The Night Before Christmas (at the May Househould) 2010

'Twas the night before Christmas

And oh 'twas it late

Not a creature was coughing

Not even baby Nate

The stockings were stuffed

And placed by each door

Just hoping our morning

Would not start at four

We tiptoed to our room

Without making a peep

And had just settled in

For a long good nights sleep

When out from Nate's room

There arose such a clatter

We both prayed the other

Would go see what's the matter

Away to Nate's room

I trudged very slow

Feeling like a reindeer

Stuck in the snow

When what to my

Wondering eyes did I see?

But a miniature tooth

Staring right back at me

With a little sharp corner

So pointy and fine

I knew in a moment

It must be the canine

More rapid than eagles

My curses they came

And I moaned and I groaned

And I cursed them by name

Now molar, now eye tooth

Now molars year two

Just push your way, push your way

Push your way through

I spoke no more words

But went straight to my work

Pulled down the Ibuprofen and teething tablets

With a jerk

And placing his head

Right beside my warm cheek

I rocked him and rocked him

And rocked him to sleep

And I thought to myself

As I kissed his sweet head

Merry Christmas, Bah Humbug

Now let's go to bed!

Dad's Retirement Slideshow

Memories of My Aunt Gloria

Every other summer, my family would load up the car and make the drive
down to Daytona Beach, Florida. It was and continues to be one of my favorite vacation spots. I have so many special memories from Daytona.
Riding the waves, lazing by the pool, shopping at the flea market, going into the
hotel room for a lunch of bologna sandwiches and fudgesicles (that we bought at the Winn Dixie across the street), then taking a long nap until it was time to get ready for dinner. Making it even more special to me is that it is where I met my husband. But some of my best and most cherished memories are with the Rileys.

Some part of my mom’s family had been traveling to Daytona for several generations. But, for most of my life it had been my family and my mom's brother's family (the Rileys)-Uncle Mike, Aunt Gloria and the kids. I loved the 15 hour drive down, talking with them and singing songs over the CB radio (and in later years cell phones), trying to decide where to stop and eat (of which we could never agree, but that was part of the fun), trying to decide where to spend the night (remember the Sleepyland Hotel?).

If you know the Rileys at all, you know what a constant source of
entertainment they are. Their funny stories, their constant back and
forth. There are so many stories I could tell, most that involve bowel movements or other bodily functions and lots and lots of giggling, but I won't go into all of that. Suffice it to say, they are all characters and Aunt Gloria was no exception. I can't honestly say what I enjoyed more, being in Florida or being with the Rileys. Every time I'm in Florida, I will always think of their family and Aunt Gloria.

But my special memories of her aren't limited to Florida. She has been my Aunt Gloria literally all my life as I was just a few weeks old when they got married. When I was a toddler just learning to talk they encouraged me to call them Aunt Pee-Pee and Uncle Poo-Poo, and what young kid wouldn't like that? When I was in elementary school, Aunt
Gloria babysat me after school. I remember she made the best cinnamon toast on the stove top-something I need to figure out how to make for my kids. Then, of course I babysat her kids for many years.

More flashes of memories:
- I have a vivid memory of going to Marlboro Pool with them and eating our
lunch outside the fence and Gloria putting mayo on her bologna sandwich (I thought everyone used mustard).
-One of my favorite things to do was listen to Gloria tell a story. She was always riled up about something and told it in such a funny way.
- For years, we spent New Years Eve with their family and even when I was old enough to go out and do my own thing, I still enjoyed spending this time with my family and the Rileys.
-Aunt Gloria and family making the trip to Phoenix for my wedding
-She always brought like 5 or more bathing suits to Florida and made several
outfit changes during the day.
-I remember swinging and singing in their back yard when they babysat me and
their neighbor who worked nights and slept during the day yelling at me and
Aunt Gloria went and gave him a piece of her mind for yelling at her little
niece.

I will always remember how special Aunt Gloria made me feel. Just the way she would look at me and turn her head and say, "Tetney (my family nickname) you're so
sweet, Tetney, you're so pretty." Or often, "Tetney, you are such a brat."
But she didn't mean that - it was kind of our thing. She would say it to
me and I would say it to her kids.

If I knew that mom had shown Gloria pictures of my daughter or updated her
on my life, I wanted to know exactly what she said because I knew she
would be gushing over things and have so many positive things to say.
Aunt Gloria was so special to me and I know I was special to her. The
Wednesday before she died, my mom had spent the night with her to relieve
Uncle Mike and her kids for a night. I had called my mom when she was
there and told her to tell Aunt Gloria that I loved her. I'm glad that I
got to tell her that one last time.

I'm sure in a couple of years, I will take my family to Daytona Beach and
I will think of all the times I went there as a kid and I will think of
Gloria and how much I miss her. I will imagine that she is looking down
on my little family and saying, "Tetney, your kids are such cute little
brats!"

If You Give Emmy Some Cereal

If you give Emmy some cereal, she’s probably going to ask for some juice to go with it.

So, you’ll give her some juice and when she finishes it, she'll say “More juice please”

She’ll sound so cute, that you’ll pour the rest of the carton into her glass.

Then when you go to throw it away, she’ll notice the trash is full and want to bring it outside.

On the way to the trash can, she’ll notice the flower pots and want to water flowers, so you pull out the garden hose.

After she’s watered the flowers, she’ll want to fill up her water table, so you’ll pull the hose over to the water table.

While she’s playing in the water table, she’ll hear her friends outside and she want to ask them to play with her.

They’ll come over to play with her and then they will want to have a tea party in the water, so you’ll get them some cups.

When they get the cups, they’ll decide to have a WATER FIGHT!

She’ll get so wet; she’ll ask for a towel, so you’ll wrap her in a towel and sit her in the sun to dry.

Sitting in the hot sun will make her thirsty and she’ll ask for some juice.

And chances are, if you give her some juice, she’s probably going to want some cereal to go with it.

Who Could Ask for More?

Sticky handprints on the door
Chalky footprints on the floor
A messy girl named Emmy
Now, who could ask for more?

Canadian Girl

This is from last year on Canada Day. I gave it to Devon's parents who were here visiting.

I'm your little Canadian girl
Though I live in the US
I'm your little Canadian girl
It says so on my dress
I'm your little Canadian girl
From head to toe it's true
I'm your little Canadian girl
And I sure do love you!

A Moment in Time (7/7/08)

It’s 6:00 p.m. on Monday night and you are standing outside under the porch (because it’s still over 100 degrees). Your white shirt is wet from the water you poured on yourself from your water table and covered in dirt from my garden. Your eyes are wide and you are staring off in space. At first I think you are daydreaming, and then you give a little grimace that lets me know you have actually just pooped. There is leftover dinner on your face and you are barefoot. You are perfect and you are mine.

Miss Independent

You, 18 months old, on the top stair saying no, refusing my help, wanting to walk down all by yourself.

Me, using all my patience to stand there with outstretched hand. Careful not to touch you, knowing you will grab my hand at the last second because you can not actually walk down without falling.

You, repeating this process for all of the 12 steps in our home. Always first wanting to go down by yourself, then realizing you need mommy's help.

Me, smiling to myself remembering as a kid that I told my mom I would rather roll a gutter ball than have her teach me to bowl.

You teaching me, as we tackle the stairs, an important lesson in parenting. Letting your children climb the stairs of life on their own, always in the background with an open hand, ready to help if they need it and ready to catch them if they fall.

Recipe Book

Here's some recipes I put together for my cousin Becky when she bought her first house. She doesn't like to cook. She came out to visit me once and I was going to make Mexican food and she said, "I can make guacamole, I know how to make guacamole". So, we buy all the ingredients and she proceeds to tell me how to make it. Hence the recipe title and instructions. The rest are family favorites...


Becky’s “I can make it” Guacamole

8 small avocados
3 tomatoes
¼ of a purple onion
1 jalapeño
Garlic powder to taste

Have someone else mix all the ingredients together.


Better Than Mi Mexico Margaritas


3/4 c. frozen limeade
3/4 c. water
3/4 c. tequila
1/3 c. triple sec
Ice to fill blender

Pour above ingredients into blender and blend until frothy. Makes 6 drinks.

Devon’s Glorious Goldfish

1 box goldfish
1 bowl

Open goldfish carefully, pour into bowl
Serve as an appetizer before dinner

Forget Starbucks-Tetney’s Mocha Frappacinos

Frapppacino Mix:
Make 9 cups of coffee and put in pitcher
Add 1 can sweetened condensed milk
Add 2 servings of vanilla flavoring
Add milk to fill up pitcher
(Leave space at the top for pitcher top and to pour)
Mix and chill

Blended Drink:
Add equal parts ice and mix in blender
Add chocolate syrup
Blend until drink is smooth
Top with whipped cream if desired

Get Your Own Beer Cheese

5 lbs. Wisconsin Cheddar Cheese (leave out at room temperature for 2 hours)
1 can of warm beer
3 T. cayenne pepper
1 ½ T. Worchester sauce
1 ½ T. garlic salt
1 ¼ t. Tabasco sauce

Mix thoroughly for 5 minutes with mixer.
Serve with crackers.

Me So Poor Baked Spaghetti
Quick and Cheap

1 can spaghetti sauce
4 servings spaghetti noodle
Shredded cheese

Boil noodles and add to casserole dish
Pour spaghetti sauce over noodles
Top with shredded cheese
Bake for 20 minutes at 350

Pretend You’re At Red Lobster with Nannie’s Shrimp Scampi

2 lbs. large unpeeled shrimp
3 T. margarine
1 c. chopped red pepper
2 T. garlic powder
¼ c. parsley
¼ c. lemon juice
½ t. salt
¼ t. pepper
½ c. apple juice

Peel shrimp. Melt margarine in small skillet over medium heat.
Add bell pepper and garlic. Sauté 2 minutes.
Remove from heat.
Pour in apple juice, lemon juice, parsley, salt and pepper.

Place shrimp in casserole dish.
Spoon mixture over shrimp.
Broil 6 minutes.

This Will Make You Toot-Aunt Patsy’s Jumbalaya

1 sausage link chopped
2 chopped chicken breasts
½ c. chopped onions
½ c. green peppers

Brown and cook meat with chopped onions and peppers

In a separate pot, cook 2 boxes Cajun style rice.
Add 1-2 can chili beans in chili sauce.
Add chili powder to taste.
Add meat mixture.

Simmer.

Yo’ Momma’s Banana Pudding

Mix together:
3 small vanilla instant pudding packets
5 c. skim milk
1 c. sour cream
¾ of a large cool-whip tub.

Layer in a large bowl:
Vanilla wafers
Pudding mixture
Bananas
Top with remaining ¼ of cool-whip and wafers.

Refrigerate overnight.

Uncle Kenny's "I Don't Do Low Carb" Brownies

I've misplaced this recipe, but the title was still cute!

Tooth Number 8 (and 9)

Tooth Number 8, Tooth Number 8
You made us wait and wait and wait

Emmy would cry and then boo-hoo
While you took your time to come on through

But now it seems she's feeling fine
Oh wait, I feel Tooth Number 9

Tooth Number 9, Tooth Number 9
You make our daughter cry and whine

And cling to mommy for dear life
Oh the pain, Oh the strife

Will you come quick or make us wait?
Like your friend Tooth Number 8

When you are through, she'll feel good again
Until, that is, Tooth Number 10