Check out these Cutey-Pa-tutie Monsters

1st off- Scott is now blogging!

So school starts tomorrow. But guess what, I won't be there. The financial aid is taking too long and we would have to pay out of pocket until/if it kicks in. I'm a little bummed but I would rather wait until I have the grants, scholarships, loans, etc to pay for it since we are stretched very thin right now. So it will be January.






On Friday, Brady, Bowie & Brenna (I) went to the zoo with Kelli, Keelin, Kinsey & Kathi (mom- just had to keep up the alliteration). We had a really good time. Bowie liked the big birds that we saw and the otters. He was calling them "kitty." Brady and Keelin are wealths of animal information. They new things about all of the animals. The kids had a wonderful time and I really did too

Saturday night we went to the Madison County Fair with Justin's mom- Danna, sister- Amanda, Emma-niece, and Amanda's husband Shawn. It was absolutely great. Emma is 4 and Brady is almost 4. They are finally big enough to ride somethings by themselves and some of the bigger things with an adult. We have been going since before we had Brady and I think that this year was the most fun by far. They rode on this little roller coaster. Every time they would go around the big curve they would throw their heads back and laugh and look at each other like, "that was soooo much fun."

Justin went up in Danna's attic while we were there. He found a ton of canning jars and an old pressure canner. I am so excited. I found a website that sells the parts for the pressure canner, just incase.

Okay, so this morning I wake up with what feels like a burning cake of nervousness in my stomach. Really, that is what it feels like. And not like a nice birthday cake with candles burning. In my dreaming sleep I could actually see what looked like a little flaming (it kind of resembled a urinal cake- what?!) cake in my stomach- weird, I know.Last night I started looking at class schedules because I am registering for school this morning. This will be the first time that I am going to school since 2000. And that time I only took one class and we weren't married and I had no kids. I also pulled up the curriculum for 2 other schools that I might go to later to see what I could take in the near future from this smaller and less expensive school. Not to mention my GPA is not high enough to get into any nursing program, except maybe in Guadalajara. So here I sit waiting for registration to open so that I may voluntarily sign up for the class that from 1991-1997 was my nemesis- College Algebra. I am hoping that my brain has changed and that suddenly all of it will make complete sense. Justin, my math whiz husband, says that it is so easy and it shouldn't be a problem. Easy for him to say, he hasn't taken it 5 times to receive no higher than the grade of D. But I am fully (okay maybe, somewhat) confident that I can master it with no lower than a B this time! I am raising toddler and preschool aged boys, College Algebra has to be easier, right?

Okay, I can tell by my Feedjit thing that more than 3 people check my blog but I won't be bitter if you won't "follow me."

I got my wish of hanging out with my husband on Sunday. He has been working so hard and such long days that I feel like I never see him. But he was home all day Sunday & we had a good day. Went to visit his grandparents, went to the park, went to the little gourmet/natural food grocery and he & Brady got some olives and chocolate for a snack.

I went to Athens Tech today to find out what I needed to get in for this upcoming quarter. Turns out they were lacking a transcript from one of the 4 colleges I have attended. Luckily I had received a copy from them this summer (boy is that a long and infuriating story- another post)and was able to give it to Athens Tech. So now to wait and see if I can start in 2 weeks or if I have to wait until January. And if i get to start now, then I have to figure out how to pay for it until financial aid kicks in. But at least I have a plan! I have 184 credits, $26,000 in student loans and no degree- APPALLING! But if I can just finish it will mean so much and at least the student loans will not be in vain.

I put 4 old Halloween costumes on Ebay. I have sold 2 and did quite well. I made back what they cost me originally. So basically last years costumes were free. Yay me! Brady is obsessed with being a firefighter for Halloween. Bowie will be a baby werewolf.

I made the most delicious mini pies yesterday. Got it from my new Everyday With Rachael Ray Magazine. I love that mag. I have had an annoyance with RR for a while but Justin bought me the magazine has a treat or hint, not sure. But I am hooked. Anyway,Justin and the kids loved it and I have to say so did I. The last one is calling me from the fridge right now. Here is the recipe:
Individual Chocolate Silk Pies

3 large egg yolks
6 tablespoons of sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
3 ounces, semisweet chocolate finely chopped (I used unsweetened dark chocolate)
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 1/2 tbsp butter
Six 3 inch ready made graham cracker crusts
3/4 heavy whipping cream
1/4 tps ground cinnamon

whisk together egg yolks, sugar and cornstarch over med heat
Add milk slowly, whisking constantly, cook 2 minutes until slightly thickened
Add chocolate and butter, whisking until thick about 5 mins
Transfer to a medium bowl, press plastic wrap directly onto the surface of custard and chill until room temp about 35 minutes.
Divide mixture among the crusts and refrigerate about 1 hour.
Using electric mixer whip heavy cream until stiff peaks form ( I added some powdered sugar and vanilla) and spread over pies
Sprinkle cinnamon on top of each

I never siad this was low fat, just really good and super easy. Like Paula Dean says, " I ain't your doctor!" I am going to make it agian this weekend but as one big pie in a regular crust because Justin's dad and other family are coming over.

Folllow Me, Please?

I added the gadget "Followers" only I called it "people who read my blog." If you read my blog will you add yourself to my followers, please? Pretty please with a cherry on top?

Remembering 9.11.01

I have been trying to think back to 9.11.01 today. I don't want to ever forget that feeling. We had just moved into our house in Acworth. I was sleeping late- been moving and before kids- and the phone woke me up. I can't remember who was the first person I talked to but I know I talked to everyone that day. But some one called and told me to turn on the TV that a plane had accidentally flown into the World Trade Center. The cable wasn't hooked up yet so I turned on the radio. It was tuned to my normal station that played pop music and had a morning show. Only they weren't being funny and no music was playing. They were talking about this plane crashing into the tower. Apparently they were watching CNN or something. When the second plane hit they started yelling and giving a play by play of the scene. Then the Pentagon, then Pennsylvania. They were speculating that it would keep happening because the crashes had been happening at a steady rate.

Kelli reminded me that she had just moved to Baltimore on the 8th. That was a horrible weekend. On that Friday I was fired from my job, Kelli moved to Baltimore 8 months pregnant and then on Tuesday, 9/11.

The whole time I am listening to this and talking on the phone. At some point I realized that Erin & Joe had been in Baltimore and were supposed to be flying out that day. I called them praying that they were still safely with their friends. They were. Their flight had been scheduled to leave later that day from Dulles. I think my dad was travelling that day to but luckily hadn't left yet. Justin was working in Alabama. I called him just to hear his voice and to make sure he knew what was going on. That whole day everyone I knew, where ever they lived was calling all of their friends and family. I guess just to know that they were safe. I quickly got dressed and went to my mom & dad's house so that I could watch the news. When I got there I went into the bathroom and noticed that the t-shirt had put on said "Terroristen" (the name of the John Taylor album). I was horrified. I took it off and threw it in the trash. I think I found one of Erin's old t-shirts to wear.

Erin and Joe couldn't get home because all of the flights were grounded. That was so weird- not hearing planes or seeing them in the sky. Anyway, they were stuck in Baltimore for a while, I can't remember how long, because they couldn't find a rental car or even get on a train to come home. I think they ended up renting a moving truck to get home.

That time was so strange. Nothing seemed normal. I had nightmares. It was so unbelievable that anything like that could happen to us. How could we have had such a false sense of security. For months I watched everything I could and read everything I could about that day. I just can't imagine being in New York or DC that day. I can't imagine the desperation of not knowing if your loved ones were okay. Or the families of the firefighters. Some good did come out of that day. We re found our patriotism. Flags everywhere for months. We were all the same and in the same pain. Some were worse than others but we were united for a while. I wish I had a flag to put up outside my house.

Photos By Lukas Horton

These pictures of Brady & Bowie take my breath away. Justin's cousin, Luke Horton, is a photographer and took these in July. Unbelievable. Especially the one of Brady. It makes me want to cry because he captured that sweet personality that I love. If you ever need pictures taken and you live near Houston, TX you should talk to Luke. Check out his maternity and new born pictures.

http://www.lukashorton.com/

Scuva Diving & First Day of School Pictures

Jumping Off the Boat into the Ocean

Scuva Gear

Very Serious about Being A "Deep Diver"

All Smiles As He Goes Into His Classroom

So Excited

I have been addicted to Facebook for a while. However, lately, I have had a wonderful payoff for this addiction. I have reconnected with a childhood friend, Kristen Taylor and a high school/college/ after college friend that I had lost touch with, Jennifer Helton. If it was not for Facebook I might never have been able to catch up with these old friends. I called Jenn last night and we talked for 2 hours and I think we could have continued if it weren't for my children. It was great, we laughed and talked just like we used to. Like not a day had gone by. We are going to try to get together soon.

Brady starts school tomorrow! Yay! And he went to bed without a fight tonight! Yay!

I got my application in to Athens Techon Friday. I have decided that I am going back to school to be a nurse. Crazy i know but I am really excited. I think Kelli can't understand it because it is something that I have just recently decided to do.

Well I have finished Twilight, NewMoon & Eclipse. Very good. I am taking a break and reading something fun before I read the last one. Kelli & Erin & I don't agree about somethings in the books. I like Edward but he gets on my nerves with his over protectiveness. Bella gets on my nerves with her want to be a vampire. And I like Jacob. I do love the books and I can't wait to read the last.