A Day Like Today

Today I feel just like Bruce looks in this picture...happy, content, and all fuzzy inside.

Mr. Nice Guy

We're at Wal-Mart...Kirk, Bruce, and I...we're leaving one aisle and facing us is a woman at a display table with small containers of something. I didn't think anything about it, didn't see what she was selling, not concerned about anything but the items on my list (I often get focused when shopping so if you ever see me and I don't see you, it's not personal I'm just in my zone). Anyway, Kirk asks me what I'm going to say...that I have to be prepared with some excuse or greeting. I just don't make eye contact, that solves that. Imagine my surprise when we're finishing up, Kirk went back to grab something we missed, and he approaches the cart with the missing item covering up something else. Of course I'm gonna ask. He has a container of Mrs. Dash chicken seasoning....this wouldn't be so bad, but I know he really didn't want it. He felt bad that this woman was just standing there with nobody approaching her table so she told him about her products and he was sold.


You have to understand that this is the guy who went to Hen House (the blog entry when he took Bruce grocery shopping while I was out and brought me back some flowers, anyway...) and ended up buying Mama Soccoro's chili seasoning and Frosted Flakes Gold, both being demonstrated that day. I guess it wasn't all that bad because Frosted Flakes Gold is now one of my favorite cereals, but seriously...just say no! lol

Here and There

Thank goodness for busy days!

Yesterday Meredith and I went to Wonderscope Children's Museum. Each room has a different theme. I have to say my favorites were the Raceways exhibit and the vacuum tubes. I think we sat watching Jackson and Wyatt put the scarves and balls through this for at least 15 minutes. Oh, and Bruce had a good time too..yeah, uh huh. He's happy just to get out and people watch.


Today we ventured out to Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead. I have been wanting to visit for quite some time as so many people have talked up the free park that includes playgrounds, farm animals, petting and feeding areas, and tons of interactive stuff for kids. Bruce took notice of some of the animals...those that were moving that is. lol I definitely want to go back and what a great group of gals I hung out with too, thanks ladies!

Quick and Easy

Getting back this weekend put our meal plans a little out of sorts. Making pizza was a random idea thrown out by Kirk...we had yeast and the dry goods to make a crust, and the sauce, cheese, and bacon. What more do you need for an awesome pizza? Apparently nothing!

Here's the great pizza crust recipe we used.


We went along with one of the reviews and added some Italian seasoning and garlic to the dough mix before it was rolled out, I also did half white, half wheat flour. Then we left extra dough on the edges to do a stuffed crust. I couldn't believe how easy and tasty this was!

Professional Driver

Over the course of three days last week I drove about 500 miles! Kansas City to Columbia, Columbia to St. Louis, St. Louis to Columbia, Columbia to Kansas City....whew, just typing that made me tired! lol

I'm such a goof and didn't take any pictures at Craig and Sarah's reception. Steph, I'm counting on you to e-mail me the lone picture of us and Bruce! We are taking a walk at Stephen's Lake Park. Kirk and I loved to come here when we lived in Columbia. It was just down the street from where we lived. You could walk around the lake, picnic in the rain, toss a frisbee, climb on the jungle gym, blow bubbles, feed the ducks and fish, rock climb...all things we've done here, this park had it all!

The Hewitts were great to stay with and were such a big help with Bruce. Are you sure you have to move?

First...

Mother's Day! Awww, I sure love my baby boy. With that face how could you not!! We had a great afternoon and I received some nifty items to help around the house and a movie. Some things I've learned about being a mom in the last few months...


It's one of the most demanding and the most rewarding things I've experienced

I always worry about Bruce and how he is growing and developing, what he's learning, is he getting enough affection, etc...I certainly don't know or do it all, but a lot of stuff just happens on it's own

Babies are different. I imagine this will sink in even further when we have other children, but what works for mine doesn't necessarily have the same affect on some other baby

Whatever it is, it's going in his mouth...I pick my battles or I'm always saying no, no, no

Distraction is key...it can calm, it can prevent injury, it can keep him still for just 5 seconds so I can finish putting his diaper on

I appreciate a mom mentioning at church today that she's had those days where she has made the "I'm done" call to her hubby. I've had those days too. It's such a blessing that most moms are helpful and sympathetic because they know. I'm glad that though I've had those moments I'd never give up being a mom!

I'm much more laid back about breastfeeding than I was before Bruce. I used to be really uncomfortable around women who were nursing, I mean where do you look...do you talk to them! lol It's really not even an issue anymore. I have a cover if I'm in public and it's no big deal.

I appreciate my mom and moms and women in general...what wonderful natures and characteristics and talents we've all been given to be able to serve others


I have to mention this awesome card Kirk got me. So yeah, the message was very sweet and all but I'm planning on tearing the card up. That sounds bad, but I have to because embedded right into the paper are a variety of wildflower seeds!! How awesome is that?!? It's totally me because I'm always torn on keeping or tossing it and I like getting flowers, but hate that they only last a few days. What a great hubby!

Twilight, oh yeah

Over vacation I was introduced to the book series 'Twilight' by Stephenie Meyer. THANKS NICOLE! It's a young adult fiction, I've seen it classified as a thriller-romance. I blasted through all three books in three days, just couldn't put it down. Imagine how elated I was when I found out that they are making it into a movie and it is coming out in December!! I am so there! December 12th...the calendar is marked! For all you Potter fans, Robert Pattinson who is Cedric Diggory, will be playing one of the main characters.

Meal Plans

I know I often feel like I'm in a cooking rut...having the same dinners every week. So here's what we're having for a week. A bit of a disclaimer: We just got back from visiting Nicole and David. We ate well so I'm feeling motivated to cook well and our new kitchen table helps too! Not all weeks are this planned and tasty. I'm also trying the pork fajitas that we ate there that were delish!

Tuesday
Warm Chicken Caesar Salad, Steamed Veggies
This was a recipe I stumbled upon when I needed a quick meal and went digging through my cupboards. I had a box of Rice-A-Roni's Long Grain and Wild Rice. I went to their website and you can search recipes by which of their products you have. This dish is the rice with chicken in it and has caesar dressing mixed in that. You serve it on top of lettuce. Seems a little different than what we're used to, but it was a hit!

Wednesday
I went out to dinner with some friends for a baby shower so Kirk had Tuesday's leftovers. That's easy!

Thursday
Garlic Chicken Farfalle, Salad, Steamed Veggies
I saw this recipe on the website of Becky Higgins. It's about halfway down the page. Anyway, sounds good and it uses a crockpot so I'm totally in. Update since I typed this: it is soo good! I didn't use the whole bottle of marinade, you really don't need to.

Friday
Chicken Pad Thai
We bought the rice noodles at an Asian market. The sauce is actually a jar in the ethnic section of the grocery store, brand is Thai Kitchen. Just follow the directions on the jar. But the basics...we mix chicken, scrambled eggs, bean sprouts, and cilantro in it. Top it with some lime juice.

Saturday
Cafe Rio Recipes...Pork Fajitas, Lime Rice, Creamy Cilantro Dressing
Yeah, just the name sounds phenomenal! It is a great meal (Nicole made it for us). It's a long recipe (and I'm feeling a lil lazy!) so e-mail me if you want it.

Sunday
Sweet and Sour Chicken Packets
This meal consists of chicken, Kikoman Sweet and Sour sauce, green peppers, carrots, red onions, pineapple. It's tossed together and thrown in foil packets for about 25 minutes. Served over rice.

Monday
Spaghetti, Salad, Steamed Veggies, Bread

Tuesday
Chicken Broccoli Bake
Recipe courtesy of Debbie Sev...it's good! We've been serving it over rice. I've been using half white, half brown.

Vacation

We just got back from a great week in North Carolina, hence the dead blog!! We stayed with Kirk's sister and brother-in-law and visited his other sister as well. They live just outside of Raleigh. We expected to have an awesome time and we weren't disappointed! I was nervous about the two hour plane ride with Bruce. Let me just say that this boy exceeded my hopes for a smooth flight. He slept almost the whole time! We arrived last Tuesday with Nicole picking us up at the airport. Nicole meeting Bruce...


We hung out with Nicole, April, and the boys that evening. Watched a little American Idol so I'm up on whose good and whose not...see ya Jason Castro! One morning we went bowling...


Hooray for our date day! Friday morning Kirk and I went to the Raleigh Temple. Then that evening we went to a Japanese grill for some great food and stopped off at Borders to hang out and for me to pick up Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer. More about that later! Thank you so much Nicole and David for watching Bruce. We haven't been out since Christmas just two of us!


We went to cheer on Hayden at his soccer game. His coach is a nice guy, lol...it's David.


Picked Mom Wing up at the airport Saturday afternoon and rolled over to Aprils for some barbecue courtesy of Lauren. Her townhouse is super cute!

I'm glad we got a chance to play a few games of Pictionary and then a game of Settlers with David. Let me say that the girls pulled Saturday night's win in Pictionary from downtown! Kirk and David were at the end and we weren't even half-way through the board. We rocked it!! GG boys!


Sunday we went to church and gathered for a group picture. Too bad David had to teach a class and the boys were in Primary!

So that's our trip in summary. Sad we couldn't visit longer, but glad to be home.