Snack Attack..

I love a good snack, so does Michelle..Well Michelle just likes to eat period..Today I had a serious craving for beef patties, so I decided to make some..It's been a while since I had made any patties, but I just knew I wanted them..I was done with the whole process in an hour and enjoying the spicy filling and crispy crust...Mmm Good..Michelle enjoyed them as well..

BEEF PATTIES

Filling

1lb. ground beef
1 samll onion
2 scallions
2 cloves garlic
5 sprigs thyme leaves
2 dried asian chili peppers
1 teaspoon whole cumin seeds
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 packets powdered beef buillion
1/3 cup plain bread crumbs
1/3 cup water

In a food processor, chop onions, scallion, garlic, pepper and leave from thyme leaves. Heat oil until very hot in a heavy skillet. Cook vegetables until soft. Add meat to skillet and cook until no longer pink. Use a large spoon to break up any clumps of meat. Sprinkle beef buillion over meat and stir to mix well. Add bread crumbs and water. Continue to cook for 10 minutes stirring constantly to prevent any clumping. Allow meat to cool before filling crust.

CRUST

5 cups all purpose flour
1 cup shortening
2 packets Goya Sazon seasoning
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon vinegar
water

Mix flour, sazon and baking powder togehter in alarge bowl. Using a pastry fork or your hands, work in shortening into flour until a mealy texture is achieved. Add vinegar and enough water to flour to make a stiff dough. On a smooth floured surface half of dough until 1/4-inch thick. Using a 4-inch round pastry cutter, cut out as many pieces of dough allowable. Fill with meat and fold to cover. Use a fork to prick close. Pat water around edges to keep from opening while baking. Brush patties with melted butter before baking in a pre-heated 385 degree oven. Bake for 15 minutes.

Life is Good

He fell asleep while playing in his bouncy..

They make everyday more enjoyable..Even when I feel worn down they bring me back up again.. Going to the store with mom..She loves to go to the market

Insomiac at 3:00am

There are many nights I simply cannot sleep and this one of them..Sometimes I just lay there and let my thoughts take me over..Most times I lay there and meditate on what God is saying to me..

Ever since I was a small child I would have very vivid dreams of things going on in my life at any given time..I would try to suppress them because some were not always good..But then others were simply wonderful..

My children when they finally fall asleep can sleep through anything which is a good..Although Mason still wakes up for a midnight feeding, he generally falls right back to sleep..Michelle has finally started to sleep through the night after 2 years..I thought that day would never come..

I don't think I've actually had an uninterrupted night of sleep since I became a parent..When Melvin was a teenager, I could not sleep until he was home and in bed..He was for the most part really good about keeping his curfew..

My husband is an insomniac as well..I think he is even worse than I am..

I love this time of morning because it's quiet and I can think freely..It's my time to be creative and let my imagination run wild but not careless..I get to focus on my dreams and aspirations and on how I can make them a reality..

I long for the day when I can have a full night of sleep and sweet, sweet dreams to go along with it..

That day will come, but until then I will just be grateful for the quiet time I have with my thoughts all because of my insomnia..

Dancing My Butt Off...

Alright it's Monday March 22nd and tonight starts the new season of dancing with the stars..I've been waiting for 6 months and its finally here..

I love to dance and so do Michelle and Mason..It's been a while since I've been on any dance floor..The dancing I do these days are for kiddie entertainment; but I don't mind, they get a kick out of it..

Keeping kids entertained is no easy task..I now know every show that comes on the Sprout Network and the times they come on..I can sing the theme songs word for word all while dancing with Michelle..

My kids love music..Melvin is a gifted lyricist..Michelle loves to dance..Mason just rocks to whatever has a beat..He hasn't shown his gift yet..Or maybe he has because he does rock to the beat in step with the music.

Tonight I get to see adults dance, some better than others and I get to choose my new favorites..Then tomorrow its American Idol..Can't wait..

A Time For Reflection

It's the 2nd day of spring..Here I am sitting in my bathrobe at the computer..It's still dark out because its 6:30 in the morning..I like to come downstairs before the kids wake up so I can get my alone time with my heavenly father..I can hear the birds chirping outside of the window..That is the best sound in the world..

Meditating on the word makes me feel so good when I am going through a difficult time and even when I am not..

I am a difficult stage at this moment, but I know I will get through it with much prayer and guidance..

I have always been one to try and correct problems on my own without much help from anyone..However there are somethings I cannot do on my own..They require a bigger hand to hold mine and a broader should for me to lean on...

My God has never failed me..I am certain that I have dissapointed him on an occasion or 2, but he still never gives up on me..That is why I make time everyday to be with him and only him alone..

I love the book of James..It speaks to my soul so much so that Mason was given James as his middle name..

Michelles middle name is Grace..I think we all know why..If not heres the reason..For over 20 years I was unable to concieve and then God showed me the true meaning of grace by allowing me to become a mother again..I could ask for no greater gift than that..He knew the desires of my heart and he made it possible..

James 1: 17 - Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the father of light, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning..

II Corinthians 9: 15 - Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift..

I know that this too shall pass and I just have to be patient and wait on the lord because he always keeps his word..

SHHH...

Nap time is the best time of day..I just love it..


Mason

Michelle

Washable Crayons

Some of Michelles art work..She's no Picasso but she tries..

Thank Heavens for washable crayons..Michelle likes to be creative which is a good thing..I just wish she would use her craft paper or coloring book instead of the walls..I'm starting to get scrubbers elbow from cleaning the walls at least 3x a week..

I can't wait until she's out of this phase..But for now I'll just keep scrubbing..You know baby wipes are pretty good for cleaning washable crayon marks..Come to think of it, baby wipes clean just about anything which is kind of scary considering it also cleans a babies butt..

Idol Junkie

Its Thursday and its "Idol" results night..I am so hooked on this show..When I worked outside of the home I would never get to see any of these reality shows. I would overhear my associates talking about what happened the night before and who was their favorite contestant.

They would ask me my opinion of the contestants, but I never has one because I did not see the show. Now I do have an opinion but no associates to chat with it about. My Idol buddy is my 2 year old. We sit propped up in bed watching the performances as they happen and then listen to the judges critique. She has no clue how much her mom is in to this show. She just likes to hear the signing so she can dance.

My next fave is about to start again..I got a chance to check out "Dancing with the Stars" while on maternity leave this past summer..LOTS OF FUN..Who knew that the stars could move like that..

Is this what my life has come down to..waiting on reality shows to come on..I always have my routine down to the tee. Dinner is ready by 6pm..the kids have their baths by 7pm and are in bed by 8pm..(bedtime does not always work out that way) its just wish full thinking..

I usually miss the last 30 minutes of the show because I can't keep my eyes open long enough. Working from home and taking care of a toddler and a baby makes you sort of tired..Who knew?..I didn't..I still would not trade it for the world..

Well its time to get started with dinner..really easy..Beef Fajitas and a tossed salad. But first I have to make a run to wally world aka Walmart..If I could keep my yes open long enough , I'll get to see the "First 48"..Love this show..Wish me luck.

Please, Please Go Potty

OK, so I've been trying to potty train my daughter for the past 4 or 5 months. Its not going so well. My little girl is as smart as can be. She informs me of the changes to her pull-ups after she has already made the change. I allow her to watch me use the restroom and tell her what mommy is doing. Still no go. She's 2 years old and I decided to wait until she was just a little past 18 months before starting on this personal journey of ours. I am now starting to wonder if I waited too long to get her going.

She can change her clothes up to 5 times a day without any help. Mind you nothing ever matches. Don't try to help her she will not accept any. The other day she went #2 in her pull up and decided that she would clean her self. Not a good move. Let me just say laundry time came a day early. Enough said. She tries to help me feed her little brother as well as change is diapers. But she will not go potty.Se helps me clean up her room. But she will not go potty. She like to be in the kitchen with me when I'm cooking, so she can hand me things as I need them. But she will not go potty. She can reach the lock on the back door to lock it after her dad goes out. But she will not go potty. Getting the drift yet.

How long is this supposed to take. It is so true when he experts say that no 2 children are the same. It did not take my firstborn this long to potty train. I started him at 18 months. He had it down in less than week. Less than a week, can you believe it. He was a little sponge who just picked things up so easy. Don't get me wrong my daughter is smart as a whip. I just believe that she is going to do this at her own pace.

Summer is just around the corner and I just purchase her and her little brother some really cute outfits. It would be so nice if she did'nt have pull up lines showing through her leggings. I guess I will just have to wait and see. Wish me luck. I have'nt lost my patients yet. So I'm here as long as it takes, which I don't think would be much longer. Mommy is not giving up on you Shelly. Wer'e going to knock this out real soon.