Weekend plans...

I keep forgetting to bring my camera to post pictures so you will have to deal with my boring thoughts until then. Yes, Tina I know I need to add pictures, thanks..:)
This weekend is sure to be exhausting. Two pool parties (kid parties-not exactly the fun kind), closing baseball ceremonies in 90 plus degree heat, and a long orientation for my son's academic program he is participating in this summer. It's only for the month of June and not like summer school or anything, more designed to further challenge or enrich the thinking of talented students. Anyways, I am trying to stay positive and focus on the fact that I am almost done with the grueling first trimester. Yea!! Praise God!! The exhaustion and yucky stomach feelings are finally starting to subside!! The scary part is how hungry I now am..I bought my first maternity clothes at Old Navy yesterday. I am determined to wear these now as I get "the looks" from those folks who cannot quite figure the stomach pooch out. Is she pregnant or just putting on the pounds? I am thankful for this first trimester successfully passing though, I know this is a blessing. I will try and capture the weekend with some pics. Have a great weekend everyone!

Back with a Bang!!

It seems I have put this off for too long. Many times I have thought of continuing my blog but no time better than the present! I have been way to fixated on day to day life. Perphaps, the biggest news I have to share is the news I am pregnant with my third child!!! Yes, almost 11 weeks to be exact and I couldn't be more thrilled about this. I admit I have already done silly gender predictors, shopped the pregnant lady tees, and combed over various name combinations. The gender predictor says it's a little boy btw but the heart rate (178) would point to a female.. Before I get attacked, I KNOW, I KNOW..there is no credence in these old wives tales and certainly don't have alot of faith in the Chinese gender predictor but you must admit it's good fun! This pregnancy has been more similar to my son's pregnancy thought-- I cannot get enough Braum's brownie fudge sundaes and Dunkin Donuts is top of mind at all times! Another strange one was La Madeleine's Tomato Basil soup. It started as a daydream and I eventually found myself motoring across town in somewhat of a frantic, psycho state to get my soup! LOL--my husband loves to watch his usually weight conscious wife turn into the daily sweets junkie! The funny thing is I've actually lost 3 pounds in my first trimester--go figure! Anyways, I am BACK and intend to post more regularly--that is a PROMISE!

Hello Dear Friends...

I have not forgotten you and miss you all and our times together!
I am busy preparing for the Advent and Christmas season!! Our house has been chaos but I promise to share more soon with you all. Work has had us swamped with a new system and when I get home it's time to put on the Santa hat an enjoy this beautiful Christmas season with my children and husband. Each year, I feel like I can never fit it all in. There's the baking banana bread and cookies, watching all the Christmas classic (A Christmas Carol, A Christmas Story (my favorite!)trimming the tree, going out to look at the glorious light shows,etc,..and yes, the dreaded shopping!! Will post more soon with pics,..just know I am still here!

Thanksgiving Part Two!

Thanksgiving 2007

We hosted our first Thanksgiving at our house this year. Here are a few pictures but more to come. I have had some errors in trying to post the others??
It was an incredible day to give thanks at our house. I only had to look around to see all the blessings bestowed upon me and my family. The food was great, the laughter even greater, and there was nowhere else in the world I would have wanted to be this night!!

"The Dining Room Project"

Jim has been very diligent with his work in the dining room lately that it only makes sense to give him due credit and a "pat on the back" for the transformation he has made possible. You see, I bark the orders and he makes it happen..LOL!
I have the easy part but he has the challenge of actually creating what I tell him that I want. I should have posted a before picture for you to appreciate the difference. He installed crown molding, new chandelier, a chair rail down the middle with a brown taupey color. I think he has done a really nice job so far. More pictures to come when we actually put the furniture back in..Thanks again Jimmy for your patience with me through this project, I think we have created a beautiful setting for out first Thanksgiving at our home! Love D

A Beautiful Country Sky

My husband took this picture just as the sun was setting over a small lake right near our neighborhood. We live enough outside of the metropolis of Dallas that we feel like we are somewhat in the country bur close enough to the city. We see some very majestic skies and both stand in awe of the beauty it paints against the lake and trees. It only takes the little things to entertain us these days!!

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

With Thanksgiving coming, I will try and start to post some of favorite recipes I have shared with my family during the past several years. This one is Tristan's absolute favorite of mine. Enjoy..I am bad about using measurements so sorry for the guesstimates!

7-8 Large Baking or Yukon potatoes
1 cup sour cream or creme cheese (or a mixture of both)
1 stick of butter (or margarine if you please)
1/2 cup milk
1-2 fresh cloves of garlic minced (I use a garlic press)
salt and pepper to taste (I love lots of pepper!)
Peel the potatoes and cut them into cubes.
Boil them for approximately 20 minutes (or until done)
Add all ingredients and mix well breaking up chunky pieces with a masher.
Test to see if they need more salt..
Enjoy!

The Importance of Motherhood

The Most Important Person
on earth is a mother. She
cannot claim the honor of
having built Notre Dame
Cathedral. She need not. She
has built something more
magnificent than any
cathedral-a dwelling for an
immortal soul, the tiny
perfection of her baby's
body…The angels have not
been blessed with such a
grace. They cannot share in
God's creative miracle to bring
new saints to Heaven. Only a
human mother can. Mothers
are closer to God the Creator
than any other creature; God
joins forces with mothers in
performing this act of
creation…What on God's
good earth is more glorious
than this: to be a mother?

-Joseph Cardinal Mindszenty

I don't know about you guys but I needed this today. I have always held close his thoughts on motherhood but today really needed to wrap my head and heart around it. All that we do as mothers, the Lord sees the beauty of this work. And our children reap the fruit of our efforts on a daily and lifetime basis. It's just sometimes hard to remember this at 7:15 am in the morning as I'm struggling to get them both (my kids) out the door. The little one chases the big one and I'm chasing them both.
Oh, what a site we are in the mornings..Once they have both gotten off (one to school and the other to daycare) there is finally the sound of peace in the car. But then the sadness sets in, I begin to miss them and think of how long until I get to chase them again and steal baby kisses, hug my little boy (who is almost as tall as me now!), and just absorb their laughter and smiles. I know I am crazy to not just enjoy the silence.:)

The Holy Land

My mother left for her pilgrimmage to the Holy Land on Saturday morning. My parents actually run their own Catholic Pilgrimmage Company and take tours all over the world. Please pray for her (and the others) to have a spirit-filled pilgrimmage and to grow closer to Jesus in the process. Also, pray for a safe trip and a safe return.
I am hoping she will take some pictures that I can post although she's not as much of a picture fanatic as myself!

A Halloween Treat

I was extremely blessed and excited when my parents bought Jimmy and I a "pumpkin pan" from Williams-Sonoma for our anniversary. Those are the types of things that I often admire when I "window shop" there but may not have the discretionary income to justify buying at the time. I just LOVE any themed pans, cooking gadgets, grinders I can get my hands on. My parents stopped by to see the kids costumes last night and enjoy a slice of the bread I made. I actually had some hot chocolate to pair with it but the Texas weather is still dealing us warmer evenings! I used the recipe I had in a previous post and it came out very nice--enjoy the amateur photo,you can still see the molding of the pumpkin though..so seasonal, I love it!

A Beautiful Bee!!

Happy Harvest and Happy Halloween!!!

Gobblins, Apples, and an Old Geeser!

Tristan had his annual party this past Friday. It was his 4th annual but he likes to keep it to a smaller more closer group of friends. The best costume was the "Old Geeser"! There was tons of candy, silly spray fights (outdoors), and very competetive apple bobbing. Oh, did I mention it was a sleep over?? Yes, Jim and I are brave people to host this!..:) The night ended with pre-selected "scary" movies. Keep in mind, I had done my research on kid-friendly (non-horror, blood, gore, withcraft) flicks and ended up with Ernest's Big Scare and Goonies. Old ones but the kids still enjoyed them--it turned out to be such a nice night for all of us, even little Ana enjoyed herself!

Today I am thankful for many things...
1) I have a great husband who wakes up early and has my coffee ready for me when I wake up.
2) Ana Catherine's bumble bee costume arrived earlier than promised and actually fits her perfect!
3) Tristan is having his annual Fall party/sleepover this Friday and all 4 boys invited are coming!
4) Instant weight control oatmeal
5) Furry, cuddly cats at 6:30 in the morning..
6) Baseball season has finally ended allowing for more family time..
7) My 16 month old shutting every last open door, cabinet, or drawer in the house!
8) A healthy and happy home!

A Joyful Heart Makes a Cheerful Face
Proverbs 15:13

Quick Hamburger Stroganoff

This is a great hardy recipe for busy moms out there. I made it last night and was delighted to see no leftovers!

1 lb. ground beef (substitute ground turkey for leaner meal)
1 medium onion chopped
1 garlic clove minced
1 can cream of mushroom soup
4 ounces canned mushrooms (water drained)
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup sour cream
egg noodles

Brown the ground beef with onion and garlic.
Drain off the grease.
Add the cream of mushroom, canned mushrooms, and salt to the mixture.
Stir and allow to simmer over low heat for appx. 10 minutes.
Remove from heat and add the sour cream.
Serve over hot cooked noodles.
Serve with canned or fresh veggies and you have a very quick nutritious meal!

A day in the patch..

Ana and I were blessed with beautiful weather on Saturday for a trip to the local pumpkin patch! I was amazed at how many parents had the same idea that I did, trying to get that perfect pose of their little sweeties amongst the sea of orange. I will admit, I am a pumpkin patch user guilty of using them for their props, cute scarecrows,and endless amounts of pumpkins in various shapes and sizes ! I had scoped the local patches out early in the season before deciding on this one as the one for some pics.The worst part is that I actually forgot my cash to buy a few from the kind people taking the money! I felt horrible after Ana had literally trampled over every square inch of their cute set up and we just walk out empty handed. All four of us plan to go back this weekend and pick out one for each of us to complete the assortment at our front door..

It's raining pumpkins!

Fall has finally arrived in Texas!

Last night was one of our first true fallish evening here in Texas! Yes, I am envious of you folks in other parts of the country this time of year but just yesterday the familiar chill I have missed so much was back in the air. It was a great opportunity for Ana to get some fresh air and for me to survey the damage that the summer did on our back yard! We are hosting Thanksgiving at our house this year and hope to turn the back yard into somewhat of an enjoyable setting for fellowship and a place for all the kids to run wild. Trust me when I say we aren't there yet! The dead grass, overgrown potted plants from the spring, crushed Easter egg pieces (yes, I am so embarrassed I found these in one far corner of the yard), and the lovely pitcher's net that had to be retired
due to balls ending up in the neighbor's yard..All this being said, I know that we can turn it back around quickly. A few Fall flowers and some good fertilizer can go a long way! I think Thanksgiving is 5 weeks (?) and counting...

May your home be a place where friends meet, family gathers and love grows.

-- Author:UKNOWN

Texas State Fair Pictures

Great Waffle Recipe

My husband bought me a waffle maker from Williams Sonoma (one of my favorites) for our anniversary! I was so thrilled to use it for the first time this past weekend. I tried the recipe below and they came out really, really good. We had with fresh strawberries and peaches and some breakfast sausage. I actually expected a disaster for our first use but was pleasantly suprised at the results,..no pics but I used the recipe below. Tristan helped me prepare the night before so I has some help from some little eager hands..:)

Prep. Time: 8:30
Serves: 6

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup butter-flavored shortening
1 egg OR equivalent of egg substitute
3/4 cup half and half cream
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract




-Combine flour, salt, and baking soda; set aside.
-Cream together sugar, shortening, and egg with an electric mixer.
-Slowly beat in half and half, buttermilk, and vanilla.
-Slowly beat in dry mixture.
-Cover and refrigerate overnight.
-Pour 1/2 cup of batter into a preheated, greased waffle iron and cook for 3-4 minutes, or until lightly browned. Repeat with remaining batter.

Notes: Right after pouring batter onto waffle iron, sprinkle 1/4 cup pecan halves over the batter for the Waffle House's® Pecan Waffles.

Make It A Meal: Serve with Breakfast Sausage

Infants under 2 and cold meds..

Did you hear they recently pulled child medicines off the shelves due to safety risk?? I know my pediatrician had historically frowned upon medicating with anything when Ana has had a cold..frustrating for us to just watch them sniffle and suffer but apparently the safest for them..

TREATING A CHILD'S COLD
Pediatricians say the best way to treat a child's cold is to let it run its course. Over-the-counter medications won't speed the healing process, just help with symptoms, they say. But if a child doesn't seem to be getting better, parents should take him or her to see a physician.

Best for fever: Tylenol or ibuprofen.

Best for colds, congestion or cough: Lots of liquids, rest, saline drops in the nose, humidifiers.

Source: Pediatrician interviews

Ramblings of yesterday...

Yesterday was a tough day all around.I kept Ana home as she had horrible allergies. I made a pathetic attempt at catching up on house work but she clung to me like static cling. Yes, I could have just surrendered and caught up on all the highly intelligent and thought provoking daytime tv (no thanks). I don't miss Judge Judy, Oprah, or even The View. Not too happy with those ladies anyways, I heard they recently made some really invalid and ignorant comments about the Catholic Church. Anyways, the TV stayed off all day which was good..

I just feel that when my husband comes home the house should be immaculate and the aroma of fresh garlic, onion, and marinara sauce should be spilling out the door when he comes in..I did manage to start some meatball subs and veggies but he immediately ran to open windows when he came home as I guess the aroma was a bit overpowering! So much for the perfect picture I painted..LOL..Everyone did enjoy dinner however, not homemade meatballs but frozen sometimes has to do!
Tristan baseball game went bad, it seems as if when the team is losing everyone blames the pitcher! The parents are nice enough but really should be more careful with their polite criticism as to why the game isn't going our way.."Tristan's really nervous tonight!" and "Tristan's just not himself tonight!" All this from people I (and Tristan) don't even know.. It may not be so bad if they actually knew Tristan but this is a new team and besides there were many other things going wrong.
I finally excused myself to chase my toddler so that I would not continue to be submerged..I know the other parents mean well, we just get touchy when it comes to our kids ya know? Okay, i am clearly rambling now..hopefully will post more later.
We are going to the State Fair this weekend which should be fun, the weather is gorgeous out!

Lord You are...

Simple but effective this was the song on my mind this morning when I first woke up..I first learned when I was 16 years old at a church retreat. I almost always wake up panicked by the stresses that the day holds and immediately start to worry. (I come from a long line of worriers..) Today, I felt an outpouring of grace and this beautiful song was playing in the back of my mind..

"Lord you are more precious than silver"...
"Lord you are more costly than Gold"
"Lord, you are more beautiful than diamonds and nothing I desire compares with You"....

He's cute but he's "just an American short hair"..

Dylan was his given name (from the SPCA) but we affectionately call him "Doug", "Dugan", "Duggles", "Mr. Farnsworth", shall I go on???
He is the apple of Tristan's eye for sure. We jokingly talk about when my friend LeAndra (see previous post) visited a few months back. She is a cat lover and has become somewhat of a feline expert over the years. After gazing upon him, she noted "he's cute but just an American short hair"..Apparently, at her home lives a beautiful "tuxedo cat"..LOL. We still laugh about this huge, huge insult to our beloved Dylan..WE also have two other cats I will post at another time.

Happy Birthday LeAndra!!

Today is my best childhood friend's birthday. God Bless you today LeAndra!!
I still remember (like it was yesterday), playing with pound puppies, cabbage patch dolls, and (sigh) the New Kids on the Block concerts and ridiculous obsession.
Another fond memory is the smell of the kitchen at her home when I would wake up on Saturday mornings. Sandra (God rest her soul) was the best cook around! She would make a full country breakfast with biscuits and gravy, sausage, eggs, and all the other goodies! Her mom was such a dear lady and plays a part in many of my fond childhood memories. If you're reading this, have a great day LeAndra, I love you!!

Champions of Faith

I thought it may be appropriate to mention this since my latest blogs have been of the sporty nature. I was planning on ordering this DVD for my son and was curious if anyone has actually seen this? Everywhere I look, I see this which tells me the Holy Spirit is trying to tell me something! The DVD is supposed to showcase several major league baseball players whose faith in God has allowed them to say no to what we so often see "hand in hand" with athletic success..the drugs, sex scandals, and all the other horrible things we have heard and read. The men in this film are true role models for our children, especially if they have an interest in sports. The website is www.championsoffaith.com..

A House Divided

I am certainly not much of a football fan but last night was intense at our house. Growing up in Texas, you cannot help becoming absolutely engrossed like the rest of the state with football..The Monday night football showdown was the Buffalo Bills taking on the undefeated Dallas Cowboys. My husband is a Buffalo native and I a Dallas native. You can already probably sense the heat..In the beginning, we tried to lovingly show support for each other's teams as any good spouse would do both of us claiming it didn't really matter who won but was just fun to see our teams on the same field..WEll, by the end of the night it was out and out WAR! We were not sitting as closely on the couch together at this point!!The Cowboys pulled it off by the skin of their teeth, thankfully..but even after they won, I found myself feeling sorry for Buffalo?? I still went to bed with a smile on my face though..:)