Sloppy Joes, Fall Fests and Bathroom Stunts

I love Friday evenings. The subject line of nearly every non work-related email I write on Fridays is TGIF!!! I enjoy my Friday evenings so much because I have two whole days ahead of me to fill with things that are all about family, friends, and some good 'ole R&R.

Friday night I made one of our favorite meals: sloppy joes and baked beans. Since we don't get home until about 6:30, this is a delicious meal that takes only minutes to prepare. For the sloppy joes, I brown a pound of ground sirloin. When done, I add a can of chicken gumbo soup and let simmer on low heat for about 15 minutes. While the sirloin is browning, I cut up half a pound of bacon and half a large onion in a metal baking dish and brown until onions are transparent and the bacon is nearly crispy. Add a can of your favorite Bush's baked beans. (We like homestyle or vegetarian.) Cover and bake for about 30 minutes. Add a side of chips or veggies and dip and it's a delicious "semi-homemade" meal.

I must add... by the time our wonderful meal on the deck was drawing to a close, Adam was "vacuuming" the kitchen floor wearing only a shirt, a diaper and his red crocs on the wrong feet. Whatever works.

Saturday morning we left the house bright and early for the Duluth Fall Festival. Over the course of 11 years that I've been going, I've watched it grow from a small craft fair into a large event with lots of artists, vendors, food and fun.

And speaking of fun, you can see how excited our kids were...

I felt a sore kind of "twinge" in my lower back this morning while I was getting ready. I thought it was just an early morning kink since I am mere weeks away from turning 40. It didn't seem to work itself out though, and when I got out of the car at the Festival, it was really hurting.

We stopped to use the restroom right as we entered and I am here to report I got locked in the stall. First time it's ever happened to me. I couldn't get the circular knob to turn to unlock the door. Kendra and another lady were in there, too, and I kind of joked about it. Then I just got down on the floor and slid underneath the door on my back. It was my only choice, trust me. The other lady said, "Very impressive girl! You did that as gracefully as anybody could!" If only my lower back hadn't been gripped with pain, I could have done a triple 360 over the top of the stall.

I hope y'all are having a great weekend. If you haven't done so, please comment on my post below by leaving me a question for Interview Jill.

I'm off to take some Advil.

Ask and You Shall Receive

I've been a little absent in Blogsville lately because life's just busy right now. I have lots of great posts rambling around in my head, but they'll have to wait.

So, I thought it might be kind of fun to have y'all ask me some questions. It's a virtual interview without the microphones and the lighting problems.

Go ahead...ask me anything. I'll begin posting answers next week.

An interview is a little bit of performance, and it's a little defensive, depending on your nature. But what could be more fun that to talk about yourself and have everyone stare at you like they're really interested? ~Steve Martin

A Ten Ton Mosquito

Last week when Adam was sick, we had lots of cuddle time in the rocking chair in his room. One night, just as he was drifting off, a smaller commuter-type plane flew overhead.

Adam quickly sat upright and pointed toward the window.

Bug! Bug!

Then he laid his head back down and, in a whisper to himself...

BIIIG bug!

Fall Reading

After much contemplation, I have decided to join Katrina's Fall into Reading Challenge. It's been so fun to read other blogger's Fall Reading Lists, and I can't wait until the reviews begin so I can add to my ever growing wish list.

Here's mine:

FICTION

The Double Bind - Chris Bohjalian

Missing Mom - Joyce Carol Oates

Body Surfing - Anita Shreve

NON-FICTION/MEMOIRES

The Glass Castle - Jeanette Walls

Mozart & the Whale - Jerry & Mary Newport with Johnny Dodd

Me: Stories of my Life - Katharine Hepburn

Social Intelligence - Daniel Goleman

BIBLE STUDY

Believing God - Beth Moore

Jill's Book Bag #4 - **WINNER**

Thank you all for stopping by the Book Bag this month and leaving a comment.

This month's winner is Susan at Learning for Lifetime.

Susan, email me at the address on my profile page and let me know

#1. The title and author of the biography/autobiography you would like.

#2. The pattern of the Vera Bradley bag you prefer.

See you here next month!

Channeling Molly Ringwald

It's 3:29 am here at the rwood Ranch. Just letting you know in case you thought I sleep like normal people who have small children and work 50 hours a week.

Which leads into the nice, clean transition to my topic for today: Molly Ringwald.

And my reason for writing about Molly Ringwald: My right ear has been pierced with three holes in my earlobe and one at the top of my ear since 1986.

My left ear still has just one.

I have 4 holes in my right ear because, back in 1986, I was trying to be all creative and trendy and hip like Molly Ringwald in Pretty in Pink.

That wrist full of bangles!

Those lace top socks!

I pulled for Duckie the whole movie. His undying love for her was priceless.

The scenes of her cutting up and remaking her prom dress danced in my head for months.

I was a high school senior in 1986. My prom dress was tea length pink lace, straight off the sale rack from some cheap clothing store.

I was permed and tanned and quadruple earring'd.

I haven't worn multiple earrings in my right ear for at least 20 years, but in the back of my mind I know I could do it at any moment.

I could be totally 1980's on my right side...and classic and timeless on the left.

I just hope it doesn't correlate to my brain. I need to be in the present as much as possible.

Jill's Book Bag #4 - September 2007

Though the majority of books I read are fiction, my favorite genre is biographies. My reading journal is chock full of them. Some of my favorites over the past year include:
Personal History by Katharine Graham, a meaty book by the owner of the Washington Post.
Get Happy by Gerald Clarke, the pill-popping, stage mom saga of Judy Garland.
Clarke also wrote Capote, the riveting story of Truman Capote and his obsession with the story behind his novel, In Cold Blood.
And I have this calling me now from my bookshelf: Einstein: His Life and Universe by Walter Isaacson.
So, I thought it would be fun to fill September's Book Bag with a biography/autobiography of the winner's choice. The possibilities are endless: Princess Diana, Warren Buffet, Audrey Hepburn, Dr. Seuss, or the Beatles. You choose!
Now, for the bag: This month's goody is a Vera Bradley Bucket Tote. Since we're in the "you choose" mode, the winner may choose the pattern. The pattern shown here is Kensington. Clicking on the Vera Bradley link above will take you to the page for this bag, and you can play around and try out different patterns.
The rules are simple. Just leave a comment (one per person). I'll leave comments open until I draw the winner Saturday morning, September 22. If you want to link back here on your own blog, it's much appreciated, but not necessary.
Thanks for entering...
Happy reading!

Tales from the Dark Side...

.... or: Day 4 of Hand/Mouth/Foot crud.

Thank you all for your nice comments and words of encouragement. I remember my mom saying several times when I was a child, "I wish I could be sick for you." Now I know what she meant.

In researching Hand/Mouth/Foot disease, I learned we should not confuse it with Mad Cow Disease, which only affects animals. I wonder if there are any reported cases of Mad Mama Disease? :o)

Adam's still very much under the weather and my hubby and I are riding out the storm together. Adam cannot go back to daycare until all of his little blisters are completely gone, which could take up to ten days. That has turned my boss on her head, as she doesn't know what to do without me. So she calls me, and asks me things that I can't help her with because I'm not at my office. And she tells me things like the mini washer in her hotel suite fell off the counter and crushed the ironing board and didn't even stop running. That made me laugh so hard it even got Adam laughing.

I tried to counter with stories of forced feedings of Tylenol and Benadryl, huge piles of laundry, and sleep in 30 minute intervals. She was not amused.

Hubby said it best: Our weekend could be summed up in one word: mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama... you get the idea.

These are the days of tested patience. I beg for patience as I carry my 22 pound son around nearly all night and all day. (Sometimes a boy just has to have his mama). I pray for patience and faith that he will get better soon and not suffer. It's hard when they can't say what hurts. I am forever grateful for my warm and caring husband. He's my mindnight and 3am hero.

And I'm so thankful for all of you - my blogging friends. It's nice to know someone else has been there, too.

Thanks to Karolee... a little bloggy goodness at the exact moment I needed it.

I'll leave you with a little humor. I was laying with Adam in our bed Saturday evening trying to get him to sleep. He never sleeps with us during the night, but sometimes in the evening I prop myself up in our bed when the rocking chair in his room gets too uncomfortable. He was watching the ceiling fan (which he calls a bubble).

Fast, Mama!
We've been working on "opposites" so I said Fast and.....
Slow!

Wow! I was impressed. He always gets this one because it's in a book we read daily:
Old and.....
New!

I tested him some more and found it joyfully funny the way he answered. He was getting an "opposite" word...just not the right one:

Down and....
In!

Out and....
Near!

Far and...
Down!

Big and....
Up!

Sick or well, rested or tired... I waited my whole life for this. Thank you all for blessing my socks off (and on!)

What a Difference a Year Makes - Fall is in the Air

September 2006

September 2007

Wedding Details

During the course of last week's With This Ring posts, I received several emails asking about various details of our wedding... where was it, when was it, what kind of flowers did you use, where did you get your dress... that sort of thing.

At the time I thought a little post about my wedding details would be kind of fun, but then promptly got sidetracked breathing fresh air and eating apple pie.

So, now that I'm back in the heat and smog, eating chicken breast with a side of boring, I will take the opportunity to share...

Doug and I met via e-Harmony.com. You can read more about our meeting here.

I bought my dress straight off the rack at a little boutique in the Virginia-Highlands area of Atlanta. It was on sale and needed no alterations. I also got my shoes and veil there. The experience of shopping for my dress, especially at this little boutique, was much more fun than I thought it would be. Every dress I tried on fit so I could get a pretty accurate feel for how it would look, even with minor alterations. Because the dress I chose was being discontinued, the shop owner named it "Jill". I spent a total of 1 hour from start to finish choosing everything. I wore the pearls my mom got as a wedding gift from my dad. I bought the crown for my veil on e-bay for $20.

We got married on New Year's Eve 2003. The whole world celebrates our anniversary with us. :o) The church was nice enough to keep their Christmas decorations up for our wedding ceremony. The sanctuary was adorned with two Christmas trees and beautiful evergreen wreathes with big red bows. Antique lanterns sat in each of the stained glass windows. They provided the candlelight for our late afternoon ceremony.



We got married at Sardis United Methodist Church in the Buckhead area of Atlanta. This is a cute little country-like church plopped down in the middle of the city. A Sardis church has been on the same plot of land since 1812. The current church building was built in 1927.


Instead of lighting a unity candle as a couple, we lit a family candle with Kendra and Bayley. We brought little step stools from home so they could reach!

Our soloist was Jenna Avery, whose brother is the lead guitarist for the Christian band Third Day. She sang Amazing Grace as the ceremony started and The Other Side of Me by Michael W. Smith at the family candle lighting.

After the wedding, as I was gathering up the extra programs, a lady bug landed on one of them. A little sign of good luck!

Our reception was at our house. We had way too much food and way too much fun.

So, with that, I can't resist asking y'all to leave comments about the special things in your own weddings.

I'm sure I will read 'em and weep.

My Little Cupcake

I'm Really Not a Wreck, I Just Play One for my Son

Adam's newest gig is asking everyone to "crwy" whenever we ask him to do something.

It all started a couple weeks ago when I asked him to give me a kiss and he said, "mope!" and I pretended to cry. He thought that was a hoot, so I started crying for a kiss and crying for a hug.

I spent half my days and nights crying and begging.

It stopped being so fun when he demanded tears for virtually every request: picking up toys, taking a bath, eating, going to bed....

It won't be long before I'll be pulling out the 'ole Mommy ammo and turning the tables.

"I'll give you something to cry about!"

It also won't be long before I'll have to do more than muster a little fake "boo-hoo" to get a hug or a kiss out of my boy.

So, for now, I'll gladly play along.

A Little Slice of Heaven on Earth

Doug, Adam and I spent the long Labor Day weekend in Iowa visiting my family. Here's a sampling of some of things we loved:

1. Clear blue skies...emphasis on clear

2. Cooler temps...highs only in the 80's

3. Long stretches of flat highway with very little traffic and very courteous drivers

4. Spending time with Grandma Eva. Adam called her "Ma".

5. Uncle Jon, Uncle Brian, two Aunt Teresa's, cousins Erica, Eliott, Jen, Hillary, Kyle, Sam, and Meg

6. Pork burgers and brats on the grill with sides of homemade potato salad, coleslaw, cucumbers/onions and watermelon

7. Grandma Eva's 44 year old Maytag washing machine...still ticking

8. Plenty of parking spaces everywhere we went

9. Saturday afternoon at the orchard, and two pieces of homemade apple pie to go!

10. Two on-time flights and a toddler in a good mood

Who could ask for anything more? :o)