F-R-I-D-A-Y

Well Folks, I haven't blogged forever it feels like (which it prly has been forever)!  I'm going to post some pictures of our "craft day" last weekend with Brady and Kelli.  Kelli had a great idea and I had seen it before so we were super excited to try it!!

I saw that Sara Waugh just posted this craft too.  Great minds think alike...even when we are 1,000 of miles away from each other!  We miss ya Waugh Family.

First Saturday Football Season started at Lindsey and Joey's house.  I may add that we also had a slumber party at their house that night too.  It was a fun day with watching football, eating, and making crafts with the kids.  That night we ate more and we were in bed by 10:30!

Paige and Brady made necklaces and artwork

This was Kelli's craft she shared with us and was pretty neat and fun...

This was Brady's picture

You hot glue the crayons onto the canvas and then use a blow dryer to melt the crayons!

Next it was Paige's turn and of course we did PINK :)

The kids got bored with the craft after about 20 minutes and I think Kelli and I had more fun than the kids doing this project.

Paige and Brady got to wrestle with Joey later on that night and oh boy...did they have fun :)

As you can see...I have lots to write about tonight and share.  OR maybe it's because Paige has friends to play with and I get to sit here and watch them and share our fun!

Tonight we got the pleasure of the Brendeland boys hanging out with us.  The kids thought the trees behind my dad's house was their fort and kept them entertained for quite awhile tonight.

Then they wanted to drive the car....

This is how excited Blake and Paige were when I took their picture...

The nights are getting darker sooner now and is time to get the kids ready to go inside for the night.  Hope to return sooner than later!!  GO HAWKS!!!

Tasty Tuesday

Alright all...I have a few recipes to share on this Tasty Tuesday!

The first recipe is one that I stole from Abby's blog and is PHENOMENAL!  When I was trying to think of different appetizers to make for my Jewelry Party I had last week, I made 2 different items and both were tasty.

BUFFALO CHICKEN BITES

3 cups shredded cooked chicken 
1/2 cup Frank's hot sauce (or a little more if you like things hot)
4 oz cream cheese
2 cups medium shredded cheddar cheese

Mix all that up very, very well and then make little balls with the mixture and lay out on a plate.

Now you will need:

1 cup flour
4 eggs, beaten
3-4 cups panko

Add each of those to their own bowl for dipping.  First bowl will be flour, second bowl eggs, and third bowl panko and place them in a line.

Dip the balls into the flour first, then the egg, and finally cover with panko before adding to the greased pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes...

The Chicken Bites taste just like the dip but is LOTS, LOTS, LOTS, and LOTS of extra work.  So if you don't have the time or patience, I would HIGHLY and STRONG recommend that you make the Buffalo Chicken Dip!

Of the two recipes I made last week for my party, the chicken was my favorite but this next one was tasty as well!

Pizza Fondue

1 small onion
1 lb ground beef
2 T butter (I omitted this)
1 T oregano (I didn't have any so I used pizza seasoning)
1 T garlic powder
1 T corn starch (I omitted this since I didnt have it on hand)
2 (10 oz) cans pizza sauce
10 oz shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded Mozzerella Cheese

Brown hamburger and onion with butter (I also added a can of mushrooms and a half a package of turkey pepperoni I had in the fridge).  Drain.  Mix spices and corn starch with pizza sauce. 

Pour sauce over hamburger and cook until bubbly.  Add cheese.  Put in crock pot and serve with italian bread that has been baked so it's nice and crusty. 


There ya go...my 2 tasty recipes for this week.  I made a new meal tonight, so if you are all lucky and if I remember...I will post another tasty recipe this week!

Oh geez...how could I forget to share this...Paige slept in her bed all night by herself Monday night.  She must of been tuckered out from Preschool.  LOVE IT...lets see if she does it again tonight.  Anyone want to make bets with me...?

Maniac Monday

I would like to call my Maniac Monday...Mexican Monday!  Tonight at the last minute we decided to go to El Mariachi for supper.  YUM YUM YUM.  If you have never been there, it is a must.  It is in Johnston!  I opted out for making supper tonight because of our busy schedule this week and had no free time this week except for tonight to get Paige dance stuff.  OMG....this girl just costs too much already.  All I can say is that I hope her feet don't grow before recital time :)

Today was a special day because it was Paige's 1st day of 3 year old preschool.  Paige was super excited and couldn't wait.  I could tell she was going to like preschool because the minute we opened up the door to school, she marched up the stairs and was ready to play.  That was a good feeling for me and knew she was going to have a good year.

Paige wanted to take a picture on the mower-

What a smile Paige!

A little side profile shot...work it girl :)

Of course...she is wearing "powder", necklaces, and bracelet.  She even curled her eyelashes this morning.  I think we have our hands full with this chica!

Workin it again~~~~

Approaching preschool...

Paige has her own cubbie and hook for her backpack.  (Do you remember book orders?!  Paige came home with 3 book orders tonight.  When I was in school, I looked forward to ordering from the book orders.)

As I mentioned, dance starts next week and we have nothing!  So tonight I made my first dance shopping experience with Paige.  We walked into the store and Paige was in heaven with all the dance outfits and "pretties".  This was quite the ordeal buying ballet shoes, tap shoes, tights, and a dance outfit.  The staff was very very very helpful and knew exactly what to do with Paige and what she needed.  The lady put the tap shoes on Paige and the second she stepped down, they made the tap noise and she giggled and thought that was so cool.  The little things in life that make Paige giggle...LOVE IT.

While we were looking for a dance outfit, I noticed they had gymnastic outfits.  Paige will be signed up for gymnastics as well in Ankeny starting next week.  The result = buying a leotard.  I loved the leotard she picked.  You can't really tell in the picture but it was lime green, pink, orange, and all sorts of fun colors.

She must of been stretching in this picture??

I think she likes it!?

Will she be a dancer/gymnast or a volleyball and etc. girl?  That is the tough question!

Paige picked out a purple outfit for dance.

After spending some $, I was ready to get out of there and pray that she will NOT grow out of any of this for this year.  Overall, this was a fun night and something that I will look forward to doing with my girl every year.

~~~Good Night all~~~~

Sunday FUNday

Wowza....what a busy week we had!  What a relief the week and weekend is done and time to start a new week.  

This weekend Tiffany and I hosted a baby shower for Lindsey and Joey Saturday night.  It was a great time and everything turned out peachy!  Shout out to Tiffany for making the BEST diaper cake :)

Sunday us girls had another baby shower for Lindsey.  Holy cow she received lots and lots of nice baby items.  As I write this post right now, Paige has been sleeping for about 2 hours, she must of been tired.  

Paige starts preschool tomorrow as well as a new daycare.  They will both be at the same house and I think she love having the 2 1/2 hours of preschool.  It's sad to think that Paige will be starting preschool already...my baby is growing up.  I shall report how the first day goes for Paige.

The picture below was taken Thursday night, but since I obviously haven't blogged, I had to post the picture tonight.  Just wanted to show everyone that Paige is getting better at putting her headbands on :)

Friday night, Paige and I went out to Jordan Creek and went school shopping.  We found her a new backpack and a few new outfits.  Following the school shopping we ate at Chick-fila (LOL - not sure how they spell their name!)

Speaking of the restaurant, I was blown away by this new ketchup invention.  These rocked and were so convenient.  

By the looks of this picture, Paige may have a little fighter in her?

Paige is getting to be quite the expert at driving her car.  The kids cruised all night in this thing.  Paige drove her cousins around (Sam 2 years old and Blakely 1 year old)

With all 3 kids in the car, I got a little nervous.  But they didn't mind.

What cute kids!

HAWKS...HAWKS...HAWKS...

vs

Huskers

Paige just loves Natalie and being around her!  This morning the girls were in Paige's room playing and came out in their outfits.  Just getting ready for football season!

ugh...time to go fold laundry.  I wish laundry would fold itself.  Is that possible?  PLEASE??!!!

Have a good week everyone and lets hope Paige has a good week at her new Preschool/daycare.

Tasty Tuesday

Sorry folks....I was to busy to blog on Sunday because we were having too much fun-

 Paige swept the garage floor (in her PJs)

Rode her car

We went to Kohls the other night and Paige still has a merchandise credit there.  So Paige picked out headbands and chapstick.  Here she is sporting her new headband (her hair was wet)

I was bored Sunday afternoon so I used my curlers to curl my hair.  Paige saw me and wanted her hair done too!

Paige thought she was pretty cool because her bed got taller!  I finally put a box spring under the mattress and it defiantly raised her bed up more.

Monday night I was not able to blog either due to it being a Maniac Monday night.  As you can see Paige was a maniac last night with her pink headband.  I just have to laugh at this because she reminds me of someone in the Richard Simmons workout videos.  Right?!

I'm such a mean mom...I took a picture of the back of her head because it was the best :)

This brings us to Tasty Tuesday.

Sunday night we went over to Lindsey and Joey's house for supper.  I was TOLD to bring a corn casserole.  So what do I do.....?  I head over to my trusty friend Abby's food blog and start searching.  I wanted something different and I found it!  Thanks Abby for the recipe.  Everyone loved the corn casserole.

1 can whole corn (undrained)
1 can creamed corn
1 stick margarine (I used light margarine)
8 oz. sour cream (I used light SC)
1 egg
1 box Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Melt butter in microwave.  Beat egg in separate bowl.  Combine corn, sour cream, corn muffin mix, then add the egg and muffin mix.  Spray 9*13 pan with cooking spray and then add the mixture.  Cook in oven for 55 minutes.  To test if its done, stick a tooth pick in the casserole and when it comes out clear, it's done!