Kyetra Belton

{Book Club Friday}: The Lost Hours

2012-01-27T08:01:00.003-05:00

It is Book Club Friday again and I am linking up with Blonde, Undercover Blonde. This link up is every Friday and you can review any book that you like. So - head on over and find some great books to add to your list.

This week I read The Lost Hours by Karen White.

Here is the summary from Goodreads:
When Piper Mills was twelve, she helped her grandfather bury a box that belonged to her grandmother in the backyard. For twelve years, it remained untouched.
Now a near fatal riding accident has shattered Piper's dreams of Olympic glory. After her grandfather's death, she inherits the house and all its secrets, including a key to a room that doesn't exist,or does it? And after her grandmother is sent away to a nursing home, she remembers the box buried in the backyard. In it are torn pages from a scrapbook, a charm necklace,and a newspaper article from 1939 about the body of an infant found floating in the Savannah River. The necklace's charms tell the story of three friends during the 1930s, each charm added during the three months each friend had the necklace and recorded her life in the scrapbook. Piper always dismissed her grandmother as not having had a story to tell. And now, too late, Piper finds she might have been wrong.

What did I think:
I loved this book. I loved the idea of girls sharing a scrapbook and charms to represent their lives. I like how the present day characters all seem to end up happy and where they need to be.
It makes you wonder how much of a persons story do you really know. It is nice to think that all things can be forgiven in death.
It was short and an easy read. I think that I will look into more Karen White books.

BOOK 8:30 FOR 2012
****Click here for more books that I have read and reviewed and here for my ever growing list of books to read in the future.

{Book Club Friday}: Kiss River by Diane Chamberlain

2012-01-27T08:00:00.018-05:00

This week I read Kiss River by Diane Chamberlain.

Here is the summary from Goodreads.

Gina Higgins has come to the Outer Banks of North Carolina--a stranger with a secret. But secrets are a fact of life in the close-knit community of Kiss River...

Kiss River's historic nineteenth-century lighthouse has all but fallen into the sea, taking with it the huge Fresnel lens that once served as its beacon. Gina is desperate to find a way to raise the lens from the sea: the glass holds the key to her future, her fortune and her only chance to save the one person who matters to her.

Lacey O'Neill lives in the old lightkeeper's house, a home she shares with her brother, Clay. When Lacey meets Gina, she invites her to stay with them. Eagerly accepting the offer, Gina begins her quest to raise the lens as Clay finds himself drawn to her struggle, and to Gina herself.

As Gina's story unfolds, so does the shocking legacy left buried in the light, revealing more than Gina expected...much more. And with it comes new hope for the future...and for love.

What did I think:
This is the second Diane Chamberlain book that I have read. I enjoy the mystery and romance together and really love the way that the book goes between the past and present. While I loved the story itself, I felt that I was left with unanswered questions. I know that books can't go forever, but I like for things to be tied up in the end without me having to imagine what comes next for the characters.

BOOK 7:30 FOR 2012
****Click here for more books that I have read and reviewed and here for my ever growing list of books to read in the future.

Best Rotel Dip Ever

2012-01-24T17:09:00.001-05:00

Almost everyone loves Rotel Dip. It is one of the easiest party foods that you can make. Especially if you make it in the crock pot. We have a secret ingredient in ours - cream cheese! It really does make a difference.

Here is what you need:

1 large block of Velvetta Cheese

1 8 oz package of Cream Cheese

2 cans of Rotel

1 pound of sausage

Start by cutting the Velvetta cheese into blocks and adding to the crock pot. Do the same for the cream cheese. Add the two cans of Rotel (you use hot and spicy ones if you like). While that is starting to warm up, brown your sausage in a skillet and drain off the oil. Add sausage to the cheese mixture.

Then just let it get hot and melted, stir occasionally, and serve with chips. Easy Peasy!

Today I am linking up with Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays at Blessed With Grace.

Project Life Progress

2012-01-24T09:00:00.010-05:00

Today I am linking up to Project Life Tuesday on The Mom Creative. I had great hopes of being caught up each week and everything looking great. I got my Cobalt Kit but the Style A Page Protectors were sold out. I am still waiting on those to come in. Then I will post those weeks and hopefully stay caught up. I am up to date on photos and saving things to add once I get the page protectors.
So here is what I am working on to keep on track and organized:

1) I am planning my pages. I am using this template that was on Project Life Creative Team Member, Deb Duty's, blog.

This is making things a little easier. I am writing in where each photo will go, the journaling, and writing in where I want tags or special embellishments.
I am also keeping these in order in a regular 3-ring binder with the notes I take for the journaling and any inserts directly behind each layout.
2) I am keeping all the finished journaling cards and tidbits in a shoe box. As an idea comes to me I write out the card and just stick it in there.
3) I have a folder on my computer labeled "Project Life". I then have a folder for each week and I add those photos.

I am still on the fence about whether or not I want a black binder or a nice bright color. I kinda like the idea of having a different color for each year. At the moment I am leaning toward this one from We R Memory Keepers.

I can't wait to get things in a permanent place and see the project come together.

{Taft's Everyday}: January Edition

2012-01-22T16:37:00.000-05:00

There have been a few new things going on this month. First off, Taft and I have been to the library a few times for books for him and he has been great every trip. I guess after the first trip he knew that I meant business. We even went in on a Saturday to help the library celebrate it's birthday. They had arts and crafts, cookies and cupcakes to decorate, face painting, music, and the kids made candles with their names on them for the cardboard cake that it now in the Children's Department. I think that it was a success.

Taft also starting sleeping at night with out Pull Ups. We have been day time potty trained for a long time but nights are still a problem. He is doing well with only a few accidents. He is so proud of himself when he gets up dry.

He is obsessed with a few new movies and tv programs. At the moment his favorite movie is a Gnomeo and Juliet. I have to admit that it is pretty cute. He loves that they race lawnmowers and says that he "wants one like that someday".

His favorite cartoon is Team Umizoomi. I know that it teaches math skills and he answers a lot of questions they ask correctly, but I could live without every seeing it again. I think that the songs are making me crazy.

Taft is also asking a lot of questions about death. Pawpaw's sweet little Jack Russell, Wishbone, died on January 16. She was sick and had gone in for surgery. He heard me talking about it and I tried to answer his questions the best that I could. He understands that Wishbone is not at Mawmaw and Pawpaw's house anymore. He said that she is sleeping and I explained that she can't wake up. We talked about how pets get sick and sometimes die. (He doesn't remember that since he was born, we have had to put two cats to sleep.) He is still asking to see pictures of Wishbone. I left it with the fact that Wishbone is in Heaven with the same angels that made Taft. I told him that they are playing with her and one day, he will see her again.
He has grown very close to Sallie aka Gilbert, and she to him. They sit together every morning and every night. As soon as Taft sits in the family room in his favorite chair, she is there. The cat is at least 12 years old so I know that it is going to be very hard on him when she passes away.

{Book Club Friday}: The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

2012-01-20T08:01:00.004-05:00

Today I am reviewing The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot.

Here is the description from Amazon:

Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor Southern tobacco farmer who worked the same land as her slave ancestors, yet her cells—taken without her knowledge—became one of the most important tools in medicine. The first “immortal” human cells grown in culture, they are still alive today, though she has been dead for more than sixty years. If you could pile all HeLa cells ever grown onto a scale, they’d weigh more than 50 million metric tons—as much as a hundred Empire State Buildings. HeLa cells were vital for developing the polio vaccine; uncovered secrets of cancer, viruses, and the atom bomb’s effects; helped lead to important advances like in vitro fertilization, cloning, and gene mapping; and have been bought and sold by the billions.

Yet Henrietta Lacks remains virtually unknown, buried in an unmarked grave.

What did I think:

If you have ever studied science and biology, I just bet you have heard of HeLa cells. I don't remember ever wondering where cells like that came from. But they came from a woman named Henrietta. She was a mother, wife, sister, and friend. A real person with a real life.
Her cells are some of the most famous, if not the most famous, in the world. Yet her family had no idea.
This was a great book. It is written so well that you can see the places and the people. It brings up a lot of eithical questions about the use of your body parts once they are removed from you. It is touching, it's sad, it's full of hope. Everyone should read this book.
Thanks again to Lauren for her review of the book last week. I may have never known it was out there without her!

BOOK 6:12 FOR 2012
****Click here for more books that I have read and reviewed and here for my ever growing list of books to read in the future.

{Book Club Friday}: The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

2012-01-20T08:00:00.003-05:00

Today I am reviewing The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton.

Here is the description from Amazon:

A tiny girl is abandoned on a ship headed for Australia in 1913. She arrives completely alone with nothing but a small suitcase containing a few clothes and a single book—a beautiful volume of fairy tales. She is taken in by the dockmaster and his wife and raised as their own. On her twenty-fi rst birthday, they tell her the truth, and with her sense of self shattered and very little to go on, "Nell" sets out to trace her real identity. Her quest leads her to Blackhurst Manor on the Cornish coast and the secrets of the doomed Mountrachet family. But it is not until her granddaughter, Cassandra, takes up the search after Nell’s death that all the pieces of the puzzle are assembled. A spellbinding tale of mystery and self-discovery, The Forgotten Garden will take hold of your imagination and never let go.

I really loved this book. So far I have loved the two books I have read by Kate Morton. It was a romantic mystery within a historic novel. I am a big fan of historic novels. My only problem with these books are that they are SO LONG. We are talking almost 600 pages. They are worth the time in the end.

BOOK 5:12 FOR 2012

****Click here for more books that I have read and reviewed and here for my ever growing list of books to read in the future.

Air In The Tires

2012-01-17T19:13:00.000-05:00

Today, after leaving work and school, we needed the air in the tires checked. As the temperature outside is changing, the air pressure light in the car keeps coming on and off. It seems that all four tires needed air. Taft loved helping the man at AK Tire. They had a nice conversation and Taft told him about the car being named Rex.

I love that you can see the reflection in the car to see that Taft had his bunnies by the ear.

Prayers for Courtney

2012-01-17T11:39:00.002-05:00

I know that many of you have followed Courtney Roth's blog about her life with her son Tripp. Tripp had a condition called EB. She completely devoted her life to caring for him. She gave him the best life that he could have and became his full time care giver.
Tripp went to heaven on Saturday. You can read her words here. Please remember to pray for Courtney's peace just has we have prayed for Tripp's.

Banana Bread

2012-01-16T20:44:00.001-05:00

You Need:
3 or 4 ripe bananas, smashed
1/3 cup melted butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups self rising flour

No need for a mixer for this recipe. Preheat the oven to 350°F. With a wooden spoon, mix butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl. Mix in the sugar, egg, and vanilla. Add the flour last, mix. Pour mixture into a buttered 4x8 inch loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour. Cool on a rack. Remove from pan and slice to serve.

This was so good. I remember making some recipes for banana bread that were so hard to mix by hand. This is not. It is more like a cake batter. I think we will be making this a lot more.

RECIPE 5:52 FOR 2012
BAKING 1:26 FOR 2012

{Book Club Friday}: A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard

2012-01-13T09:43:00.005-05:00

Today I am reviewing A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard.

Here is what Amazon says about the book:

When Jaycee Dugard was eleven years old, she was abducted from a school bus stop within sight of her home in South Lake Tahoe, California. She was missing for more than eighteen years, held captive by Phillip Craig and Nancy Garrido, and gave birth to two daughters during her imprisonment. On August 26, 2009, Garrido showed up for a meeting with his parole officer; he brought Jaycee, her daughters, and his wife Nancy with him. Their unusual behavior raised suspicions and an investigation revealed the tent behind the Garridos’ home where Jaycee had been living for nearly two decades.

A Stolen Life was written by Jaycee herself and covers the period from the time of her abduction in 1991 up until the present. In her stark, compelling narrative, she opens up about what she experienced—and offers an extraordinary account of courage and resilience.

I wanted to read this book but I wanted to wait until I thought that I was ready. I am not sure that you are ever ready for it though. Jaycee tells her story in a very vivid and descriptive manner. She doesn't sugar coat anything and tells you how she felt about the things that happened.
She is an amazing person and tells the story her way.

BOOK 4:12 FOR 2012

****Click here for more books that I have read and reviewed and here for my ever growing list of books to read in the future.

{Book Club Friday}: The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain

2012-01-13T08:01:00.003-05:00

Today I am reviewing The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain.

Here is the synopsis from the author's website:

:Twenty-eight years ago, a North Carolina governor’s young, pregnant wife was kidnapped. Now, her remains have been found and a man charged with her murder. Only one person-CeeCee Wilkes-can refute the charges against him. But CeeCee disappeared years ago. .

Eve Elliot is a successful therapist to troubled students, a loving wife, a mother deeply invested in her family. But her happiness is built on a lie. When she was a lonely, vulnerable young woman, a single decision made in innocence led to a dark night of unimaginable consequences. Now, forced to confront her past, she faces another terrible choice: reveal to her family that she is not who she seems, or allow a man to take the blame for a crime she knows he did not commit. If the choice affected only her life, Eve is certain she would do what is right. But though inaction means condemning an innocent man, it also means protecting her family from the mistakes of her past.

Corinne Elliot has always known she was different: the only redhead in a family of brunettes, the paralyzing shyness that contrasts with her sister’s vivaciousness, the many fears-of highways, of bridges, of public spaces-that constrict her daily life. Still, with a new job possibility and a baby on the way, she’s found some measure of happiness-until the day she turns on the television and finds her mother’s image on screen.

Now, as the past explodes into the present, Corinne must confront the secrets she has always intuited, and find answers from the one person who knows the truth of what happened over two decades ago-CeeCee Wilkes.

This book was great! I loved how it was written and the changing between past and present. I loved that everything got wrapped up nicely at the end. I hate to have unanswered questions when I finish a book. I really completely loved it and can't wait to read more Diane Chamberlain.

BOOK 3:12 FOR 2012

****Click here for more books that I have read and reviewed and here for my ever growing list of books to read in the future.

{Book Club Friday}: Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

2012-01-13T08:00:00.012-05:00

Today I am reviewing Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks.

Here is the synopsis from the author's website:

When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo. Despite her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community and becoming increasingly attached to Alex and his family.

But even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her . . . a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. With Jo’s empathic and stubborn support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards . . . and that in the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven.

This is a very fast read. I have yet to read a book by Nicholas Sparks that I didn't like. This one is no exseption. It even ends with a little twist that may not have seen coming. I loved it!

BOOK 2:12 FOR 2012

****Click here for more books that I have read and reviewed and here for my ever growing list of books to read in the future.

Baked Potato Soup

2012-01-08T17:54:00.002-05:00

Another great recipe from Pinterest. The source is here.

You need:
6 large russet potatoes, peeled and cubed (about 4 lbs)
1 large onion, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
3 (14 oz) cans chicken broth
1/4 cup butter
2 1/2 – 3 t. salt
1 t. freshly ground pepper
2 Tablespoons minced garlic
1 cup milk
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
3 T. parsley
1 (8 oz) sour cream
4 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled - Optional and we didn't use
Shredded Cheddar cheese

Combine the first 7 ingredients in a large crock pot. Cover and cook on High for 4 hours or on Low for 8 hours, or until potatoes are tender.
Mash mixture until potatoes are coarsely chopped and soup is slightly thickened. Stir in milk, cheese, sour cream and parsley.
Sprinkle with bacon and Cheddar cheese before serving.
Makes 12 cups of soup.

Completely yummy!

RECIPE 4:52 FOR 2012

{Pinterest Inspired}: Bird Feeders

2012-01-08T11:14:00.000-05:00

I got the idea and instructions for these here via Pinterest. I doubted the process. I guess that I forgot how sticky gelatine really is. This worked great. We doubled the recipe and made 4 big feeders.

Thursday was National Bird Day. At least it was according to Holiday Insights. So - last night, Taft and I worked on a few gifts for the birds in our neighborhood. We even had all the ingredients already.

Here is what you need:

3/4 cup birdseed
1/4 cup water
1 small envelope of Knox gelatin
twine or string
cookie cutters, molds or mason jar lids
wax paper

You need to put the water and the gelatin in a sauce pan. Heat to a simmer and stir constantly until the gelatin is dissolved. Remove from and the heat and let it cool a minute. Then add in the birdseed. It says to add a little extra seed if there is liquid left in the bottom of the pan.
Lay your cookie cutters (or anything that you are using as a mold) onto the waxed paper. Fill them half full of birdseed mixture. Add your twine or ribbon. Then finish filling the mold with the birdseed. (This makes the ribbon or twine sandwiched into the mold.) Press down on the birdseed until the mold is full and it is packed tight.
Let them dry overnight and removed from the molds. Then we hung on trees in the front yard.

{Book Club Friday}: The Distant Hours by Kate Morton

2012-01-06T08:44:00.002-05:00

Here is the description from Amazon:
It starts with a letter, lost for half a century and unexpectedly delivered to Edie’s mother on a Sunday afternoon. The letter leads Edie to Milderhurst Castle, where the eccentric Blythe spinsters live and where, she discovers, her mother was billeted during World War II. The elder Blythe sisters are twins and have spent most of their lives caring for their younger sister, Juniper, who hasn’t been the same since her fiancé jilted her in 1941. Inside the decaying castle, Edie searches for her mother’s past but soon learns there are other secrets hidden in its walls. The truth of what happened in “the distant hours” has been waiting a long time for someone to find it. In this enthralling romantic thriller, Morton pays homage to the classics of gothic fiction, spinning a rich and intricate web of mystery, suspense, and lost love.

Thank goodness I found a book like this to start off the New Year and my resolution to read more. I remember why I loved to read when I was younger and can't wait to get my hands on another book. I also want to read everything that Kate Morton has written.
This is a great book. I wanted to be Edie as she searched for answers and found the secrets of the past. I loved that even up to the last two pages, I had no idea how it would end. And - it ended perfectly.
I must thank Lauren at Adventures in Flip Flops. This book was on her list and I would have never found it without her.

BOOK 1:12 FOR 2012

****Click here for more books that I have read and reviewed and here for my ever growing list of books to read in the future.

Garlic Salmon Fillets

2012-01-05T20:51:00.000-05:00

This was VERY good. I found a recipe in a magazine and altered it a bit.

You need:
6 4 oz salmon fillets, about 1 inch thick, thawed if frozen
Salt and pepper
1/4 cup snipped parsley
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
4 large cloves of garlic, minced

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Rinse salmon and pat dry. Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper.
In a small bowl, mix parsley, broth, olive oil, and garlic.
Place salmon, flat side down, in a glass baking dish. Pour parsley mixture over salmon fillets.
Bake, uncovered for 8-10 minutes, or until fish flakes easily with a fork.

RECIPE 3:52 FOR 2012

G is for....

2012-01-05T08:00:00.000-05:00

I am linking up with Alphabe-Thursday at Jenny Matlock. Today's letter is G and we are in week 7.

Graveyards.

I love graveyards. Not in a morbid or Gothic kind of way. I can spend hours in a old graveyard like Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah, GA, just due to it's great size. But I love little forgotten ones, out in the middle of nowhere, and those with picturesque churches.. I love to look at the tombstones. See the family groupings. Calculate their age at death and picture what was going on in the world at that time. Imagine what the people where like. What they did.
I am not a fan of the new modern cemeteries. The ones where all the markers are the same. Flat; so the caretaker can mow the grass easier and save time, money, and effort. It somehow takes away from the beauty of it all.
I like the tombstones to all be different. They have character much like the people that are beneath them. It seems more like they are not forgotten. People had to take time to pick that marker out for that person. It was designed for them alone.
Graveyards are peaceful. They are pretty in a way. They are full of history. Of peoples hopes and dreams. Of parents and children. Husbands and wives.
I read something recently that said that peoples lives are between two brackets. Those brackets are their date of birth and their date of death. The living part is the chain of events between them. I hope that when I have both brackets, that I am marked with a tall, old fashion headstone in a quite, little graveyard.

Baked Chicken with Beans and Potatoes

2012-01-03T21:09:00.003-05:00

I found a great recipe on Pinterest and couldn't wait to try it, but I didn't get all the ingredients. So this is what we came up with instead. It was very good.

You need:
Split Chicken Breasts (bone in)
Large can of Green Beans (we use Kentucky Wonders)
10-15 New Potatoes, quartered
Black pepper
Celery salt
Olive oil

Preheat over to 350 degrees. Drain beans and place in an oven safe baking dish. Place quartered potatoes and 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a bowl and toss. Add celery salt and pepper to taste.
Cut skin off chicken and place on cutting board. Sprinkle each side with celery salt and pepper. Place chicken on top of the beans. Add potatoes. Cover dish and bake for 50-60 minutes or until chicken is down and juices run clear. Leave uncovered for the last 15 minutes to brown the chicken.

NEW RECIPE 2:52 FOR 2012.

Mushroom Madness

2012-01-01T22:30:00.004-05:00

The first is finally here. In fact, it got here WAY to fast. Today is the first day for a lot of people for a new beginning. I need a new beginning in many ways. My house is a disaster. Literally, a disaster. It may take all year to get it back in order and where it needs to be to make me happy. I think that I can do it though. I started yesterday by moving things around and even doing some touch up painting on areas that have taken a beating by a child and a big dog. I have many projects in my mind and hopefully will get them finished as soon as possible.
One thing on my 2012 Goal List was to get a library card. I got an early start on that on Friday. I realized that the library would be closed on Monday and we had things to do on Saturday, so Taft and I went to the Flagler County Public Library after I picked him up from school. He loves the bookstore so I thought that he wold be a fan.
He was a fan of the Children's Library and played while we picked him out a few books.
When it got time for me to pick a book for myself, he was not as good. In fact, I was pretty sure that he would get us kicked out of the library all together and that they were going to take back my shiny, new, green library card. But I got a book. The Distant Hours by Kate Morton. So far it is great.
Taft has tons of books and I knew that there has to be a way to keep the library books out of the general population and safe. (His hands do not need to be on the books without supervision). I settled on a basket on the counter by the fridge. I let him know that they are there and to let me know when he wants one. He was happy with that.

We read the first one today. Mushroom in the Rain by Mirra Ginsburg and went outside to find some pretty big mushrooms in the yard.

I did cook the first new recipe of the year today and it was great. I also got all the ornaments on Taft's tree photographed so I can work on getting those in a book. At the moment, I am thinking that a 12x12 scrapbook will be perfect to hold photos and descriptions of Taft's ornaments and the family ornaments. Just divide them up with the Becky Higgins Scrapbook Dividers and since I took all vertical photos, the Pocket Pages in Design D would be perfect. Neither are in stock at the moment.
Now - on to tomorrow. I only got Taft's Christmas Tree down so I still have work to do.

Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti

2012-01-01T19:08:00.002-05:00

I found this recipe here via Pinterest.

This is WONDERFUL!! I have to say that there is nothing low fat about it. It is pure comfort food. So good.

Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti

5-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or 1 whole chicken fryer
1 - 12 oz package spaghetti noodles
1 - 16 oz (1 lb) package Velveeta cheese, cubed
1 - 10.5 oz can cream of chicken soup
1 - 14 oz can chicken broth or 2 cups reserved broth
1 - stick margarine (1/2 Cup)
1 - 8oz package shredded mild or sharp cheddar cheese
1 - small onion, chopped
3-4 celery ribs, chopped
1/4 cup green bell pepper, chopped

Fill a big stock pot with water. Clean and rinse whole fryer or chicken pieces. Add chicken, I like to add a little seasoning salt, pepper and poultry seasoning while the chicken cooks. Wash hands after handling chicken. Let chicken come to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer chicken until done. Cook whole fryers about 2 hours and chicken breasts or pieces 45-50 minutes. Remove chicken from pot and place on a plate to cool. Drain the broth through a strainer and reserve. Cook the spaghetti per package directions. Instead of cooking the spaghetti in water, we are going to use the reserved chicken broth. ( I did the same. I didn't have enough stock left over to make the noodles completely, so I added water to it)

Add spaghetti and bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer noodles until al dente. While spaghetti noodles are cooking start de boning the chicken (make sure it is cool enough to handle) or break chicken breasts to smaller pieces. Chop up all the vegetables and set aside. Melt margarine in a small skillet and add the vegetables. Sauté’ vegetables until they are tender and translucent in color. When noodles are done drain and set aside.

If you are not using canned chicken broth, reserve 2 cups of the cooked broth. In a large bowl combine Velveeta cheese, chicken broth and cream of chicken soup. Place in microwave and cook on low for 5-7 minutes or until mixture is smooth and cheese is melted. (You can also use the defrost setting).

To the cheese mixture add cooked vegetables with butter, spaghetti noodles and chicken pieces. Stir to combine. Spray a 9x 13 inch baking dish with cooking spray and add combined mixture. Top finished casserole with 8oz of shredded cheddar cheese. Place casserole in a preheated 350 degree oven and bake for about 45 minutes or until cheese is golden brown and casserole is bubbly. Remove from oven let cool and serve.

NEW RECIPE 1:52 FOR 2012

2011-12-31T11:21:00.003-05:00

We Have Lots of Plans!

That's right. I have plans. Don't laugh. I am making resolutions out the, well, you know. I know that I have to be realistic in that most of them will not make it to 2013, maybe not even to March, but by gosh, I am going to give it a try. I even plan on doing a little update once a quarter to see what kind of progress I am making and what needs more work. You can read about all the goals here. I am sure that I will be adding a few things as January comes and goes.

First off - I will be doing Project Life this year and can't wait. I have ~~stalked~~ admired other people's creativity with this project for way too long to not give in. Plus - I think that it is a better way for me to document what we do on a daily basis. A nice way to add all those little things that Taft says and does, instead of waiting to make a full 12x12 scrapbook page out of it. It does not mean that I will not be doing "real" or "traditional" scrapbooking anymore. I will. Getting caught up is one of my goals too. And I hope that I can do that while doing some sketch challenges.

I am also planning on doing One Little Word. You can read more about that project here. My word for the year is Grow and I plan to use it in every sense of the word. More to come of that later.

A big challenge for me is to cook more. We have a terrible habit of eating out or picking up pizza more than a couple times a week. Not only is it expensive, it is not very good for us. I am working on planning meals ahead and making things in advance. I want to try at least 52 new recipes this year. One per week, on average, is not that unattainable. I would love to cook 5 out of 7 days. Left overs will count. And so will frozen meals. ;0

I also want to read. I REALLY want to read. I love how being interested in a book makes me feel. I love to picture the characters and places in my mind (it always seems better than the movie version). It is hard to have time to read with Taft. I am not a person that stays up hours after he goes to bed. In fact, we go to bed together almost always. But - it is on my list. I am going for a goal of 12 books for the year. Maybe I can make it. Taft is 3 1/2 and old enough to start going to the library for the children's programs and to understand that he can check out books. He loves books and it is something that we can do together. We got a library card and we will both start enjoying free books.

Pinterest is killing me. I "pin" so many things and never get around to making them. I have so many great holiday pins and never made any of them. It kinda makes you feel like a failure. Like those people are just better than you are. But - they're not. I am sure that they have housekeepers, nannies, and stay at home. Otherwise - they would never have the time. At least that is what I am telling myself and I am sticking with it until I get to make some of these things. Honestly - I plan on making as many as possible. Recipes and crafts. I know that I can't make all of them each season and have to save a few for the next year.

{Book Club Friday}: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

2011-12-30T11:54:00.001-05:00

Here is the description from Amazon:

The timely and critically acclaimed debut novel that's becoming a word-of-mouth phenomenon. An epic tale of fathers and sons, of friendship and betrayal, that takes us from Afghanistan in the final days of the monarchy to the atrocities of the present.

The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father's servant, The Kite Runner is a beautifully crafted novel set in a country that is in the process of being destroyed. It is about the power of reading, the price of betrayal, and the possibility of redemption, and it is also about the power of fathers over sons-their love, their sacrifices, their lies.
The first Afghan novel to be written in English, The Kite Runner tells a sweeping story of family, love, and friendship against a backdrop of history that has not been told in fiction before, bringing to mind the large canvases of the Russian writers of the nineteenth century. But just as it is old-fashioned in its narration, it is contemporary in its subject-the devastating history of Afghanistan over the last thirty years. As emotionally gripping as it is tender, The Kite Runner is an unusual and powerful debut.

I cannot begin to say how much I loved this book. A Palestinian friend recommended it to me and I couldn't put it down. It is powerful and you can't forget it. I am so glad that I took the time to read it.
The movie was a disappointment to me. Most book to movies are but this one left out some really important parts. If you watched the movie and didn't like it, give the book a chance.

****Click here for more books that I have read and reviewed.

Santa Came!

2011-12-26T20:46:00.000-05:00

Taft slept with me on Christmas Eve (he does all the time), he woke up and told me that he heard Santa the night before. He said that he heard him say, "Ho, Ho, Ho!", and that he was outside when he said it. I told him that I was sure it was while he was letting the reindeer have their snack. He agreed and wanted to get up to see if Santa came and left him anything.
He walked into the family room and quickly saw that Santa did make a drop off here. He was so excited. It was the first year that he was old enough to know what was going on.

He got the desk and phone with an answering machine that he asked for. He now has his office that he has wanted. He also wanted paint and he got a lot of it and a few different kinds. He also got clay, hand soap, bubble bath, body wash, chalk, a chalkboard/dry erase board, magnetic letters, wood building blocks, Lincoln Logs, a football, candy, and a doctors kit.

We moved the desk to his playroom and he spent hours painting us pictures.

Gran sent him a shaving kit. He loves it. He saved in his bath.

Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T22:00:00.003-05:00

Today we decided to just stay in. Taft and I worked on the playroom a little and tried to make room for all the new toys that we knew were on their way from the north pole. So as the afternoon rolled in, we decided to let Taft start opening gifts from grandparents.That is beginning to be a tradition for us.
Gran got him a train table for his GeoTrax that also came with another train and more track. I love that the table is in 3 pieces. We can use it for so many things including playing with blocks. (We are waiting to see if Santa brings those.)

Mawmaw and Pawpaw got him a grill. Taft is a big fan of cooking in general and loves to watch Shane on the grill. This one is as close to ours as you can get and even has a rotisserie attachment. It makes noise and sounds like Taft is cooking away. I can see that he is going to cook me a alot of hot dogs.

Another tradition is to get some new ornaments for Christmas. Here are the ones that Taft got this year.
A big giraffe. This one is special since he went to the zoo for the first time on his birthday. He also got to feed the giraffes.

A circus tent. We also went to the circus for the first time this year. Instead of a picture, I put his ticket in the little slot.

A circle cut from his first live tree. I got his idea off Pinterest and knew we had to do it. I added a ribbon and a little tag with the year.

A recordable wish ornament. Gran sent Taft this ornament and it is special since this is the first year that Taft really made a list for Santa and it is great to record a little memory of that.

And we got a new family ornament from Gran. A silver star.

And Taft made us a new ornament this year too. He made a bell at school. It is my favorite this year.

After opening a few gifts, we went to Central Park for the Festival of Lights. Different businesses and clubs in town donate a light display to go around the lake. Taft really liked it since you get to walk and see the lights up close.

Because he is 3.

And after coming home and having dinner, we went outside to leave Reindeer Food for Santa's reindeer to have a little snack while he is putting out Taft's gifts.

And finally, before bed, Taft made some "circle" cookies with sprinkles for Santa.

{Book Club Friday}: The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans

2011-12-23T09:00:00.020-05:00

Here is the description from Amazon:

Since it was first published, more than seven million people have been touched by the magic of The Christmas Box, a holiday classic that is as beloved in our time as A Christmas Carol was in Dickens's.

When Richard Paul Evans wrote The Christmas Box, he intended it as a private expression of love for his two young daughters, Jenna and Allyson. Though he often told them that he loved them, he didn't feel that they could ever really understand the depth of his feelings until they had experienced the joy of rearing their own children, and by that time their relationship would have changed forever. In writing The Christmas Box, he hoped that at some time in the future they would read the book and know of their father's love.

As Evans began to write, he was amazed at the inspiration that flowed into his mind and heart. He completed the moving story of a widow and the young family who comes to live with her in less than six weeks, and bound twenty copies to give as Christmas presents to family and friends. In the following weeks, those twenty copies were shared and passed along from family to family, from friend to friend, and what began as a tale for two little girls became a message of miracles, hope, and healing for people throughout the world.

I adore this book, and the entire series for that matter. I pick it up at the grocery store while making a quick stop for my mother before the holiday and read it many years ago for the first time. I try to read it at least every two years. It is a fast and easy read. (The movie is not too bad either).

It is so worth your time!

{Pinterest Inspired}: Gift Wrapping

2011-12-22T11:00:00.001-05:00

I let Taft pick a gift to give the teachers and staff at his school. So many people there are in his daily routine. There is an owner, public relations, office staff, cook, music teacher, gymnastic teacher, ...you get the picture. We found some cute sets of holiday bath gels. Seven to a set and a great price. We got two sets and broke them into individual gifts. Taft is a huge fan of bath products so he loved the idea. I knew that I wanted to wrap them in brown paper bag style. I have seen so much of this on Pinterest and just love it, so I let Taft pick out the ribbon that he liked (he said that it looks like Santa's clothes) and it was already 70% off too. I got the brown lunch bags at Dollar Tree. They came in a bag of 40.
The gift tags were very simple and quick. I just altered a photo Taft in Picnik and uploaded them to Wal*Mart. I did a 4x6 collage print for 9 cents a sheet. Taft loved seeing his picture on each bag.
I used a scallop blade on my paper trimmer to cut the very top of the bags off and punched two holes for the ribbon. Done! I love the way that they turned out.

{Pinterest Inspired}: Reindeer Food

2011-12-21T21:25:00.005-05:00

Reindeer Food is not an original idea and I am not sure that it can be traced to the first person that made it. I have seen many versions on Pinterest this year and knew that I wanted to make it for Taft's friends. Some online instructions tell you to use glitter. Please don't. Glitter can cause health problems and death when eaten by birds and reindeer. The sugar sparkles just enough.
Here is what I used:
Split Peas (in a bag with the dried beans). They are the top and bottom layers in that pretty green color.
Quick Oats
Christmas Sugar (I got them in an 8 oz bottle at Michael's and picked up the ones that are clear, green, and red mixed). They are the middle layer.
Pretzel Bags
Ribbon
Photo gift tags (I altered a photo of Taft with Santa in Picnik. I then printed it on a 4x6 collage at Wal*Mart for 9 cents a sheet.)
Reindeer Food instruction tag (I used these free printable)

I only filled the Pretzel Bags about half full and cut off the extra. I decided to layer the different foods because I love the way it looks. You can mix everything together and package it that way to be an even faster gift.

Taft was very excited about taking it in to his friends!

Christmas Play at School

2011-12-21T21:24:00.002-05:00

Today was Taft's play at school. Last year, it was kinda a disaster. His class came in to sing and he saw us in the back. He started to cry and scream and didn't stop. I think that all the parents there scared him. He had no idea why they were there and he had no idea how to get to us. Shane ended up down there with him and he never stopped crying.
This was such a difference. It is amazing how much he has grown and changed in a year. He has sang Christmas songs since Halloween. (That's how long they have been working on their play). His music teacher asked people to bring in Halloween costumes to use. Taft took his and was very excited about being the UPS man again. At the beginning of the week, Miss Erin told me that she thought Taft was going to be an elf instead. She said that only the children that listened and would do their lines had been chosen and Taft was one of the three. I talked to him about being an elf and he said he wanted to be the UPS man. I told him that being than was very special and that I was so proud of him. He also had to be talked to about the fact that another child was going to wear his UPS costume.
I was very lucky that I was able to take the day off work. I took Taft to school and then I went home to work on some gifts for his friends. I went back to the school at lunch to help Miss Erin with getting the kids fed and dressed for the play. It was a lot of work and so much fun at the same time. Those kids are a handful! It is not a job that I would like to have but I do loving going to help when I can.

After getting the kids ready, I was able to sit them all down to read to them while Erin and Shane (he came a little early too) got the tables cleaned up from lunch.

I was able to get great close up photos of all the kids that I play on printing and putting in there cubbies for their parents. All of them turned out great. I think that Taft made the cutest elf ever!

Miss Phyllis (the music teacher) and the little elves.

My favorite elf. ;0

Taft during the play.

Taft talking to Santa.

The elves in their spot during the play.

Taft saying his lines. He did great!

Taft's class singing.

Santa at the end of the play.

Christmas Light Walk

2011-12-20T21:11:00.000-05:00

For the past few years, we have walked with Taft around the neighborhood to look at Christmas lights. The best part is the one family a few streets up that do a Griswold Christmas. It is unbelievable.
Shane had to work late tonight so Taft and I walked up there alone. He was asking to go when we came home so I told him we would if he was good and ate all his dinner. We had a great walk and talked about how we are best friends. I love my sweet boy.

Elfcapades Day 19 & First Gift of the Year

2011-12-19T21:00:00.000-05:00

Here is my crazy little boy getting ready to open his first gift of the season. His friend, Dargas (aka Yvette that is my co-worker) sent it to him today. He saw it in the car and got very excited. I had to help him get the tape loosened but then he was set.

We then spent some time playing Memory. I broke it down to 12 cards and he got the hang of it very fast. He was so proud of himself making his matches.

Quincy is totally getting lazy. He was in the tree again but with a shapes puzzle this time. Then we had to spend time doing the puzzle over and over again.

Elfcapades Day 18

2011-12-18T22:00:00.000-05:00

After Taft's bath tonight, he found Quincy in the family tree. Quincy had also hung all Taft's underwear on the tree.

Taft thought that it was funny, but he quickly started to take it down. He told Quincy not to do that anymore and that underwear does not go on the tree.

Elfcapades Day 17 & Day Out With Taft

2011-12-17T20:00:00.002-05:00

Taft and I needed haircuts so we made an appointment to go in before Christmas. Since we were in Daytona Beach (and we never go there) I decided to take advantage and make a little day trip out of it. I told Taft that Quincy wanted us to go this places and have fun.
After haircuts, or first stop was Barnes and Noble. Taft loved looking at the toys and playing with the legos. I was thrilled when I found a great Christmas book that I have not seen in years. I read it at the store when I was pregnant with Taft and I have thought it about ever since. So Quincy put money in my pocket to buy it.

Here is Taft enjoying the new book. It came with a CD so he could "read" as I drove us to our next location. Chick- Fil- A.

Taft eating his nuggets and loving his new cow watch that was in his kids meal.

We saw this lovely cow on the way to the bathroom and had to get a quick photo. He also played on the playground since he was good and ate his lunch first.
Afterwards, we went to Joann's. They had a great 60% off sale on Christmas gift sets and we picked up gifts for all the teachers and staff at his school.

Live Nativity

2011-12-16T21:00:00.001-05:00

For the past few years, we have gone to Parkview Baptist Church for their Live Nativity. Each year it has gotten bigger and better. It is a huge town event and the police have to direct traffic due to the huge amount of people that come out during the three nights they perform.
It is a drive through event. You are greeted by Roman soldiers on horses and the city gates. It then takes you on a trip from before Jesus was born to when he arose from the tomb. This year, they even had a real baby Jesus.

Taft loved it as usual. He loved the live animals and the one goat that kept "talking". He loved the little baby and all the fire from the campfires then had set up.

{Book Club Friday}: Hello, Goodbye by Emily Chenoweth

2011-12-16T15:22:00.002-05:00

Here is the description from Amazon:

In a single week, a family leaves behind its past and a daughter awakens to the future in Emily Chenoweth’s intimate and beautifully crafted debut novel.

In the winter of 1990, Helen Hansen–counselor, wife, and mother in the prime of her life–is diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. The following August, Helen, her husband, Elliott, and their daughter, Abby, a freshman in college, take a trip to northern New Hampshire, where Helen will be able to say goodbye to a lifetime of friends. Ensconced in a historic resort in the White Mountains–a place where afternoon cocktails are served on the veranda and men are expected to wear jackets after six–the Hansens and their guests must improvise their own rituals of remembrance and reconnection.

For Elliott, the trip is a parting gift to his beloved wife, as well as some needed respite from the caretaking duties that have become his main work. For Helen and the procession of old friends who come to pay their respects, the days offer a poignant celebration of a dear, too-brief life. And for Abby, still unaware that her mother’s cancer is terminal, the week brings a surprising conflict between loyalty and desire as, drawn by the youthful, spirited hotel staff, she finds herself caught between the affections of two very different young men.

Heartbreaking and luminous, Hello Goodbye deftly explores a family’s struggle with love and loss, as a summer vacation becomes an occasion for awakening rather than farewell, and life inevitably blossoms in the face of death.

If I am being honest, I didn't love this book. I didn't even like it enough to finish it in a timely manner. It's not that it was horrible, but just slow. It did nothing to hold my attention. At this point in my life (with a small child and no time to read), a book as to grab my attention and not let go. This was not one of those books for me.

I have read great reviews for it so I am sure that it is truly a personal issue.

F is for...

2011-12-15T09:00:00.001-05:00

I am linking up with Alphabe-Thursday at Jenny Matlock. Today's letter is F and we are in week 6.

Family Tree.
When I was younger, I thought that people that worked on their family trees were a little strange. I just really didn't see the point. But - I decided to give ancestry.com a whirl right after my son was born.
Now I try to not work on it unless I really have the time. Once I get online and start finding documents and more "branches", I completely lose track of time. I can stay on the computer doing research for hours. Hours that I really don't have.
I get obscessed with finding information on people that died in the 1800's. I love finding people that are more closely related to these relatives that have photos and stories. Something more than just dates of birth and death. At the moment, I have traced some branches back as far as the Revolutionary War and have found that all of my relatives that were of age, fought in the Confederate Army.
I love the show "The Generations Project" on BYUtv. I have no connection to any of the people in the show, but I love finding out about their family history. I have a few questions about my family tree that I would love for them to work on but I have been to chicken to send in a request. Maybe this will be the year that I just do it.

Elfcapades Day 12

2011-12-12T19:31:00.000-05:00

Today, Quincy brought a nice, new Santa coloring book. He also dropped off some cookie cutters at Taft's school for the kids to use with their playdough this week.

Elfcapades Day 11

2011-12-11T20:02:00.000-05:00

Quincy was found under the Christmas Tree in the family room. Taft decided he wanted green water tonight.

Brunch With Santa at The Zoo

2011-12-10T22:00:00.002-05:00

Taft and I woke up early for Saturday morning and got dressed and ready to leave. We were off to Sanford, Florida, to the zoo. We have been to the zoo in Jacksonville before, but never to Sanford. We were going for a special reason. Brunch with Santa! Thanks Gran!
Here is how our day went -

We ate brunch. There was an all you can eat buffet with pancakes, sausage, bacon, eggs, fired potatoes, fresh cut fruit, cereal, cereal bars, and muffins. We also had juice, water, and hot cocoa.

Santa came to each table to speak to each child. Taft was so excited that he just started laughing uncontrollably.

Then he started signing Jingle Bells. Santa let him finish and told him that even Santa can't put a price on that.

After breakfast, the kids went outside to make snacks for the animals. Here, Taft is helping with fruit salad. It was bananas and cranberries.

And he got to help make a burrito out of a leaf, pureed veges, and seeds.

We saw a llama dressed like a reindeer.

We watched some of the animals eat the snacks that we helped make.

We got to ride in a "squeaky" car.

We watched the "big turtles" eat bamboo.

We hugged..

and kissed our new friend from Santa.

We walked in the Butterfly Garden.

And saw trees full of oranges.

We played in the playground.

We took time to be silly.

We met a turtle.

And we got to pet him.

We rode the giraffe on the Merry Go Round.

And saved the train for last.

We had a great time. How can you go wrong with food, Santa, and animals?
Each child got the same gift and they give a different animal each year. Now I have to find the perfect way to make the little tag that came with it an ornament for Taft's tree.

Elfcapades Day 10

2011-12-10T20:37:00.001-05:00

A new Christmas CD was waiting in Taft's carseat (along with Quincy of course).

Elfcapades Day 9

2011-12-09T21:00:00.001-05:00

Smarties for the little smartie pants.

Elfcapades Day 8

2011-12-08T07:30:00.001-05:00

This morning, I went into Taft's bathroom to get his bath ready. He has wanted morning baths this week. And look what I found....

I called Taft to come quick and he did! There was Quincy, naked with a towel on, holding some new Cars Bathwash! He even threw his clothes in the tub! That crazy elf!

Taft loved the new soap and went to school smelling like Raspberry Lemonade.

E is for...

2011-12-08T07:00:00.002-05:00

I am linking up with Alphabe-Thursday at Jenny Matlock. Today's letter is E and we are in week 5.

Elfcapades.
If you have been reading my blog, or even stopping by this month, you will see that we have daily interaction with a magical elf named Quincy.
These little elves are taking over some parts of the country. I have lots of friends in Alabama that are having elves show up at their houses during the month of December also.
You can click here to see what our elf has been up to.
Here are a few photos I have seen around the internet of other crazy little elves.

You can find out how to get an elf here.

Elfcapades Day 7

2011-12-07T21:00:00.000-05:00

Did you notice that there was not a Day 6? Taft was told for weeks before Quincy got here that he has to be good at home and school to get his presents. So for five days we did great. Yesterday, not so much.
He started out bad at school from what I was told. Time out before breakfast for not listening. By the time he got to his room, he would not listen and he threw bean bags at his friends. His teacher said that he would laugh when she got onto him.
He told me that it was because people would not leave him alone. That is not really a good answer. Miss Erin did say that most of the class was not listening. She told him that she called Quincy. Quincy came last night for a visit but he brought no gifts.
Tonight, Taft found him in his Christmas Tree just hanging out with his little gift bag. Quincy brought new "lips" as Taft calls it. Better known as Lightning McQueen Chapstick.

Virtual Cookie Exchange

2011-12-07T13:28:00.000-05:00

Today I am linking up with The Larson Lingo for a virtual Cookie Exchange. So head on over and find some new yummy recipes or link up your own favorite.

Photo from Eaglebrand.com

By far, my favorite holiday cookie is the Magic Cookie Bar. I love these cookies! The recipe first showed up on the Eagle Brand Condensed Milk. And who doesn't like that?

Ingredients:
No-Stick Cooking Spray
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 (14 oz.) can Eagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk
2 cups (12 oz. pkg.) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 1/3 cups flaked coconut
1 cup chopped nuts
**I leave the nuts out.

HEAT oven to 350°F. Coat 13 x 9-inch baking pan with no-stick cooking spray.

COMBINE graham cracker crumbs and butter in small bowl. Press into bottom of prepared pan. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over crumb mixture. Layer evenly with chocolate chips, coconut and nuts. Press down firmly with fork.

BAKE 25 to 30 minutes or until lightly browned. Loosen from sides of pan while still warm; cool on wire rack. Cut into bars.

For perfectly cut cookie bars, line entire pan with foil, extending foil over edge of pan. Coat lightly with no-stick cooking spray. After bars have baked and cooled, lift up with edges of foil to remove from pan. Cut into bars.

There are many variations to make each family member happy. The chocolate chips can be switched out with butterscotch, white chocolate, peanut butter chips, you name it. Even candy coated pieces, dried cranberries, raisins, mini-marshmallows can be put in for half the chocolate chips.

I'm A Doctor....

2011-12-07T08:45:00.001-05:00

and Mommy is late to work.
That's right, today was one of my early mornings where I open the office. Taft was not doing well getting ready for school. He had a few issues relating to the diarrhea he had the night before. I realized on the drive that there was no way I was going to make it even close to 8 am. So - Taft came with me. I opened and flipped the phones, cleared the fax, and sorted charts from the long day before.
Taft used my stethoscope to listen to my heart and back. He said that he is the doctor.

We were there for 15 minutes before our friend Yvette came in and off to school we went. His school is about 5 minutes from me and he had a nice morning to tell his teacher about though.

Elfcapades Day 5

2011-12-05T20:21:00.000-05:00

Taft went to get his PJ's tonight and Quincy was in the drawer. With a new movie no less. So far he has loved all his Quincy gifts/

Elfcapades Day 4

2011-12-04T21:36:00.000-05:00

While Taft was taking a bath, Quincy put his stocking on his closet door. Taft was very excited to see that it had a puzzle in there!

Elfcapades Day 3 & Santa's Christmas Tree Forest

2011-12-03T20:18:00.002-05:00

This morning, Taft found Quincy in his room with a tree stand. He left Taft a note telling him that it was for his new tree and to tell his Mommy and Daddy to take him to the Christmas Tree Farm. I guess that it was good that we didn't have any plans.

We went to the Santa's Christmas Tree Forest in Eustis, Florida. It was a little hard to believe that there was such us place in Florida. There is not a lot about Florida that really feels like Christmas but this place did it's best. All the buildings are red with white scallop trim and everything smelled like pine.

We went to pick out a tree for Taft's room since his fake tree was going to be too small with all the ornaments that he has collected over the past few years. He found this lovely tree and we all agreed that it was perfect.

Taft and Quincy watching Shane cut down his Christmas Tree.

Taft with some hay from the hayride. They take you out and let you off to look for a tree. Then they pick up the tree and you and take the tree to get shaken and bagged.

Taft loves these "trains" made out of barrels. We seem to see them at every farm we go to. The reindeer's were so cute. He rode it three times.

There he goes.

After we got our tree, we headed over to the petting zoo. Look who we ran into - Santa.

Taft loved the animals. He saw goats, a bunny, a horse, a donkey, and chickens.

Taft even got to ride a pony.

He did his best at the bouncy pillow, but was never able to stand up.

Afterwards, we got dinner at Zaxby's.

Our tree after we got home and got it into Taft's room. Sallie aka Gilbert, came right in to check it out.

Taft putting the first ornament on the tree. We finished getting the ornaments on but the tree is still not completely finished. Once it is, we will post a photo.

Elfcapades Day 2

2011-12-02T21:59:00.000-05:00

That sneaky Quincy came to visit while Taft was getting changed for bed. He looked and looked for him and even called him. Then he spotted the sweet elf in the chair.

His face says it all. He loves his elf and the gifts that it brings.

And he quickly tried to get it open to watch his movie. He loved it by the way.

Quincy is Back!! Happy December 1st!!

2011-12-01T18:22:00.000-05:00

It is that time again! Our crazy little elf, Quincy, is back. He will be with us until he goes back to work at the North Pole on Christmas Eve. You can read all about our start and history with Quincy here.
Every time that I mention Quincy, Taft says that he hopes Quincy brings him some candy. I guess Quincy got a little lazy last year and brought candy way to often. I talked to Quincy in November and candy was not high on his list. I hope that Taft is not going to be too disappointed.
When we woke up this morning, I reminded him that Quincy would come today and that we must be on the lookout. I had told Quincy that weekday mornings would not be the best time to come visit because we have a schedule to keep. I guess that he listened, because he was in the car waiting on Taft when I picked him up from Preschool.

I have yet to figure out how he got in the car with a ladder, but he did. He heard that Taft is learning Christmas songs for his play at school and brought him a Children's Christmas Song CD. He was trying to put it in the CD player. Taft was thrilled and so happy to see him! Of course, I told Quincy to ride with Taft and I helped him get the CD in.

Taft sang along with Jingle Bells and We Wish You a Merry Christmas. And the first thing he wanted to do when he got home was to take his new CD to his room to sing some more. Miss Phyllis would be proud!

D is for....

2011-12-01T08:00:00.001-05:00

I am linking up with Alphabe-Thursday at Jenny Matlock. Today's letter is D and we are in week 4.

ducks. The Peabody of Memphis Ducks. Have you ever had the pleasure of meeting these fine little creatures? It is something that is a must see if you travel to the Memphis. Telling someone about does not do it justice.
I had never heard of such of thing until my best friend, Kendra, and I traveled to Memphis is 2002 for a friends wedding. We ended up staying with a friend of hers and his family. He gave us a tour of all the Memphis sites the day of the wedding. We went to Graceland and Beale Street and did some shopping. Then he said that we needed to go to The Peabody Hotel.

And we saw ducks in the fountain inside the hotel.

We went up to the rooftop and saw where they live when they are "off" work.

Then we went in to watch the duck march. They close down an elevator and the lobby and the balcony fills up with people. The Duck Master comes down and blows his whistler and all the ducks jump out of the water, walk the red carpet, and get in the elevator to go home. Everyone loves it. I just hope that take Taft there one day. He would be amazed. I mean, who knew that you could train a duck?

St. Augustine Weekend

2011-11-27T19:53:00.002-05:00

We stayed at home in Florida for Thanksgiving this year. We did the same last year. I cooked a turkey, cornbread dressing, gravy, green beans, macaroni and cheese, and rolls. I also made a pecan pie for dessert and deviled eggs in honor of my father-in-law. They were his favorite.

On Friday, Shane had to work and Taft and I stayed home and rested.

On Saturday, I decided that it would be nice to take Taft to the fort in St. Augustine and watch them fire the canons. He had never done that and after telling him about it, he wanted to go to the "fork". We went into town and finally found a place to park. There was an Art's and Crafts Fair so all the free parking and the parking deck were full. We ended up in a private lot for $10. As soon as we walked around the corner, Taft saw the Ripley's Train Tour. He talked Shane into getting tickets. The great thing about the tickets is 1: Taft rides free and 2: they are good for two days. After riding the train for a little while, we got off at the fort and watched the canon fire. Then it was back to the train and over to Pizzalley's for dinner. Then we just rode the train for a little while before going home.

On Sunday, Taft and I went back into town and got a great parking spot in front of the fort. We got tickets to go in this time and Taft loved it. He walked up and down the stairs and counted them all. He did pretty good! He loved touching and sitting on the canons and running in and out of the rooms on the first floor.

He was excited that we got to ride the train all day and we did the entire tour and just got off to eat lunch.

He wanted a hot dog and I found a great little tavern on St. George Street that was perfect for us.

When the train got us back to the car, he wanted to go back into the fort, so of course we did. On the way up the walkway he told me that I am his best friend. ;0 Once in, he met a Park Ranger and a Soldier that let him touch his gun.

He feel asleep on the way home. It was pretty close to a perfect day. He was in a great mood and listened to everything that I told him. He had fun taking pictures and was extra friendly to everyone.

This Or That Thursday

2011-11-24T22:11:00.001-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! As you see, we all enjoyed it very much. Even Shelby.

Linking up with Deb Duty today for this or that thursday.

Meet Larry

2011-11-23T14:05:00.001-05:00

We are calling him our office pet. Our office is on a little pond and he likes it here. He is getting very friendly and at times he pecks on our door. The patients seem to love him. He is about 4 feet tall so we can almost look eye to eye.

2011-11-21T15:13:00.000-05:00

November in coastal Florida is a little different than other parts of the country. We get this...

And this....

THIS AFTERNOON: Partly cloudy with isolated showers. Highs around 80. East winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.

Hi: 80°F

I don't think that we can complain about the weather. Although, I would love to wear a sweater.

Turkeys for Teachers (&Staff)

2011-11-20T12:07:00.001-05:00

Taft and I made turkeys this morning. Of course I did most of the making, but he helped with picking out the order of colors and which person gets which turkey.

Here is what you need:

Scissors
Hot glue gun and glue
Ribbon
Pipe cleaners
Pins (to attach to the back)
Wooden spoons
Brown and orange paint
Googly eyes

Start by painting the spoons brown. They will be the body of the turkey. Once dry, attach eyes and paint on a beak.
Pick pipe cleaners of ribbon. Decide which colors you want and the order to add them. And have fun. Make the "feathers" as big as you like and hot glue to the back of the spoon. Attach the pin and you are done.

Very simple and great for Taft to help with. He is excited about giving them out in the morning.

"We Go To The Donut Place"

2011-11-19T20:32:00.000-05:00

I bet that you can guess which one.

Turkey With Toddlers

2011-11-18T17:00:00.003-05:00

Today was Thanksgiving at Taft's Preschool. Each class had a turkey, provided by the school, and the parents were asked to bring in the sides. We took Homemade Mac and Cheese and Shane took our folding table for the class to use.
Taft was very excited that I was coming back to have lunch with him and so was I. I love seeing him around his little friends and seeing more about their days at school.
I feel very bad for his teacher Miss Erin. She had many parents sign up to bring in food and drinks and come to the lunch and none came. It was just she and I and the children. One mother did send in cranberry sauce but there was nothing else. Of course - the kids didn't care. They ate their turkey, orange slices, and macaroni. The school gave us some Capri Sun. And everyone at the school enjoyed the Thanksgiving cake. The weather was great, even though it was a little windy.
After we ate, I helped Miss Erin get the kids washed up and down for naps. After I "tucked in" Taft, the other kids wanted to be tucked and kissed too. So of course I did just that. Here are a few shots from the day.

C is for.....

2011-11-17T11:00:00.002-05:00

I am linking up with Alphabe-Thursday at Jenny Matlock. Today's letter is C and we are in week 3.

Converse.

Somehow I made it my entire life without owning a pair of Converse shoes. At least to my knowledge. If there is proof against this, please let me know.

I was just never a fan of the high tops and they were the only ones that I ever saw as a child. But for the last six months or longer, I have stalked these little cuties at Target.

Not sure why I love them so. I got them two weeks ago and I am in love.

Silly Bathtime Boy

2011-11-16T21:46:00.000-05:00

Just a few pictures of Taft tonight after his bath. And me playing with the no flash mode on the camera.

"I Lost My Scream"

2011-11-16T15:36:00.000-05:00

Taft went to his doctor's visit yesterday. It was a very eventful afternoon for us.
First of all, Taft knew that we were going to the doctor and he wanted to go as soon as he woke up. He didn't like the idea that we had a 1:30 pm appointment and that we could not just go to the doctor whenever we wanted.
While we were getting ready to go to the appointment, he told me that he didn't want them to take him apart. I am pretty sure that he has watched a little too much Grey's Anatomy. I told him that he would not be taken apart. He was good with that.
At times, we have had a long wait at the office and I thought that it would be a good idea to take a bag of books and get him a juice. So - we stopped at the little store on the way. The Gustafson milk truck was there and the milk man came in the store at the same time that we did. Taft saw him and started to ask what he was doing. I told him that the milk man came into the store to see how much milk they needed. The one man that works in the store agreed and said that Taft needed to go out and met the milk man. So off we went - and the milk man let him check out the truck.
When we got to the doctor, he wanted me to hold him in the elevator. He only hates it when it is moving. ;0
We were taken to a room quickly and he was a very good boy talking to Miss Addie (the MA). Then he got out his Leap Frog and started to "read" some books. He was singing when Dr. Davis came in.
He asked a few questions and told Dr. Davis that looking at his ears tickled. When the doctor went to listen to his chest, he said, "I lost my scream". Dr. Davis was trying to not laugh. I told him that Taft had started to lose his voice the night before and said that his scream was gone. I told him that the doctor might be able to find it. Dr. Davis assured him that he would get it back, told him what a good boy he had been, and that he would be all better in time for his Thanksgiving at Preschool on Friday.

What Is In The Works & Taft's Everyday

2011-11-15T10:59:00.001-05:00

I can't believe that it is almost mid-November. As usual, the month and the fall season has gotten ahead of me. I think that when Halloween gets here, it is only a minute until the new year. But here are the things that are going on around here with me...
I decided to have allergy testing. If you know me in person, you know that I have terrible allergies. I was allergy tested when I was around five years old. That is almost 30 years ago and things change. At that time, taking allergy shots was the best option. And I did until I turned 18. At that time, great allergy meds where starting to come out. Allergra seemed to work as well as the shots and when Zyrtec came out I felt that it was a gift from God. While it still works for me, with the occasional Benadryl backup, I seem to have new allergies. Food allergies.
Food allergies scare me. Over the last 10 years, I have had reactions to nuts, salads, honey, candy, and at times I can't pinpoint the reason. So far, nothing that Benadryl and my inhaler can't fix, but I know that can change. So - I made an appointment. My appointment is for next Thursday. Although - I am going to have to cancel. I had to stop all allergy medicine for seven days. Saturday was day three and I was unable to breath for sneezing and I couldn't even think about putting in contacts. My eye condition makes things worse since I have to wear hard contacts. Any eye irritation makes it impossible. Now I need a new plan.
On a happier note, I have decided to do December Daily again. I missed out last year and I can't wait to get started this year. For more information on the project itself, you can click here to visit the blog of Ali Edwards. I have decided on an approach for this year and I bought the 8x10 overlays. They are on sale for less than $5 this week. I just printed them and I can't be happier. I hope that by next weekend, I will have the album together and I will share it here. I still have a few things to workout.
One of my goals for next year is to get caught up on some scrapbooking. I starting Taft's baby book at full force ever before he was born. I got it almost finished before he turned 1 and then I kinda stopped. I have to rethink it. I did a full page on things like his PJ's and Jumperoo. While I love looking back at them, I know that I just don't have the time to do that and he would end up leaving the house with about 100 books by the time he moves out.
So - I plan on doing Project Life. You can read more about that here, on the blog of Becky Higgins. This allows you to document all those little, normal, everyday things. Then I will do layouts on the major things for Taft's book. The Project Life books will be Family Scrapbooks.
Even though I have taken photos of all Taft's Christmas Tree ornaments each year, they have failed to end up in an albums. That will change. I am not saying that it will be done this holiday season, but it will be finished and in a permanent album by next year. Just something to work on next year.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And now - on to Taft.
Today Taft is home sick. He has had a fever of 102 on and off and a terrible cough. Yesterday at lunch he got sent home from school and Shane was able to say with him a few hours to let me get some things finished up at work. I am home with him today. I made him an appointment at the doctor for today in case we needed it and we do. During the night his cough started to sound really wet. I am worried that he is pneumonia again. We will find out after lunch.
Here are a few of Taft's favorite things right now:
Lollipops. He prefers Dum-Dum's and would eat them all day if we let him.

Bigfoot. Not the poor creature himself, but the movie. We have watched it a lot.

To my dismay, Sponge Bob. Shane let him watch it one day and he is pretty hooked.

Taft's behavior at school has been less than desirable. He has been hitting and spitting for no reason that any of us can find. On Friday, he spit in Miss Erin's face and she spit back at him. I am so glad that she did that. She was afraid that she would get in trouble with me but I think that is the best way to let him know how nasty it is. He has not spit since.

B is for...

2011-11-10T16:21:00.000-05:00

I am linking up with Alphabe-Thursday at Jenny Matlock. Today's letter is B and we are in week 2.

Bees. Honey Bees.
I grew up in the country so my brother and I often walked to our grandparents and great uncle and aunts houses for visits. My great uncle Charlie lived beside my grandparents. Charlie had cows, on bull named Vern, and bees. We always stayed away from Charlie's bee hive.
I was terrified. Just the thought of being where I could see it was scary. I just knew that all the bees would chase me over the branch and sting me before I could get home. Like a scene from Killer Bees. Of course they never did.
I got stung a lot as a kid. One of the perks of living in the country I guess. Mostly by wasps and ants and the occassional yellow jacket attack.
But now - I love bees. I love honey. And with my allergies, local honey is a must. Taft and I recently stopped at a roadside stand in San Mateo, Florida, to buy honey. We got Orange Blossom Honey and it is delicious.
I would love to have my own bees. I am not sure that living in the middle of town and with a three year old is the right time or place, but having your own honey would be awesome. And - that funny hat you get to wear is pretty attractive.

A is for....

2011-11-03T22:00:00.001-04:00

A few months ago, I found this blog that does a letter a week. It is Alphabe-Thursday. It goes in order A-Z and they were a little over halfway down the alphabet. I thought that it sounded fun and was a great little writing prompt. Well - today I happened to notice that it is starting over and it was A Day! I didn't have a lot of time to think about it so please forgive me random A post. I just listed the first 10 things that came to my mind that started with A. I will do better next week.
A is for.....

Apples. I think that is the most obvious right? I love apples. I remember eating them off the trees at my grandparents and my great-aunt and uncles house across the street. I also loved giving them to my great uncle, Charlie's, cows. But - for some reason- I called them "arlics" as a child.
Automobiles. Last month, we got a new car. Taft has wanted a red car for months and I decided that if I found the car that I wanted and they had a red one, I would think about it. I am not a fan. But - I found my car in black. Then I found out that it didn't have power windows or locks. Guess which one did? His name is Rex.
Airplanes. I work in a doctors office that it located in close relation to the county airport. They have a flight school. I see lots, or hear rather, lots of airplanes.
Andes. Why do they give you those little mints everywhere? I gag just thinking about them.
Apricots. I am not sure that I have ever really just sat down and had an apricot. But I have a great recipe for ribs that uses Apricot Jam.
Anderson Cooper. Oh how I love that you now have a cheesy daytime talk show. No really. I love it.
Avery. I love everything that you make. Labels, tags, and binders. Those new Protect and Store Binders are on my new favorite things list.
Alcatraz. Seriously loved my tour and can't wait to go back someday.
Ali Edwards = Inspiration for papercrafting.
Alabama. Where I am from and where I hope to end up again.

Halloween Gifts for Friends

2011-10-30T22:23:00.002-04:00

These are the cute little monster Treat Bags that Taft and I came up with for his class. I was completely inspired by some ghost bags on Pinterest. We couldn't find those same bags so I let Taft pick a color. Green or Orange. Then he picked the ribbon.

They were super easy. We just cut off the tops of the lunch bags and punched some holes. The Cricut came in very handy and made the circles and triangles in record time. We added "From" tags on the bag, also from the Cricut. And finally some little googly eyes.

I also made a Mummy from a Hershey bar for Miss Erin. Googley eyes and crape paper. There is a tag on the back that says, "Happy Halloween. Love, Taft, his Daddy, and his Mummy."

Trunk or Treat at Preschool

2011-10-28T22:20:00.001-04:00

Taft's Preschool decided to have a Trunk or Treat on a Friday morning. At first, I thought that this was a terrible idea. They were asking parents to take off work and come to volunteer for about 4 hours to decorate their cars and pass out candy. Seriously. Then I put more thought into it as the day approached. This was the best idea I have ever heard. By having this on a school day, EVERY child was able to participate. Parents that could come would. Stay at home mom's and grandparents, and those of us lucky enough to have jobs that allow us to take off for our kids. I am so fortunate that have a job where I can work and be part of Taft's school life. And you know what? Lots of adults came. And dressed up. And decorated their cars. And helped out in the classrooms getting the kids their breakfast. And passed out candy to 100 kids in costumes from the baby class thru Pre-K. And then helped get the kids changed into regular clothes for the rest of the day. Truly a GREAT idea.

Here are a few pictures from the day:

Taft and Nong. His last name is Nong but since there are two boys with similar names so they are called by their last names.

All the little cuties getting their breakfast. They were all so excited and Nong's mom and I were there all morning. She was a pirate and I was a pumpkin.

This young man is Mr. Dimitry. I believe that his official title is Director of Public Relations. His mother owns the school and he dresses up each year. The kids LOVE it.

Taft is in love with his new car and named him Rex. He wanted Rex to have big teeth. A little poster board and a LOT of glue dots made Rex into a cute little monster.

Taft with his Treat Bags that his class made. They didn't expect to get so much candy and their handles didn't hold up.

Taft's class collecting from Gianna's parents. The tall girl in the orange shirt is his teacher, Miss Erin. He thinks she is awesome. And so do we.

Walk Down Costume Lane

2011-10-28T14:30:00.000-04:00

It's almost Halloween again. The years are flying by. And, Thanksgiving will be here in less than one month and Christmas in less than two. I need to get busy.

I was reminded today of all the past Halloween costumes that Taft has worn and there seems to be a theme. Professions. See what you think....

2008: Golfer

2009: Fisherman

2010: Boxer

And although we have not taken any "formal posed" photos of his costume this year, he is the UPS man. I am sure that you have figured that out by the earlier posts and there are more to come in this keeper.

This is the first time that he picked out a costume all on his own. He said he wanted to be a pirate until we got to Party City and then picked this darling costume out. I love it! It has been a real hit with people and I have not seen another child in it at any function we have attended.

**If you are here from Kelly's Korner Show Us Your Life, WELCOME! As you see, Taft is my only child. He turned 3 in June. At this time there are no plans for another. Be sure to click on the "Home" button and have a look around.

Sykes and Cooper Farm

2011-10-27T10:18:00.001-04:00

On Sunday, we ventured to the pumpkin patch. My friend Casey let me know about a fairly new one must closer to our house than the one we did last year. In fact, it was just two exits up. The Sykes and Cooper Farm in Elkton, FL.

Taft was very excited. I am surprised that I was able to get him to sit with the pumpkins for long enough to take a photo. There were just too many things that he wanted to do. We looked at the animals first. He loved the big piggie and the little piggie. He thought that the goat's were nice but didn't want to smell their poop. ;0 He didn't seem to into the donkey but I thought that he was cute.

Then we got on the hayride and took a little trip around the farm and fields of pumpkins, sunflowers, and corn. Lots of corn.

After we got off the hayride, we went to the little store to see the pumpkins, sunflowers, cucumber, gourds, and goodies. Daddy got some boiled peanuts but was unable to get Taft to eat them. He did like the "remonade" though.

Taft decided it was time to ride the Tractor Train. He loves it and rode it more than once. He also had fun in the little kid zone with a bouncy house, slide, corn pit, and play houses. We made a quick visit to the chicken coop before we tried out the corn maze.

I lvoe this picture of Taft in the corn maze. He was so funny. At the very begining he wanted to get out but then when he saw more people, he thought that it was fun. We only did the Phase1 which took about 30 mintues. By then, Taft was tired, hungry, and ready to go home.

Halloween at the Ravine Gardens

2011-10-25T08:00:00.001-04:00

Aunt Casey told me about a Halloween activity in her home town of Palatka, Florida. It is about a 30 mile drive for us so Taft and I decided to go on Saturday. It was held at the Ravine Gardens State Park. It was $3 for me to get in and FREE for Taft. Everything else was included and well worth the price.

Taft wore his UPS man costume and was able to get in a few pictures with Casey's little boy, Stran. Isn't he the cutest little owl?

They had lots of arts and crafts which are a favorite of Taft's You also got candy at most stops.

Taft got his face painted for the first time. He picked a cute little pumpkin and sat completely still while she was working on him.

Sometimes he is afraid of new things but he dove right in. He loved the bouncy house and all the carnival games. This one was a duck race. You put on flippers and run. He won. ;0

We also took a nice long trolly ride around the edge of the ravine. They had people dressed up as non-scary characters like Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland.

We got a drink before leaving and sat down for a little rest. Taft wanted to sit beside Aunt Casey for a little while. He really loved his trip and I can't wait to do it again next year.

I Heart Faces: Let Them Be Little

2011-10-24T15:48:00.001-04:00

I am doing something today that I have never done before. I am entering a photo contest. I just found this great site called I Heart Faces. They have a different theme each week and pros and us amateurs can enter.

This is one of my favorite photos of Taft ever. This weeks the theme is Let Them Be Little. This photo is of Taft and one of his favorite things. Lizards. It was taken in September 2010.

There are tons of great enteries. Be sure to head over to I Heart Faces for the photos and rules for entering.

Halloween Shirt

2011-10-22T22:15:00.000-04:00

I had this great idea to make Taft some shirts for Halloween. I wanted to make a ghost and a pumpkin. The stores here had another idea. They didn't get the long-sleeves T's out until last week. Taft and I got a white shirt and I had an old black T shirt of my own. I used the Heat n Bond that I love and had a shirt in 10 minutes. It really is the easiest way to make simple, fast, holiday shirts. It stands up to washing great. Just line dry. Hopefully the cool weather will say this week and he can wear it to school.

Crock-tober

2011-10-12T08:00:00.002-04:00

The week Mel at The Larson Lingo is having a Crock-tober link up. The purpose is to share crock pot recipes and get ready for the winter months (when most of us use the crock pot more often). Be sure to check out the recipes here and then head over to find some new and exciting recipes for your family.
I LOVE my crock pot! It is just a great way to have dinner ready when you get home from work. It just takes a little prep work the night before and morning of.
Here are a list of our favorite crock pot recipes. Just click on each link for the details:

Five Spice Ribs

Other non-crock pot recipes can be found here in our recipe index.

Thanks for stopping by!

{right now}: Taft's' Everyday

2011-10-05T11:34:00.000-04:00

Dear Sweet Taft -
You are growing everyday. You tell me that it is because you take your vitamins and they make you "grow strong". You have always loved your vitamins, even the yucky tasting drops that I gave you as a baby before you where big enough for the gummy ones you take today. Right now you are taking the gummy Toy Story
You also take your allergy medicine every night and always remind me when you have not had it. You want it first and the vitamins as a chaser. You have never complained about any medicine. Which is a great thing since you were out sick on Thursday and Friday. I was terrible about taking medicine as a child and I am so thankful that you are not.
You are talking more and more each day and surprise me with all the things that you say. Right now you have two sayings that you repeat alot.

"Same as me" - You have a red plate same as me. OR Him have a red jacket same as me.
"In us" instead of "In our" - There is a ant in us house. Please let me show you. OR Daddy, get in us car.

You also like to call people a "Silly goose" and when things happen you say that it's "Kinda funny". You always say please and thank you and often ask me, "I please hug you?". You are a very loving boy.
Right now, you have two favorite movies.

Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed. You love it and know the names of all the monsters. You have even started to call Shelby, Shelby Doo.

The Ant Bully. We just found this movie on the On Demand channels over the weekend. It is about a little boy that shrinks down to the size of an ant and lives with them for a little while. He learns that they have families and friends and that he should not bully them just because they are smaller than him.

You are an awesome little boy and you can never imagine how much I love you. - Mommy

Fall School Photos

2011-10-04T14:23:00.000-04:00

On September 12th, Taft had school pictures at his Preschool. The note that was sent home said to dress your children and then they would get Dress Up clothes at school. We thought that meant to wear an outfit to get regular photos in and then there would be dress up ones also.
Taft was very excited that he got to wear his new dinosaur longsleeved shirt and khaki pants to school. He took shorts and a T-shirt to change into since it is still pretty warm.
That night, he and I were talking while he got his bath. He told me that they took his shirt off and put on a black one and that he had a phone. I was a little confused until the proofs came home. They only had dress up photos taken.
We loved the one in the suit.

Of course we ordered some of each.

Let's Read

2011-09-27T10:51:00.000-04:00

Do you get those little Scholastic Book Club order forms from your child's school? We do. They are always at the front of the school. I have looked at them before but never ordered. I am not even sure why I haven't ordered. The prices are great. Each grade level has a $1 book selection and there are about 4 different levels that we can order from. Starting in October, we can order online and the school gets more points and free books. Plus - parents and grandparents can order books for the children even if they don't live close by.

Taft's class has themes each week and for two weeks in September they are studying apples, autumn, and trees. The Biggest Apple Ever was one of the $1 books so we got two. One for Taft and one for his class. We did the same with the Five Little Pumpkins. I told him that we were getting some for his class and for him. He seemed excited.

When I got to the school yesterday, the book orders where in their cubbies. I picked up the books and he only had three. Ms. Erin told me that he was so excited and wanted to give her the books. He said, "Ms. Erin, these books for you." She said that the class told him thank you and she had already read them both to the kids. And Taft and I read Piggies in the Pumpkin Patch in bed last night.

I plan on doing the same this month with the book order. I think that it teaches Taft how nice it is to share so that his friends can enjoy books that he likes also. It also helps to built the library for his class for years to come. He is making his mark on the world.

RECIPE #36 - BALSALMIC CHICKEN WITH MUSHROOMS

2011-09-26T18:25:00.000-04:00

This is another great Pinterest find! This recipe comes from C+C Marriage Factory. It is already on my favorites list!

Ingredients:
2 tsp vegetable oil
3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 tsp dijon mustard
1 large garlic clove, crushed
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts (four 4 oz pieces)
2 cups mushrooms, small, halved
1/3 cup canned chicken broth
1/4 tsp dried thyme

Directions:
Heat 1 tsp of oil in a nonstick skillet.

In a medium bowl, mix 2 tbsp vinegar, mustard, and garlic. Add chicken and turn to coat. Transfer chicken and marinade to skillet. Saute chicken until cooked through, about 3 minutes on each side. Transfer chicken to a platter and keep warm.

Heat remaining tsp of oil in the skillet. Saute mushrooms for one minute. Add broth, thyme, and remaining tbsp of vinegar. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are deep brown, about two minutes longer.

Serve chicken topped with mushrooms.

Print Recipe

Car Wash

2011-09-26T10:41:00.001-04:00

I have had the photos added in this post for weeks and have never gotten around to writing the post.
Taft has wanted to go to a car wash since watching the Handy Manny episode where a neighbor opens a new car wash and Handy Manny helps out. So on September 7th, we went. We pass the carwash in the mornings on the way to his school and they are closed but they are open every afternoon.
I am not a car wash fan. At least not of the ones that you drive thru. This one has a Wacky Wednesday special and is only $3. It is pretty long and you stay in the car. I wondered if Taft would like it or if he would scream the entire time.
He loved it after it got started. He loved the fact that the sign had a puppy on it. He loved that the boys that work there do a little prewash before you go into the tunnel. He loved telling everyone about it the next day.

Whatnot Wednesday

2011-09-21T20:03:00.002-04:00

I can't believe that it has been another week. I have so many posts that are half finished and still not posted. I just truly have not felt like it. Allergies and asthma are kicking my butt. Even after a week on steroids, my chest is still not right. But - with that being said, it is Wednesday and time to link up with Whatnot Wednesday.

It is already the end of September and I have yet to decide on a Halloween costume for Taft. This is the first year that he is really old enough to help pick one out. He wanted to be a Fireman, then a pirate, then a Police Man....We will just have to see and hopefully soon.
With Halloween being so close, it means that Christmas is also getting close. December 1st means that Quincy will be back. I can't wait for Quincy this year. Taft is older so I know that it will be a lot more fun. Quincy has already sent me a little email letting me know what gifts he would like to bring so that I can help him get those ready. I have 2. Only 22 more to go. Lucky for me, Quincy loves the Dollar Tree and Target discount aisle.
I am so happy that the new fall season of television is finally on. I just have too many shows that I enjoy. I never watch them when they are on and use TiVo for everything. Mostly I get to watch them on the weekends when Taft is taking naps. I am trying to not get sucked in to anything new but it is always hard.
Speaking of Christmas, I have found a great Brunch with Santa for us to go to. It sounds great and I am very excited. I will tell you more about that as I get registered and find out more.
I am very depressed this week as it is the last week for All My Children. I have not watched all the time over the past years but anytime I turn it on, it is just the same. I love that. I remember watching it as a child with my parents. I know more about those families than I do my own. And to replace it with a talk show about food is just sad.
I love the fact that Anderson Cooper has a new daytime talk show. Have you seen it? I just love him. There is something about those eyes.... And to think that he got his start on Channel 1. That brings back high school memories. Of course, his hair wasn't gray back then.
I plan on working on my blog this weekend and getting the post finished and updated. It bothers me to be behind. It takes a little longer to do the food posts now that I am linking them to Google Docs so the recipe can be printed.
I can't wait to get working on some Halloween shirts for Taft. I hope that the long sleeves t-shirts will be in a Wal*Mart this weekend. Pinterest has inspired so many great things that he could be wearing in October.
School has started in full swing and I was so happy to be asked to help with some crafts again. Ms. Erin was Taft's teacher before and she did great projects with the kids. She gave me a list of themes for the year and I am having a great time trying to come up with some ideas. I need to post about the ones that we took in this week. They turned out great.

But - that is what is going on in my head today. Lots of randomness and things to put on the "To Do List". Hopefully I will get some of them finished up. Head over to The Wonderful Happens and link up with what is on your mind and see what other people are saying.

Things You Learn From Google

2011-09-16T09:00:00.001-04:00

And no, I don't mean the things that you can search for. How many times do you open up Google and see the fun little way they have written the word itself? Do you know that if you click on that "new" Google picture that it links you to the reason behind it?
I was a little shocked to find out that many people didn't know that. I know that most people figured out how to play the I Love Lucy clips on the little tv (which I thought was genius) and how to play the little guitar this year, but not everyone paid attention to anything else.
So today - this is what you see:

It's graphically cute and my first thought was "cute. oranges.". But then it hit me, why oranges in September....

Today is the birthday of Albert von Svent-Gyogyi de Nagyrapolt, born in 1893. He was the Hungarian scientist that was credited with discovering the citric acid cycle and Vitamin C. He won a Nobel Peace Prize in 1937 for Physiology or Medicine.
Now - will I remember his name tomorrow? No. Will I give it second thought the next time that I eat an orange? Maybe. So why do I care? I love little bits of info. Useless in my daily life maybe, but I have a brain full of this stuff. And if we can learn one new thing a day, it's a good day, and I bet that you pay a little more attention to Google before you just put in your search. ;0

RECIPE #35 - CREAMY CHICKEN CASSEROLE

2011-09-15T13:56:00.001-04:00

This was a very quick and easy weekend dinner for us. Even Taft liked it since it was noodles. ;0

I am happy to announce that you can now print off the recipes on this blog. Well - you can print this one and future postings. I will be working on getting the older recipes added too. Just click the Print Recipe at the bottom and start cooking!

Ingredients:

2 cups cooked diced chicken

1 package Egg Noodles (cooked)
1 to 1.5 cans of Cream of Chicken condensed soup
1 can of Cream of Mushroom condensed soup
1/2 cup of milk
Shredded Cheese ( I used Sharp Cheddar)
1 can of Vege All mixed vegetables

Preheat oven 350. Put cooked egg noodles, cream of chicken soup and cream of mushroom soup, mixed vegetables, and milk into casserole dish and mix. Bake for about 15-20 minutes. Take out of oven. Sprinkle cheese on the top of casserole. Bake an additional 5-10 minutes.

Print Recipe.

Oh, How Pinteresting

2011-09-14T10:03:00.000-04:00

What was I looking at on Pinterest this week? So glad that you asked. I am linking up with
The Vintage Apple for Oh, So Pinteresting. Head on over and see what other people are "pinning".

tablespoon.com

I am not a fan of Nutter Butter's, but these are cute.

I just love art using buttons. It kinda reminds me of the art we made in school using dried beans.

Source

I love this frame! Now I am coming up with ideas for other cute Halloween frames to display all of our costumes.

Source

Halloween Bark. Enough said.

RECIPE #34 - HASSELBACK POTATOES

2011-09-13T14:00:00.002-04:00

OK - I wanted to make these because they looked pretty. But they taste great too. Recipe is from Seasaltwithfood.

Ingredients:
6 Medium Size Potatoes
2 - 3 Cloves Garlic, thinly sliced
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
30 g Butter
Maldon Sea Salt
Freshly Ground Black Pepper

What You Do:
Preheat the oven to 220˚C (425˚F). Put the potato on a chopping board, flat side down. Start from one end of the potato, cut almost all the way through, at about 3 to 4 mm intervals.
Arrange the potatoes in a baking tray and insert the garlic in between the slits. Scatter some butter on top of each potato. Then drizzle the olive oil and sprinkle some sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Bake the potatoes for about 40 minutes or until the potatoes turn crispy and the flesh is soft.

RECIPE #33 - BROWN SUGAR AND BALSALMIC PORK LOIN

2011-09-12T09:00:00.002-04:00

We had this for dinner over the weekend. It was great with some carrots and butter peas. The recipe comes from C+C Marriage Factory. Another wonderful Pinterest find. If you still have not looked at Pinterest, you are missing out.
Ingredients:
1 (2 pound) boneless pork loin
1 teaspoon ground sage
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/2 cup water

Glaze:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons soy sauce

Directions:
Combine sage, salt, pepper and garlic. Rub over roast. Place in slow cooker with 1/2 cup water. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. About 1 hour before roast is done, combine ingredients for glaze in small sauce pan. Heat and stir until mixture thickens. Brush roast with glaze 2 or 3 times during the last hour of cooking. Serve with remaining glaze on the side.

Alabama Trip Day 5 - Monday

2011-09-08T16:28:00.000-04:00

Our drive home from Alabama was a long one. We spent the night with Gran on Sunday to be able to get a head start on the drive. It is further south than my parent's house so it would help with the timing. But - it was storming. A lot. We got up later than we meant too.
By the time that we were up, had baths, and had the car packed, it was about noon. Then the storm sirens started to go off so we delayed a little to see how the weather looked. I had mentioned to Taft that we needed to stop and buy mayonnaise on the way home. When I got him in his car seat, I asked him where we were going. I thought that he would say, "home" or "to see daddy", but he said, "to buy mayonnaise". This is only important if you know my love of Bama brand Mayo. I can't buy it in Florida so I stock up when I get home and have people bring it to me when they visit.
Taft and I didn't get to Columbus, GA, until around 2 pm.
We stopped at Wal*Mart in Phenix City for mayo and then to get some lunch at a drive thru. The drive was not too bad even though it rained almost the entire time. I kept the radio on local stations and every county that we went into was under a storm and/or tornado warning. It was a little crazy.
We did stop at the little store between Columbus, GA, and Albany, GA. The Merritt Pecan Company has homemade jerky and lots of pecan candy and pecan logs. Plus - they have very clean bathrooms and gas. Taft and I stopped on the way in and out of town.

It was after dark when we got to Florida and Taft was tired. So was I. We called Daddy when we got to Jacksonville, FL, so that he could order us some pizza for dinner and have it ready for us. Taft was very excited to see his daddy and tell him all about his trip. He wanted to show him all his new toys, clothes, and shoes, and talked about the fun he had until he fell asleep.

Alabama Day 4 - Sunday

2011-09-07T16:21:00.000-04:00

Yes - another post that I have had started but not finished.....

Sunday was our last day in Heflin. We all had breakfast together and then Taft took some photos with his family to use in his collage at school. Here are just a few...

Taft with Uncle Patrick (my brother) and his new wife, Aunt Lori. Taft really loved Uncle Pack.

Taft and Mawmaw Geneva (my grandmother)

Taft and Shemar. Aunt Kristi's cat that is living with Mawmaw.

Mallory and Travis with Shemar.

Taft and Mawmaw (my mother)

Taft and Pawpaw (my daddy) and Bit Bit, I think.

Aunt Kristi (my sister), Taft and Mallory

Taft wanted to get his picture made with Pawpaw's car aka Lightning McQueen.

Taft completely fell in love with a weed eater toy at Mawmaw and Pawpaw's. Pawpaw gave it to Taft and brought it out the car for us. Taft was so happy that he held it all the way to Gran's house. He even held it as he slept in the car.

When we got to Gran's, it was dinner time. Mrs. Betty came to eat with us. She is one of Gran's friends and the mother of Shane's best friend from school. We always love to see Mrs. Betty. We also ate with Scott, Izzy, Evan, and Jenna. Aunt Chelsea wasn't feeling well and didn't get the house until later.

I can't believe that I didn't get anymore pictures at Gran's house. Taft had a ball! He loved Jenna's new fish and wanted to kiss the tank. He also loved her new hamster (or mouse as he called it) and loved for me to get it out of the cage and let him kiss it too.

We also go to spend some time with Aunt Chelsea. Her and Scott got married in March but since we had not been to Alabama in a year (gasp) we had not gotten the chance to meet her yet. Hopefully we will get to stay longer the next trip and get to know her a little better.

Alabama Trip Day 3 - Saturday

2011-09-07T10:00:00.002-04:00

On Saturday, we were awaken before 8 by Mallory to let us know that breakfast was almost ready. We ate breakfast each day at my parents house with the entire family. Taft and I went over in our pj's. Uncle Pack was dressed and said that he would take Taft for a 4 wheeler ride before he and Lori left for the day. I wondered how Taft would do this time. He got right on and told me by. They took a nice long ride and Taft loved it. Later when we got dressed, he wanted to wear his camo shorts because they were just like Pack's.
Then we got ready to go shopping with Mawmaw, Kristi, and Mallory. We went to a big Thrift Store in Oxford and to Kohl's. Mawmaw got Taft 8 new shirts and a pair of shoes. Now he just needs pants to get started for fall. We also go lunch at Arby's. "Roast Beast" is a favorite of Taft's.
By the time we got to Mawmaw Geneva's, it was time for a nap. Taft and I laid down in bed but didn't get a lot of sleeping done. Shamar kept wanting to sleep with us and could not be still. I knew then that we had to lock him out for the night.
When we got up, Pawpaw was cooking dinner. He did tuna steaks on the grill, salmon, and shrimp. He also did pork chops for Mother since she is not a fan of seafood. It was delicious. We also had garlic bread and potatoes. Pawpaw and Mawmaw had gone to the Fruithurst Winery while Taft and I napped. We tried the strawberry wine, blackberry wine, and muscadine wine. All were very good, but I loved the strawberry.
After dinner was over, Mawmaw took Taft and I for a ride on the Rhino out in the pasture. Taft loved it since it was starting to get dark and he could see the moon. He also thought that we were going very fast.
Somehow, I didn't take any photos on Saturday.

Alabama Trip Day 2 - Friday

2011-09-06T21:20:00.000-04:00

On Friday, we woke up and had breakfast with Gran before packing up to go to Heflin. On the way, Taft and I saw a cotton field. I decided to stop and get out and let Taft see the cotton. I told him that it was cotton and he said that it was "cotton balls". He was a little hard to get to smile for a picture but I got a few that are a "kinda funny" as he says. Then we picked a little piece of cotton to take home and got back on the road.

When we got to Mawmaw's (my grandmother), I told Taft to go in and say surprise. When we went in she was asleep in her recliner. I think that he surprised her and maybe scared her to death. She was very happy to see us and we were very happy to see her.
Mawmaw Geneva has a new cat living in her house. Shamar. Kristi found him at the feed store and brought him home. Then they found out that he has been fixed and declawed. He is a beautiful cat and huge! I weighed him and he was 20 pounds. He and Taft were pretty close in size.

After a few minutes, Aunt Kristi came over to see us before she had to go to work at the school. She asked us to come have lunch with Mallory and her Pre-K class. So we made plans to do that.
Before we left to go to the school, Uncle Patrick and his new wife Lori came over. Taft looked a Patrick a little funny at first. I told him that Patrick might eat him. Finally he went over to Patrick, who he started calling Pack, and said, "Pack, I want to hug you. Don't eat me OK?".
We went to Pleasant Grove Elementary School when I went to school to see Miss Mallory. First we took a tour of the library with Kristi. Then we waited on the Pre-K class to come through. Mallory was excited to see us. We had a great lunch of hamburgers. Travis saw us and came over to say hello also. One of the funniest things is what the Pre-K kids will tell you. One asked if I knew her mother. I told her that I didn't and she said, "she is Brooke and my dad is Brett, " I guess I was supposed to know know who that was. They were all pretty funny.
Aunt Kristi, Mallory, Taft, and made a trip to the Dollar General also. We saw the milk man while we were there. He was making his delivery. He told us to come out to the truck before we left. He let Mallory and Taft get on the truck and gave them each a chocolate milk. In the photo, they kinda look afraid, but they said that they loved it.

Later, everyone had dinner at Mawmaw's house. Then we went to my parents house for a little while and a tour. We had not been to Alabama since their remodel was finished. It looks great.
Then it was back to Mawmaw Geneva's to get ready for bed.

Alabama Trip Day 1 - Thursday

2011-09-01T22:22:00.002-04:00

Taft and I left Florida to come to Alabama. We left this morning at 9am and started north. I wondered how traveling with him would be this go around. He has not been on a road trip in over a year. It went very well.

The first place that we stopped was at the Georgia Welcome Center. I thought that Taft would enjoy going in and picking out some books and maps. He did. They have a special book for kids, a Georgia Travel Guide, and then Taft got a "smile". It is a smile on a stick. He thought that it was funny.

Taft looking at the Cabbage Patch Kid Display at the Welcome Center

Taft with his "smile" on.

We made great time and he loved getting out of the car to stretch when we stopped for gas. He also got a kick out of getting lunch at Krystal. He loved the square cheeseburger.

We also stopped at one of my favorite places - the store in Weston, GA. It sells pecan logs and candies, homemade beef jerky, and has clean bathrooms and gas. The last two are a plus. I may have gotten a pecan log and I may have eaten it all before we got to Columbus. ;0

Once we got into Ft. Benning, Taft was thrilled to see all the tanks and "army mans".

Our plan was to get into Phenix City and stop to see Aunt Teresa, Izzy, and Evan. We made such great time that we were very early and Aunt T was still in school. Lucky for us, she just had us come by the school and visit.

Then it was off to Gran's house. We got in, had dinner, and then Taft went out to help Gran water the plants. We are going to bed soon and will get up in the morning and back on the road. We are going to Mawmaw's (my grandmother) in the morning to surprise her.

Whatnot Wednesday

2011-08-31T11:55:00.002-04:00

It is Wednesday already. I have been sick since last week and still barely have a voice and I have not blogged in a week.

Dancing With the Stars - I am not a fan. I tried to watch the first season but it was terrible. Basically - I feel that it is not Dancing With the Stars, it is more like Dancing With People that Have Been Stars or now, Dancing With Reality TV Stars. You get the point. But, the new cast came out this week I think that I may need to tune in. First, there is Nancy Grace. I love Nancy. She is sarcastic, theatrical, and you do not want to be on her bad side. And just the fact that Chaz Bono is going to be on the show lets me know that anyone can be. Since when is he a star? But then we have JR Martinez. He is an actor on All My Children and an Iraq War vet. I love him. I think that I may have to watch this year, but don't hold me to it.

JR Martinez

So far, I have been keeping up with Taft's new calendar for his scrapbook. Of course we are only one week in. I check each day to see what he has done at school that might be different or new from the day before and add that. I am also writing a little something for the weekend days. It only has enough room for a sentence and I think that is perfect. It will just be great to have in the scrapbook at the beginning of each month to see a little snippet of what he did that month.
Tomorrow, Taft and I leave on a road trip. Shane is staying here in Florida and Taft and I are driving to Alabama. (If you are reading this and speak to my grandmother, please do not mention it to her. We are going to surprise her when we show up on Friday morning). He has not been on a long road trip since last summer. The big difference this year is that he is potty trained which means more stops on the 500 mile journey. We are getting to see a lot of people while we are there and I will try to blog daily with up dates.
I am still obsessed with Pinterest.
I am so ready for Fall and plan on putting up the Fall Header on the blog ASAP. Maybe even tonight since September is a fall month. ;0 I am ready to start on some fall crafts and new wreaths and can't wait to post some of those next month.
This is my next hairstyle. I think that I will love it and keep it that way for the fall/winter. Right now it has to grow to get to this. It is in a pixie and the bangs need to get much longer. Lucky for me, my hair grows extremely fast. My hairstylist said that it will be there well before Halloween.

Now head over to The Wonderful Happens and see what other people are getting off their minds today. You might be surprised that you are thinking the same thing.

Oh, How Pinteresting

2011-08-24T09:02:00.000-04:00

I can't believe that it is Wednesday already! This last week has flown by and I have found so many great things on Pinterest. I have even tried a few this week and loved them all.

So - head over to The Vintage Apple and see what people are pinning this week.

Source: thecutestfood.com via Hannah Jones on Pinterest

Rainbow Drink. Completely perfect for St. Patrick's Day. I think that Taft would love to look it and maybe drink a little. It says to use Ginger Ale but I think that we might just try Sprite.

Source: writeclickscrapbook.com via Heather Vo on Pinterest

I love the idea of the Thanksgiving tree and I suppose you can just take off the leaves and add your cards. I'm just not sure where to put it.

Source: Better Homes and Garden via Karen Perkins on Pinterest

Great idea for storing gift wrap!

Source: Photography Concentrate via Melissa on Pinterest

I just love this! It is just so true.

If you still need an invite to Pinterest, just ask and I will send you one. ;0

Have a great week everyone!

RECIPE # 32 - TOMATO PIE

2011-08-23T11:00:00.006-04:00

simplyrecipes.com

I got this recipe from an old school friend, Jason Crane. He highly recommended it so I had to try it. And - he was right. It is yummy!

Ingredients:

1 9-inch pie shell

1/2 yellow or red onion, chopped

3-4 tomatoes, cut in half horizontally, squeezed to remove excess juice, roughly chopped, to yield approximately 3 cups chopped tomatoes

1/4 cup sliced basil

2 cups grated cheese (combination of sharp cheddar and Monterey Jack, or Gruyere or Mozzarella)

3/4 cup mayonnaise

1 teaspoon (or more to taste) of Frank's Hot Sauce (or Tabasco)

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 350°F. Place pie shell in oven and cook for 8-10 minutes or longer until lightly golden. If you are starting with a frozen crust, you'll need to cook it a little longer. If you are using a homemade crust, freeze the crust first, then line the crust with aluminum foil and pre-bake it for 20 minutes, then remove the foil and bake an additional 10 minutes.

Squeeze as much moisture as you can out of the chopped tomatoes, using either paper towels, a clean dish towel.

Sprinkle the bottom of the pre-cooked pie shell with chopped onion. Spread the chopped tomatoes over the onions. Sprinkle the sliced basil over the tomatoes.

In a medium bowl, mix together the grated cheese, mayonnaise, Tabasco, a sprinkling of salt and freshly ground black pepper. Spread the cheese mixture over the tomatoes.

Place in oven and bake until browned and bubbly, anywhere from 25 to 45 minutes.

Be sure to check out the website at Simply Recipes for lots of versions of this pie. There are many cheese combos that you can use. I did a mixture of Colby, Sharp Cheddar, and Monterey Jack. Next time I am planning on some Mozzarella.

{1st Day of School}: Preschool That Is

2011-08-22T20:52:00.001-04:00

Today is the official first day of Preschool and the first day for Big Kid school in our county also. Taft finished up Toddler II in July and "moved" up in classes. He has spent the summer in the Preschool classroom, but we all know that summer is a little less structured. We are thrilled to have Ms. Erin back at his school and I love to hear Taft say, "Ms. Ewin".

She is also going to make keeping up with his artwork easier because she dates everything that they do. I plan to start the Art Binders and work on them this week.

So - I have thought about school traditions and things that I would like to do with Taft as he gets older but I never really thought about it including Preschool. But, I have read so many blogs lately about moms that started the traditions in Preschool and thought that I would pick a few to start off with.

I got this idea off Pinterest. Big surprise there. ;0 I am just not sure which one I like the best to be the official photo. If you have a favorite, please let me know. Just leave a comment.

I also plan to use Monthly Calendar printables in his scrapbook. I found these by Kerry Lynn Yeary here. I plan to print on craft colored cardstock and write in a fact from each day. Even if it is just what they had on the menu that day at school. The binders that she made are adorable and would be a great idea for someone that doesn't do a traditional scrapbook too.

Taft had a GREAT day! We have always called Sunshine Academy his school. I told him all weekend that he was starting to Preschool today. On the way out he said, "This my PeeSchool." I love that boy.

Crayon Wreath

2011-08-21T18:32:00.001-04:00

Yes - this is yet another Pinterest inspired creation. I saw these and just loved them. What better time of the year to use crayons than Back to School. I got packs of 24 for 40 cents each and it only took 2 1/2 boxes.

You need:

A wooden 12 in floral/craft ring (I got mine at Michaels for $1.99)

3 24 packs of crayons

Hot glue gun

Hot glue

Ribbon

Embellishments if wanted

Paint if wanted

Start by painting the wooden craft ring. I used spray paint in red. After putting the crayons on you can barely see the ring, so it is not totally needed.

Start to hot glue the crayons on. It is very important that you let the crayons touch on their bottoms but spread apart on the top. It is the only way that they will make a circle. I did one crayon at a time and alternated the colors.

Once the crayons are on, place the ribbon where you would like it and tie a bow. If you are adding an embellishment, just hot glue it on. I got the wooden apple and little bus at Michaels also. It was less than a dollar for both.

Taft helped open the crayons and pick the colors. He also picked the yellow ribbon. I asked him if he wanted to take it to his teacher tomorrow, but he said he wants to keep it at home.

Sunday at The Park

2011-08-21T17:02:00.000-04:00

On Friday, I promised Taft that we would go to the park this weekend. It has been forever since we went, mainly because it is at least 300 degrees most days. Maybe that is a tad of an exaggeration but you get the idea. Yesterday, it was cloudy and was supposed to rain so we stayed home. Today we needed to go out for a few things that could not wait until Monday. I told him that if he was good in Target, we would go to the park on the way home. And...he was good.

We started the trip off with swinging. Taft's favorite park activity.

Then we moved on to climbing up to the slide.

And off course the slid. He thinks that he is such a big boy now that Mommy doesn't climb up there with him. I think that the "I Rule the Playground" shirt was appropriate.

But he still looks pretty small in perspective.

And this he loved. Until he was about half the way up and wanted Mommy to save him. He said that he was "too little". He's such a sweet boy.

And one of may favorite pictures of the day. He thought that it was funny that I was under him and we could see each other.

But it was fun. He found a little girl and a little boy to play with at times and was pretty good about leaving. Tomorrow is the first official day of Preschool for him. I know that he is going to do great.

RECIPE # 31- TACO STUFFED SHELLS

2011-08-20T19:02:00.003-04:00

I must say that Pinterest is giving me WAY to much inspiration. Not only are there crafts to do and just pretty things to look at, but there are lots and lots of yummy recipes just waiting for me to cook. I found this one and it comes from a little blog called Pearls, Handcuffs, Happyhour. I did a few minor changes to make it better for us, but it was great!

1 lb. ground beef

1 pkg. taco seasoning

1 {14 oz.} pkg. cream cheese

12 large pasta shells

1 cup salsa

I cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 chp shredded monterrey jack cheese

1/2 cup tortilla chips, crushed

3 green onions, chopped {we left these out}

1 cup sour cream

In a fry pan cook ground beef and add taco seasoning and prepare according to season package. Add cream cheese cover and simmer until cheese is melted. Blend well. Set aside and allow to fully cool. While the meat is cooking cook the pasta shells.

Pour salsa in the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch baking dish.

Stuff each shell with the meat mixture. Place the stuffed shells in the baking dish and cover the tops of the shells with a little salsa.

Cover with foil and bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes, uncover, and sprinkle crushed chips and shredded cheddar and Monterey jack cheeses on top. Cook for about 15 more minutes. Serve with sour cream and chopped onions. Our just about anything that you like with tacos.

**I am thinking that the next time we are just going with the Mexican Blend shredded cheese instead of buying two separate ones.

True Life: I Am a {Mommy} Blogger

2011-08-19T09:36:00.003-04:00

Fabulous But Evil is hosting a True Life Link up. It is so funny to read and they have multiple blog categories. I think that I fit best in the Mommy Blogger, but you can head over and look at all the different types of bloggers.

If you are here from the link up, Welcome!! If you think that we have things in common (besides being a Mommy), please leave a comment because I would love to visit you too!

I started blogging in 2008 after my son was born. He is now 3 and a single child. He starts the official Preschool program at his school on Monday. He has been in the Toddler classes there for over a year and I work full time in a Gastroenterology office. I am also a Macaroni Kid Publisher Mom. And you can find out more about me here.

I started to blog in an attempt to keep family and friends updated on him and his growth since we live out of state. Over time it has become much more than that. And I am so happy that I did it. I don't find time to scrapbook all the time but when I do, I can refer back to the blog for all the details and journaling. It makes life easier.

I love to read, cook, craft, and travel. I blog about almost anything. Mostly about Taft and then a few fun links up to spice it up.

{Book Club Friday}: The Letter

2011-08-19T08:24:00.000-04:00

It is Book Club Friday at Blonde, Undercover Blonde! If you have a great book to review, head over and link up. It is also a GREAT place to find some books to add to your reading list.

Today I am reviewing The Letter by Richard Paul Evans. I have read this book more than once and I love it every time. It is the last book in series of The Christmas Box. All are great!

Here is what the authors website has to say:

The Letter is the final book of The Christmas Box trilogy. On a wintry October night a mysterious letter was left at the base of the angel monument which overlooks the grave of Andrea Parkin, the only child of David and MaryAnne Parkin. In The Letter, the unforgettable conclusion to The Christmas Box collection, Richard writes, “I discovered the letter in the winter of 1949 pressed between the pages of a diary that belonged to the child’s father, and, at first glance, I regarded it as of little consequence. It was only after I had read the diary that I learned of the letter’s great significance and the events it set in motion.”

The Letter, the final book of the Christmas Box collection is, most simply stated, the love story of David and MaryAnne Parkin. But it is also everyone’s love story, for it is about the storms that all relationships must face when the blissful state of romance vanishes into one of real-life challenges and difficulties. We often forget that it is in the hard times that we truly see what is best in love as well as in life. Though love may be temporarily darkened, true love never gives in, or up, but holds tight to noble ideas, which transcend this earth and all time.

The Letter is also about our pasts and our individual quests to discover who we are. In The Letter, David Parkin sets out on a journey to find his mother, a woman who abandoned him when he was a child. In truth, however, David is searching for himself as he seeks to free himself from the pain of her rejection and his fear that he was somehow unworthy of her love. In a sense, David’s search is the same journey we are all pursuing. We are all seeking love.

Another great plus is that these books are fairly short and easy to read. I read The Christmas Box almost every year, and watch the movie. ;0 It's a great holiday season read.

{right now}: Taft's Everyday

2011-08-18T08:45:00.001-04:00

Taft is always changing. I really love that he is learning new things all the time and growing, but it is also a little sad. I love the age that he is at and kinda want to keep him there for a while.

But - that is not possible, so here a few things about him right now:

He LOVES lollipops. Yes, he calls all suckers lollipops. His new Preschool teacher started giving them to the kids a few weeks ago (on their way home) and he is hooked. We get Tootsie Pops and Blow Pops. He doesn't care since he throws it away when he gets to the middle. ;0 And the photo above - he refused to look at me.
Despicable Me. Or as Taft says it, "Depickles Me", is his new favorite movie. I was out of town over the weekend and he and Shane watched it since it is on the FREE On Demand channels. We have watched it about 15 times since Sunday.

Someday. Everything with Taft is someday. If we are in the parking lot and he sees a car he likes he says, "I want to ride in that car...someday". Or if we see a cute puppy on tv, "I want to pet that puppy...someday". You get the picture.
Teeth brushing. This has been terrible for us for a long time. I have tried different types of toothbrushes and toothpaste. We are at the point that at night I hold him down and brush those little pearly whites REALLY good. He screams most the time. Then in the mornings, he brushes while I brush mine. He is doing much better. He knows that if he is not brushing them as well as he needs too, Mommy will brush them, and we don't want that.
This is the last week before school goes back. Taft as been in school all summer but the "real" school year starts on Monday and he will be in Preschool. No more Toddler I and II. He is growing up. Next year will be starting PreK. Where has the time gone?