Yes!

Another one bites the dust. Our outdoor movie night was a hit.

I tried to cheat, actually.

I was going to have a bonefire plus outdoor movie night - you know, kill two birds with one stone? Yeah, but it was windy or whatever and we had to just do a regular grill-out. I wanted to risk it, but Dave said the wind was blowing right at our house.

Oh fine.

I am proud of myself though - another something checked off the List. I need to get all of these weather-dependent items out of the way and leave everything else to do over the winter.

(nice smile, Dave)

(Eve say cheese!!)

In case you aren't as obsessed as I am, here's the List:

My 30 Before 30



1. Successfully grow a garden

2. Purchase new drinking glasses (white polka dot from Target - love)

3. Sew a quilt

4. Print all past pictures since Hallie was born (making progress!)

5. Put #4 into albums.

6. Take Hallie camping.

7. Re-size my super-cute moo-moo.

8. Get (and stay) pregnant (no pressure, right?).

9. Get my ears pieced!

10. Take a tour of Woodlawn Farm.

11. Give up soda.(I am actually making progress with this.)

12. Visit Kurt in Colorado. (September!!!)

13. Find and buy black and white striped cushions for porch swing/rockers. I changed my mind.

14. Eat hibatchi with Dave.

15. Go on a job with Dave. In the semi. (we leave August 1st!)

16. Lose 5 pounds. (changed from 10 to 5...let's be realistic)

17. Organize under the kitchen sink.

18. Take a trip with Hallie and Dave. (St. Louis - to the City Museum, Brewery and Neil!)


19. Hang up plate wall in dining room.

20. Make cinnamon rolls from scratch.

21. Buy nightstands for the master bedroom.

22. Buy lamps for the master bedroom.

23. Make a headboard for the master bedroom.

24. Have new windows installed in the house. Blah.

25. Host an outdoor movie night.

26. Host a bonfire.

27. Sew curtains for the laundry room.

28. Pay off sound loan.



No Itching Here!

Today Dave and I are celebrating seven years of wedded bliss. I thought it would be interesting to try to find pictures of us before, during and after. It was very revealing.

Before:

(new years eve, 2002)

 During:

(September 20, 2003)

After:

(after our anniversary date September 18, 2010)

(what an awesome picture)

We've come a long way.

I love you, Dave! 

PS - here is last year's blog post about our anniversary. Enjoy.

That Would Be Me.

What kind of mother lets her daughter run around like this?

(that's oil from the tractor)

Actually, Hallie said it was her dad's idea. Grandma Barb chance her around trying to wipe it off to no avail.

I was fine with it...at first, until I started to think that it might seep into her ghosty skin and poison her precious blood.

It came off.

And it was pretty funny.

For Sarah.

As seen on one of my favorite blogs. She just moved to NYC and snapped a picture of the above as she was out and about.

And I thought immediately of you.

No More Kittens, Just Worms.

We have a new pet. It goes by Madison, Kimberly, Wormie or even just Baby, depending on Hallie's mood.

It's a wonderfully green inch worm that truly inches around. He/she inches forward...inch, inch, inch....until it is flat, and then it's back legs do a little hop to catch up with the front feet and there you have it - inching.

I love to watch it. It even stands on it's back legs to peer around. Probably planning an escape. Hallie is very gentle with Baby and even took it with her to Lucille's Sunday night.

Pretty cute.

Where I'm From.

Do you know this song?

It's by Jason Michael Carrol. It's a good song - something something homecoming queen. La la la. I really like it, I promise. I just don't know the words. Regardless, Dave was doing sound for JMC (opener was the Lost Trailers) in South Jacksonville Saturday night. Naturally, Hallie and I went.

We met up with Bob, Brandon and Jenna and had a super fun time. Hallie had a great time taking pictures of our butts and croches, nearly blinding us all and running around like a wild woman. She kept her earplugs in like a champ and she really did have a great time...especially when her pre-k teacher, Miss Elisha was there!

Pictures I took:

Pictures Hallie took:

  

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Haaaaaarvest!

It's a time when other women are calling themselves "farm widows" and I'm calling myself LUCKY, because my husband is actually home! It's a time when we spend lots and lots of time at Grandma Lucille's house with family eating impromptu meals and testing corn. We take lots of combine rides, spend even more time outside and of course see Dave!!!

I love it. Love, love, love it.

Yesterday was the getting ready day. This means starting the combine to see if any raccoons come fly out (not this year, but there was a huge rat that scurried out from underneath - gross), changing oil, checking tire pressure, etc.

Thank goodness Hallie was there to supervise and lend a hand if needed.

Look how excited Mike is!! He can't contain himself!!!

Dave driving Old Bob.

Checking tire pressure. Looks good...looks real good.

I spy Little Mermaid underwear.

Stay tuned for pictures from the concert Saturday!

Grandma Clean.

I started panicking a bit last night. Hallie's first soccer game is this Saturday - no big deal, right? Except that Grandma Chronister aka The Grandma is coming up with my dad to watch. They are staying Friday night and Saturday night.

And my house was not up to the standard of clean that I know (even though she would never say a word) she expects.

I decided to bail out on seeing a band with my husband and get to work vacuuming, steam mopping, changing sheets, laundry, etc. Luckily, I had dusted, cleaned bathrooms and wiped down the cabinets just days before. My list wasn't as long as it normally is for a stay from The Grandma.

You see this face?

Do not be deceived.

She looks harmless. But looks are deceiving. You think I'm going to let her come into my house with unvacuumed floors and piled up laundry? Heavens no.

PS - she is also the most generous, kindest soul on earth. And her name rocks - Lowena.

2007.

Taken on this very same day in 2007.

I'm sure Hallie wants to be doing this right now.

Her poor bug bites - all over her back. She says, "scratch my itchy spots," all the time.

Boo-ya, Cinnamon Bread!

It's been awhile since I have accomplished anything on my list of 30 Things to do Before I Turn 30.

I'd better get crackin'...er, cookin'!

This weekend I decided to dominate homemade cinnamon rolls. Except, I didn't really want homemade cinnamon rolls, I wanted some cinnamon swirl bread. Like the Peppridge Farms. Yum.

I figured it was the same process as the rolls, so I am crossing this one off the list.

It was awesome!

Perfectly swirl-y, rose beautifully, tasted awesome-ly.

#20, you are done!!

Here's my recipe:

Homemade Cinnamon Bread

Pioneer Woman Cooks

Ingredients

• 1 cup Milk

• 6 Tablespoons Butter

• 2-½ teaspoons Active Dry Yeast

• 2 whole Eggs

• ⅓ cups Sugar

• 3-½ cups All-purpose Flour

• 1 teaspoon Salt

• ⅓ cups Sugar

• 2 Tablespoons Cinnamon

• Egg And Milk, Mixed Together, For Brushing

• Softened Butter, For Smearing And Greasing

Preparation Instructions

Melt butter with milk. Heat until very warm, but don’t boil. Allow to cool until still warm to the touch, but not hot. Sprinkle yeast over the top, stir gently, and allow to sit for 10 minutes.

Combine flour and salt.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, mix sugar and eggs with the paddle attachment until combined. Pour in milk/butter/yeast mixture and stir to combine. Add half the flour and beat on medium speed until combined. Add the other half and beat until combined.

Switch to the dough hook attachment and beat/knead dough on medium speed for ten minutes. If dough is overly sticky, add 1/4 cup flour and beat again for 5 minutes.

Heat a metal or glass mixing bowl so it’s warm. Drizzle in a little canola oil, then toss the dough in the oil to coat. Cover bowl in plastic wrap and set it in a warm, hospitable place for at least 2 hours.

Turn dough out onto the work surface. Roll into a neat rectangle no wider than the loaf pan you’re going to use, and about 18 to 24 inches long. Smear with 2 tablespoons melted butter. Mix sugar and cinnamon together, then sprinkle evenly over the butter-smeared dough. Starting at the far end, roll dough toward you, keeping it tight and contained. Pinch seam to seal.

Smear loaf pan with softened butter. Place dough, seam down, in the pan. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise for 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix a little egg with milk, and smear over the top. Bake for 40 minutes on a middle/lower rack in the oven.

Remove from the pan and allow bread to cool. Slice and serve, or make cinnamon toast or French toast with it.

Yummy!

Shout-Out to Eli Bridge.

Well, I think this is pretty cool.

Jacksonville is the home of the Eli Bridge Company, that manufacturers ferris wheels. Apparently Mr. W.E. Sullivan rode one at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. It became his dream to build one of his own.

"I have discovered the machine I want to design and build, a portable 'ferris wheel'", W.E. Sullivan, 1893.

He designed and built his own ferris wheel, called the Big Eli. He created Big Eli NO. 17 in 1907, which was obviously the 17th ferris wheel he built. Anyway.

No. 17 made the fair tour until it was sold to the Jacksonville Rotary Club and set up in Nichol's Park until 1985. In 1986 it was donated to the City where it was re-located to Community Park.

And that, my friends, is where we finally rode it Sunday evening.

It was awesome.

And very bright, so high up.

The end.

Go, Navy!

Hallie's second soccer practice was last night. She did great up until they scrimmaged. She came running up to me, bawling "I don't want to play soccer anymore!!" Apparently people were pushing her. To get the ball.

I had to explain things to her. Maybe I should have done this before.

Anyway, she bucked up, went back in there and played.

I don't blame the kid for not wanting to be shoved around. But she's got to get tough. I mean, she is four. Time to knock some heads together.

Not.

Back To School Feast.

We celebrated going to school with a feast. Everything was picked by Hallie.

On the menu:

Top Ramen

Broccoli

Carrots

Toast with butter

Chips

We had orange soda and Sprite in crystal goblets and had a jolly good time. Our theme for the year will be "Love to Learn," so her small gift was a book, scissors, markers, flashcards...and fruit roll-ups.

Dave was soooo excited about the Ramen. He just loves it. Can't you tell?

Also, this next picture was taken as she came bolting off the school bus that very first day. Pretty much sums it up - this kid loves school. Big time.

Open House, But I Lost My Camera.

I have great pictures of our super fancy, back-to-school feast.

But I can't find my darn camera! I remember putting it on the counter in the kitchen with her new scissors and markers. But that's it. The markers and scissors are put away, but my camera is hiding from me.

It is a crying shame, because we had Hallie's open house last night at her school.

That kid was mega excited. She dragged me and Dave around by the hands showing us every detail of her classroom.

"Mom! Mom! Here's the carpet where we sit.

And the pillows.

And here's the pottyandsinkandwecannotshutthedoorallthewaywhenwepottyandwecolorhereandmakenecklaceshereandlook

overhereatmyhomeworkandhereisourfamilypicutreandmylockerand..."

You get the idea.

This kid loves school.

Her teachers, Miss Elisha and Miss Amy love her too. They said she is a joy - of course she is. Miss Elisha was going over rules, like raising our hand, and my oh-so-perfect angel pipes up and say, "Yes, Miss Elisha, I will do anything you tell me to."

ha.

It sounds like she will be more like her father at school and less like her mother. Her father was a perfect angel. If anyone tried to talk to him while the teacher was speaking, he would look straight ahead and not pay them any attention.

I, on the other hand, always had "keri is a great student, but needs to talk less to her classmates." I was a chatterbox to the extreme. And proud of it.

I suppose it is only Day Three. Let's give her a week and then see what Miss Elisha has to say.