6 going on 16....

When I was pregnant I read EVERYTHING. I mean everything. I had a plan. I was going to read everything available to me on how to parent and I would have this thing down before they ever arrived right? I mean I have always been a mother hen. Its second nature to me so I thought "okay, this will be a piece of cake" at least while they were small. Well, I got a BIG FAT 'F' FOR THAT!!

So, my princess. My shining, happy, fearless, cautionless, stubborn headed, independent 6 year old light of my life is schooling me in the department of parenting. So, she's 6 and has been a professional shopper since 3. No lie. She was THREE when we were in Target, she saw a dress and looked up at me and said "I love that. I want that dress but only if they have it in orange". At that point, I didn't even realize she knew what shade orange really was!!

So, my darling princess, who by the way since the day she was born has absolutely loved dresses (the frillier the better for her), has denounced the dress today. I was informed a few weeks back that she hated blue jeans and long sleeve shirts and tennis shoes. Now, she hates dresses and boots. So from the information I am given, she will be wearing tshirts, shorts and flip flops through winter.

I thought I would not have to go through this until she became a teenager. Apparently, I was sooooooo wrong.

Just call me Dr.Mom / Mama Bear

Okay, so I am THAT mom. I am the mom that will not tolerate someone telling me how to raise my children. I am the mom that cries when her kids potty train because that is one less thing they need me for. I am the mom that will not think twice about raising nine kinds of hell at the doctor's office for making my child suffer unnecessarily. I am not proud of that really, but at the same time I kinda am. It is my job to make sure my children are taken care of. No matter what. I am a believer that at this stage in their lives, it is okay for them to believe in fairy tales and think Harry Potter is real and Cinderella is too (which they both know they aren't, but you get the idea). Well, the momma bear came out in me last week.


My son has asthma. It only causes problems in the fall and winter months when it is cooler outside at night. Its usually about 3:00 a.m. when he wakes up unable to breathe. He's been like this his entire life. He requires three medications during the fall/winter. Every year I take him to the doctor in the fall and get the refills for his medications. Never a problem. Well, this year, we are at a new doctors office for my children. I send my father in law with the list of his medications in an effort to make it easier for my doctor to know what we are asking for. Well, my husband arrives and the doctor has him call me and ask "how many mg is the singulair"...how do I know that? Just look in the chart. So he gets the RX's and takes them to the pharmacy. WEll, since Derek lost his job and we lost our insurance the kids are now on ARKids insurance, which is the state insurance for low income families that don't have insurance otherwise available to them. So, I go to the medicines and am told that ARKids won't cover them and its $360.00 for all three for one month. SERIOUSLY!?!?! These aren't narcotics, its asthma medication. Why would they not be covered? I about had a panic attack.


So I call ARKids first thing the next morning...on hold for over 30 minutes....finally get a human, and am told that all three are covered but the doctors have to get prior approval before ARKids will pay for them. So I immediately call the doctors office. They require a form from the pharmacy first. So I call my pharmacy. They are very kind and said they would take care of that first thing. So, I go on about my chaotic day at the office. About 4:45 p.m. it dawns on me that I never followed up. So I call the pharmacy and have them run the prescriptions for me. I'm told ARKids does not cover those prescriptions. So I ask if they have faxed the paperwork to my doctor. They said that they had. I called my doctors office, who of course said they were still waiting on the pharmacy. Well, I got VERY huffy with the doctors office. And I informed them that I would be heading to the pharmacy immediately to make sure that the fax was sent. They call me again at 5 till 5:00 and say that can't even find my son in their computers!! I went off again, they also said they still had not received anything from the pharmacy. I am fuming at this point.



Well, I get to the pharmacy forty-five minutes later (more than AN HOUR after the State closes - so no authorizations can be obtained) and the pharmacy miraculously has received the authorization and everything is taken care of. interesting huh? I still have half a mind to CHEW some doctors office out!!! gggggrrrrrrr.............

OMG SO EXCITED!!!

Okay, so if you haven't figured it out by reading my blog...there are two things (among a million others) that I absolutely LOVE. Bargains and trees. Today, my friends, two of my fave things combine!

A few weeks ago I found the most beautiful picture at Kirklands. It has a pond, and an old plank bridge out onto the water and its surrounded by trees. Its like a brown and white pic and I FELL IN LOVE. I had been emailed a coupon for $5 for Kirklands and I got all excited. The picture was normally $100.00. however it was marked down to $59.99 and I had a coupon!! So I made plans that Friday to go school shopping for the kids clothes and then to Kirklands to get my picture. Then Derek called me at 2:00 p.m. that Friday and told me he had just been layed off. When I realized I couldn't get my picture, I almost cried. I was so upset. I was so excited to get my picture. So, I have dreamed about my picture and been so bummed.

Well, as you know, Derek is back at work! YaY!! Monday, I went to play bunko with my mother in law. She ended up winning a nightlight from Kirklands that she didn't want. So she gave it to me. It was purple and matched NOTHING in my house so I took it back and got store credit. $8. Then, yesterday, I was emailed a coupon for $10 for Kirklands. So I made Derek take me back to Kirkland's to see if they had my picture still on sale....THEY DO!! YAY!!!! So, I get my $100 picture for roughly $40 today if he ever makes it back!! I have been so excited I can't stand it!!

My daughter has a friend staying the night tonight so I have to wait on him to get home so I can go. I can't wait!!!! I will take a pic of my picture later and post it to show the wonderfulness of my painting!! :)

Happy Friday!!!

one week with no internet...TORTURE

Well, I have had no internet for a week and its been torture!!! So much has gone on and I don't know if I will remember to blog it all!!

First, and most excitingly.....DEREK GOT A JOB!!!!!! PRAISE THE LORD!!!!! It is in a new field and it will give him the opportunity to have an actual career and not work in a factory/plant setting his whole life. I am so proud of him getting this opportunity and, even though he won't admit it, I know he is secretly excited! :) He has normal hours again, 7 - 4ish and off on weekends. Its laying networking and fiber optic cables and stuff like that I think. Its a different job site every day so he's not in the same spot all the time which is SOOO Derek.

My recovery is going well. I was pretty sore through Monday and back at work by Tuesday. The pain pills were a wonderful help and my husband was perfection through it all. I didn't get up and move much and when I did he was right there to pick me and carry me around and wait on me hand and foot. AND he didnt COMPLAIN AT ALL. Such a sweet hubby :)

Now, my kiddos are off to Aunt Alli's tonight and to the theme park tomorrow so tonight hubby and I can go out to dinner and then off to a friends house to plan there wedding in two weeks! Fun times a comin!!

****special note****To any one reading this, keep my friend Ashley Jo in your prayers. She is pregnant with baby no. 4 and there are some serious complications and she may be losing her baby. She is such a wonderful mother and this has been so hard on her emotionally. She should know today and my heart and prayers have been with her all day. Love you AJ and I have faith it will turn out okay.

Big Day

So, I am freaking out right about now...my surgery is in the morning so wish me luck. I am looking forward to a "good sleep" I am in much much need of that!! :) that is the silver lining I have created for myself.

I had dinner tonight at Olive Garden with my siblings. I love my family. I have so much fun with all of my siblings. We laugh and have a great time. My oldest sister and her husband were separated for several months. THey almost got divorced but called it off and got back together. I love my brother in law and was very happy they worked things out. They have three children together so that is awesome. Now they have decided in an effort to turn over a new leaf and start fresh they are going to be moving back to Wisconsin were his family lives. It breaks my heart to see them and their kids go but I know that it is the best thing for them at this point in their lives.

And the gruesome twosome went back to school today!! They enjoyed it. I didn't get to talk to them about it much because I went to dinner with the family but they were giggling and laughing when I got home and according to my daughter first grade is super fun and fantastic! ha ha ha...she's such a nut. I still can't believe I am even old enough to have a second grader. Doesn't really seem possible!! ;) Time flies when your not looking!

Lots Goin On

Well, I have my surgery Thursday to have my gall bladder removed. The kids start school on Wednesday. So I am going to be out of it most of the weekend.

And everyone around me has good news!! I feel kinda like a downer cause I don't have happy news!! A friend of mine is getting married (and I get to do it!! yay!!) and another is having another baby! I am excited for her! It was unexpected and I am sure she has ALOT of "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING" coming at her but I can't imagine any other couple that could handle having a baby no 4! like the two of them! Very exciting stuff!!

Well, I am off to bed, gotta be at the hospital at 7:30 for pre registration!!

Is it Sunday yet?

Well, I can't wait for Sunday. I am soooo lonely. Most parents would love a week without their kids. I do. But I can't handle three. I am soooooooooo missing my babies. They have been at the lake for about a week and a half now and they will be home Sunday. Two weeks prior to going they were at St. Louis for a week. So, I feel like someone took my kids away from me for being a bad parent! I hate it. I miss the sound of the screaming, arguing, laughing, giggles, stomps, toys, movies, music, shouting and the general chaos that comes along with my gruesome twosome!! so Sunday cannot come fast enough to my house!!

WHEW...What a day!

Okay, we are on day two of my vacation and I am worn out. I don't feel relaxed at all!! Its been go go go go go go since I got off!! :) Yesterday we picked up the floors for the house (YAY!! F.I.N.A.L.L.Y. ) and then we purchased the vanity and the sink for the kids bathroom. I am so excited. We are finally almost through. The only thing left to purchase it the crown molding and final baseboards. They should begin laying the floors tomorrow. We also emptied one of the two storage buildings so that is one less bill each month which is a good thing. Now to just get rid of about three more.

We had Shanna's birthday. I took her with me to the salon and we had our hair cut and I had my usual coloring and eye brow wax. After that she turned into diva prima donna. She ruled the world on her birthday! ha ha ha....she got an abundance of clothes which she loved and a hoola hoop that we can't get her out of! She also got her cook book and she is estatic. She is no longer a baby girl and she loves to be in the kitchen with me so I guess its about time I start teaching her the fundamentals.

Finally, while sister and I were at the salon, daddy calls me and he and Carson adopted the newest member of our family. He is a 5 month old lab/husky mix. He is white with a khaki spot around his eye and one or two khaki spots on his back. He is very excited and fun and large. The kids love him. Derek's even doting on him more than any other dog we have owned. I am very excited that we got him. We named him Gage and of course the "posse" (referring to the coven of cats that we have - that are mean btw...Mia Belle, Tinkerbell, Shadow and Salem) were not to thrilled. They know if they hurt them we will get em so they try to leave him alone, but the fact that we made his home close to the front porch (which they consider their turf) did not excite them by any means. ;)

So, our lil farm just got a little bigger!! I have always loved huge families...

To My Sunshine...

I love my son. He is my universe. But my daughter, she is the sun that lights up my world. And today, July 7th, my daughter is 6. She will be in 1st grade next year. And she has decided that she is no longer a cute little baby girl, but a mature independent BIG GIRL. No more character baby stuff for her. Just cute prints and colors. She is a big girl now, and mommy is falling a part like a 2 year old. My daughter has been attached to my hip since birth. She is MY baby girl. I could not have been more upset during my pregnancy with her. I didn't want a second baby and I was LIVID that my birth control wasn't working and I wasn't aware until it was too late.
I wasn't mad at her, just the situation. I knew she would be head strong since she tried to come a month early and turned her head and got stuck when they stopped my labor. She refused to budge. I wouldn' let her come when she wanted then BY GOLLY SHE WASN'T COMING WHEN I WANTED HER TO! :) I was in the hospital 5 times before I finally had her and we had to force her out. The experience was a night mare but as soon as I heard her tiny sweet cry, I realized that as much as I loved my son and I loved being a mother, my life would never be the same. She brought Derek to his knees with one look. She still does. Carson is my sweet, affection, grounded, brilliant, above average dreamer. I love to listen to him rationalize thing and learn knew things and I love for him to teach me. Shanna on the other hand, doesn't dream. She does. and she is fearless. She will take whatever comes at her full on and not think twice about it. Just does it. and she doesn't meet a stranger. She's so full of spark and life. She went to St. Louis and my mother in law took her to a museum or mall with a trampoline that had bungee cords that you could jump and do flips. This 5 year old (almost 6) gets up there and is jumping two stories high and doing back flips and front flips and having the time of her life. It must have been a good show b/c from what I hear people were in so much shock that she had people stopping and watching all over the place. There was apparently a LOOOONNNNGGG line of people watching this brave fearless one! ha ha ha





She is so full of love and compassion and Icould not imagine my life without my frilly princess who would wear her frilly dresses to ball practice if I let her. She gives 110% in everything she does and I love her endlessly. Happy Birthday to my Shanna Bug. and thank you Lord for blessing me with her. Thank you.

MILK DUD CRISIS!!!

okay, so you CAN'T go to the movies without the best combo ever...buttery popcorn and milk duds. Its just WRONG. Well, I am too cheap to spend $3 on a box of candy so I buy it at Walgreens and sneak it in. BUT Walgreens is completely out of milkduds. Which is weird. So I cave and decide I am going to buy it at the theatre....THEY ARE OUT TOO!!! WHAT!?!?

Not right...its a conspiracy I say! :) But nevertheless, I had to forgo the choclately carmelly goodness and settle for plain m&ms...while I watched Ice Age 3 in 3D with the kiddos and hubby today to kick start our week off. It was cute and we all enjoyed it! Even without my beloved milk duds. :(

Dentist Appointments

I took my kids to their dentist appointment this morning. Carson wouldn't have none of it, they got to see his mouth for about five seconds - just long enough to say he had severe cavaties that were causing his teeth to shatter. He had another tooth COMPLETELY gone on the other side. I was so mortified - I felt like the worst mother in the world whose child's teeth were just falling out!! Since Carson wouldn't let them take xrays or anything he has to see a specialty pediatric dentist in the morning to save the teeth. Well, when Ms. Shanna bug come in, I was terrified...she jumped up in the chair and opened her mouth wide and let him do whatever necessary. Her teeth, however, were perfect. Not a cavity one, nothing. Text book perfect. Bu they use the same toothpaste and brush their teeth at the same time. So why does one kid have horrible teeth and the other have perfect? It doesn't make sense.

So, I get to take Mr. Man to the other dentist and have him sedated so they can work on his teeth. Poor baby.

My poor hunnies / Happy Father's Day

They get to go to the dentist tomorrow. I am a bad mom. I have never taken them to the dentist. Shanna went when she was one to have her teeth fixed from her allergy...but since, never. Our insurance situation got screwed up when the layoff happened and I switched jobs and we just never got the chance to do it...and then time marches on...and its just one of those things that I overlooked. I know I know I know. Horrible. Well, we are going tomorrow and poor Carson couldn't be more ready.

His back molar (thank the Lord its a baby tooth) is broke in half. We are not sure how it happened, but it happened Thursday at Magic Springs so we have to get that looked at. Shanna's not so looking forward to it though...

Today we had a wonderful day with Derek. It was just a nice afternoon watching Andy Griffith reruns - his absolute favorite. It was nice. I went to the cemetary and visited with both my real dad and my stepdad. It was sad, but I left roses - and said my hello. Well, to my stepdad anyway, I won't go into the story about the visit with my real dad.

well, I hope you all enjoy father's day with all those father's in your lives!

Medical update

Well, I survived! ha ha ha...Thursday night was the worst night of my life. I had to drink 1/2 gallon of the "prep kit" and I probably kept 1/4 or less down. It was awful. B.A.D. I don't think I would wish it on my worst enemy to be honest. I finally got to bed and was so nauseated I didn't really sleep between that and my nerves. Friday morning wasn't too bad. I didn't actually get back there until about 11:45. They put my iv in and gave me two things one to relax me and one to make me forget (HALLELUJAH) - within literally seconds everything went black. I woke up 2 hours later to my mom laughing because apparently I had been "awake' and repeating the same questions over and over due to the "amnesia medicine" and though I remember bits and pieces of yesterday afternoon and evening, apparently the amnesia medicine lasted awhile! They did discover pockets, which confirms that I have divroticulosis and I also have gall stones which means my next step is removal of the gall bladder. FUN FUN. The doctor is apparently very concerned that I have divroticulosis, because apparently it is pretty much unheard of in someone so young (I am only 25) So, not only am I LOVING my genetics right now, I am also researching increasing my fiber intake without taking a pill everday and the lifestyle change ahead in that I can't eat certain foods anymore...so long my beloved strawberries - unless I can figure something out there! :( But I look at this as an opportunity to educate myself and my kids on eating healthy and leading healthier lifestyles. Already, I have done a good job with my kids...they prefer fruit over other sweets and enjoy veggies and most "grown up" foods that small kids hate. So I can't complain too much.

Speaking of bragging on my kiddos...I was so tickled this morning. I gave my kids their first real allowance. I forgot to last week so they got double this week. They have done spectacular in helping around the house and helping me out. We recently redid their rooms and they got "nice big kid" furniture and stuff for their rooms so they are acting more responsibly. Shanna has always been like that. She's almost neurotic about it, Carson on the other hand could usually care less. Shanna gets her OCD from my side of the family. My dad was DIEHARD OCD. My kids are pretty mature for their age - especially Carson - and I can sit down and have a serious conversation with them if I need to. So we sat down and discussed the fair things for them to do in order to receive "a paycheck" like mommy and daddy every week. $5 per week for the following: They pick up their own rooms, make beds each morning, keep their bathroom neat (no dirty clothes in floor, no toothpaste in sink, empty the trash can if its full), take turns feeding their cats in the a.m. and p.m., take care of their dirty dishes (by placing in sink or trash) and water Papa Wheeler's plant outside on the front porch. Most of this is stuff they should do anyway, but my kids won't so we call them chores and a few are only done weekly so its not so bad. When I do my cleaning on the weekends, they usually love to help out anyway. Carson absolutely loves to clean tubs (don't ask me why), Shanna loves to help dust and they both love to sort laundry. So I was absolutely thrilled that they kept up their rooms for two straight weeks and was so happy to give them allowance this morning. I was even more proud when CArson went straight to his piggy bank and decided to save his money and Shanna did the same. They really are good kids.

Now, to brag on the hubby....he's been such a doll the last two days. He was very sweet and concerned and helped me so much the last two days and took care of me. It was absolutely precious and I love him to pieces for it. We went grocery shopping this morning and he was helping me pick out "healthier" foods for me, checking fiber content for me and so forth. He has been pretty worried about everything going on and it was so sweet to see him act like that yesterday. Completely out of character for him to be like that in public or in front of other people. It even threw my mom off! :) Its nice for people to see the sweet side of him I only get to see most of the time. he he he

Well, I am off to finish MY list of chores today since the kiddos are at the lake with the church...I just wasn't up to it today.

what happens when you ask a 5 year old whats for dinner...

You end up making (from scratch - cause nothing else is good enough for the princess!) chicken enchiladas and home made mac n cheese...

Yes. That is the weirdest combination EVER. So, my house smells like the yummiest mac n cheese and my favorite chicken enchiladas.

AND...I have to brag...my hubby is working grave yard this week and is getting home right after
I leave for work. So I get home today and guess what....my kitchen was SPOTLESS. Sparkling. Clean and BEAUTIFUL. And the three laundry baskets of laundry that I didn't do last night cause I fell asleep early...WASHED. DRYED. FOLDED. HUNG UP. Is he not a prince or what!?!?

I am so happy. So I can eat my dinner...and R.E.L.A.X.

Okay, I know I know...

I've been gone...again....I will get better I promise!! I am trying reeallllllyyyy hard to be more organized and on top of things. But, that in itself is a challenge. So, I promise to try to blog more regularly. We had our tournament Saturday at our park. The entire "fest" itself was a success. The kids had a blast. Our girls could have played better, but given all the other things to do, they weren't really into it. So we placed 3rd in our own tournament, but its all good. They had fun and we got done what we needed. and I got a much needed "date night" with the hubby afterwards, even though I was nearly comatose from exhaustion and sunburned like crazy, we still had a nice time catching up with some old friends. We have district tournament this weekend, so wish us luck!!! Then we will get a month or so off before we gear up for fall ball! Woo Hoo!! :)

On a personal note, the last blog I had (that I screwed up so bad) detailed in more detail the personal health issues I have been having. For the most part, after the CT scan showed nothing and I made it through the hardcore antibiotics I was given, I figured all would be fine...no such luck...it seems that my symptoms are creeping up one by one instead of hitting me all at once like last time, so I am going to have to go back to the doctor to find out what the deal is. So boo about that.

In other news, my kiddos are out for the Summer! Carson could not be more excited. Shanna is excited too, but she's been out for a week without bubba so she's not as stoked any more. Its "routine" for her now. ha ha ha....We are planning on going to the Memphis Zoo with them for a few days in July when hubby and I are both off so they are enjoying "planning" that out for us at the moment. Well, enough ketchup for now.....until next time!!

Martian March

Shanna had her dance recital last night...the SWEETEST THING EVER!!!! Her class did the martian march. I recorded it. She is on the back row and all the way to your left! Enjoy!!!

Tuesday Tuesday

okay, not alot goin on today.

I did watch a new movie recently. The Assasination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. It was okay, not something I would watch over and over and it was LONG. But it was a good movie I reckon. A little wierd watching Brad Pitt walk around shooting people and stuff...and it was a little gory.

Shanna's dance recital is Friday. So excited! She is going to do a martian march. its so cute. I will post pics later!

Talk to you later!!

happy belated mother's day... :)

Sorry fellow bloggers...haven't had my computer all weekend. My boss had to work on a brief so I loaned to her while she was at the hospital with her hubby (he's okay now -bless his heart) so she could work on it.

I had the busiest weekend. I watched my little man play ball Friday night. I absolutely love the ball park. Have I mentioned that lately? ha ha ha...he did so good and we FINALLY beat a team that tends to cheat. Okay, the team doesn't, but the coaches are the kind that tend to bend the rules. They weren't happy that we beat them! and my little man hit the winning run in! I was so proud. They all did good. Of course, I worked the concession stand and watched the majority of the game from there. :( but its okay, I don't mind helping out when needed.
Saturday morning we got up at 3:00 a..m. and left for Memphis. We went to watch Pinks All Out. The boys were so excited. I thought it would be nice to get away and spend time with my boys. 3+ hour drive. LONG. and it was POURING DOWN RAIN. I am talking 10 buckets of rain per second. Horrible. Then we get a ticket b/c my tags expired two months ago and I had no clue. We didn't get the reminder in the mail (go figure). We finally get there and its still raining. Well, we were there aaaaaaallllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll day. For like 16 hours of racing. That's alot. and the sun came out after the rain so we were all stinky and sunburned and then it got cold. Yeah, it was miserable but it was fun to watch, I have to admit. But I dreaded the forever long ride home and we were both so tired. I had to drive the last 1/2 of the way back b/c Derek about fell asleep behind the wheel. It was like 1:30 a.m. before we made it home. But Carson had a blast. But I have to admit not worthing missing my teams game on Saturday. They postponed last weekends game to this past Saturday but we had already bought my ticket, so I had to go. :( But its okay.

Then Mother's DAy! We had a lovely lazy day. My mother in law found a little baby turtle and gave it to Shanna. She loved him. She refused to let him go. So we ended up buying a 10 gallon tank (then we found out they carry salmonella - so we got a lid for the tank and come up with the rule that NO ONE TOUCHES THE TURTLE!). He's already spoiled. Got a big ole tank, a few rocks, a little swimming pool with a rock in it and everything!! She even named him Brock. Don't ask, I don't know - why would you name a turtle Brock? She's so silly.

Now, its Monday. the Monday from You Know Where!! But n e who...so that was my weekend. Hopin for a better week!! :) I know, this post is totally retarded and random!! ha ha ha! Talk to you later!!

Kids in the Kitchen!!

Okay, so like my biggest stress relieving hobby is cooking. I absolutely love to cook. LOVE IT. I love spending hours in my kitchen and I drool over other people's kitchens. Seriously. No exaggeration. Its my favorite room of everyone's house. You Tim Allen on Home Improvement? How he was with cars and tools?? Yeah, me with a kitchen and kitchen gadgets. My brother brought a breadmaker someone gave hime (practically BRAND NEW AND NEVER USED) to dirty santa last year as a "white elephant" (I KNOW RIGHT?!)...Needless to say, I got it and whenever ANYONE looked my way like they were going to take it, they got the bad stinkeye! ha ha ha...obsessed.

My kids absolutely love to be on the other side of the bar when I cook. Its how I grew up watching my aunt in her kitchen and I believe is why I love to cook. She used to watch us in the Summer and she was bound and determined to make me and my sister Ms. Susie Domestic so we spent every summer with her planting in her garden, cleaning house, learning how to cook, and learning how to sew. Cooking is the only thing that stuck. :)

Well, in my children's school, the Kindergarten apparently make cookbooks. My kids had different kindergarten teachers. My son made one for us last year and my daughter just brought hers home. I love them. This was the best idea and the perfect mother's day present!! The kids tell their teacher their most favorite recipe that their mommy's cook and the kids draw on a piece of paper and give the teacher their version of the recipe (which is hilarious!) and then they type up the actual recipe behind it! So, I thought I would share my kids recipes....and I reckon share two of my family's absolute faves with you!!

Kindergarten 2007-2008 - Carson's Recipe: Carson actually said my lasagna, but I buy a frozen one more often than I actually do one from scractch, so I gave up my manicotti recipe (which my mom couldn't believe, cause I used to refuse to share it, but since I have my dads top secret chocolate pie recipe and am the only one with it, I decided it was okay ha ha ha!):

LASAGNA, BY CARSON
Cheese
Noodles
Sauce

I'm not sure, but I think she buys it at Wal-Mart. She puts it in the oven. She cooks it at 300 degrees for 3 hours. She takes it out and lets it cool. We eat it with bread. ***side note from me- he has colored around his recipe with the phrase "salt is good. Tamatos are good with salt. Yum!!! Good!!!" My son eats tomatoes like women eat chocolate! He loves them. They are his fave!***

MANACOTTI

Boil manacottie noodles as directed on the box. Cook 1 lb of pork sausage and crumble. Mix the sausage with a large container of ricotta cheeese. Mix in 1 egg, garlic powder and oregano (to taste, a little or a lot, doesn't matter). Stuff the noodles with the mixture and place in a large lasagna pan. Pour 1 jar of pasta sauce over noodles (I use Prego Ricotta Parmesan). Cook in oven at 400 degrees for 30 minutes until sauce is bubbling. Sprinkle mozzerella cheese on top and cook until melted. YUM YUM YUM. Awesome with crusty italian bread.

now under this recipes, hes colored a picture of salt and tomatoes and wrote yum yum yum yum yum down the page! ha ha ha...he's so silly.

Now for Shanna....she absolutely loves my biscuits and gravy. Its a knockoff of cracker barrells. I won't eat biscuits and gravy unless it is from cracker barrell or I make it. I am too picky. :)

BISCUITS AND GRAVY by SHANNA

Get flour as big as two spoons.
4 eggs
2 inches of water
Mix with mixing spoon. Slap biscuits with your hand. PUt in 5 degree oven for 7 minutes. Chop biscuits.

Gravy
Take a little bit of pepper and hardly any salt and put in a little pan on stove. Cook for 5 minutes.

how hilarious is that! ha ha ha...and of course she drew me in my apron and some funky hat (which I don't wear hats, so not sure where she came up with that!)

SAwmill Gravy

1/2 lb ground pork sausage
3 1/4 c. milk
1/8 tsp dried italian seasoning
1/4 c. butter
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 c. all purpose flour
1/2 tsp pepper

Cook sausage in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring it until it crumbles and is no longer pink. Remove sausage with a spoon leaving the drippings (that's how I do it, you are supposed to leave only 1 tbsp drippings but I use a big ole skillet) Melt butter with drippings in skillet over low heat. Whisk flour until smoothg. Cook, whisking constantly 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk, and cook, whisking constantly, over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Stir in sausage, salt, pepper and Italian seasoning.

Sooooo yummy. :)

ENJOY!!

Grateful...very very grateful

Well, yesterday was the day. I went to the doctor to find out the results of my ct the day before. I was sitting on the table and all I heard when the doctor walked in was "blah blah blah...which surgeon in town do you want to use?" Mom was with me and she said you could just see the color drain from my face. My mind went completely blank...I literally said "uuggghhh..wh..what..huh..why do I have....surgery?" I am sure I sounded like a pathetic mess. I almost started bawling. He was like "um, your ct was CLEAR....so you have to have a colonoscopy". Ha. So, if I would LISTEN that might actually help things! So, good news, my ct was perfect. My abdoment, colon, intestestines, uterus, ovaries and pelvic area show absolutely no abnormalities andlook wonderfully healthy! Praise the Lord!! I was so scared. Like to the point of tears. But the bad news is...I get to have a colonoscopy when I am through with my antibiotics. Yuck. Yuck isn't even the word. UGH.

So last night as I made my wonderfully wonderful biscuits and gravy from scratch I was thinking about how relieved and grateful I was for a clear ct. I got to thinking about the wonderful things I am so thankful for.

1. My husband. I am so lucky to have someone in my life that I can share everything with. He drives me absolutely batty and sometimes (like later last night) I want to hit upside the head with my favorite skillet (the cast iron one he bought me for easter - awwww) but nevertheless, he is my best friend and the other half of me and I absolutely adore him for that. : )

2. My kids. I still can't believe I am even old enough to have an almost 6 year old and a 7 year old (some would argue that I am not) but they amaze me every day with their brilliance and innocence. They are my sole reason for getting up every morning (literally, cause without me they would not make it to school ha ha ha! j/k) and I can't remember how I functioned before without them.

3. My friends. I remember after my kids were born, I honestly had three friends. My husband, and my two best girlfriends. One, BArbie, who I have had since I was 13. who is not my best friend anymore. She is my sister. I have considered her my sister for some time now and I tell people she is my sister. I love her dearly and there is not a thing in the world I wouldn't do for her. She doesn't live close by so I hardly see her, maybe once or twice a year, but I talk to her all the time and I miss her dearly. the other, Brooke, has been my best friend since Derek and I started dating. Her husband is Derek's best friend so we are together every day. I remember how lonely I would get after my kids were born because I went from having tons of friends to having three and it broke my heart. I didn't feel welcome anywhere without them with me. I was depressed and lonely. NOw, I have a great group of friends that I would not trade for the world. I love seeing them all and I am so grateful that they are in my life.

4. My grams and my mom. I know that without these two women, I would not be the person I am today. They are the strongest women I know. The things these women have experienced in their lives is almost at times straight out of a soap opera and its a wonder that they both haven't been committed! I know if I experienced half of what my grams has, I would have to be! I love them dearly and can't imagine life without either of them.

5. Vanilla Rootbeer from Sonic. Ha ha ha..I know! My life owuld not e complete without it! :)

Well, I enough of my ramblings for the day!! I am off to see my lil super hero play some ball tonight. Wish us luck!!