Category Archives: SUNSHINE

Because I Feel Like I should Blog: On Joy and some other stuff

I have known for a long time just how blessed I am with Rylee. She was such an easy baby. And she is literally the most well behaved 3 year old I know. She says please and thank you, without being prompted. She actually listens to directions. She eats her vegetables. She’s happy and healthy.

Sure we have our struggles, but really, what 3 year old does not challenge. She’s learning her boundaries. Those times, while frustrating, are few and far between.

Long story short…Rylee is such a joy to have in our lives. My heart explodes when I think about the love she has brought into our family. Her smile is contagious. Her laugh, infectious. Her heart is generous and kind and open.

I love this little girl so much that there’s times when I cannot even fathom having enough love in my heart for another little. Then there’s times where I see her with babies and I cannot wait to see the love she will have for a little sibling.

There’s times I am literally moved to tears when watching her grow and develop and learn new things. So many times I don’t have the words. All I can do is smile and beam with pride.

I can’t help but think we’re raising her right.

These are some of the photos I snagged on my phone over the weekend. Andy took the tractor out to do some field mowing for some people so Rylee and I had a lot of time to spend together… just us girls. The sun shined all weekend so we spent a lot of time outside.

Rylee’s Stellar Headband Placement // Andy loading up the tractor

63 Degrees at 9 AM on Saturday! // Rylee made me lunch

First water fight of the Summer // Relaxing as a family after a busy weekend

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In other news: you can see my day-to-day updates on my 30 Day Shred Challenge here. You can watch my progress on my 31 Days to Clean here. Since they are just “pages” within the blog, they do not show up in reader when I do update them. Mostly every day.

And lastly? Can you spare a couple of clicks for me? Pretty please? They just reset the listings…

Hungry Goats & Party Hats

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Last week we went to a birthday part out at a local farm place. We had a great time. They have one of those “goat walk” deals where you can feed the goats. Of course we went ahead and spent a ridiculous amount of money ($1) for a tiny bit of feed. Ry had a blast.

I don’t know who would actually fill up one of those buckets…it would literally cost $100!

Rylee and Daddy petting the goats.

Well, that one kind of freaked her out!

Trying out the goat feeder pully-system thingie. It was a hit.

A view of the goat walk.

Lots of goats lined up for some food. Rylee only liked the “little ones”.

She was totally digging her birthday hat. She still wears it for breakfast each morning.

And NO this does not mean we are getting, or even want, any goats. So don’t even suggest it…Mom.

Recipe: Really awesome dip that has no official name

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If you’re in the market for a new BBQ/pot-luck/football game friendly crowd-pleasing appetizer you have come to the right place! My mother in law is pretty much famous for this Mexican Dip and is pretty much shunned if she doesn’t bring two pans of it to the annual 4^th of July Bash we attend every year. It’s that good. She shared the recipe with me a few years ago, and ever since Andy and I have been taking it to pretty much any BBQ we attend!

Now, before I go sharing this recipe, you have to promise me one thing…just because you have this little piece of awesome, you still have to invite us over for BBQ’s. Deal? Seriously…not joking. Andy wanted me to make sure and point this out. Ok?

Ok, now that we’ve got that out of the way…

Officially, we have no idea what the name of it is.

Unofficially, we call it “Mom’s Mexican Dip”.

Seriously…try it. You will love it. And you will thank me.

Ingredients:

1- 28 oz Can Refried Beans (or 2 regular size cans. Whatev.)

1 lb Ground Beef

1 Pack Taco Seasoning

1- 7 oz Green Taco Sauce (or ½ the 14 oz jar if you’re like us)

16 oz Sour Cream

Cheese, shredded

Olives, sliced

Brown ground beef, and prepare as instructed on taco seasoning packet. While the meat is cooking, spread beans in the bottom of a 9×13 pan. In a medium bowl, mix together sour cream and taco sauce. Once meat is ready, spread evenly over the top of the beans. After that, spread the sour cream mix. Then top GENEROUSLY with cheese. Seriously…error on the side of A LOT. Sprinkle with sliced olives. Cover with aluminum foil (remember to spray the foil w/ non-stick spray!). Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

Serve with tortilla chips and enjoy. BOOM.

Ok it’s your turn…what’s your favorite go-to dish for BBQs?

And you people wonder why we call her monster…

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You guys? There’s a reason we’ve been calling Rylee “Monster” since she was just a wee baby.

When she was just about a year old, I came home from work one day to find Andy spent all day teaching Rylee the now infamous “Who’s the Monster!?” party trick.

We got mixed reactions with that one…most everyone would respond with “Oh, she’s not a monster!”

Hate to break it to you people…she is.

And I really actually mean that in the best way possible. It’s what makes Rylee Rylee. She’s got spunk and panache. And she’s full of piss and vinegar. I love it.

But seriously, you cannot watch this video and still wonder why we call her Monster.

Happy Friday!

Completely Overwhelmed, but Totally Excited

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Ok, so after yesterday’s post, let’s lighten things up, shall we?

It’s almost Memorial Day. Which means here in the good old Pacific Northwest we’re starting to get a little tease here and there of the elusive Summer weather. Memorial Day weekend also marks the time on the calendar when gardens should be planted. We have big plans for our veggies this year. We are going to do a big plot of corn for canning. I am going to do some black beans to dry. I want to can spaghetti sauce from my tomatoes. And of course there’s always the fresh cucumbers and grilled zucchini to be enjoyed on the daily.

See? I’m excited.

I love gardening. And don’t ask me how that happened because all the memories I have from my childhood are me being forced to weed for one.whole.hour. every.single.weekend. Rough, I know.

Late last week, we had a solid day of sun which meant the flowers I have on my porch were thirsty by the time I got home. So, Rylee and I decided to give our little friends a drink.

She may have also inadvertently sprayed herself and then freaked her freak.

I might have laughed.

Hard.

After the flowers on the porch/front area were properly doused hydrated, we headed over to my garden.

My beautiful 30 ft x 40 ft completely fenced, always a work in progress garden.

I was very happy to see the broccoli, carrots, onion, strawberries and artichoke doing so well!

But then?

Well, then I turned around and looked at the “other half” of my garden. Insert a rushing wave of overwhelming-ness.

That right there? That’s not a jungle. That’s my garden.

It’s going to be a lot of work to get it going this year, but at least I have my little helper and her trusty yellow shovel.

Somewhere In The Middle

Mostly Average Accounts of the World's Okayest Mom.