Search Words & Thank you!

First of all, a big thank you to Peggy for the award! That was so sweet of you!



After seeing Uisce's post about recent word searches that brought people to his blog, I was suddenly curious about mine. I haven't checked my blog stats in a long time, so I decided what the heck and looked. Here are the 10 most recent searches that brought people to my blog...

-change sheets, top bunk

-tick bites photos

-flylady blinkie

-tick bites photo

-working wife tired

-tick bite bump

-best wife & mom awards

-stacey mazlish

-pictures of tick bites

and here's my favorite...

-nasty wife photos


LOL!

Wordless Wednesday (kinda)

Tackle it Tuesday

It's been a few weeks since I posted on "Tackle it Tuesday"
This week I'm posting a "tackle" that we did last weekend (because I forgot to post it last Tuesday, oops!)

Our garbage disposal stopped working, and a few days after that, it literally fell off! So, we bought a new one, and Joe set to work replacing it. This forced us to clear out everything under the kitchen sink. After doing so, Joe realized that the board under it was warped and needed replaced, so he cut a new board, made a frame to support it and installed the new garbage disposal. Then I covered the board w/ marble patterned contact paper to help protect it a little from moisture, and then I set to work going through all the crap that was under the sink, and reorganized it so that it was somewhat tidy and useful and easy to get to things. I forgot to take a "before" picture, but rest assured it was a cluttered, full messy cabinet. Now, here's the "after"...

Menu Plan Monday

Getting this posted late in the day, but here goes...


Monday: Salisbury Steak

Tuesday: Smoked Sausage Scramble

Wednesday: Crispy Deli Wraps

Thursday: Leftovers

Friday: Pizza/Family night

Saturday: Stir Fry w/ smoked sausage (if any is left from Tues)

Sunday: Chicken dish of some sort?

Blog Fixed- Thank you!

A BIG THANK YOU to Uisce for helping me with my blog issues. Those of you that were having problems with your computer freezing up when you tried to view my blog, the problem should be fixed now. Yea! Thank you!!!

Meet the Teacher and Back to School!

Last night was Meet the Teacher night, so we all went up to the school to meet Brendan's 2nd grade teacher and see his classroom, put away his school supplies, etc. He seems happy with who he has, and while he was a little disappointed that 2 of his good friends are not in his class this year, he was happy that 2 of his other good friends are! (although his desk is not next to theirs, which is VERY good...smart teacher to separate them or they will chat and be silly all year).

(Brendan with his new teacher)

(Trying out his desk)

Today is his first day back at school, first day of 2nd grade! I can't wait to hear how it goes!

Blog Help Needed

Help! Some people who read my blog have let me know that when they try to view my blog their computer freezes up. I've had at least 3 people tell me this now. But I know that several others have no problems at all. I have no idea why, or how to fix such a thing. Anyone know???

Fun Last Weekend

Wow I can't believe the week is almost over. I've been meaning to post about this past weekend all week, but am just now getting around to it.

My mom and her boyfriend took Brendan and my nephew to a cool dinosaur Omnimax movie and a monster exhibit and they stayed overnight at mom's house. They had a blast! Saturday I drove there to pick them up, and I took them to Six Flags. It was very busy, but luckily the heat wasn't too bad, and the boys really did behave pretty well the whole day. The long lines made it hard to ride too many different things, but the boys both had a lot of fun, and it was nice for Brendan to be able to spend some fun time with his cousin.

I think we rode the log flume ride at least 10 times throughout the day...they loved it!

We did have one incident. (well, actually 2 incidents if you count my nephew tripping and scraping up his knee on the way up to the ticket booth). But part-way through the day, I had finally talked my nephew into going on one of the milder roller coasters. He had been saying from the start that he didn't want to ride anything that was too fast or went upside down. I assured him this one didn't go upside down and that it wasn't quite as fast as some of the others. So, we get on the rollercoaster, and all is going well, he loved it and then on the very last big hill we are going up, up, up, stop. Sit. Still stopped. Everyone starts looking at each other. Yep, the rollercoaster broke down with us almost at the top of the hill. We all sat there looking around and eventually an employee came running down the field alongside the ride and tried to fix the problem at the control box, but it didn't work. So he had to call his manager, and his manager's manager. About 20 minutes later the other 2 manager show up and tell us that they are going to have to get everyone out! So here we are on the uphill side of a big hill of the rollercoaster, and we have to climb out and walk down the hill of the coaster. So, the 2 manager guys helped everyone climb out and down one-by-one. After they got me down, I snapped a picture of them getting the boys down.

I wish I could have gotten a better picture and more of the surroundings, it is hard to see exactly what was going on in the pic, and just how high up we were. On the other side was a straightdown drop-off. Luckily they had the railing on the side we had to walk down. Getting out was a tall step down (even for me, and I have long legs!). When the guys helped me down I had one set of hands on my butt and the other had his arms wrapped tightly around my waist. Felt like saying "Nice to meet you too." lol

Once everyone was down, they led us through the nearby patch of trees and back out to the rest of the park. They gave each of us an "exit pass" that we could use on one ride of our choice to go in the exit and get immediately on a ride without waiting in line. So, that was nice, at least! Brendan and Tyler had been wanting to ride Thunder River, which typically has a 2-hr wait, so I said let's go! It was awesome to just walk right up and get on with no wait. And the boys ended up LOVING that ride! So, I'm really glad we did it. Even if I did get EXTREMELY SOAKED on it, with water waves gushing in and straight down my back into my shorts! lol Three hours later my clothes, shoes, socks, etc were still very wet! I couldn't wait to get home and peel off those wet clothes. Next time I'll bring a change of dry clothes so I don't have to drive home wet!

All in all it was a fun day, and both Brendan and Tyler said they had so much fun (and I did too).

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Campbell's Cheeseburger Pasta

Tuesday: Summer Pasta Primavara (didn't end up having this from last week's menu)

Wednesday: BLT Wraps

Thursday: leftovers

Friday: normally Fridays are pizza/family night, but the boys will be going to my dad's house, so maybe Joe & I will eat out...alone...imagine that! lol

Saturday: Whatever we feel like at the time

Sunday: Not sure if we will be home for dinner

Backyard Challenge

Okay, so it has taken me awhile, but I'm finally doing the backyard challenge that I saw on The Hoyt Family blog The idea was for people to post photos of their yard.

We live on 10 wooded acres, so it was hard for me to decide what to include as part of our "yard". lol Anyway, here's a very abbreviated look at ours...

Some of our flowers (I am horrible, I don't even know what these are called- they are left from the previous owner. Very pretty though, huh?).

Here's part of our yard, with the tree swing and the swingset/clubhouse.

The wood pile.


The path leading from the edge of our yard into the rest of our woods.

Fresh deer track in a muddy part of the path on the way to our creek.

At the end of the path is our part of the creek.

Adam thought this would be a good skipping rock because it is flat, but he could barely lift it, let alone skip it on the water. lol

So, that is a brief "tour" of our yard/property. I pass this challenge on to anyone else that wants to do it. If you do, let me know so I can come see your pictures!

Wordless Wednesday: Tired Out!

Menu Plan Monday

Monday:15-minute Shrimp & Avocado Salad

(and cherry dump cake for dessert- recipe below)

Tuesday: Chicken Quesedillas

Wednesday: Summer Pasta Primavera

Thursday: leftovers

Friday: Pizza/family night

Saturday: On your own

Sunday: Calabaza con pollo

My hubby apparently has never had dump cake. I thought everyone knew what dump cake was, but I guess I was wrong. If you've never had it, it is super easy, I had the boys help.

Dump Cake

1 20-oz can cherry or blueberry pie filling

1 20-oz can crushed pineapple, undrained

1 yellow cake mix

1 1/2 sticks butter (I don't use that much)

1/2 c. nuts, optional (I don't use nuts)

Dump pineapple and pie filling in 9x13 pan an swirl around to mix and meet the edges. Sprinkle entire cake mix over the top of the fruit, covering evenly. Cut butter into thin slices and lay evenly over top of cake mix. Sprinkle w/ nuts if desired. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour.

An Award!

Thank you Carolyn for the award!!!

Here are the rules:

1. The winner can put the logo on his/her blog.

2. Link to the person you received your award from.

3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.

4. Put links to those blogs on yours.

5. Leave a message on the blogs of the people you have nominated.

Now my turn to nominate 7 others for the award (trying not to repeat some Carolyn and others already did!):

1. Peggy: WebbMania

2. Raigon: The Hoyt Family

3. Cheri: Creations by Cheri

4. Confessions of a Three Time Mommy

5. Briana: Life's Little Moments

6. Uisce: Whiskey Talking (I know, I know, you don't do these sorts of things, but I just didn't feel right leaving you out. lol)

7. Deanna: Run Dude, Run (don't know if you do this sort of thing either, but didn't want to leave you out either. lol)