Home Again

After a long drive home we finally made it. Whew! Again, I am soooo thankful for portable dvd players! I am also grateul for smooth traffic. We just about made record time coming home today, and after our drive up last week in which we encountered some not-so-good traffic we were quite relieved to not get stuck in any today. I think the kids were grateful too!

Anyway, we made it home. Now begins loads of laundry, but not too many because I did a couple before I left (thanks Mom!). Also, tomorrow we will find new homes for all the new toys and such that was accumulated this Christmas holiday. Fun, fun. However, I am thankful that we have a day to ease into our daily life. We had a great time this past week with all our family but now it's time to get back to reality. It will be so very nice to sleep in my own bed tonight. There's just nothing like your own bed. Ah yes, so good to be home.

All Done!!!

Well, I did it! Somehow I managed to get everything done without becoming stressed-out-mama! How did I do that? I finished evrything on my to-do list plus a few extras. I think I am in shock. This has never happened before. I finished loading up the truck and set up the dvd player and it was EXACTLY 12:00 when it was all done. See? Isn't that amamzing???

I think a part of how it all came together today was because Ryan was able to take Mae to work with him. I packed her little back pack with a coloring book, paper and her box of pencils/markers/crayons. She was all set and so excited to go with Daddy this morning. I was only dreading a phone call from Ryan saying that Mae was too bored and too interuptive and to come pick her up. The call never came...whoo-hoo!!

So, my kids and I have had our lunch and here I am sitting at the computer updating my blog as I wait for Ryan to get himself home so we can split! Ahhh, what a great feeling to be all ready to go and not be stressed. It truly is a wonderful thing!

Merry Christmas!

Update

So far I'm doing good as I have worked a couple things off my list. However, now our departure time has been bumped up to noon on Friday (instead of way-too-early Saturday morning). This means that I pretty much have to be done with everything Thursday night so I'm not a freaking-out-mama come Friday. Well, at least that is always the goal but never the prize. I have inherited a deep sigh from my father when it comes to cutting it short on time. Most times, the deep sigh occurs when packing and leaving are concerned (pst...my brother got it too!). Anyway, despite the change in schedule I am thrilled to able to leave sooner (a great big THANK YOU to Ryan's work!). This means that Caleb will not have to spend anytime in the truck traveling on his birthday! It also means I need to step up the pace on attacking my list!

As of right now I have 85% of the laundry done and put away (whoo-hoo!), the grocery shopping is complete, and the third tray of snickerdoodles are in the oven as I type. I do, however, have to make a correction to my list. I mistakenly said I had 2 dozen cookies to make. Don't I wish! I meant, I am making a double batch, which turns out to be about, hmmm, let's see, oh I think eleventy-billion cookies! Two dozen, my eye!

Tonight, as I finish baking scrumptious snickerdoodles, I intend to make the Christmas cards for Ryan and while I have all my stuff out I will also make and finish the gift tags. So that will leave wrapping gifts and packing which I will do tomorrow after we get back from the zoo. Then Thursday I will work on that pie. Not bad eh? Sure hope I can stay motivated!

Busy Week

I have a lot to do before we leave super early on Saturday. Thankfully I have completed my Chirstmas shopping! (yeah me!) Mae and I went out last Saturday and had a Mommy date. We had lunch together and then went shopping. It was nice to be able to spend some alone time with Mae. She needed it, and so did I! Anyway, now that the shopping is done I still have lots to accomplish this week. This is what I have to do:

• make gift tags
• make 6 Christmas cards (for Ryan's gifts to co-workers)
  
• wrap presents
• grocery shopping
  
• make 2 dozen snickerdoodles
• make this apple pie for Christmas (hope it turns out, and travels well!)
• go to the zoo on Wednesday
• do laundry
• pack

Now that I've written everything down it doesn't seem to be as much as I thought, but you know how things go......it takes longer than you expect. Plus, I have to do these things with all three kids at home. Both Mae and Caleb are off for Christmas break so if I choose to go to the store during the day then not only do I fight crowds but also herd my kids. I think I will go to the store at night when Ryan is home, that way I will only have to take one kid with me. Brillant, yes?

So, it may not be a long list but it will take me all week to get it all done. Naptime is a beautiful thing, and something I will be taking full advantage of this week (as always!).

Calendar Days

It's that time of year for me. I got out the new calendar I'll be using for 2007 and filled in lots of dates. When I got married, my mother gave me a perpetual calendar book and had filled in birth dates and anniversaries of family members. I use it every year about this time and mark each celebration in the coming year so I won't be the lame-o relative and forget important dates. This year I also used Mae's school listing of holidays and events to fill in days off and vacations. Man, they sure do have a lot of days off! She will get more days off than I ever did as a kid. Sheesh! But the school year does not end for her until almost the very end of June, so I suppose that makes up for all the days she will be missing.

The 2007 calendar we will be sporting in the new year came free with our zoo membership (thank you Zoo!). Every month has a featured animal for the main picture (surprise) along with zoo events added into the corresponding day (gee, thanks for taking up valuable space!). In our early years of marriage it had been a sort of tradition to pick out a new calendar for the year. I think our first year together we both decided on an Ansel Adams calendar. Then the following year featured shots of cathedrals, or maybe it was a famous photographer that included pictures of a few churches (ah! I can't remember!). Anyway, as the years went by it became less of a tradition and we slowly accepted the freebies that came our way. I guess that's how we came upon our newest one. It started out as something fun to do together but now it is just something to remind me, the mom, of doctor appointments and no-school days. The calendar has also become a central location for me to keep track of doctors phone numbers, stamps, and important baby sitter info. With all this stuff paper clipped to the side I can no longer really see the featured picture of the month. Oh well, I don't need to look at the calendar to know what a lounging polar bear looks like.

Happy New Year!

Productive Day

I feel good about today, for the most part. My bathroom is clean (whoo-hoo!). All clothes that have accumulated in our bedroom are put away. Our bed is made. All clean clothes have been folded and put in their respective places. Most of the laundry is done. The kitchen sink has been thoroughly cleaned and tables are free of clutter. All that AND I got a shower today (albeit it was 2:30, but hey, I'm not complaining about a non-interupted shower when kids are down for naps!)

So it would seem I had a pretty productive day. I have also received permission from the man of the house to have leftovers for dinner, so I won't have to cook tonight! What could be better? Well, I won't push it, for today is a not-so-bad day. Clean clothes, clean bedroom, clean laundry, clean kitchen. Yah, good day. *big grin*

Today With Nothing to Say

My brain is fried. I spent way too much of my day yesterday staring at this computer screen working on a Christmas gift. I walked away 5 hours later with a raging headache (mainly because I was so engrossed in my task that I didn't eat any lunch). Then I still had to make dinner. I did take something for the headache but it was too late by that point. So I watched some TV after the kids were in bed then went to bed myself. Today I still have a residual ache and no desire to stare at this screen any longer. Fogive my lack of creativeness in my blog today. But no complaints since I actually posted something! Maybe tomorrow I'll come across some spark of genious and post something really cool? Stay tuned....

So Glad I Bought This!

Yesterday wasn't Caleb's birthday but I had to make cupcakes and take them to his preschool anyway. Due to another kids birthday celebration next Tuesay then Jesus's birthday party on Thursday and Christmas break after that it was decided to do Caleb's birthday this week (his birthday isn't until the 23rd). Anyway, because of all this I was able to use my handy little cupcake carrier!!!

I bought it last year while we were still in Michigan. I was in the grocery store doing what people do, you know, grocery shopping, when I came across this little number. It holds 24 cupcakes and has the nifty carry 'thingy'. Isn't it great??? The first thing I did (after my Oooing and Ahhing) was look at the price. $19.99 Why is it that things cost more than I think they should? I considered the price and almost passed, but then I realized that this baby is worth every penny! I also envisioned all the years ahead of my children going to school and needing to take caupcakes for their birthday celebrations. And then I saw looks on the faces of other mothers and heard their comments on how wonderful this cupcake carrier was and how they wanted one and where could they get one. Not that I want others to envy me, I don't, I just realized how totally practical this baby is and that, yes, it is completely worth the $19.99. So I bought it. Yeah me!

Do you want one? Are you thinking "where did she get that?" and "I want one too!"??? Well, my dears, I have done some research for you. After another mom at Caleb's school asked me where I got mine I had to tell her I got it in Michigan. Her response, "Well, I need to go to Michigan!" (really, though, why would anyone go there except to buy this?) I really did want to tell her where she could get one so I went online and found that it can be bought here for the same price that I paid (not bad eh?). While doing my search I also found this other kind of carrier that can hold cup cakes or a cake! Cost, $32.99. (on a total side note....I found this through someone else's blog, and her blog was cool! it was all about baking! and she had pictures and reciepes for tons of delightful things. mmmm.....I'm going to have to be a frequent visitor).

So, there you go, not one but two choices. Are you totally impressed? Are you thinking "what a fabulous item" and that you" want one too"? Well....your welcome.

Early Reading Meme

I was tagged for this meme by Amanda (what's a 'meme' anyway?). I will do my best to answer the questions but I must be forgetting to take my ginkobiloba because I don't remember things so well. For this reason some of my answers are not as clear for me as they should be. I blame it on my thirties? my kids? Both, yes, definitely both!

1. How old were you when you learned to read and who taught you?
I really don't remember learing to read. I suppose I learned at school, isn't that were most kids learn? So, if that is the case then the teachers were; Mrs. Maze (kindergarten) and Mrs. Petterson and Mrs. Lindsey (1st grade....at least I think that was their names!)

2. What books do you remember owning as a child?
This is terrible! I just can't remember!!! I'm sure we had books at home but it totally escapes me! I do, however, remember a favorite story book that I'd would request to be read to me over and over.....and that was Johnny Lion (achoo, achoo, achoo!).

3. What is the first book you remember buying with your own money?
Again, I don't remember. But, like Amanda, I too was into The Babysitters Club, so maybe I bought some of those? Yeah, I think I did.

4. Were you a re-reader as a child? If so, what did you read the most often?
I don't think I did that. I may have read a couple books more than once but the magic is gone for me once I've read it the first time. It's the same for me as an adult.

5. What is the first adult book that captured your interest and how old were you when you read it?
Hmmm.....my first adult book huh? Well, I started to read a lot after I got married, and I was 20 at that time, and the books I read were The Atonement Child, Redeeming Love and The Scarlet Thread by Francine Rivers. The Scarlet Thread was the first book to ever make me cry!

6. Are there any children's books you passed by as a child and learned to love as an adult?
I love reading Guess How Much I love You to my kids. I get all choked up! *sniff sniff* I don't remember having it read to me as a child but that doesn't mean my parents didn't read it.

I think I have come to love reading more now that I am an adult. I don't remember enjoying it as much then as I do now. I'm always on the lookout for a new author....so please, feel free to inform me of any that you love!

Ok, it's my turn!!! I tag Diane and Mary! Let's see if they've been taking their ginko! *wink*

Is It Really Christmas Season?

It doesn't feel like the Christmas season to me. I blame it on the weather. I'm just not used to a warm December. I mean really, high 70's in December, come on! It should fee like Christmas though. The stores are playing the right music, there are people outside the stores with their red buckets and ringing bells, I see Santa Claus and snowflakes on tv (although I have yet to watch It's A Wonderful Life, a must see for every Christmas season!) and a neighbor down the street has just about every inch of lawn space taken up by every concievable seasonal decoration (but hey, where's the tribute to Hanakuh and Kwanza?).

So, I don't quite feel like putting up decorations this year. I have,however, broken a rule of mine. Last year my mother-in-law gave the kids two childrens tapes of Christmas music and I have them playing in the truck now. I have never wanted children's music in the vehicle. Call me selfish but I just don't have a desire to listen to it. The kids have been happy to listen to our own music of choice and even ask for their favorites. They have been exposed to different types of music too! Music like Bluegrass (O Brother Where Art thou), Modern-techno (Ocean's 12 soundtrack), Celtic, Christian (Steven Curtis Chapman, Rich Mullins, FFH, etc) Theatre (Newsies soundtrack!) and even foreign languages (Ryan's portuguese stuff....his car, not mine). So my kids have had quite a different exposure to music than others. But 'tis the season, so I have broken my own rule and allowed childrens Christmas music in my truck. I'm sure they will enjoy it but it won't last long. I do have to admit that hearing Caleb sing along is mighty cute stuff.

Maybe I will bust out some Christmas decorations regardless of how I feel. We won't be getting a tree this year since we will not be home the week of Christmas (no reason to have a fire hazard left unsupervised). And maybe if I play some Harry Conick Jr. Christmas music then I'll feel more in tune with the holiday? Oh! I know....I can crank up the air conditioner and wear my chunky sweaters and make hot chocolate with tiny marshmellows and turn on the fire place (yes, I said 'turn on the fireplace', for it is gas and not the real deal)! If I do that then maybe I'll find It's A Wonderful Life on tv then finally feel in the mood for this holiday?

Potluck of Disaster

Yesterday we went to a potlcuk with our new home group. Last week I asked for reciepes for a potato dish that I could take because I had none. I went with Carrie's recipe. Although it was very similar to Mary's recipe I went with Carrie's because it had exact ingredients and no bread crumbs (I didn't want to make crumbs or buy them). I forgot to put paprika on my list when I went shopping for the ingredients so I improvised and sprinkled curry on top instead. It was a risky move but it paid off! I got a few compliments on the dish but the biggest compliment was that there was none leftover! Whoo-hoo! Thanks for your reciepes!!!

The rest of the potluck was ok. There aren't any people our age or in the same stage of life in the group so it makes it difficult for me to connect with them. I'm so not good at small talk, and not having much in common makes it more difficult. I'm just plain terrible at being 'the new girl on the block'. Ryan does a great job of talking with people. I guess it is just one of those things that reflects the differences between us. *deep sigh* Most of the time I am so self-absorbed in these situations that all ideas at conversation completely eludes me and I come across as totally uninterested or boring. For example:

New person: "Hello!"
Me: "Hi."
New person: "So, how are you?"
Me: "Fine."
New person: "How are things with the kids?"
Me: "Good."
New Person: (silence)
Me: (silence, drawing a blank as to what to do or say next)
New Person: (they finish filing their drink and move on)

Pretty much that is how most conversations start, and end. It's not until later, on the way home, that I replay the tragic attempts at conversation with others and then think of numerous things I could have said. Doh! I feel like such an idiot during these times! I could have turned the questions around and asked how they are and or tried to recall something from a previous conversation to ask them about. But no, my mind totally shuts down and I draw a blank. It truly is a wonder I've made any friends at all in my life let alone met a decent guy and got married. I give all credit to God for there just isn't any other explaination!

During the potluck the kids were happlily engaged with the older kids at the house (two of which are their babysitters!). I did have to keep my eye on Isabel as she only wanted to climb the stairs any chance she got. When she wasn't climbing the stairs she managed to get her hands on a small porcelin container with potpouri. When Isabel realized that I saw her and was on my way to take it away, she prompty dropped it and broke the lid! Great. Fabulous. So not only am I a terrible conversationist but I let my kids run amuck and break things! Is there anything else I can add to my superb list of qualities? I apoligized but what good does that really do? Should I ask to replace it somehow? I'm sure the lady doesn't care, but shouldn't I make the effort anyway?

Hopefully there won't be any more all-family functions for a while. I'm not up for making small talk for a while anyway.

November's Movie Log

Another month with Blockbuster online has afforded us to watch a few more movies last month. Here is what we saw:

1. The Spanish Prisoner (I saw this with Mom when she came to visit. We both felt that we had seen it before but a long time ago. It must have been a while ago because neither of us knew how it ended! Movie was ok.)
2. The Benchwarmers (I am embarrassed to admit that I watched this, but it's true, I did. It was sophmoric and basically dumb, but we had a few laughs. I won't reccomend it though.)
3. My Big Fat Greek Wedding (we saw this when it first came out...hilarious.....classic....great!!!)
4. The Itilian Job (Good heist movie)
5. City of God (Ryan watched this. It is a foreign film with subtitles and is very well done, but does have a lot of violence.)
   
6. Nacho Libre (Wierd and kooky in a Napoleon Dynamite kind of way. We liked it!)
7. Strangers on a Train (an old Hitchcock film, was ok)
8. Hitch (we saw this when it was in the theatre, but saw it again with my parents over Thanksgiving. Still very funny!! Love it!)

I think my favorite movie was Nacho Libre. We keep repeating lines from the movie (little hug, little kiss, big hug, big kiss). If you didn't like Napolean Dynamite then I would not recomend this film, it has the same type of humor BUT it does have more of a plot line. It's your call.

The funny thing about seeing so many movies is now we want to watch the previews, so we can add more movies to our que. We have the original Ocean's 11 right now, we may watch it tonight. I'm also thinking of adding a few other 'older' flicks to the list, like My Fair Lady and maybe some Fred Astair. Of course your suggestions are always apprecited.....any ideas?

A Potato What?

This Sunday we will be going to a pot-luck with our new home group. I told the leader to let me know what I could bring. She asked that I bring a potato dish.

Besides a potato salad, what are my choices??? I don't do much with potatoes let alone know of a dish that I could bring to group function! (although 'potato chips' have crossed my mind) Can you suggest an easy group-friendly recipe for me??? Help!!!

My God Is So Great!

As this month comes to a close, I'd like to recap on some of the things that have brought me joy and thankfulness this year. The Lord has been very good to us this year and it is only fitting that I share these blessing with all of you.

I am thankful for warm weather when I am used to being chilly-cold!

I am thankful for being less than a days drive from family.

I am thankful for portable dvd players (especially during those road trips!)

I am thankful my mother was able to come visit for my birthday!

I am thankful for my parents driving me and the kids to our new place and helping us unpack.

I am thankful for good health.

I am thankful for great friends near and far.

I am thankful for the Lord's protection and safekeeping while traveling.

I am thankful for new recipes! (and so is my family!!!)

I am thankful for Kindergarten and preschool.

I am thankful for Ryan's new job and the opprotunity it gives him.

I am thankful for the Lord's rich provision in our life.

I am thankful that I am able to stay home with my children.

I am thankful for the new renters in our Michigan house.

I am thankful for Costco! (and that it is now just down the street!)

I am thankful for the dishwasher in our house!

I am thankful for little hugs and voices that say "I love you".

I am thankful for my man that loves me.

I am thankful for 10 years of marriage to that wonderful man!

I am thankful for the anniversary trip to Tahoe that we had together.

And I am thankful to the Lord who has given me all these things and many more!

Caleb sings a song in his preschool that goes like this............"My God is so GREAT! So strong and so mighty! There's nothing my God can not do!" It is my favorite new song. I just love heraring him sing it, especially when he shouts the word 'great'. Maybe it is because it strikes a chord within me. Or maybe because it is just the simple truth of the message within it.

Dear Lord, thank you for all these things you have done in my life. Thank you for being a part of my life and loving me so deeply. Most of all I continue to thank you for sending your Son so that I may share in relationship with you. May I never forget your sacrifice for me. And may I always be conscience of your presence in my life. In Jesus name, amen.

Really Really Good Pie Crust

I mentioned in yesterday's post that I had made an apple pie. Well, someone has asked me for the pie crust recipe that I use, and because I am short on ideas on what to post today, I will pass along this superb recipe.

First, I must say that this pie crust recipe is really good. Truly, it is! This recipe has been in my family since, well, as long as I can remember, and surely longer than that! I have heard many people compliment my mother on the pies she makes and are always asking for the recipe. And in my days of living I have experienced a few bad crusts, so I can, and do, appreciate this recipe. (how many times have I written the word 'recipe' in this post?....too many!)

So, without further ado......here is it is! Enjoy!


Pastry Crust

3 cups flour
1 1/4 cups shortening (I used butter)
3/4 tsp salt
1 egg
5 Tbsp water
1 tsp vinegar

Cut dry ingredients with a fork. Beat the egg, water adn vinegar together, then add to dry ingredients.

Bake at 350 until golden brown*.

(makes 2 8" pies)

*I baked my apple pie at 425 last night, so feel free to change the temp according to your pie. I also covered the edges of the crust with foil to keep it from burning.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On another, very tired, note.....I just wanted to say a great big thank you those who prayed for my family over the past day or so. As of this very early hour I can tell you that we are all well and are now safely at my parents house. Long day. Long drive. Me tired. Ni-night.

My Favorite Kitchen Things

Last night I used one of my favorite things. My fancy schmancy new Kitchenaid mixer. Ryan got it for me before he left Whirlpool. (for those of you who don't know, Kitchenaid is a division of Whirlpool, so Ryan used his employee discount to get this baby for me!) I used it to make the pie crust dough for an apple pie. Last year I had to use my ol' hand mixer to do the dirty work of pie crust making. This year it was so much more easy to just dump the ingredients in and flip a little switch and let it do it's thing! Whoo-hoo! I love my Kitchenaid mixer! I think the pie will taste even better too, don't you?! Ryan bought it shortly before we left (yes, taking one last advantage of the blessed employee discount!) I didn't even have time to get it out of the box before we moved. Not that I had a place to put it, our kitchen was severely lacking counter space. But now I have plenty of counter space so it is out where I can set my gaze upon it and dream of making delectable delights! Not to mention that it is chrome and had a purdy stainless bowl. Not hard on the eyes, nope, not hard on the eyes.

One of my other favorite kitchen items is this mini chopper, also made by Kitchenaid. My mother has a similar mini chopper and I used it once when visiting and knew I had to have one. Ryan got this one for me for Christmas last year. Of course he could have saved my mother and I some work in the kitchen had he given it to me a hour earlier when we were getting the stuffing ready for the turkey! Anyway, it has become a 'must have' for me. I use it to chop up onions, nuts, and other vegetables, but mostly I use it to shred cheese. I hate shredding cheese! I have one of those rotating hand dealies and the cheese always gets stuck between the rotating blade and the holder 'thingy'. And to wash the thing is a bother as well. But, the mini chopper takes all the ugliness of shredding cheese away for me. And the job is done in no time at all! It's not difficult to clean either. Do I sound like an infomercial? I could so make some cashola and sell these babies!

I'm not one who loves to spend much time in the kitchen so when I come across something that makes my job easier and faster then I'm all for it! So, there you have it, my two most treasured items in my kitchen (along with the dishwasher, but that's not really mine, it comes with the rental). Now if I could only get one of those replicator things from Star Trek that automatically produces completed entres.......

It's A Bleh Day

I had such plans for today. Mae has the week off school so I thought we'd go to the zoo and use that membership we have. Nope. Caleb had other ideas on how to spend the day. Being sick. Sick on the rug. Sick in the bathroom. At the store (clean up on isle 4!*). And in his bed. Yeah. What fun.

At first I was thinking/hoping it was a one-time thing. Now I'm hoping it is a four-time thing. That and hopefully no one else will get it! Tomorrow night we will leave for Modesto for Thanksgiving. Long road trips are not fun and even more so with a sicko along for the ride.

Dear Lord, please heal Caleb quickly from this sickness and protect the rest of us from getting it too. Thank you! In Jesus name, Amen.


*No, he didn't really spew in the store. Does spitting up in the floor drain in the deli department count?

Freaky Friday

Here's my sweet baby, Isabel. Isn't she cute? I know I'm partial, but I can't help it! I am now at the stage with her that I need to start phasing out of the jars of baby food and into finger foods so she can feed herself. I've done this twice before, but can I think of foods to give her that would constitute a full meal? No! A couple times a week I will cut up a hot dog for her lunch and she eats that well, but hot dogs aren't really the most healthy (if at all).

So, today I thought she might be ready for a pbj sandwhich cut into small pieces. She's almost a year and half and is doing well with bits of food so it shouldn't have been a problem. Wrongo! I did not take into consideration the whole peanut allergy thing. Mae and Caleb never had problems with peanuts so it never entered my mind that it would be an issue with Isabel.

I made Isabel the sandwhich, cut it into nice pieces for her to eat and then put it on her tray. She didn't seem to care for it and maybe had a bite or two then proceeded to push it around her high chair. I tried to give her some green beans too, but at that point she was making it clear that she was no longer interested in food. Within 20 minutes of the introduction of the sandwhich her eyes were red and puffy and she also had some small rashing on her cheeks. Isabel had been crying and also acting tired so I decided that most of the redness was due to that. There was a small part of me that thought that she was having an allergic reaction to the peanuts but her breathing remained normal and she did eat some raisins so I did not get overly concerned.

Ryan came home for lunch and discovered Isabel about this time. He has food allergies and became quite concerned. I called the doctors office and since the doctors were out to lunch I was advised to take Isabel to the urgent care center. So I loaded all the kids in the truck and sped off to the urgent care all the while telling myself that I should have known to not introduce peanuts so soon.

By the time we got to the urgent care Isabel was showing even less signs of a reaction. The doctor even suggested that her eyes may be showing early signs of pink eye. But they gave her a dose of benedryl for the possible reaction as well as a perscsription for the possible pink eye. So, basically, no big deal. In and out in about a half hour. Not bad for an urgent care visit.

Maybe Isabel's reaction was due more to getting the peanut butter on her hands then on her face? When is it ok to introduce peanuts anyway? And is peanut butter one word or two? I'll have to talk to the peditrician at Isabel's next check up (about when it's ok to give it, not spell it).

A part of me feels bad, like I should have known better. Then the other part tells me that these things happen and it is not a reflection of my mothering. My own mother told me this too, and I am to obey my parents so that is what I will do. I will not berate myself or allow negative thoughts to take hold. *sigh* I will however chalk this up to another freaky episode in this thing we call life.

One Fine Day

I have been longing for some fall weather. The tempertures have been in the high 70's and low 80's for what seems like forever. I love the fall. I love the crispness in the air, the turning of the leaves and most of all I love wearing sweaters! However, where we live now does not give way to the typical fall weather. In fact, I noticed on weather.com the other day that tomorrow is supposed to be 80 degrees. That is so not fall weather! I feel jipped out of fall. But I must adapt to this new place. I know that there are many out there that would envy my position and long to live here. I am grateful, don't get me wrong. It has already snowed in Michigan and I do not miss that! It would seem that my winter coat has been retired along with my snow boots, but I would like to wear my chunky light blue sweater a little more often. I think I need to expand my daily wardrobe so I don't wear out my 'summer' clothes. I never expected to have to wear my t-shirts everyday for six plus months! Again, I'm not complaining....who would complain about having to go shopping?!

Today it is 60 degrees with some misting of rain. I get to wear my lovely sweater today! Horray! It's about time. The sky is overcast with those misty clouds and I can open all my blinds. No need to turn on the air conditioner to cool off the back room where the afternoon sun tends to heat up. Yes, it is a very nice day today. But I wonder if it is just a fluke, if will temperture will really be 80 tomorrow? Will I wear a chunky sweater one day then capris and short sleeves the next? Whatever happens tomorrow I will enjoy today and my cozy, warm sweater!

New Blog and Questions

Ryan has started his new blog! I am so proud.....he chose one of my suggestions. Welcome G Money to the blogging world! As I mentioned in my previous post, Ryan's blog is strickly about investments (no pics of his lovely wife and cute kids....bummer man!). He will talk about his newest finds and research he has done. One of the reasons he started it was because he wanted to make money with his investment writings and he can do that by allowing Adsense to post ads to his blog. If anyone clicks on the ad on his blog then he will make money. I don't know if he'll ever make much but I know that he enjoys discussing stocks, investments and the like, so I wish him all the best and hope it works well for him!

On another note.....for those of you who already have a blog with Blogspot, have you switched over to the new version? Everytime I log into my blog I get the sign up information on revising my blog with Google. I watched as Ryan set up his blog yesterday and some things have changed, like adding things to the sidebar links. I just wonder if it is easier to use? One thing I would like to see changed is be able to have Word type features while writing and editing a post in the 'Compose' section (like 'cut' and 'paste', I just found out that those features are available in the 'Edit Html' part). Does anyone know about other changes?