I'm back...

I bet you've all been wondering what happened to our happy little blog and tips on cooking!

We haven't been doing much of that lately.  We have a joke in our household, I eat a can of hominy if Cory is gone.  Sometimes, I have been known to eat toast, left overs, even mac & cheese, but I usually don't cook.  Which is why our month of meals go so far.

A while ago I mentioned that we were in the effort of trying to conceive.  The last year has been very trying on our marriage, and we decided we needed to take a step back and some time off.  I used to laugh when I heard couples express this, even the whole "you are trying too hard".  What a joke, right?  Wrong, this has been the hardest thing we have tried to accomplish, individually and together, but we learned a lot together, shed some tears together.. and grown.

So the "baby" word was not allowed in our house, for a month.   Our month is drawing to a close in a couple of days... we've spent the weekends.. on the Harley, out with friends (which was a treat, because I didn't drink for.. 10 months- it effects your fertility), and with family.. in the pool and on the beach.  We've take a lot of time for just us.  At the same time, I had surgery, had some follow up doctor appointments and found out my brain is swollen.  I've had a lot of follow up on that, some new meds and a lot of abnormal headaches.  Cory has been doing a lot of cooking, even if it's just bacon & eggs for dinner.  He's been amazing.

I started seeing a behaviorist to help cope with the pain, the stress of all the listed above, and she suggested to get a family animal, that will give me something to focus on other than my pain, give Cory and I something more in common, and help be a bond.

So I haven't posted, but I'm back in the kitchen.. I've been doing some baking, some cooking, experimenting with new recipes, and I've taken a lot of pictures and notes, oh!  Meet.. Bella, the newest member of the Radel Family:

She's the little one, she's playing with our existing dog Spud, who goes on the road with Daddy.  Bella will stay home and keep me company!

So what do you have to look forward to:

Coming up next... Grilled pineapple, chicken and potato packets with broccoli.
(we grill so much in the summer, we have already gone through 2 tanks of propane.)
Later: How we use the grill as an oven.
Even later: Homemade hamburger helper
More homemade recipes to come: Homemade rice-a-roni
Taco Seasoning
Quick Biscuits

This month should be interesting.. :) hop along for the ride!

Mother's Day

For mother's day, I figured we as a family could do something for my mom my brother Kyle & I haven't been able to do for years.  Pictures, as a family.  We got them taken at our wedding, but, very few was I smiling in.  I kinda fell down the stairs that morning, sprained my ankle and had a migraine.  Fun right?

All of our pictures were taken by my best friend who is getting into photography.. you can find her site here.

 Kristee & Parker

 Parker

 Mimi (me) & Parker

 My brother Kyle & nephew Isaac

 Kyle, Isaac, Debra

 My amazing parents Michelle & Al, a beautiful 29 years of marriage

 All of us

In love

 Kiss me goodnight.

2 years of love

Family Matriarch

Almost a year ago... I married this man...

Along with gaining an amazing husband, I gained a sister, niece, nephew, brother-in-law, loads of aunts & uncles.. and a second set of parents.


A couple of months ago, my mother-in-law had testing done on a spot they had found on her kidney. I received a text "It's Cancer". The first person I thought of was my husband, this is his mommy, one of his best friends, someone he adores to no end... I called him and we cried on the phone together...

We spent the next few weeks finding out treatment was pretty easy, but at the same time... one of the people I've been closest to in life, died from cancer that originated from organs. I tried to hold myself together, support and give hugs and kisses where needed.

Thursday morning, we got up at 3:45 in the morning & spent the day in the hospital. As you can see, my father-in-law & husband found this to be a very exhausting day. Waiting.

We received word about 1:30PM that she had successfully come out of surgery. The doctor then came out and confirmed that he had gotten all of the cancer successfully and that she should soon be recovering in a room.

She came home on Saturday, while she's in a good amount of pain, she's here, and continues to be the one that makes us laugh, gives fun clothes, hugs, and keeps us all held together like a special glue.

Thank God, Sue... we love you so much!!