Trophy Mug

Years ago when my husband and I were first married, we became friends with wonderful couples who already had children. At random visits to their homes I would inevitably see a large beverage jug sitting out. A few times I would catch the mother sipping iced water from this holder of liquids and I would stare at it with amazement.

Certainly I had seen a mug before in my life, but never one like this. It seemed to have a power to it all by itself. I was convinced, as I was not a lover or water intake previously, that if I had a jug like that, I WOULD drink more water :)

One day, I got up enough nerve to ask a friend of mine. The answer? The mug was given to her from the hospital she delivered her child in.

Well, that was a problem for me, because this little thurgood family wasn't planning on adding another thurgood to the family for a few years. But I wanted a MUG!

I searched dear friends. I searched at grocery stores, discount stores, and second hand stores for a mug to hold with pride....so that I could be a better drinker of water-of course!

My search was in vain. I could find nothing of the sort. So I did the best I could to try and remove the thought from my mind.

Fast forward to 2006. I SHOULD NOT complain, but for the sake of reliving it, lets just say I progress to the point of first stage labor in my final month of pregnancy. So I waddle around with water retention that would make an elephant look like a ANT and feel like all my insides are going to fall out.

On my way to the hospital I request a LARGE cup of juice and a nice juicy burger (don't judge ya'll) I knew they were going to make me STARVE...and heaven help me, if I didn't make it out alive at least I was going to savour my last meal :)

Fast forward to the delivery room....I was told I could suck on ICE CHIPS! (I was prepared for this) but really hoped they'd bring it in with that special mug all of my other mother-friends possessed in their homes.

Nope. Styrofoam.

My little Thurgood was born just after midnight and I could not have been happier. There was a lot of work involved in between, but you get the point.

As soon as the tyke was out and I was watching Apgar test etc. being performed I motioned to the hubs to grab my "back up drink" because I was THIRSTY!

I chugged that juice faster than a freshman frat boy at a party! I was parched! A nurse picked up on it and sent for water....

I was thankful I had my emergency supply of strawberry banana sobe, because whomever retrieved my water took forever.

I enjoyed my bonding time with Thurgood #3, and once the nurse returned I felt her journey was worth the wait.

In she walked holding the much anticipated:


TROPHY MUG!

I finally earned it! I got to have my very own and no one could take it from me. It was mine!

It is silly how much importance I've placed in this little mug. But to me, it is a symbol of achievement. It is a symbol of sacrifice and love.

My brother, who likes to drink water in large quantities, borrowed my special mug unannounced to me once....I never saw my trophy again.

There were threats on his life made, demands that he march in to the hospital and get me another one etc. But BRO didn't get the special importance it had with me. So, I marched in myself and asked for another :) I was willing to pay folks. I was willing. But a nice nurse saw the look of panic on my face and sent me home with a duplicate trophy mug.

I have earned a second trophy since that tragic incident and I don't mind compiling them. I have become a much better water drinker....thanks to MY trophy mug.

HIVE!

Driving home one afternoon, I turn onto my street and notice what looks like an odd colored ball stuck in a tree on my property. Hesitant (because I have never seen a ball decorated quite like it). I pull up and examine it.



Answer: GINORMOUS wasp nest.
Solution: Kill, Kill, Kill it...but not me of course...assign the husband.

My darling friend Liz suggested I save it and send it with my son for show and tell. That idea took a while to sink in, but after a LOT of contemplation and failed attempts to contact professionals to take it down for free, we decided it would be pretty cool to send a carcased hive to show & tell!

And that's just what we did. we got online and researched the bald wasps that took up real estate in our tree and yours truly carefully sawed the little sucker out of the tree attempting to preserve it and the branch it was connected to.

Eventually we packaged the cozy little nook up and sealed it, with printed info... and dead wasps and sent the happy little preschooler to school!

Motivation!!!

If anyone needs a little visual motivation to lose weight, as I sometimes do; Here is a website that can help with that.

Simply upload a frontal picture of yourself, adjust your height, weight and click "set", adjust meter at left to how much weight you desire to lose or gain. Once your picture is uploaded make sure the square only covers your face. it will scan and show the new you to the right. You can print or email it!

Pizza Pizza

For family home evening this week we made home made pizza! , well not the crust. Dad got home too late for that. So here's what we cooked up!

Pizza Sauce (makes enough for 2 pizzas)
Ingredients

* 1 16 ounce can of sauce with
* 1 can (6 0z) tomato paste
* 6 oz Water; ( less for thicker!!!!!)

SEASONINGS

* 1/2 ts Garlic powder
* 2 ts Italian seasoning
* 2 ts Fennel seed
* 2 ts Onion powder
* 1.5 ts. Sugar

Instructions
Mix all the ingredients and allow to set for at least 30 minutes before use. The Fennel Seed is a key to the flavor!!

* I made modifications to this recipe based off of our results. Add whatever toppings sound delish to you. We used mozzarella, pepperoni and a mixture of italian sausage and ground beef.

Always wanted to...

When I was younger they didn't have stores with kid-sized shopping carts, so when I had to make a run to my second home & knew it wasn't going to require filling my own cart-- I told the kids to load up their rides and roll out! The store we were heading to didn't have the special carts either, but that didn't stop us!

Strawberries and Cream Trifle

Made a dessert for a recent Relief Society meeting and was pleased with the way it turned out. here you go:


Strawberries and cream trifle

Ingredients:

* 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
* 1-1/2 cups cold water
* 1 package (1 ounce) sugar-free instant vanilla pudding mix
* 1 carton (8 ounces) frozen reduced-fat whipped topping, thawed
* 1 prepared angel food cake (9-ounce round)
* 4 cups sliced fresh strawberries
* 3 whole fresh strawberries

Directions:
In a bowl, whisk the milk and water. Whisk in the pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set; fold in the whipped topping. Cut cake into 1/2-in. cubes.
Spoon a third of the pudding mixture into a 4-qt. trifle or glass bowl. Top with half of the cake cubes and sliced strawberries. Repeat layers once. Top with remaining pudding mixture. Garnish with whole strawberries. Yield: 12 servings.

Just Couldn't Resist

Lately, some of my children sightings have been pretty comical to me. The children have discovered "closets and cubby's". My daughter discovered that pouring shampoo in the tub makes it nearly impossible to get out of....slippery factor!