Super Hero Birthday Party

Holy Cow!! I had planned an outdoor party with a bounce house, but the weather was horrible and the day before I had to cancel the bounce house and scramble to find things to do inside.

They made Super Hero Masks

I told Austin to do his Super Hero pose and this is what he does

They went on a scavenger hunt (I'll post about that later)

I had them do Super Hero Training and then asked them if they were ready to fight the Villians. Then Aubree and Addie came bursting through the room spraying them with silly string. ARGH! I wish I had that one on tape!!

I didn't plan on having them all dress up, but Austin was already in his Spiderman gear (which is his usual attire and everybody else wanted to dress up too. Luckily I had enough for everyone.

Taylor Swift Concert

David and I are taking the girls to Taylor Swift in September!!

Here's some clips from their games. Nothing really to watch, just a lot of running. Aubree did something that everyone was cheering for, but my camera had run out of room and I totally missed it! (That's not the cheering you hear in her video, that was something else. ) Her game got off to a rocky start, probably since it was the first game of the season, but they did end up winning. (Notice how skittish she is and she keeps on looking back at her coach! She worried she's going to get yelled at!)
Addie was so funny to watch. I thought after the first game she would want to quit, but she said she had fun. She did a lot of running. At least it will be good exercise for her and she is having fun doing it. She is the smallest on the team!
Austin's game starts next week. His first practice was last week. He really should be in football. He kept on ramming the kids with his body to knock them down.
The next video of Aubree, but camera ran out of room!!!!!!!!!! I can't remember what she did but it was enough for her coach to yell "Good Job Aubree!" And hearing that from Aubree's coach is HUGE for her.

Unbroken Review

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Oh...My...Gosh...This book was fantastic! I love reading about the World War 2 era. My grandfather was a pilot during WW2. He was an alcoholic and after reading this book it brought a little more light to why he might have been.

Back to the book. I could not put it down. I was constantly reading it, even if I knew it could only be for a paragraph. It was mesmerizing  the whole entire time. I could not believe this was a true story!!! It was funny and heartbreaking and very moving. This would make a perfect movie and when it comes out I will be first in line.



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Favorite Receipes (UPDATED!!! FORGOT AN INGREDIENT!)

I am a very picky eater and out of all the dinners that I make, their are only a handful that I am actually excited to eat myself:

Cafe Rio Pork
3lbs pork
1cp dark brown sugar
1 cp Worcestershire
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp ginger
1 tsp salt
1 tsp chili powder
2 TB minced onion

Cook all ingredients in a crock pot on low for about 12 hrs, may need to add water at the end.
Take roast out of crock pot and shred, dump all liquid
Put pork back in and add 1 LARGE CAN RED ENCHILADA SAUCE and 1 CUP DARK BROWN SUGAR.
Cook for 1 hr

(so you are going to need 2 cups brown sugar, the first cup being just for the marinade)


Tomatillo Dressing
Place the following in a blender:
juice of 1/2 lime
1/2 cp buttermilk
1/2 cp mayo
1/2 cp sour cream
1 package of ranch dressing
1 cp cilantro
6 stalks green onions
2 cloves garlic
3 tsp sugar
3-5 jalapeno
3 fresh tomatillo's, cut in quarters (they're in the refrigerated Mexican section )

Blend and refrigerate 1 hr

You then pour this over your burrito

Southwestern BBQ Chicken Salad
2 large chicken breasts cooked and shredded
1 cp BBq sauce
1/2 head Romaine lettuce chopped
1/2 head iceburg lettuce, chopped
1 can corn, drained
1 can black beans, drained
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped
4 tomatoes, diced
2 avocado's, diced
shredded cheese
crispy tortilla strips (I use won ton skins, cut in strips, & then fry in oil)

Stir shredded chicken in with BBQ sauce until well coated. Toss together with the rest of ingredients.
Drizzle with Tomatillo dressing or Ranch

Sloppy Joes
(I use the freezer version. I like to make it ahead of time and make it on a Saturday. Then hubby and kids can help themselves when they are hungry)

1lb beef
s/p
1 med onion
1/2 green bell pepper-minced
3/4 cp ketchup
1tsp mustard
3 TB + 1 tsp brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp red wine vinegar
3/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce
3 TB tomato paste
1/3 - 1/2 cp water for desired consistency

Brown beef with onion, green pepper, & garlic
Season to taste with salt
Transfer to a freezer safe container
Add remaining ingredients and mix well
FREEZE
When ready to cook add to slow cooker and cook on low 3-5 hours

Rotisserie Chicken
4tsp salt (I only use 2tsp)
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp thyme
1 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 onion
1 whole chicken

Combine spices in a small bowl. Remove giblets. Rinse chicken and pat dry with a paper towel.
Rub mixture over chicken. Wrap in saran wrap overnight
Cook 4-5 hours at 250
3 hours for sm chicken
GREAT FOR SUNDAY DINNERS!

Cajun Chicken Pasta
4oz linguine
2 chicken breasts
2 tsp Cajun seasoning
2 TB butter
1 red bell pepper
1 green bell pepper
4 fresh mushrooms
1 green onion
1 cp heavy cream
1/4 tsp basil
1/4 tsp lemon pepper )with my kids I omit this)
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp garlic powder
1/8 pepper
1/4 cp Parmesan cheese

Cook pasta
Place chicken and cajun seasoning in plastic bag. Shake to coat. In a large skillet over med heat, saute chicken in butter until almost done.
Add bell peppers, mushrooms, and green onions.
Saute for 2 min
Reduce heat and add cream, basil, lemon pepper, salt, garlic powder and pepper. Heat through. Toss with linguine and sprinkle with Parm cheese

Here's a link for Chicken Pot Pie

I have 2 more but that just took an hour of my life away that I will never get back! So I will post them another day!

Angels and Demons Book Review

I PROMISE IN APRIL YOU WILL BE BOMBARDED WITH PICTURES!!

Angels and Demons by Dan Brown

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I would've rated this a 4, but I already saw the movie. It took me awhile to get into it because of the scientific part of it, but anything that has to do with Italy I am up for it. The author is brilliant with all of his information and the geography of Vatican City and then to intertwine a story into it?!  When I saw the movie I thought some parts were a little overboard, but after reading the book it didn't seem like that. I've got to stop watching the movie before I read the books! And ewe Tom Hanks played the main character.



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Click here to view this photo book larger

Book Review of Maxiumum Ride Book 4

The Final Warning by James Patterson

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


Oooo, my first 1 star rating! I'm just bored of the series and the author is REALLY starting to bug me, especially in this one. He tried way too hard to make this a really good book. So I spent a lot of my time rolling my eyes at the parts I could tell the author was trying to make it "epic". And theirs 4 more books in the series!! Which I will not be reading. The only reason why I even read this was because I had nothing else to read. So I recommended reading the first 3 in the series and just let it end there.



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Its Like Eatting Metal!

This is not me. I tried to take a picture of my mouth, but thats gross. So here's a picture I downloaded (cuz a picture of someone else's mouth isn't gross?!)
But this is what they put in my mouth yesterday.
Because I wasn't very good with my bands.
They told me unless I do surgery, even wearing bands was not going to change my overbite.
So of course I don't really wear my bands if its not going to do anything.
But now I have car parts in my mouth to see if it will change my overbite.
You know when your fork accidentally scrapes you tooth and you get that nails on the chalk board feeling?
Well, its like that EVERYTIME I TALK OR EAT!!!!
I can barely open my mouth so I just have to shove the food in or when I'm brushing my teeth my toothbrush keeps on getting stuck.
Fun Fun!

For 4 months.....

Book Review of Maxiumum Ride Book 3

Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports by James Patterson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The author really annoyed me in this one. In the last book they met a bunch of new characters and then it ended the chapter. I read on wanting to find out what happened to them but they are never mentioned again. Even in the 3rd book, they were never brought up. So either the author forgot or he just didn't even want to go there because their was too much going on anyways. Another thing is the author doesn't explain very well about the voice. How is she hearing it. It was Jeb, now its not. WTC!! Having said that, I would still recommend reading this series. Their are 8 books total and I'm good with the first 3. I usually get bored with the story after the 3rd book.



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Pride and Prejudice Book Review

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


How sad that I love to read but have never read this one! I watch the movie every year while I wrap Christmas presents, but I have never read the book. It was hard to read and I think if I had never watched the movie I would be very lost and some of the characters might be confusing. Even though it was hard to read, I still found myself picking it up every chance I got. It was pretty close to the movie, sometimes even word for word, but at the same time their were still things that were left out and I enjoyed reading up on the missing parts.



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These 2 little boys are just the best of friends! Austin is Venom and Carson is spiderman

Book Review of Maxiumum Ride: Schools Out

School's Out - Forever by James Patterson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I'm going out on a limb here and I'm going to rate it 4 stars, but it was really more like 3 1/2. It has a lot of action in it and it really keeps you wanting to read it. Nuff said. What I really liked about it was its really funny! The main character has a great sense of humor.



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Play With Me Dad

Austin wanted David to ride bikes with him and like a good boy he does what he's told.  (These pictures are a little fuzzy cuz I took them through the window.)

Aubree Really Wants A Dog

Book Review of Maxiumum Ride

The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Okay I am in between 2 stars and 3. I read The Lake House and I thought this was the sequel. It was a spinoff. It was the same main character, but that is where it ended. So the first couple of chapters were extremely frustrating because I wanted to know what happened next from the Lake House.It was like taking Bella Swan and keeping her Bella Swan, but she had no idea who Edward or Jacob was. So that's where my 2 stars comes from. When I could finally get into the book I liked it. It held my attention enough that I wanted to keep reading it, it was funny, and I think I would let Aubree read it when she's in 6th grade. Their were some parts that tended to repeat themselves which got annoying..Note to author: "Yes I know the charcters have superhuman strength! I get it! You don't have to keep telling me!!"



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We Got Them A Bunkbed why?

When we first moved into our house we bought the girls a full size bed to share because their room wasn't big enough for two. So for 2 years Aubree put up with Addie's OCD of the sheets always having to be straight, Aubree must sleep on her pillow (or else Addie would come bawling into our room at 3am saying Aubree wasn't on her pillow..I am not kidding), Addie's night terrors, and constantly being kick in the face..by Addie.
So when we got their room finished downstairs we bought a bunkbed so they could each have their own bed and it wouldn't take up a lot of space.
Well, as you can see by the above picture that was  a COMPLETE WASTE OF MONEY!!!
So we then decided to take off the top bunk and make 2 double beds side by side (Addie was saying she would get scared so she would make Aubree sleep with her) so then Aubree would be right there...
NOPE! When we go check on them before we go to bed they are still sleeping in the same bed!!!!

Addie's Report

Final Touches On The Playroom

Thank You Thank You Modena for making the curtains, seat cushions, and pillows!!!

Aubree's Basketball Game

I taped this on my camera, wish I had thought of this sooner!

Newborn Pictures

Today was my first day watching my new little newborn (not mine, the little boy who I babysits little brother...bad english)
Anyways

So of course I had to snap a few shots...

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

Being the romantic that I am, I actually don't like Valentines. I'm just getting over the Christmas fiasco and I don't feel like decorating and doing a big dinner all over again and making a big deal about another holiday! And I've made the mistake of getting my kids something for Valentines so now they expect a little something. So this year our local craft store/post office were doing Valentine goodie bags that included balloons and they deliver it to their kids school for $5.00! (Gotta love the pink cupcake smear all over Austin and can you just hear me squeal when I saw this picture!)

 Here is the link for the chocolate cake recipe: Best Bites  It is so good!!! I had it for breakfast this morning. In fact I've been eating it all day. I don't even put it on a plate.

The Lake House Review

The Lake House by James Patterson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is the 2nd book in the series. I liked the first book and thought it ended just fine and wasn't racing to go read the 2nd one. But my mother in law insisted so I agreed. Even the first couple of chapters I'm thinking, "Why would he make a sequel!!! BORING!" But then it was getting better and I read the middle to the end in about 2 days. Their were a lot of surprises and on this one I will be racing to read the next one. Beware: It is VERY PG-13ish.



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Sleeping Beauty Ballet

Last night we took Addie to the Sleeping Beauty Ballet at Capital theater. American Express is a sponsor of Ballet West so they had a special dress rehearsal before they're big opening night. Before the ballet they had a dinner at the Hilton which was right up my alley. Fancy food, fancy dishes, fancy desserts! Thank goodness my mom was very proper growing up and taught me all the do's and don't's. She even had me take an etiquette class! But it has paid off since this was not my first fancy business dinner. But I have not taught this to my children so I had to whisper in Addie's ear what fork to use and when (as I watched my dear husband shovel is main course with his dessert fork!) Addie was loving it and loved the ballet. Now she wants to take ballet lessons. YEAH! I took her down to the orchestra pit and showed her all of the instruments and asked her which one she wanted to play and she said violin. Yeah Again!

(and the Ugly Arms Award goes to......)

Bookshelf Re-Do

 The china was my grandmother's. My grandpa was in the airforce during WW2 so they were in Germany after the war and a family came to their house and wanted to trade the china for food. So the wording on the china is in German. I have to split this with my brother and sister when they have somewhere to put it. (Unlike me who has kept it in a box for a couple of years!)

 Holy cow check out those holes!! I think I'll cover them up with some beadboard wallpaper...UGH! Another project!

We have had this bookshelf for years! It was in David's room growing up and we have hauled it on every move! We've had it in Austin's room and it got replaced when I did his desk. I've wanted a nice bookshelf for years to put my mom's china on. Its just been sitting in a box! I agonized for days over the color and I still didn't get it right! Its too blue and looks like it should be in a baby boys nursery! So I might re-do it in a year or so.

Completed Austin's Room

 I did the raingutter bookshelves again (they come in brown too, but I opt. for white) I needed something for just his comic books that have been handed down from Daddy and Grandpa. He LOVES looking through his comics and picked out the ones he wanted to show.

 David has been so irritated that Austin didn't have a bedspread so we finally went and got one last night at Pottery Barn. He wouldn't go for the sham though. Just couldn't muster up paying $26 for a pillow case. I'll be on the lookout at Downeast.

 I love this picture of him! He's about 18months. Kinda got the baby bug, but its what they turn into that scares me!

Austin's room is finally done! Its simple, but its done. Yes I would love to do some board and batten, maybe some vinyl lettering somewhere, but I don't know how long he will be in this room so its fine for now.

City Of Glass Review

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I'm back and forth between 3 1/2 stars to 4. But it all sums up everything in this book. A lot is going on and theirs a lot of surprises. It wasn't my favorite romance novel because I think some moments were ruined because of what you thought was going on and if you really knew the truth you would be able to enjoy it better, but I still enjoyed reading it. (If that makes any sense at all!) I heard their is a 4th one coming out and I think I'm good ending the story with the 3rd one, but I know once the 4th one is out I will hurry and go buy it.



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