Just another day in paradise...

Today my biggest baby turned 14...! How did that happen? I told her she could have anything she wanted for dinner, anything at all. She chose slow cooker chicken and dumplings. I was surprised. But I never make it because her and I are the only ones that like it. lol My kids generally dislike anything that involves cream soups (and anything that involves breading but that is another story). It is so easy to make. I just threw some frozen chicken breasts in the crock pot and cooked on low until I could shred them (about 4 hours).
Then I added cream of chicken soup and diced carrots, celery and onions. Now you can do this yourself or just buy Mirapoix or the Trader Joe's blend like I do (I am a cheater).

Then I cook a couple more hours.
When there is about 30 minutes left I mix up some Bisquick and drop it over the top.

Cook for another 30 minutes or so and enjoy!
I have also made the recipe where I threw in the frozen chicken, veggies, and soup all at once and let is cook on low all day. When I got home I made the Bisquick and added it for 30 minutes and that works fine too. I just happen to be home today to make it in shifts.

The boys enjoyed burgers instead. And in my house no celebration is complete with out my pretty pink dishes (for all) and Corona (for the adults). ;)

And then we all enjoyed some tastey birthday cupcakes in honor of the pretty birthday girl.

Home

Project 52-Week 21

On time again? Go me!

Still on the hunt for that tack sharp focus. I tried back button focus too see of that works better for me. So far, so good.

Week 21

My sweet little Conor Knox loves sitting like he is doing aerobics. It makes me giggle every time.

Ch-ch-changes...

It was a big week. Monday was my daughter's 8th grade dance. Her first ever dance! She looked so beautiful. Tuesday night was her 8th grade promotion ceremony and now it is official...I am the mom of a high school. *gasp* How the heck did that happen? It kind of freaks me out to think she will be 18 in four years. That is CRAZY. I find myself feeling all panicky like, has her childhood been good enough? Have I been a good enough mom? How many happy memories can I cram in the next 4 years?! It is just so weird and surreal to have a high schooler.


I am so glad it is summer break. The school year stresses me out. I hate worrying about reading logs and permission slips and who has what due when. Ugh. I love the carefree summer days. I think the kids do too! ;) I am all about the carefree summer life.

The boys finished spring football last weekend. We are on a football break until July 22 when fall ball starts. My 11 year old and 8 year old both finished 3rd in their division so that was pretty exciting for them. I was ready for the break but I will be ready for the madness when it is time to start again.


Tomorrow marks the end of my formal training period at work. When I get to work tomorrow I have to take a big test. It is open book but I am still a bit freaked out. I can do this, I can do this, I can do this. I CAN do this, right? Hopefully tomorrow I will be back posting a happy positive update for you all.

That is my life in nutshell these days.

Project 52-Week 20

This is one of literally hundreds I took this week in my vain attempt to nail focus. I am really having a hard time with focus and I am really discouraged. *sigh*

Week 20

Can't get enough of this sweet baby...

Evening Walk

Rough Week...also known as pity party for one

This week was rough.

On Monday the baby and I were home sick. I stayed home with him because he just seemed off. I am so glad that I did because my poor little baby had/has a double ear infection. Ugh. I feel so bad for my little guy. The good news is that he is doing much better now. He is on amoxicillian for the next 10 days.

On Wednesday I had a weird little stomach bug. It was no fun. I was miserable and for the first time in years I went to bed before 9pm. That is unheard of for me because I have always been a nightowl. Thursday I woke up free from my stomach bug BUT I work up with a cold. Yesterday I felt like crap but I was still very happy to be free of piercing stomach pain and nausea. As far as my cold goes, I feel worse today...but again, I will take a cold over a stomach bug any old day. I was dragging at work today and that was rough because I had so much to do today. I was counting the minutes until 4:30pm.

Our football play-off's begin tomorrow. We will be on the football field from about 9:30am to 3:00pm. Sunday I get to work most of the day at job number two (Happy Mother's Day to me!). I am really hoping I feel a significant improvement by tomorrow. Please, please, please let me feel fetter.

I admit it, I am feeling pretty sorry for myself.


And now, a random gratuitous video of my adorable baby who just started crawling last week.

Project 52-Week 19

That's right folks, week 19 is on time. I am feeling pretty good about being on time this week because, well, this week really royally sucked. More about that in another post.

We will be moving soon so I was walking around our house the other night and taking pictures of our surroundings, things I will miss when we move.

Week 19

This is a part of the gate that leads into our neighborhood. It is pretty gate but it is broken all the time. But I will still miss it when we leave.

Project 52-Week 18

Late again. Maybe week 19 will be the week I am on time. We shall see...

I am experimenting with my external flash. I have no idea what I am doing. I read the book but I am still confused. I mean I get it BUT I don't get it. I am going to need to watch several tutorials to figure this out.

Week 18
I am a sorority girl. A PROUD sorority girl. I am an alumna of Kappa Kappa Gamma. I was an active member when I was in college and now I am active with our Houseboard corporation. I bleed blue and blue...

My beautiful badge.



What Is A Sorority?

If it's really anything at all,

A sorority is not entirely
a flower, national conventions, monogrammed rings, worn-out songs, bylaws, membership standards, or a golden pen.

And it is not entirely
an institution, a creed, a legacy, an obligation, or a way of life.

If you're going to insist that it is something,

A sorority is only
Moving in for the first time and slowly learning that all beautiful people have fat legs and use mouthwash and wear last year's coats,
Sitting next to an alum you don't particularly like and being nice because maybe it all means something to her,
Long, tired eternities of black coffee and exam snacks when you can't remember the Renaissance architects or the stages of photosynthesis or respiration,
Sitting on the back steps and listening with all your helplessness because she's lost and she's lonely and it seems the whole world just fell into ugly pieces.

And it's
coming in very late one night and closing the door to tell someone who's seen you through the hardest years of your life that you're happy now, and you're getting married.

And a sorority is, I suppose, a kind of evaluation.

You grow up inside these elegant halls
And perhaps you do learn more about this grizzly, ungrateful circus we call life than if you had lived it somewhere else.
You learn that a football player is sometimes just shoulder pads and that skinny arms sometimes hide a great man.
You learn that some lecture halls are just watery echos and that there are silent rooms for deeper rivers.
You learn that no matter where you come from or who took you there, you've still got to find that one small acre that belongs to you, by yourself.
You learn to wait, because chance is slow and change isn't always right.
You learn that there's still a lot left to believe in and a whole lot more to hope for.
You learn that love has never been easy, and it's a long time coming.

And if you're very smart, or very lucky, you learn that no matter how big or how messy the world becomes, what is precious and what is permanent is always the same.

And in the very end
A sorority can only be a better way to stumble down the back steps and out the front door.