Pa's taco

Pa’s Tacos 

Cook and drain grease

3 pounds of meat...can be a mixture of meats..beef, pork, venison 

1 tsp Cayenne Pepper

1 Tbls Parsley Flakes

1 tsp Thyme

1 Tbls Cumin

1Tbls Garlic Powder

1 Tbls Oregano

1 Tbls Crushed Red Pepper

1 Quart of Tomato juice

Simmer all above ingredients for 30 mins

Add meat to sauce cook on low heat until sauce condenses to desired consistency.

New Years Eve

I have big plans for 2012.  Im starting the new year right.  Im going to go on a diet and start working out.    I have a total of about 80 pounds I would like to lose.  I just have to remember it takes time to see results.  Sure it will be hard work, but in the end I will be a lot happier.  Just gotta take one day at a time.  First change Im making is Im not buying pop anymore.  Ill allow myself one once in awhile, but I wont buy it.  I have some Jillian Michaels work out videos down loaded that I can use.  Plus the Zumba.  Even if I only do a couple routines in Zumba.  Its worth it.  I have to realize that I am fat, but dont have to be that way.  One day at a time.  I know I keep saying that, but thats what I need to remember.  Gonna buy more fruits and veggies to snack on.  It will be a good thing for the kids to see too.
Im excited for things to come for us as a family too.  Lots of good things are coming for us.  Ryan get hired on in a few weeks.  Thats huge for us.  I will be able to see the doctor and finally get back on meds to help me.  I cant wait for life to get better and better :)

Enough is enough

I have decided that enough is enough.  No more excuses.  No more bullshit.  I am going to lose weight this coming up year.  Im going to get everything in place to be able to have a routine to work out.  I have to make the effort more.  Im tired of not fitting in my clothes anymore.  When we go on vacation in July I want to feel better about myself.  I know realistically I wont be where I want to be, but I will be on my way at least.  Its not going to be easy, but I will take it one day at a time.  Set a goal to do and stick to it.  I need to get a new scale since mine doesnt work anymore.  Im going to do measurements once a week and weigh in once a week.  No one is going to do it for me, and the only way to lose the weight is to get off my ass.  This year will be different.

Grandpa

As I sit here thinking about tomorrow, I remember 3 years ago.  I remember the nurse telling Grandma to go ahead and go home and get some rest that nothing was going to happen for awhile.  It was also Johns birthday.  I felt so bad for him to be spending his birthday at hospice waiting for Grandpa to die.  I always knew that I had a special bond with Grandpa, but didnt really realize the bond my cousins had with him until that day.  I saw the same sadness in Johns eyes as I felt.  Even talking to John I could hear the sadness.  Sadness that I felt.  I felt like I lost a dad.  Grandpa had been there for me for so many things.  What was I going to do without him?  Who was I going to turn to?  The pain of losing him was almost as bad as losing my mom.  My mom.  I know she was there waiting for him and he went to her and hugged her tightly.  He was with his baby girl again.  The sadness in his eyes was gone now.

Happy Birthday Kevin

Today you would have been 29.  So much has happened since you died.  The kids miss you.  We miss you.  Your mom has such a sadness in her eyes.  I wish there was something I could do to make it go away, but I know theres not.  Yesterday you would have found out Michelle is pregnant.  I know how much you loved all your nieces and nephews, and I have no doubt you would have loved this news.  Im sure you would have had a few smartass things to say about Shawn becoming a dad.  The news yesterday made me thrilled for them, but sad.  I know what a great uncle you were to my kids and Loris girls.  You loved them all.  It makes me sad that the kids will grow up without you.
Saturday is your party.  You know Ryan B will have it every year.  We will never forget you.  You will always be a part of our life no matter what.

Happy Birthday Kevin.  I hope you are partying with your dad today.  Watch over us Saturday as we celebrate you.

Where were you?

This coming Sunday will mark the 10 year anniversary that we were attacked at the World Trade Towers.  That is a day I will never forget.  While I am not from New York, and have never even been there, the attacks affected everyone.  I was not directly affected.  I did not know anyone there.  I did not know anyone that knew someone there even.  I was just a person sitting on my couch watching the news that day when the tragedy unrolled before our eyes.

That day had started like any other day.  Woke up with Anthony who was only 3 months old at the time, and turned the TV on to watch the news.  Mom had gotten up at some point and was watching it with me.  It was our little routine.  We would watch the news every morning.  I loved watching WGN out of Chicago.  When the first plane hit I remember them saying that something flew into one of the Towers.  I went to the kitchen to finishing making my bagel when my mom said "OH MY GOD!" The second Tower was just hit.  Clearly it was not an accident.  We were under attack.  We watched in horror as the smoke poured from the towers.  You could see people jump from the building.  I was in shock.  I could not believe we were actually witnessing this.  As the day would unfold we would learn of another plane going down.  One in Pennsylvania. We would later learn the intended destination of that plane was the White House.  Only the passengers on that plane fought back.  If it wasnt for them the terrorists would have hit the White House.

Its a day that is etched in history forever.  My kids will learn all about that day.  They will ask me where I was and what I was doing on that day.

So....where were you on that day that America changed?

First day of school

Ahhh the first day of school.  Ive been waiting for this day for a few weeks now.  The boys on the other hand, not so much.
This morning I saw the nervousness in Anthonys face when he left for the bus.  I saw him biting his lip.  Just like I do when Im nervous.  He was ready though.  I remember taking him to his first day at Head Start.  He was 3.  It was after Christmas break.  He had that same nervous look on his face.  So shy.  You could tell he just wanted the other kids to like him.  He wanted to have lots of friends, but didnt know how to talk to them.  I could only imagine him walking into his class today and seeing kids from Vinton.  Being nervous about the other kids, but hopeful he may make a new friend.  I know he was worried about his locker.  He was so worried he would forget his combination.  Which he did, but I told him it would take a few days to get used to remembering it.

We decided to take Jonathan and Dylan this morning so we could show them where to go.  Its a new school for Jonathan this year, and Dylan of course its his first year at school period.

We took Jonathan to class first.  He stood there very nervous.  I talked to the teacher a minute to make sure she knew he had to ride the bus to Sunnyside.  One last look over my shoulder and I was leaving my 2nd grader with his new class of potential friends.

Then it was time to take Dylan to his class.  I saw Mrs. Black from preschool.  Her daughter is in his class too.  Thats when Dylan started getting nervous.  He clung to Ryans hand as we weaved to his class.  I stood out side for a minute taking a couple pictures.  Then I made my way to his desk where he was sitting with Ryan.  I took some more pictures.  Got excited when I saw his name on the desk.  He sat there not saying much.  He was very quiet.  Which is not like Dylan at all.  We said good bye and walked out of the class.  Leaving my youngest son to sit there and wonder what the day hold for him.

I wish all my boys a wonderful school year.  I hope they make lots of new friends and many more memories to carry with them through their lives.