I Want a Donkey

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Thanksgiving...a Funny and a Yummy

I have been away from the blogging world for a while.  We moved in July and have since had our new home flooded twice.  With that and life and our little Sophia, blogging just couldn't be a priority.  But I'm going to try to get back to it and fill you in on all of the wonderfuls (and not so wonderfuls) of life soon.

I was talking to a friend who was looking for a new recipe for her Thanksgiving feast.  I mentioned I have a yummy Sweet Potato Apple Casserole recipe that is delish!  She asked for it and I thought I would share it with y'all as well.  So, here you go:

Ingredients

To be combined in casserole:

• 3 sweet potatoes, peeled and quartered
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2 large cooking apples - peeled, cored and cut into 1/4 inch rings/slices

To be sprinkled on top of casserole:

• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Directions

1. Peel and cut sweet potatoes into 1/4 inch slices. Place sweet potatoes in a large saucepan with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil and cook 25 minutes, or until tender but firm. Drain, cool.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 7x11 inch baking dish.
3. In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Layer sweet potatoes, brown sugar mixture and apple slices in the prepared baking dish. 
4. In a separate bowl, mix flour, brown sugar, butter and pecans. This will be sprinkled on top of the sweet potatoes and apples.
5. Bake in the preheated oven 30 minutes, or until lightly browned.

I hope you enjoy the recipe.  The picture above does not do it justice.  I'm making it as part of our Thanksgiving feast tomorrow and I know it won't disappoint.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Oh My Word!

Last month, while my in-laws were in town for a visit, we went out to dinner.  The restaurant, although kid friendly, was a pretty nice place.  We sat down for what we expected to be a nice chat.  Instead, our evening was filled with the screams (yes screams!) of a child at the table next to ours.  We literally could not hear each other talk.  It was that loud.  And I don't mean just a minute or two.  It went on for a good 20 minutes or so.  Why was he screaming, you ask?  Because his parents wanted him to eat and he wanted to play with his Dad's Blackberry.

Most parents, after a minute or two, would take the child out to the car and reprimand him.  What did this kids parent's do?  Nothing.  They just let him scream.  They decided to just ignore him.  Before we had a chance to do so, two of the tables in our area asked to be moved.  By the time we realized it wasn't going to stop, our food was there and they had no where else to seat us.  And still the kid screamed.

Seeing our annoyed faces and the two other tables that had obviously moved because of their child, they finally gave in to his demands.  Basically the child pouted, kicked and screamed until he got his way, rewarded for his bad behavior by getting what he wanted.  Great lesson to teach your kids!  If you act like a complete moron you will eventually get your way.  I don't pretend to know everything about child-rearing.  I'm new at it and I know I have a lot to learn.  But shouldn't bad behavior have a punishment and good behavior be praised?  I know!  That's just crazy talk.

Yes, our meal was scream free from that point forward.  But we were so thoroughly disgusted, not only by the child but the parents, that it was hard to enjoy it.  Yes, the parents apologized after our dinner was consumed and we were on our way out.  But it was a little too little, little too late in our opinion.

Now I don't want people to think I'm a noise prude.  I came from a family of 6 kids.  I have 7 nieces and nephews and a child of my own.  I'm no stranger to noise and I get that kids act up sometimes.  But this was so beyond acceptable.  On our way home, my hubby and I were discussing how our parents would have reacted and how we would react in that same situation.  I'll spare you the details.  But let me just say that if it was my child, I hope that I wouldn't be that inconsiderate of the world around me and we plan to act accordingly.

It all comes down to something I've been thinking a lot about over the last year or so.  We are living in the Age of Entitlement.  This is why there are so many kids out there that think the world owes them something.  They aren't learning to work hard because, win or lose, they get a trophy just for showing up.  Parents threaten and threaten but never follow through with the punishment.  But instead reward the bad behavior to get them to shut up.  When asked to do something, they ask, "Why?"  Or "What will you give me?"  When I was growing up, my parents gave us certain chores to do that we were expected to do without pay.  Our way of earning our keep.  If we wanted to earn money, they had a box with 3X5 note cards in it with additional jobs we could do and how much it would pay.  We are planning on doing something similar with our kids as well. 

I have wanted to be a Mom for as long as I can remember.  But now that I am one, I worry about whether or not I will be a good Mom.  I read all the time about how to be a good parent.  The "How To's".  But sometimes it creates more questions than solutions.  How do you teach a kid to not expect the world for nothing?  How do you teach a child to be grateful and not selfish?  How do you teach your child to be respectful of others?  How do you reward a kid for good behavior without spoiling them or getting them to expect a reward every time they do something good?  I read this article recently that I thought was pretty good.  I don't believe I will follow all it says but it has some good points.

I know from experience that being a parent is hard work.  It's the hardest job I've ever had.  But it is also so rewarding.  There is nothing sweeter in the world than walking in a room and seeing your child's face light up when they see you.  I'm sure I will figure things out.  Hopefully without doing too much damage. ;]  Luckily I have the sweetest little gal in the world who is so patient with me.  Her hugs and smiles make the world a better place.  How lucky am I!!

A Giveaway Worth Blogging About ...Times Ten!!

I have to say, this is probably the best giveaway I have ever seen and I want to win it!  I would love to take Michael (and Sophia) to Paris!  Keep your fingers crossed for me! :]

A Different Kind of Love Song

I love music, especially soundtracks. I can hear a song and can tell you what movie it has been in. And, being the girl and hopeless romantic that I am, I love love songs.  Michael and I have a song. It's a great one, too. ;] (I'm such a tease!) Anyhoo. Today I read this article about love songs. It was interesting to me because she was actually talking about love songs between parent and child, "Parent-love", not couples-love. The article mentioned songs like, Be My Baby by The Ronettes and The Luckiest by Ben Folds and different people commenting listed songs they love or that they associate with their kids. It got me thinking. Is there one song that I associate with Sophia? There are many.

There are songs that I associate with being pregnant. Hallelujah! Chorus is one of them. If you want to know why, read here. It's a funny story.

When I'm listening to the radio and they play songs like Let Them Be Little by Billy Dean, There goes my life by Rascall Flatts and It Won’t Be Like This for Long by Darius Rucker, I always choke up.

I sing a lot of songs to her. Hush Little Baby by Bobby McFerrin & Yo-Yo Ma, Edel Weiss, La La Lu from the movie Lady and the Tramp (see below) and Stay Awake from the movie Mary Poppins are songs that can almost always calm her when she's fussy. Some I've made up, some, like Close to You by the Carpenters, I change up the words a bit.

She loves music and when I'm listening to music, she sings along, too.  She has the sweetest voice!  Love it!  Yet another thing I need to capture before these precious little moments go by and I forget.  She is growing up so fast!  Next thing you know, she is going to be all grown up.  I don't want to miss a thing!

Ultimately, the song that, when I look at my life with her, I think of is These Are the Days by Van Morrison.  I love the last part of the song, "These are the days now that we must savor and we must enjoy as we can.  These are the days that will last forever and you've got to hold them, in your heart."  That rings true to me.  I want to remember to live in the moment and those memories will be ours to share and will be in my heart forever.

Lastly, the one that I hope she will associate with herself is Who I Am by Jessica Andrews.  I love this song.  By strange coincidence, her grandmother's name is Rosemary, she looks just like her Daddy and I am her biggest fan.  So, it's like it was written for her! :]  Not only these things, but I like the message of the song.

In case you can't view the video, here are the lyrics:

If I live to be a hundred
And never see the seven wonders
That'll be alright
If I don't make it to the big leagues
If I never win a Grammy
I'm gonna be just fine
'Cause I know exactly who I am

Chorus:
I am Rosemary's granddaughter
The spitting image of my father
And when the day is done
My momma's still my biggest fan
Sometimes I'm clueless and I'm clumsy
But I've got friends who love me
And they know just where I stand
It's all a part of me
And that's who I am

So when I make big mistake
When I fall flat on my face
I know I'll be alright
Should my tender heart be broken
I will cry those teardrops knowin'
I will be just fine
'Cause nothin' changes who I am

(Chorus)

I'm a saint and I'm a sinner
I'm a loser, I'm a winner
I'm am steady and unstable
I am young but I'm able

I am Rosemary's granddaughter
The spitting image of my father
And when the day is done
My momma's still my biggest fan
Sometimes I'm clueless and I'm clumsy
But I've got friends who love me
And they know just where I stand
It's all a part of me
And that's who I am 

(Repeat chorus)

To me, the song says that things of the world, like fame and fortune, aren't who you are.  Mistakes and disappointments are part of life but they don't have to define you.  What does? Where you come from, your family, who you associate with, and what you stand for are what matter most.  That's who you are.  That is what I hope she will remember.  That and that I'm her biggest fan. :]

P.S. Our song (Michael and I) is Feels Like Heaven by Peter Cetera and Chaka Khan.  Didn't want to leave you hanging. :]

Epic Fail!!!

All I have to say is if this were my husband, he would be a dead man!!  Lucky for me, I married a man who isn't as dumb as a tack and would rather take the ball in the back than put our daughter in harms way.  Seriously major epic fail, dumb A!

Things That Make Me Happy

Thought I would join the fun and share my happy list.  I have a lot of things in my life that make me happy.

1)  My little gal.  She is seriously the sweetest girl and also a little monkey.  She is so much fun.  She has been through so much in her short lifetime and has been so strong through it all.  Love my little gal!

2) My hubby.  He makes me laugh and makes me think.  He is my hero and my best friend.  He is such a wonderful father and hubby.  Before I met him I never dreamed I could meet and marry someone who is so perfect for me.  I love him with all my heart.

3) Life is good.  I have had some worries that have kind of overwhelmed and annoyed me.  Along with some of these things being resolved (or soon to be so), some of the people in my life that have been a negative influence have been eliminated from my life (or soon will be).  Yay!  Why?  One of the reasons...because we are moving.  Can't wait!  Another is Sophia is being weaned off her last seizure medicine.  She has been seizure free for over a year now.  I just hope and pray they are behind us.

4) One of my favorite things I loved to indulge in when I lived in England are now available in Utah!  Stop reading if you can't withstand temptation easily.  I LOVE these yummy ice cream bars.  They are my version of crack.  Can't get enough!!  (Slurp!) :] 

(A little FYI...I have seen them at Target, Wal-Mart, Fresh Market and Dan's.  Also, if you kept reading and I tempted you, I want to make it up to you.  Click here for a coupon.) 


Well, there is my happy list for the week.  Want to join it?  Click here to play along.  What makes you happy?

Friday Confessional

Here are my confessions for the week... 

I confess...

*I went to a baseball game the other day and almost got into a fight with a guy. 
*He was a ginormous jack a**.
*We purposefully sat in a section that was empty to avoid people like him.
*The ball park wasn't very full.
*He sat 2 rows up and 3 seats over from us...in a section with about 150 seats.
*He was whistling and shouting really loudly and constantly.
*It was hurting Sophia's ears.
*I asked him nicely to stop or move.
*He slurred a very ungentlemanly response and began yelling at me and my hubby.
*He was "chemically enhanced".
*I told him to man up and called him on his crap.
*He apologized.
*He moved 1 section, 15 seats and 2 rows further away.
*Then continued to act like the idiot he is.
*The game was enjoyable again.
*This could have gone a lot different.
*I could have taken him. :]
 
I confess...

*I was supposed to wait and go to the baseball game with my sister and her family.
*But we had a voucher for 2 free tickets that expired before they were available to go with us.
*We still are planning on going again with them and are super excited to go to another game.
*I just hate wasting free stuff.
*It was also too nice outside to waste not being out in it.

I confess...

*Last week we turned in our notice to the landlady at the house we are renting.
*It was a GREAT day.
*I may have danced a gig or two.
*Even though we have yet to find a place to live and I HATE moving, I am still as happy as a clam.
*I don't know where that saying "Happy as a clam" comes from or why the clam is happy.
*I always thought they were rather swishing and rubbery.
*But it sounds better than one of my Dad's sayings, "That is slicker than snot on a doorknob on a hot day."
*That really puts a picture in your head.

I confess...

*This week I went two days without wearing a bra.
*The "Ladies" had a glorious time!
*Tuesday I took a break from all things responsible and cozied and played with Sophia all day long.
*This includes her physical and eye therapy as well as making her wear her glasses.
*I didn't let myself feel guilty.  Not one bit.
*We hung out on my bed and played, read books and snuggled while watching Sesame Street.
*It was a great day.

Phew!  Feels good to get that off my chest!  Want to play along? Head over and link up with Mamarazzi and/or Glamazon, grab the button, add it to your Confessional post and then link it. Enjoy!

What Do I Do All Day Long?

A man came home from work and found his three children outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn all around the front yard.

The door of his wife's car was open, as was the front door to the house and there was no sign of the dog. Proceeding into the entry, he found an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was wadded against one wall.

In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a Cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing.

In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on the counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door.

He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles of clothes, looking for his wife. He was worried she might be ill, or that something serious had happened.

He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way out the bathroom door. As he peered inside he found wet towels, scummy soap and more toys strewn over the floor. Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and toothpaste had been smeared over the mirror and walls.

As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife still curled up in the bed in her pajamas, reading a novel. She looked up at him, smiled, and asked how his day went.

He looked at her bewildered and asked, 'What happened here today?'

She again smiled and answered, 'You know every day when you come home from work and you ask me what in the world do I do all day?'

'Yes,' was his incredulous reply.

She answered, 'Well, today I didn't do it.'

**********************************************************

I LOVE THIS!  So funny and very true.  Some days it would be nice to just chill and read a book.  Maybe when she is older.  I love the questions some people have asked me.  Questions like:

"Don't you get bored being a stay-at-home Mom?"
"What do you do all day long?"
"Is it nice to have all of that free time?"
"So, now that you are home, I bet you watch a lot of soap operas.  Which one is your favorite?"

In return, I really want to ask, "Have you been around any child for more than 20 minutes?  Because, obviously, you don't have any." 

But, I try to be nice and say, "No, I don't get bored.  She keeps me busy."  If they press for more information or get snotty about it and require more of an answer, I give them a rundown:

"If the TV is on, which most days it isn't, you will find it turned to Sesame Street, Sid the Science Kid, Clifford or Arthur.  Sophia loves books.  We read a lot.  We play.  Sophia loves music.  We sing.  She also likes it when we dance in the kitchen.  We do her physical and eye therapy exercises several times throughout the day.  I feed her.  I bathe her.  I change around 10 diapers a day.  I wash and rewash her glasses when she has yet again taken them off or put them in her mouth.  We call Daddy to say hi while he is at work, which they both LOVE.  She is a phone talker and he loves his little gal!  Umm...what else...Oh yeah!  I go to the bathroom.  And, if I'm lucky and she takes a nap longer than 30 minutes (Yes, she is a horrible napper!), I try to do something like load the dishwasher, do the laundry or I shower.  And, if I still have a minute or two...Oh wait...that never happens." 

That usually shuts them up.

But, you know what?  Even though life gets crazy and she is a lot of work, I wouldn't have it any other way.  She is the sweetest little gal in the world and I love her.  I feel so lucky and blessed to be able to stay home, experiencing her day with her instead of hearing about it from daycare.  I finally have my dream job and I'm loving it!

Happy Anniversary to Us...

Five years ago today I married the most amazing man in the world.  He is so sweet to me.  He is a wonderful man with a good heart who treats me like a queen.  Every time I hear the song Just the Way You Are by Bruno Mars, I think of my sweet man.  He makes me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world.  I love you, honey!  Thanks for the best 5 years of my life!  Happy Anniversary!!

Friday Confessional

I've missed a few weeks but I'm back.  Yay!  So, here goes:

I confess...

Last night I saw about 10 deer on the road.  After I drove by them, I kind of wished I would have hit one of them so I could buy a newer car.  It would have been a great excuse to do so.  My car is getting old.  In order to get it to pass inspection we just spent $900.  But I had my daughter in the car and it would have probably killed the deer.  It was just a split second and I'm really glad it didn't happen.  So don't hate me!

I confess...

I was talking to someone who thought people were overreacting about the 5 cases of measles in Salt Lake.  I may have told them off.  My hubby teaches at the school and had one of the kids in his class who had the measles.  See blog post here.  Needless to say, I'm so glad I got her my baby girl her first MMR shot as soon as she could get it.  I am really glad I took her to get her second MMR shot (per her pediatrician's advice) on the day I found out about it.  I kind of want to punch people who don't plan on immunizing their kids.  I think it is irresponsible and selfish.

I confess...

I really hate my plain, non-creative header on my blog.  I just haven't made the time to do anything different.  I think this has kept me from wanting to blog.  I really need to do something with it.

I confess...

After my baby was born and in the NICU and then with her health/development issues, I took a little break from exercising...no time, no desire.  It just wasn't top priority.  Two months ago I kicked my booty in gear and started working out again.  I've lost about 13.5 inches on my chest, waist, hips, thighs and arms.  I didn't have a scale when I started so I'm not sure how much weight I've lost.  But I feel better and clothes fit better.  I really like doing Zumba and kickboxing workout videos and going to my friend Charlotte's Zumba class.  It is a lot of fun.  I've actually owned Zumba videos for about 8 years.  I think it is funny that it has just become the craze lately when I've been doing it for years before it was cool.  In fact, I have old roommates that still make fun of me.  Bless their hearts! :] I'm excited for the weather to get warmer so I can do outdoor workouts.

I confess...

I used to be such a clean freak.  I loved to organize.  I even helped a few friends and relatives organize and declutter their homes.  But when I was pregnant and on IV therapy and bed rest, I just couldn't do it.  Then, with Sophia's NICU stay, her seizures, club feet and developmental issues, I lost the desire to be so.  It still drives me crazy when things are dirty but I'm able to look past it.  I look at my home and the old me would be so annoyed with the new me.  But life goes on.  I'd like to say I feel guilty about it, but I don't.  My daughter needs me more than I need to clean my house.

I confess...

I decided I was going to take a break from a few people that have been a source of drama in my life for a while.  It was so nice to step away from it for a bit.  I really hate drama.  A friend of mine posted the following quote on her FB page:

"There comes a time in life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh, forget the bad, and focus on the good. So love the people who treat you right, pray for the ones who don't. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living."

I really like the quote.  If I find out who said it, I'll let you know.  So, I've decided that I'm going to follow the advice in the quote.  Life really is too short and there is too much good in the world to focus on the drama.


Want to play along? Head over and link up with Mamarazzi and/or Glamazon, grab the button, add it to your Confessional post and then link it. Enjoy!

Things That Make Me Go ARRRRGGGG!!!

What a wild few days! There was a measles case discovered at the school where Michael teaches. Kids were sent home that had couldn't provide proof of vaccination.  To those who haven't had it or can't provide proof, they have to stay home until the 18th and 25 teachers have to find subs until they can do the same. Michael had to contact several different places in his home town in Colorado before he was able to show proof.  He could only find documentation for one.  So he had to go and get a second.  We then had to personally call everyone we came in contact with since last Friday (as everyone-faculty and students- who was in contact with someone at his school should) and informed them of the outbreak and made sure they had either had the measles or the vaccine.  If not, they may be at risk.  We also had to go get Sophia's 2nd MMR shot, since she had only had one. She wasn't due for the 2nd one until she was 4.  But if she didn't, with her seizure issue, it could cause some serious complications/issues for her if she came down with the measles.  Immunize your kids, people! 90% of people who haven't been vaccinated and have direct contact will get the disease.  All three cases discovered in UT this week hadn't done so! It affects more than just you!! 

To those who still believe Jenny McCarthy and her nonsense regarding autism and a link with vaccines, please read what scientist have to say about the study.  It was found to be filled with falsified information and kids who already had been diagnosed with autism before they received the vaccines. (See link below)

To quote my husband, "On behalf of 25 fellow teachers who had to miss school yesterday because they couldn't provide proof that they'd been vaccinated against the measles: GET YOUR CHILDREN VACCINATED. Don't risk our lives, our health, and our livelihoods. There is no legitimate medical reason not to get the vaccinations. Get your kids their shots. Its safer for them...and for the rest of us.  I know that some people are concerned about the supposed link between childhood vaccinations and autism. THERE IS NO SUCH LINK. The British medical journal that published that paper in 1998 (The Lancet) has issued a full retraction in February 2010 after it was found that the head researcher, Dr. Andrew Wakefield, falsified his data to satisfy the people who were funding his study.  BBC News report of the retraction."

I'm sorry if I have offended any of you.  This was not meant to do so.  My only reason for posting this is to educate people and to emphasize how the decision to not immunize your kids doesn't just affect your child.  It was chaos at school on Friday.  How much more beneficial would that day have been if those 25 teachers could have been in the classroom educating kids instead of having to call in subs who, for the most part, merely babysit.

Here are some articles about the outbreak:

First case reported
Two more cases identified


Here are some links about the measles:

Primary Children's Medical Center
WebMD