Wordless Wednesday

Okay...one word of explanation....this is is a pic from my classes Grand Buffet. We have 2 of them. One for bakery and one for Garde Manger...that's the cold kitchen. We had to have 1 hot and 1 cold appetizer. I did 2 hot and a cold. It was lots of fun. Our theme was Hells kitchen. We decorated like a Haunted house. It was tons of fun and very successful. Later Gaters, Kai.

7 random facts.....

about me.....I have been tagged by Kayla...so here goes....

Seven Random Facts about me...Kristen....

1- I have more fabric, notions and crafting items then sense!
2- I really do love to bake and cook.....honestly!
3- Like Kayla, I do not like baking in the summer!
4- I'm scared of the future.....really scared!
5- I'm tired of my life and am determined to change things!
6- My #2 and #3 toes on both feet are stuck together half way up. I have a brother who's toes are stuck all the way up.
7- I love my husband....gripe as I may.....and as often as I do....I really do love him.

Okay..that's me....
Tagging....

Phoenix

She's the only one I can think of.....So....you go girl! Later Gaters, Kai!!

A few minutes.....

It took me a few minuets to decide what I'd like to post about today. And I truly only have a few minutes to spare, so here's my thoughts.

I know I have neglected my blog for the past 6 months. I am still trying to get used to being out of the house most of the day. After spending almost 20 years at home with my kids and only working part time occasionally, it is a new experience for me to not be in control of my home at all times......not that it is ever under control but you know what I mean.....LOL. Anyway, I am looking to, again, try to gain some kind of peace and contentment with my life. I am very tired of the way things have been in the past and am determined to change that. That's why I'm in school. BUT....I miss being at home. I miss having the time to spend with my kids with no worry about the next assignment or test. I spend a TON of time doing school work at home and it's really taking a toll. Not to sure what I'm going to do, but leaving school is not an option. I have to do something to better our life. Anyway, today I'm going to spend the day working on the house, being with the kids and sewing Halloween costumes. We are in a very sorry state financially so we are improvising this year. With little extras purchased I'm putting together things we have here to make Hannah into a devil girl, Emma into a flower fairy and Caleb into a Poe....which is a ghost thing from the Legend of Zelda games. So...I may be spending maybe 15$ altogether on their costumes. That's only 5$ per kid...not bad I think.
The picture I have posted is from the American impressionist artist Mary Cassatt. (I had an art class not to long ago) Even before I took art I loved her work. She does alot of mother with child studies. They are all so beautiful. This piece is called "Young Mother Sewing". If you do a Google image search under her name you can see many of her paintings. Here is a link to a site you can go to to read more about her..... Mary Cassatt. I hope you take th time to look her up. I think you will enjoy it. Later Gaters, Kai!

Wordless Wednesday

Pork Medaleons with Peach chutney....as soon as I have copies I will post pics of todays Grand Buffet! I CAN'T WAIT FOR YOU TO SEE!!!

School and life

It has been a VERY VERY VERY long time since I last blogged. Life is extremely crazy since I started culinary school. Things are going quite well for me there. I'm in the top of my class, and am excited about starting my externship in February. We had our Grand Buffet today and it was fan-freakin-tastic! We were told it was probably the best one ever. We had a theme of Hell's Kitchen and it was a spooky haunted house. I am glad it's over though. It was kinda stressful. I am hoping to be able to post more soon, but I'm tired and want to go rest now. Later Gaters, Kai!

Muffins for mom

Well.....yesterday was Muffins For Mom day at my kids school. They do it as a Mother's Day celebration. I didn't have school, but both kids requested that I wear my chef's uniform when I went. I guess they are proud of me! It was sweet. Hannah made me a cute card, and Caleb wrote a little essay about why he love his mommy. There was a photographer there and I asked her to take a pic of us and email it to me. She also said she was going to put us in the local paper.....COOL! I am not very fond of having my picture taken, and I don't have too many of me with the kids. I'm glad I had her take this one. It's pretty special. Love, Kai!

I love modern medicine!!!

I have been off the puter for a few days due to the illness I came down with last week. I have been flat on my back, sick as a dog! I haven't been this sick in years. I get a cold or two or a tummy bug once in a while, but not like this. I have been coughing so much I thought I would pass out from the pressure of it. I kept peeing my pants and have gone through my underwear quite frequently.....and man do I hate that! Anyway.....I finally broke down and saw a Dr. today. I usually just wait things out, but I couldn't stand it any more. He said I have acute bronchitis and pharyngitis.....or in other words....a sore throat...LOL. He gave me a shot there in the office of an antibiotic and gave me three scripts for another antibiotic, an inhailer and a pain pill that will not only help with the pain in my chest from coughing, but also help with the cough itself. I just took one of the pain pills a little bit ago and I feel alot better already between it and the shot I got. I don't usually go to a dr....we don't have insurance on me and hub, so we only go if there is no other choice.....the scripts alone were around 100 bucks....UGH! But I felt it very necessary to go this time. I was ever so ill, and school starts on Tuesday. I really need to be better so I can get this thing going. Okay...I'm tired now. Gonna go back to the couch. Later Gaters. Love, Kai

Yep....it's a BUG!

It seems that what I have is indeed a bug of some sort. I spent all of yesterday in bed on the couch about sick as a dog. Coughing my head off and all the goodies. I am feeling alot better today though. Still coughing a little, but not near as bad as over the weekend. My chest hurst alot, but otherwise I am none worse for the wear.

I went this morning and paid my regestration fee for Culinary school. I'm glad that's out of my hair and I don't have to worry about it any more. I am, however, getting pretty excited. Class starts next Tuesday at 8:30am! I have my satchel all decked out with a binder full of paper and dividers. I have pens and pencils, highlighters, and black markers. And even some post-it notes. Not sure what all I'll be needing, but I'm set for the moment. I got a cute binder with a butterfly on it that says "Dreamer". I thought it fitting since this is the first step to making my dreams come true! Wish me luck. I am a little nervous....I imagine I will probably be the oldest in the class with the most kids. It will be interesting. Not sure how I'm going to handle it. We shall see I suppose. I want to get a new chain to put my birthstone babies on so I can wear them to school to remind me of why I'm doing this.

Since school is just a week away......my goals for this week are to get the laundry as caught up as possible and do as much organizing as I can. I have a long way to go to get to where I want this house to be, but it is getting there....one little baby step at a time. That's all for now....Later Gaters, Kai!

Not feeling too well....

I haven't felt too well lately. I am either having severe allergies or some kind of virus. I'm not sure which. I have a bad cough and it's driving me nuts. No other symptoms. I absolututley hate coughing. It is the worse. So if I'm not on much...I'm not feeling well. Sorry. More when I'm up to it. Later Gaters, Kai!

Fable of the Naked Baby Butt

Once upon a time there was a mommy of 4 kids who wasn't feeling too very well one day. She had alot to do and no energy to do it. She fed her kids leftovers for dinner, cuz she didn't feel like cooking, even after spending the day "resting" on the couch. Then, being Wednesday, it was time for chuch. She probably would have skipped this week, except that she had promised to help the Young Women with a craft project. So, she piles the kids into the car and off they go. Once they got to church, the older boy went off to Cub Scouts and Mom took the girls with to Young womens. The girls didn't want to stay so she let them go to the nursery to play. But the youngest 3 year old girl didn't want to behave, so Mom found an older 10 yo girl to watch her for $1. After about 30 minuets the older girl came and told the mom, "I took the baby tinkle, but she took her pants and undies and put them in to the toilet." So, mom runs out to the car and realizes her baggie with spare pants and undies are in the van and she has her sons car this evening. She hurries to the ladies room and has her 7yo daughter giver her sweater to the mom. Mom wraps the sweater around baby's waist and zips it up into a makeshift skirt. Making her appoligies she leaves with the kids and goes home to deal with the naked butt baby. The moral of the story.....make sure ALL your vehicles have spare pants for your naughty babys! LOL....Love, Kai! PS.....she's naked as I type...this kids just won't keep her pants on! UGH!!!....LOL

Potter Puppet Pals......

I thought this was sooooo funny that I had to share....hope you get a giggle. Love, Kai

I'm tired....

Not too sure why I am, but I am. I spent most of the afternoon on the couch "resting". I layed down while Emmie watched tv. What a bad mommy!!! Oh well....I suppose I am just emotionally wore out right now. I have alot to do and no energy or help doing it. I need to go shopping for Easter for the kids, but can't get away from them long enough to do it. I sure wish Kayla lived near me so we could go shopping together!!.....LOL. Right now she's my bestest friend. No one else seems to want to talk to me. I can't even seem to get my own mommy online to chat at. Anyway.....I have still been cooking and adding recipes to my new blog. The addy is..... http://www.canwecook.blogspot.com I haven't posted anything new in a couple days, but I will probably do some tomorrow or the next day. I have to get going and take Caleb to scouts. I will catch you later. Later Gaters, Kai!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Busy, Busy, Busy

I am trying to get the house in order so I can have things in good shape before I start school. Problem is we are having plumbing troubles. The brand new dishwasher stopped draining. So, we had someone come look at it under the warrenty. The guy was here on Friday, and said it wasn't the dw....it was the plumbing....UGH! Not like I need this! We also have some other major problems under the sink as well.....needless to say, a bucket is our plumbing at the moment. Anyway, my inlaws said to call their plumber out and they would take care of it. He's supposed to be here tomorrow or Wednesday. I have started painting my kitchen wall and can't finish until he comes and I can get rid of all the dishes. I know I could wash them all by hand, and Mark has been doing some of them, but I absolutely DISPISE doing dishes by hand. I remember standing at the sink for HOURS doing them as a kid. So...I am letting mark do what he wants to do and the rest are waiting. If he doesn't come tomorrow I'll do them all up and finish my painting. I am redoing my kitchen in gingerbread man and am anxious to get done.

I got the wedding dress altered this weekend. I am glad it's all done. It was alot easier than I thought it would be. I had to take it to a friend to have her figure out just how I am needed to do it, and once I sat down with her and we got looking into it, it was pretty easy. I took it to try it on the Bride this morning, and it fit her perfectly and doesn't even look like it was ever touched! I am good! No....I'm kidding, but I am glad it didn't take any more messing with.

Well....I'm going to go. It's getting late and there's lots to do tomorrow. My Goal is to get more of the kitchen done and the kids room finished. It's a huge mess. Later Gaters, Kai!

Life goes on and Playing with my food

It's been a long and interesting past few weeks. We have delt with alot of illness...between Emma comming down with Pneumonia, a while back and all of us having a stomach virus, it's been very interesting around here. I spent the other day cleaning the LR carpet cuz it had gotten a healty dose of kid sick over the past 2 weeks. Thought it was time to break out the steam cleaner and give it a good once, twice, third and fourth, over...LOL. In other words...it took quite a bit to get it clean and I am sure if I were to go over it again I'd proabably pull up just as much gunk as I already have. But I am very greatful that I have my own cleaner to do it with. It's a good thing.

Since my decision to go to culinary school, I have been playing around with food a little bit. I have made risotto, Alfredo sauce and a few other fun things. I had never done risotto before. It was alot easier than they make it look on Food Network.....LOL. Anyway, I decided I needed an outlet for my culinary adventures, so I made a new blog all about cooking and my school experiences. I sure hope you will come and take a look at it. I will be posting recipes and tips and all sorts of fun ideas there. I am sure it will be very educational....or at least I am hoping it will be. www.canwecook.blogspot.com Come take a look when you get a moment or two. Okay...that's all for tonight. I am going to go eat some strawberry shortcake with the kiddos....you gotta love sping....we eat tons upon tons of strawberries when they come on sale in the spring. My kids anxiously for "strawberry season" every year. Later Gaters, Kai~!

My new Blog....

I have a new cooking blog....please come visit!

http://www.canwecook.blogspot.com/

It is a blog about my new venture into the culinary world. Hope you will visit and enjoy the information found therein. Love ya, Kai!

Big news!!!

And NO I'm not pregnant....LOL. I will be attending Culinary school. Classes start on April 24th and I'm very excited! I will post more later, but I just wanted to make a quick note and let you know what's up. Later Gaters, Kai.

I'm alive....I think?

I haven't been online at all this last week. We have been passing around both a stomach virus and an upper respiratory virus. I took Emma to the dr on Tues and she had an ear infection. Then I took her to the ER last night and she also has Pneumonia. UGH! She has been in my lap non-stop for the last week. Her fever has been undaunting. But she is starting to feel better today. She still isn't eating much, but I am sure that will come in time. Needless to say....I'm very tired.

We got our tax returns and I have been able to get a bunch of stuff done that has needed to be done. I got new glasses...YIPEE!!! We also got a much needed new dishwasher. The other one wasn't completely dead, but it was on it's last leg. This new one is 100% quieter and does a superb job. I have been running it all day. It was installed this morning. I really like it alot. I also just LOVE my new glasses. They are completely different from my last ones. You can see them in my picture to the left....these new ones are rectangular, a metalic brown and very flattereing....at least that is what people tell me.

Well...that's all for tonight. I'm very tired and am ready for bed. Night all. Later Gaters, Kai!

New CD's, New Motivation, and Carb addiction

Okay....I'm a sucker for a good dance beat. I never used to be, but lately it has been what I want to listen to. For the last several years....like a decade or so....I have gotten out of listening to music very much. I used to do it alot, but have gotten out of the practice and spent too much time watching TV instead. So...for Valentines day, my oldest son, Joshua, bought me 2 new CD's I've been wanting. They are both by Gwen Stefani. I really like her music. I liked it when she was with No Doubt, but I also like her solo stuff. I have been wanting her albums since her first one came out a few years ago, but haven't broke down and bought them. I also bought for myself the new Justin Timberlake CD. All 3 CD's are very dance oriented and I am thoroughly enjoying them. I find that I want to get up and actually do stuff when they are on, instead of sit on my butt and watch the boob tube. HMMMMM......What an inspiration. LOL!

I was watching Oprah....yeah...so cliche...I know, I know....anyway..... They were talking about "The Secret", a book about living your authentic life and what it takes. I didn't get to see all of it, but I am going to get the book and read it to get some ideas. Anyway....one of the things one of the speakers said hit me.....He said, "Trying is failure with honor. Do it or Don't do it, don't try." And that really made me think. I find myself saying to my husband all the time, "But I'm trying!" Well.....NO MORE... I will no longer TRY....I will DO! I am no longer "trying" to get my home and life in order. I AM getting my life and home in order. Okay...enough sap for today...LOL.

Alright now....I admit...I am a major Carb addict. I suppose that's the first step. Admitting that I have a problem. My new obsession is Pappa John's Pizza's bread sticks! Dang....these things ROCK....they rock out loud! We got pizza for dinner last night and I didn't eat any pizza....just a bunch of bread sticks dunked in their garlic dipping sauce......can you say.....YUM! YUM YUM YUM YUM.....YUM!!! I knew you could! LOL. So...I'm sitting here right now eating leftovers of them for lunch and dripping butter all over the place, but they are OH SO GOOD. If you have a Pappa John's near you.....order some and pig out!

My goal for today is to get the Living room deep cleaned. I have started already. I cleaned off and dusted the entertainment center. And believe you me.....it was a HUGE job. It was so cluttered with trash and junk. I was amazed. But now my CD's all have a place and it doesn't look so junky. I am hoping to get to cleaning the carpet, but we'll see. I have to take both Josh and Mark to work and make a trip to "HELL"mart. We will see. I'll be happy with it being clean without the carpet done. So...that's the Goal.

That's all for today my little ones. Later Gaters! Kai

Cold, coats, breaks and hot water.

It is sooooooooo cold. I broke down yesterday, when it was 15 degrees outside, and bought me a nice big coat. I haven't owned a real coat in years. I am usually ok with sweaters or a fleece jacket. But I was just too cold and had to do it. Right at this moment it is 17 degrees out with a wind chill factor of 7. I haven't dealt with cold like this since we left Alaska! Okay....I suppose I will quit gripping about summer now.....LOL.

We lost the breaks on the van last week. I had to slam them to avoid a jerk that cut me off. And then we lost all the break fluid. I took it to my friends husband and he replaced the rear wheel cylindar and the shoes. Now they are better. It's a good thing too cuz we have snow on the roads now and it would not have been good the way they were before. I am very greatful that he is able to do some work for us. It is much cheaper than taking it in to a shop.

Last but not least.....we have no hot water right now. We forgot to run it in this cold and it froze. We do have cold....praise God....but no hot. It's supposed to get in the 40's tomorrow....so hopefully it will thaw....and also hopefully it won't have busted a seam. Keeping my fingers crossed. SO....if you have cold weather comming, don't forget to leave your water running...and not just the cold....some hot as well. That's my advice for today.

Okay...my toes are cold...I'm going to go find my slippers and turn the heat back up. Take care. Later Gaters, Kai.

Long time...no blog

I was informed by my single loyal reader that it has been a while since I blogged last. So....Miss Kayla...here I am! LOL!!! Things have been a bit crazy around here in the past couple of months. First the holidays...they always seem to put me in a tail spin. Then I was without my meds for a couple of weeks....don't wanna do that EVER again! Then we had several snow and ice storms around here. Kids ended up having a WHOLE week off due to the crappy road conditions. On top of it all I have been having some bad troubles with my back hurting. It has kept me in bed, and on the hot pad an awful lot the past few weeks. I sure wish it would quit so I can go on with life. Or at least some semblance of one.....LOL.
On the up side.....durring the week sebaticle the kids had off from school, we managed to switch the bedrooms around. I put the 3 in the master bedroom and moved my bed into their room. They now have alot more room and spend WAY more time playing and hanging out back there instead of out in the livingroom. It's been kinda nice. Before they would never just go play in the bedroom cuz it was cramped and we couldn't keep it clean.....Now it's nice and tidy, most of the time, and they have a TV...I left mine in there. They can watch or play games. We watch movies in there on the weekend and snuggle under blankets with soda and pop corn. It's alot of fun. I am pleased that I decided to do it. My room was only used as a dumping ground and to sleep in anyway. Kids are happy to and that's the best thing.

THE BEST TIME OF YEAR!
I love the holidays, but they stress me out. My favorite time of year is when we get tax returns. My dh would probably think I'm a bit greedy or something, but the reason isn't rooted so much in money as it is in the need to do alot of things we can't do without money and never have any for. Like...I am in desperate need of new glassese. Emma go a hold of mine and lets just say....they now sit crooked on my face and I can't keep the right lens in. Also....we have been putting off car repairs. Now we can get those done. I am very grateful we can take care of our needs with the returns. It is so helpful I can't even say. Most of the time it's hand to mouth, paycheck to paycheck. There isn't any extra to take care of things like glasses or repairs. Now we can and it feels good. I sure hope this doesn't sound too crass. It is just how I'm feeling right now is all.
Okay....off to get back on my hot pad. It is another bad back day. Gonna take some Doans and rest again. I'd like to do some other things, but I just cannot move. Later Gaters, Kai.