Missing Saltgrass... mock Seafood Fondeuax

Bob is busy with the garage and fixing blinds in the front of the house... the kids are having their mac and cheese and hotdog favorite, and Bob and I are grilling steaks. So, I decided to make an appetizer to hold us for a little bit...

Since I am missing my Saltgrass, I decided to try a mock Fondeaux, and it turned out great!!

I put some butter and olive oil in a sauce pan. I added some onion, and let it saute a bit. Then, I added garlic, mushrooms and let them saute. Then I added some shrimp and some imitation crab. After all these flavors married, I added a little Jack cheese and an italian blend with Romano in it. I stirred and then poured it into a dish, covered it, and placed it in the oven at 275 for about 30 minutes. Then, I made some bread. I placed 3 cloves of garlic, some softened butter, some olive oil, and italian seasoning. I stirred it all together, put it on the sourdough bread I had bought, added a little Emerils Original, and broiled it until it was ready.

Overall, it was AWESOME!!!!

I miss Saltgrass, but I am not deprived of the flavors!!

More Farewells and a small gift from above

Carly and I said goodbye to our dear friends the Duncan's yesterday. Carly and Peyton are like two peas in a pod, it is hard for me to watch my little girl leaving her best pal. Brandie sure has been a support for me this year as I have finished my masters and sell the house and pretty much be a single parent for the last 6 months! Tears fell as they drove away :(

We had an amazing time at the Holt's house. I think Jack's eyes are finally getting rid of the red from the swimming pool! Jackie and I just talked... I am going to miss our friendship. It is hard to see change happening right before your eyes. We talked about school and such... I don't think it would be so hard if I were already in Florida, but this limbo period is making me miss things so much more...

I also spent yesterday getting the Power of Attorney completed and FedEx'd to Orlando. When I woke up this morning, the tracking showed it had not been scanned. Christi helped me out to try to track it, FedEx said they didn't have it, the Parcel place said it had been picked up. I was just about to start over and spend LOTS of money to get it there today or tomorrow, when Christi suggested I call and see if by chance it went without being scanned. Turns out FedEx had just delivered to the office, and it was there! What a miracle, just in time!!

Looking forward to our nail appointment this afternoon, getting ready for my brother's wedding!

Getting things ready... saying goodbye

Yesterday morning we said goodbye to our babysitter. Janice has been a huge part of who my children have become. Her love and Christian example have sure formed my kiddos and made my career as a teacher possible. Saying goodbye was not easy.

Carly had a final playdate with her 3 best buddies and went and saw a movie. I have been thankful for all three of them, and their Moms. My hopes are the girls will be lifelong friends, despite the distance. As I type, Carly is still with her buddy Peyton. They are having a final sleepover. My prayer is that Carly will find another group of friends similar to this special circle, although noone will replace them.

Finally, Jack and Maddie and I had a final swim with our pals the Greens. Jack and Callie have such a great relationship, they truly are linked in spirit. I am not sure how my friendship with their mother changed over the past year and a half, but I will always consider her a close friend. And Tyler, he is such a cutie. I will miss seeing those two grow up. Thankfully, technology will help prevent that completely!

Goodbyes are so hard... I fear the hardest will come next Friday, as we say goodbye to the two people who have sheltered my sweet family for the last 9 weeks. As we start the packing up process and getting things ready, I do not think there is much that will prepare us for that difficult goodbye.

Starting the day with a positive attitude!

Even with the rain outside, I am in good spirits this morning! Bob is coming in tomorrow at 1. We will have some crucial conversations for sure, but we will be able to make decisions together. We did hear from the seller yesterday through our realtor...She feels we are very close to a decision with SunTrust. I am hoping she is right, that would make our decision making all for nothing! We will be looking at rental properties that will accommodate the beagles as well. I am not sure whether we will be looking at furnished, or if we will make a long term choice to be in rental properties while we are living in Florida. It seems the market is just so awful... we need to decide if buying is really the way to go. It feels so strange that after being a homeowner for 10 years, we are unable to actually buy a house. Quite discouraging and I fear it says something about the state of the economy. Economic prosperity is no more... what do my children have to look forward to? They will need to excel in school for sure in order to have the choices they want in the future!

Carly and Maddie are working hard on the Summer Math program I bought them. Carly loves her book and is flying through the lessons, my little mathematician!

Going to Kaboom town tonight... a tradition! Looking forward to seeing friends... hopefully the rain will go away so the fireworks are not effected! It will be strange to be there without Bob. I think Dad and Christi will be going with us... it will be fun!

Nothing on the agenda today

Yesterday we had a great day at the Bailey's Berry Patch! Maddie went to town with the blackberries and blueberries, and Carly and Jack both discovered they really like blueberries! My job today is to figure out how to preserve them, as well as turn them into something yummy :)

Still waiting on SunTrust to assign a negotiator... I am beginning to think it is not going to happen. Yesterday I prayed for hope, as my hope has faded... I just can't see how all this can happen in the next 4 weeks.

I woke up today very refreshed... I am trying to regain that hope and optimism... haven't found it yet this morning.

I miss my family being together.

We are still here!

Well, we are still here in Plano, Texas! Never thought when our things were packed in May that we would still be here! I suppose as long as Dad and Christi still enjoy us being in the house, we are being pretty good house guests! We are thankful they have taken us in. Certainly with storage and kenneling fees, we are not saving $$, but they are preventing us from spending even more!

As far as the house goes, no news tonight. We have to complete another form for our financing, but that is all. Still waiting...

Tomorrow I am taking the kids to the Bailey's berry patch. We are going to pick blueberries and blackberries! They are looking forward to eating and picking, then baking when we get home!