September 30, 2010

Roast

Roast Potatoes and Carrots, Yummo!


Here's one of my favorite meals, ever! It's a classic easy crock pot meal, my favorite way to cook.
Roast Potatoes and Carrots:
Use whatever kind of roast you have, or stew meat works easy as well
Diced Carrots in Chunks
Diced Potatoes
Celery (optional)
Sliced Onions
1 Can beef broth
1 Can tomatoes (optional)
1 brown gravy mix or french onion soup mix (to your taste)
add water to cover vegetables and season to your taste with salt, pepper, garlic,etc.

September 29, 2010

In the spirit of Halloween



September 22, 2010

Football Season! It's hard to believe the old stadium is gone!




September 21, 2010

Follow Up On Tillage


Our summer garden project was quiet an experience. I took advice from many people about getting the proper soil, but in the end I kind of did my own thing with a mixture of the ideas. I wanted to make it as inexpensive as possible so I found a local compost center and we got free compost to add to the red Oklahoma clay/dirt. We were out of pocket $10 for a load the second time we went back, which filled an entire trailer bed. So, not bad! I bought a rain barrel ($40) to help water and cut cost watering, unfortunally we did not have much rain. Another thing I added to my soil mixture was coffee grounds, which a local business saved for me and I added them as I got them. The grounds have a lot of nutrients that are helpful to the plants, which I posted about in an earlier post. I planted a variety of things, peppers, onion, carrots, broccolli, lettuce, cucumber, squash, tomatoes and cilantro. Some of which did much better than the others. My best plants were the peppers, squash and cucumbers...the others not so good this time. This was definetly a learning experience as a first time gardener. I will now know more about what to do next year, so even though I was not thrilled with how it all turned out in the end, I did learn what works and what doesnt. I also learned that a garden takes a lot of work! I will keep you updated on what I think worked and what was a waste of time or money.

September 20, 2010

Snack Mix Ideas:Fun and easy snack ideas for the kiddo's to help with and eat

Cocoa Smores Snack Mix:
Teddy grahams
Marshmallows
Chocolate chips
1 pkg. Hot cocoa (add dry)
Add any other fun sweet treats you like before mixing together

Apple Cinnamon Snack Mix:
Chex cereal (wheat, rice, corn...you decide)
Dried apples
Yogurt covered raisins
Apple Cinnamon cheerios
Almonds
Mix cinnamon and brown sugar then coat mix and its ready to eat.

September 19, 2010

Our Journey With Plagiocephaly


Do you ever look at your baby and wonder if what you are seeing is real? Is my baby’s head shape ok? It’s sometimes hard for a parent to see what others might because we don’t want to admit that there could be anything wrong with our perfect little one. I went back and forth on this issue, until I finally addressed it and thankfully it wasn’t too late to do something about it. Our pediatrician agreed that Wrangler’s head measurements were off and after I brought it to his attention he sent us to a local therapy place that makes helmets for kids with misshaped heads. After, going for our consult there I was not happy with what they were telling me, way too many side effects from kids wearing these helmets. So, I started to research a lot and this is when I found Cranial Technologies. Cranial Tech’s says they are reshaping children’s lives and this is exactly what they did for Wrangler. After our consult at Cranial Tech I was filled with so much hope. Wrangler was about 4mo. old at the time and this was going to be a long journey AND a 5 plus hour drive on Friday’s, but I knew in my heart it was the right choice for our family and his future. We often left very early in the morning on Friday just me and the 4mo. old baby in the car for 5 hours there just for a 30 minute adjustment visit, only to turn around and drive back 5 hours home. Other times I would meet my mom half way and she would go with us, helping with the crying unhappy baby in the back seat. Then sometimes we flew just thirty minutes there and then back, me and Wrangler on the plane back and forth. All, these times tested my patients big time and at times, I cried, but thanked God at the same time, only hoping for the best outcome. We did this for almost a year, because after the first band Wrangler needed one more just to assure the best end results. I can honestly say with all my heart that this was the best choice for the best end result of our battle with Plagiocephaly and I could not be happier! Plagio has become more common today because of SIDS the doctors are telling us to sleep our baby’s only on their back and then our babies are getting misshaped heads, instead we should be turning them, to their side to sleep as well in my opinion. In most cases it’s the external pressures being applied to the soft baby’s skull that leads to one of the several different types of deformities. Cranial Tech has what is called a DOC Band and here are some quick facts about it below.
If you have any question about the shape of your babies’ head go to their web site and take an online evaluation today, don’t wait! www.cranialtech.com
Facts about the DOC Band and Cranial Technologies:
• The Band weighs only about 6 ounces
• Cranial Tech treats babies age 3 months to 18 months
• The band is made from a material that causes less irritation to skin
• The band is so light it doesn’t interfere with child’s daily activities
• The band encourages growth in the flattened areas of the head
• The DOC Band has been FDA approved since 1998
• The company has been in business for 20 plus years

September 15, 2010

Wordless Wednesday





September 13, 2010


Banana Peanut Butter Treats
I love this kid friendly snack because it gets the kids involved, and is a healthy fun snack option that everyone can enjoy.


Banana's
Peanut Butter
Oreo cookies (optional)
Sprinkles (optional)
Saran wrap or wax paper
Popsicle stick

First cut banana in half and put popsicle stick in end of banana
Cover banana with peanut butter
Crush oreo's and roll peanut butter covered banana in crushed oreo mix
Sprinkle with colorful sprinkles
Wrap with saran wrap or wax paper and freeze for two hours
Set out about 10 minutes before eating to soften a little and enjoy!

If you dont like oreo cookies you can use graham crackers, chocolate chips, m&m's or anything else you would like.

September 11, 2010

A Year of Defining Moments in My Life
2001 was probably the biggest year of my life! I believe life is all about a few big events that help to define who we are and this was definitely a defining year in my life. As, a little girl growing up in the pretty much “perfect” all American family, I never imagined my life could change so drastically in a matter of minutes….but it did and I can look back now and be thankful I am here to tell you about it. Because I did not think I would ever survive this year. Which brings me to say what does not kill you does only make you stronger, trust me! The year starts with me losing my grandma on the first day of the year 1-1-01, which in a way was a blessing because she was very sick for many years and needed to go to be with our good lord, but it still hurts to lose your loved ones and I had lost many before this day, so I knew this pain. I’m bothered to say that I had lost so many loved ones to this point in my life that I recognized the feeling and knew the process. Then came February 10th 2001 and just typing this date makes me break down into tears because this was a day of unimaginable pain for me! In college at the time, my best friend and I had gone to the movies, during that time my daddy called me which he often did when he got off work at night, just to leave me a message that said how much he loved his Kellie Girl and to call him back, so after the movie that’s exactly what I did….but no answer. Later that evening one of my best guy friends came to the house unexpectedly and by the look on his face I knew something was wrong the second he walked in the door and looked at me…but what could it be? He says to me and my best friend we need to go home, Kellie your dad has been shot. I fall to the ground, then hanging over the toilet so sick from the shock, and then we rush home a three hour drive that seemed like eternity, all along knowing my daddy is the strongest man in the world and he would get through this and be just fine. Arrive to the hospital and there’s what seems like hundreds of people starring at me, I ask where is he, let me see him NOW and someone leads me into a room by the ER…my memories start to fade from here because in this room I ask again to take me to him and I clearly remember my aunt saying the coroner has taken him for autopsy, WHAT? This is pretty much the last thing I remember until approximately March 5th 2001 when something inside me told me I was pregnant, not being completely sane during the times leading up to this point all I can say is this was a true Grace of God. Without this pregnancy I can assure you I would not be sane today if I would have even survived this tragedy. Sometime around April we decided to build a house next door to my parent’s house. May flew by and in June we had decided to have a wedding, it was my guy friends baby that I mentioned early and so there I was barefoot and pregnant in a field surrounded by people who loved me, some of the knowing this was not what was in my heart, but through all the heartache of the recent past everyone just went with it. July came and I turned 21, wow to be 21 and pregnant, that past quickly and I just got bigger and bigger, having complications the entire pregnancy in and out of the hospital. August came and went and then 9/11 hit… in watching this tragedy on the TV that morning I started to have contractions again and landed myself back in the hospital. As I lay in the bed begging god to keep my baby safe, I felt guilty for all the lose that had happened that day and here I lay pleading with him once again not to take anyone else away from me. This is a day I will always remember and my heart will forever go out to all the victims of this tragedy forever. Come October I realized this marriage was not working (a whole other story) but wanted to keep trying for our baby girl. November 2001 our beautiful perfect baby girl was born six weeks early, but she was a fighter from the day god blessed us with her and for that I am very grateful. By December I had filed for D.I.V.O.R.C.E knowing that being a single mom in college was going to be hard, but like I said earlier what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger and that is what this year did for me!
Life today is much better; I am a survivor in my own way and in my own time. I am stronger because of these events. I have gone through counseling for Post Traumatic Stress and this is still something I deal with everyday of my life. Although I do not understand all of this and the pain will never go away, I am right where I was always meant to be…with a wonderful family, my true love and husband, and three absolutely amazing children. Thank You God!
I love you Daddy

September 8, 2010

Wordless Wednesday

Dumpling

Wrangler

Rainbow

Meet Our Family

September 7, 2010

Fun Little Game
My IRL BFF tagged me on Twitter to play this fun little game, so here it is.

1)What song remids you of a childhood memory? I would have to say anything that George Strait came out with in the 80’s, but especially “The Fireman”
I think “Swingin” by John Anderson would have to be another because I am a huge daddy’s girl and we would sing this song all the time as a little girl.

2)Are you a night owl or early bird? Used to be night owl, but am now an early bird…think that’s what happens after you have babies…

3)Give us a snapshot of you in high school? Have no pic’s to upload on my new computer, so coming from my husband’s mouth....I was quiet, but sweet and helpful to others….he says I was only quiet because I had my BF to do all the talking…LOL

4)This or That? Rain or Snow? Snow in the winter and Rain in the Summer ;) Depends on the day and what I need to get done.

5)Favorite Movie Quote? A recent fav is from The Blind Side when during the football game the Coach says “Where were you taking him?” And Michael reply’s “To the bus coach, it was time for him to go home!” Great Movie!

6)What color are your underwear? Black and White



Now pass it on to some fellow bloggers

September 4, 2010

After three months without a computer, I'm back and this blog is a total mess! Not how I left it...and now working to get it back to its old self, ugh! So much has happened over the last few months, but where to start, I'm not sure...so let me get back on track and then decide what in the crap to blog about later. My brain is in overload with info. to share! I will get back to you and get this all figured out soon..... until then.