The Week-End

Happy Friday everyone!!!!

We have a busy week-end upon us. Tonight, Zack is taking Trendon, Olivia, and Mia to a Boy Scout Carnival!!! I am taking Abigail and Skyler to a Girl Scout Lock-In. Everyone is very excited and busy now cleaning their rooms so they will get the all clear to leave in an hour:-)

Tomorrow, the kids have a ballgame, if the weather cooperates. It's been raining all day today in Kentucky....chilly and rainy.

AND, it's Mommy & Daddy night out on Saturday!!!! Zack and I are going to our good friend, Angela's, for a Halloween party. I am going as Sarah Palin, the hunter and Zack will be a cross between Joe 6-pack and Joe the Plumber...cause we all know it's all about Joe! Brooke is babysitting for us so the kids are completely excited. She often brings movies and other surprises for the kids when she comes. We will miss her dearly next year when she leaves for college.

I'll be posting plenty of pics, as always!!

Precious Moments

Yesterday I was awoken, as always, by the sounds of my baby daughter in her room. I went into pick her up and start our day when she grabbed my cheeks, looked me straight in the eyes, and lovingly said "Ma-Ma". This wasn't the first time she said this but the sweet, tender touch and clear conviction in her voice melted my heart. It was like she had this epiphany that I was Mom and I was there. So beautiful.

Coming back home...

I put in my two weeks notice today at work. Long story...but the economy isn't favorable to advertising sales right now. With nearly $1000 per month going to childcare....not really a good fit! I am excited to come back home for a while with the babies and finish my Master's degree strong. Just 11 months til I graduate!!!!! I am beyond blessed to have a husband that supports me in whatever I choose. We have debated this decision for over a month and it finally became clear that it was best for everyone for me to quit working for now. I will continue looking for something more lucrative, but likely stay at home for a while if possible.

I have lost 20 lbs since I started working so I gotta find a way to keep that off while at home! I need a work-out buddy...anyone?!?!:-)

Manners Class

We found this sign on the girls bedroom door this evening!

You Ready For Some Football?!?!

The kids enjoyed a beautiful afternoon playing football and cheer leading today! Mia & I also enjoyed watching! It's a gorgeous day in Kentucky, 70 degrees beautiful blue sky! Why can't every day be like this? The kids are all upstairs now, watching cartoons and resting before we go to Fall Festival at school in about 30 minutes! They are so exhausted! Our life is absolutely nutty but we love it!:-)

Dinner tonight: Pork BBQ at the festival!

Thursday night = Crazy night

McDonalds cooked dinner for us tonight cause we have absolutely no time to cook on Thursdays. Honestly, we don't even have time to eat, we eat in the car in route. I had a Girl Scout Service Unit meeting tonight at 5:30 so Zack took the big kids to football/cheerleading practice and I met them there late. Then, we hoped to get Abby involved in 4-H Horse Club except I must have had the wrong address. At about 8 we all arrived home for quick showers, snack, and bed! I think everyone is already asleep cause they were worn out! I am thrilled to have my laptop perched on the side of the couch downstairs waiting for the VP debate!!!

Saturday night is the school's Fall Festival which is a ton of fun! There are bookoos of games, face painting, hair painting etc. that the kids love! We are obviously volunteering to work in the booths so Z and I will take turns with volunteering and corralling children! And we'll have an extra set of hands as Peachie is coming too!!! :-)

Ahh...the debate is underway and I gotta listen! I'll end with another family loved recipe, especially by Zack:-)

Man Dip

1 roll of pork breakfast sausage
1 pound of ground beef
1 large white onion
2 cans of cream of mushroom soup
2 pounds of velveeta cheese
2-5 jalapenos, depending on your taste for heat.
garlic salt to taste
black pepper to taste

Brown beef, sausage and onion in pan until cooked and onion is transluscent.  Take the meat mixture and put in crock pot.  Add all rest ingredients.  Cook on high or low until it melts, stir and serve with corn chips. 

What are you known for?

Me....having the good low-down on yummy recipes. When my friends aren't calling to chit-chat they are calling to see if I have any new recipes for them to try!;-) Sometimes, I'll post my favorites here......cause that sounds fun! If you try them let me know. Practically everything I post will be approved by the kiddos. Each time I try something new we take a vote to see if it should go in my recipe file or just be tossed! Last night's dinner (a new Baked Spaghetti recipe) will definitely be tossed ICK!!! But, tonight's dinner got a big thumbs up from everyone....including Miss Picky Pants herself hehe

Easy Slow Cooker French Dip
SUBMITTED BY: lonwolf32 PHOTO BY: DawnF
"This makes a delicious French dip sandwich, perfect for the working mom! Nobody, not even teetotalers, have been able to detect the presence of beer in this recipe, but it adds a wonderful flavor! French fries make a great side dish, and they are good for dipping, too."

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
• 4 pounds rump roast
• 1 (10.5 ounce) can beef broth
• 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed French onion soup
• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle beer
• 6 French rolls
• 2 tablespoons butter

DIRECTIONS
1. Trim excess fat from the rump roast, and place in a slow cooker. Add the beef broth, onion soup and beer. Cook on Low setting for 7 hours.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
3. Split French rolls, and spread with butter. Bake 10 minutes, or until heated through.
4. Slice the meat on the diagonal, and place on the rolls. Serve the sauce for dipping.

---AND----

Southern Hash Brown Casserole Recipe
• 1 bag of frozen hash brown potatoes (2 lbs)
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• ½ cup melted butter
• 1 ½ tsp salt
• 1 small onion (chopped)
• 1 can 10 ¾ oz cream soup (cream of chicken or cream of mushroom work very well)
• 1 cup sour cream
• 2 cups crushed Corn Flakes
• ¼ cup melted butter
Directions:
1. As mentioned above, thaw hash browns (or use refrigerator style hash browns).
2. In a large bowl, mix together hash browns, cheddar cheese, ½ cup melted butter, salt, onion, soup, and sour cream. Stir until evenly mixed.
3. Spray a 9 x 11 or 9 x 13 inch pan or casserole dish with Pam or lightly grease the dish. This helps on clean up.
4. Pour mixture from bowl into pan and spread evenly with a spoon. Do not pack down tightly.
5. In a small bowl, mix together Corn Flakes and ¼ cup melted butter. Mix together and spread on top of casserole.
6. Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes without a lid. The top should be lightly browned when done.
This is a large casserole (feeds 12 or more), and it is not from the healthy cooking file. Depending on the size of the serving, expect between 300 to 400 calories per hearty serving with about half those calories from fat. For these reasons, this recipe is usually served for special occasions. And, the casserole dish usually comes home empty.

MMmmmm.....we are all so stuffed!