For Rilz! It's Moprah!

My e-bff TAMNers is having a way super cool e-party and giving away lots of way super cool goodees!!! Go find her and she can be you're e-bff to...but not as good as mine...for rilz.

http://seriouslysoblessed.blogspot.com/2008/12/on-1rst-day-of-christmas-my-moprah-gave.html

18 Months and Yummy Cake

Tatiana has made it to 18 months and contrary to popular belief, Rick and I CAN make kids that aren't jacked up! She's about as healthy as they come...23 pounds, 31 inches, and up to date on immunizations! Did you know when kids get colds they don't always lead to pneumonia and ear infections? Did you know that not all children have to have blood transfusions on a regular basis, or infusions to keep them alive? Really! I'm serious! It's true!

So, apparently Pillsbury makes a mean cinnamon loaf. Here are some pics of Tatiana getting every last crumb she can...yes, I took pictures instead of telling her it's disgusting to lick the floor.

Holiday Treats

I love making/eating treats...shocking, I know. I found this recipe on-line the other day and thought it was too much fun to keep it to myself. To help out the cooking dummies out there, I've documented each step with a picture. I believe these things are called Chocolate Buttons. Enjoy!

Step 1: Ingredients
You'll need a bag of pretzels (preferably the circle kind, but if you can't find those the regular twisty ones will do), any variety Hershey Kiss, M&Ms, and parchment paper (no! not wax paper).






Step 2: The pretzels
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper then add the pretzels. Make sure they don't overlap and they are all on the paper and not touching the cookie sheet.




Step 3: Chocolate
Unwrap the Hershey Kisses and put one Kiss on top of each pretzel.






Step 4: Baking
Put in a 200 degree oven for 5-10 minutes or until chocolate is melted (the Kisses will still have their form).





Step 5: More chocolate
Take M&Ms and place in the center of the Hershey Kiss and press down so the chocolate flattens out a little and covers the center of the pretzel. Leave on parchment paper until completely cooled.



Not bad, eh?

I Give Up

Well, I guess it's better than his last school picture.

Happy Holidays!

We all know I'm a blog hopper. I jump from one blog to another reading people's lives and thoughts. I roll my eyes, I laugh out loud, I even forward stuff to Rick and some of my other cyber friends so they can join in on the fun. During this past week I've noticed a pattern and it's driving me crazy...almost as much as e-mail forwards.

Quit being offended by the use of Happy Holidays!

Are you people serious? I can't even begin to describe how annoyed I get when I hear about Christmas being under attack because people don't wish you a Merry Christmas when you buy your groceries at the store or because there's a menorah next to the nativity at city hall. Last time I checked there is more than one holiday during this time of year. Ever heard of Hanukkah? Kwanzaa? New Years Day ring a bell? Happy Holidays is an all encompassing term used to lump everything into one, not to take away your right, or mine, to celebrate the birth of your/my Savior. And I promise if you say it or hear it, it won't make you any less of a Christian or any more of a socialist.

Taking offense when offense is not intended isn't the most Christlike thing. I don't think baby Jesus, or the grown up one for that matter, would approve of the lack of brotherly love.

Dear Ol' Dad

Aren loves Rick. Everything about Rick intrigues him and he wants to be just like his dad in every way. If Rick uses a word that Aren is unfamiliar with, the word must be defined and it is immediately incorporated into Aren's vocabulary. Most recently Aren has added the word "literally" to his list of words. When Rick says, "Aren, go jump in the car," it is followed up by Aren saying, "Do you mean literally?"

Rick can be a pretty sarcastic person and Aren has been picking up on that and trying to use it appropriately. He'll even go so far as to say, "Dad, do you think that was sarcastic enough?" Rick honestly has a tear in his eye when Aren is able to make a comment that is not only filled with correct vocabulary usage, but can also be used as a back handed remark.

There is one thing however that Aren wants nothing to do with when it comes to Rick. This morning Rick made eggs for everyone and Aren grabbed his plate and sat down without getting a fork. Rick, who had already been eating, gave Aren his fork and went to get another one. I looked at Aren and said, "Ew! Now you have daddy germs." Aren just grinned and said, "Fine by me! I like dad." It would have been perfect if it had stopped there, but Rick had to open his mouth and say, "Now you have my germs and my genes. Hope you like hairy backs!"

Aren's face went blank, he dropped his fork, spit out his eggs, and went and found a different fork to use. Seems that Aren wants to be just like his dad...but the hairless version.

Pockets are for Sissys...Take 2

Come on. Who needs pockets when you've got a perfectly good diaper, ya know?