Adventures in Mommyhood

Pregnancy Update

2012-02-01T13:26:00.000-06:00

We went to the doctor yesterday. The sweet little (or not so little) girl in my belly is doing wonderful. Based on measurements, she is over 2 pounds, which is bigger than we expected, and exactly how Parker grew. We finally got a glimpse of her face, and she is a cutie, and looks just like her big brother!

We are all really excited for this baby to get here. Parker tells me everyday how excited he is for his baby sister to be born. He has great plans for being a huge helper. I am interested to see his reaction to a baby in the house. Speaking of house...we are still at my parents house, and I am somewhat concerned about space when the baby comes. It is hard to not work on a nursery.

My nausea is returning in the evening, it is annoying. Parker wants me to play batman, and I am nearly puking. The evening time is also when a major back ache starts. I hate having to play batman from bed, but I am struggling. Being pregnant is such a cool and wonderful time, it is amazing that it is only a few hours of the day I am a having problems.

I am about 98% sure that we are going to use cloth diapers with this baby. I have been researching cloth, and Morgan is totally on board for it, which is great since he will be at home with the baby when I am working.

I have been referring to the baby without a name, because we are undecided on the name of this little girl who is kicking me in the ribs right now! She is a wiggle worm and it is great. She cracks me up, because the slightest pressure on my belly and she kicks it away...I think it is just a taste of her personality.

my memory is failing me

2012-01-25T16:44:00.000-06:00

This post is in NO WAY supposed to scare anyone about pregnancy...

I know I have done this whole pregnancy thing before, so you would think I would remember all the CRAZY things that happen when you are pregnant...but I didn't.

1. Morning sickness: My morning sickness/nausea was way worse this time, so maybe it is not that I forgot, it is just that it was worse this time around. I believe around 20 or 21 weeks it finally went away (even though it shows up like once a week or so, just not so strong)

2. Runny nose: It is annoying, and it seems to be worse around meals. Nothing some yummy food, like snot!

3. Peeing: I practically need a catheter, or to just move into the bathroom. I can't figure out if urine in my bladder makes me have braxton hicks or if braxton hicks make me need to pee.

4. Sleep (or lack of): I am having trouble getting comfortable in bed, therefore I can't sleep. Also, my brain won't stop going and I can't fall asleep. Nothing like going into a year plus of sleep deprivation already sleep deprived. I guess I will eventually be able to sleep when both kids are married...

5. My belly: it is absolutely amazing what my body can do (and by my body, I am referring to the female body as a whole). Watching it grow is fun, and crazy. You would think that something growing so fast would not be possible, but this is the second time my body has done this. It is hard to believe a human can grow inside me-and kick as much as she does (Parker was a kicker too...she is taking after her brother)

Pregnancy Update

2012-01-18T12:52:00.000-06:00

Christmas day, around 21 weeks

About 23 weeks (and after a week long cruise of eating!)

I think the nausea has finally gone away (for the most part). I still can't eat a ton of sweets, 1 piece of candy is my limit. Chocolate is not as bad, I can eat a respectable amount of chocolate. I was feeling so great the other day, I ran on the treadmill during my walk. It was great, then a few days later I broke my toe (or toes) and now I am unable to walk with shoes on.

Cravings are mostly gone, well the other day I NEEDED french toast. Luckily I have a great husband, and he got me some! I am having a bit of a chai tea addiction right now, it is perfect for a cold day. I could also eat the cutie oranges all day long. Parker and I fight over them, and chocolate milk. Craziest thing is my beef consumption. Normally I could go for days/weeks/months without meat, but this little one wants BEEF. We went to a Brazilian churrascaria steakhouse (think Fogo de chao) two nights on the cruise. Everyone loved the bacon wrapped chicken, everyone but me, all I wanted was the beef. It was amazing.

Moving/closing stress (or something) was giving me some major braxton hicks contractions. They are getting better, but not gone. Laying on my back makes them worse. Much like her brother, Ella is a squirmer! She wiggles a ton at night, you know when I would like to sleep, I see sleepless nights in my near future. She kicks or punches pretty hard, it is crazy to see her pop on my stomach. She has so much room right now, she seems to be trying to find the best position to be for when she runs out of room.

Back pain has set in early, couldn't have anything to do with the 40 pound little boy I carry around. I had a great prenatal massage. I think I need one every week. My feet are getting more difficult to see, which makes walking around more hazardous (hence the broken toe(s)). We really need to get more organized, but we are double unpacking right now, from the move and from vacation.

I wake up at least once in the middle of the night to use to bathroom, that has not changed at all. There are days that I seem to pee all day long. Then there are days that I know I should drink more...I still don't LOVE water. It is much better with something in it, but it is easier to just fill a glass and chug it (which really makes me need to pee). On the trip, Morgan go worried about my drinking, and would find a pitcher of water for me every morning...and poor me a glass...and watch me drink it...then poor me more...then fill a few bottles to take with us during the day.

I am wearing only maternity clothes, except for yoga pants. I bought some new stuff, but I am trying to make due with what I have. I was wearing maternity clothes with Parker in the summer, so I had to get some long sleeve things. My wardrobe is limited, but since I don't plan on doing this again, I don't want to buy too much.

I really want to use cloth diapers this time, it will be cheaper in the long run (and better for the environment), but it is more expensive in the beginning. There is also not a store in Tulsa that sells cloth diapers, so I can't look and touch the diapers before I buy.

we are finally not home owners

2012-01-18T11:34:00.000-06:00

After what seemed like an eternity, we closed on our house. According to our contract, we were to close December 20, 2011. This was a huge pain in the arse. Moving right before Christmas, having half a Christmas tree up for as long as possible. Then 3 hours after we were supposed to close on the 20th, we found out closing would be delayed.

When I was told delayed, I figured this meant a day of so. Then there was the holidays, and the title company was closed for all but 2 days one week, and again the following Monday. It was NEVER ending excuses. It was now January 2012. I was about to kill someone, I was beyond stressed out, and had been out of our house for nearly 2 weeks for no reason.

On January 4th we were no where near closing and we had a trip planned for January (PS. All of the problems and delays were NOT anything we could control, this was the lender...AKA I couldn't get any information). We ended up signing our closing papers, so that the buyer could close when we were gone. We were told when we left that closing would occur on Friday (the 6th). So Saturday rolls around, and we are getting ready to leave the country, and we have NOT closed. We had to pretty much put it out of our mind, and enjoy of tropical, sunny vacation (while checking our email every evening). Monday goes by...no closing. Tuesday...no closing. Wednesday...we were in St. Thomas, a US Virgin Island, so we had cell phone coverage with no extra fees. We called our Realtor and she was going to closing at 4pm. But of something went wrong, we didn't close until Thursday. 24 days from our original closing date.

Pretty sure everyone involved was happy I was out our town, because I just might have camped out at the title company until things were finished. I hope to NEVER go through this ordeal again. The stress plus pregnancy made me more stressed, I was having an insane number of braxton hicks contractions and was a crying mess.

Now I am relaxing for a few more days at home (drinking was too much chai tea) and I had a lovely prenatal massage yesterday.

Pregnancy Update

2011-12-06T13:16:00.000-06:00

With Parker, I took a belly shot every week. With this baby, I'm spacing them out. There is not tons of change right now. I am starting to show...if you know me you would say something, but I am still in that "is she pregnant, is she pudgy" stage for someone who doesn't know I'm pregnant.

How am I feeling?
The nausea is getting better, but hasn't gone away completely. Reflux is continuing to act up. I take a Zantac with my prenatal vitamin each night. I have some major growing pains going on. I figured since my uterus and stretched once, this time would be no problem, but I was wrong. My energy level is getting better, a nap is still nice, but I feel more energized throughout the day.

Cravings are out of control. I can't give into all of them-a peppermint white chocolate mocha and kraft Mac and cheese at 830 in the morning is not OK. Little Ella is demanding. I can't eat a lot of sweets, they do not agree with her. Ice cream is ok, but sugary candy is NOT. I haven't gained any weight, but I am pretty sure that will change soon.

I've started wearing maternity clothes, mainly because I have them. I have a few pairs of regular pants that work fit fairly well with the bella band, but honestly my maternity jeans are pretty comfortable. I also like wearing yoga pants, nothing beats elastic waist bands.

How is Parker coping?
He is crazy excited about having a little sister. He can't wait to help with the baby, and he is being such a great helper with the move. He came to my last doctors appointment, and thought we would be having a baby that day. He was pretty cranky all afternoon and I was confused. We had a little chat and I discovered that source of his crankiness...he was sad we didn't have a baby. I am so excited to see him as a big brother.

Oh Baby Girl

2011-12-05T18:04:00.000-06:00

We were very set on not finding out the sex of our baby, but in the middle of our appointment last month we broke down and "forced" my doctor to look at the parts. At that point he said 90% girl, but he wasn't positive-I was 12ish weeks pregnant. So at this months appointment we went with Parker and found out what this little nugget is. Parker was pretty set on having a baby sister. In fact, while at the appointment, listening to the heart beat, he said "It's her heart!".

Parker was right, we are having a little girl. We are really excited. She will complete our family, and this will (most likely) be our last baby. Her name is Ella Mae. We name our children before they are conceived. Parker was named several months before he was conceived, and he wasn't exactly planned. We named Ella a month before her conception. Had Parker been a girl, her name would have been Aubrey, and had Ella been a boy, his name would be Connor.

We cannot wait to meet this little girl, but she still has LOTS of growing to do. I am starting to feel little flutters, and that is truly the best part of pregnancy!

Under contract

2011-11-20T18:29:00.000-06:00

On October 26, we put our house on the market. We knew we would need a bigger house when the baby came, and we were not 100% sure we would be in Tulsa after graduation.

On November 19, we got the first call about showing our house. We had gotten lazy about keeping the house neat and tidy, so we busily cleaned for the showing the next day.

On November 20, we left our house at 1:45pm so a prospective buyer could take a look. At 2:45pm we got a call that they were leaving out house. We got back home, and at 4:16pm out realtor called to let us know they liked the house and were faxing an offer over. At 6:00pm, we signed the papers, and we are UNDER CONTRACT. Pending inspection and appraisal we will close on December 20. But where will we live?

Christmas Crafts

2011-11-19T14:06:00.000-06:00

The most wonderful time on the year is approaching FAST, and my list of holiday crafts is longer than Parker's wish list. Pinterest is to blame for all this craftiness. I am hoping to get a few of these projects finished before Santa arrives.

Source: aroomforeveryone.blogspot.com via Bethany on Pinterest

Source: sandandsisal.com via Bethany on Pinterest

Source: mycrazylife-lauren.blogspot.com via Bethany on Pinterest

Source: nedesignbuild.com via Bethany on Pinterest

Source: 4.bp.blogspot.com via Bethany on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Bethany on Pinterest

Source: ravelry.com via Bethany on Pinterest

Thankful Thursday

2011-11-17T17:52:00.000-06:00

Another week has come and almost gone, and it is time for Thankful Thursday. I am Thankful for my ability to heat my house and car. I am blessed to afford a house and a car. Whenever the weather starts to get cold and I start getting cranky because I don't like being cold, it makes me think about those who have to stay outside in this weather. I don't have to spend much time outside, and I cannot imagine having to be outside all night. I am also thankful that I do not have to work outside.

Belated Thankful Thursday

2011-11-11T16:53:00.000-06:00

I was sick yesterday. Sick in bed coughing, blowing my nose and feeling rather pitiful. I chose to save my thankfulness for a day when I wasn't so icky, and I think I'll be extra Thankful today because it is Veteran's Day.

Thank you for serving our country, and thank you for supporting those who serve our country. There are three special men in my family who have served our country, and for the countless others out there-THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm also thankful for a the job which I recently accepted! I was offered a job with Target, I have completed all the pre-employment screenings, so now I just have to graduate and the job is mine. The current job market for pharmacists is a bit saturated, so I feel really blessed to have already been offered an amazing job with several months until graduation. You know there is someone else pulling for you when things work out this well. In less than one month from my first interview I was called with this opportunity, and I knew the only thing to say was YES. I got the call while on rotation, and sat in a family waiting area of the hospital (where I had decent reception) to hear the details of the job. I will share more details as graduation and my start date approach.

Thankful Thursday

2011-11-03T18:52:00.000-05:00

These really shouldn't be saved for just the month of November, or Thursdays. I am blessed beyond words, and I am thankful everyday for the people in my life.

Today I dedicate my Thankful Thursday post to my mom. She has been great the past few months(and every other day too!!) She has been helping me with dinner several nights of the week. She is concerned about my nutrition, or the lack of when I am left to cook. I haven't been feeling well, and the thought of cooking is pretty awful. Tonight we are enjoying Taco Soup, otherwise it would have been PB&Js. I hope my cooking desire comes back soon, and this nausea goes AWAY!

My mom ROCKS!

Pregnancy Update: My growing (sort of) bump

2011-10-31T19:44:00.000-05:00

The belly is starting to show up a bit (PS I am pregnant). We have been taking monthly pictures, because the belly doesn't change much in the first few months.

month one

month 2

month 3

Ok so there is not much change!

How I've been feeling?
The nausea with this pregnancy has been rough. I haven't been vomiting, but I feel sick most of the time. It has gotten better, but it is still hanging around. I was taking additional (as in more than what is in my prenatal) Vitamin B6, and wearing my rocking sea bands.

I am hoping my energy will come back soon. I am really exhausted. Being pregnant and having a 4 year old is hard work. Luckily my 4 year old ROCKS!

How is Parker coping?

He is really excited to be a big brother!!!!!! He can't wait to meet his little brother or sister, and wants to be my helper.

What is going on...
We haven't full decided if we are finding out the gender, we were dead set on being surprised, then we took a peak at the parts at our last doctors appointment...We don't know anything for sure.

We have put out house on the market. We will need a bigger house when the new baby comes, and we are not positive we will be in Tulsa (although we are hoping).

blogging trend

2011-09-14T17:30:00.000-05:00

You may have seen some of the blogging trends going around-the accent vlog, the letter to your 16 year old self. This is neither-I have tried the accent vlog, but I am never looking my best when I sit down at my computer. Believe me, you don't want to see me right now--It is windy outside and my hair is a MESS! I am not going to the the letter to my 16 year, but I would like to talk about my high school reunion, which is a similar topic.

My 10 year high school reunion was last weekend, and I had high expectations for a GREAT time. I went with Morgan, and my best friend from high school and her husband. I had the least amount of fun of the group. Morgan-who was dreading the event-had a great time. I don't know what I expected, I don't know why I thought it would be soooo much fun. I enjoyed seeing old friends, I didn't have a bad time, but I guess I was expecting something different. A Romy and Michelle comment was thrown out at one point and it was HILARIOUS! I really wanted to tell someone that I invented Post-its!

I was not drinking, for "health" reasons-more on that later. I was one of very few people not drunk, or other wise intoxicated (if you catch my drift). Please note-I am judging no one, I am simply stating a fact, and to be honest I probably would have been drinking, but I could not.

I realized how much I have changed since high school, I am not the same person, and I felt like I couldn't be myself at the reunion. I really can't explain the feeling. I just didn't feel like I was me. I wasn't outgoing, I wasn't fun, I wasn't excited. I absolutely love my friends from college, I am me with them-me is crazy, and loud, and not afraid to say what is on my mind, and fun, and in general not who I was Saturday night. I am still friends with a couple (and I mean a couple) people from high school-one is also a collage friend-and I am me with them.

I told Morgan at the end of the night that the reunion made me realize how much more I love my life now. He thought I meant something about an old boyfriend, but that was NOT it. I really love this me, and I don't think I loved that me all that much. It hurts a little to know that, but it is also great, high school was only 4 years, and now I have forever!

I realized how some people haven't changed. It is sad. That is all I have to say on that.

So I guess in a nut shell I would tell me 16 year old self: You get better with age!

Banning Children

2011-07-27T10:28:00.000-05:00

I am clearly a mother, so maybe I am biased but this article is ridiulous. And the woman who wrote this one is every name she called herself and more. Banning children from normal activities is insane. I understand that not everyone has or wants kids, but that does not mean that we should live in a child free world. Because without children where would the world be? There are places that children are not allowed-Bars, Casinos, there are more...but I can't think of any.

We sometimes go out without Parker, and we normally go to places he can't go (like a bar), but I should be able to take him to dinner, shopping, swimming, a museum and the park when I want to. Neither Parker nor I should be limited to dinners at Chuck-E-Cheese. How do children learn? From school, and from seeing new things! Parker travels with us, because we are a family. I wasn't left at home so my parents could go on vacation. And neither will he.

Any non-parents have opinions on this?

PS The first article states that Whole Foods in Missouri is banning kids, but when that link is clicked you learn that Whole Foods is offering free childcare for 2 hours every Friday.

who has time to refrigerate cookie dough?

2011-07-18T18:39:00.000-05:00

One of the most annoying things in cookie recipes is after all the directions on how to make the dough it then says to refrigerate for 24-36 hours. I have 2 pretty demanding boys when it comes to cookies. They want cookies today, not tomorrow. And I don't ever read the entire recipe before I start cooking, so this little addition to a recipe just makes me mad.

Last night I found this recipe on pintrest, and got cooking. Everything was going well, including the over 3 cups of flour, then I saw the dreaded direction...but I had two boys standing in the kitchen asking when the cookies would be ready. So I decided to bake them anyways, I felt like such a rebel. Guess what...they turned out GREAT.

(from pintrest.com)

What is not new?

2011-07-14T17:59:00.000-05:00

I honestly feel like I have nothing to blog about. My life seems perfect right now, but sometime perfect can get boring. We wake up, I go to my rotation, Parker goes to BB's or Nana's (and by now Morgan has been at work for hours), I pick Parker up and we come home. It is too hot for much outdoor fun, except for the pool, so we hang out inside playing cars and trains. I love how things are going, and I am beyond ready to be finished with school, expect for the fact that I will be in charge and that is SCARY.

This year is interesting because we are supposed to be putting our knowledge into practice in a controlled and supervised environment, but I feel like I am being asked questions I should know the answer to...and I can't remember the answer. I am constantly in fear of saying the wrong thing, making a fool of myself, or just flat out being WRONG.

I am also still deciding what to do next year. Residency or not? Work for the government or not? Move or stay here? I am making this decision (with the help of Morgan) for a family of 3, which makes it that much more difficult and important to make the right decision for all of us. (I am not discounting the gravity of this decision for a single person, simply stating the obvious that making a decision regarding your future is a big flippin' deal) I really wish that it was March and I knew what was going on, ie. the decision had already been made. I have prayed hard about what is the best thing to do, and I think I know the answer, but you know I want to be super sure!

I made it! Monday

2011-07-04T12:54:00.010-05:00

If you follow me on Twitter, you may know that I tweeted...

Just when I thought my sewing skills were improving...I go and do something stupid-I just sewed through my finger.

It sucked a whole lot. If you get queasy easily, you may want to skip down a bit...I had to pull the needle out of my finger, it went through the middle of my nail bed, all the way through to the other side. I had to remove the thread as well. After I was done panicking, nearly passing out, and cleaning my finger up, I had to remove the blood from the sewing machine. It was not awesome.

Well here it the finished product-blood stains washed out!!

A T-shirt skirt.

A little better picture of the top

I found the directions at Sew Like my Mom. It is really simple, once you figure out shirring, that and keeping your fingers away from the needle. It is insanely comfortable, it is a t-shirt!

What??

2011-06-28T08:37:00.000-05:00

Me: Parker, come eat your breakfast...Duke is about to get it
Parker: Please take care of it, I am putting my cars in.
Me: Please eat your breakfast. Come take a bite, and then you can put more cars away
Parker: All of them?
Me: Where are you putting all your cars?
Parker: The bathtub.

And I thought he was actually cleaning up his cars.

Quinoa with Pesto and Tomatoes

2011-06-25T06:47:00.000-05:00

Quinoa-a species of goosefoot(Chenopodium), is a grain-like crop grown primarily for its edible seeds. (from the ever reputable wikipedia)

I love me some quinoa. We tried it a few years ago, and it was ok. I cooked it in water and we ate it...not the best way to try this wonderful food. It is high in protein, in fact it is a complete protein. What does that mean? Well, you can eat quinoa and get all the protein your body needs...not the easiest task for a vegetarian/vegan! We have given it another try, and are quite surprised by how much I (we is pushing it) like it!

I have found that sauteing an onion in olive oil then adding the quinoa and sauteing for a few minutes is a great way to add flavor. Then I an my cooking liquid-water or broth and simmer until the liquid is gone. It works for me, it might not be the right way to cook it??

For some extra flavor I put a few scoops of pesto and some halved grape tomatoes. It is a great side dish or meal.

Veggie Pizza

2011-06-24T07:30:00.006-05:00

I made this Veggie Pizza the other night for dinner. It was AWESOME!!

A few changes:
- I used both Alfredo and tomato sauce, along with some pesto on top.
- My veggies: Broccoli, Cauliflower, Carrots, Tomatoes

I served it with pesto quinoa with tomatoes!

I was not sure how Morgan would like the pizza, he likes veggies, and he likes pizza...but the combo? He really liked it, he was surprised how much he liked it.

Wonder how I found this recipe? Pinerest.com...my new obsession, well that and hipstamatic!

really not much has changed

2011-06-23T16:39:00.000-05:00

You would think that at 28, my summer days would be quite different than my summer days at 18. But, alas, they are not!

Mornings are spent by the pool

Sno Cones in the afternoon

only thing different is this sweet little man!

Harry Potter...

2011-06-22T16:19:00.000-05:00

I went back to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter last week. I didn't take many pictures...I forgot I had my camera in my bag. But I realized I never posted many of the pictures I took on my first visit. And since the LAST movie is coming out soon, it seem very appropriate to do a Harry Potter themed post. Some famous places from the books/movies:

Hogsmeade...with parents permission 3rd year and above students can visit Hogsmeade on the weekends.

Honey Duke-candy store

Owl Post-in case you don't have your own.

Olivanders-the ONLY place to get your wand

Hagrid's Hut

If you have read the books or seen the movies, you should recognize these places!

I made it! Monday

2011-06-20T14:15:00.005-05:00

My sewing skills are improving. I was able to make a baby gift for a friend.

Flannel on one side, Bright fun pattern on the other!

Pink Burp cloths!

5 years

2011-06-02T13:19:00.000-05:00

June 3rd is our 5th wedding anniversary!!!!!

Cute picture from our rehearsal

Our wedding party

ROAD TRIP

2011-06-02T13:14:00.000-05:00

After some last minute changes-we are leaving tonight (Thursday) on a road trip to Watercolor, FL. We are going to take 2 days to drive there and stay for a week (we have been planning the trip for months...it the leaving today thing that changed). We have rented a beach house with friends and CANNOT wait to relax!

I made it! Monday

2011-05-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

Here is an I made it! Monday you can make for a friend!

My New Nursing Mama gift bag.

1. Water, weather bottled or a cute reusable bottle! Nursing moms need to stay hydrated

2. Washable nursing pads (who knew they made such cute ones...etsy.com has some!)

3. Oatmeal cookies or cookie bars. Oatmeal can help with breast milk production

4. Sparkling water is fun and make me happy. (a friend brought be a bottle of sparkling water every week after I had Parker!)

You could also throw in a magazine, fun book, or whatever else your friend likes! I made one for Jessie after she had Jacob (PS check out her I made it! Monday post)

Sewing

2011-05-25T11:13:00.000-05:00

I inherited my grandmother's sewing machine. It is in an antique cabinet made by my great-grandfather. And until yesterday I had NO idea how to use it. It just sits in my garage collecting dust and whatever cups are in our car.

I taught myself how to use it...via youtube.com. And now I have purchased fabric to make my first project! The fabric is in the washer getting ready to become burp cloths for a friends baby girl.

Dreamin'

2011-05-19T17:07:00.000-05:00

I have the weirdest dreams, and I remember so many of them. They are really funny to me, but sometimes they don't really make sense to other people. I have at least one memorable dream a week, often many more!

Last week...and ex-boyfriend put a party together for me and all my other ex-bfs. It was weird and awkward. We all just stood around looking at each other.

Last night I had a dream that Morgan had done something really bad, really, really bad. He said he was sorry, and thought that was good enough. I was trying to talk to a friend about out, but someone else just kept getting in my way. It was a crazy dream that took place in a bed and breakfast.

Morgan's alarm went off during the dream, I woke up mad at him. I just about kicked him to get him up and away from me.

Anyone else have crazy dreams?

So much to blog about, but so not the right time.

2011-05-18T18:51:00.000-05:00

Anyone ever have tons to say, but it is just not the right time? Well that is happening right now. So instead you shall get everything else in my brain.

-My mom had knee surgery today. Everything went well, except they went in to fix her meniscus, but turns out it was fine. She had some issues with a fatty pad and she had knee plica...something to do with having fetal tissue that didn't go away. As I was reading that to my mom right after surgery she yelled "I had my twin in my knee?" Too funny (and no, there it was not her twin!)

-I am my moms nurse for the next few days. I am not good a being nurse, you see I am in Pharmacy School-not nursing. So far she has not fallen out of bed!

-I went to a baby shower over the weekend. I had fun buying baby clothes...so cute

-I saw a new baby today. He was so tiny. It never ceases to amaze me how small babies are!

-I am amazed at how big Parker is, we have real conversations. He is the coolest dude I know.

-I am on a 6 week break from school. It is so flippin' nice to not have anything to do all day long.

-I am extremely tired now. I guess the I am finally feeling the effects of the past three years of school.

-Sometimes I am a rockstar in the kitchen, other times I am not. Luckily the past few days I have been rockin'

I have to do it

2011-04-30T08:29:00.000-05:00

It's the obligatory Royal Wedding Post.

I loved the wedding. I loved her dress. She looked beautiful.

I thought the kiss was wimpy, but Morgan (who was TOTALLY into the whole thing) pointed out, that they really couldn't get too crazy! (I believe he used the word snog)

Her dress was simple, yet elegant. There was a lot of that. Simplicity. And then there was a lot that wasn't simple. But I didn't think it was too over the top.

And that is a cake.

My only complaint about the wedding is:

REALLY? Let's not pull the attention away from the bride. You two will get your turn, so how about you take a lesson from the Queen (your grandmother):

If anyone has the right to up stage the Bride it would be the Queen, and she looked great, without being showy.

But remember, they may be royal, but they didn't have Oprah...

Book Review: 90 minutes in Heaven

2011-04-29T18:29:00.000-05:00

90 minutes in Heaven by Don Piper

I read this book a while ago and never wrote a review. I loved the book. I loved the sense of hope you get from the book. Don was in a horrible car accident, he was pronounced dead on the scene and left to dealt with later. A Pastor arrives at the accident and goes to see Don, he holds Dons hand and prays for him. Don experienced a glimpse of Heaven in the 90 minutes he was dead, and he comes back to share his story; both his time in Heaven and the brutal recovery from the accident.

I can't recommend this book enough. I was moved by his strength through recovery and his story of what awaits us.

Book Review: Barefoot

2011-04-28T18:29:00.001-05:00

Barefoot : A Novel by Elin Hilderbrand

Three women head to Nantucket for the summer. One escaping an adulterous husband, one escaping an affair with a college student, and one with lung cancer and two children. An easy read, but worth the few days it takes to read. Luckily there was lots of laughing and very few tears with this book.

I made it! Monday

2011-04-25T07:17:00.007-05:00

Drop Stitch Skirt.

I made this skirt last summer, but just now got a good picture of it. When I was making it, I finished on piece and realized that it would be too small. I got discouraged and didn't work on it for a while. I'm glad it is finished...I was a great Easter outfit!

He is Risen!

2011-04-24T16:24:00.000-05:00

(image from Rimrock Church)

Jersey Knit Bracelet

2011-04-22T07:42:00.001-05:00

More craftiness coming your way. I saw this bracelet and HAD to make one.

(I thought it looked cute on my quilt!)

I had some jersey fabric laying around, so I didn't even have to go to the store to make it! It took all of 5 minutes once I got the hang of it. I'm thinking of heading to the fabric store to get some different colors. It is fun to wear, fun to make and look cute.

The description of the bracelet made it even more perfect-I am soooo looking forward to our vacation in June to Destin.

Here is the tutorial on the bracelet.

Sensory Box

2011-04-21T11:53:00.012-05:00

I am pretty sure that I have never been more excited to make something than RIGHT now (it might have something to do with the fact that I NEED to be studying for the 2 tests I have tomorrow). I have found some truly amazing websites with fun crafts and activities for kids.

Pink and Green Mama makes awesome sensory boxes for her daughter. I am heading to the store ASAP to get some beans for Parker, this is right up his ally. He has tons of little figures for a box, animals, dinosaurs, cars, dump trucks, Lego people! I love how inexpensive the items are, and I know he will play with it.

Modern Parents, messy kids led me to Pink and Green and also was the inspiration for my paint chip easter decoration. I love being crafty, but sometimes I need some inspiration!

What I am...Wednesday

2011-04-20T06:27:00.006-05:00

Sad story about this Wednesday. I'm still reading the same books, still knitting the same things.
Happy story about this Wednesday. I am making progress on everything!

What I am looking forward to-
Easter. I am a bit of a purest (or a baby boomer, or something), and I don't wear white (pants/skirts/shoes) before Easter (some people say before Memorial day, but that would be really difficult), so I cannot wait to wear some WHITE

weheartit.com

Usually Easter would mean the end on my Lenten sacrifice, but I was really bad this year and I ended Lent with Holy Week (this is very common, just not for me). I have been indulging in coffee again. (and it is oh so good)

weheartit.com

What I am preparing for-
The Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon Relay

I am running the first leg-10K. I am not ultra prepared for this race, but I will do the best I can. It will be fun to run with friends! I am going to try and get a few good runs in before, eat well and get it over with...

Easter!!!!!

2011-04-19T14:30:00.001-05:00

I had some extra time (read: time not in class, but time I should be using to study) so I whipped up a few DIY easter decorations.

Here is a tutorial on how to make the paint chip garland.

The glass vases have 3 Peep bunnies, easter grass and a plastic easter egg.

This was cheap, easy, fun, fast and tasty!

Tooting my own horn

2011-04-13T18:53:00.000-05:00

Toot! Toot!

I was a member of a research team (ie. I was the student who did A LOT of work) this year. I gave a presentation of my research a few weeks ago and tied for 2nd place. Here is the announcement that is currently playing on our "announcement screen" at school.

I put tons of time and energy into this research and I a proud of my success with this presentation! Now to get it published.

What I am...Wednesday

2011-04-13T18:14:00.000-05:00

Well it is Wednesday. And I have been a bad blogger. I guess I have blogger block. In order to get me out of yet another blogging slump I have created "What I am ... Wednesday"

What I am reading:

I just picked up Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand today. I was headed outside for a little sun and wanted something summery! So far I am in to it. 3 women head to Nantucket for the summer...

Hello AMAZING series. My only complaint is that this book is a bulky hardback book. It hurts my hands to hold it sometimes.

Gotta get a classic in every now and then!

What I am knitting:

I love this Tunic. I am making it in a red. Cannot wait to finish-I've been working on it for a while

This awesome cardigan. I am hoping to make it a little longer. The yarn is purples, tans and browns. Hand died and gorgeous.

(the knitting pictures are from ravelry.com and the designer)

What are you doing?

I made it! Monday

2011-04-11T09:00:00.000-05:00

My sweet little model is showing off my new scarf! Fun, Fast and Frilly!

The yarn was very different, and it is what makes the scarf. I did nothing exciting. Too bad it is nearly summer (I hope!)

the weather is absolutely wonderful

2011-04-06T17:59:00.000-05:00

We have been having GREAT weather. This weekend was full of playgrounds, picnics, BBQs, trampoline jumping and even swimming. We have been outside as much as possible.

Today Parker and I got a kite out. WOW I haven't done that is a long time, and it was awesome.

He loved seeing the kite WAY up in the sky. We did have a little incident with the house, but I got it untangled! I am totally loving the spring weather.

I made it! Monday

2011-04-04T09:00:00.000-05:00

Jessie is having a baby boy! And he needs a Patriot Hat!!

I had tons of fun making this little hat. I can't wait to see Baby Jacob is his hat.

Nerd Prom

2011-03-07T18:33:00.000-06:00

What a week we had last week. Parker came down with yucky strep throat, and rebounded quickly after a few doses of antibiotics. Friday night was Pharmacy Spring Formal...aka Nerd Prom. It was called a formal, but formal attire was optional. I got a little crazy-here are some pictures of the evening.

Some AMAZING dance moves...

(pretend you don't see me swinging my lasso. The lady in front is a professor!)

It was a Masquerade...and I found a creepy white mask. Remember it is HORROR movie (not whore movie)

I was being led around, because I eye holes were very small (as were the nose holes)

taking a needed breathing break

With friends

Me and Morgan

Trying my green thumbs on a veggie garden

2011-02-23T18:36:00.000-06:00

A few years ago I tried to have a veggie garden. I had one salad from my garden, then everything died. I have several pots going-spicach, carrots, green beans, basil, dill, cucumber, tomato and lettuce. I think I tried too much at once.

This year I am going to grow spinach and lettuce. Two containers with veggies to water, and if I do it right we can be eating from it for a while. I am not able to have a garden in the ground in my backyard...

But Duke would get into it...

Pasta

2011-02-15T17:35:00.000-06:00

(from weheartit.com)

First of all...is there anyone that does not love pasta? It is just to starchy and wonderful. I could eat it everyday, but you know all those carbs stick to my butt, love handles, stomach, etc. But with it being training season again at our house (I think it might always be training season?) We are needing some carbs.

Now, while I love me some pasta, I also love me some cream based sauces, but the plain tomato sauce is not my favorite. My dear friend (although I don't know her, but I am sure we would be friends) Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Woman, makes an AMAZING tomato cream sauce and she kindly taught me how to make it too (PS-click the link and she will teach you too)! It is wonderful, I might even eat it with a spoon right out of the pot. Not all days are great for making tomato cream sauce from scratch. I have a pretty good substitute when I am busy.

Bertolli Vodka Sauce. I think it is pretty good (but no I don't eat it with a spoon our of the jar...it is not THAT good).

Soooooo, today Morgan and I were talking about dinner. When I said we were having tortellini he asked, "Are we having the weird pink sauce?" He doesn't like the Bertolli sauce. He like PLAIN tomato sauce (like the plain Ragu), and I can't eat it. He likes my tomato cream sauce, just not the kind in the jar. I guess I will have to buy separate pasta sauce from now on.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

2011-02-14T08:57:00.000-06:00

I tried to get a picture of my little valentine...but he was moving...and it is a bit blurry!

So happy Valentines Day from me!! Hope your day has some love.
(image from weheartit.com)

MIssion Trip...me?

2011-02-08T08:59:00.001-06:00

I have been asked to serve on a medical mission team to Guyana...South America. I have NEVER been on a mission trip, although I have said many times that "someday" I would go. I now am signed up and headed to South America in March.

In order to go to on the mission trip I need a few additional vaccines...Typhoid and Yellow Fever. Typhoid comes as a live oral vaccine. It is four pills taken every other day. The side effects are stomach upset of all kinds. I am nervous...as I have begun the vaccination process as I am typing.

It has to be refrigerated

I have a pretty lengthy packing list...including some very interesting items (luckily toilet paper will be for this trip.) I ordered a water bottle for the trip (have no fear purified bottled water is provided for us, but in BIG jugs for us to fill our own container). I am pretty excited about getting this beauty in the mail:

It is a CamelBak BPA-Free Better Bottle with Bite Valve! (try saying that 3 times fast).

While I am gone I will be totally disconnected from my world-no cell phone, email, blog, twitter, FB. Also no Morgan or Parker, I have never been away for 10 days, I am trying to prepare myself.

I made it! Monday

2011-02-07T07:00:00.001-06:00

The weather had been frightful. So I whipped up a few fast projects to keep me warm. This little ear warmer is super thick and warm. I was actually a little hot in it after running down the street pulling Parker on his sled!

Let's not make fun of my little pony tail!

I think this would be perfect for a football game in your favorite team colors!

We can't go to school, because there is a storm

2011-02-06T15:32:00.000-06:00

Still stuck in the snow

2011-02-04T17:52:00.000-06:00

Mother Nature has not been nice to Oklahoma. The snow just keeps coming, and we are getting buried deeper and deeper.

I have been out of school for 4 or 5 days this week, this is great except I have 2 tests next week (and it looks like more snow is on it's way). I don't understand why our winters keep getting worse. Parker has had it with being inside, and it is too cold to go outside. He has been riding his scooter all over our house.
On the bright side, I have been reading and knitting up a storm. It is great! I have also been eating and drinking WAY too much, but I have worked out pretty hard in the living room! I may head over to a friends house tomorrow for a little treadmill time.

What happens when you mix:

Ree Drummond (image from http://reedrummond.com/)

Red potatoes

and onions?

You get some pretty amazing breakfast potatoes (which we ate with dinner!)

I got her cookbook for Christmas and it is phenomenal.

And now some talk about pictures. I take tons of pictures with my phone. I have 2 really nice cameras, but it is a pain to get them out, take pictures, upload them...so many bloggers talk about the poor quality of the iPhone pictures. While it does not take AMAZING photos, it take pictures good enough for me-and I hope for you. It pictures of the snow (and Duke) were taken with my phone then jazzed up with a new app. It is fun, quick and easy. I just don't have the time to be a professional photographer, but I like to have pictures! Now I am going to try and get a picture of Parker, he is not cooperating with the camera...

Book Review: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

2011-02-03T17:42:00.000-06:00

WOW...this book was crazy. It is a mystery, it is a thriller, it is suspenseful, it was hard to put down. There is so much going on in the book. The main characters have dysfunctional personal lives, there is a murder to solve, there is scandal, and affairs. I will warn you there is some pretty crazy, nasty, violent stuff in the end...be warned.

The best part about the book is that fact that there a 2 more books in the series!

What the snow?

2011-02-01T14:53:00.000-06:00

We are being hit by a MASSIVE snow storm. I have enjoyed all the snow tweets and FB updates. It seems as though we are all stuck in our houses watching feet of fluffy white stuff fall.

Great news is so far no power outages, but I have heard of a few cable/internet/phone outages. Schools have been closing for tomorrow...highways are shut down...

and Morgan and Parker are building an igloo.

What a weekend (AKA I need a few more days to recover)

2011-01-23T15:43:00.000-06:00

Man, I'm tired, and it's Sunday, so I wont get to catch up any sleep, because I have a test this week, and homework, and I'm sure lots that I'm forgetting, and this sentence is long, and now over!

Friday night was book club, but we had a miscommunication about time. Morgan and I planned a date night. We went to see Black Swan

It was great! I loved it. Natalie Portman was wondergul. Morgan liked it. Made me want to lace up my toe shoes and start dancing again! We then went to The Melting Pot for dinner. It was yummers. I ate way too much food, and we didn't even have dessert! We were going to go home, but then things got a little crazy.

School has a silent auction benefit for Make-a-Wish. The auction was from 6-9 at Ivey. We didn't leave dinner until about 9, but everyone was still there...so we joined them! Everyone had been drinking for 3 hours-yikes! We ended up dancing and had a great time, but we didn't get home until 1am.

Saturday we went to a OKC Thunder game. It wad great, we won with a last second shot!!!! But we were out pretty late...especially for Parker. We stayed the night with Morgan's aunt in OKC, she sent us home with lots of goodies.

We are home. I've been cooking all afternoon..and there is not much to show for it. Maybe I'll get to bed early tonight, but that is doubtful!

What's a motto?

2011-01-21T14:08:00.000-06:00

Nothing...what's the matter with you?
I love the Lion King, one of my favorite Disney movies.

And it has absolutely nothing to do with this post-Ha!
I am nearing the end of school (ok, I technically still have a year and a half), and I'm really looking into my future. I want to do a one (or two) year residency, which may or may not be located in Tulsa. There are a few opportunities here, but I can't put all my "eggs" in one basket.
This decision has been weighing on me for quite sometime. First, just the decision to do a residency. I will be paid, but not full pharmacist salary. I will work a lot more than full time. We have been able to live comfortably on one salary for 4 years now, so me making any money will be nice. It means less stress for Morgan! However, a residency will not be stress free for me! Secondly, applying outside of Tulsa/Oklahoma. I am not saying we are moving. We are just broadening the search. Tulsa will be my first choice, but I cannot assume I will be matched with a residency in Tulsa. I've never lived in a different city than my family, so this decision is pretty life changing. More later on where I'm looking!

I won't apply until next January. Since I am making decisions for more than just myself, I feel the need to really know where I could *potentially* drag my family is important. I have to think about where to live, what to do with our house, schools, Morgan's job, etc.

By the way, residency matching is very much like rush! You go to mid-year-a giant convention where you can go meet a bunch of different people from tons of programs (round 1). You apply to the residency programs you are interested in, you get invited to interview...maybe everywhere maybe just a few places (cutting "houses" and pref parties). You make a list of your top choices (your pref list) and programs make a list of top applicants (houses list). The spin (bid matching). In march You are matched with a program...hopefully (running of the bulls). If you don't match, there is always the scramble (COB!).

BREAD

2011-01-20T12:58:00.000-06:00

Who doesn't LOVE bread? It is so wonderful. I could eat a loaf a day...and my family pretty much did just that.

Last night I made Light Oat Bread, a recipe I found on allrecipes.com. When it came out of the machine we had ~~one~~ ~~two~~ ok, several pieces. This morning it was nearly devoured for breakfast. It is great with a little honey. I think I might make some more for tomorrow. One thing about the recipe is that it uses AP flour instead of bread flour? Whatever it is GOOD!!!

Dump everything into a bread machine and start!
1 1/4 cups water
2 tablespoons margarine
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup rolled oats
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

2011-01-18T09:00:00.000-06:00

I had a great time at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I took an insane amount of pictures of the park...I won't bore you with all of them. The picture above is me, my scarf and a ButterBeer, which is YUMMY!

The sunsetting on Hogmeade village. It really looks like a snowy village...you would never guess that it Florida.

The Hogwarts Express (and a random dude.)

Parker was not as excited about Harry Potter, but loved this cave!

He did LOVE the Flight of the Hippogriff ride (note this picture was taken while on a moving ride...that explains the slight blurriness.)

Margaritaville

Spiderman

Any Harry Potter fan needs to make the trip to Orlando, FL to see this park, they did a great job of bringing Hogsmeade and Hogwsrts to life.

My new addiction

2011-01-17T08:12:00.000-06:00

Anyone remember this post? It is a "Wishful Wednesday" post about something I wish Santa had brought me. My answer-A Kindle. Santa got the memo this year...in a round about way...here is the story:

Last year my mom got my dad a Sony eReader:

He loved it, bought lots of books, used it in front of me...I was jealous. You see my wish for a "Kindle" is really just me using the brand name of one product to illustrate a group of products. Like saying Kleenex when you really just need a tissue, or Advil when you just have a headache and want an ibuprofen...or acetaminophen...or acetylsalicylic acid.

This year my dad decided he needed an iPad (my dad is pretty hip with technology). So what did my mom get him?

Yep a 32G iPad. He no longer needs his eReader, he now has the Kindle app of his iPad. He kindly re-gifted his eReader to me. I now have an eReader loaded with several books, and I stay up way to late reading!

I made it! Monday

2011-01-03T07:35:00.001-06:00

I've been knitting lots of small projects (hats, scarves, mittens) Here are two pairs of mittens that were inspired by movies.

The Bella Mitten

The Hermione Fingerless Mitten

Both were fun to make, and have gotten some use!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2010-12-25T07:50:00.000-06:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS from Bethany, Morgan and Parker!

Christmas Day Menu

2010-12-23T08:04:00.000-06:00

Food Food Food...that is what is on the menu! We have pot-luck style Christmas.

For Breakfast:
Breakfast Casserole (my job)
Fruit Bake (my job)
Wassail (my job) (recipe found here)
Breakfast Bundt Cake (Morgan's aunt)

Lunch/Dinner
Ham (I was given the job of cooking the ham...yikes)
Green Bean Casserole (Morgan's aunt)
Scalloped Potatoes (this job has been given to many, but Morgan told me last night I was making it...with his "help")
Bread/Rolls (Morgan's Parents)
Cherry Coke Salad (Morgan's Aunt)
Various candies, cookies, and sweets

hmmm...typing it us made me realize I am making a lot of food! I also realized I did not assign my parents to any food? I don't think we need anything else...I love Christmas Day food, it is by far my favorite eating day of the year! I eat all day long-it is AMAZING!

I can't wait to see Parker open his presents and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus! He has been so much fun this year. He loves to see Santa, and find his Elf on the Shelf. He is so excited right now, it is hard for him to be "good".

Christmas Food

2010-12-18T07:04:00.000-06:00

The holidays are never a good time to think about your waist line/booty size/how you look in your jeans...the food is so delicious, it is everywhere in great abundance and it tends to be on the unhealthy side. Last year I posted two of my favorite recipes growing up (and still today!).

A new tradition is going to Morgan's aunts house to make candy. Morgan and Parker are the taste testers and my aunt-in-law and I are the cookers. We use recipes from her mom and dad. We have a great time every year making candy together.

Our usual candies are: Peanut Brittle, Fudge (Peanut butter is my fav), and Divinity. This year we added a recipe I found...

Saltine Cracker Toffee from allrecipes.com

Ingredients

4 ounces saltine crackers
1 cup butter
1 cup dark brown sugar
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C).
2. Line cookie sheet with saltine crackers in single layer.
3. In a saucepan combine the sugar and the butter. Bring to a boil and boil for 3 minutes. ] Immediately pour over saltines and spread t cover crackers completely.
4. Bake at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle
chocolate chips over the top. Let sit for 5 minutes. Spread melted chocolate and top with chopped nuts. Cool completely and break into pieces.

This stuff is addicting!

Maria is having a contest, head over to read some other memories or enter!

Christmas Dance

2010-12-16T17:21:00.001-06:00

It's that time of the year-

2010-12-14T17:14:00.000-06:00

When people post pictures of their Christmas Decorations. I want to join in but:

1) There is a plastic bowl on the table where baby Jesus hangs out (the nativity scene...I have to remind Parker to not throw his ball at baby Jesus.)

2)A Nutcracker took a tumble

3) We have this traveling Elf

4) I have 2 finals left...

Sammy Having a Wonderful Christmas Time!

2010-12-03T09:01:00.000-06:00

Parker LOVES Christmas, he is really getting into the holiday season. Today he told me that we needed to get party hats for Jesus' birthday. He enjoys singing Christmas songs. His list of favorites:

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Christmas Song
All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
Simply Having a Wonderful Christmastime...but he changed the words a little!

Turkey Day Fun

2010-12-01T19:00:00.000-06:00

We loaded up a car and hit the road for this years Turkey Feast. My uncle invited the whole crew to Albuquerque New Mexico for thanksgiving.

The Original Plan
1. My parents leave Tuesday morning
2. We leave Tuesday afternoon, stay the night in Amarillo, TX, arrive in ABQ Wednesday morning.
3. My sister and family leave Wednesday morning, get in Wednesday evening.

However, my dad has an ulcer on his cornea, he cannot see out of one eye and had to go to the doctor Wednesday morning...so

1. My mom rode with us
2. My dad rode with my sister, et. al.
3. We all made it to ABQ Wednesday.
4. We had a great time, eating, drinking, eating more, shopping, and hanging out...oh and we did some mountain climbing.hiking!

We made it back, and we have been crazy busy since. I leave for Anaheim, CA on Monday for a convention. Christmas is so very close, finals are closer.

Speaking of my dad. If you could say a prayer for him that would be great. His eye problem should not cause vision problems once it heals, but right now it hurts, it is getting annoying, and he is pretty down. He hasn't been able to do much of anything for nearly 3 weeks. I want him to get better, because I can tell he is not dealing well with this. I want him to get well so he is not in pain (you know how men pretend they aren't hurting but they are). I want him to get well, because it is hard for me to see him not doing well. I want him to get well.

Thankful Thursday...errr Friday

2010-11-19T09:15:00.000-06:00

“A woman has got to love a bad man once or twice in her life, to be thankful for a good one”
-Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

This week has been tough. Thinking of something I'm thankful for has been tough.

Morgan is always there for me when I am struggeling, when I'm mad, when I don't think I can do it anymore. And I am thankful for Morgan on this ~~Thursday~~ Friday morning.

Winter Vacation

2010-11-14T16:16:00.000-06:00

We have a tradition of going to Disney World in January for Disney Marathon Weekend. This year we have added Hogwarts to our vacation plans.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter! I can not tell you how excited I am about this trip (I am a HUGE nerd, I know). Morgan will not be joining us for this portion of our trip (our=my mom and dad as well as Parker and I). I plan on drinking some Butterbeer at The Three Broomsticks, and getting something sweet to eat at Honeydukes. I will ride every ride there!

I am also going to represent Gryffindor with a striped scarf!

But I can't decided which one to make...votes?

Thankful Thursday

2010-11-11T06:39:00.000-06:00

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone. ~G.B. Stern

There is no such thing as gratitude unexpressed. If it is unexpressed, it is plain, old-fashioned ingratitude. ~Robert Brault, www.robertbrault.com

Gratitude is the memory of the heart. ~Jean Baptiste Massieu, translated from French

The only people with whom you should try to get even are those who have helped you. ~John E. Southard

I am thankful for my friends. I have different circles of friends from different times in my life-high school, college, pharmacy school, outside of those groupings(!). I do not get to see and talk with some of my friends as much as I'd like, but I know that if I needed something I could call them and they would help however they could. There are friends that I don't talk with much, but when we are together it as if we were never apart. I am blessed with the greatest friends! I'm not sure I always deserve you, but you stick around. Thank you to everyone who has touched my life, you are very special to me.

I do love each and every one of my friends, but there is one group of girls that is especially near to my heart-those that I call my sister. I am very fortunate to belong a sorority that has provided me with some of the best friends in the WHOLE WORLD. College is a very trying time, you are growing into an adult and you have "left" home and you need people to help you not make ~~mistakes~~ too many mistakes. My sorority sisters have been there for some of the best and worst times. I don't know what I would have done without them.

I made it! Monday

2010-11-08T09:20:00.004-06:00

I made Parker a pair of socks. He loves them. This is my first pair of completed socks. I am really happy with how they turned out.

Thankful Thursday

2010-11-04T08:59:00.001-05:00

Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough.
-- Oprah Winfrey

There are SO many things that I want...I have been working on my Christmas list for months now, but there are also SO MANY MANY MANY wonderful things that I have and I am very thankful for. For the month of November I will share some things I am thankful for.

I am Thankful for my ability to run. Several years ago I would not believe you if you said I would run 9 miles. I hated running...HATED it. There was nothing worse in my mind than running. Some how I have convinced my self that running is not as bad as I thought and I found out that I can run. It is not only the ability to run, but the ability to move. I am very thankful that my body can do the things I need it to do, like play with Parker!!

A few other Amazing runners!

Happy Halloween

2010-10-31T16:27:00.001-05:00

Oklahoma City, OK moves Halloween to Saturday, October 30, 2010.

I remember trick-or-treating on Halloween. No matter what day it was. I skipped dance class a few times because I had to pick between trick-or-treating or dance on a school night. I don't know what is so special about 2010 that we are now able to move holidays to be more convenient for our schedules.

What are your thoughts on moving Halloween?

LTNB

2010-10-26T15:51:00.000-05:00

I know I know it has been a LONG time since I have blogged. I have a million reasons why and none of them are good. I've been busy. I've been tired. I haven't had anything to write about. I honestly feel like I've been running around in circles since school started. Enough complaining (because I know no one has sympathy, I don't know anyone who isn't busy with life).

I was childless for most of last week, Parker went to Disney World with my parents for fall break. You would think I would have gotten all kinds of stuff done, but I didn't. I did a lot of sitting on my butt. I didn't make dinner. I didn't clean. I barely studied. I was a BUM. I was so very happy to see him on Sunday, and I've been more productive since he got home.

I should bore you with more stories like Oktoberfest, our flying trampoline, all my knitting projects, etc. But I will just try and blog more...

Review: SmartKnit Kids

2010-10-02T18:11:00.000-05:00

I was sent 2 pairs of SmartKnit Kids Socks to try and review...well I guess Parker tried them and I am reviewing them. We received two pairs of seamless socks, and Parker liked them. He doesn't always complain about seams in socks...but there are socks that do drive him crazy. I hate seams in my socks as well, so I was pretty pumped about these socks.

The socks stayed put and didn't need to be pulled up, but also didn't leave a tight ring around his ankles. They really are a great pair of socks. They are pretty thick, and seem like they will last a while (I hate socks that get holes in them after a few wears). They also wick moisture away-so I may be looking for an adult pair to wear running.

This Product Was a Free Giveaway

etsy

2010-09-21T17:34:00.001-05:00

I love looking at etsy.com and I love Nicky's shop StyleMark Designs. I have given a few "Family Established" signs for wedding gifts.

(this is not one she made for me)

She wraps them so nicely

Look at these coasters

Stationary

I am working with her to make something for Morgan for Christmas, I will post it after Christmas...just in case he reads my blog! She will work with you to customize your order exactly how you want it (or if you are like me, you let her do all the work because she is good with color!!)

Nicky is a friend of mine and I chose to review her etsy store, I was not compensated for this review!

Bible in 90 Days

2010-09-14T17:20:00.000-05:00

As if I didn't have enough going on-I took the challenge to read the Bible in 90 days. I am very excited to see how it goes. I have already read several stories I had never read/heard before. I am reading Parker 90 stories from the Bible as well (the 5K). We have been reading from a children's Bible at bedtime, but for this I am reading to him from a full Bible. He wants to see pictures, so I let him look at the pictures in his Children's Bible that corresponds to the story I am reading him. Morgan is doing the 10K-he is reading 90 chapters in 90 days. He has already sent me a verse that he found humorous-

Genesis 2:23
The man said, "This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man."
And my response was:
Genesis 2:24
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

This will most definitely keep me busy reading for 90 days, and will be the only thing I read. I think this is going to be very good for me.

Reading Block

2010-09-08T12:00:00.003-05:00

Is it possible to have reading block? I can't get into any book I pick up. I have tried several books, and nothing keeps my attention. I don't know if I'm just thinking about what I should be doing instead of reading, or if I am in a reading funk. It is pretty annoying, because I love to read. I don't think I have read a book since July. I have books all over my house, but nothing is interesting right now?

Needing some help

2010-09-07T17:51:00.000-05:00

I need your help. I have some yarn that I made a sweater out of several years ago. The sweater was too big, so I took it out. Now I want to make something with the yarn, I have 3 patterns that I like, but I can't decide which one to do. Here are my options:

The Best Friend Sweater

The Skating Sweater

The original sweater

Do you have an opinion?

NOTE: The pictures are NOT my property, they are from the designers of the pattern.

Menu Planning Monday

2010-09-06T06:00:00.002-05:00

Menu Planning Monday

Monday: BBQ Turkey Bugers, baked beans, and potatoes
Tuesday: Breakfast Burritos and Fruit
Wednesday: Meatballs with Brown gravy and egg noodles with broccoli
Thursday: Black Bean Burgers with Fries
Friday: Cookout
Saturday: TU game...eat at game
Sunday: cookout

Pretty easy week with Monday being a holiday and since the weather is nice we try and cookout as much as possible!!

Productive Morning

2010-08-31T14:32:00.000-05:00

WHOA. I was a rock star this morning. I had class at 10, so I worked out at 830-and could barely carry my books to class...Then during class I planned my menu for the next two weeks. I know I am a bit of an over achiever...and no I did not just say that while I should have been listening to a lecture about statistics I was planning my menu ??

Menu Planning Monday

2010-08-30T18:34:00.000-05:00

I did it, I planned my week and I posted it! I love planning my meals, it makes me feel so much more accomplished and organized. You should try it! Check out orgjunkie.com for more weekly menus.

Monday: Pizza and Salad
Tuesday: Pioneer Woman's Fried Round Steak with Red Potatoes and Green Beans
Wednesday: Pioneer Woman's Penne a la Betsy
Thursday: Homemade BBQ chicken and pineapple Pizza (a Pioneer Woman adaptation!!)
Friday: Cook out
Saturday: Out to Dinner
Sunday: Cook out

ear infections suck

2010-08-26T19:35:00.000-05:00

The little bubba has himself an ear infection.

Last night around 11pm he came screaming into my room. He was really congested, and very upset. He didn't mention his ears, but went back to sleep. He woke up this morning and seemed fine, so he went to school. My mom picked him up at noon, and brought him home for lunch. He told her he was not hungry-he just wanted to go to bed (this is NOT like him). About 45 minutes later he woke up screaming saying his ear hurt. So we headed to the doctor. Both ear drums are red, and bulging...poor little boy.

He went to Morgan's gym while I went to the store for dinner and him antibiotic, he took a short nap. He woke up to tell us the green car says "Cha-chiga" (Cars reference) and seemed a bit better. After taking Advil (and his antibiotic) he seems to be feeling better, but not 100%.

I hate when he is sick-I hate not being able to make him better

School makes me drool

2010-08-25T10:14:00.002-05:00

It is back-SCHOOL. This is my last year of classwork which is great, but this year is a toughie. I'm already studying for a quiz. YUCK. 2 days down...a lot to go.

Kentucky Weekend

2010-08-23T18:33:00.000-05:00

Morgan and I went to Kentucky this weekend for a wedding. I have never been to Kentucky (or Indiana...we drove through 5 states Sunday...), so it was fun so see a new state. The Wedding was at Keeneland Race Track, it was very pretty...and I am told Keeneland is much prettier than Church Hill Downs-home of the Kentucky Derby. I took tons of pictures on my camera-but I have yet to figure out how to upload pictures from my camera to the new computer!

This is Morgan and I on Friday night, and the rehearsal.

I had my hair done for the wedding by a Kentucky hairdresser. While she was fixing my hair she said "I don't know how big you fix your hair." I thought BIG????? It turned out great and I have discovered a new product, I call it "Bump-it in a can"

What a tease-it rocks.

And my awesome iPhone photography of the St. Louis arch on our way home.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

wow...I think I would like to remove my head

2010-08-17T14:54:00.000-05:00

Holy Moly, I have a headache and neckache from you know where. I have been consuming entirely too much caffeine the past few ~~days~~, ~~weeks~~, months. I am trying to break away from the pick me up in a cup, and now I get to deal with a monster headache. It sucks.

My allergies are also being a bit of a bugger. I wish I could live in an allergen free community. Boy, my life would be better. I think we probably need to change our air filter. My allergies kicking in is usually the indicator that we need a new one. That is a bit gross. YIKES.

Morgan and I are headed to Kentucky this weekend...I keep saying Tennessee, but it is Kentucky. We are going for a wedding. We will be driving 11.5 hours there on Friday and driving 11.5 hours home on Sunday. That is a friggin' long time in a car is such a short amount of time. I am bringing several knitting projects and a book or two. I will not be driving, as Morgan hates my driving! This does not upset me at all. Parker will be staying with the grandparents. I can't force him to sit in the car that long...

First Post...

2010-08-16T15:31:00.000-05:00

...From my new computer! I took the plunge and got a MacBook Pro. It was not cheap, but I got a pretty good financing deal. Now I just need to transfer everything from my old computer to this one.

I have used a Mac before, but this is my first Mac to own. Morgan did not understand why I wanted a Mac so badly, and then he didn't know why I need the MacBook Pro, instead of the MacBook. But he will come to the Mac side with me soon.

Pretty Little Liars

2010-08-12T09:15:00.000-05:00

The season finale of my new favorite show was on Tuesday Night. And of course there are tons of questions left unanswered. I am tempted to read the books, but TV shows and movies tend to stray from the book so much that it wouldn't do me any good.

Who is A?
-My thoughts...Mona? But how could she know everything?
-Melissa (Spencer's sister) see below
-Jenna-I'm not completely convinced that she doesn't have anything to do with this, but she would need help.

Who killed Alison?
-Melissa because she is a b!tch and Alison was with Melissa's ex-boyfriend. Could she have gotten all the secrets out of Alison before killing her?
-The boyfriend, did something go wrong?
-Did one of the girls do it? Spencer liked the same guy...

Who Turned Toby in?
-I don't remember the girls calling the cops. Maybe they did?

What are your thoughts?

Tears on my pillow

2010-08-10T09:10:00.000-05:00

In case you were unaware, I HATE FOOTBALL.
On Sunday, there was an effin' football game on. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
I am still hoping that football season will be cancelled.

yummy, what is that you are cooking?

2010-08-08T08:15:00.000-05:00

I wish I was an amazing cook, and I could just whip up something, post the recipe and call it mine. I rely on others to provide me a recipe...and then I am a pretty good cook.

The Pioneer Woman pulled through for me once again with Chicken Piccata. This recipe is not like her others, it does not make enough to feed and army for weeks-just us for 2 nights. I have lots of sauce leftover, but just dumped it. I'm not sure how well it would keep.

Joelen also rocked our world with Chicken Katsu. The homemade Teriyaki sauce was great, I might add a bit more sugar next time (I like my sauce sweet!). This recipe could be make without breading and frying the chicken. The sauce was great on white (or brown) rice and would be delish on veggie. I decided to make this last minute, and didn't have any veggies for dinner. It was sad. This also made 2 meals for us!

I'm loving Parker's new school!

2010-08-06T08:46:00.001-05:00

Parker's new school rocks!
1) I got a "Classroom News" from the teacher-something I never got from his previous school
2) Parker likes to go to school (we did have one bad day...involving the cook setting something on fire, and the fire alarm going off)
3) The school provides lunch, and it is very healthy. The school has a cook (the one who burned something...), she provides a 2 week menu, so I know what he is eating everyday. I would be happy to eat lunch at his school everyday.
4) The school is a "peanut free zone". We don't have peanut allergies in our family...but the sign cracked me up!

5) Uniforms-they make my life so much easier...I wish I could still wear a uniform.
6) They send work home. That way I can help him at home with the same concepts he is working on at school, and I know what he is working on at school. Trying to get information out of a 3 year old is basically impossible...he tells me what he wants to tell me.
6) Mr. Charlie's coffee. The school has a greater, and the greater makes coffee for all the parents!

Laptop Lunch

2010-08-05T16:29:00.002-05:00

With school just around the corner, I really want to get a bento box/laptop lunch box. I love the way the little boxes fit into the big box. I hate having tons of containers in a bag tipping over. The laptop lunch containers are very compact, but you can fit a ton it there.
I love this. A bunch of pictures of bento lunches.

Please read

2010-08-04T14:21:00.005-05:00

I found this on Juliana's Blog and loved it. It should be the header of my blog...it describes mommyhood to a tee.

My little, big boy

2010-08-03T14:13:00.000-05:00

Parker went to his first day of "big boy" school yesterday. He was very excited about going, and had a terrific day. Today, however, was not quite as good...

I dropped him off at 8am. He did well, until 1030, when another mom came to pick up her child for a doctors appointment. He wondered where his mom was...he was very upset, and cried. Then the cook burned something while making lunch-fire "drill" time-now he is confused about the loud noise, going outside, and where his mommy is. He is currently just staying 1/2 a day, so I picked him up at noon. We are hoping for a better day tomorrow.

He did great last week at Vacation Bible School at church, but he knows everyone there, and it was mainly play time. I hate knowing that he is upset, but he has to go to school because
#1-He needs to learn
#2-He needs to socialize
#3-I HAVE to go to school
I know he will get better, and he is one of the youngest in his class (he will either always be the youngest or the oldest with a September birthday) I just hate it right now. Especially because I am not doing anything right now...just working out, and going grocery shopping. He isn't gone long enough for me to get much done. At least he looks super cute in his uniform!

Yes two can keep a secret If one of us is…. Dead.

2010-07-28T14:26:00.000-05:00

I love the show Pretty Little Liars.

I love the drama, and the questions...and the fact that the girls DO NOT act like they are 16. I saw a preview for the show, and can't get enough! I guess it as based on a book series, and for once I don't want to read the books.

And the theme song is pretty funny...

Book Review: Dear John

2010-07-26T18:32:00.001-05:00

I read Dear John by Nicholas Sparks on vacation. I started it on the plane, and finished it the first day of the trip...it was good. I'm a sucker for his books, I didn't cry--which is HUGE for me. I get on Sparks kicks...where I read a bunch of his books at once. I wish I had brought another with me.

I hate to give a lot away in a review...but I was not happy with Savannah. I plan on watching the movie soon...like this week during Parker's nap...if he will take one!

VACATION

2010-07-26T18:22:00.000-05:00

Well I thought I had set this to auto-post...so now that I am back here is where I was!

By the time you are reading this we will be...

On a plane. Headed to...

and leaving on a...

Cruise to...

Puerto Vallarta

Cabo San Lucas

and Mazatlan.

And we have a housesitter...See you in a week!

Parkerisms

2010-07-16T14:21:00.002-05:00

"I need to do some push-ups for the ladies, daddy."
-Parker

Diabetes Camp

2010-07-06T18:49:00.000-05:00

This week I have the pleasure of being a counselor for 11 7-8 year old girls, who have Diabetes...

Let me tell you-it is interesting. There are 2 adult counselors and 3 youth counselor/counselors in training. Our group is ALWAYS late. We make a bathroom call, one girl responds, then when we get back 8 need to go. We make a call to fill up water bottles, no one responds, we get to our activity and everyone is thirsty. Then add in the need to check blood sugar, and give insulin...it is crazy. I am having a good time, and learning a ton-but I am exhausted at the end of the day.

Today we had rain in the afternoon. We didn't get to swim, or go to the ropes course. The girls were pretty upset, and we had made some adjustments to their insulin for the activities-so we had some HIGH blood sugars. Nothing major, and we have a great medical staff. But man we wanted to get in the pool.

We have yummy snacks in the afternoon...Blue Bell Ice Cream bars

I have a new appreciation for people with and parents of children with Diabetes. I am constantly nervous about the girls blood sugar, wondering if they will tell me when they don't feel right (and they DO!), and if I am doing things right. So far we have not had any scary highs or lows, but there are still 2 more days!

Cohen

2010-07-01T06:42:00.003-05:00

Wishful Wednesday

2010-06-30T08:00:00.003-05:00

'I wish' .... I had Anthropologie store

as my personal closet

and could shop from it daily.

I love Anthropologie...I love the variety of clothing. There are days I want to be more dressed up, and days I want to be comfortable. And while I am getting dressed I could decorate my house!

Now If I could have any store for my workout closet it would be Lululemon! I love their clothes, but they are pretty expensive for clothes to sweat in...

Adventures in Mommyhood

Pregnancy Update

my memory is failing me

Pregnancy Update

we are *finally* not home owners

Pregnancy Update

Oh Baby Girl

Under contract

Christmas Crafts

Thankful Thursday

Belated Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursday

Pregnancy Update: My growing (sort of) bump

blogging trend

Banning Children

who has time to refrigerate cookie dough?

What is *not* new?

I made it! Monday

What??

Quinoa with Pesto and Tomatoes

Veggie Pizza

really not much has changed

Harry Potter...

I made it! Monday

5 years

ROAD TRIP

I made it! Monday

Sewing

Dreamin'

So much to blog about, but so not the right time.

I have to do it

Book Review: 90 minutes in Heaven

Book Review: Barefoot

I made it! Monday

He is Risen!

Jersey Knit Bracelet

Sensory Box

What I am...Wednesday

Easter!!!!!

Tooting my own horn

What I am...Wednesday

I made it! Monday

the weather is absolutely wonderful

I made it! Monday

Nerd Prom

Trying my green thumbs on a veggie garden

Pasta

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

MIssion Trip...me?

I made it! Monday

We can't go to school, because there is a storm

Still stuck in the snow

Book Review: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

What the snow?

What a weekend (AKA I need a few more days to recover)

What's a motto?

BREAD

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

My new addiction

I made it! Monday

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Christmas Day Menu

Christmas Food

Christmas Dance

It's that time of the year-

Sammy Having a Wonderful Christmas Time!

Turkey Day Fun

Thankful Thursday...errr Friday

Winter Vacation

Thankful Thursday

I made it! Monday

Thankful Thursday

Happy Halloween

LTNB

Review: SmartKnit Kids

etsy

Bible in 90 Days

Reading Block

Needing some help

Menu Planning Monday

we are finally not home owners

What is not new?