Leaf Raking

Our church does an annual community service day. For the last few years, they added helping out at the neighborhood elementary school as an option. Since Mr. Bean attended that school, he can point out such historic locations as the door which he cried at every day for a week when kindergarten started and the place he got beat up in first grade.

We went to the school to do some yard work. Because of the economy, there isn't much room in the budget for anything beyond mowing the grass and removing the snow.

When we arrived, since String Bean was with us, we requested a work assignment without a playground view. We were given rakes and paper bags to fill in the side yard of the school. String Bean was given her own rake which was the perfect size.

For the first hour of the event, String Bean did a great job "helping" us clean up the side yard. Then, she hit herself in the head with the handle of the rake one too many times. Luckily, our friend Fred was in charge of collecting the full bags of leaves and depositing them at the garbage site. He had a wagon to assist him which made the perfect perch for String Bean as she then assisted Fred with his assignment.

Mr. Bean and I both walked out of there with a few blisters. I think String Bean managed to not have a bump on her head, and we all enjoyed spending a few hours out in the sunshine!

PSA from Cashew

Cashew would like everyone to know that sucking on a baby wipe is a *bad* idea. And if one should happen to suck on a baby wipe, they definitely should not stick their entire hand into their mouth to try to wipe off the taste. It will make you puke.

Two Years Ago Today

This day two years ago both my parents and my in-laws were waiting as my due date for String Bean came and went. I remember going to the OB that day and being told that I was not in the least dilated, the baby had not dropped, and they didn't suspect I'd be going into labor any time soon.

6 days later, I was induced since there was still no sign of an impending arrival and String Bean had gotten too cramped to do much moving anymore.

After 26 hours on pitocin and zero contractions (and saying farewell to my father-in-law who had to get back to work), I was wheeled into the operating room and we welcomed String Bean into the world. She was worth the wait!

Legos

Scene: 7 pm in the living room. String Bean is playing with our Goodwill find-Duplo Legos.

Me: I am so glad we don't have a son right now. Can you imagine how many Legos would be all over our living room?

Mr. Bean: It isn't too late. We could be having a son!

Me: Yeah, but now that I've realized this, I have years to mentally prepare for it.

Mr. Bean: True, and we have months to teach String Bean to clean up after her brother.

Another Crock Pot Creation

Mr. Bean asked me today why I have been doing so much cooking lately. I think the answer lies within the magic of the crock pot. I just love it.

Tonight I made chicken in the pot which is the first time I've ever tried chicken. Here is my recipe:

Chicken Stew-like Yummy Food
Chicken Breasts
Family size cream of chicken condensed soup
milk
celery
1/2 onion (or more)
garlic
salt
pepper

Defrost chicken. Combine cream of chicken soup and 1/2 of its can full of milk in the crock pot. Add garlic, salt and pepper to your liking and stir. Coarsely chop celery (I used 3 stalks) and add to pot. Finely chop onion and add to pot. Add chicken last and be sure it is smothered in mixture.

Leave in fridge overnight, or begin cooking. Set on low for 6 to 8 hours. Once chicken is cooked, shred it by using a wooden spoon. It should fall apart pretty easily.

Serve over rice, biscuits, toast, or potatoes....or...or even plain! (To borrow a line from Holiday Inn.)

New Parking Lot

At work, they put in a new parking lot to accommodate the new science building they are putting in. I have been among the first to be asked to park in it.

There isn't anything like being one of the first cars to pull into a freshly bricked and painted lot. The lines are visible; the potholes do not exist.

It is the simple joys.

Sniffles and Coughs

I have officially infected my entire family. String Bean is sniffling and snotting everywhere she goes. I just love the entire face rub that puts snot everywhere. That stuff is tough to get out of eyebrows and eyelashes.

Mr. Bean took his temperature this evening and discovered it a one tenth of a degree above normal. Sound the alarms! He's starting to get the snot String Bean and I have been sharing.

We LOVE cold and flu season!

Halloween Eve

Uncle John and Aunt Connie came to our home bearing gifts (ice cream and apple pastry stuff, plus a bear dressed up like candy corn for String Bean). String Bean put on her Darth Vader costume and showed off for everyone.

It is the start of a great weekend.

Happy Halloween!

Under the Weather

It has been cold and rainy here in Chicagoland the last several weeks. As a result, I've stayed home a lot more. The Nut family has been feeling under the weather physically speaking, and it seems I may be coming down with something as well.

Let's just say the snot factory is working overtime.

I was hoping to get through this cold/flu season without incident this year. That might not happen.

Monday Night Football

We are watching Monday Night Football - Washington Redskins versus Philadelphia Eagles. Since the game is at the Redskin's stadium, FedEx Field, the Redskins logo is painted in the middle.

String Bean firmly believes the Redskins logo is the picture of a monkey, just like the monkeys on her pajamas. So, we heard our fair share of monkey noises tonight.