Wednesday: Wyoming is Wet and Windy (of course it's windy)

Today's trip was the same as yesterday's in time, but 100 miles longer!  LOVE going 75-ish. 

And I love Wyoming.  It is wild and wonderful (hmmm, no wonder they use that for their slogans).

As we pulled in to the McDonald's in Cheyenne, Luci heard tales of the haunted houses on FE Warren Air Force Base, which is right next to Cheyenne. We used to live there.  Our time there was a strange year!  Haunted houses and Dad's last year in the Air Force.

John called from the South Pacific as we pulled into the parking lot.  Poor guy, I had to cut the call short because ... well ... when I stop the car on a long trip, that's the signal for my body to have to go to the bathroom.  NOW.  

Today we got lots of rain around Laramie and the temp plummeted to 45....quite a difference from Tuesday's 102. 

Here are a couple of the things we saw today:

Mr. Bean's car!

 and, Abraham Lincoln.  Luci said he must like ham, since his name is Abra-Ham

Tuesday: Temps & Tunes

Monday was a day of highs in the low 70's...in the South in May!  Rare.  Lovely.

Tuesday, moving through the midwest, we had 102!  Wow. 

We also had some songwriting going on.  Sing this to the tune, Majesty (the worship song):

Missouri

JT's in Misery

Riding with us

In our Prius

A really long way.

JT was not amused.

Monday means Missouri

Well. Today was fun.

We left Bryan sleeping (jealous!) and hit the gas station before heading out.  Gas was $3.27, up ten cents from the previous week.  I felt kind of gypped.

I forgot to call the credit card people to let them know we were going to be traveling; they have put holds on our card before, thinking someone had stolen it.  I sure didn't want that to happen on this trip.  As we sat in the car, me calling the credit card company, the kids in the backseat kept talking to me.  I kept telling them to hush.  After I got off the phone, I said, "What do you not understand about 'hush'?"  JT told me that he was trying to get me to lock the car doors because there was some commotion going on at the gas station.  Apparently, a woman left the store and a man ran out, shouting, "Stop that woman!"  There was lots of shouting and all I heard were my two in the backseat. 

Of course, on the way out of the gas station parking lot, Luci pipes up that we forgot her breakfast at home...so back we went to get that.  Finally, at 8:45, we left town.

Thought it would be fun to take the kids straight north, then west.  That way they could count two more states on their "I've been there!" lists.  So, up through TN, then KY and then IL.  Kentucky and Illinois were new.  Long before we could get to Kentucky, we had an emergency bathroom stop for Luci.  She was so happy to announce that "This is the first potty stop of the whole trip!"  Woo-hoo.  It also won awards for the ickiest bathroom in a gas station.

At least we got a good view of this:

JT took that photo.


We finally made it to Columbia, Missouri.  It was a long, long day.  Ten hours in the car!  I won't ever go through KY and IL again.  We didn't get to go 70 mph until we'd passed St. Louis.  Gas popped up to $3.65 the second we crossed the Alabama line.  We are spoiled at home!

The only thing worse than this ten hour day would be driving this distance (540 miles) at 55mph.  When Jimmy Carter changed the speed limits to 55 mph back in the 70's it was torture!  He only had Amy, and he got to ride around in Air Force One.  I'd like to see him drive from Idaho to Tennessee (our trips back in the 70's, to visit the grandparents and cousins).  Oh my goodness.  Five kids, their parents, luggage (how on earth did it fit in the car?), crackers, Vienna sausage and warm Shasta soda (there was no room for a cooler) for lunches.  And JT thinks he has it bad!

Where to Take Mama for Lunch?

Isn't that the great question for Mother's Day?  Who wants to cook? Not the kids, that's for certain.

This Mother's Day is the second or third (I think it's the third) that John has missed with his overseas trips.  The first one (and I think it's two) were spent in war zones.  This year he's on a church mission trip in the South Pacific. 

So, I learned that first Mother's Day spent without John that the BEST place to eat lunch on Mother's Day is at a fast food place.  We went to Fazoli's and had a fun time, and watched many, many people waiting in the rocking chairs at the Cracker Barrel across the street. 

The second Mother's Day John was gone was (and I think this is the right memory) spent in Idaho with my mom.  I think we had a big grilled lunch at my brother's house that year.

This year, John's working hard in the beautiful South Pacific and we are home alone.  But not to worry.  I made plans!

The Sunday before John left, I told everyone at lunch one day what I wanted to do for Mother's Day.  Here is how the lecture speech conversation went:


Me:  For Mother's Day this year, Taco Bell, I want to go to Taco Bell.  Dad Taco Bell does not like Taco Bell Mexican food,  so going when he's gone Taco Bell is a good idea.  The regular  Taco Bell restaurants Taco Bell will be crowded.  Taco Bell is my choice Taco Bell.  That's where Taco Bell I want to go, Taco Bell, for you to treat me Taco Bell to a lunch that I will enjoy, Taco Bell, and that, even though you Taco Bell are taking me, I will happily pay for Taco Bell.  Do you know where I want to go? Taco Bell

Luci:  McDonald's!

Dreaming......

I had a really good dream last night.

 The kids and I went to Idaho (just like we are going to do next week) to see the folks and Mom was in good health--walking around, but letting us do things like fix supper (that proves it was a dream! She was not in charge, hee hee).

It was Dad's birthday in my dream.  His birthday is really in February, but this was May. 

I went up to Mom and told her how pretty she looked, and got to kiss her on both cheeks. I could actually feel her face in my dream.

It was lovely.

Miss you, Mom! I wish we could see you when we get to Idaho.

I cannot upload any photos; I had two I really wanted to post.

IMHO Gluten is pretty near Evil.

Celiac Disease Symptoms – Courtesy of Gluten Dude Entire article here on Gluten Dude.

Heard Today

We were heading into the restaurant for lunch.

Can I bring my LPS?  (that means a Littlest Pet Shop character)

Yes, you can bring one.

Just one?  Who is she going to talk to?

Heard Today

When we go to Idaho, I'm going to take my allowance so I can buy a souvenir.  

I am going to buy a potato.

You know, they are known for that there.

Fluffy, July 2011 - April 2013

Today was Funeral Day for Fluffy. 

 Bryan took his job very seriously.  Don't worry, that's a B-B gun.

 A four B-B salute to the sweet little fellow.

(we got the date wrong)

Eulogy

by Luci

He always liked the carrots that I fed him.

I loved on him

He was really cute.

He ran really fast in the wheel.

He was really cute when he rolled over in his poop.

Don't you love his hair?

JT's new paintball mask arrived today.  He was so happy to have it that he wore it while doing his school work!

Heard this week:

I know what J.T. had to do when he was bad....

He had to write his whole math test in sign language!

(this is where you would say, "Bless her heart.")

Luna Moth!

This joined us during JT's science class tonight...

One of Three is a Good Number, Isn't It?

Luci in her new Easter dress...tried to get her photo on the front porch, but thunder chased her inside.  When we got to church, there were two other girls with the same dress!  Thank goodness Luci is of an age where wearing the same thing is pretty fun.

Tonight Luci surprised us with this sign...

and a ribbon for the Principal to cut...

plus "My schoolwork is all done tonight, Mom!" (all were correct except the line with multiplication, and, um, the spelling)...

and some pretty decoration on the table to greet us tomorrow morning:

The boys are not happy at all that Spring Break is over!

Spring Break

Most tales of Spring Break involve beaches, or Disney World, or trips to New York City.

Our tale involved staying home and Not Doing Any School Work.

That pleased one kid (guess who?  His initials are J.T.).

It also upset one kid (Luci actually wanted to do schoolwork!).

We did a little Spring Cleaning instead.   That made Mom happy.

Usually we don't even take a Spring Break because we are so far behind by this time, that we must continue with schoolwork so we can go to Idaho by mid-May. (The very best time! It's NEVER hot there in May...warm, but not hot! We get enough HOT and HUMID at home.)   One year we went to Williamsburg, VA, on a school trip. (Fantastic, by the way! Everyone in the U.S.A. ought to visit there at least once.)  But, usually we are at home, doing schoolwork.

This year was the exception.  I loved this week!  The only thing we have scheduled is the Easter Egg Hunt for homeschoolers at 1 p.m. today.  We got some cleaning done--not a lot, but some.  The first three days I had chore cards for the kids and myself.  We had to have our chores done before doing something we wanted to do (play with dolls, video games, or doing the crossword puzzle in the paper).  It worked great.

John had work all week (yes, he's retired!) and was not home or he was stuck in his office downstairs until suppertime most days.

I also had time to get creative with cooking.  I made three new recipes this week.  The first two were great hits.  Beef and Broccoli in the Crock  Pot was the first, and Loaded Baked Potato Soup was the second.  (I'll post that recipe when I can find it again.)

Today I made Pizza Casserole (Photo and recipe follows).  I'm baking it now and we'll have it reheated after the egg hunt tonight.  It is very similar to lasagne, so I am sure it will taste oh-so-good.

This has been the best Spring Break, in my not-so-humble opinion!

Pizza Casserole

16 oz. rotini pasta, cooked (I used Tinkyada gluten-free pasta)

1 lb ground meat, cooked and crumbled

24 oz spaghetti sauce

16 oz cottage cheese

small can sliced, black olives

12 oz grated mozzarella cheese (3 cups)

pkg pepperoni slices (I used about 1/2 of a 7 oz bag)

Mix pasta, meat and sauce.  Pour into a 9x13" pan  (I sprayed mine with Pam).

Mix cottage cheese, olives and mozzarella cheese.  Spoon evenly over the top of the pasta mixture.

Put pepperoni slices on top.  

Bake at 350* for 25 minutes (Wrong!  Mine took nearly an hour!) until it starts to get bubbly all over.  Let sit for 5-10 minutes before serving.  I could not find the original recipe--so I cannot give proper credit.  The original also said to add a can or jar of sliced mushrooms, but my kids won't eat those.      

Chinese Food...from a Crock Pot!

I found this recipe on facebook.  I can't remember who posted it originally.  The doggoned recipes disappear after a few days--so whomever is posting them has them on a very short leash.   I wanted to remember this recipe, so here it is:



                       

                               Crock Pot Beef and Broccoli

Recipe:  1 lb roast cut into thin strips (Mine was 1.5 lbs.  It's easier to slice when it's slightly frozen.  I pulled mine out of the freezer last night, and set in the fridge.  It was "just right" to slice this morning.)

Put sliced, uncooked roast into crock pot.  Mix the following ingredients in a bowl and mix with beef:

1 c beef broth
1/2 c soy sauce
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 TBS sesame oil (worth purchasing--it makes a difference!)
3 cloves garlic, chopped

Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Mix 2 TBS cornstarch with 1/4 cup cold water.  Add to crock pot, stirring well.  Turn crock pot up to high for 30-45 minutes, until sauce gets thickened.

Cook 2 cups broccoli (I used frozen) and stir in at the very end.  Serve over rice.

I could not believe how well this turned out.  Having Chinese food out of a crock pot?  That's amazing.  Use a rice cooker, and you have absolutely no guesswork as to how long to cook the dish, worry about boil-over, etc.  Wonderful tools for moms!

Field Trip!

Today was a field trip to an “urban farm.”  It is set up in downtown Birmingham, as a learning center and a store of sorts, when crops are in.

Luci and I had a lot of fun.  She met two new “best friends forever.”

Tasting the smoothie made with lots of things she doesn’t like.  Doesn’t matter that the orange juice and yogurt hid the taste of the kale, avocado and banana:

The teacher/docent showed the kids the labels that were on some of the fruit, and wanted them to figure out where the fruits came from (I know the grammar is not right, but please.  It’s my blog.).  The teacher shoved one fruit in Luci's face and asked her where the banana was from (again, my blog, my grammar rules).  Luci is reading 3- and 4- letter words now.  Luci just stared at it, looking like a sheep who had just been asked an algebra question.  Like she’s going to be able to read “Guatemala.”  Finally the woman passed it to another kid.

Who knew she likes worms?  Not me.  She wanted to bring this home as a pet.  Two and a half hour trip home and it’s supposed to survive?  My answer:  NO.  (By the way, I think that's a beetle larva)

 The teacher/docent suggested tossing the juicy worm into the chicken coop.  “The chickens will think that’s a great steak!”  Didn’t help Luci.  She was upset with that idea.  I haven’t seen the worm since we got home, so I am hoping she let it go there in the garden.

The night before this trip, we had broccoli at supper.  Luci would not eat any.  I took a teeny-tiny bit of the blossom part and put it into her mouth (we are talking about 1/15th of a teaspoon!) and she gagged.  Okay.  So you don't like broccoli.  What did she find at the urban garden?  Purple broccoli.  Which she LOVED.  Which tasted EXACTLY like the green stuff we had the night before.  Maybe if she ate my broccoli with dirty hands, she'd like it.  (That's the purple broccoli, with yellow flowers, in the photo.)

 Today we had some fine company.  One boy in a cape, and one boy who wore long underwear (it was chilly) and this hat with the earflaps.  He was a hoot-and-a-half.

 Luci had more fun than I ever would have guessed digging through compost, looking for insects.  Here she is with one of her "new best friends forever," and that incredibly unique boy:

Heard Today

The set-up:  Bryan is wrestling with Luci on the couch.  Luci is screaming.

Mom! Mom!

whispers to Bryan:

I'm not afraid to use her.

Luci-isms

This has been a productive week for my creator of Luci-isms (that's Luci, if you weren't too sure).

First:

Luci was in the bathroom, um, going to the bathroom, when I heard her yell hysterically:

Mama!  Come quick!  Mama!  Come quick!

I thought that perhaps she didn't get there in time and needed some help.

Mama!  Quick!  

She had a magazine in her hands, and said,

I think I read something!

She did, too!  She read part of a hair color ad.  She was so proud, and so am I.  It's been a long road, lots of phonics and sight words, and nearly every reading program known to man, and now the lightbulb has come on and the reading has started!

Second:

When Life gives you Lemons,

You make something with the Lemons.

Third:

JT and Luci were playing, when Luci came running and fussing to me.

Mama!  JT is saying bad words.  He is calling me names!  He said, he said, he said I was a (whispering this last word)   democrat!

School Work (?)

Today part of JT's schoolwork was to watch Thornton Wilder's Our Town.  (I am thankful for Netflix!)

He was so enthralled with the show, don't you think?  Here he is watching:

And, yes, that's Luci doing a "photo bomb."

What does Luci do when I'm busy with JT's schoolwork?  (besides tear up the house, I mean)

She does a little artwork:

I hope you can see that.  I told Luci that it looks sort of like Papa.

Papa?  Does he have a moustache?   yes

Does he have a hat?  yes

Does he have a demonicle?  after rolling on the floor, laughing, I said yes.

Reading!

It's not great literature, but it was great this morning to hear Luci READING this Dr. Seuss book to me.

We have tried every phonics/dyslexic program/method out there, it seems.  And it's all finally starting to click with Luci. 

I am so proud of her, and she is so happy and tells me, "My brain is clicking!"  We are over the moon about this scholastic achievement!