Here is the recipe from the other day - Grilled Filet Mignon with Brandy Mushroom Sauce - HEAVEN!!! The sauce wasn't too strong that it covered the flavor of the meat - and of course the meat was SO good and tender! We will for sure make this again - SOON!
Grilled Filet Mignon with Brandy Mustard Sauce
for the side we had these yummy mashed potatoes that we make all the time!
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
*I miss scrapbooking. and card making. I need to get into it again so I have some ME time.
*Right now I should be doing an autobiography...that scares me so I'm not doing it. I really have no choice on the matter.
*My son throws the BEST fits/tantrums EVER. he has a terrible temper. but is so sweet and gives the best hugs. how do I deal??
*Hailee is a hypochondriac. She asked me to take her temp because her stomach hurt. when I told her it was normal she came back 10 minutes later...with a headache. how do I deal??
*I love my job. I am constantly thinking of ways to make the work place better, motivate the staff, find things the kids will love. Doing all this is why I don't have my autobiography done.
*My fingers hurt. The lovely little evil woman at the salon yesterday was taking out frustrations on me I do believe.
*My hubby will be 41 on Saturday. why does that make ME feel older????? He wants a bottle of alcohol for his special day...thinking I need to sip on it first so I can cope with all this aging :)
*I wish I could afford retail therapy.
*we're trying to save for a Christmas trip home to Seattle. But our furnace/air conditioner units(s) (I really don't know how it all works together) is on it's last leg and we will need to replace it before April of 2013 so Christmas savings may end up as central heat/air savings instead. I am crying now.
*I think I'll just bring my mom here.
*My sweet, grouchy baby is going to be 6 on May 1st. I am crying now.
*I miss having time to clean, bake, create, sleep, cook and just be a wife/mom. but I love my job.
*I am truly happy.
A dear friend of mine had a birthday on Saturday....and bad, bad me is just now finishing up her card and posting it for her. I'm really hoping that the phrase "better late than never" will apply and she will forgive me for my tardiness :)
I really need to quit taking pictures with my phone, too - but in reality, my little camera sucks so I doubt it would be even better - but I think post-editing would allow more options with the camera. next time, I won't be lazy - but I was thinking I should hurry since I'm already late LOL
Ebby - I hope you had a wonderful birthday on Saturday and can forgive me for not being on time! I ♥ YOU!!!
Today my mom is a young 59!!! It's her last year in her 50's - unbelievable!!! For the occasion I decided to get off my butt and make her a card - she's worth it! So I pulled out some fun paper and my Papertrey Ink Stamps. I wish I would've done the ribbon different, but at first glance it looks like a reward ribbon the way the circle is placed LOL
anyway - happy birthday, mommy! We all love and miss you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
then go here and check this out! I love using baker's twine on my projects
ItsyBitsy Blog
Here I am - begging for Box Tops for my kids!!!! If you don't save them, can you start now and mail them to me??? Both of my kids love collecting them and turning them in to their teachers! Bonus is every few months they'll offer a reward to the class that turns in the most!!
I really love seeing the response to this every year. The school buys smart boards for the classrooms and they now have one in almost each room - so we're going to keep collecting to finish that off and then turn our efforts into something else that will benefit the students.
If you don't know where to get Box Tops you can visit their website here and get all the information you need. Most of ours come from cereal and kleenex. Ziplocs have them, too, but I don't use many any more so Hailee now buys cereal for box tops! LOL
You can email me (address in that corner over there) and I will send you my mailing address - I do ask that you address them to ME not the kids - I have to split them evenly so that all is fair in the Box Top world. You wouldn't believe the fight these little dealies can cause!!!!
Thank you so much folks - the kids thank you, too!!!
wow - my poor blog is NEGLECTED!!!!! see the rust??
work is good and of course busy due to SUMMER! but the kids go back to school on Thursday and I'm really looking forward to the routine it brings to work....yes, we'll still get busy - but 40 kids busy instead of 95 kids busy.
The kids have had a fun summer - we've had lots of visitors and they've been able to do fun things with the daycare field trips. I do think they're secretly ready for school to start - kindergarten is a BIG deal to a little 5 year old boy! Hailee just wants to see her "regular" friends.
I'm half way done with my CDA - 4 more books until it's finished, then on to my director books :) I have made some big goals for myself - hope it all works out!
I really have lots more to say - but Darren is waiting for me to put the kids to bed so we can watch a movie! Fast Five!!!!!!!!!!!!!
is this thing on?
wow - I can't believe how long it's been since I've blogged!!! where does the time go??? oh I know - it's spent at work! lol
I LOVE MY JOB! I really do - I can still remember the day I went in to fill out the application - I did NOT want to do it but Darren thought it was time because he was having a bad week at work and he gets paranoid every fall - so I told him "fine, I'll get a job". I knew Playtime was the place for me since the kids could be with me for free and they'd pick them up at school and bring them to the center. Little did I know that in a month's time I'd become a supervisor...now at just 9 months I have bigger fish I'm trying to catch! I have my eye's set on a spot and hoping that if I work hard and try hard maybe I'll get what I want....we'll see!
The kids are keeping busy this summer with the activities at the daycare - Braden LOVES it and never enjoys his days off - Hailee is doing better...she's made some friends and now doesn't HATE coming....but is ready for the weekend :)
My sister, Briana, and her family came to visit earlier this month - had such a good time - my niece is ADORABLE! Can't wait to see photos of my nephew when he makes his appearance in October.
Darren's mom and step-dad will be here Wednesday for a week - it'll be a busy week with both Darren and I working, his mom's birthday, plus our annual 4th of July bash - but busy is good - makes the time go by fast though.
on the 12th my mom will be here for 2 weeks - the first week we'll need to cram in all the good, fun stuff because on the 20th Braden will be having surgery...tonsils and adenoids out, tubes in his ears, and his umbilical hernia repaired! sheesh! that's a lot - but I'm so glad my mom will be here to take care of him - makes it so I don't need a week off work for his recovery - the ENT said the tonsillectomy will be hard on him....poor baby.
right now we're just trying to stay cool - we've been almost 100 degrees this last week and next week we're supposed to hit 100 if not more - it's WAY too early for this and I'm thinking spring forgot to come around....but luckily we have some winds we don't normally get in the summer, so that helps, and in the shade it's actually bearable.
ok. that's the latest update - I'll try not to stay gone too long next time! and hopefully I'll come back with pictures :)
can't believe my 2nd born...last born...BABY...just turned 5 years old on May 1st. Good grief - have to quit blinking..wish I could!
Here are some pictures from his day - Hailee took all but maybe 2! lol she isn't TOO bad.
The day was very casual....it was raining so his plans for Miniature Golf (Medium golf is what he calls it ... because he is medium) were out....we will be doing that this weekend along with dinner out to the restaurant of his choice...anyway, we opened presents through out the day, played with all the new stuff, then had quesadillas and cake. All of us stayed in pj's and loved the fact that we didn't have to be anywhere!
Today he brought these photos home from school:
His school did spring photos...in February I think it was....and his turned out so cute I had to order a few! I love how he's posed....adorable. I don't even think Hailee's school did them...she had her class photo last week so maybe they did it then...she hasn't said....I guess I'll find out!
so - that's it for now - I hope to get some good photos soon of BOTH kids now that the weather is nicer and they'll be outside more - doing things photo worthy! I want to get back to scrapbooking again - pages of the kids and not just cards! I do miss it - but I'm back to 5 days/week at work so we'll just have to see how that goes.
I'm still here!!!! Still busy with work, soccer, and of course every day life! Having fun and enjoying all that is brought my way.
I have not taken pictures in ages!!! ack! and it's been even longer since I've scrapped a layout! I need to just put "day off" on the calendar somewhere and take the time to do what I want, instead of what I need! for one day that would be nice....sigh.
tomorrow Darren's dad will be here for the weekend - we have no plans except Hailee's soccer game on Saturday - so we'll see what we end up doing with the rest of our time. I like it this way though. No plans means no schedule!
hope April is treating you well - I hope to be back with photos, cards, and maybe even a layout sometime soon!!
the best spring break in a long time............
Tulsa Air & Space Museum
the mall.
Tulsa Zoo
Hailee's soccer game. (I have a picture of my dad from the game but promised not to share)
getting ready to leave. why the smile????
now to rest up after all the fun!
thank you dad, signe, and Tyler for the wonderful memories ♥
my dad, step-mom, and BABY brother left on the 12th. It wasn't easy to say good bye and Hailee is now at the age where she understands the "loss" when people go - so lots of tears shed that day.
but - on the 8th we're looking forward to Darren's dad coming for a few days. Now that we have a membership to the air & space museum (thanks for that!) we may go back since both the kids want new airplanes LOL
THEN on June 29th Darren's mom and step-dad will be here for 6 days - they will celebrate her birthday along with the 4th of July - should be fun!
THEN - my mom will be here! We're still working on dates...Darren says bring her in on the 5th and we can just have an airport day LOL but I think I may want to clean the house before she gets here so may have her wait until the12th - we'll see.
anyway - this will be a fun spring/summer for us all - love seeing all the family and am hoping to talk Darren into a Seattle Christmas trip this year - we'll see how that goes....besides, getting 2 weeks off work may not be so easy :)
(photos coming soon from when the family was here!)
*she is the shyest little girl I've ever known....worse than I was at her age.
*she loves to play in her room setting up a lego house, a zooble house, Polly Pocket's house, Barbie's house, a doll house, or whatever else she can create. but she will never take them down and rebuild. ever.
*she can color and draw better than anyone I know. and she never tires of it. I see an artistic career in her future.
*the smallest sight of blood freaks her out. good thing she's artistic because a doctor she can not be.
*she enjoys talking. A LOT. even if we're not listening. or if we're talking. especially after dinner or in the car. really, she NEVER stops. until someone she doesn't know is near. then we can't get her to say one word. I don't get it LOL
*her new favorite sayings are "just sayin..." and "my bad"! LOL I crack up because I wasn't ready for her to be a KID vs. being my baby forever!
*she loves playing soccer - and she's getting pretty good - she wants to play "for a really long time like Uncle Tyler"
*she's creative - I should bottle up that creativity and sell it....could make a fortune!
*the best thing I ever heard her say was "what's a Bieber?" LOL
*she is happy at home, in her room, coloring or creating. she prefers it over being in a large group setting.....like my work....she hates coming with me unless her friend, Brooklyn is there....and then they color together!
*her little brother adores and idolizes her....it makes her crazy!
*she's beautiful.
*if my hair is down, and curled, and I have spent 30 minutes fixing it he doesn't like it. I have to wear it in a pony tail to look like mommy. and I get a hug whenever he sees it that way and he does say "NOW you look like mommy" every time.
*all stories start with "when I was born" or "when I used to be big before I was little". Just wondering how many lives this kid has had....
*singing "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" in March is okay because "he WILL be back. DUH."
*since eating pineapple or carrots has already made him "super strong" he can have candy...it won't ruin his muscles.
*if it has wheels, he will play with it. If it doesn't have wheels, he will try to make it shoot. Guns 'n trucks. that's what he's into.
*even if he's full from all his dinner he can have dessert because his tummy is still squishy when you push on it. (so mine will NEVER be full if "squishy" is the identifier!)
*chocolate milk helps him sleep better. even after he's brushed his teeth, read his book, and is getting tucked in - he will argue this "fact" with you. It has something to do with chocolate being dark like the night.
*he gives the absolute best hugs EVER. hands down. and he'll flash you his super cute smile with super cute chubby cheeks knowing it will make you melt.
*he adores and idolizes his big sister. even though she can't stand to be around him.....poor thing.
2 weeks. 14 days. 336 hours...give or take. That's when my family will be here!!! I'm so excited to see my dad, step-mom, and brother!!! It has been way too long and I'm having serious family withdrawals!!!!
now - what to do with them while they're here???? Broken Arrow, OK isn't exactly the same as SEATTLE!!! but - who cares, right? we'll have fun no matter what!
Braden wanted to pick what went in his little pineapple for lunch - I decided to allow him to choose until I thought he needed help - he did great!
(sorry for the bad image - used the phone!) As you can see he also helped at the grocery store by begging for fresh blueberries and strawberries! LOL they're not cheap right now but how do you say no??? so with those he has fresh pineapple (we never go without if possible), baby carrots, boiled egg (that's the bad exposure part) and a small brownie. In the "stem" of the pineapple is the ranch for his carrots and egg - yes, ranch for egg, just like if it were on a salad!
now we have this yummy lunch packed, along with his choice of vanilla yogurt, and he's home sick :( he woke up at 1am throwing up with just a low fever, then woke again at 2:30 with 102....I'm going to get him in to our favorite pediatrician just to rule out anything major since I know strep is making it's rounds again....our stupid roller coaster weather does not help all these bugs!
and one other thing - HAPPY BIRTHDAY POPPY JOE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! we love and miss you!!!!!!!!!
I finally got to pack a lunch in my Lunchbot container! (I admit, I have a "slight" obsession with lunch boxes/containers)
this is for Braden so I had to go heavy on the fruit side!!! He has a little cutie orange, kiwi, and grapes. the other half is pb & j on honey wheat with some candy hearts and chocolate hugs. there are also some snacks going with because today he ate more than he has in weeks and I wasn't prepared! thank goodness the daycare has snacks available!!!
I would have loved to make it cute with shaped cheese pieces but he is NOT a cheese eater like Hailee. He likes it on/in things but won't just eat it - so no babybel or string cheese items for him....and no cute cheese cut outs unless I want him to just throw it away....and I'm not big on wasting food.
Hailee has a similar lunch in her 2 tier bento box but omit the grapes.....and I'm pretty sure the orange won't be completely gone but she'll bring it home and her brother will take care of what's left!
I'm always looking for new, creative lunch ideas, sandwich options - so if you have any please feel free to comment....my kids are pretty easy to feed, but I just don't always think of new things! (that's the great thing about packing Bento style - presentation makes a big impact!!!)
on the Papertrey Ink blog they asked us to link up our favorite creation using their products. This is mine. I've used a lot and PTI stamps are my most favorite EVER - but I just love how this card turned out.
the hot air balloon stamps and dies are SO fun! and the clouds....oh my the clouds are my most favorite dies EVER - so many ways to use them on my projects!!! and let's not forget the fabulous PTI paper here!!!! can we say DROOOOOOL.
14" in Tulsa - we heard 15" in Broken Arrow but haven't checked ourselves. Our snowdrift, the one that is covering the front of our house, is 52". wow. and last week we broke record high temps at 76 degrees!!!
