Have you noticed something about my blog?

Have you noticed that little map thing on the right hand side of blog?  I am totally intrigued by it... now I put it there so I knew what it was for but... some one who isn't related to me is getting on my blog... how crazy is that?   Hey if your not related to me and you aren't in Dog Patch as my dad calls Childress send me an e-mail (halemaria@sbcglobal.net) - unless your creepy or maybe like a pervert... then I'll take a pass at knowing you're looking at my blog... cuz I really don't like creeps or perverts, or ex-inmates or jerks - although I hate to judge you, I just don't what to visit with you... I'm just saying...

I know, I know...

It's been a long time since my last post. Sigh - I am so, terribly busy... no not really! Don't you just hate when people complain about being so busy when they've totally done it to themselves... GAG!  anyhoo... since my last post, I have seen my darling new niece, spent time with my sister and her cankles and administered two TAKS tests!!!  I will post pics of Jaeli later, (I've got to find my camera...) but I must tell you she's a little pixie, she's so tiny and sweet, she's totally a gift from above.  Her sister and brother are over the moon about her and so are my kids.  I hope she knows how blessed she is to have so many people thinking about her and loving her. Sager is absolutely crazy about her.  I am so glad that Sarah's and my kids are so close. 

While we were in Amarillo, everyone got new shoes, Sager wanted a pair of "rockin'" shoes, so he picks out Nike's.  I hated to tell him that Nike's aren't really rockin' but who am I to judge?!  Shaw of course got some more Tony Hawke (his total favorite!) and Scout, oh my, Scout had to get Puma's.  Don't get me started on the Puma business, let's just say that his Daddy and I are kind of, just a little bit tired of the Puma!   

Also while we were in Amarillo, we stayed with my Dad and ChaCha.  On Saturday, they got up and debated each other.  Now while most people might think this is a little out of the ordinary, for me this is the total norm.  I told my kids that we might as well go in our pajamas because it's really how every Saturday morning of my childhood was spent - them arguing with each other!!  Literally and figuratively.  This time however, I think it was for the League of Women's voters.  Selden and ChaCha were going to debate the Electoral College.  Only my parents could know enough about the 2nd article of the constitution to wake up on Saturday morning and go to a debate when Friday night they still hadn't quite decided who was going to argue for or against.... you just gotta love 'em!  

well, I've got two more tests to give, on Thursday and Friday, and then the weekend will be here - yeah!!!!

Earth Day

Hey - what did you did for Earth Day?  well, we finished planting our vegetable garden.  We had already planted some tomatoes, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower and some peppers but yesterday we planted squash, cucumbers and some more green beans.  We usually have a decent garden, except last year when we had the tornado, we didn't get tomatoes until the end of summer and the beginning of fall.  They were pretty tasty!    The other thing that happened on Earth day is Brandon brought home another hen.  Let me set the record straight, Brandon didn't consult me before he brought her home.  The boys named her Sassy.  Let's just say we don't like her, and when I say we, I mean, me, Mona and Maria (the other hens)  Mona, and  Maria are beautiful, smart and let's just say petite.  They have some girth to them.  Sassy isn't like the others.  She's tall and skinny.... we don't like that.... Mona and Maria picked on her all last night, Brandon says, I don't know why they don't like her... (he's such a man) I tried to explain it to him but he just couldn't understand.  If he would have just talked to me about it....

   

She's here!!!!1

She's HERE!!!!! baby Jaeli has finally arrived!!!!

Finally!!!!

Well my sister Sarah is finally going to have her baby, she only threatened her obgyn with imminent harm, but other than that I think she's doing pretty good!!! She was supposed to be at the hospital at 7:00 this morning but I tried to call her and she didn't answer, how rude!!! (ha-ha) too busy to talk on the phone  tsk, tsk...  

I absolutely love that her main priority after waiting ten months and gaining forty pounds is that she wanting to make sure she gets some drugs!! 

It will be sooo good to have another little one here, her brother and sister, Jamison and Jackson are sooo ready.  They are going to make the best big sister and brother!!!

We are going to go up this weekend, I know you're wondering why wait? but sometimes it's nice to get to spend some quiet time with your new baby without all the hullabaloo.  The first couple of days are the most magical, especially since your in the hospital and the nurses are there to help you, that's the best!!   There will be plenty of time for my loud bunch to invade.  (Besides I know once Sager gets a gander at that baby, he's not going to want to leave! He's already asked if he can skip school on Friday and that was before we knew that Sarah was going to the hospital)   Jaeli, sweet girl, we can't wait to see you, we already love you!!

Here are some pics from the district track meet...

Here are some pictures from the district track meet that was yesterday in Dimmitt, Texas.  I am so in awe of all of the kids who participated, especially those from Childress.  All of the kids had to be passing in their classes and they had to practice and they had to have the drive to try.  I absolutely love going and watching not only my ninja but all of the kids.  I am humbled at the thought of how hard they try and how good they do.  I know not all of our kids placed first but they are all winners in my mind for getting out their and giving it their all.  GO KITTENS!!!  (Joe Arcivar even ran with only one shoe... how wild is that!!!)

Banana pudding.... the recipe

I've had some interest in my banana pudding recipe, so here it it:

*now let me give you this one hint before you get started... the recipe calls for 1 - 4 oz carton of cool whip, the last time I eyeballed a half 80z package of cool whip but I didn't eyeball it so good (but it was still pretty darn good!),  if you want to leave the cool whip out and just top it with the cool whip that's cool (just taste it before you add the cool whip) - what I do is  use the remaining 4 oz and then another 8 oz container to cover the top of the pudding but like I said - that's just how I roll!

1 package instant vanilla pudding (small)

2 cups of milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 can eagle brand milk (sweetened condensed milk)

1 carton sour cream (small 8 oz)

1 block cream cheese (8 0z)

1 - 4 oz carton cool whip

Mix pudding and then stir together cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk until smooth, and then mix in all other ingredients, layer with bananas and wafers. 

(do these instructions make sense?  This is what I do...  I make the pudding and set it aside, then blend the cream cheese and eagle brand together and when it's totally smooth, then I add the vanilla, and sour cream, then I mix the vanilla pudding together with the cream cheese mixture, then I mix in the cool whip.  After everything is layered in a 9 x 13 glass pan and then I cover with cool whip.)

 I'm not sure what the sour cream does but I made this same recipe without the sour cream and it was good too!)  I know, I know... I have issues with banana pudding!!!

Let me know how this works for you!!!