You'll miss me when I'm gone!

Hi, just to let you all know, we're going on vacation! Traveling to PA to stay with my sister, first...my parents moved today, they were 10 minutes from me, now only 1 minute from my sister. Anyway, we go there tomorrow, to help my parents get settled, and unpack....then stay over with my sister and family, thank you Lois - then on Weds we leave for Lancaster, PA. We stay at this great, but expensive resort - Willow Valley......the price there has gone up drastically! But the place is so nice, we've been going now for the past 19 years. I'm spoiled cause when we go to Lancaster, I only want to stay at WV! I'm looking forward to getting away...life here has been so crazy for us. The dog, Perdie is vacationing at my in laws. (thank you Mom and Dad S.) house since Sat....what a delight it's been without her! She's such a good dog, but a real pain in the butt....she thinks she's one of the kids, and can be very hyper......would love to give her away, but Becca and Davey wouldn't hear it. My hubby would love to give her away too......only in our dreams...gotta keep the kids happy.....it's all about the kids in this house, when did that ever happen...that never was the case when I was a little girl. Anyway, don't want to bore you with all that junk.
So, I will miss my loyal readers....I'm sure I'll have lots of pictures and stories to tell you when I'm back......Till next time, Liz

I'm back - remember me?

Ok, so I haven't been writing much. So sorry, but you all have to remember I am a mother, with a very busy life here. Today is the first day of Spring Recess, yippee!!! I got to sleep in a little.....and I didn't have to run around the house getting the kids up, and ready for school...what a joy my morning has been already! My hubby had to work today, day work that is.....he left by 4am, and won't be home until very much later in the day. I'm very happy to have the day off, and not run anywhere. My hubby hit a deer the other night while going to work. His car was damaged! Hubby is fine, thank God, but his car isn't usable now, and guess what...he's taking MY SUV (aka the gas guzzler) to work now....and I'm stuck with no car. It's fine really, could use the time at home getting stuff done. Hopefully hubby's car will be fixed by next week......or so. Going back many years ago, I never had a car. Back when Becca was born, we only had one car. It was hard, not getting to go here and there. But now that I think about it, not having a car was really ok. I would NEVER want to go back without a car. I think with having my own car, I tend to spend more money, and I am busier. Back then stuff in the house got done faster, the house was always cleaner...the laundry was always done....not like today, piling up! But I'm thankful for my gas guzzler.....the price of gas is crazy.....what are we all going to do????

Anyway, I changed my clothes around from winter to spring/summer. What a job....I didn't just do mine, hubby's and the kids, too - I do enjoy my winter clothes much better than summer. Covers me up more, I love wearing jeans, and sweaters! So now when the weather gets warmer, it will be Capri's and tee's for me.....don't really wear shorts out of the house......your not missing much! HA!!!

So, the weather here has been beautiful for the past couple of days. The kids loved playing outside, and we cleaned up the yard....the grass looks awful. So many bald spots....so my hubby reseeded some spots, and put hay down....now we have hay everywhere....can be very frustrating for me... I just raked all the leaves and now there's hay everywhere. But, I'm just not letting it get to me - see how long that lasts!

What about American Idol.....I still love David Cook...he was so good this week. I think the other "Cook" girl needed to go - and I'm glad she did. Honestly, I do think this years Idol is boring......the only interesting person is David Cook! He'll win, I know it.

So, our MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) is coming to an end. I will miss it so. We end for summer, and start up again in the fall. We had a beautiful MOPPETS (people who take care of our kids at MOPS) luncheon this past Friday - we wanted to say how much we appreciated the care-givers of our kids. So much food, but it was so nice......heartwarming. I'm starting a new adventure at MOPS - I will be the coordinator of the MOPPETS - it will be a challenging new area in my life....I'm excited - I think!

I really need to run and get started with my day....it's 9am already, and I haven't even had breakfast...I'm starving! I hope to talk to you all later in the week...thanks for reading my blog. Till next time....Liz

p.s. No mice lately......hopefully they're gone for good? Pongo's been sleeping with me - that's a good sign.

I'm A Blonde again - American Idol

I got my hair colored today....finally. The gray was so bad. I usually get my hair colored brown, and then get the blond highlights using the cap about every 3 months or so...it does come out nice. But this time, the gray came in way too much. So, my friend Donna came over, (she does my hair really good and professional) and we made a nice morning of it. I made lunch for us....bacon and cheese quiche with my oriental salad. Donna brought fruit, since I'm dieting....going well, I might add. So the morning went well. Davey played so nice, but he had to show Donna every toy he owned......Donna loves Davey, knew him ever since he was a tiny baby. Our girls play together all the time, she's a great friend. So, the hair came out good......a little bright, but hey you have to go brighter when you get older - so I've heard - and I'm getting older. Davey got a haircut - he looks so cute... my "little man".

Pongo (the cat) slept with me last night, so no dead mice around, thank God!!! I was worried about it. Wasn't it a shocker who got voted out from American Idol? Didn't he look like he was in total shock? I was sorry for the guy, but really didn't care for him, can't even remember his name. Rebecca knows all the names, first and last. I only know who I like, David Cook, and he better pick a better song next week.....And they all sang "Shout to the Lord!" Wasn't that awesome! Well, it was inspirational week anyway....that's why they picked that song. Made me emotional....I do love that song.

Not much going on for this weekend which is fine with me - sometimes we just need time to sit and vegg....last weekend it was too busy - maybe I'll post some recipes. Until next time....Liz

Recipes - Faux Crab Cakes

This is a delicious recipe for Crab Cakes, but you don't use crabmeat. It's kind of a "poor mans" recipe for Crab Cakes. They are easy, and delicious. I make them for lunch when my hubby is home.....serve them over a salad - even use as a sandwich! Enjoy!

Faux Crab Cakes
2 cans white tuna in water
1 egg beaten
1/4 cup mayo (you can use light)
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. oregano
lemon juice to taste, fresh or bottled
salt and pepper to taste
oil for frying pan

In a skillet on medium to high - heat about 2 -3 tablespoons of oil (canola). Mix all the ingredients together. Form into patties, should make 6 and fry until crispy turning only once for about 6 -8 minutes or so - they may fall apart so don't turn them right away...you want them crispy. Drain on paper towels.

Another Dead Mouse!!

Hi everyone - what a beautiful day it is outside....just wish I could get out there to start cleaning up the yard. Before long, the leaves will be back on the trees, and I'll be doing all the plantings, getting the flower gardens all dressed up for Summer!!!!

I was in the house cleaning today, I usually clean the whole house on Thursday mornings when Davey is in preschool. I was vacuuming the stairs, and then the entrance way. I took the area rug outside to shake it, and really get it dust free....then when I went back into the house, right there where the area rug belongs was a DEAD FLATTENED LIKE A PANCAKE MOUSE!!!! I guess it must have been there for a while - since I don't always shake out that rug. That's where our big dog Perdie lays and sleeps so I guess she must have squished it - poor little mouse! I can't tell you how many DEAD mice we find in this house. We've been living here now for 8 years, and we just can't seem to get rid of them. But thank God for our cat Pongo, he catches them, and usually leaves them dead for me to find....yes me, no one else finds them but me. Pongo usually leaves them downstairs by the foot of the stairs, and when I go down in the morning, there it is, a dead mouse. I usually have a feeling that there's a mouse in the house when Pongo doesn't come to bed with me at night - he always sleeps with me. We haven't found one in a very long time, so it was time, I guess. Last November I went away with my sister to a women's convention. My hubby took care of the kids - all went fine, so I thought. I came home all refreshed, happy to be home. So I walked in the door, took my shoes off, and there it was a dead mouse right in our family room! My hubby was there, and I said "why is a dead mouse next to my shoes?" My hubby didn't even know it was there! Then I hear Rebecca from upstairs yell, "another one?!!" Another one? Give me a break...yes they found a dead mouse in the kitchen under the stools - but not first thing in the morning, they finally notice it at lunchtime! Yep it was there all morning, and no one even noticed it! I know, gross - disgusting, but you have to believe me, my house is clean, tidy, I vacuum everyday......

Last year we hardly had any mice.....I guess it was because we had this family of garden snakes living in our garden, right by the front door. But last summer my hubby took the snake family "out" - won't tell you how...use your imagination! I think it was a bad idea, wish those nice friendly snakes were back now - I think they were really enjoying the mice. At least my cat Pongo doesn't do what my former cat Felix (he was black and white - get it, Felix the cat - he died 6 years ago) use too. Well in our previous house some 13 years ago, he caught a mouse and brought it to me in bed one night! To top that off, it was actually my birthday! He was bringing me a present......it was awful, I screamed, and the mouse wasn't dead, so Felix let it go, and the mouse went running.... I had to get out of bed and catch it - I did - I'm very proud to say.....actually I am a good mice catcher.....I have caught many a mouse in this house - but now thanks to Pongo the real mouse killer, I don't have to anymore! It's funny this only happens when my hubby isn't home and at work.....I don't think my hubby has ever caught a mouse like I have........

Ok enough about mice - enjoy this beautiful day...hopefully no more mice stories in the future.

So you liked my blog. The "One Eyed Man" - My MOPS retreat

Hi - well I have had only positive feedback about my new blog. I was really anxious to hear if you all thought I was weird or vain about writing about MY LIFE!!! My brother would love to hear that I have a blog about my life...he always said "it's all about you Liz!". But this is not the case. I'm doing it to journal my life as a wife and mom. I've waited a long time to have children. It took us 8 years to finally have Rebecca and then another 7 to finally be complete with Davey. We are so thankful to our Lord for our children. Yes I'm normal, I do get stressed out with them. Davey has always been so clingy......when he was a newborn, he would fuss all day long. Keeping me up for hours on end at night. My hubby always worked the nightshift, so it was hard on me.......but I got through it. I remember the summer Davey came, I put him down for his afternoon nap, go out to the pool with Rebecca, with the baby monitor in hand, and sit there until it was the right time to step into the pool. Davey would finally go to sleep and I tell you, the moment I stepped foot into the pool, that monitor would be shaking from Davey's cries....it happened all the time. Now look at Davey, a wonderful little boy, full of so much life and energy. He still wakes up at night "wanting mommy" but now I learned to call out from my bed to him "it's ok, go back to sleep, everything is fine" he has those nightmares now....very scary. He woke up last week with one. It was about the "one eyed man". Davey was so frightened with this dream, that he told me it was a "very long dream, with this one eyed man". He would then show me and close his one eye -- "the one eyed man" he was so sweet! Yes funny, but when it was happening, it was very scary. I pray over Davey every night so he wouldn't have those terrible dreams. So far it's been ok.

Anyway, I went to my friend Beth's house this morning for coffee. My friend Christine came too. I'm just getting to know Christine (my email buddy) I've known her for about 3 years, but never really got to know her. I know her now! We laughed and laughed....seems like when I get together with Christine all we do is talk and laugh....she was my roomate at our MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) retreat this past weekend. What a time we had! It was my first retreat with my MOPS group, and I really was looking for a time away, with good food (I'm on a diet and wanted to cheat - don't we all) and fellowship. The fellowship with the other moms was wonderful...I love my MOPS group, and our church. The retreat center was no "retreat" the rooms were awful, sorry Jen K. - and it was like a step below camping. I think Christine and I had the worse room of all. Our bathroom toilet didn't even flush, and our bathtub was full of DEAD FLIES and no cold water - plenty of hot, almost burned Christine when she was attempting to shower. There were lady bugs everywhere, ok so you say only lady bugs? But they were flying over our heads, and landing everywhere, there were probably some in my hair who knows. I didn't shower, which is very rare for me. I shower everyday, without fail...I have to wash and blowdry my hair, and just smell like Dove Soap EVERYDAY!! But that day I didn't even attempt to get in that shower. Christine showered she had to use Cindy and Marylou's shower. Christine and I laughed the whole night. We stayed up until 2:30am, while all the other moms went to bed (party poopers!) Anyway, the devotional times and games we played were so much fun.......I had a blast! Thanks Jen for all the hard work, and for the fun times. And thanks Christine for the laughs and your friendship!

Until next time.......Liz

My life today - not very interesting

Hi, just want to introduce myself, I'm Liz! I am the wife of David, and mom to Rebecca who is 11, and Davey who is now 4. My life here is busy - but a really nice life. We've been married going on 20 years. Wow, can't believe that! I married my youth group sweetheart in 1988 - I was 22 and David was 23 - so I'm not that old, and I do look younger, so people tell me, I guess....Our children came later on - Rebecca is a terrific, beautiful preteen -my hubby and I say she's a "happy go-lucky" kid. She started middle school in Sept, and just loves it - she was so excited about starting middle school, she would have her own locker now and switch classes - oh boy!!! I, on the other hand was a nervous wreck, and honestly still am - any mothers out there understand what I'm saying??? She is doing great there, and has made the High Honor Roll now for the second time, with all A's!!! Davey is a little boy who is full of so much energy. He is such a darling little boy, always running, talking, and doing his "thing" - he loves to dress up into his action hero stuff - play with all his toys, drive his "gator". He is always laughing, he is so full of life. He is such a delight and always keeps us laughing.
I love being a wife and mom. I love being home, doing all the domestic stuff us moms do. I love to cook and bake, garden and just keep house. I've been doing it now almost 20 years, so I really think I'm good at it - ha!
So check in and learn a little something about me. My life isn't very interesting, just normal. A lot goes on everyday, some can be interesting and exciting, and some can be boring - like today - it was pretty boring - and I really didn't get much done. My hubby is home on Monday and Tuesdays, and yep today he was home. I don't get much stuff done when David is home. We go shopping or run errands mostly. Rebecca went to school, and Davey had preschool, so I did the wakeups, took the dog out, fed the cat, cooked breakfast, (yes I cooked them all breakfast!!!) and then did the carpooling. I then came home and tried to get stuff done, but I had to make some phone calls. My hubby actually finished the vacuuming for me, which I just loved. We have a dog Perdie, and I MUST vacuum daily - she shreds. Then I had to do the carpooling thing again, and pick up Davey and his little friend. Came home by 12pm and made us all lunch. I made this faux crab cakes using can tuna fish - they are so delicious - I will post that recipe soon. I started dinner, roasted chicken breasts with orzo, carrots and zucchini saute with onions...very delicious - I cook a big meal every night, and they all look forward to it. But tonight the chicken was dry, and Rebecca agreed!!!! Had to pick Rebecca up from school (no she doesn't do the bus, never has - I know I have this control thing) and then the madness begins. The hours between 3:30p and 7pm can be the craziest time during the day for me, with homework, and dinner, and my hubby leaving for work, don't call me around that time...and I think everyone knows it!
Like I said, because of my hubby's work schedule, we eat early - 4:30p - we are so use to it, and it's fine - I get it all done early. Today the kids played outside which was really delightful for me...but my little boy kept coming in......"mommy, I need you" he always needs me, but it's fine, cause one day he won't need me at all!!!! pooh hoo!!!!! I'm going through that now too, how many years I have with the kids until they leave......so sad!!!
Honestly I could go on and on about my day, but I'm exhausted just telling you all about it. I did get to watch American Idol, which I just love - who do you want to win? I do enjoy David Cook, but I really didn't like his song tonight. I don't think he'll be voted out though. I'm a big fan of the Real Housewives of Orange County, and now the new show, Real Housewives of NYC - love it. I'm originally from NYC!!!!! I love reality tv......who cares about that writers strike, actually still wish it was going on.........
Ok, better close. Hope to hear from you all soon.