Hello Out There!

Here comes the monster blog that a (very) few of you have been waiting for! I will start with our cruise and try to quickly make it to Halloween!

• Our cruise to Mexico was great. It was relaxing and fun and we had some awesome dinner companions. We really did read alot, sleep alot and just enjoyed not being responsible for anyone but ourselves! One crazy story... we were planning to cruise out of New Orleans - it's about a 5 hour drive from Beaumont where we were leaving the kids. We were going to spend a day or so there when we got back from the cruise. Less than a week before our cruise we got a call from our travel agent telling us that we would actually be cruising out of Mobile, AL - it's about 7 hours from Beaumont! No big deal...we just drove a few extra hours and didn't get to enjoy NO when we returned. However, some of our dinner friends didn't find out until they were at the port of New Orleans trying to park and check-in for the cruise!!! Anyway, it all worked out for most everyone we talked to, but it was a little crazy! (No pictures because I don't know where Mike put them on the computer!)

• School for the kids started soon after our return. They are loving their new classes and their teachers. No pictures for this either...I know I'm a bad mommy for not getting first day of school pix.

• Hurricane Ike was our next big calendar event. Even though this natural disaster occurred 400 miles away from us, it has impacted our family greatly. My mother-in-law, Janet, lost all her possessions in Ike. Her home flooded with 4 feet of water from the tidal surge. She lived 2 blocks from the marsh; the marsh feeds into the Sabine Lake, which feeds into the Gulf of Mexico. Anyway, she has been living with us for the past 7 weeks or so and has decided to permanently relocate to Abilene. So, we are in the process of selling her house (it is gutted down to the studs) and settling all the insurance stuff. Her presence has been a real blessing in so many ways and we are thankful to have "Mimi" in our everyday life. I hope she is also thankful!

• Jacob turned 4 in October and we had a great party at Fire Station #5! It was so much fun. Here are a few pictures from our day at the station.

Here are a couple of Jacob's favorite gifts: a stuffed chicken that he hasn't put down and a Batman suit that a wonderful friend made for us!





We had a great time and the firefighters were awesome! Thanks Station #5!!!!

• Halloween came next and we went Trick or Treating for the first time! The kids had a great week at school with a Pumpkin Festival and a Costume Parade. Our Halloween week was great! Jacob was a firefighter, of course, and Sydney was a bumblebee.

Well, that's it for now! If I think of anything else that has happened in the last few months, I'll let you know!

Don't Pass Out!

I know, I know... It's been forever since I've posted. Things have felt a bit busy since May 9. Here are a few things that have been going on and that I might post some pictures of!

• I catered my first huge event.


• Sydney had her 2nd birthday and we had a visit from all the g-parents for the event.


• We went to Dallas World Aquarium for a day trip.


• Mike got a new job and started it on June 12.
• My best friend and her family came for a visit...we had a blast watching fireworks, going to the lake, and eating at Perini's...sorry, no pix!
• Jacob is using the "big, big potty"!


• We have been packing because, drum roll please, we are moving again!!!

Most of these pictures should speak for themselves...



So, we are enjoying a busy summer. We will be moving in 5 days...not so excited about that! We are ready to be back in our house, but not for the work that comes before that! I probably won't post until we are settled at home. I'm not sure what our internet situation will be there.

Our next adventure...a cruise to Mexico for me and Mike...that's right, no kids! My parents are graciously watching the kiddos while we take a much needed vacation!

See you in August!

Cuts and Bruises

First, the cut... I cut my hair this week for Locks of Love! I am loving having my hair short again, although it is not as short as when I first started growing it out. Here are a few pictures of before the growing, before the cut, and after the cut.


This was Christmas 2006 about 5 months into the growing.













This was Wednesday right before the big moment!

And this is my new 'do! I love it! Thank you Cindy!

On to the bruises part of the blog... You may have guessed that Sydney is the one with the bruise! Jacob was swinging a badmitton racquet and Sydney stepped in the way. (does that sound familiar, Aaron?!?) Anyway, here is the result (although it looks worse in person that this photo shows)...

It happened on Wednesday and this picture was taken today.


That's it for now. Hope you enjoy the photos!

Random

Here's our latest updates/random thoughts:

1. My brother, Aaron, is home from Iraq! He actually worked it out to have a 12 hour stayover/layover in Dallas on his way home and so we all met up at my sisters to spend a few precious hours together! I love you Aaron! So glad you're home!

2. School is coming to an end for the kids. This year has gone by so quickly for them! They have both LOVED their teachers and we are so thankful for a great year for both of them. Only two more weeks until summer starts!

3. Syd was sick earlier this week. She had a fever all day Sunday and Monday, but seems to be doing better after starting meds for an ear infection. Here she is chillin' at Granny and Papa's right before Easter!

4. Have I told any of you recently that I am so tired of my hair!?! I have been growing it out since summer 2006 for Locks of Love and I am so close to having 10 inches (the minimum you can donate). I am about ready to shave it all off! There is a little relief in sight...I am headed to see my wonderful hair dresser next Wednesday. I'll let you know what happens! Here's a picture of me and my sister...her hair has NEVER been shorter than mine, until now! (She just cut hers for LoL.)

5. Jennifer, my best friend from all the way back in high school, is coming to visit next weekend!!! I am so excited about her coming to visit, even though we'll be working most of the time. I can't believe that we've been best friends since 1991...that's 17 years...1/2 of my life!!!

Hope you have a great rest of the week.

Pictures, Finally!

Jacob, my precious boy! Mike caught this great picture while we were playing at the park.

Here's my sweet Sydney sliding at the park. She is my smiling girl, except when she's not!

Fighting Sleep

I need to start by saying that Jacob and Sydney share a bedroom. It has worked out pretty well, but definitely has had its challenges. On a typical night we put Syd down and let her get to sleep and then we put Jacob down. And that's what we did tonight...except that he kept getting out of bed and coming back into the living room asking questions and just trying to stay up a little longer.

Well after a few times of putting him back to bed and giving a few spankings, Jacob comes out of his room in just his diaper and socks! He is grinning from ear to ear and Mike and I are holding back major laughter! I told Jacob to get back in bed and he said he wanted to have his pjs on. I told him he could sleep without pjs because he took them off.

Story over, right? Of course not!

Jacob came out of his room a few minute later with his shirt on...except that one of the arms was inside out and the shirt was all twisted/tangled up. Again, trying not to laugh, I help him fix his shirt and send him back to bed, AGAIN!

Well, about 2 minutes later he comes out again and he has his pants on...only they are inside out and kattywhoppus (sp?). Again, laughter suppressed, I at least fix the waistband of his pjs and send him back to bed. We haven't seen him since then...it was about 1.5 ago, so I guess he's asleep finally!

Oh the joy of a three year old boy! He keeps us laughing!

This is for you Katie!

Here are a couple of great, fairly easy recipes that I have been intending to send to my friend Katie for a long time! I thought I'd post them here so others of you could try them out!

With both of these recipes you can cut them in half or try some variations on them...be creative and do what works best for you!

Chicken Parmigiani
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (I use Sam's)
1 C mozzarella cheese (you cna use less for a more healthy meal!)
1 can crushed tomatoes or 2 C spaghetti sauce
1 C egg whites
1/2 C italian style bread crumbs

Butterfly chicken breasts, almost cutting completely in half. Dip chicken in egg whites, then in bread crumbs. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Top chicken with tomatoes, spreading over entire breast. Add cheese to the top. Bake for an additional 5-10 minutes or until cheese is melted.

**A really fast, easy (but not too cheap) variation on this is to use breaded chicken (like white meat chicken tenders). Bake them almost completely and then pull them out to top them with tomatoes and cheese and finish baking to melt the cheese.


Oven Fried Sesame Chicken
Generously coat a 9x13 pan with cooking spray.

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (from Sams)
2 T soy sauce

3 T sesame seeds

3 T flour

1/4 t salt

1/4 t pepper

4 T whipped butter

Place soy sauce in a shallow dish, coat both sides of chicken.

In another shallow dish mix together remaining ingredients, except butter. Fully coat both side of chicken and place in a baking dish. Place 1 T butter on each chicken breast, making sure you distribute evenly. (The butter melts over the flour, creating the crispy coating you are wanting!) Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.


Both of these dishes can be low calorie dishes, depending on the exact ingredients you use!
Hope you enjoy!