SPT

Ahh- I love getting my hair done- I really shouldn't wait so long. It had been a year since I had any color or trim. Before spring break I finally went and took care of it.

I knew we were back in Oklahoma when ...

We went from this ...

to this ...

Ahh the tell-tale sign of red dirt.
As the snow on the side of the road went from white, to dirty white, to red, I knew we were back.

I see a resmblance

You know how sometimes people and their pets start to look alike?
Our kids just start to look like their toys.

Playlist of my life

I was listening to ...

Smells Like Teen Spirit, or Come As You Are- Nirvanna

And I am ...

Breaking down boxes & unwrapping clothes out of plastic in the backroom of Gapkids at Penn Square Mall during my highschool years.

Last Friday as we were leaving school, I overheard my friend Kristie asking her son about his lunchbox. Not only was it Friday, but it was also the start of spring break. I mentioned how that would be a mess to come back to.

Wouldn't you know- as I was loading the dishwasher I realized there were only 2 sets of containers, when 3 kids took their lunch.

I asked the kids "so who forgot their lunch box?"
The funniest sound followed by an "oh no" came from Luke.

I thought we were finished with the kids science experiments for the year. Guess not!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Copycat x 2

I saw this fun idea last year and made it for the kids to pass out.

-Last years treats-

I adapted it by using smaller candybars and making my own springs out of wire that I wrapped around a fat marker. The kids had so much fun passing them out to their friends and teachers and wishing them a great "spring break." They loved it so much, that I am copying the idea again this year.

So at what point is it a tradition and not just using the same idea over and over?

The Cat in the Hat

Last Thursday night I stayed up to make a last minute costume for Luke. He got to dress up like the Cat in the Hat, to celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday.

His class was going to be doing a showcase the next morning, and he was doing the word of the week, and he was being recognized as a sensational citizen. I don't know if all that just seemed to much for him, but he got really stressed out before bed. He said "oh great, I have no time to get anything ready for my costume." Then he started stating very plainly that he was just not going to go to school. This has never happened. He is the one who is sad when school is canceled, or when its the weekend.

I was just planing on him wearing some black and red and white, and then having Luke make whatever else he wanted to go with it. But when he got stressed out I thought that maybe I could whip something together.

This was one of those nights that it all came together nicely. I grabbed a hat, some red and white material, cut them into strips, then sewed them together . Then I fit it all onto the hat and stuffed it with batting. It worked! So rarely do I set out to work on a project that it goes this well!

When Luke woke up the next morning he was so excited to see the hat and to get to dress up in a costume, that he was completely happy about going to school again.

After trying the hat and the necktie on, he decided he really needed whiskers.

I felt relieved that he went along with the plans for the day and didn't struggle to get to school. I was relieved that he participated that morning for the showcase.

I loved his word for the week, so fitting for him right now:
"Discretion- Discretion is avoiding words, actions, and attitudes which would bring undesirable consequences."

His class did a great job talking about Dr. Seuss. The kids looked so cute. How could they not?

Thing 1 and Thing 2!
Adorable!
Luke loves these girls.

Luke's part:"He wrote in clever rhyme and made up creative creatures, With silly silly names like the Lorax and the Sneetches.

Hooray for Dr. Seuss! What is your favorite Seuss book?

Hooray for being recognized as a Sensational Citizen! So- glad that he behaves well at school.
Sounds silly to say that, but its the complete truth. We are proud of you Luke!

What to eat Wednesday

Luke has some of the cutest little girl friends.

He was invited to one of their birthday parties this last weekend. I took Luke and then stayed because it was a swim party.

I helped myself to some of the snacks. I bit into a pretzel that had some kind of seasoning on it, and wanted to just lick my fingers, the pretzel, and the plate. I was glad when Luke said he was finished with his plate, because there were several more pretzels left.

The mom Tiffany, was kind and thoughtful enough to remember to send me the recipe the next day. I am sure I would have forgotten and then remembered a couple of weeks later. I was so glad to get the recipe and I made them right away!

Most of the family loves them. Except Tuck, he says they are too "spice me."

Spice Pretzels

2 lbs. pretzels

1 T. lemon pepper

1 T. garlic powder

1-2 T. cayenne pepper (I used red chili powder)

1 pkg. ranch dressing mix

1 1/2 c. vegetable oil

Mix lemon pepper, garlic powder, pepper, and dressing mix in a bowl. Add vegetable oil and mix well. Put pretzels in a plastic bag and pour oil mixture over them. Shake until all pretzels are coated. Spread pretzels on waxed paper and let dry for at least one hour.

SPT-

Self-portrait-Tuesday




Me and my Momma

I had a fun night attending a service auction with my mom tonight at church. I auctioned off three services, and came home with three services. I enjoyed my mom's company. It was fun having her sit next to me. It

She tripped and fell a few days ago. Landed on her nose, and she is all bruised up underneath her nose above her lip. It hurts me thinking about it. Makes me shudder. I am so glad she did not pass out, break her nose, loose a tooth, or anything like that. Just a bruise.

I feel thankful that I live so close to my mom right now. That she was able to just hop in her car and run up to the church to be with me.

These are days

Today was one of those days.

It felt like my family must have had a pow-wow together and decided that one would get me in the morning, the other during the day, another after school, and then the last one while making dinner.

I wanted to scream, and cry. One of Jay's favorite lines: "I would rather drink bleach," came to my mind when I thought of my evening ahead.

Then "they" must have had another pow-wow. This time I think it was to humble Mom with their sincerity and their peace and their wisdom and their maturity.

I started the evening with feeling that I wanted to be anyplace but here. I ended with feeling that if this was it, if this was all our family had left, tonight, it would be enough.

I am so glad it was one of those days.

Playlist of my life

I was listening to ...

Selling the Drama- Live

and I am ....

Driving down a dirt road in Colorado in my Geo Prism, on my way to and from work- I am delightfully, without a care in the world.

Another transplant success?

I was so happy about this last week. But I did not share what was kind of making me just a little sad.
This photo.

It is just feet away from the budding bush. It did not look too well. All dead. I had really hoped this would make it too. It is my Nana's Peony Bush. I transplanted it at the same time as the lilac's. I hoped to have big blooms like this someday.

I just might!
Today I went out to look at the lilac bush and I took a closer look at the Peony Bush.

Something caught my eye.

A bunch of little shoots. Shooting up! I sure hope they are the promise of life for this little bush. I
can hardly believe that what I thought was mostly dead is really alive! Amazing.

What to eat Wednesday-Breakfast in Bed 7

I had this written but never got the photos taken. I ended up getting the book for Christmas and I decided that I should jump back in.

10/14/09-
I have one recipe left from my little breakfast in bed experiment to share with you. There are many more in the cookbook, and many more that I want to experiment with, but just as Kristie asked in this post in the comments, it is seriously over due. I checked it out as many times as I could. But eventually the library asked for it back. (along with a small fine- which I will gladly pay) I really do just need to buy the whole book. I think it is that good. (I am certain I have written that before!) Plus I still have ingredients to make at least two more of the recipes.

It is funny though, as I made a few of the recipes, I wondered if the author had tried every single one before she put them in the book. And how did she get each recipe? Did she visit each bread and breakfast that she was featuring a recipe from?


Baked Eggs with Two Cheeses sounds nice and easy. And how much easier can it get than throwing all ingredients into a blender then into the dish to bake. You don't even have to hand whisk!

12 eggs

1 cup milk
Dash Salt
Drop of Tabasco
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 cups shredded Monterrey Jack cheese or mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 325. In a blender or large bowl, beat eggs, milk, salt, Tabasco, and cheeses. Pour mixture into an ungreased 8- inch round souffle' dish. Bake for approximately 1 hour, or until eggs are set.

The recipe says it serves eight, and I would agree.

I did not have a souffle' dish, but used a smallish size round dish. It did take longer for this to cook- I think I might need to test the temp in my oven. (maybe that has been my problem all along and my problem with breads?)

Our family really likes souffle'! And I think if the recipe had stated souffle' in the name I would not have tried it.

3-3-10
It was beautiful when I pulled it out of the oven. The height exceeded the top of the dish by several inches. I turned my back and it fell! Before I took a photo. So I may have something to learn in the "souffle" department.

It was a great thing tonight when everyone still liked this dish. I love it when there is a dish that every single person at the table doesn't start off the commentary with "this would be great if ..."

This will be going into our breakfast rotations, and I may have to make extras, because a few of mine want to take it for lunch!

If all problems were this easy to solve

I had shared a valentine treat with a teacher last month, and she shared it with another teacher. This other teacher wanted the recipe right away so she jotted it down really quick. I told it to her from memory and said that among the other ingredients I thought it had something like 14-19 crumbled up Oreo's.

I saw her in the hall the next week and she stopped me to ask about some details of how to make it. She seemed a little puzzled and said,
"I just have one question for you. So what do you do with the rest of the Oreo's?"

Um, Eat them.

Really, what kind of problem would that be?

SPT

Self-Portrait-Tuesday

Some days take more patience than others.
The end.

Overheard

Snippets from life:

Wow! My lettuce looks like the shape of Africa.

Why don 't I get an M&M when I use the bathroom?

Oh look at those dog's, I want one of those. Look at that one climbing on the other dog's back. They are funny. I want one. (from the one who is terrified of dogs)

I am not going to school. I am not getting out of the car. (spoken by the one you would least expect to hear that from)

I don't want my apple all musty and wobbly.

What kind of Mom feeds their kids only a banana?

If there is anything I don't like, it is you being rude to me. (From one of my kids to me.)

Oh those dogs are funny to my eyes.

If we don't blow out that candle I am going to have to go stay in a hotel.

Unexpected Surprise

Last Thursday night I got a call a little after five from Jay. We exchanged our normal evening pleasantries and then he asked, "So, guess what?"

My first guess was, "oh no, Jay was in an accident," then my second thought was "oh no, the little white car has finally bit the dust."

Surprise, surprise! Neither one of those things happened. It was good news!
Jay was given tickets for us to go see Elton John and Billy Joel that night!

This is how I felt ...

Jay had already called my Mom to see if she would be available to come over. Thankfully she was. Thankfully I had showered. I had almost stayed in my work out clothes all afternoon. I was thankful that I already had dinner in the crockpot.

So off we went. I think I made Jay more excited to go, by my enthusiasm.
We got there and exchanged our tickets for new seats. We were a bit unsure when we found out they were behind the stage. But when we got to our seats we were pleased to find out they were club seats. We were served drinks throughout the show, and the view was great. Since the pianos were placed at an angle we saw just as much as those in front did.
We could read the monitors, with the words to the music, so it was a bit like karaoke.

My favorite parts of the show were when Billy Joel played Oklahoma, when he played Still Rock & Roll to Me, and Only the Good Die Young back to back, hearing Elton John sing Bennie and the Jets and listening to everyone emphasize the "s."
The whole show was incredible- and we were happy to be tired the next morning. It was worth it.
My friends were there too-Lori won tickets!
Lori & Jim- check out what they had to say.
And just for the fun of it- Here is a link to Jim's video.

So fun to have unexpected surprises. SO glad that Jay's friend from work could not go, and that we had nothing else going on that night. We had just been saying we wanted to have a "real date." Hooray for dates!

Playlist of my life

I am listening to ...

Drops of Jupiter- Train

and I am ...

In Utah. Driving with Jay and two little kids around the point of the mountain, from Happy Valley to Salt Lake City for the July 24th celebration "pioneer day." Laughing that I am singing about chicken.

4 reasons this photo makes me happy

This is making me so happy for so many reasons.

1. Blue cloudless sun filled sky. That blue is just how the camera picked it up. I think I need a wall painted in that color.

2. I took the photo myself. Now I am sure I am breaking all sorts of "rules." I actually took the camera off of auto and turned it on manual. Not that it really means anything. Except that I branched out.

3. There are buds- which means spring, which is followed by summer!
And we all know that means sunshine, and swimming pools, and peace, love and happiness.

4. Those buds are from a lilac bush I transplanted. From my Nana's house. I heaved it from my moms trunk into my trunk. Then heaved it into the stroller. I dug a hole. I wrestled the stroller to the hole. Then wiggled the rather large bush from the stroller to the hole. Having no idea if it would live. But I had hope. I will keep hoping that it continues to grow.

What to Eat Wednesday-Southwest Egg rolls with Avacado Dipping sauce

I saw this recipe last week and thought it looked great- I was talking to a girlfriend on the phone and she did not know what to make for dinner so I suggested this. She made it and loved it! Then I made it that same night, and had another girlfriend stop by and we invited her to stay for dinner. We all tried it, loved it, and she made it again on Sunday. Then that same night I was telling another girlfriend about it and she made it over the weekend too! So four families agree that this is a keeper.

I originally saw it on Sister's Stuff- They posted the recipe and a photo-

1 chicken breast fillet, diced
½ red bell pepper, minced
2 tsp dry onion
1 can corn
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 small can green chilies
½ T parsley
½ t cumin
½ t salt
Dash cayenne pepper

1 c. cheddar cheese, shredded
Flour Tortillas

Cook chicken and dice. In large bowl mix all ingredients together. Sauté all ingredients until warm. Remove from heat and add shredded cheese. Warm tortillas. Place ½ c. or so of mixture inside a tortilla. Fold completely together so mixture cannot escape. Place inside a panini grill or George Foreman to grill and melt cheese. Serve with dipping sauce.

Here is the delicious dipping sauce- We kept thinking of all the other dishes that this dipping sauce would be good with. (My family will be having the sauce today as an after school snack)-

Avocado-ranch dipping sauce:
1 c. ranch
1 whole avocado, mashed (I added two on the suggestion of my friend Kim)
1 tsp. minced onion
Salt & pepper
Blend together with blender