Show and Tell Friday

Happy Show and Tell Friday. On Wednesday when I was cleaning out Alexis's backpack--this little guy was shoved all the way to the bottom. I said, *Alexis what is this?* She said, *Mom, that is "Pumpkin Dude" *---Now, I know she made this rather quick at school--but I have to say when I look at him he makes me smile--so in Honor of October I hung him on my wall for all to see---Doesn't the Pumpkin Dude make you smile...LOL

Happy Show and tell--go over to Kelli's and join in the fun. Thank you so much for looking!
Happy Friday

Happy Friday!

Have a wonderful day today!!! Be safe if you Trick or Treat ---and have a wonderful Friday<---I can not be believe it is Friday already....LOL.

* Update

His front two teeth were filled and his two fangs on either side were too decayed to save--the dentist said that after she had cleaned them out there was nothing left but a nub so they were extracted:(...She said by the looks of the two fang teeth, he was probably in some pain---oh dear--talk about feeling bad for your little one. I can only thank God, that I took him so soon to at least be able to save his front teeth and that we caught all this in time--Who takes their babies to the dentist at one??? I guess with all our teeth trouble I knew I had too---all his other teeth are just perfect-----I am so relieved this is all over---Little Kevin has to wait until tomorrow to nurse because the sucking will cause his gums to bleed. he did soooooo well--he did not cry. He sat there like a big boy and let her do the work--She was such a gentle dentist and sooo nice. He did cry at the initial start when I handed him over but after the numbing gel took effect on his gums he was done crying. That is all for now--it was quick, about 30 minutes---

She told me every night to take a q-tip and dip it in *ACT For Kids* and rub his teeth with it---so we got that and then I have to just brush extra well--since all my kids baby teeth are just prone to cavity's no matter what I do.

THANK YOU ALL for the prayers--I know they are what got Little Kevin and me through this--(((Hugs)))

Today is the Day!

Little Kevin's appointment is at 11:00---It wouldn't be a big deal under normal circumstances, but being that he is just a baby--and won't know what is happening, I am asking for Prayers today--Please--I will update when we get home.

Wednesday--Clean Your Oven day!

Good Morning--it is Wednesday and it is supposed to be hot one today--it was 92 degrees yesterday--I had to turn the air on it was so warm, and it is supposed to be a hot one today too. Alexis got these new boots for school and she wants to wear them so bad--but with this heat--she would be uncomfortable.

I visited a few *new* blogs yesterday---they were such nice homemaking blogs--they aren't new--just new to me and I am glad I stopped by--so if any of you come by :::Waiving::::

I sprayed the No-Fume oven spray in my oven and I will be cleaning that today----it is an unspoken law that right before Thanksgiving you are supposed to clean your oven---so that is what I am doing.

I am also sewing these little Angels for Christmas--it is a slow process, but I want them done by Christmas so I can give them to my Grandma, StepMom and Sister----

Remember in my last post, I said I was not nervous for the work to be done on Little Kevin--I am not nervous about that--but last night I could not sleep--I kept thinking about how he is going to be afraid about what is going on, so please say an extra pray for Little Kevin tomorrow that it goes by quick and smoothly--I would so appreciate it--Thank you.

This is the Napa Cabbage all cut up and put in a big pan: It looks like a lot.

This is the cabbage all cooked down----we like it really crispy

This is the pork, that I cut into big bite size pieces--cooking away

This is the pork all fried up with Onions and mushrooms added to it...

This is the Green Salad with all the fixings--Cheese and Avocados are served on the side

Thank you for looking at my dinner and visiting with me today---I always enjoy what others have to say and I enjoy all your blogs--Have a terrific day!

Tuesday's Post!

Happy Tuesday
On Sunday I made a whole chicken---so last night for dinner, I took the left over meat and made chicken enchiladas with the green sauce----this is the picture of them before they went into the oven--after they cooked for a bit I took them out and sprinkled more cheese over them. I served them with fresh avocados and sour cream with a nice green salad. I am going to take the chicken bones and boil them today for some really nice broth.

For those of you that have American Online, then you know they are closing down their webpages---so last night, I went through all my webpages (I have a lot) on AOL and I was taking off all the pictures so I don't lose them---I am thinking maybe Kevin can save the webpages on CD or something--I have lots of other web pages out there in cyber land that I don't want to lose--this was before I switched over to blogger. Here are some pictures I pulled off the webpages--->

Alexis and Tony in Christmas 2003

Chirstmas 2001

Tony in 2001---he woke up with this crazy hair--it seems like yesterday I took this picture:)

Alexis in 2001

Thank you for taking a look down memory lane with me---I have a ton more pictures that I will post periodically.

Tonight for dinner--I am going to make Pork (Cut into bites) with Mushrooms and Onions, and served with Noodles and I will also cook one of the fresh veggies to go along with it--the pork was at a great price this morning when I stopped at the market to pick up some more tomatoes and juice, I could not pass up the meat.

Today Alexis gets out of school at Noon, I am sooooo happy when they have early days. Thursday is Little Kevin's dental appointment. My husband is coming with me--and he is nervous--I am not nervous anymore, I know this is the right thing to do--and it needs to be done, to insure he is not in any pain or it abscesses or ruins his adult teeth. I have put it in God's hands and I know he will see me and Little Kevin through this. When I say my prayers I always say to God to please hold Kevin extra tight in your arms on Thursday--and Daddy too:)

Before Picture---> *Updated!

This is my 1 year old's idea of how to organize my Tupperware--now, he really has lost interest--and I have now put up a baby gate to my kitchen to keep my puppy and the baby seperated for the time being--so my cabinet does have a chance to stay nice if I can figure out a way to oraginze it---->

This is exactly how it looks right now:

I will post an after picture----keep your eye out for that:)

UPDATE
Here is the after:

It is better--but I am still on the look out for a better method--at least it is neat now:)

Menu Plan Monday!

Baked whole Chicken
Stuffing
Roasted Potatoes

Green Beans
Salad

Use leftover Chicken for Chicken and Dumplings
With a beautiful Green Salad
Or Chicken Enchiladas<--With the green sauce

Steak
Baked Potatoes
Steamed Asparagus
Salad with all the fixings

Chicken Strips
Rice
Spaghetti Squash
Salad

Hamburgers with Mushroom Gravy
Mashed Potatoes
Burned Cabbage
Salad

Taco Night!

My menu is in no particular order--and most every dinner is served with a beautiful green salad--with ALL the fixings----> from my shopping day at the Farmers Market

Have a glorious day and visit Laura at Organizing Junkie and add your menu too!

Good Morning---Happy Monday!

I am so excited for a new week---I have so much I want to do and post about. I hope to share lots of pictures and lots of posts. I am going to get my new menu up--ASAP:)

Be back shortly---Have to get Alexis off to school:)

76° F 54° F
24° C 12° C

P.S. I am enjoying a cup of nice hot pumpkin spice coffee!!

:::Handing everyone a cup as they come by:::::::

Saturday Chatter!

Farmers Market was yesterday---I went to Henry's and completely loaded up on fresh veggies and fruits. Here is a picture of some of the produce I had purchased--I thought they looked so nice sprawled out all over the counter--when my husband walked in the door from work, his eyes got real big and thought the kitchen had exploded...LOL. He rarely sees everything out--he usually comes home when everything is put away. I did not have much time to clean and chop and put everything in their proper containers--so between my cleaning and laundry today I will be doing my produce too.

Do you see those peppers--the red and green? I am going to make some stuffed peppers tonight for dinner--you know with the rice and ground beef? I have 2 questions for y'all---do you have any TnT recipe for this and what would you serve as a side dish with stuffed peppers?

Avocados were .77 cents--->lowest price I have ever seen them in a very long time.
...and look at that spaghetti squash--so pretty:)

Bird update: My little yellow bird has been so, so sad--I waited the time I was told to wait by the bird clinic, before I got a new friend---so yesterday I went to the pet store and picked out a new friend for Sunshine--lets just say---my little yellow bird is starting to perk back up. I will take pictures of the new bird--she is PURTY :o)

Happy Saturday you all--I was up pretty early this morning and I did my errands at 7:00 a.m. - I needed some swiffer pads and a few other things at Walmart that I will make a separate post about. (I go to Walmart as early as possible to avoid crowds)

*Updates!

Good morning/afternoon/evening!! I hope everyone who stops by has a wonderful day. I posted that picture up top because I thought it looked so nice and fallish.

Some Updates:

1. Kevin's Dentist appointment went extremely well--very happy. He does have some decays in the front, but she never once made me feel that it was because of breastfeeding. She was a really pretty doctor--and the thing is, she was as pretty in the inside as she was on the outside. Have you ever met someone that was absolutely beautiful, but they had such a bad attitude it just made them seem not very attractive? I am swerving off topic---Kevin is scheduled next Thursday for the work to be done---he is not the 25 pounds yet to be put under, which I am extremely uncomfortable about doing anyway--so he will be papoosed--I am not thrilled with this either--but his teeth need to be fixed before they cause him pain or abscess--looking at his teeth you would never know they had cavities--because they look so pretty. Anyway---I just want to put my 2 cents in about cavities---I don't care what your oral hygiene is---I think people are more prone to cavities then others----of course good oral hygiene is awesome--but I have great oral hygiene and look at what happened---My grandfather took very good care of his teeth and had to have them all out at a very young age--my father has perfect teeth--never a cavity--my mother had terrible luck with her teeth. I feel so bad for people who do not have dental insurance--because even with my insurance it is costing a pretty penny.


2. Christmas shopping: We are done----with the exception of some stocking stuffers--we are done!

3. Computer---Kevin bought me a new one yesterday--he came home with it as a surprise---it is so pretty! It runs so nice---Kevin is going to fix my old computer and let Alexis have it.

4. House cleaning day--YES!! Today---I am cleaning house. Yesterday was dentist day, so I did not get any house work done---Tuesday was a lot of running around/errand day so cleaning did not get done that day. Monday was the day my computer crashed so I was completely out of whack.

5. I need some help--How do you organize your Tupperware?---mine is a complete mess---I keep them in the lower cabinet and it was semi organized, until Little Kevin pulled everything out--he has now lost interest in that cabinet--but now I am at a loss at how to organize it---any ideas? How do you organize yours?

6. This is my vent of the day---People driving! Why do they drive right on your bumper--do they think they are going to intimidate me to go faster? Not me--it makes me go slower--YEP! Going down the street is a 35 mile zone--and then when it gets closer to the school it is 25---it amazes me how people are right on my bumper--and then actually turn into the school--shame on them. I am one of those people that actually follow the rules of the rode---you know, both hands on the wheel, no phone, speed limit, etc--I am the person that always gets passed by all the other cars because they have to be first. Whew--That felt good to type out!

7. Freeway--here in Cali we call it the freeway--I remember in Chicago it was called the Expressway and in Georgia, I think I recall it being called the highway--what do you call it?

8. Epi Pen--I have the epi pen---but it is a bit intimidating--I have it with me at all times--you just never know---Peanuts are everywhere--especially at the grocery store---in the aisle to check out, all the candy seems to have peanuts and little Kevin just wants to grab them--I feel so bad for him--I am hoping he grows out of it. I am also going to talk to my doctor about alternatives, like can he have Almond butter? Walnuts--etc.

....and last but not least--My Mother---her birthday was Saturday--oh, how I miss her--did I ever tell you her name was Melody--isn't that a pretty name:)

You all have a most wonderful Thursday--and while Kevin is napping I am going to visit some blogs--and if I don't get to you now--I will in between cleaning and before bed---see you soon!!

2nd Opinion

I am taking Kevin in for his second opinion on his teeth--wish me luck!

Computer is Sick!

My hard drive crashed (early) Monday morning----Kevin put it in my old hard drive last night after he got home from work--but it is

S L O W! He is going to get a new hard drive today to install--but it was rather difficult not having my computer yesterday---You don't realize how much you depend on something until it is not there---my son has a computer--but it is not the same----I was Mrs. Grumpy yesterday--my day was out of whack----

I am just so happy I have my computer back--it may be slow--but I can deal with a slow computer rather then no computer at all. I had so much to post about about too---I think that is what made me grumpy yesterday--I couldn't do my lists and such for the new week.

Anyway, just in case I go MIA again you know why--my computer is a bit on the ill side.

Happy Tuesday :o)

Christmas Shopping??

Today??

YES!!! :o)

F R I D A Y!

YaY!

I can not believe it is Friday already-----did I get everything done on my list----not yet---I am ever optimistic in my quest for the perfect home---*Cough*-- Perfect for me:)

I did make my appointment for our professional portraits done--that will be done in Mid November--I am excited---now to figure out what we are all going to wear. We are doing it at JC Penny--I got a really great coupon for it.

I am having some trying times with my teenager right now---oh boy, these teenage years are tough----I just keep reminding myself , this too shall pass--I soooooo had my difficult year with my father--and do I ever feel guilty for being such a brat at times to him when I was a teenager--but it is nice to talk to other moms with teenagers and knowing that I am not alone, and they do grow out of it--but boy did he throw some zingers at me yesterday. Do you think you could say a little pray for my son ---Please, I need all the help I can get right now.

I went and bought some cleaning products today at Walmart--and I also bought a really big pumpkin---ohhh, I hope it is full of a lot of seeds.

Happy Wednesday!

Good Morning!

I was up bright and early---even before my coffee pot was set to go off. My coffee pot is set for 5:00--but Little Kevin had other ideas--He was up at about 4:45 ready to play!

Let me just say my coffee was so good this morning! I am having my last cup right now.

I want to share with you some things:

First, almost every year since Tony was born I have always made these two dishes for Halloween night---Pizza Masks and Veggie Chili!....and I also make this cake occasionally--Here is a picture of my first pumpkin cake ever--this picture dates bake about 16 years ago.

Cute cake , huh? Oh, I was so proud of this cake...LOL.

Here are the recipes for the Pizza Masks and the Chili too:
(Click on recipes to enlarge and read better)Chili:

I am simmering all day my spaghetti sauce with homemade meatballs---and I am adding the left over pork from last night to it too--it will be served over Rotini Pasta with homemade Dinner rolls--and a salad. I have been playing/busy a little bit, so my house needs some TLC--so if things go as planned I am going to try and get some things done--I have a new plan for my kitchen--in my organizing quest.

It's The Little Things---->

Y E S !

M O N D A Y

Hello!

My Saturday did not go as planned...which sometimes is a good thing. My sister called and invited us out to dinner--which was very nice--so in turn I invited them over on Sunday and we had the pulled Pork. So lets just say I did not get all the things done I had planned--but that is okay---I have all week, right?

When I got home Saturday night from dinner--I immediately checked Michelle's blog--and she had passed away--it made me so very sad---of course death is always sad because we are selfish and want our loved ones here with us. Michelle I only knew from her writings, but she had an effect on my life as I am sure she did on all of yours that visited her--what an amazing woman who will be missed from people all over the world. What is that saying, it takes a second to make a friend, but a whole life time to forget them---She will never be forgotten--what a brave person she was.

It was cold this morning--COLD--54 degrees--I love it!

A little tidbit about me---I was born in a little suburb out side Chicago---and until my mother fell Ill--We lived in Oak Park, Illinois----My Grandparents before moving out to California, lived in Addison, Illinois---so when I see visits on my feedjit from those parts of the country it makes me smile. I was 17 the last time I visited Illinois--and through the eyes of a child everything seemed so big and when I was older it seemed so small. I remember my great grandmother every weekend, taking me on the L train into downtown Chicago and we would go to the Palmer House for Fish and Chips--and then one weekend she took me to see the movie Grease at the Theatres...LOL--I was 7. When I was 17 and went back to visit I went to see Oprah and was in the audience--the show was titled, *Why Women Can't Make It In A Mans World*--at the time I wanted to meet Oprah--I wasn't concerned about the topic--but can you believe the camera put the camera on my face several time during the show and each time I had such a dumbfounded look on my face---LOL.

Have a wonderful Monday!

S A T U R D A Y

It is Saturday----and I have a long list of things I would like to accomplish this weekend. I put a Pork Roast in my crockpot--with Jalapeno-BBQ sauce--it smells sooooo good:)

I don't have any birthday parties this weekend--last week there were quite a few----the one party we went to had a jump house--Alexis LOVES those.

I just finished the downstairs bathroom--it is all sparkly.

My washer and dryer are going as I type--and my husbands is supposed to come home early so I should be able to get most of my ironing done---Little Kevin will go down for a nap in a little bit and that is when I will start that.

I have two more bathrooms to do---and the kitchen floor to mop---

There is nothing more satisfying to me then to relax after a long busy day of cleaning from top to bottom. It does not go as fast as it use too...lol---the more kids I have the longer it takes.

Oh---I almost forgot, I have to get my dinner rolls going in the bread machine too. Alexis will have a play date with Emma--and Tony will go off with his best friend--and the baby will stay with me, of course--he is my little buddy!

As, I look around my home I can see many little projects that need to get done--so much to do, so little time! I am also going to go through my new Rachael Ray magazine and see what I can add to my shopping list--I also want to try these Pumpkin Raviolis--I have never had them, but they do sound yummy--anyone have these?

Happy Saturday!

Friday Chatter!

Thank you so much for the comments on my little bird---I feel so bad for Sunshine the yellow bird--he lost his companion:( I am going to let him morn for a little while and then I am going to bring a new friend for him----I am not sure how long I should wait--I know when my sweet little green bird died, my husband brought home the yellow bird immediately---and my blue bird seemed very happy. The blue bird that died, had traveled across country twice---she had a long life and hopefully a happy one--and she was a singer---my little yellow bird yesterday managed to sing a few tunes--but they were sad--not the happy chipper little tweets I am used too---

My tivo is full of wonderful shows, so while I am busy with laundry and ironing I can watch these. I did a little ironing last night---I have to iron when my husband is home or when my baby is napping--so it is touch and go with that.

Little Kevin is napping right now--but when he wakes, I am going to go to the market-----I think I am going to buy some Zucchinis --I saw a really good show on the food network about roasting them--so I think I am going to try this---I had quite a stock of chicken--and I have to say, I am so hoping their are good deals on other meats...LOL--I am chickened out:) I do love pasta though--I could eat pasta everyday. Ohhhh and mayonnaise--if I was deserted on a desert island---just leave me with a jar of mayonnaise...I could eat it like ice cream---HAAAAAA, how many of you are grossed out now. Miracle Whip is not allowed on this blog-----Sorry KF'ers---(this is an AOL cooking messgae board--click at your own risk)(YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE:::GIGGLES::::)

It is finally cooling off---it was soooo HOT--I mean HOT!

I am also putting up a new poll---just because I am nosey:) It is anonymous--so please answer--I am just curious about how old everyone is(again)--->
My best girlfriend is turning 40 and she is sad about that----I am proud to say I am 38 and I embrace every gray hair I have earned!!! My 30's were/are awesome--I can't wait to see what is in store for my 40's in a couple years!


One last thing--Please say a prayer for Michelle--my heart is just breaking over this woman's pain!

:*(

Just a quick note--My little blue bird passed away last night!! I thought she was too ornery to die. I am sad! :*(

A Few Things! Wednesday.

A couple things---Last night, I watched the Duggar's new reality show on my Tivo----and I love it!!! What an exciting time the family is going through--their eldest son is engaged--and they are waiting to do their first kiss on their wedding day, how absolutely exciting. Did you see the part where the Dad was talking about how Michelle had many boyfriends----:::Giggles::: oh well--that would be me too:) Michelle also stated that they limit their TV--I am wondering what shows they watch? What an awesome family.

My chicken and dumplings last night came out awesome: I will type out the recipe soon--it was out of the Betty Crocker Cookbook--I could not find it online to copy and paste--so, sometime in the near future, I will type out the recipe I use.

As for the question I got earlier in my comments about how am I upbeat and so cheerful all the time--it is mind over matter. I can either choose to be sad and act like a stick in the mud---or I can be happy---Dr. Laura always says on her radio show--PRETEND YOU ARE HAPPY---and then after awhile, you are happy---IT WORKS!! Trust me, my life is not rainbows and roses everyday--My husband works very hard so we can have a nice life--but things are very expensive and sometimes financially we are hit hard---I have to budget very carefully and watch my nickel and dimes---and sometimes it can get depressing--but I look around me and see all we have--a beautiful home to live in--good food to eat, nice clothes, health insurance---and BEAUTIFUL, WONDERFUL CHILDREN---how can anyone stay upset for long. My husband once said to me when I was upset about the bills *Honey, don't I always provide? Don't I always make sure everything gets paid? * He said *TRUST ME* ...and that is what I have to do---I trust him and I just want to be happy--life is so much better when you are happy--and who wants to be around an unhappy person--quite depressing if you ask me.

What I did this morning---> I washed my car--it was dirty--now it is clean:)

Also, I made my little ghost lollipops--aren't they the cutest?

Everyone who stops by to reads my blog, bless your hearts---Please have a wonderful day--AND BE HAPPY FOR THIS VERY MOMENT!!!

Put your Spongebob Slippers on and have a fun day:)

Tivo----> and a little more!

Okay, I have a season pass on my TIVO for all the Duggar Show's, Robin Miller's Quick Fix Meal Ideas, Martha Stewart's show---:::Giggles:::: I figure this Saturday, while I am doing laundry and ironing I can watch some of these awesome shows. I have a couple Little House recorded too--so I think that should keep me busy for awhile. Martha comes on at 2:00 here and that is the time I go pick up my daughter, and to be honest, I just don't have time to sit down and watch TV at 2:00---so I like to record it and listen to it when I am upstairs doing things. (Plus, I can speed through all the commercials and skip the parts I am not interested in, kwim?) I just can not sit still for any length of time----I don't enjoy the movie theatres--because I have to stay put...LOL----OHHHH, I totally forgot this little tidbit I heard on the radio----Have you heard of the movie *Fireproof* with Kirk Cameron--well----he is so completely dedicated and devoted to his wife and to the vows he took, he would not even kiss his onscreen wife in the movie---the kiss you see him do in the movie is a silhouette of him kissing his REAL wife--how is that for love and respect and complete dedication/devotion?

Tonight is Chicken and Dumpling Night---One of my favorite----YUMMY!!!
I am using the recipe out of my Betty Crocker CookBook--But I have to say Brenda (Tater from the KF Board)) has the best idea/recipe for dumplings--store bought biscuits in those cans---you open up those can thingys, you know the ones that POP--and then you cut the biscuits in half or quarters and just drop the dough into the chicken broth---and cook them until they are light and fluffy--best dumplings ever!! I don't have any of those cans today, so I am just going to use the old stand by with flour:)

Have a Happy Tuesday!!!

One of my Favorites!!!

This has got to be one of my favorite episodes of Little House. My husband hooked up my new TIVO last week and this was the first thing I recorded!!! What is one of your favorite Little House episodes?

This is just a few snippets from the show--a few of the best parts---it is just a few minutes:) Grab a cup of something yummy and watch this with me.

Oh, just in case you don't want to play this--or not enough time--it is *The Richest Man In Walnut Grove*

Friday!!

I can not believe it is already Friday! I forgot to take a picture of my roast last night, but if you can trust me---it came out wonderful. Lots of Home Making to do today----Busy weekend too.

Please, who ever comes by and reads this--BE HAPPY!!! Enjoy your children, your Husband---all the little things, appreciate!! If you are having a bad day, snap out of it--Life is too short to be unhappy----Get up, get dressed, clean your home, make a nice dinner--put a little perfume on and SMILE!!! BE Happy!!

Happy Friday!

Pictures Of What Has Been Going On In The Kitchen!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins--Tasted WONDERFUL!!!!

Ranch Dressing--Never Fail Recipe!

Apple Pie---HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA---Please don't look at the crack in crust...LOL---OOPS!!!

Pictures of the Roast will have to wait until later--it is in the oven cooking away:)