One, my mom’s birthday was on Tuesday. I’m not sure if you can fully understand what a mom does for you until you become one. This is what I’ve learned that my mom did while we were growing up that I didn’t fully comprehend until now….washed the laundry, put the laundry away, made supper, remembered my cousins’ birthdays, planned our birthday parties, scheduled the washer repair man, ran errands, bought us new clothes when we needed them, decorated our house, cleaned the windows, wrote checks to the school on time, worked her own job, gave us baths, planted flowers, organized the house, and much, much more. This is what I’ve learned about being a mom – often the things that go unnoticed are the things you work the hardest on. And, often times, dads come home and their job is to play with the kids. My mom told me that she often depended on my dad to walk in the house and wrestle with us and play with us, and that’s what he always did. Why? Because my mom had 19 other things around the house that she needed to do in under 2.5 hours before we went to bed so she’d have maybe 30 minutes to herself. I now realize this and I depend on Joe for the same thing when he walks in the door. Here are the other things about my mom that you may not know:
1) She has more little lamps in her house than you have underwear. They are all over and my dad teases her that it takes him 20 minutes just to turn off all of her little lamps before he goes to bed.
2) She washes her sidewalks. Yep, she mixes a little bleach with some water and washes them. I think I heard her say something about it keeping flies away, but I think if she was honest with herself, she’d admit that she loves cleanliness. Don’t worry mom, cleanliness is next to Godliness.
3) She likes to mispronounce movie titles and restaurant names. El Rodeo is one of her favorite mispronunciations, as well as Johnsonville Brats. I won’t even go there right now.
4) When she buys beer for Heather, Guthrey, Jeff, Joe and I, she often just goes for 1 six-pack. It’s a fight til blood for who gets that one leftover beer. She’s also known for buying Coronas without limes….the nerve.
5) When Heather or I wanted something really bad growing up that costs more than oh, say $5, she’d look at us and say, “Do you love, love, love it?” We were always like, “Um, yeah, why else would I be asking for it?” Now, Heather and I say that to each other (except the price tag has gone up a little).
6) She’s a sucker for a baby and Baby Magic lotion.
7) She has great handwriting and never passed that down to Heather, Jeff or I.
There’s so much more I could say but wanted to share just a few tidbits about my mom. I depend on my mom’s advice more now than I ever have. I found out that she knows a lot more about babies than I ever did once I had Joey. She’s really good at listening or if she doesn’t know what to say, she’s really good at saying, “Just a minute, I’m going to get your dad!” I found my mom fun in 1st grade, embarrassing in 6th grade, annoying in 11th grade, dependable in college, and irreplaceable now. I think that’s the way it should be.
Next, I forgot to share photos from Great Aunt Bobbye McMurray’s annual Halloween Party. Joe’s aunt has all the little kids over to her house for Halloween fun. Games, costumes, piñatas, food and fun! Maddox dressed up as a doctor, Joey dressed up as a Clonetrooper on Star Wars, Davis was a Scottish golfer, and Carter was a turtle. Here are a few photos from all the fun!
Davis Jake....seriously, is there a cuter golfer out there????
Joey "mummified"....
Carter John...as Ali and I made him lay on his back like a turtle who couldn't turn over. 
The four trouble-makers....
Paging Dr. Coppola....Paging Dr. Coppola....code blue...you are out of fruit snacks. Emergency!
Last week, I decided to make a recipe from the below cookbook. I have very fond memories of this “Betty Crocker Cooky Book” growing up. I loved the photos and all the cookies. So, I asked my mom if I could have it before my sister got her sticky hands on it. So, it’s now my book! It’s funny to read the descriptions in this cookbook – it was written so long ago, and clearly brownies in a box were not around yet. I totally love this retro cover though! And, I know that you're not thinking this is a special event that I missed, but if you would ask my husband, he'll tell you that homemade brownies definitely fall under the 'special event' category!
The next oh-so-special event that happened this week! Graham Joshua Skinner joined the world! Joe's cousin, Jessica, and her husband, Josh had a baby boy and he is super cute! Funny, he was born on my mom's birthday, and Joey was born on Jessica's mom's birthday. Weird, huh? Anyway, Jess had a long, painful pregnancy and encountered every possibly problem you could along the way so the end was a little extra-special. Although all pregnancies encounter normal worries and stresses, hers was met with additional problems - diabetes, blood pressure, preclampsia, strep B....to just name a few! Graham's arrival was much anticipated and he is one very loved boy!
I’d like to give another shout out to Specialist Andrea Boyd, recently featured in the Des Moines Register. The article is about her casting her vote overseas. I might suspect she’s voting for the candidate who will bring her home the fastest! The article highlights Andrea saying “Even though we are overseas, I wanted to make sure our voices are heard.” I don’t think I’ll tell the author of this article that I had to make Andrea vote in college, as she just didn’t think she wanted to because she didn’t know the candidates well enough. Andrea, you have really grown up and I’m very proud of you! (Did your dad influence your vote again?! Ugh….). Read the article and see her photo here:
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008810240375
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008810240375
The last special event....last night we went to an 8-course Gourmet Dinner at the Iowa Culinary Institute. I had planned this event for Vital Support Systems- who I work for, and so Joe and I also got to attend. I'm going to list the menu below (most of which I have never heard of before) - everything was TO DIE FOR. I definitely recommend attending one of these dinners, but they do fill up fast!
Fruit Ratatouille- like a cinnamon crispy chip with four different kinds of fruit on it
Smoked Pheasant and Center Grove Honey Crisp Apple Stack- bread, pheasant, onions, apples, triple-stacked. awesome flavor!
Golden Pear Squash Bisque- Soup that thankfully did not taste like squash or pears
Truffle-Seared Scallops with Lobster Beurre Blanc- Amazing.
Somerset Mead Sorbet with Lavender Orange Honey- To cleanse your palet for your main course
Mushroom-Dusted Prime Beef Strip Steak with Sweet Garlic Reduction- Cooked to perfection!
Northern Prairie Farms Chevre Tartlet with Peach and Blueberry- Basically, like a creamy goat cheese. For those of you who know me very well, I love any kind of cheese
Chocolate Pumpkin Cupcake with TEmpleton Rye Mascarpone Icing- Yummmmy! Delicious! I can't even explain it. And, I'm not a huge pumpkin or chocolate fan but I still loved it!
Tomorrow morning, I leave for the first annual Coppola Sister-in-Law Weekend getaway. No husbands, no children. We might actually go into shock. We’re heading to the Plaza in Kansas City for some serious shopping, eating and drinking (Shirley Temples for Kelly). I can’t wait!
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