By the Way

We got a call that someone was worried about our Christmas, so I wanted to assure [maybe it was because of a previous post?] that all is well. We waited until Tuesday to start because Stephen was waiting on a bonus. So I was on pins and needles. But it came. We conquered. In fact, I'm done, and Stephen is out finishing up what he wants to do. It wasn't as bad last minute as I thought it would be either.
Thank you so much for looking out for us.
Lots of love,
Riley's

Does that Really Happen?

I didn't think so. Until I did it. I had some MS clean up, so I left them in the sink and turned the water on, went into the other room and promptly forgot. My bathroom had a half inch of water on most of the floor, in the cupboard under the sink and across the entire counter before I came back to it, thinking of course, when I heard the water running, that Landon had left it on after I wiped his bottom a little while before. Nope.

I couldn't leave a comment on Melanie's blog because I am on the new one and she's not I think. I switched only because when I went to post on Megan's blog I couldn't without the new version. Anyway, Melanie, hooray for English Toffee and Peanut Brittle (yes they require capitalization), and, actually, for K'nex too!

added later: It's almost unbelievable. Tonight when I went to put the pickles away I didn't have the lid on tight and tipped it over as I set it in the fridge. Pickle juice everywhere. Oh, and when I emptied the shelf to clean it? I dropped a yogurt and, yes, it split open on the floor. Sheesh. What's a girl gonna do with a two year old if she is still one herself?

Food from Thought (and lazy necessity)

Monica's chicken pot pie

2 frozen single crust, deep dish, 9" pie crusts
1 can cream of chicken soup
milk
frozen mixed vegetables (I used peas, carrots, corn, Lima bean mix)
frozen hash browns (not patties, although if you break them up maybe they could work too)

Invert one pie crust on towel, allow to thaw 10 minutes or so, until it lies flat.
In a bowl mix soup, 1/2 soup can of milk, vegetables (maybe three cups?), and hash browns (2 or three cups?). It should end up really thick, like mashed potatoes maybe. Place in remaining pie crust and top with flattened crust, make a slice in the center of the pie (or a smiley face).
Bake at 375 F for 45 minutes or until crust is browned.

optional: reduce veg. and hash browns and add chopped cooked chicken.
May need a sprinkle of salt and pepper depending on personal taste.

Drawing a blank

The problem is I almost never have anything to say, and when I do it is the wrong thing or time. I am pretty sure whatever it is I am always doing wrong is right in front of me, but for the life of me I can't figure it out.
I am thankful for all your blogs though! This gloomy weather mirrored my mood (or vice versa) until I remembered I could go read something from somebody who knows me and might like me anyway.
I can almost face the dirty house.

Almost.

Maybe I'll go Christmas shopping with a credit card.

The children made some homemade gifts for the children in our rotation, and I thought It was o.k. but Stephen goes and says we need to get something 'good'. Grrrr. Am I totally in the wrong or was encouraging them to give what they could (they and I have no money) a good thing? Will our family really be disappointed because we are too thoughtless to get them whatever we could find on the shelf at the store that might be enjoyed by another, or is it better to give what we think is good and the best we (the children) could do this time? Anyway, they had fun thinking of their cousins this way rather than begging for what they want from the store while I try to convince them we aren't there to shop for them, but someone else . Maybe, as always, I am going for the easy way out?