Pretty uneventful weekend around the house… I watched a few good movies on the Hallmark channel yesterday. I finished cleaning and organizing Emelia’s room and then felt so good about it I helped Bailey declutter his room too. Emelia and I took bags of outgrown clothes to the red box.

I went to Jill (my hair girl) Thursday for highlights and a trim…

Not much different, but a little lighter than before.  Can you see the bags under my eyes? ugh.  I was awake almost all night Friday night.  Matt left the tv in our bedroom on msnbc and they had a three hour special about teenage trafficking or something.  It was crazy and kept me awake.  I had the remote so technically I could have turned it off…

The next few weeks are going to be busy getting ready for the big party for mom and dad.  I’m excited about it!  I think they are planning to renew their vows which will be sweet.  Thankfully I have Mike & Terri.   I have been invited to two pampered chef parties this week, and don’t think I’ll make either one… but will order something.  I heart pampered chef stuff…  What’s your favorite pc gadget or item????  

In the kitchen this week…

I have a couple of pork roasts in the freezer and hope to try this recipe maybe tomorrow.

4 pounds boneless pork shoulder
1 onion, sliced in rings
2 cups ketchup (a 24oz bottle seems to be exactly 2 cups. weird.)
1/2 cup warm water
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon  Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

The Directions.

Use a 6 quart crockpot. Trim meat, and place into your crockpot. Add sliced onion. Squeeze in 2 cups of ketchup, and then pour 1/2 cup warm water into the ketchup bottle and shake. Pour the ketchup-y water into your crock. Add vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire, Tabasco and salt.
Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours, or until meat shreds easily with a fork.
Serve over rice, or make sandwiches on rolls or sliced bread.

I am also planning to make breakfast one night this week… complete with gravy biscuits sausage and eggs.

I still haven’t tried Lauren’s yummy chicken enchiladas.  They are still on my to do list. 

Bailey put part of izzy’s latest bike ride on video with music. 

I was in line at sonic for the all important bag of ice…

When Emelia and I saw this…

Can you see the dog on top of the truck?  This dog was just hanging out of the truck… he got a little excited when the carhop brought the food to his owners.  My phone camera didn’t take a good pic, but I thought it was pretty funny.

It is Friday again and here are a few … or five… highlights from my week:

1. shopping with mother.

even though I had the hurt-ie shoes on it was a fun afternoon.  she found a perfect pashmina scarf to go with her pretty pinkish dress for the big party next month… and some pretty shoes… and appropriate undergarments.  i found a pretty bright pink sheer ruffled neck shirt and cute 3/4 sleeve hot pink jacket … and cool circle silver necklace. It’s good to find a best buy!

2. reorganizing emelia’s room pt. 1.

first i have to say… ugh.  but it is a good thing and pt. 2 will hopefully happen this afternoon.  she is home today after calling to come home from school yesterday with a tummy ache.  she was very tired and mostly slept yesterday with no real symptoms.  today she is tired but feeling better.  the little girl who sits across from her in school has strep throat.  she says her throat does not hurt.  we’ll see.

3.  reba.

and tivo.  we finally got a dvr in our bedroom.  i am totally loving it and have all kinds of shows like reba recorded.  it is awesome.  reba cracks me up. 

4.  getting my hair done.

and not a moment too soon!  i had an appointment on the sixth that didn’t happen so i finally got to go yesterday.  i got more blonde highlights and all trimmed up.  no major changes. 

5.  watching izzy pedal.

i have lots of new video of izzy pedaling the bike at school thanks to melanie.  i left my camera at school to capture the bike ride.  i arrived about half way through.  i am going to post it soon.  she was just pedaling along.  so cute.  when she stalled out in front of her old class the little kids cheered “go izzy go!”  i can’t say enough how much me and izzy heart those people at school.  they are wonderful… michelle (izzy’s para) is like a mom at school… she loves izzy and takes such good care of her, melanie (vt and izzy’s teacher) is so good at pushing izzy and finding fun new things to do.  she is like an in house cheerleader… she encourages all the kids.  camilla (pt) has been working with iz for years and doesn’t give up on her.  she keeps pushing her.  (ps camilla i listened to that song last night you mentioned and you are right.  the words are amazing)… and margaret (st) who pushes for izzy to communicate and always looks for new and innovative ways to make that happen.  what a team.  there is also the ots… heather and karen who i don’t see much, but they are also very special and sweet!

now i’m going to go finish emelia’s room.  wish me luck.  ugh. 

Go visit Susanne for more faves…

Whew. It’s been a long day (or two or three )…

Sunday we woke up late. Well, I woke up late. My first thought was to stay home and let matt teach the girls with his boys. Then I got a call telling me I would have the younger class too… so I quickly got it together and went. I was glad that I did. A busy afternoon, a meeting before evening church and a baby shower before bed. I got a text from mom telling me they had a surprise for me. I said what? she texted back “f w”… huh? then “fu wu” … what? finally it came to me! fudgie wudgie! I heart fudgie wudgie. Yum. It was my valentine. I have the best parents. Mom made the cutest valentines for each of the kids with pics of her with them. So cute.

Monday the kids were home for president’s day. Another crazy hectic day! The bright spot was the fudge.

Today I went with mom to the mall after taking Iz to school. We were looking for clothes/accessories for the big golden anniversary. I wore the WRONG shoes. Seriously! They were pretty comfortable Sunday, but they are casual heels I wore because my jeans are extra extra tall length and I hate them to drag on the floor. ick. So, about half way through the mall my feet felt like they were on fire. Walking on the balls of my feet and each step was a major pain! We did Macy’s, Dillards, tons of little stores and ended at JCPenney to leave. I actually got some slip on houseshoe type shoes (kinda mules) and wore them out. My feet still hurt. Even after a foot massage courtesy of Emelia, the foot massage extraordiare. I un-heart those bad mean shoes.

Another drama today was helping amanda mail off some apps for scholarships that had to be postmarked today and she was waiting for letters of recommendation. It all worked out and she got it mailed. It is starting to sink in that she is actually going to college next year. She is considering changing her major to pre-med. We need to find some custom rubber stamps!

Izzy had a pretty good day at school. They were having her do yes and no with signs on her hand socks… and they asked her if she wanted to get on the bike and she told them no more than once so they felt like they had to go with her choice. I suggested they don’t ask her Thursday … She was sleepy today and is already in bed asleep.

I finally watched Fireproof. I cried three times. 1st when he put the flowers where the computer had been with the note that said, “i love you more.” ah. So sweet. Next when he apologized at her bedside. and last at the end. Such sweetness. I usually don’t get drawn into sappy stuff like that. I’m like a machine. Just kidding, but this was a great movie. Matt thinks is was more of a “chick flick” than facing the giants. I don’t. I actually liked it better.

I know it’s been a great mystery without my menu posted. It’s probably been driving you crazy right? Last night I made enchiladas, guac, broc, salad, and corn… It was yummy. So good in fact we had a repeat tonight with leftovers! Which means I’m going to have to cook tomorrow. I’m thinking grilled chicken salad.

Okay, I’ll go back to being underwhelmed with AI. And then to bed.