Still trapped

Looks like I'll be buying a new computer. Bleh. Now I have to buy my own, and one for my mom.

We are also now without a dvr. I hate directv soooo much that I just loathe calling and ordering a new one.

We have got to get a new bed. Ours is slouched to one side, and it's my full size from HS. The mattress is newer, but not new enough.

It's like every time we get a little money in, all kinds if things come up that we need.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

I'm trapped

This is such hell. Satellite is still frozen. Roads are too slick to get out on. My inlaws are here, WITH their TWO non-potty trained dogs. And their bratty 10 year old daughter.

There is a 20 foot tree limb blocking our driveway, behind their car only. It's not going to be above freezing for 2 days. Which means my too small house will have 5 extra bodies for 2 more days. With no tv.

Oh, did I already mention that my computer has apparently crashed? It just won't come on.

I'm so ready for Monday.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Icky weather! [

I am so tired of this awful weather we are having this winter.

Thursday it is supposed to be freezing rain most of the day with extremely good chances of power outtages. It's not supposed to be above freezing until Saturday afternoon.

I really hope they are overestimating.

Terrible Twos

Is it really time for them already?

I'm praying that the reason Archer has been such a punk is only because of his ears and not just because he's becoming a mean child.

We went to my friends birthday party today and he was by far the worst kid there. He yelled, screeched, and ran from me at any given chance. He pulled Alyvia's (the birthday girl) hair and hit another baby in the face with a ball. I was mortified.

Since Chance doesn't really know any of these people, I went alone. That was definitely torture.

I miss my sweet lovey boy.

Under Construction

Sorry for the ugliness of late. I finally found out how to widen my blog post area, so I've been fiddling with that.

If you aren't on a wide screen, it does not look good, so sorry. But at least the words will be bigger!!

I think I'm done making changes, I tend to like the scrappy look, I just wish I had more time and knowledge to put into it!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Southern Vampires

Have you read the Sookie Stackhouse series? The HBO show True Blood is based on them. I'm on book four, and I really like the series.

I'll tell you why I like them.

I don't think these books are award winning material. I don't think they are the best written, as a matter of fact, most days I find a continuity error that makes me wonder how the editors missed it.

However, if you've read Twilight and are an Edward lover, you know that Stephenie Meyer makes it really hard to dislike him, let alone hate him. Even when he's being a controlling ass, it's just hard to say, "I hate that perfectly sculpted, beautiful, sparkling vampire."

Charlaine Harris' star vampire, Bill, he's not as idolized. (So far, as I said, only 4 books in.) Bill doesn't really understand modern humans, he makes errors, he says and does many wrong things, and it's OK to be pissed at him for it.

It's not crammed down your throat how perfect Bill and Sookie are together. She tells us constantly that they aren't good for each other, but they are mutually indulging in this bad for them relationship.

I like most of all that I don't feel bad for Bill when other men are nice to Sookie. I like that she isn't on his pedestal, and he isn't on hers. I like that she gets pissed at Bill, and has the self control to stay away from him when she is. I like that he gives her space and lets her be pissed.

Most of all, I like that they are adults. They have jobs, and worries, and care about bills and lack of funds. And they aren't spoiled teenagers who drive foreign cars. I think every character as driven an American built car. And they all have jobs.

Sorry, I'm getting off topic, but sitll I like these books for many reasons. But mostly they are a guilty pleasure.

Sick and tired of being sick and tired!

Why is it no matter how much a person loves their job, loves being effective and efficient, it's still extremely difficult to go to bed at a decent hour and then wake up at an indecent one the next day for said job?

I have been so tired since winter break ended I was starting to worry I was pg. (Said a prayer of thanksgiving when af arrived today.) Arch actually went to sleep at 830, and he took a super long nap today.

Chance wants us to go to a party tomorrow for our niece, but I don't have the energy his family requires?

I hate thinking and feeling this way, but summer break could not come fast enough!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Best coconut cake ever, part 2

I was monumentally frustrated last night over this cake. As you can see they ballooned out of their pans.





Today my mom came and cut it into layers for me, and I added the filling.



I finally finished it just before time to start cooking supper.



And I enjoyed a slice after dinner!

Best Coconut Cake Ever part 1

So, have you had the best coconut cake ever?

Well, neither have I. But, I saw this cake on Throw Down with Bobby Flay, and it looked AWESOME! So, I decided to make it.

Mind you, I've never made a cake from scratch. My mom used to make cakes all the time, parties weddings, etc. so I did have some idea what to do. I spent thirty freaking dollars on ingredients, that I won't be able to reuse mind you. (This cake is for sale from the original baker, for only $100 and let me tell you it's worth it.)

I have been working on this cake since 700 pm, and at 9 pm I decided to go ahead and take a break, put it in the fridge and cut, fill and frost tomorrow. Why would I cop out like that? BECAUSE, firstly I'm an idiot and got 8in pans from my mom instead of 10. So guess what that caused? If you said mushroomed cake pans and burnt smoking cake filling my kitchen/entire house with thick reeking smoke from what filled up and fell onto the burner.

THEN, while making the filling, it overflowed and burnt in my electric burners. Gag. Imagine heavy cream, butter, and vanilla burnt on the stove top.

With all of those issues, I just decided tomorrow I will cut the cake and fill it. Then make the frosting and frost it. At least everything is tasty so far!! : )

Pictures to come. (Follow up post can be found here!)

Edited to add photos:

Finished cake!

Doesn't look as good as the original, but it was tasty!

Recipe:

Ingredients

Nonstick cooking spray with flour
1 pound unsalted butter, preferably European-style
3 cups sugar
6 large eggs
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 1/2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon coconut extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spray two 10-inch round cake pans with cooking spray; set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5 to 6 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, and beat until creamy, occasionally scraping down sides of the bowl using a spatula.

In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. In a small bowl, mix together cream, vanilla, and coconut extract. With mixer on low speed, add flour mixture, alternating with cream mixture, beginning and ending with flour; beat until just combined.

Pour batter into prepared cake pans and bake until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack before removing cakes from pans.

Home with the kiddo

Again.

While I miss being home everyday, I feel totally unproductive. I've missed two days already this semester.

The daycare owner called me this morning to say she was sick. I planned on calling my mom, but fell back asleep accidentally. Then once I woke up like a bat out of hell I started throwing clothes on me, trying to rouse Archer, etc. I sent my mom a text to which she never responded. Ten minutes later I called her. She said she would watch him at work.

I finally got him awake and was trying to dress him when I saw that my hair had definitely crapped out overnight. See, I generally straighten it the night before, and it still looks good in the morning. Today, that did not happen. Then I had to fight Archer, as I am not talented enough to hold him and straighten my hair.

I spent the next 20 minutes trying to get this kid dressed and what not, only to call my mom and tell her I was just gonna keep him home myself because one of the other mom's posted on facebook that their whole family had the same stomach bug as the owner. I just didn't figure my mom or sister wanted a rampant stomach bug, and I still hadn't found shoes for Archer to wear.

This day is already stressing me out!

Brrr

It is soooo cold out today! The wind is blowing like 50 and the temps are barely in the 20's. I settled on popcorn for lunch because it was too cold to go out for lunch. But, since I have class tonight, I might stop by my favorite place for dinner.

Luckily, since Chance's job is outside, he and Arch are snuggled up warm at home. I was dreading either of them having to be out in this, Arch just for the few mins to daycare at 630, and Chance all day in a building with no windows or walls.

I hope you are all home safe and warm!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Mama called the Dr and the Dr said....

ear infection.

This is our first experience with ear infection, and it's completely atypical to every story I've ever heard and anything I've ever seen from other kids.

No whining, no crying, just a bad cough and runny nose. During Christmas break he had a stomach thing, with nasty milk puke. My sister said it was because he was running a fever, but it was low grade if he was.

I'm feeling super guilty now that he has probably had this since then, and I've just put it off thinking it was just a little cold.

Home today

Archer was up most of the night with this awful gagging cough, so we are home for the day. I couldn't get him in to see his normal ped so we're going to try to get into a quick care clinic.

He's not coughing a lot, usually only a night and when he's laying down for a nap, so I wasn't that worried, but I would hate for it to turn into something worse. And, I would love to get some sleep tonight. Both of us have dark, baggy eyes today.

Three years ago today

I lost my Nanny.

She went in for sugery on Dec. 22 and just never recovered. Luckily, my grandpa suggested we all go see her, as the dr was worried about her lungs, and we did. That was the last time she was awake and coherent. She laughed and chatted with us that day, Christmas Eve I think. She was then, my Nanny.

The next few days when she was lethargic and out of consciousness; she wasn't my Nanny then. Her body was still there, but the rest of her wasn't. Her spark was gone.

While I still miss her a lot, and wish that she could be with me and know Archer, I'm not sad that she's in Heaven. I'm not sad that she is in a better place where she can see the colors of flowers and birds, and walk without difficulty. She can be free, and healthy, and I don't begrudge her leaving this place for that.

Remember to tell your loved ones how much you truly love them.

Love?

As a naieve 16 year old girl I thought that because Chance and I were special; like our love was this magical bond. I'm not sure if that was because we had been friends for so long, if it was because we knew at 15 that we wanted to be together forever or that as a little girl, I dreamed that he was the Ken to my Barbie. Sickeningly sweet, I know.

I dreamed of this world, where untouched by reality, we were meant to be and would live happily ever after. I still feel like we are meant to be, and don't get me wrong. We are happy, but I guess I grew up. That alternate reality where everyone has a soul mate, and love at first sight exists, doesn't really exist to me anymore.

While I know our relationship is superior to some others, you know like those who fight all the time and treat each other like crap. Our relationship is definitely more meaningful than that, but can I really say it is different from yours just because we knew younger that we loved each other. No, probably not.

We don't fight that much, but we don't get along as well as we did pre-baby, and I honestly think that's because I changed. My world couldn't be rainbows, sunshine and love for just one person anymore. My heart grew in ways unimaginable before, and I had to face reality. Life wasn't that simple.

I wouldn't trade Archer for the world, but find myself wishing the world was back as I've known it for so long. And I don't even wish I could still be that naieve girl, you can't be that person and a mother, I don't think. You can still have dreams, but they can no longer be selfish and needy. Now I dream about a safer world, one where my child won't have to fear wars and crime. Now my dreams center around the happiness of my whole family, and not just myself. Less egocentric, past adolescense Piaget might say.

Either way, I just want to live my life with a firm grasp on the reality of this world, and and love both of my boys as much as I can. Not a bad place to be, I'd say.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Just a quick post...

...to tell everyone goodnight!

Archer has to be at daycare at 6:30 even though tomorrow I don't have to be there until 8, but that just gives me extra time to swing by starbucks! : )

Have a good tomorrow!

Back to reality!

Tomorrow I go back to work, and Archer goes back to daycare. My classes start back Thursday night. This is going to be a busy spring!!

I must say, I'm ready to get him back on a steady schedule. We have been running like mad this entire break, we were home for maybe 3 whole days in 2 full weeks. We had Christmases and parties, shopping and movies and visitors. I need a few days with him in daycare to recoup.

And did I mention the laundry? : ) Let's just say, it's all washed, and our closets are empty!

I had a great week break though. I got to see my best friend and her little brother! He's the closest thing I've ever had to a brother, even though he had a monster crush on me for years. Her boyfriend came with her, and now we've planned a double date in 2 weeks!

An anti-whine

I do a lot of ranting and whining, so here's a post that is intentionally not a bitch fest.

I am thankful that my family is safe and warm this cold dark winter night. Our electric bill is almost $200 cheaper this year than this time last year. We have a lot of nice things that we didn't think we would ever have.

I have a happy healthy little boy, and my life literally feels complete. My family asks a lot when we'll have more kids, or for the ones that know we don't want any more, they still ask if we've changed our minds. The answer is, and will stay no. I don't need anything else. My cup is full.

Archer is typically developing, he can do everything his peers can/should be doing at this age. He walks, runs, and chatters constantly. He's friendly, and loving. He goes out of his way love and snuggle us.

All in all, I'm thankful. : )

Happy New Year Everyone!!

Hope 2010 is starting off nice for everyone!

2009 was a great year for me, we definitely had some lows, but spending this past year with my sweet baby, and loving husband really made up for that!

I don't like to make resolutions because I suck at finishing things, however, these are my goals for this year, whether they are completed, or at least attempted! : )

1. Be more health-wise.

Since we have the wii, we can now monitor our weight, know the amount of calories burned, and just be overall more conscious of our health.

2. Be more green.

I have always ridden chance about not throwing trash out of his car window, etc; well now he has decided he wants us to recycle. I'm all for being green, so bring it on.

3. Finish school!

Since I'm only 3 semesters away, spring, summer, fall I should be done by December, given that I don't eff up and fail another class. While it won't do me any good for the current position I'm in, I will get more money and better benefits next year.

4. Pay off our debt.

We have 3 credit cards equalling about 6k total. Two of them we are really behind on from last year when Chance wasn't working, so my goal, and this is a short term goal, is to pay that shit off, like now. I will be getting 5k from my tuition refund, and the plan is to pay all of that toward credit card debt.

5. Start saving money.

Having a good paying job is like a double edged sword for me, because I've never had this much money, and thus want to spend it. Other than the phones and the wii, we have mostly splurged on things most people have, but we were too poor to buy when we started off in this house. So, new curtains, decorations, rugs, etc.

6. Get more things finished on the house.

We still need new windows, and central heat and air. Those are the biggies that would cut down on other expenses that really need done now.

7. Get a new car.

While buying a new car is the opposite of saving money, it would overall. I'm driving Chance's truck that he just had to have, and it gets like 15 mpg, maybe. It's an 04 Chevy, and we are still upside down on it. He was driving my car because it's just not as reliable, it's a Pontiac Sunfire. It's paid for as we got a really good deal, since it was wrecked and rebuilt. The plan with it is to trade it when we trade the truck and pray it balances out the upside down-ness. So, a new car would get twice as much mpg, and since I'm driving 100 miles a day it would make my payment plus gas cost about equal.

Was going for 10, but just can't get there! lol

Anyway, those are my goals for 2010. What are yours?