Family and Food - My Favorites!

I love where I live! It can never make up its mind...just like me! :D

Breaded Chicken w/Ham and Cheese

Three large Chicken Breasts
Two Thick Slices of Ham in 1/2" square cuts
Three Slices Provolone Cheese (you could use swiss)
Two Cups Panko


Smash Chicken Breasts with Meat Mallet until they are 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick. Place cheese and Ham in center of flattened breast. Roll up breast making sure all ham and cheese stay inside. Hold it together with toothpicks. Roll the breasts in panko (I put them into a ziplock and shook them up). Cook in 375 degree oven for 35 minutes or until juices run clear. Don't forget to remove all the toothpicks before trying to eat them!

I served these with Mashed Potatoes, gravy, and green beans. They were a hit with the family and I have been given the go-ahead to serve them again! :P

We again have RUNNING WATER in our house. We didn't have anything frozen, our well pump happened die the same time we got a really cold spell. After a few hours of work and a lot of money, we now have running orange water. We will have orange water for a while because the well was stirred up so much, but it doesn't taste bad nor does it make us look jaundice. :D

Thank you to everyone who gave me happy thoughts...next time I need to remember to have you all hope for happy (and cheaper) thoughts too! :P

...a Christmas tree hunt in the woods with the family. We found the perfect tree and it will be put up before the end of the week. Our house will be in full Christmas Spirit by Friday evening! :D

...a clean game cupboard. I cleaned and picked it up so that you can actually find a game and get one out to play! And, in the process I found the external hard drive I lost in the move (yeah, we did move here 7 years ago)!

...one completed load of laundry. Actually, I haven't folded it yet, but who counts that as incomplete?

...a warm house with no running water. Thank goodness for cars and the ability to buy jugs of water at walmart (that I will again be refilling today while in town). Thank goodness to good friends who offer their facilities to allow my family some relief from the stinkiness of ourselves.

...a savvy husband who is willing to crawl under the house and attempt to problem solve. I am able to do it too, but I HATE it. He doesn't like it, but will do it; Dom loves it because he gets to help dad and it is a cool location he doesn't get to always go. (He will be venturing under the house again today to try again to get our water flowing.)

Please keep us in your thoughts and maybe we can get some water back into our lives before too long without huge expense. :D

Ham and Bean Soup
by Emily

4 thick slices pre-cooked ham cut into 1/2 inch squares
3 cans cannellini beans (white kidney) - rinsed and drained
1/4 large red onion diced
one good sprinkle black pepper

Pour all of the above into a crock pot. Add water until just about 1" more than the other ingredients. Cook for 2 hours on low; followed by 2 hours on high.

Serve. I served mine with peaches, saltines, and sharp cheddar cheese slices on the side. It was FABULOUS if I might brag a little. So simple and so yummy. Sean, who isn't a big bean fan said that I could cook this soup any day of the week and he would devour it! Definitely a hit with my family!

Mom came to visit. Alli was thrilled to share her room with my mom. She absolutely loves waking up in the morning and staring/smiling at my mom. Dom loves having his Nuna around too. She reads and plays with the kids way more than I take the time to (basically, she spoils them with attention). Sean enjoys mom coming too because she and he argue over trivial scientific crap that doesn't really interest me.

And then there's me...I LOVE having my mom here visiting (and whooping me in cribbage-I will admit she did beat me into the ground this visit), especially over Thanksgiving. We are not big shoppers, but we thrive on Black Friday sales. This time we hit Walmart at 3:20 am (we tried to do the Old Navy thing at 3am, but even though the flyer said they would be open, they were NOT open until 5)! We didn't want a laptop or a big screen tv, thank goodness, because all the numbers were already given out when we arrived there. We did get all the electronics, toys, housewares, etc, that we wanted and only had to stand in short lines. We used the electronics counter checkout and sped up the process (and begged people to let us through to exit the store). After Walmart, we went to Old Navy (though we missed out on the free video game) and managed to get some good deals on kids clothing. Then to a couple of more stores for a dog pillow for Polly and a few other miscellaneous items.

After all the shopping was done and we were about ready to fall over (around 7:20am), we went out to breakfast at the Breakfast Club. My friend was able to join us and we had an enjoyable time girl chatting and being silly at an ungodly time of the day (actually it wasn't that crazy early by this point, but considering we had all been up since around 2 it was still kinda absurd)!


Oh, I forgot to mention the Turkey Dinner. It was fabulous! Cat, my sister in law, did a great job cooking. I helped a little, but she mostly cooked and decorated like Martha Stewart. We had dinner at their home and played a few games, but didn't stay too long because both my brother and his wife were slightly under the weather. We did have an enjoyable time with them though...and it was good to see them.

Yesterday was Dom's big 5 birthday. I decided that I would surprise him and take him to lunch at one of his favorite spots...Wingers! I picked him up from the sitter a little early and we, just the two of us, went out to lunch. He was very excited and kept referring to our lunch date as a 'special lunch with special people'. I let him order anything he wanted from the kid menu - he chose wings, something he had seen Sean eat but had never had before. He ate ALL four wings and nearly all the fries. We even got him a slice of asphalt pie to take home for free since it was his b-day. He was so pleased and it made him feel so special. For me, the two best parts were how happy it made him AND that he wanted to sit next to me in the booth instead of across from me because 'special people on a special lunch, just the two of them, sit next to eachother' according to Dom. It made my day too! :D

Thanks for all the care and love you give, not to mention the meals... (This is the song that Candice sings to her mom on Phineas and Ferb...I thought it would be sweet on my birthday, but was actually surprised at what I liked better):

Dominic sang me 'Happy Birthday' and it melted my heart. I sure do love him! (even though he was sicker than a dog, he still sung to me...) aww.

1. I made venison and pork summer sausage from scratch (yep, I ground the meat, added the seasonings & cure, and even stuffed the darn casings all with my own two hands {and my stand mixer})! It took FOREVER. Twelve Hours in the oven! Sean says it tastes great and both kids ate it too. I am not the biggest fan, but maybe that is because I have this strange phobia since I know exactly where it came from.

2. Sean and I cleaned up the shop. For all who have seen our shop...this is a miracle! We needed to make space for our tent camper for the winter so that the snow load doesn't crack the roof anymore this year. But, the crazy thing that happened when we were cleaning is that I GOT STUNG BY A YELLOW JACKET IN NOVEMBER!!! Can you believe that?!? It sure hurt, but with quick ice on it, the swelling was minimal...thank goodness!

3. I made a quick Chicken Noodle Soup from scratch for dinner last night and it was fabulous if I might brag a little! I semi-thawed three chicken breasts in the microwave then cut them into about 1x1 square chunks. I added the chunks to a pot that already had cut up carrots, celery, and onion in it. I added one can of reduced sodium chicken broth and some water. I put the pot on high and brought to a boil, then reduced to medium. At the same time I cooked some egg noodles in a separate pot. I skimmed the chicken fat off the top of the chicken pot, then added the strained egg noodles (when they were semi-soft) and continued to simmer on low for about 5 more minutes. I served the dish with croissants and pepper (since I didn't add any to the soup for the kid's sake). Everyone raved and the best part is that from start to on the table it took less than 1 hour!

This was so simple and so yummy. My entire family (except the picky 2 year old) enjoyed this chicken!

3 Chicken Breasts
Some Flour
Three Eggs mixed up w/a fork
Some Panko Breading
2 Tbs butter

Dip Chicken in Flour, then Egg, then coat with Panko.
Fry in 1/2 the Butter in a 12x12 counter top skillet. Cook approx 8-10 min each side on 250 w/the pan covered. (Don't forget the rest of the butter when you flip the chicken...) Make sure the juices run clear before you try to eat it!

I served the super-juicy/tender chicken with canned country gravy w/sausage in it. We also had instant mashed potatoes (because I was lazy and didn't feel like doing my own potatoes - though I wish I had, they are sooo much better) and canned peaches.


Tonight we are having Lasagna from scrath w/garlic bread. Mmmm. I LOVE my mom's lasagna recipe! I will hook you all up with it as soon as I can!

I like control. I like to cook because then I can control what goes into the dish. I get to choose the ingredients, spices, etc. I am in control. Some may call me a control freak. I tend to agree on most levels. I am trying though. I am trying to let loose just a tiny little bit. I have started letting the kids get dirty and not freaking out. They will wash and it isn't going to kill either me or them. I have started letting them help me pick up toys. I hate the toys to be in an unorganized fashion (all large blocks together, duplos together, dolls together), but I am trying to let go for the sake of my children and my sanity. I am trying. I complain because no one offers to help in the house, but I have realized it is because I don't let them help and I don't often hear/notice the little one's requests to assist. Sometimes it is more difficult to allow the kids to 'help' then it is to just do it myself. Control freak. That's me. But, to show I am getting better:

Dominic asked if he could grate the cheese for me for last night's nachos and quesadillas that we had for dinner (yeah, I am not a fancy cook all the time!). I let go and actually said yes. I am not sure who was more shocked; me for letting go or Dom for me actually letting him help. I had him wash his hands while I cut a child friendly portion of cheese to be grated. And then, deep sigh, I handed the cheese and grater over to the almost 5 year old. I also asked if he needed me to show him how and was met with, 'Mom, I watch you cook all the time. I haven't done it before, but I am pretty sure I can.' Such a big boy. So wise for his age. And, even wiser, he did know how and he did an AWESOME job. And I let him. I let go. Hopefully, I will have the strength to let go a little more often when he asks to help me...

Sean got a 4 x 4 buck on Saturday evening. It is hanging in the shop - eww. We will cut, wrap, and grind (?) it. We are thinking of having some of it made into summer sausage at a plant and making some of it into sausage ourselves. We are feeling ambitious!

I almost forgot the best part of any week - DESSERTS!!!

I have made an apple pie (and froze the fixings for one more which should reappear around Thanksgiving), mini carrot cakes (which stuck to the pan, but taste scrumptious anyway), and some brownies over the last couple of weeks for our family to enjoy!

Hope you all are having yummy edibles too!

Eggplant Parmesan:
-One medium eggplant peeled and cut into 1/4 inch slices
Place slices flat on a cookie sheet and salt (I used sea salt).
Place paper towels on top of the eggplant (and in between the layers, I had two layers)
Place one or two heavy books on top of them (make sure they are okay to get damp)
Let set 1 hour. Remove books & wet paper towels. Add new paper towels and stick cookie sheet in fridge w/eggplant on it for 1 hour.

-3 Eggs (mixed up with a fork)
-3 Cups Panko (or some other breading material)
-2 Cups Veg Oil (you could use Canola if you wish)
-1 Jar Tomato Basil Sauce
-2 C Grated Fresh Mozzarella Cheese
-Few Sprinkles of Parmesan Cheese (optional)

Dip Eggplant into egg mixture, coat with panko, and fry in oil until nicely golden brown. Remove from oil and let dry on a paper toweled plate to remove excess oil.

When finished frying eggplant, place one layer into a greased 8x8 glass pan. Top with a small spoonful of sauce, sprinkle with mozz cheese. Add another layer of eggplant, sauce, and mozz cheese. Top with parm cheese and bake in a 400 degree oven for 20 minutes.

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For the Chicken Parmesan, do the same dip/fry as above, but don't layer. I used three skinless boneless chicken breasts and just did one layer in a 9x11 glass dish. I also baked this for 20 min in a 400 degree oven (which is mostly just to melt the cheese and heat the sauce because the chicken should have already cooked in the oil when the panko was browning.)

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Don't forget to cook the noodles while the Chicken or Eggplant is baking! Enjoy the Eggplant or Chicken over the noodles.


**Why did I cook both meals for only a family of two adults and two kids??? Well, lets just say I love my husband. He doesn't like eggplant and for him, I cooked the chicken (and for leftovers for me). As for the kids and I, we LOVED the eggplant parm. Would I cook it again at home? Maybe every once in a great while, but I will definitely order it more at restaurants. Through all this, I have proven to myself and my stubborn children that eggplant is good and has a place on our 'likes' list.**

Fry Bread:
3 1/2 C Warm Water
3/4 C Sugar
1 C Oil (I used Veg)
2 T Yeast
---mix in mixer and let set 15 minutes
3 Eggs
1 T Salt
10 1/2 C Flour
---Add these to mixer ingredients.

Pull apart small pieces and roll/stretch out on a floured surface until desired thickness. Fry in hot oil on stove top (I used Veg oil) until light brown on both sides (flipping of course).

**My husband and kids LOVED the fry bread....and not even for the tacos... They enjoyed slathering them with margarine and topping them with honey.**

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Korean Beef Short Ribs Over Rice:
4 1/2 lbs Beef Short Ribs
1/4 C Green Onions
1/4 C Tamari (msg free soy sauce)
1/4 C Beef Broth
1 T Brown Sugar
2 tsp Minced Garlic
2 tsp Ground Ginger
1/2 tsp Black Pepper
--mix above and place in crock pot for 7 hours
--remove meat from crock pot...separate it from the bone
--add 2 tsp sesame oil to crock pot & replace boned/chopped meat...cook for 30 minutes
--place meat over rice to eat

**I found the juices VERY fatty and tried to avoid them when topping my rice with the meat mixture. My husband, kids and mother (who was visiting) enjoyed the meal.**

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White Bread / Chicken Bakes:
1/2 C Warm Water
1 1/2 T Yeast
1 T Sugar
--mix in a small container and set aside
1 C Boiling Water
1/3 C Oil
1/6 C Sugar
2 tsp Salt
--mix in stand mixer w/bread dough attachment
1 1/4 C Cold Water
--add to mixture in stand mixer
Add Yeast mixture to stand mixer
3 C Flour
--Let mixture rise 1/2 hour IN mixer
3 1/2 C Flour
--Knead for quite a while until it looks right - about 5-10 min
Remove dough from mixer bowl and place into a large dish that has been greased with Veg oil to prevent sticking. Let rise at least 1 hour.

**Chicken Bakes take 1 8oz pk of cream cheese, a dollop of sour cream, some green onions, & some garlic, about two cooked chicken breasts cut into chunks - Mix it and place a plop of it in the middle of a flattened ball of dough & fold dough over it covering it completely. Place dough (seam side down) on an oiled cookie sheet. Cook 350 for 25-ish minutes until done.**

This bread recipe will let you make ONE loaf of bread and about 10 Chicken Bakes. I cook the Chicken Bakes first to eat with dinner and while we are eating I bake the loaf of bread for roughly 30 minutes in the 350 degree oven.

**I make this bread at least once a month over the winter months. I freeze one loaf and we munch on the other. We LOVE the bread! The chicken bakes are okay on occasion, but aren't our family favorite.**

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Cauliflower Soup (Zupas Wisconsin Cauliflower Soup):
Please see this website for the recipe: http://just-cook-already.blogspot.com/

**We liked this soup a ton, but we thought it needed some chunks. I would recommend this as a base with chunks of potato and celery in it...maybe some carrots to give it an extra zing. My husband thought it would be great with some broccoli in it too.**

Thursday: Fry Bread Tacos (recipe will be added next week)
Friday: Korean Short Ribs over Rice w/Crab and Shrimp Rangoon (recipe added later)
Saturday: Shrimp, Green Beans, Peaches (might add a little pasta to the mix)
Sunday: Chicken Bakes, Cauliflower Soup (homemade - recipe added later)

Hope your weekend brings you all joy and yummy edibles too! :D

Tater Tot Casserole:

- 1 Can Cream of Mushroom Soup
- 1-2 lbs Ground Beef
- 1-2 Cups Grated Cheese (I use Colby Jack)
- 1/2 bag frozen mini tator tots
- spices (garlic salt, pepper)

Cook ground beef until not pink, add a sprinkle of garlic salt and a sprinkle of pepper to the beef just before it is done cooking. While the beef is cooking, grate cheese.

Spray an 8x8 dish with non-stick spray (just helps with the cleaning afterwords). Add cooked ground beef, top with cream of mushroom soup, then with cheese, finally add the mini tots on top.

Cover and cook in a 350 degree oven for 45 min. Uncover and cook 15 min longer.

Ready to eat. Enjoy (it is one of Sean's favorites).

Sunday: Homemade Potato Soup
-8 Red Potatoes skinned and cut into chunks
-Handful of baby carrots (what I had in the fridge already) cut in half
-1/2 a Red Onion cut into small chunks
-1 Tbs Garlic minced already (from Costco)
-3 Stocks Celery cut into chunks
-A little Pepper
-A little Salt
-2 Cans Low Sodium Chicken Broth
-Tap Water

Put all above into a large pot. Put in enough water (after the cans of broth) to just barely cover the ingredients. Cover the pot and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to med low and continue to simmer covered for 20 minutes.

When the 20 minute buzzer rings, keep the soup simmering while doing the following:
-mix roughly 1/4 C all purpose flour with approx 2 C milk. Shake until mixed well. Pour into Pot while stirring (to prevent curdling). Stir well and recover. Leave on med low heat simmering for about 15 more min. Turn down to lowest setting until ready to serve...stirring occasionally. Enjoy. (Sometimes we put cheese, bacon, and green onion on top when we serve it, but this time we just gobbled it up w/out toppings.)

Monday: Creamy Garlic Parsley Chicken over Rice
-3 or 4 Skinless Boneless Chicken Breasts
-Parsley
-Garlic (I usually use powder, but this time I will use the minced from Costco)
-1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup (or mushroom if you would prefer)
-3/4 C Milk (we use 2% - but if I have cream in the fridge, I use it instead)
-Rice

Spray 9x11 pan with cooking spray. Pat Chicken breasts dry. Sprinkle one side of each breast with garlic. Sprinkle the other side with Parsley. Lay breasts in pan parsley side down. Thoroughly mix Soup and Milk. Pour Soup/Milk over breasts in pan. Sprinkle a little parsley over the top (this time I plan on sprinkling a little green onion over the top too since I already have them on hand in the fridge). Place pan in a 350 degree oven for 35-40 minutes.

While the chicken is cooking, make rice as directed on the package. I always make mine on the stove top because I already seem to have too many appliances in my kitchen and can't seem to convince myself that we need a rice-cooker yet! :D

To plate, put rice first, top with a chicken breast, and finally drizzle a little of the sauce over the top. I usually add a little cheese (just colby jack or cheddar) on top of mine (because I am a cheese freak). I like to serve this with Pineapple because for me the tastes go great together! Enjoy. (I am also serving a bagged lettuce salad to go with the meal...nothing fancy, but some greens.)

I have decided to plan my meals for one entire month at a time. I used to plan on a weekly basis, but have strayed from this. When I planned, I was much happier and the family actually ate well. My act will be getting together and we will be eating better again shortly...

I will begin with theme days and then go from there: For example, Thursday's will be Mexican food days (Tacos, Enchiladas, Fajitas, Posole, Tamales, etc). Tuesday's will be Pasta days (Chicken Orzo, Chicken Parmigiana, Angel Hair Flank Steak Alfredo, Home Made Mac n Cheese, Lasagna, Spaghetti, etc). Monday's will be Meat and Potatoes (Steak, Chicken Fried Steak, Pork, Lamb, etc). Wednesday's will be Casseroles (Tater Tot, Green Bean, Tuna Noodle, etc), Friday's will be Something New (from magazines, etc). Saturday's and Sunday's are right now pending. I am thinking about fancy for Sunday's (Turkey, Pot Roast, Ham, Prime Rib, etc). Saturday's will be From the Sea (Fish, Shrimp, Crab, Scallops, etc). Lunches (for me and Dominic since Alli eats at Erin's and Sean doesn't eat lunch) will be leftovers from meals throughout the previous week that I have frozen or saved. I will let you know my finalized plan and the recipes next week sometime. I will compile them today and tomorrow and begin my new life of planned meals as of Sunday or Monday...

Wish me luck!

Try:

A Poisoned Passion: A Young Mother, her War Hero Husband, and the Marriage that Ended in Murder (St. Martin's True Crime Library) - Diane Fanning; Mass Market Paperback

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The book above is based on a case that my brother worked on when he was an AFOSI officer. I am extremely proud that he and his colleagues were able to solve this crime. It costs about $7 from Amazon.com! :D (I haven't read it yet, but already know most of the story directly from a great source.)

I felt inspired to cook after watching Julie and Julia. I did not, however, feel inspired to cook French cuisine (as it isn't my favorite and it's usually complicated & time consuming). I think I am 'Taste of Home' kinda cooker.

I get a cooking magazine once a month that has simple recipes and menu ideas. This magazine includes a 'Grocery List' and five recipes that follow it...it makes use of multiple ingredients to spread across the different dinners to buy a few things and make complete use of them. The 'Grocery List' never includes the 'staples' that I, as I cook alot, have in my kitchen on a daily basis. And, the 'List' tends to not break the bank. I decided last month (prior to seeing Julie and Julia) that I would buy the items on the 'List' and make the recipes for my family...even it they didn't sound like something we would order at a restaurant per se. (The main reason I didn't do this with the previous month's recipes is due to Allison's food allergy to the squash family and for some reason, the July issue decided to spread squash across all five recipes!)

To make a long story short. I did it! I made all five recipes and with the extra ingredients I made a sixth! And, it cost less money than I had anticipated. If anyone is interest, I would be glad to let you know the dishes and if we liked them or not. (We would eat 3/6 of them again...that is pretty good for 'experimenting' I think!)

I took this quiz and this is what I found out:

DUCKY MALLARD

Your glory days are long gone, but that doesn't stop you from talking the ears off anyone nearby, telling them stories of your life. You're a friendly, grandfatherly sort who others look to for support and advice. You are also rather particular about how things are done. If something messes with your preferred way of doing things, they'd better watch out...



**I enjoyed the description...especially the last two sentences! Hmm, that really does sound like me!**

Yesterday afternoon, I read a book about bugs to Dominic while Allison was napping. The book talked about all different bugs and their importance in this world. After I was done reading, Dom always asks questions about the story/information. He asked me: How does the caterpillar become a butterfly? I said it kind of went into a sleeping bag and when it woke up it turned into a butterfly. He looked confused. I tried again by explaining that remember when Alli was in my belly and then she came out a baby?...kind of like that. His look then changed into total comprehension followed by this statement: 'Oh you mean a CHRYSALIS? Why didn't you just say that Mom?!'

What the heck?!? What 4 year old knows the world Chrysalis? I am thinking of asking him today if he knows the process is called Metamorphosis... He will probably look at me like I am dumb because he probably already knows it!

As I was driving into town this morning this is a conversation that occurred:

"Mom, you just ran a red light!" - Dom
"I did? I didn't even notice!" - Me
"Well, I couldn't really tell cause you were driving so damn fast!" - Dom
(in a fit of giggles), "Dom, little boys don't say the word 'damn'" - Me
"Oh, oops" - Dom


Kids!

Occasionally I watch brainless TV on MTV. The other day I stumbled upon a show called '16 and Pregnant'. After watching two or three episodes, I am truly convinced this show should be taken off the air. What is it teaching young girls? That it is all perfect if they get pregnant at 16 & decide to keep the kid. Everything works out okay. Everyone in their lives is truly kind about the deal and the parents are accepting and even though there are issues between the young couples, the world is still beautiful with the rose covered glasses on. WHAT THE HECK!?! MTV needs to have real kids on there who have babies at 16, are on welfare for years to come, can't get jobs because daycare and jobs don't pay as much as welfare/wic does. They need to show those same 16 year olds about 4 years down the road talking about what they missed out on because of the decision they made. MTV needs to show those same cheerleaders and popular kids living in run-down trailers, etc.

Now, don't get me wrong, there are some kids out there that have babies and their families are very supportive and help them and they manage to make lemonade from the situation. However, the majority have issues beyond they perfectness they show on TV.

Argh! Reality TV...whose reality?

Dom has been mentioning (not begging, but close) the 'Puddle Golf' course frequently over the past few weeks. He says how much fun he thinks it would be, how we should go as a family, and how he thinks he could do really well at it. Well, we finally caved (on purpose) on the 4th of July. We took the kids to the mini-golf course in the heat! Thank god for sunscreen because we definitely needed it or the kids and I would've been fried! We had a great time. Sean won (of course), I did okay considering that I SUCK at golf, and Dom had a blast (which was the most important thing). I think Alli even had fun walking around with us and picking our balls out of the holes for us. Both kids were quite fascinated by the fact that I was the one who knocked my ball into the water and not either of them!

And, on the 4th later in the afternoon Dom did something VERY out of character. He went swimming in the pond (with a life jacket). Sean (in our raft) taught Dom how to float on his back and kick himself around. Dom spent nearly an HOUR in the water. I was freaking out from shore, but tried to keep it to myself. We were so proud of Dom. And, on a side note, he starts swimming lessons tonight all by himself in the pool (not the pond).

I held BOTH kids while we watched fireworks from the Lewiston Hill. They were okay, but probably won't go back. I prefer to be a little closer than we were. Dom was asleep before the fireworks started (and drooled all over my arm...). Alli stayed awake, but snuggled into me and pretended to sleep while I watched the show. They sure are good kids...I am going to miss being able to snuggle with them both at the same time when they are bigger.

Sean and I didn't do much exciting. Sean did get stung by hornets in BOTH feet. Even though he was already taking antihistamines for his allergies, his feel still swelled up so bad that you couldn't see the arches in his feet or that he had ankles. They wouldn't fit into his tennis shoes either. I informed him (as he informed my mom when she broke her foot) that we would have to put him down because we can't afford anymore foot injuries. He got a kick out of it! :P Oh, and he is fine now...still a little swollen, but pretty close to back to normal.

As for me. Nothing too crazy. I went to the library for the first time in like 8 years last Friday. I took the kids and we borrowed one dvd and three books. The picture book we borrowed for Dom is so far a family favorite. It is so hard that we are all three having trouble finding the objects! What else? I got to spend the entire weekend with three of my favorite people in the world...who could ask for anything more???

I added a blog to my page with recipes on it. If you are as crazy as me and are always trying to find a new recipe that your family might enjoy (that is easy to make), try clicking on the link under 'my menu' to your right. :D

Have a wonderful weekend everyone and Happy Independence Day!

Day 1 - Moscow to Rexburg. We left three times that morning (7:00, 7:15, & 7:30) after returning home to close windows and pick up forgotten items. We stopped for lunch in Missoula & ate dinner at the Malms that night. Thanks to Mel's sister who is a fantastic cook, we were well fed.

Day 2 - A.M. Air show in Rexburg with the Malms at the park. Then, Rexburg to Jackson, WY; through the stormy weather in Idaho into the sun of Wyoming. First was the Alpine slide for Dom and Sean (Alli was too little so I let Sean take the boy). Next, to Albertsons to change clothes in the parking lot & Sean to buy a gift card. Then to the Patchen/Richards wedding with only 15 min to spare. Finally, to the reception for a few hours before making the road trip back to Rexburg.

Day 3 - A.M. Breakfast out for Father's day with just us Dorigos - we didn't feel comfortable asking the Malms to 'break the sabbath'. And since we were in Rexburg, it was the first time we have ever gone out to breakfast on a Sunday and didn't have to wait for a table! P.M. Water Falls and 'Natural' aquarium with the Malms. Then, a very long scenic route from Rexburg to Missoula. Dinner in Missoula at Outback before retiring to a hotel for the night.

Day 4 - Missoula to Moscow via Lolo Pass. Very pretty drive, but very long drive too. Picked up Polly from the Kennel on the way home and got back around 7:30pm.

Though it was a short and to the point trip, it was quite enjoyable. We had a great time seeing Chris, even though it was only a few minutes and he was busy with getting married and all that stuff. We enjoyed hanging with the Malms. We didn't realize just how much we missed them until we hung out with them again...I so wish they would move back here so our kids could play more together (and the adults too!). And, we are already planning our vacation back next year to visit them again.

Here are some highlights (okay, not so highlights, but things one should come to expect on a road trip):

Day 1 - We were flagged down on the Freeway just before Missoula by a nice gentleman to tell us our front tire was nearly to the brim flat. Sean aired it up at a gas station in the pouring rain and we made it to the Les Schwab in Missoula where they removed the nail for free and sent us on our way. (I am pretty sure that Sean jinxed us by putting the socket set into the truck before we left...)

Day 2 - In the middle of the wedding we were at, my lovely 4 year old started hollering 'Food' 'You promised me food' 'Where's the food' and had to be drug out with my hand covering his mouth while he kept yelling the word 'food' through my hand. Alli then started screaming 'MAMAMAMA' until Sean just let her follow me. I sent Dom back in after a good talking to and remained in the hallway with Alli for the remainder of the ceremony. Kids! (This will definitely be a story to remind Dom of when he has little monsters of his own!)

Day 3 - What should every little girl give their father for Father's day? Alli learned how to drink from a straw at the Outback. She learned so well that she drank the entire glass of apple juice in less than 10 minutes. Then, she took a bite of broccoli...out came the present all over herself, the bench and Sean. Thank god it didn't get on the table! I blocked the mess from the neighboring tables while trying to convince the waitstaff to bring some cleaning supplies. It was all cleaned up and Alli was fine again right away. Kids! (This will definitely be a story to remind her of when she has little pukers of her own!)

Day 4 - Uneventful (except road construction and a VERY long drive through the toolies). We got home just in time to get the kids to bed and ourselves to bed too.

1. Took Polly back to the vet for a check up on Saturday morning (and Arch/Cat watched the kids - thanks!). She is doing great! Her swelling is nearly gone in the paw and she is looking like she is healing really really well. (Thank God!) Her next appointment is the 22 to get the stitches out. Then many more weeks of a short leash and confined spaces to help her heal.

2. We went to the Genessee Day's fireworks on Saturday night. The were "awesome" according to Dominic. Both Alli and Dom had their ears covered the entire time, but Dom seemed to truly enjoy them. (Alli's face was smashed against my shoulder so I am pretty sure she didn't see many of them.) We think these fireworks are the best in the area (even taking the fireworks at the 4th into consideration). We have gone every year since 2006 when we took the Gomez girls w/us. This year one of Sean's friends came with us since his family was out of town....it was great to see him!

3. Thanks to Shannon, one of my co-workers, Sean and I had Papa Murphy's pizza yesterday for dinner. Sean did some work for her last fall and she thanked us with gift certificates to Papa Murphy's. It couldn't have come on a better day since I seem to be getting sicker and sicker as the minutes pass by so cooking isn't high on my list of priorities the last few days. Thanks again Shannon...you sure know when to give back! :D

4. Sean, my work-a-holic husband worked at 23 hour day last Wed-Thurs. He is such a trooper. Though he was tired, I am quite proud of him and his work ethic. He does what needs to be done and doesn't really complain too loudly and even sacrifices himself for the greater good of his company. Kudos to Sean. (I love you)

1. Pre Surgery - This x-ray shows how her toes separated from her foot. (Ewww!)

Those of you who know me well know that I am the biggest sap on this earth. Yeah, I admit it! I cry at even the slightest cheesy sappy part of a movie...I am a big old cry baby!

Well, I took Dom to see the new Disney/Pixar movie 'UP' yesterday afternoon. It was good, but heart wrenching! I tried not to cry. I even tried to think of happy thoughts, but couldn't keep myself from shedding a few tears in the theatre. I am glad it was dark in there, but dreaded the walk in the afternoon sun from the theatre to my car with mascara all over my face! We made it to the car and I called my mom to explain the movie to her...and of course, I sobbed. I tried to convince myself it was just a movie...and a children's movie at that, but there was no stopping the tears from flowing from my eye faucets! Even now when I think of it...my dang eyes fill with that awful liquid! So, take this as my warning...if you are even the least bit as sappy as me...don't go see this movie...wait until you can watch it in the comfort (and privacy) of your own living room.

I knew we should've gone to the Night At The Museum 2 instead!

I take back anything nice I have said about our Postal Service lately...

The last TWO packages I mailed to my sister-in-law have taken a VERY long time to get there. The first: I sent it a few weeks before Christmas, with food in it...and guaranteed it to be there in 5-7 days...well, it got there sometime the last week of JANUARY!!! Like 5-7 weeks later!

The second package: I mailed my nephew's birthday present early. His birthday is May 17. I mailed the package on April 30. It was also guaranteed to be there in 5-7 days...he got it YESTERDAY...20 days later. But, the kicker...it was opened and re-sealed...AND part of the package was missing!!!! There was no note on it or in it that said that it had been opened either! WHAT THE HECK!?!

This mailing stuff and it taking forever is REALLY ANNOYING!!! It shouldn't take THREE weeks for something to get from Idaho to Hawaii!!!!

On my way back through Missoula on Saturday/Sunday with my mom and kids, we decided to call an old high school friend and his girlfriend to possibly visit with them for a while. I left a message, but they didn't return my call before we headed out of town...

We stopped about 3 hours later in Thompson Falls (the typical spot to stop when driving from Missoula to Troy) for a quick bathroom break and a snack. While we were there, the friend and his girlfriend pull up in their truck! What a coincidence! Though it wasn't exactly how we planned on meeting up with them, it ended up the perfect amount of time and it was great to see them!

Once upon a time, I used to sleep until 11am on a regular basis on my days off from work and school. The other people who lived near Sean and I in family housing used to laugh when my alarm would go off to wake me up at around the time they were getting ready to feed their kids lunch! These are the same people who would get angry when Sean and I had parties into the late hours of the night/morning. Well, I never really understood them...until last night. I was laying in bed and it was raining really hard and I was having trouble falling asleep...and, all I could think about was I had to get to sleep because the kids would wake up early and I needed to have a good night's sleep before that... And then, I got the giggles...I finally understood...I was finally OLD!

Now, not to sound like a prude...but why is it that when the sun comes out women start walking around campus practically naked? I mean, I understand shorts, tank tops, skirts, and summer dresses...but ones that leave NOTHING up to the imagination?! Maybe I am jealous that I haven't looked hot in that type of wardrobe in years, but maybe just maybe I would rather my kids (and I) not be subjected to nearly naked individuals advertising what they are offering all the time...