Shrimp and Pasta Primavera (McCormick recipe)

Ingredients
1 1/2 tsp. Dill Weed
1 tsp. Minced Garlic
1 tsp. Minced Onions
1/2 tsp. Coarse Ground Black Pepper
1/4 tsp. Thyme Leaves
8 oz. Linguine
1 lb. large shrimp, peeled and deveined
4 1/2 cups assorted cut-up vegetables,such as broccoli florets, sliced carrots, red bell pepper strips and peas
1 cup Heavy Cream
3/4 cup Chicken Broth
1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
2 Tbsp. Butter
1/2 tsp. salt

Directions
1. Cook pasta in large saucepan as directed on package, adding shrimp and vegetables during the last 3 to 4 minutes of cooking. Drain well
2. Mix remaining ingredients in same saucepan. Bring to boil, stirring constantly with whisk. Reduce heat to low; simmer 5 minutes. Add pasta, shrimp and vegetables; toss gently to coat well. Serve immediately with additional Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Nutritional Info Per Serving: About 451 calories, Fat 23g, Protein 24g, Carbs 37g, Cholesterol 187mg, Sodium 715mg, Fiber 4g

Sweet Boy

This evening Adam helped me pull weeds out of my flower beds. He picked up a small tree I pulled out and said this would make a good fan. Then asked if I wanted him to fan me. Told him no that he didn’t have to. We worked some more and he asked again if I was hot and wanted him to fan me. Told Adam I was fine for how. Then Adam said, “I’m trying to be a sweet boy”.AWWW!!!! I told Adam that he was already a sweet boy. As we finished up pulling the weeds Adam said if he fanned me I wouldn’t be all sweaty. Told him as soon I was done with the area I was working on, he could fan me. I’m so bless to have such caring and loving boys.

Giving Hearts

Tonight I sat the boys down to tell them tomorrow was a pajama day at school. I asked if they wanted to wear pajamas tomorrow and of course they did. Then I explain to them that this was a special pajama day. Their school was doing this to raise money for a mom of a third grader whom was hurt real bad in a car accident. The school was asking for a donation to by gift cards for the family. Told the boys what would it be worth to them to wear pajamas to school. What did they feel in their heart? Luke came up with $2 and Adam said $30. I let the boys know I would put money in their bookbags. Adam asked if he could give his money. I said that would be fine. Luke came in with a handful of change. We counted it up and it came to $5.46. Made sure it was what he wanted to give and he said yes. Adam came out with a hand full of dollars and change. After counting it up his total came to $13.23. I ask are you sure you want to give this much. He said yes because mom’s are special. WOW!!! That brought tears to my eyes. I’m so blessed to have kids that are that caring. My prayers go out to this family.

Camping

Two weekends ago we went camping with the Scouts. It was a raining, winding, and cold weekend to go camping. We get to the campsite on Friday evening. Rob and I set up the tent we just bought that day. It was not fun setting up a tent in the wind. All the boys ran around the campsite, splashing in mud puddles, and having fun. Rob had to leave that night because he had to work early the next morning. When it was time for bed, the boys go all comfy in their sleeping bags and I tried to on the air mattress. I’m not a fan of the air mattress but it’s better that the hard ground. I laid there listening to the gale force wind blowing, hoping I would get some kind of sleep. Somehow I fell asleep but only to wake up an hour later. I was cold and had to use the restroom. So I put my shoes on and walked to the bathroom. When I got back to the tent I added more air to the mattress and grabbed some more covers. Fell back asleep to wake up an hour later to the rain coming down, the flap hitting the tent right by my head, and had to use the bathroom again. I sat there weighing my options. I could walk to the bathroom in the wind and rain. No. I could go right outside the tent in the wind and rain. Um No, didn’t feel like peeing all over myself. Then I remembered I had a reusable water bottle. Needless to say I don’t have a water bottle anymore. Had to add more air to the mattress before laying down again. The boys slept all night. I woke up on a flat air mattress. The campsite had a small indoor kitchen for cooking. We were the first ones up so we hung out there to warm up. We ate breakfast and lunch in my van because of the wind. I had the boys take off their shoe and I put them on the dash of the van and blasted the heat to dry them. I called Rob and told him on his way back out to by some rain boots for the boys. We played volleyball in the wind, went on a hike, and fished. The only time it wasn't windy is when we went on a hay ride. No one stayed Saturday night. Our new tent had torn in two places. Almost everyone has something broke on their tent’s cause of the wind. I got home Saturday night and I was worn out. I felt like I’ve been in the sun all day. I had wind burn on my face. The boys fell asleep on the way home and slept all night. It was a good time even with fighting the wind. And wouldn’t you know it Sunday was a sun, non windy day.


Drying the shoes


Playing volleyball


This is how hard the wind was blowing.
If you look close you can see the outline of Rob laying on the airmattress


Warming up in the van

Wear A Raincoat When Collecting A Urine Sample

When Adam was a baby,he was circumcised. A few days after we got home his foreskin covered his penis again. I talked to his doctor about this. He said Adam had extra foreskin and that he will grow into it. With having the extra foreskin came a few problems. One is that ever once in awhile Adam would complain that his penis would hurt. It would be a little red and look like it was a little raw. I put some A&D on and by the next day he would be fine. Adam came to me the other night complaining that his penis was hurting. While putting some A&D on he said it was the top that was hurting. As I looked at where he was saying I notice it look liked, it had a small cut on the opening of the urethra. Don't know how that could have happened and he's a boy, I've seen things, and I didn’t really want to know. The next morning the boys were getting ready for school and Luke came into the Living Room saying Adam is having trouble peeing and he can control it. I went into the bathroom and Adam urine was coming out in a very thin stream. When he got done, I took a look. The opening of the urethra is almost covered by a puss scab. I made an appointment for Adam to see the doctor. He wanted Adam to pee in a cup to make sure there was no puss in the urine. I went into the bathroom to help Adam out because it was painful for him to urinate. So here I was squatting on the bathroom, holding a paper cup, and I find out what Luke meant by Adam can't control it. Never knew it was possible to pee up and sideways at the same time. As a good mom I put my other hand over the cup and told him to stop peeing. Adam said, "told you I couldn't control it". We just laughed while this as going on. We had a mess on the floor and I was a mess. Dr. Harrison called another doctor in to take a look. They both agreed it was some kind of an infection on his penis. Dr. Harrison said this could have happened because of the extra foreskin. He gave us some cream to use. It worked wonders. Adam came home from school that day and in a very excited voice he said, "I went to the bathroom at school and it hurt only a little bit". Later that night he came running into the Living Room to let us know that it didn't hurt anymore when he peed.

Adam and His Dance

The other day we went to my oldest sons, Luke, Blue and Gold Banquet. The entertainer there was Babaloo. He sangs silly songs and had the children dancing, laughing, singing and playing buckets with drum sticks. We bought a CD for the boys. When we got home Adam went into Luke’s room to listen to this CD. Little bit later Adam comes out giggling saying mom come here I got to show you something. I figured it was a silly song he wanted me to hear. He pressed play and the song starts. Next thing I know Adam had his "business" out and doing the naked guy dance to a song called the Wee Wee Dance. As a good mom I laughed. Told him that it was funny but the song was about doing the potty dance and I didn’t want to see him doing it again. I left the room for a few seconds then I peeked in the room. Just as I figured he was doing his version of the wee wee dance again but this time he was by a window that had the curtains open. Thank goodness our house sits back away from the road. Here is a video I found on youtube of Babaloo singing the Wee Wee Dance. Enjoy.

Grilled Chicken Penne al Fresco (Pampered Chef Deep Cover Baker)

4 garlic cloves, peeled
2 cups grape or cherry tomatoes
3 cups uncooked penne pasta
3 cups chicken broth
3/4 cup dry white wine
1/2 tsp (each) salt & coarsely ground black pepper
1 1/4 cups lightly packed fresh basil leaves
1 oz. grated parmesan cheese (about 1/4 cup packed)
2 cups diced grilled chicken breasts
Additional grated fresh Parmesan cheese and coarsely ground black pepper (optional)

Add a tablespoon of olive oil to Deep Covered Baker. Slice garlic into baker. Add tomatoes. Cover; microwave on high 4 to 5 minutes or until tomatoes begin to burst, stirring after 2 minutes. Crush tomatoes. Add pasta, broth, wine, salt & black pepper. Return dish to microwave. Cover and microwave on high 16 to 18 minutes (make sure dish is microwave safe) or until pasta is tender, stirring after 10 minutes. In the meantime, coarsely chop basil, reserve 2 Tbs. for garnish. Grate cheese.Carefully remove baker from microwave, lifting lid away from you. Add basil, cheese and chicken to dish, garnish and add additional cheese and black pepper if desired.