Fruit basket.

Amy made this adorable fruit basket for the before party..........

.....and Mary made the favors. There were some very yummy brownies inside. I was very impressed with my crafty seesters! Thanks, girls!

My guys.

I wish they would have gotten their hair cut for our wedding................

I just love this girl.....

Chuck and his mom.

We were so happy that Chuck's mom and step dad were able to come and celebrate with us.

Us

Mom's Most Righteous Black Bean Soup

I made mom's BBS at work today and was it delish! Jennifer tuned up her nose at it but then tried it and ate two bowls. Henry would have none of it. Oh well, I tried. Poor guy hasn't been feeling well, so I gave him a pass.

This is a great substitute for chili and its super low in calories (125 cals per cup) and its cheap to make and we all know that beans are the magical fruit.

Here's the recipe. (I think mom adds a bit more cumin to hers and I add more pasta to mine.)

1 large onion diced(mom usually carries one in her purse) .
Fresh Garlic chopped. (The more the better or 1 large clove)
2 cans drained (or not) black beans. ( Walmart has the cheapest...53cents a can)
1 can diced tomates (again, Walmart, cheap)
2 cups chicken broth
1TBS Olive Oil
2tsp lime juice (It comes in this really cute little container shaped like a lime!)
1/2 tsp. cumin
1 1/2 cups whole wheat pasta

Cook pasta.
Saute onion and garlic in oil. (mmmmm Bask in the smell..... of onions and garlic).
Add the rest of the ingredients (including the pasta after its cooked). Simmer for 20-30 minutes .

This recipe makes aprox. 10 cups.

Serve by itself or add a dollop (did I really say dollop...) of sour cream and a sprinkling of cheddar cheese. I also like to serve with corn bread muffins. (Jiffy....Walmart....nuf said.)

I loved my bouquet.

Beautiful Faces

OMG......look at those eyes!

hey look, I can ride a two-wheeler!

Barney Rocks...Unbeleivably hard!

The twins and their sister can't tear themselves away from the B-man!

Books to be read in the very near future.

I heart books

I need to....

.....drive slower.
.....floss my teeth.
.....lose 10 more pounds.
.....start counting calories again.
.....workout every day.
.....talk nice....especially to Chuck.
.....get my crafting mojo back.

.....learn to quilt with my Aunt Kath.
.....volunteer at the food bank more often.

Cute Kids

This is how I feel in the morning before my first sip.....

Safe with daddy.....

Uncle Jimmy and his latest, Norah....such a sweet daddy.

90 and newborn...........amazing.

Gramma and her 26th grandchild, Norah.

Sweet Sisters

Lists

Check out this site called listography. You can make your own lists on-line for all the world to see. The books looks really cool too. Wish I would of thought of that!

Happy Birthday, mom!

You go out and CELEBRATE yourself, girl! Have a good one....I love you!

Work

....ran like a crazy person for Home First yesterday. Called by PS out to Barrington at 2a...stayed there until 9a. False alarm.....no baby...sent her to office for NST, ultrasound and BP check. Left there and stopped at Walmart to pick up wedding pics. As I stumbled into the store dreaming about my soft bed, I was called by MZ to go to FRANKFORT! 76 freakin miles later(thank God 355 goes thru to 80) I get there and the lady is not having contractions (aarrrrgggg) but has a broken water bag lightly tinged with mec. MZ wants her in the office. She don't want to go. Her mom is telling her ,"you don't have to go if you don't want to." I'm telling her, "oh yes you do." She needs to go for NST, an ultrasound to check the fluid level (she's leaking a ton) and MD exam. Her husband is just standing there like a big dope. I want to kill all of them!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So she calls MZ and convinces him to come to her house for an exam...........I'M OUTTA HERE!!!! He can deal with these granolas! Home by 530p and in the bed but can't fall asleep. Oh well at least I'm reading a halfway decent book. Oh, BTW, I have to be with Henry today so that means I'll have worked all five days this week. I don't know how normal people do it. When do they have time to craft and nap and generally do nothing?!? I'M EXHAUSTED!!!!

oooohhhhh look at the firetrucks!

H and S had an eye appointment downtown this week and right when we were going into the clinic, fire trucks pulled up and people came pouring out of the building. Fortunately, it was a false alarm, but the kids sure enjoyed the trucks...so did nurse Karen!

So freakin' cute!

Kristyn's baby is adorable! I visited them yesterday and mom and baby are doing great! You rock, Kristyn!

Basement Update

So, its back to work today...I needed to get some rest after this past weekend and I figured working with Henry would be less stressful then working more in the basement.

The basement is probably about 75% cleaned up. We worked on it for most of yesterday...mostly Chuck did. We found out that our neighbors down the block have 3 feet of poop water in their basement. Chuck talked with them this morning. They haven't even begun their clean-up. I feel so bad for them. I told Chuck we should go and help them clean up when they are ready. I figure what's a little shit between neighbors...fun times!

Called the city today and they were very unhelpful. Will be making more phone calls when I get off work. It just seems to me that I shouldn't have sewer water in my house. Isn't that what some of my taxes go for?...properly working sewers???????? Again, I remind myself, things could be worse.

Happy 90th Birthday, Gramma!

Sorry I missed your party yesterday...I heard it was a rockin' good time! And how about those cookie favors? Huh? Huh? Thanks to all the O'neill sibs who pulled off an awesome party!
I love you, Gramma!

Basement Update

Lake Garcia. Our neighbors front yard which sits right next to our house. This is some of the water that seeps into our basement. Yea!

Ruined stuff from basement.

Chuck cleaning up shitty sewer water...my hero.

So we spent about 12 hours yesterday cleaning the basement and keeping up with the new water seeping in thru the foundation. It finally slowed to a trickle around 6-7pm. The good news is that we were able to stop the sewer water when we noticed the basement was flooding in the early morning. All water that come after that was 'clean' rain water. We used the pumps from my birthing pool (yes, I'll be getting a new pump for the pool) to get the water out so at least we didn't have to bail everything...see, there's a bright side! We would push all the water to the low spot in the basement (where Chuck is standing in last photo) and then pump it out with a hose thru the window. We also threw bleach water all over, but will need to do a lot more of that today. Chuck was up every 1-2 hours throughout the night to check for flooding. Again, my hero!

Here's the forecast for us today:

* rain... heavy at times... has overspread the area and will
continue through about midday today before tapering and ending
this afternoon. Widespread additional rainfall amounts of one to
three inches can be expected from midnight this morning through
this afternoon... with localized additional rainfall amounts of
up to five inches possible.

Lovely!
Now for all the good news thats fit to print...I mean blog. It could have sooooooo much worse. Let's make a list, shall we?
5) We could have not turned off the sewer valve until hours later and shit water could of been coming up the basement stairs.
4) We could live in Galveston, Texas. (I sure am praying for those folks)
3)If we weren't so blessed, Chuck and I wouldn't have Kenny and Amy to come and help us throw out our stuff and add a little comedy to the situation. (Amy walks in the house yesterday morning and says, "eeewwwww, who farted?! Thanks, Aim!)

2) (This was going to be #1, but then I rethought it) We could have had our wedding this weekend like my mom suggested. (It would have been a lot easier for her to come to town for Gramma's party and our wedding if they were both on the same weekend. Instead she flew in twice. thanks, mom) I'm very glad I didn't listen to that suggestion!
1)We wouldn't have Jesus to look over us and protect us.

"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11
(Thanks Auntie Kathleen)

Another list in no particular order.
I am Grateful for....
....having a beautiful home (even tho the basement has flooded 3 times in the last 1.5 years.)
.....my husband, hero and Superman,Chuck.
....my family and friends.
....my relationship with God.
....my health.
....all my craft stuff.
....my friend Jennifer for understanding if I can't come to work tomorrow. (call me in the afternoon and I'll let you know)
...did I mention all my craft stuff?

So there you have it. I'll let you all know how today goes.

.

Pray for us......

...our basement had about 3-4 inches of sewer (shit) water when we got up around 5 this morning. it was pouring in thru the sink, toilet and tub. Amy and Kenny came over to help get stuff out. We've cleaned up most of the shit water and turned off the valve on the floor, but now water is seeping thru the foundation. Oh well at least its clean water.....More later, just looking for some prayers...thanks.

Sweetness

Kristyn adores her new baby!

cookiepalooza

Mom, Jack, Amy, Penny and me made Gramma's famous Chocolate Chip Cookies today. Gramma is turning 90 years young this weekend and her kids are having a blow out party for her.We packed the cookies in little bags for folks to take home with them. Looking forward to seeing her tomorrow.

Sweetest Baby Girl

Look at those cheeks! So very pinchable already! Good job growing a nice fat and healthy baby, Kristyn! Looking forward to seeing her in person.

Almost baby time! Update.....

My friends Kristyn and Marcus are going to have their baby soon! They were off to the hospital last night. (for what I don't know?!? aren't healthy babies supposed to be born at home?!?....just kidding, Kristyn....I hope you made them give you your epidural STAT!) Looking forward to meeting their little one!

She's heeerrreee! Delaney Rose was born at 1130am this morn weighing in at a hefty 8 pounds and 6 ounces! Mom and Dad and baby are doing very well. Congrats, Marcus and Kristyn!

Us

Wedding details......