WORDLESS WEDNESDAY...

Psst! I know the corner got mangled. I couldn't get the silly cake out of the box LOL.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY...

AHHH IT'S SUNDAY...


Hi. Ranger here. I'm highjacking Mommeee's blog today because I feel that she hasn't posted enough about me.

For anyone that doesn't know me, I'm a half American Eskimo, half Jack Russell Terrier, almost 4 year old dog. I believe that would be somewhere close to 28 in dog years. Yes, I'm knocking on 30's door, but, hey, 30 is the new 20!

I enlisted Mommeee to do a photo shoot of me. I wanted to share with everyone just how handsome and cute I can be.

Lots of people say I look like a border collie. I think I do, only I'm a smaller, cuter version.

See? I told you I was cute.

This is my good side.

I can be sexy and serious, too.
Ok, Mom, I'm done.

Did you hear me from behind that camera? I said I'm done.

So, now you've had a glimpse at me. I like this blogging thing. I'll have to do this again.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY SWEET BOY...

My Dear Gooey,

Today you turn 2. I don't know where the time has gone.

I'd wanted you for so long. After having your brother, I so wanted to experience the joys of having another little one to love. Ten years went by and my hope was almost gone. Then, that special day in June 2005, I was finally able to feel that excitement that I had so longed for.

You came into my life on January 19th, 2006 after a long, painful labor and delivery. I still remember when the doctor put you on my stomach and I touched your actual body for the first time. You were so gray and you weren't crying like I thought you should be. They rushed you away to the NICU and I didn't get to see you again for 3 hours. They took your Daddy and I into the NICU where you were hooked up to more tubes than any little boy should ever have attached to him. I cried.

They didn't know what was wrong with you but you were at least stable. I touched you and kissed you. But you were a strong little newborn. You came home with us 5 days later and the rest of the story is one of love, laughs, and pure happiness.

Today, you are a jabbering, throwing, smiling, loving little man. You are adored by everyone. You like to flirt with strangers. You love to play outside and you pout at the door when the weather is too cold or wet.

I adore how you come running to me hollering "mommy" (and yes, I mean hollering loud) when I come home from work. I look forward to it each day. The worst day is completely mended when I hear you.

I thank God every day for you and your brother. You've both brought me so much love and joy I feel like my heart will explode.

The next years, I have no doubt, will go as fast as the last 2 but I look forward to seeing how you grow and what type of person you become.

Love,

Mommeee

IT'S MEME TIME...

Well, not that kind of meme. I rarely ever participate in meme's of the blog sort.

What I mean is, it's Sunday morning and I'm the only one up, except for my pal, Ranger who's watching me from his post on the stairs. He's patiently waiting for me to start Sunday breakfast. Sometimes I wonder if he loves me for me, or for my cooking.

Anyway, I enjoy my Sunday mornings of just me time. I normally get up and watch CBS Sunday morning, make a pot of coffee, and hang out on my computer (as you can tell since I usually ALWAYS post on the blog on Sundays).

I don't really have anything to post about. We're now 6 days into 2008 and it hasn't been a spectacular year.

I went to the doctor on Thursday with a whopping sore throat. He did a throat culture, which came back negative, then was informed that they have a 20% false negative with that test so he put me on Amox anyway. Uh, Doctor, why do the test to begin with if you're going to give me the antibiotic anyway? So, here I am 3 days on the drugs and I'm feeling much better. SSSHHHH! Don't tell Hubster. If I don't say anything, maybe he'll baby me for a bit longer.

I did get a wild hair last night and cooked an awesome meal (I'm not bragging, just telling the truth). I wanted some comfort food so I fried chicken. You can't have fried chicken without mashed potatoes so I used the recipe from The Pioneer Woman Cooks! Never again will I ever make mashed potatoes any other way. They were heavenly. My taste buds cried (and my arteries hardened just slightly).

Now, to change the subject and share what's coming up.

Next week, the 13th, is my birthday. I'll be 38 1 year older than last year. We're going to a karaoke party the 12th to celebrate. I can't wait. I feel like a kid around Christmas. I've been inviting everyone I can think of. Come along if you'd like. It's going to be at Players on Antioch. (Yes, originally scheduled for The Hideout on North Oak but they canceled their karaoke).

Then, a week later on the 19th, is Gooey's 2nd birthday. We're not doing a huge party for him, just a family dinner. I don't have a clue what to get him for his birthday. He definitely is not needing any toys and he's set with clothing for at least a size. I'm thinking maybe we'll just take him for his first movie in a theater.

So anyway, here's hoping that 2008 gets a little better than the first 5 days were. I'm not counting today because it's still in progress.

MOMMEEE COOKS...

A fellow doodlebug momma, Oh Amanda, hooked me up to a new blog (as if I needed yet another place on the WWW to spend my time). The Pioneer Woman Cooks! is a fantastic recipe blog with intense descriptions of the recipes including photos of what the intended recipe should look like each step of the way.

So I had to come up with something to take to DH's cousin's house for her new year's eve party. All my fellow mommas recommended her recipe for bacon wrap hors oeuvres. I figured I'd give it a try.

The recipe calls for baking them on a rack in the oven so I figured a new recipe is a good excuse for a trip the Walmart housewares department. I bought 2 new racks and all the ingredients (Club crackers, parmesan cheese, and bacon fat bacon).

Here's the complete recipe for anyone who wants to try them (because I'm too lazy to go through the trouble that The Pioneer Woman Cooks! did): Holiday Bacon Appetizers .

I was so inspired by this recipe blog, that I decided to take pictures of my appetizers.

Here they are all made up and sitting on my brand-spankin'-new baking racks



and a close-up shot



and, drum-roll please, the final product:






So I gathered them all up and put them on a serving plate and made the trip to Cousin's house. I had tried one while it was hot and wasn't too thrilled with how they turned out. I was disappointed, to say the least. Once we arrived, several people tried them and commented about how well they liked them, yet the plate sat there barely touched all evening. At this point, I was highly disappointed.

So the next day, Hubster comes to me with his cell phone and says you have to listen to this message. Evidently, the appetizers were discovered by those that were still partying at 2:30am. Cousin was leaving a message about how everyone was loving the snacks and wanted the recipe. Oh cool, this made me feel better about the 2 hours I spent slaving over the hot oven (ok, well, 200 degree oven anyway).

So, the conclusion to this recipe: They're better when you're drunk.

PS. I used some cheap bacon and some of the good bacon and I found that the better bacon was truly better for this recipe.