Tuesday, October 28, 2008

They're Cousins, Identical Cousins Just the Same!








cousin-noun Pronunciation [kuhz-uhn]
one related by descent in a diverging line from a known common ancestor, as from one's grandparent or from one's father's or mother's sister or brother.

i have several cousins on both my mother and father's side. i know each on sight and know at least one small minute fact about each one. however i probably know more the homeless guy jack likes to give donuts to than these people. shocking? probably, but still it's a fact. they don't anything about me either.

we did not grow up around either of my parents families and as such do not have any tie to most of these people. don't get me wrong, i would be very upset if anything happened to these relatives, but honestly there just is no relationship. there were never invitations to weddings or showers of any sort and truthfully why should there be. you wouldn't invite the strange neighbor down the street to a family BBQ why would you invite the strange cousin you've seen four times in your life to your wedding.

does it make me sad? yes. a little, no alot. however there's no going back and you cannot change the past.

i can't change the past for me, but i can ensure better future relationships for my children. i am proud to say that they not only know who there cousins are, they WANT to be around them and care for them deeply.

i know that doesn't change the fact that i should know and care more about my belly-dancing cousin or the one who just got married or the one who got married again, or the three who just had babies, or the two that really want a baby. it's just my way of making sure the past doesn't repeat itself.

blessings to you debbie, greg, michelle, michael, stephanie, andrew, aimee, heather, emilee, miranda, and alex

i hope your life is going well for you, i truly do.

cole

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

The Secret Life of Bees-My Most Boring Blog Yet :)

So i'm cruising the web, because i don't want to clean my home (surprise surprise) and i notice there is a trailer for this movie, "the secret life of bees". and my brain is thinking, "why does this sound so familiar to me?"

i own this book

about seven years ago, back when my sister-in-law was just my friend, she gave me this book on one of her random (i must have order in this chaos) cleaning sprees. i remember this for three reasons, 1) i got some cool old navy t-shirts, which i still have 2)my brother was living with her one floor below my apartment and that was "different" 3) and she gave me several books on poetry, feminism, and this book.

well today, i read that book from cover to cover. i am only ashamed to say that i hadn't read it sooner. it is really a nice easy read.

jere and i have moved four times since we have been married and as such i have culled down my mini library considerably. for some reason i hadn't given this book away. maybe because stace gave it to me and might notice it missing, (though i doubt, my betty friedan collection *courtesy of stace yet again* has been shrinking for years unnoticed :) or just the interesting name, the cover artwork, whatever.

for whatever reason i saved it and i'm glad i did and i'm glad my sister-in-law thought i might like it and i'm glad they made it into a movie, and i'm just glad

did i mention i watched "Pollyanna" three times today?

blessing,

cole

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Home-made Chocolate Fudge Sheet Cake



This is for my sister-in-law Stace :) We visited the local pumpkin patch this morning and had a blast!

This recipe is not for the faint of heart or dieting stomach.

2 Cups flour 2 Cups sugar 1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp soda Mix together flour, sugar, salt, and soda.

In a saucepan combine:
1 Cup water
1/2 Cup oil
1 stick butter (you can cheat with margarine, I use BUTTER)
5 Tbl cocoa
Bring this to a boil and pour over flour mixture. Stir well.

Add to mix:
2 eggs (slightly beaten, but not defeated)
1/2 Cup buttermilk or sour milk (I use regular is I don't have either)
1 tsp vanilla
Stir WELL

Bake in a greased 11x15 pan at 350 for 20-25 minutes. While cake is cooking prepare topping for cake.

Combine in a saucepan
1 stick butter
4 Tbl cocoa
6 Tbl milk
Cook until butter is melted on low heat.

Add to this
1 LB of powered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
and if you like 1 Cup of chopped nuts

Mix well and pour onto HOT, FRESH OUT OF THE OVEN cake!

Enjoy this beautiful fall weather, love and miss everyone

Cole

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

PSAT fever

I am so excited! Today my oldest is taking the PSAT for the very first time and I am way more pumped than she could ever be. The thought of her one day getting to go to college doesn't make me sad for time passing, it simply invigorates my spirit on the endless possibilities her life can have with a college degree. (Yes I am that optimistic)

I loved college, every moment of it and if I could I would still be there today!

so please tell me why my sulky 15 year old doesn't feel the same way I do? She left this morning with such attitude for "this stupid test" no energy for this "rite of passage!" What is going on?

I guess for me it just takes me back to my high school days when I wanted to take the SAT and my mom said, "but you would be such a great hair dresser and you don't need college for that". Or my senior year of college where my mom says, "do you really think you are going to make it, are you going to graduate, you know I always thought you would make such a great beautician".

Pause. Sigh.

Don't get me wrong, I love my mother very much, it's just that I really want to convey to my daughters that the sky is the limit, not the "Smart Style" and while I am currently on a "mommy hiatus" from teaching, for now I still have the same goals and aspirations I had (gasp has it been that long) 17 years ago only now I have them for my beautiful, intelligent, funny, fabulous, daughters.

GO PSAT!
Register to VOTE!
Spay and neuter your PETS!

Cole

Summertime

Summertime
Beautiful batheing babes (and bubs)