Kids say the darnest things!

The other day Landon and I were at the mall and he needed to go potty. I took him to one of those family bathrooms. He went first and was working on his pants button. I went next and just as I was standing up Landon says "Mom, why do you pee through your butt? That's gross!" Thank god we were in a family bathroom and not a community one!

Freezer French Toast

This is another Christmas morning favorite and Val recipe. I love the fact that you can make ahead and freeze this. So Good!!!

Ingredients

• 1 8-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup dairy sour cream
• 1 16-oz. loaf French bread
• 3/4 cup orange marmalade
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1-1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 2-1/2 cups finely chopped almonds (10 oz.)
• Maple syrup

Directions

1. In medium mixing bowl beat together cream cheese and sour cream until smooth; set aside. Trim off ends of bread; cut loaf crosswise in 20 slices. Spread half the slices on one side with cheese mixture. Spread remaining slices on one side with marmalade. Sandwich slices together; set aside.

2. In a shallow dish use a fork to beat eggs, milk, and vanilla together. Place half the almonds in another shallow dish. Dip both sides of sandwiches in egg mixture; allow excess to drip off. Coat both sides of sandwiches with almonds, adding more almonds to dish as needed.

3. Place coated sandwiches on baking sheet lined with waxed paper; cover and freeze 3 hours or until firm. Transfer to freezer container or bag; seal, label, and freeze up to 1 month.

4. To serve: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place frozen French toast on large greased baking sheet. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until golden and heated through, turning once. Serve with maple syrup.

Yummy Oranges!

This is one of the yummy things I made for breakfast Christmas morning. I have actually made it for a snack a couple times too. The recipe came from my good friend Val who made all of the Arbonne managers breakfast one morning. Thanks Val!

Glazed Oranges

Ingredients

2 oranges (navals are good)
2 tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Fresh mint leaves, torn (for garnish) I used dried:)

Directions

Peel the oranges and slice into 1/4-inch thick slices.
Place on a serving platter.
Mix honey and cinnamon in a small bowl.

Drizzle the honey mixture over oranges and garnish with mint leaves. Enjoy!

I'm Back!

After a long vacation away from my blog, I have returned. A lot has happened since my last post. The biggest event was Nick's safe return. He returned to the USA just in time for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Having him here has been an adjustment, but I know that we are blessed to have him home. Thanksgiving was so much fun this year. We had around 17 people from our navy family at our house for turkey and ham. Christmas was also nice. Christmas eve was spent at our house with our good friends playing board games. Christmas morning I made a really good breakfast for my lovely family (recipes to follow). Landon riped through his presents and we got to enjoy having my parents and sister there through the magic of skype. Weird that my kids will never experience a world without cell phones, email and now skype. Later in the day we ate dinner with our good friends the Mahaney's and the Tarbox's. Anyhow, I hope you and your families had an equally good holiday!

Landon's first day of school

Yesterday was Landon's first day of school. All I have to say is wow. It seems like yesterday when I found out I was pregnant. That is a story of its own. Anyhow, I knew Landon would be fine and walk right in, sit down and that would be it. He is very independent and I explain it to people by telling them that we ignored him as a child:) I was not so sure about myself and I did not want to be that mother who cried all the way to the preschool and all the way home. So all the way there I silently chanted "I will not cry, I will not cry". I was good to go. Then we got to the school and got in line. The child behind us had his little head buried in his mothers stomach. When he glanced up his eyes looked as if he had been crying for days. His mother seemed ok, but you could tell she was holding it together for her child. The child was mumbling "don't leave me I want to go home". I felt so bad for the mother and the child that can you believe it I almost started to cry for them. I did tear up but stood my ground and decided that the little boy would be fine. Yes, I am ridiculous. So back to my son, the day went great. Nick got to talk to him before and after school. He gave him the fatherly stay in school and learn a lot speech. We are so blessed that he is able to call so often. Landon did try to pack markers and a cell phone in his back pack. he tried to convince me that he would need those items. After school I went and picked him up. The way the teacher does drop off and pick up is she has you stand in a line and separately go to the door and announce your self. The parents never even go inside the class room. When it was my turn to get Landon, he came running to the door with a picture that said "I survived my first day of preschool". On the way home Landon said all he did was play. Before school started I told Landon there were things he need to know for preschool such as his ABC's and how to wipe his own bum. When I asked Landon if he learned anything he said that his teacher told him that he did not need to know his ABC's until a different school. He also said that he went number 2 and his teacher wiped him. I think my son is a manipulator and told me that to get me off his back. He also said that he and his friend were fighting but his friend started it. We are probably going to have our hands full. Oh well, life goes on.

A Woman Should Have

I had this sent to me last year and again today. I love the message, so instead of forwarding it I decided to post it. You never know when a fellow woman might need a little inspiration:)

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own, even if she never wants to or needs to...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .......

something perfect to wear if the employer,

or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..

a youth she's content to leave behind....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

a past juicy enough that she's looking forward

to retelling it in her old age....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... ..

a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .

one friend who always makes her laugh...

and one who lets her cry...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....

a good piece of furniture not previously owned

by anyone else in her family...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems,

and a recipe for a meal, that will make her guests feel honored...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .......

a feeling of control over her destiny.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

how to fall in love without losing herself.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

how to quit a job, break up with a lover,

and confront a friend without ruining the friendship..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

that she can't change the length of her calves,

the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

that her childhood may not have been perfect...but its over...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW..

whom she can trust,
whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't take it personally...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

where to go...
be it to her best friend's kitchen table...
or a charming inn in the woods...
when her soul needs soothing...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

what she can and can't accomplish in a day...
a month...and a year...

Landon

I just had to tell everyone what Landon told me today. We were watching a movie about a girl and she was singing this song about wanting to be a princess. I asked Landon If he wanted to be a princess and he said "No, I just want to be a boy". I then told him "well I want to be a princess". He responded by saying "well then I want to be your prince" Nick has trained him well!