Category Archives: Nico

Nov 30

The Christmas Parade

Last night was our local Christmas Parade, and the kids were so excited! We were in luck too, the weather was kind and not too chilly.

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The downtown businesses and store-fronts are decorated and ready for Christmas. I wanted to check out the new kid’s store downtown, but it was time for the parade to begin.

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Agnes was all bundled up,

the boys enjoyed some Hot Chocolate too.

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This year’s parade theme was Christmas on the Range, and Dylan was thrilled. He’s our little cowboy, he really loved this year’s parade.

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So much fun, and we got to make more sweet Christmas memories with our kiddos. The kids are so ready for Christmas!

Nov 23

Thanksgiving Prep: Day 3

Wednesday:

Glasses: check, grubby house cleaning clothes: check, I am not leaving the house today!

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I’m way happy about it too!

This morning I got to sleep in… I got to rest until 6:45 a.m., and it was awesome. The kids slept in too, it was a total Thanksgiving blessing. I loved not having to get up and get everyone out in the cold weather. Thade was concerned when he asked “what are we going to do today” and I answered “nothing, enjoy your vacation”. He still doesn’t know what to do with his new found free time.

I’ll be working though. Today I’ll be cleaning the main living areas of the house and the bathrooms too. I don’t have to have everything perfect though, my Mom and Brother don’t mind. I like that too, the stress has melted away this holiday (and that’s pretty rare for me).

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To Do List:

  1. Prep the dishes. I’m cooking today what I can, and I know it is silly, but I like to arrange the non-perishable items in the dish that they will be cooking in. That way I know I have enough pots and pans to get the job done.
  2. Wash the potatoes, and prepare the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip
  3. Write up my cooking/baking order list for tomorrow. I have a lot to cook, and I want to make sure I have my timing down.
  4. Put away seven loads of laundry, empty the upstairs trash cans, and dust the surfaces.
  5. Clean the bathrooms too, and take out the trash
  6. Line the baking pans for the Turkey and Ham
  7. Wash up any dishes that we are using for tomorrow, make sure they are neat and tidy.
  8. Quick clean the kitchen and put away any unnecessary items. Crock Pots and bread maker to the top shelves to make extra room for tomorrow.
  9. Make turns 3 and 4 on the Croissants, line the baking sheets for proofing and baking tomorrow
  10. Get some gazelle time in, I have less stress when I exercise a bit and keep my mind occupied
  11. Dinner is extra easy tonight, thank goodness
  12. Take the pie crusts out of the freezer so they can defrost, and make sure there is plenty of ice
  13. I think that’s good, get ready for tomorrow

The kids are all home today too, and they boys are being pretty good so far… Agnes and I are hanging out, and she is enjoying some pancakes.

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She is in a pretty cheerful little mood today.

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I got the Vanilla mints finished last night, and I got my arm work-out first thing this morning.

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Turn 2 is done on the Croissants, turn 3 will be done this afternoon, and turn 4 after dinner. I’m baking them first thing tomorrow morning.

Time to get to the cleaning…

Till tomorrow,

nicole

Nov 22

Thanksgiving Prep: Day 2

Tuesday:

Today is Thade’s last day at school for the week, and I feel a little rushed this morning. He is really excited to go to the Thanksgiving feast, and the weather isn’t too friendly today. It is cold and rainy, and Dylan is bummed that he is done with school for the week. Agnes isn’t too happy about getting out this morning. Thankfully after 3:00 p.m. we are in for the week.

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I ran a little late last night folding laundry, and triple checking the shopping list. My stomach still hurts from the new meds, so it is hard to make a shopping list full of food… I think I’ve got it all together though, my goal for Tuesday’s shopping trip is to get everything we need for the next seven days. I don’t want to have to go back to the store until everyone is back in school.

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James was super sweet, and brought me breakfast. It was unbelievably good too. He brought me a Sausage Cheese Biscuit from the Donut Station and it was crazy tasty!

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I was super hungry too. I had been working on the Croissant dough.

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To Do List:

  1. Clean the litter-box, I slacked off yesterday and didn’t get that chore accomplished
  2. Take out the trash, tomorrow is trash day, and I don’t want to forget it (better get this done early)
  3. Get the turkey into the fridge to thaw. I use just a bone-in Turkey Breast, it is simple to make, and tasty too.
  4. Cut up the veggies for the veggie tray, and stock too.
  5. Grocery shop, get it all for the next week. Wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving too, and best wishes if they have to work on Friday.
  6. Organize the kitchen, and get all of the extras put away. My kitchen is extra cramped this week, I’m cooking ahead, and stocking up, and losing my mind in the mess
  7. Incorporate the butter in the Croissant dough, and make the first turn. I’ve still got two more days of rolling, turning, and hoping that they turn out just right.
  8. Wash and fold three loads of laundry
  9. Make the Vanilla mints for Thanksgiving (I’ll be doing this while watching the debate with James)
  10. Round up all of the pots, pans. and baking dishes that I will be using to make dinner, and give them a quick wash.
  11. Make extra ice for Thanksgiving
  12. Get pizza! We have a new pizza place that just opened, and this week is a great time to try it out. I’m going to take all of the help I can get.
  13. Relax, call it a night, and hope that the kids sleep in tomorrow.

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My arms hurt.

Till tomorrow,

nicole

Nov 19

On The Road To Wellness

I started one of my prescriptions today. I’m allergic to penicillin, so I’m on a different type of antibiotic. I can’t be out in the sun, and just sitting at my desk, I got a pretty good sun-burn.

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So far my stomach hasn’t hurt, so I can totally deal with the rosy cheeks. I’m feeling so much better though. Thanks again to all for the get well wishes.

Nov 9

Freezer Cooking

Last night I got a phone call from a good friend, and she was asking if Dylan could come over to play for the afternoon. I said sure, he would be so excited to spend the day at a friend’s house. I know he will have a blast, and I knew that with a little extra time in the morning, I could knock out some cooking for the freezer.

Yesterday James came home with these…

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One of his friends stopped by his workplace with a big bag of Apples for me. I was pretty pumped, and I knew exactly what to do with them. I’ll make up a big batch of freezer-friendly Apple Pie Filling, and be set for awhile. I’ll be baking a pie for his friend though, to say thanks.

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Agnes wanted to “help”, but it was naptime, so no little gals in the kitchen.

I set in and got to work. I started the roux for the Potato Soup, and started the base for the Apple Pie Filling too. I also trashed the kitchen, but oh well.

I used the pre-cooked potatoes that I had on hand. I had Bacon Breakfast Potatoes, and Potatoes from the leftover weekend Pot Roast hanging out in the fridge. I threw in Milk, Cheese, Salt, Pepper, and Garlic Salt, and made one tasty soup.

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Oh my goodness, it was really tasty.

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It also made a gigantic pot of soup.

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The Apple Pie Filling is simple. It’s Apple Juice, Sugar, Cinnamon, Corn Starch, and Apples. I just peeled, chopped, and dropped the Apples into the syrupy sweet cinnamon deliciousness. The kitchen smells amazing too.

I waited a bit for everything to cool. I got all of my freezer supplies together, and tidied up a bit of the dishes too.

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I scooped the Apple Pie Filling into quart sized bags. I ended up with three quarts, and a little bit more. I’m going to mash, and add the leftover apples to Brown Sugar Topped Oatmeal Muffins, for the next time my mom comes to visit. Make sure and remove as much air from the bags that you can, and freeze the quart bags flat. It makes them easier to store (you can store them upright once they are frozen), and it helps them thaw a bit faster too.

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When it was time to store the soup, I measured out 1 1/2 cup portions, and spooned them into a measuring cup. It was easy to portion the soup that way, and easy to pour into bags too. I can eat a ridiculous amount of homemade soup, it is just so stinking good.

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I ended up with five generous portions. There would have been six servings, but I was hungry, and had to make sure and taste the batch before I froze it. Oh yeah, it was good! This soup reheats well, and is tasty alongside Crusty Bread Rolls.

What about you… Do you have any freezer favorites?