Nerf Gun War

Saturday night my living room and kitchen looked like this:

Ben loading getting ready to fire
Dad waiting for Ben to come up from behind the couch! Jacob is re-loading..

Grandpa Jim having way too much fun!!!

There was/is a ton of "testosterone" floating around our house. However, the bug that decided to make its home in my body on Thursday & Friday decided to return Saturday night. This was a good distraction for all the guys so I could rest peacefully in bed watching the Olympics! That is what you call a "win-win" situation!

What to do when it snows

For Valentines Day I figured nothing said "I love you" more than a set of Nerf dart guns for the boys. What I didn't think of was Luke and buying him one too (sorry)! But we have plenty of guns and darts to share, even though some might not be as fast or have lasers or whatever...

So as I was getting ready today I was ambushed by darts and laughter, not from the "little" boys but from the "big" boy....He just cracks himself up sometimes but I wasn't as amused so I locked the door. All of sudden Jake bangs on the door saying he needs to hide so I let him in. Needless to say they were playing a game of "hide-and-go-seek" using the guns. Luke was doing the "commando" crawl to ambush Jacob and Ben was off hiding somewhere. Jake gave himself away because he started giggling. After Jake was caught they went to find Ben and Jake said "Dad, I don't hear any 'snorfing' so I don't know where Ben is hiding." Hmmmm............I think snorfing is also known as "snorting." Regardless I got a good laugh.

I believe Grandpa Jim and Luke are going to make a run to Walmart after we get back from the "Boat/RV Show." The guys are going there to see the big toys and in the back of my mind I am wondering how many ex-clients I will see!

Cooking

I know this is a shocker to many of you but cooking has NEVER been "my" thing.....When I had to cook for myself I would eat a lot of cereal and instant oatmeal for dinner. I was always weight conscious (not saying I was in shape or slim) but needless to say food in general FREAKS ME OUT. Further, when I became the director of a new program that started at the "grass roots" level, I worked 10-12 hour days 5-6 days per week (pre-children). Luke could always fend for himself and would have supper ready for me when I came home.....(yes, I know I was spoiled and FYI, he always did the grocery shopping too!)

When I was in the mood to cook, I could cook. I just hated spending all that time preparing meals that took 15 minutes (if that) to eat. I could think of 100....wait....1,000 different things that needed to be done other than cooking. You ask, why is she regressing? Well, let me tell you!

I have cooked and baked more things in the last 6 weeks than I have done in my whole adult life! I have done meal planning, grocery shopping, made homemade snacks, bought cookbooks, subscribed to different blogs, etc. just to learn this trade called cooking that I should have learned years ago.

So last night I made this (I remembered to take a picture after I started eating it):
What is it you ask....Pork chops with apples and onions, mashed potatoes and veggies. This recipe is from.......don't fall off of your chair BUT none other than MARTHA STEWART! WTH!?! Yes, I nailed Martha's recipe and I think....wait...I know mine turned out better than hers!

I have frequented many different food websites. But this Crockpot 365 is one of my favorite cookbook and blogs right now while I am in my infant stages learning how to cook, meal plan and grocery shop for 2 weeks at a time. Nothing is easier than slow cooking. Another favorite is organic thrifty which is also on my favorites sidebar. Both provide recipes for gluten free, high protein, etc. diets.

So for my BFF in Colorado, I thought of you last night. I wished you were here to taste it. AND I know you would be impressed with all of the things I have made in the last month. Here is just a sample of what I have made: homemade applesauce, candied nuts, homemade brownies, roasted my own almonds/walnuts, grain free muffins and granola, puppy chow, trail mix, and at least 30 days worth of "natural" suppers (that don't come in boxes). I think most of what I have made is good because the scales told me this morning that I am 9# heavier than I was in December. I guess now I need to get on the treadmill, but that is a different post!

So Jenn when are you coming out to visit? I will cook yummy, yummy food for you. Also, if you want to leave a comment you can do so by going to anonymous and following the directions..........that is a hint Ms. BFF!

Hilda is Here

My dad is here visiting this month from Thailand. He flew in almost 3 weeks ago (wow, hard to believe)! The time has flow by fast. He has made visits to Las Vegas, Oklahoma and Colorado. He has been in Colorado for a week and should get to our house today. Trooper LOVES my dad and Trooper gets extra special attention when Grandpa is here.

Dad has had a variety of nicknames however when he is visiting I choose to call him "Hilda." Dirty dishes are his pet peeve (sorry I can't figure out the spelling). Me, I could spend my entire day in the kitchen doing dishes so I only do them once a day. So here is a picture of Hilda doing dishes. My kitchen misses him desperately and is calling his name.... The boys are ready for him to come too so they can play Foosball hours at a time.....Thanks Hilda for all have done for us since coming to visit!

Jacob's Very Long Night

We had one sick little man on Tuesday night. Jacob got home from school and couldn’t stop coughing until 5:00 AM Wednesday morning. We tried everything to get him to stop coughing….It was continuous and he would aspirate and then throw up. His little body was exhausted and Luke and I were tired too!

The only Dr. appointment we could get on Wednesday was at 8:45 (Jacob had finally fallen asleep around 5 AM) so he went to the Dr. in his jammies that had snot smeared on the sleeves (you know, way more convenient for Jacob than Kleenex), smelling like puke and I didn’t have him brush his teeth (in case they did a strep culture). Don’t worry I did manage to change his pull-up! We were quite the sight and I am almost certain there was some air freshener spraying once we left the Dr. office! LOL Ultimately Jacob has bronchitis, an ear infection in both ears and a sinus infection. He wanted to go to school today, which is a good thing, right??? However, I hope Mrs. Kirtley doesn’t want to strangle me with my long list of special requests! I hope Jacob always loves school this much and doesn’t want miss more days than he has too!

* I can't figure out how to get the fonts the same...I tried typing on word and copying and it and it has been a huge HEADACHE.

Snow & More

Will the sun ever return to Kansas? This is what it has looked like for 2 weeks (ok maybe I am exaggerating-maybe not) and it has been very blahh! At least the tree looks pretty.

Here is a picture of Jacob last week. He fell asleep and we couldn't get him to wake up. He decided if he covered his face we couldn't tell he was still sleeping. Poor guy ended up having an ear infection. I took him to the Dr. (the only appt I could get) during recess time. He was soooo mad at me because he missed the only "outdoor" recess they had been given in a long time!

Ben decided he looked like Santa Claus and wanted his picture taken. After hanging out in the snow the only way to warm up is with a "hot bath" according to Ben.

Ben shoveling. Jacob's picture didn't turn out but I assure you he was outside too. In Colorado we were out in the snow all the time.

After playing in the snow one is bound to have wet clothes. Rather then tracking it through the house and stepping in cold, wet, puddles all night, they had to take their clothes off by the back door. With this weather, no wonder why my laundry has doubled!

Little Addison Marie

Luke's niece and goddaughter, Shasta, had her first baby on February 4th. As many of you know, Shasta lived with us for 6 months while she did her student teaching in Andover. The boys were 6 and 19 months old when she moved in with us that semester. She was an absolute blessing during that time. She will never know how big of a help she was to us and further she was awesome with boys! She is very special to our family.

She got a job at Herrington High School after graduation teaching English. She met her husband Nick through a co-worker. They asked the boys to be the ring bearers in their wedding and the boys were excited. They love Nick and they love Shasta. So when we heard she had her baby we couldn't WAIT to go see them in Abilene.

This is Addison Marie...She is absolutely adorable. She was 6# 15 oz and 20 inches long.

Here is Addison with her mom.

Nick let the boys hold Addison. Jacob didn't want to at first, but when he saw Ben holding her, Jacob quickly changed his mind.

Jacob holding Addison.

Ben and Jacob thinking Addison is a keeper. I almost see halo's over their heads! It doesn't happen very often!

Miss Addison and her Nanna Re.

I couldn't wait to get my hands on her! Ben posed so he could get pringles.

Jacob not too sure about this baby. Jacob told Shasta he didn't want the baby to "pee" on him because that's what babies do....hmmm

Jacob, Ben and Aunt Re

Addison's little feet. She was stretching her feet and toes.

She was to get her first bath tonight, I wonder how that went?

Here is the proud papa.

If any of you are in Manhattan and need some adult beverages, Nick is doing a little advertising for his store.

Beer Goggles is the place to be for your pre or post party before a Wildcat Victory! Go State! Sorry I had to throw that in!

1st & 40th Birthday

January 30th we went to a very special birthday party. My cousin and her daughter were celebrating "milestone" birthdays. Little Miss Seely, turned one year old on 30th. She is such a good little girl. She doesn't know a stranger and she loves her grandma and grandpa!

Seely loved the balloons and the boys had a great time at the party. They also liked the fact they could eat cake, have punch and other junk food! Further, they got to bowl and play with other kids their own ages too. On a side note, Ben ate too much junk food and threw up in bed that night! At least they had fun......I guess!

Special balloons that were made made extra "heavy duty." Seely loved giving them kisses. Must I say she has her grandpa wrapped around her finger?

Seely wanting to run after the balloons, but not before I scooped her up for a picture.

Happy 40th to her mom! She has waited a long time for this little blessing. We are so glad we have gotten to spend time with them over the last few months. I hope they don't stay away too long because we have had such a good time seeing them.

Yoga

Despite the snow and sleet
I will see you in one hour.
RUTH, here I COME!

P.S. Try to be nice to me!

Up To Date

After drinking two cups of coffee tonight at mom-2-mom and cappuccino dessert, I am officially wired! So here is the latest;

• My dad is here from Thailand for one month. I picked him up from the airport on Saturday 1/30/10.
• Ben finished up his last basketball game on Saturday. Just in time to start soccer.
• Jacob is also enrolled for soccer. Of course Ben and Jacob will be on different teams which means we will be camping out at the rec center on Saturday mornings for 6 weeks. Yeah Me!
• I am still trying to figure out my life purpose for Bible Study. I have been thinking and praying about this for months (I might be dead before I figure it out-literally)!
• I completed my "spiritual gifts assessment" and am laughing at my answers ( I will share later).
• I have officially cooked and baked more in this last month than I have cooked in the last 10 years. This is very scary. Especially when Luke tells my dad that he has "domesticated" me. Good thing there were witnesses or Luke may have had one of those frying pans upside his head! :)
• I would love Trooper to become a "mostly" indoor dog to keep me company during the day. If Luke keeps making "domesticated" comments, Troop may be an inside dog sooner, than later!
• Oh.......and if you have never had your b*** kicked by a 65+ lady in yoga class, I don't recommend it! Last week was the first time I felt well enough to attempt to try yoga (not kickboxing but I will be back there ONE day). I thought it would be easy, which it was "kind-of" until I tried to get out of bed the next morning.....I am sure Ruth (Yes, Ruth) wasn't sore because it wasn't her first rodeo doing the "warrior pose". I will go back Thursday to see if I can keep up with her....Yeah right....

I will try to get some pictures posted soon of our adventures.