Mary Poppins

Brooke has been obsessed lately with Mary Poppins.

 Last weekend, the girls got to have a sleepover with Grandma Mary Anne and Papa. We heard that they were very good and had a fabulous time. We also heard that Brooke requested to only be referred to as Mary Poppins.

The following Sunday, she made the same request of me at home. If I slipped up when asking her a question (and calling her Brooke) she would immediately correct me and ask to be called, MP herself.

We used to have the DVD...until Brooke decided it was a chew toy over a year ago. When we stopped by Grandma Etta and PaPa's on Sunday...we got to watch their VHS copy. Brooke was enthralled...can you tell?

 There is always time to stop for a picture...and yes she is wearing Grandma's shirt.

No more pics...Spoon Full of Sugar is about to start...

ONE Dance

This week at dance class, they invited the parents in (unexpectedly) to watch the girls perform. Brooke wasn't on her 'A Game' having mom & Caroline in the room...but I was so excited to see her perform LIVE!

As soon as they started their tap routine....the song ONE came on. If you keep up with my blog, you know that was my Grandma Johnson's SONG. The fact that they played that song while Brooke was tapping just SO reminded me of my Grandma. Brooke was so uncharacteristically shy the entire class, but then that song came on-she perked up and did all her moves. It was awesome.

I'm sorry-can you say Mary Jerry was in the room or WHAT??

Friendly Recipes

So lately I have been in a cooking rut. I have asked some friends to provide some of their favorite recipes for me to try out. Let me tell you...they have been a HIT!! Gary has said that they are some of the BEST dinners that he has had! I am not sure what that says about my previous meals, but I will take it. A huge thank you to Katie H. for her meal masterpieces :)

Campbell's Kitchen Chicken Enchiladas

1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup (Regular or 98% Fat Free)
1 cup sour cream (*I went with the light sour cream)
1 cup Pace® Picante Sauce
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 cups chopped cooked chicken
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese (about 2 ounces) (*I used the 2%)
6 flour tortillas (6-inch), warmed
1small tomato, chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1 green onion, sliced (about 2 tablespoons)

Heat the oven to 350°F. Stir the soup, sour cream, picante sauce and chili powder in a medium bowl.
Stir 1 cup soup mixture, chicken and cheese in a large bowl.
Divide the chicken mixture among the tortillas. Roll up the tortillas and place seam-side up in a 2-quart shallow baking dish. Pour the remaining soup mixture over the filled tortillas. Cover the baking dish.
Bake for 40 minutes or until the enchiladas are hot and bubbling. Top with the tomato and onion.



Baked Ziti

· 1 pound dry ziti pasta

· 1 onion, chopped
· 1 pound lean ground beef  (*I used ground turkey breast)
· 2 (26 ounce) jars spaghetti sauce
· 6 ounces provolone cheese, sliced
· 1 1/2 cups sour cream  (*I used light sour cream)
· 6 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded (*I used 2%)
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Directions
1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add ziti pasta, and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes; drain.
2. In a large skillet, brown onion and ground beef over medium heat. Add spaghetti sauce, and simmer 15 minutes.
3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter a 9x13 inch baking dish. Layer as follows: 1/2 of the ziti, Provolone cheese, sour cream, 1/2 sauce mixture, remaining ziti, mozzarella cheese and remaining sauce mixture. Top with grated Parmesan cheese.
4. Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until cheeses are melted.



I have a couple new ones I am trying out the rest of the week too-I will let you all know how they go!!

Field Trip

Yesterday I ventured to the post office to apply for my pass port. It was all that I expected and so, so much more. It is such a great idea to take a 3 year old and a 1 year old with you to the post office-I highly recommend it. Especially if your going be be there for 45 minutes.

After physically carrying them both into the building (maybe I don't need P90X after all??) we grabbed a number and waited in line. After 10 minutes, we were finally called up to the desk where we met a lovely postal worker (insert HUGE level of sarcasm) named Linda who asked me a standard list of questions. It was almost as if she was trying to weed me out of the pass port applicants for the day.

Question #1: Do you have your birth certificate?                           YES
Question #2: Do you have a drivers license?                                 YES
Question #3: Do you have a check book?                                    YES...but why??
Question #4: Do you have a picture of your self?                          Well, I have that drivers license..??
Question #5: Did you fill out the brown form?                               NO

Apparently by picture she meant pass port picture which I didn't not have. I also was unaware of this brown form that was a requirement pre-approval. We were led to the 'back office' to take my picture. We were a sight to be seen. I sat down to have my photo taken while both kiddos were trying to climb on my lap-it was awful.

After hearing back from family and friends regarding the facial expression during the photo session, I asked Linda if I should remain serious. She let me know that their location allowed a, "slight smile." What is a slight smile?? Since I wasn't sure, I told her I would just be serious. After all, I had practiced in front of the mirror before we left. She took my picture and told me that I looked a bit "surprised" and she would like to see a "slight smile." The resulting pass port photo is of me-looking incredibly awkward-with a crooked lip slight smile.

Linda then told me to fill out that brown form and get back in line. At this point, both kids were getting restless and were climbing me like a tree while I filled out paperwork. We got our new number and waited another 15 minutes to be called up. I looked at all the childless customers around me and thought-If I am ever here by myself with nothing going on, I would totally give my number to a mom of children.

At last, number 69 is called and we head to the desk. As they begin to process my paperwork, Brooke tugs on my jacket and starts to do the potty dance.

You have got to be kidding me.

I asked my new (actually super  nice) postal worker friend if they had a bathroom. He said no, but to meet him at the post masters door. Sounds fancy right? We ran (actually ran) through the back area where all the mail is sorted (running was required as Brooke was growing quite distracted by all the junk mail surrounding us...it is magazine heaven) to the employee bathroom....just.in.time.

Back to the desk. My new friendly post worker friend told me that he was going to head to lunch and that Linda would be happy to help me.....great.....

After 10 more minutes of hell standard questions, we were DONE. I have never been so happy to leave anywhere in my life. Brooke immediately feel asleep in the car. I wish I could have. Good thing you only have to do this every 10 years.

Crazy Baby Buys

Do any of you read / follow on FB BabyGizmo.com? If not-you should. They have tons of giveaways, reviews of baby products, etc. I am a fan.

Recently, they did their annual list of crazy baby products that are actually available on the market. In case you don't click HERE...I just had to share my top two favorites.

Who comes up with this stuff??


Does it get any more disturbing then this?? Who spends over $50 on these 'hands?'



For when you need to hang your baby on a wall so you can use the public restroom.

SIDE NOTE: We are back on the X. Instead of doing my one a week update on the program and how Gary and I are doing....I have added a separate page on the right. It is listed under, "Meet the Flemings." That way I don't bore you every Monday and can post about something WAY more interesting then Core Synergistics.

P. Port

Yes, I am the only person left I know that doesn't have a passport.

I really wouldn't care, but apparently you have to have one in order to enter Jamaica. After talking with a few close friends and family, I was informed that they also take 6-8 weeks to arrive. What??

Additionally, they cost (for a first timer) $135.00!! I am totally naive and seriously thought these babies ran somewhere around $15.00. I mean...it is just paper right?

Wrong. Gary said that they are, "way more important then a piece of paper. Kelly, this is your identification to the WORLD."

Way to make it all awkward and serious Gary.

So, off to the post office I go...tomorrow...before 4:00 p.m....with drivers license and birth certificate in hand. With my two kids which should make for a good time.

My sister told me that you cannot smile when they take your picture. Is this true? If so, I am nervous. When people tell me not to smile I get all uncomfortable and start, well, smiling. It is making me smile just to type it and think about it.

I hope that I get copies of the pictures that they take because if they do...I may make it my new FB profile pic-serious and all.

First step to Jamaica...Check (well, check tomorrow).

Snow Day!

Although I am a few days late on this...it was still snowing this weekend-so it still counts.

This past week was FILLED with snow. Too much if you ask me. I am VERY ready for Spring. I love the clothing the Winter brings...but the temperature and driving conditions?? Not so much.

Brooke, however, is a HUGE fan. I guess I am kind of a fun less mom and had never let her outside to play in the snow. I would actually bring the snow inside and let the girls play-wild, I know. Since Gary was off work, though, he 'volunteered' to take her outside. After many, many layers of clothing, they were ready.

 They had SO much fun! I would have lasted maybe 5 minutes-they lasted about 25. Pretty impressive.

Gary may have had the most fun of all :)

Jamaica

I am not one to brag...really, I'm not.

So, please excuse me while I give a HUGE shout out to my awesome husband Gary. He has been working SO hard at his company. Putting in extra hours, taking on additional work, etc. This Friday, at the company's end of year party, all of that hard work was rewarded with a trip to Jamaica!! Can you believe it?? I seriously can't. He has even been kind enough to ask me to join him as his "plus 1."

We are BEYOND excited. It really gives us something to look forward to during this snowy and cold weather. The trip is in a few months...which gives us plenty of time to get our P90X back on (post update to come btw). Gary and I never went on a honeymoon and minus a couple of trips (to Memphis this year and Chicago about 6 years ago) have never gone anywhere together. I don't even have a passport!! This will be an adventure-that's for sure. I am SO proud of him, though, and I guess I will stop bugging him about all those late nights alone while he is still working :)

Yay for all inclusive vacations!!!

Disney LIVE!

Disney princesses are currently HUGE in our house.

Can you tell?

Catching a fever...

I have been reading about it a lot lately.

 On numerous blogs that I visit, facebook, etc.

Babies.

Everyone seems to be having a baby.

Do you know what this does to a girl that has two little ones at home? It makes her sick...with a baby fever.

 You've heard of it right?? Well, it tends to creep up on me when my youngest turns one year old. It leads to the obvious trip down memory lane (care of my thousands and thousands of pictures saved on my computer) ending with me coming to the conclusion that Caroline needs to be a big sister.

 Gary promptly comes home and provides me with his fever reducing medicine of reality and burst my baby bubble by saying that Caroline will not be a big sister in the next 9 months.

Party pooper.

Perhaps if he took had the time to reminisce as I seem to have, he would have a change of heart. I mean, how could you not when looking at these faces?? They are getting so big...and cuter and cuter aren't they??

Three is an awfully good number isn't it??

Bowling Fun

This weekend we celebrated our cousin Davids 4th Birthday!! It was held at a bowling alley and the girls had never been before so we were really excited!! Brooke was her typical diva nervous self when we first arrived...but after awhile she warmed up.

No, you cannot see her ball. I am sure it was already a gutterball...Like mother, Like daughter.

 Someone is not a fan of above mentioned gutterball.

 This crazy haired girl was all about bowling! I think that she would have taken off down the lane if allowed.

 Got a few pins down...warming up...

Nothing says a birthday party like some hot dogs and cupcakes. My girls were all about this portion of the party-no question about that.

 THRILLED to find out that you get cupcakes outside of your own birthday party.

No joke.

I had to hold her arm back as she was trying to steal the cupcake of the boy sitting next to her. Such a sweet tooth on this little one :)

Surprise!!

Friday we celebrated my friend Katie's 30th. Her boyfriend threw a surprise party for her at one of her favorite places and we had a blast!! I think that will be the only night out I need for the next six months...I was totally exhausted the next day. Luckily the girls were on their best behavior for us....and allowing oreos for breakfast didn't hurt either.

 Totally surprised!

Happy 30th Katie!!!

Ophiuchus??

Bringing this over from Sassy but Classy.

Apparently, astrologist have decided that the original zodiac chart has to be updated. Your common answer to, "what's your sign?" may have a TOTALLY different answer now! It could change you you are...it did for my sister.  Tracie...a Cancer?? I don't believe it.

Traditional Astrology Chart

Aries - March 21 - April 20
Taurus - April 21 - May 21
Gemini - May 22 - June 21
Cancer - June 22 - July 22
Leo - July 23 -August 21
Virgo - August 22 - September 23
Libra - September 24 - October 23
Scorpio - October 24 - November 22
Sagittarius - November 23 - December 22
Capricorn - December 23 - January 20
Aquarius - January 21 - February 19

Pisces - February 20- March 20

New Astrology Chart

Capricorn: Jan. 20 - Feb. 16

Aquarius: Feb. 16 - March 11
Pisces: March 11- April 18
Aries: April 18- May 13
Taurus: May 13- June 21
Gemini: June 21- July 20
Cancer: July 20- Aug. 10
Leo: Aug. 10- Sept. 16
Virgo: Sept. 16- Oct. 30
Libra: Oct. 30- Nov. 23
Scorpio: Nov. 23- Nov. 29
Ophiuchus: Nov. 29- Dec. 17
Sagittarius: Dec. 17- Jan. 20


Did you change?
I held onto my Leo status by the skin of my teeth (August 11th).

Brooke has been bumped from Scorpio to Virgo. Gary moved from Gemini to Taurus. I may not even tell him as he may get too upset. Poor Caroline (my Sagittarius) is now a Ophiuchus! How do you even pronounce that?? It has been quite a day of change at our house :)

Dear Target,

Can you please explain to me, what makes these diapers different? What am I not understanding? The outside packaging on both lists size 3, snug and cozy, up to 28 pounds. For some reason, though, the recently purchased package (on the left) is more difficult to put Caroline's rear end into. I seriously thought that I had purchased newborn size!! Yes, I realize that I could take them back-but would you believe me Target??

 

Poor Caroline...and her way too small diapers that she needs to make last for the week it will take to go through them. Good thing I bought the smallest package.

Just Dance

After spending the day with Aunt Maggie, Caroline has decided to dance.

And....

I.Love.It.

Thanks Mags :)

Blog Layout

So...I finally updated! I owe it all to this tutorial :) Enjoy.

It's a pillow...

Pillow Pets.

They are all the rage-and quite the popular Christmas gift this year. Brooke & Caroline (sadly) did not receive them under the three. I have contemplated, though, a Valentines day purchase since she LOVES her cousins. I am partial to the Hippo.

But, when is enough, enough. Do you really need to wear a Pillow Pet on your head?? I mean...what is this all about?? Did you know that they even offer neck rests, backpacks, slippers and blankets to match your Pillow Pet??

Be on the lookout for Caroline, Brooke and Gary to be sporting these babies next Christmas (when I pick them up off the clearance rack at Target).

Celebrity

Friday night, we decided to keep it low key. I grabbed some pick up from a local eatery on my way home from work. When I entered the restaurant, they told me I could head the the bar for pick up. The bartender came over and I informed him that I had an order under Fleming. He immediately asked me (after letting me know he checked the caller i.d.) if this meal was for "The Gary Fleming." Confused, I replied that, yes it was. He again asked, "Like, The Gary Fleming that plays the guitar?" Yep, sure is I said. He then informed me that his brother was great friends with Gary and he just loved him. I was now hoping that maybe I was going to get a free meal...not so much. But, I did get some extra ranch which was pretty cool too. Who knew I was married to such a local celeb?? We may start being really creepy and hanging out there. Let me know if you want to be a groupie :)

Grandparents

Brooke calls her grandmothers by their first names. This started when she was around 18 or 24 months. She began by calling Gary's mom, Grandma Mary Annie (not, not Anne..but Annie). She then started to call my mom Grandma Etta. The Grandpa situation is a bit more confusing...since they are both named Tom. So, when she wants to refer to one of her Grandpa's she first references the Grandma. Example: When she is trying to tell me a story about one of her Grandpa's she will say, "Grandma Mary Annie's pawpaw" and vice versa for my dad. Last night, though, she surprised us a bit. We were talking about Grandma Mary Annie who made Brooke some new letters (spelling out her name) for her bed room wall.


Me:        "Brooke, who made you those super cute letters?"
Brooke:  "Ummm....Michael"
Me:        "Are you sure??"
Brooke:  "No...it was Grandma Mary Annie!! For Christmas! I love her."
Me:        "Me too."
Brooke:  "Grandma Etta is my other Grandma. And, pawpaw is my.....well....he is my...He's TOM JOHNSON!!"
Me:        (insert looking at Gary wondering how in the world she knows both my dad's first and last  name)
Brooke:  "Yeah...he is TOM JOHNSON!!!" *yes, she was yelling it.


My dad will love this.
Grandma Etta & Grandpa Tom Johnson. Way to keep it formal at an early age Brooke :)

Caroline = 13 Months

Here we are folks, year two.

Yes, I am going to continue to update you monthly on Caroline up until her second birthday just as I did with Brooke.

Excited?? Thought so!!

Ok, so maybe I didn't update monthly with Brooke after her first birthday (discovered after doing a 'breif' personal blog search), but I am trying to do a bit better with Caroline. I print my blog out yearly (http://www.blog2book.com/) and think of them not just as random updates for you, my devoted readers :), but as a mini journal that the kids can look back on when their older. They will most likely think that I am totally crazy...and not at all as funny as I think that I am...but at least they will have something!!

Back to Miss 13 Month.

I cannot say that a whole lot has changed from month 12. Christmas made life a bit of a whirlwind and if it hadn't been my nephew's first birthday, I may have forgotten the old thirteen month completely! Caroline seems to be trying to say more. There is quite a bit more babble and yelling, but no new words. Her all time, hands down favorite word is MaMa. I used to love it and felt extremely special. When I started to realize that she called everything and everyone (including the check out clerk at the grocery store) MaMa, I began to realize that maybe she just liked the way it sounded coming out of her mouth.

The walking is starting to turn into running. What started off as a waddle has now developed into a trot. She loves to have Brooke chase her around the house! She has also become quite adventurous. Just today I caught her all the way at the top of the stairs-alone. The gate was down and she speed raced to the top. She was SO proud when she made it to the top. I, on the other hand, was sacred to death. She was just having a great time, hanging in Brooke's room-no big deal.

Not so much a 13 month update, but as of today we are steroid free! No more 'roid range' or 'raiding' the pantry!! No joke, the steroid that she was on made her into a bottomless pit. This week, she broke into my mom's bread drawer, pulled out a loaf of bread, took what she wanted and ran off. She also dove into our pantry, threw out a couple sleeves of crackers and went to town. I was warned about these munchies from my sister and mom...but it was pretty hysterical!

We have had a crazy and fun month and are looking forward to an exciting (and healthy) month 14 :)

Happy Birthday Caden!!

This Monday was my godson Caden's FIRST BIRTHDAY!! I cannot believe that he is already one. I remember the day that I talked to his mom on the phone and she told me that she was pregnant. I was SO excited for them!! I can honestly say that I was more excited for them then I was for myself (being pregnant with Caroline)!!

Caden is such a fun little guy. Caroline and Brooke LOVE to play with him and we feel so lucky to live so close to their family :)

Happy, Happy Birthday Caden!! We are so proud to be your aunt/uncle/cousins and can't wait to see what this next year has in store for you!!!

:)

Somebody likes Prednisone.

Happy New Year!

For New Years Eve, we headed to Innsbrook with the Kallers and Tracie for some 2010 celebrations. I was a bit hesitant going because Caroline has been fighting off a nasty cold. We have all had a bit of 'something' these past few weeks so I packed up our things and off we went.

The kids had a great time together and the adults were looking forward to some Michael Jackson Dance for the Wii. Caroline seemed to be coughing and I kept having my sister Amy check her out since she is the all time pro with all that is wheezing. She seemed to be doing ok-just fighting off a cough. Caroline ended up sleeping with us that night which is totally out of character for her. She always wants her own space.

By the time we got home on Saturday she looked exhausted. She didn't seem to be getting better and her breathing started to sound worse. I made the decision to take her to the after hour pediatric urgent care to get her checked out. I just didn't think that it could wait until Monday and I didn't want to end up in the ER with a one year old (been there, done that).

After about 30 minutes at the doctors, my suspicions were confirmed. Poor little girl was wheezing, congested and totally miserable. They sent us home with one of these babies and put her on some steroids too.

So far, the breathing treatments and medicine have made a WORLD of a difference. She seems to be much more relaxed and has that 'sparkle' back (as Grandma Etta would say). She still wanted to sleep upright last night (with Dad) but slept in today until 8:30 and was a rock start during her first treatment. I am SO happy that she is getting back to her old self.

At this point, they are not going to say that she has asthma. It is the first time that her breathing has gotten so bad, but with our family history of asthma (Amy, Matt, Jack, Lily, and my mom) it would not be at all surprising if she does.

 Side note: did you know that eczema and allergies go hand-in-hand with asthma? I had no idea! Caroline has a bit of eczema and her skin always flairs up at certain time of the year. I noticed it just the other day. I had not idea that there was a correlation between the two. Although she has never been diagnosed with seasonal allergies, I would be surprised if she didn't have them with my families history...and she is lactose intolerant.

So, we will just watch her every time she has a cold or the weather / allergens could lead to an asthma attack. Luckily I have two pros that I can (and will) call obsessively in Amy and my mom with all of my questions. For now, we will just watch Caroline and keep the meds in her so she continues to return to our happy girl :)

More Christmas??

No. We are finally done with the Christmas enteries. Were you getting exhausted??

The fun continued, though, as we still had family in town to visit and catch up with!! The girls were exctied to play with their youngest cousin, Mary Ellen, and Mom loved getting to hold that tiny little girl :)

I mean is she a doll or what!! She seriously knows when the camera is on and loves to flash her 2 tooth grin.

A little holiday love.