Simple and Delicious

For my birthday, I mentioned that the kids had given me a cooking magazine. Since then, I have been able to make nearly every recipe in the book. It's so fun, I'm really looking forward to next month. I just hope that it will live up to my expectations and not have any repeats.
The magazine is called, "taste of home's Simple and Delicious." So far, everything has been really easy, everyone's eaten it and asked for seconds, and my grocery bill has been a little less. (GO FIGURE!)
I've taken up the task of putting a star next to the recipe that I make. So far, these are the recipe's I've been able to fix.
*Creamy Spinach and Chicken Pasta (really good)
*Barbecued Ham Sandwiches
*Zucchini Parmesan
*Cheese and Chicken Enchiladas
*Confetti Corn Salad (side dish)
*Cranberry-Pineapple Pork Chops (really good)
*Walnut and Broccoli Rice (side dish)
*Baked Parmesan Fish
*Potatoes, Peas, and Onions (catchy name, huh!)
*Toasted PB and Banana sandwiches
*Chicken Caesar Salad
*Sausage Egg Burritos
*Veggie Lasagna
*Garden Veggie Soup (Luke thinks it needed meat)
*Turkey Salad Sandwiches
*Mushroom Corn Chowder (very good!)
*Taco Avocado Wraps (really good and took 5 minutes to make)
*creamy pumpkin-filled biscuits (beware-makes a lot and extra cans of biscuits a must)

Explaination Please?

Finally, television's writer strike has come full circle and new shows are beginning to emerge. Now I find myself grading papers and watching tv, which is what I thought my high school teachers did. None of which, I aspired to be like.
Funny thing is, commercials give me the most entertainment.

Anyway, my question is why does our local stations get ads from companies that aren't
even in Grand Junction. Can anyone explain this? This evenings choice....



I haven't seen a Macy's popping up anywhere around here, have you?

What Do You Do All Day?

A man came home from work and found his three children outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn all around the front yard.
The door of his wife's car was open, as was the front door to the house and there was no sign of the dog. Proceeding into the entry, he found an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was wadded against one wall.


In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing. In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on the counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door.


He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles of clothes, looking for his wife. He was worried she might be ill, or that something serious had happened.
He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way out the bathroom door.

As he peered inside he found wet towels, scummy soap and more toys strewn over the floor. Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and toothpaste had been
smeared over the mirror and walls.


As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife still curled up in the bed in her pajamas, reading a novel. She looked up at him, smiled, and asked how his day went. He looked at her bewildered and asked, 'What happened here today?'


She again smiled and answered, 'You know every day when you come home
From work and you ask me what in the world I do all day?'

'Yes,' was his incredulous reply.

She answered, 'Well, today I didn't do it.'

Send this page to another woman.

Priceless

Tickets On Sale

Our First Annual "The Nutcracker" at the Avalon

November 28, 29, & 30, 2008

Tickets Available NOW!










The Institute of Dancing Arts and the Western Slope Chamber Music Series will present the first annual "The Nutcracker" at the Avalon, featuring 80 dancers and a 40-piece orchestra on Friday, Nov. 28 and Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008. This production will also be presented at the Montrose Pavilion on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008.

Everyone's favorite holiday ballet classic "The Nutcracker", choreographed by IDA's artistic director, Diane Revie, with live music by Western Slope Sinfonia, conducted by WSCMS's Tyme Mientka, is sure to become your favorite holiday tradition to be enjoyed by the whole family.

For more information, please check out The Nutcracker page.

Buy tickets for Avalon performances online, using major credit card.
You can buy tickets for the Grand Junction Avalon Theater tickets here, using your credit card. Tickets are for general admission only.

Tickets are also available at the following ticket outlets in Grand Junction and surrounding areas.

Grand Junction: Roper Music
Fruita: Over The Edge Sports
Delta: Clubbs
Hotchkiss: Hardin's Natural Foods
Paonia: Paonia Farm & Home

The tickets for the Montrose performance can only be purchased through the Montrose Pavilion. Tickets are for reserved seating only. Prices vary by sections. For more information, please contact Montrose Pavilion (1800 Pavilion Dr. Montrose CO 81401, 970-249-7015 or 1-800-982-2518).

Oh the Shame!

So we're all sitting around the dinner table having casual conversation. When my 10 year old son declares
"I counted how many times I farted in a day. I've counted 31 so far."

Mom goes, "Justin!"

Dad goes, "That's my boy!"

After taking all the plates to the sink, mom looks around the corner to hear,

"THAT'S 32!"

30!

I decided to do this a little differently, because as ordinarily common as being different is..I can't help it

My First 30 Years!

These are the best of my life at 30. I only hope I can live up to the grandeur that these experiences have given me. All I can do is take it in and let my character change and be molded into something better.

The best changing moment was My Wedding (age 17)

The best moments of my life were the birth of all of my children (age 19,20,23,22,26 and 28)

The best thing I've ever seen was a total solar eclipse in Germany (age 21)

The best culture experience I've ever had was going to Paris, France (age 21)

The best family vacation was taking my children to Disney World for the first time (age 24)

The best fun at home moment I hope I never forget was watching my husband take the kids for sled rides off the back of the 4wheeler (age 25)

The best learning experience was moving to Germany and living on an Air Base as a 19 year old spouse and mom (age 19)

The best frighteningly, scary moment was getting our suburban stuck in several feet of snow completely unprepared (I now know that defrosting yourself after hypothermia can cause nausea and severe pain) (age 26)

The best car I ever owned would be the van...unfortunately unglamorous (age 29)

The best pissed off moment ever would probably include my in-laws, my children, and dogs...there's still an issue here, I'm working on it (age...um yeah)

The best fight I ever had was with Luke and now we're just happy that we were both strong enough to work through it, cause we would never have the beautiful life that we do (age 20)

The best money I ever spent is the check I send to the mortgage company every month, in hopes that one day we will own that which we call home (age 25)

The best books I've ever read were The Chronicles of Narnia and I still love reading them.

The best people in my life are my family...wow I got lucky!

The best birthday present ever was a trip to Maui (I'm still missing the ocean)



So, now what do I do with all of the things that I have backlogged in memory?

I SET NEW GOALS!!!!
(coming soon)

Completely Adorable Menu

I'm always happy to know that my kids want me home after I've been away. It makes me feel needed and...maybe the day's that I completely lose it...aren't creating a permanent scar to their oh so sensitive childhood.
Well after an absolutely fabulous week of Maui, swimming in the ocean, being pampered in a way I never had been, and forgetting what it sounds like to hear children fighting in the back of the car.
My (incredibly talented, more than admirable, amazingly brilliant, exceptionally loving) mom had let my children pick out their own birthday gifts for me.
So, not only did I get home jet lagged...I came home to a fresh dinner (chicken enchilada) in the fridge, and a pile of birthday presents that my kids had picked out.

SNIFF, SNIFF...It was sooooo sweet!

The were obviously thinking hard about what I do all day. They picked out soap, chocolate covered cherries (???umm ..ok...it's the thought that counts???), and a new cookbook magazine (so cool that my entire menu is compiled of all the new recipes).
Now after that ridiculously long entro....

My new menu
Sunday - Chicken salad sandwiches...followed by pumpkin cream turnovers

Monday - pork and bean casserole (since there was left over taco meat in the fridge)

Tuesday - vegetable soup and rolls

Wednesday - creamy, chicken penne

Thursday - Breakfast (It's cheap...what can I say)

Friday - I can look through my new magazine and come up with a bunch of never seen before recipes...I love that!

Drinking Salt Water

SIGH!
Maui was amazing! The water was a crystal clear, teal blue. Which made the coral easy to see.

First day, we took the road to Hana, which is the rain forest (lots of lagoons, waterfalls, flowers, and views of the ocean..along with the black sand beach).

The next day, we did a snorkeling tour out to a sunken(or risen) crater out in the middle of the ocean. There was spectacular views of coral and small fish, and sea turtles. (SOOOOO MUCH FUN!)

The day after snorkeling, we went on a zipline tour. I know, we went a little nuts with no kids. But hey, it was worth the sore muscles.

The last few days were spent lying on the beach, swimming in the ocean, and shopping.
Luke and I went bathing suit shopping, how fun is that! Trying on swimming suits for your hubby is so much fun, sans kids.

Ok, the car, when in our life are we ever going to own a mustang convertable? (like never) So, we rented one! And we acted like rock stars, and blew kisses to passers by. Not really, but it was a thought :)

Obviously, we missed the kids terribly and were completely ready to come home when it was time. But this will always be one vacation (and birthday) to remember.

Heaven on Earth!

I have read that those who haven't been to Maui have reason to be jealous. But once you arrive in Maui, you realize they have so much more to be jealous of.

That statement couldn't be more true.
Luke and I rented a convertable mustang for the week.
Today we took the road to Hana, which is the rainforest here in Maui. (SIGH) I cant tell you have amazing it was. But maybe some of these photos will do little justice.