Easter 2010

Trent is too cool to have pictures taken of him.

This girls giggle constantly

Has a smile- most of the time.

Likes to dress himself.

Stocktons Birthday

So Excited!

He wanted a mario cake.

PASTA

Simple Tomato sauce

2 TBSP Extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp minced garlic

1 TBSP fresh basil

1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes

- Add olive oil along with garlic & saute- about 30 seconds (do not let it turn brown, it will get a bitter taste) Add tomato's, bring to a boil, simmer 10 minutes, stir in basil, pinch salt & pepper, add meatballs, stir occasionally, cook for about 5 more minutes or until meatballs are warmed through. this will be enough sauce for 1 lb pasta

-Side note-My kids would probably have preferred that I blend the can of tomatoes, for more of a sauce consistency.

Meatballs

2 slices white bread, no crusts, torn into bits

1/2 C buttermilk

1 lb ground meat

1/4 C grated parm cheese

2 TBSP parsley

1 large egg yolk

1 small garlic clove minced

3/4 tsp salt

ground pepper

-about 1/4 cup of veggie oil for frying

*Combine bread and buttermilk in small bowl, mashing until a paste. Mix all meatball ingredients including bread mixture & pepper to taste in a bowl. Lightly form 3 TBSP into meatballs. Will make approximately 14, can be refrigerated or cooked immediately. To brown, cook in veggie oil, turning to brown on all sides, about 10 minutes.

-Side note-I made a double batch, using a hot & spicy sausage & a regular sausage. They were quite spicy, but added a great flavor to the spaghetti sauce. Probably won't use hot sausage again, because was too hot for the kids

~Fun things to do~

I was looking through the paper this morning & found a few things I'd like to attend.
The first is a boutique from March 24-27 at Union Station.
Here is the info: http://www.simpletreasures.shopping.officelive.com/
I will probably be going on Thursday or Saturday. Holla you want to go with me.
On April 29th -yea, long time away I know, there is a cooking show at Shepherd Union Building -Doors open @ 5 show starts @ 7, tickets are $5.00 in advance or $8.00 at the door. First 600 get a cook book. Tickets on sale April 1st. Can't find any links on the web yet, I saw it on the back of the GO section from yesterday's Standard Examiner. Maybe I can get more info at a later date- Today was the first advertisement for it.
DATC cooking classes. I went to the last one, was totally worth it. Learned how to make some fancy sauces. I'd tell you what kinds, but can't spell them. They are once a month. Aprils' is French cooking- not sure if I am interested in that, but if I had enough friends to go with me, maybe I'd change my mind. I believe he said he was making ratatouille, apple tartaran (something like that) Some kind of brie cheese appetizer, & maybe a creme broule. This class is on April 12th.
Then in May class is Pasta and noodles from Italy, Asia, & Germany. I'll be taking that class as well. It is May 17th.
June 14th is the appetizers class. I'll be at that one as well.
They are all on a Monday night & $35.00. Paper states it is from 6-8, but last one went until 9:30. Totally worth it though.

What not to do at the gym

I have recently started going back to the gym. I have found that I much prefer my music to theirs, so I take my little MP3. If something that keeps my attention happens to be on TV, I'll keep an eye on it & read the sub titles. Because I have an MP3, I figure I should have no control over the remote, because I have what I need to get through my work out.
When at the gym on Saturday, I get started on the ecliptic machine. about 40 mins through my workout, a gent, who looked about 50-60 hopped on the treadmill just in front of me. He takes the remote & doesn't seem to understand how Dish Network works. He ended up ordering a pay per view movie. I keep my eye on him, because at the moment he is my entertainment. Then I see him shake his head & mumble something. He then preceded to change the channel about 20 more times. Still not satisfied with what he has found, he continues to dink around with the controller. At some point the TV has had enough & looses reception. I see him shake his head again. At this point, I think everyone in the cardio area is watching him. He then pulled out a very nice looking IPOD or MP3- looks like it was made for working out. As he fumbles with that, he dropped it, then picked it up, then some how it flies 2 treadmills over & he goes to retrieve it. On his way back to his machine, which has been running the whole time while he straddled the sides, he grabs the remote for another TV. Remote in one hand, MP3 in the other. He then attempts to get back on his treadmill- no sure what he was thinking: could have been he forgot it was moving: could have been that he thought he could "step in time" & keep up. Really not sure. BAM- echo's throughout the gym. The gal on the treadmill next to him pulls the emergency cord. the other 2 ladies straddle their machines to make sure the old chap is okay. Me, I keep on going, things are taken care of. I do however happen to look in the managers office to see if he heard the commotion (not sure how you could miss it) & maybe he will come out. No, no manager. The dude hops up, says he is fine, then puts the remote on a vacant machine, and his MP3 in his shorts pocket. He then decided to check and see if he is really okay. Gives his elbow's, knees, nose & chin a good once over. All while 5-7 ladies are continually asking him if he is okay. He waves them off & starts walking on the treadmill- a much slower pace than what he had set it on while fidgeting with electronics. Beep Beep Beep- my hour work out is over. I clean my machine off, head back to the managers office - as I needed to update my card- & while he enters in my info, he said, did I just hear someone out there have an accident. I giggled, then I retold him the story. (I am such a bad person.) He just shook his head.
This silent movie I witnessed is why I will never control the TV or wait until I am on the machine to adjust my MP3.

HIVES

When I woke up looking like this I thought I was having a bad day.

Then I woke up looking like this.

Yea- My kids were scared to.

Stockton compared me to Sandy Cheeks while hibernating

Pretty close comparison.

Yes they itch- they only seem to come in the AM.

I have been to the Doctor once- I will be going in again today.

It is from something I am eating.