Weekend Wrap With Even a NIGHT off!!! (Hold on Betsy)

We had a fab weekend, the only thing I wished is that it was a 3 day weekend so I could have at least one day to just chill … but as we all know it I would just fill it up … lol.

Saturday after I got done with work I ran up to my friend wedding reception location and helped her do the prep work, we were the two lone soldiers and got it all done!

Then I ran home changed and picked up the boys.  GET this Rick even took the day off and came with me!!

Then we dropped the boys off at home and we got a NIGHT OFF!!  We rented a room at Plum Duff B&B.  We’ve stayed at one on our wedding night & the one year anniversary so this was a real treat.  The place was very nice, the room was a little on the nautical feel and the bed was too small for poor Rick.  His feet hung off the bed … lol.  Then sadly I was disappointed with the breakfast.  Now I’m a little food snob you know, so when I go and pay $150 for a night I really expect bells and whistles.  The breakfast was just ok, the breakfast was the a egg, sausage with frozen potatoes.  It’s something I’ve put together in a pinch for the boys, so that was a little let down.  Rick told me I was being silly … lol.

Back in the day Mama Stortini’s was our favorite restaurant before kids, the owner Joe sold it and sadly the people that took it over didn’t do it justice.  He did start another restaurant Joeseppi's so we went to dinner there.  Rick had a wonderful Chicken Parm and yep you guessed it my brown butter & parm was just ok .  The noodles were a little over cooked and mushy.  The breadsticks were good at least!  We then head to the movies!! Ok get this, I haven’t been to the movies in 4 YEARS!  I was so excited I got to eat popcorn … YUMMY!  We watched Contagion with Matt Damon, it was actually very good and worth the $25 … hehe yes I’m cheap why we don’t ever go.

Sunday we went to church, our little neighbor boy asked to go along with us and the boys were so excited!  After church they had a BBQ and talent show.  The boys enjoyed all the food and then the fun of the talent show!

The talent show was so much fun! Pastor Dan even got out his sword out and sliced a zucchini and then a watermelon on top of one of the band members.  It was so much fun!

Then we headed to my Tuesday friends house for some water balloon’s, hanging out in the fort and even the tree’s.  A super fun time all around!

And I can’t leave you with a recipe.  I made these supper yummy Black & White Brownie Cupcakes.  With a Coffee frosting on top.  It’s was a hit at the wedding reception we went to.

Happy Wednesday, hope you’re all having a great week!  Anything fun happen so far with your week?

Chicken Chicken Dinner!

Ok if you are like my husband you may cringle at oh yeah chicken again! LOL … I really do try hard to switch it up so we don’t have the same meal each night but Rick still is not a huge chicken fan.  BUT I did find this recipe that had a Mexican feel to it, and we all know how much he love’s his Mexican food.  Sadly he did end up working that night about 3 hours over his shift so he had to re-heat it but it did taste yummy to me and the boys!

Well it’s Tuesday that means we’re almost half way there right?  hehe  Anything special on the menu tonight?

Reworking Left Over Brisket w/Fresh Bread

Tuesday’s at our house is a fun time since we have company every Tuesday.  The boys have a friend to play with and a have an adult to talk to and bounce my crazy life and idea’s off of.  I like to find something new to make each time they come over.  I think we’ve never had the same recipe yet!

My dad loves to smoke meat, my favorite is the brisket he does.  My parents had a party at their house the other weekend he made an extra brisket for me to take home.  I like finding new ways to incorporate it into things.  I found this Leftover Brisket Ragu by Rachael Ray. I didn’t have the right type of noodles so I used whole wheat shell pasta.

I of course had to make some bread to go along with it.  I found this Onion Garlic Cheese Bread on All recipes.  I started the dough in the bread machine and then finished it up in the oven.  I baked mine a little too long since the top cheese got a little too dark, but it was still soft and yummy in the middle!

Happy Monday everyone, lot’s to do today I think I’m trying to swim to the top . So what is on your menu tonight?

Some More Zoo Funnies …

Well since we all can’t toss our shoe into the Polar Bear exhibit like Cole I thought why not laugh at what we see there … lol.  Happy Friday Everyone!

Making the Most of a Labor Day Weekend

Saturday after I finished up work we headed back to the zoo (this time with shoes that stayed on).  We played for a while.

We then watched the shark’s feed which was very fun which we also heard the lady talk and teach us about.  We then went to see the rest of the animals and of course feed the budgies as always .

We then headed up to my parents house for a little family get together. Cole was being a turd wanting to go to the water but we had to wait and little Caden took a racket and pretended it was a guitar and sang a little song.  Of course Cole’s little attitude made for pleasant convo by some.  And yes that is my car in the ditch!! I wasn’t able to park in the drive way so I tried to park on the side then slid into the ditch.  Which meant that I had to wait until the guest left to have my dad pull my car out.  So that also meant I had to put up with comments about Cole’s attitude … UGH.

Finally we got to the water.  I called my friend that I grew up next door to, to see if I could bring her daughter down.  So the boys and I crossed across the yards like I did when I was Cole’s age.  The kids had fun and I was able to sit and relax a bit (yes with out my iPad to read a book, I’ve been called anti social … lol)

The kids even went on the tube that my dad pulled behind the jetski.

Caden and I played around a bit, plus a nice shot of Mt. Rainier.  Then another rock show by Caden and my friends daughter, they were “Rock Stars”.

Sunday we went to church and hung out at home.  Monday we headed back up to my parents house for a little swim and my friend’s and her daughter came down to hang out.  We had a little adult time to talk and the kids got to play. Plus they collected this nasty grass stuff that is coming up from the bottom of the lake and wrapping around the dock.  The boys and dad cleaned up a lot of it.

Caden my no go of water boy hung out on dry land playing in the floaty and of course the rocks .  Which he was reminded several times not to throw in the water.  You know how hard it is to explain to a 4 year old that the rocks down there were paid for … lol.  Cole got brave and jumped off the dock into the water.

So There you have it fun in the sun and even a car in the ditch … lol.  I’ve worked all Saturdays for about 5 years now so Sunday is my only day off.  So it was nice to have a 2 day weekend again.  So what did you do this holiday weekend?

We interrupt the Weekend Wrap for …

Ok so that is not me but that is how I looked this am … because you may ask?  WELL today is the first day of school … yup that is angel’s singing!  Cole is off to his 1st day of SECOND grade!  I’m so excited and he was actually happy to go with a ting of being afraid I wasn’t coming back . After promising that I would be back to pick him up he was set for a day of school.  He has his same teacher from last year.  The nice thing about private faith based school, even with the perk’s of faith he has smaller class rooms.  His class is 1st and 2nd grade with the same teacher with a total of 23 kids! 

Here we go getting back in the school groove and checking out our new seating and checking out the friends from last year! Caden even had to check out his new desk.  Yes Cole got on the bike and said he was going to peddle to school … lol.

Because I’m a nutty mom (as you all know by now) I wanted to make a fun treat for the class I did some google searching and found several recipes for a cupcake like an apple.  I made a brown sugar cupcake mix (thank you Marth Stewart & Your Home Based Mom) and then made these Apple Themed Cupcakes.

I’ll have to pack in our weekend tomorrow but I couldn’t wait to show off my big boy and these cupcakes!  Enjoy! 
So did anyone make something fun for the going back to school kids?  Or something you use to make for your kids?