An Usher Kind of Morning

This morning started out like most other mornings.  I had to tear myself off my mattress and try not to fall down the stairs to get my morning coffee.  Today was one of the morning I would be taking live-in #1 to school, middle school that is, so I started the truck to get it all warm and cozy.  When I got into the truck I noticed the music was turned down too low to hear so I turned it up, one minute later I turned it back down...it appears Alanis Morrissette is not a good match for me in the mornings.

But then, as I am pulling into the parking lot of live-in #1's middle school, my spirits perked up  I came awake with a start...Usher was singing none other than my favorite 2011 boating song.  It was my number one song on my playlist.  I would play it Loud and Proud on the boat and we all loved it.  The song took me back to a July afternoon when I took a boat full of girls out surfing, leaving the guys in our dust...or should I say ripples since we were on the water...

So I only saw it fitting that this morning at 7:45 a.m. I once again played it Loud and Proud...BUT alas I forgot where we were at and how live-in #1 gets very embarrassed by my antics at times.  She immediately turned it WAY down so I turned it back UP, she turned it down again so I turned it back up, told her this was my car and began to work on getting my groove on.  She was NOT impressed.  So I turned it down, only a little, so she could get out of the car and begin her walk run of shame into the school as her mother was obviously deliriously high on Usher...then I turned the music back up and fought the temptation to completely humiliate my daughter by dancing my way out of the parking lot.

When the song was over I went back to normal volume and Live-In #2 told me he thought he might be deaf now.  But I don't care....I needed to channel my inner winterized boating soul!

After all....DJ's got me falling in love!

Letter to Live-In #2

Dear Live-In #2:

On January 9, 2002 at 11:46 a.m. my world was blessed by your arrival.  You continue to bless my life each day.  I love the wonder in your eyes as you discover something new and the excitement you express when you share what you have learned with me.  Seeing the world through your eyes is a wondrous thing.

I tell you sometimes that I am proud of you and I want you to understand why.  You are good, and kind, and caring, and empathetic, and generous, and thoughtful.  You not only make my world brighter but you bring light to those you know.  You are infectious and an essential part of my life!

Now, about that little saying that you have being saying lately..."I am a pre-teen now"...nice try...how about just staying my baby!

Last, I want to you to read this very carefully because I know you are a sponge when it comes to information.  I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as there is air to breathe my baby you'll be.

I love you my son!

Love,
Mommy

Happy 10th Birthday to My Boy

 Today my son turns 10 years old!!  I don't know where the time goes, but here is a look back at the past year of his life.

He is a fan of the Oregon Ducks

He played tackle football for the first time and loved it!

Well hello Handsome...uh, hold on a minute...you are supposed to be my baby!

He made a touchdown at Reesers Stadium - Home of the OSU Beavers

Even though he is a Oregon Ducks Fan.

He showed us his wild side!  

Ozzy Osborne Crazy Train

He continued in his quest to Wake Surf

And Succeeded!!!

He was a West Salem Little League 9/10 All Star

And MY ALL STAR!

1st day of 4th Grade

Hunting Mice with his brother

Telling stories around the campfire

Playing on the Beach

Showing off his new Oceanic White Tip Shark Tooth Necklace

Goofing around at the Christmas Tree Farm

Light Sabor fun in the garage with his cousin on Thanksgiving

My little Falcons Fan!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH MY 10 YEAR OLD BOY!!!

Peace

On our Christmas mantle is the word PEACE.  There are five letters in this word, there are five people in my family, it may seem only natural.  However, there is a story behind why our stocking hang from this word.

This story was born nine years ago when I was expecting my third child.  My husband and I had gone in for a routine ultra sound just after Thanksgiving.  However, this ultra sound was anything but routine.  My doctor could not find four chambers in my baby's heart.  Try as he may, he could only find two chambers.  

We were immediately set up for a follow up ultra sound at another doctor's office that was used to working with high risk pregnancies.  We had to wait what felt like forever, but in fact was probably about three or four days until our next appointment.   I was beside myself with fear for my unborn child and what life would hold for him.   I was in a state of constant worry and crying.  I spent a lot of time praying for my unborn child.

One night, I woke up to a voice telling me 'It is going to be okay'.  My head shot up off the pillow, but the house was dark and everyone was asleep.  What I was left with was an overwhelming sense of Peace.  A Peace that could only be from God as it surpassed my understanding.

When my doctor appointment came, we found that our son's heart did in fact have four chambers and in fact...everything was okay.  That year as I went Christmas shopping I bought our PEACE stocking holders.  Each year I pull them out and am so thankful for the gift of Peace God gave me that year.

My Christmas wish for you is that you too will have God's Peace that surpasses our human understanding.  Merry Christmas!  Peace be with you!

And the Peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:7

Top Ten - Reasons I Run

I have told you before, I run.  I would not consider myself a runner, but I run.  I want to say I am a runner, but the words never make it past my lips.  Hello, my name is Carol and I am a..., nevermind - I run.

These days my runs are sometimes more sporadic than they used to be.  My running partner has been injured for the past six months and I find my self discipline is much better when she is waiting for me to get my running ass out of bed than when she is not.  Nevertheless, I am still running and these are my top ten reasons for doing so:

10.   I don't want to be a quitter.  I've worked hard to get to where I am at, I don't want to give it up and have to start at square one when I decide, again, that I need to shed some pounds.

9.     I want to set a good example for my live-ins.  Exercise is a good thing...so I am told.

8.     I have a mean 'Sweet Tooth'.  Pie should be a breakfast food and cookies are not a one and I'm done kind of food for me.

7.     I don't believe in margarine, I like Butter...and lots of it!

6.     I believe Sauces should be it's own food group.  Hollandaise Sauce, Pepper Sauce, Alfredo Sauce, anything with heavy cream and butter sauce...

5.     I have some really cute running clothes that I like to wear.  Not to mention the small fortune I spent on them.

4.   I like the feeling when I am all done.  It makes me feel good to know while most people are getting up and ready for their day, I have already run at least three miles.

3.    If I do it today, I will have a break tomorrow.

2.    I LOVE to eat. Savory, Sweet or Baked Goods...I love them all so very much.

1.    And my number one reason is My Jeans.  I like them, I'd like to continue to fit into them.  So when I am going through all the thoughts in my head as to why I should get out of my warm cocoon and go run in the morning, it is my jeans that finally gets me up and going.

So there you have it.  Another method to my madness, another peak into the workings of my mind.

Caramel Wonder Bars

Let me start by telling you that if you are looking for a waist friendly dessert, this is not your recipe.  However, if you are looking for something that makes you throw your arms up in rapturous abandon, then this is most definitely a dessert that will not disappoint.   

I got this recipe from my friend Carmel.  Not spelled the same so no pun intended...  

Carmel is a cookie diva!  Her hands are incapable of making a bad cookie.  Her cookies are always moist and delicious, unlike  mine that often turn out flat and greasy!  When she made these for me the first time I crowned her Queen Carmel of Enchanted Cookie Land.  I am sure there is such a place...

Ok, I'll get out of my own head and tell you how to make them.

For the Crust/Bar you will need Quick Oats, Flour, Brown Sugar, Baking Soda, Salt & Butter

In a large bowl add 1 1/2 c. Oats, 1 1/2 c. Flour, 1 1/4 c. Brown Sugar, 3/4 tsp. Baking Soda, & 1/4 tsp. Salt.

Mix all dry ingredients together.

Next, melt 3/4 c. Butter and pour into dry ingredients.

Mix together until well incorporated and you have a crumbly mixture.

Set aside 1 cup of this delicious mixture.

Pour the remaining mixture into a 9x13 Glass Pan (spray/grease the pan prior)

Press down so the mixture is evenly distributed in the pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

In the meantime, melt a 1 pkg (14 oz) bag of caramels and 1/2 whipping cream together in the microwave.  

Do this in one minute intervals, stirring in between intervals.

*Note: if you buy caramels in bulk like me you will need approximately 40-50 caramels to equal 14 oz pkg.

Now you need 1 package semi-sweet chocolate chips (1 1/2 - 2 cups if you like bulk).

When your crust is finished cooking, sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top evenly.

Then pour the melted Caramel mixture over the top of the chocolate chips.

Finally, sprinkle the reserved Oat mixture over the top.

Bake an additional 15-20 minutes until golden brown.

Cut into bite size squares and be thankful these are not a sin to eat!

Caramel Wonder Bars

1 1/2 c. Quick Oats

1 1/2 c. Flour

1 1/4 c. Brown Sugar

3/4 tsp. Baking Soda

1/4 tsp. Salt

3/4 c. Butter, melted

1 pkg (14 oz) or 50 individual Caramels

1/2 c. Whipping Cream

1 pkg Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips

In a bowl stir 1st five ingredients.  Stir in melted butter.  Set aside 1 cup of mixture for topping.  Press remaining Oat mixture into a 13.9.2 pan.  Bake at 250 degrees for 10 minutes or until light brown.  Combine caramels and cream in sauce pan or microwave bowl.  Cook over low heat until melted, stirring often.  Sprinkle chocolate chips over hot crust.  Top with Caramel mixture.  Sprinkle reserved oat mixture on top.  Bake an additional 15-20 minutes until top is golden brown.

Back to School - Boys vs. Girls

My first child was a girl.  When we found out our second child would be a boy my mother told me I would notice a difference in the way a baby boy cried vs. a baby girl.  She even told me that my sister had called her and told her she was right about this.  I never noticed it.

Fast forward to now and I am noticing a big difference between my girl and my boys...this is not a personality difference, it is definitely gender difference.

Last week my sweet live-ins started school.  At the end of each of their days I ask them how their days went, what was their favorite thing, do they like their teacher, what they played on the playground, did they eat all their lunch, etc...

My sweet girl is happy to tell me all about her day, in colorful, vivid detail.  A moment by moment recollection.  When I ask her questions she answers happily and thoroughly.  This process takes quite a while.  Just when I think I have heard it all, we have dinner and I hear it all again and then some.

In contrast, trying to get any information out of my boys about their day is like trying to pull teeth with no hands.  This is how this conversation usually sounds:

How was your day? Fine
Do you like your teacher? Yes
What was your favorite part of the day? Recess
You can't pick recess.  Then nothing.
What did you learn? Nothing
Did you do math?

It is a this point that Live-In #2 pretty much stops answering and Live-In #3 makes a loud sound of frustration.  This is when I realize I like all the colorful vivid detail.  I am used to 13 years of colorful vivid detail. But, my precious boys are not going to give it to me.

I can sum it all up...My girl is her mother's daughter and my boys are their father's sons.