Enjoy the Rest of Winter....I am!

It's been a busy week for me. Becca is doing so much better. Thank you all for your prayers. Just seems like life goes so fast before our eyes...I wish it would slow down for a little. We're suppose to get more snow this Tuesday. The forecasters are saying "blizzard conditions" WOO HOO!!! You all know I enjoy the snow. I don't want to rush this winter.....remember when Spring comes, we all have to get outside and clean up the yard, open the pool, and start planting our flowers.....so much work. So just enjoy the rest of winter.....I sure will. Don't get me wrong, I love working in the yard, but NOT NOW!!!! So curl up by the fire with your honey, and enjoy the rest of Winter.

So, we're going roller skating today with the family. Becca has been "seeing" this boy Austin from school. They see each other in school, and he's been here a couple of times just hanging out. He's very nice, and comes from a good family. I haven't been roller skating for YEARS!!! When I was a teenager we would go roller skating once a month with our church youth group. It was so much fun, and all the teenagers went. We left at 6:30 in the evening, traveled out to Long Island, and got home by 11:15pm!!! Wow, I'm surprised our parents let us go....but it a church activity, and they were all fun!

I probably won't skate today. I still have the "problem" with my foot, and it does hurt much! But it will be fun watching Becca and her "little" boyfriend skate....and of course my little boy Davey, and Hubby go around. It will be nice for me to get to sit a little too.....after such a very busy week.

So tomorrow is Superbowl! My hubby loves the Superbowl. Every year I would make it special for him, and make his/mine favorite treats and watch it together. This year for the second year in a row, we'll be enjoying the Superbowl with our Shepherding group from church. It will be fun! I'm making sloppy joes, and my homemade Mac & Cheese, (I posted that recipe a while ago, it's really delicious), everyone is bringing something. The sloppy joes are my Mom's recipe. The best EVER!!! I'll post them when I get some time. So, enjoy your Superbowl Sunday.....and don't forget to get to church first.

Third week of sickness in this house!

Well, this week is the third week of sickness in our house! The first week it was our son Davey, the second week it was my hubby, and now this third week, its our daughter Becca. Becca has been sick with the flu since Monday night. I took her to the doctor, and sure enough it's the flu. I really thought it was strep, but the culture test came back negative, I'm still questioning that test to be honest with you! She was so miserable Monday and Tuesday, with a fever, chills, sore throat, fever dreams, you name it. Have you ever had those fever dreams? I use to have them a lot when I was sick as a little girl. They are so weird...........

There's just something about Mom and Dad's bed when a child is sick. When Becca was a little 3 year old, when she got sick, she would immediately go to our bed for the day and rest, watch tv, read, or play with her barbie dolls. She would always get this bell of mine and ring it whenever she needed me.....so cute! Well, she did it again. She immediately got right into our bed, got into the covers, put on the tv, and even found her "bell". She rang it a lot this week......I'm ready to throw it out the window tonight! But really, just getting into our comfy bed really gives Becca comfort, whenever she's sick.....so nice to know.

I bought her ice cream and ice pops, and they do help some. Today is Thursday, and she still has a low-grade fever, and her throat still hurts. I feel very badly for her, missing school, and tomorrow's dance at school, too. At least today she is up and around and playing the Wii, and started her knitting. But all she really wants to do is lay around and do nothing, oh yeah, and watch tv. She's asking for more food now, so I know she's getting better, I can only hope and pray.

So, what do you think will happen next week? Do you think I will come down with "the sickness?" If I do, who will comfort me, and make me feel better? Who will bring me food and water all day long? Do you think I will just climb back into my bed and get to watch tv, and ring my bell? Who will take care of me? You guessed it, NOBODY!!!! Well, I hope my hubby will.... I asked that question tonight at dinner, and my little boy, so sweet he is, said, "I will Mommy, I will take good care of you!" You know something, I bet you he will.

When Dad was alive, whenever I was sick as an adult, he and Mom would always come over here since they only lived 10 minutes away. They would come, and make sure all was well with everything. Dad would come into my bedroom, and I would be in bed moaning, yeah, I'm sure I was moaning.....loved the attention! Dad would come in and put his hand on my forehead and pray for me.....not just for me, but for my kids if they were sick, and even my hubby. I miss it, I sure do miss my dad coming over here and praying for us.

Dinner with Our Friends............

Well I just wanted to tell you all what a wonderful weekend we had. Saturday came, and it was another cold day. But we were invited to our friends Paul and Joann's house for dinner. Paul and Joann are friends from our church. Paul helped my hubby build our chicken coop, and gave us 6 of his chickens...... Our friends John and Christine and their kids came too. We had such a nice time of fellowship with a terrific meal. Paul and Joann cook together, and they made a delicious pork roast with mashed potatoes, gravy, (story behind the gravy) green beans, red cabbage, and Joann's homemade, light as a feather rolls!.....Then dessert came, and Joann made her famous German chocolate cake.....wow what a meal! Thank you! We had such a great time, and we laughed so hard, I can't remember laughing that hard in a very long time. When we left, 11pm I might add, it was snowing........a very nice night indeed.

Then Sunday came, it snowed again, about 3 inches, and of course we made our way to church. First we went to Sunday School, and my hubby and I had to give our testimony's to the Elders of the church to join in membership. We took a 16 week class for membership from our church. It will be well worth it, because you can't volunteer unless you're a member. Next Sunday we actually "receive the right hand of fellowship" with a reception to follow during Sunday School. I'm glad the class is over, now I can go back to the Women's class for Sunday School.

After church, we were invited over to our friends John and Christine's house for dinner. Even though we were with them the night before, but we had this date on our calendar, and we all didn't want to cancel. Well, let me tell you Christine made a wonderful delicious meal....one of my favorites, shrimp scampi, served over spaghetti, crab cakes with a dill sauce, bread, greenbeans with almonds, carrots, and a salad....it was delic!!! Then for dessert, Christine made this most delicious chocolate cake....it was so rich, and with homemade strawberry ice cream. She decorated the plates just like they do in a fancy restaurant, with the chocolate sauce drizzled on the place first, then the cake, then the ice cream, and a little whipped cream (wanted more whipped cream, shhh, don't tell her). Wow, what a meal. The kids went sleigh riding and then played the Wii. A good time was had by all. It was such a relaxing day. That's the way it should be when you're with friends, good conversation, a lot laughing, relaxing by the fireplace, and letting the kids play. Hey, Christine and I even shopped on the Internet a bit.

Next month it's dinner at our house...sure hope I can top Christine's......I don't think so.

She loves me! She really does love me!

This is a picture of Becca on Halloween....cute, huh? She was a "fortune teller" I know, I know, don't start condeming me, please..... Well, I have something so sweet to share with you all. My daughter Becca has been working on this project for school. I haven't seen it, since she said it's a project to be worked on during school hours. So, I really never payed any mind to it. The project is due this coming Tuesday, and Becca brought it home to finish it up on our computer. She wanted me to read it this morning, something she NEVER asks me to do these days.....fearing I made correct something, and she's knows everything, and I know nothing....ugh!

This project is an "ABC" book, and she got to pick the theme. The theme is on "cooking" and anything to do with food. I thought it was really cool that she picked something to do with "food"....since she knows I love food, and anything to do with cooking. So, she showed me the book on the computer, and I was so impressed with it. She did it on her own, no help from Mom or Dad......which is the start of something new here. Everything from A-Z about food.......it was really cool, and she included pictures too.

Then I get to the very last page....it's a "dedication page"......and guess who she dedicated this book to? Yes, you're right, she dedicated her wonderful "ABC Cooking book" to me, her MOM!!!! Do you know how that made me feel? She really does understand me, she knows that cooking, and cookbooks, and recipes, and cooking shows, are a great passion in my life. I just can't tell you how great that made me feel.

This is some of what Becca wrote about "The Author."

"About the Author
Rebecca Somma was born in Missouri. She came to New Jersey when she was just three weeks old. Rebecca lives in New Jersey with her parents, David and Liz, and her younger brother David. She has a dog, a cat, two fish, and six chickens. Rebecca’s mother loves to talk about foods, and recipes. She also loves to cook food; in fact she cooks Rebecca’s family breakfast and dinner every day. Rebecca gets a lot of information about food, recipes, and utensils from her mother.

This is what Becca wrote on her "dedication page."

"Dedication Page"
I dedicate this book to my mother. She is always there for me. She cooks for me when I am in need of food. She cares for me when I am sick. And, boy does she make great food.

Isn't that SWEET? Enjoy....

Baby it's cold outside!

It was 13 below this morning when I got out of bed! The house wasn't that cold, cause I kept the heat on, something I never do. But I knew it was gonna be a cold night. I was worried about our chickens, but their heat lamp has been on now for days, and when I checked on them, they were all fine, thank the Lord! At 8am this morning, I drove Becca to the bus stop, and my car thermometer was at 6 below!!!!Honestly, that is something I have never seen in my life! It's still pretty cold here in New Jersey....it's ok, I enjoy the cold.

I love winter. I love everything about it. I love the snow, a good snow storm would be GREAT! Yesterday we had a snow day. The kids really could have gone to school, we only got 2 inches. But schools were closed! I love the cold, cold nights are the best, being curled up in the bed with my hubby, or if he's working.......then Pongo, my beautiful kitty. We have a pellet stove, and what a great investment that has been keeping our house warm.

So, I got this little "quiz", I guess you can say it's a quiz, from my sister. She posted it on her blog. So I thought I would give it a try. Honestly, just copying and pasting this thing took too much time for me.....Ok so here are the questions and my answers....do it, I think it's fun.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? Bury my father,


2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Never make any, never stick to them.


3. Did anyone close to you die? Yes. My Daddy


4. What countries did you visit? Oh please! Like I want to visit another country during these days?


5. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? More patience with my kids.


6. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? April 28th, the day my father fell down those stupid stairs and then May 19th, the day he died.


7. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Getting my diabetes back on track and losing 25 lbs, and KEEPING IT OFF!


8. What was your biggest failure? Not walking on the treadmill like I'm suppose to be doing....


9. Did you suffer illness or injury? Yes, diabetes terrible disease! And my foot is STILL KILLING ME!


10. What was the best thing you bought? I guess our 50 inch Plasma TV, 2 sizes smaller jeans!


11. Where did most of your money go? I guess to the mortgage and taxes, Costco......food bill, eating healthy costs ALOT!!!


12. What did you get really, really, really excited about? The new digital camera my wonderful hubby surprised me with this past Christmas......I never get surprises!!!!! And getting my A1C level down to a 6!!!


13. What song will always remind you of 2008? Yeah, me too Lois "I Can Only Imagine” by Casting Crowns. Reminds me so much of Daddy......you can read my post about this song back in one of my May/June Posts.


14. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder (b) thinner or fatter? I am thinner, not happier nor sadder.


15. What do you wish you’d done more of? Be nicer to my Dad, love on him more when he was alive, more understanding with him.


16. What do you wish you’d done less of? Complaining, mean to everyone....hey I'm honest!

17. What was your favorite TV program? Housewives of OC/New York, Top Chef...I love the food network, anything cooking.


18. What was the best book you read? I finally finished the series “Abram’s Daughters” by Beverly Lewis, me too Lois!


19. What did you want and not get? Nothing, I have everything I need or ever wanted! REALLY!


20. What did you do on your birthday? Well that was back in Feb, so Mom made me my favorite meal, like always, Daddy was still alive, and we had a very nice time at their house. My hubby and kids bought me a bread machine, and I just loved it. I wasn't dieting back then, so I really enjoyed my b.d. cake without any guilt!!!! It was a fun filled day, and it was on a Saturday and my hubby was HOME! This year will be hard, cause it will change, and Dad won't be here to sing to me.


21. What one thing would has made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Starting my blog, and putting my thoughts on here, to share with everyone, with no one judging me for what I say....well I still do get judged by a certain someone.....whatever! And, my friendship with Christine! Having her as my friend has been wonderful throughout the year. She is understanding, loving, and my BUDDY!


22. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? Well, I love fall/winter clothes better, covers more, ha! I love wearing my flare jeans, with sweaters, I feel most comfortable in them.......I need to buy smaller shorts for the summer, last years were way too big....yes I wear SHORTS!!!!! But not short, shorts...ha!


23. What kept you sane? My hubby's supporting me in whatever comes my way.....he really does love me, and crying out my hurts to my heavenly father......such a comfort!


24. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Well I have always liked Martha Stewart, cause she is domestic...and I am domestic too. But really no one.


25. Who did you miss? My Dad.


26. Who was the best new person you met? Well, I've known Christine for 3 years now, but now for the past 10 months or so, I have this great friendship with her....so she is the best person I've met this past year.


27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008. Like my sister's to keep my mouth shut more often, I wish I did this when Daddy was alive......I was always yelling or something....but I have learned to love my family and friends no matter what our differences are........they may not be around tomorrow. And to just learn to be happy, I have this wonderful life, and I need to embrace it, and enjoy it more :)

Stay warm, be happy........enjoy!

Macaroni & Cheese 101

Have you ever made your own Mac & Cheese? Or do you buy the one in the blue box? Well, honestly my little guy loves the stuff in the box, and won't even try my homemade, but Becca and my hubby absolutely love it. Whenever I bring this dish anywhere, it's always the first to go.

This is Mac & Cheese 101
6 Tbs butter
1/2 cup flour
5 1/2 cups milk - I use 2%
1 lb little shells pasta (I think this is the best shape pasta since the shells holds the sauce so nice)
2 tsp salt, pepper to taste and 1 tsp, freshly ground nutmeg - buy it fresh it's so much better.
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (or whatever cheese you like but the cheddar is really good)

In a deep pot, melt the 6 Tbs butter, add the flour and mix with a whisk for 1 minute, do not let it burn! Immediately add the milk and constantly whisk, add the salt, pepper, and nutmeg....constantly whisking until it gets thick, it will take about 5 mins or so.......do not walk away or answer the phone, it will burn, keep whisking!!!

When the sauce gets thick, remove from stove and add the cheese...stir....taste it, does it need more salt, pepper? Add it....it's really yummie now. Cook the pasta, you all now how to cook pasta right? Well if you don't bring a big pot of water up to a boil, and add the pasta, stir it and let cook for about 7 minutes until done. Drain the pasta and add back to that big pot. Using that big pot to mix, pour the cheese sauce over the pasta and stir until all creamy and combined. Spray a large 9x14 casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray, and put the pasta with cheese sauce in the dish.

Topping: 4 Tbs butter melted
1 cup bread crumbs -
Melt the butter in a little pot and add the bread crumbs to the melted butter and stir until all combined. Put this topping on top of the mac & cheese...and bake in a 350 oven for 1/2 with foil on....take off the foil for the remaining 10 minutes. You will love this...give it a try, don't be scared, making a cheese sauce is one of the easiest things to make.......Enjoy!

Meatloaf 101

Hi everyone, just wanted to share a delicious recipe that I make. It's Meatloaf......yes, I know, you don't care for meatloaf, but my meatloaf is so delicious and moist...you will absolutely love it. Here are the ingredients:

The Best Ever Meatloaf
You can find the "3 meats" at the grocery store, it's ground veal, ground pork, and ground beef.. you will need about 2 1/2 lbs of this.
1 onion, 1 carrot and 1 stalk of celery chopped
2 eggs (fresh from your chickens, of course)
1/2 cup Italian style bread crumbs (you may need more....if it's too wet after you mix it add a little more)
1/4 cup milk
1 tbs yellow mustard
1 tsp. chopped garlic
1 tsp. oregano, 2 tsp. salt and pepper to taste.

Saute the onion, carrot and celery in 2 tsp. butter in a pan until soft. Then mix the 3 meats, eggs, bread crumbs, milk, mustard, oregano, garlic, salt, pepper, and sauteed onions, carrot, and celery in a bowl. Mix lightly but you want it all combined. Form it into a long thick log, and put it in a greased pan. Spoon the glaze on top and over the sides, and bake in a 350 oven for 1 and 1/2 hours until done. This makes a big meatloaf, so use the leftovers and make cold meatloaf sandwiches the next day, don't forget the mayo!!!!

Glazed: This is a must...it's what makes this meatloaf.
1/2 cup ketcup
2 TBS cidar vinegar
2 TBS Brown sugar (I even used the Splendar Brown Sugar)
Mix all of this up and spoon onto of the uncooked meatloaf.

I made mashed pots with it, and since I didn't make a gravy, I sauteed peppers, onions, and mushrooms with 1 tsp butter and 1 tsp canola oil, salt and pepper to taste, until soft and caramelized. I then served this over the mashed pots....so delicious!!!! Enjoy!

Oh how I love snow!

So, it's suppose to snow tomorrow here in New Jersey. I'm excited, but we did have plans to go to our friends house tomorrow night for dinner. They just called and cancelled. I'm bummed about it, but it's OK, cause since we live in the boonies, I really don't like to travel in the snow, even though we have a SUV.....still, I don't like traveling in the deep snow, and yes, it's suppose to snow like 10 inches here tomorrow! We moved from NYC 15 years ago. I love the country, and would never move back to the city. The first year living here, it snowed a lot! I didn't really care for the snow back then, but now I'm really learning to enjoy it. I think it's because we have a big snow blower now! Back then I had to do all the shoveling, since my Hubby would work nights, and I would go out and do it all before he came home.....or sometimes he just couldn't make it home. We were "snowed in" a lot back then. We lived in a lake community, and it was hard to get out when it really snowed. Now we live 5 minutes from town, and I do like it much better.

So, many of you left me comments about my previous post about my sweet daughter Becca. Thank you all for all your encouraging words. Yes, she is a blessing and miracle from the Lord, and she is a good kid, really. All I need is to be consistent with her, and I really think life will be better. You see, I'm hardly consistent in anything I do, except keep my house clean, keep up with the laundry, cook every night, be a great mom, and great wife. Actually I'm amazed that I lost 25lbs, and actually kept it off for almost 1 year now! I am awful with diets, always loose but then gain it all back after a couple of months. So, I'm pretty proud of myself for being consistent with that, at least. Oh, it has been so hard keeping it off......how I just want a good piece of cake, chocolate cake, and then some delicious chips, and I mean the WHOLE BAG OF CHIPS!!!! Another post I guess...get to the point already..........get serious again, me serious, ha!

I know these days will past, and I will look back on it all and laugh....will I really laugh? Hopefully yes. Becca came home from school and we talked, and she agreed to be a better daughter, kinder, and more loving...and I agreed too, after punishing her for the night.....ok, all I did was take away her cell phone and ipod.....HARSH I know! And that I will be more kinder, and more understanding....yeah right, I've been so understanding for the last 12 years, that's why I'm in this MESS! I really will do my best at this....I promise.

Anyway....back to the snow....... if you live here in the Northeast, enjoy the snow tomorrow. I sure will, and I know the kids will too. I'm happy tomorrow is Saturday, so Hubby won't have to travel in it, hey, maybe church will even be cancelled???? NEVER! Later my friends.

Those DARN Pre-teen/Teen YEARS!!!

Yes, it's me again. Today I'm venting!!!

Our daughter Becca is 12 years old. But like I have shared already in a previous post, she is 12 going on 25! What happens to our little girls when they turn 12? Becca's attitude is all over the place. One day she's wonderful, and happy. The next she's grumpy, and Mom's knows nothing! Honestly, I'm sick of it! I want my little 6 year old back. I know, I know, be happy with what I got. I am happy, but exhausted from the constant attitude from my little Becca girl.

I feel so stressed sometimes. I have to remind her about everything, and when she forgets, and just doesn't "feel" like doing a chore, and leaves it all, what do I do, ask her again to do the chore or just let it go, to help keep "peace" in our family. Becca went roller skating with her friends this past Saturday. She was gone all day long. What a wonderful day it was with her gone all day long, no complaining, no arguing! Is that wrong to say? I missed her, and thought about her all day long, but the car, house and everything we did was so PEACEFUL!!!!

I'm a praying Mom, so I will just continue doing what I know best.....PRAY, and continue to be consistent with Becca. I will continue to talk to her, even if she doesn't want to hear me. I will continue to "guide" her, check her text messages, go through her room (without her knowing it :)even though he hates me for it. Just some venting today. By the way....my little boy is sick. Fever, cough, you name it. Is it because he had a flu shot two weeks ago? I didn't want him to get one, but it's MANDATORY now for all preschoolers in NJ!!! He's going to the doctor today. Later my friends..................