Hungry?

I figured I would share a recipe I came across a couple of weeks ago and finally got around to making last week. This was a big hit at our house! I REALLY want to make this again soon. :) If you haven’t looked at Our Best Bites, you really should. They have some absolutely great recipes that are easy to make. :)

I made Sweet and Savory Flank Steak. It was delicious! It has kind of a teriyaki flavor. Mike wants to use this marinade to use for his beef jerky he makes because it is such a good flavor. I cooked mine longer than most people would, because pink meat grosses me out. Mike says I like my meat in the “shoe leather” category instead of rare, medium rare, or well done. Haha Even cooking this longer than called for, it was still absolutely wonderful. Mike even liked it and he likes his meat to be just short mooing. Haha

I also made Lime-Cilantro Rice with Pineapple. I will admit that this sounded really gross to me. I like pineapple, but not with rice. Actually, I don’t really like any of my food to touch on a plate, let alone be mixed up in one pot. Haha I have grown to accept many casseroles over the years, but not one mixing fruit with vegetables. I just couldn’t go there, until now. Haha Well, I thought I would go ahead and try it. I was pleasantly surprised. Mike even liked it by the time dinner was over. It took a few bites to get over the initial oddness of pineapple in rice. :) It was really good, though. I will be making it again as well.

Emma's new ring

Emma has been having a rough time lately because she wants to grow up and “look the part”. She has some jeans that fit her really well, and she wears them as often as possible. She has some nice shirts that she wears and takes care of them. She likes jewelry, but is confined to wearing earrings and necklaces. She has been blessed with extra thick fingers and has an extremely difficult time finding any rings that fit (that don’t look like plastic gumball machine types). I found out that my sister, Chris, has some rings that are Emma’s size that no longer fit her. She was willing to send one to Emma. Apparently Chris was blessed with Mothers’ love of gaudy jewelry aka too big and “old looking” for Emma. HAHA Yesterday, an orange envelope arrived for Emma. I brought it with me when I went to get the girls from school. Emma was really excited to have mail. Then to open it and find a ring box with a beautiful ring inside made her ecstatic! Thanks, Chris. Emma loves it!

a little of this and that

I figured I would share a couple of fun things I've found recently.  While on a trip to the local Resale shop, I came across a pair of shoes that I knew Elaina would LOVE.  I know I probably shouldn't have gotten them for her, but I just couldn't resist.  It made it even nicer that I was at the Resale shop where everything is $1.98 or less! 

Yep.  I spent $2 on a pair of shoes that Elaina wears EVERY day.  Alright, I know how they look (like the 60's) and I know why we get funny looks when we go to the grocery store (these shoes with any array of clothing that completely doesn't match), but I still think they are adorable.  You want to know the saddest, yet most amazing part?  I can wear them too!  I can't wait to have a date night and pull out these lovely shoes.  I think I might reach Mike's nose if I wear them.  Wouldn't that shock Mike if I suddenly grew 2 inches taller?  haha 

I also happened to go to Kroger one evening and I came across the coolest bowl ever.  Did I just say a Bowl  was cool?  Yep.  I did!  It was on clearance for only $3.99.  Can you imagine?  I am so excited.  I now have two big glass bowls.  I use my glass bowl set that Tina gave us when we got married all the time.  I have a metal set, but they are all scratched up and they just don't work the same as glass.  :)  The funnest thing about this bowl is that it is shaped kind of like a lemon.  It has the end that you pour out of and then the end with the "handle" so you can hold onto it when you pour.  It's great!  I have used it SEVERAL times now and I just got it a few weeks ago.  :) 
     
Dana sent a link to make an egg wreath.  She and Abbie made one, so I thought Emma and I could too.  When will I ever learn? I am now convinced that she is superwoman.  Emma and I made one, but it wasn't as simple as Dana made it look.  I think Emma had fun, though, so that's what counts.  :)   I had grand plans to have Elaina make one too, but after the one with Emma, I think my egg wreath days are over.  haha

#2 turns 14!!!!!

How has this happened?  First Jake went and turned 16, now Josh has gone and turned 14.  This makes it seriously hard to convince myself that I am still in my 20's! 

Here is was when he saw snow for the first time.  I'm sure he remembers it fondly.  :)

Here he is enjoying his time with Jacob.  Don't ask why Grandma is excercising off to the side.  You never know.  Jake could have just hit Josh and knocked Grandma over.  He's been known to do some wild and crazy things at times.  :)

Jake isn't the only one who loves to pose for pictures.

His love of trains is/was legendary. 

He keeps getting older and older.  Why can't he just stay little? 

No.  He has grown up into a wonderful young man who will surely turn into a wonderful adult.  Of course, I'm sure it will be hard to explain when he turns 30 that his mom is still in her 20's!  Maybe I will have to grow up a bit with him?  Nah.  I don't see it happening.  haha

Spring break fun

Last week was spring break. Mother came to visit.

We didn’t do much, but we had a very good time. :) We went to Kohl’s and found Emma a dress for $10. It fit her really nice also. She made sure to wear it on St. Patrick’s day.

Jake, of course, got in on the St. Patrick's day fun...

We also went to the mall in search of the lunar golf store, which apparently went out of business. Guess that shows how often I go to the mall. Haha

We made pie the night before Mother left. Actually, Mother made TWO chocolate pies Friday night.  She made one with meringue and the other topped with cool whip. The one with cool whip didn’t make it till the next day. It was devoured by the kids, who apparently hadn’t eaten in weeks! Haha The kids absolutely LOVE Mothers chocolate pie. We made another one Saturday morning before she left. As if giving me the recipe wasn't treat enough, she also let me make the one Saturday so I would know how to make it for the kids myself. The kids will be extra happy if/when I make it for them. I can’t guarantee I will be making one anytime soon (especially since we had THREE last weekend alone!), but at least I know how now. :)

No good deed goes unnoticed

Today I was busy. Not with going up to the kid’s school, or transporting some kid to a doctor or anything like that. I mean, I was BUSY! It was such a beautiful day, and I was in the kitchen of all places. I should have just gone to the park or something. :) First, I made these…

They were actually rather easy. Here is the link to the recipe. I have wanted to make them for a while. Mine didn’t turn out as pretty as hers. :)  All the sugar has melted off the top and they don’t look as appealing. I figured I would be nice and have them for an after-school snack for the kids (as well as dessert). I let Emma and Elaina have a few when they got home. They really enjoyed them. The boys just got home and they both enjoy them very much as well.  Elaina and Josh are my picky eaters and they both wanted to eat the whole bag!

I also made these…

I have been eyeing these rolls for quite a while as well. I just haven’t had energy and time at the same time. For some reason, that is important for when I cook. Haha It was a super easy recipe as well.
Here are some pics from the process...

Then as payment for all my hard work, Elaina yelled “I hate you” to me after I continued to whistle a tune while getting dinner ready. I guess it really didn’t help any that I had just told her I needed to be able to see the floor in her room before dinner tonight. Haha Today is a milestone in my life… I have now been officially “hated” by all my kids. Wow. I am doing something right, or else really, really wrong. I’m sure this won’t be the last time Elaina “hates” me. We will just have to wait to see what my next “offense” is. Haha

I did the unthinkable

Yesterday was a day for shopping.  I had a couple of hours to spend, so I went to Kohl's.  I found the cutest outfit for Elaina.  It was marked down 80 % to $11.20.  I was impressed.  She was excited.  I had her try it on, and she wouldn't take it off.  haha

I also found some shirts for myself and Emma.  Unfortunately, they are all the same style, just different sizes.  haha  I got Emma one in black and white, and myself two (one purple and black, the other brown and teal like in the picture).  They were marked down 80% to $7.20 each.  I was quite impressed. 

Then, the cashier made me an offer I couldn't refuse.  I signed up for a Kohl's credit card (don't worry.  I won't use it...  much!) and I got an extra 30% of the purchase.  I bought 4 shirts, 1 pair of leggings and a package of 6 head bands for $27!  I was so proud of myself and ashamed of myself at the same time.  I don't do very well on spending money on anything other than food and absolute crap.  haha  Then the cashier told me the worste news she could have.  I got the extra 30% off any purchase for the day I got my card.  I of course did the only thing any good woman would do.  I took Josh and Emma back up there to see if they could find any shirts.  Josh is starting to get a little nervous about starting High School next year, so I thought a couple of new shirts might help.  Come to find out, he really needs them!  Yeah, double win.  A psychological boost as well as a necessity!  Wow.  That doesn't happen often enough.  haha  He ended up getting 3 shirts (two with t-shirts underneath, so actually 5 shirts).  I spent about $28 on him.  Emma didn't find anything.  That's alright.  she doesn't need it as much as he does, but she did have fun looking.  haha