Snail Mail

I look in my mailbox everyday, hoping for a letter.  Amazon.com is my friend because I love to receive mail.  But I also love to send mail.  And that I shall.  Each week is dedicated to a person, near or far away.  I will be sending a hand-written letter to each of these beautiful people in hopes to re-kindle friendships or just say hello and put a smile on their face.  

I already sent my first one out.  

52 letters.  One a week.  Will you be getting a letter from me?

Holiday De-Briefing (the attempt to making Christmas a little more organized for 2012)

Organized Christmas

1. What worked this Holiday season?  I think having the three Christmases (one on Christmas Eve, one at Mom’s house and then one at our house for the Martins) worked well.  Although next year, Christmas Eve will be on Monday night and we might not be able to make church... it worked well this year because it fell on a Saturday.

2. What was the worst aspect of preparing for the holiday?  Can you avoid it this year?  I think I had too many places to write down the presents that we purchased.  I had an app on my phone and I made a cool notebook (that I didn't end up using much).  I need to stick to one place to write things down (probably my phone would work better than a notebook, because I always have my phone with me.)

3. Were you satisfied with your family’s level of giving?  How can next year more closely reflect your family values?  I need to stick to a budget.  Spell it out in plain and simple words!  And then stick to it!  I did it the year before, but because I spent most of the year buying presents, I didn’t use cash the whole time.  I also spent a lot of money online this year (which was EXCELLENT!)  Maybe I can get out a third of the total money to be spent out in January, a third in May and the rest in November... that might work. Maybe make more homemade gifts??

4. How well did your household function this year?  Were you calm and cozy or stressed out?  What improvements can be made for next year?  I think I was pretty calm and cozy!

5. Honesty time: Did you enjoy your holiday?  Yes!  Having McCoy excited about Christmas was worth all of the hype!  I love it that he is excited and loves the holidays!  Opening presents was fun and made it much more merrier!

Co-Sleeping Can Be Tricky

About a month ago, we took the crib out of McCoy's bedroom and switched it with the twin bed.  We decided not to completely take the crib apart and put it in storage, just in case (and no! I'm not pregnant!!). We did this over Thanksgiving break.  He got a new comforter set (Cars) and new pillows and everything.  He really did enjoy it.



But we still can fall asleep in our own bed.  He has to be with me in order to fall asleep.  Breastfeeding has led him to feel the need to feel his "boo-dies" every night.  It has become his security blanket.  So, McCoy falls asleep in our bed, then we move him over to his bed.  About 4 am, he always comes crawling back!  Unless, of course, I don't actually move him to his own bed to begin with. :)

Most nights, our co-sleeping is fine.  It's often snug, (since we have a queen bed), but it's not unbearable.  I've learned to sleep well with my little sliver of bed, while McCoy enjoys the middle portion of the bed.  Last night, though, was not as grand.  He woke up several times out of a dead sleep yelling things that he must have been dreaming about.  Here are a few conversations from last night:

McCoy: "I want more trounds."
Me: "Trounds?  Do you mean more crayons?"
McCoy: "Yes, mommy.  More trounds."
Me: "What are you going to do with your crayons?"
McCoy..... no answer.  He fell back asleep.

**Several hours later**

McCoy: "More juice, please."
Me: "Here you go, McCoy."
McCoy: "Neigh-nu, Mommy"
Me: "You're welcome."

**An hour or so later**

McCoy: "I want boo-dies!"
Me... shifting...
McCoy.... asleep again in seconds.

**An hour or so later**

McCoy: (out of a DEAD sleep!)  "I WANT IPAD!  MY IPAD!  IPAD!!!"
Me: "Shhhh, go back to sleep.  We can play with it tomorrow."
McCoy: (SCREAMING NOW): "NOOOOOOO!  MY IPAD!"
(Me getting up to pee)
McCoy still Screaming!!!

Finally, he goes back to sleep only because he is laying on my chest and I am rubbing my hands through his hair.  It was not a good night.

But, nevertheless, I love my little McCoy!

McCoy's 2nd Birthday Party

Choo!  Choo!  Choo!  McCoy is TWO!!

We had a choo-rific party for McCoy last month!  I think he had a great day and we had some great visitors here!

I can't believe that my baby is two years old!  He is doing some fantastic things, both developmentally, behaviorally, socially and physically.  But I'm going to devote another post all by itself.

:)

Crock Pot Freezer Meal.....

Here is a successful story about my crock pot freezer meal.  I made this one on the same night I made all the others.  It's called Slow Cooker Veggie-Beef Soup with Okra.  

INGREDIENTS

• • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1/4 cup onion, chopped
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can Italian diced tomatoes, drained
  • 1 (16 ounce) package frozen mixed vegetables
  • 1 cup sliced fresh or frozen okra
  • 2 potatoes, peeled and chopped
  • 1 tablespoon ketchup
  • salt and pepper to taste

---

Drag groups or instructions to sort

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and onion until beef is evenly brown and onion is tender. Drain grease.
2. In a slow cooker, mix the beef and onion, diced tomatoes, Italian diced tomatoes, vegetables, okra, potatoes, ketchup, salt, and pepper. Pour in enough water to cover.
3. Cover slow cooker, and cook 4 hours on Low.
• I didn't have the Italian diced tomatoes (overlooked that one on the list!) so I added in Meatloaf sauce.  The end product was good, but a little too ketchupy for my taste.  McCoy and Whit ate it with no complaints though.  It tasted especially good with potato chips and sour cream. :)

I added all the ingredients to a gallon sized freezer bag (AFTER I browned the hamburger) and put it in the freezer.  Then I threw the whole thing in the crock pot in the morning.  I had Whit turn it on Low about 7 am and then he got home before me and turned it to warm about 4 pm. 

All in all, I give it 3 stars.  It was disgusting like my chicken last week, but it was pretty tasty.

Name Change

I was in need of a name change. My blog has been called "Tenessa" ever since I started it and it sucks.  It's so boring.

So I thought about my life.  I strive for Harmony.  I strive to create peace within my family and friends.  I'm a peacemaker by nature-- always the first to say I'm sorry and always initiating re-kindling friendships.  I live in harmony most of the time.

But enter McCoy.  And music.  And work.  And family.  And mama chores.  And messy houses.  And laundry.  And Rezound.  And my go-to attitude.  My always-wanting-to-be-in-the-middle, never-wanting-to-miss-out attitude and you get Jumbled.  My life was once organized, but is now jumbled.  I strive for perfection, but I only get jumbled, dissonant chords.  It's okay, though, because I've accepted the fact that I don't live a perfect life.  No one does.  And no one will ever be able to.

I know that I live in chaos and I will do what I can do make it harmonious.  

It's Jumbled Harmony.

Epic Fail

Okay, tonight... fail.

I made a freezer meal: Honey Garlic Chicken.  And I cooked it for 12 hours on low in the crock pot.  It was burnt and yucky when I got home.  It looks like this:

I think I may have to invest in a timer.  I'm just gone too long during the day.

Any of you ever had Epic Fails from the crock pot before?  Please tell me I'm not the only one.

I have more of this recipe.  I think I made like three batches.  I will try it again, but not cook it as long!