A Military Wife's Mayhem!: July 2011

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Not So Wordless Wednesday: Look-A-Likes

I got the best note from one my best friends yesterday. This is what it said:

"Hey 'Nessa! I just had to document this before I forgot to tell you again....I've said this soooo many times to myself but every time I see new pics of Chicky I think "Man! Doesn't she ever look like Vanessa's mom." It's just dawning on me that your mom is not biological. But isn't it weird how that works out? My friend Jenn is adopted and she looks so much like her parents AND her brother! I guess with the resemblance it's God's way of giving you a compliment and saying "I put these kids in the rights hands."

Funny, I always thought Chicky and I look like my mom too! I sure act like her sometimes!

Two peas in a pod!

Monday, July 18, 2011

Momversation Monday: Life Before Kids: What Do You Miss Most?

Momversation Monday!

What do you miss most of the life you had before you had kids? It's OK to admit that there are parts of your life that you miss. I tend to think of mine during a really tough day!

I miss silence. Just being in a room and being able to hear myself think. I miss working and getting a paycheque sometimes.

And sometimes I miss shopping. Grocery shopping is the only thing I've done in a while. I miss going to the mall and spending a couple of hours trying things on. The weird part about that is I'm NOT a shopper at all! Now my shopping consists of running after kids, and grabbing the first thing in my size before the kids notice the McDonald's in the Walmart.

I also miss cooking meals I like, don't get me wrong I have been trying new recipes and everything but I miss people eating my cooking without being bribed with dessert.

I miss sleep! Who doesn't? I loved sleeping the weekend away when Cpl. Mayhem and I were first married.

Although I miss these things.... I wouldn't change my life for anything!

What do you miss?

Thursday, July 14, 2011

"Try New Recipe" Thursdays

Cheddar Penne With Sausage and Peppers

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 pound sweet italian pork sausage, cut into 1/2 slices

1 large green pepper, cut into 2-inch-long strips (about 2 cups)

1 large onion, sliced (about one cup

3 cloves of garlic, minced

1 can Campbell's Condesed Cheddar Cheese Soup

1/2 cup milk

2 cups penne pasta, cooked and drained

1. Heat the oil in a 10 inch- skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook until browned, stirring occasionally. Remove the sausage from the skillet. Pour off any fat.

2. Add the pepper and onion to the skillet and cook until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic and cook and stir for one minute. Stir in the soup and milk and heat to a boil. Return the sausage to the skillet. Reduce the heat to low.

Cook until the sausage is cooked through, stirring occasionally.

3. Place the pasta into a large bowl. Add the sausage mixture and toss to coat.

Finished Product!

I used garlic sausage instead of sweet italian sausage. I also minced the onions because the kids don't like onions, so it's easier to hide them in meals when they are minced.

Enjoy!

*The recipe was found at the Campbell's Kitchen website.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Wordless Wednesday: Ducky Teaching Chicky How To Play Uno

Monday, July 11, 2011

Momversation Monday: What's Your Craziest Family Travel Mishap?

Momversation has changed their setup. I liked it the way it was, having three moms discussing the issue of the day, now they only have one. But I'll jump on the bandwagon to continue to do my Momversation Mondays.

Today's topic is craziest family travel mishaps.

Here's the thing...

Most of my mishaps while travelling with kids are things I could not control. Delays, travelling on several flights to get to the destination, those things.
One thing I'm most proud of was how well behaved my kids were with my mom and myself while traveling to Panama when Cpl. Mayhem was overseas.

Here's my story:

The flight my mom and I were on, was supposed to stop at our first location, we were to stay on the plane while they picked up more passengers and take off for Panama. After some rain delay and other weird stuff we were at a stand still and we hadn't left the airport. We were all starving- it was late, snacks were doing the trick for so long, and extremely tired. We waited almost and hour and a half to finally take off for our first stop. The kids were great, minor hunger complaints but well behaved.

My mom asked for any kind of information from the flight attendant on what was to happen next from the delay once we landed at destination number one and she gave us nothing.... Except to gather our things, get out of the plane and follow the line of people.
Exhausted as we were, we gather our stuff started the trek only to find a line up and someone yelling that the flight that we were supposed to be on took a different plane so we had to wait overnight and to wait our turn to speak to someone.
Mom and I were pretty miffed, but we set the kids up in a corned with my laptop, popped a movie in, and my mom waited in the line up. Once again, my kiddos are well behaved, starved, but behaving! They were behaving better than the adults in the line up!

My mother, the master manipulator (I know she doesn't like it when I call her that but she's awesome at it!), calmed the airline lady down, talked to her and somehow, using her master skills, managed to get us a room at a free hotel and free meals (something she did not give to everyone) and the next flight out the next day. Which goes to show you that you can attract more flies with honey!

My mom and I have been travelling all our lives and we know what to expect at an airport, so when travelling with kids my biggest suggestion is keeping snacks on hand and pack to entertain them. Also pack their PJs and an extra pair of clothes just in case you are in a situation like mine.

I have to say I'm always a wreck when I'm flying with my kids. Not because they are bad, but because of the fear that they just might. I know when I walk into a plane with kids, you look around and people are already freaking out about where are you going to sit because no one wants to be in close quarters to a screaming kid on a plane, especially when most travellers are already on edge with other things like long lineups and delays. I'm a big worrier and spent most of the time snapping at the kids on behaviours that in everyday life wouldn't have bothered me. I know my mom needed to tell me several times to calm down.

That's one of my travel mishaps! Tell me yours!