Sorry Mike...

So, God decided that dogging weathermen was not so Christmasy, so he sent a blizzard.  Sorry Mike Morgan, but in the future, if you could tone it down just a notch, I'd appreciate it.    

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!! 

Mike Morgan is a drama queen.

I apologize for all of you "out of towners" who get to hear my rant against local weathermen.  I should preface this by saying that I, like all good Oklahoma-bred children, were taught that Gary England IS the supreme authority on all things Oklahoma weather related.  I believe this with all my heart.    I *stormcloud* Gary England. 

Have you ever noticed that Mike Morgan is just wound a little too tight when it comes to weather.   Seriously, if it's April or May, and you want to watch something on NBC,  Fughetta 'bout it.    Mike Morgan will be on there flappin his yap about dime sized rain drops in some county 80 miles away.  He preempts more tv shows than any other network weatherman around here. 

That's why when channel 9 preempts something, you know it's serious. If Gary breaks in, it's to say... Get off your hiney and get in the 'fraidy hole because your house might blow away.  

Anyway, same rule applies to winter weather.  I know we get some nasty ice storms, but I remember last year when Mike Morgan predicted 1-3" of ice and it didn't even rain...   All it did was make everyone rush to the store like it was the apocalypse and stock up on canned goods and bottled water, while it takes me 30 minutes to make it out of the store with some toilet paper.   Last night, MM said that there was a "100% possibility of a winter storm".   (Isn't there always a 100% possibility?)  Meanwhile, the weatherman in shining armor said only a 80% chance of precipitation  (not even snow for sure) and nothing about accumulation.

 Mr. Morgan came out with this prediction today....

And guess who's out of toilet paper...

Saving you the embarrassment...

It's been cold the past couple of days... I'm sure my "northern" friends are laughing at me, but the wind chill yesterday morning was -5.   I wore so many layers I could barely get my pants buttoned. (At least, I'm telling myself it's because of the layers.)  

Yesterday, I was pulling out of the parking lot to go home when husband called.  I took my glove off to answer my phone (iphone drawback) and quickly put it back on because it was sooooo cold.   We finished the conversation and rather than take my glove off again to hang up the phone, I quickly brainstormed my other options to end the call...  (Unfortunately "just wait until he hangs up and the phone disconnects" wasn't one that came to mind at the time.) 

Just so you know, you can't hang up the iphone with your nose. 

But, you're welcome, to all those people who watched my attempt to do so in 5 o'clock traffic yesterday.  I'm sure it was amusing.

A is for Apple

The other day, I was reading to Avery from a past issue of Elle Decor (ok, so we were just looking at pictures)  when we stopped on a 2-page spread of a kitchen.

Apple!  Avery exclaimed.  I looked all over the double page and didn't see any apples.  Interested to see what she thought was an Apple, I asked where were the apples.  In the bottom corner, barely visible was a tiny bowl filled with apples.  

My first reaction was, "Whew, she's not blind like her daddy."  (Ha!  Love you Husband!)  and secondly, this girl is obsessed with apples.  
Apples are the second most requested food for little A, right behind cheerios (which actually sounds more like "turtle" when she says it).  Heaven forbid if she's in the kitchen when you open the refrigerator door and she happens to see an apple in the crisper.  APPLE APPLE APPLE!!   Mommy, APPLE!  Dada, Apple!  APPLE!!!  So needless to say we are never short on apples around here. 

Since honeycrisp apples (our favorite) are in season, we've been buying the 3-lb boxes so that we always have them on hand.  And even though Avery could eat apples everyday, I get tired of them and look for ways to spruce them up. 

Here's one of my favorite apple dips... cream cheese makes almost everything better.

Carmel Apple Dip

1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened (Neufchatel Cream Cheese works well too)
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 tsp. vanilla

BEAT cream cheese in small bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until creamy. Add brown sugar and vanilla; beat until well blended.

SPOON into serving bowl.

SERVE with apple wedges for dipping.

The best way to spread Christmas cheer, is singing loud for all to hear...

Forget what you learned from Buddy the Elf... it's not true... Now, it may be true if the statement was "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear in the proper venue."  I could go along with that.

However, singing loud Christmas carols is NOT the best way to spread Christmas cheer when you're singing at the top of your lungs in Target while meandering down the baking aisle at a snail's pace when I'm creeping behind you just praying I can get to the unsweetened cocoa before you get to the chorus of Jingle Bells. 

*Warning: Going into a store to pick up 4 things and spending over an HOUR trying to get around people standing/singing in the middle of aisles may cause Bah Humbug-ness. 

About time...

So, I finally built a bridge and got over my anger at the internets eating my first halloween post attempt.  I won't lie, this is probably going to be the readers digest of the first version, because well... Bloggy just hasn't earned my trust yet.... "Draft saved" isn't enough for me anymore... 

Moving right along *snap snap*  (Phi Theta shout out)  On to the halloween pictures! 

The weekend before Halloween, my parents came to visit.  Since we were not sure of our Halloween plans, we decided to do a costume dress rehearsal so Nana and Poppy (or Puppy) could see the cute little zebra. 

I even added a bow so everyone would know that she's a GIRL zebra.

Pretty successful costume experience... no tears or attempts at undressing.

Then came the fall carnival at Avery's daycare.  The kids were encouraged to dress in their costumes.  However, something had changed in the last 5 days and we ended up like this...

Mad/Sad Zebra

Then came the Great Pumpkin Festival.  Avery is obsessed with all things pumpkin.  Upon arrival she went charging towards a pile of pumpkins screaming "Punkin Punkin Punkin!!!!"  Ryan sang,  Avery got a tatoo, good times were had by all. 

The Pied Piper for the Children of the Corn.

The "punkin" tatoo which she LOVED.

*side note* Do you know how HARD it is to take a picture of a toddler's hand?!?  I mean, I spent a good half hour chasing her around and this was the best shot I got.

Then on Sunday, we decided to make the trek to D-town to go to  my home church's trunk-or-treat.  But when Avery heard she'd have to wear the costume again she wasn't happy.

I promised her that I wouldn't make her wear the hood, and she went along with it.... mostly.

I can't believe you're making me do this AGAIN!

Who knew colored rice was so much fun?!?

I have many more pictures, but my internet connection has to walk knee-deep in the snow both ways to get us on the world wide web, so it makes uploading pictures a royal pain.  (Now you see why the blog and I had a lover's spat?)

Dang it...

I FINALLY made my halloween post.... and then the internets ate it.

RUDE!

It's like real life Etsy!!

I reeehhheeealllly wanna go to this on Saturday, but I think my day is pretty booked...  Someone please go and tell me all of the beautiful things you found.  And, while you're there, eat an Irma's burger and a Mary Poppins cupcake from Cuppies and Joe for me... but don't tell me about those... I might punch you in a fit of jealousy.   *really missing the City right about now*

The Girlie Show

PS.  I saw that Jessica totally called me out about the lack of Halloween posting.  Pops just emailed me some pictures from the weekend, so that post is coming tonight or tomorrow.  For everyone else who really wants some fall time cuteness, check out Parker in his adorable little man sweater.  Seriously, I'm dying from cute overload!

Halloween pictures are forth coming...

While you wait, here is something delicious to eat...  !Me Gusta Comer!

Tamale Pie
1 pound ground beef
1 packet taco seasoning
1 can whole kernel corn, drained
1 can Rotel
1 cup chopped green bell peppers
3 cups (6oz can) French fried onions
1 package corn muffin mix (plus everything you need to make the corn muffin mix)
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Brown beef in large skillet; drain. Stir in taco seasoning, corn, rotel, bell peppers, and 1 ½ cups fried onions. Pour mixture into 2-quart oblong baking dish. (or an 8x8 pan)

Prepare corn muffin mix according to package directions. Spoon batter around edge of dish. Bake, uncovered, 20 minutes* or until corn bread is golden. Top with cheese and remaining 1 ½ cups onions.
Bake, uncovered 1 minute or until onions are golden.

*I ended up baking it for more like 25-30 min. before the cornbread was done, but I'm begining to think my oven has issues.

(a note:  if you do not like spicy food, or have small children who will be eating this, you might want to use the mild Rotel.   That said, my 19 month old ate this like there was no tomorrow.  She didn't mind the spice, I guess.)

Jealous????

You should be.