Bee's Blog

Reflux Sux!

2011-10-07T13:15:00.000-07:00

I have not been blogging because my little angel has reflux, which we just started meds for. I spend most of my day with him in the moby doing the "colic dance" and singing pop hits of the 90's until he chills out. (It ain't no lie, BYE BYE). I look really awesome doing it. Basically like this video. But more Brittney and Justin and less Beyonce.

PS: I have a stroller, my kids in a Moby not a sling, and I don;t think if you don;t sling you don;t love your baby. You probably get to do normal things like PUT YOUR KID DOWN. That being said:

Im off to order a pizza.

A Baby Story (Birth Story)

2011-09-24T09:48:00.000-07:00

It was a dark and stormy night.... but we're not there yet.

As most of you know Jamison was breech. We tried everything to get him to flip over-

chiropractors, moxibustion, hanging upside down. But thats another post all together. Our last attempt was a version. My OB/GYN said I could go ask another high risk Doctor to do it, since mine was on vacation. After a quick ultrasound, he announced that there was "no way any good Doctor would try and flip this baby" because of where the umbilical cord was. He left made a phone call and returned saying "Happy Birthday! Go get your stuff and head to Labor and Delivery, you C-sections at 3:30."

Up to this point I was so upset, scared, and anxious about a c-section. But God's peace took over and from that point until just before I was good. Here's the final belly shot heading to the hospital!

Large and in charge!

It was CRAZY in labor and delivery. We had to wait in the waiting room for an hour before we got a room. They had several emergency C-sections, so the pushed us back till six.

Ok, NOW: It was a dark and stormy night. A full moon, which apparently makes everyone go into labor and have emergency C-sections, was not visible because of the huge thunderstorm outside. Here's hoping the hospital has some good power generators!

We watched the movie The Blind Side and waited. Just as it was about time to go I go really nervous again- God knew. My dear friend Mandy called just then and prayed over the surgery, the Doctor and the anastesologist. After she said "Amen" in walked the two nicest Anastesologists I had every met. They made the whole experience so positive! Once again God's peace just over took me.

IV fluid/pregnant puffy face is a great look.

Jamie waited while I got my spinal. He said he was so nervous and excited to meet the baby.

Last Pic before meeting our boy!

The anastesologist, Jamie and I talked about baby names and Denver Colorado, then I felt some pressure (whoa pressure!) and Jamison Samuel Szmodis made his entrance! Jamie waited with me so we could meet him together.Jamie looked so happy. Jamison looked so hungry. No crying for him, just wide awake, alert and rooting.

My Happy Man holding Jamison for the first time.

Seeing my baby for the first time!

First Family Photo! (I am a wee bit out of it. They gave me some good stuff.)

He really was awake!

Everything was so happy and peaceful. He was here, safe and sound. We headed to recovery where I got to finally hold my precious boy.

God is so good.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

Jamison Samuel Szmodis

2011-09-21T15:25:00.001-07:00

Better late than never?

Jamison Samuel Szmodis

Auguest 18, 2011

6:57 PM

7 Pounds 7 Ounces

21 Inches Long

He made his entrance awake, alert and hungry.

Welcome to the world Bear!

We love you!

Babies Don't Keep

2011-09-18T13:38:00.001-07:00

Mother, O Mother, come shake out your cloth,

Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,

Hang out the washing, make up the bed,

Sew on a button and butter the bread.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I've grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,
Lullabye, rockabye, lullabye loo.

Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo

The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew
And out in the yard there's a hullabaloo
But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo
Look! Aren't his eyes the most wonderful hue?
Lullabye, rockaby lullabye loo.

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow
But children grow up as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.

Ruth Hulbert Hamilton

Bears Room: Adventures in Insanity

2011-07-19T05:58:00.000-07:00

My mother in law offered to "help me" (read: watch me struggle then save the fabric from total destruction) make Bear's nursery set. Which is great, because, as you know, I tend to obsessively fixate on certain things and need them to be PERFECT which means I would have been trying to explain to J why bumpers that cost a mortgage payment are necessary. So his Mom saved his sanity and in return I am sapping away hers. In 2 and 3 day marathon sewing events that begin around 5:30 (no lie!) and end about 10 when we are one step away from homicidal manics surrounded by precious blue gingham. We are not done, but I thought I would show off the progression:

Phase 1: Find the Fabric

So you maybe thinking, head to JoAnns and get some, right? How are you reading this blog because you clearly don't know me. No fabric store in South Jersey, Philadelphia, or the Lehigh Valley escaped this mission. And guess who hated them all? This girl.

Phase 2: Pretending to be "Easy Going"

A bear and woods theme sounds nice right? So I make a bunch of prototypes and tell everyone how cute they are, and then lose. my. mind. After J convinced me our child wasn't going to sleep in a replica of Shanty Town. I took to the internet.

Phase 3: Find the most expensive Fabric the Internet Provides.

Pretend to be amazed. On the left we have a Wedge Wood Silk Dupioni on the right a Gingham dupioni. Theres also a pale blue satin. Both are Imported From Alabama, home of Adorable Childrens Fabrics. Martha Pullen. My sisters on her Facebook page smocking things. Doesn't she look diligent? Didn't make it into my gene pool...

PS I know someone out there is saying Doesn't she know babies are messy? What is she thinking? To you I say: Save your I told you so's for 6 months for now. Right now I'm just a little too crazy too care.

I must go continue to look helpful while MIL makes actual progress. Look forward to Phase 4 coming soon!

So its July...

2011-07-03T11:33:00.000-07:00

Well I would just like to pat myself on the back for the EXCELLENT job I did posting pictures for the 30 day photo challenge. My follow through on that project is nothing short of TREMENDOUS. I hope you all enjoyed that peak into the life of the S's.

I'd like to throw a shout out to those who attempted to hold me accountable. Hi Lisa! Hi Leigh Ann!

And now since I am lazy I am going to copy LA who copied from Jessica. I am largely pregnant and lacking in shame. Literally this is copy and pasted from Leigh Ann (and therefore Jessica). The creativity award for today goes to.... (not ME).

How Far Along: 32.5 weeks. Yup I added the .5. Because when your large and in charge every little bit toward the goal counts!

Size of baby: 16.7 in, 3.75 lb. Says Leigh Ann, so ok, that's how big this guy is. But he feels wayyyy bigger.

Total Weight Gain: 30 lbs, and no I am not just saying that Bc Leigh Ann said it. I really did gain 30 (well 29 but that was 4 days ago and I cannot be held responsible for saying no to 4th of July treats. Or the contents of my fridge. Not happening. So we're hoping 30). The nurse accidentally said 40, and only corrected herself after I began openly weeping. Classity class!

Maternity Clothes: See above!!!

Gender: Boy.

Movements: All the time. Hiccups: all the time. He particularly like his feet in my ribs and if I try and move him he just pushes harder. Do I worry about him inheriting his father stubbornness? No, why do you ask? Oh, because I am openly weeping?

Sleep: What is this magical thing you speak of? Is it where the unicorns are?

What I miss: COFFEE. And not the couple tablespoons I occasionally have. BIG CUPS OF EYE OPENING JAVA. See above.

Cravings: Olive Garden Salad and Dairy Queen Ice cream. Notice none of those things are made by me.

Symptoms: The watermelon sized gut I have is rather symptomatic of pregnancy. The pregnancy induced migraines and reflux are just sweet little additions.

Best Moment this week: Getting part of his room done & seeing it all coming together. I'll blog more about it later, but I just love it! Ordering a car seat- may seem silly but I feel so much more secure knowing if he comes early I have a way to take him home.

Here's where a cute picture of the watermelon belly goes, but right now that would mean finding a camera which would interfere with my plans to get a DQ Dilly Bar from the freezer. So perhaps week 33 I will show you a pic.

Photo Challenge Day 8- Sunset

2011-06-08T18:33:00.000-07:00

This sunset was actually snapped by J, lucky for me because I missed today's sunset. I edited it though, so I feel ok using it.

Yes, yesterday I was on the table. Yes, when J saw it he wasn't happy... so Yes I will refrain from dancing, I mean standing, on tables until Bear Pythons arrival. Maybe.

Other cool kids who are doing the challenge:

Quiet Foot Steps From Base Housing to Home

Photo Challenge Day 5 & 6

2011-06-07T15:20:00.000-07:00

Day 5: Books

A man, his dog, and his book. I'm venturing a guess most people reading this know what a precious and rare sight this is with current "tempos". (Btw J is reading for his classes, lest you be lead to believe he's enjoying himself. On the other hand, Alcott is completely enjoying herself).

Day 6: High Angle

Feed me right this instant!!!

Photo Challenge Day 5

2011-06-05T15:45:00.001-07:00

Ok, I skipped day 4 and I'm STILL using my iphone. FotoFail.

Day 5: Breakfast

Smiley Eggs! Were eaten by myself, J, Bear Python, and Alcott. 10 eggs. No kidding. Not sure how the food budgets going to work when Bear Python is a teenager!

Day 3: Hands

2011-06-03T15:07:00.000-07:00

I am going to cheat and use an old picture, just because I need to mention how much I like my friend LISA COOK from Conquering Indecision & Rekindling Inspiration. Those who know her know that she would do a GREAT job with the 30 Day Photo challenge. Am I right Quiet Footsteps? So in honor of Lisa and my ridiculous peer pressure that is pathetic AND childish, here is my picture of hands:

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Lisa and Justin joining hands as man & wife. This was, what 4 years and a week ago? Very glad I was able to be there to see these wonderful people come together.

Also, LA from is also doing the challenge! So head over to From Base Housing to Home and check out her pics. I was telling LA I enjoy when people do these things so much because I feel like I am part of their "daily" again. Those who read this blog (Hi Mom! Hi LA!) are near and dear to me and I like your "daily".

Show me your daily wonderful friends:)

Since this was borderline mushy here is a picture of a cow jumping with a dolphin. Your welcome.

30 Day Photo Challenge

2011-06-02T15:12:00.000-07:00

I have been inspired by my sweet friend at Quiet Footsteps to do a 30 day photo challenge. I have a nice camera and want to get better at actually using it before Bear Python shows up. Although the rules say you can use any picture taking device, so I used my Iphone for days one and two. Yea yea. So now I am going to say I think some of you should do this too. LA- you can do this from your phone. Just Plane Blessed, you take amazing pictures and should bless us with some more of them. Just Another Day in Paradise- daily fix of sweet A? Yes, please. Baan Family Blog... ok, how about just the birthday part pics?:P Everyone else- do it because I love you and check your blogs every day and its like getting to visit with you:)

The photo challenge is from A Feathered Nest, which looks to be about the most awesome thing since the Nester.

Ok so day 1 is a self portrait. Oh, goody:

28 Weeks of Bear Python

Day 2: A Pair of Shoes:

These sad puppies are some of my favorites. New Balance 990's purchased in San Antonio in 2006 while J was at PIT. Way too hot for my first summer in Texas, but so stinking comfortable I refuse to part with them. Even if I only wear them to paint things. You will notice they are in the back of the closet with THE ONLY HIGH HEELS I OWN. And clearly care for diligently. And another pair of older-than-dirt running shoes I refuse to part with.

Ok people start snapping. Hopefully, I'll be back tomorrow!

Baby S Update

2011-05-31T14:26:00.000-07:00

Hola! I am back- as my dear friend A would say "I have a few things going on." But never mind that, I figured I'd give a quick baby S update. I'll be 28 weeks Thursday. Time is flying!

Baby S Pregnancy Name:

We call him Bear. We will probably call him Bear for the rest of his life. I am tempted to make his legal name Bear. How many times can I say Bear?

Bear Bear Bear Bear.

Baby S Real Name:

J's sweet cousin suggested "Python" as a middle name, so Bear Python S.

B S P

is a pretty sweet monogram right?

(I am 90% facetious. The other 10% is to keep everyone in suspense.)

In other news, Bear doesn't have parents who are really decisive on names.

Bear Python Size:

Something like 2 pounds and 15 inches long?

Bears Mom looks:

Lumpy. And weird.

Bear likes:

Moving AT ALL TIMES.

Strong punches and kicks, the more muscle spasms they cause Mom the better.

J's voice: he ramps up his activity level to squirrel-on-caffeine levels when J talks for an extended period of time. Sometimes I tell J to stop talking.

I just got punched in the gut. Its like Bear knows....

Jalapenos.

Peperoncino

Spicy Mexican food.

When I eat these he goes nuts.

I guess that may also mean he hates them....

Waking up at 7 am every morning. Regardless of my sleep plans.

No new pictures of Bear, but hopefully in a couple weeks we will try and get another ultrasound. Until then, here are some pictures of the general concept that is Bear Python:

...to his dad

My mom is so embarrassing...

(Monty) Python. Because real Pythons are gross, and this guy is a kicking star.

If the ball were my bladder, then yes!

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T16:49:00.000-07:00

My sister lives in NYC, and decided last minute to hop a train south for Easter. Which was great because the Man had a lot of work to do (what else is new?) and is really over my dramatics over not being able to fit into J. Crew's spring line. Sistie was primed and ready to hear my tales of woe. Oh and WAY TOO SKINNY. I tried to force feed her Easter candy foie gras style.

Our time together went something like this:

Eat, rest, Eat, Sleep, Eat, Church, Eat, Walk, Nap, Eat.

Her and Moo... I mean me.

Post Church mandatory Pictures.

No one else at church was wearing a sports coat I gently encouraged him to wear.

He's so patient.

He will refuse it next year.

Sigh.

Brunch was Mrs. Baans amazing sprouted grain waffles with fruit, kerrygold and maple syrup.

Yum.

The Easter Mom -I mean- bunny came!

We miss you Mom & Dad!

EAT THE CANDY SKINNY GIRL.

Opening some eggs!

Poor Alcott

Christ the Lord is Risen Today!

Alleluia, Alleluia!

Family Wedding

2011-04-18T11:49:00.000-07:00

We live about 2 hours from J's family, so we are able to go there for things we would typically have to miss when we lived in Texas. This doesn't remove the sting of losing my Texas license plates, but I suppose it does ease it. This weekend was J's youngest cousins wedding, which was lovely. The bride is a super sweet heart who looked so beautiful and I don't have a single picture of her. Wedding fail. The cake was so pretty. No pictures. Fail. The ceremony was touching and lovely. No pictures. Fail. A few pictures that I do have:

The Clan.

This is the best shot I have that has everyone in it.

It was pouring. Don't look at my hair please.

Think they are related?

The four boys:

Youngest, Second oldest, Second Youngest, Oldest

Lost the second youngest (he ran after his child)

Picked up the Groom.

Related much?

Eldest's Adorable Girlfriend, Eldest, The Pateint One, Me

Fun night! Then we almost floated away a couple times in some massive flooding. Good times! Congratulations J & J!

Ohh-Oh We're halfway there...Ohh-oh livin on a prayer

2011-04-12T15:07:00.000-07:00

20 weeks has come and is about to go. Mostly exciting, although it is sinking in that in 20 or so weeks I have to be responsible for a little boy. For 18 years. If I don't lose sunglasses after a year or so I consider it a victory. Yikes. There's something in my head about branding him so if he wanders off...but my Mom would really dislike that train of thought.

Want to see the little man? Of course you do! As do I! And he remains virulently opposed to pictures. You know the sweet ultrasounds where people see the baby waving, sucking their thumb, hiccuping and the like? Not happening here. My boy defiantly wiggled out of each shot. The tech used the words "spazzing out" and "going bonkers". She would press down on my belly and I would feel & see him scrambling to get out of the way. The word "handful" might have been thrown around.

Oh goody.

So here he is. This picture was taking in a half a second as he was throwing his baby hands up over his face. Gotcha little one.

That's all folks. That's the only picture I got after 40 minutes of anatomy scanning!

Burning down the house. Yup.

2011-03-30T14:37:00.000-07:00

Today started with the best of intentions. I was planning to make the man roasted turkey for dinner, because its one of his favorite meals. I pondered what a great wife I was. I patted myself on the back for brightening his day. Always forgetting what pride comes before..

The bird is in the oven, oh say 30 minutes, when I remembered I need to add some water to the pan. For my awesome gravy. Because I was feeling like I was one pretty awesome lil wife. I put some water in a pitcher (husband is standing right next to me), open the oven, and toss it in the pan.

Basically, the inside of my oven exploded.

As the flames flared up either side I thought:

So this is how I'm going to burn down the house.

As quickly as it started, the drama was over. The grease burned out. I guess I threw cold water into a hot glass pan. People. Your mom wasn't lying when she said not to do that. Proof?

The turkey actually was unscathed, oddly enough. I was ready to call it a day and head for Pei Wei, but I forgot how devoted my man is to a home cooked turkey.

Cleaned my entire oven. Bird is in a new, solid pan and back in the oven. Did I say he was the most patient man I know?

** Oddly enough I have only almost burned the house down one other time. That time Jamie was cross country. I have survived 2 deployments and several extended TDY's without doing this. Hopefully I got it out of my system?**

Its a..... part 2!

2011-03-27T13:26:00.001-07:00

Jamie and I had a nice little Sunday- great sermon at church, great lunch, and a 5K trail run in 40 degree sunshine (stop laughing Texas ladies....we take what we can get!). We are really committed to continuing our running as long as we possibly can, because soon we will be chasing a:

Look closely:

BOY!

We are really excited! We don't look so much because we don't quite have the hang of the auto timer! So I showed you Jamie's face as he found out. Please let me show you what, besides a camera in his face, he was looking at:

Walking into the sitting area madness.

I like to keep it simple...

The reaction.

We were convinced it was a girl- had all the old wives tales and Chinese gender predictor in our favor. At a 15 week ultrasound little boy was NOT shy about letting us know just how wrong we were. I hope this is not foreshadowing of his teen years!

It's a....?

2011-03-26T10:24:00.000-07:00

This man just found out the gender of his new baby:

What do you think it is?

If your interested:

Person Guess

J & B Girl

B's Mom Girl

B's Dad Boy

B's Sister Boy

J's Mom Girl

J's Dad Girl

J&B SIL Boy

B's BFF Girl

Tell me what you think!

Tomorrow I'll post the real answer:)

Jay gets old!

2011-03-24T17:26:00.000-07:00

My dear, sweet husband has crossed the 3-0 thresh hold. He rolls his eyes at me every time I ask him if he feels old. We had Jay family over for a family party. This was about the extent of social time my man would put up with... sometimes its hard being married to me...

Case in point. Is that even remotely nice?

The only thing the poor man asked for was BROWNIES.

Homemade BROWNIES.

No Candles. No Cake.

Just BROWNIES.

Don't judge. I was on bed rest.

Ok the candles were a blatant disregard of your wishes

... sorry bout that one....

One hand is his mom, the other is his dad.

Is someone mocking the candle blowing out?

What do you think? 30 is too cool for serious candle blowing out.

We made a list of all the things you can't do over 30. Jay got a wee bit nervous that we we're going to make him do the list, as the list included gross shots of liquor (cement mixer?) and every stunt every attempted by Bam.

We spared him.

Happy Birthday to the most patient man I know.

Ima gonna go make you some brownies now.

Anatomy of Bed Rest

2011-03-23T05:52:00.000-07:00

This post is a pathetic excuse to show you pictures of Alcott. The picture sharing is going to get ridiculous when I have a human child in addition to my canine one...

Part of the reason we delayed telling folks about lil'baby, besides our history, is that I was lucky enough to be on bed rest for 6ish weeks (note the sarcasm). Never. Want. To. Do. it. Again. This is what bed rest looks like:

Alcott Sharing My Sentence

Mid-Afternoon Napping is Encouraged

Pretzels (the only thing I could stomach most days)

Fake Ugg Slippers (from amazing Husband)

Sophie Kinsella

No face pictures because, folks, bed rest was NOT pretty. Baby got it together by the end of the first trimester, good job kid!

I was provoked! ...ok maybe not.

2011-03-11T12:20:00.000-08:00

So my dear Aunt, to whom I owe my moniker (combined with the 1976 Kiss song "Beth", its awesome, own it Mom, and of course the BIBLE) pointed out on Facebook that this kid looks part He!^^@ (like you three readers don't know my last name).

Oh, my friend, does he/she.

Lemme give you a picture of said Helmet:

Hi Dad!

Now, if this kids a girl I am gunning for a spot on Toddlers & Tiaras. So I figured I should get used to putting unnatural and embarrassing things on him/her and going into public. So just in case you were questioning who Lil' Baby looks like:

Yea, I'd say its half Helmet.

Sadly I did this picture several weeks ago to amuse my Dad and make my Mom nervous about my parenting skills (or lack thereof).

*** J would never let me put our kid on Toddlers and Tiara's. So, clearly, this is our secret.

Details, Details

2011-03-07T17:23:00.000-08:00

Thank you all for you congratulations and your happiness for us, but most importantly for your prayers! Good has been so good to us.

So a few details.. Lil Baby is due Aug 25, making me 15 1/2 weeks preggo. Got to see lots of extra ultrasounds, which was great. First trimester was challenging, but this whole second trimester bit seems to be more fun. Felt the kiddo move a couple times already- confirmed with the OB who commented on how "active" this baby is. (Stop laughing Mom). We have no idea if its a boy or girl, but Lisa is pretty sure its a boy. Kiddo HATES having his/her picture taken, so usually we get some nice butt shots. Here's one of the few good pictures we have- I think this was the 10th week.

aww..little bebe looks so ANGERY

Then Hannah prayed and said:

“My heart rejoices in the LORD;in the LORD my horn is lifted high. 1 Samuel 2:1

Enceinte

2011-03-06T15:58:00.000-08:00

I took a little video of Jamie and I out in the club, so of course I needed to share:

Doesn't Jamie look hot in a tux?

Yea, perhaps I've gained a little weight. Don't judge.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

Confidence Crisis.. or my junk food addiction

2011-02-09T18:46:00.000-08:00

So I have talked about starting a blog about all the crazy holistic things that have been happening around my house. But every time I get started I am plagued by the fact that I am not even a near perfect eater. I tend to punk out when the pressures on (there is brownies in the room). People I have serious blood glucose issues... if anyone should be crazy its me. But I finally figured up how to illustrate why I feel like I could be pegged a food blogging hypocrite.

So I have an awesome friend Jess. She and her sweet family just went to Disney's Magic Kingdom. The had lunch at Pinocchio's Place. Jess described the stop as "for some over-priced, not so good park food." She is so so right on the money.

... unless your totally addicted to gross grease.... roll the tape.....

I can barely stand to look...

Yup, that's me at Pinocchio's Place. I look sheerly disgusted at at the lack of organic green gracing my plate don't I? You can get deep fried taco bowls at Whole Food, right?

So, long story short, I just really wanted to mock myself. And post a picture of me with NO MAKE UP on. Have mercy.

Actually, its more that I am not flaking on writing my holistic/nutty bananas blog, its just that I want to keep it real folks. It seems as though the people who write these hippie fun blogs are the Regina George's of the food world. They are perfect and do car commercials in Japan.

Gluten? Non Organics? Factory farmed eggs?

Your gonna get a three way call about this...

Because lets be honest. Would you take this person telling you to buy some grass fed beef seriously?

Sugar is evil. And that cupcake was not nearly worth it.

Really.

Darth Vader

2011-02-03T17:43:00.000-08:00

Love this. I helped teach preK for a hot minute in Del Rio and all the boys were obsessed with Star Wars. We sang Star Wars songs (hummed?), played Star Wars games (Your a death star! No you are!) and ate LOTS of Star War gummy snacks (high fructose corn syrup anyone?). I just want to hug this little kid.

A few more from December

2011-01-28T07:05:00.000-08:00

Lots of family time in December. We were blessed to have another visit from my mom and dad, where we celebrated the Helma Family Christmas. Lots of eating, presents, and walking the dog (who likes Grandma and Grandpa more than us, hands down). And I didn't take a single picture. Which is pathetic. We spent Christmas' at J's families house, getting snowed in during the once a year post Christmas family party. After the after party, its the hotel lobby (name it)... or our house. We had J's clan over for a post Christmas, snowstorm feast. A few snaps:

J's oldest brother being a ham

The S clan. No shorties here.

The S clan kids, significant others, and grandkids. A few shorties.

My sweet girl!

Hope you all had a great Christmas!

Rewind...

2011-01-19T09:22:00.000-08:00

Rewind to November- my parents came for a pre-Thanksgiving celebration. We spent a Saturday in New York City where my sister is going to Parsons to be a high flying fashionista. We started with a walk through Bryant park, (of Project Runway finale fame...no pictures.... its disgraceful really), hit a little street market, and then got to my favorite part of the day: The New York City Public Library. This is the place where the PBS show "Between the Lions" is set. (Also, I think its where Carrie and Big were supposed to get married in the SATC movie) So naturally I had to get next to one of the Lions. Sadly, it did not talk like the lions on the show, nor deliver crushing defeats to Big 10 schools like the Nittany Lions (mostly true). But there is a picture!

The NYCPL had an exhibition called Ancient Texts (I think). It featured ancient texts (shocker) from the three major mono-theistic religions. Jewish scrolls, Bibles handwritten by monks, and some Qur'an's. We had time pressure, which was lame, but what we got to see was just amazing! A couple of fun facts: did you know Mary and Jesus are in the Qur'an? (if that's a well known fact please forgive). The Torahs are written with words and symbols. We looked at a genealogy- which to me is one of the harder parts of the Bible to pay attention to, but in the scrolls its drawn out and points to passages explains who's who. So much easier! The hand written Bibles were just amazing.

We went to the American Girl Place, which convinced Jamie he never wants daughters after witnessing a few epic meltdowns (I wasn't sure who to cheer for- the little girl getting 2 dolls who wanted more (she was going big!) or the Mom who was threatening to put them back and leave (show that authority!)). Dad opted out and joined a PETA rally. My meat eating, conservative, leather shoe wearing father learned the anti-fur cheer and apparently offered to hand out pamphlets? Yup, NYC is a crazy town! (OR he was just that done with shopping... ) We then did time square, the huge toys'r'us, ate at the Olive Garden that's 2 floors above Times Square to take in the madness, did a little Christmas shopping at Macy's and headed home. I love living so close to this great city!

December

2011-01-14T17:22:00.001-08:00

Hello friends! We had a crazy December, but then again, who didn't? A few quick pictures:

Jamie had a conference in Washington DC, and I got to go with him which was great because it wasn't all that long since he'd returned from deployment #2. And, I like him. That is all. I got to visit with an old friend Charlie who lives on the same base we stayed at. Charlie and I decided not to "fix-up" (love her southern girl words) and opted for sweatshirts, ponytails, and NO pictures. Just imagine us with perfect hair, glam make up and in really trendy clothes. It was basically like that. It was her precious son's 3rd birthday. I remember when this sweet boy was born! Feeling old...moving along. I also got to spend some time with her little girl Eve who has a smile so big it could knock her over. Our you over, because she's so precious. What a blessing to spend time with them!

We did some "washington" things. I took pictures of monuments, but I'll save the history lesson and instead give you this:

You can thank me later.

I put up the downstairs tree...but never took a picture of it complete! Embarrassing...yet not shocking. Here it is halfway. It got ribbons and ting ting and Jamies older brothers girlfriend said it reminded her of mardi grais. I like her thinking.

Let the bon temp roll... or something.

We got our main floor tree. Alcott helped.

Is this for me?

Guess what? I don't have a full picture of it either! Imagine the tree at Rockefeller Center in NYC. Basically the same thing....

Who doesn't like gold and cream?

Annnd we tried to take a Christmas picture. We were both exhausted and it showed. We never got around to actually doing it again soo...

Merry Christmas!

Dropped off the face of the earth!

2010-12-19T17:47:00.000-08:00

So I have been in a bit of my own little world of CRAZY for the past few months. I have always tried to eat healthy, ie limit corn syrup, sugar, eat organic, lean proteins, etc. But this past few months has been straight up Nutty Banana's. A few of you know of my health "thing" which got me started on this crazy holistic, nurturing nutrition road. I am hooked and obsessed. All my free time is spent planning, going to Whole Foods (they know me. By name. And I don't mean one or two observant checkers. The restock guy calls me Friday Deal Girl). I so want to obsess over every detail and every recipe on this blog, but I think this blog is going to have some other purposes.

Random Babble.

So I am starting a new blog just on this natural holistic health crazyness. But with hopefully with a cute twist. I may be granola, but I still really like Tori Burch shoes (Thanks Mom!). More to come!

So, its Christmas? When did that happen? How are you??

XOXOX Bee

Christmas Tour of Homes 2010

2010-11-23T19:21:00.000-08:00

Hello friends and mom!

As many of you know, BooMama and the Nester do an awesome Christmas tour of homes. I want to do one this year, mostly because I miss your sweet faces and want to pretend like I'm hanging out in your gorgeous houses. Pathetic enough? I try. So heres how it would work.

1. I will stalk you.

2. After you decorate, take pics of your amazing houses (I know you women, and I know its amazing). Post your pictures.

3. Send me (unless someone else wants to host) the link and I will link them all together. Or something. Vary levels of privacy, obviously. Perhaps I can privacy protect the post?

Let me know what you think. Miss you all. Yea, I mean you!

Thanksgiving Leftovers #2: Mediterranean Turkey Salad

2010-11-21T16:12:00.000-08:00

Leftovers round two!

Please note, I am never ever exact with cooking. Nor really high brow. If you want amazingness and exactness, please go read Kristen's Blog. It will not disappoint.

So my husband gets to spend an inordinate amount of time in the middle east Mediterranean. He really likes the food, and has won me over. In the process, we ended up with a belly dancer gyrating on our table as we tried to eat, but that's another story for a blog not frequented by my mother (hi mom!).

So this is more of a chicken salad (Carl) than a green salad with chicken. Oh and its turkey. I digress.

This is a recreation of something whole foods has on their salad bar. Looks like this:

Actually its just the stuff on the right. No blogging is not my forte.

Ok recipe:

White meat from turkey (and lots of it)

variety of olives- we like all kinds and experiment. Kalamata and big green one stuffed with feta. Little green ones in a jar or black in a can work just fine. I did the about 1/3 lb

"good" Feta Cheese..i used about 1/3 a pound, but we really really like feta

spinach- two handfuls or so. The turkey is the main event, not this diva.

1 red bell pepper

1/2 cucumber

Red onion - I use about a tablespoon, but this is all personal preference

1 Lemon

1- 2 tbs olive oil

Really, its all optional.

Chop your veggies. I like mine very fine so every bite has a lot of flavor.

Rough chop turkey so its in sizeable chunks.

Rough chop olives (personal preference)

Cut the cheese (immature) into chunks

Combine everything

In a second bowl combine the juice of the lemon with the olive oil. You may want to throw in some oregano or some brine from the olives. Its your salad. Toss dressing with turkey and veggies and chill.

I think this works with paleo. It is also great with farafella or stuffed into a pita. It makes a good lunch if you pack yours or your husbands.

If your still reading this, I really like you!

Thanksgiving Left Overs

2010-11-17T10:29:00.000-08:00

Just when I decided to leave blogging forever, I realize its thanksgiving! Am I going to post about the Holidays so far, full of food, family, fellowship, and New York? NO! That would be logical and if your still reading this blog (hi mom!) you've clearly given up on that....

Instead I want to share some turkey leftover recipes I am loving! We had Thanksgiving #1 with my family this past weekend, so Husband and I have been eating a lot of left overs. Turkey is so versatile! Tryptophan for everyone!

Recipes #1: Tortilla Soup with Left Over Turkey

*** This is a tweaked version of the Tortilla soup from America's Test Kitchen which is truly the best cooking show/book/ recipes I have ever encountered. Check them out America's Test Kitchen***

This recipe is good if you a carb counting diabetic (know any?) or you want to serve it to someone who follows a Paleo diet. Or Palayoh in more posh circle. Whats Paleo? Please, allow my friend Liz to explain.

Ok enough talking.

Take your delish turkey and carve off all the remaining meat. I separate dark and light, and use them in different recipes. Make stock.

Stock:

Turkey Carcase (bigger bones broken)

1 onion

2 garlic cloves

thyme

water

Throw all this into a pot, bring to a boil, then simmer. I do this while I'm cleaning up, then refrigerate it until I need it.

Tortilla Soup:

Left over dark meat (about 3 cups)

Turkey stock (8 cups, supplement with Chicken stock if you don't have enough

1 medium white onion

2 medium cloves garlic , peeled

2 medium tomatoes , cored and quartered

1/2 medium jalapeno chili

1 chipotle chili en adobo , plus up to 1 tablespoon adobo sauce

1 tablespoon olive oil

Sprouted grain tortilla

Chop tortilla's into strips, drizzle with olive oil and bake at 425 for about 10 minutes.

Blend the tomato's, jalapeno, onion, chili, and 1 teaspoon abode sauce in a food processor till almost smooth. Add oil to your pot and add the mixture (its essentially really awesome salsa) and saute it for 10 or so minutes. Apparently this is common in Mexican cooking, but I need to move to Jersey to learn it. Stir in broth, bring to a boil, then reduce and simmer for 15 minutes. Taste the broth and if it not spicy enough add some more adobe sauce. Add turkey (I use the dark meat) simmer for 10 or so minutes, then serve with crispy tortilla strips.

You may want to top with:

avocados

Pomegranate guacamole

sour cream

more jalapenos!

Stay tuned for Turkey Mediterranean Salad!

Yes we're from Del Rio, why do you ask?

2010-10-06T08:51:00.000-07:00

My sweet sweet husband ALWAYS is gone when it gets close to movin time. Actually I'm just putting most our stuff in storage. True to my Del Rio past I barely strapped it down, terrified other drives going around turns, and stubbornly drove 25 miles under the speed limit.

Take that Jerz!

Gems from the family visit

2010-09-27T07:13:00.000-07:00

Love my parents. A few Dad-isms from the weekend:

* Teaching Dad (some) of the lyrics to Baby Got Back on the way to CHURCH.

* Dad getting them stuck in his head and muttering "Red beans and rice didn't miss her" during church.

* Dying my hair (light brown) black, coloring oops-ing it to a kinda brown red color, two days later Dad asking "Did you do something to your hair?"

Because, Why not?

2010-09-15T16:17:00.000-07:00

Fun for a Thursday night!

Why does my back feel so good??

2010-09-13T17:58:00.000-07:00

Two posts in one day? Luckily this is all information hijacked from others, no originals thoughts so I figure we're safe.

I like to run, swim, spin, bike, step, and essentially beat the poo-poo out of my back. It likes to strike back with painful spasms, often when I'd just really like to SLEEP. So I've been trying some yoga, and let me tell you I am in LOVE. An exercises class where we get to spend 10 minutes in the dark doing NOTHING? love. I am going to try the super new agey yoga studio in town, because its supposed to be amazing. I will of course be meditating on Jesus, in case anyone was nervous (Mom).

ANYWHO.

I found this amazing ladies blog: Katy say: http://www.katysays.com

She has this yoga-ish squat that makes me sooo happy. Check the instructions of here:

Squats!

Your toes DO go over your knees so this isn't a quick up down type of squat, its more a hold for 30 seconds, ease up and repeat. My back loves me. My back and I haven't got along since Figure Skating, 1995. Go find a pillow and try it!

Amazing

2010-09-13T06:56:00.000-07:00

We got part of this in a squad email, it speaks for itself.

Lets Go State!

2010-09-04T04:52:00.001-07:00

I dont have much to post about...but since my hubs isn't here to yell it....

WHAT DAY IS IT??

I said, WHAT DAY IS IT??

GAME DAY!!!

Lets Go State!

2010-09-04T04:52:00.000-07:00

I dont have much to post about...but since my hubs isn't here to yell it....

WHAT DAY IS IT??

I said, WHAT DAY IS IT??

GAME DAY!!!

Moving!

2010-08-18T16:51:00.001-07:00

So a quick post: We would like to move on base! I wish it were a cooler reason, but it is what it is. Yes, it doesn't make sense but after a lot of prayer and thought it's just the place we feel God is leading us. Our house is actually great, its too big for the two of us has a fireplace and a huge bathtub (and other important things I suppose, but the tub is soooo nice)... so we aren't leaving because of that. Little stuff like J commuting 5 minutes to work, being close to so many military members, and all the other perks to on base have swayed us. So if you have any friends who are moving this way, give them my name:)

Selling our House!

2010-08-02T18:16:00.000-07:00

ok, I'm an awful blogger...for the three of you still reading: we are selling our house! Which means, if you have any friends/neighbors/acquaintances/friendemies moving to new jersey let them know that there's one sweet townhouse in Lumberton (12 miles to base!) thats all kind of fancy (Hardwood floors! Fully Finished Basement! etc etc). I will post the website once its done (read: once Leigh Ann helps me stage the house).

Online Bible study: Coming soon

Better Blogger: Coming soon

Back to Ocean City New Jersey!

Online Bible study - want to join??

2010-06-02T05:56:00.000-07:00

So I am kicking around the idea of starting an online Bible study - as in, creating a board (like what online graduate classes use for discussion) and picking a book/chapter of the Bible to study, inviting/coercing friends to join and studying some Word. Anyone want to join? Think of it as keeping up with friends-being in the Word-in your pajamas.

Food for.. well really why not?

2010-05-03T11:32:00.000-07:00

So I love to cook. I love to read about other people who cook. I found this quote of the Pioneer Woman of a food blogger who is a transplant from Alabama to Pennsylvania:

"After four years of marriage, Dorothy and her husband set out for the Northeast to become full-time seminary students for three years. She confesses that the move to Pennsylvania was a bit drastic for two born and bred Southerners. She lists “fast speech, a sense of patriotic history, several feet of snow, street parking in several feet of snow, and trying to buy groceries and bring them home through several feet of snow” among the things characteristic of “the true depths of Yankee living” that they’ve experienced since their move. Also in this list: new and exotic (to her) ingredients, and geniune, real people. She says that the Northeast is not quite as harsh as many Southerners think, and that the people are kind and honest."

I find this so interesting, because I spent 13 years living in Pensy (longest ever in one place for me) and my hubs is def. a Pennsylvanian, bored, bred and Penn State Proud (go state!). I never think of PA as truly "northeastern" (check out Vermont on a map) but I find that others definitely do. I also like the kind description of a Northern as so often we are labeled with the nastys who do definitely inhabit our space and make us want to throw Starbucks at them and move to the calm Midwest.

Side bar: While working at the Accounting firm in Del Rio, a Connecticut man moved to town and needed his taxes done. He then informed the accountant assigned to him just how incompetent she was. She stormed into my office, crying, and blustered, "WHY ARE YANKEES SO HORRIBLE??" I'd be mad... but its soooo funny.

Sooo this leads me to my rambling thought: What food is indicative of where you grew up? Do you cook it yourself? Can I have the recipe? Some examples I can think of for Philadelphia: pizza, not the NYC junk, anything Italian, water ice, soft pretzels, soft pretzels turned into sandwiches and called meals, soft pretzels for breakfast, cheese steaks, obviously, garlic noodles, perogies - steamed or deep fried depending on where you hail from.

Tell me, tell me, tell me! And check out Belle's blog, it looks amazing! Im going to go eat some garlic noodles...

Love, Bee

Picture Software and Scripture

2010-04-25T18:47:00.000-07:00

Playing with some iphoto. Does anyone use any other photo editing program? Aperture or Photoshop? What do you think of it?

I love this verse, but I really love this translation, which I think is closer to the Hebrew:

I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine.

What a statement about marriage and Christ's love for the church!

Thank you

2010-04-22T15:41:00.000-07:00

Hey lovelies,

Thank you so much for your sweet comments, emails, calls, and IM's. God has truly blessed me with sweet friends like you. Please never hesitate to let me know how I can pray for you. And those of you who don't blog, or have lapsed in blogging (you know who you are!) please start blogging!

LOVE,

Bee

Embrace Life

2010-04-10T18:13:00.000-07:00

He gives and takes away..

2010-03-24T08:19:00.000-07:00

I have been struggling with whether or not to share this information with the few readers of this blog (hi Mom!). Reason being, I do not attempt to take anything away from those who's situations were so much harder than mine.

Saint Patrick's day is not a great day in the history of J and B, or its an AWESOME day because over and over God has used it to show power and bigness in our lives. In 2004 J lost his pilot slot (ears). God really spoke to our hearts that this was were He was leading and 6 weeks later his slot was restored (and here we are, wait a minute...). On Saint Patrick's day this year I had a very early miscarriage. We are comforted and encouraged that God has a plan for and through this.

I have not told many people, because I was so early, and I don't want to take away from those who have has endured a miscarriage later in their pregnancy. But I have had the support of (my husband and family) and two very dear friends who both lost pregnancies and realized how little we talk about this unfortunately rather common occurrence. And how good it is to talk to someone who's gone through it. So, this is my public statement, I pray that not one of you reading this blog ever has to endure this, but if you do, please let me pray for you and be there for you as my dear friends were for me.

Love, Beth

Tasty Tuesday - Faux Man Food

2010-03-09T11:07:00.000-08:00

So I have been making some changes to my eating habits. This scares J, so I decided to try this fabulous alternative to streak and potato's to change his mind. Its called a Portabello Gratin, but that sounds a little too much like quiche for J so we call it Portabello MANtin.

Start by sauteing 24 ounces (3 cartons) of portobellos. I buy the chopped ones, easier. You could also do a variation of mushrooms if your fungi savvy. I am not... I use Olive oil, but I be there is a more fabulous, healthy oil I could use. Add a couple cloves of garlic depending on your preference (we prefer more, I'm sure my dad would prefer none) chopped.

Add the mushroom garlic mixture to a shallow baking dish and stir in 1/2 to a cup of blue cheese, making sure about half of it it on top. Or add half blue cheese to the mixture and top the dish with shredded provolone.

Cover with bread crumbs and broil on the second rack closest to the broiled for 4-ish minutes until cheese is bubbling.

Should look like this:

Serve with a side of roasted new potato's. I do mine in EVOO and salt for J, or EVO, Rosemary and parmasan cheese for me. You think you will need more for dinner, but you won't.

Why won't my pictures work?

2010-03-02T18:53:00.001-08:00

Anyone know if I have a setting messed up? My pictures come out at html and I cant add text?

Camera Battery FOUND!

2010-03-02T18:46:00.000-08:00

I can post pictures again! woohoo!! Recapping Christmas:

Tara and Andy and Tyler

2010-02-15T09:59:00.000-08:00

I had some of my favorite people visit me last weekend, and I didn't take a SINGLE PICTURE. How can I discribe the fun we had, the things we did, and the madness that insuned without pictures? I will try with pictures from the internet. Check Taras Blog for updates and potentially henious blackmail photos of me in unprepared, mouth-stuffed-with-food/sandwhiched between perky bec and perky tara pics. On second thought DONT.

So T and A and T and G beat me to my house on Friday because I was stuck at wegmans with the entire state of New Jersey preparing for THE SNOW OF THE CENTURY. Seriously, people got a little too worked up about it. Names I have heard: Snowmageddon, Snowtastrophy, Snowpocolypse, Snowtorious B.I.G. (theme song: snow, snow snotorious- clever facebook friends). I get to my house to find them, their kid (hes a cute cutie) and some of there belongings hanging out on my lawn (bad hostess, bad!)
a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2wOTCt4UI6Q/S3mOCNN2e1I/AAAAAAAAAWQ/eLAfjPbrO2M/s1600-h/wegmans.jpg">

Ok pics from the internet aren't even working. I am going to wait to pirate Taras pics for an appropriate post. Sorry folks!

City of Brotherly Love and where I want my next home

2010-01-14T17:41:00.000-08:00

So my dear friend Leigh Ann and I went to visit our impossibly cool friend Rebecca today. And whoa what a visit! Rebecca and I are from the same "town" in PA (technically I only lived there for 10 years but thats the longest I've lived anywhere so I'll take it!), but we didn't meet until we were at Laughlin. LA threw her the most fantastic going away party (Post pictures!!). Rebecca is one of those impossibly cool girls who is so humble she doesn't might not know how cool she really is. Yes, I'm fawning. You would be to! So we drove over the Ben Franklin Bridge into the city of brotherly love and the impossibly cool neighborhood of Northern Liberties. To Rebecca's impossibly cool LOFT (seriously? a loft?) in a converted meat packing plant done by the greenest builders in America. Onion Flats, check out the whole restoration under Capital Flats. The building has all these great pieces that were salvaged from the plant. For lunch we headed out to a cool urban little place where all tables and chairs were a little different, the water was served in a mason jar and the food was zagat rated and fantastic. Think Brown bag meets the big city. We strolled around Northern liberties, where LA and I mostly fawned over each gorgeous house while Rebecca just laughed at us. Back at her place she poured us a cup of green chia tea with raw sugar while the sweet babies napped. It was lovely.

I am bating you old Bible study friends. Come visit.

Activia

2010-01-14T16:42:00.000-08:00

I think the Activia commercials are HILARIOUS! Somehow they made the word "irregular" sound dirty. Laugh out loud every time I see another uncomfortable squirming woman under the famous girls perky gaze. Thank you, whoever re marketed yogurt to do what it just does normally!

And here's a picture of a pretty Florida beach we went to this summer. Because really this post was about nothing.

A Year (or 10 Months) in Pictures

2010-01-01T19:57:00.001-08:00

A few pictures recapping the year. I have not uploaded Thanksgiving to Christmas, so that maybe tomorrows post!

A birthday in Feb

Showers and Sprinkles of Love (Marias Sprinkle)

Bingo with the Luckiest Ladies

Showering Leigh Ann

Getting stationed with friends!

Dining Out!

Final Flight

Packing Up

Saying Good Bye

Disney!

Sending "the baby" to prom

Baptizing the "new" babies

Wilson Football, from the # 6 cheering section. The sweetest brother you could ask for.

The sweetest nephews you ever did see.

The sweetest friend you ever could have.

May God bless you and keep you in the new year!

Love, Bee

Christmas Tour Of Homes, Part One

2009-12-29T10:01:00.000-08:00

Here's a little tour of our home. Stay tune for a tour of the M home!

Welcome In!

Jingle Bells (Front Door)

Bathroom smells! (Hope not!)

Garage Door (Made this thing before I was married. Stuffed tin things into this year. Ghetto, but I like it!)

Ground Floor bookcase: Some Christmas cards, some ribbons, a bear that reads a story.

Ground floor sitting area, aka REAL TREE. Still hanging on to the ribbons. Garland made by ME (with help from the Nester, of course) plus Alcott's butt.

Tree! Never got a star, maybe next year?

I was able to hang on to the whole "Gold and Maroon/White Lights" theme for another year. Victory!

You must check out the Nester's how to for garlands. Its easy and fun!

Moravian Star lights are my favorite. Also this year I love birds, I blame a certain BFF, you know who you are.

I made this too! If by "making it" buying the greenery and sticking things in it counts, which I totally think does. Sparkle fruit is my second favorite.

YAY! Real meaning for CHRISTmas!! ok, Jesus is my favorite. Stars and fruit next.

Another garland! Christmas cards! Another favorite! Noel Blocks!

Who's that sweet K? Plus some punched tin stars, another love, I could blame this on BFF...but it could be Texas!

On either side the garland is anchored by these crazy fun moose-and-tree combos, MOSC thrift shop find! Next year they maybe Rudolph's... Joni and Garret and peaking out of the corner of this pic.

DOWNSTAIRS, aka the MANS tree. Colored lights, Penn State and plane ornaments (plus some cowboy for good measure) an Angel topper.

Plus a Menorah because Jesus was a Jew and we like to keep it real.

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!!

Retraction

2009-11-30T17:45:00.000-08:00

Ok folks... I need to retract the anger of the last post. I love a great deal, Christmas music and Santa Claus. Someone got trampled and died fighting for a TV at our Walmart in NJ last year. This struck me as ridiculous. Then we were in Chick-fil-a and my Hubs said, whoa, they are playing CHRISTIAN Christmas music! The secularness drove me a bit nutty. The I took to blog-o-shere to vent out my frustration. But, please don't think I've gone and lost it and judge everyone who loves a great deal and Santa Baby. In fact every year up until this point I loved the way the whole world seems to joyously anticipate the birth of a savior, even nonbelievers. Its amazing to me to see nonbelievers hanging lights, singing songs, and blessing others. It just shows how powerful the need for a savior is, how we all crave it, and go to great lengths to find it (HIM). It's a blessed part of our humanity. SO let the songs play, let the shoppers shop, let the blessings flow in a great crescendo leading up to the glorious birthday of our Lord. He is the reason for the season!

...and please forgive your friend, who in her human-ness loses her cool more often then she'd like to admit.

.... and Crissi I think you are amazing for having sweet Joni sing Happy Birthday to Jesus. I hope to follow your fabulous Christian mommy footsteps.

Greed

2009-11-27T19:22:00.001-08:00

Aspects of American consumerism are making me hate Christmas. I get it that black Friday deals are great, but how has it become the marking of a season preparing for Christ begins with people trampling each other to get the best TV? Why are so many songs about Santa, and so few about the Reason for the Season? Just wondering.....

Christmas Tour Of Homes

2009-10-13T10:28:00.001-07:00

Dear Friends:

Every year I get so excited to see what my lovely creative friends pull together for Christmas. Might I suggest a virtual tour of homes for 2009? You take pictures and blog about how you decorate and celebrate, I'll compile the posts and post them here so we can all oooh and ahh over each other. To check out what I'm thinking here is BooMamas house tour from 2008. Let me know if you want to participate!

Loves!

Its gloooorious

2009-10-08T02:35:00.000-07:00

My hubs brought a little summtin summtin home from the BX yesterday:

The joy rivals only the time he brought Alcott home.

It is a Cuisinart Burr Grinder and Brew, and I swear its the nicest thing we own! Ok, maybe not but close! We have 2 TV's: one was $30 and one was FREE. We have only recently ventured into the Land of Nice Appliances, sans the ones we got for our wedding.

I wanted this thing soooo bad. It grinds beans fresh for every cup. It has charcoal water filters. Its has a strength control. A night setting. Its practically flys. Happy day!!

Now I just need these northerners to start selling Texas pecan coffee!!

Le Cafe

2009-10-02T04:33:00.000-07:00

Sooo I have a lot of other things that some may think would take precedence over this post. Like, Wilson football is 3-0 looking very strong. I'm 27. etc.

BUT naysayers, this outsts all.

My coffee pot broke.

It's February 14, 2005, a few weeks before my dear fiancee left me for Del Rio Texas. (land of grass cattle pastures, cowboys, and southerners-we thought then. Can you hear the theme song to Dallas?) I skip out of an auditing class early (sorry bout that Dad) to meet up with him before he heads back to DC. He presents me with a valentines present. My now hubs is a big fan of the practical. On v-day, I am not. Oh, heck any occasion that calls for presents I'm not. So when I open the box and find a shiny new coffee maker, that my man got free by signing up for a coffee of the month club, which he is reeeeeally excited about, let just say I'm less elated.

Well friends I was wrong. Horribly, deplorably wrong. A coffee pot and paid subscription to a coffee club is a really romantic present in this house. I love my coffee pot. I loved not wanted to kill people in the morning because I didn't get a chance to stop at the Hub before class to fill my travel mug. I took solace in my brew while riding the train to Newark and hoping today's NOT the day I get mugged. I even coaxed my machine to brew Starbucks espresso on 115 degree del rio days. Now, when its 45 degrees outside (wow) and DH is flying nights, my friend has departed me.

** Moment of silence please***

Alcott

2009-09-22T06:17:00.001-07:00

Practicing to play a sheep in the nativity

We found her sleeping like this.

Im not the only one who misses my friends!

Mil Spouse: Careers, Jobs, or what?

2009-08-27T09:54:00.000-07:00

I have some burning questions I'd like to poll you military spouses on. Now I know, I know all of you so you may think I already know the answer, but I'd like to hear what you think.

Whats a mil spouse gotta do to have some semblance of a career?

What do you do? Has it worked for you? Is it what you went to school for? I went to school for Accounting, and if you have ever read "Married to the Military" (and if you haven't, stop reading this and go read that) you know that particular author feels accounting is a "great" choice for mil spouses. And if you like doing administrative tasks, she'd be correct. But after two years of doing trained-monkey-with-a-pencil work (this is what the senior audit staff called the jr. audit staff and they were sooooo right. Copies, anyone? Coffee? I got it. Second job: your a mil spouse, you don't get clients. do the little returns and some filing.) I was done. I worked on base. I worked for a preschool. My resume reads like a patchwork quilt. Don't read excessively into my negativity - I enjoyed some parts of all jobs. But I'm looking for some consistency.

I most often hear: nurse, teach, or mother.

What do you think? What do you do? How did you get there? Would you stay there? Would you try and get the same type of job again? Hit me ladies.

Guest Bedroom & Bath

2009-08-22T20:02:00.001-07:00

Two posts in one day?? the combined effort of team korsmo and cameron is nearly deadly. So I blogged a while back about the general state of our new home - not exactly how I wanted it. I am told by military spouses who have survived more PCS's than I that I will eventually get over the need for my home to be MINE. I doubt it.

Soooo our guest bedroom was not so loveingly nicknamed the "boom boom" room because when we moved in Jenna Jameson could have filmed her next flick in it. Don't look it up Mom, you don't want to know.

Exhibit A:

Ok not so bad right? Red wall, w/e. The clear fan is kinda weird...until you see THIS:

Bom chicka woo woo. It gets better. The fan is clear & covered in mirrors. Yick.

After bleaching the room the fan light came down and a nice, plain wooden fan. The red was banished and a soft, butter yellow/cream was put up. Restoration Hardware Butter - Loves it!!!

Tada!

It needs some curtains and a comforter, but its good for now. I don't think it makes guests uncomfortable!

Bathroom was a quick fix: the mustard went to a lemony yellow. The picture doesn't really look mustardy...but it is!

Before:

After:

I don't think you can tell that well from the pic, but trust me, its better. I used the flash on the first but not the second.

Paparazzi & Peer Pressure

2009-08-22T14:48:00.000-07:00

Well I want to blog about housing improvements, but I am waiting for my pictures to upload to my cute new mac book. I am blogging about of sheer peer pressure from two normally sweet girls with beautiful babies. I check their blogs everyday. I obsess over there adorable babies, wondering just when the teething process will get better, or where on earth can one find a fantastic pink and green tutu? These are interesting things my friends. You may have noticed, I am childless. I sometimes come up slightly short on what to blog about.

However there is something I'm slightly annoyed about,and its blog worthy. I am not famous. Fabulous, yes, famous, no. So why does my picture get randomly posted by people I don't know? And its not just mine, its yours too friend - if you hit up a base wide run and they take a finishes picture or you are an innocent, sober bystander at a halloween party or are simply anywhere with that someone has a camera. You are the potential subject of someones facebooks pictures or blog post.

Now, you may know, I love pictures. However, I discovered recently I was in someone I do not knows facebook PROFILE picture. Wearing a sign that says "nudist on strike". It was Halloween, I didn't want to dress up, sue me. Seriously? I don't know who can see this? And some woman's in New England's blog got hacked by adoption scam artists who posted her babys picture as a potential adopter. There is currently no legal precedent of privacy in the area to fully stop them. What is too much information for our Internet driven society? How do you share your fun times with family and friends without being offensive?

** This is not the same as, for example, your picture being posted by a pal of some fabulous event you two attending. At least I don't think so, if I've ever posted a pic of you, email me immediately and I will take it down. And apologize. Unless its Tara.**

I am talking about people you don't know. I suppose its just a call to practice a certain amount of modesty in public, aka no kissing a jaggermister bottle when you know your moms got a facebook page.

What do you think? Should someone know all the people they post pictures of? What is the proper etiquette for posting pictures in our too much information society?

Happy Birthday precious boy!

2009-08-20T08:53:00.000-07:00

I am so thrilled that my fabulous friend (see below) and her fantastic hubs had a gorgeous baby boy this weekend. In like five minutes. After weeding her garden and whipping up some cookies. SERIOUSLY. Yea, my friends wonder woman. No big deal!!!!

Isn't he gorgeous?? Rugged and Manly says my man. Can't wait to meet you in real life little man!!

Congratulations LA and DMAC!

Friend!

2009-08-02T17:21:00.000-07:00

I have a fabu friend. Her hubs just got a fab assignment. She looked at a house 4.3 miles from me. I think God is mighy good & I am pretty darn excited.

YAYYYY!!!!

Recipe Thursday!

2009-07-09T17:53:00.000-07:00

Well no day of the week goes with recipe!

After I thoroughly enjoyed blogging about yogurt & Mom thoroughly enjoyed reading it, I decided to start posting recipes in the hopes you people do the same. I always enjoy when others (LA) does it, soooo... do it. :)

Lemon Cheesecake:

DH and I have been enjoying this cake this week. Its an adaption of Martha Stewart's Everyday Food cheesecake, mines easier. Hers maybe better, but I think you have to go to Hogwarts to enjoy consistent success with Martha.

Crust:

8 Graham Crackers (loves the 365 Honey Graham)

4 tablespoons melted butter

3 ish tablespoons white sugar. Whatever hits the bowl works.

Preheat oven to 325. Line your 8x8 pan with foil if your fancy. Me, not so much.

Crumble grahams and process them with sugar in your food processor until finely ground. Or beat them with a wooden spoon/put them in the magic bullet/give up and buy a graham crust. The choice is yours. Stream in the melted butter. Pat into the pan, bake for 10-12 minutes.

Filling

2 bars cream cheese (365, never lets you down, EVEN if you were raised outside Philly)

3/4 Cup sugar, but no ones checking on you. Do what you like.

2 large eggs

Zest of one lemon (worth the time)

Juice of one medium sized juicey lemon
**** doing the real lemon makes this recipe. Bottled is just not as good.*******

Mix the cream cheese until smooth (lumps gone). This is best done in the kitchen aid you got as a wedding present. Food processor works ok. Haven't tried the hand held variety. Toss in everything else, blend again until smooth. Pour over crust, bake for 30 ish minutes until its not very jiggly. Cool and then chill for as long as you can stand it. Martha says two hours, hubs and I made it maybe 45 minutes.

You can just start eating here OR you can:
dust with powdered sugar & make it pretty.

Fill the pan the rest of the way with chopped berries. Hubs and I are preferential to strawberry's and blueberry's but I think you couldn't go wrong with red raspberries. Dust that with powdered sugar if you are included.

Almost Wordless Wednesday

2009-07-08T07:06:00.000-07:00

Who HASN'T sported The Lacy Laughlin Do? If you don't know ask Lacy!

Lyn is the only one in this pic who gets a pass!

Make Yogurt!

2009-06-26T04:58:00.000-07:00

Still no pics, but I need to tell the world........ or you know, the 3 people who read this (Hi Mom!)

Make your own Yogurt people! Its so darn easy and so darn good for you and it tastes soooooo much better than the stuff they have at the grocery store. Here's how, without pics, since well, see below!

You need:

A half gallon of milk - whole is easiest. Go for Raw milk if your even more fabu. BTW milk fats not that bad for you people, eat the whole milk yogurt and skip the chicken fingers. Your body, fertility, and intestines will thank you.

Already made yogurt or frozen cultures - frozen cultures are better if you are near a place that sells them (Whole Foods so far, maybe Trader Joes) but really any plain, all natural yogurt will work. I like Whole Foods 365 Organic Plain Yogurt, but I've heard good things about Dannon Natural Plain. This will be your starter.

Crock Pot - fancy people use yogurt makers or double pots and thermometers. I am not one of those people.

Bath Towel - weird, but see above. Not fancy.

1. Pour milk in crock pot.

2. Set to low for 2.5 hours. Or 2 and 20. I should prob be more exacting.

3. Unplug your crock pot. Wait 3 hours. Or if your impatient, 2.5. Mine still worked.

4. Remove 2 cups of warm milk and whisk together with 1/2 cup yogurt starter. Or more if your me.

5. Dump mixture into crock pot. Wrap crock pot in a towel, forget abut/go to bed/wait 8 hours.

6. Wake up to fabu fresh yogurt!

Easier than making a roast in the crock pot.

Homemade yogurt is thinner than store bought stuff. It doesn't have extra junk like a pound of sugar or splenda in it, so you'll have to sweeten it. What it does have in spades is the fabu little cultures (more than the half dead grocery store) that make your body work so good! hint hint, if your not so "regular" or just a little too darn "regular" this will set ya right up. Better than meds.

Store bought yogurt costs about 10 times what it costs to make it at home. I pulled this off of http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/.

My favorite ways to serve:

-with vanilla bean paste (12.5 bottle WORTH IT, makes everything with vanilla way better) and a banana for breakfast.

- with thawed frozen berries & honey for a snack

- blended with mixed berries and honey, frozen, topped with bit a more honey and eaten as sorbet. Spinach can be blended finely and added to this without effecting the flavor, making a fabu healthy dessert. Top it with a bit more honey for a funsies. Top anything with a bit of honey for funsies. :)

So go make yogurt! Do it. Do it. Do it.

xoxo Bee

My camera & computer do not get along.

2009-06-26T04:11:00.000-07:00

No pics of the progress, booo. Computer is refusing to read camera. Someone needs a new Apple baby at their house. I got rid of the mustard and replaced it with a taupe color- Restoration Hardware Latte, nice & neutral. I added faux wood blinds where the roman shades hung and am working on some nice panel curtains. My back splash is faux tile, but it didn't come out nearly as well as LA's I may paint over it.

Jon and Kate make me angry. Micheal Jackson dieing is so sad. These things are not so close to me. Not as hard to swallow as current AF events. As Miss Jess said, "Life is so fragile. Praying for our AF Family."

xoxo
Bee

Prepare to be horrified....

2009-06-15T17:19:00.001-07:00

Ahhh thanks Andie darling for spurring me on because I was chickening out....

I am posting pictures of the disaster pre-redo and beg of you to keep to accountable during the house redo. Now, if your the type who has the whole house put together within one week of a PSC avert your eyes now (Tara this means you!!) Now for a little scary home tour! Tonight I'll only post the ground floor, since, well, Jon and Katie is on soon. And I have that much to do!!

The entry way: Curtains and Light (glowing boob) must go! Color is nice though. Little boring.

Hallway: theres a bathroom on one side and the garage on the other. Nothing to get too worked up about here... except maybe the lack of crown molding.

Ahhh the living room. As I type I have already ripped down the showy pretend-we-are-all-fancy curtains and blue taped to remove the lovely shade of mustard. (Restoration Hardware Saffron...disappointing RH, really). Who thinks the fireplace needs a good coat of paint?? hint, NOT DH.

You cant see but the crown is all messed up. Our previous owner must have hauled it up there to appeal to sellers (it worked) but its broken, crooked, and gappy. Maybe some putty and paint will fix her, but I'm thinking the whole shebang is coming down and new stuff is going up. and wain scouting, right dh? DH's bookcase survived the move, interestingly. The doorway leads to the "den" or "TV room" or just basement. Whatever sells I guess.

Dining "area". Colors bad, walls are blank annnnnd can you see the glory that is the light?

Its pineapples! and other tropical things! DH likes. Will flea market for appro chandelier. This house has more house fans than our house in Texas. Go figure.

Far away shot of the kitchen. It needs a backsplah, I'm thinking sage and chocolate. I'll get a better picture later. It does make me miss my big ole del rio kitchen.

The downstairs bath. Its painted dark brown, I haven't decided if I hate it or like it yet.

I would love suggestions, and accountability as I mistreat this dear little house!

xoxo Bee

We're here!

2009-06-13T17:12:00.001-07:00

Helllllo! We are here! House is a fabulous disaster - more on that later! Here's a few pics of the last few month!

Some favorites at Silver Crystal Bingo

LOSC Loves!

Leigh Ann's Baby shower was super fun - so many girls made it special! I cannot wait for BMac to make his big arrival!

A fabulous mommy to be and bestie friend - can't wait to see all

the blessings the Lord has in store for you and your wonderful family!

DH last ride. Wonderful abuse from his DW.

Saying goodbye to some of the most wonderful friend I have ever had.

God blessed me so richly and undeservedly with friends like these.

Love you all!

Made it to a familiar place!

Reunited with another best pal!

Noodles all grown up!

... and not the baby anymore!!!

Noodle and his cutie girlfriend in front of the house pre prom.

More on the house soon! For now I miss you FABULOUS CREATURES! xoxo B

Moving

2009-05-06T07:24:00.001-07:00

I need to preface this post with the fact that I don't really like yeungling. I do like the idea that its from Pottstown, PA.

They are moving out allll our furniture and boxes. I am in a corner (by myself, in true J fashion he is AT WORK... ok its his fini flight, its ok). I have a pillow, J's lab top, and other random things I salvaged like a case of yeungling from a certain fabu Col. I may just begin posting all my random thoughts and happenings...or maybe Ill post baby showerness...that might be better!

We are outtie on Friday to Houston for time with the fam, then some beach action, followed by DISNEY! then Savannah to eat at the Lady and Sons and on to dirty jeerz with a pit stop to see Nick off to the prom. Today I get to hose J down with a fire thing and champagne as he steps off the jet for the last time (tear) then we have a little fete at the squadron where there will be pizza snacks, beer and EXACTLY 30 Yeunglings. Get em while you can folks. Unless the movers drive me crazy than it may be 29.

I think I privatized...

2009-03-29T19:07:00.000-07:00

You know who else privatized? Laughlin Housing. I am the Pinnacle of blogs. Coming to a home near you to badly install ugly fixtures and cause house fires. WHOOOOOOOOOP.

Speaking of, DH took down my lovely chandelier and put back the ugly ugly basket in his few days home. We really are moving.

So much to post, but DH is home for a few days which means mad panicy dashes to TMO, legal, etc....

Going Private

2009-02-19T14:52:00.000-08:00

Hellllllo

I know I haven't posted in 6 months. Some of you have been gracious enough to point that out. Somehow I am so busy that posting gets pushed aside, yet not so interesting that blogging is a must.

I respect & heart everyone who makes blogging a priority because I LOVE to read your blogs.

I need to make Bees blog private for a while. Please send me your email so I can add you to our approved list of viewers.

Tales of auction, family visits, and cross country excursions coming soon!

NickyNoodles Birthday!

2008-11-26T05:50:00.000-08:00

Nick is 17! Crazyness.

Playing with the no-flash option on my new DSLR!

Nick getting tackled by his friends. It was glorious! When Nick was younger (e.g. right now, but when Carlin's not around) he would tackle Rachel and I. Since I grew up in one of those crazy houses where we view boys attacking girls as BAD, I did not enjoy it.

I hope his friends come around at Christmas.

Happy birthday buddy.

Football!

2008-11-26T05:36:00.000-08:00

We missed Nicks bonfire, but we're able to see him play some football! I learned the Wilson tomahawk chop, after putting my foot in my mouth by asking why all these people are waving frantically.

Pre-Game Excitement!

And you thought your family was embarrassing!

These are Nicks jerseys. Usually Moms and Girlfriends were them.

Today: Embarrassing Siblings and In-Laws!

Nick assisting someone on a tackle! Hes the one on the ground.

California Part Deux

2008-11-26T05:09:00.000-08:00

This part of the trip was not quite as interesting to the blog-o-sphere. This was supposed to be our long awaited "honey moon". And it was FAB U LOUS. Ok it wasn't, but whatever. There maybe a Disney trip in our future to repair the damage to our marriage that four days with a car, old old hippies and absurdly expensive, tasteless vegan food does.

I kid! Sorta!

The highlight of our excursion was Sonora. We toured several vineyards, tasted some wine, and even got to squish grapes for port at a cool little family vineyard. The we stunk into a field of grape vines a tasted the ripe grapes. Because vegan donuts are just not enough adventure for us! (Grapes were good and super sweet).

Pretty

We drove, the the dark through the redwoods and next to huge cliffs, to Mendocino. Sound scary? It was! Then we checked in to our fabulous Inn, where accompanying or check-in brochure was a special letter from the owner to us (how nice of her!) entitled "Why I went Vegan and You Should too!"

Wait what was that? Oh, right my stomach growling for some delicious eggs. I digress.

So Mendocino was toted as "The Most Romantic Place in Northern California". Well, well. Maybe if your 70 and the sixties were gooooooood to you. Oh and now your rich, and what the peasants out of your way so you can relive the glory of peace and love.

Side note: I do not dislike our hippish, non meat eating brothers and sisters. I dig peace, eat organic when I can, try to respect the earth and those who inhabit it. If your a Coloradoan, I can roll with you. Maybe I don't want to honeymoon with your grandma, but your ok.

We did not last long in Mendo. After two day we headed back to Alans and awkwardly followed him around for two days. Ah, the romance!

Then it was off to PA!

Califooornia, Part 1

2008-11-12T06:53:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted in a few weeks but this time I have a GOOD excuse! We have been in California and then Pennsylvania for two weeks of pure madness and influenza (who said you have to be sick on your honeymoon? You know who you are!).

We landed in Oakland, picked up our rental (these Szmodii are now in LOVE with the mid size SUV), and then picked up Jamie's parents. Its always hard for me to transition to being around Jamie's family because I like to refer to us in the third person (ex: The Szmodii do NOT like that, The Szmodii are very angry about Iowa, etc) because when I do this everyone gets confused. Then I have to talk in first person and everyone know Beth Ann hates that!

Arnold We're Here! Its Not a tumoooooor!

Alan gave his talk, entitled I'm a smarty, lets talk about Cells! Actually it was called Low Dimensional Phase Transitions & Aggregations in Lipid Membranes. I got a shout out during the talk when Alan mentioned the AIDs portion of his research and then singled me out but forgot to explain why, so the whole room thought I had AIDs and all shifted away from me. Liberated Californians my hienie.

I have more pic's but I will put then up on snapfish or somewhere because these take forever to load! We went to Monetary and Pebble beach, where Jamie and I played in unsafe areas against the advisement of the park. Weee!

Sometimes Alan thinks its funny to make me uncomfortable. And my sometimes, I mean all the time.

Rocks!

The next day we went to the Academy of Natural Science, which was pretty cool. I think the planetarium would have been really cool, if I had opened my eyes. Every time I did the influenza kicked in (usually because they were simulating us bouncing around space) and I almost lost my $25 funky salad on the first graders in front of me. Afterward Alan took us to a Korean Barbecue - just what the Dr. ordered! Ok, maybe not but on a normal day I would have loved every second of it.

We dropped the (parental) Szmodii off at the airport and headed off for California adventure, part two.

I got Tagged...

2008-10-17T05:33:00.000-07:00

Hellooo

The past three weeks have been a bit crazy. I turned 26 (ek!), spent some time with the fam in SA and devoted my life to OSC Fall Festival. Pics to come.

We also lost someone lovely and dear to us. Its bittersweet because she is a wonderful woman of faith and we know she is rejoicing with Jesus and her family. We still miss her though.

I have not figured out how to upload pics from my AMAZING new Cannon D60 (thanks Mom & Dad), but soon this blog will get more picture intensive and fabulous as some have requested (you know who you are).

We are leaving for a trip to end all trips. We will be bi coastal and gone for 2 weeks. I can't wait!

My dear friend Lisa tagged me.
Here are the rules:
Link the Person who Tagged you.: http://catchingupwiththecooks.blogspot.com/
Mention rules on your blog.
Tell about 6 quirks of yours.
Tag 6 fellow bloggers to do the same.
Leave a comment to let them know.

So lookout for me to tag you!
Six Quirks About moi...
1. I love to plan parties. I would do it all day if people paid for it and let me do what I want.
2. I get really mad before I get sad, but I can cry when I'm mad, so if you see me crying, approach with caution.
3. I hate being late. DH is perpetually late and sometimes when we arrive places I am in tears. See #2 for reasoning.
4. I love to bake cookies. It makes me happy. Eating cookies too, but I doubt that's a quirk.
5. I love to run. This is new and sorta stolen from Amy (how do I link these blogs??) I detested running in high school, moderately loathed it in college, and then WHAM moved to Del Rio and really enjoy a good run.
6. I love pumpkin EVERYTHING. Pumpkin coffee, lattes, bread, cookies, pie, ice cream, candy.

Sooo whats quirky about YOU??

Good Friend

2008-09-14T18:58:00.000-07:00

Gurtherie Helma:

Good Friend,

Sweet & stubborn dog.

We'll miss you.

Leave Oliver alone.

August

2008-08-25T12:48:00.000-07:00

I think a great fallacy of modern women is that busyness is next to Godliness. I am gonna go ahead and guess that its not since I haven't posted in a month, been very busy, and have little fruit to show of it.

General recap of Us this month: DH mom came to visit and taught me how to sew... well mostly. Also there was allot of Olympic watching, Michael Phelps ogling, and wonder at just how old those Chinese gymnast are. Jamie doggedly insists that come December there will be two more little boys in his brothers life, culminating in the purchase of two BOY onesies. Then he worked allot. We are trying to fit allot of traveling into the next 4 months, including FINALLY a honeymoon (yes you can check that we are rounding the bend aiming at the three year mark, ah well). I started graduate school at Liberty University, LOVE it, but seriously its a lot of work! I am going for Marriage and Family Therapy. The Laughlin Ladies Bible study started a new study on the aspects of Biblical Femininity- which is amazing. Officer Spouses Club has kicked off with some of my favorite ladies on the board, and a mildly petrified scholarship treasurer. AND Laura and Jeremy Hromsco cam to visit, which was so much fun. Laura is the ultimate Dutch Blitz champion and we tortured Jamie and Germy with it. They returned the favor by putting us to sleep with their SERIOUS discussion of their love for Excel spreadsheets and it's features and unlimited usages. I miss those kids. Those kids and that school. What was that school again?

There is a reason we have to keep so busy in August. It takes our mind of the wonderful thing that is going to kick off this weekend. What is it? What?

WE ARE...

PENN STATE!

Football, so soon, ahhh!!!!

Fun Stuff!

2008-07-26T09:49:00.000-07:00

I am a great believer in parties. My mom is the McGuiver of parties. Give her a ball of string, toast and a pencil and she can whip up a great party in 30 min. One time a latch key kid hopped off the bus and informed my mom it was her birthday and she was headed home to an empty house and in under an hour my mother had a very respectable birthday celebration for her. So Alcott turned ONE (shes so big!) and what did that call for? That's right, a party. With Meat Cake. Exhibit A:

We have a video of it, but Blogger is not letting me upload - anyone want to help me with that too? :)

Annnd presents:

Celebration #2:

As I believe everyone who would read this Blog knows - I love Christmas! I begin celebrating on Halloween. I got married at Christmas time. I have a HUGE crush on Bing Crosby. So when July 25 rolls around, on a Friday no less, what do you think is absolutely, positively necessary?

THE TREE!!! Yes this was yesterday and I worked a full day at the education center. The decorating would be lots faster without a curious one year old. There was also Christmas appetizers and cocktails:

A full Christmas Dinner (yes we had turkey. When I commit its a thrust, no vector. God help our children.)

And presents (a NASA DVD, because I like punishment!), cookies, and cocoa. Lovely Christmas music was playing, candles where lit and the lights where dimmed (to the bright, hot desert outside). All of this was 150 Million percent worth it. So much fun. So crazy for the Rio. My DH goes along with all of it!

I. Love. My. Life.

This is all made possibly by two things that keep me going: 1. The Lord 2. See below:

He has numbered our days

2008-07-24T18:29:00.000-07:00

I asked a good friend if she worried about her hubby, a C-130 navigator, when he was deployed. I felt I would. She responded confidently, "No. God has numbered his days and there is nothing I can do about it. Why worry?" It seems so simple, yet it is stunningly consoling. God has numbered our days. We have a finite time on this earth to love those the Lord has entrusted to us. A fellow Penn Stater was aboard the B-52 that went down this week. My heart aches for his wife. I wish there is something I can do, yet I know no words from a stranger could ever soothe grief that deep. I hope she knows the Lord. I hope she can cling to him and know that in His mercy she will be reunited with her precious husband. I hope He holds her tightly. I can't imagine not knowing the Lord, even in my petty day to day complaints I raise to him. Please pray for her and all the other families struggling with loss. And then go love those who God entrusted to you. I know I am.

Bring the Rain & Listening

2008-07-13T20:16:00.000-07:00

I discovered this amazing woman's Blog this weekend. Its called Bring The Rain (from the wonderful MercyMe song). It's written by an amazing Christian woman who is Blogging through the birth and death of her child. Her husband is in the band Selah. God has used this woman and her little girl to bring so many to Christ, proving once again just how big a God we serve. Check it out, but have tissues and be ready to hug your kids/DH and cry.
http://audreycaroline.blogspot.com/2008/07/few-answers.html

My DH taught our dog Alcott how to play Hide and Seek. We make her stay, run and hide (with cookies) and then call her. It's hilarious! So, as I am sitting in the bathtub behind the shower curtain occasionally calling for Alcott I thought that sometimes this must be how God feels about us. She can't see me, but I am calling her name. She walked right by me and completely missed me. I wonder how often God thinks, I am right here. I am calling your name. Stop walking past me! Of course, we are vastly more complicated than dogs and God is vastly more complicated, powerful, and large than me. Lord help us to hear you when you call!

Texas Size Critters

2008-07-11T14:46:00.000-07:00

My last post was a bit heavy. I’ll just warn you all right now, sometimes I get heavy and not stoically German as I’d prefer to think of myself. (Stoic? Ha! I cry at car insurance commercials.) I digress. So I’d like to stay on the lighter side and praise God I have a puppy who like to keep things real in our house. I am a general fan of all critters and varmints, as long as they stay out of my home, movies, or shows (this means you Seaworld). Texas is testing that. So far I have : run over a huge rattle snake with my bike (with BIL’s), dodged many tarantulas, and stepped on roaches barefoot. But this may take the cake.
J (DH) and I took Alcott for a walk last night. We get to a point toward the waste water treatment area (henceforth the poopy ponds) where we just let her run. She loves it! Anyway we are walking, I am yapping straight spaghetti and DH is trying to follow when Alcott comes running back to us at top speed. Chasing close on her heels is this:

No kidding! Skunks run funny. I have never seen them chase another animal. While I was pointing this out DH was trying to reattach Alcott’s leash and run. I hopped into the ditch on the other side of the road to watch Ms. Skunk who ran till she was parallel with me, stopped, and pointed her tail straight up. DH started hollering at me so I finally moved on out of there. No one got strayed. Fun night!

Red Bull!

2008-07-11T14:44:00.001-07:00

I have discovered the secret to making it through the work day without karate chopping my coworkers or the little testers:

Do I care that it’s full of potentially harmful aspartame and enough caffeine to turn a surfer dude into a Gilmore girl? No! Or that it goes completely against my trying to eat all natural, good for the body and earth products? No! It makes me happy, albeit a bit hyper.

Oh Praise Him

2008-07-07T19:18:00.000-07:00

I am reminded daily how faithful and yet hidden a Savior we serve. I may just blog on all the small holy moments in my life when the Lord says "yes, Bee I'm still here.." This weekend brought my hands in the air and tears to my eyes and I know that I must lift each moment to Jesus in praise not matter what. If you do not know the song O Praise Him by David Crowder, I think you should download it, right now. Because God is Good. All the Time. Here are a few great lyrics:

How constant
How divine
This song of ours will rise
Oh, how constant
How divine
This love of ours will rise
Will rise...

O praise Him!
O praise Him!
He is Holy!
He is Holy, yeah!

Turn your gaze
To Heaven and raise
A joyous noise
Oh, the sound of salvation come
The sound of rescued ones
And all this for a king
Angles join to sing
"All for Christ the King!"

Oh la la la la la...
O pra-ise Him!
O pra-ise Him!
He is Ho-ly!
He is Ho-ly!

Trees

2008-06-24T18:54:00.000-07:00

They don't have tree's like this in Del Rio:

Trees make me happy. I am a simple girl.

These trees are in Mir Woods in CA. Beautiful.

Dr. A(w)S!

2008-06-24T18:25:00.001-07:00

As many of you know (since I am not so good at being humble when it comes to bragging about my hubby's fam) my hubby has 3 brothers, all of whom are serious smarties. My BIL's A (older than J), C (younger than J, married to R) and N (youngest). So, my oldest BIL A graduated with his PhD in BioPhysics from UC Davis, and we got to go! We got to see a bit of Northern California which in my humble opinion is akin to Colorado with beach access. In other words, perfect. A's has some really interesting friends, I loved hearing more talk then "so when I am done here I'd really like to fly the (insert plane & me snoring)". We got to tour the infamous lab A works in, play with some hydophalic and hydrophobic things, clean glass with purple lights, and talk about glycolax and transmembrane proteins. So much fun! Everyone was really chill and let us ask questions and take our time - kinda crazy for a group of Northeasterners. I can't lie, I cried on the way back to Del Rio. So much for being content in my station/German! Here's some pics:

Getting Ready:

Getting "Hooded" (blurry but general concept is there)

With the Parents!

Whole Fam! Yes there is that many of us! And growing!

I am so blessed with my wonderful families! God is good!

Titus 2

2008-06-24T17:00:00.000-07:00

Soooo I hate to blog out of order but I will do it. Pic's and other fun stuff from A's (oldest BIL) graduation, California (land I now love), and various family instanity coming soon! But first!

I am very into Titus 2 right now, and I think Laughin could really benefit from a ministry based around it. As a refresher from in NIV:

"Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness. By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. We don't want anyone looking down on God's Message because of their behavior."

Ah, I love it. Something so often we pass off yet so fundamentally important to live a victorious joyous life! No husband (and my guess is no child either) comes with a manual on how to love them. Do you really know how to love your husband (no, not like that!)? When I was newly married and bewildered as to what my new role entailed a not-so-much-older lady in our church told me little things like getting rid of the clutter or making a great sandwich when you don't have to are great easy ways to love on your hubby everyday. I can't begin to explain the blessings that have come from something that seems so elementary. So simply, yet amazingly effective.

This base is teeming with new married's. I think we need to get some of our wiser, more senior sisters together to impart on us some wisdom, whether it be cooking, how often to vacuum, balancing work and family, how to change a cloth diaper at 3 am without fully waking up, or just loving on your kids, hubby, neighbors or anyone else God sends your way. Anyone got any idea's? Or know a great Laughlinite Lady full of useful info?

God is Good. All the time!

My Dad!

2008-06-15T21:25:00.001-07:00

Since its fathers day for another 25 minutes (ahh California time!) I wanted to blog about my wonderful Dad, who managed to survive two Helma girls for 25 years. The only boyfriend my Dad approved of is now my husband. I have my Dad to thank for my nickname (Bee), my ridiculously square head, an enjoyment of all ice and water related activities, my inability to stand/sit still for very long, my love of spreadsheets and quantification of random research, and of course a weekly addiction to Time magazine since I was nine and had to hide them from Mom. From my Dad I have learned a litany of useful life skills, including: how to SWIM, how to account for coupons and gift certificates, how to debit and credit a perfect balance sheet, inner workings of polymers and their bonding processes, how to make a good rue, basics of Cajun cooking, how to fix a running toilet, how to reattach a mirror to a car after smashing it off with the garage, how to remain completely nonreactive when others become emotional, how to park, random German, French, & Dutch phrases, and how to make kick butt banana bread/oatmeal cookies/ etc. Danke Dad! Das is a very Gut Dad, jah. We love you soooo much!

My Dad and I will probably read this tomorrow, decided its waaaay to laden with emotion unbecoming of a Helma and erase it.

Calling All Home Schoolers!

2008-06-05T15:39:00.000-07:00

Since I do so love reading everyones blogs, I decided to start a little J &B Blog. Mostly B blogging badly spelled posts about J who dislikes all this computer-relationship stuff, but eh... I think J's interesting. Enough so that I plan to follow him all over the contry. Contrary to what you may have heard we are not actually that exciting, and I am actually starting this because I have a little project at work and I need some ideas. I am trying to convince the dears of the Laughlin AFB Education Center that we need some homeschooling resources. Obviously with no kids, zero opinion on homeschooling, and two years of El Ed classes that I have yet to utilize, I make the perfect candidate! So seriously, if you have opinions, resources, friends, etc. send them my way. They do not need to be Laughlinites.

In other exciting news - J pins on Captain on Tuesday! They are doing a nice little breakfast ceremony since it's just him and another gal. I am excited for him! I also will be cooking up a storm come Monday, reminicint of the hours we spent putting on a breakfast for 06-07 track select 3 years ago. I will put up some pictures!

Bee's Blog

Reflux Sux!

A Baby Story (Birth Story)

Jamison Samuel Szmodis

Babies Don't Keep

Bears Room: Adventures in Insanity

So its July...

Photo Challenge Day 8- Sunset

Photo Challenge Day 5 & 6

Photo Challenge Day 5

Day 3: Hands

30 Day Photo Challenge

Baby S Update

Happy Easter!

Family Wedding

Ohh-Oh We're halfway there...Ohh-oh livin on a prayer

Burning down the house. Yup.

Its a..... part 2!

It's a....?

Jay gets old!

Anatomy of Bed Rest

I was provoked! ...ok maybe not.

Details, Details

Enceinte

Confidence Crisis.. or my junk food addiction

Darth Vader

A few more from December

Rewind...

December

Dropped off the face of the earth!

Christmas Tour of Homes 2010

Thanksgiving Leftovers #2: Mediterranean Turkey Salad

Thanksgiving Left Overs

Yes we're from Del Rio, why do you ask?

Gems from the family visit

Because, Why not?

Why does my back feel so good??

Amazing

Lets Go State!

Lets Go State!

Moving!

Selling our House!

Online Bible study - want to join??

Food for.. well really why not?

Picture Software and Scripture

Thank you

Embrace Life

He gives and takes away..

Tasty Tuesday - Faux Man Food

Why won't my pictures work?

Camera Battery FOUND!

Tara and Andy and Tyler

City of Brotherly Love and where I want my next home

Activia

A Year (or 10 Months) in Pictures

Christmas Tour Of Homes, Part One

Retraction

Greed

Christmas Tour Of Homes

Its gloooorious

Le Cafe

Alcott

Mil Spouse: Careers, Jobs, or what?

Guest Bedroom & Bath

Paparazzi & Peer Pressure

Happy Birthday precious boy!

Friend!

Recipe Thursday!

*Almost* Wordless Wednesday

Make Yogurt!

My camera & computer do not get along.

Prepare to be horrified....

We're here!

Moving

I think I privatized...

Going Private

NickyNoodles Birthday!

Football!

California Part Deux

Califooornia, Part 1

Almost Wordless Wednesday