Ahhh more ehhh pepper?

So we all headed over to my parents after church today. I wanted to make a few dinners for them!

But first we going to master these cheerios! I looked on line last night for exercises for stroke victims for arm/hand/leg rehab. I found all kinds of stuff muuuahhhhahhhh!

So this one is picking up a small item (cheerios!) and placing them in a cup! One by one. As you can see my mom is working really hard- she said I could take pictures. It takes alot of effort to lift her arm to were she kind of leans to one side to do it. But she's real good at picking them up. She worked up a good sweat doing that so you know it's a good thing. We worked a few more exercises with her hand like wadding up a piece of paper then smoothing it back out with her bad hand- another sweat inducing exercise! So good for her, then we worked with the playdoh for a bit.

Then we worked on her legs for a while. Now she deserves a break!!

 I started with this dinner that they will actually eat tomorrow night. This is no hamburger helper either! I made this from scratch- mostly! Browned some ground beef, boiled some no-yoke noodles (no cholesterol) added some peas and a can of cream of mushroom soup. My dad says they love this kind of food. Made 2 dinners out of this!

 Now onto what I was making us for dinner tonight! I wanted to try another new recipe, and I've been wanting to try this stuffed pepper recipe. I boiled a pepper for each of us- mom, dad, Jeromy, Kenton and I....

 Now working on the mixture.... celery, onions, garlic- all freshly chopped (with my new pampered chef hand chopper- love it!) fire-roasted tomatoes, tomato paste, then mixed with ground turkey, one egg, some Worcestershire sauce and some other yummy spices... here it is simmering....

 Now the peppers are stuffed and ready to cook!

 The last few minutes I added goat cheese (so Jeromy can have cheese, too!) to melt... yum...

My mom got the special red pepper, cause I love her... she said she liked it and she ate almost all of it! How cute is she???

 Dad said he liked it- he didn't eat the pepper but he got seconds on the yummy mixture...

 Kent liked it too!

 Jeromy got the biggest stuffed pepper- smothered in goat cheese and some extra filling on the side...

I ate my so fast there was no picture to take!

Katie, out!

Happy Thanksgiving 2012

There was alot in making this Thanksgiving come to pass. I'm so tired to explain all the events, but basically I forgot to take my turkey out of the freezer in time to thaw.... sooo I called my cousin Kimmy for advice, who talked with her son Brian, then she called family friend Tara (who works at Costco) and found out Costco is selling a few more turkeys the day before "turkey day" cause they had sold out. So then I called my cousin Laura, and alot of tears later- cryin' over turkey people- it wasn't really about the turkey but it was the last thing. Anyway Laura called my auntie Mary who was so wonderful and got me a thawed turkey at Costco and the pumpkin pie and rolls that Jeromy was going in later for. I've just been real busy with my mom and her doctor appt- 3 this week! Soo a huge thank you to all those people- especially my aunt Mary who "Saved Thanksgiving Day in 2012" THANK YOU!!!.... I guess I did explain all the events lol

We were going to have Thanksgiving at my parents so it was easier for them. But we cooked the turkey at our house so we didn't have to go over so early. Here's Jeromy putting the turkey in early this morning.

I headed over to my mom's about 10am to start making all the other food over there. Jeromy came about 12:30 with this delicious looking turkey- almost 21 pounds!

 My mom and I are ready- doesn't she look great?

 Jeromy carving the turkey...

 Kenton- isn't he sooo handsome???- eating the drum stick... Jade would always eat that, too. Miss you Jade...

 Kent took this picture of all of us. We had a nice time. Even got some soft Christmas music playing in the background...

 Again- thanks to Auntie Mary- we had delicious pumpkin pie! My mom did alot of her exercises today, working up a sweat so she deserves that pie- whip cream and all.

Thankful to God for a wonderful family, wonderful extended family (yay auntie Mary!!!), my great husband, kids that are all grown up :o(  and delicious food- God is soo good!!

Cooking....

Did alot of cooking today after church... speaking of church I finally made it today after the last few weeks being with my mom.

I've been cooking alot lately, and now I'm going to do some dinners for my parents to help them out. I had been craving a bran muffin lately, so I looked up online a yummy recipe. Love just being able to look up any recipe online.

This recipe called for real wheat bran and oat bran instead of the cereal bran. Anyway this bowl has organic wheat bran, organic oat bran and organic whole wheat flour. Just looks healthy doesn't it?

 They are Blueberry Bran Muffins since both my parents like blueberries- yum! I might have over cooked these babies :o( but nothing a little butter and honey can't fix- they were good!

 Next I made carrot-apple muffins. Made a double batch cuz these are also Jeromy's favorite!

 Then I made some spaghetti for my parents- they had bought the ground turkey and spaghetti sauce so I just took it home and cooked it. Love these freezer/microwave safe glass containers from Costco.

 Next I had to use my vitamix, I have been craving this rosemary chicken potato soup in the vitamix cook book. I know it looks like mush, but it smells and tastes so good. It also has a little bit of cream cheese in it. And it's poured over white rice- I know white rice is sooo not good for you, but I didn't have time to wait for brown rice to cook. Anyway, this is going to be yummy!

 A close up- wish it looked more appetizing but it really is good!

 Next I baked some delicious tilapia. With fresh chopped onions, butter and some spices with quinoa of course.

 I'm going over to my mom's tomorrow and I come packin'.... just sayin'.....

Look who's coming home!!!!!

Who's in that Prius driving in front of me???

 Could it be.... my MOM?!?!?! She came home today! And she had packages waiting for her!

 Up to her old tricks again! I would tease her when she she'd kick her socks half on/ half off... so weird! And here she is doing it again on her first day back home!

 Jeromy and Kent came by after work and school to see my mom. Jeromy also gave my dad a hand putting in safety bars in the bathroom. My mom got up the stairs to her house just fine with my dad and I close by. Not ready to do it solo, but she does great with us slightly assisting. She also took little tours around the house thru out the day to get some exercise. She's pretty much staying up stairs, but she mostly did that already.

We got all her meds squared away, alot at first, but some will taper off after a few weeks/months. Got some groceries figured out and I think she just enjoyed being home. Today was a big first day, exhausting and exciting for all of us! Hope she sleeps well tonight!

Here we are: Jeromy, Katie, Cindy and Kenton....

 Dad and mom- I got my mom laughing when I took this- love getting her in mid laugh! Also you can see how even her eyes and smile are- perfect!

Love you mom and dad!

Finishing up Jade's room.

(Check out the previous blog for working on Jade's room)

After visiting my mom, Jeromy and met at Home Depot, for my spice chai (amazing!) and paint for Jade's room.... and some spackle and tape, too. Jeromy spackling the patch jobs he did... see the cool yellow and blue walls?

 Spackling the orange and green walls... Jade picked some great colors for her room for the past 8 years...

 Remember the little red heart you painted in all our rooms mom for us to find? Here's Jade's... so sad to paint over it... darn Realtors and their advice to help motivate potential buyers. Gotta paint over all our fun colors to make everything look boring and white...

 S*Q*U*I*R*R*E*L  

So we got out paint and supplies and started painting late this afternoon. Here's the before...

 The after (boring)....

 Before- how colorful!!!!

 And after (boring!!!!)

 Yay, one boring white room- done! Well, if it helps us sell the house I guess it's worth it.

So the rehab place is releasing my mom this Wednesday! A day earlier than they initially said, I guess she's doing pretty amazing, but we're all kinda nervous/ excited for her to be home. Just a little scary but we'll get thru it!

Some more stuff...

So my mom is doing better every day. Just today, I've been cleared to walk her out of her room by myself! My mom is so happy cause now she can go for a walk (with me) when ever she wants instead of having to wait for her 1 hour of physical therapy a day to get up and walk around out of her room! Yay- she is constantly wanting to walk cause she knows it makes her stronger.

They are talking about releasing her this Thursday, they will have their meeting/eval either tomorrow or Tuesday to find out for sure if it's this Thursday or if they are extending her another week. I know she wants to stay for the physical therapy but she also is starting to look forward to going home- that is a great sign!

So while at home, we've been working on Jade's room. The Realtors keep telling us that all the bedrooms upstairs are painted too colorful and we should paint everything white cause it will make it look bigger... blah blah blah. Anyway I have been refusing to do that cause it annoys me. Anyway, we finally decided to work on Jade's room since she's living with her dad now. So, little by little, over the last few days we've been packing up her stuff, doing a couple dump runs and just emptying out her room.... so strange...

She chose to paint each wall different. She picked out these colors when we first moved into this house 8 years ago when she was only 12... memories... green and yellow ( you can see the closet also matches the colors)

 Here are the blue and orange walls. As Jeromy takes down huge shelves and mirrors he is also filling all the holes with mud....

 I vacuumed the carpet, Jeromy took off all the electrical plates.... I put several of the boxes of her stuff in the closet...

 Me... so sad that my baby is gone and taking her room apart... can't believe how strange it is... I know Auntie Mary feels me.... Jeromy is somewhere else in the house with a party hat on and throwing streamers.... I LOVE YOU JADE!!!!! We talked to her tonight after evening service. We all were able to talk to her in Jeromy's new truck driving home. Love her sweet voice. She sounds really good. Today was her day off from work and she made it to church, proud of her for going since she goes all by herself. Her dad and girlfriend drop her off, but I am thankful that he at least does that!

One more thing I have to share... I've been meaning to post these since our anniversary 3 weeks ago, but 2 days after our anniversary my mom had her stroke so everything is kinda been on hold- but no more! I got one picture from Kent's cell phone that he took for me and Jeromy helped me down load 2 more from an email I had gotten.

Anyway I met this new friend at church, Jessica a few months ago, maybe longer cause you know how my memory works. Anyway she makes amazing cakes. How do I know this do you ask???? Well, she made Jeromy and I this AMAZING anniversary cake- just look at this!

Jessica is so thoughtful. I had made casual comments about liking butterflies and the color purple- also her favorites. And I had made a comment about how for 5 years of marriage the symbol is wood, I think one year is paper. So I mentioned how I wanted to get drift wood from the ocean.

Anyway so she made this beautiful cake with the color purple, with butterflies, and she also put the wood stems (brown) into the cake decorations. Isn't it amazing? I can't believe she made that for us. She has 3 adorable kids that she said helped her make it. She brought it to church to share with our church peeps! I think everyone knows when our anniversary is now hahaha!

 Look at that chocolaty goodness! This cake was huge! Oh ya, I just remembered (cause it's been 3 weeks now!) that she also made the chocolate cake gluten free, dairy free, pretty much free of anything that would upset Jeromy's stomach ( cause I had mentioned that in passing also!). I can't believe how thoughtful.

It was delicious. We each had a HUGE PIECE before service, kinda felt guilty about that until I went for another piece after service and it was decimated! That cake was gone- so glad I had a huge piece!

Thanks again Jessica, Joe and adorable kiddos for such a thoughtful beautiful delicious wedding anniversary gift.... and I will find out your birthday!

More pictures of my mom!

So yesterday my mom's crafting buddies, Sonia and Barbara, came for a visit- so of course I took a picture!

 Today Auntie Sharon and Auntie Susan stopped by!

My Aunt Susan has a professional massage tool that my mom loves! Can you see that smile?

 How about now??? She loves that massager!

 Here's my mom and dad- how cute are they? Don't they look great?!?- and they both have their eyes open! LOL

 My mom's other friend Claudia stopped by also, but I forgot to get her picture!

Her friend Sonia came by again today, while I was out- or I would have snapped another picture of her cute self- and brought homemade hummus that my mom (and I) love! YUM!

Closer to dinner time, Kent and I came back for a short visit while my dad was there cause my mom said she missed Kent's handsome face- I know how that is- so I had to bring him over! Happy grandma- handsome grandson!

 Me and my mom! I guess cuteness just runs in the family.... just sayin...

 Look what I got in the mail mom! The cover to my ipad mini! I guess they get shipped separately Jeromy said! So maybe tomorrow the actual ipad will come in the mail. My auntie Mary said she also got the ipad mini "just cuz" and she said she loves the size! Can't wait- thanks mom and dad!