Strawberry Shortcake...

Right after my birthday, I got this craving. Strawberry Shortcake. It would not go away. I love food, can you tell? Well, I decided to take pics like the http://www.pioneerwoman.com/ The recipe my mother uses is from the Betty Crocker Cookbook. "Pat In The Pan Shortcakes" check out www.bettycrocker.com for more info.


This was the first attempt. Helping John paint and baking do NOT go together.
Emma wanted to be in a pic.

Second attempt, just right!

My serving. Yum.

Half way through. I took my time. Yum, again! Perfect with a glass of milk, does a body good!

This really reminded me of home. Mom always makes this in the Spring when strawberries are in season. Wish she was here to share it with me. I may have to have her make it in July when we go back to visit Iowa.

I will be posting about sweet corn soon. I can't wait to have some of that! Hope it's ready in July!

My 32nd Birthday...

It started in Iowa with both the Stark's and Leinen's getting breakfast on Monday the 24th. Gifts were given and opened! And food was eaten, yummy!

Some of the gift I got! Yes, rain boots. I really need them. San Antonio has no gutters in the streets. Water just flows every where and streets flood when it rains.

On Wednesday the 26th, my birthday, we went to the Kiddie Park http://www.kiddiepark.com/ near downtown San Antonio. Our Sunday School class had a play date planned. We had fun with friends and the kids really enjoyed riding on all the rides. It was perfect for them!

I got myself lunch on the way home. I have enjoyed Bill Millers "Poor Boy" sandwich a few times since moving. They are good!

That same night we went to the Olive Garden. We tried to take three different pictures and this was the best one if you can believe it!

Emma enjoys pasta just like her parents!

On Friday John and I got a sitter and we went out to again, yes I milk my birthday for all it's worth! The restaurant I picked was Milanos http://www.milanos.com/ they have this garlic butter sauce that comes with their bread sticks that is SO good! Yummy, again!

John was glad that now my birthday celebrating was over. Got three dinners out of it! I love my birthday!!! I am also very thankful for my family and friends, they make it special!

Do to the state of my friend Becca's blog today, I have to post this! I know she will LOVE it!

This is what I found when I got home today for my morning run.




A scorpion!



I am sure you all will enjoy this one! I got it with my shoe. Yes, I took pics after it was dead. I am wondering if they get bigger as they grow. Well this one will never know!

Enjoy this pics Becca! Can't wait to see you next week!

New name again...

Yep, this came to me today. I kind of liked it. Going with it for a while. Now I am thinking it sounds like a country music band? Oh well, keeping it for now!

Maybe my sis could come up with a cool new look for me too! I have a hard time being creative!

My Mother's Day...

Card Evan made in Sunday School this morning! I loved it!




My other cards and flowers from today!

Ok, so this was my day! Let me start by saying that I cleaned yesterday, so that I would not have to today!

Went out for donuts with the kids for breakfast, no clean up in kitchen!

Got donuts holes for Sunday School brunch. Forgot to bake coffee cake because I was cleaning yesterday! No cleanup once again!

Ate lunch at Freddy's. I wanted a different place, but the kids love this place, so good eaters! Once again no clean up!

Boys played the Wii this afternoon and Emma took a nap. I read a book and got a nap in!

John went and got me Chinese food for dinner! I make popcorn for the kids. Easy clean up!

Picked up movie "Planet 51" for the kids this evening, so I can blog!

Kids in bed! A movie for me "The Young Elizabeth" can't wait!

A great day! I love my family so much! God has blessed me with, I think, the BEST kids in the world!

Today also brings me to thoughts of my own Mom and John's Mom. We missed getting to see them today. I must say I had a hard time with missing this holiday more than I did the others this Spring. It was kind of weird! I was so thankful to hear that Jenn went out with Terry and Mary for lunch. And my brother Joe took my mom out to lunch, what a guy! Justine had prom last night, so she went out tonight with my mom for dessert! This was also a different holiday for them as well, they had several kids not in town to see them. Glad for the technology of the phone today, it was good to hear the voices of Grandma's today!

My sister Judy wrote a blog about my mom! simplyjudybligh.blogspot.com if you want to read it, almost made me cry!

Also, I keep thinking about how lucky we are to have two Grandma's back home who love our kids so much. Yes, we took the only Grand kids away for them a few months ago, but I must say, they have been so understanding about it. Since we have been gone we have gotten cards, packages, phone calls, skype phone calls and messages on facebook! In Feb. Terry and Mary came down to help unpack and watch the kids. That was nice! My mom has been a great support any time I just need to vent via the phone. It may drive her nuts, but I really appreciate all the time given just to listen to me babble!

Now it's on to getting ready for our trip back to Iowa in two weeks.

Happy Mother's Day!

And I am still learning how to post pic on here, sorry! Need John's help again!

My little hill billy...

Ok, I should be glad that Emma can't read or really understand what I am saying right now. All I can think about is that she will not have any front teeth until she is seven. This is just starting to hit me. It really is getting to me. I don't know if I am ready to have a daughter with no front teeth. It makes me sad. I feel guilty. Maybe if I has made lunch and left the laundry I could have prevented this. I am so emotional right now. She is fine and it could have been much worse! Praise the Lord it was not! And she is still the same little girl as she was before! She now just has a little lisp when she talks.

I am posting this pic because it shows what her mouth looks like. She really likes to show you her teeth. I am so glad she is young. She will never know the difference.

Emma is still learning to eat. Every morning it's like she has to retrain herself. I think she forgets. It is sad to see her forget and then look at you and say "hurt". Oh my heart. Don't think I can handle much more. Can't wait for the healing to begin. Emma's mouth and my emotions!

Emma has an accident...

Where do I start? I had no idea I would spend 4 hours of my day in a dentist and oral surgeon office.

About 11:30am I hear this heart breaking scream. Emma is hurt! I am upstairs doing laundry. I yell at the boys asking what has happened. They all have been fighting this morning, so I was a little tired of being a ref. As I start to head down stairs, Emma is on her way up and when I see her, oh man, my heart drops. She is covered in blood! I don't know what to do. I just look at her. Try and see her mouth. Then I see her front right tooth sticking straight out. I knew we needed a dentist. Then I freak. WE DON'T HAVE A DENTIST YET!!! I put Emma in the tub, now still freaking about how much more blood I am seeing. Call John, he is in the Children's Ministry office. God is good. They get him the number of a dentist. He calls, they tell us to come right over. My GPS does not get me all the way there. Ugh. Technology!!! There are THREE dentist offices on this intersection and they all have some sort of Stone Oak in their names. UGH, again!!! I am on the phone now with John yelling for him to tell me where this place is! He is ALREADY there!!! Then he sees me and guides me in. Perfect timing. They are on lunch, which means, no patients are there!!! Other kids do not have to see a little girl with blood all over her come into see the dentist. The boys light up, this is a pediatric office, so movies and video games are everywhere. They start to play and we get to take care of Emma. Next, X-ray. Daddy gets to hold Emma and she does great! We get her back to her room and they put Dora on! A TV is in the ceiling. Also, fish are all over the walls as well as sand!!! The dentist informs us that the three teeth have to come out. This still does not hit me. They get us an appointment with an oral surgeon. They can't put her under. We don't want her to remember a thing! Back in the van we now drive to the surgeon to get the pulling done. While we are waiting for the doctor, Emma starts to perk up. She is talking and wants to check out all the equipment. I am so thankful for this. Right before the surgery, I sign the consent form. The nurse explains to me all they are going to do. I realize now her teeth are coming out. She will now not have these three front teeth until the premaments grow in. Oh man, this is so weird. What is she going to look like? Is her speech going to change? Will she still be cute, of course, nothing could change that! Now it's time for Emma to drink her calming drug. They have told me it was juice. I say ok. Right as I am going to give her the cup they tell me, oh yes, this stuff does not taste good. Great. I know she is going to spit it out. She drinks it right down! I guess she was hungry! And the prayers were working! Praise the Lord.

This whole time the boys are watching NIK in the lobby. Wow, these Docs sure know how to entertain! And in between, John takes them to eat at Wendy's. This brings me to thoughts of John.

He met me at the dentist,

He helped Emma while I did paper work.

He took the boys to lunch.

He was there for Emma to see when she woke up after surgery.

He went to HEB to get jello for Emma on the way home.

He did not to back to work.

He stayed with us the whole time.

I am SO THANKFUL him!

I LOVE him!

Now back to the story...

This all started with Ean spinning Emma on the office chair. I did not see this happen, so we have the story from a six year old boy. Ean, "I was spinning Emma on the chair, she fell and hit the chair." He felt really bad and when he came up the stairs after Emma he was saying "I will never do that again!" He was very concerned and did not like seeing her blood.

Things I am thankful for...

Emma was a perfect patient.

Only baby teeth.

The boys were perfect.

The dentist did not have patients!

John was with the perfect people at the perfect time!

Friends were willing to take the boys if we needed it!

When Emma came to, John said she was shaking, but he took her and we were ready to go! She was starving! She saw the Wendy's bag in the van and started to cry, she wanted french fries. It's now 3:30pm. The last time she ate was 8am. Jello and juice go down well at home! Very thankful again! By 6pm we are up playing with dolls and light sabers. Then we head off to WalMart for a new toy!

Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers for Emma today! We felt them and know God was with us!

Now I am off to bed for a good cry, yep, my daughter will not have three front teeth until she is 7 yreas old or so. Wow! Ok, I need to stop.

Have posted some photos to FB.