It's done!

Kyle and Brandon are at the lake today.  Today we close on the  place at the lake.  Yee haw!  I couldn't go because I had Body and Soul this morning and a car wash tomorrow morning.  Last night Traver and Brandon (THANK YOU!) Came over and helped Kyle load up the U-Haul for moving day and Brandon came over bright and early this morning to go with Kyle to help him unload and assemble.  I'll do all the other stuff when I go next (dishes, bedding etc)  So, needless to say...we're very exctied about the weekends to come.

Kyle has also been builing on the playset for Luke.  He's gotten a couple more hours in on that, so it's coming along slowly but surely.  

Luke is asleep right now.  I put him down at 12:20...heard him fuss for just a second at 1 and then he cried for a while at 2 (I really didn't think he'd go back to sleep, but Dear Diary, he did).  He took an almost 3 hr nap yesterday so hopefully he's on the road to adjusting to 1 long afternoon nap.  When he wakes up next we're going to go play outside in the sprinkler.  Kyle bought him a little cheap one that sprays the water in an arch back and forth.  He's never played in it before so he doesn't EVEN know the fun that awaits him.

I also made cookies today for the bake sale which is accompanying our car wash, so I imagine Luke will get a "cook" for a snack.  He's also starting to say the dogs names some.  Woo-See is my favorite one to hear him say.

Anyway, for all you Edmond-ites...our car wash is in the Mardel parking lot on Boulevard and 33rd from 9am to noon.  It's free, but donations are welcome!!!  So come on by and I'll wash your car for you =)

Memorial Day

Luke playing hide-n-seek with Grandma

Hiding under the pillows!

PEEK!

Hiding!

Playing hide-n-seek with Grandma on the couch.

We had a great Memorial Day weekend.  Kyle's brother spent the night Friday night and the two of them went to Pond Creek to see Dana Saturday morning.  Kyle came home Sunday night.  I guess they had big fun (except for the ticks!)  Mom got to our house Saturday at 5pm.  Dad called at 6 and needed picked up in Kingfisher (he'd dropped off some equipment for a friend of his who is going to be doing the wheat harvest this year) and I went and picked him up.  We got home just in time to see Luke for a few minutes before bedtime.  Sunday we went to church and dad started building Luke's playset.  Monday morning was spent playing with Luke (see above pics) and working on the playset.  We grilled hamburgers for lunch and then mom and dad were off to Ponca City to see my Pappaw and Grandma Key.  Kyle spent the rest of Monday working on leveling the playset and getting it attached to the ground.

Luke was very good for his visit from his Grandparents and sat...ish  with Grandpa all through church.  When I was gone Saturday picking up dad and mom was watching Luke he took advantage of Grandma not knowing all the rules and sat on the window sills.  A lot.  I've also switched Luke to a one nap a day schedule.  He has been taking a morning nap at his regular time but then not going down for his afternoon nap.  So starting yesterday we moved his morning nap back until after lunch.  I know it'll take a while for him to adjust and start taking longer naps, but so far...he STINKS at one nap a day.  Yesterday he slept for 1 hr 10 min and thought he was all done.  And today he slept for an hour and is now upstairs crying off and on.  And upstairs he will stay.  His nap is NOT over.  We'll see how long it takes.  He was pretty cranky all day yesterday.  Cranky in the morning because he stayed up later than normal and cranky in the afternoon because he didn't have enough sleep in him.  We shall see.  He's quite pittiful.  I can hear him crying "mama mama" and "daddy daddy".  

I survived my root canal yesterday. I got to the dentist tomorrow for more fillings.  My poor jaw.  And I'll have to schedule to get a crown on the root canal tooth. sheesh.

New Meal Plan!

My last meal plan lasted a long time...which was good and not so good.  We are now out of so many things, I have a MONSTER grocery shopping coming up.  I think I'll go tonight, if it's okay with Kyle.  I still have one meal left to make...lemon chicken and pasta which I'll make tomorrow (we're having calzones tonight).  I did have to get fuit and milk several times between shops this time too, which is not a big deal at all.  I need to start writing down when I do a big grocery shop so I can actually see how few and far between they are.

I made pizza one night (the night I made it Kyle walked in the kitchen and said, "Oh pizza.  Good.  That's just what I need."  This was the not internet and got a new computer day...so a stressful day for him.  Homemake pizza is to Kyle what chocolate is to me.

Here is the 10 meal plan:

Lasagna Noodle Roll Ups 

Chicken Manicotti (Actually turkey)

Taco Salad

Flautas (again made with turkey)

Mexican Chicken Burrito stuff (double recipe...our new neighbors are to be moving in so I'll make a                                                            double batch and take them supper)

Grill Hamburgers

Easy Chicken and Pasta 

Chinese (Sweet and Sour Chicken)

Beef and Macaroni Skillet

Indian Corn

I bought two turkey breasts on sale and with a coupon at the grocery store a while back so I'll cook one of those in the crock pot and shred the meat and use that to make my turkey dishes.

Extras:  Since I'll be taking a meal and we're having poker night I have quite a list this time.  Guacamole, Texas Caviar, cookies, Veggie tray, Key lime pie dip.

Here's my Feta Stuffed Chicken Breasts Recipe:

4 Chicken breasts

1 tub Feta cheese

1/2 box frozen spinach (thawed and sqeezed dry)

1 can petite diced tomatoes

Rosemary, Tyme, Basil, Poultry Seasoning, Minced garlic, pepper and Cayenne pepepr.

Combine tomatoes and some of the spices: Rosemary and whatever else sounds good.  Let sit while you prepare the rest.

Slit 4 chicken breasts making as big of a pocket in each one without cutting all the way through.

Combine Feta, Spinach and spices except Cayenne.

Stuff each chicken breast with 1/4 of feta mixture.  Secure closed with a tooth pick.  Place in greased baking dish.  Sprinkle chicken breasts with Cayanne pepper to taste.  Top with tomatoes.  Bake uncovered at 350 for 40 min or until done.

This recipe is so easy to make...very quick and simple and it looks very fancy.  It's my go to meal for company. You don't have to tell them it only took 10 minutes to prepare =)

Luke has croup again.  And he's not doing so hot on his second nap.  We might be working our way to just one nap a day.

Whatever 'n stuff.

It's been just another week at the Soper house somewhat.  We've had rain every day and Wednesday evening the storms got bad enough to knock out our internet for 2 days.  My wireless still hasn't adequately recovered.  It works for about a minute at a time.  Don't really know what the deal is with that.  

Kyle: So Thursday with no internet, Kyle went outside to work and get caught up on some things outside.  Luke couldn't handle being inside while daddy was outside, so Luke got his shovel and went out to help his Daddy.  The pictures are all from Thursday.  Kyle's uncle, Steve, built him a new computer with all sorts of things I don't understand and he came over Friday morning to deliver it and help Kyle get it set up so Kyle has been messing with his new toy.  Today he is helping Traver's friend move.  We ordered a playset for Luke and it came in.  It is supposed to take 2 men 48 hours to put together.  So.  Kyle will be busy.  For, like, EVER.  We have found a place in the yard that can be seen from the bedroom, living room and kitchen windows.  Not that Luke is allowed to play outside by himself, but you know....one day. 

 Luke: Is obsessed with outside.  That's all he wants to do and all he talks about.  He is really repeating a lot of words we say and sounds we make and is pretty funny.  Luke will have his last swimming lesson this coming Tuesday.  He loves them.  He "jumps" in and will go all the way under (with my help of course).

Traver: Is still coming out here two days a week, Mondays and Thursdays.  He has started writing a blog on VTR also.  I don't know how long he's been doing that...probably forever, but I just found out the other day so Kyle and I were reading them.  A week or so ago when Traver was leaving one night after supper he said bye to Luke and Luke immediately puckered up and needed a kiss goodbye from Traver.  So sweet.  He also had a roommate ditch him and has already replaced him.  I think Traver really enjoys helping people move.  You should give him a call if you need his services *wink.

Rachel: I've been doing Body and Soul stuff.  I'm coordinating our summer boot camps so I've been getting teaching schedules together and trying to change up our workout so it won't feel like the same thing as our past boot camps.  I'm also working on getting approved by Body and Soul to teach their Power Strength classes (siminilar to Push/Pull classes if you're familiar).  The triceps song is killing me.  I don't know if I'll make it.  Ruth Ann (our Area director) says they're really tough on these and about only 1/3 of auditions get approved so we'll see.  If I never mention it again, that means I didn't get approved =).  I also went to the dentist the other day.  Please make your non-tax deductable donations to: The Rachel Soper Wisdom Teeth Extraction/Cavity Fund.  Yikes.  My wisdom teeth are scheduled to be yanked June 12th, but I put my name on their cancellation list so possibly sooner.  And I go in on the 22nd to get some cavities filled.  Fun Fun.

Good deals: I haven't posted any good deals lately, and I know you're all missing them.  I did get 5 lbs of apples free right before I went to Nebraska and yesterday I went to Target and got 10 Hershey Bliss dark chocolate bars for free and 10 snack size bags of Quaker Granola bites.  Luke really enjoys them.  I also got cheap Wheat Thins and Ritz Crackers.  I didn't however take a picture.  I appologize.  I'm such a slacker.

Note:  If you need information on where to mail your non-tax deductable check or to volunteer to help put together a playset, feel free to comment or email.  =)

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's off to Nebraska we go...

We went for my brother's graduation.  He just finished his doctorate in microbiology.  Definitely an occasion worth a 7 1/2 hour drive.  We left here Thursday morning and got to their place in Omaha around 4ish.  (Luke didn't sleep the whole way).  The boys were very excited to see each other.  MUCH squealing.  They had a ton of fun together.  Luke slept poorly Thursday night so he left Michael's graduation Friday morning with Grandpa before it even began.  He did take a short nap in my dad's arms.  He's good like that.  I would've never gotten Luke down.  Friday night they had a get together at their house to continue the celebration and their friends from Lincoln came with their little girl who is 10 months old.  Luke kissed her AT LEAST 10 times.  No exaggeration.

Saturday we went to the Omaha zoo with Michael, Audra, Solomon, and The Baby Sister, my parents and my grandparents.  They had a lot of fun seeing all the animals and did really good, both of them being exhausted.  Saturday evening the boys had a bath together, which I tried to videotape, but the camcorder wouldn't work.  

We went to the park several times.  Luke really liked the sand and swinging.

Every time Luke would wake up he would immediately ask for Solomon.  One time when Solomon had been put down for a nap, but he wasn't asleep yet, we heard him upstairs saying, "Play with Luke, Play with Luke!".  We took them to the park and as we were leaving and walking up the hill, Solomon escaped and ran down the hill yelling, "Come on Luke".  One evening we were having leftover homemade ice cream (YUM!) for a snack and both Luke and Solomon were sharing bites with Michael, and every time Michael would give Luke a bite, Solomon would walk over to me and say, "Luke you share with Rachel!"  And on Tuesday morning before we left, while the boys were eating breakfast together Solomon told Luke: "You're a fake boy.  Not a real boy.  A fake boy!"  Solomon is so funny.  I miss him already.  And I suppose Michael and Audra a bit, too.