In the car on the way to school one day Heidi asked me why Dairy Queen was not called Daisy Queen. I told her that the people who own it like the name Dairy Queen. She said that if she owned it she would change the name to Daisy Queen because that's just a better name.
I told her that if she ever owns a restaurant she could call it what ever she wants. Her plan is to become a Math and Science teacher who owns a restaurant called Daisy Queen.
Being that she wants to be a teacher, she enjoys playing teacher at home.
One night, as we were going through everything that came home in her back pack that evening, she took the opportunity to teach us some Spanish. It went something like this.
Heidi: Monkey is Mono. Say it like this "Mo No"
Us: Mo No.
Heidi: Hand is Mano. Say it like this "Ma No"
Us: Ma No
Me: Monkey and Hand are to similar, that's confusing. They can't be that close and mean different things.
Shawn: English is like that too. Map, mop.
Me: Oh, I see. (this might be a long road for me...)
The lesson continues with Heidi having us repeat more words Spanish words.
I notice she has skipped one on the O page.
Me: Heidi. You skipped Caterpillar. How do you say that?
Heidi: I don't know.
Shawn: I do. It's Ootapillar. Did you know we were going to name you Ootapillar? It was between Heidi and Ootapillar for a long time. We didn't decided until you were born and looked more like a Heidi than an Ootapillar.
Me: (laughing uncontrollably) Yep! It's true!
Heidi: No! No it's not!
Me: (crying) it's okay Ootapillar. Let's just keep going with this page.
Heidi: Please stop calling me Ootapillar. That can't be true.
Shawn: Okay. We will stop. Let's do this page now. Ootapillar, I mean Heidi.
Me: (snort!)
Heidi: (sigh) Okay. This is Elephante, Elephant.
She really needs to get use to our sense of humor if she is going to continue to live here.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
Last Day Of Gymnastics!
Saturday was Heidi's last day of Gymnastics for the fall session. She is in the community program and really seems to enjoy it.
Parents are not allowed to watch practice because it is distracting to the girls. They invite us to watch the entire practice on the last day to show off what they have been working on.
Heidi is in the back row on the left side of this picture. She is wearing black pants, a white shirt, and has her forehead on the ground.
They did every exercise they would do during a normal class. Here are the bridges will all hands on the ground, then one leg up followed by one arm up. This is the beginner class so there was a lot of tipping over!
Since Heidi is super bendy, flexy girl she has no trouble with her splits. They have moved her over to the mats for a challenge. She hates it because it hurts! :)
On the floor they showed their handstands, cartwheels, and rolls.
After floor exercises, they did the vault. I am in desperate need of a new camera, none of the vault pictures turned out at all!
Then came the bars but first, chalk up!
Each girl got a turn doing a flip on the bar and then practice bunny hops and tip toes on the low and high beams.
The big finish was jumping in the pit.
After class Heidi posed for one last picture on the bar to hold her over until next session in the spring. She will have to spend the winter doing cartwheels and handstands in the living room.
Parents are not allowed to watch practice because it is distracting to the girls. They invite us to watch the entire practice on the last day to show off what they have been working on.
Since Heidi is super bendy, flexy girl she has no trouble with her splits. They have moved her over to the mats for a challenge. She hates it because it hurts! :)
On the floor they showed their handstands, cartwheels, and rolls.
After floor exercises, they did the vault. I am in desperate need of a new camera, none of the vault pictures turned out at all!
Then came the bars but first, chalk up!
Each girl got a turn doing a flip on the bar and then practice bunny hops and tip toes on the low and high beams.
The big finish was jumping in the pit.
After class Heidi posed for one last picture on the bar to hold her over until next session in the spring. She will have to spend the winter doing cartwheels and handstands in the living room.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
What's For Dinner? Meat Loaf
I don't remember eating meat loaf much as a child. Maybe my dad will correct me when he reads this. But when Shawn and I were first married, he suggested that we have meat loaf and for some reason, it made me nervous.
For many years, I insisted that if we were going to have meat loaf, he would have to make it. And he did.
When I realized how much I like meat loaf, I would ask Shawn to make meat loaf on nights when I did not want to cook.
We have been working together for the last few years on our favorite meat loaf. That's what I will be showing you today.
Here's what you need:
1 pound of ground beef
2 cloves of garlic
1 small onion, diced (I don't buy small onions so I use about 1/2 a large onion)
2 slices of bread (I like to use the heal of the loaf)
1/4 cup milk
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp dry ground mustard
1/8 tsp pepper
1 egg
ketchup, salsa, or BBQ sauce
Put ground beef, garlic, and onion in a large bowl and mix.
Tear up the bread and mix in with the beef.
Add Worcestershire, salt, ground mustard, pepper, milk, and egg to the meat mixture and combine. You can use a large spoon or remove your rings and dig right in. Either way works just fine.
Place in a bread pan. If you don't have a bread pan, any 8 x 8 pan would work.
Place in a 350 degree oven for about 45 minutes, uncovered. Remove from oven, top with ketchup, and place back in oven for 10 minutes or until the internal temp reaches 160 degrees.
Remove from oven and let stand for about 5 minutes.
Trust me, it's very Yummy!
Do you like meat loaf? Are you going to try mine? :)
For many years, I insisted that if we were going to have meat loaf, he would have to make it. And he did.
When I realized how much I like meat loaf, I would ask Shawn to make meat loaf on nights when I did not want to cook.
We have been working together for the last few years on our favorite meat loaf. That's what I will be showing you today.
1 pound of ground beef
2 cloves of garlic
1 small onion, diced (I don't buy small onions so I use about 1/2 a large onion)
2 slices of bread (I like to use the heal of the loaf)
1/4 cup milk
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp dry ground mustard
1/8 tsp pepper
1 egg
ketchup, salsa, or BBQ sauce
Put ground beef, garlic, and onion in a large bowl and mix.
Tear up the bread and mix in with the beef.
Add Worcestershire, salt, ground mustard, pepper, milk, and egg to the meat mixture and combine. You can use a large spoon or remove your rings and dig right in. Either way works just fine.
Place in a 350 degree oven for about 45 minutes, uncovered. Remove from oven, top with ketchup, and place back in oven for 10 minutes or until the internal temp reaches 160 degrees.
Remove from oven and let stand for about 5 minutes.
Trust me, it's very Yummy!
Do you like meat loaf? Are you going to try mine? :)
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Target Clinic
When I come across something that I really like, I love to tell people about it and I recently discovered something I REALLY like.
Have you ever been to a Target Clinic?
I had not. But I am totally fed up with how much we have to pay to go to the Urgent Care are our family clinic so last week when Heidi was sick I needed to find something new.
First, let me tell you that an office visit at my clinic costs about $140. Labs are about $40. My insurance only covers Urgent Care once you have hit your deductible but for a healthy family, this probably will never happen. My insurance does give me a discount but it amounts to less than $15 off the total bill. Meaning that I will end up paying almost $200 to see urgent care for a cold.
It was Sunday night and Heidi was pretty sick. Not so sick that she needed to go to the ER but sick enough that we knew she was going to have to see a doctor in the morning.
Shawn was online preparing to take Monday off work so I had him see where our closet Target Clinic was located.
I had heard of Target Clinic and knew it was like the old Minute Clinics that don't seem to be around any more. I love Target and it had to be cheaper so what the heck, let's give it a try!
Turns out there is one in our local Super Target just 5 miles away. It opened at 9 am and a strep test would cost an estimated $60. SOLD!
Shawn and Heidi headed for Super Target at 8:30 the next morning. They had no trouble at all. They gave our insurance card to the receptionist and saw the doctor very quickly.
They were pleased with how nice the doctor was. She even let Shawn look in Heidi's mouth so he could see what strep looked like.
She was diagnosed with Strep, a Scarlet Fever Rash, and an ear infection. They did not pay anything and headed over to the pharmacy to pick up her antibiotics.
I received the explanation of benefits within 4 days. My clinic typically takes 3 to 5 weeks to submit to the insurance company.
The cost of the office visit was $59. The lab was $10. I did not get a discount or any coverage from my insurance but my total bill will be $69. Not $214 like I paid last time she had a cold.
So, what I am saying here is, insurance or not, you can't beat $69 for great customer service, good health care, and convenience.
We will be back. No more urgent care for us.
Have you ever been to a Target Clinic?
I had not. But I am totally fed up with how much we have to pay to go to the Urgent Care are our family clinic so last week when Heidi was sick I needed to find something new.
First, let me tell you that an office visit at my clinic costs about $140. Labs are about $40. My insurance only covers Urgent Care once you have hit your deductible but for a healthy family, this probably will never happen. My insurance does give me a discount but it amounts to less than $15 off the total bill. Meaning that I will end up paying almost $200 to see urgent care for a cold.
It was Sunday night and Heidi was pretty sick. Not so sick that she needed to go to the ER but sick enough that we knew she was going to have to see a doctor in the morning.
Shawn was online preparing to take Monday off work so I had him see where our closet Target Clinic was located.
I had heard of Target Clinic and knew it was like the old Minute Clinics that don't seem to be around any more. I love Target and it had to be cheaper so what the heck, let's give it a try!
Turns out there is one in our local Super Target just 5 miles away. It opened at 9 am and a strep test would cost an estimated $60. SOLD!
Shawn and Heidi headed for Super Target at 8:30 the next morning. They had no trouble at all. They gave our insurance card to the receptionist and saw the doctor very quickly.
They were pleased with how nice the doctor was. She even let Shawn look in Heidi's mouth so he could see what strep looked like.
She was diagnosed with Strep, a Scarlet Fever Rash, and an ear infection. They did not pay anything and headed over to the pharmacy to pick up her antibiotics.
I received the explanation of benefits within 4 days. My clinic typically takes 3 to 5 weeks to submit to the insurance company.
The cost of the office visit was $59. The lab was $10. I did not get a discount or any coverage from my insurance but my total bill will be $69. Not $214 like I paid last time she had a cold.
So, what I am saying here is, insurance or not, you can't beat $69 for great customer service, good health care, and convenience.
We will be back. No more urgent care for us.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
What's for Dinner? Beef and Mushroom Gravy with Rice
When Shawn and I were first dating, a meal his mom would often make was Hamburger with Gravy over Mashed Potatoes.
While it is still one of Shawn's favorites, I never think to make it. The other night I had some hamburger that needed to be cooked and I was racking my brain for something to make. I didn't have the time or the energy to make a meatloaf, we didn't have buns for hamburgers, I was not in the mood for Hamburger Helper...
But I did have a jar of beef gravy that I pick up on sale that week. And we did have some instant rice in the pantry. And those mushrooms would need to be used in the next few days... This is what I came up with.
This is a quick and easy dinner that can be expanded to feed as many as necessary. That's what I love about it!
What you need:
Hamburger - 1 to 2 pounds, depending on how many people you are feeding. 1 pound will probably make about 4 adult sized portions.
1 medium yellow onion, diced - I used half a large onion because that's what I had on hand.
8 oz package baby bella mushrooms (optional)
1 large bell pepper, diced - I did not add this because I didn't have it in the house but it would have been a great addition.
Beef gravy - 1 jar. Homemade works too!
White Rice or Mashed Potatoes - 1 serving per adult to feed
Salt and Pepper to taste
Brown the hamburger and onions together. Drain most of the grease. Push the hamburger to the side and brown the mushrooms.
Stir mushrooms into the hamburger. Add gravy. Salt and Pepper to taste.
Add the cooked rice to the mixture or serve the hamburger gravy over the rice or potatoes on a plate.
I like to stir the rice in to the gravy. If I use mashed potatoes then I spoon it over the top of the potatoes.
Serve with a side salad and some nice crusty bread. Enjoy!!
While it is still one of Shawn's favorites, I never think to make it. The other night I had some hamburger that needed to be cooked and I was racking my brain for something to make. I didn't have the time or the energy to make a meatloaf, we didn't have buns for hamburgers, I was not in the mood for Hamburger Helper...
But I did have a jar of beef gravy that I pick up on sale that week. And we did have some instant rice in the pantry. And those mushrooms would need to be used in the next few days... This is what I came up with.
This is a quick and easy dinner that can be expanded to feed as many as necessary. That's what I love about it!
Hamburger - 1 to 2 pounds, depending on how many people you are feeding. 1 pound will probably make about 4 adult sized portions.
1 medium yellow onion, diced - I used half a large onion because that's what I had on hand.
8 oz package baby bella mushrooms (optional)
1 large bell pepper, diced - I did not add this because I didn't have it in the house but it would have been a great addition.
Beef gravy - 1 jar. Homemade works too!
White Rice or Mashed Potatoes - 1 serving per adult to feed
Salt and Pepper to taste
Brown the hamburger and onions together. Drain most of the grease. Push the hamburger to the side and brown the mushrooms.
Stir mushrooms into the hamburger. Add gravy. Salt and Pepper to taste.
Add the cooked rice to the mixture or serve the hamburger gravy over the rice or potatoes on a plate.
I like to stir the rice in to the gravy. If I use mashed potatoes then I spoon it over the top of the potatoes.
Serve with a side salad and some nice crusty bread. Enjoy!!
Monday, November 8, 2010
Happy Halloween!
Shawn and Heidi spent the entire month of October planning how to decorate the yard for Halloween.
The Saturday before Halloween, they spent the afternoon setting everything up. Grandma and Grandpa gifted the large headstone. Shawn and Heidi made the two smaller one.
Johannah came over to help too! She even swept my sidewalk!
Daisy enjoyed some driveway time. But that was short lived because even though she is down a leg, she is still very fast. I worried she would hop away.
Pig, on the other hand, knows he would simply die 4 minutes after being lost from his daddy and his couch, so we trust him a bit more. He played in the planter box under the bird feeder for a while then spent the next 30 minutes marking every inch of the lawn.
The girls stuffed this shirt to make Frankenstein's Monster
who turned out to be pretty cool. I wonder where his legs ran off too... (haha, ran off too...)
Before Old Hopscotch was banished to the house, she checked out the Spider and Heidi's gravestone. We talked about painting one to say "Here Lies Daisy's Fourth Leg" but I thought that was too sad. So, we went with Heidi and Jo instead.
The yard looked great! They put strobe lights out to light up the little grave yard which we hope to add to each year. We also had our Pumpkins lining the steps, little ghosts along the sidewalk, a skeleton and Frankenstein hanging from the eves by the door, and a spider and bat that dropped on fish line when kids approached the door.
Heidi and Shawn had a blast scaring kids as they came to our house and we look forward to next year because we already have new things to add.
The only bummer was Heidi woke up on Halloween morning not feeling well so we only went to about 10 houses for Trick or Treating. That's how you know a kid is sick! She went to the Doctor on Monday morning where we learned she had strep, an ear infection, and a Scarlet fever rash (which is common with strep).
They still enjoyed their Halloween and we have plenty of candy to show for it!
The Saturday before Halloween, they spent the afternoon setting everything up. Grandma and Grandpa gifted the large headstone. Shawn and Heidi made the two smaller one.
Johannah came over to help too! She even swept my sidewalk!
Daisy enjoyed some driveway time. But that was short lived because even though she is down a leg, she is still very fast. I worried she would hop away.
Pig, on the other hand, knows he would simply die 4 minutes after being lost from his daddy and his couch, so we trust him a bit more. He played in the planter box under the bird feeder for a while then spent the next 30 minutes marking every inch of the lawn.
The girls stuffed this shirt to make Frankenstein's Monster
who turned out to be pretty cool. I wonder where his legs ran off too... (haha, ran off too...)
Before Old Hopscotch was banished to the house, she checked out the Spider and Heidi's gravestone. We talked about painting one to say "Here Lies Daisy's Fourth Leg" but I thought that was too sad. So, we went with Heidi and Jo instead.
The yard looked great! They put strobe lights out to light up the little grave yard which we hope to add to each year. We also had our Pumpkins lining the steps, little ghosts along the sidewalk, a skeleton and Frankenstein hanging from the eves by the door, and a spider and bat that dropped on fish line when kids approached the door.
Heidi and Shawn had a blast scaring kids as they came to our house and we look forward to next year because we already have new things to add.
The only bummer was Heidi woke up on Halloween morning not feeling well so we only went to about 10 houses for Trick or Treating. That's how you know a kid is sick! She went to the Doctor on Monday morning where we learned she had strep, an ear infection, and a Scarlet fever rash (which is common with strep).
They still enjoyed their Halloween and we have plenty of candy to show for it!
Friday, November 5, 2010
A Zombie Flower Girl Photoshoot
Because I don't like to fight with Heidi about her clothes, because she is so incredibly picky, and because it's good to let them be their own person, for the last two years, Heidi has picked out her own Halloween costume.
Last year she found one in a catalogue. I was not happy with the price but I ordered it anyway. If she picked it, I could be certain she would not change her mind on the night before Halloween.
This year, she wanted to reuse many pieces of last years costume (good job, girl!!) and reuse her flower girl dress from a wedding she was in over the summer (two thumbs up!!) to become a Zombie Flower Girl.
She was the scariest Zombie Flower Girl I have ever seen in my entire life.
Though I applied her makeup, she designed the look. This costume is all her. And so is this photo shoot.
I can't wait to see what she comes up with for next year!
Last year she found one in a catalogue. I was not happy with the price but I ordered it anyway. If she picked it, I could be certain she would not change her mind on the night before Halloween.
This year, she wanted to reuse many pieces of last years costume (good job, girl!!) and reuse her flower girl dress from a wedding she was in over the summer (two thumbs up!!) to become a Zombie Flower Girl.
She was the scariest Zombie Flower Girl I have ever seen in my entire life.
Though I applied her makeup, she designed the look. This costume is all her. And so is this photo shoot.
I can't wait to see what she comes up with for next year!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)