PFF-Photo Finish Friday

We are going to try out a new feature here, Photo Finish Friday! Just a picture or a series of pictures of something that happened this week. Maybe a few words or caption, but mostly just cuteness going on here in our little house.

Tommy has been working his Yoga Moves



Downward Facing Dog

Hold a Plank



Remember to breath

Thanks for Working out with me!

Disclaimer: I came up with this Idea and name several weeks ago, but kept forgetting to do it on Friday. So we will see how it works.

Romantic candlelit dinner for Four

So as I mentioned in my February 9th post, we all got the stomach flu of Joel's birthday. So I didn't make his birthday dinner, instead I saved everything and made it for Valentines day. (Joel and I don't go out to eat Valentine's day, as the first time we did Joel was so tired the next morning he backed his truck into my car door, on his way to work) Joel is really a humble guy, and never likes a fuss being made about him, so it really took me quite a long time getting out of him what he wanted for his birthday dinner. I thought he would ask for something fancy like Steak and twice baked potatoes (those in my opinion are restively easy), but instead he searched through his mind, and asked for every item of food I would not normally make, but would have to cause it was his birthday dinner.

The Menu:

Meatballs (Homemade not frozen, like mom makes with onion) this was downgraded from Meatloaf which he knows I absolutely hate, as it has the look and consistency of canned cat food.

Brown Gravy

Rice

Broccoli with cheese sauce

Salad with Iceberg lettuce (we all now Romain is tastier and more nutritious), Crumbled Egg, Bacon, tomato (yuck), and Croutons, but not garlic flavored, just regular croutons. ( I was really surprised he didn't ask me to go out and plant wheat and harvest it to make bread to make into croutons)

Bread

German chocolate cake with Penuche Icing (this is Really Yummy)

Have I ever told any of you I have two burners on my stove, which can make meal prep of a complicated meal like this a little tricky.

The Meatballs turned out Okay, I added a little too much milk to them and ended up adding more breadcrumbs. These were an easy entree, that I have never made from scratch, but since it was so easy, I think I will start trying and tweaking new recipes to find a family favorite.

Gravy was just packet gravy, since my two burners prevented me from making anything more too time consuming or complicated. It was good for that night, but again I think I will try recipes when I have more time (and burners) to try sauce out.

Broccoli with Cheese sauce was Yummy, but the cheese sauce was just Velveeta, again due to burner constrictions. I can and have made basic cheese sauce and would have done so if I had not had the time and and burner constraint.

Salad was yummy even if it was lacking in nutrition you would have gotten from romaine, spinach, or spring mix (which Joel affectionately calls weeds).

The Piece De Resistance the Cake. Joel told me this was the Best German Chocolate cake he had ever had. The cake was moist (and in my opinion got better the next day). The caramel coconut pecan icing was sweet, but not too sweet. I must give thanks to Betty Crocker as she as come through on this recipe yet again. The recipe calls to make 3 layers in 8 or 9 inch size, but I found my Heart shaped pans which said they were 8 inch, but I am sure they were a little smaller, cause I was able to get 4 layers. Instead of making a massive layer cake I decided to make two 2-layer cakes side by side. It turned out very well, but a lot of cake for the two of us to eat. So we took it over to friends Saturday and it was every bit as good, not stale or dried out at all.

So it wasn't a romantic candlelit dinner for two, it was a Tuesday night candlelit dinner for 4, which was fun for our little family. Although I won't say I wouldn't like to got out for a fancy meal, I will say I do Love cooking for my Boys, knowing that someday they will hold my recipes in high esteem and call me up a few days before their visit home saying "Mom would you mind making ... while I am home, no one make it quite like you do"

Fun Fact: From pink breakfast pancakes to dinner that evening we used 10 eggs (no we didn't have eggs for breakfast), 7 were seperated, 1 hard boiled and rest just cracked in. We also used 3/4 pound of butter, not including what we spread on bread and pancakes.

Pictures of the Men I Love (both Big and Small)

This just says so much about Joel's Personality. He is not the most Photogenic, (sorry hon) often blinking as the shutter opens, so I love that this one is so good.

I don't Know why I love this so much, but it is one of the favorites of Phil that have taken with my new camera.

I Love this Picture because you can see his Little Cewpie doll cowlick. It is so Adorable!!

Okay so this one is not of a man in my life, but it is a picture I love, that I took during our last big snowstorm about a month ago. I was mesmerized by the power line, and the dark brooding sky behind it.

Happy Valentines Day!!!

So I didn't make a Cake

So today is Joel's birthday, and his favorite cake is German chocolate, with the caramel coconut pecan Icing. I usually try to make it, or some version of it. Like the year I made it in the shape of a Yule Log, with a toy chainsaw and the icing as sawdust. Or a German chocolate cheesecake, or cupcakes, or cookies. I bought all the stuff, but this year I didn't make it.

I wish I was making it, along with the Meatballs, gravy, over rice, broccoli with cheese sauce, salad with Iceberg lettuce, crumbled egg, Bacon bits and tomato. Instead we are all in our jammies, sitting around, sipping room temp ginger ale, cause we got the, dreaded by every mother, stomach flu.

This is the first time having the stomach flu in three years.

Did I mention my dryer is Broken, yup, so Joel had to take a couple of loads of bedding and towels, that did not make it through the night unsoiled, over to his mom's house so she could dry them. Joel's sister brought them back to us, along with chicken noodle soup.

Maybe we will attempt cake tomorrow.

Happy Birthday Phil

4th birthday

3rd Birthday

2nd birthday

1st birthday

Day of Birth

4

My baby turned 4 yesterday. I don't know why this one is a mind blowing fact, but it is. I think it might be because when I first started dating Joel one of the first family events I went to, was a family picnic where they celebrated his Nephews 4th birthday. I vividly remember my Nephew asking many times if he could eat the train decorations on top of his cake (no they are just toys). That Nephew will be turning 14 on his next birthday, and it seems like just a month or two ago that I went to his 4th birthday.

It was half of Phil's life ago we celebrated his birthday in San Diego (Also means it has been two years I have run a Half Marathon). I am amazed at Phil and what He has grown into. Let me give you a few examples.

He is is still a Redhead with bright blue eyes, still cute smile and adorable personality.

He Loves Telling stories, and to no one in particular. He will sit in the car and just be talking out a story, not concerned if you are listening. These stories are about everything and anything, from what happened during his day (or even several months ago), or imaginary happenings in the world of Phil about his adventures with whatever imaginary friend(s) he has acquired this week.

He is a great people person, loves getting together with friends or cousins and playing with them, but loves imaginary play by himself as well.

Tenderhearted, Phil can be so caring and loving when the time calls for it. Phil had a special connection with his Great grandmother who recently passed away. Shortly before her death he went to see her and just went and held her hand without any prompting (this wasn't the only time he would do something like this, often coming and giving her a hug right as he came in before playing with toys). This comes out with the rest of us as well.

He is rough and tumble as well, cause he is a little boy. He Loves Trucks, tractors and big equipment. He will often correct an adult who mistakenly calls a front end loader or Skid Steer a Bulldozer. Loves going to help Daddy with the Cows or down to work.

Sharp as a Tack, the other night when I was talking to him about where we lived He responded with our correct town and state. I don't remember telling his this, but he knows. He is really good at remembering his Memory verses. He also loves "reading" and being read too. The Library is one of his favorite excursions we take.

He counter balances this with a healthy double dose of stubbornness (it comes from both gene pools), If he doesn't want to say his Memory verse, go to the potty, put away his toys, good luck trying to get him to do it without a fight.

I so glad the Lord gave me this bright smiley little Boy, I do remember my life without kids, so I am not going to say I can't imagine my life without him. I will say that my heart is filled with Love and pride for him and all his accomplishments, and when people tell me that Parenting is THE toughest, but most rewarding Jobs I will ever have, I know they are right; Because Phil and Tommy have enriched my life far more than any other person on earth could have.

A Sad turn of Events

I thought I should inform all of you that Blizzard our Snowy day calf died on Tuesday evening. Joel kept looking in on it, and noticed Tuesday that it was laying down looking very sick. It didn't look like it had been getting milk from it's Mama.

Joel and I quickly went action getting the bottle ready full of warm milk replacer. Joel and Phil went over to give it to him. Joel called a few minutes later to tell me that unless we brought this calf indoors it would surly be gone, and asked if we could bring it into the mudroom. I agreed and went to clearing stuff off the floor for a space for the calf.

Blizzard was brought inside (this is the first time any animal, pet or barnyard besides a fish has ever come into my house), and set down inside a flatten out box by the fridge and dryer.

Joel tried to bottle feed him, but he was very weak and could not even suckle. So we got the turkey baster out and tried to give so milk that way. He was very cold and very weak at this point and about a half hour later he passed away.

We are very sad that we lost our little snowy day calf and that we didn't notice his turn for the worse sooner. We wished we could have caught it and helped him sooner, but are glad that we made his last moments as comfortable as possible.