Oh Where Is My Night Gown?

If any of you are Veggie Tale fans then you will know what song I am talking about immediately when I say: "Oh where is my hair brush" (you can watch the Veggie Tales clip here if you have no idea what I'm talking about and this whole thing will make a lot more sense!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sm7r8RHfzeM&feature=player_embedded).  So for this blog I thought I'd change the lyrics a bit to suite the story......to...you guessed it..... "oh where is my night gown". 

Narrator: "Now it's time for silly songs with The Red's. The part of the show where The Red's come out and sing a silly song.

Our curtain opens as Grandma, having just finished her evening bath, is searching for her night gown. Having no success, Grandma cries out..."Oh, where is my night gown? Oh where is my night gown? Oh, where, oh, where, oh, where, oh, where, oh, where, oh, where, oh, where, oh, where oh, where ... is my night gown?"
Narrator: "Having heard her cry, The Sarge enters the scene. Shocked and slightly embarrassed at the sight of Grandma in a towel, Sarge regains her composure and reports ... "I think I saw your night gown back there on the bed!"
Grandma: "Back there is my night gown. Back there is my night gown. Back there, back there, oh, where, back there, oh, where, oh, where, back there, back there, back there ... is my night gown?"
Narrator: "Having heard her joyous proclamation, Grandman enters the scene. Shocked and slightly embarrassed at the sight of Grandma in a towel, Grandman regains his composure and comments ... "Why do you need a night gown? You can sleep in the buff!"
Narrator: "Grandma is taken aback. The thought had never occurred to her. No night gown? What would this mean? What will become of her? What will become of her night gown? Grandma wonders ... "No one cares for my night gown. No one cares for my nightgown. No one cares, no one cares, nowhere, no one cares, no one cares, no one cares, no where back there, no one cares... for my night gown."
Narrator: "Having heard her wonderings, Eli, one of the Red's, enters the scene. Shocked and slightly embarrassed at the sight of Grandma in a towel, Eli regains his composure and confesses ... "Grandma, that silky pink night gown of yours ... Well, Sissy Lou was cold and you don't really need it. So, well, I'm sorry ... I didn't know. But I gave it to Sissy Lou 'cause she's got no blanket!"
Narrator: "Feeling a deep sense of loss, Grandma stumbles back and laments..."
Grandma: "Not fair! Oh, my night gown. Not fair! My poor night gown. Not fair, not fair, no one cares, not fair, nowhere, no one cares, not fair ,not fair, not fair! My silky pink night gown!"
Narrator: "Having heard her lament, Sissy Lou enters the scene. herself in a towel, both Grandma and Sissy Lou are shocked and slightly embarrassed at the sight of each other. But recognizing Grandma's generosity, Sissy Lou is thankful ..."
Sissy Lou: "ysajdll atlke bloow suej"  baby talk for: "Thanks for the blanket/night gown."
Narrator: "Yes, good has been done here. Sissy Lou exits the scene. Grandma smiles, but, still feeling an emotional attachment for her night gown, calls out ... "Take care of my night gown. Take care, of my night gown. Take care, take care, don't dare not care. Take care. Some one cares. No fair. Take care, take care ... of my night gown."
Narrator: "The end!"


Okay, if you are completely lost....here's the story in a nut shell:

Grandma and Grandman came up to visit for Thanksgiving.  The first night grandma was getting ready for bed and pulled out her silky pink night gown and robe and laid it on the bed (she's old school and has to sleep in a night gown every night).  She was distracted and ended up staying up a while longer talking.  I had put Sissy Lou to bed earlier and the Red's were running around playing.  When it was time for everyone to go to bed Grandma couldn't find her night gown.  She swore she had laid it on the bed with her robe.  The robe was still there...well it had been thrown around a little, but it was still there.  So the search was on for Grandma's night gown.  I searched every where...behind the bed, under the bed, closets, drawers...every where.  Finally I decided that I would question the Red's....because we all know they are sneaky little boogers.  I pulled Andrew to the side first and he looked clueless so I moved on to Eli....who didn't look so clueless....but also looked a little confused.  I said "Eli tell mommy the truth...you are not in trouble....we just need to find Grandma's night gown". He still looked confused and it was then that the thought occurred to me...it was pink....I bet he thought it was a blanket...so I follow up with "you know, the pink blanket that was on your bed".  With that he tilts his head to the side (signature Eli) and says "OH YEA...I gave it to Sissy Lou". 
So I went into Sissy Lou's room (the one place I didn't look) only to find the night gown lying over the sleeping Sissy.
And that is the story of the missing night gown...mystery solved!

Pecan Pie

This recipe is one of my favorites. I love Pecan Pie, but sometimes they can be a little too sweet. This recipe seems to have the perfect combination...making it deadly! PECAN PIE

Courtesy of my late Aunt Louise Cooper

1 cup of pecans

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup karo syrup

3 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 stick of butter

Melt butter and mix with the sugar.  Add the eggs and mix well.  Add the syrup and vanilla and mix well again.  Put pecans in an unbaked piecrust.  Then pour the mixture over the pecans and bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes or unitl mixture seems firm.

Sit back , unbutton your pants and enjoy!

Chili

I was introduced to this fabulous Chili recipe a few years ago by a dear friend!  Original recipe courtesty of Heather O'Connor/tweaked by the Sarge

CHILI

1 onion chopped

3 cloves of garlic diced

1/2 green bell pepper chopped

1/2 cup chili powder

1 1/2 lbs ground beef

1 can (28 oz) petite diced tomatoes

1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce

1/8 tsp Cayenne red pepper

1 Tbsp beef granules

1/2 tsp salt

1 can dark red kidney beans

1 can light red kidney beans

1/4 cup ketchup

1/8 cup barbecue sauce (I like Sweet Baby Ray's)

Grab a large pot and throw in the ground beef. Add the chopped onions, chopped green peppers, diced garlic, and chili powder and cook all together *side note...this is where I use one of "my favorite things"  The Mix and Chop from Pampered Chef: http://www.pamperedchef.biz/tonyabeasley?page=products-detail&categoryId=96&productId=15658&itemId=2583&parentCategoryId=8 *okay...back to the recipe...

Cook until the meat is browned and everything else is sauteed!  Add in your tomatoes, tomato sauce, ketchup, barbecue sauce, red pepper, beef granules, and salt.  Stir all together and cover.

Now turn your attention to your two cans of kidney beans (when I double the recipe I only add one more can of beans and it is usually chili beans in mild sauce).  Open the two cans and drain, then give them a nice rinse under some water.....drain and then dump the beans into the Chili!

Cook everything till heated trough....then EAT!

Serve with shredded cheese, sour cream and some Frito's!

New Pictures....

I am so overjoyed this morning to have our new family photos!  Our photographer did an outstanding job catching the essence of our family!  I am putting them on here to  a) show them off and  b) give you info on how to book the most amazing photographer ever!
Adele Reding Photography.....not only are they super talented, they are also the nicest, kindest, most down to earth people ever!  If you are in need of off the chart photos for your family, baby, senior pictures, etc.... and live in the Louisville area (or you're willing to travel...which she's worth) then give Adele a shout....YOU will NOT be disappointed!

Adele Reding Photography
Westport Village
1301 Herr Lane

Louisville, KY, 40222
(502) 365-1718
email:  info@adelereding.com
http://www.adeleredingphotography.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Day At The Farm!

On Sunday we decided to take a drive out to one of the farms Jesse hunts to check on the ponds.  Thanksgiving day is opening season for duck hunting around here and most of the ponds are low.  Jesse wanted to check out the prime locations to see how they were doing.  So I gathered all our gear (boots and camera) and headed out the door. 
When we arrived Jesse pulls up to gate and says "you're going to have to open a few gates for us to drive through". 
Something happened at this very moment that I like to refer to as a brain fart.  You know when you just can't get your brain in gear....like it's working a good minute behind you.  A task so simple all of a sudden becomes mind boggling......
I look at him and say "well, how am I suppose to get through the fence?"...and with a chuckle and a smirk wide across his face Jesse looks at me and says "I guess you will have to do some problem solving".

So with my brain still working a good minute behind, I jump out of the truck, walk over to the fence, unlatch it, watch Jesse drive through, and then I shut the gate behind him.  Only problem is that I am still on the opposite side....so I did what he told me too...I problem solved by climbing the fence....BRAIN FART!

Yes, yes I realized as I was in mid straddle that I could have just walked through the gate and closed it on the other side....but I was already half way over and committed! 

I hung my head low because I knew the minute I got back in the car the blow was coming.  So I swung open the door and before I could be made fun of, I made fun of myself (best defense ever)!  Jesse was doubled over laughing with disbelief at what he had just witnessed! His pour blond wifey!

We managed to press on and drive up to the next gate (which I mastered)

but there was something blocking the road:

and they weren't budging!  Finally after honking and driving up close to them they started to dis ban! 

It was at this point that I turned around to realize that I had indeed forgot something...something very important!  ELI IS TERRIFIED OF COWS!  Don't ask me why...but they freak him out!  At least he didn't do the ugly cry......so I urged Jesse to move on quickly!

We arrived at the desired pond only to realize that it was down about 3 feet. 

We jumped out of the car and the kids (including Jesse) strapped on their boots.  I grabbed my camera and we walked down to the waters edge.  Eli ran ahead with Jesse, but Andrew stayed with me and became fascinated with a very large stick. 

He stuck it in the water and stepped forward to smush it down good.  This is about the point that he realized that his right foot was STUCK! 

 Being the good mom that I am I began snapping away pictures.  He turns and says "mom, I'm really stuck"...so I should have put the camera down to help right?  Well I didn't because I was too busy CRYING LAUGHING!!!  The harder he tried to release his foot the more he got stuck.  Then he completely lost his balance and made a huge step with his left foot and was now lodged in the muck almost doing the splits!  

So did I help....nope, I couldn't see because of the tears and snot laugh that had taken over my body!

When I went to help him out finally I noticed one thing...guess who forgot their boots...ME!  It was only when the mud started seeping through my shoes that I realized my error!

So because Andrew looked like this:

I made him stripe before getting into the car.....I mean come on....I know what that mud is....cow poop!

He's going to kill me for these pictures one day!
So that sums up our day at the farm...brain farts, gates, fear of cows, mud sinking and of course SNOT LAUGHING!!!!

The Private....in the Army

This morning as Jesse was driving the Red's to school a conversation arose about an army game that Andrew plays.  Jesse called to tell me about it and I couldn't wait to share it with you guys.  It has started my day off laughing....and what better way to start a Monday off....with a laugh!

Andrew:  Hey Daddy, you know my game Doodle Army
Jesse:  Yes
Andrew:  the guy on there talks to you...he says "Private, it's just you and me now"
Jesse:  Andrew, do you know what a Private is?
Andrew:  Yeah, it's your wiener and bum bum!

See...it made me laugh again....Potty talk gets me every time!
Jesse did explain to him what a  Private is in the Army.....only after he quit laughing!

The Christmas Tree Debacle

I LOVE CHRISTMAS...everything about it...Jesus being born (had to put that first)...presents, the food, the smells, presents, the decorations that are all glittered up sparkly and shiny...the lights, carols .....did I mention presents......and of course the Christmas Tree!

The first house Jesse and I built had massive ceilings in the great room.  The kind you can't reach with a latter of any kind.  So we wanted a big full Christmas tree to accent it.  We were so very excited when we found the perfect pre-lit tree. Up until this point we had always purchased a real tree. 

So we put it up and it was perfect!  Look how happy we are....I don't think Gus was so happy...but we needed a Santa!

Year after year we put up the faithful, beautiful tree always loving it's shiny sparkly lights.

When we moved to Kentucky and Christmas time rolled around we pulled out the tree and set it up......only to realize a couple of limbs not working.  We worked and worked on them and finally got them lit.  (Sorry I had to throw in a few pictures that just made me smile...this has nothing to do with the tree...just my sweet little Eli....this gives me baby fever just looking at him).  Moving on....

 Notice the limbs out in the middle of tree here

The next year same thing (yeah, these are the only pictures I have of the tree) The bottom limbs started to not work...hince the reason we are blocking it with our bodies!

and the next...bottom limbs still not working

Last year we had, had it!  There were limbs all over the tree that were not working and try as we might we couldn't get them back on.  We vowed that was the last year for our beautiful NOT so shiny sparkly tree.  To goodwill it went and the search began for our new and improved super sonic shiny sparkly tree!  This was the last family picture with the late tree (you all should be familiar with this picture by now).

I got on line and started my search for a 9 foot pre-lit full Christmas tree.  When I found that fit my critiria I quickly glanced at the price and was overwhelmed. They do know that these things are plastic right???  What makes them worth ALL that $$$$$$$$?  Finally I found one that was in our price range....and it was FREE shipping....so of course I ordered it!
I will go ahead and admit I am one of those freaks who loves to set up for Christmas in the middle of November, way before Thanksgiving!  If Jesse would let me I would set up in October!
Anyways,  It came and I was ready to put that bad boy up!  Jesse and I put the whole tree up and then plugged it in.......only the same limbs that didn't work on our other tree DIDN'T WORK ON THIS ONE EITHER!!! 
We just stood there dumb founded!  Scratching our heads in a certain disbelief.  Asking ourselves one question:  Are we cursed with Christmas trees?
This is Jesse working on the tree....cursing it in his head....

After calling the help desk and trying our best to fix it we gave up and loaded it back in the box.  We took it back to the store to exchange...but guess what...THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANYMORE!
We are cursed!
So the search began again!  Finally I located another tree that was only $1.00 more. We drove over and grabbed one of the two that were left...WHEW!
Yesterday we spent the day decorating the house and putting the tree up.  Only this time every time we put a section together we plugged in the lights to see if they worked...holding our breath every time!
Notice a much Happier Jesse

Even happier...the Red's and Sissy Lou.

 Here's our finished product for the Richardson 2010 Christmas!

TA DA!
Don't worry, we know it is leaning a little.... we're cursed remember!