Thursday, January 29, 2009

Just wanted to share

I just wanted to share, what I think is a mighty cute picture. I just love Kellan's expression, its like he got caught doing something really, really bad. Which, lets be honest, that's just not possible !!!

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Kitty's new favorite place

Most of you don't even know we have a cat, but we do, and he's big one. Linus showed up on Brady's door step long before me and has been part of his/our family ever since. Quite honestly I was never really a cat person, but who doesn't love a cat that uses the doggy door which means no litter box and pretty much entertains himself and lives outside 90% of the time. He will though, when the coast is clear, meaning no guest are present and Kellan is asleep wonder into my lap on the couch for a good rubbin. He has had many favorite places around the house to lay, but most of them have disappeared. He loved the extra couch that was in whats now Kellan's room & the big red chair in the office, both are now gone. Pretty much any good comfy spot has been vanished. Currently he hangs in Brady's office chair or on my kitchen chairs. But in the last day or so, he's found a new good spot.




In case your wondering, he is lying on Kellan's gym/mat thing. Kellan rarely plays with it anymore so I moved it into the office for when we are in there. But, Kellan would much rather scoot over to my computer and play with that. I think he's gonna be a computer dork like daddy, he's obsessed.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Wagon Fun

Kellan got a wagon for Christmas from his Bibi & Pa. So far it has lived in my living room because there is no room in the garage, and not because my car is in there, but because of my husbands CRAP! Yesterday, for the first time, Kellan & I took it outside and went for a ride. He seemed to enjoy it.

The early years

This year for my birthday (in Oct.) mom did something very, very special. She sent me a goodie box filled with all kinds of treasures. There are too many to list but for example she sent my baby book, old scrapbook my dad started, her old jewelry box my dad had bought for her and many many pictures. She also spent the many hours it takes to scan old photo's and made me a CD from when before I was born and of my childhood. I will cherish these memories for ever. Thanks mom.


Mom & dad's wedding day, they are now divorced.



Mom & Dad anxiously awaiting my arrival.


My PaPaw holding me. FYI, I never got to know him this way, he had a stroke when I was a little girl.


Uncle John, Dossie (g-ma), PaPaw, mom, Jennifer (sister) & me.


Me in a fancy cowgirl outfit.


I think this is from Christmas 19??

Friday, January 23, 2009

Where do I begin ???

As I sit here looking through all the pictures I have taken in the last week or so, its overwhelming. I can't believe all the talents my son now has. Everyday, its something new, or at least improvement on what he previously learned. He's still not crawling on on fours, but he gets where he's going with his swimming like motion on the floor. He will get to all fours to look around, then its down to the floor when its time to move. He has learned to sit up from a lying position, very talented !! Even though we're still toothless, we have started Kellan on big boy food. Some days its what we eat in the handy-chopper, some #3 baby foods, I've even tried some homemade wonders. In addition to that we are trying to let him self feed puffs, fruit and crackers which is very messy, to say the least !! My kitchen is no longer a safe place, as he has found his way into it, and of course as all kids do, he like to eat Tupperware, yum yum, oh and he has found the occasional piece of dog food, but I don't think its made it to his mouth yet, hope not !!
Standing in my crib, againYummy cracker !!Why kick my stove ??

Mexican Corn Bread

This one I found in Grandje's stash but it was clipped from the newspaper, rather than a hand written one.

Mix
1 ½ cup milk
1 ¾ cup yellow cornmeal
3 eggs
¾ tsp soda
¾ tsp salt
1/3 cup oil
1 can cream style corn
Pour ½ of this mixture in a greased oblong pan or large iron skillet. Sprinkle with:
1 lb browned & seasoned ground beef
1 onion, chopped
2 chopped hot peppers
½ lb grated cheese
Pour rest of batter over mixture; bake @ 450 for 45 to 60 minutes.


I would assume you could use a pkg of cornbread mix these days and it would work the same ??

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Lonesome ?

It always seems to amaze me, all the funny/odd things we find at my late Grandje & Grandjim's house. We are finally getting close to the end of cleaning out the house and getting it ready to sale. As we were going thru yet another box-of-stuff, I found this typed.


Lonesome?
Like to meet new people?
Like a change?
Like excitement?
Like a new job?
Just screw up 1 more time!


HeHeHe......

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Kellan Cartoon By Tori

This is the cutest thing ever !!!! My sweet niece (Tori) called me last night wanting to know what Kellan's Halloween costume was. She said my mom had given her a picture of him in it and she was going to make a cartoon from it. Honestly, I had know idea what she meant. This morning, mom calls me and tells me to check my e-mail. This is what I found.

What a talented little girl. Love you Tori, Thanks.

Friday, January 16, 2009

Oops, he did it again

Again, I turn around for 1/2 a second, turn back and he's on his feet again. I have yet to see how he does it.

Yummy Tetrazzinni-2 ways

One of my all time favorite casseroles is good ole Tetrazzinni. My mom has always made it the way her mom (my Dossie) made it. I thought my dads mom's (Grandje)was the same also. But as I continue my journey of going through my Grandjean's recipes, I came acroos her version. There's not much diffrence, but just enough.

This version was written by my mommy, Laura

This recipe has been in our family since I was a girl in the late l950's. We lived next door to Lloyd & Maxine Dudley on Klondike in Dallas, Texas. Lloyd was a dental student at Baylor University downtown Dallas. Maxine made Chicken Tetrazzinni one day & invited us over for dinner. We loved it ! And mother got the recipe & we've been using this recipe since then. It's great & great for leftover Chicken or Turkey after the holidays.


CHICKEN (or) TURKEY TETRAZZINNI

l Large Canned Chicken (Dark Meat) (or)
(2 Fryers)(3 1/2 - 4 lbs of Meat)
4 oz. Spaghetti
1/4 lb. Butter
1/2 Cup Flour
l Pint Sweet Milk (Evaporated)
1/4 lb. American Cheese (cut in small cubes)
1/4 lb. Old English Cheese (comes in the jar)
l Can Cream of Mushroom Soup (undiluted)
3-4 Stalks Celery (finely chopped)
1 Medium Onion (finely chopped)
l Box Ritz Crackers (enough to top cassorole)

* BAKE @ 375 for 30-40 Minutes
( Better if prepared the day before & baked the next day ).
* ADD CRACKERS CRUMBS JUST BEFORE BAKING.


Boil & De-Bone Meat & Cut into Small Cubes
Boil Spaghetti in Chicken Stock (or) Chicken Bouillon
Finely Chop - Onion & Celery - Then Boil in Chicken Stock til tender

Make White Sauce:

In Large Pot.......Mix (over low heat Butter, Flour, Milk, American Cheese, Old English Cheese & Mushroom Soup til you have a smooth creamy sauce.

Add.....Cooked & Drained Spaghetti & Cubed Meat to White Sauce (Mix all Together)

Pour into 'buttered' baking dish. (Makes a lot....use two dishes) Top with Ritz Cracker Crumbs before baking.


Now this is my Grandje's version

Chicken or Turkey Tetrazzini
Given to Grandje by Mary Wilson
4 oz jar pimentos (chopped)
½ stick butter
2 rounded tbs flour
2 cup milk
3/8 tsp garlic salt or powder
1 green pepper chopped
4 oz jar mushrooms (chopped)
1 can mushroom or celery soup
½ lb Velveeta cheese
1 cut up / 2 cups ???(can’t read her writing, maybe it’s the meat??)
4 oz spaghetti
Black pepper to taste
Make cream sauce out of butter, flour, & milk. When it begins to thicken add cheese, green pepper, pimentos, mushroom, soup & black pepper to taste.
Have spaghetti ready (better if cooked in chicken broth).
Mix all together & pour into buttered Pyrex & bake 45 min-1 hour or until bubbly @350.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Enough with the growing up already !!!

Someone please explain to me why my baby is growing up soooooo fast. Seems like yesterday he was a itty bitty baby. But no more..................Yesterday I put him on his bobo in front of his stage toy thing so I could run out to the car for 1 minute. When I came back in, this is what I found.



How is it possible ??? Now he has in the last few days with someone helping him kinda pulled him self up, but it takes him a while. He did this all by himself & quick. I can't figure out how he didn't pull the toy on top of him ???

Also, another very exciting happening. Last night at dinner ( just he & I, daddy was still at work) he mumbled a new syllable, mamamama. I know he has know clue what he said, but its a start. Oh, & I got that on video to probe it to daddy.

Tawakoni Texas Pie & Frosted fruit salad

2 more recipes from my Grandje's collection. Both sound super yummy. Its weird I don't remember her making either of these ???
Tawakoni Texas Pie


FYI Tawakoni is a lake in east Texas, near where Grandje & Grandjim lived
This recipe was found handwritten from the kitchen of Jean McDaniel, & dated
4-15-1976.


1 can pie filling (any kind)
1 can crushed pineapple-drained
1 can Eagle Brand Milk
1 large carton Cool-Whip
1 cup nut meats-chopped
Mix & chill in 2 pie crust.

Frosted Fruit Salad

2 3oz pkgs strawberry gelatin
1 10oz pkg frozen strawberries
2 large ripe bananas
1 15 ¼ can crushed pineapple
1 cup sour cream (optional)

In large bowl combine gelatin, 2 cups boiling water & strawberries; set aside until strawberries are thawed. In small bowl, mash bananas with pineapple, stir into gelatin. Refrigerate until set.

Monday, January 12, 2009

As if.....

As if I have nothing better to do today than blog, I do, promise. But I'm waiting for Kellan to wake up then we have places to go and people to see, so no point in starting laundry, or cleaning now !! Anyways, notice my new profile picture. I cut my hair & am so glad. As part of my "I need to get my booty in shape" campaign, I thought it would be a nice boost and help motivate me.

What we learned this week

My goodness, how fast little ones learn. I swear it seemed like Kellan hadn't done a single new thing in like forever, then all the sudden...... Whooo. When I came home from Houston last Sunday, I tried not to get upset when Kellan moved 2 knee steps across the floor thinking he started crawling while I was gone. So, I asked daddy, "How longs he been doing this" Daddy said, "That's the 1st I seen him do it". Yippy, I didn't miss anything. Since then, he's rockin & rollin. I haven't seen a full on crawl yet, but he's got the army crawl thing down real good. And as if that wasn't enough excitement for one week, he has on many occasions pulled himself up to his knee's and feet. Wow, it's so exciting. These are some random pictures showing his new talents from this weekend. We have been helping aunt Robin (Brady's sis) move and she bought Kellan some new fun (big boy) toys to play with when he's over there.




I promise he does enjoy these thing's & he is having a great time. I'm not sure why he gives me that blank stare when I point the camera at him, but yet when I put it away, he's laughin & screamin at his exciting accomplishments.

FYI, he's riding a v-tech alphabet train. It gets 2 thumbs up from me. It has many, many learning options. And lots of great songs. Thanks aunt Robin !!

Kellan's first Christmas

Even though its been like forever, I figure I should still put a few pictures up from Christmas. We had a great holiday. It was such a different kinda fun this year having Kellan around. Kellan I went to grandma Dossie's on Christmas eve while Brady worked. My mom (Granny) had mailed a big box of goodies for us and we opened them over there. Then we went to Bibi & Pa's house and spent the night and Christmas day with them and the rest of the fam.



Wednesday, January 7, 2009

A yummy recipe

My dear sweet late g-ma (Grandji) was an awesome cook. I am the proud custodian of her recipe collection. I have high hopes of getting them all typed for sharing and creating some sort of book for the family. Slowly but surely, I will succeed. From time to time I thought I would share a few with the rest of the world. This one sounded extremely yummy !! Let me know if anyone is brave enough to try.


Pizza Casserole
8 oz spaghetti, cooked as directed
2 lbs ground beef
1 small onion, diced
1 can tomato soup
1 cam cream of mushroom soup
2 tbsp Worchester sauce
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp garlic salt
Mozzarella cheese for the top
Brown meat, onion together. Drain, add spices and soups. Alternate beef mixture with cooked spaghetti in 2 quart casserole dish. Bake @ 350 for 30 minutes, top with mozzarella cheese, bake 10 minutes longer. Let cool for 5-10 minutes then cut into squares and serve.

This is a picture of a few of the bagillion cook books my g-ma had. They are really cool, some are from the 40's and 50's.