Leanna's Little Spot of Cyber Space

One of those days?

2012-01-11T08:46:00.001-06:00

Do you ever have one of those days where nothing seems to go right?

Well, it seems I've been having one of those days for the last month or two solid. I just can't get it together. O just won't listen and mind (thanks, terrible two's). House is, we'll just say, less than stellar. Car problems. Dog problems. Hubby frustrated about something or other that just makes your day that much more of a fail.

I'm tired of it. I'm tired of being weighed down by the things of this world. I wish I knew how to fix it, but I don't.

I'm praying and trying.

I'm hoping this is just a season. A short, piddly season like Fall in Texas.

I'm almost certain you won't find me with my head buried in the back yard, but I make no guarantees.

2012...So, seems you're here.

2012-01-05T22:00:00.000-06:00

To be honest, I'm not that excited about the new year.

**I'll tell you a secret.

2012 brings death to my 20s.**

(I'm not overjoyed by this factoid!)

However, I am resolved to make a resolution, none the less.

I resolve to get my passport!

If I'm going to be old, I'm going to travel! So there!

To the Zoo!

2011-12-05T14:19:00.001-06:00

Last month we finally made it to the zoo. I had been wanting to go, but it was either too hot, we were too busy, or just too tired. But, this time, Owen, Grandma Holly and I made a plan and stuck with it.

We made our trek over to the Dallas Zoo, as I was excited to see the new Giants of the Savannah exhibit. I didn't really know what I was in for, because I had this line my dad said once upon a time running through my mind the whole time. He told me once, the best exhibit at the Dallas Zoo was the cockroaches when he was little. ICK!

I will be happy to tell you that that is NOT SO! It was delightful! We had a great time. I think I probably enjoyed it the most. The Grandma was excited to be there with the grandson. The kiddo was excited about all the statue animals. Me? My animal loving self was in wart hog heaven!

Here's a few snap shots from the day. I can't wait to go back!

The elephants doing their tricks...see the trainer on the rocks on the left.

O says he approves of the Savannah.

Well, hello there!

Parallel parking for giraffes!

Watching the lions from our lunch table.

Mom, these elephants are really my speed!

Teehee! Trunks are funny!

That guy's funny, Grandma!

One more time!

Of course, Grandma Holly had to take him on the Carousel!

Yea! for the zoo!

A Trick-or-Treating We Will Go

2011-11-15T15:42:00.000-06:00

I posted a little bit about O's first real trick or treat expedition over on the O'Baby Blog, but I wanted to share this little bit of video too!

I know he's my kid so that influences me on the cuteness factor, but seriously, this kid is cute. All dress up in his puppy-with-no-puppy-ears-because-I-won't-wear-them costume and his big blue eyes just make me melt!

Anniversary Trip to San Francisco!

2011-11-07T14:17:00.000-06:00

This October I did two things I've never done before.
1. I visited California
2. Joe and I left the O'Bear!

Joe and I took a 3night/4day trip to San Francisco to celebrate our fifth year of marriage.

We had a great time. though I think this was the first vacation I can remember popping more pain pills than anything else. We walked EVERYWHERE!! And, little known fact, did you know there are hills in SF? They do, and not just small majestic hills. These are eat your lunch and kill your knees type of hills. But we walked them!!

The big city was kind of a shock for me since I haven't done that in a while (I know I live in Dallas, but it's the burbs!) But we had lots of fun. We rode the trolley, strolled the peirs...all 39+ of them, visited Alcatraz, walked the Golden Gate Bridge. We also visited a small town on the other side of the bay, Sausalito, and had a fun time just poking around there.

Alcatraz was neat, just because we've heard so much about it. It is crazy how close it feels to the main land, and as we learned on the tour, that was one of the hardest parts for prisoners. They said they could especially hear the laughter and partying by the yacht clubs on New Years and such. A lot of it has started to crumble, but it was neat and a little eerie to see that part of history.
On the home front, O stayed with his Grandparents' O'Brien and had a blast! I think the kid cried for 2 minutes and didn't slow down the whole time! Makes my heart happy knowing he's well taken care of and having fun. And wow, he's growing up!

So, not quite what I had thought of for my first trip to California, but it was special and fun a the same time! Thanks, Joe, for some great, though pain-filled, memories!

pumpkins and potatoes

2011-10-25T22:53:00.002-05:00

Today we took a trip to the Arboretum with friends to visit their pumpkins. Then later this evening we went to the local church pumpkin patch with the Colvins, which has turned into quite the fun tradition. We also enjoyed a nice bowl of potato soup before we left tonight, and thought I'd share a few pics and the recipe.

Hearty Potato Soup
1/4 c. Butter
3 green onions, finely chopped
2 carrots, grated
1 10-oz. Can chicken broth (you can add more to thin out)
2 10-oz. Cans cream of potato soup

2 potatoes, mashed
2 c. Shredded cheddar cheese (medium or sharp)
1 c. Sour cream
Salt & pepper to taste
Milk (optional - to thin out)

Melt the butter in a 3 quart sauce pan or Dutch oven. Add the green onions and carrots, and sauté until tender. Add the chicken broth and simmer, covered, for 20 minutes.

Throw in your baked potatoes and mash to desired consistency. Then stir in the potato soup, cheddar cheese, and sour cream. Cook low over heat until the cheese melts, stirring to mix well. Season with salt and pepper. Add milk if needed for the desired consistency. Serves six.

Happy Fall!

Hits and Misses ::edited::

2011-10-09T22:30:00.001-05:00

I've fallen in with the cool crowd and joined Pinterest. Is it still cool if EVERYONE is doing it? (I digress.)

If you haven't joined this site you should. It is a visual bookmark for all the cool stuff you find on the web. Looking to redesign your house? Start a "dream home" board. Love to sew? Start a "craft and sewing" board...

Well, one of my pin boards is food. And with a few recent shindigs, I tried out a recipe or two. One a hit. One a miss.

Big, Fat Hit #1: Chicken Enchilada Pasta
Yummy!!!
It was fairly easy to make, though it did call for quite a few ingredients. I made this for a friend who recently had a baby (Hi, Emily!), and still had some left for our family too! You can also decide on your designated spice level depending on what sauces you use and if you want to throw anything else in the mix.
I will definitely make again.

Big, Fat Hit #2: Sopapilla Cheesecake
I saw this on pinterest here, but the recipe I actually made was from my good buddy, Karen. This is a great recipe for a friendly gathering, nothing too fancy, nice, gooey and warm. A few things though: gotta watch out that the butter doesn't just pool on top. And, I mixed half the sugar and cinnamon with the butter to pour on top, then sprinkled the remaining over that. I feel that helped give it a little crunch on top.
Here's Karen's recipe:
Sopapilla Cheesecake...

2 cans crescent rolls

2 pkgs. cream cheese

1 1/2 c. sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 stick butter

Layer the first can of crescent rolls out flat in a 9x13 greased baking pan. Mix together softened cream cheese, 1 c. sugar, and vanilla. Spread over crescent rolls and then add the next can of rolls as the second layer. Melt the butter and mix with 1/2 c. sugar and 1 tsp. cinnamon. Drizzle over top.

Bake for 30 minutes at 350. Enjoy!

Big. Sad Flop: Lemoncello Cake
Won't link up, due to dissapointment.
If you come across it, just say no. Now, barring I did not use the liquor they mentioned, the cake just turned out sad and heavy. I had such high hopes, but it got squashed.

Lesson: you just got to try! I look forward to more experiments and hopefully more success stories too! Sign up, start pinning and let me know if you come across something great!

The Big Dig

2011-09-15T22:10:00.000-05:00

Today, I had a meet-up with resident archaeologist, Tex O'Brien. He was in the area for the big dig at the historic Ft. O'Brien, which happens to be right out my back door. I did not want to miss this opportunity to see the legend in his element.

He welcomed the crowd, and told us a little bit about how he goes about his explorations. Tex said a good pair of cargo pants is a must, as well as a trusty shovel and spatula. "I can't tell you enough how often a good spatula can get you out of a pretty nasty scrape," said Tex O'Brien.

"You just feel it in your bones when you're onto something. Like today, I just knew I had to get out here and get a feel for the earth. In my second trip out today, I've already found a red rocket and a green fish! Do you know what this means in my field?"

Clearly, Tex was excited about what he had uncovered today at the dig site. I can't wait to see what he learns from these artifacts!

Above, Tex O'Brien points out one of the dig spots that's yielded quite a bit of artifacts in this last outing. Tex was also quite willing to get his feet dirty. He said something about feeling the sand between his toes...or maybe that was me wishing for a beach vacation.

Tex also had his assistant, Ryker vonStryker out on the dig too. Tex likes to say Ryker works like an animal, whatever that's about...

Here Tex O'Brien said something about the way the building was constructed as well, but it was way over my head. I tell you, this guy is amazing!

It was an exciting day for sure. Tex said the site looked promising for more treasure, but he and vonStryker had a call from Mr. & Mrs. Cole to rescue a baby llama in Peru. Man, the life this guy leads...they should make a movie based on this guy - a handsome archaeologist with a goofy side kick off to save the world one adventure at a time. I bet it would make a killing!

Tex O'Brien, safe travels and we look forward to your next adventure!

Owen and the Blueberries

2011-08-31T20:45:00.001-05:00

No lie. The kid LOVES his blueberries. The other day, I said 'to heck with it,' washed the whole container and gave it to him. I don't know if the boy could have been happier.

He got to figure out how to open it. LOVE. He got to pick out the berries by himself. LOVE. He got to be his crazy, silly self. LOVE!

I got some stinkin' cute pictures of my O'Bear. Super dooper LOVE!

Wishing you all love and antioxidents!

A Christmas Oddity

2011-08-25T08:25:00.001-05:00

Saw this on a fellow blogger's post today and I don't even know what to do with this!

Do I need to buy this? Is this just too much too, to weird? Is a Santa Yoda sacrilegious to Jesus and Santa? Help me know where to place this oddity!

One Nap a Day

2011-08-25T08:12:00.000-05:00

Ugh, friends, I think we hit it. I think we are down to one nap a day. You know what this means, I bet you can already tell. A slowdown in the production of blogs.

With a kid that NEVER sits still. And I do mean never, this means a long day ahead for mama. He doesn't watch videos. He doesn't snuggle. He doesn't sit and read. We 'go-go-go.' (That's even O's favorite word!)

So, don't give up on me. We're here. I have ideas in my head...now, if only time to get them 'on paper' per say!

$100, Really?

2011-08-15T10:56:00.001-05:00

So, I like cute, slightly odd, but not too odd clothes. I guess like Fossil and Anthro feel. Of course you wouldn't realize this, as most days my wardrobe consists of a solid color top and jeans or shorts...but I digress.

I stumbled upon this gem today, and thought, "Wow, wouldn't that be super cute for Fall/Winter (if we even get those seasons anymore!?)!"

$100? Seriously people! It's a sweatshirt! Does it get me refills on my drink, or something??

Just my luck...another case of tastes outweighing the budget.

And on that note, the hubster goes tonight for his Grad School Orientation! Yep, that's right for the next two whole years Joe and bro-in-law Jamie will be slaving away together at UTA's Frisco campus to earn their MBAs. So...when Joe gets his next high-paying, world-dominating position, maybe I will just have to get my $100 sweatshirt.

sigh.

Summer Reading Obsession

2011-08-02T12:36:00.000-05:00

So I think I found it.

I was going into withdrawals after the ending of all that is Harry Potter. But, after seeing someone's random facebook post about a book series, adding it to my library queue from my couch and picking up from the hold shelf, I found it.

The Game of Thrones

Intrigue, Family, Fantasy, Battle, Comedy, and best of all...Long and multiple books!

If you like Lord of the Rings, Eragon and such, I think you'll like this series...I'm only 200+ pages in on the first book, so don't hate me too bad if you don't!

16 Super Cute Invites

2011-07-18T15:10:00.000-05:00

There are some days you just want to do something special for a party or shower, and lacking the creativity or budget...

Well, HGTV has an offering of 16 super cute invitations by different designers to download for free. From girly to modern, to just plain cute, check it out and find something fun for your next event!

Fourth Fun

2011-07-14T10:46:00.000-05:00

The Fourth of July was so much fun this year.

So, this is parental supervision?

Last year...I was stuck inside with a brand new baby trying to keep my sanity.

This year, we were in a field eating out of the back of a truck and enjoying the plane show and fire works! All with a smiley, bubbly one-year-old!

The plane, boss! The plane!!

So much fun!

Kaboom!!

Yes, I Have...

2011-07-08T11:34:00.000-05:00

The instructions with this are to bold the ones you’ve done, leave the others in normal type. So here goes. (I got it here.)

1. Started your own blog (um, yes…)
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower (though I never see them!!!)
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables (we had a garden as a child)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill (teehee!)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29 Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33 Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing (indoors!)
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41 Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45 Walked on a beach by moonlight (one of my favorite things ever!)
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60 Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64 Donated blood, platelets, or plasma (well, I did try)
65. Gone sky diving
66 Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67 Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt (a very, very, very small one)
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House (outside it)
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life (I have a kid under 2, every day I do this!!)
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
Your turn!

A Game of Chase

2011-06-24T11:11:00.000-05:00

You see this guy?

Yeah, you...

This guy, has become the favorite go-to playmate of a certain one-year-old around our house. Every night before bed this week, Ryker and Owen have played Chase up and down the hall. Sometimes Ryker is into it and gets down into a 'play bow' and makes funny barks. Sometimes he looks to us for help, like "are you really going to let that kid hang on me?"

It has been fun to watch their relationship grow...our first born and our fur born! =) Just think, one day, Ryker and Owen are going to be running up to me asking if they can go on a walk by themselves. I'll say yes, and I'll follow behind stealthly in the Cozy Coup!

Ryker, you have your quirks, but we're so glad you're our puppy!

Owen's Rookie Year

2011-06-20T10:10:00.001-05:00

Last weekend, we had a great time celebrating Owen's Rookie Year! It is hard to believe this little guy is one already. But sometimes it's hard to believe he's only one!

Here's a few (i.e. a lot) of pics of the big festivities. It was so great to have Owen's grandparents and aunts and uncles, as well as several of our friends, and Owen's very special one-yr-old friend, Asher to help us celebrate!

Happy Birthday, Big Boy!! You are a crazy, fun, silly, challenging joy we're so proud to call ours!

A Vacation for Three!

2011-06-02T09:38:00.000-05:00

This past five days, our little family of three has gotten to enjoy our first vacation together! Joe had a business opportunity that brought him to the North Carolina coast, and with the help of AA airmiles Owen and I got to join in the fun!

To say I was terrified flying with an 11 mo was an understatement. There are just too many things going on and going wrong with air travel these days. But O showed me! He was a trooper, and I even got to snuggle with my little guy for two whole hours while he slept on me!

Let's see... We visited the Great Dismal Swamp, saw a blimp and ransacked a hotel room on our first few days! O loved being able to wander all around the room.

Blimp and blimp hanger....doesn't it look like a loaded down milk cow?

After Joe finished his business obligations, we headed to the Outter Banks, or the OBX as all the cool kids call it. We stopped in Kitty Hawk/Kill Devil Hills to see the Wright Bros Museum only to have missed it by 30 mins. Then we headed to the beach. Owen LOVED IT!!

O on the OBX

He loved the water. He loved the sand. He loved the birds. He loved the people. It was soo much fun getting to see him smile and enjoy something we love too! After unloading a diaper full of sand, we enjoyed a great dinner on the beach and a stroll on the pier.

Daddy and son making waves!

To continue our adventure, we headed down the road a bit to visit Joe's college buddy, Dave and his wife and kiddos. I have to take a second and rant here. On what should have been about a 2-hr trip in Texas turned into a 3.5 hr trip in NC. PEOPLE!!! It is OK TO GO FASTER than 55mph on a straight road with NOTHING ON IT!!!!! For the love of families with young kiddos, boost the dang speed limit!!!

So, when we finally arrived in New Bern, we had a blast! Dave and Bekah and Jonathan and Miss Abby were the perfect hosts. We played hard, visited an aquarium, checked out a fort, played on the beach and even went to church!

On our Fort Macon visit, we changed Owen's diaper right where a civil war canon used to sit. Now, do you think that guy all those years ago in the throws of battle was thinking, "You know, some day some dippy tourists are going to be stomping all over here and even changing diapers where I'm fighting so hard?" Kinda puts things into perspective a bit -- everything changes, even the things that change history.

Notice the sign says "Fort Macon was made for war, not safety. Please be careful. " Kinda interesting!

The Atlantic Ocean at our backs!

To wrap up our visit, we "pushed" the speed limit on our way back to VA, and got to visit with my cousin Merritt and her boys. It was so fun to catch up with family that we don't get to see as often as we like!

Wow, a great trip! Lots of memories, lots of sand in our shorts! Can't wait to do it again...after a bit!

Leader of the Pack

2011-05-13T17:04:00.003-05:00

Last night after supper, we loaded up the kiddos and went to a nearby dog park. Owen, Ryker and I had found it earlier on a ride around town after Mr O decided he didn't need a nap. (I'm sure he'll deny it if you bring it up, but some two-legged bud
dy DID take a nap on the drive.)

When we got to the dog park, the sign said kids 9 and up allowed inside. I guess this makes sense, some of these big dogs might see Owen as a treat, and I'm sure they don't want me going Mama Bear on a dog going after my son. So, Joe and Owen out, Leanna and Ryker in.

Ryker is a funny dog. He gets soooo amped up when other dogs are around when we're inside or on a walk. However, when we get to the dog park, he kinda trots around, but mostly stays away from other dogs. He has issues...we know that.

But he loved it. He loved running around. He loved, ahem, marking everything. He loved being a dog. But, what's a dog to do when there ARE so many other dogs around? Show you're the big man on campus, of course.

Ryker, my 40lb, medium build, mystery-breed dog find the biggest, baddest male Doberman Pinscher to try and dominate. Thankfully, Mr Doby was not as bad as he looked and just growled and snapped. Oh, Ryker, you're such a nerd.

Meanwhile, back on the other side of the fence, Owen was having a blast!!

Joe and Owen were walking around on the perimeter of the park talking to all the dogs that came to check them out. O would squeal and try and pet the puppies through the fence. Daddy however was looking out and made sure all were safe. Though, O did get his arm through to pet the poofy little American Eskimo, and couldn't have been happier.

Oh, what a good day when you bring home both you're boys and they are both happy and exhausted -- a day well lived!

(an old pic, but shows my buddies together!)

Happy Belated Star Wars Day

2011-05-11T09:12:00.003-05:00

I forgot to put this on the blog last week, but it still makes me smile. Without further ado...

Happy Star Wars Day!

May the 4th be With You!

artwork by handz

The Day the Earth Stood Still

2011-04-27T09:43:00.003-05:00

It started out so simple. An ordinary action. An ordinary action that soon began spiraling into chaos and tears.

A sync. An update. An iPhone.

Easy.

Then despair struck. Something went wrong. Something decided to attempt to kill my poor phone and rob me of the precious memories of my little family and friends. EVIL!!!

I panicked. I began searching Google. Nothing could point me to another way than the dreaded "Restore." Restore -- to return to factory settings, meanwhile deleting all media, pictures and video. Noooo!

I called my brother-in-law, Jamie, on Google Chat. He'd know what to do right?? I told him all I knew and all I saw. He sounded doubtful, but he emailed his tech guru, Zach. Zach emailed quickly with the dreaded answer, the only thing to do was "Restore."

Depression set in. I'd have to do it. I'd lose all my cute Owie videos. My happy memories on the fly. Gone! GONE!

I sucked it up. Put on my big girl pants, and clicked the "Are you Sure" button.

Several minutes later, my phone returned. But wait, it returned with everything on it!

Just another small miracle helping us remember there is a God!

So, what have we learned. BACK UP! BACK UP! BACK UP!! And pray. And that apple, along with every other electronics maker can suck too!

What the Hail?

2011-04-15T10:19:00.004-05:00

Seriously, what the hail??

Last night was crazy. We didn't even know anything was rolling into town before the low, super-sonic thunder started rumbling. So, we turn on the weather and see a squall line is moving in and it should be a quick shower over in about 15 minutes.

And here it comes...the rain came. The lightening started flashing, and the loudest, scariest thunder started sounding. Poor Owie awoke with a cry, so I went in to get him and that's when the hail started.

It was CRAZY!! I had NEVER heard it that loud. I do NOT like hail. I started freaking out for poor Rufus, our trusty Civic. He does not like the elements, but the garage was a little full. We were just going to let him be, but it was getting worse...and that's when we heard the window break.

The stinkin' hail broke a window!!!! WHAA???

So, Joe rushed in the garage and started making room, I went to help and Owen got to see one heck of a storm. When I raised the garage door for Joe to bring Rufus around, Owen could hardly believe his little eyes and ears; it was pretty cute!

We waited it out to put Owen back to bed, about 45 mins in total, playing Peek-a-boo and such. Feed him, put him back down, and listened to him babble for a bit.

What a night.

So far all I've found are the broken window and several dings on Rufus. I DO NOT like this side of DFW.

You can take your hail and shove it!

Your biggest non-fan,

Leanna

I Spy!

2011-03-31T10:11:00.005-05:00

I spy something fun!

I spy something tiny!

I spy something PERFECT for this Easter season!

Have you guessed?

WE HAVE BUNNIES!!

Tiny little baby bunnies (and their mama) have taken up residence in our side yard. How did we discover this, you ask? Well, thanks to our trusty RykerDog, he sniffed out that something was afoot, and started poking his nose around. When his nose led him to a little patch of roughage that started squeaking, Joe quickly picked him up (because that was the only way of dragging him away) and threw him in the house. I however, went to work discovering what our little noisy hole was!! With a small stick I peeled away the leaves and fur and discovered 4-5 tiny little fidgeting bunnies!

They are so cute and small, and have already increased their size since we discovered them on Sunday! With the tiniest ears and, and they just bounce and pop when you peel back their cover. And no, we don't do this often, just to check to see if they're still ok! So, here's a little video to see the guys in live action!

Joe the Chef!

2011-03-22T09:44:00.004-05:00

This Christmas I gave Joe a gift of "Be the Chef" from Benihana to learn to how to cook tepannyaki style, a style of food he LOVES to eat!

They had one day of training on a Saturday, then the following week we got to enjoy all his learned skills as he prepared a meal for us. We took our fun friends Emily and Allan to help me mock, I mean, cheer on Joe as he cooked!

We had a GREAT TIME! Joe was a wonderful chef, and we've enjoyed several meals back at home utilizing the skills and recipes he learned on his adventure! And if you have any budding foodies in your family, I totally recommend this! You get the cooking lesson and dinner for 4 out of the deal!

Here's a few highlights from our evening!

Joe's Birthday Gift

2011-03-21T09:54:00.005-05:00

Looking for a little something for Joe's birthday this year (after getting a new radar gun), I decided we needed a new board game.

We had played Ticket to Ride: Europe at our friends Jon and Lydia's house and really enjoyed it! Ok, done!

It is a pretty quick game of strategy where your mission is to build trains across Europe given certain tickets. You have to plot the best coarse, avoid other players, and remember what you are doing -- but it doesn't take too long and you don't have to think to hard -- wins for everyone!

We've played several times now just the two of us and with family and friends. So, if you're looking for a fun family game, even for older children, I totally recommend Ticket to Ride: Europe!

What Flower are You?

2011-03-08T08:46:00.002-06:00

You are a Tulip!

At one time, the frenzied demand for these bright, happy bulbs made the tulip one of the most expensive flowers on the market in Holland and Turkey. While tulips have become more affordable in the modern age, tulips have become synonymous with fame and yellow bulbs are often called “smiles of sunshine”. You share the limelight with the tulip as a popular individual who can light up your surroundings and make even perfect strangers feel perfectly at ease. You are an expressive, charismatic type of person who is adept at making others feel comfortable and special, and your charm is often deeply influencing to others whether you are aware of it or not. Often artistic and active, your expressive nature and youthful energy ensure your presence is never forgotten.

Well, it sounds nice anyways...And I do LOVE me some tulips! I have some coming up in my yard right now! Pictures to come...so, what flower are you? Post if you take the quiz!
http://www.flowermag.com/quiz/

Down and Out

2011-03-06T20:59:00.002-06:00

So, blogging is a little harder these days, as our 13-month old HP computer has tried to come to an early death. I am not happy, and blogging from an iPhone is not that fun!

I'll keep you posted!

A Baking Secret

2011-02-24T19:06:00.003-06:00

Ok, my friends. I have a baking secret/tip for you. It will change your world.

Do you love Chocolate Chip Cookies?

Are you listening???

Put a 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of coffee in your batter. Also, put a smidge less, like a table spoon less of butter, and this too will boost your batter!

Trust me. It will make you smile.

Happy Baking!!

Valentine's Crafty Fun

2011-02-15T10:14:00.004-06:00

So,I like to craft, but with short one, my craft time is few and far between.

I need something easy and fast these days. Enter the t-shirt wreath.

I saw this on a blog a while back and decided, yep, that's my skill level these days. Cut, stick and glue!

What you will need:
- t-shirt material - about 3/4 yard or an XXL t-shirt
- scissors
- glue gun
- cardboard
- ribbon

Step 1: Cut out a LOAD of squares. And when you think you have enough, cut out more. Trust me. My squares were about 1.5"x1.5"

Step 2: Cut out your desired shape out of a sturdy cardboard. It needs to be able to hold weight, or reinforce a thinner cardboard with wood or plastic pieces on the back.

Step 3: Scrunch up with a point at the bottom like you would do with tissue paper. Place a dot of glue on the bottom point and glue to your shape.

Step 4: Place pieces right up close to one another. This will give you the fluffy look and hold up your material as you go along. KEEP GLUING!

Step 5: Glue, staple or pin your ribbon on the back of your shape to hang.

Step 6: Step back, and enjoy!

Our Arkansas Adventure

2011-02-04T10:32:00.009-06:00

This past weekend, we loaded up the family and road-tripped to Arkansas to visit our favorite misplaced friends, the Norvells.

We had a great trip up and Owen did pretty well with a few stops along the way. We so loved hanging out with our friends over the weekend. Caleb is a delight. He is so smart, curious, courteous and loving! Baby James is so healthy, easy-going and smiley! And Jon and Lydia - well, they're just two of some of my favorite people on the planet.

Of course when you get Lyd and me together, there's bound to be photos of something! So here's a few we took together.

On the way back to Texas, we stopped along side a pasture for Mr. Owen, and were delighted when the cows came by to say howdy!

A good (long) trip, and wished we could do it every weekend! We love you Norvells!

Dear Spandex

2011-01-27T15:31:00.004-06:00

Dear Spandex,

Thank you for being created! You have helped hide a number of unsightly fashion flaws over the decades. But today, I would like to thank you for getting me back into a size jean I was pretty sure I wouldn't see for a long, long time.

Ok, so I'm sure the make-up of these little capris is like 70% spandex 20% denim, but I'll take it!
I've had these pants for at least 5 years, and they fit!
Hear that world! They still fit!

Spandex, thank you again for reminding my derierre of the size it should aspire (or should I say, perspire) to be ALL THE TIME!

Your pal,
Leanna

The Great Kitchen Makeover

2011-01-23T17:27:00.011-06:00

Hallelujah! That's all I got to say about that!

Since we bought the house a little more than 3 years ago, we knew we had to do something to the kitchen. The floor had these rockin' porcelain tiles with green and pink roses, there was a drab dark wallpaper on the walls. But the counters, I thought were pretty cool, they were a green and white tile. I liked it. Then I lived here. And I didn't like them any more.

The wallpaper and tile floor were changed within weeks of purchasing the house. Woohoo. But counters, counters are a lot of money, and I thought I could live with it. However, when you scrub and scrub and still know they are not clean, it begins to eat away at your sanity (and who knows what else!).

So this Christmas season, Joe and I gifted each other with new counters and backsplash.

We went to Home Depot and purchased the counters knowing Joe and awesome helper-dad Jim would do the tear-out. When the girls left to go to a baby shower, we let the guys go at it, thinking it would be about finished on our return.

OF COURSE NOT!

Whatever dufus put up the stuff to begin with used all the wrong things. The only way to get it out, was to cut it out. So when we came home from the baby shower, things were down, but not quite in the way I was hoping. We then had to re-Sheetrock the giant holes in the wall (sorry, I don't have pics of this because I was crying on the inside). Sheetrock leads to dust everywhere...then countertop dust...ugh...everything was covered in dust.

Next time, if there is a next time, we're boxing stuff up.

So the counter install, they arrived and worked swiftly while Owen and I were just there. Joe came home a bit early from work to oversee things too. Thank goodness! The smell of the cut silestone was getting to me, along with whatever they were using to clean up. So, I took Owen and ran to his parents. Joe stayed and actually caught the counter was not level by almost 5/8ths of an inch! YIKES! The smell from the epoxy and cleaning chemicals was so strong we weren't able to go back home for 3 days/2 nights. WAAAHHH!

Then we started the backsplash and decided we'd go big and go with a glass tile background called Tea Leaf. After a lot of hard work by Joe and a lot of cleaning by all, we NOW have a beautiful kitchen.

Really.

I hope you enjoy and can't wait to show you in person!

To my Pals

2011-01-19T19:09:00.002-06:00

To my pals I hold so dear, this made me think of our relationship. Fun, irreverent and crafty!

You can grab a print here! =)

Morty's Migration

2011-01-18T16:37:00.004-06:00

Mortimer the Moose joined our family this Christmas. He is Owen's moose. They are friends. It is great.

However, a few weeks ago, Morty heard it was supposed to snow. Being a moose, he likes snow. So, when mom was out the day before he wandered out into the backyard looking for the coming snow. Supposedly he migrated on his own, at least that's what the red one is telling me.

Poor Morty was discovered the next day, when it did, indeed, snow! Though it seems his trip wasn't quite what he had planned and seemed to have run into several hardships.

So, Morty was rescued and brought in to thaw by the warm, toasty fire.

We'll see if Morty plans any more solitary migrations, or if he'll just choose to travel with his pack.

Just had to throw this pic in of Owen and Joe enjoying O's first snow! Love that little guy!

Kitchen Nightmares

2011-01-10T09:39:00.003-06:00

So, have you seen that show Kitchen Nightmares? I feel like I am there.

Ok, so I don't have a surly Englishman cussing at me, or scary food around I wouldn't feed to a rat, but I am there.

I have no counters. I have no sink. I have no microwave. I have no dishwasher. And the last doesn't help a bit...as ALL of my dishes are coated in drywall aftermath.

It all started with, "I want new countertops."

Stupid, stupid, stupid Leanna!!

We had these horrible tiles on the counter and wall. The grout was a nightmare to clean, it was dark and it made me sad. So for Christmas, Joe and I gifted each other with new counters, a stainless sink and backsplash.

Enter back in horrible tile. The dumbbutt that put it in used all the wrong materials, so the only way to get it out was to cut out the wall. Waaaahhhhh!!!!

Then you have to put up new Sheetrock. Ok, fine. I even got to help. BUT THEN, you have to sand. WAAAHHHH! I just gave up.

So, I KNOW I will be in love with it when the counters are in and I have a sink again and the power is back on in my little kitchen. I can live without a backsplash for a LONG TIME.

Publish Post

But, for right now, until those men are installing, I am in a Kitchen Nightmare. Please pray for me!

Please.

(pictures coming later...sorry, I missed getting a pic before we put the drywall back up.)

2010: A Year in Review

2011-01-03T10:02:00.005-06:00

2010! What a Year!

January:

We announced to the world that O'Baby O'Brien was on his or her way!

I had a super 28th b-day.

Ryker ate his dog house that Joe just finished..blah.

February:

The Groundhog saw blue - O'Boy O'Baby O'Brien made his presence know, and the elusive quest for a name began!

It snowed glorious, beautiful snow!

March:

We made a quick 11-hr road trip to NM to say goodbye to Joe's Grandpa O'Brien. He was a wonderful father and grandpa, and we miss him very much.

I got to take a trip to Palestine to see my buds, Lydia and Caleb and finally get to see the blooming Dogwoods.

My sister and I enjoyed all the beautiful flowers at the Dallas Arboretum!

April:

Not much to report in this month...just making it through pregnancy and taking pictures of the cutest dog ever.

May:

Enjoyed another month, but so tired of being pregnant.

Had a beautiful shower with family and friends to celebrate still unnamed O'Baby!

Finished the nursery with the help of neighbors and Joe's wonderful mom -- complete with custom dresser that was NOT from Pottery Barn!

Read some books, celebrated Jennifer's bday, and did some other wonderfully interesting stuff that I can't quite seem to recall!

June:

I had a fight with the vaccum cleaner, and at 9 months pregnant, that's NOT what you want.

We found out that O'Baby was a wee bit on the large side, and we decided to schedule and induction.

Owen Daniel O'Brien (who's name was decided when we saw him) was born June 15th at 3:05 p.m. after a hard delivery.

We then went through a little health scare with Owie and he hung out a bit in the NICU.

Joe's Grandpa Williams passed away after a long health battle, but not before getting to see a video and pictures of his first great-grandson, and gave a great smile.

The rest of the month, was a blur...

July:

Owen grew and changed so much in one month

On July 4th, he celebrated his first holiday!

We began to adjust to a family of 4...yes, I count Ryker.

August:

Ryker turned 3

We celebrated our brothers-in-law's birthdays

We watched Owen grow!

My dear friend Lydia welcomed her second son, James Elliot, into the world. (and all our hearts grew 3 sizes that day!)

September:

Owen learned to flip over - something he doesn't like to do anymore

I confessed to the world that I ran into a van while trying to read and ride a bike

October:

My friends, Hillary and Jeremy, took some beautiful photos of our family, which I will forever cherish that we got back this month!

We visited the pumpkin patch with the O'Bear and the Colvins.

November:

Owen got cuter and fell in love with jumping in his bouncer

We celebrated Thanksgiving with the O'Brien Family

December:

Owen turned 6 months

We prayed for Sweet Baby James and his family as he underwent heart surgery

We celebrated Christmas in Kingwood with the O'Bear

We celebrated Christmas #2 and New Years in Coppell with the O'Briens

We fell more in love with our son!

Here's to a new year and new adventures! Cheers!

Merry Christmas

2010-12-25T21:06:00.002-06:00

Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas. We've had a great time here playing with the O'Bear, putting a puzzle together, hanging out, reading and napping! It's awesome!

And here's to the Reason for the Season!

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us."

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: "'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'" Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him."

So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son."

When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."

After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead."

So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: "He will be called a Nazarene."

--Matthew 1:18 - 2:23 New International Version

The Adventures of No, No, Bad Dog: The Cubic Conundrum

2010-12-03T08:52:00.007-06:00

Hello again, dear fans. It's been a while.

I was deep under cover...oh, who am I kidding. I was just messing around barking at neighborhood children coming home from school. LOOOOVVVEE IIITTT!!! =P

Anywho, as I was saying, it's been a while since my last mission, and as it's nearing Christmas and the Naughty/Nice list is getting checked, I felt I needed to spring into action.

As some of you might know, my fortress has been penetrated by the evil Cute Baby! The folks think I am such a good sport. Ha! So, what was I to do, but give them a little demonstration of my power and position in this household. Enter the "X" block.

Why X? Well, X marks the spot. X-cellent. X-citing. You get it!

Evil Cute Baby had once again sucked Leanna into his vortex of cuteness and they were playing on the floor with his wooden blocks when I started forming my plan. I like wood. I eat wood. This is what I shall do! So, when they weren't looking I swiped the X block! All I left behind was a little sliver, as a calling card you might say.

Leanna, of course, caught onto my plan, but didn't go in search of the X. So, when she was AGAIN busy with Cute Baby, I mysteriously manifested the missing block and began chomping. What happened, you ask!? She took it away and told me "No, No! Bad Dog!" Yes! I had succeeded! She remembered my name! She remembered my purpose.

Throughout the day, I repeatedly snuck the block back from wherever she had placed/hidden it. My mission was not complete.

Finally, after Joe came home, saw what I had done, he and Leanna decided the block was toast.

Success!!!

Cute Baby -- you are a mighty foe! I have won this round, but I will not let down my guard. (note from the ghost writer -- No, No, Bad Dog is sleeping while I recount his tale.)

Until next time!

A Few Ways to Make a Difference

2010-12-01T09:02:00.004-06:00

I love Christmas time. I don't always love the craziness that comes with it. But, I love the kindness, the giving and the cheer that usually surfaces this time of year. (I also LOVE Caramel Brulee drinks from Starbucks, but that's another story!)

This season though, I've come across two causes that have really struck a chord with me and wanted to pass along to you all, if you're looking for some place to give this Christmas. And trust, me, these will be great places to give!

1. Shiloh Restored -- Our friends Lali and Niji have started a new mission, along with everything else in their crazy-busy lives, to save baby girls in India from infanticide. They are raising money through their mission to rescue, house, educate and love on these unwanted girls. Lali and Niji also plan to move to India in the next few years to run this mission first-hand.

Lali and Niji's core belief is that each human life is of great value and all are created equal in the sight of God. The name of the rescue mission is Shiloh Restored - this name seemed fitting because the word Shiloh has its origin in Hebrew and means “God’s gift” - Join them in working to see God's Gift Restored!

2. Reece's Rainbow - Make Christmas Count for Cliff
My sweet sweet friend Lydia welcomed her second son into the world this August. Little James was born with Down Syndrome. This was a surprise to all of us. Little James is perfect in his different-ness. But what was really different, is how this opened my eyes to these special kiddos like James who need loving just like our 'perfectly normal' kiddos (whatever that means,right!)

While reading a few blogs I frequent, I came across Cliff's story and the Reece's Rainbow organization. This group helps facilitate the international adoption of children with DS or other special needs. HOW AWESOME! The blogs I was reading are teaming up to make this Christmas count for Cliff, a special little boy looking for a home. If you can, donate big or small and help this little cutie find his forever home.

May God truly bless you and your family this year. And let's help to bless so many of those out there that need a little love too!

Merry Christmas!

Joy Card

2010-11-30T09:31:00.001-06:00

Glitter Glamour Joy Christmas Card

Get custom photo Christmas cards online at Shutterfly.com.

View the entire collection of cards.

Thanksgiving!

2010-11-28T10:48:00.004-06:00

We had a fun Thanksgiving, did you?

Food, pie, more pie, cheesecake...more food.

Pool games on the in-laws' new obsession.

Rice cereal, banana and guac for the littlest!

Naps for the mom (interrupted by leaf blowers -- one of the great evils of humanity!!!)

Christmas tree getting with the in-laws (Ryker spreading his holiday cheer at the store...)

Getting hubby home for several fun days!

Lots of laughs from the O'Bear and watching him have a blast in his jumper.

I would call Turkey Day 2010 a success! And even did a wee bit of shopping on the Internet -- sooooo much better than 4:30 in the morning in the stinkin' cold!

Now, bring on Christmas!

'Tis the Season for New Fridge Art

2010-11-23T18:08:00.007-06:00

Over the years, we've all started getting photo cards from our friends and family for the holidays. I love this trend so much, because I have something to add to my fridge. I get to look at all your smiling faces every day, say a prayer for you, think how big "Bobby" or "Katie" is now, and wish we all lived closer.

This holiday season, I have decided we too, have something photo-worthy to share with you on a card this year. That's right, Mr. Owen! His cuteness outshines us all, even Ryker. We've also had some awesome photos taken by our friends Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and we're ready to share.
One great place if you're looking to design your own cards this year is Shutterfly! They have tons of Christmas card and holiday card designs! And with an awesome holiday giveaway opportunity or just great discounts, why not give it a whirl!

You can search by color, number of photos and price! Here's an example of a brown, $, one photo card!And for those of you who just had new little bundles...they have tons of cute birth announcement designs!

So, get busy and send me some fridge art! Can't wait to see all your smiling faces soon!

A Girl and her Dog

2010-11-04T22:45:00.002-05:00

I need this right?

Can't you just see me and Ryker sporting about town in this? How cool, right?
I could win this!
You could win this!

Go check it out! It'll make you smile! Madsen Bikes!

Family Pics

2010-10-28T15:45:00.005-05:00

Here's a few more of my favorite pictures from our photo shoot with Mr & Mrs Smith! Thanks again guys!

To Brush, or Not to Brush

2010-10-25T14:33:00.004-05:00

...that is the question.

How bad is it that I can't brush my teeth during the day if I want to go somewhere. The minute Ryker sees me putting tooth paste on the tooth brush, he is gone. Under a bed, in a closet...somewhere cowering in fear from the impending doom of being put outside. So, invariably if I try to brush my teeth, it will take me an extra 10 minutes to get out the door after I wrangle the pupster.

So, should I just start brushing all the time throughout the day to desensitize him? Should I keep brush-ups in the car? Should I just carry around a tranq gun?

Oh Lordy! It's always something with this guy. What a nut.

And, yes, NoNoBadDog hadn't shown up in a long time, till Owen and I had to go somewhere the day Joe left on his last business trip. That's when NoNoBadDog decided to bite through the MIDDLE of a SINGLE board and wriggle out somehow. SERIOUSLY?? How do you do this? I was going to take a pic, but didn't have a chance before Bro-in-law fixed it for me.

The Power of the Written Word

2010-10-14T11:58:00.006-05:00

There are movie lines and book lines we can quote by heart:

"Here's lookin' at you, kid."
"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn."
"Luke I am your father."
"As you wish..."

But, what may be the hardest, most memorable thing is the first written sentence that one reads. It makes a classic a classic. It turns a story into a statement. It sears it into your memory, perhaps our collective memory -- forever.

Here's a few of the world's greatest written first sentences. Then click on the link for a few more. Perhaps it will entice you to read something new or something you've never even heard of. Perhaps you will write the next best first sentence...

1. Call me Ishmael. —Herman Melville, Moby-Dick (1851)

2. It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. —Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice (1813)

3. A screaming comes across the sky. —Thomas Pynchon, Gravity's Rainbow (1973)

4. Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice. —Gabriel García Márquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude (1967; trans. Gregory Rabassa)

5. Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. —Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita (1955)

6. Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. —Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina (1877; trans. Constance Garnett)

7. riverrun, past Eve and Adam's, from swerve of shore to bend of bay, brings us by a commodius vicus of recirculation back to Howth Castle and Environs. —James Joyce, Finnegans Wake (1939)

8. It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. —George Orwell, 1984 (1949)

9. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair. —Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities (1859)

10. I am an invisible man. —Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man (1952)

11. The Miss Lonelyhearts of the New York Post-Dispatch (Are you in trouble?—Do-you-need-advice?—Write-to-Miss-Lonelyhearts-and-she-will-help-you) sat at his desk and stared at a piece of white cardboard. —Nathanael West, Miss Lonelyhearts (1933)

12. You don't know about me without you have read a book by the name of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer; but that ain't no matter. —Mark Twain, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885)

13. Someone must have slandered Josef K., for one morning, without having done anything truly wrong, he was arrested. —Franz Kafka, The Trial (1925; trans. Breon Mitchell)

14. You are about to begin reading Italo Calvino's new novel, If on a winter's night a traveler. —Italo Calvino, If on a winter's night a traveler (1979; trans. William Weaver)

15. The sun shone, having no alternative, on the nothing new. —Samuel Beckett, Murphy (1938)

16. If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth. —J. D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye (1951)

17. Once upon a time and a very good time it was there was a moocow coming down along the road and this moocow that was coming down along the road met a nicens little boy named baby tuckoo. —James Joyce, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1916)

18. This is the saddest story I have ever heard. —Ford Madox Ford, The Good Soldier (1915)

19. I wish either my father or my mother, or indeed both of them, as they were in duty both equally bound to it, had minded what they were about when they begot me; had they duly considered how much depended upon what they were then doing;—that not only the production of a rational Being was concerned in it, but that possibly the happy formation and temperature of his body, perhaps his genius and the very cast of his mind;—and, for aught they knew to the contrary, even the fortunes of his whole house might take their turn from the humours and dispositions which were then uppermost:—Had they duly weighed and considered all this, and proceeded accordingly,—I am verily persuaded I should have made a quite different figure in the world, from that, in which the reader is likely to see me. —Laurence Sterne, Tristram Shandy (1759–1767)

20. Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show. —Charles Dickens, David Copperfield (1850)

The rest of the 100 Best Lines

It's from the Internet...

2010-10-05T12:14:00.004-05:00

...so it has to be true, right? =D

According to the Better Homes and Gardens color quiz:

Your color personality is: Yellow
Like yellow's strongest symbol, the sun, you radiate warmth. Others love to be around you because you have a gift for always looking on the bright side, and your ready smile can be infectious. Chances are your calendar is packed -- yellow lovers tend to be always on the go!Your signature color indicates someone imaginative and creative, so don't be afraid to express yourself through the way you dress and the way you decorate your home. Cheerful yellow is the ideal hue for a kitchen, laundry room, or any room that needs some extra brightness.

(a pic from our trip to the arboretum this spring!)

When I was Little

2010-09-23T09:00:00.003-05:00

When I was little, I had an escape plan in case the bad men came.

I had a giant window right over my bed, you see. And I had a fear that bad men might come in, never mind my sister had the same giant window and she was the first room in the house.

So my plan was to hide under my bed right next to the window wall and wait for them to leave, then I would crawl out, jump out the window and run to my neighbors' house.

Weird, I know. But these are the things you worry about when you're a little kid.

When I was Little

2010-09-20T09:08:00.002-05:00

thiWhen I was little, I LOVED to read (I still do). I hated to put down my book if I was really into it.

I would read in our tree. I would read under my bed. I would read in my bath tub.

One day I decided to read on my bike.

I was going over to visit a friend, and I thought, oh yeah, I can totally do this. So I started reading while riding my bike. I used to be super cool and could ride without using my hands. All was going good until it wasn't.

I ran into a parked van. Yep. I did. I'm pretty sure I even left a dent in the bumper.

So, what did I do? I looked around, didn't see anyone, and pedaled away as fast as I could!

From this I learned, I cannot read and ride! Wow, is this like a medieval form of texting and driving? Hmmm...well, good thing I don't do that!

And, for whoever's van that was all those years ago, sorry about that! =D

When I was Little

2010-09-14T12:21:00.002-05:00

When I was little, I said I would ALWAYS wear shorts when I got older.

I never understood why grown-ups wore shorts when it was hot outside. Now I do. At least I understand why women don't wear shorts all the time. I think it has something to do with the burden of frequent shaving.

It all becomes clear, or should I say, fuzzy.

Fun with the Flip

2010-09-12T16:52:00.003-05:00

Took this video the other day with our new Flip camera.

It is currently titled, Brotherly Love. But, perhaps, another title could be Why They Say Living with Dogs Boosts Your Kids' Immune System.

Enjoy...more to come I'm sure!

Random Act of Kindness

2010-09-05T21:29:00.002-05:00

This Saturday, Joe and I had the hankering for kolaches from the local bake shop. We even had a coupon, to boot! So, off went Joe and Ryker while I fed the baby.

Hubby and pupster return, and Joe announces the kolaches were free. Free?? I knew we had a coupon, but it wasn't that good.

Turns out, Joe's card refuses to swipe at this location. It's happened before. And we are not cash-carriers, so Joe told the lady he'd go across the street and get some from the bank since nothing was working. She said that would be fine, she trusted he'd come back.

Then steps forward, random nice guy, Ben. He gave the lady a couple of dollars and said it was on him! Joe said, that that wasn't necessary, as he really could just run across the street to the bank. However, this nice gentleman said no problem, have a wonderful Saturday.

Wowzers! Totally not called for, but what a blessing and nice thing to do for someone! Thank you random guy! Thanks for reminding us there are still friendly people in this world and for passing along a little cheer on a Saturday morning!

The Holy Spirit Hour

2010-09-03T12:00:00.004-05:00

Many of you may have heard the old phrase, the Witching Hour. A European term referring to the 12 a.m. hour or early hours where supernatural things happen. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that is dark outside, which makes just about anything creepy.

Well, I would like to introduce an new phrase, The Holy Spirit Hour.

You ask, "Now, what the heck is this?"

This is the hour where your animals go bonkers.

It shall be called this for a number of reasons. Like most Godly things, it is out of our understanding why our creatures find the spontaneous need to rampage through our house like their tails are on fire. Also, like the Holy Spirit, it can descend at any time, no matter the hour. So, be prepared.

The Holy Spirit Hour occured at the O'Brien household about 9 p.m. last night. RykerDog caught the spirit and went tearing up and down the hall. Squeaker Men were flying. Gummy Bear toys were flung. There was much hootin' and hollerin,' spinning of claws on hardwood floors and ruffling of carpet.

This is not just limited to my puppy. I have seen it in my dearly departed feline friend, Tailer. I have seen it in my outlaw pals, Bonny and Clyde, just to name a few. Let's face it peeps, it's real!

And I like it!

So here's to the Holy Spirit Hour. Proof once again that God has a big, big sense of humor!

Happy Birthday Buddy!!

2010-08-22T20:37:00.004-05:00

Happy Third Birthday, RykerDog!!

We love you so much, and are so glad you are our pupster!

While I am not totally convinced you are three years old exactly, we'll run with it.

You have been such an awesome big brother to Owen. You've been a faithful friend to me during pregnancy, nursing and looking after this crazy kid. Your dad loves going on walks and runs with you, even if you are still out of control most of the time.

You are not perfect, but you are ours! Happy Birthday Buddy!

(and yes, in dogs years you are 21 this year, BUT we are NOT taking you drinking!)

((Thanks Lyd, for the awesome pic!))

My Generation

2010-08-13T13:10:00.003-05:00

Have you seen the previews for this new ABC show, My Generation?

It's about Class of 2000 high school graduates from Austin, TX (ha! right?). I AM a Class of 2000 high school graduate.

According to the previews, we should already have taken over the world, made our millions and be content. However, we get to see that for a bunch of these 'losers' it hasn't happened that way yet.

IT HASN'T PEOPLE!!! I didn't know I was supposed to have everything figured out in 10 short years after graduating high school. Do you know how silly, and full of ourselves and crazy ideas we were at 18?

To be honest, it really has depressed me a bit. Every time I see a commercial for it, I think, what did I do wrong? Did I do something wrong?

I probably did do several things wrong, but I don't think I'm someplace I'm not supposed to be. I love my family and our lives together. There are definitely things I would like to change, but I don't think we should be made to feel guilty for not ALL being the president of the United States. Because, you know, that's only a one-person job.

I don't know if I'll tune in this fall. I guess it depends on my mental state. But, to all those other 2000 grads. I love you, keep on keeping on. And kudos to you for graduating high school!

Totally Wrong, but Interesting!

2010-08-09T14:16:00.004-05:00

So, I was talking to my dog the other day, (yes, there is NOTHING wrong with this) and I realized something.

My dog, my wonderful red-fluffy-bunny of a crazy mutt, Ryker the WonderDog, NoNoBadDog, is smarter than my child.

Yep. I said it.

But really, he knows his name.

He can roll over by himself.

He can hold his head up.

He can go to the potty by himself.

He has a vocabulary.

Think about it:

Sit

Stay

Wait

Outside

Water

Go for a: ride, walk, get the mail, etc.

He's a genius.

Little dude??? Well, all I can say is we're working on amending this post soon! =)

FYI...

2010-07-28T21:50:00.004-05:00

For your tummy's entertainment and your pocket book's delight, CHEESECAKE FACTORY is having it's anniversary special tomorrow for facebook fans and Friday for everyone else!

Oh yeah buddy!

Now, the real dilema comes down to, do I stick with the old tried and true Dulce de Leche, which has a special place in my heart, or try the new Reese's version?????

And, also, does Owen count as a person so I can get a slice to take home to Joe? =)

Wowzers!

2010-07-15T09:15:00.003-05:00

You see this guy?

This guy is a month old today.

Let's break down what this little guy has learned in a month.

1. Eat - check

2. Sleep - check minus - sometimes we're a little iffy on this one

3. Poop and pee - CHECK PLUS

4. Cry - check plus on this one too - He has what I like to call a pterodactyl cry that he likes to pull out when he's really not happy and really hungry.

We're also slowly adding being able to focus on a face. But other than his totally way-too-strong neck muscle, we're still in our blob stage. BUT we're a month closer to something else right!?

Happy One Month, Mr. Owen. We love you.

News Flash

2010-07-09T09:08:00.003-05:00

!!!News Flash of Epic Proportions!!!

It has been over 3 weeks since I have had cheese enchiladas!

I repeat:

It has been over THREE WEEKS since I have had cheese enchiladas.

Combined with a lovely hospital stay, lack of appetite for a while, wonderful meals provided by friends, and well, a hardship in getting out, I have NOT filled my enchilada tank in quite a while.

Tonight we are planning to have homemade chicken enchiladas at Aunt Jenni and Uncle Jamie's house tonight with the O'Bear in tow (his first adventure). They're pretty good and cheesy, but not the same. We'll remedy this injustice very soon I know. But for those of you that know me, this is a big deal!

See how I sacrifice for my child already? Sheesh! Mother of the Year over here!

Happy Fourth of July

2010-07-05T21:29:00.002-05:00

Happy Fourth of July from our family to yours.

With thanks for our troops, patriots and fellow Americans past, present and future we're so blessed to celebrate in a free country where God can be God!

Delay

2010-06-30T11:41:00.004-05:00

Sorry for the delay in posts over here. You see, we procured this little thing called Owen Daniel on June 15th, and we've been just a bit busy!

Check out the baby blog on the side bar for nifty cool updates on the O'Bear!!

And, I'm sure I'll have something to post over here again soon!!

Leanna vs. Dyson

2010-06-11T13:41:00.002-05:00

Man, oh, man! Was it ever a smack-down in this house today.

I've been putting it off for a while (since some fuzzy creatures never seem to get the hint!), but sweeping was not doing the trick any more. I needed to vacuum!

So I got out the ol' boy and went to town in the carpeted area. Not too much trouble, a little work at 38.5 weeks prego, but doable!

BUT OH, DEAR LORD! Who could have imagined the power struggle that lurked in the living room! I use the hose a lot in this room, just because it's easier to attack the dust bunnies. However, today, it was just not meant to be.

It caught up my dress multiple times.

It sucked up a pencil.

It sucked up shoe laces.

It sucked up the computer's cord wrap, and started sucking the cord itself.

It sucked up pieces of paper, that wound up getting stuck.

ARG!!!

I then had to dump it out.

It decided to dump all over the floor in three different piles.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

I couldn't get the hose back down because the pencil was stuck. So, I had to turn the whole thing up and over and shimmy the pencil down and out.

SERIOUSLY!

Needless to say, I got most of my vacuuming done. Was it worth all the trouble? That, I'm not sure!

So, next time you vacuum, be careful. Mr. Dyson or Mr. Hoover or whoever just might have an attitude that day! You've been warned!

The Most Interesting Pup in the World - 2

2010-06-09T07:43:00.003-05:00

He bypassed the teenager stage, because he was never awkward, nor gangly. Just straight from adorable puppy to ruggedly handsome pupster. (or so he claims)

Rear Gear...

2010-05-27T11:31:00.004-05:00

So I came across this today. I showed it to Ryker. He said he would eat me if I bought it for him.

Thankfully, he has the most awesome tail in the world and butt tufts that look like pantaloons, so he doesn't need these.

But (ha!), if your dog/cat does, here's the product for you!

Rear Gear!

Description

Is your pet feeling left in the dirt because of his/her unsightly rear? I’ve got them covered... Rear Gear is handmade in Portland, OR and offers a cheerful solution to be-rid your favorite pet’s un-manicured back side. Rear Gear comes in many designs including a disco ball, air freshener, heart, flower, biohazard, smiley face, number one ribbon, cupcake, sheriff's badge, dice, and you can even make yours custom, so there’s a Rear Gear for everyone.

So, if you find yourself in need, check out this cute girl's site at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/RearGear

The Most Interesting Pup in the World...

2010-05-24T11:02:00.005-05:00

He doesn't just tie a cherry stem into a knot. He creates origami crane masterpieces.

He is the most interesting pup in the world.

On my Nightstand

2010-05-19T07:28:00.004-05:00

Nightstands, bedside tables, whatever you call them are always interesting. They seem to collect some necessary, odd and noteworthy items for our lives.

Right now on my nightstand, I have:

- my fun Ikea lamp - I love that it looks retro and only costs $20!

- a half a glass of coke - I NEEDED it the other night, just not all of it

- a glass of water - I needed this at 2:30 in the morning - arg.

- Kleenex

- Lavender Vanilla lotion from Bath & Body Works

- Frankenstein - Lydia said she read this classic and enjoyed it, so why not give it a whirl!

- The Brothers Karamazov - this was Joe's idea! It's an interesting, but amazingly long book!

So, that's what I have right now, what about you?

Honest Scraps

2010-04-28T10:17:00.004-05:00

So my friend, Emily, tagged me with Honest Scraps...sharing 10 real things about myself to my little blogging community. So here I go:

1. I enjoy reading teen fiction a bit too much. I have read the whole Twilight series, Harry Potter and so on...and sadly, I really like them better than most adult fiction. Although, I must admit, I really like the Sookie Stackhouse series (but NOT TrueBlood on tv).

2. I still don't have a baby name to share with you. Please come up with another question. I really will let you know when we know. So just chill and know that we will not let the child be NoName O'Brien. Ok?

3. I have major issues with people who breath too loud or snarffle or snort. I really, really have to control myself, especially with strangers. However, I've told my family way too often I'm sure that they're breathing too loud! Sorry...I do try!

4. I think my puppy is the cutest puppy in the whole entire world. Really. I just find him fascinating. (Yes, he makes me upset, sad, enraged too, but on the whole, I love'em!)

5. I have way too many dreams set in high school and that include band still. I have no idea what this says about our school system that can still haunt a person 10 years later...

6. I have never been on a cruise. I was supposed to go this year with my bud Lydia and her hubby. However, we both wound up pregnant...I am sad about this, but know I will make it on a big boat one day.

7. I have the dream of starting a retirement community for Old Bears -- where our Baylor Buddies and those that pass our rigorous scrutiny can retire. We will all have front porches that face the west, complete with rockers. We will fellowship together and enjoy good, loving friendships!

8. Sewing has become a fun hobby for me. However, I have acquired quite the fabric stash. It's a little crazy, but I try very hard to keep it under control.

9. I have to laugh that my hubby has become quite the grower of our family. I used to plant flowers when I was little, but really could care less right now. However, Joe is just crazy about growing things. I'm glad one of us keeps our outside looking perty! (although I did plan out the new flower beds!)

10. I am so excited to become a parent in less than two months. Holy Crap! However, I am scared of the giant change it will bring to our little family. So please pray for us in this crazy time!

So to pass the torch along, I tag:

Lydia - http://lmnovations.blogspot.com/

Teresa - http://www.harvestingtulips.com/

Margie - http://philowife.blogspot.com/

Carolyn - http://carolyns-chronicles.blogspot.com/

Let me know if you decide to play!

Got'em!

2010-04-08T11:19:00.001-05:00

Ha! I have captured the snoozing, pillow-hog of a puppy in his natural habitat! Enjoy!

Silly Puppy

2010-04-08T09:31:00.004-05:00

Aside from the continued stress of trying to raise up our puppy in the way he should go, he's also a super cute little dude.

Have I mentioned how much this little guys LOVES his pillows? Seriously, I don't think I have seen a fuzzy creature seek out, hone in on, gravitate toward pillows or piles as much as this dog. And who's to argue with him? Who doesn't love a pillow?

I love seeing him curled up with his chin lifted off by the pillow and snuggled in for a good nap. The goober also always seems to have his head raised, either on the side of his favorite chair or propped up on the edge of the coffee table, our shoe or something of the sort.

Is this a form of readiness? So he can hear all that is going around him? Or is this just another classic dose of Ryker-cuteness? Well, whatever it is, it makes me smile! =)

I know he's not on a pillow here, I don't have one on this computer, but it's still stinkin' cute!

Spring, we see you lurking...

2010-03-29T08:04:00.004-05:00

Oh, yes we do.
It's getting warmer, then colder, then warmer again. I can see the battle raging between you and Old Man Winter, but I know you will prevail. How do I know, you ask? Little buds of hope sprinkled here and there! Come on spring, you can do it!!

First dogwoods of Spring, thanks to a little trip to Palestine.

Beautiful tulips and other flowers at the Dallas Arboretum!

Me Want Now

2010-03-22T11:47:00.002-05:00

Got an email from How Does She? today with this little gem in it.

I want it.

I want it now.

I love me some cheesecake and this has my number all over it. Now, I just need to have an event with more than just me and Joe so I won't gorge myself on this beauty... try if you dare and let me know how it is!

Vanilla and Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake

1 Graham Cracker Crumb Crust (see recipe below)

2 pounds cream cheese left 3 to 4 hours at room temperature (60 degrees to 70 degrees F, if measured with a food thermometer).

1 1/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour

4 large eggs, at room temperature

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

2 tablespoons whipping cream

3/4 cup Thick Chocolate Truffle Sauce (see recipe below), warmed just until smooth and pourable

Directions:

1. Position an oven rack in the middle of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.Wrap the outside of the springform pan with crust with a large piece of heavy aluminum foil and place it in a large baking pan with sides at least 2 inches high. (In a ketttle or in the microwave heat 2-3 cups of water to boiling.)

2. Put the cream cheese in the large bowl of an electric mixer. Mix on low speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Add the sugar and mix until smooth and creamy, about 1 minute. Mix in the flour. Add the eggs, two at a time, mixing the batter smooth after each addition. Stop the mixer and scrap the sides of the bowl twice during this mixing. Mix in the vanilla and lemon juice. Mix in the whipping cream. Put 3/4 cup of the batter into a small bowl. Stir in the chocolate truffle sauce

3. Pour about half of the vanilla batter into the prepared springform pan. Reserve 1/4 cup of the chocolate batter and pour the remaining chocolate batter slowly over the vanilla batter. Pour the remaining vanilla batter on top.

4. Use a small spoon to drizzle the reserved chocolate batter over the top of the cheesecake, leaving a 1-inch plain edge. Use the spoon to gently swirl the chocolate batter in a marbelized pattern over the top of the cheesecake.

5. Put the cheesecake in the oven and pour hot water into the large baking pan to reach 1-inch up the sides of the springform pan. Bake about 1 hour, or until when you give the cheese cake a gentle shake, the top looks firm. (It usually takes about 75-80 minutes for mine to reach this point.)

6. Cool the cheesecake, covered loosly with paper towels, in the water bath, for 1 hour on a wire rack. Remove the cheesecake from the water bath. Remove the paper towels and cool 1 hour more. The cheesecake should feel cool to the touch. Cover with plastic wrap and chill thoroughly in the refrigerator, at least 6 hours or overnight.

7. I topped this with more of the chocolate truffle sauce, whipping cream (be careful not to over mix and make butter), and sprinkled with raspberries. I also added a raspberry puree to the plate to help balance the richness of the cheesecake (see recipe below).

*cheesecake recipe has been modified from Elinor Klivans ‘Bake and Freeze Chocolate Desserts‘ Recipe Book. {It’s amazing}

Cookie Crumb Crust

1 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs

5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Directions:

1.Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Butter the baking dish. Sprinform pans should have sides at least 2 3/4 -inches high.

2. Put the cookie crumbs in a large bowl. Add the melted butter and stir the mixture intil the crumbs are evenly moistened with the butter. Transfer the crumbs to the baking dish. Using your fingers, press the crumbs evenly over the bottom and 1-inch up the sides. Check to see that with crust is not too thick where the sides and the edges of the pan meet. Bake the crust for 6 minutes.

3. Cool the crust thoroughly before filling. Crumb crusts can be baked a day ahead, covered and stored overnight at room temperature.

Chocolate Truffle Sauce

3/4 cup whipping cream

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into two pieces

12 ounces (2 cups) semisweet chocolate chips or semisweet chocolate, chopped

1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

1. Put the cream and butter in a medium sauce pan and heat over meduim-low heat until the cream is hot and the butter is melted. THe hot cream mixture will form tiny bubbles and measure about 175 degrees F. on a food thermometer. Do not let the mixture boil. Remove the pan from the heat. Add the chocolate and let it melt into the hot cream mixture. for about 30 seconds to soften. Add vanilla and whisk the sauce until it is smooth and all of the chocolate is melted.

Raspberry Puree

2 cups raspberries

1 tablespoon sugar

1 tablespoon lemon juice

Directions:

Place raspberries in a blender and blend slightly. Pour them into a strainer and mash through until you have only seeds left in the strainer. Add sugar and lemon juice. Stir until smooth.

True Blue Happiness

2010-03-04T10:47:00.004-06:00

Many of you may have read about the baby dresser drama, but in happier news...mama has a new blue dresser!

I have been thinking about getting a new dresser for a while. The one I had was a fab-o shabby chic dresser I inherited from my friend Brianna. I loved it, but it was a bit small and the drawers called for a small bout of tug-of-war every day.

So, around Christmas time, I spied this fun guy at Ikea.

I stuck it on my Amazon wish list, but didn't get it. Little did I know it was in the works for my birthday. Joe's family went to check it out and decided, though cute, it might not serve for the long haul. So they checked out a local unfinished furniture store, found one about the same and modified it to look like the Ikea one only better!

So, here's the finished guy chillin' in his new spot in our room.

And, don't worry, ye ol' shabby chic dresser has found a new home in our living room and it's PERFECT there too!

It's Good to be Home,

2010-03-01T08:34:00.002-06:00

...but not just quite yet.

This weekend was a whirl. Joe had his first out of town business trip to OK to present a new repair to an airline with a few of his co-workers. He did a great job leading the meeting, and are now looking forward to ironing out the details in hopes of getting their business, along with a few other repairs they discovered they could do for the company while they were there. Way to go Joe and co. Now, let's talk about visiting Boeing in WA some time soon!

Joe came back early Friday morning, came home and we hopped in the car. Sadly, we didn't really hop out of said car until about 11 hours later. We made a 'quick' trip to Las Cruces, NM, to send our love to his Grandpa O'Brien who is not doing very well. As a dad of 8 and a grandpa of many, this is one well-loved man and we wanted to make sure we could tell him so.

We got to say howdy to several of his aunts and cousins as well. His Aunt Mary graciously let us stay at their new house nestled between pecan groves with a beautiful view of the Organ Mountains in the background. Their 3 puppies also kept us company for our short stay. Thank you Mary and Steve for your hospitality!

We left out of Las Cruces early Sunday and made the 11-hour trek back to the Big D yesterday. Ugh, can we just say that all three of us -- me, Joe and O'Baby -- are DONE with long car rides for a while.

It is good to be home, but after last night and this morning, I realized I'm not quite home just yet. There's something missing. The clicking of little nails on the floor. The slurping of water from the kitchen. The swish of a fluffy red and black tail. The kiss of my pupster. Yeppers, RykerDog is still at the vet's. I'll rescue him soon enough (after they bathe him!!), and then I'll be home.

It's amazing how a little furball can work his way into your heart where life isn't just the same when he's not there. Little dude, I love ya!

The Big Snow of 2010!

2010-02-16T08:19:00.005-06:00

If you were in and around DFW the last week, we saw the most snow in history.

If you were me and were born and raised in SE Texas and never went skiing or what-have-you, this is the most snow I've ever seen -- period!!

Here's a few pictures to commemorate the event from our little neck of the woods!

Stuff We Made...

2010-02-11T13:11:00.005-06:00

Just a few things added to our house...My beautiful new shelves Joe made me for my birthday. We needed a little something for our bedroom walls...I guess you can see what' I've been reading too!
A fun little Valentine's Day wreath made with felt. I think it's super fun! We might have to do a few different colors in this! =)

Bad idea?

2010-02-10T12:49:00.003-06:00

So, when putting around the house and nothing else is on, I have sadly clicked over to the Baby Story shows.

Some are weird and scary. The one on currently the lady is screaming and cussing for an epidural! I am beginning to think watching these shows isn't always the best.

Here's hoping this will not be our situation in a few months. And if it is, I am so, so very sorry! =)

And the Official Verdict is...

2010-02-02T16:29:00.005-06:00

Check out O'Baby's blog for more details!

The Ultimate Color Vote of 2010!

2010-01-28T09:16:00.007-06:00

Folks, I can hardly believe it, but we are nearing that ever-elusive date of February 2nd -- Groundhog's Day.

Some of you may be asking, "Big whoop, why does she care so much about Groundhog Day?"

Well, this year, Phil will not only be predicting our extended winter or early spring forecast, he will also be notifying us on whether we should be stocking up on blue or pink for our wee little O'Baby!

So, dear readers, I will put it to an early vote! What do you think our esteemed rodent will say? Click on over to O'Baby O'Brien's official blog to cast your vote!

Or for more kicks for me, leave a comment also letting me know what you pick and why either on this blog or the other!

For all those that guess right, you will win one night of your choice for babysitting O'Baby. For those that don't get it, you too will also win one babysitting night of your choice! Wow, I am super generous! =)

Happy voting!

Rykie's House

2010-01-20T15:08:00.006-06:00

So Joe finished Rykie's house.

We put it in place last week or so.

To christen it and show his love and appreciate of Joe, Ryker has decided to eat it!

UUUUGHHHHHH!!!!!

He goes in it, he hides in it, he pulls his blanket in and out of it, so I know he likes it. I just wish I knew what to do for my dog. I'm sorry you keep having to hear this, but this is what goes on in my life. The anxiety medicine, what a joke. It does not seem to work for our puppy. I guess we really need to focus on training and praying.

But, here is the finished house (please note that that is Ryker's 'love' and not a reflection of Joe's handiwork. Did I mention it's insulated on all sides??

A Home for Ryker

2010-01-06T09:11:00.002-06:00

I am so excited!

After a bit of persuasion from the cold weather and begging from the new blinds not to be eaten, Joe is building Ryker a little home of his own!

Here's our modern little design we're going for. I liked it better than the traditional, because it gives you a side that is not exposed to any wind, or so the idea is.
I do so hope he likes it. His cousin really likes hers, but as we know, Mr. Ryker is not easily swayed! I'll post pics of the finished product soon!

A New Year Brings New Blessings

2010-01-02T11:54:00.007-06:00

2009 was a good year.

My sister became Mrs. Co.
We went on an awesome vacation to a beautiful beach.
Joe and I celebrated 3 years of marriage.
We still have a crazy pup, but we love him even more.
We have been continually blessed with terrific family and friends.

2010, what will you hold?

One thing I know I will be holding is our new baby, set to make his or her debut this June!
We've been keeping it on the DL a bit, just because you never know, but with the new year, I seem to find myself so very excited about it. And in just a month, we'll even get to find out the gender. Along with predicting more winter or an early spring, Punxsutawney Phill will also deliver the news of a boy or a girl on Groundhog's Day, February 2nd!

We're slowing adjusting to it all. I'm slowing losing my wardrobe. And we're slowly acquiring baby stuff here and there. But I have this sinking suspicion it won't stay slow for long!

So here's to a new year! Here's to a crazy new journey!

Happy New Year!!

2009-12-31T10:42:00.002-06:00

Wishing you all a happy and safe New Year's Eve and a wonderful start to 2010!

Ryker's Lame Christmas Present

2009-12-23T08:49:00.002-06:00

Ryker received his Christmas present yesterday. And, boy was it lame.

You ask what it is?

It was a biannual trip to the veterinarian! Woohooo!

He was due for some vaccinations, but I also needed to go to get his tooth checked out. As some of you may have seen on facebook, Ryker decided he wanted to eat through the fence again while Joe and I were gone at a Christmas presentation. In his escape attempt, he chipped off a large chunck of his upper right canine. I was NOT a happy momma...many tears...many, many tears.

So, the doc checked him out. Said his tooth looked like it was ok so far, just something we have to watch and see to make sure it doesn't get infected or he does more damage to it since it there isn't much there to take much more. =( Poor pupster.

We also chatted about the reason behind his crazy behavior, and after chatting a bit and going over Ryker's history (including the weird seizure thing he had sever months ago), we decided that we would try a medicine to help with his separation anxiety. A few dogs in the study suffered seizures, so this was a concern. But we both agreed that what he goes through daily is not that much better.

So, after a costly little visit including the vaccines, heartworm, and new medicine we left and I rewarded my little dog with a nice visit to the park.

I would like to ask you all to pray for little Ryker as we start this new medicine and hope for good results and good health!

Oh, and don't worry...we have some treats for Ryker's stocking! =)

O'Christmas Party - Oh, What a Great Time!

2009-12-18T15:47:00.002-06:00

Last night, we celebrated the Christmas season with our second annual O'Christmas Party!

After lots of cleaning and cooking, Joe and I got to enjoy the best part! Our family and friends.

We had a great time feasting and talking. This year we also had quite the entertainment with four kids under 3! They all behaved wonderfully and charmed everyone!

Thank you all to our wonderful friends, we do feel blessed! And if you weren't here, don't worry, we still love you too!

Wishing all of you a happy Christmas time with your family and friends!

Frustrations in the Ease of Home Delivery

2009-12-11T07:50:00.003-06:00

It's Christmas time.

That means for most of us that we are dabbling in the trend of online shopping. Oh, it sounds so promising. Search, find, click, save, ship. You can find bargains online, true, and sometime score the occassional free shipping too if you do it right.

Sounds so great...

THEN comes the Dance of the Delivery Services.

You don't know if it's coming FedEx, UPS or USPS. For some reason, some will be left on the door step, some require signatures, some get hung up in customs. And of course if you're not there when those dudes come, you gotta start tracking them down before they take your package back ever so rudely!

Why can you not schedule when you get delivered to. And why do they think someone will always be home on a Tuesday at 2 p.m. to sign for something?

Ugh, what a lovely little holiday tradition.

But it saves us time, right?

Right?

Is this thing on?

Oh well...Merry Shipping

Beatles Mania -- in Spanx!

2009-12-03T10:34:00.011-06:00

I had a glimpse of what it must be like for pop stars and their crazed fans. Young girls crowding together just to get a glimpse of Paul or John. The screaming, the cheering, the clapping, the sheer amount of people.

This was a Christmas gift from Lydia.

She so innocently gave me a cookbook, but what came along next was, well, read for yourself...

You see, this wasn't just your run of the mill Betty Crocker cookbook. No, this was the first ever, first edition The Pioneer Woman cookbook.

The Pioneer Woman is a wonderful 'little' blog I read almost daily. She's a self-proclaimed accidental country girl who found herself living on a family-run cattle ranch in Oklahoma with her personal Marlboro Man and 4 punks of their own.

She writes of their ranch lives, cows, silly dogs, family, photography, real-people cooking, home schooling and just fun things. I enjoy it...and well, it seems so do A LOT of other people.
As part of the release of her first cookbook, her publishers have sent her on a book tour that PW herself has deemed the "Griswold (Drummond) Family Book Trip." And while winging their way across the country, they decided to stop in at a Dallas Borders.And that's where we went!

Lyd and I put the puppy out in the cold, bundled up and headed over around 5 p.m. to get the lay of the land before she showed up at 7 p.m. for the signing. We were doing so good. All early and everything. We went to the store, asked around and received 2 pink wrist bands, and were informed we'd be called by color groups. Awesome! Let's go eat.

We hit up a great pizza place right down the way and enjoyed a personal favorite of mine, pepperoni and black olive! So, after chatting and finishing up we headed back over, thought we might grab a coffee and see what we had to see.

What we had to see were LOTS and LOTS of ladies, babies, a few stray husbands and grandads...THIS STORE WAS PACKED!!!
Oh Lordy! What have we gotten into.

Around 6:30 they started calling color groups to line up! What, you mean we don't get to hear her talk or anything? NOPE!

There were 3 groups in front of us. Each consisting of about 100 people we were told. WHAT!? And there were at least 3 groups behind us that we knew about!! So on the shy side, there were 7 hundred crazy people in that store that night!

So, we began our wait. We were standing for quite a while till we decided that was just stupid. So we sat, and waited and waited. We were rewarded with a small treat seeing Ree, PW herself, and her two cute girls released from their holding sell in the back of the store.
After that...we waited...and waited.

Lyd and I talked, enjoyed some coffees and started meeting the people around us. Niccole and Jen were two cute friends who had come together. Sydney was in front of them and later joined by her sister Sarah...and their very tired and over stimulated children. There was a very kind grandpa behind me. And these were our friend for the next 4 HOURS!
Over the next 4-plus hours:
- We found Religion. See, right there...we were camped out here for most of our time. The line did NOT move for at least two hours...maybe God was teaching us patience -- in the religion section.- We learned names, names of children, proper cloth diaper care, birthing philosophies.
(I tuned out on several occasions to save my sanity.)
- Lyd and I looked at author names and tried to come up with good baby names. Somehow Erasmus and Attilla were nixed by my good friend.
- We took turns going to the bathroom.
- We got our coffee/hot chocolate and a delightful apple tart.
- I went with Jen and Niccole to cheat and get the PW girls to sign our books so we could insure getting a t-shirt.
(Those country kids just weren't ready for our wily city ways. Just kidding, they were delightful, gracious and having way too much fun not sitting in a line.)
- We almost had a riot on hand when a woman, a Plano principle of some sort, behind us almost lost it over more yellows getting in line before us. She didn't like the Borders employee's explanation that they got their arm bands first so they could do that. Really, don't you teach this stuff in school lady? Calm down! It's ok!
- We were bombarded with children up WAY past their bed time, given coke and not completely supervised. Ugh. Take deep breaths. It's ok. But really, isn't that what dads or baby sitters are for?
When we finally did start moving, we started moving at a good pace. Around 10:45 we were in site of the table. We felt so proud. We felt so accomplished.

It was almost our turn. I handed my book over, complete with my name post-it so she'd spell it right. We waited. We met, we said it was so nice to meet you. A girl came back, crowded in and asked another question...that's fine. But then the grandpa came up before we got our picture. NOOOO. We waited this long! We're getting a picture!!!

So, I politely asked if he could wait a sec, he did (he's a nice grandpa), the Borders guy snapped a pic...we said goodbye.
That was it! Our 2-second brush with fame!

Perhaps not quite what we were expecting, but it was definitely an experience we will both never forget.

We drove home giddy and a little drunk with exhaustion. I loaded up my pal with a Dr Pepper and said good bye. I came inside to my nice warm house knowing I have a great friend, a great husband for letting me do things like this, a signed cookbook, a t-shirt and a silly story to tell!

Off to pick a recipe!

**The Spanx refers to a comment Ree makes about herself on her many public appearances.

Adventures of No, No, Bad Dog - The Thanksgiving Edition

2009-12-01T09:41:00.005-06:00

Hello dear readers,

It is I, No, No, Bad Dog returning for another enjoyable installment of my latest trials and tribulations.

As you all are aware of last week we celebrated a delectable holiday called Thanksgiving. I will refer to this as the Feast of the Big Bird!

My parents made the silly decision to leave me to visit Leanna's folks in Houston. I am not allowed to go, something about allergies and fencing not up to puppy code. So, for my first night of alone-ness, they left me at Doggie's Wonderland.

Oh, you'd think I'd have a great time frolicking and romping with 30-plus dogs my size also left over the Feast of the Big Bird. Truth is, you'd be right -- BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO TELL THE PARENTS THAT...GOT IT!?

I was picked up the next day by my aunt, Sarah, and you know what...they didn't even give her my leash! Said I didn't have one or something (we picked it up yesterday, my mom takes care of me!). So she has to get me to her car on a busy road with dogs barking and no leash...thank you, Sarah!

And so began my stay with the grandfolks and the cousin pups, Baily and Ursa. We had a good time. On a few occasions I had to go back to stay at my house while they ran errands because their new fence isn't quite Ryker-tested just yet. I was super excited the first time they dropped me off thinking Mom and Dad were home. THEY WERE NOT! The next time, I was not so excited, so when they showed up to pick me back up, I leaped into the car and told them to take me home and LOVE ME!!

Now, here's where it gets good peeps! On one such day when we were all at home, the grandfolks went inside to clean up a bit from all of our adventures in their massive yard! When they returned a while later, I was NOWHERE in site! NOWHERE!

The panic set in. They surveyed the yard. They saw no holes. No boards missing. They called, and nothing! Where did I go!!?? (teehee, if only they knew.)

Ursa and Bailey just set there looking at them giving away nothing of my secret. They decided that I must have scaled the fence and made a break for home. So they both jumped in their cars and headed over...only no pupster.

After an hour or two of searching the neighborhoods in two cars and talking to my dad, they decided to come home and search one more time there. My dad said if they were home and the garage door was open, I wouldn't leave. He was right...but not in the obvious way.

Holly checked upstairs and the attic -- nothing. Jim decided to try calling again...and that's where he heard my sad little whine.

He called again and finally realized I was under the deck in the back yard. Not just with my head stuck, butt in the air, but UNDER THE DECK. IN THE MIDDLE.

-- Here's the deck!--

See, I was on an adventure and I just couldn't manage to turn around and get back out, so I just stayed. Jim rescued me by unscrewing a few boards, and out I popped. I was fine, really, just a little stuck!

Really, what was all the fuss about?

Between the grandparents and dad, they decided not to tell mom. But someone let it slip out, and my story was told. I didn't get into too much trouble, but they did tell me not to do it again.

I'll do my best, but sometimes it's just hard!

Stay tuned for my next adventure! Who knows what can happen over Christmas, right!?

Thanksgiving Anecdotes

2009-11-23T20:50:00.004-06:00

A few Thanksgiving thoughts to put you in the holiday spirit:
(thanks dad)

"When I was a kid in Indiana, we thought it would be fun to get a turkey a year ahead of time and feed it and so on for the following Thanksgiving.
But by the time Thanksgiving came around, we sort of thought of the turkey as a pet, so we ate the dog. Only kidding. It was the cat."
- David Letterman

"At Thanksgiving, my mom always makes too much food, especially one item, like 700 or 800 pounds of sweet potatoes. She's got to push it during the meal. 'Did you get some sweet potatoes? There's sweet potatoes. They're hot. There's more in the oven, some more in the garage. The rest are at the Johnson's.'"
- Louie Anderson

"We're having something a little different this year for Thanksgiving. Instead of a turkey, we're having a swan. You get more stuffing."
- George Carlin

Couponing...

2009-11-18T08:32:00.002-06:00

Couponing - a way of life for some; a trivial waste of time for others - which are you?

After enjoying our lovely dinner out on the town with my sissy and bro-in-law WITH OUR COUPON we all commented that we enjoyed saving money with our coupons!
We enjoyed two steak dinners at Roadhouse for a whopping $15.

So it got me thinking, do others of you dine with coupons? Do you clip coupons from the Sunday paper? Where do you find your savings?

I subscribe to most e-blasts from the stores and restaurants I frequent and end up getting some very good deals. Especially around Christmas and birthdays.

I used to get the paper every other Sunday and enjoy a lazy afternoon of paroozing the ads and clipping coupons. However, when the Dallas Morning News hit $3 or $3.50 for a Sunday paper, I've since quit.

I guess if I am doing my couponing diligently and remembering to bring them to the store, I would recoup the cost, but I haven't quite been able to do that.

Would love to hear from you where you find your savings and if you have some good places online, we'll add a few links!

Go Carl! Go!

2009-11-13T11:36:00.001-06:00

Go Carl! Go!

I guess it has been about a year since we planted Carl, and let me tell you he is doing a fabulous job. When the trees started changing colors, Carl was still green. But as we headed into November, I saw a miraculous change! No longer just green-leafed, Carl was morphing into a beautiful orange and red fall maple tree!

Here's a few pics highlighting Carl's fanciful fall coat!

Silly...

2009-11-11T21:31:00.001-06:00

One thing Ryker Hasn't done yet...

see more dog and puppy pictures

To Those Without Pets

2009-11-06T08:54:00.005-06:00

To those without pets, you should get one.

HOW, unless your apartment makes it ridiculously expensive to have one or your parents forbid you, do you not have a pet?
They are so neat! They are so fun! They are so silly! They are so loud!

They are so loving. They are so friendly. They are so caring. They are so concerned.

They smile. They snuggle. They ignore you. They laugh at you (you know they do). They kiss you.

If you don't have one, you need one. Adopt an instant best friend, it's pretty cool!

Knowing One's Limitations...

2009-11-05T09:27:00.003-06:00

I really should know better.

I really should remember my limitations.

But I get frustrated.

I can do NOTHING in a straight line. Walk - no. Cut - no. Draw - no. Drive - best of all (thank you power steering).

Ugh, I'm trying my hand at a patchwork blanket. I see so many beautiful creations out there in the blogosphere. I think, "Dude, I can totally do that." (yes, dude) So I bust out my little scraps, trace my square, cut, sew. Noooo....

Why don't they match up? Why? You're all supposed to be the same size! I use the same seam allowance? What are you doing to me!? Arg.

Let the seam ripping ensue. =(

Nubs: A True Story of a Mutt, a Marine and a Miracle

2009-11-04T07:29:00.003-06:00

I remember hearing about this story a while back -- A Marine stationed in Iraq comes across some street dog with nubs for ears (someone along the way had cut them off). He and his buddies spend time playing with the dog and working with the dog while they are in the area for a patrol. What comes after that is truly a heart-warming story of love and determination from Marine AND Mutt!

Major Brian and Nubs!

Happy Birthday!

2009-10-30T11:42:00.004-05:00

This weekend is my dad's 60th birthday!

He was born on November 1st - All Saints' Day.

Yes, I too get a great, wonderful laugh out of that little fact each and every year! Ha!

Happy Birthday Daddio!
We love you!

Road Crossing Anxiety

2009-10-12T14:08:00.003-05:00

Let's face it. I am a bit of a jay walker. I think designated crossings are for sissies.

But after seeing this article, about some Canadian 'deer,' I may be mending my ways. I WILL be looking at ALL angles before stepping out in fear of coming face to face with one of these mutant cousins of Bambi!
And that's all I have to say about that! You've been warned.

Monday Musings

2009-10-12T10:01:00.002-05:00

Fill in the Blank Fun:

Found this and thought it was pretty amusing, so here you go!

If I was on a first date with someone and s/he ordered a sparkling water or something completely off the menu with thirty nine substitutions because he's allergic, I would probably end the date early.
When I’m sick I really want someone to make sure I have tissues, medicine and a book, then turn the lights off and leave me alone to die.
I know that some people really love collecting figurines, but I don’t understand how they spend so much money on it.
I know that some people think I’m crazy for spending so much money on stationery and paper products, but I really love them.
I’m so glad that I’ve outgrown plaid shirts and bad short haircuts since high school.
I am living proof that the stereotype about Baptists isn’t always accurate.
I know that it is a made-up word; but frelling! is a permanent part of my vocabulary.
I can’t wait for Roomie Reunion '09 next week!
The most common misconception about me is that I am the 'quiet one.'
I wish I wouldn’t wimp out on things, but sometimes I just can’t stop myself.
If I never heard the word (or phrase) John and Kate again, it would still be too soon.
I have a hidden talent for having the uncanny ability to know where other people left their things, but NOT my own that no one would ever expect of me.
I am not a fan of extraordinary rendition; but if it were to take place for crimes against ridiculously priced items that only ensue wanting then Pottery Barn execs should be the first person(s) on the plane to Guantanamo.

NNO and the Return of Boxer Lady

2009-10-07T16:51:00.004-05:00

So last night was National Night Out..and being 'good neighbors', we had to participate. This is an event for neighbors to meet each other and to kick crime out by knowing your neighbors and your surroundings.

We headed out a bit late because Joe was finally able to prepare the flower beds for his EIGHT new blueberry plants. In the meantime, he was chastised several times for not making an appearance yet! (You see, we are on the end of the alley on the end of the street where the event was being held.) But we did make it out with the pupster and met a few of our neighbors we knew and a few we didn't, including several of Ryker's neighborhood barking buddies.

As the evening was winding down, I saw a reddish dog come running along without his person. I had put up Ryker a few minutes before, because it was just getting too much for him. So, of course I was thinking this is our Houdini dog...

It wasn't, it was our neighbors from behind. She went to go sniff out a little white dog...and then...it happened. Barking, growling, biting, yelping, crying...ugh. Big Red tried to take down little white dog.

And the first one on the scene to give her two bits, yep, Boxer Lady. After talking with Big Red's owner later, it seems Boxer Lady offered her services to the little white dog's person as an eye witness to the aggressive attack. Even to go so far as to give up her own terrifying account pointing to us, as Joe tells me later.

REALLY??? Really? Why do some people always have to be up in your business when unpleasant things happen? Why do they want to continue the unpleasantness? Why not offer your assistance, see if the dogs are ok and go from there? Why is it always a jump to, "Don't worry, we'll make them pay for being horrible human beings?"

After talking with Joe later, I had to calm myself down and just remember that God charges us to love all people. Even less-than-loving neighbors.

But this National Night Out did end on a high note. We did meet a good chunk of our neighbors. We did get to see a bike cop motorcycle and fire engine up close. But the best was when one of our neighbors asked the cop to go knock on her door and interrogate her 16-yr-old about driving with too many people in the car. Oh, it was so mean, but wow, what an awesome prank. And by your own mom! Priceless!

Happy...whatever...

2009-10-01T10:04:00.003-05:00

For the past several years holidays have been getting funnier and funnier. And not always in a good way.

Is there a reason we need to start stocking up on our Halloween decorations in August? I get the Christmas in July concept, but not actual Christmas in July.

And don't even get my started on people combining things, watering down things or just tossing things out all together because they are no longer P.C.

So when I saw this card the other day in my inbox, I just had to laugh.
Merry Everything!

WWWWHHHAAAA????!!!!

Well, there you go folks...Merry Everything...from your friends, The O...oh, who cares...