I'm a Giver {and Elvis better be a getter if he knows what's good for him!}

Sometimes I feel guilty that our kitty, Elvis, is an inside cat. We had him declawed last year so it's not like he has a choice--he'd be dogmeat for sure if he got loose outside.

But, every once in a while I get to feeling like it just ain't natural for a kitty to not be able to run

wild and free.

I'm humane like that.

Last night, being the kind and sensitive pet owner that I am, I decided to bring the outdoors in and turned two sweet little mice loose into my house.

It provided Elvis with hours of entertainment...actually he is still being entertained as he only caught one of the little devils.

What can I say? I'm a giver.

{A completely grossed out giver who is freaking out that there is a mouse/mice? scurrying around her house! What in the? I am headed to IFA tomorrow to buy me some traps! And Elvis better get down to business--because, Kitty Cat, it's time to earn your keep!}

PS Lest you think I have been hanging out & waiting for the perfect photography moment with my kitty-cat...Jay is the photog of all of these lovely pics of Elvis.

A New Family Favorite: "Baked Potato Soup" aka "Bacon Soup"

{I am so in love with my new RS Cookbook...there are so many fun soup recipes. On Saturday, since I just love soup on a rainy Fall afternoon--I made up a Baked Potato Soup recipe well, I actually combined a couple of soup recipes because I was lacking ingredients for both and it was a big hit. Jay said it was "Zupa Worthy"--and since Zupa's happens to be my favorite place to eat..I felt honored. Austin & Savannah liked it so much they asked me to make it the very next day.}

Baked Potato Soup

{This is a great recipe for leftover baked potatoes...I had 6 small ones left from the night before so I threw 6 more in the microwave and it worked out just fine. I like my soup really chunky & potatoey...so adjust according to what you like.}

1/2 c onion diced

12 small baked potatoes peeled and cubed

1/2 c butter

1/2 c flour

3 c half and half

1 tsp salt

Dash pepper

4 c chicken broth

3 garlic cloves--minced

1 pkg of bacon strips cooked and crumbled {both recipes only called for 8-10 strips...but we love us some bacon--and besides my diet doesn't start till next week}

2 c grated cheddar cheese {Ummm...I didn't really measure this out..I just threw in 2 or 3 handfuls which I figured to be 2 cups}


Combine potatoes and onion in a soup pot. Pour in broth. Simmer for about 15 minutes. In a separate sauce pan, melt butter and add flour--stir and cook till bubbly. Pour flour mix into simmering pot of potatoes. Stir well and add milk, garlic & bacon. Do not boil. Just heat thoroughly for about 10 minutes. Add salt, pepper and cheese. Heat through and serve.

Phone Calls, Lockerooms & H00TERS! Oh My!

You never can tell what's going to happen when you answer the phone. It's always a dicey proposition...even if you have caller ID.

Last night, I got two strange

phone calls in a row.

Phone rings. I check the caller-ID and its a cell phone number that I don't recognize. This is usually a case for screening..at least for me. But, because I have three children in three different places--I opt to answer it.

Me: "Hello?"

Young Man's Voice: "Are you in the locker room?"

Me {thinking it is some sort of prank call}: "Whaaaat?"

YM's Voice:"Are you in the locker room?" he chuckles.

Me: "Errrr. No." {waiting for the punchline}

YM's Voice: "Then where are you?"

Me {realizing it probably isn't a prank}: "Ummm. Is this Blairbear?"

Blairbear: "Uhhhh. Yah. Who's this?"

Me: This is Nicole. "I think you called the house by mistake. Remember? Jay's cell phone is broken?"

Blairbear {not missing a beat}: "Oh. Well, do you know where Jay is? I can't find her anywhere."

Me: "Why don't you try yelling her name really loud from the door of the locker room {she was just finishing up with swim team}...but don't go in."

Blairbear: "Heh-heh. K."

5 minutes later...

Phone rings. It is my brother Z, who is supposed to be on a business trip somewhere in the U.S. I know I've been told like 5 times where he is but it was information I considered to be on a need to know basis..which I didn't need to know.

Me: Hello?

Bro. Z: Hey, are you nearby your computer? I need some tech help.

Me: Sure. Whatsup.

Bro. Z: Well, I didn't anticipate not being able to find the hotel I'm staying at...so I didn't mapquest it. Or anything.

Me: Where are you?

Bro. Z: Raleigh, North Carolina, Airport.

Me: Nice One.

Bro. Z: I know.

Z proceeds to give me the name of the airport and the coordinates of his hotel. Mapquest just so happens to show he is less than one mile away from his destination.

Me: Dude. Look around its gotta be somewhere.

Bro. Z: I see a H00TERS..could you Mapquest it from the H00TERS?

Me: Hey, I hear H00TERS makes a good burger.

Bro. Z: edited for reasons I am not at liberty to say...but it was pretty funny.

Bro. Z: Wait! Hey. I see my hotel! It's right across the street from H00TERS.

Only a man would be blinded by the

sight of H00TERS.

I Voted Today...Sorta

Too bad they don't make stickers that say,

"I Voted Today...Sorta". I'd totally get one of those. Because I really did try. It just so happened that I wasn't registered to vote.

Awkward. Yes.

Confession Time: I haven't voted since I lived in Arizona--which was over 3 years ago.

I'm not bragging.

But, it's not really my fault. It is stinkin' Arizona's fault. Did you know a drivers license in AZ doesn't expire till you turn 65? That means my drivers license did not expire until 2037. Are you kidding me?

Do you have any idea how great it is to not have to renew your drivers license every 4 years? Well, let me tell you--it is pretty much awesome . There are a couple of hazards though. IF you have an out of state license you cannot register to vote in your state. You also are at risk for a big ole' ticket if you get pulled over...which I managed to avoid by being an extra careful driver.

In August I decided that since it was a presidential election year I'd better get my act together besides I needed to get fingerprinted for my new job and I didn't want the local cops to question the legality of my out of state license.

So, I went to our brand new DMV (it actually opened on the day I went), waited for 2 hours, and walked out with a brand new UT license--and the ugliest picture known to mankind. I even requested to be registered to vote while I was there. Magical, I tell you. Magical.

Except I wasn't really registered.

Which I found out today.

{Luckily, I didn't have to stand in a huge line to find this information out. I walked in to my voters precinct. Glided right up to the desk. Told them my name. Found out I wasn't registered. Got sent to the troublemaker desk where 3 men had formed a "troublemaker" line. Told my story about my false positive registration. Was given a "provisional ballot" which my dad says they will probably only count if the election is close. Filled it out with a black pen no electronic devices for troublemakers. Dropped it in the secret red ballot box>which looked more like a laptop case}

And the rest is history. Only they didn't give me a sticker that said I voted. So, now I'm questioning whether or not my vote really counted. I mean, why did they not give me the sought after sticker?

So, how did voting go in your neck of the woods?

Sure is a Monday

With Daylight Savings finally over, I set a goal to get up early and exercise..because it really wouldn't feel like I was getting up early. I STILL didn't hear the alarm and STILL overslept.

Sure is a Monday.

Savvy woke up this morning and didn't want to go to school...she says she felt wobbley I told her she'd feel wobbley whether she was home or at school and so she'd better get ready.

Sure is a Monday.

Discovered whilst packing lunches this morning, that I am out of Capri Suns hope the kids liked their water bottles.

Sure is a Monday.

Talked on the phone this morning before school to my friend, Natalie, who was getting together with her sister today to craft...and it made me so stinkin' jealous!

Sure is a Monday.

Inadvertently left the door leading to the garage open, and Elvis {our INSIDE cat} escaped thank goodness, it was pretty cold out this morning so he meowed and meowed till Aussie let him in.

Sure is a Monday.

Elvis' meower has been broken for the past couple of days. On the way to school this morning, Jay informed me she thinks it's because he's been licking up laundry detergent droplets off the laundry room floor. Does poisoning a cat break his meower?

Sure is Monday.

Walked around at school ALL morning with my zipper down luckily, my shirt was long and covered it up--I hope

Sure is Monday.

Cleaned the house really, really good on the weekend so I could come home to a clean house all week. Someone missed the memo on picking up after themselves.

So, How was your Monday?

The Sunday Funnies: Halloween Edition

Last week, I was struggling with what to be for Halloween. It was really my first time as an mom where I felt like I had to do a real costume not just a thrown together joke. I mean, I was on morning carpool duty last week for heavensakes...

...I couldn't be half-asked about it.

Of course, my kids had suggestions. Savvy thought I should just go as a Real Soccer player same as last year.

I told her it was a great idea, but that big afro wig was super itchy--and I had to wear my costume for about 6 hours.

"Oh mom, your hair is poofy enough that you wouldn't even need the wig," she answered.

National Blog Month

Did you know that November is National Blog Posting Month? There's even a website for it called NaBloPoMo. It's the month where bloggers everywhere are challenged to post every single day of the month--in hopes you will make it such a habit--that you never miss a day of blogging again.

Really.

{Because Christmas will not

derail your habit at all.}

I tried it last year. The deck was stacked against me, though. I don't think I even found out about it till it was one week into November. Of course, once I found out, I blogged like gangbusters for almost a week.

Then. Something. Happened.

Can't remember what. But, I bet it involved me chasing kids all over the place, doing my RS calling, having a messy house, drinking lots of diet coke, and going over on my cell phone minutes TWO MONTHS in a row. Wait...that's what is happening THIS November. But, whatever the reason, I'm sure I was busy.

So, one of my BFF's, Jolene, reminded me of this challenge and even sent me an invitation to join the NaBloPoMo website...because that's what will really inspire my blogging...me trying to figure out yet another website. I mean, Facebook has nearly killed off all my blogging time just trying to figure out how to upload pics.

So, Loyal Readers, here's to a fun month of daily blogging.

Will you accept the challenge?