Tree rash

We spent spring break at Davey- and we had tons of fun! For the most part it was relaxing!

On Thursday- while I was doing yard work and cleaning out plant beds (that lovely spring clean up) Kwynn comes running over to me.

"Mom- mom! you have to come back to the house and hurry!"

panic starts to set in and before I could utter a 'why?' she says "I fell out of a tree!"

She whips around and pulls up her shirt and I see this...


She was getting her frisbie out of a tree- and on the way down she slid most of the way- OUCH!


Just minor scrapes and scratches- but if you know Kwynny- it might as well have been severe trauma. She gladly posed for pix and milked it all weekend long!




Despite that little chaotic episode- we had alot of fun! I'll post some highlights on Thursday!

Monday MUNCHIES!!!!!!

I'm trying to up the amount of veggies we eat - and I found this super yummy recipe for carrots. Plus it looks pretty on the table...

HONEYED CARROTS













start to finish: 30 minutes

ingredients:

6 cups water
3lb carrots with tops trimmed to 2 inches, peeled or scrubbed
2 tbsp butter
3-4 tbsp honey
1 tsp finely shredded lemon peel
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper


1. In heavy skillet bring water to boiling add carrots. Return to boiling then reduce heat to simmer. Simmer covered for 8 - 10 minutes until carrots are tender; drain carrots and pat dry.

2. For glaze, in skillet stir butter, honey, lemon peel, red pepper and 1/2 tsp salt over medium heat until butter is melted and glaze bubbles. Add carrots; toss 2 minutes. In serving bowl drizzle carrots with glaze and sprinkle with additional red pepper.

Makes 12 servings

Friday FUNNIES!!!!

back just in time to post a funny!Its actually from Easter weekend in GI town...


Pucca loves 'knock-knock' jokes! She was telling them all weekend. So Gma Tillie decided to share one with her.

knock knock

who's there?

Eileen

Eileen who?

Eileen (I'll lean) over and you can kiss my butt

SHOCK!

can you believe this sweet little lady said that!!!?




well she did... and it was so stinkin funny!






I think it was the fact a grandma said it... to a four year old! And my mother in law's face when it happened! It was classic!

Easter...its a family thing!

I had to post pix from Easter! We spent the weekend in GI town with family. I only have a few from John's parents- not sure why...I'm usually much more on the ball!


It was quite windy which explains the girls' lovely hair-dos!












Here's one of all the cousins (well minus Stetson) on my side.







Here's Corynn and "her friend" her cousin Christopher. They're about eight months apart and called each other "friend." Its the cutest thing!










Here are the girls with my grandma and her husband Gordie...







I'm missing pix with gma tillie and gma ski...so if anyone snapped one of those- please send them to me!

Usually holidays in my family mean drama and chaos- but this one went SUPER! The kids got along great, the adults got along great, the food was superb and we all went home happy!

Good times!

DESPERATE!!

I am in desperate need of a break! I have seriously been looking forward to spring break! I think I may have even been more excited than my kids...

These past few months have just felt endless. Running here, running there, doing this for one kid, this for the other, getting groceries, watching kids other than my own, doing laundry, girl scouts, activity days, classroom parties, school fundraisers, school meetings, pto ETC ETC ETC

WHEWWWW! So our big plans for the week off are to head out to Camp Davey (the kelly family retreat). I am so excited! I love it out there! Its nice and peaceful. No schedules, no appointments, no random people stopping by, I LOVE IT! And so do the kids! Its such a wonderful place to get away and escape for a bit!


No internet out there- so I'm off from blogging this week aswell. See ya next weekend! Have a great week everyone!

We tried something new...

The girls' girl scout troop went to the UNL gymnastics meet on Friday night. I wasn't feeling all that well- so I may have been a little bias- but I think it will be the one and only gymnastics meet I attend.

The girls were pretty good- considering there was ALOT going on. The men and women were competing at the same time and there were 3 or 4 events going on at once. It was alot to take in- even for me. We left an hour into it. But it was interesting! I'm glad we went- trying new things is always good! Although I think I'll stick with my volleyball and football for now! Anyway-Here are a few pix



Kynna and Kwynn are at the end of the row- you can kind of see Kynna leaning forward.

Monday MUNCHIES!!!!!!

Chicken Noodle Soup

Buy one can chicken noodle soup at store
Pour can into small pot and simmer.




I'm dying of the nasty flu/cold that's going around. So please forgive the fact that chicken noodle soup is all that sounds good!

And Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

Friday FUNNIES!!

I was hoping to post Kwynn's campaign speech- but she won't be able to bring it home until next week. So here are a few original jokes from Corynn.

knock knock
who's there?
banana
banana who?
banana banana banana

knock knock
who's there?
moo
moo who?
the moo who flew


knock knock
who's there?
boo
boo who?
Don't cry little girl- its just me!

She made up the first two- haha as if you couldn't tell! But she tells these jokes over and over. And as a mom, I have to laugh and tell her she's cute...

I may just be feeding the fire. She will probably grow up and be one of those people who thinks they are funny but no one else does, they laugh at their own jokes and tell the same ones over and over! Kind of like on American Idol and you see someone singing who really thinks he/she can sing- and you secretly think to yourself, shame on your parents for encouraging you and not pushing you more towards band.

ok now I'm on a rant. Either way she's my baby and I still think she's pretty darn cute! Have a good weekend! One more week until EASTER...incase anyone forgot!;)

Who' d have thunk it?!

Kwynn and McKynna are in 4th grade. They're learning about politics and running for office. So all the 4th graders had to write a campaign speech for Class President. McKynna was super excited about this prospect and wrote her speech at school the very first day of the assignment.

Now if you know McKynna - she is a people pleaser... that's just her personality. And because of that she has a lot of friends and is well liked by classmates. Kwynn on the other hand is kind of sassy and speaks her mind. She's a smarty pants in a lot of ways too (I know, I'm to blame!). That being said...she has a select group of friends.

Last Thursday I picked them up from school. And Kwynn was crying as she walked to the van. I asked what was wrong- and she said that she HAD to write a campaign speech for class president and she didn't want to run so what was the point...sob...sob...sob...its just stupid....sob....sob...sob.

So I sat down with her at home and we wrote her campaign speech. We had a good time doing it too. But the whole time I was thinking...McKynna so has the better chance here and I don't want Kwynn to get her hopes up and then have them crushed when she doesn't win. Just one of those twin competition things...but I pushed aside those thoughts and we finished the speech.

Classroom votes were held Monday and the winners of each 4th grade classroom (there's 3 classrooms- so three winners) would then have to give their speech in front of all the classrooms and have a second vote (which was held yesterday). Whomever received the most votes was president, 2nd was vp and 3rd was an alternate.

We found out Monday that Kwynn had won her classroom vote and was going on to the second round. SHOCKER! and for even more shock appeal-they were both ok with it. Kwynn was excited and McKynna was supportive!

We find out today what office Kwynn will hold...I'll post her campaign speech when she brings its home. They both did a super job!

I swear its BROKEN!

Sunday morning while I was vacuuming - I broke my toe. I forgot that I had the vacuum in drive, which makes is effortless to push back and forth- and pulled it right back into my foot- consequently breaking my middle toe on my right foot.

I heard/felt the pop and crunch- its the top knuckle of the toe. I have a toe ring on this toe - so the top of my toe puffed up and turned purple almost immediately. The rest of the toe turned purple yesterday. It think the toe ring actually helped with constricting the swelling... or I could just be trying to convince myself of that fact so I don't have to take the ring off. Have I ever mentioned I'm a pretty big wuss!?

I have taken pictures of it- because lets face it... how often do you get a war-wound from doing house work! :) HA!

Actually- I haven't posted it because I have a slight foot phobia. They don't scare me- they just gross me out. And of all the pictures I took of my toe- I couldn't find one to post - at least not one that I wouldn't cause me to cringe! So if you see me this week and want to see a purple and swollen toe- just ask! :)

My kids were sweet and tried to take care of me. But they soon learned it would take more than a broken toe to keep mom from being mom.

I had to put shoes on yesterday to go out- which lets just say hurt like heck! As I was putting on my shoe, I let out a little cry. Corynn quickly says- Mom, put them on the right feet!
It was cute because when she complains about her shoes hurting - I tell her to put them on the right feet and then they wouldn't hurt!

Gotta love a dose of your own advice!

Monday MUNCHIES!!!

this is what we are cooking for dinner tonight- new recipe but looks good! I think we will 86 the french fries and have either a spinach salad or iceberg wedge with bleu cheese.

Pork Tenderloin with Glazed Carrots and French Fries

4 servings

Prep: 15 minutes
Roast: 35 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 3/4- to 1-pound pork tenderloin
• 1 16-ounce package crinkle-cut sliced fresh carrots
• 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons dried rosemary, crushed
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 of a 22-ounce package (about 4 cups) frozen french-fried waffle cut potatoes or frozen French fries
• Salt and ground black pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degree F. Shake flour in a large oven cooking bag. Place tenderloin and carrots in bag. In a small bowl combine maple syrup, 2 tablespoons of the oil, 1 teaspoon of the dried rosemary, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Pour into oven bag; close bag using ties provided with oven bags. Turn bag to coat meat and carrots with maple mixture. Place filled bag on one end of a large roasting pan. Cut six 1/2-inch slits in top of bag.

2. In a medium bowl toss potatoes with remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1 teaspoon rosemary. Transfer to roasting pan beside carrots and meat.

3. Roast for 35 to 45 minutes or until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat registers 155 degree F and potatoes are browned and crisp. Carefully remove meat and carrots from oven bag. Cover meat and carrots with foil and let stand 10 minutes before serving. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Makes 4 servings.

Friday FUNNIES!!!!

This is a pic of my nephew Stetson, my little brother's boy. This is the face he makes when he dances- and he loves to dance! All you have to do is hum a tune and he'll dance for ya- he's too cute!

Happy Birthday John!

Today is my husband's 30th birthday. Unfortunately though- he is out of town for work- so we will have to wait to celebrate tomorrow when he comes home.

Facts on John:

Born in 1978 in GI town.

He has an older brother, Luke.

He is very personable and can strike up a conversation with anyone. In fact- when we were driving to Rochester (Mayo clinic) the first time with Corynn and John's mom- we stopped at a gas station to fill up. Somehow John began conversing with the man next to us- and they continued to have a 20 minute conversation...with a man he just met! Its hard for me to have a 20 minute conversation with someone I've known for years.

He's an excellent bbq chef man- and cooks about 95% of our meals.

He still laughs at my stupid smart a%@ comments- which is a good thing. It means he still finds me charming! :)

He is patient with our kids.

He's a wonderful father, husband and friend.



Until tomorrow- we love you, John and wanted to let you know we were thinking of you!


Don't you miss our sweet faces!? :)

And the answer is...

Corynn had a playdate today with a friend from church. The little girl's mom is pregnant. While driving in the van, Corynn asks me: "How do you get pregnant?"

me: "What!?"

Corynn: "You know pregnant. Where your tummy is fat because theres a baby inside. So how do you get pregnant?"

hmmmmm- I could have explained any of the following:

Where do babies come from? heaven

How do you make babies? With love

How does the baby get inside your tummy? Heavenly Father puts it there

How does the baby get out of your tummy? Through the belly button


but the actual act of getting pregnant...hmmmmmmm! Any one want to take this one?

I told her to ask her dad tonight- he'd know! :)

Monday MUNCHIES!!!!!!

I like this recipe- because its a good one to have the kids help with. It has the same layering as used in lasagna so kids can take turns helping with each layer or have them in charge of adding one ingredient.

Easy Chicken Enchilada Casserole

10-12 flour tortillas
2 cans cream of chicken
1- 8oz container of sourcream
4 chicken breasts- boiled and cubed
2-3 cans chopped green chilis- dependent upon taste
1/2 cup milk
shredded cheese


Preheat oven to 350. Mix cream of chicken, sourcream, milk and green chilis together in a bowl to make a sauce. Spray grease the bottom of a casserole dish. Coat the bottom of the dish with sauce mixture.

Tear up 3 tortillas and line the bottom of the dish. Sprinkle 1/2 the cubed chicken on top of tortillas. Next goes 1/3 of the sauce and a little cheese. Tear up 3 more tortillas and make another layer, then the add the rest of the chicken, 1/2 the sauce that's left and cheese. Tear up the remaining tortillas and layer. Add the remaining sauce and top with cheese.

Bake 40 minutes covered and 10 - 15 minutes uncovered.