Thursday, October 18, 2012

Girl's Weekend

The last several years we have done a lot of traveling for hockey. 
It has been fun.  Then Fun Girl decided she wanted to try swim team again.
This time, we found a team that was a really good fit for our Fun Girl and her family.
She has been having soo much fun, she wanted to travel for meets.
With sick brothers at home, we hit the road. 
Just the three of us girls.
We learned some navigation lessons.
Listened to music, chatted and just enjoyed the estrogen levels. :)
The biggest difference with swim team is trying to find your person!
Under water.
 
Don't blink or you could lose your swimmer.
 
 
I was amazed during warm ups!
I texted this video to a friend.
She responded back with:
"It's Where's Waldo ~ Fun Girl style!"
She is right.
 
 
 
Bringing in personal bests while trying to overcome Bronchitis
left her Momma in awe.
 
Then a Momma showed up at the pool with cupcakes.
No ordinary cupcakes.
Next thing you know, I was headed the 5 blocks over.
 With Little Princess by my side
we oohhed and ahhhed.
 
 
Decisions, decisions ???
 
 
 
Choices made!
 
 
We were well behaved all through the remainder of the meet.
We waited till we were in the car.  With forks in hand we each started sampling.
Nope, no pictures.
No one wanted to stop eating long enough to take pictures.
Pure selfishness.
The other two would not have stopped sampling! 
YUMMY!
 

When dad is home

When dad has the day off...he mows the yard.
He then interrupts school lessons to call the children outside.
Why!!!???!!!
Because he is an Awesome Homeschool Dad
and he wants to share his discovery.
The children were duly impressed.
 
 

Sisterly TLC

I come home from the doctor's office with Hockey Player last week
and discovered The Man on my couch.
 
But it wasn't as simple as all that may sound.
 
He has my bed pillows arranged just so,
providing him with support and cushion while he plays on someone's I touch.
 
I, of course, wonder who he thinks he is to be able to lay around in such comfort and leisure?
 Instead of laughing,
 I ask in my motherly tone why he is not working on his school work.
He doesn't mention feeling sick or having a cold.
Nope.
  Instead he very quickly starts his explanation with,
"It was Little Princess's idea!".
Now that was a new one.
  His sister's idea to pamper and fluff her brother.
Yeah, right!?!
Then he story comes out.
 She opened a door, smashed his foot and left a mark on it.
 I am sure the drama and anguish that was displayed was being left out of the report.
 She was sorry and didn't mean to hurt him.
 In an attempt to make it all better she took care of her brother.
 He looks really hurt, doesn't he?
I want a Little Princess for a sibling.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Favorite Things.....Crock Pot

I love! love! love! my crockpot.  Especially on days like today.  If you will notice this post didn't happen yesterday on Tuesday.  We wrapped up last week with a last minute run to immediate care on Friday.  All to discover Dad's Bud had pneumonia.  Not just pneumonia, but the kind that causes the doctor to say we caught it just in time and I am not going to send him to the hospital.  AIY!!  Entrusted with Dad, I headed out of town.  Back into town late Sunday.  School on Monday and so the week has gone.  I was gone much of yesterday afternoon.  Home in time to make dinner. Chili........  While driving I had called Fun Girl and asked her to pull meat out of the freezer for the next 3 days.  Cause that is the kind of week we are going to have and dinner out is not an option.  While chopping bell peppers, onions and crushing garlic for the chili, I do a bit more for a roast.  The roast is still frozen but no worries.  Into the crockpot with the seasonings.  Couple of boullion cubes, red vinegar wine and Worchester sauce and water.  Pop the lid on and stick in the fridge.  As I am sluggish in the morning and trying to teach... I remember dinner.  Sooo as I read aloud, Fun Girl pulls out the crock and puts it in the base and starts that bad boy up.  Dinner in the works.  Normally, I add potatoes and carrots.  I ran out of time last night.  Tonight we will bake potatoes in the microwave and steam some carrots for the braces challenged children and the rest of us, we will crunch away.  I used to have two crock pots.  One base broke. SO now I have two crocks.  It is not uncommon for me to start a dinner up to stick in the fridge while one is cooking.  Cause, that is how we do it around here.  Whatever works, Right? 
Favorite crock pot meals:
Chili
Ham and beans
Lasagna
Chicken thighs
Soup/Stew
Roast
Whole chickens
Meat loaf
Rouladon Beef + various veggies I cook it in to make steak and rice (for another day)

(picture by Fun Girl)
 
 
Favorite Crock Pot recipe book (other than the internet, of course)
Mable Hoffman's Crockery Cookery
Mable Hoffman's Crockery Cookery
I don't normally buy cookbooks.  This one though, had several recipes in it that I knew would please my family and used ingredients I keep on hand.  So it has been used quite a bit over the years. 
 



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