Recent Event Ramblings

So it's been a couple weeks since my last blog. Today, I will just summarize and highlight a few things that have been going on.

The kids have been spending a lot of time at Schlitterbahn Waterpark. Hailey has switched swimsuits so many times that she doesn't have any tan lines except for her bottoms! Jake and Hailey love Schlitterbahn and although it is not a completed waterpark (and who knows if it ever will be) they just can't get enough of it. Jake and Hailey go down the waterslides by themselves and even the stormblaster water coaster! Me, I just like to hang out at the lazy river and torrent river.

We've had our fair share of warm weather sickness and I am not too sure if it wasn't contracted from Schlitterbahn. Yes, our family (or at least Jake and I) came down with Hand Foot Mouth Disease (HFMD) which is not to be confused with Hand and Foot Disease. Like who knew? Is there a Hand Foot Mouth Elbow Ankle disease too??

A couple weeks back Jake came down with a high fever and complained for a couple days that his "frote" hurts so bad. We ended up taking him to the doctor. He did not show any signs of HFMD at that time. They put him on an antibiotic. The next evening, I started running the fever and by the middle of the night, I had the sore throat.

Long story short, I ended up getting blisters all over my hands, fingertips, feet and toes. It was miserable to walk. In fact for 3 days, I didn't get out of bed except for the necessities and when I did, I had to wear my fluffy slippers. I had to stay home from work for 3 days while the fever and blisters continued. In case you didn't know, HFMD is highly contagious.

Jake never got any blisters on his hands a feet, thank goodness. I am still reminded of this illness as I type this because now all of my fingers are peeling off big chunks of skin. Oh the joys of childhood diseases!

Our family experienced our first Japanese steakhouse. I know, don't say it. We have never been before! It was interesting, the food was good and the company was great. Jake kept shouting "more fire" "more fire"!! I think they get their pyromania from their father.

Hailey has been busy this summer with soccer camp, basketball camp, gymnastics camp, vacation bible school and this Friday is church camp. She loves every minute of it.

Mike's summer umpiring is beginning to wrap up which is good because now we get into the busy season with school, soccer for both kids, dance, gymnastics, oh yeah and two full-time jobs.

I am going to become a crockpot queen because of this busy "season" of our life. So be looking for some quick and easy crockpot recipes on here and if you have any that are your favorites, please share!

Recipe - Mama can I have more pork chops

I made this for dinner last night and I would give it 3.5 out of 5 oven mitts!

4 thick boneless porkchops
1 tbps of vegetable oil
1 package of taco seasoning
1 small jar of peach preserves
1 16 oz jar of picante sauce

Rub the pork chops with the taco seasoning. In a skillet, heat oil and brown the pork chops.
While the pork chops are browning, pour 1/2 jar of peach preserves and 1/2 jar of salsa into the bottom of the crock pot.
Once pork chops are brown, remove from skillet and place in the bottom of the crock pot on top of the salsa/preserves mixture.
Mix remaining salsa and preserves together and pour over pork chops.

Cook on Low for 5 hours.

Pull the pork chops apart and serve with sauce over rice or noodles.

I served it over spanish rice.

Hailey ate two helpings if that says anything - she is a very picky eater.

Moms Know Everything

Today was a productive day. Although Hailey was quite upset with me because I made her devote most of her day to her room. Not just be in her room but actually CLEAN her room. When I talked to Mike this morning around 8:00, he said "Hailey did a good job cleaning her room". My response "Seriously, she's done?" She only spent about 45 minutes in there. I explained to Mike like I had explained to Hailey, clean doesn't just mean putting it in a neat pile. Clean is putting everything away where it belongs and actually being able to see the pieces of furniture that her "priceless stuff" sits upon. So as the day progressed, I called back at lunch time.

Hailey answered the phone and said "We almost have my room done, uh, I mean I almost have my room done. We've, um, I've cleaned my dresser out, all my bins, my closet . . . " I was happy at that moment and could almost picture the organized room I have been longing for. The barbies fully dressed, the American Girl dolls with rats out of their hair, a dustless TV, Littlest Petshops returning to their play yards and the smell of lemon pledge in the air consumed my every thought. Although, I had to laugh a little to myself because I am sure that Mimi was a part of the slipped up "We and We've". I am sure she helped Hailey a great deal and was letting Hailey take all the credit for it! What a great Mimi.

Of course Jake's room was a different story. An almost 4 year old thinks that cleaning up is just getting it out of sight. He has reverted to putting all his toys in his loft bed, under his loft bed, in the closet, in the bathtub, downstairs or outside in the elements just to get it "out of sight". I spent the most of my evening in his room helping him organize. Actually I think he just sat there while I said "Do you want this?" "Where is the pieces to this?" His response mostly was "I'm tired". While my response to that was "Really, so am I. Do you think I enjoy doing this?" And you can guess his reply "Uh-huh". My children know me a little too well as I do enjoy organization! I know it's a sickness.

After the never ending evening of cleaning, we picked up Hailey and her friends from basketball camp and treated them to McDonald's for dinner. I think they have eaten out every night this week. It's just difficult because basketball camp is from 5:30-8:00 aka Dinner Primetime. Working a full time job, running home to get them off to basketball with a quick snack and then getting back home at 8:30 for dinner, bath and bed is just absurd. I know the girls love it, but I am glad it's just one week!!

Tonight after baths and teeth brushings, Jake fell asleep on the couch with Mike. Mike carried him to bed and Hailey said to me "Mom, what do you think Jake is dreaming about?" Exhausted and honestly not really thinking about what Jake was dreaming, I replied "I don't have a clue". Hailey then corrected me by saying "Yes you do, you are the Mom and you know everything remember?". Of course I just said "Yes" went and put my pjs on and tucked my Wonder Woman cape under my pillow for the night.

Cows

Driving down Johnson Drive to go get pizza at 'Old Shawnee Pizza', my kids caught a glimpse of a small herd of cattle.


Jake says "Look reindeer!" Hailey replies very sassy "That's not reindeer that's cows"


As we crest the hill she says "Awww, how cute look at the little cow drinking from the mamma cow's gutter"


And that's when I lost it . . .

my poor city kiddos!