Football season is finally here! If you know my family (and you all do if you are reading this) you know that football seasons puts a perma-grin on my mom and makes me pretty happy too. We didn't get to watch too much this opening weekend because of all the activities on the lake (a post on that later), but I at least got a small taste of it.
And speaking of taste, football season also means food. Appetizers, specifically. I am a HUGE fan on appetizers. Give me a good bloody mary (or glass of wine or sometimes even a nice cold beer), along with some great appetizers and I am set. I don't even need "real food"* as Ward says. So I have been searching through some recipes and found a couple of good ones that I thought I would post. They are not your usual "chips and salsa" (although a couple are oldies but goodies) so are fun to make if you are having people over. Eat up and ROLL TIDE!
White Pizza Dip (Lipton)
1 envelope Lipton® Recipe Secrets® Savory Herb with Garlic Soup Mix
1 container (16 oz.) sour cream
1 cup (8 oz.) ricotta cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup (1 oz.) chopped pepperoni
1 loaf Italian or French bread, sliced
Preheat oven to 350°. In shallow 1-quart casserole, combine Lipton® Recipe Secrets® Savory Herb with Garlic Soup Mix, sour cream, ricotta cheese, 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese and pepperoni. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese. Bake uncovered 30 minutes or until heated through. Serve with bread.
- As an aside, I also think that this would be good with fritos!
RO*TEL Sausage Balls
1 lb sausage
3 cups Bisquick
8 oz Cheese Whiz
1 can RO*TEL diced tomatoes with green chilies
Pulse RO*TEL in food processor until the tomatoes are broken up into smaller chunks; 10-15 pules.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine sausage, Bisquick, Cheese Whiz and RO*TEL. Mix until thoroughly combined. Shape into 1-inch balls. (May be frozen at this point).
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until golden brown.
Beer Cheese Dip (YUM!!)
2 cups sharp cheddar, shredded
2 (8 oz.) blocks cream cheese, sofened
1 pkt. ranch dressing mix
1/2 cup beer
Dash of seasoning salt or garlic salt (optional)
Mix all together until well blended. I think that it works best if you mis the frist three ingredients together and then add the beer. Chill for several hours before serving or make the day before. Serves lots!
Layered Mediterranean Dip
2 containers of Hummus
1 jar Marinated Artichokes, drained and chopped
1 large jar Kalamata Olives, drained and chopped
1 bunch of green onions, chopped
Pepperchini peppers, drained and sliced
1.5 jars of Sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
Feta Cheese
Pine Nuts, toasted
You can make this as large or small as you need. The hummus should be on the bottom and the feta & pine nuts on the top. Layer the rest in the order listed above. Serve with Stacy's pita chips.
- This recipe is really great and gives you a little creative license. You can always leave out any ingredient you don't like (i.e. when I made it I did it without the olives since Ted doesn't like olives and it was still fantastic!)
* "Real food" according to Ward is a meal. Anything else is just snacking and apparently doesn't count. This always cracks me up since he eats like a bird.
9.07.2010
8.30.2010
Homework
I think that I have already posted on here that Ward has homework every night, M-TH. It is not much, but we still have to sit down and do it. I kinda like it and think that he is getting into a good routine - especially since I hear that in first grade they really "lower the hammer" when it comes to homework. And I was very surprised to hear that the incredible public school just around the corner from us (where I went to school and routinely gets awards as one of the highest ranked elementary school in the US - "Blue Ribbon School") does not do homework for Kindergarten. At least they haven't yet.
But, that was not the point of this post. Instead, we got a note home over the weekend about how the kids are going to start "Social Studies" this week. They already do grammar, writing, reading, math and science each day so they are just rounding out hte subjects I suppose. (Of course if you ask Ward his favorite class is PE where he learned to punt a football the other day and couldn't wait to get home to show me - ALL BOY!) The problem with starting social studies is that is came with homework. A project really. And the project was for me. It is not a big deal, but it will take some thought and time to do something that Ward will understand. You see, they are going to start studying about thier ancestry. She asked that they bring pictures of ancestors, a map from where our family is from, a family tree, etc. That is all fine and dandy, but that means I have to do the work.
And then Ted and I got into the whole "well whoee family do we do?" Mine won out of course since Ted is going to be out of town this whole week and I will be the one doing the project. Plus, Ted doesn't have any idea about his ancestry and he claims that his family doesn't know either. I seriously doubt that, but you get the point. The one nice thing is that one Christmas when I was in high school my grandmother, Ann Samford Upchurch, gave each of her grandchildren a small book that she had printed for us. It is the diary of her grandfather, William Hodges Samford. There are some pictures inside and a couple of great stories. She also detailed how the Samfords got here from England and at one point I did a family tree (with lots of blank brachnes) from it. Not sure what I am going to make yet, but if you know me, you know that it will be good. And colorful. Poor Ward will probably be embarrassed by his over-achieveing mother. Oh well. He has a lot to learn about his mommy!
But, that was not the point of this post. Instead, we got a note home over the weekend about how the kids are going to start "Social Studies" this week. They already do grammar, writing, reading, math and science each day so they are just rounding out hte subjects I suppose. (Of course if you ask Ward his favorite class is PE where he learned to punt a football the other day and couldn't wait to get home to show me - ALL BOY!) The problem with starting social studies is that is came with homework. A project really. And the project was for me. It is not a big deal, but it will take some thought and time to do something that Ward will understand. You see, they are going to start studying about thier ancestry. She asked that they bring pictures of ancestors, a map from where our family is from, a family tree, etc. That is all fine and dandy, but that means I have to do the work.
And then Ted and I got into the whole "well whoee family do we do?" Mine won out of course since Ted is going to be out of town this whole week and I will be the one doing the project. Plus, Ted doesn't have any idea about his ancestry and he claims that his family doesn't know either. I seriously doubt that, but you get the point. The one nice thing is that one Christmas when I was in high school my grandmother, Ann Samford Upchurch, gave each of her grandchildren a small book that she had printed for us. It is the diary of her grandfather, William Hodges Samford. There are some pictures inside and a couple of great stories. She also detailed how the Samfords got here from England and at one point I did a family tree (with lots of blank brachnes) from it. Not sure what I am going to make yet, but if you know me, you know that it will be good. And colorful. Poor Ward will probably be embarrassed by his over-achieveing mother. Oh well. He has a lot to learn about his mommy!
8.26.2010
Another Holt boy
I took Sam to his 15 month well-baby appointment yesterday at the pediatrician. He is in a "I don't do strangers" stage (i.e. he screams bloody murder whenever a stranger gets near him) so it was not so nice with the nurse trying to get his length, head circumference and weight. He was grabbing onto me for dear life, like I was abandoning him at some truck stop. All of my kids have gone through this stage, but Sam seems to be going a little stronger than the other two. Let's just hope that doesn't mean that his laid-back personality is changing into a more type A one. (On that front, he is a right in the middle of Ward and Ann Park - Ward is cool and calm, while Ann Park is more like her mama, high strung!)
But back to the pediatrician. Everything looks great. He is walking, standing from a sitting position, picking things up from the ground from a standing position, has at least 3-6 words (even some that others can understand), etc. The funny thing was his numbers. He weighed 21 pounds 2 ounces and was almost 31 inches. Apparently that puts him in the 10th percentile for weight and the 30th for height. The pediatrician, who is a friend of mine, says, "I am not worried that he is dropping off his chart a little bit, I mean he is a Holt . . . I mean a Holt boy." That totally cracked me up because Ward has been small since his days in the NICU and Ann Park has never been little. Don't get me wrong - she is not fat by any means. In fact, she is pretty damn near perfect and has stayed in the 50% range her entire life. She, my friends, in body and personality is an Upchurch. Lucky girl. I joke that at least mama can teach her how to dress her curves! Let's just hope that I can keep up with her sense of fashion.
But back to the pediatrician. Everything looks great. He is walking, standing from a sitting position, picking things up from the ground from a standing position, has at least 3-6 words (even some that others can understand), etc. The funny thing was his numbers. He weighed 21 pounds 2 ounces and was almost 31 inches. Apparently that puts him in the 10th percentile for weight and the 30th for height. The pediatrician, who is a friend of mine, says, "I am not worried that he is dropping off his chart a little bit, I mean he is a Holt . . . I mean a Holt boy." That totally cracked me up because Ward has been small since his days in the NICU and Ann Park has never been little. Don't get me wrong - she is not fat by any means. In fact, she is pretty damn near perfect and has stayed in the 50% range her entire life. She, my friends, in body and personality is an Upchurch. Lucky girl. I joke that at least mama can teach her how to dress her curves! Let's just hope that I can keep up with her sense of fashion.
8.23.2010
Amazing friends
Ted and I spent this past weekend in South Carolina for the wedding of one of my closest friends from college. It was a grand affair and I had a blast. Of the 8 girls I was close with in college, 6 of us were there. All three of my roomies and then two others. And we had a blast. I definitely acted like I thought I was still in college and my liver is paying for it. Plus I stayed up until 2 am for three nights in a row. Do I think that I am 21 again? But that is not the point of the story.
As we were flying home yesterday and generally feeling like poo, I kinda got a little emotional about my friends. There is certainly something very special about those girls you bond with in college. At 18, I left the comfort of my family and the only home I have ever known and moved 10 hours a way to a little place called Lexington, Virginia. Who knew that I would meet people there who would shape my life and mean so much to me (probably even more than they did while I was there) close to 10 years later. These girls know me. They get me. They accept me. They love me despite all my faults. And I love them.
I don't know what it is about this group of women. We live across the country from each other - Oregon, North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee - but when we get together the distance doesn't matter. It is just like it always was. Of course now there are stories about kids and husbands instead of boyfriends and dates. We talk potty training and preschool instead of what so-and-so was doing at the party. But it is all the same. It is all good. It always is.
The problem is that we have such a great time together so very seldom. I have not made it a priority in my life to keep up with them. I am not good at keeping up. I never call. I rarely e-mail. I sometimes blog. But I want that to change. I miss them. They are a huge part of me. And I love that part of me.
As we were flying home yesterday and generally feeling like poo, I kinda got a little emotional about my friends. There is certainly something very special about those girls you bond with in college. At 18, I left the comfort of my family and the only home I have ever known and moved 10 hours a way to a little place called Lexington, Virginia. Who knew that I would meet people there who would shape my life and mean so much to me (probably even more than they did while I was there) close to 10 years later. These girls know me. They get me. They accept me. They love me despite all my faults. And I love them.
I don't know what it is about this group of women. We live across the country from each other - Oregon, North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee - but when we get together the distance doesn't matter. It is just like it always was. Of course now there are stories about kids and husbands instead of boyfriends and dates. We talk potty training and preschool instead of what so-and-so was doing at the party. But it is all the same. It is all good. It always is.
The problem is that we have such a great time together so very seldom. I have not made it a priority in my life to keep up with them. I am not good at keeping up. I never call. I rarely e-mail. I sometimes blog. But I want that to change. I miss them. They are a huge part of me. And I love that part of me.
8.17.2010
Reality
With the first "week" (W-F until1:00) behind him, Ward was feeling pretty confident about school. He didn't have any homeowrk and his "mean friend from last year" had been behaving well and had not bothered him. Well, reality set in yesterday. First, Ward will have homewokr EVERY DAY, Monday-Thursday. It is not a lot, but it is something that I have to force him to do. Last night it was practice writing his "A" and "a" five times (the hardest part about this is staying in the lines and getting the sizing right - this is particularly hard with the lower case letters) and count 1-20 five times. We also have to read one book every night and keep a reading log. Right now it is me reading to him but it will be him reading to me sooner than I think. That will add some time to the homework routine.
Second, the "mean friend" pushed him down at the playground and made him cry. He said that he told the principal (who he claims saw the whole thing) and he said that they didn't need to fight. Ward sais taht he scared the "mean friend" who reciprocated by pushing Ward to the ground. I hate to hear stories like that. And I especially hate this kid. Hate is probably too strong of a word - I dislike this kid, a lot. He has been in Ward's class the past two years and I have heard stories like this over and over again. He doesn't play nice. He is a bully. He is mean to Ward. And I don't like him. Period.
But back to the homework. I have decided to make Ward do his homework when he gets home from school, before he can go out and play. That seems kinda mean to me, however, since he just got home from school, but he is exhausted by 5 and I can't imagine trying to get anything done any later than that with the bath-dinner-bed routine. It is too much. Even for this super-mom (yes, I call myself super-mom, it gives me a little ego boost when I need it).
Second, the "mean friend" pushed him down at the playground and made him cry. He said that he told the principal (who he claims saw the whole thing) and he said that they didn't need to fight. Ward sais taht he scared the "mean friend" who reciprocated by pushing Ward to the ground. I hate to hear stories like that. And I especially hate this kid. Hate is probably too strong of a word - I dislike this kid, a lot. He has been in Ward's class the past two years and I have heard stories like this over and over again. He doesn't play nice. He is a bully. He is mean to Ward. And I don't like him. Period.
But back to the homework. I have decided to make Ward do his homework when he gets home from school, before he can go out and play. That seems kinda mean to me, however, since he just got home from school, but he is exhausted by 5 and I can't imagine trying to get anything done any later than that with the bath-dinner-bed routine. It is too much. Even for this super-mom (yes, I call myself super-mom, it gives me a little ego boost when I need it).
8.11.2010
First day of school!
Well, it is officially here. Ward started kindergarten this morning. He was on cloud nine and could not wait to get in his uniform as soon as he woke up. I was playing it up so much for Ward that I felt like I was leaving Ann Park out a little bit, but I quickly recovered and she was all smiles. Kindergarten and 4K . . . where did all the time go? At least I still have Sam!!!
While I was drying my hair, Ward got hold of the camera and took a couple of cute shots:
He loves self portraits
Ann Park struck a pose.
Then I made them go out on the front porch and model with their backpacks. It was really hot (already) so we just got a couple. Plus I felt a lump developing in my throat so we needed to get going!
8.09.2010
Good intentions
So I totally meant to write this fabulous post all about our week at the lake with the Tuscaloosa Holts and post all my wonderful pictures. But, as I am sure you have noticed, I didn't get around to it. Instead, we had a great weekend of swimming, playing "house", lemonade stands, going to Ann Park's 4K class, and watching Sam struggle to walk. (He is a LATE bloomer at almost 15 months!) Ann Park also informed me that she has a boyfriend, whom she wants to marry and kiss. Great.
On another note, this week is a BIG week in the Holt household. Ward starts kindergarten on Wednesday. I can hardly believe it. I feel like those long days and nights of the NICU were only a short time ago. Five years goes by so fast! He is still my angel and always will be. No offense to my other kids as I love them dearly, but there is really something special between a mom and her first born. He will always be the one who I had all my firsts with. I promise to document the occassion as Ted is going to be out of town for work and will miss the first day . . . uniform and all. (Most of you know that we are sending him to Catholic school as opposed to public, right?) I am sure that I will shed a tear or two, but I will never let him see it. I want him to have quiet confidence as he walks into that school on Wednesday. It really is the first day of the rest of his life. I was thinking that once you start school, you are in school for at least 17 more years. And I have 20 more with law school included in there!
Here is a little walk down memory lane (using pictures from my work computer so I don't have a ton!). . .
On another note, this week is a BIG week in the Holt household. Ward starts kindergarten on Wednesday. I can hardly believe it. I feel like those long days and nights of the NICU were only a short time ago. Five years goes by so fast! He is still my angel and always will be. No offense to my other kids as I love them dearly, but there is really something special between a mom and her first born. He will always be the one who I had all my firsts with. I promise to document the occassion as Ted is going to be out of town for work and will miss the first day . . . uniform and all. (Most of you know that we are sending him to Catholic school as opposed to public, right?) I am sure that I will shed a tear or two, but I will never let him see it. I want him to have quiet confidence as he walks into that school on Wednesday. It really is the first day of the rest of his life. I was thinking that once you start school, you are in school for at least 17 more years. And I have 20 more with law school included in there!
Here is a little walk down memory lane (using pictures from my work computer so I don't have a ton!). . .
Summer 07
October 07
March 08
Summer 08
Fall 08
Age 4 - Fall 2009
Summer 2010
8.05.2010
Just call it Wayne Manor
If you remember old cartoons (or happen to watch Boomerang, the retro-cartoon channel), you know what this post is about. HINT: Wayne Manor was the name of Batman's house. Of course you could have also read my status update on facebook. But either way -- We had a bat in our house last night. Oh yes, you read me right, a BAT. Here is the play by play:
It was about 9:15, the kids were long-ago tucked in bed and I was quietly reading under the covers. Ted had just finished up some work and was brushing his teeth in the bathroom. All of a sudden, I see this shadow fly into our room and the cat goes crazy. Was that what I thought it was? Before I could really think (or even catch my breath as my adrenaline had kicked into high gear) I yell (quietly so as not to wake the kids, but loud enough to get Ted's attention) "BAT!"
Ted kinda looked at me funny and seemed to be wondering what I was smoking. He asked me if I was sure about that (maybe it was a bird?) and I told him to go find the cat and he would find the bat. He walked slowly down the hall (in his boxers) and then came back into the room and told me he didn't see anything. I was not taking that as an answer. I knew what I saw and I was not going crazy - not yet, at least. I shoved him out of the door (I had locked myself in the room since I knew the bat wasn't in there - and don't worry my kids sleep with their doors shut so I didn't have to worry about the bat going in their rooms) and told him not to come back until the bat was out of the house.
Well, the next thing I hear is the swinging of something. A couple of misses . . . and then, yes! contact. The bat was hiding in the playroom (with the cat closely watching) and was hissing at Ted by the time the struggle began. Ted used Ward's tennis racket (I am going to clean it very well, no worries) to smack that bat around for a little while. Once the bat was down and stunned, I got Ted the dust pan and he scooped him up. Although Ted placed the tennis racket on top of the bat-filled dust pan as a safety precaution, the little sucker somehow managed enough strength to try a stealth escape. But Ted came down with a grand overhead swing and popped him good - my hero. Ted threw him out the hall window (that I had to open for him and then went squealing down the hall to our bedroom until it was out of the house) and that was that.
I only wish that we had some sort of big brother camera filming the whole thing. Although I had a hard time sleeping last night, I am quite aware that the whole scene was rather comical and might have been able to win us some money on America's Funniest Home Videos.
When we got in bed Ted asked me what I would have done if he wasn't there (which is about 4-5 nights per month). I didn't hesitate when saying that I would have woken up the kids and gone straight to my parents house. Critter Control would have been called for an emergency removal. Oh, and I that would have been one more thing to add to my list why he shouldn't travel so much.
It was about 9:15, the kids were long-ago tucked in bed and I was quietly reading under the covers. Ted had just finished up some work and was brushing his teeth in the bathroom. All of a sudden, I see this shadow fly into our room and the cat goes crazy. Was that what I thought it was? Before I could really think (or even catch my breath as my adrenaline had kicked into high gear) I yell (quietly so as not to wake the kids, but loud enough to get Ted's attention) "BAT!"
Ted kinda looked at me funny and seemed to be wondering what I was smoking. He asked me if I was sure about that (maybe it was a bird?) and I told him to go find the cat and he would find the bat. He walked slowly down the hall (in his boxers) and then came back into the room and told me he didn't see anything. I was not taking that as an answer. I knew what I saw and I was not going crazy - not yet, at least. I shoved him out of the door (I had locked myself in the room since I knew the bat wasn't in there - and don't worry my kids sleep with their doors shut so I didn't have to worry about the bat going in their rooms) and told him not to come back until the bat was out of the house.
Well, the next thing I hear is the swinging of something. A couple of misses . . . and then, yes! contact. The bat was hiding in the playroom (with the cat closely watching) and was hissing at Ted by the time the struggle began. Ted used Ward's tennis racket (I am going to clean it very well, no worries) to smack that bat around for a little while. Once the bat was down and stunned, I got Ted the dust pan and he scooped him up. Although Ted placed the tennis racket on top of the bat-filled dust pan as a safety precaution, the little sucker somehow managed enough strength to try a stealth escape. But Ted came down with a grand overhead swing and popped him good - my hero. Ted threw him out the hall window (that I had to open for him and then went squealing down the hall to our bedroom until it was out of the house) and that was that.
I only wish that we had some sort of big brother camera filming the whole thing. Although I had a hard time sleeping last night, I am quite aware that the whole scene was rather comical and might have been able to win us some money on America's Funniest Home Videos.
When we got in bed Ted asked me what I would have done if he wasn't there (which is about 4-5 nights per month). I didn't hesitate when saying that I would have woken up the kids and gone straight to my parents house. Critter Control would have been called for an emergency removal. Oh, and I that would have been one more thing to add to my list why he shouldn't travel so much.
8.04.2010
So proud
As most of you know, one of my dearest friends and first college friend (we met in line at orientation) is Calder Britt Clark. She is a wedding designer, business owner, mother, wife, incredible friend, who lives in Charleston. Check out the newest addition to Calder's long to-do list. She never ceases to amaze me.
Get to Know Calder Clark
Get to Know Calder Clark
Burnout update
I forgot to given an update on my burnout situation (isn't that picture funny?). To put it simply, I am still at a cross-roads. I do think that vacation helped some, but I am still not feeling up to work right now. I have lost that spark, drive, whatever you want to call it. Plus, I am totally overwhelmed with Ward starting kindergarten and getting the new after-school routine (i.e. how am I to be in three places at one time - picking up Ward, taking Ann Park, and working) under my belt. Oh and the whole taking them to school thing too is interesting. Although Ted said that he would handle this, he likes to go to work too early too much and he is out of town a lot so I gotta get a plan there as well. I am going to keep on keepin' on for a little while until things settle down and I am not so flustered and then re-evaluate. Will keep you posted.
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