THE HAYS CREW

Words of Wisdom

2012-01-21T09:34:00.001-06:00

I am standing in my classroom surrounded by....well, children who have been cooped up and are just a little crazy.

I am standing, staring out the window. I am thinking how amazing it looks outside. The sky is a gorgeous shade of blue....the sun is boldly out and the light reflecting off of unused play equipment is mesmerizing....the trees are swaying in unison.

A little boy slides in beside me....cuz this is what little boys who have been cooped up do...they can no longer walk anywhere, they must slide.....

3GB: Mrs. Hays, it looks real pretty outside.
Me: Yep. It does.

Moment of silence....just a moment....cuz little boys who slide everywhere only have a moment of silence.....

3GB: Just by looking, you would think it was a beautiful day outside. Instead its a cold and nasty day.
Me: Yep.
3GB: That's why you don't judge things by how they look on the outside, right, Mrs. Hays?

Wise words. Just sayin'.

Truth Is

2012-01-02T20:12:00.000-06:00

The truth is....I hate it when middle schoolers play this game on FB, but I am going to play it here. Just for today. But tell any of my middle school friends and I will deny it to my death.

The truth is....I hate winter. Right now there are 69 days until daylight savings time. Which means we are that much closer to me wearing shoes that do not require socks. And not feeling like I should go to bed at 5:30.

The truth is.....I took off my toenail polish under protest on December 3, 2011. That is when I know it is winter. When I take it off for the final time of the season. My toes, well, they just look so naked now.

The truth is....I hate drama. This girl has got it right. This post is impressive. Now if we would take what she says to heart, we would all be in a better place. We're friends here girls, we need to take care of each other.

The truth is.....I have a very good friend who is hurting. Again. There are just some things I don't understand and I suppose I am not meant to understand. But is sure sucks all the same.

The truth is....I really like to sew. I am getting better at it and think that I can make it something I do in 2012.

The truth is....I could play word games til I throw up words. I recently discovered this app called 'Words With Friends' and have limited myself to 4 games at one time. Any more than that might be overkill, but I must confess that while I am waiting for others to play, I play Bookworm or Woooords.

The truth is....baking cookies is a coping mechanism for me. And sharing them with others is my way of giving back.

The truth is....writing is something I enjoy and I am planning to do more of it. If my writing offends you, stop reading. If my writing helps you, great.

Just sayin'.

One Day at a Time

2012-01-01T15:40:00.001-06:00

2012.

Lots of things to look forward to in 2012.

My 45th birthday.

2 more high school graduates.

30 years out of high school for Coach.

1 college graduation.

Yep. Suffice it to say that we are in for some change at The Hays Crew.

We have already started down the road of 'this is the last time.....' and already had a bunch of first lasts or last firsts.

And really, I am OK. Some days I am at the holy smokes where did the time go and some days I am at the holy smokes when will this end, but at the end of the day here is what I know:

Each and every day is a gift. Each day that I get to see my kids go off into the world and make their way, I am thankful. Each day that has happy moments followed by sad moments followed by Ahh Haaa moments followed by frustrated moments, is a day that I am thankful. This is how it is supposed to be. I don't 'own' these people--they were simply gifted to me on the day they were born. God has a plan for them. May they be open to His plans for them and always, always, always....be who they are.

The readings at Sunday Mass this week were from Numbers. Words that stuck with me......

"The Lord bless you and keep you!

The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!

The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!"

--Numbers 6;24-26

May the peace of the Lord be with you today and always. And with me. I think I'm gonna need it.

Just sayin'.

Been Busy

2011-10-11T17:18:00.003-05:00

I know I always have some excuse for not blogging. I want to and I am well aware of what is said about good intentions. And yep. I know where I am going.

I write and write in my head but can't seem to find the time to actually put the words in print. Someday. It. Will. Happen. And then watch out.

_______________________________

A couple of funny stories.......

We are writing fractured tales in my classroom. Pretty funny stuff. I sent a third grade boy to get his printed story from the copy machine. He returned empty handed......

3GB: (arms waving and big brown eyes even bigger) Thatvendingmachinedidn'tgivememypapers!

Me: (knowing better but not able to stop myself) What?

3GB: (this time more loudly and arms waving and big brown eyes even bigger) Thatvendingmachinedidn'tgivememypapers!!!!!

Me: WHAt?

3GB: THATVENDINGMACHINEDIDN'TGIVEMEMYPAPERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I knew better and but asked a third time. He then repeated himself very s-l-o-w-l-y and a little louder.

I had him come with me to the copy machine. In route, I explained to him that a copy machine gives us copies and a vending machine is something we put money in and choose pop, chips or candy bars. He looked at me and said, "Yeah, that vending machine won't give me my copies!"

Never mind.

_____________________________

We had a couple of crabby days last week. Teacher included. One day I commented, "I believe I have worn my crabby pants to school today, boys and girls!" To which a little person said, "Nope. They look brown to me!"

Laughter can cure crabby pants. Who knew?

_____________________________

I have been trying for a couple of years to wear some accessories each day with my school uniform of a solid color shirt, solid color pants and denim jacket (I currently have 5--all a little different, but denim all the same). So, I have been buying necklaces and earrings on a fairly regular basis. $7 is my limit, though.

I receive many compliments daily on my necklaces, earrings, hair, clothes, etc. I totally have fashionistas in my class this year.

When a third grade girl complimented my necklace, I smiled, said, "THANK YOU!" To which she replied, "Yeah, my grandma has one just like it!"

And I am done wearing that necklace. Just sayin'.

Lunch

2011-09-28T13:48:00.000-05:00

The lunch of champion third grade teachers everywhere:

And yes. That is full sugar Dr. Pepper. Only the best for me. Just sayin'.

Cucumber Salad or Dip

2011-09-04T05:30:00.000-05:00

Super easy salad or dip for crackers, sturdy chips or a spoon.....

3 cukes, peeled and diced bite sized, 1 can of undrained rotel tomatoes, and a package of dry ranch dip. Mix. Chill. Eat.

It does get pretty juicy but we just added more cukes to the juice.

Super easy. Super good. Just sayin'.

Things I Like....a Lot

2011-09-01T05:30:00.000-05:00

As we approach the end of the second full week of school and the start of the fall sports season, marching band season and Labor Day weekend, I have just a few 'likes'......

1. Nothing fills my heart like the sound of laughter from teenagers. Especially when that laughter is from siblings who really do love each other. Or from the basement when friends are over.

2. Little girls who quietly approach me and let me know they like my skirt of the day as they hug me with all the strength a third grade girl can muster.

3. Emails from moms whose hearts are filled with thanks because third grade boys are excited about the day at school. I actually had tears as I wrote this....again.

4. Friends who are taking care of my big kids on a daily basis. Even Big Bad Seniors need someone to step up and show them they care.

5. Sunday mornings.

6. Future Pharmacists....Future Dental Hygienists.....And my favorite...Future Teacher. Girls I have watched grow into beautiful young women...inside and out. Be who you are today and always.

7. Being at Mass as one of my favorite young men serves Mass with his middle school sister.

8. Finding the joy in today. Just today. Just sayin'.

Seasoned Potatoes

2011-08-31T05:30:00.001-05:00

So one of my favorite children doesn't really like potatoes. How she can even live is beyond me! Warm starch with melted dairy is my food group of choice.....and the size of my butt is proof positive.

A couple of years ago out of desperation I created this recipe: Seasoned Potatoes. It's not hard, it's pretty cheap and everybody at my house will eat it.

Here's what you need: potatoes--scrubbed clean and diced, seasoned salt, and a stick of butter. I use a 9 x 13 glass baking dish to cook them in. I suppose you could use a cookie sheet, but I haven't ever done it that way.

So I dice the potatoes into the dish, sprinkle copious amounts of seasoned salt onto the potatoes and mix. Then, depending on how many potatoes I have used, I cut a half stick of butter or a whole stick of butter into little pats. They're cute lil pats o' butter.

I then place the pats of butter on the top of the potatoes and cover the dish with foil. Bake at 350 for 30ish minutes and remove the foil. Then bake another 30ish minutes until potatoes are done. Or you can leave the foil on for the whole time. That's what I did Saturday night while we were at Mass--I put them in before we left and when we returned home 80 minutes later, I removed the foil, while were grilling burgers. I usually save the foil so when I take them out of the oven, I can recover them and let them sit for a bit.

I may have used a little too much butter on this one....as if there is such a thing as too much butter....

This is a crowd pleaser...just sayin'.

Firecracker Chicken

2011-08-28T09:44:00.000-05:00

Two Sundays in a row we have had this chicken. It's actually an adapted recipe. It originally called for shrimp but since shrimp isn't a favorite of several members of The Hays Crew, I subbed in chicken. It's really probably better with chicken and it's sure as heck easier.

Here's what we do: In a big baggie, place chicken pieces. I use that frozen bag chicken of chicken breast tenderloins. I only use about 10 pieces, maybe. Like I only eat one and so does Frack. So sometimes I only use 8 tenderloins. They are good as leftovers on a little sandwich.

Add 1/2 cup of peach jam, 1 tsp of canola oil, 1 tsp of soy sauce and 1/2 tsp of red pepper flakes to the baggie of chicken. Let set 15 minutes or longer. If you are letting it set longer than 15 minutes, be sure to refrigerate. I don't want anyone to get sick from bacteria.

Meanwhile, kiss up to your favorite grill master. And stir up another batch of the peach jam mixture to brush on while the chicken is grilling. This is a quick grill--like maybe 15 minutes.

And then it looks like this only better because this pictures stinks eggs because my dining room is red and the lighting is terrible and I can never remember to take a picture before I put stuff on the table:

This is a really nice way to fix chicken on the grill. Quick and easy.....especially if you get your favorite grill master to grill it for you. Just sayin'.

And So It Begins

2011-08-26T08:45:00.000-05:00

Volleyball Seniors 2012.......

Last Orange and Black scrimmage tonight.
First game on Tuesday.

And so it begins. Just sayin'.

Things I Like

2011-08-18T07:02:00.000-05:00

Remember last week I did a little Things I Dislike Greatly post? This week, a lil' happiness.....

1. Friends who are going to be first time Grandma's. And second time, and third.......I love how my friends are so excited about the world when they are about to become Grandma's.

2. One time my grandma told us that the next time she got a man he would need to make coffee for her every morning. Well, Grandma, I have that man. I am so spoiled by him because he makes sure that coffee is ready each and every day when I rise and shine.

3. The truth. Is it really that difficult? I don't care who you are, it is never wrong to do the right thing.

4. The first day of school. There is simply nothing like it....it is an undescribeable feeling.

Just sayin'.

HP

2011-08-17T06:55:00.001-05:00

Volume 40?

Wow! 40 is a lot!

Unless we're talking years and then its a little. ahem.

1. Using what's in your frig right now what sort of meal would you be able to make for guests who are knocking at the front door this very minute?

I have homemade refried beans in my freezer that I can make into a tasty bean dip by adding taco spice then topping with sour cream and shredded cheese. Warm it while I am throwing together cheese quesadillas and prestochango! I have a meal.

2. What is something about yourself that you hope will change but that probably never will?
I am ever so thankful that my people got in the big butt line and not the big boob line. I will never have a not big butt.

3. What's something about yourself that you hope will never change?
The ability to make others laugh.

4. Do you usually send serious or funny greeting cards? Why?
Funny. Laughter is great medicine.

5. Bird watching, shell gathering, or star gazing- your choice for whiling away the hours?
Star gazing.

6. Do you double or triple check things? If so, what?
Yep. My zipper.

7. What's your favorite place for people watching?
Anyplace where there are people.

8. Insert your own random thought here.
Everybody has baggage. And it ain't all pretty. Just sayin'.

My Current Read

2011-08-16T06:52:00.000-05:00

I finished One Summer by David Baldacci. Fairly good read. A little predictable, very well written and a overall I good read. I passed it on to a friend so we will find out what she thinks. I have to say that it was a very fast read. I finished in one day. And I still managed to get my chores done.

I have moved on to this book:

I am the first to check it out at the library. I like it when that happens! Nothing like being the first to read a book.....

Anyway, the title pretty fits how the book is going. It's a little too real. And it's a little dark and scary. African Muslim pirates hijack a private yacht owned by the main character, Hazel Bannock, whose teenage daughter was aboard the yacht at the time. They kill off crew members, but of course, kidnap the daughter. She enlists in the help of a man named Hector Cross (cool name--Hector) to help her when she gets nowhere with the American government.

So far, I like it. I was a little nervous because about 45ish pages in there was already 'steamy' scenes, but that seems to have subsided. Thank goodness. I get enough of those steamy scenes in real life, I don't need to read them.

When a good friend was talking to me about One Summer, I was telling her about Those in Peril being my next read. I told her how I thought this was going to be a little deeper read and she said I should stop reading because the title sounded like it was going to be way too deep and scary. I should opt for something lighter and much more fun.

I won't finish this book in a few days. With 400 pages, school starting, 2 a day volleyball practices, volleyball breakfasts, house painting (yep, it's actually happening!), marching band and trying to figure out what to wear, not much reading is happening.

Just sayin'.

Jam 2011

2011-08-15T06:44:00.000-05:00

This year we were able to make a trip to the Lake of the Ozarks.

It was a quick trip but it was a very relaxing 4 days. It's amazing how much easier it is to roll when your kids get older and can manage their own stuff AND it's amazing how much harder it is when you realize your kids are big and can manage their own stuff.

Yikes!

Most years when we have traveled to the Lake, we have timed it just right for Missouri peaches. They are the best peaches I have ever had in my life. Hands down. They are perfectly shaped and the flavor is incredible. One time on our way home, we stopped at the store to pick some up to have at home an discovered that we could buy them in a lug. Thus, became the tradition of purchasing peaches before we left.

Last year we didn't go to the lake. Bummer--no peaches.

This year we purchased 2 lugs for a total of 76 pounds of peaches. We stopped in KC and left some for my in-laws, my sister-in-law and 2 brother-in-laws. When we got home we shared with some friends, ate quite a few, had one peach crisp and one peach pie.

The rest I made into this:

Peach jam. Total sugar fest. And worth it. I made 28 pints of it. It is most delicious on, oh about everything from toast to waffles to chicken. This is our current favorite snack:

If you haven't ever tried this kind of bread:

Try it.

And I have been working on this post since Saturday. Just sayin'.

My Current Read

2011-08-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

This is my current read......

He usually writes stuff that I can't follow. I want to follow, but it's just too tangled up. So when I found this at the library, I almost left it at the library.

I probably should have left it. I only have a gajillion things to do and all I want to do is read. I am about 1/4 of the way done and its a sad book. I have only cried twice. Maybe thrice. But here's why.....the main character has an illness that the doctors gave him 6-8 months to live and his wife is killed on Christmas Eve going out to get his pain meds. See?

I'll let you know how it turns out. I am a sucker for happy endings. Just sayin'.

Things I Dislike Greatly

2011-08-11T08:53:00.001-05:00

Or hate. But I have been chastised by a little friend of mine who pointed out that 'hate is such a strong, harsh statement. Surely you mean you dislike it greatly'. Yep. That's what I meant to say.

Anyway, I took this idea from here. She rocks. And someday I am going to meet her in person, hug her and tell her to her face that she makes my day everyday.

1. Drama. Social media allows us to live our lives out loud. But seriously. I don't need to know everyone you dislike greatly. Or that you are with your 50 year old besties for adult beverages. Or on and on and on. When I post on FB, I really think about it.....400ish people are about the see this....do they really want to?

2. Control Freaks. Ironic coming from one, eh? Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop trying to control every situation at every turn. My plans are not God's plans. God's plans are. the. bomb. Let Him be the control freak.

3. Stale chips. How does this even happen? Chips are meant to be eaten in one setting.

4. Soap slivers. What can I say? I just like a full bar of soap. When the soap gets down to a sliver, I pitch it and get a new bar. There. I confessed.

5. People who automatically assume that I am a mess because my youngest children are heading into their senior year and will graduate in May and head off to college next year at this time. Yes, it's scary. And yes, it's time. I am excited for them. They are meant to grow up. They are NOT meant to live with me forever. Really. REALLY. I mean really. Coach and I are dying to have sex on the counters and we can't do that if our children are home. Just sayin'.

HP

2011-08-10T08:36:00.000-05:00

1. If you could work for any one government agency which would you choose and why?
National Parks as in a park ranger. Wouldn't that be a gorgeous job to wake up to every day? Think of it......The Badlands, The Everglades, Yellowstone or Yosemite.

2. How difficult is it for you to forgive someone who refuses to apologize?

I have no trouble with it. Their problem. Their deal. Admittedly, I am a big talker. It bites when I think that someone should apologize and it doesn't happen. For me, it goes with forgiveness, which is my sin of choice. I struggle so with forgiveness. It is so hard for me to forgive. And I offer it up and offer it up and for some reason I keep taking it back. It so hard for me to release it and let it go. Especially if it involves people close to me. People who I feel I have been wronged by, no big deal. People who have wronged those closest to me, extremely hard to forgive.

3. What is your favorite meatless supper?

Grilled cheese sandwiches. It is also my default meal. When I don't know what else to have, I default to a grilled cheese sandwich. Warm starch with melted dairy is my favorite food group.

4. Wednesday August 10th is National Lazy Day...will you be celebrating? If so, tell us how so we can be lazy too.

Probably not. School starts in less than a week and I have just under a gajillion things that I think need to be done.

5. As a child did you have any special back to school traditions and if so, what were they? If you're a parent did you carry on those traditions with your own children?

I did not. I think my mom was just glad school started again and my very naughty brother would something to keep him out of trouble. I was the kid who counted the days down to the first day of school as soon as school was out. I LOVED school.

For my children, I have taken a first day of school picture on the front porch. And I laugh at my kids when they look through the pictures and laugh at smaller versions of themselves.

6. Write a summer tongue twister.

Can't. Do. It. Have brain block.

7. Would you be interested in observing a surgery or do you turn away when the nurse brings out the needle?

Oh soooooooooooo not watching any kind of surgery. I don't even pretend that I could do body fluids of any kind. Hence, the reason I teach third grade.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Be who you are.

Just sayin'

Random Thoughts

2011-08-08T16:49:00.001-05:00

Random thought......

.....Why do we keep watching reality trash tv when we know it's wrong? And stupid? And a giant waste of time? I sat today and watched 15 minutes of this crazy MTV show called, "Silent Library". My oldest child is currently addicted to watching "Hillbilly Handfishing". And her sister discovered that Netflix had all the seasons of "Jersey Shore" and watched them ALL. We won't even go with how much time my son spent watching "Shark Week" last week.

And no. Friday Night Lights all 5 seasons on Netflix do not count as trash tv. That's good stuff, right there. Just sayin'.

Cookies, Green Beans and Tulle. Oh, and a Flat Tire.

2011-06-25T10:36:00.001-05:00

Two weeks ago, at this time, I was knee deep in cookies. And tulle. And green beans. And bacon and butter. I always think too late to say no to people and then I don't take my camera (gasp) and forget to take pictures of the really awesome decor I created. Or the mounds of food that I cooked and then served. Man, I am getting old.

My good friend asked me months ago if I would help with the food for her daughters wedding. Of course. At the time it was to make cheesy potatoes for 400. 400 people. That's right. 400. I have done it for 250, but 400? Never. And turns out, I still haven't made cheesy potatoes for 400. They went with the caterers suggestion of new potatoes. Praise God. I was a nervous wreck over how to make, deliver and serve cheesy potatoes for 400 at an outdoor venue. So I only needed green beans for 400. And cookies.

At 11:45 p.m., the night before the wedding I get a call. Answer it? Pretend I am not driving home from the big city after a mini shopping spree with my girls? Pretend I didn't get the call? Yeah. I answered it. Could I help put up tulle at 8 a.m.? Certainly! Ever tried to tell a distressed bride's mother NO? Me neither. So after arriving home and rolling into bed at 1:30, I drug my fat butt up to the wedding venue and hung up tulle, staple gunned a few decorations, set up heavy ass tables and did general clean up.

I must say that it was a beautiful outdoor reception.

The problem became the 18 LARGE cans of green beans that need to be opened and dumped into roasters, seasoned, cooked and delivered to the wedding reception venue. Coach calls me and takes directions. Coach calls me and turns out 9 cans of green beans won't fit in a roaster like I thought they would. Only about 6 cans fit in a roaster. Finish up at wedding venue, drive to Gibson's (greatest store ever) and buy a roaster. We are now the proud owners of our own roaster. I race home, wash it, dump in green beans and begin the hauling to the wedding reception process.

3 roasters of green beans. Very full roasters. Sloshing all over the back of my Yukon. Oh well. As we start to haul the green beans into the wedding venue and plug them in, we realize that we have an issue. Roasters pull a lot of juice. We were throwing the breaker at home like crazy and guess what? Same thing at the wedding venue. By this time, the wedding venue owner, Tiff, is flustered, Coach is flustered, Tiff's brother-in-law is flustered and I am thinking that the only way this is going to work is to drink tequila. Straight. From. The. Bottle. Have I mentioned that I am 44 years old and I have NEVER tasted tequila in my life?

Tiff calls her husband and we run extension cords (orange ones--totally legal extension cords) to different outlets and problem solved. Sort of.

It's 1:45. Drive home and step into shower for to shower for a 2:30 wedding. Send Frack to church to save seats for the 3 of us. Have I mentioned that Frick was the photographers assistant and College Girl was in Wichita for the first of 3 weddings she attended that day?

Leave for church at 2:20ish Arrive at church at 2:25ish. (Yes, I am low maintenance. I can be ready and look GOOD in a matter of minutes. Just ask Coach.) As I pull into the backside of church, I notice that the Toyota looks like it is sitting at an odd angle. Sure enough. Flat tire. This is the vehicle that Coach and Frack are planning to take to the other wedding we needed to be at at 4:00. Coach waits outside. I walk to the front of the very long line waiting to be seated at church and go inside like I own the place. Go up to the choir loft, get keys from Frack and head back out to Coach. Give him keys. Go back into church and sit down. Coach comes in sometime later, the tire is changed and all is well. If you believe that, then I have a bridge to sell you.

Coach and Frack leave on the heels of the bride and groom for the next wedding. I wait a little while and then head up to meet the caterer with the rest of the meal. I get into the Toyota, start it up and guess what? I have no idea how he thought that vehicle was going to make a 60 mile round trip with the. low. fuel. light. on. I wasn't completely sure I was going to make it across town.

All was well. Dinner and reception was lovely. Bride and Groom were lovely. Drunk people? Eh.

But the Cookies.

On Friday, I made 15 dozen cookies for the wedding. Which is no big deal. Seriously, people. I lovelovelove to make cookies. And personally, I believe that I rock at making cookies.

I made 18 dozen snickerdoodles.

10 dozen for the wedding, 3 dozen for us to eat and 5 dozen for the freezer. Ever have a frozen snickerdoodle?

And I made Amish Sugar Cookies (no pictures--sorry). First batch made 6 dozenish. I had a partner for my cookie making--she was making chocolate chip and chocolate crinkle. We had discussed how many to make. We just weren't sure how many.

So I decided, I didn't have enough sugar cookies. So I started another batch. Mix up dough. I think this just doesn't look right. I go thru the ingredient list. 1 cup of softened butter--check. 1 cup of vegetable oil--check. 1 cup of sugar--check. 1 cup of powdered sugar--check. 2 eggs--check. Vanilla0--check. 4 and 1/2 cups of flour--not so check. When I have added all the flour, I think that the dough doesn't look quite right. I panic and think that I haven't added all the flour. Which is strange because I measure my flour into a separate bowl and add it a little at a time. I decided to add another 1/2 cup. Still not quite right. Added another 1/2 cup. Seems all good.

Not so good. Turns out I did not need additional flour. What I needed was to stop baking cookies because I was tired.

Because I have baked. 15. freaking. doorstops. Suckers would have broken a set of dentures in two had anyone tried to eat them.

End of cookie baking. I scooped them off the cookie sheet into the trash and dumped the rest of the dough on top of them, got into the Yukon and went to the Big City for a mini shopping spree and all was well.

Just sayin'.

Cookies

2011-06-10T08:44:00.000-05:00

Today I am honored to be making cookies for a very special wedding.

Will post pics later in the day.

After coffee, more coffee and more coffee.

And 20 dozen cookies. Just sayin'.

And It's Monday

2011-06-06T10:19:00.000-05:00

I am never quite sure how I feel about Monday. Sunday nights are one of my favorite times of the week. Lots of people complain about Mondays. Lots of people think Mondays are bad days. I often hear things like, "It was a Monday!" What does that really mean? It's not Mondays fault.

So I am thinking that for today.......

Enjoy the day for what it is......just today.

Speaking of enjoying the day.....Frick and Frack turned 17 last month. We have very much enjoyed the days with these goofballs. They have brought so much joy into the world and I am very thankful for them. Even when I am not thankful (like when words are sharp and rooms are filthy dirty), I know that I am a better person for having them in my world.

At CCCHS Graduation 2011....they were chosen to be the procession leaders. I wish I had a picture of them leading the procession, but, alas I do not. Long story. For a soapbox blogging day.

Frack wanted zebra cakes for her birthday cake. We're talking a buck fifty-nine--and five minutes time--gotta love that girl!

Lime chiffon dessert or Frick. He's always thinking....nobody else really likes this concoction so he gets it to himself. Teenage boys are always thinking about how much they can eat.

Let summer begin...one day at a time. Just sayin'.

Starting Back Slowly

2011-05-01T09:12:00.000-05:00

So I am going to start back to blogging.....slowly. My goal is to post on Saturday and then add another day and then and then. Unfortunately, good intentions paved the road to hell so we'll see where I end up.

Two weeks ago, Frick and Frack attended Prom 2011. It was a beautiful day and we had a really nice event. Read that as stress free if you want. My son is the class president so that makes us the prom planning committee. And because he has a twin sister and they needed another officer--they drafted her. It really was a lot of fun.

Frick and his date. They looked very cute together. It was kind of hard to find many pictures of him. He seems to take a lot of pics but isn't in very many.

Frack and her date. They were a mess. I have a gazillion photos of them being so silly.

So it gets hot at the dance and lots of the guys ditch their shirts but wear their vests. It was hilarious. We had black lights set up and some of them really 'glowed' without a shirt on.
And who knew that high school boys loved glow sticks and glow in the dark sunglasses? Oh my goodness it was fun to see them be kids!

And we thought those black lights were pretty cool, also. Several times we stood next to them just to see our stuff light up! We were careful to do it when our kids weren't around, I promise.

And yes, these pictures are out of order. But since by now you have realized that it's Sunday and I am just now finishing this post that I started at least 24 hours ago, they are simply going to be in this order.

Take it or leave it. Just sayin'.

Time

2011-04-23T10:33:00.002-05:00

As we are rushing through today, here are some words that I came across....

"Is it good to have order and structure? Sure. But don’t allow the pressure to be the perfect mom keep you from the simplicity of playing with your children. The unmade bed will still be there when you are through, but I PROMISE that a child will grow quickly.

Take a moment today and look past the clutter and the to-do list and be a child again. It might not be a picture-perfect moment, but it will be a memory." --T. Suzanne Eller

Yep. Just sayin'.

Remember When I Could Remember Stuff?

2011-02-19T11:36:00.000-06:00

Me, either. I can't remember stuff. Case and point.....a run down of this past week's events......

Monday--Valentine's Day. You might remember that I teach 8 and 9 year-olds. Valentine's Day on a Monday. It should always be scheduled on a Friday. Anyway, then we had a home basketball make-up game.

Tuesday---Day After Valentine's Day. You might remember that I teach 8 and 9 year-olds. Valentine's Day on a Monday. It should always be scheduled on a Friday. Day one of double big pop day. Another home basketball game.

Wednesday--2 days After Valentine's Day. You might remember that I teach 8 and 9 year-olds. Valentine's Day on a Monday. It should always be scheduled on a Friday. Day 2 of double big pop day. They called from church asking if I could bring a cake for a funeral dinner on Friday. They were expecting 200 people and needed 12 cakes. Sure, no problem. Ladies Function at MY house. Enter full moon phase.

Thursday--3 days After Valentine's Day. You might remember that I teach 8 and 9 year-olds. Valentine's Day on a Monday. It should always be scheduled on a Friday. A one big pop day but copious amounts of Tylenol and Advil. Singing Boy had a choir concert which was completely awesome but for some reason I didn't take my camera, so I have zero footage. My mother-of-the-year nomination is in danger of being revoked. I remember that I need a cake for church on Friday and I tell my Favorite Third Child to remind me to make a cake when we get home.

Friday--4 days After Valentine's Day. You might remember that I teach 8 and 9 year-olds. Valentine's Day on a Monday. It should always be scheduled on a Friday. Full moon. As I am driving out of the driveway at 7:53, I realize that I need a cake for church TODAY. My church lady-of-the-year nomination is in danger of being revoked. I start through the list of people whom I could call to make a cake on the fly for me to take to church. Wait. I have cupcakes in the freezer from my Ladies Function. Gourmet cupcakes, no less. Problem solved. Seriously, I was ready for my second big pop at 9:20. I leave on my plan at 10:40, come home and tray my 28 cupcakes, take them to church (nomination appears to still be intact) and stop for my second big pop. Continue through my first 5 day school week since sometime in January. Away basketball game. Granted, it was my choice to attend.

Combine all of this with a stupid cold and the inability to sleep.......And finally it's the weekend.

Really, the kids were very good all week considering it was Valentine's day on a Monday, 5 days of school in a row and a full moon.

It's the grown-ups that had issues.

Just sayin'.

Ladies Function

2011-02-19T10:14:00.000-06:00

Wednesday night was my turn to host my bunco group....or my Ladies Function. Our group began meeting in October 2000 and have met every month since then on the third Wednesday. We have had one time that was canceled due to a death in the hostess' family, but other than that we have met to eat, laugh and play a lil' bunco.

11 of us are original members. Pretty amazing, huh? We are from all walks of life and at different stages of children, grandchildren, houses, cars and aging parents.

I was pretty excited to host because it meant I could use these:

My snack sets!! I bought 2 sets of them about 18 months ago at an estate sale. I think I must be an old soul.....I real affinity for old fashioned traditions. These snack sets remind me of going to Ladies' Functions with my great grandma at church and then with my grandma to Ladies' Functions.

They are in the original box and in excellent shape.

I was short 4 sets. My friend, Kyle, whose rockin' hot wife posts here.....and his super sister in law posts here......helped me out. It seems as though one time he went to an auction being held by a church that was disbanding and he bought himself some snack sets. Why? Well, I guess nobody else was buying them, so he did. I knew he had them and had once told me I could borrow them anytime. When I called, he was out of town, so his lovely wife helped me out.

When she called him to ask him where he was keeping them, he told her that I could just keep them for my very own because he felt like it would repay my son for all his help with Kyle's blackberry/crackberry issues from a few months back. I am not sure my son was as pleased with the snack set payment, but I was.

And as luck would have it, the set I borrowed and then got to keep, matches my snack sets. I now have 12 matching snack sets. It's the little things that keep me going.....

I had several plans in mind for my Ladies Function, but finally hit upon making a dessert bar. I made pumpkin cake cupcakes and banana bar cupcakes. Cream cheese frosting. Enough said.

I really like the pumpkin ones, but I think that the banana ones were just OK. Kind of dry, maybe over baked and certainly not as good as Kyle's wife makes as a cake.

I also made cut out sugar cookies, snickerdoodles and chocolate chip cookies.

I made brownies with frosting and decided that a bunch of ladies on a sugar high probably needed some balance so I had some lil' smokies in bbq sauce, cheese and crackers, veggies and grapes. It was a decent spread.

My friend, Teresa, was generous enough to let me take a picture of her food on the snack set.....

Bonus for me, I was the big winner for most losses. NOT a surprise to anyone who has been playing any game with me. Just sayin'.

Smart Like That

2011-02-16T23:03:00.000-06:00

So those of you who know me pretty darn well know that I married an amazing man. I don't always appreciate how many things he does for me WITHOUT even being asked. Case and point.....it was my turn to host my bunco group. 12 hungry ladies who throw a mean die. I have had a nasty cold and was functioning at a low level. He cleaned my kitchen, he cleaned the bathroom, he came home early and just jumped in. He did dishes afterward.

And he still had time to write this awesome post......go ahead. It's worth your minutes.

Whose name is on your foot?

More on my ladies function....even have some pictures....just sayin'.

Pep Squad Girl and Singing Boy

2011-02-15T23:03:00.001-06:00

Tonight the Tiger Chorale sang the National Anthem at the last regular season home game......

And the Pep Squad had a little half time performance......

And yes, I am hosting a ladies function at my house on Wednesday evening and should be cooking and cleaning, but I am posting videos of my Favorite Twins and trying to see how late I can stay up and still teach third grade....just sayin'.

Today is the Day

2011-02-09T21:53:00.003-06:00

44 years ago I graced the world with my presence and my mother with her favorite child. I was born on a Thursday (you know they say about Thursday's Child) at noon. Knees first, upside down, weighing 8 pounds and 15 ounces. Needless to say, I was 3 weeks overdue and she was very glad to see me. And most of the time, I think she still is glad to see me. I am her favorite child, but my brother is in charge of her.

44 years old. Here I am at about 4 months old, maybe. My mother didn't write on the back of this photo. I think I had a huge head. Isn't my mother beautiful?

And this is my favorite picture:

I am 6 months old in this picture. My mom has a big picture of this at her house. Hers might be in color, too. I am sure that my mom or my grandma made this dress for me to wear. It was blue with little white polka dots. The polka dots were raised up on the fabric--I know there is a name for this kind of fabric--but I cannot think of it. I love my expression and how my eyes are 'talking' to someone. And how about that hair? I rocked hair.

In the past 44 years, I have seen some changes......

Yellow rotary phones attached to the wall with a short cord....beige push button phones sitting on a table with a long cord.....then cordless phones.....and finally cell phones.

Movies at the movie theater. First movie I can remember seeing? Bedknobs and Broomsticks at the Fox Theater in Hutchinson, KS. Then vcr's. And dvd's. And movies now? I am watching one right now on my ipod.

One TV with channels 2 thru 12. And my used-to-be stepdad (praise God for the used to be part) was in charge of what we watched, but we got to turn the channel by hand when he wanted a different channel.

We got cable TV when I was in third grade. Pretty darn amazing invention. Now, my house has 5 TV's. Seriously. And we never just sit and watch TV. We watch something we have dvr'd and can fast forward thru the commercials. And TV shows are online and on Netflix and sold in box sets at Target.

My sophomore year in high school, I looked like this:

I rocked hair. This is the year I could drive legally. Date. And I got a job at the grocery store.

I turned 18 in 1985. That was a big deal. At that point in the world, 18-year-olds could legally enter adult beverage establishments and consume adult beverages. Legally, people. That was something I could do until July 1, 1985 when the law changed and you had to be 19. So, yes, I was caught in that gap.....legal for 6 months, then not so much.

HHS Graduation, May 1985

I began to teach in 1992. My first 'teacher' picture......

Rows of desks. Quiet children. Worksheets. Hours of grading papers. Married parents. No computers, no cell phones. Flash forward a quick 19 years.....no rows. No quiet children....I want to see kids in action--working together, talking and solving problems with others. Not so many worksheets. Not so many married parents--that's another post. A computer for every kid and last week, we had a book bag 'ringing' in the third grade.

I think that when I was a little girl, I thought everything would stay the same. I never really thought about the day my grandparents wouldn't be there or that I wouldn't be able to pick up the phone and hear my Grandma's voice. Or that I might not live in the same house on the same block forever. That the world might Change. That things wouldn't be the same and yet, would be the same.

Change. Changes in my blood pressure. Changes in my children. Changes in my heart...real and emotional. I never really thought anybody lived past 40 when I was a little girl. Who knew I would live to be 44 years old? And when I think of my mom at 44, I was 24 and College Girl was 1. When my grandma was 44, I was one. I think I am OK not having a one year old grandchild right now.

Yesterday when I renewed my drivers license, the Courthouse Lady looked right at me and said, "It's good for 6 years!" Yeah, do the math on that one. I'll be 50. Just imagine the changes.

I always have loved my birthday and today was no different. And next year will be the same and every year after that....it's my day....nobody can take it from me.

A birthday does a body good. Just sayin'.

Ice....Snow....2 hour delay.....Cancel

2011-01-31T11:22:00.001-06:00

I woke up at about 4 this morning. Since I was already awake, why not just check my twitter? I follow NEksKDOT (if you don't tweet, this probably doesn't make sense to you) and she has tweeted that I-70 is closed in Geary and Riley counties. Um. OK. Flip on the TV and nothing is really going on there. Check my tweets again. Interesting. Fall back to sleep. Sort of. The twins had to be at school around 7 to sign up for a research paper topic and then to band practice for the Winter Band Concert.

5:50 a.m. Coach wakes up Twin 1. It takes him a while to orient to the world--he has to work himself into getting up.

6:05 a.m. Wake up Twin 2. She tells her dad--nope--the TV flashes 2 hour delay for our school district. KSU cancels. I get txt message from my calling tree person telling me of the 2 hour delay. Forward txt message to my person. I love txt messaging. Fall into the best sleep of the night.

Wake up at 7:55 a.m. School canceled. Forward txt message. Watch TV to see all the cancellations. Listen to my husband tell me that our dog Ruby couldn't grasp the concept of slick sidewalks. Stupid dog. Watch CBS This Morning and wonder why those people think they are so funny. Because they are not.

Get out of bed at 9. Drink copious amounts of coffee. Read newspaper, facebook and twitter. Catch up on blogs. Watch the old guy across the street shuffle out to his car and start it up. Pray he isn't planning to go anywhere. Whew. He was only warming it up. Whew. He didn't fall.

Charge all electronic devices. At least if we lose power, I can still play Angry Birds.

I took these pictures around 10:30......

We live on a brick street. It looks really cool with the layer of ice on it.

We had had no traffic.

UNTIL I went outside in my robe to take these pictures and then wouldn't you know, traffic. There's no way that they didn't see me. Happens. Every. Time. Trauma for the driver of the white truck. I can only hope it was someone I don't know.

And yes, I am still wearing my robe. It's a snow day. I don't have to get dressed. Just sayin'.

Let Me Explain.....

2011-01-30T16:10:00.000-06:00

Seems as though I have some explaining to do. I have blog block. I can't come up with jack to write about. I can't think of anything that I want to share with you all. I got nothing. Jack. DA Nada. Nothing. Not a flippin' thing.

Several times I have started a post, only to realize that I was writing crappola that made little or no sense.

I would write about what I am reading IF I was actually reading something. I didn't read the November book all the way through (Eat Pray Love) because it was a ridiculous book and I didn't even pretend to buy the book for January. Although, I did go to book club for the wine. The discussion was interesting and I might read the book in the summer some year far away from this one.

I would write about my sons food allergies, but really, who cares. He's allergic and dealing with it.

I would post a Food on Friday blog, but that would mean that I actually cooked something. And that would be a big, fat lie. Nobody is giving me any ideas as to what they want to eat, so skip it.

I would post that I am 18 months away from having 3 kids graduate from high school and college. But again, saying it out loud actually means that I am admitting it. Deny. Deny. Deny.

I would post that in 10 days I will be 44. Sounds old to me. When my mom was 44, I was 24 and had an almost 1 year old. Praise God, I am not my mom. It seems weird to me to be 44. Like I ought to be more of a grown up than I really am. Like I should drive a station wagon or have a lift chair.

I would post that Netflix for the Wii is quite possibly the greatest invention since Depends. Seriously. For $10.36 a month, unlimited online movies and 1 DVD at a time. It completely rocks. Anywhere I can get internet, I can get a movie. I can lay in bed and watch a movie on my ipod. I am totally addicted to the TV show, Friday Night Lights. I feel some luuuuvvvv for Tim Riggins. Only problem I can see is that they have him wear a shirt way too often.

I would post about cleaning the office and how scary that really was to me. I used 2 snow days to do it. And I still didn't finish. That's how nasty it really was in there.

I would post about painting the basement and how happy my husband was when I let our favorite 16-year-old girl choose dark brown and teal paint for the walls. We did plan for his favorite color, cream, in the center of the wall. Yep. 3 colors. 3 stripes. Geez. It's only paint. It can be changed.

I would post that I am hosting bunco at MY house on February 16. Yep. Like in 17 days. And that I have started cleaning my house so that people can actually come in without wearing a
haz mat suit, but it would be a lie. I've thought about cleaning house, but really, I haven't done anything.

I would post the pictures from fall, winter and Christmas. But.......

I just don't have anything to write about. Just sayin'.

Love Me....

2011-01-16T14:35:00.002-06:00

....Some Terry Bradshaw.

Happy New Year.....

2010-12-31T18:00:00.000-06:00

May your 2011 burn brightly and be everything you wish it to be!

And yes. I got a fire pit for Christmas...from my children. I have been wanting a fire pit for a very long time. I would look at them every time we went somewhere fire pits were sold. Now I have my very own.

And we have lit it twice. But haven't made s'mores. Maybe tonight at midnight...Just Sayin'.

Food on Friday

2010-12-17T05:30:00.001-06:00

Try to be surprised. Food on Friday revolves around My Favorite Third Child, AGAIN this week. Suddenly, we've become all about her. This has to stop. She's really not all that and a bag of chips, but the rest of us will eat anything.

Last spring sometime, she was watching some Disney show (blech) and saw this:

Yep. It's what you think it is. Spaghetti tacos. (And look, there's someones gross ABC gum....so sorry.) So we laughed at her and said that spaghetti tacos were dumb. But she was persistent (as always) and kept at us. So finally one night we pulled taco shells out and had them with spaghetti.

Turns out the girl was spot on with this meal. Spaghetti tacos are very good. Don't ask me why, how, what, or who thought this up, but it really is good. That crunchy corn flavor goes wonderfully with the spaghetti flavor.

She had a little dinner party and served them to her friends. They gave her the business until they'd eaten them and then they were amazed.

So here's the basics....make spaghetti. Warm up taco shells. I put my cheese in the shell and then add the spaghetti and maybe a little more cheese. Eat like a taco. Throw a salad together and some fruit and you've got a meal. Just sayin'.

Hodgepodge

2010-12-15T07:20:00.000-06:00

1. What does it mean to have the 'holiday spirit'?

Just last night someone asked if I was ready for Christmas and I replied...Yep. And then he said, "So your shopping is all done?" Nope. I have bought one thing and made another. "Christmas happens whether there are gifts or not." He was very puzzled by this statement. The greatest gift cannot be bought.......

2. What sits atop your tree (s)? Why?

Stars. Because. I. Said. So.

3. When was the last time you gave yourself a pat on the back?

Tuesday when I didn't curse out loud. Although I am sure it was written all over my face. Third graders are quick like that...they know what I am thinking and just move away.

4. Which of your senses is most sensitive this time of year?

My feeling senses. As we get nearer to Christmas I become very aware of the children I am sending home who may have little or nothing to eat. I am always concerned about the kids I am sending home to negative circumstances. I hug them all on the way out and let them know that I will be very glad to see them 'next year'. I think this is a really tough time of the year to be a hurting kid.

5. What do you have too much of in your kitchen?
Me. There's too much of me in the kitchen.

6. What do you do for meals on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? Big meal? Breakfast tradition? Open the cookie tins and have at it?

Before we ever had kids, we established that they would be at home on Christmas morning. We are lucky because both our families live within a couple of hours of us. We have been at home every Christmas morning for 20 years. We would get up and open presents, have cinnamon rolls, sausage and juice. And head out for KC. My husband's uncle is a priest, so he says a family mass at the house, usually around 1 pm. Our presents have always been brought by Santa and so they 'appeared' sometime after the kids went to bed. We opened presents whenever the first person woke up. We've opened them at 3 am and at 8 am. Last year we changed up our tradition. We had dinner and then opened presents. This year we are planning to attend the Christmas Eve service at church, have dinner and open presents.

7. What is the best thing about winter?

When it's over.

8. Insert your own random thought here--Whomever invented the stomach flu ought to be shot. Just sayin'.

Food on Friday

2010-12-10T05:30:00.001-06:00

My friend Cindy and I share recess duty. Daily recess duty. I know everyone thinks that teachers stand around during recess duty talking about....well, recipes. Isn't that what everyone does during recess duty? Talk about what we're having for dinner and how to make it?

You know how my favorite third child...

.....has an unnatural love for cabbage but hates meatballs? Well, Cindy has been telling me for awhile about how she makes bierock filling with sausage instead of beef and then serves it over rice. No kidding.

So I made it. And guess what? My favorite third child didn't really like it. She doesn't really like sausage unless it's in gravy. Did I mention that she puts gravy in a bowl like it's soup and eats it? Really. Seriously.

The rest of us did like it, though.

I put mine on my plate like this.....and then added some pepper jack cheese and a tortilla.

My favorite third child put ranch dressing on hers....

My husband made his like this.....

I have no idea why I don't have pictures of my favorite sons plate. Probably because food doesn't last very long on his plate so I don't have any photo ops.

This is a very versatile recipe. I probably won't make it with sausage again. Sausage and cabbage were a little rough on my delicate stomach. I really liked it with the rice and pepper jack cheese. I know that by putting it in a tortilla was a double starch and then adding tater tots was another but you know what? Warm starch with melted dairy will make anything better.

Here's the basic recipe......brown one pound of sausage and onion. How much onion? As much as your people like. Cut up a head of cabbage. Place cabbage on top of browned sausage/onion and put the lid on the skillet. Let it steam to your preference. We like it a little bit crunchy. Meanwhile, make your rice. We make old fashioned rice. Warm tortillas, shred cheese and make some sort of side dish. Viola! You've got dinner! Just sayin'.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

2010-12-08T21:35:00.000-06:00

1. Have you ever been on a real sleigh ride? How about the warm weather version - a carriage ride?

Nope. And I am not going anytime soon.

2. What's your policy on 'chain mail'...you know, the emails you receive that are often some sort of poem/blessing/good wish that ask you to send it on to 10 or 12 friends? Do you delete without opening, read and trash, read and trash and then worry you won't be blessed/lucky/protected? Do you delete the sender from your contacts or just go ahead and send the love onward?

Read and Delete. Most of the time. Unless it's really good, then I delete it as well.

3. Who is your favorite character in any of the Christmas movies and why?

Ralphie from A Christmas Story. He's just so...well...typical boy.

4. Share a favorite quote.

What comes around goes around. My mom always used those words to comfort me.....and as usual, she. was. right. The go around part isn't so fun, though. I must say after getting a couple of go arounds in the not-so-recent past, I am much more careful with my words and actions. Hard to believe, but very true.

5. What's your favorite holiday scent?

Clean laundry. Because having all the laundry clean is an official holiday, right?

6. Does the Christmas season stress you out? In what way?

Nope.

7. What's the best thing about your life right now?

My heating pad. I get great comfort from knowing that each night when I get into bed, I am going to lay on that heating pad. And I don't share. Don't touch it for any reason.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I believe that there are some people out there who do not realize that I hold the power.

Just sayin'.

Photo Op

2010-11-29T21:25:00.000-06:00

Yep. We look that good in real life.

Thanksgiving Hodgepodge

2010-11-24T09:47:00.001-06:00

1. If you had known what they knew then, would you have boarded the Mayflower?

Hmmmm. This is a tough question to answer. No. Maybe. Yes. Wishywashy much? I probably would have boarded the Mayflower. My contrary little personality usually causes me to take risks. Sometimes it works to my benefit--like when I was told by an evil person that I would never graduate from college and I did it just to prove him wrong. And sometimes my contrariness is detrimental to my mental health.

2. How far have you traveled on a boat and how do you feel about boats in general?

I have traveled across the lake. And yes, I am generally nauseous and crabby when I get off the boat. I don't remember feeling that way when I was younger but certainly as I have aged ~~gracefully~~ the feeling has increased.

3. What traditions have you kept, acquired thru marriage, and/or tossed? If you're single what are some of your family's favorite Thanksgiving traditions?

I don't know if I have kept any traditions, acquired any or tossed any traditions. I do what my mom did...get up and cook dinner. My husband and kids help out. I plan the menu to include something that is everyone's favorite dish and I try to have it done by noon. We eat whether everybody is there or not--they'll catch up--and we just hang out. No pressure. Sometimes we have taken a walk or gone a leisurely car ride. Sometimes we play a game. My uncle sleeps in the chair. I suppose those are all traditions, but they seem like stuff we just do.

4. What time is dinner and how many will be round your table? And what is the one side dish you cannot do without on Thanksgiving day?

Noon. We will have 8 of us. We cannot have dinner without these:

Homemade noodles. A tradition in my family. In fact, that is the pot my great grandmother used for noodles. One of these days I am going to get the potato pot that goes with it.

5. Have you ever used a fire extinguisher? Do tell....

Do towels and potholders count as fire extinguishers? Then why, yes, I have used a fire extinguisher. Many times. I actually could be considered an expert in this category.

6. Tell about a situation that caused you dreadful trepidation and feet dragging, only to realize later it was a true blessing.

Taking my child to college caused me dreadful trepidation and feet dragging. And yet, I knew that it was what I hoped I would get to do someday when I gave birth to that beautiful brown eyed girl. Nothing prepares a parent for that day....as hard as it was, I count my blessings each day because there are people out there wishing they could take a child to college. It's hard to be whiny about it when I have friends who used their child's college fund for a tombstone. I used to think about how sad it was that my children were growing up until I realized the alternative is for them to not grow up. Besides, my husband and I are counting the days until we are home alone because you know what that means....yep. Cereal for dinner. Nice try, several of you were thinking of something else. This is a family blog.

7. Baked, sweet, mashed, hash browned or french fried...which one's your favorite?

Have you seen the size of my butt? I never turn down warm starch. And if it comes with melted dairy, all the better.

8. Random thought 101.......Is it wrong to get out of bed counting the hours before I can get back in bed?

Have a blessed Thanksgiving....Just sayin'.

The Tortilla Curtain

2010-11-23T05:30:00.001-06:00

This book pissed me off. I know, I know. I am not supposed to use that word because it isn't lady like. There simply isn't any other word to describe my feelings as I read The Tortilla Curtain.

This is an all-too-real tale of the border war. It is frightening real and I often had to put the book down after just one chapter. The author set the book up so that one chapter is from the immigrant's point of view and the next is from the Californians point of view. I would get so angry at the treatment of the people that I wouldn't be able to sleep. And oh my, the things that the female main character lived through were just mind boggling.

At book club, the discussion was very lively. We live in the heart of the Midwest, these things are unfathomable to us (can you tell that we 'owned' this book? We were convinced that these things really happened....) because we don't live it on a daily basis. We could transfer it to our community's poverty--and the haves and the have nots. It was an interesting comparison.

My husband is currently trying to read The Tortilla Curtain. He is finding it difficult to muddle through. Much the way I found it difficult to muddle through. It's worth the work it takes to read this book just to have some perspective about the border war.

It's not a happy, feel good read. Just sayin'.

Food on Friday

2010-11-19T05:30:00.001-06:00

So this recipe came to me in my daily email from www.allrecipes.com. I sometimes read them and sometimes the name of the recipe tells me that there isn't a chance in heck of ever using that recipe.

This recipe peaked my interest because my son really enjoys Mexican food but guess what? Corn tortilla and corn tortilla chips aren't on his plate at this point. The doctor tells us that once we get his environmental allergies under control, then he may be able to add corn back to his diet. Did you know that corn is related to grasses? And cantaloupe is related to ragweed? Learn something new everyday, I'm tellin' ya.

This recipe can be found here....http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Fry-Bread-Tacos-II/Detail.aspx?prop31=5. These fry bread tacos are wonderful and were surprisingly easy to make.

Several of my breads got all puffy like a puffer fish, so this girl opened them up and stuffed the filling inside.

I must confess that I didn't follow the recipe exactly. I already had taco meat from another meal. I also had made refried beans earlier in the week so we just piled ours high with the toppings and ate them. One tip, get the oil hot. And keep it hot. The fry breads weren't greasy at all because the oil so hot and stayed hot. I used my candy thermometer to monitor the temp. It was HOT. I kept it at 365 degrees or a little hotter the whole time. It took some serious patience to let it get that hot, but I think that the temp of the oil made all the difference.

And they were good. Just sayin'.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

2010-11-17T05:30:00.002-06:00

1. What is the most amazing weather you've ever seen?

Hands down, the Ice Storm of December 2007. Completely amazing how beautiful an ice storm is given the damage ice does. I remember waking up and being in awe of the beauty in the world. Four days later when our electricity was restored, I was the happiest girl in the whole USA.

2. What is a sound or noise you love?

Little kids in church.

3. Do you like seafood? What's your favorite seafood dish?

Do you mean like real live seafood or fish sticks and macaroni and cheese seafood? Because I really do like fish sticks. And shrimp baskets from the DQ. But real live seafood like squid or octopus or even lobster? Eh. Not so much.

4. What part of your day requires the most patience?

The getting out of bed part of my day. Yikes! I do not like to get out of bed. Especially this time of year...it's very warm and cozy under those blankets and the heat nazi is keeping it rather chilly in our house.

5. What's your favorite shade of blue?

6. Do people underestimate you?

Probably.

7. When was the last time you had butterflies in your stomach?

Last Friday. I needed to do something I didn't really want to do.

8. Insert your own random thought here....IS THAT what your wearing? Really.

Safe Haven

2010-11-16T05:30:00.001-06:00

I am not sure what to say. This was an enjoyable book. It wasn't what I expected but it fell into my lap right when I needed something to divert my attention. That's kind of my M.O. I had a million things that were happening that were beyond my control so I did the one thing that I could control--read. And I basically read it overnight.

Admittedly, it has been awhile since I read any Nicholas Sparks. He's a wonderful author and my girls really enjoy reading him. I really enjoyed his early writing, but he'd gotten a little predictable and what I call cookie cutter in his writing. Which happens to all of us in our lives--we get predictable and cookie cutter--and we have to step back and examine our lives. Not the easiest thing to do, but sometimes stuff just slams you and you have to frost your cookies the best you know how and move along.

Safe Haven is almost a mystery. The main character has a history (who doesn't) and when she lands in a small town reinvents herself. As the story rolls along, more and more of Katie is revealed and I began to kind of freak out. The dreaded 'What if...." game took over and I had thoughts of 'what if that were my daughter' and 'how can someone just be an orphan'? Somebody should have helped this girl.

It did bring the whole 'everyone is fighting some sort of battle so be kinder than necessary' back into my daily thoughts. Who knows what each of us is up against? Somewhere there is a wife afraid for 5 o'clock to arrive because that means her husband is on his way home...hoping her dinner is good enough and the house is clean enough and trying to keep it together so she won't get beat again tonight. And somewhere else there's a grandma dying of cancer while her children and grandchildren stand by helplessly wondering what they can do to make this whole thing easier on Grandma. And somewhere there's a 9-year-old wondering what she's going to fix for supper tonight knowing that her brother and sister need something to eat.

When I started reading Safe Haven, I thought I was getting fluff and what I took away was much deeper. Just sayin'.

Random Pics from the Fall

2010-11-14T05:30:00.000-06:00

Yep. It's pretty much how we spent our fall....Just sayin'.

Fall Ball 2010

2010-11-12T22:49:00.000-06:00

Just a few pics....because my 'subjects' weren't all that cooperative.

I love my house except when I want to take pictures. I just don't have a great place to take great pics. 10 foot ceilings and bad lighting don't help the situation.

Brother and Sister......

Friends.....

The BF.....

I did ask him to show me his hands....

Yyyyyeeeeaaaahhhhh. Not even sure what is going on here....

Group photo....the two on the right really didn't want these shots.... but whatta ya do? Frack is one bossy girl so options are limited. Bonus for them....they also work together.

And no. She wasn't supposed to be in this picture. I wonder if I can crop her out....

We only have to stay awake for another 90 minutes and they will be home. Who starts a dance at 10:00 anyway?! The stuco sponsor and I--we're gonna visit...Just Sayin'.

Food on Friday

2010-11-12T05:30:00.001-06:00

After a recent round of allergy testing, it was discovered that my son......

is allergic to cantaloupe, bananas, corn, carrots, oats, bakers and brewers yeast, peanuts, and tree nuts. All of these are new food allergies with the exception of peanuts--he has always been allergic to peanuts. He also has a ton of environmental allergies.

So in an effort to feed a 16 year old who cannot have bread or corn--I have had to come up with some new ways to serve old foods. I have had some successes and some 'eh--not so much'.

This one is a keeper. We really enjoyed these bierocks. They would work very well if you are in hurry or are going to a potluck.

Bierock's

by The Hays Crew

1 pound of hamburger

1 onion, chopped

salt and pepper

1 bag of already chopped cabbage--it was on sale!

2-3 cups of mozzarella cheese, shredded

10 flour tortillas

Brown beef and onion. Salt and pepper to taste. Add cabbage and cover skillet. Let sit until cabbage is steamed to your family's taste. We like ours a little crunchy--just a little.

Remove from heat and stir in cheese. Fill each tortilla with the mixture, roll and place in sprayed 9 x 13 dish.

Mine made 9, but I could have easily gotten 10 because these were stuffed pretty full.

I covered them with foil and popped them in the oven at 350. They are already cooked, so it was basically to warm them up. I probably had them in the oven 20 minutes or so. I served them with tater tots. It was a great meal and a lot easier than rolling out bread dough. Although, I still think that real live bierocks are the bomb.

And this girl licked the bowl clean after I filled my tortillas. She REALLY likes cabbage. Won't eat meatballs, but likes cabbage. She's weird.

Just sayin'.

Worth Reading

2010-11-11T15:25:00.001-06:00

To all those moms who have made this thing called motherhood look easy, eat my shorts. It's way harder than it looks. So today when this came to me, I just knew I had to share it with all of you.

The Mother Load

11 Nov 2010

Lysa TerKeurst

"One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving." Psalm 62:11-12a (NIV)

We moms should never build the stability of our identity on the fragility of our kid's choices.

Have you ever felt like a failure as a mom because you got a not so great call from the principal's office? Me too. On the flip side, have you ever felt like the greatest mom ever because your child got some special recognition? Me too. So, let me say it again just so this crucial truth can sink in a little deeper. I'm repeating it for no other reason, sweet sister, than the fact I need this message. So, forgive me if this devotion preaches a message only to myself.

We moms should never build the stability of our identity on the fragility of our kid's choices.

I've got five amazing kids. I really do. They are wildly funny, imaginative, moody, opinionated, strong, weak, happy, sad, good and sometimes not so good. In other words they're pretty normal. And while I've done everything in my power to raise them to turn out amazingly awesome - and they very well might turn out amazingly awesome - there aren't any guarantees.

Sometimes bad parents raise terrific kids.

And sometimes terrific parents raise kids that chase bad things their whole life.

So, what's a mama to do?

Embrace the process. Learn from the process. Let God speak to us during the process. And see the process of raising kids as an ongoing opportunity to invest beyond ourselves.

We get to love our kids like crazy. Pray for them faithfully. Talk to them regularly. Listen to them tenderly. Model honesty and integrity. And point them to Jesus at every turn.

We get to do all that.

And tucked within these privileges is the reward. As long as I look for the reward within the process, I won't misplace my expectations. I have to rest in the assurance that God sees everything I invest in these kids.

And He will use every step of this process for good. The process will be good for me. And this process will good for my kids. It will be good. But this process won't always make me feel good or look good.

If I always expect my kids to make me feel good or look good, I am setting us all up for failure. My kids were never meant to carry the weight of a mama's need for validation. I can't let their failures send me to bed. And I can't wear their successes like mommy medals of honor.

Motherhood is tough you know?

It really is.

However, it's also our only opportunity to reach into the generations to come and make a difference. So, an imperfect but wonderful difference I will make.

Dear Lord, help me to embrace the privilege and process of motherhood. I see parenting as an opportunity to invest beyond myself. But I also admit that I really need Your help. Please guide me so that I can model You every day in every way. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Just sayin'.

Yep. So.....

2010-11-10T21:22:00.000-06:00

I have been noticeably absent.

To those of you who missed me and mentioned it--thanks. I missed you, too.

To those of you who didn't miss me....so be it. Hopefully, you've stopped reading so you don't even know I am back.

Here's a little something new for my reappearance in the blog world.....

If you've missed the Random Dozen, and seriously, who hasn't, then you're in for a treat. Joyce over at From This Side of the Pond has decided to start a brand new meme called Random Hodgepodge. Seven random questions, and then you are supposed to contribute your own random thought (G rated, please) for the #8 slot each week. Sounds like a lot of fun, doesn't it? So let's go!

1. Do you think you're more like your mom or your dad?

I like to think that I have the best qualities of my mom and the best qualities of my dad all wrapped up in one neat little package.....ME. Just don't ask my brother what he thinks.

2. Do you like roller coasters?

Not so much. I kind of like to keep my feet on the ground.

3. How did you name your blog and do you now wish you'd thought about it maybe another five minutes before you hit publish? Would you change your blog title if it were not a huge pain in the derriere? (French makes everything sound a little nicer doesn't it?)

I actually thought about the name of my blog for awhile(like 20 minutes). I really wanted the url to be The Hays Crew. One problem with that....if I ran it all together it looked like this--thehayscrew. I was convinced that people would think it was The Hay Screw and I would get plugged as a porn site. Therefore, I was very careful. I have good friend who didn't think through her email address and often is mistaken for big boobs.

4. What is the best wedding gift you received? Not married? Didn't get any gifts? Then what is the best wedding gift you've given?

I have to say that the greatest gift I received was my grandparents being alive and at my wedding to see me marry a wonderful person who has given their (insert favorite) granddaughter a blessed life. I think we forget how much people mean to us until they aren't there. And it's not the small stuff....it really is the big stuff in our lives that we want them there to witness. I could give a rats about my grandma ever having seen me at an athletic event, but it means the world to me to have had her at my wedding and at the first sightings of my children. Big stuff counts.

5. What is the one bill you most hate to pay?

The part of the doctor bills that the insurance doesn't pay. My son had a recent trip to the allergy doc that cost $1700. A lot of that $1700 was covered by insurance but I still had to pay $240. And I am I ever so thankful insurance. I am scared to death to think what would happen without the gift of insurance. We certainly wouldn't be able to meet our sons health needs without insurance. His allergy serum was $1500 for 4 doses.

6. Is the glass half full or half empty?

Is the glass full of diet coke with a chaser of dark chocolate?

7. What is your favorite word? Okay okay. Calm down. How about one of your favorite words?

I really like the word fiddlesticks. It covers a gamut of emotions.

8. For this last one, we are supposed to place our own random thought here. Here's mine:

Underwear is optional.

Go see Joyce from This Side of the Pond and link up for some more Hodgepodgedness. For some reason my computer is not showing me her really cool button, so I don't know if it's showing up on your computer, but you can still click this link down here so you don't miss all the fun. But hey, don't forget to leave a comment first!

And I promise, I have returned. I will be here regularly. Just sayin'.

Random Dozen

2010-09-29T05:30:00.005-05:00

1. Do you believe, somewhere deep inside, that blonde's do indeed have more fun? That they are "dumber" than brunettes or redheads? Be honest!
Nah. Although I look better as a blondie, I have just as much fun as anyone else.

2. Which animal would you most like to observe in its wild habitat?
Do I have to camp in the wild? I don't like camping so much, therefore I am unlikely to observe any animal in its wild habitat.

3. This week the U.N. announced that Dr. Mazlan Othman has been appointed the official "Alien Ambassador," should any extraterrestrials contact us. Have you, or has anyone you know, ever seen a UFO?
An Unfinished Fabric Object? Is that what you mean? I have seen plenty of them.

4. Name your favorite Hitchcock film.
Honestly, I had to google this to find out if I had ever REALLY seen a Hitchcock film. Turns out I have seen several. Much to my surprise. I haven't ever watched 'The Birds' all the way through--too frightening for me. I have watched 'Rear Window' all the way through. Freaky movie. Duh. All of Hitchcock's movies are freaky.

5. Would you rather spend time at the library, the mall, a craft store or home?
This is tough. It's a toss up between home and the library. Wait. Someone else cleans the library. I have to clean my house. Bring on the library.

6. Which Disney princess is your favorite? (Or Disney character, if you are a guy)
Cinderella.

7. What kind of art is your favorite?
The kind done my 3rd graders. And the smiles that go with the art. There is nothing better than a kid who is proud of artwork.

8. How do you feel about viral videos, that is, videos made by amateurs that end up on YouTube receiving thousands of hits?
Who thinks to do that stuff? And then, why do we watch it? It's like a bad car wreck--I know I shouldn't watch, but I just can't stop myself. There are some out there that are pretty darn funny. Like this one:

9. Where do you buy your jeans?
Eddie Bauer.

10. Tell me about your first automobile accident.
Oh geez. I don't even know if it counts as an accident. It was an accident but.....oh well. You can decide for yourself. I am 17 and I am driving a rockin' hot red Dodge Omni.

For those of you born after the 80's, a Dodge Omni was the car to have. Seriously. What the Gremlin was to the 70's, the Omni was to the 80's.

It's raining. I need to go Kmart for who knows what(shoes) and I park, hop out and head into the store.

Pretty soon I hear the intercom repeating what I think might be my tag and car model. Nah. That's not me. Again, the intercom. Nagnagnag. Would somebody get out there and take care of whatever it is?

Wait.

Um. I think that someone is me.

Turns out, I put the car in neutral and didn't set the emergency break. Yep. It rolled out of the parking place and into some lady's Oldsmobile.

Let's just finish up by saying that I wasn't a very popular teenager at my house that day.

11. Have you ever been honest when you knew you would benefit more if you would be dishonest?
Do I have to answer this question? We all know that this is the story of my life.

12. If you were appointed "Ambassador to Aliens," what would you show and tell first about life on Earth? What would be the most difficult thing to explain?
I am going with the most difficult thing to explain would be thongs. And not the kind for your feet.

You Know Sometimes I Amaze Myself

2010-09-24T05:30:00.003-05:00

24 years ago I met an incredible man. He was a simple guy that everyone loved being around. It was obvious from our first meeting that I was in the presence of someone pretty amazing. He just had a way about him and I was drawn to him. It took him a while to be drawn to me. Actually, that's not true. He was just chicken.

He finally got his guts up and asked me out. It was pretty romantic--it something like this...'Hey. You wanna go out sometime?' I was wearing red ropers, wranglers and my favorite red sweater. He was wearing jeans and a shirt. I made him write down that he asked me out cause we weren't at a church function and I was pretty sure he wouldn't remember.

Well, he remembered.

This is the part of the story I like the most.....when he showed up at my door on December 10, 1986, I opened that door and he looked up at me and I knew that he was the man I would marry. I still remember that feeling. I hope it never goes away.

He then said, "Um. Do you think we could just hang out here tonight? My checkbook isn't in real good shape and my mom's gonna kill me if it gets any worse." Yep. I was done. He was honest and up front.

He went to church without his mom telling him to. Still does.
He was loyal to a fault. Still is.
He thought deeply and spoke softly. Still does.

And I am still amazed that he chose me.

He wrote something this week that I think should be read by the masses....
http://coachhays.com/2010/09/21/football-is-not-life/

And taken to the very heart of life. Just sayin'.

A Real Game

2010-09-23T16:30:00.002-05:00

So this came in an email to me.....and since I laughed out loud....I thought you might laugh out loud, too.

________________________________

THE
NEXT SURVIVOR
SERIES
Six married men
will be dropped on an island
with one car
and 3 kids each
for six weeks.

Each kid will play two sports
and take either music or dance classes.

There is no fast food.

Each man must
take care of his 3 kids; maintain his career,
keep his assigned house clean,
correct all homework,
complete science projects,
cook,
do laundry,
and pay a list of 'pretend' bills
with not enough money.

In addition,
each man
will have to budget enough money
for groceries each week.

Each man
must remember the birthdays
of all their friends and relatives,
and send cards out on time--no emailing.

Each man must also take each child
to a doctor's appointment,
a dentist appointment
and a haircut appointment.

He must make one unscheduled and
inconvenient visit per child to the Emergency Room.

He must also make cookies or cupcakes
for a school function.

Each man will be responsible for
decorating his own assigned house,
planting flowers outside, and keeping it
presentable at all times.

The men will only have access to television
when the kids are asleep and all chores are done.

The men must shave their legs,

wear makeup daily,

adorn themselves with jewelry,

wear uncomfortable yet stylish shoes,

keep fingernails polished,

and eyebrows groomed

During one of the six weeks,

the men will have to endure severe
abdominal cramps, backaches, headaches,
have extreme, unexplained mood swings
but never once complain or slow down
from other duties.

They must attend weekly school meetings
and church,
and find time at least once to spend
the afternoon at the park or a similar
setting.

They will need to read a book to the kids each night
and in the morning,
feed them,
dress them,
brush their teeth and
comb their hair
by 7:30 am.

A test will be given
at the end of the six weeks,
and each father will be required to know
all of the following information:
each child's
birthday,
height, weight,
shoe size, clothes size,
doctor's name,
the child's weight at birth,
length, time of birth,
and length of labor,
each child's favorite color,
middle name,
favorite snack,
favorite song,
favorite drink,
favorite toy,
biggest fear,
and what they want to be when they grow up.

The kids vote them off the island based on performance.

The last man wins only if...
he still
has enough energy
to be intimate with his spouse
at a moment's notice.

If the last man does win,
he can play the game over and over and over
again for the next 18-25 years,
eventually earning the right
to be called Mother!

After you get done laughing,
send this to as many females as
you think will get a kick out of it and
as many men as you think can handle it.
Just don't send it back to me....

I'm going to bed.

Questions to Ponder

2010-09-23T07:07:00.000-05:00

I was thinking about things we say in conversations.

Often times I have heard the phrase and probably said it, too....."OMGosh that is just wrong. It wrong on so many levels that I don't even know where to start."

Here's my thought....Isn't wrong just wrong? I can't think that there are levels of wrong. Wrong is just wrong. Doesn't matter what it is, if it's wrong, then it's just wrong. Whether it's a math problem or the way someone has been treated.

If it's wrong, it's just wrong. There are no 'levels' to wrong. Just sayin'.

Updates

2010-09-22T20:27:00.000-05:00

Been MIA...again. I guess you better get used to my randomness.

Back on January 1 my family gave up these:

And these:

I know. For a family who lives to eat and hates to clean up, giving up paper plates seemed like a crazy idea. But we generate a lot of trash. And it isn't all white. That's a gene pool issue. Anyway, paper plates aren't expensive. We only used around 150 a month. But it's 1350ish less we've used since January 1.

I bought plastic divided plates on the dollar isle at the grocery store. They look like this:

They aren't this pretty. They are a lovely shade of green (like army) and navy blue. 2 plates for $1. I initially bought 6. It soon became evident that we needed more. So I bought 6 more. For $6, I got 12 plates. We have an unfortunate accident with 1 or 2, but 9 almost 10 months into the experiment, we still have 10 plates.

Why did I buy plastic divided plates? Don't have I plates that we could use? Why, yes, of course I have plates that we can use. I have 14 place settings of Fiesta. But it was one of those things....we didn't want to use them for things like pop tarts or toast. And what if we were just having a sandwich?

The paper napkins were a little more difficult to give up. I do love napkins. I usually need 3 or 4 during a meal. I rarely go to a restaurant that I don't use several napkins. I have been accused of having a napkin fetish. My lunch bunch makes fun of me and my napkins. We initially made some cloth napkins from material I had in my stash. Frack made them on a snow day. It didn't take long for us to figure out that we would need more napkins than I thought. I don't launder towels everyday and that is where I thought the napkins should be laundered. As luck would have it, my favorite kitchen store had cloth napkins on their 50% off table. So I picked up about 20 napkins for about $20. Works for me. And now I really miss cloth napkins when I have to use paper. Funny thing.

So far the experiment is working. Saving some trash one piece at a time. Just sayin'.

Random Dozen

2010-09-08T05:30:00.002-05:00

1. Describe the best sandwich in the world, according to you.
A sandwich made by someone else. Preferably served with fries and a diet coke in a place that I don't have to clean up when I leave .

2. Which inspires you more: a good conversation, a song, a book or movie?
Yikes.

3. What is your favorite board game?
One I can win.

4. As you grow older, are you more or less patient with small children?
More patient because they aren't mine. Praise God.

5. Name one item you never let yourself run out of.
I can't think of anything. Most people will say toilet paper or diet coke or peanut butter M&M's but I regularly run out of stuff. Important stuff like toilet paper, diet coke and peanut butter M&M's as well as toothpaste, acid reducer and dish soap.

6. Do you agree with Tennyson's assertion, "'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all?"
Yep. Take a risk. Put yourself out there--good things happen. So do bad things. Do it anyway.

7. Name one national treasure or monument that you have visited.
Gee. I don't think I have been to a national treasure or a monument. But when I grow up I am going to Mount Rushmore and then to the Grand Canyon.

8. Which is more painful, to be disappointed in someone else or to be disappointed in yourself?
Since it's all about me....disappointed in myself. I just hate it when I do something that I know I could have done better, handled differently or said it kinder, gentler way.

9. What makes your kitchen uniquely yours?
Pink appliances? Purple walls? Red and white checked curtains? Black and white checkered flooring? What isn't unique?

10. Are you a crafty person?
Not if I can help it.

11. What is your favorite traditional picnic or bbq (cookout) food?
Whatever someone else cooks. And cleans up. And purchases.

12. Name one leisurely activity you enjoyed over Labor Day Weekend.
Napping. It was lovely. And it was alone. Just sayin'.

Brownie Bites

2010-09-03T10:53:00.000-05:00

This is the post that almost wasn't. I hate to complain....but I am COMPLAINING. Blogger and I just can't keep on this way. We took a break like a couple of middle schoolers 'dating' but I think I am going to have to go all the way and break up. Once again, I was forced to curse and pound the table when trying to upload photos. Really, Blogger?

Alas, I was able to pull myself together and I have a little recipe to share with you.

My son found this recipe years ago in a magazine that he was reading while he was, um, well attending to his business. It's a gene pool issue. Anyway, he was probably 7 or so and he thought these would be easy and fun. And he was right, for the most part.

You need 1 brownie mix and a bag of hugs. Mix the brownies according to the directions.

Then you fill mini muffin cups with brownies. I line mine with mini paper cups I buy at this really awesome kitchen store we have here in town. You can spray the mini muffin tins with baking spray but......the brownie bites must sit until they are completely cool before removing them from the pan. I have tried removing them before they are cool and the hug sets up and well, I am telling you that it isn't pretty. My people will still eat them, but they cannot be taken anywhere for the public to enjoy.

Bake the brownie bites at 350 for around 12 minutes. The actual recipe says 16-22 minutes--which is wwwaaaayyyyy too long. Try hockey puck long.

And yes, I have 2 mini muffin pans. I don't particularly care for the red silicone one. I just HAD to have it and really, I don't like it.

I do under bake my brownies just a bit. We like them with that slight under bake. After you remove the brownies from the oven, place a hug on the top of the brownie bite. And you are done.

A couple of tips......these are best baked a day ahead of when you want to serve them. They don't come out of the paper muffins cups really 'clean' the first day. And they kind of set up. They are just better the second day. I intended to make them last night for a function tonight, but I was simply too tired after dinner last night to do anything but watch Project Runway. Highly addictive stupid show that I can't stop watching once I start--bad car wreck kind of thing--I shouldn't watch but I can't stop myself.

I took this one out of the muffin tin kind of warm so I could take a picture of it for you. You can kind of see that it kind of flattens out the hug and make it look a little like a....well.....um....a body part that shouldn't be seen, pierced or tattooed. Think Janet Jackson at the Superbowl.

I have used differently flavors of kisses--mint, caramel filled, peanut butter, blah blah blah. Hugs make the prettiest brownie bites and actually, I think they taste the best.

Just leave them in the muffin tin until they are completely cool to save yourself from immature comments from the peanut gallery. Just sayin'.

Never....Ever

2010-09-02T05:30:00.001-05:00

And I do mean never......ever.....never.....EVER...

let a teenager who knows too much.......

about technology....and where to find certain applications......

borrow your computer.

Nice. Proudest mom moment, ever. Just sayin'.

Um...Excuse Me Do I Know You?

2010-09-01T06:18:00.002-05:00

Well. It seems as though I am famous. And not just in my little head. Yesterday someone said to me, "So you're the Mrs. Hays of THE Hays Crew!"

Um.

Well.

"Yes. Yes, I am."

And then what do I say? I haven't posted in a month of Sundays. I have a million things that I could write about but can't find the energy to open the lid on my laptop. I have some very funny things that have happened to me that I think you all would find equally as funny. I have some super pics. And some great recipes.

Oh and wouldn't you know that I screwed myself over and didn't get enough water last week so this week I have an 'allergy' situation attempting to cause me to want to sever my head.

Alas. It's the same song 17th verse. School has started and it's kicking my biscuits.

But hey, I am famous. Just sayin'.

It's Baaacckkkk!

2010-08-11T10:19:00.001-05:00

It's Time to Get Random Again!!

OK, Blogger Buds, The Random is back!
Have fun!!!

1. When was the last time you laughed until you cried?
Last week. My girls did it to me. I can't even tell you what they did but it was funny at the time. Fairly certain it was something inappropriate.

2. If you found $10 today, what would you do with it?
Eat lunch out. Fried food solves all.

3. Do you volunteer anywhere?
My house.

4. What is your favorite summertime veggie or fruit, and how do you eat it?
Watermelon. A fork and a little salt.

5. Is your social sphere (circle of friends) small, medium or large?
What social sphere? Isn't that why I blog? Because I have no social sphere...

6. When was the last time you attended a family or school reunion? How did that go?
Um. Yeah. I got nothing here. We had a family reunion for husbands people some time ago, but I can't really remember anything other than it was HOT.

7. When you're feeling blue, what is the best way someone can cheer you up?
Warm starch with melted dairy is guaranteed to cheer me up.

8. Have you taken a vacation this summer?
Yep. I took a vacation from cooking. I announced it on a Saturday night--I said, "I have made my last meal for a week. I am not cooking. Nothing. I am on vacation." And I was. I went a whole week not going to the store or cooking a meal.

It was a great vacation. Wish you could have been here.

9. What is the most unnecessary item you carry with you all the time?
Money. Oh wait. I don't have any money so it must be unnecessary.

10. What is the best summer flick you have seen so far?
The movie of my life.

11. Describe a perfect summer day.
Donuts and coffee on the porch with my favorite people, a good book and some lemonade for the afternoon before a nap. An evening filled with my family and nothing but time.

12. Please a share a favorite photo from the summer so far!

The Gift of an Ordinary Day

2010-08-02T09:42:00.000-05:00

The gift of an ordinary day.

Ordinary is defined as.....plain or undistinguished.....customary; usual; normal....of no special quality or interest; commonplace; unexceptional.

I like ordinary.

I wonder if people who have suffered trauma or tragedy or loss would tell that it was the ordinary moments that were missed the most. The slamming of the bedroom door. The smell of stinky feet. The what's for dinner and where's my bag moments. The unexpected burps and the tears of disappointment. Moments that aren't captured on film or in a scrapbook. Moments that are captured in a mind's memory.

I believe that ordinary is what we are missing as a society. The playing outside until dark and then playing some more. The neighborhood football games in the street. The bike ramp built by boys who weren't afraid of anything--except moms and maybe, sisters. The riding bikes to Grandma's just to visit. The getting to the pool when it opened and leaving just in time to beat Mom home from work. The bike riding to the library to get a book.   The sitting on the porch eating watermelon and ice cream with friends. The quiet time while Mom watches her 'story'. The continuous never ending summer baseball game down at the school yard.

The things that aren't 'festivals' as I have come to deem them. We are missing the ordinary, everyday part of life. We are running as fast as we can to the next 'festival' without enjoying the ordinary moments.

I hope my kids would say that they can remember ordinary moments. They play this crazy game we call...remember that one time....and then some crazy tale is told. I hope that I have enjoyed my children were they were 'at' in life. I hope that I have remembered not to wish away that time knowing that it's fleeting and it's on to the next part of life. It's harder than it looks. Being ordinary.

Take some time to enjoy the ordinary. Be ordinary. Just sayin'.

Food on Friday

2010-07-30T05:30:00.001-05:00

Whew. Two weeks in a row. Fairly certain that's a miracle.

When my husband was a football coach, we always attended the end of year banquet. Imagine this.....football players and mom's who knew how to feed them. One mother in particular always showed up with the same thing. Calzones. My husband loves calzones. My children love calzones. And this particular mother used homemade bread to make her calzones. Oh. My. Gosh. They are dreamy. I was actually sad when I realized that her son was a senior and we were on our last potluck with her calzones.

After visiting with her, I experimented. I could never duplicate her dough, which was fine. I ended up using frozen bread dough. My people were fine with my calzones. The problem is that it takes all day to thaw out a loaf of frozen bread dough. And I strive to be an advance planner, but alas, am struggling to think ahead.

This summer, I hit on an idea....use my own homemade pizza crust recipe to make my version of calzones. I call them pizza rolls.

If you don't have time to make dough, then you can buy that refrigerator pizza crust and use it. My people like that--it simply takes 3 cans to make them even part way full. It can be expensive to purchase unless you find it on sale.

So here's the basic recipe: pizza crust, cheese, meat of some kind and melted butter. Roll out the crust and sprinkle cheese over it.

Cover with the meat of your choice. This one happens to be leftover chicken (from a whole chicken that I used to make chicken and noodles) and bacon. By the way, if you haven't made bacon in a while because it stinks up your house for days, try this. You will never want to cook bacon any other way.

I am sure that you have noticed that I haven't included any sauce on the pizza roll. We don't love sauce on our stuff, we like to dip our stuff in sauce. In this case, ranch was used to dip the pizza roll in. Kind of like a chicken bacon ranch sandwich from that sandwich place. Only way cheaper.

Roll the dough like you would cinnamon rolls.

It doesn't have to be perfect, just edible. Pinch any holes shut and transfer to a cookie sheet. I did spray my cookie sheets even though I painted the pizza roll with butter before I baked them.

I bake mine at 350 for 20 minutes or more. The pizza roll doesn't seem to get too brown and basically you making sure that the dough cooks all the way through because the ingredients that you add are already cooked.

I have made pizza rolls once a week or more. I made them before I left for Prayer and Action and put them in the freezer. They warm up beautifully.

Yeeks. Whose hand is that? She must be 80.

This summer, I have made many different versions of pizza rolls:

--mozzarella, pepperoni and sausage

--cheddar and beef

--mozzarella, beef and cooked cabbage--mmmm....reminds me of bierocks

--cheddar and pepperoni

--cheddar and sausage

--cheddar, bacon and chicken

Honestly, I think that anything would work for a filling. If your people like it, then it could be made into a pizza roll. We use ranch or spaghetti sauce for dipping.

If you would like to know what my pizza crust recipe is, then keep reading. Otherwise...stop. Go to the next blog.

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Pizza Crust

by The Hays Crew

**this will make one crust

1 cup of water--temp should be around 110 degrees

dissolve 1 tbsp sugar in water and add

2 heaping tsp of yeast--I use bulk yeast--so this may be one of those little packets??

Let yeast 'grow' for around 5 minutes.

3 cups of flour (or a little more)

4 tbsp of melted butter

Put flour in large bowl. Pour butter over flour. Slowly pour yeast mixture over flour. Use a wooden spoon to mix. If dough seems a little sticky, add more flour in 1/4 cup increments until dough is no longer sticky and can be kneaded. Knead for a few minutes and return to bowl. Cover and put in a warm place until doubled in size.

Punch it down. Let it rest 5 minutes and roll out.

Pretty sure this is the way I do it. But it could be a lie and you won't want to follow any of my recipes again. Just sayin'.

Croquet Match

2010-07-28T08:06:00.000-05:00

Sunday night we had a family croquet match.

There were requirements to participate. We had to wear striped shirts. Even if you had on plaid shorts and refused to change your shirt....you eventually changed. There were comments--believe me when I tell you that they are not printable on this blog.

There were others who were very proud. And certainly they thought they would win the game.

And then there was this:

He is very competitive. He hates to lose. Yeah. So he married me. I don't really care if I win or lose. In fact, I am adept at losing. Unless there is something at stake, like loser does the dishes, I don't really care. Even then, I'll just do the dishes.

Therefore, even though I looked rockin' hot in my striped shirt (1 of 2 that I own) and mesh shorts, I was destined for last place. And last place is what I got...I was generous and saved someone else from disappointment.

Of course, we all knew who would win. And then gloat. But who would have guessed that HE would get second place?

Not him or his twin. That apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Just sayin'.

Food on Friday

2010-07-23T05:30:00.000-05:00

I was out of town last week on a mission trip so I left some meals in the freezer for my guys. One was the ever famous tater tot casserole.

Tater Tot Casserole

The Hays Crew Version

browned hamburger...however much you like

1 can of cream of mushroom soup

1 can of cheddar cheese soup

2 cans of green beans, drained

1 to 2 cups of shredded cheese

1 bag of frozen tater tots

Mix first four ingredients well. Add part of the shredded cheese and dump mixture into a pan. I like to use 2 8x8 foil pans. Then I have 2 meals. Cover the mixture with the remaining cheddar cheese and then place your tots on the top.

Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 60 minutes.

OR cover in foil and freeze until ready to use. I find it helps to write on the foil so I don't have to guess what I have in the freezer.

I also usually put the baking directions on the foil so whomever is 'fixing' dinner knows exactly what to do.

This is one of my go to meals when I am at a loss as to what to fix. Not that it ever happens...just sayin'.

Gone

2010-07-21T08:40:00.000-05:00

Yep. I have been gone. Surely you didn't notice? I have been in a blogging funk, cleaning funk, exercising funk and OK, just a funk in general.

But I'm back. Still a little bit funky, so let's just say I'm funky back.

I do have tons of news for you after my funky hiatus.....

1. Bud has moved to the retirement home.

My good friend who lives on a farm agreed to take him if her child could stay at my house for the day and then I would transport him home. I say that was the best trade a girl could make. Who can resist cute boys? Certainly not me. It took 2 attempts to get Bud to the retirement home. The first time, he disappeared just as we were ready to load. As soon as the cat carrier appeared, he disappeared. 2nd attempt was somewhat more successful, but I think it took 4 of us to get him in the carrier and then he refused to exit the carrier. She tells me that she has seen Bud once since he moved in. She feels that he is still around because he has left her 'treats' several times. (Treats like dead mice on the porch.)

2. Black Betty has left the family.

God is amazing. We bought the Yukon on June 24th and transferred the insurance from Black Betty to the Yukon (still no name) on the 25th. I put a sign in Black Betty announcing her eligibility to join a new family. I put her on our local radio station's 'sell your junk' show. And then we waited. And waited. On Saturday, I knew we had until Friday to sell Black Betty or we would have to reinsure her. On Sunday, a couple showed up with cash and Black Betty joined their family. God is amazing.

3. Prayer and Action 2010. Completely amazing. This deserves its own post. But for now....there is nothing like being with youth who are excited to share the love of the Lord with others.

4. I am still fighting with Blogger. I am looking into a new host. I realize Blogger is free but I can only take so much.

5. I got new shoes....

And yes, I know I have beautiful feet. I just wish they felt beautiful--they are a major part of the funk. These shoes are incredible. They are Chaco brand and they come highly recommended from the podiatrist, physical therapist and orthopaedic doc. Who knew that they'd be right? Well, at least some of them are right. Again, more on this later.

6. 4 weeks until my babies are juniors in high school and college. HOW can that be?
I am ready. I am not ready. Just sayin'.

Food on Friday..or NOT

2010-07-09T15:00:00.000-05:00

I had big plans for posting everyday this week. Then life happened. And I am continuously fighting with blogger. Is anybody else fighting with them? Posting pictures is like cutting my arm off--that might be easier than posting pictures at this point. AND I cannot simply hit return and have my cursor return to the next line. I must use my arrow keys. UUUUUUGGGGGHHHHH. Blogger is driving me crazy.
________________________________________________________________

And now it will not let me post ANY pictures and I simply cannot post food without pictures. I have been trying all day and I quit. Just sayin'.

2010-06-28T10:49:00.000-05:00

Mrs. E tagged me, so here goes!

1- What’s your staple meal (ie. what meal do you cook most often when you can’t be bothered to be adventurous)?
Mexican is my fall back meal. I usually have everything on hand and can whip it up in 30 minutes or less. Be jealous, Rachel Ray. Tonight I am using leftover taco meat to make taco soup. In fact, I probably should get that started....

2- What do you want to be when you grow up?

I want to be a librarian. I love books. I love sharing books. I love reading. I love newspapers, magazines and books. I love talking about what I have read with others.

3- What book are you reading at the moment (if any)?
IF ANY? I am on book number 11, I think. And it's a good one. Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. I am rather agitated with the main character--good Lord, Woman if someone is trying to help you have a better life--LET THEM!! She is too stubborn and needs to get over her contrary self already.

4- How do you relax?
Reading and writing. Cooking. Bossing my husband around. Yelling at my children.

5- What color are the interior walls of your home?
The kitchen is purple, at least for right now. The hallway is yellow. The bathroom is two colors of blue. The dining room is red. The living room is goldish tan. The office is the color of urine. I know--who picks the color of urine? I swear it didn't look like that on the 1 x 1 sample I held up. I am sure that the boy who mixed my paint screwed it up.

6- What is your guiltiest pleasure?
Watching Chelsea Lately! Shhh...don't tell anyone. She's totally inappropriate, but cracks me up. I know. It's like car wreck--I know I shouldn't watch but I just can't help myself.

7- What time is bedtime and getting up time?
Summer bedtime is 11ish or even 12ish. This summer I have not been able to walk due to a foot injury, so I have slept in a little more instead of joining my summer walking group. I have been able to get up when I awaken. It's a nice feeling. During the school year, I go to bed around 9ish and wake up around 5. And I am still late for school every day.

8- How long do you spend reading blogs (per day or per week)?
Depends on the day. 30 minutes to an hour. I have serious ADD this summer so I have about 47 tasks occurring at once.

Now, I get to tag a couple of people. So, I'm tagging Lisa at Bauer Banter, Ann at The Ohlde's, Erica at The Craigs, and Kate at KDKG. Ladies, all you have to do is answer the same questions and then tag a few people.

Rollin'

2010-06-27T10:27:00.002-05:00

This is how I used to roll......We call her Whitey. Pretty original.

I love this car. I loved it when we bought it and I love it today. It's a sweet ride for an old lady like me. Leather seats and a 6 CD player. And the stereo rocks. Michael sounds like he's sitting right next to me. It's a dream drive.

Then one day in March, our favorite mechanic called. He was firm. He meant business. Black Betty was grounded to the city limits. No more highway for her. He meant it. Dangerous. Black Betty was my husband's ride.

Black Betty became my ride. Black Betty and I are not friends. I thought we could be, but we just couldn't build a relationship. In fact, I think Black Betty is a word that begins with a b and rhymes with witch. Who knew they made cars that don't flash a light when you are low on fuel?

I have driven Black Betty for 3 and a half months. But no longer. Black Betty is for sale because last week, I began rollin' with this sweet ride......

Welcome to the family. Thanks, Honey.

And yes, we name all our cars. Just sayin'.

Since This is NOT My Child....

2010-06-26T21:48:00.001-05:00

I find this picture incredibly hilariously funny.....

And then I look over and see this:

After he slams the remainder of his mom's diet pepsi, he promptly helped himself to a chocolate pop tart.

He was the cutest thing goin' and he wasn't goin' home with me. Just sayin'.

12 tips

2010-06-23T09:33:00.000-05:00

1. It costs nothing to smile and say thank you.

2. Commenting and complaining ARE the same thing. Be wise with the words you choose.

3. I learned a long time ago that the smartest person I know gave birth to me. Thanks, Mom.

4. Be nice. Nobody cares how smart you are if you aren't a nice person.

5. If you make a mess (um...BP), clean it up.

6. Doing the right thing is the hardest thing to ever do right.

7. Honesty is the best policy. (But see #2 and #4.)

8. Sometimes no matter what, life simply isn't fair.

9. Trust your instincts. If it doesn't feel right, don't do it.

10. Forgive.

11. Go to church.

12. Find your joy and live it. Just sayin'.

12 Things Your Mom Forgot to Mention About Men

2010-06-16T10:02:00.000-05:00

1. There's a wrong way to mow?

2. Sometimes hair grows in mysterious places.

3. Yelling at the TV during a sporting event seems to make the players play better. Except in golf. All must be whispered.

4. There will be burping and farting.

5. Will. Do. Anything. For. Homemade. Cookies.

6. There seems to be some sort of special relationship bond with shoes--none can be gotten rid of for any reason.

7. His offspring will act like him at the most opportune of moments. (See number 4)

8. Do not schedule anything (like weddings, baptisms, birthday parties, birth of children) during major sporting events like the World Series, the Superbowl or the Final Four.

9. Will eat anything. Once.

10. Carefully wording requests while serving his favorite cookies will get the request accomplished much more quickly.

11. If he's ever wrong, be careful how you point it out to him. See number 5.

12. When you marry your best friend, you can overlook all of these things because he can make a list with double the number of things his mother forgot to mention about women. Just sayin'.

12 Books.

2010-06-13T22:37:00.000-05:00

Yep. I have been MIA. I have continued to work at the greenhouse. I thought that I would be done at the end of May. Not so much. Maybe the end of June? I have no idea.

But I do know this: I have a new appreciation for people who work outside all day every day. Talk about a butt kicker. I have been virtually worthless when I arrive home each night. And I am only working around 6 hours or so a day.

And one would think that with all that sweating, I would have lost vast amounts of weight. Not so much.

I will catch up my blogging....I will catch up my blogging....I will.
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12 books.

I do love books. I have always loved books. When I was a kid, I would ride my bike to the public library to check out books. My dream punishment was to be sent to my room. Then I could read and read some more.

I can remember when the twins were little and College Girl was 4 years older, my dream day included a book and a bag of white donuts. At the stage of 2 two-year-olds and a 6-year-old....that's all I was living for--books and donuts.

It's still my dream day. Really.

I come from a long line of readers.....my mom is an avid reader, my grandma was an avid reader, and my great-grandmothers were readers. I don't remember that my great-grandmothers read books so much as patterns, cookbooks and maybe magazines. At family gatherings, my Aunt Genevieve, my mom and grandma always swapped recipes. And talked patterns and sewing. I loved that kitchen talk.

The books I am going to share aren't in any order. Truly, they are just random books that I like and maybe you will find something you can enjoy as much as I did.

1. The Help by Kathryn Stockett--this book is a definite must read. I am still thinking about the way we treat others and actions speak so much louder than words. And I laugh every time I see a chocolate pie recipe.

2. To Kill a Mockingbird--this is my favorite book of all time. I love the writing, the history and the characters. Sometimes Scout is my favorite and sometimes Atticus is my favorite. And then there's Boo Radley. And Jem. Harper Lee is a completely amazing author--this is the only book she ever published. And yes, I have read it several times. It's interesting because this was not a book I was exposed to as a student. I actually taught this book one year when I taught middle school. Why? I had enough copies of this book that everybody could have their own. I learned a lot that semester.

3. An Untamed Land--by Lauraine Snelling. Wonderful series--historical fiction based on a family that travels from Norway to the Dakota territory. Amazing people. Ingeborg is a character I can spend a lot of time getting to know.

4. Her Mother's Hope--by Francine Rivers. I was recently introduced to this author and I think I will be checking her out again. Historical fiction. I kinda like historical fiction. Betcha haven't noticed.

5. The Elm Creek Quilters Series--by Jennifer Chiaverini. I think there are 12 plus books in this series. Plus pattern books and all kinds of quilting history. The last one I read, The Lost Quilter, takes place in the deep south during the 1860's. It starts in modern day at the Elm Creek Manor but goes way back and gives some interesting history on slavery.

6. The Geometry of Sisters--by Luanne Rice. This is another good read. Luanne Rice is an interesting author. There is usually some supernatural element in her story. This book takes place at a prep school in Rhode Island and once again, she does not disappoint. And this is a quick read. I think I read it in a day.

7. American Wife--by Curtis Sittenfield. I wasn't real sure about this book when I started, but I was sure sad when it ended. I enjoyed the writing and the whole 'presidential family' thing. Plus, SUPPOSEDLY it is loosely based on Laura and George Bush. Either way, it's a good book.

8. Sarah's Key--by Tatiana Rosnay. Isn't that the coolest name? And this is an interesting book. Takes place in Paris, 1942. The main character is a 10-year-old girl who is taken during the Vel d'Hiv' roundup, and locks her little brother in a cupboard thinking she will be back in a few hours. Not so much. Emotional story.

9. While My Sister Sleeps--by Barbara Delinsky. Fastfastfast read. It takes place in 7 days--a marathon runner has a heart attack and falls into a coma. Her sister is left to make decisions and pick up the pieces.

10. Water for Elephants--by Sarah Guern. The things I learned about the circus. Completely amazing. I couldn't stop reading. But the ending? Not at all what I expected.

11. The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes--by Diane Chamberlin. I picked this up at Target one day just because I was browsing the books and couldn't leave it there. No expectations and I was drawn into the story instantly. Completely and totally. Anyone I have passed it on to says the same thing when they return the book.

12. Jeffrey Archer--OK. So this isn't a book. It's an author. I couldn't choose just one....he has so many good books. I have never read a mediocre book by Jeffrey Archer. He is a very talented writer. And he is good for rereads--if you do that kind of thing. Just sayin'.

And So It Begins.....Again

2010-06-05T08:04:00.000-05:00

Season 14 is under way. Who knew in 1996 when I signed College Girl up for swim team that we would still be swimming in 2010?

(This photo is from 2009)

14 years of early Saturday morning trips to swim meets. 14 years of daily trips to the pool for practice. 14 years of Friday nights spent getting ready for the swim meet. 14 years of raffle tickets, roasters of sloppy joes and lost goggles. 14 years. Who knew?

This year has an added dynamic because Frick is an assistant coach for the 8 and under age group. Therefore, we must be on time to the meet. Yikes.

Before I sent them off this morning( because I have to work at the greenhouse), I gave him this advice...

"Remember to watch your language, Coach Hays, so that you may retain this coaching position."

The first Coach Hays did not laugh. In fact, he told me to shut up.

He better watch his language. Just sayin'.

Food on Friday

2010-06-04T09:43:00.001-05:00

It's summer and I am planning to post Food on Friday every week. I am very excited about this week's recipe. It's one of my favorites--pineapple, oranges, pasta and whip cream. Several of my favorites!

Frog Eye Salad

1 cup sugar

2 tbsp flour

1-3/4 cups pineapple juice

3 quarts water

2 eggs, beaten

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 tbsp cooking oil

1 package (16 oz) Acini de Pepe

3 (11 oz) cans mandarin oranges, drained

2 (20 oz) cans of tidbit pineapple, drained

1 (20 oz) can of crushed pineapple, drained

2 cartons of whipped cream

1 cup miniature marshmallows (optional)

1 cup coconut (optional)

This is a time consuming recipe. In fact, I have found that it really takes two, maybe three days to make. One day to make and chill, then mix it together the next day and serve it the following day.

Acini de Pepe can be found on the pasta aisle. They cost around $2.50 or so. They are never on sale. Both of our local stores carry them all the time.

Open the pineapple and drain it well. I use a small hand strainer and strain it until I have the 1-3/4 cups the recipe calls for. I usually have too much juice. You can save it for another recipe or freeze it to use later. Drink it or throw it away.

You need 2 containers for this salad. I go ahead and mix up my fruit, 1 container of whipped cream and marshmallows. It's a really good idea to drain off any extra juice that may have collected in the bottom of your container of fruit before you mix it all up.

Mix it gently and then put the lid on it and set it aside. If your people like coconut, this would be the point to add it. My husband LOVES coconut. Sometimes I catch him eating coconut from the bag. I love coconut in suntan lotion. It seems like there is a lot of chewing involved in eating coconut and I just don't always love the texture. I have one recipe for an oatmeal cake that has coconut in the frosting, but other than that, I don't love coconut. I certainly would never eat it from the bag. Oh, he thinks that I don't know that he eats coconut from the bag, but he leaves a trail.

Combine sugar, flour and 1/2 tsp of salt.

Mix the eggs with the pineapple juice and slowly add it to the flour sugar mixture.

Obviously this recipe has eggs so you are going to cook it. This is where your patience may be tested. Relax. Go slow.

This will burn. Go slowly. I usually put my stove on medium and stir constantly. It does take awhile. But if you burn it, it stinks. Just keep stirring. I use a whisk. My grandma probably just used a spoon.

When it begins to boil, keep stirring until it is like pudding. Remove it from heat and add 1 tbsp lemon juice.

Pour it into your second container to cool. Stir it to help it cool. DO NOT mix it with your fruit and whip cream. It will melt your whip cream. Not a pretty sight. Trust me. There is no rushing in this recipe.

Meanwhile, use that same pan to boil the pasta. Add the 3 quarts of water, 2 tsp salt and 1 tbsp oil and bring it to a rolling boil. Add the pasta. I think the directions on the pasta bag say to cook it for 4-6 minutes. We like ours firmer so I go for 4 minutes.

Then rinse in cold water. Rinse and rinse some more.

Stick your hands in it and rinse some more. Rinserinserinse and then drain it good.

Add it to the pineapple, sugar, and eggs pudding like mixture. Stir it well. It will set up very firm.

It looks a little like tapioca pudding.

Put the lid on it and set it in the fridge overnight.

In the morning, it will be a solid mass. Break it up. Use your muscles.

Add the pasta mixture to the fruit a little at a time. Stir to combine. Keep adding the pasta mixture until you have it all combined.

Add the second container of whipped cream at this point.

Chill. It really is best to make it one day, mix it the next day and serve it the following day. It's my favorite salad. I usually make it for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. Occasionally, someone will ask for it as part of their birthday meal. My grandma used to make it for me whenever I asked. She spoiled me.

Man, I miss Gram. Just sayin'.

No Random Dozen for the Month

2010-06-02T10:08:00.001-05:00

She's taking a break! I know. I know. Now I have to think of my own stuff on Wednesdays for June. I thought I might return to my Way Back Wednesday posts but then I realized that the computer that has my scanner software on it is in the shop and the person who could point me in the direction of the scanner software that I could load on this computer is in Mexico.

Then I thought I might post my own 12 questions. Yeek! There is a reason that Lid is taking a break. I couldn't come up with 3 interesting questions that I wanted to answer.

So here is what I came up with. Each Wednesday in June I am going to share 12 of something. 12 blogs to visit, 12 books to read, 12 things your mom forgot to mention about men, and 12 tips. Pretty dang clever, huh? I can feel your excitement slash anticipation mounting. No. Really.

First up. 12 Blogs.

12 Blogs to Read

These aren't in any particular order.....just random blogs I read often enough to claim to be a stalker slash follower. Admitting your addiction is the first step, right?

1. Kim's County Line--Now, I don't know this person personally but I feel like I do. She hails from my part of the state, used to write for my hometown newspaper (I can remember reading her when I was ~~little~~ ~~younger~~ when I lived there) and her sister and her people are some of my favorite people.

2. My Sisters Farmhouse--Again, I don't know this gal but I feel like I do. She's ridiculously funny and thinks deeply. She's thought provoking and well, kind of crazy.

3. Big Mama--She's just funny. And real. I like real.

4. An Oregon Cottage--She posts recipes, tips on saving money, gardening, home improvement, and just some really great stuff.

5. Cake Wrecks--Who puts this stuff on cakes? Cracks me up. Every. Time.

6. Whatever--She takes gorgeous pictures and I do mean GORGEOUS pictures. Bonus--she's funny. And I can relate to her post about all the noise.

7. Easy Street--She ROCKS! I met her through the blog sphere and found out that we had many connections in the real world--like the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon. Pretty incredible.

8. Life in a Small Town--I can relate to Miss Mary on many levels. Teacher. 3 kids. Small town. Catholic. It's amazing how much we have in common and yet, have never and probably won't ever meet in person. That's what the internet can do for you.

9. Life as We Know It--Praise God for people who are braver than I am. I am amazed at this young family's ability to adapt in a very foreign country. And she's having a baby.

10. Tipnut--the title tells it all.

11. Good and Cheap Eats--recipe blog. Usually with real food--and stuff we can get around here.

12. High Farming--Amazing. And they live right here. He's a teacher. She's working on being a nurse. 4 kids. 4 GIRLS.

So this wasn't as easy as I thought it would be, either. Again, my computer with all my bookmarks is in the shop, so I really had to think outside of my box.

Anyway, take some time to visit some or all of these blogs, leave comment love so they know you were there and have a wonderful Wednesday! Just sayin'.

Soapbox 101

2010-06-01T05:30:00.001-05:00

I received an email earlier this week with the following subject:

Vending Machines are Going Away

Really? Seriously? Oh my. Read on.....

"At its May 12, 2010 meeting, KSBE adopted a policy that requires all accredited K-12 schools in Kansas to implement the Advanced level of the Kansas School Wellness Policy Model Guidelines for foods and beverages sold in vending machines by August 2010.

Specifically:
The sale of Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value is not allowed on school property in elementary and middle schools until after the end of the school day."

It goes on to say that our vending machines will be removed by the end of the summer.

I laughed out loud. Are you kidding me?

I am convinced that I am alive today because my teachers were allowed to have caffeinated beverages. I had a couple of teachers that drank coffee all day. In fact, anyone who spent 5th grade with me is alive today because the teacher--I may have mentioned her--she's the one with the pointiest boobs I have ever seen--drank an ice cold Pepsi in a glass bottle EVERY day after recess. Her boobs might have been pointy but she knew what she was doing.

This is the stuff they leave out of teacher school. No foods of minimal nutritional value, a ream of paper a month that you must check out of the office and carry to the copy machine, and plan your trips to the bathroom accordingly.

This cannot be good. Our vending machines aren't available to our elementary kids. They are available to our elementary TEACHERS. People who occasionally need some sort of food of minimal nutritional value in order to continue the day. I am certain that there have been days when a candy bar and a diet Coke have saved the lives of those shorter than me. That's pretty much everybody because I am 5'11.

I am a grown up for heaven's sake. I can choose food of minimal nutritional value if I want to choose food of minimal nutritional value.

Surely there is more to the story than this email belies. Surely they do not mean to take the vending machines from the teacher's lounge that children do not have access to purchasing items from AT any time of the day. Surely this is a bad dream.

But I betcha it's not. I'm getting a Snickers while I can. And don't even get me started on the copy machine. Just sayin'.

Homemade Laundry Soap

2010-05-31T18:53:00.003-05:00

Yep. That's right. I made homemade laundry soap. A friend of mine made it in the late fall and the first batch that she made lasted 6 months! It cost pennies to make and was amazingly easy.

I bought everything at my local grocery store on the laundry aisle. I spent a total of $8.57 to get started but each batch only cost $3.24! It makes a LOT. My friend warned me and it was not an exaggeration--it made a lot of liquid laundry soap! I made and began using mine on May 15.

She found the recipe on this site. This is an extremely interesting site. I am thinking of making my own dryer sheets....maybe by July I'll get that pulled together.

Homemade Laundry Soap

Bar soap--I used Fels-Naptha but the site has several suggestions

2 cups Borax

2 cups Washing Soda

1 quart boiling water

2 gallons water

5 gallon bucket (or something big enough to mix it in)

Grate the bar of soap while you are waiting for the quart of water to boil. I just used my cheese grater. It was easier than I thought it would be. And it kind of looks like cheese.

Measure the Borax and Washing Soda into the 5 gallon bucket.

I added the grated soap a little at a time, stirring the whole time. Keep stirring until the soap has melted. It did seem to take a little while--like 5 minutes or so.

Once the soap has melted, add the soapy boiling water to the powder mixture. Stir. And stir some more.

I am not sure that I let it sit long enough to fully dissolve. It was pretty grainy.

It wasn't as dissolved as I thought it was going to be, but it was fine. It sort of resembled Malt-O-Meal.

This is when I slowly added the 2 gallons of water. I didn't want it to become foamy, so I did it slowly. And then stir it some more. Gently, so as not to cause it to foam up.

I had thought to save my previous laundry soap container to house my new soap. I simply poured it in and off I went to do laundry.

Of course, it wasn't quite that easy. I couldn't pour from the 5 gallon bucket into the funnel in an accurate manner so I had to pour into a pitcher and then into the funnel. Much safer way of handling the transfer.

This does make a lot of soap. 2 gallons of water plus a quart of water is a lot of soap. Not all of it fit into my container which is why I used a bucket that had a lid that sealed up tight.

The directions and my friend both said the soap kind of gels, so it does have to shaken before each use.

You are probably asking why I decided to make my own laundry soap. When I share that I made my own laundry soap, people start looking for my crazy button.

I have a couple of reasons. For one, laundry soap can be expensive. Two, we have delicate skin. I can use one kind of laundry soap. I cannot use any liquid fabric softener. NONE. Which is why when I have kids in my classroom who can use liquid fabric softener, I often inhale deeply when they are around. I love the smell of Downy--my skin does not. And three, this homemade laundry soap might just be easier on the environment.

I do have a top loader for a washing machine and yes, it probably voided the warranty because I am not, nor have I ever used the recommended HE detergent. Since the machine is almost 3 years old, the warranty is probably a non issue.

Making my own laundry soap only cost me 30 minutes of my time and that included buying the ingredients. It really was quick and easy.

And that crazy button? You are going to have to look a little harder. Just sayin'.

Random Dozen

2010-05-26T05:30:00.000-05:00

1. Would you rather host party or simply attend a party?
How about neither? I know that's a surprise to a lot of people.

2. Tell us about the most memorable party you've been to.
I really can't answer this question because I have no memory of memorable moments at a party I have been to.

3. What is one thing you hope for in the after-life?
I hope I will serve a useful purpose. Not like flies. They throw up on your food. What purpose does that serve?

4. What do you enjoy most about sunshine?
It warms my bones. It warms me to my very core...I love the way that the world looks when the sun is shining. Everything is cleaner, brighter, happier when the sun is shining.

5. When you attend a bridal/baby shower, do you prefer to bring your own gift or chip in with others to buy a larger gift?
I feel a little wishy washy this week. Depends. At school, I think that it is better to chip in and get a larger gift. On the street, I like to do my own thing. Like one time we went to a couples shower (my husband REALLY enjoys this 'new' thing) and the couple was in their 30's. My gift to them was the makings for a human banana split. Chocolate syrup, cherries, whip cream.....you know the drill.

6. Would you rather have a FREE week of having your house cleaned or all of your meals cooked for you and your family?
Hands down and on your knees with a cleaning rag I will take the house cleaned. I lovelovelove to cook and can see little point in cleaning. Why clean when there are so many books that need to be read?

7. What song describes your mood today?

8. What is something you received for your own bridal shower/wedding that you still own or use?
Stainless steel pots and pans. ON BRAND pots and pans. My mother-in-law still has the Saladmaster set she got for her wedding 52 years ago. That's my goal....let her son live that long without me doing him in and have the same pots and pans for 52 years. I figured it up and they both need to last until 2039.

9. Your favorite flavor of ice cream is?
Wwweeeellllll. Again. Wishy washy. If I have the chance to go to the dairy bar on campus, I choose strawberry. If I am eating alone, I choose Bunny Tracks by Blue Bunny. If I am only buying one for the family, I choose cookies and cream--the on sale brand.

10. When was the last time you felt "tested?"
February. Enough said.

11. "[Fill in the blank] is a food that once I start eating I find really hard to stop."
Anything that comes in the form of food. Fried food. Cookies. Fresh veggies. Strawberries. Watermelon. And the list goes on.....

12. "-----" is the best motivation.
A class reunion. No, really, think about it. I want people to know who I am WITHOUT my name tag. Just sayin'.

Announcing.....

2010-05-24T21:16:00.000-05:00

Ruby Dean Hays!

Yep. We're nuts. Just sayin'.

There

2010-05-24T07:04:00.000-05:00

So these people are movin' on up.......

We had a good last week of school. It was hard to send them home on Friday, but it was the right thing to do. They are ready for the next step....4th grade.
______________________________________________________________

I have started working on my outdoor living space. HAHA. I just had to say that because they say that on TV and it just cracks me up. What happened to the patio and the deck? Anyway, I bought my first hanging basket:

My marigold's are in and the impatiens are planted thanks to Frack. Pics of them later. Beds aren't quite ready for mulch, but the mulch is purchased and waiting to be picked up. Everything Coach planted in the garden is up. It's all good.

________________________________________________________

I started my summer reading with this book:

Thanks to the gal who loaned me this book. She was right, as usual, I lovelovelove it. I read half of it on Sunday and would have read more but we went to the movies Sunday evening. Gotta love Shrek...Just sayin'.

Random

2010-05-19T05:30:00.000-05:00

1. What is one really fast, know-by-heart "go-to" meal to fix in a pinch?
Mexican. Just had it in a pinch on Monday night. I was at the store at 6:10 and we were eating dinner at 6:40.

2. What is one item you won't leave home without. (Purse and license do not count.)
Good hair. Bad hair can just ruin everybody's day.

3. Where is one place you never tire of visiting?
My sofa. I am dibbing the sofa for Friday night. So if you are in my gene pool, plan accordingly.

4. Share one factoid of your family's history.
My 'people' eased on over to the big butt line instead of the big boob line. Praise the God of gene pool issues.

5. Complete this sentence: "Once upon a time I ...."
....Was thin and beautiful and lovely to visit. Oh wait. It's still true today.

6. If you could win a one year's supply of anything, what would it be?
This was hard. I had to poll my people. And the people said....pencils. Or root beer. Thin and crispy pizza. Can you tell that I live with a bunch of comedians? It's not as fun as it seems.

7. "One quirky thing you may not know about me is ...."
I do NOT like the sound of running water. You know like those beautiful ponds people put in their yards with those little waterfalls that sound like babbling brooks?
The sound of soothing water sounds makes me want to pee down my leg. My children tease me that they are going to choose a nursing home for me that has a huge water feature right in the center. Paybacks are hell. Buy stock in Depends.

8. You have one dollar in your pocket. What will you buy?
Caffeinated beverage.

9. "One thing that always makes me laugh is ...."
My family.

10. What is one thing you could do today to help yourself reach a personal goal?
Keep my mouth shut.

11. What is one thing you could do today to bless someone else?
Keep my mouth shut. No really.

12. What is one thing you're looking forward to soon?
Friday at 1 pm. School's dismissed!

Bonehead Move

2010-05-17T07:13:00.001-05:00

Really it's plural. Bonehead Moves.

On Sunday at 1:10, as I am putting cards on the Graduation 2010 gifts, I realize that I actually had 10 invites, not 9. Um. Graduation is at 2.

I had options. Of course, the laughter of my family didn't help my situation. And this certainly wasn't life or death. One person got a cash gift. Thus completing bonehead move number one.

We arrive at our first event of the afternoon, only for me to realize that I actually had TWO sets of guys that will be roommates. Thus completing bonehead move number 2. Duh. Oh well. They won't need to call each other to coordinate their bathroom stuff. Guys do that, right?

I ran into one the pairs at another function and apologized for the matching towels. He was so excited about the number of towels he had received as gifts that he didn't care. He doesn't have to buy any towels for college. He has one of those round mesh thingys completely full of towels. Round mesh thingys? A laundry basket? So he thought it was funny that he will have matching towels with a roommate.

Another young man was standing with us, looked at me, looked at the young man and said, "Oh. Yay. You got matching from us, too."

Well, at least I wasn't the only mom trying to be cool like that. Just sayin'.

Graduation Gifts 2010

2010-05-15T22:46:00.000-05:00

Graduation. It's emotional. It's tougher than anyone can tell you. And then you have to buy gifts. Over the years I have given many different things.

There was the year of the atlas. That was 10 years ago. No need for paper maps these days, eh?

There was the year of the towels. Embroidered with the first name of the graduate and the color of the college they planned to attend. Pretty impressive, right?

There was the year of the 17 invites. What do you get 17 kids for a reasonable amount of money? 17 sets of towels? Nope. Pewter key chains with a bible verse on them? Yep. At the time it seemed like a good idea. Now? Lame with a capital L.

There were the years of the flashlight. We actually did that for girls and guys. Everybody needs a flashlight. It is amazing how handy a flashlight is in the dorms, cars and well, just everywhere.

Then there was the year of the nail clippers, tweezers, band-aids, ibuprofen, thermometer and thread kit. This was the year that College Girl graduated and we had several invites. Someone tipped me to this gift because she had taken her son to college and realized that he had NONE of these things.

This year?

9 sets of them to be exact. I was set on buying towels this year. I think that is the best gift College Girl received when she graduated from high school. She pointed out that no matter where you go or where you live, you're going to need towels.

That girl is smart ~~practical~~ like that. Must get it from her mother.

When I went to purchase the towels, I decided that I would just get them all alike. Coach didn't think that boys would need a hand towel or a wash cloth. He thought I should just get them 2 towels and not white. No white towels for boys. I didn't ask him why he thought that and I didn't take his advice. Sorry guys. I got everyone the exact same towels.

That is my wrap job on the girls towels. I actually put the boys towels in bags. Coach put his foot down at ribbon for boys.

As we arrived at the first reception of the season, I realized that 2 of my invites are going to be roommates. Guess they have a set of matching towels. Just sayin'.

At It Again

2010-05-13T21:46:00.000-05:00

Here's Bud. He's our cat. You may remember him from here. You may also remember him from here. He's a real bad cat. We call him Big Bud Bad Ass. Emphasis on the ass. He is constantly causing trouble.

We have another cat, Willy. Willy is old. Willy is very sweet.

Bud is not.

Bud kills birds. And squirrels. But not possums. He lets those live in our garage while he guards the door so Willy can't get in. We warn everyone that Bud isn't nice. Bud is blind in his right eye.

He looks so sweet here.

Looks can be deceiving.

Upon entering the garage, this is what we were greeted with:

He evidently got full before he finished ingesting the spine. And the legs. He basically licked the spinal cord clean. And the legs. Left the fur. Guess he was at the top of his fiber requirement for today. Notice the careful placement of the carcass. It is almost like he was performing a surgical procedure of some sort.

My mother's day gift request was that the garage be cleaned out. I mean everything taken out and the garage cleaned and things put back where they belong. Huge pile of junk not going back in. Coach spent all last Saturday working on this 'gift'. Bud trashed the garage with his...well....bunny treat.

Oh Bud. Really? Seriously.

Bud is looking for a new home. Just sayin'.

Randoms...Are You Tired of These Yet?

2010-05-12T06:45:00.002-05:00

1. Please share one memory of your high school graduation. Pics would be great!

I got off of work at 6 and had to be ready to go at 6:30. And for the record, it was 1985. Everybody had this hair. Not as good as mine but they had it. And add-a-bead necklaces. It was all the rage.

I also remember that we had had to read the poem, The Hollow Men by T.S. Eliot, for Senior English so we all had pennies to hand Principal Wortman as we crossed the stage. By the time he got to me, he wasn't shaking hands. And my last name began with 'E'.

2. What is one "emergency use" item you keep in your vehicle at all times?

Blankets.

3. In your region, do you celebrate graduation open houses? Addendum: (If so,) how many open houses/bridal showers/weddings are on your upcoming events calendar?

Open houses for graduation were new to me when we moved here. When my husband and I graduated from high school it was held on a weeknight. Mine was on a Tuesday. We had cake and ice cream immediately following graduation with my grandparents.

Now it is an all out festival.

Not sure how I feel about this change. Could turn into a Soapbox 101 issue.

Currently we have 1 college graduation invite, 10 high school graduation invites and 1 wedding invite(July). 9 of the high school invites are from local kids and 1 who lives elsewhere. We have a niece who is also graduating from college, but no announcement.

4. Tell me one truth you believe about motherhood.

My mother always claimed that paybacks are hell. Turns out, she was right. Again. I hate it when that happens. But there is justice in the world.....it's called 'Grandchildren'. Someday I will be laughing much like my mother is laughing AT me now. Love her. And yes, I should have been much nicer to my mother. And if you are my child and you are reading this....IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO BE NICER TO YOUR MOTHER. Really.

5. What was the last thing you broke?
I haven't broken anything lately but I did run into a trailer attached to a brand new Ford truck in the greenhouse delivery van--which happens to be the owners personal van. I have limitations on backing. At least I didn't hit the truck. But I didn't get fired either......

6. On average, how many pieces of junk mail do you receive daily?
3.

7. Do you like to shop by catalog?
Yep. I love Eddie. And LL. Victoria not so much. I feel bad for those girls who are trying desperately to look like me.

8. Is lawn maintenance at your house a "his job," a "her job" or "his/her job" or "that's why we have teenagers" job?
I have been released from lawn maintenance because I don't perform it correctly. Right. Like there's a wrong way to mow? Apparently while I was memorizing that stupid poem I missed Lawn Care 101.

9. Which room would you like to redecorate in your home?
Yeek. Toss up between all the rooms. I could use a new kitchen. But I would really like a makeover in the living room. Although, my bedroom could use a little sprucing up. Then there's the bathroom. The basement? Gee, maybe I just need a new house.

10. Do you read a newspaper regularly, or do you read most of your news on line?
I read 3 newspapers daily. I look forward to summer when I can linger over the papers and coffee. 7 get-ups.

11. Do you believe everything happens for a reason?
Why, yes.

12. Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?
I worry about doing the right thing the right way. Just sayin'.

Finally!

2010-05-10T21:20:00.000-05:00

Yep. Finally. There is someone (besides my mom) out there who totally gets how wonderful I really am.....

Isn't this just about the coolest thing you have ever seen? I LOVE IT! A little girl in my class brought it to me for teacher appreciation week. (What's up with my freaky eyes? The photographer could use some lessons....)

And then there's this.....really. Ahhh...the fruit of my loin. Or the spawn of the devil. Just sayin'.

Randoms

2010-05-05T05:30:00.005-05:00

1. What was the last thing about which you procrastinated?
Getting out of bed this morning. It's just too hard to pull back those covers and jump into the world. 12 get-ups.

2. How long does it take you to fall asleep, and do you sleep through the night?
I look forward to the day I sleep through the night. Oh wait. I have gene pool issues--I am my grandmother's child and will probably sleep through the night....NEVER. If I sleep through the night more than twice in a week, I am lucky. I usually spend 30 to 60 minutes going to sleep. I watch TV, read or play my nintendo DS.

3. Which decade would you choose to exemplify your favorite fashion styles?
Who says I have fashion style?

4. What is your personal best dish to feed a crowd?
Cookies.

5. Are you an impulse shopper? What was the last thing you bought on impulse?
I am only impulsive shopper at the grocery store. I bought on brand graham crackers and already made frosting.

6. What is one wish you have for your own funeral?
I better not be wearing underwear or else. Enough said. And I mean it. NO UNDERWEAR. I will haunt you....

7. If it's true that joy is in found in the simple things in life, what does your joy look like today?
Coffee and a newspaper.

8. What is your favorite type of bread?
Homemade country white bread with homemade peach jam. And real butter.

9. What trait do you fear developing the most? (Laziness, greediness, grumpiness, etc.)
Grouchiness. It's a gene pool issue. I know that some of you are thinking that I have already developed this trait. If you are related to me, shut it. If you are not, then shut it. We all have faults.

10. What trait would you like most to develop?
Getting my foot out of my mouth. I constantly blurt stuff out and later think why on earth did I say that out loud? Like the answer to number 9.

11. Which room in your house best reflects your personality? Why?
The clean one. Oh wait, none of the rooms in my house are clean.

12. How do you maintain balance in your life regarding, work, family, church, other organizations and activities, and blogging?
I drink caffeinated beverages. Just sayin'.

Soapbox 101

2010-05-03T21:10:00.000-05:00

Issues. I have issues. Lots and lots of issues.

This comes as no surprise to anyone who is related to me.

So we're in church on Sunday morning. It's a beautiful morning. Church was a little warm, but nothing that required me to remove my denim jacket covering my ever increasing muffin top. Everybody go 'whew'.

Smack. Smack. Whisper. Rustle. Smack.

Really. Seriously.

Smacksmack.

Yep. Gum in church. Really. You know. I do not claim to have had perfectly well behaved children in church. We made our fair share of trips down the isle and out the door for some 'conversation' on the front steps. You know the kind of conversation I'm talking about--the kind that involves the mom talking close to the ear while holding tightly to the arm of the child. Spitting may be involved. We have finally gotten them to stop laying bets on long the homily will last. Oh wait. That was the parents.

Smacksmack.

Gum in church. This is quite possibly my biggest church pet peeve. I am sure that over the years people have blogged about my childrens' church clothing. Oh well. They were there and they participated. Or else. And by participate I don't mean sing. I mean stand up sit down stand up sit down. Turn to the right page in the missalette and follow along. Stand up sit down. The Dad and I placed ourselves accordingly. Child Adult Child Adult Child. Sometimes we still have to sit that way. I refused to fight over what they wore because they were going to church willingly. But they were NOT allowed to have gum. I am not telling you they didn't ever have it but I tried my level best.

And not just gum in church. Gum that is being chewed like cows chew cud. I mean really. Yesterdays incident involved a little girl who is 6 or 7. Who should know better. Don't you hate that phrase? And I do think that she knows better. It took everything I had not to turn around and offer her a kleenex for the gum. It was loud. Loud enough to be heard over the guitar playing cantor. Loud enough to be heard over the feedback from a strangely placed microphone. Loud enough to be heard over the stand up sit down. Loud.

And I'll be danged if I didn't look up and see a grown man chomping away on his gum. Really?

Let's be clear on my expectations....I like gum. I like double mint gum. I like spearmint gum. I enjoyed a piece of gum tonight while at a meeting. I passed the package around suggesting that several people take some gum in order to keep their mouths busy. Gum has its place.

There is no place in church for gum.

Today when I saw her in the hall, I almost mentioned the no gum in church rule. I stopped myself today. Tomorrow, I might not have such restraint.

Soapbox 101. Just sayin'.

Week at a Glance....

2010-05-02T20:44:00.002-05:00

*There are 14 more get-ups and the school year ends. I still have some important stuff to impart to their little minds. I better get on it.

*My good friend, LB and her family own the local greenhouse. It is a wonderful little place to spend some time in the spring browsing (and purchasing) beautiful flowers. Desperate for seasonal help, LB enlisted in my assistance for a couple of weeks. What little I know about flowers involves killing them. See, I told you LB was desperate. I am not giving up my day job just yet .

*And do you know how much a hanging basket of just watered geraniums weigh? A basket that must be lifted above my head to hang? More than a dang third grader that's for sure.

*Home track meet this week. YES!! That means no traveling out of town or waiting for the bus to arrive after dark.

*Our high school's big variety show is on Thursday and Friday nights this week. Practice on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Frack is in robed choir so he is involved in the show. This is always fun for the kids and a good laugh for the audience. This years emcee's could be very interesting.....show stopping, even.

*Swim team sign up on Wednesday night. Thus begins year 2 of my no longer on the board involvement in swim team. Some one at my house has swam every year since 1996. Many of those years were spent as the team treasurer. I am very glad that it is someone other than me who is doing that job. Frack is an assistant coach this year so he must be at the meeting on Wednesday night. Frick is still out on whether she will be returning to the team this summer.

*Menu plan: I got one!! It has been weeks since I have had a real menu plan. Here it is: chicken salad.

I pulled already cooked chicken from the freezer and made it into chicken salad. So that's my plan. Chicken salad. And, yes. That is an 8 cup container.I bought chips and cheap white bread. We have 2+ boxes of saltines. And we're having chicken salad. I predict that by Friday, we'll all be begging for Mexican.

No promises on posting this week. Just sayin'.

Randoms

2010-04-28T05:30:00.004-05:00

1. Have you ever been so lost that you were really afraid?
Nah. But I am a chicken butt. I wouldn't go if there was a chance I could be lost. Or hurt. Hard to believe, I know but I really am not a huge risk taker.

2. Have you ever been to an island?
I'm there everyday. I am an island. Believe me, there ain't nobody swimming to save me. Until they need clean clothes or groceries, I will be on the island.

3. Are you more of a thinker or feeler?
Eh. Really? I think I like to feel chocolate on my tongue.

4. Do you tend to see issues or situations in life as black and white or shades of gray?
Eh. Really? I am on an island with chocolate and shades.

5. If you were stuck on an island, what book would you hope to have with you (Let's pretend the Bible is already there, so you can't say that.)
Eh. Really? Just one. I am the person who takes a separate bag for books when I go on vacation. Last summer, we had the rule that we could only take two bags on vacation. I guess I would hope that I had The Red River of the North series by Lauraine Snelling. Those books are my very favorite books.

6. What are you most afraid of?
Yikes. It might be easier to go with what I am not afraid of.....

7. Would you rather lose all of your old memories or never be able to make new ones?
I call uncle on this one. I simply cannot answer.

8. Pretend I'm looking at a scrapbook page about you. There are three spaces for you to drop in individual pictures. What are those pictures of, and why did you select them?
My wedding picture. This was the single greatest thing to ever happen to me. This man....
makes me a better person every day. He makes me live life. He makes me laugh out loud. He....is all mine.

And then there is the "I'm a MOM!" picture. I look frightening but you know what? There is no greater feeling than that day. That picture is just over 20 years old.....and that feeling still hasn't gone away. And when I repeated that incredible feat 4 years and a month later....oh my. It just doesn't. get. any. better.

I know I have 4 pictures, but the pictures of my kids counts as one. Sometimes you just have to bend the rules. Or break them. Because none of this life I have would have been possible if I hadn't been loved beyond belief by these two women:

My Grandma and My Mom.

(Yes. That's me in the red sweater vest with the large bow. It was the 80's. It's what all the really cool people wore.)

9. If you were re-doing your wedding, what would you do differently? (If you're single, tell me one thing you would do if you were planning a wedding OR huge party.)
Afternoon wedding with a cake and punch reception. And a HUGE honeymoon.

10. Tell me one thing you know/believe about forgiveness.
Forgiveness is tough.

11. You're waiting in a doctor's office. What is your favorite way to pass that time?
Read. Read. And read some more. Sometimes I secretly hope that my doc is running behind just so I can read in peace longer. I know--be careful what you wish for......

12. If there were a clone of you in a parallel universe what is one way you hope she/he would be the same as you and one way you hope she/he would be better?
I really hope there's not one out there. One of me is enough for a lifetime. Yeah, I am that awesome. Just sayin'.