It's been a rough couple of weeks....

Well, I know I haven't posted in a while, but I have some very good excuses. First, my mom had surgery on her neck, so I was trying to help out as much as possible. On the same day as her surgery, Ken and I were at the doctor's office having a needle biopsy and ultrasound on his neck. Thankfully, the mass they found was a benign cyst. So, nothing left to do on that except wait 6 months and have it measured to see if it has grown. If so, removal of his right thyroid is a must. Last but not least, my step-grandfather passed away. We buried him this last Saturday. He was an unbelievable man, just a generally happy man. May he have the best Christmas possible, celebrating with Christ our Lord! He will be missed though )<;

So, now to the present. Kevin's been sick, but now he is well and anxiously awaiting Christmas to rip open all his presents. This time of year is always so crazy, but with the added "adventures", it really makes you appreciate family.

Now onto our next adventure....planning another family trip! You know me, I love the planning. Now if only I can find some unbelievable deals. Maybe someone can pay me to go to the beach (<: Oh, if only....

I hope you and yours have a very Merry Christmas! Remember....the reason for the season and every day throughout the year....Christ!

Disney - Day 2 at Epcot, Magic Kingdom and Wilderness Lodge

OK, so Day 2 started off nice and early. We waited forever in the bus line to go to the Magic Kingdom before opting out and hitching a ride to Epcot. We needed to get some autographs for Kevin's book and they are always at the Character Spot. So we headed to Epcot and got some great pictures and autographs.

Here's our favorite Disney character....Donald...

Of course, Mickey was there too...

And if Mickey's there, then so is Minnie...

Don't you love the way Pluto signs a book...

So, as soon as we had gotten all the autographs (Goofy wasn't there), we boarded the monorail and headed to the Magic Kingdom. Kevin loved riding the monorail...

As soon as you walked into the Magic Kingdom, you could tell that it was Fall. The had all the areas decorated for the Halloween shows. I wanted to get some of the picture windows that were decorated, but with the streets so crowded and we were constantly on the go, I didn't. Maybe next year...

As you can see over the castle, there was a huge chance of rain. Of course, we didn't mind that at all. It was so hot, something around 95 degrees....probably closer to 100 with the heat index. So, once it did start to rain, boy did it feel good...

This was the Move It, Shake It Celebrate It Street Party. So cool....

Waiting in line to ride Pirates of the Caribbean (I was looking for Johnny Depp)...

Splash Mountain....great way to cool off....

This is the Celebrate A Dream Come True Parade. We were dripping with sweat, but Kevin had a blast. We even had dancers stop in the middle of the parade and wish Ken and I a happy anniversary. They really make you feel special...

Here is Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Kevin loved it and so did we...

It's a small world ride. I remember riding this when I was 13...

The Tomorrowland Transit Authority ride. It was nice just to sit back, relax and be in the shade for a while...

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh....

The Haunted Mansion. Ken and I loved this ride, Kevin didn't really care for it much (I think it scared him). I wanted to ride it at the Halloween party, but I ended up sick and didn't feel like it. Just my luck, huh?

It was getting late and we had reservations for dinner in another resort. So, as we were leaving, I caught a glimpse of the Castle at night....kind of spooky....

So, we climbed aboard a boat and rode over to the Wilderness Lodge. Let me tell you, if we could afford it, this is the place we'd stay. You feel like you are in some national park out west...

Tonight, dinner was at the Whispering Canyon. Chef Eddie was incredible! He made Kevin feel so great and really put our worries to ease. During dinner, they also announced that it was our anniversary, had us stand up and everyone yell "congratulations", and then surprised us with 2 glasses of champagne on the house. Oh, and the food was great too! We will definitely eat here again, probably a couple of times during the next stay.

Well, that was the end of our second day at Disney. By day 2, this is already one of the best trips we had ever been on. Too bad you just can't live IN Disney. Spending all day acting like a kid, playing, relaxing, eating....sounds pretty good to me. Well, better catch a ride back to the Sports Resort and get some rest. Until the next day...

Busy Week - Busier Weekend.....Recipe #A9 Sweet Corn Bread

What a week! This past holiday weekend was a blur. From picking blackberries to having a cookout to shooting off fireworks to seeing movies. And that was just in 3 days! Last Friday, we met up with Mom and Lowell and went blackberry picking. The Blueberry Farm in LaFayette was out, so we picked off the side of the road. Hey, they had thorns, but they were free! And, we picked 6 cups exactly....just what I needed for a blackberry cobbler. Ummmm...so good! On Saturday, mom and Lowell came over, along with Ken's parents and we had a cookout. After we stuffed our faces, we all kicked back and watched "Finding Nemo"....one of Kevin's favorites. Then we shot off fireworks, along with everyone else. We were watching fireworks in the sky in stereo. It was nice. On Sunday, after church with some friends, we headed out to our favorite Chinese restaurant, had a nice lunch and then went to see "Ice Age 3 - Dawn of the Dinosaurs". All in all, it was a great weekend.

This week has been mostly work....cooking, cleaning and home schooling Kevin. Yes, I have continued his education through the summer (but just an hour a day) so that he would remain consistent in a schedule. Plus, since I'm his 1st grade teacher next school year, I wanted him to remember what he learned in Kindergarten!

Wednesday was Lowell's birthday. Happy Birthday Dad...we love you. We went over there last night and gave him his present and a cake. Kevin picked out the design....can't you tell?

We had a great time, and of course Kevin had a blast! He has so much energy. If only I could borrow a little some time.


As for this weekend....well, we are heading to Dollywood. My friend Julie lives in Kodak, so we are going up there for a weekend of fun! Dollywood all day Saturday, followed with a lot of running around on Sunday. The main thing on the list Sunday is a trip to the Disney store. We haven't set foot in a Disney store in over a year! I hope we don't go wild (<: As for today.....lots of errands to run. But as promised, here is the recipe for my Sweet Corn Bread. This goes great with the Vegetable Hamburger Stew (recipe #A6).

Sweet Corn Bread

2/3 cup soy butter
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons water, 3 tablespoons oil, 3 teaspoons baking powder*
1 2/3 cups soy milk
2 1/3 cups all purpose flour
1 cup allergy free cornmeal
4 ½ teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 400.

*Combine the water, oil and baking powder in a small bowl until powder dissolves and ingredients fizz. Set aside.

Mix butter and sugar in large bowl. Add water/oil/baking powder and soy milk. Combine flour, cornmeal, 4 ½ tsp baking powder, and salt; add to creamed mixture. Pour into a greased 13x9 baking pan.

Bake for 25-30 minutes or until center is done.

Makes approx. 15 servings

Next week, I am going back to my true love.....COOKIES! I will post my recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookies. I make these a few times a month, at least. There's nothing like a hot, gooey, soft chocolate chip cookie from the oven.....or a scoop of cookie dough! It's funny how the simple things mean so much. Like how much joy I get in watching Kevin lick the bowl. After we found out about his allergies, I thought I would never be able to experience that. When life gives you hurdles....jump over, keep going and don't look back!

Have a great weekend!

Fireworks and...Recipe #A8 Moist & Crispy Chicken

Last night we had a blast! Ken, Kevin and I, plus mom and Lowell headed out to Collegedale to watch the fireworks. It was great! The music really adds to the enjoyment, and watching Kevin play. He can make friends so easy. We know that we are blessed when your child who is used to be kept away from functions due to his food allergies, can just walk up to a strange kid and say "Hey, you want to play?". He is definitely not shy, thank goodness!

Today, what's on the agenda for our weekend of fun? Well, we are going to pick blackberries and then see what else the day encourages us to do. I guess I'll be making a blackberry cobbler tonight! Maybe we can even make a run into downtown La Fayette for a bite to eat. Who knows. I just love getting in the car and going. No plans, just adventure!

As promised, here is a recipe I received from my mom many years ago. It is for the most moist and crispy chicken, without frying....hence the name "Moist and Crispy Chicken". As always, I have made the necessary adjustments so that Kevin could eat it. Not to mention, taking out the regular mayonnaise and subbing Vegenaise, it cuts the fat! Always good to hear, huh?

Moist and Crispy Chicken

4 boneless chicken breasts, butterflied
2 ½ cups cornflakes, crushed
1/3 cup allergy free veggie-mayonnaise (I use Vegenaise, found at Publix Greenwise, Village Market or Greenlife)
1 tablespoon paprika
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 425.

Prepare cookie sheet by covering with aluminum foil and placing a raised rack so that the fat can drip off the chicken into the pan.

Mix cornflakes, paprika, salt and pepper together. Place on plate. Brush veggie-mayonnaise over chicken, covering all areas. Roll chicken in cornflake mixture and place on rack. Continue with all pieces of chicken. Spoon any remaining cornflake mixture on tops of chickens on rack.

Bake uncovered for 40-45 minutes or until meat thermometer reads 160 and juices run clear.
Makes 4 servings

As for the recipe next week, it will be my own Sweet Cornbread. Yummy served along side the Vegetable Hamburger Stew (recipe #A6 - 6/13/09)

Hope everyone has a great 4th of July. Be safe!

My mother's day was great....

I have the best family. My mother's day turned out to be more like 4 days in a row! Last week, I was able to go shopping for new summer outfits all ALONE! Now, when you spend 24/7 with your son, although I love him more than life itself, sometimes you need a break. I hate to admit it, but after I got through shopping, I called Ken and said "I'm not ready to come home yet". So, I stayed out and hit 2 more stores. This is the way to recharge your batteries!! So, for day one of my mother's day streak, I got 4 new outfits for our trip! Yeahhhhhhh!!!

The next day, I was able to get me tons of hair stuff. Now if you know me at all, you will notice that my hair is long, thick, wavy/curly.....and I love it! But, it is so hard to find just the right product that won't make your hair a big mess. And, it never fails that when I do find something that I like, they discontinue it. So, as day two of my mother's day gifts, I was able to order a case of each product that had been discontinued off the internet. Yeahhhhhhhh!

Day 3, Ken and Kevin took me out to get me some flowers. Now, this is another thing about me....I love flowers. So, I was able to get me a Plumbago, a Oleander and a Camellia. I know, I know, Oleanders are the most poisonous plant out there. But they are so beautiful! Now my deck has tons of color. Yeahhhhhhhh!

Lastly, on actually mother's day, we went to church with mom and Lowell and then went out and had lunch....at a restaurant....with Kevin. Another thing about me.....I panic when we go out to eat with Boo-Boo. But, mom is well trained on his allergies, so lunch turned out wonderful. Then, we headed to my mother-in-law's house and spent a few hours with her. Once back home, I had a nice dinner of grilled steaks and got to relax. Yeahhhhhhh!

So, all in all, this was one mother's day I will never forget. Too bad there's not a mother's day every month. (<:

On another note, tonight is Kevin's first baseball practice. We went out Saturday night and got his uniform. His little black pants are the smallest in the store and I'm still going to have to hem the waist. He's so little! Not only is his pants, socks, cleats and helmet black....but I think his shirt is going to be also. Talk about burning up in the middle of June in all black!! Better keep lots of water on hand.

I will post photos from his first practice. He's so excited.....and so is Ken and I.

Had a great Easter...and the tree finally fell...YEAH!

Well, yesterday was great! We started this wonderful Easter attending church with mom, Lowell and Lowell's daddy at Shields Baptist. Kevin did wonderful in church and sat very good. He loves to sing the hymnals. After church, we headed home for lunch and to get Kevin's Easter basket. The Easter bunny was very good to him. He had his basket torn apart, taking inventory of everything the bunny brought him. He was very concerned on why the bunny brought him jelly beans and peeps since he doesn't like them. You'd think the Easter bunny would know that, but oh well....I guess mommy and daddy get some candy!!!

We headed over to mom's for an Easter egg hunt and dinner. Well, the hunt turned into 3. The first one was for Kevin (mom and I hid the eggs and we still couldn't find all of them....I guess it's old age). The second hunt was Kevin and Grandaddy hiding them for mom and I (boy is she competitive. She about knocked me down to get to the eggs first..he-he-he). The third was Kevin, mom and I hiding them for Grandaddy and Ken (the photos of 2 grown men running thru the yard swinging their baskets is priceless).

Afterwards, we had a great dinner. Mom cooked a ham, and we had tons of great vegetables. We always fix too much. But that's the fun part, stuff ourselves, then sit back and groan. Of course, the whole meal was made without milk or eggs. Then we followed with an allergy free carrot cake.....YUM!!!

It was a great day, but the day turned scary thru the night. The storm last night scared me so bad. I am terrified now since the tree fell. I was up at 4:30am moving Kevin into our room since there is a huge pine tree next to the house. I stayed up to keep watch, and noticed around 5:30am that the huge oak that fell in the back yard, fell the rest of the way. The dogs were safe, but it scared them. So, in the garage they went. But, at least the tree is down. When it fell, however, it did take several trees with it. So now, instead of 1 tree, we have to finish cutting down 3 more. It ripped most the limbs off of 2 other trees, but I think they will make it. Now is the clean up. Unfortunately, when it fell, it did block our neighbor's driveway that cuts up behind our house. He must have been prepared since we noticed that he had to cut several limbs to get through. The storm also knocked several pieces of metal wall art I had on the house, plus flipped over a sago and busted the pot, plus knocking our power out for over 7 1/2 hours. Thankfully, the power is back on and every one is ok. Now....NO MORE STORMS!!!

Hope everyone had a great Easter.

Surgery is over and all is good!!!

First things first, I want to wish my Aunt Gayle a very happy birthday. I hope it was a great day for her...even though I gave her a hard time about her age! Nothing but love though!!

Yesterday was a crazy day between running to the hospital and then taking Kevin home. But everything worked out great!!! I think it was harder on me than it was on Kevin!! After all the med's they gave him, he was feeling really good. As they wheeled him to surgery, he was sitting up flirting with all the nurses. I was the one crying my eyes out. But, after about an hour & a half, the doc came into our room to tell us that everything looked great. There was no tethering, no scar tissue, the urethra looked great and he had a good straight solid stream of urine. The only thing they did find, which wasn't a big deal, was a little pocket of something in the urethra. It was from the sutchers from his previous surgery, but it was only 1 mm long and she removed it with no problem. Also, since they thought it was going to be more intensive, they gave him a caudle (sp?) in his back to numb him from the waist down. But that wore off before 3pm. So, thankfully, this chapter of his life is closed. There should be no need for any more surgeries! What a relief!!! After the doctor left, I felt like I could have ran a marathon and climbed the highest mountain. Then, once home, I felt like I had been hit by a truck. I was exhausted. Lack of sleep the night before (I think I got a total of 3 hours) and all the worrying and waiting....boy will that take it out of you. So once we got home and Mamaw & Grandaddy (Mom and Lowell) left, I ran around town getting whatever Kevin requested. Thankfully the kid has my taste and he wanted steak and potatoes for dinner with cookies for dessert. Good boy!!! I was able to pick me up something too....a new orchid for my collection. It is almost as tall as Kevin....how beautiful. By the way, this was Kevin 5 hours after the hospital....doesn't he look great!!!


So now, we will be able to celebrate Easter with the family. We plan on going to church with Mamaw and Grandaddy, hunting easter eggs and a big dinner. And since Saturday is supposed to be nice, maybe we'll go hiking or something. Whatever little Boo Boo wants!

From our family to yours.....Happy Easter!