Stale Peeps and other delicacies

Stale Peeps. There is just something about the texture and taste of crystalized sugar in the form of Easter animal icons that just makes me happy.
Growing up, my sweet Grandma would leave a package a Peeps out for me with the bag slightly open so they would be perfectly stale and delicious. She laughed until she had tears in her eyes each year as I delighted in my Peeps. Grandma also made her famous Easter bunny cake - white with coconut for fur, jelly beans for the face and pipecleaners for the whiskers. She'd make one for us, one for the nuns and usually one or fifty for families she helped out. Grandma was also famous for her Easter egg bread. I'd love to tell you more about it, but all I can remember is the picture of her in paper with her famous bread and how proud she was of it. Proud in a nice Catholic girl way, of course.
This was our first year without Grandma. As much as I miss her laugh, I can only imagine her joy celebrating with her Savior. Her favorite song was "How Great Thou Art". If you haven't heard the Carrie Underwood/Vince Gill rendition...do so now on YouTube. This year, when I heard it, the following words pierced my heart. It were as if Grandma wrote the words herself...

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"

Grandma, I know you are watching us all. I hope you are proud. And I hope you will have some stale Peeps waiting for me one day. Until then, I'm loving my life, my family and giving thanks to God that you were mine for awhile. 

Hope y'all had a happy Easter.

Welcome to the world Baby Jack Scully

Today, my sister and John welcomed John Joseph "Jack" Scully into the world.  At 7 pounds, 12 ounces and 20.5 inches, Jack and his mama are doing great. Of course, Titi is already on hand to show the first-timers the ropes and start whispering all kinds of love, sweetness and guidance into her second grandson's little ears. Somehow, I think whatever she whispers to her children and grandchildren stays imprinted on each of us.
My sister was in labor a day and a half, pushed for over two hours and is my new hero.  I hope that, as I write this, Nikki, John and baby Jack are all resting and sleeping soundly. The adventure they are embarking on is awesome, amazing....and exhausting!

Sweet Jack, I cannot wait to meet you, rock you and tell you all about all the fun you and your cousin Nick will have. Until then, know I am counting the moments....and I am head over heels in love with you.

P.S. Teddy. Prepare to get your world ROCKED, pup.

Bite Me.

Soooo, I had dental anxiety. Then, I found myself in the chair of an endodontist BEGGING for a root canal. Unfortunately, my damn teeth tested "within normal limits". Really? Then, WHAT THE HELL IS MAKING THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY FACE FEEL LIKE DANTES INFERNO?

The diagnosis du jour is "trigeminal neuralgia". Now, when you Google that, you get alot of unfun phrases like "most painful chronic condition", "depression" and "suicide". Not to worry, I just get super annoyed, and while having an "attack" tend to hide or go silent of hot minute. Yes, it's THE most painful experience I have gone through, but it's also been humbling. The times, especially if I have hours, without pain, I am so incredibly grateful. I would have never even thought about it before, but now, I send up prayers of gratitude. More than anything, even in times of pain, I focus on how much more pain I would be in if there were something wrong with Nick. I'll take the teeth and face thing.

In other, unrelated news, we've been building "El Ranchito Romano"...or as you gringos may call it "an outdoor kitchen and patio". I hope you will stop by and check it out. And, I hope by then I can bite something without wanting to kick a puppy.