Lethal Weapons

Parker has been doing TKD for a few weeks now. He's been bugging us that he wants a robe ($30), but we've kind of put him off since my plan is to have him do this just during the winter to give him something to do. (He gets bummed when there is nothing on the calendar for the week - he's Type A like me). You can also test them at the end of the sessions ($40), but I think our plan is to have him go thru the beginner class again (sans robe). There are a million things they need to be able to do just to get the yellow belt and I don't think he's there yet. Anyway, Steve went yesterday and even thought I've been to almost every one, I miss the big doings last night. He broke a board with his foot! It took a few tries, but I guess he was beaming when it happened and everyone cheered. Of course no pics of it either! I'm afraid now he's going to run around trying to karate chop everything.

The biggest news of yesterday was that I got a new niece and P and E got a new cousin...a girl even! The girls are slowly gaining ground on numbers. Lauryn Alyse is her name. Very cute with lots of dark hair. We probably won't see her for a few weeks, but I'm sure the kids will be all over her. Especially since they have been asking alot lately, when will there be another baby in my tummy? (The answer is no!)

This may be TMI, but I'll share anyway since it was funny. Yesterday I was in the bathroom downstairs ironing my shirt for work (it's also the laundry room) and Parker bursts in and says very seriously, "Mom, why are you always wearing your boobs?" (He meant bra.)

Tonight after an interesting day at work, we went to a hockey game tonight. I had won Club Seats/parking at the last crop I went too. Club seats also mean free beer! I think we also could have eaten dinner there free, but by the time we got there after work and dropping the kids off at the neighbors we were too late. With tickets, parking and beer, we figured it was at least $100 worth of free stuff. Can't beat that.

Tomorrow I'm supposed to go to a crop about 3 miles from here. The weather is supposed to get bad so we'll see what happens. Plus I still haven't packed. I'm tired though so that'll have to wait till morning. Actually though I really haven't unpacked since the last crop on the 17th so I may just pick up and go. Of course this means I haven't made anything lately since my tote is still in the garage....

Anyone for A Pop Tart??

Ok two posts in one day. I was cleaning out our "junk" basket and came across some Shrek tokens I had been saving from Pop Tart boxes so they could get free Shrek or Donkey covers for their bike helmets. I looked up to see how many I need and I am one token short. They are on the top of some Pop Tart boxes, but now I one see Pirates on the boxes at the stores. (Parker wants to get the pirate clock too so if anyone has any of the pirate coins, save those for me too please). But anyway if anyone has any Pop Tarts at home could you check to see if there is a Shrek token. Or if you happen to see any at the store give me a shout. If I only get one helmet cover...they're gonna fight over it!

Thanks!

Deliciouso!

Not much new to report around here. Steve had band practice tonight so the kids and I got to run amuck here at home again! I did get a baby card picked up for the April/May issue of Paper Trends so that was fun. I thought I'd share some recipes of things I make and get asked by others for the recipe. I said I'd post them on my blog and then didn't!

Beer Bread
3 cups. self-rising flour
1 cup sugar (I've seen some recipes where they leave the sugar out)
1 can/bottle of room temp beer (I've heard you can use pop too)
Mix and cook in a bread pan for one hour at 350. I like to cube and use for dips.

BLT Dip
1 pkg of Hormel bacon pieces or bits (you can use more or less). If you are frying bacon use 1lb.
1 cup mayo (not Miracle Whip)
1 cup sr cream
Mix these together and when ready to serve chop a couple tomatoes and add them in.

Baked Potato Soup - it hurts your heart a little
2/3 cup butter
2/c cup flour
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp white pepper (black is fine too)
6 cup milk
1 cup sr cream
4 potatoes baked and cubed - it says to peel them too, but I buy the red pots and so I leave the skins on. I nuke them in the microwave to cook them. I love chunks so I probably use more than 4 potatoes
1/4 cup green onion (I just use regular ones since I usually don't have the others on hand)
10 slices bacon (crispy) - I use the package of Hormel pieces and then add as many as I like.
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (I usually add more than that)

Melt butter in a large pot. Stir in flour, salt and pepper. Pour in milk and bring to boil. Cook for 2 mins, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Whisk in sr cream. Add potatoes and onions. I cook it till it's super thick. Top with bacon and cheese before serving if you like. It said serves 8-10.

P.S. I hear I'm going to be an aunt again tomorrow!

Game Girl

Thanksgiving was busy as usual. The kids stayed up too late and I was glad that they actually slept in on Friday. I helped Judi at the shop on Friday and then we left the kids there and headed back home. We stopped at On the Border to eat for Steve's bday. Usually on a weekend, any of the restaurants over there are packed, but I'm assuming since everyone was already at the mall bright and early that morning, no one wanted to come back for supper. They were busy, but no wait, so we were in and out in probably 30 minutes. We've decided that we are the worst dawdlers ever! We try to kill time and we can't. Came back home and started cooking and packing for out KC trip the next day. On Saturday we got up bright and early to finish getting ready. I am disappointed that I didn't get more sleep that morning since this factored into me dozing off during the end of the game when KC missed a field goal. On Saturday the girls did some shopping while the guys watched sports and drank at a nearby sports bar. E has about 100 things on her wish list and one is a "Game Girl." Parker already has a "Game Boy." (It's the pink and blue Game Boy Advances). I had checked at T and WM and no one had them. They came out a couple years ago so not suprised. We stopped at a used game store at the mall and they had one for half of what I bought Parker's new one for and their games were buy 2 get one free. Parker even got a couple games for xmas too. I got a few other things including some magnetic tins for scrapping and some cool Primas at the scrap store. Also some cheap clothes for the kids at Steve and Barry's. Everything there is pretty cheap. Then I get home and find out a mall here has one! My friend and I proceeded to get separated from each other at the mall and by then we're lugging heavy stuff around the mall. Finally she had to page me (of course my cell was dead!) We picked up the guys after 4 hours at the bar (they were pretty giggly) and then went to a BBQ place and the guys watched the KS/MO game. We had seen all the traffic backed up for this game earlier in the day on the interstate. I bet it was backed up 10 miles, no lie! People were tailgating along the side of the freeway. The hotel we stayed at was very nice - even had a big screen tv and a living room and we didn't get to enjoy either since we were just there for about 8 hours. And only $50!

On Sunday we headed out bright and early for the game. We had premium parking so we were right near the stadium. It's insane how much decorating/tailgate stuff some of these people bring. For food we had ribeyes, cheesy pots, baked beans, grilled veggies and brownies. The weather ended up being pretty nice. I even took my coat off for awhile. It was far different than the snow/ice/cold wind we had last year. Plus our seats were on the first level near the end zone so that helped too! (and they were free) The Chiefs lost at the end. I remind Steve that as he is ogling the cheerleaders Emma could be one some day! We also got out of the parking lot within a few mintues after the game is over. This is no small miracle when you see how many people are there. A quick stop for ice cream on the way and the weekend was over.

I was a bad scrapper and didn't take any pics at Thanksgiving or at the game.

Last night P had his Cub Scout pictures and I'm hoping they turn out decent. It didn't look like his smile was too weird.... Daddy is in KC tonight so we call it fun night when he's gone. They had pizza in front of the TV and watched Ben 10 cartoons. We'll it's their bedtime so over and out!

Gobble Gobble!

We've about down packing and then we're heading back home for our usual "double" Thanksgiving day. I ended up with 4 pumpkin pies. I may have gone a little overboard! I also made Cream Puff Dessert and Steve made a Sweet Potato Pie. I think we may have desserts coverered! The kids are staying back there until Sunday (since we are going to KC on Saturday and I help in Judi's shop on Friday) so I always tend to overpack for them. We're even throwing in the snowpants because all they've been asking since yesterday since it snowed, is when can we play outside?

Emma had her Thanksgiving skit yesterday at school. She was the narrator. She's a bit of a "talker" so not surprising she was assigned that part! Then she informs me yesterday morning that she did not want to do it and talk into a microphone. She was very stern about this. So I was really hoping that the play didn't consist of Emma with a big pouty face while the Pilgrims and Indians enjoyed their feast. When I got there she had a big grin and was in a good mood so all was well. At first she was talking pretty quietly and then by the end was doing pretty well. It was all very cute. Mrs. Gibson told me that up until about 5 minutes before I got there she still insisted that she wasn't doing it. Dang she's a diva! (I took some pics, but forgot to have my flash on - dang!)

I'm also beginning to think the van is cursed. So far I've had two flat tires and proceeded to get it stuck at the bottom of our driveway yesterday and was about 2 inches from having it go sideways into the ditch by our lane. Blue was saved by the tractor!

Well better finished packing. Steve looks antsy!

Pretty in Pink

Two fun things happened to me today!

1-Opened my mailbox and found a bunch of Rusty Pickle goodies that Jill (www.jillcornell.blogspot.com) had RP send me. It's the Princess Pirate line (www.rustypickle.com, then click on CHA Summer 2007)- papers, stickers, chipboard, you name it! It's pink and black, two of my fave scrap colors. I had bought a couple princess books to alter at MB on Saturday just because I liked them and they will be perfect for this line so I can't wait to get started! I think I'm going to list the ways that E is a pirate and list the ways she is a princess on one of them. I'm thinking I have a picture of her in an eye patch. If not I need to find the patch and snap away! Thanks again Jill!!!

2- Ran to the grocery store while P was at TKD to get a few things I needed for my Tgiving desserts and a few things for the tailgate on Saturday and picked up some beer. Guess who got ID'd?? And I don't think it was even a sympathy ask! She looked at it and said "wow." I used my manners and said thank you.

These two things totally offset the fact that the usual people were annoying me at work today and that I am still having tire issues on the van.

Most of All, We Need Snowpants!

That was his big "line" for the 1st and 2nd grade music concert on Thursday. We had him practice saying it with enthusiasm since he tends to mumble. Guess what?? There was mumbling :-) He still looked very dashing in his sweater and didn't forget his line. (In the pic he's waiting for his turn) When he first got on stage I could tell he was looking everywhere for us and probably mad that he couldn't see us. I forgot to tell him he wouldn't be able to. They sang a bunch of songs and played instruments too. I guess when there are 100 first graders up there, you get to actually hear what they are singing!

Friday Lauri had to take the day off so I got to leave work early on Friday to get him off the bus. Always nice when you get to leave on Friday! Lauri didn't know that there was a surprise party for her that night (big 50). We went into that and the kids were pretty excited. They were a little too "excited" for my taste at the party, but I guess we are just picky about how they act in public.

Saturday I went to a crop in at MB. Got quite a few things done. I was working on some Father's Day stuff for a call and I'm sure people around me thought that was weird since it's Thanksgiving time. I won a couple primo seats to a Stars game and VIP parking for next Friday. If Steve can't go then P will be my date. That'll mean thought that E and I will have to have a date sometime too then. When we were getting ready to go, the extremely dumb girl behind the counter got my order all messed and kept asking me how to fix it. Probably 20 minutes later it was finally resolved so we got out of there 30 minutes later than expected. I did get some cool new goodies and even used some of them too. P and E also had a busy day - haircuts, grocery shopping and P had a bday party to go to at the pottery place in town. He made this really cool mosaic P. I remember when we had bday parties, there was just cake involved! I really need to get in for a haircut. I've said that for months, but I'm hoping sometime this week for Tgiving. I'm like the Shaggy DA!

Just the usual Sunday business around here and getting ready for another busy week. Trying to make sure I have all the fixins for my Thanksgiving pies and food for our tailgate this weekend. We are going to a Chiefs game this weekend with some friends and Friday is also Steve's 39th bday!

We're an American Band, We're Coming To Your Town....

It's official - Steve is in a band again. It's a rock/county (ok primarily country) so he's hoping he can take it! Hopefully it doesn't cut into my crop schedule...lol.

There really wasn't much going on this weekend besides the usual church stuff and Steve hunting on Saturday, so the kids and I (primarily I) didn't do much. On Sunday the weather cleared up and they were able to jump into some big leaf piles. Daddy and Emma's coughs got worse as the day went on so most everyone got a nap in on Sunday. Monday both of them stayed home and got a bunch of meds from the doctor. Today E seems much better and we're only taking the pink yummy medicine now. P had tiger cubs tonight and they made dreamcatchers. He's sharing with Emma since she gets bad dreams and he wants to make sure she doesn't get any. He's so sweet!

Just the usual work and kid stuff around here I guess. Not much else to report.

Footloose

Last night was the big Mother/Son Dance. It is put on by the Parks and Recs department. For no bigger than our town is they have so much for the kids to do. I even wore a dress and pantyhose and a little makeup! P got me a corsage. I did stick myself a few times trying to get it on, but it's the thought that counts :-) There was a word search on the table and that seemed way more interesting than the dance at first to him. Then it got too dark and he began to bust a move. Sometimes the busting consists of jumping up and down or running around the dance floor, but there were a few (in particular Footloose) where he got his groove on. He even danced a slow one with me at the end, but I think he almost fell asleep on me. He'd been dancing for almost two hours. The punch was too "spicy" - I think it had 7 up in it - so he just drank water. I didn't get hardly any pics taken, but I thought this one is pretty good - just ignore the mess in the background.

Thursday night I had P's parent teacher conference and then went to TKD. His teacher gushed on about how great he is. Well mannered, sweet, smart etc. It makes a mom proud!

Today we did a WM run, but other than that we pretty much just hung out. Daddy was gone hunting, so Mom's rules can get pretty lax sometimes!

Just the Facts Ma'am....

Starting to slip on this blog thing a bit so I'll just update with a few "facts" from the last few days.

* Parker got a speaking part in his music program at school next Thursday. His line is about snowpants...riveting! Also found out Krista Madsen's daughter is in his class. Small world!

* I was doing a layout about Parker and was using a facts card so I had him get on the scale to see how much he weighed. I about died. He's at 54 lbs. He has no hips, no butt and skinny arms..where is all this weight? He is really solid though, guess it's all muscle...lol. He is 48 inches tall and Miss Emma is almost 46 inches and is 48 lbs.

* Parker went hunting for the first time on Sunday back home. It was pretty nice out so half of his camoflauge stayed home. The whole thing makes me a little nervous, but it sounds like he and daddy had a great time. They didn't see a thing, not even a squirrel.

* Miss Emma is really starting to read a lot. Awesome parent I am hadn't really noticed, but in my defense she refused to read for me at home and would only do it for the teachers at school. The other day she finally read to me and she was pretty proud of herself. She can't read every word, but is doing pretty well for a preschooler. They are giving her some one on one reading time each day at school. Neither of them wanted to be read to when they were little so how I got two early readers I'm not sure. Plus they were formula fed!

* Had a great time at the crop Saturday. I was very impressed on how it was organized and will definitely go again if they have it. I even won a door prize..of course Steph won two, but what's new? I got 6 layouts done and started on a mini album about myself. I did the layouts for some mag calls so we'll see if I get any love.

* I did find out today that a beaded bracelet I made with be in the March/April issue of Bead Trends Magazine. I was just messing around with some beads and made a few things the other month and two have already gotten picked up. Guess maybe I should make some more...like I need one more hobby, since I never get much time to scrap it seems the way it is! I also found out I made it to the 2nd round of the Daisy D's design team contest. It sounds like a lot of people did though, so hoping for the best. If not, I'm a big girl and won't cry! I'll just comfort myself by buying more supplies!

* I'm sure I'm missing something since I haven't posted in awhile and still need to post some pics. There's always tomorrow.....

Tag - You're It!

I've been tagged by Jill (someone from my hometown who is getting to be a very well known scrapper!) www.jillcornell.blogspot.com . I can't seem to get hyperlink to work so you guys will just have to look at more words!

1. I have to sleep with a blanket at night pulled up to my chin. This goes back to when I was little and was afraid the headless horsemen would chop my head off. I figured if he couldn't find my neck maybe he'd chop someone else's head off instead.

2. I eat sugar on my tomatoes. I think this is a Danish thing?

3. I love old "murder solving" shows - Murder She Wrote, Diagnosis Murder, Matlock, Columbo, Perry Mason etc. I currently have 6 Columbo's on the DVR.

4. Most things about my body aren't normal - I have two false teeth (the ones on each side of my top front ones), I have scoliosis so I tip to the right, my neck curves backwards because I fell out of my bunkbed when I was young on my head and my right arm is extremely crooked because I broke it in 4th grade and it never healed properly. Ok so I was a little clutzy!

5. My kids have 3 sets of Hansen grandparents (two sets of greats (one on each side) and one set of grand). My mom was a Hansen and I married a Hansen. We are from the same town, so probably way back when we could be related...creepy....

6. I've been read my rights. I was never charged and it happened in high school. I hadn't done anything wrong, so it's not nearly as rebellious as it sounds.

7. I slept at someone's house in 4th grade who's brother later turned out to be a school shooter in the 90's on the West Coast. Also another creepy....

I've tagged (do I know 7 people with blogs??) - www.allisonavenue.blogspot.com (Marnie), www.barelycontrolledchaos.blogspot.com (Heather), www.rachelanderic.blogspot.com (Rachel), www.bakerstories.blogspot.com (Roni), Mom doesn't blog anymore and Jill and Steph are already taken so there are only 4. Am I missing anyone? If I did consider yourself tagged.

THE RULES:
1. Link to your tagger and post these rules.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself: some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post and list their names (linking to them).
4. Let them know they've been tagged by leaving a comment at their blogs.

Halloween Recap

What was I think having a child born around Halloween...not only are there a million trick or treat things to do, but then we had to throw a party in there too! He didn't ask about having his friends over for a party and I didn't push it. The Hansens have been busy getting candy.
Friday: That night we went to Living History Farms (I get free tickets). This is their 3rd year of going to their T or T thing and it's pretty much the same stuff, but they still have a great time. Also last Friday I took the day off from work to go on Emma's class trip to a local pumpkin patch. There were a million things for them to do there - including a sandbox full of corn, haybales to climb on and tractor rides. It was pretty cool. There were a bunch of different schools there, including the 40 kids in Emma's preschool. It was an early out day at school which was good since she was pretty worn out by the time we got home.
Saturday: I went to a crop. It's always a good one and once again Steph was a big winner and I wasn't! I may or may not have bought a bunch of "goodies." There was a Halloween party in town on the square for the kids, so he took them trick-or-treating that morning. Parker was a little bummed though that his Power Ranger costume didn't win the costume contest. Since his mom doesn't sew...poor kid will probably never win one. That night the kiddos went to Aunt Steph's for the night and we went to a Halloween party. We went as Dwight and Angela. I pretty much just dressed like myself and but added barrettes. She's also in accounting. It was a little creepy all of the similarities. We ended up going out to a bar later and I was a "bit" draggy on Sunday.
Sunday: Didn't do much of anything (see Saturday). I did get brave and let the kids paint some figurines
Monday: The usual Monday stuff - TKD and baton.
Tuesday: Since the weather was nice I took them to town to T or T. I picked a road where I knew quite a few of the people, so I felt less guilty about being in a neighborhood I don't live in. Plus it was a cul-de-sac. I didn't realize though the road was still super long. We walked forever and hauled in a lot of candy. Of course half way thru Emma says she needs a potty break...sigh.... Parker was trying his homemade jokes out on people. I don't think he'll be headlining at the Funny Bone anytime soon.
Wednesday: More T or T. The local college (SC) has it in the dorms and houses on campus. There are also snacks and games for the kids. It's all free and it's awesome. After a few games we went on the candy tour. Each one of them filled their entire bucket. Parker walks super fast and Emma walks slow (plus we got stuck behind a weird kid who would dig thru every candy basket for 5 minutes), so of course I temporarily misplaced him. He wasn't concerned at all though, actually I don't think he knew he was lost. He just kept trick or treating. Went back to the student center and did a few more games. Then the kids wanted to go on the other tour. I had to get them plastic sacks since there were no more room in their buckets. They stayed up way past their bedtime. I think Parker got over tired because at one of the last houses, they had an elaborate display of live characters etc and he got scared and ran screaming and crying. Luckily no bad dreams that night. I had to leave E to chase him down across campus and figured she'd be scared since she kept saying she was scared earlier. Nope, this time she loved it and one of the parents took her along.
Thursday: Pampered Chef party at Marn's house. That meant Steve had to take P to TKD - ha!
Friday: Had to work late because of month end at work. Should pack for the crop tomorrow, but will just drag along most of the same stuff from last week.
Saturday: I'm going to a 15 hour crop (longest I've ever been too) and P has a bday party to go to. Hopefully Steve gets groceries since we're pretty much just down to candy to eat.

I haven't been home all week and I'm pretty much tuckered out. I keep eating their candy to give me energy!

I have a millions pictures from all of our shenanigans this week and will post sometime.