Happy 4th of July!

I have ever so many awesome posts in my mind about the last few wonderful weeks we have spent in Georgia. BUT for today, I wanted to post something for July 4th. And I promise to get back in the swing with some great vacation stories. . .

We actually had our cookout on July 3rd this year because we are all heading back to Illinois on July 5th. Cooking out and celebrating did not seem wise the day before a big trip. We all went to Mimi's house for some hamburgers and hot dogs that David cooked for us on the grill. I was so fired up because it has been ages since Daddy and David have both been home in Georgia at the same time. AND I am obsessed with family get togethers. I drive everyone crazy because I love my family so much, and I always want to spend as much time as possible with them. I don't need anything fancy. I just like hanging with my peeps! So once I cross the border from Tennessee back into Georgia, my mind is already planning as many suppers and get togethers as possible.

We had a lovely time at Mimi's. We ate and laughed and visited. Poor Momma didn't feel well, so she missed the fun (and food - the food is almost as important as the fun and family time, right?) And Lucas could only stop by at the end, but when you live far away from the fam like I do, you always take whatever you can get!

THEN, my rock star of a father had to leave Mimi's house and head to the Peachtree Expo with David. I have posted before about Bay's involvement in the Peachtree in Atlanta each summer. Oh and in case you are unfamiliar with this awesome race, click here. Well, he and David both had to go to pick up David's number. David was tickled to be able to run his 6th Peachtree this year with Daddy. He'd like to run more, but with his crazy schedule, he is not always in town (or in the country). AND they had to coordinate with the Race Director for Bay to start the overseas races.

After they got everything squared away, they swung by the house to pick up the kids and me. You know we LOVE to go with them to be a small part of the Overseas Peachtree Races. And it was so awesome! This was the 4th time the kids and I went. We had to miss last year because we had just moved. BUT everyone remembered us, and they were so glad to see us. Everyone at the Atlanta Track Club is so friendly and awesome! Their photographer always takes tons of pics and he even shares:

Bay says "GO!" to LTG Webster at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait

And of course, bright and early this morning, Bay and David headed downtown with 55, 000 of their closest friends to run 6.2 miles. The weather was awesome. Many years, it is crazy hot and humid, but our runners said this year was quite comfortable.

Aren't they cute?

Happy 4th of July, everyone!

We are all so blessed and lucky to be Americans.

And we are also blessed to have so many brave Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines in harms way on this day (and every day) protecting us and keeping us free.

God Bless America!

I'm growing up. . .

I am quite strange. I embrace this. I have so many hang-ups that my hang-ups have hang-ups. you know what I mean?? Like I can't stand for anyone to touch my pinky toe. I don't know why. I also cannot let the volume on anything be on the number 13. It's just the way I am. But food. Now that is where my true crazy lies.

We have this friend, Peggy. She started out as Mimi's friend. And over time, she has become family. We always say that she is really my mother because we have the same crazy food issues. And we both know that you can, in fact, not like a food - even if you have never tasted it. (although, with my children, I am a "do as I say, not as I do" kind of gal when it comes to trying new food. I am trying not to make them weird, too). Guacamole is like that. We both are positive that we do not like it. Period. And if either one of us is faced with a food that we are not sure about, we call each other to check before we eat it.

Peggy: Do we like Carrot Souffle?
Me: NO

Me: Do we like Zucchini Bread?
Peggy: Ewww, NO!

Peggy: Do we like lamb?
Me: Absolutely not!
It is a good system. It is nice to have someone out there who understands this level of crazy.

I also do not like seafood. None of it. The smell, the taste, the appearance. Nope. Not for me. Sometimes I fib and tell people I am allergic because I do not want them to do that whole, "You should taste this! You would love it! It is delicious!" thing on me. (And the allergy fib? Our little secret, OK? I don't want you to go blabbing and ruin my little game! )

I also cannot handle the discussion of anything bordering on gross while eating. My family has accepted this, and my whole life, dinner conversations have been adjusted accordingly. I also do not like it when people suggest that a certain food looks like something else. I used to love those little oranges that are sometimes on salad bars, Mandarin Oranges, I think they are called. Until one time I was eating them, and my dear husband dangled one over his mouth and said, "It's just like swallowing little goldfish, huh?" I have not eaten one since. Or my precious children. They call spaghetti noodles "worms." So since, well, they began talking, I always cook ruffles pasta to go with my spaghetti sauce. They call them worms the whole time we are eating, and I cannot handle it. I know. I am supposed to be a grown up, right? Oh, hush and let me eat my ruffles in peace, would you?

And I am totally a power of suggestion sort of person. Once I have been eating something that seems OK and then I find out what it was, I am disgusted. One time, these friends wanted me to taste Venison. And I was all uh, no, that is BAMBI. So I always refused. Then one night, they were all, have some "Cube Steak." And I truly did not like it AT ALL, but my Momma raised me to be polite. So when they asked me, I said it was good. Then they were all "You ate Bambi! You at Bambi!" And I never ate supper with them again! (Another reason that Peggy and I are so tight - my own grandmother played this same trick on her. Peggy doesn't eat "roast" at Mimi's anymore, either.)

And I do not enjoy going to a BBQ place that has pictures of smiling pigs all over the place. Duh. A PIG is not going to be happy and smiling at a rib joint.

The point is, I am very strange and somewhat immature in my food choice and food consumption. I could go on. . And there is no rhyme or reason to my weirdness.

But maybe I am changing - for the better. . .
I enjoy a good Chinese Buffet every now and then. But I would never eat there alone. I need David to tell me what things are OR if he does not know, they he is my official taster. Sometimes things aren't labeled OR are labeled wrong. Well, there was this thing that I tried at a place at Ft. Polk. I thought it was yummy even though I had no clue what was in it. So once I tried it, I always picked that whenever we were at a Chinese Buffet place.

It was cute. It sort of looked like a tasty flower. And it had a creamy cheesy stuffing in it. It was tasty. I sometimes ate 2 or even 3 of those babies. Did I know what they were? No. Did I ever question it? Well, initially I asked David, and he said he did not know. But they were good, so I quit wondering.

Well, Daddy, David, Jessa, Spencer, and I went to a Chinese Buffet. And lo and behold, there were my tasty, fried Chinese flowers!


Photo Courtesy Of: http://www.starportfoods.com/Menu_Concept.htm

Mmmm! But wait, what's this? The label above the container holding my beloved tasty morsels had the words "Crab Rangoon" written on it. WHAT?! CRAB?! That is seafood. But I don't eat seafood. I don't eat crab.

So my first instinct was to skip them. And I did. I went to the other areas. But I kept thinking about them. I even made several drive-bys and stared longingly at them. I got my rice. I stalked the flowers. I found a Spring Roll. I glanced at the flowers. And the more I thought about it, I finally decided that I was going to get them anyway. After all, I do like them. They are tasty. Maybe I can eat crab. Maybe I can overlook my "rules" and "issues" and "hang-ups." So I did. And I did not even call Peggy first. I just enjoyed the delicious edible flowers.

(I can eat them and enjoy them, but I don't have to call them crab, do I?)

His stomach is like an elephant

My boy.

The other night, he was in my bed with me. David was out of town, so he was just hanging out with me in my room.

And out of the clear blue, he said,

Momma, you know Mimi and Poppy's house?
Me - Yes.

S- Not their normal house, their other house.
Me- Yes (he was referring to their Adel farm house)

S- Do you remember that time that we were there with me and you and Mimi and Poppy and Jessa and May?

Me - Uh-huh (the last time was this summer - July)

S- Do you remember those cookies that Mimi made?

Me- Um, which cookies?

S- You know the peanut butter ones?
Me - Well, yes, I guess I do, why?

S- I want some. Do you know how to make them?
Me- Um, no, but I can ask Mimi.

S- OK! Good!

So, at his request, I called Mimi and she gave me the recipe. She did not even have to look it up.

Here is the recipe:

Mimi's Peanut Butter cookies

1 cup Peanut Butter (crunchy or creamy - we used half and half)

1 cup Sugar
1 egg

1 tsp Vanilla

That's it! So we whipped some of those babies up.

(We baked at 350 for about 8-10 minutes)

They were good!

And just like he remembered!

And by the way, I cannot believe that he remembered that!

I guess it is true that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach -

even when they are 4!

Girl cheese

I like a good grilled cheese sandwich. I mean, who doesn't, right? Many a night when David and I first got married, my gourmet supper offering was tomato soup and a grilled cheese.

I always remember liking grilled cheese. Momma used to make them for us all the time. But like so many other foods that "all kids like," my children have always been reluctant to give grilled cheese a try. I know. They both went through a phase with no french fries and Jessa still will only eat macaroni with no cheese, so I am aware they are a little nutty. Lately, I can use the "You used to love it" argument. Sometimes it is true, sometimes it is a clever ploy to get a few bites in their mouths. Because IF I can get a few tastes in their mouth, they normally realize that I am not as crazy as I look and I do know what they would like to eat. This is a fine line, though because if I make a big deal, Jessa will eat the required 2 bites and no more EVEN if she loves it. See, she cannot let me be right about anything. Comes with the territory when you have a teenager. Oh, wait, she is 5, my bad.

SO I offered to make them a grilled cheese the other night with a bowl of chili. They both declined and took the cornbread option. But Spencer's reasoning was a little strange. He told me, "those sandwiches are not for boys." I thought that was funny, and I had David vouch for me that he loves grilled cheese, and he is in fact, also a boy. Spencer was not having it.

Well, a day or so later, it was cool and rainy outside. I wanted something warm for lunch, so I thought of the old standby grilled cheese. I offered to make Spence one, too, and he of course, declined. He wanted "just yogurt" instead. Well, when I was eating my ooey, gooey, warm and delicious grilled cheese, he was staring at me. And he was quiet, which is so rare. I offered him a bite. He thought it over, and then reluctantly agreed to try "just one bite. "

After he ate about half my sandwich, he asked if he could have one, too. I smiled and headed to the stove. He then asked if I would please make him three. I told him we could take it one sandwich at the time. When David came in a few minutes later to pick up something at lunch, Spencer was carrying his sandwich into the kitchen. David asked him what it was and he said, "Oh, Mommy made me a girl cheese." Bless his heart, no wonder he did not want to give it a chance. I mean, it is in the name, right??

He enjoyed it, though. He ate every bite.

Out of the mouths. . .

A few cute stories before I forget. . .

1. One day in the parking lot at school Spencer was showing me his new bracelet. It was black and white beads. Since they were working on the letter "Z" this week, it was zebra-like. He was telling us as we were walking to the car, "Miss Caffy told me not to take it off or I will lose my beads." Jessa didn't skip a beat, and she replied very dramatically, "Well, I guess you'll have to keep it on for the rest of your life."

2. That night for supper we had (at Jessa's request) bacon and eggs and grits and toast. Their favorite part is the bacon. I have to keep the bacon plate away from them or they eat it all and nothing else. Jessa refused her toast because she did not ask for toast. Spencer, my good eater, always eager to please was just eating away at his plate. After a while, Jessa asked to be excused. Spencer was still eating. After a little while longer, he handed David a bite of crust from his first piece of toast. We thought, how precious, he is sharing. Then he picked up his last piece of toast, which happened to be the last bit of food on his plate. Then he grinned and turned to me and said, "Mommy, look, I cleaned my plate!" Bless his heart, he aims to please!

3. This next one may not sound as funny as it was, but I want to write it down anyway. . . After supper one night, Jessa decided that they were going to play some sort of diner thing. She was like the waitress, I guess, and he was like the cook. So she is on one side of my chair and he is behind it. She keeps hollering back behind her (in her thickest Southern Country fake accent she has), "I need some carrots and some broccoli. I need a tuna fish and some chicken." I guess she is placing her customers orders for them. Spencer has a stack of plastic bowls and is passing them to her after each order she hollers back to him. He is not saying a word.

After a minute, she looks in a bowl full of the pretend food that Spencer, the cook, has fixed and sighs and says, "They don't want it fried!" And hands it back to him. So the he fixes the pretend food again and gives it to her. She again, screams, "Not Fried! My customers don't want it fried!" This goes on for several minutes. He tried to fix the pretend, imaginary, invisible food the way she (and her customers) want it, but he is simply not doing it to suit her. I was contemplating intervening on his behalf when he figured out what she wanted. My sweet, smart boy got a bowl ready and as he handed it up to Jessa, he screamed, "NOT FRIED!" She smiled and still with the accent yells, "Not fried!" as she hands it to her pretend customer. Bless his heart! He "gets her" when no one else does. . . The rest of the time they spent playing, every time he handed her a bowl, he would say, "Not fried." And she was pleased as punch!

4. I have been telling them about the move and saying, "We are moving to Scott Air Force Base in Illinois." One afternoon, I was saying something to someone else about the move and Jessa said, "You mean to Scott?" I smiled proudly and said, "Yes, ma'am! You remembered where we are going!" And she said, "Oh yeah, I got it up here in my brain brain." I said, "What?!" She said, "Yeah, I have two brains so that helps me remember things better."

5. We were getting ready to go to over to the home of some of our college friends who happen to be here at Ft. Stewart. Jessa picked out a dress. She picked out shoes. She picked out socks. She told me how she wanted her hair fixed. She put on her best Barbie Pearl necklace. She found an Iraqi scarf that David sent her. She put on lip gloss. And she came to ask me how she looked. I told her she looked great. She said, "Well, I want to be the most fashionable person there. Do you think I look fashionable enough?" I told her she did. And when we arrived at our friend's house, they agreed!