Friday Recipe - Roasted Red Potatoes

So simple and yummy!

Roasted Red Potatoes
INGREDIENTS:
1 lb small red potatoes, cut into 1/4" slices
1 Tbls oil
1/2 tsp salt
pepper to taste
2 Tbls grated parmesan cheese

Toss potatoes with oil. Place in a single layer in a greased 13x9x2 baking pan. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and cheese. Cover tightly with foil. Bake at 350 for 40 minutes or until tender.

Row, Row, Row your boat...or something like that

A few nights ago, Mr. Man came home with a 5-6" tear in the seam of his pants right at the butt! He showed it to me in horror and we laughed about it.

Later that evening, Lady Bug is doing a puzzle and all of the sudden starts singing:

"Rip, rip, rip your pants all along the seam. Rip, rip, rip your pants hear the ladies scream."

OH.MY.GOODNESS... did we ever laugh! THAT was a classic!

Health & Nutrition Class

Yesterday was Lefty's birthday and so Mr. Man took the day off, took Lefty out of school and they hung out all day together. They met me for lunch (highlight of my day!) and then just did some "guy things". Lefty was insisting that he wanted to take some treats to his class, not today, but yesterday! Mr. Man tried and tried to convince him to take something today, but he wouldn't be swayed.

SO, Mr. Man and Lefty headed up to the school at the end of the day with popsicles for all the kids in Lefty's class. They happened to have a special speaker that day for a health and nutrition class. The speaker stopped what she was doing so that they could celebrate Lefty's birthday ... with popsicles no less!! Mr. Man felt horrible, but the speaker was really nice and said it was not the end of the world. I think she worked it into her talk about how it is ok to "break the rules" once in awhile as long as you are good the rest of the day!

He told me if he had shown up with a fruit tray he wouldn't have felt so bad!

I laughed and laughed all night! Poor guy felt horrible!

Happy Birthday to Lefty

Lefty turns eight today. We had a family dinner on Sunday night. He asked for chocolate cake with chocolate frosting for dessert with waffles and bacon for dinner. He and I baked a cake on Saturday afternoon. Then I somehow managed to foul up the waffles, I either added too much of something or not enough of something else, just not sure. Everyone ate them but they were odd... they just weren't cooking up right and had a funny taste.

We opened presents and had a good time together.

Earlier in the day he asked if he could open his presents at lunch so that if he got his Nintendo DS he asked for he would have more time to play with it. I said "Honey, Nintendo DS's are expensive. I'm sorry I couldn't get that for you. I got you clothes and that is all."

He hung his head in sadness and said "I understand. I have holes in my jeans and my socks so I understand why you had to do that."

{Immediately, I felt like a bad mom for two reasons... 1) he is wearing jeans and socks with holes! Nice. and 2) because he thought he wasn't getting a DS when he really was and I was crushing his little heart.}

When he opened that BIG box that I wrapped the little DS box in he was ecstatic! It was fun! Lady Bug bought him a puzzle and Spirit picked out a game for the DS. He also got some money and cards. He enjoyed his day.

BUT, today is the actual birthday! 8 years ago today I had a little baby boy, my second baby and my second boy. I remember his birth story like it was yesterday. I had been on bedrest with him for a month because of contractions. I was only allowed out of bed once per hour for no more than minutes - this was to use the bathroom and get a drink. Mr. Man and friends had to help me with food and help me with Spirit the rest of the times. I did lots of crafts in bed and read books/magazines. But, now that we were within a week of his due date the midwife gave me more freedoms. A family friend of ours had called earlier in the day and asked if she could keep Spirit overnight to take him with her to a carnival. So we dropped him off, grabbed some Mexican food (had I known I was going to actually go into labor I might have skipped this... it ended up being a bad idea.) After dinner I was at home and got a phone call from a friend, asking how I was doing. As we are talking, she points out that I am having contractions and not being able to talk through them. I guess I had been having contractions for a month that I hadn't even noticed them this time. Good thing I was talking with her or I am thinking Mr. Man might have had to deliver a baby at home!

Speaking of Mr. Man, he had headed to the store for a few things and I wasn't expecting him back right away. I continue to talk to my friend on the phone and she is starting to panic for me. She is telling me that I REALLY need to hang up the phone, stop doing dishes and start getting ready to leave for the hopsital.

As soon as Mr. Man got home I told him the situation and we started getting ready to leave. He was still in work clothes and asked if he had time to change, which I thought he did. After he changed we gathered up my already packed hospital bag, the infant car seat and headed out the door.

We got to the hospital about 11:00 PM. They didn't have a birthing room ready so they put me in another room to get started. I got my gown on and they started hooking me up to the IV's and whatever. My water had not yet broken with Lefty so they decided to break it for me. This increased the contractions and they were getting more painful to me, this also meant I started throwing up (I did the same thing with Spirit). Mexican food was a bad choice for dinner... I'm just saying!

A room opened up for me and I was able to be moved to a regular birthing room. Suddenly I knew he was coming and knew it would be fast. We called the nurse and she called for doctors. At 1:40 AM (on the morning of the 27th) and after only a few pushes he was out and crying with his big beautiful lungs! They took him to a little table next to me to wiegh him and all that jazz, after a few minutes they tell me they might have to cut his long dark hair - they had screwed in a tiny heart monitor into the top of his head when he was still in the womb and it apparently got wrapped too tightly in his hair and they couldn't get it out! But before they cut they tried one more time and were able to get it out!

They were going to move me again to a different room (I can't remember why) but it wasn't available yet so at 4:00 AM they finally moved me to my room. Mr. Man was settled into sleep and I just held my new little baby. I tried to send him to the nursery to sleep but they kept bringing him back saying they thought he needed to nurse. My first night was that of NO SLEEP! The next day when visitors wanted to come, I was so exhausted!

I remember asking to be released as soon as they would let me... I just wanted my own bed (after a month of bedrest I thought I would never had wanted my own bed so badly!)

He was a very good baby and a much better sleeper than Spirit ever was (and still is ... 8 years later!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEFTY!

Meal Plan April 24 - 30

Here is this week's meal plan.

SATURDAY:
Breakfast - Cereal
Lunch - Quesadillas / Fruit
Dinner - Bacon & tomato chicken / roasted potatoes / steamed broccoli


SUNDAY:
Breakfast - Cereal
Lunch - Left overs
Dinner - Waikiki Meatballs / steamed rice / corn


MONDAY:
Breakfast - Cereal
Lunch - Pizza bites / Fruit / Cookie
Dinner - Ham and bean soup / cornbread


TUESDAY:
Breakfast - Breakfast Piggys
Lunch - Meat roll ups / crackers / fruit / cookie
Dinner - Spaghetti / garlic toast / salad


WEDNESDAY:
Breakfast - Cereal
Lunch - Spaghetti / carrot sticks / fruit / cookie
Dinner - Beef stroganoff / rice / asparagus


THURSDAY:
Breakfast - Cereal
Lunch - Pizza rolls / fruit / cookie / carrot sticks
Dinner - Honey Baked chicken / salad / bread


FRIDAY:
Breakfast - Cereal
Lunch - Burritos / fruit / cucumber slices
Dinner - Cheddar baked chicken breasts / green beans / mashed potatoes

Friday Recipe - Napa Salad

I got this from a dear old pastor's wife about 20 years ago. She was the sweetest lady and loved to cook. I was single and going to college then, she would have me over for dinner and taught me a few things about cooking and baking. She made the best cakes, but never shared those recipes with me.

I have seen this recipe other places, with different names, but no matter what you call it I call it GOOD! It isn't an overly pretty salad, but it is tasty. I like to serve this in the spring time and often we have it with our Easter meal.

Napa Salad
INGREDIENTS:
1 large head of Napa or Red Cabbage, shredded (sometimes I do a little of both kinds for color)
6 green onions, chopped
2 packages Ramen Noodles (any flavor)
1/4 Tbls oil
4 oz sunflower seeds
4 oz slivered almonds

DRESSING:
2 Tbls soy sauce
1 c oil
1 c sugar
1/2 c tarragon vinegar

Mix cabbage and onions. Refrigerate for 2 hours. Saute broken Ramen Noodles without flavor packets, almonds and sunflower seeds in oil. Combine with cabbage and refrigerate for 2 hours. Mix dressing and pour over salad 15 minutes before serving.

Random thoughts {again}

~Our friend Tom is still in the hospital but has been moved from ICU to a regular room. Up until a day or so ago he wasn't able to eat or drink, but is now able to drink. The doctors really aren't sure of anything at this point. He was originally told the cancerous tumors were too big and too wrapped around his organs for them to surgically remove them, but now his regular oncologist (who was on vacation when all this started) told him there may be a possibility to try chemo but due to the size and amount of tumors they wouldn't know if it would be able to shrink the tumors enough so that they could go in to do surgery. Tom and his wife Katie are focusing now on what will give Tom the best quality and quantity of life. They still have more decisions to make and meetings with doctors, but are surrounded by friends and family all pitching in to help Katie with the house and kids.

~Speaking of that: My friend MC has been watching Tom and Katie's 5 kids. MC has 5 kids of her own. She said it sounds like the Walton's house at night "g'night Ella. g'night Decker. g'night Evan. g'night Kiera. etc." Right now MC has 10 kids ages, 17 down to 1 in her house. She is running Tom's kids back and forth from the hospital so they can see their mom and dad and then taking them back to her house for the night. She truly is what Tom and Katie need right now.

~My boss tripped and fell into my desk this week, dislocating his knee. It was a little bit freaky and a little funny all at the same time. He laid there and I asked what I could do and he said "Nothing. Just keep working."

Umm, ya I couldn't work while a 230 pound man was laying next to me writhing on the floor in pain. He finally popped it back into place and was able to limp back to his office. It was very strange.

~Lady Bug appears to have gotten over her insomnia. She was at the point of partying until 2 or 3 in the morning. She would clean her room, read books, go down to the kitchen for a drink, pick out her clothes for the next day and who knows what else. Thankfully she never decided she needed to take the car to the store for a snack! Yikes! She is now going to bed about 8:30 and is asleep by the time I go to bed at 9:30 or 10:00, so I am hoping she is falling asleep shortly after getting into bed.

~I have been missing my family a lot this week. And by family I mean my sisters and mom who live so far away. And can someone please tell me why every time I am with my family like I was a few weeks ago, why don't I get a picture of them? I hardly pulled out my camera the whole time they were here. UGH!

~I have a sweet niece who keeps popping in my mind and I am not sure why...must be time for me to contact her?!?

~My house needs cleaned. It is basically picked up and tidy that way, but the dust is gross and I need to clean my carpets something fierce!

~Lady Bug's school told us a few months ago that the building they rent has decided to sell to a charter school so wanted them out at the end of June. Last Thursday they sent home a letter telling us they have decided that after Preschool Graduation on May 26 they will no longer be open. Geez, thanks for the warning. So, we are scrambling to find summer daycare. Fortunately my boss has said I can work flexible hours this summer and the assistant director of Lady Bug's school has offered to help me out. But she can't do it everyday and would need me to pick them up early afternoon (normally I get off at 5). So we will get it figured out, it is just a headache in the meantime. Last summer Mr. Man worked his schedule so that he worked every weekend (which also meant he was "on-call" during the week) and then took 2 days off during the week and his sister watched them for the other 3 days during the week. It was an ok set up. I hated not having a family weekend.... ever. Since I work all week I felt like Mr. Man and I never saw each other. Plus, his sister lives 2 hours from us so we would drop off the kids Sunday night and pick them back up Wednesday night. It made for a long summer. The kids got to do all kinds of fun things like camping, fishing, boating, and on and on, but it sure made it hard on me.

~We have had cold and rainy weather this week and I am ready for some sunshine and warmth!

~Lefty is struggling with bedwetting still. He will be dry for 2 nights and then wet 5 nights straight. Us waking him up at 4 am has helped, but not every time. It is weird. My friend, who is a pediatrician, talked to her colleagues about Lefty and has given me the name of a doctor to call. It could be that he is just a hard sleeper with a small bladder, but this doctor deals with this sort of thing all the time and my poor baby is ready to try anything. He has told me that! Breaks my heart! I wish I could snap my fingers and fix it.

~Someone stole my bike. I had it in the back of our house where we keep the bikes (or used to) and someone just opened our gate, walked right in and rode off. I didn't even noticed right away but what caught my eye was that our back gate was open. Then a couple days later I went to get my bike to ride with the boys in the park and ummm, no bike. Makes me so mad. I got that bike for my birthday 2-3 years ago.

~My kids and the neighbor kids have been having a blast in the tree in our front yard. Mr. Man helped the boys build a ladder and so they get to climb the tree now. It has become the highlight!

I'm in love with my mail man

I'm kidding... but I do LOVE getting pretty packages in my mail box. I hosted a flip-flop swap and got mine in the mail yesterday!

Look at what I got!! Her Household sent me these totally fab-u-lous green flip-flops and 3 bottles of nail color! I already painted my tootsies last night with one of the colors she sent and I strutted around the house in my new flip-flops last night!

These flip-flops are super-de-duper comfortable and they are my most favorite color! LOVE THEM!!! Thanks to ever so cute Lady of the House at Her Household!

My heart is heavy

I have blogged on here before about our dear family friend who has been dealing with finding out he has stomach cancer for over a year now. He has the best spirit of anyone I have ever known. With all the surgeries and pain and everything he is dealing with he always has a smile on his face and always genuinely asks how others are doing. Just an amazing man who is so dedicated to his wife and 5 kids.

This past Wednesday he had severe pain in his stomach and was taken by ambulance to the hospital where it was decided that he needed surgery and probably just had scar tissue from his previous surgeries. He went in for surgery Friday morning, while his wife was at home with the kids. About half way through the surgery the hospital called his wife - outcome not good. They found the cancer was covering his intestines and they do not feel there is anything else they can do for him because of the aggressiveness of it.

Mr. Man and I went to the hospital Friday evening to hug his wife. It is heart breaking to me. She told us that she has told him of all the visitors that have been in and out throughout the day and his question to her was "Why are they coming?" In his mind he just had a surgery, no big deal. He has a lot of hope that the doctors are wrong. She had to try to convince him that this is serious. The doctors are telling her the goal right now is to get him to eat and then send him home to have "quality time" with his family before the inevitable. He seems to have a lot of hope and faith God will heal him. He is, as my husband pointed out, the eternal optimist. But the rest of us are, either realists or maybe we have less faith than Tom but either way we are trying to prepare ourselves for what may come.

Of course, I pray for God's will and sure I hope that means Tom's body will be healed, but I also know that may not happen.

Tom's 9 year old daughter over heard some phone conversations and has figured out dad is not going to make it much longer. She in turn shared it with her 8 year old brother. They wrote their mom a letter, which I have not read but heard it was just heart wrenching.

I sit here and cry as I type this. I pray for my dear friend Tom who may never know what he has meant to me and my family. The weird thing about this is that Tom and Katie and their 5 kids were supposed to have dinner with us Friday night. We had planned that before Tom's surgery was scheduled. We really thought we would be able to reschedule that dinner in about a week.

My heart is heavy right now. "Never put off until tomorrow what can be done today" because we never know when our loved ones will be taken from us.

Meal Plan - April 17 - 23

Mr. Man and I get a little date-night tonight! woot woot. The kids will spend the night with a family friend and come home Sunday. I am so looking forward to an evening alone! I think we will go to dinner (or eat at home, not sure yet) and a movie. I can't wait!

SATURDAY:
Breakfast - Cereal / toast
Lunch - Chicken nuggets / mac-n-cheese / peas
Dinner - Baked Ziti / rolls / salad

SUNDAY:
Breakfast - Cereal
Lunch - Burritos
Dinner - Beef Stroganoff / steamed rice / artichokes

MONDAY:
Breakfast - Cereal
Lunch - Bagel Pizzas / Fruit / Carrot Sticks
Dinner - Pancakes / Bacon / Eggs

TUESDAY:
Breakfast - Cereal
Lunch - Homemade Lunchables (cheese, crackers, deli meat slices, fruit and a cookie)
Dinner - Spaghetti / Salad

WEDNESDAY:
Breakfast - Cereal
Lunch - Spaghetti / fruit / carrot sticks
Dinner - Tacos

THURSDAY:
Breakfast - Cereal
Lunch - Bagel Pizzas / Fruit / Cookie
Dinner - Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

FRIDAY:
Breakfast - Cereal
Lunch - Homemade Lunchables
Dinner - F.F.Y. (Fend For Yourself - this is when we use up left overs and most times everyone is eating something different!)

REMINDER

FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE FLIP-FLOP SWAP:
Today is the deadline to mail out your flip-flops!

This was a fun swap...hope everybody had fun!

Friday Recipe - Cream Puffs

These are to die for. A little time consuming, but well worth it!

Cream Puffs
INGREDIENTS:

SHELLS:
1/2 c unsalted butter
1 c boiling water
1 c flour
1/2 tsp salt
4 eggs

WHIPPED CREAM:
2 pints heavy cream
1 tsp vanilla
1-2 Tbls powdered sugar

CHOCOLATE TOPPING:
12 oz semi sweet chocolate morsels
1/2 whipping cream (optional)

SHELLS: Melt butter in boiling water in a medium saucepan and bring to a second boil. Add flour and salt all at once. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until the mixture leaves the sides of the pan and forms a stiff ball. Remove from the heat. Blend in eggs, one at time, beating vigorously after each egg until mixture is smooth and glossy. Drop mounds of dough by teaspoonfuls on ungreased baking sheet. Bake 20-25 minutes. Remove and cool. Cut tops and remove excess dough so that it is hollow. Fill with whipped cream. Replace tops and pour chocolate topping over tops. Sprinkle with powdered sugar on top and refrigerate.

WHIPPED CREAM: Beat heavy cream, vanilla and powdered sugar until stiff peaks form.

CHOCOLATE TOPPING: Melt chocolate morsels over low heat stirring constantly until melted. Add cream to thin if desired. Drizzle chocolate over tops of cream puffs.

Kids...

I have been awake since 4:30 this morning. I got up to wake up Lefty to go potty and realized I was too late. I got him some dry pajamas, had him go potty and then put him in bed with us. I quickly realized my mind was racing too much and I wasn't going back to sleep so I got up. I stripped Lefty's bed and started the laundry. I folded a load from last night. I had some "me time" with my Bible and a cup of coffee. Then I played Scrabble online for a little bit.

Last night Lady Bug was wound up and wouldn't settle down for bed; she was in bed, just not going to sleep. She was kicking the wall, singing, and at point when I checked on her she was cleaning her room in the dark! Finally about 10:45 she either fell asleep or just got quiet so that I could but either way I was asleep about then. Let me just tell you that I need more than 5 1/2 hours sleep. I don't do well on such little sleep. I guess it will be an espresso kind of day for me!

Right now I am listening to the birds singing outside... what a lovely sound! I normally am slighted annoyed when the birds songs wake me up so early, but since I probably woke them up this morning I will sit and enjoy their loveliness. They really do have pretty songs, I'm not sure I ever noticed that before!

I am off now for more coffee and to just sit and enjoy this quiet house with beautiful music playing for me outside of my window as the sun starts to rise.

The Happiness Project

My friend Misty at Rainy Day in May has blogged many times about a book she is in love with (she loves a lot of books...) called The Happiness Project.

After reading all the wonderful things Misty had to say about the book I decided I needed to get it for myself. I immediately fell in love with this book. It came in the mail on a day I really needed to hear some of the things this author had to say.

The author, Gretchen Rubin, really challenged me in so many ways. Click here to read more.

Today, I am in need of some tips from The Happiness Project. I loaned my book out so I need to get another one. There are so many challenging things in the book that it is definitely worth reading over and over. Every Wednesday is Tip Day on The Happiness Project website so since I don't have a book I will go here for a tip or two!

Seriously, if you have not read this book it is a good one - go get it! You will be blessed by it!

What a great day!

Yes, I know it is Monday morning, but it is still a great day!

After I showered and got dressed I could hear Lefty up and about. He let the dog outside and then came to the bathroom to tell me good morning. He came in all smiles and everything! This is huge in our house, because normally Lefty is NOT a morning person. Not only is he NOT a morning person, he has also been facing some personal battles which is frustrating him and making him grumpy (bedwetting again...he did so good for a little while and then the past 2 or 3 weeks he has gone back to wetting nearly every night!) In the last week, Mr. Man and I were trying to figure out what we could do to help Lefty with this bedwetting problem. We had tried all kinds of things that didn't work, one of which was to wake him up before we went to bed at night and have him go to the bathroom. We decided that we needed to maybe get him up earlier in the morning to go potty. We have been setting our alarm and getting him up at 4:00 to go potty for the last week. This has helped! He has stayed dry for a week (we are a little tired, but dry!)

I think that is somewhat boosting his confidence again, but also last night we had a huge discussion. Just he and I. He is my kid who isn't a talker. He tends to try to deal with issues alone and not involve us. He bottles a lot inside that will come out in a random way sometimes. So anyway, last night as he is getting ready for bed he was teary-eyed. I asked what was wrong. He (of course) said nothing was wrong. As I pushed a little bit, he finally told me that he would just tell me another day. I decided to push one last time. He caved in and told me he was disappointed in himself. He said he didn't really feel like he was a good person and that he wasn't doing the things God wants him to do. We prayed together and he also told me he prayed by himself when he got into bed last night.

So, I think I digressed there a bit.... Back to this morning:

So, Lefty went downstairs and made my coffee. He brewed it. He poured it and even "doctored it up" just the way I like it (yes, he spilled, but he cleaned it up using my good kitchen towels {I'm not complaining}).

Then he set the table for breakfast.

Then he made his lunch AND his brother's lunch.

I had quite the relaxing morning - even if it is Monday!

Meal Plan for April 10 - April 16

SATURDAY:
Breakfast - Donuts! and milk
Lunch - Left overs
Dinner - Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches / corn / applesauce

SUNDAY:
Breakfast - Cereal / Toast / juice
Lunch - Ham / Twice Baked potatoes / Green beans
Dinner - Left overs

MONDAY:
Breakfast - Cereal
Lunch - Pizza bites / fruit
Dinner - Pork tenderloin / cottage cheese

TUESDAY:
Breakfast - Cereal
Lunch - pasta with butter and parmesan cheese / fruit cup / rice krispie treat
Dinner - Ham and scalloped potatoes

WEDNESDAY:
Breakfast - Cereal
Lunch - Sandwich / chips/ cookie / fruit
Dinner - Homemade chicken noodle soup

THURSDAY:
Breakfast - Cereal
Lunch - Pizza bites / fruit cup / rice krispie treat
Dinner - Mac - n - cheese / peas

FRIDAY:
Breakfast - Cereal
Lunch - Chicken noodle soup / fruit / cookie
Dinner - Baked Ziti / Garlic bread / salad

Friday Recipe - Orange Sponge Cake

I made this cake for dessert on Easter. It was very light, with just a hint of orange flavor. I think this would be good served with raspberries or strawberries on the side. We just had it plain though.

Orange Sponge Cake
From Taste of Home
INGREDIENTS:

6 eggs, separated
1 1/2 c sugar, divided
1/2 c orange juice
3 tsp grated orange peel
1 1/3 c cake flour
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 tsp cream of tartar

GLAZE:
1/3 c butter, cubed
2 c confectioners' sugar
3 -5 tsp water
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Let eggs stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. In a large mixing bowl, beat egg yolks on high speed for 5 minutes or until thick and lemon-colored.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Gradually beat in 2/3 c sugar. Add orange juice and peel; beat 3 minutes longer.

Sift flour, 1/3 c sugar and salt together twice; gradually add yolk mixture and mix well.

In a large mixing bowl with clean beaters, beat egg whites and cream of tartar on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in remaining 1/2 c sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, on high until stiff peaks form. Gradually fold into batter.

Gently spoon into an ungreased 10-inch tube pan. Cut through batter with a knife to remove air pockets.

Bake on lowest rack in oven at 325 degrees for 45-55 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched. Immediately invert pan; cool completely for about an hour.

Run a knife around side and center of pan. Remove cake to serving platter.

FOR GLAZE:
Melt butter in a small saucepan, remove from heat. Add confectioners sugar, water and vanilla. Stir until smooth. Pour over cake, allowing it to drizzle down sides.

Spring, Spring, where are you spring?

We had another spring snow storm yesterday. I am hoping that is the last one! Come on sunshine and warm weather!

Before the snow yesterday we actually have some green in our front yard and I noticed some tulips popping up! I can't wait to get my flower pots on the deck full of flowers and watch the grass come back to life!

Last Fall we tore out some bushes from in front of the house...I have lived all winter with the repercussions of that.

Picture this: no more bushes, just dirt. Rain/snow/sleet on top of dirt making mud. Kids can not seem to figure out how to walk out of front door along walkway...no they must walk through mud even though mom/dad remind them to walk on the cement NOT through the mud.

SO, Mr. Man and I have mapped out a little flower bed and some grass to replace the bushes and so as soon as our weather holds up we will get busy working -- so I am anxious for the weather to get good and stay good! Not only will this make the front of the house look prettier, it will keep the mud and dirt from being tracked to the inside of the house!

Here are the pictures of the bushes coming out... can't wait to post what it looks like after spring sticks around here!


This is what they looked like - not very pretty at all. They collected trash that the wind blew in and lots of bugs! Ick.



We had lots of helpers! They were all hard workers!




Here is a picture of the front of the house just before we started tearing out the bushes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In other news: Spirit got up this morning and went in to use the downstairs bathroom...he comes right back out and says the rugs are wet and everything in the bathroom is wet. So I rush in and I noticed that the carpet just outside the bathroom is also wet...well no, it was not just wet it was downright SOAKED! The hot water heater closet is right there and it almost seemed like it was coming from there. But I wasn't certain so I got Mr. Man and he couldn't figure out where all the water came from either. My washer is in that bathroom so we wondered if that was leaking. Then Mr.Man looked inside the shower that is in there and it looked like something had backed up into the shower because there was dirt and water all inside the shower. We cleaned up the rugs, etc. and then Mr. Man took a shower...a short one because the shower wouldn't drain and the toilet in there was gurgling. Soooo, I guess we are off to get a plumber over here (probably to the tune of two or three hundred!!! irgh

Friday Recipe - Apple French Toast Casserole

This is one from my "Recipes to try" file that I have been going through lately. This one was very tasty and will be made again I'm sure of it. I had this on my weekly menu a few weeks ago and several people have been asking how it tasted, so I decided I better post the recipe and my reviews!

It was fairly easy to put together, it has to sit overnight so I made it on a Friday night after our movie night and then baked it on Saturday morning. Lady Bug said she didn't like it, I still don't know why. The boys really liked it!

Apple French Toast Casserole
adapted from Allrecipes.com
INGREDIENTS:
4 Tbls butter
3 large apples, peeled and thinly sliced (I used Gala)
3/4 c brown sugar, packed
2 Tbls water
1 tsp cinnamon
8 slices Italian bread, sliced 1" thick
4 large eggs
1 1/4 c milk
2 tsp vanilla extract

Spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray.

Melt the butter in a large skillet. Add in apples; cook and stir for 5 minutes.

Add brown sugar, water, cinnamon and continue to cook for 10 minutes until apples are tender.

Spoon mixture into prepared baking dish. Cover apples with bread slices, making sure to cover the entire surface (cutting bread to fit into small areas if you need to).

Beat eggs until foamy. Beat in milk and vanilla. Pour eggs over the top of the bread, being sure to cover edges well with the eggs or they will be dried out and not very good.

Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

In the morning, pull the dish out and let it sit out on the counter while the oven preheats.

Preheat your oven to 375.

Bake for 35 minutes, or until bread is golden and firm. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

If you want to serve this on a platter: Run a knife around the edges of the casserole, place platter on top of dish and carefully flip.

To serve individually: Run a knife around edges of casserole, use a spatula to remove serving, flip the serving over so that the apples are on top.

We sprinkled powdered sugar on top of the apples.

I couldn't sleep...

When I got up this morning I headed downstairs to let the dog outside as I always do. I noticed Lady Bug's bedroom door was wide open (we usually leave it open just a crack) so I looked inside and she was not in her bed. When I got downstairs I went ahead and let the dog outside and then started looking for Lady Bug. She was asleep in the family room on the couch, all curled up under a blanket.

I did my regular morning routine of coffee, a little reading and then up to take a shower. After I was dressed and had my hair dried, I headed back downstairs...this time I noticed a stack of books and a blanket in the living room.

Lady Bug still wasn't awake, but I could tell these books came from her room. We are talking about a stack of books of probably 15-20 books and I knew they were not on that couch when I went to bed last night. After she got up I asked her about the books.

Me: "Did you put these books here?"

Lady Bug: "Yes. Because I couldn't sleep last night so I decided to get up and read."

Me (standing with my jaw hanging open): "Did you go to sleep and then wake up later and decide to come down?"

Lady Bug: "No. I just couldn't go to sleep so I brought books down to read and then I got a blanket to cover up with because my feet were cold."

She was extremely tired when we put her to bed last night so I find it hard to believe that she didn't go to sleep before reading. What freaks me out is that neither Mr. Man or I heard her get up. She clearly had to make more than one trip to the couch with all those books. One day last week she did this to us, where she got up about 5:00 am and moved to the couch to go back to sleep. I am just wondering how many other times she has done stuff like this and we slept right through it? Mr. Man is generally a very light sleeper and hears everything.... I said generally!

Makes me go "hmmmmmmmm!" Good thing we have a dead bolt on the front door that she can't unlock!

The family is gone and the house is quiet... a little too quiet

The time with family has ended, we are back to a routine at home, the house is cleaned up, AND it is extremely quiet in the house... I am sad that every one is gone though.

It is always so fun to be with family and even though being with family comes with some chaos it is so hard to see them go. I cried 3 times on Saturday, first after I dropped my mom off at her best friend's house (my stand-in mom when my mom is away) and then again after I had a brief conversation with my sister about some stuff she left at my house, and then again when my sis sent me a text message saying they were boarding the plane. Then I cried last night when Lady Bug asked if her cousins were coming again this week. I got teary this morning thinking about writing this post. I just hate that they have to leave.

Although I had to work most of the time they were here, I wasn't updating this blog because work was busy and when I was home I was busy chatting with my mom and sister. Plus what was there to update? I wasn't involved in any of there fun activities at home... it made me so sad that I couldn't take more time off. Oh well. It worked out for the kids for sure! I wonder what the kids would say was their favorite part of the trip? They went skiing, played outside, saw a movie, had sleepovers with the cousins, had ice cream, had pillow fights, etc. Maybe that will be a dinner conversation tonight, to see what they say was the best part of the family visit.

Friday Recipe - Pan-Seared Chicken with Bacon-Sage Brown Rice

I tried this recipe from my "Recipes to try" file, but made some changes to the recipe. The original recipe was from a Southern Living magazine.

Pan-Seared Chicken with Bacon-Sage Brown Rice
INGREDIENTS:
1 c uncooked brown rice
3 slices bacon, diced into small pieces
1 tsp olive oil
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 Tbls chopped garlic
1/4 c chicken broth
1/4 c of Craisins (dried cranberries, found in the section with raisins at the store)
1 Tbls chopped fresh sage
1 tsp chopped fresh thyme

Prepare the rice according to the package directions; set aside.

Cook bacon in hot oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat until lightly browned. Drain bacon, reserve 1 Tbls drippings in skillet. Set bacon aside.

Sprinkle chicken breasts with salt and pepper.

Cook chicken in reserved drippings in skillet over medium heat until done, about 6-8 minutes per side (depending on the thickness of the chicken breasts). Remove chicken and keep warm.

Saute garlic in the same skillet over medium heat for 1 minute. Add in the chicken broth and Craisins, stirring to loosen any browned bits in the skillet. Cook 2 minutes. Stir in rice, bacon, sage and thyme. Cook until thoroughly heated. Spoon rice evenly among plates and top with chicken.

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