Yeah, cheers for another two days of good stuff!

I love the backgrounds, I think they're some of my favorite things.

Pumpkin patch was fun, pig races were the favorites, as always. But I'm happy to be home for a bit!

Hmm. Tonight we're having chicken and rice casserole, Monday we're having salmon and quinoa and broccoli, Tuesday we're having broccoli cheese soup, Wednesday we're having dorito nachos, and Friday we're having steak and potatoes and garlic scapes.

If that helps at all :P

garlic scapes? What is that?? I can't eat garlic anymore. It upsets my stomach. I have .... chicken breasts, steak, pork chops, pork ribs, and a pot roast in the freezer. Nathan chose ... Firehouse Subs ... for dinner tonight :P LOL Figures. I think I might do the potpie tomorrow, I really do want to try it. The other preK lead teacher had it for lunch the other day and explained how she made it, it sounded so easy. I looked up a recipe too, just to get it right. I do like potpies (i normally buy Banquet ones - Im lazy) ... i wonder if I could make a good one. - and if SHE made it, it does have to be easy, because she absolutely HATES cooking :P So much so that her husband usually cooks or they get ChickFilA :P

And...you skipped Thursday, what are you having thursday? :P

Have completed all schoolwork but my discussion thread replies in English (as only myself and 2 others have posted as of earlier today). Next week (starts Monday) is on Chapter 3 still in Bio - 2nd part. Won't take me long to re-read the chapter. I have decided that the vocab games aren't much help so am not going to bother with them from now on (I cheated and did print a list of the words/definitions in case I need it hahah)

Thursday is leftover night for Alex and Iz.. Elly is babysitting, and I'm taking LIly to youth group, so I'll either eat there with them, or I'll eat leftovers, too.

Garlic scapes are AMAZING. They're the... leafy? kind of. part of the garlic plant, above ground. And they have the texture of a green bean meets asparagus, but they're kind of garlicky, kind of floraly. So good. We got a TON from the farmers market and froze them, but they're running out way too fast LOL

Oh. Interesting. But yea, I couldn't eat them. I don't like any type of leafy greens anyway. (like, spinach or collard greens or whatever they eat down here in the south. Gross).

Guys! THREE morty cards yesterday and TWO today!! wow.

WL today : Nice Items :

Funny (crazy) but totally expected how the super expensive items are not so super expensive anymore ;) Still nice to get free items!

It's not a leafy green, it's really just like a fresh green bean. :)

That's awesome, congrats!!

Oh well I do like green beans....but yea. garlic is still a no go (you said it tastes like garlic).

Well. Told my little girls - 3 of them were there, along with 1 set of grandparents. So I told the other grandfather when he came to pick his up. Then I told my friend, since she showed up early - (the one whose daughter got my daughter involved in the group in the first place) - and then after several others showed up, I told everyone....and left. I feel bad/sad. But also....glad? Weird eh. Feelings. I will be glad to not be so frustrated by them anymore. (the adults, not the girls). But I will miss it all the same. Especially the girls. (Also I am a bit worried - the grandmother that was there said that her older girl was still hesitant about moving up and the younger was upset that her sister was moving up - and the other girl who is moving up even stated she'd rather stay pledge -before I told them I was leaving)....uggghhhh Makes me feel bad for leaving the girls. - and makes me concerned that these girls may walk away themselves partly because I did....ughhhhh

Cooking my chicken in the crockpot for the chicken pot pie. Pie crust is in fridge, since it said to use it thawed. Several people in the reviews said to cook the bottom crust a little first, so I will probably do that (so it doesnt get soggy they said)...It only needs like 30mins to bake once its assembled...so the chicken is cooking on low because (again) I'm lazy and didn't want to stand at the stove cooking it lol

You got a forum point while making a post! Check out the shop here!

I would ABSOLUTELY parcook the bottom crust, it's basically a must do, IMO.

Also, it's not your fault if those girls walk away, it's the adults in the older girls group, because obviously the kids see the same things you do. :(

I know. But it still makes me feel bad. :( And I hope it doesn't happen. I hope they end up enjoying the older girls group. The one older girl left USED to be our only pledge and no one ever did anything for her, so she kind of knows how it feels to be a pledge and ignored, so I'm hoping SHE does stuff and makes stuff happen, if the older group leader allows her to do so. (And I think it might happen, as the mixing of the groups HAD to have come from the girl....- you can see my previous posts about that)

Never made one before, so I am trusting in the reviews (and now you) hahah :D Some reviews said they used refrigerated crust, but I've never liked those. I've always used frozen ones for when I make pumpkin pie and the one time i did the fridge crusts instead (no frozen available) it tasted different to me....so I went with the frozen crust, tho I've never used it thawed, so hope it goes well lol

Oooh. Well, normally Alex makes his own crusts for pot pie or pasties, I hate making pie crusts LOL.

I do use the refridgerated ones, but I wouldn't want to use frozen from frozen, I think? You can buy frozen with tops?! That's cool!

Not that I'm aware of, but the package comes with two crusts, so figured I'd dump the 2nd on to be the top crust LOL I've always baked my pie shells from frozen when making pumpkin pie. I tried making my own a few times, but it was soooooo labor intensive...was flakier tho which was nice...but still. frozen does fine.

Oooh hey I don't think you ever answered 's question about your job, did you? Or did I miss your response... Have you started working, do you like it??? How is it going for you???

You got a forum point while making a post! Check out the shop here! Well dang. Two in one day!

Oh, nope. I totally missed it!

I haven't started yet, hiring is officially Wednesday morning.. if nothing else comes up. It was supposed to be Thursday, but I had to open the library at 10 (which then got pushed back ANYWAY because glasses), then Friday, but then she cancelled because it was too busy there and they were down a person (:/), then she wanted ti to be Tuesday but I had an appointment at 11, so now.. Wednesday.

How'd your pot pie turn out?

It was pretty good. I think the bottom crust needed to cook a little more, and it took 45min instead of the 30min to brown the top crust. Nathan said he didn't like the filling, it was too soupy to him...I thought it was ok - it did thicken a little as I ate I think tho he said it didn't to him. (I did 1 can of veg - forgot to drain it, 1 can of soup, and 1/2 cup of milk per the recipe I saw online)...the pie was a little full too, maybe because I did regular crusts and not deep dish? I don't like deep dish for pumpkin pie so just grabbed the regular not thinking I might need deep.... I think I will make it again sometime and use a little less milk and drain the veg.

Ahhhh you'd think if they were down someone they'd be more interested in getting you in than not LOL!! Hopefully soon!

455 pm For crying out loud. So Nathan has the state insurance - its like medicaid but for those who aren't eligible for medicaid. TWICE now his dentist has stopped taking the insurance plan. 2yrs ago his original dentist, and now when I went to schedule his 6m apt, the new dentist no longer takes it either sigh What good is a plan if you can't find a doctor? SO I called 3 different places before finding one that does take his insurance. And did manage to get lucky and his apt is during fall break hahah! Makes my life easier to not worry about appointment times when I can do it during breaks.

Oooh. Yeah, I've only used real carrots, celery, chicken etc in mine so I wouldn't be much help there.

But yeah, I'd definitely do deep dish, for a pot pie.

And I agree, but I can see how they'd be too busy.

AND UGH. I agree with that whole thing. The girls also have the state insurance and it's basically impossible to find anyone to take it.

Do you precook all the veg then? Before putting it all in the pot pie? Or do you just cook the pie longer to cook the veg enough? I don't think I'd have the patience to precook all the veg and then cook the pie too. Another recipe said you can use frozen veg, (but like, cook/thaw them or something, I didn't go that route so I don't remember exactly) instead of the can veg. But can veg was just easier for me.

This place I got the apt at, I think is like what the health department used to be. WIll take anyone/anything no matter what. It has dental, medical, ob's, and I dunno what else it was listing for me to pick a # to get the right department! Sheeesh. What annoys me, is the state website says "updated .... (whenever)...." and still shows the TWO dentists Nathan has had, that have told ME they don't take our insurance, soooooo, WHY are they still listed??? Especially the one from 2yrs ago???? This newer one I can see maybe just recently stopped so might still be listed, but the original dentist should not be listed anymore!!! And they were!! Sheeeesh (Whats very annoying to me is that I use that dentist myself. So I am annoyed that he can no longer go there). Meh.

Watched my bio lecture for part 2 of Chapter 3. Had already watched the new videos last night. (and the old videos just for feeling like it). So I did the part 2 assignment. Then cooked dinner. Then ran Shane out some bowls because apparently he has broken all his glass bowls. Meh. Whatever dude, I wasn't using these anyway, they are pretty deep bowls and makes me put too much in them, so I had them put up. Gave those to him hehehe bad mom, Give HIM to tooo big of a portion bowls.

That is very annoying. We don't have anything like that here, the health department just does vaccination clinics twice a year.

Yeah, we basically make a thick chicken stew, then put it in the crusts. So we just make it up while the bottom crust is baking, etc.

Oh hey there! :P

Six weeks from my last monthly, I finally start again but no real warning other than a lot of pre-back ache the day before. This in between shit drives me nuts. Trying to time it right for a camping vaca in October along w/ good weather. Ohhh yay, mother nature woes.

Been really nice the past few days so I'm definitely getting a break on the electric, although since I had another 300+ bill and I still have a 80+ bill at the ortho, I deducted that from the electric and will have to pay it in full at the end of this month.

My youngest (Bria) isn't sure if she's going to extend her contract in TX b/c the days/shift they told her was apparently a mix-up and they want her to work another one that is completely obnoxious (for her age, really). Every weekend. That's shitty for a lot of reasons but it's also 10hr shifts so aside from going out, if there were any weekend festivities going on she wouldn't be able to check them out at all. It's only for 3mths tho, so I don't know what she'll decide or if the mgmt can come to a better agreement.

Ugh Kat... why is he on state insurance? What's infuriating is that doctors stop accepting certain insurances b/c those insurances don't want to pay up so it's not so much the doctor's offices themselves that are to blame (although there's more to that b/c they DO try to overcharge the shit out of ALL insurance companies). Does you or his dad's work not offer insurance for your kids?

Can't stand health insurance in this country. Or any other insurance racket here.

Income reasons. Even mine and hubby's together is still low enough to qualify for state insurance, so we did that. All 3 kids have been on it for years, but you age out at 19. So other two are too old now. Never put them on hubby's work or my work because - for me - I would have little to no income left if I had done it with all 3 kids and not much better now with just 1 kid - and for him - we already had them on the peachcare, and it was cheaper than it would be to put them on his, so we stayed on peachcare. I do get that they stop taking it because the state insurance isn't paying or whatever (I was told that by my original dentist) and I agree that is wrong....but it IS frustrating to me to end up having to find a new dentist. Thank goodness the pediatrician office has never had that problem (that I am aware of, because they've never said they don't take the insurance in over 18yrs).

Boo for being mistakenly told wrong hours. 3m isn't too long, but yea, she'd want to be able to go out and have fun....tho I suppose MOST activities should also be during the week, there probably are some that are weekends only.

Ugh on Mother Nature. Mine is still regular, but still very annoying> I would be super irritated to have an irregular schedule and I know that will most likely happen as I get a little older/closer to menopause.

I think the health department now only does a few things, and they moved the clinic thing that I'm remembering being there to this new place, the place I called to get his dentist apt. But a long time ago I can remember going to the health department building to not only get vaccinations, but also going to the dentist there once for me, once for a kid, and also going to a sliding scale doctors clinic there a few times. But none of that is at the health department anymore.

Got a new kid today in class. Its quite funny to me that we got this one....the last two new kids (this one, and the one we just got before him), were siblings of two kids we had at the same time years ago, now we have their younger siblings together!! I like having siblings. Sometimes it can be frustrating because the kids will act NOTHING alike, but I like it because at least the parents already know you, how the class works, what to expect, etc. And you know the parent - whether they will talk to you, ignore you, do absolutely nothing or absolutely EVERYTHING they can.... :)

See, I bring up the monthly stuff b/c I - to this day! - have never heard anyone talk about what it's like BEFORE you get to that point and I know pretty much everyone here on this thread is far from it, but at least you'll have SOME kind of personal experience to go on!
It's so annoying how women have been brought up not to talk about that, as if it's some kind of curse or s/thing.

Aww.. new kid after school already started always sucks, but at least it's still really early.
Wish I could actually talk to my mom.. or better yet, my dad who's no longer around, about the differences between us kids. Then again, we're all close to 5yrs apart. Oldest born 70, me at 75, youngest at 80.

Yea, you would think at least talking among girls/women would be common. But somehow it just gets not talked about. I tried to make it pretty normal for all my kids. Like I don't go blurting out TMI - but even the boys knew what it was, why it happened (at the appropriate age/info), and hubby was always willing to pick up my stuff, so the boys got to see that. hopefully they'll be good guys about it for their ladies if/when they have them. I also think the more it is talked about, the more common it will be and less taboo....same for lots of things like that.

heh, this is our 3rd(?) new kid I think. But yes, it being only a month in really helps. What annoys us the most is when it is like April or May and a kid leaves, and a new kid comes!! I'm like WHYYYYY??? If I was that mom I'd be like, 3 weeks of school left? NAH! We will wait for next year.

Ooh 5ys apart you are all practically firstborns. I read this book once on birth order - and while I don't really believe it is the be-all-end-all - I found it interesting and insightful and many things it said were true in my case, for my siblings and me and my kids. Like in my case, I am also a first born although I am also a middle child (because I was the first born girl even tho I have two older brothers and two younger ones). So I have firstborn traits, but also middle child traits. Same with Katie. And Nathan, tho he is lastborn, is also a firstborn because he is 5yrs younger than Katie. So all of my kids have firstborn traits, but also other traits :P It was very interesting to me. Kids are always different from each other, but some will have similarities in attitude, behavior and such. Its fun seeing it.....tho not so much when the repeated behavior is ahem bad (I shouldn't say that but what else do you call it?) or annoying. I will say I often find the differences are usually more pronounced between boys/girls siblings. Like brother/sister will often be different, but brother/brother (or sister/sister) will often act the same. This is NOT always true tho, as very obviously shown last year, we had a sister the year before and then her younger brother, and they were BOTH extremely alike in behavior/attitude. and This year, we have a sister of a boy from the other class a few years ago, and they are both the same too. (and this is NOT in a good way for this set, ugh - at least its not super horrible, just frustrating).

Oo tell me more about the book you read! I'm always interested in theories... to a degree, lol. (that's rather expansive but I have a buzz and I'm grilling... charcoal!.... so trying to stay concentrated)

I love it when a man has been primarily raised by a female who is open and honest about her woes. My dad was such a person - and yes, I've met others that are few and far in between that are more in my age genre - that doesn't make you feel like a *&#(&R alien when you need help, or get incredibly embarrassed going to the store to get you needed items. My experience w/ my parents was my mom had been taught that all women stuff should be top secret, but that meant that she closed herself off to me when I hit that stage. I ended up going to my dad for 95% of female necessities. Probably 100%, honestly b/c my mom would bring me these diaper (not literally) looking pads home and just kind of say "here ya go" and not speak anything else about it.
Well, not that I'm going back in my memory, she DID find me a female gyno after terrorizing me w/ the one SHE went to, which the guy was just utterly TERRIFIYING and I never did allow anything. (Big, round, burly, dark hair everywhere, long dark curly hair to his shoulders, big beard - NO!!) She tried this at 14, had me put on some kind of pills to MAKE me start my period b/c she was worried that I wasn't "on track".
Needless to say, I kept my daughters from those things I experienced and did my best to make their beginning of womanhood experience a lot less traumatic.

Should've tenderized these breasts.... taking forever to cook but maaaan are they going to be GOOD!!