10 posts tagged “mom”

Yesterday, I took homemade cupcakes into school for Josiah's 8th birthday. This was my first time. Every other school the kids have ever gone to have had strict rules for birthday snacks. No homebaked or bakery items, must be individually packaged and have ingredient list due to possible allergies. Sure, it took less effort from me, but it's just not the same bringing in a couple of boxes of twinkies instead of some homemade cupcakes. I have fond memories of watching my mom in the kitchen, the night before my birthday making cupcakes. There was something so wonderful about carrying that box full of cupcakes into your class, knowing that everyone else in your class would hurry over to see the goodies you had brought in.

A side note, I was amazed at what a little bit of candy sprinkles do for a horrible frosting job. Who knew cupcakes were so difficult to frost? Although, I guess it could just be me.

 My mom turned 60 this week. Funny how 60 just doesn't sound as old as it used to sound to me. Grey hair doesn't seem so bad either. Good thing since I found my first one a couple of months ago. I kinda like it. Who knew I wouldn't mind getting older?

That isn't what I was here to blog about. I was actually going to post pictures of my mom's birthday party from yesterday. I started to do it earlier, then Hannah called and I got a little sidetracked. Although, I think the braindumping I did while I was on the phone with her did me good. I feel all ready to blog and take on the world.

So yeah, pictures. First we have the birthday girl opening her gift while my dad looks on....

My mom just bought a new(er) car to replace the one she totalled in a lovely accident with a state trooper (long story). She was upset that her new car didn't have a cassette player. We all pitched in a bought her an adapter so she can play her cassette tapes. She's silly.

This was just after she blew out her candles. Well, my adorable blonde nephew, Noah, blew several out from way up in his daddy's arms. Grammie blew out what was left....

This is Marlen's youngest, same kid that blew out the candles....

This is her youngest daughter...

Nicole's teenagers fighting it out. Kay definitely had the upper hand...

I made a lemon pound cake for my mom. Here I am getting ready to make Steve try some. It was surprisingly good....

 

Some pictures of the grandkids with my mom's (formerly my) beloved dog, Harrison...

 

 

This is Nicole's youngest, but the thing I love most about this picture is Kare Bear in the background about to lick her ice cream while trying to find a place to sit....

I think they could've fit a few more people in the chair, don't you?

My mom and her older brother...

Steve, just because I think he's cute...

Sophia, looking all serious...

Alex modeling some really big shoes while standing with me...

Ashley and my cousin's daughter...

It was a good time. Lots of food, grilled salmon, burgers, hot dogs, loads of doritos, broccoli salad, deviled eggs, ice cream (seriously, can you have a bad time if there is ice cream?). The real blessing is just being able to have big ol' family get togethers like this. After years of being apart from my sisters, I'm thankful to have times like this with them and their families.

Only a weekend stands between me and the first day of school. I would say where did the summer go, but honestly, it felt twice as long as usual. We did all of our fun stuff at the beginning and pretty much nothing in August. Next year, it will be even longer with the kids getting out of school three weeks earlier than the county schools.

Today is a busy day. Victoria has a hair appointment at 11:45 with Gareth the cute British stylist. So I have to be up and presentable. I could use a trim myself, but I'm not going back to school, so I'll just wait for now. Instead I think I'll go back to the store and get some more of that blueberry muffin top cereal. We're almost out already. Seriously, that was good stuff.

Yesterday she worked with my mom. My mom took Victoria and my niece to the mall directly after paying them where she proceeded to spend the money she had earned. She's a bargain hunter though. She ended up with the Hollister hoodie she had been spying for awhile, a belt, and some jewelry. She even remembered to pay me back the money she owed me for highlighting kit. She's a good kid.

Tonight my small group cleans the church then we have an orientation at the new school. It would've been nice if our last non-school day was leisurely and carefree, but it wasn't meant to be.

The first week of school won't be too crazy. No games yet for Alex and Victoria. After that, they will have games on Mondays and Tuesdays and practice on Tuesday and Thursday. Then we have our church children's programs on Wednesday night. Steve and I are both working with it. Steve heads up game time for Awana. I worked with the middle school last year. I assume I'll do the same as I haven't heard from my brother in law as to whether he needs me or not. He's the children's ministry pastor or something like that. Heh. I don't think I got that title right. Rob, feel free to correct me if I didn't!  

 

My mom called me up on Thursday and wanted all five kids for the weekend. Yes, she can drive me nuts as times, but it's times like these that completely make up for that. She wanted to take them so my former in laws could visit with Victoria, Soph, and Josiah. They haven't seen the kids since their father moved down to North Carolina. Of course, being fair like she is, she kept Alex and Ashley too. She didn't want them to feel left out.

So we went to the Metro Station yesterday afternoon to pick up Steve. Sometimes with traffic, it's just easier for him to take the Metro from the airport. He had goodies for all of us. Starbucks bears for the youngest three kids, a t-shirt and coffee mug for Victoria, and arrowheads for Alex. He's been making his own crossbows and arrows thanks to this book...

 

Anyway, we headed up to my mom's right after that. Grammie had a big pot of her homemade sloppy joe and real soda for the kids. Unlike Mom, who makes them drink water at home (I'm a meanie.) After I ate a bunch of her sloppy joe, using it as a dip with Utz chips (one of the best ways to eat this stuff!), we took my mom's car since she needed the minivan. Can't fit all 5 kids in her purple convertible Sebring (I bet Michael from "The Office" would be jealous). So we took that, and drove down to Annapolis.

It was a perfect night to walk down Main Street and along the docks. I kept my "Ugly Outfit" on, and was feeling a bit self concious walking around in it. I wanted to eat outside, so we walked up and down Main Street looking for some place with outdoor seating available. I should've gone with my gut and just ate inside the little French restaurant, because the sushi place we ended up eating at was lacking. My avocado salad was delicious. Spider roll, not horrible, but could've been better. Poor Steve specifically told the girl he didn't like spicy foods, and she suggested the Curry Chicken. I like spicy food, but this dish was too spicy for me.

After dinner, we had to get dessert. There was no way I was going to pass up Ben and Jerry's. The girl behind the counter let me sample several flavors before I decided. I tried the "Lemon Meringue" (only available in Scoop Shops) and "Cinnamon Bun". I knew I wasn't going to get the "Cinnamon Bun" as I had already noticed the "Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl" (only available in Scoop Shops too). I must confess, I tried the "Cinnamon Bun" to decide whether I would buy any in the pint the next time my grocery store had it on sale. I should've tried the Creme Brulee too. That girl would've given me free samples of every flavor if I had asked. But I was already feeling guilty for trying the first two, knowing I didn't really want them.

We just walked around the docks with our ice cream cones after that. It was really busy and crazy. It seemed that having a Naval Academy uniform on or hanging in your own boat by the docks meant that you could pick up just about any girl you wanted. The bar scene was hoping too. Steve and I, being the big old dorks we are, spent our crazy Friday night taking pictures, trying new aperatures and settings. We are wild and crazy like that. Our only regret was not bringing a tripod. We'll have to risk looking like real nerds and take it with us to Alexandria tonight. I've been dying to walk around that town, but have yet to. I longingly gaze down the roads every time I take Steve to the airport.

Ok, Steve and I are supposed to be working on getting the screen porch off my bedroom cleaned and back to "quiet oasis" status. Right now it is doubling as storage area for crown moulding and other stuff, like a sink top from our bathroom remodel last fall. Not conducive to relaxing right now.

If you look closely, the edge says "Fudge Royale". While at another store, I looked for Fudge Ripple in the handy dandy 5 qt tub complete with convenient carrying handle. Nope, this time it was Fudge Swirl.

See, when I was a child, we weren't poor, but we were exactly well to do either. We got by and didn't know any better. We were happy. We had ice cream. We had fudge ripple ice cream. Well, I wasn't happy about the fudge ripple. As a matter of fact, I can't stand fudge ripple. Give me plain vanilla, plain chocolate, neapolitan, anything but fudge ripple. Yet, that always seemed to be what was in the freezer. I think my mother thought it was a compromise between vanilla and chocolate. Oh, how I longed for anything but fudge ripple. Sometimes as a special surprise, my mom would buy chocolate marshmallow or tin roof sundae. Honestly, I hated these even more than fudge ripple. Not that I ever turned any of these down. Ice cream in a flavor I dislike is definitely better than not having ice cream at all.

So I posted that picture for my sister, Nicole. We were eating Ben & Jerry's...ok, I was eating Ben & Jerry's and discussing ice cream flavors of our childhood. We were reminiscing about eating cheap fudge ripple ice cream out of an economy sized tub. Ah, those were the days.

It was that time of year again, Science Fair time. Luckily, it wasn't any of my kids that had a science fair project due. No, it was time for Steve and I to help Chastity out and be judges for her school's fair. She heads it up every year. It's not easy work, but I do it because I love her and I've known her so long that she knows too much about me. If I told her I wouldn't, she could easily blackmail me into it anyway. Plus we have our tradition of eating out at the Double T Diner after, and I can't resist eating out. I'm like my Mom-Mom. She rarely turned down an opportunity to eat out.

So yeah, last night, judging a science fair, dinner at a 24 hour diner (took Baklava home too!!!), and staying up late with Steve watching Scarface, well, most of it. We had to call it quits around 3am. Neither of us had ever seen Scarface, so we figured we ought to.

Today, a Mother/Daughter tea at my mom's church which also happens to be my old church.

I went there from the time I was 11 til 27. Very strange going back and seeing all the people I grew up with. It's nice seeing them too, but strange. Especially since most of my friends are just now starting families, and my kids are much older. They are sporting pregnant bellies and slings with newborns and my daughters are my height or just about getting there. Although, I'm glad I did all that baby stuff early. I don't think that I would have the energy to do the baby thing at my age.

 

After the tea, the entire family went over to my brother-in-laws' house to celebrate my other brother-in-law's birthday. We had all sorts of wonderfully fattening food and the kids and the "boys" played around with the Wii. My choir director stopped by too. I left early so I could get the kids to bed. Steve stayed behind to hang out with his brothers. They are all staying up and watching the De La Hoya fight. I'm watching an episode of Rachael Ray I DVRed and eating my baklava. Mmmmmm.

 

 

My mom stopped by this afternoon after doing some work in the area. I invited her to stay for lunch. I made her a Portabella Veggie Burger over bread with gravy poured over (way yummy, my own spur of the moment concoction) and poutin (thanks to this entry by northerngeek the other day). Let me just say it was sooo yummy. The poutin was better than I even imagined it! I am definitely buying more of these Portabella Burgers next time I see them. Luckily, I still have two more in the box for now. That should last me through dinner!

 

 

I'm sure by now, you all have realized what a "foodie" I am. I just love the stuff. More recently my taste for cheap fast food has diminished. Find myself not only passing up McDonalds, but Chick Fil A too. Give me Panera Bread at least. Better yet, how about a good Thai restaurant or Korean even? Mmmmm.

My mom spent the night after coming down for Josiah's birthday. She made an awesome chocolate cake for his birthday. She used applesauce and egg whites instead of oil and whole eggs. She also added a box of instant pudding to the mix. The result was a moist dense cake like you wouldn't believe. It's been calling me from the kitchen, but I have my fingers in my eyes while yelling, "I can't hear you! I can't hear you!" And yet, I can still type. I amaze myself.

Anyway, my mom spent the night. So she was here at lunch time. She wanted to go to Wal-Mart to get new curlers. I wanted to take her to my new favorite restaurant. We went to the Korean/Japanese restaurant. I made her get the Bulgogi lunch box. She also wanted sushi. She saw the squid and wanted it. The waitress came over to the table and asked what we wanted. I said, "We'll take the bulgogi lunch boxes." Then I looked at my mom and said, "And you wanted some sushi, right?

She opened her mouth and I was expecting her to give the girl her sushi order, oh no, she launches into this complete story. "When I was a little girl, my dad used to cook squid. He would put it in our spaghetti sauce and cook it all day. It was really good." I wanted to bust out laughing. The poor waitress looked perplexed. She went on. "I loved it when he would cook it with squid. So I think I'll have the squid." She pointed to the word "squid" on the sushi menu. Like my Pop making spaghetti sauce with squid would have any bearing on whether she liked sushi made with raw squid. Makes perfect sense, right?

So we had squid. Uncooked squid without the spaghetti sauce and over rice. We loved it, luckily. And the waitress, such a sweetheart, when we went up to the register to pay, she asked, "So how was the squid? Was it as good as when your father used to make it?" Bless her heart.

The team wearing the white pants won! Ok, so both teams wore white pants. Who knew that would happen? In my girlish stupidity, I was under the impression that if one team wore white pants, the other must wear colored pants. Yeah, I'm such a football expert.

It's freaking cold here. Way too cold. My feet are freezing. My hands are dried, cracking and bleeding now. My furnace is running practically non-stop just to keep it at 68 degrees around here. If it is going to be this cold, they need to at least throw some snow in with it. I need something pretty to look at while my toes are turning blue.

My mom's coming down from Baltimore today. Ok, technically, it's not Baltimore, she comes from a bordering county, but for those of you that aren't from the area, Baltimore is close enough. Anyway, she is coming down to bake Josiah's birthday cake because I am too lazy. Nah, I was going to make him one, but she likes to come down and do that kind of stuff. It makes her happy. And who am I to argue with that? I'm hoping it also makes her happy to do all my laundry and scrub down my bathrooms.

Yes, my baby is turning 7. Hard to believe he went from this....

 

 

To this....

 

Kids have a way of growing up. He's losing that baby face and starting to look more like a young man every day. We're going to have pizza, cake and ice cream. Then I'm going to make his birthday complete by giving him more Star Wars Legos. You can never have enough.

 

My mother loves holiday sweatshirts and tee shirts. Seriously, I think she has so many that she doesn't even get to wear them all during the holidays!