Taxes

Why in the hell can't I be Amish and immune to this dreaded deadline?

Which incidentally is my anniversary..... there's a story, either way this year tax day is gonna suck.

Who Woulda Thunk It?

In an effort to be more organized and spend less at the grocery store, I have made a menu. Thank you, Kelli! Upon searching for menu ideas I came across this recipe for a Greek Pasta Bake. The one ingredient that threw me for a loop was cinnamon. Cinnamon? In pasta? Really? Yeah, really. Really good!! So good I decided to share. Enjoy!!

Greek Pasta Bake

2 cups cooked pasta

1 lb. ground beef

1/2 cup chopped onion

2 cans - 15oz - tomato sauce (I used home canned spaghetti sauce and added chopped bell pepper, mushrooms and a can of tomato paste)

2 t. sugar

1/2 t. cinnamon

1/4 t Italian seasoning

1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Brown ground beef and onions. Drain and stir in tomato sauce, sugar, cinnamon and Italian seasoning. Bring to a boil. Add cooked pasta and mix well. Layer half of mixture in greased casserole dish. Top with half of cheese and remaining pasta mixture. Cover with aluminum foil an bake at 375 for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake for an additional 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and mixture is bubbly.

Chris and I went for a walk in the woods looking for deer antlers yesterday.
He says it paid off.
I say one is not a pay off.
I'm still upset I didn't find it first.

Anyone use Similac?

For any of those new (or not so new) mommies out there that use formula....

I think that I had an OOPS moment when completing one of those survey things that pop up. I should have ignored the damn thing. Anyway, to the point, I keep getting coupons in the mail for Similac formula. And cans of the stuff too. I have kept the cans, you know, just in case. The coupons are good until July 4th and are altogether worth $20 off.

Any takers?

I am a loser!

Thank God I lost again this week!!

Another 3.4 pounds down....lots to go!



In case you're keeping score....that's 8.2 in 2 weeks.

Book Party

My son loves books. I mean love in every sense of the word. We go to the library once a week and I think he could bring home 15 if I let him. We end up reading quite a few while we're there, but only bring 2 or 3 home with us. I think it's good for him. Hopefully, he will start picking up the words so that I don't have to read one book 30 times anymore.

What better way for me to harbor his love of books than with an Usborne Book Party? Ginger is great when it comes to talking you into parties....not that I'm easily swayed....but, I am. She helps you decide what books are age appropriate and that's good too.

If anyone wants any books for their kids....visit her website www.bookslady.com. My name is on the right side if you want to help my cause ;)

Nothing Says Love Like...

......Donkey Basketball.

That's our romantic plans for the evening.

I think it only gets better the longer you're with someone!

What a Talent

Just putting a little plug for my dad here....

He is an awesome carpenter (not to mention father, papa and boss). He has such talent when it comes to making things. I know he enjoys it and wish he would do some more of these projects to keep his mind from drifting to other unmentionable topics.

He made this chair for Grady when he was born.

The most recent project was for Chris, a board to put behind his newest deer head. I drew a pattern (so if it is off a little, that's my fault, not his) and he took it and ran.

Along with these two things, he also has made Adairondack chairs, toy boxes, picnic tables, trim for the windows in his house and too many other things for me to even list. I truly think he could earn some 'mad money' by selling these things and think he should rent a space at the Chamber Business Expo to promote himself. What about you?

Things are looking down

On the scales anyway!!!

I lost 4.8 pounds this week.

My team as a whole lost 19.6.

It's a good start. I can't believe I actually lost something....now if I can keep it up for 9 more weeks!

Weighing In

It is no secret....I am overweight!

So, Chris and myself and his sister and brother-in-law and my BFF Kelly are in the weight loss competition at the library. Today is the first day to weigh in (after the initial weigh in last week).

I hope I did my team proud. I am loving salads lately, but I sure do miss Dr. Pepper!!

Playing Catch Up

Date night was fun...nothing spectacular, but alone time with Chris was nice.

Chris got another deer head for the wall. I am afraid my house is going to start leaning.

I got a new 'do...super short, for me anyway. If anyone knew me in high school, this would be maybe 15 inches shorter than my hair used to be. And looking back... YUCK, why didn't I cut that mop off!?!

Grady has gotten into some trouble for artistically expressing himself on my bedroom wall. He didn't like having to clean it up.

The Deitz family was over and we found out Wii truly is a fun thing for all ages....Grady and Dawson battled it out boxing. Kara and I had to finish their game. They wore themselves out. Those two are about like their father's and joined at the hip. And of course there is Lexie...the most adorable little monkey I have ever seen!

The weather has taken an awesome turn for the better. We have enjoyed going out on a bike ride and blowing bubbles today. Not to mention going for a Teryx ride in the mud. No pictures of that one...I think the camera would have been coated.

There were way too many things I took pictures of so, my favorite picture from the whole weekend. Of course it's of Grady!!

A Date? What's That?

Tonight, that is what I am going on. We will probably talk about how much we miss Grady the whole time, but that's alright.

Thank you Granny and Papa for keeping Grady. I'm sure your boys will all have a good time Granny!

Daddy's Helper

Sunday, Chris and Grady had some work to do. Chris has been building a new rabbit pen for about a week now and decided it needed painting. I stayed in the house. I could not watch my son inevitably get coated in red paint. Grady got really into his work, as you can see. It all came off for the most part, but what was on his hands is currently wearing off. For his first time away from watercolors and the Crayola Color Wonder paints, I think he did pretty good.

Wii Are in Trouble Now

We finally did it!! I talked Chris into a Wii!! I am in love, but I didn't know love could hurt so bad. We were up until 2 this morning playing. Boxing really whooped up on me!! Now I have to buy Chris the hunting game from Cabela's, as promised.