Mommy plus Five

I can't believe this month is already over!  We had much to be thankful for this month.  Even through the difficulties, I can say it with absolute certainty, it was the best November this family has had in a long time.

Thank you November!


Welcome to December and the Holiday Season, we are looking forward to you.  If you want to bring some snow along, we would not mind at all.  :)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Love,

My 365...

Happy Friday!

I am so happy Friday is here after this long busy week.  I am feeling extremely accomplished though. Blake is caught up on school, I am all caught up on work projects, Casey...well I still need to light a fire under that boy, but he has been sick all week.  Bottom line, we are going into the weekend with NO stress and no lingering deadlines.  I love it when that happens.

Even Garrett was feeling a little stressed this week which is highly unusual for him.  I was telling Casey and Blake the other day, "Boys, I want you to make note of Garrett at his most stressed state.  Notice how calm and kind he is still?"  It is true, even during his most difficult times, Garrett is the calmest, sweetest most considerate human being on the planet...all 6 foot 1 inch, 270 pounds of him!  In the 24 years I have been blessed with my son Garrett in my life, I don't think I have ever witnessed him being rattled in any way.  He is truly an extraordinary person, a gentle giant with a huge heart.  <3

"I love you son."

He and Kori are so dedicated and focused as well.  They have been weight training this year, and they look amazing!  I am extremely proud of both of them. I told Garrett they should open their own gym.  With Garrett's patience and solid training skills, and Kori's amazing nutrition regimen and focus, they could help a lot of people.  This mama be the first person to sign up!  :)

Have an amazing weekend planet!

Huge gentle teddy bear meets persnickety little diva. lol :) 
I love them! ♥
 "Mama, that was not food!  What is for dinner?  I am waiting....I am waiting...."

Music I am listening to today...Milo Greene , 1957

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Love,

My 365...

I had a meeting scheduled for 9:00am this morning in the next little town over, so the "plan" last night was to get to bed at a decent hour so that waking up would not be too hard.  That was the plan anyway.

I am such a chronic night owl.  I did manage to get to bed early, just before midnight, but could not sleep.  I stumbled upon a new series called "Hart of Dixie", and it was so adorable I could not stop watching.  Being a "southern woman" by birth, it brought back lots of fond memories of living in the south.  After each episode I would think...."enough Veronica you have to go to sleep!"  Midnight...1:00 AM...2:00 AM....3:00 AM....

Then I started to do the "insomniac" math.  You know the kind.  The late night/early morning reasoning with sleep.  If I go to sleep at 3:00 AM, that gives me 4 full hours of sleep before I have to get ready.  I will be fine.  Followed by....well I don't need over an hour to shower and get ready...maybe I can pull off going to sleep at 3:30 AM.  That quickly turned into 4:00 AM, then 4:30 AM.  Needless to say, I did not sleep at all.  When it got closer to 5:00 AM I opted to stay awake and figured I could take a nap when I got home.  Ahh the joys of being self-employed!  Gotta love it.  :)

No worries about a half-asleep zombie driving the roads of Idaho though, son Garrett volunteered to be my chauffeur today.  What an awesome son he is.  If it were not so far away, and freezing cold this morning, I would not have minded riding my bike.

One of these days I will sleep like a normal person.  Until then...it is life my way.

I did have a great meeting though.  Have not had that nap yet...but maybe I will actually sleep well tonight.

Hope you had a great Thursday planet!  :)

 Garrett and I pulled off the road to snap a few pictures of the foothills.
 Looks like the ski resort had a little bit of snow.
This mountain below is called Squaw Butte Summit  Squaw Butte, which towers nearly 6,000 feet over Treasure Valley, lies just northeast of Emmett. Popular with hikers and mountaineers, Squaw Butte gets its name from the area’s original Native American inhabitants who claimed to see the profile of an Indian maiden along one side of the mountain’s summit.
 My little bug studying for finals.

Music I am listening to today...Sugarland , Little Miss


Random Link of the Day...Eggnog Frosting

The Daily V...

Peace.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Love,

My 365...

Ahhh....the joys of motherhood...

"Mom, I am not feeling well.  Do you mind if I lay here next to you for a while?"

"Sure honey, that is fine."

"Mom, I really feel like crap.  Can I have a hug?"

"Cough...cough...cough..."

"Sure honey, come here."

I love my boys, I truly do.  When they are not feeling well, all they want is some mom provided TLC, and lots of "mom" hugs.  Unfortunately they have managed to gift me with all their germs.  But sharing is caring right?  Thank you boys.

Pass me a tissue please?

"Achooooooooo!"

I don't mind.  I love that my boys, no matter how old they get, they still love a good mama hug.  <3

Time to stock up on orange juice and chicken soup.

:)

 I still managed to get some pictures taken today.

Music I am listening to today...James Taylor , Copperline

Random Link of the Day...A really great Book-Buying guide from John Green.  My favorite writer and nerd-fighter.  Thank you John Green!

The Daily V...



Peace.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Love,

My 365...

Hello Tuesday.  :)

After weeks of my bike sitting in the garage, I was finally able to get in a bike ride today.  Casey had a doctor's appointment this afternoon, so we decided to save on gas and ride.  It is a chilly 43° degrees outside, but clear sunny skies.  It felt wonderful!  I enjoyed my afternoon with my Casey.  <3

Hope your day was great.

 Of course I paused for a photo during my bike ride.
 Blake enjoying some chill time with his Dozer.
 Frost on the window.
 A heart from my Blake.  <3

Music I am listening to today...Michele McLaughlin , Gratitude

Random Link of the Day...Orange Gingerbread

The Daily V...


Peace.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Love,

I actually made this yesterday, but forgot to post it.

Our Thanksgiving turkey has officially exited stage left, with the last of the left-overs being transformed into delicious Enchiladas Verdes...turkey style!

I sauteed the left-over turkey in a pan with some green onion, garlic and fresh spinach.
Soften the corn tortillas by quickly dipping them in heated oil.  You can substitute flour tortillas, but I am not a fan of enchiladas made with flour tortillas.

Spoon the turkey spinach goodness on to the tortilla with some Colby Cheddar cheese.

Roll and stack in a baking dish.

Top with your favorite Salsa Verde and additional shredded cheese.

Bake in a 350° oven until heated through.

Serve up with some sour cream.  You can also add fresh avocado and tomato...and don't forget the jalapeño.
Preparation and cooking time was less than 45 minutes start to finish.  So easy!

I have to tell you, this dish was so good!  I liked it so much that I think I might go straight to the enchiladas next Thanksgiving.  :)

Enjoy!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Love,

My 365...

We are enjoying a nice calm Monday today.  Jack had a meeting this morning to work on his resume and he found it very helpful.  Casey met with the orthodontist to check on his palate expander, and he is doing well.

Today would have been my mom's 82nd birthday.  It is no surprise that mom was born so close to Thanksgiving.  She was one of those special people who everyone was always so thankful to have in their life.  Mom passed away in February of 2007.  It is hard to believe she has been gone for so long.  :*(

I still have the memorial I created for her on my website, and all the great memories forever in my heart.  I also still have the last few voice messages she left me on my phone saved forever safely on disc and an external hard drive.

In Memory of Mom.

"Dear Mom,

Life is going well for us, but I am certain you can see all of that from where you are sitting.  The boys are doing great and they miss you very much.  You now have two great grandsons!  Imagine that?  Mother to three daughters, and our life continues to be populated by little men.  Daddy should have never said...."Will we ever have a boy in this family?" after Meagan, the first grandchild, was born.  His wish was definitely granted with 12 grandsons and now 2 great grandsons.  Thank goodness for Meagan and Becky your two granddaughters right?

As for me, I am holding strong.  That damn RA that gave you so much grief has not been able to get the upper hand on me.  I definitely have that beast cornered and quiet where it belongs.  Just wish we could have done the same for you.  You did fight the good fight though mom, and it is through your determination, faith and love that I have been able to continue to fight as well.

Thank you for inspiring me, thank you for loving me, and thank you for being the best mom a girl could ask for.  You were and will always be my rock star mom.

I think I might try to make your one of a kind, delicious Holiday Orange Slice Cake and yummy-licious tamales this year.  Key word here being "try" because nothing can come close to those two Holiday masterpieces of yours...and favorites of mine.  Christmas just would not be Christmas without them mom...wish me luck!

I love you and miss you so much, but I know we will meet again someday.

Love Always,

Veronica  <3"

Son Casey is feeling a little better today.  :)
I even managed to catch the rare elusive Casey smile.  :)



Peace.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Love,

My 365...

Today we hibernated...literally!  We had great intentions for the day.  Kori is back from Sun Valley, so we were going to have Thanksgiving part two.

Three days of skateboarding in freezing temperatures finally caught up with Casey and he is sick.  Poor dear is miserable.  Blake and I stayed up entirely too late last night so we were literally dragging, and not feeling so great either.  I stumbled upon the series Falling Skies, and fell in love.  I made it through an entire season in one night, but sleep escaped me once again.

I was worried that the day was going to be a complete bust, but thanks to Jack, our day was great.

He prepared a ham and had it cooking in the oven with fresh veggies...the house smelled amazing!  We were able to pull off Thanksgiving part two, and it was wonderful.

"Welcome home Kori!"  :)

Have a great Monday and week ahead planet!

 Son Garrett and his sweetheart Kori.  <3
Sneaking in to grab some ham... disguised as a grocery bag.
 Dinner is ready!
 Mama sized serving.  Ham, potato, cranberry sauce, carrots, peas and spaghetti squash.
 Blake "manly-man" sized serving!

Music I am listening to today...Julia Sheer , The A Team  <---music selection by Blake.  :)

Random Link of the Day...Tortilla Soup

The Daily V...

Peace.


Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Love,