Happy Birthday Xander

Today is Phil's son's 3rd birthday.

 I know he would want to be there to see his little man growing up. It breaks my heart that he can't be. I look at my little boys and cannot imagine how hard it would be to not be there, how difficult for Xander's mom to raise him without his father's help, and how trying for Xander to not have his daddy there any longer.

My heart has been heavy much of the day, thinking of these things. I know his little mini-me had an awesome birthday party, and I am so happy for that.

Here are some photos of Phillip with his son...

I love this one because our father, Charlie would never have carried a baby in a baby carrier, so I love that Phillip is, and Xander looks so happy!

Some pics of him spending time with his little man. Phillip was not much of a smiler for photos, but I love that most of the photos of him smiling when he was older are the ones with his son. He was so proud of that boy!

I love these ones because it is one of the last times I saw Phillip, and also when I got to meet his son, the little boy he had told me so much about. This was at Trinity's 1st Birthday (July 2010). Xander was sure shy (runs in the family), but he sure clung to his daddy!

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 This is my favorite pic. Phil LOVED to play the guitar. As soon as he started learning in junior high, he would play a lot, for anyone. I love that this photo has him playing for his little man. It melts my heart every time I see it.

 And I also wanted to include this photo of Phillip as a little boy, because it reminds me of Xander.

 When my 6 year old saw it he was sure it was his little brother... and there is a resemblance in a few pics... do you see it?

Happy Birthday Xander! I hope you felt your daddy smiling down on you today (and always!)

Phillip's Honeyed Carrots

This is a yummy recipe that would be nice with any Thanksgiving platter. 

Phil's Honeyed Carrots

2 lbs baby carrots (or I have used regular carrots, cut into coins)

3/4 c. honey

1 1/4 c. butter

Combine butter and honey in saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Add carrots and reduce heat. Cover and simmer until carrots are crisp-tender (about 10 minutes). 

I have seen and tried other versions that include some lemon juice, apple juice, ginger, mint, etc. You can try many different variations and everyone I have tried, I liked. :)

Though this is not Phil's exact recipe, its close. Phillip took home ec in junior high, and learned he actually liked cooking. He would come home so excited to try his new recipes, and being always hungry kids, we never minded. This is one that he made that both my mom and I remembered, and have made more than a few times over the years.

My mom said when Phillip was first excited to make these she had her doubts, honey and carrots? Together? But she let him, and found it was a yummy combo. 

Its no wonder Phillip liked this recipe, as a boy he LOVED carrots. He was always snacking on a carrot out of the fridge. I liked them okay, but could never figure out why he liked them so much. Our mom always said it helped him to have such good eyesight, and she must have been right, for I had glasses at an early age, and he never did. 

Another recipe he learned in his home economics class was this one, or some variation of it. Recipe found here

Chocolate Waffles

Ingredients

1 1/2 c. flour

3 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 c. sugar

3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

1 c. milk

2 eggs

4 tbsp butter, melted

Directions:
1.Preheat waffle iron. In a large mixing bowl stir together flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and cocoa. Stir in like, eggs, and butter until mixture is smooth.
2. Spray pre-heated waffle iron with non-stick cooking spray. Pour mix onto waffle iron. Cook until golden brown. Serve hot with topping of your choice.




I haven't made this recipe, but as far as I can remember, it was pretty close to this one. It is also no wonder that he was excited to make waffles, because that was always his dad's specialty. Charlie loved to make Belgian waffles, it was the one time he would cook, and he was always so excited to have you try his many waffle variations. Anyhow... back to Phillip

He came home from school, and mixed up the batter, and put the waffle in our new Bugs Bunny waffle iron and made them. They looked really tasty, and I was eager for a taste. He gave me the first bite, and I thought I might die from the saltiness. It was a little REALLY salty. I tried my hardest to kindly tell him they were good, but too salty, and we tried to figure out why. We checked the recipe, and it called for 1 tsp of salt, and he was sure he had only put in 1 teaspoon. Finally, I had him show me the measuring spoon he used. It was a measuring spoon set that had spoons measurements on one end and cup measurements on the opposite end. He had actually put in 1 cup of salt! In his defense, the tiny divot on the opposite end looked more like a design than a teaspoon, and he was pretty new to cooking. He was not very happy with himself, and I can't remember if it was the same day or not, but he did make another batch that was very yummy!

Also, with Thanksgiving coming up, think of Phil as you eat your turkey, he LOVED him some deep fried turkeys. Apparently it was his specialty. I wish I would have had the chance to eat some of his turkey.

I wish we had some photos of him cooking or eating carrots or something, but as of now, we haven't found any. 

Though it is so hard to be without your loved ones during the holidays, especially those first ones, I am thankful this year. I am thankful that I had a little brother named Phillip. A brother that was a pain in my behind, a once close friend, a confidante, and also some comic relief. I am thankful that my aunt placed him for adoption, because otherwise we would have been cousins, but we would most likely not have been as close as we were. I am thankful for all the times we did get to spend together, and thankful that I have so many memories of him.

Love you and miss you!