Random Thursday strikes again (more pictures...again!) and a tentative D-Day date!!!

Ohhhh, Thursdays. 

Brain is shot again.

You get another random post.

• I love Thursdays for no other reason than my friend, Lissa, has an extra seat in her van and has graciously offered to drive A. to and from school on Thursdays.  I love Thursdays for not having to drive, and I love Lissa for driving.

• A. hit a home run in his baseball game last Thursday night.  Outside the fence.  Homeboy has some force behind that bat!  However, D and I are putting air quotes around the "home run" portion because he hit it off the tee.  It's technically coach pitch, but they only have 5 pitches to hit it before the tee comes out.  Even if the coach lobs it high and outside....  Still, A. was JAZZED.  You should have seen him running the bases.

• Michelle and the boys are coming over this afternoon!  Hooray!  So excited to hang out with her and her lovely boys.  :)

• We have officially filled our first dumpster in Love Shack demo.  This is what our Love Shack looks like today.

• I got a turn at the crow bar.  Which really means that D. loosed it all up for me so I wouldn't start contracting, and asked A. to grab the camera.  But it was a fun moment none the less.

• Our L-into-a-square wall is complete and awaiting backfilling.  We'll be filling the space inside the wall with a cement floor so the new house doesn't smell musty.

• Today, I'm officially 17 weeks pregnant, and I still throw up every once in a while.  This morning, for example.  Ugh.

• Next week is our last MOPS meeting of the year.  (Boo- but hooray for unexpected pregnancies that buy you a ticket into MOPS for the next 5 years!!).  As a table leader, we're encouraged to decorate our table and give a small gift on the last meeting.  I spent all yesterday afternoon blissfully crafting.  Love it.  (Pictures forthcoming- my lovely MOPS friends read the blog and I don't want to spoil the surprise!)

• I'm reaching that point in my pregnancy (D calls it "that point") where I'm starting to totally loose my verbal filter.  (The one I already had a loose grip on anyway.)  This could be a recipe for disaster.  I'm constantly praying that God's words be reflected through my mouth....not my own.  Because, ultimately, His is the only opinion that counts, right?

• In 11 weeks of pregnancy (11 weeks, because we really found out around 6 weeks- for those of you who are mathematically challenged; 17-6=11), I have consumed no less than 8 cantaloupes.  Mmmmm, cantaloupe.

• I have started charging the boys a quarter for not flushing the toilet.  I'll spare you the picture that should accompany this bullet point.  You're welcome.

• My friend, Melody, is having a garage sale today to sell their stuff in order to make money for a mission trip.  I love her heart, and I love her ability to live a simple (yet so very contented) life.  God sure knew what he was doing when he stuck us together.  :)  God is good.

• I have gone an entire 3 days without taking a nap.  I believe that today is a good nap day.

• I'm trying to talk my bloggy friend, Mama M., into bringing her family to my neck of the woods this summer.  I'm a fantastic travel agent, and would LOVE to hang out when her and the kids!

And last but not least:

• Our DEMOLITION DAY has been scheduled!!!  Tentative date is Saturday, June 2!!!  Woohoo!  So, if you've volunteered to help in the past....put it on your calendar!  (We'll provide lunch).  Make sure to bring demo stuff (sledge hammer, claw hammer, crow bar), eye protection, and a dust mask doesn't hurt (there's a lot of black mold and bat droppings in the Love Shack!).  Just make sure to touch base with D. so he knows you're coming.  :)

Woohoo!!!  Saturday, June 2!!!!

BK Winner!!!

Hooray!  It's time for a

winner, winner Chicken dinner!

I'm not sure yet how to do a screen shot*, so you're going to have to take my word for it....

*(100 bonus points to anyone who wants to show me!)

I plugged in numbers 1-19 into the Random.org generator.

It gave me #5.

Keri!

Woohoo!

I'll be in touch with you soon to get your information.  :)

Thanks to all who entered the Burger King Giveaway!

Four ingredient Casserole

I was given this recipe last year when I went REALLY low carb.  I made it, I loved it....

...but more importantly, the BOYS LOVED it!

AND there's only four ingredients!

(Oh, and by the way, my boys (and their parents) ate an ENTIRE head of cauliflower and loved every bite!)

I actually call this "Just Joan Casserole" after the lady who gave me the recipe.  She has no idea the origination of the recipe, just word-of-mouth through her circles.....so I'm giving her credit.

You'll need:

1. A head of cauliflower
2. A tube of sausage (check well to make sure there's no MSG in there)
3. A brick of cream cheese (I prefer the neufchatel cheese)
4. Cheddar cheese (you can have it already shredded, but I'm finicky about shredding my own)

Steaming the cauliflower will take the longest, so start with that.  If you don't have a steamer (I highly recommend you RACE out and get one!!!  I use mine everyday in the summer to eat our fresh veggies out of the garden!), you can boil the cauliflower or roast it, but I prefer steaming.  You'll need to make sure that it comes out REALLY well done, so I put it on for 25 minutes instead of the 18 the directions call for.


While the cauliflower is steaming, brown the sausage, and while that's browning, you can shred the cheese.*
(This is your chance to be a gold star multi-tasker!!!)

*Shred extra cheese because you know there's a 4 1/2 year old who cannot resist sneaking some freshly shredded cheese!

After your sausage is sufficiently browned and crumbled, drop the entire cheese brick in the pan and let it melt together, stirring regularly to ensure even coverage.  Mmmmmmm.

After you hear the "DING" of the steamer, pour the cauliflower into a 9x9 pan.  Start mashing.  The more you mash, the better. 

*Remind your 4 1/2 year old that he's had enough shredded cheese, and you now barely have enough to cover your casserole.

Once the cauliflower is mashed, pour your sausage/ cream cheese mixture over top and mix well.

Spread evenly in the pan.

Top with shredded cheese.

Pop into a 375 degree oven until cheese is melted.  (10-15 minutes)

Serve with love to smiley faces.



Yeah....I'd say it was a hit.  :)



How we told the boys about the baby (video)

Well, here we go! 

We told the boys about the baby on Maundy Thursday.  We were having D's parents over for dessert after church on Good Friday, and wanted them to be a part of telling everyone. 

So, my friend (from that other web site I work for) solicited advice for a fun way to tell the boys.  And one of the suggestions was an Easter Egg Hunt!

So...without further adieu:




Just so you know a few things:

• A. isn't normally allowed to use the word "stupid."  I let it slide becasue I was apprehensive about how he would handle the news of the baby.
• His initial reaction wasn't what I expected.  However, we went for a walk afterward and I found out he was disappointed because he was expecting the Easter eggs to be filled with money.  Apparently, he helped my mom fill eggs for my brother's family, and he was expecting to gain some extra toy money.  Instead he got a sibling.
• I'm a quirky person.  I'm a little weird about using proper words for anatomy with my boys.  So, I used the words "womb" and "uterus".  There is NOT a baby in my tummy.  I do not eat babies.

5QF

Before I start this post, have you entered my Burger King giveway yet?  Currently, there's low entries, so your chances of winning are good!


The masons are back today pouring more concrete into the cells of the block wall.  Are you learning as much as I am through this process? 

Ok, I have a lot to do today....so we'll get on with it:


1. What did you wear to prom? Include a picture if possible.


Oh guys, I tried with all my might to find a picture.  However, I do believe that my high school pictures are probably locked away in some ugly vault forever.  Sorry!  I tried to find them! 

And in the meantime, I ended up going on a fantastic trip down memory lane with my husband.  And we found our engagement pictures where I was a toothpick.  Then I cried.  For days.  Then I got over it.  (sort of)

Anyway, I went with a large group of my friends from high school.  None of us had boyfriends (or come had boyfriends who REFUSED to go to prom), so we all ended up going together.  I have to say, it was a BLAST to go with all friends. 

I wore an emerald green satin dress with semi-puffy sleeves (remember, it was 1994), and a lower back with a criss-cross thingy in back.  Hawt.  (not really, but whatever....)  Oh, and shoes died to match.  Ugh.

2. Would you rather be on the biggest loser or a food eating challenge?

Biggest looser, thank you.  I will be the first to admit that I do not like pushing my body hard.  I can push it, but at the first incling of pain or shortness of breath, I freak out and slow it down. 

I can see the spot where the contestants get to that level and want to freak out, and the trainers RIDE them until they break through.  I actually have panicy feelings when I watch the first few episodes of each season....I think knowing that there's medical personnel right off camera to revive me would make me feel a (wee-teeny little itty bit) better about pushing it.

3. Done fave sonic drink? Refreshing summer drink? (Hey, Kristina...was that a typo, or some "done good" Southern thing?)

Never been to sonic.

Never once. 

Nope, not at all.

4. What was your first car, and what did you call it?

Ha!  This one makes me laugh.  I had a 1985 Pontiac T-1000.  And it wasn't just ANY regular car....it had a GIANT

T1000

written on the side.

So, here's a google image of the car....only mine was navy blue with giant letters/numbers.

Which made my brother's friend, Jon, name it the "Tay". 

As in, "Hey, Sandy....we're gonna take the "Tay" out for a joy ride, mmm k?"

Awesome.



5. What's one thing your child or spouse does that sends you over the edge?

Well, there's one thing that ANYONE can do that just makes my blood boil.

Lack of common courtesy.

Seriously....I'm pretty easy to please, but lack of common courtesy will just send me over the edge quickly.

For example, I'm washing dishes, and instead of waiting for me to finish, he'll come in and switch the faucet over to either wash out a rag of fill a glass of water.  No "excuse me"  No "can I grab this a minute, please?"  Nothing.  Grrrrrr.

It doesn't happen often, but when it does, I just want to scream.  Instead I get pissy and snarky.  Which is totally passive-aggressive....and I can't stand that either, so then I just get over it.

When the boys are less than courteous to others, I'm in a position to correct that behavior right away.

Random Thursday Post (with pictures!) Spoiler alert: love shack and baby bump

Well, it seems that my brainless Thursday post ramblings are at it again.  I cannot form a themed post to save my life today, so a random post it is.  This time, however, I've been shutter happy over the past few days, so...you get visuals.  :)

• I brought Ally to our new vet today to have her spay surgery.  It's early, yes, but we are in a contract with the rescue to have her spayed by the time she's 6 months old.  Our new vet is about 20 minutes from our home, but came HIGHLY recommended, and is the most reasonably priced.  In addition, one of our friends from church is a vet there, and will actually be performing the surgery today.  I don't get to see her until tomorrow afternoon, and I hate knowing she's going to feel abandoned.  Looking forward to having our "pack" all together again tomorrow.  (How's that for dog-speak?!?!)

• As we brought Ally in this morning, there was a dog being wheeled (on a gurney) in the back door wrapped in a sleeping bag.  Then a family of four came in the office side clearly in agony.  I was instantly choking back tears.  I felt so bad for them, and the pain of loosing Molly is just a wee bit fresh.  They've been on my heart all morning.

• Our mason is back today.  He's completing the "L into a square" venture of the endeavor.  The footies (C's word for footings) were poured at the end of last week, we waited for approval from the Gestapo (D's word for government offices), received approval, and are now the proud owners of a partial wall.  :)  The mason has told me that it should be done today.  Yeah, wall!  (oh, I'm so old).

• The mason was actually here a few days ago, but had his two boys in tow.  They worked hard with their dad and were very respectful!  C. LOVED the additional company, but that meant I was out there "overseeing" C's activities all day.  One of the boys tripped and hit his head on a block and ripped it open.  Poor kid.  He was so brave.  He (politely!) asked me for a wet rag, and kept calm until his dad could pick up the job site a bit before heading out to the med center.  The whole time, he was apologizing to his dad, "I'm so sorry you have to leave the job, dad."  The mason kept calm, and didn't blame him at all.  They were to the med center and back on the job in an hour.  (whoa!).  The boy got 2 staples and chose to chill out on the picnic table the rest of the day.  Some home- baked chocolate chip cookies from the PMD kitchen along with a few chewable ibuprofen seemed to get him smiling again.  What a brave 8 year old!

• Meanwhile, interior demolition continues.  We have a few more boxes to pull out, but its essentially ready to go d.o.w.n.  We're waiting for our wall outside to be done so once the whole house is down, the dry-shell can go up quickly.  In the meantime, the kitchen is barely recognizable.

The half-lap logs in the picture (below) were actually the exterior wall of the house when it was first built in 1947.  The kitchen was an addition built a few years later.

• I had a GNO last night.  Which consisted of a meal out and a few errands run.  We actually roamed Target for about an hour or so.  I cannot tell you the last time I was in Target unaccompanied by children.  It was amazing.  Not for my wallet, though.  Talk about impulse purchases!  (shhhh, don't tell D!)  But I was smart, and looked at clearance stuff.  I even found a new toy for my chewer.

• Melody made me a gluten free cheesecake.  With chocolate topping.   Upon returning home last night, I promptly cut a sliver of it for dessert.  Oh.my.yum.  After hearing me enjoy it, D went up and cut himself a CHUNK.  He enjoyed it almost as much as me.  :) 

Thank you, Mel!

• Then today, I decided to enjoy another piece for lunch.  However, I had an extra fork pull up.  Apparently, he likes cheesecake as much as I do!

• I had my MOPS meeting this morning as well.  I just love this group of women that God has brought into my life through this group!  I feel crazy fortunate.  I had TONS of compliments on the waves in my hair today, so I thought I'd share my technique.  I do the no-heat curling technique that I found on Pintrest. (except I don't leave it in overnight...just about an hour in the morning).   Basically, you only need a large stretchy headband.  Here's what I look like while getting ready. 

Keepin' it real.....

(I know, totally hawt, right?!?!?  Sorry, no smile.(wha?)  Not a morning person.  : / )

And, in my haste to get this post up, I have no after picture.  But, it works!

• And last, but not least, since Mama M. has put in the request for weekly bump pictures, here ya go.

Have it your Way

Eating with a gluten issue can sometimes mean a professional game of Russian roulette with your gut.

Almost 3 years into this journey, I'm getting pretty good and picking things out and avoiding them....

...other times, not so much.

But today (actually, Monday) was a good day for my belly!

I've actually eaten at Burger King more than any other fast food restaurant since going gluten free.

Why?

They have broilers.  Not everything is fried. 

(separation is a good thing!)

I can easily pick the patty off a Whopper Jr. and be totally content with the world.

Since we've been "tightening our belts a bit" in preparation for some upcoming medical bills,

I can say I hadn't eaten there in some time.

THEN, I received an offer....the ability to try some of their new menu items for FREE

AND

(wait for it)

GIVE AWAY a Burger King gift card to one of you!

Well....of course!

So, before I left for lunch with C, I headed to the Burger King website to check out which of the new menu options were safe for me.  (Click on the Menu tab...the gluten sensitivity menu is on the far right).

Woohoo! Most of them are safe!

So, here's what I ordered: 

 I grabbed the Garden Fresh Salad topped with TENDERGRILL chicken.  I topped it with Light Honey Balsamic Dressing.

I thoroughly enjoyed this salad.  The apples were fresh and crispy, and the lettuce was perfectly crisp and clean as well.  The portion was perfect for me to feel satisfied, and the dressing I chose was a perfect topper.

My only thought was that pecans would have topped this salad off perfectly, but weren't offered.



Then...my favorite part of the lunch: 

The caramel frappe. 

This is a new drink offering...and I'm so happy they brought these gluten free yummies into my world. 

Oh.my.yum.

It was smooth and creamy....and just so perfect.

My only disappointment with this is that it doesn't come in decaf.  In my present condition, I have to be careful about caffeine intake*, so I got a small...

but about half way through, I knew I had to be done drinking.

Can we say BUZZED?!?!?!

*(not to say there's a lot of caffeine in there, I'm just very sensitive!)

However, other competitors and coffee houses in the area do not carry frappe mixes in decaf either.

Apparently, it's just me?

Anyway, I wanted to try one of the new fruit smoothies,

but (honestly), I'm not a fan of anything flavored "banana" or "tropical."

So, I let C. come along and (treated him to lunch too!) he picked out a smoothie for himself,

and to share with mommy.

He chose the Strawberry Banana Smoothie.

Which he was VERY possessive of and only let me have ONE sip. 

(so, he liked it, huh?)

I'll have to say, for not being a fan of bananas, it was just the right amount of sweet and tasted very fresh.

Did you know that Burger King has a whole list of new menu items?  Check them out:

■New Garden Fresh Salads (topped with your choice of TENDERCRISP® or juicy TENDERGRILL® chicken). Varieties include: Chicken BLT, Chicken, Apple and Cranberry and Chicken Caesar Garden Fresh Salad



■New Snack Wraps: Honey Mustard Crispy Chicken and Ranch Crispy Chicken  (quick, flavorful snacks for less than 400 calories each).


■New Crispy Chicken Strips made with white meat tenderloin chicken, marinated and lightly battered in seasoned home-style breading.

■Rich and smooth Frappés made to order and provide the perfect combination of sweet Mocha or Caramel flavors, a hint coffee and ice.


■New Real Fruit Smoothies made fresh to order with real fruit, low-fat yogurt and juices blended together. Each smoothie provides a full serving of fruit and is offered in the following varieties: Tropical Mango and Strawberry Banana

 

And this is my favorite part!  I get to share some BK fun with you!!!

Anyone want a $25 gift card to Burger King? 
You too can try out all the new yummy menu items!

Leave a comment below stating which new menu item you'd like to try out.

(Please include your email address in your comment so I can find you if you won!)

That's it!  That's all you need to do.  Simple, huh?

You want another chance to enter? 

Simply like Burger King of Facebook and leave me another comment letting me know.

Winner will be chosen on Tuesday, May 8 at random.

______________________________________________________

Disclosure:  The coupons, product information and additional gift pack have been provided courtesy of Burger King Corporation through My Blog Spark.