Valentines Dinner...

The kids are going to their dads for the weekend so we had Valentines dinner a little early. Do you do a special Valentines themed meal? Am I the only crazy mom?
Our menu...
PINK mashed potatoes with heart shaped butter!
Panko crusted chicken with mozzarella and PINK vodka sauce (this is Chasey's plate...she wasn't going for the sauce, so it's missing from the picture)
Corn....just because its one of the few veggies my kids will eat and I wasn't sure how to turn it pink! :)
PINK white Chocolate pudding
Cherry 7-up and Red Wine for the adults!

Some people think I'm crazy (James), but I really love doing "special" meals and small things for holidays. I think the kids really enjoy it...I know Chasey does. I don't feel like I go overboard...not yet at least! :) Cash doesn't care...he just reaps the benefits of actually getting to eat dessert! (We always eat late and it's too late for dessert...so my poor underprivileged children rarely get it)

Here are a few pics from our special dinner!

My little helper...


cute plates from Target

So...I guess if you write the word "Antioxidant" on a 2 liter bottle of soda...some people actually believe that it's healthy? Really?

He ate his pudding...and stole his sisters when she got up to grab something in the kitchen! Little stinker!


We had cinnamon toast with PINK sugar and strawberry smoothies for breakfast today! Then I sent them on their way! Love you babies! I'll be snowboarding in Big Bear all weekend! Have a great weekend at your dad's! You have made the smallest of holiday's SO much bigger and better for me! xoxo

Love these girls...

Two of my favorite celebrities...

Jessica...you are too cute! I think we would be great friends if we actually knew each other. You seem so fun and down to earth...Not to mention that you are married to a guy named "CASH!" Love that name...of course! You are such an amazing cute mom! Oh...and since you've already been photographed in that dress...can I PLEASE have it? I absolutely love it!


Carrie...you are adorable...but...I think I bought that same dress for Chasey at Target. That dress looks cheap...I would probably wear it, but my budget is WAY different than yours. I love your voice, I love that you are from the midwest just like me. I love that you have succeeded and done so well for yourself, I love that they "discovered" you on American Idol...because it is my favorite show!! Oh...and your fiance is cute too!

Speech...

So...today I used my best "Mommy Judgement" and pulled Cash out of Speech Therapy. I'm a little torn on this, but honestly...I think he's progressing just fine. I mean really...how much can he learn in the one hour per week playing with his speech therapist? I think the other 167 hours per week are helping him grow and learn and progress just like any normal kid.

My thinking is this...why on earth would his speech teach EVER tell me he's ok and doesn't need to go anymore when they get paid by the state for him to be there? (Thanks to Arnold though, the funding for early intervention is going away and soon I will have to use our insurance which is a $20 co-pay every time we go...which adds up quickly!) If I honestly felt like he needed it and it made a huge difference I would pay whatever it took to get him up to speed...but I just don't feel like it's the only thing in his life that is making his speech improve.

Cash is only 2 1/2 and has been in speech since before he was 2 years old. Many kids don't talk at 2 and end up just fine. My grandma told me that my mom didn't talk until she was almost five and now you can't get her to shut up! haha...We love Grandma "Wacky"!

So...as much as we LOVE our really cute speech therapist girl. I cut her off. I felt like I was breaking up with her when I talked to her on the phone. She even said "so, that's it?" I think she liked us as much as we liked her! I have her email...I'll send her pictures of the kids!

He may not talk much...but he catches bees with his bare hands!

Another Storm....

I just saw this snowman picture on Fox News and I thought it was really cute and funny...just wanted to share it!

Hope everyone that is getting dumped on in the Mid-Atlantic stays dry, warm and safe! We're a little wet here in Southern California....but I'm not complaining!


photo from Fox News

Best Hamburger...EVER!

My boss is buying a new house so we went with her realtor to see it today. He took us to the BEST little hamburger "snack shack" I've ever been to!! Oh man! It's one guy at the counter...one in the kitchen and that was the BEST burger I've eaten in recent memory! I was really hungry....but it was REALLY good! There was a line out the door by the time we were done eating!

If you are ever in Fallbrook, CA...check this little place out! Such nice people and AMAZING hamburgers!
(excuse the crappy phone picture!)
They "pre-cook" the cheese in a skillet before putting it on the burger so it makes a "skirt"....kind of crunchy on the edges. Something I have NEVER seen before, but so SO yummy!

Now I feel like a pig and I could take a good long nap...but it was worth it! :)

I have family in town and I'm SO excited to spend the weekend with them! Wine tasting in Temecula tomorrow!

My Dad....

YEAH!!! My dad won the primary election and is now the Democratic Candidate for Judge in Marion County, Illinois!!!!

Last night was so much fun! I'm 2000 miles away from my family and on nights like last night, it makes it really hard. But...thanks to the Internet, text messages and phone calls I felt like I was right there celebrating with him!

My dad is running for Judge in Southern Illinois. He is a Criminal Defense lawyer back there and a damn good one if I do say so myself! He ran against 3 other lawyers for the Democratic nomination and HE WON!!! I'm SOO SOO proud of my dad! He wants this SO BAD!

Check us out! We are on billboards all over southern Illinois right now! Having my cute kids on there won him the election...I just KNOW it! haha!

(camera phone picture...it's all I have)

If you happen to live in Marion County, IL...please check out www.veltman4judge.com to read all about him and what he stands for.

The kids and I flew home to surprise my dad last Halloween. Our family had a big "Vote for Veltman" float and the kids all rode on it. The next election is November 5, 2010....looks like the kids and I will be flying home to be in the parade again this year and staying through the election!

Way to go DAD! I love you lots!

Not Me Monday...

Jumping in on MckMama's "Not me Monday"

I did NOT happily drop my kids off at their dads on Friday.

I did NOT dance the night away with my girlfriends while my daughter was at her dads with a double ear infection. (she felt fine...but did have an ear infection)

I did NOT sleep THREE hours on Saturday afternoon and wake up after dark!

I did NOT wake up in the middle of the night to find my crazy boyfriend relieving himself in our closet on my NEW pair of pants...NO...NO...I did NOT!!! (disclaimer...he doesn't drink much these days and he had been out golfing with the boys all day...then we went to dinner and had several margaritas! He had a fun night!) I've never laughed so hard!! I'm STILL laughing just thinking about it!

I did NOT leave my house an absolute mess ALL weekend...although I had no kids at home!

I did NOT spend Sunday afternoon on the golf course with the boys and almost kick all of their asses! Nope...not me! I hadn't been on the course in THREE years, but I still came out swinging! :) I used to drive the "beer cart" at an upscale golf course! The pro shop guys gave me a few lessons back then!


I did NOT take a 2 hour nap at 5pm on Sunday night and do absolutely NOTHING but lay on the couch and watch the grammys.

Nope...I did not waste my weekend away with over 5 hours in naps!

AHHH...at least I'm rested and SO READY to pick my kids up after work today! I miss the little boogers!