First Day of School 2012

Look out 7th grade, here comes Christopher Michael and his amazing side kick Isabella Marie...

 

Of course Bella isn't really going to school but we do call daycare "school" sometimes.  All went well this morning. The most aggravating part was sitting in line to drop Chris off at school.  The traffic will subside after this first week but man it was horrible this morning.  Good thing there was no rush. 

 

Since I have this new app on my phone to do picture collages, I thought it might be fun to see pictures from the first day of school from the past 4 years...

 

 

Look at how my babies have grown!  I love them all but I think the very first one is my favorite :).  In just a couple more years, Miss Bella will be starting kindergarten (sniff, sniff) and Chris will be starting high school (gasp).  Babies are growing fast and I'm still trying not to blink and miss it. 

 

Have a good first day back!

 

Psst...

I am going to New Orleans in November. 

I have NEVER been.

I am purdy stinkin' excited about it.

I just wanted to share. 

I hope you're having a good week :)

Yumminess

My girlfriends and I are always swapping recipes and looking for new things to try.  We share what works, what doesn't and more importantly, what we like.  Pinterest has delivered a couple good recipes to us that we all have enjoyed.  I have recently made both of these and both got two thumbs up from the family so they will be making their way into the dinner rotation. 

Beef Burritos

Ingredients:
1 1/2 - 2 lbs. stew meat or other beef cubed (top sirloin is great)
1 large can mild enchilada sauce (at least 19 oz.)
2 beef bouillon cubes
1/2 can refried beans (optional)
5-7 burrito size tortillas
1 cup or so of shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:
Put beef, bouillon cubes and enchilada sauce in crock pot and cook on low for 7-8 hours or until meat is very tender.  You can also cook on high for maybe 3-4 hours.  When beef is done (tender and flakes off when stirred), taste and add more salt, if desired.  Heat up refried beans and put your oven on broil.  On an oven-proof plate or cookie sheet, lay out tortilla and add about a 1/2 cup of meat, drained by using a slotted spoon and a spoonful or two of beans.  Roll into a burrito.  Pour some of the remaining enchilada sauce from the crock pot over the burrito to cover it.  Sprinkle with cheddar cheese and broil until cheese is bubbly, about 2-4 minutes. Enjoy!

Sweet & Spicy Bacon Chicken

Ingredients:
4 chicken breasts cut in thirds (12 pieces)
bacon slices
salt & pepper to taste
garlic powder
chili powder
brown sugar

Cut each chicken breast into 3 pieces, season all the chicken with the spices, then wrap a bacon slice around each piece, roll in brown sugar and place into an oven proof dish...make sure you have some olive oil in the dish too, 2-3 tablespoons is fine (i skipped this since I grilled them).

Bake at 400 for 30-40 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and bacon is nice and brown and crispy. Delicious with mashed potatoes with some of the gravey from the chicken drizzled on top.

**Also great on the grill!!  No juices to drizzle on anything, but still delicous.

Reason to Smile

I'm still here...still sad, still struggling but still kicking.  I miss sharing everything...its so hard to not pick up the phone when something happens.  But I'm doing it...and it will get easier.  Heartache sucks. 

I do have these cuties to make me smile.  They always help momma keep her head above water...

Chris with his new long board, created and made especially for him. 

Chris swimming at Camp Ben while in Austin...doesn't he look much older in this picture?

The princess...such a ham.

Too cool...

My new disguise I'm considering, what do you think?

About a week ago, my sister had a rare night out so we went to the local hang out.  We always have fun together.  Brother joined us a little later.  There was a VIP table next to us. We snagged their sign and took some pictures with it.  Can you tell I have a new app on my phone where I can do collages with pictures?  I love messing with it. 

My friend Alec joined us that night.  He is a great friend and protector.  Always watching out for me. Reminds me a lot of my brother...sometimes too protective I think.  :)

One of these days, I am going to break down and buy this sign for my house.  I love it. 

 

I saw this on Pinterest the other day and loved it.... 

I'm leaving you with this picture my son took of me and Bella this morning.  While I still think she favors her daddy, I can see some of me in her.  Makes me smile.

 

Walls

Some friends and I have discussed my wall and whether or not I should build it back up or leave it down?  I think it should be built back up stronger than its ever been...because I don't like the way I'm feeling.  I don't like hurting.  Others suggest I should leave it down.  To me, that makes me more vulnerable.  I don't know, I guess I look at things differently. 

I have always been a trusting person. Some say too trusting.  You start off with a clean slate with me unless of course you just rub me wrong in the beginning, then you have to earn my trust and figure out how to get on my good side.  Years ago when I was in college a friend betrayed me by stealing from me.  At the time I was working part time in the learning lab at the college and my supervisor told me then I should be more like her, "start out thinking the worst in people and then when they screw up you're not surprised or hurt by it."  Make them earn your trust she said.  I've always remembered her telling me that, but I have never been able to follow that piece of advice.  I'm just not that kind of person.  Sometimes I wish I could be. 

Blessing worked on my wall for a good while before he finally got it down, and I fell hard when he did get it down.  I tried so hard not to let him in because I wanted to protect myself. I loved having a go-to person again, I had missed that.  Maybe there is a way for me to keep them down and be very, very guarded 

New Hello

Pinterest has just about everything for anyone searching for an answer of some kind...

I don't know that I was looking for an answer specifically, but I found this late Monday night...

Trying to put a positive spin on things, but as I said the other day...this one will take some time.  He's a tough one to get over.  

Saying Good-Bye

I don't even know where to begin or really what to say. My heart is hurting this evening. I said good-bye to my blessing, and not in a way that is setting well with me. It was a way that I had asked a long time ago not to happen. But it did, and I was the one who did it. I've been struggling with saying good-bye for many months but didn't have the courage to do it, didn't have the strength. I had grown to love my blessing so my heart was constantly battling my head. I've known for a long time that saying good-bye was the right thing to do, the smart thing to do...but I couldn't let go. My heart hurts. This will take some time.

My Boy & A Giant Metal Chicken

My son is off to Austin for almost 2 weeks.  Gonna miss that kid.  Aunt Kim has tons of fun stuff planned for him and his cousin Caela.  I know he's in great hands but I'll still miss him like crazy.  I loved our one-on-one time in the car yesterday.  It's rare we get that without the 3 year old hollering at us every minute.  Don't get me wrong, we love her but quiet mommy/son time is precious.  :)

I love this kid...

After I delivered the boy to Kim and FORCED myself to head back home, I ran a couple errands.  Needed some frames for the kids' baby pictures and also had to return some stuff to Victoria's Secret.  I decided to pop into Home Goods while I was nearby and look what I found standing there in all her glory!!

Knock-Knock, ....!!

If you don't know the story behind this giant metal chicken, aka Beyonce, you can go HERE to read about it.  I promise, it will make you laugh.  This story started the craze and search for a giant metal chicken between me and several of my girlfriends.  You don't know how badly I wanted to buy her yesterday but at $200, I had to let her stay.  It was hard to let her go.  Oh the fun I would have with her, my family and friends.  I have so many devious plans.  And what a beautiful addition she would make to our home.  :)

I didn't leave Home Goods empty handed, I did pick the basket on the left which now proudly sits in my room and collects dirty laundry. 

All in all, it was a good middle of the week day off.  Now, I just need to make it through this day and then I'm off for a 3-day weekend minus the kids.  What in the world will I do?

Have a good one...