Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Happy, Happy Birthday Jay!!!!

Happy Birthday Jay!

Even if you still had the cone head your dad always says that you had when you were born I would love you. Now, I may buy you hats for every occasion, especially a ten gallon cowboy hat, and insist that they looked wonderful on you so you would wear them everywhere, but I would still love you.

I was not there when you got your famous basketball goal for Christmas, but I was there when you got your first guitar. I can't wait to hear you playing and singing with the other guys. This may be the greatest talent of your life.


I was not there when you first started dating or went to the prom, but I was right there when you first saw, was smitten by, and won the heart of the love of your life.



And I was there when you first got to know the other love of your life.

I was not there when you were born or even when you were born again, but I am pretty sure I was around when you made Jesus the Lord of your life.

Happy Birthday Jay! I'm glad that we get to be in a family together.
You are a great son.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Today Is Your Birthday!!!!

Happy Birthday, Jason! Since it's your birthday I'll tell you just a few of the things that I love about you.

I love how you love and enjoy my Leslie and want to spend eternity with her, Bennett, and Jesus. And that you consider my Laurie your sister.

I love the father you have become....


How you have grown into this wonderful job! I love your loyalty... to your family, to your friends,.... and to your Alma mater. And most of all to your Abba Father.

Just one of your 25 random things! I love your sense of humor.


I love the way you take care of your family.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JASON!!!!! We'll celebrate this weekend with one of your other random things.... raw oysters! I'm glad that you know that you are loved.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Cold Bear!



Bennett has a new favorite song, Chicken Fried by Zac Brown Band. A good ole boy's Southern song. Bennett calls the song Chicken Friday. He sings along with his mommie and daddy, with just a little change in the words for Bennett. They sing , "I like my chicken fried. Cold milk on a Friday night."


One cool morning last week Bennett discovered that his bear, Bear, had been left in the car overnight. He pulled Bear over to give him a big morning hug and said, "Cold Bear!"

" Cold Bear!", he exclaimed."Chicken fried and cold Bear!"

He also hears the song on the radio.

You know I like my chicken fried
Cold beer on a Friday night.
A pair of jeans that fit just right.
And the radio up.

Tiny Bubbles!

Tiny bubbles........................... make me happy.....................


Make me feel fine!


Tiny bubbles................. make me warm all over.

With a feelin' that I'm gonna love you till the end of time!

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Tuesday Night Parmesan Crusted Chicken

Typical Tuesday night dinner at the Allen house. Parmesan crusted chicken, roasted potatoes, steamed asparagus, black bean & shoepeg corn salsa with Mandarin oranges served with


a nice wedge of iceberg lettuce with homemade ranch dressing and a sprinkle of bacon bits.

Okay, so we would normally probably only have salad, Ree's smashed potatoes and George Foreman chicken except that I eat black bean and shoepeg corn salsa every day now. Or we would even more likely just eat at the Barbecue Pit on Tuesday night.

But, my friend Ree's friend Kate from Holland shared a recipe on The Pioneer Woman today for Parmesan Crusted Chicken that looked delicious. So I decided to try the recipe since I had thawed chicken for dinner.


Her recipe called for 1/2 cup of Hellman's mayonnaise and I used half Kraft mayonnaise and half whipped cream cheese spread because a woman at WalMart told Jimmy, when he was looking for Parmesan cheese, that her sister now used whipped cream cheese spread instead of mayonnaise for everything and it has less than half the calories so Jimmy bought the whipped cream cheese spread and I felt I should use it. So I did. Because apparently, strangers at WalMart know things.


Kate used sun-dried tomatoes and I did look for the sun-dried tomatoes that I had purchased at some point but I may have thrown the jar away when we moved last year so I had to do without them.

I did however have basil in the freezer thanks to Laurie as well as chives, parsley and shallots which I threw into the mixture. Not that Kate used any of these ingredients except the basil, but she used an Italian mixture and I, surprisingly, did not have an Italian mixture .

Kate used Lowery's garlic salt and I remembered the Lowery's but I was thinking seasoning salt so I used that along with garlic and pepper.

Jimmy did pick up Parmesan cheese similar to what Kate used. She recommended 1/4 cup of fresh grated but I used about a cup of fancy shredded Parmesan cheese. Oh, and Kate added a cup of bread crumbs which I also could not find in my cabinet.

So, my recipe and Kate's both had some mayo and some Parmesan cheese. Then we both spooned the mixture on top of our chicken and baked it at 425 until done.

And it was great!!!!!

I had extra topping and decided to top the new potatoes that I had cooked in the microwave and brown them also.

Yummmmm! They were also delish!!!

Oh, yea. Did you notice my baking dish? It was perfect for my version of Parmesan Crusted Chicken.

Thanks Jay and Lela and Hannah for a dish that is very appropriate for me. I love it!!! Clean up was a breeze too!


In reviewing Kate's recipe I discovered that Kate has changed her name to Kay. But we are still friends by association.

Where in the World is Baby B?




Laurie and I took Baby B to the indoor play area at Chick's. We took off his shoes and basically said "Here we are. Play!"

Here he is after climbing up the first step. See! They are only waist high for him! What took you so long Baby B?

Second step.......Now on to the next. Wow, what's up there? Where does this go?


Around the bend..... on to the next level. (Up beyond our reach!) Baby B's looking ahead.

Here comes............................ not Baby B............................. but a little boy! Sniff! Sniff!

Here's Bennett!!!! FUN!!!!!!!


Ummmmmm!...................I think I'll go again.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Bennett Said!


Bennett casually told his mommie bye then he told me " Momma work . Email."



I asked him, " Where is Daddy?"
B: " Daddy work, email...... and cavity."

Then Mallory Went On A Date!


My, how time flies!!!!
It seems Mallory just had her first birthday and now she's on a date



A date with her Daddy, that is. Daddy- Daughter Dance!!! The first of many I am sure.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MALLORY!

Add ImageHappy 1st Birthday Mallory!!!!!
Mallory was THE BEST Birthday girl ever! She had a long nap and awoke grinning.


She gave everyone kisses................

...................................or high fives...............


posed with her cousins...............


ripped into her gifts with glee.................

.......................hugged and remembered...............................


........................read every card ...........................studied every tag...............


...........................................admired each...............

and every..............

..........................................gift!


She was amazed by her cake...............


......................... had a small bite.............
..........................................then finally just dug in!!!!!!!


............................OH!..................................I'm done!!!!!!!
What a SWEETIE and one HAPPY Girl!!! That girl knows she is loved!!!!

Party scenes soon.............maybe!