Men in My Life I

In lieu of Father's Day approaching, I thought I would share about some men who have impacted my life and write about some memories I have of/with them.

This is my Tatol. My mom's dad. His name is John Charles Dickey. 

He passed away when I was in middle school. He had muscular dystrophy.

I only remember him being in a wheel chair.

I remember going to the middle room of his house and getting him a cigar.

I remember gathering around him and my nanny at holidays to take a picture.

I remember going to his pawn shop.

I remember having our family Christmas at the hospital when he had a stroke. 

There arent too many things I remember about my Tatol. 

Towards the end of his life, he was in a hospital bed at his house.

I do though have memories passed down in stories for my grandma and my mom.

One of my favorites, is how my grandparents met. My grandma (Dolly) was working at a hamburger shop and my grandpa (Charles) was working in the oil field. The guys would go to lunch at the hamburger shop. Dolly saw him right away and thought he was cute. The problem was their was always a group of guys with him. So one day, Dolly left the hamburger meat off of Charles sandwich so when he had to come back alone. And he did. And she got him alone. And the rest is history. 

My grandpa was a good man. He was mayor of Oil City for many years and did great things. I wish I had had more time to know him. I love to hear stories from family about him. 

I know he was a wonderful husband and a great dad.

Mismatching PJ's

Everynight GT and Audrie have a bedtime routine that I am not a part of. Its like their thing. He changes her diaper, put her in pjs, gives her a bottle and sometimes rocks her to bed depending on her mood.

The other night they were doing their thing and GT says, "Babe, none of these pj's match" and I reply, "Thats ok just put her in something".

In my mind, I am thinking you dont have to put the exact bottoms and tops that came with each other. Just get something similar and put it on her.

This was the result:

Whales for the top and ice cream cones for the bottom.

I was laughing so hard, and GT said, "What, you said they didnt have to match."

Thats not really what I meant.

Top 2 Dates!

 

This weeks Top 2 Tuesdays is...Top 2 Dates!

Sadly, I could only think of one. GT just isnt really the romantic type. And I have come to accept it. So when he is slightly romantic it is a big surprise and really sweet. And I know its from the heart :)

So the first will be my top date and 2nd will be our idea for a date soon that I think will take 2nd place 

1. It was our 1 year dating anniversary and GT bought me a pink heart shaped necklace that I love! Then we got dressed up and went to Red Lobster (my fav)...our plans was to see a movie, but we were SO full from dinner, went to Wal-Mart and bought a movie. He let me pick. I picked 27 Dresses. Then when we back to his apt and made a palate on the living room floor and watched it. I am pretty sure I fell asleep. But it was fun. And I have some pics from that night!

Allie was our baby before we had a baby :)

2. For our 2 year wedding anniversary (in 2 months and some days!) We are going to let grandparents keep Audrie for the weekend while we do NOTHING! (well, we might do a lil' something....) but you know...We are going to lay in bed and watch movies. We are going to sleep in. Oh yes...sleep...how I have missed you. 

You might be wondering why this is such a big deal???

Well...basically this hasnt happened for 10 months, really more than 10 months...in the weeks prior to giving birth we were really busy with work, showers, preparing etc...then I got put in the hospital...anyway, this is much needed. Just a weekend to relax and not to have to worry about baby duties...Now, if I can only work up the courage to leave her overnight...and for a weekend! Oh my! 

Chicken Quesadillas

Last night I made some Quesadillas. And I didnt want them to be plain...and last time I made them I burnt them..

And the results was yummmmmmyyyyy. GT said they were the best he has ever tasted...so I think I did good!


Lydia's Chicken Quesadillas

1. Make Sauce similar to Taco Bell's Quesadilla Sauce

Quesadilla Sauce

Ingredients:
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 teaspoons minced jalapeno slices
2 teaspoons juice from jalapeno slices
3/4 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
dash salt

Prepare sauce by combining all ingredients in a small bowl. Cover and chill so that flavors develop. Stir occasionally. 

2. Warning this sauce is kinda spicy, but so yummy.

3. Plug in and heat griddle. You can also use a non-stick skillet, iron skillet or quesadilla maker, but I love my griddle. and it was fun. 

4. Began assembling Quesadilla

Ingredients:

Quesadilla Sauce

Tortillas

Fajita Chicken (you can make this yourself or take the easy route like I did and buy it already prepared)

Sharp and Mild Cheddar (Grated) a bowl full

Optional Items: Bell pepper, onion, mushroom, jalapenos, whatever you prefer on yours

5. Place a spoonful of sauce on tortilla and smooth. Pile on chicken and cheese (and optional items if you would like). Place tortilla on griddle (after spraying non-stick spray). Place another spoonful of sauce on another tortilla. Place tortilla on top of the one already prepared. 

6. Let it cook for ab 5 minutes then flip. Let it warm another 5 min. Check the inside. If it is all melted and bubbly then removed from griddle.

I like to serve mine with sour cream. Yum. 

I feel LOST-My Opinions

LOST. I have to blog my opinions and thoughts before I go crazy.

What I took from the finale last night was that the flash sideways was the "purgatory" and Jack's dad was leading them to heaven...However, from everything I am hearing on tv/facebook it is saying that they were dead the whole time? The whole show?

I thought when Jack's dad says everyone dies at sometime, it meant everyone died eventually and once they were all dead they "moved on". I dont know! Ugh!

Anyway, I did like how it ended. I dont know how it could have ended better really. When GT and I got in bed, we discussed it further. He said, "I wish everything didnt have to have such a religious ending." My response was it had nothing to do with religion but reality. Every story is good vs. evil. There is always a good guy and a bad guy. The origin of this is God and the devil. It is the root of all stories.

For me, LOST was about a group of flawed people who learned to love, forgive and ultimately experienced redemption. I think it is the best show ever created and I am sad it is over. I feel like it has been through alot with me. During my years watching lost, graduated college, I got married, moved to a different state, had a baby. Whew.

I am not too concerned with the unanswered questions. I like it. Thats what LOST is. A mystery. It leaves alot to the imagination which I think makes a good show.

I am not really sure its the end end. Maybe I am still in denial. GT thinks they might make a  movie, or mini series. He doesnt think it is over either. They could still do alot with it. They can continue the story line of what happened when Lipidus, Kate, Sawyer, Miles, Claire and Richard got of the island. What happened with Desmond, Hurley and Ben on the island. Rose, Bernard and Vincent?  And maybe the writers left it open for us on purpose. For us to imagine. Or for something in the future.

So, share with me your thoughts, opinions, theories???

Mother's Day Card

I want to tell everyone about my mother. Her name is Leslie Allen. And she is amazing. This post is an attribute to her and partly my dad.

My mom grew up in a small town in Louisiana. She went to a small college and met my dad while working as a waitress at a fish restuarant. One day I will share their love story, if allowed. It is one of my favorite stories to hear and tell.

Anyway, so they get married. And my dad tells her that he feels called into the ministry and they moved to Indiana to go to Bible college. My mom wanted to have children pretty much right away (I have no idea where I got that from :)  )  but God had other plans. They did not get pregnant right away, in fact, doctors told them that they could never get pregnant. 

Long story short-Luke, Leighton and I were born. My parents dedicated their lives to God and their family. My mom stayed home with us until we were all school-aged. When my dad had a day off they did something for us. We went to the park, the beach etc... My parents were REAL. They always let us make our own decisions with letting us know how they felt about it. Their love for God was/is evident is each choice they make. It is not in their heads, it is embedded in their hearts. And that is what they wanted to pass down to us. And they did.

My mom spent alot of time teaching me how to be a mom and a wife. I remember being in middle school and she would tell me things about marriage--and I would sit and think, "Why in the world is she telling me this? I am in the sixth grade." But now, I understand. Through my whole life living with her, she was preparing me for a life away from her. I am so grateful for her. I am so thankful she was self-less in raising us and self-less in being a wife. Her example has given me a lot to live up to. 

This Mother's Day was my first one. My Mom gave me this card:

     

The inside reads... Even before they told me, "It's a girl," I already loved you- and ever since then you have given me...

a lifetime of beautiful new reasons to love you more than I could have ever imagined.

It was very sweet, but the most special part was what my mom wrote inside...

       

"You have passed any expectations I've had for you...watching you with Audrie!"

I will cherish this forever.

The Couch Incident

I heard crying. But I couldn't find out where it was coming from...

Then, I looked behind the couch.

She was stuck. And I couldnt get her out. 
I couldnt fit behind the couch and I couldnt move the couch.

I had to talk her into crawling to me.

She was not happy about it.