At the Beach

No Laptop and Other Rambling Ramblings

• I turned in my work laptop in on Monday. Typing on a mini isn't as much fun as I thought it would be.
• Google Docs is awesome! Currently using their powerpoint and excel equivalents and am impressed.
• Aubrey is feeling MUCH better! No fever since Sunday afternoon, energy and appetites are growing. I do believe her energy level and my enjoyment of being a SAHM may be inversely proportional - will let you know!
• I sewed up a knit skirt to wear at the beach; it isn't perfect but is my first attempt with knits and I did well.
• I also put the Spring Shells together and froze before baking to take the beach, it looks awesome!
• Speaking of the beach... postings will be slim :p

Daddy's Day

I asked the girls what they love most about their daddy.

Aubrey:

• he makes good pizza
• he catches fishies
• and he fixes things for us
• that I love him snuggling me.

Molly

• I love about him that we gave him presents
• I care for him
• I love him so much
• play monkey tag
• I love about him, he makes bagels

And I just couldn't ask for a more involved, fully engaged partner on this trip with these amazing girls.

Happy Father's Day to the greatest men I know!

What A Week!

So this week hasn't been the best week ever, but putting it in perspective it actually isn't the end of the world either.

Monday morning I got notified that the company I worked for was closing and not to show up for work.

..... my husband has a very steady job and we can make this work until I find something else.

Monday at lunch I noticed Aubrey had a golf ball sized lymph-node on her neck, headed to the doctor, lots of blood tests later and Tuesday we find out she has mono.

..... since I don't have a job and was keeping the girls home with me, no stress about what to do with a sick kid for 10-14 days of fever, weakness, and tiredness.

I drop my phone in the car and the touch screen splinters, doesn't work.

... since my husband recently purchased a new phone, his "old" phone was the same as my broken one and it is all switched over.

My house is kind of a mess which is driving my husband crazy.

.....BUT the freezer is stocked, projects that have not moved forward are now moving forward and I have cuddled my girls for HOURS AND HOURS.

Family, friends, co-workers, former clients have all reached out and over whelmed me with their comments and support. And to answer the questions:

1) I am fine, thank you.

2) NO I am not going crazy, I am enjoying my girls (although the reduced activity levels may be helping that out, will let you know).

3) I don't know what I am going to do.

4) I am still working on updating my resume, thanks.

5) What I didn't expect as a SAHM? How many hours I spend on my feet!

6) Molly is doing great, she doesn't realize we are "stuck" home with Aubrey. She is just soaking up the cuddles.

Cooking

What? I do not have a problem. No, really, I don't!

This morning I made Sausage and Cheese Muffins! I will be freezing these and taking them to the beach this summer as an easy breakfast or mid-morning snack. Yum!

FYI, I can't remember where I found this - I had copied it into notepad and don't see it saved on Delicious!

Sausage & Cheese Biscuits

3 c. flour

1 T. + 1 t. baking powder

1/2 t. salt

1/2 c. butter, cut into small pieces

1 lb. bulk pork sausage, crumbled and fully cooked, cooled

1 1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese

3/4 – 1 1/4 c. milk (I ended up using 1 Cup)

1. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder and salt. Cut in the butter until crumbly.

2. Stir in the cooled sausage and cheddar cheese. Add milk just until the dough comes together without being sticky. Be careful not to add too much.

3. I used the shape-by-hand method and made 15 biscuits put on baking sheets (didn't need to spray them).

4. Bake at 400 degrees for 12- 18 minutes, until lightly golden brown on top (I actually ended up baking for 21 minutes)

I also made The Pioneer Woman's Chicken Spaghetti, I put it in 2 8x8 Pyrex dishes, froze one, one in fridge for tomorrow's dinner.

Other notables this week include:

Roasted Red Pepper Pasta

Best Chicken Fingers EVER! (I served these on top of big salads)

See, no problem at all, just make sure you are exercising daily!

Morning Muffins

This morning I put together the following:

1 1/3 cup flour

3/4 cup oatmeal

1/3 cup sugar

2 tsps baking powder

1 beaten egg

3/4 cup milk

1/4 cup applesauce

1 cup chocolate chips

Put dry ingredients, in bowl, mix

Make well

Add wet ingredients

Mix until just moist

Toss in some chocolate chips 'cause it is Thursday.

Add paper muffin things to your muffin pan (or squares of parchment paper would give it a classier feel).

Pre-heat oven to 400

Cook for 20 minutes.

I advise you DOUBLE this... I wish I had (for freezing).

Note: Mine made 15, for the 2nd pan, fill the unused tins with water when you bake so you don't mess up your pan! I also just threw both pans in at one time.

Rainy Mornings are for Painting

We pulled a table and chairs out onto the front porch and did some paintings

Aubrey with Water Colors

Aubrey with Water Colors

Molly with Finger Paints

Fun With the Hose

**Pictures taken prior to the doctor saying no "exertion".**

The Duck Whisperer

So while Aubrey was trying and trying and trying to get the ducks closer to her... Molly apparently is the Duck Whisperer.

Aubrey and the Ducks

Memorial Day Weekend, we met these 10 ducklings at Nanny and Gtaws Pool. They don't have a mommy or daddy.

A couple weeks later, and they are all accounted for and VERY brave! Aubrey REALLY wanted to pet the ducks. And the ducks were taking food from her hand.

So she reached.

And she reached.

And she reached.

And that dark duck thought her pony tail was food, and grabbed it. And still she reached.

And then she pet the duck!

I loved this little series!

What's Cooking Today

Heading to the pool with my parents today, Doug is working for the 3rd weekend in a row.

Yesterday I made up a batch of Peach Sangria (Southern Living Magazine)

1 bottle rose wine (do not use white zin)

3/4 cup peach vodka

6 TBSP thawed frozen lemonade concentrate (I used pink lemonade concentrate)

2 TBSP sugar

1 lb ripe peaches peeled and sliced

1 6oz pack of fresh raspberries

2 cups chilled club soda (added before serving)

Combine first 5 ingredients in a pitcher, stir until sugar is dissolved. Stir in peaches and raspberries, cover and chill for 8 hours - I did over night.

Stir in chilled club soda just before serving.

Sesame Slaw - made this last night, we love this!

6 cups of shredded cabbage

1 cup of cilantro

Dressing:

1/4 c OJ

2 TBSP oil

2 TBSP vinegar

1 TBSP honey

2 tsp sesame seeds

Also, this week I am going to be making this Roasted Red Pepper Pasta, so while grilling steaks last night I threw the peppers on, sweated them and peeled, so those are ready when I am.

Tonight I am also making Garlic Scapes to eat Monday or Tuesday with grilled chicken.

What new recipes are you trying?

What the Kids Have To Say

"Girls, on Monday instead of school you are going to start staying home with mommy, OK. Do you have any questions"?

Molly: That's not fair, Ms. Lori has better Barbies, I want to go to SCHOOL!

Aubrey: Mommy, I have been waiting my whole life for you to say that to me.

My Summer as a SAHM

Could it be? Will it be? I think so!

Starting Monday I will be home with the kids! Of course we still have vacation bible school in 10 days, trip to the beach, trip to Maine, Camp Putok for Aubrey and the summer reading program at the library... and the pool so the "home" part isn't really working for the SAHM thing, right?

But hey, putting together a list of all those projects in the house and yard I haven't had time for. Should we take odds on how much of that list we get done?

Should we talk about the spreadsheet I already put together that breaks up the days of the week and highlights activities in each of the following areas we should accomplish each day (they include exploring, playing, learning, cooking, Mommy's Chores)?

Or should we just do an over/under on when I am checked into the looney bin?

Theoretically I will have more time to blog about this little adventure!

So Happy It's Summer

We joined a new pool this year and after one trip there, I am REALLY excited about it! We already have a date for Friday night with a family that has the same aged girls - we will be grilling at the pool and making margaritas!

Tons and tons of kids the girls ages and we had a fun time.

BUT, we started the weekend off with a trip to my parents pool - which there is just NOTHING that beats a pool on the water! It was a gorgeous day filled with family, swimming, and DUCKS!

Nope, no one had fun here!

Ducks AND Cousins!

DUCKS!

Cousins (Aubrey has cherry on her face)

Catfish, her name is Sparkles.