scratch" Bandwagon. So Exciting!!

Anyway, please check out what all these lovely people are making from scratch. Not everything is food either. Leave a comment if you wish. ;-) ENJOY!!

A young man shows how he could be a future engineer.

Did you know you can use dishwasher fluid with your laundry?

Yummy Cappucino Muffins AND some great financial tips to help with the New Year.

My mind is spinning with gift ideas because of this lovely recipe of Cakes in a Jar. Hmmmm....maybe just a great idea for my own enjoyment. ;-)

Great ways to get your family to eat those icky vegetables. Geez! I need this one.

Have you ever tried making your own paper?!?! Learn how here.

All I can say is "OH MY GOODNESS!!" That looks so good! Check out this recipe for Bananas Supreme.

One of the things I REALLY want to make from scratch is jams or jellies. I was excited to see this post for garlic jam. Did you know you can make jams in the bread machine (some models)? I'm going to have to check my bread machine!!

I really want to attract more birds to my yard. This recipe for homemade bird suet might help.

For those cold, windy days there is nothing like a good cup of Hot Chocolate. Here is some very informative post on how to use organic Cacoa to make a yummy Hot Cocoa.

Need a little pampering?? Here's how to use strawberries as an instant scrub or as a foot scrub.

Here's a post about an adorable kimono-style apron for all those littles running around the house.

We love pancakes swimming in syrup around here. I was intrigued when I saw this recipe for homemade pancake syrup.

This Warm and Fuzzy Maple Cinnamon Oatmeal looks lovely for those cold mornings too.

I've heard of Corn Fritters, but Zucchini Fritters are new to me. Check out this recipe.

Here a blogger selects her MVP list of cookbooks (very useful) and offers a recipe for Chicken Provencal.

Valentine's Day is coming up!! How about making your Valentine's Cards this year?

Not only was this curtain project frugal it was pretty too.

Since we are being crafty a minute or two, check out this post on how to make those handy magnetic notepads for your fridge.

I am starting to really enjoy Eastern European cuisine because of Chris' Polish background. This Chicken Paprikash looks scrumptious!

This one is for those who can't fight off that terrible cold. Try these down-home remedies. (Let me throw in that vinegar and honey (equal parts) works great on a sore throat. The vinegar cuts through all the junk in your throat and clears it and the honey makes it easier to swallow and just feels good going down.)

This All Natural Chicken in Red Sauce looks easy enough to make.

Ooohhhh...I love recipes with as few ingredients as possible. Having a toddler makes prep work a bit tough. Here is recipe for Taco Soup that has only SIX ingredients. Whoohoo!

For those traveling with small children, try these Travel Felt Boards.

I am all about being easy and I enjoyed looking at this recipe for Easy Chicken Vegetable Bake.

Here are some wonderful ideas of how to use orange zest in your cooking and around your house.

Finally, here the account of my adventure into baking challah...my most adventurous bread yet.

Thank you Everyone for participating this week. There are some real gems up there. ;-) Be thinking about what you want to submit next week. Our friend over at GreenStyleMom is hosting.

Don't Forget!!

2008-01-20T20:12:00.000-05:00

Just popping in to let you know we are back home and anxious to get back into a routine. Also, don't forget that the Make It From Scratch Carnival will be here on Tuesday!!

Talk to you soon!

IT IS SNOWING!!!!

2008-01-19T10:40:00.000-05:00

We are still here in Atlanta and it is snowing like crazy. We are settled in for the day because it is supposed to be like this well into the evening. I think Chris and I are still going to try having a lunch date down the road before it gets really bad. Besides, there is something romantic about going on a date in the snow. ;-) Maybe that's just the southerner in me. Hopefully, it won't be too frozen over tomorrow when we are supposed to be heading home. The weather man said that the plummeting temperatures will freeze anything left on the ground. Hmmmm. In the meantime, it is fun to watch the snow come down and to hear my nephews running around the house saying, "Blizzard! Blizzard!" I think this is going to be a wonderful, cozy day with my family. I will soak in all this snow because I know I probably won't see it again for the rest of the year.

Graphic From AllPosters.com

I Miss Y'all!

2008-01-17T16:36:00.000-05:00

Hey! I just wanted to pop in and say hello. I miss coming here on a regular basis. I thought I would be able to blog a whole lot more while I am here at my sister's house and Chris is in his class all day and everyone else is in school or working. Surely, I could take a moment and write a short post. Well, I have found that I am either disciplining Caleb because he decided to climb the stairs for the 100th time or I am referee-ing my dog and the other dogs. Geez! Eowyn is such a bully sometimes! I miss hanging out here on the blawg. Hopefully, things will slow down enough.

In the meantime, I also wanted to tell you that I will be hosting the Make It From Scratch Carnival here on Tuesday, January 22nd. Feel free to submit a post on anything you made from scratch and I will feature everything here on Tuesday. Be sure to have your posts turned in by Sunday. To submit a post, just click on the graphic below and follow the instructions. I'm looking forward to seeing all the cool things people are making from scratch!! See you then!

I Made Challah!

2008-01-15T17:03:00.000-05:00

I feel like I've reached a new level of breadmaking this past week. I took the plunge into challah. Yeah! Just a few months ago, I never would've imagined being able to make a breaded bread from scratch much less a basic white bread. I feel so confident now. It also helps that Chris LOVED the challah I made.

I found this recipe over at Tammy's Recipes and after I clicked on over from Biblical Womanhood. These two ladies have really become two of my favorite blogs. Such wonderful recipes and inspiration.

Anywhoo, on to the actual recipe and pictures.

This recipe yields 2 large loaves of a lovely braided white bread traditionally served on the Sabbath.

1 1/2 cups warm water
1/2 cups honey
1 tablespoon oil
4 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons dry yeast
5 cups flour, plus additional flour (mine was closer to 6-6.5 cups)

1. Combine ingredients in a large bowl in order listed. Add enough flour and knead to make a smooth dough. Knead approximately 10 minutes.

2. Oil a bowl and place dough inside. Flip the dough to be sure both sides are oiled. Let rise in a warm place until doubled (mine took just over 2 hours...kind of cold in our house). Punch down.

3. Divide dough into 8 pieces. Roll each piece into a rope about 14-15" long and an inch in diameter.

4. Lay 4 ropes side by side and pinch tops together. Braid tightly (the difficult part for me) starting on the left, taking the rope over two and under one. Pinch bottom ends and fold under.

Being Braided

Finished Braid

5. Place braids on greased baking sheets (I was able to use one with the braids side by side) and cover. Let rise in a warm place for 25-30 minutes.

Both Braids ready for the oven

6. Brush with beaten egg and sprinkle with sugar (or whatever you want...Tammy says to use sesame or poppy seeds). Bake at 325 degrees for 30-40 minutes, until done. (Note: If loaves are on separte sheets, rotate halfway through baking time for even baking).

I had so much fun making this challah and I look forward to making it again. I took one loaf to a women's retreat I attended on Friday night and left the other one for Chris to eat while I was gone. He loved it and made sure I would make it again for him. That is no problem, Honey!

ENJOY!!

What we are up to

2008-01-15T09:41:00.000-05:00

This past Sunday Chris and I packed up the family, including Eowyn, and headed to Atlanta so that Chris could take a class for his business. I had the option of being a "big girl" and staying home with Caleb and maintaining our regular schedule at home. But, who wants to do that? We are staying at my sister's house so we don't have to pay for a hotel and I am staying home during the day while Chris is in his class. Everyone else is either at school or work. It is just us during the day...and two other dogs.

I have to say that it is interesting during the day. I have to referee everyone all the time. The two other dogs are terrified of Eowyn and I think Eowyn enjoys the power has found. I have to make sure Caleb doesn't go tumbling down the various staircases and doesn't further terrorize the other dogs. {SIGH} It is fun, though. I would much rather be doing this than staying home alone for a week.

The cool thing is that I have my sister's car for the day and we're are about to head out for a little "out of the house" time. My sister gave me a "Free Cappacino" coupon at Barnes & Noble and you know that is where I am headed.

We are having a blast and enjoying the change of pace, once again. I will come by here as often as I can sneak away to the laptop. I can't wait to share a post I am working on about my most recent and most ambitious bread adventure.

Before I Was A Mom...

2008-01-09T16:17:00.000-05:00

I found this poem in this month's newsletter for my MOPS group. I almost started crying right there at my discussion table. Just wanted to share. There is no author mentioned, otherwise I would reference the proper person.

Before I was a Mom
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a Mom -
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.
Before I was a Mom
I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into tear eyes and cried.
I never got glorously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.
Before I was a Mom
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put him down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a Mom.
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.
Before I was a Mom -
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the job, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.

Graphic From AllPosters.com

Expanding Into Wheat and The Bread Machine

2008-01-07T15:03:00.000-05:00

I LOVE baking bread as anyone who reads this blog knows for sure. I love the mixing, the kneading, the rising, and the baking. I love it all. Not only is it yummy, but it is also quite therapeutic for me. There is just something about the process that makes me feel so good.

For the longest time, I've been making Amish White Bread because it was the first recipe I made from scratch and with my own hands (no bread machine). It is great for sandwiches, cinnamon toast, eggs-in-a-basket, etc. I've been making the dough for awhile and freezing it.

But, recently I've come to learn the time-saving beauty that is the bread machine. Don't get me wrong. I am still a "bread shape" purist. I don't like the shape the bread machine makes when it bakes your bread. I like the longer, more sandwich bread shape. A long time ago I learned from Crystal that you can use your bread machine to mix, knead, and rise your dough but then use a traditional bread pan to bake it in the oven. SCORE!! I still love, love kneading the bread but this time saving method is a winner in my household right now.

The first recipe I've made using the bread machine method is a Whole Wheat bread that I got from Crystal too. I am on a journey towards healthier eating and weight loss these days and I figured that I really need to open my mind to whole wheat bread especially since Caleb eats a sandwich of some sort just about every day. I tried the recipe yesterday and it really turned out great. Chris liked it and I think it will become our staple everyday loaf of bread for now.

Here is the recipe:

Homemade Wheat Bread

1 cup warm water (110-115 degrees F.)
1 tablespoon milk
2 tablespoons oil
4 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup whole-wheat flour
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons dry yeast

Put all ingredients in the bread machine in the order listed. Set on dough cycle. When dough cycle is finished, take dough out and shape into a loaf in a greased bread pan. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 20 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

ENJOY!!!

Graphic From AllPosters.com

Motivation That Hurts...And Works

2008-01-06T13:42:00.000-05:00

Chris emailed me earlier this week offering me some motivation to shed the pounds. We upgraded my life insurance policy recently and Chris said that because of my weight it would be $70 extra a year. Ugh! I try so hard to save the family money every day and here I am costing the family money. However, I can get that $70 back if I lose the weight within the next twelve months. Chris needs to find out what that number is and that will be my new goal or I will keep my current goal (26 pounds) whichever is higher.

As for my weigh-in today:

173!!! Total Loss So Far: 3 pounds! Yeah!!

Have a Happy Sunday!

Darn You, Accountability!!

2008-01-05T14:00:00.000-05:00

You all know now that I have a goal to lose about 25 pounds. I haven't set a goal date yet. I am plugging along pretty well except for the INSANE cravings I've been having for cookies and such. It doesn't help to watch the Food Network while you are on the treadmill.

Anywhoo, it turns out that Chris' business partner is also trying to lose some weight. We've communicated about our goals and I guess you could say we have become informal accountability partners.

This morning I was cozy in my comfy clothes working on a baby quilt when I got and email from Chris' partner. It basically said, "Have you gone to the YMCA today? Don't let a good Saturday go to waste. Make Time!" DARN HIM!! I was so content not going to the gym today UNTIL he wrote that email. So, I had to change my clothes and get to the YMCA before the Child Watch closed.

I have worked out today and it was great! Glad I went. But, I REFUSE to work out on Sunday. By Golly!

Here's a random question: If your weekly "splurge meal" tastes icky does it still count as a "splurge meal?" That happened to me last night and I felt so incredibly jipped. I know, I know. If it goes in your mouth, it counts. {SIGH} I just had to try. ;-)

Bringing Him Respect--Part Two

2008-01-03T12:49:00.000-05:00

As you know from my previous post I am devoting much of my time during the day in ways that will Bring My Husband Respect. I started out primarily focusing on the house and how I spend my time during the day while he is at work. I came to the realization that I was squandering much of my time and I accumulated quiet a "homemaking debt." I have come a long way in my journey back home and I look forward to sharing some of the great ideas I have for the new year.

But, there was another area in my life that has been greatly neglected. Such a sensitive issue....my weight. Ugh! I was greatly blessed after having Caleb that I was able to pretty much lose all 30 pounds I gained with him rather quickly. I give all the credit to nursing him. The problem was that I was about 10-15 pounds overweight when I got pregnant. I blame that on being too cozy in my marriage and not watching myself closely enough. So, I came down to still being overweight and continued to not watch myself closely enough. The pounds have slowly crept back on and it is icky.

I have known for awhile that I need to lose weight but I never had the motivation or the desire to "Get It Done." Losing weight is hard work and I would so miss my cookies and ice cream. I kept putting it off. We have been ready to have another baby and we pray we will get pregnant soon. The idea of getting pregnant at this weight knowing I will probably gain another 30 pounds is quite scary. I would go into uncharted waters of weight-dom for me. Did that realization stop me from eating my cookies and ice cream? NOPE!

Finally, the other day I was driving to the church and I believe the Holy Spirit spoke to me about my weight. I learned that Chris has been struggling with my weight for awhile. Ouch! I also realized that if I REALLY want to get pregnant I need to do what I can now to reduce my weight and become more healthy. As I drove I realized that being more mindful of my weight and health is something that will "Bring My Husband Respect." Since my body is not my own anyway, I need to take care of what is his to begin with. Gotchya! That was the one piece of motivation I needed to really get started. I vowed in the car that I would begin the journey towards a lighter me.

I found out later that my time in the car was just preparation for a conversation I had later with Chris. He confessed his struggles to me about my weight and I shared what I had already thought. He promised to support me the best way he can. He won't eat ice cream or cookies in front of me and he won't eat after 7 pm with me. He catches me "being good" and compliments me on it and is just serving as my accountability partner.

I officially weighed in on Sunday (Dec. 30) and Sunday will be my weekly weigh-in day. I am currently watching my portions, drinking tons of water, sworn off cookies (unless I've been extra good that day and even then only 1 or 2), and going to the YMCA as often as possible. I will "Diet Naked" here and be completely open and honest right here on the blawg.

So, here it goes!

December 30, 2007 --> 176 pounds

Graphic From AllPosters.com

Christmas in Rockford, Illinois

2008-01-02T13:45:00.000-05:00

Well, it looks like everything is calm enough around here now that I can tell you about our Christmas.

We left at 4 am on Thursday, December 20th along with Chris' sister and her husband. We piled into the van at our house and off we went with Chris' sister driving the first shift. We drove in four shifts and amazingly, we didn't stop any other times. Caleb did remarkably well in his car seat. He would start getting fussy each time right around the four hour mark. As we crept north through Illinois we started seeing snow on the ground and the further north we got the more there was. We finally arrived in Rockford around 10 pm or so. Caleb was allowed to stretch his legs for awhile and into bed we went.

The next few days were spent enjoying being with family and relaxing. There was a baby shower for Chris' sister who is due in April and a gathering to watch the Chicago Bears beat the Greenbay Packers. Caleb was all decked out for that event in his Bears hat and Urlacher jersey. We also enjoyed some time out in the snow but Caleb didn't want anything to do with it. He would walk around on the street or sidewalk but hated stepping into the snow.

Here is my little Buddy in his winter garb.

Walking around

We spent a lot of time inside the house and sometimes we would escape to the real world when we needed to stretch. We had to get creative in entertaining Caleb sometimes. We finally got the idea of using YouTube.com to show Caleb some Baby Einstein videos. Wow!!

Caleb enjoying Baby Monet on his uncle's laptop.

Chris' parents arrived on Saturday and Chris' mom was usually more than happy to take us girls places. One of those times Chris, my brother-in-law, and Caleb went sledding in a local park. I have a video of Caleb sledding on his cookie sheet that I will attempt to post later. Check out what they found in the park while there.

What kind of animal made that?!

Finally, the main event arrived and it was Christmas. This was the first big family Christmas I've ever experienced. Chris has three aunts and they brought their spouses, children, their spouses, and their children. I think there was close to 20 plus people there. Whew! I have never seen so many presents under one tree in my ENTIRE life!

The Loot

There was also so much Yummy Goodness to eat! Check out these pictures. I was inspired by how much Chris' aunt cooked for everyone....especially the pies.

Pies waiting to be eaten! Yum!

Breakfast Casserole

Monkey Bread!

Fruit to make it all healthy

After a full day of Christmas joy everyone went home and we all collapsed into our beds. Whew! What a day! The day after Christmas was spent packing and making some last minute visits to loved ones.

We went to bed and rose again at 2:30 am to embark on our journey home. It was snowing when we left and that made me sad. I really wanted to see a really good snow before we left but I was focused on getting home. This trip home took longer due to an extra potty break and a dinner break that took way too long. But, we got home safely. We emptied the van into the den and collapsed yet again into bed....OUR beds. We found out later that it snowed 6 inches the day we left and I was wearing a t-shirt as I ran my errands. Gotta Love Georgia!!

We are home and back into our schedule and starting a new year. I am excited about what it has to bring and I'm sure there will be lots more here.

See you soon!!

Back Home...Safe and Sound

2007-12-28T14:05:00.000-05:00

Everyone in our family has made it home safely from Illinois. We had a great time and I have plenty of pictures I want to post here along with great stories. I'll be back to share those once I get my house under control. Whoo! Returning from a trip sure does require a lot of work!

We left there at 4 am our time (3 am their time) and drove and drove and drove. We got home around 11 pm and collapsed. When we left Illinois there was snow falling and covering everything and today I am sweating in my t-shirt. Other than a couple of molars trying to come through, Caleb is doing well adjusting back to his normal routine. Chris is working today to allow for a four day weekend and we are planning a quiet, lazy evening at home.

I have done a lot of brainstorming these past few days and I've got some great ideas for the New Year. I look forward to sharing them with you when I return.

See you soon!

Just Checking In Because I Can

2007-12-20T09:27:00.000-05:00

It is about 9:30 am and we have been on the road now for 5.5 hours. We have already stopped for gas, changed drivers, and eaten breakfast. We are in Tennessee and the mountains are beautiful. I take over driving at the next shift which will commence once we cross over into Illinois. Chris will then take us to our destination. Caleb is doing pretty well considering he is confined to his carseat for so long. I just keep tickling his feet and feeding him doughnut holes. ;-) I am able to write this post because of Chris' nifty Blackberry that is providing the internet access. Yeah, Honey! Well, I'll be back soon.

Enjoy your Thursday!!

Signing Off...For Now

2007-12-19T10:19:00.000-05:00

Just wanted everyone to know that I am frantically packing for our way-too-early departure tomorrow morning for Illinois. Yep! We will be driving from SE Georgia all the way up to Illinois. Whoo! Thankfully, there will be two other adults in the van to help out with Caleb. Chris will be bringing his laptop and maybe I'll be able to blog about all the goings on while we are there. I'm not promising anything, though. We will be surrounded by a very LARGE family that wants to dote on us the whole week. It will be great!

So, I am signing off for now.

Good Luck and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

A Time of Celebration

2007-12-17T08:12:00.000-05:00

This past Thursday Chris, Caleb, and I headed to Wake Forest, NC to share in the festivities surrounding my brother's, Henry, Ph.D graduation from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. We are so proud of him!

We arrived at the hotel Thursday night around 10:30 pm or so and promptly checked in. I was pleased to find out that my Dad and Stepmom were just across the hallway. I knocked on their door and they came over to play with Caleb while Chris and I got settled. It is amazing how quickly a zonked out little boy can wake up to play. As soon as we were ready we got into bed because we had a 7 am breakfast in the hotel lobby. The night was rather fitful because we were in a strange place, hot, and Caleb was coughing more than usual.

We got up around 6:30 am on Friday and put on whatever we could find and headed downstairs for breakfast. It was good to see everyone before the ceremony. We then went back upstairs and got dressed for the ceremony and headed to the chapel. The weather was nice and Chris and I enjoyed hanging out until everyone else got there.

SEBTS chapel

We found some good seats and settled in until the ceremony began. Chris was so sweet in that he offered to referee Caleb during the entire ceremony so that I could sit with my family and watch Henry get his degree. We finally decided that it would work the best if he took Caleb upstairs in the balcony for the entire event. It was sweet hearing occassional noices coming from up there. In fact, at the end of a hymn we all heard little hands claaping and a loud, "YEAH!!" Everyone there laughed. I thought, "Yep! That's my boy!"

Caleb waiting for everything to get started.
Also, showing evidence of sickness.

The ceremony was very good even though I 've always had a hard time sitting through graduation ceremonies...even mine. Have I ever mentioned that I got my M.A. in Biblical Counseling from the same school? Henry was the second to the last person to walk across the stage. The only real bummer was that my camera wasn't working when Henry got his hood and diploma. Apparently, I had hit some button and that prevented the picture. It has since been fixed.

The President giving the graduation address.

One thing that was sad about the ceremony was that Henry's Mentoring Professor was sick in the hospital that morning. He has been battling cancer for a few years and that landed him in the hospital. So, the President (above) walked Henry across the stage and gave him his hood and such. He then pulled Henry back to the pulpit and told everyone the circumstances and why Henry's professor wasn't there. He also told us how he was at the hospital that morning and that the professor woke up and said, "Did Henry get through?" Wow! How special is that?! Yes, Henry got through and is now a Doctor of Philosophy in Theology.

Here is Henry in his regalia

After the ceremony we spent a good amount of time taking family pictures and talking to old friends and professors we haven't seen in about 4 years. Chris and I ran into one of my Counseling professors who also did our premarital counseling. That was nice.

Caleb getting tired of the festivities and ready for a nap

Everyone then went back to the hotel to change into casual clothes (Thank Goodness!). Caleb fell asleep in the car on the way to the hotel and then we put him on the bed while Chris and I got dressed. Everyone gathered and we ate at a wonderful burger joint. Man! I wish we had one of those in our area. We went onto the mall to kill some time until the big event which was dinner at a Japanese Steak House. Caleb did a great job eating soup and rice.

As the day progressed, Chris and I were noticing that Caleb's cough was getting progressively worse. It all came to a head that night. He woke up screaming and with the worst croup I've ever heard him have. My Stepmom and I took turns sitting in the steamy bathroom with him and that helped a lot. My heart broke a little bit because Caleb didn't want to be cuddled by me. He wanted his Grammy. Whatever helped him sleep was okay with me. Chris made a late night trip to Target and bought a humidifier. I guess one good thing from all this is we have a nicer humidifier now. ;-)

The night was rough with Caleb waking occassionally either wanting to be held or just coughing. Not much sleep was to be had by anyone. Come morning I checked his temperature and it was over 102. I called the nurse and she said to go to an Urgent Care unit while still in Raleigh. UGH! My Dad and Stepmom were kind enough to stay in town while we did all this. Once Caleb was seen and given prescriptions they headed home.

Chris and I went back to the hotel, packed quickly, and headed to the pharmacy to pick Caleb's drugs. At this point we called our friends in Charlotte, NC and told them that our visit was a No-Go because of Caleb's illness. We started our journey home after Chris and I stopped by our favorite coffee shop. It was bittersweet because we don't know when we will be back to Raleigh. But, we needed to get our boy home and thus, we started our journey back to Georgia. Caleb slept the majority of the trip and that made my heart feel good. He sure needed it!

We got home, unpacked, bathed, and settled in. It was a very eventful weekend. There was celebration and sickness. But, above all it was a wonderful time with family and enjoying each other's love and fellowship. I can't wait till we can do that again! I think it might be this summer when we all gather together in the NC mountains. I am so ready for that trip.

Gotta Love Those Lit Up Parks

2007-12-13T08:29:00.000-05:00

Have you ever been camping in a state park? Are you a RV camper or a tent camper? Do you like to be snug as a bug in a bed or rustic in a sleeping bag on the ground? Whatever way you prefer camping out you know that it sure is fun to camp out in those beautiful state parks. One thing that I think is fun to look at is all the rope light that comes from the RV's. It looks festive and almost like Christmas-time even in the summertime or in October (my preferred time to camp).

Chris' parents have become RV campers and they have hit a few parks in our home state and even gone out of the state for Thanksgiving. They know that if they are going to fully adopt the RV lifestyle they have to have a good set of rope lights. Just last week I was looking online with my Mother-In-Law as she looked for a good set and I mentioned the benefits of LED lights. I have written here before about LED lights and how much I like them for Christmas tree lights or decorative house lights. I am glad to hear that you can decorate your RV with LED lights too. Did you know that LED rope lights only use about .47 watts per foot of energy while the older lights used 6 watts per foot? They will last more than 50,000 hours and they generate very little heat. That is my favorite part because of the drought we are in and how dry our parks can be. We don't want a horrible fire to start because of some lights on a RV.

For those of us who are slow to adopt the "Green" lifestyle, I think LED lights are a good start.

Go check them out and Happy Camping!!

Just Like Everyone Else

2007-12-11T15:14:00.000-05:00

Well, folks, it looks like my brain is zapped of all blogging ideas due to the Holidays coming up. I am currently trying to get my house under control once again before we leave town for the first time (my brother's Ph.D. graduation) in the next two weeks. After that trip is our trip to Illinois for Christmas with Chris' family. In the meantime I'm just trying to keep a-float and my house at least semi-nice. I apologize in advance if I am absent until the New Year. I will do my best to come by sometimes but no promises. If I don't see you....have a WONDERFUL and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Cinnamon-Raisin Bread

2007-12-07T09:15:00.000-05:00

As Caleb and I were at home Wednesday and Thursday this week while the cars were being worked on I decided to use the time to do a lot of baking. Wednesday we baked cookies for our MOPS cookie exchange and yesterday we made Homemade Cinnamon-Raisin Bread. I got the recipe from The Mom's Big Book of Baking by Lauren Chattman from my library and I adapted it so that I made the dough in the mixer instead of in the food processor.

Here's the recipe: (I doubled the recipe so we would have a loaf and I could take one to a Christmas party) This is for one 9 inch loaf

Bread:
1 1/3 cups whole milk
1 envelope rapid rise yeast (or 2.5 teaspoons)
3 1/2 cups all purpose flour, more if necessary
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
Nonstick cooking spray

Filling:
1 1/2 cup raisins
2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted, and cooled

1. Make the dough: Heat the milk over low heat in a small saucepan until just warm to the touch. Pour it into the mixing bowl and whisk in the yeast. Let the mixture stand for 5 minutes to give the yeast a chance to dissolve.

2. Once the yeast is dissolved add the sugar and salt and then the flour by cupfuls. Mix in the mixer (I used dough hooks) and keep adding the flour until a soft dough is formed.

3. Knead on a floured surface until a soft ball is formed.

4. Coat the inside of a large mixing bowl with cooking spray. Shape the dough into a rough ball and place in the bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough stand in a warm, draft-free spot until the dough has doubled in size, 1-1.5 hours.

5. Make the Filling: Place the raisins in a small saucepan and cover them with water. Bring the liquid to a boil, remove pan from the heat, and let it stand for 5 minutes. Drain the raisins and pat them dry on a paper towel. Set aside. Combine 2 tablespoons sugar and the cinnamon in a small bowl.

6. Coat the inside of a 9x5 inch loaf pan with cooking spray. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and gently press it into a rectangle measuring about 1 inch thick and 9 inches long. Brush the dough with the 1 tablespoon cooled melted butter. Sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar. Sprinkle with the raisins.

Tightly roll the rectangle into a 9-inch long cylinder and place it in the prepared pan, seam side down. Press the dough into the pan so that it touches the sides and reaches into the corners. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and let the dough rise until doubled in size.

7. Preheat oven 350 degrees.

8.Remove plastic wrap from loaf pan and place pan into oven. Bake until golden brown and firm, 40-50 minutes. Remove pan from oven and turn out onto wire cooling wrack and allow to cool to room temperature before slicing and serving.

Can be wrapped in plastic wrap and aluminum foil to be frozen for up to 2 weeks.

Show and Tell Friday

2007-12-07T08:23:00.000-05:00

Welcome into my Home! This is my first time participating in Show and Tell Friday over at Kelli's Blog, There Is No Place Like Home. I really like the idea of this carnival because it makes me look around my home for things that I find to be extra special. When I was thinking about participating I was looking around my home and things kept jumping out at me. I thought, "Wow! I really do have some special things here. What a wonderful home I have!"

For this first week I would like you to see my little Dicken's Village I set up for the first time this Christmas. A couple years ago I got my first Dicken's house. It is the Ebenezer Scrooge Counting House that is to the right of the lovely church. That was the only one I had for awhile and it often had a cozy place under the tree.

This year my little exploded into three more buildings and the trees. You see, my Mom loved collecting these houses each year and she always created a lovely display at Christmas. My Mom went to see Jesus in 2001 and the houses stayed at my Dad's house until this year. My Stepmom often displayed them with love but this year she told us kids (my sister, brother, and me) to please divide them up and take them to our own homes. So, we met around the table with all the boxes displayed and we talked, traded, and negotiated until we all got what we wanted.

I LOVE having this little village displayed right by the tree. Every night when we are going to bed we say goodnight to our little villagers as we turn out their lights and every morning Caleb and I say good morning as it is brought back to life. Not only is it pretty but it is also a little bit of my Mom and her love in our home.

Life Through the Eyes of a 17-Month Old

2007-12-05T15:07:00.000-05:00

Caleb turned 17 months old today and life sure is exciting at this age. What are the two most important things to him? Balls and Cookies! This boy wakes up saying "ball ball ball" or "gooky gooky." Y'all I don't give this boy that many cookies but he lives and breathes cookies and balls. And then, he goes to bed saying "ball ball" or "gooky gooky." I look forward to a wider vocabulary and other interests. In the meantime I will enjoy his simple pleasures in life. I have to admit that I like cookies too!

WFMWTWDIFE

2007-12-05T07:00:00.000-05:00

What the heck does WFMWTWDIFE mean, you ask?

Works For Me Wednesday: What Do I Fix Edition!!

Just the other day Chris and I were discussing dishes I've been cooking ~~way~~ slightly too often lately. One thing he insists I could NEVER cook too often is my Mom's Made-From-Scratch Macaroni and Cheese. I know this recipe isn't rocket science and is pretty basic but you would think that I had cooked a gourmet meal when Chris sees this in the oven. I surely feel loved when I see his smile.

I'm going to copy out exactly how my Mom wrote it out for me. ;-)

Macaroni
Cheddar Cheese (mild or medium (cut up))
Margarine
Plain Flour
Skim milk (1 cup)
Salt and Pepper

Cook the macaroni until tender but not overcooked. Drain and add a little margarine. Make a white sauce with the margarine, flour, and milk. Season with the salt and pepper

White sauce: Melt 3 Tbs. margarine in a saucepan. Stir in 2 heaping Tbs. flour until smooth. Carefully stir in milk, being careful to avoid lumps. Simmer until this sauce is smooth and thickened. Then add the cut-up cheese and stir until it is meltd and the sauce is smooth.

Mix together the sauce and the macaroni, adding a bit of the macaroni at a time to the sauce until desired consistency is reached. Pour into a greased casserole dish and bake at 375 degrees until hot and bubbly.

Homemade Mac-And-Cheese Works For Me!!

ENJOY!!!

What Do You Do When You Are Minus A Car?

2007-12-04T21:00:00.000-05:00

You bake, of course!!

Chris and I are doing the oil change dance the next two days. We dropped off my car tonight for it to be worked on tomorrow and then tomorrow night we will switch out the car and the van will be worked on Thursday. That means I'll be at home without a vehicle the next two days. I usually get a little antsy during these days but I am looking forward to it this time.

My MOPS group is having a cookie exchange at our Christmas party next week. For those who aren't familiar with what a cookie exchange is here are the basic rules. You bake however many cookies you want to bring. You make little baggies with 6 cookies each. Once you are at the exchange you can pick up the same number of cookies you brought. So, if you make 6 dozen cookies you can pick up 6 dozen cookies made by other people. YUM!! The other rule is that the cookies must be at least semi-homemade. Some dough must go into the oven, basically.

I am a cookie purist I guess and that means I have to make them from scratch. Tomorrow will be a cookie baking extravaganza. Yeah!!

Also, a good friend who had her baby about 6 weeks ago or so is coming over to hang out, keep me company, and to help bake. That will make the day even more special.

I can't wait!!

Graphic From AllPosters.com

I Guess He Wants To Be Just Like His Big Sister

2007-12-04T08:21:00.000-05:00

Contest over at Overstock.com

2007-12-03T13:03:00.000-05:00

Y'all there is a really cool contest going on over at Overstock.com. It is the All I want for Christmas Giveaway . They are launching it today, December 3rd, and I KNOW you will want to get in on this one because it is all about what YOU want for Christmas.

Here's what's going on. On each day of the contest you have the chance to win gifts you've chosen from Overstock.com valued up to $1,000. (Oh, how I would LOVE to win this!!) I know you love that, BUT you also get to invite 5 of your friends each day to sign up for the giveaway to win right along with you. What does that mean? It means that if you win a gift, so do all your friends! So, you are getting 5 chances to win a gift that is valued up to $1,000. There is more, though. You also have one chance to win a gift valued up to $5,000!! By signing up for this contest and registering a gift each and every day you are not only increasing your chances of winning some awesome stuff for yourself but you are also making a few of your friends extremely happy as well.

So, go pick out what you would really like for Christmas and invite your friends to do the same. You just might get it!!

"The Invisible Woman"

2007-11-29T13:59:00.000-05:00

This piece was printed in the November issue of my local MOPS group newsletter. I read it over Thanksgiving and I was so touched that I just had to type it out here. I wanted to share with everyone else and to also preserve it because I know that sheet of paper would disappear somewhere. Be touched yourself!

Just the other night my husband and I were out at a party. We'd been there fore about three hours and I was ready leave. I noticed he was talking to a friend from work. So I walked over, and when there was a break in the conversation, I whispered, "I'm ready to go when you are." He just kept right on talking. That's when I started to put all the pieces together. I don't think we can see me. I don't think anyone can see me. I'm invisible.

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, "Can't you see I'm on the phone?" Obviously not! No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible.

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some day's I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, "What time is it?" I'm a satellite guide to answer, "What number is the Disney Channel?" I'm a car to order, "Right around 5:30, please."

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude--but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She going she's going she's gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together as well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a banana clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package and said, "I brought you this." It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: "To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no on sees."

In the days ahead I would read-no, devour-the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals-we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam! He was puzzled and asked the man, "Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it." And the workman replied, "Because God sees."

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, "I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make very day, when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become."

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see m self as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, "My mom gets up at 4 am in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table." That would mean I built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, "You're gonna love it there."

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by sacrifices of invisible women.

~Author Unknown~

Told you it was AWESOME!

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What Is It About Boys And Destruction?

2007-11-28T07:51:00.000-05:00

It is becoming more and more clear to this Mommy that Caleb is ALL BOY!! He is starting to play in ways that say nothing more.

The other day he put his tractor toy (push the little farmer and the tractor will drive a short distance) on a kitchen chair, push the farmer, and watch the tractor drive off into the abyss....laughing hysterically. He did it over and over again.

Then last night he took his little puppy toy and put it on the ottoman and pulled the leash to make it roll off the ottoman onto the floor...laughing hysterically, again.

Finally, Chris and I were with him in his nursery. We have stored his infant swing in there for a while. Caleb walked up to the swing and started to push it to watch it swing. He would push it back and then put his head in the right position so that when the swing came back towards him it would bump his head and/or pacifier. He did THAT over and over again...laughing hysterically.

Why do boys do such things?

I think I have my work set out for me.

I Knew I Forgot Something!

2007-11-28T07:00:00.000-05:00

Whenever you go out of town with a 16-month old you are bound to forget something. Right? Well, over Thanksgiving I just had to forget the diaper rash cream. Ugh!! And, of course, that was time we started to have some "issues" in that department and I really didn't want to buy more because I have two tubes at home along with a big tub of Butt Paste (still the best, by far) at home. I couldn't leave this problem untreated. It would become a disaster for all those involved. What's a Mom to do?!

CORNSTARCH!

I remembered that when Caleb had a nasty case of diarrhea and thus, diaper rash, Chris' Mom and Grandmom suggested cornstarch for his little sore boozer. They said it worked the best at cutting out the sting. I was still skeptical, but I went ahead and found the cornstarch in my Dad's kitchen. We used it like baby powder a few times on Caleb's bottom and IT WORKED!!! He woke up every morning with far less rash and redness.

It is good to know that I have a back-up option for that annoying diaper rash if I am away from home. Cornstarch Works For Me!

In Other Words

2007-11-27T07:00:00.000-05:00

"One reason we are so harried and hurried is that we make yesterday and tomorrow our business, when all that legitimately concerns us is today. If we really have too much to do, there are some items on the agenda which God did not put there. Let us submit the list to Him and ask Him to indicate which items we must delete. There is always time to do the will of God. If we are too busy to do that, we are too busy."

~ Elisabeth Elliott ~

When I chose this wonderful quote by Elisabeth Elliott I wasn't even thinking about the upcoming holiday season. I just thought it is a great reminder to myself and I really wanted to share it with everyone. But, now I can see how timely it really is.

The past few days have been a wonderful change from the ordinary routine. I've, along with Chris, Caleb, and Eowyn, have been with at my Dad's house. We've eaten turkey way too many times through Thanksgiving dinner and numerous turkey sandwiches and we've enjoyed fellowship with the entire family. My sister and her family and my brother all came into town so we say Thanksgiving and celebrate an early Christmas together. It has been bliss.

But, last night I sat down and thought about all that is coming up in the next month. I have two MOPS meetings left in 2007 to set up for and attend/help run. I have a doctor's appointment. My brother is graduating from seminary with his Ph.D and that means a weekend trip to attend that. We might swing by some friends' house on our way home from that. And then we travel to Illinois (a good 18 hour trip one way) along with Chris' sister (20-something weeks pregnant) and her husband for Christmas on Chris' side of the family. Whoo! As I thought through our schedule I got overwhelmed and discouraged. How am I going to do all this? When will I keep up the house? When will I finish Christmas cards? When will I finish Christmas shopping? When will I bake? On and On my thoughts raced.

Soon after my time of worry and panic I sat down at the computer and reread this post. Sigh! How true it is! Why am I so "harried and hurried?" When I am worrying about tomorrow and making it my "business" I am not thinking about God and His goodness. I am not remembering that He will always provide not only in our physical needs but also in the proper ordering of our lives if we just let Him. I was not allowing Him to do that. I was trying to fit everything into my schedule and not-so-surprisingly nothing seemed to fit just right.

I have since submitted all the things to do to the Lord and I am at much greater peace. I know what I have to do tomorrow and where I need to go and that is all I am allowing myself to think about. God will take care of the following days as they come to me one by one. I will make my To-Do list each morning and pray that God will help me delete the things that can wait till another time. Of course, there are certain things I must prepare for now such as an upcoming trip but I know that I can prepare bit by bit on a daily basis instead of frantically when it is too late. When I plan this way there is no worry and much more security.

I pray that I will learn how to not do too much but to get what needs to be done when it needs to be done. One of my ultimate desires in managing my home is for my husband and child (and hopefully, children) to feel peace as they come home at night and as they play inside and out and I know a major factor of that peace is that Mommy is at peace with what she is doing. I know that if I can be at peace during these hectic holidays, I can be peaceful during other days.

I pray that everyone give their quickly-filling-up lists during this Christmas season to the Lord as well. I pray that all the things we are doing never blurs the TRUE reason we celebrating in the first place.

Please click through the Mister Linky below to hear what other thoughtful women thought about the quote.

Thank you "In Other Words" for allowing me to host this week. It has been fun! ;-)

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Home Again!

2007-11-26T09:00:00.000-05:00

Chris, Caleb, and I back home now and it feels great! It is always feels so good to come home after a long trip...to take a shower in your own shower and to sleep in your own bed. Aaaaahhhhh! WONDERFUL! I think Caleb was asleep before his little pajama covered feet touched the crib. Now he is playing all his old toys like they were new again and Eowyn has found a new place to sleep on a blanket that I keep failing to put away. I think seeing her so cozy is making me procrastinate even more in putting it away.

The past few days have been wonderful with my family. It was a great change in routine and I couldn't have asked for anything else. I loved seeing my Dad, Stepmom, brother, sister and her family. We laughed, ate, opened presents, and just enjoyed the reunion. That is what I am most thankful for....a wonderful family that is full of love.

Now, I need to pack up the boy and head over to the church to help set up for our next MOPS meeting. Please be sure to check back tomorrow. I am hosting "In Other Words" and the quote if very timely for this Christmas season. See you then!

Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt

2007-11-24T07:00:00.000-05:00

THEME: HOT

Apparently, Eowyn just wasn't hot enough this evening. She is usually pretty skittish when it comes to cuddling on the couch and any such incident is quite a treasure. She usually wants to stay on the floor or on her beanbag. I guess she was feeling extra cuddly and cozy.

A Free Online Homeschool?!

2007-11-22T19:15:00.000-05:00

Caleb is growing up so fast that it's scary. He is almost 17 months old going on 17 years old. You would think that because of how independent he is these days. Want to teach him how to use a spoon? Give him a spoon and he's convinced that he KNOWS how to do it himself....thankyouverymuch!

As I watch his growth and development every day I am becoming more and more aware of how important proper schooling is going to be. I am in the stages of deciding where I stand on public school, private school, and homeschooling. I confess I am attracted to homeschooling because of the flexibility in schedule and curriculum. But, homeschooling seems so expensive because you have to buy your curriculum. What is a Mom to do?

Well, I came across The K-12 Free HomeSchool and I was intrigued. It is a community sponsored online homeschool academy. All the courses from Kindegarten to 12th grade are tuition free and optional electives are offered at 25-50% discounts. How in the world is all this possible? It is done through corporate and non-profit supporters and also parents who are in the program themselves. Due to the nature of the program space is limited but many families gain entrance after only 2-5 days.

I have to say that this program makes me want to seriously consider homeschooling even more. What a cool idea! Not only do you get homeschooling for free, but you also have a community of other families who have the same commitments you do. I think it is worth a look.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

2007-11-21T10:02:00.000-05:00

I am so happy today! Caleb and I are home pretty all day today getting ready for our trip to my Dad's house as soon as Chris gets off work. We are doing some last minute computer work and soon we'll be packing our suitcases. We will be gone till Sunday afternoon sometime. I just can't wait to be around my family, enjoy some delicious Thanksgiving food and fellowship, and take many sweet, turkey-induced naps.

This Thanksgiving is extra special because we are also doing Christmas for my side of the family. Chris, Caleb, and I will be going to Rockford, Illinois for Christmas to see his side of the family. So, I made a special request to my Dad, Sister, and Brother to make Thanksgiving into Christmas too. I just couldn't handle not being around them for the celebration. After much discussion we decided to do a mini-gift gift giving time in that everyone else brings gifts for us and we give all our presents to them. It will be blast! Two Christmas celebrations!! Yeah!!

Now for the obligatory "I am thankful for..." list. I am so thankful for my Hubby and my son. We are all healthy and happy. I am thankful that Caleb and Eowyn are really blossoming as friends and "brother and sister." I am thankful that I have a husband who supports and agrees with my desire to stay home with Caleb. I am thankful for the rest of my family. I often miss them but that makes times like this that much more sweet. I am thankful that I love and get along with Chris' side of the family too. I am thankful for my MOPS group at church. They got me through my first year of motherhood and now I can serve them too as their Prayer/Care Coordinator.

I am thankful above all for my relationship with the Lord. He has been taking me on a journey back home. He is turning my heart back to my role of wife and mother and he is increasing my contentment each and every day. For this reason my level of happiness has gone way up and that is worthy of great thanksgiving.

Now, I must get back to my preparing for our trip. There are suitcases to be packed and doggie toys to be gathered.

HAVE A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING!!!!!

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Wordfilled Wednesday

2007-11-21T09:30:00.000-05:00

Head over here to see some more BEAUTIFUL scripture.

A Christmas Card With A Mission

2007-11-21T08:22:00.000-05:00

It is that time again, folks! Time for turkey, stuffing, football, and family. Of course that is just this week. I know that many people are already making plans for Christmas. Putting up Christmas lights, listening to Christmas music, and buying presents are just a few things on the agenda. How about sending out all those Christmas cards? If you are smart you have already started addressing the envelopes and licking the stamps. I know I have already started writing all the cards for the ladies in my MOPS group at church.

The only problem with Christmas cards, though, is that it can be so hard to find truly beautiful cards these days. Sure, you can find pretty ones and funny ones and touching ones. But, what about the ones that are worthy of putting in a frame after the holidays? Do you have a hard time finding those? What about businesses that want to send out lovely Holiday Cards corporate ? I know you want to make an impression on your customers with your meaningful selection and hopefully gain some new ones in the process.

While I write this post I think about how important a pretty card from home would be for our soldiers overseas. I can only imagine how homesick they are this time of year. There is an organization called Soldier's Angels that provides all types of aide and comfort to our men and women soldiers. I am sure Christmas time is a busy time for these selfless angels.

There is a company called The Gallery Collection that offers those beautiful Christmas cards I mentioned above and they are partnering with Soldier's Angels to send every soldier, who desires one, a Christmas card in a their care package just to say "Thank You For All You Do!". There will also be a blank card that he/she can personally send home. A little taste of home for those who are so far from home and protecting all of our homes. Thank you Gallery Collection for making Christmas a little more special for all of our heroes.

In Other Words

2007-11-20T08:21:00.000-05:00

"The purpose of Christianity is not to avoid difficulty, but to produce a character adequate to meet it when it comes. It does not make life easy; rather it tries to make us great enough for life."

~ James L. Christensen ~

I have lost count of the number of times I have heard someone say, "I just don't know how I would handle that without knowing Christ." I would have to agree whole-heartedly. Pretty much all the hard times in my life that were true challenges occurred after I became a follower of Christ. So, I can't really say I've seen both sides of the fence. I just know that Christ has been my comfort during those hard times and I just can't imagine not having his loving embrace during those times.

He was there when I was an awkward teen hating how I looked and who I was. He told me that He loved me no matter what and that I was His beautiful bride. I clung to that throughout my adolescence. Sometimes that was all I had. He was there when my Mom died and He told me He greeted her as she entered heaven. He held me in his arms as a loving Father as I cried, yearning for my Mom. He was there when a relationship tore apart and my heart was broken. He nursed my heart until it was whole again and assured me that He was the Groom who would never leave. Finally, He was there when I was a brand new Mommy and I longed for sleep and validation. He spoke to me quietly during those late night nursing sessions and told me how I precious I was to Him and to my son.

Life has not always been easy since I became a Christian but I know that I have all I need in my arsenal to face whatever is thrown at me. I have the Creator of the Universe right there holding me hand through it all. How could I face life without him? There is NO WAY! I praise Him everyday for His constant presence. And I praise Him for making me "great enough for life."

Go on over to Simple Christian Living to learn from other thoughful ladies.

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Homemade Doggie Biscuits

2007-11-19T10:02:00.000-05:00

I have become much more adventurous in the kitchen this week because we have been inside most of the time due to illness and such. I reached a new level on Friday when I got the bright idea to try making our own doggie biscuits for Eowyn. I looked all around the internet and I found this one. It is called Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits. I stuck to this one because I had all the ingredients on hand and I didn't have to use liver or any other meat product for that matter. Not ready for that...yet.

Here is the recipe:

1 1/2 cup water
1/2 cup oil
2 eggs
3 tablespoons Peanut Butter (mine were pretty heaping)
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups flour
1/2 cup oats
1/2 cup cornmeal

Blend liquid ingredients together. Whisk dry ingredients together and mix into wet mixture to form a soft dough. (Note: I had to add a good bit more of flour to achieve a soft dough. It was about 2-3 extra cups. I put it in at 1/4 cup measures and didn't count very well.) Roll out and shape. (I used a shot glass to cut them out) Put on a non-stick cookie tray. Cook 20 minutes at 400 degrees. Turn off oven and allow to cool inside oven until crisp and hard.

Here they are about to go into the oven.

My Taste Tester anxiously waiting.

Here they are just out of the oven.

Taunting the Taste Tester.

We have a winner!

I knew Eowyn loved her new biscuits when she started to run around the house, whimpering as she was trying to find the perfect place to hide or bury it. My in-laws' dog also loves them and she is pretty picky these days due to her age (9 years old). The true test will be when I bring them to the Thanksgiving gathering and test them on the rest of the family dogs.

Hint: These really do look like cookies that we might eat. So, be sure to warn family members they are doggie biscuits. Chris tried one and was not-so-pleasantly surprised. He said they weren't bad, just very bland.

ENJOY!

We're Back Up

2007-11-19T08:09:00.000-05:00

Yeah! We got our DSL back up and running sometime yesterday afternoon. It isn't 100% because Chris thinks they did a temporary fix so we could have internet while they fix the big problem. I'm just happy to have my computer back. Yeah!

Now, I have to call the doctor so I can get an apointment for my sinuses and ear. I will be so happy when we can get this family healthy again.

See you very soon!

So Frustrating

2007-11-18T09:09:00.000-05:00

It turns out that our DSL server people had a major crash on Thursday night when they were doing updates. That means we've had no DSL since Friday and thus, no internet. It is taking forever for them to fix it. I am using Chris' laptop that is connected to his Blackberry for internet access. It is SLOW! But, it is enough to write this note and to check my eBay auctions. I will be back asap once the DSL is fixed. See you then!

I Was Brought to Tears...

2007-11-16T10:19:00.000-05:00

I got this story as a forward this morning in my inbox. I rarely read forwards just like most people, but I read this one. I had tears all over the place by the end. My eyes are all teary right now as I write this. All I can say is, "WOW!:"

Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4
year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she
missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got
to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so
she dictated these words:

Dear God,

Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in
heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick. I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her. You will know that she is
my dog. I really miss her.

Love, Meredith.

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, "To Meredith , "in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, "When a Pet Dies." Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

Dear Meredith,

Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away. Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays
in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by. Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I'm easy to find, I am wherever there is love.
Love,
God

So Tired....Zzzzzz....Oh Sorry!

2007-11-16T08:17:00.000-05:00

Can you tell that I'm really tired today? Yesterday was so long and exhausting. I thought I was on the way to normalcy and Caleb to health when I wrote this post. After dinner I went to Chris' parent's house to pick up Caleb from my Quick Reprieve and he was doing great. Whoo! I thought we were over the hill. Well, around 8 or so he woke up SCREAMING like he had done two previous times that day. I held him, rocked him, played the piano, etc. Finally, it took a good dose of Tylenol and his stuffed monkey that did the trick. He went on to bed.

While Caleb is fighting his issues I am fighting my sinuses. It happens every year around this time. So, I had taken some Sinus Meds and those usually keep me awake at night if I take them too late in the day. The meds are doing their job and I feel much better except for a lack of sleep.

Perhaps the Lord was keeping me up so that I would hear Caleb screaming at 1 am. We had another round of rocking, singing, monkey, and a dose of Ibuprofren this time. He went on to sleep and stayed there until 7 am.

I am calling the Doctor Man at 8:30 and am going to get Caleb an appointment. He's been tugging at his ear much more than I would like. I'll keep you posted on that. The good news is that Caleb is playing pretty hard with Eowyn right now.

Please pray that we get to the bottom of this illness so that Caleb can feel like himself again. Thank you!

So Tired!

A Quick Reprieve...Sort of

2007-11-15T17:07:00.000-05:00

I just thought I would pop in for a couple of minutes while I had the chance. Today has been something else! Caleb has been inconsolable a lot of the day and that has me worried. I'm wondering about his ear because he has been playing with it a lot lately. Needless to say the house and other duties have been greatly neglected and that has put me in a mood.

But, I am thankful for the lovely lunch at a local Mexican restaurant today with my Hubby and his Mom. Caleb was more or less good for that but it was AFTER a long dose of crying, tears, and snot. We came home afterwards, he took a very short nap, and the tears and snot started all over again. I started the phone calls to Chris' mom (a RN) and my sister. Do I call the doctor? Do I take him in? We were there two days ago and he had no ear infection. Who knows.

Finally, Chris' mom offered to take Caleb for a few hours so I could do a Blitz Attack on the house. I was in the car within 5 minutes. Zooom! I came home and it was Shock and Awe, Baby! After I put three loads of laundry away I took a nice hot shower and here I am. I just had to share the joy of it all. Who needs therapy when you can get a couple hours with no little one to clean the house, shower, AND enjoy a nice dinner with your Hubby? LOVELY!

The best part is that I can spend a lot of tomorrow doing the baking I've been yearning to do all week. That is a rather cheap therapy bill too. ;-)

I Actually Won a Giveaway!

2007-11-15T09:26:00.000-05:00

For those familiar with Bloggyland you know there are always great giveaways going on. I am floored by the generosity of many of these ladies. I have probably entered 100 giveaways since I became more serious about blogging and I've never won anything. BUT, today I was over at Enjoy the Journey and there, in sparkling lights, was my name. I entered this contest the other day to win a fabulous ebook called A Recipe For Christmas JOY written by Marybeth Whalen of Cheaper by the Half-Dozen. Now I am anxiously awaiting my instructions on how to pick up my awesome gift. Thanks to Lindsey and Marybeth for doing this giveaway.

Hee hee! I feel like someone just shoved a microphone in my face and said, "You just won a bloggyland giveaway! What are you going to do now?!"

I'm going to blog about it, obviously, and use lots of links to the ladies who made it possible.

Wordfilled Wednesday

2007-11-14T09:00:00.000-05:00

Be sure to go on over to The 160 Acre Woods for more Lovely Pictures.

Christmas Lights That Shine Green

2007-11-13T13:16:00.000-05:00

There is so much going on these days in regards to "going green" and finding ways to do the "right thing" to help save the planet or to at least make the earth a healthier place to live. I confess that Chris and I aren't 100% on board with the Green thing. We have a healthy respect for our home but we also aren't going crazy with the doomsday global warming stuff either.

One thing that we are in the process of doing is switching out all the light bulbs in our house. A while back we bought a bunch of Flourescent light bulbs and whenever our old light bulbs burn out we replace them with flourescent ones. Pretty soon we'll be running completely on flourescent lights. Not only are these light bulbs better for the earth, but they are better for the wallet too. Hmmm. Perhaps it is the wallet that screams louder for us. Anyhoo...

With the Christmas holidays coming very soon I know many people are probably already planning their house decorations. They might have pulled their lights out and are starting to untangle that mangled mess they created last year. I even saw a Christmas tree shining through someone's front window yesterday. Well, did you know that you can make the same kind of switch we did to the flourescent light bulbs with Christmas lights ? Yep! You can switch from your old Christmas lights to LED Christmas lights. These little babies use 1/10th of the energy your old incandescent lights use and they last more than 50,000 hours as opposed to the 1500 hours of an incandescent light. That should save us penny pinchers some money this year. These lights are more durable because they don't use that little fragile filament and don't use breakable glass. No heat is created so they are cool to the touch which makes them much safer on your Christmas tree.

If you are like me, jumping on the Green bandwagon is a slow process. Perhaps we can give ourselves a Christmas present this year of LED Christmas lights. That way we can feel good about our contribution to the earth all the while our house looks very pretty and festive. Go check them out!

The Tent Warriors Return

2007-11-13T07:42:00.000-05:00

Life is returning to normal today. We have returned from the camping trip and Chris has returned to work after his Veteran's Day holiday. I am so glad to reclaim my house and get that awful smokey smell out of all our clothes. Let me tell you all that happened this past weekend.

You may remember my dilemna after Chris' parents found out they couldn't join us on the trip because there was no spots for their RV. I was so concerned about Caleb's cough (which he STILL has) and the cold nights. Chris' parents offered to take him for the weekend at their home. We grabbed the opportunity and dropped him off with all his stuff. He was ready for a fun weekend with the Grandparents. Chris came home from work an hour early, we packed up the car, and off we went. I was armed with my mini-pharmacy to deal with my own cold and stuffy nose. Needless to say, I was a bit worried about camping myself with a cold but off we went anyway.

Since we were going to get to the campsite after dark anyway Chris and I went through a drive-through and ate some very yummy cheeseburgers and fries. It was great to eat a "real" meal before camping and to have one less thing to do once we got there. Most of the drive was spent talking to the other campers on the phone and figuring out their estimated arrival times.

We got to the state park and set up camp. There was a fire already going and it was COLD. I quickly put on my sweater, coat, and wool hat. Once the tent was set up we were able to enjoy the camp fire as we waited for the rest of the group to arrive. There was tons of talking and catching up and then we headed to bed. Chris is very good at setting up a warm tent and I never worried about being warm once I was under the covers. It was just the changing clothes and possibly having to get up to go potty that really stunk.

We slept pretty well, considering the location, but the air mattress seemed to be acting oddly. It just wasn't very firm even though we pumped the fool out of it. Well, it turns out there was an unknown leak somewhere in the mattress. So, by morning we were sleeping "snuggly" against the ground. Ugh! We got up and dressed quickly and Chris got the fire going again. We ate breakfast and greeted our friends as they emerged from their tents one by one.

The day was spent roasting sausages, sitting by the fire, tons of talking, napping in the hammock, falling out of the hammock, canoeing between the cypress trees, napping in the tent, and just enjoying time with my husband. The beauty of camping is that you don't have to know the time and you do what you want when you want. You eat when you are hungry and you sleep when you are sleepy. It is a great change of pace.

Once the night came the temperatures dropped again very quickly. By this point I was pretty tired of the cold. I think the cough made me a lot more sensitive to the cold. The group sat by two big fires and played a fun board game. There was much laughter and wonderful fellowship. By the end of the game we were quite ready to hit the sinking mattress. I was woke up in the pre-dawn light by my screaming bladder. I tried to ignore it and go back to sleep. But, alas, it wasn't meant to be. I got up in the cold and walked to the bathhouse and returned. By that time I was pretty much awake and I couldn't get back to sleep.

The rest of the morning was spent warming up by the fire and eating breakfast. Chris and a friend returned our canoe and I broke down the campsite. Once everyone had their cars ready to go we planned stopping in a bigger city and eating at IHOP. There was a party of 8 and apparently IHOP can't sit 8 stinky campers. We waited an hour for our table. One couple left because they were sick of waiting. I think the remaining 6 were sitting at a table before that couple left the parking lot. Oh well! We ate some real food and dreamed of showers and laundry.

Chris and I got home and unloaded the car. I took my shower and I SCRUBBED. I washed my hair, soaped up with Dial soap, washed my hair, exfoliated my skin, conditioned my hair, and used fancy, good smelling soap. It felt GOOD!! After Chris showered we retrieved Caleb from the Grandparent's house and then Chris' partner returned Eowyn. We were a family again!! There is nothing like home!!

Until next year, I will dream of campfires, hammocks, and hopefully, a new FIRM air mattress. Did you hear that, Honey?!

Caleb's Best Friend

2007-11-12T17:13:00.000-05:00

Chris and I have returned from the camping trip and are thrilled to be back home and our family complete again. Caleb did stay at Chris' parents' house for the weekend and Eowyn went to a friend's house. When everyone was back home it was very clear that Caleb and Eowyn were so happy to be back together.

My heart swells everytime I see how well Caleb and Eowyn play together. They LOVE each other so much! Caleb will go into the utility room and steal a piece of Eowyn's doggie food and will run all over the house with that one piece just to taunt Eowyn. He will steal Mousers, the most favored toy, and will hold it up in the air and run and run until Eowyn can't handle it anymore. There are plenty of games of hide and seek. When Caleb is eating in his high chair Eowyn will always be right by his side to ~~stand guard~~ beg for food.

When it is time to relax and enjoy a little tv there is sometimes a competition for who gets to stay on the bean bag. Caleb loves to sit there when he watches his Baby Einstein video and Eowyn curls up there with Mousers like it is one of her dog beds. Maybe I should tell her to put a bean bag on her Christmas list.

While there is plenty of competition and antagonizing between these two kids there is also so much love and affection. I feel like I am raising a brother and sister who will punch each other at home but will make anyone else regret they even thought about harming the other. If Eowyn forgets herself, gets overly excited, and knocks Caleb over she is the first to run over to him to check on him and lick his face. Just recently I caught Caleb walk up to Eowyn and give her a big sloppy kiss right on the head. I paused whatever I was doing and I reveled in the beauty of their relationship. Eowyn is most definitely Caleb's best friend. I am looking forward to the many years ahead with these two. It will be precious.

Jumbo Breakfast Cookies

2007-11-09T11:39:00.000-05:00

(First batch out of the oven. These babies are HUGE!)

The past few days I have been a baking fool. I've been making tons of cookies for the camping trip to share with everyone and also to maintain my sanity while ~~stranded~~ staying inside the house with sick little Caleb.

I was thinking last night about an item I saw at the grocery store the other day. It was Quaker Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies. Of course, I couldn't bring myself to buy the box (and pay that price) even though the concept of Breakfast Cookies thoroughly intrigued me. For some reason, cereal just isn't doing it for me these days and I'm always looking for a yummy breakfast. I got online and found these!! Who would've thought! Cookies for breakfast!

What makes this whole story even better is that I was able to clean some things out of my pantry to make them. I had some raisins that we weren't eating fast enough along with some Old-Fashioned oatmeal (I'm still a Quick Oats girl), and Cheerios. I literally had the exact measures left of all three of these items left over.

I am wrapping each cookie in plastic wrap and will take them this weekend to eat and share with everyone. I have a feeling these cookies will be made again real soon. ;-) Hope you like them, Honey!

Hint: I used my mixer for the majority of the process but I had to use a wooden spoon to mix in the Cheerios. If you aren't careful you'll have flying Cheerios everywhere. It isn't pretty. Too bad Eowyn has already gone to the dog sitter's house. She would've been more than happy to oblige.

Still Moving Forward...

2007-11-09T08:20:00.000-05:00

UPDATE: Chris' parents couldn't get a camp site for their RV. So, we really don't know what to do at this point. We're leaning towards leaving Caleb with Chris' parents here at home and we go camping. But, then again I am feeling pretty sick myself. This wouldn't be such a big issue if it weren't for the fact that this really is a huge event each year. It is one of those events when everyone says "See You Next Year!" as we are packing all our stuff up. I just don't know. :-/

...with a twist.

Chris and I are so determined to participate in this weekend's camping trip despite the illness in our family that we've been wracking our brain on ways to make it work. Well, after talking to Chris' parents we came up with a solution. I am very excited about this.

Chris' parents have a nice 5th Wheel RV they bought a couple of months ago and they've agreed to come camping with us. Well, they will be at the same park just not right there with us. Caleb and I, a.ka. the sickies, will be staying in the ~~infirmary~~ RV during the night so we don't have to be out in the cold. (Have I ever mentioned that Chris' mom is a Registered Nurse too?) The rest of the daytime will be with our friends and enjoying the fellowship. I am happy knowing that Caleb will be warm in his porta-crib at night instead of in the tent and I can put him down for a nap if needed. I am also happy for myself because sleeping on the ground was not appealing to me anymore once this cold took hold of me. I think we are on the mend, though.

So, tonight we'll be snug as a bug in our own beds and then leave first thing tomorrow morning for the camping extravaganza. Yeah!

Graphic From AllPosters.com

Not 100%

2007-11-08T11:58:00.000-05:00

There is a lot of coughing and sneezing going on in this house. Caleb's cough is still going on and apparently he decided to share again. I have caught whatever he has. We are moving forward as if we are going on the camping trip, praying for healing. I am currently baking some yummy cookies and if anything that is therapeutic by itself.

Caleb has some cough medicine that I had to get late last night because the doctor's office didn't call back until 6 pm telling me that the doctor called it in. They said they were still swamped with patients. I am thankful I wasn't there. I go to the first pharmacy only for them to say they didn't have it in stock and wouldn't have it till today. I go to the second pharmacy asking them to transfer it over and prayed they would have it. I wait 45 minutes and they tell me they didn't have enough to fill the prescription but they had a few doses they would let me have for the evening and I would have to return today for the rest.

I woke up this morning with a runny nose and sneezing and it is going downhill throughout the day. Ick!! Please pray that we are well enough to go camping. Thanks!! Thanks for bearing with me through all this. It means a lot.

Whoever Thinks They Can Camp Light Don't Have a 16-Month Old

2007-11-07T09:17:00.000-05:00

This coming weekend is going to be great! We are going on our annual camping trip with all our friends. This trip was started four years ago when a few of us were looking for a way to get away on the cheap. It has since turned into an annual event that is just short of a holiday. It is growing as more friendships are formed and more babies are born. There will be three kiddies there this year along with one in the womb. Chris and I laugh when we think about what it will look like 10 years from now. Y'all this is a HUGE event.

Last night, Chris and I spent the time between Caleb going to bed and our nightly date to organize all our camping supplies and pre-pack. A couple of years ago Chris compiled a master camping checklist and we went off that and got about 90% of it done.

The wild card this year is that Caleb will be camping overnight with us for the very first time. We attended the trip last year for just a day and spent the nights at my Dad's house because the state park was only 30 minutes from his house. This is the first time Caleb will sleep in a tent. With that in mind we had to pack for him too. He needs diapers, wipes, warm jammies, socks, extra warm clothes, hat, coat, etc. The list seems like it never ends. I confess I am anxious about it but I've put into God's hands. If anything, it will be a bonding time for the family and whoever shares our campsite with us. Hee hee! We are taking his mobile, blankie, stuffed monkey, and BOTH pacifiers.

Needless to say, this is not a "pack light" trip and not even close to Primitive Camping. We have to take the van just because we have so much ~~junk~~ ~~stuff~~ essentials. Tonight will be spent prepacking the van. I will be going to the grocery store today and baking cookies for everyone and hopefully packing clothes. Whoo! You would think we were leaving for a week. Nope! Just a weekend.

Oh, we also have to pack up Eowyn so she can go to a friend's house to be doggie-sat. Good Grief!

Update: Caleb is coughing, sneezing, and a bit snotty. He doesn't seem overly sick. We are watching him and I'm keeping him out of the YMCA and the church nursery. I'm giving him lots of juice and having him take plenty of naps. Please pray for healing for him. Chris and I would do the right thing if it came down to it but we REALLY REALLY REALLY want to go on this trip. Some of our friends who will be there we only see once a year on this trip. Thanks!

Word-filled Wednesday

2007-11-07T09:02:00.000-05:00

In Other Words...

2007-11-06T07:30:00.000-05:00

"In our lives the darkest times, the days that are bleak and black, add depth to every other experience. Like the dark bits of color in a mosaic, they add the contrast and shadows that give beauty to the whole, but they are just a small part of the big picture."

~ Amy Grant~
Mosaic: Pieces of My Life so Far

I confess I don't have a long treatise to write about this quote this week just because I have been so busy that I haven't been able to think about it at depth.

I do know, though, there is so much truth in these words. Overall, I have had a very happy life without very many "darkest times" but I have had a few. I have suffered the usual moments of angst in school. I have had my heart totally broken by a beau and I've lost my mother suddenly when she went to see Jesus. When I was in the midst of these hard times I felt like that was all there was. I couldn't see the bigger picture. I couldn't see that they really are just a small part of my life.

But, now that I can look back I can see where I have grown and learned from these experiences. I can see that everything is sewn together and how all the moments of my life affect each other. I feel like there is so much more to my life because I have learned truths that can only be learned by "going through the valley." Even though I couldn't do it at the time of each dark moment I can now thank God for them because of how he used them to help me grow and then used me in helping other people.

These darks times have added color to my life and I am sure there will be more color and shadows added in the future. But, I pray that God will give me the strength and wisdom I will need when the time comes.

Catching up Before It Gets Crazy Again

2007-11-05T12:20:00.000-05:00

I am so glad to be home today and tending to my house. This past weekend has been a real blast but oh-so-busy. Friday evening was spent doing random things while Chris did the last mowing of the yard for the season, hopefully. Saturday, Chris went to church for a Men's Breakfast and then hung out with his guy friends. I spent the day with Chris' mom baking. That evening we went to church and then came home. On Sunday we enjoyed a breakfast out, playtime at the playground and relaxation at home. The craziness started in the afternoon.

My Dad and Step-Mom came into town for a surprise party for Chris' Mom's 50th birthday. We had a great time with 50's themed decorations, Mexican food, and a delightful Red Velvet Cake. Several of our friends came and it was a wonderful surprise. It was a time of fellowship enjoyed by all. Caleb, our guests, and I came on home and got cozy for the evening. After a little tv we were all pooped and headed onto bed. That time change totally threw me off this year.

This morning we got up early so we could enjoy a yummy breakfast out before Dad and Betty headed home. Caleb went down for a nap when we got back and so did Mommy. It was exactly what a I needed to get me going for the rest of the day. I have since cut Caleb's hair, bathed him, made two loaves of bread dough that are freezing now, eaten lunch, and done two loads of laundry. I still have put those clothes away, though.

My goal is to get the house under control and semi caught up today and tomorrow so I can use the rest of the week to prepare next week's eBay auctions and get ready for our camping trip this weekend. I'll have more on the camping trip later on. Caleb will be hopefully taking another nap soon and I can make some more bread dough (to get ahead on that), put away a laundry, and tidy the house. We'll go to the YMCA in the afternoon and then it will be time for Chris to come home.

Here's to a productive day!

2007-11-03T15:37:00.000-04:00

Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt

2007-11-03T08:08:00.000-04:00

THEME: CLASSIC

Here is my CLASSIC Harley Dude.
Cute, huh?!

Pumpkin Patch Party!!

2007-11-01T09:06:00.000-04:00

Last night was Caleb's very first Pumpkn Patch Party at our church. Well, we could've gone last year but apparently he was "too small" to go (so says Chris). ;-)

The festivities started when I changed Caleb into his costume. We had to get ready early because we got a call from Chris' parents saying we just HAD to bring Caleb by so he could go trick-or-treating at their house. Here is Caleb posing in his costume. Chris' mom got it for us at The Cracker Barrell for 75% off and we've had it in storage until last night.

Here we are walking through the parking lot towards all the festivities. Caleb was pretty excited with all he saw and heard.

This is what was awaiting our arrival. What you see was just one side of the church. The activities went all the way around the church and well into the inside as well. There was so much to do! Who needs to go Trick-Or-Treating when you have Pumpkin Patch!?!?

Chris and Caleb waiting in line to get our candy bag and wrist bands.

Caleb was already feeling a little to tired as soon as we got into the event. Poor Guy!

But, the swings can wake any tired little boy up!! Who can resist a good swing? Wheeee!

Yummm! Chocolate!! Caleb ate his first Hershey's Chocolate bar. What have I done?!

Caleb's favorite game was the basketball game. It was near impossible to pull him away.

Or putting the Beanie Babies in the Buckets.

The end of a very fun first Pumpkin Patch Party. We'll be back next year for sure!