Chocolate covered strawberry shake

~Half banana (you really don't taste it)
~Tbsp cocoa
~Honey
~Greek yogurt
~Frozen strawberries
~Instant coffee (optional, but a good option)
~Ground oatmeal (optional. Once again, you don't really taste it but it thickens it.)
~Ice
~Almond or regular milk

Blend, blend, blend!!

Tastes like chocolate covered strawberries!

Amazing chicken burritos

--shredded cooked chicken
--shredded lettuce or cilantro
--mashed avocado
--black beans
--corn
--diced tomatoes
--finely chopped onion
--chopped green pepper
--garlic salt
--cumin
--chili powder
--red pepper flakes

Mix all together in a bowl. It will be a big, beautiful salad. You could top with sour cream and cheese and grab a fork at this point. It will be tempting! But if you choose to take it a step further.....

Roll up in tortillas (we used whole wheat) with cheese and sour cream. Fry in a bit of olive oil for a few seconds and flip over to make both sides crispy.

A-maz-ing. I highly recommend the mashed avocado. Sooo creamy.

Crazy Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Breakfast Shake

I used to call it a smoothie, but after I told my sister what was in it she remarked, "oh you mean a crazy milk shake." Yup, guess I do.

*My Crazy Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Breakfast Shake*
Into the blender:
>Handful of ice
>Banana
>Spoonful baking cocoa
>Honey
>Spoonful peanut butter
>Vanilla or plain Greek yogurt. (If using plain add more honey)
>Instant coffee (no joke)
>Milk
>Oatmeal (I was recently given a Nutri Bullet. The milling blade grinds the oatmeal into a powder in seconds. If you do not have this awesome device, I recommend soaking the oatmeal on the milk overnight to make it softer)

Blend, blend, blend! I make this for David too, minus the coffee. He loves it. And why wouldn't he? It's like a chocolate shake for breakfast.

27!

It's my birthday!  I am creeping dangerously close to 30.....

David's t-ball is all paid for, and his uniform sizes have been entered.  He requested the possible numbers of: 25, 37, and 10.  random.

Noah requested in his serious voice to no longer be called "Noah," but to henceforth be known as "Big Boss Bowser Junior."

Had parent/teacher conferences last night.  I just love David's teacher.  She is awesome.  And she really did whip that class into shape!
Well, the gist is that David is a perfect child and a genius.  Maybe not quite, but she had nothing negative to say about him.  He is meeting/exceeding expectations, follows directions, listens, and is a "leader."  We swelled with pride.  :)

Cake and blood

Seems to be working. Lets give it a whirl.
Noah's birthday turned out good. It had to be postponed due to a sinus infection that he endured for far too long. I thought it was a cold... :(. Bad mom. But the kids had fun and the cake and decorations were cute--if a bit difficult and more time consuming than anticipated.

The cake was a good learning experience. I have learned:
1. Marshmallow fondant taste good and is easy to make, BUT huge pain in the but to work with.
2. Pre made fondant is super easy to work with and doesn't taste too bad
3. Cutting out a million tiny decorations takes hours
4. I still want to try a couple fondant recipes

Cough update... (Yeah, I'm tired if hearing about it too)
I called the dr and he said that the cough should be gone by now, so he has veered down a new course. It may be allergy induced. Huh, who knew? I have never had food/environmental allergies. Well, the past couple years since we moved out of the county that I lived my entire life I have suspected a new summer time nemesis in ragweed: eyes watering like a weeping widow's. regardless, there had never been a cough.

My lungs may just be extra sensitive now because of the multiple infections. So, I am on a four day dose of oral steroids and a daily Allegra. Doc (who always refers to me as "sweetie" and is therefore wonderful) also prescribed Flonase, but it gave me a headache and smelled horrid. So I only used it once. But, from the first day the Allegra seems to be working awesome! I now cough like 1x in the morning and 1x at night. I believe the steroids are probably speeding the healing of my lungs, so hopefully I will not need to take Allegra every day forever more.

This also led to allergy blood testing. I have a very irrational fear of needles. Kinda funny considering the piercings i had once upon a time. I was referred to Quest Diagnostics fir the testing. I walked into the janky blood leaching room that is literally in the same room as the receptionist. Truly, you get to look at her back and computer screen. Or in my case--look at the far walk in the opposite direction of the giant purple rubber band tied around my numbing arm and the tray equipped with five large tubes waiting eagerly to be filled with my life source. Next to me is a garbage can filled with used purple rubber gloves, and on the other side rest a yellow biohazard box. So homey. Not to mention I am sitting in the one and only chair that every hepatitis and AIDS victim say in before me with their arm strapped to the same foam covered arm rest. Let it sink in for a minute...

Made it out of there alive, thanking God for our health insurance. Not I wait. I do not know how soon these tests will come in, but I am very curious to know what they say. I was tested for food/environmental/animal allergies. What am I gonna do if it says it's my Brody? He's a pain in the butt, but he's just so sweet and good natured! What if it's sugar?! I can't stop eating sugar! Or coffee?! Can you imagine?

Well, we'll see what happens.

The boys are still doing good in school. Noah has a cold again. This poor kid just can't catch a break!

For the past couple weeks David has been trying out "back talk." It never ends well for him, but he's no quitter! In this case, I hope he becomes a quitter real soon.

He has gotten into reading and really likes to practice. He now enjoys listening to chapter books. This has made story time infinitely more enjoyable for me. We are currently reading the "How to Train Your Dragon" series. We should be at Harry Potter in no time.

Last time I wrote a giant post on my Blogger app it mysteriously disappeared never to be seen again. So lets see if this works....

So Dave got a promotion and a raise. Go Dave!

I had a sinus infection and bronchitis. Again. Sure, why not?

Noah turned 4 and is anxiously awaiting his party on Saturday. You know, the one I'm completely unprepared for. I practiced with fondant 1x. ONE. And I am babysitting thurs and Fri evenings. I'm going to be up so late!

Noah has gift fever. A UPS truck pulled in the driveway, and he immediately assumed, "maybe it a present for my birfday." Oh, Noah.

David's school is having a Me and My Guy dance this Saturday evening. I didn't go to my own dances in school. So out of my comfort zone. But fear not, the tickets have been purchased. He is pumped. He is sooo excited. As long as he has a good time, it's worth it.