The Grass is Always Greener...

I know we all have our talents and we should be happy with what talents we have been given...blah, blah blah.

BUT

I would even be more happy if I had this talent:

MADE

For now I will be happy that this girl has it and focus on learning how to thread a needle. Then maybe I can tackle curtian and then I can make the cute onsies with ruffle bums.

PS: Mom, I know that you tried... it is not your fault.

PPS: Jill, you will love this one!

I've been cookin'

Cooking is a hobby of mine. I enjoy trying out new recipies and eating good food. Here are a few things that I have been cooking up lately. You can find some of the recipies on my "What's for dinner" blog.

Tortilla soup. This is a new favorite of mine. I wish I took this picture, but we ate it all before I had a chance to snap a shot. You get the idea, though. The idea of making my own marshmellows was so charming to me. So, I made some today. It was all that I hoped it would be. However, I have need to do a side by side test to determine if it is worth it! They are cute though - don't you think?
After making the marshmellows, I made some graham crackers to go along with them. We made our own s'mores. YUM! I already took a bite out of this one.
Ry and I made a chocolate cake for my dad's birthday. He helped me put i the ingredients and then was kind enough to clean the bowl for me!

He went straight into the bathtub! He would not let go of that choclate covered spatula, so it went in the bath with him!

I still need to perfect my icing skills, but I have found my favorite cake recipie! Rich chocolate cake with chocolate buttermilk icing. This one had walnuts in it in honor of my dad.

This is a great book that I picked up at the library. There are a lot of great recipies. The muffins are the best I've had - and I don't really even like muffins.

Blueberry with Crumb topping

Coco-banana

I ate it all up!

Politics

I was able to watch the inauguration on Tuesday. It was pretty historical. I did not vote for Obama, but I have been truly impressed with his character and the man he seems to be. I am grateful that he has inspired our nation.

But, what I am confused and perturbed by is the fact that THE day that he was sworn in people were rejoicing about the "new" America, claiming that they felt hope for the first time, they seemed to be more willing to listen, to help and to put aside differences.

Nothing in our country has changed : the economy is still bad, there is still a war, and many other challenges still face us. But, our attitudes have changed. That is not the part that bothers me. The part that bothers me is that it all seems dependant upon Obama. HE will change the nation, HE will make things better.

But, what if HE makes a mistake or if things don't turn out the way he planned or if change is slow to come? Will all of this optimism and hope die, just because Obama doesn't fulfill every one's dreams? It seem to me it will - unless - America realizes that it is not Obama who will change America - it is US! No matter what the circumstances or who holds the office of president, America can be and should be a great place to live because WE make it that way.

I hope that things go well for this president, but what I hope most of all is that Americans will begin to take responsibility for themselves and focus on doing their part and not expect someone else to make life better for them.

Toddler+Treadmill

= OUCH!

The short story is that Ryan put his hand on the treadmill as I was running and then this happened. Luckily, Brett was close ( but not close enough) by so he grabbed him before it got worse than this. Poor guy!

New Years Resolutions

OK, so it may not be a BRAND new year, but due to the fact that I still write 2008 on checks and papers, it is still new, so I still have time make resolutions. I actually made them before January, but this is the first week that they are taking effect. I had a grace period.

I need a lot of help with one of my resolutions. I am determined to become more PREPARED and ORGANIZED this year. As a precuser, I am not a totally inept housekeeper. My house is clean, most of the time. But this year, my house will be clean more than it is not and I will rarely, if ever, leave the house without diapers, wipes, wallet, keys, gifts, etc. This one is going to be HARD for me because for those of you who know me, being "together" is SO not ME! But just wait, by 2010, it will be.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

I need to know important things such as:

1. What do you do with all your piles? (specifically mail that you need to go through or so something with)

2. What does a prepared person carry in her purse?( the first step for me is to actually CARRY a purse!)

3. How does one get their home "sparkly"?

4. How do you know when to do unusual chores like clean the vacuum filter? (did that today)

5. How do you keep clothes in drawers neatly folded or a sock drawer more than just a mess?

6. Where do you put stuff that doesn't really have a place?

Today, I hung out with a girl from my complex who said that she sanitizes her keys EVERYDAY and she carries her digital camera in her purse just in case she gets in a car accident and more! Those thoughts never cross my mind. But, I did go right home and sanitize my keys, cleaned out the car and my drawers, washed the car seat cover, prepared snack baggies for Ryan AND (as noted previously) cleaned the vacuum filter. I just wanted to start the "newish" year right!

Spinach Smoothie

I drank one tonight. It was good. I was surprised! I definately think ( is that an oxy-moron?) that I will do it again. It is a great way to get that nasty stuff down. Our friends Kim and Mike made it for us. It consisted of pineapple, bananas and spinach! I felt so healthy slurping that thing down. Thanks, guys!

Bright from the Start or Just Hungry?

Before Ryan was born, I read a lot of books. I wanted to do this parenting thing right or at least not mess it up too much. Is it working? Who knows, but I sure am having a great time! One of the books I read was called "Bright from the Start". It suggested you should put out a mat the signified "learning time". One skill that 12 month olds should work on and enjoy is "scooping" one thing and putting it in antoher thing.

We tried it using uncooked noodles.

But he ate it instead.

He is 26 pounds.

So, we played instead. I love my little buddy!

Merry Christmas Celebrations

Ry Ry in his Christmas church outfit
Our Christmas symbols game - it was a fun new addition!

Uncle Danny helping Ryan open his present from the "Sleepy Elf"

New Christmas PJS

I loved how these PJs really complemented Ryan's belly!

Ryan's new dump and pull wagon.This is what he would look like as a girl...


It was so fun to spend Christmas with a little one this year. Next year will be even better! I am looking forward to an exciting 2009!

Hope you had a "rockin" Christmas!

Ryan sure did. So did we.

*disclaimer/apology: To those who did not recieve a card from us... know that no one else did either :)! We still love all of you and hope that you had a wonderful Christmas. Hopefully we will get to you next year!

Races, Shows and little Christmas Miracles

I had the pleasure of running a half marathon with my great friend and one of the(two) best running buddies I have ever had, Lorraine Galvin. We did the Rose Bowl Half last Saturday and it was great! I am weird, I know! The weather was perfect, the course was beautiful, and the run was not bad. It would have been better, but I got about 4 hours of sleep the night before because Ryan was up with a fever. He endured the race and we took him to urgent care right afterwards. Another ear infection!! Anyway, despite that, I am so glad that I did it! Halfs are totally do-able... how did I ever run 13 more beyond that, I do not remember!

THE ELLEN SHOW

We had a fun time! Thanks to all those who watched for me! I haven't even seen it yet... did it get you when Jim Carey was about to propose, too?? I can't believe that I fell for it! We got to screen his movie the "Yes Man". Not good. Don't waste your money. But it was fun to see him live. When he said that he says yes to everything, but Prop 8, everyone was cheering except me and my 3 friends... it was pretty funny! The prizes were great, I feel so lucky... but they are too ritzy for me. So, if you know anyone in the market for a GPS, Nokia e71 or a Jawbone at a discounted price - let me know! Is that ungrateful? I don't think so! I can just picture Ryan getting a hold of that $500 phone and throwing it into the toliet... it just makes me sick, so I have come to the conclusion that now is not the time for me to have fancy stuff like that! It was a fun experience!

Little Christmas Miracle

Here is the story in short since this is an already long post:

1. I walk into Target with my keys.

2. I look at cards - place my stuff down for a second.

3. Leave Target with no keys

4. Check the car. No keys. Ask Customer Service. No Keys. Look in the cards. No Keys.

5. Put away all the stuff Ryan threw off the shelves while I was looking for my keys.

6. Pray. Pray. Pray

7. Walk home in the rain ( it is across the street, luckily).

8. Pray.

9. Go back to Target without Ryan 3 hours later.

10. Customer Service: No keys. Look in Cards: No keys

11, Stumped

12. PRAY

13. Looked under a pile of stockings on one of the shelves

14. FOUND KEYS!

I am so grateful for prayer. Really, I don't think that I would have found the keys, or anyone else for that matter until after Christmas had it not been for the little prompting I had to check under the stocking.

I will tuck this one away for a talk on prayer :)!