Cabin Fever

Cabin fever is an idomatic term for a claustrophobic reaction that takes place when a person or group is isolated and/or shut in, for an extended period. Symptoms include restlessness, irritability, forgetfulness, laughter, and excessive sleeping

This is how Wikipedia defined cabin fever. Man did we have a bad case of it today! (Although I don't remember much laughter) Phillip went back to work today but the roads were still too bad for Ashlyn and I to venture out. We just hung out and I tried to keep Ashlyn as entertained as possible. She gets into trouble when she is really bored.

We played a lot of tea party and "cooking".
We lost power at 11:15 today. It was a huge surprise, not a good one, since the worst of the storm was over and the ice was starting to melt. We think either a limb fell on a power line from the melting ice causing the limbs to shift or the electric company turned the power off to do repairs. When Phillip got home at 5:30 the power was still off so we headed out the door to eat a hot meal. Since the electricity was off Phillip had to manually open the garage door, lock it, and come back out through the front door. All that to say Ashlyn and I sat in the running Jeep on the slick driveway waiting for him. As we were waiting the car started to slowly slide down the driveway! I pulled on the emergency brake and NOTHING we were still moving. So I unbuckled and threw my leg over the console and stepped on the break. Thank goodness it stopped!
As we were leaving our neighborhood a friend of ours was driving home so we stopped and invited them to join us for dinner since they were also without power. Lance, Jennifer, Jeremy, and Leah saved my sanity today! It was nice to get out and visit with friends!
As soon as we were pulling into the neighborhood the power was just coming back on! I was so thankful!! It was going to be a long night with a squirmy toddler in bed with us!
So Ashlyn is snuggled up warm in her bed and Phillip and I are enjoying the internet. It's a good ending to a rough day!

Ice Storm '09

We have been inside staying warm the past two days. We had a really bad ice storm come through Monday evening and pretty much made it impossible to leave the house. We are so thankful that we are some of the VERY FEW that had power the entire time. There are thousands in the area without power. There are large tree limbs and power lines down all over. The only thing we lost was internet, but that didn't last long. Phillip has been off work the past two days. He could have gone in today since the roads are starting to clear but they canceled all the meetings and it would have been pointless for him to be there. Ashlyn has loved having her daddy home to play with. We ventured out at lunch to drive around and see the damage and to get some fresh air. Ashlyn loved the snow and icicles! If you notice in the picture of Phillip and Ashlyn walking in the yard, they are walking on top of the grass. There is a thick layer of ice under the snow.




I am constantly amazed at how a toddler mind thinks, mostly how they know how to manipulate at such a young age. Monday night we ate roast, carrots, mashed potatoes, and rolls. Ashlyn loves rolls so I knew I couldn't bring them to the table until the meal was almost over or she would not eat her dinner. Well, she remembered me telling her earlier what all we were having for dinner so when we sat down with no rolls she was upset. I told her to eat one bite of meat and one bite of carrot and she could have a piece of roll. She apparently thought that was an unfair deal and refused to comply. So the rest of the dinner she kept asking for a roll. Daddy had to get firm and lay down the law again and told her to not ask again. So she leaned over to me, cut her eyes over to Daddy to see if he was watching and whispered "Mommy, a roll". I had to try my hardest not to laugh at her, I didn't do so well actually. After Phillip and I got up from the table she realized we were not backing down and she had not eaten a single bite and was going to be rather hungry so she took a couple bites and got her precious roll!

Another rough day...

Ashlyn had another rough morning. Thank goodness the pain was intentional, not inflicted by herself. She had her two year check up and got three shots! They have never bothered her too much in the past but this time she has been complaining about them all morning. Maybe because our favorite nurse, Michelle, didn't give them to her, she was always really gentle. It is always a comfort to take Ashlyn to a pediatrician I truly enjoy and respect. I used to work for Ashlyn's pediatrician before I had her for those of you who didn't know. I didn't take Ashlyn to the doctor last week after she fell since her bleeding and screaming had stopped by time we got home. So he took a look at her nose and mouth today. He thinks she has a little hair line fracture in the bridge of her nose. Her mouth looks a lot better today. We did get some funny looks by a couple in line ahead of us at Jason's Deli Saturday. I think they were trying to figure out if she had busted up lips or had eaten a huge oreo cookie.

Ashlyn got an Elmo sticker after her shots and was rather pleased with her well earned "medal".



We are just going to hang around the house the rest of the day waiting for the bad weather to hit. We have plenty of groceries so thankfully I don't have to go to Walmart with the rest of the town this afternoon. I have a roast in the crock pot that is starting to smell good so we are ready to enjoy the quiet afternoon.

Ashlyn and I ate Hummus and Pita for lunch today. Ashlyn loves the stuff! She actually threw her "make your boo-boo better" sucker on the floor when I offered to let her lick the spoon I was using to make the Hummus.

Hummus
1 can Garbanzo beans/ Chick peas
1 Tbl lemon juice
3 Tbl Tahini*
1/4 tsp Salt
pinch of Cumin
1 Clove garlic, minced

Drain beans reserving 1/4 cup juice from can. Pour all ingredients including reserved bean juice in food processor. Puree until smooth. Add water or olive oil to preferred consistency.
I also usually add a little more salt and lemon juice.
*You can find Tahini in a Health Food store. If you don't have any you can use sesame oil. Just drizzle one turn around the food processor bowl.

Big Boo Boo

Ashlyn got her first BIG boo boo today. She fell at MOPS today and busted her nose and mouth. She had the sweet nursery ladies pretty shook up, it was a big mess! She is doing better after a dose of Motrin and watching an Elmo DVD in mommy's lap. Poor thing still can't breath out of her nose very well since it is swollen up. If you ask her if she had fun at MOPS today she will tell you yes, she loves it there!

I loved the beautiful weather we had today, and to think it was snowing yesterday morning! I am so excited that it's supposed to last the rest of the week! I pulled Ashlyn around the block in her red wagon then we played in the back yard. We have a little cotton tail rabbit that lives under our storage shed outside which Ashlyn has named "Ra-ra". When we opened the back door the little rabbit went running back under the shed which thrilled Ashlyn to death. She spent the majority of the time trying to coax the poor guy out. She started sweetly with "Ra-ra... I hold you" and after several attempts and he didn't emerge she yelled "Ra-ra 'ah here now". I wonder where she has heard that before?!



Are you watching American Idol this season? I'm having a hard time getting into this season. I think once they get past the auditions and go to Hollywood I will start to enjoy it. The auditions just seem to be a freak free for all! Any one else feel this way?

Cooking and Crafts

Ashlyn got water colors from her Sunday school teacher for Christmas this year. She had a blast painting today! She totally understood that you first have to dip your brush in water then in the color tray. I used her "masterpieces" to make thank you cards to her friends from her birthday party.



I cooked a family favorite for dinner tonight. Roasted chicken, yum! It always turns out so tender and flavorful with crisp skin. Ashlyn will eat as much chicken as I do. Plus, there is always left over chicken to pull off the bone and use in another recipe. I also made creamed corn as one of our sides. This is a Johnson family staple during the holidays. It's not the most healthy thing on your plate, but oh man is it good. Canned creamed corn doesn't even compare!! I thought I would share the recipes with you!

Roast Sticky Chicken

2 tsp salt
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp white pepper
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 onion peeled and quartered
1 whole chicken

In a small bowl mix all seasonings. Pat chicken dry, rub inside and out with seasonings. Place onion in cavity of chicken. Place in refrigerator covered overnight or at least 4-6 hours.
Preheat oven to 250 degrees
Cook uncovered in a roasting pan for 4 hours. Let chicken stand 10 minutes before carving.
(I have seasoned and cooked the chicken without letting it stand in the refrigerator and it still turns out great)

Creamed Corn

1 20 oz Pkg frozen corn
1 Cup milk
1 Cup heavy whipping cream
2-3 Tbl sugar (to preferred taste)
1 tsp salt
3 Tbl flour

Boil corn in medium sauce pan until tender. Drain water and return corn to sauce pan. In a small bowl stir flour into milk until lumps are worked out. Pour milk/flour mixture, heavy cream, sugar, and salt into corn. Simmer on medium low until thickened.

Full Moon!

Yesterday Ashlyn and I had a lunch play date at Chick-fil-a with Beth and her little girl Makenna. After eating we let the girls play in the play area. After scooting and crawling along the tubes for about 20 minutes she calls down to me "mommy, apar, apar" after much attempt of trying to figure out what she was saying I just said "yes baby, uh hu". That didn't satisfy her so she makes her way over to climb down the platform ladder to further explain her problem. As she gets to the end of the tube I see her bare heinie sticking out! Her rather soggy and large diaper apparently couldn't withstand the scooting of a busy toddler. So with her diaper and pants hanging at her knees she proceeds to climb down the platform ladder and MOON the eating customers on the other side of the plexiglass! Oh such sweet innocence!

Snow Day!

Well, by most standards this is not actually a snow day but apparently the school districts in our area thought so. Ashlyn and I just hung out in comfy clothes and I did a little bit of cleaning this morning. Of course I had my trusty side kick helping me along the way!



Hey, I'm taking advantage of this, in 10 years she will mysteriously disappear when the dust rags are pulled out!

When it warmed up to a whopping 12 degrees we bundled up and ventured outside. Ashlyn was quite concerned that there was snow all over her slide and upset when she realized how cold she would be if she went down the slide. Being the warm weather lovers we are we only stayed out about 20 minutes before going back inside.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my mom's 51st birthday. She has had a very rough start to the new year but is handling it very well. On Christmas eve her mom had a stroke. She and my dad were on their way to my house for Christmas and Ashlyn's birthday when they received a call from my Grandad letting them know Grandma was not responding to him and the ambulance was on the way. They turned around and went back home to be with them. My Grandma is in rehab at a nursing home and is improving daily. My mom goes to sit with her daily to keep her company and see that she stays comfortable. She has unselfishly put her life on hold to care for her mom.

Ashlyn and I were able to drive down Christmas evening to be with my family. Ashlyn was good therapy for my Grandma and a distraction for my parents!

Stepping into the blogging world

I have been following several blogs the past couple months and have decided to officially step into the blogging world myself. All of our family lives a good distance away so I figure this would be a good way for them to keep up with our simple life.
Ashlyn and I went to Bible Study this morning. I enjoy the adult interaction and Ashlyn loves playing with her friends. I am doing the Beth Moore study "Esther: It's hard being a woman". I am excited about this study since Beth Moore study's are always awesome, I just hope I can keep up with the homework.