Wednesday, May 11, 2011

My Monday Meal - Hotdogs & Mac & Cheese


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How dissapointing...but it IS Monday after all...


Dennis couldn't even get the hotdog buns out of the freezer-ha...

What is your Monday Meal?


Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Zoo Day - UPDATED!

Think back...for those as old as me – think WAAAYYYY back to when you were in grade school & you took your first field trip…remember how excited you were?!

Well that’s how Cai feels this morning!! Check out this big smile…


No one, Mother Nature included, can rain on her parade…though I’m fairly certain Mother Nature is going to rain on her parade.

We’ve known for about two months when 5/10 got here it was a trip to the zoo for the kindergarten classes. If we dare to forget this information, Cai was there to remind us…over and over and over and..well you get it.

Yesterday when she was saying her prayers she said “and please don’t let it rain a lot tomorrow – thanks”.. I smiled thinking back to how exciting field trips were. ESPECIALLY zoo field trips.

As I drove in to work this morning, I saw a lot of this….


I’m hoping it doesn’t affect her day! I can’t wait to see her tonite & hear all about her trip.

I hope Mother Nature doesn't rain on your parade today!

UPDATE:
Mother Nature cut the kids a break & Cadence had a blast at the zoo! Her face was painted like a cat - though you can't tell here...

and she was extremely exhausted tonite...she said 'it was my best day ever'. :)
 

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Mother's Day Concert!

Friday morning Cadence's school had Mornings w/Mom for Mother's Day.















After the morning treat with Cadence, we headed up to the book fair...did a little damage there...













Can you guess what Cai's favorite book is out of all of these?  Justin Bieber of course!

That afternoon the kindergarten classes had a Mother's Day concert. I felt super special!












After the concert, I headed back to work & Cadence finished the rest of the school day.
When she got home, she brought with her a little gift back full of goodies from her student teacher Ms. Chelsea. It was her last day, as she had now graduated & was looking for her own full time job!




















Kennedy came to stay the night w/Cai, so we had the girls outside running for most of the evening. We wanted to make sure they got all their energy out before it was time to come in & lie down! HA!
They played tag & explored the yard & then we got out the jeep. They rode it in the street...one drove, while they other chased behind them..they took turns doing this for about an hour.






















It worked & they were knocked out by 11! I was asleep minutes later...but when I woke up to Quinn jumping in our bed around midnite, Dennis was still watching tv!

Looking forward to Bry's Dedication this evening! Thanking God for my wonderful blessings!

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Mom, I am the boss of you...

The last few days of been pretty low-key & relaxing...I don't think there is anything I enjoy more than coming home from work & playing with the girls!

Monday & Tuesday Cadence had cheer evaluations...










Cadence was tired when she got home both days – I’m not sure if they really did anything different that took more energy or if she is just tired from playing outside in the fresh air.

Dennis finished his last sign language class. He’s pretty bummed OCC doesn’t offer any classes past this.




















Bryleigh & I shopped for her headware for her Dedication while Cai was at cheer & Dennis was at school.



















She is seriously so damn cute I can’t stand it! But every mommy says that about their baby!

Tuesday, while watching The Voice, I started clapping b/c Adam picked someone I liked & Cai said "Mom, don't clap at the tv." I said, (in complete adult authority) "You're not the boss of me, I can clap if I want!" Yes it's true, I'm raising two children...
Cai replied "umm..actually mom, I am the boss of you".
WTF? When did I miss that promotion? She's such a little shit! Good thing she's cute - ha!

I’m excited for tomorrow morning b/c it’s Mornings w/Mom at Cadence’s school & then there is a Mother’s Day concert as well in the afternoon! Say it with me…awwww…

Saturday is Bry’s Dedication…she’s gonna look adorable in this dress…



















Even if dress rehearsal looked like this...HA!


















Sunday is pretty much staying at home & cleaning b/c ohmygosh – my house NEEDS it!!!

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

The Voice - my new addiction!!

I HATE reality shows - HATE them...well except for Kendra. Anyway, one of the shows I really dislike is American Idol. I think the judges can be pretty negative & for the contestants really going up there to try out, that takes a lot of nerve.
Let me get off AI & move on to my new addiction...The Voice. There are 4 judges who sit in big chairs with the back to the singer. The singer (already pre-chosen & w/a good voice) sings a song. The judge has to decide of they want the singer on their team completely off of their voice. I LOVE IT. It's so fair & honest & when more than one judge turns around, the singer gets to choose which judge they go with. So the judges are brutally honest about what they like about that singer!
Tonite is a new episode - woohoo!
Right now I'm soo team Adam it's crazy. I love him & his people that he has so far..especially this guy Jeff Jenkins! He is by far my favorite of the group so far.














Oh & I do like the bald chic that is w/Christina...she rocked it!
Can't wait to see what tonite brings!

Monday, May 2, 2011

My Monday Meal - Cottage Cheese Pie



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Ingredients:


1 9" unbaked pie crust
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb. ground meat – we used turkey
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 cup ketchup
2 Tbsp. mustard (this was too much for my family – we’re not big mustard fans)
2 Tbsp. flour
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup cottage cheese
2 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese

Brown together onion, garlic, and meat. Drain any excess fat. Add pepper, ketchup, mustard, and flour to skillet and cook and stir for 3 minutes. Turn this meat mixture into the pie crust lined pan.

Beat eggs and add cottage cheese and Parmesan cheese. Pour this mixture over meat in the pie pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes, or until filling is set, crust is golden, and topping is set and starting to brown in spots.













To me it sort of tasted like lasagna. The kids didn’t really like it much,  (,ight have been the mustard?) but Dennis & I did. Anyway, we probably won’t make this one again until the kids are a little older….

We served it w/green beans, fresh salad & Italian bread.

For dessert – Éclair cake – YUM!














What is your Monday Meal?


Yep - it's True...my friends are the coolest!

I have some really great friends...wayyyy too many to list, but today I'm going to write about Andrea. 


















She is young & very kind & sweet.  She clearly gets it from her parents - who are also beyond sweet.
How cute are these shoes?



















Cadence had been BEGGING for a pair of Twinkle Toes & for her b/day Andrea not only got her a pair, but got Bry a matching pair!
Here are the girls opening their Easter gifts from Andrea :)
























Bry loved the golf clubs - she chased Cai around with them...and Cai loved the stepping stone - it took overnite to set, but she was too excited to paint it the next evening...














I don't even know how to thank her...she says she enjoys it & doesn't want anything in return...but we love getting her stuff. Cai LOVES picking things out for her - which is good b/c she has better taste then me - ha!
Thanks Andrea, for being a great friend - not just spoiling my girls w/attention & gifts, but for listening to me when I'm crying or just needing to vent!  You totally rock!

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Good Friday, Holy Saturday & Easter Sunday

"Acts 13:30-35 ESV
(30) But God raised him from the dead, (31) and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people.
(32) And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, (33) this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, “‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you.’(34) And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way, “‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’ (35) Therefore he says also in another psalm, “‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’"
Friday started with an early release from work, which was great because with all the overtime I've been working, I was exhausted! I had planned on taking the girls to an Easter event at a rehab a few miles away but honestly did not have the energy. As soon as I walked in the door, I dropped my stuff on the chest & walked into my room, laid down & fell asleep. Bryleigh was already napping, but Cadence came & got in bed with me, watching tv - but ended up asleep too!
Dennis came in & woke us up around 4. By then it was too late to hit up any of the pre-Easter events, so we had dinner & went to Shannon's so Cadence could play w/Kennedy for a little while.
They played Just Dance 2, Hide & Seek, Barbies & Tag. When it was time to go Cadence decided she wanted to stay the nite. Her first overnite away from home with someone other than family - eeekk!
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Saturday morning I was up bright & early to get ready to screen for Planned Pethood.
The beginning of the event, which happened to be the 1st outdoor event of the year, was BUSY! I could barely keep up. Once it slowed down, it was SLOW...which left me thinking...thinking about how sore my arms were getting.. Why were my arms so sore? Because they were FRIED!!! I mean FRIED! I was not expecting that...I was so sore.
When the event was over, we picked up Cadence & Kennedy & headed out to theChurch on Strayer for their annual Easter Egg Drop.
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It was a lot of fun...until I lost Cadence. I was panicked & crying, searching for her. I reported it to a sheriff working there..thankfully Denise, my wonderful photographer friend found her! Cadence was scared too...I'm still traumatized!
We headed back to Shannon's to drop Kennedy off after the drop, then headed home to color eggs.


The girls had fun coloring eggs & Cadence fell asleep faster than ever ready for the Easter Bunny to visit!
The next morning, Dennis & I had to wake the girls for them to look for their eggs...at TEN O'CLOCK! My gosh, I was always up super early for Christmas & Easter - my girls would sleep til noon if we'd let them! What kind of kids are they?! HA!
After finding the eggs, going through their baskets & starting their surgar high, we got them dressed & went to Church.

Cadence found the 1st egg of the morning!
Bryleigh loved to take 2 eggs & hit them together -
thank God they're hard boiled! ha!

Part of their baskets before they started pulling stuff out..
missing are the keys, movies & lalaloopsy!
Cadence showing dad - who is video'ing the morning..
she was too excited!

Bryleigh looking at her Tangled movie
























When we got home, we watched Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure - the movie in Cai's Easter basket.
Finally, we got ready & went to Marge's for dinner. It was a nice dinner - we stayed for a few hours visiting.

Our nephew Kasey


Emily & Cadence

Kasey & Emily





















By the time we got home it was bathtime. After their baths,the girls cuddled on the couch while I read them a story...
















Before the story was finished, Bryleigh was having an extreme meltdown so she went to bed a 1/2 hour early!
Cadence didn't want to go to bed - possibly still on a sugar high... She finally crashed around 9:45 and I followed not long after!
Dennis was watching tv when I said good-nite...he had some dvr's to catch up on!



















One of the things about holidays I love is traditions. Dennis & I would like to make our own traditions for the kids. One of the traditions I grew up with was singing Happy Birthday to Jesus. I still carry that one on with the girls. We also started another this past year of new pj's on Christmas Eve & reading Christmas books before bed.
For Easter Eve they color eggs, get baths & we talk about what Easter means. What happened on Easter & how important it is in our lives. Easter baskets always have a movie (this year it was Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure for Cai & Tangled for Bry), a little toy (car keys w/remote for B & a Lalaloopsy for Cai)...I want something more though...more meaningful & something less materialistic...

What are your family traditions?