My Husband's Best Friend

My husband has a loyal and dedicated friend that he has learned to treasure and protect over the years. I must admit, I often find myself jealous of my husband's best friend. He is always by his side. No matter what. Without fail. They share early morning breakfasts and late night snacks. They cozy up together during the morning news and the nightly sports reports. They might even find some time to watch Heros and laugh until they cry watching The Office.

Oh, sometimes I join them, but I am often forgotten. Not on purpose, mind you. But, forgotten none the less. I am the third wheel whenever the two of them get together.


Sometimes I take matters into my own hands and try to become more familiar with this best friend. Oh, how I long to be a part of this relationship. But, my husband's own jealousy and lack of control always leaves me empty handed, alone, and watching something with a ball flying through the air. They seem to share all of the same likes, dislikes, and passion for all things sports related.

I am certain I could share in their passions and broaden their minds, if only they would let me. I could open up a whole new world to them. One of shopping while still sitting on the couch and a plethora of romantic comedies, along with my beloved 80's movies.

If only my husband would let me hold the remote control...

Maybe then I could find something a little more interesting than basketball to watch on my TV.

One day his grip will loosen up and I will have myself a new, battery operated best friend. And, I too, won't let go.

Maybe THAT is why his grip is so tight...

Monday's Random Musings

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

Random things I learned while substituting in a daycare last week...

--snack time comes twice a day. Counting carbs and calories is unnecessary.

--a lunch of beanie weenies is loved by all. (I mean, who knew?!)

--there can never be too much playtime.

--or too many restroom breaks.

--painting is fun. Even more fun when you "accidentally" paint your friends.

--saying, "I'm sorry" repairs all mistakes and "accidents." Really.

--little, portable cots are cozy when adorned with Dora, Bob the Builder, and Blue's Clues blankets and lovies.

--2 hour naps are NOT overrated.

--sucking your thumb makes it even more delightful.

--smiles are free.

--so is snot.

--hugs should be given often.

--butterflies are BEAUTIFUL.

--so are frogs, snakes, and lizards! (Again, who knew?)

--the letter "U" is so much fun when painted, buried in the sand, hooked together to make a chain, acted out, and read about.

--being a preschool teacher is an awesome gig. It really got me thinking... I'll keep you posted!

March Madness!

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

It has been a very busy spring day over here in our neck of the woods...

or has it?

We couldn't play outside...

The swing set was frozen...

The grill refused to heat up...

Ah...but, every good mom has some tricks up her sleeve. I bought a couple of cookie decorating kits on clearance after Christmas. The cookies were already baked and the kids got to "color" them with markers. They really enjoyed this little activity, plus they had a yummy treat when they were finished.

Bruiser is my little artist...

And, Dimples? Well, he "ROCKS," just ask him! (At least that is what his cookie says.)

This weather has given a whole new meaning to March Madness. We are fighting off some cabin fever and I am wearing warm winter socks. (gasp!) My Spring pedicure is covered up and my sandals are tucked away. Between freezing rain, sleet, and snow, we are experiencing a break in our beautiful spring weather.

Come back, spring! Why have you forsaken me?

Friday Fare!

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

The letter writing is over. At least for this week. Nurse Boy and I think we are surrounded by some pretty strange neighbors (as you could tell by Wednesday's post). We recently came to the conclusion that when you think EVERYONE around you is weird, YOU must be the weird one. So, we realize that we are the weird neighbors on the block since we are certain that everyone else around here defines the word WEIRDO.

To each his own, right?

Or, like the neighbor behind us commented when my husband shared that he was a nurse, "Well, everybody's gotta do something..." (Imagine a smirk as he looked down his nose at my Nurse Boy.)

Yep. Gotta love 'em.

Enough of our neighbors and trees and name calling. And, don't even get me started on the neighbor girl who peers over the privacy fence while we are eating dinner on our patio asking about our meal. Nope. Don't get me started.

On to happier things like dinner. Yum! Tonight is one of my favorites.

Oven Ranch Chicken
1/3 cup plain bread crumbs
1 (0.4 oz.) pkg. dry buttermilk ranch dressing mix
1/3 cup light sour cream
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

1. Combine bread crumbs and salad dressing mixin a shallow dish. Place sour cream in another shallow dish.
2. Dip chicken in sour cream, coating well. Roll coated chicken in bread crumb mixture and place on greased cookie sheet.
3. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes.

If you want to go all out, this stuff is great with mashed potatoes.

We aren't sharing any of this with our neighbors tonight. I'm just saying...

Our Very Dear Neighbors (Insert Sarcastic Voice)

Dear Not-So-Friendly Neighbors,

When we moved into our home, we noticed that you had a not-so-healthy tree in your backyard that was touching our roof. I knew that tree bothered me for a reason. We approached you politely to make sure you were OK with us trimming some branches off of our property. Of course you were, it didn't come out of your pocket. We would find out later that the tree in question had always been a sore spot between the previous owners of both of our houses. You were cold and unconcerned.

The next few years you remained cold and distance. Unless your children were taking part in a fund raiser. And, to be a friendly neighbor, I bought tickets to a pancake breakfast and am the proud owner of overpriced chocolates, candles, and wrapping paper. You still remained cold and distant. That was OK.

Until your not-so-healthy tree fell onto my roof, right above my boys' bedroom...

The previous owners had feared this for years. Frankly, so had I. Now it had come to pass.

I was dusting my room when I noticed that the tree seemed to appear much closer to the window than normal. I ran outside to see what I had feared. The tree was laying across our roof. You, our neighbors and owner of the sick tree, noticed this problem before I had. You were just waiting for me to discover the wreckage.

Thanks for the knock on the door. Thanks for the phone call. Thanks for making sure everyone was OK. Thanks for the apology.

Oh, wait. You didn't do any of that.

No, you came over when you saw that I was outside on the phone trying not to cry. (No, that wasn't a logical reaction. But, how does one respond when a tree is resting on one's roof?) You PROUDLY informed me that it wasn't your problem since it was now on our property and you wouldn't have to spend a dime. You also told me that you make a lot of money and can't wait to move out of this neighborhood. Well, played, my friend. Unfortunately, you were right. It wasn't your problem and, apparently, it wasn't your concern. That is the law in this here fine state.

Nope, you wouldn't have to spend a dime, have someone some come out ASAP to remove the tree, get bids, schedule the repair, and decide which is more important: a roof or private school for the kiddos. You wouldn't have to claim this on your home owner's insurance. You wouldn't have to shell out money for the crazy deductible.

Nope. And, you did just that. Nothing. Offered nothing. Did nothing. Haven't spoken to us since.

So, when your other sick tree (you know, the one I mentioned on that fateful day) fell on my van, it was very hard to be nice. Sending your 10 year old to the door to tell me was an excellent touch. Telling me that you planned to cut down the tree the next day was ridiculous. Wanting to yank the tree off of my van, without worrying about more scratches, made my blood boil. And, I really love how you act like you can't speak any English when we have these problems. Apparently, you are aware that I "No hablo Espaniol." Yet, I notice how you and you wife hold down jobs here in America and are able to handle a mortgage. Sorry, I am NOT buying the whole broken English thing. I am at a loss for words. (Well, maybe not, when I look at how long this letter is.) No sorry's were spoken, only some silly smirks.

And, yet again. It isn't your claim. Nope, it is mine. I am just thankful Nurse Boy was at work. If his car had been parked in the driveway, it would have been totalled. I know, I know. Not your problem.

So, when Nurse Boy got home, he sawed away at the wreckage. Piece by piece we pulled the tree (OK, very large branch) off of the van. Yes, we placed every last piece in your yard. I am sure you understand. And, since you are going to cut down that tree tomorrow, it won't take much more to clean up that debris. Oh wait, tomorrow was actually yesterday since it happened Monday and today is Wednesday.

I know. I won't hold my breath. Maybe tomorrow means this weekend in your home land.

And, don't worry. Sunday's sermon and Tuesday's Bible lesson were both on forgiveness. God is working on me. After all, God does have a great sense of humor. I do love Him for that. But, I am finding it a little difficult to love you right now. I'll get there.

Just don't let anymore trees fall in this direction, K?

And, CUT DOWN THAT TREE....

Oops. Please...

Mrs. Nurse Boy

Letter to Lake "Snobivira" Residents and Police Officers

You Stink!

Everyone of you!

Especially the police officers!

I must start out with a disclaimer. I realize that I should not drive over the speed limit. I realize that it is my own fault when I get clocked driving over the speed limit with my entire family in the van. I realize that I often go faster than I should.

BUT...

Your shameless speed trap is ridiculous. Going 35 on Holiday Drive is a bit painful already for a person like me. Dropping the speed to 25 directly across from the entrance to your golf course should be a crime.

I know that you think because you are rich, you should get your own police department. But, there are not that many of you, so the cost of your own police department is high. You are not rich enough to pay for the police "protection" out of your own pockets, though. It is obvious that the only reason you drop the speed limit across from your community entrance is because you want to pay your police officers with the speeding ticket proceeds. Either that, or your average age is 75 and you don't have quick enough decision making capabilities to be able to pull out into the sparse 35 mph traffic.

Also, police officers for Lake "Snobivira," You are sell outs! You have a job that entails working a speed trap 90% of your time on the clock to protect a bunch of snobs that look down on you, too. You are helping the rich steal from us average county residents. I am sure they give you a quota, because if you don't give a certain number of tickets your salary does not get paid. Is that what you thought you would do when you went to the Police Academy?

Here is my promise to you. I will not avoid your precious entrance. I will drive by it every chance I get. I will go 15 mph. I hope your leaky bladders drain in your pants while driving behind me. I hope your prunes kick in right then. I hope your Viagra wears off. I also promise to flash my lights at every unsuspecting person coming the opposite direction to warn them of your ridiculous trap.

By the way, it has been a year since my ticket, and I am a lot less bitter now.

Can't you tell?

Mr. Nurse Boy

Monday's Random Musings

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

Well, we survived Spring Break and we are back into our routine. I am still tired and a little bit sore from painting. I am very happy about all of the changes we made and I appreciate our house just a little bit more. I do plan to share Sweet Pea's room with you in the very near future. I am still fine tuning the overall look. Sweet Pea LOVES her "new" room and thanks us often for painting it.

So, now for some random thoughts before I get started on the endless laundry...

***Today it is VERY windy around these parts. The last time it was this windy, our neighbor's tree fell on our roof. Well, let's just say that I currently have another issue with a branch of theirs today. I plan to post more later this week. Grr....

***I gave myself a pedicure this weekend. (I know! It was about time!) Now that my toes look proper, it is officially sandal season. I LOVE sandals. I HATE socks. I wear sandals until my little toes are completely frozen and numb from the cold (well into November). Once I put my sandals away for the winter, I feel like a little part of me dies. After I give myself a pedicure and pull my sandals back out, I am alive and well! I love you, spring!

***Speaking of sandals, I think I could use a few new pairs. A girl could NEVER have too many sandals!!!

***Sweet Pea even got some Dora "flip-flips" this weekend. The only thing cuter than my feet in sandals, is Sweet Pea's stubby little feet in sandals. Even without the pedicure.

***Nurse Boy took 3 days off of work last week. Originally he had planned to be in New Orleans for the entire week on a mission's trip. He was so excited to go and serve the Lord while building homes. The date of the trip got moved and he will now be unable to go due to his class schedule. He was very disappointed, but I saw it as an opportunity to get some projects done around here. I think he would have rather been in New Orleans. But, our house does look much better. And, he will have more opportunities to go on other mission trips. I know that is a huge desire of his and God used this trip to reveal that to me.

***This weekend my Italian mother made Ricotta Pie. Doesn't that sound just awful? Well, it is delightful! Well, maybe that isn't the right word, because I am pretty sure there is nothing LIGHT about it. But, it just might be my favorite pie EVER. So, why am I telling you this? Well, my mom left the boys a piece of pie for them to spilt and eat today. I am eating that very piece right now! I am such a bad mom, but I just can't waste that piece on two boys who only seem to appreciate chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese. Nope, can't do it. It is all mine. Trust me, they will LOVE the trail mix I throw at them when they get home! Shhhh...don't tell Nurse Boy, because he won't think trail mix will be OK. He is going to be looking for the pie.

***If you don't have a good Italian cook in your life, you need to get one! Those Italians don't mess around in the kitchen. They know what they are doing! Now, I am craving the ricotta cookies my mom makes. And, to think that I once thought ricotta only belonged in pasta. How closed minded of me.

Happy Monday!

Friday Fare!

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

Spring Break of '09 is almost over for the Nurse Boy Clan. Since we have spent a good part of the week tackling household projects, I think my kids will be thrilled to run into the school building early Monday morning. This spring break will be remember as...well, it probably won't be remembered. Let's hope. Or they will remember it as the week that mom and dad ignored them and randomly tossed frozen chicken nuggets and cheese pizza at them. Good times, I tell you. Good times.

And, sore arms and back. Who knew that painting was a great workout?! I am here to tell you that it is!

I did cook a few meals here and there this week. We even tried a new chicken dish. It appealed to me because it required the use of a crock pot, which meant hardly any meal prep. Have I told you how much I love my crock pot? It is one of my very favorite appliances. I don't use it nearly as often as I should, but I still love it and find it to be very useful.

I also found some time to read some blogs this week and I found this recipe in the comments on my friend Sue's blog. Yep, I stole this recipe. It was delicious, so I am sharing with you.

Mexican Crock Pot Chicken

2-3lbs. of chicken breasts
1 jar salsa
1 envelope taco seasoning
1 can cream of mushroom soup (I used fat free)
8 oz sour cream (I used fat free)

Dump chicken, salsa, taco seasoning, and mushroom soup in the crock pot. Cook on low for about 6-8 hours. Right before you are ready to serve up the meal, stir in the sour cream. I served the chicken over brown rice.

I think I might add black beans next time for the health benefits. This had great flavor and can be served as breasts or shredded chicken. It has been added to our rotation.

We are off to have some fun today. No more projects, for now anyway...

No Hablo Espaniol!

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

It is confession time around here.

I took 3 years of Spanish. I hated EVERY year of it. Every day of it, if you really want to know. During my first year of Spanish, my teacher refused to speak a lick of English all year (and it only went downhill from there). We even had to pick Spanish names. Mine was Elaina. I simply hated that she refused to speak my language or call me by my real name. I mean, I WASN'T Elaina and I didn't know ANY Spanish. When she called out my "name" it took me a while to figure out that I was the Elaina who was holding up the lesson.

It was a dark time in my life when I realized that I was expected to take 3! years! of Spanish. Why, I would wonder? I would NEVER use Spanish. Why waste my time and my credit hours? I searched for loop holes. I researched other languages to see if they were any easier. The truth became obvious. I would do the bare minimum to survive.

I was a good student in school. I took honors classes and challenged myself in most subjects. I was self motivated and wasn't afraid of hard work. That is until I entered the world of Espaniol.

My Spanish teachers often described a very different student to my parents. "She is quiet, lazy, unprepared, and does not participate in class," they would complain. They seldom shared that I usually earned As or Bs on my assignments. I could study enough to pass the written work, but the class participation was always a struggle for me. When my teachers would ask me why I was a completely different student in the hallways, I would always say, "I don't speak Spanish."

So, I left high school fearful that Spanish would be my demise. I mean, what if I had to take MORE foreign language in college?

I was thrilled to discover that Elementary Education Majors did not have any foreign language requirements. El Ed and I were meant to be! (And, no, that is not why I became a teacher, but it was an added bonus!) I was no longer afraid to admit that the only phrase I took away from 3 years of Spanish was, "No hablo Espaniol!"

That's right, I'll own it. No, I can't ask where the restrooms are, or how anyone is doing, and I don't even know any bad words. I remember nothing. Nada. Zilch.

So, fast forward to my life today. I often find myself surround by Espaniol. I mean, ordering a hamburger from McDonald's often has me crying out, in the middle of the drive thru, "No, hablo Espaniol!" Drat! Those 3 years of Spanish sure could have been handy today. But, it doesn't end there.

We bought the kids a cheap TV for their wii playing. We put it in the playroom and it is only for movies and game playing, with permission. The problem is that the darn TV is mocking me and my poor Spanish skills. One of the kids set the TV on the Spanish mode. (They say it was an accident. Yeah, right!) Every time I go to use the remote, I am greeted with Spanish on the TV screen. You can flash all the Spanish words you want at me, but if it isn't "No hablo Espaniol," then I have NO idea what is being communicated. I can't even make my TV "behave," since it is officially smarter than I am.

So, to all of my Spanish teachers, I am sorry. No, I will not say that in Espaniol. And, my name is not Elaina. But, I should have worked harder.

Maybe then I could order 3 happy meals for my kids without drowning myself in tears of frustration...

Monday's Random Musings

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

It is officially Spring Break of '09 and the kids woke up earlier than they do on a school morning. They had a spring in their step (no pun intended) and smiles on their faces. It was still dark and I did everything but smile. Seriously, guys?! When I want you to wake up ready to take on the day, I am met with a fight and a frown. When I want you to sleep in, you greet me in the wee hours of the morning. I know, I know. This is called motherhood. You would think I would have embraced this fact by now, but I like to live in the world of denial. I like to think of this week as 5 days of sleeping in and playing outside.

So, welcome to my reality. And, welcome to my random thoughts of the week...

***Nurse Boy and I painted the weekend away. I wish I could say it was fun, but it wasn't. I decided that I hate painting with three kids underfoot. One of the first things we did this weekend was place the boys' beds back into the bunk bed position. We have had the beds separate for awhile now. The boys both sleep really hard and I was afraid one of them might take a sleepy nose dive in the middle of the night. Bruiser doesn't sleep AS hard now, so we thought it would be safe to let him sleep up there. The room has more space for them to play and looks less cluttered. Sweet Pea calls Bruiser's "new" bed the "climb up there bed." Yes, Sweet Pea, that does sum it up!

***I have to be honest and admit that we spent much of the weekend ignoring our children. We were on a mission to get our "little" projects finished. The boys spent a lot of time playing in the backyard and Sweet Pea spent way too much time in front of videos. Hey, don't judge! She was underfoot, otherwise. One of the videos she watched was some My Little Pony video she got for Christmas. When I would ask her if she wanted to watch "My Little Pony," she would say, "It's not YOUR little pony, it's MY little pony." I think she may have missed something in the translation. Or maybe it is the age. You know the one. EVERYTHING is MINE!!!!

***I assigned the boys to picking up sticks in the yard while we painted. Front and back. Honestly, that usually takes us a couple of weekends. We have lots of old trees around here and they are not kind to us during the winter months. Oh, I love them in the summer when they provide us with shade. In the fall, they vomit leaves ALL over our yard...and our neighbors' yards. (Yes, they complain. No, they don't thank us in the summer.) During the winter months, the squirrels scatter sticks all over our yard. So, all in all, we love them for about 3 or 4 months out of the year. I am still not sure they are worth all of the work. I know they are beautiful. They are just much more beautiful when they are someone else's problem. Anyway, the boys picked up an enormous amount of sticks. They even bagged them and put them by the curb. I could get used to having some slave labor around here. All it cost me were 2 cans of Sprite...something they view as a special treat.

***For our faithful readers, I will be honest and tell you that I was afraid last week. Very afraid. Apparently, one shouldn't bad mouth or make fun of boy bands. They have some SERIOUS fans out there! WOW! I was left speechless. But, it was kind of fun pushing some buttons. If you didn't read last Tuesday's post, scroll down. I should let you know that the best part are all of the comments. Funny, funny stuff!

Happy Monday! We are off to the store...

Friday Fare!

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

Ah...Spring Break is here. Now, we will just pray for spring weather.

I have put my spring cleaning on hold. This week we will begin spring painting. I usually like to touch up the scratches and footprints once or twice a year. (Do boys walk on walls? I often find footprints in the oddest of places.) This year some of my walls have been washed a few (hundred) too many times. When we bought this house, I was also afraid of going too wild with my color scheme. You see, I was NOT in love with this house when we bought it (which is about a week's worth of posts, so I will spare you the story). I decided that we should keep most everything neutral. Well, the reality of our staying here longer than we anticipated has finally crept into my brain. So, HELLO COLOR!

I will keep you posted and maybe even share some pictures of Sweet Pea's room when I have it completed. Because you all need to celebrate the simple fact that I can finally decorate a room that does not revolve around a theme of sports or cars. HELLO PINK! I have been longing to paint you on my walls!

Now, before you think the boys are getting the shaft, you will be happy to know that their room is getting rearranged and painted, as well. It will be a very exciting shade of tan with navy blue trim. Yes, I am trying to find a color that will match the hand prints and footprints on their walls. Do you blame me?

So, what's for dinner, you ask? After all, it is Friday Fare and I haven't even gotten to the topic of dinner.

Parsley Parmesan Chicken

1/4 C. Italian salad dressing (I use light)
2 lbs. chicken (I like to use breasts, but you can use fresh fryer parts)
1/2 C. Parmesan cheese
1/3 C. dry bread crumbs
2 T. parsley flakes
1/2 t. paprika
1/4 t. pepper
1/2 t. salt

Pour salad dressing in a large bowl. Add the chicken to the dressing, coating well. Cover and chill for at least 4 hours, or overnight. (You may need to turn the chicken a couple of times.) Combine Parmesan cheese and the rest of the ingredients in a shallow bowl. Roll each piece of chicken in the crumbs, then place chicken in a greased 9x13 pan or on a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for about 40 minutes, or until the thickest piece of chicken is done.

This stuff has awesome flavor and I am not lying when I say EVERYONE in my family eats this dish.

Simple. Easy. Delicious.

Off to paint...

Soccer Season Has Arrived!

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

This week officially marks the beginning of soccer season in our home. Dimples has been with the same coach since he was 4. I know what you are thinking...Who puts their 4 year old in a soccer league?! Please remember, he is our first born. Sweet Pea probably won't play a sport until the age of 13. (I kid, of course.)

Nurse Boy and I both played soccer and we just couldn't wait to watch our first born dominate the field. Or pick at the grass, as it were. Dimples is now 9 and takes after his talented soccer playing parents, if I do say so myself. Honestly, our talent was debatable. Dimple's talent is real.

We are pretty relaxed with the whole sports thing. We just want our kids to have fun, get some exercise, and learn about competition in a safe environment. If they discover a new talent or develop a life long passion for a sport, we consider that a bonus. We only let the boys play one sport at a time. Only once has Dimples challenged this thought and we stuck to our convictions. I mean, how many hours are there in a week? Not enough to play two sports during the same season, in my humble opinion.

This spring has brought on some challenges for Dimple's team regarding a consistent practice time. Apparently, many of the boys on his soccer team are also playing baseball. Baseball practice is already scheduled.

Last week we were sent multiple emails regarding possible practice nights and times. Poor Coach Dave. He is a talented soccer player in his own right and an uncle of one of the boys on the team. He volunteers to coach our little ones while his wife and infant daughter are at home. Each email he sent out seemed to uncover his growing frustration. Monday was no good for the baseball players. Tuesday was impossible for the baseball players. Wednesday is church night for many. No way could the baseball players make Thursday work. It slowly became clear what the baseball parents were thinking... Coach Dave, could you just sacrifice your Friday nights and schedule practice then?

Friday nights?! Really, parents?! This guys is a willing volunteer. Unlike us parents, he just might have a social life. Give this poor man a break! And, I can't help but to wonder if they think baseball is more important than soccer, since they are giving that sport their priority. So, why did they sign their kids up for soccer, anyway?

On Monday, we got the final email from Coach Dave. He finally settled on Tuesdays at 5PM. Take it, or leave it. (My words, not his. He was polite. I'm not feeling it.) This Saturday we will have our first practice at 9 AM and next week we will begin the Tuesday night practice schedule. He was checking to make sure this would work for everyone.

Nurse Boy immediately shot out this email to Coach Dave:

Dave,
Saturday does not work for us. We like to watch TV on Saturday mornings. Dora the Explorer and Zach and Cody can't be missed. Plus, our DVR is not working. We would like to suggest Sunday morning at 3:00 AM. We could all park facing the field and turn on our brights.
See you Sunday,

Nurse Boy

OK, so I left out the part where Nurse Boy said he was joking. Coach Dave said he and his wife got a good laugh out of this email.

Poor coach. Here is hoping the season only gets better from here on out!

Dear NKOTB

Dear New Kids On The Block (or NKOTB, as you like to "maturely" refer to yourselves),

I must first admit that I once gazed into all of your eyes. Well, at least with the help of my friends at People Magazine. I went to your concerts. Two of them, as a matter of fact. Yes, I saved up my babysitting money for 2 song filled nights that would change my life forever. You did not disappoint. You danced and lip sank the night away. And, STEP BY STEP, you left me broke. I would have to find some more babysitting jobs for magazines and paraphernalia to fill up my free time.

But, now I am all grown up. Thankfully, the only eyes I want to gaze longingly into are Nurse Boy's. And, while I must admit that his name doesn't sound much more mature than NKOTB, he is indeed a grown man who understands that he, along with the rest of the world, is aging. He wears his bald spot proudly and refuses to color the grays that are sprinkled throughout his thinning hair.

I must apologize for all of the women my age who are confused. Yes, I have seen you guys doing the morning news marathon. Dancing your way onto every morning show that us stay-at-home moms watch while we are folding the laundry. Notice I didn't say singing. We will get to that in a minute. I have seen those women dancing, screaming, and holding up the "Joey, will you be my son's new daddy?" signs. Do you know that these women have BAGGAGE? They are coloring their gray hairs and going to bed with mud masks on their faces. These are NOT the same fresh faces you sang to in your youth. These women frighten me. I am embarrassed by them. I mean, they are paying a babysitter $10 an hour to listen to you sing while holding up a sign that says, "I have always loved you, Jordan!" NKOTB, do you not find that creepy?

Speaking of youthful faces, have you guys looked in the mirror? The ball caps, hats, and sunglasses do not fool me. Nor do the cute little dances of your youth. The singing is also not quite the same. I am guessing it was probably never that great. But, it did sound sweet when I was 14. I guess quality wasn't at the top of my list. It is now.

You are older. Just own it. You no longer have the RIGHT STUFF for a singing career. Singing songs about talking to the one you love at 2 IN THE MORNING is ridiculous. The only time I talk to Nurse Boy at 2 AM, is when we have a vomiting child. I dare you to sing about that! You are older, you should be wiser.

I realize this is really about money. I know we are in a recession. But, I still find it to be scary. Please, oh please, just leave Regis, Kelly, and I alone during our coffee hour, K? I want the memories of my childhood. They were sweet and innocent. Why must you try to steal them away with your comeback?

Sincerely,

Grown Up Mrs. Nurse Boy

(Hint: Click on 2 IN THE MORNING up above to see the most recent attempts to entertain by NKOTB.)

Monday's Random Musings

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

Ahhh...it is Monday. After a daylight savings time change. What I really meant to say was, GRRRRR!!!!!

Welcome to my random thoughts this week!

~~I want my hour back. I am sure you do too. If you live in a location that doesn't do daylight savings, I don't want to hear about it. I am jealous. I know I need to work on that, but not when I have been robbed of an hour of sleep, K?

~~My spring cleaning is not going well. You see, we have a nice day and I get motivated. I start cleaning, sorting, throwing things away, stirring up the dust, and the next thing I know, we are looking at cold temps while the kids are searching for their winter coats that I put away. As soon as I feel trapped in the house again, I decide those closets and dressers can wait. I know it doesn't make sense. It is my world, be happy you don't have to make sense of it. Come on, spring! I am rooting for you!

~~Yesterday, Bruiser had a new friend over after church. It started off pretty exciting. Let me first begin by telling you about our Incredibles phone. My mother got the boys this very cool, bright red Incredibles phone for Christmas over a year ago. The boys are much too young for a phone in their room, so we plugged it in and put it on display in our play room/office. We do actually use this phone, but it is corded, so we don't use it too often. "Sam" saw the phone and immediately thought it looked like a really cool toy. Cool enough to dial "911" and hang up. But, to him he was only playing. Not to our local police department. They called us back and we explained the simple mistake. They responded by sending out a police officer, with backup. WOW! Talk about awkward! We didn't know this little guy really well and we didn't want him to be embarrassed, yet we didn't want to shrug off the mistake. The police officer was very friendly and talked to our little "Sam" in a very respectful manner. I was embarrassed for his parents. They don't know us well enough to understand that we roll with the punches around here. Each hour seems to bring about an opportunity for learning. That was just one of our many lessons of the day.

~~Nurse Boy and I are leading a 6 week marriage class at our church based on the movie FIREPROOF. We are really enjoying getting to know some amazing couples, while stretching out of our comfort zone. We have also discovered that we are very rusty when it comes to leading small groups. We stepped out of that ministry over 3 years ago and have apparently forgotten everything we had learned. Oh, I kid. Sort of. I am always amazed when we serve God in this capacity. I believe that we grow even more than the people in our small group. I love God's creativity!

~~My boys are eating me out of house and home. They are 9! and 6! What am I going to do when they are teenagers?! My daughter, however, is surviving on milk and water alone. And, the ocassional banana. Why don't 2 year olds eat? And, why must it be feast or famine around here?!

Have a great Monday! Sneak in a nap for me, OK?

In Need of a Laugh?

Because it is Saturday.

And, you just might be in need of a laugh.

Or, you just might need to know that your family isn't as weird as ours...

Dimples showing off his feminine side...simply scary!

I am just not buying it, Bruiser. I don't think you can pull off this look.

I am not sure when Darth Vader took to the "soft" side, but I like it. The pink bracelet and hearts really soften that black helmet. That is until you shout, "Don't make me destroy you!" Lucky for me, Darth, your batteries are about to wear out! Ha!

I blame Nurse Boy for all of the confusion over here. ;0)

Friday Fare!

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

It is Friday and the weather couldn't be more beautiful over here in our neck of the woods. We are hoping that spring just might be here to stay. The boys can't get enough of the outdoors and are ready for soccer practice to begin next week.

Spring is probably my favorite season. Goodbye colds! Goodbye influenza! Goodbye snow! Goodbye ice! Goodbye mittens and scarves! None of you will be missed. I promise. So, don't show your ugly head around here again!

The only problem with spring? It puts me into a spring cleaning mode. I don't really enjoy spring cleaning, but I LOVE the end result. We have a lot of organizing and painting to do. Let's just say there doesn't seem to be a single closet in our home that doesn't vomit on you when it is opened. That simple fact is on my very last nerve. Time to dig deep into those closets. Pray I win, people!

Today's Friday Fare is an old recipe I discovered our first year of marriage. It can be the main course, an appetizer, or a snack. I love these when I am entertaining. They are a wonderful treat at baby or bridal showers, or even a game night with friends. Boy, I am in desperate need of a game night with friends! Whoops. I will stay focused here.

Chicken Roll Ups

1 small can Swanson White Chicken (Drain)
8 oz. cream cheese (I use light)
4 green onions and stems, diced
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 cans refrigerated crescent rolls

Mix the first 4 ingredients together and place a heaping tsp. of mixture onto the large end of each crescent roll triangle. Fold corners over mixture and roll up. Bake as directed.

I love to serve these at room temperature. They are simple and delicious!

Off to tackle those closets!

Who Is Your Role Model?!

WHO IS YOUR ROLE MODEL???

Try it without looking at the answers......sooo

Please don't scroll down until you do it. You will love it...I promise!

GET A CALCULATOR (YOUR COMPUTER HAS ONE ON IT)

1) Pick your favorite number between 1-9

2) Multiply by 3 then

3) Add 3, then again Multiply by 3

4) You'll get a 2 or 3 digit number.

5) Add the digits together,

Now scroll down ...


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Now with that number you will find your ROLE MODEL from the list below:

1. Einstein
2. Nelson Mandela
3. Abraham Lincoln
4. Helen Keller
5. Bill Gates
6. Gandhi
7. Barrack Obama
8. Thomas Edison
9. Mrs. Nurse Boy
10. George Bush



I know.... It seems that I have that effect on people....

One day you, too, can be like me.... :-)

Believe it!

P.S. Stop picking different numbers. I am the one who is your idol. Just deal with it and move on!!! ;0)

Work or Play?

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

Do you ever find yourself avoiding the unavoidable? Well, I never do. I am all about staying on task.

Stop laughing, Nurse Boy! OK, so that is a LIE. A BIG FAT ONE!

For me the unaviodable almost always seems to be LAUNDRY!!!!

It is NEVER ending. Once I am caught up, the dirty clothes baskets are overflowing again! OVERFLOWING, people!

The other day, I was avoiding the laundry that was on my bed, waiting to be folded. After hearing much giggling, I took a peek in my room. Here is what I discovered...

Bruiser and Sweet Pea made up a game involving the clean, but unfolded, laundry...

You bury one another in the clothes and see who can uncover themselves the fastest...

And, I thought they might see all of the laundry and feel motivated enough to actually HELP out... I should know better. But, a girl CAN dream!

We shall see just how long it takes ME to uncover myself from the rubble...

But, first, I need to find something to distract me...

I mean, why get ahead, only to discover I am already behind?

Daily Devotionals...Family Style

Mrs. Nurse Boy here.

I just wanted to share a little bit about our nightly Family Devotional Time. I have shared before that we are attending a new church and are in the process of making it home. This has been a very challenging year for our family for a number of reasons. Nurse Boy has a new job and is going to school, we have a Third Grader (enough said, right? Third Grade is a transitional year for many children), we have a 2 year old (who is almost THREE! Pray for me, people!), we have a Kindergartner (if I could bottle his energy, I would be a rich woman!), we are attending a new church, and God is challenging us in some exciting (and scary) areas.

God has been working in all of us in some pretty extraordinary ways! Most importantly, He is bringing all of us closer to Him and to one another. Nurse Boy and I had gotten pretty lazy recently. You see, our kids are in a private Christian school and even play basketball in a Christian league. They are memorizing 3 scriptures a week and getting daily Bible studies between school, church, and basketball. We had gotten lazy. Our Bible time was half hearted and often rushed. Sometimes, even, forgotten.

God challenged us to make time for a nightly, FAMILY devotional. After only a few days, we were amazed just how precious and beneficial this time together had become to ALL of us! The kids LOVED it and opened up in our nightly discussions. Some discussions blessed us and some gave us insight. All of our time together in the Word has been valuable.

We start off with everyone doing their own devotional. For Bruiser and Sweet Pea, that is simply looking at picture Bibles. We set our timer for 4 minutes. NO TALKING! Oops, I don't have to tell you that...

Dimples loves reading out of his devotional.

Next, we pray together. This is our prayer box. As a family, we came up with relatives, friends, leaders, teachers, pastors, and family issues/concerns that need prayer. We wrote them on little pieces of paper. Every night, each one of us draws three pieces of paper out of our prayer box.

We share what/who we are praying for with each other, set the timer for 2 minutes, and silently pray.

Sweet Pea has a lot to learn with the whole silent prayer thing, but that is a post for another day... (She also insists on praying for her friends every night regardless of what she draws from the prayer box. Olivia, Hannah, Keirra, and Marlee are some very blessed kiddos :0)

Next, we do our family devotional together. We have a verse of the day posted on the refrigerator everyday that is reflected in our Bible reading each evening. We start off reading the day's related Bible verses, read the story from our devotional, and discuss what we learned and how it applys to our lives. Individually and as a family.

We end in prayer. (This time we pray out loud.)

Simple. Refreshing. Revealing.

Thank you God for the swift kick in the rear! (What? He's never given you a swift kick in the rear before?) We have been blessed!

The Mr.'s Monday's Random Musings

Well, it is Monday again and all we can put together are random ribbons of thought. Neither the Mrs. or I can put together a well thought out post on Mondays, so here goes...

*****Basketball is finally over. We had to be up and out of bed by 6:30ish to make it to an 8 a.m. game for eight straight Saturdays. We feel like we should have earned something or received a medal. Props to the Mrs. I did not think she would make it to every game, but she did. I think the lure of coffee after the game motivated her. Why not coffee before the game you ask? It would make more sense to caffenate early you say? That would be five to seven minutes of precious sleep! We don't waste a snooze button session around here.

*****We learned a few things in kindergarten basketball this year. Dribbling is optional. Passing is what you do if you forget to keep dribbling too far from the basket. We only pass to our friends when we are six. It is safer to steel the ball from a kid on your own team than a kid on the other team. If you are not sure what to do, then stand by the kid you are guarding and put your hands up. You can do that if you are on offense or defense. Spinning is fun!

*****Soccer starts in 3 weeks. If we have an 8 a.m. game the first week, then I quit. Not sure what I quit, but whatever it is, I am done.

*****I am now an ACLS and BLS instructor. That means I know how to teach advanced and basic CPR. Is it wrong that I hope some one's heart stops in front of me now? Is it wrong that I think the the CPR training scene on "The Office" is even funnier now? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ecbjo2J5auM

*****The Mrs. and I went on a date today. It was a lunch date. It consisted of going to the Cheesecake Factory and then Home Depot. I enjoyed it. When did I officially get old?

*****If Sweet Pea drank too much Sweet Tea, would her urine be Sweet Pee?

*****Why is it that when I am laying Sweet Pea down and I want to close my eyes and fall asleep next to her, she hits me and says "get out of my room." If I am done praying and singing with her and I want to go, she puts her arm over me and says "go nigh night daddy." How does she know what I want to do and why does she desire the opposite?

*****Why is it that any time I fall asleep at any other time than bedtime, it makes the Mrs. mad. Is my snoring and bed breath so offensive that she can't take it while she is awake? That is a jealous woman and there are few things that she covets more than sleep.

*****We had the biggest snow fall of the season Saturday morning. It was freezing last night and it is supposed to be even colder tonight. It is supposed to be 70 on Thursday. Is March coming in like a lion or a lamb?

*****Daylight savings is on Sunday morning this next week. Whoever invented daylight savings is a stupid jerk! A stupid jerk without kids! A sadistic stupid jerk without kids!

Have a great week. Our random musings will be even more random and less musing next week. Stupid daylight savings. It is the same amount of daylight for Pete's sake.

We don't save a darn thing.