Tuesday

A funny thing happens on Tuesdays at our house. Michael has church stuff to do most Tuesdays and so I sort of fudge on dinner. Most of the time we have homemade pizza or spaghetti because it's the only time we can - the sauce bugs Michaels sensitive tummy.

Lately it's become a night of experimentation and tonight I totally thought it was gonna be a bust. Michael walked in to pick up some stuff before heading out and commented that it smelled like something was burning.... hmm not a good sign.

I decided to make half-person quiche. I just came up with that. Don't really know what else to call them. It's not baby quiche and it's not a whole quiche pie. Here's the recipe as I made it with some hindsight ideas of making it better or less messy.

Pillsbury Grands Biscuits
Mozzerella cheese - maybe a cup or less?
Canadian Bacon - 2 circles cut up small
Egg Beater Whites
One whole egg
Milk - just a splash

So this is basically what I did:

Take the individual biscuits and spread or flatten them out a bit and place them into cupcake pan. (hindsight - spray some Pam into pan first)

put a scant amount of cheese in each biscuit and a few pieces of Canadian Bacon (or ham)

beat about a quarter of cup of egg whites with a whole egg and a splash of milk and put about 2-3 spoonfuls into each biscuit. add more cheese to the tops of each and then bake for about 15-20 minutes. (hindsight - make sure you put the cupcake pan into a deeper pan in the oven. Otherwise the egg mixture may drip all over the bottom of your oven. Trust me. I know. That's where the burning smell came from...)

You need to let them rest for about 5 minutes before digging them out with a spoon and serving. They aren't pretty... but my kids devoured them. I was quite surprised. And I love them even more for it!

Tagged - sort of

So I cheated - but Dorothy sort of tagged me by way of Beth, who by the way, I had no idea had a blog! I love it! It's so cute and and I love the music! Good to see the kids are still up to their old tricks - they sure do keep you on your feet!

So here are the rules

A. The rules of this game are posted at the beginning.
B. Each player answers the question about themselves.
C. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, and then leaves a comment on their blog letting them know they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog to get the directions.

Questions:
10 yrs ago:
5 Things on my list of things to do today:
Things I would do if I suddenly was a Billionaire:
3 of my bad habits:
Places I have lived:
Jobs I have had:
Things most people don't know about me:

And here I go!

10 years ago I was an art student at UMBC. I was much thinner and much funner. (yes, I know that's not a *real* word) I like to call this time of my life the brainwashing period. I had some messed up professors who were intent on turning us all into bitter, self-absorbed robot versions of themselves. I think I'm near the end of the road towards recovery.

5 things on my list of things to do today are: Do the dishes and mop the kitchen floor, catch up on on the laundry, read a few chapters, find an OB and eat all day to avoid feeling nauseous.

If I were suddenly a billionaire I would take our family on a slow trip around the world. I'd hire a teacher to come with us and sort of "world school" the kids. And I'd buy tons of photo equipment that I have been drooling over for years. Oh and I would pay off the school loans... I'd also get my hubby started in his own business, cause a billion dollars could go surprisingly fast.

hmmm.... 3 bad habits? Laziness, checking my email WAY TOO OFTEN, and falling asleep on the couch.

I have lived in several locations in Maryland, Colorado, a short stint in Littlestown PA, Gilbert and Laveen Arizona, and now FL.

I have worked as a movie concession worker, a salesgirl at TJMaxx, worked at Sylvan Prometric, a vegetable stand, in the Philosophy department at UMBC, A very short stint at Sears Portrait Studios -Yikes - should I admit that?, the Maryland Pennysaver and at an ad agency of sorts called ADVO. I have also own my own photography business.

what don't you know about me?
I'm sure by now you have figured out that I am PREGNANT with my 3rd child. Yikes! We didn't think it was possible for us to get prego without meds, but now we know better! I'm super nervous. I hear this is the kid that sends moms over the edge.

I was mercilessly picked on in middle school and it scarred me for life. I was once punched in the stomach right after lunch by a bully whose name I still remember -KAREN GLEASON- and then I puked on her shoes. Serves her right.

I hate to fold laundry.


Tag You're It!
Deon and Richard, Karen, Becky and Alissa (cause I am a cruel person!)

Tag Me - someone, ANYONE!

I find it hard to believe that I have been blogging for 4 months and have yet to be tagged. What's up with that? Am I *so* transparent and known by all who read this that there's no point? Do you all really think you know me that well? Sheesh.

I've got juicy stories.
I've got skeletons.

I've got a peanut butter and jelly sandwich stuck to the bottom of my kitchen table. Ewwww!!!!

I declare February 14th BERGER DAY!

Okay anyone who knows me well knows that my absolute favorite treat (make up gift... anti-depressant) is a cellophane wrapped box of Berger's cookies. These God-sent treats from heaven are actually made in Baltimore, Maryland. Had I known the full history of Berger cookies and their limited availability outside of the Baltimore/Washington Metro Area I NEVER WOULD HAVE AGREED TO MOVE OUT OF THE AREA.

Thankfully, there are airplanes and FedEx and let's not forget the internet. It's now possible to order them online. But only for a little while longer 'cause they won't send them if it's too hot outside and there's a possibility of meltage enroute. (not real words according to spell check).

February ought to be just fine though. Feel free to send me or someone you love more than me these wonderful treats. My hubby sometimes remembers my obsession with BERGER'S COOKIES and has them sent FedEx - sometimes... hmm... tell me, would it be selfish or without faith for me to order myself some cookies *just in case* he forgets?

Remember that feeling of "impending doom?"

So apparently my "doom" came in the form of the FLU! I've had it since Friday and I am soooo done with it. Make it go away! My friend Kristy has this posted on her blog... it's just a little peek at what's to come of my getting sick. If you have a weak bladder you are excused from watching this - otherwise YOU MUST WATCH this re-enactment of what happens in our house during flu season.

Reason #293 why I love this kid.

So I'm working in the office and down the stairs comes Amanda...in this...and asks, "is this how you're suppose to wear this?"

I couldn't help but laugh and then chase her up the stairs with my camera. After much protesting she finally conceded to "just ONE" picture.

1st person to guess correctly what this is she is wearing gets a secret PRIZE to be determined sometime later. My brain is too fried to figure out something creative right at this moment...

Could this be the reason for my feelings of impending doom?

Tornado Watch:Issued at: 6:03 PM EST 1/19/08, expires at: 10:00 PM EST 1/19/08Tornado watch 22 remains in effect until 1000 pm est for the following locations Fl ., Florida Counties Included Are:
Alachua, Citrus, Flagler, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lake, Levy, Marion, Orange, Pasco, Pinellas, Putnam, St. Johns, Seminole, Sumter, Volusia.

Tornado warnings and watches for our area! It's totally freaking Amanda out!

Ever get that *feeling*?

I've been having this feeling lately - for the past 2 weeks to be exact - that sinking feeling like my world is going to change drastically in the near future. I've had similar feelings in the past - like 2 hours before my grandmother died (me in Maryland, grandma in Utah) I just had this feeling that made me start crying without a clue as to why. Then again, I also had this feeling when I was living in one of the ghettos of Baltimore and my mom was visiting...and nothing happened.

This time it's more of a "when is the other shoe going to drop" feeling along with a what if this happens - what will we do? I don't like feeling like this. I won't say that I don't like surprises, it's just that I have grown to sort of dread them because I never react the way I know I should react to them... it's always sort of an afterthought well after the damage is done where I think, "Oh - this was a good lesson." or "I really could have handled that differently and not hurt so and so..."

If hindsight is 20/20 what is foresight...nearsightedness?

Death of a Laptop

Yep. I dropped my precious laptop. It worked for 2 more days and then the hard drive took a dive and I got the BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH. It may be a while before it's up and running again so I have to use my hubby's computer. He's none too happy about that. He's afraid I will download something with a virus and make his 'puter sick.

Nevermind all the files I lost. Nor the irreplaceable photos of our family. Nevermind that I will have to recreate all the files for Primary and assorted projects. I am a total idiot for not doing a backup of my laptop. I should know better. I've had a laptop stolen - thankfully I had recent backups of 98% of what was on it - minus the programs.

So I am telling all of you reading this now - BACK UP YOUR FILES TO A DVD OR EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE! DO IT TODAY!

So until I have a new hard drive installed and programs running on my laptop, I am in mourning for my addiction to the laptop and all my groups and email and blog stalking and easy answers to life's immediate questions.

Argghhh!

Catching up...

1. CHRISTMAS!
Christmas was super fun this year with Hayden. He really got into the ripping of the paper and enjoyed all the wonderful toys that family and friends sent. Amanda and Hayden were both very much spoiled this year - we'll be toning things down next year for sure! Amanda even commented that she thought she got way too much - that's what happens when your birthday is only days before Christmas!

2. THE MOVE
I do believe this has been the most physically taxing move we have ever made...and we only moved approximately 2 miles down the road! I'd go into all the details of the move, but they'd be quite boring and recapping it all would be almost as painful as the actual event. But as of today EVERYTHING is moved into the new 3 story townhouse and we are beginning to settle in.

Hayden is sleeping in the bottom bunk - sort of. He still wakes a couple times per night needing a little comfort, but then he's right back to sleep in his bed. Amanda doesn't seem at all phased by the noisy nighttime habits of her brother. She is on the top bunk and sleeping like a rock, as always. So it seems that the new sleeping arrangement will work out just fine.


3. New Years Eve was spent with family down in Melbourne. We all had a blast with funny hats and noisemakers!



I'll add pictures later when the other computer is up and running...