In which I made sweet love to Lysol for 10 days straight.
March 5, 2010 | Filed Under Eliza Dove, Life Stuff, New Mexico, Photos | 10 Comments
Miss Eliza Dove has been sick since last Thursday. As in, nothing stayed in her stomach. She never got a fever, never acted lethargic or irritable. Her poor stomach would just randomly dispose of everything she ate. And not in convenient places either. (Like my hair. gag.)
{I do have to stop here and give her some major points. Eliza maintained being potty trained throughout the entire ordeal. And if girlfriend can handle telling me when she has to go to the bathroom whilst her intestines are hatin’… I’m thinking that we are golden on the diaper-free front.}
Judah had been sick a couple of days before Eliza. But he was sick for one evening and then was done with it. Eve never got it. I was sick for three days. Daniel was queasy for one evening. Weird, huh. Weird and very exhausting.
I am usually envious of large families. Until my family is sick. And then I realize sickness traveling through five people is way more than enough for me. I’m not sure that my washing machine could have handled much more. And I know that I was beyond my breaking point. It wasn’t as if I could have laid on my bed all day like I certainly longed to do while I was sick. Nope, mama had to be mama and carry on. That’s life.
Thankfully, today everyone felt back to normal. And it was a gloriously beautiful day… outside too! The kids and I ventured out of the house to visited one of our favorite playgrounds. We had a wonderful time in the fresh, soft, warm breezes. I completely relished not being surrounded by walls; I loved feeling the sun warming my body, listening to my kids play (and fight, of course!).
I took some photos of Eliza enjoying her freedom from the house. I could tell that she was just as happy as I was to be outside. She made sure to bring her full personality along…
Do you see the smirk?
We lovingly call her an old lady. She groans and grunts and acts likes she’s 97 years old. Here she gives you her best grumpy old lady face. She’s absolutely fascinating. And completely addictive.
She happily wore her glasses (”eyes” as she calls them) cocked off to the side. No worries. No cares. It didn’t matter that they left a red dent on her face before Mama realized and fixed ‘em. She’s totally chill.
And she looks great in polka dots.
Hope your day was great and your house is germ-free!!
It’s Friday! Amazon Delivered!
February 27, 2010 | Filed Under Daniel, Eliza Dove, Eve, Judah, Love is..., Photos, Sewing | 17 Comments
I present to you….
My new sewing machine:
I’m excited. I think. More scared, to be truthful. I waited like five hours to open the box. It frightened me.
When I bought my first dslr camera, I opened the box and was able to start taking photos. Not good photos, but photos nontheless. With the sewing machine, I opened the box (it was a struggle, man. I think I broke out in a sweat trying to pry the freakin’ machine out of the box!), took the machine out and stared at it. And then I took a photo of it. Because that’s what I do. I think I heard it laugh at me, actually.
I’m not sure what my next step is. Perhaps buying some of the accessories I need? Reading the manual, for sure. Fabric?
Yikes. I’m intimidated. But excited too!
But I was (and the kids too!) more excited to see Daniel come walking through the door. Best part of the day (any day), hands down.
And he brought me flowers. Because he loves me.
Happy weekend to you!!
A “Start your day off right” pancake recipe.
February 24, 2010 | Filed Under Photos, Recipe | 8 Comments
In honor of today being National Pancake day (How many of you went to IHOP? How many of you made your own short stack?), I bring you my pancake recipe.
I know, everyone has their own favorite pancake recipe, and I’m no different. But, in case you want to try out my trusty old standby, here it is:
(I apologize for the uninspiring pancake photo. Totally took it on the fly! Trying to feed everyone and get Daniel out the door, on time, was no small feat.)
Andrea’s Trusty Pancake recipe
(Chocolate chip pancakes today!)
Place in a medium bowl:
3/4 cup milk
2 Tablespoons oil
1 egg
Add in dry ingredients:
1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
Mix lightly. Fry over medium heat in a lightly oiled (not butter!) pan. Smother hot pancakes in butter and pure maple syrup (or Aunt Jemima’s, if that’s what floats your boat!). Eat!
I always, always double the recipe. And that feeds my family of five nicely. I also use rice milk which makes the pancakes slightly less fluffy but ridiculously moist. Cow’s milk is perfect, though.
Here’s to many delicious pancake mornings! Enjoy!
The Weekend.
February 22, 2010 | Filed Under Andrea, Daniel, Eve, It's What's For Dinner, Judah, New Mexico, Photos, Texas | 16 Comments
It was fun.
It was busy.
It was supremely tasty.
Friday night we ran lots of errands and then Daniel took our family to a local Mexican restaurant. So fun! We ate our dinner while listening to live music. Loved that.
The food was mouth-watering delicious and authentically New Mexican.
We had a wonderful time until Judah melted down in the parking lot. Such is life.
Saturday we headed out to the Palo Duro Canyon near Amarillo. Amazing. Seriously breathtaking. It’s a wild sensation to be driving across the plains, surrounded by enormous fields and stinky cows, and then BOOM. A huge canyon. Red walls, massive rocks… a refreshing change of scenery.
The kids had a fantastic time “trailing.” Daniel and I realized that I don’t do so well with “off-trailing.” I’m not so adventurous, apparently. Along the trail we saw some interesting animal tracks; some that struck large amounts of fear into my heart. Like, the fresh ones that looked like them belonged to a large cat. I got the chills looking at those! Yikes! Good thing Judah brought his “trusty ‘ol gun,” as he fondly calls it.
Daniel explored a cave and took the kids up the side of a cliff. Fun times in the beautiful weather. Unfortunately, because the trail was so low, we lost the sun and warmth fast. Brrr! I couldn’t get back to the truck fast enough. Eliza and I were popsicles! Daniel and I took a second before leaving to take a couple of photos, proof that we were actually at the canyon with our kids. I live with a goof-ball. A mean goof-ball. These photos were right before he stuck his ice-cold hands onto my back!
Since we were so close to Amarillo, and Target (!), we headed into town. Hiking made us very hungry so we stopped at Blue Sky for some burgers. Daniel had heard it was great and indeed, it was! I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of grease.
And the Anaheim chili sticks… awesome!! Wowza. I wanted to lick the bottom of the basket. I refrained. It was touch and go, though.
Sunday, we recuperated.
An awesome weekend! I am so thankful that Daniel is home. Life is so much happier, goofier, tastier, and more adventurous.
P.S. Not so sure about the big photos. I’ve never really cared about them. But, with the (blasted, horrid, I am horrible at making them) blog boards, bigger was better. We’ll see about the bigger photos… I find it annoying to have to scroll down to look at the whole thing.
My Funny Valentine.
February 15, 2010 | Filed Under Andrea, Daniel, Lovers, Photos, Valentine's Day | 13 Comments
My funny Valentine
Sweet comic Valentine
You make me smile with my heart
You’re my favorite work of art
Don’t change a hair for me
Not if you care for me
Each day is Valentine’s Day
How was your Valentine’s Day? Do anything special? We didn’t. But it was still sweet ’cause I’m with him.
P.S. Lyrics from the song, My Funny Valentine
Eve’s Valentine’s Day Tea Party 2010
February 14, 2010 | Filed Under Andrea, Eliza Dove, Eve, New Mexico, Photos, Valentine's Day | 18 Comments
The Valentine’s Day tea party was a success.
The girls had a wonderful time from what I surmised.
Eve said it was all she had hoped for.
And I lived.
I deem that a success. Hooray!
I kept the party small and simple. I work better that way. I read a line on someone’s blog this last week and while I can’t remember the exact wording it went along the lines of: sometimes simple is not only good enough, it is the best. I took that to heart.
Five little girls and one big girl were invited. A two hour party. Simple. Good.
I bought little princess crowns at Hobby Lobby and heart shaped bracelets at Target. I set those out for the girls to help themselves to. They played for a bit in the beginning. Mozart wafted through the air while the girls decorated sugar cookies with either pink or white frosting and some sprinkles. Consumed. Chocolate cupcakes with pink frosting, chocolate covered strawberries. Fancy tea cups steaming with red berry tea. Consumed.
They played a bit more while I cleaned up the food.
Little girl imaginations crafted their pretty party favor boxes with glitter and glue and candy hearts, a few stickers and some ribbon.
Inside the boxes went homemade chocolate caramels.
That was that. Simple. A bit magical. And good.
I liked it. We’ll do it again next year.
Oh, yes I did.
February 6, 2010 | Filed Under Life Stuff, Perspective, Photos | 18 Comments
And you thought I was crazy when I was feeding my family dessert for dinner…
I’ve reached new heights of the crazy.
We had dessert for breakfast.
For a few days time I had promised the kids I would make them the ice cream of their dreams. The kind that makes them drool when the memory comes flooding back in twenty-five years.
(It was a bucket of homemade peach ice cream on a hot heavy-aired New York night for me…)
Anyway, as I was whipping up this future drool worthy memory, I had a moment of brilliance and added in a couple of teaspoons instant coffee. Because I wanted coffee ice cream. But wait! Who in their right mind feeds their children coffee ice cream right before bed? Not this chickie.
I think children sleeping at night is a good thing. You?
Well, I had also promised Eve I would make her oatmeal raisin cookies for dessert. I even remembered to buy the raisins at the Commissary. Miracles still happen!
But then I forgot to make the cookies.
Can’t win ‘em all, I guess.
I don’t know about you, but to me it’s obvious, once you add all of these variables together, I had to feed my children dessert for breakfast.
I know some of you are cringing at the thought that there were no eggs on our breakfast table. No whole wheat toast. Where’s the fruit? The milk? The cereal?
Oh, but they were all there.
Eight eggs in the ice cream. Fresh store bought whole wheat flour in the cookies. Yummy, plump raisins studded the cookies. Great for growing bodies, coconut milk mixed with sinfully delicious heavy cream. Heavy rolled oats embodied the cookies.
As for the gobs of sugar usually in these desserts … it was agave syrup, my friends. I made the creamiest, most delicious coffee ice cream using agave syrup. Used it for the cookies too. Who knew! Not my kids.
They just thought I was the dreamiest, most beautiful, brilliant mommy that has ever walked the earth. Ice cream and cookies for breakfast? Who does that?
This chickie.
Because I think making memories is better than eating scrambled eggs and whole wheat toast every morning.
This what happens…
February 2, 2010 | Filed Under Eliza Dove, Love is..., Photos | 17 Comments
When Mama forgets to take out baby girl’s pigtails before bed…
When Mama is wide awake and all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed……
When you wake up in a spectacular mood…
When “Little Miss Sunshine” is your first name…
When “Cheesy” is your middle name…
When Mama thinks taking photos trumps most everything…
Most especially when it’s photos of your sweet profile, baby girl…
Thanks for being mine.
Decorating advice needed!
February 1, 2010 | Filed Under Decorating Ineptness, Life Stuff, Military Life, New Mexico, Photos | 16 Comments
I have these big white walls. Everywhere… well, almost everywhere. And they bother me.
On this particular wall I have finally decided to use one of my rainbow prints to adorn it. I think… if you approve, that is.
Daniel finally took pity on me and cut out a piece of 20×30 cardboard… after watching me hold up the tape measure 87,000 times.
Can you see it? Does it work? Do I need to add anything else or is the photo enough?
On the opposite side of the hallway there is a loooong stretch of white wall. I’ve decided to do a series of 16×24 prints of these four vineyard photos I took this fall.
Are you feeling it? Help? I don’t know what the crap I’m doing…
Did I mention…
January 30, 2010 | Filed Under Andrea, Life Stuff, New Mexico, Photos | 17 Comments
That we painted our livingroom wall blue…
‘Cause, we did. And I love it.
Promise I’ll show you more when I’m all done decorating!
MyPay
January 25, 2010 | Filed Under Deployment, Military Life, Photos | 15 Comments
The only part of post-deployment I don’t like… the jacking up of one’s paycheck.
It seems like it happens with every deployment and sometimes with a PCS.
Times like this it pays to anticipate that your money is going to get messed up. It also helps to plan for it and have a proactive approach. Thankfully we were ready.
Annoying though.
Dare I?
January 22, 2010 | Filed Under Eliza Dove, Eve, Photos, Sewing | 34 Comments
I have this thing with my girls… I love, love, love to dress them alike. My girls wear the same clothes as much as possible, and thankfully, Target and Eve have cooperated very nicely with this plan. With Eve still being in a size 5T it’s easy peasy to find matching clothes. But, the girl is growing like a weed and soon matching clothes won’t be so simple to find.
Enter: Mama needs to learn how to sew.
What’s that sound, you ask? Oh, that’s just my mother laughing her head off.
But, I’m serious. My lack of knowing how to sew has been bothering me for a couple of years now. I feel like I am missing a needed skill, or something. The thing is, I’m not so good with fine details. Like, laying out a pattern or figuring out said pattern or threading a needle…
I mentioned a sewing machine purchase to Daniel the other day and he got a look in his eyes. It wasn’t one of those, “Sure, babe! What a great idea!” looks. It was more of the, “Oh dear, this could be bad. Very bad.” looks.
But, I am feeling very determined. I need to learn how to make curtains, and pillow cases, and clothes. And maybe some other fun stuff. I have ideas in my head and either I can’t find them in the stores or the price is too high and I’m too cheap.
Here is where I need your help (should you sew, of course): What brand of sewing machine should I look for.
And lessons… are they the way to go? Or should I start small and try to teach myself?
Any other advice (preferably sewing but I’ll take whatever!) is much appreciated!
The red-heads re-unite!
January 1, 2010 | Filed Under Andrea, Crossfit, Daniel, Deployment, Photos | 45 Comments
Oh yes, my husband has red hair. Did you not know that?
Well, I did. And I love his hair. But he loves to shave it right off. For my birthday all I wanted was for him to grow out his hair. It was a sacrifice but he did it and oh….. it has made me happy!
So yes, the red-heads have re-united! And what did we do?
We went and worked out, of course!
You can’t see the bar but we are hanging from the pull-up bar over at the Crossfit gym…
My mom and dad took the kids for us and we have so far had a day and a half of togetherness. And it has been amazing. We have had such a blast just being together. I’m so thankful for my magnificent husband.
Thank you all so much for sharing in our excitement. You are a blessing to my life and you bring me much joy.
Today the kids and their Daddy are going to be re-united. We are all so very excited!!
Miss Eliza Dove turns two!
December 24, 2009 | Filed Under Birthday, Birthday Letters, Eliza Dove, Eve, Judah, Photos | 15 Comments
This is what happens when I say “smile!”
Apparently Daniel and I jumped the gun on the name “Eve.” But, how were we to know that down the road a few years we were going to have a daughter born on Christmas Eve. And how much would she have hated having her name cleverly be “Eve” because of her birth day.
Her “real” smile.
Regardless of names, Miss Eliza turned two on Christmas Eve. I can’t believe it has been two years.
Seriously, how has it been TWO YEARS? Someone call the police and report time thievery!
I can’t really explain to those of you who have not met Eliza just how much of a delight she is. Words don’t really do her justice. But as a start… she is a wonderfully chubby ball of fire rolled in sweetness.
I absolutely adore the daylights out of her.
Again with the “smile!”
All I can ask of my sweet, sweet girl is this:
Darlin’,
Stay a baby for me, won’t you? My baby. Whether you are a delightful two, sweet sixteen, a wonderful twenty-nine with three babies, seventy-five and old and grey… always, always be my baby.
Please never stop letting me hold you, or kiss your cheeks, or tell you that you are my reward.
You are the very best ending to the second very best thing I have ever done in my life.
You, Eliza Dove, make my heart sing.
What do I say to you all day, every day?
“Mama loves you.” Because I do. I really, really do.
Love,
the crazy red-head who kisses you an average of 87,634,297 times a day
Eve, the firstborn…
December 2, 2009 | Filed Under Eve, Photos | 22 Comments
My Eve… she’s amazing. Sweet, loving, very funny, smart, orderly. The list goes on. I really love her. I’ve called her my “sunshine girl” ever since she was a wee baby… because that’s what she is – sunshine.
I took her on a date this past Saturday night. We went to “The Nutcracker” at the beautiful theatre down in the city. We dressed up in fancy clothes and had a wonderful night out. I had splurged and purchased really, really good seats. What an amazing view we had! The tickets were worth every penny. Eve commented to me afterward (as we were running to the truck ’cause it was wicked cold out!) that she wished she could have every costume the ballerinas wore. I wish I could give them all to her… they were so lovely.
Math is her favorite subject to learn. She eats up those numbers… a very different mind from her mother! I am hoping that along with Daniel’s personality and taste in food and eye color that she also has his smarts. So far so good!
I am pretty sure she is going to have a large family… she is very much an administrator and enjoys having lots of little people around to direct. It seems all of this could come sooner rather than later as she has already had her first marriage proposal… my oh my! Daniel needs to hurry up and come back from Iraq so he can beat the boys off…
I am very much enjoying watching Eve develop into her own person. I love watching her become “Eve.” Meticulous, quiet, diligent, highly social, out-going, cautious, obedient…
I’d be remiss if I didn’t add that Eve has her own definite style in clothing and all things related to being a woman. She still doesn’t own a pair of sunglasses because we can’t find “her style.” She wears her clothes in a particular way, her earrings, her hair, she rolls her jeans, she must wear lip gloss ( I swear she’s straight out of Mississippi with her lipstick (gloss) manners.) her purse is attached to her side permanently. Oh, it’s quite the process for her to get out the door. But I love it and her.
If you are a mother, I would love to hear about your firstborn in the comments! Or, tell me about you, if you like me are a firstborn yourself. We sure are an interesting group!!
