Today, I channelled my inner

Italian!!!! I have this AWESOME recipe for lasagna that my SIL (my brother's wife) gave to my mom and I've made it for her twice now...so finally now, I'm making it for Howie! It's a HUGE recipe so I halved it...and I'll still probably get two pans of lasagna out of it! YUM!! The sauce is one of those that has to sit overnite so the juices of everything can meld together...even tho, it tastes amazing first day...its even better second day!! YUM! YUM!

I did laundry today and would like to know HOW on earth over the span of 2 days we can come up with 4 loads of laundry!!!?!?!?! What the heck!?! Its insane!!!! I didn't get as much done today as I was hoping as the washer was leaking again...so Handy Howie fixed it after work...guess I should get another load going before I hit the sack! Thankfully that's a couple hours away!

This afternoon while Sam was sleeping, DJ went out to play in the 21 degree sunny day! Brrrr was it cold!! I also visited with our neighbour for a bit...I just love chatting and getting to know someone new! Oh, and eating their baked goods! That cookie was YUMMY Lara!! Or should I be thanking Michaela?? hahaha We also finished decorating the tree...I'll be sure to take a pic of it with the real camera tomorrow!

Once Howie got home it turned into crazy time! I swear they save it for his arrival! Its cute tho! Unless you're trying to make dinner and they're running laps around the wall that separates the living room from the dining room and kitchen! Not so cute then!

Once everyone was in bed I got down to business cleaning my messy kitchen!!! I really do enjoy going to bed with an empty sink...like the Fly Lady....but it truly doesn't bug me if I don't get to the dishes and they're piled up. Either way, I'm a happy woman! LOL

OK, I'm frozen sitting here....I can not believe how cold it is! According to the weather bug thingy I have on the desktop it's a brisk 18 degrees out right now!! They're even calling for snow this weekend! Brrrrrrrrrrrr I am very thankful we have a WARM roof over our heads!!!

Til next time...ciao!

P.S....I realized I haven't put pix of the kids up yet...here's one of each kid at lunch time today! SamSam with her ragamuffin hair! Its SO fine that it barely stays pulled back...which half of it is in a pony...poor girl!

Mr DJ with his "cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese" grin!

Here she is with her hair pulled back and already its wanting to fall forward out of the pony!

Oh how I WISH

My kids would sleep in when they go to bed SO late!!!!!! But that's not the case! DJ was bouncing awake at 7:30 ready to go!!! And SamSam was soon to follow!! We were all up and at 'em by 8:30!! I knew I had Avon to deliver today and I needed to finish up the grocery shopping as some of the stuff on my list were weekend sales...just to add some pressure! lol



We three (Howie stayed home to do the lights) took off about 10 am and headed for Lynnwood...I had 6 stops to make and they were all under 5 mins a piece! Gotta love it! We were back on the road to Monroe for 11:45 and so we stopped at Safeway and Albertsons to finish the groceries! YAY!

Unfortunately it meant a late lunch...which makes for a cranky mom and kids! They did nibble on some grapes at the store...and I was mean and wouldn't let them have a cookie at either place!

Finally got home at 1:30 and I set to making lunch right away! It was a struggle to get DJ in the house to eat...but he did finally come in...and ate with his coat on...what a nut! He was afraid I wouldn't let him go back out...kids!

Once he was nicely outside playing, I put Sam down for her nap...a rather short one! Howie was up on the roof and I think his walking around woke her up...or scared her as she was SCREAMING for me to come get her. This short nap made her extra whiny! Aren't we lucky!?!?!

Dinner was WONDERFUL!!!! I had 2 yams left and instead of just baking them (which is my fave!!!) I went to recipezaar.com and checked to see what they had...and this is what I found! I can't tell you enough how YUMMY they were!!!!!!!! Howie thought there were great, but wasn't nearly as enthusiastic as I was! I just love Balsamic vinegar, so that was my hook! Here they are right out of the oven! I could devour the whole pan by myself!!

Oh, before we ate, Howie came in from outside and we took the kids outside with their eyes covered to show them the lights of the house...DJ thought that was pretty neat! And his mouth dropped open when I let my hands go...and his "WOW" was perfect!! This what he saw! but its not the final product...Howie says there's still lots to do!!! And when he's finished I'll take a picture with the real camera!! You can't see them, but the window above the door, has blue lights on it in honour of the 4 fallen police officers we had last weekend! Such a tragic loss!!! Senseless too!

After dinner I bathed the kids and they were both in bed asleep by 8:15!! Howie too for that matter!!! He's seriously almost ready to give the cats up...the clawing at the door has GOT to stop!!! And I like the door closed when we're sleeping...I like the absolute darkness of our room!!! *sigh*

Now, I'm going to go sit and knit a bit...therapeutic don't ya know!!! Oh, but before I go, here's a few pix from last nite's soiree that I nabbed from other FB peeps that Howie works with!

The ice sculpture a few of the desserts and the centerpieces on the table...bummer I didn't win one to take home! They were GORGEOUS!!!!!

Til next time...ciao!

It was a party kind of day!

Well...for me at least!! Howie: notsomuch!

I had a baby shower to attend for my friend (and blog reader) Tiffany. We met in Maui, in May on the managers trip...and continued getting to know each other...she helped us clean the old place up...I've given her all of SamSam's baby clothes...and she's just awesome! So, today we celebrated her lifetime souvenir from Maui...a baby due Feb 5th! How awesome is that?!?!?!! ALMOST makes me want to go somewhere exotic and make another bundle of joy....ALMOST....but thankfully, that can't ever happen!!! (Don't worry honey...I'm not getting any kind of fever!!)

Anyways....got up this morning to the leech that DJ is again...I swear, it's a wonder he doesn't fall off the bed for the little room he has to lay beside me....he's literally hanging on to me for dear life!! Which is why I wake up...the arm he's holding is now sound asleep! Not a pleasant feeling to wake up to! Quite odd actually! The other reason I was awake at 5 somethingorother was the damn cat scratching at our door for a drink of water!!! I don't know WHY she thinks OUR faucet is the best one to drink from...but man its getting old!!!! I think I'm going to leave a glass of water out for her and see if that stops the morning scratches. It woke Howie up and he got up, so I rolled DJ over into his spot...and we both fell back to sleep til after 8.

Knowing it was going to be a busy day, I got up when he did...no lollygagging today! Fed them breakfast and jumped in the shower. I even shaved my legs!!! Such an occasion! LOL *remember how when you're a teenager and you couldn't fathom going a whole three days without shaving....yeah, that all changes when you get older!*

The shower was in Lake Stevens...about 40 mins from me...and I took off shortly after 10...had to get gas in the Jetta....but I made it for minutes after 11! Not the first...but definitely not the last to arrive!! All of us were to send in a picture of ourselves for a scrap book for the baby...turns out, we had to make our own pages!!! Not being scrapbook savvy...I was a little freaked out and took my time doing up my page...and watching everyone else's creativity just flow! Thankfully some of the other gals were geniuses and I could copy them here and there! In the end, I think my page turned out CUTE!!! *DUH, I should've taken a pic of it!!! My bad!*

The gifts were SOOOOOOOO cute!!!!! Man, some of the cute stuff they've come out with is just darling!!! And I only had my baby 20 months ago!!!! what the heck!?!?! She sure did get showered tho with tonnes of gifts! Lucky little girl and mama!!!

After the shower I raced home to get ready for Howie's work party. It was close to 2:40 when I arrived and we needed to leave as close to 3 as possible! HA!!!!!! Howie still had to shower and I still had to do my hair and make-up....and pack up the kids' stuff....so when Howie was trying to rush me, I put him to task packing up the diaper bag and loading the kids up....he still beat me!! And still rushed me! He doesn't understand the work of art it is to transform oneself into a glam woman! HA HA HA

In any case, we dropped the kids off at my SIL's house in Lynnwood and headed to Bellevue for the party...got a wee bit disoriented (read: lost!) trying to find the center where the party was being held...and my crackberry came to the rescue!! Searched out the Maydenbauer and found the address! And lo and behold, we weren't too far from it!! LOL

Dinner was buffet and it was fabulous! My mother would be proud of me...I tried this cranberry walnut quinoa (NO clue what it was) and it was so-so....way too much onion and far too mushy for my liking! But I at least tried it! They had this spring leaf/goat cheese/bacon/sun dried tomato salad that was HEAVENLY!!!!! I discovered earlier this year that goat cheese is really fabulous!!! Nice and creamy and bold in flavour! YUM! The meats were standard...salmon in a brown sugar glaze (it was alright, I prefer fresh caught tho! I'm spoiled that way!) and chicken that was wrapped around figs (do NOT like figs I found out!) and roast prime rib (DELISH!!) I only had the steamed veggies and skipped the mashed potatoes, bread stuffing, and roast winter veggies.

The dessert buffet was different...you could tell they were frozen before hand as they were way too perfect and still very chilled! I had probably the most delicious pecan pie I've ever had tho! And nabbed two HUGE sugar cookies for the kids...one's a tree and the other is a snowman!

We were given a 500.00 chip (no, not real! Or I'd be 1000.00 richer!!) to play the casino with, but when that opened up, it got very congested and there was no where to play! In the end, we gave our chips to Tiffany to play the roulette with.

OHHHHHHHHHHH she gave me a gift...Tiffany that is....a bottle of Deodorizing Bedding Powder *For dogs who want to smell as good as they look*...as she knows that Snickers still stinks pretty bad...Its got baking powder, ground lavender, rosemary, essential oils of lavender, cedarwood, balsam, fir, peppermint (I can really smell the mint) and lemongrass. You're supposed to shake it on the carpets, or animal bedding and then vacuum off. She also told me I could put it right on her and brush her out...

Let me tell you...after getting changed out of the fancy duds (Sorry, no pix Fiona...forgot the camera!) and getting the kids (who were wide awake when we picked them up at 10pm!) settled I got right down to business with the bottle of talc! And she didn't seem to mind the attention one bit! I sprinkled it ALL over her and her bedding and what a change! Instantly, I could smell the difference!!!!!

Tiffany...I can't thank you enough!!!!!

If anyone wants to check them out, go here and check them out! No, I'm not getting paid to endorse them...just really impressed with their product!!!

OK...off to bed I go!!!

Til next time...ciao!

It worked!!!!!

Blogging earlier meant an earlier bed time!!! SWEET!!!!!!! Tonite I didn't get a chance to blog early as it was just me and kids all day! Fridays Howie works late....blah! He gets to see the kids in the morning, but its not the same amount of time as he would get at nite...and they miss him terribly at bed time!

We have this really cute routine....Daddy puts DJ to bed while I'm nursing Sam....then when he comes out of the room, Sam half sits up and pssst's him...he pssst's back...they wave...send each other kisses...its REALLY cute!!! I'm invisible apparently when this is all going on...its just their thing! So at nite, she's calling out for him when he's not there... :(

This morning we hustled buns to get out the door for 10 so we could get our grocery shopping under way...first stop was the gas station for me! Which I barely made it to!! I think I had 9 miles to empty on the digital thing...which I know Howie doesn't trust!!! To make things even more interesting (and I actually worked up a sweat about it) I missed the exit to Costco...so I had to go one exit past it to turn around, get back on the highway, and exit properly...even tho it was only a mile past my exit...it felt WAY longer!!!!! I made it tho!! Whew!

Then we went in...did our shopping and got out of there!! I find if you go early enough, there's no sampling to slow you down (they start at 11) and no one's there looking for lunch cuz its too early. Good to know! So we were in and out in 40 minutes! Not bad for a costco trip!

Next was Freddy's...which you KNOW DJ was excited for!!! And this time he didn't get away from me for one second!!! I did find all the light requests Howie wanted so now there's no excuse for him not getting them done....I can't wait to see our house lit up!!!! DJ can't wait either!!!!! He seems to think he's in charge of the tree lights....and as soon as its "getting dark out Mum" he turns them on! They are set on the plug that's operated by the switch...so really simple for him!!

Once Sam was down for her nap I got to work sorting out the Avon that was at the door....I just love being the first one to look at a catalog and see what's new in it! I know, I'm crazy! DJ didn't get to go outside today as the "neighvors" weren't home....he kept checking tho! Just in case....

Tonite was also bath nite for the kids....so now they smell super good!! And that's why I wasn't able to blog earlier...they ate my time! We did sit and watch Rudolph together....DJ wasn't too keen on the abominable snowman monster...but still sat and watched it. I must say...someone should do a remake of that....it's just awful!!!! It was my first time watching it too...can ya tell? lol

Now, I'm gonna go sit and knit before heading to bed!!

Til next time...ciao!

Tonite I'm hoping

To get a head start or a jump start on my bed time routine by blogging while everyone's still awake...versus them all sleeping and it being nice and quiet....ought to be interesting! The TV's on with some football game playing...the kids are playing in the living room oblivious to the fact that 90% of their toys are downstairs waiting to be played with! Correction: DJ has two Tylenol medicine droppers in his mouth looking like a walrus....that's my boy! Thankfully the stinky dog (YES she STILL stinks!) is outside lounging on the back deck away from the kids grasp!

This morning we got up, had breakfast and before I knew it...it was 11 am and we were finally pulling out of the driveway! Shoot it took a LONG time today!!!! Our goal was to get some cheques deposited (I really miss having a drive thru BECU!!! Hey, BECU...come set up shop in Monroe will ya! please!?!?!!?) and find the lights Howie has asked for for the house decorating. This is the biggest house he's had to decorate in 8 years....so he's all gung ho for it too!

First stop was the Dollar Tree....for extension cords....I know they have them so why pay 3.49 (or more!) for the same thing I can get for a dollar!?!?!?! Well...I got a wee bit side tracked at the dollar store...went in for 10 (yes TEN!) extension cords and ended up with 19 other items!! BUT the stockings are about 80% done!!!! SWEET!!

Then we went to Albertsons since we're in the same parking lot to see if they had lights...no go! Next we went to Safeway for the ATM deposit...and I didn't even bother looking for lights....in and out!

Then we went to Lowes...yeah...what a futile trip that was!!! I did manage to return 3 things that had been hanging around my truck for a couple months now....and then in search of lights we went! They had all kinds of them...but not red!!! Or they had the LED red ones....and I'm sorry....8.99 for 50 LED lights doesn't quite fit into my budget! Not when the list is for 200 reds...HA! So, while I was there...and had this cute little 10% off coupon that expired today...I went in search of a coupling for the ice maker on the fridge...Howie's bought 2 before, but both were wrong. So I, being a woman, asked for help! Yeah, lotta help he was! Aisle 35, half way down, on your left side, close to the floor...was not the kind of help I had in mind!!! So it didn't happen!! Instead, I found a shower head that was on sale for 20% off (with my 10% coupon...makes it a good deal!) and remembered to get an appliance light bulb for the microwave light underneath....something I'd been meaning to buy for a while now, but forgot every time I was out.

Once we sprung loose from Lowes, we headed home for a late lunch...DJ had other plans and wanted to play outside instead! But being the mean mom that I am...I forced him to come in and eat lunch and go pee...he did! And as soon as he was done he was out the door like a shot! Which allowed me to put Samantha to sleep in peace and quiet....didn't work out so well for me! I let her cry and cry but she was adamant! So I went in there to talk to her and told her it was nite nite time and she needed to lay down and go to sleep...and she did! I was in shock that it worked!!!

While she was napping I worked on the grocery list....and tidied up...and putzed around! It was SO nice!! DJ came in just about 3:45 and had a snack and wanted to go back out...but ended up IN the neighbours house playing in their basement...perfectly fine by me! Sam woke up and Daddy came home....it was all good! About 5 ish I went over to retrieve our son and ended up chatting with them for 40 minutes!!! I'm sitting in the kitchen (in the exact same spot that I'm sitting in MY kitchen) and Lara is over by her tree, and she asks a child coming down the hall (who I can't see) "Why are you naked???" and the look of horror comes over my face as I just KNOW she's talking about MY kid!!! And sure enough, he pops around the corner with his pants and undies in a ball in his arms cuz he'd just gone pee! Yeah...that's my kid! lol At least he went pee in the toilet!!! Right?!?!

Now, dinner's been had and its time to start thinking pj's...YAY!!!!! Then I'm gonna relax and knit...maybe make some hair things for Sam...I got the cutest Christmas ribbon....we'll see! I know Howie's been begging for a haircut for a week...if he didn't go to bed so dang early...........


Til next time...ciao!

I'm actually at loss

For a title tonite!! Then I realized...THAT was the title!!!!!! lol Sorry, its not funny is it? Cute maybe? No? Ok ok ok...I'll do better tomorrow!!

Sounds like something DJ would say! HA! That child has mastered the art of saying "I'm sorry Mummy!! I won't do it again! I love you" all in the same breath! And then two seconds later goes back to doing what it was he got in trouble for in the first place!!!!!!! Somebody tell me that 4 is fantastic and they snap out of this torrid 3 crap!! The two's weren't that terrible in comparison to the 3's!! And I did a bit of reading this afternoon...he's definitely NOT showing any sign of ADHD!! He's just a normal 3 year old BOY!

Who was BEGGING to go outside today! The sun was shining from the moment we got up...after a miserable nite for me! DJ woke me up at 3 (he's back to his night waking habit) to crawl into bed with me but I insisted he go pee and go back to his own bed...and he did. Then I woke up as Howie was getting ready for bed (you really need to switch the switch honey!) and before I knew DJ was back in bed with me and wanting to fall asleep holding my hand...and then started crying because Daddy was at work and not in the living room...and then bam...it was time to get up!

Anyway, back to the sun shining....as soon as lunch was over he went and got some socks, put his boots on the wrong feet, put his had on, and put his mittens on and announced he was ready to go play. Thankfully their mom was online so we chatted about the outdoor time and her kids chores...which put DJ on window watch....he didn't much like that! lol So once I got Sam down for her nap, we got dressed properly...WITH a coat on....and I went and got the mail, and deposited Christmas cards in the box for pick up. At which point, one of the boys was coming out the door to play with him....he was SOOOOOOO happy!

I came back inside...and laid down for exactly 20 minutes...I hate that I can't nap a REAL nap anymore! But it did me good! Gave me the energy to colour my hair! About the time I was done my shower, Samantha had woken and DJ had just come in! Good timing!

Howie wasn't coming home for dinner tonite as he was going to Jake's football awards banquet...so that left me and the kids on our own....and I read someone's status on FB that mentioned pancakes for dinner....and it just tickled my fancy! And that's what we had!!! YUM!!!! I just love breakfast for dinner!!!! I even made my first ever, chocolate chip pancake...wasn't that impressed really...I guess I prefer fruit instead.

When Howie did finally get home after nine, I learned that Jake "lettered" in football!!! Oh this is HUGE!!! And SOOOOOOO awesome!!!! I'm so proud of him!!! His GPA right now is 3.1 so far which is phenomenal considering how much time he's put into football! Again...SO proud of him!!!

And now...I'm going to go to bed early....I'm not just sayin that either....I really mean it!!!! hahahaha you know me so well....

Til next time...ciao!

Let the Advent calendars begin

Today is December 1st...which means the daily reminder to be good, in the form of an advent calendar, is finally here!! I swear, moms need these EVERY month...not just December!!!!! Samantha wasn't too sure about the chocolate...and DJ was more than willing to help her out...*rolls eyes* but she did get a nibble of it and when I asked if she wanted to spit it out, she shook her head no, and that was that! If the tree wasn't enough of a reminder that santa is coming, then hopefully the chocolate will serve better!

I spent more than 2 hours tonite sorting thru the boxes of stored gifts that I've been buying since June and organized it, and started wrapping...and promptly ran out of tape! Who does the grocery shopping around here!??!?! Oh wait, that would be me! Its on the list! Everything is boxed up and ready to go!! I figured out tonite why Howie thinks I'm such a good wrapper....I put things in boxes! Boxes are EASY to wrap up!!!!! Which is why I horde shoe boxes and the like when they come in the house! In fact, when we moved, I had a box of boxes!!!! HA! Lightest box we had! I also made sure to be the one to put it in the truck so I wouldn't catch heck for it too! :P (That's for you dear!)

Samantha seems to be on the mend...but her fever is still hanging around....and mostly just in her hairline...so I'm not even sure she's really fevered...and she ate just fine today with everything being normal! She was playing fine and hardly napped, the little brat! Even fought me a bit at bed time nursing-wise, but went to sleep fantastically!!!

It was SOOOOO foggy here today, and never let up once! I could see the sun above us, but it wasn't strong enough to burn it off....so all we saw today was white....the good white! lol The "s" word can stay away for a good while yet! thankyouverymuch!

Ok...eyes are burning...bum's hurting....pillows callin...

Til next time...ciao!