Big Wheel Keep On Turning...

What a beautiful weekend! The weather was perfect so we headed down to Pigeon Forge for the day on Saturday.  Claire and I rode the Great Smokey Mountain Wheel.  She loves an adventure! Parker decided to stay on the ground.  Ha! Claire and I also rode the Sky Wheel in Myrtle Beach a couple of years ago, so it wasn't our first wheel rodeo.  

I did have a slight panic attack when we were stopped on the top for what seemed like WAY TOO LONG just to load/unload at the bottom.  I started imagining all the things that could be going wrong down there and looking for an escape route.  Guess what? I couldn't find one anywhere.  Fortunately, we started moving again.

 

 We also stopped at the Apple Barn to get a treat and some apple butter.  I am picky about apple butter (and most things), and it's the best!

 We also enjoyed playing mini golf!

 On Sunday, we went to church and ran some errands.  Later, Claire went to her friend's birthday party at Hands On Museum.  She had so much fun with all the other kids at the party.

We are so thankful for a fun, beautiful weekend!

Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms

  These delicious stuffed mushrooms are also from that old worn out cookbook that my sweet church friends put together years ago.  I made these for the Super Bowl, and they were a big hit (as always)!

Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms

4 regular sized cartons mushrooms

1 lb. hot sausage

8 oz. cream cheese

onion (to taste)

Parmesan cheese (grated in a bag in the stuffing, grated in a can for topping)

Finely chop mushroom stems and onion.  Cook both in butter.  Brown the sausage.  Mix all ingredients (except the extra grated Parmesan cheese) with the cream cheese.  Spray each mushroom cap with spray butter.  Fill with mixture.  Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese from the can.  Bake 20-3- minutes at 350 degrees uncovered.  Broil last 10 minutes. 

Eat 2 or 20 and enjoy!

(This recipe originally came from my lovely friend Lisa ~ the one with THE BAG.)

Weekend Update: Edition "He's A Keeper"

I need to catch up on a few happenings from around our homestead. 

Pinkilicious got sick and had to go to the hospital.  Here she is in her hospital bed hooked up to an iv made of pearls.  We run a fancy hospital. 

 I FINALLY got to see Lisa.  Here she is hiding behind "the bag".

 Claire had to say goodbye to her teacher on Friday.  It was her last day because her baby was due in a couple of weeks.  Guess what? The baby came early on Sunday! We are very happy for Mrs. McCurry.

 Megan stopped by to drop something off.  Claire talked her into playing Just Dance, and I talked her into staying for pizza.  We love our Maggie!

 And now for the biggest news of all!

I had a work training on Saturday from 9-2.  I know....work on a Saturday.  And people think being a teacher is just soooooo easy.  Hmpf!  Anyway, I came home to this...

Now, don't get me wrong.  We are always a team around here.  Brian always does some of the laundry, dishes, and cooking.  However, I usually do the vacuuming, dusting, and bathroom cleaning.  When I got home, he had already finished all three bathrooms and was almost finished vacuuming the whole house.  Including the stairs people!!! He said that he knew I had been feeling bad and didn't want me to have to come home after the training and clean. 

Seriously, he's a keeper!

What I Learned In February

1.  A bad sinus infection can flat knock you down.


2.  Antibiotics don't always work as quickly as I would like them to work.


3.  Little bits of warm weather make the cold and snow that much harder.


4.  All Pinterest recipes are NOT what they claim to be.


5.  Finding holes in otherwise good, newish children's clothes is not a good way to start a day.


6.  I really love Golden Grahams cereal, and I get irritated when someone eats the last of it.


7.  Steroids are not my friend.  They keep me awake all night.


8.  Not getting sufficient sleep makes me miserable.  And quite unpleasant to be around.


9.  Finding curtains in the style and color I want is completely impossible.


10.  I'm not a fan of The Bachelor this season.  Bye, bye Juan Pablo.


11.  Harry and Keith are a nice addition to American Idol.  Finally.


12.  Cadbury eggs are one of my love languages.  Bok, bok.

Weekend Update

 The weather was perfect all weekend which made it extra special.  The problem is that it makes us all a little too eager for spring when it's only the end of February. 

On Friday night, our family went to serve food at the Haven of Mercy.  Then we went out to eat at Applebee's.  If you've been reading this blog for a while, you may remember that Applebee's was dead to me back in the day.  I like it a little better now, so I tolerate it!  However, I think the prices go up every time we go, so I'm keeping my eye on you Applebee's. 

 Saturday, I got to visit with a friend for a little while. Then we took the kids to play outside. 

 Sunday, we went to church and lunch with family then played and rested.

I woke up Monday feeling like an elephant jumped up and down on my head all night.  I've been having headaches and allergy problems off and on, but good grief it got bad!  I went to school but had to leave early for a trip to the doctor.  Three days later, I'm still not feeling great! Ugh!

 My friend found Claire a Reese's shirt to match the one Parker wears every chance he gets!

We joke all the time about Parker and his Reese's shirt.  He just flat out loves it and would wear it every day if I would let him.  Even when it's dirty.  And stinky.  

They look cute in their matching shirts! 

(I rarely get to match them like I did all the time when they were little.  I'll take what I can get!)

Chicken Alfredo Ravioi Bake

Pinterest came through again!

This recipe was really yummy, but it was R.I.C.H.! A little of this ravioli goes a long way.

 

Chicken Alfredo Ravioli Bake

Ingredients

1 pound boneless skinless chicken diced

1 pound frozen cheese ravioli

3 packets alfredo sauce mix made according to directions (or 3 cups homemade or jarred)

1 cup mozzarella

garlic salt

pepper

Instructions

Brown off the diced chicken in a skillet, sprinkle with pepper and garlic salt.

Saute till cooked all the way through. Set aside.

Boil ravioli and drain.

Mix ravioli, chicken, sauce and mozzarella.

Place in 9x13 baking dish.

Bake at 350 till top is slightly browned (about 15 minutes).

Serve with salad or garlic bread.

I used two jars of alfredo sauce instead of the mix.  I also added some extra herbs for flavor and color.  It was really easy and delicious (and fattening, but let's not talk about that part).

Original Link: Life With the Crust Cut Off

Boy Scout Awards

Parker has been super busy with Boy Scouts lately.  He recently made his pinewood derby car and participated in the race.  He won first place in his den!

Last Saturday, we went to the Blue and Gold Banquet where Parker got to "cross over" officially into Boy Scouts.  He has completed all of the requirements for Cub Scouts, so he is now a Boy Scout.  We are very proud of him!

He received his arrow of light award. The arrow is the last award for Cub Scouts before crossing over to Boy Scouts.  It's a pretty big deal in the Boy Scout world.  He has looked forward to the arrow of light for years.  (I think mostly because he thought it was a sharp weapon!)

Way to go Parker!