Whatta Weekend

Whatta Weekend we are having!

My Aunt Betsy (on the right)...

and my Uncle Richie (now on the right) drove all the way from Oregon to visit us as one of the stops on their cross country road trip. It was great to see them again and also to have an Oregon license plate parked in our driveway.

They were only here for one night but they got to see Tyler play his early Saturday T-ball game. The T-ball pictures were handed out at the game. I'm guessing the photographer told all the boys to say "cheese." (Tyler is next to the coach on the left in the back row.)

(Matt caught me taking a picture of the picture and told me I should just scan it. Sorry y'all for the poor quality but it took me 1 second to snap the photo, where as, it would have taken me 20 minutes to figure out the scanner.)

Friday after school Tyler asked me to, "text Troy's Dad and see if he could come play." (Do all 5-year-olds talk like this now?!) Well of course I did and today Troy came over to play and spend the night. Once he got here the boys were off and running.

This drainage ditch has always been on our property but the kids have never once bothered with it. This whole time I've been waiting for the day to come.

And now it has. I'm wondering if I should actually forbid them to play in it (c'mon they're going to anyway) or if I should just turn a blind eye. Suggestions? Today's adventures only involved yelling into the tunnel, "is anybody in there?"
After a costume change the threesome ate their dinner outside.

Lauren could only handle a couple of hours playing with the boys before she asked if Tera could come over to play.

That's better!
(no they aren't looking at me, I just took this picture in front of the Wii game they were playing)

When I said Whatta Weekend, I meant Whatta Weekend!
Matt (who can not keep a secret) gave me my birthday present a week early.

I'm so excited! My last phone was made by Commodore Intl. in 1983 I believe.

I have a new phone number too. I updated it on my Facebook account but you can also e-mail me for the number as well. (Mom...you better comment if you want the new number! (wink))

Cute case, no?

Whatta Weekend!

What Are The Odds (part 2)

What are the odds that my handsome and manly husband goes out of town and all "H" breaks loose? Turns out they're getting better and better. Remember the last time he went out of town and my first What Are The Odds post?

Well this week isn't turning out much better. Remember those tornadoes I talked about yesterday and the ones you heard about on the news this morning? Welp, those all happened while Matt was out of town. I hunkered down alone with the kiddos in the basement and protected them by keeping one eye on the TV to the right but paying attention to the TV in the middle showing Survivor. (I also kept in touch with friends via Facebook posts on my iPad. It sort of felt like a FB slumber party.)
The storms rolled in around 10pm and I stayed up until 1am following the tornado warnings until they eventually moved on. Luckily we were spared. I heard there was a wreck a few streets away due to a car losing control in the rain but that was the extent of the damage in my area. My heart goes out to those who weren't as fortunate.

Today we woke up to a beautiful sunny and warm (but not humid) day. Both kids went to school and it looked like things were on the rise. Tyler had a T-ball game in the evening and everything was going to be just fine.

or NOT!

Lauren got off the school bus and immediately ran into the bathroom to be sick. Her tummy hurt and her head hurt. While she was vomiting she was crying because Field Day is tomorrow at her school and she did not want to miss it. Bless her heart.
I made a bed for her on the sofa like I always do when L or T are sick and turned on an episode of Ruff Ruffman (which they call Ruff Ruff Man.) After 15 minutes Lauren asked me to turn it off. She then shut her eyes and tried to sleep.

My girl was really sick...but my boy still had a t-ball game in a couple of hours and as luck would have it Matt was out of town. So I sent out an e-mail to the team asking if anyone would be able to take Tyler to the game for me. (If you know me then you know how much I love to ask for help. [SARCASM])
One of the Dads called me almost immediately and said he'd take care of Tyler. He said his family planned on eating at Chik-Fil-A after the game so he'd get Tyler dinner as well. I should reconsider my aversion to asking for help. Ask and You Shall Receive.

After I shipped Tyler off to his t-ball game I focused on Lauren again. Her temperature was up to 103. Ok, now it's time to medicate. I gave her the last serving of Children's Tylenol I had in the house. What are the odds I'd run out of medicine when Matt wasn't here to run to the store to get another bottle? Luckily, my neighbor Dana (who you all know) is a nurse and she had some to give me. Ask and You Shall Receive.

Matt comes home tomorrow and he better think long and hard about ever leaving again.
He should at least consider the LATEST Odds of Something Happening. =)

tornado watch - moderate risk

The news tells me we are under a tornado watch until 2am tomorrow morning. The radar maps show me my county has a moderate risk of severe weather. We haven't been at a moderate risk since the tornadoes ripped through downtown Atlanta in 2009. Because of this, and also my Facebook poll where I asked if we should sleep in the basement or not, I have decided we will camp out in the basement. Of course, Matt is not home so it will just be the children and I.

Don't worry. I'm sure since I have gone through so much emergency preparation today (i.e. flashlights and radios are full of fresh batteries, storm shelter is on my garden) that nothing will happen. We may not even get a drop of rain. But if we do...we're ready for it.

We're ready for it AND our bellies are full. Dinner on the Fly #2: Pizzadillas (get it: pizza + quesadilla?!)

Simple, Easy to Make, Lauren loved them and Tyler gagged because of the "soggy olives" (his words.)

shredded mozzarella, chopped pepperoni, chopped olives, sprinkle of salt

top with a another tortilla and heat on the stove-top until cheese is melted

Pizzadilla + salad + strawberries = a very tasty dinner on the fly

I had a salad (the one pictured below) with a veggie burger crumbled on top.
(These dinners on the fly aren't so hard...I'll have to do this more often.)

Currently the kiddos are all snuggled up in the basement watching a movie. I'll let them fall asleep in this bed but come later this evening this will be my bed.

They will be moved to their sleeping bags on the floor.

I better finish this post before the power/internet/phone goes out. Stay safe tonight and sleep tight.

Dinner on the Fly #1

I was on the fly for dinner but Tyler was on the fence this morning regarding which sports team he wanted to represent at school.

AZ Diamondbacks (his t-ball team) hat, Boise State shirt and Oregon Ducks shorts. As long as he dresses himself I do not question his school outfit.
At least 2 of these 3 teams are ranked in the TOP FIVE for next year!!
GO DUCKS!

Dinner on the Fly:
kid version
l/o chicken from yesterday, strawberries, carrots and sauteed onion & spinach with feta cheese

my version:
spinach & iceberg lettuce salad with hard boiled (Easter) eggs, tomatoes, sliced carrots, celery and chopped red bell peppers (no dressing necessary)

and sauteed onion & spinach with feta (I love spinach and feta) and leftover chickenLauren saw this package in the pantry and attached a personal note after she brought it out to the kitchen counter.

Guess what we'll be having for breakfast?!

P.S. Matt is out of town on business this week. (Seattle, WA & Portland, OR) I have to mention that I'm really missing him. He's an awesome husband and father (I won't go into how much the kids are missing him) but he's also an excellent after-dinner-kitchen-cleaner. So far this week I have made the dinner and also cleaned up after dinner, and hoo boy is there a lot of after dinner clean-up. So Matt, since I don't often tell you to your face, I'm telling you now over this blog; Thanks for all you do (especially the kitchen clean-up part.) Ok...now I'm off to re-scrub behind the sink...the part that accumulates water like you wouldn't believe.

P.P.S. For any of you bad guys out there reading this blog: Just because I said Matt is out of town this week, please know that he had our friend Sonny Corinthos hire some armed guards to protect the house. So don't even try it.

another one bites the dust

Lauren told me her loose tooth was really bothering her and she wanted me to pull it out. I said, "Eww, no way" but I gave it a little wiggle and since it was so loose I gave it a little yank and the thing just came right out.

Unfortunately the tooth fairy is flat broke this evening so she will have to borrow from Miss

Lauren's stash of cash. Please don't tell.

Weekly Menu 4-25-2011

This week is a pantry challenge. There is no plan, there are no recipes. I will use what I have and make due. This will truly be a challenge. I reserve the right, however, to buy fresh fruit and veggies but that is it. Wish me luck!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!

In honor of this historical event...

we dyed and decorated our Easter Eggs (Troy helped too) we enjoyed our Easter baskets and new drawing pads as well

and we enjoyed Southside Church's Easter Service at the Fred despite the grueling heat.
(did I really just complain about the heat in APRIL?!)

It was so hot we felt it was necessary to stop by Wendy's for some Frosty's after the service. The rest of the day was spent hanging out with family, playing with the neighbors and thoroughly enjoying the true meaning of Easter.

Saturday Shenanigans

I love Saturday Shenanigans. I especially love them when they involve Dave, Susan and their boys Ian and Eric.
While the children all played 'together'...

...the grown-ups got a chance to catch up. We caught up over a dinner of burgers, veggie burgers, corn on the cob, cowboy caviar (Susan will give me the recipe soon?) grilled pineapple and of course, margaritas. I'm sure the kiddos ate sometime during the evening. ;)
There was some sand play...some Kinnearing...
more specific Kinnearing info found here...
(please click on the links or the next two pictures will not make sense)

(the kinneared Susan reminds me of a character I saw in Pulp Fiction
...a Mrs. Mia Wallace perhaps?)

and an after dinner Easter Egg Hunt. time to even out the baskets Happy Easter Y'all!

Spaghetti and "Meatballs"

Dinner was easy tonight. Spaghetti and "meatballs," with garlic rolls and salad.
Don't tell Matt but the "meatballs" were actually "meatless & soy free."
Tyler helped me make the salad. He used the salad spinner to get rid of all excess water. He was such a great helper.

(He's shirtless because he complained the Punch Guy outfit was a bit tight around his waist...sniff)

Everyone ate the Spaghetti and "Meatballs" (even Matt!) Toward the end of dinner Tyler just happened to mention they were "fake meatballs" (as I had called them at the store when I thought he wasn't paying attention.) Matt was shocked...he had no idea!

!WINNING!

And I can't leave Lauren out of three posts in a row!
Check her out with post shower braids. We counted a total of 12 braids in her hair.

On the Road Again

I LOVE to Run! In a perfect world I would run every single day. However, my left knee does NOT like to run. For awhile I just ran through the pain but nothing good ever came of that. (such as: $$ to see the Orthopaedic Dr., $$ for the knee brace, $$ for the physical therapy, and $$ for whatever else) Now I prefer to exercise at the gym...4-5 days per week balancing cardio with strength training. This week, however, I was not able to make it to the gym but I had an hour or so of free time each day. Guess what I did?

I gave into those voices in my head and got back on the road again. Yesterday I ran 3.6 miles in 38 minutes and today I ran 4 miles and then walked 3 miles in 90 minutes. My knee aches mildly but I'm excited to find out that I am back in shape by taking all these classes at the YMCA. Maybe I'll be just fine if I have to retire from running all together. (wipes tear from eye)

P.S. I didn't make it to the Y today because Tyler had his Pre-School Easter Party.

the massive egg hunt

my favorite boy eating his Easter party snack

I'm not sure when I'll be 'on the road again' but it sure felt good to 'pound the pavement'.

Punch Guy

Guess who made a surprise appearance today?! [...drumroll...]

The One and Only Punch Guy outfit! I've missed him.

I'm thrilled it still fits. And yes that is General Hospital on in the background. Don't hate cuz they cancelled YOUR soap and not MINE. =)

I did a Blogger search at the top of the page for "punch guy" and it was fun to see his many appearances over the past few years. However, he first came into our lives before I even started the blog.

October 2007 and a 19 month old Tyler
All together now, "Ahhhhhhhhhh."