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February 28, 2007
why should I play w/ my kids?
here's why...
terri: okay, let me go play with my child
krystal: ok
terri: before she grows up and hires her retarded boyfriend to kill me
Posted by krystal at 5:33 PM | Comments (1)
February 25, 2007
Pampered chef kegger? but of course.
Last night was a hoot. We ate really good food and drank beer from a mini-keg that was entirely too mini. In the future I'll get more than one. It was a very long and tiring week. Sadness and stress have been looming over my every thought. Last night, though, we had girl-talk and crying babies and wine and laughter and friendship. I woke up thinking about what kickass friends I have. We're also pretty funny. At least you couldn't have convinced us otherwise last night.
I woke up to a snow storm...fantastic.
Here are some recipes for the food we ate last night.
Hot Artichoke Dip
2 jars (6 ozs each) marinated artichoke hearts
1 pkg (10 ozs) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1 garlic clove, pressed
½ cup sour cream
½ cup mayonnaise
¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 374 degrees. Drain and coarsely chop artichoke hearts with Food Chopper. Mix artichoke hearts with remaining ingredients in Batter Bowl. Spoon into Mini- Baker. Bake 20-25 minutes or until heated through. Serve with bread baked in the Valtrompia Bread Tube or, for a healthier choice, fresh vegetables.
Yield: 10-15 appetizer servings
Approximately - 114 calories and 8 grams of fat per serving.
Tomato Basil Squares
1 pkg (10 ozs) refrigerated pizza dough/crust or homemade
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1 ounce (1/4 cup) fresh Parmesan cheese, grated
2 tbsps fresh basil leaves, snipped
2/3 cup mayonnaise
1 garlic clove, pressed
5 plum tomatoes, thinly sliced
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Roll pizza dough onto 12 x 15 Rectangle Baking Stone to within 1 inch of edges using lightly floured Dough and Pizza Roller. Sprinkle crust with 1 cup mozzarella cheese.
Grate Parmesan cheese using Deluxe Cheese Grater. Snip basil with Kitchen Cutters or chop with Food Chopper. In 1-qt Batter Bowl, combine mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, basil and remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Press garlic over cheese mixture using Garlic Press; mix well using Super Scraper. Thinly slice tomatoes using the Ultimate Grate and Slice; arrange in single layer over top of mozzarella cheese. Top tomatoes with cheese mixture using medium Stainless Steel Scoop; spread evenly. Bake 15-20 minutes or until top is golden and bubbly. Serve warm. Cut with Pizza Cutter; serve with Mini Serving Spatula.
Yield: 20 servings
Approximately - 130 calories and 9 grams of fat per serving
Also, just in case anyone wants to order and couldn't make it last night, here is Amy's site
http://www.pamperedchef.biz/chefamyskitchen
Please be sure to enter Krystal O'Brien into the host's name so I'll get credit for your purchase.
I have to jet now, my tomato basil squares just beeped. Thanks to everyone who came last night!
Posted by krystal at 11:58 AM | Comments (5)
February 23, 2007
From manda's blog
Several people have asked if we have designated a charity, and we have. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Ronald McDonald House of Northern Virginia. We lived in their house for over 3 months. They gave us the unique opportunity to be able to parent Aleah, to be with her daily. In the end, she was in the hospital longer than at home. We want to get a plaque and plant a tree in her memory.
The contact information is as follows:
Ronald McDonald House Charities of NoVA
In Memoriam of Aleah Colburn
Attn: Sally Krahn
3312 Gallows Road
Falls Church, VA 22042
703-698-7080
Please do. The RMH is wonderful...they even let parents stay in the Richmond RMH when thier deaf child wants to come to summer school with us. They truly are wonderful.
Posted by krystal at 7:27 PM | Comments (1)
Aleah
Manda,
I don't know how you lose a child and continue breathing. I just know that it's wrong...we should never have to bury our children. You're a strong woman and a wonderful mom...but you know that. Please just know that you are not mourning alone, you are not crying alone.
My prayers are with you and Jason and Ada.
love,
Krystal
Posted by krystal at 7:26 AM | Comments (0)
February 22, 2007
burn bridges not tables, kids.
We've been a vomitose mess here this week. Tess had a bug, which she kindly gave to Jake. While she was at it, she passed it along to Gayle too. Dan's got flames shooting out of his ass and I'm just sittin' around thinking "If I were them, i coulda possibly lost 2 or 3 pounds by now".
I hope we've seen the last of this bug but there are 3 more people in this family and we all know that if one gets it, they all do. I'm just hoping if it happens, it'll happen on Friday when James takes the kids.
***
Jake and his friend decided that they should put a high powered lamp face down on the desk at school. Because of the giant hole they burned in the table, he's at home this week. The principal swears Jake's a good kid and it was just "horseplay" but now he gets to horseplay his ass to a job and pay for a table, as well as paying for his own drivers ed. A lesson in responsibility never hurt anyone. I've also spent the past few days trying to find some crappy jobs for him to do. If anyone needs horse shit shoveled or something, please get in touch.
***
This weekend is my pampered chef partaay. I'm looking forward to it. I got my ingredients so I can make the stuff I have to make. I'm just counting on Amy to show me what to do. I ALSO got my house cleaned this week. It'd been a long time since it had a deep cleaning but maaan it looks so nice. I don't want the kids to touch a THING.
***
Tonight we go to puppy bootcamp and visit Leeeeeroy Jenkins. We're all excited about that. I'm also excited because tonight's Survivor and Grey's Anatomy. Terri's coming over to watch survivor with us...we have a new tradition. survivor night!! woot.
Posted by krystal at 5:33 AM | Comments (3)
February 19, 2007
presidentschmesident
I'm not off today even though GEORGE WASHINGTONS BIRTHDAY IS BEING CELEBRATED. George and I were tight. I am sincerely sorry mr.firstpresident. Happy 275th birthday anyway.
My colon cleansing is feeling like a failure. Everyone else doing it is just eliminating all day long but not me. I'm on day 8 now and I've had one poop that was better than normal. I need substance. I feel like I'm 6 months pregnant because all this fiber I'm taking and all this water I'm drinking. Anyone got some stretchy pants I can borrow? Please colon cleanser, please start working soon. I know I'm fulla crap, I just know it.
Posted by krystal at 7:33 AM | Comments (3)
February 17, 2007
movin and groovin
Today I'm going over to help Gayle and Wil move. They've gotta stay put this time though cuz moving sucks. Their new house is really cute so I imagine this'll be the last move for a while. I was thinking that now that dan and I both have cool new jobs we could start considering a newer bigger house with a back yard that's not a jungle, but then I remember the hassle of moving and packing and then I remember why I stay put.
Once we're done moving stuff and I take Jake to the movies, we're going to Terri's house for a Saw III partay. I'm stoked cuz Jake's gotta watch Tessie for us. I just hope x 3 that Dan gets some sleep while we're gone today so he can enjoy tonight. His work shift on weekends sucks arse.
Posted by krystal at 8:49 AM | Comments (3)
February 16, 2007
dog gone
Yesterday I dropped poor Leeeeeroy Jennnnkins off at doggie boot camp. He is the most adorable puppy ever but he's been doing that stuff that puppies do. ie: destroying my gd house. He also bites and barks and basically has the potential to become a major pain in the ass. A coworker told me about the success he'd had with taking his dog to boot camp and Dan and I decided that if we're going to keep our baby dog, we'd better get him on the straight and narrow fast before one of us kills him. Today we went for our orientation and it was a little hard to swallow. The trainer knows dogs. He explained the dog brain to us in terms that aren't easy to dispute because his success rate is uh, 100%, but when someone says "a dog doesn't have FEELINGS, he doesn't love you, he doesn't hate you, he doesn't do things to get back at you"....those are things I'm not sure I believe. It was kind of cool that he explained to us that a dog's brain has binary thoughts. I wonder if he just said that because he figured Dan and I would believe it easier if he put it in words we'd understand? It's still too early to say what I believe about our training so far, but I want my dog to sit obediently at my feet and stop running when I say stop. I want him to stop chewing up dolls and stop peeing on the floor. I want him to be a content part of our family and if this guy can get us there, I'll beliieve that the moon is made of swiss cheese. I miss my puppy already. This is going to be a long 30 days.
Posted by krystal at 6:47 PM | Comments (3)
February 14, 2007
ballentimes day
The day was as uneventful as my colon cleansing. I am not complaining though...there's something lovely about sitting around in pjs watching tivo.
For anyone interested in seeing tons of poop...here's where we got our colon cleansing stuff....
http://drnatura.com
Posted by krystal at 6:39 PM | Comments (1)
February 13, 2007
Because I can, that's why.
I got up at 2:30 when Dan left this morning. It's sposta snow and sleet and I was hoping for a nice day off w/ the kidlets but much to my chagrin, there's nothing going on. It's spitting sleet a little but that's not gonna cut it for me. I need some major weather action. I had a flashback to when I used to commute and went to walmart at 3am. That is always fun. I needed orange juice. Yea, and uhh, cottage cheese. andotherstufflikecookiesthatyoumusthavewhensnowedandsleetedinwith4kids.
So yesterday I started cleansing my colon. I'm a follower so since Terri and Scot are pooping regularly, I needed to poop regularly. I'm draggin' Dan along on the journey as well because he's a follower too. We need clean insides. So far I'm just HOPING, but soon I'm sure the cleansing will begin in full force, if you catch my drift. I'm gonna give up red meat for a while, too. That's the best I can conntribute towards my diet at this point. Until the weather warms up I'm stuck in comfort food mode. I'll get past it...just as soon as I see my fat body in spring clothes.
Right now the puppy is alternating between eating firewood and trying to eat Tessie's toys. We're considering taking him to puppy boot camp. It's pretty expensive but if we're gonna keept his little mutt, we might want him to stop destroying our shit, ya know? He's not horrible, but he is kind of obnoxious. Sort of like Jake. :)
Posted by krystal at 4:46 AM | Comments (5)
February 7, 2007
Grateful that Ryan Oneil is not my daddy.
Today was the bomb. The kids didn't have school and I had a 2 hour delay. A day of peace and quiet and "gettin' my nails did", was just what I needed. Since I work for the schools, if there's no school, there's not a whole lot to do...I just have to be there. That's ok, cuz I needed to spend my day paying bills, inviting folks to my pampered chef party and tying up loose ends.
Tess says more and more things now. She says "pizza" "Izzy" (which sounds a lot like pizza), and a large quantity of "nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo". Also if you say "ready ...set..." she says "go!".
I really need to get busy studying for my next MCSA test so if anyone wants to sit here and read me questions, say the word. My eyes go screwy reading all of this stuff.
This weekend is book club/candle party at Amy's house. I read the book right away so I hope I can remember enough about it to discuss it.
Posted by krystal at 3:54 PM | Comments (2)
February 6, 2007
inside out
Please wear your pjs inside out tonight. They're calling for snow and I want enough to stay home.
xoxo
Posted by krystal at 12:07 PM | Comments (1)
February 4, 2007
Pamper me
I posted this on the basement but not everyone who peruses this blog reads there I guess. In any case, I'm having a pampered chef partay on 2/24 at 6:30. If you want to come drink my wine and eat my food, drop me a note so I can make sure we have enough food.
I hope to have a good turnout because I love Amy and she's gonna do the show. BESIDES...gadgets are fun.
Posted by krystal at 11:27 AM | Comments (1)
Fondue deux
Last night we dropped the kids off at a birthday party and then ate the leftover fondue meat at Gayle and Wil's house. I think it's awesome how everytime we eat fondue we make a weekend of it.
Aside from the eat-a-thon, I have accomplished nothing this weekend.
Posted by krystal at 7:52 AM | Comments (0)
February 3, 2007
quelle fromage
Last night we christened the raclette in grand fashion. We had boiled potatoes, gerkins, meat, peppers, onions and white wine. We also had a batch of the stinkiest cheese I've ever smelled. Since I wasn't really sure how it'd all go...we also had fondue. Cheese fondue and hot oil. Everyone got to fix their food the way they liked and thankfully, the stinky raclette cheese does lose some of it's kick when you melt it. I believe everything went along swimmingly. I had read that you need to drink cold white wine because it helps you digest the cheese. I think I had some of that and some red wine. I say "think" because just about the time I got done with round 2 of eating and then ate some chocolate fondue/s'mores for dessert, my body said "go to bed".
So I did.
I stripped down and went to bed. I had a house full of people and food all out and I went to bed. Sorry guys. I vow to get my groove back. Dammit. I think I was just so comfortably full of the delicious food and the lovely wine, and I slept like a corpse all night. It was a wonderful night, even if it was trunkated.
I think we all agreed though, raclette is perfect paired with fondue but we should break tradition in the future and use another type of cheese. Silly Americans. We just don't know good cheese when we taste it.
Posted by krystal at 8:06 AM | Comments (1)
February 1, 2007
woot!
I've been obsessed w/ woot.com for the past 3 days since there's a wootoff going on. How fun. I can look at all of the things on sale for phenomenal prices and still not buy them because I have no moolah.
Dan's been working the craziest hours ever but it's paying off I think. He's making himself known by moving things around and thinking of ways to improve their processes and hopefully soon he'll get to do some developer things. He's smart AND hot. How lucky for me.
This month our calendar is full already. It's the shortest month so that's not hard I guess but we have book clubs, candle parties, friends moving, a movie night, dinner parties and pampered chef, pottery classes. Then the first weekend of March is going to be girls night out w/ the fredtalkers....Tree, you should line up a sitter and come down for that because it's the coolestestestest ever. We're taking a big ol neon lighted limo. How cool is that? I'm feeling all giddy about being social. I just hope Dan can be home to join in on some of the festivities...but not girls night.
I'm starting to really dig my new job. It had a pretty rough start but that was to be expected I guess with the changing of roles among familiar people. I've tried really hard to be nice and even tempered. Those are two things that just don't usually come easily for me. It's going to be ok though. I know I've learned a ton so far...that part is exciting.
Trevor is entering the phase where Jake was a few years ago. I'm going to choke him if he doesn't exit soon. He's not doing his school work and I keep hearing from his teachers that he's such a nice kid...just lazy.
My diet died again. I don't know what will inspire me. I'm just so content. Life's good, everything feels nice and I really do love food. I just wish I could lose weight by being content. In the mean time, I'm paying weight watchers for nothing. They love me for it though and send me post cards saying they miss me.
We're going to give raclette a preliminary hearing tomorrow. If it's a failure (the cheese smells like feet) we'll go back to fondue or something. The traditional way of eating it is to melt the cheese in the little trays and scrape it over boiled small potatoes and gerkins and pearl onions. We're going to do that (sans the onions) along with grilling meats and peppers/onions etc and we'll probably set up a fondue pot just in case the food is better that way. I would love to have a huge raclette/fondue party soon but with Dan's hours we're going to have to end up doing something like that on a Thursday night or something.
Kendall and Tess have been perfect angels lately. Tess kisses right on the lips now and says more and more things that sound like real phrases. I think we might be reading into it but she says "hi daddy!" and sometimes "hi doggy". In fact, she says hi to everything. Gayle said she said "hi" to her lunch the other day. I guess if you're good at something you should stick with it.
Kendall's taking pictures for her school yearbook and loves it. She seems to be getting more and more mature these days. She looks like a young woman instead of a little girl and she talks with a big girl voice more than a baby voice too. I feel apprehensive about it, but I'm glad she's still just as nice. I don't want her to grow up too fast.
I have a whole weekend's worth of tivo lined up for the weekend and it's snowing so I thing tonight might be the night to start watching it. WOOT!!!
Posted by krystal at 12:29 PM | Comments (2)