Happy Halloween

Back in May, I scheduled my hair appointments until December. (My stylist books up fast and that's what you have to do in order to get in. It's effing ridiculous.) Turns out I booked an appointment on the day of Vance's Fall Harvest party at school. Feeling totally guilty about it, I cancelled my appointment and volunteered to help at the party. 

After the party we opted to take the boys with us and brought lunch to the park. It was a beautiful day for playing outside. Here's a goofy picture of the boys afterwards.

Vance keeps flip-flopping between the Spiderman costume that he wanted for this year and the lion costume that he wore last year. We'll see what he decides to wear tonight. Vaughn, well, doesn't fit in her costume anymore and I thought it was crazy to buy another one. We'll stuff her in it and take a quick picture so she doesn't think that she missed her first Halloween. I weighed her last night - 22.5 pounds. Clothes are becoming impossible to find, but that's a post in itself. 

Hope everyone has a great Halloween!

Crispy Cheddar & Jalapeno Coated Chicken Breasts

First, here's the dessert that didn't turn out. Looked pretty...and that's about it.

Second, here's a picture that we had for dinner tonight. It was really good, in fact I've made it twice now. Crispy Cheddar & Jalapeno Coated Chicken Breasts, from Fine Cooking's Fresh magazine. It's pretty easy, the majority of the work can be done the night before, and cooks in 20 minutes. Win-win!

4 skinless chicken breasts

1 c. plain yogurt

1 Tbs. fresh thyme - divided (I used dried)

1 Tbs. light brown sugar

2 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

2 c. coarse breadcrumbs (I used Panko)

1 1/3 c. tortilla chips - coarsely crushed

1 c. sharp Cheddar cheese

1/2 to 2/3 c. sliced jarred jalapenos, chopped and patted dry

1 lime

Pound your meat. Mix yogurt, half of thyme, brown sugar, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Add chicken and coat. Can proceed to coating step or marinate in the fridge for up to 24 hours.

Put the breadcrumbs, chips, cheese, remaining thyme, and jalapenos in a shallow dish. (I followed the directions the first time I made this and had a ton of coating mixture left over. The second time I reduced the breadcrumbs and chips by half and it was perfect.) Put chicken in coating mixture, using the back of a spoon to really adhere the coating onto the chicken. Line a cookie sheet with foil and place a baking rack on top. Put chicken on rack and bake for 20 minutes, 450 degrees. (can totally skip the rack and just place the chicken on the cookie sheet - the bottom doesn't get crispy, but still tastes the same) Can finish with a squirt of lime, if so desired.

Vance "washed" Vaughn's hair with spit today.

I walked past her and noticed her hair was wet in places and sticking straight up in front. I knelt down for a closer look, thinking she had slobbered on her hands then rubbed them in her hair, but no. Vance proudly took credit for washing her hair. I asked him what he used, thinking that he had gotten into the diaper wipes, but no. "With my spit!" We haven't had spitting issues with him, I'm still totally confused about it. He earned himself a time-out for that one. 

   

The soup was good. Next time I'll use egg noodles instead of rice. Vance and I made a dessert that was in a family-type magazine. It was bad. He wouldn't even eat it. (Roll out pie dough, cut pairs with cookie cutters, put chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, etc. in the middle, seal the top with an egg wash, cover with egg wash and sugar, bake.) Sounded good, but the pie dough was, well, pie dough and the stuff in the middle didn't melt while baking. Threw them out. 

 

Our nocturnal neighbors are building a deck. They were out last night, with spotlights, digging the holes. 

In other neighborly news, the people across from us are Indian. Their quirk is that they cook in the garage. There's an oven, cabinets, a countertop, and a little chair. I do know that Indian food is a little on the stinky side, but they're Indian - do they not like how their own food smells? Besides the kitchenette, there's a lawn mower in the garage and one trash can. And that's it. It's a 3 car garage and there's nothing it in. It blows my mind! Where's their stuff! The daughter got married over the weekend, so there was lots going on over there. I saw her before she got into the limo and she looked beautiful. Her sari was burnt orange and gold and she was wearing tons of gold jewelry. Very pretty in the sunlight. 

Off to make a list for the grocery store. Anyone care to share what they're making for dinner tonight? In honor of the colder weather, I'm trying a new Chicken and Rice soup recipe. 

Vance and I did a lot in the kitchen today. We made Monkey Munch or Puppy Chow (too lazy to include a link). Google it if you want the recipe. It's pretty good. We also made two pumpkin pies, for my brother's birthday tomorrow. After the first pie went into the oven, my helper got tired and excused himself to drive his fire truck around the house, chasing Daisy. Because I was on a roll I figured I'd go ahead and whip up dinner. I had left over grilled chicken and a tube of Crescent Rolls - Viola! Chicken Crescent Roll Bundles! Yes, overwhelmingly gourmet around here. 

Vance got car sick on the way to school on Tuesday. I keep my variables the same, yet my outcome is not always constant. Not really sure what the trigger is. I wonder if they make those motion sickness bracelets in kids size. 

I don't really have anything good to say right now. I'm just babbling. When I don't post everyday, the hecklers come out and give me a hard time. So, there you go. 

Again, Thursday is my brother's birthday, so Happy Birthday! I don't think he reads this! And it's also Tasha's birthday, so Happy Birthday! 

 

Weekend Update!

On Friday we travelled back to Madison for a visit. Vance is still a little confused about everything. Before we left he told me that his bed wouldn't fit in the car, that we'd have to get the big moving trucks again. When we arrived at the hotel he said he didn't want to sleep here. He wanted to sleep at our house. Poor kid. 

It was great seeing friends and we even fit in time to get family pictures taken at Olbrich Gardens. The leaves were beautiful and it was a gorgeous day to be outside. Vance was a little cranky during pictures and Vaughnie slobbered all over her first shirt, then spit up on her second shirt, so in some she's wearing a bib. I hope there's a few good ones in the mix.

It was strange being back were we once called home. It still felt like home. On Saturday morning we spent some time at our neighbors house and being next door to our old house was awkward. I didn't want to look but being that close I couldn't help myself. Their choice of ugly patio furniture leads me to believe they have uglified the inside of our cute house too. Maybe it was too soon to return. I'm still a little bitter. 

Just got a call that the alarm guy is on his way. Must get moving. Have a good day.

Scarecrows

Here are the scarecrows that Vance and I made last week. They have bendy arms and legs. Vance likes to make them dance. 

Pumpkin Farm

On Sunday, we drove to the Middle of No Where to go to a Pumpkin Farm. Here's the proof.  

Dining Room

Here's before pictures of the dining room. Red! Shiny! Stripes! We finished the dining room and foyer last night and it feels really good to have another project done. It took two coats of primer and two coats of color to cover the red. We should have sanded the walls because the lines of the stripes are still visible, if you look closely. We figured it won't be too bad once we find stuff to hang on the walls.  

101.1 is playing Christmas music already! Yes, I think it's waaaay too early, but I'm a huge dork and a Christmas music junkie! Vance and I are loving it!

Vance puked again on the way to school yesterday. The puke container worked perfectly (it was the first time we had to use it). Well, perfectly in the sense that he didn't get any on himself, the car, or his car seat. Not so perfect that I had to clean it out. Moving on!

A topic at school must have been about scarecrows because Vance came home hell bent on making one. He talked about it all afternoon, forgot about it in the early evening, but remembered again before bedtime. Tears were almost produced because we couldn't make one that very second. I promised him that we'll make one this weekend. Anyone with scarecrow making experience lend me a hand! I know how to make the body, but what do I use for a head? I'll have to Google it. 

Also at school they played with sidewalk chalk on the newly asphalted parking lot. Guess who has tar all over the back of his shorts? I Googled how to get tar out of clothing last night, so I'll be doing that this weekend too. If they weren't my favorite shorts for him I would have just thrown them away.

I got a flu shot yesterday. My wing hurts. 

On tap for this weekend: finishing painting the dining room (not sure if we'll get to the foyer and office), shopping for blinds, birthday party for Dave (Hi Dave!), pumpkin farm, and of course, building a scarecrow. 

Have a good one!

He's a Sleeper

Vance doesn't nap anymore. Not in his comfy bed. Not on the couch with his favorite blanket, while watching a movie. Nothing. We now settle for "quiet time" in which he reads or plays quietly in his room. 

It never occurred to me that he might want to nap on the hard floor. 

Vance now naps at school. At the beginning of school I picked him up when nap time starts. A couple of weeks ago he said that he wanted to take a nap at school. I was reluctant, but we tried and he now naps. In fact, I have to wake him up when I get there to pick him up. He's only stayed for nap time twice now, but he's a pro. His teachers say he goes down easily and has been one of the first kids to fall asleep. I'm sure it's the SpiderMan pillow that I made for him. 

If I could only get him to nap at home now. Maybe today I'll make him a little bed on the ground and see if that works. I'm doubting it. 

We're stuck at home today while we have workers here. Not too much going on today. At least it's nice outside.

We're sick. It's our second round of colds for everyone this season. Vaughnie was miserable today, Vance is feeling pretty good, and Justin took a sick day. (Justin never takes a sick day. Counting today, he's only taken 1.5 sick days off of work. Ever. He's a Go Getter.) 

No pictures to share yet, but here's some house updates:

• Play room has shelves, baskets to organize toys, cute bulletin board is hung, as well as the Giant Paintbrush. 
• I re-covered the cornice in the laundry room. Goodbye ugly plaid material!
• Dining room has been primed. We bought the paint, but have not started that yet.
• I have the fabric for the valances in the kitchen. I have no idea even how to start the project.
• A lady from Budget Blinds came to give a bid for woven wood blinds for the kitchen windows. The price was not Budget friendly. Will seek another bid.
• We're being attacked by wolf spiders (holy crap!), so I contacted 2 pest companies for bids. Will call one more tomorrow and make a decision. Who do you use?
• Feels great to be getting stuff done.    
  

Vance can't make up his mind on what he wants to be for Halloween. This has been the first year that I haven't been able to sway his choice. Here's what he's wanted to be (in order):

• A crab
• A bunny rabbit
• A turtle
• Bob the Builder
• Animal Rescuer (Diego)
• A bunny rabbit
• Animal Rescuer
• A bunny rabbit

I'm a little happy that he moved past the turtle idea. Didn't really know how I'd make the shell. I've shown him a few different costume magazines, but he just looks through them and asks, "You think they got a bunny rabbit suit for me in here?" So, as of right now, bunny rabbit is in the lead and I'm not really sure why. If you ask Vance why he'll tell you it's because they hop. (He's into jumping right now.) If anyone comes across a bunny rabbit costume suitable for a 3 year old boy, let me know.