More From last Weekend…..

THE REST OF SATURDAY……

After Tommy’s friends birthday party in the morning, he had his last soccer game of the season.  They won and he scored one goal.  He was very happy.   We then had our extended family over to celebrate Tommy’s birthday with them.  

SUNDAY – we spent most of the day at church.  We went to service in the morning, came home and had a quick lunch before going back to church for Erik’s Celebration of Confirmation.  

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After Confirmation we came home and changed clothes and took Tommy back to church for the Hallelujah Festival.   After the Festival we (Tommy, Erik, Hubby and I ) cleaned up the church.  

We came home and quickly took down our Halloween stuff out front as the demo crew was coming on Monday to start on the driveway, etc. 

MONDAY-  The Demo crew was at our house at by 7:30 to begin taking everything apart. 

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As you can see everything was taken out.    We had a small mishap with the front walk.  When they were removing the front stoop, the concrete got caught on the house and they pulled part of the house off.   To the right of the front door they cracked and pulled off the tongue and groove paneling around the door.  They said they would repair.

Since I was home, I got some things done around the house.   Josh came over and we removed the carpet downstairs that they cat had messed up.   We also cleaned out 1/2 of the garage as they need to be able to roll the roller into the garage when they do the driveway.

TUESDAY-

The crew was back again to pour the concrete.  Since they were coming and would lay concrete between the house and garage, I called the electrician to come and bury the conduit before they laid the concrete.  The electrician was here by about 7:45 and the concrete crew started working around 8:00.  

Here is how things looked like by the end of the day……

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The pipe was installed so wires could be ran from the house and into the garage.

 

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Concrete slab laid that will be where the garbage can is kept on.

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New front stoop and walk.

As you can see we have made a little progress, but there is so much more to do!!!  I am trying to remain calm, but it is hard.  At the point of this post, we were still waking for information from the insurance company regarding the car accident hubby was in.  They totalled the car, but hadn’t told us how much they would give us for it.   So we knew we had car shopping in our future!   ARGH!!  Not my favorite thing and the added expense is very stressful with all the home remodeling we are doing. 

But things always seem to work out ok….I have to continue to believe that!!

Jen C

Tommy’s 7th Birthday Party………..

 To say I feel overwhelemed with our lives right now would be an extreme understatement.   Seems lately all I can post are long updates of the going ons at our house.   I was looking forward to a laid back quiet weekend, but that doesn’t seem like it will be happening.   ARGH!

First, going back to last weekend!   Wow, was that even a crazy weekend.   Friday I was off of work and tried to get things done like buy groceries and things since my parents were coming for the weekend.   We were having a big Halloween Birthday Party for Tommy on Saturday morning so I spent the afternoon organizing a treasure hunt for the children.    I also went to buy some favors and decorate the house for halloween.   ARGH….

Saturday-   We had a kids birthday party in the morning from 10 until about 12:00.   Some of the kids parents forogot and they didn’t get to the party until later.  So we ended up not doing a few of the games.  But since we have  Wii the children waiting didn’t have any trouble staying busy.  

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We had a Costume Birthday Party!   Tommy and I with the dummy in the front yard.  

 

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All the party Guests……

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We played a few games :  Bobbing for Apples

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Halloween Twister

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Pin the Tail on the Cat

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And it wouldn’t be a party without a PINATA!!!

October 31 – November 9th

  

Friday –  HALLOWEEN –Squirmy Wormy Sandwiches, Fries

Squirmy Wormy Sandwiches – good add to site!

1 package (16 oz) hot dogs

1 tbls vegetable oil

1/2 cup ketchup

1 tbls brwon sugar

2 tsp Worchestershire Sauce

1/2 tsp spicy brown mustard

Dash Liquid Smoke, optional

6 Hamburger buns

 

Cut each hot dog into eight strips.  In a large skillet, saute hot dogs in oil until goden brown.

 

Stir in ketchup, brown sugar, Worchestshire sacue, mustard and Liquid smoke if desired; haeat through.  Serve on buns.   Yield 6 servings.

 

Tip:  Use your favorite bottle barbecue sauce for even quicker treat!!!  

 

Garlic Pumpkin Seeds- good add to site!

 

1 TBLS canola oil

1/2 tsp celery salt

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp seasoned salt

2 cups fresh pumpkin seeds

 

In a small bowl, combine oil, celery salt, garlic powder and seasoned salt.  Add pumpkin seeds; toss to coat.

 

Spread a quarter of the seeds in a single layer on a microwave-safe plate.  Microwave, uncovered, on high for 1 minutes; stir. 

 

Microwave 2-3 minutes longer or until the seeds are crunchy and lightly browned, stirring after each minute.  Repeat with remaining pumpkin seeds.  Serve warm, or cool before storing in an airtight container.  Yield: 2 cups

 

 

Sat –  Split Pea Soup

http://jasmine1931.tripod.com/Cooking/Soups.htm#SPLIT%20PEA%20SOUP%20WITH%20HAM

 

Sun – Melt in Your Mouth Chicken, Vegetable

Melt in Your Mouth Chicken

Recipe By :
Serving Size : 0 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories :

Amount Measure Ingredient — Preparation Method
——– ———— ——————————–
1 chicken (boil until tender) — (1 to 3 lb.)
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 cups chicken broth (I used the water the
chicken cooked in)
1 stick melted margarine
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup self rising flour (I never use self rising flour – I use Bisquick  and this works GREAT!)
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper

Cube chicken and place in greased casserole dish.

Combine the cream of chicken soup and the chicken broth and pour over chicken.

Combine margarine, buttermilk,flour, salt and pepper and pour over above to make crust.

Bake at 425 for 30 minutes.

 

Mon – Left Overs

 

Tues – Pancakes, Bacon, Scramble Eggs

 

Wed – Spaghetti and Sausage with Garlic Bread

 

Thurs – Shortcut Chicken Cordon Blu, Green Beans, Jello Parfaits

http://www.menus4moms.com/kitchen/weeklymenu/2008/081103.php  – good add to site!

 

Fri – Chinese Food – Chow Mein – (crock pot 6-8 hrs)

  http://crockpotrecipes101.com/blog/2008/07/crockpot-chicken-chow-mein.html – good add to site!

 

Egg Rolls, General Tso, Wontons with Rice

 

Sat –  Steak , Potatoes. Green Beans with nuts

 

Sun – Ground Beef Soup (crockpot)

http://askmsrecipe.com/2008/09/23/ground-beef-crock-pot-soup/#comment-246

 

 

Car Accident….

Yesterday, hubby was in a car accident.  He was stopped to make a left turn and a guy rear ended him at full speed.   Hubby seems to be ok, but the truck isn’t.    We are home today trying to get a rental and get his truck fixed.   Luckily for hubby, we think the towing package made the damage less than it could have been.  The rear end is shoved forward, but not as bad as it could be. 

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TODAY

The ashpalt company is coming and is going to removed our driveway and sidewalk.   They have to stop by the city and pick up the permit, which was finally approved then they will get to work on our project.    I have book group this evening at my friend Syd’s house.   I had planned on reading the book last night, but with the excitement of the accident, I didn’t get to that.  Oh Well…..we have 6 new members joining our book group.  Tonight will be their first time there.   I hope everyone gets along ok!   

I am taking the day off tomorrow as I need to plan Tommy’s Birthday party!    My parents are also coming tomorrow to visit, so I better get some food planned and wash bedsheets.   Always plenty to do!!

Well time for me to get some things done and head to work.   Have a great day!!

 Jen C

 

Weekend Update….

Weekend Update….

Morning Everyone….Fall has definitely arrived in MN.   There is a good coat of frost on the cars and grass this morning.   I was up early and cleaned a bit.   We thought that the workers for the demo of the driveway might show up today, but no such luck.   They called yesterday and said they would be here at 7:00am to start the demo.  Later in the day I received a call that the city had not issued the permit for the work yet.   The city was saying the driveway was too big for our lot.  This is very strange to me since we are only replacing the one that is already there.   If that one was allowed to be installed, why would a replacement be too large??   They said too much square footage for our lot.   They are working on getting that straightened out. 

 

FRIDAY

I went into work later in the day as Erik was still off of school.   I had a late meeting in Lakeville.  I picked up Buffalo Wild Wings on the way home that my hubby had ordered for supper.   After eating, hubby, BIL, Tommy, Noah and I went to the movie.  I still had some free passes so we went to see Beverly Hills Chihuahua.  Some funny bits, but overall not the best of movie. 

 

SATURDAY

We were up early for a Saturday and went to look at the windows and door showroom for Biessel Windows.   We made a couple of changes to the windows we were ordering and gave them a deposit so they would order our windows.  The owner of the company will be coming out to re-measure our windows prior to the order being submitted.   We are pretty happy with our choices.  

 

Then we stopped at home and picked up my BIL and headed to Tommy’s soccer game.  Since I hadn’t slept I took a nap after the game.   That evening we went to Josh’s for his house warming party.   It was great to get together with family and hang out with Josh and Charlie. 

 

SUNDAY

We went to church.  The service was a little different it was an entire service of prayer.   There was no actual sermon.   After church we headed home and cleaned out the fridge of leftovers for lunch.  

 

I then went into work for a while.  I worked from about 1 until about 5:30.  When I got home I was pleasantly surprised to find that my hubby had done about 5 loads of laundry for me.  He had it all folded and waiting for me to put away.  So I spent my evening putting away laundry and going through the last of my clothes.  It is hard to believe, but I actually have all our winter clothes out and summer things packed away.   I still need to make sure that Tommy’s snowpants fit.  I have one garbage bag of clothes to take to Goodwill.   I also have a big bag of clothes to go to my niece for her boys. 

 

MONDAY

Monday is my longer day at work.  I worked about 12 hours.  I had meetings most of the day, but was able to work on some time entry in the evening.   I did make it home by 9:30, which is early for me!  

 

TUESDAY

Today was pretty productive for me.  I was up and showered by 6:30.  That really worked well and I am going to try and continue that habit.  I am NOT a morning person.   But this morning, after I took the dogs out, I simply didn’t allow myself to go back to bed. 

 

I was on the computer for only a bit and then I cleaned the living room.   I picked up stuff, dusted and vacuumed.   I then worked on waking up Tommy.  Once he was up, dressed and had eaten, I had him practice his piano lesson.   He was suppose to practice last night, but he had told Daddy he didn’t know the handset to play the two new songs.   Hmmm….thumbs always on middle C is how I teach him.   Last night for Daddy, Tommy just played things he liked, Chopsticks, Mark Had Little Lamb., etc…   All the songs he has memorized.  

 

This morning he played both pieces for his lesson.  Luckily for me he is very quick to learn new songs.  He was able to play both songs within 15 minutes and then we were off to school.  I dropped him off at school and headed to work. 

 

I had my flu shot this morning and my arm hurts!   I think we have decided on the doors for our house.  I changed my mind and am getting half doorlights and sidelights on the front of the house.  We had thought about ¾ but the dogs I think would mess up the glass.   The front will have decorative glass in the door and sidelights.  We are having a ½ door on the back as well with grids.   I called the window company as they were suppose to be out last night to re measure and didn’t call to schedule.  They said the owner, Josh will call me today.  We will see.

 

I also followed up with the asphalt company to see if the permit issue with the city has been resolved.   They still have not heard back from the city, but will call them again after lunch.   I decided I will continue to follow up with everyone each day to make sure we are moving forward.  The window company in particular seems to need constant reminders from me or they forget about our project.   It is a big project too….we are changing every door and window in our home!  

 

Tonight, I will be home to make supper.  I am going to make Quiche, Bacon, and Potato Patties.  My hubby really likes to have breakfast for supper, so I have been making that once a week for him. 

 

The rest of the evening I need to wash some whites and clean up the kitchen a bit.   I need to straighten my cupboards a bit as well.   I like them pretty orderly and having others putting away my dishes is making them a bit messy, which is driving me nuts.

 

YEAH!!  The owner of the windows company just called and will be out tonight to re-measure our windows so he can place the order! I will need to really hurry home after my last appointment to make it home in time.  

 

Well lunch break is over, time to get back to work. 

 

Jen C

Great New Website

Sometimes insomnia comes in handy.  I fell asleep easy enough, but have been awake since about 3:30 or so.   I got too many things running through my head to sleep.   But in going through my email I found the coolest website!!!  This is going to come in so handy for me!

Betty Crocker has teamed up with Cozi.com and came up with a free online family organizer.  I just love it!!  It has a calendar, family journal, place to make lists, etc.   What a fabulous thing to use to get organized.  The best part of all is that all the lists and things can be texted to you phone.  I have unlimited texting so this is great.  I can keep my weekly shopping list on the site and when I am going out to do errands, I simply have the list sent to my phone!  Amazing!!!

Check it out you will not be disappointed!

www.cozi.com

Jen C

I am off today as Erik does not have school.   I have so many things I want to accomplish today.  I hope I get some of it done.   I suppose getting off the computer would help.   ARGH…

This morning so far one electrician has come and I took Tommy to daycare.   Another electrician is coming at 1:00 to give us an estimate.

THINGS I WANT TO DO TODAY:

  • Get Winter Clothes Up (Tommy and Mine)
  • Bake Some Muffins
  • Laundry
  • Scrub Floors
  • Transfer Tom’s Mural to his wall

I am off to dig our winter clothes out of the basement.   Our basement is such a scary, messy place!!!!  I really need to clean up and organize down there again.

Later!

Jen C

 

I am off today as Erik does not have school.   I have so many things I want to accomplish today.  I hope I get some of it done.   I suppose getting off the computer would help.   ARGH…

This morning so far one electrician has come and I took Tommy to daycare.   Another electrician is coming at 1:00 to give us an estimate.

THINGS I WANT TO DO TODAY:

  • Get Winter Clothes Up (Tommy and Mine)
  • Bake Some Muffins
  • Laundry
  • Scrub Floors
  • Transfer Tom’s Mural to his wall

I am off to dig our winter clothes out of the basement.   Our basement is such a scary, messy place!!!!  I really need to clean up and organize down there again.

Later!

Jen C