nap time

A couple of weeks ago Garrison got out of his normal routine and refuses to take a nap.  He hasn't napped at school either (which I HATE, but Mrs. Robin is so gracious)!  This was yesterday when I was trying to put him down for a nap.  He may be training for a half marathon too!

lollipop

Garrison has never had a sucker, but the sweet lady at the bank gives us one (or two) for him every time we go through the drive thru.  Yesterday he saw me eat some M&Ms and I had to make a decision - people always say you have to pick your battles!!  I decided the sucker would be better than M&Ms!  :)

letter sounds

We've been working on our letter sounds, and I've been trying to get this on video.  I love his sweet voice.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

My second cooking assignment was chicken tortilla soup.  I've never made tortilla soup before, so I was a little anxious.  It was delicious!  I had a bowl and a half the night I cooked it, and over the next three days, Will ate ALL of the rest of it.  So I guess it's safe to say the soup was a hit with him.  Garrison wouldn't try it - picky boy!

I garnished mine with avocados, cilantro, sour cream and cheese.  Yummy!  I'll definitely be cooking this recipe again!

quiche

So.....I joined a cooking club.  It's called Sweet As Pie Cooking Club.  We are using recipes from The Pioneer Woman.

(I'm pausing now to give my brother time to laugh before I continue typing.  I know he's going to make fun of me!).

One of the recipes this month was quiche.  I absolutely LOVE quiche.  Will on the other hand HATES eggs and won't even taste it because he knows it has eggs in it.  Oh well, his loss!

This quiche has lots of butter and heavy cream, which I don't eat a lot of.  But it made it oh so good!

I pretty much followed the recipe with a few exceptions.  I cooked the bacon the night before, so I didn't cook the onions, mushrooms and artichokes in the same pan as the bacon.  I couldn't find grated swiss cheese, so I just bought a pack of slices and cut them up.  Which would have been fine, but I didn't buy enough, so I also added some cheddar cheese!  I also divided it between two pie crusts (that I bought....I'm not so sure I'm ready to tackle making a pie crust).

And although Will didn't like it...Garrison loved it!!  (Will can fend for himself).

buttons

I really do love this blog because it gives me a place to record all the little things that I know I'll forget.  Yesterday afternoon Garrison was sitting in my lap facing me.  I had on a button up shirt, and he would point to each of the buttons.  He is in a phase of pointing to things and wanting you to say the name of it.  So each time he would point at a button, and I would say, "button."  I think I said button about 10 times.  Finally I said, "Do you have a button?"  And he lifted up his shirt.  That's right, buddy - you do have a BELLY button!!!!

This was today at nap time.  He tends to get off his schedule when he's not at home.  Yesterday he didn't take a nap all day (yes, it was exhausting).  Today he slept for two hours.  I just love his cheeks!

 

Just in the past few days he has started noticing letters everywhere.  My dad cut his name out of metal and it hangs from his curtain rod.  Tonight I was rocking him and singing the Leap Frog letter song.  As I was singing the song, he would point to that letter in his name and make that letter sound.  So sweet!

sweet boy

I miss this sweet boy.  He's at Will's parents in New Albany for a few days.  This picture was taken over Christmas.  Garrison looks amused, huh?  He has a camera in his face so much he doesn't even try to smile anymore!

MS Blues Half Marathon

Yesterday I ran the MS Blues Half Marathon in Jackson.  Today I feel like I got run over by an 18 wheeler.

My time was 2 hours 30 seconds.  It's my slowest time, but considering I haven't run over 4 miles since my last half (November 19), I was pleased to even finish.  Seriously.  I was mad around mile 6 that I didn't have my cell phone to call will (which would have woken him up) to come pick me up!

At mile 3, I saw a guy pee on the side of the course. 

At mile 11, the winner of the full marathon passed me.  He was on mile 24!

The course was extremely hilly.  It was mentally as well as physically tough.  But I'm glad I did it!  I'm keeping a running log of how many miles I run in 2012.  After yesterday I'm not sure I'll ever be able to walk normally again, much less run!  Ha!

The highlight definitely was seeing Will at the finish line!  I was so excited he made it!  The whole race I thought about how much I love him - despite everything we've been through I love that crazy guy!

family picture

We didn't get around to ordering Christmas cards this year.  I was so busy creating/ordering/photographing everyone else's that I didn't have time to do ours.  I designed one.  And we had pictures taken.  Then I said it would be a New Years card.  And that didn't happen either.  So I decided I'd at least share the family picture.  Every year I get a 16x20 gallery wrap canvas of our Christmas picture.  I can't wait to get this one (maybe I'll actually order the canvas soon!)