The Red Ranch

I Have A New Home

2010-08-24T12:08:00.000-07:00

Thanks to anyone who was reading this blog, but I have decided to kick it up a notch and start up a new one. It is a little more professional than the ramblings I have posted on here. I will still keep this blog, however, but it will not be updated nearly as often. Thanks again!

http://www.countryradiomom.blogspot.com

Why Can't I Remember?

2010-08-04T05:09:00.000-07:00

This is ridiculous. I remember sitting at the computer looking at an invitation to something and asking my husband if that Saturday was clear on his calendar and if he would mind if I committed us to something on August 7th...but as I sit here trying to think of where it is I am supposed to be, or what it is I am supposed to be doing...I can't remember!

I've always heard that when women have children they develop "Mommy Brain," and I would like to blame my current memory loss on this theory. If I don't, that means I am going crazy, or developing early on-set Alzheimer's (thanks a lot book club for having me read Still Alice!).

I have gone through all my e-mails on all of my accounts and have checked calendars, evite, and even Facebook. Nothing. Hopefully I can remember by the time Saturday rolls around--in the meantime, I'll clean the house, just in case whatever it is that is supposed to occur is at my house!

Mommy Is A Mess!

2010-08-02T04:14:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I have been crying my eyes out for the past 12 hours. Why? My baby is going to a new babysitter today, since Daddy has to return to his teaching position, and Jonathan will be starting Kindergarten in three weeks. One of those alone is enough to send me into a frenzy! As if Jonathan going off into the world without me all day wasn't enough, but now someone other than me will be cuddling my little five-month-old. The ongoing battle of being a working mom! The guilt, the longing, the need to help pay the bills!

Both of them will be spending time with a young stay-at-home mom whom I have been slowly been able to get to know. We made the switch from the daycare ministry Jonathan was attending because he is going off to the big "K" and I would rather have little "T" in more of a home setting. You know, besides the fact that I was able to pick the kids up one day when Jonathan was playing on the playground with no teacher outside and drove off, no one the wiser. That's another story for another day! Let's get back to me being a mess!

Let's face it, I do not do change well. When it involves my kids, it is even worse! I love working-at least the line of work I do. And we really wouldn't be able to pay all the bills if I were not working, but the GUILT sometimes just kills me! And the debate of whether or not I am making the right decision plays over in my mind like an old record. I have been secretly glad that Jonathan is spending the first few weeks with the new babysitter, because he is old enough to grill when I get home. "What did you do today?" "What did you eat for breakfast?" "Did the babysitter commit any crimes while Mommy was at work?" you know, the usual.

Speaking of which, I should really call in to see how the "drop off" went. Be prepared for a bigger mess in three weeks...in the mean time, I need to do some stalking...

Summer Garden Recipes!

2010-07-23T05:19:00.001-07:00

I love having a garden and my little piece of dirt is starting to produce some wonderful flavors! While I am still waiting for those luscious tomatoes to turn their brilliant shade of red, I have been delighted with the farmer's market 's crop of romaine lettuce and summer squash. I am in love with my latest salad creation! It isn't some culinary discovery, but it is easy and very tasty!

Summer Salad

Romaine lettuce ripped into pieces, tossed with Light Italian dressing, topped with dried cranberries and pecan pieces.

I prepared this salad for some mommy friends who recently had babies and got rave reviews back. Along with it, I prepared this yummy pasta dish that is meant to be a freezer dish--but works well as a meal meant to feed more than one family.

Ham and Cheese Penne

2 boxes of penne noodles

1 cup butter or margarine

4 cloves of minced garlic

2 tsp salt

8 cups milk (I use skim)

2 tsp Dijon mustard

8 cups of shredded Colby cheese (I buy it in a block, then shred it myself to save money)

16 oz of deli ham, cut into thin strips

*This makes (2) 13 X 9 casseroles

In a really large pot, cook the pasta according to the box directions and drain it. Clean the pot so that you can use it again. In a large skillet, melt the butter and roast the garlic. Add the flour and salt, whisking continuously. Place the mixture back into the large pot. This is easier than trying to find a skillet deep enough to hold the milk.

Cook over medium heat until all the lumps are gone. Once the mixture begins to bubble, slowly add the milk--again, constantly whisking. Once it begins to boil, allow it boil for about a minute before adding the mustard and cheese.

Continue to stir until the cheese is melted. Add the ham. Then the pasta. Pour the pasta mixture into the casserole dishes. Either freeze or bake uncovered for 30-45 minutes at 350.

If freezing, allow the dish to thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking.

I have one more recipe to share...

Baked Summer Squash

While in past years I have fried the heck out of my summer squash, this year I was looking for a healthier way to get that crisp flavor. I simply sliced the squash into circles with a medium thickness, sprinkled them with seasoned salt, and bake them at 350 for about 10 minutes. I made this while family was visiting and all the children gobbled it up!

That's what I call summer lovin!

31 Days of July!

2010-06-16T08:55:00.000-07:00

We have declared July "family" month here at the red ranch! Since Daddy is out of school for the summer, but Mommy used all of her vacation time for her maternity leave, we decided to make a list of things we wanted to make sure we do this summer that were easy and close by...so here's what we came up with:

*Go to a parade

*Take a family walk

*Play mini golf

*Walk the trails at county park

*Go swimming at the beach

*Go see our cousin who lives in Chicago

*Go to the Ft. Wayne mall

*See the butterfly exhibit at the zoo

*Go to the train museum

*Ride the train at the zoo

*Go to the fair

*Go to Cedar Point

*Play school inside (I think this one is soo cute!)

*Pick blueberries

*See fireworks

I think that is a pretty good list! I made out a calendar and made sure to schedule the activities for a certain day so that we are more likely to stick to the plan. I made sure not to schedule every day, however, because I know we would get worn out and give up...especially with the other things life usually throws in to make things interesting! I also figured that if we couldn't do a particular event because of inclement weather, than there were plenty of other days to get it done! So, even though we are calling it the "31 Days of July," we didn't actually schedule 31 activities. That isn't to say that we couldn't, however, because there are always things that come up that I had no idea about until a couple of days beforehand--you know, like a great craft fair, or a show the little ones would love to see.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-05-19T12:01:00.001-07:00

How Do You Teach T-Rex Manners?

2010-05-18T09:38:00.000-07:00

Okay, so my darling five-year-old was a T-Rex yesterday. All. Day. Long. That means that when he came to the dinner table, he wanted to eat only meat and only use his two-fingered hands to eat with. (Because, a T-Rex only has two fingers, Mom!) Needless to say, it didn't sit well with this "you must watch your manners at the table" mommy. I can't stand it when I see kids of a certain age eating with their hands. With the exception, of course, of chicken nuggets and french fries. I also cannot stand it when children do not sit in their seats, and on their bottoms. Getting up and wandering around annoys me to no end.

I've heard other mothers say that as long as their child is eating, they don't care how they eat. That is just ridiculous to me!

That is why I really take the time to try and teach what I think is considered modern day manners. I don't expect my children to be seen and not heard--which is exactly what was expected of me as a child. Instead, I want them to be polite individuals that don't push people out of their way in public, say please and thank you, and don't gross me out or embarrass me at the dinner table. So, last night, my little T-Rex ate with his fork...albeit he only used two fingers to hold it, but that was okay. And just because my son's favorite dinosaur happens to be a carnivore, doesn't mean T-Rex can't try something new--so the veggies were eaten too.

Experts say that it is best to model manners to children. They also suggest correcting them physically, not verbally, at the dinner table. That is something I will keep in mind for the future, because I do tend to get in the trap of "complaining" about behavior at dinner, which doesn't make for easy digestion for any of us. Handing my son a napkin will probably give him a better clue anyway than telling him fifty times to wipe his face.

It is not often I get to dine with a T-Rex, so it was a rather fun meal and I think we were able to watch our manners and still remember that sometimes a five-year-old just really needs to be a five-year-old. We left the stomping and the growling, however, for after desert!

I Made Shepherd's Pie!

2010-05-13T14:25:00.000-07:00

Okay, so it might not be a big deal to you...but to me it is a big deal. I have never made Shepherd's pie before, nor had I really had a desire to until I went searching for a recipe to use up the ground turkey that I had defrosted and was sitting in my refrigerator waiting to be used. You see, I have been trying to cook with turkey more because it is a healthier choice--and that is absolutely something we need to focus on here in the red ranch--but I often get stuck in a rut and can't think beyond my basics. Yes, as hard as it is to believe, Shepherd's pie is beyond my basics! So behold....the Pie!

Doesn't look so healthy does it? Alright, we have far to go on our healthier journey, but at least it wasn't made with fat filled beef! Here's the recipe (via allrecipes.com) if you would like to give it a try:

Ingredients:

cooking spray
1 1 /2 pounds potatoes
6Tbs. butter or marg.
1 cup milk
salt and pepper to taste
1 lb ground turkey
2 packages of instant gravy (although I used premade in a can)
1 cup water
1 (16 oz) package of frozen peas and carrots, thawed (although I cut up some organic carrots)
2 cups shredded cheese of your choice (that's where the low-fat cheese comes in!)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease medium baking dish.

Cover chunked potatoes in saucepan and boil for 20 to 30 minutes, or until soft. Drain, beat and add butter, milk, salt and pepper.

Brown turkey in a medium skillet, add gravy. Stir often until bubbly.

Add turkey mixture to the baking dish. Next, layer peas and carrots, then top with mashed potatoes. Sprinkle on the cheese and bake 20 to 30 minutes.

Our Kitchen DIY

2010-04-12T07:09:00.000-07:00

I'm back! OK, not back to work yet, but in 3 short weeks I will be! In the meantime, I wanted to write a post about our kitchen resurfacing project.

For the last six months, every free weekend and vacation, my husband was hard at work making my plans come to life. Now keep in mind...we did have a baby through all of this too! Our 1960s kitchen just HAD to be tackled, however. But with little money to spend on the project, we made the most out of what we had. We did splurge on a new range to replace the old 24" wall oven and cook top--that's right, the oven was so small I couldn't fit a standard size cookie sheet inside! We also purchased new counter tops--which was the most expensive part of our remodel. I had no idea counter tops were so expensive!

We purchased a used dishwasher from a friend who was upgrading and saved a ton of money! Our "push to the sink and hook it up" dishwasher was driving me crazy, so this is my favorite part of our new kitchen!

The other issue that just had to be addressed was the fact that a line of cabinets were blocking the view to our dinning room, but we had an entire wall that had NOTHING on it...just a heating unit. A lot of older homes are similar, but in today's "open concept" era, it really dated our home. And so did the cabinets themselves!!! Just take a look.....

Small cabinet BEFORE

The "beast" that held the wall oven and blocked the view to the dinning room BEFORE...well, actually once it became my test cabinet for paint colors, that is!

Larger lower cabinet BEFORE

Counter tops BEFORE

Counter tops AFTER

Small upper cabinet AFTER

Sink cabinet side AFTER

The new view to the dinning area---complete with dishwasher AFTER!

I love our new kitchen and it seems so much larger!!! Not to mention, that the space is so much more user friendly! When we took out that line of cabinets to the dinning room, we extended the counter top to create a bar area, which is perfect for entertaining! And my oldest son can sit there when he comes home from Kindergarten this fall and do his homework while I make dinner! My husband and I can actually be in the same space at the same time too. Before, we would bump into each other because there wasn't enough counter space.

I would say our DIY was a success!

Packing It In and Taking An Early Leave

2010-02-03T05:10:00.001-08:00

Okay, so my plan was to work right up until this baby decided to make his appearance, but the last couple of weeks--and days in particular--have been so hard for me. I bit the bullet this morning and told my boss that I wanted to start my leave on Friday, two weeks before my actual due date. Don't ask me why I feel guilty, but I do! But this week I have had a nasty cold and developed a bladder infection. It seems as if the antibiotics have not yet kicked in and I have had horrible back and pelvis pain due to this crazy infection. Coupled with not being able to sleep at night, and dealing with a preschooler-- and the thought of going to work seems like torture! Thank God I don't actually WORK for a living!

Why do we, as moms, however, feel guilty for now matter what decisions we choose to make? I am already 3cm dilated and 70% effaced, so doesn't that count for something? After all, my body has been somewhat busy! Not to mention, when I am at work, I have to suffer through stupid questions and some times down right rudeness from fellow employees. One "gentleman" actually asked me if I was having twins! Another "gentleman" keeps telling me not to sneeze, or I might have that baby...which is of course, followed by laughter on his part. So, you, see making sure I have all my ducks in order and having some special time with my son before this baby arrives makes a heck of a lot of sense to me! On the flip side...I want to make sure I spend as much time with my new baby as possible and taking an earlier leave means I need to return to work earlier. Although, I think it is crazy to think that the hard work of having a baby only begins once the baby is here!

Did you take an early maternity leave, or work right up to your due date?

50 Never Looked So Good!

2010-01-29T04:07:00.000-08:00

Today is my sister's 50th Birthday! While she might not be too thrilled about me spreading the news of her age, I think it is a day worth celebrating--and besides, 50 is NOT what it used to be! Did you know that Julianne Moore is also turning 50 this year? She looks AMAZING!

The Cat in the Hat is also turning 50 in the year 2010...and who doesn't LOVE the Cat in the Hat?

Since there is a 15 year age difference between me and my eldest sister, we didn't exactly "grow up" together, but she certainly helped ME grow up and I have some wonderful memories of her throughout my childhood. One of those memories includes my 13th birthday, when my "big sis" didn't realize exactly how old her "baby sis" was, and gave me some pretty pink plastic princess shoes! They were about three sizes too small!

My big sister has always been there for me...no matter what! She knew what to tell me and when to tell me things growing up, like mom and dad really aren't as evil as they seem, or that boy doesn't know what he's missing! Most of all, though, she was FUN! She took me places my parents normally wouldn't--because there were just too many of us and not enough time or money to go around--and I loved it! We went to movies, the circus, the mall, the zoo, you name it!

The thing I am loving about her now that we are both grown women, is that she has now become the fun "aunt" to my son! Just this past weekend she showed up at my door, unexpected, and asked if she could take Jonathan home for the weekend. I most certainly needed the break, being 9 months preggers and all, and Jonathan was ready to go---after all, Aunt Gail has 5 doggies to play with at her house and all the junk food you can dream of! They watched movies, played cards, and stayed up waaaay too late--all the things I remember loving when I went to stay the night with her as a kid!

So, in the spirit of youth, and not looking or acting 50, I hope she loves these pretty pink princess shoes I got her for her birthday present!

Happy Birthday, Gail! I love you!

Whoa Momma!

2010-01-25T03:47:00.000-08:00

Okay...I am probably one of the most modest and prudish people in the world, but I recently stepped out of my comfort zone to have some maternity pictures taken. It took a lot for me to come to this decision. I had seen these types of pictures before and there was no way I was baring it all for the world to see, especially at the highest weight I have ever been in my life, but then I saw some very tasteful pictures done by an acquaintance of mine and I just had to do it!

Anyone who really knows me knows that making babies has not been easy for me. It took two years and some minor surgery to become pregnant with Jonathan. It wasn't that my parts weren't working, they just had some serious issues. I'll save all those details for another time...but the point is, even though we were committed to keep trying, I never really thought that I could have another child. Needless to say, my hubby and I were elated when we found out we were adding to our family! And Jonathan was just as ecstatic!

That's why I have been cherishing this pregnancy...not only out of gratitude, but also from the perspective that this could very well be the last time I am ever "with child." So, that, my friends, is worth celebrating! I really wanted Jonathan to be in the pictures with me because I wanted him to know that he will always be Mommy's baby too...after all he has held that position for 5 whole years, and I know he is going to go through some adjustments.

So behold....the final product! Thanks to Tina's Photography in Walkerton, Indiana for the speedy, professional, and tasteful job!!

Now I truly have something tangible to cherish and I am so glad that I put aside my modesty issues to do these pictures. I know that they are not every one's cup of tea, but for me, it is a celebration of my little miracles!

Can't wait to meet you little one!

Winter Activities For Kids

2010-01-13T04:42:00.000-08:00

Okay, so it is officially the middle of winter and I don't know about you, but these natives are getting a little restless, so I have come up with some fun ideas to do with Jonathan in the deep of winter to keep us both from losing our minds! While the new sled Jonathan got for Christmas has kept him entertained, we decided to broaden our horizons a little. Here's what I came up with...

Snow Painting

This is an easy and cheap form of entertainment. Simply find some squirt bottles you might have around the house i.e. workout bottles or old dish detergent bottles. Fill them up with cold water (warm water will just melt the snow) and add some food coloring. Open the doors to outside and let your little Picasso squirt his heart out on the snow to create works of art! We used the back yard...just in case our neighbors were not so fond of my budding artist.

Building A Milk Jug Igloo

Okay, so this is a little bigger activity to tackle, but after seeing one, I decided we simply have to try it! A friend of mine is a preschool teacher and she does this with her class every year and it is quite impressive!

We are in the process of collecting our milk jugs for this project. Luckily the one thing I have been craving with this pregnancy is milk, so hopefully we will have enough gathered to build a small igloo before the winter is over.

If you would like to attempt this project, here are a few tips:

-make sure to clean out the jugs, there is nothing like the smell of sour milk! Even after cleaning them, you might want to keep the caps on to ensure no odor leaks! And it adds a little bit of flair!

-Use a HIGH temp glue gun. This is important, because if you use a regular glue gun, your jugs will not stick as nicely and all of your hard will will topple into a pile of jugs.

-Get friends and neighbors in on the art of collecting those milk jugs...it will take about 100 jugs to make the size igloo pictured above. You can get away with using less though if you are only building it for a single child. Although the sky is the limit, if you build it, they will play!

-Create a foundation first by simply placing jugs in a semi-circle the size you want your igloo to be.

-Placing a yard stick in the opening for the door may help your igloo keep its shape until you have it built. Simply remove it when you are done!

Snow Shoeing

Something I haven't tried, but have been interested in, is snowshoeing. Our local parks department has a wonderful program that allows you to rent shoes for just $3. They even give you a lesson on how to put them on and how to walk in the them. Since all you have to do is walk, this is an easy way for the family to get some exercise in a fun new way, and to see some great scenery! Check with you local parks department to see what else they might have to offer!

Menu Planning

2010-01-06T03:49:00.001-08:00

Okay, with the new year here and a new baby coming soon, I have decided it is time for me to take menu planning more seriously! I usually get pretty gung-ho about doing this every now an then and end up running out of steam--but I cannot deny that it will benefit our growing family if I take a little time planning our meals, budgeting for them, and taking advantage of that wonderful freezer in the garage!

In the past, I have thought that I needed to put "fancy" meals on my meal planner, which usually ends up in failure, because I NEVER cook anything fancy, and our families tastes buds usually don't lend to the finer delicacies. So, this time, I have included our favorites right off the bat and things that I like to cook, hopefully making it easier for me to stick to. I really wanted to knock out a whole month of meal planning at once, but so far I have only figured out this week. That's okay, though, because it will still save on our budget as we will not be as tempted to run out and get fast food. Not to mention I can plan our meals to what happens to be on sale in the grocery stores. Since my energy level is a little low these days, I am LOVING my slow cooker...so if you have any recipes you would like to share, please do so!

Also--I have never cooked for the freezer and I need some help! Anyone have any tips and meal ideas for me?

The Gift Game

2009-11-30T05:40:00.001-08:00

If it is one thing I can't stand, it's a child who plows through gifts one after another without stopping to appreciate the gift. Luckily, I discovered "the gift game" and plan on prepping my little guy for the Christmas and birthday gifts he will soon be receiving...BTW his birthday is on Christmas, so there will be a lot of gifts from a lot of people!

A mom in Rockford MI gave me this idea, and it is fairly simple. Gather a couple of used gift bags (we always save them) and tell your child(ren) that you are going to play the "gift game!" Everyone playing gets to "shop" for another person playing by going around the house and placing an item in the bag. You'll want to make sure that your kiddos understand that they don't get to keep the gift, it is just a game.

When the shopping is done, the gifts are exchanged. The first rule is that the receiver MUST say thank you when given the gift. Once they open the gift, the receiver must then come up with a compliment about the item. Depending on the item, your child may have to be creative and might need a little help at first. Once the gifts are exchanged, feel free to go shopping again!

I LOVE this idea! I get so annoyed when children are not polite when getting a gift, but then I realized no one is probably teaching them how to be polite! That will no longer be an excuse in my household! Jonathan and I will be playing this game today!

"30 Days of Thankfulness" Day 30:

2009-11-26T07:29:00.000-08:00

Wow! I did it! I truly am thankful for the insight I have gained on doing this little task. It has shed light on all of the wonderful blessings I have in my life and as helped me bring back the basics to the holiday. So often, I get caught up in preparing for Christmas that Thanksgiving gets a little over looked. Not this year...I have celebrated it for 30 days! Happy Thanksgiving!

"30 Days of Thankfulness" Day 29:

2009-11-26T07:27:00.001-08:00

I am thankful that I have Thanksgiving Day off from work. So many of my radio buddies will be working tomorrow, but I am one of the lucky ones!

"30 Days of Thankfulness"

2009-11-25T05:04:00.000-08:00

Day 28: I am thankful that my husband got up at 5am to make me breakfast this morning! I usually just grab a cereal bar, but I had to go in today to get my glucose test done, and was only allowed to eat protein. I usually do not allow myself enough time to make a full blown breakfast because it is just too darn early, and to be honest, eating a lot that early makes me feel icky. But, my husband realized that I would starve to death if I didn't eat something, so he got up and made me some boiled eggs that I could take with me! LOVE HIM!!!!

Day 27: I am thankful for my sisters, who are the greatest friends I'll ever have! We might not always agree or even get along, for that matter, but when it comes down to it, our bond will never be broken and we always have each other's back! Love you, Gail, Kelly, and Penny!

Day 26: I am thankful for my parents! Don't ask me how they ever did it. Raising four daughters in our society to be ladies, with a sense of morals with pretty decent heads on their shoulders! Not to mention, on the smallest of budgets. I swear my mother is the most frugal woman on the planet and my father would have done just about anything to make sure he was providing for his family, even in the hardest of economies. I always thought we we were so rich as a child. After all, we always had everything we wanted and Dad was always driving a new car...a perk of being a car salesman. It never occurred to me that those cars were never really ours until I was in my teens! LOVE YOU SO MUCH Byron and Sally!

Day 25: I am thankful that Jon and I have settled on a color for our kitchen cabinets and are still married! I swear for a brief moment in the Lowe's checkout line, we became Jon and Amy plus 1 and a half! I don't think I have ever spoke to my husband in such an irritated tone--in front of strangers no doubt! We seriously have gone through about 7 different colors of green in order to get the right shade! Jon should really have been ready to kill me, since he was the one painting and I kept saying, "that just isn't it." Although, he must have agreed with me, because we kept schlepping to store to store to buy more paint! Finally, we have decided on a color called "on the beach." Which you would assume is the color of sand, right? Wrong--it's a greenish beige!

Day 24: I am thankful that I can still act like a child with my son! Today Jonathan and I went to get our hair cut together and it was raining. When we came out of the salon, Jonathan asked if he could splash in the puddles. My first reaction was to tell him NO! After all, he would get all wet and could possibly get sick. Then I realized that I was being one of "those" mothers and told myself to let go....and did we ever!

Day 23: I am thankful for a comfortable, warm, and loving home! It might not be the biggest house on the block, or in the richest neighborhood, or even in the best school district (by some people's standards). BUT...it is ours! And it is full of love and we are always warm and always have food on the table!

Day 22: I am thankful that my sore throat is easing, but not so thankful for the doctor's diagnosis of sciatica. I have heard of pregnant women complain about sciatica before, but I never really got it until now...OUCH!

Day 21: To quote Jonathan: "I am thankful for our new baby!" Jonathan's preschool has been talking about things they are thankful for and I am glad that his soon-to-arrive baby brother made the list! Apples, plants, and animals also made his list. No mention of Mommy or Daddy, though!

Day 20: I am thankful that I have legs! Even though my left leg and hip seem to be killing me, I know that am blessed to have the use of both my legs and don't even want to thank about the possibility of ever losing that ability.

Day 19: I am thankful that I booked a spa and made a few sales at my Beauti Control booth! I have been trying to concentrate on my business lately, in the hopes of turning to it full-time when the baby is born, so I bought a table at a local craft fair. While I didn't see as many people attend the fair as I would have liked, I did get the experience and a decent starting point!

Day 18: I am thankful for this great November weather! It seems as if in years past, we have had snow on the ground at least once by now. I'll take this sunshine any day!

Day 17: I am thankful for a loving, supportive, good-looking, and all around wonderful husband! I truly feel as if I have hit the jackpot. Marrying my husband was by far the greatest decision I have ever made. I swear there isn't anything this man wouldn't do for me. He spoils me with his care and is the best father any woman could ask for her children! I am so blessed that Jon is the head of our household! Love you babe! (okay, now I am tearing up, shouldn't do this preggo!)

Day 16: I am thankful that my son has such loving grandparents! My husband's parents really dote on their eldest grandson...something that I sometimes get a little concerned over, since my parents have a lot more grandchildren to dote over. I am so thankful, though that Jonathan is making great memories with his grandparents. Some of my favorite memories of my childhood include my grandparents and I am so glad that Jonathan will have those memories too. What a special relationship they have, and it is something I could never provide for him.

Day 15: I am thankful for Veterans! Happy Veteran's Day!

Day 14: I am thankful that I my neighbors do NOT burn their leaves! It seems as if everyone else is doing that this year. I guess the county stopped their pick up service, and since we live on the city/county line, I have been smelling a lot of disgusting smells. Thank heavens it is not waifing through my house and into my curtains, sheets, linens....

Day 13: I am thankful for a great weekend! My parents, in-laws, and eldest sister/husband, came to visit me and take me out to dinner for my birthday. I have to admit that turning 35 has been a little hard on me, and their visit really cheered me up. They all appeased me by going to a Mexican restaurant that I recently discovered, even though the majority of them do not like it. Since Jon and I spent our first year of marriage in New Mexico, however, we fell in love with authentic Mexican cuisine. To my surprise, and I'm sure theirs, they all really liked it. We will most definitely be going there again!

Day 12: I am thankful for the laughter at lunch with my husband and son! We did a little shopping and decided to go to Sonic for lunch. Jonathan was thrilled at the idea of sitting in the car and having a girl on roller skates bring him his meal...not to mention he got to unbuckle his seat belt and eat in the car! I ordered a chili cheese dog (pregnant lady, leave me alone!) and for some reason, I had managed to move the hot dog farther up the bun. When I noticed this strange phenomenon, I turned to Jon, extremely concerned that someone had messed with my hot dog! It never occurred to me that I had done it! Boy did we have a good laugh at that one!!

Day 11: I am thankful for all of the birthday wishes! Believe me, this birthday has been hard to swallow. I just keep thinking, you can't be THAT old, you are pregnant!

Day 10: I am thankful for the thoughtfulness of my sister-in-law! Every year around my birthday, I get an exciting package in the mail addressed from Chicago. I know it's my birthday present from Christy and her family. It really means a lot to know that she thinks about me in advance to ship me a gift to make sure I have it on my birthday, even though she is unable to hand it to me in person! Not to mention...she buys really great gifts!

Day 9: I am thankful for a bright, funny, and caring son! Jonathan can make me laugh out loud and amaze me at is knowledge in almost the same breath. What a wonderful person I get to call mine!

Day 8: I am thankful for my friend and former co-worker, Darren! I the radio business, you rarely find someone so thoughtful and moral! Darren is truly a gem! I first met him and his radio partner, Tim, after coming off maternity leave for having Jonathan. Tim, by the way, is also a wonderful man! The three of us had a blast doing a morning show together in Grand Rapids, Mi on Thunder 94.5. The memories I made with them are some of the fondest of my career to date. For the last two years, however, as we have been living and working in different states, Darren has been e-mailing me a skit on a daily basis in which he impersonates Regis Philbin. He does this out of the kindness of his heart, for no pay. Darren and Tim recently lost their radio gig in Kansas City, so I thought that was the end of my "Regis segment." I guess I really misjudged my friend. Even though he is unemployed and no longer has a show to call his own, he has continued to e-mail me my segment from his home computer. Now that is what you call a true professional who loves what he does and a great friend! I pray that these two find a new radio home soon!

Day 7: I am thankful for country music! As long as I can remember, I have loved country music. I don't know why I was drawn to it, but it almost feels as if it is a part of me. I remember wanting to be a singer growing up. Something I tried very hard to be good at, but let's face it...my talent is best suited for an occasional night out at a Karaoke bar. I always told my mother though, that someday I would be heard on the radio. I never would have guessed then that I would be heard talking, NOT singing!

"30 Days of Thankfulness" Day 6:

2009-11-02T12:12:00.000-08:00

I am thankful to be one of God's children!

"30 Days of Thankfulness" Days 4 and 5

2009-11-02T04:01:00.000-08:00

The weekend has gotten away from me, so I am combining my posts today. Funny since my post on Friday was all about loving the weekend's non-schedule feeling...obviously only a FEELING!

Day 4: I am thankful for my husband! While there are many reasons I am thankful for my wonderful husband, today I am thankful that he is using his "fall break" to work in our kitchen. We have been thinking about updating for awhile now. We are trying to do it as cheaply as we can, so it is a little challenging--particularly for Jon because he is doing all of the labor. We purchased a used dishwasher, which is an upgrade believe it or not, and are planning to resurface our cabinet fronts and paint them. That is after moving them around a bit. I'll update with some pictures when we get a little further along in the process....I have given my loving husband a deadline of December 1st. That way I can get the house ready for Christmas!

Day 5: I am thankful for my health!

With sooo many people getting the H1N1 virus, how could I NOT be thankful for being healthy? My sister is getting over pneumonia and now her daughter is running a 103 temperature! I have another sister who is having problems with her wrist popping out of socket and her kids have had the sniffles too! Jonathan had a low grade fever on Friday, but luckily it went down on its own in a few hours. Just enough to get me in a slight panic...thankfully it turned into nothing! Growing a baby is a lot of work and a lot of worry comes with it! I'm going to keep obsessively wash my hands, take my vitamins, and eat my broccoli!

"30 Days of Thankfulness" Day 3:

2009-10-30T03:51:00.001-07:00

I am thankful for Fridays!

Unlike any other day in the week, there is a certain energy in a Friday. The thought of the end of a work week is something I relish in, but I really love my job, so it is odd to think I just can't stand another day at work. There is an excitement though that you just can't ignore in a Friday. I know that my mood lightens and I always have a great time at work on a Friday...in fact I think some of my best shows happen on a Friday, simply because I am in such a good mood. It also helps that I usually get free food on Friday's at work too, but I'm getting away from my point.

I am sure that energy comes more from the fact that I get to spend more time with my family at the arrival of a weekend. Friday nights used to consist of going out on the town, but these days it means the commitment of the week is ending and the clock gets back to "me" time, or "our" time. I also like the feeling of thinking of all the possible things I COULD do if I wanted to, even if it really means a night on the couch with a good (or bad) movie with husband and bowl of popcorn made on the stove.

The arrival of the weekend means that my husband is home from work, I am home from work, and Jonathan has no demands of preschool. There is something to be said for the soul when you have no commitments! I look forward to sleeping in on Saturday mornings--a HUGE deal because sleeping in usually means 7 or 8 am! For me, the weekend means time to recharge and relax, even if I am still busy doing house cleaning, home improvements, or family birthday parties, it just doesn't feel the same as the schedule of the regular week.

So tonight, in my pregnancy heartburn stupor, I will lift my glass of milk and give a toast to Friday!

"30 Days of Thankfulness" Day 2:

2009-10-29T16:46:00.001-07:00

Today I am thankful for the time I got to spend with my parents and husband at the College Football Hall of Fame's luncheon series with special guest Jerry Rice. It was held at the Palais Royale and we had a wonderful lunch and the opportunity to meet Mr. Rice. My husband was so excited to be able to get an autographed football from such an NFL legend. He is a huge football fan, so to be able to see the delight in his eyes was truly something wonderful.

I am a big Raiders fan, so my hubby got a black ball and a silver pen for him to sign the ball with...thankful that my husband thought of me in his "big moment."

It was also a treat for me to be able to introduce my father to Jerry Rice. I don't believe my dad has met anyone famous before, something that I have had the opportunity to do because I am lucky enough to work in the media, and sometimes take for granted. He was quite impressed with Jerry's handshake and joked as we walked away that he tried to squeeze his hand as hard as he could! Quite funny to hear a 74-year-old man say that about a pro football player!

While I had purchased tickets to this event for my mother for her 70th birthday, she opted to not meet Jerry Rice. I think her nerves got the best of her. She was so excited to hear him speak, though and is a big football fan, so I know she enjoyed herself.

After the luncheon, we picked up Jonathan from daycare and we all went on a fall color tour. While most of the leaves have fallen from the trees already, it was a great way to spend time together and see some beautiful countryside. We found a pig farm were baby pigs were roaming a field with their mommies and Jonathan thought that was the coolest thing! I thought the baby pigs were adorable too!

So, today was a good day and I have a LOT to be thankful for!

"30 Days of Thankfulness"

2009-10-28T03:47:00.000-07:00

I have been inspired by some of my high school classmates that came up with a great idea on Facebook....posting something they are thankful for in their status update at least once a day starting today until Thanksgiving. I thought I would join them, not only on Facebook, but here on "The Ranch."

So, today I am thankful for those Facebook friends who came up with the idea! Thanks Andrea, Arlene, and Christy! So glad that we can keep up to date so many years after high school and so many miles apart!

Feel free to join me by posting what you are thankful for in the comments!

Well, well, well...

2009-09-24T05:25:00.000-07:00

My goodness it has been a long time since I have posted something new. That's because a lot of "new" things have been happening around the red ranch. I am expecting my second child! The first few months of my pregnancy were very hard on me. I was sick as a dog! I even had to take Zofran to get through the morning sickness.

Just yesterday, however, I found out that I am having another boy! While Jonathan was hoping for a baby sister (and Mommy and Daddy would have liked that too) he was so cute when he found out it was a boy. He simply said, "Well, I wanted a girl, but..." and then he shrugged his shoulders. So grow up for 4-years-old! He is going to make a great big brother!

I, myself, feel guilty for feeling disappointed. It isn't that I am not happy that I am having a boy, I am just sad that I am not having a girl. I was fantasizing about buying baby dolls, cute little dress, and future shopping trips to buy a prom dress...then someday a wedding dress.

I truly know what a blessing this little boy is, however. It took it a long time and a lot of trouble to get pregnant with him...and I cried when I saw his little hands and feet in the ultrasound picture. It is amazing that at only 9oz, I could clearly see his heart beating, stomach working, and his little boy parts!

Perhaps since I know this is more than likely our last child, I am mourning the loss of ever having a little girl...I'm going to say that's okay. By February 21st, I'll be ready to love up on my baby boy!

Turkey Potato Meal

2009-05-13T13:54:00.000-07:00

I am all about throwing something in the crock pot and letting that wonderful machine do its magic and cook me and my family a meal with no fuss! I cannot stand cooking things first before the hit the crock pot, however, so this recipe is perfect for truly throwing and going!

1lb. ground turkey

5 cups raw potatoes, sliced

1 onion, chopped

1/2 tsp. salt

dash black pepper

one can cut green beans, undrained

one can cream of mushroom soup

Crumble the uncooked ground turkey into the slow cooker. Add potatoes, onions, salt and pepper. Add the beans and pour soup over the top. Cover and cook on high 4 hours or on low for 8 hours.

It doesn't look the prettiest...but me and my boys lapped this up! I also like that this meal has a rather "home hearty" feeling to it, but it is actually rather healthy.

The Sweetest Bouquet!

2009-05-06T07:59:00.000-07:00

This has to be the sweetest bouquet of flowers I have ever received! My son was outside playing yesterday when he came in with these lilacs from the yard. He said that one bunch was for me and that one bunch was for him. Since he picked them right at the end of the flowers, there really wasn't a stem to put them in water...but I worked my mommy magic and filled these vases VERY full, so that the flowers could sit on top of the openings. The tall one is Mommy's and the little one is Jonathan's! And I thought Mother's Day wasn't until Sunday....

Update On "Green" Paint

2009-05-06T07:24:00.000-07:00

Okay....as promised, here is an update on my "greenly" painted living room. When we purchased our house two years ago, this pale yellow color was everywhere. It was really just starting to look like dirty walls to me, so it was time to get rid of the old owners' taste and insert mine. (because my husband really doesn't have a say when it comes to these sort of matters, lovingly.)

It started by removing a bench they had used to cover up an old brick planter...which we didn't realize was there until we took out the bench. Luckily, my husband didn't listen to my advice on that one, because I told him to take a sledge hammer to it. He very neatly cut holes to remove the bench out of the way of our front door and saved his wrist!

Then painting began! I chose a color called "Flatland" from Dutch Boy's line, but used the Pittsburgh environmentally friendly line of paint. This color went on most of the walls in the living area...

I chose a lighter green to paint the farthest wall of the room that leads into our dining area called "Basketweave." I plan to extend that color into the dining area too...eventually. Here is the final product!

I love these shelves from Ikea...they cost a whopping $12 a piece! The rest of the items on the shelf was either a gift (the wonderful frame given to me by my mother-in-law) or from my garage sale addiction. OH...and the bench has been replaced by my favorite spot of the room...my glider!

This is the hallway that was painted "Basketweave." I love my new more modern living room! And I was friendly to the environment!

Stay tuned to see what I plan to do with the bricks that were torn out.....

Go Red Luncheon

2009-04-23T04:46:00.000-07:00

Today I am going red! I am attending the Michiana Go Red For Women Luncheon. I am very excited that the keynote speaker is the First Lady of Indiana, Cheri Daniels. Over 250 women will be attending and getting valuable information on how to live heart healthy. The American Heart Association, of course, puts on the event, and there will be many booths for women to browse and learn how to prevent heart disease.

They are also fundraising in a fun way...with "purse" alities. They are purses filled with different items to bid on. Very cute!

Check back and I'll post some more information after the event!

Here are some facts from the AHA website:

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) ranks first among all disease categories in hospital discharges for women.

Nearly 37 percent of all female deaths in America occur from CVD, which includes coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke and other cardiovascular diseases.

CVD is a particularly important problem among minority women. The death rate due to CVD is substantially higher in black women than in white women.

In 2005, CVD claimed the lives of 454,613 females; cancer (all forms combined) 268,890.

In 2005, coronary heart disease claimed the lives of 213,572 females compared with 41,116 lives from breast cancer and 67,894 from lung cancer.

At age 40 and older, 23 percent of women compared with 18 percent of men will die within one year after a heart attack.

Stroke is a leading cause of serious, long-term disability; an estimated 15 percent to 30 percent of stroke survivors are permanently disabled.

Misperceptions still exist that CVD is not a real problem for women.

More Earth Day News

2009-04-22T04:50:00.000-07:00

Disney is releasing its new film titled "Earth" today! The movie follows three sets of animal families for the course of a year and is the first film in Disney's nature series. The film follows polar bears, African elephants, and humpback whales. If you make sure you see the film in its opening week, Disney plans to plant a tree in Brazil for every ticket sold!

I know that my little animal lover will enjoy seeing this, so it is on our list!

Earth Friendly Painting

2009-04-22T04:16:00.001-07:00

Happy Earth Day!

I have to admit, that I am not ga ga over going green....but I have been very conscience of my environment and for years have been doing things that now seem to be "chic." Like recycling, for instance and replacing my light bulbs with more friendly versions of the typical light bulb(even though I really don't care for the light they give off.)

I recently repainted my living room and decided to go with an environmentally friendly paint, but was a little leery on whether or not it would really be good paint. I am now ga ga over Pittsburgh Paint!

I purchased this paint at Menard's and went with their "pure performance" line. It was on sale and they were offering a rebate, which made my environmental journey a little easier on my wallet...in fact it ended up being cheaper than most of the other paint lines. I used the "egg shell" type of paint vs. flat or glossy and am so happy with that choice! It has a little shine too it, but doesn't not glare when the sun comes shining through my wall of windows.

What I love the most about this paint is that it is low odor!!!! I can't stand having the house smell like paint for days when doing a painting project...and I love that paint is an easy way to update a look of any room, so I tend to paint often. I didn't even really smell a paint odor. There was a slight smell...but not an obnoxious odor at all!

I will definitely use Pittsburgh Paint's pure performance line again, and would recommend it to anyone....even those that are not so ga ga over going green...which, by the way, is the color I decided to paint. Pictures are on the way!

Spring Break?

2009-04-10T04:30:00.001-07:00

My husband is a teacher and was on Spring Break this week, so we thought it was a good opportunity for him and our son to have some quality time together...but we didn't expect to wake up to a good couple of inches of snow on Monday morning.....but when life gives you snow, you make a snowman!

And since we are at it...might as well take time out to make a snow angel!

I hope he remembers this when he gets older!

Broccoli Turkey Casserole

2009-03-23T05:49:00.000-07:00

I had some leftover turkey breast and wanted to try something different, and this casserole turned out wonderfully! The whole family enjoyed it and I will definitely be making this again!

1/2 cup chopped carrot

1/2 cup bell pepper

1/4 cup green onions

1 TB butter or margarine

1 can condensed cream of chicken soup

1 1/2 cups chopped turkey

1 pk of frozen broccoli cuts

1 cup cooked wild or long grain rice (I used long grain)

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup milk

In a large skillet, cook carrot, bell pepper, and green onions in hot margarine until a crispy tender. Remove from heat and stir in soup, broccoli, turkey
rice, moz cheese, and milk. Transfer to a a 2-quart baking dish and sprinkle with extra moz cheese.

Bake, covered at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Then uncover the dish and bake for another 20 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

You could also use chicken instead of turkey...like a rotisserie chicken from the deli, and you could replace broccoli with artichoke. Since it is hard enough to get my crew to eat broccoli...I will have to use artichoke when the folks come over!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2009-03-16T17:14:00.001-07:00

My very own pot of gold! Since I am a busy momma on a schedule...and budget..I whipped up these cookies to share at Jonathan's preschool by using premade cookie dough. Using my coupons, I was able to purchase the dough at a discount. I had stockpiled some icing, so I simply added some green food coloring to add to the tops and then sprinkled on some green sugar I had left over from Christmas. I then placed my little treasures in a gold container, ready for little ones to hunt and find! It only took me about a half-an-hour to complete this project from beginning to end!

Sleep Tight!

2009-03-05T04:24:00.000-08:00

This week, I have been implementing the "sleep rules" after learning about them from Amy Clark on momadvice.com last week. Jonathan had always been a great sleeper...until he went into a "big boy" bed about a year ago. The constant drinks of water, potty breaks, and ONE more stories have been driving me crazy, and sometimes can last over an hour! It was time for my 4-year-old to go to bed, stay there, and GO TO SLEEP! Dr. Weissbluth was Amy's guest last week on her podcast and I learned a lot! I guess I really knew it all...but I need the easy steps to put it all together. Here are the four simple rules that I tell Jonathan at bed time:

1. Stay in bed
2. Close your eyes
3. Stay very quiet
4. Go to sleep

The good Dr. suggests making a poster of these rules with your child so that your child can see them and feel like a part in the rule making. Since Jonathan cannot read and I cannot draw...I opted to skip this step. The Dr. also suggests giving your child a reward immediately in the morning after following all of the sleep rules.

MOST importantly is the silent return! I have seen this on the Nanny, but I have been horrible at doing it. It only took ONE time for me not to talk to my son when he wandered out of bed the first night and gently put him back in bed. Of course, it helped that I explained to him beforehand that mommy was not going to talk to him if he got out of bed...which I think he was checking to see if I was going to follow through. This time, I did!

The week as been great, so far! Jonathan really likes the rules and likes the small rewards he has been getting surprised with when he wakes up. Since I am already at work when he gets up in the morning, the little notes from me congratulating him on a good job have been holding the most value to him. A hot wheel was also a big hit.

Let's hope he can keep it up when the rewards stop!

Bring It On!

2009-02-25T10:12:00.001-08:00

I am sooooo ready for warmer weather! Unfortunately, it will be awhile before I can put the ole swimsuit on and head to the outdoor pool....but LUCKILY, there are some great water parks that are very kid friendly for these lasting winter months! As you can see, Jonathan loves going to the water park...and I love the muggy humid air that envelops the place. We went to two separate water parks last winter, and have our date scheduled for this year in late March....which will be a practice run for our Myrtle Beach vacation planned for June...I can't wait!

The Century Center Loves Us!

2009-02-11T05:25:00.000-08:00

I came across this picture on the Century Center's website today and thought I'd put it up here. They love Cat Country 99.9 too!

Making Heart People

2009-02-05T05:09:00.000-08:00

I have been substitute teaching at my son's preschool/daycare and yesterday I had so much fun making Valentine heart people with a bunch of 4-year-olds! We made them to hang from the ceiling in the infants' classroom because the babies love looking at the bigger kid's artwork.

I invite you to take time to do this simple craft that we have all done in the past with your children...I had a blast!

All you have to do is cut out hearts for the body and face and strips of paper for the arms and legs. Fold the strips to create accordion limbs, draw on a face and there you go!

The Truth of a Child

2009-02-03T03:26:00.000-08:00

Last night, Jonathan and I were sitting in the car waiting for Daddy to return from inside the grocery store...a perfect opportunity to people watch. I noticed this very trim woman carrying a gallon of milk in one hand and about four grocery bags in another. I thought to myself that she must work out a lot to be able to carry that much across the parking lot like that. Then she beeped open her pretty white Lexus SUV....and a tingle of jealousy ran through me. So, I mumbled out loud, "I want to be skinny and drive a Lexus." Then, from the back of my mini-van I hear two words uttered from my four-year-old...."Too late."

I guess that ship HAS sailed.....south.

Snow Ice Cream!

2009-01-15T16:13:00.001-08:00

When you're given a ton of snow, make snow ice cream! To be honest, I had never heard of snow ice cream until one of the teachers at Jonathan's school said something about the never ending snowfall here in Michiana being perfect for making snow ice cream. Since she is from Texas, she was astounding that we had never had snow ice cream...so that made me determined to dive into my Midwestern roots and make some snow ice cream!

Since there was more snow in the forecast last night, I put out a bowl to collect the snow--as opposed to scooping up snow from the yard that I wasn't sure what had "explored" it already.

When I got up this morning, I transferred the snow to a freezer bag and stuck in the freezer for when Jonathan got home from preschool.

After researching snow ice cream, I found this recipe...

1 cup of milk

1/2 cup of sugar

1/4 tea vanilla

4 to 5 cups of snow

Mix the milk, sugar, and vanilla together in a bowl, then slowly add the snow and stir until it is the consistency of ice cream. Eat or freeze!

Well...I have to say that our ice cream turned out more like ice milk...but it didn't stop us from eating it!

I only had skim milk on hand, so I think that made a difference in the consistency. When doing this again, I would also use less sugar...I think a 1/4 cup of sugar would be enough and I think I will use more of a heavy cream.

Since we have more snow in the forecast, I'll have plenty of chances to make more snow ice cream!

Hot Chocolate For A Cold Day!

2009-01-14T03:39:00.000-08:00

Baby, it's cold outside!

Check that, baby, it's FREEZING outside! What better way to warm up than with a cup of hot chocolate? Here are some recipes!

Creamy Hot Cocoa
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 cup white sugar
1 pinch salt
1/3 cup boiling water
3 1/2 cups milk
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup half-and-half cream

Combine the cocoa, sugar and pinch of salt in a saucepan. Blend in the boiling water. Bring this mixture to an easy boil while you stir. Simmer and stir for about 2 minutes. Watch that it doesn't scorch. Stir in 3 1/2 cups of milk and heat until very hot, but do not boil! Remove from heat and add vanilla. Divide between 4 mugs. Add the cream to the mugs of cocoa to cool it to drinking temperature.

Want to make a mix you can store? Here you go!

2 c. nonfat dry milk powder
3/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. Hershey's cocoa
1/2 c. powdered non-dairy creamer

Mix in large bowl combine all ingredients; blend well. Store tightly in covered container (16 servings). Single serving: Combine 1/4 cup mix to 3/4 cup boiling water.

Or....if you want an easy fix, I prefer Swiss Miss chocolate packets. Drop in an Andes candy on top (or some Andes baking chips) and let it melt....mmmmmmm

Wii Wii All The Way Home

2009-01-08T15:40:00.000-08:00

Okay, today at work I sat listening to what might as well be a conversation in Russian....the guys in the office were talking about Wii. I have been trying to avoid the video games in our household as long as I can. Jonathan just turned 4 and I am not quite ready to open the can of worms....because I know he will probably be one of those guys in the office that are talking in Russian to some other "old fashioned" mother in his office. While I will admit, Wii does seem to be a more family friendly game that at least gets you moving, but I am afraid of the "addiction." I have never been in love, or even like with video games however, so maybe I am just living on an island unaware of the social injustice I am causing my four-year-old to endure--but to be honest with you, I am also afraid I will never have another conversation with my husband again if we were to break down and join the Wii world.

I even caused a stink this Christmas when my sister wanted to buy my son a Leapster. I gently suggested that there are plenty of other toys that I am sure he would enjoy more...then all heck broke loose. But it's "educational" she kept saying over and over, as if I was going to change my mind. I don't know about you, but I cannot stand it when other people's children come to my home and cannot take eyes off their hand-held "video games." I can see how these tools would be useful when traveling or if you are going to some one's home that you know will not have things for kids to do i.e. great-grandma's house. I just feel that Jonathan is too young yet. I know that my son has plenty of years ahead of him to play video games and whatever else I can only imagine will develop in his lifetime...so for the time being, I am going to allow him to enjoy just being 4 and whatever his imagination can think up! What do you think? Am I crazy?

The Tree That Lasts Forever

2009-01-06T07:33:00.000-08:00

I am sad to say that I have yet to take down my Christmas tree. It is such a daunting task. It is not filled with the excitement of gearing up for holiday cheer, but rather the dread of digging out all the boxes again to put it all away, then hauling them back to their storage spot....which really means throwing them in the part of the basement no one is allowed to lurk into. It just reminds me how unorganized I am. I guess that should be my New Year's resolution--to be more organized. I was able (with the help of my husband...okay he spearheaded the whole thing and I helped) to get Jonathan's closet organized. With all of the Christmas/Birthday gifts the kid got from every living relative, we were all busting at the seams! So, when my Container Store catalog came, we took it to Lowe's and bought a comparable version of a great closet system. With a couple of Rubbermaid tubs for all the dinos, cars, and various small part toys boys like to play with, it has really turned out nicely. It was also A LOT cheaper than the Container Store version.

Here's a picture:

Original price: $550
What we paid: $190...nice.

If only I had a big closet I could just move my fully decorated tree to and leave it there until next year!

My Baby's First Christmas Program

2008-12-15T07:55:00.000-08:00

My baby took part in his first Christmas program last night! He looked so cute in his little Shepard gear! I was so proud of him for marching up there on that stage and smiling so nicely for the crowd, holding that microphone so proudly...and not saying a word! He was so stage struck, that the line he had been practicing for weeks, would not come out. He was supposed to say, "red and white poinsettias, decorate our homes." Which, he would do for us at home, and I was so impressed that my little not-yet-four-year-old was able to say poinsettias! I was so excited about the evening, that I made sure the video camera was all charged and ready to go, but what I didn't check was to make sure we had enough film! Oh, well, footage of playing with the dog is not nearly as important as my baby's first Christmas program, so it was taped over! It was such a cute show, and Jonathan did sing the songs and do the hand motions, so all was well in the end.

Don't ask me what is up with the swinty face, because I have no idea...but he would not smile normally for some crazy, I am nervous as all get out reason!

Happy Cyber Monday!

2008-12-01T08:33:00.000-08:00

Do you have your Christmas tree up yet? I worked hard this past weekend to get up the outdoor lights (okay, so my husband actually did that part and I was more of an organizer) then we all worked at putting up the tree and decorating it.

I did manage to get some shopping done too, but the majority of the weekend was spent putting up the Christmas tree and lights. Jonathan was a big help....

Here are some of my favorite ornaments on my tree this year...

We bought this at Bronner's...absolutely LOVE that place! I am a sucker for red barns, and if they have snow on them...perfect! This was hand-painted and is one of my favorites year after year.

This is another Bronner's buy. I love the cute little mitten...and love that my little one's name is scripted so beautifully! You can order these on their website, by the way.

I have totally jumped on the wordy bandwagon. I have little sayings all over my house, so why not on my tree? I got these at the Christmas Shops in New Carlisle. I have the HO HO HO and NOEL....but they have others too.

When we were all done, Jonathan and I enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate together and read "Twas the Night Before Christmas." Since the tree is up, he thinks Santa is coming every night...I hope his excitement doesn't wear off during the month!

Halloween Read Bumping Into Thanksgiving

2008-11-17T16:13:00.001-08:00

Okay....so I was challenged to go out of my comfort zone and read something I wouldn't ordinarily read for a book club I occasionally partake in. So, for Halloween, I agreed to read "Carved In Bone" by Jefferson Bass. It is about the true to life body farm in Tennessee. It is a fascinating book, but I am horrible about finishing books! This, of course, a problem that developed after having my son. Children's books, no problem! Books for my own enjoyment, not so much. So....I am hoping to have my now overdue copy of "Carved in Bone" back on the library shelf by the time I carve my turkey!

My New Work Home!

2008-11-12T05:22:00.000-08:00

I have a new work home! That means I have brand new, state-of-the-art equipment to work with! It is very exciting and I really love my new studio...listen to me, MY studio.....I wish it were all mine!

Click on the link to take a tour of Cat Country99.9 and all of our sister stations!

http://www.wsbt.com/news/local/34296264.html

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-30T16:25:00.000-07:00

I was inspired by my son's preschool teacher to create a marshmallow pumpkin centerpiece for a Halloween party my son and I attended today. Here is the finished product...

It is really easy to do and makes a great statement! I simply bought a bag of large marshmallows and dipped them in melted chocolate. I did that by melting some baking chips in the microwave. Once the marshmallows were dipped (with some help from my little guy) they were placed on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. That's when Jonathan went to town with the sprinkles! We then placed the cookie sheet in the fridge for a few minutes to let the chocolate set. Once the candy had hardened we were ready to get out the skewers.

We poked the the marshmallows to the flat end of the skewer then speared the skewers into the pumpkin. Around we went and before you knew it we were done! The kids had a ball pulling out the sticks with a tasty treat on the other end...which also helped avoid sticky fingers! A great treat to make with your little ones!

When the party was over, we decided to let Daddy in on the fun and gut out the pumpkin in order to hammer in more holes to turn into a great jack-o-lantern!

It is now glowing on our front porch!

My Fall Decorations

2008-10-30T15:58:00.000-07:00

I decided to repurpose my plant stand that I had placed by the front door this past spring to fit in with fall. In early May I had bought these cute little pots and planted pansies in them, then for the summer, I switched to petunias, and now in the fall....I have put in some pumpkins!

We grew the two bigger pumpkins in our garden. They didn't amount to much, but the little guy had a ball planting them, watching them grow, and proudly picking them and putting them on display.

I also decided to repurpose a planter that was on the back deck all summer. The annuals planted around the outside had long ago lost their luster, but the grass in the middle still looks beautiful! So, I pulled out all of the annuals and placed the planter on the front step next to a nice pumpkin we got at the farm market.

We also added some corn to our lampposts and bought HUGE pumpkins at a local farm market along with some mums to finish off the post display. There is also a local gift shop that I love to shop at called Chickadees that had the cutest pumpkin decorations that you stick right in the ground. They make an instant display and I love them! Here are some more pictures of our fall fun decorating!

Only I Could Do It

2008-10-20T08:14:00.000-07:00

Yes....only I could manage to gain 5 pounds the week I decide to go on Weight Watchers! Don't ask me how, exactly I did, but I did. I was sooo good to....the first four days anyway. I was down 4 pounds by Wednesday. I was thinking, "this is awesome!" I even went to the gym two days last week. Something I hadn't done in quite awhile. Then...Friday night rolled around and a friend of mine decided to have a party. That's when it all went out the window, and back on to my hips! This morning when I got up to weigh myself for the big one week finale...I weighed a pound heavier than I did when I started!

So, needless to say, I have been depressed all day. While I decided to be good and stick to the eating portion of my "it's not a diet, it's a lifestyle change" philosophy, I am NOT going to the stinking gym! After all, tomorrow is another day! (Hopefully not another five pounds)

Pink Eye!

2008-10-16T09:07:00.000-07:00

My oh my, we have pink eye! I didn't want to hear it...hoping that it was a simple allergy, or cold, but no...."We definitely have pink eye going on" was the exact quote of our nurse practitioner at 8 o'clock last night. Jonathan has had a cold for the last week or so, with a running nose and cough, then yesterday the bloodshot eye reared its ugly head. He had the same thing about a year ago, so I am REALLY hoping this is not going to be a yearly occurrence in our household. Last time, however, he was given an oral antibiotic....this time, not so lucky. Eye drops. Have you ever tried to put eye drops into the eye of a fighting cat? Because I swear that was what it was like trying to put one single eye drop into my three-year-old's eye. It took both me and my husband over a half an hour to get the task accomplished. A lot of screaming, crying, and kicking, and hitting ensued...and that was only my kid. I too burst out into tears...feeling useless. Funny how they don't give you any suggestions on how exactly to administer those eye drops....if I knew then what I know now, I probably would have marched right back into that Dr. office this morning for them to do it!

Jonathan did much better this morning with his drop. I think it helped that Grandma was here and was able to coax him a little better than I can. They always seem to behave better for the grandparents, don't they? Anyway, only four more doses to go...

Our New Pet

2008-10-09T07:37:00.001-07:00

Jonathan came home from preschool with a new pet!

That's right....a pet rock! He lovingly named him "Rocky" as you can see on his paper. He painted Rocky purple and blue, so he had to try off on the paper towel for awhile. My son loves rocks! In fact, one time Grandpa took him into a toy store and told him to go ahead and pick something out. Do you know what Jonathan came out of the store with? Yep....a bag of pretty colored rocks!

Rocky has now joined the collection we have at home and Jonathan plays with his rocks on almost a daily basis. If only the dog was so maintenance friendly.

Movie Confessions

2008-10-07T07:19:00.000-07:00

Okay...fess up! Do you take your own snacks into the movies?

For the longest time, I would not do it...afraid to get caught. What exactly I thought the "movie people" would do to me is somewhere in my wild imagination, but I truly remember the first time my husband suggested such an outrageous idea. (yes, I was married and a full grown adult before I even attempted such a thing) I felt like I was packing heat in my purse instead of gummie bears. I looked around to make sure no one was looking as I carefully removed the bag from my purse and quietly tried to open the bag....which is quite a task. I felt like a siren was going off as I tried to open that sucker! Of course it didn't take long for guilt to set in, because that is the one true emotion I think I feel on a daily basis. I did enjoy them though. I have broken the "rule" on occasion since then, but I have to say that I truly LOVE movie theater popcorn. It is almost an obsession! In fact, I remember stopping at the movie theater on my way home from work when I was pregnant, because I just had to have some! That's right...I would go to the movies, walk in and buy overly priced popcorn, then turn right around and get back into my car! I would be lying if I said I have only done that pregnant, by the way. It was only the opening of the can of worms. So...since things have gotten a little tighter budget wise for all of us, I might have to start sneaking my microwave popcorn back into the movies....let's hope I don't get any butter on Vera!

(Vera, by the way, is my overly priced granny purse!)

The Cruiser Gets Towed

2008-09-30T08:18:00.000-07:00

That's Rick....and the Cat Cruiser in this past Saturday's Niles Apple Festival Parade. I was riding on the boom box behind the cruiser waving to the crowd! What a day! I had a lot of fun, but boy was I tired at the end of the night.

Sooo many people came up to our table while we were doing a live broadcast after the parade. I was able to meet a lot of nice people...sorry that the prizes were a little corny!

Just another day outside the ranch!

Upper Case Living Project

2008-09-25T08:21:00.001-07:00

Okay....so a friend of mine had an Uppercase Living party, so I decided to purchase this cute little fall saying to add to my decor. I was a little hesitant to stick any of these on my walls...in case I got tired of it too soon. Keep in mind, that I love to do crafts, but I am not the most artistic person in the world. I decided to place my saying on a board, which my hubby put some finishing details to. So, armed with spray paint and my decal...away I went.

Painting the board was not so hard...although I did have to move inside because it was too windy outside and I was getting grass clippings on my masterpiece. (I told you, not so artisitc) Anyway, gettting these letters to actually adhere to what I wanted them to was rather difficult. It took a lot of rubbing and manipulating. I thought this was supposed to be for the creatively challenged folks. I mean after all, if I could paint well, I wouldn't need these words. After about an hour and a half and many fingernail pull offs and resets, I finally finished my project. While the first and last words came out beautifully, the main lettering looks a little bad. I don't care, however, and have proudly displayed my project in my dinning area.

Next project....painting that hutch!

My Creamer Obsession!

2008-09-25T08:03:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again! The time of year when my favorite coffee creamer is available!

I absolutely love pumpkin creamer! I really don't know why it is considered a seasonal item, because so many people I know really love this flavor. So, after going without my little pick-me-up for several months now, I have decided to freeze my favorite creamer flavor so that I can enjoy the wonderful pumpkin taste long after it is no longer on store shelves. I have never attempted to freeze creamer, so if anyone has done this before, I would really love to hear about your results. Happy Fall!

Hello Blogging World!

2008-09-22T09:37:00.000-07:00

Okay...so I am joing the world of blogging! I am excited about sharing things that happen around here at "the ranch" as well as share my thoughts about various topics. Here we go!