A Pleasant (and unexpected) Surprise

You know those days that you feel frumpy? Ugly? Not skinny? Maybe it is due to sleep deprivation and the lack of hygiene and my snot covered shirt, either way it is a "frumpy" day. My baby has another ear infection (actually it isn't technically another one, because it just never went away). And a husband in Montana (will be back tonight - not long). So today has been a bit of a daze. But while getting the babe to eat her applesauce (only thing she will eat right now) packed with probiotics (they had to up the antibiotic to a much stronger one). My door bell rang. I went and there were flowers from my not-so-romantic husband. I guess I better make a retraction from my previous post. Needless to say, due to the frumpiness of the day, sleep deprivation, and lack of hygiene I started crying. Along with the flowers was a teddy bear, who I knew just who that was for. And well, that made me cry harder. Because really he is such a good dad. I don't think I need to say it but it turned my whole day around.

Love is in the Air

It's the season again. When love is in the air. When single women everywhere are reminded that they are single. And taken women everywhere are creating expectations about what their significant other will do for them. Private fireworks show? Rent out an entire restaurant? Propose on a private jet? Rent out Disneyland???? The list goes on and on. And don't you fret my friends, Brad and I are no different. We are as hopeless romantics as you can get. My expectations are HUGE. And why shouldn't they be? Have you met my husband? Romeo move over. Come on, look at I this gem I just received:

Be.still.my.heart.
My heart fluttered at the word "zombie".

Oh, your spouse/ whatever actually sends you love notes? Pfft... this is a love note.

What does this look like to you?

Oh, you thought trouble? So did I.

It's her birthday

and she is nine years young. How can it be 9 years?? This dog changed my life. Literally. I didn’t like animals. I didn’t like dogs. Now, look at me? I am known to pick up strays and take them home (in my car!) or let my home be their home for an evening until we can find where they belong.

I think there would be less depression and more smiley people on this planet if everyone had a dog. She was my first dog, and as everyone knows your "firsts" have their own special place carved into your heart. I have learned so much about life from her. She is the reason I will never be dogless.

Gene Hill puts the essence of dogs beautifully into words:

“He is my other eyes that can see above the clouds; my other ears that hear above the winds. He is the part of me that can reach out into the sea. He has told me a thousand times over that I am his reason for being; by the way he rests against my leg; by the way he thumps his tail at my smallest smile; by the way he shows his hurt when I leave without taking him. (I think it makes him sick with worry when he is not along to care for me.) When I am wrong, he is delighted to forgive. When I am angry, he clowns to make me smile. When I am happy, he is joy unbounded. When I am a fool, he ignores it. When I succeed, he brags. Without him, I am only another man. With him, I am all-powerful. He is loyalty itself. He has taught me the meaning of devotion. With him, I know a secret comfort and a private peace. He has brought me understanding where before I was ignorant. His head on my knee can heal my human hurts. His presence by my side is protection against my fears of dark and unknown things. He has promised to wait for me... whenever... wherever - in case I need him. And I expect I will - as I always have. He is just my dog.”

First World Problems

The excitement you get when you hear your phone chime and you think you received an emai or text message from a friend to only have an emotional letdown when you learn it is just junk email. Yes, I do this.

The Doldrums of January

Nothing exciting. So here are pictures of our not-so-exciting but good life.

This little miss turned 9 months.

Here she is eating her favorite snack of gold fish and clementines. (You can't see the doggie below her just waiting for her crumbs).

A beautiful Saturday we spent the morning at the field. Letting the dogs do what the dogs do best... run free.

This is how we are greeted every morning.

All Because of a Butterfly Toy

I had to do some work tonight. So I was in babe's room while she played and I worked. When I have to work during her waking hours I usually sing songs about the toys she is playing with, usually I have to make them up. She grabbed her butterfly toy, so I started sing the song "Butter fly Kisses". At one time I thought this song too cheesy for my taste. I went to youtube to see the video. I bawled.like.a.baby. And because I was crying my baby started crying. It was quite the sight. Seeing her little self and how she already has her daddy wrapped around her finger (For example. This has been a very busy week for me, so she has been having a lot of one-on-one time with daddy. In one week and two times he has been solo with her: BLOWOUTS. TWICE. ONE WEEK. And he handled them like a pro - ok by the second one he was pro.) the tears just started flowing.

Recipes Finally Here

Sorry, it took me so long to post these, I was experimenting with the recipes.

These recipes come from my dear friend Erin, who is wonder woman.

Granola Bars

Stir together:
2 c. oats
1 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. flax seed (ground--a good brand is Bob's Red Mill. It might be in the fridge at the store)
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
Add:
1/2 c. honey
1/2 c. peanut butter (use crunchy and your bars have nuts!)
2 tsp. vanilla
1 egg
3/4 c. chocolate chips or raisins, craisins, dried apples, etc.

Mix with hands. Press into a 9x13 greased pan. Bake at 20 minutes (no more, no less). Cool in pan for 5 minutes (no more, no less--if more, they turn into a brick and it's hard to get them out, if less, they fall apart). Cut, remove, let cool on rack. YUM! I haven't made these in a while, I don't know why. Guess I better make some now. If you find they're too crumbly or too soggy or whatever, adjust the peanut butter and/or honey. I baked them at 300 degrees. (The degree wasn't in the recipe I have seen recipes bake them at 300 or 350 - really I was sure if that would be high enough with the egg. But no sickness here :)

Graham Crackers
1 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 c. whole barley flour (I had a hard time finding this, so I used spelt flour, which has a sort of nutty flavor. You can also use graham flour, if you can find that)
1/2 c. white flour
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp cloves
1/2 c. chilled butter
1/3-1/2 c. milk
Mix all dry ingredients. Cut in butter. Add milk until a sticky dough forms. Knead smooth by hand. Make it about like pie crust, not too dry to roll out, not too sticky to knead. Chill for an hour. Roll out 1/16 inch or so and cut unto squares. I would use a cookie cutter of some sort, because cutting with knives distorts their shapes. I use a Gerber baby food lid. Rub cinnamon and sugar onto each cracker, if desired. Prick with holes on top, if desired. Place on baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes (I found that 11 minutes is my preference. The longer their in, the crunchier they are).

**Now, I tried to make the graham crackers healthier by substituting the half stick of butter for 1/2 cup of applesauce (I have done it before it other recipes). The verdict: AWFUL. I can't eat them. Lucky, for me the babe doesn't notice. She devours them regardless.

ENJOY!

For the Grandmas and Great Grandmas

I am sorry. I recorded it vertical and do not how to rotate it, so you will have to turn your head sideways.

MIA

I know I have been a bit MIA. But I have been busy being a domestic goddess. Brad and I started this "PHAT Challenge". He stepped on the scale and saw that he would like to lose some weight, and well, I am still carrying around an extra 20 pounds from the babe. I like this "PHAT Challenge" because it isn't your typical weight lose challenge. It is based on points. (You get a point for water, exercising, eating fruit and veggies etc) so there is more to it than just weight loss. So I decided to take this opportunity to do other things to change how we eat. I know processed foods are terrible for you, so I am trying to cut processed food out of our diet. And after researching it I CANNOT believe how much we eat is processed. Things you would never think. So I started making our own granola bars and graham crackers (the babe LOVES graham crackers).

I have been getting freezer meals together (thank you pinterest). Everything is done all the chopping and cutting, I just open the bag and dump it in the crock pot. They are packed with veggies. The test: are they any good? I haven't tried yet.

Oh, and green smoothies. Easiest way to get your servings of fruit and veggies. My favorite: One big handful of spinach (which is about 2 cups), 1 banana, and 1 mango, and 1 cup of ice. Nothing else. I love it. (Don't mind the picture of me, I just finished a 45 minutes ride on the stationary bike).

And other things: We have been enjoying this unrealistic 55 degree weather in January. Enjoying some time on our new deck. (Oh, yeah, and the babe is growing. It is pure joy to watch her learn new things and continue to develop but I do it with a lump in my throat. My heart telling my brain, "No, no, no. Stay my baby forever." It can't happen, and it shouldn't happen, I know, but...)

Spending time with her best friend. It has been so cute to watch the Apple's relationships with the dogs develop. Sydney is definitely the maternal one. The loyal protector. Dixie is the friend. She makes the babe crack up like it is no one's business. We are still teaching the Apple how to be soft with the dogs (the reflex of just grab and pull isn't helping - but she is doing a great job and the dogs are amazing) Dixie takes it, and when Dixie is not in the mood for it she just walks away.

Anyway, we hope everyone had wonderful holidays. We missed our east coast family, but we will visit again after winter.