How to have a semi-bad month...

Ok, it has been a while since I have blogged, but I have had valid reasons... you know how they say bad things happen in 3? I can attest to that one this month. It all started about 3 weeks ago, I was leaving Wal-Mart & I got backed into. Luckily there was no damage to my car, but I still count that as a bad thing. Then 2 weeks ago the furnace broke & we had no heat, so I had to figure out how to get that fixed... so that was 2... number 3 happened on Thursday of last week. I got into ANOTHER car accident. This time I wasn't so lucky. I was fortunate that no one was hurt in the accident, & my car only has cosmetic damage - which forced me to rent a car, which I can't complain about because it is totally a step up from my car! I have a 2006 Kia Spectra, which I really like, but for the next 2 1/2 weeks I am driving around in a 2008 Toyota Avalon with all the perks. One thing that I have noticed is that it's a lot bigger than my car, so parking isn't the greatest form of fun, but it will do for now. The other part that is stinky is that I have to go back to Iowa in 2 weeks to go to court. I'm crossing my fingers that I can call & get out of having to appear in person, because I just don't want to have to go back there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Other than those things, not much new is going on. I'm attaching some pictures from Halloween with my cousins. This is the 3rd year that I have celebrated here in KC, & I love getting to see the boys dressed up in their costumes. We took them to Boo at the Zoo the Sunday before Halloween, & that was fun. Alec was dressed up as Indiana Jones, & Zach was a pumpkin. I will say I think he is the cutest pumpkin I have seen since my niece was one last year. The funniest part of the night was when we were Trick-or-Treating & this lady handed Zach a 3 Musketeer bar & he looked at it, looked at her & threw it back into the bowl. Then she handed him a Kit-Kat, he said Thank You, which sounded like Tutu, turned around & happily put it in his bag. It's amazing how fast they grow up. He can't say Libby yet, but I am very happy with his version, Bibby - it's way better than when Alec used to call me an old Biddy. He surprised me Saturday night when I was babysitting them by saying Uh-oh Spaghettios! I didn't know that he knew that one, & the boys were very excited to be getting the new Madagascar toys from McDonald's, & they both received Marty the Zebra, & Zach was all over saying Zebra, & after their baths when I showed them their Zebra's talked, they both sat in a chair & pounded them on the ottoman OVER & OVER & OVER until I couldn't take it anymore & had to shut them off. That was definitely a fun night!

Until next time, enjoy these photos....

How to share pictures of your house...

How to have an exhausting, but exciting weekend with Dad!

I have to give props to my Dad is this blog post. He is truly a blessing, & I couldn't be happier that he is my dad. He has been saying he was going to come down & do some things to the house for weeks now...which to me was looking like next year. Well, earlier this week one of the toilet's broke (I know, I am SPOILED!) so I sent a S.O.S. text to my dad saying we needed him. Somehow I convinced him to come down this weekend to fix the toilet, but what neither of us knew was that there were going to be some BIG changes!

He arrived late Friday night & luckily my mom had asked me if I made a list of all the things I wanted done...which of course I had not. So I compiled my list with random things like: a)fix the toilet, b)patch the wall & rehang the toilet paper holder, c)fix my door, d)make the air conditioner stop leaking, e)replace the batteries in the smoke detectors, & f)put a ceiling fan downstairs. So Saturday morning we got up early & went to Lowe's. I picked out a ceiling fan, then ended up getting a new light fixture for the kitchen. We bought all the other things we needed to complete the list. I dropped dad off at my house & then I headed to pick up Zach & Alec from their grandparents at Applebee's. I have to say those 2 are troopers because they were angels the WHOLE day! I took them to Home Depot to pick up some paint and then we went back to see the progress my dad had made. He had the whole list almost completed! Alec & Zach went down for naps, & that is when dad realized that hanging the ceiling fan was not going to work because there was nothing to support it to. So, after naps we headed back to Lowe's to return the ceiling fan. We went to a different one, & ended up coming out with another light fixture, & a new main kitchen light(the one that was there would not turn on if it was below 70 degrees & it was getting annoying)! I asked my dad if he checked to see what kind of light bulbs were needed, but he assured me that we had them (HA! At 10 that night I was driving around to different Wal-Mart's trying to find the light bulb with no success). Then we stopped for dinner & we took dad home. I stayed at my aunt & uncle's with the boys, so I didn't get to see the finished products of what he was doing. My dad actually called me a couple of times today to see if I had made it home to see what he did...& he was the first person I called when I walked in! It's amazing how a few light fixtures can change a lot! I have posted pictures below.

On another note, all of those things were great, but the BEST thing that my dad did this weekend was to fix the air conditioner! It has leaked for the whole summer, I didn't know why & I never got around to calling anyone. Go figure that there was a piece that was plugged & once he cleaned it out & fixed it...NO MORE WATER! Aah, although summer is almost over, I am relieved!

The best quote of the night though was when I was driving Alec & Zach back to their house...Alec said "Today was a GREAT day! Hanging out with Uncle Ralph, Cousin Libby & Ziggy Zach couldn't have been better." I totally agree!

How to drive down the Lost Highway...ok, we weren't really lost!

This past weekend I was able to go back to Wisconsin for a few days. We left on Thursday & came back Sunday evening. I had a jam packed weekend! Lots of driving, watching soccer games, hanging out with my family, & getting to see a friend & meet her baby. Of course I made sure to eat some cheese curds! It's cool because the next time I go back there will be a Sonic in Wisconsin! I can't wait to take my little sister there, she always tries to convince me to bring her a Route 44 of Lemon Water when I drive up...it would probably make it, but I don't tell her that!

My niece Becca is growing by leaps & bounds! She changes so much these days. She did have a little bit of Stranger Danger in her this time & would cry whenever I picked her up, but on the last day I found a ray of hope when I learned if I gave her food she would hang out with me. She has started talking. Granted she can't say Libby yet (it's a tough word, but I do have to admit that I'm so glad that Zach can say Bibby!!!! He's been able to say Indiana Jones for weeks, & surprised me last week by breaking out Bibby), but she says "Bye guys," among other things. Her new thing though was if you asked her if it was loud she would plug her fingers in her ears. I do have a picture that is a bit ironic I think because she was on my shoulders & she was crying & I had my fingers in my ears!

Here are some of the pictures from my trip:

How to know 'You might be a Redneck'

You might be a Redneck...when you are driving through town & you see this:
Enough said!

How to make Sassy Potato Corn Chowder

The newest recipe to my collection:

Prep Time:
10 min

Total Time:
40 min

Makes:
6 servings

What You Need

4 slices OSCAR MAYER Bacon, chopped

3 cups cubed peeled potatoes (about 1-1/4 lb.)

1 can (13-3/4 oz.) chicken broth

1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen whole kernel corn, thawed, drained

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup sliced celery

2 Tbsp. flour

1/2 cup MIRACLE WHIP Light Dressing

2 cups 2% reduced fat milk
10 oz. Velveeta

Make It

COOK bacon in large saucepan until crisp; drain. Return bacon to pan.

STIR in potatoes, broth, corn, onion and celery. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

MIX dressing and flour in medium bowl. Stir in milk. Add to potato mixture. Cook 3 to 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated, stirring occasionally.

Add Velveeta & let it melt...then enjoy!

How to satisfy your taste buds!

About 2 weeks ago my friend Marjie asked if I would go to her house & play with her baby so that she could make up some freezer meals. Of course I said yes, & I even helped make a few of the meals. Oh my goodness, I never knew such good things existed! I have tried 2 of the recipes so far, & I have to tell you...for those of you that know me wouldn't see me typically eating these things, but I try.

First up is Cheesy Vegetable Soup

2 lb of frozen veggies - your choice--California Medley is good; 3 cans Fat-Free Chicken Broth; 1 can of Rotel tomatoes--it's up to you how spicy you want it! 10 oz. Light Velveeta
Dump all ingredients in the pot and bring to a boil. Let simmer for 4-5 minutes. Add 10 oz of Light Velveeta in small pieces (to melt faster). When it's melted in, you're ready to eat.

I tried this at Marjie's house to see if I would like it, but holy cow! I loved it! You really should try it - although I think next time I make it I will change up the vegetables a bit because I really like the carrot, cauliflower, broccoli combination, but I don't like the bottom pieces of the broccoli, & there seemed to be a lot of that in there. I think it would be just as good with just cauliflower in it - as I am a HUGE cauliflower topped with Velveeta & milk & Ritz crackers....oh man I'm making myself hungry.

The second recipe that I tried is called Chicken Packets (I am literally obsessed with eating this one now!!!)

You will need 6 oz. cream cheese, 4 c. of diced chicken, green onions (here is a tidbit - I had never before this purchased or cooked with green onions - thanks Marjie for showing me how!), & crescent rolls.

In a bowl you combine the cream cheese, chicken & green onions. Then you lay out the crescent rolls (2 of them together to make a rectangle), put mixture on them, top with crescent rolls, brush with melted butter & bake for 15-20 minutes.

These are so delicious & so easy to make, the remaining mixture you can put in the freezer & save it for the next time you would like to eat it.

I recommend trying both of these recipes! You won't be disappointed!