Not on the List But Relevant None the Less

In addition to visiting the Wizard of OZ Museum on Thursday with Mary, I also visited the Mahaffie Farmstead in Olathe. But first things first:

Wamego, KS. Home of the Wizard of Oz Museum. I took my daughter. The museum reminded me of Gettysburg (don't ask). I love good company and good picture opportunities.My sweet daughter with some ruby slippers.Believe it or not, I'm afraid of flying monkeys. Yes, I know, you never would have guessed.

My parents drove in late Thursday night and Friday afternoon we decided to go to Mahaffie farmstead. We have previously tried to visit and we were unsucessful. But this time we enjoyed sweet success.I realize Mahaffie wasn't on my list in my previous post, but perhaps it should have been. Yes.......perhaps.

Mahaffie farmstead was a stagecoach stop on the Santa Fe trail. Food and shelter was provided in stagecoach fare. The bit of information that I was most impressed with was the fact that when Beatty Mahaffie moved from downtown Olathe to his farm about a mile away, he used oxen to drag his wooden cabin to the farm. Now days, they have little stagecoach rides and a few demonstrations around the farm.

The only drawback was that they did not have a penny smashing machine. The lady said, "Maybe someday." I hope so, Mahaffie, I hope so.

Places I am Near to and Have Wanted to Visit For Years

1. Wamego, KS --The Wizard of OZ Museum
2. Independence, MO--The Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum
3. Osawatomie, KS--The John Brown Museum
4. Leavenworth, KS--The C.W. Parker Carousel Museum
5. Kansas City, MO--The Nelson-Atkins Museum
6. Kansas City, MO--The Harley-Davidson Factory

Thursday, I travel with Mary to see the Wizard of Oz Museum. After that, I intend to move down the list as best I can. I believe it's somewhat of a travesty to have lived near all these places for so long, and not found the time to visit.

Porcupine Balls-Paula Dean Style

So my husband and I are mildly obsessed with this dish right now. It's not fancy and it's not exactly rocket science to make, but it's pretty good. It's quick to prepare too. And if it's Paula Deen, it can't be all bad, am I right? Am I right?

In the bottom of a glass baking dish, pour:
3/4 cup of uncooked rice
a 14 ounce can of diced tomatoes including juice
a 10 1/2 once can of beef broth

I always add more rice and water.

For the meatballs, mix together in a bowl:
1 pound of ground beef
1/2 cup of uncooked rice
1 teaspoon dried onion
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

Form into balls and place on top of rice mixture in baking dish. Cover with tinfoil and bake at 350 degrees for one hour.

Anyway, like I said, it's not fancy or anything, but it's good grub. My husband will ask for it like twice a week. I think it's the canned tomatoes and the Italian seasoning that makes it so appealing to us.

Long Time No Listing

1. The Husband's Grandma gave the kids those long bubble tube thingys you can get at walmart. As I type they are using them as swords out in the back yard. My daughter just explained to me, "We think we might get in a sword fight when we grow up, so we are practicing."
2. I babysat at jazzercise at a time that was not my usual time. I sang along with the Lady Gaga song that was playing, a little girl turned around and watched me with a incredulous look on her face. She then said, "That girl sings better than you." Oh thank you, little four year old girl, that must be why she is a famous singer and I'm babysitting at the local Jazzercise. Thanks for clearing that little matter up for me.
3. But then her little brother said in a sweet little voice, "That is a very pretty dress you are wearing." Aw! Why are little boys so precious? They sure don't stay that way. Well, most don't anyway. Zing! Ha, ha!
4. Harry Potter, Harry Potter, Harry Potter, AHHHHHHH!!!! Saw Harry Potter today. Yep, not too bad. Although I must say that the whole beginning bugged the heck out of me. They changed the way Dumbledore picked up Harry to take him to the Weasley's. Then I don't understand why they had the Weasley's surprised when harry showed up at there home. Neither change seemed to serve any purpose that I could see. Oh well, it's to be expected I guess. I thought the sets and cinematography were amazing. I wished they had gone more in depth with Voldemort's past and where he came from, but really how could they fit it all in anyway.
5. I have acquired a new reader, and she actually comments!! So now I formally welcome Scrappy Girl to my blog. Glad you are here.
6. We found a swimming suit for my daughter. it was one of those "meant to be" shopping moments. We went to Sears, I disregarded the Land's End store, (cause, you know, expensive right?) and went up to the girls department where they had NOTHING. So we walked around the dead Metcalf South mall and walked back through the Sears to go home. I turn back and notice a little nook that had some Lands end clearance items. I say, "Hey hold up a second," and walk over there. A lady is in my way so i just grab one to look at it. Immediately, my daughter exclaims, "I love it! Can we take it home, please!". I told her hold on, I needed to check the size, it was a size 7. We tried it on, it fit perfectly. We go to buy it and it was $13. Jackpot! The first one I pick up and it's Land's End practically dirt cheap. See? Meant to be.
7. Maybe if I get around to it, I'll post pictures of my trip to Minnesota. Maybe.

Sweet Baby Girl

I never posted on my girls birthday so I'm doing it now.

Things I love about the sweet baby girl

• Gets so excited and jumps, and jumps.
• Ever seen that Amy Poehler sketch on SNL, "Rick, Rick, Rick, Rick!" ? That's so my daughter.
• She is a girly girl, loves make up and dresses.
• She still lets me hug and kiss her in front of her friends at school
• A significant portion of her wardrobe has Tinkerbell on it.
• She trys so hard at about everything until she succeeds.
• Once, when she fell up the stairs with a cup of water that went all over her, she shouted, "I'm ruined!!"
• Another time, when the power went out, she freaked and yelled, "Oh no!! What are we gonna do!!"
• She's a typical first child and loves to please her parents.
• She knows it's okay to try new foods cause she just might like it.
• She makes a friend about everywhere we go.
• She is such a good big sister, always willing to play with or help out her little brother.
• She has such a unique personality, she is so special and I love her so very much.

Long Time

While waiting patiently outside a gas station for my husband to pay for our tank of gas, I made eye contact with a young male exiting the convenience store. He spit. This guy totally spits while holding eye contact with me, and I don't even flinch. That's when I realized that I have been married to this guy

for a long time.

Hee, hee, hee.......

It's Been 5 Years Already?

Hey? Are you four? Noooooo!!! I'm pive!

Five years ago, in the wee hours of the morning, I told my husband it was time to go have a baby at the hospital. He mumbled okay, rolled over and.........went back to sleep.

Things I love about the birthday boy:

• He's Mister cuddle bug.
• he sings
• he knows how to use the computer better than I do.
• he will count how many pieces of bread I give him over many days."May I have 11 peanut butters?"
• "Ahhh! I LOVE babies!!" (with an excited giggle.)
• he loves his older sister.
• He acts out movies while he watches them, well, all the time actually, especially when we 're trying to keep him quiet.
• He expects me to finish his sentences. "Silly rabbit...........tricks are for kids!!"
• has to have his green cars before he goes to bed.
• he hauls around a blanket made by his Great Grandmother. I call him Linus.
• He will take all his Pixar Cars and totally act out the race scenes, word for word, complete with Lightning pushing the King after his crash.
• he will stay up ALL night just playing, ALL BY HIMSELF.
• his cheeks just beg to be kissed!!
• "I want a hug!"