Bella's First Piggies

Isabella got piggies (they look more like antennas) in her hair the other day at daycare. The ladies did them and she was so cute!  This was a first so of course we had to take pictures.  Jeff got some really good ones while she was eating her puffs in her highchair.  I know I'm her Mom but I think she is just so sweet and beautiful.   Her eyes just light up the room. 

Here she is looking up at her Daddy...how sweet!  And look at those teethfies....

And spitting....we love it when she does this!

And just being cute!  Oh...I love my girl!

Cowboy Fans

Have you missed seeing my babies?  Sorry about that.  I really have been taking pictures just haven't moved them off the camera.  I took this one last weekend when the Cowboys were playing--it was a night game so my babies had had their baths and were enjoying the game.  Oh they smelled so good.  Isabella was so cute sitting on the floor with her shirt on.  She was talking up a storm. It looked like she was yelling at the tv.  By the time I got the camera to record, she decided it was enough but I did get them to pose for a few pictures.  This is one of my faves, Bella is saying, "ta-dah".  Christopher with that big smile, oh how he loves his sister. He was actually wearing my jersey and he loved it.  Happy times...

Meltdown

Its Friday again...and I've made it through another week!  But I have to tell ya, this week has been especially hard for some reason.  I've been very emotional and on the verge of a meltdown--I can feel it coming on.  I'm trying very hard to prevent this meltdown but I can feel "it" winning the battle.  Do I give in?  Or do I keep fighting back?  At times I want to just let it win because maybe, just maybe if I let it all out, I can move on and all will be right.  Because truthfully, I can see what's bringing this meltdown about, I know what it is...but part of me doesn't want to fight.  But then, the stubborn side comes out and wants to fight and not let it win. I want to be strong.  I hate that I'm feeling this way now, of all times, my favorite time of the year, I'm having a meltdown.  And I have lots planned this weekend.  My brother Tony and I have a date tonight.  We're going to watch our high school alma mater play some football at Wildcat Stadium.  Saturday, my washing machine, dryer and I have a date to do some much needed laundry.  I also want to get out my Fall and Halloween decor.  I want to attempt to make my favorite cookies, Sweeties.  And I've had a hankering for some chicken spaghetti for weeks so I hoping to make that this weekend as well.  There's the grocery shopping that will need to be done and more cleaning & rearranging.  Maybe I'm putting too much pressure on myself to get all this done?  But if I scale back, then I feel like I'm not doing enough, that I'm not living up to the Super Mommy image.  I'm supposed to be able to take care of my kids, my husband, the house, the errands, the bills, myself and my stinkin' demons....all without having a meltdown.  Dang it!  I miss my Mom.  I want her to tell me how she did it all those years without a meltdown.  I mean, if she did have meltdowns, it was unbeknownst to us kids.  We were clueless...she was Super Mommy!  Probably none of this is making any sense but I feel better putting it to paper...or is it the internet?  Maybe someone out there will read this and have some advice or even a general comment that will make me feel a little better.  And just maybe I'll make it through the weekend without having a meltdown.   

Happy Fall Y'all

Today is the first official day of Autumn!  In these here parts of Southeast Texas a cool front is making its way here so we have a good chance of rain today, which makes a good day for me.  I love rainy days and I love cooler weather.  This is the beginning of my most favorite time of year.  I love the Autumn colors and the smells that accompany it..and I love to cook warm yummy dishes this time of year as well.  To celebrate its arrival, we're having a Happy Autumn Luncheon at work today.  I am making my Goulash, Judy has made a Shepherd's Pie and Tricia is making brownies.  Other ladies in the office are contributing to the cause with a green salad, pea salad, garlic bread and green bean casserole.  I think we'll have a good lunch today, don't you.  I've decided to share my recipe for Goulash with you.  Its a mixture of my Mom's recipe and a Paula Deen recipe so its now my recipe.  Everyone does their Goulash different but this is how we make at the Bevers Home (most of the time)  and it seems to please everyone.  I tend to change it up a little every time I make it but the measurements listed below are what I used the last time I made this dish for work.  Keep in mind, I go by taste so I may have added more of something if it didn't taste right. 

Missy's Goulash

2 lbs. hamburger meat
6 cups water
2 cans rotel
2 cans tomato sauce
1 can diced tomatoes
1 cup macaroni
4 cups tators
2 can green beans (drained)
2 tbsp. Italian seasoning
2 1/2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
3 tsp. house seasoning
1-2 bay leaves

Brown hamburger meat.  Add all ingredients except macaroni and tators.  Cook for 15-20 minutes and then add mac and tators.  Cook for about 30 minutes until tators are tender.  I like to serve it with garlic bread or cornbread.  The rotel gives it a nice little kick.  I hope you enjoy it!

This n That

I know, I know....I haven't blogged in a while.  I've been busy...and tired...and busy...and tired.  I thought I'd let you know what's been going.  (Our truck's washing up in the Red River, that's what's going on!)  Can anyone tell me what movie that's from??  Sorry...I meandered off path here...its a movie game/trivia thing that my sister and I do--guess that'll be another post to explain.  So...back to what's been going on.

Saturday I decided I needed to get the living room picked up, cleaned up, organized and such because my new furniture will be arriving tomorrow!  Can I get a "woo hoo!"?  (Note:  I started this post on Tuesday and just now finishing it up)  But before I got started I decided me and the kids should get grocery shopping done so we would have snacks, lunch stuff, dinner stuff, etc. We get that done and back home and the dust started flying.  Oh my stinkin' heck (told you Tricia) there was a lot of dust in that living room!  Keep in mind I hadn't cleaned in there for a good while because we had been remodeling....I was pregnant....we were remodeling....I was pregnant.  There was a lot of dust!  After a few hours of coughing, sneezing, head hurting type deal I decided we needed a break.  After running a couple errands and hitting happy hour at Sonic we arrive back home to a message on the machine.  My friend Jana needs some help moving furniture around...so she calls her littlest friend!  She did tell me later that she called her mom and sister first but they were busy and was hoping when she called me, the manly husband would be available as well!  At any rate, we helped her out and spent the evening with them laughing, eating pizza and cleaning up more dust.  Sunday my sister and I decided to go another round with the kolaches.  But this time we were feeling pretty confident so we made a double batch.  Holy toledo that was a lot of dough!  We made cheese, pecan, cherry, strawberry and blackberry.  And no...I didn't take pictures this time but I think we've got the size figured out.  They were good and our presentation improved.  Still a few kinks to work out but practice makes perfect, right? So making kolaches took up our day and I spent the rest of the time picking up, cleaning up (Sue helped before she left), doing a few loads of laundry and finding something to eat!  But we had fun and laughed a lot and most importantly, we spent time together.  By now, Monday is a blur (is that spelled right?) to me and Tuesday was Open House at Christopher's school.  It may not sound like a lot but it was for us and we've been tired.  I think I'm trying to get sick but I'm willing it away...along with some medication to help fight it off!  Oh BTW...Happy Hump Day everyone!           

Where Were You

Where were you on this day 8 years ago?  Where were you when you heard the horrifying news that a plane had flew into the World Trade Center?  Where were you when you found out it wasn't an accident?  And that another plane had hit the second tower, one the Pentagon and yet another plane had crashed in a field in Pennsylvania?  I was at work.  For some reason I didn't have my radio on that day--I always had my radio on, but that day I did not.  My boss peeked her head in my office and said a plane had just crashed into the World Trade Center.  I immediately turned my radio on and heard it all.  I remember my cousin Dina and I emailing each other trying to understand what was going on, I remember us both wanting to leave work and get our boys and be near our families.  I remember walking between buildings and looking up for other planes.  I remember sitting in the Board room watching tv the moment the second tower came crashing down and tears streaming down my face in disbelief.  Christopher was 2 years old on this day and oblivious to what was going on but I remember trying to explain to him what happened.  Every year on this day I remember and every year on this day my heart feels for the families that lost their loved ones--our heroes.  I cry many tears for our heroes and their families every year.  Every year, it still chokes me up.  Always and forever, I will remember and I will honor the heroes of 9/11.

Chicken Fried

Have I mentioned before that music is a big part of my life?  How much I love music, especially country music and that's where my heart is?  Maybe I'm thinking about a post on Facebook?  Doesn't matter really...I love country music.  The Zac Brown Band keeps putting out hit after hit but this one is my favorite so far, Chicken Fried.  My boy loves it.  My nephews love it as well.  We turn the radio way up sing to the beat...or maybe its to the our beat?  Doesn't matter really...we sing.  I was not raised in Georgia (sorry Georgians-is that right?). I was born and raised in Texas baby.  Southern grown country girl.  Sweet tea, pecan pie and homemade wine (Thanks Uncle Frank), where the bluebonnets grow.  Hey--I can do a Texas version to this song (I'm squinting my eye thinking abou it)  Doesn't matter really...cause I like my chicken fried, cold beer on a Friday night and a pair of jeans that fit just right!  Okay, okay...enough already!  Here are the lyrics (the real ones) to our national anthem these days...Chicken Fried.  So stand tall (except for me cuz I'm short), stand proud & salute our heroes and sing like you don't give a rats ass who's listening.  The tune is catchy and if you're not careful you will find yourself walking down the hallway at work or standing at the copier singing, "You know I like my chicken fried..." 

Here's a link to the video at http://www.cmt.com/:  http://www.cmt.com/videos/zac-brown-band/289363/chicken-fried.jhtml

Chicken Fried

You know I like my chicken fried
Cold beer on a Friday night
A pair of jeans that fit just right
And the radio up

Well I was raised up beneath the shade of a Georgia pine
And that`s home you know
Sweet tea pecan pie and homemade wine
Where the peaches grow
And my house it`s not much to talk about
But it`s filled with love that`s grown in southern ground

And a little bit of chicken fried
Cold beer on a Friday night
A pair of jeans that fit just right
And the radio up
Well I`ve seen the sunrise
See the love in my woman`s eyes
Feel the touch of a precious child
And know a mother`s love

Well its funny how it`s the little things in life that mean the most
Not where you live, what you drive or the price tag on your clothes
There`s no dollar sign on a piece of mind this I`ve come to know
So if you agree have a drink with me
Raise you glasses for a toast

To a little bit of chicken fried
Cold beer on a Friday night
A pair of jeans that fit just right
And the radio up
Well I`ve seen the sunrise
See the love in my woman`s eyes
Feel the touch of a precious child
And know a mother`s love

I thank God for my life
And for the stars and stripes
May freedom forever fly, let it ring.
Salute the ones who died
The ones that give their lives so we don`t have to sacrifice
All the things we love

Like our chicken fried
Cold beer on a Friday night
A pair of jeans that fit just right
And the radio up
Well I`ve seen the sunrise
See the love in my woman`s eyes
Feel the touch of a precious child
And know a mother`s love

  

Christopher & Isabella

My children both have milestones today.  Christopher is 10 years, 7 months old today.  Isabella is 8 months old today.  I'm taking a cue from fellow blogger Kelly at Kelly's Korner and writing some highlights for both of them.

Christopher - 10 years, 7 months
- you still love camo
- you love the Astros, Cowboys and Longhorns
- still a Legos kid (even after a brief stint of wanting to sell them!)
- Bakugan and Wizards of Waverly
- loves spaghetti, lasagna and homemade pizza
- dislikes potatoes but will occasionally eat tots, fries and hashbrowns
- IBC Root Beer
- loves being outdoors on trampoline, scooter or bike
- XBox, Nintendo DS and Wizard 101
- plaid shorts
- totally laid back kid
- loves to cook
- has great taste in everything
- still loves to snuggle with Mommy
- still loves blankey (I remember when you called it a pilper)
- loves cold weather and rainy days
- would love to have a family ranch or farm
- has a heart of gold
- adores his sister

Isabella - 8 months
- wearing 9-12 month clothes, some 18 mos.
- weigh almost 20 lbs.
- 2 bottom teeth are in and your 2 top teeth are coming in
- 3 ears infections, 2 being double
- will eat baby food only with cereal and formula mixed with it
- still don't sleep through the night
- you love to snuggle
- your smile is contagious
- you love to dance and don't always have to hear music to do so
- you love your binky and so do we
- you give awesome hugs and kisses
- a girly girl
- love the Astros, Cowboys and Longhorns (you just don't really know this yet)
- ladybugs and pink are your favorite
- starting to pick up your puff snacks (kitty food)
- rocking back n forth on hands and knees but not crawling
- your saucer is your best friends...and ours!

Congratulations to you both on reaching this milestone!  Mommy loves you both and loves watching you grown and learn new things everyday.  You both are true blessings.

Kolache Day, cont'd

We hit it outta the park!! 

We had some laughs, boy did we have some laughs!  We had fun and we hit it outta the park!  Even after all the quadruple checking of the recipe and almost adding egg whites to our cheese mixture instead of egg yolks, we still made some pretty tasty kolaches.  We did have to make a call to Aunt Mona to verify a couple things but we figured it all out and got it done.  We've made some notes for our next attempt, which at this writing may very well be this Saturday again.  Daddy and Jeff told us we didn't get any points for presentation but taste wise, we got it.  My sister told me today that her in-laws told her that she's a real Bohemian now that she's made kolaches.  I even feel more like a Bohemian.  I feel that we've made our ancestors proud.  Ok...that's probably pushing it a little but dang it....WE MADE KOLACHES and THEY WERE GOOD!!  Here are some pictures from our day....

Makenna, our little helper.  She was just waiting to get her hands dirty with Mommy and Aunt Mimi.  She stirred and poured ingredients for us. Here she is posing for me as we were getting the dough going...

This is me getting my hands dirty and mixing the dough so we could let it rise, not once but twice...

Once we got the dough mixed, we had to let it rise.  Here it is before we covered it...

And here is Cindy filling the kolaches with the cheese mixture, which by the way she doesn't eat.  Sue does not like cream cheese nor does she like cottage cheese--we had good laughs when she was mixing this together.  I believe she even licked her finger (not thinking) and about had a fit when it hit her tongue...good times!

Ready to go in the oven....cheese, strawberry, dewberry and pecan.

Almost ready to come out and eat!!

And finally, enjoying all our hard work!! 

I really liked the pecan kolaches.  My cousin Dina had told me about a place that had them.  I had never heard of pecan kolaches but I googled a recipe for the filling and we tried it out.  They were a hit.  The cream cheese were excellent, as always.  Dewberry (Blackberry to those who call them blackberry) were good and I must admit I didn't try the strawberry, maybe next time.  I'm so glad I have this blog to document our fun with this and the pictures we took.  We had such a great time Saturday creating this family favorite.  I foresee many, many more Saturdays of kolache making in our future.

Kolache Day!

Today is the day. My sister and I have started the process and now we're waiting for the dough to rise so we can knock it back down again....wait for it to rise again.  We're funny...we're reading our recipe given to us by the Aunts (our Mom's sisters) and we're following it very carefully, reading it 3-4 times to make sure we have it right....and then hesitating before we add anything.  But we are having fun!  I am taking pictures of this process so there will be more to come!  Be patient....

My Kids

These are just random pictures of Christopher and Isabella I like and wanted to share with you.  I hope you enjoy them.

Bubba giving his little sister kisses and sister giving them right back...so sweet!

Christopher just being his sweet self and smiling for Mommy....

One of the cute pictures of my babies together...

A little fuzzy but I love this close-up of Chris...I could just eat him up with all that cuteness!

And another fave of my babies...Isabella is mean-mugging Mommy.

Aggravation

I'm officially declaring my aggravation, madness and disgust with Wal-Mart!  I want to know right now what yahoo decided to remodel the Wal-Mart and make it look all pretty and confusing and reduce the amount of merchandise they carry....or should I say the brands of merchandise they carry?  Who did it?  Today I discovered even more items they no longer carry that I once purchased at their store.  Do you know how aggravating this is?  I have slowly been losing my mind every time I have gone in there since the big redo but today I lost it and I'm seriously considering reducing my weekly donation.  I don't like the idea of having to go to two different stores to get my shopping done but I also do not buy toiletry items at the grocery store so this leaves me no choice.  Dang those people!  And its not enough that they now only carry what they want, but it takes forever to find anything.  I'm still walking up and down every aisle with big eyes trying to find what I'm looking for.  Who decided what goes where and whose its friends are?  Seriously...I need to know this.  Because quite frankly I don't understand the new arrangements--it makes no sense to me!  And you know, its not just Wal-Mart that I'm aggravated with, its all the grocery stores in town really.  You cannot go into one store and find everything on your list. For instance, if you want McCormick's Marinades in Chipotle Pepper, Mesquite, Hickory BBQ and Mojito Lime, you dang sure won't find them all at one store.  Oh no...you have to go to 2 or 3 different stores to get them.  I seriously think they (the yahoos) are all working together to aggravate us.  They decided that since they are all in competition together, they are going to make it as difficult as possible for a one-stop shop.  They want us to visit all the locations in town so everybody gets a donation and we spend more gas and time away from our families driving to three different ends of town to get the ingredients we need for one meal.  Yep I'm a little aggravated today but hey, I feel better now that I've vented...again.  Thanks sister and cousin for listening to me earlier. :)   

Home Today

I am home with my sick babies today.  Isabella has a double ear infection--diagnosed by the great Dr. Patti Savrick (we LOVE her) and Christopher has small stomach bug--diagnosed by Super Mommy--a name my son gave me a few years ago.  I say small because he appears to be feeling much better.  He ate some soup for lunch but that wasn't enough...now he's inhaling a sandwich.  Yep, I think he'll be good to go tomorrow.  Isabella is in a good mood...if it weren't for her fever and occasional fussiness, you wouldn't know she was sick.  Dr. Patti was even surprised she had ear infections because she has no congrestion.  But we have an antibiotic...well not just yet...I'm waiting for the pharmacy to fill it and then we'll have it.  So I'm home today and thinking I should try and be productive while I'm here.  I have laundry that could be folded and put away.  I have a kitchen that could be cleaned and made ready for Saturday's kolache making festivities but I need my hubby's help with that because part of the getting ready means clearing his crap...oh I mean stuff off my kitchen counter.  If it were up to me, I'd throw it all in a box and set it in the garage or better yet, his shop.  But I'll wait for him so he can put it away how he wants...just so long as its done before he goes to work tomorrow evening. :)  Oh hey...one thing productive I did do is check out a house for my friend Tricia.  Not the way I normally check out houses that are vacant...you know like check for unlocked doors n such to get inside for a better look but I did peek in a few windows.  I didn't have time to do much more because I was suppose to be, a) getting drinks from Sonic which I had done, b) dropping off Bella's prescription which I had also done, and c) picking up some lunch for Jeff at Taco Bell.  Uh yea...was on my way to do that!  I was driving right by the street so I just thought I'd take a quick gander.  Ok so the quick gander turned into me backing into the driveway, getting out and peeking through windows.  But I did what any good friend would do...and I was productive.  Yea I'm laughing too.  So I'm off to be productive while my girl is playing happily in her saucer and Christopher is full and feeling better.  I hope you have a productive day as well!

September Is Here

In case you hadn't turned your calendar yet, September is here!  I couldn't be more excited.  Its the first day of the Autumn months.  The leaves will begin their journey to beautiful piles on the ground, my pear tree will be plucked of all the fruit it has bore for me this year, pecans will soon begin falling from their summer home, cooler weather is on the horizon, Monday Night Football is here, the Fair is just around the corner followed by Halloween and before you know it...Thanksgiving.  Oh I can smell the turkey and dressing now just thinking about it.  This is my most favorite time of the year and I intend to savor every minute of it.  There's something about this time of year that puts me in such a great mood.  I love cooking and baking all day long when I can.  I love sitting outside in the cool mornings enjoying a cup of coffee with my love and my children.  I'm excited to have Isabella join us this year.  I can't wait to put her in a fresh pile of leaves and watch her play.  Sit her with Christopher in the middle of a pumpkin patch and let them pick their pumpkins.  Wonderfully scented candles burning throughout the house with just the flame of the candles lighting the house...there's something warm and cozy about it that brings a peace about me.  And then there's my annual trip to Canton with my girlfriends to look forward to.  All of these things and so much more to come.  Awww yes, September is here and I'm welcoming her with my arms wide open