Blood, Soup and Tears

Monday night "my girls" came over for dinner and much-needed girl time. I decided to make 2 new soup recipes - Cream of Poblano & Green Chile and Creamy Sweet Onion. I didn't really have recipes for them, but had thought they out in my head.

I was going to prepare some of the ingredients Sunday evening after spending the day at my folks house - slice the onions, make the croutons, roast the poblanos. Josh and Meghan gave me a mandolin slicer for Cmas and it was going to be the first time I used it. I was pretty psyched. I don't know what possesses me to not use the slicing guard - even after my mom told me to be sure and use it - but I didn't even get through one whole onion before I sliced off part of my thumb. I'm not missing a chunk of my thumb between 1/2 to 3/4 inches long, and pretty deep. I began to cry and panic and called my mom. She and Dad came over and we decided I needed to go to the ER even though they probably couldn't do anything. Dad took me to the ER and Mom stayed home with Paddy. Before I left, Paddy offered me some of his "bubble gum medicine to make me feel better" and told me to be good. After 3 hours in the ER, in which I bled the WHOLE TIME, I got bandaged up with some gauze and Neosporin. My doctor was the worst doctor I have ever seen - inconsiderate, too busy and rude. He literally spent 1 minute with me saying he couldn't fix me because I couldn't get stitches and all he did was stitches. All that waiting for that comment. I was very obviously unimpressed with this man's care AND HE KNEW IT. I hope Covenant sends me a service survey. The nurse bandaged my thumb with lots of padding and it was large, kinda made me feel like I was in a Looney Tunes cartoon.

So, Monday afternoon rolls around and Mom offered to come help me finish cooking. I decided she was like my own little Ratatouille, like from the movie, only I wasn't in her chef hat pulling her hair to make my recipe. It was fun to cook together and to have her be impressed with my recipes.

All the ladies agreed that we have to do "girls night in" more often. And without further ado, here are the recipes. . . ENJOY!

Cream of Poblano & Green Chile

2 roasted poblano peppers, ½ minced and ½ pureed
3 slices of bacon
2 cans of whole corn, pureed with milk
1 can creamed corn
½ stick of butter
2 cans Campbell’s Cream of Poblano soup
2 can chicken broth
2 cups of Half & Half
½ block of cream cheese

Saute the roasted poblanos with the bacon until the bacon is crisp. Add all the other ingredients. Bring to a boil. Then let simmer for 30 minutes. Be sure to stir frequently so the milk and cream cheese doesn’t stick to the bottom of your dish.
Serve with tortilla chips and Monterey Jack cheese.

Creamy Sweet Onion soup
4 sweet yellow onions, sliced thinly –BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN SLICING!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Olive oil & butter for sautéing
¼ cup flour
2 tsp hamburger or steak seasoning
3 can beef broth
2 cups Half & Half

Saute onions in olive oil and butter. Add flour and brown the onions and flour. Add the beef broth and half & half. If you want thicker soup, you can add a tbsp cornstarch mixed with water.
Serve with croutons and Swiss or Gruyère cheese.

Our weekend

Patrick has become a game-playing machine! He and I played at least one game of Candyland every night last week. We even play in Spanish - naming the colors and the numbers in Spanish.
Playing Candyland with Papa J. Papa J asked Paddy to "draw him a card," and Paddy said "Papa J, you play with these cards. You don't draw on them." I asked him what his favorite part of Friday night was and he said "playing Candyland with my Papa J."
Playing Spiderman Memory with Doodah. There were 64 cards - 32 matches! That;s a lot of matches for a little dude and his grandma. But I was very impressed with his memory while playing this game. I am so excited for him to get into a classroom.
Sleeping on on Saturday in his Spiderman bed. He also impressed me this weekend by starting a DVD all on his own in the Tech room. He put the DVD in the machine and knew which buttons to push on the remote. Is being able to figure out a remote genetically programmed into the male species?
With the Masked Rider at the 56th Annual Pancake Festival. I love his handlebar mustache!

Top 10 reasons I am looking forward to spring 2008

Spring 2008 can't get here fast enough! C'mon March 21. . .

1. Planning & celebrating Patrick’s 4th birthday and taking another picture with Coach Hays
2. Cheering on Patrick during his first season of tee ball
3. Evening trips to “Patrick’s park” and having picnics
4. Tech baseball and baseball tailgate parties
5. The tulips I planted last fall finally blooming
6. Planting all yellow flowers in my flower pots & re-decorating my back porch with suns
7. FINALLY wearing shorts – I haven’t worn shorts since before Patrick was born
8. Buying a new spring wardrobe of single-digit-sized dresses
9. Opening the windows to let the spring breezes blow through my house
10. Celebrating Mother’s Day

runner-up: landscaping on TTU campus especially the tulips in Memorial Circle and around the Will Rogers statue

NASCAR and Science

I went with some of my students this morning to judge a science fair at a Lubbock Elementary. There was one project that totally crushed me. The topic was NASCAR. But it gets better. The research question was "why are NASCAR cars and trucks faster than other cars and trucks?" the research, evidence, analysis were pictures of NASCAR cars and trucks torn (not even cut) out of magazines and taped with masking tape to the presentation board. The conclusion was that "NASCAR cars and trucks are faster that other cars and trucks cause of they have new engines (spelled incorrectly, but I don't remember how badly) and they have alot (sic) of HORES power." YES, if you did now know NASCAR cars and trucks have HORES power. I was crying I was laughing so hard. The lack of science in this science fair project concerns me and makes me question the teacher's involvement with the project, but it made me laugh laugh on this Friday morning.

TGIF, friend!

Much needed affirmation

Patrick was at home with a high fever again yesterday, so I got to stay home with him. I have never seen him as sick as he was yesterday and have never felt someone as feverishly warm as he was. His eyes were so unlike Patrick - just no sparkle. He didn't want to move at all from 11am to 4pm and he refused to let me leave his side. All he wanted was for me to tickle his arms and his back and to read him books. I gentley combed his hair with my fingers as he slept. Is there anything better? It was very therapeutic for both of us.

It was a good feeling to be that needed. It was an affirmation I had been lacking for a while. This whole "single thing" has been tough for me because I feel a "need to be needed." I think that has been the hardest adjustment as far as the loneliness goes.

His fever eventually broke and he was a new kid. He barely ate all day but then scarfed down a whole bowl of mac'y'cheese. And he wanted to watch Superman. While we were eating he was telling me all about Superman and who was who and that Lois was pretty and Lex "Lufer" was the bad guy. He aslo explained to me how volcanoes "b'plode" - complete with "b'polding"arm motions. I laughed for a while then explained that they explode. He also switched gears to Staw Wars and told me "sometimes, Anakin has crazy hair and sometime he has pretty hair." So then I had to question why Anakin had "pretty" hair if Patrick had "handsome" hair - trying to draw the distinction between boys being "handsome" and girls being "pretty," which Patrick is aware. Then he changed his rave to "sometimes Anakin has crazy hair and sometimes he has handsome hair." I am so thankful for my son who continues to make me smile and laugh and give thanks to God for him every day.

Spidey the Builder

Patrick wanted to play with his BIG blocks last night. He built both of these -the spaceship and the man- from the picture on the box while I was in the shower. Check out the ones on the box. He is very into "the directions."

And if you are wondering if Patrick ALWAYS wears his Spidey suit at home, the answer is YES. Eventually he becomes Spidey at some point every night. And the poor thing is looking worn, but he loves it.

My re-decorated bedroom

My mom and I put the finishing touches on the paint in my room, so here it is! It does have a certain "preschool classroom" look to it, but its SHINY and HAPPY and ME!


A close-up of the comforter and pillows.

On another note, I went to lunch at the cafe at the Rawls Golf Course and who was there. . . Coach Bob Knight! I could have taken my picture with another Tech coach. I am like a Tech coach MAGNET. But my camera was on my desk.

Who says single girls can't enjoy Valentine's Day

Apparently, Jazz is the place to eat if you are a Tech coach. Yes, that's me with Coach Leach AND Coach Pat Knight after his win Wednesday night. I actually asked Leach if he would be my valentine. No really, I did.
Eat your heart out, KT!
And here is my favorite Valentine date. Lunch at BK, crown and all. I asked Patrick if he was my Prince Charming and he told me "Prince Charming is a bad guy." Of course he is - from Shrek. So then he was just Prince Patrick.
He thought this was hysterical.

Paddy's pre-K update

I found out yesterday that Patrick will be going to Smith Elementary for pre-K! YAY! Murfee was our first choice, because that's where he'll be going for K-5, but Smith is still a great school. I can't believe my baby is going to be in pre-K next year.

He's also all about speaking Spanish. Last Friday, we played this matching game with numbers and colors, and after we had said the numbers and colors in English, we said played in Spanish. Except I couldn't remember purple in Spanish. Now I know, it's murado He also slips in "buenos noches" at bed time. He says, "Sweet dreams, Mom. I love you. Buenos noches."

Thought for the day. . . my sent this and I decided it had to be blogged

Today's Scripture
“those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness” (Proverbs 14:22).
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
Do you wake up every morning expecting favor and blessing on everything you do? Do you plan for what is good? When we plan for what is good, the scripture tells us that we find love. The scripture also tells us that God is love. When you plan for what is good, you will find God in the midst of your plans. What do you expect as you go throughout your day? Don’t let the negative voices of the world or other people in your life get you focused in the wrong direction. It doesn’t matter what is happening in the economy or the housing market, God’s plan is for your good. When you plan for good, you are in agreement with God. You and God are a majority. Do you need more of God in your life? Do you need more love, peace and faithfulness? Plan for what is good, and you will move forward into the life of victory the Lord has in store for you!
A Prayer for Today
Father in Heaven, thank You for the good plan You have for my life. I choose Your plan and ask that You direct my mind and thoughts according to Your purposes. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Things I learned from being at home with a sick kiddo

Patrick was at home Wednesday & Thursday with double ear infections, so I got to spend some quality time with him. Here are some things I learned:
1. Green turtle-shaped pancakes make having an ear ache "all better."
2. It takes 15 drops of green food coloring to get a pancake "turtle color."
3. Turtle pancakes take extra patience so as not to tear off the head and legs.
4. I don't have the patience it takes to make turtle pancakes.
5. Dogs will eat green pancakes and don't care if they don't look like turtles.

Another funny from Wednesday, which was Ash Wednesday - yes, we still went to Mass, ear aches and all. I was not going to make P go up to receive ashes, but he said he wanted to go. I got mine first then Patrick backed away from Fr. Jim. He kept starring my ashes. I told him he could touch them. He asked if they were "like black Spiderman." He thought that the ashes were like the "balck stuff" from Spiderman 3. I love the way his little mind thinks! I told him it was black stuff like on a candle.

What's your beer personality?

You Are Heineken

You appreciate a good beer, but you're not a snob about it.You like your beer mild and easy to drink, so you can concentrate on being drunk.Overall, you're a friendly drunk who's likely to buy a whole round for your friends... many times.Sometimes you can be a bit boring when you drink. You may be prone to go on about topics no one cares about.

What's" Your Beer Personality?