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That Banana Bar sounds awesome. I will definitely try it. Little One's Christmas was great as well, she definitely was spoiled. By the way, she LOVES her make up from Kiki!
We got back yesterday from being down at Mr.I's parents' house, it was so fun but it is so nice to be home. I have been taking down all my Christmas decorations and Mr.I was a great husband, as always, and hung a ton of things for me. One thing was my craft today! I have not done anything with our boot pictures and have wanted them incorporated somehow into the powder room. Well I decided(with your help) to paint a bunch of frames yellow to put them in! So fun. I also took out the glass, which I really like. I then remembered I had some old black shelves from our apartment and got those out, arranged them on the wall and we are good to go! I love the pop of color that it adds :) Woohoo! Well nothing too exciting going on, sorry no fun stories. Missing you!

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We had an awesome Christmas!  The kids got totally spoiled!  We got home late last night and are still recovering from being "on vacation" for 5 days.  Sorry I am writing you so late.   I am exhausted, the monsters are exhausted and everything is in shambles.

Before I left town Mama T brought a dessert that she passed around at work.  It was AMAZING and she promises me that it is easy peasy.  I haven't made it yet but I tell you what the recipe looks easy.

Mama T's Banana Bars
1/2 C margarine (1stick) soft
1 1/2 C sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp vanilla
2 C flour
1 C sour milk (plain milk & add 1 tbsp white vinegar)
3 mashed ripe bananas

Mix all ingredients and bake in a sheet pan for 20 min at 350 degrees.  Top should be nice and golden brown.  Frost with cream cheese frosting.  Enjoy!

Cream Cheese frosting
1 8 oz cream cheese
1/4 C margarine softened
2-3 tsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
4 C powdered sugar
Beat cream cheese, butter, milk and vanilla until smooth.  Gradually add powdered sugar until perfect consistency (your preference).

I know that Little One will LOVE this.  SO good.  It would be good for bunco nights.  Well I'll get some pictures of the kids and their Christmas haul.  Love you guys.

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I wish I could be there to experience your crazy days first hand. All I have to say is HILARIOUS! This SAHM watched one of Little One's buddies this morning and man did my child not want to share her toys! Needless to say it was a LONG morning. I did make two crafts with the girls, but of course it took no time at all HA! We made your melted snowmen ornaments (okay I made them) and the other one you'll hear about later ;)
Yesterday Little One and I made a craft that we heard about from a friend. She had a blast! I bought a canvas from Micheal's and some of there acrylic paint (.59 cents each). I then used masking tape to make her initials on the canvas. Little One got 3 brushes with different colors and went to work! When it was dry take the paint off and there you go :)

I am making beef stroganoff and ginger snap strips and andes mint brownies for a prelude to Christmas Eve on Friday. I can't wait. It will be like we are with you all! We'll have to skype :) Missing you!

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I am so glad we are back onto speaking terms :).  Ok so get a load of the night I had....
First things first.  Tomorrow is our big company holiday feast extravaganza.  Each person is to bring their favorite treat to pass and we can just snack all day long, AMAZING.  I thought chili dip sounded good.  But well that isn't exactly classified as a holiday treat so I decided our all time easy peasy heath bar cookies would definitely be a crowd pleaser.  And talk about cheap!  Done.  So I told the kids they could help, oh why didn't I just wait until they went to bed.  Instead of making a double batch I thought I'll bring caramel popcorn too.  I put Lou on heath bar duty and Buffalo on caramel corn.  Well don't you know Quinnie just had to help too.  Ugh, big mistake.  As soon as Lou's sauce started boiling Quinnie dumped in corn syrup.  Shoot that was supposed to be in Buffalo's sauce.  Rats.  So one thing led to another everything started boiling, boiling over, burning onto the stove top all while I was trying to pop popcorn, lay out saltine crackers, contain Quinnie from burning her hand on the stove or dumping more of the unwanted ingredients into the sauces.  Well after all this yes I did, I lost it totally lost it.  I quickly told the kids if they got ready for bed all by themselves I would let them fall asleep to a movie (parenting tip 107).   Of course this got them up and moving so that I could try and salvage the night.  THANK YOU ABC FAMILY for playing Christmas movies.  They quickly discovered that the Polar Express was on and got themselves tucked in before I even had a chance to come check on the situation.


 I was trying to be super mom and well as usual I got in way to deep and the world started spinning out of control fast.  I have found that the only good part is that burnt caramel sauce on the cook top smells like burnt marshmallows and who doesn't like the smell of burnt marshmallows.  (okay but after scrubbing for an hour I'm WAY over the smell of toasted marshmallows.)
Well I think I recovered and everything looks like it turned out.  And I even cleaned up the kitchen so you can just barely tell that there was a bomb that went off.  And I didn't mess up my manicure that I just "got done".


The saving grace of the night was when I was looking through the pictures of the day.  Whatever Quinnie does Lou tries to "disrupt".  So tonight it was wearing my shoes while Quinnie was playing dress up.  He looked at me and said "Mom, these shoes you got me are a little big!"  HOW FUNNY!!  He is such a goof.

And so that is how my night went.  Much to say I am sitting with my feet up drinking my favorite drink... waiting for C to come home with sweet potato chips.  I can't wait.  Oh yeah and I may be sitting watching Polar Express.  Oh how I love Christmas.  Between the music and movies life couldn't get much better.  Guess I better get back to wrapping some presents while the monsters sleep.

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You're right I was mad. I kept opening up the page hoping to find something hilarious from you, but alas nothing! Boo to you. Just kidding I love you!
Our weekend was a pretty quiet one. Little One is doing awesome with potty training now. I have even taken her out of the house twice now with undies on! Last night she had an accident on the way home. We were so close! She said mommy potty and I just thought hold on, hold on, but she couldn't. Oh well she is doing great. Okay and I always thought I would so not be that mom to talk about my kid's potty habits, and look at me go. Sad, I will stop now I promise!

Our errands took us to Micheal's last night because my cousin KH told me about a cute craft she made with her kids(for another day) so I wanted to go get supplies. While we were there I spotted the embroidery hoops and realized they were only $1. They were pretty picked over, but  I did come away with 4. When Little One went to bed, I got to work. I have a bunch of leftover fabric from a quilt I made as well as some from the skirt I made Quinnie. I decided why not just put the fabric in the hoops as a wall decor for my guest room?!  Then I remembered a super cute idea from pinterest:diy-spring-button-flowers So I added flowers to the hoop that had solid green fabric. I changed it up a bit from my inspiration because I need to buy some new, fun buttons. However, I have adorable brads that I have never used and just popped those through the fabric as the flower. Then I took my embroidery thread and made stems. Mr.I helped me hang them and DONE! I now have something in my guest room finally! I think I want to get a ton more and make my cluster way bigger. It is just so fun and easy. The whole project cost under $5 because I already had fabric, brads, and thread! I need to start my quilt ASAP for that room so it will go with my new wall decor :) Again, that's for another day.
Are you having a popcorn party? If so wish we were there! LOVE YOU

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I know you're mad at me.  I should explain that after I write about something so funny it is hard to think of how to top that.  Well I guess I just need to come to the realization that I am not always going to be funny, and I'm not always going to have some crazy story to tell but I should just get to it and write you something.

The other day while I was looking at some blogs that I read I came across a recipe that looked delicious.  So I tried it.  And I liked it.  I mean really liked it.  You have to try this.  They are SUPER good.

Source: sixsistersstuff.blogspot.com via Katie on Pinterest

SO GOOD.  Did I say that already.  Oh you gotta try these.

Right before I sat down to do a post I told Little Lou that we could go get a movie for the night and so Quinnie, Lou and I got ready and headed out.  Well Quinnie got her hand slammed in the door.  I FREAKED out.  It creased her hand and instantly turned purple.  Of course C was gone so I had to decide what to do (of course I called Dad to assist in my decision) so I thought milkshake, ice pack, and an hour or so to see how it was and then I would take her in.  Fortunately the milkshake did the trick!  She can wiggle her little fingers which I think is a good sign and seems to be ok.  I guess we'll see tomorrow how she's doing.  In the mean time we are having a pizza, movie, caramel popcorn party.

Hope you are having a good weekend!  Love you.

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Oh man Kiki, you crack me up. Mrs. Marsh and I were reading your post just laughing out loud! I love that you go for it on everything you do, I probably would have given up and just bought cookies at the store ;)
I found out today I passed my BIG teaching test! Halleluiah! Little One and I were on a Chick-fil-a play date and my friend and I screamed out loud as I read the third email that said all three were good to go! (Sorry C if you are reading this, I am not trying to make you jealous of my frequent Chick-fil-a stops.) Little One also took a 4 hour nap today, yes you read that right! We were in San Diego all day yesterday with Mr.I's sister and her kids and Little One did not get a nap. It was a fun time and I actually got my craft today from my niece's kindergarten craft. Yes I stole it from a kindergartener but it was so cute! Okay back to Little One's 4 hour rest. Did I get anything accomplished? Not really. Typical. I did some laundry, talked to someone about renewing my credential and slept an hour of it. My house needs to be dusted, I need to vacuum, I need to go grocery shopping, I need to do a ton of baking for Christmas, but it was sure nice sleeping HA!

Alright, so on to the kindergarten craft: A Christmas tree made out of a pine cone! Way easy and cute! I got a pine cone from outside, the trunk is a cap from a water bottle that I hot glued fabric to, and I hot glued the ribbon and buttons on, cut out a star from yellow paper and glued that on. Done in less that 10 minutes for absolutely FREE! LOVE IT.
Off to finish making some cookies and do a little knitting :) I can't wait to hear some crazy tale from you tomorrow! love you sister.

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Today was the big Cookie Exchange at work.  My first one ever.  It was so totally worth it.  I have a giant box filled with an assortment of all kinds of cookies.   Awesome!  In the words of Mr. Lou... "Best Day Ever!"  Okay so now that you know that I completed the challenge at hand and reached the ultimate prize of going home with a whopping 108 cookies let me take you back to Saturday at the start of my journey into the cookie exchange extravaganza.  I decided to make Mom's awesome gingersnap cookies.  They make a ton and are SUPER DELICIOUS, and from the recipe they appeared to be fairly easy.  I say this with a pain because me "so-called" easy cookies turned into a tear fest.  You think you are emotional ugh you got nothing on me sister.  Cookies bring me to tears every time.  As we know I don't like to bake.  I bake because it makes my kids happy but it drives me insane.  I am not good at baking and try to avoid baking at all cost.   I thought, however, that since I have watched Mom make these cookies a bazillion times I would be fine and have instant success.  I don't know what the problem was but it turned into a mess.  The first batch I cooked up were thin as rails.  They burnt up and after fanning out the smoke and dumping the cookies into the trash I tried batch number two.  For whatever reason they were sticky I mean sticky!  When I tried to roll them into loaves they stuck all over the place (and all over Lou, because he had to help me and Quinnie because she didn't want to be left out either).  I tried improvising and roll them on wax paper and then transfer the wax paper to a cookie sheet to avoid them sticking to the counter and not getting onto the cookie sheet, etc etc. blah blah blah..... umm yeah wax paper is not like parchment paper (don't use as a substitute).  These cookies also burnt to a crisp (they did rise however) I salvaged what I could and then threw the rest away.  Admist the cleanup of the sticky fingers and throwing the burnt cookies into the trash, fanning the smoke to get a clean breath and I get a phone call from Mom telling me that she was at Embassy Suites and was missing us (oh such a good story for another day)... insert tears here... she was like sorry for making you cry.  You know those moments when you just need a mom to come and save the day, boy did I have one of those, but she couldn't come because she is a million gazillion miles away.  (I know I am the one that took a job in another country.. aka NE, but I still miss being 20 min away from mom and dad).  Well, I quickly hung up, cleaned up my mess (2 batches, 120 cookies in the trash later) and went down to my room and took a nap snuggled with Quinnie.  And then the next day arrived and as much as I wanted to give up I still had to make 108 cookies for my cookie exchange, so I called my little sister for encouragment and advice and she says to me "how can you mess up gingersnaps"... really thanks Tia.  So I put my big girl panties on and tried again.  SUCCESS.  Third time was the charm and by my fourth batch (yep 240 cookies later) I believe I have mastered (okay slight exagertation) the art of the gingersnap strip.  I was so proud of my self with my individual packaged goodies  = 108 cookies for 27 people.  Until my Buffalo says to me  "I used to like the smell of gingersnaps but I think I have smelled it to much and these taste a little burnt, Grandma's are better."  OH goodness thank you Mr. Buffalo, again insert tears here.   All I could say to that was, yeah you're right Grandma's are better.   Well at least all my cookies got snatched up today at work.  I was even asked to distribute my recipe.   So I may not be the perfect baker but when push comes to shove I get the job done. 

Mom's FABULOUS "raccoon approved" Gingersnap Strips

1 Cup sugar

1/2 Cup vegetable oil

1/4 Cup molasses

1 egg

1 1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. ground cloves

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp ginger

2 Cups flour

1/4 Cup sugar

Heat oven to 375degrees.  Mix 1 Cup sugar, oil, molasses, and egg.  Stir in flour, baking soda, salt, and spices.  Divide dough into halves.  Shape 1 half into 2 strips about 15"x 3" about 3" apart on a lightly greased cookie sheet.  Sprinkle each strip with 1 tbsp. sugar.  Bake until edges are light brown and tops appear cracked 6-7 min. for soft cookies.  Cool 2 min. Cut each strip crosswise into 1" slices. Remove from cookie sheet.  Repeat with remaining dough.  Store cookies in a tightly covered dish.  Makes about 5 dozen.  ENJOY

So that's my story, hope it makes you smile.  I am such a worthless baker.  I guess I will stick to cooking dinner.  Although honestly it makes me happy when I get home from work and C has something simmering away on the stove.  Makes me heart smile!  He is so good to me.  Maybe someday I'll get my groove back. But for now I am okay eating my husband's cooking, mom's baking, and my sister's homemade goodies!  I am so spoiled!!!!!  LOVE it.  

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I think it's great that you can just throw stuff together and make a dinner. I on the other hand need a recipe. I definitely am not brave enough to make from scratch. I will add things here and there if I have made it before but yeah no off the top of my head meals here. So good for you!
Last night we were supposed to have Bunco but 4 girls canceled. We decided to have a sock exchange and play the game Celebrity. Have you ever played? It is pretty fun. You are in teams of 2 and each person writes down 3 names (they can be from books, movies, tv, politicians...) All the names go in a bowl and you have 1 minute to name as many as you can. The first round you can say anything other than "sounds like". The second round you can only say 2 words and anything like umm or a mutter counts. The third round you have to act it out. When it is your turn you take one out of the bowl then your partner does and you switch like that. You should try it with your friends.
This morning I went to boot camp with one of the girls from Bunco. Oh my, I don't think I will be picking up Little One tomorrow hahaha It kicked my butt, but felt so good! I love finishing a work out, it is just the starting that does me in.
My craft today is fun hair bows :) Too bad my daughter won't leave them in her hair! I love making them and they are so darn easy! Since my little one does not have a lot of hair I took a nylon stocking, cut it, and made it into a headband so that it was nice and soft on her little head.

Love you lots!

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Well it is snowing again.  It is that wet, heavy snow that is just beautiful to watch.  But it is also ICY and cold.  That is not so fun.  I do not look forward to getting up tomorrow and having to deal with snow, ice and getting the kids to school and me to work on time.  Ugh.

And because I am already thinking about how yucky my morning is going to be I am not in a fun recipe blogging kind of mood.  I know snap out of it. I tried to make dinner using things that were just sitting around.  It's called being resourceful.  So I decided to make a chili mac & cheese.   I had 2 cups of elbow noodles (perfect amount), a can of nacho cheese soup, and 4 cans of chili with beans.  I thought throw it all in a pot and call it a day.  I cooked the noodles and then put the soups with the cooked noodles and heated through.  Umm.... well my resourcefulness didn't really pan out.  Lou ate every bite (but then again he usually does), Quinnie poo took 3 bites because that is how old she is (or so she says), and Buffalo sat and rolled his eyes at me and told me he wasn't hungry.  I didn't think it was terrible.  Best thing I have ever made... well not really but hey come one I didn't have to buy anything and I used things that have been sitting in my pantry (a.k.a the box in the computer room).

I guess I'll have to think ahead a little better tomorrow.  Oh and guess what I signed up for our department cookie exchange at work and guess how many cookies I have to make over the weekend.... 9 dozen.  Yeah that's right 108 cookies.  OH MY GOSH.  I think I know what I am going to make.  I'll take lots of pictures so you can see the chaos.

Oh and by the way I think your medallion is cute, mirror or no mirror.  And back off on Little One.  It took Quinnie FOREVER to stop having accidents.  I think she enjoyed having accidents because then  she got to pick out a new outfit :).  It will happen just give it time.

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Those wings are so good! Thanks for the recipe and I'll take a picture of beautiful snow any day! I do miss looking out my window and seeing a white blanket of snow all over. There is nothing like playing in the snow, ice skating, making igloos, and hot chocolate. We need to take Little One to the mountains this year so she can experience it. It is sad to think she doesn't even know what she is missing.Speaking of my Little One, potty training is still happening but still not many successes. She doesn't even seem to care that she has accidents. That is a bad sign right:? Shouldn't they be upset that they peed all over themselves as well as their mom? I mean hello, that is so not nice. I thought she was going to be so easy, I was wrong. Okay okay I know it has only been 3 days and technically she is sick (bad cold) so that is probably playing a factor, but hello 3 days are supposedly enough time. Who writes this stuff and why do I choose to listen?
On a new note, I had this great idea for my craft and it didn't really turn out. I am not a fan of days when my crafts don't work :( Mr.I was so sweet and brought me home a medallion (that you put on the ceiling above a chandelier) because he thought I would like it on the wall and could do something fun. He knows me so well! Alright, my idea was to get a small mirror for the middle whole and antique it to make it super cute. I got the mirror, put on the paint stripper, waited, nothing, put on more paint stripper, waited, nothing, more stripper, waited, NOTHING! UGH! what in the world! Alas, I have not finished it, the medallion is on the wall but it taunts me because it isn't complete! I am thinking I could put fabric in the middle if the mirror doesn't work. I just don't want a normal mirror, ya know? It is the worst to have something in your mind and you can't get it to turn out. Maybe it will surprise me and in the morning I can scrape the paint and it will work. Who knows. 
LOVE YOU my crafty sister!

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Can I just say.. jealous!  I know that Miss S is going to LOVE LOVE LOVE the afghan.  I have got to start knitting.  I have asked Santa for knitting needles in my stocking and I have been a very good girl so I have hope that I will start knitting soon.

I just love the ornaments!  They are so cute and totally handmade which makes them all the more precious.  I love the holidays!  I also love "theme" ornaments it takes me back to all those times putting up the tree at Alphabet Soup.  Oh how I loved that little store.  Maybe someday we can open up a boutique of our own.  That would be so fun... oh alas I get distracted.

So the other night I did something that I usually never do.  I made dinner for C.  I know I am spoiled but the man likes to cook so I let him.  We were watching football and what better thing to eat while watching the game than wings.  Oh man they were good.  My pictures didn't turn out (sorry) but use your imagination.  They are so good.

Mom's Chicken Wings
2 lbs wings
(Mom always doubles the spices.. I do too)
2 tsp seasoned salt (when you don't have any and you have already started thawing the chicken you can substitute Red Robin seasoning.. it seemed to work out quite nicely for me)
1 tsp garlic powder
3/4 tsp lemon pepper
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp paprika

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Line pan with foil.  Combine seasoning, mix well.  Arrange wings in single layer on pan.  Sprinkle with half the seasoning mixture.  Bake 30 min.  Turn over.  Sprinkle with remaining mix and bake another 20-30 minutes, until golden brown.

SO DELICIOUS!  Oh man... it has warmed up considerable since this morning we are at 9 degrees outside.  BRR... but that is a whole lot better than 0.  We should be getting more snow on Thursday, I can't wait!  I love the snow.  I don't know how you live where you don't get snow in the winter time.  Just because I know you have to miss it here is a picture of the back yard from the kitchen window.

Enjoy the view!  Love you.  Stay warm!  Enjoy potty training.  

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Okay seriously Kiki, you are so crafty! That is the cutest ornament and I am so making it! Adorable!!
So today I have officially started potty training Little One. We only had one successful potty and many accidents but she was having fun. Mr.C needs to call me and tell me how he did it! As for me, I am still in my pajamas from last night. The "theory" I read is 3 day training and you are supposed to not leave your house at all on the first day. Well, I thought why get dressed when she is probably going to make a mess on me anyways. Total stay at home mom today, no make up, no shower, yeah Mr.I was so excited to see me when he got home ;)
All that to say I had high hopes for a super cute craft today, but I still have to buy part of it and that didn't happen. I am going to show you a knitting project in the works. I remember snuggling up in Grandma H's afghans growing up and just thinking I can't believe she made this! Miss S had mentioned that she would love a warm blanket for her sweetheart's bed and that made me think. Miss S has given me a love for quilting and she has a TON of quilts but I want to show her a love of knitting. I am making her sweetheart an afghan for her bed! This may be on going for a LONG time! haha who knows how long it will take but I am excited to make it. I will be so sad to give it away but at least it is going to someone I know will use it!

I found the pattern here
LOVE YOU SISTER

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Well it was a productive day at our house.  I can  cross off ornaments on my list.  I saw a melted snowman ornament and it got my creative juices flowing.  I know you are the crafty one but I figured it seemed so easy surely I could handle making an ornament out of hot glue.  So I did it today while Nena had Quinnie Lou and the boys were outside playing in their igloo.  I think I did pretty good if I dare say so.  I totally think Little One needs one too.

Inspiration:

Source: flexibledreams.com via Katie on Pinterest

While the hot glue was still hot....

 I used everything I had at the house so I could really call this one free!  Which of course made C happy. I used peppercorn for the eyes and mouth, orange ribbon for the nose, and twigs from an inside plant, and of course I sprinkled a little white glitter to give them a little something extra.  So easy peasy.   And just so you don't think I got away with this too easy, Lou came in right while I was sprinkling glitter and of course wanted to help.  Oh sure why not.  BIG MISTAKE he dumped the entire container on his snowman... Fortunately I was able to blow off the extra but that meant QUITE a mess on the kitchen table.  At least it was pretty and it cleaned up fairly easy with the help of a really good suctioning vacuum.

Finished product on the tree

Hope you enjoy!  Don't worry I will share a recipe with you on Tuesday.  It's a C pleaser so I am sure Mr.I will enjoy as well.  Hope you had a great relaxing weekend after your busy craft/cookie exchange night out with the girls!

XOXO

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Kiki,
I am so sorry, I keep dropping the ball! First off, that sunset looked amazing! Second, the craft night was a success. I got home late last night because Miss S hosted and I stayed after to help clean. Sadly, I did not win a prize for my awesome cookies :( Other than that the night was very fun. Christmas music, treats, and crafts, what more could you ask for?
We made pine cone garland, frames, and ornaments. I have to say I am not a fan of my ornament. It's cute but I feel I did not make it as cute as I know I could. boo to that. But the frame and garland turned out. I got home and made Mr.I put the garland up right away. The garland I found on pinterest, of course. The other crafts Miss S and I thought of on our own(yes, sometimes I actually do have ideas). I also made spiced hot chocolate. A favorite of mine! I know you are the recipe girl but this is just too good not to post.

Spiced Hot Chocolate: (this is doubled)
2/3 C semi-sweet chocolate chips
8C milk
2/3C sugar
1/2tsp nutmeg
1tsp cinnamon
Melt sugar, chips, and 1C milk until they melt and just comes to a boil. Then stir in the rest of milk and spices. Heat through but do not boil. Transfer to crock pot and there you go! Yummy drink for the night :)

Here are the pictures of my crafts. The frame we bought at Micheal's for $1, spray painted them, and the yarn bow I made is the easiest thing possible. You just wrap yarn around 3 fingers until it is as thick as you want. Take it off, cinch in the middle and tie yarn around the middle and you have a bow. Add a button and its done :) I am going to make a little Christmas quote to go on the inside of it.

 

LOVE YOU and give those monsters kisses from Tia! I miss them so much. I had a sobfest on Wednesday and Mr.I said do you need a hug? He knows me so well. It does get harder each time, especially now that the kids are older and can  play together. Ugh, okay I am going to go now and cry some more.

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Well Tia you are forgiven.  I forgive you because you make me such CUTE things!!! I now want to put a "tie" on all the boys shirts.  I love it.  Lou was the best dressed kindergartner at school, so fun.  Well it was my father-in-law's birthday today so we went out to eat to celebrate.  I do not have a recipe for you but I do have a treat.  When I walked out of the office today late, ugh the life of a retailer, I was mesmerized by the sunset.  It was beautiful.  So I called my professional photographer husband and asked him to snap a picture of the sunset to which he said, "why would I do that".... I was like umm... have you looked outside? to which he said... holy cow why didn't you call me sooner.... umm because I work in an office with no windows and didn't see the brilliant red/pink glow until I was walking out to my car.  Okay so I got off on a tangent but anyways I snapped a quick pic.  I know it isn't the best picture and doesn't begin to do it justice but I just had to share.  I may not live where I can stare at the beauty of the mountains all day long but I still get to see some pretty amazing sunsets.

It is supposed to get pretty chilly around these parts (hehe I'm practicing my NE talk) and I can't wait. (slight exaggeration)  I am excited to pull out the flannel sheets and down comforter.  Not excited to have to scrape my car windows every morning.  If C is lucky I might even start having to wear my penguin suit to bed :).  Love you lots!  Can't wait to hear about your Bible Study craft and "cookies".

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Alright I stink. I was annoyed when you didn't write me back right away and I did the same thing. I have no excuse I just forgot last night. Forgive me sister.
How was the drive home to Nebraska? I am sure it was fantastic, I mean the views are to die for ;) Have I told you that I love you?!
Yesterday I watched two girls so it was a busy morning and then I decorated all afternoon. Mr.I got Christmas boxes out on Sunday so they were ready for me! I just love Christmas. I love the decorations, giving presents, and definitely getting them ;), and who could forget the best part: driving around looking at lights.
I have also been out and about getting ready for my girls' night craft and cookie exchange for this Thursday. For some reason I got nominated to be in charge of girls' nights and it is a lot of pressure. Miss S has been my wingman on this and we went to JoAnns and Michaels and have 3 crafts ready to make. I will post about them when they are finished. Hopefully they turn out! I am making Grandma H's peanut butter balls for my cookie! YUMMO I can't wait to eat them up. We are having a prize for best tasting and looking. I hope I win one because I bought the prizes at Mama B's Hallmark and they are super cute :)
My craft for today is Tie shirts. I was a little worried when you called with the idea for Buffalo and Lou 2 days before I was coming out and I had to figure out how to make them. But they did turn out! I had plenty of extra fabric from the girls' skirts so I used each pattern and just hand drew on the wrong side a tie shape. Mr.I helped me figure out how long to make them. Luckily, mom had iron on tape (and GAC was willing to iron) and we used that to put the ties on the shirts. All done! So easy and cute :)  You have such great ideas!

LOVE YOU!

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I know I know... I was supposed to write this to you yesterday but I had one of those moments.  You know how I can get.  I was so sad that you had to go back to CA.  It seems harder and harder to say goodbye to you.  Maybe it is because Little One is so "stinkin' cute", or that I am just not sure when I will get to see you again now that I live even farther away.  I just needed time to be sad.

C is driving us home as I write.  Man I love that I can be blogging on a normally miserable 5 hour trip.  It is totally helping the time fly.  So the other day Mama T brought a cake into work for a special treat and MAN was it good so I asked her for the recipe to which she gladly emailed me right away.  The next time you are in charge of treats for something you should take this.  I don't know if it was the walnuts or what but it almost reminded me of our fav poppy seed bread.  Oh and did I mention it is SUPER easy.  So the name Mama T didn't have a name for it so I made one up.  You know how in our family our favorite game is "Guess the Secret Ingredient".  Well this cake hides the pineapple so well that most people couldn't figure out what was in it so I have given it the Secret Ingredient Cake name.  I can't wait to make this for M&M I think it just might stump them.

Secret Ingredient Cake2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
2 tsp. baking soda
1 can crushed pineapple
2 eggs
1 tsp. salt
1 cup crushed walnuts

Mix all the ingredients together.  Pour into a greased 9x13 pan and at bake 350° for 40-45min.  Frost with cream cheese icing when cooled.

Hope you enjoy!  I LOVE LOVE LOVE the skirt you made for Quinnie and the tie shirts for the boys were amazing.  You are so crafty!  I had so much fun with your family.  Can't wait till we can party again!

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Oh Kiki, I am so sorry that it has taken me so long to write you back. Tuesday I had my big test, thank the Lord it is finished! Then I was up all hours of the night making YOUR childrens outfits for our family pictures and YOUR friend some adorable burp cloths. I have to say everything turned out quite amazing. Wednesday I definitely had time to write, but we just got in to see the family and then YOU brought out your huge box of jewelry to go through and the time just got away from me. So sorry love! BUT I AM HERE! It is so much fun to be in mom and dad's little house with it full of family. I just miss you all. Right now I am relaxing, eating some yummy food while you are slaving away on your rolls (they better turn out fabulous), LL is slaving away making mashed potatoes, and mom is slaving away making pineapple souffle. I hope you girls have time to sit and relax and cheer on the Pack! ;)

Well here is a picture of the adorable burp cloths I made. I have to say that they are my favorite ones I have made so far. I made the flannel section way bigger than normal and I love it! I hope your friend enjoys them.

Alright I am off to see if anyone needs any help or maybe I will just sit by GAC and enjoy a drink, yup I think that is what I will do ;) I am thankful for you! HAPPY THANKSGIVING

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YOU ARE BACK!!!! I am so excited.  I have missed picking up the phone and being able to call you at random times throughout the day.
I love the craft.  It makes your crystal POP.  Love it.  I am thinking you need some sort of wreath to hang.  I like using different shapes so the opening is square so you need something with rounded corners you know.  I am sure you can come up with something creative... oh yeah and since the stone is rough you need something smooth you get it.  I know I am a genius.  Can't wait to see what you come up with.
Well it has gotten COLD here in NE.  I mean when I drove the kids to school this morning it was 20 degrees.  Seriously cold.  And when it gets cold there is only one thing that can warm me up, soup.  So I made a family favorite; Taco Soup.

Not only does it taste delicious the minute you make it I swear it keeps getting better and better.  I think most soups do this and maybe that is why I like eating soup so much in the winter.  Instant lunches!

Taco Soup
1 lb hamburger
1 pkg taco seasoning
1 32 oz whole tomatoes
1 32 oz kidney beans, drained
4 cans tomato soup

Brown meat, add all ingredients, simmer 1 hr or put in crockpot and cook all day on low.

Garnish:  Cheese, Sour Cream, Fritoes

My favorite part - Lou says "oh yeah mommy the chips are the best part"... so true so true.

I have been working overtime this week so we can leave super early on Wed to get out to see you sooner.  I can't wait.  I feel like a kid on Christmas.  Thanksgiving can't come soon enough.

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Kiki I have missed you!!! I loved reading your notes and laughing at all your craziness! I get to see you in 4 days! Oh I cannot wait to be in CO with everyone. Little One has a ton of warm clothes already packed (yes I am excited and ready).
Last week was so much fun. Puerto Vallarta is beautiful! We only went into town one night, we mostly sat at the pool. But that one night was awesome! Our taxi driver took us to a tequila tour. It was this small local tequila plant and man was it good! The guy gave us each at least 7 shots and that stuff was so smooth!  They had all kinds of flavored tequila and it tasted like a mixed drink. Yummo you would have loved it. Mr.I's parents bought him 2 bottles for his birthday (they don't sell it anywhere else). We got a regular gold and an amaretto flavored one! Too bad you don't live close so you could come over for happy hour ;(
Little One had a blast in the water everyday. Oh my gosh Little One's present to me has gotten worse. That little stinker and throwing her head back when she is tired! I can't even hide the black eye with makeup! I can't believe she gave me one! I am sure everyone looks at me and thinks I am abused or something hahaha
Mr. I thinks it is pretty funny, he made me ice it this morning and hopefully that will help.  I am definitely glad to be home though. There is nothing like crawling into your own bed after a week of not having it. I am sure you know what I mean ;)
Today I have done laundry, studied, and fixed up my buffet cabinet! Lately, I have been thinking it needed something more. I LOVE the way it turned out, Mr.I did a fabulous job, but it seemed too white. SO I remembered I had extra fabric from when I was going to do some valances! The fabric was perfect so I asked Mr.I if he would be okay if I put it behind the shelves. He told me as long as it could come down whenever we sell down the road. I used double stick tape, measured out the width and length, and voila my makeover is complete! I had originally wanted a fun pattern, but I really like how this turned out, plus I didn't have to purchase a thing! Best craft ever! Now Kiki help us think about the middle. Mr.I thought maybe having a wine rack under the middle shelf or I thought some kind of sign hanging down. We just aren't sure if it is too bare. What do you think?

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Tia on vacay... day umm I lost track but it's alot.  Well I didn't accomplish anything big today.  I didn't cook a gourmet meal, or hand make Christmas presents.  C had to work and so it was me and the monsters on our own.  What did we do you ask?  We had cinnamon rolls for dinner, sunny d, and watched Ramona & Beezus on HBO.  Overall it was a great night.  I did help Lou camouflage his turkey (a turkey ninja ever heard of one?) to take to school tomorrow.  I was pretty creative considering we don't have any school supplies in the house, good thing I had some dry erase markers in my work box and some red yarn.  Perfect improvising... and every ninja needs a sword (insert toothpick wrapped in aluminum foil).  DONE and DONE.

I got a kick out of your email.  Can't wait to see picks from Mexico and the nice present Little One gave you (wink wink).

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Tia on Vacay day 3....  Today I got crafty.  You're gonna be so proud.  Awhile back I stumbled upon this great tutorial to make your own pretend make-up.  Cha-ching.. Christmas presents!  So I got busy on Little One's present since we will be seeing you guys in like... a week!!! woohooo!!!!
Pretend Make-Up

Source: smashedpeasandcarrots.blogspot.com via Katie on Pinterest

Mine doesn't look quite as good.. but I'm hoping once it dries it will.  I think this will be a hit. C didn't quite get what I was doing and kept asking why I thought this was a good idea and how I would be the one to pick up after Quinnie when she figured out how to make a mess.  I said... it's pretend there is no way she can make a mess out of this.  As soon as those words came out of my lips I knew that I had just jinxed myself.  My fingers are crossed though.

And just so I don't get any upset calls from Grandma H her ankle is not swollen and she is walking just fine on it.  She is currently laying under the covers in my bed very nicely hoping I don't notice and shoo her off to bed.  Nice try Quinnie Mommy needs her quiet time.

Oh and it SNOWED today!  The first snow of the season that stuck to the ground... I don't know if I'm ready for winter.  However, I am ready to bring out the chunky sweaters and big socks (Bye-Bye Birdie kind).  Well gotta tuck my monsters in bed. Love ya!

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Tia on vacay .. day 2... Well I just have to tell you, my hubby might not take me to Mexico but he is an AMAZING chef.  Oh man, tonight he made me a Carino's favorite, Chicken Scallopini.  We truly miss our favorite restaurant, Carinos Italian.  It has the best home-cooked, country style Italian food ever.  Their happy hour is to die for.

We don't have a Carino's in NE, I think the one by mom and dad's in CO is the closest so when we get a craving now it is up to us to try and replicate our favorites.  As I was sitting down to dinner with my very expensive glass of box wine, thanks Nena and Poppa, Lou stated, "this is a very fancy meal mom"... I started laughing as I looked over at the stove to see C slaving away cooking our dinner.  But the slaving paid off: dinner was a hit. 

C googled Chicken Scallopini and took a little bit from this recipe and a little bit from that recipe and came up with his own creation.  Holy moly, Mr.C I love this, can I just say, heavy cream, fried chicken, bacon, and oh yeah, butter... need I say  more?  (check out Copykatchat.com/recipe-requests/46747)  Anyways we had a great night.

Lou and Quinnie started playing together. I know crazy, must have been the food.  And they were having a great time until I think Lou may have karate chopped Quinnie's ankle and she couldn't put any pressure on her foot.  I know, I know Mr. I probably would have taken Little One to the doctor but this brings me to parenting tip 102: TELL ME IF IT STILL HURTS IN THE MORNING.  I mean really what can they do now other than charge me $1500 to tell me its just a bruise and she'll be fine.  So if it still hurts and is swollen, and she can't walk then maybe I'll take her to the clinic to get checked out.  Do you know how many pairs of shoes I can buy for $1500... seriously.

Hope you are still enjoying Mexico.... It is almost Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!  hugs and kisses.  Kiki

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Oh Tia I miss you this week.  I have such stories to tell you.  Tia on VACAY... day 1.  So this weekend we celebrated Thanksgiving with C's side of the family.  I love his aunt so much!! She is the BEST!  She made the most amazing ham balls ever.  Oh yeah sista you read that right.  Ham balls.  I should have snapped a picture but I was stuffing them in my mouth so fast they kind of disappeared. heehee.  (Slight exaggeration I had like 2.. okay okay maybe 4.)  Recipe to come, she promised.  Your gonna love them (well maybe Mr. I will love them more but they are delicious)!

So the big boys went hunting and we girls just happened to be driving in the middle of nowhere and spotted to bucks.  The boys met up with us and the hunting experience began.  I couldn't really avert my eyes I was so into it... until C's cousin took a shot and the buck (aka Bambi) went down.  I gasped, Shan gasped, and Nena began to then tell us a step by step on what happens next.  Fortunately Quinnie was to busy watching Little Mermaid to comprehend what was happening.  The shot wasn't a killing shot so we had to watch Bambi drag himself to his final resting place.  To which point I told Shan I had to leave.  So I can now check killing a deer off my bucket list.  The boys thought it was the coolest thing to have a huge buck in the back of the pickup.  They all got up there and touched the antlers.... ugh... I stood back with the other mommies blubbering away about how terrible it was to see poor Bambi die, oh us city girls.  So that was my weekend.  More to come throughout the week.  Hope you are soaking up the sun for me.

Hugs and Kisses.

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Kiki!! I am writing you from sunny Puerto Vallarta :) It is absolutely beautiful here. The resort we are staying at is HUGE! There is a little water park area for kids, so Little One is having a blast. The only problem is she is not a fan of sleeping in the packNplay at night ;( Oh well small price to pay to be here! Sadly I have no picture to show you because I am nervous I will get charged an outrageous price on my phone for uploading it. So you can use your imaginiation. There are more than 5 hotels on the resorts property and when we want to check out another pool or go to the gym(I mean who wants to work out on vacation.. oh all right I did run yesterday so I could say I 'worked out') they shuttle you around in golf cart buses. Pretty funny! So far we have not gone into town. We have just lounged at the pool and ordered room service up to the room that is bigger than our house! No Joke (okay not that big, but you the picture).
Wishing you were here, but so excited to see you next week! I don't know how we will be able to make dresses for all of us in one day! Sorry Kiki but you might just be dreaming in color. I will try if you buy the fabric ;)
LOVE YOU LOTS!!

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I just need to get it off my chest, I am so jealous that you are away on a fabulous family vacation.  While you are sunning in Mexico I am here sitting in NE trying not to blow away.  Oh what a charmed life you live Tia.  (I know I know, slight exaggeration.)  Anyways, we are doing NE Thanksgiving this weekend and I am so excited about 1 thing in particular.  Nena's famous dinner rolls.  Oh goodness they are so yummy.  I made her let me take pictures of her baking today so that I maybe could replicate these again for our Thanksgiving.  (I tried and failed miserably last year, I'll blame it on the altitude.)  So here goes:

Nena's Famous Dinner Rolls

2 packages dry yeast

1/2 C warm water

3/4 C milk

1/2 C sugar

1/2 C oil

1 tsp salt

2 eggs

5 C flour

Dissolve yeast in warm water.  Scald milk.  Add sugar, oil and salt to milk.  Stir to dissolve.  Add eggs and 2 1/2 C flour; beat with mixer until smooth.  Spoon n other 2 1/2 C flour, knead 3 min.  Let rise until doubled.  Form into rolls and let rise again.  Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.

Kneading

Quinnie had to get in on
the kneading too

It GREW.. double in size

Forming into rolls

These are the best!  You'll love them.

I love love love the Christmas skirt.  SO cute.  I am positive that we need matching skirts for family pictures.    Maybe when you come out here we can do a craft together.  I'll try to remember to bring my sewing machine.  Maybe you can teach me to use it... heehee.  Nena did tell me that she will teach me to knit.  So maybe by the time we see each other I will have a few hand-made goodies for you!  

Now don't worry about getting me anything to expensive in Mexico.  Just a little souvenir will do, since I've never been there and all.  Heehee.  Put plenty of sunscreen on Little One.  Tell Mr.I "Don't drink the water". 

Love you guys.  

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Oh Kiki, you make me giggle. Thanks for that funny picture :) I don't think I have anything funny to tell you, sorry. Today was just another day of Little One and her buddy playing all morning. They were so cute today. They were in her room for almost 45 minutes playing with her stuffed animals and the wagon Great Grandpa H made. I loved it!  Then we went to Grandma B's store to buy Quinnie part of her Christmas present! It is so cute, I can't wait for her to see it. The girls were hilarious in the store, they were running all over mesmerized by all the Christmas decorations. Other than that, I spent today cleaning, and getting last minute things together for the big trip tomorrow. Oh AND I made Little One her Christmas skirt! I am excited to make Quinnie one when I get home so I can bring it to CO and they can match for our family pictures. I found the tutorial on pinterest. You can find it here It was so simple and for a first time of making something other than a blanket pretty great job, if I say so myself.

Now I just need to buy her some brown boots and the outfit is finished :) Maybe you could throw that out to Mom that the girls need cute boots to wear ;) That's your job, okay? Love you lots and my next letter will be telling you how much fun we are having in Mexico!

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You do seem to have a crazy life even though you are a fun little stay at home mommy.  I think you just need to do what I do to make things a little more manageable.  Find something to giggle about each day.  Laughing really is the best medicine.  So here is what I was giggling about today.  You might not be able to see this very clearly but let me tell you what it says.  


Care Instructions  "Impregnating the garment before you wear it for the first time...."  Okay that is funny stuff.  Especially when it is almost Friday and you were sick with the stomach flu for a day and you are feeling a little behind and well lets just face it your somewhat immature.  OH man.  You should have heard all of us.  So what are you going to giggle about today to relieve some of your stress?  I'll tell you what also made me laugh.... when I was on the  phone with you and you said, "no you may not play in the street"... ha ha that is some funny stuff.

I love the ear warmers and who knows maybe you will inspire me to learn to knit.  Aunt Shan is here this weekend so maybe the two of us can learn together while we let the monsters, I mean children, play.  I wish I were going with you on your trip but so counting down the days until you get here!!!

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Wow, crazy weekend! So sorry it ended in the stomach flu ;( Not to be mean, but it does make me feel a little better that I wasn't there ;) Are you feeling better today? I hope so!
I know that I stay home and you would think I have all the time in the world, but I have just felt like I can't catch up lately. Every week there seems to be new things that need to get done. I have a huge list that needs to get done by Friday night so that we can leave on our trip and I can relax because when I get home I will only have 2 days, plus my HUGE test and we are off to CO. Today while Little One took her nap I should have studied or tried to knock some things off my list. What did I do instead, you ask. I knit Little One an ear warmer for CO. I figured she will need it because it will be cold and it will look cute for family pictures :) Oh and while I knit I watched some shows. I am horrible! I have no one to blame but myself for my stress! I have a problem. I know I do, but I just can't stop!
AND I want to make Little One this skirt for Christmas and bring it for her to wear for the pictures C is taking of us and I can't find the fabric! AUGH! No wonder my hives have returned! Okay I am on a mission to find that fabric (have I mentioned I should be studying) wish me luck. I know Dad, there is no such thing as luck so pray for me!
I will leave you with the adorable ear warmer I made. I would write out the pattern but you choose not to learn to knit :( For now enjoy looking at it, but I will put up the pattern sometime and you will make it :) LOVE YOU

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I know I know.  You are made at me because I didn't write you last night.  I am so sorry, but I guarantee you that I was totally out of it and couldn't even turn on my computer if I had willed myself to do so.  I got the stomach flu.  Ugh.  And on my birthday to boot.  I spent my birthday sitting in the bathroom praying for death (okay slight exaggeration but you get my drift).  I hate throwing up.  Oh man I haven't thrown up that much since I had morning sickness for 3 months with Buffalo.  It was beyond miserable, and it sounds like out of everyone who got sick I didn't have near the worst of it (thank you Jesus, I just might not have survived.. okay okay again slight exaggeration).  Not only did I get it but so did Buffalo, my friend Mama T, her daughter L, Casey Lou, Dad, Mom, Auntie M, and the list goes on.  Let me just take you throw Sunday and then maybe you'll have pity on me for my late post.  So 11 ish Quinnie had an accident in the bathroom.  I mean #2 from floor to ceiling.  (yeah yeah exaggeration but it was pretty bad) So there I was on my hands and knees scrubbing the bathroom. I felt so bad for the little thing.  She was a sack of potatoes who just wanted to be held.  Sweet Mama T cuddled her up while I was cleaning and packing up the car for our trip back home.  About 30 min. into the trip in the middle of nowhere I said "oh man I got tummy troubles".  Honestly I thought I was going to have to pull over and pop-a-squat any where but of course there are no trees lending any sort of privacy in Eastern CO, fortunately for me we came upon a rest stop.  Mama T couldn't stop laughing at me and my little predicament.   Should have known right then that this was not going to be a fun trip.  After our little detour to the rest stop we got going, I felt much better after that and we started to make up time.  About at the NE border a deer leaped out in front of us and I nearly hit the thing.   Mama T and I screamed the kids all laughed and asked if we could do it again, I had swerved big time to miss the antlers coming through my window, I know I know you aren't supposed to swerve but my instincts kicked in.  I think I missed that sucker by inches.  We stopped because Lou had to go to the bathroom and that usually means it is an emergency and I needed to calm my nerves.  After our 2nd stop we decided to stop in Ogallala for dinner, went to Wendy's sat in the drive through for what seemed like an hour and then it happened.  Mama T said she couldn't eat her tummy was rumbling.  Little did we know we were in for it.  About 30 min. after our stop Mama T said she had to get to a bathroom.  I stepped on the gas and got us to the next gas station as fast as I could.  And that is when it all went downhill.  That's when we knew she had the stomach flu.  We stopped at every rest stop we could and the rest of the trip home was just miserable.  I felt so bad for Mama T.  I dropped her and L off at their house and started to get a little queasy myself.  It was terrible.  I promptly started getting  the chills and throwing-up 2 hrs after I got home and didn't stop until the next day.  I have not been sick like that since M & M's wedding weekend, oh what fond memories.  I tell you what even though I got the stomach flu I still had a blast at my CO birthday party.  I don't know if Mom and Dad will invite us back we seem to always be sick, or get them sick when we come back from NE, I'm hoping they don't hold it against us. I snapped this picture while laying on my own "sick bed".  Buffalo had a nice little bed set up on the chair.  He is so cute even when he was up-chucking every few minutes.

I don't have any recipes for you, we haven't eaten in a few days.  I'll try and come up with something for you.  I love the headband.  Hope it will show up in my stocking this year, especially now that I live in such a cold place.  It would get a whole bunch of use!

Miss you!!

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I am so glad you had a great weekend! I was just cracking up after skyping with you girls. I even made Little One watch Meet Me In St.Louis with me this morning :) She loved all the singing. Thanks for the drink, I can't wait to make it. I am sure it will come in handy for my Thursday tv nights with S.
Today it rained cats and dogs here! I loved it! I mean, I was wishing for snow but at least it is cold now. I went for a run this morning and it started pouring right before I got home. Little One thought it was so fun that mommy was all wet. This week is another busy one with getting ready for our trip next week and then CO!! I am frantically trying to buy all our Christmas gifts so we can bring them with us. I am so excited for yours it's going to be hard to not see you open it!
My craft today is a headband/ear warmer I made for a friend's birthday. No I did not wear it before I gave it away. I actually made it too small so lucky me I get to keep it and I made a new one for her :)  I found the pattern here

When I finished it I was thinking hmm this does not seem right, but then you put it on it is super cute! I am telling you Kiki you would love to knit! Just You tube the basics. That is how I learned on a circular needle!  I think I miss you more each day because I know I am going to see you soon! I can't wait!

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I am missing you something terrible tonight.  We are celebrating my birthday and had a party.  It was way fun but just not the same without you here.  We started the party out right at went to my FAV jewelry store.  I was a little sad because I wasn't sure who all was going to show up.  Then I realized in all we had a party of 10.  I mean that is awesome, and in that tiny little store, I'm pretty sure we kept everyone entertained with our commentary.  I got some super cool presents.  (Thanks C).  After we shopped till we dropped, literally we went back to mom and dad's.  Mom set up QUITE a spread and even more people showed up for my party.  And then we ate till we popped.  Mom made a baked potato bar with chili, cheesy broccoli, chipped beef, bacon, and everything else you could possibly want on a baked potato.  It was so good.  I am stuffed just thinking about it.  And Quinnie only spilled 1 shirley temple on the kitchen floor.  I think that was pretty good considering there was my monsters, my friends daughter, and my niece and nephew were all there.  (Oh shoot I just remembered Lou spilled chocolate "room service" milk this morning).  But the absolute best part of the night was my signature drink.  You have got to try this recipe.  I know you aren't much of a wine drinker but this was amazing.

Burgundy Bubbler
1 1/2 C Orange juice
3 C Burgundy Wine
3 C Sparkling Cider
Pour 1/4 juice, 1/2 c wine in a cup.  Top with 1/2 C sparkling cider.  Serve Chilled.  SO GOOD....

Next year we need to celebrate together.  Can you ask Mr. I if he will let you come?  hehe.  Loved seeing little one.  She is so "stinkin cute".

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Alright, so I promise I have a great story as to why I did not post last night.  Around 4 I just started feeling blah and beyond tired. Maybe it had to do with two little girls inside all morning when it was raining out, just saying. I was supposed to have Bunco but I called at 5:30 and canceled(don't think they were too happy with me).  I told Mr.I when I put Little One in bed I was also going to go to bed...that is 7 and yes I did go to bed! Around 11 I awoke to crazy pains in my stomach. I think at first I was dreaming and then I woke and realized it was real. Weird! So what do you do when you have stomach issues, go see if you can fix them in the bathroom ;) I know sorry all who are reading, I won't say anymore. Well, the hurting was not going away so I was hunched over trying to breath deep and push through it(the pain that is). I was thinking how great it was that I have been through labor pains and learned my breathing techniques HA( seriously I was)! Next thing I knew I opened my eyes and I was looking up at the toilet. I FAINTED! Can you believe it! I have never fainted before. Luckily I had used my phone as a night light and called Mr.I. I asked if he had heard a thump  and he confirmed it and came running up to make sure I was okay. He thought I probably hyperventilated or something, and made me stay up for another hour and a half just in case because I had a bump on the top of my head! This morning my head hurts but okay :) What a crazy week, hives, shot with steroids because of hives, and then I faint and have a knot on the top of my head! Boo glad it's Saturday ;)
So how was your night? haha I am so sad you are with mom and I am not there. Have fun celebrating your birthday! I can't wait to celebrate at Thanksgiving and take you to see Breaking Dawn!!! That's right on me(you can pay for the food)!
My craft you helped make when you were here taking care of me during another crazy time in my life. But I did add to it :)

I got this idea from Lana's blog;
Straight from the Harts 
It is a drop cloth for painting! We went to homedepot picked one up for less than $10. We then went to a surplus fabric store and found some fun fabric to brighten it up and make it fit the door :) All we did was sew the fabric to the bottom and cut it for the right length. So easy! I had it with just the fabric on the bottom for a while but wanted something more. I remembered I had extra fabric in case I wanted to do another window. I decided instead to just sew it to the top of the curtain. I sewed the top and sides and left the bottom, that way it made the ruffle look :) I love it and I get so many compliments. So thank you for helping make it and thanks Lana for giving me the idea!

LOVE YOU KIKI and have fun going to Fine and Funky! So jealous over here in CA!

Inbox

Don't be mad.. the night got away from me yesterday, but I'll make up for it have I got a story for you.  You'll never believe my afternoon.  I was at work and got a call from C.  He had to work early (4).  I don't get done until 5 and I said hmm "did you figure something out for the monsters?" to which he replied "oh they'll just have to hang out in the car until you can come and get them"... Wait HOLD THE PHONE.... seriously.  I mean I am sure C was kidding BUT I also know that he could have been serious.  I left work got the monsters and did a swap with Nena, good thing she has a flexible schedule, and then headed back to work.  When I got back to work the girls were like "where did you go".  I told them the little scenario that C had laid out for me.  This got them all giggling because, well, my life is a little crazy as you know and while most people would never think of leaving their kids alone in a parking lot you just never know with me it just might happen... (OKAY it would NEVER happen but it is funny).  I've decided that since you get the Susie Homemaker award I'll just give you little snippets of my parenting techniques from time to time.  Like Mt.Dew in the morning... classic Kiki move! (oh I'll tell you all about this sometime soon)

Oh and guess who I saw this morning headed to work, the TURKEYS.  I guess they are still hanging around  I'll see if I can get a picture so you can see my friends.

A little picture of Quinnie poo.  And no she did not go outside like that but I thought it was cute.  I do make sure my monsters look adorable when they are seen in public.

We miss you!!!