16 years

Time has flown by.

I never thought I would be where I am 16 years ago.

I hoped we would be happy, we are.

I hoped we would lived in a nice home, we do.

I hoped we would have 6 kids, we do.

I hoped we would have a car we could count on and not break down, so far so good. (although it doesn't fit us)

I hoped Jeff would have a great job and we would have enough money for our needs....Okay so he has a pretty good job, but it is not enough....

I guess 4 out of five ain't bad.

For our anniversary, I was sick.

We have this freaky unintentional tradition of having a crappy anniversary.

Last year, Jeff was at Scout Camp with Jeff.

This year was good.

I felt terrible all day, but I was treated like a queen.

Breakfast in bed, hours of Phase 10 with Jeff, Dinner with no kids and a romantic movie. (Valentines Day...cute, we liked it)

I still really like him and I still really think he is cute.

I love hanging out with him.

I look forward to doing many more things with him.

He is my best friend.

I could not think of any other person I would want to spend eternity with.

I love you Jeff,

I look forward to another 16 years and more...

Dog Sick and Scout Camp

Yep, I have been sick.
Sick like a dog sick.
Panting and drooling like a dog sick.
I haven't slept well for a week. Michael has been sick and then all the boys had a sore throat and then I got it. (Jeff feels like he is getting it so there goes another few days of getting nothing done but babying a sick hubby)
I felt like I couldn't breathe.
On top of all that....
I have scout camp.
2 boys to get ready.
2 bags of stuff, 2 flashlights to buy. 2 knives, 2 compasses, 2 more of everything.....
I am glad they get to go together. I would worry about my tenderhearted Nathan.
I am not worried ....okay, i am worried, but it is less now.
I have 2 very excited, wont stop playing with their knives and hats, and flashlights to get ready.
and I have 2 boys that have to make the most disgusting room clean before they go.
They have to clean it so we can find everything to pack.
They are making me yell and lose my voice.
They are making my sick head hurt more.
They are 2 boys I am gonna miss so much.
They are also mad at me for cutting all their hair off.
Jeff said no more summer Mohawk, so I tried to do a buzz cut and they wiggled.
Bye bye hair.(Michael cried at the strangers)
My ears hurt and I have to yell at them.
I have 2 other boys who are so sad the older brothers are going to be gone.....NOT!
I already moved the bi9g boys TV fromt heir room (their room was that gross) to the younger brothers room.
And we have made plans to go to the $3 movies and to a sprinkler park and have a sleep over.
Jeff is being more wonderful then ever.
I am looking forward to not having anything to to do.
I wanna lay around like a dog.
Like a dog that sleeps and sleeps and sleeps.......

Double Tasty Tuesday posted

I didn't post one last week.
I started it, but was overwhelmed with life and saved it.
I forgot to finish it until today. It is a few post down, but it is there.

Tasty Tuesday - Katie's Oven Rice

Now, I understand it is summer and NO ONE wants to turn on their ovens.
But I really like this stuff and think it is worth the heat.

Katie's Oven Rice

3 cups medium grain dry rice
1 can cream of chicken soup; condensed
1 can cream of celery; condensed
2 cups chicken broth
2 cups water
1 cube melted butter
1 tbsp dried parsley
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
Mix all ingredients together.
Pour into lightly greased 13x 9 inch casserole dish cover with foil.
Make sure rice on bottom is spread evenly. (I picked out the big chunks of chicken and celery from both cream soups. boys hate it...lol)
Cook 45 minutes at 400.
Stir and recover with foil.

Let sit 30 minutes.

Enjoy.

It goes great with.....
Hillshire farms Beef Sausage
Meatloaf balls
Meat Ring
Chicken (almost any kind)

My boys kill the pan and not much is left over.
I added the cream of celery and they have no idea.

You know what?

I like me.
I like me and I don't care if you don't.
I like my blog.
I don't care if you don't.
I am a good person.
I am weird, but I like weird.
I like being different.
I have this thing about following the crowd. (I didn't wanna read Twilight 'cause
everyone was doing it;but I am soooo glad I caved and read them)
I hate when people try to convince me to do this or that. (subtle hints and not so subtle)
I am not stupid by the way, I may be slower than most and I may be extremely forgetful, but I am not stupid.
I just wanna do things in my own time, from my own decision.
Why am I saying this now?
There is no good or bad reason or thing that happened to make me come on my blog and announce it.
Although it does feel good to say it outloud.
I have been on this not so sturdy fence for months...no years....about me and who likes me and who doesn't, and why don't they like me. Why it matters if they do or don't ?
I used to HATE it when people don't like me (or know the truth of things about me)
Just the thought of someone maybe not liking me or maybe thinking or hearing bad things about me.....used to just set me flying of the wrong edge of the fence.
But I have finally, after MANY PRAYERS, "seen the light"...
I like me.
The me in my brain.
(Me on the outside has a little work to do, like i said before, i will get to it when I am ready, in my own time)
But I feel like now I have hit that part that I needed to get to, that somethin'....that final "light bulb moment"...
I like me.
I am in NO WAY saying that I am perfect.
I have too many flaws to record on the blog and it will defeat the whole purpose of this whole entire revelation I am having.

I am not saying...Poof....I have completely healed on the inside...
No freakin' way. That is too easy and so false.
so I guess i should say I am healing.

For too long time, I have been listening to voices in my head.
(I warned you I was weird)
2 voices....one good and one bad.
I have never believed the good.
"the bad is easier to believe" ...quoted from Vivian in the movie Pretty Woman.
and it is so true....for me.
I am quite sure I am the only one in this blog world who will ever know what I am really talking about.
I think I realized what sparked this revelation.
My family.
My sweet and very beautiful baby girl turned three.
She was the whole reason I started the blog thing in the first place which took me forever to finally cave to....(another "not following the crowd" thing)
If you think I am weird.... you are still reading my blog......lol
back to my revelation....
Emma turned 3....my family came for her party.
(I am going to cry now.)
I HAVE THE BEST FAMILY.
You can argue all you want, but the facts are the facts.
I DO have the best family.
I have a crush on 24 boys.
I can name them all, but these are the young men (plus Jeff) in my family.
Bigney and Scoville.
Monday was awesome, I got the best of both worlds.
My good friend from Susanville, Monica, came for a visit with her adorable family and with her there and my family, I could have died happy... right then and there.
I love them so.
If they like me enough to come, that should be good enough for me.
Am I right?
Seriously, you're still reading, so you have now joined the weird club.
but you know what?
I like weird.

Tasty Tuesday - Meatballs (from Scratch)

They are really meatloaf balls, it sounds weird.
I was trying to figure out a way to cook meatloaf with out it taking so long.
So I thought, smaller cooks faster.

MeatLoaf Balls

2 lbs of ground hamburger 80/20
1/4 onion; finely chopped
1 or 2 cloves of garlic; minced
1 cup quick oats
1/2 cup panko crumbs
1/4 ketchup
1 tbsp dried parsley
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper

Mix all ingredients well.
Use a Large cookie/cupcake scoop or use a 1/4 to 1/3 cup measuring cup.
Mold into ball. Place in a 9 x 13 casserole dish.
Cover with desired sauce.
cook 400 for 45 minutes.
You can make smaller balls, just lower the bake time.

I made a mushroom sauce to go over the meat balls.
But I am gonna try spahgetti sauce next.

Mushroom Sauce
2 can Cream of mushroom soup
(Next time I am adding) 1 cup sliced mushroom
2 tbsp dried onion soup mix
2 cup beef broth

2 cups hot water
(next time adding)1 package dry gravy mix on

mix well

cook on stove until boils
mix well and pour over meatballs.

this can be served with oven rice, wide egg noodles, or mashed potatoes.

by the way, I am never buying frozen meatballs again.

Typical Day

Yes, I do clean.
I can't sleep if it is looking like a bomb blew up.
It just looks like this after the boys get off to school.
I am actually looking forward to summer.

Tasty Tuesday - Katie's Potato Salad

I just made this for Memorial Day.
We BBQ'd with the in-laws and had a fabulous time.
I am sure every one's Potato Salad is not much different.
I just wanna get this down somewhere.

Katie's Potato Salad

5 lbs yellow Yukon Gold potatoes: boiled, skin on
3/4 cup Mayonnaise
1/2 cup Miracle Whip
1 large dill pickle; diced
4 green onions, sliced
6 to 7 hard boiled eggs diced
4 tbsp. mustard
1 1/2 tsp onion salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp salt
dash on garlic salt

Peel potatoes and cut into bite size pieces.
Add to large bowl.
Cut pickle, onion and egg. Mix up and set aside.
In smaller bowl , mix, Mayonnaise, Miracle Whip, mustard, onion salt, garlic salt, and salt and pepper.
Add to potato mix and mix very well.
Enjoy.

I like the this best.
My mom make a great potato salad with more Miracle Whip and sweet pickle relish and NO ONIONS.
My Mother in Law uses NO Miracle Whip, but must have onions and dill pickles.
I liked them both and have made my own recipe from both.
For me, I love to eat this room temp and as a side to anything from the BBQ grill.