PaPa and MeMa

We sure love PaPa and MeMa! They were our visitors this week and we all had a great time just taking it easy and enjoying the family time.

During their visit PaPa and MeMa took over the bedtime story ritual. Lauren read most of the books but the kiddos made PaPa read a couple...just to see if he could.
Tyler made sure MeMa didn't have any cilantro or parsley stuck in her teeth during story-time.

They got to see one of Tyler's soccer games. He scored a goal (4th of the season) but he had the most fun waving to all the girls on his team.

Other trips out included lunch with Matt in Atlanta (Carvers) and dinner out at Franks. The best times, however, were just hanging out at home.

goofballs!

awwww!

Today I dropped PaPa and MeMa off to go catch their plane home. Afterwords, I headed over to Tyler's Pre-school Thanksgiving Feast. What a bunch of Cutie-Pies!
This was a great week with PaPa and MeMa and next week will be awesome as well. The kids don't have school so this tired Mama gets to sleep in!!

Happy Friday Y'all and go Boise State! (I can say this because Oregon has a Bye.)

hate to brag but my kids are AWESOME

If you know me I'm usually pretty humble and soft spoken (yes I am!) but when it involves my children I can't help but brag about their apparent superiority.

In yesterday's post, I went on and on about Tyler's great sense of humor. Remember, he found humor in the song that sounded like "eating pee." (I just love that boy!)

Well today Lauren paid her dues to this very talented family. She came home with 3 quarters in her backpack. (yes, I check her backpack pockets everyday) I asked her where she got the quarters and she said Jaylen gave them to her. I prodded and found out that Jaylen gave her the quarters in exchange for her showing him her school work. As in she lifted up her paper so he, Jaylen, fellow FIRST-GRADER could copy off her paper. She said her teacher wasn't looking. After I told her that she wasn't allowed to let anyone copy off her tests I took a percentage of her earnings and then bought her a big ice-cream cone. She's destined to do some GREAT things!! (I sure love my girl!)

Speaking of GREAT THINGS...tonight's dinner:

Pasta with Sugar Snap Peas, Feta & Basil
(adapted from this recipe)

8oz Rotini pasta
8oz sugar snap peas
1 T. olive oil
1 T. unsalted butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
zest of 1 lemon
juice of 1 lemon
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper
2 oz. crumbled feta cheese
3 T. chopped fresh basil (or 3 t. dried basil)

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the pasta, and cook according to directions. Add the peas 3 minutes before the pasta is ready. Drain.

2. In the same pot, heat the oil and butter over medium heat. Add the garlic and lemon zest, and saute 1 minute. Stir in the lemon juice, salt and pepper. Quickly add back the drained pasta and peas, tossing well to combine.

3. Add the feta and basil and stir to combine. Serve immediately.


I was anxious for a light meal and the pasta alone hit the spot but for the kids I added grapes and garlic toast.

They obviously enjoyed their meals.
Miss Lauren ate it all.

Mr. T is still working on it.

We're all waiting on Daddy to make it back home. He's been working out of town for a few days and he flies in tonight. He's in luck because his tasty dinner is waiting for him in the fridge.

The Things That Make Him Laugh

I love this boy!

(photo credit to Abby's Mom)
(I simply/obviously? took a photo of her photo.)

Tyler cracked himself up today and it's too funny not to share. My favorite little boy has such a unique and quirky sense of humor. (Now where did he get that from?!)

The giggles came on during the car ride to school. As usual we were listening to Kids Place Live on XM Radio. The following song came on:

There's a Pea on my Plate
by Bill Harley

You should really click on the link to hear the music demo and see the lyrics. But if you are like me you just won't do it so I'll copy and paste the important parts.

Anyway, the Pea on My Plate song came on and I listened to the first verse. I thought it was kind of cute and had a catchy tune so when I heard Tyler giggling in the back seat I thought he was enjoying the cuteness and catchiness right along with me.

first verse:

There's a pea on my plate that my mother put there
She knows I don't like peas but she doesn't care
She says come on try it now it's not the worst
If you want some ice cream, you must eat that pea first

After the third verse Tyler was just in stitches (aka "laughing uproariously.")

the third verse:

There's a pea on my plate that my mother put there
She knows I'm not hungry, but she doesn't care
I tell her if she makes me eat it, I'll die
She says that she's sorry to hear that, bye bye

We got to Tyler's school just as the song was ending and Tyler was still back there giggling.
I mean the song was cute and all but seriously!!?

Tyler then told me the song was about "a Mom who put pee (urine) on the boys plate and wanted him to eat it but if he did he would die."

Out of left field, no?
And that's one of the reasons why I love that boy so much.

PS. After school I showed him a real pea but I couldn't talk him out of his initial interpretation of the song. Thinking about the song made him laugh the whole day long. I may just have to buy the album now.

PPS. I hope you weren't eating while reading this post. If so, you have my apologies.

Time Change Sunday

I am beat but I still have an hour until it is time for the kiddos to go to bed. Why can't we just remain on daylight savings time all year long?

I was sneaky (or accurate?) and changed the children's clocks back last night and it worked. They stayed in their bedrooms until 7am. (They are not allowed to get up until their clocks say "seven: zero zero") My plan for an extra hour of sleep was a success.

Dinner tonight was based on Rachael Ray's recipe for Buffalo Chicken Stromboli.

I made the pizza dough in the bread machine.

While the pizza dough rests, saute 1c. chopped carrots, 1c. chopped celery & 1/4c. sliced green onions in 1T. butter &! 1T. olive oil until tender.

Add 1 1/2c. chopped cooked chicken and a scant 1/2 c. Frank's Hot Sauce.

Roll out dough into a rectangle (sort of) and add cooled Franks chicken veggie mixture.

top with 1c. monterrey jack cheese and 1/4c. chopped scallions
(also add the 4oz. blue/bleu cheese or forget to add like I did)
((I'd recommend adding the blue cheese.))

Roll up the dough starting with the long sides and tuck ends under.
Brush with egg white and then sprinkle with black sesame seeds (or whatever you want because you won't be able to taste it.)

Pop it in a 400 degree oven for 20-30 minutes and then go downstairs to the basement to check on the boys and kiddos.

Lauren and Tyler wrestle, fight and do their best to distract Daddy and Mr. Mike from watching Sunday Afternoon/Night Football. With three TVs to watch the kiddos don't stand a chance.

Finally dinner is served. Since I forgot to add the blue cheese I sprinkled it on top. (It was a little too strong I think...it would have been better added to the filling.) I also served a side of edamame in the pods.
After dinner we bathed, cleaned up and had our snack...

(yes I am aware Tyler's PJs no longer match nor fit him)

and read our bedtime stories.
Now we are just waiting for BEDTIME. This time change has really messed up my evening planning. I think I'll just go to bed early and enjoy the extra sleep until I get used to the change.

G'night Y'all.

Another Good Day to be a Duck

Matt has been rehabilitated!!
(let me know if you don't 'get it') =)

Tyler and Lauren weren't interested in the Oregon Duck game so they watched Kung Fu Panda instead.

Dinner tonight
(since you've been telling me I haven't been posting our dinners lately)
was Chicken Pasta Casserole.I did not use any of the white cheddar cheese because the recipe did not tell me where to put it. I probably saved one hundred calories or so and the taste could not have been any better.
Yumm!
(garlic sandwich thin as a side)

Don't forget to "fall back" for the time change tonight. I'm letting L and T stay up late so hopefully they'll let me enjoy my extra hour of sleep.
(fat chance but worth a shot)
More Kung Fu Panda watching below.

We're Still Here

We're still here. I have just been busy...with company...with family...with TV shows...with just being lazy and going to bed early. But since a number of you have called, e-mailed, knocked on my door to see what is up I thought it is time to post. I have a back-log of photos so I'll try to keep the commentary minimal. Today's a great day to post since Lauren has a good friend spending the night tonight (aka she's occupied and so is Tyler since he likes to "hang out.")

While the kiddos play golf in the front yard

and dance the Tooty-Ta song in the kitchen,

I will write the much anticipated (however, not very creative) over-due blog post.

Last week Grandpa Michael and Grandma Jan came to visit. You're just going to have to trust me when I say Grandma Jan visited as well because for some reason I have no pictures of her.

(well I have this one but she actually requested to be cut out of that picture)
(I think she looks great though.)

Soccer Saturday

(Lauren does this twisty thing with her bangs...I think it's the cutest thing.)

She also rough-houses with her brother...
(not the cutest thing.)

Tyler's U5 Soccer picturethe team
Coach Matt and Coach Dave
We took advantage of the lingering warm weather and walked around
Lake Peachtree.

Fall can be beautiful.We played in the rocks at the fishing dock.

The kiddos were brave and walked among the rocks.

We also passed a yard decorated as a cemetary.
Our favorite? tombstone.

Halloween!
Alice in Wonderland and Luigi

We left our spooky pumpkins on the front porch while we attended a neighbor's Halloween party.

When I say spooky...I mean moldy spooky.
It's been so warm here the pumpkins had no choice but to rot.The party down the street had a good turn-out.
the spooky kiddos
After dark we did our Trick-or-Treating
Tyler lasted about 10 minutes but Lauren went the distance.
you can tell by their "loot"
As a final Hoorah to Grandma Jan and Grandpa Michael we went out to eat at Kobe Steakhouse.
This was Lauren and Tylers first time at a (an?) Hibachi grill.

So Cool!

Tyler's excited!

I'm pretty sure Lauren is excited too!

We had a great time with G'ma and G'pa and are sad to see them go. However, next week we are expecting some more visitors. Stay tuned!!

P.ost S.cript:

I just got the proofs back from Lauren's "winter" pictures. They pretty much look the same as Lauren did when she left for school that morning. Totally Cute!!
If you're lucky I'll send you one.