PhotoHunt: Thankful

This week's theme is "Thankful" so I am going to use our Thankful Tree from this past Thanksgiving. Every Thanksgiving we make a Thankful Tree, that way each of us is able to list the things we are thankful for and be able to proudly display them for all to see. Plus it's fun and makes us all warm and fuzzy inside! ;)
For more photos and this week's PhotoHunt check out: tnchick.com

Friday Fill-Ins #113

Hi all, another week is almost over and it is time for yet another weekly installment of Friday Fill-Ins! Janet asks the questions and my answers are underlined!

1. I'm worried, I'm frustrated, I hope that my kitty Max is going to be ok. This is her third issue with an upper respitory infection in her short 18 month life!

2. Why do I have this and not that!

3. How does this fuse thingy work, anyway?

4. Every morning, I put lip balm on my lips.

5. I consider myself lucky because I have wonderful family and friends.

6. One day we’ll see about maybe getting a dog.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching BSG, tomorrow my plans include a nice family get together and Sunday, I want to go fly kites with the kids and my sisters! :)

For more Friday Fill-Ins participants click here

3 Word Thursdays :)

Ok so that last word is "glasses" if you could not tell! lol He broke his glasses almost a month ago and due to insurance issues we had to wait to get the new ones until yesterday. He did an AWESOME job of being incredibly careful with the broken ones so that they would last!! I am extremely proud of him and thank god for super glue! lol

He picked out the new ones himself as I stood by thinking "Oh please pick out a decent pair!" I do not want to be one of those mothers who do not let their children grow up and make their own decisions. Especially something that is really not all that crucial like glasses, after all I do not have to wear them. Of course I do not want him to silly either, but I think he picked out a cute pair. The funny part is they look a lot like mine except a different color. :)

meme rules:

*photo must have 3 words in it
*post your photo on your site with a link
back to Ma Vie Folle (or grab button)

For more 3 Word Thursday participants and to visit Sheila's awesome blog click here!

I Am Thankful..

FOR THE WIFE
WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT,
BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME,
AND NOT OUT SHOPPING.


FOR THE HUSBAND
WHO IS ON THE SOFA
BEING A COUCH POTATO,
BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME
AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.


FOR THE TEENAGER
WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES
BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME,
NOT ON THE STREETS.


FOR THE TAXES I PAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM EMPLOYED .


FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.


FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.


FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE


FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING, WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING, AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME


FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING
I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT
BECAUSE IT MEANS WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.


FOR THE PARKING SPOT
I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING
AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION .


FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM.


FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH
WHO SINGS OFF KEY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR.


FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.


FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES AT THE END OF THE DAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.


FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF
IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.


AND I AM THANKFUL:
FOR THE crazy people I am privileged to know
BECAUSE they make life interesting and fun!

Wordless Wednesday - Feeding the ducks :)

For more Wordless Wednesday participants check out these wonderful blogs:
Ma Vie Folle!
Write From Karen!
5 Minutes for Mom!
Three Peas in a Pod!

Tackle It Tuesday

My tackle for this week is the kids books on the bookshelf in the living room. We organize the books often and it still takes no more than a few days for them to be crammed back on the shelf all falling off. I have tried to teach my kids how to treat their books. I have tried to express to them the importance of taking care of them since they all love to read SO much, but it seems to go in one ear and out the other!

Here are the shelves before:
and after:Find out more about Tackle It Tuesday here.

Ode to Emily

Welcome Home Emily! I love you!

My sister moved back from Oregon. I am so excited I can hardly contain myself. She finally got here today after a brief detour. I have missed her so much since she has been gone. I really treasure her as a friend and a family member. I hope that we will be able to spend more time together than we have in the past. It is my sincere hope that she is happy with her decision and that she stays here for a long while.

Monday Morning Meme

Hi all, another week is just beginning and it is time for yet another weekly installment of the Monday Morning MeMe!! Karen asks the questions(in blue) and my answers follow(in black)!

1. Does blogging make you fat?
Hummm that is an interesting question. I do not think blogging made or makes me fat. I think it can help lead to a sedimentary lifestyle if you do not take the proper precautions to offset the time you spend in front of the computer, but of course you must have moderation in all things. This is something I am learning more and more the older I get, but that is a different rant altogether. lol

Do you find yourself sitting around and eating more since you started your blog? Or do you get so caught up in the whole blogging routine that you forget to eat?
I would not say that I eat more since I started blogging. Although I do tend to snack more at night while in front of the computer catching up on things and or blogging. Then again there are times that I get totally engrossed in what I am writing and therefore I forget to eat!

2. The one topic I will not touch on my blog is........ wow this is a hard question for me to answer because I hesitate to say that I would never talk about certain topics. You never can tell when something will touch your family, friends or your life enough to want to shout it out to the world. I have always said that I never talk about politics and had no interest in it, but I found myself being sucked in to the Presidential election this past year like I would not have believed. I even blogged about it!

I guess if I had to pick I would say "The one topic I will not touch on my blog are the details of my most private relationships!"

Why?
Mainly because it is not something I find that I need to blog about or that other people need to know. Plus some things need to be kept sacred right!?

What sorts of topics do you receive the most comments on?
I know this does not really answer the question, but the most popular topic that I get comments on is this one Why Boys Need Mothers. I think it is because it is SO funny. lol

What sorts of topics do you receive the least number of comments on?
Not sure I have not actually paid that much attention.

3. Spring is coming. How is your wardrobe?
Well it is the same wardrobe as last year so I guess it is fine. lol I am in the middle of trying to lose some weight so I am not buying any new clothes until I have lost some!!

What sorts of clothes do you usually wear in the spring?
I usually wear Capri's and T-shirts with my flip flops.

Where do you normally shop for your clothes?
I normally shop at Walmart or Lane Bryant.

How successful are you in finding clothes for yourself?
I SUCK at finding clothes for myself. If I am trying to find something important I will take my mother shopping with me. I honestly need a style expert to come give me a makeover! Anyone?

4. We should treat every day as a special gift - we’re alive, right? What made this past week special for you?
If I had to pick one thing that made it special, I think it would have to be when Jeremy came home from his wound care Friday and told me that they have decided he only has to come in twice a week now!!

Finding out that the wound is now about 50% healed and we are on the downhill slide to him being fixed makes me SO incredibly happy you have no idea! :) :)

I am so excited for him that he will no longer have to deal with this issue and that his long road to recovery will soon be over. There are honestly no words to express how important it is that he be healed and how much it will impact our family!

For more Monday Morning Meme participants click here!

Marathon Kids Final Lap

Today was the final lap of Marathon kids and we had a good time despite the cold rainy weather! It was a pretty uneventful morning until we got started getting ready to leave. It always seems to happen that way. I asked 20mins before we left if anyone was going to take their hoodie and of course they said "No". The minute we step towards the door though everyone has decided it is too cold and starts scrambling to find their coats!

We of course could not be out the door in time to save our lives and we still had to stop at the store to put gas in the car and air in the tire. Not to mention we still had yet to drive across town in the wet rainy weather. The traffic was horrible and on a Saturday morning none the less, it took us twice the time it normally would have to get there.

Once we finally got parked and up in the stands it started to rain! lol Not just a little drizzle either it poured on us for about 10mins before it let up and it did I tell you it was 55degrees outside!! I do realize it is colder in lots of other areas of the country, but here in Texas in the rain that is COLD!!! The kids did really well though we stuck it out and did not scramble like the others in a pack mentality to escape the rain lest we melt!

Normally they have us jog 1 mile around the track by sections, but since today it was raining pretty hard on us they only had us jog 2/3 of a mile. We all jogged the entire way, I was really proud of all the kids and myself it was awesome! The best part is we had so much fun we decided to do our regular mile walk once we got home and T-man went with us!

Last but certainly not least here is the slideshow from today!

If you would like to read more about the program or to read about our Marathon Kids Opening day experience click here!

PhotoHunt: Warm

This week's theme for PhotoHunt is Warm. Here is a picture of Spunky and Princess way back in 04' all cozy and warm in their blankets by the fireplace. :)For more photos and this week's PhotoHunt check out: tnchick.com

Pork Tenderloin with mushrooms and mozzarella cheese

This was one of the best recipes I have tried in quite some time! We all LOVED it including the picky kiddos. Of course we did not tell Miss Princess that we were eating pig..........we only called it Tenderloin and never used the word "pork"! LOL

Ingredients:
1 Whole pork tenderloin (2 lb size)
3 tbsp olive oil
1 and 1/2 cups onions, sliced
2 cups mushrooms, sliced
3 tbsp sugar
4 tbsp soy sauce
3 tbsp mustard
Mozzarella cheese
Salt and pepper

Directions:
Cut the tenderloin in approximately 1/2 inch pieces. Heat a heavy skillet, put in the oil and brown tenderloin on all sides. Sprinkle all of the tenderloin with salt and pepper. Place in a 9x13 inch pan.Add to the skillet the onions and saute until golden brown, then add the sugar. Next add the mushrooms and stir gently with the soy sauce and the mustard. Add the mushrooms and onions in the cooking pan. Add 1 cup water in the pan and bake in a 400 degree F. oven. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for approximately 45 min or until tender.

When done, take the pieces of meat and the mushrooms outside the pan and place them in a serving plate. Place a thin slice of Mozzarella cheese on top of each piece of meat. Leave it to melt. Take the sauce from the cooking pan and make gravy with hand mixer.

We served this with fresh green beans with new potatoes and I made gravy out of the pan drippings.

I must give full credit for this recipe to Aneliya @ Tandooris Journey.

Friday Fill-Ins #112

Hi all, another week is almost over and it is time for yet another weekly installment of Friday Fill-Ins! Janet asks the questions and my answers are underlined!

#1-3 are courtesy of Mar this week.

1. Give me markers and I'll draw you a picture.

2. Whenever I am anxious it sucks!

3. I wish I enjoyed working out. It would make losing this weight a lot easier!!

4. The chocolate covered strawberries from Valentines day were the last things I ate that were utterly delicious.

5. To live in this world, one must be a combination of things.

6. Other than this one, Ma Vie Folle is the last blog I commented on.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to the start of T-man's weekend :), tomorrow my plans include the final lap of Marathon Kids and cleaning out that DAMN fish tank again and Sunday, I want to hopefully start cleaning out the garage!

For more Friday Fill-Ins participants click here

Green Beans with New Potatoes

We had a wonderful dinner tonight and I had just had to share the recipes with you all. Below is the recipe for the Green Beans with New Potatoes and if you would you like to try the Pork Tenderloin with mushrooms and mozzarella cheese click here.

Ingredients:
3 pounds fresh green beans
2 cups chicken broth, plus more if needed
2 to 3 teaspoons House Seasoning, *recipe follows*
12 small red potatoes
1 onion, cut into slivers
1/2 stick unsalted butter, sliced

*House Seasoning*
1 cup salt
1/4 cup black pepper
1/4 cup garlic powder

Mix ingredients together and store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

Directions:
Remove the ends from the beans. Snap the beans in 2 pieces, place into a colander, wash, and set aside to drain.
Melt butter in the bottom of a stock pot. Toss the green beans into the pot, stirring them with a spoon to coat well with the butter. Add the broth and House Seasoning. Cook over medium-low heat, covered tightly, for approximately 30 minutes, or until the beans are half done.

While the beans are cooking, peel a center strip from each new potato with a potato peeler. At the end of 30 minutes, add the potatoes and onion to the beans; add 1/4 cup more broth, if needed. Cook, covered tightly, until the potatoes are tender, approximately 25 to 30 minutes, periodically checking the pot to make sure a small amount of liquid remains. When the potatoes are tender, tilt the lid slightly, off to the side of the pot, and continue to cook until the green beans are wilted, approximately 15 minutes. While cooking, add more butter and seasoning to taste.

I must give full credit for the awesome recipe to Paula Deen over at the Food Network!

3 Word Thursdays :)

We filed our taxes a few weeks ago and have since anxiously awaited our return. It is almost time for the check to arrive and I am SO ready to be able to take care of a few things. We may even be able to mess around with a bit of it! WOOHOO! :)

meme rules:

*photo must have 3 words in it
*post your photo on your site with a link
back to Ma Vie Folle (or grab button)

For more 3 Word Thursday participants and to visit Sheila's awesome blog click here!

Wordless Wednesday

Princess and her Uncle John @ Christmas gosh 5yrs ago.For more Wordless Wednesday participants check out these wonderful blogs:

Ma Vie Folle!
Write From Karen!

Three Peas in a Pod!
5 Minutes for Mom!

Tackle it Tuesday

My tackle for this week is something that has to be done often, cleaning out my organizer. I tend to just shove any papers into it that I need to look at or really anything paper that is floating around my desk area. Then every few days I go through all the crud I have gathered.

Here is the before:
and here is the after:Find out more about Tackle It Tuesday here.

Monday Morning Meme

Hi all, another week is just beginning and it is time for yet another weekly installment of the Monday Morning MeMe!! Karen asks the questions(in blue) and my answers follow(in black)!

1. What did you do over the weekend?
Honestly I slept part of this weekend away. It seems the worst of the Flu caught up with me Saturday and Sunday. My sweetie was a darling and took care of everything having to do with the kids on Valentines so that I could sleep away the sickness. While I was sleeping Grandma came over and gave each of the kids a chocolate animal, they were thrilled!! :)

When I woke up we gave the kiddos their cute stuffed animals and candy hearts. The rest of the evening was spent watching TV and recuperating. Sunday I lounged around the house again trying to feel better. The kids caught up on homework since they missed all last week, well except Princess. I did end up cleaning the kitchen it was a freaking wreck! It is amazing how when mom is sick the house goes to hell isn't it!? I always wonder why it is no one else knows how to clean. lol

2. What was your first impression of your spouse or current partner?
Oh wow my first impression was oh so long ago back in 91' when we were both in high school. It was my freshman year and I met him through an old friend of mine from the neighborhood. I thought he looked like a really cute and nice guy who I wanted to get to know more!

He always wore a big black trench coat with combat boots and he had the most gorgeous blue eyes and red hair. His hair was so long back then and he wore it in a ponytail I always thought it was SO sexy! The first time I talked to him I was so nervous he made me feel all giggly and there were so many butterflies in my stomach.

Now tell us about your first date with this person.
This one I am unable to answer because we have dated twice in our long history and I do not seem to remember the first dates from either time! lol

3. How many lurkers do you think you have that read your blog, but never comment?
I have no idea, but I am sure there are a few.

Have you ever been successful at getting them to say hello?
I have never tried.

Do you mind the lurking?
Nope

Are you a lurker? Or do you try and comment every time you visit?
I can be a lurker.........to be honest I think I lurk more than I comment. It's not that I do not like what I read, it's just that a lot of the time I either cannot find the right words or just do not have time to write out a well thought out comment. So I tell myself that I will come back to it and then it seems I always forget.

4. Good friends are proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.

For more Monday Morning Meme participants click here!

Sunday Stealing

"Welcome back to Sunday Stealing. Here we will steal all types of memes from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent memes. You may have heard of the expression, “honor amongst thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we also have our rules. We will be very honest about our theft: We always let the owner of the selected blog know that we have ripped their meme off. In turn, we will always provide a link to their site. Join in the fun and rip it off of us every Sunday. And stop by fellow thieves blogs and have some fun... Cheers to all us thieves!"

This week's Meme was originally posted by Geebee from Geebee’s Trip.

The Q & A Meme

1. Where is your significant other?
Currently he is sitting across from me at his desk.

2. Your favorite thing?
My computer lol

3. Your dream last night?
Was a scary one about the cat next door being attacked by rats! I also remember getting pissed off at my ex for something about taxes and child support! lol

4. Your goal?
Currently that would be making it through this month!!

5. Your hobby/ies?
Blogging, playing wow and catching up on Our Mom Spot!

6. Where do you want to be in 6 years?
In a career that makes me happy.

7. Where were you last night?
Home like always

8. What you're not?
Patient........

9. One of your wish list items?
A Wii

10. Your pet?
Is a cute kitty named Max :)

11. Missing someone?
Yes my little sister EJ, but she is on her way back home! :)

12. Your car?
Is way to SMALL for our family!

13. Something you're not wearing?
Jewelry

14. Love someone?
Yes with all my heart and soul

15. When is the last time you laughed?
Earlier today

16. Last time you cried?
A few days ago

17. Favorite past time?
Watching movies with the family

18. Are you a hater or a lover?
Lover all the way!!

19. Any vices?
Yup yup several

20. Favorite meme other than Sunday Stealing?
I have two that are my favs! :) 3 Word Thursdays from Sheila at Ma Vie Folle and Monday Morning Meme from Karen at Write From Karen

If you want to read more about the meme or join in the fun please visit Sunday Stealing

Have a great one! :)

Happy Valentines Day!!

Friday Fill-Ins #111

Hi all, another week is almost over and it is time for yet another weekly installment of Friday Fill-Ins! Janet asks the questions and my answers are underlined!

1. It seems like there is always something going on or something to be done!

2. Will you recheck it when you're done, please?

3. If I thought you do it right I'd get off your butt! lol

4. Laughter and the good times is what I think of most when I think of you.

5. To me, Valentine's Day means quality time spent with my love.

6. My family gives me strength.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to just sitting here. After the hectic last few days while being sick this weekend better be chill! lol, tomorrow my plans include making Vday crafts with the kiddos during the day and the evening will be spent with my sweetie watching movies etc tee hee and Sunday, I want to just rest!

For more Friday Fill-Ins participants click here

3 Word Thursdays :)

Normally we have the Flu shot right at the beginning of the season, that way the boy and now Spunky will be protected since they both have asthma. This year though with Jeremy being in the hospital, the holidays and multiple other things going on, I totally spaced the Flu shots. Serves me right too cause we now have the Flu, all of us with the exception of Jeremy thank goodness! He needs no other issues to contend with right now. This is what it look like to treat a family of five with the Flu!

meme rules:

*photo must have 3 words in it
*post your photo on your site with a link
back to Ma Vie Folle (or grab button)

For more 3 Word Thursday participants and to visit Sheila's awesome blog click here!

Wordless Wednesday - My little Tinkerbell

For more Wordless Wednesday participants check out these wonderful blogs:

5 Minutes for Mom!

Three Peas in a Pod!

Tackle it Tuesday

My tackle for this week is an easy one! I am going to put up the pictures that have been laying on the fireplace for months waiting for me to put them up! lol First picture is the blank wall the way it has been for a few months now since things were rearranged. and the after with all the pictures added:Find out more about Tackle It Tuesday here.