Wow

Today I filled up my SUV for less than $30. Gas was $1.98/gallon. Friends, (at the risk of sounding like John McCain) this is exciting, exciting news. Just had to share.

Hello...

So, I know I haven't put more pictures on yet. I'm sorry. I haven't forgotten, our computer is just very very slow and it takes forever to load them on. I will get to it...promise!
So, what have we been up to? Not much during the week...its been great! I've been cooking up a storm (we needed some good home cooking after too many meals at the concession stands!) and having a great time trading recipes with my friend Heather! I think together...we may have a fantastic collection or recipes!
This past week was Josh's fall break. Josh borrowed the Nintendo Wii from his school over break and we had a fantastic time playing...and throwing out our shoulder from too much tennis. As soon as we come into an extra couple hundred dollars...it very well could be our next purchase:-)
Josh and I went to Brown County (Nashville) on Saturday and spent a couple of hours walking around (doing a little Christmas shopping) and then headed to the Outlets in Edinburgh ( a little more Christmas shopping ). It was a fun day which ended with a birthday party for our little friend Kate Hassenzahl.
On Sunday I got to meet up with a bunch of friends from my women's bible study and we all went to Beef and Boards to see the Sound of Music! It was a great time...especially since I LOVE the sound of music. I'm sure my parents could tell you that between that and Annie our house was pretty much filled with musicals when I was a child! Anyways, it was so much fun except for the way the stage preformances are different from the movies...um...they sang "My favorite things" in the beginning scene when Maria is meeting with the Nuns! WHAT! So wrong! :-)
We tried to enjoy a bonfire with the Brown's on Sunday evening after our small groups, but the wind was INSANE and Owen had had it with being outside so we headed home. So much for hotdogs and smores...maybe next time! :-)
So, I'm getting through my work week and looking forward to our big Halloween party on Friday (in which Owen will be extremely cute in the event that he chooses to actually keep his costume ON) :-) and Sunday night Josh and I get to go to the Colts/Patriots game....which I was hoping would be lots of fun, but in light of the very sad way they have been playing...it could just make for a long, rough night! Either way...we'll get to go to the new stadium! FUN!
Anyways...better go. Hope you are all well, and I know the lack of comments doesn't mean that you don't LOVE ME! :-) Happy Tuesday!

Pictures....

Not done adding pictures...just have to leave for church....will finish tonight! :-)

"I love to play ball"!


"Mom, I'd really like to CLIMB the slide"


What a great pictures of Sam!


Sam Gross and Owen playing at the park...I think they might be friends now!


Hangin' out in the swing....


This boy LOVES to slide...


Wearing Daddy's Barcelona jersey


If someone even thinks that he looks like a girl....they are gonna get it! He's a surfer boy! Gotta love those beautiful locks!


How cute am I in my supportive Southport Cardinal sweatshirt?! Its says "Coach's Wife" on the back. :-)

Our Soccer Season Comes to an End....

Congratulations to Josh's soccer team...Southport Varsity Soccer ended for the season on Saturday evening with a sectional game loss to Ben Davis; 4-2. Their final season record ended at 13-6. Pretty Impressive! I made it to every game this year and Owen learned a lot about sitting down on the bleachers, clapping and screaming for a good play or a goal, and how soccer season involves many more hot-dog dinners from concession stands than I would normally allow (Owen was ok with this, since hot dogs are one of his favorite foods)! It has been wonderful to see something that Josh has put so much time and work into come together so well. He really has worked hard with these guys, and next year is going to be even better!

In other news; Owen thinks that he can wink. We were all sitting around the dinner table the other night and Owen would look at us and blink both of his eyes together for an extended period of time and then wait for our reaction. We aren't exactly sure where he picked this up....but its hilarious.

Happy Monday all....

Thoughts of the morning

“From the ends of the earth I call to You, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I” Psalm 61:2

I shared this verse this morning with a friend who has been struggling.... how this verse has brought life to me! Praise Jesus that HE is higher than I! What would I do if my help and my source of strength ended with me? I would be in such big trouble!
No matter what...I have a constant...an ever present help in trouble....when I don't have the answers, the strength, the courage, the grace...HE DOES; AND he loves me and cares for my soul more than any other person ever could! Today...this morning, that truth means so much to me.

In lighter news; Owen is doing the cutest thing. Are you surprised? :-)
We have this cd of Bible versesongs that my mom made for me...these are songs that I grew up on; actually I credit this album of songs with a lot of my scripture memory! When I went to Grace and was in Old and New Testament classes scripture memory was part of our test grade...and I swear I knew most of the verses becauses of these songs that my mom would play over and over for us in the car! So...my mom generously had these tapes converted into cds that I could play in the car for Owen. He loves them. ANYWAYS, one of the songs is "The Joy of the Lord is my Strength" and at one point one of the verses drops the words ("He gives me living water and I thirst no more") and instead the kids sing "ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha" (you get the idea!) So the other day we were driving and this song was playing...and all of the sudden from the back seat we hear Owen saying "ha ha ha ha ha". OH MY GOODNESS! THE cutest thing ever! Moments like these make me want to freeze time and never let my sweet little guy get one single day older! I love this age!

Well, I need to get going. Exciting times here at work today. The Department of Ophthalmology is breaking ground on our new Eye Institute Building. All of the staff and faculty (yes, even unimportant little surgery scheduler me) gets to go to the ground breaking ceremonies...so here I go! Have a great day everyone!

Chicken Corn Chowder

This is what I'm making tonight and already a few of you have asked for my recipe. First, let me give credit where credit is due: My friend Anna Hassenzahl made this recipe first and I just had to have it. She graciously gave me the secret of where she found it...The Food Network Channel!

Here it is, copied and pasted from their website. I follow it verbatim for the most part, except for the whole chicken...I hardly ever have a whole chicken lying (laying? ah grammar, I can't quite remember the correct usage!) around, but plenty of chicken breasts, which in my opinion seem to work just fine.

Watch out...it is quite delicious! I can eat the leftovers for days!

Poached chicken and chicken broth:

• 1 large (approximately 6 pounds) chicken
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 stalk celery, chopped
• 1 carrot, peeled and chopped
• 2 cloves garlic
• 3 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
• Kosher salt
• 1/2 pound thick bacon, diced
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 5 stalks celery, diced
• 2 medium Spanish onions, diced
• 2 medium russet or all-purpose potatoes, peeled and diced
• 8 ears fresh corn, removed from the cob
• 1 to 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
• 3 cups heavy cream
• Freshly ground black pepper

Directions

To poach the chicken: Combine the chicken, onion, celery, carrot, garlic, thyme, pepper and a tablespoon of salt large pot. Add water to cover, at least 3 quarts. Bring the water to a simmer over medium heat, skimming occasionally. Skim, add more water if necessary to keep the chicken covered, and continue to gently simmer until the chicken is fully cooked (the juices from the thigh will run clear), about 40 minutes. Drain the chicken reserving the broth. Allow the chicken to cool then remove the meat from the bones. Discard the bones and refrigerate the meat until ready to make the chowder. Measure out 1 1/2 quarts of the broth and reserve for the chowder. Freeze or refrigerate any remaining broth until needed for another purpose.

To make the chowder: Heat the bacon and olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Cook until the bacon fat is rendered and the meat firming but not yet crisp, about 5 minutes. Add the celery and onions. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally until the vegetables begin to soften, about 6 minutes. Add the potatoes, corn, and thyme. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are fully soft, about 8 additional minutes.

Add the chicken broth to the pot. Bring the broth to a simmer over medium-high heat. Turn down the heat to medium and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes. Add the cream and reserved chicken. Return the chowder to a simmer, season to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle into warm bowls and serve.

Picture Post

Arrgggh....so all of these pictures are out of order because I can't figure out how to arrange them. Maybe Josh can help me later...but you get the main idea! I also have more pictures to put up, but our network is being so sloooooow...and I mean sloooooow! It took about a half an hour to upload these! So for now I'm logging off and doing something else before I put our laptop through a window! Check back later for more!

Owen's first hair-cut; compliments of master stylist Candice Moran! We kept the curls, just a trim!
















A cute band aid picture from Owen's last visit to the Pediatrician that involved shots. He did so great and I thought it would be cute (sad?) to get a picture :-)


Yeah basketball! Owen is a natural! :-)



Fun times with Grandma and Grandpa Barnard