Monday, September 27, 2010

Meal Planning...we'll see!


I am going to attempt to do a real schedule for our meals.
I have attempted a kind of meal planning before & never
really followed through. A few things are mega-motivating
me this time. For one, we're trying to buy a house, and
we know that when this does eventually happen we are
going to have to be on a very strict budget. Also, my
daughter's 3rd grade adventure has proven more difficult
than we thought. She has a lot of homework & we usually
don't get home until right before I need to start making
dinner. Plus, I've been wanting to cook in bulk & make
left overs for lunches & future dinners.
So, all of that said, I'm going to share my journey, more
recipes, & my menus for the week. I haven't done my baking
challenge in a while either, so I'll be resuming that too!
And remember all of my recipes are Gluten Free!!!

Here's this week: 9/26-9/30 (this week is going to be short
because I'm leaving town from Fri night to Sun night...daddy's
on his own folks!!)
Sun 9/26: Breakfast: GF pancakes, eggs, sausage & home fries.
Mon 9/27: Mini Meatball Minestra & Grilled cheese
(ala Rachel Ray...recipe Here) (I use GF pasta & GF bread crumbs
I've made from past bread failures & almond flour)
Tues 9/28: Homemade GF Pizza
Wed 9/29: Tandori Chicken & Rice w/Broccoli & GF flat bread
(recipe Here) (GF flat bread recipe Here)
Thurs 9/30: A-1 & Dijon Steak w/Broccoli Cheese Mashed potatoes
(Steak recipe Here)
Hope you all have a wonderful week & maybe try some of these recipes!!

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Halloween Costumes from years past...

I made a decision a while ago that my kids were
going to have creative, handmade costumes every
year for Halloween. I wanted to encourage creativity
& I love making them!! They've started to protest in
the last couple of years, but I'm sticking to my guns
on this one. I know, it's not the most important thing
in the world that they have great costumes, but this is
my one thing :)
So, these are some of the ones we've done in past years &
of course I will share what we do this year!


Caterpillar & Butterfly


Tooth & Tooth Fairy


Bowling Ball & Pin


Hot Dog & Mustard


Peanut Butter & Jelly


Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Tea Party

This tea party was actually one of our last summer
activities & I know they've already started school. But,
alas that is the crazy life of this mother :)
Anyway, I wanted to share these sweet pictures of our
summer tea party. These girls are so sweet & had such
good manners.
This was our menu:
GF Lemon scones with clotted cream & strawberry jam
GF cucumber & mint sandwiches
GF Lemon tarts with whipped cream
And of course tea: strawberry & peppermint

And when they'd had enough we watched The Little
Princess. All around a great afternoon!


Sunday, September 12, 2010

Application for dating my daughter

I had to post this because I have two daughters
& this might be my replacement for a shot gun :)
And this is fair warning for any boy that may
potentially want to date them, even if they aren't
allowed to date until they're 30 :)

NOTE: This application will be incomplete and rejected
unless accompanied by a complete financial statement,
history, lineage, recent FBI background check, psychiatric
evaluation, and updated medical report from your doctor.

1. NAME _______________________________
DATE OF BIRTH ________________
2. HEIGHT ______________
WEIGHT __________
I.Q _______
G.P.A.____________
3. SOCIAL SECURITY # _____________
DRIVERS LICENSE # __________________
4. BOY SCOUT RANK______________________________________
5. HOME ADDRESS _____________________________________
CITY/STATE ___________
ZIP __________
6. Do you have one MALE and one FEMALE parent? _____
If No, EXPLAIN ________________________________________
7. Number of years your parents have been married _____
8. Do you own a van? _____ A truck with oversized tires? _____ A waterbed? _____
Do you have an earring, nose ring, belly button ring, or a tattoo? _____
(If "yes" to any of #8, discontinue application and leave premises)

9. In 50 words or less, what does "LATE" mean to you?


10. In 50 words or less, what does
"DON'T TOUCH MY DAUGHTER" mean to you?


11. In 50 words or less, what does "ABSTINENCE"
mean to you?


12. Church you attend ___________________________
How often do you attend? ________________________
13. When would be the best time to interview your father,
mother and priest/rabbi/minister?____________________________

14. Answer by filling in the blank: please answer freely.
ALL answers are confidential (That means I won't tell
anyone-ever-I promise.)

a) If I were shot, the last place on my body I would
want wounded is____
b) If I were beaten, the last bone I would want broken is my____
c) A woman's place is in the____
d) The one thing I hope this application does not ask me about is____
e) When I first meet a girl, the first thing I notice about her is____

(NOTE: If your answer begins with "T" or "A", discontinue.
Leave premises keeping your head low.
Running in a serpentine fashion is advised.)
15. What do you want to be IF you grow up?___________________

I SWEAR THAT ALL INFORMATION SUPPLIED ABOVE IS TRUE
AND CORRECT TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE UNDER
PENALTY OF DEATH, DISMEMBERMENT, NATIVE AMERICAN
ANT TORTURE, ELECTROCUTION, CHINESE WATER TORTURE,
AND RED HOT POKERS.
________________________________________
Signature (That means sign your name)

Thank you for your interest. Please allow four to six years
for processing. You will be notified in writing if you are approved.
Please do not try to call or write. If you do attempt any
communication before your application is approved, automatic
disqualification will result.

If your application is rejected, you will be notified by two gentlemen
wearing white ties and carrying violin cases (You might want to
watch your back).

Do you still want to date my daughter?
_____ Yes, please accept my application
_____ I um, no, I uh, think I have the wrong house...
Re: Application to Date my Daughter (and Rules!) :
RULES FOR DATING MY DAUGHTER

As a dad, I have some basic rules, which I have carved into two
stone tablets that I have on display in my living room.

Rule 1: If you pull into my driveway and honk you'd better be
delivering a package, because you're sure not picking anything up.

Rule 2: You do not touch my daughter in front of me. You may
glance at her, so long as you do not peer at anything below her neck.
If you cannot keep your eyes or hands off of my daughter's body,
I will remove them.

Rule 3: I am aware that it is considered fashionable for boys
of your age to wear their trousers so loosely that they appear
to be falling off their hips. Please don't take this as an insult,
but you and all of your friends are complete idiots. Still, I want
to be fair and open minded about this issue, so I propose this
compromise: You may come to the door with your underwear
showing and your pants ten sizes too big, and I will not object.
However, In order to assure that your clothes do not, in fact, come
off during the course of your date with my daughter, I will take my
electric staple gun and fasten your trousers securely in place
around your waist.

Rule 4: I'm sure you've been told that in today's world, sex without
utilizing a "barrier method" of some kind can kill you. Let me elaborate:
when it comes to sex, I am the barrier, and I WILL kill you.

Rule 5: In order for us to get to know each other, we should
talk about sports, politics, and other issues of the day. Please
do not do this. The only information I require from you is an
indication of when you expect to have my daughter safely back
at my house, and the only word I need from you on this subject is
"early."

Rule 6: I have no doubt you are a popular fellow, with many
opportunities to date other girls. This is fine with me as long
as it is okay with my daughter. Otherwise, once you have gone
out with my little girl, you will continue to date no one but her
until she is finished with you. If you make her cry, I will make
YOU cry.

Rule 7: The following places are not appropriate for a date with
my daughter: Places where there are beds, sofas, or anything
softer than a wooden stool. Places lacking parents, policemen,
or nuns. Places where there is darkness. Places where there is
dancing, holding hands, or happiness. Places where the ambient
temperature is warm enough to induce my daughter to wear
shorts, tank tops, midriff T-shirts, or anything other than overalls,
a sweater, and a goose down parka zipped up to her chin.
Movies with a strong romantic or sexual theme are to be avoided;
movies which feature chainsaws are okay. Hockey games are okay.

Rule 8: Do not lie to me. I may appear to be a balding, middle-aged,
dimwitted has-been. But on issues relating to my daughter, I am
the all-knowing, merciless commander of your universe. If I ask you
where you are going and with whom, you have one chance to tell me
the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I have a shotgun,
a shovel, and five acres behind the house. Do not trifle with me.

Rule 9: Be afraid. Be very afraid. It takes very little for me to
mistake the sound of your car in the driveway for a chopper
coming in over a rice paddy outside of Hanoi. When my Agent
Orange starts acting up, the voices in my head frequently tell
me to clean the guns as I wait for you to bring my daughter
home. As soon as you pull into the driveway you should exit your
car with both hands in plain sight. Speak the perimeter password,
announce in a clear voice that you have brought my daughter
home safely and early, then return to your car-there is no need
for you to come inside. The camouflaged face at the window is
mine.


Thursday, September 9, 2010

First Day Of School...

My oldest daughter started 3rd grade Tuesday!
I can't believe she's so big!! And my baby had
her first day of Kindergarten! While I'm excited
about the prospects of having 6 hours to myself,
I didn't realize how quiet our house would be. Ok,
well you get what you ask for, I guess :) I've been
really needing a break & begging for some alone
time. Well, I've got it now!
My husband and I dropped them off & I had
tea with friends, picked up a prescription, washed
dishes, swept & mopped the floor, cleaned the stove,
cleaned out their "hair-stuff" drawer, had some
worship time, and did a load of laundry. Most likely,
I won't be doing all that everyday :)
Anyway, here are the pics...


Our "ABC" pancakes! and a couple hearts too :)


Like the wraps I made for them? They picked out
the pattern & wanted them for the first day.


Like my new chalkboard sign?? I made it out
of a cabinet door sample Philip brought home
from work, paint, scrapbook paper, Modge Podge,
"Distress Ink", chalkboard paint & wire. Love it!


Walking to school...Up hill both ways...no joke :)
The street the school is on is called Hill St. A great
work out everyday :) Too bad it's only a 7 min walk!


They were getting a little tired of taking pictures :)


My sweet Kindergartener!! She had a great first day!!


Listening intently to her new teacher! She's so big!
Love my big Hannah-Boo!!
I love the first day of school! It reminds me of when
I was in school, the smells, new back packs, new
pencils & the excitement of the first day! I'm so
happy to share this time with my children!


Tuesday, September 7, 2010

The biggest carrots ever...

I just had to show these pictures of our
gigantic carrots. I tried putting it next to
our kitchen scissors for some perspective,
but that didn't really work. The top of the
carrot was about 2 inches across & it was
about a foot long. Super huge nuclear carrots!
And they were yummy! We've had a few more
about this size, but this was the biggest!


Oh, and we have our first cantaloupe sprouting.
It's about the size of an apple...can't wait to try
that baby!!! We've had a cool summer, so everything
is taking a bit longer!