Dance

Costume fitting day at the studio. This is a $95 costume plus $9.50 for tights. Oh, and after being told I had to buy the black tap boots because that was what was required for the class, it was decided that the girls all needed tan tap shoes for the recital!!! This is what I had in the first place--dug a pair out of the abandoned shoe box the first week of class and wore them from Sept to Jan when I finally bought the black ones. Well, if they still fit, at least we have the tan ones for recital.

Jasmine decided not to do dance photos this year due to her neck. It's the first year they've done class pictures. Usually it's just individuals if you want to buy them. And if you want an "ad" in the program book, you have to buy them. This year there will be class pictures in the book but no Jasmine. No Jessica either because she hates how she looks in her tumbling costume.

This is Jasmine's jazz costume.

They will be wearing black tights with the costume. Jazz is right after tap so no one had time to put the tights on for fitting.

Food!

Jessica made chicken wings.

Jessica's Teriyaki Chicken Wings Flour Package of drummettes (approximately 14) 1/3 c soy sauce ½ c granulated sugar ½ tsp garlic powder 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds (optional) Measure 1-2 cups of flour and put in paper or plastic bag. Rinse drummettes in cool water. Place drummettes 3 or 4 at a time in the bag. Seal and shake until chicken is flour coated. Tap off extra and place on cookie sheet. Bake at 375F for 35-45 minutes. While chicken is baking, mix soy sauce, sugar, garlic powder and sesame seeds in a small bowl. Adjust sugar and soy sauce to taste.

Jeff made chicken broccoli alfredo.

Don't know why this is underlined or how to fix it.

Chicken & Broccoli Alfredo 8 oz pkg. linguine or spaghetti 1c fresh or frozen broccoli flowerets 2 tbs. butter 1-2 lb. boneless chicken breasts cubed 2 cans cream of chicken soup 1c milk 1/2c grated Parmesan cheese Cook linguine according to package directions. Add broccoli for the last four minutes of cooking time. Drain. Heat butter in large skillet. Add chicken and cook until browned, stirring often. Add soup, milk, cheese, pepper, and linguine mixture and heat through. Serve with additional Parmesan cheese.

Adam's Enchiladas 1 lb boneless chicken breasts cubed 10 ¾ oz can cream of chicken soup 1 c thick and chunky salsa 8 flour torillas (6") 10 ¾ oz can condensed cheddar cheese soup Cook chicken in skillet until browned. Add chicken soup (no water added) and 1/2c salsa. Heat through. Spoon about 1/3c chicken mixture down one side of each tortillas. Roll up and place seam-side down in 2 qt microwave-safe baking dish. Mix cheese soup (no water added) and remaining salsa. Pour over tortillas. Microwave on high 5 minutes or until hot. Serves 4.

Jasmine made crockpot pot roast. We like this recipe and there's not much that can go wrong with it.

Crock Pot Roast 3-6 lbs beef roast 1 can cream of celery soup 1 can cream of chicken soup 2 packs Lipton Beefy Onion Soup Mix 2 c water 1-3 c each carrots, celery, potatoes cut into 3” pieces Mix soups, beefy onion mix and water in crock pot. Add meat. Cook on low 6- 8 hours. Add the vegetables. Turn to high and cook 2-3 hours more. You can speed it up by turning it to high earlier.

Kayla helped make the taco meat for taco night.

Tyler made Hamburger Helper crunchy mexican but he added a can of drained black beans and a can of drained whole kernel corn. That made it go farther and added more flavor.

Not Just One Favorite

Sort of Random again here today. I was trying to think of my favorite books and of course that led me to thinking about my favorite everything. And I wonder how people make those long lists of favorite because I can't narrow it down and it changes anyway. I go through different phases. Like many years ago I read historical fiction. A lot. And now I don't read it at all. I don't do Amish fiction but I did read one just because I could get it free for my Kindle. Have you ever tried to think of your real favorites? Or narrow it to just one? Easier said that done. So here's what I came up with--plus lots of random thoughts!!

Let's start easy- Favorite animated movies:

• Tangled


• Princess and the Frog


• Bolt


• Kung Fu Panda


• Toy Story 3


• Despicable Me see? not just one. if i had to pick one right now it would be Tangled because I've watched it at the theater 3 times recently. but that could change in a few months.

Other movies: uh, can't think of many

• Spy Next Door


• Voyage of the Dawn Treader


• Journey to the Center of the Earth


• National Treasure


• I forgot the new Karate Kid

TV Series: okay, weird thing-i don't like watching TV shows. i wait until the whole season is out on DVD. i don't like feeling i have a commitment to watch something at the same time each week.

• NCIS (just finished season 7)


• Mentalist (on season 2)


• Murder She Wrote--no longer on TV of course


• Diagnosis Murder-same

Childhood:

• Jetsons


• Flintstones

Books-genre: Christian suspense

Favorite authors:

• Brandilyn Collins


• Terri Blackstock


• Dee Henderson


• Irene Hannon


• Karen Kingsbury


• Angie Hunt (not the historical ones)


• Mark Mynheir

Books I read as a child:

• Snip, Snap, Snur


• Flicka, Ricka, Dicka (anyone ever hear of those?)


• Sugar Creek Gang


• Danny Orlis and one other similar set, something with Felicia or Felicity in the title I think


• Nancy Drew


• Trixie Belden


• Maida (my mom's set from childhood)


• Kay Tracy (same)


• Penny Parker (same)


• Cherry Ames (same)

Music: Contemporary Christian (and some hymns) Praise and Worship

Groups/musicians:

• Chris Tomlin


• Lincoln Brewster


• Addison Road


• Steven Curtis Chapman (some)

Reading right now or in my waiting books pile:

• Plot and Structure James Scott Bell


• Deadly Disclosures Julie Cave


• In Harm's Way Irene Hannon


• Night Shade Ronie Kendig


• Vicious Cycle Terri Blackstock


• Leaving Karen Kingsbury


• Fatal Judgment Irene Hannon

Favorite Color this is always hard because it depends on if it's a room, clothes etc my overall favorite is blue but I also like purple for clothes I wear more rose & blue or rose & black I like light blue & yellow together

Favorite places we've lived:

• England


• Okinawa


• South Dakota in the summer!!


• Worst--Grand Forks, ND!!!!

Favorite places to visit:

• St Louis


• Key West (was only there briefly so maybe i wouldn't like it if i was there longer)


• Colorado Springs

Actors/Actresses ??

Foods:

• ham and pineapple pizza


• pumpkin pie


• peanut butter fudge


• Chick fil A


• Long John Silvers we don't have one here though


• bacon

Bible translation:

• New International Version


• New Living Translation

Book of the Bible: Judges if God can use those guys, he can use anyone!

Bible verses:

• No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8 instructions for God's chosen people that I've borrowed for me


• For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 a promise to the Jews in exile that I've borrow for me


• but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31

There are probably a lot more favorites I could list and a lot more randomness I could share, but there's work to be done. Leave a comment with some of your favorites. I'll probably think of a lot more to add to my lists after I see yours.

Just Stuff

Finally, post not about Tangled. I really, really like that movie. You can read more about it on my blog for girl's HERE and leave a comment too!! Jessica decided to take the three little ones to the air show this weekend. Jasmine decided not to go because loud noises physically hurt her ears. She would have been okay though because Jessica had to work at noon so she left before the actual demonstrations started. Kayla, not knowing there was an air show in the plans, woke up and started telling one of the other children, "I peed myself" over and over. I don't know what she hoped to accomplish because her PJs were dry and didn't smell. But I told her that since she knows lying is wrong she must be telling the truth so she wouldn't be able to go to the air show because she needed to shower and take her "wet" bedding to the washer. So it was only Jessica and Kaleb who went. Kaleb started asking Jessica to buy him drinks even after she told him she didn't have any money. She finally told him if he asked again they'd leave, so he decided he could be content looking at the planes. Later in the day there were bombing and flying demonstrations and the actual air show. I realized right at the end that we had a great view from our back steps. Now we'll know that for next year. My dogs watched the whole thing (or cowered under the steps during it). It was a really lazy day at home. The little ones get their third quarter report cards today. The twins especially have learned so much. They went from not knowing their letters and numbers to learning all the letters and sounds, blending words and counting to 100 by 1s, 5s and 10s.

Max has found a new nap spot--the trampoline (when not in use of course).

Maximus

This horse reminds me of the one I ride for my very occasional lessons.

Tangled

I've seen Tangled three times now. This has to be my favorite song.

Blahness

Blah. That describes our week. Jasmine's cough continues, but she has no fever. I'm hoping it will clear up. I've given her an assortment of cough and allergy meds. Nothing seems to help. Tea either.

Dealing with adult-child-at-home issues has not been fun. I have one that is working full time, making way more money than I do--since I work as a freelance writer and there haven't been many sales lately, that's not saying much. But he spends it ALL on himself. He's been borrowing another child's bike and blew the tire. When he was told he needed to go by a tube and tire, he was indignant. Why was he the bad guy? Duh. If you borrow something and it breaks, gets damaged etc, you are responsible. He had a major attitude over $25 even though he'd just gotten a $300 paycheck!! No offer to help with any of his living expenses, still wants us to buy him new work pants. Get real. To me, if you're at home working full time and not in college, you need to be helping out. We haven't even asked that of said child.

My other adult children are in college, barely working--not because they are lazy but because hours were seriously cut--and are totally broke. Opposite situations among the children. And I think it really goes back to attachment issues but that's a whole 'nother post.

So, that's the kind of week I've had. Nothing to take pictures of. We are mostly in count down mode--until Jasmine's surgery, until the last day of school, until the recital, until our trip to IN etc. Still, trying to live each day as it comes rather than just looking ahead so we don't miss the moments.

Anyone doing anything exciting?