Friday Funnies

Bella was texting Andrew and wanted to send him a family selfie. 

She didn't like this one as it looked like her head was sideways.
This one was much better, but she didn't like the fact that only my head was in the picture.
So Rich came up with the idea in include Maggie...Take 1
Take 2
Take 3
Take 4 aka me trying to get Maggie in my lap
Take 5
Maggie takes out cameraman
Finally
Oh yeah...gotter done.

Have a great weekend!!

More Later

- A Ro

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Throw Back Thursday

You probably think that I have been immensely engrossed with the Olympics since I have been gone for few days from my blog.

You would be wrong.

You see I had to work the night of the opening ceremonies and when I miss the start of something I usually can't get quite all the way on board.  Like missing the audition days of American Idol and trying to watch the Hollywood week.

I usually miss the first parts of TV shows because I don't watch much T.V.  I just don't have time to sit around on my couch and get itchy eye from looking at Bob Costas. 

I am sad that I haven't gotten into it.

Anyway.

Throw back Thursday.

I have been going through pictures and uploading them to Shutterfly and decided that I would pick a very early picture just for fun.  These two pictures really caught my eye tonight.

 This is a picture of my Grandma and my nephew Tyler in 2004.

And a picture of my Grandma and my nephew Joseph in 2006.
 
I love these picture for so many reasons.  Here are a few:

• My Grandma had to move into this very small apartment when my Granpy died, but some traditions stuck.  She put up a tree, albeit a small one, and she had all of her singing Christmas decorations, and her table cloth brings back a lot of memories for me.  She also always baked our favorite treats like fudge, sugar cookies, divinity, and coffee cake.
• I love the smile on her face as she holds Tyler and Joseph.  That smile is very familiar to me.  She loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
• Tyler is very intent on something that is on the table, probably one of her singing Christmas toys.  This is the way my nephew is to this day.  Always very intent on something.
• For a very new baby Joseph is looking squarely at her and looks very comfortable.
• My Grandma knew we were coming over to see her so she put on a nicer outfit, and makeup.  Probably used it as an excuse to dress up as she was living a very lonely life without her beloved husband and her only son...my dad.
• Which brings me to the picture of my dad on the lamp shade.  She kept it there because she liked to talk to him. 

I also am thinking about some of the things you can't see. 

• Her piles of coupons that she religiously clipped each week.
• A very large picture of my Granpy...she missed him very much too.
• The rest of us sitting around enjoying our time together.
• An enormous picture collage on the wall behind her.  Maybe that is where I get my love of pictures.
• And a poster size picture of my senior picture behind her.  Don't ask.

I love the fact that my kids knew my Grandma.  She was one of my most favorite people in the whole wide world.

I love the fact that Tyler and Joseph got to know her and even though they don't remember her I know that deep inside there is a small part of them that can still feel the warmth of her loving lap.


More Later

- A Ro

Project 365 Week 6

A lot of very silly people pictures this week...mostly my kids. 

A really great week overall.  Enjoy my pictures!!

Sunday February 2


Sarah and Bella being silly picture 1.


Monday February 3


Mama and Bella selfie. One last study session for my test tomorrow.

Tuesday February 4


Bella's soccer game. She is number 11 and the two goals on the scoreboard are hers.  She is usually number 15 but left her jersey at home, so 11 it is.

Thursday February 5


Silly picture of Bella and Sarah number 2. This is what they do. I had a million pictures to choose from.

Thursday February 6


Andrew at the U of A Oregon basketball. He made it on TV. And yes he is in a purple Telly Tubby costume. 

No he didn't realize that the purple Telly Tubby was at one time accused of being gay. 

Not that there is anything wrong with that.

Friday February 7
My school hosted an honor choir festival this week.  This is the choir's first rehearsal.  It was fun to see all my students participate and get so much out of it.

Saturday February 8
I stole the idea of a shadow picture from Roni at Roni's Weigh.  So I got home from being at school all day for the festival and needed to get my run in for my run streak to continue...I did it!!!

There you have it.  I hope you had a wonderful week too.

More Later

- A Ro

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The Sporty Hodgepodge

My hodgepodge is late this week.  But I have a very good reason.  I finally took the blasted CBEST test last night.  

Phew

There are three parts: 50 multiple choice reading 50 multiple choice math and 2 essays.  At the end of the test they give you your score for the multiple choice sections.  To pass you have to get a 41 on both of the multiple choice sections.  I got....

drum roll please

70 on the reading and 65 on the math!!!

So if I they think I can write a coherent essay I am in and DONE!!!

WooHoo

So on to the hodgepodge.

1. Are we always responsible for our actions? Are there any exceptions?

Wow this is a tough one.  I believe that we are always responsible for our actions, but there are certain situations where sometimes our actions are nudged by outside forces that cause us not to act as we normally would.

2.  Has anyone from your home town become famous?

hmmmm Casey Blake the retired baseball player is from my home town and his parents are really close with my parents.  My mom was bff's with Kurt Warner's mom.  They heavy metal band Slipknot went to my high school and are friends with my brother.  Gymnast Shawn Johnson went to my high school.  That is about it...I think

3. January was National Slow Cooker month. Do you own a slow cooker/crock pot? Did you use it last month? What's a favorite dish you make using a slow cooker or crock pot?

I have been using my slow cooker each Sunday night to make oatmeal.  So good.  The problem with the slow cooker on the weeknights is that I don't have a lot of time in the morning to prep it for the day, so I have to find recipes that have very little prep.

4. How do you feel about private companies collecting data about you?

I don't really like it but not too shook up about it.  I could be very upset if it gets to a certain point.

5. The Games of the 2014 Winter Olympics kick off with their opening ceremony this coming Friday....will you be watching? Which Winter Olympic event would you most like to see in person? Have you ever been to Russia? Any desire to go, Olympics or otherwise?

I will be working on Friday night so I will miss the opening ceremonies.  I look forward to figure skating, and all the sledding stuff. I have been to Russia on a choir tour in the early nineties  Not the best time to be in Russia.  Loved the place but probably wouldn't go back.

6. Share a good or bad sports related memory from your childhood or teen years.

Didn't even have to think about this one.  My dad made me play softball my Sixth Grade year.  I was NOT sporty and he had two boys that were...anyway to end each practice they put us all out in the outfield and hit us pop flies and we could leave when we caught one.  I know that you can guess where this story is going.  Funny thing is I actually played softball as an adult on church leagues and LOVED it.

7. What's a must have song for you on a work out play list? If you don't work out, run, swim, bike, walk, or anything else that could be construed as 'exercise', then what's a song that movtivates you to at least get up off the couch?

My really go to song is Let's Go by Calvin Harris.  The words are motivating and the beat is great to work out too.  I love good workout music.  Nothing makes all that hard work more bearable than a good song.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
Well let's see if those private companies can figure me out.  I have a love hate relationship with softball, wish I could luge, have been to Russia, love my slow cooker, and I love pump it up songs and finally am done studying for the CBEST.  If they figure out all that I might not be able to be held responsible for my actions.

More Later
- A Ro

Tasty Tuesday

I know, not a very clever title, but it is the best I can do.

I wanted to start posting some of my favorite "good for you" recipes.  So here's the first one hopefully not the last one.

we'll see.

I made a really good soup last night and I thought I would share with you.  It is a soup that everyone in my family loves, so that right there makes it good for you!!  The better part is that it is indeed good for you in the sense of healthy eating.  It is a Cooking Light recipe that I have adapted for the folks at my dinner table (no celery, real milk instead of evaporated, and a little thicker), but you can find the entire recipe here.

Here are my Cast of Characters:

2 t. olive oil

1 c. chopped onion

1 c. chopped carrots

1 garlic clove minced

1/3 c. flour

1/2 t. thyme

6 c. chicken broth

4 c. baking potato

1 t. salt

2 c. leftover roasted chicken

1/2 c. half and half

1/2 c. 2% milk

2 c. uncooked pasta

Rich threw extra chicken on the grill a couple weeks ago and I froze it until I needed it for this recipe.  I also used whole wheat rotini, but the original recipe calls for egg noodles.  I like a heartier noodle.  

1.  Heat the olive oil in a dutch oven over medium heat.  Add onion, carrots and garlic.  Saute 5 minutes.

2.  Sprinkle seasonings and flour over vegetables and cook 1 minute.

3.  Stir in broth, potato, and salt.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer partial covered for 25 minutes.

4.  Add roasted chicken, milk, and noodles.  Cook 10 minutes or until noodles are tender.

I made this bread this weekend and served it with some fresh mozzarella, roasted red peppers, and bruschetta.

Soup nutritional value as per the recipe on the Cooking Light website:
Serving size 1 c
Calories 215 Calories from fat: 19% Fat: 4.6 g Sat Fat: .9g Mono: 1.6g Poly: .8g Protein: 14.9g Carbs: 28.6g Fiber: 2.6g Chol: 37mg Iron: 2.4mg Sodium: 355mg Calcium: 101mg

Tasty meal, and good for you...in more ways than one.

More Later

- A Ro

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Monday Monday (la laaa la la la)

Monday once again!!

funny how that just keeps happening.

My weekend was great and way too short.

funny how that always seems to be the case.

We had a lot going on this weekend but it wasn't BUSY just full.

Friday night Rich and I went out on a date to eat sushi and sake.  We then went to my school's Coffee House.  Here is a picture of the house band without Andrew...sigh.
We had a really nice time and all the acts were great!!

Saturday Kate sent me this picture of Abby with her My Little Pony Build-a-Bear she bought with a gift card I gave her.  I just realized she has Minnie ears on...not sure why...but then again with Abby that is the usual.  So cute!!

Rich's co-worker got tickets to go see the Pepperdine Waves play basketball.  Their campus is in Malibu pretty much right on the ocean.  Here are some pics from the afternoon.


It was a really good game and we enjoyed ourselves very much.  We then went home and picked Sarah up to go dress shopping for her formal dance in a couple of weeks.  We didn't find anything she liked, but shopping is always fun.

Sunday was the big game.  A couple of things:

• Renee Flemming, who was one singer I listened to a lot when I was studying opera, was amazing.  Her simple version of the National Anthem (not an easy song to sing) was flawless and simple.  Thank goodness.
• The game was lame.  Rich watched a good deal of it I came in and out and was blown away with the one sided-ness of the game.  I mean c'mon a safety on the first play.  I do like the Seahawks but kinda wanted a better game.
• I love Bruno Mars.  Just the Way You Are is one of my favorite songs but it is the way Rich makes me feel so I get a little choked up when I hear it.  awwwww
• Because I came in and out of the game I didn't see too many of the commercials.  Of the ones I saw I loved the Tim Tebow contract commercials...so funny.  
• This picture was on my phone this morning.  The dog on my furniture...BELLA!!!!!!!!!!

The rest of the evening was dinner, chores, and I still had to study for the CBEST because I was supposed to take it on Thursday of last week but because of computer issues that site CANCELLED IT.  So I take it on tomorrow.  GEEZ.

I will be channeling my inner Seahawk for that one.

More Later

- A Ro

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Project 365 - Week 5

Here are my week in pictures.  Another great blogger who takes great pictures is doing this same project.  If you have a spare minute head on over to her blog and take a look. Bug's Eye View

Here are mine:

SUNDAY JANUARY 26
Andrew sent me this picture of Jenna and him at a UofA basketball game.  Did I mention they are number one in the country right now?  Did I mention that I am jealous that Andrew gets to go see them play?

MONDAY JANUARY 27

 

This picture was actually taken yesterday, but Bella sent it to me today.  (I am counting it as Monday don't try to stop me.)  They went to the beach for a birthday and they took this picture.  I love this one.

 

 

TUESDAY JANUARY 28



Bella took this picture of Maggie.  We call it doggy porn.  She loves to lay like this. 

I do realize that I have not taken one single picture so far this week.  My project 365 is a team effort.


WEDNESDAY JANUARY 29

I did take this one.  Bella and her bff's after a soccer game.  They lost but you would never be able to tell they just smile and giggle.

THURSDAY JANUARY 30


My 2014 (minus 19) run streak continues.  Even in the rain!!

FRIDAY JANUARY 31

Rich and I at our school's Coffee House.  It was dark, but I love this picture, and I love him!!

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 1
We spent the afternoon watching the Pepperdine basketball team beat up on Loyola Marymount's team.  The Pepperdine campus is in Malibu.  This was our view as we walked to the car.  Rough, huh?

So there you have it.  Another week in pictures and we are now into February...geez.

More Later

- A Ro


Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone