Our Best Friend.

Nick

My Brother was born with Cerebral Palsy, He lives with us by his own choosing. I think for him it was kind of like leaving the nest and having more independence when he decided not to live with our mom. As hard as his decision was for her she let him make the choice because more often than not in his life choices are made for him. I love having him here, i wouldn't trade it for anything on earth.

My kids are Two and Five And i have often thought about if they even notice their Uncle is different. We had a conversation about him tonight and i have come to the conclusion that they don't notice because in my two year old's words "Him is like us".Why would they notice? to them he is just Uncle Nick same as he has always been they dont know him any other way. Im so thankful. I wanted to share Our conversation.

Beetlebee (my 5 year old) said to me "Mom i love uncle Nick, he always lets me play with his stuff"

LadyBug (my two year old) "Meee too mommy! Mee too i wuv hims too!"

 

I am so glad you love your Uncle! I love him too!



Nick With LadyBug, She was about three months here.



Beetlebee "Uncle Nick is your brother"

Yes he is my big brother.

Beetlebee "How come you can do more things , im sissys big brother but i do more things than her"

Well because Uncle Nick needs help sometimes. Even though im his little sister i help him because i love him. Uncle Nick was Born with something called Cerebral Palsy, some things are harder for him and thats why we help him.

Nick with Beetlebee, He was around 1 year.

Beetlebee "He helps us, he plays with us, and he likes the same movies we do and he is funny and silly"

I know, he is a good playmate Mommy used to play with him just like you play with sissy.

Ladybug "I wuv Uncle Nick"

Beetlebee "Sometimes when he gets sick i come and tell you"

I know you do, that is very helpful.

Beetlebee "will he always be our Uncle?"

Yes he will Always always be your uncle.

Ladybug helping Nick blow out his birthday candles on his 27th Birthday.

Beetlebee " How old is Uncle nick?"

27

Beetlebee "Sometimes he gets mad at me when i go in his room"

Dont you get mad if sissy goes in your room and messes with things when you are not in there?

Beetlebee "Yes"

Well thats why Uncle Nick gets mad at you when you do that.

Beetlebee and his Uncle Nick

Beetlebee "Oh" Uncle Nick walks so funny"

Ladybug "Him walks like me"

Beetlebee "walking funny is fun"

Ladybug "Yeah! I wuv it"

Beetlebee " Can uncle nick come to my class?"

Why do you want him to come to your class?

Beetlebee "Because i dont think anybody in my class has a uncle like mine and he can play with us and everybody will think he is cool"

Ladybug "i wanna go too!"

Beetlebee "I always wanted a uncle like him"

Ladybug "Mee too mommy me too!"

Arent we so lucky to have him? You know before i had you two Uncle Nick would say "When you have babies im gonna be the uncle nick!" I think he always wanted to be your Uncle too!

Beetlebee " I really do love him mom He's my Best friend"

Ladybug "Mee too mommy! I weally weally weally Wuv hims too! Him is my favowite friend"



I do too, I really really really Love him too! My bestfriend since the day i was born.



My Brother and I



A FRIEND LIKE ME

Please don't be afraid of me

I want to be your friend.

And if you get to know me

Your rigid thoughts might bend

Thoughts that I am different

From others that you know,

I really am no different

And this I'd like to show



I live and breathe and laugh and cry

I love to play and learn,

I sometimes do things differently

Which can cause some concern



You see, some say I'm special

I guess this much is true,

But if you were to ask me

I'd say you're special too



We're all a little different

No two are just the same,

It's really something wonderful

that way there is no blame



When things don't go just perfectly

And others get confused,

And say things like "poor child"

and other terms they use



It's okay if you look at me

And might not understand,

It's okay if you touch me

And even hold my hand



My life has many obstacles

Much more than you could know,

But that's not what I dwell on

I'm me, that's all, and so...



Please don't be afraid of me

I want you just to see,

How truly great and wonderful

A friend like me can be

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

                               

Easy Apple Dumplings

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

5 Apples, Peeled and quartered

1 can of Biscuits (you can use homemade biscuit dough if you want)
1 cup of Sugar
1 Stick Margarine
1 1/2 cup of water

Cinnamon

 

Grease Baking Dish. Halve each Biscuit. Wrap each Quartered apple with Biscuit. Place in 9 x 13 dish. Melt sugar, margarine and water. Pour over biscuit wrapped apples. Sprinkle cinnamon and Brown sugar on top. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until brown.

Parmesan Ranch Roll-ups

WHAT YOU WILL NEED
4 (8 or 9 inch) Flour Tortillas
1/2 Cup Ranch Salad Dressing
1/4 Cup Diced Onion
2 cups of Shredded Lettuce
1 (13oz) Can chunk ham,chicken or Turkey. Drained. (Our fave is chicken)

1/4 Cup Parmesan Cheese

For each wrap, spread 2 tablespoons Ranch dressing over the entire surface of each tortilla. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese and 2 tablespoons Onions. Place 1/2 cup lettuce in center. Place 1/4 cup meat on top of lettuce. Fold in two opposite sides of tortilla, about 1 1/2 inches, and roll up from the bottom.

Makes about 4 servings (Perfect for lunch!)

Almost Fat-Free Cornbread

WHAT YOU WILL NEED
2 Cups Self-rising Cornmeal
1 1/3 to 1 1/2 cup Milk
1/2 cup Unsweetened Applesauce
1 egg
1 to 2 tbsp Sugar


Combine all Ingredients in a large mixing Bowl. Whisk together until dry Ingredients are well Moistened. Pour Into well-Greased heavy skillet for 20-30 minutes at 425 OR well greased Muffin pan for 20 minutes at 425.

Lemon Pecan Bread

WHAT YOU WILL NEED
2 cups Sugar ( What can i say? we like the sweet stuff around here!)
2/3 cup Melted butter
4 Eggs
3 cups Sifted flour

2 tsp. Baking powder

2 tsp. Salt

1 cup Whole Milk

Grated rind of TWO lemons

5 tsp Lemon extract

1 cup Chopped Pecans

Preheat Oven to 350. Grease Loaf pans. Blend Sugar, melted butter and extract. Beat in Eggs. Sift DRY ingredients together and add alternately with milk. Stir just enough to blend. FOLD in other Ingredients and pour into loaf pans.

BAKE 1 hour at 350.

When bread is done, pierce with a fork and drizzle with warm glaze

For the Glaze: Mix juice of 2 Lemons and 1/2 cup of Sugar heat to dissolve.

STORE in airtight wrap for 24 hours before slicing.

 Makes two 8 x 4 inch loaves or three 7 1/2 x 3 1/2 inch loaves.

You can freeze this bread for up to 3 months!!!

Cajun Chicken Strips

WHAT YOU WILL NEED
1Tbsp. Flour
1tsp.Poultry seasoning
3/4 tsp. garlic salt
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp.pepper
1/8 to 1/4 tsp. Cayenne pepper
1 1/2 lb Chicken strips, cut into 1/2 inch strips
2 Tbsp Butter


Combine First SIX Ingredients in a large resealable bag (Zip lock bag's are fine): Add chicken strips a few pieces at a time and shake to coat. In a large skillet cook the strips in butter for 8 to 10 minutes or until chicken is done.

Go ahead and give Bo Jangles a run for their Money!!!

Strawberry Cream Punch

WHAT YOU WILL NEED
1qt. 14oz. Pineapple Juice, Chilled
3/4 Cup Sugar
6oz. Can Frozen pink lemonade (Unthawed)
2 1/4 Cup Water
1 qt. Strawberry Ice Cream
2 1/2 qt. Ginger Ale


In a punch Bowl, Add all Ingredients EXCEPT Ginger Ale. Mix Well, THEN add Ginger Ale. Mix and serve at once!

Simple Fruit Dip

My Kids Love this fruit dip, It's fast, easy and goes well with just about any fruit.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED
  1 package 8oz Cream Cheese Softened
  1/2 Cup Firmly packed Brown Sugar
  1/2 Tsp Vanilla Flavoring

  BLEND
    Blend the cream cheese in a small bowl with your electric mixer on MEDIUM speed Until Creamy. Add BROWN SUGAR and VANILLA beat until well blended

Spoon into a bowl. Serve with Apple slices, Grapes...whatever fruit your heart desires!

Chocolate Buttermilk Pie!

Today i noticed my recipe book overflowing with random pieces of paper, Recipes that i have gathered from different people and some I've made up myself. I love to know how food is made. Don't put it past me to ask someone at a restaurant "hey how do you guys make this?" Or "I bet i can make this" and the classic "I can make this AND i can make it better!" Why should i keep all these recipes all to myself? Everyone loves good food and I'm going to share it with you!

First up My fave pie of all time: Chocolate Buttermilk Pie. (If you are afraid of sugar  you may want to avert your eyes)

My grandmother used to make the BEST buttermilk pies this is her recipe. Being the chocolate lover i am i had to throw in some chocolate and the result is divine!

PREHEAT the oven at 325

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

     2 Premade Pie crusts (they normally come two a pack in the freezer section)

     1 Bag semi sweet Chocolate chips

     7 Eggs

     1 Cup of Buttermilk

     2 1/2 Cups of Sugar (Told ya!)

     Pinch of salt

     1 Teaspoon Vanilla Flavoring

 Go ahead and put your pie crusts in the oven at 325 so they can brown a little while you blend.

 MELT The Chocolate chips in the microwave at 30 second intervals.

 BLEND

   In a large bowl (and by large i mean LARGE you will have alot of mix)

    Blend the EGGS,BUTTERMILK,SUGAR, SALT, MELTED CHOCOLATE AND VANILLA FLAVORING

   The mix is supposed to be watery.

 

 Pour the mix into the pie crusts and BAKE at 325 for 1hr.

  The tops of the pies do crack it's normal dont freak out! This is not about looks here!

Top with whipped topping or serve with Ice Cream! Yum Yum!