taking a blog break

I began this blog to unload my emotions and connect with other women, and I have enjoyed that connection immensely. I am almost at 300 posts and cannot believe I have written that much in the few years that I have been doing this. The problem right now is that my heart isn't really here anymore, it's at my other blog, my adoption and infertility blog. I don't really dump all that stuff off here, and most of my readers over there are in the same boat. I've recently really become involved in the lives of the community I've created over there, and it feels good.

This blog has never really had a niche. I don't have a theme or a topic to post about all the time. And my life isn't interesting enough to write about without some kind of point of view. My friend Alison creates hilarious and sarcastic posts about her life, which she calls mundane, but I crack up over every day.

I don't have kids to post about yet. I'm not inspirational. I crafty, but I don't craft enough to post about it day after day. Plus, I have a job outside the home that wears me out day after day.

I just need to take a break. If you don't want to follow me over there, that's okay. If you don't want to read about my longing for a baby, and the struggles to get there, that's fine. If you do want to still keep up with me, the blog address is www.fromthestork.blogspot.com or click HERE.

Just so you know, I'll still post any major developments over here with regards to a baby and an adoption, so you can hear the news when it happens. I hope you're all okay with me taking a break, and aren't too upset. I don't think you will be, since I haven't posted much in the past month, and when I receive little comment.

pans, pans, pans

So, the pans arrived. And I have cooked in them a couple of times, but haven't made a full course meal yet. We've just been too busy to really have something complicated, so it's been simple fare around here. What little I have done with them has been wonderful. I love the sizes of the pans, the glass lids and the silicone handles that don't get hot.

The one closest to the bottom of the photo is my favorite. It has two small handles on the side and is a great size for just about everything. I can fit four hamburgers in there, lots of potstickers or a huge batch of scrambled eggs.

I'm excited about the idea of being able to cook and prepare homemade baby food when the time comes, but I will need a better food processor by then. I don't have the fantasy that I will cook and prepare every meal that my children eat, but I think it would be fun to include homemade things when I can.

Oh, but I can't put these pans in the dishwasher. It voids the warranty. So handwashing all the way with these babies.

And I know it was a random kind of valentine gift to get, but it's what I wanted. I was so excited the day they arrived and lovingly unwrapped the pans and spread them all out on the island. I even told one of the pans that I loved it. Charlie laughed.

Yay, pans!

pages, pages

Oh, here is a cutie patootie picture of our nephew Harrison from the twins birthday party.

Has anyone else noticed that Blogger has added an option to add pages to your blog? I hadn't, but another blogger mentioned it. Finally! When you click on "new post" there is a button next to the "edit posts" option called "edit pages."

Pages, Pages!! Yay!

Now, I haven't done anything with this blog yet, but I have messed around with it a little on my adoption blog. I wanted to keep my main page as my journal type area, with my regular blog posts, but I wanted to have our adoption story and a background on us included as well. It just seemed like maybe, and I mean maybe, a birth mom might come across our blog and want to read about us, not just read my blog posts. So I wanted background on there as well, and I included pictures of us and our family as well.

I know it's not a huge thing, but so many people have moved to Wordpress because they have multiple pages. But now, here we go! Pages.

the twins turned two

Charlie's brother Chad has twins: Cheyenne and Payden. Today was their birthday party, and their birthday is Monday. Their mom, Katie, planned a really cute Elmo themed party and it was a good time!

Cheyenne was opening something in the background, but Payden turned! They had a hard time understanding that once they opened something it didn't mean they should play with it right now when there was a big stack of presents to open. Eventually, Chad opened a few things while they played with a fire truck that was a big hit.


Mmmm, cake! And cake flavored ice cream, which I really liked, cause sometimes cake is dry. I think I might just put a candle in some of that ice cream from now on when it's my birthday!

Frosting is good!


Payden was very curious about my camera and came pretty close. He's staring me down, man!

Happy Birthday!

happy valentine's to me

So, the cookware around the ol' homestead is looking might rough. Charlie and I started talking about it a couple of months ago, before Christmas, but other things took precedence. Don't get me wrong, my old cookware was bought as a wedding present and was nice. But it was painted on the outside, and my dishwasher doesn't like that. And one of my pans got scratched on the inside by a doggie who was trying to help me get it clean. I know, some of you might think that's gross.

But, behold:

My new cookware. Calphalon Hard-Anodized cookware set.

Now, it isn't the fancy, fancy calphalon stuff. I can't afford that, and I don't like stainless steel cookware, cause I'm just not that talented. I like me some teflon! I know that even though I aspire to culinary greatness, I just can't get into cooking on stainless steel. Just not for me, but if you're cooking on it, I give you many compliments.

This particular cookware set came with a free bonus gift of another pan as well, shaped a little like a flatter wok with a lid. And I love glass lids!! Yes. Smart cookware designers gave me glass lids and one that fits on the large saute pan. Awesome.

Can you tell I'm gushing? I love my present! Or, I will when it arrives tomorrow.

I looked around a little at cookware.com and found this set. I sent it to Charlie because I wanted him to see the style I was looking for since we were going to go look around here in town. I thought we might be able to get a few pieces at our local TJ Maxx, since they normally carry such great stuff. I didn't think I'd be able to get a whole set, or at least, not all at once. So I sent it to his email and then last night he tells me he went ahead and ordered it!!!!!!!!!

I started jumping around. He was so casual about it, and I was so thrilled. Completely and totally thrilled and surprised that he would go ahead and get it. YAY!

So, Valentine's Day will consist of something home cooked, in my new pans! I'd invite you, but it's not really romantic to have a whole group. So, sorry.

New pans, new pans, new pans, new pans, new pans. Ahhh, the long hours until they arrive tomorrow. New pans, new pans, new pans.

New pans. Sigh. I'm in love. With them, and my husband.