A Bunch of Random Stuff

Brad left for Israel last Wednesday. We ate lunch at Newk's before he left. You can see what Camden thought about Daddy leaving for 10 days. Boo!

After lunch Cam & I checked out the Dollar Tree. Cam scored a giant hammer & a fireman's hat. The hammer has already been on many adventures, including a trip to Atlanta. The doorman at the Grand Hyatt in Buckhead were most impressed with Little Man's Giant Hammer.

Dad, Camden & I tried out the new wing place in town. Cajun Crazy Wings, or something like that. I'll tell you what was crazy - they didn't have any highchairs! Since Dad drove, I didn't have a stroller, either. We decided to try it anyway and Camden sat on my lap. He was really good! He stayed in my lap for almost an hour. The food was super slow coming out, so eventually he grew bored and wanted to play on the floor. He kept making a beeline for the kitchen. He had been watching all the waitress go in there and I guess he wanted to know where they kept disappearing to. He was such a flirt, too! He got every single waitress to hold him while we were there. Of course, they thought he was the cutest thing ever.

After lunch, Dad & I took turns going in the battery store next door while the other entertained Camden in the car. He was fascinated with the door lock for awhile. Then he wanted to climb all over the driver's seat and grabbed everything from the rearview mirror to the gear shift.

After a 4 hour car ride to Atlanta, we let Cam crawl around the front seat of my car at a stop. He somehow managed to turn on the windshield wipers self wash cycle. He thought that was the funniest thing when the wiper would come up and water would shoot out. He kept trying to catch the water!

Brad taught Cam Cam how to clap his two favorite puzzle pieces (the cat and the dog) together to make noise. 

Cam primarily crawls on all fours now. He still reverts to the army crawl if he is crawling a long way or trying to get somewhere really fast. He still always go straight for the camera, too.

Cam is finally getting the hang of riding on his toys. He prefers to sit on the ground and play with them, but as his balance gets steadier is he more eager to ride on them.

So that was a bunch of random pictures and videos from last week. In my next post I will show you our big adventure to Atlanta.

Bubbles

Blowing bubbles at the pool.

Big Bubbles

Wow! That's Cool!

His name is Defiance!

Already Camden has shown signs of defiance. He looks right at me while I tell him "no" and does it again anyway, and laughs. You can see what I'm talking about in this video. The problem has grown worse over the past couple of weeks. Nothing seems to phase him. I hope this is a phase that passes soon. What a little stinker!

It's Diptastic!

Those of you who know me personally can attest to my atrocious cooking skills. I can’t cook dinner unless it comes in a plastic container and goes in the microwave. Ironic that I own a meal provider company, huh? Anyway, while I can barely boil a pot of water, all my friends will attest to the fact that I can make a mean appetizer spread. If it goes in a crock pot or involves the basic food groups, Velveeta & cream cheese, then I can make it into a delicious dip. So in honor of BooMama’s  DiptTacular Mr. Linky post today, I will share a few of my favorite dip recipes with you. You’re welcome. I wish I had all the ingredients on hand so I could take some awesome pictures for you, but I don’t. So instead I will thrill you with old school pictures of me.

Melissa’s Sonora Bean Dip (Yes, I renamed it after myself. I am that vain.)

I first had this bean dip  about 8 years ago. Back in my former life as a drug rep, 

my coworker Lisa brought this dip to a Christmas party. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. I pretty much ate the entire dish my self, and we’re talking about a 9x13 casserole dish. I promptly got the recipe from Lisa, and then proceeded to change it up and make it my own. I turned all of my friends onto this divine  bean dip. Even though they all have the recipe and have made it themselves, they still request demand I bring it to every get-together. I think the secret is to use an electric mixer to blend it all together. No hand stirring! Here is the original recipe:

And Here is my version:

Melissa's Sonorra Bean Dip

16 oz Sour Cream - Full Fat - no lite or Fat Free!

2 blocks of Cream Cheese - store brand is fine, but again, Full Fat!

2 cans refried beans or 1 larger (40oz?) can - fat free is okay here

1 packet of taco seasoning

2 - 4 cups (or more!) shredded mexican cheese blend - Don’t skimp!

Mix together the sour cream, cream cheese, beans & taco seasoning. Use a handheld or stand electric mixer. Trust me when I say no hand mixing. It’s too much work and it will never mix evenly anyway. Pour in a 9x13 casserole dish. Spray it with Pam first if you can remember. I always forget. Then top generously with all the shredded cheese. The more the better! Cover and bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for 5 more minutes. Dig in! So simple and yet so delicious. This is honestly the ONLY recipe I know by heart. 

Here is a picture of all my Merck coworkers and their families at that Christmas party. I think this was in 2001 or 2002. Look how skinny I was! Oh to be that young and thin again!

Another dip that I love to make is from my good friend Susan. We met way back in ’97 when we started working for Bradley Pharmaceuticals together. We actually interviewed for the same position, but the hiring folks liked us both so much they created another territory for me. I really wanted to move to Birmingham, but I guess it’s good I didn’t because I met my husband 3 weeks later. In Huntsville. In a bar, if you must know. Taco Mac. I think we had been dating a couple of months in this picture:

I totally love that Brad is drinking a flavored Zima & wearing a braided belt in this picture! Anyway, back to the point. After Susan & I were hired, we attended a 3 day training session in Cropwell, AL. If you’re wondering where the heck that is, I’ll tell you; it’s in the middle of nowhere. Susan and I bonded over PI’s and PPI’s for decongestants and dermatology products. We sure used to have fun on company voicemail! She made this dip for me in 2006 when I was visiting with her. I made this at home a few months later when I was about 6 months pregnant (and huge) and dropped it on the kitchen floor. What a mess! I cried I was so frustrated & hormonal. Here's a picture of Brad, me, Susan & her husband Sam at Howl At The Moon in Ft. Walton in Sept. '99. I love that I had used a red eye photo pen on this snapshot!

Here's Susan & me in a self portrait a few months ago. We've still got it!

I guess I will call this one Susan’s Bean & Corn Salsa. Yummy! 

Since I promised you a recipe with Velveeta I will leave you with my New Party Meatballs Recipe. I adapted this from Fix It & Forget It, a crock pot recipe book. I think it was originally called Nancy’s Party Meatballs. I’m surprised I didn’t rename this one after myself. I first made this for a New Year’s Eve Party many years ago and it was a huge hit! I couldn't find pictures to go with this one. 

I hope you enjoyed the stories behind the dips and all my randomness today. Of course, I have to throw in a picture of the cuteness, Cam Cam. This one was taken yesterday at the pool.

Finally, I want to remind you there is still time to enter Hillary's Birthday Week Giveaway. I'm so hoping I win the Basket of Home Accents!

Bunny Ears!

I have been trying for 4 days to upload this video! Finally, success! The lighting isn't great, but it is pretty funny. Camden thought this little game that daddy made up was hysterical. Hope you enjoy!

Reid's Birthday Party & Fun Video

Saturday we went to a birthday party for our friend Reid. He is turning two.

Big sister Riley on the right, Aunt Chace holding Camden in the center and Reid with his back to the camera.

Camden really liked the present we gave a Reid. We might have to get him his own Animal Care Vet Clinic. Reid was loving his new helicopters.

Camden really took a shine to Chace. He kept pulling on her legs til she picked him and played with him.

Here's the birthday boy swinging his new golf clubs. Watch out!

Camden really enjoyed playing in the ball pit.

Checking it out...starts out with one ball...

Now he has two balls...

"Look! Look at my balls!"

"What do you mean we have to go inside now? I've got the whole ball pit to myself!"

And completely unrelated to the birthday party, here is a fun video of Camden and Daddy playing chase. Listen to Camden laughing hysterically.

Birthday Giveaway Extravangza!

There are not one, but two birthday giveaways going on this week!

My friend Hillary is celebrating her birthday on Thursday by hosting bloggy giveaways all this week. The first one is for Homemade Gourmet products. Hop on over to her to blog at  The Other Mama  and enter to win! Also, be sure to check out some of her recent posts, because she is one funny chick!

The second giveaway is at Natalie's Sentiments. She lives in Chattanooga and features the most precious stuff on her blog. Her first giveaway is for a gift certificate to the Etsy shop The Sisty Uglers. I am loving the quilts! Of course, I love the little girl dresses and outfits, too, but I don't think Camden would appreciate wearing those!

So be sure to check out both of those blogs and enter to win a great prize every day this week!

Rubber Ducky, You're the One!

Camden has suddenly taken an interest in his rubber duckies, even when it's not bath time.

He crawled in the bathroom, pulled up on the tub, and reached in to get his ducks.

He is leaning on the tub, but pretty steady without holding on.

He still hasn't taken his first steps. I just know it will be soon.