Pickle

Well, we missed our patch yesterday. We were running around so much, I did not get time to draw for her. I should have thought ahead, but thank goodness she did not mind just the patch. There was just so much going on.

Here is today's. Becca wanted to draw on it. It is a pickle. A purple and green pickle. Totally her idea.

She is so funny! And can draw a pretty good pickle, too!

I hope you were able to laugh today!

Photo Challenge Day 30: Your Personality

This one is tough for me. I have a hard time talking myself up in any way. I do not want to come across as boastful or arrogant. I would rather just change the subject. Oh well, I am in it to finish, so here goes.

My husband says I have a warm and caring personality. Thanks babe. I know I am sort of eclectic, if that is the right word. My interests are such a wide range. I know that as soon as I figure myself out, I surprise myself and get lost for a little all over again. I have also learned that I am okay with that. It keeps things exciting, it keeps me learning. It gives me new dreams and ideas.

So I am  mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a friend, a (former) band geek, a music lover, a dog person, a US Navy Veteran, a reader, an amateur photographer and learning cook. I am funny (well, I make myself laugh!), emotional, easy to please, loving, not good at describing myself, a little too sensitive, curious and a good listener.

If I had to choose one word that describes my personality (or what I strive to be a part of my personality), I guess it would be............................nurturing.

I love being a mommy. I love making a good meal for my family and friends. I love making people laugh. I like to make sure others (maybe too much sometimes) are happy. Even though I hate it when my baby is hurt or scared, I love it that I can make her feel better and safe. I am finding a love for homemade; whether it be growing and cooking food or crafting for my family and home. I love my role in my family.

Photo Challenge Day 29: A number

Missed this one yesterday. Sorry, I just didn't feel like doing it. I am such a rebel.

I had Becca draw me a number 4. I am having issues with the number 4. In three months, my precious baby girl will be 4. Though I am so happy and proud of her, watching her grow and learn everyday, I am so sad she is going to be 4. I have found myself looking at her baby pictures, seriously trying to remember each day that has passed. Is it going to be this hard every year?

But you know, it is hard to dislike a number that is surrounded by hearts!

Her turn

Rebecca drew on her patch today.I am not sure everything on it, but that is a butterfly on the right, grass on the bottom, and clouds on the left. I think it is pretty darn good! It is hard to draw on these things! She was so proud of it.

She is my rock star!

Photo Challenge Day 28: The weather today

Finally a decent day!  We got  some sunshine and no rain.

It was just cold enough to wear some jeans and a hoodie, but warm enough for us to get sand between our toes.

Hope you had a warm, sunny day.

Sea creatures galore!

When I ran to the store today, I took Becca with me. Do you remember those critters that you put in a glass of water and they grew 5 times their size overnight? Well, she saw those hanging in an isle and wanted to get them. Okay, why not? I thought they were fun when I was a kid. She picked out the sea creatures pack.

Becca wore her eye patch in the afternoon today. She wanted a purple jellyfish. He looked lonely, so I added a fish and starfish. She liked how it matched her new growing creatures.

We dropped three of her little critters in a jar. She watched them and watched them. I tried to explain that it would take a few hours, that she should just wait until she got up in the morning and they would be fully grown. Nope.

She watched them. She talked and sang to them. She would go play and come back 10 minutes later, so sure they had grown a little.

She was so intrigued. I didn't really understand. I mean, they grow. Then what? Shrink back when dried out, and the whole process repeats. That's it. But I thought these (and those capsules that had sponge animals in them!) were so cool when I was a little girl. I couldn't tell you why, but I couldn't wait to see them fully grown, either.

Whatever it is, it makes these cool to her, and that is okay with me. And of course, she had to tell them goodnight, blowing them kisses and singing a lullaby. Have I mentioned I love this kid?

Sweet dreams, baby girl.

I love how she brings me down to her level, to see what she see's. Her intrigue and wonder about everything is so incredibly beautiful. I am so blessed to be able to experience so much with my precious girl. I can not wait to see who she becomes, and all the magic along the way, but sometimes I wish I could pull her out of the water and she would stop growing.....

I hope today you were able to see something with the same magic and splendor as a child does.

Photo Challenge Day 27: Something sweet

Quick and easy today! I have finally found the perfect store bought sweet tea. It is made from all natural ingredients. Nothing artificial added. It is the perfect sweetness, and the cheapest in the store! Enjoyed a nice, cold glass of this today. My new favorite tea

Had to run to the store this morning to get a can of beer for our Beer Butt Chicken recipe. I walked past the ice cream and decided to splurge and get some. I chose Rocky Road. I wonder what the cashier thought when I bought beer and Rocky Road ice cream at 10 a.m. Whatever, my ice cream (and chicken) was yummy!

And of course, my little sweet thing had to have a bite. How could I say no to that face! Her first bite of Rocky Road!

I hope all are enjoying your weekend! Hope it is filled with loved ones and sweet treats!

A New Recipe and Daily Patch Art

The hubby is choosy about his sweets. So I decided to make him something and surprise him with it when he came home from work. I found this INCREDIBLE recipe! It was perfection. Allen could not stop raving about it, and made sure to tell me this recipe was a keeper, and I have to make it again.

Here is the recipe for Lemon-Blueberry Yogurt Loaf

After it comes out, you have to make a lemon syrup. You poke holes all over the sides and top of the loaf, brush the syrup on and let it soak in, twice! Yummmmmm!

Then you drizzle on a lemon glaze. It's not your grocery store bakery glaze either. REAL lemon glaze. Really, really good!

There it is! A huge hit, and will definitely make again. I even had my pregnant sister drooling over the phone when I was telling her about it. Surprisingly easy. It was the best this morning, cold, with a cup of coffee. Heaven! The glaze is phenomenal when chilled! I really can not stop raving about this!

Onto the patch.

I like to call today's patch art "Harmony". Becca wanted a cat. I thought the cat looked lonely, so I added a mouse. The mouse wanted a friend, so in came the bird. And they all sit there getting along. She may not look happy, but I promise she is before and after the shot. For these pictures, the flash bothers her more due to the patch being on, so she always looks away. It is not her happiest point of the day. Once she gets it on and looks in the mirror, that smile comes back.

I hope your day is filled with love and a special sweet treat!

Photo Challenge Day 26: 12 o'clock

I could show you a picture of my clock, but that isn't very interesting. I have none of my own clocks here, as they are in storage (we get our stuff in July!). The clock I go by in this house is on the stove. Told ya, not very interesting.

I thought I would go a different direction. It worked out with this being Memorial Day weekend, too.

"In this story of the early days of daylight bombing raids over Germany, General Frank Savage must take command of a "hard luck" bomber group. Much of the story deals with his struggle to whip his group into a disciplined fighting unit in spite of heavy losses, and withering attacks by German fighters over their targets. Actual combat footage is used in this tense war drama."
-IMDb (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041996/)

Pink seahorse

Today Becca wanted a seahorse. Never simple, is she! I found this depiction on one of those "How To Draw" sites. I think it turned out good enough. This one really had her laughing. We have a nice system going here. I hope this will keep her going for the possible months ahead.

Photo Challenge Day 25: Unusual

So my husband and I are renting a furnished home on the Oregon Coast. From the beginning this was always a short-term home, as the owners live in Mexico (they run a surf school) nine months out of the year, and come back every July. Because it is their home, they have a goldfish named Goldie. They asked if we would look after the goldfish while we rented, and we agreed.

Let me tell you about this goldfish. It is HUGE!! I have never seen a goldfish grow so big! And he is in a tiny tank! The owner said he is afraid to put him in a bigger tank in fear he would get bigger! Goldie has grown even since we have been here. My husband has joked that we need to start feeding him small mice!

Duh-dunt..... Duh-dunt..... Duh-dunt-duh-dunt-dunt-dunt-dunt-dunt

Okay, a little lame, I know. Thought the black and white would add a little more effect, too. But I am serious, this fish is definitely unusual! He even yells at you if he is hungry. If he sees you walking by, he will follow you. His mouth moves like he is yelling, and he wiggles and flaps dramatically. Feed him, he is fine. He has a personality for sure. Here he is "yelling" for food.

They bought him about two years ago for their kids. From Walmart. For $0.33.

They thought he would only live a couple of months, which works out for their lifestyle. Well, they were wrong.

He was a regular, little, orange goldfish. As he has grown, he has turned white. Here is Becca's hand on his tank to give you the idea of how big he is. This picture is smaller than his actual size

So I think the giant goldfish we take care of counts as unusual. It is the first I have seen. We really are going to miss this little, well big, guy when we move. He has definitely left more of an impact on me than any other goldfish has!

Say elephant!

Okay, today she wanted a mommy and baby elephant. Ummmmm....okay? Lets give it a shot! I can not just draw an elephant off the top of my head without being able to erase anything (not possible on the patch). What I can do is find a drawing of an elephant and draw it off of some one else's version. So that is what I did. Not an original drawing, but she was happy!

Needed to use the flash, so she wouldn't look at the camera. Oh well. She is shouting "elephant!" instead of saying "cheese". She cracked herself up! So cute!

And yup......no tears today! I am so proud of what a big kid she is being!

Photo Challenge Day 24: Something new

My mamma got me this awesome cameo pendant for Mother's Day. Yes, kind of backwards, but I love it just the same! It is so pretty. Classy yet not over the top. It is perfect!

Rebecca loves to look at it when I wear it, always saying that it is us. I know this will be something she always loves to look at in my jewelry box; something I have cherished memories of doing when I was young.

Thank you mom, I love it!

No tears!

Nope, not one tear today when we put on the patch! She was actually excited to get it on and take a picture.

She has really been into the book "The Very Hungry Caterpillar". So when she asked me to draw a caterpillar on her patch this morning, I thought she would like this little guy. I promise that is what it is!

Look at my happy kid! Well, we are going strong with the patch art! Don't know how long we will keep doing it. I will stop when she wants to stop, so as long as it makes her happy, I will draw. Thanks to all who tolerate me with this!

Photo Challenge Day 23: Technology

About 8 months back I took Becca to Chuck E. Cheese for the first time. It has definitely changed a lot since I was a kid! We had fun playing the games. Some were familiar, but there were so many new and shiny ones. Did you know they have a giant Operation game? 

Set back in the corner, almost hidden, was this old school water gun game. This game is a classic, and I still see it now and then at little parking lot carnivals. It sat next to the skee-ball lanes, and both games were empty. I took Becca to this, and showed her how to play. We played 3 times in a row! She loved it, and was really good!

This next game was neat. You sat on a horse, feet in stirrups and all. It moved as the horse on screen ran. You had to pull the reins in the direction you wanted it to go and lean back for the horse to "jump". It was really interactive. I kept thinking how cool it would have been if that was around when I was younger. It is crazy how far technology has come since I was a kid. Wow, now I am sounding old!

But you know the funny thing? As cool as the horse game was, Becca only played it once. She did, however, make me play the water gun game two more times. I have to say it was her favorite game there. Mine, too!

I hope you never forget to laugh, smile and play!

Duck patch

I am a little late getting the patch on here, but we don't look at it until the morning, so I am sure it is alright. So, today was a much better day! She actually came to me this morning and asked if it was time to wear her patch. She knew what she wanted on it, and she only groaned a little when I put it on. She asked if she could sit and watch a movie after breakfast, and this is how we spent our morning. Every morning she gets a little more excited to see the new post, and this morning ran so smooth. Maybe this is helping. I can hope!

Becca wanted a mommy duck with two babies. In case you cannot tell, that is a tree branch with flowers and a butterfly. She has a pen that has four colors on it, and she wanted me to use each one. That is what I came up with. Don't laugh (okay, you can laugh).

We got a sunny (chilly, but sunny!) afternoon, and all decided to take a walk. All three of us walked to the top of the hill, and back home again. We just strolled and chatted. It was so nice. Came home and made dinner while Becca worked on letters and numbers. She played in the bath, got her hair braided with no tears, and went to bed happy. Such a wonderful turnaround from yesterday! Today was a great day!

I hope all of you had a great day, too!

Photo Challenge Day 22: Pink

There is no shortage of pink in my house. I do not care for pink that much, but I have a Becca Lynn. She loves pink. And purple. And rainbow.

So here is my pink girl!

Saw these cool flowers in the pine type bushes out front and around the neighborhood.

My favorite pink thing around the house is Becca's "baby" (a.k.a.; her wooby, lovey, security item). This thing has slept with my precious girl every night since she was a baby. It has been there to comfort her through boo-boo's, time-outs, sickness,and shots. It has been lost and found, sometimes left a town away (and we faithfully backtrack to retrieve it). We have moved and always manage to never leave it behind. I have washed it so much it is starting to come apart at the bottom, yet it still looks grungy. This thing is definitely well loved! And like when she was a baby, she gently sniffs on its ear until she falls asleep. I hope we never lose it!

I wish only that you will witness love like this. What a wonderful member of our family!

Photo Challenge Day 21: Where you stand

The weather was rainy and windy, our moods were sour. I had hopes of taking a picture of my toes in the sand for this challenge. Instead, it was going to be a picture of my house slippers. Late this afternoon the rain finally stopped. We put on our boots and jackets, and hopped in the van.

We drove up to Cape Perpetua. It is one of our favorite spots, and is the perfect place to witness where the forest meets the ocean. So beautiful! It has a killer view, and not very many people go up there on a Monday (today is our Saturday). We had the place to ourselves. Because it is so high up, it was still drizzling a bit, but we didn't mind.

There was no one there! I walked a bit down the road, almost like walking in a green tunnel. It was so beautiful. The drizzle only added to the beauty, the green so vibrant and fresh, making a canopy above our heads. It was nice to get out for a little.

Stopped at a beach on the way home. We live on the ocean, and try to stop and look as often as we can. I never want to take it for granted. I may not have been able to dig my toes in the sand today, but at least I made it out.

So just ignore my giant feet! Our day only got better from here. We went home (with no arguments from the shortest member of our family), had a nice dinner, and went to bed with a nice, long story. It ended much better than it began, and to me, that is something. I hope you all had a great day in the end, even if it didn't start that way.

Grumpy, rainy day

Worked on this one last night so she wouldn't have to wait on me. I really thought she would go nuts over it. She LOVES Minnie Mouse! Becca did not wake up well this morning, and has been in a not-so-good mood since. She was a little mad because she didn't get to choose what was going to be on her patch. Apparently not a morning for surprises! She wore it for me anyways.

I think she is just having a grumpy day (explains why she was mad about the patch). She fought me to even wear it. Once it was on, she fought about anything else she could think of. It has just been a rough day. I feel  a little grumpy, too. I think it is the weather. It turned this afternoon, and we are in for days of rain with very few breaks. I think we are all feeling cooped up, and I am not quick with rainy day ideas today.

I hope your day is bright and filled with sunshine! Enjoy some for me!

Photo Challenge Day 20: Something you can't live without

I am seriously having a hard time with this one. There are so many things I don't ever want to live without!! My husband, my baby girl, my family, my friends, Star Wars, garlic, laughter, books, toilet paper, communication, love, water, chocolate, my camera.........

As I am writing this, I realize what it is I don't want to live without, at least right now at this time in my life...............................................my blog.

(I did not take this picture)

I do love my blog! I love being able to document things in my life. I love how it forces me to slow down and appreciate the little things. When I post on my blog, I feel a little important, too. I know I have at least one fan! =0)  It has become an important part of my daily life. I may stop writing in a month. Who knows? But right now, I love writing in it, adding pictures, and sharing with my family and friends. It is what I need in my life at this moment, and that makes it something I don't want to live without.

Butterfly

Today Becca requested a baby butterfly. I asked if she wanted a mamma and a baby, and she replied,"I guess.". So enthusiastic......

Actually, she wanted the patch on early this morning (notice the "bed head"). She wore it for the full 4 hours, too! It is still hard. She keeps asking how many more days she has to wear them, and I honestly can not answer that, even if she did have a better concept of time. Well, we will just keep doing whatever we can to make the whole experience a little easier for her.

Discovering Beets

I don't ever remember eating a beet of any kind. I have never had an interest before. I started hearing about them and seeing recipes for them more and more. I started wanting to try them. Then my friend Trisha posted about her beautiful beets grown in their backyard. How cool is that? And then she cooked them up. They looked so wonderful that I made it a goal to find some, cook them, and try them.

Such a neat and interesting root vegetable! I did some reading, and found out you can use the greens on it as well. And people aren't kidding when they say your kitchen will look like a crime scene! Even after scrubbing, my hands were still stained!

I chopped this up and what a beautiful veggie! Oh my goodness, the rich color and dark rings! Very cool.

I just cooked them simply. Roasted them in olive oil and sea salt. I LOVED them! So yummy and gorgeous!

Okay friends, send me some recipes so I can try beets again!! I think these could have cooked longer, but the temp was too high because they started to burn. Any tips on the perfect beet would be greatly appreciated!

I hope you experiment and love something new! Now beet it!

Photo Challenge Day 19: A favorite place

I have been to many awesome places in the world, whether living or traveling. And so many of them can be classified as a favorite. I thought about this one for awhile, thinking of the places that stand out more than the rest. Wherever I am with my family is my absolute favorite, of course, but I wanted to think of a favorite place I like to travel to.

There was one place that came to mind more times than any other. I have been going to this special place since I was at least three years old. Some of my earliest memories are here. I have been here with my parents, with friends, with my junior high band (we got to perform here!), with other family members, while I was in the Navy, and most recently, with my husband and girls.

Yep, you guessed it.....DISNEYLAND!! Of course the happiest place on earth is one of my favorite places!! I LOVE this place, and it has become even better now that I have been able to share so many memories with my husband, Maddie, Rebecca, and my little sister, Ashley. I never thought it was possible, but now it is even more magical (so cliche, I know, but so true!).

I love how my daughter's eyes light up when we are here. I love how she is so genuinely grateful and happy to be here.

It also came to mind because we are planning a trip there at the end of this summer. I am so excited it is ridiculous! You would think I have never been! I am just so excited to see Rebecca there this year because she will be able to enjoy it so much more than she has before (and a little because she is excited for Star Tours ---- that makes me proud!). It is all about her this trip! Bring on the princesses!

Sorry I am posting so many pictures. It is just hard to pick a favorite. I love how even negative things could never take away the fun my little family had doing just that, being a family!

I love the above picture because it is rare to have us all together in a shot. I know, we are so bad about this, and I promise this trip we will get more together.

So Disneyland is a favorite place of mine. I love everything about it. I love Walt, his passion and ideas. I love how you enter into a whole separate and amazing world. I love that I get to experience all of the joy that my daughter does.

Baby Bird

Becca's request for her patch artwork today was a baby bird. This kid is definitely challenging me! I can't complain....she is always happy with my drawings!

Look, I got a smile!! Love it!!

I love my baby girl! Glad something so simple can make her rough time a little easier!