Delicious Soup

I just had to get this down because, seriously, I love this soup. It tastes like Spring is right around the corner. I got it off allrecipes.com (naturally) and have listed my personal tweeks. Enjoy!

Chicken Tortilla Soup V (from allrecipes.com) with Laurenda's extra comments

• 2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts (I just use 2 cans of Kirkland Chicken Breasts (undrained)...very easy)
• 1/2 teaspoon olive oil (I keep this pretty much the same)
• 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic (I use 2-3 cloves of minced garlic)
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin (I used 1/2 teaspoon because we LOVE the cumin)
• 2 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth (I use 3 cans)
• 1 cup frozen corn kernels (I just use an undrained can of corn)
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 cup chunky salsa (or more depending on taste and how spicy you like it. We use a mild one)
• 8 ounces corn tortilla chips
• 1/2 cup shredded Monetery Jack cheese (optional)
• I add cilantro to the top when I serve and we sometimes serve over rice

DIRECTIONS
In a large pot over medium heat, saute the chicken in the oil for 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cumin and mix well. Then add the broth, corn, onion, chili powder, lemon juice and salsa. Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 20 to 30 minutes.

Break up some tortilla chips into individual bowls and pour soup over chips (or spoon rice into bowls and pour soup over). Top with the Monterey Jack cheese and a little sour cream (and we love to add cilantro).

Tilapia Heaven

My friend Jennifer read my blog today and, in great compassion and courage to brave the House of Illness and No Showers (um...the latter would be me today. I'm sure I look like death with crazy woman hair) came over to help make dinner. I'm not sure what secret magic she worked on the frozen tilapia fish we took out of the freezer, but suffice to say, it was delicious. So, a special thanks to you, Jennifer. We loved the cumin, cilantro, lime infused with a hint of chili powder fish that was even better than chicken could be (even if Olivia did just want that nasty ol' macaroni and cheese), and the fact that Abigail and Elisabeth each had two servings is a tribute to that. Thank you, again, for coming over and providing a little sanity to such a nutty day!!!!! :)

I could walk that!

Jason is flying from Detroit into Chicago tonight, and I just checked his flight itinerary. He leaves Detroit at 8:10 and gets into Chicago at 8:15. Why, it hardly seems worth getting on an airplane, does it. teehee.

Seriously, I know that there's a time zone change and a big ol' lake in between the two states, but I love looking at ticket itineraries and having that little "Oh!"moment. Too Funny.

The Neighborly Thing

We have the nicest neighbors, and I am happily a "safe" neighbor when some of the kids get home from school. Today, one neighbor boy came over because he couldn't get his garage door to open, thus letting him in. It's surprisingly brisk outside and so I had him come inside, giving the girls strict rules NOT to touch him or get too close (and they were very obedient) and I got my coat and we went to try it. Sure enough, the thing didn't work, but I did spy a battery.

Now, I am NO mechanical genius, but the battery gave me my clue. Luckily I had another 9 volt (hooray for a year **cough** 3-4 month supply in which I have some extra batteries!), and when we replaced it, happily the garage door began to move up and down. I was very pleased, because I do have that worry that I will break someone else's thing trying to fix it.

Also, I was very pleased to know, because I didn't beforehand, that the garage door runs on a BATTERY!!!!! I don't know what I thought it ran on, but still! I'm thinking that perhaps with every Spring-forward (hello, Sunday everyone!!!) or Fall-back time change, when we replace the smoke detector batteries, this is another one that we should replace because, quite frankly, I don't think my key to the house is on my key chain. CLEARLY I like to live life dangerously, but seriously. I rely on the "code" to get me into my house.

What a nice learning opportunity, for both of us.

Update

...So E now has a temperature. There doesn't really seem to be any other symptoms with this illness, except for fever (the baby hasn't yakked anything else since this morning, so I wonder if it was related?????) and a bit of runny nose and achy stuff and grumpiness. Bless their hearts.

I hope to have kept it at bay with a quick nap. I got in a glorious hour of sleep, but I'm not quite awake just yet that's for sure.

Your Prerogative, Of Course.

Ahhhhhh, the joy of another day of "just Mom," as Dad is attending a class out of state.

I sure don't mean to grouse, but this is going to sound pretty complain-y. Please know that *I* know that I am very very blessed; I know this. That being said...

I slept pretty well, all things considered. Yesterday, I cleaned and vacuumed the upstairs and washed my bedding and walked 25 minutes on my treadmill and stayed up till around midnight so I would hopefully sleep really soundly. What happened, instead, was that I kept smelling the new fabric softener that I bought from Costco and had used on my bedding for the first time. Ugh. I have what Jason calls a "Super Snoz" because my sense of smell is really acute right now. So, you can only imagine how even a great smelling fabric softener can cause issues when it seems that you are completely surrounded by it. It was like being stuck in an elevator with someone wearing too much perfume. Ohhhhhh well. I'm sure tonight will be better.

Then, around 4:00 in the morning, I feel a little scratching on my back. Normally, I'd probably be freaked out thinking someone was attacking me, but I just rolled over and sure enough, there was Abigail. "My throat hurts." I felt her forehead and of course...hot. I got up and found the thermometer and turned out she had a 102 temp, so I got her some medicine and a sippy of water and put her back to bed. Then I tried to go back to bed, but man, my sheets and blankets sure smelled outdoor fresh, or whatever scent it was. I have no idea when I fell asleep after tossing and turning and wondering about nutty things like how I was going to get preschool tuition to school with a sick girl at home...ridiculous things that cannot be solved at 4:00ish in the morning, but that did get solved later in the morning at a more reasonable hour.

Anyway, Elisabeth woke up around 6:30 (of course this would happen...she's normally our best sleeper, so who knows why she was up at the crack of dawn) and thus the day started with, "Mom, we haven't had breakfast yet." ummmmmm, that's because it's only 6:30, but try to explain that to a 4 year old (though I did my best). Elisabeth promptly went back to her bedroom after this declaration and started, I don't know what it was...it sounded like singing or something, but that got Abigail up again. Then, Olivia got up around 7:00ish, so I was joined by all three of my wide awake beauties.

Here's a little tidbit about Olivia: she rarely eats immediately when she wakes up, and I don't blame her. So, I toast her frozen waffles and she'll let them sit until she's ready, and I'm fine with that. In the meantime, she hangs out with me in the kitchen and plays or does whatever she wants, as is her prerogative because she is only 20 months. Today was no different until she, just as I was getting her sisters' breakfast done, started puking...all over the kitchen floor and herself. Of course.

And, naturally, once all this had happened and I got everyone cleaned up, dressed, dosed up with medicine (except Elisabeth, for now), everyone is peppy and full of happy life and playful energy...except for me. I'd like to go back to bed, and I kind of feel like I've earned it because I've also done the dishes and the laundry and made beds, etc., but instead I think I'll watch American Idol that I DVR'd last night, and hopefully I won't fall asleep on the couch! :)

**NOTE** okay, I've just spelled check my post. Have you ever noticed that there are some words that are just a mystery on why they are spelled or pronounced the way they are? I thought prerogative was spelled "perogative." Hmmmm..."Pre-rogative?" I don't pronounce it that way. Is that how you are supposed to say it???? Hmmmm. ANYWAY! This is yet another illustration of how tired I am. lol.

And on that happy note, have a great day. It's your Prerogative! :)

Goings and Comings the first weekend in March

I think you really appreciate your partner even more when they are M.I.A. for a while. This week is CRAZY with Jason's travels and I am reminded how grateful I am for how much he does with the girls and for me. Even if he's just gone for the day, it means that I'm responsible for dropping off/picking up from preschool, which means that I'm getting four people (myself included) ready in the morning instead of one, getting everyone out the door by 8:10 and keeping an eye on the clock for pickup. This is actually very good practice for later in life, but while I'm pregnant, I must confess that I don't really feel like going ANYWHERE, so this is even more fun.

But, first things first: Let me share just a few highlights for the past few days...

• Saturday: Baby shower was a smashing success. Remembered the bagel (though could have gotten at a closer store...what was I thinking?) Hats off to Kristan and Sarah, who basically put the whole thing together, and Jennifer for totally pitching in. So fun. Late Lunch was also fun...I think I should always just get appetizers for the meal. lol. The weather was beautiful, albeit windy. But I'll take 70 degrees to what we got on Monday. ugh.
• Sunday: Love my calling as Primary Chorister. Am completely exhausted after church, though. I had all sorts of weird physical afflictions I don't normally enjoy (like headaches and the 'reahs and overall fatigue) for the rest of Sunday. This is the second time I've had this so I know it's not a virus. Hmmmm. Luckily we had friends over for dinner and that always helps--the house gets tidied, the food gets cooked and the kids LOVE them so it's nice to have the bonus of other adults to talk with and interact.
• Sunday night: This deserves its own bullet. On Friday, Jason was just telling our friends how great Olivia was doing at not following Elisabeth's example of pooping in the tub (Sorry for the T.M.I. moment, but it's true. E was our worst offender with this). Sure enough, the first night Jason is out of town, what does Olivia do? JINXED, I tell you. I was JINXED! Thank goodness for Re-ox and the phone, because you can bet that I called Jason at his hotel and let him keep me company whilst cleaning that lovely surprise.
• Monday: Luckily had help getting Abigail to school. Whew. Did not sleep well AT ALL (this is par for the course when the husband is gone). So, Tired-and-Crabby (that would be me) worked to mother my poor children all day. We did manage to get to Aldi's, which makes me feel better having stuff in the fridge and cupboards again (don't you love the first of the month????). But it was sooooo cold! A 40 degree drop in temperature really is very obvious and it just felt BITTER outside. It didn't help that I was feeling that inside; well, not necessarily bitter, but just grumpy! Ugh. This is a prime example of one of those days when I'm not as tuned in with my children as I want to be. I've been having those quite a bit, but I'll save that for another post. Anyway, all of us were sooooo happy to see Jason in the evening, and I kept a particular eye on Olivia so as not to repeat Sunday night's incident. Which leads to...

Why I'm so glad to have such a great husband who happens to be a great dad. Not everyone is that blessed, I know. So I feel particularly lucky. He is adored by all of us, that's for sure. And I really do sleep better when he's in the house. So, hopefully today will be a better day. :)