Good As New

"Let's put it in an alleyway in a rough part of town with the keys inside" or "Maybe someone will steal and torch it"
These are both fantasies that I have entertained regarding our Subaru.
Ryan and I have never kept cars for long, but when we decided that I would stay home with Wyatt, we had to get rid of our car payments.
This meant getting rid of a brand new VW Passat and driving Ryan's old Subaru.
Recently, the Soob has been having some issues.
It would click, and cut out while you were driving it. Hard to explain, but we kept putting off having it looked at, because we thought it was going to be a major fix.
It was also very annoying, when you would be idling and it would be going click, click click.
Oh, how I loathed this car.
But it's worth more to us to keep it than to get rid of it. So....much to my chagrin, we took it in to the shop to have it looked at.
Turned out, the clicking was due to a malfunctioning alarm system that had never even been activated. So all that they had to do was un-plug that. And it was in dire need of a good tune up.
And now it's almost good as new....
...well the fan belt still squeals
...and it needs a new power steering pump
...we'll probably always have some trouble with the transmission because it's a 1999....don't ask, I don't want to type out that story.
But the confounded clicking is gone...hallelujah
So needless to say, I'm happy that I get to stay home with Wyatt, and so for that reason, I'm happy that it wasn't anything too major.

On a different note...check out these cool new fonts that I just bought!!
Aren't they cool?
I got an e-mail from this company, and they are having a $1 sale.
I love fonts.
I have always loved fonts.
Dyana, if you're out there...do you remember our obsession with fonts?

Hey also, if I have any "lurkers" out there....I would love it if you would leave me a comment, and let me know you're reading this.
I love comments.
Thank you Jackie for your comment yesterday.
Thankyou Kelly, Missy and Donna for commenting often.
I'm going to make a goal...haha Lets go for an all time high of 3 comments!! You can do it!!

Happy 30th Aunt Da Da

On Friday, a group of about 30 of us got together at The Old Spaghetti Factory to surprise Cresslyn for her 30th birthday.
Although the surprise was a little anti-climactic, she was still surprised. Which is always hard to pull off.
This pic is of Cresslyn and Ryan at Ft. Vancouver for 4th of July 2000.
Time flys when you're having fun. I have lots of memories from this trip. Ryan and I weren't even dating at this time.
Speaking of old pictures...I love going through old pictures. I have lots of them...a whole shelf of old albums from the last 15 years or so. I'm thinking about doing a retro day on here. Retro day would be when I can get all nostalgic about the "good ol' days" and share some of the pictures of before I was a "mom".
I'm very excited about that!!!
So....back to the weekend....
Saturday was finally beautiful here. Ryan planted a tree for me that I've had since last fall. Things were a little unsure for awhile, so we didn't plant it. We had been thinking about moving a little closer into town. We've decided to stay put for the time being...so we planted the tree.
I really think it finishes off our tiny front yard. We also took the trailer back to my parent's house, where we have been storing it. (thanks mom and dad) and then went out for pizza with them. They came back to our house for some rousing games of cribbage...boys vs. girls... (Boys 1, Girls 1)
Sunday, was church, and lunch at Becky and Ray's.
Then, I took pictures at a wedding.
I might post some more later about the wedding. It was a very nerve racking position and I don't think I have the proper equipment for an indoors wedding.
I did another wedding, last August, and was very happy with all the pictures. This was a challenge though, because it was indoors. Thank God, the weather was nice enough to do the formal pictures outside. That was my saving grace. I am not a professional. The pressure was great. That's all I'm going to say right now.
This is a picture that I worked on for some time yesterday. This is one that I'm pretty proud of.

You Try To Raise Your Kids Right....

....but every once in awhile they unzip the couch cushions and eat the stuffing.
I put this stuffing back in the couch cushion 15 minutes before this. When he did it again, I had to break out the camera and record this moment.

Now...on to other business...
Yesterday my friend, Savannah, planned a play date at a coffee shop. This coffee shop was perfect for a play date because it had a great big toy room with lots of rocking chairs for mommas and tons of toys for the tots. Hours of entertainment. I don't think Wyatt ever got bored, and that hardly ever happens. We rode over there with Jackie and Luke A.K.A. (to Wyatt) "Hackie" and "Uke". Due to a slight setback with the car seats, Wyatt had to sit right next to Luke. It was pretty funny actually, because we were trying to get them to hold hands.
So anyway, back to the coffee shop, they had a very ingenious idea and the giant toybox was a horse trough. Very shabby chic.
After Wyatt was sick, and then I got sick, I was starting to feel like a shut in. (ok, I did get to go camping) but still, I couldn't see my friends. I'm so glad that we got to go. Thanks Sav for planning the fun day. And thanks Jackie for driving us!!


So...today, I took Wyatt to see Dr. Mary. He has had a rash for the past 3 weeks that we haven't been able to get rid of. Skin issues run in the family, so a rash wasn't a huge alarm.
When it wasn't healing though, I decided to take him in. He was so excited to go see Dr. Mary, he was talking about it all morning. She said that he most likely has Impetigo. Don't ask me what that is. The medicine prescribed is 2 topical cremes twice a day for a week. I'm really praying that this will work and not actually be a lifetime of dealing with skin problems.
Today turned into a pretty rough day for Wyatt and I. He was pretty cranky when we got home from the Dr. office, and I wasn't in a mood to deal with it.
Well, like I keep saying, this is the only time he can actually act 2 and really be 2. In the scheme of things though...not for long...not for long!

















Don't remind me of this....like I said before...every kid has their bright moments!!! :)

Since most everyone will be reading this tomorrow...

Have a great day!!

Leftovers!!!

I love leftovers!!!
Mostly because I don't have to think about what's for lunch or dinner the next day.
MMMMMM...Yummy....MMMM!!!
(***this post is actually a leftover too...I'm taking Wyatt to the doctor today for a rash on his neck that is not going away on it's own and I have to go grocery shopping. I actually sat down and wrote this last Thursday night and was saving it for a day like today. I'm hoping to be able to sit down tonight and do one for today)
This was dinner Tuesday night and lunch yesterday and dinner last night.
What is it you ask???
It's a Mexican Tortilla Soup that I have been craving something fierce. It's so good, that I don't even mind having it consecutively. Those are the best kind of recipes!!
I had never made it myself until now, this is a recipe that Lynnann, Ryan's cousin, makes. She got multiple texts from me on Tuesday, asking for all her secrets to making the soup. I have to give credit where credit is due, it is originally a Barefoot Contessa recipe. However, if you don't know Lynnann's secrets, I don't think that it would be as good.
Lynnann's and my changes are noted in the bold.
I put a link to the real recipe in case anyone wants to try the true chef's recipe!!

Mexican Chicken Soup

1 precooked rotisserie chicken, shredded
Salt and pepper
2 cups chopped onions (2 onions)
1 cup chopped celery (4 stalks)
2 cups chopped carrots (5 carrots)
4 large cloves garlic, chopped
2 1/2 quarts chicken stock, preferably homemade (who has time to make homemade stock, I used the kind from the box)
1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes in puree, crushed
2 to 4 jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced (I only used 1, but seeding it took out all the hot, so it was just more of the flavor of the pepper and not the heat)
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon ground coriander seed
1/4 to 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves, optional (I used it for a topping)
6 (6-inch) fresh white corn tortillas

For serving: sliced avocado, sour cream, grated Cheddar cheese, and tortilla chips

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven. Add the onions, celery, and carrots and cook over medium-low heat for 10 minutes, or until the onions start to brown. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the chicken stock, tomatoes with their puree, jalapenos, cumin, coriander, 1 tablespoon salt (depending on the saltiness of the chicken stock) and 1 teaspoon pepper. Cut the tortillas in 1/2, then cut them crosswise into 1/2-inch strips and add to the soup. Bring the soup to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 25 minutes. Add the shredded chicken and season to taste. Serve the soup hot topped with sliced avocado, a dollop of sour cream, grated Cheddar cheese, and broken tortilla chips.

I hope I'm not infringing on any copyright laws by sharing this with you!!!
But it's just so good.
Now take a big scoop!!!




....or 2
top it with your favs (we didn't have any avacados left from Tuesday night).
and dig in!!!

The First Camping Trip of the Year!!!

Well, we kicked off our camping season this last weekend. Despite the severe weather swings, we had a great time. The weather really ran the gamut, one minute it was sunny, then hailing, then raining, then snowing big beautiful snowflakes. Then back to sunny for awhile, and the cycle would start over. Bizzare. Let me just say, that I'm so tired of this weather. I really can't wait to have some sunshine and be forced to use my air conditioner!! So, Ryan got off work early on Friday, and let me just say how blessed I am to have our little travel trailer. It was so nice, because by the time he got home, it didn't take long to get on the road. It took us awhile to get out of town, because Ryan accidentally went to work with Wyatt's car seat. So, before we got out of town, we had to tow the trailer to Wild Oats, so I could buy one of these for my cold. Then to Winco, for camping food.
We ended up pulling into the campground at about 5pm. Not bad at all.
When I started telling Wyatt that we were going camping, he remembered camping last year and so all he talked about was a "campin' fire". Sitting around a campfire wasn't really very feasable due to the lovely weather that we had. But he was very excited to help daddy burn some of our garbage. The other thing that Wyatt really loves "helping" with is cooking. So, he helped me make French toast on Saturday morning.
So, it was a really relaxing weekend. Babu, Papa (Ryan's parents A.K.A Becky and Ray), Aunt Lisa and Uncle J.T. came on Saturday afternoon. They stayed in a cabin right next to our campsite.
We didn't have time to do too much, but we did swim in the indoor pool on Saturday afternoon. Which thrilled Wyatt.
Wyatt kept asking to go to the beach, but it really wasn't ever "beachgoing" weather. So, we drove in to Long Beach, and drove on the beach instead. That was really fun, and thank goodness I had the presence of mind to grab my camera. It was hailing sideways, but the sky was absolutely gorgeous. And then the rainbow (I can't take credit for that picture, Ryan took it). So pretty.
Then we just kind of went on a little drive, and saw a sign for a lighthouse. When we got up to the parking lot, you couldn't see the lighthouse without going on a little mini hike.
There was a break in the weather, and so we took a little walk. It was really worth it. It was so pretty.
So other than that, we just took it easy and relaxed.
I have had a pretty bad cold, a gift from my son. So taking it easy was fine with me.

He's Back...

Look at that face...can you tell that he hasn't been feeling good?
Poor little guy has been sick since last week. The last 2 days have been really hard on both Wyatt and I.
He has been very crabby and not sleeping well for naps.
He has also been getting up an hour and a half before he usually does in the morning.

I really think I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. He was having meltdowns at the drop of a hat. He'd ask for apple juice, I'd try to give it to him and he would go into a 20 min tantrum.
I know I will sound like a horrible mom to people who don't have a toddler, but I have been ready to drop him off at someones house and head for the hills.

BUT, this morning, he still woke up early, but instead of hearing the crabby monster child, I heard a happy voice.
My son is back, he's been up for almost an hour and a half now, and no tantrums!!
Halleluja!!
The only downside is that I'm coming down with his cold...I just really hope I don't get the cough.
We have a fun weekend planned, so I'm really glad that Wyatt is feeling better. I can't believe the week that I've had, but I'm so happy to put it behind us forever!

"The Only Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe You'll Ever Need"

That's what the cover of my new May 2008, Every Day with Rachael Ray, magazine touted.
So, I figured I'd better give it a shot.
This caught my eye especially since my friend Kelly has been on a mission to find the best chocolate chip cookie recipe.
Well, Kelly, how bout "the only chocolate chip cookie recipe you'll ever need"?
You see, Kelly is the whole reason that I started blogging in the first place, so I guess I owe her. She started the whole thing.
So I'm eating these cookies as I write this, and I must say, they are pretty darn good!
Rocky Road Cookie Sandwiches
by Silvana Nardone

1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature (I only had salted butter and it turned out fine)
3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 large egg (I popped it in the microwave for 10 seconds)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 cup plus 2tbsp flour
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped almonds (I didn't have the almonds and they turned out fine)
10 tablespoons marshmallow cream

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees line large cookie sheets with parchment paper or nonstick baking liners. (I didn't have any of this and they turned out fine...I'm noticing a trend here)
Using a mixer, cream the butter and brown sugar until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in the egg. Mix in the salt, baking powder and baking soda at low speed, then mix in the vanilla and flour. Stir in the chocolate chips and almonds.

2. Drop 10 rounded tablespoonfuls of dough onto the prepared cookie sheets. Bake the cookies until golden at the edges and slightly soft in the center, about 12 minutes (I had to do it for longer, about 14-15 min, but I would use 12 min as a guide). Transfer the cookie sheets to racks to cool completely.

3. Sandwich the cookies with 2 tbsp marshmallow each.

4. enjoy these yummy creations!!!

P.S. These cookies turn out huge. Next time I make this, I'll make the cookies smaller so I'm not eating 2 giant cookies together at the same time! :)
Also, this recipe doesn't make a giant batch, which is great for me. If you're looking to feed an army, you'll probably want to double the batch!

"The Boys"

So, I was trying to come up with something to blog about. I came across this picture from almost a month ago and it made me smile.

So I was downstairs for a second, changing my clothes. I came back up and this is what I found...
Wyatt sitting with both of his blankies, on top of the dining room table, surrounded by an obscene amount of money.**
He had gotten into my purse, and found a special envelope that happened to have some cash in it.
So he held up 2 bills, one a $50 and one a $20 and he said, "the boys".
I was puzzled...wouldn't you be?
So I asked, "What do you mean, the boys?"
and he pointed to the 18th president of the USA, Ulysses S. Grant, and said, "the boys".
I have no idea where he got this, but it sent me over the edge. I knew that although it was a little unnerving to come upstairs to that picture, I would want to tell this story in the years to come.***


** Disclaimer--I don't ever carry cash. My money comes in the form of a debit card. Ryan and I had just happened to take some cash out for a home project that we were planning on doing. (we didn't end up doing it)
*** Thank goodness no historical US presidents were destroyed or harmed in this situation. Like I told Ryan, it could have been much worse. I could have come up to shredded money!!! This is why it was funny in the moment too!!!

Every Kid's Gotta Have one....

....a fake smile. And Wyatt's showed up this week.
We were videotaping something and I flipped the viewfinder backwards so he could see himself in the screen. All of a sudden...this emerged. I e-mailed this picture to my mom and she thought that he was throwing a tantrum. Nope, just a new development around here!!

He also has been asking alot of questions, such as... 's that a circle? or 's that a fan?

Another super thing is he has developed a love for this guy. I love this, because Boz meets him right where he's at, and gives me a glorious 45 minute break. Wyatt hasn't been into tv at all up to now, but he asks for this loveable green character all the time. I have to limit it to morning and afternoon.

Now that we have internet at our house, I plan on making an effort to blog on a regular basis.

I will be updating Wyatt's BabyJellyBeans site so I can order my free CD and then I am planning on cancelling it.
It costs money and I have been awful at updating it. So, I figured I'd just take advantage of a free blog and try to keep it up.
Wish me luck!!

I am still setting up my new blog, but in the side margin, I have added a slideshow of my scrapbook layouts of our recent trip to Boise. I'm scrapping day by day and still working on it...as I finish pages, I'll be adding them to the slideshow.