Funny Bunny!

Only in the country can something like this happen. I mean, I walk outside my door, and there is
a beautiful little baby bunny sitting there in the grass! But the crazy part is, she didn't scurry off at the sight of me. She just...kind of stayed there, looking all content, and kind of curious. I was able to get so many good pictures of her! I was so excited, because this was like the cutest baby bunny I have ever seen.

You may be wondering how I knew she was a girl. Well, you'll see when you look at the pictures, she just looked so...pretty! There's no way this bunny was a boy.

I have a soft spot for bunnies. I never call them rabbits. They are all bunnies. Once, my dad and I saved a small newborn bunny that fell in our pool. It would fit in the palm of my hand. I saw it struggling, screamed, and my dad came and skimmed it out. Then I prepared a small cup of water and lettuce and put it next to the bush where he huddled all day. I swam all day nearby to give him space. I was so sad he wasn't eating or drinking, but he was breathing and just stayed there in the shade. Then, at 5:00 in the afternoon, his mama came hopping over with his brother. And they all snuggled together and jumped in circles, and then hopped off together. It was one of the happiest things I ever witnessed.

Another time, in 9th grade Biology, we had a bunny that I named Pinkie because he was albino and had pink ears, eyes, and nose. I loved him. I took him home for the summer and took care of him. Turns out...he hated me. He scratched and attacked me whenever I went near him. I still love bunnies, though.

Anyway, back to our photogenic lawn bunny. Here she is.




I told you she was cute!! And so girly, right?

Look, she even has little front bunny teeth coming in!


I think I want to take her in and adopt her. I will feed her carrots and take good care of her.

Maybe she's a friend of the Easter Bunny's? Dropping off some early goodies?

Love & Dress Up,

DR Mama

Remembering New Years Eve

Bye Bye 2010! We loved you so. You were very good to us.


Since I was about 3, and could form coherent sentences, if you asked me what my favorite holiday was, I would say New Year's Eve. Isn't that a funny favorite holiday for a child? But it was, I remember so vividly why.

We did the same thing every year. I loved traditions and something to look forward to. In the afternoon, we always took a nap - on top of our covers, not underneath. That would be too much like sleep. And we didn't always have to fall asleep, but we had to lay down at least. I was always as excited as I was on Christmas Eve during those naps.

Then at night, we would pack up and drive to my Great Aunt and Uncle's house. Aunt Rita and Uncle Sal. The party was with family, and in their basement. Classic Italian family parties are always in basements, if you ask me. I had sausage and peppers, chopped chicken liver on crackers (yes, this has been one of my favorite foods since that age), and orange juice on ice. They had a real bar down there, which I thought was amazing as a child. We would take off our party shoes and run around in our socks, until Poppy told us to put sneakers on cause we would slip and fall. My mama made cream puffs for dessert. Every time I eat a cream puff, I am back in their house - with their avocado shag carpet.

All the boys, and my sister, would play poker with nickels. We would change into our PJ's and lay our sleeping bags in front of the TV, and play board games. We watched the ball drop on a TV with an antennae that only showed black and white picture. Then, at some point, we would fall asleep. And we would get carried to the car in pajamas and jackets, freezing cold, half awake and drive home. The next day we would watch the Honeymooners all day, and eat fried salami and mozzarella sandwiches.

I'm not sure what about Year's Eve was my favorite...or what makes every part of the night so vivid to me. Maybe because every year it was like going back to 1965, nothing ever changed, everything was black and white. I know it had something to do with the prospect of staying up so late...even thought I rarely made it straight through. Maybe it's more special now because Aunt Rita and Uncle Sal aren't here anymore. They are so hosting my New Year's Eve in heaven. But New Year's memories live in my heart, always.


New Year's Eve to me is nostalgic and surrounded by people that I love. Last year, I had a little bambino in my belly and was filled with expectation and excitement. This year has been the most life changing, and amazing, and magical. This upcoming year, my baby will learn to talk, walk, eat, play, run, hug, kiss, sing, and dance. Our family will continue to make memories that will last Reilly's lifetime. Hubby will continue to be the only one I want to make new memories with, forever and ever amen.

Happy 2011!

Love & Family Traditions,

Dirt Road Mama

Christmas Fun!

We opened presents..

She chews on bows...
She then chews on her new presents...
She got Uggs from her crazy Auntie Mimi and Uncle E...
She watched football with Poppy...
It was family fun, all around! We want to get her a onesie that says "Life of the Party", because that's pretty much what she is everywhere she goes. Some people look forward to time that they get to spend away from their kids. And I am all for date nights here and there, don't get me wrong... but Hubby and I just love having baby hanging with us! She's our BFF, why would we want her anywhere else but by our side? Nothing is better than that smile!

It was a fun, smiley, relaxing, wonderful Christmas.

Thank you Jesus for all of your blessings, we are grateful today and always.

Love & Smiles,

Dirt Road Mama

Her First Eve!

Here is the Christmas update! It is late because we got snowed in during our Christmas travels, and then Mama got a 24 hour stomach virus on the way home. Not very fun. Thank God I was able to sleep most of the drive, but then was pretty much couch-ridden the rest of the day. But now I am feeling better, unpacking toys, and re-hydrating.


A family pic...

And this is what the boys did when we said, "Silly Picture!"

The hosts of our Christmas Eve since we were teeny babies!

Love this family. We watched videos of us singing Happy Birthday Jesus when we were all so little. Hard to believe we'll be doing it all so soon for our kiddies.

Mama and her brother, Uncle Brad.

Ladies in red!

Reilly and her Mima & Poppy.

Our Family! First Christmas together!

Uncle Matt and his Rei-B.

My girl. My heart.


Daddy and his Buddy.

And she ended the night falling into a peaceful sleep on her Mama. And we all ended the night with a group hug, cousins and Aunties and Uncles all together. I loved sharing our Christmas Eve tradition with our little Angel.

Love & Sugar Plum Dreams,

Dirt Road Mama

Lights, Please?

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.'
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

(Luke 2:8-14)

And that's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

Actually, that's what life is all about.
Keep Christ in Christmas. Keep Christ in life. Life is good, because of Him.

Merry Merry Christmas everyone!

Love & Christ,

Dirt Road Mama

Pooped!

You may recall that my babygirl was enlisted this year to be one of Santa's Little Elves. It has be a very busy season, let me tell ya! Painting, cutting, hammering, detailing, packaging, mailing.

Oh, the life of a crafter during the Christmas season! But what a joyful time to be creating artwork for people. Knowing it is a special gift, or a decoration for their home...really makes you feel like Santa!

And it also really makes you feel...

pretty darn POOPED!

We got home from a little Christmas get-together, in which Reilly got lots of gifts, and Santa made an appearance. And we got our little Christmas angel out of the car, and this is what she looked like. We just about died laughing. Like on the way home, she just pulled her Santa hat over eyes, like "Okay Mom and Dad, I've had enough of these festivities! Let a little elf have her sleep, will ya?"

I hear, ya, babygirl!

Love & PaintingPaintingPainting,

Dirt Road Mama

Santa Babies

Reilly got together with her BFFs to exchange Christmas gifts. It was so much fun!

Reilly got her first gift of the year:

and tried to eat it. (Shocking, I know.)

Then she pulled Adeena's hair. And girlfriend didn't even flinch. That's a bestie, I tell ya.

Reilly thinks this is a customary form of affection, as she does it to her Mama on the daily.

Babies and Mamas picture :)

Look at our babies, so festive!

Dialogue:
Adeena: Mama, I know we gave this ball to Reilly, but I like it better than mine. Please can I have it?
Greg: Oh, Mom I want one of those too! Tell Santa. And get this chick off me.
Reilly: Okay, Mama, so I can't chew on my wrapping paper, I can't pull Adeena's hair, can I chew on him?

Adeena: Reilly is stealing my boyfriend!
Reilly: Greg, can I just taste your sweater?
Greg: Mom, is she really going to eat my sweater?

I love our precious babies!

No smiles, but at least they are all looking the same way!

Christmas gifting is overwhelming for the little blue-eyed babies.

And a bit for the dad's, too. :)

Reilly's first Christmas Dinner Party - Success!

Love & festivities,

Dirt Road Mama

Santa's Workshop

Things around here are starting to look strangely...familiar...

Like I've been here before or something. Or read about it. I'll tell you one thing, it does not look like my house. It's been transformed. What do you think, Baby?

Baby?! You've been transformed as well!

You look like one of Santa's elves!

"Oh, I know Mama. He dropped this outfit off early for me. Do you like my socks?" said Reilly.

Um...yes, they look like candy canes! But why did Santa bring you an elf outfit?

"Well, Mama, because he asked me to be one of his elves. Did I forget to tell you that?" asked Reilly.

Yes, Baby you did! I'm so happy for you! That is a great accomplishment.

"Mama, didn't you wonder why our house looks like Santa's Workshop? I have been very busy after you and Daddy go to bed." said Reilly.

Ahh. Well that certainly explains things. Would you like some help, Rei??

"Yes, please! But Mama...get to work! There's not much time left!"


Reilly and I will be very busy until December 24th. If you need us, just give us a call via the North Pole. The code word is "Santa's Got a Brand New Bag". (Name that movie.)

If you'll excuse me, I have to go wash her elf uniform. She says she has to wear it while she paints.

Love & Christmas Cheer,

Dirt Road Mama

Scenes from Hunting Season

Here is our pretty little princess in her camo. Please ignore the spit up. Mama took the bib off for the picture, just in time for the spit up. Awesome.

You will notice her hunting outfit, paired with pink frilly headband and socks. This is to incorporate the girly flair that she was born with. She insisted. She said, "Mama, my hair has not grown in yet...people will think I'm a boy."

I told her that we would only be with family, and that they know very well that she is a girl. But like I said, she insisted. I agreed because, really, she looks adorable in that darn headband!

Hubby and his family have been hunting since the beginning of time. Since the hunter-gatherers. Since there were no convenient supermarkets around the corners to pop over and get your meat. Wait...we still don't have that. Anywho, you get the picture. If you lived where we live, you'd love how convenient it is to have a freezer full of meat at your disposal whenever you want it. No hormones! No additives! All natural, baby.

I. Love. This. Picture. Look at my two little cuties.

This weekend, the beginning of hunting season, is a big celebration. The boys (and girls! Hi Christie!) get all excited for their big day of hunting, and everyone gets all excited for Christmas. It's a beautiful thing.

Reilly "putting up" her first ornament on the tree with Grandpa! I use the term "putting up" loosely, as in this case, it is synonymous with "trying to eat".

Hunting is a funny thing - some people have such strong views about it. It's not that big of a deal to me. I didn't grow up with it, but I'm very okay with it. Here's how I see it: I don't want to witness the animal die, I have no interest in that. But really, we use the meat to feed our family. Just like every other piece of meat in the supermarket, it's gotta come from somewhere. And Hubby and his family do things a lot more humanely than I hear the cattle companies do. (Cattle companies? I made that phrase up.) I'm not a fan of debates at all, if you have different opinion, I totally respect that. I just wanted to explain what hunting means to me, for those of you who may have gasped at the beginning of this post.

Grandpa is wondering why Reilly thinks the ornaments are edible.

We're working on it. Food: edible. Inanimate objects: not so edible.

Good luck to all the hunters! But if you see one with a red nose, leave him be. He has a greater purpose in this life.

Love & Camo,

Dirt Road Mama

The Eve of a Holiday

The best idea I've ever had.

On the Eve of a holiday, when days have been spent cleaning and cooking and preparing and freezing and decorating...the last thing that one feels like doing is cooking a meal.

Of which there will be left overs, of which there is no room in the fridge, due to the aforementioned holiday preparations. But alas, family still needs to eat. Darn basic human needs.

My solution? As I spin around the household? Breakfast for dinner. Specifically, pumpkin pancakes for dinner. Ah-may-zing.

The only better idea than this? Have Hubby make the dinner! He offered, and it was the greatest thing ever. He's a pretty master pancake maker. Unless I distract him, then we have what he called "Cajun" pancakes.

Yes, I ate the Cajun Pumpkin Pancake. And it tasted delish.

And then Hubby posed like Mrs. Butterworth.



In a Ninja Turtles t shirt.

Reason #456 why I love him.
Amen.

Here is the recipe he used:

PUMPKIN PANCAKES:
1. In large bowl mix 1 c. whole milk, 1/2 c. pumpkin puree, 1 egg, 2 tbsp canola oil, 1/2 c. applesauce, 1 tbsp white vinegar
2. In separate bowl mix 1 c. whole wheat flour, 3-4 tbs brown sugar, 2 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt, and either 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice (or 1 tsp cinn, 1/2 all spice, and 1/2 nutmeg)
3. Stir flour mix into liquid stir well and let sit for a few minutes to fluff.

Thanks to Jen for a delish recipe, that tastes like it should be dessert, even when they are cajun. OH, yum.

Love you Chef Hubby,

Dirt Road Mama