Livin' My Life Out Loud

Fall is FINALLY here

2011-10-08T15:26:00.000-07:00

So, after a very long, very hot summer, it would seem that Fall is finally here. It's rainy and cold today. Only in the mid 40's. It sounds like much of Colorado has even seen some snow. And wouldn't you know it, instead of being as busy as I would like to be, (baking, sewing, cleaning, etc.) I find myself with a bit of a stomach bug. Of course! My tummy hurts and at times feels like the bathroom may be in order. Sorry if that's T.M.I. but that's the way it is folks.
It would also appear that my Blog is in need of some house keeping. Geez, I logged on and was like "Hey, what the heck is all of this" in regards to all of the changes that Blogger has made. I like them, or at least think I do as I haven't done any exploring yet.
You know what's on my mind today and many of these past days though? Wait. I guess that's a loaded question because I always have a ton of stuff on my mind but here's what's been knocking around the "frontal lobe".....Sister Wives. (I never promised a "reasonable" or "thought provoking" topic. And remember, my tummy hurts so just let me go with this.) I really like watching the show. It's like a train wreck just waiting to happen! To me it's almost like going by an accident thinking "Oh I hope there's no one hurt" but craning my kneck just in case so I don't miss it!
I would LOVE sitting down with these women and just asking and asking and asking. And you KNOW, my first questions would evolve around sex! But after I got that out of the way, I think I would have to ask "Why". If you truly believe this is what God wants for your life, then "why" do you experience jealousy? "Why" does the third wife appear to be considering leaving? The fourth wife made a comment on one of the first episodes of the new season that this was not about lust. It it was, the husband of these ladies could just get himself a hooker. It's cheaper. Uh huh...seems to me the lady doth protest too much! And by the way, GOOGLE that fourth wife and you can find a ton of nastiness about the debt she had to bring with her from her divorce from the first husband. So that leads me to another question..."why" in God's name would this man take on THAT?! I would think that since she does not work outside the home, Mr. Polygamist has to take that debt on himself. And let's not kid ourselves here...He is in lust with #4. He may also love her,(don't know and to be honest, don't care) but he is MOST DEF. IN LUST! It's written all over his face! I would PAY to have BSP look at me that way on a regular basis! So anyway, I just can't get these folks outta my brain! Is Polygamy more common than we think it is? And since Polygamy isn't legal anywhere in the US (I GOOGLED that too!) why isn't the Law concerned with these folks in Las Vegas? They left Utah over fear of legal action but guess what? It 'aint legal in the City of Sin either! Oh! And that's another thing! Vegas?!?! Aren't these folks supposed to be UBER religious? What a crazy place to bring the whole family! (Although if he ever decides to just go with that hooker, he should have no problem finding one!)
I also wonder what it would be like if I were in a Sister Wives situation? I am the most jealous woman on the Planet! I can promise you there would never be any other wife besides me because I'd kill her before I let her at my husband.
However, on days like today, where my tummy hurts and it's been hard to do much of anything because of how I feel, a Sister Wife might come in handy. After all, BSP is out working hard in this cold and rain and he deserves to come home to warm meal. Oh ok, that's nothing more than a maid and a cook but still, today it's looking pretty good to me!
Until my next rant,

Things discovered and/or observed, randomly...

2011-06-10T14:47:00.000-07:00

Why is it when I'm thinking about future Blog posts, I come up with a million thoughts I think I will share but when I sit down to do the actual "sharing" most of it escapes me. Probably age. Everything else gets blamed on age so what's one more item? Anyway,...

A few weeks back BSP and I were super fortunate to head to Alaska to visit my In-Laws. And as a side note, what IS the correct way to write in laws? Caps? Hyphen? I digress...
You may have remembered this post where I shared my extreme dislike on flying. While we can drive to Alaska, it would take the greater part of three days to get there and upon arrival we would have to head back because of course, getting back to Colorado would take the greater part of three days. Pointless waste of time when, in just 5 small hours, you are there by flight. In preparing for the trip, I discovered I have not conquered my fear of flying. In fact, it appeared to have gotten much larger in the whole scope of things so I headed off to my family doc and asked for some medical intervention. I mean really, why not. I've been to the doctor so much these past few months, what's another visit? She was happy to help me out and off to Alaska we flew. I was pleasantly calm and can report that I did not leap over anyone's Grandmother nor toss anyone's child out of my way to get to the Exit.

Alaska is so unbelievably awesome. This is one of my re-discoveries. My FIL and BIL surprised us with an overnight fishing trip to the Kenai and this company took us out on the water. There aren't any words to describe how amazing the experience was. Even without the quick fishing trip, Alaska is a MUST. Go! Plan it! My SIL works for Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau. Check out their amazing web site and get that trip planned!

Last year the Movie "Julie & Julia" came out. I didn't have any regard for it one way or another until I watched it. (I assume that I am not the only one who can gain some insight or be touched by certain movies. Otherwise there would be no movie industry, right?) So this weekend, all of the movie channels are open on our Dish carrier. (UBER detrimental to getting anything productive done, by the way) I was able to catch the last half of "Julie and Julia" again. Such a good movie for lots of reasons but here's what I took away yesterday...I loved how Julie's husband was such a support for her in her year long journey. (For that matter, it really did appear that Julia Child's husband was an amazing support to her as well) I guess that's maybe a little sappy but here's why I love that. I am finding myself re-examining marriage again. I have a divorce under my belt and so does BSP. So when you go into marriage again, you gotta work ten times harder not to bring in the previous crap from the aforementioned marriages. Personally, I don't think I am all that good at being a wife. For lots of reasons but I will spare you the gory details. But I was reminded yesterday how important it is to have a supportive husband. Even when he doesn't actually understand or "get" what it is his wife is trying to do. That is just one of the great things about BSP. He honestly thinks I am talented and smart and can do just about anything! (poor deluded man) I didn't have that before so you would think I wouldn't take it for granted the second time around. But I do. See? Bad wife!
Anyway, I guess I don't care how I am reminded to be thankful for my husband, I just hope I continue to be reminded because I don't think my amazing wife skills are improving any time soon. Thanks honey...you truly are the best.

See, I told you this was gonna be random....

Okay, so here's the thing...

2011-04-27T10:37:00.000-07:00

The last several months have been ~~shitty~~ rough. (Tryin to be a little PC here although shitty is a far better descriptive word for the tale I am about to tell.)
In December, one of my best friends from High School passed away. In June of 2010 she found out she had an inoperable brain tumor. She was gone by December. She left behind a beautiful 7 year old miracle child she was never supposed to have. Really. She was told by doctors at the age of 18 she would never have children. And then, about 10 years into her relationship with her significant other, she commented to him one evening that if she didn't know better, she could swear she was feeling a baby move inside of her. So the next day, just to ease her mind, she saw her doctor. Yep. Pregnant. Her own miracle boy was born just three short weeks later! (I know, right?! How cool is that?!) And now, just seven years later, Austin is without his mama. I'm not gonna lie to you or sugar coat this (mostly because that isn't my thing and everyone knows I have a big mouth) but I really, really questioned God over this. My girlfriend didn't deserve this. Her miracle boy didn't deserve to lose his mama. And yeah, I was a bit angry with God.
It was about this time that I started noticing I wasn't feeling very good. I was having days of this bone numbing fatigue and really just a general feeling of "blah". There were also days of feeling out of whack inside my head. Like I couldn't "land" a solid thought. I've been a migraine sufferer forever but they really hadn't been much of an issue for the last several years. Then, around the time all of this other garbage started up, the migraines started back up. Joy. My lower back on my right side is always in pain. Some days not so bad but others it just burns and aches and I live on the heating pad. And the worst part, next to the fatigue, is that my weight is creeping up and up and up. I've tried every diet known to man, I even quit having my "evening libations" for three weeks. Nothing helps. BSP has taken to calling me BBT. Big Booty Trudy. He says it affectionately but seriously, my booty just keeps getting bigger and bigger. He's gotta be wondering how he's gonna haul this booty around on the Harley this summer! (I started power walking several weeks ago and although no weight has been lost, I'm up to 4 miles a day. Pretty cool even without the weight loss!)
I really didn't think too much of it the first few weeks but by mid January I finally told BSP that I just wasn't feeling well. And so began the laundry list of doctors visits.
I've been poked and prodded so much I'm thinking of charging admission. I've been tested for everything and everything comes back negative. At one point the blood work done to test my thyroid came back wonky so I re-tested and it was fine. At one point there was blood in my urine so they put me on two different antibiotics, re-tested the pee and everything is fine. My doc tried several different "control" type meds for the migraines and they made me feel worse so I said screw it and stopped trying to figure that part out. Last week I finally saw a Rheumatologist who once again, poked and prodded. Everything came back fine except my Vitamin D levels are very low. She put me on a prescription Vitamin D for 12 weeks. Her nurse told me on the phone that very low Vitamin D levels can make you feel pain and fatigue.
I am sick of being sick. Really,really sick of it. I want the old me back. I want all of the freaking medical community to quit looking at me like I'm a hypochondriac or a pill popper just looking for drugs. You know what, I AM looking for drugs because I haven't gotten any answers and I'm tired of the pain in my lower back!
I know I should be thankful that I still have my life to live because my girlfriend didn't get that option but when you're in pain, it's hard to focus on the positive. I also thought long and hard about deleting my Blog 'cause some days I just don't have the energy and other days I figure no one wants to hear about this crap anyway! So, here's the thing... I'm gonna keep my Blog because it's sort of like keepin a Diary except instead of hiding it from prying eyes, I'll just let the whole world take a peek. But I warn ya, these days it's not very pretty! Onward and well, not upward....just onward...sigh.....

Just a little somethin' to update...

2010-09-14T13:56:00.000-07:00

OK, I know. It's been like a 100 years since I posted anything on my Blog. Mucho happenings in my life including my first ever (And please God, may it be my last!) experience with the Unemployment system. No, this post isn't about that. I'm not ready to "go there" but suffice it to say, it's really not fun, very stressful and DAM, no wonder why thousands just give up and don't finish the filing.

AND a final word of warning regarding employer/employee relationships. No matter what you and your employer go through together, no matter how many years you have worked for said employer, no matter how many weddings, funerals, good times, bad times, and all the hard work you do for said employer...it means nothing at all to said employer!!!

'Nuff said for now.

SO, I am posting a few pics from the summer. You're welcome.

Ashley & James asleep on Grandma & Grandpa's sofa. HOW did these beauties ever come from my gene pool?!

James LOVES the Harley. He even knows where the horn is!

Future Harley owner for sure!

Ethan turned 1 in July!

He went directly to the bath tub after the cake demolition!

And, I finally got the Sturgis Rally in Sturgis, S.D. this year! Here's just one quick shot of what main street Sturgis looks like during the Rally. It was amazing and oh the stories I could tell you. Hhhmmmm.....maybe that will be an upcoming post. Remind me to tell you the one about the florescent green condom.

Okay, I confess...

2010-06-14T10:40:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago I had the honor of heading to Centerville, South Dakota to be the coordinator for a very special lady. Shawna was my very best friend in High School (25 years ago) and I am so pleased to report that she has met and now married, her soul mate. Hopefully much more to come on that in future postings however, that is not my confession.
The drive from our home in Colorado to Shawn's home in South Dakota is roughly between 8-10 hours and most of it through (yawn) Nebraska. If you've ever driven through Nebraska, you will understand the "yawn". Honey, there just 'aint nothin' there to see!
Obviously because the trip is long, I have to stop for gas about twice in the course of the trip. Well, I don't have to stop for gas but I usually do once the tank gets to about the halfway down point because let's face it, NO ONE WANTS TO BE STUCK ON I80 IN THE MIDDLE OF NEBRASKA!
Because of the recent disaster in the gulf, I think we are all aware of BP these days. Now I tend to be one of the millions of people who "bitch from the sidelines" rather that get involved. I don't have the energy to fight someone else's fight and rather than gossip about someone I know, I can ~~bitch~~ gossip about current events and still sleep at night.
But here's my confession, I could not stop at any of the numerous BP gas stations I encountered. I. Could. Not. Do. It.
Whoa.
This really took me by surprise. I am in no way a tree hugger. I fully support diapering my beautiful grandsons tushies in disposable diapers. We don't have a recycling container. I refuse to buy "Green" products because they are usually uber expensive. I try to re-use my plastic grocery bags as trash bags for our smaller garbage cans but once those suckers fill up, they get thrown out. When my dad was alive, he put glass packs on every truck he ever had and I LOVED it! Ozone layer be damned. We ride a Harley and put bigger and better pipes on that sucker the minute we could and you should feel the heat comin' off those bad boys. Do you get my drift here? NOT a tree hugger. So, I was totally caught off guard by my reaction to getting gas at BP! In my mind and my heart, I know there are local families who are suffering because a lot of people have boycotted BP. I still couldn't do it. And sadly, it appeared that one of those stations has been shut down.
Along with every single other human being, I don't know what the solution to this awful disaster is but I have this nagging, persistent feeling that things will never be the same again. Our Country has been altered forever. No solutions, no ideas but just this one confession today. "They" say confession is good for the soul. I wonder whose?

"Real" Housewives of...

2010-05-25T10:33:00.000-07:00

BSP and I watch the Today show in the mornings before work. I like the Today show. As much as a person can like a news show.
This morning however, the Today show did a spot with the Salahi's. You know, the party crashers at the White House. Um, seriously? There's nothing else to cover but the Salahi's? But lest I stray off topic, I will save that rant for a whole other post, or maybe not, as I just don't think these "fakey fakersons" are worth any of my valuable time.
But among all of the other "spewage" out their mouths, Matt Lauer tried to pin them down on the whole "Are you starring in a new series of the Real Housewives" to which Mrs. ~~Spewage~~ Salahi proclaimed "I just love the whole Real Housewives series and would love to be a part of it". To which I threw up a little in my mouth.
Remember this post in which I told the folks at Bravo that there's nothing real about these Housewives? Evidently the folks at Bravo don't read my Blog. Darn it.
HOW is this woman a "real housewife"? I have a hard time seeing any of the women who star in these shows down on their knees in a pair of shorts and their husbands stained tee-shirt trying to get their baby to lie still while they clean poop off every single crevice on said baby without getting any on the floor while said baby lies writhing and crying and trying everything to get away from mommy because baby has no patience for such things.
I have a hard time seeing any of these women cleaning up cat barf for the umpteenth million time because said cat simply inhaled his dinner and promptly barfed it all back up and now you are trying to clean it up before kitty kitty re-eats it.
I have a hard time seeing any of these women standing in their kitchen with a pound of hambuger staring back at her while she tries to figure out what to make now because you've tried every single recipe you can find that calls for hamburger but darn it all, it's cheap and it feeds the family!
I have a hard time seeing any of these women fart in their sleep and then have their husbands tease them about it to which they respond with "it wasn't on purpose and at least I don't blow the sheets up like you do when you fart dear hubby".
I have a hard time seeing any of these women do anything that even remotely resembles being a real housewife.
Will Hollywood ever get a clue? I think there's a conspiracy between Politics and Hollywood. They are both completely clueless to the lives of real people. But I bet if we were a fly on their walls, they probably fart in bed too. Now that's real, don't you think?!

So what happened?!

2010-05-21T10:22:00.000-07:00

You know, so often, those of us who Blog, share some pretty deep ~~shit~~ stuff. I guess it's like jotting our ~~shit~~ stuff on the pages of a diary, only it's on the computer and instead of keeping it tucked away in a drawer or under the bed, we share it with the world. OK, maybe it's not like a diary, but you get my point.
Anyway.... I cruise a lot of Blogs that I follow on a daily basis. Not gonna share whose, get your own. (JUST KIDDING!) I think for me, it's vilifying in a sort of "Thank God I'm not the only one who deals with this sort of ~~shit~~ stuff". It's like picking up a really good book. But like all good stories, I expect there to be a beginning, a middle and an end. And a lot of days, I find myself thinking "SO WHAT HAPPENED"!! You can't just leave me hanging here! But a lot of times, that's what happens. We're left hanging. Wondering what happened. Where did the new boyfriend go?! How did the fight with the spouse end?! Wasn't your kid in serious doggy doo?! Weren't you pregnant and now you aren't?! So I was all set to get on here and post my "holier than thou because I always update" when I realized that I don't. Remember this or this?
I was down. Way, way down. Lookin up from the bottom of a pit thinkin' I am never going to see happy days again. So...UPDATE! (You're welcome) I am seeing happier days. I didn't stay at the bottom of that dark pit. Thank God! It's a work in progress that will always have to be a work in progress but honestly, isn't everything worth fighting for a work in progress? So, without actually telling you what happened because I'm still not able to share the details, I want you to know I'm much better.
Now if I could just find out what happened to the boyfriend, the kiddo in doggy doo, the pregnancy, etc...!!

I'd like to think...

2010-05-11T09:41:00.000-07:00

....I quite often have these random thoughts and I'd like to think you're interested in reading them....

...If I ever visit New York City and have the opportunity to visit the Today show, I'd like to think I wouldn't lose my mind and wave and scream at the camera just to get my mug on TV for 2 seconds...

...When I put my clothes on every day, I'd like to think that my caboose isn't nearly as big as it is...(however, pictures tend to deflate that myth)

...I try to call my mother at least once a week and I'd like to think that makes me a good daughter...(however, each and every time I call her she responds sarcastically with "Lisa? Lisa who? I have a daughter named Lisa"? simply because more than a week may have passed since I called her)

...Just because I am a grandmother I'd like to think I still look like a hot biker chick on the Harley...

...I have several speeding tickets under my belt because I'd like to think I am the next Shirley Muldowney but just haven't been discovered yet...

...I'd like to think that I could start a movement asking everyone NOT to vote in the next election in the hopes of shaking up the idiots who run Washington and our local and Federal governments...(Seriously, how funny would it be if they only received one vote each. The one they cast for themselves!!)

...Do YOU like to think things too? If you do, I'd love to read them!

WARNING! Political verbal vomit dead ahead!

2010-04-16T09:21:00.000-07:00

I haven't participated in Letters of Intent in like, forever and it's time to jump back into the game. Go ahead and read my rant and rave a.k.a. "political verbal vomit" and then jump on over to Julie's and see what everyone else has the intent to say today! And just like my title states, I'm warning you now. If you are offended by the ranting and raving against any political party, you may just want to skip this one altogether.

Still here? M-kay pumpkin...I warned you!

Dear Republicans, Democrats and now the Tea Party,
You are idiots. Each and every one of you. Don't get me wrong here. I have been known to be a member of "the idiots" club in the past myself.
Oh yes, I've voted in every single Presidential election since I was 18 and yes, I made sure my daughters all exercised their right to vote just as soon as they were legally able.
I have voted conservatively and found that to be HIGHLY DISAPPOINTING. (See the 8 years of George W Bush in the White House)
You idiot Republicans had 8 years to really "eff" the joint up and you did a whiz bang job of it! Congrats!
So, along comes Mr. Hope and Change and just like 95% of the rest of the idiots out there, I strongly hoped this was just what our Nation needed. Yeah, um not so much.
I know, it's only about a year and a half into his Presidency but seriously, what part of ANYTHING this man has done can even remotely be considered hope and change? And don't EVEN get me started on Nancy Pelosi and the rest of her cronies.
So now we have the Tea Party. Just another group of idiots. Seriously people, don't you understand that NOT ONE SINGLE PERSON we have ever elected truly gives a flying shit about us lowly, gotta work everyday for pennies just to survive people?!
I wish Sarah Palin would GO AWAY. How dare someone like her begin to think she speaks for me?! If you and I are not gun toting, conservative, livin' off the land people, we don't love our Country. Gosh Sarah, maybe if you truly loved our Country the way you say you do, you wouldn't have just quit on the people of Alaska, many of whom I proudly call family. Gosh Sarah, if you truly loved our Country, maybe you wouldn't have totally screwed one of those members of my family when it was time for some backing from the Governor but instead you threw your hat in with a cronie of yours? Yeah. These are the things we don't get to hear on the news. She's as dirty and corrupt as the rest of them.
Until we have term limitations for members of Congress, the whole sordid mess will just continue to roll on and on and on. And all over you and me.
Ted Kennedy served as a Senator for 47 years. Strom Thurmond served as a Senator for 47 years. The list goes on and on but don't take my word for it. Check it out right here.
Puullleeeaaassseee. These are career politicians who aren't there for you and me. It's the power and the money and nothing else.

I wonder if Comedy Central has a spot for any of them? Because when they all talk about "being the voice of the people" it's hilarious!

VERY SINCERELY yours,

What is pain?

2010-04-09T20:36:00.000-07:00

So Websters Dictionary describes pain as:

1.physical suffering or distress, as due to injury, illness, etc.
Yep. I've got that. Feeling physical suffering or distress, as due to injury (I am assuming injury of the heart counts here?)

2.a distressing sensation in a particular part of the body: a back pain.
Yes but again, that would be pain of the heart.

3.mental or emotional suffering or torment: I am sorry my news causes you such pain.
Oh please. Let's not EVEN go HERE!

4.pains,

a.laborious or careful efforts; assiduous care: Great pains have been taken to repair the engine perfectly.
Ok. I have no idea what "great pains have been taken to repair the engine perfectly" feels like. Gotta be honest.

b.the suffering of childbirth.
HELL YES!!! THIS ONE I KNOW AND YES!!!! IT COMPARES!!!! (Honestly, I'd rather give birth)

5.Informal. an annoying or troublesome person or thing.
As in, "I seriously could cause physical damage to the "annoying person or thing"??
If that's the case, then YES, this one counts too!

–verb (used with object)

6.to cause physical pain to; hurt.
Redundant. See #5

7.to cause (someone) mental or emotional pain; distress: Your sarcasm pained me.
Again, redundant...see #5

I'm sorry to be such a "Darcie downer" these days. Some ~~shit~~ stuff just doesn't go away very easily. You guys "rock" for hangin' with me. You totally deserve some kind of award.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled program....

Onward and..?

2010-04-08T14:45:00.000-07:00

These last several weeks have been some of the hardest in my entire life. Once again, I'm not at liberty to share why they've been so awful but I can honestly tell you that I did not experience this kind of pain even when my dad died.
Usually the saying goes "Onward and upward", right? Thereby implying that "upward" would indicate "improving, getting better, etc." right? While I can't quite say I am moving "upward" just yet, I can say that I'm hoping, praying, begging God that the worst is now behind me. That I will never, ever be in this place again. Onward and upward! Etc., etc., and so on. I'm sure you get the picture.
Thanks to all my "peeps" who check in on me and if I can intrude on your lives for a bit longer, keep me in your kindest thoughts and prayers 'cause this is one chick who still needs it to find those "stairs upward"!

Stick 'em up!

2010-03-30T19:36:00.000-07:00

(Now get your booty over to Supah's! She's the master mind behind the post it project!)

I may be prejudiced...

2010-03-25T13:38:00.000-07:00

...but these are the BEST pictures I think I have EVER seen!!

James giving mama kisses.

Daddy making sure Ethan is ready for pictures.

Thank you Kris & Lindsay of http://www.aldabellaphotography.com/

You guys totally rock!

(I promise to get more wedding photos up VERY soon!)

Gripe much?!

2010-03-23T11:10:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to participate in Supah's Post It Note Tuesday forever and today seems like the perfect day to do just that. Actually, these last few awful days make this a good time to start.

Finding my smile

2010-03-22T11:54:00.000-07:00

This past week or so it's been really tough trying to find my smile until I remember these cutie patooties! Confession: I get out my camera several times a day and just look at the saved photos and wouldn't you know it, THERE'S MY SMILE!

(Ethan on my lap)

"Grandma, you're so funny"!

"Did you see how funny my grandma is"?!

"It's true! She's a goof ball"!

(James in the kitchen with grandma on New Years Eve day)

This boy isn't spoiled by grandma at all, huh? Hey, it's never too soon to start learning how to cook and he actually did pretty darn good too!

Today

2010-03-20T08:15:00.000-07:00

...I am trying to be thankful for the new day. My FIL has this saying about birthdays: "If God is going to keep giving them, he's happy to keep taking them"! I love that saying and it fits nicely into each new day, don't you think?
It's really easy to speak the words but it's a whole lot harder to practice them. Practice makes perfect though,huh?

There is this song...

2010-03-19T09:24:00.000-07:00

...it's called "God Loves a Broken Heart" by Jon Gibson. It's WAY back Christian contemporary. Today, my heart is broken. No, scratch that.That's too mild. My heart is shattered and I'm afraid I wont be able to find all of the pieces. Sort of a "humpty dumpty" type of feeling. Anyway, if what this song says is true, He loves my heart today in a great big giant God way.
I'm hoping and praying it's true.

Time heals...

2010-03-18T15:42:00.000-07:00

Two years ago, the daughter of one of my customers was murdered. (When you're discussing the murder of someone you know, there's simply no way to "ease" into that news, so I apologize for the abruptness!)
Today this wonderful lady brought in a poster and some fliers for a benefit walk in her daughter's memory.
Our office has a long standing rule that we don't display anyone else's "whatever" in our windows. However, when she came in and asked if we would be willing to put the poster up, my immediate response was "Of course"!
After she left, I told my boss what I had done and he totally agreed. I hung the poster and put out the fliers and commented that I couldn't believe it had already been two years since her sweet daughters' life was taken abruptly away. My boss then said something that really fits and I thought it would be a good one to share.
He said "They lied. Whoever said time heals all wounds lied. Time does not heal those wounds, it just takes some of the sting out of them".
I have duo reasons for sharing this little glimpse into my day today. First and foremost, if you pray, would you please pray for the continued "balm" on the sting of this dear mama's wound? And second, I have a terrible "sting" myself today. I can't share further and I do apologize for being cryptic but I would so appreciate your prayers and kind thoughts today myself.
To quote a favorite movie, "Forrest Gump":
"Sometimes there just aren't enough rocks" or in my case today, sometimes there just aren't enough tears.

How to get a bigger...

2010-02-22T13:16:00.000-08:00

....Blog readership. What?! Get your dirty mind out of the gutter! ;o)
But seriously, take a look at the comments from my last, forever a long time ago post. I ask you, WHAT about my simple little Blog made someone think "Hey! Let's post some advertisements for Cialis"! Because every man looking for a bigger johnson will look at Blog comments for purchase options. Um yeah, not so much. And if some unknown, under "developed" gentleman DID cruise my Blog comments and purchase his "get me a bigger johnson" drug of choice, I don't want to know about it!
My point is, I haven't had the time to update my Blog in forever but the comments just kept rolling in. Ok, ok....some were of the bigger Johnson variety, but comments none the less. So, moral of this story, if you want a Bigger Blog readership, go ahead and let the crusaders of bigger "tool and giggle berries" and any other "alter my mind" sellers post a comment.
(This is in no way an endoresment for needing anything bigger and better in the Kelly household. BSP is, well, um...more than adequate. This is also in no way an endorsement for any freaky, deaky "get me stoned" sales. Unless you're willing to share with me. JK!!)

The cat in the...

2009-12-11T08:47:00.000-08:00

Shoe box....(mommy's, of course)

In the manger box...(he got in just as soon as mommy got the manger out)

In niece Amanda's yarn bag....

Yeah, he's like that. Pretty much just crawls into whatever happens to be around at the moment. Ah, Toby. What would we do without him?

More random thoughts....

2009-12-10T11:54:00.000-08:00

BSP is still a rockin' hot stud.
It's darn cold outside.
I'm UBER busy with a zillion projects getting ready for Christmas.
I'm having a hard time "feelin it" this year.
I don't seem to have much to say on my Blog right now.

Random thoughts...mine of course...

2009-11-16T09:28:00.000-08:00

1. <~~~THIS is NOT fashion. Put a shirt on and cover your bra.

2. Weekends are not long enough.

3. Why do we ask God for things but then we're STUNNED AND AMAZED when He totally comes through and wins one for the team?

4. I hate Mondays.

5. I wanted to bitch about how much I hate Monday's and do a little "pity party" for myself until I saw the Today show and they did an interview with the lady who was attacked by the monkey. She no longer has eyes, can't eat on her own, pretty much has no face and has no hands. Guess I won't bitch about Monday's.

6. I will never vote for Sarah Palin. I have family members who live in Alaska and "know some things". Just sayin....

7. Why is it so hard to lose weight in your 40's? When I was in my 20's, I would have already reached my goal weight.

8. My grandsons are amazing but get UBER crabby when they don't get enough sleep. Guess that pretty much makes them normal little boys.

9. When will teachers learn not to "eff" with my kids? All three girls have been A & B students. Again, DON'T "EFF" with my kids. I can be a mega bitch and make your life miserable. Trust me on this. Or don't. But there are other teachers who could tell you the same thing after tangling with me. (The Capital of South Dakota is pronounced PEER NOT PIERRE'. We're not French. Get it right.)

10. I have barely begun Christmas shopping. I have strong dislike for you if you're almost done.

11. It pisses me off that alcohol has so many calories. It's next to impossible to have any vices these days.

12. There is NO ONE cooler than our Military men and women and the families who wait for them to come home. Many of them never do come home and they are doing it for you and me.

13. Being a parent of grown children is still tough. I thought it would get easier when they weren't little any more.

14. I still think BSP is a rockin stud.

15. Is it Friday yet?

Dear Carrie Prejean,

2009-11-13T08:54:00.000-08:00

It's Friday kids! Time to let it all hang out! You know the drill. Head over to Julie's to see what everyone else needed to "air" this week and who knows, you may feel led to participate too.
Dear ex-Ms. California Carrie Prejean,

After the airing of your many television and radio appearances this week, it's become blaringly obvious that you need some "words of wisdom" and guess what?!?! I'm just the gal to do it! So buckle your seat baby, it's gonna be a bumpy ride!

When I was a child, my parents taught me many important things one of which was learning "you can't have it both ways". Evidently your parents never did get around to teaching you this so here are some examples of "you can't have it both ways".

1. You make a sex tape for your boyfriend (and by the way, PUULLLEEEAASSSEE..everyone can pretty much figure out you "pleasured yourself" on camera. DUH!) Then you send it off with the boyfriend who is now no longer your boyfriend who then digs up dirty tape and makes it "publicly known" that there is a tape and you cry "inappropriate". Hhhmmm.....I believe "inappropriate" should have been the one and only thought on your mind WHEN YOU MADE THE TAPE!!!! You can't have it both ways.

2. You are more than happy to accept breast implants from pageant officials. (Trust me, I would be too but I digress...) Then this week you go on air and cry "foul" about liberal media. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't see any Pastor's wife accepting breast implants from a secular organization and then go very public (Focus on the Family) to tout the wonders of her conservative beliefs. You can't have it both ways.

3. You tell whoever will give you the time of day that you are speaking up for women's conservative beliefs but there's UBER footage of you prancing around on stage in a tiny bikini and it's very obvious you are very comfortable in doing so. Honey, there's nothing conservative about the swing of your ass in all of that footage. Trust me when I say YOU DO NOT SPEAK FOR ME! You can't have it both ways.

I could go on, but I'm pretty sure any reasonable woman could see the writing on the wall here. You're a dumb bimbo who thought she could get somewhere with her looks. When that didn't pan out, you decided to you could get somewhere with a book screaming about your conservative, Christian beliefs and how you've been wronged. I'm pretty sure that's not going quite the way you thought it would either. I personally know many wonderful, amazing, conservative Christian women who could really teach you a thing or two.

So please, get off your high horse, take your skinny ass, (yes, I still hate my scale) fake boobies, big mouth and stupid book that I hope no one buys or reads, and GO AWAY.
M-kay pumpkin?

Dear bathroom scale

2009-11-06T11:09:00.000-08:00

Go on, you know you want to. Get your booty over to Julie's. You won't be sorry!

Dear Bathroom Scale,
I. HATE. YOU.
I'm sorry. Ok, no I'm not. I know HATE is a very strong word but gosh dang it! WHY must you be so evil and vindictive?! Don't you know that I have gotten up every morning for a walk because ~~I love to excercise~~ the doctorsaid I have to work my jiggle buns down the side walk when I would much rather be in bed sleeping? How could that have missed your scaly grasp EVERY SINGLE MORNING?! Shouldn't those early morning, holy crap only God is up at this hour, morning walks have made even a few ounces of difference?!
Has it completely escaped your notice that I have foregone lunch for the last several week just to put me in your good graces?! I like to eat you freakin' piece of metal! I mean, I REALLY LIKE TO EAT!!
Have you not noticed that I have drastically reduced my evening white wine intake JUST TO MAKE YOU LOVE ME you stupid digital box laying on the bathroom floor?!?!
What is it going to take to get your GD numbers down?! I would take even slightly down at this point! I'm not picky! Really, I'm not!
You've gotten me so freakin' depressed I don't want to do anything. I don't want to Blog, sew, cook, bake, NOTHING. All I can think about is you. This relationship with you is like trying to get a puppy potty trained. It's like trying to get a hot boy in Junior High to notice my gawky self. It's like trying to get my daughters to pick up after themselves. It's like trying to get BSP to talk to me about serious shit. Are you getting the hint here?! You're not working with me!!!
Now, from here on out, you WILL start co-operating with me. I have a road trip coming up the day after Thanksgiving to see my High School girlfriends from 25 years ago. I want to walk into the room all at the same time instead of waiting for my ginormous booty making it's appearance 5 minutes later!
I'm warning you. Those crazy red digital numbers BETTER START GOING DOWN or your metal ass is out the door!
Stupid scale..

Dear broken Immune system

2009-10-30T08:06:00.000-07:00

You all know the drill. Head over to Julie's to see what everyone else has to say. Bless you Julie. I just love Friday's.

Dear broken Immune system of mine,
I've had it. Enough is enough. Last month you allowed me a visit from Swine. I admit, it wasn't too bad. But after being out of work for an entire week, I figured I had done my time. I should have been good to go for the rest of the winter. Right?
But no.
King James and Prince Ethan have colds so why not share with Grandma, right? Was that your idea of a good time? Missing yet more work while I am laid up on the couch coughing, sneezing and blowing my poor nose until it's so sore I think it may fall off the next time I blow?
And honestly, do I really need to be so achy that sitting on the toilet hurts?! Please?! And do you have any idea the last time I was able to "bed boogie" with BSP? Do you really think he wants to touch this hot mess? Um, not a chance.
I have Halloween costumes to finish sewing, I have no time for this crap. I have loads of laundry that need to be done, I have no time for this crap. And I have one hot husband who, um, needs doing...ahem. I HAVE NO TIME FOR THIS CRAP!!!
So, broken immune system of mine, consider this your one and only notice. NO MORE! I've done my time on the couch. I am officially finished with the flu, the colds, the Swine, the Bird and whatever else you might get your jollies off by giving to me.
Now which Kleenix did my nose fall off into....

Wordless Wednesday

2009-10-28T10:44:00.000-07:00

It's gonna be a long winter.

Things that go bump in the night

2009-10-27T08:23:00.000-07:00

OR yank my hair so hard I see stars OR, scream so loud from a nightmare that it wakes others up...
Allow me to explain just what the heck I'm talking about.
It all started Saturday night. In the middle of the night I woke up to my hair being yanked nearly out of my head and seeing stars. What the heck?!?! Evidently BSP had some crazy dream or something startled him. He quite often falls asleep with a hand tucked up into my hair. I guess it's comforting to him and I confess, it's one of those "Aaawwww" moments. Anyway, due to a bad dream or something, that fisted hand of hair nearly came out of my head! Cripes! I don't think I've ever had my hair pulled so hard in my life! He woke up practically the second he did it and was all sorts of apologetic and really felt awful. Yeah. Me too. Had a pretty good headache for a couple of hours.
On to Sunday night...I had the worst, godawful nightmare I have ever had in my life. Let me tell ya, Wes Craven's got nothin' on me! I still cannot believe the images this dream produced! I'm not a horror movie kind of gal. Never have been. I can get scared from reading a creepy book let alone try and sit through some scary, gory movie so this nightmare shook me so badly that I screamed and screamed. Woke poor BSP up thinking I must be dying or something. He had to shake me awake calling out my name really loudly.
Let's move on to Monday night. After two really strange nights with broken up sleep, it's time for a good nights rest, right? Um, no. BSP has been working some crazy hours and is exhausted. So of course, that translates into Mr. Snoring Snortyton from Snorty town City. I must have tried nearly everything short of just waking his snoring hiny up to get him to stop! Even the poor cat kept looking at him like "WTF"?!
I wonder what's in store for tonight? Anyone got some really good sleeping pills? Anyone?

Dear BRAVO T.V.

2009-10-23T08:58:00.000-07:00

Oh yeah baby! It's Friday and you know what that means! Letters of Intent! You know the drill. Shake your tail feather and head over to Julie's and read 'em all!

Dear BRAVO T.V. Network,
I've been dying to address a few issues with you and I feel this is the best way to do just that.

First let me say, I really do enjoy Top Chef and Project Runway. While they are not on my list of "must watch" TV, if I spy a re-run, I will watch. Not that I could ever prepare any of the food I have ever seen on Top Chef or could I ever create any type of clothing with no pattern and simply rely on my brain power. God didn't Bless me with that gift, sad to say.

My concern lies directly in the "Real Housewives" shows. You know the ones I'm talking about...Real Housewives of Atlanta, New Jersey, etc...

There's NOTHING "real housewife" about any of these crazy beotches. NOTHING. Honestly, what made you think "Hey! Here's a rockin' idea! Let's try to find the craziest, fake, rich, bored, catty women and give them a TV show called Real Housewives". I dare say you are all just as clueless as the women you call housewives.

I, on the other hand, am very real. All of the gals out here in Blog world are very real. Let me just take you through a quick walk of "real" vs "fake".

My boobs, after having nursed three babies, are really not even qualified to be called boobs anymore. Trust me, you don't want to see these pups out any where. I don't even make BSP suffer through this mess! <-----Real....the boobies on those "other" ladies? Lordy, that's a ton of saline and silicone! <-------Fake

My children grew up with me. Yep. I raised 'em. No nanny. No help. Me. Trust me, there were many, many times when the vomit, snotty noses, poopy diapers, sleepless nights, squables among sibblings, cranky "oh my God if you do that one more time I am going to wet your lips and stick you to a wall" children really made me want to go running through the streets screaming, I didn't. I stuck it out. <--------Real
"Their" children...nannies and full time help. Bratty, yes. Spoiled, yes but all done by someone else. I daresay if any of those kids even dreamed of up-chucking on one of those plastic chicks, a WHOLE EPISODE would be done around the hysteria of said plastic chick over being barfed on.<----Fake

I have to work. For someone else. Money doesn't grow on trees and bless BSP's heart, he would let me stay home if we could afford it but we can't. Most mommies have to do both and for the mommies who stay home with their kiddos, those families are sacrificing in order to have the mama stay home. We do without. A lot. There are very few luxuries we can afford because all of our hard earned money goes to bills, housepayments and our "always needing something" children. <------Real
"They" have nothing better to do with their days other than sit around a pool, gossip, "do lunch" have catfights with each other and drink each and every day.<----------Fake

And speaking of money, has it escaped your notice that we are in a recession? People all over are losing their homes, struggling to feed their children and simply survive and yet you have the gall to put these shows on?! What is the matter with you?! Here's a thought...how about you take the resources you are pouring in to the awful plastic people you mistakenly call "real" and take a look at the real world and real lives? And no, Jon and Kate Gosselin and The Duggars don't count. Don't even get me started on that mess!

So, until you wake up and "clue in" to the real lives, real struggles of real people, I refuse to watch. I will NEVER watch. If it were up to me, NO ONE would watch.

And "ladies" (yes, I use that term very loosly) those of you who star in these shows...PPUULLLEEAAASSSSEEE! Grow up, get a clue, and go away. Plastic Freaks.

A pine board to Jetted Tub Tray!

2009-10-19T18:04:00.000-07:00

Yes, this plain ole pine board was my tray for my jetted tub. You know which tray I'm talking about...the one that holds the glass of wine, that keeps your book from getting wet, etc? BSP had this pine board when we moved into the house so he sanded down the edges for me and that's how I used it. For three years. Well, I've been lovin' some of the wood projects that Ashley and Whitney from Shanty2Chic have been doing and it got me thinking about that plain ole pine board.

I did a quick jog across the parking lot over lunch to Home Depot (yeah, it's right there) and purchased some Pine trim and I splurged on some Ralph Lauren Faux Glazing. I went with Smoke. And let me tell ya, I almost didn't because the price on Ralph is heart attack expensive!

I got home from work, changed my clothes, snatched the pine board out of the tub and headed for the garage!

First I used a little bit of wood putty on a few small spots, let it dry a few minutes and sanded it down. While I waited for the putty to dry, I measured my trim, stuck it in the miter box and cut three pieces of trim. WHERE has this amazing little invention been my whole life?! (I'm now having a mini romance with the miter box. Don't tell BSP.)

I filled in any spots after I got the trim on with just a touch of the wood putty. See how lovely that trim looks? Tell me you wouldn't have a bit of a crush on the miter box after those results?

A touch of paint and it's time to dry. The next day after work I brought it in to my sewing/craft room, sanded it down and got out Ralph. Let me just say, I LOVE RALPH. It's worth every penny! I then added just a touch of jute and look...

Isn't it lovely?!

From plain ole pine board to

a beautiful jetted tub tray!

I'm thinking about stenciling something on it in the future but I am so happy with how it turned out!

My jetted tub area is really starting to look amazing and I owe it all to every crafty creature I've been ~~spying~~ reading up on over the last few weeks. Thanks guys! You rock!!

Now get your booty over to Kimba's and see what everyone else has come up with!

Dear Strangers on an Airplane

2009-10-16T09:37:00.000-07:00

Yes my friends, it is Friday. Friday's are awesome in many ways and Letters of Intent is one of them. Make sure you jump on over to Julie's Blog and see what everyone has to say today!

Dear Strangers on an Airplane,

This is something that has bothered me for quite some time now, years actually, and I just have to get it off my chest.

I don't care to fly. I come very close to hating it. When we need to go somewhere out of State, I will seriously crunch numbers to try and figure out a way to drive where I need to be and make every single effort at avoiding getting on an airplane. However, there are times when we have to fly. Going to Alaska. We have to fly. No choice. It's just too darn far by auto. Like three days in an auto.

So when I am forced to get onto an airplane, I would like each and every one of you to leave me alone. I don't know you. I don't want to know you. I will never see you again and you are wasting my "Holy crap I'm so freakin' scared I can't see straight" time. Yeah. I'm that chick.

No, I really am. Did you SEE the plane go down in the Hudson river?! If I'm on a plane and the Pilot or the Co-Pilot or WHOEVER got on the intercom and said, "We are emergency landing in the Hudson" I promise you I will be the chick screaming "WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE"!!!!!!!!!!! I will be the chick who will be LEAPING like Peter Pan over your baby, your two year old, your sick elderly grandma to be the first one OUT THE DAM DOOR!! Now I ask you, do you really want to start a conversation up with me?

Do you really need to know who I am, where I'm heading and what I'll be doing when I get there? Because I don't want to know who you are, where you're heading and what you'll be doing when YOU get to YOUR destination. I. DON'T. CARE.

Listen, it's bad enough that we are all crammed like cattle on a truck with ZERO elbow room, leg room, butt room of any kind. That we are miles above the Earth and there's no reason in my mind why this ginormous behemouth of machinery is up that far CARRYING MY SCARED ASS TO WHERE I HAVE TO BE! MUST we make it worse by playing nice? I just don't think so.

So please, if you see me on an airplane, smile. Take your seat and keep your mouth shut. Okay pumpkin? Now where is the Flight Attendant with that dam drinks cart 'cause if I don't get some booze in me and calm down just a hair, things could go badly....

Sincerely,

A dusty tired iron candle holder to beautiful bathroom inspiration!

2009-10-13T08:21:00.000-07:00

It's Tuesday and time for DIY over at A Soft Place To Land. Check out all of these amazing crafters. These gals have really inspired me to get off my lazy bootie and CREATE!

My ex gave this iron candle holder to me for my birthday about 8 years ago.

I really liked it at the time but it's run it's course. The poor candles melted from sitting in a window sill over many summers and just look at the dust on the iron. I seriously thought "This is going in the trash". Then I thought, "What would happen if I repurposed it"? Not sure what I was going to do but figured since it was garbage bound anyway, why not?

First it got a shot of some antique white spray paint. I didn't over spray because I liked the peek of black. Sort of gave it an "old" feel.

A new pillar candle for $4.99 at Hobby Lobby...

A pile of permanent Botanicals,some floral foam and a bit of new ribbon...

And look at this beauty!

Waiting for garbage day...

To a new window sill treatment in our bathroom!

Here's what it looks like from behind.

This took me maybe an hour to create. I used hot glue to hold the floral foam in place, I purchased the Botanicals at Hobby Lobby last week at 1/2 off as well as the ribbon I used. I already had the floral foam so all told, this project cost me around $10!

I liked it so much, I went on the next night and made this!

A towel caddy for the jetted tub!

I saw something similar on Martha Stewart's web site but since I'm not a "Martha-ite" I decided I could make it better. I love it! It totally cleared all the edges of the tub.

Here's a shot from the side and a little bit closer up. The towel caddy cost me $1.50 for a cheap towel from WalMart and I already had the ribbon from my Botanical arrangement. Super easy, super cheap and I'm super happy with the results! Two projects in two nights!! Woo Hoo!

I wanted to add a quick word about using permanent Botanicals. I used to be of the mind set that "fake flowers" were taboo. However, my older sister is a Special Event Design Florist, the best one, in Colorado Springs. I am fortunate to get to help her set up and design many weddings and I've learned a lot along the way, including the use of permanent Botanicals. See? Even changing the wording makes you feel better, right?

Don't be afraid to really cut up those guys! Here's what I usually end up with when I'm done cutting and bending and arranging:

See? Carve those babies up and make them look the way you want them to. This is usually what I have left after I'm done.

Second..not all permanent Botanicals are of good quality. I got mine from Hobby Lobby and I've also bought quite a few from Michael's. However, I rarely buy them from WalMart. They look like fake flowers and you really want to be sure that if you're using them, they look real.

Third...permanent Botanicals ARE NOT for weddings! Use real flowers! You just wont regret it!

Thanks for stopping by and stay tuned...I've gotten so inspired by these projects that I've decided to add a few more things!

Dear Jon & Kate Gosselin

2009-10-09T09:13:00.000-07:00

Ah Friday! Time for another Letter of Intent. Oh Julie, what a great idea! Be sure you check out all of the other Letter's of Intent. You're gonna love it!

Dear Jon & Kate Gosselin,
It has come to my attention, and that of EVERYONE ELSE, that you are going through an ugly divorce. I'd like to take this opportunity to address said ugly divorce.
Now you may not feel it's any of my business to address however, you have made it EVERYONE ELSE'S business so deal with it.
Jon, no matter what some younger women may be whispering in your ear, you are not God's gift to women. The youthful clothing, the earings in your ears and the cavorting around the Planet with much younger women just makes you look like an idiot. You are still a middle age man with many children and a gut you can't hide under clothing better suited to teenagers. Grow up.
Your countless television, radio and magazine interviews are beyond old. Shut the hell up. Yes Kate was a bitch to you during your marriage. No she shouldn't have treated you the way she did but honestly, do you really think you are any better? Have you never heard the "Sticks and stones" and "Glass houses" sayings? Cause if you haven't, I would be happy to fill you in!
If you truly did take $200,000 out of a joint checking account, put it back. DUH?! Idiot.
Kate, let's be honest here. You were a bitch to Jon. You were. You should not speak to your spouse the way you spoke to Jon. No, that's no reason for Jon to completely wig out the way he did but still. What goes around comes around. You send bitchiness out, you may just end up with a whole lot of bitchiness back in your lap.
You tearfully said Monday morning on the Today show that you never wanted to air your dirty laundry in public but Jon has left you no choice. Yeah. Sure. Maybe you'd like to get back on the air and see if you could sell some prime beach front property in Arizona too? Because if you were serious, you would have continued to let your legal team handle it and KEPT IT TO YOURSELF.
And can we please, for one moment, discuss having $210,000 IN A CHECKING ACCOUNT?! Who has that kind of money in ANY account let alone a joint checking account?! You seriously have bills so large that you need that kind of jing in a Bank account?! I think it's time to take a good hard look at how you're livin' girlie. And no one bought the "I will work at McDonald's if I have to so I can take care of my kids" ploy. Please. Aren't you a nurse? Isn't there a large demand for Nurses right now? McDonald's? You seriously "jumped the shark" on that one honey.
And finally, you two are not the only ones walking the planet that ever went through a nasty divorce. I myself, have been through a nasty divorce. Hey Kate, my ex hasn't paid child support in nearly two years and he thinks it's totally ok to let BSP pay for and raise his daughters. You don't see me on the Today show or any other National media outlet bitching about it, do you?
So both of you, shut up! Go take care of the many, many children you have running around. Who, by the way, got you where you are in the first place!
Get off of my TV, get out of every single magazine in the supermarket.Ok kids? Now go play nice.
But do please GO.

You gotta get you some!

2009-10-06T08:40:00.000-07:00

It's Tuesday so that means it's time for Tempt My Tummy Tuesday! I also had every intention of participating in DIY Day over at Kimba's Blog but alas, I was too lazy over the weekend and did not get ANY of my projects done but I still think you should check out all of the inspiration over there once you're done visiting all of the yummy goodness over at Lisa's Blogging "neck of the woods".

It's time for me to start thinking about the goodies I want to have ready for the Christmas boxes I send out each year. While I was home trying not to infect anyone a week or two ago, I decided to give this recipe a shot. Let me just say, I was not disappointed!! Holy smokes are these cookies fabulous! I took the extra step of grating just a touch of lemon zest into the frosting and next time I think a touch of lemon zest will go into the dough as well just to see what happens. Try these! You will not regret it!

This recipe comes from Tina over at Mommy's Kitchen. If you're looking for some "foodie inspiration" you really need to check her Blog out!

Old Fashioned Buttermilk Cookies

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup buttermilk

FROSTING:
3 tablespoons butter, softened
3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup milk or buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk and mix well. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 375 degrees F for 10-12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool.
For the frosting, combine butter, confectioners' sugar, milk or buttermilk and vanilla in a mixing bowl; beat until smooth. Frost the cookies;

Enjoy!!

Dear Def Leppard

2009-10-02T09:34:00.000-07:00

Today I have decided to participate in "Letter of Intent"presented by Julie over at Foursons.

Now a warning: this is gonna be an explicit letter. You know, sort of a "Sex, Lies and Videotape" type post only without the lies and videotape but with some Heavy Metal added in and some cussing. Turn back now if you are in any way offended by these things! Ok...consider yourself warned...

Dear Def Leppard,

On Monday evening, August 24, BSP and I attended your concert in Englewood, Colorado. So did many, many others. However, BSP and I paid mega bucks for awesome seats. As in, right next to the stage. I won't share the $$ amount we put out for these choice seats because I still find it hard to believe we actually paid that much to see anyone including you.

I've been a Lep fan for many, many years. Like 27 to be precise. Your songs have been the background music to lots of mind blowing sex in those 27 years. I've had some amazing drunken and yes, in my younger days, stoned nights with your music screaming in the background. I know every word to nearly every song you've ever written and I have purchased nearly album you've ever released. Sadly, I fear we must part ways.

Let me be clear, you guys rocked. You always do. However, because of the up close and personal "I can reach out and touch you and see your facial expressions" seats that we had, I am very disappointed. No, make that pissed off.

No, all five of you didn't piss me off, just two of you. Joe Elliott and Phil Collen. Your shitty "we have to go out and perfom YET AGAIN" attitude was written clearly all over your faces.

Joe, I know you're 50 and you've been doing this a long time but you are not the hottest man walking the planet. In fact, the view of you from behind is sadly the same view of many, many other 50 year old men. You're thick around the waist and you really have no ass to write home about. BSP, at 51 years old, has you beat to hell and back. Seriously. You should see the man naked. But I digress. I know you are amazingly talented but you are not the most talented man walking the planet. It certainly doesn't give you the right to just grab some chick's drink and take a big ole swig like you are God's gift. Honestly. Did you see the expression on said chick's face? She was less than thrilled and looked down into her glass like she thought there might be an STD floating in there doing the back stroke.

Phil, put a shirt on. I can't be more plainly spoken here. Your back is zitty. No, not pussy zitty but zitty nonetheless. Eeeww. And do you really need to bump and grind that quitar constantly? Seriously? Doesn't that get a little old? Aren't YOU a little old to be doing that? And, like Joe, you are not God's gift to women. That ship has sailed. Years ago.

Now to be fair to Viv, Sav & Rick, you guys were awesome. You never had the "I can't believe we have to do this again" looks on your faces and Rick, you will always be the Thunder god! THANK YOU for coming down from your drum kit and showin' the love to the crowd at the end of the concert. You are a class act!

And just to be fair to all of you, including Joe and Phil, thank you for not reacting in any way to the hooters those two much younger than me gals put on display on the other side of the stage. Even I have to admit they were impressive hooters. Or that could just be middle aged me comparing them to my very sad hooters. Either way, I appreciate that you didn't stare, comment, smile or acknowlege the very impressive hooters in any way.

Finally Joe and Phil, you could both take a lesson from Brett Michaels. He LOVED on the fans! And I'm not sayin' that just because he came to me not once but twice and let me sing with him in the microphone. Ok, that might be a part of it. But you can tell Brett and the Boys love to perform, love the fans for keeping their music alive and they truly seem to get that the economy sucks and it's awesome that people still pay big to see them live.

So, it's been a great run fella's but this 42 year old rock and roller is movin on. Thanks for the memories.

P.S. Brett, call me! We'll do lunch!

Feeling...

2009-09-30T12:14:00.000-07:00

...good. But, exhausted. Gosh. After being off all last week due to my own personal bout with the Swine flu, it's been really tough getting back into the work swing of things.

And let's be honest here, I have reached the stage of my life where I don't want to work outside the home anymore. But the mortgage still comes due the first of every month, etc, etc...blah, blah, blah. Now dear BSP (because yes, he reads my Blog) don't take that statement to mean that I don't like our life or our home. I love everything about all of it except that one annoying little fact. W.O.R.K.

When my siblings and I were very young, my parents used to say "When our ship comes in, we will get (fill in the blank)..." My first thought every time was "We live in South Dakota and unless I miss my guess, there is no body of water for a ship TO ARRIVE IN" and my second thought would be "Whoa...how much $$$ will be on that goshtly ship"?

Now that I'm an adult I still can't for the life of me understand where they thought said ship would dock but now I also want my own ship!!
Let me be clear here. I could care less about having stock piles of money. Being rich, wealthy, famous, whatever has never interested me. But oh I do long for the day when we are at the point where I don't have to work.

So yes, I'm still here, tired but here. (And sorry Nance! I didn't mean to panic you! :o) I hope to be back up and Blogging away about my DIY's and Recipes and most importantly, those awesome grandsons of ours! Until then...

My shot at the pumpkin topiary and some sparkle sent off in the mail

2009-09-23T19:35:00.000-07:00

SO MANY of you wonderful DIY'ers have done some version of a Pumpkin Topiary or using Pumpkins in various super cute arrangements and it made me just HAVE to try it myself.

I started out with three different sized craft pumpkins from Michaels, one unused styrofoam pot in our garage, and I was off!

Un-used pot before

After a shot of good 'ole black spray paint

I still thought it needed something so I added another shot or two of some bronze paint which hopefully you can see in the final shot. I picked up some of these babies at JoAnn's.

I chose four different leaves and put a small piece of tape on the back of each which held the leaf in place while I traced around them on the pumpkin. The tape came right back off so I can use the leaves again in another project. I thought the orange of the pumpkins was a little off so I touched them up with a bit of paint, raided my Permanent Botanicals and here it is!

I wanted to have some twinkle lights inside the pumpkins but didn't want to see the cord so I made a quick fabric tube of some black ribbon tule I had on hand and slid that onto the lights. I am a major pine cone freak so they got added on near the moss, I included some raffia, some sparkly fall Permanent Botanicals and a bit of grape vine to top it all off.

I'm really pleased with how it all turned out and even BSP loved it. In fact, he'd like me to do another one. One for each side of the front where this one has found it's home. Thanks so much to all of you super crafty Bloggers! You guys have really inspired and re'freshed the DIY'er in me!

As a final touch, I thought I would show you how the gray sparkly curtains turned out that I made for my niece which I "bemoaned" about here.

I found the beaded fringe that I added to the bottom on clearance at Joanne's. I hope my niece likes them. I hung them on BSP's office door just to get a good shot of them which is why they don't go to the floor but hopefully they are the perfect fit for Amanda's windows and perhaps they will keep her smiling during those long hours of study during her Sophmore year at College. You go girl!!

"Oink, oink my good man"!

2009-09-22T15:09:00.000-07:00

All day that line from National Lampoon's European Vacation has been running through my head. Well, since about 9:30 this morning anyway.

I've been feeling a bit under the weather since about Sunday afternoon/evening. Didn't give it too much thought as King James and Prince Ethan have both been feeling poorly and they were over Saturday evening. I just figured Grandma picked up their bug. Right? Not so much.

When I woke this morning still thinking it might not be wise for me to go to work, BSP needed proof. He's like that in a, "I served in the Air Force for 20 years so tough it up Marine" kind of way. Unless he's the one who is sick. Ahem. SO...I called the doctors office and they got me right in. A miracle in and of itself.

I get there, they ask if I'm feelin' sickly this morning (Nope. Just thought I would stop in and say "hi". Hello!?!?) and I respond in the affirmative and they ask me to put on a lovely face mask. I comply feeling like a complete "LOOK AT ME, I'M SICK" idiot while pretending to look through a Vogue magazine. And by the way, how USELESS is the Vogue magazine!?!?! But I digress..

The nurse calls my name after I've only gotten through the first 30 pages of advertising and I gratefully put useless magazine down and head back. She runs me through all of the "normal" doctor stuff like getting weighed (another JOY of the doctor: that awful scale standing there like the troll on the bridge who won't let me pass unless I pay the toll) blood pressure, temp check, etc. Then she starts asking if I have every symptom of yuck known to mankind. Seriously. I had no idea the were so many different ways to ask a person if they have nausea and well, you know... (And no, thank you very much, I do not.My throat hurts. I'm achy. I'm coughin, sneezin and running a slight temp.) She finishes up and says the doc will be in soon. I barely manage the first 10 pages of the September issue of Good Housekeeping when she pops back in saying doc wants a strep test. I oblige by opening my mouth to very long Q-tip thingy scraping the back of my very painful throat and she bounces back out. I peruse the next 10 pages of Good Housekeeping and my doc comes in. Strep test is negative. And that's when he drops the bomb. "This is not flu season Lisa. You have all of the symptoms of swine flu". And that line "Oink oink my good man" starts it's joyful bellow in my head! I restrained myself from saying it out loud. I'm not convinced he would have understood.

So now I get to sit at home and wait this business out. Am I Uber sick? Nope. Just feels like any other flu. He says the concern is not for folks like me but rather for the very old and infirm and the very young. Translation..I will live but please don't kill anyone else in the process.

Now we've all heard the horror stories for months now about H1N1 so I decided to do a bit of reading up myself. The CDC has some pretty good info here.

So I wait
...cough, cough..sniff, sneeze, oink, oink...

From black metal and dark wicker to clean and sleek!

2009-09-16T20:20:00.000-07:00

You HAVE to go see all of the amazing DIY'ers who participate here! They have inspired me to take a closer look at my surroundings and imagine how I can make them more functional, fun and inspired!

SO many of you wonderful DIY'ers swear by Black spray paint so let me apologize but there are so many black "so 15 years ago" items in our home that I CRAVE a cleaner look. So, I took a stand that our 19 year left behind when she moved out and decided to try and give it a bit of makeover.

The "Before" product. (Ignore the blue floral arrangement. It's on the far wall. Oh, and I know...the kitchen table in glass and black with the "Uber" disgusting chairs really have to go but poor BSP can only take small doses of "re-do" at a time"!

The stripping of the dark wicker "in process". I took it out onto our deck as it was just a little bit messy.

Ah! Naked and ready for paint!

The finished piece! I purchased simple glass plates for 1.98 at WalMart to replace the wicker. I didn't care for the heavy finial at the top so I purchased some Permanent Botanical Hydrangea's from Michael's to finish off the top. I think I may have spent a total of $12.00 or so including paint. I love it! I can't wait to try another project!

One of our Fall Fave's!

2009-09-16T08:37:00.000-07:00

This Week's Topic
We're doing something a little different this week! Sharing Main Dish Fall Recipes! Anything yummy we can eat for dinner!!!
Soups, Casseroles...

Wonderful idea Lynette! I love all things food and enjoy new recipes. Go take a peek at the other "shared recipes". I'm going to just as soon as I post mine here.

Chicken & Dressing (This is an original recipe from my first mom-in-law. It is a favorite of ours. I always throw in a few extra ingredients like the almonds and the onion or whatever I might have in the fridge that may compliment the flavors.)

Ingredients:
3 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
I can Cream of Mushroom Soup
1/2 C sour cream
1 Box Stove Top Stuffing
Diced Onion
Diced Almonds
Salt & Pepper to taste

Pre-heat the oven to 350. Brown the chicken breast on the stove top until cooked through and then dice into bite size chunks. No need to be fancy here. Shredded is fine too. Set the chicken aside while you mix the sauce.
Don't throw away the juice in the pan from browning the chicken. Simply add to it the can of Cream of Mushroom soup, the sour cream, the diced onion & almonds and the salt and pepper. Mix all together and re-add the chicken.
Spread the chicken mixture in a greased pan.
Prepare the Stove Top according to package directions then spread that on top of the chicken mixture.
Bake at 350 for about 30-40 minutes or until bubbly.
Enjoy!

Those big open mouth smiles

2009-09-09T13:07:00.000-07:00

Dont ya just love it when babies start smiling? They are always those big open mouth smiles that capture their whole face up in the smile! Prince Ethan will be 2 months old on Friday. Grandma keeps telling him to quit growing so fast but all Grandma gets is, well...the big open mouth smile!

2009-09-08T09:58:00.000-07:00

It's Tuesday, September 8 (REALLY?!?! WHERE did the time go!?!?!) and that means it's time for Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays hosted by Lisa and Lana. With the "business" of life a ~~little~~ lot of help trying to figure out "what's for dinner" (Imagine voice of Sam Shepard here saying "what's for dinner", and by the way, Sam Shepard can say ANYTHING he likes in my ear! But I digress...) is a very good thing!

My recipe today is Broccoli Beef Stir Fry. I found this recipe over at Mommy's Kitchen. Forgive my laziness but if you jump on over to see the recipe I won't have to post it here as well. This was SUPER tasty and will be making it's way back to our table again in the near future.

Raisin Bread

2009-09-01T09:03:00.000-07:00

This great idea is being hosted by Lisa and Lana. Head over and check out all of the wonderful food ideas. I've gotten some great recipes this way and I'm guessing you might to. Even if you don't want to do the cooking, I'm betting it's gonna make your tummy growl and your mouth water. (Not very lady like, I know. I've been accused of many things but being a lady isn't one of them!)

BSP and I went to a concert in Denver last week and stayed the night. The Hotel we stayed at had a Continental breakfast. If you've ever had the "joy" of breaking bread at a Hotel Breakfast, you know it's nothing to write the relatives about.However, they did have Raisin Bread there and I observed BSP partkaing of the Raisin Bread. My "Ah Ha" lightbulb came on!(Not to worry, it's an LED light. Very earth friendly)

BSP doesn't eat sweets so I rarely find anything that I can bake for him. Cook, yes. Bake, no. So the minute we got home, I started a batch of Raisin Bread dough.

The verdict from BSP: too heavy to eat more than one piece at a time. In fact, I think he only ever had one piece. However, it was a smashing success with everyone else. Not to worry though. My quest goes on to find the one item I can bake for BSP that he will truly love and turn to me with an "Oh my gosh, you made this for me" adoring look in his eye. Stay tuned.

Raisin Bread

3 to 5 C. Flour
1/2 C Sugar
1 Package yeast
2/1/2 C Warm Water (120-130 degrees)
1/2 C Shortening (I used real butter)
1 Beaten Egg
1 Cup Raisins tossed in a TB flour and TB cinnamon

Soften the yeast in the warm water. I also added the sugar at the same time because the Yeast proofs so much better when it has a food source.

Add in the butter and the egg and slowly add in the flour along with the Raisin mixture. Now here is where I think I went wrong. DON'T overmix the dough and DON'T over add on the flour. A stickier dough here is what you're looking for.

Put the dough in a greased bowl, cover with saran and allow to rise double. Punch down and put in your bread pans and allow to rise again.

Bake at 350 for about an hour or until golden brown.

Makes for great Breakfast toast!

Menu Plan Monday

2009-08-31T09:06:00.000-07:00

I have long intended to get more organized with our weekly menu by doing as much food prep the weekend before. Menu Plan Monday is really a good way to get me motivated. Be sure to check out some of the other Menu's here!

This week's Menu in the Kelly household is:

Monday-Lasagna and rolls (Both were prepared yesterday afternoon/evening and are ready to be finished off tonight.)

Tuesday-Teriyaki Chicken with Broccoli (I hope to prepare the Chicken tonight as it needs a good couple of hours to marinade.)

Wednesday-Bacon Wrapped stuffed Chicken Breasts and Brown rice cooked in Red Wine (Rachel Ray did this yesterday morning and BSP and I were hooked so that's a must for this week! Also hope to do the prep for this tonight)

Thursday-Spaghetti and Meatballs. (Again, the meatballs will be made tonight and added to the sauce so when Thursday rolls around I need only put it all on the stove.)

Friday-Homemade tortilla's stuffed with seasoned Beef (Haven't got ANYTHING other than the Beef thawing ready for this one so I'm guessing prep may have to come later in the week.)

I don't usually plan Saturday and Sunday until the weekend arrives because there's always a good chance we will be out on the Harley for at least part of the weekend.

I have all of the meat thawed and in the fridge just waiting to be prepped. My plan was to have it all done and prepped yesterday but King James and Prince Ethan were over last night and King James is grandma's boy so Grandma doesn't get too much done when he's over for a visit. (That's ok, I'd much rather hang with him and the Prince any day!)

Gosh, I already feel so much more productive and organized.(Don't ruin the moment for me, it doesn't come around all that often!!)

Alone time....

2009-08-26T09:07:00.000-07:00

Lynette's topic this week is Alone Time and what we like to do when we have those rare opportunities to be alone. Please make a point of visiting her Blog. I know you will enjoy it as much as I do and perhaps you will be inspired to join in on the fun!

Alone time...is there really such a thing for busy women these days? When we aren't busy with our kiddo's or our grandbabies, we are making meals, cleaning house, doing laundry, etc.. Many of us also work outside the home full time as well. So needless to say, Alone Time is an elusive creature for many of us including myself!

When I do get the opportunity to capture "said creature", there are several things I enjoy doing but I have to say the top of the list is sewing. I love to sew. I'm currently in the process of sewing some curtains for my niece Amanda who heads back to College in just a few weeks. She found some gray sparkly material at her mom's house and brought it to me several weeks ago and asked me if I could sew some quick curtains for her. Of course I could! However, gray sparkly material broke my machine needle. So the quick project turned into something a bit more time consuming. The only way to get decent hems on the material is to use Bias tape. Do you know how hard it is to find Bias tape in Silver? Yeah, neither did I. It's darn near next to impossible! So I decided to make my own. My niece found Silver ribbon that matched beautifully. However, I need three more rolls. Just go get some, right? This particular color of ribbon seems to have left the planet! But never fear, my ribbon quest goes on until those curtains are finished!

Now I know this doesn't sound at all relaxing but believe it or not, it really is. I can tune out nearly everything else and just sew away. (Unless of course our cat Toby decides he needs to be right up in my business because he's like that) Even tackling all of the little issues are very enjoyable to me. I have some amazing "Ah-Hah" moments when my project is done and I can look at it and remember what started out as just an assorted pile of fabric, pins, thread, etc...and see what became of that assorted pile.

If When I complete the gray sparkly curtains, I will ~~try~~ be sure to get a photo up.
Ah, alone time....how I covet you!

So We Don't Forget

2009-08-19T08:56:00.000-07:00

Lynette Kraft has been doing Wednesday's Walk and recently updated it to So We Don't Forget. The idea here is to share special memories. It's really been an amazing mix of memories, some sad, some fun and others very thought provoking. I'd like to invite you to head over to her Blog and join in and/or read other shared memories!

This week the theme is School Days. Now I know my memories of when my girls first started off to school are not going to be very popular but it's the honest truth and truth is always the best choice, right?!

I am not, and have never been, a typical mommy. I have signed for all three girls to get their first tattoo at the age of 17, (very tasteful and hidden under clothing but tats none the less) my girls struggled with the pain of seeing their parents divorce not once, but twice. (Yes, I married and divorced their dad twice. That's another story!) My girls and I have always had the type of relationship where they tell me everything, and I do mean everything. Sometimes that can be a bit wearing on me. Other times it's very "Holy cat scratch Bat Man! I really don't want to hear this"! (Of course I never voiced those thoughts out loud, they just cycled through my head when the girls might be telling me something that made my eyes pop or my mouth drop open) Anyway, you get the picture, right?

So when the first day of Kindergarten rolled around for my oldest, Ashley, I did not struggle with her going off to school. I COULD NOT WAIT! Yep. I am THAT MOM. My girls were "stair step" babies. One right after the other in rapid succession. I was exhausted. At that time, we only lived about two blocks from the Elementary School so I brought her to school each day. She was as excited as I was! We got to the school and there were all the other mom's and kiddos and most of them were in various stages of sad and weepy. Not me and Ash! Hugs and kisses and "Have a great day honey" were dolled out in quick order and I went home. Big sigh of relief! I was finally at the point when my girlies were starting school. However, that didn't bring me the freedom that I thought it would. It brought having to volunteer in her class, it brought her wanting to join Brownies and wanting friends over to play and spend the night, it brought Parent-Teacher conferences, and on and on and on...and so this mommy learned a lesson. Just when I thought a small window of freedom had opened up for me, BAM! Someone sealed it with that plastic stuff you put on your leaky windows in the winter! I guess the moral of my School Days memory...when we become mommy's, we are mommy's forever.

The worry about them never goes away, your "freedom" to be who you are staggers back in at various stages but never truly comes back like it was before "mommy hood" knocked on your door. And mircale of miracles, my baby Casey is a Senior in High School this year and this very "unconventional mommy" is a tad bit sad to see all of those years of Primary school come to an end. I know! It's a shock and surprise to me too! But never fear, King James and Prince Ethan will go off to school one day and this very "unconventional mommy" will move into the very "unconventional grand mommy" stage and I'm already guessing I will be the one to shed a tear over that and not their mommy!

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday

2009-08-18T09:55:00.000-07:00

Today I am posting the very delicious Chicken Pot Pies with Cream Cheese Crust. I got this recipe from Go check her blog out, I promise you wont be disappointed! I've taken away lots of yummy recipes and plan to use more for Tempt My Tummy Tuesday in the future.

Chicken Pot Pie or Pies

Shell crust:
1-2/3 c. flour
2 t. celery seed (optional)
1- 8 oz. cream cheese, cold
1/3 c. butter, cold
1/4 t. salt

Filling:
1 whole chicken, pulled from bone and chunked
1/3 cup - real butter
1/3 cup - flour
2 t. minced garlic
1/2 t. salt
dash of pepper
1-1/2 cup - warm water
2/3 cup- milk
3 chicken bouillon cubes
1 cup- frozen mixed veggies
3 - individual sized tin pie bowls
For the crust combine the flour, cream cheese, and butter in a bowl. Cut in the cold cream cheese and butter until you have a crumbly mixture. Then starting working it with your hands, kneading until you have a ball of dough: On a floured surface, roll out the dough in to a flat square. Take one of your tin bowls and trace and cut an overlapped piece of dough. Place it into the bowl and softly press it into the corners: You will get three servings out of this recipe. roll out a total of 6 squares for 3 bottom crust and 3 top crusts. Or you will get one large pot pie like mine. Meanwhile, in a saucepan, melt the butter. Stir in the flour, garlic, and spices till blended. Slowly stir in the warm water, bouillon cubes, and milk. Slowly bring a soft boil and stir constantly for about 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat and add the frozen vegetables (peas, carrots, celery, whichever you prefer!) and chicken. Fill the shells: Put the tops of the crusts over this and seal the edges. You can use a fork to make a fluted edge. Make a criss cross slit in the center: Bake at 425 degrees for about 20 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown. Serve over mashed potatoes or right out of the bowl. If making one large pot pie bake about 30-40 minutes. Watch it carefully so it doesn't get to brown on top.

My Thoughts:

1. I added minced onion to the mixture along with the garlic. We love onion so I thought "why not" and it was a great addition.

2. I made this twice last week, Thursday evening and Saturday evening. Thursday evening I used a pre roasted chicken that I bought from Wal Mart and Saturday I had time to cook my own chicken. I didn't notice any difference between the two but BSP thought the flavor was better with the roasted chicken from Wal Mart.

3.I used a low fat cream cheese on Thursday and on Saturday I did not. I felt that between the butter and the cream cheese there was more than enough fat and I might be able to cut a little bit out of the recipe. Honestly, I liked the low fat cream cheese better. The regular cream cheese made for a much stickier dough so from here on out I will be using the reduced fat cream cheese.

4. Thursday I used all frozen veggies and on Saturday I used fresh. I liked the fresh much better. I steamed carrots and potatos and that was truly amazing!

5. I also did not use disposable tins. I purchased large ramikins from Wal Mart. (They were only 2.98 a piece and I have been intending to purchase some for a long time now so I picked up 4 and will be getting a few more.)

6. I used my food processor to mix the dough which saved mega time.

Finally, a word of warning: this is a very time consuming meal. It takes between an hour to an hour and a half to prepare. But it's SO worth it if you have the time. I plan to make several of these ahead of time and freeze them for later meals. Enjoy!

Be sure to head over to Lisa's blog to see what other's have posted for Tempt My Tummy Tuesday. You might just be inspired to try some of the yummy recipes!

Not Me Monday

2009-08-17T08:40:00.000-07:00

Ah yes, time for another Not Me Monday post! I haven't participated in several weeks and am really feeling the need to be "brutally honest and live to tell the tale"! Be sure to hit McMama's Blog, the genius behind the Not Me Monday phenom and either join the Not Me Crowd or check out the other Not Me participants. You won't be sorry!

My precious kitty Toby barfed on our living room carpet again and we did not all stand there and look at said pile of barf because none of us wanted to clean it up before dear BSP finally did the dirty work. No way. That would be gross and disgusting!

I did not sigh and groan and seriously contemplate not answering the phone when I saw it was my dear 19 year old daughter Linny because I just could not listen to her obsess about every single cotton pickin detail of every single cotton pickin piece of her life one more time! No way, not me! I'm a good mom, I would never!! (Side note: Wouldn't you know it, my Linny read this Not Me Monday post and PROMPTLY called me to let me know what she thought of me "throwing her under the bus" and said I had to post a quick note on here to let everyone know she did not approve. See, I AM a good mom! I did just what she told me to do! LOVE YOU LINNY!)

As I was watering the household plants yesterday morning I did not discover about a gazillion dead little bodies of fruit flies from the bug bombing we had done about oh, four weeks ago or so. That would mean that I hadn't dusted in that long and that would make me a really rotten housekeeper and I take pride in keeping a tidy house so no way, that couldn't be me!

And as I was watering afore mentioned plants and discovered the tiny corpses of a gazillion fruit flies, I happened to glance up at the ceiling fan to discover it had started growing it's own "hair". That would again make me a really rotten housekeeper and as previously mentioned, I take pride in being tidy so there's no way that ceiling fan could have started doing that in my home, no way, not me!

And finally, I did not do a mental sigh of relief this morning and hope and yes even pray, that we would have the house back to just BSP, Casey and I tonight. As much as I love my neice, my sister Dawn, my daughter Ashley, my grandsons King James and Prince Ethan, I desperately need to get some sewing done and just plain and simply want and need some peace and quiet! I would NEVER think that because I am a good Aunt, sister, mother and grandma, right?!?! I would never think those thoughts, No way, Not Me!

Thankful Thursday

2009-08-13T08:59:00.000-07:00

This month, Thankful Thursday is hosted by Iris. I'd like to encourage you to go on over and be a part of Thankful Thursday. Many of the posts make me smile, remind me to be thankful for something I may have overlooked, and many times brings new blogging friends!

I am Thankful For:
1. BSP! He is the love of my life
2. My kiddos and especially thinking today of my baby, Casey. She starts her first day of her Senior Year in High School! Whoa! Where did the time go?!
3. My grandsons, King James and Prince Ethan. How did I live life without these precious boys?
4. My niece Amanda who stayed with our critters while we were in Alaska and is spending this week with us. (Now how should I tell her mother that she doesn't get her daughter back...?)
5. Safe flights to and from Alaska (because I am NOT a fan of flying and it seems like a lot of planes have been dropping out of the sky this year!)
6. Nancy! She is just such a special friend to me and I just love her!
7. Facebook (Yes, Facebook.) I've reconnected with all of my closest girlfriends from High School.
8. A job. (Ok, this is a tough one for me. I would so much rather be a S.A.H.M. but that's just not possible for us right now and so I try very hard to appreciate the fact that I have a job when so many do not.)

So many things to be Thankful for!!

Thankful Thursday

2009-07-30T11:54:00.000-07:00

A friend once said to me "I magine standing on a chair and I'm standing in front of you. Now would it be easier for me to pull you down or for you to pull me up"? Well the answer is obvious. Pulling down!
I am a firm believer in "pulling up", "the glass is half full", "don't borrow trouble", etc...and I think Thankful Thursday is a wonderful addition to that theory of thought!
Visit all of the other participants and consider participating yourself. You might just find your frame of mind changed for a few moments!
Today the focus is on what we are thankful for in the warm months of summer:

* BSP! (obvious first choice)
* King James and Prince Ethan because they have summer birthday's and who wouldn't be
thankful for these little cuties?!

*Sitting on our deck in the evening with a good book

*Nancy (because our friendship has really just blossomed over the summer and is such a blessing to

me!)

*No school! (Strange, I know, but when my girls got older, I LOVED having them home for the

summer)

*Flip flops!! (BIG shoe nut!)

*Grilling

Ok, you're next. Go on, you know you want to!

North! To Alaska!

2009-07-29T09:25:00.000-07:00

I'm really glad Lynette chose to continue with Wednesday's Walk ! (Thank you Lynette! I know it's time consuming but I really do enjoy it and it gives us so many opportunities to get to know our fellow Bloggers!) Be sure to start here and perhaps you'll be inspired to participate too!

I decided to share this memory today because we are headed back to Alaska next week Tuesday. BSP's brother Joe is getting married and BSP is a groomsman! So why not share about my first Alaska experience?!

Several years ago, (I think it was either 2004 or 2005) BSP took me to Alaska to meet his family for the first time. ALASKA!!!! I was SO excited!! How many people get the chance to say they've been to Alaska?!

Well, it was everything I had ever dreamed it would be and yet so much more. There are no words for how VAST Alaska is. It just goes on as far as the eye can see and beyond. The mountains, glaciers, valley's and yes, even the Cities are different.

I ate more than I ever have in my entire life. BSP's folks had a cook-out one night while we were there and his dad put Salmon on the grill. I went back 5 TIMES!! And his dad actually said "Sorry Lisa. It's last years catch but we haven't gone yet this year". (How much would I have eaten if it had been the current years catch?!)

We went in June and it never got full dark, just a deep twilight. But I would be lying to say that affected my sleep. I slept all the time! Whenever there was an opportunity to rest, I took it! The air in Alaska is different from anything we have here in the lower 48 and it just calmed me and I slept so soundly!

We got to do and see so many wonderful things. We walked on Glaciers and visited others, we went to Homer and fished for Halibut. We saw puffins, seals, whales, eagles, moose and NONE OF THEM WERE IN A ZOO! We visited the MuskOx Farm (did you know that Musk Ox are an ancient species that has survived through thousands of years?) and even after everything we managed to squeeze into our visit, we barely scratched the surface of Alaska.

I'm going to tell you all the same thing I tell everyone else. If you've ever dreamed of going to Alaska, DO IT! PLAN IT! FIT IT IN! BUDGET FOR IT! It's a trip you will never, ever regret!

BSP and I on Matanuska Glacier

Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays

2009-07-28T10:57:00.000-07:00

I am always on the hunt for new and exciting recipes so Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays is great way to do that. Be sure to check out all of the yummy posts!

Fudge Nut Bars

Ingredients for the "Bars" part of the recipe

1 C. Butter

1 C. Packed Brown Sugar

1 C. Sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

2 1/2 C. Flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

3 C. Quick Oats (I have used both Quick Oats as well as regular and have observed no difference)

Ingredients for the "Chocolate" part of the recipe

1 C. Sweetened Condensed Milk (NOT Evaporated Milk)

12 Oz. package of semi-sweet morsels (I prefer the mini-morsels.)

2 Tbs. butter

1/2 tsp. salt

1 C. Chopped Walnuts (I leave these out)

2 tsp. vanilla

Cream the butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Add the remaining dry ingredients and set aside.(Original recipe call for flour, soda and salt to be sifted together and then added. However, I add them all at once and have never had an issue.)

In a saucepan over low heat, combine the sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips, butter and salt stirring until melted. Add the vanilla and nuts (if used) and remove from the heat.

Spray a 9 x 13 cake pan and preheat your oven to 350. Take the oat mixture and spread about 2/3 in the bottom of the pan. (Remember you need to reserve the remaining mixture for the top!) Next, pour the chocolate mixture over the top and spread out. Finally, take the remaining oat mixture and drop in random spots onto the top of the chocolate.

Bake for 20-25 minutes.

This is a recipe that was handed down from grandmother, to mother, etc and is always a sure fire hit! (I used this recipe for a Wednesday's Walk not too long ago because it's such a good memory

AND I just made these on Sunday to get ready to ship out to my F.I.L. in Alaska.)

Happy Anniversary!

2009-07-22T09:15:00.000-07:00

I didn't have to think twice about what I would share today for Wednesday's Walk. BSP and I are celebrating our Third Wedding Anniversary! Please take some time and head over to Lynette's Blog and join in on the fun of shared memories. You won't regret it!

Three years ago today, I married the man who finally made me see that there is such a thing as True Love and sometimes fairy tales can come true! Now that's not to say that we NEVER have our fair share of "gripes" with each other (as Nancy can attest to and once again, THANK YOU dear friend for being such a good "listener"!!) but I've discovered that a true loving relationship means working together through the small "gripes" as well as the big ones.

Both Mike and I were married previously and needless to say, they ended badly. (Honestly, does any marriage END on a good note?!) Mike and I met through work, sort of. He was the mailman for my office. Yep. I fell for the mailman! The first time he came through the front door, he was such a sweet man. Asking lots of questions about how we wanted the mail to be delivered, etc. When he left, I turned to my then co-worker and said "Did you see the mailman?! This is going to be fun"!! Little did I know! (We always liked to visit with the mail carrier as well as the UPS guy. Sometimes days in the office can be long and boring so it's always a good thing when the folks you see frequently are willing to chat for a few minutes.)

Well, long story short, Mike asked me out. Oh my goodness! I had never had such a handsome man show interest in me and those first several times together I was sure he could hear my heart pounding inside my chest! Mike made me laugh when there wasn't a whole lot to laugh about and in the long run, he taught me to love again.

We dated for nearly 4 years before he asked me to marry him. His proposal was on the mega tron at Coors Field at a Rockies baseball game! He had taken me to Alaska to meet his family the year before and I truly enjoyed every minute of our time there. So to get me to stay in my seat when he knew the proposal would be on the screen, he told me that Frontier Airlines would be giving away free tickets to anywhere in the Country and we could use them to go to Alaska again but you had to be in your seat during the giveaway. I fell for it hook, line and sinker! And believe it or not, a Frontier Airlines spot came on the screen just before the proposal did!! He couldn't have planned it any better! When the screen scrolled: "Lisa, will you marry me! Mike" I turned to him to say, "I can't believe it! Another Mike is asking another Lisa to marry him"!!! and there he sat with my engagement ring on his pinky finger!! Of course, I started crying and blubbering and he managed to say to me "Is that a yes"? YES, YES, YES!!!

So today sweetheart, Happy Anniversary and I love you more and more each day. I am so blessed to have found you and pray we have many wonderful years together. I love you!

Saying our vows

First taste of wedding cake!

First dance

Because kids (or in our case, grandbabies and critters) live here!

2009-07-16T08:50:00.000-07:00

I love that Lynettehttp://lynnettekraft.blogspot.com/ does this! It makes me feel like it's ok to be normal! Be sure to check out Lynette's blog and jump in on the fun.

I thought the nifty paper bag would make a great keeper of toys but King James had other ideas. Obviously the toys never made it back into the bag but honestly, they are all in the same area and that counts for something, right?

This duck has just been left to sit right there for the last two days. Why bother moving him back to toy central? King James will be back soon and the duck will be on the move once again!

And I'd like to add an extension to the "because kids live here" by including our critters. Believe it or not, these are the cats toys. Honestly, we have tried to put them away on more than one occasion but Toby brings them right back up. Yes, these are all Toby's toys. They "live" behind the door of our bedroom and yes, we vacuum AROUND them instead of picking them up.

I am a shoe nut and like to keep my shoes in their shoe boxes. It makes me think the closet stays a bit neater that way. (It doesn't but don't destroy the illusion for me)Toby on the other hand, LOVES the shoe boxes. We find him in them, under them and scattered everywhere.

Finally, our bedroom is our little haven. It's very large and even has a small sitting area. We did this on purpose when we built the house because we knew we would need a place to "escape" even if it were only for a few moments. Well, when Lindsay moved out, our miniature weiner dog Sadie was just devastated! (She used to sleep with Lindsay.)She's getting older and she hates change. She started wandering the house at night which drove me crazy so I bought her a little bed and guess where it ended up? Yes. Right next to our bed. She drags the purple and black blanket around and makes herself comfy. She groans, moans, dreams and smacks her lips in the middle of the night. Not very romantic but critters live here!!

Now I ask you...

2009-07-14T09:33:00.000-07:00

..how precious are these two boys?! Yes, I am biased but gosh, I just can't help it!

Ashley & Ethan were discharged yesterday so we asked them to come for dinner. I managed to get some time in with both boys and Casey snapped off a few quick shots.

James is "helping" Grandma load the dishwasher.

Ethan Nicholas- 3 days old

Early this warm July day....

2009-07-11T20:46:00.000-07:00

We met our second grandson Ethan Nicholas!

This beautiful baby boy arrived early this morning at 5:52 a.m. weighing in at 7lbs 12 oz and measured 20 inches long. He already has more hair than his big brother James and we're already over the moon for this little sweetheart!

Grandma Lisa just had to take off his socks and get his hands out of his sleeves just to check and make sure all ten fingers and all ten toes were there. He slept through the whole thing.

Big Yawn! (And right after this, he filled his pants for the first time!)

Mamma and son are both doing well. James is here with Grandpa, Grandma and Casey tonight and was so tired he was out by 8:30. Aunt Casey joined him about an hour later and Grandpa and Grandma are right behind her.

Thank you God for a safe delivery for both Ashley and little Ethan and thank YOU for your prayers!

Food Waste Friday

2009-07-10T19:11:00.000-07:00

This is my first time participating so I may not have it right but I think it's a GREAT idea and a really good way to fine tune our grocery budget. Be sure to check out the other participants at:http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/

My first attempt at Food Waste Friday didn't necessarily end in "waste". I had the day off today as we are waiting for Grandson #2 to make his appearance...and we are waiting...and waiting...but I digress.

I made myself some toast for breakfast this morning and when I went to put something in the trash, there in our garbage pail sat 2 perfectly good banana's. Ok, maybe not "perfect" but certainly banana bread worthy for sure! So yes, I pulled those 2 banana's out of the garbage and I made chocolate chip banana bread.
Yum!

Going into the oven...

And done. Now how about those garbarge banana's!

That darn pole...

2009-07-08T08:41:00.000-07:00

I'm so glad Lynette chose a goofy memory today as it sort of "gives me permission" to share one of my own. My allergies are SO BAD today which, when you are constantly sneezing and blowing your nose, concentrating on too many things at one time is darn near impossible!
When I was a teenager, I got bit by the "boy bug" hard and early. Way too early according to everyone in my family including my grandmother, who unknown to me, shared her concern quite frequently...."Lisa likes boys way too much. I'm very worried"...Not sure how that managed to escape me back then but my Aunt Connie shared that with me a few years ago which totally surprised me! But I digress....
Every summer my younger sister Jodi and I went to Church camp in the Black Hills of South Dakota.http://cedarcanyoncamp.com/ It was the best time and we looked forward to that every year! I'm not sure but I think the summer I was 16, one particular boy really caught my eye and I wanted to impress him so bad! The camp had set up an afternoon outing to Reptile Gardens. http://www.reptilegardens.com/
These were great opportunities for the girls and guys to get to know each, mix and mingle, etc...
This particular young man and I were standing at an outside arena (can't remember why now but I'm assuming there must have been a show of some sort that we were hoping to catch) and the conversation was going great, we were laughing and joking and just getting to know each. We must have decided to grab a seat or something so I turned around and BAM! I walked directly into a pole!!! And believe me, there was NOTHING graceful or girlie about it. I just wanted to crawl under the nearest rock. I thought I would just die from embarassment!
I honestly think that has been the most embarassing moment of my life, to this day! But I am pleased to note that the young man was a true gentleman, very concerned I might have hurt myself and he was still interested in me even though I must have looked like such an idiot!
Of course today, that boy is long gone but gosh that memory still manages to make me do one of those inward "groans" and shake my head!
Now head on over to Lynette's blog http://lynnettekraft.blogspot.com/ and enjoy some other memories or perhaps even participate yourself!

Spagetti face

2009-07-02T09:01:00.000-07:00

We ~~begged~~ asked the kiddos to come over for dinner last night as we were starting to miss James. Grandpa hadn't seen him in nearly a week and a half and I suspected he was going to go kidnap him just to get some time with him! As you can see, King James ~~likes~~ loves spagetti!

Oh dear....we're gonna need a bath after this...

Chasing every little strand around on the tray....

Got it! (Ok, he had to shove nearly his entire hand into his mouth but he got it!)

Lindsay Kay Huss

2009-07-01T09:38:00.000-07:00

Wednesday's Walk
Be sure to head over to Lynette's Blog to read other memories and perhaps participate as well!

This is one of my favorite pictures of Lindsay. Believe it or not, it was taken with a cell phone and it TOTALLY captures her true, fun loving but mega tough personality!

I'm not all together sure what made me think about this last night, but I shared with my BSP this memory of Lindsay's birth so I decided to share it today as well.

I knew from the moment I could feel her move that she was going to be a very different little one than her big sister Ashley was. Lindsay moved non stop and they weren't those calm little stirrings and stretchings. Her movements were constant kicks and in fact, she gave me one last final really good kick as I was pushing her into the world. My OB had me pull her out and up to me as I was delivering her which was truly an amazing experience and my face got to be one of the first ones she saw and I truly believe that made our mommy-daughter bond that much tighter.

Her birth was completely normal with no complications, or so we thought.

The morning we were supposed to be discharged from the hospital, a Sunday, a physician from our General practice clinic came in and without any attempt at bed side manner announced that Lindsay had a very serious heart defect and we weren't going home. He told me that he had called a Pediatrician and she would be examined again as soon as the Pediatrician got there, and he would consult with me further. He then turned around and walked out.

I was 22 years old, sitting alone in that hospital room with my brand new baby girl (my husband at that time was on his way to bring us home!) and just shocked and scared and nearly hysterical. I frantically called our Church and my first father in law answered the phone. By this point I was crying and probably not making a whole lot of sense but he managed to calm me down and told me he would ask several people to start praying. Little did I know, he had it announced to the entire congregation and they prayed right then and there for our Lindsay!

In the meantime, Lindsay's dad arrived and he was filled in on everything. A nurse came in and wheeled our baby out and we sat and waited. You know how some moments in time just fly by and others just drag on and on? Those seemed like the longest moments of my life!

And then, the Pediatrician came in CARRYING our baby girl in his arms. Now that may not seem like such a big deal but this particular hospital was crazy strict about the babies always being in their little plastic bassinets for safety reasons.

He looked at us both and said "I don't know what the other doctor thought he heard in Lindsay's heart, but there's nothing wrong with your baby. You can take her home. She's a beautiful little girl, congratulations". He laid her in my arms and of course, both her dad and I were BEYOND thankful!

To this day, I don't know if there ever had been an issue with Lindsay's heart but I do know this...the power of prayer is an awesome, mighty force unmatched by anything. I know my first father in law went to his knees for his granddaughter along with the rest of our then Church family and I believe they stood in the gap that morning for us and our child and we witnessed the power of answered prayer!

Lindsay is now a grown woman, living in her first apartment and continues to make her own "Linny way" in life. But on those days when I have to take the "extra" breath when dealing with my very busy daughter, I remind myself that we may not have had ANY moments with her and how thankful I am to have Lindsay Kay!

Horsetooth and the very first taste of Sweet Corn

2009-06-29T13:54:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we FINALLY got out for a ride on Big Blue a.k.a. the Harley. We met Mike's sister Deb and b.i.l. Scot for breakfast up the Poudre Canyon and then took a nice long ride home. We went around Horsetooth Reservoir http://www.horsetoothreservoir.com/ which was just booming with activity. You just can't beat living in Colorado!

And James got to have his first ear of corn on the cob! He's getting to be such a big boy!

Getting older and the "letting go" part of dying...

2009-06-26T08:42:00.001-07:00

First, I apologize for yet one more reminder of Michael Jackson's death. It's hard to avoid as every news/media outlet is focusing on his life, career and death. But I'm asking you to humor me...
I graduated High School in 1985. Thriller came out in 1982. MTV was just starting to really take off and they were still actually "music" television and not the bizarre stuff they have on there now. It was SO cool to actually SEE the artists perform without having to go to a concert! We really thought we were living in such progressive times! (Little did we know that the birth of the Internet and the computer age would be just around the corner!)
"Thriller" was just an amazing album. There weren't too many of us teenagers who didn't have the album and I sure don't remember anyone "dissing" it. I really think it was the start of a great era of music. I remember staying over at a girlfriends house on Friday nights getting ready for a school dance and listening to the album over and over.
For me, it's perhaps more about the end of an era that holds so many good memories than it is about the death itself.
Getting older has held lots of good things for me. Grandchildren top the list, finally being at a place in our life to be able to purchase our Harley and LOVING the time that BSP (Big Stud Penguin a.k.a. the hubby) and I have together on the motorcycle, seeing my daughters become women and making their own way in life, etc..
But then there are those things about getting older that just plain stink. Aches and pains in parts of my body I didn't even know I had and speaking of the body...HOLY CAT SCRATCH BATMAN! No one ever warns you about the aging process there!! These days I just scuttle away from any view in the mirror and let's face it, it was never all that good in the first place! I used to be able to load up three very little girls and travel half-way across the Country and not bat an eyelash. I still like to "road trip" but I don't bound out of the vehicle like I used to and I'm pretty darn sure my hips creak as I'm trying to launch myself out of the car.
And finally, I hate, hate, hate death. Ok, I never liked death and when my grandfather died, my first real encounter with death, (I was a Senior in High School) I thought my heart would break but now it affects me differently. It's not just the broken heart that the death brings but the realization that another "end" is occuring.
So Michael Jackson, in the words of Frank Sinatra, "thanks for the memories". I never understood the bizarre man you became in your later life but for that small moment in time, you really rocked my world. Rest in Peace.

"Because kids live here"

2009-06-23T07:53:00.000-07:00

Or in my case "Because my much loved grandson comes to visit often..."

I put James in his PJ's Sunday night so I have an awful feeling that the only one I can blame for finding his dirty little discarded shirt crumpled up next to a chair in the living room is me! (The shirt says "Chicks Dig Me"...isn't that adorable?!)

The high chair doesn't need to be cleaned after each use, does it? I mean, after all, it's just gonna get dirty again, right?!

And again, this one is my fault...I fixed a quick breakfast for Casey & I on Saturday morning before heading out to help my sister set up the flowers for a wedding. And sure enough, when we got home around 5:30, to my horror, I discovered I left THIS on the counter! I'm starting to think that maybe my post should say "Because Lisa lives here"!!

Be sure to jump on over to http://lynnettekraft.blogspot.com/

Lynette is the master mind behind this great idea AND I'm thinking you'll find her Blog as inspiring, uplifting and thought provoking as I do! Enjoy!

Happy Birthday James!

2009-06-17T07:30:00.000-07:00

One year ago this past Monday, my first grandchild made his grand entrance into our lives! But we didn't get there without a lot of heartache before hand.
When Ashley and Nick first told us they were expecting James, we didn't get our hopes up. In fact, I really dreaded this pregnancy. You see, Ashley and Nick lost two little ones prior and I wasn't sure she would ever be able to carry a baby to term. Watching my daughter grieve for her babies was so hard! That first baby was SO eagerly anticipated! When Ashley lost the first little one, my mom and my older sister Dawn and my youngest, Casey and I all went to the cafeteria to get something to drink just to pass the time while we waited for Ash to come out of surgery. I had not broken down because I wanted to be strong for Ashley and Nick. But sitting in that cafeteria, I lost it. I sobbed. I thought my heart was breaking. I remember saying "I wanted this baby so much"! And if I were hurting so badly how must my daughter be feeling? But as we all know, the passing of time and a lot of help from God helped heal that awful ache of broken dreams.

When they found out they were expecting again, the doctor had her come right in for one of those awful vaginal ultrasounds. Nick couldn't get off work so I went with Ashley.

There was that tiny little peanut with a beating heartbeat!I was overjoyed! A heartbeat must mean good things, right?! But when she went in for a regular check-up around 13-15 weeks, the heartbeat was gone and baby #2 had been called back to God. I couldn't believe it! I had seen this little one's heart beat!! How could this have happened?! And so, I believe right then and there, I began to harden my heart. I questioned what God was doing. What was he trying to teach all of us by snatching these precious little ones away from us? Now I know that's now how it was but gosh, that's really how it felt at the time.

So when they again came to us and told us they were expecting again, I just couldn't allow myself to get excited. I forced myself to put it out of my mind but each doctors appointment Ashley had, I would be SO anxious to hear from them! Ashley's tummy began to grow and by Christmas, 2007, Mike and I started purchasing some baby items all the while thinking that we could return them if we had to. Around Valentine's Day, 2008, they had another Ultrasound that would hopefully tell them the sex of the baby. Nick's Mom and I were invited to go along with them and we sat in that waiting room on pins and needles until she was called back!

You can't imagine our joy when we saw our little grandchild on the screen! The tech pointed out all of the babies features such as the spine, the heart, each little leg with all ten toes, etc...and then....she moved between the babies legs and even before the tech said anything, we knew! We were getting a grandson!! There wasn't a dry eye in that room! I think we even had the Ultrasound tech in tears! Nick's mom kept saying to them both "Look at what you did"!?!? Waiting for little James to arrive began to be exciting but in the back of my mind, I still couldn't help but wonder..."what if"?

Well, arrive he did! Our precious grandson James Andrew Beaman, came screaming into the world on June 15, 2008 weighing in at 7lbs 6oz and JUST PERFECT!! And now here we are, one year later, celebrating his first birthday! He is such a miracle and truly just the joy and delight of ALL of his grandparents! I still miss those first two little ones but I know I will be with them in Heaven one day and I am so thankful for all of the joy, love and laughter that our James has brought to our family. And, I am happy to report that his little brother is expected to join our family within the next few weeks! And you know what, being Grandma is EVERYTHING everyone says it is and I have to confess, when people ask if he's my son, I light up when I get to say "He's my grandson"! Of course, then the next questions is "How old are you"!?! Yeah, it's good to be grandma even at 41!

So, happy birthday sweet Baby James! Grandpa and Grandma just couldn't love you more!!

Singing "Happy Birthday" while daddy holds him.

Digging into his very own first birthday cake!

2009-06-15T15:25:00.000-07:00

Ok, MONDAY...time to kick you where it hurts!

I totally did not debate about even participating in Not Me Monday today only to decide to go ahead and do it, found myself at #56 and signed myself on in to participate (or so I thought), and then COULDN'T SIGN IN TO MY DOGGONE BLOG FOR THE REST OF THE DAY!! No way, not this Internet savy chick!

Then I did not pout for the entire rest of the day, every rotten cuss word I've ever heard going through my mind and directed at the stupid failed connection. I would never! Ladies don't do that, right?

And I'm totally NOT so irritated and disgusted by the whole "computer" thing that I'm done with my Not Me Monday before I really even got started! That would be super childish and a 41 year old woman would never behave that way!

Now, if you are like me and truly appreciate the opportunity to VENT about Monday's and all of the things YOU DID NOT do, zip yourself over here:
MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

DORKY Photo!

2009-06-12T08:01:00.001-07:00

My son in law Nick would NOT be happy with me for posting this but I just couldn't resist. My daughter Ashley and grandson James looked perfect and there goes Nick making a goofy face! This was taken about a year ago right after James was born.

Now head on over to the gal who came up with this cool idea, Lynnette Kraft, to see the other DORKY photos! After all, being able to laugh at ourselves is a good thing, right?!
http://lynnettekraft.blogspot.com/

Wednesday's Walk

2009-05-27T09:07:00.000-07:00

I grew up in a small town in South Dakota. I was so fortunate to live near a whole lot of extended family on both my mom and dad's side. We were and I still am, very traditional Dutch/German descendants in certain things. Namely, cooking and baking. I love all things Bread and all things homemade. Some of my fondest memories are of my grandmothers, mom and Aunts baking and cooking. It was such a huge part of our lives as I was growing up and I don't think I even realized what an important role it played in my life until I became a "grown up".
Recently I've been reminded of just how big of a role it did play. My husbands' family is visiting from Alaska tomorrow and Friday and my kitchen has been a flurry of baking and cooking! Yesterday I took my mom in for some out patient surgery. Once I got her home and comfortable, I took the opportunity to raid her recipe cupboard. I wanted to make another pan of bars but just couldn't find a recipe I wanted to use.
It may seem rather silly but seeing my mom's handwriting on all of those recipe cards and cookbooks was really "heart warming" for me and brought back all of those fond memories.
I took home a few of her recipe cards and made Fudge Nut Bars. I took a shot of the finished product along with the recipe card written in my mom's hand.
What a neat way for me to be reminded and remember a wonderful part of my childhood!

Memorial Day revisited

2009-05-25T15:06:00.000-07:00

I had a Not Me Monday post here for several hours and I am a bit ashamed to admit, it was not favorable to DH.
See, today is Memorial Day and what I really should have posted, if I were going to post about DH, was about his 20 year service to our Nation in the Air Force.
I didn't meet my Big Stud Penguin until after he had retired from the Air Force but that makes me no less proud of his service to our Country. Because he is retired Military, we have Military ID and have the great privelage of going onto Military Bases across the Country. MEGA COOL!
We live about 30 minutes from F.E.Warren Air Force Base (http://www.warren.af.mil/)in Cheyenne, Wyoming and visit at least once a month. We get our prescriptions filled there as well as shop at the Commissary and BX. Our SAMS club is the Commissary as it saves us huge $$$$$!
Anyway, beyond the bonuses of being married to a retired Military man, I am simply so proud of him and just love him more than I think he knows. So today, on Memorial Day (all be it a little late) I'd like to say thank you to DH and all of our other Serivce men and women. And to my Big Stud Penguin, I LOVE YOU.

2009-05-21T11:22:00.002-07:00

We've only had these lilac bushes in for about 2 years but I was shocked to see the purple with the white tips! DH said we knew that but I just didn't remember picking them out like that. Anyway, they were just too pretty to keep to ourselves so I thought I would share.

And while I was out there getting a shot, I noticed that one branch on one of the bushes was growing seperate white ones along with the purple. Love it!

Today's Wednesday walk

2009-05-20T07:09:00.005-07:00

The child who made me "Mamma" and then "Grandma"
Ashley Marie at 4 months old

I chose to write about my firstborn today, Ashley Marie. I'll get to the reason in a moment but first "walk with me" as I remember my precious baby girl.
When I was a little girl, I remembered being asked what I wanted to be when I grew up and each time the answer was "a mommy". I wanted to have babies and be a mamma! Ok,a wife too but mommy was the top of the list!
My first husband and I married after knowing each other only 3 weeks and about 2 seconds after we married, we were pregnant and yes, we had every intention of starting our family right away.
I knew I was pregnant the morning after it happened. I felt different. I could never explain it and it didn't happen to me with my other pregnancies but I just knew! My pregnancy with Ashley was uneventful as were all of them. I was healthy, I loved growing and feeling her move and couldn't wait to see the face of this wonderful new little person! 21 years ago, doctors didn't rush to do ultrasound unless there were indications of problems and because there were none, I never had one with Ashley. We didn't know if we would be getting a son or a daughter which was exciting and frustrating in equal terms!
My due date was December 15, 1987. The day came and went as did 16 more! Oh I was so disappointed that our new baby hadn't been here for Christmas but more than that, I felt like I would be the first woman in History to remain pregnant for the rest of her life! I mean, seriously?! 16 days overdue?!
The doctor FINALLY decided we better induce. We checked into L&D in the wee hours of December 30, they hooked up the dreaded Pitocin and I spent the rest of the day in what felt like Hell! Oh it was SO painful! And to make matters worse, it did nothing! I didn't dialate, efface, etc. so they unhooked the Pit and sent me home with orders to come back the following morning to start the process all over again. Right. I'm supposed to sleep knowing what I was in for the next day?!
Thank goodness the next day was a much better day for progressing but every bit as painful as the previous day. There were no epidurals at that time so my labor and delivery with her was 100% natural. I'll spare you the "details" but needless to say, our litle blessing finally made her appearance at 10:28 PM December 31, 1987! She weighed 7lbs 13oz and was 19 1/2 inches long and had almost no hair but she was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. How could anyone say there wasn't a God when I could see His face when I looked into hers?!
Now here's why I chose to share my memories of the birth of my Ashley.
Ashley is expecting her second baby, little Ethan Nicholas who is due on July 15. Ashley is too big. She measured 4 weeks ahead of schedule last week at her doctors appointment so she is having another ultrasound this afternoon to see what's going on. I've prayed non-stop that it's because they have the due date wrong or Ethan is just a big baby. But in those dark places of the mind, I hear whispers of "What if..." At that point I'm so afraid that all I can do is plead with God. "Please God, Please God, Please God"....
I would SO appreciate all of your prayers for my Ashley and her son! And Lynette, when you do get to be grandma, you're going to love it every bit as much as being a mommy! This 41 year old grandma can personally attest to that!

James is walking!

2009-05-18T10:06:00.003-07:00

Nick, Ashley & James came for dinner last night and I was finally able to catch some video of my wonderful grandson walking! (Yes, I am a PROUD grandma but hey, when you're grandma at only 41, PROUD is the least of it but that's a whole different story! LOL) I have to warn you, the clip is about 3 minutes long and my voice is rather close to the microphone (sorry) but I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Time for another addition of Not Me Monday!

2009-05-18T07:44:00.002-07:00

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

You know, God Bless Mckmama! The Not Me Monday posts have totally made Monday's SO much more bearable for this Monday hater! Alrighty, here we go...

I totally DID NOT threaten DH on his day off Tuesday morning to quit farting in bed while I was trying to get ready for work because it was SUPER DISGUSTING or I would post it on my next Not Me Monday! I would never humiliate him like that! Not me, no way!

I did not procrastinate all last week about finishing up my newest little neices' crib bumpers because the weather was just too darn nice outside and I didn't want to be inside. Not me!

I did not look at our 10 year old miniature dachshund and tell her I hate her simply because she's getting old and losing control of certain bodily functions just because I don't want to clean up her poop. I could never do that to a pet we've had since she was 5 weeks old! No way, not me!

And finally, I was NOT a raving -itch to DH all weekend simply because he's very Type A and his family is coming from Alaska in about a week and a half and he's SUPER focused on getting everything just perfect and ignoring everyone and everything else in the process! I couldn't be so shallow! No way, not me!

My first Wednesday's Walk

2009-05-13T07:12:00.002-07:00

I miss my daddy today. Every day. A "new blogging friend" Jessica @ http://thecrazycarsonclan.blogspot.com/ put it best: "I miss my daddy so much sometimes that I find it hard to catch my breath". Yeah. That's just how it feels.
I'm struggling with a few things right now and I just want him here to talk to. I want to put my hand in his great big warm one and just sit with him. I want to hear his voice, it's been so long. I just want to be selfish for just a day and just be with him. Have him tell me everything is going to be just fine like he always used to.
A sad first Wednesday's Walk but that's just how I feel today.

Not Me Monday

2009-05-11T10:52:00.002-07:00

Ah yes, another Not Me Monday!

I DID NOT go to bed last night totally relieved Mother's Day was done for another year because I despise Mother's Day. No way, couldn't have been me.

I did not stress this morning about what I would squeeze my fat bottom into for work because I over did the delicious food for Mother's Day when I'm supposed to be trying to drop a few pounds. Nope. Wouldn't ever stress over something shallow like that, not me.

There's no way I would have been speeding into work this morning because I cannot afford another speeding ticket let alone the sermon DH would have given me. Nope, not me.

I didn't think how wonderful it would be to just keep going straight up the Interstate into Wyoming and then on to South Dakota just to escape life for a few days. I would never.

I didn't groan inwardly each time a customer came through the office door just because I don't feel like dealing with people, not me. That's just mean.

I haven't been constantly scheming in my head about how to talk DH into going to my cousin's wedding in June even though he already said we couldn't because that would just add more stress to his life and as his wife it's my job to help keep DH stress free. Not even a chance that was me.

And finally, I am not dreading trying to figure out for the 10 gazillionth time what to fix for dinner this evening because I'm just sick and tired of wasting time in the kitchen when my sewing/craft room is calling my name. Not me!

2009-05-10T16:02:00.003-07:00

When I popped on today I discovered that my on-line friend, Celia Barnes http://noahbenjamin-ourstory.blogspot.com/ had her precious baby boy Noah. I am a great mixture of feelings! I'm so very worried about Celia and yet happy that little Noah is here. Please PRAY for Celia and her hubby, Baby Noah and their three other children. God is working here because He has used these mommies and babies to touch my life in ways not seen before but that doesn't make their pain any less real. Thank you for your prayers!

2009-05-07T15:56:00.002-07:00

Introducing: Aubrey Christine Ackerman
8 lbs 9 0z
Mom and baby are doing fine!

Aubrey and her big brother Brennan

2009-05-07T07:44:00.002-07:00

My sister in law Christine and my nephew Brennan.

My brother Les and sister-in-law Christine are having their daughter Aubrey today! She is expected to be delivered by C-section at 12:00. Please pray for a safe delivery for both mom and baby. Casey and I are going up to see them this afternoon with the camera ready. Hopefully I will get some pictures of our newest family member posted here this evening. Thank you for your prayers!

2009-05-07T07:38:00.002-07:00

Standing on the OUTSIDE of the walker. One of his favorite places to be!

It doesn't matter how awful my day can be, or how badly my back hurts, this little man is the apple of my eye! Grandpa and I couldn't love him more!(Check out his mama's "getting very large already" tummy! I suspect my second grandson may be here sooner than his due date!)

2009-05-05T11:14:00.003-07:00

Not Me Mondays

This is THE PERFECT thing for me because if you know me at all, I HATE MONDAY'S. It all started here: http://www.mycharmingkids.net and what a GREAT idea so yep, I'm gonna participate!

Not Me Monday-May 4

I did not wake up on yet another Monday and wish for the Swine Flu just to avoid having to go in to the office, nope, not me. (After all, WHO would wish for such a thing?!)

I did not wake up remembering that this partiuclar Monday my husband had the day off and was blissfully sleeping in and wishing that I could just pounce on him just to spoil his one and only day to sleep in simply because I couldn't. Never, not me.

I did not tell my grown daughter, who called for advice about something she received in the mail to "get off the phone and go take care of your crying baby" because goodness knows that even though my grandson is a wonderful boy and his mommy is a wonderful mommy, I MUST know better than her. Nope, not me.

I did not groan and roll my eyes and say "nothing" when my wonderful hubby asked what we were going to do for my mom for Mothers day. Couldn't be me.

I did not look at the card he got for his step mom for Mother's day and tell him I would have done better at picking the card because that's just mean. Nope, no way. Not me.

And finally, I did NOT watch Ru Pauls Drag Race on TV after everyone went to bed because a good girl wouldn't watch such things. Never, no way possible, NOT ME!

2009-03-30T09:22:00.002-07:00

Ashley & James had been planning to come over and spend some time with us yesterday but with Casey having the barfies, I didn't think it was wise. Lindsay decided to go visit so I had her take the camera.
This little man is such an amazing little boy and I just couldn't love him more. He's also a comfort to me and I really just want to hold him for a few minutes. Holly & Anthony from http://carleighmckenna.blogspot.com lost their precious daughter over the weekend and although they had tried hard to prepare themselves for the possibility that Carleigh may be born directly into the arms of Jesus, it's still been very hard. I can't even begin to put myself in their place and the most I can do for them is pray and perhaps ask you to as well. And do like I plan to do...love on my grandson until he squeals to be put down and thank God for the many Blessings He's given me!

2009-03-17T07:35:00.001-07:00

Aunt Casey snuggling with James. We gotta get these times in when we can because when he's awake, he's on the move!

2009-03-17T07:11:00.001-07:00

Last weekend was Mike's long weekend so we took the motorcycle out on Saturday for a ride. We are so fortunate to live in a State where the season for Big Blue is 365!!

How adorable is this?!

2009-03-04T10:04:00.003-08:00

There's just nothing this boy could do that wouldn't be just absolutely adorable to me!

New Blog additions

2009-03-02T08:05:00.002-08:00

I've added two blogs to my list. These ladies have touched my heart in such a dramatic way. I hope you will take a minute to visit their sites and perhaps they will touch you as much as they have me. I think and pray for them often. I hope you will too.

Doc Holliday for Valentines Day-Part 2

2009-02-27T08:24:00.008-08:00

If you've ever seen the movie "Wyatt Earp" or "Tombstone", Doc Holliday has a lady friend by the name of Big Nose Kate. That's not fictional, he really did have a "lady of the night" companion who went by the name of Big Nose Kate. This picture was in a bar that the manager of our Hotel said we should stop in and see for the memorabilia hanging on the walls.

Aspen is only about 30 minutes from Glenwood Springs. I had never been there so we decided since we were so close, we'd make a quick stop over there. This is on the way to Aspen.

We had lunch in Aspen and believe me, we ate ourselves sick here! I look like a bloated tick!

The other side of the Eisenhower tunnell: The Johnson tunnel.

Doc Holliday for Valentine's Day

2009-02-23T07:23:00.011-08:00

"Gifting season" regardless of Birthday, Christmas, Valentines, etc.. is tough for me when thinking of special, creative gifts for my hubs. He is so good to me all year long and I know I've posted before about all of the special things he does for me, big or small so I try to do the same for him. Most of the time I fail miserably but sometimes I hit the jack pot. Like his birthday trip to Washington, D.C. last year. Because of the success of that trip, I decided ONE DAY BEFORE VALENTINE'S (yep, another epic struggle to try to come up with a great gift) to surprise him with an overnight to Glennwood Springs, Colorado. We are BIG history buffs and have always said how "some day" we would go see where Doc Holliday was buried. So, I found a reasonably priced hotel, booked it and gave it to Mike for Heart day. I had never been on the Western slope so the drive was just as amazing as the actual event!
This is a beatiful State we live in! Here are just a few of the shots we took. I'll try to get more on later.
This is a shot of the Denver skyline on I25.

The Eisenhower tunnel

Inside the tunnel

Just one of a gazillion breathtaking mountain views

Taken from the door of our Hotel.

A memorial to Doc Holliday just to the left of his "grave". (Grave is in paranthesis because no one knows for sure just where Doc Holliday is actually buried in the cemetary. All records have long since been lost.)

The headstone

For some reason, all of the Old West charachters, men and women, were buried up on a hill. This is a shot of the trail we had to hike up to get to the cemetary. Mike is pointing down at the City of Glenwood Springs.

A little slideshow of James

2009-02-12T08:18:00.000-08:00

My Baby is 17!

2009-02-10T11:23:00.004-08:00

Casey turned 17 on Saturday. I can't believe my baby is 17. Having a grandson didn't make me feel old but for some reason, the older Casey gets, the older I feel!
Her dad got her a Snuggly for her birthday so this shot is of her in her snuggly blowing out the ONLY candle we had! You ever do that where you think you have a whole ton of something only to find out you don't?! So she didn't get to blow out 17 candles, she got to blow out a #1!! Thank goodness Casey is my happy, laid back child!

I love this picture of Casey and her dad cuddling on the couch!

Happy 17th Birthday Casey!

Somethin to scare ya!

2009-02-06T07:11:00.004-08:00

I've always loved a really good scary book. In High School, Stephen King books used to keep me awake at night! Since I don't have a lot of time to spend at the Library, (one of my favorite places) I go online to Barnes & Noble and do a search based on what I feel I'm in the mood to read, flip over to my Library online screen, pop it into their search engine and if they have it, request it to be held. Once they do that, the library actually pulls the books for me and all I have to do is walk in the front door, go to the hold shelf, grab my books and check out. The check out is even self-check so I'm not wasting any time.! Pretty cool huh? Anyway, I digress. Here's what I'm currently reading. Let me warn you, this is not for the faint hearted and the language can get fairly explicit but oh boy, it grabbed me from the first page and I haven't been able to put it down!

Dear Dad

2009-01-29T07:12:00.003-08:00

Dear Dad,
Eleven years ago today, God called you Home. Sometimes it feels like you were just here yesterday and other times it feels like a life time since I last saw you. There are still days when I think "I gotta call dad and tell him this" and then remember and wonder if I will ever get beyond that.
So much has happened in the last 11 years.
Do you know you have two more grandchildren and two great grandchildren and another granddaughter on the way? Do you know you have two new son in laws and a daughter in law you never got to meet but I know you would love them simply because they make your children happy?
There's so much I wish you could have been here for! I wish you could have seen Manda go live in Brazil for a whole year by herself. I wish you had been here to see your only son marry the most perfect woman for him and how successful he is in his job and that's thanks to you. I wish you could see Dawn set up a wedding or special event or how she deals with sometimes crazy brides and their very crazy mom's. She's got the patience of a Saint! I wish you could have been a part of how Jodi had to deal with Justin over the last year and a half. She went through trial by fire and came out victorious with a new grand daughter to boot! I wish you could have seen the end result of some very tough years for Harold and I because it made us the closest of friends. I wish, I wish, I wish....
But would I take you away from Glory? Would I take you away from experiencing Jesus face to face? Would I bring you back to witness 9/11, school shootings, 2 wars that seem to have no end, mom losing her home and car in a tornado? No I would not.
I miss you so much. But when my heart cries out for you, when I feel like no one else will ever love me or understand me like you did, I remember I will see you again one day. When that Great Day comes for me, I hope to stand next to you in amazement before the Savior with my hand tucked back in your big warm hand. Then I will know, I am truly in Heaven.
I Love You,
Half Pint

Office kittie

2009-01-26T11:09:00.004-08:00

Mike called me into the office Sunday morning to see what "my kittie" was doing. Well, Toby runs the house and he decides when it's time for lovin'. Evidently, it was time.

Snuggle time with James

2009-01-20T08:59:00.002-08:00

I was rocking James and had my eyes closed and Mike quietly came in and took this shot. I gotta get all the snuggle time in with James while I can. He's growing so fast!

Bath time for James

2009-01-14T07:35:00.002-08:00

When my girls were babies, I had this nifty little suction cup seat for them to sit in while bathing. I looked everywhere for one for James but had a dickens of a time trying to find one. Then when Mike and I were Christmas shopping we found this nifty seat in Babies R Us. It's supposed to be safer than just the seat because it attaches to the side of the tub. So I told Ash about it and she and Nick picked one up right after Christmas. James loves it!

He's getting to be such a big boy already!

A few photos from Christmas

2009-01-09T07:49:00.003-08:00

I made ribbon wrapped gift boxes for our family in Alaska and packed them with Christmas goodies. I just love how they look when they are done!
One for Joe and Lilly
One for Dave, Heidi and the girls
One for mom and dad
All three of them
Our funny Tobie kittie likes to lay under the Christmas tree every year.

James and Grandpa Harold

2008-12-29T09:40:00.002-08:00

It's really too bad that none of his grandparents like him, huh?!?

The best photo from Christmas Day.

2008-12-28T05:40:00.003-08:00

Ok, I confess, we took out the camera and this is the ONLY shot we got from the kids opening gifts on Christmas morning! I hate when that happens! However, even if we had gotten a ton of shots, this would still be the best one. This little man has us wrapped around his pinky finger!

The Ribbon Wrapped Gift Box

2008-12-16T11:04:00.004-08:00

As most of you know, Mike's mom passed away several years ago on December 14. Well, his sister Deb's birthday is the 15th and can be a really tough couple of days for her. From the first time I met Deb, she welcomed me to her family with open arms and I love her every bit as much as I do my sisters, so this year I wanted to do something really special for her. My sister Dawn gets these cool books with different projects in them and though many have caught my eye, this is the first one I've tried. It turned out so beautiful! I filled the box with wonderful smelling things from Bath & Body Works and gave it to her last Saturday evening when we went to dinner with her and her hubby and several friends. She really loved it and it sure got a lot of compliments so I've decided to make a few more and send Christmas goodies out in them. I just had to show you all how cool it looked!

More of our happy grandson

2008-12-10T08:06:00.004-08:00

This was taken a few weeks ago, around Thanksgiving I think. When James is at Grandpa & Grandma's he has all the comforts of home including his own walker.

I LOVE this picture! Mommy and Daddy had to run a few errands on Sunday so we kept James. He's hamming for the camera with Grandpa.

Bath time at Grandpa & Grandma's.

2008-11-21T20:47:00.002-08:00

Several times a week, Ashley & James come and spend the evenings with us as Nick is working nights Tuesday-Friday. (Although Grandpa thinks they should be here every night!) Here's our precious boy in his puppy towel after bathtime.

He loves his bath and he loves to have the attention of the whole room.

Okay, I admit, when I was helping Grandpa Huss move some furniture into his new home,(And yes, we managed to dig a really big hole in the wall as we were trying to get a sofa downstairs! Darn it! Good thing Grandpa Harold knows how to drywall!) I overheard Aunt Julie asking for some updated photos. So these are especially for you Aunt Julie. ;o)

Cutie Patootie!

2008-11-03T18:22:00.002-08:00

Grandma's big boy playing in his high chair. I am SO behind getting pictures on here but just had to share these two. He's so precious to us! For those of you who remember Ashley when she was a baby, she resembles him so much. He remains such a happy baby. Grandpa and I took him to breakfast Sunday morning with Uncle Scot & Aunt Deb and then grocery shopping. He never fusses, flirts with everyone and really made us laugh as he filled his pants not once but twice while we were in Wal Mart. We just couldn't love him more!

Robyn update

2008-10-23T10:21:00.002-07:00

Robyn was discovered to have a condition called 'autoimmune hemolytic anemia". What it means: antibodies in her body are attacking the red blood cells which makes her severaly anemic. The doctors put her on steroids to suppress her immune system and had at least 2 blood transfusions. The very good news is that they were able to get her well stabilized and she went home on Monday. However, she has a tough road ahead of her. Because she is on heavy steroids, it's robbed her of insulin. She now has to have insulin shots in her little tummy for the diabetes this has brought on. They left a PICC line in so Dave & Heidi have to clean that, give her insulin shots as well as the steroids. Her blood still tests positive for the bad antibodies and will for a long time which means Robyn has to go for blood tests 3x a week. She will also have to contiune the steroids for as long as she has the bad antibodies in her blood. Evidently there are hundreds of ways she may have gotten this so there's no good way of figuring that part out which is truly scary as well.
Robyn is an amazingly energetic little girl and HATES the needle pokes which means Dave & Heidi will have a long road ahead of them.
Thanks everyone for praying for her and when she and her parents come to your mind, I'd appreciate it if you'd continue to pray. Thank you!