Happy Holidays!

I know I haven't written in a while but I have been super busy trying to get everything done for the holidays and keep my sanity. :) I hope everyone is getting ready to enjoy this wonderful time with friends and family.  We are super excited that Matt has two 4 day weekends in a row (are we back in the army?!?!) and are going to take advantage of that time.  Seems like life has been moving in fast forward and we are hoping to go back to regular speed, even if only for a few days.  Tomorrow I am going to get Matt's Christmas present put on his car. I found a place to get his rain guards and they will even install them for me!!  I told him I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow am and he has to take Jenna to school.  I am going to love the look of surprise on his face when he sees his gift.  I know it's not all that great but for someone so difficult to buy for, I am very proud of this gift...especially since it's something he wants but won't buy for himself.  :) I will have to spend the rest of the day tomorrow wrapping all of the other gifts, but that's how I roll! I like to just sit and wrap them all at once.  Saturday we are going to watch the Giants/Jets game while we make lots and lots of dips. :)  I am in charge of the dips for our annual Christmas Eve at my parent's house and this year I am making 8 (4 pizza dips, 2 buffalo chicken & 2 bacon cheddar) dips.  I am also making a dip for Christmas Day at my in-laws.  I am trying a cold bacon cheddar dip for that day.  Now dips aren't all that difficult to make but we don't buy shredded cheese in this house so shredding all those bricks of cheese (4) is very time consuming and hurts my fingers! I got Matt a stand-up cheese grater for his stocking stuffer so he will be getting that early too!  I hope everyone has a wonderful, healthy and happy holiday!  Enjoy those close to you and cherish all the memories you will make!  Happy New Year!!!  See you in 2012!!!

In memory of Jenna Feathers

It really feels like yesterday that I was getting the phone call from Susan telling me that Jenna would not be coming back to school because she had been killed.  WHAT?!?!?  Matt and I had the ZBT date party the night before and being woken up at 8am by your roommate's mother was the strangest thing. Nevermind trying to focus while she is telling you that your roommate was murdered the night before.  I hung up and was still a bit dazed as I am trying to explain to Matt why I look so shocked.  She was only 19!  The next few hours were a blur.  I had to call our other roommate, Tasha (who had moved out because she had gotten sick with menigitis) and tell her Jenna was killed.  She started yelling at me for lying.  That was a tough one.  Then I called my parents.  It was such a shock to everyone that I had to keep repeating myself...that was also tough.  I also had to go tell my RA, Karen.  She was a good friend so that was easy but still hard.  I don't think I cried till I told her.  I guess I finally heard what was coming out of my mouth and it finally hit me.  Matt, Karen, Tasha, and Corey (another RA in our dorm) all made the drive for Jenna's viewing.  Jenna was from a very small town in PA and the funeral home was no bigger than my house now.  The line of mourners was out the door and down the street.  I didn't want to go in because I didn't think I would be able to keep it together and I knew her parents were going through enough already, they didn't need some 20 year old breaking down.  A girl from our dorm was also from McVeytown and she told us there were no pictures and the casket was going to be closed.  Imagine my surprise when we got to the door and Jenna's face was every where we looked.  Ok, I could do this...I had Matt by my side the whole time and I wouldn't look at the pictures.  Turn the corner after going through 3 rooms of pictures and there's Jenna, in the open casket!  That's when I lost it.  I couldn't believe what I was seeing.  Her fiance, Nick (the one who is rumored to have murdered her) and her parents and grandmother were standing next to it and I barely remember hugging them, being introduced to her grandmother and giving her mother a letter I had written for Jenna.  I ran out of there and couldn't look back.  Her murder has still not been solved and I can only imagine the heartache her parents are going through day after day.  I still keep in touch with them and they were extremely honored that we named our first daughter after their only daughter.  I only hope our Jenna will be as caring, loving, and intelligent as their daughter was.  Jenna Marie Feathers was only in my life for 3 months but she made a huge impact on my life and will remain in my heart forever. 
Jenna M. Feathers
MCVEYTOWN - Jenna M. Feathers, 19, 25 S. Queen St., McVeytown, died at 2 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 5, 1999, in the emergency room of Lewistown Hospital.
Born Oct. 20, 1980, in Lewistown, she was a daughter of Steven R. and Susan J. (Kauffman) Feathers of 25 S. Queen St., McVeytown.
Also surviving are: her fiance, Nicholas T. Traxler, Traxler Lane, Longfellow; maternal grandmother, Betty Kauffman, South Market Street, McVeytown; paternal grandfather, William E. Feathers, Ohesson Manor, Lewistown; and a great-uncle, William R. Booth, South Market Street, McVeytown.
She was a freshman at East Stroudsburg University.
She was a 1999 honor graduate of Lewistown Area High School, where she was a member of the four time District 6 Championship Girls Basketball Teams and the 1996-97 and the 1997-98 State Championship Girls Basketball Teams.
She was also a four-year member of the Lewistown Area High School Girls Soccer Teams, and a member of the National Honor Society.
She was twice listed in the Who's Who Among American High School Students and was the 1999 WCHX outstanding girls basketball player for Mifflin County.
She was Methodist by faith.
She loved to draw and spend time with her friends.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at McVeytown United Methodist Church, South Queen Street, McVeytown, with the Rev. Marian E. Hartman officiating. Interment will be in Mattawana Cemetery, McVeytown.
Family will receive friends from 6-9 p.m. Tuesday at Harshbarger Funeral Home, 3 S. Market St., McVeytown.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Jenna M. Feathers Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Kish Bank, P.O. Box 346, McVeytown, PA 17051.

5 is fun

We've all heard about the terrible twos but what "they" (whoever they are) never told us was that the terrible twos actually start when the child is one and a half.  Ok, we can deal with that, right?  Well, they also don't tell you about the trying threes or the @*$%-it fours. I never thought it was going to end but I have to tell you, it does!  Jenna is in the fun fives now.  She is so much fun to be around again and she just says the best things!  I am glad to have my baby girl back and glad to say we survived the terrible one and a halfs/twos, trying threes and @*$%-it fours!!!  Of course, now Em is going through the terrible one and a halfs/twos!  If it's not one, it's the other! :) 

Adding Tooth Fairy to my resume

My little girl is growing more and more each day.  She lost her first tooth on Sunday and she couldn't have been more excited.  I quickly made her a "tooth" pillow that can hang on her door knob so we didn't have to deal with trying to get the tooth out from under her pillow.  At 3pm she said she didn't want to dinner and she wanted to just go to bed so the tooth fairy would come. :)  We convinced her to eat dinner and go to bed at a normal hour. I brought her up to bed and we hung the pillow on the inside of her door.  I waited 2 hours before heading up there to switch out her tooth with money.  Well, Jenna was one step ahead of me as always.  I was able to open the door without her hearing me BUT she wrapped the pillow around the door knob a few times so I wasn't able to just grab it and pull it into the hallway like I planned.  I had to try to dig out her super tiny tooth with my nail without dropping it and then had to slide the money in the pillow and hope it stayed.  :)  Mission accomplished!  She was so happy to see her prize and said she wants the tooth fairy to come back tonight. I'd say it was a success!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  Here's to hoping everyone has a wonderful day filled with family, friends, and yummy food!  :)  Make sure to take time out to be thankful for all you have.  Also, please say a prayer for those who could not be with us today whether they have passed away or are away protecting us and our freedom.  May God bless them all!

I am thankful for my wonderful husband who has stood by me through all of the trials and tribulations we have been through the last 12 years together.  I am also thankful for my two beautiful daughters who keep me on my toes 24/7/365.  They are wonderful blessings and I can't even imagine my life without them.  Lastly, I am thankful for our wonderful family whom we know we can turn to whenever we may need something whether it's help with something or just simply a hug.  They really are the best and we are super lucky to have them in our lives.  

Happy Thanksgiving!!!  Make it a great one!
 

It's not even Turkey Day yet!

The other night we were driving over to Dan's house and Jenna noticed a house that has their Christmas decorations up already.  She says, "Daddy, why are there decorations up already?  I saw it!  Why?"  Matt says that maybe because the weather was nice the people decided to put them up early or maybe they just really like Christmas.  Jenna didn't really think that was good enough.  She says, "But it's not even Turkey Day yet!"  My daughter is brilliant! 

Chase comes over this morning and tells Jenna about how Mom bought him a small Christmas tree for his room.  He tells Jenna he is so excited that it's on his desk and he loves it.  Jenna says, "Chase, are you forgetting something?" Chase says, "I don't think so, why?" "But Chase, it's not even Turkey Day yet!"  :)  At least I taught her something! 

Age is just a number...right?

Yesterday we were watching Pixar Shorts.  Well, there is a short that shows an older man (balding, grey hair, walks with a cane) playing chess against himself.  Chase says that the man is walking really slow and Jenna tells him it's because he is old.  Well, I took this opportunity to ask Jenna how old she thinks he is.  She says he's 100!  :)  I took it one step further and asked how old she thought I was.  She says 105! WHAT!?!?!  She giggles and says, "No Mommy, I think he's 105."  "Ok, Jenna, then how old does that make Mommy?"  "60!" Wow!  "Well, how old are you Mommy?"  I know I walked right into that one but, come on, 60?!?! 

Cause I'm 5 now

Jenna seems to think that now that she is 5, she is a full fledged "dult".  All weekend we had to hear about all the stuff she can do now that she's 5.  Apparently, there is even a 5 year old playground at school that she was just beyond excited about.  Well, the other day, as she and I were cuddling on the couch, I gave her a big hug and kiss and she says, "Even though I'm 5 now, Mommy, I still love you."  Wow, ok, thanks! ;)  I keep telling her that no matter how old she gets, she will always be my baby and I think that's what she was going for but, boy, did it come out wrong.  She sure does say the darnedest things. :)

Success!

The cakes were a success!  Phew!  I am so relieved that that is over. :)  When I ask Jenna what kind of cake she wants, I cringe because I never know what she will come up with. I was nervous, as I said in the previous post, because they don't sell Jessie pans and I didn't even know where to start.  My friend, Kim (whom is my cake mentor), told me of a frozen technique that I could use and she sent me a the information on how to do it.  I was super stressed this week that it wouldn't work and I would let Jenna down.  I thought about giving up and just going to the store to find a Jessie cake topper or something but I was determined to make this work.  I LOVE this new technique and I can't wait to do it again!  :)  If you want to know how I did it, keep reading.  I found coloring book pages online of Jessie and Bullseye and printed them up.  I then taped them to small cutting boards and covered them tightly with saran wrap.  I made a batch of buttercream frosting and colored it black. I took a size 2 Wilton icing tip and began outlining the pictures.  When I was finished with the outlines, I put both pictures in the freezer.  I left them overnight since I only had naptime and bedtime to work.  Then I made another batch of buttercream and made all the colors I would need for the pics.  It was just like coloring....stay inside the lines and color in the icing picture.  :)  After I colored both pictures with all the icing and froze it, I put a layer of buttercream (white) over the entire picture.  Once that was frozen and the cakes were iced, I pulled the saran wrap off of the cutting boards and flipped (carefully) the pictures onto the cake.  Then I piped around the picture and there you have it! :)  I actually jumped up and down and hugged Matt when I successfully put Jessie on the cake.  I was so relieved it worked and it was over. But, like I said, I love this new technique and can't wait to do it again....Chase's birthday is in Feb!

Cake time

I don't know why I do this to myself but here goes another cake adventure.  Jenna requested a "Jessie" cake this year and I am trying out a new technique.  Today I am baking the cakes, yes I said cakeS!  4 boxes of cake mix (still not brave enough to make cake from scratch!) = 2 12x2 inch cakes and 12 cupcakes.  I am going to trace Jessie on to one cake and Bullseye, her trusty steed, on the other cake.  Since I was only able to get 12 cupcakes I will spell "Happy 5th Bday!" on them. I know it's just cake but since I started out making "cool" cakes for her birthdays I feel I have to continue.  It turns into many hours of work and stress.  But, seeing the smile and awe on Jenna's face, makes it all worth it in the end.  I will post a picture when I am done.  Although I can't start until I go buy an icing tip for writing...seems I have misplaced my tip, although I vaguely remember getting so frustrated after my last cake adventure, I threw stuff out. :)  Oh well....fingers crossed this one goes better. 

Our trip was DUSHI!

Bon Dia!  Aruba is a wonderful, beautiful, amazing place! :)  As you saw in my last post, our trip there was lacking all over the place but once we landed in Aruba, I could feel things turning around (must have been the humidity). The first night there, Matt, Heath and I had dinner and ended up at the casino. ;)  Now, I was never one for gambling.  I like to get something for my money.  If I have an extra $100 laying around (like that ever happens), I don't see the point of just throwing it on black and letting it ride. :)  I would much rather go to Vera and get myself a new bag. ;) Ok, sorry, got a little off track. Anyway, we get to the casino and I decide to play Black Jack with Heath (one seat away) with Matt standing behind us. I started with $50 and left with $100!  :)  That's all it took to get the itch.  We went to the casino 4 nights out of 5 and I won 3 out of 4! :)  My big night was $190 (with a little help from Matt). We played Roulette together and were on fire. We quit while we were ahead and it was wonderful!  The night I lost, I only lost $40 so I was still feeling great! 
We woke up Monday morning and I was barely able to turn my head. When we left NJ, I had been having neck pain.  I vowed to make a appointment for a massage. We went food shopping so we would have some snacks and drinks....it was $50 for a case of Heineken!  We got back to the hotel and I went for a deep tissue massage.  Holy hell, that little 4 foot nothing, 100 nothing woman beat the crap out of me!  She got to the knot in my neck and said "Oh my god!"...I'm assuming that's not good in any language.  I left there and didn't feel much better, in fact, I felt worse.  It took a day, but I felt wonderful and still do!  
The rest of the trip we spent our mornings at the beach and our afternoons at the pool.  We played Bingo at noon with the old people.  :)  We were the youngest ones there and it showed.  They rang a bell at 2:30 for happy hour and the old people were thinking it was the dinner bell.  :) 
Our last full day there, we wanted to do something fun.  The whole time we were there, we kept seeing a speed boat pulling a tube behind it.  We couldn't understand what was so fun about it since the ocean is wave free.  It looked like the people were just sitting on a couch being pulled behind a boat.  Boy were we wrong!  The ride was CRAZY!  I knew we were in trouble when the boat driver said "oh, you guys are young, I'm gonna flip you!"  :)  I never screamed so much in my entire life and I gave birth to Jenna naturally! We got flipped and it was the most beautiful thing in the world.  We were out in the ocean, it was 60 feet deep and you could see the bottom as clear as if it was 10 feet deep.  It was definitely a wonderful experience...no matter how many times I screamed for it to stop. :)
It was a great way to end our trip.  We were not particularly happy about coming home to snow but all good things must come to an end.  Although I am still upset I didn't buy the "Just call me Dushi" t-shirt.  Dushi means awesome in Aruba but I hesitated since dushi is too close to douchey here in the states. ;)  Anyway, our trip was, in fact, Dushi Dushi and I would go back in a heartbeat!  

Continental sucks!

Sorry for my language but they totally ruined the beginning of our trip! We were slotted to leave at 9am and arrive in Aruba (YAY!) at 1:30pm.  Well, we didn't leave Newark till a bit after 1pm!  What was the hold up, you ask?  Apparently, the air conditioning in the rear of the plane was not working.  Now don't get me wrong, if there is something wrong with the plane, I would much rather they fix it before we leave than have to do some emergency landing mid-flight.  BUT, it was all about the way they handled the whole situation.  We pulled away from the gate on time and were waiting on the tarmac to take off.  Then, after sitting there for over an hour (Matt was already into his nap), the pilot tells us there is a problem with the air in the rear (where we were sitting) and it would be fixed within minutes.  Well, within seconds, he gets back on to tell us we are returning to the gate and if we wanted to get off the plane we could but we didn't have to.  We head back and hit and the gate are told to gather all of our belongings cause we had to get off the plane.  Now, this is 10:20am...we exit the plane and are told we will depart at 11:15am.  We get some food and look for a bar (btw, they are all closed on Sundays in Newark Airport...wth?!).  The time then changes to 11:45am and we are getting more angry by the second.  At 11:30, they announce they will be giving each passenger a food voucher for $6 worth of food in the airport.  $6 for a meal?  Really?  In the airport?  Come on now!  Within minutes of receiving our vouchers (Heath and I were in the front of the line) they announce we will be boarding.  So much for the food vouchers.  I think they just did that to make themselves look good.  They didn't look any better in my eyes, they just pissed me off even more.  We board (again) and get a drink voucher to use on the plane.  Some of the passengers asked if they could use the lousy $6 food voucher on the plane and they told us they didn't accept them.  What?  You are the ones who gave them to us!  Idiots!  Anyway, we board, get settled, are a little happy about our free drink and we begin taxiing on the tarmac only to get that most wonderful announcement that the problem has NOT been fixed and they will attempt to fix it again.  After another hour + we finally take off.  The air felt wonderful, even a little cold BUT the front of the plane didn't have air! To make matters worse, the attendants were super nasty to us, like it was our fault we were 4 hours late!  We finally made it to Aruba and had an amazing time....post to follow! 

This calls for a celebration!!

1,000 views!?!?!??!??!?!? 

Wow!  Thank you all very much for viewing my page and continuing to do so.  I feel so loved!!!  I am looking into doing a giveaway so when I figure it out, y'all will be the first ones to know. :)  I hope you all know how much I truly appreciate all of you. 

A much needed Mommie break

Adios! See ya! Bye! Ta Ta for Now! I'm outta here! :)  Matt, Danielle, Heath and I are leaving for Aruba on Sunday and I don't know if I could be any happier. Don't get me wrong, I am going to miss the girls something fierce but this break is much needed.  I wanted to let my 13 followers know that I have not given up on the blogging and recipe posting, just won't have my laptop with me....need a break from that too. :)  It's just going to be me, the sun, beach, pool, kindle and drinks, lots and lots of drinks (with little umbrellas in them!). Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend, week and following weekend!  I'll see ya when I see ya!  Mommie, out!

Jenna does it again

As most of you know, Matt and I are going to Aruba on Sunday, sans kids. :) We hadn't discussed it with Jenna cause I didn't know how she would take it.  Well, we decided to tell her this past Sunday, since she found out that my sister and Heath are going away (with us) and she was worried about C.  We explained to her that Grandma was going to come here Saturday and stay with her and Emily while Mommy and Daddy went away on vacation with DiDi and Uncle Heath.  She got this super worried look on her face and said, "But am I going to be able to see C?"  We told her that C & R will be staying at their house with Nana but she would see C at school.  That was not acceptable to her.  She wanted to make sure she would still see C even though we were all going to be away.  She couldn't care less about Mommy and Daddy leaving, she was more concerned about being able to see C.  Wow, ok, thanks Jenna, Mommy and Daddy will miss you even though you won't miss us. ;)  Guess I should feel good about this since she won't be affected by our leaving her for 5 days, but come on, I wanted to know she would miss us even a little bit. Guess I'll just have to have an extra drink a day to get over the pain. ;)

Jenna says the funniest things

The other day we happened to drive by a church as a wedding party was exiting and getting on their "bride bus", as Jenna called it.  Well, I pointed out the bride to Jenna and she was a bit surprised.  We asked her what was wrong and she said, "well, if she just got married, where is the baby?"  We tried to explain to her that some people get married first and then have a baby.  She said, "I know, that's why when you guys got married you then got a baby."  Matt tried to explain to her that we were married for 3 years before she came along but she kept insisting that when you get married, you get a baby.  She thought for a moment and said, "I don't want to have a baby so I'm never getting married."  Huh?!? :) 

Mommy Money

 

Mommy Money

Mommy Money

After watching PBS Gokids last night, I thought I would try a reward system with Jenna.  I have created Mommy Money.  Jenna will receive one dollar of Mommy Money each time she behaves, listens or does something good.  Not sure if I am going to take money away when she misbehaves or not yet but Matt and I will figure that one out.  I went to the dollar store and got a few things for Jenna to "buy" when she earns enough Mommy Money.  Fingers crossed that this works because threatening to call Santa is just not working anymore.  

Follow Me

10 followers?!?!?  Woo hoo!  Thanks everyone!  I know everyone was upset that I wasn't actually giving away a child (no one more than me) but I am looking into doing a real giveaway.  I will keep you all updated.  Thanks again, you all rock!  I love my followers and cherish all 10 of you. ;)

600 Hits!!!

We did it!!  Made it to 600 hits and I am super excited and super thankful to you all for reading my "deep thoughts." :)  As you all know, giving children away is frowned upon in this establishment so I won't be giving any of the children away.  You all will receive my gratitude (I know, I know....times are tough, give a mommie a break) :).  The next milestone I would love to hit would be 10 followers!  Thank you all for reading and I hope I am at least entertaining you enough to want to come back. Ok, off to my hell hour (school drop-off with 4 kids). Hopefully, we all make it out unscathed. Have a good day all!

GIVEAWAY

To thank you all for reading my blog I thought I would do a giveaway. When I get 600 hits, I will pick, at random, one lucky reader who will get their choice of a 4 year old, 3 year old, 18 month old or 5 month old.  ;)  Hope this makes one person as happy as it will make me. 

*Disclaimer: I am not really giving away a child....no need to call DYFS. ;)

Poem for Stay at Home Moms

What Did You Do Today?

Today I left some dishes dirty,
The bed got made around 3:30.
The diapers soaked a little longer,
The odor grew a little stronger.
The crumbs I spilled the day before,
Are staring at me from the floor.
The fingerprints there on the wall,
Will likely be there still next fall.
The dirty streaks on those window panes,
Will still be there next time it rains.
Shame on you, you sit and say,
Just what did you do today?

I fed a baby till she slept,
I held a toddler while she wept,
I played a game of hide and seek,
I squeezed a toy so it would squeak.
I pulled a wagon, sang a song,
Taught a child right from wrong.
What did I do this whole day through?
Not much that shows, I guess it’s true.
Unless you think that what I’ve done,
Might be important to someone,
With bright brown eyes and soft brown hair,
If that is true … I’ve done my share.

Author Unknown

by funfelt on December 28, 2009

http://www.fun-activities-for-kids.com/poem-for-stay-at-home-moms/

Feel Like I'm Doing Something Wrong...

I know Jenna is 4 going on 16 but most days I feel like I am just doing it all wrong.  She is so "fresh" to me and that's putting it nicely.  This morning I had to threaten to call Santa and she says, "well, if you call Santa on me, I am going to call him and you will get nothing too!"  There is no respect there and I am at my wit's end with her.  I wake up every morning and promise myself I won't let her "get to me" and I will not yell at her and she comes down the stairs demanding to wear this or that and she "won't take no for an answer."  WHAT?!?!?  No clue where she got that from but I end up breaking that promise to myself within the hour.  Her newest "trick" is rolling her eyes....that one sends me over the edge, especially when she does it while I am telling her not to do it.  I really hope she grows out of all of this sooner rather than later.  That is all...

What is it with kids these days?

Ok, I am sure I sound like an old lady when I say that but after people watching yesterday at Great Adventure, I am not sure I am ever going to let Jenna or Emily out of the house when they are pre-teens.  I can not get over the clothes (or lack there of) that some of these girls were wearing.  Now, I know I am going to take a lot of heat for saying this but, more importantly, what is it with parents these days?  I know most of those girls were not old enough to have jobs to make money to buy their own clothes so I know the parents are buying the clothes for them.  I just don't think it's right for a teenage girl (if she was even THAT old) to be walking around with her butt cheeks hanging out of her shorts!  Sometimes, having to buy that medium isn't so bad if it means your daughter's @ss is not on show for everyone and their mother (or father)! 

Choosing outfits

Jenna is a 4 year old (almost 5) fashionista! Not really sure who she gets that from but it's getting a bit old.  Every night we pick out her clothes before bed and she refuses to wear pants unless we give her a damn good reason for it (going to RU game, going to be outside playing all day, going somewhere "fun").  She only wants to wear skirts and dresses and she wants to wear the most off the wall outfits.  She has so many demands.  The skirts or dresses have to "go out when I turn" and if they don't then the shirt has to.  She wants to wear her white Easter shoes with everything even though I have tried to explain to her that Mom (my mother) says you can't wear white after Labor Day. :)  Last night we put out a pair of pants for her to wear only because I told her she got to pick the top and I would pick the bottom.  I will bet you dollars to donuts she will come down this morning with a whole nother outfit on.  It's not easy being the mommie of a fashionista but I'm trying.

Olive Oil shower anyone?

So I was getting dinner ready tonight and had a measuring cup on the counter with olive oil in it.  I turned my back for one second and Em ends up pulling the cup from the counter and it spills down all over her like a shower.  Of course I wanted to give her a bath in the middle of getting dinner ready.  That was totally my plan all along!  :)  Just another day in the life of ME!

Making an Emily

Now this story is not nearly as exciting as Making a Jenna was but I love my little peanut so I am going to share her story too.  I found out I was pregnant with Emily when Matt was away for a week.  Of course, I found out Sunday and had to wait a whole week to tell him or anyone else and that was killer!  When I was pregnant with Jenna, I made Matt a "Proud Father to Be" t-shirt.  Matt came home from his trip to find the t-shirt on his pillow with "again" written under neath it next to a picture of Jenna wearing a shirt that said "Big Sisters are the Coolest."  He was stunned and speechless but happy.  Now my pregnancy with Emily was not nearly as easy as my pregnancy with Jenna.  It wasn't all that tough but add in the fact that I was also taking care of Jenna and C, it was trying.  I was having blood pressure issues throughout my pregnancy and was put on bed rest for 4 hours a day.  Here's another tough part....Matt was told he would be leaving for Afghanistan "soon".  Well, I was due March 31st.  The first date Matt was given was in the end of Feb.  Now, they tried to make the "deal" sweeter by saying it would only be 30 days at the most.  Here's a tip for dealing with the military....don't believe a word they say!!!  The date kept getting moved and we finally got a date of sometime in May, with a week of "training" before that.  Even with all of my blood pressure issues, Em was just too comfortable and wasn't even thinking of coming out early.  Add to all of this the fact that Em was breech. Not even just breech and that was that, she kept flipping back and forth.  Great, now they wanted to talk about "flipping" her.  Hell no!!!  I have heard that is super painful and I was in no way ready for that.  Yes, I know I gave birth to Jenna naturally but after seeing what my sister went through with C, I was more nervous for this delivery than I was for Jenna's.  They (who are they anyway?) say that your 2nd child (labor and delivery) are easier than the first but how can I top 4 hours of labor?  I was so nervous that Em was going to be 48 hours of labor and I couldn't even imagine how I would survive that.  Well, Em helped me out of that.  Being that she was breech and there was no way of telling if flipping her would work, my doctors discussed a c-section.  All of the doctors in the practice knew Matt was scheduled to leave and they wanted to work with us.  My c-section was scheduled for my 39th week, March 24th.  We go in that morning and they are about to roll me into the OR and the doctor decides he wants to do a quick ultrasound to make sure Em is still breech.  Well, she wasn't....of course!  I had a feeling this would happen so at dinner the night before, Matt and I discussed what we would do if this was the case.  The doctor said we had three options.  (1) we could wait her out and have her come on her own (seeing as how Matt was leaving in 2 weeks, that was not an option for us) (2) He could induce me and we could see what happens but he didn't think I would progress any and would most likely end up in a c-section (after laboring for lord knows how long) or (3) continue with the c-section and meet our little girl within the hour.  We chose option 3 and moved right along into the OR.  The c-section was uneventful and my recovery was as well.  When I had Jenna, I didn't have an option of sending her to the nursery at night so I could get some sleep (which was hell!) but with Em I did and I did just that every night.  I don't think I have ever had such wonderful sleep before. :)  The percocet didn't hurt either.  2 weeks after Em was born Matt was off to do his week-long "training" and I was left with a Jenna and an Emily!  :)  He came home for a few days and was gone again for way longer than 30 days!  So there you have it....Emily's story.  See, I told you it wasn't as exciting as Jenna's.  But they are entirely different girls and I love it that way!

Holy Screaming Batman

Jenna had to get some shots today to be up to date enough to stay in school.  Seems we fell behind when she had pneumonia last year.  Anyway, we get to the doctor's office (my second time today) to find out she doesn't even need to see the doctor cause she doesn't need a well-visit.  We get in the examination room and Jenna crawls into the corner under the examination table....gonna be a good time!  The nurse comes in and Jenna freaks.  Now, the nurse was wearing a Yankees t-shirt, but I know Jenna wasn't just freaking because of that.  The nurse says she has special alcohol pads that will numb Jenna's arm so she won't feel any of the 4 shots she has to get...you believe that one, Jenna, Mommy has a pony she wants to sell you.  The nurse leaves to get the shots ready and Jenna is on edge.  If I didn't know any better I would say she was going through withdrawal something fierce. She was pacing, jumping up and down, crawling into corners, hanging on the door.  She was out of control.  The nurse comes back with her "special pads" and Jenna tries to crawl into my shirt.  I have never heard Jenna scream like that before in my life.  I am sure all the people waiting in the waiting room were bout ready to turn hide and run.  They probably thought she was being murdered.  I am pretty sure I dread the shots more than Jenna does and I know it's only going to get worse.  I haven't told her she has to go back next month for her 5 year old well-visit which included the flu shot. :(  Not touching that one till we get to the office.  Maybe I will call in sick that day and Matt can take her.

My favorite time of day

It's my most favorite time of day (next to bed time).  It's NAPTIME!!!  Emily and R are both sound asleep and I love when they do that.  Don't get me wrong, I love both of them with all that I have but a girl can only take so much! :)  

This morning was Em's 18 month well visit and she did wonderfully.  She had to get 3 shots and she took them like a champ...not even one tear!  I am very proud of her and am thankful.  Jenna has her well visit this evening and I know she will be the exact opposite.  She cries just walking into the office.  I've already promised her ice cream for after the visit but I don't think that's going to be enough.  May have to bribe her with a new car or a pony.  Wish me luck!

While I am on the topic of doctor visits, what the hell is up with co-pays!!!  What bs!  When Matt was in the Army we had tricare.  Ok, so they weren't THE best doctors around but everything was taken care of.  Never once a co-pay and now today alone I am paying 2 co-pays to the same doctor in ONE day!  WTH is that all about?  If I am in there within 24 hours then I should only have to pay one co-pay.  I will not get used to this and I will continue to miss the Army.  

So I know some of you are looking for recipes.  Last night was a leftover kind of night but let me just share what I did.  It was pretty good, if I do say so myself and I just did. :)  Anyway, Saturday night Matt and I went out with friends to a restaurant in Brooklyn.  The atmosphere was nice and the food was delicious (expect for my dinner).  I ordered Fettuccine with Chicken which claimed it had mozzarella cheese and tomatoes in it.  I couldn't find either but I was full enough from the ceasar salad (YUMMY!) and calamari and antipaste so it didn't really bother me that my meal had no taste.  Anyway, I ended up coming home with almost 2 lbs of pasta (yes, it was THAT big) with some chicken and red sauce.  Sunday, I made some gravy (red sauce for you non-eyetalians) because we were all out so I had some in the fridge.  I heated up some gravy, added some milk, a fresh tomato from our garden, some pepperoni and some leftover chicken.  I through the left over pasta and chicken into a skillet and added the gravy mixture.  It was pretty yummy and a great salvage of a not so hot meal. :)  Hope this inspires some of you to bring new life to leftovers. 


Not making a special dinner tonight either since Jenna's doctor appointment is tonight and Ellie has a doctor's appointment tonight too.  Think her Lyme Disease is flaring up and she is not getting around so well.  When it rains, it pours!


Feels like a baking kind of day for me.  Thinking I may make Matt's favorite cookies....Black and Whites.  


Making an Emily is coming soon! ;)  Gotta say it's not as entertaining as Jenna's story but I don't want to leave her out.

Making a Jenna

Ok, so here's the story of my pregnancy and delivery of Jenna, our first daughter.  In case you didn't read my first post, Jenna was born 9 months, 2 weeks after Matt came home from Iraq from his 2nd tour.  We were living in GA on post where everyone else was getting pregnant as well.  Not really that uncommon for a military post.  We did, however, beat most of them to the punch.  I was told my due date was Oct. 30.  Then it was moved to Nov 16th....what?!?!?  How does that happen?  Anyhow, I was then given a date of Nov 11th and, being that it was Veterans Day (how appropriate), I stuck with that one. So, I had a pretty uneventful pregnancy, which was wonderful since I was so far from "home" and Matt was gone for a few weeks at a time here and there.  Matt had me walking everyday and he swears that's why everything went the way it went....I just go with it. Ok, so fast forward to Nov. 10th.  I talked to my mother that morning (as I did EVERY morning) and she asked how I was feeling.  I told her "I am going to have this baby this weekend."  She and Matt were questioning how I could possibly know that but I just had a feeling.  Matt had a four day weekend (what else is new in the Army) for Veteran's Day so we were running errands and such on that day.  Came home around lunch and started to feel a bit "off'".  I drank a tall glass of water and laid on my side to rest.  After 3 large glasses of water and an hour of rest, I called the hospital and the nurse told me to drink water and lay down.  She then asked when my due date was and I told her "tomorrow." She rudely stated "just because it's your due date, doesn't mean you will have the baby then."  Umm, ok, whatever.  Figured she would know better , but come on....don't be a bitch about it.  So, after dinner we were watching TV and I just decided to time my "contractions."  Don't you know, 5 mins apart.  I go to lay down in bed to get some rest but the contractions were just not stopping.  By 11pm I ask Matt to take me to the hospital.  The woman, Ruth, said "you are NOT in labor...you just need to go home and get some sleep and drink water" (more DAMN water). She tells me I am not even 1cm dilated which was funny since that week at my doctor appointment I was 2 cm. Gives me some tylenol and tells me to go home and sleep.  Yeah right, sleep while your child is trying to rip itself from your uterus....sure, no problem.  We get home around 1am and Matt and Ellie (our dog) fall fast asleep while I continue to labor anywhere I could get comfortable.  Finally, Matt hears my screams and comes running.  I had been trying to call Labor & Delivery for the last hour and the line was constantly busy (hind sight, I was probably dialing wrong, considering I was in full labor) so I threw the phone at Matt and made him call.  He gets through on the first try (of course) and the rude woman says, "well, if you are in THAT much pain, come back in." Get up to walk to the car and, BAM, my water breaks...take that bitch!  Not in labor, my ass!  Side note....you should have seen Matt's face when my water broke.  It was as if he didn't believe it was time till he saw that happen.  He was in shock and awe.  He asked if I wanted to shower or eat something....what?!?!?  In his defense, the nurse who taught our child birth class told us that when our water breaks we should not rush to the hospital...we can take our time, get washed up and eat something since you don't know when you will be able to eat again.  Well, if you know me you know I am anything but "by the book."  So we get in the car and we had a 2 min drive to the hospital but it felt like 20 mins.  We get to the hospital and the nice security guard gives me a wheelchair to get to L&D.  Matt pushes me around the corner into L&D and I see that bitch, Ruth with her jaw on the floor and I scream "Ruth, I'm having a baby!"  The whisk me into a delivery room and I am begging for an epidural.  They tell me I have to get the gown on and in bed first before they can give me anything.  I have never stripped so quickly before (ask Matt) and jumped into bed.  They want to check me first (check what? The baby is still there!).  Turns out I was 9 cm and was not able to get the epidural. WTF?!?!?!  So Ruth was off trying to get the doctor and another nurse (I swear it was her first night) was trying to draw my blood and give me "something to take the edge off."  Well, I don't know if any of you have tried to give blood while you were in labor but it's near impossible to remain still so they can get a vein.  I am feeling SO hot and tell this to the new nurse who runs off to find a fan.  WHAT?!?!  She comes back with a fan but can't seem to find a place to plug it in or turn it on or whatever the hell she was doing.  I told her I had to push.  "Oh no you don't dear. Just relax." No bitch, I have to push.  Ruth comes back in and I tell her I have to push, she checks and says, "oh yeah, you do, ok, hear we go."  The doctor literally walked in, said, "Hi, I'm Dr. Hamm....it's a girl!" 2 pushes and 20 mins after entering the hospital (for the 2nd time that night), Jenna was born. Holy cow, what a whirlwind.  We didn't even have our camera because we left the bag in the car, thinking Matt could get me settled and go back and get it.  Not so much but I wouldn't change a thing.  5 mins after she was born I called my parents and they were on the road within an hour.  Their plan was to get the call I was in labor and get in the car and be in GA just in time for her to be born, since most first time mothers have 10-24 hours of labor.  Once again folks, I am not so much by the book and apparently, neither is Jenna.

Here goes nothing

Hi everyone! My friend, Cindy, suggested I start blogging so here goes.  My friend, Matt, helped me come up with the name. :)  We went through a lot of different names and when we started thinking of play on movie titles (i.e Fast Times at the Phelan Household, Momminator, etc) he came out with Dinner and a Mommie which is perfect!  When I put the idea of starting a blog out there on FB, a few friends said they wanted to see recipes since I have been posting so many on FB. There you have Dinner and a Mommie!  Couldn't be more perfect.  

Ok, so if you are reading this, you know me so you can skip this next section.  If, by any chance, you happened upon me for whatever reason, here is a little of my back story.  My husband and I met in college in 1999.  We graduated college in 2002 and he enlisted in the US Army.  While he was stationed in AZ, we were married in 2003 and I moved there in 2004.  We were then moved to GA Aug. 2004.  He was deployed Feb 2005 - Jan 2006.  Nine months later, our first daughter was born. :) That's a whole 'nother story for another post (coming soon). When our first daughter, J, was 6 months, my husband was deployed again so J and I gave up our post housing and moved to NJ to be closer to family.  My husband came home July 2008 and was stationed in NJ.  We bought our house in Sept 2008 in my hometown (which I said I would NEVER do) and we couldn't be happier.  Our second daughter, E, was born in March 2010.  My husband finished his time in the US Army and after 8 years, we closed that chapter in our book of life. 

I am a stay at home mom and I also care for our niece, R (5 months), and nephew, C (3 years).  So, you can say I have my hands full.  J & C are both in preschool full time (thank goodness) so during the day I get to hang out with 2 really cool girls. People ask me how I do it and, to be honest, I have no clue.  Some days go by in a blur and others draaaaaaaaaaagggggggg ooooooooonnnnnnnnn (you get the idea) FOR-EV-ER!  I feel burnt out most days but I wouldn't trade it for the world.  A lot of mothers aren't lucky enough to be able to stay home with their children and I get to see my daughters, niece and nephew grow into little people and it's the best thing EVER! 

So, I think this blog title pretty much sums up what it's going to be.  I will be posting recipes that I find and think look tasty and simple (some not so) to share with you guys.  I will also be filling you all in on the daily shenanigans that are my life with 4 kids.  

Thanks for reading and I look forward to the feedback!