An Ooey, Gooey Adventure

What a wonderful weekend!

First of all, I have to share that I did not receive 'the call'. Bummer!

In preparation for the weekend, it was a long day on Friday. Work, house cleaning, grocery shopping, and laundry were all on the list of things to do. Well worth the extra effort, in order to enjoy a relaxing and renewing past two days. The enjoyment of family and the celebration of the resurrection of my Savior, Jesus Christ.

Saturday brought a few color clinics before my parents and sister arrived for the weekend. We headed out to Biaggis for supper (a Grandma & Papa treat). I had done much of the food preparation that morning, yet I was still intent on making Carmel rolls for an Easter morning treat. At 8:00 pm, while mixing up my dough, I realized that 2 hours of rising, followed by rolling out, cutting, more rising, then baking was going to put me close to 1:00 AM before this endeavor would be complete.

As the process unfolded, I wondered if I had a bit off more than I could chew. My mother didn't share any 'motherly' advice, coaching me in my over-zealous intentions. I could tell by her quiet motherly way that she was going to let me discover for myself the ramifications of my ambition.

By 10:0pm PM most of my faithful companions had all retired. A few had fallen fast on the couch. With the new found quiet, I welcomed the opportunity to make sure my table was set using my great grandmother's china, I had recently inherited.

With another hour to go waiting on the dough to rise, I to, thought I would grab some couch time. Making sure to set the oven timer, so that nodding off would not disrupt the completion of my master plan.

I pondered the impact of the events that unfolded on Good Friday and the sacrifice made on my behalf. My waiting on my dough to rise became a symbol of my waiting to celebrate the resurrection of my Saviour the next morning.

12:00 AM came and I was finally able to put my ooey, gooey rolls into the oven. Before I knew it, my ooey, gooey Carmel sauce started running over, causing the oven to fill with smoke that began rolling out the top. I opened the patio door to prevent awaking the household to the fire alarm. Riley snuck out with out her shock collar. I then feared I would be out navigating through the dark woods trying to coach her back inside. I also worried that by leaving the patio door open, some creature of the night would get a whiff of baking rolls and venture in for a visit.

THEN in the midst of all the chaos, Mr. Milo decides to go for a walk. Sleep talking is a common occurrence for him, but never sleep walking. I discovered him in the dining area off of the kitchen,with every intent of using the bathroom. Ready, Aim Fire! O! he will so disown me for sharing! It took much convincing and warding off of his sleepy defiance in order to redirect him to the appropriate facility. In the process he tried to convince me I was 'under-insured' while on his 'potty break'. Madison woke up frighten by her father's crazy activity and then refused to go back to bed for fear that her bed would become the next bathroom stop.

By now I am thinking this entire process had become one crazy dream, smoke, bathrooms, sleep walking, dark woods, all the while trying to combat the simple desire to crawl into the comforts of my bed. 45 minutes into baking, I thought for sure my ooey, gooey creations were complete. But after a few short minutes, discovered that the middle (the best part) was still doughy. This revelation came AFTER I had already dumped them out of the pan. Now I had to take my ooey, gooey mess and some how get them back into my smoke filled oven. Another 30 minutes later, my ooey, gooey, Carmel rolls were DONE! Milo safely in bed, Madison asleep, Riley back indoors, and my rolls cooling safely on the counter so not to become Riley's early morning snack. At 1:25 AM with relief, my head hit the pillow.

I drifted off to sleep considering my eventful efforts to provide my family an early morning treat, were minimal to the efforts paid by my Saviour to give me a life everlasting. I also consider making this a tradition, minus the sleep walking and smoke of course

Sunday brought the discovery of Easter baskets, the enjoyment of my efforts, and many laughs from the previous night's tales. Then an emotional celebration of new life and hope before gathering around to table to break bread. An afternoon motorcycle spin, followed by a trip to see 'Hannah Montana'. I am now DETERMINED to master the Hoedown, Throw Down.

AND that brings me to the present.

With Monday not far off of the horizon; a new week, a new life, and a new hope awaits, even if getting there was an ooey, gooey, crazy adventure!

Happy Resurrection Day!

Top of the Mornin!

To all you Lads and Lassies out there!

I have a new appreciation for St. Patricks Day, since I have visited Ireland. Milo and I were treated 4 years ago to such a trip! The land is just as lush and green as you see in the pictures. The flowers are gorgeous! The people are friendly, generous, and full of stories! I could sit for hours listening to them.

If you know Mr. Milo at all, you know that he LOVES to be funny. Say funny things, talk in different accents, in fact small children are usually a bit timid around him because they don't quite know what to think. Sarcasim and Mr. Milo go in the same sentence. Some have even gone so far as to ask me if 'my life is always one big party.'

Hmmmmmm..I always stop to ponder on that one.

One of his favorite movies is Braveheart. Mel Gibson fights to save his country and also dies for the love of his life. If you take out all the graphic blood and guts during the fighting scenes, it is very romantic. In fact I have much to say on the topic of being romanced and pursued. It was going to be my post for today, until I realized that I must pay tribute to my favorite country, Ireland! More on that later this week! So I am sure that Mr. Milo LOVES the movie because of the romance!

My favorite part of Ireland was the small town of Kilnary. One night while we hung out at a local establishment enjoying the flavor of the country, Guinness. By the way, Guinness tasted completely different in Ireland than in the states. Milo of course could easily fit in with the locals with his strawberry blond hair, light skin, and freckles. On occasion, I debated just leaving him there. So this particular night, he decides to pretend he is one of the locals, accent and all! Before too long, he was completely BUSTED by a local for pretending to be Irish, while using his Mel Gibson Scottish accent! It was hilarious!

So to all my Irish friends, Happy St. Patricks Day!

Remember, more on a being romanced later this week!

But until then.....

May the road rise to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

The rains fall soft upon your fields and,

Until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand

Spring Has Sprung!

Or has it? According to our beautiful weather and MY house... SPRING is HERE! However, I am sure that old man winter has at least one more in the hopper for us! After all, March did come in like a lamb, hence it will be leaving like a LION! When he does strike and I am certain he will, his wrath will be short-lived as he will be greeted with colors and flowers. At least my house he will be!

With house cleaning into the evening last night, yes, you heard right! Saturday night house cleaning, grocery shopping, and a good dent in the wash was completed. I was officially pooped. Added to the cleaning was a change in seasonal decor! Bye, Bye Snowflakes, Hello Flowers! So of course I had to update my BLOG.

Happy St. Patricks DAY! Kennedy starts track tomorrow, which means we get to HIT the road this spring and summer for track meets. Spring IS my favorite time of the year!

Honestly, I work very hard all week so that Sunday is to be a day of REST! Rest physically, emotionally, and mentally. Sunday is a time for us to do some family activities, personal hobbies, SLEEP IN, and just regroup, before we hit the ground running for the next 6 days. Afterall, God did create the ENTIRE world in 6 days, then on the 7th day HE rested!

So with only a few loads of laundry left to complete, the plan is to change out of the girls clothes from winter to spring. Perform an assessment of what will be needed to get them to next fall. This year they will both receive a set amount of CASH that they can spend on clothes. Not only am I trying to enforce some budgeting guidelines for them, but it is probably more for me. I am sucker when it comes to shopping. I can quickly go over my original set limit.

Sounds like my breakfast is nearing completion. Mr. Milo treats me EVERY Sunday to homemade breakfast after church. He is the breakfast gourmet at our house. Made to ORDER! I am spoiled. Or as my sister texted me, 'Are you a princess or what?' 'No, just really blessed!'

I am thinking may be a NAP is in store for the afternoon and also may be a motorcycle ride!

Happy Spring!

TTYL

P.S. Recognize anything, mom?

Season Change! LOVE IT!

Ahhh, the weekend is drawing to a close. With an hour yet to wrap up the wash, supper, and next week's preparations before Amazing Race clicks on at 7:00, I am deeming the entire weekend a success! Like most weekends around our house, the wash was completed, sleep-overs had, the weekly, 'pick up your bedroom' talk, color clinics taught, church attended, a few scrapbook pages completed, and although I had every intention of changing my winter decor to spring, that just didn't quite happen. O! Well...there is always next weekend. After all we do live in Iowa and old man winter, I am sure is not quite done with us yet! March did come in like a lamb and most definitely will leave like a lion. That is ok! I am up for one last blast of winter, before spring officially stakes it mark.

Banana bread is baking in the oven, Monday's nights supper is in the fridge for a quick crock pot drop in tomorrow morning, grilled cheese are buttered and ready to toast. Didn't we have grilled cheese just the other night? YEP...like I said, I could have a grilled cheese EVERY night of the week. Just waiting for Ms. Kennedy to get home from the afternoon spent watching movies with friends.

Madison is my TV mate on Sunday nights as we taken in Amazing Race before we retire for the evening. Probably even an extra hour early tonight to make up for the hour lost. Good news is daily light will only get longer and longer until mid summer! How excited am I for lounging at the pool, hot summer days, relaxing on the deck, weekend track meets, grilling out, and all the fun that accompanies the summer months!

I love change of season!

Just about the time I am about tried of one, the next one is knocking on the door!

Not too much exciting up for this week. Work, school conferences, a networking meetings, some skin care clinics, and a coffee date with a friend on Wednesday.

Wishing you all an eventful week!

Jill

P.S. By the way, through daily observation is appears that my 'counter' on the lower right hand side of the blog jumps between 30 - 50 hits per day? Either I have a handful of obsessed stalkers or a large group of people, who just want to know. Don't be shy....leave a comment and and say HI, today! You can also sign up on the side as a follower of 'Finding Balance in a Busy World'. Come on now, a faithful blogger wouldn't be such, if she herself did have HER blog favs that she followed daily. I believe it is the whole reality TV, lets look into the lives of others concept...which that in itself is a whole other blog entry! Anyway...please feel free to say HI, I won't bite, nor will I ask for any type of commitment! After all it is just for FUN and it will do my ego some good! I am lacking in the self-esteem department as of late! ;-)