I've been Boo'd

I have been BOO'D by Annisa .

She is a great bloggy friend with a couple sites that you should really check out!

Serenity

Beelicious Blog Designs

Take a tour and Enjoy!

Thanks for the BOO Anissa!!!

My BaBy is TWO!!

HaPpY bIRtHDaY To mY BaBy

My baby Sophie is TWO today.....wow how times flies!

A Thousand Words Thursday

Here is a picture of Macy and I last spring when she got her trophy for getting straight A's for the whole school year!!! She is so friggin' smart! And I couldn't be more proud!

For more A Thousand Words Thursday, please visit Jen @ Cheaper Than Therapy

Wordless Wednesday

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday

Please check out Lisa over at Blessed with Gracefor more TYTT recipes!

Chicken Casserole~easy easy easy easy

Ingrediants
1 cup of cooked cubed chicken
1 can of chopped water chesnuts
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup chopped onion
2/3 cup cooked rice
1/2 cup of mayo

combine ingrediants and bake ar 350 for 40 minutes

Blogging will keep you sane!

So I ran accross this article.....it was titled Do five simple things a day to stay sane.....WELL...I need some help staying sane on a regular basis! So I went to the article and it was too long and I really don't have the time or Patience to read anything lengthy lately so I scrolled through it and at the very bottom was these steps to happiness. Well I can totally relate the list to blogging (well all excpet the active part, but if you count active fingers on keyboard, then its all good)
SO according to this list, when I blog I should be happiest!

Steps to happiness

Connect Developing relationships with family, friends, colleagues and neighbours will enrich your life and bring you support
*I connect with Bloggy friends everyday!
Be active Sports, hobbies such as gardening or dancing, or just a daily stroll will make you feel good and maintain mobility and fitness
*I have very fit keyboard fingers!
Be curious Noting the beauty of everyday moments as well as the unusual and reflecting on them helps you to appreciate what matters to you
*I am very nosey and read multiple blogs daily
Learn Fixing a bike, learning an instrument, cooking – the challenge and satisfaction brings fun and confidence
*I learn something new everyday by reading a blog
Give Helping friends and strangers links your happiness to a wider community and is very rewarding
*All of the bloggy friends that I have are very giving and so am I

If you want to read the whole article click here

Friday Funny

Enjoy~

A Thousand Words Thursday

Check out The Mom Jen at Cheaper Than Therapy for more ATWT!

Sophie eating her decorated Halloween cookie~

Happy Birthday Angie

Happy Birthday Angie!

Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you!!

One of the 2 best SIL that I know!

Wordless Wednesday

So a few weeks ago at Church, the girls came home with little sandwich bags with little beans and a wet papertowel in them. I must have been super preoccupied that day because over the weekend, I found a little baggie in the little compartment in the passenger door. The Bean! It was growing in the dark! So we planted it and here you go! I think that this little bean really wants to grow! Kaelyn is very proud! Emma can't find hers........

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday

OKAY~ So its not a recipe, but its that time of year and the girls, hubby and I baked and decorated Halloween Cookies over the weekend.....Here's a few pictures of our Cookie Adventures....
Sophie helping me cut out the cookie dough

I tried to keep it clean by using the bowls...but it didn't work very long!

Macy's eeerie skeleton cookie

Emma's decorated pumpkin (upside down)

Kaelyn's cool bat cookie

All of the decorated cookies!!

Switch Flops

So if you know me, then you'll know that I normally only wear flip flops. Tennis shoes in the snow and flip flops every other day. I think that I have 50 pair! On vacation I found these FF called Switch Flops. OMG someone deserves a gold medal! They are the basic black or brown FF that have a velcro strap! Only if I were smart enough to have though of this. You ask what the velcro strap is for? Interchangeable straps, all different colors, patterns, stripes, circles, anything that you want. SO you only need one pair of FF and how ever many pairs of different straps! So they come with a standard black with white polka dot strap with a pearl thingy on them and they are too cute. My Aunt was gracious enough to buy me a black pair!!!! I have already ordered more straps and am thinking about maybe making some!!!! You can even order the wedge FF or the Kitty FF.....the possiblilites are endless......They are nice FF too. They are not flimsy, they are thick and cushiony...

WOW! 2 Awards at once!

I can't believe that I got 2 awards on Saturday!! Thanks so much to Dee at Two of a Kind, Working on a Full House

She gave me the I Love Your Blog Award and the Butterfly Award!

Thanks Dee!!!

And of course they come with rules! Answer each question with one word.


1. Where is your cell phone? desk
2. Where is your significant other? work
3. Your hair color? Brown
4. Your mother? MIA
5. Your father? heaven
6. Your favorite thing? Family
7. Your dream last night? none
8. Your dream/goal? healthy
9. The room you're in? mine
10. Your hobby? blogging
11. Your fear? anything bad happening to my kids
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Surrounded
13. Where were you last night? home
14. What you're not? wealthy
15. One of your wish-list items? I-Pod
16. Where you grew up? everywhere
17. The last thing you did? slept
18. What are you wearing? pj's
19. Your TV? off
20. Your pets? nonexistant
21. Your computer? Nice
22. Your mood? Sleepy
23. Missing someone? yes
24. Your car? Envoy
25. Something you're not wearing? Shoes
26. Favorite store? GAP
27. Your summer? Fun
28. Love someone? Always
29. Your favorite color? blue
30. When is the last time you laughed? last night
31. Last time you cried? daily

Time to pass them on!

CoCo

Annie Its her Birthday! Go, Check her out and send her some Bloggy B-Day Love!

Tagged!!!

The rules are-

1. Link to the person that tagged you, and post the rules on your blog.

2. Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself.

3. Tag 7 random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.

4. Let each person know that they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Here we go:
1. My hair is straight and boring
2. My kids are already awake this morning and it makes me want to scream
3. I want braces
4. I would love some eggs in a basket right now from Cracker Barrel
5. I have big feet
6. I helped me girls decorate halloween sugar cookies last night....
7. I went to 3 different high schools,. 3 middle schools and 3 elementary schools


Now for the seven lucky ladies -- Well that is easy --First seven off my blog roll tonight.

Jennifer over at The Fun House

Allison at Mommy to 2 Princesses

Smoochiefrog

Jo Jo

Marla over at Pak Adventures

Punky Monkey

Jamey at Walking By Faith

Love Ya Ladies!

My Favorite Teen Movie

So over at Elle Blog of Elle Bee, she wants to know what our favorite teen movies are. 10 Things I Hate About You is definatley my favorite teen movie. I was so in love with Heath Ledger. aaahhhh. That was a long time ago!

You should go check her out her out!

Frog Legs Are Not On The Menu

Alright Ladies and Jelly Beans (my elementary school teacher used to say that before assemblies!)
My love of food and blogging is merging over at

Frog Legs Are Not On The Menu!

I only have one post! I just started it and would love some feedback about what kinds of food things you want to read about......products.......recipes......deals....you tell me!
Look forward to hearing what you have to say!

www.froglegsarenotonthemenu.blogspot.com

Check it out!!!!!!!!!

Brooks

Happy Birthday Joey

Happy 8th Birthday to my nephew Joey

Happy Birthday to you!

(you really don't want me to sing!)

We love you Joey!!!

A Thousand Word Thursday

So we saw this Turkey at the Pumpkin Patch and its a family owned Pumkin Patch just 5 minutes from my house and we know some of the people that are working there. The twins have a pre-school friend that hangs out there with his grandma while she works and we were talking to him. He's 5 and I asked him what the turkey's name was and he said,"Oh, that turkeys name is Thanksgiving dinner!"

Cracked me up!

Wordless Wednesday!

Check out Grandma B!!!

My husband grandmother is 80+ and she is rockin'!

An Award......Why Thank You!

Looky here! At me over here! I got my first award! Thanks to Marla over at Pak Adventures! Thanks Marla!
So she listed 6 things that make her happy, so I will do the same!

• My kids laughter, I just want to bottle it up
• My husband. He can be a pain, but for the most part he's pretty great!
• Anything that contains peanut butter and chocolate! (I am right there with you Marla!)
• Reading makes me happy.....I can sail away to another life for a few hundred pages...
• Gardening and flowers
• The Office.....that show always makes me laugh and leaves me with a smile!

So now I am to forward this Award on to some unsuspecting recipient......

**Drum Roll**

Cheryl at Twinfatuation

Shelle over at BlokThoughts

Jo Jo over at A Mom's World of Madness and Blessings

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday! White Chili!

So its raining at my house today and with it turning fall and the weather starting to get colder, the first thing that I think about is White Chili. I used to work at Lewis and Clarks Restaurant in Old Town St Charles and I could have eaten this Chili everyday. Well almost everyday. But I would like to share it with you too!

3 cans Great White Northern beans

2 lbs Chicken breast

1 tablespoon olive oil

4 cloves minced garlic

2 medium onions chopped

2 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon ceyanne pepper

1 teaspoon oregano

2 four ounce cans chopped green chilies

4 cups chicken stock

20 ounces of monteray jack cheese, shredded

sour cream and jalapenos to garnish

Cover chicken with water and cook till tender about 20 minutes

dice chicken

dump water, use same pan and add olive oil

saute onions until translucent

stir in all spices and saute few minutes

add chicken and beans

add 1/2 of cheese

add chicken stock and simmer for 30 minutes

serve with dab of sour cream and jalapenos (garnish)

I don't use the jalapenos. Just personal preference, but its still great!

Check out http://www.lewisandclarksrestaurant.com/

Disney's Housewives

Purse Cleanliness

Annie over at Cookie, Chaos & Conversations tagged me in this MeMe and I would have to say that it prompted me to clean out my purse which was much needed! Thanks Annie!


The fine print: Find a safe quiet place free (If you're a guy just reverse this process to male and tell us about your wallet, tool box, briefcase or metro sexual accessory.) Don't look at me, I just cut and paste.


1. Dump the contents of your handbag in a pile






2. Take a photo of your handbag and the contents.

3. Be brave and explain to your fellow bloggers what lurks inside the handbag.

4. Tag others who might want to embarrass themselves.

5. Answer these questions:
Describe the contents of your handbag. Seems that I have a pen fetish and didn't know it! wallet, make-up (that I never wear), 3 Musketeers (its 45% fat free!), LiveSavers Mints, Skeeter Stick, Seasame Street Book that belongs to my nephews, Keys, my MIL's camera (I have it in there so I remember to give it back to her, I swear!), hairspray, Pink body spray from The Gap, a couple hair do-dads, a smashed penny from Navy Pier in Chicago, Mary Kay Lip Balm, change, microwave popcorn ( I have no idea?), Little Petshop electronic game that I mushave confiscated! YEP I think thats enough crapola!



Read below...

What's the most important thing in your handbag? Wallet and keys.....can't lose those

What's the most embarrassing thing in your handbag? prolly the popcorn!

What's the smallest thing in your handbag? smashed penny from Navy Pier

Is there anything illegal in your handbag? Not to my knowledge


Now, I hear by tag the following good sports who will gleefully share their goods for the good of the cause:

The Mom Jen at Cheaper Than Therapy

Shannon over at The Nut House

Jamey over at Walking By Faith

Shelle over at Blok Thoughts

Doodles and China

So I am in need of some caffiene this morning......Its early!
So yesterday I offered to watch my 2 nephews and 1 neice while their schools were closed due to a mad man on the loose yesterday....long story. Anyway everyone was happily playing outside when Joey, the soon to be 8 year old came in the house.

Joey: Aunt Brooks, I went down the slide and got my butt all wet.
Me: Let me see, Oh its not bad. When you are all done playing outside I will wash your shorts for you.
Joey: I am done playing.
Me: OK, let me got get you a pair of shorts, give me yours and I will put them in the washer.
Joey: Can you get me the shorts first, I don't want anyone to see my doodle.

Now you have to remember that I have 4 girls. I have no idea how boys operate. So when I heard him say Doodle, I just about lost it!

Me: Joey! Where did you get the word Doodle? (laughing)

Joey: Thats what we call it! (laughing)

So I get him some shorts. Since I only have girls, I find a pair of orange cotton shorts, but they had a bow at the waist and he made me take it off!

A few hours later, I mentioned the word Doodle. I got laughs and snickers from Ben, the youngest. Sarah, 6 started laughing too.

Sarah: Aunt Brooks, boys have Doodles.

Like I was already supposed to know this.

Me: Well then what do girls have?

Sarah: Girls have China.

What?

So I later find out from my SIL that the boys got the discription Doodle from watching the Simpsons movie with their dad. And Sarah got China from her little friend. Her friend was saying, "Vagina" but Sarah didn't get it (I'm glad at the age of 6) so she thought that she said China.

So thats my story on boys and girls and Doodles and China.

A Thousand Word Thursday

Ok so I am posting 2 pictures, but I can't post one twin and leave the other one out! Aren't they just the cutest little boys! Go check out Jen @ http://www.cheaperthantherapyjen.blogspot.com/ for more A Thousand Words Thursday meme.......

Corban laughing at his Uncle Geoffie

Gabe enjoying his first taste of funnel cake!

Wordless Wednesday

Whenever we ask Sophie to smile.....she smiles with her eyes!

Haunted Houses

Isn't this a sad reality! My friend sent this to me via email. I live in the middle of now where and there are at least 2-3 houses in my small 5 street subdivision that are sitting empty.

Stupid Mortgage Lenders!

Yearbook Yourself

This is the funniest thing ever! you go to www.yearbookyourself.com and can create a yearbook picture of yourself for any year! My face is round and not long, so its showing me as having a double chin!! Who cares, I am still enjoying the laugh! Thanks to Natalie for telling me about this site! So I challenge you all to create a yearbook photo of yourselves and share! Its great!

Grandparents Day and Busy Talking....

So after a crazy Friday spent at MOPS in the morning and visiting with my out of town SIL and her husband and her cute little twin boys in the afternoon, I made it home and just about crashed. I was in bed but not asleep at 7:48 pm. I am somewhat feeling rested, but now I have another crazy day today....flea market this morning, Macy's school's Fall Festival, where Macy is working at the face painting booth! We are going to Church tonight and then BBQing.......

I wanted to post these pictures of Grandparents Day at Preschool. The kids showed Grammie and Pop around their classrooms and then they had donuts and bottled water! I am still waiting on Macy's Grandparents Day pictures to post them too......waiting.....waiting....

Emma with Grammie and Pop

Kaelyn with Grammie and Pop

Emma and her teacher Ms Julie

Kaelyn and her teacher Ms. June

Fun Fact Friday

Fun Fact Friday!

I got this in an e-mail and thought it would be fun to use here!

Three jobs I have had
1. MOM
2. waitress
3. Eligibility Analyst

Three movies I would watch over and over
1. The Notebook
2.
3.

Three places I have lived*
1. St Louis
2. Livermore, CA
3. Okinawa, Japan

Three shows that I watch
1. The Office
2. Lost
3. The Bold and the Beautiful

*Three places I have been
1. Chicago
2. FLorida
3. Yosemite

My favorite foods
1. Italian
2. shrimp
3. honey bbq boneless wings

Three places I'd rather be right now
1. in bed
2. sleeping
3. and dreaming

Three things I am looking forward to this year
1. Sophie's 2nd B-day
2. Thanksgiving
3. Christmas

A Thousand Words Thursday

Here is Emma with a batch of home made apple butter. Its one of my girls favorite thing of all time.....And its that time of year again to get all of the Aunts together so they can make us some more!

tomato~tomatoe~tometo

So this is one of the last tomatoes that we have this year. I have 3 of them. They are Heirloom, Mr. Stripey's and I think that its just a little too late in the year for them to turn the reddish orange color that they are known for.

So that leads me to my question of the day...

Does anyone have a great recipe for Fried Green Tomatoes?