Lizzards?

Jack brought a book home from school the other day about lizards and other reptiles. He loves reading about animals and science fiction stuff, like Big Foot ect. He now wants a lizard as a pet. I do not do reptiles. We got into a discussion about lizards and snakes. Marks' brother used to have snakes growing up. He had a boa and a python and some other type of snake. I told Jack he was not getting a lizard because I would be the one to have to pick up after it and clean the cage ect. Well, then my wonderful husband brings up the fact that oh you could get a snake. Again, I don't do snakes either. I have killed several in the yard and other places.

One of Marks' favorite stories to tell is the time he came home and the hoe was laying up against the front door. He knew that something had happened. He came up the front walk to find little bits and pieces of Mr. snake. Of course his first question was did he put up a fight? I don't like snakes and this one was living under my front steps and would poke it's little head out right where little frito would step off to go to the bathroom. He scared me to death so I took care of it. We have had a few go to the great beyond the same way.

Jack still thinks if he has the money that he is going to get a lizard. He wants a blue tail or tongue skink. I don't remember the actual name. I keep telling him I don't care if he has enough money to buy ten he is not getting one. One extra living thing (dear Frito) in my house is all I can stand.

Wii age?

OK, I have been feeling a little old lately. Of course my Wii interaction has not helped. If you remember me posting about being 57 on the Wii age. Well, I decided yesterday I would try it again. So I did and did pretty good if I do say so my self. My Wii age is now 38. Ok, so it is not as good as Marks', that big goober. He is still at 24-27. His varies. I guess I have to let him have that though. I feel somewhat vindicated now.

Jack and Mark still like playing guitar hero and Thomas likes boxing and golf. Thomas calls him self "King Boxing." He is too cute. Thomas beat Mark and Jack at boxing. I will try to get some pictures of them playing.

I have been putting pictures in scrapbooks the past couple of days and the boys have enjoyed looking at their baby pictures. I thought I might post some baby pictures later this week or next. I have been trying to update Jacks' stuff in his scrapbook and Thomas keeps asking when are you going to do my pictures. I told him I am up to 2000 and he doesn't show up until 2003. I don't think he understand that.

This 38 year old (Wii age) is going to take it easy today. Enjoy some hot tea and relax.

The Good Old Days. . .

I am feeling a little nostalgic today. I have recently connected with some old high school friends that I have not talked with in a long time. I missed the 20 year reunion. I have been talking with an old girlfriend that I have not seen or talked with in many years and it seems like we have never been apart. It is funny how we all drift apart over the years. I found out she is getting married in April. She and her fella have been together for 14 years and now are going to make it official. I am so happy for her.

I have been looking back at old pictures of my kids too. I miss them so much at those young ages. I was putting some pictures in a scrapbook last night of Jack at just months old. In every picture he has this huge smile on his face and is laughing with his mouth wide open. I must have take pictures of him everyday. I have not looked at Thomas' pictures but I don't remember taking as many of him as I did of Jack. I guess poor Thomas has second child syndrome. I have about 3 plastic bins of pictures of all of us that need to be in a book somewhere. I am working on that. I hate I have not kept up with all of this. Their baby books I did keep up with so they are up to date. They only hold a few pictures though and I have a bunch of pictures.

I looked back at those last night and long for those days again. I know, I am crazy all the late night feedings ect. . . But, I look back and I don't know where that time went. Where did it all go? Jack is 9 and Thomas will be 6 soon. It seems like yesterday little Thomas was crawling around not making a sound. We worried over him because he did not talk or make much noise when he was little. Now, of course, you can't get a word in with him. As my Dad used to say, "He could talk the ears off a billy goat."

Political Soap Box. . .

Ok, I just received a disturbing email about the fact that our new President is going to sign legislation that will allow anyone to have an abortion including partial birth abortions. A partial birth abortion means the child could be born and live but instead they kill it. Sorry to be so graphic but desperate times call for desperate measures.

If this passes this will be an abomination. I am a mother of two wonderful, energetic, crazy boys and yes I complain about them sometimes but I would not have it any other way. I cannot imagine my life without these wonderful little people. Everyone says it is a choice and I am here to tell you it is not a choice it is a child.

There was a story in the news several years ago about a doctor that had to do surgery on a baby still in the womb. The baby was at 26 weeks. At 26 weeks it is legal to have an abortion in some areas of the country. They showed a picture of this baby reaching out of the womb and grabbing the doctors finger and holding on tight to it. After the surgery was done the womb was closed and placed back in the Mothers' tummy and the baby delivered at its' appropriate time. The baby was fine and healthy.

This is reason enough not to allow this legislation to progress. Please go to www.fightfoca.com
and sign the petition to stop this.

I am sorry to have to get on my soap box today but this is very important to me.

Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Stew

Long name but a quick fix. This is such a great recipe. You can put it in your crockpot for 6-8 hours on low or you can cook it on high for 4 hours. I made this last night for supper, it was GREAT!!

Here we go;

1 can black beans drained
1 can rotel tomatos
1 can whole kernel corn
1 can diced tomatos with garlic oregano and basil
1 packet of taco seasoning
1 small can tomato sauce
3- 4 Chicken breast

Put the first 6 ingredients in you pot then lay your chicken on top and put the lid on if you do 6-8 hours on low after the 8th hour pull the chicken out shred it and put it back in the pot for about 20-30 minutes. If you do 4 hours on high after 4 hours do the same thing with your chicken.

I use Pampered Chef Southwest Seasoning instead of taco seasoning it will cut down on some of the sodium. I think it has better flavor too.

1 cup is 115 cal.

I top with a little sour cream you can add cheese and eat with tortilla chips.

If you try it let me know how it goes. I love this one especially on a day like today.

Going to Disney !!!!

Yep, I said it. I am going to Disney. The Pampered Chef is going there in 2010 for our trip. I want to go and I want to take my kids and wonderful husband with me. In order to get there I am going to need a lot of help. I need the help of my wonderful customers. I am trying to fill my calander full to the brim. This is the way I can take my family to the Big D.

With that said I am asking if anyone is interested in hosting a show to email me and let me know. You do not have to be in my area we can do catalog shows via email, snail mail and the phone. Isn't technology wonderful? I love it! Being a host with the Pampered Chef is like being treated like a Queen. I do all the work and I clean up too. A catalog show is even easier than that. As a host you get FREE product, 10% off for a full year after your show, and dicounted products and half price products.

Send me an email if you are interested: pamperedpage@bellsouth.net

I can't wait to hear from you.

Basketball

Well, the boys had their first games on Saturday. Thomas had his first. He was so cute. The got beat but I think they all had fun and they did not take it to seriously. The team they played however, you would have thought they just won the NBA championship. I know everyone gets excited about their team winning but please. Jacks' team won. They played a good game and I don't think they went overboard because they won.

Thomas was so cute, they let him bring the ball down court one time and he had the biggest grin. He was grinning and laughing and his tongue was sticking out. He was so excited just to be there. I don't even think he realized they did not win. He never asked and I know he was not looking at the score board. I don't think Thomas' team and the team he played were very evenly matched. Jacks' team and the team he played were evenly matched. Both teams played really hard. It could have been anybodies game.

We have friends that play on all the teams. So I pull for all the teams even when we are playing against them. Thomas was pulling against his brothers' team though. I am not sure why, but he kept yelling for the other team. I guess that is sibling rivalry.

Crispy Ranch Chicken

You know my resolution was to be healthy not diet. But I am finding some really good and healthy recipes and I would like to share this one with you. The basic recipe came from a website I use called Spark People. Yes, it is to help you lose weight but they also help you get healthy with good habits, which is what I am trying to do. This is a FREE website by the way. This is a variation on one of their recipes.

Crispy Ranch Chicken:

1pkg dry ranch dressing mix
4 chicken breasts
2 egg whites beaten
2 cups bread crumbs
2tbsp half and half

Add half and half to egg whites

Dip chicken in dry ranch, then egg wash, then bread crumbs, then place in shallow baking dish. I used my medium bar pan. I baked mine at 425 for about 25-30 minutes till juices run clear.

This is so quick and so easy my kids loved it. They are the pickiest eaters around. Thomas more than Jack and Thomas loved it.

Now you can serve this with just about anything. I love couscous so that is what we had.

Here is another quick tip: You know I sell Pampered Chef, well I did not know this but our Executive cookware also will thaw your meats. I tried this the past two nights with my frozen chicken breast and I thawed 4 breasts within 1 hour. You could leave them out on the counter all day and they would not thaw but set them on our cookware and they are ready to cook within the hour. Pretty cool huh? You do not have to put the cookware over heat or in the oven to thaw.
If you would like more info about our cookware email me pamperedpage@bellsouth.net

Trying to stay sane and healty one day at a time.

Competition

Is competition good for the soul? If it is Mark and must have the healthiest souls in town. Mark and I are very competitive, in fact, before we had children we use to bet on everything. We made large bets with each other too. Now, keep in mind this was before kids and we were both working. We always participated in football pools, basketball pools and we would bet on dumb things too. Neither of us likes to lose either. I thought I saw one of my Sunday School students at a local basketball game and Mark said it was not and of course I said, "You want to bet on it?" He said, ok what do you want to bet? Of course I said a new Coach pocketbook. He said ok what do I get. I said something you want for the same price. Needless to say, Mama has a brand new bag. Coach bag that is. HA HA!! He just thinks he knows everything.

Now that was the last BIG bet we made. Now we have the kids and cannot squander our money like that. So when we bet now it is just for the sheer knowledge that I know more and am smarter than he is. HA HA! Knowledge is POWER!

Resolutions ? ? ? ?

How many of you have set New Years Resolutions? We all do them and usually all poop out by March. Well, my New Years Resolution is to do better by my self and my family. I do want to lose weight but every year I try and don't. So this year my goal is only to live better, eat healthy, and be a better person. Yeah, I know BIG goals, but I am taking baby steps to get there. I tried a new recipe last night and surprise the kids like it.

It is a Pampered Chef recipe with a twist. I had to improvise, now before everyone gasps, this improvisation actually worked.

I used frozen chicken breast (3) I dipped them in flour then egg white then a mixture of bread crumbs, asiago cheese, and oregano. Baked these at 425 for about 30 minutes.

Then fixed whole wheat angel hair pasta, and a home made marinara sauce.

Sauce is diced tomatoes with basil, peppers and onions. 1/2 of large can of tomato sauce, 2 tsp sugar, garlic powder, a little white wine and bring to a boil.

Now when the chicken and pasta is done. Here is how we served it:

Jack: Pasta, no sauce and 1/2 chicken and 2 tsp of brummel and brown on pasta with grated asiago cheese.

Thomas: 1/2 chicken, a little pasta topped with grated asiago cheese.

Mark and I did it all: 1 cup pasta, 1/2 cups sauce, grated asiago cheese and a chicken breast.

This is very filling and I had pasta and sauce left over for lunch today. This was a very quick recipe. From start to finish about 45 minutes. Not to bad.

I will tell you about the Slow cooker chicken taco stew later. It was yummmy!!!!
I will keep you posted on my resolutions through the year. Ya'll keep me honest.

Wii !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, first I do not own stock in the Wii company. I do have to do a little advertising for it though. I do hate video games I know I have said that before. I always felt they dulled your brain and made you stupid. Before everyone gangs up on me I know they are good for some things. I do love the Wii. It has made my kids be more active, not that they were very sedentary to begin with, but they did have a habit of sitting on the couch a vegging out to the TV. Jacks' favorite is the Guitar Hero. He thinks he is something because he is playing in bands and "rocking" with Ozzy Osborne. Thomas likes to golf, bowl, and now box. He beat Mark tonight boxing. That is pretty funny.

The one thing I do not like is this Wii age stuff. Mark did his again and is now at a Wii age of 24. Do you know what that can do to a man. Well, let's just say he is impossible to live with now. He thinks he is the stuff. He came upstairs and asked, "When was the last time you kissed a 24 year old?" Wouldn't he have had a duck if I had replied, "Not since yesterday while you were out." HA HA Just kidding. He just makes me so mad sometimes I could scream. It would not be so bad except my Wii age is 57. That stinks!!!
For those that do not know us He is not 24 and I am not 57. I am a young 39. He is an old 42!

Any way sorry for the blathering but I just had to get that out of my system.

I do love the Wii though. I enjoy the tennis, bowling, boxing and even the golf. So if you ever had doubts about whether it was a worth while toy. It is. We love it. Mark and I do have competitions after the kids go to bed. We bowl or golf against each other. It is fun.

Happy New Year ! ! !

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and a wonderful New Year. My kids got a Wii from Santa. I think my husband has been using it more than them. He has been off for two weeks. One of my friends that has a Wii said, "Oh Page you need to find your Wii age." I asked how to do that and she explained how. The first one I did put me at age 67. I am no where close to that for those that don't know me. Needless to say that did nothing for my self image. I was telling my husband about it and he decided he wanted to do it too. The first time he did it he was 37. He is older than that really. This yet again did nothing for my self image. The next time I did it I was 57 again I am not that old. Other than this Wii age stuff we have enjoyed this game. It does keep you moving. I have enjoyed playing tennis, golf and bowling. Those are my favorites. My rearend is so sore from lunging with bowling I can barel walk this morning. HA HA!!

If you do not have one I would recomend it. It is a lot of fun. I would not have one if it were not for Santa. I do not encourage video games. This one is different. It keeps you moving.