Zapped!

I have to admit, I feel great, just like I did when I was pregnant with Price! But there is one thing that has surprised me in the last week...and that is my inability to tolerate heat! I love summertime and everything that goes with it. I have never been one to complain about Oklahoma's oven roasting temperatures or shied away from being out in it. But I must confess, the heat is zapping me of all energy and fun in the daytime sun.

I was walking from the grocery store to my car today, and the muscles in my legs and arms were burning with weakness. The heat radiating from the concrete made it hard to breathe. Once in the car, AC on full blast, I felt worn out! Sounds silly, right? It does to me too! I NEVER imagined that being only 4 months pregnant would make me feel SO different in the heat!

My shrubs need to be trimmed (they are starting to block the view of the backyard from the living room window). I just know I don't have the stamina to tackle it! Price and I swim in the pool before 11 a.m or after 6 p.m. because it is too hot to be out side in the midday. Bike rides only happen before breakfast or after 8 p.m. because Mama is a wimp!

So we spend the afternoon reading books, watching movies, coloring, painting, practicing letters, playing with play dough, doing puzzles or going to the library. It is working out fine. Price is a real trooper. He doesn't even know the reason why we stay inside all afternoon; he hasn't thought twice about it, so I don't feel bad.

As long as I stay cool, I feel wonderful! I just had no idea that I would be so zapped by the heat...and we haven't even reached the "dog days" of summer yet! LOL!

It's a date

Price and I have had many busy days lately. Today, we just stayed home. This afternoon, Price found his way upstairs and into my bed. He doesn't take scheduled naps anymore, so I was surprised he made himself comfy and went to sleep. I had to capture the moment.

On the rare occasion, that Price sleeps during daylight hours, he usually does not make it back to sleep at his usual 8:00 bedtime. So, I made some dinner (that he was obviously not thrilled about) and after he ate, I surprised him with a treat....MOVIE NIGHT! Jon was gone this evening, and since Price had a nap and I knew he would have the stamina to make it past bedtime without any meltdowns; we went on a little date. We made a trip to Dollar Tree to get some Mike and Ike candy and then on the the theater. We watched the movie UP. Very cute and funny (a little emotionally deep for Price's understanding, but good none the less).

At the theater Price chose to sit in my lap during the movie, even though the whole row was empty! Who can turn that down!? I know my days are numbered of having Price wanting to sit in my lap, choosing to hold my hand and asking me to come "snuggle" him in the middle of the night. I could not help but hope that as the years pass, it will not be anything unusual for Price and I to hang out together and do things that good friends would do. I pray that when he is 11, 16, 21, 40...that he will still want to spent some quality time with Mom. May there be MANY MANY more dates to come!

Blooms are Heirlooms

About 6 months ago, my parents sold their house and moved to another location in town. I was raised in the house they sold. It is the only home that I ever remembered. Not only was it the place where I spent my childhood, but when my parents bought the house, it belonged to my grandparents (my dad's mom and dad). My dad was raised in that house too. I have a picture of him at his high school graduation in that old house.

My parents sold it to a developer who planned to move the house to a new location and then use the land where the house was to put up a shopping center (strip mall with businesses and such). Friday, the developer called my parents and told them that he had tried everything to get the house moved, but the Department of Transportation was blocking his every option. They were going to have to tear the house down. He then told my parents that he knew the house had been in our family for a long time and if there was anything that we wanted, we could go get it. He left the door unlocked for us to go in.

Saturday morning, we went to the house. I went in. I was so sad and happy at the same time. The paint on the walls looked so warm and pretty. It smelled like home. The sunshine poured in through the large windows and looked so refreshing. The sound of my feet on the floor and the squeaks in the doors were so familiar, like they had been seared into my senses. I closed my eyes and wished there was another place in world like this that made me feel so comfortable and safe.

I could not help but have a cleansing cry as I walked out of the house. My mom hugged me and my dad teared up. After that, we began what we had come there to do...get flowers from the flowerbed. There were three hydrangeas. One had been there since my grandma planted it in 1962. The other two hydrangeas and an azalea, my mom had planted after my Papa's funeral 10 years ago. We also dug up a peony plant that belonged to my grandma and then was moved to my parent's house.

We loaded and transported the plants to my house. My mom, dad and I worked to get the flowers settled into my flowerbed. My mom very sincerely said "I pray to God they make it." I said "Yes, lets do! Lets pray they make it." We all took off our gardening gloves. My mom, me, Price and my dad held hands and lined up in front of the flowers. My dad began to pray. He thanked God for creating the flowers and for the special person (my grandma) who they had come from. My dad began to cry and could not finish praying. I was crying too. My mom then prayed that the flowers would take root, survive, thrive and continue to be a joy to our family for many years to come.

Over the last few days I have been giving my flowers a major dose of TLC. I have been checking the soil, keeping an eye on the leaves, watering, and watching the sun to make sure they are not getting too much sunlight.

I have thought a lot about my grandma in the last week. She loved flowers. You name it, she could tell you about it. If you didn't know the name of it, she could tell you. I truly believe I got my love of flowers from her. My knowledge is not near as vast as hers, but I do very much appreciate their beauty. My dad told me she would be so proud to know these plants mean so much to me. I feel they are more than blooms...they are heirlooms.

TASTY TUESDAY

CHICKEN SALAD SANDWICHES
2 large cans all white meat chicken
miracle whip or light mayo
1 bunch purple grapes
3 red apples
1 can crushed pineapple, drained
1 loaf whole wheat bread

Open cans of chicken, drain and put chicken in a medium size bowl. Shred chicken with a fork to break up large chunks. Add miracle whip or light mayo by the tablespoon. Mix well with chicken between each dose of mayo until satisfied with the moisture. Rinse and cut grapes in half (use as much as you like). Add to chicken and mix well.

Rinse and cut apples into very small pieces (it may not take all three, again, use as much as you like!). Add apples to chicken and mix well. Open the can of crushed pineapple. Drain as much juice from the can as possible. Remove pineapple from the can. Again try to remove as much juice as possible (too much juice makes for soggy sandwiches). Add as much pineapple as desired to the mixture. I love pineapple so I add the whole can.

One way I can tell if I want to add something is to smell the bowl of chicken salad (I know its weird), but I can tell if it needs more apple, grapes, pineapple or mayo by smelling it.

Pile chicken salad on to your bread and enjoy! We sometimes like to lightly toast our bread before making the sandwiches. It is the very best on deli croissants! This meal goes really well with a side of fresh cantaloupe and strawberries! Yummy!

My Hubby's Birthday

I love this man and I love celebrating his birthday! We don't make big plans or give extravagant gifts; and sometimes we don't give presents at all. I love Jon's birthday though. I like to give long hugs and sweet kisses to my man, send text messages and voicemails that tell him "Happy Birthday," and meet up with him for lunch.

It has been a long standing tradition for me to make his birthday cake, so Price and I did that yesterday morning and I left all the decorating up to Price. Price picked out a chocolate cake and cream cheese frosting that he wanted to be dyed blue with lots of "sparkles" (which are sprinkles) on top. We spent the evening at my parent's house. They made dinner and we brought the cake.

I suppose I like Jon's birthday for the same reason I enjoy celebrating Price's...I get to reflect on who he is and what he means to me. I think about what has happened over the last year and pray for the year to come. I am so very thankful that God created Jon. I am thankful for the day he was born. I pray for many more birthdays and God's blessing over my dear husband.

TASTY TUESDAY

CRANBERRY CITRUS SALAD
2 cups fresh cranberries, chopped (I use the bagged Ocean Spray cranberries in the produce aisle)
1 large can mandarin oranges, mostly drained
2 stalks celery, chopped =about 1 cup
small red onion, chopped =about 1/3 cup
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
a pinch of ground ginger-to taste
10 oz pkg of fresh spring salad mix
1/3 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped
2 tbsp olive oil

In a food processor or "chopper", chop cranberries. Transfer to a medium size bowl. Open mandarin oranges. Use 2-3 tbsp of juice from oranges and add to cranberries. Drain remainder of juice and add oranges to the bowl. Stir in chopped celery, onion, sugar, lemon juice and ginger. Mix well and add more "pinches" ginger as desired. Cover and put in fridge for at least an hour to chill, or up to 2 days.

THIN slice or chop the mint and add to salad. Toss. Add olive oil. Toss. When ready to serve, top with cranberry mixture.

Helpful Hint: Add olive oil, then cranberry mixture on top of the salad when its ready to serve, or the lettuce gets soggy. If you want the mixture to be a little more sweet, add sugar in tiny doses and taste until it suits you.

I made this salad for a pot luck at our church and it was a hit! I made it again for Thanksgiving dinner. Even though it makes a FANTASTIC summer salad, it was pretty and perfect for the holidays. The cranberry/citrus topping is the dressing. You can add sliced roasted almonds if you prefer. I hope you enjoy this recipe! Its YUM!