A Few Remnants from an Unforgettable Weekend...

This past weekend was AWESOME!!

We went to Harbor Creek for the weekend.

Our travels began and then stopped and then started again.  We encountered a traffic back up on Route 222 about 20 minutes in to our trip.  There was a disabled tractor-trailer in one of the north bound lanes of 222.

I was not amused.  We had places to be!

We stopped at Sheetz for a bite to eat and then Cabela's (since we we right there).  We followed the GPS to our destination for the evening - the Holiday Inn Express in Clearfield, PA.  We arrived shortly after 10:15 pm.  The hotel was right off of Interstate 80 and was really nice.

We checked in, Jerry and the boys brought the luggage up to the room and we settled in for the night.

7:00 the next morning came very quickly and one by we we arose, showered, and prepared for the next leg of our adventure.

The had a "Deluxe" Continental Breakfast available in the morning.  I went down after my shower and got a cup of coffee (which was terrible) and a warm cinnamon roll (which was delicious).  Jerry and the boys went down after I came back and got bacon, sausage, eggs, cinnamon rolls, bagels and who knows what else.  I do remember Austin saying he had like 20 pieces of bacon.

We checked out of the hotel around 8:45.  Jerry told me about a gun shop that is located in Clearfield that is amazing.  We got to Grice's Gun Shop a little before 9:00 and waited for them to open.

A little back story.  I have been looking at a Ruger LCR pistol for a while now.  I just wasn't ready to purchase one.

Well, apparently Friday was the day to purchase.  I went in, looked at the gun and started filling out the paperwork to purchase a firearm.

That part made me really nervous. Is there some deep, dark secret that I am hiding that would not allow me to buy this gun?  Nope.  Background checked clear.

"Oh by the way," the salesman told me, "we got an shipment of 30 Ruger LCR's with the Crimson Trace on them last night, they aren't even in our system.  Are you interested in one of those?".

I have no idea. 

Side conference with Jerry. 

Me: "Should I get the Crimson Trace?" 
Jerry:  "I would." 
Me:  "Okay I'll take the one with the Crimson Trace."

What?  Do I really look like I know what the hell I am talking about?  I guess so because they rang up the sale and entrusted me to walk out of that store with a firearm.  Holy shit.

They totally let me walk out of that store with a pistol, a holster AND ammunition.

Lord help you all.

Additionally, while we were at the gun shop, there was ONE other woman (older - like 65) looking at the LCR's.  She also apparently thought I was a gun aficionado, because she asked ME questions like "What kind of gun are you looking at?  Where are you going to carry the gun?  In your purse?".  Once again - holy shit!  I am not a gun expert.  Maybe I should be flattered that she thought I was.

Anyways...we left Grice's - and I felt kind of scared, kind of empowered.  I OWNED A GUN!

We drove north, following the GPS - and it was great - not driving our "regular" routes, seeing new scenery, family bonding time...oh wait I think the boys slept.

We arrived on Firman Road a little after 1:00 pm.  My Dad, Maggie and Eli were there to greet us.

Maggie asked Aidan if he would like to go with her to pick Charlie up from school at 3:00.  He said he would.  Maggie said she had some shopping to do, so we stayed with Dad and Eli.

We visited - it was good - really good.

There are more stories and pictures to share, but I need to end this post before it drags on and on and on...you get the picture.

This last photo is the mountain of clean laundry I was left to put away after our excursion.  It looks worse than it was.  It is on top of my cedar chest.

It was good - really good.

Finding Myself Before 40...

Here begins a new chapter in the life of Tracy Lynne Myers-Ebersole.

I am starting a "new" job. 

The reason for the "new" is it really isn't a new job.  I have been doing it on and off for the past 18 months.  It was in addition to the job I had as a server in the elementary cafeteria.

Now as prestigious as it may sound, working in an elementary school cafeteria, it was definitely leaving me feel well, unfulfilled.

I knew that I wanted more for myself and my family, but just wasn't sure how to go about getting it.

Enter the new job.

I wasn't expecting it, but it kind of just fell into my lap.  A phone call, an offer, praying about said offer, talking to my husband and sons about it...it was meant to be.  All in God's time, all in God's time.

I quit my job at the school.  My last day was this past Friday.

So now I will start my new journey tomorrow.  Tuesday, November 8, 2011.

But in the meantime, I was beginning to wonder, who am I?  What do I enjoy doing in my spare time?  What will make me happy?

You see with this new job, I will have two or three day each week to MYSELF!

And now I am asking all those questions.  I have spent a lot of time making things happen for other people who live in my household and now, I am going to go on a journey to find out who I am, what I like, what makes me happy.

I am assuming that it will not be a quick adventure, but it WILL be exciting!  Who doesn't want to find out what they are all about.  Granted, I am going to be 40 in just a few short months, but at least it's a start!

I am also in the process of updating our blog.  It is kind of frustrating, but I will get it.  I know I will.

Patience my friends, patience.

Three Things - 10/28/2011

Another Friday is here!  Why does it seem that as I get older, the days, weeks, months just rush by?

Oh well, here we go!

Three Things I Am Loving:
1.  Act 80 Days.  Today ACE and I both have an ACT 80 1/2 day.  Which means school for us is done at 1:00.  I love days like this!

2.  Making classroom treats.  Okay maybe I don't particularly love making the treats, but what I did love was the gratitude.  ACE came downstairs to find me frosting the cookies (which is a chore that takes me FOREVER!).  He leans over my shoulder, inspects them and says "Mom, you're the best"  My heart melted, I grinned from ear to ear, I leaned over, kissed him on the cheek and said "I love you so much".  I would have made 30 more right there on the spot if he would have asked me to.

3.  Roses from my husband.  Well, not actually purchased by him, but he brought them home!

Three Things I Am Not Loving:
1. Uncertainty.  Dislike it very much.  Turnin' it over to God I tell ya!

2.  Cold weather.  I like being on our toasty home, but hustling out to a cold car, driving in a cold car (until it warms up), running in to wherever I am going - not ideal.

3.  The rapidly approaching holidays.  LOVE the holiday season, it's just the stressful part preceding it.  Guess it's another thin\g to turn over to God...

That's a wrap!  A fun-filled weekend of a little lacrosse, a little pumpkin carving and family time.  Son #1 will be thrilled!

Have a great weekend!!!

It's OK Thursday {4}

Another week - flown by - we're still here doing our thing.  And our thing has been going good this week.

It's OK...

...to be sad that Halloween is almost here and I will put my adorable decoration away for another year

...to realize than within that year, my eldest son will turn 16 and I will turn 40 - ughhhhh.

...to be more than slightly addicted to Pinterest

...to enjoy Bible Study when there are only a few women there

...to be super excited that the new kitchen employee (dishwasher) starts today and I won't need to do that job anymore

...this is Son #1's first week of indoor lacrosse & Son #2's last

-to be a little nervous about Son #1 playing indoor lacrosse again after last season's devastating injury

...to be giddy when I have a menu planned for the whole week and shop accordingly

...we may get some flurries this weekend

...it's our last home football game this Friday - and it's homecoming!

...to secretly love going to the homecoming festivities to socialize with my mom friends

So that's it.  Hope you enjoyed the read!

What We Ate - 10/25/2011

I took a couple pictures of last night's supper.  Because I'm like that! 

Our menu was Diner Meatloaf (I got the basic recipe from Taste of Home, but needed to modify it a little bit due to lack of a couple ingredients (who knew I was going to use ALL of the garlic to make garlic bread to accompany our lasagna the night before?).

First you chop up one large onion (next time I will only use 1/2) and one rib of celery.  I sauteed them in a tablespoon of butter since we were out of olive oil (not my fault!  SOMEONE used all the olive oil and neglected to tell me so I could put it on the shopping list).  Saute until tender.

While the onions and celery are gettin' their groove on, you mix (2) eggs, 3/4 c. bread crumbs, 1/3 c. ketchup, 1 tsp. dried parsley, 1 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. pepper and 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg.  I didn't take a picture of this mixture because frankly - it looked gross.  You then cool the onion and celery mixture and add it.  Lastly you add 2 pounds of ground beef and mix well.  I use my hands because they work so much better than a spoon.

I then transferred the mixutre from my mixing bowl to my brand new Pampered Chef Fluted Stoneware Pan (I wanted to start seasoning it!).

It baked at 350 degrees for 1 hour 15 minutes.  While it baked, I made a box of Hungry Man Au Gratin Potatoes and a pack of Pillsbury Grands Jr. Biscuits.

I also made a little sauce to spoon on top of the meatloaf if so desired.  Tomato Soup, a little canola oil (brecause once again - out of olive oil!) and some Pampered Chef Seasoning - Crushed Peppercorn and Garlic.  I brought that to a simmer on the stove.

The supper was met with mixed receptions. 

Jerry and I loved all of it. 

Austin ate a piece of the meatloaf and devoured the potatoes. 

Aidan ate about half of his piece of meatloaf and had a couple biscuits.  He doesn't like potatoes.

Will I make this recipe again - ehhh - probably not. 

Extra Entry for A Giveaway

As soon as I saw this giveaway on one of the blogs I follow, I knew I had to do eveyrything in my power to win!

My cousin's wife had one this past weekend and I thought it was adorable!

If you are interested in trying to win this adorable market tote, head on over to Jenna's Journey.

Here is the link to the Etsy shop where these totes are created: Sewing A Seed.

Weekend Recap

We had a marvelous weekend.  Not a lot of running around to do.  Just enough.  We spent Saturday working around the house in the morning & early afternoon.  We made a couple treats to take to Haley & Jenn's Pampered Chef party.  It was a great day.

It makes me laugh that we don't spend more time over in York with Clark, Haley & their families.  I mean come on, it takes an hour to get there.

That's on my list of "Things to make life rich".  Spend more time with family.  It does a soul good.

Jerry took a few pictures while we were there.  (Of course it was a family affair since Maggie, Steve, Charlie and Eli were going to be there!)

We arrived at Aunt Brigette's house a little before 4:00 and stayed until about 9:30.  It was such a great time.

This was after the party.  The kids were all playing musical chairs. 

Charlie became fast friends with Landon. 

Clark - what a handsome guy. 

Eli finally warmed up to me at the end.  He is so funny!

I may have given him some watered down soda -

for which his mother gave me a punch in the back!

I think something was lost in translation - she said

"No pop".  She didn't say anything about soda!

Camron loved Austin.  I was surprised that Austin was

picking him up and carrying him around. 

He has claimed to not really like little kids. 

I think he is putting up a front.

And my sweet boy.  He was so tired after playing with all the kids.

He fell asleep almost immediately after we got in the car to

come home.  When we pulled in our driveway and woke him, he said

"We're home already?  How'd we get home so quick?".

Sunday was spent enjoying coffee, donuts and the newspaper.  ACE had lacrosse camp in the afternoon and one of his teammates asked if he would like to come over after practice, have pizza and watch football.  He was eager to do that.  Jerry and I got Little Caesar's for the rest of us (Austin coined "Caesar Sunday").

I watched a couple more of Oprah's Lifeclasses (that Oprah - she's amazing!).

I am going to earnestly strive to apply the things I have learned so far from her.  She is so inspirational.

We capped off our Sunday by celebrating Pop-Pop Ebersole's 82nd Birthday with cupcakes made by our SWEET niece Julie Ann.

A fulfilling and restful weekend.

That's what I'm talkin' about.