Ten years, already??

Okay, so this past Monday I went to my 10 YEAR High School Reunion meeting. Yes, I said TEN years!! Where did the time go. The whole time you were in high school and college, it seems like that next year would never get there. Amazing!!! Well the meeting seemed like everything is going to be off on a good start!!! We met and caught up on old times. To be honest with you, it went better than I thought!! I am actually looking forward to it!!! Oh well I will definitely keep my followers updated.

On another note, they have set up a facebook group to keep everyone updated. Well, I was NOT going to join another site where I have to check for messages EVERYDAY!! You see I already have MySpace and then this blog. Well low and behold, I now have Facebook!!! Am I totally out of the loop when it comes to these things?? I mean why couldn't I think of something that could network you to old friends and colleagues? I had a friend mine call it "crackbook". I now understand that statement!! It can definitely become addicting in the beginning because you can't wait to see who you have found or who has found you next!!!! Oh well, we will see how this goes, it may be bye bye MySpace!!!!

New Recipe, New Taste!!

Well I started looking at different recipes, one so I can cook enough to start taking my lunch to work, second to start cooking something different!! You can only eat so many meat and potatoes.

I found this blog called Meal Planning for Mommies, it is a blog where these stay at home moms come up with weekly menus and prepare the food. They also include pics so you can follow along exactly as they do. Well, I decided to cook one of thier recipes and it was great. It is called Creamy 3 Cheese Tortellini with Spinach and Tomatoes. I thought it was going to take a while to cook and in 25 mins it was done. I was too impressed. Lauren seemed to like it as well, so this will definitely be a keeper. I have included a pic of the original and a pic of mine!!! I will definitely be trying to use some of thier other recipes.

I wanna help you Daddy!!

As you know last week, Lauren was out of daycare all week with a viral infection. Well she is doing great, but you know when Mommy stays home with baby who is the next to come down sick? Mommy!!!!

Well sure enough, on our way home from the Burg visiting my sister, I started feeling aweful. I figured that I was getting the flu the way my body was feeling. All I wanted to do is either sit in a hot bathtub or sleep, that was the only way I could feel relief. Ray was away hunting last weekend and I wouldn't let him come home, because he had also stayed with Lauren last week as well and he really deserved a weekend away. When he came home Sunday, I couldn't have been happier to see his scruffy face walking through the door. Those women who are hunting widows on the weekend all know this face. Anywhoo, I have had a wonderful husband all week who has allowed me to actually get some rest and heal.

I cannot remember what night it was this week, but one that I still didn't feel very well. Ray decided he was going to fix dinner. Well he wanted to keep Lauren occupied so he was trying to entertain her while he cooked. Both of us were in the kitchen when we hear in this sweet little voice, "Daddy I wanna help you!!" Ray just couldn't deny this sweet little face and voice, so Ray picked her up and put her on the counter. I caught these pics while she "helped" her daddy. She thought that we had given her all the money in the world!!! She is especially big on being the "big girl" right now. We encourage every moment of this, although it still makes me sad on how fast she is growing up!!! I hope that you all enjoy the pics, I know I did!!!

The Hardships of a Parent

You know 32 months ago when I had the positive sign of a pregnancy test I never thought that parenting could be so rewarding yet so disappointing. Yes, I said dissappointing!! Through these 32 months that I have been a parent I have learned what works and what doesn't work. I have also learned that there will be times that you have exhausted all possibilities to make it better and yet it seems to get worse. Lauren hasn't been the most well child. I never know when she is going to get sick, well who does, but the GOOD LORD up above. You try to keep your child in this bubble so that nothing touches her such as germs but you can't. Lauren has an viral infection that has to "run its course". There is no antibiotic, no medicine to make her feel better and to me as a parent it stinks to see her not feeling well and not being able to do anything about it. Yet the rewarding part is, she seeks Ray and I and wants us just to hold her and it makes it all better, including the endless popscicles and icecream!!!!

The doctor told me today at her follow up visit to just pretty much let her get away with anything, well....I broke the rules and allowed her to pitch her tent in her room and watch the Little Mermaid, after her tv curfew had past. Needless to say it took her mind off of her ailments and she went right on to sleep, with HER Abbie right beside her watching to make sure I didn't need to be in there. Yes, Abbie is definitely the best watch dog. Anytime Lauren is sick, Abbie sleeps in Lauren's room, all night. The wrong cough or the wrong breath, Abbie will alert Ray and I. I have included a pic of Lauren and Abbie, it brings light to this whole situation!! Please just keep us in your prayers!!!!

And here is Bob!!!

Yesterday, my mom, my grandmother, Lauren, and I went shopping. I have to say Lauren was well behaved and was very cooperative!! Well of course, my mom nor my grandmother can go shopping without buying Lauren anything!! Yeah I know it is a bad habit, but it is their way of doing things for her so I allow it!!!
Anywho, we went to two children's clothing stores while we were out and acquired a new friend. You see, I have always called Lauren my little monkey and that was one of the first animal noises she could tell you what it was. So we are kind of partial. Anyway, we were in Children's Place just buying some time for the terrential rain outside to pass. Once I decided that the rain had let up enough for me to get the car, I went outside. While pulling up I notice my mother inside the store behind this most excited child with a monkey in hand!!! I said to myself, "Oh my, a new stuffed animal!!" Not to mention that we just cleaned out a whole load of stuffed animals out of her room the weekend before!!!! Well after getting home from our shopping spree, I was giving Lauren her bath and asked her what her monkey's name is going to be. She looked at me with this pondering look and out of now where says, "Bob". I said, "Bob". She said yes ma'am. So Bob the Monkey it is. Lauren has not allowed it out of her sight yet!!!!! I have to say I have never seen her so attached to something besides her bankie (blanket).

So meet Bob!!!!

Happy New Year and a Birthday All In One!!

If you noticed I haven't been blogging as often as have been in the past. I know, I know, I know........but you see got a Wii Fit for Christmas and that is pretty much all I have been doing. I have a fitness goal that I want to obtain so I am working really hard!!
Anywho, we rang in the New Year just as quietly as ever!!! We went to our cousins house a couple of miles away to ring it in!!! Well they rang it in, Lauren decided to conk out on me and since we were a good 45 minutes away, I decided to leave and get home before 12. We had a great time!! My cousin cooks some awesome ribs and I just couldn't pass that up!!! Oh well, here are a couple of pics from that night. Lauren once again didn't want to have any part of the fireworks so we stayed in the house where it was warm!! Lauren also got in some "tea time" with her Pops as well!!!




Also, I was able to celebrate my birthday as well!!! It was the following Sunday after New Year's. My parents, sister, and grandmother came over to celebrate the day with Ray, Lauren and I. Well like I said in the beginning of the post, the Wii is pretty much all that we have been doing. Well.....my parents came over about 12:30, we ate dinner and then it was on. We spent a good 8 hours playing the Wii. Who knew you could get such a work out!!!!! Oh well, here are some pics depicting that day. I also had a wonderful cake that was baked by my sister and decorated by my beautiful daughter. I couldn't have asked for a better birthday!!!!