Friday Fill In

1. seeing the kids play in the rain never fails to make me smile.

2. i'm looking forward to seeing my baby graduate from preK today.

3. _Bobby Bones show is what I am listening to right now. best thing i found when we lived in Texas. #justsayin'

4. Potato must have pickles in it. but only whole kosher dill pickles that you cut up yourself!

5. fried egg on an english muffin with provolone was the best thing I ate today. (i know, REAL healthy)

6. today was started very early ( I woke up at 5AM!)

7. and as for the weekend, tonight i'm looking forward to pizza with the kids, tomorrow my plans include finally seeing Husband after a long month, and Sunday i want to sleep in!

Thursday 13: letter D

1. dated: engaged, and married in eleven months....that was twelve years ago this month!

2. decorated: for fall, my favorite time of the year

3. dyson: love my handheld one....the kids think it is fun to "get" to help clean

4. distraught: when I walked into Will's classroom yesterday, .....and he wasn't in there! but, he was in another class doing math.

5. downloaded: Glee-the-Music-vol-1 can't get enough of that show! love it

6. dinner: or do you say supper?

7. drink: of choice, diet DP

8. don't: think I will ever be a morning person

9. do: wish i were...it would totally make my mornings easier

10. dang: my choice of words....just waiting for the day that pete and repeat say it.


11. Disney world....best vacation ever.

12. dillards: used to be the place to shop when i was younger....are those even around any more?

13. daylight savings....still working on getting used to it


Thursday 13: Letter D 2008

Photohunt: artificial

that is one big honkin long neck, originally uploaded by tommiea1.

Artificial dinosaur at Dinoworld .....who knew there were dinosaur's in Kentucky??

hosted by the wonderful TNChick....Next week the theme is ripples

Snapshot-July 2009

Snapshot of Thirteen Things during the month of July

1) photo of me: taken with my Iphone: just after I got a cut and color. (Yes, I need some lip color. No, I am not driving, just buckled up!)

2) current candle scents: some Partylite candle, kind of spicy flavored

3) what i am currently reading: I did get the new Real Simple in the mail today.

4) newest music i added to my playlist: does a podcast count? I listen to my old radio station from Texas.

5) movies i saw: We took the kids to see G-Force last weekend. Kind of cute, Livi danced most of the way through it!

6) something yummy i made this month: Cilantro lime shrimp with a corn and black bean salsa.

7) the last place i ate out: Chick-fil-A

8.) something that made me cry: recently...when I was late to pick Will up from his first day of kindergarten ....dang early release! (okay this happened in Aug, but I am totally counting it!

9) something that made me laugh: Livi and her 'princess muscles' . (See post below this one)

10) something i looked forward to this month: hanging with the cousins in OH for the fourth of July. In case you have wondered, this is what a sugar high looks like!

11) something i am thankful for: living close enough to drive up to OH for the long weekend.

12) something i want to remember about this month: These gorgeous pink flowers: the first time I saw them, I thought they were fake flowers. They grow on top of these very straight thick green stalks about two feet tall. A lady had some in her yard in a circle around a lamp post. I wondered why on Earth she would put such fake looking flowers in her yard! Then I saw them in my neighbor's yard! They look so fake, but are so gorgeous!

13) a photo i took this month: My baby girl, lips stained red from eating a "rocket pop", and always with a flower in hand.

borrowed from Janet at Fond of Snape who borrowed it from Dawn

Friday fill in: weekend update style

Graphic courtesy of Tonya! And...here we go!

6. At Dinosaur World the sun was shining. It was so hot, I felt like I was melting!

1. She had a great sense of style. Despite the fact that I laid out her outfit with matching shoes, Livi choose to wear these pink MaryJanes. But she did mention that they were NOT the proper shade of pink. This was a battle I chose not to fight.

3. I know this: Will has the bluest eyes.....even today, someone commented on them when he was getting his hair cut.

2. Husband is by my side, always. Thankfully, even after this weekend started out with him getting in a head-on collision, he will continue to be by my side. He is fine, though a bit bruised and sore. He is sad to have to say goodbye to his convertible!

4. I still hope Husband finds a car that he loves as much as this one.

5. These words apply to me: organized.


7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to pizza with the family, tomorrow my plans include dinner with Will's future in-laws and E and Sunday, I want to take the boys to get haircuts and start looking at cars for Husband!

PS, so sorry my Fill In is all wonky! I couldn't move the pics around, I could only move the text. Oh well! Happy Friday fill in on Sunday!!

Friday fill in questions courtesy of the talented Janet

Friday Fill In

Friday fill in questions are from Tamy at 3sidesofcrazy; thanks, Tamy since the talented Janet is recovering from surgery today. I do hope you are doing well Janet!

And...here we go!

1. All children alarm their parents, if only because you are forever expecting one kid or the other to break a bone, or at least something to require a visit to the ER. **ps,every post deserves a pic, so I had to throw in this "crazy face" pic. I do think this was the first crazy face pic we ever took (circa fall 2007). These started when Husband was deployed. I would take a pic of them for something, then they would say, "Let's do a crazy one for Dad!"

2. Show me a good loser and I will show you a person who is still a loser.

3. Ugh this makes my tummy ache just thinking about it is like eating an entire box of chocolate liqueurs at one time.


4. Too bad that all the people who know how to run the country are busy being cool and smacking flies. This Youtube video cracks me up. I do hope someone ran up with a baby wipe or some hand sanitizer after this.

5. I have yet to hear a man ask for advice on how to combine moisturizer and tinted sunscreen. I do this in the summer when I run out of my favorite makeup with sunscreen built in!

6. It is impossible to think of any good meal, no matter how plain or elegant, without carbs or butter in it.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to catching up on some blogs , tomorrow my plans include movie and popcorn with the kids and Sunday, I want to take a big honking guess......sleep in!

ABCs of our weekend

For some reason I am in a severe blogging funk....these ABC posts are such an easy way to get my random chaotic thoughts together. So, from last Friday until now....

Attended the kids preschool graduation

Brought to tears to see my little boy and girl end another year

Cried....okay, I cried. I did. But not the big honking "ugly" cry, just a few leaky tears.

Drove to Ohio for the long weekend

Eat (okay it should be ate, but I need an E word) lots of good food

Finally downloaded the pics from my camera...eeks guess how many I took?

Grandkids galore...all of my in-laws grand kids were there this weekend. It is so nice to live close enough to drive up for the long weekend.

Happy to get to hold my new nephew.

I love seeing how patient and gentle Will is with his younger cousins.

Josie's toots make me keep a can of Febreeze very close by me.

Kids played on the slip-n-slide

Love that my mother-in-law keeps pinot grigio on hand because she knows this is my favorite!

Made it home from OH in less time, despite getting lost. I used Google maps on my Iphone mid trip to find our way back! whew hoo!

Nine shows on my DVR from the long weekend...."Medium" is playing now.

Olivia has a song in her heart that is bursting out of her mouth 24/7....how's that for a positive spin on she talks non-stop!

Photos are finally downloaded. I need to make copies for my in laws.

Quite the rain showers today....soccer was even cancelled, a rescheduled rain game.

Really nervous for Will's first half day camp next week.

S'mores by the fire....sugar 'em up and hope they crash right at bedtime. Very fine line of timing there.

Today was the first real day of summer break for us! The kids even slept in just a tad.

Ugghh....is this thing almost done.

Very good grilled burgers tonight...cumin and oregano, then topped with cheddar and cilantro. Yummilicious

Welcomed Baby A into the world...congrats to my sister-in-law M and her husband A.

Xpect lots of grins and giggles when a new baby is around.

Ya'll still reading this because I need to go get some

Zzzzzsss.

Nighty night, y'all!

Photostory Friday: sunshine

This week we finally had some sunshine and warm weather that I have so desperately been craving. The kids were able to play in the sprinkler for a bit. The picture below the big hair post just below this one was taken this afternoon as well.

After getting a handful of shots of the kids, I thought I would take some pics of the flowers in the garden. Yellow flowers against the blue sky are one of my favorite things.

As I ventured over to the flower beds, Will and Livi both had to come over to hop in the frames. The crazy pics never get old for a 4 and 5 year old. I think he is still missing Monkey!


Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

tuesday with tommie

WHAT I’M READING: the latest Real Simple magazine

WHAT I’M WATCHING: Whatever is on the DVR, I haven't watched TV the last two nights! So I know Gossip Girl, Castle, Charm School, Medium, House, Desperate Housewives, Daisy of Love....oh yeah, some good "trash TV" as Will calls it.

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO: Josie snoring.....and Gossip Girl.

WHAT I’M WEARING: jammies

WHAT I’M EATING: had chicken quesadillas for dinner earlier

WHAT I’M ENJOYING: first day to let the kids run around in the sprinkler. They would run through the sprinkler, then come hug my legs. Lots of silly laughter!!

WHAT I’M SNIFFING: not much, spring allergies are not my friend. My nose is kind of stopped up!

Happy Tuesday, y'all

Note: tuesday with tommie pic circa summer 1991....bride's face blurred to protect the innocent.

Let me just say, a great deal of hair product and Aqua Net went into that hairdo.

Friday Fill In

And...here we go!

1. Apples are to oranges as laundry is to cleaning.

2. So happy it is the weekend and that's all I have to say about that.

3. I think I hear the quiet house, kids are sleeping.

4. You're a grand ol' flag. (Will is learning this for his preschool pre-K graduation.)

5. Do what you want to do, but have fun while you are doing it....it was raining cats and dogs today. This is the street in front of our home....when it rains, get your raincoat and boots.....Then go have some fun!

6. The kids were dragging every tw0 and four wheeled toy out of the garage and behind him was a Radio Flyer wagon; in the wagon was a bucket filled with bottles of bubbles and sidewalk chalk.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Livi's ballet recital, tomorrow my plans include grocery shopping and Sunday, I want to have my favorite meal for Mother's Day!

Friday fill in courtesy of the talented Janet...

Manic Monday

Just another Manic Monday…

Describe to me your favorite lounging clothes. Believe it or not, the t-shirt pajama pants from Old Navy are super soft. They are too long for me, of course. So I usually just cut them off. They just roll up a bit and do not fray. Now, the flannel ones I do have to hem...

PS, you know it has been a good weekend, when most of the laundry on Monday morning is pajamas and outside play clothes! Let's just say, it was a good Monday today!

If you promised to never lie again in your lifetime, in what area would it be hardest to uphold the promise? I am a people pleaser, so this is a hard one. Probably along the lines of making an excuse to do something that I really don't have to do.

Give a one word answer to the question “why is life worth living”. Absolutely easy peasy one....one of the happiest days of my life: Husband coming home from his deployment

Friday fill in

1. Join me in a great afternoon of fun and sunshine.

2. Put a little sunshine and happiness in your day!

3. Happiness is seeing tulips along the walk around the neighborhood.

4. Dressing in her brother's swim suits and confused is how Livi dressed while we were washing my car this afternoon.

5. I'm waiting for spring to stay.

6. A glass of wine is hard to resist.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to veggie pizza with the family , tomorrow my plans include haircuts for the boys, yardwork, and just being outside in this gorgeous weather and Sunday, I want to sleep in & make some crab cakes!

Friday fill in courtesy of the talented Janet...

Photostory Friday: Monkey Feet

We have had so much fun with a silly little sock monkey. When I signed up for this visit last spring, I just thought it would be fun for the kids. But it has been so awesome to see the smiles on people's faces when they see him. Everyone is happy to see a monkey, many have stories of monkeys they have owned previously.

After the kids came in from bouncing on the trampoline, the sat on the mat outside the door to get their feet wiped off. It had been raining and misting all day. Their feet were a little damp, bits of grass clinging to their toes. As the kids plopped down, Will stuck Monkey's feet right up there too! I couldn't help but laugh. What it is about this little sock Monkey that brings so much laughter?

PS, if you have not kept up with the little Monkey, here is his blog: Monkey Me, Monkey You


Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Monkey's Movie

While trying to figure out a setting on the kids' camera, I found out it could record audio. Who knew? Note...lower your volume if you don't want your speakers blown out. Livi starts singing REALLY loud!

tuesday with tommie

This was really fun. I can see doing this every year or so to see how the answers change.

All About Mommy

By Will (age 5) and Olivia (age 4) **pic taken with the laptop camera**

1. What is something mommy always says to you?
Will: I love you.
Olivia: I love you.

2. What makes mommy happy?
W: Us

O: A kiss

3. What makes mommy sad?
W: When she can't make the kids happy.
O: Me throwing stuff and being bad at school.

4. How does your mommy make you laugh?
W: By tickles, but she can't tickle as fast as daddy.
O: By telling me an underpants joke.

5. What was your mommy like as a child?
W: I don't know.
O: She was like me.

6. How old is your mommy?
W: 19 (this made me laugh!!)
O: 16 (laughing even more)

7. How tall is your mommy?
W: this tall(raising up his arms as high as he can)
O: I don't know.

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
W: Hug and kiss us.
O: Be with me.

9. What does your mommy do when you're not around?
W: Clean up the house.
O: Do some cleaning, like house blessing.

10. If your mommy becomes famous, what will it be for?
W: Tickling.
O: For cooking. (I like her idea!)

11. What is your mommy really good at?
W: hugging and loving
O: The computer

12. What is your mommy not very good at?
W: tickling (But I thought I was going to be famous for it!)
O: flipping backwards (I have no clue where this came from!)

13. What does your mommy do for her job?
W: Doing good things for the house.
O: Cooking when Dad's sick

14. What is your mommy's favorite food?
W: quesadillas
O: Egg sandwiches....(I have been eating these for breakfast lately.)

15. What makes you proud of your mommy?
W: To just be me
O: When I help her cook.

16. If your mommy were a cartoon character, who would she be?

W: Maggie and the Ferocious Beast

O: Pinky Dinky Do o

17. What do you and your mommy do together?
W: Play Candyland
O: build with blocks

18. How are you and your mommy the same?
W: We have the same cheeks.
O: We both have brown eyes.

19. How are you and your mommy different?
W: I have blue eyes, you have brown.
O: You have black hair, I have brown hair.

20. How do you know your mommy loves you?
W: Because you are my mommy.
O: You kiss me and hug me.

21. Where is your mommy's favorite place to go?
W: Target (oh yeah!)
O: the park

idea borrowed from: Jenni at Four Feet More

Manic Monday and a cookie

Fleur-de-Lisa hosts the original Manic Monday here

What's one of the simple pleasures in your life? I would definitely say baking and cooking with the kids. I started muffin Monday when Husband was deployed. It has since become a tradition. We have made some great muffins, shared them with friends, and learned to bake in the process. Unless one kid is sick, we pretty much do some type of baking every week.

What do you like to snack on when you watch a movie? Husband's popcorn: air popped with butter and a bit of salt. I don't like movie theater popcorn at all! When I was younger I used to mix Sugar Babies with popcorn. It was like caramel popcorn right in your mouth!

If you were a Survivor contestant, what would be your luxury item? Probably something practical like a Swiss Army knife or a Leatherman.

We decided to make cookies this week for a little change in the routine. I asked Will why he wanted them, he said because they had chocolate. Can't argue with that logic?

We used the recipe on the back of the Nestle chocolate chip bag. I didn't have a whole bag, so we mixed mini semi-sweet chips and big milk chocolate chips. We added the pecans as well. They really were good! As usual, plate and share with friends.

Want one?

Manic Monday and Apple Pecan muffins

What is your favorite candy? anything chocolate...truffles....peppermint patties.

Name one thing that you'd want to receive as a gift for Valentine's day. Nothing really. We are going to dinner at one of those Japanese places where they prep the meal in front of you. I can't ever remember the name, so I call it the atchi wa wa (and you totally have to make chopping motions with your hand when you say it)

Can we truly love someone who loves another? It would be hard...thankfully I have never been in that position.

Fleur-de-Lisa hosts the original Manic Monday here

For Muffin Monday, we made these awesome apple pecan muffins. They were very good! Will was excited to get his hammer out to make the graham cracker crumbs. We had to have a lesson over banging GENTLY on the counter! These would not do very well in a mini muffin pan since you are layering them. So they are a BIG muffin.....but really good!

Apple Pecan muffins

1 1/2 c. all purpose flour
1 1/4 t. baking soda
1/4 t. salt
1 c. wheat bran flakes cereal with raisins ( I just used bran flakes)
2/3 c. sugar
1/3 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 egg lightly beaten
1 c. nonfat buttermilk
2 T. butter, melted
1 c. peeled, finely chopped Rome apple ( I used pink lady since that is what I had in the house)
1/3 c. chopped pecans, toasted
2 T. sugar
3/4 t. ground cinnamon
1 T. butter, melted
vegetable cooking spray
1 T. sugar

Combine first six ingredients in a large bowl; make a well in the center of mixture. Combine egg, buttermilk, ad 2T melted butter; add to dry ingredients. Stir just until dry ingredients are moistened. Set aside.

Combine apple and next 4 ingredients; set aside.

Spoon 2T batter into each of 12 muffin cups coated with cooking spray. Top evenly with apple mixture. Spoon remaining batter over apple mixture. (Batter will not completely cover apple mixture.) Sprinkle 1 T. sugar evenly over batter.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

Remove from pans immediately. Plate and share with friends.

Yield: 1 dozen **These do no do well in a mini muffin pan***

Calories: 198 Protein 3.6 g Fat 6.1 g Carbohydrate 3.4 g Fiber 1.5 g Cholesterol 18mg Iron 1.5 mg Sodium 240 mg Calcium 33mg