Sneaky Pillow Jumper

Life's simple moments

Still counting… June 30, 2010

Filed under: Uncategorized — sneakypillowjumper @ 2:21 PM

June 30, 2001- I changed my name from Miss to Mrs- and have never looked back

To my best friend, boyfriend, biggest fan, amazing dad and co-parent- the one I want by my side… here’s to continued blessing and to counting many more laughs, much love, and years of memories.

—

Terry and I met in high school.  We were not sweethearts- not until he graduated and even then it was long distance and firmly planted in our friendship.  We were both very focused and committed to following whatever God had for us- which meant different schools in different states.  And we didn’t continue dating the whole time- but our friendship was very close and held strong.  He knows so much about me, my family and my childhood.  Long story short- he got jealous, we got back together, he proposed, I said YES.

9 years later-  a great family, a dog, a house, a great kid, and a relationship built on faith, lots of laughter, and a bond of true friendship that cannot be broken.  Love you to the moon and back.

Always-
*Rachel

www.sneakypillowjumper.com

 

.:Week of Us:. June 28, 2010

Filed under: Terry,Us — sneakypillowjumper @ 9:54 PM

This week is our 9th Anniversary- I cannot believe it.

Around our house we celebrate weeks- not just days.  (Why? Because my guy likes to give gifts- and I like to get them.  Really he is the best at surprising me and getting me little things I love.)

Today- Favorite flowers from my favorite florist.

9 years may not be a major milestone- but we never want to grow tired of our love and friendship.  We have countless joys and triumphs to celebrate.  This last year we have been faced with the biggest challenges of our marriage.  June 24th was the 1 year mark of my shocking diagnosis of Ocular Melanoma.  It seems like when it rains, it pours. This year has felt like whatever could go wrong did.  But my prayer is that we are stronger for it.  We are surrounded by so much love and support from our family and friends- and we are in love with our little guy who makes our lives a joy.

So to my best friend:

Terry – you are my rock.  Your love and support during the trials of this year has brought us closer together.  I am honored and humbled to stand by your side.  There is no way I can ever repay you for the time and energy you have poured into my life to help me follow my dreams and regain my health.  Thanks for being my biggest fan.  For the hours of work you put in to take care of our family.  And for the laughter that always puts a negative situation into perspective.  And thanks for the beautiful flowers- I love you.  Happy Anniversary week.

*rachel

—

www.sneakypillowjumper.com

 

Help a baker out… June 20, 2010

Filed under: Recipes — sneakypillowjumper @ 9:34 PM

I have a handful of posts started- none of which are finished or posted. It’s how I roll.

So back to me- I think I have baked about 100 dozen cookies in the last 6 months. I have eaten about half of them- by myself. But the challenge to my baker friends is this- help me figure out how to re-create the Chocolate Duet Cookie from this restaurant.

Been experimenting with this recipe from a cute little blog I found last year- its pretty good. They are like eating brownies- but they still need a little tweeking to get them where they need to be.  I have tried espresso powder- just made them dry.  (Plus I bought the cookie from the bakery late one night- it was wrapped with an ingredient label- did not include espresso powder).  I think the taste is not far off- but the part I can’t get is the texture that is so perfect about the bakery-cafe version.

So this is a challenge to help me out- my waste line & reflux cannot handle another 100 dozen in an attempt to get this one right.  (And if you know how to make bagels like they do- teach me how to do that too.)

P.S.  This request is specifically directed to this great baker I know and whose blog I stalk- cause I think if anyone can do it-she can.  L

 

Bedside reading June 1, 2010

Filed under: Uncategorized — sneakypillowjumper @ 8:57 PM

Sometimes I tend to get stuck on one thing. This is what my bedside table often looks like.  This is from about a month ago- it is currently filled with past copies of hand-me-down Food Network Magazines and new library books.
To be fair- the top book was actual reading.  (And in full disclosure- O’s bedside table often looks something like this too.)

There is this other cookbook that I love- of which I have checked out at the library and thumbed through at the bookstore-more then a few times.  But I don’t allow myself to buy many books- I save recipes online and try to conserve my limited space for storage- or that’s what I tell myself.  That is why I follow a few dozen foodie blogs- so many great ideas from people who do not have culinary degrees- no expense.

About a month ago a blog I follow was giving it away.  Guess what?  I won it- I don’t win many things, but I actually won it.  A big shout out to Leigh Ann at  Your Home Based Mom for her generosity- (and for actually sharing an autographed copy of one of my favorite cookbooks).  Check out her blog- she has great home cooked recipes like this one I have on my list to try.

So I grabbed my camera when it finally arrived and took a few picks of my oh-so-wonderful package.  It is from the author of one of the first blogs I started following last year- amazing recipes, stories, and photos from The Pioneer Woman. And her blog is not just a blog- there is an entire recipe community that I get great ideas from too called Tasty Kitchen.

I love this book.  Seriously- I have already made The Best Chocolate Sheet Cake. Ever. – several times.  AMAZING.

I get so much inspiration from blogs like the two of these listed- and at times I feel like I know the writers who share their lives with me every day through their stories, recipes, and ideas.  So I feel very blessed to win- even if it is random.

So what’s your favorite cookbook?  Or book for that matter?  (Always looking for new material to read!)  And do you ever win anything?  I am feeling lucky- will have to post about the other two giveaways I have recently won when I get them in the mail!  I feel like I should buy a lottery ticket or a ticket to Vegas.  Probably won’t push it though.

—

Side note: I read a lot of blogs- and when I see a cool giveaway I enter (as long as it is simple, like leave a comment- not when I have to sign up for services I am not already involved in or give up my kid or anything weird like that).  I don’t search out giveaways- they are just part of the blogs I am already following.  I just felt a need to clarify that.  Ok.

 

~Quotes of the Week~ May 9, 2010

Filed under: 3 year old,Quotes — sneakypillowjumper @ 8:16 PM

Another weeks worth of quotes from our very active 3-year-old…

(St. Patty’s day breakfast with some Diego in the background- and yes this is the “smile for the camera” smile)
-
O: Daddy is on that airplane. Daddy is on that airplane!
R: He is not on that airplane. The plane he flew on already landed.
O: It was that airplane. I saw him stick his head out.
-
O: God bless all our friends and all our family.  Help them do something.
(During goodnight prayers.)
-
O: Mom, is daddy your boyfriend?
R: Yep, he sure is.
-
O: I like this lady bug. He is my favorite.
R: Well, we might need to let him go so he can find food and water.
O: I don’t want to let him go, he is my best friend.
R: Really? Then you need to let him go so he can live.
O: No, I want to play with him. His name is Kenan.
-

O: Mom, come look what I found for you.
(He picked all of the bloomed iris’ and put them here- just for me.)

-
O: Owen, I am so proud of you. You deserve some cookies.
(This was a conversation he had with himself- “reading” a note with a picture of cookies on it.)
-
O: Mom, come to my office. I am your doctor.
R: You are? What is your doctor’s name?
O: Dr. Coquad. He makes me feel better.
R: And where do you go to visit your doctor.
O: The tractor in the back yard. That’s his office
-
O: Mom, I need to cut your hair. I will be careful.
R: Well, I am not sure I need a haircut.
O: It will make you feel better.
R: Who cuts your hair?
O: Ms. Meredith. And Sydney- she is my friend. We go to the lake together.
-

(This makes me laugh)
-
O: Mom, what are you doing with that?
R: Putting on my makeup.
O: Here let me help you. I am going to get makeup in my stocking at Christmas.
R: You are? What kind of makeup?
O: Boy makeup. Purple and blue and green.
R: Oh, your dad will be so proud.  And I am sure you will look beautiful.
-
O: Mom, here is your birthday card.
R: Thank you, but I think this might be for Mother’s Day.
O: Oh, well there is something special inside. It is sparkly.
R: I love it.
O: Thanks, it’s for me.

 

~Quotes of the Month~ April 27, 2010

Filed under: 3 year old,Quotes,Sneaky Pillow Jumper — sneakypillowjumper @ 10:05 PM

A month worth of quotes and a few snap shots of our Sneaky Pillow Jumper.


(Slides make him happy)
-
O: Daddy, this toast is not tasty.
T: Oh yeah, what does it taste like?
O: Doors and trees. (referring to whole wheat bread)
-
O: Mmmm-ooo-mmmm-mmmm-yyyyyyy!
T: It’s time to sleep. You don’t get a second book tonight.
O: I want mommy- I want to read.
T: You lost your chance tonight.
O: I want my chance back.
-

O: Mom, these flowers are for you.
(And these are the most beautiful “flowers” I have ever received- look at that face!)
-
O: Hey, I am going to ride my bike to Target.
R: All the way from our house.
O: Yep- to get toys.
-
O: The bees make the honey. Then we go to WalMart and buy it.
-

(Ask him to pose- this is what you get. And according to O- all sharks have two fins.)
-
T: Where is the remote?
O: I ate it.
-
O: Mom, where did these Cheetos come from?
M: Dillons
O: Who got them?
M: I did.
O: Oh, there are lots of special things at Dillons.
-

(Look who got stuck then couldn’t figure out how to open the latch to the dog crate.)
-
O: Where is daddy?
R: Downtown- working.
O: No, daddy is at his workshop.
R: He is?  What workshop?
O: At the north pole.  He works at Santa’s workshop.
R: Really?  I didn’t know that.
O:  Yeah, at Santa’s workshop.
(Pause) When I grow up I am going to be Santa.
-
O: Papa, my tummy is getting tired.
-

-
O: Cows make milk. Chocolate cows make chocolate milk. And apple cows make apples.
-
O: Mommy, make that dragon talk.
(Mouthing with the toy dragon)
O: EAT YOUR FRIES.
(He is into a ventriloquism thing.)
-
At a youth leadership meeting:
T: Owen, do you have a question?
O: Yes. I like spiderman.
-
O: Mom look, all of my animals. (Looking at 4 of his stuffed toys)
R: Yep, and who are those animals?
O: This is the daddy, this is the mommy, this is the boyfriend, and this is the baby.
R: Whoa, the boyfriend?
O: Uh-huh, the boyfriend.
(Really? The boyfriend? Whose family is he modeling?)
-
O: You be the baby t-rex and I’ll be the mama t-rex.
R: I thought I was the mama?
O: You don’t get to be the mama any more.
-


O: Kyah?….K….Y….A….H?..KKKKKKKYYYYYYAAAAAAAHHHHHHH?
R: Are you looking for your friend or your dragon?
O: My friend. I need to see her today.

(Getting a 3 year old to smile AND look camera= difficult.
Getting two 3 yr olds to do it= one of ten pics that turn out like this.)
-
O: Ok, you be the rabbit and I will be the snake.
R: So does that mean you are going to eat me?
O: Yes, I saw it on yourtube.
-
O: Mom, do you like the orange one or the black one?
R: The black one.
O: No, the ORANGE or the black one? (Holding the orange toy out to me.  Guess he likes the black one.)
-

-
Honestly, he says more things then I can keep up with. Just amazing (and scary) how he absorbs everything.
I love this kid- and can’t imagine life without him in it. Really, what did we do before he was around to entertain us?

 

.:Recipe Bucket List:. April 14, 2010

Filed under: Dreams,Recipes — sneakypillowjumper @ 2:22 PM

I love to bake and cook.
And REALLY love cookbooks (and cooking magazines).
Like I check them out from the library. Or park myself at bookstores to read through them looking for ideas. And have two on my nightstand right now- not exactly “can’t put them down novels”, but I like reading them.

I used to have a huge collection of cookbooks- most of them given to me or picked up from garage sales- they were loved. Some of the best recipes I have- were copied from a family or church cookbook. Real home cooks- using food I have in my pantry and can pronounce.  I purged most of them when we did a kitchen remodel a few years ago in the name of storage space- but I loved them. I now follow dozens of food blogs- I don’t read them all or cook most of what I see- but I just love seeing the expression of love through good food.  I get email newsletters everyday with food ideas- and am a member to a dozen or more online communities centered around recipes. You get the point- someone like recipes.

My mother was an amazing in the kitchen- she did not cut corners.
Butter- yes.
Fried- mostly.
Sweet tea- always.

She had a handful of recipes I wish I could make as well as she did- the very best being her yeast rolls.
She would make them as gifts because people loved them so much.

A few issues with learning her recipes:
#1 she passed away over 16 years ago
#2 she never wrote the recipe down (that we could find)

My older brother found an old school project a few years ago with an ingredient list- but without instructions. I started experimenting with the recipe in an attempt to duplicate it- but it’s not there, yet.

This last week we had the task of going through my father’s home.
He kept everything- lets just leave it at that for now.
And guess what we found:

That rusty old recipe box was my mom’s and we never knew where it had gone to. My sister and I were so excited.  We waited for the ride home to actually go through it. And you can guess what we were hoping to find in it? The roll recipe.

Guess what it appears to be full of?

Clipped recipes from the back of boxes and only a few hand written recipes she collected over the years.
My sister and I do not remember most of them.  And a few that looked promising, but didn’t jump out at the time.
Of course, she didn’t write all of her own recipes down. Mom just knew them.

But that card leaves me with some questions. It does not look like the ingredient list I have been working with for my Mom’s rolls- but there is a chance it could be THE recipe.

I haven’t tried it yet- but I think it is beautiful.  With stains from lots of use.  And I think it is her handwriting.

And even if it is not her infamous recipe- we are still thrilled to have found this box.  That little box holds memories that go beyond the actual recipes inside it. Reminders of how much my mother showed her love through the food she prepared.

~~~~~~
I know so many good cooks- women who are amazing in and out of the kitchen. Many of them inspire me as a mother would- and they don’t even know it. I know some amazing guys too- who can throw down in the kitchen and on grill- (even a few who have gone to culinary school- I.AM.SO.JEALOUS.) I would love to go to Pastry School or cooking boot camp- just to go someday. I would settle for a cooking club- any takers?

I started thinking about recipes I want to perfect- to adapt as my own go to recipes.
I have a good start to some of these. And there are a few I have never attempted- but have always wondered if I could do them. Thought I would start a running list:

.:RECIPE BUCKET LIST:.
Elaine’s Yeast Rolls
Amazing Lasagna- I don’t love my current version
Red Sauce- no more jars?
Enchiladas- beef and chicken
Chicken tortilla soup
Grilling- like me at the grill- turning it on and everything
Cheesesteaks
Lemon Cream Cake
Cheesecake (still practicing Mama Joy’s recipe)
Marshmallows
Truffles- like hand dipping the way the pros do
Vinaigrettes- never tried- I’m a ranch dressing kinda girl
Salsa
Jam/Preserves
Pickles (and Fried Pickles)
Souffle
Croissants
Bagles

There are others too- always love attempting and trying new things.
If you have a good versions- send it my way. Makes them even better when there is a personal connection.
And if you think of something you’ve always wanted to learn- let me know. Might just change my list too.

 

Tough Week April 6, 2010

Filed under: Uncategorized — sneakypillowjumper @ 7:24 PM

This has been a tough week. Tough is the understatement of the year.

My father passed away last week and we have been working all weekend to get his final arrangements made. We have been working on his home, which is another adventure in itself. I think we are through the initial shock- I am not sure anyone is ever prepared to hear that kind of news. Although his health was very poor- we kind of thought he would live forever. We have many memories and many regrets as my three siblings and I grieve in our own ways.

I am sad- he lived alone for many years. He was stubborn and did not ask for help or take it easily. He was quirky and did odd things- but I guess that made him who he was. Our relationship was unusual, and of course I wonder what could have been different. I am sad he was alone in that house for so long- and alone when he passed. I am sad I never knew what he really needed or how to offer support. But I also know our family has come together to get through this and that brings both joy and tears as we sift through everything. Our spouses have jumped in and after this week I don’t think there is any going back. They are officially bonded to our family in ways no one ever anticipated. We will never be able to say thank you enough.

So if you think of it- say a prayer for our family. And a big thanks for your love and support.

Richard Johnson
2/7/1950-4/2/2010

 

Remember when I started this thing? March 24, 2010

Filed under: Uncategorized — sneakypillowjumper @ 10:32 AM

It’s only been a few short months- and I am really slacking. I hoped to update this at least once a week to track what we are up to chasing our 3 year old around.
I have about 3 posts saved as drafts- but never got around to posting them. So here goes again- I will attempt to catch up and post weekly. Have to get past being a perfectionist and making sure every post is just so with pics to match.

This is not the only goal I am slacking on for this year. I really have no excuses for not getting stuff done- just struggle being over critical and wanting everything to appear to be perfect. I know I am not- I do not intend to imply that I am. But that is where we are. So here we go…thanks for reading.

 

Hello March March 1, 2010

Filed under: Uncategorized — sneakypillowjumper @ 5:10 PM

February is gone- that was fast.
And the last 29 years- whoa, wait a minute.
I am officially in my last year of my twenty somethings- and you know what I say to that?  BRING-IT-ON.

Today- I am looking forward to spring- to another new beginning when everything around us wakes up.

For buds, flowers, and spring planting.  (O has requested watermelons this year!)  Other things: walking the dog at 6am- and not freezing.  Spring cleaning- and getting rid of the items that clutter our lives.  House projects- here’s to hoping the items crossed off are equal to the items added.  Going to the zoo & park without gloves and hats.  Sunscreen.  The dream I have yet to accomplish- running a few miles without giving up. And the small possibility of landing a job for the fall- I just keep praying that even though the odds are against me- that God has the perfect job lined up (teaching or not).

I know it is only March 1st- and the frozen ground and the chance of snow is not gone- but I am so anxious to get out of the house more.  Cabin fever is an understatement.  I remember a time not long ago when I left the house every day.  When I got dressed in slacks and heels.  Even getting in my car was not an every day occurrence this winter.  So spring is my reason to get out- to start early, start fresh.

So- happy March. And spring- please come quickly!