We're On To Something Good. Real Good.

Today, these Blackmon "haps" were uplifting.  Small things to most, but splendid encouragement to this crazy momma in need of a break. :)

Today, the dear hubs completed his first full day (still sane) with his family.  The WHOLE day, people.  Since school is out for the year, we get him ALL day, EVERY day, for the next 80 some days.  YAYYYYYYYYYY!  Ok, getting control again....ahhh, YAYYYYYYYYYYYY!   Ahem, sorry.  Cannot contain my excitement.  As most stay at home moms know, it's most lovely to have a break here and there...extra help here and there.  And all of this is not to say that my dear partner doesn't help during the school year.  The poor guy does what he can.  BUT, with all that he's got goin' on during August-May, he's exhausted by the time he gets home each evening.  Mr. B has always had a superb work ethic.   Working several jobs to make sure I can stay home to do what I do.  Whatever that may be.  So this one job thing...it's a brand new idea for him.  What?  Just work ONE job??  Never heard of it.  We'll see how he likes his new schedule.  He might get smart and get some extra work lined up asap so he can escape the craziness that usually happens daily around here.  :}  Here's to hoping he doesn't figure that one out.  And that he doesn't read this blog for the great idea.

Today, the cutesie-putesie 6 month old made me one happy mommy.  I have been trying, trying, trying to get this child to eat solids or even drink a little formula.  TO NO AVAIL.  Well, I should say, he will eat some baby food that I make for him.  And he will eat people food...in other words > stuff he shouldn't be eating yet.  But no jar food.  Which isn't necessarily a bad thing.  BUT, that's not the point.  The point is...Drake is picky.  SOO, that being said...I was shocked today at breakfast when I got him his Feeder with pears and pineapple (Beechnut), and he actually CONSUMED it.  Happily!!! :}

"Ooooo, this isn't so bad after all.  You're saying I could've enjoyed this stuff 3 months ago?"  Yes, dear one.  Sometimes, Mommy does know best.

The Feeder.  Deserves proper nounage.  One of the most amazing inventions ever for busy mommy's.  Introduced to me by my own amazing mommy.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.  :}  In fulfilling my civic duty, I will share this incredible treat with you.  The Feeder can be purchased online at Amazon.com.  Since I'm a loser at inserting links, you can find it yourself.  :}  The Feeder allows you to put #1 and #2 baby food in it, and your baby can feed himself while you find time to do one of the other hundred things you must complete that day.  You pour the food in, screw the lid/nipple back on, and when el bambino sucks, it's like a vacuum that forces the food to come out.  No air.  No mess.  Amazing.  You can thank me later.  Now, go buy one.

Made by Sassy.  The best $5 you'll ever spend.  

Except for maybe a fish combo at Mickey D's.

Today, my firstborn fell asleep on the couch after watching his videos.  I do believe this has never happened before.  I think we wore him out.  This "hap" doesn't really fall in the "splendid encouraging" category.  But it's a first, nonetheless...and a cute one at that.  We are trying to get Cole back on his 8 o'clock bedtime.  And tonight, it happened.  On the couch.  He didn't even wake up when Scott picked him up and laid him down in his crib.  Very abnormal.  Just pure fact that Cole's energy does actually dwindle after a fun-filled day with his daddy home.  The WHOLE entire day.  EVERY day.  For like 80 more days....AGHHHHHH.  Got me excited again.  Stopping now.

Sweet, sweet boy who I wouldn't trade for the world.  

Especially when he's sleeping. :}

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A Bad Day Per Se

Thought it cute today when I went in to get Cole up from his afternoon nap, he had big tears in the corner of each eye.  I tried to cheer him up by telling him about the big party that we were getting ready to go to...he would get to see all of his friends...and get to play in the sprinkler.  Normally, this would do the trick.  But not this time.  He still wasn't smiling.  I asked him what was wrong.  And he just burst out, "Hadda bad day," and started sobbing.  I consoled him.  But I hid my face due to the laughter outburst.


He's 2.  Not much can happen to make a kid that age have a bad day.  Bright and early, he played outside half naked.  I mean, who WOULDN'T have the time of their life doing that.  He went swimming for most of the morning, got to eat his lunch outside, nada spankings (up to that point).  Pretty decent day.


Now, my day.  Let's see.  I'm eating Breyer's Blast "Waffle Cone" straight out of the box.  Digging frantically for the chocolate pieces.  That's gotta tell you something.

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Sticky Roll Breakfast Ring

Sticky Roll Breakfast Ring

Food.  I dream about it.  I live for it.  It is simply a love of my life.  

Since I obviously am carazy about food and love to cook, and since I've recently joined the ranks of fellow bloggerettes, I thought it right to add in my food blogs, here and there.  I've always wanted to do a food blog, like the great Pioneer Woman, whom I adore.  Her recipes could taste the worst (which they surely do not), and I would still follow her religiously.  She makes me laugh, and her pictures are just downright charming to me.  I want to move out to a ranch.  Have my own cows.  Some day.

For now, I am content in my campus apartment.  With my food.  

I think. 

So, this recipe is from Pinterest.  Another thing I can't live without. :}  Super easy.  And if you don't mind the taste of canned biscuits (like my hubby), then you will love this breakfast dish.  Sticky, sticky buns.

Let's get this party started.

Spray bundt or other fluted pan.  A lot.  With buttery tasting spray.  Never disappointing.

In a small bowl, combine 3 tablespoons of melted butter with a 1/2 cup of pancake syrup.  I used what I had on hand.  Trusty Kroger brand.

Just so we can have lots of dishes to wash after we make this easy dish, get out another bowl and mix together 1/3 cup of packed light brown sugar and as much ground cinnamon as your little taste palate pleases.  My taste palate wanted about 1 teaspoon.  Or more.

The recipe also said you could use nuts.  Which I would have loved.  But SOMEONE in my family does not prefer nuts, so me being the selfless person I am...did not put them in.

Get that greased up bundt pan and start by spooning half of your butter/syrup mixture in the bottom of it.  Top that with half of your brown sugar/cinnamon mixture.

Open up a can of jumbo refrigerated biscuits.  I had the buttermilk kind.  And overlap those babies all around the pan.  You might want 2 cans just to have an abundance of rolls.  

Finish by spooning the rest of your butter/syrup mixture and the brown sugar/cinnamon mixture over top.  

This is where you walk away and forget about what you were making minutes before.  Like I did this morning.  I went back to my Sunday craziness, and kinda forgot to put the timer on.  So they got a tad, extra golden (err, brown) on top.  

I impatiently let the rolls cool for a minute and then flipped them onto a serving plate.  Perfect in the middle.

Look at that hot, sticky, sticky mess.  You can almost see your reflection in it.  Mmmmm.

I was too eager to eat them without snapping one last shot of one on my plate, ready to be gobbled up.   You can use your imagination, if you really need to by now.  Those that consumed these thought them to be good.  Again, IF you like the taste of canned biscuits.  But, they were super easy to do, and that sticky stuff was oh so tasty.   

Wishing I had some leftovers.  Better for my skirt size that I don't.  

Star Rating: ★★★

RECIPE: Sticky Roll Breakfast Ring

2 small tubes refrigerator buttermilk biscuits OR 1 tube Pillsbury Grands buttermilk biscuits 

3 Tbsp. butter, melted

1/2 C. pancake syrup 

1/3 C. packed light brown sugar

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 C. chopped pecans, optional

1/4 C. chopped almonds, optional

Instructions:

Spray a fluted pan with non-stick spray. Combine the melted butter and syrup in a small bowl and set aside. In another bowl, combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, and nuts (if desired). Place about half of the syrup mixture in the bottom of the pan. Then sprinkle half of the brown sugar mixture on top. Lay the biscuits on the bottom of the pan, overlapping edges (closely together) to form a ring. Top with remaining syrup and sugar mixtures. Bake at 375 degrees for approximately 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 1 minute in the pan, then invert onto a serving platter and enjoy!

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Motherhood.  

A gift from above.  

A gift to be cherished and respected.  

In a world full of pain and neglect, motherhood allows me the chance to make a difference in lives.  I gladly accept the CHALLENGE.  No cake walk here most days.  Most definitely a challenge.  

Not for the weak, but for the strong.  The determined.

Some days, I feel like a failure.

Not enough patience,

too busy for my own stuff.

Some days, I overreact to the most minute things.  Maybe my choice of discipline for that instance wasn't the wisest.  And I have regret.

Some days, lots of regret.  

I should be handling this better.  What is my problem?

Some days, I ashamedly admit...seems that one more tug of those small, chubby hands 

might just cause me to lose my last marble.  Or one more, "Mooooommmmmy" 

just might be the thing that sends me packing for that padded room.  Away. From it all.

Some days, I feel like I can't do it anymore.  

I want to simply quit.

Then, I pray.  I ask for strength that only He can replace.  

Things change.  Maybe not instantaneously.  But I sense the Help.  

I stick to the task.  I am rewarded by the little things.

Some days, I can't stop giggling from the funny things I hear my firstborn say.  

Or the things he does.

  

Some days, I think I have missed my calling as a stand up comedian.  Obviously, I am the funniest person alive.  

At least to some little boys I bore.

  

I can't get enough of the singing and dancing and 

the performing that goes on in the four walls that surround me.

Simple as hearing that contagious giggle.

Some days, it's the quick obedience from my toddler that surprises me.  

Makes me cry happy tears.

Some days, it's the little arms around my neck, the innocent kiss on my lips, 

the hand enclosed in mine.

The "I yove you." 

  

My sons give me the courage to keep on.  

I offer love, affection and protection to them.  

I sustain them.

They need me.

It truly is all worth it.

I am the perfect mother for MY children.  

God made us for each other. 

What a gift to treasure.

And treasure it, I will.  I will keep on.  

I will do my best to give to my children what some do not have.

We're in this thing together.

Thank you, Jesus, for this gift of motherhood.

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Springtime, Springtime.

Springtime, Springtime.

I definitely think the 85 degree weather warranted bringing the pool out for Cole this past week.  He has been BEGGING to go swimming ever since he found the pool that Nana had bought for him.  And her other grandkids, but shh, don't tell Cole that. :}

Just thinking of all of the fun he's going to have.

I will tell you that I near fainted multiple times blowing this baby up.  After I had done the first section and started on the second (translation of almost done), my dad walks in with a pump.  :}  It did help out some with the cause, but I ended up just goin' back to the wind within me.

 First splash of the season :}

The pool has this cute giraffe that is a sprinkler.  Due to me losing much oxygen during this bout, the giraffe was a tad flimsy.  Cole still had fun with it though.  Mission accomplished.

FYI ~ could not find the ties to anchor that slide down.  Did Cole care?  No.  :}  Pretty much what the day entailed...conquering the moving water slide.

  VICTORY!

This is May.  It is hot.  I don't know if I shall make it through this summer.  I haven't a clue why I've changed.  Normally, I love hot.  I'm the psycho that drives with the heat on...in the summer.  Maybe because I'm luggin' Drake around all of the time, and he puts off an excessive amount of body heat.  Maybe.  That will be the ONLY reason why I hope he starts crawling in the next couple of summers.  I don't want that child to grow up.  I will put up with uncomfortable conditions if it means he'll stay a baby forever.  :}  Speaking of which...

Our cute onlookers.  Smart ones.  Steered clear of the splash~happy toddler below.

Nana might regret the fact that she bought that pool.  It just means we will be down at her house that much more.  If only they had a fence where people couldn't see through.  For now, I'll just cherish watching my child splish splash in pool heaven.

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