Merry Christmas!

Let us not forget in the hustle and bustle of the season, the true meaning of Christmas!

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6


Thank you Lord for the amazing gift of your Son!

Weekend In Review...

Here's a little weekend in review or week in review, since I am going to start about Wednesday. Get comfortable this could get lengthy!

Wednesday night was our last Wednesday night of play practice before dress rehearsal on Saturday and the big performance on Sunday. First of all kids the last few days before Christmas break, pretty much uncontrollable, just so you know. I get them settled and we get through one song out of like 8, and Cooper's teacher brings him to me and tells me he puked. Of all things motherhood entails puke is my least, least favorite! ICK! So, I have to stop practice and take home a puking kid. Who proceeded to puke all the way home! I get him home cleaned off and in bed. He puked several more times! At my house my husband usually deals with the puke, one of the many reasons I love him, but alas he was working a stinking ball game. So, I solider through until he gets home. Then he is on puke detail. The saddest part of all of this is he was too sick to go to school and had to miss his first school play and party! :( The first thing he said to me after he puked was "Mama now I don't get to be the donkey!" Broke my heart!
Seemed to be a short lived bug, he was better by Thursday afternoon.

Friday, my loving husband was going to take me on a date, but guess what he has, the stomach bug! BOO! My mom goes shopping with me Bruce's parents keep the kids. Bruce makes it through the bug without puking one time! I hate him, you will see why in the next paragraph!

Saturday morning we have basketball, Meg is too cute, doesn't have a clue but has a great time playing! I start feeling a bit icky, figure it is from not eating breakfast. I have to take a gift to send to a party via the grandparents, meet them at Wal-Mart to do the hand off. Then go and get Subway for the family. Go home and have lunch. Make cookies for dress rehearsal, feeling a bit more icky. Take some nausea meds and feel a bit better. Head to play practice early to set up mics. Kids arrive we start practice, not feeling so hot, we get to the end of it, I send them to fellowship hall for dinner, and then proceed to head to the parking lot where I puke my guts out for about five minutes! I head home to change with the intention of going back but there was no way! Spent some time getting to know the toilet, thus the reason I am not so fond of my husband. I am usually not a puker, I can usually talke myself out of it, but oh my there was not stopping this! It was horrid but short lived! Thank God! My mom kept the kids at her house, where Meg got sick in the middle of the night, but this kid is resilent, because by the next morning she is fine. Her mother on the other hand looks like death warmed over! We took Sunday morning off from church, praying that Alex does not get sick, because she has one of the main parts in the play. Everyone stays well, we head to church. I am still not 100% but am at least functioning.

Sunday night the kid's give the best performance of the play ever! It was so awesome they did such a wonderful job! I was so proud!

Things learned 1. I hate dealing with puke mine or others! 2. My husband in this reguard is tougher than me (I birthed a 10lbs 1 oz baby with nothing more than a shot of nubain and some phengren, but this stomach bug kicked my butt!)3. Bad dress rehearsal= awesome performance so don't sweat it. 4. I have had my fill of stomach bugs for the year, thank you, oh and since this year is almost done, I have had my fill for next year too!

My Super Sunday Song

It was my turn for special music at church today. I hate to do repeat songs, it is a sickness with me I can't help it. But I made an exception for this one it is one of my very favorite Christmas songs. Randy Travis recorded this song and it is also on the The Nativity Story soundtrack. It is called Labor of Love and I totally did not do it justice.

My Super Sunday Song

Whew am I exhausted! We had a great time, it was a COLD time but a great time none the less. Alex and I are off to Little Rock tomorrow, she is singing at the Capitol with the U of A Fort Smith Academy of the Arts choir, should be a blast! Anyway here is my song of the week!!! It is Open Hands by Matt Papa, and not only is it my song it is my prayer this week as well! Enjoy!!

It the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

and our family will be celebrating it this weekend in Branson at Silver Dollar City! I am so excited! Christmas is my favorite time of year to visit Branson, they have so many gorgeous displays, and it just helps get me in a Christmassy mood! We are going with some friends and we rented a condo (Yay for extra space!) We are going to cook some meals there to save some moohla!The only thing I am slightly paniky about is the fact that it is going to be COLD! So, as of noon tomorrow we will be on our way! Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

My Super Sunday Song, On Monday!

A bit late with this one! I promise a better blog post soon, but enjoy one of my favorite Christmas songs today! His Favorite Christmas Story- Capitol Lights

My Super Sunday Song

New Switchfoot! I <3 Switchfoot. The song is called Always! My most favorite lyric is "Every breath is a second chance." Can I get an AMEN?!?!

My Super Sunday Song

Okay, since I am lacking in inspiration, aka, my kids have done nothing cute and or exciting for me to blog about, I decided to do this My Super Song Sunday! Sounds fun, huh?!? Really what it amounts to is me picking a song that I really like this week, and post a video and force you to listen to it and love it as well okay at least listen to it! So, my first Super Sunday Song is Among the Thirsty- I'd Need a Savior. My friend Randa sang this for special music at church today and to say it was chill inducing was an under statement! It is really a beautiful song, and I could give you a millioon reason why I love ti so much, but for space and time constraints, I will just say it is just reminds me how loved I am!

Whew!

As, I was going in to pick Cooper up from school today, I found I was holding my breath. Literally not breathing and also putting myself into a full blown panic attack, because I was so worried they were going to tell me he misbehaved again today. I paused outside the door, I sent up a little prayer to a gracious and merciful God to please take pity on me! His teacher met me at the door, UGH oh, no, not again, my fragile heart can't take it God! She says"Just wanted to let you know Cooper had a really good day today!" Praise God!! I snatched him out of there as quickly as I could to ensure we still had a good day! WHEW!

It is so funny when I think about it, a little sad really, how much I base my worth on my children. I wonder if it would be the same if I had a job outside of the home? But, since my job right now is raising my children, I feel like I have failed at my job when they misbehave or don't do well at things. I really need to get over that, they are human just like I am and just like I do they make mistakes. Thank goodness I am not getting graded.

We have been doing this study at church called the Parent Adventure. It has been a really good study, I have learned a lot from it. I picked out the study because it was my turn to teach and while it was not exactly what I was looking for in a parenting based study, I have really enjoyed it. One of the first things it teaches you is your kids, they aren't your own, from the very beginning they are God's and it is my job as a parent to help them learn to live a life with Him. While I may have all these goals and plans for them, they don't really matter because in His infinite wisdom God has a plan for them all His own, and it is my job to help them figure out that plan, whatever it may be. I have also learned that my life is blessed by God, and not just during the good times, even when I have a biting 4 year old, or two sisters who can't seem to get along, in the midst of homework, housecleaning, gymnastics, choir, and basketball, right in the middle of all these good and bad my life is so blessed and it is blessed so much more than I deserve!

Just When I Think...

he has the school thing all figured out, BAM he socks me in the gut! When I picked up Cooper yesterday he was sitting in time out. I was then informed by the teacher that he had bit another kid. Bit him! I can count on one hand the times he has bitten one of his sisters, so this is not like something he does frequently. I was floored! I just have a feeling this is what it is going to be like all the time with him, always something!! UGH! We talked about how you aren't supposed to bite people and he did get a spanking. He promised he would never do it again. He better not that is all I have to say

Waiting for Divine Inspiration...

or heck at this point any inspiration. I had an old friend from school (HI Amy!) who writes her own fabulous blog Confessions of an Heiress find my blog. I was shamefully embarrassed that it has been August since I have updated or written here. OOOPS! We have had a lot of stuff go on birthdays, concerts, school, etc... just life in general, and I have been lacking the inspiration to write.

Thus, this written post on lacking the inspiration to post. Anyway, I will try to do better, I hate to just write about all the mundane details of life which I am so bogged down in right now. So here's hoping that knowing at least 4 people may be reading this will spur me on.

For now I am going to leave you with a quote from one of my favorite songs right now by Sanctus Real

"When I don't measure up to much in this life Oh, I 'm a treasure in the arms of Christ." Every time I hear this part in the song it makes me smile, and it is so true. No matter what I am a treasure to Him!

Just because I love it so much here's the video too.

A New School Year

Oh wow, I can't believe that I sent my girls to school last Thursday! Futhermore, I can't believe I sent them to 1st and 4th grades. Where has the time gone? New school years always make me a tad bit nostalgic. My girls are growing up so fast it is crazy! Not only are my girls growing up but so it my boy! He will go to his first day of school on Tuesday! He is just going Tuesday and Thursdays from 8:30-11:30, but still it is my baby!! I have to leave him there. I worry about so many things most of all whether or not he will behave himself! Plus when we went to orientation, he seemed like on of the oldest ones there. I mean some of those kids looked like babies!! I just want him to be good! He can be such a pill when he wants to.

As for me I don't know what I am going to do with my free time on Tuesdays and Thursdays! I have never had all the kids in school when I didn't have a little one! When Alex went to preschool, we would run her to school, run home, feed Meg breakfast, put her down for a nap, do chores while Meg napped, wake Meg up just in time to go pick up Alex from school. Pretty much the same schedule for when Meg was in preschool. I won't have a baby to take home and nap this year. Geesh, I won't know what to do!!

Anyway this kids have great teachers this year and I am looking forward to really great year, and I am praying it doesn't go by as fast as the summer!!

Harry Potter....

Bruce and I went last Saturday night to watch the new Harry Potter movie. I was super excited to see it. We even went to the 10 o'clock movie and that is late for us old folks. Anyway I will try to voice my opinions without giving too much of the movie away, but if you haven't seen it yet and you want to you might want to skip this post. All 3 of you that read my blog that is.


Alright, I love Harry Potter some of my most favorite books ever! JK is a much better author than the Twilight lady and I can say that because I have read both series in their entirety. So, when the movies come out I can't wait and for the most part the movies have been just like I pictured things when I was reading the book or in some instances better than I pictured.

With that being said, it wasn't that this movie was not good, but it was, what is the word I am looking for here, somewhat lackluster. It was just kind a big blah! I mean I know this movie is just like the book set up for the next, but there is still a plot and a story to be told. Anyway we all know that Dumbledore dies, so please tell why the screenwriter thought it was not pertinent to have the funeral scene it the movie. It was said that he though after the glow wand thing that they did that the funeral scence would be redundent. Where was the big white tomb, where was the big wizard send off. UGH how can you leave that part out?!?!? Plus, they make Snape look too much like the good guy in this one. I don't know I can't exactly put my finger on what about this movie I just didn't' love, but there was definitely something that I just didn't love.

I am still looking forward to the next and maybe it will put this one mroe into perspective, but so far Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince not my favorite!!!!

Blog Slacker

These are just a few of the reasons why:

Three kids home on summer break.

Unexpected trip to church camp. ( We didn't realize Alex was old enough to go but she was so she went and so did I.)

Anniversary trip for Bruce and I , totally was not long enough.

Finished up t-ball.

Had end of year t-ball party.

Took a short family vacation to Hot Springs, again totally was not long enough.

Disappointed husband because he did not get the new job he interviewed for.

Pissed off wife because the guy they hired is like 90, who wants a 90 year old elementary principal, plus we are still waiting on a call from the superintendent telling Bruce he did not get the job, still waiting, still waiting, still waiting....

Week of Vacation Bible School at church, in which I was co-director and it was really several weeks of planning.

Also music director that required dancing and weeks of learning the moves and the songs, because I am not a dancer.

Week before VBS fell and sprained my ankle, see last two posts! Not a good time for that to happen.

Bruce has also been out of town VBS week, not helpful!

Oh, and the last thing, we got a new puppy, his name is Dexter, very cute, but also lots of work.

Will try to resume regular blogging soon!!

Slow Down Summer!

I don't know if it is just me or what but this summer break seems to be flying by! I hope it slows down some! T-ball season is winding down. We have had a great year and it has really been a lot of fun! Bruce has yet to take a day off this summer yet and I am kinda getting ticked! We are still awaiting word on whether he got the other job that he applied for. I am hoping he did, but the longer he gets away from the interview, the less likely it seems that he got the position. Kids are doing great. There is usually at least one knock down drag out a day. Usually between Alex and Meg. We have a few upcoming events. Alex and I are going to church camp next week. Then Bruce and I will celebrate our anniversary with a quick over night trip. Then we have our last t-ball game and the next day we head out on vacation. A quick trip to Hot Springs, (the kids choice not mine, LOL). Then we have Vacation Bible School in July. WHEW! Also in July my baby brother turns 30! By that time it will be pretty close to time to go back to school! Gosh! Anyway hope everyone else is having a great summer!

I Think I Have Pink Eye!

EEEKK after a half a year of working with kids, I got pink eye the week that I wasn't even there! UGH! I woke up this morning with both my eyes matted shut! Then my left eye just kept getting redder by the minute. I didn't want to go to the dr, so I called up my eye dr, Dr. Dena! She called me in some drops that she had prescribed me before when I had another eye infection of some sort! The only bad thing is the drops she called in were $70 a bottle! $70 bucks for 5 ML! Oh my word! Anyway let's hope they work, cause my eyes look really yucky and they don't feel too good either! 

Can you say RANDOM!

Cause that is what this post is. A post of complete and utter randomness! First off it is almost the last day of school. That always makes me kind of sad! I always take a picture of the kids on the first day and then the last day of school and I am always amazed by how much they have changed and grown over the year. Meg will complete Kindergarten and begin 1st grade next year. 1st grade seems so grown up and I am just not quite ready for that yet! She has done well this year and is for the most part such a sweetheart! I just can't believe my baby girl is finishing kindergarten.

Alex will finish up 3rd grade, 3rd grade people! Which means she will begin 4th grade next year and the even scarier part of this is the fact that she only has 2 years left at the elementary school! I am so not ready for that! I am pretty sure she is fixing to go through some major changes, you women know what I mean and I am so not ready and ill equipped for that! Oh my! the wonder that is raising a girl! She has done well this year, had a little bit of issue of her and another girl trying to reenact their own version of Mean Girls on the playground, but other than that she has done well both socially and academically.

The hardest thing for me is that baby boy, well he will go to Preschool next year. It is only 2 days a week, but to think that my little boy, who it seems just got here is already ready for school, well that is just unreal to me. He is so excited! Just hope he is a good boy!

Let's see what else can I ramble about. Oh, there may be some big changes for me. I am thinking about going back to school. I was never going to be a permanent stay at home mommy, and with Cooper going to school next year and then in school full time the next it is time for me to get ready to enter the work force. I have also decided to depart from my original major which was Secondary English Education and I am going to get my degree in Elementary Education. All the substituting I have done this year has just made me realize that that is where I am meant to be. I know why I struggled all those years I was going to school, it was just not what I was meant to do. I think I would been an okay English teacher but I think I can be a really good elementary teacher. I am excited and nervous about the prospect, but I know it is time. I have also decided that when I finally finish my degree I will immediately will begin my Master's in Administration, yep I think I want to be a Principal down the line. So, there are my life aspirations! It seems really daunting all typed out, LOL!

Let's see Bruce is in the process of trying to find a job in administration. So keep him in your thoughts, he has had a really bad year. He has learned that it is really hard to go home again. (He is teaching in the school district he graduated from.) So, even though he is sad about having to leave, he knows it is time to move on. I just pray that he can find something!

Also we got some sad news about my grandmother. She has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Not sure how I feel about this yet, I still try not to think about it too much. Sadly over the years I have grown apart from her because of some things, I still love her dearly there are just some hard feelings over some things. I am trying really hard to get over that because I don't want that to get in the way of what time we have left with her in good health. But man it is hard! Health wise she is in excellent shape, her short term memory is just gone. They were over for mother's day and she opened gifts and as soon as she finished opening she had forgotten who got her what. I guess up until then I had pretended there wasn't much wrong, you can't ignore those facts though.

Let's see what else. We are trying to finalize vacation plans for this year. We aren't going far, because the Dallas trip made us realize our kids right now are not the best travelers! So we will be going somewhere fairly close. If you have any suggestions shoot them to me.

Bruce and I will also celebrate our 11th anniversary this summer. Geesh that seems like a long time and when you factor in the fact that we dated for 4 years before we got married that equals 15 years! Gosh! In just 5 years I will have lived with Bruce the same amount of time that I lived at home with my parents. CRAZY!

Last but certainly not least, how do you like the new blog?!? My friend Tina at My Own Party of 5, has totally revamped my blog for me! I love it, she did such a great job! She has her own design blog under construction as well. I can't tell you how many times this girl has helped me out, she totally takes over most of the administrative and design side of the parenting website that I co-own Laundry Can Wait. She is just an extremely talented lady as well as a really good friend. Whom I have never even met in person, and that just goes to show you can find good people and friends over the world wide web! Thank you so much Tina, you really are awesome!

Okay if you made it through all that you are a saint! I will try to keep my blogs down to 3 paragraphs from now on, or maybe I should just update more often!

First T-Ball Game

Oh my I can not tell you how deep my love for t-ball is! Bruce and I coached our first team last year and we were hooked. We were a first year team so we got several who had never played before. Our first game we played a professional t-ball team. T-ball is supposed to 5 and 6 year olds but I wanted some birth certificates on the boys on that team last year. Anyway we ended up having a fun season, and we had a great group of kids. Now, this year, 2nd year team we got to get our kids from last year as well as a few new ones. Our team starting out this year is better, we have several boys with some athletic ability and just an all around better team. Our first game was last night after 2 weeks of rain outs. OH my guys they did so good. Granted they would have been lots better if they haven't not practiced for 2 weeks. They hit the ball well, we got several outs Meg got 2 of them and it was so much fun. OH and my husband, is just great with those kids, he is patient and kind and it makes me love him all the more! When we left he looks over me with a big grin and he says "Now that was fun!" and it was, it was a lot of fun! I can't wait for Friday night!

I think I am going to go blonde

or at least blonder! I usually use a darker color on my hair in the winter, and it is really dark right now. My natural color is (I would guess, I haven't been my natural color since 8th grade) a light to medium brown. I am going today to have it foiled with some lighter bits for summer. Plus I am getting it cut, but I don't know how yet, nothing like waiting until the last minute. Most likely I will tell her to just trim it. I am also having my eyebrows waxed. My pain tolerance has lowered as I have gotten older, the last time she did it I got a little woozy! LOL That is saying something coming from the woman who birthed a 10lb 1 oz baby with no epidural! (Still a little pissed at my doctor about that one!) Anyway I am excited for my new summer color!

Don't forget to weigh in on the my great blog debate!

Choice Number Three

Here is the next choice in the great blog layout debate. Tell me what you think!

Choice Number Two!

This is the 2nd choice in my revamp my blog contest! What do you think of this one?!?

A Recipe a Week

Okay I am back on track with my recipe a week!  I will do 2 this week.  Chicken Tortellini Soup and Ice Box Pie.

Chicken Tortellini Soup

4 cups water

4 cups cooked chicken or 4 10 oz canned chicken (I do this cause it saves tons of time, plus my chicken cooking pot is my soup pot so it makes for a lot of in between cleaning)

2 (10 1/2 oz) cans cream of chicken soup

1 1/2 cups chopped onion

1 clove minced garlic

3/4 teaspoon basil

3/4 teaspoon oregano

1 (16 oz) bag frozen mixed vegetable broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower

1 (8 oz) package dry cheese tortellini (this is with the regular pasta not in the fridge section

optional topping of parmesan cheese and diced tomatoes

In large saucepot combine water, chicken broth, chicken, cream of chicken soup, onion, garlic, basil and oregano.

Cover and bring to a boil.

Reduce heat to low; add vegetables and tortellini.

Cover and simmer 20 minutes.

Garnish with cheese and diced tomatoes.

This makes a HUGE pot!! We can eat on it forever! I make it a lot for church pot luck because it makes so much!

Ice Box Pie

1 box chocolate instant pudding

1 tub cool whip

1 ready made graham cracker crust

package chopped pecans

Make pudding according to instruction on box. Pour into crust. Cover and let sit for a bit. Top with cool whip and pecans. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.

OH and an extra since fruit is so yummy right now! 

Best Fruit Dip EVER

1 jar marshmallow creme

1 block cream cheese

Blend together and serve with any type of fresh fruit!

Choice Number Uno!

I have been messing around with my blog layout. I have wanted something different for awhile, but wasn't sure what. Being that I can't create anything on my own it meant I had to borrow a layout from somewhere else. Enter the website Cutest Blog on the Block, and they do have some cute stuff!! I have found several backgrounds there that I really like. Here in lies the problem, I can't pick! So you have to help me out. I will post a new one each day and you can give your feedback on it, what you like what you don't like, Robyn were you smoking crack when you picked that out?!?!  This my friends is your first choice, so what do you think?!?! OH and be forewarned I have blog ADD, so I can't stay with any one thing for too terribly long, but I would love to have a few that I really love that I can recycle through every now and again. So let me know what you think! Thanks!

I Was Ready to Be Tested for Swine Flu...

or for the poor pork producers the H1N1 virus! We have all traded around a stomach bug this week, well and part of last week.  Bruce had to pick up Meg early last Wednesday from school as she was puking. She seemed pretty fine when she got home and for the rest of the day but then that night she puked all in my bed! I <3 it when they do that, nothing like having to wash sheets at 3 in the morning. Then I was pretty certain that everyone else was going to be okay and she was just puking because she was a bit phelmy, and she is a gagger. Then Sunday morning as I was getting ready for church I wasn't feeling too great. I couldn't miss though my mom and I were singing the special music it that morning. So I went and I didn't feel good at all through Sunday school. Then by the time church was over I felt pretty awful. I ended up on the couch at mom and dad's and didn't eat lunch. Slept on and off all day Sunday. Fast forward to about 11 o'clock Sunday and Cooper pukes all over the carpet in the living room! YUCK! Bruce cleaned that up, I <3 Bruce! I still didn't feel good Monday and neither did Cooper we spent the day on the couch, him on one end and me on the other. I still wasn't feeling the greatest Tuesday, still was icky on Wednesday, but we all went to church. Fast forward to early morning Thursday, Alex comes and tells me she just threw up in the bathroom. Whew I thought at least she made it the bathroom. I put her in bed with Bruce, and I went and slept on the couch. When I got up Thursday morning I got the most unpleasant surprise. Alex had mad it to the bathroom but totally missed and puked all over the toilet and bathroom floor! What is worse than cleaning up puke at 3 in the morning? Cleaning up  puke that has sat there since 3 in the morning! BLEH!  I gagged a few times and that was the closest I came to throwing up during this whole ordeal! Bruce wasn't feeling too hot last night but he went to work today. I hope we are all over this thing! My stomach is still not up to par, but I feel better. Alex really didn't want to go today but I made her, cause I am mean like that. I am all filled up on my cleaning puke quota for the year though, so I would appreciate it if from now on this little gems would just  pass my family on by, thank you very much!

Pay It Forward!

My friend Tina over at My Own Party of Five, got this idea from Robyn (GREAT name BTW! Even spelled right!) at An Alaskan Family to Pay it Forward in the blog world! What does this consist of you might ask, well it is just a simple deed or act of kindness done without expecting anything in return, simply passing it on in hopes of that person passing it on as well. So, what I will be doing is for the first 3 people that post a comment on this post, I will send you a little somethin' somethin' from me to you! Simply for reading my blog and letting me know you care! The only thing you have to do is do the same thing on your blog! Pay it forward people, who couldn't use a little pick me up right now considering all the we have going on! The treat you send doesn't have to be expensive or even cost anything, you can make something, send a recipe, write a note, whatever floats your boat! Let's spread a little love around the blog world! And now you all most join me in a rousing rendition of I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing! (I promise your gift will not be a cd of me singing this song although I did toy with the idea!)

I Am So EXCITED!

Why you ask?!? Because I just ordered my WICKED tickets!! Now I just have to wait until August to watch! I have wanted to see this musical FOREVER! I read the book a long time ago and have wanted to see it ever since! And living where I do you don't get many opportunities to see Broadway musicals, but their is a touring production coming to Tulsa and I got tickets! WOO HOO! I can't wait!!

Book Review- The 5th Horseman

I finished this James Patterson book a week or so ago. I really love his books! His writing style is great for me because he writes short chapters, and I have this thing where I can't stop reading a book in the middle of a chapter. I have to finish the chapter before I can quit. I know I have issues! Anyway this book did not disappoint, it was full of twists and turns and really bad guys and bad ass women! Fun read! I am a hard core Women's Murder Club fan, and it makes me wish I would have watched the tv show!

A Recipe A Week

Dessert First This Week

My first one is for a Dream Pineapple Upside Down cake, this cake was the moistest cake I have ever eaten so yummy, especially if you love pineapple, or even if you don't cause Bruce hates them and he just picked them off and ate the cake. Here's what you need.

3 cans (8oz each) pineapple slices

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/3 cup butter or margarine melted

6 maraschino cherries, halved

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1 pkg yellow cake mix

1 envelope Dream Whip Whipped Topping Mix

4 eggs

1 cup cold water

Preheat oven to 350* F. Drain pineapple, reserving 2 TBSP of the juice; set aside. Mix brown sugar and butter in 13x9 inch baking pan. Arrange pineapple slices in pan, cutting slices if necessary to evenly fit onto bottom of pan. Place cherry half, cut side up, in center of each slice. Sprinkle with the reserved pineapple juice and pecans.

Beat dry cake mix, dry whipped topping mix, eggs, and water in large bowl with mixer on low speed 2 mins. Beat on medium speed for 4 mins. Carefully spoon into prepared pan.

Bake 50-55 minutes or until top springs back when lightly pressed. Let stand 10 minutes; invert onto serving plate. Let stand 1 minute; remove pan. Serve warm or cooled.

Creamy Chicken and Pasta Bake

1 1/2 cups multi-grain rotini pasta, uncooked

1 small bunch of broccoli, cut into florets

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite size pieces

1/2 cup fat free chicken broth

2 oz cream cheese

1 cup mozzarella cheese

2 tbsp parmesan cheese

Heat oven to 375*. Cook pasta in large sauce pan as directed adding broccoli for last 3 mins. Heat large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat. Add chicken, cook 3 mins or until no longer pink, stirring frequently. Stir in broth, simmer for 3 mins or until chicken is done.  Add cream cheese, cook on low heat until melted. Stir in a half cup of mozzerella.

Drain pasta and broccoli and mix with chicken mixture. Spoon into an 8 inch square baking dish, and cover.

Bake 15 mins or until heated through. Sprinkle with remaining cheeses, bake uncovered until cheese is melted. Let stand 5 mins and serve.

I am so TIRED!

I am so exhausted! I have subbed the last two days, and they wanted me to sub tomorrow and were pissed when I said no. I don't have a job for a reason people this was only supposed to be a part time deal! Not an EVERY FREAKING day thing! Anyway, if they are rude to me again about it, I am going to the principal and asking her to remove my name, and tell her why! 

We are getting ready for our big Day out with Thomas weekend! We are leaving Friday around noon. As a surprise for the girls, I made reservations for the three of us to go to the American Girl Bistro Friday night. I think I am even more excited than they are, LOL! Bummer of the weekend though it supposed to cool! I am praying the weather changes between now and then! One can hope, LOL!

I have to get my house in order before we go. I hate coming home to a dirty house! I have my work cut out for me though, cause my house is a wreck! I may do a daily list on things to get done, but when I do those I always feel like a failure if I don't get it done, nothing like failure glaring at you from a computer screen! 

Here's hoping to a productive couple of days, and a nice weather weekend! 

A Recipe a Week

Okay these are two that I made tonight. Both were very yummy.

Cheese Olive Loaf

1 loaf french bread

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

2 tbs of mayo

1/2 cup pimento stuffed sliced green olives

Don't let the mayo scare you off you can't even taste it.

Mix cheese, mayo, and olives together. Spread onto the french bread. Wrap the bread in foil and bake in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Spaghetti with Zesty Bolognese

1 small onion, chopped

1/4 cup Zesty Italian dressin

1 lb lean ground beef

1 15 oz can tomato sauce

1 14 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained

2 Tbsp cream cheese

12 oz spaghetti, uncooked

1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Cook onions and dressing in large skillet on medium heat. Increase heat to medium high, add meat and cook stirring frequently until browned. Stir in tomato sauce and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in cream cheese.

While sauce is simmering cook pasta as directed on package.

Pour sauce on spaghetti and top with parmesan. 

Last one a quick and simple dessert.

Chocolate Plunge

2/3 cup light corn syrup

1/2 cup whipping cream

1 package 8 squares semi-sweet baking chocolate

Microwave corn syrup and whipping cream until mixture comes to a boil. Add chocolate stir until melted. 

I serve with strawberries, marshmallows, pound cake, graham crackers, or other things that are chocolate dippable! My kids LOVE this!

Spring Break

Spring Break is almost over and we haven't done squat. I always have these grand plans and we end up hanging at the house and not doing anything. I did go shopping with my friend Kyla one day but other than that we have just hung out here at the house. I wanted to take the kids to do something outside since the weather has been so nice, but of course it started raining today and is supposed to continue. BLAH! The kids are going tonight to spend the night at Bruce's parents. I think we will go out to dinner and hope for nice weather tomorrow so we can actually go and do something. I knew this break would be low key since we are going next weekend to Day Out With Thomas in Dallas, but still I would like to do something before they have to go back to school!

I Read Another Book

I am on a reading roll! LOL I read James Patterson's 4th of July this week. It was good had a really surprise ending, that I didn't see coming and I am hard to fool. I really like James Patterson, I don't know why I waited so long to read him! A little graphic and gory at times, but what murder mysteries aren't?

I needed a good recipe for church pot luck a few weeks ago, and I got this one off the Food Network site, and they were yummy!

Blondies

1 1/2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar

1 cup unsalted butter

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon fine salt

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

about 1 1/2 cups butterscotch, semisweet chocolate, peanut butter or white chocolate chips. (I used white chocolate)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter and flour a 9 by 13 inch glass baking dish. 

Put sugar in a large bowl. Melt the butter in a small skillet or in the microwave in a glass measuring cup. Stir the butter in the sugar until smooth, cool to room temperature.

Meanwhile, in another medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt together.

Beat the egg and vanilla into the sugar mixture. Add the flour mixture a bit at a time until a smooth thick batter forms.(It is really thick!) Fold in chips, as desired.

Spoon the batter into the prepared dish and spread to evenly fill dish. Bake until the blondies are light brown around the edges and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 20 to 25 minutes. 

Remove from the oven and let cool slightly. Invert onto a rack and cool completely. Cut into squared and serve.

Okay this one is for when I have absolutely no time and need a super fast dinner, it is not all that healthy but my kids love them and I try not to do it too often.

Dressed up Taquitos

1 box chicken taquitos

1 can red enchilada sauce

Mexican blend cheese

1 can sliced black olives

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put taquitos into baking dish and heat in oven for 8 minutes. Remove pour on enchilada sauce, cover with cheese, and then top with black olives. Heat for an additional 30 minutes or until cheese is melted. I serve them with sour cream and we usually have chips and dip with it as well. 

Shopaholic and Baby- Book Review

Whenever I read a book that takes me a really long time I like to follow it with one I know I can read quickly! Enter Shopaholic and Baby by Sophie Kinsella. This book is part of the Shopaholic series and also the series the recent movie is based off of. I always enjoy these books because they are so funny! This was vintage Becky Brandon nee' Bloomwood. Funny, clever, and even a bit touching believe it or not! I really it enjoyed it, it was a quick read, it is not Pultizer Prize winning stuff but it was entertaining which is just what I needed. 

Book Review~ A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

I finally finished this book, don't know why it took so long. Either I have been busier than normal or this was just one of those books that took longer to finish. This was the first book I have read by John Irving although he has written several. This book is the book the movie Simon Birch was based on, I loved the movie BTW, but if you like your book and movie to follow closely then you will be disappointed with this one. It really is almost like two different stories with the exact same characters.

Now on to my review, while I was reading this book I wasn't liking it not sure if was writing style or what. Mr. Irving is BIG on description which for the most part I don't disagree with, but this at times was a little too much for my taste. That being said after finishing the book, I loved it, even all the description because in the end you get the reason it all had to be in there. Irving is a gifted storyteller with excellent characters. He is funny and witty to point I laughed out loud in several instances, but he is touching and intelligent in all the right places.  This book touches on faith, predestination, childhood, lasting and touching friendships, what makes a real family, and every thing in between. I am so glad I stuck it out, it ended up being a joy! 

That Shaved about 10 Years Off My Life!

I was subbing today in first grade and the kids were out for afternoon recess and I was sitting in the room minding my own business, trying to read my A Prayer for Owen Meany book ( only been on this one for about a month, it is time to be finished!). When all of the sudden there was this loud pop, it seriously sounded like a gun shot. I had just gotten on to a couple of the boys and instantly thought OMG they are shooting at me, LOL! Turns out that one of the kids (not any from my class) threw a rock at the room I was in and shattered the window! It is a huge window and it didn't bust the glass out so it is just sitting there making this cracking noise like it is going to fall out at any minute! EEEEK! I so cannot have this particular group of kids in there with that window like that. There are some groups that could be in there all day and leave it alone but this group would be all over it! So we had to have class in the media center the rest of the afternoon. That was my excitement for the day and it scared the crap out of me and quite possibly took 10 years off my life, I am thinking of suing for mental anguish. I am pretty sure I may have a case!

What I Should be Doing Instead of Blogging!

1. Tackling the insane amount of laundry I have right now! Last week was a busy week and I am WAY, WAY, WAY behind!

2. Doing the dishes, BLAH, YUCK, and BLAH!

3. Feeding my son lunch! He had a late breakfast and I am just not ready to move from chair yet!

4. Finally finishing a book A Prayer for Owen Meany so I can move on to something else. I have been on this book for about a month now, and I am ready to move on, but not before I finish it. In my defense it is a really long book, but still!

5. Cleaning my house that because of my busy week last week is a total DISASTER this week!

6. Figuring out tomorrow's Team Kid's lesson for church!

7. Taking a nap, oh wait I did that this morning while the boy slept in!


I also could have been substituting today, but alas I did not pick up my phone, it was a long week last week, and I already have one day this week, and well I just didn't want to go today! Ideally I need to pick up one more day, but I may not! Who knows!

Cooper Just Might FREAK!

I told him if he would learn to potty like a big boy that I would buy him tickets for Day out with Thomas, he is Thomas obsessed right now. He loved the idea he just didn't want to learn to use the potty. He is one stubborn boy, but I am proud to say he has one stubborn mommy as well, and he is completely potty trained! He wears a pull up at night, just in case, and he still doesn't like to poop and will hold it, until he has to go, see how stubborn he is?!?

So, the other night I ordered his tickets. He freaks when we just visit the site so I can't imagine how it is going to be when he actually gets to go and see Thomas!! We are going March 28th and we are having to drive to Grapevine to see it, but it will be so worth it! I am so excited for him, I am about to freak, LOL!

I am a huge fan of chinese food, just not a huge fan of having to pay for it, this recipe is a great at home version, that is almost as good as the real thing!

Beef Noodle Bowl

1/2 pound linguine, uncooked
3 cups broccoli florets
3 carrots peeled, sliced ( I usually just use a bag of frozen baby carrots)
2 tsp oil
1 lb beef sirloin steak cut into strips
1/4 cup Kraft Toasted Asian Sesame Seed Dressing
1 TBSP Teriyaki Sause

Cook pasta according to package directions, adding veggies for the last 2 mins of cooking.
While pasta is cooking heat oil in nonstick skillet. Add meat, cook until browned on all sides stirring occasionally. Stir in dressing and teriyaki sauce, cook 2 mins, or until sauce is thickened, sitrring occasionally.

Drain pasta, and toss with meat mixture to coat.

Optional- Sprinkle with peanuts before serving. ( I never do this, but if you want a little crunch, it might be good)

A Note to Jason Mesnick

Jason,

For future reference your name and integrity should never be used in the same sentence, you sold your integrity for 15 minutes of fame. If you think you can even be remotely proud of your actions, you are delusional. I think the only reason you changed your mind is the fact that you came on a show to find a wife completely unprepared to make that commitment. The real reason you dumped Melissa is she was ready to become a wife and mother and you were not and neither is Molly. Crisis averted Mr. Mesnick, and what did it cost you?!? Just your integrity!

A Jilted Viewer

AKA One Mad Momma

I Do NOT <3 Jason Mesnick

Are you kidding me?!? I have not been this mad since that jerk from Deanna's season didn't pick anyone, and quite frankly I think I may be madder now than I was then.  I can not believe the outcome of this season! I think he is a jerk, how could he do that to Melissa on television? I think that is why I am so ticked! I mean could you not have called her on the phone, went to see her, anything. I mean I am sure that they had talked about things, but to wait until you are there face to face taping, please! JERK! Oh and BS that he and Molly had not talked since the taping, BS! Although she did do a pretty convincing job of being surprised. I wish she would have told him to take a hike, instead of falling all over his ignorant self. GEESH! I think she should have told him to go seek out Deanna, cause those two are cut from the same cloth! 

Never Again Will We Hear "The Rest of the Story"

I was so saddened to hear of the passing of Paul Harvey over the weekend. I was always so excited when I would be in the car or near a radio when his segment came on. I loved to hear his distinctive voice, his pauses and inflections, and the way he told a story just can not be matched. I would wait anxiously as he would end the segment and reveal whomever or whatever he had been talking about and then that distinctive and now you know the rest of the story. I will miss that.

I was watching the evening news tonight, they did a short segment on Paul, I was unaware that his wife was his business manager, they had a cute quote from him in which he said I never intended on ever being on television but when your wife is your business partner you just do what you are told. Her name was Angel, and she sadly passed away a year ago. As they said on the news Paul Harvey will be missed but he is with the angels now and one Angel in particular. Godspeed Paul Harvey!

A Recipe a Week

Shasta at Crackers and Chaos came up with this idea to post a recipe a week and I think it is a fantastic idea, so I am participating as well. If you want to participate head on over to her blog and sign her Mr. Linky and join in the fun! My first recipe will be the fated Weeknight Cheese Quiche I blogged about earlier in the week! It turned out FANTASTIC BTW!

Weeknight Cheese Quiche

1 cup sliced mushrooms

1 cup chopped onion (I did this in my food processor so it would be really fine, as onions aren't my fave)

1 Pkg 10oz frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained

1/3 cup Miracle Whip

1/3 cup milk

4 eggs

1 cup shredded mozzarella

1 frozen 9 inch pie crust

1/4 cup bacon bits

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Add mushrooms and onions and cook 5 mins or until tender.  Stir in spinach and mix well.

Mix dressing, milk, eggs, until well blended. Add spinach mixture and cheese.

Pour into pie shell and sprinkle with bacon bits. Bake 50 mins until set and golden.

I served this with a nice green salad and hot rolls. I topped the quiche with a bit of sour cream as well. YUM!

This recipe is courtesy of www.kraftfoods.com

I am not going to say this too loud but...

Cooper pooped on the potty tonight and he has not had a accident in several days. I think we may be rounding the bend on the potty training thing, which is good because it was about to send me round the bend and not in a good way but in a send Robyn to a padded cell kinda way! So here's hoping we have it down!

Other fun things this weekend. Bruce's mother kept all three kids last night and we had a date night, nothing fancy just dinner at Chilli's because everything else was too dang crowded. We wanted Olive Garden, and figured since it was pouring rain, that it wouldn't be too crowded. When we got there at like 15 til 6 btw, people were standing outside in the rain waiting. I love me some Olive Garden but not enough to stand in the rain for who knows how long to get it. After dinner we headed to Hastings to peruse the cheap books, I got 2 new books for $3.99 and Bruce got a book. We then headed to Marable Slab, and had some wonderful ice cream. Then it was a trip to Old Navy, which sucks anymore! Then Books A Million also was equally sucky. Finally, a trip to Target and we headed home, where we picked up the boy, and the girl's spent the night with the grandparents.

Plus to top it off Cooper slept in this morning, SWEET! All in all so far a pretty sucessful weekend! My laundry is caught up but my house is wreck, we all know you can't have it all!

Last One for the Night

The scene from Dead Poets Society where Robin Williams is exiting after being fired and the boys stand on their desks and say O Captain My Captain! Gets me everytime! One of my all time favorite movie moments!! Bring on the waterworks! What are some of your favorite movie moments?

Friday Night Lights

Where I went to high school football was pretty much king, that being said I have somewhat of an affinity for football related movies and shows. Facing the Giants, Friday Night Lights, Varsity Blues, Remember the Titans, you get the picture. That being said I love the T.V show Friday Night Lights, that comes on NBC Friday nights at 8:00. It is just such a good show, and I just know they will cancel it because they weren't going to bring it back this year but they worked out a deal with Direct TV and they did. I will be so bummed if it gets canceled though, it reminds me of everything I loved about high school.  Plus there are some pretty cute actors that play in it as well. So, if you need a show to watch on Friday nights check it out, if you are a football fan or even if you are not, I think you will enjoy it! 

This is Why I Don't Cook

I really don't mind cooking in fact I even go through phases where I love to cook. Right now I am in a cooking phase. So, for tonight's dinner I am making Weeknight Cheese Quiche from the recipes at Kraftfoods.com ( I triple love this site, makes finding things to cook so easy and they are written for a novice like myself and still taste yummy! I received no compensation for this advertisement BTW). So I pull up the recipe on my computer, I get everything done and I get to the part where you pour the mixture into the pie crust, so I start reading and it says prepared pie crust which up to that point I just thought meant already made, which it was, but then I started to wonder if by prepared it meant already baked! UGH, see why I don't cook, I am sure if any of you reading this are any kind of chef at all you are sitting there going DUH, she so should have know that, but I don't. So I sit here waiting for it to cook, terrified that I have ruined dinner due to my inaccurate interpretation of the recipe. This is why I don't cook! 

I am Tenatively Celebrating

The fact that Cooper may just have this whole potty training thing down. At least the pee part! I am beyond thrilled! No more diapers for me EVAH!

We did have an unfortunate accident in my floor but we won't speak of it as it still makes me throw up a bit in my mouth! ICK!

The Boy

My sweet, beautiful baby boy may be the most stubborn male on the planet, well next to his dad. We have been potty training and he is doing really well staying dry, the problem is he HOLDS it. He won't pee and he won't poop. The poop thing is really bothering me, I know he has to go. At first I was like well, eventually he will go he can't hold it forever. I think though possibly he could and would hold it forever! It is a battle of wills and right now and he just may be winning! UGH! I so do not <3 potty training at all!

The Bachelor- Again

I just read an online spoiler about this season of the Bachelor and I can tell you right now if it happens the way this guy says it is going to, excuse my French but I am going to be PISSED! I mean ticked to the point that I honestly will not ever watch the show again, and yes I know I said that after that dirtbag made me watch the whole dang season and then gets to the end and picks NO ONE, I mean in his defense one of his choices was Deanna but still he could have picked the other girl and then dumped her like everyone else does!

If it goes down like I have read it does, and if the accusations are true, it is really beyond cruel, and that Jason would agree to it makes me sick! I mean it is really bad, I don't want to go into detail cause I know there are people who do not like to know something before it happens, and I am really hoping this is not true, because it is bad people, really, really bad! UGH! Anyway I guess we will all see on Monday night.

The Bachelor

Okay can I just say right now that if I was not married I would have been the stalker chick on this season of the Bachelor because I <3 Jason! That being said I pretty pleased with the final two, although I would have loved to have seen the other Mommy in there, even though even I could tell there was no chemistry there. What is up with all the drama though, bringing Deanna, I do not <3 Deanna, back, right before the big proposal? Then Chris all talking about how they are trying to protect all the parties involved? I don't get it, but I am going to keep watching because I am obsessed! I am saying right now though, if he dumps either of those girls to go back to that heartbreaker Deanna I am going to boycott the show forever! Chick got her chance now go away!!!! 

T is for Trespass

I read this awhile back and didn't get a review up, mainly because I didn't have much to say. It is vintage Sue Grafton, and it wasn't that it wasn't a good book, it was honestly one of her better ones. At this point though I am kinda like been there done that! Anyway if you love Sue Grafton, which I do, this one will not disappoint.

Awesome Song from ER last Night

Check it out on you tube South Side of Heaven, by Ryan Bingham! I am on the stupid Apple computer and couldn't copy and paste! Stupid Apple!

Life and Times of Substitute Teacher

As, I have told you all before I started substituting this year to earn some extra money and some days it just isn't worth the $50 bucks! I was in Kindergarten last week which I love they are so sweet and cuddly and lovable at the age. I have decided if I ever go back to school I will get my Early Childhood degree. Anyway, so they are all about centers in school now especially at that age. So after the reading lesson, I got the centers set up and they so good about going to their little tables and working on their stuff, it is really too cute. Anyway on this particular day the teacher had left a stamping center for them, stamps with words that they were to trace, complete with RED stamp pads (keep these in mind they will come into play later). So we are all going about our business, I am working at one table with a group the rest of them are doing their respective centers. We get to the end and I walk over to the stamping center to begin putting it away, and lo and behold one of the girls was using the red stamp pad on her hair. She is running it up and down and I ask what do you think you are doing to which she replied highlighting my hair! UGH! So I get onto to her put the center away and move them to the rug for a quick story before they go to lunch. As I am reading I begin to start looking all around the room and there were several others who had used the red stamp pad on their hair as well, one little girl with a blonde pony tail that was now completely red, as well as most of her white shirt and even a boy who had done the top of his head! OH people I was mortified! Who would've thought?

Fast forward to this week, I am in the same class, we are making a Mr. & Mrs. Valentine craft and what does one girl do, she cuts her hair! Now mind you this girl has had headful and I mean headful of blonde curly hair, and most likely her parents would not even miss the piece she cut off, but still she got in big trouble from me on that one. 

I had one little girl try to choke another, I had a little boy that would not sit still or shut up no matter how many times I asked! It rained all day so we couldn't send them outside and they were going stir crazy and so was I!

At the end of the day though, when they gave me hugs as they rushed out the door, I decided it wouldn't be a horrible way to spend my career life! That is if my husband ever finishes his stupid doctorate so I can go back to school!!

Work on your Delivery, Dude!

Okay, last night they had this big drawing at Bruce's school. You pay $20 for a ticket and you can go and eat a meal, and then you are entered into this drawing where you can win all kinds of different things like gift certificates, guns(only in Oklahoma can you enter a contest and walk out the door with a firearm), just misc stuff that they get donated but the grand prize is this Bad Boy Buggy thing, (think John Deere Gator). Bruce was in Tulsa yesterday taking his principal's test, so he didn't get home until late, so we couldn't go. 

Well, about 8:30 I hear his phone ringing, and he goes to get it but misses the call. It was from one of the coaches at the school who was running the contest, so Bruce checks his messages, and I was like put it on speaker phone, I bet since we weren't there we won the dang thing (we sat thru the whole thing last year and won NOTHING!). So on the messages, we hear the coach go Uh Mr. Gillham I don't know if anyone has contacted you yet about the drawing tonight but you were the winner, at this point we start yelling, WE WON, WE WON, and the kids are all looking at us like we are nuts asking what we have won and then we hear gift certificate, and I tell Bruce maybe we better listen again. Well, we won alright a $20 gift certificate to Warehouse Willie's (local resturaunt, where we might can both eat a burger for $20) and a one night stay at Long Lake Resort.  Now Long Lake Resort sounds like this really exotic locale right, nope it is a small lake about 15 mins from our house! So, my advice to coach work on your delivery dude, we weren't THE winner we were A winner! At least we won something and our $40 wasn't wasted like last year, but I sure wanted that buggy!

What should I read next?!?

Throw me some good suggestions on some must reads!

Ice Storm+ 1 Husband + 3 Kids=

One Crazy mother!!! My kids are so tired of being inside they are bored and it is not even snow so I can't send them out to play. Thank God the electricity has not gone off, or I really would have been over the edge. As much as I have loved having my kids safe at home, I am so hoping it thaws out enough for them to go back to school tomorrow!

Book Review-Dewey-The Small Town Library Cat that Touched the World

I so was not going to read this book. I got it in a box of a bunch of other books that I won on a drawing from goodreads.com. So I have had this book forever and it just sat there staring at me from the nightstand, literally staring cause there is a cute picture of Dewey the Cat on the front. We have been iced in for the last few days which makes for lots of reading time for me. I was also out of points on my Book Mooch account and I noticed that this book was on several wishlists, so I knew I could get a quick point out of it. I picked it up yesterday and let me tell you (this coming from a non aninimal person) was such a well-written, heart warming, touching, and endearing read. I so enjoyed it tears (yes there were tears) and all start to finish.

The book is about a cat named Dewey that was abandoned in the drop box of the library in the small town of Spencer, Iowa. The cat was rescued by the head libririan there and adopted not just by the library but by the whole town. While this book was about Dewey it was about so much more, he was the common thread woven throughout the story,but it was also about small town life and family and the bonds we all make not just with the people in our life but with the animals as well. The book will make you laugh, reminicse, and most likely cry but so worth the read.It was adorable.

I finished the last Twilight book...

and I came to a conclusion. I really, really did not enjoy Stephanie Meyer's writing style. I mean the woman could take something that could be said in one page and turn into 10! My disdain for her writing style however, did not lessen my enjoyment of her characters. I became emotionally invested in the characters and that is what kept me plugging through all the books. I wanted to know what happened. I wanted to know how everything ended up. She didn't quite tie up all the loose ends for me, but did a good enough job that I was not too disappointed. Don't know if I will rush out a read anymore of the stuff she has written. We will see after I have had a break for awhile.

Had a Girl's Night Out

We had a blast too! We went to watch the movie Bride Wars, it was a very cute girlie movie.Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson were HILARIOUS! Plus it had one of my fav boy actors from One Tree Hill, Bryan Greenburg, he was on like a couple of seasons and then left, so it was nice to see him in Bride Wars. We did the movie thing and then had a nice long dinner at TGI Fridays. Plus my friend Amy bought everyone dinner, such a sweetie. We are determined to make it a monthly thing this year, we don't get together enough and it was nice to giggle and have girly conversations!

2nd Chance- James Patterson

I am really digging Patterson right now. His books are entertaining and a quick read. Albeit he can be a bit on the gory side from time to time. I like his characters. I like that they are women and bad asses. He keeps you guessing on the plot end of things and several times when I thought I had it all figured out he changed it. I will be picking up the 3rd one as soon as I have some Book Mooch points! If you like a good murder mystery, I would definitely check him out.

I am sorry I waited so long to read him, because of my silly bias against men writers. That right I am a novel sexist. I like my novels to be written by the female persuasion. My guess is though that Patterson's wife has some input in his women characters, I am just sayin'.

EEEK as Promised!

Just so you know if you tell anyone this I will hunt you down like the dog that you are! ( Bearing in mind that I putting it here on the world wide web for every Tom, Dick, and Harry on God's green earth to read!)

My Wii Fit scale says that I way a whopping 193 lbs, UGH! REALLY?!?! That is pretty accurate within a few pounds either way as my mom's scale. I had a really lovely digital scale that my darling son dismantled! (But I am loving on Cooper right now because he peed, yes peed in the potty tonight! WOOT!)

Okay on we go!

Tomorrow is church night and that kills me! The ladies at church can cook. My plan is to not eat there and eat when I get home unless I can find something not too terribly bad for me there. I have drank 2 bottles of water today, and considering I usually drink none that is a lot. I plan on having one more before bed.

I am going back on the wagon!

And outing myself about it in the hopes it will keep me accountable. I did Weight Watchers last year and lost about 20lbs and I had lost about 20 lbs before I started. Life got busy, WW got expensive and I got hungry! Anyway I have gained back 10lbs of what I had lost. So I am going back on WW. I am not going to do the meetings this time, YET. I am trying it on my own for a bit to see how I fair. I got the WII Fit for Christmas so hopefully that will help. I am also going to move my mom's treadmill down to my house, which hopefully means I will use it more. She is currently using it for a clothes rack, so I don't think she will mind. I am going to start journaling what I am eating everyday and also drinking LOTS more water. I found that drinking water really did help last time. Anyway wish me luck. What I didn't want to do this year is look back at where I was headed and think gosh if I had only stuck with it think what I would weigh now but yet here I am once again. I have this lovely dish crocking in my new Crock Pot which we will eat with some roasted veggies and a nice salad. Sounds YUM! So, if you read this keep me accountable, leave me messages ask me how I am doing, encouragement would be nice too! I am going to get on the scale tonight and I will *gasp* post my weight here. (Oh gosh I a can't believe I am going to do that!)

Confession!

Okay I am outing myself! I have a small obsession with Bath and Body Works Wallflowers! But alas I am a tightwad or let's say thrifty that sounds better, and I won't pay the $12 they are normally, but if you are familiar with BBW you know they have a clearance sale twice a year once after Christmas and once in the summer. During said clearance sale they have their Wallflowers on sale for $5 a box, yes $5 dollars a box. So twice a year I stock up and by stock up I mean, I may never need to buy Wallflowers again. While I was there yesterday, some lady saw me piling them into my bag and she was asking me which ones smelled good, I was like I haven't a clue I just buy them compulsively and hope they don't smell like crap! I think she thought I was a freak, but nothing make me happier than to open my Wall Flower cabinet, yes I have a cabinet for them, and see that it is all full! YAY!