What's for dinner

I started meal planning several months ago. It has been a very helpful tool that has prevented us from just driving through on crazy days. Knowing my schedule in advance, I have been able to prepare what we are eating. I never have to run to the store for a missing ingredient, because I shop for my menu. It has been difficult on planning days to decide what to eat and there have been some days when I haven't felt like eating what I planned, but all the pro's out way the cons. So I thought I would share this weeks meal plan with you.

Monday: Tamale Pie, Salad
Tuesday: Left over pork from Sunday, salad
Wednesday: Breakfast for dinner
Thursday: Chicken enchilada's, beans and Salad
Friday: Steak, grilled onions, red potato's and green beans
Saturday: Spaghetti, salad
Sunday: Super Bowl, so I am assuming snack food for dinner! LOL

Wow! There's a lot of information on the internet!

*Throughout this blog, I have attached several links. They can be found in the name of the thing I am telling you about, if you would like to check these things out.

I know that might sound like such a stupid statement, obviously there is a lot of information on the Internet! But until recently, I never really explored it. I never had read a blog until my friend Hartley moved to China. I never looked for recipe's online. I did the things that most people do online, pay bills, email, social space (like myspace or facebook) . . . but that was about it. Then in August I joined a group that would change how I would look at the Internet. I joined a wonderful mommy group called Hemet Moms and Wives of Faith In this group I have met SO many amazing women! And not to mention talented!! In fact I have decided that when my crafty skills are all grown up I want to be like Jennifer Clark that's her blog! Check it out!! Also I learned from Jennifer is my new favorite place online Pandora Music You click in a favorite artist or genre of music and it makes you your own radio station! I have a couple right now, but my FAVORITE at the moment is my ABBA station!! Cameron can now sing several ABBA songs . . . is that bad? Also there is a women named Stephanie and for an entire year she made all of her meals in a crock pot!! On her blog, she includes all of the recipes! Then there is a man named Matt Who's daughter was born in March and 27 hours later his wife died when a blood clot went to her lungs. He has been raising his daughter alone and has shared not only her but his feeling and emotions of being a single dad. Then the final thing I will share with you is another very talented blog called the craft apple it is "sew" (every pun intended) refreshing to see other people embracing the domestic arts! I felt like I was one of the only people left who sewed and canned and baked. . . but then a little searching on the Internet found me all these wonderful people. So . . . I think it would be safe to say that I might have a slight blog obsession . . . but I'm okay with that.

Santa Cameron

Cameron has really taken a new interest in giving gifts. We encourage him to make people pictures and cards. But after Christmas he wanted to give other gifts and because I wouldn't take him shopping, he decided the best thing to do was give HIS things away! What a sweet child! He also wanted to wrap his gifts. Well because he went through 2 rolls of tape (the refill kind, so they were BIG rolls) in 3 days, I cut him off from having any more tape. I told him if he wants more tape, he will have to buy it himself. (His birthday is next month, may I suggest tape refill rolls or stock in 3M? Watch now that is all he will get! LOL) Anyways what a smart child to do when he is cut off from having tape? Improvise!! He started using his sticky foam letters to seal his gifts! You got the give the kid credit for being creative!

Some of his gifts


You can see what he wrapped


He was SO proud!


Cameron gave Ashley strict instructions on what to do with her gift


She was a good audience!

Mr. Fix It

Cameron is all about being helpful right now. This is something we are encouraging! It is his job to feed Bernadette, pull the trash cans up from the curb and help vacuum. He is also responsible to pick up his own toys and room. On Saturday the 17th Larry was cleaning our very dirty garage (it still hadn't recovered from Christmas). Cameron really enjoys being outside "helping daddy". I was inside getting some much needed work done. Larry came inside to as me a question and then went back outside. I heard "Kammy, come here . . . and bring the camera!" Cameron had taken upon himself to play Mr. Fix It in our entry way. Once upon a time when we purchased this house there was outdoor carpet leading from the driveway to the front door. I don't know what purpose this carpet served, but we pulled it up almost immediately. But for some reason . . . I'm not sure why, we never pulled up the tack strip that was holding it down. As the years passed, we just walked over this strip. In all reality, I had walked over it so many times, I didn't even realize it was there until Saturday. Cameron decided that he would take it up. He got a screw driver and a bolt driver out of Larry's tool box. Using his weight as leverage, he started to pry the strip up.

This first picture is before mommy intervened.


Notice he now has gloves and goggles on? This is the way mommy's think . . .


Working hard


Making progress!


Almost done


Cleaning up his mess (he learned that from mommy)

Check it out

So as most of you probably know, I co-own a photography business with my sister. I just started a blog for that so I can keep my clients updated on upcoming events, pictures, special discounts or whatever . . . it's a blog, there aren't any rules right? So if you are interested in the blog for All Yours Photography, you can check it out at aypnews.blogspot.com also you can check out our website at www.aypforyou.com

Cameron the Builder

Cameron is really starting assert his masculinity these day's. He is becoming "all boy" which I didn't know he could become anymore "all boy" than he already is, but alas he is. It's so funny to watch him and listen to the things he says. His desire to be like his daddy is also very strong. He says things like "I have to go to work tomorrow, I'm working overtime at station 7". One of Cameron and Larry's favorite things to do is tool around in the backyard. They both would be perfectly content to sit in the dirt and "work" all day long, everyday! His newest favorite thing to do is get his "work clothes" on. He really should say "work accessories" because he works in whatever he is wearing that day, but he likes to add a pair of suspenders, a hardhat and a small arsenal of tools. He will walk around measuring things, telling us what needs to be moved and all other sorts of "work" related stuff. Two of his favorite things to do is water and "make concrete". It's a good thing we have plenty of things to water! But to make "concrete" he takes the hose over to his sandbox, which is hardly a sandbox as much a dirt patch. It used to be all sand, but years of digging holes and filling them have left him with a combination sand/dirt box, which suits him just fine! But he will go over to his play area, mix "concrete" (which is just dirt) and water in his wheel barrow and then dump at the "construction site". Can I just say, having a boy ROCKS!

Cameron watering an apple tree


Cameron in his "work clothes"


Got to have tools


off to "work"

Help Mommy!! I'm stuck!

I was on the phone with my mom discussing the new doctor I had seen today. Cameron was instructed to pick up all of his cars. I heard a "Help MOMMY!!" I went into his room and well I will just let the pictures speak for themselves! Yes I'm one of those terrible parents that as long as my kid is not in mortal danger will take a picture before I help him.

Good friends, Quick visit!

On Dec. 30th our good friends, Nate and Jessica and their baby Aiden were in CA visiting family. Due to their busy family schedules, we were only able to visit for about 2 hours. They went into Norco to visit family, so I met them in Corona at Larry's station. Our visit was brief but great!!! The guys got to talk fire (Nate used to work for CDF but now is a Firefighter in OR) and Jessica and I got to talk babies, motherhood and everything that happens after the birth of your baby. Oh and misery loves company, so as from one part-time single parent to another, we were able to discuss the joys and pains to raising a firefighting family (more joys then pains of course). It was SO good to see them and I'm glad we got a chance to meet Aiden before he got any bigger!! It had been 3.5 years since our last visit so they were shocked at how big Cameron was too! We made a promise to each other that we wouldn't allow as much time to pass between now and the next visit. I hope it's a promise we all can keep!

Me and Aiden


Jessica and Cameron



Cameron age 4 1/2 and Aiden 9 months


Aiden's like "who is this kid?"


SO cute!!


The guys talking "shop"


I want to keep him!


Us 2008

What a BEE-utiful Garden!

Larry and I really enjoy placing garden decorations in in our garden. We have a large collection of fun little chatckies we have collected over the years. We have a flower made from horseshoes, several garden signs, welcoming you to our garden, bird feeders that we have purchased and some we have made. But our favorites are our bugs. We have started a collection of bowling ball bugs. We already had two ladybugs, but decided to add a bee. I decided to share this creation with you.




If you would like to make one of these for yourself, you will need the following things: Bowling ball, Copper Wire, Metal Screen, 26 gauge copper wire, latex paint/spray paint, wooden balls, Primer paint, clear caulk.





Primer the ball (we used spray paint, but you could use any latex paint)



Paint ball yellow (we used spray paint for this too)



Add black stripes (we used a outdoor safe latex paint)






Cut copper wire. You will need two that are 20" and two that are 24", bend into ovals:




"Sew" Screen mesh to "wing ovals" using copper wire (I found this was easiest if I cut a large enough square of mesh then tacked in one spot with wire, then started "sewing at the end, working my way around the wing, bending and trimming the mesh as I went):




We drilled new holes into the ball. You could use the existing holes, but this particular ball (which we found) had 12 hols in it! So we put those on the underbelly and drilled new holes. The other holes will be in the dirt. You need a total of three holes. Two for the wings, one for the antenna.




Fill holes with clear caulk and insert wings and antenna, if you need to add additional caulk:





Clean any caulk from around the ball:




We didn't have any wooden balls, I need to go out and get them. Paint them black and then place at the ends of the atenna's. The caulk needs at least 24 hrs. to dry.

I finally get it!

Ok in my for mentioned blog I discuss how fast time goes and that I am often in a state of wonderment trying to figure out where time went. Tonight I had a realization. I'm sure I have realized this to some degree in the past, but since I am now a blogger it seems only appropriate that I should share this revelation with you.

Today is January first. Christmas was exactly one week ago. On Sunday December 21st we went to Torrance to have Christmas with my family out there. While we were out there I asked my mom (she drove out there, therefore it was her truck. I don't have to ask permission to go places normally) if we could go to Joann's. The Del Amo fashion center (it's like the third biggest mall in the country) has a HUGE Joann's! She said sure and off we went. (On a side note there is a Crate and Barrel next door and I got some fabulous kitchen things, but I digress) We went into Joann's a full FOUR days BEFORE Christmas and everything was 70% off!!!! And they were stocking the shelves with Valentines and Easter, yes Easter items!! So back to today, January first. I have a Kohl's gift card and thought there might be some good sales so Cameron and I ventured out and went to the new shopping center off of Newport Road in Menifee. We went into Super Target and found what was left of their Christmas merchandise (now at 75% off!) and it was next to the SUMMER furniture!!! Yes the summer outdoor furniture is already for sale. Along with Valentine's and Easter. Christmas was 7 days ago and they are selling hammocks and umbrellas! So then I came home and after spotting a mouse in the house, I ran to Walmart to get some traps. WalMart still had lots of Christmas decorations (it was only 50% off) But there was an entire isle just for Valentines day candy!! I mean how could we possibly need more candy? I still have Halloween candy! But then it started to really dawn on me. Time moves fast because we are continually reminded by the media, society and consumerism to move fast. Then I discovered another Holiday. It's not really a Holiday, but it has landed Holiday status in the stores because they market for it just like the other Holiday's. It's the Superbowl! You can get all matching dishes and cups and banners and table clothes and serving trays for your Superbowl party! So as I was leaving Walmart without traps, they were out, (I don't know if I was irritated or happy by this. Irritated because I had to go somewhere else, but happy because I am apparently not the only person having mouse problems) I was driving back toward my neck of the woods and I noticed there were far less Christmas lights on. Streets that just a week ago, were aglow with the lights of Christmas excitement, were now dark and dull. And then I got sad. As a society we build our selves up for Christmas. Heck the decorations are in the store in mid September, but as soon as the morning of the 25th passes, Christmas is over to some people. They can't wait till bright and early on the 26th to go return all the stuff they got that they hated. I mention this because Cameron and I were watching a Christmas Carol last night. He asked why if Christmas was over, we were going to watch a Christmas movie. I explained that it was the last day of December, and I thought it seemed right. I need to stress that I hadn't seen the Christmas Carol in probably three years. It had been probably 10 years since I read the book, if not longer. Now I am familiar, as probably are you, with the overall theme and story of A Christmas Carol. But there was one line near the end that really stuck with me. When Scrooge says he will keep Christmas and remember it all year. What a wonderful idea! As I think about this weekend and how we will be "un-decorating" I think of not just of the commercial Christmas but of the real meaning of Christmas. Of a baby born in a manger. A baby who took a human form so that some years later he could die on a cross for my sins. That the selfless act of his Father our Lord to give to us, when we least deserve it. That we can't even take the time out of our live to fully appreciate what a wonderful gift Christmas is.

So here it is, our lives move fast, because they move fast. We are busy. Especially here in California, where we seem to move at the speed of . . . well I don't know what, cause it ain't the freeways'. But we move fast. It's in part because we are always looking as to what is next instead of what is now. I can't fully enjoy Christmas if Valentines day is being shoved down my throat. And I can't enjoy Easter if I have to get ready for the summer. And I can't enjoy the summer because i have to get ready for Halloween. And it's just a hop-skip-and-a shopping trip to Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. And then again . . . another year gone behind us . . . we will sit and wonder "where did the time go?" as we plan our next . . .

Happy New Year!!!

I'm utterly amazed that today is January first 2009!!! I can not believe how fast time is moving. They say it goes faster as you get older, but I am taking new heart to the song by Kenny Chesney "Don't Blink" They took the link down on youtube, but if you haven't heard the song, you can go to cmt.com and type in the title. But he talks about how you shouldn't blink because life moves faster than a blink. I am starting to believe this. I mean here I am on the dawn of a new year and it seemed like just yesterday I was pulling out my Christmas decorations. Where did the month go? Then I think that in 2 months Cameron will be 5! FIVE!!! That is so crazy to me! He has grown a whole inch in less than a month!! Where did the time go? He's smart and creative and sneaky and funny and and and, and just "yesterday" he was an infant! Well I wanted to post something, because I hadn't realized that it had been almost a whole two weeks since my last post! I know, where did the time go. But I have so much to post later. Piper Jane made her appearance and I want to share her with you. Then of course we had Christmas and that was such a blessing and then I will share with you our very uneventful New Years Eve . . . So I will be back later to fill you in about the end of our 2008 in a little bit. Until then I hope your 2009 is full of blessings and health and happiness. . . and maybe it will go slow for you, if not, then next January 1, you can sit in utter shock with me as a ponder where 2009 went!