Grandpa 2/28/1927-2/25/2011

Last Friday our loving Heavenly Father called my grandpa home. He was an amazing and humble man. In his 83 years, he accomplished so much - joined the Navy as soon as he graduated high school (he was there during Okinawa, and was a Gunner - his ship was hit by a kamikaze), played professional baseball for the Chicago Cardinals, joined the Marines and played baseball for the Marines team, and retired as a U.S. Park Police Officer. His nickname (I think it was in the Marines) was "Buttons" because his last name was so hard to pronounce. As someone put it yesterday, 'he was a man of few words' but I could always tell how proud he was of his family.

Yesterday we celebrated his life, and I know that he was watching from Heaven. The funeral was so crowded that there were people standing in the back - he truly effected so many people! The Chief of the U.S. Park Police even came!!! Afterwards, the family was taken in two limos and Grandpa and everyone else were escorted by 2 police cars and 7 police motorcycles - who stopped traffic everywere for the procession (including COMPLETELY shutting down I-95 and all of the exit ramps!!!). At the entrance of Quantico, there were 5 mounted Park Police Officers on their horses who soluted my grandpa and our family. It was so touching. Marines did their honors to him and presented the American Flag to my grandma, and then they did their Marine Taps, where they fire their guns. All of this for my grandpa!

As humble as he was, he would probably have been upset that everyone made such a fuss over him, but I hope that he knows how proud we are of him.

We are definitely going to miss him, but we are comforted in knowing that he is free from pain and is always watching over us.

 Giving his favorite horse some water... this picture was in the Washington Post

Grandpa as Park Police Officer in front of the White House

We are having a baby.... BOY!!!

Today Joni, Mom, Sean and I went in for my 20 week ultrasound.  We found out that we are having a little baby boy!  We are so very, very excited! :)  It was so fun watching our baby move around and seeing him again - last time we saw him he just looked like a little gummy bear (hence his nickname "Gummy"), but now he looks like a real baby!  According to the tech, he weighs 14 ounces.

The doctor did come in and told us that one of the baby's kidney's is holding more urine than they like, so we have to go back in 8 weeks.  The urine retention is a very small indication that the baby has Downes Syndrome.  The doctor did say we could do an amniocentesis, but we do not want to do that.  So hopefully, in 8 weeks, the kidney will be normal.  In the meantime, I will continue to enjoy feeling our little boy move and grow, and look forward to seeing him again in a couple of weeks.

I love this little boy so much already!!!!  <3

This is what we came up with to show Ethan

that he is going to have a baby brother

Ethan's reaction to finding out that it is a boy...  (he wanted a sister so bad!)

My Last Day of {Paid} Work

In November I put in my notice at work.  It was really hard, as I worked hard to get where I was career-wise and I did actually enjoy most of what I did.  Sean and I just felt like the best decision right now for our family is for me to be home (especially with my commute being so long now and also with the new baby coming).  I had agreed that I would continue to work as long as I could drop Ethan off at the bus stop and pick him up - until they found a replacement.  My replacement started at the end of January and  Friday (February 18th) was my last day.  It's very weird to think that I'm not working anymore, I've been working for the past 11 years. 

Top Things I Loved About What I Did/Where I Worked (and What I Will Miss Most):

• the people I worked with - everyone got along so well and really helped each other out
• The residents - they taught me so much!  Not just crocheting, history lessons from those who lived through major historical events, but also in small things like not taking things (such as being able to walk unassisted) for granted
• The sense of accomplishment when an issue was finally resolved (or when an insurance company finally paid after months of them beating around the bush)
• My lunch bunch <3

Top Things I Will Not Miss:

• getting yelled at when I was the bearer of bad news to residents/Power of Attorneys that, yes, they really do owe the full amount on their statement, even though yes, I realize it is thousands of dollars.
• The commute  (although 99.5 and the Kane Show made it a little more bearable)
• paying $5.30 for a cheese quasadilla and V8 Splash at the Cafe for lunch when I didn't pack one (which was almost everyday for the last three months)
• Residents passing away
• Medicaid (need I say more?!)

I have learned so much from working at this company - especially from my last position there - the Business Office Manager.  I now know more than I ever wanted to regarding Medicare (what it covers/doesn't, etc), Long Term Care Inusurance, health insurance coverage for skilled nursing, and so much more.  The company was a wonderful one to work for and I definitely recommend it to anyone. 

Yes, I will miss that place.

Part of the Gang.. 

Berwick, Natalie (who is taking over my position), Mariah, Michell,

Dana, Holly H., Jacopo

(Berwick, Michell, Dana, Jacopo and I were all in finance - Mariah and Holly

were in RG Admissions)

Recipe

Snap Peas 'n' Ham Alfredo

1 package frozen pasta, broccoli, and Alfredo sauce
2 cups fresh sugar snap peas
1/4 cup water
2 cups cubed fully cooked ham
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/8 teaspoon pepper

Prepare pasta and sauce according to package directions.  Meanwhile, place peas and ater in microwavbe safe dish and cook in microwave for about a minute.  Drain. 

Stir the peas, ham, oregano, and pepper into pasta mixture; cook and stir for 3/4 minutes or until heaed through.

**Note:  I did not use frozen pasta, broccoli and Alfredo sauce.  I made pasta (using Rigatoni noodles), cooked fresh broccoli, and made the Alfredo sauce - then just mixed it all together when it was cooked.

SURVEY SAYS:  Keeper.  Not a favorite of mine, but Ethan loved it - aske for seconds and ate it all!  To me it was kind of plain.  Sean isn't home so I don't know what he will think about it, but hopefully he will like it because we have lots of leftovers!

Recipe

Chicken Shepherd's Pie
2 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (6 oz. each), cubed
4 tablespoons butter, divided
1 puch (3.6 oz) roasted garlic mashed potatoes
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2-1/4 cups milk
1 teaspoon sage
1 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper
1 cup shredded Swiss cheese, divided
1 cup fresh sugar snap peas, trimmed and chopped
1/2 cup frozen corn

In a small skillet, cook chicken in 1 tablespoon butter until no longer pink; set aside and keep warm.  Prepare mashed potatoes according to package directions.

Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, melt remaining butter over medium heat.  Whisk in flour until smooth.  Gradually add milk; stir in seasonings.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened.  Remove from heat.  Stir in 3/4 cup Swiss cheese until melted.  Add peas, corn, and chicken.  Transfer to a greased 2 qt. baking dish.  Top with mashed potatoes; sprinkle with remaining cheese.

Bake, uncovered, at 350º for 25-30 minutes or until heated through.  Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

SURVEY SAYS:  It's a keeper:)  Sean and Ethan didn't really like it; however, Sean got seconds (and ate it all) and Ethan also ate all of his plate.  I liked it, so since everyone ate everything on their plates, I'm adding this to our "keep" folder:)

Another New Recipe

Cream Cheese Chicken
4 - 4oz chicken breasts
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 packet Good Seasonings Italian Dressing Mix (You buy it on the salad dressing aisle where the ranch packets are sold also.
1 8oz cream cheese
Put chicken breast in crock pot. In seperate bowl mix the rest of the ingredients EXCEPT the cream cheese together. Pour over chicken. Cook over low for about 4 hours. When chicken is done, shred the chicken into smaller pieces. Cut up the bar of cream cheese, and add to mix. Stir well until cheese is all melted. You could also add a little bit of water or chicken broth if you don't like the mixture so thick.

**If you don't want to do the crock pot, I have heard of mixing all ingredients including the cream cheese and pouring over the chicken in 9x13. Then bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes or until chicken is tender**

Serve over rice or noodles.

SURVEY SAYS.... YUM!  The boys both got seconds and we were all members of the Clean Plate Club:)  And it is incredibly easy to make - another bonus!

Ethan's Student of the Quarter Award!

A couple of weeks ago Ethan brought home a note from his teacher in a sealed envelope - when I opened it, I found a letter from the principal, vice principal, and the counselors stating that he was selected to be Student of the Quarter because he was recognized "for showing good character."  The school would be hosting an assembly for the kids and asked that the parents come as well.  Yesterday was the assembly - it was so hard to not say anything to Ethan while we got ready in the morning!  I took him to the bus stop like every normal day and then went back home for a couple minutes and then Sean and I headed to the school. 

As Sean and I were sitting in the gym waiting, they announced all of the children that were selected over the loud speaker and asked that they go to the gym.  They were lined up outside and all filed in.  It was so cute seeing them - they all looked so surprised and slightly confused as to what was going on. 

Sean was in charge of the Flip and I was in charge of the camera.  They announced each child's name and a little blurb about them.  The announcer was talking fast, so Sean and I were both a little caught off guard when she announced Ethan, but Sean was able to capture Ethan at the stage getting his certificate (and TGI Fridays coupon and pencil) and part of the blurb about why he was selected.  At the end of the assembly,  Ethan stood up and looked behind us and finally saw us!  His face lit up and when we reached each other, he said, "how did you know?!"  I told him that we were told to keep it a secret. 

Ethan showed us where the cafeteria is and the bulletin board that someone had made for the "Students of the Quarter" and then to his classroom.

I am so proud of him!!!

Ethan next to his spotlight on the bulletin board

Some of the wonderful reasons he was chosen:)