Disney bound- Days 1 to 3

Our journey to Disney!

Today is Sunday, our Journey began bright and early Friday morning. We were all up early except for Alexander. Sean woke up and was upset to see me awake and Daddy awake and already out of the house to hit the bakery. He said he wanted to be the first one up, which is usually the case with him. Alexander on the other hand wasn't too happy to see me when I went in the room to get their clothes together. He woke up, looked at me and said "Quiet, I am trying to sleep here!" I said ok, we will go on vacation without you, and then he pooped his head up, and got right out of bed, yelling YAY, we are going to the hotel. He is a bit hotel obsessed.

We got out of the house at 7:30, right on time. We made our first stop in DE for a strech and potty break (Mom was right Alexander would want to use the real potty with us, maybe he will come home trained), then stopped for an early lunch at Damon's ribs in Maryland. I was excited I had my coupon with me. We had an easy, but long drive, and got into the hotel about 5:15, sfter another stop or two. We were in and out of the hotel pretty quickly, and off to Steak and Shake for dinner. Yummy burgers, but didn't get a shake for dinner, I would have never ate my dinner. We then went to see Uncle John and cousin Lenny. Can't visit Uncle John without some nice fresh baked babka, and rye bread. We brought down kielbasa also, figuring we had enough for dinner on Saturday night, and then they would still have enough for 1 or 2 meals, and they said they weren't sharing. We spent a couple hours with them, spent a lot of time talking, and the boys even had a nice adventure on the golf course with Daddy and their cousin Lenny. I told Uncle John they would be coming home with treasures, and sure enough the did. Pine cones and golf balls.

Saturday morning, the boys slept until almost 8 AM, I love room darkening curtains!! We got ready and off to Replacements to sell some old dishes and odds and ends. I would have hoped they would buy more, but we got rid of 2 boxes of stuff. Not too bad. We will try again another time. Next time I can't forget the silver. The boys had fun seeing all the dishes, and seeing that they had a dog just like Bailey there. It must be a fun place to work, that you get to take your dog to work. After that we spent the day with the family. Went to the City park, did some rides and enjoyed the day. It was nice to visit with them, and Sean Jr. thought it was quite interesting that Uncle John use to own an ice cream shop. The boys took well to them and were not shy at all.

Sunday we got up to pack up and leave for our next destination. Alexander was upset we didn't stay at a real hotel. This one wasn't real because it didn't have a pool. He is too funny! We had lunch with Lenny and Uncle John, their Sunday tradition of Arbys, then got on the road. Today seemed like a long drive. A lot of nothing around and going off the normal route of highway 95. We stopped at Cracker barrel for dinne, and then another stop in South Carolina for a quick break. We have about 40 mins. to our next hotel. Then tomorrow up and out, and only 3 hours to disney! Woo Hoo! I can't wait. More later.

Not much of anything

Not much to post tonight.  Even though we have birthdays and Valentine's Day in February, it still manages to be a quiet month.  Ever since working in a restaurant I don't enjoy going out to eat on Valentine's Day, so that is a day I usually make a nice meal, or we splurge for delivery.  This year I made a delish meal of chateaubriand with a port wine gravy, garlic mashed potatoes, and an array of vegetables.  I feed the kids earlier, and we had a nice peaceful meal.  Sean brought home dessert for us all.  Special cookies for the boys, cannoli's for me and Mom, and chocolate covered strawberries.  They tasted so yummy with the Verdi we were drinking.  

This weekend has been pretty busy.  I am getting ready for my baby's 3rd birthday!  I can't believe he will be 3 next week.  Gosh, I can close my eyes and see him laying on the bed in his huge hospital undershirt, just sleeping.  What a sweet boy.  We are having a big construction machine party, and he requested his machine to be orange.  So Mommy is happy to oblige and make him an orange machine cake.  It isn't quite done yet, but it looks pretty good.  I am far from being Duff, but I do pretty well, with all the extra challenges and obstacles I have.  

I'm off to bed, but I will get some photos up of the party and cake in the next few days. Until next time....

Cherished Memories

Wow, it's been over a week since I have posted. We have been pretty busy both during the week and on the weekends.  Last weekend I celebrated my 39th birthday, I mean 29th.  LOL  That would be nice, but I would want to be where I am now, just 10 years younger.  On Saturday I went to lunch with my good friend, her kids, and Alexander.  Sean Jr. was busy with his Aunt most of the day. Him and Aunt Nanci threw me a wonderful Little Mermaid birthday party on Sunday.  He arranged for games, dinner and decorated a beautiful cake.  He even tried to tell me lies so I would think we were going out to McDonalds for dinner.   He is some wonderful little guy. It was a great weekend spent celebrating my birthday. It was a very good birthday, and it makes me look forward to turning 30 next year.  

Fun with food

It was a busy, fun weekend for us, that included a birthday party and a Super Bowl party. It was a quiet Super Bowl party this year, I think we had 14 people, so that makes things easier, and l got to see the game and BRUCCCEE  at halftime. No such luck with getting tickets today though.  So of course the kids are bored today, after being busy for the past few days. So while I caught up on some stuff, they kept themselves busy, but that doesn't last long. By that point the last thing they want to do is sit still to eat lunch.  So on days like this, we have fun with food.  My kids love making faces with their lunch. I know, Mother always said don't play with your food, but I enjoy playing with mine, shouldn't they?  The pictures are all out of order, but I couldn't get my post to cooperate with me.  Alexander turned his face into a sandwich, but under that is a set of eyes, nose and ears!  So cute.

Super Bowl Sunday

Is it a national holiday yet?!?!   Well, Super Sowl Sunday and the day after should be. I am looking forward to having the day after the Super Bowl off this year. Me and my sister always have a big party.  Well, this year is one of the smaller ones, but in years past we have had 40 plus people on the big day.  Those years doesn't leave me much time to eat, never mind catch the game.  Not that I am much into football these days. I enjoyed it a lot more when I was single and spent Monday nights at the bar watching football with the guys.  My current situation doesn't lend itself to nights like that anymore, but football always brings back good memories for me.  Whether it is the many nights hanging out with my good friends watching the game, or the very early years when the Cowboys were the time to love. We would attend a big party with my parents and I look forward to continuing the tradition with my boys.

I just finished up my kielbasa and pineapple appetizer for tomorrow, and still need to make my yearly football themed cake. This year it will be a lemon cake, with chocolate icing shaped like a football, topped with coconut.  The boys are excited to help me this year.  So I promise come Monday I will have some new photos to share.  Until then, I will root for the Cardinals since I think they are the underdog. 

A whole lot of nothing

Wow, it has been a week since I posted. Been a busy, but not overly exciting week.  Sunday was our 6th wedding anniversary and we celebrated at Water and Wine in Warren.  The food and service was outstanding.  We had the best seat in the house, and were spoiled rotten.  I think that dinner was the highlight of the year.  Ok, ok, we aren't even in the end of the first month yet, but I think it will be awhile before we eat that well again.

For the rest of the week, just some work, and stuff around the house.  Never enough time!  I had to take my car into the shop today, and found out that my darling angels have  been using my cd player as a bank.  Nice, eh?  I was wondering what happened to all my change. I don't know what i am more mad about the broken radio, or the missing money?  LOL  I was planning on getting a new radio soon, so I can plug my ipod into it, so I am not too upset about not having a cd player right now.  

Well, we have a busy weekend coming up.  Birthday party on Saturday and of course the big game on Sunday.  Me and the boys have to get busy making our kielbasa and pineapple appetizer, and our super bowl worthy cake.  Well, with two small helpers it will be super in my eyes, not sure how they will decide to decorate it.  So look forward to some pictures after the weekend....

Soups On!

Cold weather, hot soup they go hand in hand.  My soup repertoire is pretty limited. Both because of what I eat, what my family eats, and where my comfort level lies.  I can make good chicken soup, pretty good Beef barely soup, but I can make a mean pot of baked potato soup.  Better then some of those big name places that tout their potato soup is the best. They haven't tried mine yet!  LOL  My photography when it comes to food needs some help, but you get the idea.  It is such a filling soup, we don't eat anything else for it.

Baked Potato Soup

4-5 baking potatoes (about 2 1/2 pounds) (I use red potatoes)

2/3 cup all purpose flour

6 cups of Whole or 2% reduced fat milk

3/4 cup reduced fat extra sharp cheddar cheese, divided

Salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup green onions, chopped

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Pierce the potatoes with a fork; bake at 400 degrees for 1 hour or until tender. Cool. Peel potatoes; coarsely mash. Set aside some skins if you want to add to the final soup; Melt butter and blend in flour with a wisk, gradually add the milk, stirring with a whisk until blended. Cook over medium heat until thick and bubbly (about 8 minutes). Add mashed potatoes, salt and pepper, stirring until cheese melts. Turn the heat to low. Stir in the sour cream and the scallions. Cook for 10 minutes or until thoroughly heated - DO NOT BOIL.

Toppings:

6 slices of bacon or more!  Cooked and crumbled

Scallions, chopped

Cheddar cheese, shredded

History in the making.

Well, everyday is possible history in the making, but today was definately history in the making.  I am not an Obama fanatic, that is walking around shouting his name, and telling everyone how much change is to happen. I am excited for a new president, and hopefully some new changes in some very bad times.  I wish him the best of luck because he is going to need it.  And I hope as an American, not a african-american, he is going to make history. 

Snow day!

Well, it is MLK Day, so there is no school anyway.  But we got some fresh snow, and am gettng more now. It isn't a real snow storm, maybe an inch or two, but since we have only had one other storm that they got to sled in, this made them happy.  The kids spent over an hour playin in it before and are waiting to go back outside in a little bit.  The first thing they did were snow angels.  Silly boys, they were practicing making them in the laundry while we were working on it over the weekend. 

I was the good Mommy and let them run free in the back, while I made them warm hot chocolate.  No, not homemade, Kendra!  One day, one day I will try your recipe!

Busy weekend

Not doing anything fun though! Friday was our normal day of work. Took the kids, then off to Kohls and IHOP for Kids eat free night, and a character. This week was the guy from Pokemon, I am not even going to try to spell his name. Saturday me and DH spent cleaning, and today was more of the same. I was exhausted this morning, so I got in a little nap about an hour after I got up. I feel pretty good being productive. Tomorrow I will hopefully finish up the laundry and cleaning up the bedroom.

Great News!

Well, my problems have been solved!  What problems you ask?  Sean Jr. and kindergarten in fall of 2009.  Our town will be starting full day kindergarten.  So he will walk too and from school with his girlfriend.  With both of us working, I was worried about having to get him or bring him to school in the middle of the day.  

A good day

Or should I say somewhat productive which in the funk I have been in, is good.  Spent the day doing some work, and then when I got home and made dinner. Instead of vegging while dinner was cooking, which is the norm, I cleaned up the kitchen, and emptied the dishwasher.  After dinner I immediately did the dishes, put some wash in and am doing some more year end stuff to prep for the dreaded taxes. I feel good, I hope I am on the upswing now! 

A novel idea.....

Wash towels, dry towels, fold them and put them directly away, skip leaving them on the dryer.  I tried that today, it really wasn't too painful....  Maybe it was easier today, since I think I washed almost every towel in the house, and the closet was empty.  oppsie

Kids cleaning?? No they are playing a game

Welcome the next reality TV show, The clean up challenge.  You trick your not so quick thinking rugrats into playing a new game.  Pick up the crayons, is now pick up sticks!  Bam, they are fighting who gets to clean them up.  Put away the books, here comes an extreme challenge can 2 boys clean up faster then Mommy can make her lunch?!?!  LOL  So far we are doing great.  I am working and they are doing the challenges.  Now if I can only figure out what kind of game I can make out of folding laundry! hahaha 

Never ending laundry

Does it ever end?!  It seems I spend my life washing and pairing socks, and there are never any to be found.  Let's see 4 people, 8 feet, 7 days, that is a lot of socks!!!  Ok, I know many of you have more then that, which is even more insanity!  I don't know what I would do if we didn't have our ultra large washing machine, since I can never keep up these days.

I am sitting enjoying watching the snow fall. I am hoping for enough to go sleding tomorrow.  The boys can't wait to get their new sled down the hill. It has been a quiet day, my friend came over with her kids this morning, and then I braved the Shoprite which was full of crazy shoppers.  We spent the rest of the afternnon playing some games. It has been a nice day, now I need to get back to that dreaded task of laundry, and finsih undecking the halls

Tuesday, Tuesday....

All is quiet on the home front.  Time to get all the stuff done from last year, so we can start this year off right.  Accounting stuff that is.  With all my new found time, I should be able to do that.  

It was nice to be home yesterday and be able to cook a nice dinner.  Roast Beast (beef), mashed potatoes, broccoli, corn and fried noodles. I have strange children who won't eat mashed potatoes, so I take my leftover noodles and fry them up.  So yummy! It is something leftover from Grandma's days.  Which reminds me, I have to get eggs so I can make some of her yummy bread pudding. 

So not much really going on for us.  Back to school today for Sean, and Alexander is spending the day with Grandma.  He didn't want to keep me company today. I guess he is getting sick of me being around.  LOL  Until next time..... 

Happy New Year

Ok, Ok, I know it is January 4th, but this is the first I have had a chance to post an update.  We spent New Years Eve, and day in Maryland.  Went to visit DH's family for Christmas.  New Years Eve we had a quiet night in the hotel, and were all dozing come midnight.  On New Years Day we went past Charm City Cakes.  http://www.charmcitycakes.com/index2.html Which I had to stop the car and have my photo taken!! We spent the rest of the day doing the family thing, and then on Friday we went to the Baltimore aquarium.  We all had a fantastic time.  I think the sharks were the kids favorite thing to visit.

Things are back to normal, a New Year a new list of things to do.  While the kids are happily playing (5 mins, and no screaming, Yay!) I am going through draws with a big black garbage bag.  Really, 2009 has to be the year I can finally stop shaking so much when I throw things away!  LOL