tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87769145317048907742024-03-13T10:57:08.863-04:00Truly ScrumptiousErikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09126462645470946972noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776914531704890774.post-48331335786452208982013-03-11T00:49:00.000-04:002013-03-11T00:49:09.578-04:00In Memorium: Richard Arlen Lewis (10/1/1929 - 3/4/2013)For most of you close to me know that my grandfather passed last week. It was a blessing as his health had been rapidly deteriorating over the past six months. It came down to a question of quantity vs. quality of life. In his own words, "I've had a good ride. I'm ready to go on." I was asked to be one of the speakers at his funeral. It was a little tougher than I imagined, however I was able to get through it with a minimal amount of tears. Having him in my life has been a great blessing. He did all he could to ensure I was brought up in the Church and gained a testimony of the Savior. I owe so much to him. Preparing my remarks allowed me the chance to get to know my grandfather a bit before his true conversion to the Gospel. And it also allowed me to see how his conversion helped to mold him into the great man that I know and love. Below is a copy of my remarks if you wish to read them. If not, stop here.<br />
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Richard Arlen Lewis (October 1, 1929 – March 4, 2013)<br />
As written and spoken for his funeral by his Grandson, Erik A. Lewis, March 7, 2013<br />
Anyone that knew Granddaddy, knew that he measured time differently. So I’m hoping that you can bear with me for a minute or two while I share a few things about one of the greatest men in my life. Richard Arlen Lewis was born October 1, 1929 in New Bern, NC. He was the son of William Richard Lewis “Captain Dick” and Bertha Thomas Willis (Lewis). Richard and Bertha had ten children, 9 daughters, and one son. Two of the daughters Ella Dee and Lucele, passed away after only a year, so by the time that Richard came along he was blessed with 7 older sisters Lillian “Big Sis”, Margarette, Helen, Bertha Gray, Louise, Rosa Lea, and Ruth (ages 19 to 5). <br />
His mother Bertha died when he was only 3, so he spent a lot of time being raised or living with his sisters while his father was off on the dredge boat. When he was 6 he attended first grade in Poplar Branch, NC. 2nd grade was done in Davis, NC. 3rd grade was done at Riverside in New Bern. When I was about 12 or so, we went on a wild goose chase for a baseball card show to where we ended up in New Bern. It was then that I learned of Granddaddy’s days living with Linwood & Louise. He also told me of times swimming in the pickle vats with his buddies while sampling some of the inventory. Years later, when I lived in New Bern, he told me that his first church talk was given in the home of Sis. Thomas, where the New Bern Saints met for Sunday School. He then attended the rest of his pre-college education, grades 4 through 11 at Harkers Island. He was baptized in Back Sound, in front of Earl and Big Sis’s house in June of 1939. The summer just before he turned 11, he went to work with his father on the dredge boat as a cook’s assistant, with desires to learn the full dredge boat business. Once he made it to the 9th grade he decided he’d had about enough school so he quit, and started working full time at the fish houses packing and hauling 100+ lbs wooden fish boxes. Summers would be spent back on the dredge. Around this time he also spent some time working for Clayton Fulcher, driving a truck. He took the truck to Samuel Davis who painted “Miss Harkers Island” on the bumper of the truck. When that truck returned to Atlantic, not too many Perlantic’ers were happy with the named truck.<br />
In September 1945 a position became available to work at Cherry Point, however to do so it required a copy of his birth certificate. After an exhaustive search in both Beaufort and New Bern courthouses, it was determined that he didn’t have one. So he started the process to get a delayed certificate. He used this opportunity to confuse/convince Big Sis that he was actually born in 1928, and got Earl Davis and David Yeomans to sign the form. Whether for that or for when in Feb 1946, when Jerry Lawrence suggested that they join the Coast Guard, from that point forward, to Uncle Sam, Richard was a year older. They set out for Portsmouth, VA on a bus and met with the recruiters. Following a successful boot camp, he enlisted for a 2 year period. During this time he was stationed in Boston, Woods Hole Cape Cod, and aboard the light ship Cross Rip just off Martha’s Vineyard. Later on in life he and Jerry were pleased to find out that because of the dates of their service they were considered World War II vets and had all the privileges of vets while actually being fortunate to never see armed conflict. In his final years he got great joy out of his Veteran’s meetings and the friendships they provided. Not to mention the occasional Hardees’ biscuit. <br />
In September 1948 he decided it was best for him to go back to school. He enrolled back at Harkers Island in the 9th grade. About mid-year he was moved up to the 10th grade because Mr. Gordon Hardesty said that he was doing so well academically that he could easily make the move, so he “done what they told me to, and moved up a grade.” He graduated then as a part of the class of 1949. These last few years he got paid $20/month to go to school and the school got paid for him being there. After graduation he attended one year of school at Atlantic Christian, now Barton College, in Wilson. It didn’t cost him a dime, as it was paid for by the Government. Ruth and Bertha Gray helped him move into the dormitory. He would thumb home to the Island almost every weekend, and back to school on Sunday. As he put it, he passed a few classes, but failed most of them so he decided that he wouldn’t go back the next year. Grandmamma said it was because he had his mind on girls. <br />
He then decided that he wanted to be a State Trooper. He applied for the program and took the test. According to Gilda (Earl & Big Sis’s daughter) he only missed passing the test by one point. Despite her urging to retake the test he just “didn’t want to mess with it again. I think instead he got a job driving a truck for the State DOT. There for a while also he worked for Maola, delivering milk. There was also the famous Loon incident, where as he trained his gun on an unsuspecting bird he got a tap on his shoulder. He responded, “Hold on let me get this one right here.” He fired, hit the fowl, and turned around to see the Game Warden standing right beside him. The warden responded, “Well I guess you can’t deny that one Mr. Lewis.”<br />
In 1953 he decided to re-enlist in the Coast Guard. He served time aboard the Cherokee, a Boilerman’s school in Philadelphia – graduating with honors, the Ingham, and finally the Absencon. Most of this time he was based in Elizabeth City and there are a many “wild one” tales that can be told of him. Such as the time he bought a brand new Ford, but only kept her for about 9 months. Well during that time she only run on siphoned aviation fuel from Elizabeth City, which was carried around in 4-5 gallon drums in her trunk. Or passing through a DUI check point with a cold one right in his lap, or being escorted to a motel in Little Washington by a trooper because he was in no shape to be driving. Both times he never got a ticket, which he felt was part luck, and part the fact that he had on his uniform. Every time he just knew he was going to jail. Or the time that he and “Dickie-Boy” out ran a Trooper by going down east, but it took all the way to Cedar Island before they lost him. Or how he would come home and go to Ella Dee’s and sneak in and wake up baby Jonathan to rock him, which made her the maddest. In 1959 the Coast Guard put him on “temporary retirement” because of his bad heartburn. As he put it, he could get heartburn from a popsicle. This duty required him to visit the Camp Lejuene Hospital for testing and evaluation for 3 days every year. After 4 years he was given a medical discharge. About two years prior to that, unbeknownst to the Coast Guard, he started working at Cherry Point’s central heating. A job which he enjoyed until his retirement in December 1987. Many times he could be found riding around in a little Dodge or Ford Truck checking the steam pits and boilers across the base. <br />
He met Ida Lourene Coats in 1954 down at Shell Point, and they dated for 5 years. They were married in Beaufort on Nov. 12, 1959. She and Al were a great step in his life. In 1965 they bought the old Fred Lewis home from her uncle. They sold their little home on Cape Lookout Drive to a man from West Virginia on practically the same day as Dick had put the sign in the yard. That first winter in the Fred Lewis house was a cold one. You could see the rugs flapping in the breeze when ever the wind blew. In April of 1966 they moved into the newly built brick home you see today. As I learned when I became a homeowner in 2005 his mortgage payment was $71/month for about 30 years. There were outings with the Boy Scouts and youth that occurred over this time as he started to get active in the Church again. One particular trip he recalled was in his “Chevy 2”, where he remembered Billy Jr.’s leg coming from the back seat, up his left side and almost to the dashboard. On January 17, 1967, he made the decision that something had to change in his life, and he quit overnight smoking and drinking without no help from nobody as he often said. From that point forward he was very active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. In 1971 he was ordained a High Priest. Throughout his service in the Church he held many positions such as: Second Counselor to the Bishop, Ward Clerk, teacher of MIA, and Sunday school teacher. He and Ida, were sealed in the Washington, DC Temple on Nov. 11, 1978. At one point he figured up that he had been an assistant clerk for about 42 years. During that time he had the honor of baptizing both of his grandchildren, and ordaining me to every priesthood office, except my last one. As long as health permitted you would find him in his seat in the chapel well before services started, and actively participating in the Sunday School or priesthood lessons.<br />
He always said , "E was his eye and Sweets was his heart." Many an afternoon you could find him playing horseback down the hall with both children on his back, or for that matter doing almost anything they desired. To say that he spoiled us might be an understatement. He also did his part to help teach the Gospel to them when they were young. It was because of him and the other examples in the ward I had that I served a mission. Not many chances passed that he would say, “Erik, when you serve a mission…” Not if, but when. Many years later the great-grandchildren started arriving---Amelia, Charlotte and then Clark; Avery, Taylor, Roxy, and Rage. He may have been past the horseback riding days at this point, but that didn’t mean he didn’t try to show his love in other ways. He and Taylor shared a love of circus peanut candies. He was an excellent provider for his immediate family and the many nieces and nephews and their families. Ice cream was a favorite item to deliver! He also shared his love of boats and the water. Whether it was trips out on the Uncle Ida, Erik & Allison, E & Sweets, or his shoal runner, it didn’t take much to get him out in a boat especially when it involved going fishing. Or other times stopping by Hessie’s around 3:00 to get some fresh light bread rolls as she took them out of the oven. He could often be found sitting down at EB’s sipping on a nice ice cold diet 7-up, sharing stories with Snowball, Perry, and Roscoe. Or sitting down at Shell Point watching the Cape light, eating a hot dog or some other delicious treat. He and his buddies spent a “little while” driving around the Island or running errands to Cherry Point or Beaufort. I know that Uncle Dick was loved by, and will be missed by many a heart. And if you don’t believe me just ask Vesper. <br />
He is survived by his wife, Ida; son, Al; two grandchildren, Erik A. Lewis and wife Elizabeth and Allison L. Struyk and husband Russell; five great-grandchildren, Amelia Lewis, Charlotte Lewis, Clark Lewis, Brandon Struyk and Avery Struyk; former daughter-in-law, Virginia Piner; also many nieces and nephews; and a great legacy of faith, testimony, service, and love.<br />
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He was preceded in death by his parents, Capt. Dick and Bertha Willis Lewis, sisters, Ella Dee, Lucele, Lillian Davis, Bertha Grey Willis, Helen Lewis, Margarette Hancock, Louise Hancock, Rosa Lea Davis, Ruth Varrone and a half-brother, Bill Quidley.<br />
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Erikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09126462645470946972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776914531704890774.post-88398843720224937412012-01-31T23:01:00.001-05:002012-01-31T23:03:41.978-05:00Theories and Practices<p class="MsoNormal">So it’s the end of January. 31 days ago millions of people made New Year’s resolutions and in the last 31 days millions of people have broken, forgotten, or given up on those resolutions. Personally, I don’t make resolutions. Making declarative statements is pretty much a guarantee that it won’t happen for me or, more accurately, that I won’t do it. I am currently *thinking* about growing my hair out. Within 48 hours of saying, “I’m growing out my hair,” I will decide that I absolutely can’t stand my hair any longer and must get a haircut RIGHT NOW!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">In the new year I do start doing some evaluating, trying to figure out if this is the year I will be able to be stronger, be better, to make life changes. See there is what I want in theory and what I do in practice. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">In theory I want to have smaller bosoms more than I want a brownie/cookie/DQ Blizzard/etc. In practice I often eat four or five of something yummy without a second thought. (I have not pursued surgical means to smaller bosoms because they work well to produce nourishment for my children saving my family quite a bit of money while keeping my sleep quite interrupted for the first year of my childrens’ lives. To this end I know that the only way to get smaller bosoms is to lose weight all over my body which entails not eating desert after every meal including breakfast.) </p> <p class="MsoNormal">In theory I would love to have less debt. In practice I enjoy pretty things – pretty things for me, for my children, for my house, and so on. Just walking into a store lifts my spirits. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">In theory I’m desperate for more sleep. In practice I stay up way too late enjoying the first time all day that no one wants something from me.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">In theory I want to post on this blog more often. In practice I am lucky to have the where with all to shower, keep the clothes laundered, and everyone fed on a daily basis. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">So no resolutions here, but I am trying everyday to make at least one change for the better. Not one big change, but one decision that gets me a little bit closer to having what I do in practice to match what I want in theory. </p>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847136009748079826noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776914531704890774.post-63793769997709870962011-11-22T22:37:00.007-05:002011-11-23T15:53:39.242-05:00What a time son!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnuuSodKBeUSXixF9QvIgo3yQBJRNw-8p5zvNGqCFcHYCuZvhtLcA0lYRQ0u5ohwNB7dhaHdhvh30IFi3H0hWbbf-tRLmV8lkk1diy4E9E47PtZpMvP0jEBSN1B1bbPoY0aGwvGrn4Gc/s1600/023.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678033884817145970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnuuSodKBeUSXixF9QvIgo3yQBJRNw-8p5zvNGqCFcHYCuZvhtLcA0lYRQ0u5ohwNB7dhaHdhvh30IFi3H0hWbbf-tRLmV8lkk1diy4E9E47PtZpMvP0jEBSN1B1bbPoY0aGwvGrn4Gc/s320/023.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioxygAD-vWozZpmbEtZUgPgb7M-9jXJakLjYtNPAm_XUoQ5dgB4ONBKLh0UNcUlXBldwys75YD9hS44X1-6mxUNnvUjMRRpRybvyTTjPYmPtHgKz1d5icQrDaemCyBqWjieEgfiuG75s0/s1600/075.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678032231663399298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioxygAD-vWozZpmbEtZUgPgb7M-9jXJakLjYtNPAm_XUoQ5dgB4ONBKLh0UNcUlXBldwys75YD9hS44X1-6mxUNnvUjMRRpRybvyTTjPYmPtHgKz1d5icQrDaemCyBqWjieEgfiuG75s0/s320/075.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>Well, what can be said other than that time is flying by. Charlotte turned 3 a few weeks ago, Clark will be 8 months tomorrow, and Amelia will be 5 in just a few more weeks. That being said, I love my family, and the craziness that is our life. I'm sure one day I'll look back and miss these days.</div></div></div>Erikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09126462645470946972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776914531704890774.post-88617241177211491982011-04-28T20:00:00.000-04:002011-04-28T20:04:01.440-04:00Some Egg-cellent Fun!A few pictures from our ward Easter Egg Hunt and Easter Sunday.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8Lrb3gC00v7d13i32iB-v-JvUDxnzMRaHDAjDx4QICWsCNEuaRgukLXzxf2OlPGDnuwKxhq-NUKvr5r3wAOUu9qdQW5bi2OLwH3a4zU1RAlyuxRs5BgxGxxHF0WH7keiryua6LeDLH8/s1600/Easter+048.JPG"><img style="width: 240px; height: 320px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600429963932564290" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8Lrb3gC00v7d13i32iB-v-JvUDxnzMRaHDAjDx4QICWsCNEuaRgukLXzxf2OlPGDnuwKxhq-NUKvr5r3wAOUu9qdQW5bi2OLwH3a4zU1RAlyuxRs5BgxGxxHF0WH7keiryua6LeDLH8/s320/Easter+048.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28BrE_7pgwAJYm_f2PYYp7HrJAMnmYLP5_NpGAR0DHMbgh7pXsKdh4O9IuW2iHv1JFCwcoBtD2L-0jtRv0XkFFpwUKHu2hnMmqspbm2lkSf_Uk6O7CH7lzRCvT0vIr6kz6ma8aWUQl4Q/s1600/Easter+051.JPG"><img style="width: 240px; height: 320px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600430133676826002" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28BrE_7pgwAJYm_f2PYYp7HrJAMnmYLP5_NpGAR0DHMbgh7pXsKdh4O9IuW2iHv1JFCwcoBtD2L-0jtRv0XkFFpwUKHu2hnMmqspbm2lkSf_Uk6O7CH7lzRCvT0vIr6kz6ma8aWUQl4Q/s320/Easter+051.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhooHfVebYtibBimFmCxvDxhaaeZ2lJyFnWT4nEDCsxk1GadNROJLusYxUL2tzY4XJyavrXjvuf5sniQcF-xxE6dy8Jgww5X5nTwRmOQFohXE-JwZkfbpFbC-A_rUHHjvr9L9Z7SL6MmqY/s1600/Easter+060.JPG"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600430272307480130" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhooHfVebYtibBimFmCxvDxhaaeZ2lJyFnWT4nEDCsxk1GadNROJLusYxUL2tzY4XJyavrXjvuf5sniQcF-xxE6dy8Jgww5X5nTwRmOQFohXE-JwZkfbpFbC-A_rUHHjvr9L9Z7SL6MmqY/s320/Easter+060.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3cO6aZTozm9qEKzyIh2m4MYcyWpQ5pZDhisjDoBYqopZm3_5F8aHcJB8IWxMc2tbpBJDaZKFqYemRDMi0NN7y1yUQx9y43rD_dOn8aXBf7hyphenhyphenHNxUKZawydPQe-zyofsTYvApHTh5xzM4/s1600/Easter+065.JPG"><img style="width: 240px; height: 320px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600430433269498514" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3cO6aZTozm9qEKzyIh2m4MYcyWpQ5pZDhisjDoBYqopZm3_5F8aHcJB8IWxMc2tbpBJDaZKFqYemRDMi0NN7y1yUQx9y43rD_dOn8aXBf7hyphenhyphenHNxUKZawydPQe-zyofsTYvApHTh5xzM4/s320/Easter+065.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYgTWVcDqlHIknH39ER2bdAUaPgjYPHhBiJLAW7ed3AQaFVHDlaLDKsnFtAiSDze8j6UfdnokG8SNmn2MBtEogiCGWkf5kZ9xomaNfgqZ1arxdsgJD9O5g7fL1Gb2qDJ7Z1PasdPhAfP8/s1600/Easter+068.JPG"><img style="width: 240px; height: 320px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600430602466679362" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYgTWVcDqlHIknH39ER2bdAUaPgjYPHhBiJLAW7ed3AQaFVHDlaLDKsnFtAiSDze8j6UfdnokG8SNmn2MBtEogiCGWkf5kZ9xomaNfgqZ1arxdsgJD9O5g7fL1Gb2qDJ7Z1PasdPhAfP8/s320/Easter+068.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx92t2YjaCmOl0bYhqV-c2dzh_wkmjDQhrZLNojBSZvJC74qILLdxsQ4YoOUNvd8snQ5N4mQzNJN6h-cs07ZJB2EeITLhdfz0fubKeKeBpPtxzVscJJV1Z4ppFPBYBqT0rJ-I4xYU1S0E/s1600/Easter+072.JPG"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600430752278286418" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx92t2YjaCmOl0bYhqV-c2dzh_wkmjDQhrZLNojBSZvJC74qILLdxsQ4YoOUNvd8snQ5N4mQzNJN6h-cs07ZJB2EeITLhdfz0fubKeKeBpPtxzVscJJV1Z4ppFPBYBqT0rJ-I4xYU1S0E/s320/Easter+072.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXQtzPx4uuovuSosSOlkTfFFasKkmpvkS6D8Nam2FIqbh_v9NjENh6gIuRvPSZfv9vZEgJJzJIY_kiHa_F2tuSrreD3wtPWKli2VLsXGgK_WhqeX1KODwzj8pieeh1jR7pIFiNbIuK9k/s1600/Easter+073.JPG"><img style="width: 240px; height: 320px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600429820846280738" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXQtzPx4uuovuSosSOlkTfFFasKkmpvkS6D8Nam2FIqbh_v9NjENh6gIuRvPSZfv9vZEgJJzJIY_kiHa_F2tuSrreD3wtPWKli2VLsXGgK_WhqeX1KODwzj8pieeh1jR7pIFiNbIuK9k/s320/Easter+073.JPG" border="0" /></a>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847136009748079826noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776914531704890774.post-32079239455631314042011-01-24T12:13:00.005-05:002011-02-26T20:43:33.608-05:00The Dreaded QuestionI'm always on the look out for something new to make for dinner. Its not that I mind cooking so much, its the effort of planning, deciding, and shopping that takes its toll. We seem to eat the same thing over and over again. My go to place for new recipes is <a href="http://www.allrecipes.com/">allrecipes</a>. I like to read the reviews and see the suggestions that others make. I've tried some good recipes, and we've had a few busts too, but since my family expects dinner EVERY DAY, I keep trucking along. Here are a few recipes I've found to work (with a few personal tweeks) for our family. They aren't going to win any recipe contests, but it may be something different to answer the dreaded question of, "What's for dinner?" Let me know what you think:)<br /><br /><strong>Crockpot Chicken Enchilada Soup</strong><br />1 pound shredded, cooked chicken<br />1 – 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes<br />1 – 10 ounce can enchilada sauce<br />1 – 4 ounce can chopped green chilies<br />1 – 8 ¾ ounce can corn, drained<br />1 can black beans, drained and rinsed<br />1 can tomato paste<br />4 cups chicken broth<br />1 medium onion, chopped<br />2 cloves garlic, minced<br />1 teaspoon cumin<br />1 teaspoon chili powder<br />1 teaspoon salt<br />¼ teaspoon black pepper<br />1 tablespoon chopped cilantro<br />1 bay leaf<br /><br />1. Add all ingredients to a slow cooker.<br />2. Cook on low setting for 6 – 8 hours.<br />3. Garnish with sour cream, shredded cheese, and fresh lime juice and serve with tortilla chips.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Pizza Casserole</strong><br />½ pound penne pasta<br />½ pound mild sausage<br />1 onion, chopped<br />2 cloves garlic, minced<br />1 cup sliced pepperoni cut into quarters<br />14 ounces pizza sauce<br />4 tablespoons milk<br />2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese<br /><br />1. Preheat oven to 350°F.<br />2. In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, brown sausage with onion and garlic. Drain excess fat.<br />3. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and add sausage mixture, pizza sauce, pepperoni, milk, and 1 cup cheese.<br />3. Transfer to a 13x9 inch baking dish and bake for 20 minutes. Top with remaining cheese and bake an additional 5 to 10 minutes.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Salsa Chicken Casserole</strong><br />1 – 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast<br />2 2/3 cups water<br />1 1/3 cups uncooked white rice<br />1 onion, chopped<br />1 can cream of chicken soup<br />8 ounces sour cream<br />1 ½ cups salsa<br />2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese<br /><br />1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake chicken for 10 – 20 minutes, or until fully cooked. Let cool and shred.<br />2. Boil water, add rice and onion, reduce heat to low, and simmer 20 minutes.<br />3. Mix together cream of chicken soup, sour cream and salsa.<br />4. In a greased 13x9 inch baking dish, layer half of the rice and onion, half of the soup mixture, and half of the cheese. Repeat rice and soup layers.<br />5. Bake in 350°F oven for 30 minutes. Add remaining cheese and bake an additional 10 minutes.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847136009748079826noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776914531704890774.post-73294951725040517442010-12-25T17:05:00.000-05:002010-12-25T17:06:14.732-05:00Merry Christmas!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBJFz0V6SWBf3RlqxJvAwKG4iU7NxlQydVjld16kOSINS0GHIjmPIIrxnE52_1oarfeVYGUJMRi6PYHpYmim26DE7SuXWVbGJw7RjOK-oPnykOU9-P1VKAZohxJNzTpE6nGgk84gd9-o/s1600/DSC03845.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBJFz0V6SWBf3RlqxJvAwKG4iU7NxlQydVjld16kOSINS0GHIjmPIIrxnE52_1oarfeVYGUJMRi6PYHpYmim26DE7SuXWVbGJw7RjOK-oPnykOU9-P1VKAZohxJNzTpE6nGgk84gd9-o/s320/DSC03845.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554744606157893458" /></a>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847136009748079826noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776914531704890774.post-75052268066047914642010-10-20T20:32:00.002-04:002010-10-20T20:54:46.704-04:00Our House, On the Corner of Our StreetHere is a little advice. Never buy a house that has to be completely painted from floor to ceiling and needing various other home improvements, when you are in your first trimester. Or really, if you are pregnant at all. You know those shows you watch on Saturdays that are about people who buy fixer-uppers hoping to rehaul and "flip" them? I watch those shows and I see all the mistakes people make, thinking they are going to get X amount done in X amount of time. I always thing of how foolish those people are. <br /><br />Now I know better. While we are not attempting to flip our house, we did intend on making many improvments before we moved into the house. We went into closing thinking we could get everything done in six weeks. Yeah, right. Combine a sick and tired pregnant woman, a guy already putting 40 hours a week into his day job, 2 rambunctious children needing constant entertaining, and a house older than half of my siblings and delays happen. I had such high hopes of moving into a house where all the projects were finished and we just got to enjoy living there - gone! The plan is to move in this weekend. While the driving back and forth between houses (a 20+ minute drive) and living off of fast food life will hopefully be over, I think we'll just be trading one form of chaos for another. Well we've got about five months until the newest Lewis joins our family, so that is our new goal. Wish us luck!Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847136009748079826noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776914531704890774.post-90639633425426607472010-06-06T21:22:00.003-04:002010-06-06T21:36:51.396-04:00I Simply RememberOver the past week I've been thinking about a few things that have brought a smile to my face. In no particular order, these are a few of my favorite things.<br /><br />* Living on the coast and already having been to the beach three times. <br /><br />* Already rocking an awesome tan.<br /><br />* Girls night out and wonderful friends to spend time with.<br /><br />* Hearing my 19 month parrot back almost everything that is said to her. <br /><br />* Mani/Pedis and having long nails (not super long, but longer than usual).<br /><br />* No Bake Cookies (Yes, I got the recipe to work!!!)<br /><br />* Talking to my mom and my sister.<br /><br />* Good books to read.<br /><br />Yes there is more, and this list is ever evolving, but for now this will do:)Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847136009748079826noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776914531704890774.post-5853369226518886792010-05-10T09:48:00.005-04:002010-05-10T10:00:45.896-04:00Like Dust in the WindLast Sunday I wanted somthing sweet. Big surprise, right? I decided to make some cookies - some No-Bake cookies. Now I used to make awesome No-Bake cookies. They were pretty and shiny and moist. Now my cookies are dry and flaky. I found a recipe that assured me my No-Bake cookies would be restored to their previous awesomeness. That was not the case. As I was stirring in the oatmeal, the mixture became dryer and dryer. Eventually I was left with this, not even suitable to try to shape into cookies. All wasn't lost as Erik is using it as an ice cream topping. Perhaps my problem is in trying to halve the recipe. Maybe I'll use fewer oats next time. If there is a next time.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGuZRNVyVKcGfSry34gjyiUa6AO34pzw0QmVoTnHyAnDX90L9Vp98f2V1GjiwKEfCoKoMjo622JLWDAnd-Dl-XoyplN-sl2Z1f3xltBrI_vx1-N6mLOhqgz-flcq-N5YIbZAep4Ozrgo4/s1600/027.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 243px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469640313780947186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGuZRNVyVKcGfSry34gjyiUa6AO34pzw0QmVoTnHyAnDX90L9Vp98f2V1GjiwKEfCoKoMjo622JLWDAnd-Dl-XoyplN-sl2Z1f3xltBrI_vx1-N6mLOhqgz-flcq-N5YIbZAep4Ozrgo4/s320/027.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkKZ0KUYiF4MaPGAXxnbnjf92yZoX_1vCzWW_4u_V5xO7S0Hh3VCleRTLn1gwayFNoCqYS1sTj6kn2GlKn7Tsuex4H1HYotao870TCFCUd7sCGWCmv-NG05aUQyWnxmflTlH6tuatKEc/s1600/028.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 243px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469640399487125314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkKZ0KUYiF4MaPGAXxnbnjf92yZoX_1vCzWW_4u_V5xO7S0Hh3VCleRTLn1gwayFNoCqYS1sTj6kn2GlKn7Tsuex4H1HYotao870TCFCUd7sCGWCmv-NG05aUQyWnxmflTlH6tuatKEc/s320/028.JPG" /></a>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847136009748079826noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776914531704890774.post-29544274285330265912010-04-30T16:39:00.009-04:002010-04-30T16:50:27.154-04:00SprinkleIt was warm enough today to get the sprinkler out and have some fun. Amelia loves to play in the sprinkle (her version of sprinkler), and although Charlotte was hesitant at first, it didn't take long for her to get in on the action.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQU0WkBE0EancPx84Hf-0RT3hRZCIGCzYuno7gLjS3fjXbyrT5R9JK_TvZJ8ErclWF2sGlG0tk2kiJ4tanL9ndYJrRt7sq-kwoIElfEpPPhdL0k_xHdJEVfzPZE-w4_pZEfdi1g-VqQis/s1600/Sprinkle+035.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466034748584685090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQU0WkBE0EancPx84Hf-0RT3hRZCIGCzYuno7gLjS3fjXbyrT5R9JK_TvZJ8ErclWF2sGlG0tk2kiJ4tanL9ndYJrRt7sq-kwoIElfEpPPhdL0k_xHdJEVfzPZE-w4_pZEfdi1g-VqQis/s320/Sprinkle+035.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBm1EPtp0l0ym5dyXvlyxTfYDuI2WPfha5aJYRZLVQaEIaGrwY0hgGWTC3o4gR-nEYEh5zCZ57NMV5va-qW_wXO8n6ozRm36ErijU51n-S80Y1oK-hAX0iPcHfYl4pfpSH1wGoxGahhM/s1600/Sprinkle+032.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466034597062238914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBm1EPtp0l0ym5dyXvlyxTfYDuI2WPfha5aJYRZLVQaEIaGrwY0hgGWTC3o4gR-nEYEh5zCZ57NMV5va-qW_wXO8n6ozRm36ErijU51n-S80Y1oK-hAX0iPcHfYl4pfpSH1wGoxGahhM/s320/Sprinkle+032.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOwJz9ZZgP2K63ifFEo4XTddX9R05dSu7EwzpLpiJA0mO8W2Mz1M3243bwpKI_u0elh9SI-t8IhaxfSay4pdf5QCkhT5f0ZcbSmcyJqp8enPBmzaZ86jBXbj62UGogEv_ttQAePTUR1A/s1600/Sprinkle+033.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 243px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466034449701182322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOwJz9ZZgP2K63ifFEo4XTddX9R05dSu7EwzpLpiJA0mO8W2Mz1M3243bwpKI_u0elh9SI-t8IhaxfSay4pdf5QCkhT5f0ZcbSmcyJqp8enPBmzaZ86jBXbj62UGogEv_ttQAePTUR1A/s320/Sprinkle+033.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokdJeqMW7rEZXtqUIpIvbxCfiMS5sPjkPLZ4ME5oMzxBTj2iBSAYyxsXxeoRjZI52fun2mC3GzGLrU7Pj_pr3TTqtLr8t9Jmux2ifscBvAqOBiSCYy-csqCl8MnqR9mYSVS_oDMIqf2c/s1600/Sprinkle+041.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 243px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466034047499898418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokdJeqMW7rEZXtqUIpIvbxCfiMS5sPjkPLZ4ME5oMzxBTj2iBSAYyxsXxeoRjZI52fun2mC3GzGLrU7Pj_pr3TTqtLr8t9Jmux2ifscBvAqOBiSCYy-csqCl8MnqR9mYSVS_oDMIqf2c/s320/Sprinkle+041.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFH-NcmPKOwXvjLLUUYpwfrPDIo0BujssxSFEiCfBXCrmxrjxLAbj9FZHHm4uX17fM28PZ9_p4pWottOs_YAi1JZIOXCPr5Q0oLyL0rJHSw-5vG79JDiLisyErkp_MSXapgXQ4jx1QD9E/s1600/Sprinkle+039.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 243px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466033761154799122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFH-NcmPKOwXvjLLUUYpwfrPDIo0BujssxSFEiCfBXCrmxrjxLAbj9FZHHm4uX17fM28PZ9_p4pWottOs_YAi1JZIOXCPr5Q0oLyL0rJHSw-5vG79JDiLisyErkp_MSXapgXQ4jx1QD9E/s320/Sprinkle+039.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Relaxing after all the fun in the sun. I'm appreciating all the hot but not sweltering days while they are here. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjJI8q2ut_RYHSVzSy4yBVBoAqes6aLp4LBU6fqSLobajHXwuaFzQW3cVKHz8QnqiKBfYPpdE0xmsdNs7yAejYHZfVxn4KWYQZm4Ya9xSfccXaL13SnSApebiqNb4jpn9IW_a7aD9f0AE/s1600/Sprinkle+043.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 243px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466033597941416930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjJI8q2ut_RYHSVzSy4yBVBoAqes6aLp4LBU6fqSLobajHXwuaFzQW3cVKHz8QnqiKBfYPpdE0xmsdNs7yAejYHZfVxn4KWYQZm4Ya9xSfccXaL13SnSApebiqNb4jpn9IW_a7aD9f0AE/s320/Sprinkle+043.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97fK2C2FyJOvwc4qBDSYqmQJhua-2I2X41v1aqYMTTCJ8W5IrUAwCbhzJ-0TaRTDIDVRbOzYqQitC5uW69O-OSYvkjNB_UvAqZgBycBXRNhYgPSid7zvuz-EmMYcPE2OMUuJ_xe3TbK0/s1600/Sprinkle+044.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 243px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466033335859445762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97fK2C2FyJOvwc4qBDSYqmQJhua-2I2X41v1aqYMTTCJ8W5IrUAwCbhzJ-0TaRTDIDVRbOzYqQitC5uW69O-OSYvkjNB_UvAqZgBycBXRNhYgPSid7zvuz-EmMYcPE2OMUuJ_xe3TbK0/s320/Sprinkle+044.JPG" /></a>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847136009748079826noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776914531704890774.post-29686879129121274182010-04-28T20:18:00.013-04:002010-04-28T21:09:07.398-04:00A Trip to the CircusThe Cole Brothers Circus came to town and we decided to give it a whirl. The circus likes to trick you into coming by offering "free" tickets for the kids and discounted tickets for adults. The adult tickets, with the discout, are $12 each, and then if you want to sit in acutal seats instead of bleacher seeting its a $2 upgrade per seat. It was amusing to watch people show up 5 minutes before the show started and being surprised when all the bleacher (free) seating was taken up. <br /><br />All in all it was an enjoyable evening. There were tigers, and trapezest, camels, zebras, elephants, clowns, dirt bikers, motorcyclist, dancing, and more. Amelia really enjoyed the show and Charlotte amused herself by walking up and down the stairs and climbing on the stairs. <br /><br />Daddy and his girls. I'm not sure why Amelia has a grumpy face. <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWuf2OqU-ZcYfvSOR_6vOmvCHcvkQOblyCBfCATcGNFCMckAmaWw2d8tAN4sVlNjR8li3zeNaBJCBwtlUAYXpiSzp7GiX1Hx0PY-mRaTkbTXKcKmsX49TEUpzduaX0WEtlMVgr7JiE6w/s1600/041.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 243px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465351835052017106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWuf2OqU-ZcYfvSOR_6vOmvCHcvkQOblyCBfCATcGNFCMckAmaWw2d8tAN4sVlNjR8li3zeNaBJCBwtlUAYXpiSzp7GiX1Hx0PY-mRaTkbTXKcKmsX49TEUpzduaX0WEtlMVgr7JiE6w/s320/041.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Amelia and Taylor (her cousin) riding a camel. Please forgive the evil eyes, the lighting wasn't great.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3WlinxOi3GRFIx1-5F2X0t99_3xmNJnZe7AbEyfTvKwHMSbLSkup-_Dvu2opVmUZKsHS0AhhTREH52Y7EX3nbP5MbsDeeL-kqdqzbisXbCMiCQtgcETUlO2Lo-7U_M7KiUDED7XUBD4/s1600/047.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 243px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465351928342505378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3WlinxOi3GRFIx1-5F2X0t99_3xmNJnZe7AbEyfTvKwHMSbLSkup-_Dvu2opVmUZKsHS0AhhTREH52Y7EX3nbP5MbsDeeL-kqdqzbisXbCMiCQtgcETUlO2Lo-7U_M7KiUDED7XUBD4/s320/047.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Mommy and Charlotte<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJxX1wbPP6dEtilSH0_i3T-Vc8wmxjhgvwee4zWDGRCqhmIkQSqJt1R4JNDUg5eL5mIKdbs0pBjGDNrjyrOgmUlbQij7WwOKpTQFbL8na9jTIs1jtrYb4gpbhUgdQItpCz-cGXVrnpao/s1600/072.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 243px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465352262265706674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJxX1wbPP6dEtilSH0_i3T-Vc8wmxjhgvwee4zWDGRCqhmIkQSqJt1R4JNDUg5eL5mIKdbs0pBjGDNrjyrOgmUlbQij7WwOKpTQFbL8na9jTIs1jtrYb4gpbhUgdQItpCz-cGXVrnpao/s320/072.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Enjoying some cotton candy.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHKgpV48JI3m-Vxp3sIVKWFJsgR0zch05iavgX-alUTJzCjLaLGVtZzxYXijPTHzmIcHdNurjoqtAHtnv9K6v4XAy8ehOtNU6Fxg_TQPIga43qG4LHxFjCTdfGKTl3ru8g_ywfR2d3-I/s1600/055.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 243px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465352014458294130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHKgpV48JI3m-Vxp3sIVKWFJsgR0zch05iavgX-alUTJzCjLaLGVtZzxYXijPTHzmIcHdNurjoqtAHtnv9K6v4XAy8ehOtNU6Fxg_TQPIga43qG4LHxFjCTdfGKTl3ru8g_ywfR2d3-I/s320/055.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Charlottes favorite part was climbing up and down the stairs and playing on the chairs.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-LQg0sMjSlDfwXUWY0_FxPj3IX4bCROUosqvsA6j2nqag_37fEAdt0gese3TEuheL33IYrzjE5GaUfiSly0giC6JoFudflFUQeQwls0dX9ymys0ZrTr62ZbNjdyhJKEdVhN1-Ush1hA/s1600/071.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 243px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465352168122786706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-LQg0sMjSlDfwXUWY0_FxPj3IX4bCROUosqvsA6j2nqag_37fEAdt0gese3TEuheL33IYrzjE5GaUfiSly0giC6JoFudflFUQeQwls0dX9ymys0ZrTr62ZbNjdyhJKEdVhN1-Ush1hA/s320/071.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKrdeqq3H1mz4i0Zm_MFUemlcnts91zVu9sDaX-Ts6IeGf5uDEGJJNxPd5M1xL23rs-ulTo2ORhQJaVFezskeExcBIR01aERveDhkg_Yzhi6Q-Vr1ijujRsE5jnQj69L5sOhthjJDmZ0/s1600/063.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 243px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465352111563549058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKrdeqq3H1mz4i0Zm_MFUemlcnts91zVu9sDaX-Ts6IeGf5uDEGJJNxPd5M1xL23rs-ulTo2ORhQJaVFezskeExcBIR01aERveDhkg_Yzhi6Q-Vr1ijujRsE5jnQj69L5sOhthjJDmZ0/s320/063.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Part of the Show<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBH2eyjn0XgGTUKPRz6OzcTr1RBIBHiBl8onNIprcyxEddelrFwZznbBC1P64Rz6Mw7ZIhNgDQ8OIMjuIqSDVxm0ZLjNeoLR-7rQcVR0WvbU4FDhGjBFIvQ8ZyzA5xHT74kj8OH_AzJ0/s1600/078.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 243px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465352369940371618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBH2eyjn0XgGTUKPRz6OzcTr1RBIBHiBl8onNIprcyxEddelrFwZznbBC1P64Rz6Mw7ZIhNgDQ8OIMjuIqSDVxm0ZLjNeoLR-7rQcVR0WvbU4FDhGjBFIvQ8ZyzA5xHT74kj8OH_AzJ0/s320/078.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Charlotte loving some soda and then crying when I took it away. She would seriously have drunk all 30+ ounces if I let her.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4mfIFBcjpmWp4bst8gILHhmx34BNCamWnbaIcvPeuTs_Ca2FnM6tgmXaKY7_mu5qRxYUqPRxbQDh6xyzhGe7JQGRKhaXvD78Ogj_PndFkwxqyYX6Daixuy4CA6FQAD-KeronzvBjNMv0/s1600/088.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 243px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465352446704373234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4mfIFBcjpmWp4bst8gILHhmx34BNCamWnbaIcvPeuTs_Ca2FnM6tgmXaKY7_mu5qRxYUqPRxbQDh6xyzhGe7JQGRKhaXvD78Ogj_PndFkwxqyYX6Daixuy4CA6FQAD-KeronzvBjNMv0/s320/088.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YBQHE53QCf3-VrLg4GnhBTWXKA-MqDims7jVxyjWcK6PE9WXhv4nr-h4sSgSwxq0-vrQzTwA6iVCTk8U6NJaWc8Ewopc-iOpliypeE5UbdbQ0WAYf550nuX6qfxhQv-4Z5V0zOdd27k/s1600/089.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 243px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465352531945363266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YBQHE53QCf3-VrLg4GnhBTWXKA-MqDims7jVxyjWcK6PE9WXhv4nr-h4sSgSwxq0-vrQzTwA6iVCTk8U6NJaWc8Ewopc-iOpliypeE5UbdbQ0WAYf550nuX6qfxhQv-4Z5V0zOdd27k/s320/089.JPG" /></a><br /><br />The Finale<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj019WvaXKCF5YCxIY-2GTbTWIuF11qqcZFNx4sIRMGPonzcvoc7Z_vCOakjQ8Rz9VjUQGJd6E653dZiUvGgN_LOaFELOrXjIyRy9xVGVaEnoLj0o6lHXYBjGRFwcD1OpaFGQMVyJonHWs/s1600/092.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465352637866228530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj019WvaXKCF5YCxIY-2GTbTWIuF11qqcZFNx4sIRMGPonzcvoc7Z_vCOakjQ8Rz9VjUQGJd6E653dZiUvGgN_LOaFELOrXjIyRy9xVGVaEnoLj0o6lHXYBjGRFwcD1OpaFGQMVyJonHWs/s320/092.JPG" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847136009748079826noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776914531704890774.post-53900869682389275962010-04-07T08:19:00.010-04:002010-04-07T08:46:48.412-04:00Easter TulipsNot having found anything I loved, I decided to "make do" when it came to Easter dresses for the girls. Unexpectedly we found <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">ourselves</span> in Raleigh Easter weekend and a quick trip into <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Gymboree</span> on Friday, while taking a turnabout <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Crabtree</span> Valley Mall, yielded these beautiful tulip dresses. Well actually it yielded Amelia's tulip dress. We had to trek to Triangle Town Center for Charlotte's dress, but I was enamoured of the dresses, and it was worth it.<br /><br />Sunday morning the Easter bunny "hid" eggs around <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">grammy</span> and grandpa's house for the girls to find.<br /><br />Amelia checking out her booty.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9bh_DaBlKEf7vS9H-6t5gOwhlnXghJHMAQWjc3gt8prsTYLe8wSi3uNmUnVtW9vmJNAAQIcN9HzPlvzzNxjIh-NN2K-hj9HLJn1kAE2L_F9Cle_91KsiPBt9gHwqfRWC322xrQ1y-_9Y/s1600/DSC03125.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457373958598421890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9bh_DaBlKEf7vS9H-6t5gOwhlnXghJHMAQWjc3gt8prsTYLe8wSi3uNmUnVtW9vmJNAAQIcN9HzPlvzzNxjIh-NN2K-hj9HLJn1kAE2L_F9Cle_91KsiPBt9gHwqfRWC322xrQ1y-_9Y/s320/DSC03125.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Charlotte sharing a chocolate bunny with her Aunt Catherine.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtAL__jiYf9Icj5_iTtfawopnobeuVX8k-oPAyGPN1NvgSTK80pjUyQ0Z_cvk1sskQSo0sB9zIyPGB_iOD_n62gdXsk4DgIdIku0bk02lTCNxgxQ4qcrbEdkZQCpKtitRGCHa0SXCrUY/s1600/DSC03132.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457374192623338482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtAL__jiYf9Icj5_iTtfawopnobeuVX8k-oPAyGPN1NvgSTK80pjUyQ0Z_cvk1sskQSo0sB9zIyPGB_iOD_n62gdXsk4DgIdIku0bk02lTCNxgxQ4qcrbEdkZQCpKtitRGCHa0SXCrUY/s320/DSC03132.JPG" /></a><br /><br />I'm not exactly sure what Amelia is doing here, but this picture makes me smile.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha1LHEYuEbRL7388qzLn0xuMBswvSpzOcmmZGRlnpV0IfWIQKZjjLkkAmnZI4ZxM87eNo-RY6QIC9vtIzPIcO4CtGbbflIQUs1wu3hqNQ1xycU3LZHGTHWGzkbikxaHIqrMFg1jWHYzcY/s1600/Easter+066.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457372511271085026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha1LHEYuEbRL7388qzLn0xuMBswvSpzOcmmZGRlnpV0IfWIQKZjjLkkAmnZI4ZxM87eNo-RY6QIC9vtIzPIcO4CtGbbflIQUs1wu3hqNQ1xycU3LZHGTHWGzkbikxaHIqrMFg1jWHYzcY/s320/Easter+066.JPG" /></a> <div align="left"></div><br /><br />Sweet Charlotte<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEkqVdy9gNg_IDGz1LYJ0L2SIJnXEVObf7A7RwjkGaH2X9QpXyj6pKmh3BmRHcvsi-u3LeJYhFxddg1rUFV4-C8M9U2tW68r3-I7QgwIZd4quWPpawSSHoGskf_TL8x0acTVH0vugTEQ/s1600/Easter+088.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457374373274326546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEkqVdy9gNg_IDGz1LYJ0L2SIJnXEVObf7A7RwjkGaH2X9QpXyj6pKmh3BmRHcvsi-u3LeJYhFxddg1rUFV4-C8M9U2tW68r3-I7QgwIZd4quWPpawSSHoGskf_TL8x0acTVH0vugTEQ/s320/Easter+088.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Grown-up Amelia<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZbQoZhgREwPL9uEiMsJ0-7vUUQinl31KndYsFpKGliTvzbP-B6dk2U_RqNoHhMmkvpQwUZ6ayklyYlFJvh3wiWeK-BXZHap9NPBP1j3Kb1O8dSf0Hy_yw4Db7kGlZpLH_iRrCVcLMBs/s1600/Easter+100.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457374476662058418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZbQoZhgREwPL9uEiMsJ0-7vUUQinl31KndYsFpKGliTvzbP-B6dk2U_RqNoHhMmkvpQwUZ6ayklyYlFJvh3wiWeK-BXZHap9NPBP1j3Kb1O8dSf0Hy_yw4Db7kGlZpLH_iRrCVcLMBs/s320/Easter+100.JPG" /></a><br /><br />It was a wonderful weekend to be spent with family celebrating both my Grandpa Joe's life and the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">resurrection</span> of our Savior. I am grateful to have so much to be grateful for.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847136009748079826noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776914531704890774.post-75549319286137077232010-03-28T15:39:00.001-04:002010-03-28T15:56:18.289-04:00Retaining the Retainerre-tain-er [re-<strong>tey</strong>-ner] noun<br />1. a person or thing that retains.<br />2 .a servant or attendant who has served a family for many years.<br />3. Also called cage, separator. Machinery. a ring separating, and moving with, balls or rollers in a bearing.<br /><strong>4. Orthodontics.<br />a. a fixed or removable device worn in the mouth to hold the teeth in their new position during the adaptive period after straightening appliances have been removed.<br /></strong>b. Prosthodontics. a part on a bridge or the like by which the bridge is attached to the natural teeth.<br /><br />Twelve years ago this month I received what every 17 year old who is about to graduate from high school and go on to college wants: braces. Despite my perfectly straight teeth, at a routine cleaning it was decided that those baby teeth I continued to hold onto had to go. And, in order to make room for the adult teeth they were going to have to pull down, I need to have braces attached to my teeth. Excuse me? Braces? At seventeen? No thank you! Its not like I hadn't had these baby teeth for years and years. Where was this decision when I was 13 and everyone had braces?<br /><br />So for the last few months of my senior year of high school and then through the first two years of college I wore braces. So hear I am in college, 17 years old, looking 15 at best, and I have braces. Is anyone shocked that the boys didn't come in flocks? Do you know how difficult it is to say "Plautz" with braces on? I wore braces for two year. In March of 2000, 10 years ago this month, the braces came off and I received a retainer. The doctor told me to wear it everyday, all day (except meal times) for something like six months. Did he seriously think that was going to happen?<br /><br />I tried wearing the retainer for about two days and decided that it wasn't working for me. I finally was free of the mandatory metal mouth and I wasn't going back. Well at least during the day. I dutifully wore my retainer every night, and I have continued to wear it most every night for the last 10 years. Now I'm trying to decide if I should keep wearing it. Has ten years been long enough? Should I give it five more years? Should I have a new retainer made? Should I have it plated in 14kt gold and made into a <a href="http://www.thefutureperfect.com/detail.php?id=54">keepsake pendant</a> for only $300? Decisions, decisions.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbSr2sZsBa_BeP8WJvxa4BvSIn_PXjMD9cu_U8VM-me7w3XPTm6pI6wQXT9PLSYEvdpePK0XqDHEt7caZiC1fGI_mD9wwPulsf9G8QJepjuFD-ebUq1Ml4N_-OJlIJti14FkaODahQoo/s1600/retainer.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453757019271053378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbSr2sZsBa_BeP8WJvxa4BvSIn_PXjMD9cu_U8VM-me7w3XPTm6pI6wQXT9PLSYEvdpePK0XqDHEt7caZiC1fGI_mD9wwPulsf9G8QJepjuFD-ebUq1Ml4N_-OJlIJti14FkaODahQoo/s320/retainer.jpg" /></a><br /><div></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847136009748079826noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776914531704890774.post-36341010280362198632010-01-21T21:34:00.002-05:002010-01-21T21:45:49.449-05:00A Little ShowA cute video courtesy of my sister.<br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dydF5tgT9jhdsbcJ5_OtWW4RRsO0NZLv-35wq32OpwsR1EeEORtTHv8m1mDmWaRRR95gHqnzeH2dXqr-99KRA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847136009748079826noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776914531704890774.post-73559244426103482432010-01-10T22:07:00.003-05:002010-01-10T22:28:29.827-05:00FoiledI've been really struggling, and pretty much failing, at trying to get to church on time. Three months into my pregnancy with Amelia, Erik was called as the Elders Quorum in our ward. Pretty much from the time Amelia was born, through Charlotte's birth, and to the present I've been getting our child, then children, ready for and to church on my own. There have been easier times and more difficult times. I am currently going through a difficult time. Yesterday I decided to get up a half hour earlier than usual to ensure we would leave on time for church so last night I asked Erik to wake me up at 6:30am. This would give me the opportunity to have a little time to myself to take a shower and eat breakfast. Do you think that happened? Nope. Amelia was up at 5:45 this morning. Erik woke up with her and tried to convince her to go back to bed, but that is pretty much a fruitless task. Despite my extra half hour we were still 15 mintues late to church. Add the fact that I couldn't find one of the earings I wanted to wear, I had the most frustrating time trying to find Amelia's shoes, and I left my cell phone at home, by the time I got to church I was not a happy camper. So it looks like I'm going to have to get up even earlier next Sunday. We'll see if it helps or what obstacles I will have to suffer through. She sure is cute though!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_2-c0RXNYjx2her1NDLZ_eh7S1C8-IkmaQnT2ltPT16rO33gIxTfuA0B7SWfW6izCr5-idAtsI9dJj-HEMd-18VLPyIqNXa4BsjYSHN1rwskfdrSVQ44CrPSdHa2KivJrh1ZaPcnZgo/s1600-h/Amelia+1.9.10.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425318631660690322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_2-c0RXNYjx2her1NDLZ_eh7S1C8-IkmaQnT2ltPT16rO33gIxTfuA0B7SWfW6izCr5-idAtsI9dJj-HEMd-18VLPyIqNXa4BsjYSHN1rwskfdrSVQ44CrPSdHa2KivJrh1ZaPcnZgo/s320/Amelia+1.9.10.JPG" /></a><br /><div></div>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847136009748079826noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776914531704890774.post-3830059541063546812010-01-08T13:12:00.004-05:002010-01-08T14:22:34.525-05:00Lost in TranslationA conversation between Amelia and me yesterday during lunch.<br /><br />Me: Amelia, you're beautiful.<br /><br />Amlelia: What does that mean Mommy?<br /><br />Me: It means I like to look at you.<br /><br />Amelia: Oh. (Pause) Mommy, you're so pretty.<br /><br />Me: What does that mean Amelia?<br /><br />Amelia: It means I have to look at you.<br /><br />Hmm . . .Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847136009748079826noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776914531704890774.post-76432260639681341912009-12-31T23:42:00.002-05:002009-12-31T23:59:50.968-05:00How ClichéSo here is my requisite end of the year post. I'm dubbing this season the Holidays from Hades. The weekend before Christmas my brother Michael married the lovely Kristin. They were married on Saturday, December 19th, which also happened to be Amelia's third birthday (we ended up celebrating her birthday on the 12th instead). We left to go up to Raleigh for the wedding Friday morning. Saturday was wedding day from beginning to end. We had planned to go to sacrement meeting on Sunday, but Charlotte was not feeling well when she woke up, so we just headed home. From there on Charlotte got worse, Amelia got sick, and then I succumed also. Horrible, miserable sick.<br /><br />We came back up to my parent's house on Christmas eve, partly because all of our presents were already at my parents house. We were very blessed to be able to spend this holiday season with Erik's and my family, just most of us felt pretty miserable the whole time. On the upside we are finally starting to come out of the woods. Just in time for the new year. I can't believe it is almost 2010. I hope everyone has a happy new year!Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847136009748079826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776914531704890774.post-35756354766726656832009-11-28T00:34:00.008-05:002009-11-30T13:24:38.507-05:00Little Black Dresses<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02_f6W51YQCqSbEZqiylHY2E8quJKnScO8H2mVq4SIInLonbNOsyVQ9-7ICKFRbMv3muIXpg30Ri9e2DhE_ywsU9HleEyw7g9dmb205r0a8iHRCULzj0wXKNzLlOyrH_3P01tWkO2lVg/s1600/Gap+Dress.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 202px; display: block; height: 270px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409026133820224434" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02_f6W51YQCqSbEZqiylHY2E8quJKnScO8H2mVq4SIInLonbNOsyVQ9-7ICKFRbMv3muIXpg30Ri9e2DhE_ywsU9HleEyw7g9dmb205r0a8iHRCULzj0wXKNzLlOyrH_3P01tWkO2lVg/s320/Gap+Dress.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Right now I am up late waiting for a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">ebay</span> listing to end. The listing is for the dress that Amelia will wear for <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Michael</span> and Kristin's wedding next month. The girls will be wearing matching dresses, but Amelia's size was sold out on gap.com, so I'm having to stay up until this auction ends at 1:17am. What is that about? I have about 40 minutes left.<br /><br />Speaking of dresses, I finally found a dress for Michael and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Kristen's</span> wedding. As a back story, after being a bridesmaid for <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Christan</span> and Mary's wedding I swore up and down that it was the last time. Well shortly after Michael and Kristin got engaged, Mom, Catherine, Mary, Kristin, and I went out for a celebratory dinner. During dinner I let Kristen know that I appreciated if she considered asking me to be a bridesmaid, but I would politely decline the invitation. Kristin said she would like me in the wedding party and that the plan was for all the bridesmaids to wear black dress, and it could be any black dress. Well I reluctantly agreed thinking, "How hard will it be to find a black dress?" Well, its proven to be rather difficult. I didn't want to spend a ton of money, and the dress had to be able to have a teal sash worn with it.<br /><br />So like I said, I <em>finally</em> found a dress. I even got a great deal on the dress. I had high hopes. I purchased the dress on a Saturday night, and because I was going to be visiting my family in Raleigh (well, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Fuquay</span>) the following week I decided to have the dress shipped to their house. Well the week came and went and the dress was not delivered. Long story short, my sister came to visit me and brought the dress with her. I love the the dress, it seems really well made. I put it on and zipped it up and . . . no dice. The dress fit my perfectly everywhere, everywhere except, well if you know me you know where it didn't fit. I went online to look into exchanging the dress, thinking I could get a larger size and have it tailored down to fit. Well the next two dress sizes up are both on back order until December 25<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span>. What?! I am so frustrated. So its back to square one with the wedding in three weeks. After some major stressing, visit a few local stores ('cause that is all there is around here), and spending a few hours online, I think I've found another dress that will work. I am praying it fits well, it is delivered quickly, and that I have enough time to get it tailored if needs be. I swear this is the last time. Never again.<br /><br />12 minutes to go.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847136009748079826noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776914531704890774.post-81116214839256355562009-10-26T19:10:00.004-04:002009-10-26T19:14:02.709-04:00I'm Officially MeI finally learned that I could create my own profile to sign into this blog. I'm offically me and I'm very excited. Many thanks to my Mom for asking blogger related questions to my sister (-in-law) Mary; and and many thanks to Mary for her answers that lead me to this discovery. It just feels good!Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02847136009748079826noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776914531704890774.post-38832281003154786882009-10-24T19:42:00.003-04:002009-10-26T19:08:34.246-04:00So . . .So it is a week to Halloween and I still don't know what the girls are going to dress up as. Blerg.Erikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09126462645470946972noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776914531704890774.post-58626963412075835092009-10-12T08:54:00.002-04:002009-10-26T19:08:34.246-04:00Bon Appétit<div align="center">Dinner and a show!<br /></div><p align="center"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxQg5WfKHx70y2LAY6kbNILyVMpHea3UuG4f9CMUEuwLscg1HvDDy9OFbU35bBEOrmWotyjV8rDx_O7l--uxw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p>Erikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09126462645470946972noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776914531704890774.post-31157279436038934522009-09-30T11:37:00.003-04:002009-09-30T11:51:53.315-04:00One WordThere are certain words that can change a persons life. There are good words like "raise," "pregnant," and "yes" after a marriage proposal. Then there are the scary words. Yesterday the word was cancer. My mother has been diagnosed with breast cancer and at this point we would be fortunate if it is only breast cancer. She meets with her cancer team tomorrow and in the next few weeks we will find out if there is more cancer and treatment options and so forth. Even though I have known a number of people whose parents, family, and friends have recieved this diagnosis, this still seems surreal, like it isn't something that should be happening to my mother and my family. I guess today's word is "denial." If you would like to follow her journey you can find it at http://the-powerislove.blogspot.com/.Erikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09126462645470946972noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776914531704890774.post-55287183307376511972009-09-17T21:34:00.002-04:002009-10-26T19:08:34.246-04:00If . . .If you were my sister, you would have surprised me with a visit this weekend and then watched my kiddos the next morning so I could sleep in.<br /><br />If you were my sister you would be awesome!<br /><br />If you were my daughter Charlotte, between bug bites and taking falls, you would look completely abused.<br /><br />If you were my daughter Charlotte it would absolutely kill you if I walked by you without picking you up.<br /><br />If you were my daughter Amelia, when you saw people kissing on TV, you would come up to me and say, "Give me a kiss."<br /><br />If you were my daughter Amelia then as much as I love you, I would wish that almost everything you did didn't drive me crazy.<br /><br />If you were my husband you would not appreciate how much ebaying I've done the last week.<br /><br />If you were my husband and you became very upset about my ebaying I would promise to make it up to you (wink, wink)!<br /><br />If you were me then you would have inexplicably, finally, joined facebook.<br /><br />If you were me you would not have taken a shower today.<br /><br />If you were me your main accomplishments this week would be cutting your daughters finger nails, doing a gabillion loads of never ending laundry, and titling all the shows on your DVD-R.Erikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09126462645470946972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776914531704890774.post-14113517471813201972009-08-18T22:03:00.004-04:002009-10-26T19:08:34.246-04:00Step By Step - Ooh BabyMy little nine and a half month old is walking. She has been determined to make this happen, and about a week ago she started taking two or three steps at a time. The next day she was up to five or six steps at a time. By the third day she was ready to run, which really means that she falls a lot. I just can't believe it!<br /><p align="left"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw9JzufrDWBmLDofyc89dJUkAK945bPnIOPXZRFzPMwMhuWn6KVjgNgqr5R88lS4EYfATKbB5D7Xgs9eJaXnw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><br /><br />Amelia wanted her turn on camera. She is growing up so fast too!<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw6cBYx5kXVmhjZf7mfhkhG2P0Qna-GgAcJE3dAK4dSLbXPh-08XbDoqMewF1bpNmTN75RDuzRBsrh-S2GMCg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Erikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09126462645470946972noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8776914531704890774.post-33685335778140294932009-08-04T14:04:00.010-04:002009-10-26T19:08:34.246-04:00The Breakfast BlahsI'm in a breakfast funk. Each morning I wake up and have a hard time deciding what to eat. For the past few months I've been on an oatmeal with brown sugar kick, but that's over now. I tried a bagel and cream cheese for a week. I only have three cereals I enjoy eating - Frosted Mini Wheats, Honey Bunches of Oats with Almonds, and Cheerios (with bananas if possible) - but I haven't been feeling any of those options either. I don't want toast and eggs are too much of a hassle. Plus I really only enjoy eating eggs if they are accompanied by bacon or sausage, which really isn't healthy to eat everyday. Pancakes or waffles with syrup (because eating them any other way isn't an option for me) is too sugary. Do you see my conundrum? I need something filling so I'm not super munchy an hour after breakfast, and I'd like something reasonably healthy. Maybe I'll try banans and yogurt. What are you eating for breakfast these days?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiShgBrnDWwsTQD7Y0Q1ncpSxeFauKgZfTgyT4K5nnihkqkhMlfw-mI2prpgf_XaFvCeZ-G1Otw9B_2T3nycH_e0dwAs1lx_mmE24R5DnGAjtt7PxHtwxgrU2iEnOojWxZVNvofsmNIlLs/s1600-h/Breakfast.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 135px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiShgBrnDWwsTQD7Y0Q1ncpSxeFauKgZfTgyT4K5nnihkqkhMlfw-mI2prpgf_XaFvCeZ-G1Otw9B_2T3nycH_e0dwAs1lx_mmE24R5DnGAjtt7PxHtwxgrU2iEnOojWxZVNvofsmNIlLs/s400/Breakfast.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366178102507869138" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Erikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09126462645470946972noreply@blogger.com5