The great MEATSCAPADE of 2009.

I've been so wanting to get to this blog post put together all week. Seriously, with my work schedule and Leo's travel schedule, I have no idea where the days are going. Oiy.

Last Friday night we went out with a super fun couple to this really great restaurant, Texas de Brazil, a Brazilian steakhouse.

Now, TdB is a national chain restaurant and in several large cities, but Leo and I had never been to one.

We had a GREAT coupon from a coupon book I purchased from a neighbor kid, so we figured it was the perfect opportunity to try something new and get out for an adult evening. And here's where having a teenager comes in really handy -- FREE BABYSITTING! I never thought we'd get to this point. We almost have TWO free babysitters. Don't worry -- I pay them in food, clothing and shelter. I know. I'm just nice like that.

Now, the gist of the dining experience goes something like this. You visit the "salad" bar in the center of the restaurant -- and this, my friends, is no ordinary salad bar. It's chock-full of several green salads, artisan cheeses, grilled and roasted vegetables, lobster bisque that was out of this world, olives, sushi, shrimp, and many, many other goodies to choose from.

After you've had your fill of the "salad" bar, you begin the meat service. Which mind you, also comes with mashed potatoes and grilled plantains covered in some yummy, warm caramel sauce.

At your table each person has a little token thingy that you turn back and forth to green or red, indicating whether to bring the meat or not.

The gauchos (the meat carvers) come right to your table with their ginormous skewers of meats -- each one bringing a different type of meat -- filet mignon, flank steak, garlic sirloin, various chicken recipes, rack of lamb, pork tenderloin, sausages -- you name it!

And these gauchos mean business. The second you turn your chip over to green, indicating "bring on the meat," they're ALL OVER YOU. In fact, Erin and I started counting to see how long it took them to come over to our table once we flipped our chip. It was quite entertaining.

Our hubbies had the "pace yourself, take a breather, eat no starch" plan. They were both determined to get their money's worth, for sure. Erin and I were unfortunately lured in to the salad bar and were unable to pace ourselves like the men. The lobster bisque was amazing and I just couldn't pass up the homemade croutons -- darn you evil starches! I'll never quit you.

At any rate, we had a LOVELY time. The food was delicious -- the company, even better. We decided this restaurant would be a perfect "Fat Tuesday" treat -- we might even make it a tradition.

So, my humble recommendation is to go check out a Texas de Brazil if you have one in your area. They're a bit pricey, but keep your eyes open for coupons -- they have really great coupons if you can find one. We decided it is a place you could do once, may be twice a year -- but for a really special occasion, it' would be a wonderful place to celebrate. Now I gotta go get me some meat. I'm hungry.

Tired parents, the time change and Molly-isms.

Wouldn't you think that gaining an extra hour of sleep would help us all feel rested? Not so much. I'm always amazed how one little hour throws off the entire household for a week or so until every one's bodies get used to the change.

Last night Molly was in bed between the two of us because, well, we were utterly exhausted, and she was still rearing to go. We had hoped by letting her come in bed with us that she would finally give in and crash. Again -- not so much.

As I began to drift off to sleep, the child begins to sing. And just to mention, dear hubby has been asleep for a hour, just snoring away, completely oblivious. Now the singing is so sweet and precious and adorable, but at 11:30 (which is REALLY 12:30!!!) I'm not thinking it's so cute.

And her little song goes something like this...."one, two, three, four, five, six, seven...." up to twenty. And then she starts singing the same tune, but in Spanish... "uno, dos, tres, NACHO, cinco, seis..."

I completely lose it. NACHO? I mean, how can you not laugh? Which of course, completely re-energizes her and the singing continues.

Funny thing, I'm kinda in the mood for a taco this morning. Hmmmm......

Letting my creative juices flow.

Two weeks ago I received an email from John's teacher looking for a parent to come in and decorate the classroom door for "Red Ribbon Week" -- a week with each day having a theme about not using drugs.

Since the move I haven't feel super inspired to get out my scrapbooks or challenge myself in the crafty department. I'm totally in a rut -- for sure.

At any rate, after the 2nd or 3rd email asking for a parent volunteer, I decided to offer my time and figured I could come up with something. Plus, I couldn't resist her note when she signed it "Mrs. Q and the 18 tadpoles." I mean, how could anyone disappoint the tadpoles?

So, off to the teacher supply store I went -- hoping to find supplies that I could use to tie the "Say No to Drugs" and Halloween themes together.

Here's the picture of the finished project. I purchased a bat Webkinz -- see him hanging upside down at the top of the door -- which I donated to the classroom. John's teacher was just delighted with how the door turned out.

Yep, I'm thinkin' I'm one crafty little beaver. :)

Rolling with the punches.

I've definitely gotten better at that over the years. I think having kids for sure makes you more adaptable. I am trying more often to count my blessings and realizing with kids, you just never know what to expect.

Like finding vomit in your bed at 10:30 on a Sunday night.

On the comforter that you just picked up from the dry cleaners two weeks ago.

But that's just how life goes sometimes.

So, I'm thankful I had a washing machine.

I'm thankful I had an extra set of sheets in the closet.

I'm thankful only one kid got sick and not all four simultaneously.

I'm thankful hubby put in the final load of laundry in to the machine before he left for work.

And I'm crossing my fingers hoping the poor baby's sickness was a complete fluke. Wish me luck on that one! :)

Resurfacing.

Oh my poor blog, how I have neglected you so.

For fear of being turned over to protective bloggy services, I figured I needed to post something. STAT! Do I still have any readers out there? Anyone? Anyone? Buehler? Buehler?

Anywho, it's been a crazy couple of weeks on the home front. Nothing too out of the ordinary, but I feel like I've blinked and the days are gone. Leo's been on the road almost every week for the last six weeks. How could I, of all people, actually feel overwhelmed single parenting again? I don't know. But I have.

This past weekend I actually got to take a trip sans kids. My dear friend Martha was kind enough to have me out for a visit -- which is always wonderful. She spoils me rotten. We sit around in comfy cozies and gab like crazy. It's great for me to step out of my mom role for just a day or two and recharge. The visit was just what the doctor ordered.

While visiting Martha, I was also able to meet Laura in real life -- who happens to be just as delightful in real life as she is on her blog, Catholic Teacher Musings. We chatted it up like we were long lost friends. She said I had a cute Midwestern accent and for that, I'll love her forever! And of course, we had to seize the photo op.

Btw, I'm totally trying to embrace my new brown hair. Feel free to lemme know your honest opinions. Because you know us women, nine thousand people need to like it before we really decide if we like it. I'm trying to get back to closer to my natural color (of course, minus the gray, wink, wink!) but after all this time, who really knows what my natural color even is. Honestly, I don't even think my hairdresser knows that secret.

I'm getting ready for a work-free Saturday -- YAY! I think I'll make some chili and just plan to enjoy hanging out with the fam. How 'bout you? Any exciting plans for the weekend?

So grateful.

One -- I am alive.

Two -- People love me and have missed me. That sure feels good. I have missed you too! I have so much blog reading to catch up on.

Three -- I am a bonehead.

We survived our bouts of swine flu -- only four out of the six of us got it -- which is completely weird and unexplainable, but hey, I'll take it. The flu itself wasn't really all that awful -- I surely wouldn't wish it on anyone, but it could have been a whole lot worse.

Last week was spent dealing with the aftermath -- you know that uncontrollable bleaching that happens, the opening the windows, the catching up on mountains of laundry and then the trying to figure out how to get food in your house. Hello, Peapod? Are you still out there?

This past weekend we decided since we were all well and the kids had days off of school for Columbus Day, that we would head up to Columbus. Leo went to the OSU game and I spent the weekend driving around dropping kids here and there and briefly getting to see people. It just wasn't enough time. I feel bad about all the people I didn't get to see, but we did our best with what we had.

Then Monday evening happened.

We got back to Memphis and I asked Leo where my toiletry bag was.

To which, he replied, he had no idea.

I thought he packed it. He thought I packed it.

Come to find out, I left it in the hotel room on the desk.

And inside of it -- my wedding ring -- and my two Pandora bracelets.

We drove ten hours and I left a WHOLE bag in a hotel room and NEVER once thought about it until we got home.

Once I could think clearly, I knew right away what had happened and how it had gotten left behind. As we were leaving the hotel room, Molly made a run for it and I was distracted and walked out of the room without it.

I quickly phoned the hotel and talked to the manager on duty. He first told me I'd have to wait until the morning to talk to housekeeping, but I began uncontrollably crying, explaining the bag contained my wedding ring -- that he just had to look for the bag. I handed the phone over to Leo because at this point, I could hardly talk. The manager took down the info and said he'd check and call us back.

About 15 minutes later he called and said he had found the bag -- it was in the housekeeping office waiting to be "processed" -- whatever that means. I took a deep breath and asked him to check for the ring and the bracelets -- I had tucked them inside a little travel jewelry pouch.

Thank you Jesus, the ring and both bracelets were inside. The housekeeping employee turned in the bag -- and all it's contents -- my entire make-up bag, all my hair stuff, my hair straightener that I can't live without, two prescriptions, some random socks and a pair of Molly's shoes.

It warms my heart to know that there are still good, honest people in this world. Today I spoke to the General Manager and he assured me the person would be recognized. I am truly grateful that the employee chose to do the right thing. May he or she be truly blessed.

Flu Central.

So much for talking myself out of getting sick. Today, I hit the wall.

I've been going all week -- in fact last night on the way home from picking Maddy up at v-ball, I stopped at Kroger to stock up on all the "illness" necessities -- ginger ale, popsicles, kleenex, more hand soap, oreos, chicken noodle soup. Okay, may be not so much the oreos.

I've been coughing and sneezing all day. Chilled off and on. The top of my lungs feel heavy, which makes me nervous after the whole pneumonia episode of January. I've promised my Mom to phone the Dr. ASAP if I turn for the worse -- I'm really scared of this going in my lungs. I can't do pneumonia again.

We're pretty sure it is the swine flu -- they are (the schools and dr's offices) telling us that it's most likely swine, as it's rampant in school (primarily the middle) and it's still early for the seasonal flu. Honestly, it hasn't been all that bad -- I mean, sure no one feels great, but is it what the media has made it out to be -- definitely not!

Molly started running fever this morning, as well as Maddy last night, so the good thing is that hopefully we'll all have it and be done with it in a week. As of now, just waiting on John and Leo -- and well, Leo rarely gets sick. Ugh. So not fair!

Off to crawl back in to bed -- not that I think I can possibly sleep as I've slept most of the day -- but I'm sure gonna try.