2011 Highlights

This was my first full year of being a stay at home Mom....it was awesome, but it had it's challenges.  Eric left for Ranger school on January 1.  John would cry for him most nights.  I would lay in bed with him for an hour or more until he finally went to sleep and by that time it was time for Chloe to go to bed. Around February John had a serious bout with the flu.  I was up at night with him because that's when the fever would spike, I was so worried and tired.  It lasted a good week and he started getting better then I got really sick and of course got a sinus infection.  Being sick and not having a your husband around to help really sucks! We had limited communication and when we did it wasn't for long. Eric finally graduated and came back home in May.

In the spring while cleaning out the natural area in out backyard I ran into a little poison ivy.  I have never had poison ivy and I thought I was immune.  I should have known better with all my allergies,  What started out as a few bumps turned into an eyes swollen shut, whelps all over face, swollen ears, awful mess.  It took almost four days before the steroids and antibiotics even kicked in.  It finally went away but all summer I would have little flare up of very sensitive skin for some reason.

We had a pretty laid back summer, just a few trips to the beach.  This was last summer we would ever spend at the beach condo in Atlantic Beach.  So long Sea Spray, you gave us so many memories that will be cherished forever!

Chloe started playing the violin this year.  She was upset after her recital that they only played two short songs, but it was good and I loved seeing her play.  We could have a budding musician.

It was a quiet year, but quiet is good I guess.  I am thankful that all of my family is intact with no major illnesses or problems.  I have a few goals set for 2012 so if I am able to reach them and maintain that will be my highlight for next year.

10th Birthday........almost

Madras Party Lime Birthday Invitation

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Back From My Siesta

Sorry for not updating for so long, but life just takes over sometimes and other things take priority. John is growing like a weed, Chloe is going full speed, Eric is leaving for 34 days tomorrow, I have been super busy at work, we are trying to purchase a new car, I am taking a cake decorating class, and it is just all-around crazy. Hopefully, while Eric is gone I can catch up on some things around the house. It's funny how having the man of the house around can make for so much more housework. Grant it, this will be the first time he has been gone since John has been born, but John's is pretty much self-contained.

Mother and I have been taking the Wilton cake decorating class for the past month. Last night we finished up the last class for Course I and we will be taking Course II starting in July. We have had so much fun doing this. It gives us a chance to talk in the car and do something fun together instead of always talking about the kids and planning what time they need to picked up or when the last time John ate etc. We have had some really great conversations! It is time consuming having to make all the buttercream icing and having the cakes ready every week, but I really like. Here are pictures of the cakes I have done so far, along with some chocolate suckers that I made.

This was my first cake.

This is the my second cake, my smooth icing is getting better.

I made these suckers for Chloe's class at the ens of the school year.

This was a basket I made for a baby shower.

I will try not be gone so long next time!!!!

Mother's Day Weekend

I did lots of cooking over the weekend. We had an Allen family reunion on Saturday at the Buckhorn Methodist Church. I was asked to bring a dessert and I had just been reading in my Cooking Light magazine and found a recipe for Chocolate Mint Bars. Chocolate and mint are one of my favorite combinations so I had to give it whirl. I usually take pictures of all my creations and I was so busy I totally forgot so here is a shot from Cooking Light.

We had invited my Mom and Step dad over for a cook-out on Mother's Day so I whipped up some Potato Salad and Baked Beans and Eric was in charge of the Barbecue Chickens. For dessert I made a Strawberry Trifle. It was from a Paula Deen recipes that she called Strawberry Shortcake, but it's really a trifle. It was super rich, but all of Paula's recipes are anyway. We had a wonderful time. I promise to come back and add photos!

Ok...so it's been a long week since my last post. I did have a fabulous weekend filled with strawberry picking, working out in the yard, soccer games. I have been spending some quality time with my Mom lately and it has been very nice. We were in Cary on Tuesday night looking at used Volvo's. We really need to get rid of our Tahoe but I don't think we will be able to right now due to the market. Chloe and John had their first babysitter to come over. Chloe really enjoyed having a teenager around since she already thinks she is thirteen. I do have new photos to post of the strawberry picking and Chloe on her new Bonzai Slip'n'Slide so stay tuned.

National Day of Prayer

Today is the National Day of Prayer. The National Day of Prayer was established by Congress in 1952. An amendment to the law was signed by former President Ronald Reagan in 1988, which set the first Thursday in May as the national event. I was so grateful to be able to stand on the steps of the courthouse in my hometown and pray freely and openly with others from my community. This year's theme, "if you will", was 'Prayer! America's Strength & Shield'. The message, music, and prayers had a very patriotic flavor. Our country is in desperate need of all the prayers we can give. Not only for the soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, but for everyone here at home. It has gotten tough for most of us and I fear it may only get worse. Please send prayer forward for our Government, Military, Media, Businesses, Education, Church, and Family. By remembering these seven prayer points, we can cover all Americans with God's power. It was a very good way to spend a lunch hour on such a beautiful day. Thanks for going with me Jennifer.

I'm Getting There.....very slowly

What a busy weekend we had. We had a Military Ball in Greenville on Friday night from which we did not get home until 2:30am and then we had to get up and go down to Wilmington to visit my parents. We finally got back home around 6:30 Sunday evening. Needless to say, my house is still a wreck! I have managed to put together a dinner menu for May. I only plan Monday thru Thursday because I like to leave the weekends open. We never know if we may be out of town or want to do something special. This also gives Eric a chance to decide what he would like to eat. I have gone through the grocery store flyers and picked out which meats and other items are on sale and make my lists accordingly. I only buy meats and fish that are on sale from Harris Teeter. I buy my fresh and frozen produce from Food Lion and then my staple items from Wal-Mart. Seems like a lot of running around but all three stores are within a mile of each. I am going to take an hour each night to do a little cleaning so it's not piled up over the weekend. I really want to get outside and do some planting this weekend.

Chloe had a soccer game last night and she got her first goal of the season. She was so proud, she ran all the way around the field to sit in my lap and tell me she got a goal. She had a lot of coughing while running and afterwards as well. I am worried about her asthma and I hope it does not get worse. This is one trait I hate I had to pass on to her.

Oh yeah......I am still going to the gym Monday - Friday. My weight has stalled again. I need to pick up more cardio. Go to go...I'm late!