Happy Birthday Ash! (uh... two days late!)

Happy Birthday to my niece Ashlee Ranae, who on March 28th turned 13 years old!!! From a cutie to a beauty, she is fun, silly and just a blast to be around! It has been amazing to see her grow from a spunky little girl (nickname: Ashlee Bubbles) to a mature, loving (dare I say it) teenager!!! I love her so much and can't wait to see the wonderful things that God has in store for her! Happy Birthday Ashlee, I hope the best for you and I love you so much!

Colton's Perspective

Colton got a kid camera for his birthday, so I thought that I would share some of the pictures that he has taken. It is interesting some of the things that he takes!

Party, Party, Party!

Although Colton's birthday isn't until April 2, the Circus was in town and I had the great idea of Mcdonalds, then the Circus. Between getting to a packed McD's (thankfully a b-day party was just getting over), hard-as-a-rock frozen ice cream cake, and losing Colton after the Circus, we survived. (Colton was found on the platform getting set up for the elephant rides for the next show. I think he wanted to be first in line!) It was a long day, but turned out to be a lot of fun! Here are the highlights in photos:

Riding on the elephant
Can we say "Ex-awwwww-sted"?

SST: My first Steve Maddens

So they are basically jazzed up slippers, but they are velvety and sparkly, so they count as sassy shoes!!! It will take me a while to work up to Angela's 3 inch heel Steve Madden's, but I am glad that he creates a variety of styles! Oh, and did I mention... $5.99 at Ross's, oh yeah!!!

P.S. Please ignore the weird sock indents on my ankles, I had just taken off my socks and they are getting slightly puffy these days!!!

Joy (delivered by a man in a brown truck!)

It's here! It's here! Hooooraaayyy! (Kinda feel silly now for being such a big whiner!)
So here are the first pictures from my new camera! Bear with me, they are taken without really knowing my camera, no filters or external lenses and without enhancing with photoshop! I think they are already an improvement compared to the ones taken with our camcorder!
Expect many pictures in my blogs!!!!!!

Colton playing at Giant Springs

Colton snuggled in his blanket
Jesse when we stopped by his office today to show him my new toy!

Anticipation

Ok, so yes, we are anticipating many things. Babies, birthdays and construction. But what am I anticipating today? My camera.
Ordered March 5th
shipped March 7th
UPS issues
Reshipped March 14th
Last known progress: Scanned for arrival in Hogdkins, IL March 16th
No departure scan.

It still has the status of Delivery On Time. Hmmm, why does this seem like an untrue statement.
I have received many things through UPS and have never had this problem. Normally I am not this adamant about receiving things, they get there when they get there. Except Colton's 5th birthday party is on Saturday. I have a feeling that Brooklyn, NY is going to get a nasty little phone call from Great Falls, MT today. They WILL be sending me my stuff overnight. They WILL be paying for the shipping. Hmmm... do you feel my intensity?!

DVR (or Tivo) Advocate

DVR (Digital Video Recorder i.e. a machine that acts like a VCR for live tv.)
So sometimes I would prefer to throw our tv in the basement and always have enriching, brain-stimulating activities available, but in our world, our tv is a welcome friend! Jesse didn't have to try hard to convince me to add cable to our bill since if we got a bundle package, it only added about $30 a month to our bill. Ten dollars of the thirty goes to our DVR and I have to say that I am a complete advocate of this technology. Why I just adore DVR:

5. 4 episodes of Simpsons, Scrubs or Gilmore Girls whenever I want a laugh
4. 2 episodes of Little Einsteins and The Magic School Bus when I need a break.
3. Recording random movies like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid, Conan the Barbarian, or Pretty Woman that air at 2:30 in the morning and watching them when we want.
2. FAST FORWARDING through commercials and pausing live tv for bathroom breaks!!!
and #1...

1. Not being a slave to when certain shows are on. We watch what we want, when we want to- which translates actually less time in front of the tv. Half the time I don't even know what time the programs actually come on!

So what are your top 3 items on your DVR?

Peacock Inn French Toast

A couple of years ago my sister stayed at a B&B and got this recipe for amazing baked french toast. You prepare it the night before and cook it in the morning. It makes enough for at least 5 adults and great for when you have guests! It is really sweet, so taste it before you add any syrup! Enjoy!

1 loaf 16 oz french bread cut into 1 inch thick slices
9 lg eggs
2 cups milk
2 cups half and half
2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp of each: nutmeg and cinnamon
coarsely chopped pecans or raw chopped apples (optional)

Topping
1 1/2 sticks butter-softened
3 tsp dark corn syrup
1 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar

Heavily grease 9x13 pan. Fill with bread slices-filled to top (I use one layer of bread and 2 pans) Mix eggs, milk, half and half, vanilla, and spices-pour over bread. Refrig covered overnight.
Heat oven to 350 degrees. mix topping ingredients-stir in nuts/apples. Spread evenly over bread. Bake about 1 hour 10 mins or until puffed and golden brown. Let stand 5 mins before serving

Interesting baby products

So on my quest to find a few useful baby items, I have come across a few ridiculous products that I felt the need to share with you!


1. The thudguard:
I understand that some children have medical needs for helmets, but this is geared toward your average child. Hmm, can I say overprotective?!

2. Hands free breast pumping system:
Are we really so busy that we can't take 15 minutes and use our hands to expel milk? Seriously!

3. Offensive Onsies:
What may be funny to one person, may not be to another. And though I don't worry about what other people think, to put cuss words on your baby's clothes is taking it a bit too far!

4. Pee Pee tee-pee:
Being a mother who has been peed on by an infant during a changing, I would think this is a great thing, but really, you probably get more use as a gag gift at a baby shower than actually using it!


5. The Tummy tub:
Designed for newborn to 3 years old, it is supposed to simulate the shape and comfort of the womb. Hmmm... it's a bucket.

6. Redneck Pacifiers:
You kind of have to laugh at this one! But pair it with a onsies cussing at you, and you'll have your baby on the road to Trailer Park City! Hee Hee 7. Baby toupee:
These are just too funny!

8. Men's breast feeding sling:
Hmm, after reading comments from another person that had this on a list of ridiculous baby items (and where I got some of mine), I just won't say too much, but I think it is weird. That is my own opinion.There are other ways to bond with your child!
9. The Zaky pillows:
Though they may be soothing to preemies, these are just a little creepy looking to me!!! And is this something you want your toddler to carry around with them when they get older?!

Atchley/Shea Family Prayer requests

Jackie has requested that we all post our prayer requests for the week and we will all pray for each other. Here are our prayer requests:

1. Grace and wisdom to help Colton grow into a well-rounded little boy.
2. Easy and undramatic (is that a word) last month of pregnancy and labor.
3. Energy, time and finances to get our basement into a livable space!
4. Comfort and healing for Jesse's grandma who suffered a stroke a while back.
5. Opportunities for us to cultivate relationships with friends and family and grow deeper in our relationship with God.

Thanks for praying for us!

Tagged: 10 things about me

1. I have gotten the Oriental Trading Co. catalog for almost 2 years now, but I have never ordered anything from them. I like to look through it and think of cool party ideas.

2. I am such a tomboy. Proof:
-Participated in HS Wrestling
-Volunteered to be a AF Survival Instructor (pics soon, I promise)
-AF Heavy Equipment Operator (yes, I know how to operate a dump truck, grader, dozer, bobcat, Semi-truck, Snow plow, and various concrete and asphalt jobs)
-I love to do demolition and remodeling!
-I love to play video games (and not the girlie ones either)

3. I am such a girl. Proof:
-I love Interior Design and have an Assoc. Degree in it
-I love soaking in the tub (salt and oils, not bubbles) and painting my toes
-I am acquiring quite a little shoe collection (Thanks, Amber and Angela)
-Ever since Jesse taught me about the Brown Recluse and Black Widow that are rampant around our house, I jump at spiders (but funny that Jesse jumps farther and I'm the one that has to kill them!)

4. I love anything with cheese on it! Ymmm, brie, soon, very soon! (you're not supposed to eat soft cheeses during pregnancy)

5. A month ago I had an obsession with pickles and bought a ginormous jar at Sam's, got over it and the jar is still in the fridge, unopened. New obsession: Watermelon!(Not with cheese on it, hee hee)

6. I love to fly, though road trips are pretty fun too!

7. The older I get the less I care about what other people think.

8. I have an file devoted to cards that people send us. I just feel guilty throwing them away.

9. When we drive somewhere at night I like to look in people's houses that have their curtains open, to see how it is decorated inside! Plus what they're watching on tv!

10. Our idea of a date: Dinner (usually Tony Roma's), and walk around Home Depot or Sam's Club.

I tag Jackie and Rachel (maybe it will pull you out of your blog slump, Slacker, hee hee)

My sister Jackie

So maybe God didn't let us grow up together, but he put Jackie in my life when I truly needed a big sister nearby. Don't get me wrong, my sisters have always been there for me when I needed them! Jackie became my surrogate sister and spoke for my sisters when they were too far away (I attempted to make some stupid decisions, but she was my voice of reason). She spent time away from her wonderful family and spent money to travel all the way to N. Cali to help me and be in my wedding. Why do I blog about her today? Because in about a month her and her two little ladies will be visiting us for a whole week, and I am as excited as when my family comes to visit! She is such a wonderful friend and I just can't wait!!!!!

Plus, she's so pwetty!!!

Uh, I look like such a dork in this pic. We desperately need better ones!

It doesn't take much

4:48 a.m.

...stomach grumbles

...peanut butter toast and glass of low acid OJ delivered to my bedside.

myyyy heeeero (said in a high pitch, Olive Oil type voice)

5:08 a.m. content and happy endorphins and much love for my husband.

I'm a lucky lady. 8^)

(P.S. According to a Meth show we watched last night, the two best, natural ways to increase the release of dopamine into your system is food and, ahem, sex. I like food [and if you consider my condition, the latter works too]. hee hee! Sorry if that was too much info!)