Preparing for the Big Day!

The two short days that Jonnie spent out of town are over as we welcomed him back home on Friday night along with my mother in law. We filled our bellies with food from the local Chinese place and watched new movies that Jonnie got for Christmas.

Saturday began early as my mother in law was heading back to Kansas. I was up at 6 with a generous pot of coffee brewed in my new coffee pot. My mother in law didn't want anything to eat or any coffee before she left on her 11 hour journey. I treated Jon to "moons over my hammies" and he even said I did a good job at the breakfast sandwich he normally prepares. We had the family room TV tuned into the Noggin channel from 9 AM to 6 PM. I filled the crock pot with chunks of leftover prime rib, vegetables, and beef broth to make a beef stew for dinner.

I started thinking about what else I needed to prepare for the "big day" coming up in our house. For us, New Year's Day is simple - throw a pork roast and a jar of kraut in the crock pot. Jon makes mashed potatoes before we're ready to eat and we're done. The big day for us is my husband's birthday which is on New Year's Eve.

Too many times, I feel like Jon's birthday gets over shadowed by Christmas. Although I felt like a donkey on Christmas Day because I stuck closely to our $100 limit that we agreed upon, it was very clear that Jon went WAY over the limit. The funny thing is that Jon has no idea what he's got coming for his birthday! I tried to make his birthday gifts more special this year. While he was away on Friday afternoon, I wrapped his presents including the big, heavy box he told me not to wrap. I never knew how heavy a "corn hole" or "corn toss" game could be!

After mass today, we need to stop at the store because despite efforts to plan carefully, I missed an ingredient for Jon's birthday cake. I'm making Jon a two layer carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. I didn't have anything to store a round layer cake so when Jon was running around last week I asked him to pick me up a cake saver. Every year, I make Jon peas & pearl onions which he loves and I eat my required spoonful of peas. I found a recipe for caramelized peas & pearl onions that I am hoping makes the dish more tolerable for me! I'm making Jon a steak dish based on something I saw on Rachel Ray's show last week. I am making boneless rib eye steaks smothered in onions and Asiago cheese. Except for the peas, everything sounds really good to me. I just hope it turns out well as I'm not the best cook!

I'd better wrap this up. Midnight is sitting on my desk impatiently waiting to curl up and sleep in my office chair plus it's almost time for me to get my shower and rouse the others for mass.

Have blessed New Year!

Fun and Festive

Well, Christmas per the calendar is over. Those in the Catholic faith know that Christmas continues on for a little while longer and then we have Ephinany.

We were graced and blessed by guests this year at our house. My father in law made the trip in from Leetonia on Saturday afternoon. My mother in law drove in from Kansas and arrived Saturday night. My brother in law and his family could not join us since my brother in law came down with the flu. We had an unplanned visit from Jon's cousin Angie, her husband Jeremy, and their baby girl Julianna. Angie found out from her Mom that Jon's Dad was at our place so she called to see if we could get together and visit. Julianna is an adorable little girl although she doesn't like anyone to hold her other than Mommy right now. My father in law tried and the beard got her attention for a few seconds before she started shrieking.

Like most families, we had a lot of food. Our selections varied from a 3 foot Italian sub for lunch on Saturday right on through homemade ravioli, homemade meatballs, and homemade sauce on Tuesday with ham, prime rib, peppermint ice cream in between.

We made several things from scratch. We made our own cheese ravioli. Now that our son is 4 1/2, it is fun to see him become involved. He pulls a chair up to our upstairs kitchen island so he can see. He helped PapPap (Jon's Dad) put together the cheese filling for the ravioli by grinding black pepper into the mix. Later, he came back and turned the crank on pasta machine to roll out the ravioli dough. Jonnie was not interested in the meatballs. He talked for days about making Gingi cookies, the gingerbread guy from the "Shrek" movies. I bought gum drops and tubes of icing to help make that possible. We got the dough rolled out and cut out one gingerbread man and decorated him with the gum drops. Jonnie left the kitchen content having helped make one cookie. He came back a little later to help with eating the cookies!

The adults were up early on Christmas morning so we could all get showers before we opened presents. My husband woke up Jonnie who did not realize what was going on until someone mentioned "presents". Once he heard that, he perked right up. He was interested not just in his presents but in everyone else's, too.

After presents came mass. There volunteers to help with 10 AM mass were few and far between. Since we had family with us, I asked my husband to usher. My mother in law took me over to the church early so I could clean up the pews and hand out bulletins. I was very surprised when my hubby walked in all handsome in dress slacks and a collared sweater given that he'd been in a tshirt and jeans when I left the house. A few minutes later my husband came up and asked if anyone was taking up the gifts for Communion. I told him that we would do that. Jon wanted Jonnie to carry the money basket. I was a bit nervous but Deacon Tony said "it will be fine". Jon and I took up the collection from the pews and put everything in to the big basket. Jon got Jonnie and gave him the basket. He walked in front Jon who carried the wine and me who carried the hosts. I was nervous and proud all at the same time!

My mother in law left to head north to see other family after mass was over. My father in law, husband, and I headed home to prepare the big Italian feast. We all filled our bellies until they almost burst. I laid down on the couch after we ate and ended up falling asleep. I woke up and no one was around. The guys had all gone upstairs to play Jonnie's V-smile. He got a portable V-Smile plus some new games and an extra controller for his non-portable V-smile.

Time seemed to fly so that must mean that I had fun. The alarm went off at 5:15 AM today and it was time for me to get cleaned up and head out for work. I had planned on going to Kroger after work tonight but part of me just wants to go home and relax and put off Kroger until later in the week. Tomorrow, Jon and I are going to meet at Lowe's to pick up some things and then go to dinner at Red Lobster (I have a gift card). Soon it will be Jon's birthday and I'm going to make him a carrot cake from scratch and it's going to be a two-layer cake! I found a recipe for caramelized pearl onions and peas (maybe they'll taste better caramelized) and Rachael Ray showed a great steak dish on her show Monday morning that is smothered in onions. It had a cheese sauce but I am going to get some Asiago cheese to sprinkle over the onion-smothered steak.

Finally, I used some pictures that we got between Thanksgiving and Christmas to make some photo Thank You cards at Shutterfly. So many of our friends had Shutterfly Christmas cards and I finally decided that I needed to try it for myself!

I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas. Many blessings for happy and safe 2008.

Finally coming together

It seems that things are finally coming together for Christmas. I didn't feel like we were ever going to get there!

The Christmas tree is finally positioned some-what to Jon's liking. He mentioned turning it the other day but the look on my face must have told him that the tree is staying the way it is. It is decorated from tippy top to bottom and it's beautiful. Last night, Jonnie wanted to know why there was an angel on the tree instead the star that we used for a couple of years. I tried to explain that Daddy and I prefer an angel over a star because Christmas is Jesus' birthday and the angel watches over all of us. I took a couple of years for us to find an angel that was large enough the size of tree we buy. Jonnie said "I don't like Jesus and I want a star!". Jon and I were both left speechless and Jon felt a sudden urge to clean the family room. A few minutes later, the foyer light and the tree lights went out. We discovered a tripped breaker for that section of the house. We forgot that we had all of the outside lights on for when the young man down the street came and asked to clear our drive and walks. It was a bit scary how the lights went out after Jonnie's very bold statement.

The annual family newsletter was finally completed yesterday morning and printed. Jon bought stamps so I spent yesterday folding and stuffing envelopes. For some relatives, birthday cards were included and gift cards for nieces and parents that we will not see on Christmas.

I bought all of the meat for the meatballs at the grocery on Friday. I bought the little star pasta for the wedding soup since I could not find orzo. I guess maybe I'll just stick with the stars to help set my wedding soup apart from Aunt Mar's. I restocked on white & brown sugars for baking cookies. I realized that I forgot to buy lots of chicken broth and that I hope to find escarole to complete my soup. I should buy more flour because we'll probably need it for rolling the ravioli as well as making cookies. Our new, big mixer came in from Amazon so that we can work the ravioli dough. It will be nice for cookie dough and later Jon's birthday cake.

The only thing that bugs me is that I'm trying to plan for possibly having family in a week from today that I don't know if they'll make it or not. My brother-in-law has been very busy at work and has been working 12 hour days 7 days a week so whether or not he and his family come down depends on work. Between the ad and a coupon book it looks like my solution will be a heat and serve prime rib, my mother-in-law's cheesy potatoes (hope I can do them justice), and vegetables. I've had my eye on some egg nog ice cream sandwiches or peppermint ice cream to have on hand for dessert. I think the cut-out cookies are a Christmas Eve project.

I should probably wrap this up. I need to start getting things together to head out for mass shortly (Jonnie definitely needs it). I'm not sure what the rest of the day brings other than bacon & eggs after mass. Maybe I'll have to sneak to the basement to watch another James Bond movie although I didn't sneak too well last night. I ended up with everyone down the basement with me!

Have a blessed Sunday and rest of the week!

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for getting my husband and son home safe and sound.

We have had a fun, family afternoon enjoying each other's company and we just set out the Nativity under our tree.

Thank you!

Open Letter to the Lord

Dear Lord,

Since you are all knowing, you know that I have prayed a Rosary and lit a candle in hopes of my husband and son still being alive in this winter storm and that they are able to return home, if not today, tomorrow or Monday.

Lord, I admit that I am an idiot. It was snowing when Jon and Jonnie left to go to the OSU recreation center this morning. I should have stopped them from going. After all, what good is Jon getting a cardio work out if he and Jonnie die trying to make their way home in this storm?

I have tried to keep myself busy as I pray. I mopped and dusted earlier this morning. I made a batch of oatmeal chocolate chip-raisin cookies that have well since cooled but I made them for Jonnie and I can't let myself eat one until I know for sure that he is alive. I've been folding family newsletters and stuffing Christmas cards but every time I see the picture of Jon, Jonnie, and I my heart sinks with thought that this stupid winter storm may have taken them from me.

Lord, I look at the boxes of membership dues invoices that Jon needs to send out for both the Council and the Assembly. It scares me to think that if Jon is dead that this responsibility will fall onto me. Jon's been planning for a state-wide shooting match in Circleville in 2008. I have no clue where his notes are to try and pick up the pieces of where he left off with his planning so that I could have the match in his memory.

Lord, please hear me when I say that I would give anything to have my husband and son back with me right now. I lit a candle with a picture of them on it trying to keep the light of your faith bright that they might still be alive.

Love,

Jodi

Fifteen Minutes

Being down sick last week made me realize at what a fast pace I try to go through every day, especially during the work week. I decided that I need to slow down and I'm going to start focusing on some things that I can do in about fifteen minutes that will help me accomplish what I hope to accomplish while being more relaxed. What can one do in fifteen minutes?

Take a work-day shower
Get some much needed shut-eye
A quick blog post
Check email while enjoying a cup of coffee
Walk on the treadmill
Lift weights
Silly exercise such as "head shoulders knees and toes" with my son while being near dinner cooking in the kitchen
A break at work to read a few pages of "Guideposts"

These are just a few things I thought of to help get me started.

Have a wonderful, blessed week!

A Few of my Favorite (and not so Favorite) Things

I thought I'd summarize some of my favorite and, not so favorite things, since my last blog post rather than going on and on in long paragraphs. I did that in our annual newsletter and took up the whole front page; I'm waiting for my husband to order a redo!

Favorite Things
Making an Italian Christmas Tree Chain with my son (red, white, and green construction paper loops)
Watching my son take construction paper strips and make 3 crosses (red, white, and green)
My son taking a Christmas card, writing his name on it saying that he needed a Christmas card for himself
Passing my second certification exam
Making & enjoying a delicious batch of deep chocolate cookies for my family
My Mom still worrying about me even though I'm 34
A big beautiful Christmas Tree that fills the room with more than its scent
Macaroni & Cheese with hot dog slices prepared by my husband
My son falling asleep early so I could go to bed early during Dad's Euchre night out
Sending surprise gift boxes to my parents and friends
A kind man who cleared my driveway with his snow blower and would not accept any money
Finding the perfect cabinets & granite counter tops for our basement kitchen
Seeing my son's picture with Santa and it being perfect
Signing Christmas cards
Praying & lighting the Advent wreath at dinner

Not So Favorite Things
The Flu
My Dad being hospitalized in ICU after another seizure
My Mom not telling me Dad was in the hospital until the day he was to come home
The Christmas tree that fell, has been repositioned, and now anchored in the past week
The Christmas tree that my husband had to have which he does not want to decorate
Dry wheat toast
Snow & Ice
Italian Lemon Cookies made for a Christmas Party that were dry & tasteless (later thrown away)
Canceling "dessert & coffee" with my friends due to illness
Missing Immaculate Conception mass due to illness
Shopping for cabinets & counter tops with a bored 4-year-old
Making address labels to mail Christmas cards
My son promptly blowing out lit Advent wreath candle(s)

This list has managed to summarize the past week here at our house! As you can see it's been crazy and busy. We are doing well this year by having our Advent wreath for the start of Advent this year! I think that is a first in our house. I tried to start what I hope will be a tradition of making construction paper chains with my son to decorate the tree. That was always something I enjoyed when I was a child.

May you and yours be blessed by the beauty of the season.