Tax Rebate!

Well, anyone that was scheduled for the first roll-out (via direct deposit) should check their accounts today. Much to my surprise and super happiness, the money is already in. Thank you again, Uncle Sam.

Thank you, Uncle Sam! I won't lie. I have been feeling the pain in my checkbook every time I fill up the van or shop for groceries. Simple necessities. It has been a hard year financially since we lost our 2nd child with a miscarriage. That just seemed to kick the proverbial door open for all bad things financially that could happen. But today, I am not here to whine about money or cry about what has happened. Today I am doin' the happy dance. We knew the rebate was coming in. I knew ours would be here in a week. And now I have learned that Monday our little old bank account will be just a bit richer. Thank you, THANK you Uncle Sam for making my Friday!

I feel like I missed this last week. Anyway, here is what I am feeling thankful for today!

I have been a Starbucks girl for a while. And I would still choose it hands down if I were out of the house and picking up a latte. But this girl has decided to cut the Starbucks at home budget out. And I found Folgers Gourmet (cheapest at Target). I am in love with Vanilla Biscotti and Caramel Drizzle.
Add Coffee Mate's World Cafe Edition in either Tiramisu or Sweet Creme and you, too, will be in love.


My child reading letters like crazy. He learned to say them from The Letter Factory dvd. Now he is recognizing them thanks to...

(shout out to Sarah for recommending this show!)
It's a good feeling when your child can read the letters on your Old Navy shirt. Kudos to PBS for the show!

This week I have cooked dinner every night. There should be a huge kudos from my husband. It's not every week that Wendy's or the like, don't enter our home for dinner time. And I would like to thank the blog by Stephanie. She doesn't know it yet, but I stalk her frequently. I think she is awesome for crock potting for a year. And the way she lays out her recipes is awesome. So go here and start using some of her recipes! I highly recommend the Korean Ribs and the Foil Tilapia. We have had both in the last week and they were the bomb (did I just say that? Thanks, Tib.)

And, lastly, like you haven't been able to tell, I have been swayed to the global dominating (wink, wink Nicole) Twilight series. I am not a follower. You say left, I want to go right. BUT this book series rocks! And I have so much to look forward to: May brings me The Host, her new book. August brings me book 4 of the Twilight series and December brings me the movie. And here is a little love for my favorite champ of a vamp...

Again, if you haven't read this book and wouldn't mind trying it, let me know. It's loaned out right now but I can hook you up.


So what are you thankful for this Thursday?

My baby is gone.

There will be no new pictures posted as my second child, my camera, is away at the camera hospital. It seems that a little rattling in the main lens is not such a good thing. Hurry back, my baby. Hurry back.

I need to go see the doctor

for some of this stuff...
(thanks, Tib. This cracked me up lots)

Alright, this week I am supposed to list my favorite candy. It wasn't a hard choice. Hands down, unless I had chocolate waving in my face, I'd pick Dots. I love, LOVE, love them. My jaw, however, does not care for them.

Giving a shout out to MTV's Movie Blog

MTV is smart. They are courting the new Twilight movie (due out in theaters in December). If, I haven't spoke to you about Twilight, and the books that followed, you must call me. I am in love with this story. It's not just vampires but t is love, not smut, LOVE. And it makes you wanting more and more. It has been a long time since a book has broken into my brain like this, so kudos to Stephenie Meyer for being a fabulous story-teller.
So my latest blog entry brings you this video from behind the scenes of the movie production. I have to say, before reading this book, I don't know that I would liked this Edward that was casted. But now I can't see it any other way. And up next is book #4 due out in August. I cannot wait!!!!
Twilight Behind-the-Scenes

Walgreens

Gotta love Walgreens today...send 15 pics into them to print today using the coupon code TAXDAY and they are free! Trust me, I just did it. BUT it's only today. So enjoy!

iPod iFan

Apparently, the "apple" hasn't fallen far from the tree. Ryan is becoming quite the techie like his daddy and I. Last night Allen hooked Ryan up with his iTouch. Ryan loves music. Ryan loves control. Ryan loves the iTouch. So much that we are getting him his own kid's mp3 player. Not spending a fortune on it because who knows when he will launch it and we just aren't sure even a kid tough one will withstand that! Here are some pics:

So it is My Favorite Monday. This one was a hard one. I need to name my favorite musician. I could have gone with so many people because I LOVE music but I think this person's songs have a lot of soul and a lot of tears attached to them. Plus, I have seen him in concert ad he was fabulous. So, I am going with...


And here is one of my most meaningful songs, if you have a son, this will hit you.

The Circus Came to Town!

This was, I think, all of my small family's first time at a circus. Completely different than what I expected. But we got free tickets (Thanks, Taneal) for the Shriners Circus and went out in the rain for it yesterday. We left half way through the show...who knew it would be 3 hours! Here are some pics!!!
The show started and SOMEONE noticed

And then the clowns came

And some ferocious tigers

And some high-flying acrobats

A few jugglers

And a cat

And last but not least, a cheesy smile!



Not saying we'd ever go again, but it was a nice family day for us!

Thanks (and no thanks) to the girls on my mom's board, I started reading this last night. Allen was studying for his exam this morning, Ryan was asleep, I had time. So I started at 9 pm. I could not stop until I made myself at 2 am. Mind you, Ryan gets up pretty early. Anyway, I am half way through it. And a dear friend is sending me the 2nd and 3rd book. It is a wonderful as they said it was. I can officially say I am a fan.

It's Pie Day Friday!

Today I decided to take a crack at this Pear Pie. Pear Pie, you ask? Yes, and let me tell you, it is wonderful. My crust came out just as perfect as it could be and the pie....wow. Now why is it that I cannot lose weight? Anyway, I think the pie would make my Grandma Golle proud.

Introducing the Pear Pie



As requested, here is the Pear Pie recipe
I got it off of Allrecipes and tailored it to suit what I felt would be good.
INGREDIENTS
1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust (see next recipe)
4-5 VERY RIPE pears - peeled, cored and cut in half (think soft)
2/3 cup white sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract (or you can just do the 1 tbsp. vanilla)
1/2 tablespoon almond extract
3 eggs, beaten
DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Press the pie pastry into the bottom and up the sides of a 9 inch pie plate. Flute the edges. Place the pear halves cut side down in the pie crust with the small ends toward the center.
In a medium bowl, mix the butter and sugars together until smooth, then beat in the eggs one at a time until light and fluffy. Stir in flour and vanilla/almond extract. Pour over the top of the pears.
Bake for 1 hour in the preheated oven, until pears are soft and custard is set in the center. Cool completely before slicing and serving.



And for the crust...
Also from Allrecipes but again, taiored for my taste
INGREDIENTS
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup shortening, chilled and diced
1/4 cup real butter, chilled and diced
3 tablespoons ice water

DIRECTIONS
Whisk the flour and salt together in a medium size bowl. With a pastry blender, cut in the cold shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Drizzle 2 to 3 tablespoons ice water over flour. Toss mixture with a fork to moisten, adding more water a few drops at a time until the dough comes together.
Gently gather dough particles together into a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 30 minutes before rolling.
Roll out dough, and put in a pie plate. Fill with desired filling and bake.

Ryan's Take on David and Goliath

We were watching "God Made Music" last night. And there is a part in it where David is getting ready to face Goliath. Well, the hand puppet (David) starts swinging around his slingshot with a pebble in it. At this point Ryan starts saying, "Oooohhhhhhhhhhhh". Then David slings the pebble at Goliath's feet (which is all you see). And Goliath falls over. Then Ryan exclaimed, "He did it!!! That's awesommmeeeeee!" Such a fresh look at a Biblical story.

Gosh, this always sneaks up on me! This week it is plain and simple...
His smile!

Ryan has been in a crabby mood for 2 weeks. So yesterday, seeing him smile so much (after a huge temper tantrum) uplifted my heart. And it made me not want to sell him to the gypsies.

Our day at Epcot 4-9-08

Sarah and I decided to go to Epcot on a whim yesterday. Although Ryan was a handful prior to lunch (hence no pics), he got much better afterwards. Here are some pics from the day:
The boy loves water!

Conquering the rock wall for the first time

Caught a smile outside the play house in the Peter Pan garden

Rockin' the boat

A hat made at the Peter Pan playground

And Ryan and Mommy

So, this week's topic is near and dear to my heart (and my hips and butt):
Favorite Ice Cream

Before a couple of weeks ago, I may have chosen mint chocolate chip or even chocolate chip cookie dough. But not now....I recently tried (and fell in love with) Blue Bell's Moo-llennium Crunch. To die for, must go and get some!

GASP....I forgot Thankful Thursday. Maybe because I have been frustrated today with life. I am not being spiteful to God but frustrated that we still have yet to see a positive pregnancy test and it's been almost exactly a year since we miscarried our second child. Thinking about that is almost heart wrenching. But alas, I am thankful.

Today Ryan made me laugh by coming in for a sweet kiss and then licking my face.

I made an awesome strawberry pie and I mean AWESOME. Best crust ever! Grandma Golle would have been very proud. Seems I am the little baker in the family. My butt does not appreciate this fact as much as my tummy does.

And I am thankful for Heather. Yes, Heather, if you are reading this, I am thankful for you. Little did I know that God would bring you and David to our church. And from that we would form a connection that is awesome. I feel like I can tell you anything. All in a little over a year's time. Crazy! Anyway, you have made a big difference in my life and I am certain that I could not have made it this last year without you. So, thank you. And good luck on that MCAT, I KNOW you will do great. Just have faith in yourself.

Ryan and Mommy's Date Day

I decided to get a little crazy and take Ryan to a Disney park on my own. I chose MGM (Disney Hollywood now) because it's a slower park. So we headed out to the park without a stroller. Very brave. But I had to keep myself free to chase Ryan at any given moment. haha He behaved relatively well, except for a couple 2 year old tantrums. And I will definitely do this again!
Anyway, here are some pics from our day.

We always start out seeing JoJo and Goliath. I had great pics but they all look the same except this one. Ryan and Goliath kissing:

Again, same Einstein shots except for this...Ryan's reaction to, "Hey, Ryan, you've seen Leo long enough (extended hug). Annie is there, too!"

Lovingly looking in Annie's eyes

Lackluster love for Mickey Mouse. Don't know why!

Jumping around to Hakuna Matata (note that he off the ground)

Seeing Frozone, liked him and was a new character for us

Taking a rest in the classic car

Ok, I must explain these. Ryan loves the "Honey, Shrunk the Audience" play area. This part is a big dog nose that sniffs and blows out air. I said it looked like Sugar. So here are the responses I got...several million times and I am not kidding. We circled that small area everytime it happened. All the while Ryan was yelling, "Suggggggiiiieeeeee"

A facial response to the question, "Is that Sugar?"

Then off to the Disney Playhouse show. Ryan loves it and was very, VERY animated this time!
Clapping when it started

Shhhhhhhhhhh!

Dancing his booty off!



Thanks for looking!!!!

Pizza Hut or Shall I call you Pasta Hut

You have a genius in marketing. Who knew you'd try to prank the who United States with your rolling out of a new name today, Pasta Hut. You got me to order your new pasta dish and try it. Apparently, you've got your hook into others as well. My delivery guy says that orders are flyin' in for this new pasta. So, bravo, you are one smart cookie. Or shall I say pepperoni... (oh yes, I just made that stupidtastic joke)