Rory's 1st Dentist Visit

I had been prepping Rory for his first visit to the dentist for a solid month.  He's a champ about brushing his teeth twice a day so we would practice opening big and wide and counting teeth.  Even with all my prep work I had no idea how this visit was going to go.  It would either be wonderful or the pendulum would swing in the complete opposite and dramatic way. 

Nick Jr. was playing in the waiting room.  We don't have cable so right off the bat-this was a huge treat.  He would smile for me but not look at the camera because he was too busy watching cartoons.

He looked so small in the big chair--and he looked a bit frightened too!  He would only sit if he was on my lap.  Rory was concerned about the chair tipping backwards and did not like that part at all.  It was at that point I thought a meltdown may be coming. 

The assistant let him play with the equipment and mirror--anything motorized to this boy is fun!



He did such a good job opening his mouth so the doctor could count his teeth.

Originally, he did not let the dentist use the cleaner (not sure of the technical name) in his mouth but thankfully my boy loves mint so he was happy it was mint toothpaste!  He cooperated and kept his mouth open long enough for her to polish all of his teeth.

He thought it was hilarious that there was green slimy stuff on his teeth.  He kept using the mirror to smile at himself so he could see the green paste all over.

Rory drew the line at flossing--he saw the dentist coming towards his mouth with floss and from there he was done.  Our dentist was great though-she said not a big deal.  At that age they try to get done what they can and make it a happy experience.  Rory was happy enough that he gave the dentist a big hug when it was over--it could have been because there was a big treasure chest of toys waiting for him!

Rory was thrilled with his bag of goodies which included a new frog toothbrush, toothpaste, flosser, stickers, plastic dinosaurs and a handheld water baseball game.

Thumbs up for clean teeth!

Menu Plan thru June 30, 2013

I know I say this often about time but I can't believe we are at the end of June!  Time is really whizzing by!

I'm trying a couple new recipes this week.  "Meatless Monday" has proven to be more challenging that I thought it would be.  I didn't realize how much I plan our meals around meat.  It's not all bad but we can get protein through other sources and one thing that I like, is these sources, like beans cost much less than meat.

Monday-Beans & Rice
Tuesday-Chicken Carbonara Risotto
Wednesday-Chicken Burritos with re fried beans
Thursday-Grilled marinated chicken with rice and vegetables
Friday-leftovers
Saturday-Meeting friends for breakfast so we will have a light lunch and dinner is TBD
Sunday- out for lunch, leftovers or cereal for dinner

Breakfasts-Gluten Free Banana Bread because I never buy bananas in the right quantity.  We either run out by Tuesday or I have half a dozen left at the end of the week!

I'm linking up to Organizational Junkie for more inspiration.

Happy Cooking!
Jenna

A lesson from my Dad...

When we purchased our home a few months ago I was trying to come up with a great idea for the formal living room.  It's not a huge space and we aren't really formal living type of people.   Don't get me wrong-lots of people have formal living rooms and they are beautiful.  It could be that I think too practically so I was trying to be more useful.  How can I use this room with a toddler?  Ding-ding!! Craft room!  I've always wanted one--the pictures in the home magazines look amazing.  A place where inspiration abounds.  This room will also double as our music room.

So far this room contains my piano, sewing table and an amoire my Dad built that holds all my crafty supplies.  What I lacked was a table to sit down and work on projects.  I was hoping for something long and narrow so Rory and I could sit down and work on projects together.

My vision started coming together when I found this table out for the trash.  The legs were the valuable part.  Josh took the legs off and got rid of the table top because it was in bad shape.  My Dad sanded down the legs and smoothed the tops.  All we needed was a board for the top.  Dad and I headed to Lowe's and purchased a pre-cut 2' x 6' board.  We got it home and started laying out the pieces of the table.  Dad was moving his tools around in the garage so we could get to work.  As he moved his table saw into the center of the garage he casually mentioned, "Hey, there is that piece of cabinet board from your old house."  He quickly moved on but I had to reminisce for just a quick moment.  I quickly realized that piece of board would work perfectly for our table (and cost $0)!  We cut it down just a bit and had the perfect table top so we returned our pre-cut piece to Lowe's.

It may seem silly--I could have gone to Target and bought a long narrow table.  Not only did this table cost me less than $10 (all I had to purchase were small brackets to hold the table top to the legs) but it is now chock full of memories.  It holds a small piece of our very first home--our home that Josh and I started as newlyweds and a home that we put in a lot of time, money, sweat and I'm sure I shed a few tears.  This will be a table that I will always remember building with my Dad.

My Dad has always taught me how to use tools properly and I may be more adept than most women only because my Dad took the time to show me.  When you ask me for a screwdriver I will respond with, "Phillips or Flathead?"  I don't ever remember specifically learning to use a power drill but my Dad made sure I knew how.  In my teen years I'm sure I grumbled as I stood in the garage and watched but those have turned into powerful and very useful lessons.  Not too long after Josh and I purchased our first house our faucet busted and by busted I mean water started spraying everywhere!  Not that I'm a plumber by any stretch of the means but I knew how to shut off the water,  what to purchase and asked enough questions to install a new faucet and pipes.  I'm not saying this to toot my horn but to give credit where it's due.  I owe a lot to my Dad.  If it weren't for him giving me these valuable lessons I would be intimidated to learn these things or try out new "handyman" skills.

The two things I will remember most is that I learned to use a table saw (and if you don't move cherry wood fast enough it will burn) and that I used a hand plane from my Great Grandfather.  I never met him, in fact, neither did my Dad.  He was killed in a car crash when my Grandfather was a young man.  It was humbling to hold the tool in my hand.  We think my Great Grandfather worked at the railroad docks as a carpenter, literally miles from where we live now.  It's like coming full circle and it's a feeling that is hard to describe.  He was where I am now and now I'm holding his tools....

Anyway, what I thought would be a fun simple project will now be a piece of furniture that I treasure for as long as I'm alive.  The little piece of our first house, the tools of generations past, the memories made in construction and the memories that will be made as we gather around the table to create.

Menu Plan thru June 23, 2013

This week I'm purposefully reverting back to some old favorites and keeping this week simple.  We've had a new addition in our family so at least this week I won't have extra time to spend prepping meals.  I'm hoping in the next couple weeks our family, including furry ones, will be back into a good routine.

Here is what is on my lineup:

Monday (Meatless)-grilled cheese with avocado and fresh berries

Tuesday-Homemade chicken nuggets, steamed broccoli and fresh pears

Wednesday-Lone Star Burgers, tater tots and apple slices

Thursday-Grilled chicken marinated in italian dressing, green beans

Friday (Breakfast)-Cream cheese stuffed blueberry waffles, bacon, cheesy eggs

Saturday-leftovers

Sunday-out for lunch, leftovers for dinner

Head on over to Organizational Junkie for more inspiration!

Happy Cooking!

She's here...Meet Jessie!

Without further adieu I'd like to introduce the newest member of our family...Jessie Mae!  

Josh and I have been thinking over this for the past couple months and getting a puppy certainly wasn't something that we took lightly.  We asked ourselves multiple times if we were doing the right thing and I've scoured any and all information I can get my hands on. Yes, we know it's hard work and requires more effort than getting an adult but after talking it over with the rescue we've worked with in the past we decided that a puppy was the best route for us to go.  She is still a rescue and not from a breeder.  Most older dogs that are not raised around children are typically not respectful of kids--and that is understandable.  Since Rory is still quite young and someday there might be more babies in our future we needed a dog that would  grow up around kids.  All of the adult dogs at the rescue were not cleared to go home with a family that had young kids and then a litter of little girl pups showed up!  I may be a bit partial already but I'm fairly certain we got the best of the litter!  Jessie is 10 weeks old and as cute as she can possibly be!

Rory already loves her and I think the feeling is mutual--or at least Jessie is fascinated by Rory at this point.  When he runs she takes off prancing behind him like a little deer.  It's pretty cute to watch--neither one of them are very coordinated yet so they make quite a pair!

In the car on the way home from picking her up, Rory said, "She's horrible!"  My heart sunk because I thought this can't be going bad this soon-but, then I realized he was trying to say, "She's adorable!"   He already has plans for her to sleep in his room and I've assured him once she is a little bigger than she can sleep in her own bed in his room.

She's already surveyed the back yard and given it her stamp approval--a few times!  Even though she is a puppy she is very calm and quite focused.  She picked up fetch within a matter of minutes and already tags along behind anyone of us as we walk along.  I guess that means we are not only a family now but a "pack."  I'm excited to see her grow and watch the bond between her and Rory develop.  Not to mention, Josh and I are quite smitten with her so I know we've made the right choice!

Warbird Museum

After this weekend I do solemnly swear never to leave my camera at home because "we don't have anything planned."  Huge mistake on my part but I am thankful that I at least have some pictures of this weekend on my phone.

Rory and I went to visit my parents since Josh was working some crazy overtime.  We arrived in time for dinner and that is when we heard them...the Warbirds were out in full force.  The planes of that era have such a distinctive sound it's hard to describe.  Living close to the museum we learned their sound.  It was such a treat.  We carried our strawberry shortcake outside and watched the show!

My camera phone does not do the show justice.  The planes were SO close.  I'm a horrible judge of distance but these planes were close enough to read the serial numbers and if we had been at the correct angle to see the pilot, I could have described him well enough for a police sketch.  Serious!

The planes did all sorts of formations-mostly two planes together but we did see all 4 do a pass at once.  In all we saw 6 planes.  It was spectacular! 

We decided on Saturday we'd hit up the museum!

We found out from staff that the museum held a fundraising gala the night before and that is why the planes were out.  Next year we will be having our own little fundraiser/block party during the gala.  We can't afford the ticket price to the gala but we enjoyed the show so much it's worth donating and organizing!

Quite a few of the planes and automobiles they had were native to the WWII era, which I find absolutely fascinating.  I'm anxious to go back with my real camera.  (I can't even count the number of times I said, "I wish I had my camera!")

This is a T6.  It's a trainer airplane and also what we saw the night before.  We timed our trip just right because we were able to stand outside and watch her takeoff.

We also saw this plane fly....It's a TBM Avenger-Torpedo Bomber.  This is the type of plane that George H. Bush flew. 

There were quite a few volunteers around to answer any questions that you may have and they were more than happy to tell you what they knew.  My Mom asked about this Jeep.  I didn't know this but my Grandpa drove a Jeep during the Korean War.  The volunteer explained that most likely this was the type of Jeep that he would have driven.  It was popular during WWII and Korea.  I've always been proud of my family and our veterans but this made it very real.  Grandpa shared very little with me about his time in Korea and Mom said he shared very little with her and her two sisters.  He did confide in Seth so I'm hoping that those stories get written down otherwise they will be lost.

"Duty, Honor, Country.  Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be." -General Douglass McArthur

We also saw this plane, which I mistakenly called a B52 in front of one of the volunteers.  He corrected me and it's a B25.  (My plane knowledgeable friends will know why this was a mistake of huge proportions!  Whoops!)  These were the type of planes flown during Doolittle's Raid. 

I think it goes back to my American Girl days reading about Molly in the 1950's but I've always been intrigued by women during this time and their role during the war.  The women's bathroom was filled with pictures of women working in factories, building planes and rolling bandages.

"They have given their sons to the military services.  They have stoked the furnaces and hurried the factory wheels.  They have made the planes and welded the tanks, riveted the ships and rolled the shells."  -President Franklin D. Roosevelt

Rory was fascinated and I was right there with him.  We plan on going back to the museum soon--I may have future pilot on my hands!



Menu Plan thru June 16, 2013

We have another busy line up this week although that doesn't differ much from any other week.  Ha!

My Aunt Janell suggested I do "Meatless Mondays" so I am going to start doing that--although this week it's "Meatless Tuesday."  I hope that still counts!  We have one more music class on Mondays and then we break for the summer.  After that, though, I will be on the bandwagon for being meatless on Mondays.  If you have any suggestions of great meatless ideas please send them my way!

Monday-Rory and Mom out for dinner

Tuesday-Pasta with alfredo sauce, peas and broccoli

Wednesday-Visiting our new nephew and taking dinner to the new parents-Pulled BBQ chicken, baked beans, chips, fruit pizza

Thursday-Baked Tacos-Father's Day supper with Steve.  We had these tacos last week and were such a hit that we can't wait to eat them again.  I prefer to add avocado to mine.

Friday-leftovers

Saturday-Father's Day dinner with my Dad and Josh,  Supper will probably be eaten on the road since we are picking up a very special (& furry) surprise to bring home!  More on that later...

Sunday-Dinner-out after church and Supper-grilled cheese or cereal

Breakfast: Breakfast Cookies

I'm linking up to Organizational Junkie and Erin Brans.

Happy Cooking!

Introducing...our nephew!

Since Thanksgiving of last year we have been awaiting the arrival of this sweet precious baby!  We didn't know if a boy or girl was coming and I have to admit that I had my bets on a girl.  Maybe because I'd really like to buy some dresses and hair bows!  But, it's a BOY and we are thrilled to be an Aunt and Uncle. 

Carl Daniel was born on June 2nd at 4:04 pm weighing 7 pounds and 14 ounces!  He wasn't expected to be here but came early!  I thought he might make it for our wedding anniversary but he was even earlier than that.

Maybe I am a bit partial but he is already my favorite and most handsome nephew!  His Mom (Josh's sister) and Dad are doing a wonderful job of being parents!

Even though Rory is just 3 it's amazing how quickly you forget the "newborn stage" but it all came flooding back to me.  I even changed a poopy diaper and I forgot how little those newborn diapers are and how fast you need to have the next diaper ready!

We all enjoyed some snuggle time-including Rory, who asked in the car before our visit if we could sing Happy Birthday to Carl.  We did and I'm sure Carl didn't know what was happening but something I will remember for a long time.

I thought Rory would be concerned that I was holding another baby but it didn't phase him one bit.  There were pizza and cupcakes to be eaten and poor Uncle Dan got worked over a bit!  Rory was fascinated with Carl's hair and head and he kept touching him.  Occasionally, when Carl would squeak I'd hear Rory lovingly coo or shush at him.  It was pretty neat to see the two of them and I hope they grow up to be great buddies!

Rory and Josh helped collect the eggs at the farm.  This was the first time I had seen any of the chickens.  You can read all about them here.  We even heard Fumm give his most valiant effort at a crow but he still needs some work!  It was quite hilarious to say the least!

I know that these are truly the best days of our lives and I want to remember these moments when our babies really are babies.  We couldn't be happier to have a nephew and Rory is excited to have another boy to play with!  It will be exciting to see them grow up together and not only be friends but family.

Dr Seuss Party

We've always been fans of Dr Seuss--who doesn't love The Cat in the Hat?  Rory has enjoyed those books ever since he could pick out his own book for us to read.  I'm fairly certain Josh and I could both recite from memory The Lorax or Hop on Pop!  So, a Dr Seuss party seemed perfect!

We had green eggs and ham (sandwiches), one fish two fish (goldfish) and red fish blue fish (Swedish fish).  Most of our theme leaned more towards The Lorax so I made marshmallow pops because everyone loves a good marshmallow!

"Plant a seed inside the Earth-there's just one way to know it's worth!"

                                    

For dessert we had Trufella Tree cupcakes and they were really cute--until the humidity zapped them.  Lesson learned-if you use cotton candy for anything you must assemble last minute because it will turn to rock candy in a matter of an hour or so!  Whoops!

We were blessed to have family from all corners of our little world come and visit.  We've also made some great new friends in our new corner and they came to celebrate too!

Rory loves to sing people Happy Birthday and sometimes at home we sing it just because.  It has to be someones birthday somewhere!  As I was holding him I could hear him singing softly, "Happy Birthday to me!"  

I still scratch my head when I think about my little guy being 3!  I feel like just yesterday I was waddling around waiting to meet this amazing person-and now here he is.  I can't imagine what our life would be like without him.  We are truly blessed beyond measure.  I think being a parent has shed light on what love really is.

"It's not about what it is.  It's about what it can become.  Just like...you're not just a boy." -The Oncler

He's our boy and I can't wait to see what a wonderful and amazing person he will become!  I am hoping that time does slow down just a bit though!