This Morning...

This morning Love totally marched right into the house after dropping off all the big kids. She seemed to be on a mission. And, she was. I asked if she wanted me to turn on a Hi-5 for her. This is ritual as I check up on emails/blogs. She told me no. She went right to my bed, under it actually. And she retrieved Hope's DS. Hope did make the comment last night that she wishes that Love would play her game while she was at school so that she did not have to take so many turns while she was in the middle of doing something on her game. I had some sympathy...not much, but some. I guess Love totally took our conversation to heart. She came out and told me..." pay game -Hope at kool". That little stinker has taken out and put in all 3 of Hope's games - perfectly. And, she knows how to play them. Although her fun is about to end. I am not letting her stay on it more than 20 minutes. I just thought it was funny how she decided she would follow Hope's suggestion.

She was supposed to go back to school this morning but she just couldn't do it. She just isn't back to 100%. She will return Thursday. Her little nose is still running like a faucet. And having been a substitute I know how much teachers enjoy this. She said in the sweetest voice ever..."tay home now with mommy". You betcha I let her. But, now that I think about it...it may have been less about me and more about the game ;)

Oh, a few other things she has been saying that just get me......

When she is wanting to tell me something that means a lot she will use the words..."eva, eva, eva, eva, eva..." behind it. Like "I wuv yoo eva, eva, eva, eva, eva" :) or the other day she was really upset with Hope and she said, "no way, eva, eva, eva, eva, eva" and then put her head down with her hands covering her face. She was oh so distraught.

" 'Meer " is another. She means come here. She says it in the sweetest little voice.

She says "sah-ee" all the time. She means sorry. She knows how to use it. She is sorry for an awful lot too. If you get hurt, if she makes a poor choice, if she spills something, if you say excuse me to get by her, well, a whole lot of things.

It is so much fun watching her little brain stretch and her words to finally meet up with her thoughts. I can only imagine how much more enjoyable her life has been to not be so frustrated with us not understanding what she has been trying to tell us. Although her gestures and eyes can tell quite a story all by themselves :) Have I told you all lately how much I LOVE being home with her? Well, I do :)

Growing Up...

Everyone has been telling me lately how much Love has changed. To be honest, I don't really see it. Until I look back at her a year ago. I don't have many photos from a year ago on this computer...'member it crashed? But this one in particular reminds me of just how much of a baby she was.

February 2009
February 2010...how 'bout that hat?

Speaking of growing up...there is my little guy - Hunter. Well, technically he isn't so little, he towers over me nowadays. He was going fishing with Grumpy yesterday and while he was headed to the shower he said this to me:

"Mom, will you put on a pot of coffee for me?"

I don't know if it is just me but it cracked me up. I would have expected hot chocolate or even tea but not coffee. He drinks it off and on when we have our nightly pot but it just struck me as odd. Not that I didn't like it. It just made me think he really is growing up and he isn't always going to be here. Even though he will always be my little man he is making more grown up choices...even in his hot beverages. Today a pot of coffee tomorrow the car keys...seriously, he could start anytime now driving. He just has to go take his test for his permit. Can't even go there...too hormonal, I'm not too proud to admit it.

Does anyone else wonder why Hope may have wanted her jeans packed into her cowboy boots now? I think I have more insight after this ;)

I may have gotten the corniest mom award yesterday for taking these photos. I was hoping to have fish pictures to back these up. Alas, fish were not in the cards for them yesterday. Maybe next time big guy.

*ps Thanks for dealing with the continual blog changes. Hopefully I will find one that fits soon. It is like a new shade of lipstick...you have to wear it a few days to know if it is a keeper.

A Western Kind of Day

Today was Kindergarten 'Round Up' at Hope's school. She loves, loves, loves boots - of any kind. She has wanted her own cowboy boots for a while now. And since she had some money from Christmas she decided she might like to buy her own real cowboy boots. Which the girl did, last night. And they look just precious on her :) She is something else too - wore her Daddy's hat, a bandanna, her boots and she had to have her jeans packed in to her boots so everyone could really see 'em. And they are mighty fancy.

Our little cowgirl...although she corrected me several times. She is NOT a cowgirl - she is a CowBOY ;)
Is she too much or what? !

Here's the close up. Big Daddy even mink oiled 'em with the rain and all.

Well, there you have it. Hope doing "western" up right ;) She and I were talking this morning about being a cowboy when she grows up. First, she wants to be a doctor, then after that a police man -maybe one in the army, and then she wants to really be a cowboy. But, not a mom...that's boring. Ha!

A Couple of Recipes...

7 Layer Mexican Dip and Easy Chicken Parmesan

I have had success with a dip that I generally bring to parties. I have seen it several different ways but these are my favorite ingredients. A few have asked for it since the New Year's Eve party so I thought I would just share it here.


*photo courtesy of johnstonevinblanc...mine is actually a prettier presentation :)

7 Layer Mexican Dip

I will tell you my portions but if you like your layers thinner you can adjust the amounts.

can of refried beans (lg can or two regular)

container of guacamole or avocado dip(around 12 oz.)

container of sour cream (around 12 oz.)

packet of taco seasoning(whole packet)

shredded cheese(about a standard package)

chopped tomatoes(about 3 medium)

black olives(a small can sliced or chopped)

• You spread the refried beans in a 13X9 dish as the bottom layer.
• Then you layer your guacamole/avocado dip.
• Then your sour cream layer.
• Next sprinkle your taco seasoning.
• Then generously use your shredded cheese.
• Followed by tomatoes
• And then top with black olives.

Add some tortilla chips or Frito's...delicious! You can delete or add any number of ingredients here. I have seen lettuce, green onions, cheese sauce, and hot sauce all used in this recipe. It is all up to what your family or friends enjoy.

Now for this chicken Parmesan recipe. It was so good my entire family ate it all and said yes to a remake. For all 6 of us to be in agreement...well, that is a pretty big deal. This is super simple and so much cheaper than an Italian restaurant.

*photo courtesy of foodnetwork

Chicken Parmesan
Again, I will use my amounts but you can adjust any of these.

• 4 large bl/sl chicken breast (butterfly-cut into two fillets-pound)
• 1 2lb + spaghetti sauce (we prefer Ragu chunky tomato, garlic & onion)
• milk
• 2 cups Italian bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1/2 cup Parmesan
• 1/4 cup olive oil (takes me more when I change the oil in between)
• shredded mozzarella (a standard package)

• Combine the flour, bread crumbs, and Parmesan.
• Dip the chicken breast into the dry mixture, then drag through milk quickly and redip into the dry mixture.
• Fry the breast in olive oil for 2.5 minutes per side. I used a cookie cooling trey to let them drain over paper towels to remain crispy.
• In a 9X13 pan spread a little bit of the spaghetti sauce.
• Place chicken breast on top of layer, then pour the remainder of sauce over the top of breast.
• I then took the shredded mozzarella and placed generously over each breast but didn't waste it in the empty spaces.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until bubbly.

I used 4 huge breast which made 8 nice sized pounded breast. It took me two 13X9 pans but after lunch the next day none was left :) If you like a less sweet spaghetti sauce use your favorite. I also changed my olive oil if the left over dry mixture started turning dark. I don't like that burnt taste that happens when the dry mixture left in the olive oil sticks to the fresh pieces.

Angie, any chances on you sharing your schnitzel recipe?

Better yet, if you have an easy recipe that doesn't cost a fortune how bout you share it, either in a comment here or leave a comment telling me you have posted it on your blog...Jan, Julie, Mom, Bambi...anyone???

Work...

With Love overcoming an illness we had to find interesting alternatives to exploring the outdoors for fun. So I asked her if she would like to go to "work". She of course thought it sounded like a big deal. I got her a desk (coffee table), a chair, her apple juice in a coffee cup, a pair of scissors and all my unwanted coupon sheets.

She was going to be my most official coupon cutter outer...fancy title, huh? :) She stayed pretty well occupied for almost 45 minutes. Working hard and brushing up on her scissor skills all the while. Her best benefit was her relaxed dress code...does anyone else have trouble keeping clothes on their kid?

Her shoes and socks generally come off with in seconds of getting in the car or house and she sheds the rest the minute she walks in the house. Thank goodness she likes wearing her big girl panties or we might have some issues.

How do you like that fancy application of make up? She was writing on her eraser board and decided it would be fun use it as make up. Thankfully I was sitting right there or we might have had a full blown green eyelid - ick! Now instead she has a lovely green "beauty mark". How 'bout that concentration?

Let's Talk About Ba-sket-ball!

Hope started her very first season of basketball recently. She has had such a blast playing. We figured basketball, like soccer; is right up her alley. You can still run up and down the court/field even if you are not actually in possession of the ball. Which works really well for our hyped up kiddo.

She had a bit of a slow start her first game, trying to figure it out. She missed her second one due to illness. Her third game...well, folks, things clicked :) She stole that ball, guarded her girls, and dribbled like a mad woman...she even scored her first basket in a game :) So proud! She gets just excited if she scores or her teammates with a big jump and both fists up in the air. Too cute ;)
This is the first team where everyone has an height advantage over her. She and one other girl are in Kindergarten, the rest of her team is in first grade. She still will try and rebound with the tallest of them. Unfortunately, most of the time, the tallest gets the ball first.

This here is some serious guarding, on both teams...and only in Kindergarten.

Uh-hum...yep, she totally just stole that ball :)

Not afraid to rebound...even if it is directly under the basket.

And, nope, this chick did not get that ball from her. This was Hope steal right before she....

totally drove it down and SCORED!!

Another steal for Hope...the referee had to inform her not to touch the opponents hand while stealing. This gave the poor little girl on the other team a chance too.

This league is unlike a lot of them. There is no score. Hope was totally checking that scoreboard each time to look for the points to change. At this age they just play for fun and to learn. With Upwards it is Christ centered...so she also has a devotional each practice and a scripture to memorize each week. It is a pretty awesome ministry that reaches all types of people who may or may not know about Jesus.

Cool story about the director. He was in college for sports medicine. He wanted to be a coach. Then the Lord called him into the ministry. Instead of dumping his two years invested in this direction...the Lord opened up a door for him to become a recreational pastor...really, how cool is that? God is just that good folks :)

Sick and Tired and Sick Some More...

What a week!

We sent Hope back to school Monday and she is still hacking today. Little Love has been just about the sickest I have ever seen her. Hope must have passed the torch because almost instantaneously Love took over - plus 200%. Bless her heart. I think we have begun to turn the corner but still it just stinks. Her eyes are just the saddest little things ever. Poor Baby. We have been through so many medicines that she will never look at the medicine cup or dropper the same. Why do they all have to taste so insanely foul? I mean like once they are available in generic they turn from extremely palatable to incredibly disgusting...

On the up side of things Love appears to be fully potty trained...yea! We thought we had this mastered about a year ago and after a big regression after moving here the pedi. told me to back off for a while. She has been in panties 24/7 ever since Sunday...and no accidents since then either :) Such a big girl...even sick as a dog.

Speaking of dogs...Blue had her "female" surgery on Friday and they fixed her umbilical hernia at the same time. She is plum miserable but she is the dog I always wanted. Calm, sweet, and loving...even though she has been high as a kite. I know it will all wear off soon enough but for now can I go on the record saying she'd be perfect if she were an addict? Is that wrong? Oh, it is isn't it?

Here is my Love day by day...poor sweet child.

Poor thing would ask for her bowl and fell asleep with it tightly gripped on several occasions :(

See the eyes...I told you
She could not breathe at all so she would walk around with her little dry mouth hanging open.
She was comforted by big sister...I love how Faith is holding her sweet little hand.

Sad little face.

Still the sweetest thing...as much as I have hated her being so sick and feeling so miserable I have truly loved having her snuggled up with me all most non stop for the past week. Last night was her first full night of sleep since Saturday. She and I were both due a good sleep. If only she'd eat she may regain her usual pep.

My computer has been jacked up. I don't what I did or didn't do but I couldn't access anything. So soon I will have pics of Hope's basketball games. So much fun!!