Appreciate It All

So I just watched this video tonight....um, can you say tear jerker?

I've been reflecting a lot on my role as a mother.  Probably because of Mother's Day?!?!?  I can hardly believe it's almost been two years.   

Crazy.

After the gift from my mom and seeing that video, it's almost as if God is trying to reassure me in my role as a stay at home mom and remind me of how thankful I should be in the ordinary...it's all those little moments that make it worthwhile.

Like the fact that she is ready for the NBA...

 

If you believe that, I've got some great ocean front property in Arizona available....

 






Or that she now loves her sunglasses as much as Mommy does hers...

and how I could learn a thing or two about dancing from her~

and how running at the park and blowing bubbles and having pigtails are some of the simpilest joys in life...

and how we won't always have lazy Saturday mornings with late breakfasts.  And that we got to go out and play in our pajamas and bed hair with our "bite" {bike}...

and those other moments are SO not worth the fuss I think they are at the time.

Like when the Peanut appeared to be ready to have quartered pieces of sandwiches, rather than the diced up little bites I had been giving her....

...only the next day to find her licking the peanut butter and jelly off the said quartered pieces of bread and not eating the bread at all.  Grrrr.....

Then there was the day that she finally seemed to be ready to leave a barrette in her hair (boy, I was kidding myself on that one), as she left it in for several hours!

I kid you not, as soon as I got the picture of the barrette in her hair, I turn around and she is pulling the barrette out of her hair.  I guess she figured the photo opportunity was done, so no need for it any more.  

But I keep reminding myself, like the author of the The Gift of the Oridinary Day, just to appreciate each day.  Pretty soon she is going to be deciding which colleges to apply to and which electives she is going to take.  The house will be too quiet once again just as it was only two eighteen years ago.  And the silly barrettes and sandwiches will only be a memory and how I just wish I could get those days back.    

Just enjoy it all, Jackie....it's really not that big of a deal. 

With A Heavy Heart

I am so, so, so sad.  My most favoritest television show EVER has been canceled.  For those of you that are self-proclaimed Law & Order junkies like me, the FINAL episode will be airing May 24.

I do like SVU and apparently another spin off of the original is in the works, but it's just. not. the same.

I think I need a tissue. 

Homemade Ranch Dressing

My mom made this during our Mexican feast last weekend and it is soooo good.  Plus you can totally do it with pantry ingredients and it is still very, very good.  It is from the Chevy's Fresh Mex Cookbook, and like the marinade I posted awhile back, this is delicious! 

El Ranch-O Dressing--from Chevy's Fresh Mex Cookbook (sidebar on right)

***I adjusted this recipe to what I had on hand--my mom made it according to the recipe-yum! and I made it to what I had on hand--still just as yum!***

1 cup buttermilk (you can make your own if you don't have any)

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice (didn't have it, used lemon juice from fridge--yes, Mom, I know this is a no no)

1 tablespoon minced cilantro (didn't have it, didn't add it)

1 teaspoon minced fresh oregano (used dried)

1 tablespoon minced yellow onion (used red--it's what I had out at the time)

2 teaspoons minced garlic

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons black pepper

1 1/2 cups mayonnaise

Combine the buttermilk and all dry ingredients, whisking until combined.  Add the mayo and whisk until smooth.  Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour to develop flavors.  The dressing will keep up to one week in an airtight container. 

This recipe is linked to:

Beauty and Bedlam's Tasty Tuesday
Blessed With Grace Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap   
Life as Mom Ultimate Recipe Swap  

To My Peanut

It is just us girls today...your Daddy is at work, working hard as he always does so that I am able to stay at home and take care of you.  Mommy treated herself to a half price Frappuccino and then we went to your favorite place--aside from Grandma and Grandpa's--the park.  As we pulled up, you exclaimed, "Fun...fun...FUN!....Bubbaws? {bubbles}....Fun!"  It was very precious.  Mommy blew bubbles for you while you ran around and picked up every twig in the park and greeted every passer by with a huge "HI!"   Mommy then tried to take some pictures of us when we got home to make sure she had record of the day.  You then asked for "Song?" which means you want to listen to your Veggie Tales CD Grandma got for you.  Mommy is relearning ALL of the childrens songs she used to know.  

It was a good day, and despite the occasional temper tantrum, I am honored I get to be your Mommy. 


I love you, dear Peanut.

Menu Plan Monday

Last week went well, although we did eat out once...shocker--but we had a gift card and we did take out, so that minimized any expense on our part.  :)  I got to go to my super cheap grocery store during my visit home last week, so we are enjoying the fruits of my labor.  Ha, ha.   Before we went home, I actually planned our meals for the whole month of May.  It took every ounce of my being to do so, but it was so worth it.  Now I only need to shop for dairy and produce.  So that will be nice.  

Sunday-Split pea soup with ham (still using ham from the freezer from Easter), cornbread

Monday-Spanakopizza, green salad with homemade ranch dressing (recipe to come)

Tuesday-Lasagna, crusty bread, steamed brocolli

Wednesday-Burritos and black beans

Thursday-Shepherds Pie Twice Baked Potatoes

Friday-BLTA's (avocados)

Saturday-Leftovers

For other great menu ideas, click here. 

 

Happy Mother's Day

This song was written about my mom.  At least I feel like it was...because she is my hero.  And Peanut just simply adores her GaMaw {Grandma}.  I can only pray that the Peanut will adore me some day like I adore my Mom. 

I love you, Mom.  Happy Mother's Day. 

Weekend Recap

I was able to take the Peanut to visit my parents and sister this last weekend.  It was such a blast, as always.  The Peanut, who rarely sleeps through the night without at least one consoling session, has slept through the night each night since we got home.  DH says she is detoxing from Grandma and Grandpa.

I would have to agree.  Because every "no, no, no Peanut" since has resulted in a hissy fit.  

Oh, yes--we are now in that stage.  The terrible twos have arrived four months early.  Yay for us.

We were able to spend some time with DH's family when we first got there.  Where was my camera?  At my parents, sitting on the couch.  

Lovely...

But it was still good to see those who were able to come...even though the time was still short.

My Mom had her entire family over so we could enjoy some time together as well...a Mexican feast, which was delish.  As usual, she outdid herself in the kitchen...

To say my mom is an awesome cook is an understatement. I feel sorry for those who haven't enjoyed her cooking.

Peanut was able to enjoy the great outdoors right outside my parents back door (a rare treat, as we usually have to drive to the park).  Our little girl who has a thousand expressions...

She started collecting rocks from the yard to give to Grandma.  There is such a story behind this...my Grandpa and I had a special relationship.  When I was about Peanut's age, I would find rocks (dirty rocks, mind you, not pretty shiny ones) on his walkway up to his house and give them to him.

And he saved them.

For twenty-five years, he saved them.  In a little plastic bowl that honey had once come in.

When Grandpa was too frail to care for himself any longer, he moved in with his children.  He made sure to come to my house (he and I each lived on one side of a duplex) to give me those rocks.  He wanted to make sure I had them, so when they cleaned out his house someone wouldn't just toss a bunch of "old rocks."

I know.  

And yes, I still have those rocks in that little honey dish.

And I am sure the Peanut's rocks are still sitting in Grandma's windowsill.

The whole family had a great time on Saturday night~

 My brother-in-law, the rock star~

The Peanut thought he was grand fun!  Bless his heart, Mommy got to enjoy some adult conversation after dinner, while he ran her and her cousin ragged playing "tag" outside.

I think my Mom has also appointed herself Santa, as she spoils us each time she sees us.   Remember how Peanut has to run and get her "purse" when she and I leave the house?  Now she has her very own "MoMo" purse, complete with key to Grandma and Grandpa's.

My Mom made it...isn't it cute?  

Peanut also got a bike (or "bite"--how she says it), for Grandma and Grandpa's house, complete with shiny new helmet.

She loved going "side" {outside} to ride her "bite."

Yes, I know, I better start dressing her in something besides pink, otherwise she is going to HATE that color later on...

And one of my Mom's little treasures for me couldn't have come at a better time.  Before we left to go to my parents, I had been on my husband's Facebook, looking up some people from my past.  (I don't Facebook--I know...but I have a blog--it keeps me busy enough).  From what I could tell from their profiles, they all had went to big name colleges and had grandiose careers. 

First, let me say that I LOVE (like big, frilly, pink, hearts love) being a stay at home mom.  This is what I've always wanted to do--and I am doing it.  How many are able to say that?  But, unfortunately I still think our society makes women feel as though they aren't "contributing" if they are not in the work force.  Sadly, I think even I buy into that sometimes.  All that to say I hadn't even told my Mom about my little insecurities...and she had bought me this:

Thanks Mom, I needed that.  

Thoughtful, yet inexpensive

With a limited budget, I have to find creative ways to make thoughtful gifts.  Notice I said find--I rarely come up with these ideas on my own!

But I can imitate pretty well.    

I came across this idea for a silhouette picture and I knew my Mom would treasure it always.  I visited my family this last weekend (recap coming soon!) and was able to hand deliver my Mother's Day gift to my Mom...and she did love it. 

Happy Mother's Day, Mom.

You are simply the best.

Works For Me Wednesday-Digital SLR Camera Replacement

My husband used to work in insurance, so he knows a lot about--wait for it............insurance! 

We just bought a new digital SLR camera.  Although it was purchased through many a gift card given to us for birthdays and other occasions, should something happen to the camera, whether it was stolen or damaged in some way, it would be very costly to replace--AKA it would take a really long time to save to replace it. 

He mentions to me the other day that I need to call our insurance agent and request to add our new camera to our personal articles policy.  Of course the camera would be covered under our standard homeowners policy, but that has a large enough deductible that it would not be worth it to file a claim. 

So basically, you can add a high ticket item and pay it's own premium and that item is completely separate should something happen to it.  Our premium for our new camera is about $14 a year.  A year.  So heaven forbid the camera gets dropped or the Peanut spills milk on it or it gets stolen, or whatever, we simply have to pay our small deductible of $100 and the camera will be replaced!  I had no idea we could do this, and I am guessing a lot of others don't know this either!

Insuring your digital SLR camera definitely Works For Me! 

Rocky Road Brownies

This recipe comes from my Mom.  Sort of in honor of Mother's Day...that and I had a craving for these last week.  As mentioned before, she made me this wonderful recipe box.   When making the box, my Mom came across this recipe and I think it was a good reminder to her as well, as I don't remember her ever making these prior to her making the recipe box.  

And the best thing is, these don't have any calories!

Oops, I forgot, that's only in my world....but they are absolutely delicious and worth it! 

Rocky Road Brownies

1 cup butter, melted

2 cups sugar

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

4 eggs, slightly beaten

1 tsp vanilla 

1/8 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups flour

1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans

1 10.5 oz bag mini marshmallows

Whisk butter, sugar in large bowl.  Add cocoa, eggs, and dry ingredients.  Fold in nuts.  Pour batter into greased 15 x 10 jelly roll pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.  Remove from oven.  Top warm brownies evenly with marshmallows.  Return to oven for 5 minutes.  

Frosting

1 pound confectioners sugar

1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup butter (at room temperature)

1/3 cup cocoa

Cream butter, add cocoa.  Slowly add sugar and milk.  Mix until smooth.  Drizzle over warm brownies with marshmallows.  

Have I mentioned these are absolutely wonderful? 

This recipe is linked to Finding Joy in My Kitchen's Countdown to 2011: Desserts.