Uhh, WINNING!!

Pretty good, right? I'm thinking of throwing all child labor law caution to the wind and starting "Photography by Addie". Uhh, WINNING!!

Last week was one of the most amazing weeks so far this year!! SO so many good things happened, its almost unfair to the rest of the 51 weeks. Like, really. Seriously.
Doug had an appointment in Missouri Tuesday for an epidural, which may be an alternative to the pain treatment he’s already receiving. It was at 10am, but when you have kids, sometimes its easier to leave them at grandma’s for the night instead of rushing around in the morning ;) Thanks Grandma!! The doctor was Japanese, and had the classic R instead of L syndrome in his speech. I definitely recorded a small bit on my phone, sooooo hard to tell what he’s saying. This actually made it more nerve racking, when you can’t understand everything, and this man is about to put a giant needle in your spine. Ya know?!?
Long story short: it worked, he’s well, lunch in Joplin, faked interest at Ashley furniture, back home by 5!
Turns out, when they use epidural for more long term use (momma’s, instead of just for that one incredible time where you’re glad God made man smart enough to invent medicine!) they do it 2-3 times within 2-3 weeks each time, then possibly once every 1-3 months. The difference is incredible, we just want to see how this works with his body.




Lillian is walking! Walking!! I thought this day would NEVER arrive!! In fact, I had called and made a physical therapy appointment just to see if her legs (calves specifically) were underdeveloped in any way because she uses her thighs so much. They’re freakishly strong. It was like she heard me, rolled her eyes, huffed and said “Well if you’re going to freak out (hands waving vigorously in the air, obviously emphasizing criticism on FREAK OUT) on me, I’ll just get up and do it already. You are so not as fun as they say.” (she’s lying, I’m so much more fun than they say)

I loooove seeing her little body walking around like a little person!! It only took 18 and ½ months of waiting, patiently…And she’s so much more confident about it now, 4 days later showing off and acting like its every day normal. A.W.E.S.O.M.E.
Can I just say, or WARN, perhaps that’s a better description, that I am EVERY bit as fun and crazy as you see in pictures when I don’t have the girls to worry about. I am a small person, but there’s a big presence that takes over when my freedom takes hold!! So, there ya go. Its online, living virtual proof that you’ve had the opportunity to be warned. I am not some poised little mommy Barbie, at least, I’m sure I used to be somebody else before this mommy persona took control. I say this, because I have a few outings planned, and ya’ll need to be able to handle this jelly. Hahahah. Yeah…
((and now that I am aware of how my strange face contorts on film, I will try very hard to control it))

My previous hint in my last post can now be revealed! Doug got a raise, YEAH!! So proud, he does so well at whatever he goes for. Just even that he does well at his stressful job WHILE going to school and doing well there is amazing. Shout out. Shout out!!

I am definitely in need of a beautiful vacation. With lots of boozy fruity umbrella drinks. And sand. That is all.
-Kesolyn

At 70% off, you didn't just pick Coach. Coach picked YOU.

Its been a whirlwind of a month for the Erbs! I can most definitely say that I've helped that along, by finding how easy it is to make/freeze meals and pre-organize easy and healthy foods (insert pat on back). Aside from my normal mommy freezer meal swap, I went on a kick one morning and just didn't stop! While looking for a great new recipe for my mommy meal plan, I came across a site that had an ingenious idea: beef base. Beef base consists of ground beef, onion, and garlic. Simple, but very smart. From this, you can make: Tacos, just add taco seasoning. Beef Stroganoff. Sloppy Joes. Or, throw some spaghetti sauce on it. Sooo simple, my "DUH" light came on and I went with it. So making/freezing that aside, I also pre-made roast beef/colby jack/spinach leaves on ciabatta in saran wrap (just like they do in the store), Canadian Bacon/egg/cheese biscuits, shaved/pre-cut carrots in small baggies, boiled eggs, and made two batches of a delicious french onion soup (soooo delicious, found HERE).




Insanity? Lots of red bull? No. ingenious and rewarding. I can't explain how much pressure that takes off my day. I realize these are not the most amazingly elaborate meals, but who as a mom to four (I count Doug and Meelo in that, don't judge) really has the energy or time to make such with young kiddos? Nobody. If they say otherwise, they're lying. This is not underachievement, overachievement, this is survival.

Okay, semi-dramatic.

I had the most awesome time on Girl's Night Out, best friend assembling a team of her besties to take the hill on. Shoguns, high heels, wine, and Dickson. (I'm pretty sure I will need to undergo a complete makeover before ever showing my face at Shoguns again. GNO always has a mischievous flair in the air...) Said bestie's friend and co-worker totally popped a heel off her shoe, laughing hysterically said best friend conjured up medical tape from her miniature Coach wristlet (obviously prepared for whatever the night brings) and failed to find a way to tape the white tape on black heel properly. Laughing more. Man coming out of building from play stumbled upon six fierce vixens, and under our hypnosis gladly gave up his shoes for the hobbly one. Hahah, not really, but he had a whole slew of extra prop shoes for the play and helped a sista out! So funny, just a typical Saturday night. I'm pretty sure we were boo'd for singing "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" too.

I am no longer under the previous assumption that my mail lady is a cackling, wild haired tease. Funny how that comes and goes with the weather. I still can't believe she made me shovel 4 feet of snow from the delivery site before delivering my mail...I mean, I made her a special bag of cookies for Christmas and tucked them the box for her. Special. Cookies...

Doug has been soooo busy lately, and we're about to travel to Missouri to try a new way of dealing with his back pain. If you'd say a quick prayer for him that his epidural procedure goes smoothly, that'd be awesome. Tuesday morning this will take place. There may also be some exciting news, but I will have to wait to be sure I can report.

Speaking of Doug, I have to share a funny moment. We often watch movies together, and at least once a week we do a family pizza/movie night. There was NOTHING amazing at red box one night, and we resorted to tv and recordings.

"Is there anything good recorded?" he asks.
"Yeah, there's some good ones saved, I think." I answer.

He's quietly flipping through taking in all the amazing movies I have deemed A-list worthy for my quiet time...

"Keslyn, its like a BOX OF PMS!! Look, "Time Traveler's Wife", "The Last Song", "The Runaways", "The Nanny Diaries", "Valentine's Day". The only good thing you have is Anchor Man!!" Hahahahah. Thanks, dear. He's now decided he must take over again.


I had decided that setting aside a small portion of tax refund money for a "grown-up" purse was more than appropriate. I went one day to find a present for my brother-in-law and happened upon an amazing deal. Dillard's had a select variety of Coach purses on sale, 30% off. That week, there was an additional 40% off items already on clearance. So, guess who scored 70% off a gorgeous Coach purse? This happy girl right here! At 70% off, you didn't just pick Coach. Coach picked YOU.




And because I can't sign off sounding like a complete snot talking about a silly overpriced piece of pride, I'll share my reads! The books suggested to me by my librarian (who also suggested Racing In The Rain, she's pretty good at picking good ones) were: Three Cups of Tea (Project in Pakistan to build schools for children), The Help (1960's setting about a small town and the women in it), A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and Olive Kitteridge (about an old fictional lady reviewing her life after retirement). I'm so busy, I'm not sure I'll get through them all but I'll keep them as long as the library will let me :)

-Kesolyn

RednecksMeetAndDrink.com

Random Picture Time!











So, we get it, Old Man Winter…you’ve huffed and puffed and blown us all in, literally. There’s approximately a foot of snow encasing our home on all sides, which is sure to make us homebound (auto correct on my phone made us “homegirls”). Its too cold to enjoy!! I spent 30 minutes getting the girls ready, layer after layer and searching for the right clothes because you know there will be pictures taken. Addie was ready first, so she went out first. Lillian and I took another 15 minutes to get ready, and when we went out to play Addie was already done, pouting by the door, having decided not to share her pretty smile. Lillian took her glove off while I was arguing with Addie to smile for a picture, shoved her hand into the snow, and when the iciness started attacking her fingers taking no mercy on this new, naïve butterball of warmth, she shrieked. Both kids now crying and begging to go inside, I drag them back in. Will they remember all that I have done for them on this day when I am old and decrepit? No. They will remember and tell stories about the time I lost it and sent the milk cup flying because I was being treated like a maid (“Mom, you have a whole mess of things going on in the kitchen, are pressed for time, and a crying baby, but you STILL haven’t put milk in my empty cup. I told you three times!”). This is surely one of those momentss when taking a deep breath and remembering that God made these times to appreciate the exceptionally good days, is necessary.

Or just slam things around, and rip pizza rounds open to make for dinner…

A couple of nights ago I awoke in the chilly wee hours to find something crawling around in my bed, beginning to find me under the covers. A woodpecker! How did it find its way into my tightly secured-to-keep-the-cold-out house? My dreams! Two woodpeckers to be exact. Doug and I were at Creekmore Park, having a picnic and I spotted a woodpecker in the trees, and suddenly one under my blanket coming up like it was a groundhog. Doug didn’t notice my freaking out because he was yelling and becoming angry at my brother, who was far away teasing him by pretending he was gay, holding hands with a random dude. (What this would mean if I were to decode my dreams, I have absolutely no idea and I’m sure I don’t really want to know.)
What really happened? The woodpecker from my dreams under the covers was actually Addie, having awoken from a bad dream about a woodpecker! The woodpecker!! He’s everywhere, haunting us Erbs. I am afraid to show Lillian the pages with birds in her books, for this very reason now. Having a 4 year old in your bed is interesting. I am laying there, awake, for oh say another hour and a half afterwards. She’s tossing, turning, breathing out of her good nose hole. I have this awful taste in my mouth, I think it might be…yes, it is definitely cheez-its. When did I eat Cheez-its? GASP, Kestan!!!! She drank the rest of my bottle of Little Black Dress (which is very good by the way, in moderation) and ate cheez-its, having decided to go to bed without brushing her teeth, indubitably inducing deep sleep where my crazy dreams can find me. We are not on speaking terms.

I saw this commercial for BlackPeopleMeet.com. Segregation at its finest? Feeling like you can’t be a part of something only makes you want to lash back bigger and harder. I will start a RednecksDrinkAndMeet.com. It will mostly take place in the back end of someone’s woods around a bonfire. This person may or may not know their property is being used for such dating experiences. We do not discriminate against missing teeth, fingers, or overall knowledge of the use of the word “kilt” (some will argue this is from a movie they once saw where a funny looking ginger-like man wore a special skirt and nobody kicked their ass, and some will argue it means they “kilt” a turkey last hunting season, but not in time for Thanksgiving dinner). Men to women ratio will likely be 5:2, though most women will be sloshed twice as fast as the men, because the cooler will start leaking and in an effort to save the beer they will be drank shotgun while the ingenuity to rig it with duct tape is still being sought out.“I’m Pretty Good at Drinking Beer” will be played on repeat. It will be good times. ONLY if you are redneck, which is of course, a special breed of American. End story.

I can’t hear very well. Since being sick, I’ve had this pressure in my head that really just disrupts my hearing just a little. Loud noises, like putting away dishes, the clanking noise really pierces my ear and feels amplified because of my invisible layer…much like what I believe it would sound like inside a drum. I’m trying not to complain too much about this, because really it’s a big relief to just deal with this! Without the pressure and headache, and needle poking behind your eye feeling. The only downside, is I’m unsure how loud my mumbles are. A mumble is a mumble for a reason, my dear :D I could be plainly stating what I thought I was sassily saying to myself.” I was putting you in your place in my head, but you could hear me, and I didn’t mean for that to…” Mechhh. Cabin Fever, it’s a real thing!!!!

Because we can’t just run out to the store right now, I’ve had to make do with the stuff we have here. No big deal! I found a great homemade macaroni recipe, and it turned out great. Its no Paula Deen, which my SIL makes on special occasion dinners, but its pretty good:
Mac’N’Cheese
8 oz uncooked elbow macaroni
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
½ cup grated parmesean cheese
3 cups milk
¼ cup butter
2 ½ tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons butter
½ cup bread crumbs
1 pinch paprika

Cook macaroni according to the package directions. Drain. In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in enough flour to make a roux. Add milk to roux slowly, stirring constantly. Stir in cheeses, and cook over low heat untl cheese is melted and the sauce is a little thick. Put macaroni in large casserole dish, and pour sauce over macaroni. Stir well. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add breadcrumbs and brown. Spread over the macaroni and cheese to cover. Sprinkle with a little paprika. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 min. Serve. (I didn’t have the time, the butter, or the breadcrumbs to spare so I just made the macaroni and sauce, stirred that together well and served. Good stuff.)

I made it with Rachel Ray’s chicken tenders “everything” recipe, and peaches. Easy and great dinner, everyone ate quite well :)


This is "Daddy", hanging out on Lillian's crib...is this not as randomly funny as I think? I mean, if it was just there, and you didn't do it yourself and therefore didn't know...



The dog won’t go into the snow to do her business. So she pees on the steps and walks through it. Awesome!!
Keslyn

Fun sucker. Jerk.

Everyone has something that keeps them going, something that frees them from the stresses of weekly life. I say weekly, because in my life, I don’t always have daily stresses. I quite enjoy the balance in my life, and I can honestly say I will look back later in life and say I am glad I had these years at home with the girls. Daily frustrations, that’s a better way to explain it.

My frustrations are released through sarcasm, witty but cutting banter. This, I have control of. I let Kestan fully take over. Kestan comes to life when I am sick, stressed, tired, hungry, migraine-y, down, angry, and sad. She makes mean jokes, snaps quickly, has a quick temper, irritable, and just in general needs to be avoided. After a particularly long day or evening, you can find her sipping on a bottle of red wine, soaking in much pleasure while watching misery shows. Misery shows, are shows created to make you feel better watching someone else’s stupidity or desperation. Wipeout, for example, watching desperate people bound and leap for a chance at 10k. Idiots. Kestan laughs heartily when they look stupid, having no control over the situations. This is not a case of double personality, more or less a FULL personality. Kestan has been visiting (intruding) today. Without calling, or even knocking. She just bulldozed right in, bringing her loud, obnoxious self and sprawling herself out all over my couch, even having the nerve to ask me for cookies. She’s annoyed because she drank too much coffee, and now has the jitters. She’s annoyed because she doesn’t want to clean the house, because its always a mess just a few minutes after she’s cleaned it. I try telling her she will feel better if the house is clean, that clutter is in fact stressful on 80% of people. She tells me I am making that up. Liar. We argue for a while, I tell her she’s sucking the life out of me today. Fun sucker. Jerk. And NO, I DIDN’T MAKE THE DAMN COOKIES FOR YOU!!!! That’s right, I went there, came back, and slapped yo momma with that one.

I will send your mom an apology letter later…please send my reguards.

This semester is looking rough for Doug, for the three days he was off he did nothing but homework. Literally. From the moment after breakfast, until dinner, then after dinner til bed time. I hate that. He is seriously considering finding a part time, or less demanding job with more regular hours. This is a hard decision, and we are praying about it. We appreciate the security we currently have, but he’s running himself dog tired and spreading too thin. A job at the school would be awesome and ideal! Unfortunately, its extremely difficult making that happen. And of course, this is all hypothetical. This is my opinion. Wal-Mart has shown us nothing of the kind and family oriented workplace they have promoted of themselves. Empty promises. One would have to push to make things happen, and even then you wouldn’t get very far by yourself. Ask yourself, do you know ANYONE who is actually happy with the way things work at Wal-Mart? No.

Lillian is a funny baby. She laughs at everything, so easy. We currently have a hitting problem, when she’s frustrated or told no. Its not really even hitting, because its so light, but she does it in a way to make herself clear about what she means by it. This is a hard habit for me to break. I’ve tried several different ways of handling this, including ignoring it. This makes her hit harder and faster, with yelling. I’ve hit her back, softly in her belly to show her how it feels. This makes her cry and I feel bad. I’ve been told to try squeezing her hand lightly, its not supposed to feel good. I’ve done this most often, but she laughs!! She looks at me, opens her mouth as if to cry, and laughs!! Ahahaha…then she gives me the grinning “I’m so naughty but its funny” face and I have to turn away so I can laugh. This does NOT help my situation!! I love her too much. I know I’m turning her into a stinker. I will fix this, eventually.

This is one of the cutest pictures, they’re both sick, watching a Baby Einstein. Why does sitting in something special make them feel better? I have no idea!!




We watched Alpha and Omega last pizza/movie night. I really don’t recommend it, its not that great and has adult innuendo that was not only inappropriate, but not funny either. Don’t waste your time on that one! I can’t wait til we can get our hands on Tangled!!

I suppose I should end this and run out to the store to prepare for the ice storm that’s coming. Stuff like this always seems to happen when Doug has to work. Ugh. Don’t forget to make snow ice cream!! :D

-Kesolyn

p.s. I've realized how truly blessed I am recently. My silly personality probably overshadows that, but I know we are only here because God has allowed us to come this far. I am thankful that I can be who I am, and still serve an amazing God! I have grown spiritually a great deal this past year, and I appreciate everyone's support in this process. I love you all!!

"A dark side where all my inappropriate jokes dwell."

There are a few things in my life that bring me joy throughout my day.

We have recently acquired the funniest little dog from a friend who is overworked and over-schooled. She thinks she is attention starved, and always feels the need to touch me, to lay on me if I am still. Very much so a lap dog. I do not mind this. At any given time, and although there are many spots to claim, there are four of us occupying one space on the couch. I, naturally, am to act as the base. Sitting beside me, is Addie. Lillian is standing at my feet leaning against me. Meelo, the dog, is fighting for lap space with Addie. She believes she is a third child. I don’t believe she has ever known herself to be a dog, but simply another person with some sort of super-natural ability to grow thick body hair and a heightened sense of smell to detect what we have eaten by our burps. She has an underbite, which is quite comical on occasion…such as when she’s mad, sulking or just plain furious, she cocks her head over her shoulder (back naturally on you) to look you square in the eyes, underbite screaming “B*tch, pleeeease.”. She’s got jokes. Because of these moments, I always pounce on the ability to laugh hysterically when she misjudges distance, and falls off the couch. Or, say when she walks through the yard, stepping lightly and sometimes scurrying away from possibly having just stepped on one of her bombs. In my head, she’s saying “Damnit! It got on me! Why don’t you clean this place up!” Muahahaha, I laugh, evilly standing there watching her. THAT’S why. I like to presume everyone has a certain feel for how their dogs would be if they could talk. This, is mine.

I finished The Art of Racing in the Rain by Mark Stein, this is probably the source of my point above. This book is every bit as awesome as the reviews say. You may think its silly at first, being written from the family dog’s view points, but it is in fact a good read. He has a dark sense of humor that totally appeals to me, as I have a dark side where all my inappropriate jokes dwell. I can’t say too much without giving away important parts, but I definitely recommend it!

Its amazing how children can change and adapt to their surroundings, flourishing in less than fairytale homes. I truly believe God made children easily adaptable and quick to heal just for such cases. Its funny how dreams change, but still come true all the time. People overlook these small miracles throughout their lives. New dreams emerge practically overnight, keeping pace with our daily life, which ALWAYS evolves. We once dreamed of owning a home. Achieved. We dreamed of going back to school, half achieved. We dream of whisking away for the weekend to some magical island any time we pleased and having the freedom to do so with no responsibilities. Achie…well, still working on that one. When I first became a mom, my dream was for my child to survive me learning how to become a parent. Since nobody has died from my experimental meals, or extreme mood swings once a month, I think that deserves a check. Big thanks to Big Mack Daddy above who surely has made this possible. He really did right by us, creating us in a way that makes us adore our children, becoming fiercely protective of their safety, even from ourselves. Suppose that’s why we become so irrational and uptight after having a baby? I like to think that the parents who don’t care and do more harm to their children than good are more closely related to RATS. Rats (in a Norway study) will actually eat their young. Disgusting vermon who possibly don’t deserve to multiply. You all know someone who is like this. You (like me) might possibly even be related to these, rats.

Recently, I called in to pay an outrageous electric bill. After I gave her my information and begrudgingly paid it, I asked if there was some sort of spike or new fee for everyone last month. She tells me it was an estimated bill!! What the hell! She tells me “It appears, and I’m not sure why, but your meter was never read so it was estimated to be that much.” Great. I have a lazy bastard meter reader assigned to my route. And because I didn’t bother to open with that question, I had already paid and couldn’t get that back. Thanks a lot. Goodbye extra $80.

I am also in an ongoing (but healthy) argument on whether or not pancakes in an aerosol can are awesome or not…

I think I’m going to start a bucket list! I’ve already checked one off recently, it took me way out of my comfort zone. I love control. I am a control freak. My name is Keslyn…blah blah blah. But I did it!

Go for your dreams, shoot for the stars!! (and whatever else the pitiful self help books shove down deep in your mind)

-Kesolyn

"Got Jesus on my necklaces-ezz-ezz…"

I feel like on more than one occasion recently, there’s been a LOT of broadcasts on relationship problems. I am no relationship expert. We could talk more, make more time to communicate. Have you heard the terms, “Make love”? I saw a movie recently that explained it quite well. “Making love” doesn’t just refer to the physical aspect, but as in “Make love work”. As in TRY, fail and stumble, but TRY. I can understand if you fell in love, and that person turned out to be a crazed psychopath who sucked the life out of you, bared bloody fangs and then you decided to end it. What I mean though, is people making a commitment, then bailing when the times get hard. I won’t lie, I do tend to follow the “fight or flight” rules when under stress, visa vie smaller problems. This TRYing thing seems to have ended after my generation. Falling in love, tearing each other apart, attempting poorly to nurse the mangled remains. Moving on. Within a matter of weeks. Being suddenly in love, again!! “This is perfect, it will last, I’ve found my other half!!” REPEAT. Idiots. Life could certainly hurt a lot less. We eventually become numb to it, just another day, another rumor. So, to my younger generations, please stop this lunacy. You’re screwing up the world my kids will eventually live in!!

Molars!! We are working on cutting molars! This is the least amount of fun for her…I feel so bad, but I just can’t help but squeeze her and accept her loving sobs all over my shirt. I rocked her for 20 minutes! Well, she’s always been a lovey baby, and I can do this any time, but its that special feeling when the only person that can make it feel better is YOU. I just love her!! Still major slinkage when she doesn’t want to be made to walk…hilarious crumpling to the ground and absolute refusal. “No.” Hahah…She’s such a diva.

My aunt pointed out that my kids sleep nearly 12 hours at night, plus a two-three hour nap. I now understand just how lucky I am!! I can’t help but wonder why I would ever want to add a third to the mix and mess that up?!?

I was singing Taylor Swift’s (of ALL people, of ALL songs in the world) December, its one of those that just sticks in my head.

Addie is eating lunch, she asks me “Mom, can you sing (insert sudden dark/low voice noise) Got Jesus on my necklaces-ezz-ezz…”

Ahahahahaha…I laughed and laughed!! There’s only so much children’s singing and country and KLRC a mom can take, and this is one of my favorite up-beat songs. I am shamefully a fan of Ke$ha. She’s in the same category as Miley Ray Cyrus. I like her too, I’m a closet MRC lover. Party in the USA really did that one in for me…Doug thinks he’s married a 15 year old. I am young at heart, let me be young at heart and dumb!!! I’m well rounded, I like everything!!

Addie is doing great at everything, she loves to learn. We breezed through X, Y, Z flashcards reading each word fairly easily. This kid even uses the potty, wipes herself, then puts herself to bed for a nap. This makes me wonder what I really am doing with my free time since both my kids are independent and very capable…I need a hobby. Suggestions? (This obviously has to be something I can learn myself, and at home during breaks!)

Inception. Amazing movie. Amazingly confusing if you’re not paying attention. LeoDi in that one. Buried, Ryan Reynolds…I’m not sure I would watch it ever again. He was nominated for his role? Shocking, this was filmed with just him, in a box, buried alive. Obviously, given the title. Due Date, Zach Galafianakis, Robert Downey Jr. I think if you’re a teenager, or a drunk man, this would be funnier. I’m just NOT a fan of RDJ cursing and using the F word so much. He’s such a classy guy!! I like dumb movies, in fact I will watch Anchorman, Mean Girls, or Hangover if its on any channel, but this was a low level of comedy I even found distasteful. (“My father, the inventor of toaster strudel, wouldn’t be too pleased to hear about this.” haha)

The Amazing Loaf
1 pkg McCormick’s meatloaf seasoning
1 lb. ground beef
1 TBSP olive oil
1 small Vidalia or yellow onion, chopped
1 celery stalk, sliced
2 carrots, chopped
2 small potatoes, chopped
1 egg
Handful of bread crumbs
1 teaspoon celery salt
Pepper (to taste)
1 pkg McCormick’s brown gravy mix

Heat oven to 400 degree. Give the frying pan a good glug of olive oil, then over medium-high heat cook the onions, celery, carrots, and potatoes until soft, about 10-15 minutes, salt and pepper slightly. Remove from heat and cool. In a large bowl, mix ground beef, meatloaf seasoning, celery salt, pepper, egg, bread crumbs, and cooled pan ingredients until fairly blended. Shape into two loaves, in a 9x13 pan and bake for approx 35 minutes, checking for doneness. While meatloaf is baking, make brown gravy mix according to package. Serve with buttered peas, and rolls!! YUM…great alternative to ordinary meatloaf.

I will hopefully be attempting to try making homemade dish detergent, HERE. MoneySavingMom.com is a great website I encourage penny pinchers to check out, she teaches you a lot of things and there's tons of helpful advice as well as fun stuff!! I also read putting distilled vinegar in the jet dry spot will help with dish cloudiness? My SIL puts bleach in the bottom to be sure they’re extra clean. My MIL boils dish detergent on the stove to clean hard to remove black burn remains. I guess I married into a family of intelligence here!! They know everything!! I will also try my first deal scenario using coupons and in-store coupons coupled with sales this week. I’m really not sure I’m coupon using and deal swindling material, not to this extreme but it should be interesting 

Happy Monday!
Kesolyn

P.S. I am addicted to Angry Birds, the game on iPhone/iPad (or the “I” own you technology). I have wasted SO much time bombarding those pigs, and they just keep laughing at me!!!

“SNIIIIIIIIIPPP.”

I have to start this blog off with a funny story:

Doug has his hair cut, maybe once a month. I think this is more of a rebellious “I can grow my hair out if I want” phase leftover from army life. (This includes facial hair, full beard and moustache) When he has it cut, he also has them trim his beard and moustache for him. He generally comes home looking very suave and attractive, and most of the time I can’t leave him alone for a few days afterwards 
I was up close to his face before he was leaving for work (because he’s just so good looking when its neatly trimmed!) and noticed one stray hair sticking 4 cm past his other hairs. I poke fun, he tells me to fix it. Very hastily, I grab the best scissors we have that we normally use for trimming hair, and snip it off.

Here’s the sound: “SNIIIIIIIIIPPP.”

The number of i’s represent how many I actually cut off.
Not my best work. His eyes buldge, widening and narrowing at the same time, mostly in my direction. I think my heart was still beating, it was in my throat but it was beating. Fast.
“No no no, its fine babe. Really.” I can’t help but laugh as he goes to the mirror. Facial hair is definitely ONE thing proud men like to have nicely grown, perhaps sometimes burly looking depending on the taste. Awesome!! It was a little patch. R.I.P. Little Patch.

Its been a very interesting winter break (I’m now and as always on Doug’s schedule time wise. I am now referring to blog dates as reference in school schedules!). Our heat was off, many many times. We had men come out at least 6 different times, two different companies. This is extremely irritating, as well as heavy on the pockets. Wires, control boards, cleaning, tidying up, replacing, cleaning, cleaning, cleaning has taken place. We might have the world’s cleanest and best running system that has been checked and re-checked, and is in full working order. (for now, until it breaks down again. I no longer have faith in the piece of junk)

I can honestly and safely recommend Steve Reeves of Reeves Heating and Cooling in Rogers, AR. Great guy, efficient, not a talker. Gets the job done, with the right tools, that he ACTUALLY KNOWS HOW TO USE.

We had date night!! Grandma and Auntie gave Addie two fun filled nights away, she thought it was the best thing to ever happen to her. I scored on a wonderful babysitter for Lil one night, and we were off. Dinner at Texas Land and Cattle (two dollar margaritas, Thursday night. I do NOT recommend the bacon wrapped sirloin unless you can make sure they will cook it exactly as you ask. BUT, the beef soup is amazing. Potato undercooked.) We saw True Grit, great for a western! I didn’t fully understand the hype, because the story line just sort of ends matter of factly. I even bought the third book in a series I was reading (The Uglies, Scott Westerfeld. Fourth book I’ve been told has pros and cons. I am choosing not to read it, I don’t think it has too much to do with the first three, as it has different characters. I WILL say, however, that it IS a little younger than my taste. It’s YA section too, but so is Hunger Games and they were way more intense. Read if you like, they’re interesting enough to read in your quiet time.)

I believe I will be starting The City of Embers series soon. Cooking up times to meet a friend and swap STUFF. Yay!

I was sick as a dog the next day, stomach bug that everyone has gotten by now. Grr. This one came with flu-like pain in my back and legs? Woorrrd, awful.

I’ve also done an organic meal swap with my mommy’s group…cooking for 5-6 families this time! Two meals each. I made Greek Beef and Orzo (Originally Greek Lamb and Orzo, but I have conniptions about buying lamb, haha. Amazing with cheese! Easy too, in fact I might post recipe below!) and Chicken/rice soup.

Greek Beef and Orzo (in less than 30 min)1 lb. ground beef
2 cans (14.5 oz each) diced tomatoes
1 cup orzo (orzo is found in rice section)
Salt/pepper, to taste
1 tbs Parsley
1 cup cheese (to taste)

Brown beef in large sauce pan using salt/pepper, drain fat. Add both cans diced tomatoes, and parsley (I added this to recipe, parsley is good and delicious for it!) Bring to boil, turn down LOW and add orzo. Cover and simmer 10-15 min, stirring occasionally until orzo soaks liquid and softens. Sprinkle cheese, serve!! (Thanks Betty Crocker Pasta!!)

My favorite finds recently:
The Falsies, Maybelline mascara. I use waterproof. Be sure to scrape off excess from brush to tube’s side!!
3D Vivid White toothpaste.
TreSemme naturals volume conditioner.

Christmas was great! I undercooked potatoes, danced horribly to Michael Jackson’s Dance game on Wii, and fully recovered from my chemical burn (that I thought was poison ivy in my last post? UHM, so yeah…wouldn’t recommend Olay’s sensitive skin moisturizer!!). I just kept rubbing that stuff in every time it got painful and my drying agent (for poison ivy, no less) would work too well. It just kept making it worse! For A MONTH. ON MY FACE. Thanks!

Lillian and Addie have been super fun…Addie has been going through a phase where she thinks she’s an adult. I think we’ve nipped that in the rear by now. She says funny things, ALL the time.
Like, “Mommy, are those spanking spoons and forks over there??” very loudly in a Wal-Mart aisle, pointing to a random set on an end cap. Hilarious, horrifying, straight up Arkansas-like. (And no, I could care less what anyone feels about that one)

Lillian is signing back to me! Simple, easy things, but this is the most fun stage and I loooove it. She knows “More”, “Milk”, “Cracker”, “Eat” (described with noise too), and "All Done". She recognizes many more, but those are the ones she does on her own with no assistance so far! She says “Thank You”, “Momma/Dada/Addie”, "Bye", "Hi", “Eggs”, and “NO”, which is by far her favorite.

Doug has recently found out good news, he might be graduating with an associates in science by the end of this year! If he can keep this up, this running dog tired and crazily thing til then. I’m so proud of him, I just keep hoping we will have an amazingly good 2011!!

To sum it up, its been a rocky start…but I’m so grateful for everything God has worked out for us, and we’re anxious to see what this year unfolds for The Erbs!!

-Kesolyn