Lots of Random

I shared this on facebook, but I thought I'd share it here too:

Today Nathan and I were talking about (of all things) the gender roles of women in other cultures (have I mentioned that this kid asks a lot of questions?).  He asked me for a specific example, and I, as usual, couldn't come up with something when put on the spot.  I told him, "I can't think of anything off the top of my head."

"Do you have anything at the bottom of your head?"

Hmmm....

*****

Paisley loves Brian's shoes.  She loves all of the shoes she finds, but she curls up and sleeps on top of Brian's with her mouth open, so that her tongue is against the inside.  Yum.


*****

I was totally craving mashed potatoes earlier this week, during my monthly bout of insanity.  So I made A TON.  And they're now sitting in the fridge, because my kids won't eat them unless under duress.  I think we'll be eating Shepherd's Pie tonight.

*****

I've ordered our literature supplies for the rest of the school year, and little by little, they're arriving.  New books!  And the one day that I didn't put the RING THE DOORBELL AND DIE!!! sticker out, the guy rang the doorbell.  I would get a plaque if it weren't that the schedule is not consistent throughout babyhood.

*****

Isaac and Paisley are sort of hysterical together.  Isaac is so strong willed, I haven't figured out how to enforce appropriate behavior with the pup.  Consequently, our day goes like this:

Isaac attacks Paisley.

Paisley attacks Isaac.

Isaac cries. 

I come to the rescue, separate the offending parties, calm everyone down.

Isaac attacks Paisley.

*****

Speaking of Isaac, he's calming down!!  Sort of.  This week, he discovered that the tops come off of the six inch gutter drain thingies.  Our toy car bucket has been reduced by about half.

I feel the need to note, though, that we cleaned out toys in a massive way last weekend.   So the toys now floating somewhere underground?  Those were the few we wanted to KEEP.

While I was on the phone lamenting the situation to a friend's voice mail (so that I would not lament the situation to my toddler at top volume), Isaac was pulling the keys off my computer keyboard.  So if you notice anyplace that an "r" is missing, it's because that one is broken and wobbly now. 

Also, I got the requisite Toddler With Lipstick All Over His Face Picture yesterday.  He was cute, I have one of each of the kids, and he didn't ruin the lipstick, though (like Brenna did for her picture), so I'm not holding that one against him.

*****

I think there's a huge benefit to having a puppy while having a toddler.  Bodily fluids are such a part of my daily existence, that another creature having accidents on the floor doesn't even phase me.

*****

So things are kind of busy around here, what with the new puppy and all, however, our floor has never been cleaner!  Since Paisley thinks anything left on the floor is hers by default, it all get picked up.  And put on a counter or table.  So if you come to my house, just stare at the floor, and you'll think I have this thing figured out!  But you might run screaming from the house if you happen to glance at any other surfaces.

Happy New Year, Y'all!

Chicken, Broccoli and Rice Casserole

I have been in such a cooking slump.  At least a couple times in the last week, my poor husband has come home from work at 5:45 to find a wife staring at the refrigerator with disgust and the declaration, "I hate cooking.  I don't know what we're going to eat tonight."

So it is with great joy, that I present food!   Yummy food!  Food that my family liked, and will eat again tonight (THANK YOU, JESUS!).

At our life group this week, someone brought a chicken, rice and broccoli casserole.  I pretty much hovered over that thing.  The one they brought was from a big box store, and those of you who know me well, know that I try to avoid processed foods (not that you can tell, since our last trip yielded a bulk box of Ritz).

Chicken, broccoli and rice are three ingredients I keep on hand at all times, so I figured there must be a way to make one... and I did!  I did a little search of the interweb, and found one that did not have rice, but also didn't call for any canned ingredients.  So I altered it a bit, because I wanted the rice in there.  I thought I'd share the recipe because my family declared it a hit.  I will say, though, that it required a lot of dishes, because you cook the ingredients separately.  Oh, and since I don't follow directions that well, I added in parenthesis what I actually did.

Chicken, Broccoli and Rice Casserole

2 Chicken Breasts, cooked and shredded (I used one really big breast)
1 head of broccoli, steamed (3 or 4 cups frozen)
1 c. uncooked rice (I used a brown and wild rice mix)
32 oz box Chicken broth
3/4 c. mayonaise
1 T. of your favorite spice mix.  
2 c. shredded cheese
1 c. Bread crumbs (I used the afore-mentioned ritz)
4 T. butter

Cook the rice in 3 cups of the broth.

Grease a 9x13 pan.  Layer the broccoli, rice and chicken in the pan.  If there is any liquid left in the rice, add it.

Mix remaining cup of broth, mayo and spice mix, then pour over the chicken.

Sprinkle cheese, then bread crumbs, then dribble butter over the top.

Bake at 350 for 40 minutes, then let sit for 15 minutes.