I have so many things I want to combine in this post, because there’s so much going on right now! I realize I haven’t said anything about “the Love Dare” the last weekish. And it’s not because I’m not doing it- I really am! As I knew would eventually happen (and perhaps why I stalled so much in the beginning- to prevent the inevitable.), I feel peace. And happy. I am now this perfectly kind, wise, patient woman that I always knew I could be. Ok, scratch that. But in truth, I am finding myself having more patience, which in turn is allowing me to respond to situations with more kindness than I’m afraid I’ve been showing as of late. And it’s having benefits. As I’m more patient with them (and in turn, showing more kindness), they are returning the favor. Hubbyman and I realized last night that there have been WAY less time outs at our house lately. (and I mean WAY less) And Hubby even has shown me an abnormal amount of kindness lately. The last couple of weeks he’d been looking at me and smirking. I was starting to worry. Finally last weekend it came out that he had been SEARCHING (he even went *gasp* shopping- on-line yes, but he also went to actual stores, like Williams*Sonoma! My husband!) for a pasta extruder/attachment so I can make macaroni and rotini (and therefore don’t have to buy any noodles!). This is a HUGE deal. I even got a back rub a couple nights ago, without asking for one, and without having to return the favor. Maybe it had something to do with the fact I had to miss out on my girls’ night with one of my favorite Happy Hour mistresses. (Seriously, she’s terrific! She knows that I get out infrequent enough that she is always reminding me that I’m important too, not to check my phone -much- and we stay out until I have to go back!) But even that is something to be thankful for. He had is in the middle of a big project at work and had to work, but he still recognized that I was missing out. Suffice it to say, things are looking up in our household.
…or maybe it was all a big trick!! This morning I got up and it was freezing! I’d been cold all night too- even with Big E snuggled into our bed (I don’t even know when that happened?!), and that boy’s a heater. So turns out the heat never got turned up before bed (I turn it way down during the day depending on if we’re spending our day upstairs or downstairs… no point in heating an area we’re not in!). So I was cold and a little cranky. And then I go upstairs. I have Littlest E on my hip, because he’s been up for quite some time playing and is starting to get a little cranky. I get my favorite coffee cup -because of it’s size- and turn on the water (yes, I admit it, I was going to make instant coffee. Please don’t judge. I know it’s bad. I’m just that desperate for coffee immediately.)… and then it happens. I get sprayed with water. And it takes me a moment to realize what’s going on (hello?! no coffee yet!?!), and to realize that the baby on my hip is being sprayed directly in his face. Great. So I turn the water off and look at the hose, figuring something had to have gone wrong. And then it hits me. It’s APRIL FIRST. Crap. And there’s the string tied around the hose. So I do a little growling and muttering as I cut the string off. I wipe Ethan down, change shirts. ….it might also be helpful to know this about me: I HATE when my clothes get wet. Like hate, hate. So much that a small spill even, will send me back into the house to change, no matter where I was heading, or how late I already am. Hate. It’s weird, don’t question it- it’s just how it is. Then Miss E (the 2 1/2 year old, nicknamed the dEva) starts asking for some water and she’s whining… so I pick her up and we go get her water. Turns out, the hose had been tied down so long, it wanted to stay in that position. You should also know something about Miss E: She’s dramatic, and she hates getting her clothes wet at least as much as I do. And still no coffee yet.
Breathe in….breathe out. Make enough coffee to feed an army. Drink and watch Ellen. Breathe. Try not to mutter about killing my husband in front of the children… aaahhh, coffee kicks in. As I posted in my facebook status: [Husband]- apparently you’ve forgotten who cooks your meals, washes your clothes, and raises your children… because you’d think you would know better than to pull a prank on her. But don’t worry, I’ll make dinner extra special as a reminder!
Now to plan dinner…. BAHAHAHA! (that’s my online version of evil laughter)
Speaking of dinner, I was going to make pizza since yesterday I had an epiphany that I should make Friday’s Pizza Friday. Every Friday choosing a new recipe and subjecting my family to it- and then sharing it here! But I didn’t have everything we needed, and he was already working late so if he stopped for things on his way home it would be bedtime before we got to eat. So I suggested making something that could be ready by when he got home. And he surprised us by being home in time to eat with us! Here’s what I found in the fridge: 5lbs chicken thighs thawed and in need of cooking. Lime leftover from coronas. Spinach left over from pasta/pizza/every meal that I can stick it into I do. And tomato-less salsa. (Eva is allergic to tomatoes, but loves salsa. Found a corn salsa at Trader Joe’s- sweet and spicy! The best kind!!) Inspired by my friend, Lindsey’s post: Cilantro, lime, and salsa Chicken. So I cooked chicken in 2 pans. One for last night’s dinner and one for tonight’s dinner. Yay for time-saving! Anyhow, I wasn’t planning on sharing this recipe, but it was so good (and a hit with my crowd) that I’ve changed my mind!
Spicy Chicken Licken’
- 1 1/2 lbs chicken
- 1 lime
- 2 pinches of cilantro (I used my dried cilantro. I dried it a couple weeks ago, so it’s still pretty fresh)
- 1 cup salsa
- 2 cups spinach (2 big handfuls chopped/torn)
Cook chicken on stove top over medium-high heat. (I like them in strips because they’re more kid friendly and cook so much faster and evenly) Add in juice from one lime. Add in cilantro (this is optional. I love cilantro. And usually have fresh on hand- which would have been even better.) When chicken is about halfway, add in the spinach (you can cook in another pan with oil, but why dirty two pans if you don’t have to?). When spinach has sufficiently wilted, add in the salsa. Any kind will work, but I especially loved it with the corn salsa, for both consistency and flavor. I love the sweet and spicy combination.
We will DEFINITELY be making this one again… and I will DEFINITELY be working on a recipe to make the tomato-less corn salsa myself! It was so good!! I still can’t find my camera adapter, but I did get some pictures of this delicious meal! I’m putting the hubster to work on finding it this weekend!! That’s my goal! Well, that and coming up with a really great prank the kids and I could do to get him back!! You know, with patience and kindness and all that other stuff I’ve been working on. Now where did I set my coffee…
laborofwonder 
Sooooo, I love you!
I like this one. It made me laugh
[…] This year’s April Fool’s pranks have become the never-ending-prank! Since that fateful day hubby tied the hose down with a string, the hose now likes to “stick” as if being held down. About once a week you turn on the faucet and the hose starts spraying… all of these times it happened to me! Never to him! And a couple of times there’s been witnesses to these water drenching attacks! Now I hadn’t told hubby about it, because (obviously!) I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction that would go along with it! Until yesterday- he witnessed it. Boo! Hiss! But, he was nice enough to make dinner and do clean up so I guess I won’t hold it against him. At least not today. […]
[…] pretty much the same chicken recipe that I used here With a few new twists. I found that this chicken is both delicious and easy. And since we also […]
[…] pretty much the same chicken recipe that I used here With a few new twists. I found that this chicken is both delicious and easy. And since we also […]
[…] did you put in this?!” I’m not sure if he thought it was another prank or not (see here, here, and here), but I just about cried because I’d been so excited about my new twist on a […]
[…] you want to read more about this ridiculous story, you can read the original post in it’s entirety, my revenge post, and the post where the prank never ends, and obviously it […]