Mommy and her merry men!

Christmas in Fort Wayne!

2011-01-19T12:46:00.001-08:00

We spent the first part of our Christmas vacation in Fort Wayne visiting with my parents as well as Garry's parents who drove in from Missouri to join us. We had a fun visit and the boys where tickled pink that there was snow on the ground and that all grandparents where accounted for under one roof.

A Very Beary Christmas!

2011-01-19T11:48:00.000-08:00

The first graders of Bluewater Elementary performed "A Very Beary Christmas!" musical. Ethan was a grizzly bear with a beat all his own. I love watching how serious he takes these events. I finally got a smile as he posed with his teach Mrs. Lafitte.

Niceville Christmas Parade!

2011-01-19T11:42:00.001-08:00

Here are a few pictures I took at the annual Niceville Christmas parade. The boys scored more candy at this event than they did at Halloween. I also lost track of how many beads we came home with. Elijah could hardly stand up with all the beads he had around his neck. It was a nice way to ring in the Christmas season with my family.

Proud Moments!

2011-01-19T11:29:00.000-08:00

I'm so proud of my honey today! He was voted as the Senior Military Engineer of the Year for Eglin AFB and received this beautiful award! Trust me when I say that he has been working really hard over the last few months and I think he is really deserving of this recognition. His dedication to his job, his calm demeanor, and his humble attitude continue to be some of the things I love most about this man. I'm so thankful for my amazing husband!

Fall Favorites!

2011-01-15T18:08:00.000-08:00

Where has the time gone? I have been so neglect at updating my blog that I have to quickly catch up. Forgive the quality of the pictures. I still have not replaced my fancy Canon since it's demise. Saving my pennies. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from this fall!

Here is a glimpse of Ethan during his Fun Run fundraiser at school. It was raining that day so they moved the event indoors. Ethan was pledged per lap but had other plans on this day. Let's just say he took things slow. He held Alli's hand the entire time and they proceeded to walk for the entire 30 minutes while everyone else ran like crazy. Alli's mom and I just stood there giggling. There's nothing like puppy love!

Elijah on his 4th birthday!

Ethan had his face painted at his school's fall carnival. He insisted on the butterfly!

My little Woody!

Enjoying some family time at the pumpkin patch!

All Aboard!

2010-06-22T09:48:00.001-07:00

All aboard! The boys and I along with Grandma Haase boarded the Amtrak line for our first train ride to Kansas City. What an adventure! Elijah loved every single minute of the ride and was sad to get off. In his words..."I loved riding the train that doesn't talk." Grandpa met us at Union Station and we where able to have lunch together, do a little shopping, and play in one of the grand fountains for a few minutes. It was a great day!

Bugs! Bugs! Bugs!

2010-06-22T09:27:00.001-07:00

While in Missouri we were able to visit Powell Gardens where they have Dave Rogers' Big Bug exhibit. We enjoyed our self quided bug safari and were able to see 11 unnaturally large insect sculptures made of all natural materials. They included a 10 foot tall daddy long legs and a trio of 700 pound ants. Here are some pictures of our outdoor adventure!

Last Day of Kindergarten!

2010-06-22T09:18:00.001-07:00

I knew this day was coming but I wasn't prepared for the flood of emotions that would come along with it. Mrs. Schladenhauffen read us all a letter thanking us for gifting her with our children for nine months. She was honestly saddened to have to return them to us. It was so evident that she loved each child. Ethan was awarded the "Most Improved" student. He was greatly blessed with a teacher who gently loved and understood him. Thank you Mrs. Schladenhauffen! You will forever be in my heart!

A Face Only a Mother Could Love!

2010-06-21T20:13:00.000-07:00

I don't even know what to say about this picture. They weren't going anywhere...just a quiet morning at home. Boy do they have an imagination!

Fishers of Turtles!

2010-06-21T20:06:00.000-07:00

We were recently invited to a friends house for a BBQ and the boys were able to practice their fishing skills in one of the ponds here in Bluewater Bay. The headline at the end of the day read...Haase men defeated by swarm of greedy turtles. They can't wait to cast their lines in North Carolina later this summer!

Field Day!

2010-06-21T19:51:00.000-07:00

Mrs. Schladenhauffen's Shining Stars where awesome during field day! Ethan brought home a few ribbons that he is so proud of. It tickles me! His favorite event...the water race!

Isn't the hat choice a winner?

I couldn't believe he was coordinated enough to run in a three-legged race!

Look how cute they are hugging each other!

Of course Elijah wanted to be a part of it all. Here he is talkin' it up with the big boys!

Ethan was happy to pose with his main squeeze Hannah.

My Boy Band!

2010-06-21T19:45:00.000-07:00

Dump all the toys out and make some drums. It was a loud day in our house as my boys rocked it!

Circus! Circus!

2010-05-24T13:03:00.001-07:00

Every year the Kindergarten classes at Plew Elementary perform a circus which delighted this proud parent. I didn't know that my little penguin could dance, but he did it with precision. We where there to get a front row seat and video taped the whole production. Unfortunately, Daddy taped over the event so I'll have to share a few pictures of the circus instead. There were tights rope walkers, bears, seals, magicians, poodles, dogs, elephants, etc. Just about every animal was represented and preformed in the center ring. I loved every minute of this event!

Ethan...my little penguin!

Every kindergarten teacher dressed up as well...including our favorite clown, Mrs. Schladenhauffen.

Our neighbor Ben...a seal in disquise.

Our friend Portia. What you don't see are her cute panties sticking out of the leotard.

Our neighbor Meagan, the smallest and cutest poodle of them all.

Christmas Blessings!

2009-12-24T03:43:00.000-08:00

From our family to yours we wish you a season full of Christmas blessings and love!

Taekwondo Days!

2009-12-24T03:24:00.000-08:00

Ethan has really enjoyed taking up Taekwondo and has done really well in his Tiny Tigers Class. This last week he tested for his third belt since beginning. It is really an interesting sport and testing allows us some insight into what the sport entails because they test all the way up to black belts. Ethan was very intent on watching the other students test their forms. I think they learn a lot by watching the older students. He will begin sparring in January as one of his Christmas gifts is the gear they need to do so. The little ones are so cute to watch. You can't help but laugh. Ethan passed and and earned his yellow stripe belt. Honor sir!

Happy Three!

2009-12-24T03:05:00.000-08:00

Where has the time gone? My baby is growing up too fast and I'm sure he will be leaving for college before I can blink. We where able to spend his third birthday with some of his friends from preschool and church. He was so tickled to see his friends coming to his house to celebrate his big day. We played games in the backyard, had pizza in the sunshine, and then a visit from our friendly fire department. The kids where able to climb through the big truck and investigate all the bells and whistles. The firemen where so friendly and we where so appreciative that they took time out of their day to stop by. Elijah loved his cake and ripped right through gift opening. He loves his new guitar and is often seen playing and dancing around the room. Happy Birthday my little man!

BOO!

2009-12-24T02:50:00.001-08:00

Since I'm up at 4:00 am what better time than to update this neglected blog. Here are a couple of shots of the boys on Halloween. Of course Ethan has already reached the point where I can't dress him in the costume of my choosing. Garry and I laugh because he has never seen the movies, but is fascinated with all things Star Wars. I'm breeding the cutest little geeks in this house. And not to be forgotten, my darling husband invested in a costume of his own choosing. I will leave the explanation up to him.

Potty Training Super Hero!

2009-09-25T06:50:00.000-07:00

Who can resist the look of little men in their first undies...glow in the dark undies! Potty training has started and is going reletively well. We have stocked up on our underwear supply and Elijah seems excited about his "big boy super hero" status. Hopefully this process will not take as long as my previous experience with Ethan. Wish us luck!

Another One Leaves the Nest!

2009-09-01T12:37:00.000-07:00

My littlest one flew the coup today! Elijah had his first day at PeeWee PreSchool today and loves it! Of course my camera, the backup camera, broke this morning. So while he was at school, Mommy invested in a new one. I would hate for my baby to look back on this occasion and ask why there where no pictures of his big day. I was able to snap a few good ones when I picked him up. He ran right towards me telling me all about his day and the apple he made (see below). And when I asked him what his favorite part was he told me..."The playground! I love it in my heart.". He is such a lover always telling me "I wuv you Mommy!" and "You're so pwettie Mommy!" I cannot get enough of this child. He melts my heart every day!

Taekwondo!

2009-08-27T16:53:00.000-07:00

Ethan has been so excited to take part in Taekwondo lessons twice a week. Garry's boss's secretary (can you follow that one?) teaches the Little Tigers class and encouraged us to bring Ethan out to see if he would enjoy it. We gave him the option between this and soccer, and I have to say that I'm glad with his decision. After his first lesson I asked him if he had a good time, and he replied "Yes Ma'am!". Well I signed him up on the spot after that response! Here are a few pictures during his class today. His friend Daniel was so excited that I was taking pictures that he quickly jumped in to pose. My son may be the most uncoordinated individual in the class, but he sure loves it!

First Days!

2009-08-24T06:40:00.001-07:00

My baby is off to Kindergarten today! When I woke him up he rolled over and the first thing he said was "I love you Mommy!". Who knew if I just sent him to school he would finally tell me how he felt. He was so excited and all smiles as he began his day. I didn't even cry until Elijah and I came back to the house and he whimpered..."My Ethan.". We'll be watching the clock all day until 3:15 arrives. Have a good day Ethan!

Lend Me Your Ear!

2009-07-27T16:53:00.000-07:00

Elijah..."Fankyou Mom for the corn!"
Mom..."Are you going to eat it?"
Elijah..."No."
Ethan..."Yeah Mom, it's irresistable!" (A new vocabulary word. Who knew an ear of corn could be irresistable.)

Strike!

2009-07-27T14:42:00.000-07:00

Oh how I love watching my boys bowl! How redneck is that passion! They where both invited to a Nascar bowling birthday party this last weekend and are still sporting their racing necklaces while waving their checkered flags. We really are in the south now aren't we? Elijah is trying so hard to be like the big boys these days. I'm watching his babyhood very quickly slip away, which makes me very sad. He wants to do and say everything his big brother does. I loved watching his bowling technique. He would sit at the end of the lane and push his ball down, hop up and high five the whole group. Ethan wanted no instruction from any of us, which should be of no surprise to anyone who knows this strong willed child. We cringed as he threw it down the lane and then spun in a circle after it knocked down a pin or two. And as for their shoe sizes...Ethan is sporting a size 2 bowling shoe and Elijah a size 9. Would they just stop growing for two seconds?

I'm a Southern Girl Now!

2009-07-19T18:26:00.000-07:00

The difference between the North and the South - at last is clearly explained....

The North has Bloomingdale's , the South has Dollar General .
The North has coffee houses, the South has Waffle Houses .
The North has dating services, the South has family reunions.
The North has switchblade knives; the South has .45's
The North has double last names; the South has double first names.
The North has Indy car races; The South has stock car races .
The North has Cream of Wheat , the South has grits.
The North has green salads, the South has collard greens .
The North has lobsters, the South has crawfish .
The North has the rust belt; the South has the Bible Belt .

FOR NORTHERNERS MOVING SOUTH . . ....

In the South : If you run your car into a ditch, don't panic. Four men in a four-wheel drive pickup truck with a tow chain will be along shortly. Don't try to help them, just stay out of their way. This is what they live for.

Don't be surprised to find movie rentals and bait in the same store... Do not buy food at this store.

Remember, 'Y'all' is singular, 'all y'all' is plural, and 'all y'all's' is plural possessive.

Get used to hearing 'You ain't from round here, are ya?'

Save all manner of bacon grease. You will be instructed later on how to use it.

Don't be worried at not understanding what people are saying. They can't understand you either. The first Southern statement to creep into a transplanted Northerner's vocabulary is the adjective 'big'ol,' truck or 'big'ol' boy. Most Northerners begin their Southern-influenced dialect this way. All of them are in denial about it.

The proper pronunciation you learned in school is no longer proper .

Be advised that 'He needed killin..' is a valid defense here.

If you hear a Southerner exclaim, 'Hey, y'all watch this,' you should stay out of the way. These are likely to be the last words he'll ever say.

If there is the prediction of the slightest chance of even the smallest
accumulation of snow, your presence is required at the local grocery store.
It doesn't matter whether you need anything or not. You just have to go there.

Do not be surprised to find that 10-year olds own their own shotguns, they are proficient marksmen, and their mammas taught them how to aim.

In the South, we have found that the best way to grow a lush green lawn is to pour gravel on it and call it a driveway.

AND REMEMBER: If you do settle in the South and bear children, don't think we will accept them as Southerners. After all, if the cat had kittens in the oven, we ain't gonna call 'em biscuits.

I am...

2009-07-01T09:39:00.000-07:00

I'm stealing this idea from Susie and those before her. As usual...I envy her creativity!

Outside my window...sultry sun as promised by my weather man who telivises from Mobile.

I am thankful...for our new neighbor friend Ben who came over to play with the boys today.

From the kitchen...syrup fingerprints on my kitchen table.

I am wearing...khaki shorts, orange top, sandels, and as always...coordinating undergarments (a festish of mine...they always need to match).

I am creating...a new listing for ebay. I'm on a roll and selling like mad!

I am going...to the post office because I still can't find my stamps.

I am reading..."Twighlight" and giving into the peer pressure.

I am hoping...that Friday gets here quickly since Daddy has the day off and my parents arrive.

I am hearing...quiet boys as they watch "Miss Spider". I'm guilty of turning Noggin on just so I can blog.

Around the house...four more boxes to unpack, a dining table surface I still can't see, mint green walls in my bedroom, a load of laundry to fold, dirty dishes, happy little men, etc...

A few plans...Wish me luck please as I attempt to clean out my little pond out front. My prayer is that the fish will survive and that I don't meet any other of God's creatures while doing it.

One photo to share, an oldie.

Swimming With The Turkeys!

2009-06-27T20:21:00.000-07:00

My favorite quote of the day is from Ethan as we were swimming at our local pool..."Look Daddy, I'm swimming with my gobbles on!". I didn't have the heart to correct him.

Babies!

2009-06-25T08:54:00.000-07:00

Some of you may recognize these adorable babies...in the booster seat. These are the babies that I bought for Ethan, at the instruction of my midwife, just before Elijah was born. The only baby doll that I could find, or rather that I liked, came in a two pack. Looking back I see that it was the perfect purchase, because now they each have one. And it's understood that the one dressed in pink is Ethan's and the one in blue is Elijah's. For those of you who know my little men...this will cause you to giggle. I had this booster seat out for a friend's little one who was here the other night for dinner. The babies have sat in it for every meal since. Here are the boys feeding there babies a breakfast of champions...including coffee!

Little Fish!

2009-06-22T21:16:00.000-07:00

Fishy, fishy in the sea, won't you come and swim with me? Today was the start of swim lessons for Ethan & Elijah. They are in the beginner "fish" class together. Ethan told me he didn't want to be in a swim class but would rather learn how to dive. So much to learn...

Ok boys...here are the rules.

Ethan is almost floating on his back...but of course has to keep his head out of the water in order to see what is going on around him at all times.

Forget it...I'm not letting go!

Happy Father's Day!

2009-06-21T12:52:00.000-07:00

Oh the best gift in the world is having my hubby home again! I'm so thankful that he made it home last night after 15 hours in the car going 85mph...safely...without meeting any law inforcement officials or deer. He told me that the only thing he ran over was a pillow. I don't think I've seen one of those on the road before. The boys and I have reason to celebrate today! He is the best Daddy to my two little men. The memory of watching them climb into bed with us this morning and kissing all over him was the icing on the cake for me. We love you honey! Thanks for being our one in a million!

Ten On Tuesday...Florida Style!

2009-06-15T16:43:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Florida! We are slowly getting settled in our new home. I'm still unpacking boxes and will be for quite a while. Unlike my husband who likes to unpack every single box and put things anywhere they will fit, I like to do it one at a time and put things away as I unpack. Needless to say...when the two methods are combined, there is no organization at all. So I will take a deep breath, and take each day as it comes. Here are a few memories from the past few weeks that will work for my "Ten On Tuesday" edition.

1. I really wanted to stop at the sign that says "Welcome To Florida", but it was pitch black outside when we drove across the border. I may have to restage it at some point or photoshop our faces next to the sign.

2. The morning of move in day we crossed our fingers because the weather forecast was calling for rain. We where not to be disappointed. Around noon the skies opened up and it poured, and poured, and poured some more! The guys where running our things off the truck. I could hardly watch.

3. We arrived on a Sunday night, but our furniture wasn't going to be delivered until Wednesday. So my awesome father-in-law helped me get a huge chunk of painting done while the house was still vacant. Here are a few quick pics that my family has been begging me for. Please excuse the mess (i.e. towels on the floor, toys everywhere, mirrors and pictures not hung yet). But at least you'll get the idea.

4. I did discover a perk to living in Florida. I found a Starbucks one morning while I was on base shopping at the BX. I only got to take a few sips before leaving my morning java in the car to do some grocery shopping. The good news...upon my return an hour later, my coffee was just as hot as when I left it.

5. I have had a difficult time finding pulp-free OJ in this state. True Floridians LOVE their pulp! I guess I'm not there yet.

6. I went to buy coffee this morning at the Winn Dixie. I could only find ground coffee. What's up with that? Where are the beans?

7. I am blessed once again to have great neighbors. Several have come to my door over the last two weeks to introduce themselves and welcome us to the neighborhood. The cookie of choice here in Florida is oatmeal raisin...really good ones too. And the cherry on top...I have three potential babysitters living on my street. Woo-hoo!

8. Neighbors did come in handy last night. Garry left for Missouri last week to participate in Missouri Boys State. I was putting something in the garage yesterday evening when I saw something dart out in front of me. I knew it wasn't a figment of my imagination when I saw it move again and head under the sleeper sofa. The only part I saw was the back end of it and it had a LONG white tail. So I knew it had to either be a big rat or a possum. Neither of which should be in my garage! Why does this happen to me when Garry is gone? I called my neighbor Kendall across the street who unfortunately was on his way to church for evening mass. So taking matters into my own hands, and upon the advice of my sister, I warmed up a hot dog and made a trail coming out of the garage to try and lure it. Before I could find out if my bate worked, another neighbor Danny came to my rescue. Kendall had called him and he along with his son spent the next 45 minutes taking my sofa apart and getting a baby possum out of my garage. Thank you Lord!

9. Now I have to worry about bugs, reptiles, and rodents!

10. And for those of you who are excited about visiting, I will tell you that it may be a good idea to bring you own noise maker. I have been informed that the tree frogs have taken up resident in my trees. Who knew that these little creatures could make so much noise! I thought for sure they weighed about thirty pounds each with all the noise they make. Every night I listen to them call back and forth. I wish they would just find each other already!

Fun In The Sun!

2009-05-21T06:51:00.001-07:00

Finally...a day of sun! The boys where really excited when our neighbors put out their new slip and slide. And to make it even more appealing, it even had a shark mouth to slide through. What more could a boy want! Sliding through the jaws of death! Thank you God for a beautiful day!

Graduation Day!

2009-05-20T11:11:00.000-07:00

My little baby graduated from preschool today! What a crack up when they played "Pomp & Circumstance" as they entered the chapel. Ethan was very excited to have us all come for his "special program". Mommy's favorite song..."This Little Light Of Mine". A big thank you to Ms. Jackie and Ms. Christina at A Great Start PreSchool for a wonderful year!

Aiming High!

2009-05-05T15:50:00.000-07:00

Introducing Lt. Col. Garry A. Haase! This weekend we celebrated another milestone for Garry as he pined on Lt. Col. We where happy to be joined by both of our parents in a ceremony Friday afternoon. The boys assisted in applying Garry's new sleeves to his uniform. I'm sure they won't remember that moment, but it sure was sweet to watch. Thank you to all who attended not only the ceremony, but the BBQ in his honor the next day. We loved celebrating with you all!

Off we go into the wild blue yonder,

Climbing high into the sun;

Here they come zooming to meet our thunder,

At 'em boys, Give 'er the gun! (Give 'er the gun now!)

Down we dive, spouting our flame from under,

Off with one helluva roar!

We live in fame or go down in flame. Hey!

Nothing'll stop the U.S. Air Force!

A Day Out With Thomas!

2009-04-27T19:12:00.000-07:00

Sunday morning the boys and I where able to meet up with Kristin and Ben for A Day Out With Thomas at Greenfield Village. We had a great time! Elijah more than anyone was beyond excited waving at Thomas and dancing! He will not stop talking about Thomas and our train ride. The boys met Sir Topham Hatt, played with trains, walked through the roadhouse, got tattoos, and at the end of their visit where treated to their own conductor hats and trains.

Cutie Pie Cousins!

2009-04-27T18:35:00.000-07:00

Cousins are the best! Ethan and Elijah love their cousins and loved spending a few days making memories. Endless hours of play, rocket launching, catching frogs, pancake breakfasts, bath time, cartoons, legos, ice cream pie, energy, riding bikes, sharing, hugs, drool, baby smells, a good hike, a visit to the park. All of these things where a few of our favorite things.

Future man of the road!

Safety while I'm driving!

Josiah loves to eat, eat, eat!

Levi is a busy little boy, scaling furniture and golfing like a pro!

Jed loves his new bike!

What is not to love?

What Easter Means to Ethan!

2009-04-18T06:20:00.001-07:00

Oh the things our little children say. I took the boys to get their haircut this week. I take the boys to Affinity Salon & Day Spa in Centerville and they always look forward to seeing Kendall (the sweetest gal in the world!). She charges me next to nothing and is so patient when I bring my little men in with me. Kendall shares a love for the Lord, so I thought she would get a kick out of hearing Ethan explain what happened all those years ago on Easter morning. Here is what my serious little boy had to say...

Mommy: "Ethan...tell Miss Kendall what happened on Easter that we celebrate."

Ethan: "Jesus died."

Mommy: "Yes...but tell her what happened on Easter morning."

Ethan: "Jesus rose."

Moments later he shared the following with Kendall.

Ethan: "Yeah...but I like the Easter bunny better than Jesus."

An honest answer from a five year old. Boy do we have a lot of work to do! Prayer, prayer, prayer!

He Is Risen!

2009-04-12T17:40:00.001-07:00

He is risen! Alleluia! We celebrated Easter with Grandma & Papa Rufner in Fort Wayne. We had a wonderful and relaxing weekend and the boys loved spending time with their grandparents. Good times and great memories!

Elijah dying his very first Easter egg!

Ethan was so excited to dye eggs this year. His favorite color egg...pink!

I love my Grandma!

The Easter bunny made his appearance while we were at Easter morning services. The big hunt was a delight to watch and even more enjoyable listening to.

It took Elijah a few minutes to catch on, but after watching his big brother his basket filled up quickly.

My boys...what a blessing!

Confessions...by Ethan Haase!

2009-04-09T18:59:00.000-07:00

I often wonder what my boys do when I'm not in their presence. Tonight I found out. We thought that Elijah had thrown a Lego in the kitchen floor vent. He even confessed to it when I asked. Garry got down on his knees and took the vent cover off and discovered the following...

Garry: "Well I don't see any Legos down here, just food. More specifically raisins."

Ethan: "Yeah...I put them down there!" (Said in a proud and confident voice.)

Mommy: "Ethan, you never put anything down the vents...EVER!" (Said in a stern Mommy voice.)

Ethan: "Oh I don't do that anymore because I don't like them and you don't make me
eat them anymore." (Said with a smile.)

Turning Five!

2009-04-05T04:09:00.001-07:00

It's hard to believe that five years can go by so fast. I find myself doing the age old tradition of saying "five years ago at this time...". Ethan has a new number...FIVE! He has been counting the days until we could celebrate. Kristin, Ben, and Jacob Hardy came down from Detroit for the weekend. Our celebration began on Friday night when we treated Ethan to dinner at Red Robbin. What more could a boy want...a burger, an ice cream sundae, and a free balloon!

Ethan and Ben passing the time until dinner arrives, pouring over the new Lego catalog.

At Red Robbin every birthday is celebrated with a special birthday song and a free ice cream sundae. For months he has been watching them sing to other people. This time it was his turn.

All the boy's enjoyed their ice cream...not a bite was left for their salivating parents.

Ethan has been been begging to have his birthday at Bounce U. This is a child's fairy land of inflatable bounce houses. So on Saturday morning, the two big boys where treated to an open bounce time. It was so fun to see Ethan having such a good time with his best buddy! After we left, we took the boys to get a fruit smoothie and pick a toy of their choice out from the toy bin at Learning Express.

Ethan originally wanted a pink princess cake for his birthday, but was convinced by his parents that solar system cupcakes would be a great idea. I recently met Natalie Herr, an AFIT spouse, who started her own gourmet cupcakery business since coming to Dayton (http://www.tickledpinkcupcakery.blogspot.com/). I asked her if she wouldn't mind putting these cupcakes together for me. She did an awesome job! Each cupcake was made to look like a different planet (Mars, Uranus, Sun, Mercury, Earth, Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Venus, comet, and "Ethan"). The boys loved picking out which planets they would eat next. Delicious!

Happy Birthday Ethan!

Ethan recently told me he was an expert on sharks so Mommy and Daddy thought this would be a perfect addition to our book collection.

Thank you Ben for the pirate Legos!

Jacob having fun with a leftover box!

Mail Delivery!

2009-04-04T19:48:00.000-07:00

Ethan was very excited when the postman brought him mail yesterday. Just in time for his birthday...a new Lego catalog! In our house such mail is like the Bible. As Grandma suggested, maybe I should paste some Bible verses inside for osmotic learning purposes. He studied it for hours telling me that he needed this and that. When he got to one particular page the following discussion occurred...

Ethan: "Mommy!...I need this Sponge Bob spaceship!"

Mommy: "Oh no honey, we don't like Sponge Bob!"

Ethan: "Oh yeah I forgot Mommy. Sponges are for cleaning...and they don't talk back either."

Happy Family!

2009-03-28T19:25:00.000-07:00

You know I'm never actually in pictures with my family. I'm always behind the camera and of course my darling husband never offers to take any of me with my boys. So I took it upon myself to grab a quick one all on my own. It's certainly isn't the greatest...but it'll do. And it serves the purpose...showing me how big my little men are getting. It goes by too fast!

A Time To Celebrate!

2009-03-28T10:29:00.000-07:00

After months of long days and hard work, Garry completed his master's program at The Air Force Institute of Technology. Thursday evening, he and 239 other colleagues received their graduate and doctoral degrees at a ceremony held at The National Museum of the United States Air Force. We where happy to celebrate this occasion with Garry's parents, my parents, and my grandparents. I am a very proud wife today! Garry has worked so hard and as with any challenge he continues to amaze me with his gifts.

We are sad to see so many of our friends moving away. It seems like yesterday that we moved to the Dayton area. We will be sad to move from here. It has been wonderful being so close to family and friend and we will deeply miss our neighbors as well. Garry is going on casual status here at WPAFB and will be working with his thesis advisor on a number of projects. He will be starting at Eglin AFB following his promotion the first part of May. The boys and I will follow him the last week in May as we can not get into our new house until the first of June. To all of our friends...please keep in touch! We will miss you all!

The happy graduate!

Garry and his proud parents!

The yummy cake made to look like the AFIT logo!

The Horror continues...

2009-03-17T11:08:00.000-07:00

I woke up with much ambition today. Having accomplished a lot by 11:00am, I thought I would take the boys to the mall. I had a few returns to make and decided that after these errands where done, I would let the boys play in the kids activity area before getting some lunch. All seemed well until Elijah fell face first from the slide. I could see that he bit his lip so I swooped him up to check for blood. Of course there was a little, but I was able to quickly dab it away. He sat up and I thought he was just going to jump off my lap and go play. That's when it happened!

In all my years of nursing and as a mother, I have never been more embarrassed or grossed out by what occurred next. Elijah proceeded to throw up on himself, all over me, and the play area. This happened not once, not twice, but three times. I was frozen...I could not move! I didn't have one tissue, baby wipe, burp rag, etc. I looked up in horror and my eyes meet several other parents who had the same expression. Thankfully they did the running for me. It was everywhere! It was behind my neck, in my armpits, shoes, underwear, bra. All I could think of was how impossible it was going to be to walk out of the mall covered in vomit. On my way to the car I grabbed several Sears bags, and after stripping Elijah in the parking lot, put all of his clothing in the contained receptacle. Thankfully I had just bought beach towels at Target. So I threw one of those in the seat and I blazed toward home!

Ethan of course was quite devastated that he wasn't able to play longer. He kept asking me why we had to leave and when was he going to get his happy meal. I just looked at him in amazement, laughing, and screaming "I have puke all over me...that's why!". Well, it's calm once more. All three of us had showers, are wearing clean clothes, and devoid of hazardous waste. I'm tempted to just throw our clothing out...I haven't gotten that far yet. I'm still traumatized! I pray this never happens again...Lord please hear my prayer!

A Weekend Away!

2009-03-16T19:14:00.000-07:00

I had the chance a few weeks ago to get away for another scrapbooking weekend at the Four Seasons Scrap-Inn located in Emmett, Michigan. Some of you may recall that I attended a similar weekend last May which, because of illness and heavy medication, I don't really remember. I had strep throat and dehydration so bad that I ended up in the ER twice on that trip. So I was determined to try again. Armed with my medicine cabinet, vitamins, and a my entire craft room, I was off!

I joined Kristin and her arsenal of friends from the area. The weekend was fabulous and I laughed so hard my stomach was sore for days! Tina Prosch is the owner and treated us to a great weekend! The crop room is amazing! All your meals are prepared for you and you don't have to lift a finger all weekend. I also treated myself to a 30 minute message from a message therapist friend of Tina's, who came in on Saturday. Let me tell you...she had hands of steel! And then to top it off, we where treated with a chocolate fondue experience later that night. You will not want to go home! If you are interested in getting away for a weekend of great fun and relaxation, check out www.4ScrapInn.com. Tina would love to have you!

The crop room!

The crooners!

The gang!

French Breakfast Puffs

2009-03-16T18:46:00.000-07:00

I'm posting another recipe that you have to try! Warning...you will gain 5 pounds partaking of this melt in your mouth temptation. Thank you once again to The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond, for sharing this recipe and for making my bottom even bigger in the process!

French Breakfast Puffs

3 cups flour
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup shortening (Crisco)
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 tsp cinnamon
2 sticks butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 12 muffin cups. In a large bowl stir together flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg. Set aside. Pray. In a different bowl, cream together 1 cup sugar and shortening. Then add eggs and mix again. Add flour mixture and mix alternately to cream mixture, beating well after each addition. Fill prepared muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until golden. In a bowl, melt 2 sticks butter. In a separate bowl, combine remaining sugar and cinnamon. Dip baked muffins in butter, coating thoroughly, then coat with cinnamon-sugar mixture. Eat. Faint.

Radio Skies!

2009-03-15T18:26:00.000-07:00

Thursday night I had the opportunity to go see Kelleigh Bannen, a new artist out of Nashville, perform in Cincinnati. She is my sister's sister-in-law, if you can follow that one. She is on the road doing 90 gigs in 90 days for a wonderful cause that is very close to her heart. She opened the show for Bo Bice (American Idol Season four runner-up). She was amazing! I have to say that she was far better than the gentleman who followed her. She writes or co-writes all her own music and each song she sings has a great story! Keep an eye out for her because I think you may see more of her in the future.

Kelleigh's "90 in 90" challenge began with the purpose of raising awareness about the power of addiction. In February of 2008, Kelleigh’s brother, Grant Bannen, died after a long battle with addiction. While no addict’s story can be neatly tied up with a bow, Kelleigh and her family felt that Grant’s story was deeply redemptive and could be shared in a way that was life-giving. All proceeds from "Radio Skies" and each performance are being given toward this worthy cause. If you are moved to do so, please support Kelleigh in this challenge. I know she would thank you for the bottom of her heart!

http://www.kelleighbannen.com/

Florida...Final Day!

2009-02-22T13:43:00.000-08:00

Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers over the last few days. My trip really brought me peace of mind as we make another transition. It was a great Sunday morning! I was able to worship with Denise and her family at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Shalimar. It was a really nice traditional service with warm and welcoming people. The handbell choir and a vocalist both played during the service. After Bible class I was able to take quite a few pictures of the facility. I'm looking forward to worshiping there with Garry and the boys.

We had lunch at Sonny's Barbecue and then made our way home. I had a 2:00pm appointment at the house to take some further pictures and pick up our lease agreement. It really confirmed for me that this will be a good home for us during the next few years. We are going to enjoy a quiet evening here at home and perhaps catch a glimpse of the Oscar's. I'll be going home tomorrow morning and I can't wait to see my boys. I think every mother should get the opportunity to get away once in a while. It sure makes me appreciate what I have at home. Thankfully I have an awesome husband who continues to amaze me and love me so dearly. Love ya honey!

The front of the house.

The back of the house.

Mommy's favorite part of the yard...and I'm sure the boys as well.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Shalimar, Florida.

The inside of the sanctuary.

Entering the church from the narthex.

Florida...Day Three!

2009-02-21T19:50:00.000-08:00

Well, the day started off early with my first appointment at 8:00am. The realtor who stood me up yesterday showed up on time and gave me an apology for his car troubles. The house, which had so much potential and much to offer, was disgusting on the inside. I was ready to walk out the door when he showed me the master bathroom. There was mold on every wall of the bathroom all the way up to the ceiling. I was happy to drive away from this little gem.

House #2 was in a different area of Niceville called Rocky Bayou. It was a little further north of Bluewater Bay, where most of my search has taken place. It was a really nice home right next to a pond, but I didn't realize that it wouldn't be available until the middle of June. I really don't want to wait that long to get into a house down here with Garry's report date being no later than June 1st. So I crossed this house off the list.

Then I spent the next few hours with Denise at the local library and children's park. This will be a great place to take the kids when we get here. They even have a little water park area for those hot days. One of my other best friends Stephanie (wink! wink!) was able to shed some light on my housing decision. It always helps having someone else's opinion. We grabbed some lunch and then Denise drove me through Eglin AFB so I could see all the sights (commissary, PX, bowling alley, thrift shop, the research lab, etc.). They have a little beach there with a camp ground that will be fun for my merry men to make use of. We made it home by early afternoon.

After talking with Garry we narrowed it down to the two houses pictured yesterday. After talking with both of the owners I discovered that the two story home would only be available for rent for a max of three years. We don't know how long we will be here at Eglin, but it could be for up to four years. Knowing that info helped us decide that we will be going with the one story ranch house. So tomorrow I will be going over to see it again and take some more detailed pictures. I feel such relief and I really think that this will be a great home for our family.

Denise was able to secure a baby sitter for tonight, so I was able to take her out to dinner at P.F. Chang's, shopping at the outlet mall, and ice cream at ColdStone Creamery. She hasn't been out for a nice evening since Mark left for Afghanistan. We had a really good time and it was nice to relax together. Here are some pictures of my day with good friends and beautiful scenery. Enjoy!

Kaylee is learning to walk and will soon be off running.

Joshua on the rocking dino. He was so happy to show me the park. He had a great time running around with one of his classmates.

When babies get fussy...Mommy to the rescue! This is what Kaylee looked like after the biter biscuit. She was all smiles!

Joshua is all ready to help Mommy make pizza dough!

Big sister Pheobe wanted to pose with her brother. She helped Mommy cut up fresh mushrooms for their pizza.

A beautiful picture of the bay!

Florida...Day Two!

2009-02-20T09:22:00.000-08:00

I woke up to the sound of little voices...I felt right at home. Denise made me bacon, eggs, and homemade biscuits. Top that off with a great cup of coffee and the best shower experience I've had in a long time, and I was set!

I had a 8:30am appointment at House #1. This house was one I had Denise go through a couple of weeks ago. It's an older home but it really felt like home when I walked in. The boys would be able to share a room and have their own bathroom. The perk to one room is that one whole wall is lined with cabinets. The backyard is amazing! Swing set and gazebo in back. I definetly like this house. Zoned for Plew Elementary.

I had a 10:00 appointment at House #2. This after I had to stop at Walgreens to buy a new pair of sunglasses. Wouldn't you know I forgot sunglasses and the checkbook (Both are good to have when you are in the Sunshine state and renting a home). Anyway...the house was in a newer neighborhood, with a smaller yard, and ample space. I found out that it backs up to a trail and woodland area that is slated to be the new bypass going in. I don't know if I want that noise in my backyard. Zone for Bluewater Elementary.

I came back to the house to have lunch and help Denise unload the car from her Commissary run. We just chilled for a couple of hours before my afternoon appointments. Made my way to house #3...waited...waited...and waited for someone to show up. Finally, I called the realty office and found out that they accidentally wrote down my appointment for tomorrow. She apologized and sent one of their male agents out to show me the house. He called me about twenty minutes later to say that he ran out of gas at the bottom of the bridge...conveniently where all the bars are by Destin beach. I suggested that we meet tomorrow at 8am. Ha!Ha! That will teach him!

So off I went to House #4 in a gated community. I thought the security lady was going to pat me down. She finally let me through. This house is on the ninth hole of the golf course. It was a beautiful home with three bedrooms and a pool. Lots of storage space that I would love to have. Zoned for Bluewater Elementary. Unfortunately it's a little out of our price range and I don't know if I want to go over our housing allowance.

On a whim I called about house #5 that was at the back of the "to see" pile. The owner was happy to let me view the house, which is in a gated community right on the bay. Love the house! It's in our price range! Four bedroom two story home with screened in porch, hot tub, beautiful yard, updated bathrooms, living room, dining room, family room. The only thing not to love is the fact that the bedrooms where a little small, the kitchen has tiled counter tops, and there will be no refrigerator (which she is willing to purchase). Zoned for Plew Elementary.

So two more houses to see tomorrow. My two favorites are House #1 and House #5 seen below. Both are great houses but very different from each other. Both are zoned for Plew. Please pray that I choose the right one for our family. Love to you all!

House #1

House #5

Florida...Day One!

2009-02-19T19:25:00.000-08:00

I was up before the crack of dawn to begin my adventure to Florida. So off I drove at 5:30am to catch my 9:00am flight in Cincinnati. It was a little treacherous getting down there, with the dusting of snow that brought traffic to a standstill (Wink!). We finally took off after we sat on the runway while the parking break was fixed and our plane was de-iced. I landed in Florida about and hour late.

Denise picked me up and was nice enough to treat me to lunch at Say Cake (converted gas station into bakery/sandwich shop). I had a great Reuben sandwich. After lunch Denise dropped me off at Plew Elementary School so I could take a quick tour. Schools down here definitely have a different atmosphere. The buildings are all in pod form and open to the outside. I was a little put off by the fact that kids where wandering around the campus with no adult supervision. I'm not so sure that this is the safest atmosphere I want my child to be at on a daily basis. This from an over concerned mother.

When Denise picked me up she took me to their house so that I could pick up the extra vehicle and make my way to the various appointments I had scheduled. So here is the rundown.

House #1: Beautiful neighborhood, 3 bedrooms with office, screened porch, one of two homes on a cul-de-sac, gourmet kitchen, private yard with mature trees. Only complaint...owner has used one garage as his own personal storage unit. I don't care for that one bit. If I'm going to rent a house I want the whole space to be mine. And for that price...I expect it. House is zoned for Valpo Elementary, the oldest in the county.

House #2: Cute home that has been trashed by current tenants. Was reassured that repairs and cleaning would be made once they vacated. Screened in pool was nice. Complaints...loft area has exposed railing with ledge (the perfect spot for two curious boys) and no refrigerator. Zoned for Bluewater Elementary.

House #3: Home has been vacant since August when pipe burst in house and hundreds of gallons of water leaked through the second level bathroom, destroying the kitchen and walls below. They tore out all the walls in the kitchen to the studs and rebuilt the entire room along with new carpet and paint throughout the home. Nice four bedroom home with lots of space. Zoned for Plew Elementary. Only complaint...will mold be an issue?

Finally visited Bluewater Elementary. There is no comparison in my mind...I like this school much better. It is a closed building with a fence around the perimeter and gates that are closed during the school day. The library, art room, and music room where very impressive. It felt like a fun and safe environment.

So now what do I do? Pray that one of the homes I'm due to see tomorrow will be the perfect fit. God will provide. So that was my day in a nutshell. I'm off to bed because I've been up for 18 hours and I can hardly keep my eyes open. I miss my merry men! Hugs & kisses!

Welcome to the Sunshine State!

Ten On Tuesday

2009-02-17T18:50:00.000-08:00

1. I recently discovered that it is not wise to buy your husband flowers for Valentine's Day and present them to him in front of all his co-workers. Poor baby...it was embarrassing!

2. I've endured multiple seasons of "Lost" and I still don't understand! My favorite episode...the one with subtitles at the bottom of the screen.

3. I'm pretty sure that it's not a good sign when the furnace is groaning.

4. If I could pass on any household chore it would be matching socks. Why is there always missing socks? I'm convinced that the dryer eats them on a regular basis.

5. My new favorite book..."The Tickle Monster" by Josie Bissett.

6. Ethan has been opening the door for the UPS man without my knowing it. Even with the door locked he manages to open it for him. So how do you talk about stranger danger with a four year old?

7. I find myself turning on the Mickey Mouse Club just to I can hear Elijah say "Oh tootles!". I really need to get that on tape.

8. I would just like to gloat that I was able to fix the treadmill this week after my darling hubby spent hours trying to trouble shoot the problem. It took me all of one minute to diagnose the issue. Aren't you glad I come in handy sometimes honey?

9. My new favorite breakfast food is a bowl of yogurt with granola on top.

10. I love getting into bed at night with fresh pedicured feet and clean sheets.

Confessions Of A Shopoholic!

2009-02-15T17:45:00.000-08:00

My best friend Kristin and her two boys came down for a weekend visit. The energy of four boys in the house is indescribable! We where able to sneak out of the house Saturday night after they where in bed. We found ourselves needing a little retail therapy, so off we headed to Michael's and the mall. We where there all of one hour, when we found ourselves looking at our watches and wondering if it was time to go home. What was our problem? It was only 9:15pm and we where acting like a couple of old grannies already! So we decided that we needed to be young and carefree (like we used to be) and headed off to see at 10:10pm (gasp!) showing of "Confessions Of A Shopaholic". A good girlie movie for those of you who feel the thrill of spending money you don't have . On our way home, we had a good laugh thinking that this title would be a great starting point for my "Ten On Tuesday" list. But I could only come up with one confession...

1. I confess that if I shared the other nine, I would be in BIG BIG TROUBLE!

So for the health of my marriage I will refrain from posting the real list. Would you? I know you could all list a few confessions that belonged on this list. I dare you to share them! I'm off to work on tomorrow's edition.

My Funny Valentines!

2009-02-10T19:15:00.000-08:00

My little sugars where busy helping Mommy bake cookies today. They had more fun eating the end product, but that's to be expected. Ethan's preschool Valentine party is tomorrow and he was scheduled to bring a snack to share. So Mommy was able to use her industrial cookie cutter and crank out 36 pink frosted sugar cookies. The boys where very helpful in decorating! Ethan's stash has already been consumed. Heaven forbid you would want to save one for tomorrow. Where's the fun in that?

Ethan concentrated very hard. He was very eager to get the frosting on because he couldn't wait to start in on the sprinkles.

The end product...after licking his fingers, the bowl, the spatula, etc... Don't worry, I didn't let him touch any of the others.

A lot of frosting in my mouth...

A little on my cookie.

Ten On Tuesday!

2009-02-02T07:46:00.000-08:00

A small diversion from the normal list. I saw this idea on another blog (Thanks Miriam!). It certainly made me think. The list certainly could go on and on.

1. One movie that made you laugh: My Big Fat Greek Wedding
2. One movie that made you cry: Glory
3. One movie you loved when you were a child: The Wizard Of Oz
4. One movie you’ve seen more than once: White Christmas
5. One movie you loved, but were embarrassed to admit it: Strictly Ballroom
6. One movie you hated: Juno
7. One movie that scared you: The Ring
8. One movie that made you happy: Pride And Prejudice
9. One movie you weren’t brave enough to see: The Passion Of The Christ
10. The last movie you saw: New In Town

Flashback Friday!

2009-01-29T18:51:00.000-08:00

I'm starting another weekly tradition...posting a flashback moment. Here is one of my favorites...Ethan at 18 months. How could anyone resist giving him what he wanted when he would look at you like this. We gave in...his name is Elijah.

Party Pork Chops!

2009-01-28T20:31:00.000-08:00

I thought I would share this easy recipe with some of you. Not only is it easy to make...but my family loves it. Enjoy!

Party Pork Chops

6 to 8 boneless pork chops
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup vinegar
1 Tbsp soy sauce
9 oz can crushed pineapple

Place unsalted pork chops in baking pan. Make sauce with other ingredients and pour over chops. Bake uncovered at 300 degrees or lower (depending on oven) for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Ten On Tuesday!

2009-01-26T18:30:00.000-08:00

1. Why is it that men could live in a tent but women want to live in castles?

2. What do you call it...toasted cheese or grilled cheese?

3. I find it commical that my four year old still announces and/or asks for permission to go to the bathroom or blow his nose. Have I ever said no?

4. My favorite part of getting my hair done is having it washed by someone else. Why does it feel so much more relaxing when someone else is doing it?

5. I finished a great series of books by Francine Rivers called the Mark Of The Lion. If you enjoy Christian fiction you should check these out.

6. The date is January 27th and I finally put all of my Christmas decorations away. I'm not a procrastinator...am I?

7. I have a confession...I watch "The Bachelor" & "The Housewives Of Orange County". I feel so much better getting that off my chest.

8. I shoveled the driveway this afternoon so that my darling husband would think that I had been very productive instead of playing with the boys all day.

9. I love the Schwan's man!

10. For all the girls in my life I know you sympathize with me when I share the following thought. Men have it so easy! All they need to do is purchase a $10 variety pack of underwear and they're set for at least a year. We on the other hand walk into a store, and $60 later walk out with one bra and three pairs of panties that never last that long because they wear out from holding things up and in.

Brain Matter

2009-01-26T13:13:00.001-08:00

Picture this...Ethan is sitting on the couch reading through his Ladybug magazine issue and announces to me the following..."Cryogenics is Spanish for experiment Mommy." Lord help me but I wonder what this boy will be when he is older.

Good Times In Michigan!

2009-01-22T19:44:00.001-08:00

The boys and I traveled off to Michigan for an extended weekend visit with our friends. Tim, Kristin, Ben, & Jacob where gracious to put up with me and my munchkins for what turned out to be a great visit. Some of our highlights where going to the library, playing in the snow, playing in the gym at Lutheran High North, eating at Red Robin, going to the Bounce House, an ice cream party, and an endless play date. Ethan is already planning the next one!

Kristin reading to Jacob. What a love he is!

Ethan playing in the snow!

Look Mommy...my mittens are full of snow!

Kristin taking her boys on a sled ride.

A snow bunny!

Here is my party pooper. He wanted nothing to do with the snow and whined the whole time. I finally put him in the stroller so I didn't have to hold him.

Isn't this the cutest little baby face?

Our babies in the bath tub!

Cheese!

Ethan & Ben bonding over the Lego catalog!

Ten On Tuesday!

2009-01-21T13:33:00.001-08:00

1. I love my new boots! I found myself thanking God for keeping my toes warm this morning. I think I'm allowed to thank Him for something so insignificant.

2. I love Legos! They keep little ones entertained for hours.

3. Ethan got in trouble at school today...again. I wish I knew what was going on in his little head. He will be evaluated at Children's to make sure there are no developmental/behavioral issues. It is hard when your kids aren't making good choices. Why do we feel that it reflects on us so much?

4. Had a new drink at Starbucks that you will all have to try! It's their Signature Hot Chocolate Salted Caramel. I could drink one every day!

5. We finally have orders for our next assignment. I've been praying that we would hear something soon and today was the day. We will be moving in April to Eglin AFB in Florida. Back to the sunshine state!

6. Was anyone else interested in what Michelle Obama was wearing yesterday? It was like the political Golden Globes event for me. Loved the suit...not so sure about the dress though.

7. I love the new Stampin' Up! catalog! I look through it every night before going to bed. Then I dream about stamps. Is there anything more wonderful!

8. Every girl needs a pair of women's SmartWool socks during the winter.

9. When will my four year old decide that he wants to learn how to button his own pants?

10. I wish there where laundry fairies that visited my house.

Winter Days!

2009-01-15T17:08:00.001-08:00

Winter days bring along with it wonderful memories of playtime in the snow with friends!

The Birds, The Birds!

2009-01-15T16:54:00.001-08:00

This is the sight that greeted me Wednesday morning when I heard, over the roar of playing children, a flock of black birds in our backyard. I have never seen so many in one place. The roof lines where covered from one end to the other. I just grabbed my camera and clicked away. I have no idea what they where up to but they sure made a lot of noise. It was site right out of the Alfred Hitcock movie.

Snip Snip

2009-01-13T17:30:00.000-08:00

Brothers for sure! Here are the boys getting their hair cut today with Kendall. They love going to see her and boy did they need it. My little men had "fros". Now they look all dapper and clean cut again.

Carmel Corn

2009-01-12T19:22:00.000-08:00

Per request...don't tell my Dad this is on here!

Carmel Corn

8 to 9 quarts freshly popped popcorn (not microwaved)
1 cup butter
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup white corn syrup
1 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla

Pop popcorn and place in deep buttered cooking pan. Melt butter in saucepan. Add remaining ingredients and boil for 5 minutes while stirring. Remove from heat and stir in 1 tsp baking soda. Pour over popcorn and stir. Place in oven for 1 hour at 250 degrees. Stir every 15 minutes. When done, stir until popcorn cools so it will not clump together. Put in airtight container to preserve freshness. Enjoy!

Confessions of a Pioneer Woman

2009-01-08T17:08:00.000-08:00

Some of you may know of Ree Drummond, also know as the Pioneer Woman. Her frontier is open for a peek at http://www.thepioneerwoman.com/. Well I was intrigued by a particular recipe in her collection a couple of weeks ago and thought I would give it a try. So while our friends where visiting for the new year I decided to whip up her version of apple dumplings. It's an artery clogging recipe, but oh so good! Now I know you will look at the ingredients and think to yourself...Anna must have made a typo. But this recipe does call for a small can of Mountain Dew. If you're a sceptical as I was, well you're just going to have to give it a try. Enjoy!

Apple Dumplings

2 Granny Smith apples
2 cans crescent rolls
2 sticks butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp vanilla
cinnamon
1 small can of Mountain Dew

Peel and core apples. Cut apples into eight slices each. Roll each apple slice into a crescent roll. Place in a 9 X 13 buttered pan. Melt butter, then add sugar and barely stir. Add vanilla, stir, and pour over apples. Pour Mountain Dew around the edges of the pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Serve with ice cream, and spoon some of the sweet sauce from the pan over the top.

WARNING: PREPARE THIS DISH AT YOUR OWN RISK. IT IS BEYOND IMAGINABLE.

Oriental Salad Recipe

2009-01-07T16:52:00.000-08:00

So I finally found a good recipe for Oriental Salad that I really like. There are so many versions and they all vary a little. Thanks to a friend, I found a good one that is really easy to whip together. My brother requested it at Christmas so I thought I would post it for all of you to try. Cheers!

Oriental Salad

2 pkgs Ramen noodlies (Beef or Oriental)
1 cup salted sunflower seeds
1 cup toasted slivered almonds
2 bunches chopped green onion
2 pkgs chopped cole slaw cabbage
Optional: 1 can sliced water chestnuts

Dressing:

1 cup oil
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup vinegar
2 flavor packets from noodles

Crunch noodles in package before opening. Save flavor packets for later. Mix cabbage, onion, water chestnuts, sunflower seeds, almonds, and noodles. When ready to serve, mix dressing together and pour over salad. Toss and serve. This recipe can be halved for smaller gatherings.

My Favorite Picture!

2009-01-06T16:51:00.000-08:00

This is why I miss my sister so much...she is the best Auntie!

Mom's Grand Idea!

2009-01-06T16:25:00.000-08:00

So let me first explain that my family can be a little quirky. My Mom came across a "great deal" in head gear before the holidays and bought enough for the entire family to wear for our family picture. I don't have a picture of the group photo yet, but I did capture a few individual shots before they where disposed of. For the family member who still has these in their possession...I hope they don't get misplaced before we can use them again. (Wink! Wink!)

Why not pose together when we look so cute!

My Mom's parents...Grandma & Grandpa Schlecht. What good sports!

Elijah's thinking...what is this all about?

Josiah's head wear supplied from "Pet Smart". Thanks Grandma!

Just Hear Those Sleigh Bells Ringing...

2009-01-06T15:58:00.001-08:00

The stockings where hung by the chimney with care...in hopes that Santa soon would be here! Christmas day dawned and the boys where excited to tackle the mounds of gifts that appeared under the tree. They sure knew what to do this year. It's true what they say...it is so much fun to see their faces light up with excitement.

A quick breakfast at the "kids" table.

Jed getting a brief explanation from Daddy on how his new compass works. This will come in handy on all those outdoor hikes!

Levi taking gift opening very seriously.

The mob squad with their matching helmets.

This year the adults exchanged names. Megan drew my name and she gave me a beautiful set of Christmas bowls, chocolate covered coffee beans, and a very wanted kitchen knife.

Ethan's new frog clock from Grandma & Papa Rufner. It actually "ribbits" when the alarm goes off.

Oh Jed...look what Santa brought me! Just what I asked for! How did he know?

Baby Faces

2009-01-06T15:10:00.001-08:00

Oh those little baby faces! I have to laugh after looking over my Christmas pictures and finding that over half where of my new little nephew Josiah. There is something special about having a new baby in the house over Christmas. It brought back so many memories of having celebrated Christmas with our baby Elijah two years ago. I love the smell of a new baby, their little baby parts, their sweet little mouths, their cuddles and wiggles, even their cries. I caught a few precious moments of Josiah's first Christmas.

Sweet feet! So small...I wonder what they will look like in eighteen years?

Josiah did a lot of this on every member of the family. We spoiled him!

Daddy being silly!

So BIG!

Just hanging...

Trying to watch all the action. I won't be sitting this still next Christmas.

Oh I love my Auntie Rachel!

Dinner With Friends

2009-01-06T13:43:00.001-08:00

A perk to being in Fort Wayne was the opportunity to have dinner with our friends the Levitts who moved back to the "city". Chris is an Indiana State Trooper and was reassigned to a different post. Their new home is beautiful and of course Alicia had a wonderful dinner planned for us all. It had been awhile since I've seen Grace and Jacob, and my how they have grown. Grace just turned three in November and she definitely has the gift of gab and imagination. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree does it Alicia? Jacob is a sweet boy, much quieter, with eyes so big you could fall into them. Watch our ladies...he'll break your heart someday. The kids had so much fun playing together after dinner. Our evening went by too fast but I'm happy that their move will provide me with more opportunities to visit in the future.

The Indiana Ice Storm

2009-01-05T18:09:00.000-08:00

We began our Christmas trip with a quick visit to Fort Wayne, Indiana to visit Grandma & Papa Rufner. The day before we left they had a terrific ice storm. Unfortunately my camera was packed in the back of the car when we where driving in. I learned a lesson...it should never be too far away! The beauty we saw was amazing. The wheat fields where glistening like crystal gold. The image will be imbedded in my mind forever. I was able to sneak out the next day to take a few pictures but the sun wasn't shining so they aren't as impressive. Regardless it brings to mind that God's creation is so vast and varied. Enjoy!

Cookies, Tea, & Friends

2008-12-14T15:57:00.000-08:00

Today, my neighbor Susie and I hosted a Christmas cookie exchange and tea. We had a wonderful time with friends and neighbors. Here are a few amateur pictures I took. To view a more professional glimpse of our afternoon please refer to Susie's blog (http://www.susiesincock.typepad.com/). I'm sure her take on the event will be posted at some point.

I decided to have a little spread of goodies for us to munch on so that we wouldn't eat all our cookies before we got home. My favorite...Gingerbread coffee, homemade cider, and peppermint truffles! Yummy!

Aren't the girls cute? (Janice, Kelly, & Susie)

Susie's idea to provide cookie tins for all of us to have something to put our cookies in was a great idea! She even put them in a decorative pose for the table.

My stamping friends...Bobbye and Heather!

What we all came here for...COOKIES! What a variety! I'm off to check out all the new recipes. I will definitely have to do this again. I could have sat there and visited with you all for hours. Thank you all for making this day so much fun!

Ethan's PreSchool Christmas Program

2008-12-12T18:17:00.000-08:00

Today we attended Ethan's Christmas program at A Great Start Preschool. We have been talking about it all week and he was very excited that we were all coming to see this anticipated event. The sanctuary was decorated beautifully with a poinsettia tree. Ethan did well for the first two songs, by the third he decided he was tired and needed to sit down, by the fourth he stood up again and announced that he was hungry, and by the fifth his fingers where in his ears because he decided the song was too loud. Let the pictures speak for themselves.

Posing for Mommy...this is the alligator hat they made to wear during the "Alligator Chomp" song.

Cookie Monsters!

2008-12-12T18:09:00.000-08:00

Daddy and Ethan making sugar cookies!

This picture was taken at Garry's section Christmas Party. There was a cookie decorating table which both boys gravitated to immediately. We thought Elijah was done decorating his, but what we didn't catch on film was the result of what happens when you turn your back for just a second...Elijah thought it needed more sprinkles...a whole mound of them. Needless to say he had a lot of fun!

A Long Car Trip

2008-12-12T17:57:00.000-08:00

Well...it has been a while since I posted. Thanksgiving went by like a blur. It's sad to say that I didn't take any pictures of our trip to Missouri until our return trip home...the trip from H_ _ L!!!! I nearly lost my mind. Please tell me that as they get older traveling gets easier. These pictures capture the only quiet moment of the trip...watching a movie while stuffing their faces.

Men In Uniform

2008-11-23T06:38:00.001-08:00

Who doesn't love a man in uniform?

It's Snowing!

2008-11-16T17:55:00.000-08:00

The first snow of the season! Saturday saw the first snowfall for us in Ohio. It was so beautiful even though it melted as soon as it hit the ground. Ethan was disappointed that it didn't accumulate but I promised him that it would snow this winter. Please Lord don't disappoint him. Garry and I let the boys run out to get the mail while the snow was coming down. They loved it and Elijah cried when we made him come in.

This is a picture of Sarah next door. You'll have to check out this California girl's live weather forecast at http://www.susiesincock.typepad.com/. It will make you laugh!

School Project

2008-11-13T09:01:00.000-08:00

Here is the turkey project that Ethan was sent home to work on. The kids are supposed to cut out the turkey and disquise it so it can't be found for Thanksgiving dinner. So I asked Ethan what he wanted his turkey to be and he said a "cowgirl". You know how he loves anything pink these days. I was surprised he didn't want it to be a fairy. Of course Mommy had so much fun...she kind of took over. This is done with just paper and stickers. The boys have decorated the basement with the stickers that were not used. I can't wait to go see what they have done with the place. Those pictures will have to come later. For now I had to show of his...or rather my project. Ha! Ha!

Fun at home

2008-11-12T19:27:00.001-08:00

The boys playing in their new car ball pit. Elijah recieved this as a birthday gift. They have had so much fun...and there are balls everywhere!

My little earthly blessings

2008-11-12T19:05:00.000-08:00

Monday was an interesting day and a first for me as I was called into the classroom when I picked Ethan up from school. Ms. Jackie told me that Ethan had a rough day and that she had seen a "decline in his performance" over the last week or so. She didn't know what to attribute it to but wanted to let me know of her concern. My heart was so sad...I was called into the teacher's room because my child is a whiner. A plan is now in place thanks to the advice of friends and professionals (Thank you Super Nanny!). The chore chart has been revised and we are hoping to have better days ahead.

On another note...Elijah went pee in the potty tonight! He sat up there like he was a king on his throne. And when a little something happened to trickle into the potty, he broke out into a big ole' smile. So the day didn't start off real great but in ended much better. Stay tuned.

Reminding me...

2008-11-09T16:06:00.000-08:00

You know there are some days when you really feel like God is knocking on your door. Lately I have strongly felt the whisper in my ear to slow down, to take a breath during my day, to listen. These are are the moments when God speaks to us. These are moments that we miss when we are too busy to listen. Life has been so busy lately that I have felt something missing. Today He spoke loud and clear. Our sermon topic was about prayer, the basics and the busters. I really feel that God is telling me to slow down...to focus on my prayer life...to listen. He is trying to tell me something and I haven't been listening. Do you feel the same way? Failing to pray is planning to fail. Why are we so stubborn to remember that? Prayer reminds us how amazing our God is. Prayer empowers us! Thank you to all those who have been whispering in my ear...giving me that needed push to add praise and prayer back into my life on a daily basis. Today I was boldly reminded of the gift we are given...prayer.

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and ALWAYS keep on praying..." Ephesians 6:18

Me & Grandma

2008-11-09T16:04:00.001-08:00

Story time with Grandma! I love you!

It's My Party!

2008-11-09T14:02:00.000-08:00

Ready, set, party! Today was Elijah's school bus birthday party. We had such a good time celebrating with both neighbor and military friends. I can't believe that it actually went as smoothly as it did. Thank you to all of the parents who brought their little ones over to celebrate. I hope you all suvived the chaos! In all I think we had 34 people here...and for the most part we fit. Elijah loves school buses these days so I went with that theme. Thank you Michele for giving me the courage to throw my first birthday party! For the girl who does this every few months, you make it look too easy. Elijah loves his gifts and the boys have been playing nonstop since everyone left. My Mom also drove down spur of the moment (she'll lie and tell you that I guilted her into it). Thanks for your help Mom! Here are a few pictures from the day.

THE CAKE! (The best part if you ask me)

Elijah knew exactly what he was doing...a surprise to us. He blew his two candles out like he had been practicing all week.

It tastes Sooooooo good!

Daddy braving the throng of kids that descended upon him during gift opening. He started out in the middle of the room and was slowly pushed back into the corner because they where all so excited to see the action. Everyone got a good laugh out of it. Thank you everyone for your generosity

These are the cookies that I had made for the goodie bags. They are so beautiful I can't bring myself to eat mine just yet. They where made by Andrea McGary, a fellow AFIT wife, who has her own home business decorating cakes and cookies. Her work is beautiful and will soon be showcased on the Food Network! Andrea was recently in a competition and walked away with many awards. You can view her other work on her website at http://www.sugarenvy.net/. Thanks so much Andrea!

Birthday Boy!

2008-11-03T19:22:00.000-08:00

Mommy tells me that I have a new number today...I'm two! Ethan helped Mommy make cupcakes and we all went to dinner at my favorite place, Red Robbin. Then we opened my gifts! Thank you Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa for my card and gift. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Rufner for all of my new books. Thank you Auntie Rachel and Uncle Adam for my awesome new remote control car. You all made my day really special!

Now what do I do?

Elijah caught on quickly. He picked the cupcake with chocolate frosting of course and proceeded to eat the top right off.

I love my new books!

Ethan had no trouble showing Elijah how his new car worked and Elijah squeeled as he watched it zoom around the room.

It took Mommy and Daddy a few minutes to put my new Geo Trax train station together but it was worth the wait. I'm going to love playing with my new "choo-choos"!

A Big Arrival!

2008-11-02T18:11:00.000-08:00

So here is how my Saturday went. Enjoyed a leisurely breakfast with my family and lounged in my PJ's until the phone rang at about 10am. Mom and Dad, who where finishing their North Carolina vacation and where planning to arrive around "mid-afternoon", called to say they where only 60 miles away. Life went in fast motion. But it did pause when the phone rang once again. This time it was my brother David who announced that my sister-in-laws water broke at 3am and baby #3 was on his/her way. So life went into over drive as I quickly showered, welcomed my parents, started their two loads of laundry, went out to lunch, arrived back to fold laundry, was updated that Megan was progressing nicely and could Mom and Dad come up to help with boy #1 (Jed) and boy #2 (Levi), deciding that I could not pass up the chance to see niece/nephew in person, packed a bag faster than I have ever done in my life, got in the car, sped on up to Michigan (good job keeping up Dad), and meet the newest member of our family. What a sweet ending!

Please welcome boy #3 Josiah Matthew Rufner weighing in at a whopping 5 lbs 15 oz and 18 3/4 inches long. He is perfect! Thank you Lord for the miracle of his birth and rebirth in You!

Beggar's Night

2008-10-30T18:40:00.000-07:00

May the "force" be with you on this Halloween! Here are my merry men dressed up as Luke Skywalker and Yoda. Aren't they the cutest?

Before...

After...

Pumpkin Carving!

2008-10-30T18:30:00.000-07:00

Ethan and Daddy carving their pumpkins. Ethan made a drawing of exactly what he wanted his pumpkin to look like. But he would not stick his hands inside to get "the guts" out. He was happy to sit and watch Mommy do it. He was thrilled with the results and was happy to pose for a picture with our end result.

Our little Holly...

2008-10-30T18:14:00.000-07:00

It was a sad week for all of us as we said goodbye to our little Holly. As some of you remember Holly had a back injury about 2 1/2 years ago. They told me at that time that it was likely that it may happen again. We started to notice signs that this was the case. Last week when I took her in to see our vet, she no longer had any feeling in her back end. And I could tell that she was really uncomfortable. Our vet advised us to take her home on medication to keep her pain down and to give her a call when we were ready to have her put to sleep. We had a really good weekend with her and were able to talk about it with the boys. So on Tuesday, Garry and I took her in. It was the hardest decision I've had to make. She was such a special part of our family and we are missing her so much. My neighbor Susie was so sweet to take some pictures of her before her passing. They will be a wonderful rememberance of my little Holly Dolly.

A Windy Day in Dayton

2008-10-26T17:52:00.001-07:00

It was another windy day in Dayton...a perfect day for kite flying. Ethan heard his friends playing outside and soon there where three kites flying. All the kids took turns, including the adults. I will really miss our neighbors when we move. It is such a joy to share in making family memories. I love watching Ethan play with his friends. It reminds we of how simple life should be for all of us. Thank you Lord for all of these blessings!

A Halloween Party!

2008-10-26T17:40:00.000-07:00

Our neighbors, the Cerminaro's, hosted a halloween party for all of the neighborhood kids. I think there where a couple dozen in attendance. They had a blast! Ethan's favorite part was "the candy and treats". Here are a few pictures of the boys and a few of our special friends.

Lauren Sincock...eating the first of her treats. She provided me with much laughter during the evening sneaking as much food in her mouth as possible before Mom caught her. She was by far the cutest "Minnie Mouse" I ever saw.

"Little" Sarah, as Ethan calls her, dressed as a pink pig with a curly tail and all. Here she is paying attention as they played "pass the pumpkin".

My little Yoda!

May the force be with you this Halloween!

A Pumpkin Patch Party

2008-10-22T19:31:00.001-07:00

Today we visited Windmill Farms down in Springboro, OH for Ethan's preschool pumpkin patch party. We had a great time and enjoyed a wild hay ride, pumpkin picking, and cookies. What more could a boy ask for!

Ethan & Elijah posing with king pumpkin? I wasn't quite sure what it was supposed to be...but wanted a picture of them together. Interesting don't you think.

If Elijah could have taken every pumpkin home he would have.

Trying to find just the right one...

Garry's hair was a mess because Elijah was holding on for dear life after seeing the scarecrows. Don't you love their innocence?

Dayton Ohio Shoebox Swap

2008-10-20T17:34:00.000-07:00

I hosted another shoebox swap on October 11th. It was so much fun! Here are a few pictures of my friends as they stamped away!

Bobbye Goetz

Janine Brown

Susie Sincock...aka Susie Q (My rockin' neighbor and an amazing photographer! Check out her business website at www.catchlightgallery.com)

Alicia Chaparro & Sariela Bordner

Stacie Wood

A Morning With Daddy!

2008-10-20T17:29:00.000-07:00

Daddy is the best! Mommy reserves the finger painting for when my little brother is taking a nap. Daddy didn't know better. Oh well...he'll learn. Finger painting at 8:00am is great and Elijah is in total agreement. He loved it!

A Visit From the King & Queen

2008-10-18T19:28:00.000-07:00

A picture of my boys with their Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa Schlecht (my Mom's parents). I joked with many of you the week before they arrived that the King & Queen where coming for a visit. With all the anticipation and preparation it really felt like royalty was arriving. We had a great visit with them, along with my parents who drove them down from Michigan. It was really endearing to see them interact with the boys. They are dearly loved!

A moment of laughter with Grandpa!

Surprise!

2008-09-28T19:22:00.000-07:00

This is what our sneaky neighbors where up to while we were gone. So here's the story...a few weeks ago our neighbor Andy put a "Obama '08" sign in his back yard facing everyone's house as a joke, since most of us are republican supporters. As a joke someone put an "N" in front of of "Obama '08" so it read "NObama '08". Well, they finally found out that I was that someone. When we pulled up to the house after our weekend in Virginia this is what we found. Of course I was elated to see that someone put the "McCain ~ Palin" sign in our front yard because I wanted one. We knew instantly who put it there. Upon closer inspection there where also some new planter decorations as well. You've got to love neighbors who play along and have a sense of humor. Thanks Andy and Susie!

Sarah Palin...future VP?

John McCain...future President?

Bubbles!

2008-09-28T19:14:00.000-07:00

Mommy found her merry men in a sea of bubbles!

Merry Man #1

Merry Man #2

The Merriest of all!

Our Neighbor Friends

2008-09-28T19:10:00.000-07:00

Silly Faces!

Happy Faces!

A Pudding Party

2008-09-28T19:04:00.000-07:00

Elijah having yet another snack on a day when he insisted on feeding himself. I cringed the whole time and you can see why. Nothing a little Zout can't cure.

A Little Snack

2008-09-28T18:48:00.000-07:00

This is where I found my "little angel" on a day when it got a little too quiet in the house. Every mother knows that quiet in a home with two boys is usually an indication of trouble. Elijah had dragged his stool all the way from the bathroom into the kitchen and helped himself to three pieces of friendship bread that where on the counter. I burst out laughing when I caught him...he was too cute to yell at so I grabbed my camera instead.