My Little Helpers?

After Tonio's championship football game on Saturday some of my kids came over for homemade chicken noodle soup.

It was snowing like crazy Saturday. During the game Papa yelled to my two sons "Hey your mom made chicken noodle soup last night, should I call her and ask her to warm it up?" He said the whole crowd yelled back "YES," as they all sat and shivered.

Izzy and I stayed home, she didn't want to nap........

However, this is where we found her.

Later that evening Zeke came over. Mom and dad went out for the evening.
Zeke has learned to turn on the water and is quite impressed with himself. (He wouldn't let Papa take his onesie off of his head.)

We had to lock him out of the bathroom.

Little Will looks so sweet when he wakes up I just had to throw this one in.

Last night Tonio had his football awards dinner. Any of you who have been to one of those things know they last about 5 hrs. which is 4 1/2 hrs. too long.

Izzy came to spend the evening with us. I told the kids they could help me decorate my family room tree. I always put it up before Thanksgiving because I don't have the energy to do two trees after Thanksgiving any more.

The three Musketeers.

A little of their handy work.

Time for a break. I don't know what they are cooking up.

Some more of their handy work.

Tonio returned from his awards dinner victorious with all of his trophies. His team did not lose one game this season.

He is getting too big.

Also, wanted to share this flashback photo of Dad with Donny Osmond.

That's right, I'm droppin' names. Donny. Osmond.

The 70's star Donny Osmond of yesteryear....

Apparently Dad was working on a construction site for the Osmond Center (I think) in 1979. Donny would come to the site most days to check it out. Dad called Donny, "Don." Donny would correct him and say, "Actually, I go by Donny." This gave dad ALL the more reason to call him Don. So Don called him "Philly."

This photo is also bittersweet for anyone who knows much about Dad's condition called Ataxia that causes his body to deteriorate. It's good to remember him standing and healthy, but it's sad to know the freedom that has been robbed from him. But if you ask him how he's doing, he'll say, "Never better!" every single time.

Gotta Love my dad!!!

Happy Friday.

Pooba Speaks Banana Bread

First I must say this is not my picture. I feel such an urgency to post this recipe that I decided to swipe a picture in order to do so. (I don't have enough banana's to make my bread at this time.)

You see Pooba and I are face book bud's and well she has been harassing me for a Banana Bread recipe, yes she can be a bully! I'm scared, she knows where I live. So here goes:

This makes a really good bread if I do say so myself.
I got this recipe from my daughter Taylor, who got it I believe from her MIL.

5 large very ripe banana's I know. You are thinking, but Nana when will I have 5 very ripe banana's all at the same time? Don't fret, you can freeze banana's. "What's that?" you say. Yes freeze your very ripe banana's. Mash them and put them in a baggie, Tupperware, or my favorite LOCK and LOCK first. Toss in freezer for banana bread later. Easy as pie. Now let's move on.

4 eggs, beaten
2 Cups sugar
1 Cup shortening
4 Cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 - 2 cups chopped walnuts (optional)

Mash banana's well and add sugar. Mix in eggs and shortening with electric mixer. Slowly add dry ingredients, mix well. Spray 2 large loaf pans or 5 small loaf pans w/ nonstick cooking spray. (Pam) Bake at 250 degrees for 2 hours.

Enjoy!!! I hope Pooba will stop threatening my grandchildren now. Please Pooba. I have done all I can.
(like she really bakes anyway)

Cousins

I wanted to teach Henry and Izzy how to climb a tree. (they were less than thrilled, don't let their phony smiles fool you) I would have shown them but, this poor little tree would not have survived my girth.

Jumping in the leaves is always fun. Too bad the pile isn't bigger.

Look at Izzy's hair. The drop is not as high as it looks. Really.

A leaf fight is always fun.

Henry loves it when the cousins come over. He gets so excited. Today when Chloe came by he was just as excited as when Izzy comes to visit. As you can see playing with Izzy is a totally different experience than playing with Chloe. I thought it so sweet that they can find so much joy no matter what the circumstance. Chloe radiates love, she therefore attracts it. I wish everyone I knew could see and feel that. I am especially thankful that her little cousins all feel it. They love her, want to include her and protect her.

My older grandchildren, nieces and nephews have realized just this past Summer that Chloe is not a baby, she is different. I have heard my children, my brothers and sister in law explain to them just how different she is. What a blessed experience for these little ones to learn love, patience, empathy, and charity for someone so fragile



Chloe came by today and well........ could that be any cuter?

They had a little wrestling match.

I don't know how I ended up in the mix, but I want you to note my hair is not fixed.

I wouldn't want to be any place else!!!!!!!

Pecan Sandies

This cookie is a huge favorite at my house, huge!! Did I say HUGE?

1 Cup butter, softened
1 Cup sugar
1 Cup confectioners sugar (powdered sugar)
1 Cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 teas. almond extract
3 - 1/2 Cups all purpose flour
1 Cup whole wheat flour
1 teas. baking soda
1 teas. cream of tartar
1 teas. salt
2 Cups chopped pecans
2 Cups English toffee bits
Additional sugar

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars. Add oil, eggs and extract, mix well. Combine flours, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt, gradually add to the creamed mixture. Stir in pecans and toffee bits. Shape into 1 inch balls, roll in sugar. Place on ungreased baking sheets, flatten with a fork. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 - 14 minutes or until lightly browned.
Remove to wire racks to cool.

Enjoy!!!!!!!! I know you will.

1990

The other day, for some reason while reading Kathy B's post about Halloween, in my mind I went down memory lane back to 1990.



To set this particular story up though I have to take you back to 1986. Through a series of unfortunate events my little family had to move from a "Leave it to Beaver" neighborhood to.....





"What's up Beaver Boy, you wanna buy some crack?" neighborhood. It was not a happy time.

The home we moved into was beautiful, something like the one above. It had been Papa's grandmother's home. This home was full of peace, love and security. It was also the only house on our street that did not look like it was about to fall over. To say it stuck out like a sore thumb would be a huge understatement! Papa had grown up spending many a weekend with his grandma and grandpa in this home. In fact although grandma had recently passed on we could very much so still feel her presence there. That may sound crazy to some but, none the less many times I felt if I turned around quick I would see her standing there. To us this was a comforting feeling. We were going through a difficult period in our lives and, as I mentioned our new neighborhood was less than stellar so it was nice to have grandma around.

Grandma had built this home in the 50's, being the frugal woman she was she had actually built a triplex, so there was an upstairs apartment and a downstairs apartment on the west side of our home. She always had renters in these apartments this helped her with her house payment. We lived in the main part of the house. (does this make sense?)

Anyway, JaNene ( her name has been changed to protect the innocent) lived in the downstairs apartment. This woman was at least (no kidding) 6 ft. tall and weighed at least (no kidding) 400 lbs. Her voice was LOUD. When she spoke it sounded as if her throat was full of gravel and she had a megaphone up to her mouth.

JaNene would show up at our house when she could smell dinner cooking and I would begrudgingly fill a plate and send her home. This went on for awhile until one evening Papa had had enough and in his polite (insert sarcasm) way told JaNene if she wanted to eat she better put her money on the table. ( you always know where you stand w/ Papa) She started crying and went home. Her crying was not an unusual event. I will have to tell you about the time she clogged our toilet, her many requests for car rides, me cleaning her house...... I could go on.

I digress, this story is about Halloween. However, I felt you needed a little background story for full effect.

This particular Halloween our youngest was 4. We had a 4 yr. old, six yr. old, 8 yr. old, and a 12 yr. old. ( I told you Papa liked to grab things in the dark)

JaNene had been telling the kids for weeks not to forget to come to her apartment after they were done with all their trick or treating because she had a special treat for them. They being the mindful diligent little children they were followed her instructions. Remember also their was a special treat involved.

They all ran to JaNene's apartment for their treat. She gave them each a nickel, yes I said nickel.

Then told them since she was so generous they had to give HER something out of their trick or treat bag. She then began rummaging through their bags taking what ever she could get her big fat man hands around.

Well the older kids were no dummies and as soon as they could grab back their grub took off. This left their poor little 4 yr. old sister to fend for herself.

I was in the kitchen and I heard this little scream " Mom she's stealing all my candy!!!!!!!!" The three other turds confirmed the situation so I went running. Sure enough there was JaNene bag in hand grabbing what she could.

As I was running towards the scene I gave out a good mean mom "JANENE". She dropped the goods and started whining that she had given them a treat so she deserved one back. I grabbed the bag and the kid. Then I proceeded to tell her she should be ashamed of herself as I stomped back home.

When Papa could see the fumes coming out of my ears he inquired as to what was the matter. I gave him the spill he then decided to wait until around 10:oo p.m. and..............

go give JaNene a visit. Oh, but first he put on the above mask. Went to her back door pressed his face up to the window and began ringing the bell. JaNene was in bed so it took awhile for her to get to the door. When she finally got there as usual she lifted the curtain on her window to see who was there and tada.............. there was Papa growling. She screamed (big surprise) but, Papa not wanting her to have a heart attack quickly took off the mask. Through her chocolate smeared mouth she told him he nearly scared her to death.

His reply was "Never mess with my kids Halloween candy, you got what you deserved!" I told you he was polite.

I guess the moral to this story is don't mess with Papa and never trick or treat at JaNene's house.

Actually this story is quite juvenile but I just wanted to tell you all a little tidbit about our old neighbor JaNene. Just one of the odd characters from our past.

Also I like most tall fat people. There is no way I can make that sound good so I will just shut up.

What a Weeeekend!!!!!!

First of all, did yesterday seem like the longest day ever ?

I thought maybe it was due to turning our clocks back but I am not sure that is the case.

Some of you know that I suffer from migraines, well I had one that began a week and a half ago and never went away. I called my Dr. to whine and complain and was told to quit taking my medication as I may be getting rebound migraines from it.
I was told to not take anything for two weeks, that is right two weeks. Well I don't know if I will live that long so, it was nice knowing you if I don't make it.

I did fairly well Friday. Saturday was not so great and Sunday...... was a wash out.
I know I am pitiful. Anyway I'll keep you posted.

Friday my son Oby came rushing in our house around 9:00. He was is some sort of Halloween get up. He rushed in our bedroom and started taking off said Halloween get up and going through Papa's clothes, while telling us he needed to change and get up to the hospital. His wife Tara and daughter Chloe were up there for some sleep tests to be done on Chloe and some how Chloe had fallen on her face and knocked out a tooth.....
WHAT!!???!!! Look at her, she is so cute. For the knocked out tooth story go to Tara's blog and read all about it. Poor Chloe and Poor Tara. The whole thing was very traumatic for all.

Saturday was busy as I made Chili, Jiffy Rolls and, of course more Sugar Cookies. ( Our families traditional Halloween dinner before trick or treating.)

My grandson Tonio had a football game, which his team won. YaY!!!!! They have not lost a game.

Izzy and Tonio came trick or treating. (I didn't get a pic, my camera was dead and so was I.)
Then they were off to meet cousins to make the rounds in Centerville.
I went to bed and Papa gave out candy to 13 (woohoo) trick or treaters.

As mentioned Sunday was a wash out. I was back in bed for most of the day. Papa was bringing hot packs for my face. (he is a sweetie) My headaches hit me mostly in my sinus area, so the hot packs help. Then miracle upon miracles my head stopped hurting!!!! WHAT??!!!??

I decided to be productive and plop myself in front of the t.v. This was a huge mistake because I became involved in viewing hour after hour of the most heinous behavior I have ever seen.

I have never watched this particular program before and I must say I never will again because I CAN'T PULL MYSELF AWAY!! It was like watching a horror show where you don't want to look but you can't stop! I have come to the conclusion our society is in bigger trouble than I had previously thought.

This particular gal Karen is one of the big reasons I couldn't stop watching. I was sure someone would eventually slug her, her soon to be husband would leave her, she would have some sort of seizure from her actions that would cause her to pass away or at least go into a coma. I knew something was looming and I wanted to see it. Karen believes she is a very classy person. WHAT??!!?? She also said that being called a Bridezilla was a compliment. This woman has NO class what so ever!!!

Karen you think you are a bitch? Wait until you meet Karma!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Am I right fellow bloggers? I have met Karma. Have you?

Until we meet again.

Halloween Partay, Woot Woot! Or Should I Say Boo?

Enter if you dare!!!!!!!!!!!

Dad and Chloe dared to come in.

These guys are watching football, while the other poor sucker dad's were downstairs carving pumpkins.

You know sometimes he is a little devil.

I like Pete's shirt.

The Dr. brought a prostitute. I don't know where they picked up the dino.

Izzy can't wait for mom to take her out to the SPOOK ALLEY!!!

Chloe thought all the costumes were a riot.

This little witch would not hold still long enough to take her picture.

The whole bunch. No the lady bug is not tipsy.

Chloe loves Uncle Nick.

Here is our tour guide through the SPOOK ALLEY. I think he is the scariest thing out there!! He likes to grab things in the dark.

Eeeeew one witch.

And her boyfriend.

Hmmm, another witch. You know the other witch disappeared. I hope she didn't make it to your bedrooms kiddies. Ha ha ha ha. Papa did tell them that.

We heard strange noises down in the back yard.

Some of the the noise was that dang scary Mexican, and his Werewolf friend.

This guy lives in our attic window every October but, this year he escaped!!!! Eeeeek.

He wants to eat the children!

Here is our motley backyard crew. Notice our monsters all seem to have obsessions w/ West High. You know three of them are single. The Ogre, the maimed man in his gardening hat and the Werewolf. Come on ladies don't ya think they are hotties.

This is what will happen to you if you step on this guys tomatoes. Poor guy didn't stand a chance.

See, he is warning those pesky kids not to dare step on one tomato or else!! Most of them had left screaming anyway.

Well, there was some of our Halloween fun. Thanks for letting me share.