I'm getting STRONGER!

I have LOVED Kelly Clarkson from the first time I heard her voice on American Idol.  Yep.  I do.  So it's not a surprise that her new song is at the top of my personal charts.  I BELT it in the car.  Chic power.  I cannot relate to it personally, I'm in a great marriage and I'm NOT starting over with someone new!  But the beat, her strength and the words melt together and make me want to kickbox.  Or run.  Or believe in myself!

So today in her honor, you get the music and lyrics.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!  Click below to listen!

Kelly Clarkson, Stronger

You know the bed feels warmer,
Sleeping here alone,
You know I dream in color,
And do the things I want.

You think you got the best of me
Think you had the last laugh
Bet you think that everything good is gone.

Think you left me broken down
Think that I'd come running back
Baby you don't know me, cause you're dead wrong.

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone.
What doesn't kill you makes a fighter
Footsteps even lighter
Doesn't mean I'm over cause you're gone.

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger
Just me, Myself and I
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone.

You heard that I was starting over with someone new,
They told you I was moving on, over you,
You didn't think that I'd come back,
I'd come back swinging
You try to break me but you see

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
stand a little taller
doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone.

What doesn't kill you makes a fighter
Footsteps even lighter
Doesn't mean I'm over cause your gone.

what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger
Just me, myself and I
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone

Thanks to you I got a new thing started
Thanks to you I'm not the broken hearted
Thanks to you I'm finally thinking 'bout me
You know in the end the day I left was just my beginning..... in the end...
Jen

A Sailor's Momma

It's starting to catch up with me that Bubba is leaving in 4 months.  I'm so excited for his journey and couldn't be more proud.  That being said, I'm filled with uncertainty.  What momma isn't when their child takes on a new adventure?

I know in my heart this is absolutely the very most perfect path for my son.  He has always been resourceful.  By age 4, my buddy had figured out that if he wanted to take a toy with him while riding his big wheel all he needed to do was tie it to the back of his bike with a rope and drag it.  Now I don't know everything there is to know about proper knots, but suffice it to say they were impossible for this mom to untie!

By 7, he was a typical boy waging wars with the neighbor kids.  He played sports of course but his outside time was usually strategic and not just tag.  

I've mentioned before that one of the most influential men in his life other than hubs happened to be this crazy, loud redheaded football coach that just HAD to be an ex-Marine (although I don't know that for certain).  He was a YELLER.  Motivated the boys by optimistically barking orders.  Bubba thrived - he loved that environment.  I can't figure out why they didn't translate at home when I yelled at him :). 

To top it off, my son is filled with a strong moral code.  Not necessarily a religious one, although that is engrained fairly heavily due to 3 years of confirmation and 4 years of Lutheran high school.  He has an amazing sense of what is right and what is wrong.  He expects everyone to behave appropriately and is often frustrated when someone oversteps those boundaries.  Pretty black and white.  Now THAT he gets from me.  I have always been a yes or no type of girl, not a maybe.  

The structure of the military and the strong moral and ethical code is going to be a perfect fit for him.  Physically, he is a ROCK.  He will thrive by strong leaders that expect more from him.  It is a perfect path for him.

The rest of us?  Well... that may be where I get a bit anxious.  For me personally, it's not the physical demands on my son that I am concerned about.  It certainly isn't the world conditions that are concerning at this moment.  It's his departure.

When your kiddo gains age, parents mentally and emotionally prepare for the day that they are going to send them off to college.  They may go somewhere close or they may go far away.  Either way, there will be a separation to contend with but they have so many conversation outlets:  telephone, email, text, skype, facebook, twitter.  If they want, they can talk to their kids everyday by some medium.  And a lot of my friends do just that.

Not me.  I won't be able to do that.  There it is ~ that's the clencher.  When he leaves, I won't be able to talk to him.  Sure at first it's only a couple of months but upon completion of those two months, he has apprentice school and then gets stationed.  Not in Missouri.

Bub has been married almost 4 years now.  He hasn't lived at home for longer than that.  But I can always pick up the phone and so can he.  We still talk almost every day.  My heart feels a bit heavy this morning thinking I won't be able to do that whenever I want.

And this doesn't even address my daughter and grandson.  I can't even blog about that just yet.

I know this... I will need my friends and family to help me stay focused on this awesome opportunity and encourage me with positive words, especially on days when I'm down.  I'm sure June will be a heavy month for all of us.  I am in the midst of planning his going away party with my daughter and although it's going to be a blast, I can't help but think I will tear up all night long (which I do NOT want to do).  I will try to move my emotions and give him all the love and support a momma should give their kiddos.  

I just need to stay focused and remember the long-term rewards of his decision.  There are so many!!!

Have a great Monday, friends!
Jen

Just Pile it On

Ugh, I'm in DOMESTIC HELL right now.  I swear that I can clean, clean, clean and then two days later, my house is destroyed.  We only have three people in this abode... how can this be??

I am starting to wonder that my desire to downsize and get my Tiny House may have something to do with this.  I absolutely hate my chores.  No doubt I feel blessed to have my home... hubs and I worked our asses off to get it!  But the cleaning is just WAY overwhelming.  I just can't keep up.  I cleaned the hardwood kitchen floor on my hands and knees, Cinderella style, Friday night and already I can see evidence of needing to do it again. Makes me want to chew my arms off so I won't have to do it ever again.

Today, it's more of the same.  Vacuum, dust, windows, mop, dishes, granite, appliance.  First floor.  UGH.  Haven't even looked at the bathrooms or 2nd floor yet.  Oh... and my nemesis.... the LAUNDRY.

This I just CANNOT understand.  There are three of us humans in this house and I have 20 loads of laundry to do.  No, I'm not super picky.  I do put my whites and grays together and wash towels separately, but other than that I don't care.  Except for our "work clothes" - those are usually two loads a week... one dark, one light.

So why do I have so much laundry??  I'll tell you one culprit I know for sure.... the towels.  Nobody in my house reuses a towel.  EVER.  Seriously.  I don't know what the rest of the world does, but when I grew up, I was REQUIRED to hang my towel over the shower doors and reuse it at least once more.  If it was just my hair towel (I went through that phase), I had to use it SEVERAL times before it hit the washer.  I don't totally disagree with this theory - when you get out of the shower, you are CLEAN.  Aren't you just drying off water?  It can't be THAT unsanitary.

With hubs working out and taking extra showers, little guy having practice or games in addition to his normal bathing and me.. well.  So I just cannot keep up.  Ever.  Ugh.

I get into routines where I try to keep it together.  Get up early, start a load of laundry.  Move to dryer before leaving for work.  Fold after work, starting another load.  Getting at least three loads a day done.  That's usually about right.  Until I slack off a few days and then feel totally overwhelmed.

Don't get my wrong ~ hubs does help me quite a bit.  We've taken quite a Divide and Conquer position with this house and the chores.  But it's still impossible.

After I throw down my Healthy Choice frozen thing I'm off to fold another load.  And start the next one.  Lord give me strength.  And do the dishes.  Yeah me.

Happy SUPERBOWL Sunday, friends!  Go Patriots!
Jen

Kill the Wabbit

Click here to hear Elmer's Voice :)

Hubs has embarked on his two day hunter safety course this weekend.  It's a LONG class - 6 to 9 pm last night and 8-5 today.  He's gonna learn to shoot some stuff, the safe way (I wonder if they pass out beers during the class?)

He was thrilled that he wasn't just an old guy in the class.  Actually, he said there were a lot of women in there. I wonder if he is trying to get me to take Coop when he turns 11...

On top of him just slammin' it on the exercise regime, he has spent almost every night in our basement shooting his bow.  No worries~ he wasn't shooting at me or little guy.  He has all kinds of stuff set up down there.  Sometimes I am afraid to enter the room for what I might find next!  Fake animals shot in the heart... just makes me sad.

He's taking on this new passion with a gusto.  If he wins his weight loss challenge at work, he's buying a gun with his winnings.  I guess that means he'll be certified, he'll have weapons and be physically cleared to go.  Yikes.  All we have left to buy are tags (or licenses or something).  I have a feeling our romantic getaway in the middle of nowhere in our beautiful cabin is going to turn into OUR official first hunting trip.

Now don't start preaching to me about the virtues of animal population control.  I get it.  I'm not stupid - I don't want to hit a deer on my country road either!  But I also do NOT want strangely wrapped white packages of stuff in my freezer.  I do NOT want heads of ANY kind in my house (I MEAN IT, DAVIS!).  Oh, and I certainly do NOT want fur, hair or pelts of any kind laying on my floors (or walls).  This is not my ideal interior decorating.  Besides - I'm sure they won't fit in the Tiny House and so there is no reason to start with them now.

Maybe we donate all the meat?  Is that possible?  I'd love to actually think we were giving back to someone in need.  That would make me feel much better.

Hubs did tell me this morning that he held the glock I want (another blog) last night and said he knows why I like it so much.  Bubba keeps telling me no - it will jam up on me, he says.  I know what he really thinks...I'm far to emotional to have my conceal and carry.  I'm sure I could justify an accidental shooting somehow, particularly if someone hurt my kids.  Yep.  Then I'd end up in jail.  That would SO derail my future retirement plans.

I think I'll stick to my blogging.  It's a much safer outlet for all.  Well, unless you are certain people.

Happy Saturday, friends!

Jen

Friday Favorites!

YIPPEE ~ it's time for my Faves list again!  Happy Friday, friends!

FAVE RUNNING ITEM

A MUST have for someone with girls like mine.  I was struggling with regular, smash your body, sports bras.  I don't care what anyone says - it's impossible to work out with big C's and a not so great bra!  Insert my next fave running item - a fantastic bra made by Moving Comfort!  I actually had a custom fitting for my first bra, which I found very true to size.  I'm in LOVE with the way it holds me together while running!

FAVE MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE

Oooh, I love this.  I have felt this way a zillion times.  Don't want to get up early.  Don't want to stay up too late.  Just don't want to get out the door.  But every time I do, I feel instantly better once my feet hit the pavement.

FAVE FOOD FIND

I MUST try this.  I am a huge sucker for quiche anyway (I think I love q foods in general!)  This one is made with a brown rice crust.  Yummo!  Click below for the recipe!

Broccoli and Cheddar Quiche with a Brown Rice Crust

FAVE SASSY QUOTE

Oh yeah, we all have them.  Bring it on, haters!

FAVE POSE

Ah, this is so relaxing I want to go do it right now.  I absolutely LOVE yoga... it's perfect for me and my high anxiety!

FAVE GETAWAY DREAM

I totally have to get here with hubs.  I may never come back home... ever.  Sorry kids, momma's off in paradise with a lovah! :)

FAVE DESSERT MUST

I have to make these as soon as possible... hopefully this weekend!  I'm a sucker for salty sweet yummos!

salted caramel squares

1 1/2 sticks butter (12 tablespoons)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/2 cups flour
salted caramel (recipe follows)
1 1/2 cups small pretzels broken into small pieces
ganache (recipe follows)

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line an 8 inch cake pan with parchment paper. Set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter, sugar, and salt until pale and fluffy. With the mixer on low, gradually add in the flour, and mix until just combined. Press dough into prepared pan. Refrigerate for 20 minutes, or until cool. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until golden brown around the edges. Remove from oven and allow to cool.

2. Reserve 1/4 cup of the caramel and set aside for drizzling later. Mix warm caramel (If caramel is cooled, warm it in the microwave for about 30 seconds) with pretzels and pour on top of cookie crust. Refrigerate until cooled somewhat, and the caramel is no longer runny. Pour warm ganache on top, and drizzle with reserved caramel.

salted caramel

Please read all these directions a couple times before starting, and get all your ingredients set out before hand. Kick all other family members out of the kitchen, and best of luck. Caramel is very simple, but it requires good timing. When I was learning to make caramel, I burned a couple batches, so you might want extra cream and sugar on hand in case that happens. Experience is the best teacher for this. Give yourself plenty of time, and don’t be discouraged if it isn’t perfect at first. Once I got the hang of it, I made an extra batch which came out as well as the one before it.

1/2 cup heavy cream (make sure it is heavy cream, or heavy whipping cream, not regular whipping cream)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup granulated pure cane sugar
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon butter

1. Measure out cream into a liquid measuring cup. Stir in vanilla and salt, and set aside within an easy reach of the stove.

2. Stir sugar and water in a medium pot with tall sides. Set over medium-high heat. As the sugar dissolves and begins to boil, you may swirl the pot to mix the boiling sugar water. DO NOT STIR WITH A SPOON. This will make the sugar crystalize.

3. As the sugar syrup boils, watch very carefully for the color to change. You are looking for a nice, warm amber color, about the shade of cinnamon sticks. Don’t let it get any darker. (Even if it doesn’t look burnt, it can taste burnt. If it starts to smoke, you’ve let it go too far.) On a side note, my candy thermometer did not reach far enough into the pot to get an accurate reading of the syrup, but with such a small amount of syrup, the temperature changes pretty quickly anyway. It’s best to watch it and wait for it to turn the right color.

4. As soon as it turns the proper amber color, pull the pot off the heat. Whisk in the butter, and then pour in the vanilla-cream mixture. It will now bubble violently. Whisk carefully but briskly. The caramel will start to solidify a bit., but keep whisking. Put the pot of caramel over low heat and whisk carefully for a minute or two until smooth. Pour into a heat proof jar, and allow to cool.

ganache

1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon honey
2 1/2 cups chocolate chips

In a microwave safe bowl, heat cream and honey until almost boiling, about 60 seconds. Pour in chocolate chips and let sit for about 2 minutes. Whisk until the cream and chocolate come together and become thick and glossy. If small bits of chocolate remain, microwave for 20-30 seconds, until smooth.

 Hope you all have a great weekend!!

Jen

Running on Love

SO excited this morning!  My fav neighbs of all time and hubs and I are running the Brew to Brew this year!  We have talked about it the last few years but never seemed to pull the trigger.  We are all at different levels of fitness ~  a former Navy rescue swimmer / diver, a multi-marathoner, us Warriors that hover typically around the 5k mark (or occasional 10k) and those that don't run often but possess the skill (of course I think everyone can do it if I can do it!).  

The race is a 44.4 mile relay run from Kansas City to (choke) Lawrence.  We start the run at the Boulevard Brewery and end at Free State Brewery.  How fun is that?  Beer rewards for a day of exercise?  I'm IN!

So we have to come up with our team name.  That might be hard.  We all live in Eagle Creek, so trying to come up with versions of that.  We have typically gone by EC something when planning parties... (EC GNO, etc.)  Several of us live in the 'sac in the hood, but that isn't fair to those that don't.  It's hard to use a Mizzou theme (although FINE in the Davis household!) because some of our runner friends are Hawks (unfortunately). Hmmm, have to think it through.

In preparation, hubs and I are thinking of running a v-day run together.  It will be our first outing together.  So romantic!  I am quite a sucker for this little holiday.  Hopeless romantic, I suppose.  I found this story online about V-Day and thought I'd share it in advance of the holiday.  

St. Valentine's Story

Let me introduce myself. My name is Valentine. I lived in Rome during the third century. That was long, long ago! At that time, Rome was ruled by an emperor named Claudius. I didn't like Emperor Claudius, and I wasn't the only one! A lot of people shared my feelings.

Claudius wanted to have a big army. He expected men to volunteer to join. Many men just did not want to fight in wars. They did not want to leave their wives and families. As you might have guessed, not many men signed up. This made Claudius furious. So what happened? He had a crazy idea. He thought that if men were not married, they would not mind joining the army. So Claudius decided not to allow any more marriages. Young people thought his new law was cruel. I thought it was preposterous! I certainly wasn't going to support that law!

Did I mention that I was a priest? One of my favourite activities was to marry couples. Even after Emperor Claudius passed his law, I kept on performing marriage ceremonies -- secretly, of course. It was really quite exciting. Imagine a small candlelit room with only the bride and groom and myself. We would whisper the words of the ceremony, listening all the while for the steps of soldiers.

One night, we did hear footsteps. It was scary! Thank goodness the couple I was marrying escaped in time. I was caught. (Not quite as light on my feet as I used to be, I guess.) I was thrown in jail and told that my punishment was death.

I tried to stay cheerful. And do you know what? Wonderful things happened. Many young people came to the jail to visit me. They threw flowers and notes up to my window. They wanted me to know that they, too, believed in love.

One of these young people was the daughter of the prison guard. Her father allowed her to visit me in the cell. Sometimes we would sit and talk for hours. She helped me to keep my spirits up. She agreed that I did the right thing by ignoring the Emperor and going ahead with the secret marriages. On the day I was to die, I left my friend a little note thanking her for her friendship and loyalty. I signed it, "Love from your Valentine."

I believe that note started the custom of exchanging love messages on Valentine's Day. It was written on the day I died, February 14, 269 A.D. Now, every year on this day, people remember. But most importantly, they think about love and friendship. And when they think of Emperor Claudius, they remember how he tried to stand in the way of love, and they laugh -- because they know that love can't be beaten!

Could this be true?

Happy Thursday, friends!

Jen

Catch Me I'm Fallin'

My poor little guy.  He has an owie.

Why yes, that is McDonald's he is consuming!  He gets it about twice a year and this circumstance certainly warranted the treat.

My Coopster fell while playing basketball outside after school.  This isn't a completely unusual thing for him ~ his growth spurt this last summer has certainly taken his balance for a ride.  

Coop stands at a firm 5' 4 1/2" at just 10 years old.  He grew an inch and 3/4ths since July, 2011.  

Boys are such interesting creatures while growing.  I have vivid memories of Bubba grabbing his thighs in bed in the mornings and crying out because they were so sore.  He had his major growth spurt from his 8th grade to Freshman year in high school, growing around 4 1/2 inches in less than one year.  He was always complaining about his legs.  He should have ~ he is now topped out at 6'4"... the tallest in our family!  He had a secondary growth spurt between 18 and 19 years old, growing another 2 inches or so that year.  Finally he's complete!

But little guy ~ I fear his journey will be a little more difficult.  He has been off the charts since birth (a mere 9 lbs, 12 oz).  It's not really his weight though - it's his height.  He has been the tallest kid in every school class, basketball team, baseball team, football team, soccer team, etc.  Even last night, the doctor asked Coop how old he was.  "What are you, 13?".  All the time, every where we go.

So far we have been lucky.  Although he is super tall for his age, he has grown proportionally and steadily.

We are fairly strict with Coop about playing outside when we aren't home.  For this very reason.  Not that things can't happen while he is outside and I'm in the house, but if I'm home at least I can address it immediately.  Lucky for him, his accident occurred 15 minutes before Dad pulled in the driveway.

He was playing basketball and according to him, dove for a loose ball.  Doesn't surprise me.  Especially given he was playing with older kids, no doubt trying to impress them with his skills.  He landed straight down on his palm but unfortunate for him, it was with all of his weight.  Result?  Fracture in the wrist.  Ugh.

He'll be in a semi-cast for a week, then another round of x-rays to see new bone growth.  We have to take it a bit at a time so I have no idea how long this will last.  We are in the last few weeks of basketball, a season he has LOVED.  So that sucks.  I don't think it has sunk in yet that he won't be playing this weekend.  Limitations are not his strong suit.  "Mom, is it okay if I play kickball at recess tomorrow?"  Um... nope.  "Well, what if I just do the running part?"  Um... nope.  "What am I supposed to do then?"  Keep score?  I have no idea, little guy.  Just hang out.  Soccer starts in two weeks.... hope he can join them on time.

Oh lord.  Anyone that knows Coop knows clearly that sitting on the bench is NOT his idea of fun.

Big prayers for quick healing and recovery, please.  Not just for him... for ME too!  I had to bathe my buddy last night ~ first time in about 6 years.  I felt so sorry for him.  This too shall pass!

Jen