My Quest for Pie Crust

Now that I am officially a mom I decided I needed to learn a couple of things that I somehow missed in my pre-mom era. One of those things is to make my own pie crust. I am not sure where the urge came from since I do not like pie. I know the most common job of a pie crust is to hold together fruit pies and I have never been a fan of hot fruit. Nevertheless, I decided this mom needed to learn to make a pie crust.

It took me awhile to even know where to begin. Then it became crystal clear. I needed a brand new Kitchen Aid Mixer. How else would I make a homemade pie crust without a $300 mixer. Pete promptly reminded me pie crusts were being made long before Kitchen Aids. After a few promises of homemade cherry pie I got a Kitchen Aid. I had wanted one for about 4 years. When our storage unit caught on fire we lost almost all our kitchen gadgets. So, out of our tragedy and with my new inspiration, I got a new Kitchen Aid Mixer. Bring on the pies!

It takes an additional week to assemble the ingredients. That's how things go around here. I want to make a pie and it takes about 3 weeks for all preperations to be complete. I search all over the internet for a yummy sounding pie recipe. And for someone who doesn't like pie this was a challenge. I finally settle on a recipe from http://www.thepioneerwoman.com/ .

I wait all day. I get the kids in bed. I finish cleaning up the kitchen. I pull out my ingedients. I give my Kitchen Aid a pep talk because I want this to be the beginning of a long and fun relationship. I open up the web page to the recipe. I start reading and I realize this recipe does not want you to use a Kitchen Aid mixer. All you need is crisco, flour, salt and a pastry cutter. Guess what? I have no pastry cutter. Bottom line..after all my preperation to make the perfect pie crust with the machine I had been dreaming of for years turns out I did not need. Oh well, now I just get to search for the perfect pastry cutter.

There Is Not Much an M&M Can't Fix Around Here

Here are some facts. I have been pregnant 7 times. I have 5 kids. I homeschool. I have potty trained 3 people and still have 2 more to go. It takes me 30 minutes to blow dry my hair. I bribe my kids with M&m's!! There, I said it, the Melnick secret is out. I pay my children to do things and get results with M&M's. I used to think my kids would do things because they loved me and were greatful for all the sacraficing I was doing. NO! They just love M&M's .

My children are not the only ones who need M&M's. Mamma needs a good handful a couple times of day too. For example, we were trying to go to our Homeschool co-op early Wednesday morning. While getting the baby ready the house had a scary peace to it. I was sticken with fear, as any mother would be. Where is Lucy? Lucy thought she would pitch in and finish up some dishes before we left. I headed right for the M&M's.

If I had less experience with bribery of children I might be sad to think I had to offer 4 M&M's to get my son to kiss me. I know there is a saying "The hand the rocks the cradle rules the world". In this house it's more like "The hand that is handing out M&M's rules the world".

And believe it or not, this sweet face is the one who commands the most M&M's. And now that she is older we have had to up the anty a bit. She is no longer willing to do things for 4 M&M's. Sometimes I miss the days when I could solve all her hurts with some M&M's.

My Constant Lunch Dates

Some people may need to call a friend or pick up a buddy in order to not dine alone.Not here! I have 5 constant breakfast, lunch and dinner dates.The best part is we always have something to talk about.







Here are some Favorites:
1. Don't use your dress as a napkin.
2. No licking the table please.
3. Do not cut your sandwich with a spoon
4. No dipping your pepperoni in your milk.











Lucy just got moved over to the big table.Priscilla is now a full time eater and she needed the high chair. Lucy feels very grown up sitting with the rest of us and always insists upon proving the statement "blondes have more fun" . There is never a quiet moment when Lucy is around.

I Married the High School Star Quarterback!!

Pete and I go way back, we went to High School together. We did not date in High School but I did have a crush on him. How could you not? Since those early days of big hair and late nights we have been married for about 14 years depending on when you begin the counting.

He had to go to San Francisco this morning on a 2 day trip, no big deal. The thing is, I miss this boy whenever he walks out the door. I still have a HUGE crush on him. When the phone rings in the middle of the day I get excited when it's him. When his car is unexpectedly in the driveway my tummy does a little flip.




You see Pete is a celebrity around here. We all adore him! Whenever anyone pays me a compliment I always think that half the credit goes to this guy. He has made me a better person. I could not be the mom I am without him being the man he is. And he makes cute babies!

Running While Wondering

I have been running for about 15 years now. I've never considered myself a runner because I'm not that good at it. I have been motivated to lace up, however, during these past 15 years for a variety of reason . Mostly to lose about 100 pounds of baby weight gained from having 5 babies.

Outside of the weight loss issue, I run for other reasons. Two years ago Pete and I decided to live in the downtown area of Mobile. I must admit that this is a runner's paradise. I love running past the old homes that lie under the big old oak trees. I have to admit that I do not love running...I get bored. So I have to entertain myself and I have found that house gazing and porch watching helps me pass the time. As a result, I have become attached to some of the houses along the way.

Certain houses, particular doors and various entryways has my mind wandering about the family that walks up that walk.

In every placed that we have lived, I have grown attached to certain things along my runs. In Alaska, I used to run past one of the many jewlery stores in the downtown area. I would imagine a life where I could wear some of those pieces. A life where my jewlery did not end up in the dressup box with other priceless household items I could not live without.

Now, I get to imagine living in a house or town for another 3 years and wondering what color I would paint the door!!

Just Another Saturday

After we got home from my favorite antique store I was inspired. Usually when I am inspired we all end up very tired. However, we had this red book shelf for a very long time. I took it with me when we moved from Church Street (more on that later) because I needed a bookshelf for all the homeschooling books. Fast foward...our storage unit catches on fire and we loose everything!!! This red bookshelf was with us and not lost...so this is the closest thing to a family heirloom.

Unfortunately, I am over the red. I decided to paint it while the kids were sleeping. Pete always gets nervous because even though I do most of it myself I always need help and the help usually involves him hitting his shins and stepping on Barbie shoes while lifting heavy pieces of furniture during a UF/Tenn game...thanks babe!

This puppy took like 500 coats of paint and some back breaking upside down painting. I finished before the game did, so Pete heaved it back inside and I got to work on part 2 of my inspired project....

Arranging the adorable bookshelf that can no longer hold books because it is to cute. Looks like I need another bookshelf!

Good Saturday morning. We woke up and did not feel like making breakfast. Really, we did not feel like cleaning up from breakfast so we allowed Waffle House to cook for us. Since we were out so early we decided to take a little Saturday road trip to a small town in Alabama called Grand Bay.

Grand Bay has this great little antique store called White House Antiques.She has a website that is great . Her prices are great and stuff is adorable. But when we see a rusted tractor sitting roadside we have to stop and stretch our legs.
I would like to think Lucy's hands are not always THIS dirty...however you never are sure what Lucy has gotten into. Looking at the filth on her hands can some times give us a clue as to her comings and goings. OK...those chubby little hands are the cutest thing I have seen all day, dirt and all.