Khronicles of Kate

This week in church Kate made me look really great by saying out loud, "I like you. mom!" Melt my heart. (I forgive you for every ounce of mascara you have ever touched!) She actually has been saying that a lot lately. If she is in trouble or sad and wants to be held she will tell me, "I like you!"

Tonight, I was giving her good night hugs and kisses and trying to teach her to give a real kiss and not just let me be the one kissing and as I was hugging and kissing her she told me "you like me." Sweet.

I maybe should not dare to mention it yet but the messes (out of make up, etc...) are getting a little further apart. She can still make short work of a room, but the getting into things she shouldn't are maybe dying down a bit. WHEW!

Last night I was rocking in the chair with her. I realized she was falling asleep so I cradled her and I could see her fighting to stay awake but her eyes were super heavy. She told me "my eyes!" like hey... something is wrong here! I can't keep them open. Nathan told me that once when he was about the same age. He told me his eyes were broken because he just couldn't keep them open any more.

Sometimes it breaks my heart that I have had so many kids with speech delays. There is just a small time when they say super funny things and then they talk well enough and are quite as hilarious. Oh well.

Enjoy this fabulous (older) picture of Kate and her beloved Josie. She loves this dog. She tells me all the time...."She's sad." "She's cute." "I love her."

Appreciation for Husband, Sunday, the 42rd

Do you ever wonder when I don't post an appreciation post if it is because I am mad at Corey? That did happen once. But last week I just didn't want to turn on the computer. And really, I have done 42! I am having to think outside of the standard appreciations because I have covered so many already.

Anyways,

Corey's mom might be the best cook around. She can cook something great out of nothing. She use to have to feed the hired men (They ran a sheep ranch) several meals a day. So they always had great meals with lots of variety. His mom won a cook off and one of the judges was Julia Childs, for heavens sake!

It has actually been a bit of dilemma in our marriage because Corey is fussy and I am not. And I don't need a lot of variety during one meal...and he does. I don't care about fixing/or eating big fancy breakfast... and he does. I don't care about baking from scratch...he does. I can't just whip something up, I have to plan it all out. I don't cook with love...he does. (Actually, I made that seven layer dip the other night with love and it was dang good. So good....we are having it again tonight.)

His mom just made it too good for him in the food department and he can rarely be satisfied since.

So look how good he looks making homemade biscuits for biscuits and gravy for breakfast. He knows just what to do.

I appreciate when Corey cooks the meal. Even though it is not often enough. (Corey will dispute me on that one) The kids really like his food. Especially his rice pilaf. They LOVE that one. And they love his food because he cooks with.... you guessed it...LOVE. I love his food because I didn't have to cook it. (Except for when he fed me rice with soy sauce when I was on bed rest with high blood pressure. Soy sauce? Really? I don't even like that on a good day.) I also love his food because he seasons stuff. I make stuff way to bland. Sometimes he gets out of control with the seasoning but mostly it is perfect. Lemon Pepper is seriously his best friend.

Thanks, Corey!

Also, In case you care, Greyson, Rhett's little gray hamster I have posted about in the past,...passed. Rhett cried. This summer we are going to try out lizards! They want a bearded dragon. Yes they do! My kids rock!

Even more with the kitchen

I told Corey that the second we get a new oven I want this crazy island oven thing out of here! I have had it! I don't care if there is a spot with no flooring for however long it takes to get flooring in. The island is driving me crazy. We can't function in the kitchen with that thing blocking our way all the time!

Okay, So last time I told you I was moving the oven where the refrigerator is so that means I need to find a new place for my refrigerator. I would love to get a bigger, not so deep, one. Maybe just longer. If they make them like that. And I really want crushed ice (preferably the kind like at Sonics, please) and water.

I am going to put the refrigerator right here. Right in front of that window. We will just make a wall there.

I know. I will be losing my window and that REALLY makes me sad. But I am doing the best I can. Also I decided we would get a glass back door and that would help. And with new overhead lighting that will keep things bright.



Have you ever heard of a house with 5 ceiling fans? What the Chicken? That is what our has.

Also, even though I have been told it isn't worth the pain, I know we can make this window bigger...

What do you think? Sounds good huh? So far none of these things will be too costly. Minus the new oven. But I have to do that part regardless. I heard you can sometimes find good doors on Craig's list, so keep your eyes out for me.... (Emily)

12 inches of snow? Hadn't noticed!

Wow. That might be the longest I have gone not blogging since I became a blogger.

Actually, sometimes I just get tired of myself and I didn't want to hear from myself at all this week.

It was a mostly great week. Because of some snow days that even kept my husband home and because of one of the best holidays ever, we felt like we were just shut away from the world for a while. Appointments were cancelled, sports were cancelled, work was cancelled, temptation to run to town was cancelled, and we hung out at home. By the way, including the wind chill, it was -17 here!

I love hanging out at home. That is what we did in my family growing up.

So our family worked on piano recital pieces and "Faith in God" goals, and edited writings by my 16 year old, and built Lego master pieces, and waited for baby bunnies to be born, and read, (Did you all know there was a genocide in Rwanda in 1994! How did that happen?...Again? Where was I? Was I so in bliss with my first little baby that I didn't know what was going on in the world? It shames me. I am reading a book about a women who survived it and found God and forgave. Life altering! My favorite kinds of books.), and ate home made soup and a seven layer dip and just had a staycacation.



We know how to enjoy a snow day! Here is proof.....



Josie had OCD with that tennis ball! I like when you give her a ball because she is like a young gal again.

See? Told ya!

And today for the first time EVER I participated in Black Friday.

Ever since a man was trampled to death, and people were having physical altercations over consumer goods, I have been morally opposed to Black Friday.

But today I had some good coupons to my newest life's luxury. Bath and Body Works lotion. It is seriously so lovely. And I just feel so good when I wear it. And people notice I smell good sometimes. Like the man I paid my cable bill too.

So I was able to get 6 bottles for 20 bucks and it was so fun to smell all the smells and get to actually choose 6 bottles. And I didn't get up early. I just casually strolled in at 10:00am and they had plenty. And that store had their customer service down! As I was standing in line a helper wanted to check my bag to make sure I got all my deals and she was able to spot an error for me before I waited in line too long and they knew what they were doing! Good job BABW!

Hope you all had a great Thanks giving day!

Uhh....that is the cutest dang turkey head I ever saw!

Love my mom for doing all the cooking and relieving my burden. Love my dad for playing games with us and making us laugh and teaching Rhett and I how to prepare a rabbit for dinner the next day. Which we grilled and ate. All of us who knew it was a rabbit were a little mentally challenged in eating it. But Bo who didn't care at all ate two drum sticks and was happy. Do you think they are called drumsticks when they are on rabbits? ....oh, and I don't want to hear any comments about eating rabbits unless you are a vegetarian. *wink*

Lucky in Love

My mother in law found love again. She found a nice cowboy artsy type and is currently on her honeymoon! Good for you, Carolyn! We love you!

Welcome to the family, Dale! We are excited to get to know you even better!

Corey's older sister, Sherri and his mom, Carolyn, and Corey!

Isn't it funny that no matter how old you are your mom is still expected to pay for lunch?

Today I really needed to get some grocery shopping done. I just can't take Kate with me. When I do she talks and FUSSES the whole time.

her: "who's that?"

me: "a shopper"

her: "who's that?"

me: "a shopper"

her: "who's that?"

me: "a clerk"

her: "I want out!"

her: "I want out"

her: "hug me"

I hug her of course.

her: "hug me"

her: "hug me"

her: "hold me"

her: "hold me"

and on and on....and on.

She is just demanding and it is very difficult to shop with her. So I was grateful my mom came to my house and babysat. Which Kate was thrilled with because, I swear, no less than 10 times a day Kate will say...

"grandma come get me?"

and now she knows the answer and will tell me

"tomorrow."

She is starting to get desperate because now ever since grandpa drove her home one day, when she asks if grandma will come get her, and I say tomorrow, she now says,

"grandpa come get me?" It is truly a little pathetic.

It was a happy day. Because Grandma coming ususally includes Happy Meals.

Also, I was grateful my mother validated me that as adorable as Kate is, she is exhausting.

So my mom came and babysat and then after my shopping I met my mom at Arctic Circle and they were already there eating lunch and playing.

The second I walked in my mom starts giving me money for lunch.

Even. though. I. had. my. wallet. (I love doing that period thing for extra emphasis.)

I didn't really feel too weird because I had just spent over 250.00 on groceries and I was super stressed and this is my mom. Isn't that what moms do?

But then I saw a man behind her watching us and I was embarrassed because it must look odd. Me, a late 30 year old women still getting money from her mommy for her lunch.

Even. though. I. had. my. wallet... Oh well. (thanks, mom)

But we had a good time.

We discussed her receiving all sorts of traumatizing treatment for her agoraphobia that she had when I was a kid. Including one doctor saying she might need to be institutionalized if the tranquilizer don't work. Hmmm. Ummm....let's see. Tell a women who has a phobia of leaving her house that she is going to have to leave her house to be institutionalized... That seems helpful.

And then we laughed about her being hypnotized as a treatment and then being told she was safe to drive home.

While. she. was. hypnotized.

And when she got home she was still hypnotized and she didn't know how to get out of the car.

Even. though. she. was. advised. she. was. safe. to. drive. home.

But. she. couldn't . figure. out .how. to get. out. of. the. car. Does. that. seem. wrong. to. you.?(okay, ha ha. I am amusing myself.)

So for some reason she sat there and laughed her head off because she couldn't get out of the car and then my dad finally came and got her out of the car and she told him she was hypnotized.

Is that not weirdly hysterical???

Anyway, love ya mom! Thanks for the taco salad.

And just so you know as I was typing this post Kate, whose not potty trained, likes to sit in the chair between my back and the chair and she peed on me. Just thought I'd share.

More Kitchen planning!

This week I would like to share with you my collection! That is right....I have a collection. I had wanted to collect something for a while. Devilled egg plates would have been at the top of my list since I already have the best one ever, (given to me by my mother in law who was given to her as a gift from one of their hired sheep herders) but where would I keep them? And they can be pricey. But in case you care, I apparently am the best devilled egg maker around. Here is my secret recipe:

Eggs
Salt
Mayonnaise
Paprika on top

I get RAVE reviews! EVERY TIME. I. make. them! People request them. Honestly.

I think it is because no one ever makes them because they are a pain, so when they are served people are happy no matter what. Because as you can see, I have no secret ingredient. I always bring them to pot lucks etc... because eggs (use to be) are cheap.

So anyway I settled on Salt and Pepper shakers which are all probably made in China and going to give us led poisoning but what can ya do.

So in my kitchen redo I DESPERATELY want to display my collection. I have some fears it will look to cluttery but I am doing it nonetheless.

And I really only have one wall in which to display things. (the other has a window and the other has a great spice cupboard Corey made) On my only wall I already have something displayed there that I have had up for like seven years but I still love it so much I don't want to take it down.

I love it. I came up with the idea myself. I just like it. My dad and I made the shelf.

So I polled a few friends and we decided it wouldn't look too terrible here....

above where I will move my oven. Sad thing is it will not fit all of them but I will have to rotate them. You know since I am so good at getting stuff like that done.

None of my collection are antiques or anything special but I love them. (Plus antiques to pass down to generations have to start somewhere, right?) I don't spend much money on them. I can't bring myself to do so when I have kids who need stuff. But I still collect them when I can see them for under 10 dollars. I recently learned eBay has an abundance of salt and pepper shakers and since I impulsively bid on these poker ones...

(what is that about!?I don't even play poker)....I may have to stay clear from there. Target seems to be a great place to get them for cheap. Also my friend has picked some up from thrift stores for me.

So for your enjoyment here is my collection..... (the bagels are my favorite. And the penguin pushing the snow ball. And the Old Faithful ones.)

So I have the shelves all painted and now I need to hang them up. That's all for now. (Oh yeah... I also love to get advent calenders, but I just can't collect everything.)