O.k., I may be a little slow on the uptake on most days, but really I should have known better. I guess anybody would have known better, but I'm crazy enough to think..."oh, I can do that...no problem." But here's what I've learned very fast. Be very wary of anything that has the word BOOT CAMP in the title.
You know, I've been trying very hard to lose some weight. I can run forever but I really wanted something more to do...you know a little variety in exercise. So I went to my local library and checked out an exercise video. They have all different kinds...all with very skinny people on them. Understanding that I'm never going to look like that again, I picked one up that had the word boot camp in the title. Not just boot camp but MAXIMUM BOOT CAMP...UGH!
So with the baby in the exersaucer and three kids sitting on the stairs telling me that my "flailing" arms weren't exactly the way the instructor was doing and that I wasn't keeping up very well...I completed that video and realized one important thing.
That one's going right back to the library...
About Me
- From our family to yours
- Married twenty-five years to my wonderful husband and best friend. We have 3 "home-grown" kids and 1 hand-picked by God from Africa. Our life is blessed. We are a close knit family with strong Christian beliefs. Come along with us on our journey…you might have a great laugh or two.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Egg whites are mean...
O.k., here's my thought for the day...egg whites are down right mean. They are by far the finickiest piece of cooking ingredient that I've ever met (and I cook a lot...3 meals a day 7 days a week). Everybody and their brother knows what I'm talking about. Well, that is if your brother cooks (personally I don't really think my brothers cook...they order a mean take-out though), but you know what I mean.
O.k., think about this for a moment...you look in your fridge and see that you have one egg left and need it to make the topping for your dessert. Did I mention that it was...(don, don, don...evil music playing) meringue? You would think something so easy as to throw an egg white into a bowl and mix thoroughly would be simple, right? Nope. The egg whites have to be in a glass or metal bowl. Then you can't really make meringue on a humid or rainy day or it won't stiffen. Then you have to beat the all out life out of the egg whites. Then if you add your ingredients to quickly it will turn runny. Yep, egg whites are mean.
You would think someone could make a meringue that comes out of a can...oh, that's right they have. It's called "Redi-whip". Yum! It's almost worth all that fat and calories just so you don't have to deal with those mean ol' egg whites.
O.k. rant over...the buzzer on my oven just beeped. I think I'll go now and get my non stiff meringue topping brownies out of the oven now. Oh goody...
O.k., think about this for a moment...you look in your fridge and see that you have one egg left and need it to make the topping for your dessert. Did I mention that it was...(don, don, don...evil music playing) meringue? You would think something so easy as to throw an egg white into a bowl and mix thoroughly would be simple, right? Nope. The egg whites have to be in a glass or metal bowl. Then you can't really make meringue on a humid or rainy day or it won't stiffen. Then you have to beat the all out life out of the egg whites. Then if you add your ingredients to quickly it will turn runny. Yep, egg whites are mean.
You would think someone could make a meringue that comes out of a can...oh, that's right they have. It's called "Redi-whip". Yum! It's almost worth all that fat and calories just so you don't have to deal with those mean ol' egg whites.
O.k. rant over...the buzzer on my oven just beeped. I think I'll go now and get my non stiff meringue topping brownies out of the oven now. Oh goody...
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Happy 6th Birthday my sweet little girl...
Six years ago today we still had not decided completely on a name. Six years ago my husband thought that she was a "he". But one thing was for certain, six years ago today I knew I was in labor.
It took only a little over six hours of labor and one nurse telling me that the doctor just may not make it to the delivery because I progressed so fast at the end (go figure on that one...). Through gritted teeth and a smile, I believe I might have said something to the fact of "...then please tell him I won't need to pay him if he doesn't make it". Low and behold...in he waltzed. (wow...amazing!). She was beautiful.
We brought her home to two adoring siblings who basically kissed her for her entire first year, lugged her around the second and by the third year realized she could get into their stuff. She is our wild one. But with that fiery spirit comes such a love that overflows out to everyone. There is not a stranger she will meet and she has the easiest disposition...she always has.
For me, just seeing another birthday go by for her means that life is so short. I feel like it was just yesterday that we were deciding on her name. Next thing you know, we'll be wondering where she will go to college. For now, I just want to hold on to every minute I have with her and tell her just how special she is to all of us.
We love and adore you my sweet little girl...happy 6th birthday!
Friday, March 19, 2010
Eating better...
I love to eat and I love to run. O.k., maybe I should say it more like this...because I love to eat, I have to run. It's true. Eating is so much more fun than hopping on a treadmill and watching that slowly ticking calorie counter count down the calories you just put on it one second of eating a cookie.
My husband and I have finally bought us a really nice treadmill and are trying now to "eat better". I've decided that that's just code for..."I think I'm fat and I've got to now eat some really not so fun stuff like...whole wheat germ...and fat free fig newtons...and some cardboard tasting thing called muesli."
I'm realizing that the older I get, the harder it is to lose weight. It's like the fat just finds a part of me and yells..."hold on boys, she can't get rid of us that easy!" Or if I do happen to lose a little weight it's always in some place like my earlobes or my little toe, not in the places I would love to lose.
Of course, my husband and I realize that we need to get in better shape to be around for our kids...so this is a good thing, I guess. Plus, summer is coming and it's not like you can hide too much longer behind a big ol' monster coat. So for now, I'll just continue to run on my treadmill, watch that mean ol' calorie counter, "eat better", and dream of the chocolate chip cookies I'm going to make later for the kids.
But honestly..."eating better" is not much fun.
My husband and I have finally bought us a really nice treadmill and are trying now to "eat better". I've decided that that's just code for..."I think I'm fat and I've got to now eat some really not so fun stuff like...whole wheat germ...and fat free fig newtons...and some cardboard tasting thing called muesli."
I'm realizing that the older I get, the harder it is to lose weight. It's like the fat just finds a part of me and yells..."hold on boys, she can't get rid of us that easy!" Or if I do happen to lose a little weight it's always in some place like my earlobes or my little toe, not in the places I would love to lose.
Of course, my husband and I realize that we need to get in better shape to be around for our kids...so this is a good thing, I guess. Plus, summer is coming and it's not like you can hide too much longer behind a big ol' monster coat. So for now, I'll just continue to run on my treadmill, watch that mean ol' calorie counter, "eat better", and dream of the chocolate chip cookies I'm going to make later for the kids.
But honestly..."eating better" is not much fun.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Let's take a moment...
You know what I've decided...cleaning your stove top and oven are such a thankless job. I mean you scrub and clean on those things until they just shine like the sun and yet no one ever notices what you've accomplished (in the hour it took you to clean them). It's such a shame really. The cleaning part of it has to get done or else one day your "caked on gunk" will be so high you'll think it's another casserole you put in the oven. So why is it that no one ever notices that they're clean. It sure would be nice for someone to just mention..."Wow! You're stove top is so white and you're oven smells so lemony (kind of...in an easy-off oven cleaner kind of way)."
Our social worker is coming tomorrow for a post-placement visit (you have to have 3 visits after you bring home an adoptive child). Maybe I'll just drag her over to the kitchen and point them out. Wait...then again...that might end up in our report...on how I've gone off the deep end on cleaning my appliances. Oh well...time to go mess them up and get dinner going.
Our social worker is coming tomorrow for a post-placement visit (you have to have 3 visits after you bring home an adoptive child). Maybe I'll just drag her over to the kitchen and point them out. Wait...then again...that might end up in our report...on how I've gone off the deep end on cleaning my appliances. Oh well...time to go mess them up and get dinner going.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Who needs TV?...
O.k., don't tell my husband I said this because I know this month he would object, but with this kind of entertainment...who needs TV?
From one house that has way too many toys...enjoy the day!
From one house that has way too many toys...enjoy the day!
Monday, March 15, 2010
A hankerin'...
Last night as I was cooking up some dinner I got to thinking about something and I got a hankerin'. You ever get a "hankerin'" for something. You know, you start to think about it and little by little you decide...oh, I gotta have it. Yep, that's me today. I got a hankerin'...for some fried apple pies. O.k., I know it's not the best for me or my family but sometimes you just gotta live a little and enjoy life.
My Mom use to make these wonderful fried apple pies (remember I'm from the south). The aroma would just fill the house and your mouth would start to water. Of course, by then you knew you were up against everyone else in the house to get to the pies first. Or else you were left out in the cold until the next batch was ready. She would only make so many and my brothers and my Dad could sure eat there share, so it was a fight to the finish. I remember my Mamaw making the same recipe sometimes, but my favorite memory is my Mom making them.
So today I'm going to share with you a family recipe that been with us for a very long time. And if I can help it, maybe the pies for my kids will keep that recipe going for years to come. Just for today don't worry about calories and enjoy life!
Pastry:
1 thirteen ounce can evaporated milk
1 egg, beaten
5 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
1 cup Crisco
For pastry, combine milk and egg; stir well. Set aside. Combine flour, salt, and sugar in a large mixing bowl; cut in Crisco with a pastry blender (or knife) until mixture resembles coarse meal. Sprinkle milk mixture over flour mixture; stir with a fork until dry ingredients are moistened. Shape dough into a ball, and wrap in waxed paper. Chill at least 1 hour or until ready to use.
Fruit Filling:
2 six ounce packages dried apple slices (peaches or apricots)
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
vegetable oil
Place dried fruit slices with water to cover in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes. Add sugar, and simmer an additional 30 minutes. Drain fruit well, and mash. Stir cinnamon into mixture.
Roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Cut into 4 inch circles or squares. Place 1 tablespoon fruit mixture in center of each pastry. Fold over and press edges firmly together using a fork dipped in flour. Heat 1 inch of oil to 375 degrees in a large skillet. Cook pies until golden brown on both sides, turning once. Drain well on paper towels. Makes 2 dozen.
From our kitchen to yours....enjoy!
My Mom use to make these wonderful fried apple pies (remember I'm from the south). The aroma would just fill the house and your mouth would start to water. Of course, by then you knew you were up against everyone else in the house to get to the pies first. Or else you were left out in the cold until the next batch was ready. She would only make so many and my brothers and my Dad could sure eat there share, so it was a fight to the finish. I remember my Mamaw making the same recipe sometimes, but my favorite memory is my Mom making them.
So today I'm going to share with you a family recipe that been with us for a very long time. And if I can help it, maybe the pies for my kids will keep that recipe going for years to come. Just for today don't worry about calories and enjoy life!
Pastry:
1 thirteen ounce can evaporated milk
1 egg, beaten
5 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
1 cup Crisco
For pastry, combine milk and egg; stir well. Set aside. Combine flour, salt, and sugar in a large mixing bowl; cut in Crisco with a pastry blender (or knife) until mixture resembles coarse meal. Sprinkle milk mixture over flour mixture; stir with a fork until dry ingredients are moistened. Shape dough into a ball, and wrap in waxed paper. Chill at least 1 hour or until ready to use.
Fruit Filling:
2 six ounce packages dried apple slices (peaches or apricots)
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
vegetable oil
Place dried fruit slices with water to cover in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes. Add sugar, and simmer an additional 30 minutes. Drain fruit well, and mash. Stir cinnamon into mixture.
Roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Cut into 4 inch circles or squares. Place 1 tablespoon fruit mixture in center of each pastry. Fold over and press edges firmly together using a fork dipped in flour. Heat 1 inch of oil to 375 degrees in a large skillet. Cook pies until golden brown on both sides, turning once. Drain well on paper towels. Makes 2 dozen.
From our kitchen to yours....enjoy!
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Why Daddy?...
Tonight my husband was telling our 5 year old daughter that he was going to have to get her up earlier tomorrow (in order to make it to church on time). "Why Daddy?" "Well, we have to set our clocks ahead for daylight savings time." "Oh, you don't have to worry about me, I don't have a clock."
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
A toilet mutiny...
I am not a plumber. I don't proclaim to be one, heck, I don't even get to play one on TV. But in our house I guess I'm going to have to learn real fast, because we have what I like to call a "toilet mutiny" on our hands.
It all started with the master bedroom toilet. It flushed with such a force that it scared everyone within a two mile radius. We solved that problem by simply turning down the water flow pressure. Case closed...or so you would think. However, I think that toilet rounded up some more troops for an all out attack.
Next, the half bathroom toilet handle broke off. Then onto the lower level where the basement bathroom toilet now seems to drip constantly after being flushed. Upstairs in the girl's bathroom, the toilet is now beginning to take forever to stop flushing. Why all we need is the toilet in the baby's room to go on a suicide mission and fall through the floor and land on the kitchen table to make this mutiny complete.
For now, I might just turn back up the water flow in our bathroom and see what happens...
It all started with the master bedroom toilet. It flushed with such a force that it scared everyone within a two mile radius. We solved that problem by simply turning down the water flow pressure. Case closed...or so you would think. However, I think that toilet rounded up some more troops for an all out attack.
Next, the half bathroom toilet handle broke off. Then onto the lower level where the basement bathroom toilet now seems to drip constantly after being flushed. Upstairs in the girl's bathroom, the toilet is now beginning to take forever to stop flushing. Why all we need is the toilet in the baby's room to go on a suicide mission and fall through the floor and land on the kitchen table to make this mutiny complete.
For now, I might just turn back up the water flow in our bathroom and see what happens...
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
The most wonderful time of the year...
"Hey honey, guess what time it is?" Oh no, not this again, I thought. "Oh yeah, that's right." It can't be March already. "Yep...it's the most wonderful time of the year", my husband sang all through the house. The kids laughed and I just hunker down for a month filled with basketball, brackets and more hoopin' and hollerin' than you could ever imagine.
You see, my husband adores college basketball. Every year at this time he lives and breathes all of the tournaments. I think if he had his way he'd love to take all his vacation time "in the month of March" just so he could watch basketball all day. After 17 years of marriage, I came to terms with this a long time ago, and I really don't fight it. However, every year I admit I find this time pretty hilarious.
Because wherever I am in the house you can hear him holler out, "Honey, come and see this play...I can't believe they called a foul." Now, most likely this month I'll be sewing (just to keep me from going crazy with non-stop basketball on TV). But I'm pretty sure you won't hear me yelling to my husband..."Hey honey, come take a look at this stitch I just put in this dress. Ooo-whee! It sure is a pretty one."
Thank goodness my husband's "most wonderful time of the year" comes only once...
You see, my husband adores college basketball. Every year at this time he lives and breathes all of the tournaments. I think if he had his way he'd love to take all his vacation time "in the month of March" just so he could watch basketball all day. After 17 years of marriage, I came to terms with this a long time ago, and I really don't fight it. However, every year I admit I find this time pretty hilarious.
Because wherever I am in the house you can hear him holler out, "Honey, come and see this play...I can't believe they called a foul." Now, most likely this month I'll be sewing (just to keep me from going crazy with non-stop basketball on TV). But I'm pretty sure you won't hear me yelling to my husband..."Hey honey, come take a look at this stitch I just put in this dress. Ooo-whee! It sure is a pretty one."
Thank goodness my husband's "most wonderful time of the year" comes only once...
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Something wonderful...
"Look Mom, I can see grass!" My little girl yelled from the backseat of our van today as we were out running errands. "Where, where?" the older two asked. "There, right there..." At that moment, I think a big smile went across all of our faces.
You see, we've had so many, many, many months of snow covering the ground that I think the kids forgot that there was grass underneath it all. But today...today something is happening. Something wonderful...something fantastic...something called...
MELTING!!!!!
You see, we've had so many, many, many months of snow covering the ground that I think the kids forgot that there was grass underneath it all. But today...today something is happening. Something wonderful...something fantastic...something called...
MELTING!!!!!
Monday, March 1, 2010
Little help...
Every Monday afternoon the girls have gymnastics practice for a couple of hours. My two sons and I are left to "entertain" ourselves during that time. My older son usually ends up reading something and I get to walk/bounce around with the little one. I really hadn't noticed what my older son had brought to read until I saw him sit down with this enormous book. With great reservation I finally asked..."What are you reading?" "Oh, just the "Fundamentals of Physics", Mom. I think it's really cool. Can we study more of this please?"
Oh boy...little help
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