Welcome to the Club

Good Riddance, 2011 (aka a Year In Review)

2011-12-31T13:20:00.004-07:00

It is with much pleasure that I bid 2011 ADIEU, Good riddance, don't let the door hitcha in the butt on the way out, get the heck out of Dodge, GOODBYE!!!

Honestly, we do have a sense of humor about it all but I thought it would be fun to recap the crap of this year (and some of the good too):

JANUARY: Colby has shoulder surgery, rendering his right arm completely useless for 8 weeks (aka I became his right arm); Emily has the worst swallow study in her life.

FEBRUARY: Emily sees a neurologist and a pulmonologist.

MARCH: My parents and sister visit to celebrate my mom's birthday. Fun is had by all!

APRIL: Emily sees an allergist and has an extremely positive celiac blood test

MAY: Emily sees a gastroenterologist, has an endoscopy and severe celiac disease is diagnosed. Ally has an extremely positive celiac blood test.

JUNE: We go to Disneyland! Fun is had by all!

JULY: We have an epic camping trip in record heat. Kids are nearly killed by rattlesnakes and the dog nearly dies from heat exhaustion. Colby has a swallow study because he nearly choked to death at work. Ally sees a gastroenterologist and has an endoscopy to confirm severe celiac. Emily fails to respond to a gluten free diet.

AUGUST: School starts and we have a 1st grader and a pre-K'r! Emily begins steroids and Colby has an endoscopy.

SEPTEMBER: Birthday season begins! Ally turns 6 and I turn 30-something. My parents visit, Colby and my dad take a flying lesson. Emily has her first positive AE test result.

OCTOBER: Birthday season continues! Emily turns 5 and Colby turns 30-something. We celebrate 11 years of wedded bliss. Colby goes hunting and returns empty-handed. Emily has her second positive AE test result.

NOVEMBER: Emily has an endoscopy and colonoscopy. A bunch of stuff is found, nothing is diagnosed.

DECEMBER: Emily gets referred to a doctor in Boston. Ally, Emily, Colby and myself are DONE with 2011! Hasta la vista baby! WELCOME 2012!!

Caringbridge

2011-11-19T11:46:00.001-07:00

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/emilymeyer

Sigh.

2011-11-15T09:48:00.002-07:00

No test results. Nothing. I have called or contacted everyone I can think of to get results for Emily. I am truly frustrated to tears.

Tomorrow she goes to Denver Children's for an endoscopy and a colonoscopy in the hopes that the doctor can physically diagnose the AE. If her villi look as bad or worse than they did in May then we may be able to get a definitive diagnosis tomorrow. If the villi look good/healthy, then hopefully the doctor can see or find what is actually causing the problems (ie Crohns or Colitis).

Any prayers would be wonderful right now. I'm emotionally drained.

One Thousand Gifts

2011-11-07T13:08:00.002-07:00

31. Phone call from my hubby that he is coming home from hunting today

32. FaceTime with my sister and nieces over the weekend

33. Mucinex

34. Colby's BFF Andrew who somehow finagled our local Safeway to put in the largest gluten free section in the store within the entire region. Unbelievable awesomeness.

35. My mom

36. Rice pudding right out of the oven

37. My dog, who has not left my side since Colby left for hunting last Thursday.

38. Family movie nights, cuddled on the couch with the kids and popcorn and a cuddly blanket

39. Neighbors who check on us

40. New boots on a cold day

Emily Update

2011-10-27T12:47:00.000-06:00

I jokingly texted my friend Laura this morning that we probably wouldn't get Emily's test results today because that's how things seem to roll...and wouldn't ya know, we got no test results today. When Mayo says "end of the month," they apparently mean 11:59 pm on Monday night. Jeesh.

We did spend 40 minutes with the GI doctor, who has sufficiently prepared me for the test being positive. We discussed again all of the things she wanted me to know (we will need to go somewhere else for treatment at least initially, tacrolimus is the drug she will go on, the drug completely suppresses the immune system and she'll basically have to live in a bubble the rest of her childhood, etc).

At this point, she believes we will have caught the disease early enough in its process that the terrible end of the spectrum (organ transplants) will hopefully never be a reality for us. Being that it is an autoimmune disease though, the reality is that going into and coming out of remission will be what we do from here on out.

I have to put her on a - get this - formula ONLY diet for the weekend (yay me! This should go really well!), as her diarrhea is really out of control and we need to give her gut a rest. The term for this is parenteral nutrition but the doctor is allowing us to try to get her to take it orally versus intravenously. (Did I say yay yet?)

Today she hit a wall of sorts. In Costco, she developed a fever and appears to be in the throes of another migraine. She's refusing to eat and is lethargic. I cannot - CANNOT - believe it has taken this long to get any kind of answer for my kid. Prayers right now are for the lab tech to please get things wrapped up and the lab sent back before this mama completely loses her mind.

House Remodel (main level only)

2011-10-06T16:02:00.006-06:00

So, somehow the Hubs and I got ourselves into a little project. Neither of us can recall exactly how this started, but as things typically go with us and projects, it turns into quite a hullabaloo (case in point: the microwave handle broke off a few years ago; therefore, it was imperative that we replaced all kitchen appliances with stainless ones).

My picture taking skillz are completely lacking, so for that I apologize. Once I get the good camera out, I will retake everything and post better pics. And for anyone who doesn't know what our house looked like before, my apologies for that too. Well, actually, not really. You wouldn't want to know what it looked like. Suffice to say two cats and 'dogs we no longer speak of' did plenty of "bizness" all over our carpets, baseboards and floorboards. We were not pleased to say the least.

Without further adieu...

THE DINING ROOM!

THE LIVING ROOM!

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE FAMILY ROOM!

And finally I can say that my house is becoming a home I truly love to be in! : )

Em update

2011-10-05T08:43:00.000-06:00

I had hoped to have more of an update for Emily by now (my delay has been because I assumed to have SOME answers by now, but to no avail). We are at week 5 of waiting for the 2nd round of AE test results. I did actually find out some interesting and positive news about that test that I am hanging onto for dear life. Apparently if her AE test comes back exactly the same as it did before (meaning a positive test, but only in the first 2 dilutions of the test, not all 6), it means that she has somehow developed an antibody to that disease, which would always cause her to test positive for it, even though she wouldn't technically have the disease. This is a crazy concept to wrap your head around, I know...but our pediatrician has a 6 yr old boy she cares for who tests positive for HIV but he doesn't have the disease. So, I am obviously praying this is the case with Emily. Crazy, yes, but at this point I'm just praying for a miracle here.

She is on a second steroid now. The Prednisone she was on did nothing, so they moved her to an adult Crohn's disease steroid, hoping it would keep her diarrhea under control. All it has done is cause her daily migraines and she has started having rage temper tantrums again. I called the doctor's office yesterday after putting up with this for 10 days and begged to please give me the ok to wean her off of it. She's had diarrhea for the past 3 days, so clearly this one has stopped working also.

We are likely going to have to get her scoped from both ends now. Her last round of test results indicates she is developing Crohn's disease as well...however it is likely in a microscopic state at this point.

That is about it. Still waiting as usual...

One Thousand Gifts

2011-10-03T08:32:00.002-06:00

21. Grace from a police officer who pulled me over

22. Marveling at God's grace in general

23. Our little Ash tree in the backyard whose leaves are bursting with color

24. My sister's enthusiasm for all things style related and my willingness to learn from her

25. Making a good meal and my family enjoying every bite

26. Feeling satisfied with where I am in life

27. Getting older but feeling younger

28. Excitement for friends at their achievements

29. Emily having a really good day

30. Pumpkins

I am Thankful...

2011-09-26T07:00:00.001-06:00

1. Excitement about focusing on the things that I am so very grateful for

2. Hearing,"I love you mom" from my kids

3. The leaves changing to beautiful shades of red and orange

4. Friendships

5. Having really good medical coverage

6. My husband's job

7. My dog

8. My house becoming a home I am proud of

9. My church and pastor

10. Hearing my children laugh

11. New recipes

12. Learning Pinterest

13. Clean sheets

14. Fresh flowers

15. An ice cold Frappucino on a warm Fall day

16. My children's school

17. My sister and her beautiful family

18. Seeing Pikes Peak every morning

19. Dry roasted peanuts and candy corn

20. Good health

This week's info...

2011-09-22T14:36:00.003-06:00

Emily had been on prednisone for a month to help calm down all the inflammation in her gut - and it sort of worked, but has since worn off. So she's on a stronger steroid starting today (Entocort) for about 2-4 weeks (yay...kids on 'roids are a real blast). Its typically used to treat adults who have Crohns disease, so hopefully it should work. If not, I'm going to start a collection for toilet paper because you seriously can't imagine how much that child uses in a month.

Should have the second AE test results back by her 5th bday in mid-October. I'm trying to be really positive but she's just not healthy right now and isn't feeling good at all. She's refusing to eat, is very pale and getting pretty lethargic. It worries me but we are doing all we can until the results come back. Sounds like the preferred treatment for AE is a chemotherapy drug, so that's at least better (I think??) than a bone marrow transplant. I'm still learning.

After a conversation with the GI doctor's office today, it appears she is leaning toward Emily having Crohns Disease. We need to wait to see how she handles this new drug for 2-4 weeks, and then we will likely be scheduling for her to have a repeat endoscopy and colonoscopy (and trust me, you haven't lived until you have had to do 'bowel prep' for a colonoscopy...). Her blood test results are not currently showing that she has measurable inflammation in her gut, but since her IBD 7 test results were questionable, she could be developing Crohns (meaning it is still in a microscopic stage).

Whether this Crohn's is in addition to or in lieu of the AE we still don't know.

Bone density tests for both girls came back perfect, so that was a big WHEW. Really didn't need that one to be bad, the treatment wasn't pretty.

Ally has strep, which means we get two quiet days at home...and for that I am most grateful!!

Quickie update

2011-09-15T12:51:00.003-06:00

Today we went to pick up the order for Em to have the AE test repeated, zipped to the hospital and had the obligatory blood draw. I hate that she has to keep going through this, but we must get to the bottom of everything. Now we wait 4-6 weeks for results back from the Mayo Clinic. This is when I try not to lose my mind. : )

Over and out...

My poor, neglected blog...

2011-09-13T13:53:00.002-06:00

It's been so long since I last updated. We've had so much going on and have been on our toes ever since.

Here is the ever-popular bullet list:

As you know, Emily was diagnosed with celiac in April. Her GI doctor suggested that we may want to have Allyson tested as well, being that there is a link between siblings. So, we took Ally for her blood test, and I completely forgot all about it. A week later, the phone rings at 7:00am and it's the pediatrician calling with Allyson's results: they are very, very positive. I proceed to argue with her that n o, it's Emily's test results that were positive. She responds with, "but I'm calling about Ally." (insert sheepish face) "Ohhhh."

Emily then has an endoscopy to confirm her celiac. It is rated a "Marsh Type 3a" on the celiac scale (the ratings are 1, 2, 3a, 3b, 3c, 4 (the worst)). She is ordered to start on a gluten-free diet immediately. Additionally, they drew blood for something called autoimmune enteropathy (AE). The blood test is sent to the Mayo Clinic to be tested.
Ally has her endoscopy to confirm her celiac. Hers is rated "Marsh Type 3b." (seriously??). Ally is considered an asymptomatic celiac, in that she has no symptoms whatsoever of the disease, yet it has clearly caused immense damage to her small intestine. She is also ordered to go gluten-free post haste.
Colby and I are tested for celiac and both of us couldn't be MORE negative. We are gluten-free at home, but pig out on all things gluten on date nights.
Colby begins choking on various food items. One particular day he is eating a Snickers bar at work, chokes, and a coworker is forced to give him the Heimlich. His doctor orders an endoscopy to figure out what is going on and it is found that he has pretty severe GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). He's put on medication to get it under control and is doing better.
We continue to wait for Emily's AE results...and wait...and wait...and wait. We are told finally that the machine has broken and that they are scrapping the test and starting over. It will be another 4 weeks before we know the answer.
The phone call comes when I least expect it: Emily's AE test is back and it is positive. I proceed to remain calm through the entire conversation with the doctor, and hang up and have a nervous breakdown.

Here is a short version of what AE is:

Autoimmune enteropathy is a rare syndrome which, in children in its most severe form, causes severe life-threatening diarrhea and dehydration. It would seem that an immunological defect exists, which is caused by the non-functioning of regulatory T cells. Characteristic of this disorder are circulating auto-antibodies that cause destruction of the intestinal wall. Treatment options for this condition are immunosuppression and bone marrow transplantation.

So, where we are today is this: we had to retest Em's celiac to see if it was back to a normal range (test results back today indicate it is a 6.2 - normal is 0-20). Since the AE test was done while Em still has a lot of gluten in her system, the positive test result (albeit a weak positive) could indicate that the disease was just stating it is present, but wasn't active yet. If we retest her AE now, the results will be accurate, as the celiac won't have a chance to mask it this time.
Both kids are having bone density scans this Friday. Since they are kids, and we don't know how long their celiac has been active, it is important to get a good picture of bone density since untreated celiac means malabsorption. Ally has been growing like a weed, so I'm not terribly concerned about her, but Emily has grown maybe .25" since this time last year, which could indicate she's not getting near the vitamins and minerals she needs.

I'm going to do my best to keep updating now, as this also provides me with a journal to reference when I need it.

So much to be thankful for, yet entirely too much to be praying about as well. Finding out your child may have a terminal illness is like walking into a brick wall. It's numbing, it physically hurts your body to think about, and it consumes your every waking thought. I am doing my best to put on a happy face and create some semblance of normalcy in our home, but it's a lot of work! As always, I appreciate and covet your prayers.

Lathrop State Park, 2011

2011-07-08T15:44:00.001-06:00

Disneyland, 2011

2011-06-29T20:00:00.001-06:00

Finally getting around to blogging about our trip! Last week we met my parents, my oldest niece and my stepdad's granddaughter at Disneyland for a few days. Knowing it would not be an actual "vacation" for the adults, we set out to create the most magical trip possible for the 4 kiddos. Barring some unplanned stressors, things went well and I believe the kids will have wonderful memories of this trip for the rest of their lives. I posted all of my pics on Facebook, but here is a collage of some of the cuter ones!

The latest on Emily

2011-05-15T15:16:00.002-06:00

Welllll...after four years of searching for an answer to several of Emily's health problems, we are finally getting somewhere. Em had a huge blood draw done a few weeks ago and one of the tests that came back positive was for celiac disease. In fact, two doctors (her pediatrician and allergist) both said that they had never seen celiac test results this high before (her tTG-IgA was >150). Really good information on celiac in children can be found here.

This is a MAJOR life change for all of us. We have decided that we will all change over to the new gluten-free diet (primarily because it is fair to Emily and secondly because it will do nothing but improve our health overall anyway). I am still in the initial stages of shock with this...one day I am happy we have an answer, another I am petrified that I will never eat again (I know, that sounds ridiculous, but seriously...for the heck of it, go ahead and check labels in your refrigerator, pantry, shampoo bottles, etc and see how many things contain some derivative of wheat. It's INSANE).

I've been told that among my friends, I will have a clear line of definition form: those who support and understand the problem and do their best to accommodate...and those who choose to see this as an inconvenience I am imposing on others and who will therefore not accommodate.

The upside to this disease is that it is completely fixable with diet. No drugs, and no surgery necessary to fix it. However, being that it is an auto-immune disease, it is not curable. Both Colby and I carry the gene for this, so yes, we're both "at fault" for passing it on to her. I am just thankful that we have a concrete diagnosis and that those that feel I "make up" my child's health issues will finally be quieted by this news.

We see the GI doc on Thursday morning. Praying that we will not need for Emily to endure another endoscopy since she had one in 2009 and there is plenty of photographic evidence that inflammation exists heavily in her small intestine. This, coupled with the test results, and one look at my sick child (dark circles under her eyes, bruises all over her body, bloated tummy...) and hopefully we can begin our new gluten-free life!

More info to come as we progress!

Allyson's Letter to the Tooth Fairy...

2011-05-05T19:57:00.003-06:00

This was too hysterical not to post. For anyone who can't follow this, she lost her second tooth today and in the process of trying to show her sister, dropped it on the street and was not able to find it. She was VERY concerned that the tooth fairy (aka "toth fare") would not be able to leave her money if she didn't produce a tooth. This letter was written all by herself with minimal help from Mom!

The Start of a Wonderful Mother's Day!

2011-05-05T14:57:00.003-06:00

Today Emily's preschool class hosted a Mother's Day tea and it was just precious!! I think this is my favorite part about this particular preschool...they put a lot of thought into it and make the moms feel so appreciated. The class began with 3 songs, then they served us snacks (chocolate dipped strawberries, biscuits with strawberry jam, baby carrots and Hershey's kisses!) and lemonade and presented us with handmade gifts (a butterfly windchime). So stinkin' cute!!

Cubbies Awards Ceremony, 2011

2011-05-04T14:55:00.001-06:00

Tonight was Emily's Awards ceremony for AWANA Cubbies. She will do Cubbies again next year since she won't start kindergarten until the year after, but this was a huge accomplishment for her and we are so proud!

Our little ballerina

2011-04-25T12:13:00.005-06:00

Here are Emily's 2011 Ballet pictures (her studio is Falcon School of Dance)

Her recital in May will be dancing to this song (I seriously need a Kleenex EVERY time I hear it):

http://youtu.be/px0j1EHF8Y0

Video to be posted after the recital!

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T13:30:00.003-06:00

Gator Loses Her First Tooth!

2011-04-09T13:56:00.002-06:00

After a week of coaxing and her cautiously guarding the dangling tooth, I convinced Ally to let me finally pull it! We applied a little Orajel, grabbed a kleenex and used the ole 'Twist-n-Pull' method that was recommended by Auntie. Out like a charm and she said she didn't even feel it! (Nevermind that in the background, Daddy was white as a sheet and nearly passed out...hee hee)

Tooth #2 (right next door) is loose and should be out in a few weeks I am guessing (which couldn't come soon enough because the permanent teeth are already coming in behind!)

First Swim Lessons

2011-04-03T14:15:00.002-06:00

The girls took their very first swim lessons over spring break. Our gym has salt water pools, which were good for Emily in two ways: they healed her eczema that had gotten out of control and also her pediatrician felt better about Emily potentially aspirating salt water versus yucky chemical-laden pool water that is in most pools. She only had one incident of swallowing the water and had a nasty cough for a few days but thankfully her new inhaler took care of it and she's just fine now. Here are some pics from the week of their lessons!

Worm Expert Day

2011-04-02T14:21:00.002-06:00

Allyson is now a "certified" worm expert! Her class studied earthworms and can you believe my little kindergartner actually dissected a worm?? Miss Smarty Pants can correctly identify the various parts of a worm, tell you how many hearts they have, that baby worms are called wormlets, and that worms are basically both male and female until they decide to carry offspring! These pictures are from Worm Expert Day, where she and her class were expected to relay all the information they have learned to parents. I am so proud of my little biologist!

Happy Valentines Day to meeeeee

2011-02-09T20:24:00.000-07:00

BEFORE:

AFTER(!!!):

Seriously I had no idea that a spice cabinet could bring so much joy to my life! It is organized, I can find everything easily and I am a MUCH happier cook now!

If you are local and interested in doing the same thing, visit http://www.exdrawerdinary.com/. These guys handcraft everything themselves and it is extremely affordable. Highly recommend!

Disney LIVE! Mickey's Magic Show

2011-02-09T08:32:00.000-07:00

In preparation for our upcoming Disneyland trip in June, I bought tickets to a Disney LIVE! performance. We had great seats and a good time was had by all!

sniff sniff...

2011-02-08T20:21:00.000-07:00

I miss my friend.

Colby.

2011-02-08T18:14:00.004-07:00

This would be why I haven't blogged in a month!

On January 4th, Colby had surgery on his right (read: dominant) shoulder to reattach the labrum ligament. Additionally, they removed some necrotic tissue (ewww) from his rotator cuff and shaved off multiple bone spurs. As such, guess who has had to be his new right arm??

Some of my new job duties have included: helping him shower, drying him off, getting him dressed, helping him shave, doing his hair, cutting his food...you name it. It's sort of been like having another toddler around. Oh did I mention I also have a 4 and 5 year old who need constant attention/supervision as well as everything else in the world needing to get done??

Yesterday, he finally got to take his sling off (which has been strapping his arm to his chest for about 23 hours of the day) and tomorrow morning he begins physical therapy (for which another round of narcotics has been prescribed as apparently this is agonizing).

Anyhoo...I am happy to report that as of today I got my own car back (read: heated seats...ahhh) and he is attempting to drive his Jeep again, stick shift and all.

I am still not sure exactly what he does around the house to help, but it is clear that it is something because my house has looked like a COPS episode for the past month. Will be thrilled to get back to some semblance of normalcy soon!

Christmas, 2010

2011-01-01T13:54:00.005-07:00

What an AWESOME Christmas we had this year. My parents visited and as usual, we had a ton of fun.

There was some jammies-opening after Church on Christmas Eve:

There was some Night Before Christmas reading and Santa preparation:

There was lots of bonding time (tea party with Gramma, Colby/Dad fixed toilets and Rosie got lots of extra attention):

There were some nerf-gun wars (Colby/Em vs Grampa/Ally):

And there were goodbyes...but only until March when they come back again! Wahoo!!

Thanks, Mom and Dad for a very special Christmas. We love you both very much!!

My Friends...

2010-12-20T21:17:00.002-07:00

Visit with Santa

2010-12-14T14:49:00.001-07:00

Skiing at Monarch Resort, 2010

2010-12-14T14:47:00.001-07:00

BB: December Recipes

2010-11-30T15:15:00.004-07:00

Happy December! This month's recipes are all wonderful once again. The first recipe is for Lemon Chicken Breasts, which can be found on page 120. I made this, expecting my citrus-hating husband to be upset about my dinner choice. HAPPILY, he actually liked this! As did both my kids! I served this with Ina's Couscous recipe (that will come later on) and it was a perfect accompaniment. Loved this dish and will definitely be putting this one into the regular dinner rotation.

Next, I tackled Ina's Easy Cranberry and Apple Cake (page 205) and served this for dessert when we had some unexpected dinner guests one night. The consensus was that it was "very cranberry-y" and a bit tart for most everyone's likings. I, personally, loved it. It was a bit moister of a cake than I prefer, but that could just be my luck with baking. I may try this one again, but altering the ratio of apple to cranberries so that there is more apple and less cranberry and see how the family does with it.

Coming up: Roasted Vegetables and Roasted Figs and Prosciutto (which I plan to serve at our annual NYE party!).

BB: November Recipes

2010-11-12T18:24:00.006-07:00

I must start exercising again. Like this moment. November's recipes for Barefoot Bloggers are sooooo goooood. This month, we began cooking our way through Ina's newest cookbook, "How Easy Is That?" which I am finding is becoming my go-to cookbook even for weeknight meals. I have actually started cooking my way through it and just taking pictures as I go. We have had unanimous thumbs-up for everything thus far. Can't wait to try more!!

First up: French Toast Bread Pudding. You may find this little delight on page 18.

Let's say that again...French.Toast.Bread.Pudding. Need I say more?! It's insanely rich and from the 9" x 13" pyrex dish that I baked it in, I have less than half left. My 4 yr old had THREE servings, and my 5 yr old, husband and myself each had two. GROAN!!!

Second: I made the Onion and Fennel Soup Gratin today for my regular tasting buddy (she has the unfortunate task of sampling everything I make...poor thing!! lol). Now, chopping 3 lbs of onions at 9:00 am is not something I would really look forward to every day, but this soup is really good and worth the time. I hate to sound so cliche, but there are some serious layers of flavor in this soup that makes its depth something to be tasted rather than described. Trust me, this one will wow your friends. You can find the recipe for this on page 57. I served celery and parmesan salad alongside...we'll cover that recipe in the next few months!

The last recipe I was able to tackle is the Watermelon Mojito (I know, tough decision). I was ECSTATIC that this was actually a very yummy drink. I have had mojitos in the past and they are not on my top 50 of drinks I would rather order. This was something else entirely, and Colby even liked it! This drinky-drinky can be found on page 26!

Ally's First Piano Recital

2010-11-09T15:44:00.003-07:00

BB: Popovers

2010-10-29T14:14:00.003-06:00

The second recipe for Barefoot Bloggers for the month of October is for Popovers, which I coincidentally served with the Clam Chowda from the beginning of the month! I have learned that popovers are a cinch WHEN you follow the directions EXACTLY and use Demarle pans. Excellent choice to go along with a really good soup. Even the kiddos approved!

Cannot wait for November with Barefoot Bloggers as we will begin cooking our way through Ina's newest book, "How Easy Is That?" YAY! (Alicia, get ready for some serious recipe testin'!)

10 Years...redux

2010-10-21T19:03:00.003-06:00

I know, I am a major geek. But I had to know...tee hee

10 Years!

2010-10-21T14:46:00.017-06:00

I am so blessed. Not just for having a good marriage, that's pretty obvious. I am blessed because I found a man who takes commitment seriously and who works very hard every day to exceed the needs of his family. I have in him a true friend, someone I can share whatever I want with and know that my secret is safe. These past 10 years have not been the easiest, but I could not be happier nor more feel more in love with this guy than I do today.
I truly am the luckiest girl in the world.

Daddy/Daughter Night at Emily's Preschool

2010-10-20T20:46:00.009-06:00

Happy Birthday to "The Divine Miss Em!!"

2010-10-19T14:11:00.009-06:00

Baby Em, maybe an hour old

Bad Mommy, I am totally late in posting this!!

So our little Em turned 4 years old on October 16th. She has informed us that she is officially now a big girl. Sigh.

Here are some scenes from her little party on Saturday night. We always have SO much fun when we have at-home parties. We typically invite the same friends (everyone's kids get along perfectly and are all very comfortable with each other) and the adults seem to have more fun than the kids I think!!

Happy Birthday, baby girl! Mommy, Daddy & Ally love you so much!

BB: East Hampton Clam Chowder

2010-10-14T13:54:00.004-06:00

After a short break, Barefoot Bloggers is back, and I think will be better than ever! So this month, the first recipe was selected by Laura of Family Spice, who picked East Hampton Clam Chowder. In my humble opinion, there is no other recipe for clam chowder I would think of making besides my mom's (seriously...it is THE.BEST.), so when I saw this was our pick, I was totally skeptical. Boy was I wrong though! This is a very easy, go-to type recipe that I am confident will yield consistent results time and time again. The flavor is not too clammy, the textures of all the veggies melds really nice, and it's fairly inexpensive to make (well...if you didn't use fresh clams, that is). Unfortunately, my entire house has been sick with colds, croup, strep, pneumonia and general malaise, so buying fresh clams was not high on my priority list this month. The canned whole baby clams I used were perfect and I guarantee no one knew the difference in my home!

I took about a quart over to my then-pregnant friend (Hi, Alicia! Congrats on baby Cooper!!) and got rave reviews from her and her hubby as well. Great pick, Laura!

Coming next: popovers! (which coincidentally, we ate with the chowder!).

The Meyer Kids' First Shooting Trip

2010-10-03T15:31:00.001-06:00

The Barbie Diaries, Part Seven: Ron & Company

2010-09-24T15:12:00.003-06:00

OK, I admit...this one was totally set up by my husband, but I laughed hysterically and thought others might enjoy a good laugh too!

My Baby Girl is F-I-V-E!

2010-09-08T06:00:00.000-06:00

Ally loves:

Her sister
Her daddy (I think they are the same person just in two different bodies)
Playing very elaborate pretend scenarios
Anything Star Wars
Drawing/painting/creating works of art
Pink, pink, pink
Reminding everyone to use manners/follow the rules/remembering things you will forget

Ally is doing very well in:

School (kindergarten is going great!)
AWANA (she's a Sparkie)
Learning to read (boy does she get frustrated with herself though)

Ally is:

A ray of sunshine
A very kind-hearted person
Very secure in who she is
A leader

We sure love our little "Ally-gator." Man has time flown by!!!

(sniff, sniff!)

BB: Mixed Berry Cheesecake

2010-08-31T08:00:00.000-06:00

Loved the recipes for August's Barefoot Bloggers! The first selection I made was chosen by Nathalie of Snowbell Jewelry, who picked Mixed Berry Cheesecake, which I proudly served to the few friends who showed up to my Thirty-One purse party (oh you missed it?? Hmmm...you missed the best - AND FREE - part too - the cheesecake!).

I have never attempted a cheesecake before, and didn't even own a springform pan (yay for neighbors who have stuff you need and don't have to go buy!), so this recipe was a bit daunting for me. I followed directions to a "t" except for cutting back slightly on the lemon zest (my hubby has a weirdness about all things citrus), which actually I was glad I did - the little I did add gave it a nice background flavor but you couldn't pick it out as a star ingredient.

And here is how it turned out:

Cracked all over!! I quickly scoured the internet, searching for reasons why this happened and interestingly enough, came across this site, which pretty much spelled out all the possible reasons why this can happen (many of which were covered in the original recipe...i.e. switching from high heat to low heat quickly, not flouring the inside of the pan, etc). BUT, add some berries to the top and voila!!

I thought this was delicious, and helped me conquer my fear of baking a cheesecake. I will try it again, using Diana's hints to prevent it from cracking. Thanks, Nathalie!

BB: Ultimate Grilled Cheese (Bonus Recipe)

2010-08-31T07:00:00.002-06:00

Usually I don't have time to do any of the extra recipes, but this one was a must-do. This recipe was chosen by Rebecca of Ezra Pound Cake, and it is a selection from Ina's newest cookbook, due out soon. I mean, who would not want to make something called Ultimate Grilled Cheese?!

I invited my trusty (and pregnant, a bonus) ~~guinea pig~~ best taste-tester ever over for lunch so that I could have some help devouring this. The first thing I realized, however, is that I do not own a panini press. I do, however, own a waffle iron. Same difference, right?!

So, please make this at your earliest convenience. Adults and kids alike will love it, eat one or two, and ask you to marry them.

Here's the recipe:

serves 6

12 slices thick-cut bacon, such as Nodine’s applewood smoked
1 cup good mayonnaise
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 white pullman loaf or sourdough bread, sliced 1/2 inch thick (12 slices)
6 tbsp salted butter, at room temperature
6 oz aged Gruyere or Comte cheese
6 oz extra-sharp Cheddar, such as Cabot or Shelburne Farms

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Arrange the bacon on a baking rack set over a sheet pan in a single layer and roast for 20 to 30 minutes, until nicely browned. Drain on a plate lined with paper towels and cut in 1-inch pieces.

Meanwhile, combine the mayonnaise, mustard, Parmesan, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Lay 12 slices of bread on a board and spread each one lightly with butter. Flip the slices and spread each one generously with the mayonnaise mixture. Don’t neglect the corners!

Grate the cheeses in a food processor fitted with the largest grating disk and combine. Distribute the bacon evenly on half the slices of bread. Pile 1/3 cup grated cheese evenly on top of the bacon and top with the remaining bread slices, sauce side down.

Heat an electric panini press. When the press is hot, cook the sandwiches for 3 to 5 minutes in batches until the bread is toasted and the cheese is melted. Allow to cool for 2 minutes. Cut in half and serve warm.

And as my mom discovered, her kitty cat likes watching Barefoot Contessa too:

BB: Oven-Fried Chicken

2010-08-31T07:00:00.000-06:00

The second recipe for the month of August's Barefoot Bloggers was selected by Vicki of My Fare Lady, who selected Oven-Fried Chicken. I was excited to make this, mainly because I knew my kids would love it (they did) and the comment from Ina in the cookbook about frying it in a stockpot to reduce your grease spatter completely won me over (and forever changed how I will deep fry anything from here on out). I added some Lawry's seasoned salt to the flour mixture, but other than that made it exactly as the recipe calls. It was very yummy (and I made sure I worked out extra hard the next day at the gym!). Hubby reported that leftovers were quite tasty as well for lunch.

Thanks, Vicki! Great choice!!

Peas don't judge...

2010-08-23T14:11:00.002-06:00

Peas don't be sad...

Peas don't be grumpy...

(Just another uneventful dinnertime at the Meyer house, people. Hey, ya do what ya gotta do to get your kids to eat sometimes...)

The Barbie Diaries, Part Six: The Fashionistas

2010-08-23T14:06:00.004-06:00

Do you think, perhaps, that it is time that I buy my children some Barbie clothes? Although I am totally submitting Ally to Project Runway for her creative use of Kleenex-acting-as-formalwear. And Ken? Dude just continues to find more creative uses for being nekkid and utilizing accessories to hide such fact, doesn't he??

Sound Mom Advice

2010-08-20T12:51:00.003-06:00

To any of my mom friends who have not yet discovered this blog, I hope you find it as informative and entertaining as I have. It's one of my new favorites for sure. Her Freaky Friday posts will have you nearly wetting your pants!

Grumpy.

2010-08-16T14:37:00.005-06:00

Do you ever feel like your friends only wanna hang around you when you are cooking?

(crickets chirping)

I rarely use my blog to kvetch...but today, since my heart is heavy, I am going to. Well, not really. I am just going to leave it at that and know that now that it is off my chest, I can begin the process of getting out of the marinade I have been in with this topic for several days.

(getting out of marinade)

(drying off)

(changing 'tude)

Thanks for listening.

On Being Supermom

2010-08-10T16:36:00.003-06:00

I love days like today. Before noon, I had:

Taken Ally to school, on time
Voted in the CO primaries
Gone to the gym
Vacuumed, dusted AND mopped the floors
Done several loads of laundry
Picked Ally up from school, on time
Served lunch
Did all the dishes
Prepped dinner
Read two magazines and watched one cooking show

Actually, come to think of it, days like today end up biting me in the butt later when I have a day (likely tomorrow) where it is all I can do to get a shower in. And as such, you feel like a complete loser because you KNOW what you are capable of!

Oh well, I guess I will take what I can get each day. : )

The Day I Swore Would Be Years Away...

2010-08-05T20:05:00.009-06:00

It is official. Today, I have a kindergartner.

As she donned her two-sizes-two-big school mandated uniform shirt, I bawled.

As she put on her backpack that was half the size she is, I bawled.

As she sat on the gymnasium floor and waited for the rest of the school to assemble for the Pledge of Allegiance, she seemed so small...and I bawled.

As I said a little prayer with her and told her how proud Mommy and Daddy were of her and that she would have an exciting year, I choked back tears (but they showed).

Daddy was choking back tears too (even if he won't admit it...)

It is amazing - a.m.a.z.i.n.g. how fast time goes. I could've sworn she was a tiny baby yesterday, and now this! OK, and again as I write this, I am bawling.

Tomorrow I will put on my "big girl panties" but today I am humbled by how fast life goes.

And I am now going to figure out a way to stunt Emily's growth because I am not sure I can do this again in 2 years!!

BB: Blueberry Streusel Muffins

2010-07-28T13:46:00.003-06:00

The first July recipe for Barefoot Bloggers was selected by Maria of Close to Home, and we were given a choice. We could either make Ina's Blueberry Coffee Cake Muffins or Blueberry Streusel Muffins (I chose the latter). We are leaving to go camping for a few days, so I thought this would make a PERFECT breakfast for camping. Costco has some gorgeous blueberries for dirt cheap right now, so this was all very good timing!

I overfilled the muffin cups a bit too much, which I think is why the streusel didn't stay put in one neat little pile, but the flavor is awesome and they are just the perfect texture and density, I think. Baking is really not my strong point, so I get real nervous anytime we have to bake, but these turned out just perfect. I was also able to yield 24 muffins with about 1/2 cup batter left over, contrary to the cookbook's yield of 20 muffins.

Here is the recipe, as it is not posted on Food Network (it can be found in Back to Basics, pg 244):

Blueberry Streusel Muffins

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
4 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp Kosher salt
2 cups buttermilk, shaken
1/4 lb (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 1/2 tsp grated lemon zest
2 extra-large eggs
2 cups fresh blueberries (2 half-pints)

For the Streusel Topping

1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp Kosher salt
4 tbsp (1/2 stick) cold unsalted butter, diced

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line muffin tins with paper liners.
Sift the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in to a large bowl and blend with your hands. In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, butter, lemon zest, and eggs. Stir the buttermilk mixture into the flour mixture with a fork, mixing just until blended. Fold the blueberries into the batter. Don’t overmix! With a standard (2 1/4″) ice cream scoop or large spoon, scoop the batter into the prepared cups, filling them almost full.
For the topping, place all the ingredients in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade and pulse until the butter is in very small pieces. Pour into a bowl and rub with your fingers until crumbly. Spoon about 1 tbsp of the streusel on top of each muffin. Bake the muffins for 20 to 25 minutes, until golden brown.

BB: Greek Panzanella

2010-07-28T13:37:00.003-06:00

...and there went July! lol

The second recipe for the month of July was for Greek Panzanella, selected by Tara of Smells Like Home (aka our fearless leader for Barefoot Bloggers). I have made this recipe before, so I felt comfortable making some substitutions and omissions based on our family's likes and dislikes. I have a wonderful bag of Walla Walla Sweet Onions that I am working through and seriously, they are sweet enough to eat like an apple. So my first substitution was for one of those instead of a purple onion (which I know would have been good too). Secondly, I cannot eat kalamata olives without my gag reflex kicking into high gear, so I left those out. And, I did not add the feta cheese, completely out of error (I forgot to buy it). I baked the bread cubes in the oven instead of sauteeing them, because I felt it gave them more crispness and density...and at my husband's suggestion, I used sourdough bread instead of french bread and we thought that was way better. Other than that, the recipe I made was identical to the original! : )

We LOVED this, probably moreso with the substitutions I made. I know my hubby would have enjoyed the kalamatas in there, and maybe next time I will let him add some to his own bowl.

Thanks, Tara, for selecting this for us!

BB: Scalloped Tomatoes

2010-07-04T13:33:00.002-06:00

The second recipe for the month of June's Barefoot Bloggers is Scalloped Tomatoes, selected by Josie of Pink Parsley Catering. I had been really looking forward to making this, ever since I watched Ina make it on her show. My plan was to serve it alongside some steaks my hubby had grilled. I am fairly certain, considering the ease of this recipe, that I followed it perfectly, but I was slightly disappointed with the way it turned out. The bread cubes, even though they were toasted to a crouton-like consistency, actually got pretty mushy rather quickly I thought. The flavor over all was really good, but I had a hard time with the texture issue after a while. I am not sure if others had the same thing happen, but I would give this recipe an "Eh" type of rating...maybe something I would try again, maybe not. I was glad I got to try this though, thanks Josie for picking it!

Scalloped Tomatoes

Ingredients

Good olive oil
2 cups (1/2-inch diced) bread from a French boule, crusts removed
16 plum tomatoes, cut 1/2-inch dice (about 2 1/2 pounds)
1 tablespoon minced garlic (3 cloves)
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup julienned basil leaves, lightly packed
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large (12 inch) saute pan over medium heat. Add the bread cubes and stir to coat with the oil. Cook over medium to medium-high heat for 5 minutes, stirring often, until the cubes are evenly browned.

Meanwhile, combine the tomatoes, garlic, sugar, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. When the bread cubes are done, add the tomato mixture and continue to cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes. Off the heat, stir in the basil.

Pour the tomato mixture into a shallow (6 to 8 cup) baking dish. Sprinkle evenly with the Parmesan cheese and drizzle with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until the top is browned and the tomatoes are bubbly. Serve hot or warm.

BB: Sour Cream Coffee Cake

2010-06-29T20:55:00.003-06:00

Hello, mama! The first recipe for the month of June is for Ina's Sour Cream Coffee Cake, which was selected by Gwenn of Cooking in Pajamas. AWESOME PICK! I made this for a camping trip I went on recently, as we had 6 adults and 6 kids in attendance. I was VERY nervous about how this would turn out, since I just have terrible luck with any from-scratch baked item. This turned out PERFECT!! I could have cried happy tears when I saw that the batter didn't overflow my Demarle bundt pan!

If you are looking for an awesome coffee cake recipe, you should definitely try this!! Thanks, Gwenn!

Ingredients

12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
3 extra-large eggs at room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups sour cream
2 1/2 cups cake flour (not self-rising)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

For the streusel:

1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
3/4 cup chopped walnuts, optional

For the glaze:

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons real maple syrup

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 10-inch tube pan.

Cream the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment for 4 to 5 minutes, until light. Add the eggs 1 at a time, then add the vanilla and sour cream. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. With the mixer on low, add the flour mixture to the batter until just combined. Finish stirring with a spatula to be sure the batter is completely mixed.

For the streusel, place the brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, salt, and butter in a bowl and pinch together with your fingers until it forms a crumble. Mix in the walnuts, if desired.

Spoon half the batter into the pan and spread it out with a knife. Sprinkle with 3/4 cup streusel. Spoon the rest of the batter in the pan, spread it out, and scatter the remaining streusel on top. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean.

Let cool on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes. Carefully transfer the cake, streusel side up, onto a serving plate. Whisk the confectioners' sugar and maple syrup together, adding a few drops of water if necessary, to make the glaze runny. Drizzle as much as you like over the cake with a fork or spoon.

The second recipe for June is for Scalloped Tomatoes, which I am making this weekend. That post will be a few days late!

Praise the Lord!! (Emily update)

2010-06-28T15:17:00.004-06:00

Today, Em got her cast off (and can I just pause a moment to tell you how STINKY it was under there? And she only had it on like 10 days...BLECH). They re-xrayed her thumb and the fracture is still there but it is healing. Here's the PTL part: the doctor told me that the fracture had come "dangerously close" to the growth plate in her thumb and she was very concerned that permanent damage had been done, as the initial xrays from the Urgent Care showed potential damage. Well, little Miss Em has healed miraculously because the growth plate showed up nice and bright on the xray (a sign of health) and all is well. Additionally, the doctor said that she could tell from the bruising on the thumb that the laceration goes fairly deep into the nail bed. The current nail will fall off (the timing of that should coincide nicely with when the kids are at my parents for the week in July...sorry Mom!) and because a tiny piece stayed intact on either end of the nail, it appears the nail is continuing to grow and will replace itself. This is wonderful news also, because the doctor had me all ready to accept that she was going to grow up without a nail on the left thumb.

So we have gone from the big yellow boo-boo to a big purple boo-boo, but she will be fine in time. So thankful God performed a small miracle on her!!

LESSON TO ALL PARENTS: Do not, DO NOT let your kids play with doors. Seriously, they can break a child's hand. I hate that we had to learn this the hard way.

Next update: Ally goes on Wednesday for a re-check to the ear surgeon and I hope to report good news then!

The Big Yellow Boo-Boo

2010-06-17T18:54:00.004-06:00

So today, Em got her cast on. She thought it was the coolest thing in the world (which I promptly told her she had a strange sense of entertainment if she thought that was cool). The doctor was not super concerned about the fracture, and said likely when they re-xray it again in 10 days, it will have healed (kids heal amazingly fast apparently). The fracture does not go all the way through the bone, just enough so that it shows a tiny little line on the xray. The real problem, however, is with the laceration in her thumbnail . Apparently because it is so deep into the nail bed, there is a strong possibility that the nail will not regrow. So the cast is mainly to protect the nail for the next 10 days to see if it will show some signs of healing, as it is quite infected right now.

Anyway, she was given a swatch of about 20 different cast colors and she chose yellow because "it matches her dress..." Quite the fashionista if you ask me. Ally has been feigning leg injuries all day because she wants a cast herself. Why do kids miss the point so much?!

How We're Doing Our Part to Keep Healthcare Workers Thriving in Colorado

2010-06-16T20:40:00.002-06:00

It's been what? A few weeks since I last had a health-related update on my children? Jeesh, I am long overdue apparently. My children are apparently in a race to see who can visit the most specialists for random conditions in a year. So, here's the latest for anyone interested. (yawn...I'm already bored).

ALLYSON: Two weeks ago, Ally had a tympanoplasty to repair a perforated eardrum that neglected to heal on its own from when she had tubes put in as a baby. Things were going swimmingly until Saturday morning when we noticed something oozing out of her ear. Thinking it was the packing material they told me would disintegrate on its own, I ignored it. Sunday we left to go camping several hours away. Monday morning she awoke and I could barely see her ear because there was so much ick coming out of it. Today we had a follow up appointment with the doctor (thankfully) who had to vacuum the ick out (I nearly heaved) so he could see the eardrum. The good news is that the fat graft is still intact. The bad news (aside from a raging ear infection) is that there are no signs of regrowth yet on the eardrum (it is still considered early though). We were sent away with a $300 bottle of antibiotic ear drops and told to return in 10 days. So...we shall pray extra hard that the ear drops clear up the infection and the little eardrum decides to start growing.

EMILY: Ah, yes. Not to be outdone by her sister, Emily promptly gets her hand crushed in the camper door just as we are loading it up to go on said camping trip. Thank goodness for sister-in-laws who are ER nurses, because a quick phone call to her ended us up at the local Urgent Care. Emily managed to completely cut the fingernail off right at the nail bed (where the cuticle meets the nail) and fracture her thumb (this, after a round of x-rays because the swelling in her thumb was so bad). She has a splint on it now that I need to remove and apply antibiotic cream to twice a day, then rebandange/retape. You can imagine how much fun this was to do on the camping trip. To the Sand Dunes. Which is the dirtiest place I have truly ever been. And am still finding sand in my children's crevices. I digress. Tomorrow, we visit a pediatric orthopedic surgeon because the Urgent Care doctor is concerned that the tendon may be damaged in her thumb as well, and she does not have free range of motion in that thumb. I am assuming she will have a cast put on, but that remains to be seen. Maybe kids can regenerate thumbs without help from specialists. Who knows. Stranger things have happened.

I think that about covers it for this week. Now I shall return to the umpteen mounds of laundry generated from aforementioned camping trip, where not an item of clothing escaped unscathed from a speck of sand and dirt. Our camper is still parked on the street, where we are sure to get a nasty-gram from our neighbor who I am sure it is bothering...but it will remain there until my husband can pull himself off the couch. You see, he is sicker than a dog with what appears to be West Nile Virus.

The fun never ends for us. Truly.

Camping Trip to the Great Sand Dunes National Park, 2010

2010-06-16T10:16:00.000-06:00

Ringling Brothers Circus!

2010-06-11T13:30:00.002-06:00

We took the girls to the circus for the first time last night (prompted mainly because we got notification of ticket presale that allowed us to buy tickets before the general public and at a significant discount). The kids had a blast, Emily wants to join the circus when she grows up and become a BodyBender. Right.

Definitely something we will keep in our yearly repertoire of family activities. The downfall was that it was a late night and I am paying for that with very grumpy children today!!

Dinner Party Post #3: Some guests

2010-06-09T14:40:00.009-06:00

Not all attendees pictured but loved that they all came to party!!! Thanks, KB, for taking all the pictures!!

Dinner Party Post #2: The Food!

2010-06-09T14:35:00.007-06:00

Veggie Skewers (grilled)

BBQ'd cedar plank salmon with fresh salsa verde

Toasted poundcake with fresh raspberry coulis, raspberry liquor infused whipped cream and Haagen Dazs vanilla ice creamChef Meyer at your service!

Also not pictured: Pork Tenderloin, Heirloom Tomato Salad, Grilled Radicchio with Orange and Balsamic

Recipes and party pics to follow!

The Dinner Party "I won"

2010-06-05T13:43:00.002-06:00

So this is just one of what I hope to be several posts on my dinner party. First, the preliminary information!

I entered, and won (I was one of 1000 total and 7 in Colorado), a contest from Williams-Sonoma and Calphalon. To enter, I had to agree to throw a dinner party on June 5th using Williams-Sonoma recipes. In return, I got a box filled with:

1 Detailed instruction card on how to host a successful party.
1 Calphalon Unison Grill with Sear Nonstick
1 Calphalon Unison Griddle with Slide Nonstick
Chef Michael Symon’s Live to Cook cookbook.
1 Calphalon Unison Nonstick demonstration DVD starring Chef Michael Symon.
1 Invitation to Williams-Sonoma technique class on Sunday, May 30.
1 Williams-Sonoma Potlatch Rub,
1 ‘wichcraft Tomato Relish Panini Spread,
1 Williams-Sonoma Apron and Kitchen Towel
Nylon utensils to hand out as party favors for my guests
$100 American Express gift card to help offset grocery expenses

The menu is as follows:

Grilled crostini with fresh mozzarella and 'wichcraft tomato relish
Grilled Radicchio with orange and balsamic
Garden skewers (zucchini, yellow squash, mushrooms, red onion and 3 colors of bell pepper
Salmon grilled on cedar planks, served with a salsa verde
Pork Tenderloin with Heirloom Tomato Salad
Toasted pound cake with fresh raspberry sauce, Haagen Dazs and raspberry whipped cream

I am actually taking a breather for a moment as I have literally been cooking since 8am. I am pooped already!!!! Anyway, I have 22 adults expected to be in attendance (Colby and I included) and it should be a lot of fun. Pictures and more to come later!!

BB: Grilled Herb Shrimp

2010-05-27T14:26:00.002-06:00

Whew! Is this month flying by or what?! Goodness. The second recipe for May's Barefoot Bloggers was very yummy. Grilled Herb Shrimp was selected by Penny from Lake Lure Cottage Kitchen. I could not wait to make this and we served it with ribeyes and a veg. The kids even devoured it!! I did not, however, make the accompanying mango salsa to go with. We are not mango eaters and I know that would have gone to waste, so we just did the grilled shrimp part. This is definitely going on our "make again" list. Thank you, Penny!!

Here is the recipe, which can also be found online and in Barefoot Contessa Parties, page 138:

2 pounds large shrimp (16 to 20 per pound), peeled and deveined (see note)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium yellow onion, small-diced
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
1/4 cup minced fresh basil
1 teaspoon dry mustard
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup good olive oil
1 lemon, juiced

Directions

Combine all the ingredients and allow them to marinate for 1 hour at room temperature or cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.

Skewer the shrimp. I use 3 or 4 shrimp on a 12-inch skewer for dinner. Heat a grill with coals and brush the grill with oil to prevent the shrimp from sticking. Grill the shrimp for only 1 1/2 minutes on each side.

Note: I leave the tails on when I'm peeling the shrimp.

The REAL Housewives of El Paso County

2010-05-20T13:41:00.002-06:00

Today marked the very last MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) meeting for me. I joined the same year I decided to become a stay at home mom. For me, making the decision to join a mom's group where I didn't know anyone and getting put at a table where several friendships had already been forged was difficult for me and a decision that made me very nervous. Instead, I have developed friendships with 8 women (Nicole is not pictured but she is very much included) that I value so much. This group has had our share of tears, frustrations and more laughter than you could ever possibly imagine. Each of them brings something special to the table and I am incredibly blessed that God put them in my life.

I love you Kendra, Kristen, Laura, Karen, Kristy, Mel, Lauren and Nicole!!

BB: Spring Green Risotto

2010-05-14T13:00:00.000-06:00

Ok, now that I have my wits back about me (see previous post if you'd like a good laugh), here is the first recipe for the month of May for Barefoot Bloggers! It is for Spring Green Risotto and was selected by Kimberly of Indulge & Enjoy! I paired this recipe with some BBQ steaks (I figured what could have gone better as this included both a starch and veggies!). Unfortunately, this was not a hit with my family (for the record, I loved it). My husband is weird-picky about anything containing lemon and since this did have zest and a little bit of juice (which I even cut back on hoping he wouldn't notice), the lemon flavor is bright and does come through. To me, it was a perfectly refreshing dish and I loved how it incorporated the mascarpone and parmesan cheeses with the leeks, peas and fennel. Everything I love all in one dish. Thank you, Kimberly for a great pick! I am looking forward to the next recipe as well this month (Grilled Herb Shrimp).

On my thankfulness for having daughters

2010-05-13T14:36:00.003-06:00

So technically I am supposed to be posting about my latest Barefoot Bloggers recipe, which I will later, but I just need to get this off my chest. I should also apologize in advance to my friend, whose child this post is about. You know I love ya and your kids...but today's events brought out an inadequacy in me that I did not know existed until today.

So, I am currently watching my friends kids while she attends an event for her husband. She informed me upon arrival that her son had not pooped yet today (and followed that up with an apologetic smile). All went well for a few hours until the telltale smell wafted its way into my kitchen and I became faced with a situation I have not before encountered: changing a male child (I don't know how I have never had the opportunity, but let's just say I have also avoided it at all costs. The hardware frankly scares me). Changing a girls diaper is pretty straightforward...there isn't much that can 'get in the way' so to speak. I attempted to get my husband on Chat and of course he was not available. My mind raced with thoughts of how I was going to deal with this and if it would be wrong to just leave him poopy in his diaper so I could avoid this situation altogether (that was a fleeting thought until I smelled him again).

I gathered the supplies and mentally braced myself for what was to come. HALLELEUJAH he had not yet pooped when I checked his diaper (There IS a GOD!!!) so I whisked him quickly onto the toilet and promised him treats if he would just poop in the toilet like a big boy. Proud of myself for handling this so far, I hear a tiny voice from the bathroom proclaim that he had done his business and he was ready for treats.

At this point I should mention that I was barefoot.

I walk into the bathroom and am getting ready to clean him up when I realize I am standing in something wet. The sweet boy then informs me that he peed too...UH YAH. Realizing I am standing in it, and in what probably came across as a very high-pitched whine, I ask him, "WHYYY did you pee on the floor?!" and bless his heart, he says (I can barely type this because I am laughing so hard), "It doesn't reach!"

Apparently this is why they have splash guards on some potty seats. And I didn't realize the utility until today because God knew I was not equipped to deal with the peepee.

Thank you, Lord, for giving me daughters.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-05-12T07:00:00.000-06:00

Mother's Day 2010

2010-05-11T14:42:00.006-06:00

What a nice day! We went to church and came home to quickly change and head out to our favorite park for a picnic and some relaxation. I got a quick pedicure in while the kids napped and we headed to Red Robin for dinner (not my choice but the kids begged to go there so I relented. For the record, I wanted fish tacos at Wahoo's!). Hubby brought me some beautiful roses and I got cards from all three of them. Couldn't have asked for a nicer day!!
It's good to be Mom!

Ally's Preschool Mother's Day Tea

2010-05-10T14:30:00.002-06:00

This had to have been the cutest thing I have ever attended in my life. The moms were escorted into the classroom one by one, had pictures taken, and then found our spot on the floor where a picnic blanket was set up and basket with all sorts of goodies. The children apparently hand-dipped the strawberries in chocolate, made biscuits with strawberry jam and put together the little baggies of baby carrots and Hershey's kisses. We were served lemonade as a refreshment. The picture of me in the top corner is one that Ally took of me. The papers you see in the middle are from a little book the kids put together for their mom. My child has since been scolded for incorrectly stating my age (I may be approaching that age but I am not there yet!!!). Anyway, this was absolutely darling and I cherished every minute!

Our little Cubbie becomes a Spark!

2010-05-05T20:13:00.002-06:00

Tonight, Ally graduated from AWANA Cubbies and is officially a Spark now for the Fall. These are pictures from tonight's award ceremony. We are so proud of our little girl!! In the Fall, Emily will be old enough to participate as a Cubbie and she is SOOO excited.

Ally ear update

2010-04-29T13:22:00.002-06:00

Quick update for family/friends interested in an update...

I took Ally in for a second opinion this morning on her ear. While I understood that the perforation in her eardrum was not a normal thing and would require surgery to repair it, I was not comfortable with the first doctor's approach for repairing it. We were supposed to see a Pediatric ENT this morning, but after waiting 40 minutes were then told that "she doesn't do this type of thing" and we were shuttled over to an adjoining room to wait for their head and neck surgeon to speak to me. Imagine my surprise when Doogie Howser walked in (seriously, he looked about 15).

Anyway, he confirmed that Ally's eardrum is about 15% perforated (a significant hole) and definitely needs surgery to repair. His suggested method is non-invasive and would take a "fat plug" from the back of her earlobe and push it through the perforation. In 85% of cases, the fat causes the eardrum to regenerate somehow, and close up on its own. Should this not work, we would need to explore an invasive method (unfortunately what the initial doctor wanted to do first, which was to go in through the side of her head to gain access to her eardrum). I feel WAY better about this new doctor and his less invasive method...even if he is like 12. : )

Will probably hold off on scheduling surgery until after our friends are here and gone in June, but it will need to be done before she starts Kindergarten in August. Will update as I know more!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-04-28T07:00:00.000-06:00

tee hee

The Barbie Diaries, Part Five: Playing for the Other Team

2010-04-26T15:08:00.002-06:00

So apparently Ken has decided that the pimping life is just not working out for him, so he decides if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. It appears to be working. Fabulous gown, Ken.

BB: Jam Thumbprint Cookies

2010-04-22T07:00:00.000-06:00

Wow, I can't believe it's already nearing the end of April. Where did this month go?! So the second Barefoot Bloggers recipe for the month of April was for Jam Thumbprint Cookies, selected by Cassandra of Foodie with Little Thyme. Two cookie recipes in one month! AAACK! This is really hell on my diet, people!! My husband was thrilled that I was making these because shortbread cookies are his absolute favorite. The unfortunate thing is that shortbread cookies and I do not have a real good relationship. I manage to mess them up everytime, this time included! The dough was very crumbly, which made it hard to keep its shape...and then the indentation part literally sent each one into a pile of crumbs as well which required time to reshape them. So you will see in my pictures that the first few have indentations...the rest do not. Some have jam, others had jam next to them on the Silpat. : )

The good news is that they do taste good, looks aside! I just wish I knew what I was doing wrong everytime. Anyhow, do try these. They should be relatively easy to make so long as you don't have the problems I do!! Thanks, Cassandra!

BB: Raisin Pecan Oatmeal Cookies

2010-04-08T07:00:00.000-06:00

Happy April!! The first recipe for April's Barefoot Bloggers was selected by Leslie of Lethally Delicious (love that blog name!) and she chose Raisin Pecan Oatmeal Cookies. Yum! There is scarcely a cookie that comes across my path that I end up not taking a liking to, so I suspected this would be a winner. Unfortunately due to bad planning on my part, I did not have raisins so I substituted milk chocolate chips instead. Fantastic substitution if you ask me! ha!

The biggest downfall to this recipe is that the cookies will be making an unfortunate departure and heading to my husband's work in the morning as we are on a pretty strict diet in preparation for an upcoming vacation! I did enjoy immensely the one cookie I ate, however!! Thanks, Leslie, for a great choice!

Yes, I married this man...

2010-04-05T20:00:00.000-06:00

BB: Caesar Club Sandwich

2010-03-30T20:05:00.003-06:00

Another great pick for Barefoot Bloggers for the month of March!! Thanks to Karen of Shortbread for this yummy sandwich. My husband LOVED it and has requested it again soon. My only addition to this recipe was some avocado (hey, I'm from California...can't not have avocado on my club sandwich). I totally recommend this...super yummy.

Can't wait to see what April recipes are!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-03-17T14:37:00.001-06:00

BB: Individual Meatloaves

2010-03-11T14:38:00.000-07:00

Pardon my late and concise post! I completely forgot to post this recipe. Argh! Forgive my gross picture, too...thank goodness the meatloaf tasted much better than it looked!! : ) (again, photog I am not!!)

Anyway, March's recipes started with a bang with Ina's Individual Meatloaves, selected by Tonya of What's On My Plate? I make the Turkey Meatloaf recipe a lot in the colder months, and this recipe is nearly identical, except for the use of ground beef instead of turkey, so I knew we would likely enjoy this recipe. These made awesome sandwiches the next day, too!

Thanks, Tonya, for a great selection!

BB: Baked Shrimp Scampi

2010-02-25T07:00:00.001-07:00

LOVED THIS!! (Just had to get that out there after checking out the picture again!). The second recipe for February's Barefoot Bloggers was Baked Shrimp Scampi, which was selected by Jill of Insanely Good Food, and I would have to say this was insanely-good-food.

I made this little number for my hubby for Valentines Day (along with filet mignon and parslied red potatoes), and despite the fact that it is sooooo rich, there were only a few shrimp left in the dish. I cannot fathom how much fat and calories that had to have been, but what the heck, right??

The recipe can be found in Ina's Back to Basics book, page 128-129 or by clicking here.

Awesome choice, Jill!!

My multi-talented husband...

2010-02-21T18:39:00.002-07:00

So while this may make some people uncomfortable (because clearly the gender roles are slightly askew here), I am quite proud of my multi-talented husband! He found out that Ally was invited to a Star Wars-themed birthday party at the end of the month and decided he was going to make her Princess Leia costume from scratch.

I scoffed.

He went to work.

I mocked him some more.

He burped loudly and worked the pedal on the sewing machine like he was driving an Indy car.

Two prototypes (the first one fit me...) and 8 hours later, voila! Ally is wearing the final draft! Just have to make the infamous Princess Leia belt and get her some white tennies and a blaster gun and we're ready for the party!

Perhaps I need to invest in Joann Fabrics' 'Sewing 101' class. My husband is a better housewife than I am in some areas!! LOL!

BB: Coconut Cupcakes

2010-02-16T20:24:00.004-07:00

Just as my diet and exercise program get underway, along comes February recipes for Barefoot Bloggers to set me back! It's a sacrifice someone has to make though...lol!

The first recipe of the month comes from Jamie of Jamie's Green Kitchen, who selected Coconut Cupcakes. YUM. I was very worried, however, that these were going to turn out the same way the two cake recipes did a few months back, so I proceeded with caution and had expectations that things were not going to go well. I was VERY happily surprised that they did turn out and tasted awesome! (maybe all the eggs since I am at altitude??)

I did not have the full amount of coconut that the recipe called for, but I think I was only an ounce or two shy. Still tasted great and that cream cheese frosting is one we use on just about everything we can! Loved these, Jamie, great choice!!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-02-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

A woman after my own heart

2010-02-04T20:11:00.001-07:00

I read this and absolutely busted a gut. It is me to a "T."

BB: Shrimp Bisque

2010-01-28T13:53:00.002-07:00

The second recipe for the month of January for Barefoot Bloggers was selected by Jennifer of Our Blessed Home. She chose Shrimp Bisque, which can be found in the Barefoot Contessa at Home cookbook.

So, I had myself all psyched out that I was not going to like this recipe. It started off frustrating because I wasn't sure where in the world I was going to find seafood stock and frankly, the recipe seemed realllllllly time consuming.

Well...counter to my concerns about finding seafood stock, page 55 (of the same cookbook) actually tells you how to make it. Problem solved. I started the stock-making process at 8:45am this morning and much to my surprise, the smell of seafood stock cooking on the stove in the morning actually is a nice one!! I invited a friend over to taste-test (I only have a handful of friends available who I know will eat seafood...how and why they remain my friends after knowing this is beyond me - lol). It was also nice to have someone sous chef for me and work on ingredient prep, as this recipe does have several.

I omitted the cayenne pepper, because I am really not a fan. Other than that, everything was made as per the recipe. The verdict: This soup is DIVINE. It truly tastes decadent and very high-society. I served the soup with some croque monsier sandwiches. The only thing we were missing were big hats and white gloves! I doubt my husband will like this soup...it's a bit delicate for his tastes, but I will let him test it out tonight.

My only critique to this is that I wish I had not pureed the shrimp as much as I did. I would have preferred having some small chunks (big enough that you know what you are eating) of shrimp. This was my fault though...I got a little carried away with the food processor!

Thanks, Jennifer! January was great for recipes this month!!

BB: Indonesian Ginger Chicken

2010-01-14T07:00:00.001-07:00

Happy 2010! Barefoot Bloggers is off to a great start with this recipe, selected by Todd of A Cooking Dad! Todd chose Indonesian Ginger Chicken from the Barefoot Contessa Cookbook. I have made this chicken in the past and did.not.like.it.one.bit. I finally figured out why this time around: it's too much ginger! This recipe calls for 1/2 c. grated fresh ginger and I decided this time around to cut it by about...well, most of that! I added probably a good heaping 2 Tbsp and it was PERFECT! In fact, all of the chicken you see in the picture (which I fully expected there to be a fight from my 2 little kids over not wanting to eat this) was gone. I also did not do a whole chicken, just bought the cut-up and next time I know to double it. This recipe, now that I have figured out what our family likes, is a keeper. Thanks, Todd!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-01-13T14:59:00.002-07:00

The Barbie Diaries, Part Four: The Snowstorm Bloweth In

2010-01-05T14:25:00.004-07:00

The Barbie-Stolpa Family gets lost in the massive snowstorm of 2009. Found naked, the Barbie-Stolpas had apparently befriended an indigenous cat only found in regions such as this. Sadly, the cat met the same demise as the family. Lesson to all: Dress appropriately during snowstorms and while in elfin villages...

More details later on the 10 o'clock news...

NYE Debauchery (in pictures of course)

2010-01-05T14:15:00.001-07:00

And as you can see, a fun time was had by all... : )

The cure for what ails me

2010-01-03T16:28:00.002-07:00

Hubby and I are both battling nasty upper respiratory infections. Both of us wanted soup, neither of us had a mom handy to come make it for us! I drugged myself up and trudged to the store to get ingredients for Pioneer Woman's Sherried Tomato Soup.

O.M.G. is this to die for.

I am fairly certain this will aid in my recovery, and just had to share how yummy this is. Going to make some grilled cheese sammies to go with it too.

OK back to regularly scheduled whining...

BB: Sausage-Stuffed Mushrooms (MY PICK!!)

2009-12-24T09:07:00.004-07:00

Merry Christmas and welcome to my blog!! I was so excited to finally have my pick of recipes this month for Barefoot Bloggers!! If you love to cook Ina Garten's (aka The Barefoot Contessa) recipes and love to blog about it, please join our group!!

For my selection this month, I chose Sausage-Stuffed Mushrooms. Mainly, I needed a good appetizer recipe and this one definitely paid off. I made this twice this month, the first time with button-sized mushrooms and then again with larger portobello mushrooms. They tasted great either way. I made no alterations to my recipe, it tastes perfect to me as is. I hope you enjoyed making them as much as I did! I will certainly be adding this to my repertoire for the future!

Have a blessed Christmas!!!

The recipe:

Sausage-Stuffed Mushrooms

Prep Time: 15 min

Inactive Prep Time:-

Cook Time: 1 hr 15 min

Level: Easy

Serves:6 to 8 servings

Ingredients

16 extra-large white mushrooms
5 tablespoons good olive oil, divided
2 1/2 tablespoons Marsala wine or medium sherry
3/4 pound sweet Italian sausage, removed from the casings
6 scallions, white and green parts, minced
2 garlic cloves minced
2/3 cup panko crumbs
5 ounces mascarpone cheese, preferably from Italy
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan
2 1/2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley leaves
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Remove the stems from the mushrooms and chop them finely. Set aside. Place the mushroom caps in a shallow bowl and toss with 3 tablespoons of the olive oil and Marsala. Set aside.

Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage, crumbling it with the back of a wooden spoon. Cook the sausage for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until it's completely browned. Add the chopped mushroom stems and cook for 3 more minutes. Stir in the scallions and garlic and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the panko crumbs, stirring to combine evenly with all the other ingredients. Finally, swirl in the mascarpone and continue cooking until the mascarpone has melted and made the sausage mixture creamy. Off the heat, stir in the Parmesan, parsley, and season with salt and pepper, to taste, Cool slightly.

Fill each mushroom generously with the sausage mixture. Arrange the mushrooms in a baking dish large enough to hold all the mushrooms in a snug single layer. Bake until the stuffing for 50 minutes, until the stuffing is browned and crusty.

BB: Croissant Bread Pudding

2009-12-24T09:01:00.002-07:00

I'm so late getting my recipes posted this month...it's been a bit of a crazy time in our lives right now. Pardon my tardiness to the party!!

The first December recipe was suggested by Peggy of Pantry Revisited, who selected Croissant Bread Pudding as her choice. I was SO ecstatic about her choice, I commented on one of her blog postings to tell her so. This is my husband's favorite dessert and I am ashamed to admit that he makes this recipe better than I do!! This is one we usually make every year to take to parties or events that require our culinary participation. This month, I made it twice: once for my MOPS group Christmas party and again for an early Christmas dinner at my brother and sister-in-law's house. It is one of the most decadent, rich, and just plain yummy desserts there is. I highly recommend this one to anyone!!

The recipe can be found here. Thanks again, Peggy!!!

Emily, the final saga...

2009-12-22T13:24:00.002-07:00

Well, it has taken me about 24 hours to let everything sink in and feel at peace with the answer to Emily's issues. The nutshell version is that yesterday we saw Dr. Mannaa, her pulmonologist, who (bless his heart) explained things so thoroughly to me that I honestly am accepting of the situation. In essence, Emily has a mild form of cerebral palsy. This is very likely a result of her not getting enough oxygen either in the womb or right after being born (which makes sense, considering she was on oxygen for 10 hours after birth).

The original term that was given to us by the neurologist was "static encephalopathy" which is really a nice, long, confusing technical term for cerebral palsy. CP, however, comes in many forms, and is caused by different things. Most people think of kids with CP as being wheelchair bound, unable to walk or speak, etc. In Emily's case, it presents itself as delays...she had delayed speech, delayed walking, delayed muscle growth/strength, delayed swallowing...the list goes on. Everything is just delayed. This will likely pose some issues once she gets in school but I am learning that there are ways to deal with that (just like kids who are dyslexic, for example). The screaming issues are likely related to her being in pain from all the aspiration but also just flat-out frustration. I am going to explore the best ways to deal with this moving forward.

So, this is it. There will be no more tests, except for one more blood test in the morning which will hopefully rule out something called mitochondriopathy, which is a birth defect (basically) within the mitochondria of the cells and can also explain neurological problems.

Thank you to all of our friends and family for the prayers and messages of strength and comfort while we have painstakingly gotten to this point. I appreciate it more than you will ever know.

MOPS Christmas Party, 2009

2009-12-13T20:45:00.003-07:00

I LOVE THESE GIRLS!!!!!

Emily Update (this is getting old...)

2009-12-10T15:10:00.002-07:00

Wow, I seriously hope this to be one of the LAST Emily updates I have to make. What a dream that would be!

Today, Em had an upper endoscopy and a colonoscopy. N-O-T--F-U-N. The short story is that she has inflammation and swelling in her esophagus and "linear striations." Additionally, the bottom of her stomach that empties into the duodenum is very swollen and red. All of these things are indicative of EE (eosinophilic esophagitis) but as the doctor said, a biopsy can show nothing in a very inflamed area and yet in another normal looking area show a problem. So, it is now a waiting game through the weekend and we should know by Monday what the results are.

Please pray for us that we get an answer!!

Parenting Problem #34: Santa Claus

2009-12-02T14:49:00.002-07:00

So on Wednesdays, both girls go to preschool. As a result, I get exactly 2.5 hrs of free time to accomplish whatever I can sans children. I pick Ally up at 11:30 and usually take her to lunch to kill time before picking Emily up at 1:00. Today I decided to take Ally to the mall, figuring we could eat lunch AND walk around the mall (a win-win if you ask me!).

So we dined on our Chick-Fil-A and she requested to walk by the "wishing pond" to throw a penny in. Incidentally, Santa had set up shop in that spot. To set up this scene for those of you not familiar with Chapel Hills Mall...we are standing on the second level overlooking Santa and his "workshop." There is a glass "guardrail" about 4 feet tall or so, allowing smaller people to look down below.

OK, so there stands my daughter, the observant little twerp she is...and her big smile quickly turned to a frown. Being that she is also her father's daughter, she is physically INCAPABLE of using an "indoor voice" especially when it is most appropriate to do so. Anyhow, she looks at me, frowning and pointing to Santa, and says, "That is not Santa Claus!!" I look at her and in my best Mommy voice say, "Well of course it is sweetie, look at him." She then raises her voice approximately 15 octaves and YELLS down below, "SANTA, WERE YOU AT THE GUN SHOW LAST WEEKEND??" Santa looks up and waves at my daughter. Approximately 25 people are snickering or staring at us. Allyson then yells - again - "THAT IS NOT THE SANTA THAT WAS AT THE GUN SHOW, MOMMY! ARE THERE TWO SANTAS??"

Heaven help me for wanting to jump off of the second story just to get rid of this embarrasment. I quickly respond that "Santa has several outfits and he just changes his clothes when he goes from place to place."

I kid you not, my child will bring this topic up again after having thought about it for hours to come up with another question about that Santa. We may be skipping Santa photos this year. I shudder to think what her line of questioning might be.

Guys' Shooting Trip, 2009

2009-11-29T15:09:00.002-07:00

P.S. Dad, we know you deleted all the pictures of yourself off our computer. AHEM.

Thanksgiving, 2009 (Part 2)

2009-11-29T15:07:00.001-07:00