the "crown" battle....

My friend has a theory that daughters compete with mothers for the "queen" crown of the house. This theory is becoming more present in my house lately. One of the main problems is that Adelle and I are a lot alike; both first-born females, "type A" personalities who fight for control. As much as I dislike how she acts....I really "get" her. She is an amazing little girl, and I love her spirit...she has a great heart and is truly a sweet person.


That being said, a comment from her this morning led to this-

Yep, I'm that Mom who takes it back to basics. Total dismantling of her room.
I'm anxiously waiting her arrival home from school, when we will have a long talk about appreciation and respect.
Uggggg. Girls.

excuse me while I gain 5 lbs...

Patti LaBelle's Mac and Cheese is the best I've ever had. EVER.
Mark made this for Thanksgiving...and we liked it so much we (*he) made it yesterday. AGAIN.
I'm eating it for lunch...and I may eat it for dinner too.
Here's the recipe and a pic of ours....before we devoured it.

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 pound elbow macaroni
1/2 cup butter (PLUS means this ingredient in addition to the one on the next line, often with divided uses) PLUS-1 tablespoon
1/2 cup shredded Muenster cheese
1/2 cup shredded mild Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup shredded Monterrey Jack cheese
2 cups half & half
1 cup Velveeta, cut into small cubes
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350:. Lightly butter a deep 2 1/2 quart casserole. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat, add the oil then the elbow macaroni and cook until macaroni is just tender (about 7 minutes). Do not overcook. Drain well and return to the pot.
In a small saucepan, melt the first measure of butter. Stir into the macaroni. In a large bowl, mix the Muenster, mild and sharp Cheddar cheese and the Monterrey Jack cheese. To the macaroni, add the half & half, 1 1/2 cups of the shredded cheeses, the cubed Velveeta and the eggs. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to the buttered casserole. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese and dot with the remaining butter.
Bake until it is bubbling around the edges, about 35 minutes. Serve hot.

o.m.g.

My favorite things 2010

Being inspired by Oprah's favorite things (Did you SEE that madness?)...I have been thinking about some of my favorite things this year. Now, I'm not giving them away or anything crazy...just a little fyi.



1. My Kindle: My favorite buy ALL year. Super handy and I have several books at my fingertips. *LOVE*

2. St. Ives Collagen Moisturizer: I saw this on a blog, and picked it up. It makes my face so soft, and I could be imagining it, but it seems by staying-up-late bags under my eyes have vanished!

3. Modern Family: Favorite show, hands DOWN. My only complaint is that it's not longer. Mark and I laugh out loud at this show.

4. Muk Luks: I wear these babies CONSTANTLY. Sometimes (almost daily) I wear them to drop off the kids at school....yes they are house shoes, but they are so comfy and they keep my feet warm!

5. My Blackberry: Yes, I'm fully aware that it's wrong to have two electronics in my fave things....but I have the Crackberry disease. I can get so much done; emails sent, pictures loaded, Facebook checked, texts...you know...all the important stuff? *insert eye roll HERE, Mom*

6. My CHI flatiron: Expensive? Yes. Burn your face off? Yes. Worth every penny to flatten my oh-so curly mane? Yes.

7. Jennifer Lopez 'Glow After Dark Perfume': Can't explain the smell...but I get compliments on it all the time.

8. Skinny Jeans: I'm one of those almost-30yr-old Moms that wear them.

9. Paramore's Final Riot CD: This has not left my CD player in months. I LOVE live music...it's like the energy of the concert is in my car. Favorite track?
#6,#8, and #14. I also adore "Feeling Sorry" off their Brand New Eyes album.

10. Hmmmm, now they are not "things" per say. But my FAVORITE things are kisses from my kids and my hubs. xoxo

Anyway

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

-this version is credited to Mother Teresa

where does the time go?

Wasn't Max just starting to talk yesterday? Wasn't he just in diapers? Wasn't he making us laugh constantly toddling around? Time goes so fast. I gotta go hold these babies while I can.

Turkey Day 2010

We shared our Thanksgiving this year with a family friend. Akin is actually more like an Uncle to our kids...we've known him for awhile now. We are going to be stationed with him and his new family in June at Camp Lejeune. We made a HUGE feast and gorged on some plate(s) full of food. Then we proceeded to melt into the couch. I, of course, had to capture it because I'm ADDICTED to my camera.

And Thanksgiving wouldn't be complete without going around the table telling what we are thankful for.

Mark- Our family
Ethan- My parents
Adelle- My clothes (?)
Amanda- Our health
Akin- Our food
Max- Bread

This continues Max's food theme this year...at preschool the kids were asked what they were thankful for- every single child mentioned someone in their family. As for Max...well....

old pics...

Today as I was looking at some old pics, I came across these FAVES of mine and had to share.