Rockin' Out

Picture Friday is early this week, I thought I would put some pics up today since I'll be out of town the rest of the week.
Cory picked up Rock Band for his Xbox on Sunday. So Mark came over to help him break it in. They had a blast.

Breaking in the drums.The dogs were thrilled to see Mark, their love for him has grown since he watched them for us when we went out of town the last time.

Moose's finger is on the road to total recovery. The nail bed seems to have recovered, and is smooth and is about half the normal length. There is a scab on the end of his finger, and I was noticing while he was zoned out watching TV with us yesterday, that the finger looks to be a bit different than normal, the tip doesn't seem to be as rounded as the other, it has more of a blunt end.

The bandage wouldn't stay on, with out the chunky piece holding it on I guess. It kept sliding off, and each time Moose would flip out telling me to, "wrap it UP!" over and over. Mimi kept Moose overnight on Saturday so Cory and I could go to a fight downtown, and after the bandage fell off twice, she didn't put it back on. Moose was pretty upset at first. But she must have told him it was "all better now" because that is what he told me when I asked to see it. "No Mommy, it is all better now." Oh. Okay.

So, I am going to Chicago for work tomorrow. I won't be back until Friday night, late. Unfortunately, I will have meetings each day, so we won't get to sightsee or anything. Not cool. Hopefully it won't be too stressful. Looking forward to meeting with some of my friends for drinks after our meetings.

My boss asked me if I thought I would have to check my bag. I laughed manically until I realized he was serious. Does he know me at all? Three days? Of course I'm going to have to check my bag. I'm bringing the big suitcase! He was not amused that I laughed, and stated that it was only three days. And said, yes, three days. Exactly. Eye roll.

I'm sure I'll miss my boys, but surely I can enjoy my alone time, and hopefully they will miss me desperately. I'm sure they will miss me around, or I don't know... dinner time?

Picture Weekend: Wisconsin Trip Pt2

Here are the rest of the pictures my Mil sent me:



















Both my boys are home safe and sound now. I've been enjoying their company for the last few days, and absence definitely makes the heart grow fonder.

Wisconsin Pictures!

My favorite and very understanding mother-in-law forwarded me pictures last night. Thank goodness because I was definitely missing both Cory and Moose terribly! She said that she took a ton more, but that these were the only ones that came out. (sorry if you aren't pictured!) (I'm posting every single one she sent me!)

Learning his boy-job early.

Playing guitar with Jake (I think!)

Cuddling with Em

Playing with Grandpa

Building with Carissa and Grandpa

I am not sure if my Mil is sending me more pictures or not. I know that they had a small family get together last night, but because Cory is a boy and I go the boy-version of the story, I have not clue who was there! Sorry I can't share more.

Cory said that Moose had a slight cough, so I'm hoping it doesn't get worse.

They are planning on coming home Wednesday and I'll be waiting at the door with bells on!

Domestic Goddess Tips

And therefore it has been ordained. Thank you Lisa for the title idea, see her comment on my last grocery deal post. Oh, Lisa, you know me so well. How could I not crown myself Domestic Goddess?

This weekend was a little different. As some of you know, Cory took Wesley to visit my in-laws in Wisconsin. They left yesterday after lunch. Here's a few shots I managed to snap before my camera died again:

I could almost feel Cory's eye roll when I said to wait a minute so could take some pictures. Gosh I'm a wonderful photographer, blurry and I cut heads off.

Again, demonstrating my foto skillz.

Catching the pensive moment...what do you mean Mommy's not going?

Picture me waving wildly with my whole body. ByeBye!ByeBye!

And they're off. Of course, they made it safe and sound. My mother-in-law is having the time of her life spoiling both my boys, I'm sure!

And on that note, I went to the grocery by myself today. It was very lonely. *sigh*

So Meijer was having a buy-one-get-one-free sale on their bags of frozen chicken breasts. In the past we have bought these, and they get shoved down to the bottom of the freezer, and they get freezer-burned and have to be thrown away. A few tips occurred to me, so I put them in action, and I think they will save money and time in the future.

*waves Domestic Goddess wand*

What?

Alright, so my new BFF (sorry Jessica;) is freezer bags. (JK) Apparently the bags and containers a lot of meat comes in, will not protect them from freezer burn. So that is easily fixed.

When I got home from the grocery today, I opened the bags, and divided the chicken into meal-sized portions, and split them among freezer bags. The two bags of chicken breasts, that were buy-one-get-one-free at Meijer this week for $15, will make ten dinners. (!)
Having them already split into dinner portions will save me time and help me not waste them (hopefully!) and the freezer bags will protect them from freezer burn. Now, since I have my meal plan for the week, I will check whatever dinner I have planned for the next night, and I will take out the appropriate meat to thaw!
I have two new recipes to try this week, and I plan to post about them after I make them. I have a new crock pot recipe to try, which everyone loves, and a new pork chop recipe from my friend Emily.

I have been stockpiling my new recipes (I have several blogs on my blog reader, and I belong to a ton of email lists) so when the main ingredient goes on sale at the store, I pull out the corresponding recipe.

Stay tuned for some picture posts from Wisconsin, and some (hopefully) delicious recipes!

*waves Domestic Goddess wand again, just for the fun of it*