White shoe disaster

One Sunday afternoon after church I had put Chunky Monkey down for nap and left the girls playing quietly upstairs. About an hour or so went by and I hadn't heard from the girls so I went up to check on them. What I found was this. They had been coloring with markers on paper but decided their brand new white Sunday church shoes made much better canvases than paper did. Needless to say I was not a happy mommy.

 I'm one of those moms that Saves everything I can for the next kid down the road and if my kids can't use it I pass it on to someone that can. And here lie two pair of perfectly good shoes that were in my thoughts ruined. I tried thinking of a way to get the marker off. Magic eraser was not doing the trick nor white shoe polish. I thought once again that I was going to have to trash the shoes. I put them up on my craft table for a couple days while I thought about what to do.

Turtle's Shoes before

I'm not sure the look she was going for

Pterodactyl's shoes before

Again not sure of the look she was going for. 

I happened to pick up a sharpie marker later that week and thought " that might just work". So after going through my box of sharpies and finding several markers of the same color I went to work. Most of Pterodactyl's shoes were colored in a blue so I used a blue to cover over them. I also added flowers in a darker color to cover over the parts where her drawings were too dark.

Turtle's Shoes After

Turtle's shoes had a lot of purple so I used purple to cover up. My markers started to die on me toward the end of her shoes so parts look a little faded.

These shoes are now their favorite to wear and they make for a good story. Also everyone remarks on them and if they don't the girls are quick to make sure their attention is drawn to them.

Valentines Day Present

Because Valentines Day is my birthday I have the tendency to forget I owe Handsome a present. This year was one of those forgetful years but thankfully I'm on Pinterest and they have lots of ideas on there.

I knew I had some blank canvas up in our attic area that I had bought on clearance but never done anything with. A little paint and a few hours layer we were done and had a wonderful present from all kids an all.

The process. I took my tempura paint and squirted a drop the size of a quarter on my hands. Rubbing them together I laid one hand then the other down fingers together and overlapping to give the appearance of a heart. I'm the blue set of hands.

We waited for this to dry (about 20 minutes) then repeated the process with Turtle using pink paint. 20 minutes later we did the same with Pterodactyl using purple. And then again 20 minutes later using green for Chunky Monkey. His hands were the hardest as he didn't understand he was supposed to keep his fingers together.

I waited for the hand prints to dry completely then added the word love with puff paint (would have painted this on but was looking for a quick fix). I think it turned out great and Handsome loved it.

Valentines Day

Typically I hate Valentines Day. I grew up hating it because everyone else got to celebrate my birthday and although I got to celebrate my birthday, I never had a reason to celebrate Valentines Day. I also hate that the minute Christmas is over out comes the Valentines Day stuff. Red and pink and white and hearts for a month and a half.

I grew up on 5 acres outside of several small towns. The school I went to was comprised of the kids from two of those towns and the surrounding areas. It was rural small farm country where people knew each other and when something happened everyone found out about it.

My graduating class size was under 300. I didn't fit into any of the social groups. I was the outsider that had friends in them all but was not really considered a part of any one of them. I didn't date anyone in middle or high school. I did like several guys from our church but they were all too cool for me. After high school I spent a semester at a college four hours away from my parents. I went because my sister was attending there. By then I was tired of following in her footsteps and I absolutely hated dorm life. I moved back home found a job providing respite care and started school again in the fall at our local college commuting from home. Most all my classes were female as I was getting an associates in early childhood. I was still attending my home church and most everyone I knew had gone off to college so no guys were around to date.

One guy did start to show interest about the time I started college from home. He was a friend of the family and had just finished basic training for the army. His dad and step mom were friends with my parents but he lived with his mom so we didn't see much of him. I got the impression he was more interested in my older sister than he was in me but since she wasn't available I was next best. He called or wrote every couple months but then would disappear just as quickly as he had appeared.

Meanwhile I graduated with my associates degree and moved to Nashville Tennessee to work on my bachelors degree at a college that was providing me with a half ride due to good grades. I lived with my older sister for a while and then in my own place and back in with her a time or two whenever I lost a roommate. I started attending a really awesome church downtown on music row and got involved with their college age single young adult group. A couple of guys showed interest in me at this time but I still did not pursue dating anyone. I hung out with the group and left it at that. College didn't provide many options either since I lived off campus and was not involved in college social life. I was really interested in this one guy that showed up at small group every once in a while but no matter how much I tried to show interest in him it was never reciprocated. Instead he would ask for friends information so he could ask them out.

During my last year of college that friend of the family showed back up in my life. I was so frustrated with him at that point I let him know point blank I was tired of him playing around. We started dating and it lasted between five and six months. Valentines fell during that time and he gave me my first Valentines Day gift as well as a birthday present. A month later I found out he was seeing someone as well and broke it off with him as he wasn't man enough to tell me himself.

I swore off guys for while after that. I didn't want to end up with a two timer or someone that didn't really care about my feelings for more than a few passing moments.

Months later I had a dream. It was about that guy from small group and I dreamed he was getting married to a girl and I was an onlooker. This got me to really thinking about him. I had not seen him in months at church and had no way of contacting him. I had just graduated and was putting feelers out for jobs but didn't really know where i was going or what i was doing.

God had things planned for me though. I noticed him at church a few Sundays later and I pounced. You have to know that I read enough books to know how a man needs to treat a lady. You also have to know my daddy taught us girls that guys were the ones to make the move not us. I threw daddy's advice out the window and listened to God's promoting. I approached him and was straightforward in letting him know I had noticed him missing from church. I also proceeded to tell him I had a dream about him and to tell him about the dream. (My thoughts afterward were oh my, I hope I didn't screw this thing up). He proceeded to tell me that he was dating someone but not any indication of marriage anytime soon. My sister and brother in law saw us talking and invited him over for lunch at their house.
 

After a picnic lunch in their backyard first my sister disappears and then shortly after my brother in law. Conveniently leaving the two of us alone. I struggled to find something we had in common and we finally started discussing books and what we each had read or not read. We introduce each other to some amazing books during that conversation.

We didn't set anything up to meet after that but left it, assuming we would see each other at church the next week. I saw him at church alright...with the girl he was dating. I was furious to say the least. He tried to introduce her to me and I blew him off and was extremely rude. Then he had the nerve to sit right in my line of sight so I had to look at them the entire service! I sat the entire service thinking about how rude I had been and that I needed to apologize. I decided I would after service but when I went to find them they had disappeared  I thought I lost my chance and had ruined everything. I walked sulking to my car and guess who was parked right beside it? And guess who was sitting in his truck talking? Yep, Him. I got my nerves together and taped on the window of his truck. Humbling myself big time I apologized to them both, said goodbye, got into my car and left.

He called that night! We set up a date for the following Saturday. We played golf (he told me later it was a test). Saturday led to spending the day with him after church on Sunday. Sunday night I told him that if he planned on pursuing me he had to dump the other girl. Which he did and she graciously told him she knew when I apologized to them that she had competition. After that we couldn't get enough of each other. June, July, August, September, October all flew by. I met his family who all live in TN, I took him to Ohio to meet mine. (Will never forget him asking about the "birds" being so loud at night).  My parents questioned me and questioned him to make sure I wasn't making a mistake. I begged my dad not to give him the "date your daughter" test but instead asked if he could take him out to breakfast.

November 19, 2005 I was walking out of my apartment to go do some errands with no plans to be back until late that afternoon. I happened to look down at the lower parking lot for some reason (God) and saw his truck. Weird I thought because he told me he was busy that day. After looking around for him I spotted him and he berated me for ruining his plans. I explained I was going out for the day and if he had plans that involved me he better let me know now. I listened as he explained his plan and graciously went back into my apartment so he could carry out his secret plans. A scavenger hunt and many hours later Handsome proposed to me. Four months later we were married and I now have a forever Valentine!

Chicken Pot Pie

This is my staple go to meal when I need to take a meal to a family that is in need. It’s great for any occasion be it new baby or a sickness. I usually make more than one at a time so it cuts down on the mess and they freeze really well.  It’s also great because everyone loves it. I have given this meal to many a family and have not heard a complaint yet other than there was not enough and they needed the recipe.

Chicken Pot Pie

1 pkg  (at least 10oz) frozen vegetable mix

1/3 cup butter

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup chopped onion

½ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. pepper

1 ¾ cup chicken broth

2/3 cup milk

2 to 3 cup chopped chicken

Pastry for 2 crust pie.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a 2 qt saucepan (remember if you are doubling the recipe you will want a bigger pan), heat the butter on medium heat until melted. Stir in flour, onion, salt and pepper and cook stirring constantly until mix has thickened and is bubbly. Remove from heat and stir in broth and milk. Return to heat and bring to a boil stirring constantly. Once to a boil, boil for 1 minute stirring the entire time. Next stir in the chicken and veggies then remove from heat and let set for 1 minute. Pour mix into pastry lined pan(s). Place other crust over filling and seal the edges. Bake 35 minutes or until golden brown.

Notes:

I rarely measure anything in this recipe because I have made it so many times and because I double the batch. I usually use a stick and a half of butter, and a medium onion chopped. I cook 3 chicken breasts in water boiling them and then use that water as my chicken broth.  I assume that 1 chicken breast will give me roughly 1 cup of chopped chicken.

I have tried making this with gluten free homemade pie crusts and it has turned out ok but the crust is usually a little thicker than I like. I’m still working on perfecting a gluten free pie crust recipe. I usually use Betty Crocker’s two pie crust recipe when not gluten free.

This freezes really well and I will often place several in the freezer. If Freezing DO NOT bake beforehand.  Just put the mix into the pie shell, cover with the additional crust, let cool and place in the freezer according to any storage method you use (personally I cover in tin foil). I will then pull it out and place into oven before preheating. Turn oven to 350 and bake for an hour.

Eat and Enjoy!

(Thanks to my Awesome Sister in Law for the Pictures)

Turtles birthday

Turtle turned six over the weekend. She was so exited. She came into our bedroom Saturday morning and asked "Am I six yet?" Technically she wasn't born until 10:22 but who was I to tell her no.

She was so anxious to turn six because all, and I mean all, her friends had turned six during the summer or fall of 2012. She was the last to turn six and it was a big deal that she be the same age as her friends.

Turtle opening presents! She got a LeapFrog Tag Reader since she had been wanting one since Pterodactyl got one for Christmas. 

Since November she has been telling me that she wanted a dolphin cake. A couple weeks ago she went back and forth between dolphin, bunny, or cat only because one of her friends had previously had a cat and a bunny cake. I convinced her to stick with the dolphin. I had already started planning how I was going to have to shape the cake and changing the shape would have required a lot more thought.

So with task in hand I set to work creating a dolphin shape cake. Armed with the 9" circle pans, an 11" circle pan and a 13" circle pan I set to work making my paper templates. After searching Google images for ideas I started pencil sketching on the circles and once satisfied I started cutting the paper, labeling it and laying it out to make adjustments as I went.

The circles looked like this before I started cutting them but after labeling

9" Pan #1

13" Pan

11" Pan

9" Pan #2

9" Pan #3

This picture is the circles cut and laid out into the dolphin shape. Plans changed in the mouth area after I started cutting the cake.

This is the actual cake laid out after being cut. I ended up not using one of the 9" pans at all. (I didn't end up using 9" pan #2 but instead cut the mouth pieces out smaller using leftover cake from the other pans)

I made my own chocolate cake using carab instead of cocoa and the Hershey's chocolate cake recipe. Every other recipe I looked at wanted me to use coffee and I was not about to feed 20 children ages six year old and under coffee at 5:30 on a Sunday night. I also made my own cream cheese frosting using a food network recipe. My neighbor who happens to be an amazing cake decorator let me have a piece of fondant for the eye.

I saw am idea on pintrest about cutting out your ice cream with a cookie cutter and thought this a great idea. I thought it would save time scooping it out as ice cream is usually rock hard out of the freezer. After trying it a couple of tips: get the ice cream in boxes. This way you can open the full box, cut the ice cream in half so you have two equal flat layers. Once you have your two layers put one back in the freezer while your working with the other layer. This prevents it from melting and making a mess. I choose to work with a heart cookie cutter because I couldn't find a dolphin and it was so close to valentines day. Using a wooden spoon I pressed the cookie cutter as deep into the ice cream as it would go. I then used a knife to help cut away the rest of the ice cream. I was able to get six hearts from each layer of ice cream. After doing one layer I put these six into the freezer to harden a little (they were melting) while I cut the next layer. If your not fast enough your ice cream starts to melt. Also you end up with a lot of ice cream scraps.

One of our friends has a tradition where she takes the Birthday Kids picture with each guest as the Birthday Kid opens their gift. Turtle wanted to do this at her party and even took charge of setting up chairs and calling them to come sit with her.

The Birthday turned out to be a Huge success and Turtle loved all the crafty stuff she got for gifts. She has already put together several including her Lego Friends set and her Owl tree house. Thanks everyone that attended. Hopefully Thank you cards wont take too long to get out!