Sticky Chicken

About a year ago, I bought a cookbook from the Young Women at church as part of a fundraiser. So far all the recipies I've tried have been good, but my friend Brenda's recipe for Sticky Chicken has just accomplished something very few things have ever accomplished:

Yep! That's right! All three plates, clean as a ... cucumber? No. A whistle? Maybe. Hmmm, what is that phrase? Anyway, the point is Sticky Chicken is a bonafide hit! The fact that Bea cleaned her plate and asked for seconds is remarkable (see previous Clean Plate Club post). I think it might technically be considered a miracle.

It's possible that the 1 1/4 cups of sugar in the sauce played a role in the recipe's success... I'm just saying...

Good Days at the Academy

I'm a little behind in my Academy reporting ... I'm just now getting around to posting about Week 10, which ended on the 21st. I blame it on a little thing called Christmas. :)

Jay's favorite Academy teacher recently told the class that there are only 3 good days at the Academy:

1. The day your Senior class graduates
2. The day the new Juniors arrive
3. The day you graduate

The end of Week 10 was one of those good days - Jay's senior class, CTC-II-07, graduated! Graduation brings with it a huge amount of preparation, including really fun activities for Jay's class including polishing every millimeter of brass in the entire Academy and getting yelled at about having a perfect uniform.

However, it's not all bad. One of the cooler things that happens during graduation week is the Capitol Run. Very early Wednesday morning the seniors, along with almost the entire Staff, run from the Academy to the Sacramento Capitol building. In a show of support, the junior class lines up along the road that leads out of the Academy and waits in push-up position, screaming and hollering their support until all of the runners pass by. Family and friends of the seniors can wait outside the Academy grounds and whoop and cheer as well. It was a cool experience for Jay to see the seniors participate in the long-awaited event, and it was even cooler to see their families outside in the pre-dawn cold, cheering them on. I can't wait for my turn! You know I'll be there so that I can embarrass - I mean, support - Jay as much as possible.

Friday morning the junior class didn't have PT (whoo hoo!) because the gym was all set up and prepped for graduation. Instead, they had the privilege of running around the seniors' dorms like a bunch of wild banshee's, yelling and chanting and pounding on doors... a little wake up call, if you will. The seniors were already up, of course, and many of them came to the door dressed in their tans. It was pretty motivating for Jay to see cadets that were just wearing Smurf blue yesterday now wearing the uniform of a California Highway Patrol officer. It makes it all seem so much more within reach. No wonder Jay's teacher described it as one of the "good days."

The rest of the day the juniors were instructed to be out of sight, lest they do something foolish. Jay, however, was on babysitting duty (which he kindly volunteered for, along with several other cadets and some officers). He realized later he might have been better off being banished to his room because he could have gotten some actual work done, but I think he had fun playing cars and showing magic tricks to the kids, too.

And now Jay's class is all alone, at the mercy of the Academy staff who can now focus 100% of their attention on them. Not a good thing, I think. Luckily, there is one more of those "good days" right around the corner! The junior class, CTC-I-08, arrives on Monday January 7th and will command much of the Staff's attention. Shucks! Jay and his class will then be seniors... it's hard to believe that milestone is so close! It's really within reach, isn't it? Some days it seems like the Academy will go on forever, but in truth the weeks are going by pretty fast. Here's hoping it continues that way...

Post Christmas Blues

Yes, that's a picture of me in pajamas with no makeup on. I'm sorry.

So I'm experiencing a little of the Post Christmas Blues. The anticipation of and preparation for Christmas is usually better than the day itself (although I do like the actual day, too). But now it's over and Jay is gone after a blissful 4 days home. *sigh* Excuse me ... I forgot to mention that this is a pity party. Aren't you glad you're invited??

Ok, I'm snapping out of it...

This year we scaled back our present giving to everyone, including the kids, and even asked our parents to only give a maximum of 2 presents per child. Jay bet me that at least 2 of them would break the rule. (He didn't specify who but I'm pretty sure he meant my side of the family.) But the joke's on him because they all stuck to it and now he owes me a massage! So there! But really, I do highly recommend scaling back Christmas present giving. It was so much less hectic and the kids actually enjoyed themselves instead of getting overwhelmed. And most importantly, if your husband is at all inclined to be Scrooge-like, it will ease the tension quite a bit.

Maybe the best way to share my Christmas with you is via pictures. Below is a small sampling of the 150+ pictures I uploaded from my camera last night. I hope you all had as Merry a Christmas as we Fear's did. As a side note, I think I'm going to start saying Happy Christmas like the British. Doesn't it sound cooler?

Eat your heart out, all you children of the '80's!

Some Father & Son-In-Law bonding

Our children are going to be entirely different people now that we have a mantle.

A milestone in every boy's life: his first Tonka.

I couldn't help it...

I had to do a slide show for this Christmas. There were just too many pictures!

I'm starting to think I may have a slight addiction with the slideshow thing...

Are you sure, Sir?

Last Thursday Jay was standing in line to enter the chow hall for breakfast, quietly minding his own business, when Lt. Intimidating came out and started yelling at everyone, "Get in one line!!! Get your nasty hands out of your pockets! I don't want to see any hands in pockets! No training table* today!"

No training table?! Jay was about to get excited, but then he remembered there never is a training table line for breakfast. Instead, they are on the honor system to chose training-table-approved food. You know, stuff like oatmeal or cheerios, all the while passing up the biscuits and gravy, sausage, bacon, and waffles that the other cadets get to eat.

However, there was something different about this breakfast, and the fact that Lt. Intimidating was wearing a suit and not his uniform should have tipped Jay off. But even if that didn't, the next thing Jay saw did. It was the CHP Commissioner, standing in the doorway to the chow hall, shaking every cadet's hand as they entered. When it was Jay's turn he shook the Commissioner's hand and said, "Merry Christmas, Commissioner." The Commissioner returned the greeting and then kindly asked, "How are you doing?" Jay responded with the standard cadet response, "OUTSTANDING, Sir!" (Mind, that's the response you're supposed to give even if you're puking your guts out during the middle of PT... not that that's happened to Jay or anything....)

There were a few more big-wigs there and when Jay got up to the counter, he saw one of the Assistant Commissioners actually serving the breakfast. The Asst Comm started to put two pancakes on Jay's plate when Jay interrupted him:

"Sir, I'm on the training table."

The Asst Comm responded, "Oh really? Ok, well then, here you go," and he proceeded to give Jay four pancakes and some sausage. "And there is butter and syrup over there."

"Are you sure, Sir?"

"Yep, I'm sure. Merry Christmas."

Jay was in a minor state of shock. He cautiously made his way to his table, wondering what the deal was. Had the Academy staff gone crazy? Was he still in fact sleeping under his Academy issued oh-so-cozy 1940's wool blanket? He sat down with three other cadets and looked around again. He didn't dare take a bite, just in case Sgt G all of a sudden popped out from behind the soda machine and started screaming at him.

"Do you guys think this is some sort of trick?" Jay asked the other cadets, only half-way joking. Luckily one of the other cadets was a retread (someone who has gone through part of the Academy before), and he told them all that this was the Commissioner's Breakfast, which is done every year around Christmas. With that knowledge, Jay happily dug into his non-training table breakfast. It was definitely a highlight of his week.


(*for more info on the training table, see my post titled Government Broccoli )

The Post of Christmas Past

The years are flying by at an alarming rate, aren't they?

It's amazing to me how much has changed over the past two years. The girls are so much bigger, Jay is so much smaller, and I am ... well, pretty much the same I think. Ok, maybe a few pounds heavier, but we don't need to go into all that. I also noticed that we have never had Christmas at the same house twice, at least that I can remember. I really hope that trend stops immediately.

Anyway... sit back, drink some hot cocoa, and enjoy the pictures. I hope they put everyone in a happy holiday mood!

See ya, week 9!

Remember how I mentioned a few posts back that Jay was on light duty when he injured his hip? Remember how I said that he had to spend PT time cleaning up the nasty, sweaty exercise mats? Well, now Jay has a way to remember those good times forever. There he is, working up a sweat (although in a completely different way than the Seniors).

This was a nice weekend. We spent most of it doing Christmas-y type things and just hanging out. We also celebrated good ol' Bets's birthday! (Don't worry mom, I won't spill the beans on your age.) Notice the cobbled together candles... oops... I guess I *am* spilling the beans on your age! So sorry Mom... really, I am. And no, we didn't bake her banana bread for her birthday... it's another famous Fear family recipe: 3 hole cake. Mmmmm!!!

So Happy Birthday to the best mother-in-law anyone could ask for! (And I swear I'm not kissing up. I already know she likes me better than Jay so I have no reason to kiss up.)

*insert mischevious grin here*

I know I should really take the time to post about Jay's week at the Academy but I just don't have it in me right now. I've been up past midnight for three nights in a row and I think, for my children's sake, I should probably get some sleep tonight. So that means I'm going to end this post rather lamely by just posting some pictures. The Academy stories will have to wait for another day. I'm sure you all understand.... right? Ok, good. I knew I could count on you guys.

Natalie practicing "nose in the rings" like Daddy. (Disclaimer: I know there are stains in the carpet. I swear it is not my fault. Not even steam cleaning gets them out... dang renter's carpet!)

My rosy-cheeked, slightly ill Blond Bomber.

Matchy-matchy, green squared!
(5 Shrutebucks to whomever can name that reference!)

Beautiful

The following conversation took place last night as the girls and I were watching our Joy to the World dvd.

Natalie: Mommy, that doesn't look like Jesus.
Me: Oh, really? What does Jesus look like?
Beatrice: Beautiful.

Sometimes I wonder if anything we're teaching them is getting through, especially during this time when Santa and presents seem to be on the brain no matter how much we as parents try to focus on the Savior. But then I see them get excited over playing with their nativity set or I overhear them singing carols or talking about Jesus loving everyone and I get warm fuzzies inside. Maybe some of it is getting through after all...

Where everybody knows your name

OFFICER FEAR.

Sounds good, doesn't it? Tough. Intimidating, even. I mean, really, could Jay have picked a better career with a last name like his, or what? The only one that would be better would be a dentist... there's something very "Little Shop of Horrors" about a dentist named Dr. Fear. But I digress.

FEAR is going to look just plain awesome on his nameplate when he's an officer, but unfortunately it doesn't have the same effect on his current cadet uniform. It reads more like "I'm scared" than "I have no."

Let me quickly explain that the main goal of any cadet is to fly under the radar. You want to walk across the stage on graduation day and have the Staff whisper to each other "Who is that?" It just makes life a lot easier. Unfortunately for Jay, that's impossible. Even on Day 1, a Staff Sgt said, "Fear... yeah, we're going to have fun with that name." And they have.

One day when Jay was walking out of the chow hall he passed by one of the Staff tables and overheard his name. It was the Lt speaking, so of course Jay perked up his ears. The Lt, who is, in Jay's words, "the most intimidating guy I've ever met," said to one of the other officers, "Fear, huh? That's a tight last name." Even though it was a compliment, he didn't really like knowing that the Lt knew his name. He didn't think much of it, though, because he figured the Lt would quickly forget the face that went with the name...

Weeks passed. Then one day Jay was bookin' it to class when he saw the Lt standing on the sidewalk with a few other officers. Jay walked toward them and contemplated in his mind the best way to address the group. Should he say good morning sir? Or good morning Lt? How should he address the other officers? He made his decision and then promptly called out "Good Afternoon Lt...." Crap! It was only 11:30 a.m. and he just said "afternoon." Ugh! He had heard the Lt ream people for that very mistake before, but he just kept walking, hoping the Lt hadn't really noticed. He was about 100 feet away (and thinking he was free) when he heard the Lt's booming voice carrying across the sky "FEAR!! It's MORNING." Jay stopped. He went to attention, turned around, and said, "Yes, sir! I apologize. Good morning, Lt!" The Lt then gave him the "get out of here" nod, and Jay escaped without too much trouble. However, it became painfully obvious that the Lt had not forgotten who he was.

A similar thing happened later in the same week, except this time Jay was waiting in line to enter the chow hall. It was morning and he was in his PT gear (navy sweats & sweatshirt) so his name was nowhere on his uniform. As he was waiting, another Officer walked by, turned to Jay and said "Fear! I think so-and-so wants to see you." Jay came to attention and answered him accordingly, but inside he was thinking, "You've got to be kidding me! I'm in my sweats! There are 300 cadets here! How does he know me?!?!?"

Yeah... there will be no flying under the radar for Jay.

But there will also be no one with a cooler name being called out across the gym on graduation day. And you can take that to the bank.

Gimpy McFear and the Week 8 All-Stars

For those of you who are playing along, you may now cross week 8 off of your Countdown to Jay's Graduation calendar. Whoo hoo!!!

It was a busy week for Jay that was not made much better by the fact that he hurt his hip during PT on Wednesday. He had to go to the medic and they put him on light duty for a week, which means he could not do PT, PMA, or any marching. Don't get excited though, that doesn't mean he got to sleep in. Instead he spent his PT time doing things like cleaning all the PT mats and wiping down all the gym equipment. Jay takes those kinds of things in stride though, so it was no problem. I was of course freaking out inside about his hip (especially since he was limping when I saw him Wednesday night), but he has been able to rest a lot and it seems much better. He is pretty sure he will be able to get back to regular duty this Wednesday. Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers on his behalf. They certainly do make a difference!

As far as the rest of the family goes, we are all doing well. I'm over my strep throat, thank heaven. (QUESTION: Is there any common illness that is worse than strep? ANSWER: no.) And the worst part about my strep throat was that my house was filled with goodies and I couldn't eat any of them. It was torture! You can trust that I made up for that as soon as possible.

Dexter is growing, growing, growing. He still has no teeth but is drooling like a mad man, so I'm sure it'll happen soon enough. He is a happy baby for the most part. He loves to watch his sisters (which is a good thing, because they are always about an inch away from his face). He is also a really good eater and has started eating those little puff treat things for babies. I feel really blessed to have such a mellow baby... I would probably be in a padded cell right now if he were cranky.

Beatrice is doing well also (besides really missing Daddy). She absolutely loves going to preschool. She only goes 2 days a week but every morning she asks me "Is it my school day?" She adores her teacher and her school friends as well. I volunteer in her class twice a month and am always so proud to see what a good little student she is. She sits quietly and raises her hand, and I sit there wondering, "Umm... whose child is that?!?" It's so funny to me that she's so quiet (and almost shy) at school because she's a loud, bouncy, laughing daredevil at home. We don't call her The Blond Bomber for nothing!

Natalie had a very, VERY good week. We've been working on some behavioral issues that she's had at home and she was just wonderful this past week. She was kind and helpful and although she and Bea fought at times, it was nothing too crazy. She also really enjoys school and even though she's always done well there she did extraordinarily well this past week. Her teacher called me three times this week to tell me that Natalie went "above and beyond" the good behaviour expectations of the class. (There is a chart and rewards, etc, that accompany this, and the teacher calls home when you exceed expectations.) Natalie has gone above & beyond several times this year but never 3 times in one week! It was truly an accomplishment, and we all celebrated by going to Johnny Rockets on Saturday. Mmmm, milkshakes all around!

So all in all it was a good week. We have already said goodbye to Jay and in my mind that means that Week 9 is already underway. I am hopeful that we'll have another good week but I'm bracing myself for the worst. What a horrible attitude! Ok, strike that. This is going to be a great week and I am looking forward to the adventure that awaits me! (Better?)

The Bagel Montage

I heart Alexander Fleming

Who knew that so much good could come from mold?

Alexander did!

Seriously, I've been on penicillin for less than 24 hours and I already feel better. I can eat again (kind of), I can yell at, I mean, talk to, my kids again, and I don't have to miss our Wednesday night trip to see Jay. Three cheers for Fleming!

7 down, 20 to go!

It's heaven to be done with week 7!

Jay had a very long week and, besides the EVOC class which I already posted about, there isn't much to say about it. He was glad to come home on Friday, but probably not as glad as we were to have him home.

We had a great weekend. Saturday we saw Enchanted with the kids (which was adorable) and Saturday night we all went to Christmas in the Park in downtown San Jose. It was my brillant idea... too bad I forgot that it was the night of the Christmas parade. It was *packed.* We finally found a parking spot and Jay was able to put his EVOC skills to the test as he parallel parked perfectly. (Say that 3 times fast!)

Sunday I woke up not feeling very well. By Sunday night I was feeling a little better but this morning I woke up feeling gross again. I am off to the doctor shortly, thanks to Janet who will be watching the kids for me. I'm praying that I don't have strep throat. (Edited to add: Turns out it is strep. Ugh!)

In other news... we received our washer on Friday! Whoo hoo!!! We spent a good chunk of time catching up on laundry. I should have taken a picture of all the piles of folded laundry stacked throughout the living room, but... too late.

So now it's Monday and week 8 has begun. I am beyond happy to know that when this week is over, Jay only has 19 weeks left. There's something comforting in knowing that we're in the "teens." It really stinks being a single mom... my heart goes out to all those mom's who have to do it on their own 100% of the time. My admiration for them grows each day.

DOGPILE!