Over the river and through the woods...

Today we head out on a great adventure. Equipped with a six pack of Red Bull, we are driving straight through (24 hours) to Utah. Well that is our plan at least...to drive straight through. I am not looking forward to it. Our minivan is packed from top to bottom, every nook and cranny is filled. It feels kind of claustraphobic in there. I am already tired. I hate Red Bull.
Wish us luck!!
Oh and.....MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!

A Yummy Recipe

I found this in my fitness magazine and it is really good. We have discovered quinoa and really like it. It looks like bird seed before you cook it and then like stringy tapioca when it is done. It kind of tastes like broccoli...really weird but actually very good. Anyway I thought I would share this recipe for those who are brave enough to try quinoa.



Greek Style Quinoa Salad

1 cup quinoa

2 cups water

3 T olive oil

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1 t dried oregano

1 clove garlic, minced or pressed

1/4 cup kalamata olives...I used black olives because I like them better

1 bunch scallions

1 pint grape tomatoes, halved

7 ounces feta cheese, cubed

1/4 cup diced red onion

salt and pepper to taste

Place quinoa in a strainer and rinse with cold water. Add water and quinoa to a saucepan. Bring to a boil and reduce to simmer. Cook 15 minutes until quinoa is almost translucent.

Spread cooked quinoa on a large dinner plate and put in freezer for 10 minutes to chill. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine olive oil, lemon juice, oregano and garlic. Toss with quinoa.

Add olives, scallions, tomatoes, feta cheese and onion. Gently mix all ingredients. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

It is low calorie and has tons of fiber. Try it!

Tag!

I think I already filled this out in an email, but in the spirit of blogging I will do it again.
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper. I think I said gift bags in the other one..but that wasn't really true.
2. Real tree or artificial? Ours is an artifical tree. But I love real ones.
3. When do you put up the tree? The first week of December.
4. When take down? Day after Christmas...Halelujah.
5. Do you like eggnog? A sip a year is good.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Last time I said typewriter...this time I will say my pink boom box...and yes I did say boom box.
7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes.
8. Hardest person to buy for?My husband.
9. Easiest person to buy for? Me.
10. Worst Christmas gift ever received? No gift is bad!!!
11. Mail or Email Christmas card? Mail is always better, but email is good in a pinch.
12. Fav Christmas movie? Christmas Vacation
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Around November.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Mom's sugar cookies.
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear all the way!
17. Favorite Christmas song? Angels we have heard on High for Church and Rockin around the Christmas tree on the radio!
18. Travel for Christmas or stay home? Travel because we live in Hell...I mean San Antonio.(I use the word Hell in reference to a location...not the swear word)
19. Can you name Santa's reindeer? Of course. Right Now?
20. Do you have an Angel on top or star? Ribbon.
21. Open presents Christmas Eve, or Christmas morning? Christmas morning...except for we always open one on Christmas eve--it is always PJ's.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Slow mail, greediness.

I won't tag anyone don't worry, but feel free to pass it on if you like.

Cierra's Polka Dots

I decided I wanted to paint Cierra's room so we went to Home Depot to pick out paint. The girl insisted on pink, but I tried to convince her of a nice light lime green. She wanted no part of it, but I was determined not to paint her room pink...so I bought the green(which by the way was a reject of someone else's so I got a whole gallon for $5). She was so upset...I mean crocodile tears, and while I try not to give into them when they act that way, I felt bad...I mean she has to sleep in there, not me. So I snuck back to Home Depot and picked up a gallon of pink...which was not $5...but $12, still not that bad. Dylan hung out with me while I painted her room and then we surprised her. Her reaction was "You only painted one wall?" Nice. I definitely am NOT painting her whole room pink. I am putting my foot down....maybe.

I added the green polka dots. I had to use my $5 paint right?

Christmas Came Early

Tyler handing trash to me. Great helper!

Dylan playing his new Ben Ten game.

Landon coypying Jonah.

Jonah holding his headphones to his ears

Ok...secret is out...I caved and got my daughter a BRATZ doll.

It was on her list ok. Don't kill me Christian;)

Dylan and Cierra working on their new laptops.

Jonah the cashier.

We didn't get them anything this year...I hope they don't notice.

Music player with headphones...

Thank goodness we were able to get one thing on his list.

Since we will be leaving for Utah/Idaho next weekend and the kids will be with Kim and Christian for Christmas, we decided to surprise them and do "Christmas Morning" with them today. They had no idea and were so excited when they came down and saw the presents under the tree.

Super Why!

Their glazed over eyes.

Watch Super Why...tell a friend;)

Thanks to Alyssa, Jonah is now hooked on Super Why. It is on PBS every morning and I have it on record so Jonah can watch them over and over. He officially presented it to his brother and sister tonight and I think they love it too.

At least it is educational...hey maybe the tv can teach him to read.

Leave us comments!!

Hello to our family and friends who look but don't comment. You know who you are....aka Mom and Dad Lamont, Kim and Christian, Ron and Lynda, Mom....etc.
We love to read comments from you guys and know that you are keeping up with us.
Thanks to all of you that do comment...they make my day.

Snapshots

These are not new pictures, but I have edited them for a collage I made, so I thought I would put them on here. I am so grateful for ALL my children. They teach me so much everyday. I am so blessed to be their mother/stepmom.

Some pictures of Josh and Zach

Since Josh and Zach don't live with us and only get to visit a few times a year it is hard to keep pictures of them on the blog....but we finally got some pictures of them and want them to know that we love them.

That's Got to Hurt!!

Poor Josh...he was playing on the bars at school and fell and smashed his mouth. He ended up having his two top teeth pulled because they were loose. The Tooth Fairy came early for him!!