Clearly, I should never work in a nail salon, but fortunately for me, three little girls think I am a great “nail artist.” So glad they don’t look to closely. The boys are camping tonight and so we are enjoying a fun and exciting Girl’s Night. Kayden’s friend is staying with us while her parents are away making the evening that much more special. We started off with some pizza and then headed to the new frozen yogurt place down the street – Yo Lo. If I would have never been to Yogurtland, I would think this place was really cool, but it is much more expensive with less options so for me it was a bit of a let down, but to the girls it was a real treat. We painted piggies and fingers and went to the redbox to pick out our movie for the evening. I ran into my friend Sarah there who was also getting a movie for her Girl’s Night, but with a more mature audience. As the girl’s looked over the movies on the sign, she said “Your going to end up with the Chipmunks.” I thought, No way. We have already seen the Squeakquel (sp?) and there has to be something better in that Redbox. The kids were totally eyeing Ponyo, which sounded interesting because really where did that come from? Was it ever in the theaters? Of course though, it was not in the redbox. Actually, the selection was pretty limited and all the kids wanted was, what? The Chipmunks. So we are comfortably enjoying the Squeakquel . As much as I could improve my manicure skills, wish we had a yogurtland nearby, and would have chosen another movie, I have really enjoyed hanging out with the girls tonight. They are so much fun and appreciate all of it!

After finishing Cami’s skirt, Kayden could not wait to have a skirt of her own. There is something so satisfying about creating something that makes my girls think I am just the coolest mom ever. Kadie had a pair of jeans that had holes in the knees from seam to seam. I had originally planned on just making them into cutoffs, when I saw this skirt. A bit later I saw this skirt and thought of trying to combine the two. This is what I came up with.

This skirt was so much easier as I just cut off the bottom of the jeans and added a panel of denim and sewed on the ruffles. If I did it again, I would sew on a panel stretchier fabric, maybe some type of knit instead of the denim as the the skirt is a little more difficult to move in. She loves it and has been able to get around just fine though.

Do you see a resemblance?

Cami has been a soccer star this season along with the rest of her team. Her team has really learned to work well together and had an undefeated season. It has been a blast to watch her play as she takes the ball from a player on the other team, turns it around, takes it down to the other end of the field, and either shoots a goal or passes to another player on her team to score.

Last week they had a mommy daughter game for practice. Embarrassing as it was, they legitimately kicked our butts.

They just had their end of season “tournament” this weekend. I say “tournament” because I think that is what they call it. We spend the day at the soccer fields and they play a total of three games. The scores are not reported, so there is no technical winner, but we all know the kids (and us parents too sometimes) keep score. They continued their winning streak and won every game.

Cami wants to try volleyball in the fall, so we will probably be taking a break from soccer, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we see Cami on the soccer field again in the future.

Ugh! I am hating fast food. I did so good last week, I cooked every night, and then this week, what happened? Well, my kids started swim team and our other sports haven’t quite finished and I haven’t figured out how to balance it all yet. It seems we are going from one activity to the next and cooking just hasn’t fit in, making me feel like the worst mom ever. I was thinking that having preplanned menus would help, but I learned they really only work, when you actually remember to bring the shopping list with you to the store. When I get to the store without the list, I come home with a lot of cereal (because its on sale) and some chicken (because it was on sale too and I knew I could cook something with it) but I didn’t get enough ingredients to plan real dinners. My hopes are to really think ahead next week and get back on track.

Last night was one of our crazy nights as we heading straight from swim team to The Pinewood Derby. Such excitement comes from chopping up a block of wood and seeing it race down a metal slope. I am so glad Mac made his car this past summer with Grandpa Bill. He enjoyed it and it was really nice to have it already done. The all black exterior gave it the name “The Dark Knight” and it race to the finish coming in 2nd place for his Webelos Den. Way to go Mac!

After Cami’s skirt, I needed a project that could be completed quickly. I found the cutest vase at the dollar store and then came home and found these cute fabric flowers on MADE’s celebrating Mom. It was perfect for me and they came out quite cute. I still have a jean skirt that I am working on for Kadie, but it will take some time, so I find I am happier with a fewer small projects thrown in so I can still feel like I am accomplishing something along the way.

So, I have been working on this “Turkey Skirt” forever following a pattern from my good friend, Dana at MADE. –Well, we haven’t met yet, but I know when and if we did meet, we would be tight. She really is what I aspire to be – a true crafty sewer ( I know the proper word is seamstress, but that sounds so old fashioned).–

Anyways, couple days ago, I saw My friend Caitlin’s adorable dress that she made for her daughter. She referred to it as her “Magnum Opus” (from Charlotte’s Web) and I thought, that is exactly how I will feel about Cami’s turkey skirt when I finally finish it…and after weeks (maybe months) of her asking “Will it be ready so I can wear it to church?” Yay! I could finally say “YES!” It is done! And even better, she loves it!

At least Kadie will get the skirt in a couple years when Cami grows out of it, because I have no desire to sew another one at this time:)

Ms. Yang is Kadie’s kindergarten teacher’s teaching partner…like her switch teacher, but they don’t switch. Their classes often do things together and the teachers help take care of each other’s classes at lunch, etc. Kadie talks about Ms. Yang almost as much as she does her own teacher. Ms. Yang is also the star of my favorite one of Kadie’s first writing folder entries.

“It wuz a crazy morning at school. Ther wuz a bug in are clasrom and that bug wus a cokroth and that miss Yang finle kame to sav the day and how Miss Yang savd the day she tok a red bol and siad it on the cokroth befor it got a wa” – Kadie Bird 11/20/09

I love how she calls her “that miss Yang.” One day a few months ago she came home talking about how Ms Yang wasn’t feeling well “but the good news is, she is in a good hospital with very good doctors.” I knew immediately that it was something serious. I contacted her teacher and learned that Ms Yang was diagnosed with Burkitt’s leukemia (a sub-type of acute lymphoblastic leukemia). She had found out Tuesday and was starting chemo by Friday.

It has been nice to see our school and community come together in support. Mr. Yang teaches at a nearby elementary school. Their school put together a one mile fun run today to raise money to help the Yang family. Scott and T were at a scout campout, so the other three and I set out to run. It was a fun event. Mac was also proud that he took 2nd place in the race we ran. The kids enjoyed seeing Ms. Yang there as well. Ms. Yang’s updated info can be found at http://www.prayingforkatrina.blogspot.com.

After our fun run we rushed off to Kadie’s last soccer game of the season. We had their team party right after where Kayden got her trophy.

I feel like I have been sewing ruffles forever. I took on this project to make super cute Turkey skirt for cami (the name is now the “can-can” skirt, but I still love the Turkey skirt name). I started is before spring break and this is what my kitchen table has looked like 85% of the time since then. It is not a very hard project, I just spend a lot of extra time trying to make sure everything is “just right:. This project would take the normal everyday sewer about 3-4 hours. Me, we are now looking at about 30 and I am a little tired of the ruffles, but I am hoping to finish this weekend (I said that last weekend too), so we will see. I feel bad that I am so tired of the project that Kadie won’t be getting one, but I have thought of a new skirt that I want to make. I am actually so excited about it, it motivates me to finish the Turkey, so I move on to it.

Tonight I need to register the boys for football at MIDNIGHT. Crazy huh? Texas sports are something else, but maybe I will finish the skirt while I stay up and wait for registration to open.

Last night I made Roasted Pepper and Sausage Rigatoni Bowtie Pasta from Heather Belcher’s Menu. I seriously didn’t think my kids would eat much of it. It was kind of one of those meals I expected to just make once to expose my kids to other foods. I didn’t even take a pic of it until halfway through, when Cami said, “Mom can you make this again, just without mushrooms.” I didn’t put a lot of mushrooms and left them sliced bigger so they would be easy to pick out because I figured they would complain about that, but the red peppers were covered by the tomato sauce and they didn’t even notice them. Overall, it was a lot like the baked spaghetti that I make, but peppers do give it a nice added flavor. So I do think I will leave out the mushrooms next time since, what is the point to put them all in, just to be picked out?

Roasted Pepper & Sausage Rigatoni

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 35 minutes

Makes: 8 servings

3 cups uncooked rigatoni pasta 1 lb. bulk Italian sausage 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes (undrained) 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 Tbsp. dried basil 1 package fresh sliced mushrooms 1 (7 oz) jar roasted red peppers, drained & chopped 1 cup shredded parmesan cheese 2 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:

Crumble & cook Italian sausage. Drain off fat and set aside. Cook rigatoni pasta al dente. Mix tomatoes, basil, and garlic.

Preheat oven to 375.

In greased casserole dish, layer half each of pasta, sausage, mushrooms, roasted peppers, parmesan, tomato mixture, and mozzarella. Repeat layers, leaving off last layer of mozzarella. Bake 30 minutes uncovered. Top with remaining mozzarella. Bake 5-10 minutes more or until cheese is melted.

As most people know, I before I was a Bird, I was an Irwin.

My awesome Irwin siblings are planning to enter the RedBull Flugtag in honor of our “Uncle Steve,” but we need your support.

What is Redbull Flugtag?

From Redbull’s website: Red Bull Flugtag challenges teams of everyday people to build homemade, human-powered flying machines and pilot them off a 30-foot high deck in hopes of achieving flight! Flugtag may mean “flying day” in German, but all these crafts ultimately splash into the waters below. They are judged not only on their flight’s distance, but creativity and showmanship as well.

You can read more about it and see videos, etc. at http://www.redbullflugtagusa.com/what-is-flug

What is Steve’s Revenge?

From Steve’s Revenge ‘s facebook page: Steve’s Revenge is a team for the Red Bull Flugtag 2010 in Long Beach, CA! Our team consists of Brenna (formerly Irwin) Preston, Cory Irwin, Kevin Irwin, Valerie Flores, and Kale Burditt. Our goal is to give Steve Irwin the revenge he deserves on that stingray that so sadly took his life away on September 4, 2006. Our team is called Steve’s Revenge. Our plane is going to be a thirty foot wide stingray. Our basic design pictures will be up shortly, but rest assured that this will be the wickedest stingray plane you will EVER see.

How Can You Help?

Please become a fan of Steve’s Revenge on Facebook. They need fan support to get selected by Redbull to compete.

Thanks so much!

GOOD LUCK FAMILY!

What? It is Tuesday and I am just now getting to this. Yesterday, was spent handling bugs (really big yucky ones) for a science demo at the kid’s school, and so today I am playing catch-up with blogging and laundry. Although nothing terribly exciting happened this weekend, the usual sports, etc., our entry way –after painting it 3 times – is finally painted in a color that we like – Behr Gobi Desert. Our next decision is with the living room. We are deciding between Chateau and Pure Earth. I am leaning towards the Pure Earth for more of a contrast, but everyone else (Scott and Trenton) seems to like the Chateau, so we will see. Right now our wall is covered with splotches of both colors.

But I did make some good food this weekend, with recipes that are worth repeating, so I thought I would post them for future reference. More from Heather Belcher’s menu.

Beef & Broccoli Kabobs

Prep Time: 35 minutes

I just love how pretty they look! I took this pic when Scott was sprinkling them with salt. Funny how the camera caught it.

Cooking Time: 20 minutes

Makes: 4 servings

½ cup bottled hoisin sauce 3 Tbsp water 2 Tbsp cooking oil 1 Tbsp soy sauce 1 clove garlic, minced ¼ tsp. crushed red pepper 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1 inch pieces 2 – 3 cups large broccoli florets 1 cup of 1 inch pieces yellow summer squash (optional) 1 lb. beef steak (such as tenderloin, sirloin, or top loin), cut into 1 inch pieces. Wooden skewers

Directions:

Heat outdoor grill (or indoor grill). Soak 4 – 8 wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes. In small bowl, combine hoisin sauce, water, oil, soy sauce, garlic, and crushed red pepper, set aside.

On soaked skewers, alternately thread red pepper, broccoli, squash (if desired), and steak pieces. Brush with some of the hoisin sauce mixture.

Grill until meat is cooked to desired doneness, turning and basting with hoisin sauce halfway through cooking time.

These were quite yummy. I added pineapple, since there a few things better than grilled pineapple. The sauce was great, but a tad bit spicy. My kids noticed, but didn’t complain a ton. I did finally have to come to grips with the fact that my kids are not the great vegetable eaters that I had hoped. They really will only eat boring veggies – ie green beans, peas, carrots, corn, celery, and broccoli. No peppers, squash, zucchini, cauliflower or anything else more exotic. So I think when I make these again, I will probably do more meat, less veggies and then maybe serve a boring veggie on the side.

Creamy Chicken Casserole

renamed by me to be Poppy Seed Chicken

Recipe Origin: Southern Living’s Easy Weeknight Favorites cookbook

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cooking Time: 30 minutes

Makes: 6-8 servings

Ingredients:

3 cups chopped cooked chicken (I precook and freeze chicken for these types of recipes or a rotisserie chicken works great….otherwise you need to add some time to the prep to cook your chicken).

1 can cream of chicken soup, undiluted

1 (8 oz) container sour cream

1 Tbsp. poppy seeds

1 ½ cups crushed round buttery crackers (Ritz), about 40 crackers

¼ cup butter or margarine, melted.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350.

Combine first 4 ingredients. Spoon into a lightly greased baking dish (9×13). Combine crackers and melted butter, and sprinkle over chicken mixture. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes. I serve with rice and a green vegetable.

I totally, thought this looked like it would be bland. I used Roasted Vegetable Ritz, which did add some extra flavor, but I really think it would have still been good with regular ritz. It was very tasty and SOO EASY. I served it over buttered rice. It is good comfort food and will definitely be a future choice of meals to bring into someone when they are sick or have had a baby. The only thing I would really change is the name. I like the name Poppy Seed chicken, because I think it is more descriptive and my kids will know what I am talking about. So that is what I will be now calling it. We will be eating the leftovers for dinner tonight