Sam is 21 Today

HaPpY 21st BiRtHdAy SaM!

Sam arrived at the last minute on January 29th 21 years ago today. As in the very last minute, 11:59 p.m. Sam came into this world screaming and large, weighing in at 10 lbs. 4 oz.

Sam was such a fun little boy, he collected everything. His rock collection is still upstairs, and his legos, and his playmobil, and his G.I. Joe collection.

He started reading at age two and hasn't stopped.

He loves video games, chex party mix, camping, swimming and the beach, skiing, his friends,

his family and most of all, his mama!

My guys have all brought me heart shaped rocks but Sam brought me my first and the most. He has one for me from Iraq and I'll probably get one from Afghanistan too.

That Sam I Am knows what he wants & who he stands for,there is no stopping him. Sam serves his Savior and his country. So thankful and proud of my Sam today. Happy Birthday!

Don't get too stupid on your 21st -luv, mum

{hearts} {maps} {oh my!}

Read this post at your own financial risk:

Uhmmm, honey, how soon before you can do a temporary duty in the UK?

Because I have a new love and the shipping is gonna be a killer.

I love maps. I love hearts. I love the UK. My virtual shopping basket is full. To. The. Brim.

Hubby needs the cuff links for his tux. Actually, I need him to have the cuff links with his tux. He is gorgeous in his tux. Can you imagine adding the map cuff links to Hubby and his tux?

Be still my heart.

Here's the site... enter at your own risk.

I warned you.

Oh, and jewelry is a whole other world, by itself. dang.

I Asked For It

I brought this upon myself. I can only blame myself. It's my own fault. I am taking ownership for how I feel this morning.

This is what happened... On Friday Hubby and I were both off work and had many errands in town. Our microwave started smoking on Thursday morning so we needed to get a microwave and we needed a Trader Joe's, Target and Costco run. We set off around ten in the morning and didn't get home until after four in the afternoon. Heavy duty errands for us.

While at Lowes I wanted to check out the full length mirrors. Our new bedroom has plenty of room and here's the kicker... I have not had a full length mirror since I moved out of my parent's home many moons ago.

So, I thought I wanted one.

I spotted this black framed full length mirror and wanted it bad. Hubby didn't think it would fit in the Element with the microwave and all of the groceries. He goes out to the car and measures, tells me it will be tight but I still want to try. I WANTED THAT FULL LENGTH MIRROR. We got it home. It's propped in the bedroom.
What was I thinking? My gosh, I was a fool to bring that thing home. Silly me.

I. Am. Freaked.

And I'm on a serious Eat Less, Move More.

Texting Pro

Are you a texting Mom? I text. To keep in touch with my guys I have to text. When I first started I was a little rocky and I did not have a full key pad and that can be tricky.

One night I got a message from Sam, "mjsye adfjdjdiee&&& s88 wkfhs"

I texted back, "huh?"

That Sam I Am let me know that was what they felt like when they got my texts. Apparently I wasn't very clear and didn't make sense.

Eventually I got better and received this message back from Sam, "texting pro mom" Oh, the pride I felt!

Sam told me about his buddy in the army who got a text from his Mom one morning. Poor Sean. His Mom thought LOL meant lots of love instead of laughing out loud...

She wrote, "Sean, your dog died this morning LOL"

Ouch!

I don't like getting texts that say, "I'm deploying to Iraq next week" while I am having a girls' day in Seattle like I did last summer. Some news can wait.

Sometimes I text pictures of clothes from the mall to the classroom. You like? What size? It's handy ;)

The text I send the most, "U?", it means, where are you? I sent it several times to Max tonight. He told me he was at Levi's and then I saw on facebook that Levi was at Costco. Who could blame me for asking again. The social networks are good for one thing... tracking your kids!

Of course, any minor living at my house knows if they are caught not telling the truth, the gps tracking system that AT & T offers for $9.95/ month with be added to their phone STAT... no joke.

This and That

Not much happening here at the Stone House lately. Max has exams and I don't feel he is studying enough, Hubby and I are working and Hawley has become a house dog. I'm not sure how that happened but since the snow Hawley has moved into the house.

Since my fall I haven't been walking or going to boot camp. It is weird how cranky that makes me! I thought a break from boot camp would be great but it's NOT. I'm twitchy to run. I am using my free weights and trying to be patient in the meantime. I did see MY doctor on Friday and had X-rays, nothing is broken but my bone is bruised and I am watching for blood clots. Cuz all I need is to have a stroke, for the love of pete. Anyway, so I'm at the doctor and she commented that my leg muscles are incredible! I was thrilled, thanks Robb! But my leg still hurts...

I've done some decorating for Valentine's Day, at home and at the museum. I'm starting to think about LOVE WEEK. I will be making Cherry Bing Bars and trying out a new cheesecake recipe.

I baked these bars over the weekend. There are no photos of the finished bars, they are gone. I served them with coffee ice cream for dessert. Sort of an amped up brownie sundae.

Be careful not to overbake...I did, overbake. So, they had to eaten quickly. If you don't like coffee, don't even try this recipe. *I used Starbuck's Via for the espresso powder.

The best part of making this new recipe was that I got to use my new cutting board for the almonds. Hubby gave me two of these for Christmas and I love them! Chop, and then roll and pour the almonds into the mixer, the onions into the hamburger, the tomato into the salad. I haven't taken out my other cutting boards since I got these for Christmas.

Almond Mocha Cookie Bars

Cookie Base:
1 cup slivered almonds
1 1/2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
2/3 cup Crisco all-vegetable shortening (or 2/3
Crisco Stick)
2 tablespoons instant coffee or espresso coffee powder*
1 tablespoon cold coffee
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup (6-ounces) miniature semisweet chocolate chips
Glaze:
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon cold coffee
1 tablespoon coffee-flavored liqueur (or cold coffee) -- optional

Heat oven to 350'. Grease 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Place cooling rack on countertop. For cookie base, spread almonds on baking sheet; bake at 350' for 7 to 10 minutes or until golden brown, stirring several times. Cool completely. Chop coarsely. Place brown sugar, shortening, coffee powder, coffee, vanilla and almond extract in large bowl. Beat at medium speed of electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs; beat well. Combine flour, cocoa, salt and baking soda. Add to shortening mixture; beat at low speed just until blended. Stir in small chocolate chips and reserved almonds. Spread mixture evenly into prepared pan. Bake at 350' for 30 to 35 minutes or until set. Do not overbake. Cool completely on wire rack. Cut into 2-in. x 1-1/2-in. bars. For glaze, combine confectioners sugar, coffee and coffee liqueur, if desired, in a small bowl. Stir until well blended. Add additional coffee, a little at a time, if icing is too thick, or add additional confectioners sugar if icing is too thin. Drizzle glaze over bars.

Source: "Crisco Cookies for a Year of Celebrations"
Yield: "3 dozen bars"

Okay, that's all I got...

It's Puzzling

January is puzzle month. At least at our house. All I've done is find the corner piece of the puzzle. Hubby and Max have done the rest.

There is a lot of trash talkin' going on around the table. I had no idea that putting a puzzle together was a competitive sport. It is. Yes, it is, very competitive at our house.