Father's Day Weekend, June 2010

What a wonderful Father's Day weekend we had last weekend. I have just been so very busy with work lately that this is the first short moment that I have had to myself to actually sit down and do my blog. My brother, his wife, and daughter, Ella (she calls Steven Jr. TT...sooo cute when she does) came into town from Baltimore for a week long family trip...first stop was to my mom's in St. Augustine so of course we had to go as well so that we could visit and spend Father's Day weekend with them and my mother ("Grandma at the Beach" in Steven Jr words). It was a very nice weekend and we spent a lot of time at the beach. There is no way we could not. Steven had a blast. I was such a proud mom when I saw Steven Jr swimming underwater in the ocean. Lots of things to be thankful for that weekend and every day.

If you click on the title of this post you will be taken to "YouTube" to watch an awesome video of Steven Jr on Steve's shoulders in the ocean as Steve falls into the water. Then Steven Jr takes to the water like a fish and starts swimming underwater. I loved it and just had to share.

Enjoy!

Trenton, to Gainesville, to Trenton, to Gainesville, and finally home!

I spent my Sunday at the office reviewing a current open protective services case and Steven and my husband spent the day at the springs. I knew that Steven was excited and I was happy to be able to get this work done. Upon my arrival home Steven and daddy shared with me their day at the springs and how Steven swam like a fish. That night Steven could not stop rubbing his eyes. I thought for sure he was just exhausted from his long day of swimming. Steven woke up the next morning and picked up where he left off with his eye rubbing, but again I thought to myself "It is just a morning thing". Well, about two hours after arriving at work in downtown Gainesville, his summer school teacher in Trenton (an hour away) called and told me that Steven's eyes are bloodshot and swollen. At that point I knew something was going on. I called the Dr's office and made an appointment. I was positive that it was allergies, but I still wanted the Dr. to be the one to tell me that. So I drove back to Trenton and picked him up, and then drove back to Gainesville to take Steven to the Dr. Well...it is a good thing that I got him there because his eye rubbing was occurring due to a bacterial infection. Steven got put on eye drops 3 times a day and was not allowed any contact with the children in his summer school class for 24 hours. So needless to say, yesterday was a LONG day, but no more eye rubbing! Oh...my car hit over the 100,000 mile mark as well....wooo hooo!!

Camping and UF Women's Football Clinic

Whew...what a weekend.....camping, football, and lots of bug bites! As soon as Steve came home from work on Friday, June 4th we loaded up the truck and took off to Manatee Springs for a weekend of camping. We were ready. We set up camp, got the tent sprayed with "Rain Guard" and we went to the springs to cool off...ahhhhhh. Let me just say that we have a water bug. Little Steven is swimming like a fish. He was having so much fun...and dad...well...lets just say he is the best. He would put Steven on his back and swim all the way across the spring and back with him. Of course Steven did not want to stay on his back because he can do it himself, and dad would let him, but boy he was right there ready to bring him in close when he would get tired. We went back to camp and were surrounded the entire time by deer. It was awesome! They would come walking right up to our camp site. Saturday morning I woke up at 6am, took a shower, and was at Florida Field by 8:00am. I must say that doing this UF Football Women's Clinic was one of the most awesome things I have even done! All the UF coaches were there doing drills with us at 8 different stations. We then took a tour of the weight room, locker room, and and got to run out of the tunnel into the SWAMP! I then headed back to the springs to be with my family and to thank my husband over and over for allowing me this day...just another gift from God.

If you click on the title to this post you can view a video of me running out of the tunnel into the SWAMP on YouTube!

A Plentiful Garden, A Happy Child, and an "Amish Friendship Cinnamon Loaf" recipe

Over the holiday weekend I went down to our garden and look at what I found. Seven beautiful yellow squash. We had it for dinner last night along with some cranberry chicken that I had prepared the night before. Steve grilled the chicken and the squash on the grill and I must say...the chicken was good but I have never had squash so flavorful before. Steve says it must be the chicken poop that he has been throwing on the garden when he cleans it...(this was of course after I had eaten about 2 squashes at this point)...but I gotta tell ya...it's working! Our tomatoes are bigger than ever, the cucumbers are in the dozens (not ready to pick yet), and the eggplant is just now beginning to show it's face along with the green peppers. We also will have a few rows of white acre peas (which Steve introduced me to and I LOVE them).

I took this picture tonight while Steven and I were having snuggle time watching some Disney Pixar "Short Films". At one point Steven was laughing so hard (one of those deep belly laughs) I just had to get a picture. What a difference after him being sick on Sunday and Monday throwing up. By Monday evening he was on his way to recovery, but I have to believe that all the activity at Wild Waters on Saturday played some part in this 24 hour bug, but all is well now. I found myself laughing at Steven's laugh tonight...those are the best!

The process of replacing my wallet contents after having it stolen is a slow one, but I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I will be getting my birth certificate tomorrow morning and then going to the courthouse to get a new driver's license. Because I did not have a licence to get my birth certificate ($15.00 for proof of my own birth...geez) which I needed to get a driver's licence I had to make lots of phone calls to find out what other forms of identification would do. I had my work type up a letter and notarize it for me stating that I am currently employed there, and then will show them my work ID as well as my Social Security card. I will then carry over an entirely different set of documents to the courthouse so I could get a new driver's license. Still waiting on my new debit card that I was told was in the process of being requested (a week ago) but just learned it had not been so it will be another 7 to 10 days before I will have that in my possession. I am grateful however that I did not have my checkbook in my wallet OR my social security card.

Due to the growing popularity of the "Amish Friendship Cinnamon Loaf" that I have been making so much of lately (thank you Ruby) and I know how easy it is to loose the recipe I thought I would just post it online that way everyone would know where to go to get it if they needed it.

Amish Friendship Cinnamon Loaf

DO NOT use any type of metal bowls or spoons for mixing

DO NOT refrigerate

It is normal for the batter to rise, bubble and ferment. Burp as needed

Day 1: Do Nothing

Day 2: Mush the bag

Day 3: Mush the bag

Day 4: Mush the bag

Day 5: Mush the bag

Day 6: Add to bag 1 Cup self-rising flour, 1 Cup sugar and 1 Cup milk; mush the bag

Day 7: Mush the bag

Day 8: Mush the bag

Day 9: Mush the bag

Day 10: Follow the instructions:

1) Pour entire contents of bag into a NON-METAL bowl

2) Add 1 1/2 Cups All-Purpose flour, 1 1/2 Cups sugar, 1 1/2 Cup milk and stir

3) Measure 1 Cup batter into each of (4) 1 gallon size Ziploc bags and give to a friend along with a copy of this recipe.

4) Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

5) Add to remaining batter:

3 eggs

1 Cup oil

1/2 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 LARGE box instant vanilla pudding

1 Cup sugar

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

2 Cup all purpose flour

6) Grease 2 large loaf pans

7) In a small bowl, mix together 1/2 cup sugar with 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Dust the greased pans with 1/2 the mixture

8) Pour the batter evenly into the 2 loaf pans and sprinkle the remaining sugar/cinnamon mixture over the top.

9) Bake 1 hour and cool until it loosens easily from the sides of the pan (about 10 min)

10) Serve hot or cold.....Yummy!!!!

If you keep a starter for yourself, you will be baking every 10 days. The bread is very good and makes a great gift. Only the Amish know how to create a starter, so if you give them away, you'll have to wait until someone gives you one back.

Enjoy!