We won!!!!!

Yesterday we went to the family story time at the Library. We usually don't go to the family one because it is at night and it's an hour before the kids bedtime. However, we went this time because someone from the cast of The Little Mermaid was supposed to be there to read to the kids. We had no idea, however, that they were going to have a drawing to win 4 tickets to the Derby Dinner Playhouse to go see The Little Mermaid. When they did the drawing first, someone else got picked. However, the mom felt bad because they had actually just gone to the Derby dinner playhouse the weekend before and wanted someone else to have a chance to go. So they re-drew and they pulled out Kelly's name!!!! We're soooooooooo excited! Apparently the Derby Dinner Playhouse is one of the largest and oldest continuous dinner playhouses in the country. Pretty cool, huh? So yeah, our tickets include parking, breakfast (or lunch, depending on what time we want to go) and then the play. The kids are totally excited and so am I!!!!

Mighty Big Weekend and Tasty tuesday

This past weekend was filled up to the rim as usual. I think Shane and I are trying to make up for the first 5 years of our marriage where we had no money or friends to ever go and do ANYTHING. Literally, we did nothing. So for the past 2 1/2 years we've been packing it in to make up for it. This past weekend was no exception! On Friday we got a sitter for the girls and we went out to eat at PF Chang's with some of Shane's clients from work. They were so much fun!!!! They were a "younger" couple from India (I say "younger" because they were both older than us, but younger than the people we usually hang out with!!! lol!). The guy is a nano technologist and his wife has her masters in something smart. They both speak several languages and were really hilarious. My favorite part was when his wife commented on how even though her husband is Indian, everyone always thinks he's Hispanic. From that time forward we kept calling him "Jose". It was pretty funny!

On Saturday we decided to take the girls to the Science Museum. We had received some free tickets a while back and were just now getting around to using them. The girls had a blast just running around everywhere and getting their hands in all the good stuff. We also got to watch a movie at IMAX -- it was something about fish. (Very descriptive, I know) . The girls enjoyed the science center a lot, but I still don't understand why anyone would pay full admission for it. It's not THAT cool. Anyway, here are some pictures:





Sunday was filled with meeting after meeting and fun walks. But also, it was filled with finishing up my brother's birthday present. This is the same brother that gave me the awesome Jean Luke Picard plate. Monday was his birthday and I really wanted to have it finished for him. Now, as a fair warning, I think my brother and I have a very different sense of humor than most. Just about anything dealing with poop and farts makes us giggle. So yes, fair warning to what you are about to see:

Knitted toilet paper and crocheted poop!

I love the picture of his cat sniffing the poo.... it totally cracks me up! The best part is that the poo is stuffed with this rose petal scented stuff, so it smells really good! I'm a freak, aren't I??? I'm definitely not classy, that's for sure.

Alright alright alright... I'm done with the "potty" humor. For now at least. Well, if any of you are still interested, here's the recipe for today's Tasty Tuesday:

The recipe for today I got from a friend of mine a long time ago. I'm not sure if she made this up or it is a widely known recipe. All I know is I really like it and it's pretty easy to make. Also, if you haven't noticed, we eat a lot of chicken in this family. We also like to eat things more "mexican" in nature. So here it is:

Green chili Chicken Tacos

6-8 chicken tenderloins
1/2 red onion (more or less depending on your taste)
1 can chopped green chilies (for some reason, the wal mart brand tastes disgusting! This is one of the few times I spend extra to get the name brand!)
oil for frying
cheese (cheddar or colby jack)
taco sauce
sliced green olives
taco size flour tortillas
Sour cream (optional)

Cook chicken, onion, and green chilies in hot oil until chicken is cooked thoroughly. then, cut the chicken up into bite-sized pieces. Place cooked chicken mixture and place on top of flour tortillas. Use the rest of the ingredients as toppings. Serve with Spanish rice and refried beans.

Stinkin' Peggy.....

So Peggy tagged me -- here goes:

A: Attached or Single: Attached for 7 years
B: Best Friend: Shane
C: Cake or Pie: Pie, without a doubt
D: Day of Week. Sunday -- but probably not for the reasons you're thinking of
E: Essential item: computer
F: Favorite color: Orange
G: Greatest Accomplishment: um..................
H: Hometown: Springfield
I: Indulgences: Reese's peanut butter cups
J: January or July: July
K: Kids: 2
L: Life is incomplete without: food
M: Marriage date: Sept. 9th
N: Number of siblings: 4 -- all boys
O: Oranges or Apples: blech.... I guess apples....
P: Phobias: being on a deserted island all by myself
Q: Quotes: "That's what she said"
R: Reason to smile: friends, church, family
S: Season: Fall
T: Tag five friends: Heather, Cassie, Collete, Melissa, and Denise
U: Unknown fact about me: I'm not a baby person. I think they are cute for all of 10 minutes and then I'm good for at least another year. Thankfully, Shane's not a baby person either. If we had our way, children would be born no earlier than 18 months.
V: Very Favorite Store: Ann Taylor (they have the most AWESOME clearance section!), Unique Thrift, and the Salvage Store
W: Worst Habit: being extremely lazy
X: Xray or Ultra sound: Ultra sound
Y: Your favorite food: Just about anything I'm eating at the moment I would consider my favorite food -- especially if I didn't cook it!
Z: Zodiac: Taurus

Only because I know she's reading this.... :-)

So these pictures were taken at Girls Camp in 1997. I think I was Monica's camp counselor that year. Aaaahhhhh... girls camp..... lol!!!!! Those were the days!


This was also the same year that all of the YCC put on a mock disaster for the campers. I was the "guide" that took the girls on the pretend hike while everyone else would jump out with their injuries. It was pretty funny! You'll probably recognize a couple of people here: Sarah R. has an injured arm, Heather B. is suffering from shock and the super creative Emily R. (the person in the background with yellow streamers taped to her back) is supposed to be on fire. She was so funny... she would come running out of the woods in her quiet Emily way saying "aaahhh! I'm on fire! Help me!" while running in circles. The best part was when one of the campers tackled her to try and "put out" the fire. Seriously, camp was some great times!

I couldn't help myself....

Lookie what I found!!!!!!!! :-) In this picture you will find Amy, Shelley, and my dear friend Keri! I totally remember when they did this... They were doing a "Goth Night" for fun. Hopefully Keri will post her side of the story!!!!!!! I just remember that I was so shocked at the time that I didn't even recognize them until Keri spoke. Aaaaahhhhh..... good times at Ricks College.



I'm issuing a warning to all who have known me for a long time.... I just bought a scanner and will be having a lot more fun -- stay tuned!

Tasty Tuesday: "Stovetop" chicken casserole

This is a recipe that my Aunt Debbie gave me right before I left for college. It's so simple it's mind boggling, but it's soooooooooo good!!!! Enjoy!

"Stovetop" chicken casserole

Place cooked, chopped chicken on the bottom of an ungreased 13x9 casserole dish (amount of chicken will depend on how much you want!). Pour over 1 can undiluted cream of chicken soup. Add 3 cups chicken broth. Pour 1 box Stove Top stuffing (or generic equivalent) over all. Bake for 30 minutes in 350 degree oven.

I'm almost positive you don't cover this dish in the oven, but gosh darn it, I can't remember! I think I'm going to make this tonight for dinner, so I'll let you know later!!!

**UPDATE**

So I made it for dinner tonight and you DON'T cover the dish with foil. Also, Cassie sent me a recipe that is similar to this one, only you don't have to cook the chicken before hand:

4 chicken breasts, boned, skinned & split
6 slices Swiss cheese
1/2 cup white wine or water
1 can cream of chicken soup (or celery, mushroom or asparagus, you choose)
1/4 lb. butter or margarine, melted
2 cups herb stuffing mix (dry)

Place chicken in a 9x13 ungreased baking dish & top with cheese. Thin soup with wine or water. Mix until smooth & pour over chicken & cheese. Mix stuffing mix with melted butter or margarine & sprinkle over top. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Looks good to me!

The week of Ollie

Yes... the week of Ollie. I'm sure you've heard of it. It's that time of year where my birthday and mother's day falls within the same week. Thus, the week of Ollie. In the past, this always annoyed Shane. Rightfully so, I would abuse the week of Ollie to the fullest. "Can you please cook dinner tonight? It IS 2 days before my birthday after all!" etc, etc.... This year's week of Ollie turned out to be one of the best. Here's a quick run down:

• On Wednesday I received an awesome book from my mom -- she took all of my old baby pictures and put it together in this beautiful hardbound book complete with stories about my childhood.
• On Thursday my friends Heather and Monica threw me a surprise party at Heather's house. Heather's son even did a little birthday dance for me -- too cute! Heather made some awesome Jambalaya and Monica made the most delicious cupcake things I have ever eaten. I gladly gained several pounds that day. Later that evening, Shane came home with some beautiful flowers and made a great dinner. Then he took the kids with him to a service project so I could go to the mall and get a new swimsuit. The last time I bought a swim suit was in 2002. YIKES!
• On Friday we originally scheduled a big cook-out at the park, but dreary weather prevented us from having it. Turned out to be a great night anyway, Shane took the girls to the Bats game (minor league team here) and then they stayed to watch the fireworks. While they were gone, my brother and I hung out -- and if you knew my brother, you would know how much fun that can be! He got me that AWESOME Jean Luke Picard commemorative plate. LOL!!!! I don't think I've ever watched a full episode of Star Trek, but that gift was so stinkin' hilarious!!!!
• On Saturday we headed over to Churchill Downs for some good ol' horse racing with our friends Dan and Kym. Of course, we felt it was necessary to place at least ONE bet. Turns out that one bet won us a little bit o' money!!! Shane put down $4 and ended up winning $53.30!!!! With our winnings we felt like we could indulge in extremely over priced ice cream at the track! After leaving churchill, we went and picked up a steak and some other good fixin's for an awesome dinner. You'll have to check out the video below of one of the races, it's pretty cool.
• On Sunday it was of course Mother's day. Shane let me sleep in a bit and took care of everything in the morning. After church he let me take an EXTREMELY long nap and then woke me up to a big plate of brownies. He did all of the cooking that day, all of the cleaning, and all of the taking care of kids. I love the week of Ollie.....
  

Tasty Tuesday -- Cream of Mushroom Chicken

I found a basic version of this recipe on the back of a can of Campbell's cream of mushroom soup a long time ago. At first I didn't think I would like it since I am not a huge fan of mushrooms, but this quickly became a family favorite. Once again, in order for my girls to eat the chicken, I have to rinse off the creamy stuff after it's cooking (they are so weird!). We always eat this meal served over rice, with steamed broccoli on the side. I always use those bags of cheap frozen chicken when making this. You can either use the tenderloins, or you can use chicken breast cut lengthwise (kitchen scissors will make cutting this very easy).

Cream of Mushroom Chicken

6-8 frozen tenderloins, thawed
2 cans cream of mushroom soup (any variety)
1/4 cup water
1 cup sliced yellow onion (more or less, depending on preference)
ground red pepper, to taste

Place onions in the bottom of a crockpot. Add chicken and rest of ingredients. Stir to incorporate. Cook on LOW 4-6 hours. (usually I will cook the first hour on HIGH just so I meet safety standards, and then I cook it on LOW the rest of the time)

The original recipe tells you to cook this dish in a skillet. I, however, hate standing there watching this stuff cook. The crockpot is soooooooooo stinkin' easy and makes the food taste that much better! If you cook this on an electric skillet or frying pan, cook only 6 tenderloins instead of 8. Also, only use 1 can of cream of mushroom and increase your amount of water to 1/2 cup. First you will need to heat a little bit of oil in the pan and onions and chicken. Brown the chicken on both sides. Add remaining ingredients and stir to incorporate. Cover and cook on med-low heat for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Catchin' up

Isabelle showing off her Derby hat

Kelly's derby hat

Shane being funny..... I think.....

A collection of everyone's "special" derby hats

My first pedicure! I won a sweet gift certificate which made it even better!

Isabelle trying on some hats at the art fair

Kelly showing off her soccer medal

Taking a stroll

I think we live in the most beautiful neighborhood!
(click on the picture to see it full-size! It's even prettier!)