Olivia’s New Room

Chicken Fried Steak

One of my all-time favorite foods is chicken fried steak.  Last night I was pretty proud of myself for making it for the very first time.  I actually hadn’t made any new recipes lately, so I’m trying to get back in the swing of things.  Yummy. . .not healthy, but yummy.

Chicken Fried Steak and Gravy

You have to scroll down a bit when you click on the link to get to the recipe.  Enjoy!

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Today was Olivia’s first day back to preschool.  When I picked her up, we headed to the “bouncing animals” park and I tell ya, we had so much fun.  We drew letters in the sand and tried to see who could find the biggest rock.  It’s not a fancy park or a big park, but Olivia loves it. . .especially the bouncing duck. 

I love it because it reminds me of the parks of yesteryear with the old fashioned slide and merry-go-round and monkey bars. No high tech playground equipment there.

I guess it made me nostalgic for the days when I could walk to the city park or swimming pool.  We do not even have a park within walking distance of where we live.  I miss that smaller town feel. . .granted we live in a small town, but technically it’s on the outskirts of town in a subdivision. 

And it was then. . .at the top of the slide that I had an epiphany.  We need to just sell our house and move to a small town near a park.  It doesn’t have to be far away.  It doesn’t have to be a bigger or better house. . .just something different.  Sure, when I was telling Ryan about it, it no longer seemed very practical and I was probably only half serious by that point.  But, for a moment it made perfect sense.  Don’t get me wrong, I love my house, but sometimes wouldn’t it be great to just start anew?  Amid our struggles with depression over the past few years, sometimes it feels like we just need a big change in our lives.

Who knows what came over me, but as the sun was starting to set we decided it was time to go home.  Olivia had a hard time saying good-bye to her duck and hugged him and told him she’d be back to see him soon.  But I think both of us had just the kind of day we needed.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

The Vaseline saga continues.

This is what her hair looked like after several failed attempts.  No, her hair is not wet. . .that’s all grease.  I’ve tried literally every remedy that I’ve ever heard or read about.  This afternoon I  coated her hair white with baby powder.  Yikes!

Then, I washed it with Dawn dish soap, a clarifying shampoo and then a conditioner.  Her hair is really drying out from all these frequent washings + the dish soap.  So, I’ve just resigned myself to the fact that her hair is going to be like this for awhile.  Hopefully, in time it will get back to normal.  At least we don’t have a special occasion or pictures coming up.  Sheesh. . .who knew Vaseline was such an awful thing to get in your hair!

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

So, my daughter is usually a very good child. . .sometimes a bit high energy and impulsive, but very good.  Today, she gave me a run for my money!  It started when I took her to the park. . .a new park that we’ve never been to.  She absolutely loved this park.  She even told me that she wasn’t coming home and instead is going to live at the playground.  Usually when I tell Olivia we are going home, I don’t encounter that much resistance.  I literally had to pry her hands from the wheel on the playground and carry her out to the car.  Wow.  Then, while I was cooking dinner, she decided to put tons (and tons) of Vaseline in her hair. I washed it three times with 2 different shampoos and her hair is still greasy.  I’ve been trying to determine my plan of action tomorrow morning to get her hair clean.  Some people have suggested washing her hair with Dawn dish soap, baby oil or baking soda.  So, wish me luck because her hair is really really gross!  The fun continued when she locked herself in the bathroom tonight. She knows how to unlock the door, but she got so upset by not being able to get out that it took her probably 10 minutes (while we were frantically trying to find something to unlock the door with) until she opened it.  Drama drama.  LOL!  I’m hoping that tomorrow we are back to our boring, normal lives. 

The Things She Says Part II

Lately, everything has been “dangerous.”  For example, Olivia says that she cannot wear a dress because it’s dangerous.  She cannot eat her dinner because it’s dangerous.  Basically, about everything I want her to do is dangerous.  It’s driving me up a wall! LOL! 

When you play with Olivia, you will most likely be told to tell her a story.  She will set you up with the cast of characters and the setting and you will determine the adventure.  Ryan is especially good at this and can literally tell her stories for hours.  I run out of plot lines and possible antagonists (big bad wolf, giant, monster, etc.)  Some days I just want to pick up a book and read it to her.  That takes a lot less effort!  I will forever treasure our storytelling adventures, however,  no matter how tired I am by the end of the story.

Another story that I can’t believe I forgot happened last week at Ryan's parents’ house.  We were all sitting around and Olivia was “measuring” all of us.  She would walk up to you with a measuring stick and say, “You’re a 5 or a 6 or a 4.”  When asked what number she was, she said, “I’m pi!”  I basked in the glory of her intelligence (and wondered how in the world she came up with that!)  It was hilarious. . .even if she was talking about baked goods.  The things she comes up with boggle my mind!  LOL!

The Things She Says. . .

If I don’t write them down, I’ll forget them.  They never fail, however, to crack me up day after day.

While driving home from her grandparents house after playing with her cousin, Kaleb all day. . .

Olivia: Kaleb put me in jail today.

Me: Oh he did?  (We talked for a bit about it.)

Olivia: Mom, what is jail?

Me:  It’s when someone breaks the law and they are put behind bars.

Olivia: Like the bars at gymnastics?

Me: No, it’s like a big cage.

Olivia: Like a hamster’s cage?

Me: Well, sort of. . .for people.

Olivia:  Because they broke the bars?

Me: No, they broke the  law. . .they did something naughty.

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Exchange between Olivia and her dad (as told by Grandpa Glunt.)
Olivia: Sob, sob
Dad: What is the matter?
Olivia: I bumped my head.
Dad: I'm sorry...Where did you bump your head?
Olivia: On the bed
Dad: No, I mean where did you bump your head?
Olivia grabs dads hand ready to show where on the bed she bumped her head.
Dad: Rubbing his head. I mean where on your head did you bump it.
Olivia: Finally shows him where on her head.
Dad: kisses it
Olivia: Kaleb, wait for me!

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While in the bathroom the other day, Olivia starts screaming loudly and making all kinds of noise.

Me: What in the world are you doing?

Olivia: I’m praising the Lord.  (Thank you, Psalty.)

Sunday, January 1, 2012

We got Olivia’s new bed all set up last night.  She loved it until it was time to go to sleep.  Then, she wanted her old toddler bed back.  It has been quite an adjustment for her.  I ended up sleeping in her bed with her last night. . .just imagine the two of us together in a twin bed.  If I moved a finger, she would wake up.  Then, I had to be facing her the entire night as well.  If I tried to roll over, she’d cry, “But mama, I need to see you!” It seems to be going smoother tonight, but that’s probably because she got less than 6 hours of sleep last night and she’s exhausted.

I’m sure Autumn took full advantage of my comfy flannel sheets while I was gone. 

I’m hoping that 2012 is full of happier times for my family.  I hate that it’s starting off with my grandma in the hospital with a staph infection.  Last year, we lost my grandpa, I miscarried my baby (who would have been due this month) and my husband and I have fought through some awful depression.  Praying, hoping that happier times are ahead.