Girls Night Out...

...FINALLY!!! I have never been so excited to leave my kids and enjoy a few hours to myself than I am today. I have cleaned up more messes and broke up more fights in the last two hours than I have ever. I keep forgetting to check to see if it's a full moon. My kids are nuts today and I'm almost there. I think the only thing saving me, is knowing they're getting dropped off at maw-maw's in about an hour. While I'm out kicking back at one of the local Japanese restaurants with some girl friends, "M" will be making a commercial. It's almost prom time so one of the area high schools is setting up a "mock" car accident. Health Net will be there taking off as if they were airlifting an accident victim out, as well as the fire dept and some ambulances. It's all to aid against drunk driving. (M is a cop for those of you who don't know) So we have a pretty interesting evening ahead of us. Tomorrow we have a funeral to attend. A retired law officer passed away so we'll be going to that.

I know I forgot to post a recipe yesterday, like I said I was going to come back to do, but just didn't get back to it. So I'm skipping it this week. I was tagged today, so when I get back this evening, I plan on posting that. I'm off to get ready for dinner...if my kids don't destroy the house first!

Farm Town

Sorry I have been neglecting my blogging duties, but I feel that I have a very good excuse. I'm not sure if any of you have played Farm Town on Facebook...but I am totally hooked to this game. I can literally click on my farm for a second and the next thing I know, it's an hour later! I get so wrapped up in it. I'm addicted to harvesting AND I can do it and make money! What more can I ask for. I have only owned a farm for 3 days and I already have a small house, a few animals, fencing, trees, and lots of crops! I worked at someone else's farm last night that took me over 30 min to get everything (I had already been on for an hour). My eyes were killing me by the time I was done so I finally had to turn it off! For those of you on facebook, you have to check this out!!

Well, I have to go now so I can get "C" changed because he just stood here and pooped. I have laundry yelling my name and breakfast dishes that need cleaned up. I'll be back later with Monday's recipe.

PS - I am down 12lbs!! We leave in a few weeks for the beach so I'm very excited about reaching my pre-beach goal (which was 20lbs).

Award

Sorry I've been neglecting you guys for a couple of days. I've been busy and haven't had a chance to get on the computer. I've got some very big news though...





I'm super excited!!! I received my very first award, A Zombie Chicken Award, from Katy at Parenting by Google . I am very honored...thanks Katy!!

Zombie Chicken Award reads:

"The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken - excellence, grace and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to at least 5 other worthy bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by choosing unwisely or not choosing at all…"

So, I am passing the award on to...

Sarah at Mom Tips and Notes from the Zoo

Rae Ann at Critical Mass

Alisha at Stinkerpot Scraps

Helene at I'm Living Proof that God Had a Sense of Humor

Christinia at Rant-Rave-Roll

Congratulations girls!! Come and get your awards!!

Hotel Lady

I have to tell you guys this story...(Let me preface this in letting you know that I'm having trouble with "B" staying with us when we go somewhere. There are times when he sees something and takes off to look at it. So if he's walking then we have to keep an extra close eye on him. I refuse to use the kid leash thing!! It's a great idea but I just can't bring myself to do it...he's not a dog.) When we were in Pittsburgh for "C's" surgery, my mom was standing in the hotel lobby with "B". He kept running around her looking at stuff and she kept trying to get him to come back to her. A lady we did not know came right up to him and called him by name. She took him by the hand and told him that he had to come with her. That she was a "Stranger Danger" and that he didn't know her and since he wasn't listening to his mother (it was actually his grandmother but she didn't know) that he had to go with her. It scared him because she had him by his wrist and was leading him a few feet away from my mom. The "Hotel Lady", as we call her, explained to him that he needed to stay close to his mom so that no one could get him. He listened to every word that she said. She let him go and he went back with my mom and never left her side. LOL I was taken back a little when I heard this story, but was glad she did it. "B" never meets a stranger and talks to everyone. It was cute when he was a year or so younger, but now he's getting to the age that he needs to stop that. ("M" is a cop, which is why I don't post many real pics of my kids and because of what he does, he obviously sees the bad stuff) So we're trying hard to make sure "B" understands that he just can't walk off. Since the weather has gotten much warmer, he's wanting to be outside all the time. "M" had to put a lock at the very top of our door because he knows how to work the dead bolt and door knob, even with the safety knob on. But, when I forget to put the chain on, he goes right out to play. I'm trying to stop that also. Twice this week, he's slipped outside without me knowing it and I find him riding around on his trike. He's pretty much safe where we live, but there's still that chance that he could be taken. (You just never know with people these days) So tonight he went out the door and I didn't know it. I've threatened him a couple times that I was going to call the "hotel lady" and he comes running. He remembers that and it still scares him. So, I went to the door with the phone in my hand and I was pretending to talk to her. I told her what he was wearing and he heard me say that and knew immediately without me having to tell him who I was talking to. He came running and crying that he didn't want her to come. So I let him think she was coming for a few minutes to let it really sink in that I was serious and he couldn't go outside without mommy or daddy. (I'm sure you're thinking...mean mommy! lol) I once again was explaining to him why he can't go out by himself and he heard a car door shut. ("M" stopped by to see the kids for a second before they got ready for bed.) It could not have been a more perfect timing! "B" really thought the lady was here. So when "M" and his partner came in, "B" was crying. So I told "M" what happened. He just looks at me like I'm nuts, but it is finally starting to sink in with "B". So I explained this whole story to his partner and he thought it was very smart of me lol Traumatizing maybe lol but smart!

Monday's Menu

Here's today's recipe...

Easy Entree: Chicken-Bow Tie Pasta Salad

2 cups uncooked bow-tie pasta

1/2 cup Italian dressing

2 cups fresh broccoli florets

1/2 cup Colby & Mont. Jack Cheese Crumbles

2 cooked chicken breasts, diced

1/3 cup sliced black olives

1 cup halved cherry tomatoes or 1 whole tomato, diced

1/3 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese

Cook pasta as directed on pkg, adding broccoli to the cooking water for the last 2 min of pasta cooking time, drain.

Toss chicken, tomatoes, dressing, cheese crumbles, and olives in large bowl. Add pasta mixture; mix lightly. Sprinkle with Parmesan Cheese.

You can make this ahead of time...just cover and refrigerate several hours. (I think it's best served warm) You can also omit any of the above items and it's good. I usually make it without the olives and tomatoes. To save time, you can use the pre-cooked chicken strips in the 6oz pkg. I've also made this using reduced fat cheese and dressing and I think it tastes the same. You can also use whatever type of pasta shapes and cheese you like.

Hope you enjoy and feel free to leave your favorite Easy Entree recipe!!

Catching Up

Not really anything exciting has gone on this weekend. I've been catching up on cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping, and landscaping. We went to Home Depot this morning and I bought some flowers, which "M" hates! He thinks flowers are a total waste of money. As we're walking around, I'm trying to find the black sheets of stuff that you put down to prevent weeds from growing. He looks at me and says we have a roll of that at home. I tell him no but to save argument and major meltdowns (it was getting close to lunch time for the kids) we went on. I came home and starting getting the flower beds ready. I pull up the old weed blocker, old mulch and all. I go to get the roll of stuff and GUESS WHAT?? We don't have any!! He's at work so of course I call him up to inform him that I was right and we have none. Which he would have no idea about anyway because I'm the one who uses it and I used it all last year. He just says "Oh, I thought we had some." NOPE, we don't! I was half tempted to put the kids in the car and head back to Home Depot so I could get a good start on the beds, but decided to cut the grass and finish fixing up the rest of the yard. So my beds are neatly empty and waiting. As I'm putting the lawnmower and everything else back up, I see this HUGE worm crawling in the dirt. I mean this sucker is probably about 8 inches long. "B" is just now getting into bugs (he's been scared of everything up until now). I tried picking it up to show him but I'm terrified of snakes and this reminded me of a baby one and I couldn't handle the slippery thing. To my amazement, "B" reached down and picked it up. I grabbed the camera and he was all about it. He let that thing crawl all over his hand and up his arm. He finally flipped it out in the road and we came in to start baths. I would have totally posted a pic of this thing, but I can not find my camera cord anywhere to upload pics (i have about 200 waiting to be uploaded). "M" usually stops by before bedtime to tell the kids goodnight...first thing out of "B's" mouth is about this worm. I get the camera and show him. I'm talking about how big this thing is and he looks at me and informs me that it is a night crawler...like I'm supposed to know what in the heck that is! I've heard of them...isn't that what guys fish with? "M's" not much of a fisherman so I have no idea. Anyway, "B" repeats it back to me like I'm some idiot lol All I know is, it was huge and slimy! If I can ever find that cord (i've been looking for it for a couple weeks now) I'll post a pic of this ugly thing and you can see for yourself how nasty it is. The rest of the evening has been spent folding and putting away laundry. I have two more days of babysitting and I'm free again lol Don't forget to check back tomorrow...I'll have another recipe posted!!

Shiner

"B" was outside playing this afternoon and went to get on his Diego Trike. As he was swinging his leg to get on, his shoe got caught on his seat and the whole thing tilted with him. His left handle bar stuck him in the stomach and he tumbled over that handlebar. He landed smack on his face. Of course he got up screaming. Once I looked him over to make sure everything else was ok, he was fine. His right eye has a few scratches on it and is swollen. I'm sure by sometime tomorrow, he may have his very 1st black eye. As I was explaining this to him, he got real excited and wanted to call his daddy at work. The only reason he even knows what a black eye is, is because "C" had one post surgery and he kept walking around telling everyone ""C" has one eye asleep and one eye open." So we call daddy and as soon as "M" answers the phone, "B" is telling him he's gonna get a black eye. lol "M" is just repeating black eye to him and "B" is very excitedly telling him yes. Wouldn't it be nice to be a kid again? It doesn't take much to make them happy! LOL

How's Your Morning??

Mine started out REALLY rough! Why? You ask? Let me tell you what I woke up to... "B" woke up sometime around 6:15 this morning and ready to go. We made him lay there quietly as everyone else was sleeping and we did well until about 7:00. "M" got up and turned the tv on in the living room for him and turned my alarm off and got back in bed. I was awake but not up moving yet and "C" was still sleeping. Evidently I fell back asleep and woke up 15 min late. I get up and walk into the living room where the smell of Lysol about knocked me over. I picked up the can and it was empty! I look over and see the drawer pulled out that we keep all of the kids cars/trucks in. "B" had emptied the can on the cars...there was Lysol standing in the bottom of the drawer. Everything was soaked! I know it's my fault for leaving the can out last night...I just didn't think about it. ("B" watched me spray the cars/trucks in their drawer last night so that's how/why he did it) Trying to be helpful, I know but HOLY COW what a mess and stink! I opened up every window and turned the ceiling fan on to try and air this place out. As I'm taking the drawer to the kitchen to rinse them off, I see a paper towel lying on the cabinet. It has brown stuff on it. So only as a mom would do, I smell it. There's not really a smell, so I yell for "B" and ask where this paper towel came from. He just gave me a crap eatin' grin and said my butt. So no need for any further questions about what it is! I ask where the rest of the poop is and he tells me he pooped in his pull up (he is potty trained but we're still wearing a pull up at night) and threw it in the trash. As I look in the trash to confirm, I see a fallen turd on the rug. I pick it up and throw it in with the rest of the mess. As "B" turns to walk away, I see poop smeared on his butt from one cheek to the other. I tell him to freeze as I find the wipes to get the rest of him cleaned off before he starts climbing on any of the furniture. I think to myself...it's just now 7:30 and look what we've accomplished! I think I'm in for it today!!

Stuck Inside

As I mentioned in a couple posts earlier, I am babysitting for some friends of ours while their normal babysitter is on vacation. It's for 10 days and today was day 6. I have a huge headache and have a mound of laundry to do. The first few days, I thought, I wouldn't mind babysitting all the time. It's good extra money and relatively easy. As of today, there's no way in the world! I have no idea how working mothers get it all done. I'm at my house babysitting and still don't have time to get stuff around here done. I LOVE being a stay at home mom and am very THANKFUL that I do not work outside the home! This week has really opened my eyes up to that. I can't wait for the weekend so I can take "B" and do something special. Poor guy has been shuffled to the side, finding things of his own to keep him entertained because I have two others to take care of and we've been stuck inside for the last 3 days because it's done nothing but rain. I am ready for some sunshine and the weekend!

Would You Wendesday

I know you guys are sitting and waiting to see what disgusting dilemma you must choose from so I won't keep you waiting any longer....

Would you rather...

be good with computers but have an incredibly moist left foot?

or

be regarded as the greatest diorama maker of all time but have a friendly midget permanently strapped to you, papoose style?

Thanks to those of you who leave your answers as comments...I love reading them!