It was just another Sunday visiting with Gramps, Pyper stayed with Chad at home so this trip it was just me and the little one.  Phoebe loves her one on one time with him and Uncle Ben so she was in heaven. 

Soon after we arrived we got a call from my sister, to make a long story short we decided on this day that it was in my Mom’s best interest to move in with me and my little family.  I admit I wasn’t surprised or shocked my sister had taken my Mom the day of my Gram’s funeral to live with her and her family (8 hours aways) a year and a half ago.  She hadn’t been with Mom like my brother and I had she had no idea what to expect and what was all involved.  My sister hadn’t lived close to home since she was 18 and now approaching 40 (hmmm she may not approve of my putting her age out there) our Gram passes away but not before deciding that my sister was in the best position to care for out Mother.  I love my Gram but I even knew then that I was the one.

Mom moving in with us means some big changes, some little changes but changes none the less.  We only have a three bedroom home so the peas will be getting bunk beds and will share a room.  Mom will get Phoebe’s room and although I just redecorated both their rooms I will have to redecorate again for Mom I’m pretty sure Tangled isn’t her favorite kind of decorations!  

The oldest pea insist we get Gram her own chair to sit in she had one at my grandparent’s house and at my sisters.  She also insist Gram get a padded seat at the dining room because the wood chairs will be to hard on her butt.  I love this child, Chad spoke to her about her Grandma Cheryl coming to live with us and she was excited she has asked every day when is she getting here.  She can’t wait to color with her and do crafts like they did before she moved away.  Thank God that they are young enough to adapt to change. They don’t care that they have to share a bedroom or that they have to share a bathroom with Grandma they just can’t wait to have her here.

When my Mom first fell ill in 1984 my Grandparents didn’t flinch to take in all 4 of us, I am forever grateful for them.  I want to live my life as much as I can to make them proud So to take my Mom in and care for her well….I didn’t flinch.  The one thing my Gram made us promise was to not let her be put into a home we will not let that happen as long as one of us kids can help it.  So as my brother cares for my Gramps in his own home I will take care of Mom in mine.  Growing up we all lived in a cape cod all 6 of us!  So for 5 to live in my home will be cozy and manageable.  Who knows maybe one day Chad and I can afford to get a place with more room but for now we will be great. 

For my Sis I know this is hard for you, you did an amazing job with Mom,  you got her off more than half the medication she was taking, she dropped some much need weight and she was happy; but we all know how much she missed Grandpa and the rest of the family.  You are doing the right thing by letting her go.  But you should always be proud of what you accomplished with her.

Mom will miss my sister and her grandbabies (and their little pug too) like crazy but that’s what Skype is for (-: and she will have to get used to cats because I know one cat that will LOVE her LOL (-:

So to close this post February is approaching fast and I have a lot of work to do to get prepared for our Plus one but I have an amazing husband and children and we are ready (well emotionally anyway that paperwork….that’s another post)!

Be sure to follow my other blog once I get it up and running it will be all about our adventures with Mom.  http://momof2peasplus1.wordpress.com/

I official hate you, yes, hate is a very strong word that is why I chose it.  I would never allow my children to use the word hate unless they were speaking of you, stink bug.

You are a menace to vegetable growers every where.

I would say I hope you died but we both know you won’t. Next year I will be ready for you so lets just do us both a favor and never come back.

Sincerely,

Mom of 2 Peas

I have tended to this years garden more than any garden before why?? because of these nasty bugs.  I would find eggs cut the leaf off and throw them in a jar….

I was out there every day morning and evening looking feverishly for these darn eggs so I wouldn’t get veggie eating bugs!  Every day I found more I didn’t get it I thought I drowned the two bugs that made all these buggers (no pun intended).  After a month of filling jars with egg filled leaves, it just got worse…..

I missed some apparently and they hatched~!!

I even had the peas looking for them, they are menaces! (the bugs not the peas)

Would we get any vegetables this year?  Hmmm….that’s it??

Why does the 6 zucchini that were growing look like they are mushy???

Well I will tell you why!

The nasties were not just on the leaves they were at the bottom of the stalks and I saw them when I was weeding.  It was so disappointing there were thousands LITERALLY…

The more weeds I pulled the more bugs I found and they can not be squished or they stink to high heaven!  So I pulled out huge stalks of zucchini bushes and shoved them into a big plastic jar.

Then I saw them the adults …they needed to die……

One even dared to stare at me while I screamed die die die!!!!!

Stink bugs will destroy your garden from what I read and what I saw they will get to the bottom of the stalks and keep the new squash from getting nutrients.

Then when they run out of stalk they move onto whatever squash is out there, they start from the bottom and just never stop eating turning the squash yellow and squishy.

SO this year we got 8 zucchini Chad gave his mom 4, I hope they used them well.  I got to make 2 loaves of bread and Gramps 6 heart-shaped little zucchini bread.

That was it for this year from the Pea’s Garden. Oh we did get a couple of tomatoes and when I say a couple I mean 2.

Oh we did get beans, apparently these stink bugs could care less about beans they only want to destroy squash.

Looks like we will be at the Farmer’s Market a little more this year.  All four of us love the market so it’s a great excuse to go!

Now next year I will be more aware and I will win……but this year

Stink Bugs 1 – Mom of 2 Peas 0.

Birthdays in the Riley household are always big, I admit it I go overboard but I love to plan a kid’s party.  This year however we found ourselves down a job, Dad of 2 Peas was without employment for several months so a large party wasn’t in the cards.  I was nervous and sad to tell the oldest pea that a party wasn’t going to happen. After all, I got her used to them.

Py had been talking about her birthday for months, she wanted Chuck E Cheese, no she wanted Pinkalicious again, NO let’s do a rock party again……so I asked her……”Py what do you want to do for your birthday?”  to my surprise she replied “Mom I just want a sleepover with my friends”.  Seriously? you got it!

All she wanted was to be with her friends and have fun so that’s what she got. They sang and danced with the Wii.  They had a pillow pet fight, they decorated pillow cases with material paint to take home, they ate pizza and a homemade birthday cake (made with the as seen on tv Big Top Cupcake!) and other sugary treats. It was just me and 6 little girls laughing all night, we had such a great time.

Now, I know that I go overboard every birthday but that’s this Mom’s thing (-:

So look out 8th birthday Mommy’s planning now!

Be sure to head over to iHeartFaces.com and check out the other stories and fabulous pics!

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One of my family’s all time favorite meals……Chicken Curry Salad YUM!

This salad is so easy to make and literally takes 10 minutes.

I originally looked for a good chicken salad that we would eat (the picky eaters that we are) I found one that was simple and fast but it had onions and raisins well that wouldn’t fly……so I took the basic recipe and tweaked it.

First mayonnaise 1 cup (I like two cups for a more creamy salad)

and then a tablespoon of curry

Mix these together first so the curry doesn’t chunk up once it is together;                               add in already cooked grilled chicken strips these are refrigerated and bagged the recipe calls for 3 of the bags.  They are in the grocery store by the pre-packaged ham and hot dogs the precooked chicken comes in cubes too if you prefer.

Add 1/2 cup almonds I like whole so I can pick them out if we have little ones eating it, now that Phoebe is older we like the slivers but the slices are good too!

Now cut your grapes in half I add a ton of grapes! but if you’re a stickler it calls for a cup (-: