Family: The Melted Crockpot

My pretty crock pot...

  Sitting on the counter...

  So shiny and bright!

NOT!

See that black part on the bottom of the crock pot?  Do you know it melts if it sits on a lit burner?

It was an accident.  I was cleaning the counters and moved the crock pot to the top of the stove to clean underneath it, as I had made lamb curry in it the night before.

As I pushed the crock pot to the back corner of the stove, one of handles must have knocked one of the knobs to High, and the next thing I knew I was smelling something burning.

And that something was the bottom of the crock pot melting all over the stove!

Good thing it was easy enough to clean up...the plastic lifted right off the stove once it had cooled down.

So now I'm on the hunt for another crock pot...any recommendations since it's been awhile since I've bought one?

Family: The Blue Bed... Decisions, Decisions!

It's time for a new bed....

  Ours is so old....

  It's just time.

And it must be a smaller bed...

  The California King is worked in the old house,

  But it's just too big here.

So I've been bed shopping...

  Looking at all the options...

  Trying to make a fully informed and logical decision.

You see that blue bed up there?

  I love it!

  

But it's not the responsible or logical decision...

  Definitely not the frugal choice...

  As if I were going for frugality, 

  I'd choose this...

A lot more simpler...

   Not so blue...

   And definitely a more frugal choice.

And what happens in five years or six years...

   Will I tire of the blue?

    That would not be good!

 Decisions, decisions....

  At least i have a few days to decide...

  The sale doesn't end until next Monday.

Perhaps you could help? What would you decide?

  

Family: Edgar Is TWO!

January 18, 2012...Edgar's Birth Date

That means he's TWO today!

It's hard to believe that he was once this cute little guy!

Current stats:
 Weight: 102.3 lbs
 Loves: Tennis Balls and Playing Catch
           Terrorizing Silas
           Talking Jaunts with Sophie
           Laying on the Back Porch in the Sunshine
           Eating Apples
Taught Us:
           Always put away your shoes or they'll get eaten
           Same with remotes and eyeglasses

So big! So different! But still a big lap puppy!

Family: Dear Texas....

Dear Texas,
Now that our daughter is stationed at Fort Hood, we paid your lovely State a visit over the Thanksgiving weekend to help her set up her first "adult" apartment.  Although I feel for the most part that you are amazing, there are a few things we need to get straight right off:

Those Boys and Their Big Trucks
It's true that everything is bigger in Texas.  Your natural beauty is so vastly breathtaking, and your churches are absolutely amazing pieces of art!  However, you sincerely need to do something about those boys and their big trucks!!!!  Like teach them how to drive without speeding, cutting people off, or parking without backing up into the parking space and blocking it off. PLEASE!

Barbecue
I expected better...a lot better!  But I can do barbecue better, and I'm a light weight...you should really get your restaurants to have a little respect for the art...maybe talk to my husband about it?  He's a master at the grill and smoker, and could definitely take down quite a few of your local joints easily.

IKEA 
Why in the world did you put an IKEA so close to my daughter's apartment?  Let's just say the credit card got an extreme workout...but my daughter is happy.

Most of all, please take care of her....she's the most amazing kid, working hard to help our soldiers and their families at the hospital.  You need to keep her safe while she's there.

Thank you!

Downton Abbey

Downton Abbey...

The season three finale was last Sunday....

I prepared....with a large Diet Dr. Pepper and a bag of Hershey Kisses.

I sat...on the sofa nearest the television so I wouldn't miss a word.

I watched...with Edgar on the floor beside me.

I wept....because some awesome things happened, but then again some things were downright sad.

As always, though, I loved the Dowager Countess...she had the best quote of the night:


Robert: "I'll do it on one condition – no, two. First, Matthew must agree . . . Second, you will both admit it when you realize you were wrong."
Violet: "Oh, well, that is an easy caveat to accept, because I'm never wrong."

Doesn't that sound just like me?

Family: She's A Real Person Now

She's very petite...

She's very self- assured....

She believes all people deserve her help....

She's exceeded every goal possible that we could hope for...

She's our daughter.

This past week was spent at Purdue seeing her graduate, earning her BS in Nursing and minoring in Military Leadership. She was also commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army.

As she puts it, she's a real person now....and I'm excited to see what the future holds for her.

Family: 45 Days and Counting

45 days and counting....

45 days until graduation ceremonies at Purdue....

45 days until our daughter participates in the graduation ceremonies at Purdue, earning her B.S. in Nursing....

45 days until we're in Indiana watching our daughter participating in the graduation ceremonies at Purdue, earning her B.S. in Nursing...

Let the countdown begin!

Sewing: Official Support Team

Umm...I'm sorta obsessed with The Christmas Story movie...remember Ralphie Parker and the pink bunny suit Aunt Clara makes him?

I need to go to his house in Cleveland...really, truly NEED to go!

And I was planning on going in December, as I would be in Indiana for our daughter's graduation...it's just a few hours to Cleveland, right?

And I could visit a few friends and a few quilt shops along the way, right?

But someone said the nasty word...December means SNOW in Indiana and Ohio...lots and lots of snow.

I live in Southern California.  We have rain, thunder, lightening, winds, maybe an occasional water spout over the ocean....but only have seen snow twice where I live.

I have never driven in the snow...I've passed through Chicago airport enough to know snow can mess up airplane schedules...and since my travel would be the week before Christmas, I've decided to postpone my visit until the Spring.

Until my visit, Ralphie Parker will remain my Official Sewing Support Team...but who knows? I might have to make him a pink bunny suit just for fun.....

Family: Pretty Pink Packages Tied Up with String

I have a confession...

It has to do with song lyrics in my head...

Just think of the movie The Sound of Music...

What song do you start singing?

My Favorite Things, of course...

But I simply must need to change the lyrics a bit....

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens 

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens

Pretty pink packages tied up with string

These are a few of my favorite things!

Pretty pink packages sounds so much better, doesn't it?

Well, doesn't it?

Tasting Halloween Treats

Yes, I had to go there and try the new Halloween goodies...

The "Limited Edition" Candy Corn Oreos....
  Tasted like cupcake frosting with no special flavor...definitely not worth the price!

The Candy Corn M&Ms....
 Tasted like white chocolate M&Ms with a bad candy corn aftertaste!

And the Pumpkin Spice Hershey Kisses.
 Almost made me vomit in my mouth!

If you have to go there just to try them, I understand...I did just that.  But your dollars would be better spent on a White Chocolate Raspberry Cupcake if you ask me....

Edgar: Seven Months Update

Can you believe it?

Edgar is seven months old.

He's a big boy...yes, a big boy....weighing in at 61.3 pounds.

And he still loves his blue monkey...and digging dirt...and chewing ice cubes...and eating watermelon rinds.

What a life he has!

Army ROTC - Letter Home

Dear Mom and Dad,
Thank you for all the stuff.  However, we're not allowed to keep the food*.  So the guys and I thank you because we ate it all in like FIVE MINUTES!  
They all enjoyed it, but it's not necessary to send me food anymore. But can you send me information about what's going on on the outside? It's killing me!
I'm doing really well, and the Major in charge of us really likes me.  He says that I'm the best nurse he's seen.
Also, tell Mom thank you for having all her friends write me letters.

Love,

Your Daughter

*Large bag of Cheetos Puffs and Pirates Booty, large package of double-stuffed Oreos with a jar of Peanut Butter for dipping,  three packages of turkey jurkey, family-sized bag of strawberry licorice, two packages of Razzles and other assorted goodies.

Edgar at Six Months

How time flies when you're having fun!

Edgar is now six months old, weighing in at a whopping 55.4 lbs and averaging ten pounds a month at this point.  He's a big boy and going to be an even bigger Golden Retriever, as my Vet is estimating 80-100lbs.

And he's a redhead...think Duke from the Bush Bean's commercial.

Looking back I'm glad I've captured it all on pictures...how he wouldn't look at the camera when I picked him out...his first car ride home...his wine crate "carseat"...and getting old enough to enjoy himself in the backyard when days are nice.

I'm glad he's part of the family.....

Army ROTC Basic Training - Cards Needed

Notice the shorty there?  I'm proud to say she's our daughter.  Our daughter who is working her way through college with Army ROTC, graduating this December with a BSN from Purdue...have you gathered yet that I'm one proud Mamma?


Her Senior Cadet profile:

• Major: Nursing
• Hobbies, Interests, Passions: I love volunteering. My passion is helping others, whether they want it or not. I also love doing anything with my friends. You only get to live once - why not enjoy it?
• Why Purdue: Purdue has a great nursing program. I was also enticed by the rich culture that surrounds Purdue. You can't get anything like this at home.
• Why Army ROTC: I always liked the idea of giving back. I want to give something back to a country that has given me so much.
• Advice to New Cadets: Believe in yourself! If you know what you want to do, then you can get there as long as you have the determination to do it.

Last Friday she flew to Washington State for LDAC (Leadership Development and Assessment Course).  The course totals 29 consecutive days of training and testing in common soldier skills.

• Days 1-4 are dedicated to in-processing paperwork and getting to know one's squad and platoon.
• Days 5-11 focus on the individual training tasks such as the Army Physical Fitness Test (PT) test, day and night land navigation, grenade assault course, rappelling, radio procedures, US weapons, Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE), cultural awareness, field craft, and tactics.
• Days 12-13 are geared toward team and squad training with Field Leadership and Reaction Course (FLRC) and first aid.
• Day 14 is dedicated to soldier and equipment preparation for the upcoming “deployment.”
• Days 15-22 see cadets deployed to conduct four days of Squad Situational Training Exercises (STX) and two days of Patrolling. These activities consist of two full squads conducting three missions per day.
• Day 23 begins with a 10-kilometer victory march back to the barracks where cadets clean and turn in their M16 rifles, clean their equipment, and recover.
• Days 24-29 are final assessments, including a water confidence course, retesting any failures for land navigation and the PT test, and graduation.

Typically, the training is a refresher of what the cadets learned at their individual schools, and is meant to act as a leveler for cadets' different backgrounds. The main goal is to assess and evaluate the tactical and garrison knowledge learned during the first three years in ROTC. Formal training is conducted by the active duty officers and non-commissioned officer, but day-to-day activities are run by the cadets, who rotate through leadership positions. Cadets are encouraged to hold formations as necessary, march the formations, perform inspections, and conduct extra training to better prepare cadets for upcoming events.


Basic training is tough...and being made tougher because she can't use her cellphone or computer to communicate with her friends and family...very hard for a people-person.  So if you have a moment, would you please send her a note or card?  During the next two weeks her address will be:

CDT Selman, Annissa

Warrior Forge

8th Reg/ B Co/ 1st PLT

PO Box 339543

Joint Base Lewis McCord, WA 98433-9543

This Momma says thank you!

OPI Mickey Mouse

Today my bottle of OPI Big Hair, Big Nails bit the dust...or maybe I would be more appropriate to say hit the cement, as I accidentally dropped it.
Disclaimer:  I didn't color any cars when I dropped it, I cleaned up the glass from the parking lot so no one would get injured....but the cement was definitely more colorful than when I arrived!


So what's one to do when they loose one of their top five nail polish colors?

Hmmmm....

Hmmmm...

Hmmmm.....

Does immediately drive-through McDonalds to get a large Diet Coke since you're stressed and then head into Ulta since they have an amazing selection of OPI to get a replacement bottle sound like me?

Yup, that's exactly what I did...but guess what?

No more Big Hair, Big Nails....nada, zip, zilch!

So what does one do when they find out they can't replace one of their favorite nail polishes?


Hmmmm....

Hmmmm...

Hmmmm.....


Well, in my case it would be to find more nail polish, hoping to procure a new favorite...and I think I did it....lookie at the OPI Mickey Mouse nail polish...I'm just in love with every color...aren't they just so beautiful?

My favorite happens to be the pink sparkle...Nothing Mouse 'bout It. Too bad, though I just had my nails done today....

My Little Piece of Heaven

Close your eyes....imagine sitting out on the back deck with a large Diet Dr. Pepper, some Cabury chocolate and the cool afternoon breezes...what could be better?

Edgar at Five Months

I can't believe it....can you? He's five months old!

He's 44.8 lbs, an average of 10 lbs/month...and eating like it!  He loves apples, carrots, leaves, sticks and watermelon...as well as the four cups of puppy food a day.

His favorite toy...the ball.  He will "fetch", "release", and sometimes even catch.  Unfortunately, it's only in the house...take him outside and he's too distracted to play.

As he gets bigger, he gets more freedom...we've been letting him out little-by-little, and he's been staying pretty close to home.

Hopefully next month we'll be able to teach him how to use the doggie door.....

Memorial Day

For all of those who served our country, thank you!

Someone Special

I'm glad to be that someone special!

Edgar at Four Months

Both DH and I are in agreement; Edgar has lost his puppy face and is now in the between stage.

Weight: 34.6 pounds; an increase of over TEN pounds in the past month.  Can you tell he loves food!

Favorites: Swimming Pool and Water...gets in it whenever he's in the backyard, even if it's raining.

Food:  Eating FIVE cups of Puppy Food a day, along with an apple at each meal.

Accomplishment: He can jump out of the car on his own...now if we can only get him to jump into the car as easily.