There's Nothing Like a Good Home Cooked Meal!

Too bad my husband and kids will never know what that's like.
This is what was on our menu for tonight's dinner:
Nate & Macie- left over taco soup
Abrie- left over pasta
Kaleb- A corn dog
Me- A bowl of cereal (Out of everyone I think I was the one that scored with the best meal... you can't go wrong with a bowl of cereal for dinner)
Don't you wish you could have eaten over at our house?

So I'm doing a poll (check it out on the side). I want to know how many days a week do you cook dinner. And let's try to keep the numbers as low as possible. I don't want to look bad for my husband.

New York, New York & Pneumonia

For Christmas I surprised Nate with a day trip to New York and tickets to see Les Mis'. Now some of you might be thinking to yourselves that this gift is more for me than it is for him. Actually it's quite the contrary. Nate is a HUGE fan of Les Mis' and all I heard several weeks before Christmas was Nate talking about how amazing it would be to see that show on Broadway. So it was a pretty easy decision of what to get the boy for Christmas. He was very excited to say the least and the show was AMAZING!

Here are some pics of our day in NY.

This is pretty much what the whole day looked like....blah!

Oh, ya baby...work it, work it!

Chillin' at Rockefeller Plaza...it was packed!


Time square- Nate tells me I look like a little orphan in this picture. I think I look more like a bum. Hey, at least I fit right in.

NY wouldn't be NY with out the naked cowboy. Nate was not amused. I, on the other hand, was fully entertained.

The view from the top of the Rock.

Me, sick from eating deep fried goodness all day long.

Nate can die happy now!

Other random happenings;

Nate came down with pneumonia last week out of no where. I just thought he had a cold and was milking it for all it was worth until he drove himself to the ER. He later then calls to tell me that he has pneumonia and they've hooked him up to an IV. After the 'sick & afflicted' returned home from the hospital he announces that the doctors gave him strict orders to sleep a lot and do nothing. Sleep a lot?...Do nothing?...I want to have pneumonia.

Nate's recovering, but now I am sick (along with Abrie & Macie, who's coughing so hard she throws up). And nope I don't have pneumonia; it's strep throat and an ear infection (self diagnosed). I feel poopie and my head feels like it's going to explode. So I went to the doctor to get a professional opinion second opinion (as if mine is not professional enough). Let's just say my diagnosis and his diagnosis didn't match up. He said no ear infection or strep throat. I mean, what does he know? He went to school and studied medicine for 8 or so years, while I on the other hand have done limited research on the Internet. You tell me, who has the more qualified opinion...OK don't answer that.

I'm still going with my diagnosis of strep throat and ear infection. And I have given myself strict orders to do absolutely nothing. So in my hours of nothingness I will look forward to reading all of your get well cards you will be sending me in the mail. And If you are unable to send cards no worries, I will be accepting donations in the form of hot home cooked meals to feed my family.

Sinfully Delicious!

New years resolution
- Eat less junk food! Eat as much chocolate as possible!

For all of you who have made an attempt to make new years resolution; you have my applause. And now you have my permission to officially forget about all of them, especially the one you made about eating healthier.

If you like chocolate and then more chocolate inside of chocolate mixed with cream cheese, well then these naughty little babies are for you.

So come on, forget that new years resolution and indulge yourself to the dark side (of chocolate that is).

Easy Oreo Truffles

1 pkg. (1 lb. 2 oz.) OREO Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, finely crushed, divided (Nate and I like to mix it up a bit with the mint Oreo cookies)
1 pkg. (8 oz.) Cream Cheese, softened
2 pkg. (8 squares each) Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate, melted

MIX 3 cups of the cookie crumbs and the cream cheese until well blended. Shape into 42 (1-inch) balls.
DIP balls in melted chocolate; place on waxed paper-covered baking sheet. (Any leftover melted chocolate can be stored in tightly covered container at room temperature and saved for another use.) Sprinkle with remaining cookie crumbs.
REFRIGERATE 1 hour or until firm. Store any leftover truffles in tightly covered container in refrigerator.



Recipe compliments of Kraftfood.com. If it has cream cheese, cream of mushroom soup or Jello in it, you'll find it at Kraft.

Time to get your party on!

I had a killer fun New Years Eve last night thanks to my friends Cindy and her awesome Hostessing skills. The party was full of friends, fun and gluttony. Which reminds me, that if I actually made new years resolutions, not eating to the point where I wanted to throw up would be one of them.

I didn't bring along my camera, but fortunately the hostess had hers out and ready to go. Here's just a little sample of my wild and crazy night.

Nate is not a fan of this picture. Not because of the fact that I look partially retarded, but because I should be avoiding the very appearance of evil. My friends I must reassure that I am fully sober. That's just that face of a woman who's had one too many Martinelli's.

If you want to see all the pictures from the nights festivities and my mad karaoke skills on video check it out HERE.

Still, Still, Still

Right now as I write, my house is full of peace and quite. Love and tranquility runs freely through the walls of my little house and I am happy. How can this be you ask? Well, it helps that I am the only one awake and every one else is napping.... life is good. Actually, life would be a lot better if I were asleep too, but then if I were asleep I wouldn't be able to thoroughly enjoy this extremely rare occasion. In fact, I think this is the first time ever that all my kids (and husband) have been asleep at the same time. And I promise I did not drug them.

Let us all now take a moment to remember this rare, but most joyous occasion in my life........

Now I'm off to do something completely unproductive and self-gratifying.

Christmas Has Come and Gone...

and the only remnants left are the new toys that I have yet to find a place for. So for now they are calling the middle of my family room floor home.

Christmas was wonderful this year. It was actually the first year we have been away from family. Despite the fact that we were flying solo this year, we managed to have a great Christmas.

So here is a quick Christmas run down. Get ready for picture over-load...We spent Christmas eve with our 'family' away from family (all the dental families that didn't go home for Christmas).

The kids opened pj's the night before Christmas. Grandma G sent Kaleb this ski mask. I'm afraid the next time Kaleb decides to sneak into the down stairs neighbors apartment to steal lemon heads he will be in disguise and fully armed (thanks to this mask and the spider man gun that the downstairs neighbors gave Kaleb for his birthday).

The kids waiting for Santa


We had to take every precaution to make sure Santa did not get caught in the act. So Nate and I made this impromptu barricade....worked like a charm.

Christmas morning was lots of fun this year. Macie was slightly disappointed that she did not get to open every gift. Abrie and Kaleb were excited to see that Santa and his reindeer took full advantage of the plate of cookies and carrots they left out for them.

In the end, Macie's favorite gift was her sucker. Santa could have saved himself a lot of effort if he would have know that.

All in all it was a great Christmas. Every one was happy (even Kaleb). The couple days that followed Christmas was pure bliss. The kids were fully entertained with the excitement of playing with new toys. Unfortunately that didn't last long.

Oh, and I need to mention we had a killer Christmas day with some more of our friends. I just don't have any pictures to post as proof.

Hope everyone one had a great Christmas as well!

My Baby Boy is 4 Today!

Today was Kalebs birthday and to say the least the festivities got off with a miserable start. Oh, the pain of being expected to wear pants...even on your birthday. I mean if you can't go naked on your birthday, what can you do? I wanted to threaten taking away his birthday if he didn't stop throwing this massive, worlds gonna end, tantrum. But then that would mean he would have to stay 3 for a whole other year and I just don't think I could take that.

So the majority of our morning (and usually all our mornings) looked a lot this...

And this....
And still,.. lots more of this...
I finally got him to calm down after a quick bribe of deep fried, fatty goodness from Burger King. So I packed up all the Yahoo's (husband not included) and met up with my friend Amy for a quick impromptu fast food outing. Soon after Kaleb's day started looking not so bad. Food (and a good anti-depressant) can make anything better.

Later that day I told him he could help me make his birthday cake (as motivation to actually make him one). He did manage to work in one or two smiles during the process.

Then it was off to Chuckee Cheese...

And life was good...

Oh, so good!

In a Perfect World...

...the house would be clean, the dishes would be done, I would be showered, and I would have all of my Christmas cards sent out. Actually, if we're talking hypothetically here there would be a whole lot more I'd add to my list. But to keep things simple I will refrain... for now any way.

So to all of you who are on top of things this season congrats to you (and I better be on your list of who gets a Christmas card this year).

I had the best of intentions to send out Christmas cards. And as proof I posted my, almost a Christmas card, card. The reason that I never sent it out was because I didn't have a recent family picture and the only decent family picture I have is posted on my blog. How boring would that be to get a family picture you're use to seeing every day (assuming you check my blog everyday...I mean, I can't think of anything better to be wasting your time on).

So here you have it, a little Christmas cheer from me to you.

And of course you can't send a Christmas card with out the annual Christmas letter. So if I had actually taken the time to write one this is probably how it would have gone.

Dearest family & friends,

I hope this letter finds you warm and well this Christmas season! The burn that you're feeling in your heart right now is not acid reflux. No, it's the intense heart ache you must be feeling having to be apart from me and my angelic family this Christmas, but be strong...for all of us. I hope you're able to find at least a little glimmer of joy even with this distance that's between us. (And for those of you who are just across the next apartment complex, the pain I'm sure is still there, but just not as intense.)

As for us and our little family things are going great. Nate is doing awesome in school. And believe it or not we only have 5 more months left. Then pretty soon my fellow PA friends will be mourning my loss as well. It's a lose, lose situation any way you look at it. Unless my PA friends are excited to see me leave. In which case that would be a win, lose situation. Any how, back to Nate...he has been chosen to to attend a dental service trip to Haiti with 8-10 fellow class mates. So all in all Nate is doing pretty well and he's making sure he gets plenty of sleep. (I love you honey)

I am also doing wonderful! I have a new part time "job" that has been filling my hours of idleness. It's great! I decided to just give up being a mom and drive over to Atlantic City and gamble in order to support my husband. I haven't hit it big yet, but I will one of these days. And when I'm not gone gambling I'm at home knitting and sewing and doing everything a domestic woman should be doing. Oh, and I also teach the YW. That might come as a shock to some seeing as I have a severe addiction to gambling, but no worries I have only led a couple astray. The rest are wavering. (that is a complete lie by the way, the young woman I teach are AMAZING!! 20 times better then I ever was...and I was a saint (again, another lie...I was not a saint...but almost.))

Abrie is a wonderful child. She is 5 now and eager to be in kindergarten. She unfortunately misses the deadline. So she is currently attending a Lutheran pre-school and she prays for my soul every night. We had her in soccer this year and she loved every minute of it. She is desperate to try dance class this year, but we will see. I told her that mommy would have to spend some extra hours hitting the slots if she wants to get signed up for dance...so that is still to be decided.

Kaleb has been a complete angel this year. He has managed to not commit any felonies (only minor misdemeanors). He is always so sweet (when he's not screaming at me). He gets along well with his sisters (when he's not beating them up). He wants to take karate this year and although I'm sure he would excel in that I must use my better judgment and not let him learn how to take down both of his sisters at the same time with a double snap -foreword kick combo (sorry for the run on sentence). So for now he'll have to settle for soccer.

Macie is my cute little stinker. She is naughty but manages to get away with it due to the fact that she's so stinkin' cute. We have discovered that Macie has a eating disorder this year, not bulimia or anorexia. Nope, it's the disorder where you eat everything (like even small Christmas ornaments). She also has recently discovered the joy of being naked...all the time. She is constantly getting naked. Like tonight she managed to get fully undressed in her crib and fall asleep leaving us a little naked surprise for when we went to go check on her. Nudity and eating disorder aside, she is the best little baby I could ever ask for.

So as you can see I have been blessed immensely, with 3 healthy, beautiful, energetic kids and a husband who I love and adore and who will soon be making money.

Much love to you and your families this Holiday Season!

Warmest regards,

Nate, Ginnie, Abrie, Kaleb, & Macie

Twas 2 week before Christmas...

...and all through the house,
Not a cockroach was stirring, not even a louse.

The stockings were hung by the A/C with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas would find them up there.

The children weren't sleeping, they were fighting instead.
Perhaps I could drug them and put them to bedAnd Nate he's "not sleeping", he's just "resting his eyes",*
Meanwhile dreaming of Carrie Underwood and her killer nice thighs. As for me well I'm blogging cause that's what I do best**,
And the children are screaming from hours of neglect.
There’s lots I should do, the house it is stinking,
From dirty old diapers is what I am thinking.
The bathroom is nasty, it’s a hazard to shower,
Due to some mold and a cockroach named Howard***.
My laundry’s still sitting in the hall where I left it,
And odds are most likely I’ll never get to it.
Now I need to go shopping, that’s what I should do,
If my kids want to see Christmas and if Nate, he does too.
I’ll watch for the bargains (I’m cheap, it’s a curse)
Mentally preparing to shop before I immerse.
First it’s K-mart and Wal-mart (I’m queen of the ghetto)
Onto Target, and Kohl’s, and a quick stop at Costco.****
I’ll finish my shopping, I’ll call it complete.
Then I’ll go home, be domestic and make Christmas treats.
I’ll have good intentions of passing them out,
But then I’ll get hungry and with out a doubt
I’ll taste one, then two, and soon it’ll be four.
Before I know it I won’t have any more.
I had great intentions of spreading good cheer.
Unfortunately for my neighbors that won’t happen this year.Well at least my trees up, all shiny and bright.
And Macie’s abstaining from eating the lights.And even though my kids they are very wild,
They manage to keep on my face a big smile.And Nate regardless of how he does sleep,
I think a little longer around him I’ll keep.*****So during this season of chaos and crazy,
Take note from me it’s Ok to be lazy.
And so before that jolly old man comes in sight,
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

*I told myself I was done taking pictures of Nate while he was sleeping, but honestly, how could I resist? And Nate really does have a thing for Carrie Underwood.

**Technically blogging is not what I do best. I'm good at lots of stuff like...ummm,...let me think...ummm...(surely there has to be something else I'm good at)

***We really don't have a pet cockroach named Howard, however Nate did find one in the shower several months ago. Howard just happened to be the only thing that rhymed with shower at the time.>

****I've actually never shopped at Kohl's. Not that I'm opposed to shopping there, I just haven't done it yet...again the only thing I could think of.

*****"I think a little longer around him I’ll keep". This is my poem, so I don't have to follow any grammar rules. What that line is supposed to say is I think I'll keep Nate around a little bit longer and longer doesn't rhyme with sleep. Unless I were to add an -eep to the end of the word longer, but then that wouldn't make any sense at all now would it.(I actually think I just confused myself now)

Macie's blood test results are in...

and my child is completely, 100% healthy and normal...aside from the fact that she likes to eat dirt, small diamonds, crayons, 3 inch toy bugs, kitty litter....I could go on, but you've already heard it before.

Remember this picture? no worries, she ate four of these, but she's still normal.So now I know that Macie is not completely vitamin deficient or has something medically wrong with her. She apparently just has a fixation with eating things that could potentially kill her... that's comforting.