Saturday, March 31, 2012

dear caleb



 you are like christmas to me everyday, you can take my blues away with your smile and your shouts of, "mama", a zillion times a day.  thank you for making by birthday special for just spending it with me.  i am so lucky to be your mama and i will hold those memories close to my heart.  i love you forever.

with love,
mama

Friday, March 30, 2012

34

today is my birthday and all i can think about is how stupid i am acting my sulking all day.  instead of thinking about the wonderful gifts that i have been given like my son, my perfect husband, a nice home to live in, my family, friends, i am dwelling on what i don't have like,

the ability to get pregnant on my own and wanting another baby really badly, the fact that 34 is close to 35 where they tell you that you would be considered a high risk pregnancy because of age, that i am nearing 40 (not really, but in my mind i am), that i don't live where i want to, we are in a lot of debt, and i just added to that last night because of a over sight.  blah blah blah,

i want to get over myself, i sound pathetic, i know this.

Monday, March 26, 2012

all over

my sister went home today and regretfully we didn't take as many photos as we had wished.  we must have been busy just hanging out and of course our thrifting binge, which i continued today after i dropped her off at the airport.  i needed some emotional healing which can only be cured by scored loft, j crew, and banana republic finds for under 5.00.  here are some memories of our time together.  i'll post more as i go through them.

 i miss you something fierce sis, pound it.

 is there an issue with eating breakfast in moose hats?
 when mama says cheese i do this
 mushroom mania
 one of the many outings with auntie g
saying bye to pops while he's trying not to look like he's hiding a sandwich

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

sis

sis is in town until monday and we have been filling every second of our time together.  it is so refreshing to have her here and i know i have been a major sucky blogger, but we have some great posts that we will be doing on our fantabulous day of thrifting yesterday.  i am convinced that i should no longer buy new anything but find all my treasures second hand. 

my lenten promises have been going great.  here is my list so far.

1.  pray a chaplet
2.  no flat iron
3.  no TV
4.  no reading except for my daily Bible
5.  no coffee
6.  no tea
7.  no sweets
8.  no ice-cream
9.  pray rosary before work
10.  no meat
11.  no facebook
12.  no blog
13.  no internet
14.  no personal email
15.  no music in car
16.  no complaining
17.  pray for the divorced
18.  pray for peace
19.  no gossip
20.  no shopping
21.  go to confession this week i have to accomplish this on saturday
22.  pray for an enemy
23.  pay it forward i have to find an opportunity this week
24.  pray for all youths
25.  no chocolate
26.  no second helping at dinner 27.  maintain an hour of silence
28.  pray for an hour
29.  pray to stop abortion 30.  pray before meals
31.  visit the adoration chapel today
32.  pray for my spouse
33.  pray for my family
34.  pray for vocations
35.  pray for a cure for cancer
36.  pray for a cure of AIDS
37.  no nagging
38.  do a random act of kindness
39.  no criticizing/judging others
40.  give money to the poor box after mass this week

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

new hobby

so the mister has taken upon a couple of new hobbies starting with crafting things out of wood, smoking meats and other fine bacon wrapped goods in his new smoker, and now he is onto making his own sausages with his new best friend, the meat grinder.

last weekend, he made his first foray into the world of sausage making. here's how it went

first order of business was to get the business end of the grinder good and cold (so that the pork fat doesn't melt as its being ground) and feed in the 11 pounds of pork.
looks like it wont all fit into our largest bowl!
then, all the spices were mixed together with some red wine, and then mixed in to the ground meat
had to cook up a small portion to check the seasonings
caleb thinks its a great addition to his blueberries and home made pierogis
on to the stuffing! the casings were rinsed out and soaked in several changes of clean water for 3 hours. just load them on to the stuffer tube and start filling them up. here's the first length he's ever done
 when all the sausage is stuffed, twist it into links
here is the final product. 11 pounds of italian sausage. some went in the freezer, but most went to friends and family for their opinion.
they turned out great! much better than anything store bought. the mister had a great time doing this and is looking forward to making other types of sausages. he's been scouring the internet and buying sausage recipe books getting ideas for the next batch... maybe brats or perhaps a smoked kielbasa!

Thursday, March 1, 2012

he'll kill me

i'm sure caleb will kill me one day for posting these, but to a mother, these photos are priceless and just too darn cute.  it's funny how babies can practice potty and it's the most adorable thing, but taking pictures of an adult going potty is just not so much.  he doesn't really "go" on there but loves to sit on the potty like a big boy for a long time.  he then decides he is ready to get off and we must flush and say bye-bye, he yells it.






one week later

i am doing pretty good on my lenten promises.  today i pulled out the no chocolate paper...i have always loved sweets, especially chocolate and can say that i am addicted to it.  i have been praying for God's help in helping me be strong and resist temptations because my clothes are not fitting well and i'm really upset with myself about it, but yet i can't say no to that ice-cream sitting in the freezer or the candy stash i have in my drawer at work.  

i have some great photos to post this week of caleb and brian that i hope to get up by saturday. 
1.  pray a chaplet
2.  no flat iron
3.  no TV
4.  no reading except for my daily Bible
5.  no coffee
6.  no tea
7.  no sweets
8.  no ice-cream
9.  pray rosary before work
10.  no meat
11.  no facebook
12.  no blog
13.  no internet
14.  no personal email
15.  no music in car
16.  no complaining
17.  pray for the divorced
18.  pray for peace
19.  no gossip
20.  no shopping
21.  go to confession this week
22.  pray for an enemy
23.  pay it forward
24.  pray for all youths
25.  no chocolate
26.  no second helping at dinner
27.  maintain an hour of silence
28.  pray for an hour
29.  pray to stop abortion
30.  pray before meals
31.  visit the adoration chapel today
32.  pray for my spouse
33.  pray for my family
34.  pray for vocations
35.  pray for a cure for cancer
36.  pray for a cure of AIDS
37.  no nagging
38.  do a random act of kindness
39.  no criticizing/judging others
40.  give money to the poor box after mass this week