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2.24.2010

I'm baaaacccckkkkk!!!

I am so glad to be home. I actually got home Friday afternoon, but am just getting back into the swing of things.

We were supposed to leave on Saturday morning but on Friday afternoon, Chris called to let me know his next drop was in Jacksonville! Boy was I excited!! He was in PA at the time and was scheduled to pick up in Cincinnati Saturday morning for a Monday drop. There was NO way I could leave town knowing that there was the slightest chance I could see my husband. He had been gone for exactly 3 weeks and I missed him so much.

Saturday, he and his driving partner got up and high tailed it here. His partner said Chris was so excited he just wanted to drive and not stop until he got home. 16 hours later, he was home. It was 3 am and I was exhausted from all the excitement and they were exhausted from all the driving. We all talked for a bit then went to bed around 4 am. I was so excited to have him home I couldn't sleep. I just keep looking over to see him laying there sleeping.

Monday rolls around and we left around 11 am to go to my dads' house. I needed to have work done to my car and I trust those people over there to treat me fairly. Gotta love a small town.

Chris and his partner got their load dropped but were then stuck here for another day. By that point I was wishing we would have stayed another day but I was already to my dads', 4 hours away. Boo.

Got my car fixed by Thursday and by this time Chris was on his way to Denver. He called me late that night to tell me the truck broke down. Less than 2 hours from Denver too. They had to send another truck to pick up their load and then a tow truck to get their truck. What a mess!

Fast forward to today: They JUST got the truck fixed! They have been stuck in Denver for nearly a week! Why oh why couldn't the truck have broken down when they were here?? But thankfully they are driving again. I think they were starting to go stir crazy from all the sitting.

I took a few pictures of the girls while at my dads' house. Enjoy!

Sophie loves peanut butter sandwiches!


Lilly has gotten to where she doesn't want me taking her picture. I have to sneak up and try to get a good shot.


Caitlin ALWAYS poses for me.

Case in point.

Sophie will sit still, but doesn't always want to look my way.


And with this post I have realized that every one of my children need a haircut. Sheesh mom... get it together. :)

2.12.2010

A little weekend getaway

I am loading up the girls in the morning and taking them over to see my dad. I am really going over there to get the car fixed. It's been acing up for a while now and it just seems right to get it fixed now.

Why wait and then have to buy another car.

This one is almost paid off! YIPPIE!! Only 4-5 payments left!

Since I more than likely won't be posting anything until I get back next week, I leave you with this.


Seriously... could she be any cuter?


That little lamb goes everywhere she goes.

(It's dark and rainy today so the picture turned out all grainy from the high ISO. Bleh.)

P.S. I got those boots on sale and she hasn't taken them off. I think she even wanted to shower with them on. I thought they were $7.00 but rang up at $3.50! Score!

2.09.2010

Easy Breakfast Casserole

I have been on the lookout for a super easy breakfast casserole FOREVER. I have looked everywhere and couldn't find one that fit my family's tastes just right. This recipe is a collection of a couple different ones, just changed up a bit to suit our tastes.

This one is a winner!

Before we get to the recipe, let me just apologize for the pictures.
  1. I am a terrible photographer.
  2. I have a terrible camera. (these were taken before I got the new one)
  3. I am a terrible photographer.
  4. I have terrible lighting.
  5. I am a terrible photographer.
Easy Breakfast Casserole

1 lb bulk sausage, cooked, crumbled and drained (I use Publix brand since it doesn't have MSG)

6 or 7 eggs - depending on your love of eggs. I use 7.

5 or 6 Frozen hash brown patties - depending on the size of your pan and patties

1 cup of shredded cheese (shred your own, it's MUCH cheaper)

1/3 block of cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup each of cream and milk

salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 and spray a 9 x 13 with nonstick spray. Really lay it on, eggs stick! Or you could use crisco and just grease it like you would a loaf pan.

Lay the hash brown patties down first in a single layer and then cover with about 3/4 cup of cheese. Then layer on the cooked and drained sausage.
 Whisk your cream cheese until smooth. I usually add the cream at this point. It helps the cream cheese get smooth. Add your eggs, milk and seasonings and whisk until blended. Just season the eggs like you would if you were making scrambled eggs.

Pour the egg mixture over the patties, cheese and sausage and top with remaining cheese.
Bake for about 40 minutes or until set.
Let stand for a few minutes before cutting into... or if you are like me, dig right in!
Enjoy!

Remember how I said this was inspired by some other recipes?? Here they are.

I got the concept of this casserole from here. Let me just tell you... this is an AWESOME website.

Oh.

My.

Word. Talk about yummy Southern food.

The egg mixture was inspired by these. They are so good! We make them with sausage and ham as well. With and without the biscuits too!

2.08.2010

A little catching up

I had such a great visit with my dad while he was here. We went to see some family that lives nearby and had a blast! They have an orange tree and Caitlin decided she wanted to pick all the oranges. Needless to say, I had better learn to make orange jam and marmalade! She must have picked 20 pounds!

Yesterday we were without power for a good chunk of the day. Our upstairs neighbor has a HUGE fish tank and it decided to leak... into our house... and onto our breaker box. Can you say fried! Yeah... salt water and electricity DO NOT mix. :)

Since it was so late when we got our power back on, I took the girls out to eat. Zaxby's! I love that place.

I totally forgot my menu this week. I have 2 freezers, 2 pantries and a fridge full of food so it shouldn't be too hard to figure out a plan. I keep telling myself I can't slack on the menu plan... it keeps me sane!

We are loading up and heading to my dad's this weekend. Gosh I haven't been over there in nearly a year. I'm a bad, bad daughter. Caitlin is going to miss 2 whole days of school! She is excited.

OOOOoooo I got a new CAMERA! I am so excited! I have been using a little ol' point and shoot Kodak. Bleh... It took awful pictures. So I bought this. Night and day I tell ya! Now to just sew myself one of those cute little camera strap covers.

And because I am sooooo excited about my new camera... I'm gonna post some pics I took this weekend of Sophie. Let me just tell you this. She NEVER lets me take her picture. She ALWAYS runs from the camera. Well, yesterday she sat still for me and these are the results.


2.05.2010

Rough week

This week has been hard. It was my birthday and my husband is not here to celebrate with me. That's a first.

I have had a short fuse with my kids all week.

This thing about hubby being gone for weeks on end is a lot harder than I thought it would be and it's only the 2nd week.

I met a lady yesterday while in Chick Fil A. She was there for a get together with other mommies or something. She asked where I lived and then the zip code. Figures... I have the wrong zip code to be in that group.

That's how I have been feeling lately. Rejected.

I have been thinking about doing another blog. One where I can just blurt it all out. I don't feel like I can do that on here. It's really supposed to be my grocery savings blog, but I have been slacking on that.

I have receipts up to my ears that I need to sort out.

My dad is coming in today. I really needed this break. I think the kids are getting tired of being around just me all the time. They sure love their Gramps!

This blog post makes no sense what so ever... but it made me stop crying at least. Just blurting it out.

2.02.2010

Sunsets on the First Coast

As much I as complain about living here, it really is a gorgeous city. There is water all around us. Beach to the East, rivers to the North and West. Heck we even have a pond out in the back yard.

Before my husband left to go on the road, he went downtown. We don't normally go downtown. It's just not convenient. We have everything we need within a 5 mile radius of our house.

He went for a meeting but while waiting for it to start, he took a few shots of the downtown overlooking the St. Johns River.



Gorgeous colors.





I love all the different things in this picture. Love it!

Here is another sunset we saw. This one was coming back from grocery shopping one evening. It was so pretty. The pictures just do not do it justice. We actually pulled over to watch it! Now that's a pretty sunset.

2.01.2010

Menu Plan Monday

Since I am getting back into the swing of things, I have my menus all made up and ready to go! What a relief. Whew.

Monday - Lima beans and ham over rice, cucumber tomato salad, 40 minute rolls

Tuesday - Saucy broccoli chicken bake, carrots, leftover rolls

Wednesday - Homemade Hamburger Helper, green beans, mandarin oranges

Thursday - Farmhouse chicken, broccoli, fruit salad

Friday - Out for dinner?? Not sure. Have company coming.

Saturday - Spaghetti with meat sauce and french bread

Sunday - Leftover buffet or sloppy joes and tater tots

For more great menus, hop on over to Menu Plan Monday on Orgjunkie. com

Update: I had to change up tonight's menu. I forgot I have over 1/2 a spiral ham I need to use up before it goes bad. I cut all the meat off the bone and will throw that bone in with the Limas. Gonna put the rest of the ham into freezer bags for another meal down the road.