Snopes

I'm not sure if you use this site, but I do. I get stories a lot in my inbox that I just don't believe, so I check them out on Snopes. I received one from my husband about the Brazilian plane crash, and since they produce parts for Embraer the guys at work asked him to have me check it's validity. Why they couldn't I don't know, maybe they can't remember the site name, so it came to me to check.

When I received the e-mail snopes had no information regarding this e-mail on their site. I sent them an e-mail on the 6th of December with a copy of the e-mail and pictures and on the 8th of December there was a link to the story. I feel pretty cool. I got to submit a story to Snopes (I wasn't the only one, but I still feel cool).

If you ever get an e-mail, and you think can this possibly be true, check it out. It's definitely worth checking instead of sending on crazy or wrong info.

It's a big day!

It’s a big day in the Ritchie household.

1. Jonathan and I were married 8 years ago today.

On Sunday, December 27, 1998 I married my best friend. It amazes me that it’s been 8 years. We have 4 beautiful children and we have been through a lot. We have been poor (hungry at night poor) and in college. We entered the world of Jonathan being a professional. We have bought 2 houses and moved twice over the course of a year and a half. We have triumphed in the face of obstacles and we have rejoiced over even the smallest of victories. We have a lot more room to grow as adults, spouses and parents, and we are always able to talk about everything.

I have heard people say that they grew apart from their spouse, but Jonathan and I only seem to be getting closer. We are in tune with each other’s interests and passions and we love to share with each other. I couldn’t be more blessed. I’m not saying we don’t fight, but it’s so nice to know that I am married to a man who is as crazy about me as I am about him. It’s nice to know that we see our marriage from another side as well, the side that reminds us that love is more than an emotion it’s a daily commitment.

Jonathan thank you for all of the little things you do; like helping me cook, going to the store with me and even reading books with me. Thank you for the big things you do too; like putting in a utility room and helping de-ugly the house, helping me with the house work, understanding me and trying to keep me in check. You are the best. You are my rock.

2. The twins are 6 months old.

The boys are both around 13 lbs a piece. They are rolling and desperately want to stand and crawl. They are eating cereal and fruits and vegetables and a little bit of formula. Feeding the some other food has allowed my body to finally let go of more baby weight without any effort. I’ve lost about 8 lbs in the last 3 weeks. I'm still nursing so I will hold on to the last 10-15 lbs until done. I know I’m behind on picture postings and I need to update the photo album, but I need to find more time to sit at the computer to do it.

3. We all have a cold or some type of allergy that is messing up our sinuses.

We all have a lot of sinus pressure, scratchy/sore throats with that dry cough that sounds fake, we also have a bit of that medicine head feeling without the medicine.

My frustration with people who make meth came to a head yesterday when I couldn’t get a hold of any form of Sudafed for the kids without a bunch of other junk in it. I understand combo formulas are very popular, but if my kid doesn’t need everything I won’t give it to them. I went to more then one pharmacy in search of children’s Sudafed to go with the Claritin and Motrin I had already bought. I couldn’t get what I needed so I called several pharmacies here in town today and I’ve found it at one. Thank you meth makers for making it so much harder to buy medication for my children and myself. I bet I’ll be on a watch list for the amount of Sudafed I’ve bought lately.

Fun. Fun. Fun.

Yep, you got it I have the stomach thing now too. Mine is abdominal craps which makes for great discomfort nursing or anytime. My hour on the couch trying to nap (when Jackson wasn't in smacking my head) wasn't bad. Sleep made the stomach aggrivation stop. So far nothing major has been unleashed, my stomach is just very angry.

It's going around town and it's going around in Norman too, so chances are it's going around where you live. Keep your hands washed and I wish you the best.

Finished

I can officially say I’m finished decorating and I’m almost finished shopping. I need to take and post pictures. The tree is done, the stairs are done, I bought stockings and a tree skirt Saturday and we wrapped packages Friday. This has been a real experience for us.

I think I have Jackson convinced not to take the ornaments off the tree, finally. We only decorated the entryway. We are desperately trying to de-ugly the house and too much will get in the way of progress.

Dang, the mail just came and I got my first Christmas card. Now I have to find something to do with these! Okay, I thought I was done at least this isn’t much.

I’ll take and post pics soon. It turned out cool. I decorated the tree the lazy womans way. I stuck artificial poinsettia heads on the tree so we didn’t have as many ornaments to put on (the kids lost interest fast).

In other news illness has passed, Jonathan felt bad yesterday, but he’s okay today. At least when he's sick the mess hits the trashcan and toilet. I now have to finish the laundry and mop the living room and office (I love hardwood floors). I managed to take the chair cushion out of its cover and took Lysol to it and I upholstery cleaned the cover last night. The kids are still tired. I’m the only one left standing (not counting the babies), lets see if I can last.

Vomit

Isn’t that a fun way to start a post?

The 2 older kids are sick and J refuses to use a trashcan or the toilet, which means frequent mop-ups and costume changes. Fun!

I hope Jon, the twins and I don’t get this

Could I be anymore stupid?

Yesterday afternoon we went sledding. Someone had made a great snow ramp. We all slid down the hill. We all took the ramp. We all sat at the emergency room, after I thought I broke my tailbone. I was there for 7 hours. It took me 5 to get into an exam room. It isn’t broken, but it is bruised very badly. I’m not even supposed to pick up the babies. My in-laws have been a huge help and stayed last night and they are here to help me today.

Well, you know what they say…it’s all fun and games until someone looses an eye (or bruises their tailbone).

Yes, I cried like a baby-thankfully my family were the only people there at the moment.

Blizzard?!?!? (updated)

You have got to be kidding me. The National Weather Service has just issued a Blizzard warning.

Last night’s conversation

Victoria: “Have you and mom ever been in a blizzard?”

Jonathan: “No, we live in Oklahoma, we don’t really have blizzards.”

I just called him at work and he couldn’t believe it. I told him if he wasn’t certain he would finish today to pack up and come home. I’d rather him get home now and go in tomorrow, then have a wreck in the ¼ mile visibility and the underlying ice slick. We’ll see what he decides.

(UPDATE)
Little convincing of the husband is required when they decide to close the plant. When the shop guys aren't there the engineering guys get to go home too! YIPEE!

Daddy did you know?

I read this article about things dads should know and I got a big kick out of it. Some of those things are even things mom’s should know. Much of it is funny, yet so true (not all mind you and a bit of it is just wrong).

Jeremy I hope it gives you a laugh.

Deep Freeze

Yesterday the high was 76 degrees with a low of 61 degrees. My heater hasn’t run in days.

It is currently 33 degrees and we are expecting a foot of snow. The high Thursday is supposed to be 29 with a low of 15.

Oklahoma has the screwiest weather.

Jonathan's heater in his car isn't working. He'll be taking my car to work tomorrow.

What we have here is a failure to communicate.

I’d just like to know why. It seems we all have communication issues. It doesn’t matter if it’s with our family or our spouse, our friends or even the person on the phone with something to “offer” us from the credit card company.

Times of stress (that should be times of joy) like the holidays can heighten communication struggles.

I guess it’s safe to say we all have our issues. Maybe if we could communicate better with God, we could communicate better with each other.

Just a thought.

The Tumbleweed

This was an article I was surprised to see.

I lived in Stillwater for about 6 years, and I only went to “The Weed” about 4 or 5 times. The last time was over 6 years ago. It wasn’t my idea of a good time, but to many Stillwater area residents it is THE thing to do on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. People loved and flocked to the Calf Fry (something I had no intention of trying), my cousin even called when she was coming up to a concert with Tone Loke.

I won’t miss “The Weed”, but I do wonder what that group of OSU students will do for fun, cow tipping perhaps.

You can't say I never gave you anything! ;)

Merry Christmas! I know it’s the end of November, but I would like to give my valued readers (yes, the few family and friends who read my babbling) a little gift.

5 recipes.

I should have been witty and come up with a 12 days of Christmas theme and given you 12 days worth totaling 78 recipes, but I’m not that dedicated at the moment (and I doubt I have that many recipes I use), maybe next year.

2 simple dinners (we can all use something quick this time of year)
The first I’ve posted about before, this is a Rachel Ray 30 minute meal (it takes me closer to 45 without a helper for me). The chicken lettuce wraps are a lot like the ones at Pei Wei and P. F. Chang’s. I even use it as a salad topping with no dressing instead of making wraps sometimes.

The second is too easy; it is a simple homemade Vegetable beef soup. This one requires no measuring and minimal prep. Just brown some ground beef (you choose the amount). Get a large pot and dump a can or 2 of Veg-All, a can or 2 of sliced new potatoes, a can of whole green beans, 3 beef bullion cubes and some seasoned salt and pepper. Add whatever amount of water you desire. Bring it to a boil; reduce it to a simmer for 15 minutes (or how ever long you feel, simmer longer and just keep checking the water level). This is good reheated and even my kids eat it. In one pan you have multiple veggies, meat, and starch, I love one pot meals and soup on cold days.

1 easy dessert
I made this pumpkin swirl cheesecake for a dinner at our youth minister’s house and it went well. I made it again for Thanksgiving. For Thanksgiving I cheated and didn’t swirl it. I made it strait up pumpkin; this was a nice change to the usual holiday desserts. The ginger snap crust is so good. If you’ve never made a cheesecake before the videos on the page were very helpful. I’d never used a spring form pan before either.

2 recipes for the price of 1
This is the recipe for the rolls I blogged about before. This is a super simple and delicious dough. It is knead free and takes about 10 minutes to mix up. The time is mostly in letting the stuff rise, but it is well worth it. I usually make a double batch and make one batch of cinnamon and one batch of dinner rolls. By doing this you have breakfast on the go and rolls for your holiday dinner or whenever you want. Both freeze and reheat very well. I’ve been known to freeze meal size quantities of dinner rolls, so we don’t eat them, and I just pull them from our deep freeze with our dinner meat when I need them.

Cinnamon/Dinner Roll Dough
1 cake of yeast
3 tbsp warm water
Dissolve yeast in water (to check yeast activation add a very small pinch of sugar and stir in, if it begins to bubble yeast is activated).

2 eggs beaten
½ c Crisco
1 tsp salt
½ c sugar
1 c warm water
Mix together well and add yeast. Gradually stir in 4 c of flour. Cover bowl with a dish towel, if used the same day allow to rise 2-3 hours (may be stored in the refrigerator over night).

Cinnamon Rolls
After rising, divide in half. Roll on floured counter into a rectangle with dough about ¼” thick. Melt a stick of butter or margarine and brush onto the dough all the way to the edges. In a container with a lid combine ½ c dark brown sugar, ½ c white sugar and ground cinnamon, shake until well mixed. Shake ½ of the mixture onto the dough (don’t apply to the last inch on the 1 of the long edges) spread evenly and smoothly with hand. Roll like a jellyroll from the long edge that has cinnamon. Cut into 1” rolls with dental floss or a piece of string. Place in a greased pan, but not too closely. Let rise 2 hours.

Bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees.

Glaze with ¼ c butter or margarine, ½ c of powdered sugar and 2 tsp milk. Soften butter at room temperature and use a fork to combine butter and powdered sugar, add milk and heat for about 30 seconds on medium in the microwave. Mix well and spoon over hot rolls.

Dinner Rolls
Divide into 4ths and roll into circles about ¼” thick. Brush with melted butter and cut into wedges. Roll from edge to point. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Let rise 2-3 hours.

Bake 6-10 minutes at 425 degrees. Time varies upon cookie sheet and oven and desired doneness.

I use airbake pans and a temp closer to 450 degrees for 10 minutes, on the lower middle rack.

I hope someone can use these for some holiday help.
Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

Thankful

I did call my mom on Thanksgiving (just not mid dinner like last year) and told her I wasn’t pregnant, since I called to say I was last year.

I can’t believe it was Thanksgiving Day that the test came up + last year. Looking back over the blog it’s amazing to see the changes in our life.

Last year we were still making 2 house payments and paying 2 sets of utilities. We thought we were only having 1 baby. We only had 1 car. We hadn’t found a church yet. I didn’t have a utility room (we are trimming ours now, I’ll post pics soon). Life was just so different.

Now we are a family of 6 with 2 cars and 1 house. We have a church home we love. Yep, lots to be thankful for, change this year has been good.

Blogger for Word

I use blogger for word, but since changing over to the new blogger beta, it doesn't work. Is anyone else having an issue? I know things will be different with beta, but I'm not liking it at the moment.

HAPPY ...

This post is a precaution if I don’t have time in the morning.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING
&
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DREW!
(Your birthday is more important I should have listed it first, we love you)

We are off to Kansas for dinner with Jonathan’s family.

Today in preparation I made a big pot of chili (not for Thanksgiving), 120 more rolls, and a pumpkin cheesecake.

I pray safe travel for you all and that you all have much to be thankful for. I know I do.

Classy

I understand rivalries, but I think the AD at OSU shows a real lack of class in this article. I would like to see the people in charge at least act like adults. Just because Boone Pickens paid a lot to redo their stadium doesn’t mean they are any different in the realm of football.

It’s a football game. This emphasizes what I have said all along, OSU is more concerned about the OU game then OU is. OSU isn’t OU’s biggest rival and I think that tweeks them.

I’m with the kid who doesn’t want to pay $20 more for an OSU ticket then for an OU/Texas one. Heck, for $100 you can get an OU/Texas ticket and a tank of gas to get to Dallas and have a lot more to do. When I was a freshman at OSU (1997) a ticket to bedlam at Norman was $40. I personally wouldn’t spend $80-$100 bucks a ticket when I can watch the game on TV from the comfort of my living room.

Ready. Set. Cook!

My wonderful DH bought a recip saw yesterday. Would you like to know my first thought? I can cut out my cabinets that hold a lousy drop in out and put in my old stove! I have a 500 pound 1941 Chambers type B (scroll about 1/3 down). I have never cooked on anything that cooks half as well. It is a totally different cooking experience; heating is even (you can shut your oven vent and turn your oven off and it will hold your temp and continue cooking), simmering is right on and easy to adjust, the broiler under the griddle in handy, the griddle is awesome and the deep well (think crock pot in your stove) is too cool.

I’ve missed my stove since we moved (it’s in the garage). It’s been a year and a half since I’ve used it. I bought it in Stockyard City in OKC at a place called Tyson’s. They referb old stoves. My friend Kara’s just went out and she went and bought an old Chambers as well (think Rachel Ray). She called raving about her cooking experience and I missed mine even more. I’m so ready to cook on a gas stove that I can actually adjust to a simmer and that doesn’t have oven temperature fluctuations between 100 degrees too hot and 50 degrees too cold.

Ducktales (Part 2)

Back in May we bought Ducktales Vol. 1, 27 episodes of Ducktales fun. Last week I bought Vol. 2, the 5-episode pilot and another 19 episodes (it was $23 at Wal-Mart). They have released these in November the last 2 years. I decided to check and see how many more episodes and volumes we may see coming out. I found this site and there are 100 episodes. It looks like we will be able to buy a potential Vol. 3 and Vol. 4 over the next 2 years. Ducktales is one of my favorite cartoons. It’s up their with classic Looney Toons and Kim Possible.
I don’t like to be the parent that plants their kid in front to the TV, but this has been handy when I’ve needed a minute to myself. I will admit I’ve also enjoyed just sitting and watching too.

R.I.P.

'What will your obituary say?' at QuizGalaxy.com

'What will your obituary say?' at QuizGalaxy.com

I'll miss Leaky too, Prince Charles I won't.

I like the second one better. Obviously I must stop laughing now. I know I have a warped sense of humor. I didn't know it would kill me.

My Accent

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The West Your accent is the lowest common denominator of American speech. Unless you're a SoCal surfer, no one thinks you have an accent. And really, you may not even be from the West at all, you could easily be from Florida or one of those big Southern cities like Dallas or Atlanta.
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Philadelphia
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