11-11-11

This Veteran's Day, mommy and Ryder let daddy sleep in. After he got up and relaxed for awhile, we went to the park to take some pictures. I love seeing my happy baby laughing and playing and I love seeing him do that with his daddy. Here are a few pictures that we took that day...Enjoy!

Daddy is Our Hero

Dragon Breath Chili

Last night we went to a friend's house to celebrate another friends upcoming wedding...we are soo excited for them!!!!
For dinner, Kaleigh made Dragon Breath Chili and corn bread and we brought cheesecake. I HAVE to give you the recipe for the chili. It was a little bit of work but it is AMAZING! Kaleigh--you did such a good job!!!! I'm making it this week!!!!

Dragon Breath Chili

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons bacon grease, or canola oil
• 2 red bell peppers, diced (about 2 cups)
• 2 jalapenos, minced (about 2 tablespoons)
• 3 Anaheim chiles, roasted, peeled, chopped
• 3 poblano chiles, roasted, peeled, chopped
• 2 yellow onions, diced (about 2 cups)
• 1 head garlic, minced (about 1/4 cup)
• 1 pound boneless chuck, trimmed and cut into 1/4-inch cubes
• 2 pounds ground beef, coarse grind
• 1 pound bulk Italian sausage
• 2 teaspoons granulated onion
• 2 teaspoons granulated garlic
• 3 tablespoons chili powder
• 2 teaspoons hot paprika
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons ground coriander
• 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
• 2 cups tomato sauce
• 1 cup tomato paste
• 12 ounces lager beer
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 2 (15.5-ounce) cans pinto beans, with juice
• 2 (15.5-ounce) cans kidney beans, with juice
• Saltine crackers, for garnish
• 1 bunch green onions, thinly sliced
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar

Directions

In large stock pot over high heat, add butter and bacon grease. Add bell pepper, jalapeno, chiles and onion and cook until caramelized, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and saute a minute longer. Add chuck and brown. Add ground beef and sausage to brown and stir gently, trying not to break up the ground beef too much. Cook until meat is nicely browned and cooked through, about 7 to10 minutes. Add in granulated onions, granulated garlic, chili powder, paprika, cumin, coriander, cayenne, salt and pepper and cook for 1 minute. Add in tomato sauce and paste and stir for 2 minutes. Stir in beer and chicken stock. Add beans, lower heat and simmer for 2 hours.

Serve in bowls and garnish with Saltine crackers, green onions and shredded Cheddar.

***Like any chili--it's great over/with cornbread ... I'm making it this week to serve over spaghetti***

Doctors and Nurses

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN...
I GOT IN TO NURSING SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
At 6:04 pm this evening, my nursing school adviser called me to inform me that I had been accepted into the nursing associates degree program. She told me I was the first person they called and the very first person they had accepted and I was 1 of 2 students who the director wanted in the program 110% and who she would personally help ensure our spots were saved and all of our i's were dotted and t's were crossed. (I wish I had done better at FSU so I could have done it at Samford and not wasted my parents time and money, but then I might not have met Pat and would not have Ryder....so this is definitely the way it was supposed to happen)
I have a meeting tomorrow to fill out remaining paperwork, start financial aid process...again... (not looking forward to filling out another FASFA), start my background check, register for AHA CPR,  get paper work to fill out for my shot records, and get information on where to go to get my drug test done. WOOT! A lot of stuff!
The hard part starts in January (15). I don't have to take many classes the first semester or 2 because I already have my bachelor's degree. However, I have a baby this go around. Even though I worked full time hours during a lot of college...a baby is a completely different ballgame. Ryder is my number 1 priority and if nursing school isn't working out "for him" then I am out. I need to make sure I spend time with him and still make time to study and pass my classes. I am afraid of taking him and leaving him at a day care, even if it is just a few hours at first. But when the real heavy work starts and I have to leave him all day when I am at school, it is going to completely tear me apart. I have been praying for God's strength in this.
Pat will be leaving for a long deployment within the next year (no details...sorry...per the US Government) and I am dreading that as well. If I could make it through my pregnancy alone, I can do this alone. It's amazing how strong you can be when you don't have any other choice.
I met up with a friend today from my childhood, Kelli. Her dad is working out here and I think her husband had some meetings out here, too. She was leaving to go back home to the East Coast this evening so I met up with her this afternoon at a really good bakery that is about 20 min from us, after Ryder's 6 month dr apt. It was so good to see her (after 8 YEARS!!!) and catch up. She is absolutely beautiful, inside and out, and I am so glad I got to spend some time with her.
Ryder did have his 6 month dr appointment today and weighed 17 lbs. and is 26 in long. He is in the 25% for length and weight but is in the 90% for head circumference...my baby has a big head lol. He had 3 shots today (including a flu shot) and some oral medication. I completely forgot to give him tylenol before we left so his legs are still a little sore. His only nap was between the dr and meeting up with Kelli. Afterward, I had to run by CVS to pick up some medicine for Ryder and got this quick picture of him...

My baby bear was pooped

That is a little of what we did today...I will let you all know how tomorrow goes...thank you for following me and praying about nursing school.

November Pretty Babies

So my friend from AL has started her own photography business. Beautiful Treasures Photography is the name of it. She is great!!! (If you're in the Birmingham area and need pictures taken, she's your girl.) Anyway, she is having a Pretty Baby Contest for the month of November and I entered Ryder in it. Please please please take a moment and click on her link to like her facebook page and then go to her Novemeber Pretty Baby Contest #2 and "like" Ryder's picture. I would appreciate it so much and it only takes a few seconds to do. Ryder's picture is the 4th one (black and white, standing next to a pumpkin).
Ryder's picture

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!