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/

“originally posted 2010″

 Every year I make this delicious concoction for my co-workers and friends.  Over the years we have made some slight versions as my husband doesn’t quite care for milk chocolate….I know who doesn’t like chocolate ??? that would be Chad (-:

So here is the recipe follow along with the pics too!

 The ingredients :

5 cups of Corn Chex

5 cups of Cheerios

8 ounces of salted/or unsalted peanuts

10 ounces salted mini pretzels

12-16 ounces Christmas M&Ms

2 12 ounce bags of white chocolate chips

2-3 tablespoons vegetable oil

 Mix together all the Dry ingredients and set aside; then put the chips and oil into a microwave safe glass bowl I love the Pyrex large measuring bowl.  Put in microwave on high for one minute; stir; then another minute and stir if this doesn’t melt them all you can heat for 30 more seconds at a time until done ( 3 minutes max or it could burn). The bowl WILL BE HOT! BE CAREFUL!

Pour over mixture and blend until all the dry ingredients are covered. Then spread out over wax paper to dry make sure you have a large spot to spread the love. 

 Once it is all dry break apart and put into an air tight container or if you are giving it away I have put it in those ziplock containers with the red lids.  I have put it in zip lock baggies and this year I found these bags from Oriental Trading Company and used them.  I added a tiny reindeer and a tag!

The finished product but in peanut butter!

This year I got better containers than the bags above –  they better appreciate it LOL!

For the peanut butter version replace the white chocolate chips with peanut butter chips and the M&M’s with Reeces Pieces.  I have a lot of friends who like this one better.  I tried butterscotch once and it was waaay to rich!

***this year 2011 my friend Angela suggested peppermint white chocolate so we’ll give it a whirl!”***

I hope you like it!  (Just another thank you to Judy who gave me this recipe at OR you are the best!)

This photo was entered into the I Heart Faces photo challenge – www.iheartfaces.com

It’s been awhile but I love love love my girls with a fall setting! So I had to enter this weeks iHeartFaces contest.

Every year we go to Circle S Farms to pick our pumpkins.  This year it was so windy the girls almost blew away!  I love this shot of the Peas when we first walked into the farm; the sun on Py’s red hair is lovely.

Be sure to head over to iHeartFaces.com to check out all the other entries !

We got out bags from the farmer and he took us all on his wagon to show us what was ready to pick and what apples were used for what.

He then took us to the best tree for our first photo op seems like he has done this before he even took the picture so I could be in one! (it was pretty early in the morning as you can see by Maxwell yawning)

Then onto the picking!

Our only rules from Farmer Congrove were to make sure that whatever apples were eaten we put the cores go in the buckets so that hornets don’t go after them from the ground.  He encourages us to eat as many apples as we wanted to try to make sure we liked them…..well Phoebe took that to heart.

Pyper was a little more picky like me (-:

Phoebe and Maxwell had a blast they talked the whole time and compared apples.  They even made a game looking for conjoined apples.

I made the mistake of saying they looked like apple butts and there you go. The Find the Apple Butt Game was born.  I have a feeling it will be around for many years to come (oh gosh).

I tried to get a picture of my peas together and it was difficult Phoebe and Max were attached like an apple butt but I got her to sorta stand still. (it took 8 shots to get Phoebe to look at me!)

Farmer and Mrs. Congrove checked in on us often sometimes picking up children and taking them for quick rides around the orchard.  Phoebe loved it she felt like such a big girl! (apples in hand)

Not to be left out as soon as Mrs. Congrove came around they ALL jumped on! This was not part of the apple picking experience but we were the only ones there; once the farm started filling up with pickers the rides stopped.  But, how great of them to do it for the kids while they could.

I got this picture of Py on my cell phone what a lucky shot!

Eating MORE apples ….

Just remember the rules to avoid hornets making nest in the ground make sure your apple cores go in the bucket!

The signs next to the trees and buckets let us know what variety the apple tree was and if it was good for cooking, eating or both.  They also gave you examples of which apple was just for sauce, pie, jelly etc.  I appreciated that because I am such a novice but really wanted to make lots of apple foods!

We picked just a little more before we had to head out…..

One last ride up to the barn to pay.

We picked a bushel and a peck and grabbed a small bag of honey crisp on our way out, it was very reasonable I spent $26 for all of them.  But the fun we had and the special way the kids were treated made it worth every penny!

Beckie and Thomas Congrove – Owners

http://www.pickyourown.org/OHcolumbus.htm

http://www.ohioapples.com/ohio_apple_orchards_member.php?memberid=21

As you all know every year I give Pyper a birthday interview I love seeing how her answers change each year and thought it would b e something she would laugh at later in life. Today Phoebe turned three!  What a great age to start the interview, right?  Well you tell me……

What is your favorite color?  “pink or blue”  great start !

What’s your favorite song right now? “pink” do you know what a song is? it’s what we sing in the car what do you like to sing in the car?   “the happy song”

How about your favorite tv shows??  “pink”  Phoebe what do you like to watch on tv?    “Dora”

and your favorite movie?  “Cinderella” she sure understood that one!

what about a book? “Dora” awesome!

What do you like to do at Jessica’s??  “play a happy song”  I’ll ask what song that is tomorrow ….

Phoebe, What is your favorite thing about sissy?  “pink” I am seeing a trend here….

your favorite game?? “um Cinderella” I must look into this game I’ve never heard of it maybe she means when I call her Cinderella and let her vacuum with the little vac (she loves it I swear!)

What about Pete and Puff???  “they pee in the potty”   um?

If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go?? “to pee in the potty” well she is doing that very well lately!

If you could get rid of one food forever never to see it again what food would that be??? “I like Grove City”  I think I lost her here

If you could meet someone famous who would it be?  “I don’t know” it is a tough question

What is your favorite memory? “OH pink” I’m not even bothering to explain at this point it’s too funny the way it is!

Would you rather go to the doctor or the dentist?  “dentist” well your wish will come true now that you are three!

When you look at the clouds what do you think of ? “pink” fair enough

If Daddy had a boat and let you name it what would you call it? “pink” he may not like that one but OK

And last but not least the famous ….What do you want to be when you grow up?  “a princess bed”  you mean a princess? “a princess bed mommy like my new bed” ok then….

So maybe three years old is a little too soon for the annual interview but it was worth a shot!!

 Click on the peas (-: become a fan we love fans (-;

And Follow Me on Twitter there is a button over ————————> there (-:

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!

!

When my Gram died Mother’s Day of 2010 I was completely out of sorts.  I stayed with my Grandpa and brother for a week so we could get Gramps put together with the paper work that was to follow, cancelling Grams appointments and helping with whatever needed to be done.  I barely ate or slept and darn near cried at the drop of a hat.   When I came home to my family I couldn’t believe the world hadn’t stopped here like it did when I was with Grandpa and Ben.  I had to go back to work, had to take care of my kids and I had to live …… without her.  I didn’t think I could do it and there are times I don’t know how I am doing it.

Friday afternoon my friend Katrina had the difficult job of calling me and other out of towners that one of our best friends had passed away.   I felt like I was hit by a brick, it was happening again.  Only this time I didn’t have a week to process before heading back to reality.  My daughters can’t understand why Mommy can’t stop crying or why she can’t play.  So Chad has let me grieve and my oldest is trying to do the sweetest things.  It’s harder for her because she knew Aunt Jodi was sick and made her several get wells cards and pictures that I was supposed to deliver when I visited her in the hospital on Saturday.  I told her Aunt Jodi was getting better, because that was the truth.  When I told her Aunt Jodi died, I don’t think she understood because she just stared at me.

Why doesn’t the world stop?  to give us time to grieve before life has to begin again?

Pyper got up later after processing what I told her and wrote another card to Aunt Jodi but didn’t know how to deliver it.  She thought about it and asked me to take it to the funeral, she wants to go but I think it will be too hard for both of us.

After I read her note I explained that as much as we want that’s just something not something that can not happen.  She said to me “I know Mom” so I guess that’s just how she is feeling.  So am I.

When I came home from Grandpa’s a year and a half ago I was constantly looking at Gram’s facebook page she just started it and it just sat there.  My sister and I wrote on her wall how much we missed her.  I looked at it every day and saw everyone else’s status’ wondering how they are going on when I can’t.  Now with Jodi gone I find myself doing the same thing.  Looking at Jodi’s page seeing all the people she made and impact on and then seeing normal status’ and wondering again…..why hasn’t the whole world stopped to grieve my friend?  Why is so and so at the movies and why is so and so shopping? don’t they know she’s gone???

Fact is Gram kept it from us that she was so sick because she didn’t want our world to stop,  she wanted us to take care of our families and go about our days and not grieve before she was gone.  She wanted us to live because she knew the world goes on whether we are ready for it or not.  Jodi would have wanted the same thing, just as she was she was able to live because she didn’t know what was to come.  She was living her life to the fullest she was at a place where she was so happy with every aspect in her life, family, work, friends her charity work.  She would want us all to live on and to take the reins when it came keeping friendships alive no matter how far away, keeping up with her Komen work and just plain living. It will be hard.

Her funeral is Thursday, I’m not ready, none of us are until then I think we may all be wondering the same thing.

Why doesn’t the world stop???

_

Yesterday my friend Katrina had called me to say our friend Jodi had passed away, she was only 51 a few weeks from her 52nd birthday.  I am devastated as is every one who knew and loved her.

I have cried, I have screamed, I have read all her friends sweet words on her Facebook page and cried some more.  As I type ….still crying …. it just doesn’t seem fair that a woman with a heart as big as the moon would be taken away by a heart attack.

Not to be a cliché when a person passes all you hear is how wonderful that person was, well with Jodi it’s true, she would do anything she could to help her friends and even strangers out.  Jodi was very active in the Komen Race for the Cure.  She always had a team for her aunt and worked very hard to raise money and get people to walk.  She was even named chairperson this year, the race in Cleveland is September this year my friend Katrina said that they are going to do something special for Jodi I can’t wait to see it.

Jodi wasn’t just my friend she was family, she was there for me when I needed her the most.  When Gram died she came to the house every day, called every night even after she had just been there.  She brought Grandpa food and stopped by until she knew he was going to be ok and would still ask me if he needed anything constantly. This is just one of the million things she so unselfishly did for her friends.

 When Gram died Jodi gave me a book called How To Cope When You Lose A Parent I wonder how you cope when you lose a best friend?

I want to write more but right now it will have to wait, it’s just too painful.

Pyper and her “Aunt” Jodi two red headed peas in a pod.

Jodi – we will miss you forever and love you even longer.