Friday Fare!

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

Is it Friday already? Oh, I kid. What I really mean is, it is FINALLY Friday!

These weeks that are stupid cold just seem to go on and on. Have I mentioned that I hate winter? I know, you have heard it before and I should just move on, but it is hard. We need a trailer for all of the coats, hats, gloves, and boots that we take with us every time we go out. Not to mention Sweet Pea's armload of all things pink that must accompany us in the van. And, I only have 3 kids. My hat goes off to all of you with even more! OK, I really should stop complaining. I promise to cheer up when I start to see green on the trees and we are spending our Saturday afternoons on the soccer fields. Ah, I can see it now...

Well, this weekend marks the SUPERBOWL. I'll be honest. I don't care about the game. I don't follow football. I never plan to. But, let's be honest, I am out numbered. I will watch....the commercials. I do love many of the commercials. However, they have gotten a little distasteful over the years. Hopefully this year it will be filled with good commercials, err, I mean plays.

As I am typing this, I realize that I don't even know what two teams are playing. I think I know one, but I am not naming the team for fear that I am wrong. Nurse Boy will be so disappointed, but I bet he doesn't even know who Tim Gunn is and, well, he should. Nor, does he know who has the best price on ground beef this week. All I am saying is, whose priorities are more important? Dressing and feeding our family, or sitting on the couch while eating chips and watching football? I think we all know the answer to this one.

So, in honor of this weekend's commercial fest, I am stepping away from the chicken and reaching for some beef. Gasp! I am going to share a recipe that will be a hit for those of you plopping down on the couch and eating this Sunday night. This is perfect game food.

Sloppy Joe Squares
1 lb. lean ground beef
1 can (16 oz.) sloppy joe sauce
2 cans Pillsbury refrigerated Big & Buttery crescent dinner rolls
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 T. sesame seeds (optional--my kids would just pick them off)

1. Cook beef until browned and cooked through. Drain. Stir in sauce and heat to boiling, stirring occasionally.

2. Unroll 1 can of the dough, place in ungreased 13x9 glass baking dish. Press in bottom and 1/2 up sides of the dish. Spread beef mixture over dough and sprinkle with cheese. Unroll second can of dough. Place over cheese. Sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired.

3. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes. Mixture will be bubbly and dough will be golden brown. Cut into squares and serve.

Beef and cheese wrapped in bread. Who could ask for anything more?

(If you want to reduce the fat content, you can use lower fat cheese and the lower fat dough. It isn't as good (of course) but I have made it that way and it is still delicious.)

Enjoy the game! Or, the commercials!

Question

How much of a compliment is it when your 2 year old daughter tells you that you are pretty when you are getting dressed?

Mr. Nurse Boy

My Purse

This is my purse.

I know what you are thinking. Wow! What fashion sense! What class! What style!

No?

OK, so it looks like a "mom purse". I know I'm not fooling anyone. I was NEVER going to carry around a mom purse. Truth be told, I have a few more of them at the top of my closet. This purse is everything I have never dreamed of.

It has a zipper top, which is a necessity when running around with children. Or, children running around with my purse.

It has vinyl sides. Yes, I said vinyl. Say what you will, this purse instantly wipes clean. It is great when the stomach flu hits. Oh, I kid. (I hope.)

It is HUGE. Therefore, I am prepared for any and all emergencies. And, I have the world's strongest right shoulder.

All of this for under $20.

I know, I know. You are jealous. Carrying around your $400 purse and it doesn't even measure up to my Target purchase. What can I say? You were simply taken. That's what you get for putting fashion before function.


But, someone in my family IS in love with this purse...



To Sweet Pea it is a treasure chest of all that she holds feminine.

Whenever we are out, she can remain entertained for long periods of time just digging through the contents of this mom purse. Her favorite finds? Chapstick, lipstick, lip gloss (yes, I NEED all 3), lollipops, gum, mints, granola bars, pens, pencils, sunglasses, pictures, bows, barrettes, and a mirror. Let's not forget the checkbook that makes an awesome doodle pad. And, stamps that make excellent, but VERY expensive, stickers.

I am just wondering how many more years until she realizes that I carry a boring, old, fashionless "mom purse"?

Maybe THEN I won't have to share my gum...

Laughter: Food for Our Souls

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

My husband cringes every time I go to one of those home parties. It doesn't matter what kind. I feel compelled to help the mom/business owner out by purchasing a new item or two for our home. Usually it is something that we don't need. Almost always it is something Nurse Boy does not want.

You can imagine his delight when I recently came home from one of those parties with some vinyl letters to decorate our home. He was even more delighted when I informed him that he was going to help me get these letters to adhere to our refrigerator and walls.

Oh, yes, he simply could not contain his JOY.

The letters were a pain to work with, I'll give him that. But, here is the final result:

I know. Simple, right? Maybe even a little weird. But, I love it. I love that reminder facing me every morning, noon, and night.

I want our home to be filled with laughter. Even during the hard times. It is so important to laugh. And, who doesn't love it when a child starts to laugh and losses control? Ah, I simply love the belly laughter. It makes my day. Every time.

I pray that all of you get the chance to "giggle a giddy laughter." Everyday.

Monday's Random Musings

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

We're back! We finally got to celebrate our anniversary this weekend.

(Thank you Bubby and Papa for stepping in! We do realize that this tribe can be a handful!)

It is amazing what a few hours alone can do for a marriage! Not to mention room service, a hot tub, and the simple pleasure of sleeping until you wake up on you own. (Did you hear that? NO RADIO ALARM CLOCK!)

Nurse Boy and I had a list of topics that we needed to discuss. We were decision makers this weekend! As most of you know, we have desperately been seeking God's direction for our family's future. Praise God! He really used this weekend to reveal a great deal to us. He gave us clarity. Now, I feel ready to take life by the horns! So refreshing!

Now, for my random thoughts. I know, I know, you are at the edge of your seat. So, let's get this party started...

~~~~~~~~~~
Bruiser and I were driving in the van this week when he suddenly asked me, "Will Dimples be free first?"
I immediately responded with much wisdom by saying, "Huh?"
"You know, will he be the first one of us to be free?"
"What?"
"Like, when he gets older, will he be the first one of us kids to move out?"
"Why, yes, son. You all will be released from your jail cell and set free at the monumental age of 18. Dimples will be the first to be released, while you and your sister will remain chained in your cell, tallying the days until you, too, will be set free."
Honestly, this kid never fails to crack me up!
~~~~~~~~~~
Last week, Sweet Pea wanted to watch Dimple's basketball game from the comfort of her Papa's lap. Not her mom's. Mom tends to discipline her. Mom uses the word...wait...wait for it..."No!" Not Papa...unless it is a safety issue, I"ll give him that. Papa is all about safety. Papa, Sweet Pea, and Bruiser were sitting right in front of the light switch to the gym. You know where this is going, don't you? After resisting for sometime, she went for it. She was faster than Papa. She turned off the lights while 2 basketball games were in full swing. The good news was it was only half of the lights on the ceiling. The bad news was they were the type of energy saving lights that don't turn on right away. They slowly turn back on. I just pretended like I didn't know that crazy family. Poor Papa! Nurse Boy was too busy coaching to realize that it was his own daughter that made the entire room dimmer.
~~~~~~~~~~
Recently, at a mommy group, one of the mom's was sharing that "3 is the new 2." Again, I revealed my great wisdom by responding with a quick, "Huh?" She went on to explain that it used to be more common for families to have an average of 2 children. The trend has moved to families having 3 children. Apparently, we are trend setters. Who knew?

Is 35 the new 25? I would like to start that trend as well.

Friday Fare!

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

Now we shall begin "Take Two" of our 12th Anniversary celebration!

I will leave you with a "kickin" recipe from my good friend Zonya. This is a very simple, healthy recipe. I love it because it requires very little time and no skill whatsoever. I mean, I DO have skill, but why waste it on the picky little eaters in my home? I'd rather save that skill for when I have you over for dinner. Except, this stuff is so good, I would be inclined to make it for you and act like it was a lot of work. You would play along, right?

Kickin' Chicken!
1 cup salsa or Picante sauce
1 T firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 T Dijon mustard
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast (halves)

Mix together salsa, brown sugar, and Dijon mustard. Place chicken in a 9x13 baking dish and pour sauce over chicken. Bake at 450 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

I like to also sprinkle this stuff with cheese. Let's face it, EVERYTHING is better with cheese...except maybe my cholesterol.

Easy! Delicious! Good for you!

Now for some time away. My golf ball is gone (FINALLY), the room is reserved, and Bubby and Papa are in their proper places. Until next week...

But, WAIT! Our bloggy friend, Boy Mom, actually mentioned us in her Throbbin' Thursday post this week! And, I don't think there will be another loving post about us EVER again. (Have you heard about our neighbors? We aren't exactly loved by all.) So, please, go read it! She is an amazing woman and we will take all of the compliments we can get!

THAT Patient

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

So, it turns out I am THAT patient.

You know the one. Crabby. Cranky. Sick. Tired. Grumpy. Wimpy. Demanding. Impatient. And, have I mentioned Demanding?

I went to Urgent Care on Monday. That was my first mistake. You see, I LOVE my doctor. That is a whole other post. I went to Urgent Care because it is affiliated with my husband's hospital; therefore, it is free. Free speaks volumes to me. I love free. But, I forgot. I hate Urgent Care.

I already confessed that I didn't want them to swab the back of my throat. MY doctor would have listened to me, taken a look, and probably just wrote the script. You see, she trusts her eyes. I am no medical expert, but I don't think it is that hard to see the puss pockets hanging out and happily waving at the back of one's throat. Those darn puss pockets. Evil and selfish little boogers.

The doctor at Urgent Care came into the room with a thick accent and sweet smile. He was way too jolly for someone who just had a cotton swab shoved down their throat while being laughed at by her daughter and husband. (No, forgiveness is NOT one of my strengths. No sirree.) Once the strep test came back positive, he wanted to look down my throat. I told him I didn't think that was going to happen. You see, I was in pain. Why else would a mother of three be spending the day in Urgent Care? Didn't he know I had bigger fish to fry? But, he insisted. I decided not to argue. I didn't have the energy. I wanted to scream, "Is the positive strep test not enough for you?" But, I didn't. I let him gag me. I politely explained that it felt like I had a golf ball at the back of my throat and my gag reflex was in full swing.

He prescribed an antibiotic that I had never taken before. I just wanted my quick little Z PAC. Like I said, I was demanding. I'll own it. "Oh, no," he says. "This is much too bad for a wimpy little Z PAC. I must prescribe you some horse pills. We have simply NOT seen you gag enough today. And, just for the memories, can I have another gander down in that inflamed throat of yours? Oh, yeah. That looks really bad."

Don't even get me started on what a wimp I am when it comes to taking pills. Both of my parents and my husband could dedicate an entire blog to this topic alone. Again, I'll own it. It is simply who I am. Just give me those little, adorable pink pills in the Z PAC carton. I wanted my Z PAC.

So, for the last two days, I choked down my horse pills. Whatever it takes to get rid of that golf ball. However, 24 hours later I started noticing that I had an awful taste in my mouth. I mean AWFUL. Have you ever had the stomach flu? You know that awful taste you just can't escape during that illness. Yep, that's the taste.

Gross, I know! TMI, I know! Sorry about that.

After day 2, the taste was just more than I could bare AND the golf ball was smaller, but still there. Not feeling better. Still gagging. Really grumpy.

Nurse Boy promises me that I can just call the Urgent Care this morning and they will call in a new script. HA! HA! No such luck. Oh, no. They wanted me to come in again. I tried to politely argue. Still no. Then I thought I just might cry, so I abruptly got off of the phone.

You see. I am THAT patient...to them.

Long story short (too late for that), Nurse Boy fixed the problem and I HAVE MY Z PAC!

The golf ball already feels like a grape. Here's hoping my little pink pills do the trick!

Monday's Random Musings

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

So, on Friday I mentioned that Nurse Boy and I had a romantic weekend planned to celebrate 12 years of wedded bliss. I know what you are thinking... we couldn't possibly be old enough to have been married for 12 years. What can I say? We were 10. Oh, I kid. We are just old. Anyway, I came down with STREP. Not so romantic. We changed all of our plans and are hoping next weekend will be filled with sleep, room service, and, well, NO KIDS. Love them, but they kind of get in the way of the whole sleep thing. And, I like me some sleep every now and then.

Nurse Boy agreed to do my Monday post, but since I am keeping close to my pillow and blanket today while waiting for my antibiotics to decide to kick in, he has had a Honey Do list a mile long. Is it wrong that I love it when he gets a little taste of my life? Don't get me wrong, he is VERY supportive. However, he has been dreaming of a nap all day and hasn't found the time to fit one in...THAT IS MY LIFE! He just left for the basketball carpool and informed me that I must find time to blog because there aren't enough hours in his day.

You are preaching to the choir, Nurse Boy! Preaching to the choir!

Since I am in a cloudy state of antibiotics, ibuprofen, and lack of sleep minus energy, you will truly get a taste of my random thoughts for the past week.

**It is no secret that I LOVE me some Clean House! Just today, while sitting on the couch and trying not to swallow my own saliva, I noticed my sorry shelf of books. It really is a mess. On Clean House, Mark turns bookshelves into works of art. He has some books horizontal and some vertical. When he is finished, it looks classy and clutter free. I picked my sorry self up and got to work. First, I filled my lungs with dust. Oh. The. Dust. Next, I sorted by size and set some books aside for my spring garage sale. Then, I became master of the design. The result? I apparently am NOT a master of design. It still looks like a messy bookshelf. Would someone PLEASE nominate me for Clean House?!

**This weekend we ventured out of bed while it was still dark out to go watch Bruiser dominate at basketball. And, by "dominate," I mean spin around the court not at all aware of what game he is playing or if anyone else is on the court with him. However, they are all kindergartners, and none of them really knows what is going on. My favorite quote from the weekend came from an innocent kindergartner. Not mine, mind you. He was spinning. Another little boy walked up to the ref with big eyes and a sweet smile and said, "I like your stripes!" How precious is that?! We have been laughing about that all weekend!

**Today I worked up the courage to go to Urgent Care and get some meds. You see, I have had a sore throat since Wednesday, but I was sure it wasn't strep. Last night, I begged Nurse Boy to look in my throat. He immediately screamed, "STREP!" The problem is I feel like I have a golf ball lodged in the back of my throat. It hurts. It makes me gag. I did not want them to swab my throat, for fear that my gag would turn into something more, if you know what I mean. I didn't want to be THAT patient! I made Nurse Boy go with me. I told him that I was going to convince them NOT to swab me, just look back there and write a script. No such luck. The nurse looked at me like, "Wishful thinking, lady!" while coming at me with a long cotton swab that she wanted to vigourously shove down my throat. Nurse Boy and Sweet Pea laughed and laughed as I struggled to let her look back there, much less shove something back there. They were cruel, I tell you!

I am off to spend sometime with my pillow and my blanket. Nurse Boy will be back at work tomorrow, which means I will be as well. Better rest up while I can!

Twelve Years and Counting

Happy Anniversary Mrs. Nurse Boy. Thank you for the blood sweat and tears you have put into our marriage the last twelve years.

Friday Fare!

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

Last week I posted one of our FAVORITE recipes. Thanks to all of you who made the chicken enchiladas and let me know what you thought. If you haven't made them yet, they are AWESOME! Awesome for your taste buds, not so awesome for the figure. So, to balance things out, I will share some more figure flattering recipes for the next couple of weeks. This week's recipe came from Zonya.com. If you haven't visited her website, I HIGHLY recommend it! With a little trial and error, we have found many of the recipes to be quick, easy, delicious, and healthy. She has lots of great tips. If only she could be my personal chef and trainer. If only her services were free... If only I were a size 2... If only...

Oops, I will try to stay focused and not fret over the fact that the daily workouts are not changing my body instantly.

This week's recipe is great with some whole wheat crackers, served in 1/2 of a juicy cantaloupe, or made into a sandwich with whole wheat bread or a pita.

Almond Chicken Salad
1 can (8 oz.) pineapple tidbits, in its own juice
1 can (15 oz.) Mandarin oranges (*or you could substitute 1 cup of grape halves)
2 cups diced cooked chicken OR turkey OR 1 can (10 oz. ) white chicken rinsed and drained--I DON'T use canned meat. I'm not a fan.
1/4 cup Miracle Whip Light
1/4 cup nonfat plain yogurt
1/4 cup slivered almonds

Drain the pineapple tidbits and oranges. Place the chicken and fruit in a medium bowl. Mix the Miracle Whip Light and yogurt in a separate bowl first, then gently add to the chicken and fruit mixture. Mix in the almonds.

This stuff is delightful! I am totally serious. I am a big fan. If you need something sweet to go with this meal, check out Boy Mom's post from her Toothsome Tuesday this week. She found a way to mix healthy ingredients together to make something sinful, yet heart healthy. I'm sure that means you could eat the whole batch, right?

I know, I know... moderation...moderation...patience...stick with it...you're building muscle...you're losing inches, not pounds...yada, yada, yada...

Enjoy the weekend! Nurse Boy and I are headed off to a bed and breakfast for 24 hours of R&R to celebrate 12 years of marital bliss. I can't wait! It is very honestly one of the best things we do for our marriage each and every year.

Be praying for Bubby and Papa. I think they may experience anything but R&R this weekend. ;0)

This is not AFV

So, Dimples the nine year old has me read his story he wrote for school tonight. One of the main characters was, "Barky." You'll never guess, he is a dog. Anyway, Barky was fighting a bad guy and pulled his pants down, then he hit him in the knuts.

"Knuts?" I ask, knowing that the k is silent. "You can't write about knuts in your paper. "

He said, "Oh, I didn't know knuts was bad. I thought it was better than crotch".

I said, "It's probably better to leave out any references to testicles in your school work."

Hopefully this won't affect his grade in high school health class.

Wacky Wrandom Wednesday

OK, so I can't rock the titles like the Mrs., but here goes my take at random thoughts/stories.
~~~~~
First of all, after yesterday's post I feel like I need to explain that I wake up before the rest of the family and am gone to work before they get up. I can't have anyone thinking why is that lazy Nurse Boy not helping out. The Mrs. tells me to say goodbye to her before I leave every morning. So I give her a kiss on the cheek and tell her I love her most mornings before I leave. I get a slight interruption in her snoring and then she wipes my kiss off. She tells me she is rubbing it in, but I know what's up. Then she likes to complain that I don't say goodbye to her in the morning. So for all I know, SHE changed the radio to sports talk. She doesn't become lucid until about the fifth snooze.
~~~~~
Along those same lines, the Mrs. "does not let" me sit on the bed or turn on the light in the morning. Some of you may be saying what do you mean she "does not let" you, aren't you a man with his own free will? My reply is, if there were a sleeping bear wouldn't you have the free will to poke it with a stick if you wanted? The answer is yes, but if you know what is best for you, you make sure that is not your will. Anyway, back to the story. One morning the Mrs. was waking up before me, so she slept on the side of the alarm. She usually hits the snooze about 6 times which is annoying enough, but this morning she did not hit the snooze for about a minute. I poked her and she growled, "I was listening to the story!" This from the woman who makes me get dressed in the dark every day. I should have changed it to sports talk just to keep her from listening to the story. I am not that smart though.
~~~~~
Our trash is on the side of our house. I can't wait to have a house where I can park the cars in the garage, and keep the trash cans in there also. Our current house has poor insulation in the garage, so any smells in there circulate around the house. That is why we keep neither the trash nor the car in there. The other night I was taking the trash out and I heard fevered scratching on the wooden fence beside it. I figured it was a squirrel. I threw the bag and ran back in the house like a scarred little girl. Today is trash day, so last night I went to drag the cans down to the curb. As I approached the cans, I heard the same fevered scratching but it sounded bigger. I looked up and was in a stare down with a possum! He won and I ran. For a few seconds, I was fine with the trash not making it to the curb. Then I realized that thing was running from me also, so I worked up the nerve to go back to the trash cans. I turned on the car head lights and kicked the trash can a few times. I then dragged the cans to the curb. Does that make me a girlie man? I started dreaming of a .22 rifle and night vision goggles. When the kids heard about it today, my six year old said I should get a gun and shoot it. I told him that if I missed and shot a neighbor that would definitely put us on the out with the neighbors. I am a little worried about having the same problem solving skills as my six year old though.
~~~~~
The wife and I have made it 11 straight days with at least 30 min. on the treadmill. I figured I would walk half the time and run half the time. Then I remembered I am obese and out of shape. No, I am not looking for anyone to tell me I am not fat. My doctor charted that I was obese 20 pounds ago. It's a fact, not a feeling. The best I have done so far is I ran for 11 of the 30 minutes a couple days ago. Not 11 minutes straight. 6 minutes straight, and then 3, and then 2. I am averaging 15 minute miles. I remember when I could run a mile in under 6 minutes. I do already feel better though. Our incentive is we can by a foo foo coffee after every six days we workout. That is more for the Mrs. For me, the motivation is I get to watch whatever I want on TV for the half an hour I am on the treadmill. Maybe I will make up some story about training for a marathon and go down there for a couple hours a day.

Mornings and Football Don't Mix

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

There are two things in this world I really dislike...OK, so I am simplifying my list because we all know that my list is a lot longer than this, but play along, K?

One thing I hate each and every day are mornings. I hate getting out of the comfort and warmth of my bed. It also signals when I have to get everyone up and ready to go. By myself. With three kids who aren't exactly crazy about mornings, either. Oh, and I hate it even more during the winter months when it is dark and cold and, well, DARK.

The other thing I hate is football. I have never liked football and I have NO desire to start liking it now. I don't understand the game, nor do I want to take the time to understand it. Lord, help me if one of my boys starts playing the sport. The games are long and the season seems to go on and on. Then there are Pro teams and College teams...it just NEVER ends.

The other day, my radio alarm clock goes off. (I do realize that we may be the only two people who still own an old fashioned radio alarm clock, but I have told you before that we are dinosaurs when it comes to technology.) I usually awake to music, only to rise up and hit the snooze. Several times. I have even been known to hit the snooze for an hour. Don't tell Nurse Boy. He gets kind of jealous since he has to wake up and provide for the family and all.

On this specific morning, my radio alarm clock was set on SPORTS TALK RADIO. Needless to say, this made me very grumpy as I listened to several men drone on and on about the Pro football teams, their owners, and the players. When it is 6:30 in the morning, my dislike for football becomes HATRED when I awake to some crazy over analysis.

I thought Nurse Boy was playing some mean joke on me. Turns out he didn't know how the station got changed. He wasn't so thrilled to wake up to the discussion, either. (Had it been later in the day, he may have turned it up in hopes of not missing one word that was spoken.) You see, he doesn't talk, converse, or even think too terribly hard until he has been up for a good hour. With a couple of shots of caffeine. We are a match made in heaven.

Our poor kids.

The funny thing is that neither one of us exerted enough energy to actually change the radio station. We just woke up grumpy and turned it off.

Then complained about it later.

Monday's Random Musings

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

Time for my weekly, random thoughts. Unfortunately, my thoughts are almost always random. I just try to make some sense of them and put them into coherent thoughts every now and then. Scary, huh?

**This week we started the basketball season of '09 in the Nurse Boy Household. Good times, I tell you! First of all, Bruiser's games are at 8 or 9 AM each Saturday morning. Dimple's games are at 5 or 6 PM every Saturday evening. I am now wondering why I signed them both up? Didn't I like the carefree Saturdays of the past? My bed and I now have to part ways in the wee hours of the morning seven days a week.

**There is NOTHING like watching a group of Kindergartners playing basketball. It can do nothing but bring a smile to your face.

**My daughter is still coming off of the holiday high. You know, the one with grandparents, sweets, and no schedule? I have renamed her "Stink Pea."

**Nurse Boy returns to class this week. Can we please have a moment of silence?.............. We can keep doing this, right? Oh, I kid. I know we can, but it is challenging for all of us. Mostly Nurse Boy. He is an amazing man, don't let him tell you otherwise! And, let us not forget that it is God's strength and peace that encourages and protects this family as we respond to His calling on our lives.

**Nurse Boy and I have made a New Year's Resolution together. I won't bore you with all of the details, but WOW! is he competitive. Honestly, that has been more encouraging to me than I ever thought possible. Who knew? And, I love to watch him look in the mirror after a workout to see if his muscles developed more definition over the course of his 30 minutes on the treadmill. He reminds me of the commercial where the guy keeps working out and then weighing himself. Every few minutes. Throughout the workout. I searched for this commercial on YouTube with no luck. However, I will share a link to Brian Regan on working out. It had us in stitches! And, laughing HAS to burn more calories than frowning. It is my gift to you! Enjoy and happy Monday!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSztExIa0uk

Friday Fare!

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

OK, this recipe is a real WINNER! Trust me, I wouldn't steer you wrong. I have shared this with many friends and they have all loved it! They are a little bit of work, but totally worth it!

Chicken Enchiladas with Creamy Ranch Sauce

1 can condensed cream of chicken soup

1 cup refrigerated sour cream ranch dip

2/3 cup chopped green onions (about 10)

3 cups chopped cooked chicken

3/4 cup enchilada sauce (we prefer mild)

12 6-inch soft tortillas

3 cups shredded cheddar cheese (12 oz.)

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 13x9 baking dish with cooking spray. Mix soup, dip, and 1/3 cup of the onions. In separate bowl, mix chicken and enchilada sauce until coated.

2. Spoon 2 tablespoons soup mixture down center of each tortilla; set remaining mixture aside. Reserve 1/2 cup cheese for garnish. Top each tortilla with about 1/4 cup chicken mixture and scant 1/4 cup cheese. Fold sides of tortillas over filling; place seam side down in baking dish. Spoon remaining soup mixture over filled tortillas. Pour some leftover enchilada sauce over, if desired.

3. Cover with foil and bake 40 to 45 minutes. It will be hot and bubbly.

4. Remove from oven and sprinkle with 1/2 cup cheese and 1/3 cup onions. Bake uncovered about 5 more minutes.

SO GOOD!!! Keep me posted if you make them!

Update Time...

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

A couple of months ago (October 20th to be exact--I don't know how to do that linky thing), I mentioned that the Nurse Boy Clan was in search of a new church home. We have since been on a journey of obedience. Some of you have actually asked us if we have found a new church and how it is going. So, for those of you who are interested, I will share a little bit of our journey.

Yes, we believe we have found a church home. I compare it to moving to a new city. You miss your old city. It was home. It was comfortable. It felt safe. You miss your friends, but plan on staying in touch if they are interested. You hope they are interested. You long to know that they thought you were as special as you thought they were. Time will tell. You want to make new friends, but often feel like an outsider. When you move, you must trust that you have made the right decision and keep striving to connect in your new environment each and every day. Some days are good and some days leave you doubting the decisions you have made.

Every day we are choosing to obey God and follow the calling He has on our family. He has only given us a glimpse of what His plans are, but we are so EXCITED to be in His will and continue to discover what He has in store.

So, we really do like our new church. It isn't family, yet. We believe it will be soon. I figure that it usually takes about a year before a new city feels like home and I am sure this will be no different. Our new church is more than 3 times the size of our old church. Honestly, I find that to be exciting and a little bit scary all at the same time. We LOVE the pastor! He is an amazing man of God who has brought a lot of growth to this congregation in the last 6 years or so. It is exciting to see how God is moving in this church and to watch the love and care they have for one another. It is inspiring!

I have also cried many tears for my little kiddos. This adjustment has been difficult and a bit confusing for them. I have cried out to God to connect my kids, to use this opportunity to help them grow even more spiritually. God is so good! Each time I have doubted and cried out to Him, He has blessed me with an answer, a smile, or a great report from one of the kids. Last Sunday, Dimples told me he hoped we would never leave this church. Just two months ago he couldn't understand why we were even gracing the doors of that building.

My husband has been SO steady during all of this. That has been such an encouragement for me! He just keeps pressing forward. He is obeying. It is that simple. He has listened to me cry, doubt, lecture, waver, vent, struggle, and revel in God's awesome plans. God has used this time to help me to grow spiritually as well. I am not exactly the most submissive wife. I try, but I fail. And, I refuse to believe that God wants me to be a doormat. I mean, what good is a doormat in glorifying God on a daily basis? Right now, God is teaching me what exactly that means. Just this Sunday, another lady shared some awesome insight that one of her pastors had shared with her years ago. He had said that when a wife submits to her husband, she is yielding to him in love. That is exactly what God has been calling me to do through this journey.

God also continues to show us to not "put all of our eggs in one basket," if you will. He is connecting us with some amazing believers throughout the city. I love meeting new, amazing people. It is refreshing! He has also surrounded me with supportive, understanding, attentive friends during this journey. You all know who you are! ;0) Thank you for your listening ears!


His plan is so much better than our own!

We will continue to keep you posted on our journey...

If Only It Weren't True...

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

So, my brother sent me this and I wish I could say that there was NO truth to this. However, truth be told, I think someone was watching me at the bank ATM when they wrote this...(especially #27!)

A new sign in the Bank Lobby reads:

Please note that this Bank is installing new Drive-through ATM machines enabling customers to withdraw cash without leaving their vehicles. Customers using this new facility are requested to use the procedures outlined below when accessing their accounts. After months of careful research, MALE & FEMALE Procedures have been developed. Please follow the appropriate steps for your gender.

MALE PROCEDURE:
1. Drive up to the cash machine.
2. Put down your car window.
3. Insert card into machine and enter PIN.
4. Enter amount of cash required and withdraw.
5. Retrieve card, cash and receipt.
6. Put window up.
7. Drive off.

FEMALE PROCEDURE:
1. Drive up to cash machine.
2. Reverse and back up the required amount to align car window with the machine.
3. Set parking brake, put the window down.
4. Find handbag, remove all contents on to passenger seat to locate card.
5. Tell person on cell phone you will call them back and hang up.
6. Attempt to insert card into machine.
7. Open car door to allow easier access to machine due to its excessive distance from the car.
8. Insert card.
9. Re-insert card the right way.
10. Dig through handbag to find diary with your PIN written on the inside back page.
11. Enter PIN.
12. Press cancel and re-enter correct PIN.
13. Enter amount of cash required.
14. Check makeup in rear view mirror.
15. Retrieve cash and receipt.
16. Empty handbag again to locate wallet and place cash inside.
17. Write debit amount in check register and place receipt in back of checkbook.
18. Re-check makeup.
19. Drive forward 2 feet.
20. Reverse back to cash machine.
21. Retrieve card.
22. Re-empty hand bag, locate card holder, and place card into the slot provided!
23. Give dirty look to irate male driver waiting behind you.
24. Restart stalled engine and pull off.
25. Redial person on cell phone.
26. Drive for 2 to 3 miles.
27. Release Parking Brake.

Monday's Random Musings

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

It feels so good to be home, back in a routine, and all of the Christmas clutter put in it's proper place. I am delighted when everything has a place. When it doesn't, I become just as scattered as my clutter.

Since it is Monday, I will share some random thoughts regarding the last two weeks. Some "take aways," if you will...

**Nurse Boy and I cut back our spending this Christmas for various reasons. Apparently, we forgot to send the memo out to all of the grandparents and aunts and uncles. I present to you, EXHIBIT A:

I call this Christmas barf. All over my family room. If you look closely, you can actually see the greedy delight reflecting from Bruiser's eyes.

**Every year one of the kids must have a Christmas meltdown when they are coming off of their sugar high. EXHIBIT B:

It all started innocent enough...

Going...

Going...

Gone.

Sweet Pea being not so sweet.

**How did our parents ever travel for long trips in the car without a DVD player? I gain more respect for them every time we venture out of town! Man, I LOVE that DVD player!!! It is a must have for a long trip.


**As crazy as the holiday season was, I love it when we get to spend quality time with the kids without all of the regular daily distractions. I get to marvel at how much I love each one of them. They really are great kids. It brings me so much delight when a friend or family member feels the need to tell me how good my kids are. I need that reminder. THEY need that reminder. Raising them is a job I(we) take very seriously. Unfortunately, we are not perfect, nor are they. It was good to hear it so many times over the holiday. (I do realize that I will pay for posting this. I am sure it will be a rough week since I am enforcing everything I let slide over the last two weeks :0)

**It was refreshing to spend sometime with family and friends that we don't get to see enough of...EXHIBIT C


Here's to a happy, healthy, productive and BLESSED New Year!!!!!

We'll Miss You, Colts!

We can't wait for next year!

We ROCK!

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

Let me just say WE'RE BACK! I have missed you, bloggy world. I must admit I have done a little spying, or should I say reading, in my absence.

Now that Christmas is over and the new year has begun, I am ready to get back into our routine. Isn't it funny how you crave to get out of the everyday routine, only to find yourself craving to get back into it? Or, that the Christmas decorations are so sentimental and beautiful when you are placing them around your home after Thanksgiving, only to find yourself surrounded by what feels like clutter after the new year? (Can you tell that taking down the Christmas decorations is on the top of my to do list?)

The last couple of weeks we have been surrounded by family, friends, and lots of food. And, how could I forget the toys? Oh, the toys! We have spent numerous hours crammed in the car together and in our free time played Guitar Hero World Tour. Man, we can really ROCK! Who knew?!

I hope you all had a happy, healthy holiday. And, I hope you have found a place for all of the new toys and maybe even discovered your own family's ability to ROCK. We will be back next week to share some of our adventures. In light of the new year and the fresh start it brings, I will leave you with something I read a couple of months ago:


Happy moments, praise God.

Difficult moments, seek God.

Quiet moments, worship God.

Painful moments, trust God.

EVERY MOMENT, THANK GOD