Will Write for Food

Nicky's Interactive Angry Birds Cake

2011-11-01T17:20:00.000-07:00

Notice the shocking difference in the picture quality of the birds vs the piggies... The birds were photographed with an iphone 4S the piggies with a 3G.

New Diet Blog

2011-10-19T08:59:00.000-07:00

I'm starting a new diet and for that new diet I've created a new blog. Yay blogs! Feel free to join me at http://mssnarkypantsdiets.blogspot.com if you're interested!

Need to Get Writing Again

2011-09-26T05:39:00.000-07:00

The presence of a embryo, fetus, or infant kills my ability to write... I think it's the sheer exhaustion that they bring with them. That or my muse is simply terrified of babies. It's very hard to think up crafty language when you can barely keep your eyes open. I have hopes that soon my darling princess will allow me to get back to the creating of prose for entertainment's sake. We shall see. Until then, ain't she cute!?

Nicky's Favorite Links

2011-08-27T10:13:00.000-07:00

This is a post so I have something to link to on Nicky's computer with his favorite links. Please ignore... hehehe

School
Farmington School District
Folsom Elementary School
How to Hold Your Pencil

Bugs
Amazing Bugs You Didn't Know Existed

Giant Water Bug
Lantern Fly
Gloworm

Fish
10 Most Horrible Undersea Creatures

Science
Kids Astronomy

Games
PBS Kids
Nick Jr.
PBS Sprout
Bug Off

Rules for Social Interactions...

2011-07-25T07:14:00.000-07:00

...at least with me, though I am admittedly socially stunted.

1. If you start an invitation with, "You probably can't/don't want to, but..." I'm going immediately assume it's something you want me to say no to and you are only asking out of politeness. Yes, I've said no to things I really wanted to do because I assumed I wasn't really wanted there. If you want me to come some where or do something just ask me.

2. If you don't send me an invitation or invite me personally to a social event I'm going to assume you don't want me there, and thus will not attend.

3. Ignore me long enough, even if we used to be very close and I'll assume it's because you don't like me or are embarrassed by me and will eventually stop attempting to connect with you at all.

4. If you don't invite me to a social event that you assume I wouldn't want to go to so that I won't feel obligated, and I later find out that I was supposed to be invited then I'll assume that you are embarrassed by me or don't like me enough to want me there, and that's the reason you didn't pass along the invite. And trust me, in the day of Facebook I'll hear about it then I'll be hurt.

5. If you don't like me and want me around, because you think I'm not smart enough, wealthy enough, slim enough, attractive enough, entertaining enough, or a good enough parent, then just do me the favor of letting me know. We'll both be better off. Text me. Email me. It doesn't have to be face to face. Then after that I'll leave you alone. I promise. It's a waste of my time and yours otherwise.

I guess the bottom line is, say what you mean and mean what you say, because I'm not good enough at reading social cues to figure out what everyone wants. Not to mention that I'm just tooo tired and busy to try to sort it all out. And if you try to lead me in the direction you want me without saying it outright then I'm unlikely to get it, because I'm too tired and naive to get it.

Prefectionism Gone Wrong

2011-07-14T07:48:00.000-07:00

So I was watching an episode of hoarders (something about watching that show makes me capable of purging junk in my home and it needs it) and there was a very overweight woman who had just given up on cleaning her house. She would go through these spurts of wanting to get it perfect and working all night long and not ever be able to get it nearly clean so she just gave up.

It was obvious to me that she was a perfectionist who couldn't get things perfect so she just gave up on her home, which is probably exactly what happened in regard to her body as well.

Then I saw a reflection of myself in the tv, because I was sitting on the floor playing with Avi, and it suddenly occurred to me...Holy SHIT! That is me...that's exactly what I've done...

Even when I was younger and lost a bunch of weight, I thought I was horrifically fat...

There I am when I thought that. I was so not horrifically fat...

But since I worked so hard and still didn't feel good about myself, then all the hard work I had put in felt pointless. Why bother when I slave for months and am still fat and ugly? So I just gave up caring what other people thought of me.

That in and of itself is not a bad thing, but the fact that I don't feel good about myself at all anymore is. I'm pretty active so I'm not really in as horrible shape as I could be. But I'm getting older and sooner or later the effects of all this excess weight are going to catch up with me. Something has to be done...

But what?

So if we've established that I'm a perfectionist who will never be happy no matter what I do? Where do I go from there?

I've heard people comment that if a person knows the root of their problem then they should be able to solve it, "after all that is why people spend 1000s on therapy." But that is just so not true. I think I've figured out a large portion of my problem, and I have no idea where to go with it.

Princess Avalon has Arrived

2011-04-06T15:21:00.000-07:00

Avalon Leigh Speller
March 28th, 2011
5:20 pm
8 lbs
21 1/8 inches

The Ninja Mouse

2010-12-19T13:21:00.001-08:00

Okay, so the other day I was on my way to a work party and Bryon calls and tells me that he opened the drawer with our utensils and a little mouse was looking up at him! LOL So that evening I went to Walmart looking for traps. I explained that I wanted the kind of trap that didn't kill them. They looked at me funny and suggested a glue trap. Eek! No! I'd rather snap their little necks than get them permanently attached to a piece of cardboard so that they'll just die of thirst or starvation. Those things are cruel I have no idea why anyone would use them! So I left Walmart and went to Lowes. They looked at me a little funny too and suggested glue traps. Then the girl called the guy from the pest area and he knew what I was talking about so I came home with one of these…

Tom Cat Live Catch Mouse Trap

Yes, I know I should be a Buddhist. I can't stand killing things. He was just hungry and cold so there is no reason to kill the poor little thing. We'd used Live Mouse Traps before when we had a mouse in the house and just taken them out into the field after we caught them, and they never came back.

So we were talking about what we should bait the trap with, and I asked Nicky what he thought the mouse would like best. He thought about it really hard for a minute and then said, "Mommy, I think we should ask the mouse what his favorite food is and then we'll know what to put in the trap for him." That seemed personally reasonable to me, but since I don't speak mouse I just went with peanut butter. Well Mr. Mouse liked peanut butter for sure.

The next day I heard the trap close when I was in the kitchen and opened the drawer to find it moving just a little so I knew that there was a mouse in it. I took it out of the drawer and had the brilliant idea to put him in the little plastic aquarium with the top so that I could show Nicky and then remove him to the out of doors. Well I had no trouble getting him in the aquarium, but then I was putting the top on and it fell in. He hopped up in the lid and I swear pulled one of those ninja moves so that he was clinging to the top of the lid and when I turned it over to see if he was in it, he jumped out and to the floor and scurried his little mousey booty behind the stove again. Doh!

Well then I was in the kitchen later while Bryon was in the kids' room vacuuming (yeap, he's a great guy) and I opened the drawer to see if it was set off and I saw the trap shut when I opened it. Well the motion of the drawer sets off the trap so I assumed it was just that. So I pulled it out of the drawer and opened it up to reset it and out pops the mouse! Which elicited a squeal from me! I'm not afraid of mice at all, but it was very surprising since I was sure it was empty! Bryon heard me asked me if I was okay, and I just started laughing. He rolled his eyes a few times. LOL

Yes, I was indeed foiled twice in one night by a mouse!

So we went to bed and when we got up this morning, Mr. Mouse was in the trap again…

So Bryon and Nicky got up and got dressed and took the trap out to the field without opening it and let him out. Well they started back toward the house and the mouse was following them. Like trotting along slowly behind them as they walked. LOL Nicky was totally impressed. He's convinced this means that the mouse wanted to be his pet. Noooooo, we're not having a wild mouse for a pet. If he wants a mouse I'll get him one from the pet store, but lord knows what a wild mouse could be carrying. So they ran back to the house and came inside. We reset the trap just in case…

Well I went to the kitchen a few minutes ago and swore I heard something move in the drawer and sure enough the trap was set off again. Well so now we're not sure if Mr. Mouse just REALLY loves our house and wants to enjoy the lovely peanut butter we put out for him or if he had friends… So to be absolutely certain he didn't come back…no, we didn't kill him! Though Bryon did suggest it. I put the shut trap in a box with the aquarium over the top and put it in the car. Yes, Mr. Mouse and I went for a little ride. Hehe I took him over to the park and let him out by the creek. So we've reset the trap again. We'll see if another one takes the bait. If it does we'll know we have several. If it doesn't then we'll know he was just a very dedicated mouse. LOL

Wish us luck!

We're having a baby girl!!!

2010-11-13T13:11:00.001-08:00

Meet Baby Avalon! She'll be joining us in late March or early April!

Win a free camera bag!

2010-11-12T14:35:00.000-08:00

Win a free bag!

I'm a Terrible Blogger

2010-11-10T21:59:00.000-08:00

But all is well. :-)

If you're on facebook add me because lately all I can manage is status updates! LOL

Assumptions

2010-09-03T07:48:00.001-07:00

"When you assume, you make an ass of you and me."

The first time I heard that I had no idea what the heck they were talking about it, and then someone who said it to me wrote it on a chalkboard and put marks between the letters like so: ass-u-me.

You know, that old adage has so much truth to it.

Don't make assumptions about people. Especially if you're going to admit that you made them...

Don't assume that because a person is a techie that they are male. Girls can be tech geeks too.

Don't assume because a woman is a mother that it is the only thing in her life. It's probably a HUGE part of who she is, but it's not necessarily the only part. She very likely has other interests and dreams that go along side being a mom. On the same note, don't assume that is always the case. Some women genuinely find being moms and wives their biggest goal in life. That is a worthwhile dream too. Don't assume that either one of these mothers is better than the other. They are probably equally good and loving mommies.

Don't assume that strong women can't love the color pink. Pam on True Blood put this best.

"I don't know what it is about me that makes people want to tell me their problems. Maybe I smile too much. Maybe I wear too much pink. But please remember I can rip your throat out if I need to.” – Pam, True Blood, Season 3

I could keep going, but these are the one's that are the ones on the top of my mind at the moment.

It all boils down to not assuming you know a darn thing about someone before you get to know them. Just let people be who they are. Don't label them or try to stick them into categories. You'll find that sometimes you're horribly wrong.

Tadpoles Update

2010-08-17T11:00:00.000-07:00

So our 100s of tadpoles hatched. We made three separate trips to the lake to release them until we had just about 20 left.

So after we had our numbers decreased to manageable level we watched them grow. Unfortunately for some reason I didn't get many pictures of them with just their back legs, but I got some when they were morphs.

That is a picture of me trying to convince the froggie to have even the slightest interest in the crickets we got for them. Alas none of them would even touch the crickets.

So once they were full fledged frogs...

Of the gray tree frog variety (I think) then we let them go so that they could hunt their own food.

We still have one tadpole...He's unique. He's larger than the others and has been the slowest to morph. Also one of his back legs doesn't seem to work quite right. So if we can find food for him that he'll eat he may stay with us as a pet. We'll see how that goes.

Yes, I'm a Negligent Blogger

2010-08-11T08:12:00.000-07:00

But at least I have a very good excuse. See the ticker on the right side of the screen under works in progress? Yup, that's right. If I'm not throwing up I'm taking a nap, preforming my day job, rearing my other two children, or working on a rewrite of Click Yes to Submit. So that's why I haven't been blogging like I should be. Or keeping up with others' blogs. Sorry!

I've also started working on Christmas presents. I found the perfect thing to make my Mommy and I've started it. I also have a list of fantastic ideas for some other people. I really enjoy crocheting. It's very soothing.

I've made 5 Cthulus and I think I'm going to make one more in neon pink for me to keep at the office. I'm also contemplating little amigurumi super heroines for myself and my bestie. Mine will be WORD GIRL! Able to Google the answers to Microsoft Word Problems quickly and easily!

This is a test Blog

2010-08-02T07:57:00.001-07:00

Testing Testing

Cool or Lame?

2010-07-22T19:02:00.000-07:00

Okay, so there are some books out there that have "a thing." Like the heroine likes to cook so the author includes some of the recipes she cooks during the story.

Well the fairy queen in my books is a crafter. She has two separate and distinct lifetimes, one that ends in the 1100s and one that is modern day. Back in the day she was a weaver. In modern day, she's a pretty funky chick. I think the right craft for her in modern day would be crocheting. More specifically making little goth amigurumi characters. So I figured it could be cool to come up with some patterns and include them.

What do you think? Cool or lame?

Amusing Anecdotes from Eclipse Midnight Showing

2010-07-13T19:42:00.000-07:00

Yes, that's right. I did go with my bestie to the midnight release of Eclipse. And yes I did get there hours early. And yes, I did have a smashing good time.

Last time (yes we went to New Moon too) there were fairly normal people surrounding us. This time I'm afraid...well...they were special.

Heard while waiting in line outside the theater.
Girl 1: Yeah, our freezers went down so our boss went and got some dried ice to keep it cold.
Girl 2: Oh no!
Girl 1: Yeah, the guy I work with said, "Should we really be serving this ice cream to people? What if they get CO2 Poisoning?"

Okay, sweetie. CO2 is carbon dioxide. You're surrounded by it all the time. It can't poison the ice cream.

Heard while sitting inside the theater.

Another Girl 1: OMG I just don't understand his taste in women. We were sitting there, and he was staring at this chick jogging by. I mean her butt was jiggling when she ran! It was disgusting.

Wow...there are people whose butt doesn't jiggle when they run? How do they have the energy to run if they don't have enough stored body fat that the fattiest part of their body doesn't move when they jog... And contrary to what you might have been led to believe not everyone finds 0% body fat attractive.

Also heard while sitting in the theater.

Same Girl 1: You know, that Lady Gaga Song, Alejandro? What does that even mean anyway? Alejandro?
Her friend: I think it's a name.

Yes, dear. It's a name.

I swear. These young uns today!

Finn's ER Trip for Stitches

2010-07-10T22:34:00.001-07:00

Finn's ER Trip for Stitches
Originally uploaded by MsSnarkyPants

Yes, that is an ER room where my son is singing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. He fell onto the corner of the filing cabinet that is now in my yard awaiting me and my baseball bat to beat it all to hell and gashed his lip open. It took 6 hours and 3 stitches.

He was very chipper for most of the time in the ER. Until they actually stitched him up. Then he kept insisting that he wanted to go home. I kept telling him I did too!

He hasn't really seemed bothered by it as long as I keep him dosed with Motrin, but he has been waking up from sleep with TERRIBLE nightmares since it happened. I think those nightmares probably include being wrapped up like a burrito and held down by three nurses while a doctor sews up his lip.

And this is his 3rd ER visit...he'll be 2 on Monday. I find those statistics frightening!!!

Day 2 of the Tadpole Adventure

2010-07-07T17:53:00.001-07:00

Day 2 of the Tadpole Adventure
Originally uploaded by MsSnarkyPants

Here is our collection of future tadpoles. They're doing great!

Laziness Turned Science Experiment

2010-07-07T08:48:00.000-07:00

So last time we played in the kiddie pool I didn't empty the water. Then it rained. Then it rained again. Suffice it to say a good week went by with water in there. So it got icky.

Yesterday I went out to dump the water and found small gelatinous clusters with little black dots int he middles. Yeap, some mommy frog had left her eggs in our pool. Doh! Well I couldn't just dump them out, because guilt wouldn't let me. But I didn't want to be without a pool either.

So after Bryon got home from work Nick and I went to the store and got a big 10 gallon aquarium. I filled it with water from the pool and put all the eggs in it.

Today when we went out and checked on them today they had grown little tails on their dots and were occasionally wiggling around. Nicky is very excited and I must admit I am too. :-D

Wow...just Wow...

2010-06-30T20:28:00.000-07:00

So I was in Sam's with Finn, and we were waiting in line for the deli. The lady in front of us in line turns around and says, "Oh, he has such beautiful hair! Is it natural?"

*blinks*

So I said, "No, we dye it about once a month to keep it nice and shiny dark brown. We use that new toddler Clairol. It's great stuff!"

Okay, I didn't really...but I sure as heck thought it. What I really said was something like, "Why thank you, yes it is."

But it gets better. She goes on to say, "You just don't see many little ones with hair so dark. What is his background?"

*blinks* Did you really just ask me my child's ethnic background standing in line in Sam's when you don't know me at all? Really?

My manners often overpower my snark and I didn't tell her how inappropriate her comments were, but I sure as heck thought it. I mean I know she was well meaning. It was just so strange and surreal. LOL I felt a little sorry for her husband. You gotta wonder what comments come out of her mouth on a regular basis. hehehe

What is this?

2010-06-27T09:27:00.001-07:00

This was made by one of my great grandmothers. I need to ask again which one, because I forgot since my mom told me.
I think it's really cool looking! But what is it? Okay, I know it's a baby blanket. But is it crochet?

The lines actually seem almost woven, but the border around the edge definitely looks like a crocheted one.

Anyone have any ideas. The pattern is really cool!

Tuesday Teaser: Click Yes to Submit

2010-06-15T19:26:00.000-07:00

Her fingers were trembling as she clicked the button for a video call. So if the picture of him wasn’t real, then she was about to find out. It seemed like it took hours to load the call. All the while her stomach was doing somersaults. When the screen filled with his image her breath caught in her throat.

Yes, that had definitely been his picture.

The same strong features and angular jaw framed by spun gold hair looked back at her. Even the eyes, which she’d been sure were contacts, were the same. Of course, he could have contacts in, but it was almost four in the morning. His full, sexy lips smiled back at her, and she couldn’t help the heat that shot through her whole body and concentrated deep between her thighs. “Hello there.” Oh, he had a sexy voice. It was deep and full with just a hint of a foreign accent that she couldn’t place.

“Hi.” Suddenly she lost all ability to speak. She couldn’t think of a thing to say besides hi. Fortunately he spoke.

“So you don’t really have purple eyes.” His little grin set her heart on fire. He even had dimples. Someone was going to have to throw a bucket of cold water on her for sure.

“No, they’re just plain old blue.” She couldn’t stop smiling at him. He probably thought she was some kind of nut job with this silly grin plastered across her face.

“Well, they are beautiful.”

Claire pulled up her knees and could feel herself blushing. “Thanks. Yours aren’t so bad yourself.” She sounded like a complete idiot!

Gabe didn’t seem to notice though, because he just smiled back at her. “So how did you get a name like LiLith_N_ChainZ?” Her cheeks went redder, and this time he did notice because his sexy smile turned into a smirk. Dear Goddess, those dimples were going to be her undoing!

“Well, I…” Claire saw her favorite bracelets on the desk where she must have tossed them. They were black leather with a tiny pair of handcuffs attached. She couldn’t type with them on, that’s why they always ended up next to her keyboard. She held them up where he could see them and shrugged. “I’m rather fond of chains. You know…as accessories.”

Because I Just Can't Stop Watching It

2010-06-15T14:25:00.001-07:00

Desk Dragon's Antics - Part 1

2010-06-08T16:41:00.000-07:00

Hi, I'm Desk Dragon! Desk Dragon comes from the far off land of McDonaldia. Desk Dragon met the mistress of this blog when she saved Desk Dragon from certain loss of wings at the hands of a cute but mischievous pair of creatures called Nicky and Finn. From that day, Desk Dragon has lived in the realm of Desk. Desk Dragon loves it here! There are so many things to see and do.

Desk Dragon LOVES coffee and likes to start each day with a steaming pot. Hey, where's the coffee? Get to that, blog mistress!

Desk Dragon supports being green! After all, Desk Dragon is green. Don't you want to be like Desk Dragon?

Enough work! Desk Dragon now wishes to dig his toes and Tail into the sand.

That Kid's Got Smarts

2010-06-04T22:19:00.000-07:00

Remember the haunted bridge?

Well I was trying to convince Bryon to take us for a ride to get the kids to fall asleep, and I thought I'd show him the bridge. Not cross the bridge mind you. Cause holy cow no way in the dark am I crossing that thing! Just go look at it. Maybe poke around with our trusty EVP meter.

No, we don't really have an EVP meter. I was just kidding.

So this conversation went down...

Bryon: You want to go out to the bridge now?
Me: Yeah, sure why not?
Bryon: Because you want to see if there are any ghosts...
Me: Yeap.
Nicky: Are they nice ghosts?
Me: *Hugs him* Of course, they're nice ghosts babe. They wouldn't hurt you.
Nicky: Well, fine, but I'm taking my sword.
Me: Huh?
Nicky: Because there are nice ghosts and there are not nice ghosts, and I'm taking my sword just to be sure.

Fishing Holes and Haunted Bridges

2010-06-04T21:26:00.000-07:00

This week I took Nicky and Finn for a drive, because they were driving me INSANE and Finn desperately needed a nap and wouldn't sleep. So we decided to go look for Lake Wilson that a friend suggested we try fishing in. I'd never heard of it, but apparently it was one of the Fayetteville Parks. So I looked it up on google. It seemed pretty straight forward. Not too far behind Drake Field, the old airport.

I plugged it into my iPhone, and we headed off. I checked out the route and saw that it was on a road off 15th street called City Lake rd. Hmmm...I'd never heard of it so I figured I'd just keep an eye out. I passed Morningside drive and thought, hmm that really seems to be where it should have been, and I glanced at the phone and I was clearly past the turn off. Well apparently Morning side drive is only Morningside drive for about half a mile then it becomes City Lake rd. At least according to Google Maps. I never actually saw a sign with City Lake rd on it.

So I'm driving along and suddenly the pavement ends and I think well surely I'm close to the park now right...noooope. I keep cruising along...well bumping along, and I come out in this area that's opened up and there is water in front of me and some cars pulled off the road and what looks like a little dam. So I think well this must be the lake! Nope! Upon checking out my iPhone map I'm not even nearly there. I look around for some bridge...

What? No Bridge? What??? The Dam is the bridge??? Damn! It was the creepiest bridge in the history of time. It had no sides at all and was BARELY wide enough for my van to pass it. I'm just sure there is some mistake. Clearly there will be a large sign that says do not cross! DANGER DANGER DANGER!

Alas, there was no sign. That was indeed the correct path that I was supposed to take. So literally shaking, I inched my car out onto the bridge, being 100% sure that I actually was on the bridge. I noted that, in fact in some places you could actually see the metal struts over the barely patched bits of concrete.

Now let me add to this all by saying I have this intense unexplainable fear of being trapped in something underwater, especially cars...so the only thing that got me to cross this bridge was the fact that Nicky was very, very excited about the prospect of seeing a new fishing hole. Somehow I managed. It was a surprise to myself and everyone who knows me, let me tell you!

I later found out that the bridge is called Tilly Willy bridge and it is apparently haunted. At least that's what the stories say. Something about a family or mother who went off the bridge and she and the kids drowned. I read two different accounts but no one had any news articles that actually backed up this alleged drowning, so who knows. Yeah, glad I didn't know that before I crossed that bridge or Nicky would have been out of luck! It's also scheduled for being replaced! Yay!

So we kept driving and kept driving and kept driving and FINALLY got to a sign that said Lake Wilson and then we kept driving on even worse roads... As in I had to stop my car and inch over the holes in the road and I was a little afraid I would get stuck. But I did managed and there is indeed a lake there!

It's a lovely lake in fact, with a nice easy area for putting in boats and good shores for fishing off of.

We even got in a few quick casts. There were some butterflies cavorting on the bank and they kept tickling him and making him squeal. We did see some pretty big brim under the surface, but we didn't have a decent bait on the hook for them. My little fisherman is getting quite skilled, but you still have to beware of the slinging hook. LOL

They even have a lovely little pavilion with fish cleaning tables. At least I think that's what those standing height tables are for.

One thing they didn't have? ANYONE ELSE! We were completely and totally alone. Not another vehicle. Not another person. There was some large animal in the bushes however. I dunno what that thing was, but it was big enough to rustle the tops of some large bushes. We were leaving when we saw that. LOL

Also, no cellphone coverage! NONE! I was in a complete and total dead zone. So don't go out there and have an emergency, because it's not a good plan. I can't wait to go back. Although I may see if there is another route that doesn't include the terrifying bridge of doom.

The Greek and Indian Meet and Have a Scrumptious Love Child

2010-05-28T07:38:00.000-07:00

That's the only way I can describe this meal. I call it Tzatziki Curry Chicken. Bascially one day I had forgotten that I used all my yogurt for my curry chicken making my tzatziki the day before and figured why not try it. It was crazy yummy!

So here we go!

Tzatziki

Grate a cucumber and put it inside a few paper towels to soak up the water. Squeeze it if you have to, to get out the excess.

Mince:
Garlic (about 3ish cloves-but I like mine potent feel free to use less)
Fresh Mint (around a hand full)

Add this to one of the largish containers of plain Greek yogurt, or non-Greek yogurt if you can't find it, or you can make your own like Meghan Conrad. I keep meaning to try it, and I keep forgetting and eating my starter. LOL

Mix everything together well and add salt to taste then put it in your fridge. The longer Tzatziki has to sit and mingle its flavor the better it is.

The chicken curry part:

Cut up in largish chunks:
4 chicken breasts
2 green peppers
1 onion

Heat your pan and add a little olive oil. Once it's good and warm add your veggies and chicken. Cook it until the chicken begins to turn white then add:

1 tablespoon red curry powder

Mix that in good and then cook it until it's good and well done. Then add half of the container of Tzatziki and heat through.

We like to serve this over rice. Man now I'm hungry for it again, and I had it two days ago!

Eat and Enjoy!

Now you ask what to do with the other half of the container of Tzatziki? Well we like to make homemade pitas. Sometimes I just eat that dipped in the Tzatziki and it's almost a meal all by itself. Sometimes I made a pasta salad to go with it. Sometimes a greek chicken meal. Tzatziki is delightful with almost anything!

Yeah, no, just no

2010-05-25T07:40:00.000-07:00

Finn: *Pointing at my coffee* Juice?
Me: No, it's Mommy's coffee. *points to the juice bottle in his hand* That's juice.
Finn: *Looking contemplative* Coffee good!
Me: Yes, dear, I like coffee. Is your juice good?
Finn: *looking insulted* Ugh! No!

Well tough luck, buddy! You aren't going to get my coffee!

Ornery Children

2010-05-21T22:54:00.000-07:00

My husband told me about this conversation, and I just had to share.

Finn: Daddy, monkey! hehehe
Nicky: Daddy! *laughing hysterically* He called you a monkey!
Bryon: No, he didn't. It just sounded like monkey.
Finn: Dada - *makes a very accurate monkey sound*
Bryon: You little bum!

*giggles hysterically*

I'm Angry and I have to say this somewhere

2010-05-21T12:15:00.000-07:00

This Article has seriously p'd me off!

Normally I wouldn't bring up religion or abortion, but I just had to say something about this. I will say briefly that I am very uncomfortably pro-choice. I believe a woman has a right to end a pregnancy if she feels she needs to for whatever reason. I don't think, however, that I would be able to do the same, but I refuse to judge others who do since I've never been in a situation that required I make that decision and hope never to be. That being said here is what happened...

A woman was 11 weeks pregnant with her 5th child. She got very sick and was rushed to the hospital. It just so happened to be a Catholic hospital. The doctors told her that her risk of mortality was "nearly 100%" if she continued the pregnancy. It was something called right heart failure which I've never heard of and know nothing about, but I'm sure the doctors wouldn't have told her that risk if it weren't the case. She had 4 other children who needed their mommy so she made the decision (I'm sure a very difficult one) to have an abortion, but they almost didn't let her. A nurse nun made the decision to allow the abortion to save the mother's life. Mom survived. Yay, nun! The bishop then heard about this and had her "automatically" excommunicated.

Okay, fine. maybe it was against church rules to allow the abortion, but isn't it against church rules to rape children? Why haven't all the priests who've been caught molesting children gotten excommunicated.

That's all I've got to say. I've got no problem at all with Catholics because of this. That would be like being mad at all Americans because of Bush, but the leadership of the church can kiss my booty. That's just awful!

Chicken and Veggie Fried Rice

2010-05-20T21:45:00.000-07:00

Jenn asked and Jenn shall receive. :-D A little forewarning here. There is NOTHING healthy about my version of fried rice. Warning issued.

Cook while you're readying the veggies:

Two Cups Rice

Shred in the food processor or cut very small:

large onion
celery
carrots
garlic

No exact measures of these. Just make more than you'd think you need since they shrink a bunch when you cook them.

Melt about half a stick of butter in the bottom of your frying pan and add all the veggies cooking until they get good and soft.

Add:

2-3 chicken breasts cut thin

Cook until the chicken is done, then take it all out of the pan and put it in a bowl.

Melt another half a stick of butter in the pan and add your cooked rice. Stir that around until it starts to brown just a little. Then push the rice to the sides and add:

2 eggs

To the middle of the pan and scramble them up a bit. Once it starts to get almost done stir the rice from the sides in with the rice then add the veggies and chicken that you put in the bowl.

Add:

soy sauce to taste

Cook until it's all heated through.

I love it!

Absence from Internet Awesomeness

2010-05-12T06:34:00.000-07:00

You may have noticed that I've been absent from the internet for much of the last two weeks. Or then again you might not have...

My in-laws came to visit from Denmark. First there was the mass cleaning before they got here. Then their actual visit. Then the mass cleaning after they left. (Which isn't actually finished yet, but I'm getting close.)

We did much shopping (prices are sooo much cheaper here than over there.) My FIL got new glasses which arrived literally within minutes of our leaving for the airport. There was much rejoicing.

I took them to Terra Studios, because I'd always wanted to go see it and had heard that it was lovely. It was! Nicky nicknamed it the Magical Forest. At least the trail part of it. I've got to get back there when it's actually open so I can buy one of their pink bluebirds of happiness.

We went to Branson, MO, where we stayed in a pretty darn nifty hotel. We spent two days at Silver Dollar City.

We also saw the Dixie Stampede. Finn was not impressed with the Dixie Stampede. Well he was at first, when the horses were all running around, but when the talking and singing started he decided that we should get up and go run around behind the aisles instead of watching.

I'm also almost done with my spring cleaning! Woot! I've just got to go through the boys clothes and sort out the too small things. It's crazy. Finn's so big that the clothes Nicky just outgrow actually already fit him. It saves storage space that's for sure! And the stuff Finn grows out of gets deposited in the baby closet which I managed to clean ALL of my husband's stuff out of before the in-laws arrived. Go me! I then managed to convince him to get rid of like 3 garbage bags worth of worthless cables and computer parts that he felt the need to hold on to for some unknown reason. Go him for submitting to the clean sweep! Next step is to get him to sort through his clothes. There are things in that closet that he's had since I've known him... And they aren't like sentimental pieces and lordy they look their age!

I'm all kinds of crazy tired. I can't manage to get caught up on my sleep because my munchkins insist on getting up at the crack of dawn even when I don't actually have to! Oy!

Oh well, I'm back! I'm sure you all missed me very much. ;)

Oh wait! We also went to the Safari Park out in Gentry, and it was so much fun. We petted goats, pigs, spider monkeys, a baby burro (I WANT ONE!), a zebra, and saw tinnnny baby tigers. The cuteness of that was just almost too much for me!

Well, I guess that just says it all...

2010-04-22T19:21:00.000-07:00

I had a box of fortune cookies up in the cabinet, and I said to myself, "This fortune cookie is going to tell me how the rest of my day will go."

I started pulling plastic wrapper and it wouldn't come loose so I pulled a little harder. It split open all at once and shot the fortune cookie up into the air. It went crashing to the ground and shattered. It was then gobbled up quite quickly by my very happy dogs.

Ummm hmmm...Fine!

Cliches to Live By

2010-04-20T12:41:00.000-07:00

You catch more flies with honey, than you do with vinegar.

No really! You do. Both literally and figuratively. So be nice!!!

Such a Tenacious little Thing Deserves a Chance

2010-04-19T19:19:00.000-07:00

I opened my cabinet today to get an onion out to put in the Chicken and Noodles I was making and saw something very odd. it looked a little like a daffodil before it gets it's flower, and it was sticking up from behind the little plastic basket I keep my onions in. So I reached back and pulled it out, and this is what I found.

The onion had apparently fallen out of the back of the basket and hidden there long enough to sprout and grow a FOOT long!!! Well I pulled it out and dropped it in the garbage, but I couldn't stop thinking about that poor little thing. It was giving it all it had to grow not even in dirt and what did I do but drop it in the trash can. How could a be so cold and callus?

So I pulled it out and took it out to the front porch and planted it in one of my big pots that I used for container gardening last year.

Yes, my front porch is a mess. Don't judge me! I'm a busy woman. hehehe

So now it has a chance at life. Probably the world's most boring front porch plant, but hey I don't care. :-D

We Shall Never Speak of This Again

2010-04-13T08:36:00.000-07:00

Our lawnmower wasn't starting and was in need of its yearly maintenance so I went up to Lowes and put on my "I have no idea what I'm doing" face and asked for help finding all the stuff I needed. I love Lowes! They are always so helpful, and it's one of the few places I know I can trust the information I get. So I got a new fuel filter, new spark plug, new air filter, new oil filter, an oil pan, and new oil. I went home and was so excited! I couldn't wait to get started!

It started out SO well!

I opened up the air filter box and popped in the new one with no trouble. The old one had a colony of ants starting to move into it. Yikes! That could prove to be a problem when you want to make sure you're getting the right amount of oxygen mixed with the fuel!

Then I off the old fuel filter... No wonder I wasn't sure that the one the guy at Lowes pointed out to me was the right one. Here's what the new Fuel Filter looked like once I got it on.

Kind of a terrible picture, but isn't it beautiful!? It was so easy to change! And in the process of changing that I could drain out the old fuel that had been left sitting all winter. Note to self: next year, remember to add Fuel Stabilizer before putting it up for winter.

Then came the Spark plug. I didn't take any pictures of it. It was no problem at all...as soon as I found it. It was hiding from me under the engine cover. But gapping it, removing the old one, and replacing it was really easy.

Then I drained out the oil, which was of course easy to do. Just unscrew the drain and let it out.

Then came the problems...

This is the oil filter... I asked the man at Lowes if it was hard to change the oil filter. "No," he told me, "it just screws right off." Well good! Or so I thought.

I tried to screw it off. No luck. I went back to Lowes and bought a special wrench made for oil filters...

The oil filter snapped the tool. "Ugh! Fine! Piece of junk!" I said to myself. So I went to O'Rileys to buy a set of oil filter pliers. I talked to the man who checked me out, and he suggested that if that didn't work to try driving a screw driver through it and using that to turn it. Oh, that sounded so messy! So I went home and tried the pliers. And Bryon tried the pliers. No luck. Well dang!

We gave up for the day as the sun was down. Bright and early the next morning, okay it was more like 11, we headed out to try again. I tried the pliers again. Bryon tried the pliers again. No luck and the oil filter was beginning to get crushed.

Well fine! Let's try the screw driver method then. We tried it. It was working!!! We managed to move it two full turns! I could tell because it has those words on the side and they spun around twice. I was hopeful! We might get to mow today! Yay! Then the whole bottom ripped off the oil filter and I threw in the towel. Literally! Okay, it wasn't a towel, it was actually paper towels I was using to clean up all the spilled oil from the shredded oil filter.

That's what was left of it...

After another trip to Lowes, it was decided to give the prying it off with a flat head screwdriver method a shot. And some progress was being made when our neighbor, James, came over. His wife, Sabrina, had seen my angry rantings about the oil filter on facebook, and since he's very mechanically inclined he came over to give us a hand. They're just awesome people that way. :-D So I got out of the way and let him and Bryon try. Well he started going the wrong way...or so I thought.

"Wait," I said, "it's got to go the other way. It goes counter clockwise."

James paused for a moment and said, "It's confusing because it's upside down."

"Oh crap," said Bryon, "he's right. We were going the wrong way."

Sure enough it started moving. And it started moving very quickly. I was, um, a little chagrined to say the least...

Pretty soon, James had the whole thing off. He's the hero of the day. hehe

This is what it looked like when it came off completely.

It didn't take any time at all to get the new one on and the oil and gas back in the machine, and it was running like a dream! I, of course, took a victory lap around the yard. Not that I mowed...that still needs to be done, but we'll get there.

So there you have it. For all my awesomeness, I was turning the damn thing the wrong way! Feel free to laugh abundantly. I'll wait.

*waiting*

*waiting*

You done? No? Okay, carry on.

*waiting*

All right, you can stop now.

I would just like to take this moment to point out what a freaking hoss I am. I managed to move it 2 and a half turns around after the darn thing was already completely tight. Yeah, that's right. I'm amazing! Lame...but amazing! Or amazingly lame... Did I mention how I snapped a metal tool with my brute force while I tried to turn it the wrong way? Yeah, I know. You're totally impressed.

Oy! Okay, that was my weekend. How was yours?

DISCLAIMER: My husband would like pointed out that he was turning it the right way... Okay, fine. I pointed it out. He did, however, agree with me at some point obviously since we were both working on it together...

Happy 101 Award: What Makes Me Happy

2010-04-05T18:30:00.000-07:00

Madison Woods gave me the Happy 101 award and challenged me to come up with a list of 10 things that make me happy.

So here we go!

Crocheting - the fact that I didn't think I'd ever learn how and now I can make little things!
My hubby - though he also makes me CRAZY! hehe Come to think of it so do my boys. ;)
Writing - I love it! Filling up a blank page with story is eternally enjoyable.
My Furbabies - like the boys. I don't think this one requires explanation. :-D
My iPhone - No, really! I can Google ANYTHING, ANYWHERE! The information of the internet is at my beck and call all the time! That makes me happy!!!
Chocolate, Coffee, Diet Coke
Reading - I love being transported to new places and meeting new people all in the privacy of my own living room.
Friends I know I can count on for anything.

The Truth Comes Out

2010-04-03T17:38:00.001-07:00

So I told you six bold-faced lies and one truth. Here's the revelation!

1. I like to dance naked in the moonlight on certain pagan holidays. *wiggles eyebrows*

Heck no! The last time moonlight saw my naked skin, I was 18 and skinny dippin' in the woods. Back then there was less of me...and what there was was more evenly distributed. Ah, the joys of motherhood. LOL

2. I once had a member of a band, who is famous for the length of his creepy tongue, lick his lips at me.

Yeap, this is the one. My high school boyfriend was totally obsessed with KISS and so I ended up in the front of the mosh pit at one of the KISS concerts that came to Little Rock. Well, I have terrible allergies at certain times of the year and so I end up with horribly chapped lips. That leads me to lick them repeatedly because I really hate the way chapstick feels. So I guess he must have thought it was a come on, because I licked my lips and he looked right at me and did exactly the same thing... Eww...

3. I have a tattoo, which I could tell you about, but then I'd have to kill you...

Alas, no. I'd love to get one eventually, but I still haven't firmly decided on what or where.

4. I once found a meteor crater in the backyard of my grandparents house. Alas, there was no cute little baby in it that grew up to be superman.

Okay, that one was a little too easy.

5. I have played Dragon Age 5 times to explore all the different love life options and to see if it was really possible to have a threesome with the super hot pirate chick.

Not yet. Only played it one and a half times. I'm currently romancing the adorable bard chick and Alistair my fellow warden, because Alistair so ridiculously adorable that I have no resistance to his cuteness. LOL

6. I am going to bed tonight very early, and I'm sure I'll sleep wonderfully!

Ugh, yeah no.

7. I watch American Idol every time it's on, even in reruns.

LMAO No....just no.

Happy Easter to one and all!

"Creative Writer" Blogger Award

2010-03-30T20:35:00.000-07:00

Wow...I've been slacking. Amanda at It's All About the Walls gave me this an obscenely long time ago and I'm ashamed to say it completely slipped my mind until I saw someone else's blog about a blog award. Oops!

In my defense, it's been a long month. Hell, it's been a long winter!

So here's how it works...

1. Thank the person who gave this to you.
Thanks, Amanda!!!

2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
Done.

3. Link to the person who nominated you.
Done and Done!

4. Tell six outrageous lies about yourself and at least one outrageous truth.
Will do!

5. Post links to the seven blogs you nominate.
Will Do!...maybe

6. Leave a comment on each of these blogs letting them know you nominated them.
Will also do!...also maybe

Here we go, girls and boys!

I like to dance naked in the moonlight on certain pagan holidays. *wiggles eyebrows*
I once had a member of a band, who is famous for the length of his creepy tongue, lick his lips at me.
I have a tattoo, which I could tell you about, but then I'd have to kill you...
I once found a meteor crater in the backyard of my grandparents house. Alas, there was no cute little baby in it that grew up to be superman.
I have played Dragon Age 5 times to explore all the different love life options and to see if it was really possible to have a threesome with the super hot pirate chick.
I am going to bed tonight very early, and I'm sure I'll sleep wonderfully!
I watch American Idol every time it's on, even in reruns.

Sooooo....which one do you think is true. Go ahead have at me. I can take it. Do you think I'm a super wild child? Or just a moderately wild one?

Erotic or Mainstream Romance?

2010-03-27T23:53:00.001-07:00

So I've now read about 12 different definitions of erotic romance, and I still don't have a clear understanding of where the line is drawn. I mean obviously if there is a menage or some serious BDSM then I understand clearly that it's Erotic Romance. However explicit sex, strong language describing the sexual act, and sex as being part of the development of the relationship/character is described as what it takes to make an erotic romance on most of the sites I looked at.

If that's the case then Dark Waters could very easily be an erotic romance. Quill, my heroine, has some serious issues with sex because of some awful things that happened to her in the past, and part of her character development is being able to get past that. She also has a shockingly dirty mouth, especially about sexual things.

So here's what I'm wondering: where do you draw the line between erotic and mainstream romance?

Learn to Crochet

2010-03-25T08:59:00.000-07:00

Okay, so as you know if you read my blog or are my friend on twitter or facebook, I'm learning to crochet. And I'm getting quite good if I do say so myself!

Since I love you all ever so much, I thought I'd share with you how I'm learning. I've linked to her before, but here are some of the basic videos that Theresa at The Art of Crochet has made. They're fantastic!

Chain

Single Crochet

Half Double Crochet

Double Crochet

Triple Crochet

Slip Knot

Magic Circle

So there are all the basic things you might need to know as your trying to complete a pattern, but I NEVER would have been able to learn by just learning the pieces. I'm not good at abstract concepts. If I can't see how something is used to put things together then honestly I couldn't care less about it.

So here is the very first thing I did. At least I think that was the first thing I did... Seems like it... Oh well, here is a fun one. :-D

Baby Beanie

Have fun!

Shot Down!

2010-03-21T21:15:00.001-07:00

Nicky and Bryon are playing Wizards 101 together online. It's probably the cutest thing I think I've ever seen, but this conversation just cracked me UP.

*blah blah blah something about buying stuff in the game* - I wasn't really paying attention.

Bryon: Nicky you don't have that many coins. You need to save them up for big things.
Nicky: I have enough for this!
Bryon: Yeah.
Nicky: Should I buy it?
Bryon: I wouldn't.
Nicky: I'm buying it!!!
Bryon: *groans*

Bear Ears for Baby and Toddler Hats

2010-03-14T15:18:00.000-07:00

I made Vixen's soon to arrive grand baby a little bear hat. I found the pattern for the hat at The Art of Crochet and created the ears myself. This is the one that I made for Roly Poly.

I think it turned out super cute, but I wasn't 100% sure about the ear pattern. It's a little rounded for the bear ears I was going for.

Well I posted it a picture of it on facebook and another friend who just had a baby a couple months ago requested one for her little girl. I fought with figuring out how to make the pattern bigger before I finally figured it out. I did make Kaida a cute hat in the process though.

Yeah, that wasn't just a little bigger like I'd been going for. It was A LOT bigger. hehe

Finally, however, I figured out the following. I liked the ears a little better but I had to fight when sewing it on because I did it on a circle and the circle got in the way.

I have finally found the perfect way to make the ears though. I just need a hat to sew the ones I made onto. It's going to be for Finn so it'll take a bit longer than the itty bitty baby hats.

The pattern is as follows....

Bear Ears

Chain 8
Single Crochet in 1st stitch
2 Double Half Crochet in 2nd Stitch
2 Double Crochet 3rd Stitch
2 Triple Crochet 4th Stitch
2 Double Crochet 5th Stitch
2 Double Half Crochet 6th Stitch
Slip stitch in end

I hope I called those stitches the right names...

I needed a nice storage bag for my crochet stuff. The zip lock bag I found all of them in in my Granny's sewing machine was about to fall apart. (Thanks Granny for assembling the perfect kit!) I got this makeup bag when the boys and I were at walmart. It's the perfect size and the zipper pull is a cupcake. Come on! Cupcakes and Crochet in one? How could you go wrong. :-D

Post in Which I Whine

2010-03-14T14:07:00.001-07:00

Okay, so you may remember that a little over a year ago they tested my thyroid and it came back as not working as well as it should. Then they did another test and said it was within normal ranges on that one so I didn't need any medicine. I then ordered a natural thyroid supplement and started taking it. I started losing weight. I had more energy. My depression disappeared. My short temper disappeared. I started feeling like a human being again.

Well as I mentioned before, we're planning on starting trying for number three toward the end of May. So at my annual visit this last Monday I talked to her about the thyroid thing. You see, your thyroid effects your progesterone levels and low progesterone in early pregnancy can cause miscarriage. I had to have my progesterone supplemented with both the boys. So it's entirely possible the miscarriage I had was progesterone related too. So she wanted me to go off of my thyroid and get retested. Then she'll be able to put me on something prescription that is more easily regulated than natural thyroid supplements. We talked about the fact that the way I tested last time (High on TSH and within normal ranges on T3 and T4 Free - think that's what you call them) that indicates that you are sub-clinical hypothyroid. Sub-clinical can still cause symptoms and benefit from treatment. Not to mention that it can also progress to worse hypothyroidism later. So I kind of figured that's what she'd want to do. I had no idea she'd want me off of them for a whole three weeks though!

I've been off of them for a week now. Here comes the whining part.

I'm tirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrred and collllllllllllllllllllld and grummmmmmmmmmmmpy. I've been taking naps and I'm still tired all the time. And did I mention grumpy? My poor children and husband are bearing the brunt of it I'm afraid. So to them I'm very sorry. And have I mentioned how badly I need a nap right now? Cause I do. A nap would be delightful!

K, I'm done whining. This is for a good cause.

You guys can go ahead and start thinking little girl baby thoughts at me if you have time. Maybe by may I'll have them nice and built up. hehehe

So Tired!

2010-03-13T13:59:00.000-08:00

Random Thoughts

2010-03-11T08:07:00.001-08:00

Warnings on Movies and Games

Okay, so you know how there are warnings about sex, violence, and strong language on video games and movies and stuff? Well I understand the need, really I do. And I'm glad they exist so that I can keep my children from watching or playing things that have these kinds of warnings. However, may I just make a request?

I'm extremely emotionally sensitive. Sex, Violence (unless it involves the death of a main character or child), and strong language don't even phase me in fiction. On the other hand, heart wrenchingly sad endings do. I can't stand them. I don't want to watch it, read it, play it. I hate it! Cried for like an hour after City of Angels. Don't even get me STARTED about The Mist! Can we please have warnings about emotionally horrific endings? Thanks. I'd appreciate it.

Chemistry Sets

Did you have a chemistry set when you were a kid? I didn't. I wanted one. My big brother got one that was like the most awesome chemistry set in existence. It had a vial of mercury. You SO couldn't buy one of those now a days! That big brother is now a Chemical Engineer, and I'm Tech Girl with a degree in Creative Writing... Coincidence? I think not!

Page 99 Test:: Blood and Violets

2010-03-10T05:07:00.001-08:00

I got this from Madison Woods blog. It's based on the theory that if you open your book to page 99 then you get a good indication from that page of whether or not the book will be any good.

So here we go!

Blood and Violets - Page 99

“God, no!” She’d never wanted kids. Maybe it would have been different if she’d had parents looking after her for her whole life, but she couldn’t do it. Kids needed emotional support and a stable life. She’d never be able to give anyone that much attention. “Maybe a puppy, a cute one with a wet nose.” He looked so suddenly relieved that she realized what had him so worried. “Shit, you were going to let me go if I wanted kids weren’t you. Of course, I want kids. All women want kids. Cute, little babies with squishy faces!”

“Now you’re lying.” He actually had the nerve to laugh at her.

“Damn it, why do I have to be so inept at reading people. Baby or not I don’t want to be a freaking vampire!”

“Why?”

His question caught her off guard. All she could think of was that she didn’t want to be a freak. Alex frowned at her. Stupid mind reading! “Because I’m fond of sun bathing and chocolate and especially diet coke!” He raised an eyebrow and eyed her porcelain white arms. “Okay, maybe not sunbathing, but someday I might like to take up the hobby.”

Alex moved in close and laid a fingertip on her bottom lip. She wanted to pull away but just couldn’t. “You’ll still be able to taste chocolate and diet coke if you want to. Just don’t swallow, or it’ll make you sick.”

She shook her head, and he dropped his fingers from her lips. “Blood is gross.”

He smiled, and it was all sensual feeling. “I promise you won’t think so afterwards.” His mouth dipped forward to her throat, and he laid his lips against the soft hollow there taking her breath away, but suddenly she was afraid that he was going to do it right then. Her heart jumped to her throat, and she pushed at him, but he didn’t move an inch. Panic seized her, and she slammed her fist into his chest as hard as she could.

Alex caught her hand and squeezed slightly, enough that it hurt but didn’t do any permanent damage. Even in her panic, she could see the struggle in his eyes. “Marie, don’t hit me.” Suddenly she remembered what he’d said about losing control when anyone hurt him. Alex’s eyes were tormented, and he stood turning his back on her and walking to the other side of the room.

Not a Fun Way to Wake Up

2010-03-06T17:42:00.000-08:00

At 3:20 AM Friday morning, I was awoken to Finn in the midst of a seizure. He sleeps with me otherwise I don't know how I would even have known he was having it. He was shaking all over and his eyes were rolling up in his head. It was completely terrifying. Especially since I had put him to bed completely healthy. I yelled for Bryon to wake up, and he shot out of bed. It didn't last more than 30 seconds, and once he wasn't seizing any longer, I established that he was still breathing okay though he was barely responsive and was moaning pathetically. It took me a couple of minutes to realize he had a fever and that was absolutely horrifying. A febrile seizure SUCKS, but a seizure not caused by fever is much worse.

Nicky had a febrile seizure when he was one so I knew all about febrile seizures. So I checked his fever which was 102, got some Motrin in him, and put him in the car, and we went to the ER. There was no one there. It's the fastest I've ever gotten into that ER. In the couple of minutes we did have to wait Finn started to perk up a little, he even pointed at the aquarium and told me it was a "BIG fish."

When they checked him in, his fever was 103.5 and they gave him some tylenol. We were put in a room and saw the doctor. He checked him over and said that he didn't see anything obvious so they were going to run some tests. First, they did the awful nose swab, and then they did a chest x-ray. Remember the torture device they put him in when he had pneumonia? Yeah, that was fun to repeat. After that we came back to the room, and they took a blood sample. It was horrible. Finn is strong, and even though he was sick his strength to fight back wasn't much diminished. They had to wrap him up like a little toddler burrito just to get the blood. Then we waited a really long time. The nurse, Brian, was great. He was really nice and helpful. He brought Finn a Teddy Bear and a snack. Finn really liked the Jello. Well he liked chopping it up with his spoon anyway.

The doctor apparently ordered an IV and the nurse came in and tried very hard to get the needle in a vein. However, with an angry squirming toddler who apparently has my slippery veins, we were about 5 minutes into the project when the doctor finally came in for the second time (around 6:30) and said that he should just give it up. At this point, he told me that all his tests were normal so everything was pointing toward a virus. He'd also talked to our pediatrician's office and they wanted us to come by for a recheck later that morning. So they sent us home since his temp was back to normal with the motrin and tylenol he'd gotten.

Finn slept most of the morning, and we went to his pediatrician's office about noon. Well he checked his ears and agreed they were fine. Then he checked his throat... It was at this point that I realized the doctor at the ER hadn't even bothered to so much as look at his throat. The source of the problem was completely obvious the moment he looked. His throat was swollen and there were actually pockets of pus on his tonsils....I know, beautiful imagery, but that's what he said. Now why couldn't the ER Doctor have just looked at his throat and seen that instead of subjecting him to blood tests and chest x-rays!? Okay, he might have wanted to do a blood test anyway just to make sure there wasn't anything else, but still!!!

My Mommy came to help me take care of him and Nicky. I love my Mommy! Last night was no fun. His temperature stayed high pretty much all night. It hovered just below 102 all night, even though we were alternating motrin and tylenol every three hours. It broke finally around 4. He still feels really awful. His throat naturally is hurting really awfully still, but at least *KNOCKS ON WOOD* his fever has stayed consistently down with medicine.

So of the worst ways I've ever been woken up, this was definitely the winner.

Someone takes his gaming too seriously...

2010-03-02T10:24:00.001-08:00

This morning I got up with the boys and came into the living room. Bryon had been up after me playing xbox and left his controller on the table. Well of course the first thing Finn did was grab the controller. He then plopped down in Bryon's chair and hunched over the controller with a very serious look on his face and started staring at the tv (that wasn't even on) pushing buttons. After a second of this he started glaring and making the most hillarious angry faces I've ever seen. This all culminated with him making a growling sound and throwing his arms up in the air.

It was actually an incredibly good impersonation of his father playing xbox. LMAO

Was this intended to be shocking?

2010-02-22T06:32:00.000-08:00

Managing Mommy Rage

I stumbled across this on someone's page, and I just had to comment on it. Surely to goodness this woman isn't being serious?! Does anyone really believe that they have the right to be queen of the world because they have a child.

I don't argue that people should be polite. If someone is trying to get in a store with a stroller, two older kids, and all the necessary equipment that goes with that, then for heaven's sake if you've got a free hand do open the door. But then I'm a serial door opener. Even carrying a baby and holding a small child's hand if there is someone behind me I'm going to keep the door open for them until it's at least in their hand. Letting it slam shut in their face is just rude. Also not saying thank you is rude if someone does hold a door open for you. And don't even get me started on people who don't wave when you let them in to traffic. How much effort does it take to wave? That person took the effort to hit their brakes and let you in and probably wave to you that you could go. Just wave and smile. Smiling won't kill you. Trust me. I do it every day.

Here's the key to happiness people. Everyone on earth just has to care about the feelings and well being of those around them instead of just themselves. It's really not that complicated. Just think for a split second about how your actions are going to affect others. Sometimes you can't avoid hurting someone because of one reason or another, sometimes you're rude and it's not even intentional. Those things are forgivable. Blatant outright rudeness, like thinking you're entitled to special treatment and getting furious if you don't get it just because you're a mother just isn't cool!

This was probably the most nonsensical and random blog post ever... You'll have to forgive me. I'm sick. My husband's sick. Nicky's sick. Finn's just now better. So I'm probably not exactly stellar in my ability to communicate today. LOL

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

2010-02-14T17:43:00.001-08:00

Instead of buying or making my hubby a Valentine's Day card I crocheted him a heart. hehe

And baked him this super fantastic cake ! mmmmmm It's so good! It only took two days to make...No that's not an exaggeration. Most of that time it was just sitting int he fridge though. hehe I do have to recommend that if you do that cake you do about 1/2 or 2/3 the amount of "Cake" that's on the bottom. It sorta serves as the crust, and it's a little overwhelming if you have as much as I did because it's so dense.

I also made this that was totally unrelated to Valentine's Day but fun nonetheless. I made this Beanie Baby Hat and put the rose on it. The lady who made those videos I linked to is awesome. I'm a total newb at crocheting and her instructions are so totally and completely clear and easy to understand.

Hope you all had a good Valentine's Day! :-D

Woot!

2010-02-09T23:03:00.000-08:00

Finished the changes to Blood and Violets. I have it in an email and everything is properly formatted. Now I just have to screw my courage to the sticking place and click Send! LOL

I changed one of the characters names from Eric to Rune. When I wrote it, I hadn't read the Sookie novels or seen True Blood. Considering they are both blond vikings, I figured they couldn't share the same name. Actually Eric/Rune's name was originally Finn, but I stole that name for use in my real life. hehehe If we have a boy next time I'm stealing another character's name. hehe Anyone have a good alternative name for a Spanish vampire born in the 8th century previously named Beltran? LOL

Peanut Butter Chewies

2010-02-02T09:11:00.000-08:00

This is one of my favorite recipes. Remember those delightful peanut butter chewies you got in the lunchroom as a kid? I used to get a hot lunch JUST for these sometimes! They are so yummy!

Tammy DeBerry's Peanut Butter Chewies
from
Legacy
Evening Circle
First United Methodist Church
DeWitt, Arkansas

1 Cup Sugar
1 Cup white Karo syrup
1 Cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
6 Cup corn flakes

Mix sugar and syrup in large pan and bring to a boil. Stir constantly to avoid burning. When boil can't be stirred away, remove from burner and add peanut butter and vanilla. Mix well. Add corn flakes and mix until well coated. Spoon onto waxed paper to cool.

Retro Cooking Month: Recipe System

2010-02-01T20:21:00.001-08:00

I'm playing along with Retro Cooking Month over at Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom. Today is what your Recipe system is.

New recipes I get from the internet and store on my computer until I have established whether or not they are keepers.

My favorite recipes that I can't remember off the top of my head are printed out about the size of a 3 x 5 index card and taped up on the inside of my cabinet for easy access. It's something my Mom did, and I have to say it was an awesome way to keep track of them. This is usually for my baking recipes because they're the only ones that exact measurements really matter for.

My mom made us all a 3-ring binder with all the recipes that she cooked when we were kids and various family recipes. A brilliant idea that I intend to continue when my boys grow up and start cooking for themselves. Also note the (umm...upside down) Joy of Cooking. No kitchen is complete without it.

Then there is also the 3 ring binders full of my cake "recipes." Things I've printed out and collected from various cake decorating resources.

Well that's pretty much my system. :-D I also keep favorites on my blog so that I can get to them easily.

Ohhhh...he's gooood LMAO

2010-02-01T19:45:00.000-08:00

Nicky was playing Mario Galaxies on the Wii and I hear, "Oh Sh*t! It's gonna get me."

Yes, that's right! My 4 year old...

So I slammed the lid of my laptop closed and called out in my angriest Mommy voice, "WHAT did you say?!"

Nicky turned around with his eyes REALLY wide. "I said, 'I love you.'"

"That is NOT what you said! What did you say?"

"I love you!"

"No, before that?"

Then he walked over to me and gave me a big kiss on the cheek and patted my hand, "I said, 'I love you, Mommy! Very much!"

Mmmmhmmm sure you did. In his defense, I wasn't 100% sure he actually said what I thought he said. I was so funny though I almost died!

Someone Really Should Have Planned Ahead

2010-01-31T10:57:00.000-08:00

I went to http://www.franklincovey.com today to check the time of the workshop I'm going to this Thursday. They sell really fancy day planners and do workshops in time management and life goal planning kind of stuff. They have really fantastic planning resources. I would think they'd all be pretty good at planning ahead over there...but when I went to their website this is what I found...

Hey wait...that doesn't look like the Franklin Covey website. Looks like some generic sales website. But wait...what's that in the upper right corner?

Uh oh... Looks like someone didn't remember it was time for their domain to expire.

Does anyone else think this is painfully ironic and terribly amusing? I do!!!

That's okay, Franklin Covey. We all make mistakes. I still love your planners!

More Fun with Finn

2010-01-30T17:36:00.000-08:00

Finn climbed up in Bryon's chair and started snorting. I was like, what the heck is my child doing, and Bryon and I exchanged a look...

Bryon: You know what he's doing, don't you?
Me: No idea.
Bryon: He's sitting in Dada's chair snoring like Dada.
Me: *laughing hysterically*
Bryon: Finn, are you a Dada?
Finn: *Snore snore snore*
Me: *still giggling hysterically as I write this*

And for your viewing pleasure... I tell you, this kid is a laugh a minute!

Fun with Bodily Functions

2010-01-27T07:35:00.000-08:00

My little Finn is just talking up a storm and this is the truly amusing conversation that happened last night.

Someone burped...it wasn't me...Nicky was in bed. I think it was Finn but DH has been known to blame things on his children. LMAO

Me: Finn!!! Did you burp?
Finn: *giggggles and points at his mouth* I burped!
Me: *fake burp and looking surprised*
Finn: *looks shocked and then toddles over to me and points at my mouth* Mama! You burped!

Friday Quote

2010-01-22T19:04:00.000-08:00

"Sacrificing the earth for paradise is giving up the substance for the shadow." ~Victor Hugo (1802-1885)

I like it! I really do!

Creamy Potato Soup

2010-01-21T13:41:00.000-08:00

I realized that I forgot to give this to Jenn like I promised ages ago. I'm just sitting here counting baby breaths because my poor Finn is wheezing something awful. If it doesn't stay below 40 breaths a minute we're going to have to admit him to the hospital. So keep your fingers crossed that he feels better!

Saute:

1/4 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped onions
1/4 cup butter

Add:

3 cups water
3 cups cubed potatoes
1/4 cup flour
salt (to taste)
pepper (to taste)

Simmer 15 minutes.

Add:

3 cups broccoli tops

Simmer 15 minutes.

Add:

1/2 cup half and half

Heat through and serve.

If you want you can also add about a handful of shredded cheddar cheese. It gives it a delightful richness. I love it that way!

Mom's Chocolate Chip Cookies

2010-01-21T13:32:00.001-08:00

These are the best chocolate chip cookies known to man. They are delicious! Absolutely delightfully yummy.

They are named Mom's Chocolate Chip Cookies because - yes!- it is my Mom's recipe. hehe She is an absolutely fantastic baker!

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees

Whisk together:

4 ¼ cups of flour
2 t. soda
1 t. salt

Cream:

1 cup butter (softened)
1 cup shortening
1 ½ cups sugar
1 ½ cups brown sugar

Add:

2 t Vanilla
1 t Water
4 eggs

Stir in all the dry ingredients that we whisked together earlier slowly.
Stir in:

12 oz of chocolate chips

Bake at 350 degrees for 9-11 minutes. Okay the recipe calls for 9-11 minutes, but if you cook them that long they are gonna be super crisp. My oven is weird, but I only cook mine for 8-9 minutes. They don't really look done when you pull them out. They still look a little jiggly, but as they cool they firm up nicely and you can lift them off the cookie sheet.

Tungsten Ring Giveaway

2010-01-13T07:02:00.000-08:00

Mrs. B from Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom is giving away a Tungsten wedding band from Tungsten Wedding Rings and I want to win one for my hubby! Our 11 year anniversary is Valentine's Day and my husband has worn his wedding ring for probably a total of 5 hours in those 11 years. I'd love a comfortable wedding band that I can guilt him into wearing. He said he'd like one of the tungsten bands. Plus perhaps if I win him this he'll be appropriately guilted into getting me the contour channel set band that I want from Zales!

So go enter the contest, but not too many times, cause I wanna win. ;)

Win a Tungsten Wedding Band

Slow Cooker Chicken Tostadas

2010-01-13T06:38:00.000-08:00

Toss in the Slow Cooker

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (or if you would like to bone them after they're cooked you're welcome to go with bone in - personally I don't like to be reminded that what I'm eating was an animal. LOL )
2 cans of diced tomatos
1 can corn (don't drain away the liquid-dump it in too)
1 can cream of chicken soup (I like the 98% fat free one)
1 can of rotel
1 diced onion
2 cloves minced garlic
4 stalks chopped celery

To taste... (but of course don't actually taste it until the chicken is well cooked. I don't want anyone getting salmonella)

salt
pepper
taco seasoning

Let it cook on low for 8-10 hours.

Once it's done get the chicken out and and tear it up. It won't be hard because it practically falls apart.

Then lay out a...

Tostada shell

Put some of the chicken on top and some of the veggies, but make sure not to get too much of the juice otherwise you'll have a mess! Finish it with some...

Mexican blend cheese

And you'll have a super yummy dinner.

Also after you're done with your tostadas you're probably going to have a TON of that juice and veggies left. They make a yummy soup actually. So serve it with crumbled up tortilla chips and a bit of cheese for lunch the next day.

I'm not under the impression that you care...

2010-01-13T06:34:00.000-08:00

...but this is the only place I know with absolute surety that I will be able to go back and look at a moments notice when I need to know this. So I'm going to make a note of it here. Also I can get to it from my iphone when I'm out buying stuff.

I wear Ivory Cover Girl makeup! Ivory! Not Classic Ivory. Classic ivory is waaaay too brown for me. Don't buy Classic Ivory, Lesley! Don't do it! You'll be wasting your money.

Okay, that is all.

Again, I know none of you care. LMAO

Infant Joy

2010-01-11T06:29:00.000-08:00

Infant Joy

"I have no name;
I am but two days old."
What shall I call thee?
"I happy am,
Joy is my name."
Sweet joy befall thee!

Pretty joy!
Sweet joy, but two days old.
Sweet Joy I call thee:
Thou dost smile,
I sing the while;
Sweet joy befall thee!

--William Blake

Okay, he's not an infant, but I think this still applies. This is my happy little boy entertaining himself with spit and a sunbeam. hehehe

He cracked me up!

I did it!

2010-01-05T12:45:00.000-08:00

Thanks everyone for your input! I really appreciate the help!

I went with number 3 without bangs. I chickened out on the bangs at the last moment. hehe

I went for the one that looks good without a lot of styling cause I'm super lazy where my hair is concerned. :-D I did get a flat iron so I could flip it up at the ends. It's going to take some getting used to. That and putting product in my hair! Eek! Product! I'm so not used to it!

Opinions Needed

2010-01-04T06:33:00.000-08:00

Okay, right now my hair is about down to my waist, and I'm getting a little sick and tired of it. Especially since my son is totally infatuated with pulling it. So not cool.

So I am contemplating getting it all cut off and donating it to one of the following charities:

Locks of Love

Children with Hairloss

It still remains to be seen if I will be brave enough to do it. ;) But in the meantime I've been playing with different hairstyles on InStyle's Makeover thing, which is BTW super fun! If you want to waste a few hours of your day take a pic and go there. You won't regret it. :-D

So here are the hairstyle's I'm looking at. And I may do sort of a progression of all of them actually. Really the first two and second two are variations of the same style anyway.

Try to disregard the hair sticking out of the bottom in the very short hairstyles I didn't get my hair completely up in a bun when I took the picture.

So what do y'all think?

Happy New Year!!!

2010-01-01T08:04:00.001-08:00

May this new year and decade bring you more joy than tears, more success than failure, more health than illness, and more peace than fear.

I know that the past year has been difficult for a great many people, and I hope that the economy and world are on the mend so that people who want to work and can have the opportunity and those who can't are taken care of.

Happy New Year!!!

How here is what I want from this year... :-D

To end this year 40 pounds lighter as I did in 2009. This may prove difficult as we're planning on starting trying for baby #3 this summer, so I may very well be pretty prego at the new year, but heck I'll give it a shot.

Really that's the only thing I have firmly in my mind. Of course, getting one or more of my books published would also be idea, but I can't really resolve for that so... ;)

Oh Lord...is the Next decade the Teens?

2009-12-31T08:35:00.001-08:00

And if it is? Does that mean they're going to be all angsty and sulky? Cause really I just can't deal with a decade of angsty and sulky! I did that in the 90s. ;)

Happy Holidays!!!

2009-12-25T14:56:00.001-08:00

I HATE This Song

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

It makes me cry my eyes out!

Nothing says holiday cheer like the impending death of a loved one! Woohoo!!!

Now THAT is a Christmas Song!

This is the season of hope people! I don't wanna hear sad stories on the radio. I don't need to be reminded to take care of my fellow man just during the holidays. I do my best to do that year round.

Conversations with a 17 Month Old

2009-12-16T05:55:00.000-08:00

Finn has started having full blown conversations, and it's so much fun! Nicky didn't talk nearly this early so it always surprises when Finn belts out a full sentence.

There were two particularly adorable conversations we have had. The other day a box came in the mail with Finn's Christmas present from his Uncle Dave. It was a BIG box with a picture of the gift on the side. So I hauled it in and set it in the middle of the living room, and Finn immediately toddled over to it and began his exploration of the box. When he'd perused all of its sides, he looked up at me and said very clearly, "Mine?"

I smiled and nodded, "Yes, it's yours."

Finn got this GIANT grin on his face and kinda did a little happy dance, then he said, "Mama, OPEN IT! It's MINE!"

It was so cute I almost collapsed. hehehehe

Then the other conversation was this morning.

He sleeps in bed with me, and we have another mattress on the floor because inevitably Nicky comes in and wants to sleep with us too so Bryon crashes with him on the mattress on the floor. Finn woke up in a particularly good mood, which isn't really unusual for him when he sleeps pretty well through the night. He rolled over and started playing with my hair (He's obsessed with hair) and grinning and giggling at me. After a couple of minutes he decided that I wasn't entertaining enough since I was trying to snooze still so he sat up and started trying to crawl over me, which of course I wouldn't let him do as that would put him too close to the edge. So he stood up on his tip toes and screamed, "Dadddddddyyyyyy!?!?!"

So I shushed him so he didn't wake up Daddy since Bryon's sick.

He looked at me and said, "I give him kiss!"

Which was almost so cute I had to let him wake him up. LOL

Holiday Wonder

2009-12-13T17:17:00.000-08:00

I've been a busy girl lately so I Haven't been blogging as much as I should, but here is what I have been doing...

Taking Nicky on the Santa Train.

Once a year this excursion train takes kids on 1 hour rides complete with Santa, Mrs. Claus, Elves, and the Santa Secret Service. We had lots of fun. Finn was supposed to come too, but he wasn't feeling well that day so he stayed home with his Daddy.

Taking the boys to see the lights at the square. We went to the Christmas parade and the lighting of the square and recently went back when there were less people.

Nicky rode the camel.

And his favorite pony.

And Finn rode a pony for the VERY first time. He was a litttttle unsure about it.

Nicky and I decorated our very first Gingerbread House. It was lots of fun and was VERY messy! I'm going to be cleaning up sprinkles until the end of time!

Oh and I managed to finally get Finn's stocking done! Only a year late. ;) Oh well, he has one now. hehehe

What has everyone been doing to prepare for the holidays?

Gender Disappointment and a Baby I Hope Isn't Lost Forever

2009-12-10T12:53:00.000-08:00

Before I had Nicky, I lost a baby early on. Though I have no reason to, I believe that that baby was a girl. It was too early to have been able to know for sure of course, but you know sometimes a mother just has a feeling. I didn’t have a feeling either way with Nicky, but I was pretty sure from the day I found out I was having him that Finn would a boy. Now let me explain that I have the belief that lost babies get a second chance to be born. I just can't believe in a higher power that wouldn't give them a chance to live. If that clashes with anyone’s religious or personal beliefs, then you may feel free to stop reading now, but that is what I believe. That does not mean that I do not believe in the grief that comes with losing a baby. I do believe in it and have experienced it to the core of my very being.

That being said since I also believe that my first baby was a girl, I have this nagging feeling in the back of my mind that she’s waiting for the right genetic combination to come along before she hops on board again. Sorry if your brothers pushed ahead of you in line. You’ll find they’ll do that all your life… Trust me. ;)

We’re only going to have three children. Bryon only ever wanted two, but I always wanted three. So having Finn was perfect, because now he’s forced to let me try one more time for a girl. ;) We aren’t going to have anymore after that though. For one thing, we’d have to buy a whole new house to be able to fit. Plus something about 4 seems MUCH more daunting to me than three. Don’t ask me why. It just does.

I was talking to my best friend the other day, and saying that I was pretty sure I’d have another boy next time, which for some reason I am. I told her that, that way I wouldn’t be disappointed if I didn’t have a girl. But that’s really not true. I’d still be disappointed, because by the nature of my beliefs if I have another boy then I’ll feel like I lost that first baby all over again. That, of course, wouldn’t mean that I wouldn’t love the baby boy with every fiber of my being because of course I would.

People always seem to judge mothers if they say they want a boy or a girl specifically. The only accepted answer is, “I don’t care as long as it’s healthy.” Well of course you want a healthy baby! Big fat duh! That question should apparently come with the qualification, “assuming it’s healthy, do you want a boy or a girl.” There may be a very complex reason that the mother wants a boy or a girl. Or the father for that matter. Father’s can experience gender disappointment too.

Well I’ll get off my soap box now. What this all boils down to is this:

To my first baby if you haven’t already been born: You’ve got one more shot to pull some cosmic strings to see to it that you get to be a girl. So talk to the powers that be between now and next summer sometime when we’re going to start trying to have you again.

To my blog readers: Next time I get prego and find if it’s a boy or a girl, if it’s a boy I’m going to tell you that I’m perfectly okay with that. I’ll be lying. ;) I’m going to be very sad and disappointed. Don’t judge me for that, because just because I’m mourning the loss of a daughter doesn’t mean I don’t love my baby boy with all my heart.

Virtual Christmas Cookie Swap

2009-12-03T18:31:00.000-08:00

Jennifer Shirk over at Me, My Muse and I is having a Virtual Christmas Cookie swap. The details are on the site. There is a COOKIE PRIZE! Now really shouldn't that be more than enough reason to take part? hehe

Here's my recipe. This is one my Mom made occasionally when I was a little girl. I know why she only made them occasionally too, because really you can't eat just one. They are so delightfully melt in your mouth good that you look down and suddenly every cookie you made has miraculously disappeared. There name is perfect too...

Spellbinders

1.5 C Flour
1.5 t. baking powder
1 t. soda
0.5 t. salt
1 C brown sugar
1 C butter
1 egg
1 C oats
1 C coconut
1 C chopped pecans
0.5 C crushed cornflakes

Combine flour, baking powder, soda, and salt. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add egg and beat. Gradually mix in dry ingredients. Stir in oats, nuts, coconut, and cornflakes.

Spoon onto ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten with glass dipped in crushed cornflakes.

Bake for 12-15 minutes at 350.

Frost cookies with:
4 T. melted butter
2 T. hot water
1 t. vanilla
2 C powdered sugar

I actually haven't made these cookies in a really long time. Like at least 7 years, because we were living in Denmark at the time. Why haven't I made them since I say they are so good? Well I'm punishing my husband you see. Let me preface this by saying that it's really hard to translate recipes into things that are readily available in other countries. For instance, did you know that they don't sell Cream of Chicken soup in Denmark? They don't! I'm Southern! Half of the recipes in my book call for Cream of Chicken soup! So I had to learn to make it from scratch. But I'm digressing.

Back to the reason I don't make these cookies. We went home to visit my parents while we were living over in Denmark, and my brother came to see us and made these cookies. My husband was so taken with them that he told me I had to get the recipe... I'd made them for him like ten times before. Since then I've not made them again. Now my brother is a much better cook than me. I'll not argue that point. Everything he makes is beyond delightful, but my stuff is at least usually recognizable as the same recipe!!!

I think I'll have to make these again soon though cause mmmm now I want some!

A post in which I whine...A LOT

2009-12-02T09:42:00.000-08:00

We're all sick again. Head cold that moves into the chest thing. I've been hacking up a lung for 2 days and before that for a couple of days my head was so stopped up I was completely off balance. Finn has been sniffly since like tuesday of last week, but he started coughing and wheezing yesterday so to avoid an emergency room visit I took him to the late hours at the pediatric clinic. Good thing too because we were definitely headed for another emergency room visit if I hadn't. He is now on steroids, antibiotics, and an albuterol inhaler. So I've been having to hold him down with a mask over his face every four to six hours to breath in his meds. That's almost as fun as holding the new kitten by the scruff of the neck to put meds down his throat and drops in his eyes. Did I mention that he was sick too? Oh yes, nd eye infection likely caused by a kitty virus. Great way to welcome him into our home. He at least doesn't bite and scratch me like Aine would if I was doing it to her. Well he has scratched me a few times but that was unintentional in his attempts to escape.

Oh yeah, Nicky's sick too. But the left over gung ho congestion meds he had from last time he was sick kept his from getting to bad, thank goodness.

So basically the only time I haven't had a house full of sick people in months was the two weeks when my house was full of guests. Which is good and bad...since during those two weeks I didn't really have time to recover my sanity and energy.

So please please please powers that be...I'd really appreciate it if you would stop dumping these viruses on my doorstep. Pretty please? I think we've had our share now.

See I told you there would be whining. :-D

*Goes off to find a bubble big enough to encase the whole house*

Cougar Hunting

2009-12-01T09:51:00.000-08:00

I tweeted this, but it was so good I had to blog it so it would be easily accessible to tease my son with for years to come.

So my hubby just got an Xbox360, and he has been downloading demos left and right. One of the downloads was a hunting game. One of those Cabella's ones. They'd been playing it or a while, and I came in from cooking and sat down on the couch and I hear this conversation take place.

*There is a fawn standing next to a buck on the screen*
Nicky: Daddy! Don't shoot the baby deer!
Bryon: I didn't.
Nicky: Are you going to shoot his Daddy?
Bryon: It's not his Daddy, Nicky. It's his uncle. (Apparently killing family members is okay so long as they're not in the immediate family...)
*Bryon shoots and kills the buck*
Nicky: Daddy, why did that baby deer run away?
Me under my breath: Ummm...cause you shot his Daddy?

Not too long later when they're shooting bunnies I hear...

Bryon: Next we're going to hunt cougars.
Nicky gets this really strange look on his face and says..."We're going to hunt Hot Old Ladies?"

At which point the room dissolved into uncontrollable laughter. Apparently Bryon has been enlightening his son on subjects that perhaps are a bit above a four year old... LMAO

So that brings up the question... What does one use as bait when hunting a Cougar?

Vodka was suggested, but I think a life size cardboard cut out of Jacob from New Moon with no shirt on would be the most effective. How about you?

Working My Tail Off

2009-11-28T17:05:00.000-08:00

Okay, yesterday I got my prelit tree out to decorate...only it wasn't prelit anymore... Now it's been going down hill for the last couple years, and though I tried my best to track down the problem it was a cheap tree and I couldn't figure out what was going on. So I ripped all the lights off the tree. *and a few branches unintentionally - OOPS* Then I only had one string of lights so I draped the tree in net lights before stringing that one on. After that the boys and I decorated it. It looks...special. :-D And it's leaning, but oh well I'll just have to keep my eyes open after Christmas this year for a nice prelit tree on clearance. Cause I'm not gonna spring for a new one this year.

I also did all the monthly shopping yesterday that I hadn't done already. It really wasn't that much because I'd already been to Sams and I have instated a clean out the pantry and freezer rule for the month. They're too darn full! Like if the Apocalypse came we could survive for months full. Now that in and of itself isn't so bad, but some of it has been in there for quite a while and is nearing the end of it's goodness. So it's time for a purge. Plus the freezer was FULL of venison that's almost a year old and needs to be cleaned out before the hubby hopefully kills another one at Christmas. There's also a bunch of wild duck in there that needs to be eaten. I'm not very good at cooking duck so I don't really know what to do with it. I guess i'll defrost it and make the breasts into triple sec duck. Mmmmmmm that's good stuff, but it involves flames... I'm not sure I'm that skilled.

Ok, so today, I cleaned out the freezer and defrosted ALL of the venison steaks and ground venison. I then fried with italian seasoning 5 meals worth of venison steaks and made 12 meals worth of taco meat from the ground venison and 4 meals worth of meat to add to the spaghetti sauce. While I was doing that I cleaned out all my cabinets except for my little skinny baking stuff cabinet which won't take long at all. Now my feet hurt, and I'm sleepy.

Oh and I got the last of my stocking stuffers and the stuff to do all the baking I plan on doing this month! So I'm done! Go me!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T19:40:00.000-08:00

I've been entertaining for two solid weeks now. First my MIL came in to visit from Denmark for a week and a half. Then Thanksgiving. So that's why I haven't been blogging much at all or visiting anyone else's blogs. I will try to do better. :-D

I hope everyone had a delightful Thanksgiving! We had lots of fun, but now I'm verrrrry, verrrrry tired! Think I'll take a nap! :-D

Meet Shadow!

2009-11-21T19:59:00.000-08:00

He's five months old and one of the sweetest cats I've ever met. We got him this morning, and he's already made himself a part of our family.

We adopted him from the NWA Animal Rescue. There are lots more kitties if you are looking for a new family member.

He is cautious of the boys, as well he should be, but he wants to play with them too. They love him so much!

We've renamed him to Shadow. The name he got from the rescue was Booker...alas the name Booker out of Nicky's mouth is Booger. Shadow works much better. MIL is here visiting and she thought we were saying Charon. Which if you ask me would be a kick butt name for a black cat, but Bryon refused to let me change his name again. hehe

The Birds and The Bees

2009-11-11T19:44:00.000-08:00

A woman's best friend has a dream about a positive pregnancy test, the next day she has a dream about a positive pregnancy test - a ridiculously complicated one mind you with four sets of lines, and then the woman's husband has a dream that she's pregnant. The woman then assures her husband that she's not having sex for the rest of the month so that these dreams do not come true as she's NOT ready to be pregnant again yet.

Husband: You're really not going to have sex with me this month?
Wife: Yes, It's not going to happen. I REALLY don't wanna get pregnant right now.
Husband: You're not going to get pregnant just because we have sex.
Wife: *stares at him* How do you think it happens exactly?

I couldn't make this stuff up.

The Dragon and The Knight

2009-11-07T19:18:00.000-08:00

I did a photo shoot back in September of my boys dressed up in their Halloween costumes, and it turned out so cute that I wrote a story (in limericks) that went along with it. I just got the book I made of it from Lulu, and it's super cute!

And guess what! You can buy it too. ;) Now don't everyone storm the site at once, because we don't want to crash it. Everyone take your time. hehe

Seriously though, I'm very pleased with it. I hope my boys feel the same!

Red Card!

2009-11-07T08:43:00.000-08:00

*Nicky does something annoying and Bryon tells him to get down.*
Bryon: Nicky! That's a red card!
Nicky tries to climb up again and again and again.
Bryon: Nicky! I said you have a red card you can't get back up here!
Nicky: But, Dadddddddddyyy, it was only a yellow card!

Yes, he did let him up again after that. LMAO

Nicky's Fortress Cake

2009-11-03T12:21:00.000-08:00

Well after much delay and rescheduling due to illness we finally had Nicky's birthday party on Halloween. It was lots of fun.

I made him a castle cake with orange turrets (since it was Halloween) Let me tell you something...it's HARD to cover those darn towers with fondant! The princess castle that I made for the girls was SO much easier! Oh well! He loved it and that is all that matters. :-D

The second picture is courtesy of my darling Lishy who is the most awesome photographer on earth. :-D

Happy Halloween!!! Happy Samhain!!!

2009-10-30T08:47:00.000-07:00

Well my little goblins are still coughing a little and sniffly, as am I, but they're feeling MUCH Better. I'm so INCREDIBLY thankful for that!!!

For your Halloween reading pleasure, I'm going to share a short story I wrote a few years ago for a creative writing class. No, I can't stay away from the paranormal. I'm completely incapable of it! Enjoy, and have fun Halloween night!

Fire and Water

by Lesley Speller

A small group of little girls laughed and whispered as the skinny, brown haired girl climbed out of the water and padded quickly over to where her friend Alice was standing. She had just swum faster than she could ever remember swimming before in her life. Her coach had stared at her stop watch in amazement before patting her on the back and telling her that they would have to talk to her parents about training for the Olympics. Just as she reached her friend the other little girls called out in unison, “Mary Beth swims like a fish and smells like one too!”

Her eyes narrowed on the girl at the center of the group. Tiffany was looking around at her friends making fish faces, giggling, and acting all together very pleased with herself.

Mary Beth’s face felt hot, and she clamped her fingers so tightly into fists that she could feel her fingernails cutting into her palm. “Tiffany, I wish you would just…” she shouted at the other girl but couldn’t think of anything nearly bad enough and instead just gritted her teeth and groaned.

Tiffany laughed again, and it set her whole little troupe off into a riot of giggles at Mary Beth’s expense. She stared at them all in utter embarrassment and anger, wanting nothing better than to take each one of them and hold them under the water until they couldn’t laugh at her anymore. She could almost see the other little girl’s skin turning blue as she sank under the water.

It was at that moment that one of the teenagers who were playing on the high dive near where the girls were standing did a cannon ball that sent an enormous wave of water rushing over the edge of the pool. It knocked Tiffany and two of her friends from their feet and back into the water. Two curly little heads popped up almost immediately, but the third started sinking deeper and a halo of pink began to form around her head.

Mary Beth Clinker had never gone back to her swimming lessons after that day. Her mother said that she didn’t have to even when the coach came and convinced her father that he had a gold medalist in his house. She had listened to them fight over it for hours that night and for many nights afterward. Her mother didn’t think that it would be a good idea for her to have to go back to a place where she had almost seen another little girl drown. And Tiffany had almost drowned. The coach had pulled her out of the water and given her mouth to mouth until she sputtered back to life.

She had heard her father and mother fight about it every now and then for years. Her father was convinced that her mother’s worry had made Mary Beth miss some grand opportunity. It wasn’t that she didn’t like the water anymore but the idea of swimming in front of people left her feeling cold and clammy. Her favorite place in the world was the swimming beach at Will’o’Wisp Lake behind the vacation house that her parents had owned for most of her life, and that is where she found herself when she was twenty-three years old, only a year after her parents had died in a car crash on their way to go skiing in Colorado.

She paced back and forth on the sand barefoot, feeling it squish between her toes. The air was so thick and sticky with humidity that you could almost peel it from your skin but the water in the sand cooled her to the core. There was a sliver of a moon in the starless sky, but a strange, faint illumination came from the thousands of fireflies that danced along the shore.

She turned on the flashlight again and let the beam fall on the piece of paper that she held in her hand. It stated in very complex legal terms that everything Mary Beth had believed for her entire life was nothing but a lie. She was not Mary Beth Clinker. She was a nameless orphan that had been found on the steps of Jefferson County Medical. How could it be that her parents had never told her that she was adopted? In twenty-two years surely they could have found the time to mention it.

What if she had been kidnapped from parents who had really loved and wanted her and had been wondering all these years whether she was alive or dead? But no…it was more likely that some teenage girl had gotten knocked up and didn’t know what to do, so she left her on the steps of that hospital. It happened all the time. At least they hadn’t thrown her in a trash can somewhere and waited for her to stop crying.

Mary Beth sank down to her knees in the sand and the tiny grains of sand made her legs itch as they worked their way through the thin material of her hose. Tears spilled down her cheeks for the first time since the day they’d died. It had taken everything in her to control her emotions for this long, and now they were pouring out in a deluge of pain.

Somewhere in the back of her mind something whispered to her to take control, but she couldn’t seem to make herself listen. Odd things had been happening all her life when she lost control, and lately it was only getting worse. It had only started with the little girl being swept into the pool by the wave of water. When she was thirteen they had been on vacation in Pensacola, Florida. Her parents had been distracted by their friends, and she had been spending a lot of time with a boy named Jim she’d met on the beach from Georgia. She loved the way he spoke with a thick southern drawl, and it made her heart skip a beat when he told her she was pretty. One day they snuck off together and were lying in the sea oats that grew on the dunes, looking up at the clouds that were floating by and pretending they were everything from puppies to stereos.

She was explaining to him that a cloud could too look like an ice cream cone, and it wasn’t that she was just hungry and trying to convince him to buy her a treat, when he leaned over and kissed her swiftly. His tongue had slipped past her lip before she even knew what was happening, and she was so shocked and surprised that all she could do was lay there and try to pretend she knew what she was doing. Her palms were sweaty, and she was shaking all over by the time that he heard the shouts from the beach and lifted his head. He was staring out over the water.

It had taken Mary Beth a moment to sit up and realize what was going on. Out of nowhere the ocean had gone from calm rolling waves to giant crashing crests that threatened to knock anyone in the surf from their feet. Mother’s were scrambling around gathering up the little children who had been playing in the sand near the water. It calmed again as quickly as it had come. The news reports that night suggested that there might have been some earthquakes far off shore that had gone unnoticed by even the seismologists who watched for them so closely.

They left the next day because her father got a call from work, and she never saw Jim again. She had an idea that day that she might have been the cause. The freak occurrences hadn’t always been nearly as dramatic. Sometimes it was as simple as a glass of water on the table shattering when she was angry with her parents. Her mother had been convinced that the cold water must have shattered the glass. The glass had been a little warm, but Mary Beth always wondered.

Maybe her real parents could have explained all this to her. Maybe they had been having strange things happen to them their entire lives too. Maybe they knew a way to stop it so that she didn’t have to fear losing her temper all the time! But the chances of ever finding these people who left her to freeze on the steps of a hospital twenty-three years ago wasn’t even worth considering. They had abandoned her and now she was completely on her own.

Her body trembled and was so taut that she could barely take a breath. When she tried to swallow her throat was so tight that she felt as if she would choke on her own saliva. Mary Beth felt more than saw the waves of water rising up above her. They beat against the shore of the man-made beach as if coming out of a swelling ocean instead of a small, mountain lake.

Before she knew what had happened she felt the waves cover her up, drenching her from head to toe, and pulling her from where she was kneeling into the warm, murky waters of the lake. She fought. Her breath came in quick gasps, stolen whenever she could surface for a moment. The undertow which should never have existed so far from any ocean pulled at her as she reached skyward. It was as if she could make her arms longer, almost long enough to reach the precious air. Her lungs burned, and she gasped for breath only to fill her lungs with dark water.

Sometime later Mary Beth heard a flowing, high-pitched melody in the distance. It was like the voice of one of the sopranos that she’d heard so often singing in the operas that her mother had liked to take her to. But this couldn’t be an opera. She hated the opera, and her mother was dead, so she would never be forced to sit through one again. The sound of the voice seemed to be calling to her, pulling her further and further from the soft, liquid darkness that enveloped her.

When she opened her eyes the world was covered in a thin haze, and she was utterly confused. Everything looked just a bit off kilter. Even her body felt different. When she looked down it seemed as if her arms were covered in thick, blue leather. She flexed her hand in front of her face and felt a wave of shock roll through her. It wasn’t her hand. It looked more like the talons of some great bird, but between the clawed toes was webbing. The skin that covered them was a deep shade of aquamarine that sparkled iridescent in the early morning light.

Mary Beth closed her eyes pressing them tightly shut before pushing herself up to her knees and opening them again to peer down at her reflection in the lake. What she saw before her eyes sent relief flooding through her. It was her own face, and when she looked down at her hands, they were only hands. It wasn’t until she stood up and saw the reflection of her naked body in the water that, she felt the panic rise in her chest.

* * *

Alice sat on the edge of Mary Beth’s bed stroking the hair out of her face. “What do you mean you were naked? Where were your clothes? They can’t just have disappeared.”

“That’s just it. That’s the awful thing. I don’t know. I don’t know where my clothes went. I was just standing on the edge of the lake and then it was like I passed out and was dreaming and then I was naked on the beach, and it was morning.”

Alice suddenly tensed all over. Mary Beth’s eyes were closed but she could tell it by the way that she had gone from her fidgeting constant movement to complete and utter stillness. When Mary Beth looked up at her, her best friend’s eyes were wide. “What is it?”

“Nothing happened while you were out? I mean…I mean you weren’t hurt or anything when you woke up? No one had done anything to you?”

It took her a moment to figure out what Alice was talking about. “Oh…no I wasn’t hurting or bleeding or anything. I was just nude.”

Alice leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Well thank the goddess for that.”

Mary Beth sat up and smiled at her. Alice was a witch. Not like a cauldron toting, broomstick riding, wart-infested witch. She believed in a mother goddess who watched over the world and countless other spirits who existed on some sort of higher plane. Mary Beth had thought she had gone nuts in high school when she started talking about it, but it seemed to fit her personality well, and it certainly made her happy. Before she had decided she was a witch, she’d claimed to be an atheist like Mary Beth, but she always seemed lost whenever they talked about it. Not being able to believe in anything had really made her feel like there wasn’t any point in existing. Mary Beth didn’t feel that way. At least most of the time…

* * *

Two weeks had passed now since the incident by the lake. Mary Beth and Alice were sitting in the local bookstore where they always had coffee on Saturday mornings. The scent of the freshly ground beans was always enough to lull Mary Beth into a state of relaxation. Alice was leafing through a book from the stack of occult “reference” books that she had compiled from the shelves. Alice paused for a moment and then looked up at her and spoke with complete candor, “Maybe you’re not human.”

Mary Beth choked on the coffee she was drinking and Alice smacked her on the back a couple of times to try to help, but that only irritated her all the more. “What the hell are you talking about?” When she looked around everyone seemed to be staring at her. “Of course, I’m human. Don’t be stupid!”

“Well just think about it. I mean you just found out you were adopted. How can you really be sure?” There was a touch of excitement in Alice’s voice.

“For God’s sake, Alice!” How could she talk about it so casually? She might feel differently if it had been her whole world that had been set reeling. She just didn’t get it.

“You could be an alien with some mental powers that we lowly humans don’t have. Way too much weird stuff happens to you.”

“Will you hush! Everyone is going to think that you are completely nuts.” Everyone in the place seemed to be staring straight at them.

Alice pouted a little and then picked up another book to flip through. Mary Beth thought that she was through but then she suddenly burst out, “You could be a vampire! Of course, I’ve known you most of my life and I’ve never seen you drink blood.”

“Alice!” She looked up and noticed that a red haired man at a table across from them was looking her way and when they made eye contact he smiled at her. She smiled back quickly and averted her eyes.

“Or a dragon.”

Mary Beth picked up her purse and mumbled something about needing to pee before heading to the back of the store. She paused in the romance novel section and bit back the tears that stung her eyes. She had found out something that completely changed everything she had ever thought about her life and Alice was turning it into one of her little psychotic episodes!

Someone came up beside her and started looking at the same section. When she glanced up she saw that it was the man with red hair from the café. He smiled at her again and said hi. She nodded and smiled back and glanced at the shelves of romance novels and back to him. He picked up a book. “Ah found it.” Then he looked down at his hand and saw the title of the book. “Red Hot Nannies in Love.” He looked a little horrified and dropped the book like it was covered in fire ants.

Mary Beth couldn’t help but laughing. “Okay this didn’t go as I had planned.” He smiled at her and offered her a hand. “My name is Kaleb Fuego.” She shook his hand, and looked him over. He was nicely dressed in a pair of black Dockers and a button-down burgundy shirt that set off the amber of his eyes nicely.

“I’m Mary Beth Clinker, pleased to meet you.”

“I’ve seen you here lots of times with your friend.”

Mary Beth never remembered seeing him before today, but she didn’t want to hurt his feelings. “Yeah I think I remember seeing you a few times too.” She suddenly remembered that she had only told Alice she was going to the restroom. “Well, maybe I will see you around.”

He smiled at her, “I hope so.”

* * *

Mary Beth continued to see this man, Kaleb, every Saturday for the next couple of weeks. They somehow seemed to arrive at the bookstore at roughly the same time. He always said hello to her, and sometimes after Alice had left, they would sit and talk about the books that they were reading.

One morning Kaleb leaned across the table. “I was wondering if you might like to have dinner some time?”

Mary Beth hesitated for a moment. It had been months since she had been out on a date. She felt her cheeks flush and she nodded. “I think that would be lovely.”

* * *

The evening of their third date had been wonderful. Mary Beth had spent most of the day dressing and fixing herself up for the date. Her blue-green eyes were shadowed and lined so that they stood out starkly against her pale skin and dark hair. She didn’t normally worry with make up. It only got in the way and made her feel like she needed to wash her face with some nice, cool water. Clothes on the other hand were always very important to her. She was wearing a little, blue satin slip dress with thigh-highs and a very sexy merry-widow on underneath just in case.

Her just in case had paid off this evening, and she thanked herself as he slid the key into the lock of his front door. She had never seen his home before, and the sheer enormity of it impressed her. He worked as an accountant in a firm downtown, and he must have been doing very well for himself to be able to have such a nice home.

The living room, which they stepped into, had high vaulted ceilings and the walls were lined with black wrought iron sconces with a candle in each of them. There was a round fireplace in the center of the room that was open all the way around so that no matter where you sat in the room you could look into the flames. The only furniture was a big comfortable looking sofa and a few overstuffed chairs that had a small table between them. The one thing that seemed slightly out of place was the enormous aquarium against the far wall filled with delicate-looking, tropical fish.

Kaleb locked the door behind them and started toward the fireplace. “I’ll make us a fire and then those drinks I promised you.” It struck Mary Beth as odd that he would want a fire in the middle of summer, but it was a little cool in the room, and it sounded very romantic. She smiled and settled down on the couch. It seemed like it took him only seconds to get the fire started, and he was soon handing her a glass of warm brandy, which he had gotten from the kitchen. She took a sip, feeling it burn pleasantly all the way down and leaned back against the couch. He slipped an arm around her shoulders and smiled down at her.

“I have really enjoyed spending time with you these last couple of weeks. I hope that you have too?”

“Very much.” She moved closer to him and felt her pulse pounding in her stomach as she laid a gentle kiss against his lips, testing the water. He responded by slipping a hand behind the nape of her neck and pulling her closer. Her whole body felt like it was on fire, as she responded to his kiss. The glass of brandy slipped from her fingers splashing amber colored liquid all over the carpet, but neither of them noticed. Kaleb slid his other hand up her leg just above the hem of her dress, and Mary Beth gasped in surprise and then deepened the kiss all the more.

She was the first one to notice it. The water in the aquarium had begun to twist and spin like a whirlpool with such force that a crack had developed in the glass. Her fingers gripped his shoulders tightly. “Kaleb!” His eyes came up just in time to see the aquarium shatter sending sparkling pieces of glass and tiny fish spilling all over the carpet.

She couldn’t believe what she had done. These things always happened at the worst times. She didn’t want to try to explain this. She just bolted leaving the multicolored fish flopping desperately on the soaking carpet. “Mary Beth, wait!”

“I can’t. I have to go.” She had reached the door when all around her the candles in the sconces along the walls started bursting into flame one after another.

“Mary Beth, please stop!”

She turned around slowly and what she saw stopped her breath in her throat. Something enormous stood before her. It had red shining scales and looked like a monster from a fairy tale. She gripped the doorknob behind her and tried to make it work, but the door was locked and she couldn’t seem to figure out how to turn the bolt.

Mary Beth heard Kaleb’s voice echoing inside her own head. “Mary Beth, you can’t leave here yet.” The doorknob started to feel more and more hot beneath her hand until she had to let it go or it would blister her skin.

“What the hell is going on here?” she whispered.

“I’m sorry, Mary Beth. The truth I didn’t just happen to meet you at the bookstore. We’ve been watching you for a long time. You were stolen at birth from your parents, and we didn’t find out what had happened to you until you had already been adopted. By then it was too late. Too many questions would have been asked if your parents had come forward to claim you.” As his voice sounded in her head, the great lizard moved slowly toward her. Her brain couldn’t quite process what she was seeing. A dragon! A great big, freaking dragon! “We knew that we had to contact you after what happened that night at the lake. You needed help to understand what was happening to you.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Oh God, I’m losing my mind. None of this is real at all.” She fell back against the door and sunk to the floor with her hands to her face.

Mary Beth felt something touch her shoulder, and she scrambled back further into the corner by the doorway. When she opened her eyes, what she saw was only Kaleb not some giant beast. He was completely naked and crouched on the floor close to her. “You’re not losing your mind, Mary Beth. You’re a dragon.”

Weigh In Wednesday

2009-10-28T08:53:00.000-07:00

Despite the horrors of the week...(See yesterday's post)

Weight: 229.8 (Yeah, normally I'd just round that up, but it's in the 220's so I'm clinging to it. hehe)
Loss: 1.2 lbs
Total loss: 42.2 lbs

I haven't disappeared off the face of the earth...

2009-10-27T13:23:00.000-07:00

I'm just taking care of sick kiddos.

Finn and Nicky started getting congested noses Friday. Saturday they started coughing. Sunday Finn started coughing worse, then started having trouble breathing. Sunday night I took him to the ER because he was having such a hard time breathing his lips were getting blue tinged whenever he coughed or cried.

We got there about 11pm. Finn was in pretty good spirits. I actually told him at one point that he should have the decency to act sick since he was costing me big bucks. We waited about 45 minutes to get into triage. From triage we went directly back to the back. Which kinda terrified me because normally your wait in our ER is from 6 - 8 hours. His oxygen saturation was 92%, his breath rate was 49, his pulse was super high, and he had developed a fever that he hadn't had all day. We waited for a little while in a room that I swear was at least 90 degrees! Great for a little boy with a fever lemmie tell you! The nurse's name was Paul. He was great! So helpful and very nice.

Then we went for a chest x-ray.

Oy!

Do you know how they give infants chest x-rays?

Medieval torture device anyone??? They put their little legs through the bottom then make their poor mommies stretch their arms above their heads while they close that clear plastic around them. Then their poor traumatized mommies have to leave the room while their sad little babies scream like their being murdered so they don't get irradiated. I'd have totally taken some radiation to be able to at least be where he could have seen me. He was sooo sad and terrified!

Then after that, we went back to the room and gave him a breathing treatment. Keeping a mask on a 15 month old for long enough to do a breathing treatment is very unpleasant. I had to hold his arms locked to his side while the nurse helped me hold his head. This took about 5 minutes, which of course felt more like 2 hours with him screaming and flailing around.

So after that he started breathing a little bit easier. So the nurse came in and did another temp and oxygen sat. His temp, even with tylenol, had gone up to 102. So he got some Motrin after that, and his Oxygen saturation had only come up to 93%. We saw the doctor a little while after that. He told me they could see a small pneumonia on his right lung, which was pretty obvious since I could actually see it when she checked to make sure his xray had worked. He told us we'd wait a little while and see if his saturation came up and his temp went down. An hour or so later, it had come up to 95% and his temp was down to 99.7. So he got a big nasty shot of antibiotics. This caused about an hour of screaming until he finally passed out about 4am. Then the nurse came in with a prescription for antibiotics and an inhaler, and we got to go home.

So he's been getting steadily better. Nicky, however, has been getting steadily worse. He went to the doctor today and got a chest x-ray too. Thank goodness it came back negative. So no pneumonia! Yay! He got a strong prescription for decongestant.

So that's what I've been doing this week. Fun Fun! My Mommy came up to help me take care of them. I love my mommy!

Oh and did I mention that I'm sick too!?

For Today

2009-10-21T16:17:00.000-07:00

Found this over on Katie J's blog and it looked fun.

Outside my window... the mountains are a patchwork of beautiful fall colors
I am thinking… I can't wait for my hubby to get home with my gyro
I am thankful for… my wonderful kiddos and awesome husband and fabu friends
In my kitchen… it smells like Nicky's popcorn
I am wearing… argyle knee high socks, grey capri workout pants, and a lavender top (LMAO This was hard to admit! I did just finish running though so I deserve a break from style.)
I am creating… a book called Dark Waters
I am going… to eat my gyro as soon as my husband gets home! Hush! I'm focused!
I am reading… Night's Rose by Annaliese Evans
I am hoping… to be at my goal weight next summer (I stole that one from Katie J, but I am hoping that too!)
I am hearing… Nicky telling me he wants to watch El Perro and El Gato and Finn snoring
Around the house… there are things I need to do...but I'm not gonna.
One of my favorite things right now… chillin with my boys
A few plans for the weekend… ummmm.....I have no plans :D
A picture to share… This is an ADORABLE picture of Nicky and Kaida at the Lake Fayetteville trail where we went for a walk yesterday. They loved the bridge.

Suri in Heels

2009-10-21T10:00:00.000-07:00

Okay, so there have been lots of pictures surfacing of Suri Cruise wearing high heels.

Look, if you've got a problem with this, then you've obviously never been or raised a fru fru 3 year old girl. They probably got these as part of a costume, since Halloween is just around the corner, and she wouldn't wear anything else.

I don't know if you've ever had a 3 year old, but they can be VERY insistent when they want their way. And seriously people, you've got to pick your battles. She might have wanted to wear the whole flapper Halloween outfit out, and they compromised on the shoes.

It's not like she was indecent! I remember once I made a "skirt" on my sewing machine when I was a little girl. It consisted of a piece of stretchy fabric that was sewn on one side to make something akin to a mini skirt, but ummmm let's just say it wouldn't have been appropriate to wear in public. So my mother obviously didn't let me leave the house in it. I, however, do remember going to the store with my mom in my sparkly plastic Barbie heels. It caused no lasting damage. My feet are just fine and so is my back. And damn I thought I was all that and a bag of chips in those heels. hehehe

And as for that particular link where she's drinking starbucks...come on people! Have you ever been to starbucks? They don't just sell coffee. She probably had hot chocolate.

Stop picking on those poor people! I'm sure they're perfectly fine parents. They obviously adore their little girl.

Weigh In Wednesday

2009-10-21T08:23:00.000-07:00

No Loss.

Bah.

The only excuse I have is I ate too much and didn't work out enough, but in my defense everyone was sick. I'll do better next week!

Blood and Violets Word Cloud

2009-10-20T07:10:00.001-07:00

Okay, I couldn't resist Wordle when I saw it. So I had to make a word cloud of Blood and Violets.

If you've never done it, then I highly recommend you go play with wordle.

Lovely Blog Award!

2009-10-19T07:47:00.001-07:00

Katie J gave me this an obscenely long time ago, and I'm a very unorganized blogger so I've completely forgotten until now to put it up... :-D

So here are my 10 Favorite Blogs:

The Crazy Woman Inside Me
Our Simple Life
Vixen's Den
A Piece of My Mind
Daisy Dexter Dobbs
Me, My Muse and I
The Apron Goddesses
Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom
Not Always Right
Anna J Evans

Happy 4th Birthday, Nicholai!

2009-10-15T18:58:00.001-07:00

Wave of Light

2009-10-15T16:52:00.000-07:00

For Collin, son of Fun Size and grandson of Vixen, and for the little one I lost five years ago next week.

Weigh In Wednesday

2009-10-14T06:55:00.000-07:00

Weight: 231
Loss: 3
Total Loss: 41

Yayyyy! I'm back to where I was before summer.

How did she lose 3 pounds in one week you say? With no special diet or exercise? I'll tell you! Thanks to the handy dandy stomach flu! You can do it too! But I don't recommend it! Felt like I was gonna die! And we ALL had it! Nicky got sick Thursday. Finn and I got sick Saturday and Bryon got sick Sunday! Have I mentioned how completely through I am with everyone being sick??? Cause really it's getting old!

I didn't run Monday, but finished about half of my run yesterday before Nicky pushed Finn and he landed on the Busy Ball Popper leaving a big mark on his poor forehead. He looks like Voldemort attacked him! Poor little guy!

I almost finished all the painting in my bathroom. There are a few things that need to be touched up still. And I've GOT to finish making the fondant for Nicky's Castle cake for his party. Hell it's already Wednesday. I probably need to start baking already. Oy! Such a busy busy week!

Hope you are all doing well!

Just Call Me Plumber Lesley :-D

2009-10-09T10:37:00.000-07:00

Okay, we had a very slow leak in our bathroom behind the faucet. I kept accusing my husband of just splashing the wall when he showered, but when the dry wall started getting damaged and started to mold I had to admit that in fact there was something wrong...

So out of sheer fear of the cost of a plumber we decided to give it a shot ourselves. First I did some research on how to cut through dry wall. Then I did some research on how faucets are made. Then I went in to check what kind of attachment our faucet had and when I was checking the faucet basically fell off in my hand. So upon further investigation it was made obvious that the solder had gone bad. Actually it had probably just been badly soldered from the beginning at that joint.

So then I was like OH CRAP! This is a copper pipe and when I started looking at copper pip installation it became obvious that you have to solder to fix a joint on a copper pipe. Well here's the thing... In order to solder I'd have to completely take the bathroom apart. Something I REALLY wanted to avoid. Not even to mention that my soldering skills are not great. Like non-existent really... I did really want the blow torch I found at lowes though because you can use it for cooking prep too and I had all these visions of the blown sugar creations I could make. Still may go get that puppy! But I digress...

Upon further googling this issue with REALLY not wanting to solder, I found these.

SharkBites plumbing joints

I was very skeptical...A joint that doesn't require any special tool? You just stick the pipe in both ends? AND It's removable??? I just didn't see how that would be water tight in the long run. Google came to the rescue yet again. Google, I love you! Apparently no one has ever had trouble with them. Plumbers even use them! So I went to lowes and they had a version of them called GatorBites. They are so awesome!!! So easy!!!! I can't sing their praises enough! If you ever need to connect copper pipes then get these! If you're doing a whole house you're probably better off with the much cheaper soldering if you're skilled enough, because they're not really cheap about 5 bucks a joint, but they are so easy even the cheapskate that I am I would buy them. And did I mention removeable!!! It's awesome!

So it took SIX trips to Lowes, but we found everything we needed. I found some great help there too. I'm sure the guys I talked to about the gatorbites thought I was pathetic. LOL I was so nervous! But they assured me I could do it, and indeed hubby and I did!

So after the wall boards had time to dry out completely I put the new sheet rock up in the damaged sections. It looks great if I do say so myself! One more sanding left and I can paint! Yay!

I'm so proud of us!

And the total for the plumbing supplies was only 53 bucks!!!

I'm not sure how much all the sheet rock stuff cost, but I'm guessing even with tools and paint it wasn't more than 50 either.

I feel so brave and accomplished! Yay, us! Wonder what I need to fix next... Oh there are a couple light fixtures I'd like to replace. I wonder if I'm brave enough to try electricity...

We shall see! hehehe

Weigh In Wednesday

2009-10-07T06:16:00.000-07:00

Current weight: 234
Loss: 1
Total Loss: 38

Bah not much loss, but at least it's something. :-D We've finally got everyone all mostly healthy in our house. There is still some coughing and sneezing going on, but no one is really ill anymore. Stupid viruses.

Started today off with a run! Go me! I figured the baby woke me up so I might as well get it done.

My hubby is working his booty off too. I'm very proud of him. He has a hard time getting up in the morning, but he's getting up when his alarm clock goes off and working out. Yay, Bryon!

My Flapper Wig

2009-10-06T20:32:00.000-07:00

As you might recall, I decided to go as a flapper for Halloween this year. Actually I might be a Fairy Goth Mother, but I am now prepared to be either. hehehe So here is my flapper wig as well as my great grandmother again who was my flapper inspiration.

I love costumes!

My Civilized Little Man

2009-10-02T11:28:00.000-07:00

I made my boys some lunch of the ever popular Kraft Mac and Cheese and put it on their plates, then I put Nicky's on the table and Finn's on the floor. I didn't want to deal with dragging out the high chair and between the puppies and I we can clean up any mess. So Nicky sat at the table and cleaned his plate pretty quickly and Finn was chilling on the floor eating.

I was noticing, not for the first time, how well he used his spoon. Now Nicky knew how to use a spoon from the time he was pretty small, but he just really couldn't be bothered. He would much rather just cram the food into his mouth. Not now, of course, but when he was Finn's age.

Then Finn looked up at me and then at Nicky sitting at the table and stood up. He picked up his plate and walked over to the table and put his plate up on it then went back and got his spoon. He then proceeded to eat his food from the table even though he wasn't even tall enough to actually see his plate. hehehe

He then turned to me and gave me this look like, "What do you think I am, Mother? An animal?" LMAO So I guess he'll be sitting in his high chair from now on. I don't want to offend his delicate sensibilities. ;)