Question Of The Day

Is it okay to wear reindeer footie pajamas in September?

The Mind of a Six Year Old

Yesterday B and I met my mom and niece in Fairview. While we were running our errands I had a couple of delightful and insightful conversations with Gwen. Hopefully I can capture the moment...

Conversation #1:
While my mom was checking out at Macy's, I took Gwen to the restroom. While I was changing B, she kept walking around the stalls and looking at them. I asked her what the deal was since she had to go just minutes before. Right as I asked her, she was like "I found one!" "Found what?", I asked. A girl's restroom. I glanced around really quick thinking, oh jeez, we accidentally went into a men's room but no that wasn't the case. So I asked her what she was talking about, this was a women's room, so all of them are girls' restrooms. She was like, "No, not those", and pointed to the handicap stalls. I told her "No, that's a handicap stall." Her response was, "Well, then why is there a boy's picture on it?" I of course, explained that since we were in a women's restroom they were all girls' stalls. But maybe they should think about putting some pigtails on that guy/girl in the wheelchair.

Conversation #2:
Someone in Macy's asked Gwen what happened to her teeth that were missing, which then led us to a conversation about the tooth fairy. I asked her what she was getting these days per tooth and she told me $10. $10 people! I think that I got a quarter or fifty cents or something like that. I asked her what she thought the tooth fairy would bring B when he started having teeth fall out. Her response was, fifty-one hundred. Holy smokes! We'd better start saving...

5 and Feelin' Alive!

B is 5 months old today! No solids yet, but we've been practicing sitting in our high chair. Here he has one of those mesh teething thingees with a frozen cube of breastmilk. I don't know if he really got the concept of it but he liked the frozen milk.

Go Tigers!

Since we had a bye week this weekend, we decided that we needed to do some family activities. You may be wondering, just what does a football coach and his family do on his weekend off during football season? Go to a football game, of course! :-) Jeff had mentioned that he would like to go up to see Olivet's football team play and since they were home during one of his bye weekends we decided to head up on Saturday for the afternoon game. Now, this is where I (the coach in this area of our lives) had put the "game plan" for the day- or at least the part where we actually got out the door and on our way, into action. The night before, we had decided to just get up and get ready to go whenever B woke up, so that by the time he would go down for his first nap, we would already be in the car and it would be smooth sailing. Well....B must have heard some rumblings that we were going to an ONU game and he was going to get to watch the game with daddy, so as as a result of his extreme excitement he woke up at 4:30 am. Ouch. Oh well, we (I) rolled with it. After I fed and bathed him I let Jeff know the bathroom was free for him to get ready. I guess he didn't realize what time it was because while he was getting ready he came into B's room and was like, "Patty, you do know that its only 5:30?" Of course. Now, remember the game plan that was discussed the night before? Leave whenever B got up and started the wheels in motion? I'm guessing he wasn't thinking that early. Well, we got out the door a little after 7 am and amazingly didn't forget anything considering we were taking a long day trip with B and the dog. We actually only stopped once, about halfway, to change and feed B. So it was maybe a 3.5 hour trip.
We had a great time visiting with our friends that still live in town and going to the game together. ONU even had a big win over Southern Nazarene which will hopefully propel them out of the slump they have been in. After the game we went over to our friends, The Maxwells', for dinner and more visitin'. We had decided to leave around B's natural bedtime, hoping that he would sleep the majority- if not the whole way home. He even fell asleep on me right before we left. Well, that my friends, is when the nightmare started.
If anyone has ever been around B, he is one of the most laid back babies. Not much bothers him, much like his daddy. And I didn't mention this before but, he did take a couple of small naps at the football game, so there was some napping during the day. Anyways, back to Screamfest 2009. We didn't make it very far, and he started crying which escalated into choking, sobbing, screaming, you name it. So we pull over at a rest stop and I feed him. I'm driving at this time, since Jeff has a whole cat allergy thing going on. So after I finished feeding him, we got back on the road with Jeff in the back with him. Screaming again. Tension headache coming on now. So, we pull over again, to change him. We go to a McD's and change him and hang out a little trying to relax him and get him tired. Okay, good to go and back into the car. Whining a little before we get on the interstate then screaming. Ughhhh. Jeff is in the front with me now. Poor Mickey in the back with B. So we are now at Tuscola (same place we stopped in the a.m.) and we both look at each other and say, "Ugh, only halfway home". We had by then, been driving around 3 hours. We fill up the tank and then I try feeding B to put him to sleep then I finally rock him to sleep in my arms. Jeff suggests at this time to just sleep in the car at the gas station. Not biting. He goes in and gets his drug of choice, Red Bull and I put B in his carseat and stay in the back with him. He stays asleep all of 30 min. We've got at least an hour to go. Screaming. From Effingham to Greenville. Screaming and deer. We can't forget the deer dodging out in front of us at 1 in the morning. :-) Good times. Well, we made it through (5 hours and 3 stops) and had a great day despite the ending. Hopefully none of us were scarred by the experience. I haven't asked Mickey though....

Question Of The Day

Does wearing tube socks make you a "nerd" or do "nerds" wear tube socks?

That's some deep thinkin' there...

So Very Unfair!

Sorry there isn't a picture to go with this post. It was probably because I wasn't there! Hummmph! Okay, I'm done pouting or at least until I tell you what I'm pouting about. So, I had my yearly eye doctor exam today at 1 pm. Since I have afternoons off this is usually a good time for me to schedule appts. so that I don't have to miss work. Also, B takes a nap around then so I figure hey, he's portable, he can go with and sleep in the stroller. Anyways, Jeff volunteered to take his lunch hour a little later so he could just watch him at home while I was gone. This worked out nicely because he took a late and long nap at Beth's and probably wouldn't have napped for me in the stroller anyways. Well I wasn't gone for a half hour and my phone rings (it was right before the doctor came in for my exam). I saw it was Jeff so I thought emergency of some sort or he had to go back to work early or something like that. So I picked up and he proceeds to crush my day...kind of. Now mind you, his voice is happy and excited and nothing life threatening has happened. But something did happen. Something serious. Beniah finally rolled over! And mommy wasn't there to see it! The same mommy that spends so much time with him encouraging him and helping him "practice". Of course I was happy for him and for Jeff being able to see it but darn it! I wanted to be there too! So, for the next couple of weeks I will be attached to Beniah's side so that I don't miss his second roll. Well, maybe not to that extreme....
And yes, I do realize that I won't be there for every first and that I've already witnessed quite a few but that still doesn't tip the fairness scales for me. Okay, I'm done now. Thanks for listening (reading).

Confessions of An Addict...

I was VERY tired today because I stayed up way too late last night. I'm talking college late-night hanging out kind of late. I am a little embarrassed to admit that I was getting myself a "fix" and that was why I stayed up way after B and Jeff went to sleep. I know, you must be thinking, "wow, I never would have thought". Yes...my name is Patty and I am a hopeless romantic. There its out. It feels good to get it out there. All my life I've been the tomboy, the girl with more guyfriends than girls, the type to not primp or fuss. Well, I absolutely loooooooove a good clean romantic story and if its a true story, even better! Yesterday evening I had finally gotten around to visitin' a blog that I had been seeing mentioned on other blogs a lot, The Pioneer Woman. Now some of you may already be familiar with her blog but this was the first time I had been there so I set out to explore. Well, it wasn't long before something caught my eye. The words "Love Story". I had to check it out or at least skim through it. Well, 5 hours later, I had finished her wonderful tale of how she met and fell in love with her husband and I must say it was quite the page turner. I'm glad I found it after she had written all of the posts (she had posted bits of this story over the course of more than a year's time) because I don't think I could have stood the wait for the next installment in the series. It was such a sweet story told with such obvious love for her husband that it just made me smile (and in parts laugh out loud). If you too are a hopeless romantic or just like a good tale about life, I would definitly check this one out.

Update on "B"

Even though he isn't officially 5 months old until Monday I thought I would get a jump and post his measurements that were taken today.

Weight: 21 lb 14 oz
Height: 27 1/4 in

Some other little tidbits: he hasn't rolled over yet but he is pushing up on his belly, he is always trying to sit up by himself now and with a little assistance accomplishes just that, he is so proud of himself when he "stands" up, he is sleeping in the crib and only the crib now, he is in his new convertible carseat, he is currently sporting 12 and 18 month fashions, he has said mama and daddy (no, not really!), he is constantly busy grabbing or looking at things and of course everything goes into his mouth, no teeth yet, he sleeps an avg of 9 hours a night, he is starting to space out his feedings and take longer naps, we are waiting until 6 mths to start any solids, his eyes have changed to brown and his hair color is still up in the air - some days its really light and some days it is a medium brown color.

Question Of The Day

Why does the older gentleman down the block insist on walking his dog in just Umbro shorts, no shirt and sandals? It gets better. He isn't exactly in the best shape of his life (I'm guessing), has long grey hair, and an even longer grey beard. Classy...

GC 19 - Rose-Hulman 18

GC football had its first home game of the 2009 season today and picked up another win. The team is currently 2-1. This was also B's first official football game....ever. (We don't count the scrimmage, earlier during preseason.) This was definitely a big day in his life considering how much this sport has a direct impact on our family. He did really good and ended up taking a couple of naps throughout the afternoon. I had the idea to back my car up to the side of the hill overlooking the field so that I could leave the back open in case the kids needed to lay down to nap. It worked perfectly. I wish I could do that for every game. I've always been a bleacher gal, but with the addition of B, I'm afraid my bleacher days are no more. At least for the next several years.
My sister, BIL, and niece (my mom too!) also came up to see the game. They are great! They always try to see at least one game a season (minus last year when O was born). While they were up they commissioned a local photographer to take O's "1 yr" pics before her b'day party next month. What a cutie! It was fun to see what Ben will be up to in such a short time. She really enjoyed giving her cousin plenty of "kisses" and smacks (to put it lightly). I think she was trying to toughen him up a little.

Repurpose Project #1

I love repurposing things and are always on the lookout for items that need a little TLC and a second chance. On my latest thrift store outing, I found this great green frame that used to hold a wall calendar. You know that type that you have to buy a new paper calendar every year to put in the frame.


Anyways, I had been debating on what to get/make my sis for her b'day and kept changing my mind on what I was going to do. They had just moved into a new house with a totally different decorating scheme (from what I gather, I haven't been there yet) so I decided that I would make that frame into something shiny and new for their new home. I hope it will soon be lovingly covered with pictures of O and "to do" and grocery lists. Here is the finished product.




First, I took the board off of the back. Then I sanded it down and spray-painted it black (satin finish) to match one of the colors in their kitchen. Then I attached cork to the board (cut to fit) and nailed the board back on the back of the frame. I finished it off with hanging hooks on both the short side and long side so she could choose where to put it easier. But, wait. What msg. board is complete without the addition of some snazzy fabric button push-pins? I found this tutorial a while back and just had to make some. They were so much fun to make, I had to make myself stop. Don't they must make you smile?

It's a sickness...

When we put B in his crib for his nap or to sleep at night, we always put him facing the same direction. Why? I don't know really, we just do. Also, I have to add, he is a belly sleeper. I know. Just leave it. That is how he sleeps. (Through the night since two months old, I might add.) Anyways, I have this thing that the crib print (either alphabet or numbers) must be the right way. Meaning: if he could read he would be able to read them. If for some reason I or Jeff put the sheet on wrong and don't notice it, I have to fix it before I put him in there. I don't know if its because I think its going to mess his mad language skills up or what. It's just the way it is. So, that was just a small window into the mind of Patty....did you enjoy the view? :-)

Question Of The Day

Why do sheets dried on the line out in the glorious sunshine feel oh so good yet towels dried on the line feel not so good? (I know, I know, the fabric, yada yada yada.)

What a "chip"per baby gift idea!

So, sometimes I run through blogs so fast and see an idea that I like that seems so easy I don't even have to save the instructions. Well, as I was eating a mini-bag of Cheetos this afternoon, a project popped into my head. I had read a tutorial for a crinkly baby toy last week and thought, "This would make great innards to a crinkly baby toy!". So I saved the wrapper (you know on the floorboard of the car). Well, Jeff took the car tonight so wouldn't you know I had to empty another one of those mini-Cheetos bags to get my "supplies". So, after the bag was empty, I washed it out and dried it. Then I cut about a 1/4 inch off of the top of the bag (the opening). I then picked out a couple of scraps of fabric and cut them to fit the size of the bag. I also added a scrap of quilt batting (this wasn't in the tutorial). Then I pinned them all together along with some ribbon scraps. Well, when I started turning it right-side out, I realized that the order I pinned the ribbons in was incorrect (to say the least). So out came my handy dandy, seam ripper. After cutting a new piece of fabric, pinning and sewing again I came up with this little dandy. Cute huh? And it really crinkles. Too bad B is asleep (I was tempted to wake him..not really, but Jeff came home so I had him test it out). I'll have to show it to him tomorrow. I will say, if you do try this project make sure that your sewing machine is set on a long stitch. Too small of a stitch will just perforate the chip bag and you will tear it when you try to turn the whole thing right-side out.

Here it is all pinned with the chip bag on top. The layers are chip bag, cotton batting, fabric, ribbons, fabric. (The two pieces of fabric are right-sides facing each other.



Tadaaaa!

Feed Me Seymour!

Even though we haven't started solids or sippys yet (but will in the next month and a half or so), I have realized that I will need to start gathering the tools of the trade. So, calling all moms out there: If there is a certain utensil, bowl, cup, shovel, "you name it" that you couldn't live without, please post a comment with make, model, brand, description, or whatever. I really appreciate it!!

And This Little Piggy Went Wee Wee Wee, All the Way Home...

While Jeff was away at a road game this weekend, Ben and I decided to head South. We went down to visit Grandma and Grandpa! This trip just so happened to fall on the same Saturday that the church that I grew up in was having its annual picnic. Which was great, because then we made sure that we got to see our good friend Ann, whom we had missed the past couple times we had been down. We also got to see my grandma Zumma, Ben's great-gramma. It was a great weekend that I'm glad we got to share with family and friends.

Farewell Good Friend...

You were good to us, yes you were. You were there when we needed you in the wee hours of the morn. You were there through the runny noses and the nasty colds. Your vibrations were calming and your toy bar always interesting. Oh, the times we had...wish there were more. But, alas our little sprout has grown. His little tush will no longer bounce with you. Someday though...maybe another little tush will grace your comfy seat. Until then, we bid you farewell.

Things That I'd Like To Try...

This looks like a great party idea.
These projects in the Before and After section are outstanding.
The next time I run out of brown sugar, I know what I'm going to do.
I think that I'm going to give these goofballs a shot.
I've seen these shelves in multiple places and would love to add them to Beniah's room.

Flexing My Creative Muscle

So Ben and I did a little shopping today. Since we are on a pretty tight budget, we decided to scout out the local thrift store sale. I only go into the thrift store if they are having a sale. I personally think that their prices are a little steep, for yard sale items ya know. Well, I was looking for a few things in particular; fabric, frames, good quality kids clothes, and anything else that inspired me. I have been reading several craft blogs that have inspired me to look at items in a new light. Whether that may be old furniture, an outdated dress, or a simple place mat. Today, I think we did pretty good. (Cause you know Beniah had a lot to say about what we got.) Anyways the sale was $5 for a bag (whatever you could get in the bag and 75% off bigger items that wouldn't fit in the bag) and 1/2 off furniture. Well here is my haul (minus a wooden chair that is still in the back of the car). I paid around $6 for all of this. Do you see inspiration here? I've got some great ideas for a lot of it (we'll see how fast any of them happen though...ahem, "Beniah go to sleep". I will be sure to post the before and afters of them all as they are completed. Wish me luck!

You can do it, Ben!

So this is what we have been getting lately. Almost!

Easy As Pie

A while back, I found a recipe that looked interesting and unique on kraftfoods.com and filed it away to try someday. Well today was the day that I finally dusted it off and gave it a whirl. This was a simple but complete dinner that had plenty of leftovers for us to enjoy tomorrow for lunch. It was a twist on your traditional shepherd's pie (and I would say a healthier twist). So if you are looking for a quick and fairly simple dinner recipe with ingredients you probably already have on hand, this is a keeper. I think that it has made its way into our dinner rotation. I doubled the recipe and had all ingredients on hand but you could probably make some easy substitutions if you didn't have them all in your pantry.

Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie

Prep Time: 15 min
Total Time: 30 min
Makes: 2 servings, 1 1/2 cups each

1 sweet potato (1/2 lb) peeled, cut into 2 in chunks
2 Tbsp chive and onion light cream cheese spread
1/2 lb extra lean ground beef
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1 green onion, chopped
2 Tbsp light balsamic vinaigrette reduced fat dressing
2 tsp flour
1/4 cup water
1 cup frozen green beans

Preheat oven to 375 F. Microwave potatoes in small microwaveable bowl on high 4 min or until tender. Mash until smooth, gradually adding cream cheese spread and mixing until well blended after each addition. Set aside.

Cook meat with mushrooms and onions in dressing in large skillet until meat is browned, stirring occasionally. Drain. Meanwhile, mix flour and water in medium bowl until well blended. Add to meat mixture; cook an additional 2 min or until slightly thickened, stirring constantly. Add beans; mix lightly. *Spoon into 2 cup ramekins; top evenly with potato mixture, spreading to evenly cover meat mixture in each dish.

Bake 15 min or until casseroles are heated through and tops are lightly browned.

*Since I doubled the recipe, I used a 2 1/2 qt casserole dish. You could probably use a 5x8 loaf pan instead of the ramekins.

Enjoy!!

Big Ben

4 Months Old
Wt: 20 lb 9 oz
Ht: 26 1/2 in