Dinner Anyone?

Monday - Hot Turkey Sandwiches

Tuesday - Chile Chicken Tortilla Casserole

Wednesday- Salmon and Rice

Thursday - BBQ Meatballs *

Friday - To Go Sandwiches (basketball game)

Saturday - Homemade Pizza

Sunday - Baked Potato Bar

*Darin's BBQ Meatball Sauce

16 oz whole berry cranberry sauce

12 oz chili sauce

1/3 cup ketchup

2 T brown sugar

1 T lemon juice

2 t minced onion

Calendar Daze

If you have ever been around my house, you have heard me say "check the calendar"! It is one of those things I think I have said so much that no one hears me anymore. Our big calendar on the office wall ended in December. I didn't put much thought into replacing it because, frankly, I didn't think anyone ever looked at it and since I keep my own planner in my purse I didn't need to update that one just for me to look at again. Well, last week "the calendar" was brought up, Carley was the first to question it and then even Darin had to admit that yes he actually did look at it and was wondering what had happened. Darin even mentioned that he was looking at a new phone so he could have a planner on it to keep track of everything going on because sometimes he forgets! Now I am not kidding myself that since two out of the six want the calendar back that things will magically stay on schedule or that anything will be different than the past, I know I will still answer most questions with "check the calendar"!
My friend often (ok all the time) kids me about "the schedule" and even posted her schedule one week to challenge me! We really don't do a lot of things, but there are seven of us and we each have interests and commitments, along with encouraging and sharing in each others activites. Since this year I wanted to use our blog as more of a life journal I am going to do this just so I can look back in twenty years and realize how much I enjoyed this time.....
Monday - wrap and deliver Nayeli's birthday present, pick up Gracie and take her to Moses Lake for gymnastics, remind Dani to pick up boys after school, Carley goes to photography until 4:15, arrange ride for Carley, make sure Dani has clean uniform and picture money for basketball pictures at 5:00, Dani late practice
Tuesday - Carley and Gracie to Achievement Activity until 4:15, remind them to walk to Red Rock when they are done, pick up boys at 3:00, go with Katrina to Jr. Miss as her Back Stage Mom at 3:30, possible - 6:30 Scentsy party only because Christine will be there
Wednesday - 7:00 Church Breakfast, 1hour late start for kids, remind Darin to take them to school, Darin is on call all day, 3:00 pick up Gracie and boys, 4:15 pick up Carley, 4:30 go to Jr. Miss mock interview to judge
Thursday - 3:00 pick up Gracie and boys, 4:15 take Carley and Samantha to piano
Friday - pack for game, 3:00 pick up kids, 3:45 leave for Tri Cities, 6:00 basketball game
Saturday - 10:00 leave for Warden to watch Dallas wrestle, afternoon - help Dani get ready for Winter Formal, 7:00 get ready and go chaperone dance.
Sunday - church
Not a bad week for us, I didn't put in the daily stuff like homework, dinner, chores, laundry, work, there is always room for those. Wish me luck....

Menu Plan Monday

So, last week went pretty well. I did end up going to the store a lot more than I wanted to, I didn't really figure in to my schedule that we would run out of cereal, ziploc bags, you know the extras that were not on my list. The Sunday turkey dinner got postponed since I forgot it was potluck Sunday at church.

Monday - McDonald's (I know this sounds funny but the new Moses Lake McDonalds is open and has an indoor playland, since Darin is taking Gracie to gymnastics while Dani and I go dress shopping I thought this would be a perfect way to combine dinner on the go and entertain the kids)

Tuesday - Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad, mandarin oranges with cottage cheese

Wednesday - RiceYukAMuchy (rice, hamburger, cream of mushroom soup, celery and chinese noodle casserole), apples & raisins with vanilla yogurt dressing

Thursday - Darin's Sausage Tortellini Soup !!!!

Friday - dinner on the go (leftovers), basketball in Tri Cities

Saturday - tacos

Sunday - Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn

Mini Cheer Camp

Carley, Gracie and the Royal Lady Knights Basketball Team!


Here are my cheer girls with the Cheer Advisor Mrs. Lasen.

Kindergarten Family Fun Night

Tuesday, Lane and Justin invited the family to Kindergarten Family Fun Night. This was something new at the school and I think they had a great turnout. All the activities were designed to teach parents some of the games and skills the kids are working on so we can also play them at home.We have been lucky to have the BEST kindergarten teacher. Gracie had her so I knew (and have been preparing her) that I wanted the boys in her class.
This is Mrs. Mueller playing "top-it" with Lane, Justin concentrating on his "roll and record" and Dad and the boys making marshmallow/toothpick shapes.

It was fun to see the boys so excited to show us everything. We were a little sad Dani wasn't there, she had a basketball game in Yakima. It just made us all realize what next year will be like.

Monday Meal Planner

I am always into making lists and checking things off. I am hoping this site (I'm an Organizing Junkie) will help. Today's list is to meal plan, so here goes.....


Monday : Homemade Bean & Cheese Burritos and Salad
Tuesday : Baked Fish and Corn Bread
Wednesday : Boil in a Bag omelets and roasted red potatoes
Thursday : Philly Sandwiches (steak, pepppers & onions on hoagie buns)
Friday : Spaghetti
Saturday : Leftover Buffet
Sunday : Turkey, sweet potatoes, stuffing

The omelet recipe was given to me by my cooking friend but you can find it at allrecipes.com.

The day the Tooth Fairy went broke...

Tuesday
5:05 - Carley having a "Fruit Gusher" snack
5:06 - Carley "Mom I lost my tooth", with incredibly blue ooze covering all her teeth, inside her mouth and out
- Mom "Great, that tooth has been just hanging on."
- Carley "no mom, that tooth is still there, this one was in the back"
5:10 - Carley "Mom, I just pulled my loose tooth!"
6:15 - Gracie "Mom, I just lost a tooth (squeeeeeel)"
10:00 - Tooth Fairy "Smith House - 3 teeth - $ 15.00. I wonder if I can get a government bailout for this?"

I would post pictures but to be honest these girls are not that cute with all of the gaps in their smiles.

The first week of January

January brings with it so many memories for me. January 6th is my "other" birthday, the day my dad officially adopted me. After my mom and Jack were married, I was an Underwood. We usually say that Jack actually married me and my mom came along with the deal, there is even a picture with me standing in the middle at the ceremony. As a family we waited several years before making the adoption legal, my dad was too sensible about things, and wanted to make sure I understood the process. I remember having to tell the judge that it was ok with me for Jack to be my dad.

Now in January, before I get to celebrate on the 6th, I have to manage through the 4th, the day my dad passed away. The cancer, the pain and the medicines took him away from us before this day but this is the official day. I miss him more than I can write about. I regret all the things I didn't say and the missed opportunities. I miss the feeling that everything is going to be ok because my dad is here to fix it. And I hate more than anything that my babies don't get to know their Papa.

A year after my dad passed away I had a visit. The man that let me be adopted and gave me the biggest blessing of being Jack's daughter. There have been times when I have thought about him and what I would do or say. If anything I hope I learned from Jack how to be accepting of people, how to always have a hello and a smile for someone, and to believe that people are trying to make their own best decisions, rather I agree with them or not. My mixed emotions about all of this leads me in many directions, trying to do what is best for my family along with doing what gives me peace.

I know these days are so close together to remind me that you can not have joy without experiencing pain. With all of God's challenges for us, I know he has given me the tools to get through this, I just have to figure out how to use them.

The End of 2008

2008
Scariest Day - The day Justin was so sick, he looked like he had a stroke.
Greatest Doctor - My old faithful Dr. Warner, been through everything with us, once again calmed me, sent us to the hospital with Justin and made us believe again that God works through others.
Best Day - June 28, not just because it was my 40th birthday, but because I was with an incredible amount of my favorite people doing what I love to do, bbq - hang out with friends - laugh - dance - laugh a lot more
Saddest Day - sending my babies to kindergarten, I'm still not over that one
Stressed for nothing weekend - Deer Camp at our house, I was overwhelmed with the week of running around after kids and so worked up about having Darin's friends from East Wenatchee, Renton and Texas stay with us. Of course, a fun weekend: soccer game, pumpkin patch, LaCabana, good friends, and everyone was too gracious about my sub-par cooking. Lesson learned again - relax.
Work Ups - my best friend since grade school now works at the school with me
Work Downs - a wonderful co-worker left in September and left me with her job =}
Sports Highlights - Dani breaking the school record in basketball for most 3-point shots in one game (6), Carley playing second base in softball and making her infamous double plays, Gracie being brave enough to waterski, Lane & Justin participating in their first year of soccer, on different teams of course!
Bucket List Check Off - going to the George Strait concert
Biggest Regret - gaining all the weight that I have this year
Learned - how to sync my new ipod, how to blog, water slides are still fun
Favorite Quote - "The best way to help yourself is to pray for others."