Yesterday my parent's church had their annual chili cookoff fundraiser. Last year there had been about 5 or 6 entries and about 30 people had shown up for the chili dinner afterward. I won second place in the category of hottest and first place in the category of best tasting last year. I had a blast doing it too.
This year I decided to enter again, and I was discussing it with my mom. She pointed out that she'd be babysitting "Michael" that day. Since he enjoys cooking with me mom pointed out that I'd probably end up with help. Then my mom said that she thought it'd be cute for Michael to enter the cookoff. I loved the idea and ran with it.
I realized that if I helped with Michael's chili too much then it would taste too much like mine, so I had to figure out what to do. I sent my dad to the store to buy what he thought should go in a pot of chili. I got some stuff from my mom that she bought when she had been considering entering in the cookoff herself. And then I raided the cupboard for stuff that I thought might go in chili.
Thursday night I put some beans on to soak for the 2 pots of chili. Friday I cooked them off and put my chili together, since it needs to cook for a full day before it's done. I set Michael's beans aside for him.
On Saturday morning I set out everything that we had for Michael's chili, and then I put the boy to work. My dad had bought one of those big, horseshoe shaped sausages to use for this, so I gave it to Michael to cut up. He can only use a butter knife for now (I really need to go get a safety knife), but he's getting pretty good at it. I then sat Michael on the counter next to the stove and let him start putting stuff in his chili. He's getting pretty good at helping open cans, and his stirring skills are greatly improved.
When all was said and done Michael had a decent looking pot of chili. We took his and mine to the church and dropped them off for judging while we went shopping. We went back to the church for the dinner. When it came time for the awards I got some funny looks as to why I was dragging a 3 year old up for them, but it was worth it. Michael got third place in the category of best tasting. It was so much fun.
Sunday, March 08, 2009
Monday, March 02, 2009
Changes
Okay, everything just got crazy here. We'll start with a little background.
I have one sister, she's older than me. She llives in Arkansas, and we haven't been able to see each other since my wedding. We keep in touch, but not a lot of contact. We've always been close, but she tends to fill her life with drama, and I just haven't been able to deal with it. There's no huge disagreement, just I don't need the run down on who's sleeping with who, or which boyfriend (since she kicked her husband out to move a boyfriend in to help pay the bills) is currently in residence.
I've known that my sister was facing a lot of hard times, but I haven't really realized just how bad they were. She has 3 kids and has been working her ass off trying to provide for them, but nothings really coming together for her. The kids are 17, 13, and 11 and they happen to be the closest I come to having kids of my own. I love them more than I could ever say. They've turned out fairly well so far, especially considering the home environment that they come from.
A few days ago the cops showed up at my sister's house because they'd had a report that my niece (the 13 year old) was being molested by one of the people that she babysits for. They needed to take her to the station to question her about this, and my sister went along. Why, I don't know, but my sister was tested for drugs while she was there. And she failed. She tested positive for marijuana and meth. She swears up and down that she only uses occasionally and my mom belives her. The only thing that I know for sure is that she's willingly taking part in a drug rehab program.
Apparently one of the boyfriends that my sister had living with her for a while is a known drug dealer that the cops have been hot to get for a while now. So they're trying to get my sister to give up her dealer(s). They told her to tell them everything she knows. She asked about what. They said just tell us everything you know or we'll take your kids away. Now, my sister has no problem giving up everybody if it will help her kids out, but she's afraid of causing more trouble for herself.
Also, on Sunday my sister was served with an eviction notice. She's been renting a house from my uncle, but there's been a lot of problems. I guess she's been without hot water for more than 6 months now. The eviction notice was her 30 day notice, but the letter that my uncle gave her said that all her stuff needs to be out by the 15th, since that's when he needs to move his stuff in. Also, as of the 15th he's changing the locks and her and the kids can only come and go on his schedule. So basically, she's got less than 2 weeks to find a new place and move.
The eviction notice, on top of everything else that's going on, is the final nail in her coffin. She's sure that she's going to lose the kids. So that's where I come in. A couple of hours ago I bought three one way tickets out here. The kids will be here next week on Wednesday. A final decision hasn't been reached, but it's looking like the kids will be signed over to me. I'm becoming a mom. Or something like that.
I live with my parents and my grandma, so I'll not be alone in caring for these kids. But I already feel a great responsibility for them. I know there's a chance that the responsibility won't be mine after all, but i can't help that I'm already gearing up for it mentally. And i can't stop the tape in the back of my head going, "HOLY CRAP!!!"
I have one sister, she's older than me. She llives in Arkansas, and we haven't been able to see each other since my wedding. We keep in touch, but not a lot of contact. We've always been close, but she tends to fill her life with drama, and I just haven't been able to deal with it. There's no huge disagreement, just I don't need the run down on who's sleeping with who, or which boyfriend (since she kicked her husband out to move a boyfriend in to help pay the bills) is currently in residence.
I've known that my sister was facing a lot of hard times, but I haven't really realized just how bad they were. She has 3 kids and has been working her ass off trying to provide for them, but nothings really coming together for her. The kids are 17, 13, and 11 and they happen to be the closest I come to having kids of my own. I love them more than I could ever say. They've turned out fairly well so far, especially considering the home environment that they come from.
A few days ago the cops showed up at my sister's house because they'd had a report that my niece (the 13 year old) was being molested by one of the people that she babysits for. They needed to take her to the station to question her about this, and my sister went along. Why, I don't know, but my sister was tested for drugs while she was there. And she failed. She tested positive for marijuana and meth. She swears up and down that she only uses occasionally and my mom belives her. The only thing that I know for sure is that she's willingly taking part in a drug rehab program.
Apparently one of the boyfriends that my sister had living with her for a while is a known drug dealer that the cops have been hot to get for a while now. So they're trying to get my sister to give up her dealer(s). They told her to tell them everything she knows. She asked about what. They said just tell us everything you know or we'll take your kids away. Now, my sister has no problem giving up everybody if it will help her kids out, but she's afraid of causing more trouble for herself.
Also, on Sunday my sister was served with an eviction notice. She's been renting a house from my uncle, but there's been a lot of problems. I guess she's been without hot water for more than 6 months now. The eviction notice was her 30 day notice, but the letter that my uncle gave her said that all her stuff needs to be out by the 15th, since that's when he needs to move his stuff in. Also, as of the 15th he's changing the locks and her and the kids can only come and go on his schedule. So basically, she's got less than 2 weeks to find a new place and move.
The eviction notice, on top of everything else that's going on, is the final nail in her coffin. She's sure that she's going to lose the kids. So that's where I come in. A couple of hours ago I bought three one way tickets out here. The kids will be here next week on Wednesday. A final decision hasn't been reached, but it's looking like the kids will be signed over to me. I'm becoming a mom. Or something like that.
I live with my parents and my grandma, so I'll not be alone in caring for these kids. But I already feel a great responsibility for them. I know there's a chance that the responsibility won't be mine after all, but i can't help that I'm already gearing up for it mentally. And i can't stop the tape in the back of my head going, "HOLY CRAP!!!"
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