Life Happens

April 29th was my sister, AKA the Queen's, 40th birthday.  Her hubby, Kickball Ken, threw her a somewhat surprise birthday bbq party.  I say somewhat surprise because she knew there was going to be a birthday bbq but only thought family was coming.  He surprised her by inviting all her friends.  Very sweet!

One of our friends, David, was in attendance.  I asked how he was doing and he gave me a quick catch me up.  He then said, "I know you've been super busy!"  I opened my mouth and took a deep breath about to launch into my try-to-be-quick-but-never-am catch him up when he says, "I know this because you haven't blogged in months and you aren't on Facebook anymore."  Well, there you have it.

So what happened?  Really, I'm not sure.  I guess life happened.  Like most things in life some things have been good and some things have been not so good.  Then there's getting back into the swing of things and forgetting to make time for favorite past times like blogging.

You know how you don't talk to a good friend for a couple weeks and then it slips into a couple months to maybe even a whole year?  Then you realize gee I haven't talked with so-and-so in ages!  What would I say? There's so much that's happened.  Yet at the same time, nothing.  Yes, so I have been feeling this way about writing again.  What to say?  Where to start?  What's important?

I started making a list.  I hope to get to writing about some of the things on it.  I've been cooking some wonderful things and thinking a picture would be in order.  Yet I don't find my way to the camera.  More often than not I don't even think to get the camera.  Maybe that's the problem.  Could it be writer's block?  I'm certainly having no trouble now.  Well, ok you got me.  Now I'm just rambling.

Here are the highlights of my life since Feb 28, my last post.

Z-Man turned THREE!  All Grandparents were in town for what the Queen calls "Prom in March for Z".  I'm sure she means it affectionately right?

My dad, the Dude, got double pneumonia complete with a collapsed lung and needed pretty much emergency surgery.  He was in Flagstaff when it all came to a head so the Queen and I went there to be with him and J-Mo.  We were so glad we did and were incredibly thankful our husbands stepped up to the plate as Mr Moms.  Love you guys!

He's doing much better (yesterday he rated himself feeling at 85%) but believe me when I tell you it was the scariest week to date in my life.  I'm pretty sure Dad can say the same.  Lesson learned:  if you're over 65 get your pneumonia vaccine!  Don't mess around.

I have a whole new appreciation for travel.  Everyone kept asking us if we were going to Flag for business or pleasure.  Um neither.  I just sat on the plane to Phoenix with my eyes closed and let tears stream down my face.  Dad and J-Mo said to "Enjoy the beautiful drive to Flagstaff".  I know I saw a cactus and it was uphill and long.  What I told my dad once home was Arizona is a lot prettier when I know my dad is ok.  The drive to the airport was lovely!

My sister-in-law, Marcy, visited for a long weekend.  That was super duper.  Sadly, it was days after I returned from Flag and I was still fighting a stress-induced nasty cold/depression.  I just wasn't myself.  Recently, C, his bro, Ed, and my sis all had birthdays. Loving the family times!

Since Flagstaff and Marcy's visit I've been playing pretend everything is normal until it does.  You know, fake it til you make it.  Luckily, I made it and a week or so ago finally felt back to my normal self.  I've got lots to tell you about.  Remember, I have a list.

What have you been up to the last 2.5 months?    Do tell!

Sunday Pizza: 02.26.2012

Happy Leap Day!  Is that what you say?  What do you say?  Nothing I guess.  Oh well.  Right now I'm multi-tasking. That's right I'm working while blogging! (at 9pm!)  Yes, guilt guilt send me jewels, flowers, candy, and a masseuse.  

Corn Dog Waffles

One of the best parts of having a child is getting to relive many of your childhood memories.  The smell of something like carving a pumpkin brings me back to carving my own pumpkins with my dad and sister as a little girl.  Hearing a certain song or playing with a toy and I'm right back in my old house again.  Amazing!

Foods have the same impact.  I've succumbed to keeping kid food around the house.  Stuff that when I was a kid I loved like mac and cheese, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, cheese pizza.

This summer we went to a state fair.  In the cow barn they were milking cows and Z was fascinated.  On the way out we noticed a vending machine with ice cold milk.  Not just milk.  Chocolate milk. PINK milk!

Sunday Pizza: 01.14.2012

"Brothers don't shake hands!  Brothers gotta HUG!"  That guy in the picture up there isn't C with hair, clean jeans, and a tan.  Nope that's his nearly twin brother, Ed!  Look familiar?  Ah yes, because Ed and his wife, Katherine, were on the pizza bench in June.

We are just busting because... drum roll please... They.  Are.  Moving.  HERE!!!  Can I get a Woop Woop!!  I never ever dreamed this would happen but it is!  Woo Hoo!  (side note - they have NO idea what they just signed on for!)

Tomatillo Salsa!

Phones.  I have a smart phone.  My son is not yet three and can unlock it (no password) and start the "Mommy Game" and play puzzle after puzzle for nearly 20 minutes.  Scary!

What's sad, to me, is that he will probably never know the satisfaction of slamming the phone down.  You know, really hanging up on someone.  Seems the click on the other end was louder and the caller knew you meant business.  Now, you have to tap the "End" bar.  Lame.

I started cooking at a young age.  I remember making doctored up mac and cheese for my sister and me.  The orange powder never quite dissolved properly when you sprinkled it on the noodles and stirred as directed.  Blach!  So once the noodles were ready I would get out our tiny, little saucepan and heat up the milk and butter on the lowest of low heat.  When it was bubbling I added the orange powder and stirred.

Grape Taffy Apple Bites

It is still fall right?  I know it is see-your-breath cold, dark by 4pm, hot cocoa, and peppermint bark time but let's rewind to warmer, lighter days of fall.  Think pumpkin patch, corn maze, apple cider time.

Picture this... bite size taffy apples, grape-size.  Perfect!  When was the last time you had a taffy apple?  I really can't remember the last time I had one... maybe high school.  What I do remember was I didn't finish it.  It always seems they take the biggest apple they can find and coat it in 3 layers of caramel and nuts.  Quite the investment.

Thanks 2011!

Wow Thanksgiving 2011 already?!  Thank you for supporting our obsessive pizza making and reading my ramblings.  It means the world to me!   Here are my favorite moments of 2011 that I am thankful for sharing with family and friends.

Happy Thanksgiving! Gobble gobble!

Special thanks to my partner in crime and best friend, Chris.  I love you.