Dallas Visit-Phase 1

Packed the bags

Loaded the car

Picked up Con from school

Ready to go

Dallas Bound

We actually made great time

It's an easy drive

And now that the boys have their headphones,

A peaceful one

We decided to eat dinner at the hotel restaurant

Me at a restaurant with 3 boys

Alone

And it's not McDonalds or Chick-Fil-A

SCARYVILLE

The boys did GREAT

Damn I'm good

Now up to the room for bed

I got everyone to sleep

Unfortunately....

not everyone stayed asleep

Christian either does not like strange places

or sleeping in his play pen

It was a loooonnnnnggg night

But our first full day "home" was spent with Ben

Connor's bestie soul mate

These 2 are inseparable

We spent the entire day with this beautiful family

The big boys were non stop

And sweet Sophia being all girly and motherly took care of Christian

I put Christian down for a nap in Samantha's room

Went in to check on him and found 

 He had opened Sam's drawers and pulled out clothes

 After about an hour of quiet play

He finally fell asleep

Back at the hotel 

I bathed the little boys

 I sweetly remembered it was at this very same hotel 

that Christian had his very first "big boy" bath

And now I can barely control him in the tub

I know my sis just puked a little in her mouth at the thought of hotel bathtub

Don't worry

I washed the germs off

See

Christian is having fun

It's all good

But better than the tub....

The cool air blowing those little blondie hairs

Sam brought Con to the hotel around 8

She heard the other ones crying screaming

And refused to leave

She climbed right up into the bed with Colton 

And calmed him down

Now that's a friend folks!

It was 9:30 before the little ones were asleep

And a couple of hours later

Christian was up again

For the night

It was then that I swore I was never traveling alone with them again

EVER

But I am sure I will

Phase 2 of our trip later

Staying aFloat

The boys and I went to Dallas Wednesday after school

I had to go to the Dentist

YAY no cavities

And the boys had play dates scheduled

Mark came down Friday after work

We had 2 birthday parties Saturday

And my birthday dinner that evening

We are home and worn out

At least I am

I am now trying to get back into the swing of things

Funny how only a couple of days off of your routine can mess you up

Laundry is piled up again

Grocery shopping had to be done late last night

Sheets are dirty

And I swear I am 

NEVER

TRAVELLING 

ALONE

WITH THE BOYS

AGAIN

EVER!!!

Christian may have drank from a cup

HOORAY

Could the end of nursing be in sight?

I must have left my camera cord at the MIL's house

So as soon as I locate a spare I will post pictures and stories

Today I could scratch my eyeballs out

What ever is in the air

I no likey

I have sneezed a half million times

I know, that's alot

But it's true

I swear

I have counted

We have been invited to our first birthday party here

HALLELUJAH

And it's a costume party

BONUS

Connor hasn't stopped talking since we returned

OK, so he never stops

Not even in his sleep

Swear it!

You can't make this stuff up folks

Colton hasn't quit whining

What's new right

Since he had the terrible 2's, 

We are praying for terrific 3's

Is it possible?

OMG

Cried my eyes out watching Oprah yesterday

She had a couple on....very cute couple

3 kids, ages 5, 4, and 2

Dad was working

Mom and her mom took the kids to a parking lot fair kind of deal

Headed home for naps...

Got stuck in traffic for construction and a semi hit them at 55 MPH

Reader's Digest version

All 3 kids died (1 boy, 2 girls)

The parents, thru major depression, promised each other not to commit suicide and leave the other alone

Almost 1 year to the date of the accident

They had triplets

1 boy, 2 girls

Chill bumps?

Love is the Air

Not my Love

Not my Air

But my friend Thomas

He got married on Sunday

In Tulsa

It was small and sweet

We made the 2+hour drive out there to

Skelley Lodge

And found these gorgeous views

It was truly a peaceful place

Thomas told me it used to be a hunting lodge

But now it is rented out for weddings and such

I

of course

had to sneak in a few pictures

Even though it irritated the crapola 

out of the hubs

See they don't always cooperate

Back to Thomas

and HIS wedding

It's not always about me

All though I think it should be

The ceremony was outside

with nature as the decor

and the breath taking views

I had to stand back by the lodge 

with my little chatter box boy

The above 2 photos were the only ones I got

My hands were busy

What can I say

After the ceremony

We ate and played around

The big boys played football with the other kids there

Including Thomas' new step sons

And that was a moment for me

As I stood over on the side dancing with Christian

Watching my other babies play

It hit me....

This is what life is about

NOT

running errands

NOT

watching a football game alone

NOT 

tag teaming with your spouse so you can go to Target kid free

NOT

wondering what you are missing

But...

watching your kids play with new friends

and

spending an evening outside knowing that everything is right

in your world

OK geez....

where did all that sappy crap come from??

Back to my normal bitter self

AKA

Debbie Downer

Love these brothers

Wore these little shoes
Cute
Didn't even hurt my feet
But my heels slipped in them non stop
Which makes it very difficult to walk
Not as difficult as heels at an OUTSIDE wedding though

Suckers kept sinking into the ground

And wanted to share the groom's cake
Ok
well nevermind
The freaking pictures aren't working now
Stupid Computers!!!

I will try and show it later
Headed to Dallas tomorrow after school
We have 2 birthday parties to attend this weekend
And I am hoping for a birthday dinner with some friends

Toodles

1st Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

October is one of my 

FAVORITE

months

of them all

The weather is turning cooler

The leaves start changing to their gorgeous fall colors

My birthday occurs

(all though sometimes I try to forget)

There is Halloween

and 

PUMPKIN PATCHES

We usually go at least once a week

I remember last year it was so wet

But still we went

We run around

We get lots of baby pumpkins for art projects

We dress up and take pictures

We went this week to 

Southern Hills Christian Church

They just have pumpkins for sale

No bells and whistles

But that's all we needed

I have found a a few patches/farms in the area

I am going to try and visit one this weekend

when daddy can join us

They cost money

SERIOUSLY???

I have never paid to visit a PP before

But we'll give it a whirl

And this little pumpkin is....

Enjoying his first Halloween

NOW WASH 'EM

BOYS

I'm such a slave driver

Time for painting

And since Christian can't paint yet

He entertained us with music

I love October

ggrrrr.....

I am sick

And I hate it

I had to take Tylenol Allergy

Now I am in a fog

Mark let me sleep till 8am

Love him for that

Then he came and picked up Connor for school

So Christian and I could nap

One of us did

Here's a hint

It wasn't me

Damn medicine

Either knocks you out

Or wakes you up

Connor is doing well in swim lessons

The teacher said he can move up next round

Yeah

I was thinking of skipping next month

But I guess not

Still haven't been to the pumpkin patch

Or even bought pumpkins

It warmed back up

So it kind of ruined my mood

Off to pick up Colton from his 1 school day

Then straight to get Connor

Then home for a quick break

And off to soccer practice

Happenings, or lack there of

Not much to report in OKC

But like they say....

No news is good news

Christian has really gotten into feeding himself

So we tend to be going through at least 3 shirts a day

Bibs get pulled off

And there always seems to be a full plates worth of grub

under the chin

But he enjoys it

And he is so stinking cute I can't say no

So I do more laundry

Plus Colton has had more accidents in the last week

than I care to count

Which means even more laundry

YAY!

Christian has also become obsessed with the pantry

He is so proud of himself

Connor was always into the cabinets

I learned to live with it

I kept one cabinet for his pleasure

Colton never got into them

But I think it's fun

As you long as never really need anything from them

If you do

you have to wash off first

But no biggie

We had a normal week....

swim lessons twice

soccer practice once

school

zoo

the norm

Connor, Christian, and I went to 

Mistletoe Market today

It is put on by Junior League of OKC

('neath the wreath for you Dallas folk)

I got 5 Christmas presents for the big boys

And a little diddy for me to hang on the kitchen wall

Will post a picture of that later

Told Mark I picked up 5 gifts

So he seems to think I will be done shopping by the end of the month

REALLY??

5 gifts

out of what?

10?

PLEASE!!!!

Just goes to show men are clueless when it comes to the Christmas shopping

Love you BABE

but not even close

Did my grocery shopping today so I don't have to do it tomorrow

Spent $140 this week

That is $10 under my new "way too much" budget

But that included some cokes and laundry detergent

We will see if it lasts 7 days

We have been scraping around here for a day already

I still can't get this whole "feeding" thing worked out

To meal plan or not

Cook simple 

like grilled chicken and some veggies

or 

cook something

like lasagna or enchiladas

Tomorrow is church 

and maybe something

fun in the afternoon

Hopefully everyone will sleep well tonight

Until then.....

Toodles my friends

PS

What the heck am I doing wrong with loading up pictures on this blog?

Usually I upload all my pics first

Then post

Then add in my pictures where they need to be or fit in with what I have to say

Now if I do that

After I choose one picture

The rest disappear

WTH

Fall Favorites

Round One

'Cause I am sure there will be more

1. My current TOP FAVE for fall

    an OU win over UT

SUCK IT TX

I could normally care less about football

But this game I must watch

And when OU wins, it makes for a happy hubby!!

2. Open Windows

3. Soccer Games

4. Fall Flowers

I love the mums and all the darker colors

I have yet to put out any pumpkins but soon

5. Halloween Decor

6. Fall Candles

I love the deeper colors this time year brings. I don't actually burn these candles, they are strictly for looks. I buy jar candles for their scent, but the first few days after I unpack these...yum! It's like that new car smell. I love to change out my candles each season. It makes everything feel new again.

Last on the list today....

7. Picking out Halloween Costumes

Batman and Leonardo, the Ninja Turtle will be accompanied by Christian the killer shark

Stay tuned for more Fall Faves

Is anyone else's pictures being dropped after uploading?

Yummy in the Tummy

Thought I would share a couple of recipes I made this week

The first is

Chicken & Broccoli Topped Orzo

This is from a Weight Watchers Cookbook

Circa 1989

(I don't know what year, but it's old)

2 tsp olive or vegetable oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 pd chicken cutlets, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 cup broccoli florets, blanched
1/4 cup chicken broth
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 1/2 oz uncooked orzo (rice-shaped macaroni)-cooked according to package directions, drained
1 T grated Parmesan cheese

In 10 inch skillet or wok, heat oil over high heat, add garlic and saute for 1 minute
Add chicken and cook, stirring quickly and frequently , until chicken is no longer pink (about 5 minutes)
Add broccoli, broth, salt and pepper and let cook until chicken is tender and mixture is heated through
(about 3-5 minutes)
Serve over hot orzo and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese

Per serving:
280 calories, 32 g protein, 7 g fat, 20 g carb
I don't know the point value if any one is currently on WW
This is old school

I did find whole wheat orzo in the store this time

Better for you

Not quite as tasty

But overall an easy, yummy meal 

Even the kiddos will eat

Sometimes

This next one I tore out of a magazine

And have been toting it around for a year or two

This is the first time I made this salad

But it won't be the last

It comes from Jamie and Bobby Deen's cookbook

You know, Paula Deen's spoiled rotten boys

Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing

Dressing:
5 slices bacon
11/2 T finely chopped shallots
1/2 C red wine vinegar
1 to 2 T honey mustard
Salt and Pepper to taste

Salad:
8 C fresh spinach leaves
8 oz white button mushrooms, thinly sliced (about 2 1/2 cups)
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced

For the dressing:
Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium high heat until crisp
Using slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to paper-towel lined plate to drain
Pour off all but 2 T fat from the skillet
Heat the remaining fat over medium high heat and add the shallots
Cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally
Whisk in the vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper
Scraping the brown bits from the bottom of the skillet
Bring to a simmer, remove from the heat

For the Salad:
Toss together the spinach, bacon, mushrooms, and onion in a large bowl
Pour the dressing over the salad, toss to combine
Serve Warm

I never get much out of Mark when it comes to food

We obviously don't share the same love

"It's fine" or "It's OK"

is about all I ever get

This salad earned me an

"It's really good"

I'll take it

That means this one is a keeper

I love spinach

uncooked

I could eat a spinach salad everyday

2 of my favorite ways are

Spinach, mushrooms, red onion, strawberries and Auntie Ann's raspberry vinaigrette

and

Spinach, sauteed onions, strawberries, and pecans with raspberry vinaigrette

Yummy

ENJOY!!!