Team Focker Watch, Part 12. Have we jumped the shark yet?

[jcc0621]

Can I pop back in? I only read this page, but Rosie's post has me wondering HOW MUCH went on while I was away? She's got a BF???

Dawn usually keeps me up on what you people are up to, but clearly she messed up.

Not much going on here. NotBob has to go to Mexico, China and Japan in the next 6 weeks. He's in Wisconsin right now, though. Both boys are doing great. I am seeing Dr. Seigle on Wed. to hopefully get the last stitch out of my eye. BLECH!!!

I'm cooking turkey for thanksgiving, even though it's only us. I guess we'll just have lots of turkey sammies. LOL.

Where's Kristel for my 75 page update?

MEL

Who is that I see

BF = Black Friday

Hi Janet! Hope you enjoy your time off!

Too much to do!

Then after we got home a guy I had been talking to online IM'd me and we chatted for a while. I 'met' him on match.com a few months ago but maybe talked to him once or twice and then just said forget it because really I wasn't interested in dating or even being involved with someone. But, just this past week we started talking more and he ended up calling and we talked tonight on the phone. It was really nice and I totally enjoyed it.

The bad thing is that he doesn't live in my area. He has parent's that live here though and he will be in at Thanksgiving time. I'm hoping we can get together on Saturday for coffee. ::Fingers Crossed:: that it will happen. I so need and deserve this.

Fingers crossed for you. Let us know how it goes

I have made my make-ahead mashed potatoes

Recipe please

cook them there, or if I should cook them at home and try to keep them warm.

I would just cook them there!

What?! Rosie's talking about Black Friday, not a man. You dork! Clearly you've lost your edge with all that time away.

Ahhh, I can feel the love

=============

Good morning Just a quick check in before I hit the ground running. Have to put dishes in and run the diswasher, clean the pwder room, straighten and dust the dining room and living room. Put the card table up so I have extra prep space for Thursday, add the leaves to my diningroom table, and do Then I have a 6:00 appt to get my haircut and then on the way home I have to stop at Genaurdi's and pick a few things up (including the turkey). We ordered one of those pre-cooked meals ($40), so instead of me making so much stuff, I make half of what I usually do and I don't have to be in the kitchen from 5am!

Have a good day all

 

[cmp1111]

Recipe please

Sure, they can be made a day ahead, which helps on the big ticket dinners. I'll put it in a separate post.

I make half of what I usually do and I don't have to be in the kitchen from 5am!

Sounds like a plan. Usually we eat at 5:00, which means we don't have to get the turkey in until noonish. We use the baking bags, which cuts the time, and we usually don't have a huge turkey as we're not a giant group. This time we're only 11. I guess Deb's mom went back to Seattle to have the holiday with her other DD - John says she's feeling the guilt about moving away from them, now.

*****************************************************
Trying to call the school to find out what time I'm supposed to go, but can't get through - sick calls, I'm guessing. The bell doesn't ring for another 15 minutes yet.

Anyway...

I showered as soon as the kids got on the bus, so I just need to figure out when I'm going to school. If it's 9-10, I'll just come home and get everything warmed up. (I'm bringing green beans, too, but I use my dad's home-canned and they take literally 7 minutes, and no prep), but if it's 10-11, I'll need to use my ever so cool timed bake/hold & warm deals on my oven.

So, I'm off to figure that out! Have a good morning, all!

 

[cmp1111]

OK, this is my mom's yummy "fix ahead" mashed potato recipe. It can be made a night or two before the feast, freeing up valuable kitchen time! I have a couple of different amounts - one for just a regular dinner, then the "super sized" family feast!

3 pounds potatoes, peeled & cut (5 pounds if super-sizing)
1/2 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. butter or margarine
2 3-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened (1 8-oz. pkg for super size)
2/3 c. sour cream (1 cup for super size)
1/4 c. milk (add more by sight for super size)
3/4 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. melted butter or margarine

Place potatoes in a saucepan; add water to cover and the 1/2 tsp. salt.

Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat to medium and simmer 25 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

Drain.

Place in large mixing bowl and mash.

Add 2 Tbsp. butter and the cream cheese, sour cream, milk and 3/4 tsp. salt., mixing until all ingredients are blended.

Spoon mixture into a lightly greased 12x8x2 casserole. (Will need a 13x9 for super size.)

Brush top of mixture with the melted butter.

Cover and refrigerate, or bake immediately.

If refrigerated, let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before baking.

Bake at 350 degrees, uncovered, 30 minutes. (I bake these while the turkey is sitting and being carved, while I do the gravy on the stove.)

My usual Thanksgiving crowd is about 6 adults and 6 kids, and we still have a bit of leftovers with the 5 pound version. Of course, some of the kids claim not to like mashed potatoes, which is odd to me, as they are maybe my favorite food ever.

 

[jcc0621]

OK, this is my mom's yummy "fix ahead" mashed potato recipe. It can be made a night or two before the feast, freeing up valuable kitchen time! I have a couple of different amounts - one for just a regular dinner, then the "super sized" family feast!

3 pounds potatoes, peeled & cut (5 pounds if super-sizing)
1/2 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. butter or margarine
2 3-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened (1 8-oz. pkg for super size)
2/3 c. sour cream (1 cup for super size)
1/4 c. milk (add more by sight for super size)
3/4 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. melted butter or margarine

Place potatoes in a saucepan; add water to cover and the 1/2 tsp. salt.

Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat to medium and simmer 25 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

Drain.

Place in large mixing bowl and mash.

Add 2 Tbsp. butter and the cream cheese, sour cream, milk and 3/4 tsp. salt., mixing until all ingredients are blended.

Spoon mixture into a lightly greased 12x8x2 casserole. (Will need a 13x9 for super size.)

Brush top of mixture with the melted butter.

Cover and refrigerate, or bake immediately.

If refrigerated, let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before baking.

Bake at 350 degrees, uncovered, 30 minutes. (I bake these while the turkey is sitting and being carved, while I do the gravy on the stove.)

My usual Thanksgiving crowd is about 6 adults and 6 kids, and we still have a bit of leftovers with the 5 pound version. Of course, some of the kids claim not to like mashed potatoes, which is odd to me, as they are maybe my favorite food ever.

THanks CE. I'm going to try these for Turkey Day!

 

[englishrose47]

Can I pop back in? I only read this page, but Rosie's post has me wondering HOW MUCH went on while I was away? She's got a BF???

Dawn usually keeps me up on what you people are up to, but clearly she messed up.



Where's Kristel for my 75 page update?

MEL

BF = Black Friday!!!!
I do not have a BOYFRIEND!!!

Just back from taking the kids fo their HINI s!!! Sam & Kyle got the nasal one but thanks to Kyle who loudly announces Steph has asthma she had to get the shot She is my usual FREAK out for shots but she did well I held her face so she couldn't see the needle and it was done in a flash and she is super proud of herself and so KYLE still lives !!!

 

[TEminnie]

Still coughing---ended up in the living room--seemed a little better when I wasn't lying flat...and when I took more cough syrup. My chest hurts now.

BA is still asleep--she went and WATCHED cheer practice last nite (with me watching) but she really wanted to make sure she wasn't missing any of the changes...and she got lots of sympathy by showing them her belly button! She may have to wear a bandaid over her belly button for the first comp (they wear crop tops)

CE--looks like yummy taters!!

Janet---how's the laundry coming??


Jo--kids still sick? Guess they aren't out of school this week since the pilgrims came over here, right??!

 

[askelton]

So, they'll have to go Wed. after school - we have a whole day on Wed. Most of our neighboring towns are off.

No fair!

We are going to the parade in the morning. Should be home by 11:00am and then it will be cooking, eating, and football.

Sounds like a great day.

Friday I will be out of here by 4:00am to get to Target, from there I will hit Toys R Us and then the King of Prussia Mall. After the mall will be Wal Mart and then Kohls.

More power to you!

Of course with all the cooking on Thursday nottpo mention hitting KMart in the am and then of course BF!!!!!

I liked the boyfriend scenario better. You should have just made up something, Rosie.

Not much going on here. NotBob has to go to Mexico, China and Japan in the next 6 weeks.

I'd go there.

I am seeing Dr. Seigle on Wed. to hopefully get the last stitch out of my eye. BLECH!!!

Then will you be able to stay away for awhile?

UGH V! I hear ya on that one! My ex-MIL calls Lindsey...LYNN. I've corrected her a million and one times but nope she still calls her that.

Why?

The bad thing is that he doesn't live in my area. He has parent's that live here though and he will be in at Thanksgiving time. I'm hoping we can get together on Saturday for coffee. ::Fingers Crossed:: that it will happen. I so need and deserve this.

Have fun. How far away does he live?

What?! Rosie's talking about Black Friday, not a man. You dork! Clearly you've lost your edge with all that time away.

We ordered one of those pre-cooked meals ($40), so instead of me making so much stuff, I make half of what I usually do and I don't have to be in the kitchen from 5am!

Always a good idea. How many are you cooking for?

but if it's 10-11, I'll need to use my ever so cool timed bake/hold & warm deals on my oven.

I so want that!

JShe is my usual FREAK out for shots but she did well I held her face so she couldn't see the needle and it was done in a flash and she is super proud of herself and so KYLE still lives !!!

Lucky Kyle.

Still coughing---ended up in the living room--seemed a little better when I wasn't lying flat...and when I took more cough syrup. My chest hurts now.

I've done the last of my grocery shopping although there is no parsley to be found. Not that I really need it, it's just annoying.

My sis and Reid came over for dinner and for dessert we had ice cream with homemade chocolate sauce. He likes chocolate so much and has such a smile on his face whilst eating, I really think part of my grandfather is in Reid, which makes me smile.

 

[jcc0621]

Janet---how's the laundry coming??

Guess they aren't out of school this week since the pilgrims came over here, right??!

Feel better TE!

Always a good idea. How many are you cooking for?

10 counting Jimmy. Just the inlaws!

I've done the last of my grocery shopping although there is no parsley to be found. Not that I really need it, it's just annoying.

I just realized I forgot to get Chicken broth Will pick that up when I pick up the turkey tonight!

My sis and Reid came over for dinner and for dessert we had ice cream with homemade chocolate sauce. He likes chocolate so much and has such a smile on his face whilst eating, I really think part of my grandfather is in Reid, which makes me smile.

Awww

How did Mitch make out with his tests?

 

[jcc0621]

Powder room cleaned. Dining room next, just taking a page from CE's book and taking a break between jobs

 

[cmp1111]

Angela, how nice.

Janet, I highly approve.

Rosie, glad the shots went well.

********************************************************
Well, the craft deal was from 9-11, so I had said I'd come from 9-10. I'm home now, the oven is pre-heated, but I'm still at the "let them sit out for 30 minutes before baking" with the potatoes, but I have time.

My plan is a Target and grocery run after dropping off the food. But, D brought up a good point. When I asked for clarification on a "Number I'm cooking for" yesterday, the teacher said there'd be about 30 people, but very small portions. There are only 16 kids in the class, plus the teacher and student teacher. I was trying to figure out whom else we'd be feeding, and D said, "Well, if I count the parents who are bringing stuff in, I get about 30." I didn't get the impression that we were staying if we cooked, but maybe that's it?

I should still have time to run the errands, but it will be tighter, if that's really the case.

OK... I guess I'd better get some stuff going again - check my lists and so forth.

 

[jcc0621]

Janet, I highly approve.

"Well, if I count the parents who are bringing stuff in, I get about 30." I didn't get the impression that we were staying if we cooked, but maybe that's it?

Or are they going to allow siblings fromother classes come?

==============

Hey all, just scanned Jimmy's soccer pictures in so I wanted to share. He is smiling BUt the way they had the photographer set up the sun was in his eyes Still, I think it came out cute!

Also, here are some pics of his Science Fair Project...

 

[cmp1111]

Nice pictures!

Potatoes are cooking. Still trying to figure out what I'm going to do to get the beans to school whilst keeping them hot. Maybe put them in a round casserole in a cooler? That might keep them warm enough.

 

[1Princess1Prince2006]

I'd say - hope it turns out that you can meet him.

Thanks CE.

Fingers crossed for you. Let us know how it goes

Will do!

Good morning Just a quick check in before I hit the ground running. Have to put dishes in and run the diswasher, clean the pwder room, straighten and dust the dining room and living room. Put the card table up so I have extra prep space for Thursday, add the leaves to my diningroom table, and do Then I have a 6:00 appt to get my haircut and then on the way home I have to stop at Genaurdi's and pick a few things up (including the turkey). We ordered one of those pre-cooked meals ($40), so instead of me making so much stuff, I make half of what I usually do and I don't have to be in the kitchen from 5am!

Have a good day all

Holy cow that is a lot! Do you at least get to rest on your weekend and enjoy that? And Jimmy's soccer pics are really good! He did great on his science project as well!

OK, this is my mom's yummy "fix ahead" mashed potato recipe. It can be made a night or two before the feast, freeing up valuable kitchen time! I have a couple of different amounts - one for just a regular dinner, then the "super sized" family feast!

YUM! Those look really good. I'll have to save this recipe for later use.

Still coughing---ended up in the living room--seemed a little better when I wasn't lying flat...and when I took more cough syrup. My chest hurts now.

Feel better!

Have fun. How far away does he live?

He lives 4 hours away.

My sis and Reid came over for dinner and for dessert we had ice cream with homemade chocolate sauce. He likes chocolate so much and has such a smile on his face whilst eating, I really think part of my grandfather is in Reid, which makes me smile.

Awwww...that's cute.

****************************************************

I have class today and then an eye doctor's appointment. The kids father will be here tonight to pick them up. I need to find out when he's bringing them back though.

That's about it for me. I need to get DR ready and some lunch before we have to go and study for the test I have.

Hope everyone has a good day!

 

[cmp1111]

That's about it for me. I need to get DR ready and some lunch before we have to go and study for the test I have.

Hope everyone has a good day!

Good luck on the test!

 

[jcc0621]

Nice pictures!

Thanks!

. Maybe put them in a round casserole in a cooler? That might keep them warm enough.

Sounds like it would work. I take it they don't have a microwave at the school.

Holy cow that is a lot! Do you at least get to rest on your weekend and enjoy that? And Jimmy's soccer pics are really good! He did great on his science project as well!

Thanks. Ittook us a while, since he actually did al the typing...took us 3 days just to do that!

The kids father will be here tonight to pick them up. I need to find out when he's bringing them back though.

Are we taking bets on when? I say Friday

 

[DisneyJo]

I also have a funeral tomorrow for a man that I grew up with his kids.

On the Disney vacation thing I just gt the new brochure so when I call about that I will again ask them!!!!!

Good luck!

Boy, that was a backwards report. Anyway, busy busy at work too - got to cram 5 days of work into 2-1/2, but wanted to say Hi everybody!

Sounds like you had fun

Tomorrow's a little crazy. I'm at school in Buzz's class to help with crafts for an hour (and I can't remember if it's at 9 or 10, and the teacher was out sick today...) and then Woody's class is doing a turkey dinner for lunch (because once in the week isn't enough? I don't get it.) So, I have to come home from school to warm up the stuff I'm taking back at noon. Then, I scheduled myself to help with fundraiser distribution from 4-5, forgetting entirely about the kids' tennis. So, they'll have to go Wed. after school - we have a whole day on Wed. Most of our neighboring towns are off.

Phew, I see it's all going to plan though, enjoy!

Friday I will be out of here by 4:00am to get to Target, from there I will hit Toys R Us and then the King of Prussia Mall. After the mall will be Wal Mart and then Kohls. The goal is to have ALL shopping done by the time I get home

Hope you get all you want!

Can I pop back in? I only read this page, but Rosie's post has me wondering HOW MUCH went on while I was away? She's got a BF???

Welcome back Mel, good luck at the Dr!

UGH V! I hear ya on that one! My ex-MIL calls Lindsey...LYNN. I've corrected her a million and one times but nope she still calls her that.

Why, why, why!!!!! Good luck with your date, hope you get contacts or new glasses before it

Still coughing---ended up in the living room--seemed a little better when I wasn't lying flat...and when I took more cough syrup. My chest hurts now.

and girls have gone back to school and no we don't have time off here

Hey all, just scanned Jimmy's soccer pictures in so I wanted to share. He is smiling BUt the way they had the photographer set up the sun was in his eyes Still, I think it came out cute!

Awwww cute and the project looks fantastic!

The girls went back to school today, Jess seemed much better but Ellie was still coughing etc but wanted to go so...... I finally managed to play golf, it's been a whole week It was only a fun friendly but I played pretty well so that's good! It was very windy though so I have nice rosy cheeks

 

[jcc0621]

Hope you get all you want!

Awwww cute and the project looks fantastic!

Thanks!

I finally managed to play golf, it's been a whole week It was only a fun friendly but I played pretty well so that's good! It was very windy though so I have nice rosy cheeks

Good show!

 

[puggymom]

Working from home today.

Everyone ready for Turkey day?

No shopping needed here, Brown Derby here I come. HMMMM, love that restaurant!

Murph and I are both excited. I can't wait to see it snow in WDW, that's my kind of snow, you know the non-shoveling kind

I'm packed, both shorts and jeans, UGH, guess I'm checking a bag now.

Foot is iffy, that's why I am staying home and elevating and working from the recliner. Just had a nerve flush yesterday so in 2 days should be feeling much btter than today.

I hope you all have a great holiday, talk to you when we return.

 

[TEminnie]

Janet--love the soccer pic!
ANd the shark project looks great! Which reminds me we need to do BA's this weekend...sigh...

Mo---how are the feet feeling? Mom is getting one foot re-operated on this winter after her failed bunion surgery.

I'm still sick---got a doctors appt at 2:15 tomorrow---which at least if I'm still sick, I'll get better meds.

 

[jcc0621]

Everyone ready for Turkey day?

Not even close

No shopping needed here, Brown Derby here I come. HMMMM, love that restaurant!

Enjoy!

Murph and I are both excited. I can't wait to see it snow in WDW, that's my kind of snow, you know the non-shoveling kind

Me too!

Foot is iffy, that's why I am staying home and elevating and working from the recliner. Just had a nerve flush yesterday so in 2 days should be feeling much btter than today.

Hope so. Good thoughts headed your way

I hope you all have a great holiday, talk to you when we return.

Wave to me as you fly over Philly