Beans, Beans, Good For the Heart...

...and I think you know the rest....

My MIL, who might be one of the best cooks I know, gave me this recipe. It appears to have been created as a dip, but MIL used as a side dish one evening & I fell in love.

It's a cool side dish, perfect for 95 degree days wrapped in 100% humidity.

Here it is in all its corny glory:

Sherry’s BEAN Dip

1 can pinto beans (drained)

1 can black beans (drained)

1 can Mexican style corn (with green and red peppers (drained)

2 cans Rotelle w/Cilantro and Lime

A few green onions sliced or small red onion chopped

Approx. 2 Tablespoons Italian Dressing

Dashes of chili powder, cumin and garlic

Marinate all for several hours (longer the better)

Drain most of the juice

If desired add 1 cup (+/-) sharp cheddar or Monteray Jack cheese

I add a bit of salt and fresh cilantro

(Can be eaten as a side dish or as an appetizer with Scoops)

One Tough Cookie = Big Sis

I figured I had better blog this before I forget....



With us putting the floor in, there were a few different times the kids & I absolutely had to make a break for it. To get us out of Daddy's hair & to give them the chance to burn some pent-up energy.

One morning in particular, when PeePaw came over to help, I recognized the need (for all parties) for us to vacate the premises.

We went to Walgreens, wherein the children (who by the way, don't fit so well together in a walgreens cart) played like the monsters from WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE. They showed there terrible teeth & their terrible claws & made mischief in the seasonal aisle. Giant rubber balls bounced high & knocked large clocks (I know!, a big clock in a aisle full of sprinklers??!) onto their backsides. Large singing rubber ducks got cleared from their spot into Gabe's skinny two year old grip.

By the end of our trip there, I realized that the energy being expeled was mine. Gabe ran from my side into the parking lot, where my heart was swallowed by my stomach. In an attempt to grab his shoulder, shirt, anything, my finger nails (the only part of my grip not used up by my 4 bags of purchases) scratched his neck & drew blood.

Ugh!, I felt so bad. He cried so hard. I had to make it right....

"We'll head to the park!!"

But the wind & ominous skies started to blow something nasty in & I had no other choice.

McD's playplace.

Ugh.

Remember the ranch dressing??

I looked at the clock in the car. 9:44 am. How many kids could be there w/ dripping nuggets?
I told the kids as we approached the restaurant, "Momma's not totally sure we're staying because we're really here to return a video to the Redbox."

When we got in there, only one kid was there. I approached the area & it looked clean.

I also noted a sign with MUST WEAR SOCKS (available for purchase at counter). I looked down at my kids' croc-clad feet, no socks in sight. So, after getting my kids settled at the playplace, I sauntered toward the counter to purchase said socks & we happily played for the next 45 minutes.

What seems to be a trend is the grandmas who babysit their grandchildren & then proceed to take them to a playplace & then allow their wicked grandchild to terrorize the other kids while granny takes a break & reads or sits in a vegitative state.

Meanwhile, I watch my kid like a hawk so that they don't so much as breath a rule-breaking breath.

So, the terror-of-the-day was a little boy, about 4 or 5 - taller & stockier than either of my petite two. He reminded me of the tasmanian devil, flying through the tunnel at warp speed, knocking into kids, then running on with an evil smile upon his face. He slid down the slide behind Flynn who jammed her finger at the bottom of the slide. Flynn cried, which is rare, so I knew it hurt. And as he inched by her & peered down at her finger, he gave out a hearty laugh.

What I really wanted to do was to reach across & grab his cheshire grin & give it a squeeze. But I didn't get all hand that rocks the cradle on him.

Instead I gave him a little lesson in manners, "It's NOT funny when someone's hurt. QUIT LAUGHING."

And then I tripped him when he was walking away.

Just kidding.

Not really.



So, I was not surprised when I saw his mean shadow lurk through the tunnel toward the direction of my two.

And then heard, echoing through playland,

"HHEEEEEEEEEY! You do NOT push MY BROTHER!!!!!"

And soon after, the greasy little brat followed down after my two. They were in a strong embrace like they'd just survived the frightening rapids of the mighty Mississip.

The little (mean) boy, who incidentally reminded me of "Randal" on Monsters, Inc., followed them down. He looked at me, once he reached the ground, almost as if he expected me to say something to him.

But I think my girl took care of the situation.



She repeated the scenario to me once she got to where I sat proudly. I just nodded & smiled. But later, I wanted to make a bigger deal out of it. So when I laid beside her at "light nap", I told her of my pride,
"Flynn, when you defended Bubby today at playplace, Momma was so proud of you. That is your job, to take care of your brother. And it made me happy."

She looked at me, glad I giving her the props she deserves & figured she had better say a thing or two,
"He was mean & he was icky. He started to push us. And we started to fall....
and we grabbed each other....
and were falling...."

SILENCE

SILENCE

"falling...

falling in love."

And I started to laugh. And, when she should've been napping, we laid there giggling.

Monday Redbox Code

Enter this code at the Redbox for a free flick....but ONLY TODAY:

6TK2A3

Redbox movies are only rented for one day.

Monday Mumblings

• 
  
• 
  
• Flynn had dress rehearsal today.
• 
  
• The kids have been at each other like a cat & a dog. A dog that pinches.
• 
  
• Gabe was up in the 6 o'clock hour, Flynn too.
• 
  
• Flynn got in trouble at dancing...for talking too much to Madelyn instead of standing where she was supposed to & waiting for the cue to go on stage. Her teacher said, "I know you & Madelyn are friends, but you need to listen." Uh-oh. Those girls are really going to be in trouble in ten years. Can you imagine if they end up in the same high school??! ;)
• 
  
• We had a good playdate with our friends Alex & Baby Aidan. And when Madelyn & Matthew showed up, Flynn was in friend-heaven.

• We went to BK with Alex, Baby Aidan, & Ms Kim. There were no tables big enough, so I sat the "big kids" at a table by themselves. It was so cute!! And they did so well. Such good buddies.
• Gabe needs to go to a LISTENING BOOT CAMP.
• I signed both of them up for an acro camp at Flynn's dancing school. I told them that Gabe wouldn't be 3 til August but they decided to let him sign up anyway. He'll have so fun. So will I, sitting in the parking lot IN TOTAL SILENCE.
• We had our first spill on the new floor. Gabe's burger king cup....he still doesn't get the concept of DON'T TIP BACK A STRAW WITH A CUP. I must say, it cleaned up rather nicely, minus the mad momma.

Hot Days of Almost Summer

Wowwee, what a whirlwind weekend full of parties & love & fun. But that can only mean one exhausting Sunday night -- full of crabby momma & overly tired (read hyper) kiddos.

Friday night, the Mr. & I had our evening together, set aside to celebrate our 6 six years of love. After the insane, crazy day we had on Friday, I just wanted a little peace, a little quiet...and a little Chinese.
Actually Hot Hubs is the one who suggested it & since we never take Flynn to a Chinese (too risky) restaurant, it was a good time to go w/ them at Nana's & all. We went to an afforadable, take-out'ish kinda place. And yum, just talking about it is making me salivate.
Then we had a relaxed trip to Target, to pick out some new sandals for Gabe & pick up some things for church.
Then we headed home for the peace & quiet part of the evening.

I plan to post another entry on all that was accomplished on Sat., before heading back to Nana's to pick up Precious #1 & Precious #2. Then it was onto another party.

And we attended another family gathering, of fun, too much sun, & lotsa water. Family, tons of laughs, & a lot of love. This one was another chance for us to send off my sis & her family to the coast. A great idea, by my cousin's wife (I think).... we all secretly signed a mat for a frame. We did a family shot. And she hurried in & printed it out. She threw it in the frame & presented it to them. A few tears shed (believe it or not, not by moi) & a great momento.

One of the more tiring things I did this weekend was a fun kick off to summer for our elementary program at church. We're doing Flipt & we did a pancake FLIP. The kids did a pancake flipping/whipped cream relay. And we had a huge pancake breakfast. I have only taught that age group twice in the last six months & let me say that I love them dearly. When I'm with them, I realize how I am made for that age group -- even tho there isn't an age group that I can't get along with.

It's all been pretty insane.

And I'm going to go read to at least one of my off-spring & tuck them in....

and send Jeff for chinese.

DARN YOU Caleb Zustiak!!!

Who showed me this video a few days ago & IT WILL NOT LEAVE MY HEAD.
I wake up with it playing in my head, go to sleep with the tune singing, & I kid you not, keep finding myself whistling it.

WARNING, has a few icky phrases that might not be suitable for the 'aware' kids.

Otherwise, join me on the planet of CATCHY TUNES STUCK IN MY HEAD.


Click Here For Catchy

Another Crazy Day

While I am very careful about what I say, I don't necessarily assign words so much power that I believe what I say dictates the events of our lives.
So, I think it's 'okay' that I felt (this morning when I woke) like it was not going to be a great day.
After a few things, not worth mentioning, set the tone for the day, I felt like just crawling back in bed. But we had a fun birthday party to go to, that we wouldn't have missed for the world. So, not getting on with our day, was not an option.
Then, I am helping Flynn pull a fun birthday dress over her head when I see something under her arm. What in the world? When I inspected closer what I saw was a tick. No biggie, they're thick 'in these parts', so I escorted her into the bathroom where my tweezers are kept.
At closer look, I realized that the legs were dangling & free.... which I thought would make for an easy removal. I picked up the tweezers, gave the tick a pull (all the while Flynn is freaking out), but it would only pull her skin UP with it. Which meant that tick's head was good & embedded. I tried everything -- the handsoap on the cotton balls to smother it....the cotton ball sopped with hydrogen peroxide, you name it. And I had read up on the stuff that's no longer considered safe. Thirty minutes of pulling this tick in hopes the head wouldn't detach & stay in her skin.
I called Grammy, who knows all about anything outdoors & asked her advice. Then I called Nana, who like Grammy is a Christian version of witch doctor & have every home remedy. But no one's advice was helping us, so I called the pediatrician's office. And made an appointment for as soon as I could get in.
Which meant scrambling nervously about, getting peeps dressed, jumping in the shower, etc., etc. Then it was one of those, Gabe having an accident right before we walk out of the door, can't find the keys, can't find other things I need to find, - kinda day.
On the way, we hit something on the highway, which nearly sent me into hysterics. There was massive traffic, and everyone in front of me drove ridiculously slow. Then there were NO open parking spots at the ped.'s office, so we had to park really far away & take the basement entrance. We waited over 5 mins for the elevator & on the way up, I realized I didn't have on a spec of make up...my wet hair pulled back by my sunglasses. 'Gees' I thought, 'I sure hope I don't see someone we know.'
But we of course (how often do you see a friend at the DOCTORS OFFICE?) saw Al, his mom, & Baby Aidan. But she's seen me at 6:30 am many a day sans make up, so I doubt she cares.

The dr WAS able to get that nasty tick out... in a jiffy. Here's how:
when a ticks head is EMBEDDED, you must make him open his jaw. Using your tweezers or nails, take his BODY & bend it, almost like he's doing a back bend. And that will cause him to unclench his jaw & his head will then come out of the skin.
NASTY!
But now you'll know.
I wish I had,
I would've saved a co-pay.

I called Amy to get directions to Delaney's party from the dr's office. She told me about flynn's cake alternative plans & the tricky labeling made her think what she had planned to buy was unsafe. So, a trip to walgreens was in order...they usually have a good selection of safe cookies. So I swung by there for some NUTTER BUTTERS, yowsa!, $4.59?? So, I got a $2 sleeve of them. But those things are so tasty -- well worth it.
But on the way there, at a somewhat busy 4-way stop, a person who should've been like 2 turns after me, someone nearly clipped us.

Thank goodness for a fun bday party to take a break from the madness.

But on the way home from the 'city', we had to drive through the storms. Two tornadic storms passed through. We only had to drive through sideways rain, but made it through--it just took a LOT longer.
Gabe took his nap on the last 1/2 of the ride home (a whopping 20 mins) & when he does that, he won't return to his slumber once we're home. Which means, short nap, early bedtime, waking up in the middle of the night. Sorry Nana, didn't this happen last time?
My parents are keeping the kids tonight so that Jeff can take me out for our anniversary. Honey, I don't know what you have up your sleeve, but there are supposed to be storms for the rest of the day....let's just hang out here on our new floors?

So, schwoo, home dilly dally. What a day.

Hope yours was just as great. ;)

Quick Q & A

Because I've been a bad blogger lately....have been a bad blogger commentor (commentEr?) but that's more of google reader's fault...and haven't commented back on any of the questions on my blog, in like a month.

Have I mentioned that life's a little crazy lately?
Well, it is. It doesn't seem to be slowing down at all, but that's no excuse.

Here we go - some of the questions as of late & my answers:

Faith Hope Love Mama said...
Funny. My daughter uses the BFF with her girlfriends. Hope you survive the remodel project. I'm sure it will be lovely when you are finished. Any before shots you can give us. I'm slightly addicted to HGTV so I love transformations. :)

I'm sad, I didn't get great before shots (that would've been a great idea!). I did get a couple during the pulling up of the nasty carpet & the bare floor. I will be sharing. It is such a dramatic change tho, with just different flooring, that I wish I would have. Also, not everything that was in there (TV?), is going back. So, the room is bound to be more spacious.

Thank you for the Anniversary wishes everyone!

4under3 said...
Fabulous choice on a wedding date. You beaut of a bride. And what'd it take to get Mother Nature to cooperate so nicely? It looks like it was perfect out.

Well, it did NOT rain, so I guess the weather did cooperate. But our pay was 93 degrees with our usual Missouri humidity. It was perfect, all of it.

Jenn said...
WOW! I'm ready to kick some booty too! How absolutely selfish and hateful some of the commenters were. And am I correct in my understanding that this would be for one game only? What the heck is the big deal then? What jerks!!!!!

Yes, it's just ONE game. Let's just say, there are some seriously hateful & selfish people out there. And, they're dumb. (I can say that on here, my kids can't hear me type ;)

Faith Hope Love Mama said...
Can I stand along side you and kick them in the throat also?!

Yep!

MCK Mama said...
Oh, Amy. I can't even imagine! So glad the darn toaster strudel packet corner came up finally. And I LOVED that you asked for a photo in front of the ambulance! They obliged, didn't they?

They did oblige. And I have the photo (along with about 835,561,799,620 others) ready to scrapbook!

Kristi said...
Great story...and you told it so eloquently too! :-) What a scary moment...well, until that toaster strudel came "popping" out!

Oh Kristi, hee hee hoo ha. That's a good one.

MCK Mama said...
Oooh, we've not seen it. We will have to, based on that rave review!!Switching parts, SO impressive. Who "started that", could you tell?And MUGS of pasta. Great idea!!! I have a ton of little Pampered Chef prep bowls that I use, but they are a little small. And quite a few large, adult ceramic bowls. But mugs is a truly great idea! Did you come up with that on your own? Totally stealing it, k? Plastic=icky.

I couldn't tell who the director was in the scenario. ;)
Hope you're using the mugs by now. :)

Faith Hope Love Mama said...
Seriously one year ours were up till August and I was disgusted with my husband for that. He kept joking that he was going to turn them on for the 4th of July. I was not happy! I make sure he gets them down before the snow melts now.Our next door neighbors have not mowed their grass yet this year. I was tempted to go over their yesterday and cut it for them just so I wouldn't have to look at it anymore. Is that weird?

I don't think that would be weird at all... I'm tempted all the time. Of course, hot hubs is the one who mows, so I guess I'd be pimping him out.

MCK Mama said...
Yeah for summer!!! (Can you please tell it to come here to Minnesota, too?)

I'd imagine that if I told it, it would tell me that I'm slow & that it's there by now.

Kim said...
If it's summer, then WHY am I going to school tomorrow (and for TWO more weeks!)?

Because you are TOTY (said like "tottee") Teacher Of The Year.

Faith Hope Love Mama said...
I second MCK mama. Glad someone has summer weather! Can you send some our way?

Is it there?, 'cause I told it.

Sue said...
Yay! We're back and forth between beautiful spring weather and cooler spring here. But I'll take any temperature where the girls can get outside!Where did you get that caddy? I LOVE it!!!

The cute faux-leaf, green, plastic caddy was an Easter gift 2 years ago....to Flynn, from Aunt 'G. It was full of super cute, bug-handled garden toys. God only knows where all the garden tools are these days, but it seemed to be the perfect going outside crate. It has sunscreen, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, band-aids (had peroxide last yr), garden gloves, seeds, kiddy sunglasses, & I usually jam my phone down in there.

Tiffany said...
What a fun little basket. I bet you all are almost in need of another bottle of that sun screen by now. Not us. Not us. (sigh)

I hope you're at least close to finishing up that first bottle. Last month we had to go to good ol' Target & buy more. In another post, I will share my favorite sun block.

All the Way, Baby

Cuz I don't do it half-way....

That's why, when just now, when I was making room in the fridge for the mammoth bowl of watermelon I'd just cut, I made a giant mess.

No, it could'nt have been a SMALL pitcher of tea I dropped, nope -- cuz that would be just 2 quarts of tea spilling all over my kitchen floor & making it's way to the brand new flooring in the livingroom (& would be far to easy to clean up)...

Nope, it had to be the big kahuna.

And of course, was it close to being empty?
Heavens no.

Three beach towels & most of it's sopped up.

LLL

Remember, back in high school, all those acronyms you'd sign at the end of the NOTES you weren't supposed to be writing & exchanging with your friends?....

SSS (sorry so short)

'91 Rulz (should I lie & say something like '98?, I'd sure like to be turning 28 instead of 35 in 2 mos)

LYLAS (love ya like a sis)

SMILE! (not an acronym, I know, but there was definitely a "smile!" trend there in the early 90s)

TLA (true love always)

2 cute + 2 be = 4 gotten (this was usually saved for the end of the yr. yearbook signing)

Anyway....
it's been pretty dern busy around Chez Perry, what with us taking on a slight home-improvement project (putting down faux-wood flooring) & what not.
We've been like vagabonds in our own home. Stowing away in the basement, or our rooms, to avoid the dust & the hammering. And mostly, to keep our little toes & fingers out of harm's way (aka THE way).
Our house is a little topsy-tervy (okay, a little more than usual) as our kitchen & lvgrm are having to take turns, holding the other's furniture.

So, between now & the time I actually get to post something, have fun clicking over on the right sidebar....check out MOMMA'S FAVS & hopefully the laughs & tears will get you through 'til my next post (so highly anticipated - pardon the sarcasm).

'Til then,
LLL (longer letter later)

And, pretend this post has those fancy folded corners that my BFFs & I used to do to our notes.

Has It Been Six Years Already?

People always say it, but it's true...

in some ways it seems like it's been forever that I've been Jeff's wife;

but in other ways, it seems like just yesterday.

I can still smell the smells of the warm summer air...my roses...

And the feel of my dad's strong arm as he walked me down.
How handsome Jeff was in his tux & how I just knew this would last forever.
and we're well on our way....

Happy Anniversary Jeff, I love you!

A Hot Day in June

-just like this one, a bride-to-be nervously scoured her to-do list...knowing that she had less than 24 hours until her life permanently changed.

And just like everyone always says, there were little complications; like the cake being delivered (sans box or crate) 24 hours early, or the ground being damp & soft where the wedding would take place (at her parents'), or one of the flower girl's dress being sewn a little incorrectly.

She felt such excitement: Not for the friends she'd see, or the family that she hadn't seen for so long. Not for the hard work over the last 8 weeks that would pay off when she would see the beauty of the flowers & greenery. Not for the ceremony, so intricately planned. But for the marriage, that she knew would last a life time.

There was very little time left & it felt like the grains of sand in the hour glass were sifting through faster than the seconds ticking by. No time left to perfect the song she'd sing to her groom. No chance of losing those last couple of pounds. One more night left alone in her apartment as a single person.

But one thing was for sure, she never felt so sure about any other decision she'd made in her life. And when she thought of the days that would follow, she smiled inside & knew that God had rewarded her for being faithful to Him.

What's More Carefree Than Being at the Park?

Spending a day at the park with your friend,

walking the edge of the playground, in 70 degree weather.

(obviously a month ago)

Momma's Quote of the Day

Heard, coming from the bathroom, earlier today:

"You Guys! No fighting while Momma's cleaning up poop!!!!"

The Bragmeister

Yep, that's me.
Like every other mom, I think the stuff that flies from my kids' mouths (save for vomit & chewed up food) is STELLAR & hilarious & intelligent.

So, here's the part where I document it because we all know that momma's brains become mush & there's so little we remember. And I don't want to forget a thing.

Yesterday, we were outside in the 85 degrees playing our little hearts out. I grabbed us bottles of cold water. Flynn unscrewed hers & started chugging away. She took a breather & said, "Phew. This is sure refreshing on a hot day like today."
I laughed & laughed & tried to burn it into my brain. But apparently, at dinner when I retold it to Jeff, I was a little bit wrong & she corrected me. Because she has a snap shot brain like her dad's; wherein she remembers quotes of movies & quotes of herself.

Some other noteworthy things I've heard her say in the last few days:

"Mom, this is amazing."

"I'm mad at you. I'm going to turn around so you can't see me." (don't explain to her that just because she can't see me that I can't see her)

"Oh look at bubby. What a cute little baby."

"Mom, you know this picture where Bubs is in your tummy & I'm kissing it? Was he born the next day?"

"Pink is my favorite color. I reeeeally like it."

"Mom, I do NOT like riding in the cart."

"I don't like having long hair. I want to get mine cut."

"Momma, would you call Grammy & tell her that I like going to her house?....
I want to spend the night with her. Mom, next time can I spend more than one dark nap there? And go to Nana's too?
I like both of those places....
can I spend THREE NIGHTS at both of those places?
I like spending three seconds at places (somehow nights converted into seconds), I never get to. I want to." (I think Grammy & Nana would prefer 3 seconds over 3 nights anyway)

And, I can't brag on my girl, without bragging on my boy.........................

Who thinks the word for DOG is "Woocy" (woocy = Lucy, Grammy's dog)...I think this is due to the fact that he knew her as a baby, before he got exposure to any other dogs.
He even calls a hot DOG a woocy.

Pee-Pee Pot is what he dubbed sitting on the potty, a long time ago. So much for the 'correct' words we taught Flynn (restroom, etc.). I have a feeling he's not going to use the anatomical terms that we use around here.

The bedtime routine is completely dictated by him. Typically, Daddy tucks him in, I tuck in Flynn. He tells daddy, "Down" for him to put his head on Gabe's pillow. And when he's tired, he'll just cut things short & say "Go" or "Bye" & point to his door.

He rides his horse & yells "YEE-HAWWWWWW!!" I need to get him boots & a hat.

He sings Itsy Bitsy Spider & Twinkle Twinkle...and bless his pea-pickin' heart. All I have to say is thank God he can carry a tune. Otherwise, I'm not totally sure we'd understand what song he is singing.

He knows his colors, has for a while now, but we're just now getting to the point of understanding which color is which. For a while, everything sounded like BLUE.

And, we're sooo close to be officially trained. He has been in undies during all his waking hours, all week. And save for Tues., where he both poo'ed AND pee'ed in his undies (numerous times) for my BFF who was visiting, he has done excellently. He yells "PEE PEE POT!!!!!!!!" and takes off trucking down the hall to the bathroom. I figure we'll save a good $40 each month (cable/satelite anyone?, just kidding) once he's fully trained. Of course, this week, what we've saved in diapers, we've spent on water to wash the bajillion soiled underwear. Or to replace the pair I *CUT* off of him & threw away.
Let's just say, some stuff should never go through the washer. ;)

Kids Eat Free

It's easy to just look at a K.E.F. list & get to go wherever. But just like anywhere we go to eat, it takes research (& prayers) ahead of time.

So, here is a list of St Louis area restaurants who celebrate participate in a KIDS EAT FREE night (or more). note: to my friends in other states, some of these restaurants are in your area too, so read on!

Kriegers Sports Grill: KIDS EAT FREE ON TUESDAYS.
Their ingredients/nutritional facts are no where to be found. I've emailed them for that.

Cici's: KIDS 3 & UNDER ARE FREE EVERYDAY.
We had decent luck with Flynn was a baby with plain pasta. HOWEVER, the last few years, we have not taken her in there. The open food bar poses too many threats.

D Dooley's: KIDS EAT FREE ON TUESDAYS.
The website gives no ingredients/nutritional facts (just a menu), so this is one place we'd have to "chance" going & seeing firsthand (which does sometimes have its advantages) if they had anything that was safe. Doing it this way sometimes brings the manager/owner out of the woodwork & will show firsthand, if a restaurant is allergy-friendly or not. There are only 2 locations: Fenton & Eureka.

Fortel's Pizza Den: KIDS EAT FREE ON TUESDAYS.
The pasta (we have had good luck w/ spaghetti) as well as the red pasta sauce, are both safe. She loves it. They also get their drinks free! (adults, bring your cups from last time & get a super great discount on your drink)

O'Charley's: KIDS UNDER 10 EAT FREE *EVERYDAY* (doesn't include drinks)
"O'tenders" are safe for Flynn. As are the fries.
We love this place, even tho the service is hit or miss.

IHOP: *KIDS EAT FREE EVERYDAY*.
Ingredients not listed on their site, but I have emailed them requesting ingredients.

Pasta House Company: KIDS EAT FREE SUNDAYS.
Plain pasta has been fine for her in the past. And the rolls were fine when she was a baby but the ingredients may have changed.

Culpeppers: Monday nights KIDS EAT FREE.
Ingredients not listed on their site, but I have emailed them to ask for them. Flynn's never eaten there.

Fazoli's : Tues nights, kids eat for 99 cents.
Flynn has plain spaghetti...there is one red sauce that's 'safe', but she prefers plain anyway.

Ponderosa: (or as we call it as we drive by "Pon da gross a", because we're so mature) Kids Eat Free on TUESDAYS.
I have no idea what's safe, once again, ingredients not listed but I have emailed them.

Captain Ds: KIDS EAT FREE after 4:00 on Thursdays. Includes the drink.
I have no idea what's safe, once again, ingredients not listed but I have emailed them.

LoneStar Steakhouse: KIDS EAT FREE, 11 am - 4 pm on Saturdays.
Again, totally unsure what's safe for the girl -- email has been sent.

Fuddruckers: Kids 12 and under eat 99 cent meals on Monday and Tuesday after 4:00 pm, up to 2 kids per parent. They get an entree, side, drink and cookie.

Fraileys: Mondays KIDS EAT FREE.
This is pretty far from us, so I wouldn't go through the hastle of finding out what's safe for her.

Buffalo Wild Wings: Mondays KIDS EAT FOR 99 cents.
Email sent to them to get ingredients, meanwhile, we go elsewhere.

WHAT DO I SAY IN MY EMAIL?:
We're planning a trip to your restaurant but were unable to find the ingredients anywhere on your web site. My daughter has a severe allergy to milk-based ingredients. It's just easier if we find out what foods are safe for her, before we go to a restaurant.Is that something that could be emailed to me?
I really appreciate it & thank you in advance!

SOMETIMES THEY RESPOND, SOMETIMES THEY DON'T. SOMETIMES THEY RESPOND TO TELL ME, BASICALLY, IN NOT SO MANY WORDS, TO JUST NOT BOTHER.

Meanwhile, eat up, for cheap!

The Part Where I Want to Kick Someone In the Throat

...on account of reading some of the comments posted here. In response to our MLB stadium making a decision to open a peanut free section (ONE section) at one of the games this season (ONE game), they opened the question up to some the fine (using the term loosely) readers on their site.

Some people still think that parents of allergy kids are overreacting & blowing things out of proportion.
I wish those people had been around the evening last summer when Flynn's airway closed. And then I could've jammed the giant needle of the epi-pen into their leg as well.

As I read, I thought to myself, 'Really? Are there really people that ignorant? Really?'

And then I commented. And so did Jeff. And I wanted to kick someone in the throat.

Operator. What's Your Emergency?

"Well, my 11-month old daughter is gagging, kind of choking on something. She has been for about 10 minutes & I just talked to the phone nurse at her pediatrician's office & she told me to call 9-1-1."

"Okay, sending paramedics."

"Okay, well, could you tell them that when they get into the subdivision, to turn OFF their siren & lights? I don't want to needlessly alarm any of the neighbors." read: embarrass the heck out of myself, since I'm a parent educator to some of the residents in this subdivision.

That was 3.5 years ago. Flynn was my only baby. And she LOVED, absolutely LOVED sticking things in her mouth. Even when there was nothing to stick in her mouth, she still found something. Remember the bug?

Here's what happened that cool October 29th Friday afternoon....

I had hot plans to dress our baby girl up in her chicken costume & head up to Daddy's classroom party. But not before a visit from our Parents as Teachers parent educator. I was also a p.e. for PAT & was sure to clean extra well that morning, so my co-worker didn't think I was a slob.

Baby Flynn crawled around on the squeaky clean, freshly mopped kitchen floor after our PAT visit. While I gathered our bag & her costume & all the other steps to the departure routine. But before we headed out the door, she sauntered up to me looking alarmed & kind of doing some kind of motion with her mouth. Then she gagged & coughed. And shortly after that I realized that she must've swallowed something. No surprise for me, Mom to the most oral kid on the face of the earth. That girl threw anything & everything in her pie hole.

But, after the foreign object (which at the time I thought could've been a hair or a piece of her lunch from before) hung out in purgatory forever, I figured I'd better just get some medical advice.

As posted above, my advice turned into panic & before I knew it, I was hearing a siren in the distance. Well, even my first-time-mom'ness knew that a screaming siren, lights, & men busting in the door & heading to my baby just might alarm her a tad. So, we stepped out on the stoop & I pointed & showed her the special lights & visitors headed her way. My little socialite even grew excited as her new "friends" approached our drive. Drool running from her mouth, she kicked & waved & welcomed them.

I explained to them that she wasn't actually choking...at least not by my standards. But that there was definitely something that wasn't going down & that I was unable to get with my finger sweeps.

Each of them took their turn holding my girl & checking her mouth & throat as she played with their EMT badge & batted her long dark lashes. They commented that it was an easy call & that she was so friendly.

As the last one gave it a shot, they asked me what I'd like them to do. And suggested that they could take her in for an x-ray, or that I could.

And just as I started to tell them how silly that would be, I saw my girl doing almost a swishing motion with her toothless mouth.
"She looks like she's bringing something up."
And I stepped forward to reach as far as I could & just pinch something, anything...

And that's when I got it.

Embarrassingly enough,

the teeny tiny, light-weight (as easy to hang out right at the top of one's esophagus as it is to be swept/mopped to the edge of the linoleum) see-through, snipped CORNER of a pouch of icing,

belonging to a toaster strudel.

And (mystery solved), they had me sign a slip, something eluding to the fact that the 'patient' wasn't treated, nor transported.

And then,

I asked if I could take her photo with them in front of their ambulance.

'Cause I figured,
they probably already knew I was crazy.

Here's Your Sign

Go to Kindra's blog & check out her new contest. She's opened an Etsy store with primitive signs & is very talented!
Good luck!

One of the Funniest Things I've Seen

in all my 34 years....

The movie, Ice Age, had practically found a permanent home in our mini-van's DVD player. The kids loved & I could tolerate hearing it from the driver's seat.
So, each time we were on the road a lengthy amount of time, I'd press play & the kids were in movie heaven (poor little tv-deprived babies).

Between their opportunity to memorize this movie, added to that their inherited (from hot hubs) skill to burn parts of movies to their little brains, they can walk around & quote parts of this movie. And thank goodness, the parts are funny & easy on the ears.

I guess with Gabe having a speech delay, I have expectations on him that are -- shall we say, adapted. And because of that, when he does something spectacular, it completely knocks my socks off. And plus, he's still my baby (well, he always will be, even when he's not 2).

So, when these two, polishing off mugs (I know, weird, but the whole plastic thing has me freaked out enough to have pushed all their little kiddy bowls to the back of the cabinet) of pasta, started Ice Age dialogue... I started throwing roses at them. (whew, sorry for the world's longest run-on sentence there).

And it wasn't enough that one of them would take one part & the other be the 2nd character....and that they used annunciation, accents, & hand motions; but that after the 30-second BIalogue, THEY SWITCHED PARTS.
I. kid. you. not.

And so, first thing tomorrow morning, I'm calling St Louis Actors' Guild, to see how young they take them.