I went to the grocery store yesterday to pick up the various ingredients. When I got home, Macey and I got to work in the kitchen. These marshmallows are really easy to make. I’m glad I had the recipe notes from The Smitten Kitchen because that prepared me for the mess.  Macey couldn’t do everything, but the recipe had plenty for her to assist with in the kitchen. She helped grease and sugar the pan, she measured and poured, etc. We had a great time creating these marshmallows together.  I really couldn’t get over the simplicity of making them. By my own admission, I am not the most talented cook in the kitchen when it comes to candy. I can create all sorts of wonderful dishes and I enjoy baking too. It’s just that I have never found my niche with confections. Fortunately, making marshmallows is significantly more simple than making, say, divinity candy at which I abysmally failed at my first attempt. (oops) Making marshmallows was definitely easy and definitely messy. Macey and I would both agree, however, that the mess was worth it. The clean-up was actually a good bit easier than I anticipated. Just be ready to use HOT water to get the remaining marshmallow “goo” out of the stand mixer bowl. (And, a shout-out of THANKS to Mickey for helping us clean up after the preparation.)

We made the marshmallows last evening and let them set overnight. I cut them this morning and, of course, we had to taste them. Well, to be perfectly honest, we tasted the “goo” last night once the marshmallows were poured into the pan to cool and set. So, we already knew it was good. However, I must say that they got better once they cooled and set. Oh my good gracious, they are fantastic!! My friend Jamie said the following to me in a blog post: “And be prepared to never want to buy another store marshmallow again. Homemade ones taste exactly like store bought ones, only fresh. I can’t explain it, but you’ll understand when you eat one!” Jamie…you were RIGHT! I may never buy store-bought marshmallows again. These were incredibly easy to make and they taste amazing! YUM!!

Macey has decided that her marshmallows will be called MaceMallows. How cute is that?! We now have to come up with cute packaging and a label for them. She will take them in next week and I think I am more excited than she is! I am hoping to get by Michael’s today to find some fun options for her MaceMallows. This school project is definitely one that we have all gotten to enjoy!

I will take a picture of her MaceMallows soon to share. I tried taking photos with my iPhone this morning, but they didn’t do it justice. So, I’ll get out the “big” camera later and see what I can do.

Happy Thursday,
Kelly

PS: The recipe can be found by clicking through to the springy, fluffy marshmallows blog entry for The Smitten Kitchen. I am so glad I found this blog. I have bookmarked and will be checking back frequently!

Last week was book fair time at Mariana’s preschool. She didn’t actually go to the book fair, but Mickey and I went and did some fun shopping for her. She got some really fun books like Clifford the Champion, Katie Loves the Kittens and Dinner with Olivia. Mariana loves books and loves to “read.” She rarely lets us read to her these days. Instead, she prefers to take the books and “read” them herself which means that she makes up the stories as she turns each page. The cutest part is when she turns the page around to show her “kids” just the way her preschool teachers do. Love it!! It’s really cool to see her have such an interest in books and to see her creativity and imagination in bloom.

Macey’s book fair is this week. Today we get to go have lunch with Macey and then visit the book fair as a family. This is something we do twice a year at her school and we all look forward to it each time. Last week her class got to go to a preview of the book fair and the children got to create their wish lists at that time. Macey’s list includes the following – Library Mouse – A Friend’s Tale, There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Chick and Pinkalicious. This time, there aren’t any chapter books on her list, but that could be because she has a ton of them already. She loves reading all sorts of books. Macey loves reading and enjoys reading to us too. She especially loves when she checks out AR (Accelerated Reader) books from the library each week because she likes to see which grade level she read each time.  It’s really amazing to me to see both of our girls blooming in their love of reading!

I’m just as excited as the girls about the book fair. Yes, we already have a library full of books at home. We have plans to donate some of them. Our friend Annie is serving as a missionary over in Kenya and she has requested books for the orphanage where she is serving. So, we are going to go through our books shortly and find a way to get them over to the orphanage in Kenya. It’ll be a great opportunity for me to go through the books with the girls and determine which ones to send.

We also donate at least one book to the classroom each time. The teachers fill out wish lists and we choose at least one book from the list for the classrooms. The teachers are always appreciative and it feels good to give back. So, book fair really IS a fun time for the whole family. I can’t wait to go again today!

This coming weekend, my good friend Christie and I are going to the small town of Gay,Georgia to the Cotton Pickin’ Fair. The CP Fair is a huge craft fair that is held twice a year and is so much fun! Christie and I are going to leave early on Saturday morning and head on down to the CPF. Can’t wait!!

Mickey is running in our church’s annual road race that benefits Habitat for Humanity this weekend. He’s going to do the 5K race and then he and Macey are going to participate in the 1 mile fun run. I’m sure they’ll have a blast!!

In BIG Mariana news, she has finally given up the pacifier. Yes, she turned three in May, but she was still taking the paci at sleep times. Well, she’s been talking lately about giving it up, so we followed her cues and, sure enough, she’s all done with the pacifier. WOO HOO!! It’s been almost a week and she’s been such a champ about it all. GO MARIANA GO!!

Last week, Macey participated in the Boosterthon Fun Run and Roll at her school. It’s a great fundraiser in which the students collect pledges and then run laps around the “Boosterthon Speedway” to collect money for the school. The track is about 1/16 of a mile and they cap the laps at 35. So, Macey’s goal this year was to do 35 laps. And…she did it! She also did a couple of cool down laps. She was SOOOO proud of herself! Her pledges are still coming in and are due at school tomorrow. She’s thrilled that she not only set her goal, but met and exceeded it!

Mickey is doing well with transitioning to working at home full time. It’s really been a blessing to have him here. We’re gradually figuring how how flexible his hours can be, etc. It’s a process, but it’s all going beautifully thus far.

I should get going so I can get myself and Mariana ready to head out this morning. I’m going to work out at the Y while she plays with her BFF William.

Happy Thursday!

This is a photo I took in North Georgia last Autumn. We were on a hayride at the time.

Today we got to meet her wonderful teachers. Macey tends to be a bit reserved in new situations, but she was definitely happy to meet her teachers today. She’ll warm up in no time once the routine of school gets going, I’m sure. Her teachers are wonderful. So positive and sweet! We are all excited about the coming school year with them.

What do y’all remember about first grade? I have pretty fond memories of first grade. My teacher was Mrs. Lee. She had long (REALLY long) red hair and was just as sweet as could be. I had to miss a couple of weeks of school due to being hospitalized for pneumonia that year and I remember that she drove out to visit me at my grandparents’ house. That was the year that I had my birthday party at the zoo. My mom came and picked up all the girls in my class and we rode the 20+  miles to the zoo all piled into the back of a pick-up truck. (Yes, these were the early 80s.) My friend Robin B. moved away that year. I was sad that she left, but I remember being happy that I got her Social Studies book. (Those books were distributed when I was in the hospital and I didn’t have one when I returned.) That same year, a girl in my class named Stacy forgot to wear her shoes to school one day. She had to stay inside and not go to recess, so I stayed inside with her. She remembered that even into high school. It was a good year. I admit that I don’t remember many little details, but I know we had fun.  I’m sure Macey will have fun too. I love that she is still at the age and stage where she gets genuinely excited about school and looks forward to it so much. I actually hope that continues for her.

This is such a milestone. It’s a “number” grade and they learn so much more than we used to at this age. Macey’s ready. She’ll do awesome. And, I am looking forward to every little bit of it.

So, here’s to first grade…in four days.
Kelly

In news from my home front…

• As I mentioned previously, my friend Dana and I went to see Kate Gosselin speak on Friday. I had so much fun hanging out with Dana and getting to just talk, share, laugh, etc. That was great! I thought Kate was good. She spoke for about an hour and most of it was about her struggles to get pregnant, their decision not to selectively abort any of their multiple babies in utero and how they handle things at home. So, that was very informative and uplifting, of course. I was just a little disappointed because I had hoped she would speak some about Proverbs 31 Ministries because she sometimes does speaking engagements through them from what I understand. Nonetheless, it was an enjoyable evening out with a friend and I’m so glad that Dana and I got to go.
• On Saturday afternoon I got to photograph a wedding reception. I had so much fun! It was “work”, sure, but it was quite a great time. I am almost done with the final edits of the photos. Mickey and I are also working on a photo montage video for them. I am so hopeful that they like the photos I got for them.
• We went to church on Sunday. We have been trying to go at 9:30, but this Sunday it just worked out better to go to the 11:00 service. I’m so glad we were at that service because not only did we get to see our friends Jessie & Carly (who we LOVE), but the message was incredible! Jody preached on the Acts church and how that is what we should strive to be. Church isn’t about meeting in a building once a week. Church should be about what we do every day. How we live. How we reflect Christ in our lives so that others see and want to know what He means to us. It’s a lot to take in, but wouldn’t that be an awesome way to really live?!
• Yesterday Mickey and I went to Macey’s school for lunch. We thought it was a special lunch for her “Character Education” award. But, no. I had the date wrong. That lunch is NEXT Monday. So, we just got to have a nice meal with Macey for no particular reason other than just because. And, hey, just because is always good enough. I hope I will get to go to the lunch next Monday, but I have jury duty beginning that day, so it’s anyone’s guess as to what time I’ll be done.
• This morning I am taking Mariana to the ENT for her pre-op visit. On Friday she is having her ear tubes replaced and her adenoids removed. We hope this will help solve the continuing issues that plague her so often. Prayers, of course, are much appreciated.

Guess that’s it for now. Hope everyone has a beautiful day. Please keep praying for Stellan!!

In Christ,
Kelly

As I mentioned yesterday, our cat Dasher got “fixed.” I am happy to report that he is doing great. He was pretty groggy when he came home, but he is rebounding nicely. He’s still not his usual dashing self, but he is moving about and he’s also holding down food and water. Yay!! I bet by tomorrow he’ll be at full tilt again. We’ll see. Here’s another picture of the handsome little fella:

Mariana and I are working a bit on potty-training today. Nothing too strenous, but just working with her interest level. Right now I have a timer set to go off every 15 minutes so that I can ask her if she needs to go and/or take her to the potty for her to try. At this rate, I may have her training to go whenever an alarm goes off. Pavlov anyone?!  

Guess what I did yesterday?! I dressed up like Clifford the Big Red Dog at preschool. Yes, I really did. I donned a big heavy costume and waved to the children coming in from the car pool line. I also visited some of the classes. I did this to promote the book fair.  It was actually quite fun. I will say, however, that I have  a new found respect for mascots. Not only are those outfits heavy and hot, but it’s also quite difficult to see when wearing one. Still, I enjoyed it because of the happiness that most of the kids got from seeing Clifford. It was really cool to visit Mariana’s class and watch her reaction without her knowing it was me.

Mickey and I have a date night planned for tomorrow night. I am so excited! We’re thinking a classic date of dinner and a movie would be nice. Any movie suggestions?

Well, the timer is about to go off again. That’s my cue to close it up for now. Besides, I really REALLY need to whip this house into shape. I should get back on the Motivated Moms system again…STAT!

Happy Thursday,
Kelly 

Speaking of treats – Macey had two pretty amazing treats yesterday courtesy of her daddy. First he was “mystery reader” in her classroom yesterday morning. I wish I could have been a fly on the wall because Mickey told me all about how excited she was that he was there!! He read a Veggie Tales alphabet book first. Then, because it was Dr. Seuss’ birthday, he read The Foot Book which Macey and her teacher picked out for him to read. He and Macey have been reading that book together for a long time, so that was really cool.  As if having Daddy be mystery reader wasn’t enough, Macey got another surprise when Mickey went to have lunch with her at school yesterday. He said he tried to stay hidden so she wouldn’t see him when she came into the cafeteria, but she spotted him right away and practically hopped all the way over to him. She was THRILLED that he was there. Yesterday was not only her favorite school lunch (cheese stuffed bread sticks – yum), but she also got to have a lunch date with her Daddy. What  a day!! In true Macey form, she said the only thing that was not good about it was that some kids might be sad that their daddies didn’t get to come to school two times. What a sweet, compassionate child she is!! The girl has such a big heart. 

I took Mariana back to the pediatrician’s office yesterday. I had scheduled an appointment to see one of the pediatricians at our practice that is most familiar with her, but he was running way behind and we opted to see a nurse practitioner instead of waiting. The short version of the story is that it took some doing, but I got the NP to listen to my “mama’s intuition” about changing Mariana’s medication. She was on an antibiotic that is penicillin based and it didn’t seem to be helping her. I requested a change. I know the seriousness of antibiotics and I know not to “fool around” with them, certainly. When one is not working and the symptoms are worsening, it’s time to reevaluate. So, we did. We changed her meds and she is doing much better today, on the whole. Praise God!! Mariana is seeing her ENT next week and hopefully we can come to a good plan to help her get well and stay well. Fortunately, I have to say that this winter has been far and away better than last, so that is a HUGE praise. Maybe we can get her on the right track and keep it that way.

After taking a day off to rest on Sunday, I got back on my work-out schedule last night. This is my last week on the first level of Biggest Loser Boot Camp. Need I say again that this is a GREAT work out?! Whew! It works up quite a sweat and has me out of breath in points, but I love it.

I have a ton of fresh strawberries and need something to do with some of them. The girls are eating them like crazy, which is great, but I don’t want any to go bad. I was thinking of looking for a good bread recipe. Any other ideas? Please share if you have any recipes using fresh strawberries. Preferably something that keeps nicely. 

Happy Tuesday,
Kelly

Mariana is still struggling with congestion & drainage which leads to constant coughing. Poor sweet girl. Looks like we’ll be going back to the ped this morning to see what can be done to help her. She also has an ENT appointment next week. Hopefully we can find a solution to help her get through this mess, especially with allergy season being right on top of us.

Mickey is going to be the “Mystery Reader” in Macey’s class this morning. I wish I could be a fly on the wall to see her face when her daddy walks in to read. She’s going to be THRILLED! He’s also going to try to come back and have lunch with her today since it’s her favorite school lunch – cheese stuffed breadsticks. (YUM)

I’ll be back on my exercising routine today. I did Weight Loss Yoga on Saturday and took Sunday off. This evening I’ll do Biggest Loser Boot Camp again. This is my last week on the first level and next week I’ll take it up to the next level. Whew!! I really like working out six days per week – keeps it nice and even which I like. I’m still amazed at what a work-out yoga is too!

Speaking of exercise, Mickey ran just over 6 miles on Saturday. That’s his longest running distance post-surgery. WAY TO GO, HONEY!! Even though I think he’s a little warped for running when it’s cold, wet, etc. I am really proud of him for doing so great with his running.

My Lenten sacrifice of giving up Facebook (most social networking online, actually) is going well. I miss it, but giving it up has been good for me. Twitter is something that I have kept up a little bit, but mostly because my posts here automatically generate “tweets” and I also tweeted some about our church’s upcoming youth conference last week.

Have a beautiful day…
Kelly

In 2000 the Governor at that time (Barnes) appropriated $30 million of the Tobacco Settlement funds toward School Nurse Salaries. In 2004 that money was moved to the Department of Community Health to be used to draw down federal match funds to support the Indigent Care Trust funding for hospitals and then it was returned to the Department of Education to continue funding some School Nursing positions. In 2006 Governor Perdue moved that funding to the Department of Education budget as a line item where it reportedly would be more “safe” from reallocation for other agencies.

In the Governors 2010 Budget proposal, this line item is completely eliminated. This $30 million is only a small portion of what is required to staff nurses in all schools. The counties who do staff nurses in all schools are doing so for the most part with local funds (received from the Ad Valorem taxes). Some systems also participate in the Medicaid reimbursement for some approved R.N. provided services, grants and various other limited sources.

As a parent with one child in Georgia public school and another one coming up to public school in a few years, I find this to be an outrage.  Removing nurses from schools is of detriment to our schools.  Nurses do so much and are of so much value to schools. Removing them is not only causing a loss of jobs, but is also potentially putting students in jeopardy. Any cuts to funding for schools is cause for alarm. So, please, if you live in Georgia, sign this petition to let our Legislators know that we do not support this decision. Please also email Governor Perdue and your local representatives. If we take action, maybe we can put a stop to this before it causes any harm to Georgia’s schools and children.