How I feel about you....

Fall

Ha ha ha ha ha....sorry....I just couldn't resist this one!

Halloween

And More Halloween Dogs

So cute! Thanks again Miss Alice!

More Halloween Dogs

Keep 'em coming Miss Alice! Very cute!

Halloween Dogs

Thanks for the cuties Miss Alice!

Redneck Home Security System

Just an idea...

REDNECK HOME SECURITY SYSTEM
1. Go to a second hand store and buy a pair of men's used size 14-16 work boots.
2. Place them on your front porch, along with a copy of Guns & Ammo Magazine.
3. Put a few giant dog dishes next to the boots and magazines.
4. Leave a note on your door that reads:Bubba,Duke, Slim, & I went for more ammo and beer. Back in an hour..Don't mess with the pit bulls - they attacked the mailman this morning and messed him up bad. I don't think Killer took part,but it was hard to tell from all the blood.
Anyway, I locked all four of 'em in the house.
Better wait outside.
Cooter

Cute video

If you love cats, I'm sure you'll enjoy this cute video. Thanks to Kathy for sending it to me. Just click on this : Two Cats Talking and enjoy. Then watch this Two Cats Talking Translated. Too funny.

Spaghetti Pie

Here's a recipe that's a great use for leftovers. I always make extra, extra spaghetti just so we can have this for lunch the next day.

Spaghetti Pie
1/2 pound cooked spaghetti
1 pound ground beef-browned
2 eggs
1 small container cottage cheese (approx 8 oz.) * I use the 12 oz. container, but that's me
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
1 jar spaghetti sauce
1 -16 oz. pkg of mozzarella shredded cheese
Mix eggs with cottage cheese and Parmesan. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease two pie pans. Mix egg mixture with spaghetti...divide into pans. Mix meat with sauce. Pour over spaghetti. Top with mozzarella. Bake 25 minutes. Let stand at least ten minutes. Cut into wedges & serve.

Chuck E Cheese & Chicken Pot Pies

Yes, an odd sounding combo, I know. But, it sums up our weekend pretty well.
On Saturday, my daughter attended a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese for a friend of hers. She wanted me to stay for the party. I sat at a small table and read a mystery. (For those of you who follow me on Facebook, you also know that I spent a small amount of time whining about the length of the party from my Blackberry.) During birthday parties, the giant rodent himself makes an appearance. He is guided by two fellow employees by the arm. They throw tickets at the kids and dance, etc. Somehow in the merriment, the two "helper" employees were distracted by the LARGE number of screaming/dancing children. Poor Chuck E. was led away by the arm by a little girl to meet the girl's mother. I'm not sure who was more surprised by the introduction...me looking up from my book to find a giant rodent waving at me from less than a foot away....or the giant rodent realizing he had been led away not by a helper, but by a small child. MY DAUGHTER! Of course, I was polite. "Chuck E. this is my mom. Her name's Lesa." "Hey, Chuck E." I gave a small wave back and an eye roll, then returned to my mystery. Skip forward to Sunday afternoon. I decided to make pot pies for lunch. I couldn't recall the last time I had eaten one. They were in the freezer having been purchased during a fabulous sale at the grocery store. Now, frozen food just isn't done in my house often. A fact that slammed home when we discovered that my children had no idea what a pot pie was.

That's right. They had never had one. (They also think fudgsicles are only available in the town where my sister lives because that's the only place they have ever had them.) THEY LOVED THEM!!! (Well, duh.) The look on the faces of the neighbor kids when my kids were explaining this wonderful new mystery pie to them was, well, kinda sad. So, I've added pot pies to this week's grocery list, along with fudgsicles and even.....dare I say it....grape soda. We're going wild this week at Lesa's House. Won't you join us?

Always follow the plan...

This. Was not. Part. Of. The. Plan!!!!

Wednesday!!! TV & family update

Yay! It's Wednesday! I don't watch a lot of TV, but my little DVR will be working overtime tonight recording Destination Truth, Ghost Hunters, & Dog The Bounty Hunter. Every time I watch Destination Truth, I'm just amazed that Josh Gates is still alive!!! What a dangerous job. The show just fascinates me. (And quite frankly after the doll episode last week, walking past the dolls in my daughter's room to check on her before I go to bed gives me the creeps.) And Ghost Hunters, well, that show has to be watched after the kids are in bed, and with all of the lights off. I think that should be a law of some kind. Then there's Dog The Bounty Hunter. It's nice to see the good guys win and somebody trying to make a difference in the lives of others.

Little Miss Ballerina has dance class tonight, so that will take up a huge portion of my evening. Eastwood had a football game last night (they didn't score...why change their record with only one game left?), and Eeyore had soccer practice. At his game on Saturday, Eeyore scored 2 goals. His team won 4 to 2. My throat still hurts from cheering.
Hope everyone is having a wonderful and blessed day. Thanks for stopping by!

Kitty Funny

Apple Bread

Made this last night. Big hit here!!!

Apple Bread

1/2 cup butter, softened + 2 tablespoons for topping

1 cup sugar...I use Splenda

1/4 cup sour milk (to make, combine 1/4 cup milk and 3/4 teaspoon lemon juice...let stand for 5 minutes.)

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 eggs ( I use large, but that's just me)

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 cups all purpose flour + 3 tablespoons (for topping)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup raisins

2 large peeled & shredded apples (I peel, core, & then cut into small pieces on my cuttingboard...forget shredding!)

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350. Grease the bottom and 1/2 inch up the side of loaf pan (9x5x3). Double check to make sure you have the sour milk made. In a large bowl, mix butter & sugar. Beat together with mixer for 30 seconds. Add milk & baking powder, beat until combined. Add eggs and vanilla, beat until combined. Add salt and flour, beat until combined. Slowly stir in raisins and apples. Spoon into loaf pan. In small bowl, combine brown sugar & the 3 tablespoons of flour. Cut in the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter with a fork. Sprinkle evenly over apple bread. Bake for 60 to 70 minutes until wood toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. (This did take almost 80 minutes in my oven.) Cool in pan for ten minutes on a wire rack. Remove from pan and continue to cool bread on wire rack until completely cool. Wrap up and store overnight before slicing.

I gave each slice a quick sprinkle of cinnamon/sugar before serving.

I Want This Dog!!! :)

Never shake a gift. :)

Hot Dog Casserole

I made this last night. It doesn't sound appetizing, but it was a HUGE hit with the kids & surprisingly with hubby. Also, it's extremely inexpensive. Yay!

Hot Dog Casserole

1 pkg. hot dogs
3 large (approx. 20 oz.) cans baked beans (I like Bush's, but that's just me.)
1/2 cup barbecue sauce (okay...I used 1/2 a bottle...I like a little zing)
1 pkg. (8.5 oz.) corn bread mix (I used Jiffy)
1/3 cup milk
1 egg

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9 x 13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Slice hot dogs as thinly as possible. Mix hot dogs, baked beans, & barbecue sauce & then place into baking dish. In large bowl, mix cornbread mix, milk, & egg according to package directions. Spread evenly over top of bean mixture. (This is surprisingly easy to spread.) Bake for 45 minutes, until bubbly & cornbread top is lightly brown. (Make sure bread is completely baked...you don't want dough on the underside.) Allow to cool for 5 minutes. Serve.

Bounce Dryer Bar

I tried this. I was very, very disappointed. The bar dislodged itself from the holder during the first load, and my clothes ended up with white smears everywhere. It took several washings to clean them. I even tried a second bar, triple checking to make sure it was fastened correctly. Same thing happened. Good in theory, but not practical for our family. Just my opinion, folks!

Evening Routine

Here's my evening routine. It ends the day right for us, and it helps make the morning go smooth.

Lesa's Evening Routine

CONTACTS OUT...(If I forget to do this right away..I will forget completely. )
Check laundry
Supper
Clear off table
Load dishwasher
Clean stove & counters
Clean sink
Sweep & mop
Any prep for tomorrow's supper (defrost meat, etc.)
Kids' clothes for tomorrow picked out
Kids to bed
My clothes for tomorrow picked out
Take calcium
Check tomorrow's to do list & calendar
Set coffeepot
Straighten downstairs
Straighten upstairs
Devotions
Set out snacks for bookbags.
Go to bed at a decent hour...Just like a certain fairytale princess, after midnight does not agree with me.

Afternoon Routine

My afternoon routine doesn't change much during the school year.

Lesa's Afternoon Routine

Pick up kids at school

Check calendar to see who has what activity where

After school snack

Kids do chores & homework

Keep laundry going

I check chores & homework

Get kids started on an activity

Any supper prep that's needed

Afternoon devotional

New Morning Routine

Here is my "new" morning routine. It has been revamped due to school. This is actually from last year. It's working out really well again. Change is good. Life here is very, very busy every morning. This helps the entire family get up & get moving. I have this in the back of my planner/calendar, and I refer to it every single morning.

Lesa's Morning Routine

Make bed.

Shower.

Make coffee.

Make-up on.

Take calcium.

Check to do list & calendar.

Straighten the main level of the house.

Kids up & dressed.

Feed fish.

Kids' beds made.

Breakfast.

Coffee & devotions.

Wipe down master bathroom. (Sink, mirror, toilet....just a quick cleaning)

NOT THIS DETAILED!!! Just a quick cleaning....

Assign quick clean of lower level bathroom to a kid...randomly chosen.

Breakfast clean up. (This includes wiping everything down, unloading & loading dishwasher).

Prep supper...do any work that can be done early.

Straighten lower level.

Litter box cleaned.

Start laundry.

Check email.

Teenagers

Let me tell you...parenting teens is not for the faint-hearted. Things are settling down a bit here. I hope to be back on here within the next day or two. Thanks for all of the emails! Hugs & blessings.

Still on break....

I'm staying here for just a little while longer....

Still on break...

I'm not coming out!!! You'll have to come in and get me!

Taking a break.....

I am KONG!!! Be afraid!!!!