Cat Massage

A follow up to the cow story is still coming (along with Kaitlyn's third birthday) but I saw this today and could not resist posting it.

I'm not going to show it to Emmy because might get a bit jealous that we don't show her this much attention. On the hand, she might see it and think, "Praise the Lord I don't live with that lady!"

And remember, you can't fool drool.

Menu Plan - 9.28.09 (recipe added)

Today is the first day that the weather really feels like fall. I want to put on a comfy sweatshirt, curl up under a blanket, sip some cider, and watch football. So, it works out perfectly that this week's plan includes chili and homemade bread. Mmmmm!

If you want more menu inspiration, visit orgjunkie.com.

Monday
Chili and homemade bread

Tuesday
Spaghetti and meatballs

Wednesday
Cheesy chicken and noodles*

Thursday
Breakfast for dinner

Friday
Leftovers

*The cheesy chicken and noodles casserole is one of our favorites, and is great for when you want to take a meal to someone. I just looked in my archives and I don't think I've ever posted the recipe, which I can't believe because it is such a favorite! I don't have it in front of me at the moment, but I'll return to post it later. It's a keeper!

***Here it is***

Cheesy Chicken & Noodles
16 oz noodles, cooked
4 cups chicken, cooked and cubed
2 cans cream of chicken soup
2 cups velveta cheese
2 cups milk

Mix all ingredients and pour into a baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes, stirring a few times to incorporate the ingredients.

This makes a lot so I usually freeze half of this or plan to have it twice in a week. (It's yummy enough that we'll eat twice in one week!)

Chatty Cathy and the Cow

About two months ago I took Kaitlyn to dinner at Chick-Fil-A. Mike was doing something work-related so I decided that she and I would go out to eat and then run to the grocery store after I picked her up from the sitter's house.

It was at the sitter's house that I found out it was "family night" at the particular Chick-Fil-A we were going to. Free food for Kaitlyn = awesome.

When we arrived at Chick-Fil-A, we both got the surprise of our lives. We walked through the door and were greeted by the Chick-Fil-A cow. As in, a huge, person-dressed-up-in-a-costume cow.

Kaitlyn FREAKED. OUT.

Before I could respond she had practically leaped up into my arms and was clawing and screaming. If a costumed cow could have facial expressions, I think this one would have looked just as terrified as Kaitlyn. He/she slowly backed away from the door, as if to say, "Um, yeah. Looks like my job here is done. Good luck with the screaming kid, lady."

I took her into the bathroom and got her calmed down. We ordered, then sat at a table FAAAAR away from the family night activities and the cow. By the time we left, Kaitlyn decided that maybe the cow wasn't that bad, and even waved good-bye to him/her.

The cow incident has been mentioned now and again over the past two months. Daddy heard all about it, Meagan (Kaitlyn's sitter) heard all about it, the grandparents heard all about it, and probably a few cashiers, servers, and random strangers have also been told about the cow.

So, one day last week Kaitlyn and I are on our way home after work. I had been to Chick-Fil-A that day and my cup was still in the cup holder. Would you believe that Kaitlyn recognized the cup and started talking about that darn cow? There was no hint of a cow picture on the cup. How did she know where it was from??

Here is a glimpse into the next five minutes of conversation:

K: Mommy, I don't like the cow.

Me: Ok.

K: That cow scared me.

Me: I know. But you're ok now, right?

K: Yeah.

Me: It was just a person dressed up like a cow.

K: It was just a person?

Me: Yes - remember, we talked about that. And remember how you liked the cow at the end? Remember how you waved to it?

K: Mommy, I don't want to see the cow again.

Me: Ok. You don't have to see the cow again. I know it scared you honey, but there's nothing to be scared of. If you get scared you can just ask Jesus to help you.

K: Mommy - I don't want to see the cow!

Me: Ok - we won't go see the cow.

K: But mom - MOM! I don't want to see the cow.

Me: O.k.

K: Mommy, I don't want to see the cow.

Me: Yes, I understand. We won't go see the cow.

K: I don't want that cow to get me.

Me: He won't get you. I promise.

K: [getting a little dramatic] Mommy - I don't want to see the cow!

Me: Ok.

K: Ok?

Me: Yes. Ok.

K: Um, mom?

Me: What honey?

K: [nonchalantly] I don't want to see that cow again.

Me: Ok.

K: But I don't want to see the cow.

Me: O. K.

K: But I don't want to see the cow.

Me: I said Ohhhhhhhh Kaaaaaaay. You don't have to see the cow. Trust me - we won't be going back there anytime soon.

K: [rambling, hard to understand mumbling about the cow, ending with a question mark, insinuating that I should provide an answer]

Me: What?

K: [big sigh] Where is the cow?

Me: I don't know.

K: You don't know? But where is the cow?

Me: Kaitlyn, seriously, I have no idea where the cow is.

K: Mom! I don't want that cow to get me!

Me: I know. Kaitlyn, listen: YOU. ARE NOT. GOING. TO SEE. THE COW. THE COW. IS NOT. GOING. TO GET. YOU.

K: But where is he?

Me: Honey, he's probably still at Chick-Fil-A.

K: Is he in the kitchen at Chick-Fil-A?

Me: Um, yes. Yes. He's definitely in the kitchen at Chick-Fil-A.

K: But why is he in the kitchen?

Me: [thinking, "really?? am I having this conversation?"] Because that's where he belongs. Far, far away from you.

K: Mom?

Me: WHAT.

K: Mom, I don't want to see the cow.

Me: [Silence. Thinking, "If I don't respond, maybe she'll end this ridiculous conversation.]

K: MOM.

Me: What.

K: I don't want to see that cow again.

Later this week: The cow, part 2; the next morning.

Menu Plan Monday - 9/21/09

There's not anything extraordinary about my menu plan for the week, but I guess that's what makes it realistic. :-) As always, for more menu ideas visit orgjunkie.com.

Monday
Stir Fry

Tuesday
Roast w/ potatoes and carrots in the crock pot

Wednesday
Goulash (using leftover roast)

Thursday
Ham and bean soup

Friday
Left overs

Haircut - UPDATED

Today, at 11:45am EST (or is it EDT?) I will get my hair cut. I am so happy about this because my hair is beginning to rebel in the mornings. It always flips up in one particular spot in the back, and with a three-year-old running circles around me, I barely have enough energy to make her behave let alone trying to make my hair behave.

I've had the same cut for a while now and I'm tired of it. For several months I've been on the hunt for something new, and on August 31 the Lord blessed me with the exact inspiration I needed.

I think I'm going to do this.

I love how the back is no fuss, but the front is still long enough that it looks similar to what I currently have. I only hope that my hair cooperates and will leave me with a cut that actually looks like the photos.

Also, God bless you, Pioneer Woman, for not only thinking to take these photos and post them for your readers, but also for having the foresight to post photos of every angle of the cut. If I could give you a hug, I would.

Depending on how things go tonight after work (and how I feel about my hair post-cut), I'll try to have Mike take some photos so you can see how it turned out.

**UPDATE**

I'm not posting a photo tonight. 1) Because the biggest, ugliest pimple known to man suddenly appeared on my face this afternoon. I suppose it's not that big of a deal, but still. Does that make me vain? 2) Because Kaitlyn felt the need to restyle my hair tonight after dinner. She "combed" and "styled" it for a good half hour so I can only imagine what it must look like right now.

The good news is that I love it. LOVE. IT. My stylist used a straightener on the front, but it would actually look just as cute if I did a little finger styling with some hair product and then let it air dry. It's a GREAT low maintenance cut for me!

Menu plan for 9/14/09

There is something about fall that makes me extremely motivated to be in the kitchen. Case in point: this weekend I froze five pints of tomatoes from our garden, made four pints of homemade chicken stock, cooked and froze four cups of chicken, and cooked and froze four cups of ham. Wow! I haven't been that active in the kitchen all summer!

I'm also much better about planning out a weekly menu in the fall which is why I am making a return to Menu Plan Monday. It definitely helps me to keep focused during the week - when I don't do this we end up eating out a lot more and doing more convenience foods at home. Here is the menu for this week:

Monday
Pork fried rice

Tuesday
Spaghetti and meatballs

Wednesday
Chicken and stuffing

Thursday
Leftovers

Friday
Pizza

For more menu ideas visit orgjunkie.com.

Puddin'

Today I finally figured out how to manage the videos I take on our Flip. Therefore, you might be seeing a lot more videos. Many of them are ones that I intended to post a loooong time ago, including this one of Kaitlyn on her second birthday. (Her celebration was the weekend after; this is the actual day of her birthday.)

So excited!

This will be released just in time for someone to buy it for me for my birthday!

And when I say "someone" I think I mean me because I want it so much that I'll probably pre-order it.

(Also, how many times can I say "I" in one sentence?)

Treasure hunt

According to Ecclesiastes 3:1, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven," including "a time to be silent and a time to speak." (Verse 7)

I suppose the past few months have been my time to be silent.

Have you ever had a season where it didn't seem like you were making much progress, but you just felt exhausted? I feel like I jumped into the deep end of the pool about three months ago and have been swimming around nonstop. There have been a lot of deep thoughts. Deep concepts. Deep thought patterns to consider and wrestle with. Deep questions.

Actually, it's more like I've been swimming in the ocean, and God keeps pushing me to find treasure at the bottom. He's been giving me clues and guidance, and I've had to dive down and rummage through the rubble on the ocean floor.

It's been quite messy at times. When you move things around on the ocean floor, and especially when you move things that have been there for a long time, you tend to stir things up and then it's hard to see.

But God is still there, saying, "I know it was hard to find those few gold coins, but don't stop there. Keep digging! There's a whole treasure chest I want you to find! It will be tiring, and you're going to have to wrestle with a bunch of junk, but in the end you'll have the treasure."

For several weeks I've been trying to figure out why I stopped blogging. I'm not sure if I have any clear cut answers on that, aside from life being busy and me being mentally and emotionally tired. However, I hope to pick it up again on a regular basis.

I really want to blog about some of my deep thoughts and the treasures I've found, but I'm not sure that I will. One thing I've discovered about myself is that I tend to make promises because it seems like I should, and then I feel obligated to do something that I didn't really want to do in the first place. So, I'm trying to be better about being honest on the front end. And, honestly, I hope that I'll be able to put words to some of the things I've learned but I'm not going to push it. Maybe it will simply come out in the midst of writing about life in general.

One thing I do want to get back to is doing Menu Plan Monday. I didn't realize how much it helped to keep me on track with having a meal plan for the week!

Also, I do need to write about Kaitlyn's third birthday and post some photos. I can't believe she turned THREE! Where does the time go?