Dad is gone! Let the pigging out begin!

Shane left Friday morning and will be gone for a week. I know you will be surprised to know he is hunting.

Here is our meal plan for the week. The girls beg for the things we never eat when Shane is around.

Monday: Taco Villa-bean and burritos for all! Don't forget the nacho fries!
Tuesday: Let's order Pizza!
Wednesday: I will cook something...how about pasta...
Thursday: Chick-fil-a!

I know this is totally unhealthy food but they are kids and it is once a year that Dad is gone this long! Ridiculous but fun for us and no clean up for me!

Admission

Hello, My name is Billye and I am a food addict. I wish I wasn't but I am. I once said, "It's not about quality, it's about quantity". I don't necessarily need good food, just lots of it! I have also said I was born with the appetite of a man. Lately, I have really become more cognisant of the types of foods we are eating. I noticed that as I packed Landry's lunch, more and more foods were pre-packaged. Shane has started a workout challenge at Cross-Fit. It involves the Paleo diet. You basically eat like a Paleolithic man. Lean protein, veggies, fruits, nuts, etc.. I had to do some research to have some ideas for dinner. While I realized that the girls need a little more than the foods listed on this plan, I also realized they are getting WAY TOO MUCH processing in their foods. Foods in their natural states are so much better for them and me.

I purchased the book, The Eat-Clean Diet for Family and Kids by Tosca Reno. It has lots of info on what types of foods are clean and gives you a lesson in looking at labels. Basically, if you can't pronounce it should you really eat it? Now, don't get me wrong, we LOVE us some Velveeta cheese dip like crazy!! I just think that when I can control what they eat, like lunches, I should. Starting this week the girls are allowed one pre-packaged item per day. If they choose chips, that's it. If they choose fruit snacks, that;'s it. I had to buy LOTS of fruits and vegetables this weekend to choose from. I went ahead and washed and cut them up.
The book talks about the fewer the ingredients on the label the better. It was eye opening. Now, I'm not all hard core and I do realize I live in Midland with one "real" grocery store but I'm trying!

Here is another fish recipie I found and tried. It was really good too! Shane, for the second time in a week, said how good it was!

Grilled Tilapia

4 Frozen Tilapia fillets
salt
pepper
basil
cherry/grape tomatoes
white wine
Butter

Spray foil with cooking spray or spritz with Olive Oil. Place one filet on each sheet of foil. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and basil to your liking. One pat of butter on each is optional. I used a half pat on each. Cut tomates in half and lay on fish. I used 2 tomatoes on each and wished I had used more! I poured about 1-2 tablespoons of white wine on each. Make a packet with each foil piece and place on grill. Cook for 15 minutes.

Delicious Fish Recipe

I am really trying to cook more fish and find easy but yummy ways to prepare it. I don't have time to go to the store each day and pick up fresh fish(is that possible in Midland, TX?)

I found this recipe while looking for a way to cook Halibut.

Creamy Baked Halibut
Ingredients
2 lbs. Halibut fillet
1/2 cup light or fat free sour cream
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup chives
1 tsp. fresh dill
salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Preheat oven to 360 degrees.Spray glass baking dish with no-stick spray.Rinse Halibut fillet(s), pat dry with paper towel and place in dish.Chop up chives and dill.Mix together sour cream, dill, chives, and 1/3 Cup of the Parmesan cheese.Spoon mixture over the Halibut and bake in oven for 15-25 minutes depending on thickness of fillet.If it looks like there is a lot of water around the fish, (can happen depending on which sour cream you use), using a turkey baster suction out excess water around the fish.Sprinkle remaining Parmesan cheese over the top of the sauce and broil until browned, about 5 minutes.Makes 4 4oz. servings.
Number of Servings: 4

I used frozen tilapia fillets but I think any white fish would be great. I did not include the chives as it was Mom's birthday dinner and she does not care for chives.

This was SO GOOD!!! Shane was almost licking the dish. He stood at the sink and scraped the dish with a fork to get every last bit of yumminess! The girls both loved it too! The bag of frozen tilapia fillets were much cheaper and I can use the rest in another dish. I added a salad and another recipe I found on the same website as this one for Maple Cinnamon Mashed Sweet Potatoes.

Reese's First Day of Pre School

Reese finally got to go to school! She was so excited! She is attending Grace Lutheran Pre School 2 days a week. She goes Tuesdays and Thursdays. School is 9-2 but she goes early, about 8 and gets picked up between 4:30-5:00. There are 8 kids in her class including Robbye, a little girl that stays at Susan's house. (The regular sitter) Reese still goes to Susan's the other three days a week. We know many kids who have gone through Grace and all have been quite pleased. 2 of Landry's teachers' children are there currently.

When I picked her up the first day she looked REALLY tired. They were outside playing on the playground. When I asked her what her favorite part of the day was she said, "Lunch". A girl after my own heart!

She was upset on Wednesday that she was not going back. This morning she was really tired but very happy to be going back to school. She already showed us a little dance to the months of the year. I am so excited to see her excited about learning! She really has always been more interested in the social part of life than the academic. Hopefully, she will begin to blossom!

When I picked her up today from after school care the teachers commented, "She is quite a talker!" Oh no, on the 2nd day she is already making a reputation! I told them she just likes to hear her own voice, they don't always have to answer her. They said, "No we LOVE her!" Just as always, Reese makes friends with all adults and tries to be in charge of all the other kids!

I cannot wait to see the difference in her by Christmas. I am sure she will amaze us!

4th grade already??

Landry started 4th grade today. It is very hard to believe that she is over half way finished with elementary school. She was very excited about school. She woke up super early, like 6:15 and was dressed by 6:20! She wanted her hair curled in sponge curlers overnight. I was a bit nervous about how it would look. It turned out pretty cute.

She picked this dress out about a month ago. It is very June Cleaver looking I think. She wears tennis shoes everyday except the first day because of recess and p.e. A dress won't be seen again I fear!

She had swim practice after school at 5:00 until 6:00 and then open house at Carver Center for G.E.M. (Gifted education Midland) from 6-7:30. Whew, we had a full day! She will attend GEM 2 days a week, Mondays and Tuesdays. She will attend her regular school Wed-Friday. That's a lot for a 9 year old to handle but I think she can do it.

She is such an amazing kid. I thank God daily for the person she is becoming. I see His nature in her more and more. She is responsible and thoughtful more and more each day. She started a journal today of her 4th grade year. She loves to write.

This morning I prayed that she would have a great day and be a light to her friends. I prayed that she would begin to see opportunities to share Christ with others. She is beginning to understand the importance of this. I admire her in many ways. I look forward to watching her blossom even more this year.

Meals, Aug 23-27

Sorry, I'm a little late with the menu for the week. The Louder household was busy this weekend enjoying the last moments of summer break and preparing for the first day of school. Shane left town yesterday afternoon so the girls and I relaxed around the house and did girly things like polish nails and put Landry's hair in rollers for today.

I used my lunch today to grocery shop for the week. Here is the plan:

Monday, 8/23: Pulled pork roast in the crock pot. (If you aren't using a crock pot you are missing out on super easy meals, ready when you get home!)
SUPER easy! McCormick's seasoning in a package for pulled pork. Add 1/2 C catchup, 1/2 C brown sugar and 1/3 C apple cider vinegar and pour over meat. Cook on low 8 hrs or high 4 hours.

Tuesday, 8/24: Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo, broccoli, garlic bread
Boil or grill chicken breast(You could buy Tyson Chicken already cooked) Boil fettuccine pasta, drain. Pour jar of fettuccine sauce over noodles and add chopped chicken.

Wednesday, 8/25: Beef and Bean Chalupas with Spanish rice
Buy chalupa shells. 1 can of refried beans spread over shells. Brown ground beef, I use Elk..it's what we have! Season with taco seasoning. Spread meat over beans, add shredded cheese. Put in 350 oven for about 10-15 minutes to heat beans and melt cheese. Cut up tomatoes and lettuce to top.
I use Spanish rice from a package.

Thursday, 8/26: Chicken Surprise Casserole, corn, fruit salad
Chicken Breasts with a can of Cream of Celery Soup(Reduced Fat) poured over it. Crush 1 sleeve Ritz crackers over. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Bake 350 for 35-45 minutes.

Friday, 8/27: We are going out to eat to celebrate a successful 1st week of school!

Dinner 8/17 and beyond! Crazy week!

So it is the week before school starts and we are super busy this week with meet the teacher nights at both schools and starting back to swim practice. Tonight we have Landry first swim practice of the season from 5-6 and Reese's open house at pre school at 6:30. Hum, wonder what we will eat?

I honestly think tonight will either be a quick sandwich that I can shove down their throats in the car or possibly Taco Tuesday at Rosa's!! For those who do not live in West Texas, I am sorry for you! Rosa's is yummy, fast food style Mexican food that DOES NOT taste fast. On Tuesdays you can get a taco plate with rice and beans for $3.69. You can beef or chicken, soft or crispy. Yummo!

Wednesday will be a crock pot night as I have to go to San Angelo for work. I will post that recipes this evening after I see what is in the freezer.

Thursday is Meet the Teacher night at Landry's school. I am helping set up from 4:30-5:30 and actual event is from 5:30-7:00. Ugh! I really don't want to eat out this night, something quick like soup, salad and sandwich???

Friday we are having a neighborhood fish fry with our super, awesome neighbors! Oh what fun!! I promise the menu for next week will be more complete and normal next week when school starts back and we have met everyone and figured out school.

I cannot believe Landry will be in 4th grade! That sounds so old! Reese in Pre school will be interesting. I told her last night to not get any older. She said, "O.k, go ahead and cancel my birthday". Oh if I only could!

Dinner-8/16

So I don't have time this morning to post an entire week but I thought I'd at least post what we are having tonight. It sounded very summer like.

Cheesy Chicken With Tomatoes and Sunflower Seeds
　
5 Points Per Serving

1 Tbsp raw sunflower seeds, shelled
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/4 tsp salt
1 14-1/2 oz can diced tomatoes, drained
4 oz reduced-fat Monterey Jack cheese, shredded


1. Preheat the oven to 350º F. Place the sunflower seeds in a small pan and bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown. Watch carefully because they burn easily. 2. Place chicken in an 11 x 7 inch baking dish, sprinkle with lemon juice, pepper and salt. Cover and bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until the chicken reaches 170º F and the juices run clear. Remove from the oven and pour off any excess liquid. 3. Spoon the tomatoes over the chicken. Sprinkle with the sunflower seeds and the cheese. Increase the oven temperature to broil and place the dish under the broiler for about 1 minute or just until the cheese melts. Do not brown.
Makes 4 servings.

I found this on a Weight Watchers message board and it fit my dinner criteria. It needs to be done in an hour or less start to finish. Secondly, it must not have ingredients I have never heard of or that I have to buy for a one time use.
I'll probably serve it with a can of pinto beans and some fresh okra and tomatoes that I will boil together. (A summertime favorite thanks to our friends with gardens!)


Enjoy!

new idea, what do you think??

So I'm thinking that I may start posting a weekly menu for dinners. I tend to plan 2 weeks in advance. I cook dinner at least 4 nights a week and continually have friends ask how I manage it and what do I cook?

I wonder if anyone will read it? Will anyone care? I think I'll try it starting the week school starts, Aug 23. A Sunday post with recipes? Let's see what happens......

10 years!

Just as you read this pretend it is June 10, 2010...Today, Shane and I have been married 10 years! Some times it seem like FOREVER!!!! and other times I cannot believe how fast time has flown! Having a child so fast has really made the time fly I suppose.

I'd love to sit here and write a post about our love affair...yeah right! We are not romantic, we don't cuddle and we don't have pet names. That's just not us. What we do have is a great partnership. We are mature, responsible and logical. We are hard workers. All these traits have paid off in marriage. We come from a long line of people who stay married. They would all tell you it's hard and there were times they wanted to quit, but they didn't. That's not what you do. You get mad and get over it. Between our parents alone there are more than 70 years of marriage. If you include our grandparents, it easily gets up into the 100s.

We have a great life. We have great kids. Shane is a great provider. He is honest, hard working and ethical. He is a great role model for the girls. He is loyal and great at his job. He is the calm to my storm. He is the method to my madness.

Some funny things you might not know:

1. we had Landry 9 months after we were married! Yep, a honeymoon baby!

2. We don't sleep under the same comforter. He still uses his college one! I had to throw out my jr high one 2 years ago!

3. He has never slept at my parents' house.

4. Shane picked out all the wall colors in our house. He is WAY better than me.

5. He gave away the anniversary present I gave him-5th row Merle Haggard tickets!

6. I have lost my wedding ring----twice! Found both times!

Here is to 10 years of laughs, dead animals, hard work and fun!

4 Adults, 5 Kids, a hermit crab and many souvenirs!

Sunday, July 4th-Nothing says celebrate America like a 4 hr car trip with 5 children under 9! SO we packed up and drove to the beach, Port Aransas. We arrived at the house we rented for the week. We unpacked and sent the dads and kids to the beach and Moms headed to the grocery store, the Food Basket IGA. It is the only game in town. We were definitely over dressed for the occasion, by that we mean dressed and sober! 547.00 and 4 baskets later, we were ready for the week! We considered in the parking lot to rip the bottoms off our shirts, cut off our shorts so our cheeks showed and take some bong hits so we'd feel more like locals. . .but, instead, we hopped in our minivan and cruised home.

Monday, July 5th- Obviously, it was tough to top DAY 1, but we did our best by heading to the beach. We set up a redneck pavilion complete with cooler, washer pit, and 764 sand toys. We stayed on the beach for an eternity and then marched home for what way, hands down, the longest most brutal 30 minutes ever. (Please note: The kids had a blast on the beach and it was great but let's just be honest, that's a no-brainer and doesn't make for an interesting post. More on that later. . .) We are currently suffering from chub rub + sand. Now, if you don't know what chub rub is, you work out entirely too much. Chub rub is the phenomenon that occurs when your thighs rub together. And, more importantly, if you don't have this happen to you, how are we friends?

Tuesday, July 6th- Brad and Shane were up at 4:45 to head out for a day of fishing fun! I personally think this is the only reason they agreed to come on vacation was in order to fish! We did tell them to bring home dinner one way or another. This included stopping at HEB if need be! We loaded all five children for a day of sight seeing fun! This included a fancy lunch at Dairy Queen and a stop at the junk, er I mean, souvenir store next door. Our children enjoyed ice cream and cokes for lunch.

So Alison and I wrote this the evening of the 6th. That was as far as we got that night or any night the rest of the week.....

All in all we had a great time with great friends. It was so much fun to watch our husbands and children interact. Alison and I love each other, we've known that since English 3201, Women and Literature, Spring 1996. She is an amazing mother! She is patient and kind to her children. She embraces their differences and strives to make them happy, even if this means bringing Play doh along! Yes, my children thought Santa had been there since it is outlawed in my house! We had time to just sit and interact with our kids. They had a fashion show for us. I never sit and watch a fashion show at home. I should.

Too Long!

It's been too long! I know you've missed me. Honestly, the thought of uploading pictures and arranging them in the right order made me skip out on ya! I'm taking a clue from my friend Alison, and axing the pics for this post.
A lot has happened in the last 6 weeks. Reese and Landry both finished soccer. Landry's team did well and sadly, her coach is moving to Boston. We will see if she plays next season. Reese finished her first season and I really think her last season. She would cheer when her coach let her sit down and she has already informed me that she would like to take dance next year. She is definitely cut out of a different cloth!
Landry finished 3rd grade! I cannot believe that! She made all A's all year and got a trophy and shirt for that accomplishment. She tested and qualified for the GT program for 4th grade. She will go to a different school 2 days a week next year. She is excited. Most importantly, I am most proud of the person she is becoming. Her teacher wrote a note to us at the end of the year saying the she displays, "all the fruits of the Spirit." What a great compliment. She is hard working, caring and works really hard. We are so proud of her.
Reese is signed up for 3 day pre school next year. She is really excited as well.
Landry went to GA camp the first week school was out. She had a great time as our neighbor went as well as her cousins from Stanton.
Both girls went to VBS at our church the next week. They really enjoyed it. This was Reese's first year. She wants to become a habitual VBSer. She's gonna LOVE school!
Both girls are swimming again at our City swim facility. Landry is on the swim team and Reese is doing gymnastics as well.
We are taking a week off this next week and heading out on vacation. We are going down to Port Aransas with our friends the Romikes. 5 kids, 2 moms and 2 dads in one house should be fun! I LOVE that my kids are getting to go one trips with other families. I always think vacations with others are such fun! More to come on the Louder/Romike excursion!

Blessed....Why?

Some days Jesus reminds me of just how blessed I am. Today was one of those days. Nothing spectacular happened. Nothing tragic in our lives. Just a perfectly normal day. I think what started my Thankful spiritual reminder was working. Weird, I know. As part of my job I call on the Emergency Room at hospitals. As I stood there watch everyone buzz around me I realized that people's worlds were changing as I stood there. I saw a family gathered with a man in a neck brace and multiple fractures, 7 I think. I overheard a conversation about a young girl who had overdosed and her parents says she hanging with bad, older kids like, "16-20". That means she is young!
I read a blog written by a young mom experiencing unfathomable heartache with her 2nd pregnancy. Her baby is sick and no one is sure why or if it will survive.
I sometimes question why I was given 2 perfectly healthy, smart, well behaved(mostly!) children. They are giving and fun kids.
I have stood in the ER as a family member clings to life. I have stood at the foot of a hospital bed and watched my mother fight with everything she had to survive cancer. I have witnessed my dad fly away in a helicopter as he was transported to a facility to help him. I remember thinking on those days, "Does anyone realize how my life changed today?" No,, most people don't. As we go on with our perfectly normal life, some one's life changes in an instant, a test results, an ultrasound or MRI. I'm blessed. I prayed for those people today.
Lord, keep me humble. Never allow me to forget that some one's life is changing and they need Your peace. Thank you for the everyday, mundane tasks of my life. May I praise You in those as much as I cry out for You in the troubled times. Continue to remind me to Praise You in the Storm and as I see the rainbows.

Training Update

I am sure most people don't really care how my training is going for my next half marathon. But since this is my blog and I think only my parents and MAYBE a couple of friends read it I'll humor myself. My training is going well, thanks for asking! I am following a training schedule that I did in the past, Hal Higdon. http://www.halhigdon.com/halfmarathon/novice.htm

(Just in case you feel the urge to join along in solidarity!) I'm on week 5.

I have to say I am proud of myself. I am actually sticking with the plan and not skipping many days. If I do skip a day it is usually the strength and stretch days. I know it's important but if something has to give that is it!

Melinda and I do the long run on Sundays and it helps us get through it. Running is actually becoming easier and I have started to look forward to it after the first 10 minutes! I have discovered that no matter how great of shape I'm in the first 10 minutes is torture!

I wish I could say I've dropped 15 pounds....not so! 3-4 maybe. I think in my mind because I run I can eat more! I'm trying to stop that thinking!

Seattle, here we come!

Live from Big Spring---Again!

Here is my view of Big Spring today......This is off the porch at Bean's World Cafe. It is a beautifully cloudy day. I was told about this place by a doctor's office staff. It is run by a church and all the staff are volunteers. As I am sitting on the porch waiting on my Spicy Chicken Fiesta Sandwich, I feel a cool breeze, hear birds and they have Christian music playing, and free WiFi!!! They have a fabulous dessert and coffee bar as well. This may be my new hangout every 2 weeks!

I wish I had a video camera to show you the old building directly in front of me. It has holes in the mortar and birds crawl in and out of them . They have apparently made homes in there. This is the older part of town with old store fronts and brick streets. Most of the buildings are abandoned. It is so cool!

Just got my food, you don't even want to know how delicious this sandwich is! Jalapeno cheese bread= yummo! I'd post a picture but I've eaten too much of it already!

This really a part of my job I enjoy. It is not very often I get to sit and enjoy a quiet meal all by myself. It's not that I don't love my family it's just really nice to sit and not have to talk or clean up a mess or take anyone to the restroom! I wish I didn't eat so fast, a bad habit from going to school for 13 years and then working in schools for 10 years. I eat REALLY fast!

I am not getting to run at lunch today, I guess I'll have to do it tomorrow at lunch. I really have begun to look forward to my runs. Not so much the tired part as the alone with my thoughts part. I enjoy pushing myself and that feeling of accomplishment I feel afterwards.

The locals are starting to show up and are staring at me because I am at a table for 4 and they are having to sit at small tables, whoops!

Reese's Soccer Game -#2

Well, Reese had her 2nd soccer game and the first that Shane and I got to see. For as feisty and aggressive is Reese usually is, is as unaggressive and calm as she is on the soccer field! It is the weirdest thing! She has been at soccer games, literally, since she was 3 months old. I though she'd be overly aggressive. I finally asked her why she doesn't take the ball. You know what she said????? "Mom, it's not mine!" We spent 4 years teaching her to take turns and not take things that aren't hers and it totally backfires! I told her it was o.k. because they were playing the game with whoevers ball was out there and it was fine. She asked if her "teammates will trust me if I take it?" What????

She has another game on Saturday pending weather. It rained ALL day today! We offered to pay her if she takes the ball away and scores. I am not above bribery!

Landry FINALLY has a game on Monday so I will post pictures of her after that.

I am totally in love with my kids this week. I can't explain why but all we want to do is cuddle and hang out. I think part of it is Shane is gone and no one cares if we are total sloths! Also, I am beginning to see Landry change. She is becoming a preteen and I am fearfully awaiting the days when she can not stand me! I know it's coming and hold and rock her as much as possible right now.

I'm off to bed to join 2 snugly girls. That's the great part of Dad gone. We all sleep in my bed!

A New Challenge

I have run 2 half marathons before. (13.1 miles) The first one was in Jan 2004 and the second was in Jan 2007. I missed the pattern by 6 months! My third will be June 26, 2010. The first one I did was in Disney World. The second was the Phoenix Rock and Roll. This one is the Seattle Rock and Roll.

My friend Melinda and I have done them all together and this is no exception. It is so much more fun with a running partner to pass the time with. I am pretty sure she and I have solved all the world's problems while running. We use it as free marriage/parenting counseling.

We are T-11 weeks and counting and it's time to turn up the training. Of course in West Texas it is also time for Mother Nature to turn up the wind!! I am running on a treadmill right now. I HATE the wind so I spend most of my lunchtimes at the gym on the treadmill. We will start doing long runs on the weekends and build up to almost the full distance. I have a rule, I will not run 13 miles until that day. I want to do it once and once only!

I cannot explain why I enjoy doing this. i have never loved to run. In high school I was a sprinter and I use that term loosely! I wasn't fast but I also did not like to run for long distances. Once my coach told me to run a mile and I asked if he really meant all at once??? He would fall over if he knew I will run 13.1 miles all at once! After these races there is such a sense of accomplishment and empowerment. I highly recommend doing something in your life that you think will be hard just to show yourself you can do it!

Easter 2010-Closer to God

We spent Easter 2010 closer to God-in Ruidoso! This was the 3rd time we have skiied this year. We really wanted the girls to do it as much as possible to make sure next year we didn't start from square 1.

This trip our friends the Halls went with us. We have been friends with them for almost 10 years and their 2 boys are very close in age to our girls. Hayden is about to be 8 and Harper is 20 days older than Reese. It made for a riding and skiing companion for everyone, including parents!

Friday the kids had ski lessons. Reese and Harper each had a private lesson while Hayden and Landry shared a teacher for an hour. The kids did well and really improved this weekend.

All and all it was a good weekend. No injuries to speak of and all kids accounted for!

Now, I'm officially ready for warm weather!

Kind of...

I've hit a patch where I feel like I "kind of" do most things. I kind of exercise-2 days a week or so. I kind of cook- meaning I heat up frozen food some days. I kind of clean my house-shove things in corners so I don't trip during the night. I kind of work-yes I still work full time but lately I have DREADED work and feel so valueless at work. I kind of go to church-Shane and I go to worship while the girls are at Sunday School.

I feel no passion right now for anything. I don't like that. I want to be passionate about something. I NEED to feel passion.

I don't want to just exist in life, I want to make a difference. I need to find my passion....I'm tired of just kind of being here. Politics? Write a book? I'm on a hunt.....

Live from Big Spring it's......me!

It's a working title! I am blogging from the Subway in Big Spring, TX. I'd post a picture but come on......it is Big Spring! I lead an exciting life, I know. As most of you know I travel to surrounding towns for my job. Most often I can work a town in half a day and either be home for lunch or eat on the road on the way to my next town. Not Big Spring!!! I have just enough work here that I usually have to spend the entire day here which means lunch in random places. I have tried all the local dives....yummy but greasy! I've eaten at the Pizza Hut thinking salad bar and a piece of pizza or 2. They have free Internet but DISGUSTING pizza!
I have brought my lunch before and gone to a park to eat. It is a bit windy today so I opted for the Subway...healthy and FREE Internet! I'm not hard to please!

Spring has sprung around our house and not just the weather! Both girls are playing soccer this season. Reese is older enough by 9 day! She will be the youngest on the team but I'm sure not the smallest! Her first practice is the evening at 6:00. I will be really interested to see how she responds. I predict 1 of 3 things will happen in her game on Saturday. She'll either Knock multiple people down intentionally, score 7 goals or walk off the field and declare, "I don't want to do this!" All three are very much within her personality. I will miss her first game and that makes me sad but I am committed to working at our JL Clayshoot. Shane will try to go and his mom and my dad will be there. I'll send the video camera with someone.
Landry started soccer again yesterday. She is with the same team as the last 2 seasons. They are a fun group of girls that not only play hard but have fun and get along well. Her coach is phenomenal but is leaving after this season to take a job in Boston. We're very sad!! :(
Spring is charity even time around Midland it seems. Shane and I will hear Sarah Palin speak on Thursday night. AS far as I know we will get to meet her and get autographs. I bought her book and am reading it right now. Probably would not have except for this event. I'll post pics if we get them. Friday night we have Buckshot Bash, a dinner, dance and auction for Jr League and the Saturday ALL DAY we have a clayshoot for Jr League along with soccer games!
Next weekend we are headed to Ruidoso for one last trip down the slopes. Our friends the Halls are going with us so it should be lots of fun!
I try really hard to not over schedule my kids. They really enjoy just being kids and playing outside at our house. This time of year really stresses me out as my calendar fills up!
I'll be posting pictures of the girls periodically in all their activities.

Taylor Swift!!!!

For Christmas this year, the girls got tickets to see Taylor Swift. Our neighbors received them as well. We took the girls out of school and headed to Dallas on Thursday. The concert was at the American Airlines Center on Thursday night.

We were all decked out in our boots and dresses like Taylor wears. It was so much fun watching the girls get so excited. The opening acts were Gloriana and Kellie Pickler. They were both great. The moment arrived that Taylor hit the stage. She sang every song we knew and sang for 2 hours! The girls sang along with each song and we all danced and had a great time. I think it is a memory that will last for a long time!

Stinky Sunday Night

I stink right now! I mean literally I stink. I ran today. No, not just a minute ago, I ran at 12:30 p.m. It is 8:00 pm as I type this. I never bothered to shower. I though of it a couple of times through out the day. I always found better things to do. I did laundry, uh....I know I did other things today! We cooked a great and healthy dinner, grilled salmon, fresh green beans, corn on the cob and a fruit salad. We went to Lowe's to look at new patio furniture and then went to Shane's brother's house to pick up Landry's birthday present. That is all. Don't ya think I could have found time to shower. The laundry is still on the couch and coffee table, folded, not put away. Some days I swear I really could waste and entire day and not really accomplish much. I LOVE THOSE DAYS!

Great things today...We went to church. Sad thing, our preacher is leaving :( Dr Dyer has been here since 1995. Many people are sad. He has been so influential in not only my life, but in Landry's. He did the baby dedication for Landry and baptized her last year. She is sad too. He is moving to Austin. Our loss is their gain. We had a fun lunch at Rosa's with 3 other families. 8 kids in all. Wild!

I ran twice this weekend. Wow! That is great for me. I am trying to get in "baseline" shape to start training for my half marathon. I'm not sure when it is. Sometime between June and August. I am signed up for one in July but may change to one in June or I found another one is August. I am so totally co-dependent in my running. If my friend Melinda can't get into the race I'm registered for I am changing to one we can both run. Silly, I know.

Hopefully tomorrow will lead to more productivity, probably not. I will live either way...

Happy Birthday Landry! (A day late!)

Landry at 2 weeks old

Landry (Nov 2009)

I cannot believe that Landry turned 9 on Monday. I felt sad that day. I cannot explain why but maybe it has to do with that she has lived with us 1/2 the amount of time that she will live with us!

I can not explain what a true joy she is. When you are expecting you wonder what she/he will turn out like. What will they look like? Will they be smart, funny, inquisitive?

Landry is such an amazing kid. There is not a day that goes by that she does not surprise me with her courage, compassion, confidence,creativity, intelligence, helpfulness and maturity. She is a teacher's dream. She tends to think of others over herself. She is a second Mom to Reese and does a really good job!

I know we all try to raise out kids in the right way. I promise all the good in Landry is not our doing. I truly believe the spirit of the Lord dwells in her and guides her. This is the time when I am so thankful for the upbringings that Shane and I received that taught us the importance of Godliness.

One thing I really love is that she challenges me. She does not let me get by with yes/no answers. Why questions come naturally to her. She thinks outside the box when appropriate and follows social norms when needed.

She avoids girl drama at school. She is friends with everyone but tends to gravitate towards boys and non-girlie girls.

I LOVE that she is practical and reasonable almost all of the time. This came in handy when she was a small child. I learned early on if I could tell her the reasons behind something she usually could obey without too many objections.

I could go on and on with all the great things about my Landry. The things that make me most proud are the things others say about her. Her teacher has written me notes referring to her showing Christ to others in class. More than one parent has said they hope their little girl grows up to be like Landry. Every teacher she has had states they wish they had a class full of Landrys.

I am excited at what the future holds for Landry. The next 9 years scare me to death! There are so many experiences she is about to encounter. She will feel heartbreak, happiness, love, sadness, jealousy and shear silliness! If the next 9 years are as great as the first 9 I can't wait!

Happy birthday Landry, you are such a wonderful child. I am proud to be your Mom!

Skiing Adventure take 2

This was our second ski trip this year. We went the last weekend of January and Landry loved it. We wanted to go one more time before the season ended to help solidify it in her mind. Reese hated it last time, we were going to try a private lesson to see if it helped.

The small black figures in the front of the picture are Shane and Reese. Reese would hold on to Shane's poles and fly down the mountain. She yelled, "Faster!" the while time. Needless to say, she loved it on day 2. Day one, not so much, more tears and snot. Come to find out, all she wanted was her own poles. Poles on day 2 and she was happy!

This is Landry at the bottom. She absolutely loves skiing! I am so happy. Skiing is something I learned to do as an adult, like this weekend. I mean, all I learned I learned from Landry and listening in on lessons of other people. It was really an interesting experience to have your child saying, "Mom....PIZZA!" (That is how you teach kids to stop) The first day I hated it! I could not turn or stop very well. I flew down the mountain like a bat out of hell hoping to God no one got in my way! I even went racing in to the Kiddie Korral because I couldn't stop fast enough.

Day 2 was better. I mastered stopping and learned to turn. Only 1 fall the entire day 2! Yay!

On a scarier note, Landry got lost while on the mountain. All your kids lives you spend telling them what to do and not do. Quite honestly, I wonder how much sinks in and how much sounds like Charlie Brown's teacher speaking, "wha wha wha". Shane and Landry wentto the top of the mountain to ski a Blue (medium) run. He skied behind her in case of wipe outs. She go to going a little fast and did not see the "expert only" sign to the right. She went over the edge and Shane couldn't stop her. He called me with the most panicked voice I had heard from him ever. She was on a black (most difficult) run and he was at the bottom. Reese and I went directly to the ski patrol to report a missing child. It had been 15 minutes at this point. The nice man began to ask me questions about which run, "Wild Onion, Geronimo, etc..." He was trying to be helpful but I was getting a bit annoyed. Finally I said, "Sir, I've never been off Easy Street so I can't tell you!" I was able to get Shane on the phone again and ask more specifics. The ski patrol had just been dispatched and were heading out when here she came walking up the a worker! She burst into tears, as I wanted to do too! I kept telling her how proud I was of her for staying calm! She said she slid on her bottom to the end of the run and then came to find us. When she couldn't find Reese and me in our usual place, she went and told a worker. "Mom. you always said if I ever got lost to find someone who worked there and tell them." Searched called off, 2 very relieved parents and a little girl who is becoming a young adult before our eyes.

She never got how courageous she was on Saturday. I was certain she was finished skiing for the day, I would have been! Nope, after eating some lunch she was back out there.

A Snow Day Project

We woke up to bunches of snow this morning. That meant no school in Midland therefore no work for Mom. Mostly we laid around the house this morning. I went into my closet to get dressed about lunch and this is what I saw...A HUGE, UNORGANIZED MESS!!!!
So after meeting our neighborhood friends for some fun snow time, I headed home to tackle the closet. I've been really frustrated with my wardrobe lately and mostly I think it is due to my disorganization. Here is the final outcome. Landry says it does not look different, oh how I beg to differ! Notice the slacks all hanging together on the bottom?? Tops are in groups of work and non work along with sleeve length.

I also organized my shoes. Here is a snap shot of that. I got rid of a pair of Birekenstocks! I think I bought them in college!

This really did take half a day. I have a pile of things to get rid of including about 15 bras! I finally gave up the last of my belts, there too were some from college including a Fossil belt from The Buckle! I still need to get rid of things. I mean really, I have 4 winter robes and 1 spring/summer robe! Who needs 5 robes? For now, I will sleep well knowing in the morning I will know where each and every piece is, at least for now.....

Talents....Landry's bathroom redo

There are things I am good at and there are things I am not good at. I admit that I am not a decorator! I envy my friends who walk into a room and know what needs to be done and how to accomplish those things. I walk into a room and wish someone else could do it. When trying to decorate, people at "those stores" will ask me what my style is....I have no idea!

Well, this weekend Shane was gone so I decided to try to make Landry's bathroom look like a 9 year old girl belongs there. No more tan walls! I kept thinking, if I mess this up at least it is a small room that won't cost much to fix!

I enlisted the advice of my super creative and talented neighbor Shannon. She paints with reckless abandon, she does not fear color like I do. She showed me how to add paint to glaze and basically rub it on the wall. Here is before.....

Finished (almost) product

I still have to paint dots above the tub, my neck just couldn't do it any more! I also have big spaces to fill with either pictures or paint some other big dots on the wall. Landry was so funny, she said, "Mom, I think Shannon gave you the courage to paint this bathroom." Thanks Shannon for the courage to paint. Finished pictures to come....

White trash meal

Dinner is on the stove. It is a white trash meal if I might say so myself. Ready for this...we're having Sloppy Joe's.(Made with bison meat).....with beautiful wheat buns for a touch of class! The only mother white trash meal I can think of is tater tot casserole! Maybe next week!

I did go to the trouble of opening organic green beans and boiling carrots. For some reason my girls LOVE, Love, Love boiled baby carrots. I'm sure the nutrients are gone but it is sure colorful!

I will spare you the picture of Sloppy Joe but I do want to add the link to this WONDERFUL song....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_-KbstEG4E

Happy Dining!

Chicken and Rice-Easy!!!

I grew up in a small town. like 1800 people small. We had 3 restaurants, one being Dairy Queen. We rarely ate out, my mom cooked....every meal, 3 times a day. My husband grew up much the same way...his mom cooked 3 meals a day.

I cook, it's what I do. When I don't know what else to do I cook.

Many women my age don't cook very often and are constantly asking how I manage to work all day and then cook meals. Here is the secret.....I cook REALLY easy meals. I am no Paula Deen, Rachel Ray uses WAY too many ingredients. If I haven't heard of it, chances are my HEB won't have it. I mean really, I live in Midland!

Here is one of the Fabulous recipes I cook. I whipped this up in 30 minutes including time to cook rice and chicken.


It isn't pretty but it is delicious! It's one of those things that you walk by and eat out of the pan after dinner.

Chicken and Wild Rice

1 box Uncle Ben's Wild Rice

1 can FF Cream of Mushroom soup

1 small can mushrooms

2 chicken breasts-cooked

chopped almonds(optional)

salt

pepper

garlic powder

chicken broth

Boil your chicken. You could use canned chicken but I think it tastes and smells somewhat like cat food. If you boil 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts you'll have just enough chicken broth for later. Cook wild rice per directions on the box except use chicken broth instead of water...Thar's the secret ingredient. It makes this dish yumm-o! After cooking chicken and rice, chop chicken and mix it with rice and soup. Drain the mushrooms and add to mixture. Salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste. I chop almonds and mix in, totally optional. I also chop almonds finely and sprinkle on top. stick in 350 oven for a few minutes, it's all cooked, it just needs to warm. Open a couple of canned veggies and Voila, quick, easy, yummy dinner

Babysitting

I spent Wednesday through Friday in Dallas for work. We had meetings and I made arrangements to stay through Saturday so I could go see Robin and the babies. It snowed 12 inches in the metroplex on Thursday so staying was a good thing.

Elliott is on the left and Stella on the right.

Robin and Andrew went out to eat on Friday night. It was their first time to leave the babies since they were born, almost 7 weeks ago. I got to be the babysitter!

The girls were so much bigger than the last time I saw them. Stella and Ellie are almost 8 lbs each. They are eating every 3 hours. I got puked on once. I did the 11 and 2 feeding with Robin then I did the 5 am feeding alone so Robin could sleep a little longer. I forgot how tiring it is to get up and feed kids!

OUR Hallmark moment

So we survived skiing a few weeks ago. Shane and his dad both killed Elks on Friday so he was able to join the girls for skiing. I am so glad he did...Reese decided it was not for her. She cried hysterically and proclaimed, "I don't know how to ski!" Shane Landry ski most of the day as Reese and I sat at the bottom. She slept in my arms. I was burning up but at least Shane and Landry had a good time. This was Landry's first time to ski and she did really well. She took an hour and a half lesson and then she was off! At the end of the day I met them at the bottom of the mountain and she burst into tears. She was exhausted but wants to go back for Spring Break.

Ruidoso got about 18 inches of snow the day we got there and that night. It was beautiful and so much fun!

Hallmark Moment

Do you ever create Hallmark moments in your mind? I do it all the time and find that more often than not I am disappointed when things don't turn out just perfect.

We are going skiing this weekend. We're leaving in the morning. Shane's parents are going with us to Ruidoso. He and his dad are hunting so his mother and I are taking the girls to play around. Landry is going to ski school. Reese is just messing around more than likely. I'm not going to lie, I DREAD skiing. I have never done it. I have a bad knee but I'm it so I will spend some time on the bunny slopes and hope for the best!!!

The picture below is what I'd like for out trip to look like but I'm guessing I'll have some less "Hallmarky" moment to post when we return. Either way it will be fun and memorable. I am allowing Landry to miss 2 days of school to do this. I have adopted the idea that experiences are just as important in learning as sitting in a classroom. I am going to make her journal her trip and she is taking her camera. Hopefully she can report to her class all about the things she did and saw. More to come next week......

Oven Fried Catfish-Easy and Healthy

Oven Fried Catfish

Ingredients
1/2 cup light beer
1/2 cup hot sauce
4 (6-ounce) farm-raised catfish fillets
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Cooking spray
Preparation
Combine first 3 ingredients in a large zip-top plastic bag; seal and marinate in refrigerator 30 minutes. Remove fish from bag; pat dry with paper towels. Discard marinade.
Preheat oven to 450°.
Combine cornmeal, cornstarch, salt, and pepper in a shallow dish. Dredge fish in cornmeal mixture.
Lightly coat fish with cooking spray. Place fish on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray, and bake at 450° for 15 minutes or until the fish flakes easily when tested with a fork.

This is one of my favorite ways to cook fish. It is so good and is really easy. I actually put the beer and hot sauce in a big Ziploc along with the fish before I leave for work. I have also tried it with other types of fish such as tilapia.

I am also cooking an acorn squash, boiling baby carrots and opening a can of green beans to ensure everyone eats a veggie tonight.
Enjoy!

This is from another Mom's blog...I occasionally read other people's blogs that I do not know. This one hit me hard as I sat here at lunch making yet another to do list for myself that no where on my lists for the week were things like, play with the girls, act silly, dance around the living room. I need to be "present" for my kids. I was asked last night by Reese to tell her a story in bed and I said, "No". I cried as I read this today. Tonight and every night she asks I will tell her a story.

http://www.mycharmingkids.net/

I'm gonna miss this
"How do you do it? How do you stay so calm with four young children?"Part of it is just how God made me, I think. I am pretty calm with my children. And, honestly, often I stay calm even in the midst of chaos because, frankly, it's better than the alternative. A shrieking, freaking out mama is not going to make an already stressful situation any better. So, for the most part, I stay calm and try to be in the moment with my children. But how do I do it?There is one little bit of inspiration that literally descended upon me almost two years ago, while I was holding Nuggey in the bathroom, that has completely revolutionized my parenting. When I keep this truth in mind, I find it as easy as apple pie to stay calm in the midst of toddler chaos. I remember that I'm gonna miss this. It was dark, during the end of bathtime, and Prince Charming was gone. I was doing dinner, baths and bedtime myself those days, as my husband worked late. It had been, undoubtedly, a long day with the kids. Big Mac was three, Nuggey was one and a half and Small Fry was a baby. It is as clear as day still, this memory. I was sitting on the toilet, drying MckNugget off after his bath. Small Fry, unable to roll, was sprawled on the floor of the bathroom on some towels, wearing nothing but a diaper and a grimace. Big Mac was still in the tub. He was squawking to get out and Small Fry was bellyaching for attention. But I slowly wrapped Nuggey up in his towel, determined to stay calm, and cuddled him in terrycloth. I slowly rocked him back and forth in my arms and sang Rock-a-bye Baby to my second born.As I wrapped up the song, I prepared to sit Nuggey up and attend to the chaos that was the other children. After all, there were baths to finish, teeth to brush, diapers to put on, jammies to find and beds to tuck children into. But as he sensed me about to right him, Nuggey tossed his wet head back in my arms and looked up at me. "Uh-gain!" So I sang Rock-a-bye Baby one more time, but I told him it would be the last. Yet when I finished, he begged again for more. I didn't want to do more. I didn't want to sing to him one more time. I was tired. Tired of children, tired of singing, tired of the day. I just wanted it to be over. But then suddenly, as if fairy dust was sprinkled from the heavens right onto my tired head, the entire reality of my future set in.I'm gonna miss this.I looked down at little Nuggey, his damp eyelashes long and dark batting at me, his tiny bottom cradled in my hand, his soft, chubby legs thrown over my arm, his body entirely dependent on mine as I held him in my lap, and I could see the future. Nuggey, a grown boy, sporting a football jersey and facial hair, walked out of the bathroom. It was going to happen, and soon. And while I knew there would be joys with that time in my life, when our young children are teenagers and beyond, it struck me like a ton of bricks. When that time comes, I'm gonna miss this.When Nuggey comes home from college, barely speaks a word to me and hibernates in his bedroom all summer, I'm gonna miss this. As my mind fast forwarded to the future, I knew that at that moment, I would give anything for 20 year old Nuggey to be a toddler again, just for one more hour, so I could rock him and sing while I stroked his wet head. And here, years earlier, I was being given my wish. I was able to rock Nuggey, a nearly helpless babe in arms, one more time. Given a new perspective from which to see, I sang Rock-a-bye Baby as many times as Nuggey would let me that night. Eventually Small Fry found her hands and started admiring them, and Big Mac grabbed a new tub toy. And I relished that time with my son in my arms, knowing that soon enough he would be all grown, and my arms would ache to hold him like a baby again.I'm gonna miss this.My mind cannot help but wander to those parents who have lost children. What on earth would they not give to hold their children again, even for a moment. I bet they would not complain about having to sing Rock-a-bye Baby one more time. Rather, they would probably give their right arm to sing it ten million times until their voice was hoarse and their eyelids closed in slumber.And women with empty wombs who long and pray and ache for children? What honor am I doing them if I take for granted the fact that I have children, young children who are begging me to cuddle them, sing to them. I will love those women who long for a baby by loving my babies and not taking them for granted.So, I determined right there and then in the bathroom to try to be ever thankful for the moments I do have with my children. I will not wish away their young years, always hoping to get more laundry done or other children dried off. I will relish each kiss, hug and song. I will leave their childhood behind with no regrets, no "I love you" unsaid, no cheek unkissed, no request to "Cuddle wif' me!" turned down. Even as the macaroni flies and the Sharpie stains my table, even when there are midnight wailers and globs of Desitin under my fingernails, I know......I know I'm gonna miss this