Stubborn... The Whicker Way.

The little man definitely has some of his Daddy in him... Mason is showing me early on that he is the boss around here! (Which Nate thinks he is as well, it will be interesting to have two bossy boys around my house!) And yes, my bossy little man does have this onesie. It was a must have.

Yeah, Mason's not budging. We aren't "Fort Knox" anymore as my doctor told me, (Haha... So funny to hear a doctor be so sarcastic! I love it!) but we aren't getting anywhere quickly either. So as of right now, we will be heading to the hospital at 6:00pm on Sunday, December 20th to get started with all their baby enticing magic tricks. That's only eight days after his due date... Not too bad, right?! Haha. I am sure I'll be begging by then! So for now folks, that's where we stand! Here's to hoping the new little boss will want to come earlier just to prove he can!

Feelin' Crafty?

Yes? Then you have to meet my very crafty, and talented sister-in-law Ranell! She comes up with the best projects! This week I went over and visited Ranell and Capri, and we made blocks covered in scrapbook paper, with wooden letters we puchased at Roberts...

Oh, my gosh were these fun, and not too hard! It is always so much fun to go over to Brandon and Ranell's house to see what fun craft ideas she has come up with. Last week when I visited, (we will start oficially calling these days I visits "craft day" I think) we made picture frames. We bought a few unfished picture frames at Roberts (Yes, I am an official endorser of "Roberts" craft store, they have so much fun stuff for "craft day" that I could spend enough money to seriously get into trouble with Nate!) and covered them with scrapbook paper and some Modge Podge, and alakazam! Out come some beautiful frames!

Now, these little beauties have not been hung in my house yet. Not because I don't absolutely love them... But because the walls inside my house are fighting over them and calling dibs. It has been a ridiculously heated argument, but I think the frames will find their final resting place on the walls of our bedroom this weekend. These pictures seriously don't do these amazing crafts justice! You will all just have to come over and see them for yourself... Or maybe your in need of a "craft day" at Ranell's! Believe me, you're house will never be the same; her talents would knock your socks off! I feel like The Quilted Bear has nothing on these crafts! I was awfully lucky to marry into this family of Whicker's!

Are you ready to RUMBLE?!

This year's Super Bowl celebration will be held at Camille's house. (Which is usually is because her projector makes it seem like you're on the field!) But everyone was in charge of bringing a treat of somekind. So, Nate and I decided to make his favorite dinner dish, along with an oldie but goodie dessert recipe that is as easy as gets. It may be true that I don't really watch football, okay I don't watch it at all, but I am always up for a reason to cook some tasty food!

Crock Pot French Dips

From Family Friendly Recipes

2-3 Lbs. oven roast

2 cans beef broth (about 4 cups)

2 pkgs Lipton Onion Soup mix

White Italian Sub Rolls (We get our bread from Subway, they sell a 12" roll for .50!)

Provolone cheese slices

Put oven roast in a crock pot. Add beef broth and soup mix. Cook on LOW for 7-8 hours. Shred roast with a fork, then return the shredded beef to the crock pot for a few more minutes (to absorb more of that juicy goodness). Slice open the bread and place a good amount of beef on one side (scoop out some of the bread first if you don't like it really bread-y). Place a slice or two of Swiss cheese over the shredded beef and broil for a minute or so until cheese starts to bubble and brown a little. Remove from broiler and serve. Use a ladle to scoop out some of the juice from the crock pot and serve as au jus.

Cookie Crumble Cheescakes

12 Vanilla Wafers/12 Oreo Cookies, plus a few exras for crumbling

(Use whichever you'd prefer, or double all other ingredients to do both)

12 foil cupcake liners

2 packages cream cheese

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place one cookie in the bottom of each foil liner, place liners on cookie sheet; crush a few cookies to top cakes later. Mix cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla together in a mixer on medium speed untill well blended. Add eggs to batter one at a time, on low speed, just untill incorporated. Spoon batter evenly into liners. Sprinkle top of batter with cookie crumbles. Bake cakes 20-25 minutes, or untill centers are just starting to set up. Let cool in fridge for at least 3 hours, or overnight.

In Loving Memory

In Loving Memory

John Neldon Whicker

1952-2009

Nate's Uncle John passed away last week. I only had the chance to meet him once, during our wedding. Man did I miss out on a great man! Oh, the stories I have heard of Uncle John! Nate's Grandma Marlene told me at John's viewing that my husband has some Uncle John in him... So I must believe that John was a fiesty, funny, giving, and charming man, from the stories I have heard of him, and because that is just like Nate. What a great family the Whickers are; I don't think there is a more embracing, loving family in the world. I had the chance to meet cousins, and relatives I had yet to meet, and that Nate had not seen in years. It's so sad that it sometimes takes such circumstances to bring families together. That will have to change.

The viewing blew me away. Unlce John was known for giving out popcorn, and Tootsie Pops at the tire shop he owned, and also known for his addicition to Vanilla Coke. All through the funeral home, I saw little kids sucking on Tootsie Pops someone had brought, and given out in his memory. There were also a few cans of Vanilla Coke scattered about. For the entire length of the viewing, there was a line out the door of the funeral home of people waiting in line, for quite some time, to say goodbye to John and pay respects to his amazing family. John left a family of strong, compassionate, and loving people. I'm sure he had quite a bit to do with that. Tootsie Pops will always mean Uncle John in this household. We love you guys...