Marinated Cheese

I've posted this recipe before I think but I will go ahead and repost it because several people have ask for the recipe lately.  I made it two times this week!  I actually got this recipe from my sister, Ang.  She said she got it from Southern Living like 13 years ago. I looked on their website and they have it but it's slightly different and doesn't sound as yummy even though I am sure its good.  This version is the best!  

Here's what you'll need:

1/2 cup olive oil

1/2 cup white wine vinegar

3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

3 tablespoons minced green onion

1 teaspoon sugar

3/4 teaspoon dried basil (I usually just leave this out)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

3 cloves minced garlic

2 oz. diced pimento drained

8 oz. block of sharp cheddar cheese

8 oz. package cream cheese

you can also use mozzarella cheese in the mix too but I usually just use cheddar and cream cheese

Combine all the ingredients except the cheeses.  Cut cheese length wise and cross wise.  Arrange cheese in dish.  Pour marinade over cheese and chill at least 8 hours.  Sometimes, I make it the night before.  Also, if you want to make it prettier before serving, transfer cheese to a decorative serving tray and pour a little of the marinade over the cheese.  I hate transferring the cheese so I usually just scoop out some of the marinade before serving.  Serve with Toasted's Party crackers or any box of crackers you choose.  

The pyrex dish works much better than this tin disposable dish.  My cheese slid around everywhere in the aluminum dish on the way to a party this weekend.  It's too flimsy in my opinion but I wanted something that could be thrown away since we were leaving the party early and I didn't want the host to worry about getting my pyrex dish back to me.  

We'll Do It Together

My sisters, Buddy, and I started going through all of Mom's things this past Sun Oct 21, 2012.  We finally all had a day free to meet and do this together.  I don't think any of us were ready to do it but somehow we got through it.  No doubt God gave us the strength Sunday.  And Mom was right there with us.  We still have a lot of Mom's things still to go through but we made the first step.  We had some sweet time together filled with memories and a few good laughs which I thought I'd share with you.  

Mom loved her Umbros.  Do you remember Umbros?  I think I had a pair in every color.  But that was in the early 90's.  Mom still wore hers into 2012!  I think I made fun of her every time she wore them but that didn't stop her.  It's kind of neat that she had three pairs of Umbros.  My sisters and I each got our very own pair (see us modeling below.)  It's such a funny memory of her but you better believe I will be sporting the Umbros in 2013...just around the house or outside.  Enjoy the pics!  I have no idea why some aren't centered on the page.  

We got a good giggle out of these "Shape Ups."  It's so funny she bought a pair of these but even funnier that we never knew she had them.  I guess she wore them around the house when we weren't around?  I just had to try them on so see what they felt like.  I've never tried them before.  They had a lot of cushion and seemed comfortable but I didn't wear them too long as they kind of rock when you walk and that's not a good mix when you got a belly like this.  

I know she didn't wear these recently but it's funny that she still hung on to this pair of Tretorns.  What a blast from the past, major 80's-early 90's.  Ang probably wore Tretorns the most out of all of us but I do remember having to get a pair.  These were extra awesome because they were slip ons!

I think Mom was smiling and giggling along with us with some of the things we found.  She really did have great taste of clothes and shoes but I thought I'd just share just few things with you because believe me, she had a lot of clothes and shoes!  We had the same size foot so there were a few pairs of shoes that I kept and love!  I actually wore a pair the other night to a cookout.  They're the most comfortable black flats I have ever put on my feet!  We wore the same size running shoe too so I kept a couple pairs that she had.  I don't think I will be able to actually run in them though.  I guess it was more sentimental.  This pair below she wore this past year and to the mini marathon she completed with Buddy in April before the Country Music Marathon.  Just seeing these in my closet is motivation to start running again.  I can't imagine the journey in these shoes.  One strong woman wore these.  

I wanted to share this jacket and scarf with you.  It was one that hung in her hall closet and she wore all the time.  I actually wore it a lot too since I am known to not wear a jacket and she would insist I put one on.  She wore the scarf all the time.  If you look back at some of my blog posts such as the "College Grove Christmas Parade" you can catch her wearing it in a few pictures.  Sweet memories we made when she was wearing that scarf.  The fleece and scarf are now hanging in my hall closet.  A piece of her is there and I get to wear it this winter.  Sometimes I just open the closet door to see it hanging there, like she's here.  It was so hard for us to go through Mom's things.  I had anxiety leading up to Sunday.  I prayed about it.  It brought my sisters, Buddy, and I together.  It will continue to bring us together until we finish going through everything.  There's stories in everything she had.  I enjoyed sharing those and listening to them.  It really was how it was supposed to be, just sharing her memories.  I loved that we found a pair of tiny little girl's ballet shoes shoved in the back of her dresser.  The name inside was Madeline Fitzmorris.  Some how she ended up with Madeline's ballet shoes and she kept them all those years.  What a sweet find for Ang I know.  

I came home Sunday night so thankful for the time spent with my family that night.  After we went through some of Mom's belongings, we had our husbands and kids come over for stew.  I cooked it in the crock pot over there so we could all eat together afterwards.  Mom always made the best stew.  Wyler's stew mix and add beef! I always add a can of corn too and sometimes potatoes.  Anyways, Mike and I were getting the kids ready for bed.  He had brought in Mom's things that I had kept.  I hung the jacket in the hall closet and got the urge to check the pockets, hoping there was a note, chapstick,  or something else that reminded me of her in there.  I had been surrounded by her all day and then got home and felt so sad.  I guess I just had my breakdown when I got home.  Maybe I had been holding back tears all day and it just kinda all fell out once I got home.  There wasn't anything in her jacket pockets but she did speak to me in a very big way a little while after that.  I love coming across little things she did for me, little notes she wrote, etc.  I found a bottle of nail polish in my cosmetic bag under my sink one day with a note that said "this is from mom"  I have that little note of my fridge now.  Her handwriting was so beautiful.  Anyways, there was this card I had been meaning to get out of my old purse and put in my new diaper bag.  I always carried this card with me for the past year.  I told her one day that I kept it in my purse and she showed me one that I had written her that she kept in her purse as well.  It was neat we both did that and didn't know.  I almost went and got it out of my old purse several times that week but somehow got sidetracked with kids, etc.  But that Sunday after I got home, I looked for it.  It was like I was meant to get it and read it that night.  All those nights before when I had gotten sidetracked was on purpose maybe.  I sat and read it Sunday night and could almost hear her speaking the words I was reading.  It was a moment where she was with me and I could feel it.  It was as if she was telling me that yeah she was with me all day going through her belongings but she was home with me too.  She was always going to be with me... 

"You and I have been through a lot together and maybe the journey's not over, but what ever happens, we'll do it together"  She said loud and clear that whatever happens, we'll do it together.  We're totally still together although she is not here in flesh.  Her spirit is everywhere.  In my moments of panic and anxiety, when I come home and can't find her, she'll find me...

Notice the date on the card.  Mike just saw me crying in the bathroom on Callie's lil step stool holding the card.  I showed it to him.  She wrote it exactly one year ago from this past Sunday.  So it wasn't just coincidence that I went and got it out of my old purse.  I believe I was supposed to read it at that exact moment.  It was such an amazing moment where God just showed up big time.  It's just another reminder that He is good.  He's got Mom and He's got me.  And we'll all do it together.  

Here's a sweet post from a blog I was introduced to by Jill.  She has some great posts.  http://susansoundings.wordpress.com/2012/07/31/the-echoes-of-a-life-2/

Living the Minivan Dream...and I Love it!

Me and baby boy are officially 21 weeks today.  Everything has been going pretty smooth except some early contractions.  I started having them around this time with Cooper too.  The Dr says I am good.  It's not progressing anything so just gotta stay hydrated and do a few suggested things such as take a bath to make them go away.  As long as they aren't regular, painful, or progressing anything than I am ok.  Just more annoying than anything.  I think around week 30 with Cooper, I did end up getting a shot to stop contractions but hopefully it won't come to that with this lil one.  That was a shot from hell.  I thought I was gonna have a heart attack because it makes your heart race and you get all jittery.  

We woke up Saturday morning and got the kids ready to go to Callie's gymnastics.  Super dad took them both and I went to get my hair colored and cut.  Just something about turning 31, being pregnant with #3, and looking at minivans that made me wanna go lighter with my color.  Ha! Thanks Dana, I feel like a new woman!  I was still getting my hair done after gymnastics was over so Mike took the kids to visit Nana.  They each took a pumpkin to leave for her since she loooooved pumpkins, especially like 20 on her porch at a time during the fall!  I thought it was so sweet of Mike to take pictures so I could see them.  Cooper left his for Nana but Callie just couldn't part with her pumpkin even though we promised going to get another one for her.  That's ok sweet Callie.  Nana would've told you to take it back home with you.  Here are a couple of my favorite pictures he sent me.  

Here I am taking a classy bathroom belly pic in the mirror.  This was Saturday after my hair so almost 21 weeks here.  I will have to post pics to compare each pregnancy around this time.  It's neat to look back at those.  Not sure if you can tell my hair is a lot lighter here.  I don't think its been this light since my UK cheer days!

After we got Cooper down for a nap, Mema came over so we could go look at a few more cars.  We were really just getting out to see what was out there and compare the different minivans.  Also, I wanted to try really hard to find an SUV with 3 rows that would work for us.  Something about making the minivan jump just made me feel so old and uncool.  Haha, Ang, Jill, and Jordan!  I really wanted to like the GMC acadia, Ford Expedition, Chevy Traverse, etc.  Actually I did, but they just didn't have it all.  The automatic doors and amount of storage space in the minivan sold it.  It just made more sense with 3 little kids to go with the minivan.  So, we compared some models and decided the Volkswagen Routan was our favorite.  We were a little hesitant to go with another VW since my lil beetle convertible gave us a run for our money.  But let's be honest, I drove that thing into the ground and we lived up a mountain in Colorado.  Our fab saleswoman (Ask for Sona at VW Cool Springs if anyone is thinking about at VW) did say that VW had lots of electrical issues from 02-06 but they've made a lot of improvements so we'll see.  But the interior of the Routan, a basically new 2012 model, and the price made our decision.  It was what we wanted.  Leather and DVD were a must for us if we were gonna make the minivan jump.  The dealership only had this one in stock.  We really weren't expecting to buy a van just yet but we got a great deal and we love it.  The first pic we are waiting on our 4 Runner to be appraised and texting my brother in law Jay about the car.  He used to work for VW.  Callie was super sad to say goodbye to the Runner.  She even had a major meltdown when we got home.  But after a few cruises around town, she loves the van!

Our first stop with the new mini... Sonic.  I got out and took some pics like a major dork.  I am sure the young kids hanging out at Sonic were like "um your car sucks"  Ha!  Here she is.  Mike says we gotta drive this until Callie turns 16!

What's sexier than a dad driving a minivan and ordering Sonic on a Saturday night??

I was so excited about our new mini that I insisted on going to Krispy Kreme first thing Sunday morning just so we could drive it.  Oh and I wanted a donut.  It was Cooper's first ride in the van and he loves it.  He didn't want to get out of the car.  The DVD was his favorite part.  I am seriously thinking of errands to run today just because I want to drive it.  I love it!  I am "living the minivan dream!"  

Food Truck Fight

Mike got off work a little early today so we headed do downtown Franklin to check out the Food Truck Fight.  I am not sure if it's every Thursday night that they have it or just certain ones.  I've been wanting to go mainly to try the Grilled Cheeserie truck because I love grilled cheese sandwiches and I have heard they make amazing ones!  I will say they were good and they did have some neat twists on the average cheese and bread but they didn't even come close to Mom's grilled cheese sandwiches.  She taught me how to cook them over the years and I think I've pretty much come close to hers.  I make it the same exact way but just don't have that special touch.  Grilled cheese was/is my comfort food.  She always made them when I came home from college, Colorado, or just when I came over with the kids and looked like I needed one.  She could always tell.  She'd just ask "Do you want a grilled cheese?"  She could read my mind! Maybe I will walk you through Mom's grilled cheese sandwich on a blog someday or maybe I will just keep it a secret.  But it's pretty much bread, velveeta, a lot of butter, and a lot of love.  The kids had a great time playing.  The kid zone was a little lame.  I was picturing bounce houses galore but it was some hula hoops, bags, and some sidewalk chalk.  But, Cal and Coop just loved running around and being outside.  Callie's favorite was the music and of course the Retro Sno.  She always dances if theres loud music wherever we go.  I love it.  She doesn't care who's watching or how she looks.  She just has the best time.  I think it's hilarious and sweet.  Here are some pictures from our night.  Be sure to watch the video at the end of her dancing.  My favorite part is around 30 seconds in.  

It's a BOY!!!

We found out yesterday that baby Matwijec #3 is a boy!  Here is Callie and Cooper's reaction...

You Are Good

So the first part of this blog is random but I wanted to throw in a song that I love.  We love some contemporary christian music playing in our house and car.  Callie seems to memorize every song on the radio.  It's amazing to see and hear our 3 year old sing songs about Jesus.  She's had lots of questions and conversations with us about God, Jesus, and Nana lately.  Mike will blog about that soon since he's had some really great time with her talking about Jesus.  There isn't a day that goes by that she doesn't have a question or comment about it, especially about Nana.  She's trying to understand it just like we are.  Really, we don't know anymore than a 3 year old.  It's a mystery.  We will never understand.  But what is certain is that Nana is definitely in heaven with Jesus, safe and healed.  Callie brought something to my attention in one of our conversations.  We've always told her that Jesus lives in her heart.  Randomly one day she says "Nana lives in my heart too because she's with Jesus."  It was such a proud moment.  It was something I hadn't really thought about but its so true.  I was so proud of her for realizing that.  I was so proud of her that she was thinking about it even when we weren't talking about it.  And I was proud of Mike and I.  She's hearing us.  She's getting it.  She's teaching us.  She has been helping me in my grieving process of losing my mother more than she will ever know.  She has made me talk through it on a level that she can kind of understand.  The faith of a child is really beautiful.  It's simple.  It's brought it back to the basics before the world of cancer, suffering, medicine, doctors, and hospitals complicated it.  God had Mom covered.  I truly believe He fought for her.  We will never know the full story.  We will never know why it began or why it ended the way it did until we meet Him in heaven.  But what we do know 100% is that God did not make her sick.  He did not choose her to suffer.  Back to child like faith... God is good.  He wouldn't be a good God if He was giving out disease, causing accidents, or causing any kind of harm to anyone.  He is our Father.  Would you ever harm your child like that for any reason?  As my sweet friend Gina would say (and I love this), that would make God a child abuser.  And He is definitely not that.  You love your children no matter what.  You want the best.  You want them happy and healthy and would fight for that, right?  So, that's what I rest in.  I rest in Him, in His goodness.  I try not to think about the why's of the world because we will never know.  I rest in what I do know and hold on to her memories.  The Saturday before Mom passed away, I walked first thing in the morning with my friend and neighbor Gina.  We got caught in the rain.  Not just sprinkles, but pouring down rain.  It was actually pretty amazing.  For those of you who don't know but Gina leads an amazing bible study that I am in.  That's a whole other blog.  It's completely changed me.  We had a great walk in the rain and great conversation that Sat morning.  One of the things we talked about was me wanting to be with Mom when she passed away.  I wanted to be there and I wanted our family to be together.  I love her faith.  She said I could totally pray for that and pray for Mom to go when she's ready and to notice who all is around during that time.  Sunday night, she went to be with Jesus with our entire family there.  As we held her hand and talked to her, we watched her last breath and last heartbeat.  It was so peaceful.  Of course it was painful for us, but she was free.  She was healed and perfect again and on her way to the most beautiful place.  I am so lucky to have my family and friends so close.  I am like a year behind on thank you notes for different things but please know all you have done for me during this time has been greatly appreciated.  Callie, Cooper, and baby 3, you've kept me busy and have shown me how much God loves me through you.  Mike, thank you for loving me and keeping me together and hugging me when you knew I needed it and most importantly for letting me stay in my pjs all day, folding laundry, taking over the job of cleaning the playroom, and taking extra good care of our babies when I couldn't get out of bed some mornings.  Oh and not to mention going to work everyday and providing for our sweet family.  Even after almost 18 years of knowing each other, 5 of those being married, you still amaze me.  Back to the song I am loving lately.  Here it is.  Back to the basics.  Love the lyrics... "You are good...  You are love...  You are light...  You are hope...  You are peace...  You are truth...  You are joy...  You are life...  The riches of your love will always be enough..."   

I wanted to make sure I shared these pictures with family and friends who don't have instagram or Facebook.  I've been slacking on the blog this past year so I'm trying to update more.  I love looking back at past blogs.  One of these days I am going to try that website where you can print your blogs into a book. The first picture is our family celebrating Mom's 60th birthday last year.  We threw a surprise party for her.  We were a little hesitant at first on if we should as we would not know how she would be feeling.  Chemo left her tired and nauseated a lot of the time.  But we took a chance and threw it anyways.  We wanted to do something special for her and wanted all of her friends and family to be there.  We had no idea it would be her last birthday.  Thank you Lord for giving us that day of family, friends, and Mom.  

This year we celebrated Nana's birthday without her but know she was with us in spirit.  We woke up and grabbed some Krispy Kreme (Nana's favorite) and took it to Paw Paw and Mema.  We got some balloons for Nana as Callie had requested.  We decided to get helium ones so we could let them float up to heaven for Nana.  Cooper was there, but he popped his balloon before I could get a picture of him.  Ha!

Happy Birthday Nana!  Hope you like the polka dot balloons. We love and miss you XOXO