The cooking lesson!

Teaching Andrew to cook........

For some reason it is alot easier to teach my daughter to cook than my son.  Perhaps because she is alittle more eager to attempt cooking.  Oh well :)  Today was Andrew's day to learn a few things about cooking.

I had him chop mushrooms, onions, and zuchini and put into a bowl.  I then had him add the hamburger (raw) 4 eggs, and some mashed crackers.  He then got the job of mixing it all together with his washed hands.

 He wasnt so sure he liked it but he was smiling so I think he lived.

 He then pressed all of it into a 9x13 pan and poured spagetti sauce over the top.  We then covered it with aluminum foil and put it in the oven to cook at 350 degrees.  A pic of the finished meal will follow soon!

At this point I am just so proud of him for helping me and trying to learn something new!

hugs to my wonderful son Andrew!

Live Life

This has been playing in my head all morning...  Thought I would share!

Live Life

© Livelovelaugh

Life is crazy,
and totally unpredictable...
It's going to push you over,
kick you while you're down
and hit you when you try to get back up.
Not everything can beat you.
Things are going to change you,
But you get to choose which ones you let change you.
Listen to your heart,
Follow your dreams,
And let no one tell you what you're capable of.
Push the limits,
Bend the rules,
And enjoy every minute of it.
Laugh at everything,
Live for as long as you can.
Love all,
But trust none.
Believe in yourself,
And never lose faith in others
Settle for nothing but only the best,
And give 110% in everything you do.
Take risks,
Live on the edge,
Yet stay safe,
And cherish every moment of it.
Life is a gift,
Appreciate all the rewards,
And jump on every opportunity.
Not everyone's going to love you
But who needs them anyways.
Challenge everything,
And fight for what you believe.
Back down to nothing,
But give in to the little things in life,
After all, that is what makes you.
Forget the unnecessary,
But remember everything,
Bring it with you everywhere you go.
Learn something new,
And appreciate criticism.
Hate nothing,
But dislike what you want.
Never forget where you came from,
And always remember where you are going.
Live Life to its fullest,
And have a reason for everything,
Even if it's totally insane.
Find Your purpose in life,
and Live it!

Source: Live Life, Inspirational Poem http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/live-life#ixzz20QmUEFe0 
www.FamilyFriendPoems.com 

Moving on with a new project!

Ok, I have been slacking.  Well, to put it more bluntly, grieving.  I will always miss my sweetheart but after a while you pick yourself up and realize life has to go on.  ugh.  dam.

Anyhow, one morning I woke up and decided that it was high time to do something I hadnt done before.  Something that I couldnt do because Mr. Sweetheart didnt think we should.  Sorry dear, your dead...you dont have a say anymore.  After a while I came up with the perfect idea and after work set about making it happen.

What was it????

CHICKENS

Libby was my helper!  Once we had them safely in their tub with warming light, we went to work on their house....I picked it up at D&B Supply.

 She was an awesomer worker! Plus we got to use the drill!

All Done!

 Here she is holding one of the chickens.....they are getting alittle bigger :)

 the Ladies in their new home!

 Sadly we lost Mabel, after she was attacked by a neighbor dog.  She was such a sweetheart!

Here are the two remaining ladies.... Betty and Martha.

 Spending some time with Betty...

Who you lookin at??

 Martha chillaxin in the sun....

Here is her "Bring it Bitch" look!

Anyhow they are cute, adorable and funny.  So very glad we did it!

My Otis

You know the saying, "You don't know what you have until its gone"?  I have to say in this case it's totally wrong.  I knew what I had with Otis.  I would look at him every day and know he was a gift.  I also would look at him and worry.  For some reason I always worried that we would not have enough time together.  I would look at him and worry about time.  So strange now that I look back on it.  We found each other so late in life.  He was such an amazing part of my life I wanted to spend 100 years by his side.

Last Wed,  Jan 25th 2012,  my husband Otis died of a massive heart attack.  At least I think it was massive because he just went so quickly.  He had just sat down with his coffee and turned on his laptop.  It was such a shock because he had volunteered to help get the kids ready for school and had even taken Andrew to the gaming store the night before.  He was so full of life.  He wasn't complaining about any odd aches or pains.  I just heard him make a horrible noise and then he was slumped over on his computer.  I tried to lay him down when he started to slide out of his chair and then while on the phone with 911 I did chest compressions until my parents ran over from next door and my dad took over.  He was just gone so very fast.

I miss my best friend.  But I know so strongly that he knew how much I loved him and how much he loved me. We had so much in common.   We just loved to just hang out together and just talk.  Or go fishing and camping.  We worked together, went shopping together, took care of the kids together - everything.  That will be the hardest part to get used to - doing everything alone or just with the kids.

They kids are trying to cope with all this.  They loved him so much as well.  After he died Anthony sat down and told us his best friend just died.  Andrew was just getting so close with him and they were spending so much time together bonding.  I wish I could tell Otis that Andrew still needed him more and that he wasn't finished there but I cant.  Otis was so caring with Libby and protective.  It will just take time to get used to the hole he left in our hearts.

He always told me so many times that his job was to teach me to be strong.  I don't know why he felt so strongly about that.  I am going to try and be strong for him.  He made me a better person and I will treasure that forever.

Chicken dinner!

I thought I share a meal that my kids really love and is fairly simple to make.

Cornish game hens!

Each one of the kids gets their own tiny bird.  They are teens so eating all or most of it isn't a problem.

Just butter then up and pop them into the oven- they come out looking like this.

Oh they look so yummy and smell sooooo good!

I don't know if its just because its a great meal, or the fun of being able to eat like your at a Renaissance fair.  But the kids sure like it!

Libby went to Homecoming!

Last night my only daughter and babyof the family, Libby, went to her first High school Dance!  It was Homecoming.  Since she is only a freshman and 14 she went with a group of girls and just met the boys there.

We (Libby and I ) had gone to Macy's a few days before and were lucky enough to find the exact dress we had liked online!  We then picked out shoes etc.  It was fun.  Then yesterday while out shopping, Otis and I picked up some earrings to go with her dress.

The girls were so excited and all your could hear were squeals and music  from upstairs the whole time they got ready.

Here is a close up of her earrings and her curls!

 Here they are as they ran out the door!  They met up with more friends at the dance.  They both looked so beautiful!  After all that, I was too tired to craft or anything else- but it was so worth it!

My daughter is going to Homecoming!

This is my baby girl Libby.  Saturday is her first high school dance!  She is so excited.  We went shopping and got her dress, shoes etc so she is all set and ready to go.  Grandma and Grandpa were over the moon excited and taking photos. 

My dad kept patting me on the back and asking me "How are you feeling mother?"  I know that this is probably a new step in my life but I'm just so excited that I don't care.  So what if I'm getting older - I love the new changes in my life and in my teenagers lives.  Yes we are all growing up... In so any ways.

Scanning photos

I have been busy.  I got an idea in my head the other day that since my sweetheart is in NY with his family.  That this is the first time they have been together in years, and that I have most of the family photos here - well, that I would find a way to share them.

I dragged out the old photos albums.  Then I realized that those old photo albums were LITERALLY rotting away the photos.  SO. Not. Good!.  So, I started peeling them out and one by one scanning them to my computer until my mom called and offered her scanner.  I grabbed it all and headed over.  Instead of taking hours to do 100 photos I scanned 700 photos in just around an hour.  AMAZING.

It is the Kodak i1220 and worked wonders for this project!

I then just put them on a zip disc and took them home :)

I am now in the process of downloading all the photos onto a disc as well as a facebook page.  The facebook page I wasn't sure about because its literally putting all the family photos "out there" but I wanted to get them the photos fast and so they could access them at several locations.  I may take it down eventually but for now it is ok.

I so miss my sweetheart and so hopefully sitting down with his kids and going over old times will bring a smile to his face.  Oh and I do think I get a tiny gold star for adding pics of his ex as well, but when I look at them - its history and the past and how can I keep them from loving photos of their mom and whole family.  I hope she doesn't mind and I do think she looks good in them. 

Ugh I miss my husband.

The 2nd day of school

I dont have much time before I have to gently waken (drag their hinnies out of bed) 3 teenagers for school.  Day 2 has got to be better than day one!

Yesterday..  The first day of school!  I got three kids up and ready for that all anticipated first day of school.  Them? no I meant me!  Actually not really because it means a whole school year of 6 am mornings and trying to get the hustled out the door.  Instead of the posed photo of 3 beaming kids, I only got a few candid shots of the kids and they got ready.

Anthony....

He is just brimming with excitement! Cant ya tell :)

Andrew...

He did at least sit down for this shot.

Most of the time he looked like this....

A mini panic attack about not having enough pencils

And then there was Libby...

She managed to look away from the computer long enough to get her pic taken - she was trying to facebook before school!

It went somewhat well - Andrew wants to be there and hour early, Libby would like to be there fashionably late, but finally the two of them headed out the door with Otis driving them to school.

Then all I had to do was wait for the special needs bus to pull up and send Anthony out, get ready for work and I was on my way!  I then had a conversation that was kinda like this.

"mom, I dont feel good"  - Anthony

"I know, hun.  Your tired but you will get used to it" - me

That was about it because by the time I turned around from the window to look at him he was throwing up- ALL over himself.  Oh fun.  I ran for the bowl and we did damage control.  After we got him changed, he still wasnt up to speed to we ended up having him lay down for a while and Otis took him to school about an hour later.

At least they all made it.

So,  as the alarm is just now sounding,  please PLEASE wish me luck!  Today needs to go smoother than yesterday!

Oh and did I mention that through all of this the bus never showed up?

Feathers!

Today we went to the fair.  We had a great time but we also did one thing I had a hunch was coming. 

My daughter got feathers!

No, She isnt turning into a bird.  Feathers are a very popular trend with teen girls right now.  When she first saw these, she didnt like them at all!  But!  It is amazing how a teen girls mind can change when her friends start getting them!

Here she is while the salesgirl is trying on different colored feathers in her hair.  You dont want to clash your feathers!

 As you can tell she had a hard time deciding! But finally settled on pink and white.  We spurged on 2 feathers.  They are supposed to last for 4 months in your hair with no ill effects.  Im a bit skeptical.

Once she decided they attach the feathers with a crimp bead and she was set to go.

And there she is!  All set for the first day of HIGH SCHOOL next week!  I cant believe my baby is going to be a freshman!

First day of High school

Yesterday I registered 3 teenagers for high school.  I realized how much the whole thing has changed since registering for elementary school. 

The week before watching the kids get so excited to go check the school doors for a class list.  Seeing who is in their class and who their teacher is going to be. 

Then tackling the job of finding the perfect backpack and supplies.  Having everything all ready, labeled and sitting by the front door till the big morning.

Its so not the same now.

Trust me.

Google first day of school crafts and see what comes up....

first day of school cookies!  So Cute!

an adorable ruler wreath!

even the back to school get together for moms once the kids get on the bus!

Now google first day of high school crafts.....

"crickets chipping"

Did you get anything?

Nope?  I didnt think so.

So see!  Back to school for me has changed.  Not one of my kids wants a cute note telling them how much I love them stuffed inside their backpack.  (not without an Oh good grief you are such a DORK MOM! )

Nor do they want a cutsy first day of school breakfast.  (at 6:30 Im lucky if they will be awake enough to eat some cereal and drink an instant breakfast).  And, after all the kids are off for their first day, the only get together I will be invited to is one with the clutter the 3 kids have accumulated over the summer!

Fun!

Just not the same....  I did however get to write a large check.  Does that count for anything?

Gone Fishing!

Hello - I am home for a day to relax, cool down, and regroup before I take the kids camping once they get home tonight.

Hubby and I spent the week camping and fishing and having a great time.  He really is such a wonderful husband!

Here I am with our catch last evening!

Take Care all !  Hope to be back and crafting soon - but for now I am soaking up the sun!

My silly purchase!

Ok, I did it!  I bought my chihuahua Sarah a life vest!

I know, my hubby laughed and hopefully doesnt think Im too crazy.  We want to take her camping with us and I want to be able to take her on the dock and the boat and know she is safe.  I think she did like it because she is a bit of a diva.  She is all ready to go now!

Taking my son fishing!

I wanted to post something about my favorite Summer activity! FISHING!  I had been wanting to get my son Andrew to go out with us and fish, spend sometime in the sun and bond a bit.  I mentioned to hubby that if we did it would be a good idea to go get him a new rod and reel when I picked up his license and he agreed.  Son and I then jumped in the car and headed on over to Sportsmans wearhouse!  The guy was awesome and very helpful and we finally picked a rod and reel that son liked. 

The reel is so pretty! Andrew was quiet so while the guy was putting line on it for us we checked out power baits and grabbed some worms and chicken livers.  He decided he needed to try some crappie bait so we threw that in the cart.  After we got the rod and were heading to the front to check out Andrew mumbled that maybe he would like to see the fishing vests.  I said ok and we went over and checked one out and I ended up throwing one of those in the cart.  He then spotted the hat and after trying it on and having me tell him it was a perfect fit and looked like it was made for him- we threw that in as well.  It was a spurge but money well spent!  I kept thinking of the line " Sometimes ya gotta give alittle to get alittle"

We then headed down to Swan Falls for some light fishing.  We decided to fish off the dock for a while and he was hooked more than the fish when he started getting bites.  The fish and game guys came by and checked us and aside from being glad I had gotten him his license they were friendly and chatted a bit and left.  Hubby then got interested and grabbed his pole and the two of them joked about who was catching more.  It was fun.  The next day we took our little boat to CJ strike and fished the narrows.  Not much bitting, but Andrew managed to catch a small mouth bass.  He was so excited and we put it in the fish well.

When we were done that night, Andrew realized the fish was still alive so we gave him the option of cooking it up or throwing it back.  he decided to let it live so after taking a photo we took him back and after some fish CPR (holding the fish in the water and moving him back and forth - NOT mouth to mouth) the fish took off and swam away.  Andrew then joked and said he felt like fishy Jesus cause he brought the fish back to life.  He then remarked that if we came back it would be the second coming of Fishy Jesus!  He is just too funny!

Lund boat (click on photo for link)

Here is a stock photo of what our boat looks like somewhat.   I realized I dont have any photos of our boat so I will have to take one.

I think my husband would love it if Andrew entered the pro fishing circut and they travel around pulling a tournament boat.

I will say that the fish competition we caught I was really, ok REALLY, suprised to see all these grown men pull up in sparkly, shinny fishing boats so bright you almost have to wear sunglasses to look at them.    Even my daughter and step grand daughter were suprised and offered to put sparkly nail polish on our boat so we would match - hubby declined.  I just dont get that part of it but oh well,  I would rather have a boat more like this one....

Duckworth boat (click on photo for link)

Or this one - that looks like fun! 

Crestwood pontoon boat (click on photo for link)

I hope everyone is having a great summer and is able to get out and do what they love best under the sun! 

Take care,

Annie

Pictures from my sisters open house!

Today Sweetheart and I went down to my little sister Karen's open house.  My sister is a realtor for a development call the River District in Eagle, Idaho.  There are patio homes and regular homes with small yards that back up against the water.  They have that warehouse district feel that I love - they are soo cool.  I took out my phone and tried to take a few pictures to show you - I know you will love them as well!

Here is the front of the cottage house style.  Isn't it just so cute! And yes that is Sweetheart standing guard while my sister ran to the clubhouse for something. 

Here is a side view - It has the most amazing balcony on the side.

The entry - I would love this for my kids altho I fear it would always be messy with coats and things!

The kitchen was to die for - I'm sorry I didn't get a better picture of it!

The pantry door is a chalkboard! I want this!

Yes I took a picture of inside the pantry.  But with so many bloggers decorating this space in so many good ways I thought I would share this one - isn't it so lovely?

The boys room

Artwork in the hallway I love!

And here is my lil sis.  She is a wonderful realtor who goes way WAY out of her way to help her clients find the home of their dreams.  She goes above and BEYOND!  But only because she cares so much!