Spinach Salad and a Strike!

I made this yummy Spinach salad the other day and it was delicious!  So I must share the recipe...

Spinach Salad

One bag of prewashed Baby Spinach
1/2 Red Onion sliced
1 Avocado cubed
1 Tomato chopped
1 Package of Blue Cheese (i think about 4oz)
Chopped Crispy bacon
Sweet Catalina or Ranch Salad dressing


A STRIKE:   We took the whole family bowling the other day, It was Alecs first bowling experience (well except for that one time we took our baby to the bowling alley....LOL) and he was pretty excited to say the least.... he chose a green ball (his favorite color) and he almost got a strike.  Macy was a natural at bowling she even beat me (something I'm not proud of) I usually at least break a 100, but for some reason could not get it together!  In fact everyone was joking that I should bowl on the kiddie lanes with the 'bumpers'...Oh Well!  Good times had by all, especially these two cuties!

STRIKE

BALL HOARDING

"You get what you get and you don't throw a fit"

At least that's what I always tell the kids when they are throwing a fit about: what color bowl they want or what character they want on their glass or what kind of yogurt or what kind of valentines they think they are buying.....However, I'm not sure that I take my own advice.  In fact I probably have a "do as I say, not as I do" attitude, among other things. So the other morning when I'd had it with A for waking me up for like the 3rd time wanting to crawl in our bed and kick me for hours on end until he falls asleep  and then only minutes later to have M walk upstairs and says 'Good Morning Mommy',  I said to myself  "You get what you get and you don't throw a fit"......but indeed I did want to throw a fit and sort of did.  I tend to whine about my sleep deprivation, yet when given the chance to 'sleep in' or take a nap, I don't! (I want to do the other 10,000 things I also am missing out on since joining the motherhood scene).

 So I am my own worst enemy, and will have to take what I get;  its just recently that I realized its the 'don't throw a fit' part that I need to work on!  So enough on my whining sleep deprivation soapbox, lets talk about dinner/lunch/snack whatever you want to call this creation I made today.....

Chinese Lo-Mein Noodles (my made up version): You need these 3 types of Oils and some sugar and soy sauce for the seasoning part.

I boil 2 bags of KA ME Chinese noodles (egg noodles or original) and set cooked noodles aside while I finely chop Julienne 2 large carrots, 2 celery stalks and one whole bunch of green onions (cut the whole green onion up).   Heat the 3 different oils up in a wok or large saute pan: about 1/3 C of each oil (toasted sesame/Almond or Peanut Oil/Wok oil) once heated add 3 Tab. soy sauce and 3 Tab. Sugar and 2 cloves minced garlic to sauce and add all veggies.......stir fry for a few minutes then turn off heat, add noodles and a large pack of bean sprouts and ENJOY!!  keep in mind I like to make up recipes so I probably added a little more of the oil than I guesstimated...if it needs more oil I would go with the Wok Oil since it has the most flavor, and also adjust soy sauce and sugar as needed.  You can also add pieces of shrimp, chicken or ham to make it a whole meal instead of just a side dish....Kid approved too!

Have a good night everyone, this Mama is tired!

The Family Table

We went to Frankenmuth a few weeks back for their famous Chicken Dinner....It was definitely 'Family Style'.   I think every family has their own 'Style' or way of doing things, Our family has always made a big deal out of Birthdays (especially a kid birthday).  This was no exception, It was Uncle Mike's Birthday and also the last big game to decide the Superbowl teams.  Since my parents are no longer with us my Aunt Patti (my mom's sister, the one on the right in purple with the pretty smile) is an amazing adopted mother to me and my family, thats just her 'Style'.  I love her style, she keeps the family together: whether it be up north or at Frankenmuth she does a splendid job.

 At Frankenmuth you have a few options: order from the menu, buffet or family style,  we of course always order family style (well except for my brother Charlie, who is on some crazy diet and ordered something too healthy to be eating at that table, but thats another post).  The dinner was great, as great as I remember as a kid (I think Grandpa & Grandma started the Frankenmuth tradition for us, because ya know birthdays were a big deal for them too).  The best part though always comes at the end in the form of Ice Cream: their orange sherbert & vanilla swirl! that's their signature desert (also come with the little plastic toy in it).  The kids had fun and we had fun watching the kids have fun, because that's what its all about.....SEE

 A had a camel and a mermaid in his chocolate ice cream and god only knows what else he added to his it......but he enjoyed it.  He also enjoyed drooling over the whip cream topped deserts sitting out at the buffet (this boy has a serious Reddi-Whip addiction), the waitress was so kind to let him have one the one he licked! and M well she just enjoyed sitting next to her cousin, and everything else!

The Green Bay Packers won that game and were headed to the Super Bowl......We finished our deserts and we were headed back to Aunt Patti's for more desert (Birthday Cake)  and present opening.
Good times were had by all, German Style!

"Daddy Daycare"

So both kids had a Snow Day today, Thank God for "Daddy Daycare".  My lovely husband stayed home with the kids so I could brave the weather and work (because hospitals never have a Snow Day).  He spent the whole day entertaining/feeding/educating/disciplining/caring for our children, and hats off to him because this is no small job!   I know "What happens at Daddy Daycare, stays at Daddy Daycare".....but lets talk about what I think probably might sort of happen (but never really know).

1.  He makes them breakfast when they start nagging for too many snacks.

2.  He takes a nice warm uninterrupted shower while they beat each other up  watch a movie.

3.  They eat foods I'm never able to convince them to even try.

4.  They go outside to play in the snow (so he can shovel the driveway and clean off admire his new car).

5.  They come back inside have lunch hot chocolate w/ whip cream and marshmallows.

6.  He becomes impatient with them because by now A is cracking up and over tired, probably calls me at work for me to hear A crying.

7. He figures he better make them lunch so he can give them a nap (its probably 3pm by now).

8.  He probably now accidentally nods off himself and lets A nap for like 3 hours.

9.  SHIT its 6:30pm, he figures he better wake A up, start dinner and figure out what M is up to?

10.  I arrive home from work, they are finishing up dinner and have gotten their second wind and are no where near bedtime.

I love my kids dearly and there is nothing like that excitement when I walk through that door after a long day at work, they run at me  with open arms and big hugs....this is the BEST!!   Then my husband starts explaining what a LONG day its been (never mind the unplanned nap he took) and how sorry he is the house is such a mess, but that they had LOADS of fun!   I take a deep breathe, give him a kiss and realize everyone is safe and happy.  I have to remind myself that its his way, not mine and "What happens at Daddy Daycare stays at Daddy Daycare"! We are all hoping for school tomorrow......because, "only a teacher loves a snow day".

  Love ya Babe   XOXOXOXO

A Blizzard and Fish Tacos

Tonight I finally made the fish tacos my husband has been begging me to make, and they were worth the wait.

Now some of you might say Ewwww......Us No! they were yummy and I was able to incorporate a dinner for the kids too.  The kids just had the fish part and some coleslaw (yes my kids eat cabbage).  If your wondering: No we didn't eat the lime, we just squeezed the juice out of it, fancy restaurant style.  So, here goes...........

Fish Tacos

1 1/2 lb white fish (I used Orange Roughy, but Talapia, Grouper or Cod are acceptable)
2 C. Bisquick
2 Tab. Old Bay Seasoning
1 tsp. Cajun seasoning (or Cayenne pepper or any other spices you like you choose the temperature)
Salt & pepper

Slice fish into nugget size pieces and put in a big Ziploc Baggie w/ the Bisquick and seasonings,  shake until all is well coated.  I let this sit while I chop all the toppings up (like the Pico De Gallo(yes that's homemade but that's another post), cabbage, shredded cheese,limes).  Once your all organized, heat up about 3/4-1 C Canola Oil and pan fry the Fish (approx 10-12min).
Serve on warm tortillas with shredded cabbage, Pico De Gallo, sour cream, lime juice and cheese.  Delicious, ya know if Fish is your thing!!

Now we are just sitting back watching the "Great Blizzard of 2011" hit us hard....both kids are passed out they swam at the gym tonight for almost an hour.  Drive Safe tomorrow everyone, especially if your crazy like me and are going to work have No choice but to go to work!

Indoor Snowmen

It’s been Cold,  We’ve been Sick and Frankly We’ve been Bored!!!  So in an attempt to save myself from running out of ideas to keep the kiddies entertained we made Indoor Snowmen today, and I must say they were quite Fun!

and it kept us entertained for some time…..

It even sent me searching into the cupboards for something to make ‘arms’ out of,  because we can’t have armless snowmen.

Not sure how I felt about the colors being mixed,  isn’t that like a Play-doh cardinal sin???   Oh, Well!  Happy Winter Everyone

Anticipating a Blizzard!!!

I really hope this Snow Storm lives up to all its hype, the number of inches they anticipate is growing by the minute…. needlesstosay I decided to stock up on Groceries and a few necessities tonight just incase:  BIG MISTAKE!  apparently everyone else had the same idea as well.  Except they didn’t have a 
whiney sweet 5 yr old with them following them around the store wanting this and that and throwing this and that in the cart and begging for unnecessary candy.  It was one of my most miserable shopping experiences to date (right up there w/ Thanksgiving and Christmas).  So we have lots of food and won’t go hungry, Cold maybe, but not hungry.  My husband has even planned a vacation day for Wednesday (which for him is huge) and unfortunately they canceled Preschool Information Night (ya know the one where I sign him up) and rescheduled it for a night I’m not available, so that is a bummer.

In all A and I had a good day, our usual challenges with him that I hope will soon improve, Boys!  He went to gym class and we had a lot of fun playing with the big huge parachute and all the toys (today’s theme was: Sports team)  each child got a gold medal at the end that said “winner” and they all made a huddle and yelled “Go Team”.  After gym we went to McD’s for lunch and he was asleep in the car by the time we got home, mind you we live 5 minutes from McD’s!!  He woke up a few hours later feeling like a new man and we went and picked up M from school, came home, made dinner, played and then went to Catechism.  There has to  be a way to make Mondays run smoother, we struggle a lot on Mondays (well at least I do).  Thankfully tomorrow is Tuesday, Night all!