Something about Chocolate

I guess its true what they say. Girls love their chocolate…

Last night I made a german chocolate cake. That is a chocolate cake with coconut pecan frosting. I’m not a big fan of pecans but I love this cake! I discovered that I’m not the only one. Of course my husband likes it, its chocolate, and my son likes it, its cake. But today I discovered my little girl likes it too.

We had a small piece this morning. One plate, one fork, three mouths, you know how it works.

Tonight I made dinner. Fetticine with a sun dried tomato alfredo that I kicked up a notch by adding bacon and garlic cooked in oil, and a seasoned breaded(paprika, black pepper, and thyme with bread crumbs) chicken breast and garlic bread. Yummy! My daughter ate quite a bit and seemed to love it but before I thought she was really full she just stopped eating. She was crying and screaming. I took her down from the high chair and she just wandered around the kitchen screaming and crying. Every so often she’s stop and look up at the counter. Like she was still hungry and looking for something else to eat. It was so strange. She ate a few more pieces of chicken off of daddy’s plate but then refused to eat anymore but she was still crying like she way hungry.

Thats when it occurred to me. She was pacing the kitchen looking up at the kitchen counter where she knew the chocolate cake to be. She was a girl who needed some chocolate! I laughed to myself as I dished up a small piece of cake. Sat down at the table pulled her up to my knee and fed her some chocolate cake. She was content to sit there and eat her cake, not another peep was uttered from her lips. She even contently tapped her fingers on the table between bites.

When a girl wants chocolate, a girl wants chocolate and nothing is going to stand in her way! If only we all could be so vocal about our chocolate fix when its calling to us…

September 29th, 2005

First I want to say it is raining outside right now. Not only is it raining but we have thunder and lightning. AND its been going NONSTOP since 4pm yesterday! COOL. Two days ago we reached 89 degrees yesterday barely made 75 and today we’ll be lucky if we break 70 degrees. YEA its finally fall like weather! Time to break out the long pants and sweaters.

September 29th is the half way mark I made for myself for my weight loss regime. Three months ago I started trying to loose weight. The goal to try to get as close to loosing 30 pounds by my birthday. My birthday is December 29th. Today at my half way mark I have lost 10 pounds. My goal was to have lost 15 by this point. It has been amazing to me how HARD it has been to loose this weight. I remember being able to eat anything I wanted as much as I wanted and never having to exercise and never gaining a single pound. NOW I have to watch everything I eat, count calories, and exercise all the time! This is so not fair!

Now that its getting cooler its becoming that much harder to exercise. I worry its too cold in the mornings to walk with my kids in the stroller. I don’t want them to freeze you know! Pilates is starting to get boring, I’m tired of refraining from sweets. I have an exercise ball but no workout video/routine to go with it. I need to keep at it and find something to motivate me a little more and make it fun and exciting again. Plus some way to exercise when it gets too cold to push the kids. If only I had a membership to a gym! Take the kids to the play area, work out, maybe swim, pick up the kids go home! YES!!!

This is just a half way point. Its not the end. I need to keep this momentum going till my birthday. If I get close to 30 pounds lost by then, WONDERFUL! If not as long as I continue to loose I’ll still feel good about what I have accomplished.

Sleep… Who Needs it?

Is it possible to function as a normal human being when you’re woke up ever 20-60 minutes all night long by a baby that has a cold? And top of having a stuffy nose, horrible cough, and fever keeps loosing her binkey? And then be woke up at 5am by a husband getting ready for work and not being able to go back to sleep because a toddler gets up at 5:30am?

Do you want to go to the Zoo?

This morning when I woke up I decided I needed to take the kids somewhere fun. My husband rode the bus today and I might as well take advantage of a day with the car. I could take the kids to the aquarium and botanic gardens or I could take them to the zoo. Hmmm… choices, choices. We went to the aquarium the last time, kids are back in school, and the weather is a bit cooler. Let’s go to the Zoo!

I called a friend of mine at 8:30am and asked her if she wanted to meet me at the zoo in 2 hours. She has a daughter two weeks older than my daughter. She agreed and we decided to meet at the Zoo at 10:30.

First we went to go see the apes. As we were walking to the gorilla exhibit I wondered how my son would react this time. Last time we went there was a big male gorilla sitting right next to the glass. He was about 8 feet away from the glass, and my husband thought he wasn’t getting closer because there were other kids standing next to the glass. He thought he would help him get closer. At first he just suggested to him to get closer, when he wouldn’t he kind of nudged him closer, but he still wouldn’t get closer, then daddy just picked him up and stood him next to the glass. I could see why he wasn’t getting closer, he was afraid, but my husband didn’t get it. Not until he full out started crying and fighting daddy to get away from the glass. This time no such catastrophe. We saw two gorilla mommies with their babies. One mommy and her baby sat next to the glass and munched on some yummy leaves. My kids and their little friend thought that was really neat!

Then we saw orangutans hanging out in the trees, usually they’re down on the ground and hard to see, but this time one was perched way up on a tree and another was in a tree-house hanging out, doing what appeared to be reading the newspaper.

We saw hippos, and giraffes and zebras, and alligators, and elephants. There were two new giraffes born in April and May of this year. An older zoo-worker told us about the giraffe babies. The one born in April was named April and is doing great. The one born in May is called “B.B.” When the may baby was born one of the other female giraffes got to her before the mother and started cleaning her off. This made the baby bond to the wrong mother, and the real mother wouldn’t have anything to do with her. So she has to be bottle-fed. This is why she’s named “B.B.” (baby-bottle).

When we got to the elephants they were being fed. The trainers were having the elephants do all kinds of tricks. And there was even a baby elephant they were working with. It was quite entertaining to watch them.

We went in to the gator swamp while my friend and her daughter waited outside. Something about the smell in there she said… When we got inside we saw tons of alligators in this big tank. My son was looking eye-to-eye with all these alligators. He pointed at them and told me “mommy, they’re bad, look, bad!” I guess that means he thought they were a little scary?

We saw the big cats, the tigers, cougars, snow leopards and lions, and cheetahs. The kids all knew what sounds these animals made!

Next we saw sea lions, seals and polar bears. Seeing the seals and sea lions reminded me of one of my favorite family vacations as a child. We went to the Oregon coast. On this trip we went to the Sand Dunes and rode these huge bus dune buggies. We went to Newport and saw Ripleys Believe or Not Museum and a Wax Museum and an aquarium that is on a glass bottom boat. But specifically I remember we went to the Sea Lion Caves. I remember going down an elevator for what seemed like a long time and coming out into this HUGE cave and just being overcome by the extreme loudness in there. There were thousands of sea lions in this cave and they were all making a huge racket. Seeing the sea lions and seals swimming around, so graceful was quite fun. The kids loved the colors of the water, and seeing them swim.

Even though it’s almost October we are still reaching the high 80’s here in Albuquerque. Yesterday we got to 89 degrees. By Noon the kids were getting tired, and we were getting hot and ready to go home. We didn’t get to see the Koala Bears or the Rainforest exhibit. We’ll have to do that part first next time. Even though we didn’t see everything the kids still had a great time!

Trapped in the Southwest

Some days its really hard to be in Albuquerque.

Today is one of those days…

Every so often I find myself in a bit of a funk. I start thinking (and secretly wishing) about how wonderful it would be to live closer to family and friends. Its so hard (on me mostly) to be so far away, especially when they’re going through hard times. I always feel like my hands are tied and wish there was something more I could do to help. Most times I feel like packing a bag, loading the kids in the car and driving down the freeway so I can be there to help. Even if its just as a shoulder to cry on. I hate feeling like I can’t help.

More than anything right now I wish I was in Portland, Oregon. My best friend and her family live there right now. We met when we were living in Phoenix. Her husband and my husband were attending DeVry at the same time. We instantly hit it off and have been great friends since. Her 3rd child was born just two months after my 1st. A few months after we moved to Albuquerque, they moved back home to Portland. Since my family is still in Washington we try to see each other at least once a year, and we talk all the time. She is pregnant with her 4th baby. She was put on bed-rest at 25 weeks. Her oldest just started 1st grade, her 2nd is in kindergarden this year and her youngest will be 3 soon. Her husband starts a new semester at Portland State on Monday, and I just wish so much that I could be there to help out. How I wish I wasn’t a 24 hr drive away. How I wish I was only 3 hrs away. I know she has lots of help. She and her husband grew up in the Portland area, if they need help they have tons of friends and family around.
Maybe its just me. When a friend or family member is in need I do everything in my power to do what I can for them. The long-distance help is all that I can do and I just feel so limited. Seriously if I could jump in the car and be there to help her I would in a heartbeat. Every time my mind starts to wander I find myself thinking about them. Trying to figure out how I can get there. Drive? No, only one car. Fly? No money for tickets. Dana, stop thinking about it. She has family and friends THERE already to help if she needs it. But I can’t. I CAN’T! Whats wrong with me?

Vacation from the “city life”

While in conversation with a dear friend of mine this morning, she asked me about my “city life vacation” yesterday. This friend was a roommate of mine from college and have shared in the high’s and low’s of each others lives since that time. We have “talked” with each other online almost every day for a long time. Shes the one that introduced me to Indigo Girls. I thought that sharing our conversation would be a fun way of telling you about our vacation day.

cg: Tell me about your rural day yesterday.

d: okay so our day started at 5am yesterday.

cg: and holy crap, that’s early!

d: if you read my last blog entry you would know that “S” worked late tuesday night, and “W” was upset about going to bed without seeing him. I made the mistake of saying “the sooner you go to sleep, the sooner it will be morning and the sooner you can play with daddy”
d: he took it seriously
d: he was up at 5am and would not go back to sleep
d: Monday we discovered there was a nail in one of the tires of the car.
d: 7am “S” left to get the tire fixed. 8am he was back said it was a 2 1/2 hr wait

cg: oh man. I hate that. Always hits when your headed or on vacation!
cg: so what did you do?

d: So we left the house at 9:45am and went to another store to get the tire fixed. We walked down the street to return a movie and ate a very early lunch (10:30am)
d: after the tire was fixed we went to a couple of different stores to look at window replacement and granite transformations (maybe someday redo the kitchen counters with that granite overlay)
d: THEN we went to the bank to get some cash. it was the lunch hour so shane stood in line and the kids and I played with magazines
d: THEN we went to walmart to get ziploc freezer bags. THEN we went to a privately owned family farm that has their own store where they sell their produce.
d: the kids fell asleep on the way there (it was only 5 minutes away from Walmart)
d: I waited in the car with the sleeping kids while shane got a bushel of fire-roasted green chiles. and a dried red chile ristra (decoration for the front door)

d: we had to get gas on the way home, then we had to peel all the roasted skins off the chiles.
d: Then we packed them in ziploc bags. The car and house smell like green chile.
d: The kids ate a little bit and watched Lilo & Stitch while we peeled the chiles.

cg: so did you ever make it out of town?

d: No
d: we never left town.
d: we just pretended we weren’t in the city
d: did all RURAL type things

cg: fun!

d: going to a family farm, get some fresh produce, put it up ourselves
d: after the chiles we told “W” we were going to ride the bus to the fair.
d: We had to drive about 1/2 mile to the park and ride to get on the bus.
d: When we were getting the kids in the car “S” asked “WW if he was excited to see the animals at the fair.
d: long pause… then he said. No (matter of factly) ride the bus!
d: he was more excited about riding the bus to the fair then seeing the animals at the fair
d: we got to the fairgrounds and “W” immediately started pointing out all the rides.
d: He was a little sad that he wasn’t big enough to ride on them yet. We found the city police “tag your tots” booth, got an id tag for him (because he has a tendancy to run away from us)
d: then we went to look at all the animals.
d: He got to pet some cows, loved looking at the calves, and he got to feed a LONG-HORNED Bull!
d: I helped him, he got his hand all slimey.
d: but he still thought it was cool.
d: We looked at horses. (all the pigs and sheep had already been sold)

cg: it is cool

d: we saw geese and chickens (thought of you!)

cg: geese! we didn’t have any geese. just lots of pigeons and a couple of chickens by the time we got there

d: we saw ducks too. I asked him if he remembered seeing ducks at “Auntie ‘C’s” house
d: he did.
d: there were TONS of chickens!

cg: nice! I loved those ducks!

d: saw baby goats.
d: I always liked goats better than Sheep.
d: “S” had pet sheep as a kid.
d: goats are much cleaner animals

cg: man, we both LOVE goats!

d: they had an “extreme diving show”

cg: I would love to have some and take them into the mountains!!

d: that was really cool. Next to it was a kiddie cars race track.
d: “W” really wanted to ride in the cars.
d: But by the time we got there they were putting them away. We stood nearby to watch the diving show. He just sat there with us and pretend cried the whole time as he watched all the cars be put away i nthe trailer.
d: We were like 10 feet away from them, he just wanted to climb in them
d: Then we went to the Rodeo.
d: First rodeo in my life.
d: So fun!
d: “Sy” LOOOOOVED IT!

cg: really?

d: Everytime she saw a horse she’d start yelling and screaming, and jumping up and down in my lap!
d: Waving her arms around and pointing at the horses.

cg: well that’s pretty dang cute

d: They started with the bare-back bucking horses.
d: She thought that was so cool. She liked that way much more than the calf wrangling.
d: The rodeo clown had a mic and he and the announcer kept joking around, going back and forth at each other between the action, HILARIOUS.
d: the whole day I kept forgetting “S” had to go back to work today. So after an hour at the Rodeo we had to leave.
d: We rode the bus back, it was like 8:30pm and the kids were just wired.
d: We thought “they are so not going to sleep when we get home”
d: but as soon as their Pjs were on they were out like a light

cg: big day!

d: Will actually slept till 7:15am today
d: The state fairs advertising slogan this year was “too much to do in just one day, thats why theres 17″
d: Now I just need to write that all into a cute little story and post it on my blog…

cg: you should copy and paste all of this into a word doc!—you’ve covered all the bases!

d: definitely! Good idea.

there are just a few little things I forgot to mention. When we got to the park and ride there was a long line of people to get on the bus. Yesterday was 1$ day at the fair and rodeo. Thats always a popular day. My husband, the kids and I were the last ones to get on the bus. I can only imagine the scene “W” would have caused if that bus had driven away without us on it!
He wanted to wear a hat and sunglasses at the fair. He was the cutest guy there. You could just catch the wisps of blonde hair under his hat. And of course “Sy” was the star of the bus! Everyone just thinks shes so cute. She even let someone else hold her. The girl holding her got bored before “Sy” did. That NEVER happens!

While wondering around the fairgrounds we passed a New Mexico state police booth. They offered “W” a sticker that looked like a police badge. He also received an eraser for a pencil that looked just like their badge. He thought this was the coolest thing ever. He has worn his “badge” nonstop since yesterday. Its been transferred between 3 different shirts. Including his PJ’s last night. He wanted to be the helpful big brother yesterday. He pushed his little sister all over the grounds in the stroller. At one point he dropped his eraser and just melted into tears. It was the saddest thing ever. I had to rescue it before it got ran over by another stroller. “Sy” got tired of riding in the stroller and she got to push the stroller around. But every so often she’d get distracted and take off for someone’s “dragon” balloon…

Overall it was a very eventful and memorable day.

things kids say

My sons favorite argument right now is “The Suns Awake”.

Its so funny to hear my own phrases used against me. I used to tell him when he first turned two that when the sun goes to bed then its time for him to go to bed. Then as I left the room I’d say “see you in the morning when the sun wakes up”.

Now when he wakes up early (too early for me) in the morning I ask him to go back to bed. He says “No Mommy, the Suns awake!” If he catches us trying to catch a few extra ZZZZ’s in the morning or pretending to sleep on the couch he comes over to us (this happens to my husband more than me) and says “WAKE UP, NO Sleeping, daddy the Suns awake!”

And if I dare ask him to take a nap, its the same thing, “Mommy, Look(as he pulls back the darkening curtain and points out the window) the Suns Awake.”

Tonight my husband had to work late. Usually he’s home by 4:30pm but tonight he didn’t get home till 7pm. For our little family thats really late. If he doesn’t get home before 6pm the kids won’t see him till the next day. They go to bed at 6pm.

Tonight my kids went to bed like normal. No big fights. But 30 minutes after closing the door of my sons room I heard him burst into tears. He was crying for daddy. I told him Daddy had to work late tonight. He started crying harder. I told him Daddy will be home all day tomorrow. (we’re planning on taking a vacation from the city life tomorrow. to be explained in a future blog.)

He just said “want daddy hugs, want daddy kisses…” It was so sad. I finally asked “do you want to go for a car ride with daddy tomorrow?” He said “yes”, while trying to choke back tears. I said to him “the sooner you go to sleep, the sooner it will be morning when you can play with daddy all day”. He excepted that, stopped his tears, rolled over on his pillow and went to sleep. I’ll have to make sure to tell my husband how much he was missed for bedtime tonight…

Grover’s Apple Orchard Hay Ride

Question: What happens when you have a hayride through an apple orchard with 50+ 12-18 yr old kids on a wednesday night?
Answer: Memories that will last the rest of your life!

Question: What kind of hayride can accomodate 50+ kids?
Answer: One that occurs on long trailers with rows of hay bails, pulled behind tractors.

Question: What happens when you have a group of 12-16 yr old girls sitting together?
Answer: High-pitched squealing every time you hit a bump.

Question: If there are girls sitting together giggling and squealing whats likely to occur?
Answer: A group of 13-16 yr old boys and one 17 yr old tomboy(me) sitting together begin mocking the squealing girls.

Question: What happens when the girls realize they’re being made fun of?
Answer: they start throwing hay at the boys in an attempt at flirting.

Question: When hay starts being thrown while traveling through an apple orchard what do you think that will lead to?
Answer: apples being picked up off the ground and tossed back at the girls.

Question: Where does the hayride lead to?
Answer: After going through the orchard the tractors slowly make their way down a long winding dirt road into a canyon.

Question: Whats in the canyon?
Answer: At the end of the canyon a large bon-fire is being built up. The tractors follow the canyon down to the end where the bon-fire is.

Question: Why is a hayride through an apple orchard cause for a good memories?
Answer: After all the kids unload from the tractors the haybales are put into a circle around the bonfire. Hot chocolate, apple cider and donuts are served. An inspirational message is delivered. And even though an all-out apple and hay war occurred on the way to the bonfire everyone feels a little closer to those around them.

Creepy Crawlies

While the kids were playing outside,
a little lizard found his way into our house.
tried to catch him and put him back outside,
he kept running under couches and chairs,
stereos and VCRs.
Finally caught him, the kids wanted to see.
But you know that defense mechanism that lizards supposedly have?
Well, Its true.
While the lizard was in my hand he tried to jump away,
he detached his tail at the same time.
In one place is a tail wiggling all on its own,
in another place is a lizard running away.
Finally caught him again,
set him free in the flowerbed outside.

Cooler Weather Outside = More spiders inside!

I am not a big fan of spiders,
ask my mom, dad and brothers, they’ll tell you.
My mom has said that I would catch rollie pollies, and worms as a child.
I won’t go near a spider.
Last night before going to bed we killed two in our bedroom,
in less than 30 minutes.
Hobo Spiders in Idaho are one thing,
Yes they’re scary,
Yes they chase you,
but NO they can’t climb walls.
Our spiders here LOOK like Hobos,
but they can climb walls,
and hang from a webline.
My roommates in Rexburg always designated me the Hobo killer,
even though I was scared to death.
Here, I’d rather kill the spider,
then find it in my bed.

Before and After of our Yard

I decided maybe showing a few pictures would give you a little bit more understanding to the sadness we are feeling with the closure of Rowlands.

(the front yard BEFORE )

(the back yard BEFORE)

(the Front yard NOW)

(the backyard NOW)

(Last summer after we built the Pergola)

As you can see, Rowlands has become a second home to us. It will be missed dearly.