My Sweet Aunt Bev

My Aunt Bev passed away this week. God mercifully ended her battle with ALS on Thursday. Although I know she is in heaven with no pain where she can walk and breathe without effort, which makes me so happy, I am still sad for my loss and the loss that my parents, aunts & uncles, cousins and her friends family are feeling. It is unfortunate that our own humanity just cannot allow us to simply be happy for those who make it to heaven before us.

My sisters and I had our last visit with Aunt Bev in the Spring. Although I would have liked more time, I am so glad to have had that visit.

I know Aunt Bev is in heaven because she was an amazing woman with a beautiful soul filled with unending faith. She faced so many challenges in her life, some that I didn't know about until I was an adult. She was widowed twice and raised two wonderful children who now have wonderful children. The amazing thing about her was that she faced good days and challenging ones with grace, even in her days with ALS.  She was very sweet but very tough. With a smile, she put up with alot of crap from her brothers who constantly teased her. Well, until they really got to her and she had to put them in her place. She opened her house to us and allowed us to turn her quiet dwelling into a crazy place when we visited as kids or as adults with our kids. She was thoughtful enough to buy kid friendly food and put out our kids' favorite cups. We teased her for being a bit over protective but it was only because she loved her family so much. She was an amazing mom, grandma, sister and aunt. I could go on and on, but I hope you at least have an idea of how wonderful she was and I why I can't help but feel sadness.

Aunt Bev, I will miss you. Our Florida visits will never be the same. I do however feel comfort knowing that there is another saint and angel that I can talk to for prayers and support.

I love you!

National Aquarium in Baltimore

The Baltimore Aquarium is a wonderful place to live near.  The only downfall is that it is a little on the pricey side. Fortunatley, during the slower months they offer a deal on Fridays after 5 p.m. for $8.

Last week, Jacob and I took advantage of that deal and enjoyed the evening in Baltimore.  To be honest, I have not been in years and it was different than I remember. But, it was still great! Jacob watches animal shows with Mike alot and he loves stingrays, sharks and dolphin. He just loved how close the tanks let him get and getting to really see the fish up close. He liked the turtles and snakes, too, but nothing beat the sharks.

I am so glad we went. Outings like this are just so fun to live again through the eyes of my sweet, crazy boy.

Jacob's Writing

We (Becky, Holly, Miss Bonnie and I) have been working on writing with Jacob for the last year or so. He still does not love writing lower case letters, but boy is his writing getting better. I am so proud of him, so I just had to share.

I did have to tell him how to spell America but he knew most of the letters. I only had to write him an "R" to copy.  He spelled "mom" all on his own!

Great job buddy!

Jacob's Wii

Jacob's Imagination never ceases to amaze me. We have had our Wii unplugged because I am not savvy enough to hook up the DVD player, the cable box and the Wii at the same time. AnyWho, we hooked up the Wii again recently, and Jacob has been having a great time. His favorite game is Wii sports, tennis particularly. He also likes Mario Kart. Although he struggles, he finds it very fun!




His imagination, however came when we bought a new game. We got "Madden" because Jacob is into football and says he played it at Maria's house. Not knowing if he could really play it, I got a used version from GameStop. Well for some reason it is not working right, so I have to take it back. In an effort to get to play football on the Wii, Jacob created his own Wii. He took two football figures and had them play football. Meanwhile, he asked me to hold our white cordless phone and pretend it was a Wii controller. He then moved his players around and around while telling to me, "push 'A', push 'A', push 'B', push 'B'." He would tell me what the buttons were making the players do. It was hysterical and so joyful to watch. This kid cracks me up!

Halloween

I have this cute little guy that love to dress up. This same little guy loves candy. Funny enough, this same little guy has asked me why we have to wait "a whole 'nother year for Halloween to come again." I have to say, I agree. I really enjoyed Halloween this year.

I often say that I am "over the hump" with Jacob. In fact, that should be a whole other entry. But for now, I will just tell you that I mean that he is so much more independent. That couldn't have been more obvious on Halloween. Jacob was such a big boy.

Before Halloween when we carved pumpkins, Jacob carved his own. I mean, I helped some, but he did the work for the first time. It was no longer him picking a design and my hand holding the knife.

Then he showed his big boy side again on Halloween night. He was no longer scared of the scary houses. He went up to each house with his cousins while I stayed back by the street. He said "trick-or-treat" rather than just giving blank stares. And, he even said thank you! At some houses he would tell me about the great treat he just received and at others he would just totally ignore me as he ran wildly to the next house. It was pure bliss to see him so happy and to get to relax at an event that I do not always find this enjoyable. I even enjoyed a beverage or two while we walked my sister's neighborhood.

All in all, this may have been one of my favorite Halloweens ever!

My Inconsistent Blogging

So I have come to the conclusion that my blog will just never be consistent. It just won't. My life has ups and downs and time that are just too hectic to blog. However, I still feel the need to blog sometimes. So I will.

Hope you will check in every once and a while to see if I have anything new!

You're on the Nobby List

Jacob has recently been telling Mike and I that we are on the "nobby list." He means the naughty list. While I should find this unacceptable because it usually comes when we are "mean," I just can't help by find it funny.

I will be sad when he speech becomes perfect and when his phrases are no longer so cute. For now, I will secretly smile every time I am placed on the "nobby list."

Pumpkin! Pancakes, that is.

I LOVE FALL! Here are a few of the reasons; football, beautiful colors, my anniversary, apple cider, boots, Halloween, cooler weather, light sweaters, my birthday, Thanksgiving, jeans, and PUMPKIN!  To me, pumpkin goes well with almost anything. Pumpkin pie, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin coffee, pumpkin bread. Okay, well it goes well with carbs, anyway. :-)

And. . . it tastes better in the fall.

I am not sure if it is because of the anticipation or because carb overload is better in cooler weather, or because hot pumpkin coffee is better and I like iced coffee in the summer. Whatever the reason is, pumpkin is yummy; especially in the fall.

In fact I just figured out what we are having for dinner. Pumpkin pancakes. I am not sure if I have bacon or sausage or anything to go with them but seriously, is there really a need for any addition? Can’t pumpkin pancakes stand alone? Yes. I think they can. And so mine will. Well, alone. . . with syrup. Yum! I want them, I need them, I love them. (Sorry, Edith Viorst reference. Wait, what? You don’t know who she is? She writes a wonderful book called Earrings! for children. To get the full experience of the book, you really need my sister, Maria to read it to you. But for now go buy it and read it to your daughter.  For a fee, I will see if Maria can join you one day. )

Anwyay, I am off to make my pumpkin pancakes. Here is the recipe.

And before you judge me, I am a “semi-homemade cook” when I can get away with it. So yes, I use Bisquick. Sue me!



So, this isn't my picture. I like recipe pictures so I added this one.
I couldn't add my own becasue I haven't made them yet, but you get the idea.
And, yes, my will be cute and shaped like pumkins. Well, no, they won't. But they will be yummy!

Syrup

(Regular syrup is great, too. This is just an extra treat)

Maple-Pecan Syrup

1 cup maple-flavored syrup

1 tablespoon butter or margarine

1/4 cup chopped pecans

Pancakes

2 1/3 cups Original Bisquick® mix

1/3 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)

1 1/4 cups milk

1/4 cup vegetable oil

2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

2 eggs

1.    In 1-quart saucepan, heat syrup and butter until butter is melted, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in pecans.

2.    Heat griddle or skillet over medium heat or to 375°F. Grease griddle with vegetable oil if necessary. In medium bowl, stir all pancake ingredients until well blended. For each pancake, pour slightly less than 1/4 cup batter onto hot griddle.

3.    Cook until air bubbles pop. Turn; cook other sides until golden brown. Serve with syrup.



*Update: I forgot to add that this is a Betty Crocke Recipe. Also, I did make them. They were a denser pancake, but SO yummy!  

I am going on a Picnik

So I kind of like to pretend that I am a photographer.  I got a fun new camera last year and have a tough time putting it down sometimes. What I was missing was an easy way to edit my pictures.  I know that Photoshop is fun, but I was not willing to part with the money it costs right now so I was looking for something VERY easy and inexpensive until I have the time to really learn Photoshop well enough to make the money worth it. 

My solution? PICNIK!

I chose to pay the $20ish that it cost to get the better version and I love it. Here are a few before and after shots. It is so fun and so easy.  If you are someone who really knows nothing about photography, but likes to think you do and likes to play with pictures, Picnik is for you.  Even the free version is fun. Try it!

There are fun stickers, costumes and fonts, also. I just am more of an "effects" person.

The Magic of a Relaxing Pedicure

I went to get a pedicure with my mom today, but this was not just any pedicure. It may have been the best pedicure I have EVER had!

I recently got my hair cut by a new stylist and she was telling me about a "nail spa" that she really liked. When I asked what she liked so much and what was so different, her answer said it all, "Everything!" Boy was she right!

The Five Star Nail spa has amazing spa pedicures. They are not as cheap as regular pedicures, but they are not outrageous, either. They start at $40 and go up, but you certainly get your money's worth.

I had a 2 hour pedicure. My feet and legs were pampered, massaged, dipped in paraffin wax, rubbed with hot stones, covered in hot towels and covered with a mask and of course, my toe nails were cut, cuticles trimmed and painted like usual. During the whole thing, I was seated in one of the best massage chairs in a dark separated area unlike the typical salon. At the end as my nails dried, my arms, shoulders and neck were massaged with oil.  I have been to spas that offered pedicures and I have been to typical nail salons, but this was different than both.  And seriously, for $45, you can't beat the price.

I very rarely truly relax. No phone, no reading, no planning for the day. Just relaxation. Today, I did! The relaxation that I felt for those two hours is a magic that would be worth double the price.