WEEKEND UPDATE............

Hello everyone...I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!   It is nice to relax with family and friends.  We spent went to my BIL & SIL's for Thanksgiving.  It was a bit crowded, but very nice.  My Pecan Apple pie was a big hit at the party.  When we returned home my hubby ate most of the remaining pie we had at home.   

Friday - we (Hubby, Josh and I) all had eye exams and of course we all needed new glasses.  ARGH!!  Big $$$$$, I hate when that happens.  Then we had to get new tires put on the van before we head home to South Dakota for Christmas.  MORE $$$$  I hate those unexpected expenses, kind of hard on a single income family like us. 

Saturday - My sweet little baby didn't sleep well last night so I was tired all Saturday!!  Saturday evening we went to get our family pictures taken at SEARS.  I have already posted the ones of the three boys together and Tommy's.  Joshua got ill after supper and has been sick since.   When we got home we got the Xmas decorations out of the attic and put up the tree.

Sunday - Man - Will I ever get to sleep again.  One more night of only 3 hours of sleep and I am going to die!!  Of course our morning consisted of church.  Josh stayed home as he was ill.  The rest of us went to church.    Tommy did well, but started getting a little fussy during the sermon and I had to take him out of the sanctuary for a little bit to feed him. 

When we returned from church hubby and Erik went to the Science Museum to see the Sharks exhibit.     Josh had to stay home cuz he was ill    Tommy napped and I made a huge sandwich for supper, had to bake the bread in the afternoon.  Really turned out good, so I will post the recipe soon. 

Well it is now about 8:00pm, hubby and Tommy are watching the Vikings game and believe it or not, I am going to go to bed and try to get some rest before the baby comes to bed with me.  YES, he still will not sleep anywhere but in bed with us.   (Don't tell hubby but it is sooo cute!!)  Tommy sleeps between us and will reach out at us to make sure we are there....funny.....how does he know, he is only a month old.  I decided to cherish the time with him and not beat myself up trying to get him to sleep in his crib or bassinet.  I need my sleep and he sleeps the longest right next to me.

Well my maternity leave is coming to an end, so these next 12 days or so, I really have to get the things on my list done!!   To be honest I have finally let go of my work and am enjoying being home, just in time to return.   I must confess I did check my work email from home tonight, but that is only the second time in 6 weeks.  That is very, very good for me!

Exclamation, you are invited over for leftovers anytime!! He is such a sweety!

Well it seems to be my bedtime. 

BTW, like the new look of the site.  My 13-year old made the banner for me.   I won't admit here now long it took me to figure out how to add that background...LOL!!   I have subscribed to the premium xanga and I think I will actually fork up the money and keep the service after the free trial is up.  I like being able to share pictures with my family and friends back home. 

Ok, now I really am going to go to bed!!  For once I will make it to bed before my Flylady email tells me to!

My Little Christmas Elf

TOMMY - One Month Old

What have I accomplished today?????

Actually I have gotten a number of things done today I needed to.  It helps that the baby went to bed earlier last night and that my 13- year old is home today on vacation from school.  He is a big help with the baby when I need it.  He did go to the movie with some friends in the afternoon.  He went to see the movie Harry Potter and really enjoyed it.   Tonight he is having a friend sleep over and tomorrow he *WILL clean his room!!!

Hubby is busy keeping the baby awake for me.   Hopefully he will go to bed early again tonight.   I still have to give him a bath......ARGH...

Well as for my day, I was up earlier today...YEAH!!   I did two loads of laundry this am and put it away.   Luckily then my hubby came home on break from school, so I ran a few errands, (Target, Post Office and Grocery Store) without the baby.   I mail out all the baby announcements and got the needed items to make pies for tomorrow.  I then spent some time with Tommy when I got home.   After he was down again sleeping, I made two pecan apple pies.....YUMMY!!  I love the smell of baking apple pies.   I made meatloaf for super and made two extra to freeze for supper some other night.  I have to load up the freezer with meals again since I am returning to work soon. 

I suppose i better get my last of laundry up and watch "Law and Order" with my hubby.   

I wish everyone a very Happy thanksgiving!!!!

One of my goals for today....besides finally getting my shower taken...LOL!!  Is to make pies for Thanksgiving at my BIL and SIL house.   I spent alot of time last night looking for the following recipe.  I subscribe to Taste of Home and Quick Cooking Magazine and I am notorious for making something, my hubby loving it and never able to fidn the recipe again.  So now I am typing up my recipes and putting them in a 3-ring binder if we like them.   We will see how I keep up on that.  Since i was typing up the recipes anyways, why not share them here!!    So this is the pie I am making today!!   Will have to run to the grocery store yet too!   Hmmmmmm  not good planning on my part!

Pecan Apple Pie

 

Pastry for double=-crust pie (9 inches)

1 cup sugar

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

¼ teaspoon salt

12 cups thinly sliced peeled tart apples (about 10 apples)

 

TOPPING:

1 cup packed brown sugar

½ cup all-purpose flour

½ cup quick-cooking oats

½ cu cold butter or margarine

½ to 1 cup chopped pecans

½ cup caramel ice cream topping

 

Line two 9-inch pie plates with pastry.  Trim and flute edges; set aside.  In a large bowl, combine sugar, flour, cinnamon and salt; add apples and toss to coat.  Pour into pastry shells.  For the topping, combine brown sugar, flour and oats; cut in butter until crumbly.  Sprinkle over apples.  Cover edges loosely with foil.  Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes.  Remove foil; bake 25-30 minutes longer or until filling is bubbly.  Sprinkle with pecans; drizzle with caramel topping.  Cool on wire racks.  Yield:  2 pies (6-8 servings each).

 

Oct/Nov 2000 Taste Of Home

Yesterday I ended up having a house full of kids all day.  I babysat Sammy our neighbor while her mom took the older kids of the movie Harry Potter.  My SIL Julie brought over her three kids at 9:00 am and they ened up being here until about 8:30pm...LOL!!  That is usually how it works.   I had put a pot of homemade chicken noodle soup on and I think it turned out pretty good.  Below is the recipe if your interested........................................:)

Classic Chicken Noodle Soup

 

1 broiler/fryer chicken (3 to 4 pounds), cut up

10 cups water

1 large carrot, sliced

1 large onion, sliced

1 celery rib, sliced

1 garlic clove, minced

1 bay leaf

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1 teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon pepper

 

SOUP INGREDIENTS:

2 large carrots, sliced

2 celery ribs, sliced

1 medium onion, chopped

2 cups uncooked fine egg noodles

1 cup frozen peas

½ cup frozen cut green beans

 

In large soup kettle or Dutch oven, combine the first 10 ingredients.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 1-1/2 to 2 hours or until the meat is tender.

 

Remove chicken; cool.  Remove and discard skin and bones.  Chop chicken; set aside.  Strain broth, discarding vegetables and bay leaf.  Return broth to the pan; add carrots, celery, and onion.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat; cover and simer for 10 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. 

 

Add noodles and chicken.   Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 6 minutes.  Stir in peas and beans.  Cook for 2-4 minutes or until beans and noodles are tender.  Yield:  6-8 servings.

 

Oct/Nov 2001 Taste of Home

Hello everyone.....this will be quick than I have to jump into the shower beforethe baby wakes up!

Now that I am not terribly sick, diabetic  and pregnant I have actually been cooking.  It sure is a nice feelign to be putting nice meals on the table for my family again.  I love to cook.   So the follwoing is a recipe I made for supper on Sunday night....Paul loved it, so I guess it is a keeper!

Chicken Cordon Bleu Calzones

 

4 Boneless Skinless chicken breasts (1 pound)

1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms

½ medium onion, chopped

2 tablespoons butter or margarine

3 tablespoons cornstarch

1-1/4 cups milk

1 tablespoon minced fresh basil or 1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon pepper

1 package (17-1/4 ounces) frozen puff pastry, thawed

8 thin slices of deli ham

4 slices provolone cheese

Additional milk, optional

 

Place chicken in a greased 2-qt. baking dish; cover with water.  Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until juices run clear.  Meanwhile, in a skillet, sauté mushrooms and onion in butter until tender.  Combine cornstarch and milk until smooth; stir into skillet. Add seasonings.  Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.

 

Drain chicken.  Cut pastry sheets in half widthwise.  On one side of each half, place a chicken breast, ¼ cup mushrooms mixture, two ham slices and one cheese slice.  Fold pastry over filling and seal edges.

 

Place on a greased baking sheet.  Brush top with milk if desired.  Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until puffed and golden.  Yield:  4 servings

 

Oct/Nov 2001 Taste of Home

TOMMY'S HOSPITAL PICTURE ARRIVED IN THE MAIL TODAY!
TOMMY - 1 Day Old

WEEKEND................

Well last night Tommy was up until 1:00 am then he went to bed with me.  He slept until 5:00am then got up for the day with Daddy at 9:00am.  I caught a few winks until my sister in law came in my room to tell me she bought Tommy a little knottie (the bunnie one).   So then I was awake and got up, but it was 11:00 so was about time.

We chatted for a bit than decided to go shopping.  Hubby was cleaning up the yard and garage so what better thing for the baby and I to do, shop!   I finished up alot of my xmas shopping.  I plan on wrapping presents tomorrow and figuring out what I have left to buy.   When we got home hubby was done cleaning, we can actually park two vehicles in our garage again.  

Than Hubby and I took the baby for a walk since it was so nice out.  Of course we decided that eventhough we now have the baby, we are still going on dates the weekends our other two children are with our ex's.   So we went on a date for supper to Red Lobster.  Tommy slept most of the time and we enjoyed a nice time having adult conversation.

Since the weather was so nice this evening, hubby (Paul) decided to light a bonfire.   He had the neighbors over and I sat out at the fire for a bit with the baby, but then he got crabby.   So we came in the house and he sat in his boppy and stared at the pictures on the wall.  I finished printing up his birth announcements.  I have to get them into the envelopes yet.   Then we started our bedtime routine.  Tommy had his bath, and my little neighbor (age 4) Sammy helped.  Tommy has now be sleeping for about an hour IN HIS CRIB!!  (fingers crossed)

Well I best get to bed as we have church in the morning.   Hope everyone has a great weekend!

GOOD NIGHT>........

Well Tommy is STILL up and I am very tired. I think he can stay up with Daddy...night all!