Where did January Go

Its hard to believe this month is almost gone. Happy Birthday to Lorie today. :)

Just a few days ago we took Buddy to the vet to get fixed...not a happy day for the little guy or for Casey for that matter. We took Buddy to the vet on Tuesday the 25th and had to leave him there for the day. Casey came with me before school and was almost in tears when we had to leave. Thankfully Buddy was able to come home that night...not in the of moods but at least he was home and Casey could be with him. As far as the cone...that is another story. Casey was very upset when we told him Buddy would have to wear a cone for a while, well come to find out he thought it would be like the orange traffic cones. How he got that idea I have no idea. The poor dog, it took him a couple of days to figure it out and now its just annoying to him. He can eat just fine and has learned to get his toys and kind of play with them but everyone is going to be happy have it off. I know its not nice to laugh at him but sometimes its hard not to.

Yesterday I rented a movie from RedBox, big deal because it was not a kid movie which is able all we rent anymore. It was "Grownups" with Adam Sandler and I must say it was very funny. I love getting movies that are good.

My son sure has interesting tastes for a kid...at least in my eyes. Yesterday I was going to make chicken tacos for supper. A good kid food right - not for my son. Instead he requested on the way home from school, Shrimp and Salmon. Well I was out of Salmon so instead of chicken tacos we had Cornflake crusted Talapia, Cocktail Shrimp, Pasta Salad and bread. Now the funny part is Casey loves to have cocktail sauce with his shrimp and last night he decided to try mixing ranch dress with the sauce. He downed about ten shrimp and an entire fillet of talapia. Sometime he makes me just shake my head and smile. The fish did turn out very good with the cornflake crust and very easy to make. Just crush cornflakes and add some spice to it...I used Italian seasoning and a little salt and pepper. Then take the fillets and crust the fish. Then place on a sheet tray and sprinkle with a little olive oil and bake for 15-20 minutes at 350. Very Yummy.

Today is Casey's snack day at school. His request was apples and teddy grahams. So this morning I had to peel, core and cut enough apples for 24 kids. Hopefully the lemon juice stopped them from turning brown before they were enjoyed.

Well that's enough for this post...I have kindergartner that needs to be picked up.

The way things hit you

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed, For I am they God
I will still give thee aid; I'll strenghten thee, help thee, and cause
thee to stand, Upheld by My gracious, omnipotent hand.

This was the poem that was on the calendar on January 15 - my dad's birthday. If we are willing to open our eyes and let the Lord do for us what he will its amazing what can happen.

Born the middle child

Yes two posts in one day is very strange for me but here we go...
I heard this song yesterday morning and just burst into tears. With yesterday being my dad's birthday, the first since... It was hard to hear. I know not all of it describes my dad but a lot of it does.

Born the middle son of a farmer

And a small town Southern man

Like his daddy's daddy before him

Brought up workin' on the land

Fell in love with a small town woman

And they married up and settled down

Natural way of life if you're lucky

For a small town Southern Man

First there came four pretty daughters

For this small town Southern man

Then a few years later came another

A boy, he wasn't planned

Seven people livin' all together

In a house built with his own hands

Little words with love and understanding'

From a small town Southern man

Chorus

And he bowed his head to Jesus

And he stood for Uncle Sam

And he only loved one woman

He was always proud of what he had

His said his greatest contributing

Is the ones you leave behind

Raised on the ways and gently kindness

Of a small town Southern man

Callous hands told the story

For this small town Southern man

He gave it all to keep it all together

And keep his family on his land

Like his daddy, years wore out his body

Made it hard just to walk and stand

You can break the back
But you can't break the spirit

Of a small town Southern man

Repeat Chorus

Finally death came callin'

For this small town Southern man

He said it's alright cause I see angels

And they got me bu the hand

Don't you cry, and don't you worry

I'm blessed, and I know I am

'Cause God had a place in Heaven

For this small town Southern man

This song is by Alan Jackson

I know my dad was not a southern man and I know that the kid ratio is different than our family but the basic layout of the song just made me think of my dad. I only wish I had a few more years with the man that helped to shape my life. 28 years was not enough to learn all he had to teach me and to share all my new things in life with him.

I Love You Daddy. One day soon we will be together again I just wish it was here on earth so you could see all the new things in my life. I know heaven is a better place but...

Yummy Oatmeal Cookies

So yesterday it get some stress out I tried a new cookie recipe. Its called simply Oatmeal Cookies. The recipe calls for very little flour and butter and the strangest part - yogurt. I figured I would give it a try and I think its now my new favorite cookies...good enough to eat for breakfast. Here's the recipe if you are so inclined to try it.

Oatmeal Cookies

2 Eggs

1 3/4 Stick butter, melted

1 cup Brown Sugar

1 cup White Sugar

2 Tablespoons yogurt - non flavored it best but vanilla adds a little something

1 Teaspoon Vanilla

3/4 Teaspoon Salt

1 Tablespoon Cinnamon

1 1/4 cup Flour

3 cups Oatmeal

1/4 cup Wheat Germ

1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder

1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda

1 cup Chocolate Chips

1 cup Dried Cranberries (or crasins)

Preheat oven to 350.

Mix eggs, butter, and sugars until smooth. Mix in yogurt, vanilla, salt and cinnamon until very well blended. In a different bowl combine the flour, oatmeal, wheat germ, powder, and soda and blend. Then slowly mix into the wet ingredients. Once well blended add in the chips and cranberries. Spray cookie sheet and spoon out the mixture onto the pan. Bake 15-18 minutes, until the edges are golden.

The mixture may be a little loose but they will cook up wonderful. The pictures do not do the cookies justice but it was best I could get.

Casey loves them and he is getting a big dose of oatmeal which is always good.

Just another Friday

Casey had a great kindergarten teacher. She recently sent home a blank paper and asked us to cut out things that are important to Casey. Things that the class would like to find out about your child. Here is Casey's poster

We included things like the fact Casey really wants to go hunting with daddy, his new puppy Buddy, some of his favorite foods, things he likes to do and his three favorite colors. They then showed the poster to the class and had to answer questions about the different pictures. I love that his teacher does things like this, making each child special and getting to know things about the children. Casey has also had to do his first book report. Nothing to hard just reading the book from the library and then drawing three pictures about the book. Just simple stuff that we have to do but still to me it shows that the teacher really does care about each student.

Here is Casey's new blanket from A. Linda. Along with the new BSU pillow that I made for him.

Just another day of school for my big kindergartner.

Looking forward to the weekend, not sure what we are going to do but sometimes those kind of weekends turn out the best. Casey is out of school on Monday for the holiday which he thinks is crazy...I love that he still loves school as much as he does.

Last night for supper we had pork and veggies. It made me laugh because Casey was so sure the the meal was not going to be good but then as he ate and ate and ate he decided that just maybe pork is good and the green beans are starting to get better. It was a very easy meal to make...just cut up boneless pork ribs and place in baking dish. Sprinkle over Italian Seasoning and lemon pepper marinade. Add one package frozen veggies, I like the blend of carrots, peas and green beans but its what every sounds good and then open one can of diced tomatoes. I then baked it for 45 mins at 400. I also had a pan of scalloped potatoes in the oven at the time so I think that is why the time is a little long but it was nice to have them both cooking at the same time. Now I get to have the rest for lunch, always a bonus. :)

Family

I love my family. I just got to spend a couple of days with my oldest nephew and am just amazed at how he has turned out. William will be 21 in April and had decided to try living on his own for a year or so. Not close to his parents but here in Idaho. He spend a couple days here in Boise because the guy that he drove cross country with had a flight out on Tuesday but it was canceled so he had to leave on Wednesday. That meant I was able to house these two guys for a couple of nights. Last night Casey wanted to make sure they would not leave before he got up because he really wanted to tell William "See ya Later" That was able to happen. :) Made a simple supper of Sausage and Potatoes in the Crockpot and served it with bread and salad. The supper a hit, minus the salad of course. Just to prove how respectful/helpful William is - he helped to clear the table and thanked/complemented me for the meal many times. So many miles from home and still full of manners and what not. I love it.

Casey and William in June

Casey is on a kick lately that has me wondering. He just is trying the limits at every turn, then yesterday in his backpack I got the monthly snack list and what not and in the packet was a paper about 5, 6, and 7 year old behavior. Guess what it says that kids at around 5 1/2 and 6 start to question everything and wonder about the limits they can push and test. The paper says it lasts for about a year and just when you think you are going to lose it they turn 7 and settle down. So that means Casey is right on track and for the next year we are going to have a limit tester. GREAT :)

Casey just playing one morning.

Anyway that's enough babbling for this post.

Chocolate Cake

Bill Cosby once said that Chocolate Cake for breakfast is just fine. Its got flour and eggs and if you add some fruit juice to drink you have all you need. Well if you have my chocolate cake you can add coffee and yogurt to that mix. Yesterday Casey and I made a chocolate cake without water or oil and it is one of the most moist cakes I have ever made. Not to mention the yummy flavor. We took a simple cake mix and followed the direction on the back only with a little twist. Instead of the water I used the left over coffee from the morning. Then instead of the oil I added cherry yogurt. Then to finish it off as we poured it into the pan we added chocolate chips. The coffee gives it a boost of flavor and there is nothing better that the slight hit of cherry that comes through. If Casey loves it you know there is not to much coffee flavor.

As for my sewing venture...

I finished the heating pads. I was able to fill three of them but then ran out of rice for the other three. :) Always something

Here is the pillow case that I was able to finish as well.

This is the fabric I got for Casey's pillowcase and pillow. One day soon I will get this one done.

Now time to start my Saturday. Enjoy your weekend.

A Little Foodie on My Hands

Last night Casey made me really laugh. I fixed a steak stir fry for supper and I guess I did not get the meat cut just right. As we were eating he wanted to know what was wrong with it. I asked him to explain and he said "Well this piece is a little tough and chewy and the one I just finished was nice and tender" He must watch more cooking shows with me than I realize.

Yesterday was a very productive day, for me at least. I was finally able to get a bunch off my to-do list. Now for the project I have been putting off. I never took sewing in High School, instead I learned how to judge a cow and can tell you what the different cheeses are. But a couple of years ago I decided to try and sew rice heating pads. They turned out but only after some words with the machine. Its been a while and now I need some new ones so...I am going to try and figure out how to outsmart a sew machine and have it work for me. I am going to need lots and lots of coffee for this one. Hopefully I can post a picture or two of the finished project.

On a side note, Casey is having his IRI test today. I just hope he can not be to shy for the tester and do all that I know he can do. If not...its only a test.

Coffee

Casey went back to school yesterday and loves it. So happy and thankful that it was a good day back. Pray today is just as good and he does well with the upcoming tests. I think its crazy to test kids when they back from a long time off but thats just me.

As for the title of this post...I love coffee. I am a huge fan of Moxie Java here in Boise. They have a wide selection of coffee syrups and good strong coffee. Starbucks has never been a big hit in my mind, just to bitter/strong for me. I know I probably drink to much of the stuff but nothing warms you up on a cold day. This time of year I love to add the holiday syrups from World Market. The gingerbread one is an old favorite but new favorite is Peppermint with a little peppermint mocha cream. Starbucks and Moxie have nothing on it.

It truly is hard to believe that its 2011 and the fourth day of 2011. Dont know where time goes anymore.

Church

We have been going to a new church lately. Its closer to our house and the kids program is very good. This morning Casey went to the class without a second thought. I love knowing that Casey is enjoying learning about the Lord. As for the message it was wonderful today. Learning about who God really is and I was able to get through the service without crying over my dad. A huge step in my eyes.

Welcome 2011

Well its the start of a new year and its going to be a different one for sure. Its strange to think that anything that occurs this year, good or bad will not be shared with dad. Its been over six months now and it still seems like a very bad dream. There are so many things I would love to share with him. From the new puppy that is keeping us so busy to the new things Casey is learning, doing and asking. I do know that one day we will be together again but when that day comes all these little things will not matter. I look forward to that day. I do realize that home is not the four walls that I grew up in but the people that filled those walls and the memories that were made. I just have to remember the great times I had as a child and try to make new memories from her on out.

On a lighter note, Casey is growing up so fast. He is so happy to be going back to school on Monday to be with his friends again. I love that school is still so much fun for him. We went to a Boise State basketball game and had a great time cheering on his team. As you can tell he loves the Broncos. A little hard for Daddy to take since he went to ISU, but its all fun and games.

So heres looking forward to a great 2011 with all it will have to offer.