Toe Picking and Other Curious Tales

So it is almost the end of February already. It has just been the daily grind around here. You know...wake up...put on your clothes...pick your toes....

I am not sure what there is to find in those toes, because she never wears socks.

...but we don't ask too many questions, because this little spitfire might actually spit at you if you get her mad! It is quite fitting for a former princess to be so feminine, don't you think?!

This little man has a smile that can light up any room and melt a mother's heart...and then he pukes on me. He is a real puker I tell you. I haven't had one of those for awhile. His thighs are growing rolls, so I am not sure if I need to be concerned. Unfortunately, he hasn't had his picture taken for quite awhile. He is very elusive--that is code for his mother is neglectful. I tried to capture his picture just yesterday at his baptism, however the batteries in the camera were dead! Poor thing...

This girl has no front teeth and her pants are all shrinking!

This man lives for Saturday morning hockey and building his mother "surprises" at our new house.

Beside loving to play "go fish" and "old maid" continuously, this little girl is always "bored" in this "boring" house. As you can see, we do have quite a bit of snow in the Range, but we have seen the sun quite a bit this month. We never know what tomorrow will bring, but we have a lot to be joyful for today!

Special Delivery

This was our special after Christmas gift this year. Blake Robert was born on Tuesday 12/29 and tipped the scales at 9lb.14oz.

So far he is doing very well and is very mild mannered...unlike a certain recently demoted princess...whose name we will leave unmentioned!

Cappuccino Coolers

Here's a good drink recipe for those of you looking for a sweet pick-me-up treat for yourself. (My kids would probably have no problem enjoying this either--if I let them!) It is from an Allrecipes cookbook that I have.

(This yields 2-3 servings, so plan accordingly)
1.5 cups cold coffee
1.5 cups chocolate ice cream
1/4 c. chocolate syrup
crushed ice
whipped cream
chocolate shavings

1. In a blender, combine coffee, ice cream and chocolate syrup. Blend until smooth. Pour over crushed ice into glasses (I threw the ice in the blender, too). Garnish each serving with a dollap of whipped cream and chocolate shavings, find a quiet closet to hide in and ENJOY!

Symptoms of Insanity

Knock on wood, we have all been healthy over here. Unfortunately, school has been cancelled for the entire week due to illness. My mental status has taken a direct hit, and as many of you already know I was CRAZY to begin with! Watch out. Here are some examples of my new symptoms. First of all, I have my Christmas cards ordered (half of them are addressed). Now even my husband can attest to the fact that this task is usually never accomplished until at least December. My parents' Christmas present is finished and will be ordered tomorrow. I think that my stomach has expanded three-fold in the last week. Is that a symptom? I can't breath. I think that I may even be starting to look like a pig. I can't roll over. I curse the swine flu, it has done all of this to me--I am sure of it.

Burnt Offerings

I was lucky enough to be able to go out the other night for supper club. This month's theme was 5 ingredient recipes. I was in charge of the main dish. Let's just say that I had a crazy day of running kids and errands, etc. When I came back from picking up the babysitter my smoke alarms were ringing, and my entree was burned. I was really frustrated. However, I was able to salvage the vegies and chicken (the burnt sauce I am still scrubbing from the bottom of my pans!) and the night ended successfully, as usual.

Here's the recipe for Maple Roasted Chicken-Thighs with Sweet Potatoes from Good Housekeeping.com (and yes, this is one that I would make again for my family). I doubled the recipe and cooked it in 2 pans.

4 large skinless chicken thighs with bones
2 small (about 1 lb. total) sweet potatoes peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
1 small onion cut into 1-inch pieces
8 oz. baby carrots or 8 oz. parsnips cut into 1-inch chunks
1/4 c. maple syrup

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees
2. In 15.5 x 10.5 inch jelly roll pan or large shallow roasting pan, combine chicken, sweet potatoes, onion, carrots, maple syrup, 1 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper. Toss to coat.
3. Roast chicken mixture for 40-45 minutes or until juices run clear when thickest part of thigh is pierced with tip of knife and liquid in pan thickens slightly. Stir vegies once and turn chicken over halfway through roasting.

Chain of Command

I have finally relinquished control of the camera...at least for the moment. Wow, I learned a few things just by looking at all the pictures that my husband has been taking. Probably the most disconcerting was this one.....


This is my project manager, my go-to guy, the man that I get most of my project info from! Talk about reliable. Uh-hum....excuse me, was that last truss put in place correctly?? We'll never know now will we. Well, at least he isn't a pilot.


I also was able to see some great shots like this one of a pretty corner.



After living in a house for awhile, you learn all the features that work for you. This one was really high on my list of must-haves.



It just makes my house so unique. I am sure that this single foundation feature in itself sent our resale value through the roof! My husband really knows how to take care of me.


Here is what the house looked like about a week ago before the garage went up.

For those of you who were planning on driving by to see for yourself what is going on...take note of the mud situation. The coffee pot is not hooked up yet, so all that you will be leaving with is a dirty vehicle. Give us a few more months...and maybe a new project manager!

Project Home Builder

Okay, so that is kind of a corny title, but at least it isn't project home wrecker! So, I have been getting a lot of questions about the new house. However, I am not really the person to answer them unfortunately. (I usually have to get my info from Kyle as to what is going on up there!) I rarely am up at the site due to muddy conditions and the current affairs within my uterus. I do deliver supper every now and then to some hungry men, but I have yet to hike up a ladder to actually walk through the house. (Bruce has penciled in an official tour for the wife this Saturday. I will keep you posted.) My husband is pretty handy with the camera, though. He has taken quite a few pics, and about once a week I find the camera hanging around and look at what he has been working on. I was going to post some of the pictures for all of the inquiring minds to see, but when I go looking for the camera it doesn't want to be found. I did find this picture. It will start you off from the very beginning. This is the street that we used to live on, and will be living on again eventually. This is the work that was done to extend the street. Our lot is located in the upper left hand corner (just close your eyes and use your great imaginations for pete's sake.)

...and that is all you are going to get until I find the camera again. I will share, because as you are probably aware--construction photos are so much fun. I have many different photos of footings and foundations that I am just dying to post! So prepare yourselves for an adventure of a lifetime.

Greetings from the Lost "Ranger"

Hello...anyone there? It's me the Strange Ranger. I kind of took the summer off from the computer in general. However, there is snow on the ground again, so I will channel my insanity to the rest of the world.


Strange as this place is, the summers go by way too fast. This one went particularly fast, because we were so busy. I worked quite a bit this summer, as my baby is not so little anymore and babysitters were readily available. My girls all turned a year older, and Kali is in first grade this year.


Bananas...how they have grown just from looking at these summer pics!


(This princess is going to have a hard fall out of her throne come December!)


We sold our house, and are now homeless on the range.



Well, not exactly. We are living in a rental and are currently building another home, because you know once summer was over life might have gotten kind of boring without a project or two! I survived the move, now we just need to tend to that Christmas shopping before the baby comes. I am letting my husband take care of the house building project. He did pretty well the first time around.


It's good to be back. For those of you that missed me...I spared you of an entire summer's worth of whining and moaning! (Too bad for you that winter is here already! Let the craziness begin!)

Our Dirt

Okay, so I was just reading my blog title (about taking our life to the curb), and realized that we have been keeping our amazing talents locked up in the house lately. I need to start sweeping our dirt back outside again. I will spare you any pics of the dirty house. A lot has been going down in this house. After my bro got married, my fam took a trip across the Mighty Mac-i-nac to visit my sister and her rat pack. My other sister, meanwhile has since returned from the other side of the earth to triple her family size! I now have 2 new nephews Greg and Ross, whom I haven't met personally, but they are home safe and adjusting. We also learned that my husband's job is safe for the time being. I was preparing for it not to be, so that was kind of a relief. The snow has finally melted. We had a 90 degree day last week (hopefully it isn't the only one of the year!) Mexican was the theme of the our last supper club (until after summer) that I hosted at my house on our ninety degree day! We made the trip to Iron Mtn. for a Memorial Day BBQ at my sister's house. Mmmmm. I am hungry again. Maybe it is because I am eating for two lately! Maybe that is why my house is dirty, and I have been hibernating. Maybe this will be number five...and just maybe it really will arrive on Christmas EVE!!!! yikes...gotta run. I have Christmas shopping to do!

Mamma's Boy

Yes, he did get married. Here's the proof for those of you still in disbelief.

My crew...

Daddy's girls.

Mamma's boy.

My Baby Magnet

Who needs fancy workout equipment, when you can do chin-ups and squats in the dishwasher!

Greetings from the Strange Ranger

Hello and greetings from the Strange Range. This is me last week tanning in the front yard. I know, I know it is kind of blinding, but it has been a long winter and I need to "melt" away a few pounds.

I have since hung the kids by their snowpants. Wait, let me rephrase that for the CPS lurkers out there...I have since hung the kids' snowpants.

(Note: There is a difference between hanging them up and actually putting them away. Away they are not. For the sake of all superstitious viewers, I will not put them away until the ticks come to town.)
After the snowpants were hung, we headed to the pool.

"Are we there? Am I swimming?" As you can see, the sun has been a bit blinding for the kids, too.

We don't mind the double vision when it comes to Superman, though. Especially in the basement where the evil spiders lurk.

And in other headlines, the real superman of the house finished his project. Have a lookie.

Don't be scared to stop in if you are passing through these parts. The grass has been spotted again!

Me--The Optimist

I am going to steal a trademark line from my friend Elizabeth and say this, "I am turning over a new leaf (actually more like a wet one)." I am no longer going to be a pessimist (sp?) There I said it. I never would admit it before; I preferred to answer to the tune of a realist (just sugar coats it a bit). Only positive thoughts are allowed in my head. As for the approximately four inches of new snow....I am going to receive it as a gift from the man upstairs. Now the kids aren't tracking in anymore mud, and their clothes are staying clean a lot longer! I am loving the snow pants....never thought that would come from me mid-April did ya! ooh, another positive thought has just popped--now I have more time to finish the spring cleaning that I never really finished! I mean who wants to clean when the weather is nice anyway? Hello, I am a desperate housemom and I love winter (and cleaning). You should try saying that over and over....its really therapeutic.

What I Did Over My Blog Vacation

I granted myself an extended vacation (since I am the boss around here). I didn't think that you would mind a little break from my craziness for a bit anyway. What on earth was I doing that kept my from blogging? It was boring really. Okay, I will tell you.

• A few days were spent spring cleaning for some unexpected company.
• Another couple days were spent recovering from that (and then it became dirty all over again--its a vicious cycle).
• My sisters came to town for our future sister's wedding shower and we whooped it up, of course! (I was expecting their visit.)
• I went to work a handful of days to get a break from refereeing the kids who spent over a week together non-stop for the first time since Christmas.
• We then rewarded the kids for their behavior by taking them to a hotel for a night. (We are really good parents, maybe we will write a book someday about rearing children. Be sure to look for it in the self-help section.)
• The hubster had his week off, and I couldn't possibly let him think that I spend my free time doing anything other than mending, darning socks, scrubbing, and preparing my signature meals everyday. He's making me a new kitchen table upon which to serve those meals, so it was the least that I could do.

...and that is about all that I did during my blog vacation. BTW. I missed you, too!

Ignoring You

I have had a busy week over here. You might not hear from me for awhile (like maybe next week). I might be able to fill you in then on what I have been up to!

Neck Wringing...and other Curious Tales

Well, it snowed again Thursday night. So as promised, several of the northerners made their way to the Strange Range to wring my neck for putting a jinx on their spring. They got a good look for themselves what kind of town I live in. Let's just say that they didn't stay too long, and they fell for the old distraction trick that I used to keep them from wringing my neck. It only took lunch and dessert, and they forgot all about why they ventured south. I rather enjoyed the whole ordeal. I am kind of hoping that it snows again soon! Thanks ladies.

Somewhere Over The....

I wasn't kidding a couple of posts ago when I said that Kali took those pictures. I showed her how to use the camera about a week ago, and she has been loving it. It is kind of fun seeing my house through the eyes of my five year old! I thought that I would share some of her other work with you.

She really knows how to capture her subjects in their natural environments.
Apparently, she thought that we should document that we have a toilet (and a tub). (Actually, for insurance purposes it probably isn't a bad idea. What a smart kid!)

And yes, there is also food in the fridge. What is in your fridge? That might be an idea for the next tag you're "it" post.

This is where she turned the camera over to her brother. My kids believe in sharing. Love and sharing. Sharing and love. Its all one and the same with them!

Jinx

...it is snowing again!

A Strange Ranger's Almanac

I live in a mystical little town that I like to call the Strange Range. Why is it strange you ask? Well, here in this town, it is winter 10.75 months out of the year (and our year only lasts for nine months!) Our snowbanks grow to be 8 feet tall, and they eat little children when they walk to school.

Not to worry, these snowbanks usually spit out the sassy ones.

I've lived in this town for a few years now. It is not for the faint of heart. Many weak souls have fled north (okay so maybe only one that I know of went north, the rest usually head south!) I denied that I lived here for the first few years. I came from a banana belt...you know that one about 7 miles from here. Ignorance is bliss sometimes, until you need to get out of the driveway, and you don't know where it went. (I told you that this place is strange.) Well folks, this year is going to be different. I am going to go out on a limb over here and predict that winter is now over in these parts. Snowbanks will soon disappear and you will find everything that they have consumed in the last nine months. I know, I know you are beginning to think that I have become a little crazy myself. How can I predict something so outrageous? Well, I have based this prediction solely on the fact that......

...I finally learned how to use the snowblower last week. This town may be strange, but Murphy's Law always applies. Look, the kids have found swimsuits this year.

Yes, they get their craziness from their father. I am the only normal one left in this town.....Happy Spring!

Stimulus Package

With the economy the way it is these days, I am very blessed to have passed a stimulus package of my very own nine months ago. Here she is....

She creates new jobs for me about every 30 seconds or so. She only has two "ears", but she loves to leave a big "mark!"

She believes in the redistribution of the pots and pans. Moms shouldn't be the only ones entitled to the contents of the cupboards.

This is me this morning. I am sitting down for the first time after cleaning the house (I am just about to do some chair squats). See, no dust balls under the bed...

Then hurricane Claire arrives on shore...check out the dark clouds rolling in. (All of these pictures can be credited to Kali. I was under the bed bracing for the incoming storm!)

Here's a look into the eyes of the storm itself.

Brace yourselves. Here she comes.

And she hits.....AHHHHHH!

This was the aftermath...

We must rebuild. We will restructure. Focus on this "three" letter word--JOBS! All we need are some building blocks in a school bus.

It all works in cycles. Look, Mom cleaned up her pots and pans. Hahaha!

Gotta go. We've got lots of work now!