Spring!!!!!

The snow has melted and the birds have come back. The air is warm and has a slight breeze. The window is open in my office and I am listening to the vehicles traveling on the highway.

All I want to be doing is reading a book at the park. I would take a blanket and lay down in the warm sunshine. I might take a light jacket for when that breeze gets too cold. Instead, I am at work.

I feel like singing! Spring has finally come. There is Vitamin D on the air and I am feeling happy and alive. All winter, I have been downtrodden and frustrated. I want to be like the bears and hibernate all winter so I don't have to deal with the Winter Blues.

Daniel has Fridays off so he is out working in the yard today. He is pulling out all the dead trees and ugly bushes that the previous owner of our house neglected. There were 5 lilac bushes that were overgrown and ugly. They wouldn't bloom so he tore them out of the ground. I'm glad he did because lilacs are a lot of work. I would like to plant tulips and climbing roses in the front and side yards. We have 3 perfect flower beds. Two in the front and one on the side.

In the back yard, we will have two flower beds. I think one of them is going to have strawberries planted there. And the other will have daisies. Daniel is talking about putting in a garden. I don't know if we will have time to put in much. All I really want is tomatoes.

I know this post was really long and boring, but I had to say something. I can't wait for when I will be done with Oklahoma! and can be home after work with Daniel.

Have a great week folks!

All I want.....

Today we went over to Daniel's parent's house for dinner. His younger brother Dax is turning twenty in a couple days and we were having a birthday party for him.

Everyone came including the nieces and nephews. They are all so cute and I love them. They are adorable even if they are pains in the butt!

I kept thinking about how it will be when Dan and I have kids. Little boys that look like him and little girls that look like me. (Well, I hope that they don't get my hair.....)

I keep thinking about cribs and car seats and diapers and baby formula. Burp rags, bibs, pacifiers. Giggles and smiles. Fat rolly polly baby legs.

And then they get bigger and look like him ----->

And then there would be toy trucks, books, tricycles. Lego's and Lincoln logs. Barbies and baby dolls. Disney movies and even more giggles.

And then I think about the late nights with no sleep. Waking up to feed the baby. Endless laundry and no energy.

Is it all worth it? YES!!! All I want is to be a mother. To get thrown up on. To patch up skinned knees and kiss scratched elbows. To be the chauffeur to all the soccer games, dance lessons, scouts and achievement days. To be worn out and happy.

But until then.....It will just be Dan and me making each other happy. These are some of the reasons he makes me happy:

He surprised me with these flowers one night after I got home from Practice...


He built this shelf for me. I'm going to put my porcelain dolls on it....

He got this table from his grandmother and refinished it to match the cedar chest he made me for my birthday.

Love you Daniel!

Tired......ZZZZZ

Yesterday felt like the longest day of my life. I couldn't sleep the night before, so when I finally got to sleep it was waaaaaaayyyyy too late. Woke up at 7 to go to work. Worked until 6 0'clock and then we had a department meeting. I didn't leave work until 7:30.

And then, I had practice for the community theatre production. We are going to be performing Oklahoma! in three weeks. We danced and sang and practiced our hearts out. But I didn't leave there until a quarter to ten.

Heaven help the people that talk to me today.... I hope I can keep my cheerful composure during work at least but that is stretching it.

Christmas presents in February?

So, today was interesting. I went to work and started up my computer to start the day. I answered a customer call and that is how my whole day went. One call after the other.

Customers can be kind of annoying. "I want to pay my phone bill", "Why is my bill so high???". It goes on and on.

At noon, I decided I was going to lunch. I drove the 7 blocks from work to my house and made myself a bowl of Raman Noodles. I had just shoved an entirely too big bite in my mouth when my cell started ringing. It was my mother. This is the conversation we had:

"Hello?"

"I have a bone to pick with you."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah you didnt make the bed you guys slept in on Thursday. Didnt I teach you better than that?"

"Oooops. Sorry mommy. I wont do it again." (All this time I am thinking that this is the thanks I get for watching my little brother and sister all weekend)
"Well make sure you dont. By the way I finally got your Christmas present. It is in my car. I will bring it by the office in a few minutes."

Who buys Christmas presents in February? Not that I am objecting to receiving a gift, but HONESTLY!!!! She bought me "The Undaunted" by Gerald N. Lund. Its a 796 page book about the Hole-In-The-Rock Pioneers. Good thing I havent read it yet. But dont you think she could have picked up a copy at the local Wal-Mart? In December? No she had to wait for the weekend that she went to Sacramento before she could get it. I have a crazy mother. Its true. (Hopefully she doesnt read this)

When I got home from work I was STARVING!!!

So I made this:

Chicken Penne Alfredo with Mushrooms and Broccoli

Cook time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

2 chicken breasts, chopped into bite size pieces and cooked

1 pint Heavy Whipping Cream

1/2 c butter

1 1/2 c grated fresh parmesan cheese

1/2 c fresh sliced mushrooms

1/2 c broccoli flowerets

1/4 c butter

1 t. garlic (I use chopped garlic in a jar-faster and easier)

1 bunch green onions

1 pkg penne noodles

Directions:

1. Prepare penne noodles according to package directions. (I like to leave mine on the hard side so when I add it in, it will soften up with the sauce)

2. In a medium sauce pan combine cream, 1/2 c. butter, and parmesan. Heat on medium until smooth.

3. While heating sauce, melt 1/4 c butter in medium saute pan. When butter is melted to your satisfaction, add garlic and chopped green onions. Cook for about 3 min. Add mushrooms turning them to brown on all sides with butter. Add in Broccoli. Add about 1/4 c water. Cover and let simmer-allowing broccoli to cook.

4. Stir sauce, noodles, vegetables, and chicken together. Serve!

5. Enjoy

MMMM! Now im stuffed!

I love my crazy life...

Dan acting insane

So my husband and I had a wonderful Sunday afternoon.... A mixture of good food, a vaccuum, X-box and blogging.

We decided to make Saucy Pork Chops for dinner. It is one of D's favorite dishes. Savory and delicious!!

Then, Dan helped me do the dishes, and we picked up our house really quickly. Made the bed, vacuumed, picked up the dirty clothes, and folded the clean ones.

Now, Dan and I are down in the Man Cave... He is playing Xbox and I am playing on the computer. Relaxation!!!

Oh and here is the recipe for Saucy Pork Chops:

Saucy Pork Chops
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Makes 2-4 servings

Ingredients:
2-4 boneless pork chops
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 onion - sliced
1/3 c ketchup
4 T wortchesire sauce
1 T mustard
salt
pepper
rice

Directions:
1. In medium frying pan, brown pork chops. Season with salt and pepper.
2. While pork chops are browning, mix soup, ketchup, wortchesire sauce, and mustard togther in bowl.
3. After pork chops are browned, place sliced onions over the top. Pour sauce over. Add about 1/3 c water. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes.
4. Make rice according to package directions. Serve.
5. Enjoy!

Have a good week folks!