Thursday, April 28, 2005

Naptime!



How she managed to find a clear spot on this messy desk is beyond me!!!

Oh my children.....

My sweet kids,... oh how I love them so. Really, I do. But boy do they have their moments huh??? Okay,... cute short story first,... yesterday, I was gathering up laundry to take to the bedroom, when I came back for more,... my youngest was standing there with his arms nearly overflowing with laundry, he was helping. This just made me soooo happy and proud. Okay,... that was the sweets.....

We're drawing close to the end of yet another school year. This is the time when things get super busy with school activities and such. Tonight is the Spring Band Concert. I got lucky and Jessica's scout leader canceled the meeting tonight. Phew!! One less place to drive to tonight. I wanted to get a quick meal together, so we can all eat before leaving.

Brian was in the kitchen helping clean up and even helping out with dinner, when he asked what it was we were having,.... Caribbean Chicken with Rice,... he seemed alright with that,..... the girls venture out to see what's going on,.... by this time I've got it going, and am cleaning out the litter box (I seem to be doing a lot of that lately... yes,... the 3 furry babies are still with us.....) Brian tells them happily what we're having,.... I think Sydney said "Mmm!!" Hmm... she usually turns up her nose at it,... whatever,... but then I hear from Jessica "Nasty!" Ahhh yes,..... what every mother loves to hear from their so wonderful, sweet, smart children. My comment is usually "When you're older and can stand over the stove to cook meals w/o setting the house on fire, you can cook a nice meal for the family" I'm still waiting. I look forward to those days. In fact, in High School, my two good friends Shannon and Kelly had kitchen duty. This would include their preparing a meal for the family,.... I dont remember if this was all week, or once a week or what, but I thought (even then) how cool is that???? Might be something I try to do with these 4. I think right now, if I let them cook,... Brian would fix us Subway.... Jessica grilled cheese and soup (she's been asking for that lately) Sydney hotdogs,... Geoffery PB&J. MMMmmm Mmmm!!!!

So,.... I thought I would share with you fine adults tonights recipe. It's from a Pressure cooker we got awhile back. On the suggestion of my wonderful husband I might add, this is one of my favorite appliances,... (right next to the portable dishwasher that he practically had to beg me to let him get for us)

Hmm I hate that we can't do other colors,.... I liked that for recipes..... Anyhow, here you go!!

Caribbean Chicken with Rice

1 Tb Veg. Oil
1 Lb skinned/boned chicken, cut into 1/2inch cubes
1 1/4 C chicken broth
3 Tb lime juice
2 Tb soy sauce
1 small red pepper, cut into 3/4 inch cubes
1 small green pepper, cut into 3/4 inch cubes
1 small jalapeno pepper, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 C uncooked converted rice

Brown chicken and saute for 3-5mins or until meat is browned, stiring frequently. Stir in remaining ingredients. Cover and cook at High Pressure......

Please, keep in mind this is for a pressure cooker,.... I'm no chef by any means,... so you'll have to adjust for stove/oven cooking. It is really good,... and we like to add a can of drained chunk pineapple as well. Mmmm Mmm..... in fact,... it's ready now!!!

Thursday, April 21, 2005

Say it with me....

Awwwwww............



They have grown up so much :o) We have really been enjoying them too, even if they forget where the litter box is from time to time, or somehow wind up underneath your feet nearly killing you as you try to not squish them, or definatly how they love to climb your legs, even when you're wearing shorts..... Yup Yup!! They're great fun!!

So, who wants one??? :o)

Tuesday, April 19, 2005

I'm alive and well......

Yeah, it's been awhile,..... I've been trying to keep busy with housework.... and well,... this is my other addiction. Hubby and I started playing Easter weekend. We enjoy online gaming a lot. We have played Everquest, DAoC, Star Wars Galaxies, Everquest II and now World of Warcraft. I've been enjoying it probably far too much,.... hubby even said as much today :o)

For those of you that aren't up on the online gaming world, the only way I can explain it is, it's like having a whole other life in a world not your own. In SWG, we had several characters, we had professions in which we provided things for other players, we even opened up a big store! It was very complex for a game. You hunt/gather and throw parties or attend parties. All in the comfort of your own home!! It's really nice for us, what with 4 kids we don't get out much, so this is something we both enjoy doing together.

Anyhow, if I'm not in that world, then I'm in the real one, trying to get things done around here. Today I bathed all 4 of the kitties. The kittens are about ready to go to new homes, and it's really a sad thought. I can't get over how much of a real family they are. I mean the mom, dad and babies. Mom and Dad play and clean them, you'll find them sleeping together, it's really like watching a real family. I never expected that Skipper especially would be like he is. Granted, I've never had a family of cats before. It makes us sad to think we're going to break that up. Sheba especially won't be happy. She's constantly calling to them, looking for them,.... and still feeding them from time to time. Sigh. I'll have to snap a few new pictures of them. They really have grown.

Not too much has gone on of late,... just puttering.... kids are all happy and healthy. Counting down till the last day of school. May 25th. The weather has been gorgeous, so no complaints here :o)

Be well all!! Will post kitty pics soon!!!

Tuesday, April 12, 2005

Umm......

First,... read this.....

and then answer me this.....

HOW COULD YOU NOT KNOW THIS WAS IN YOUR NOSE??????

Breakfast



I wish I had the link from yesterday's deal on MSN, something about chocolate being GOOD for you. See,.... brownies and milk ARE a good for you breakfast!!! At least I sure hope that's the case, as I've already eaten 2 of them.

Better hurry over now if you want some,..... they're still warm,... and still some in the pan :o) But bring your own milk, we're about out :o) Among other things, I am a milk-aholic.

We need scratch and sniff blogs huh? Whole house smells like brownies :o) Ahhhhh.... wish I could share with you!

Remember when......

Your Grandma would tell you that breathing in Pam would put you at risk for cancer?? I do.

I was just in the kitchen fixing up some brownies. I need a fix. I was spraying the Pam into the baking sheet, and inhaled..... not on purpose!! I started hacking and coughing and found myself standing in Grandma's kitchen, hearing her talking to Mom about the various things that could cause cancer,... inhaling Pam was one of them.

Of course, thinking about that, reminded me of all the trips we made to Grandmas and Grandpas. I thought I would share who these wonderful people were.


George and Elsie Harrison, guessing 1980's

My Grandpa would often make the long 3hr trip to see us and the rest of the family. He did this because Grandma missed her boys. She had 5 of them. They most times stayed with us for the duration of the stay, sometimes a weekend at my Uncles house. I loved their visits. Grandpa from the first visit when I was tiny until his last visit as he was too old to make the drive, would always bring those little boxes of animal crackers. Grandma would tell us later how they'd be on the drive, and he would say "oh, we need to stop! I forgot the animal crackers!" He would also bring me Ghiradelli Flick's candy,.... I dont know if they make those anymore, but I LOVED them!! They came in a tube, and they were like a Hershey's Kiss, only a bit flatter.... they were like gold to me. The pretty foil tube they came in, to the rich creamy chocolate goodness inside.

I'm quite sure I was Grandpa's favorite. Which is kinda ironic to me now,.... but that would be another story for another date. He just always made me feel special. I vaguely remember a time we were in a store, I was looking at a book,.... it was part of a generic encyclopedia or something, it was book A. I was looking at the pictures quite intently I guess,.... needless to say, he bought me the book, and I THINK I still have it tucked away somewhere.

Grandma gave me my love for baking. I find I don't do as much of it now as I used to,... I really should. She used to bake breads and cakes and you name it!! Going to visit them was always like walking into a buffet. She would have quite the spread out,.... depending upon the time of day, it might be sandwiches, chips, other snack type foods,.... or roast with the fixings and always always cookies, and cakes. By the time we got there, we were usually starving!!! Grandma loved to cook, and she was wonderful at it too. She taught me many things growing up, but that is the one thing that I remember best.

Sometimes Grandma and Grandpa would spend Christmas with us. I used to love nothing more than getting up early in the morning, tiptoe out to the tree to see what Santa brought, and having Grandma there usually awake, anxious to see us kids and be just as excited about what we had under the tree as we were.

I could go on and on about Grandma and Grandpa,.... they had a huge impact on my life growing up. From the summers we would visit them, the weeks out of the summer I would stay with them, to the visits they made to see us that were so special.

They're both gone now, they did get to see the oldest of our kids,... Brian. I'm quite sure Grandma saw Jessica, 2nd born. She saw pictures and knew of Sydney's birth, but missed out on Geoffery. Grandma for one would have been very pleased to see that we had such a large and happy family. I only hope that when I'm older, and I have Grandkids, that I can give them memories that my Grandma and Grandpa gave to me.

Wednesday, April 06, 2005

Joke of the night....

My mom always sends me pretty good ones,.... I thought this was pretty cute :o)


REDNECK

An Irishman in a wheelchair entered a restaurant one afternoon and asked the waitress for a cup of coffee. The Irishman looked across the restaurant and asked, "Is that Jesus sitting over there?" The waitress nodded "yes," so the Irishman told her to give Jesus a cup of coffee on him.

The next patron to come in was an Englishman with a hunched back. He shuffled over to a booth, painfully sat down, and asked the waitress for a cup of hot tea. He also glanced across the restaurant and asked, "Is that Jesus over there?" The waitress nodded, so the Englishman said to give Jesus a cup of hot tea, "My treat."

The third patron to come into the restaurant was a Redneck on crutches. He hobbled over to a booth, sat down and hollered, "Hey there, sweet thang. How's about gettin' me a cold glass of Coke!" He, too, looked across the restaurant and asked, "Is that God's boy over there?" The waitress once more nodded, so the Redneck said to give Jesus a cold glass of Coke, "On my bill."

As Jesus got up to leave, he passed by the Irishman, touched him and said, "For your kindness, you are healed." The Irishman felt the strength come back into his legs, got up, and danced a jig out the door.

Jesus also passed by the Englishman, touched him and said, "For your kindness, you are healed." The Englishman felt his back straightening up, and he raised his hands, praised the Lord and did a series of back flips out the door. Then Jesus walked towards the Redneck.

The Redneck jumped up and yelled, " Don't touch me....... I'm drawin' Disability !"

Tuesday, April 05, 2005

The things kids say.....

I have been puttering around the house cleaning this and that, trying to keep up on laundry, that sort of thing.

The weather the last couple of days has been so pretty. Warm with a nice breeze. Reminds me a lot of CA growing up. I remember those nice days in the backyard swinging on the tree swing Dad made for me. The big walnut tree's thick branch would wave around and around the higher I went. The smell of Spring, the warm sun on my face. Yup, those were the days. Life was simple as a kid wasn't it???

I headed to get the kids from school, ran into the P.O. to check the mail, and I swear I could smell my Grandma's perfume!! Our town is small,.... I think we achieved the 3,000 population last census. It does seem that the majority of the townspeople are all older though. I love the way smells can trigger memories. Put me back in Oroville, CA. My Grandparents lived on Bird Street, and I have many a fond memory of the long 3 hr drive to Grandma's house. How I would walk up to the corner store with a dollar or two to buy a 1/2 gallon of milk and an icecream bar for Grandma and I. Those weeks over the summer I would stay behind as Mom, Dad and my brother would leave for home. I would help Grandma clean and listen to Grandpa's stories. I would watch All My Children as Grandma would snore in her recliner. Yup, fond memories for sure!!

Well, got to the school,.... got Sydney first today. She and I always have nice little chats in the truck while we wait for Jessica and Brian to come out of class. Today it was about her substitute teacher. Her regular teacher was out ill a few days last week, and she really missed her. The substitute was off a ways, and she pointed her out to me,.... said that was who she had when her teacher was ill. She then went on to tell me that this substitute said she was poor and needed money. Huh??? I had to laugh. "She did, she said she was poor and needed money" she tells me again. "Did she tell you this was why she was teaching??" "Yeah" Ahhh okay. Might not have been the best thing to tell students,....as we all know they're going to be eager to report such findings to their parents,.... but it does give us parents something to giggle about.

Sunday, April 03, 2005

New Neighbors.....

We have some new neighbors, right next door. I haven't a clue as to who they are, as I really don't care. This morning though, I was tempted REALLY tempted to care a bit more. Especially at 6am when the moron was outside nailing into something. Waking up to carpentry at 6AM is VERY annoying. You just have to wonder what this person was thinking. DH was also quite tempted to go have a talk with him. Anyhow, the noise stopped at 6:30. We both snuck out of the bed to use the bathroom and crawled back in as two of the kids were up already. If they see us, we're just screwed.

I dozed a bit,... but the occasional dog barking, loud truck starting really was keeping me from a deep sleep. I had given up, and just laid there snug against my honey. Around 8am, the phone rang. Of course. LOL It was my MIL, asking DH down for breakfast as his sister was there this weekend. She had called last night, said they'd skip church today, and how we could sleep in.... I guess 8am is sleeping in??? Not that it mattered, our new neighbor by this time was mowing his small yard. His yard and our bedroom window are just feet from each other. There wasn't any going back to sleep for DH or myself even if we tried.

I hope this isn't the start of something for our Sunday. I hope that it turns around to be a good day. Sometimes hard to keep from being bitchy with a rude awakening like that. I will try hard to chill out and enjoy the sunny day. Nascar is in Bristol, TN today, should be a great race as Bristol is one of the best. DH is going to order Wrestlemania on PPV tonight, and I'm planning on a nice steak dinner for us :o) I think it will turn out to be a wonderful day!!!

Friday, April 01, 2005

April Fool's Day!!

First thing for the day,... I ask that you pop over to California Hammonds sometime today and give him a hand with his commentathon. This is the one year anniversary of his wife's death. She passed away after a long fight with breast cancer. Here is a quote from his site:
Our Commentathon Fundraiser begins at 12:01 a.m. PST (U.S.) and ends at midnight on April 1. For fundraising purposes, please make your comments on the post dated April 1 below (though comments are welcome everywhere). For every comment made—no more than one to a customer, please—our donors have pledged differing amounts of money; I have pledged $1000, a dollar for each of the first 1000 comments, and another $500 for comments 1001-1500. Others have pledged $500 for comments 50 through 1000. Etc. We need to get at least 1500 comments in order to achieve all pledges.
All donations will be going to the Nat'l Breast Cancer Foundation This is of course a terrific cause, and thank you for helping out!

April Fool's Day.... how many of you participate in the fun of telling someone a total lie only to laugh in their face and say APRIL FOOL'S!!! I plan a few days ahead for this event. I love to tease the kids. I'm so mean huh??? This morning's was perfect. The kids are at the point where it's getting so close to Summer they can taste it. They are tired of getting up early to do the dreaded go to school routine. This morning, I go into the girls room and say "Sydney!! Wake up!!! it SNOWED last night!!! NO SCHOOL!!" Well, I was rather surprised, as Jessica jumped up and looked out the window.... "really???" she says..... "well LOOK!!" Hoping that Sydney too would get up and look..... she looked again, turns to me with a look of 'what has mom been smoking' and I smiled and say "APRIL FOOL'S!!!" It went over really well..... she started CRYING!!! Sheesh!!!!! I didn't expect THAT!! LOL Anyhow, I lightened the mood with "what good April Fool's can you play on your friends today???" Since I didn't really get Sydney, I have to think of another,.... and Brian's a tough one too. Just glad that they enjoy playing along. Hubby and I were thinking last night that Sydney actually got me last year. She would try and try "there's a spider crawling on your head" that sort of thing,..... wonder if she'll try again this year :) I hope so, she has such a great imagination :)

Happy April Fool's Day to you!!