The Things You Do For Love aka Chicken Bath

Warning: Somewhat graphic experience while preparing poultry. My main man and I just celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary. They have been wonderful years that have whizzed by faster than they should of. The date landed in the middle of the week so we planned a special dinner to make. Rotisserie chicken, sweet potato fries and a spinach salad was the menu. I had spent the day with Clay picking almonds and grapes at a friends house and we were at home resting when hubby called. He had a simple request. He asked that I rinse off the chicken, pat it dry and marinate it in Italian dressing. I went to work, took the chicken out of the frig, opened the bag and suddenly realized I was working with raw meat. Worse it was raw, salmonella infested chicken meat! Handling raw chicken freaks me out. Every movement with it seems to infect another area or item in the chicken. Rinse the chicken in the sink- sink infected. Throw the wrapping away and water drips on the floor- garbage can and floor infected. Scrub the sink- sponge infected. Where does the madness end? Ughh! To make it even better raw meat stinks, no really it smelled awful. Diluted blood was in the bag that the chicken came in...ughh again. I dumped the blood and started running my chicken friend under the facet. It stunk so bad that I decided a 'rinse' was not going to do the trick. I started filling the cavity of the chicken up with water and dumping it out. I was filling it up with water for the third time when, PLOOP, out came the innards. (Gasp!) I was raised on a farm with chickens. I have been the feather plucker off-er when we butchered chickens in the past. But somehow, I did not see it coming. Chicken guts! I spent the next precious moments gathering my breath and scooping chicken guts out of the garbage disposal. I must of been making a noticeable fuss because Clay asked, "What you doing Mommy?" I was to wrapped up in the moment to censor my answer. "I'm giving a dead chicken a bath"

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday Dear Clayton, Happy Birthday to you! Today is the day, it's Clayton's 2nd birthday! Today we had a Mommy and Clay day. I asked him what he wanted to do and he said, 'Eat pasta and cheese. Go to da zoo. See animals' And so we did! This past weekend we had a BBQ in the park with Chris's family and close family friends. Tomorrow he is going to a Children's Discovery Museum with a buddy. And this weekend we will be celebrating Great Grandma Ella, Cousin/Uncle Tyson and Clayton's birthdays with a family BBQ at my Dad's. A busy week, but one filled with family and friends to share in our celebration. As with his first birthday I am looking back on his past year in pure wonder. So much happens in these first years. His abilities have changed immensely in this last year. This time last year he was not walking and only said a couple of single words. Now I am greeted by a young boy walking, running, climbing, talking, singing songs, reciting nursery rhymes, helping to make his food, cleaning his messes, and very aware of his own likes and dislikes. As his independence, curiosity and communication build I have come to realize that he is beginning to embark on his own journey. I now also understand that his first year or so of life was my journey. I was his provider, protector, nurturer. It was my journey to learn how to be a mother. Thank you Clayton for guiding me. I strive to nurture him in all the ways that he needs as he takes his first steps on his journey. I treasure everyday we have together and enjoy the moments as they happen. I am excited to see where his journey will take him tomorrow, next month, next year and in twenty years.

Birthday Girl

You say its your birthday. Well its my birthday too yah! Da na na na na nah I love birthdays! Although I am getting to the ones that make me question age, youth and use phrases like, "When I was young...". Oh well, Happy Birthday to me. And you, if it is your birthday too!

Brush Creek turns '50'

I can't believe it! The school that I had the priviledge of teaching at before moving and becoming a mom is turning 50! I am so impressed with Brush Creek. The staff, standards, play space, children and families are all amazing. Of course Brush Creek will always hold a space in my heart for more than just those reasons. Chris and I were married under the big redwood in front of the school in an amazing ceremony put together by my friends, the staff at BC! Happy Birthday Brush Creek! I miss you!

Brobee Fell

My girlfriend Rose's son, Tyler, is turning 2. He is having a Yo Gabba Gabba birthday party today. For his gift I had my sister in law, Holly, make a Brobee cake. Yesterday Chris picked it up in Modesto and safely transported it home. Brobee looked great! He was so vivid and cute. After ogling for a bit I cleared a shelf in the frig and went to put him in for the night. Brobee fell. The cake board bent in the middle and Brobee fell. He broke his shoulder in two places, lost a horn and well...was decapitated. All the kings horses and all the kings men could not put Brobee together again. I was forced to call in a cake doctor who had a lot of patch work to do not to mention the many bumps, bruises and smears of red frosting from his horn all over his green body. At 2am Brobee was back again. He had been patched and mended. The tell tale signs of his ordeal do show. His color is a little dull in places, his fur a bit thin and the horn on his head is a different shade of red and sunken in. But Brobee is back again. Cost of Cake: $40 Cost of Cake Repair Kit (my mad dash to the store to buy cake mix, frosting, food coloring, black and white icing and every shade of red and green to try and match it): $50 Cost of never telling my sister in law that I defiled her cake: Priceless