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

[KatGarcia]

Another exciting day in cold Central Florida. I need to clean, do laundry, get my nails done, watch the Olympics, read.

At least you don't have to stare at snow and think of the next stupid snowstorm! How did the pool turn out?

Today is the start of my kids winter break, so I'll be pulling my hair out and lightly screaming all week. It's so hard to work with them here, but I'll do it, just not in my timeframe. Oh well. Have a Marvelous Monday all!

Happy winter break, good luck!

Jess and I played golf this morning and to start with it was gorgeous, I only needed my thermals, roll-neck and sweater Dave and Ells then met us for lunch where we got ripped off for some chicken dippers and fries, lets just say we won't order them again I'm off out tonight with my BFF so that should be fun

At least I'm not the only one frozen! LOL. Have a fun girls night!

winter break so late? I cant imagine it feels like its already spring here!

I hate you for your good weather! LOL. Hope you feel better!

It's snowing (nothing new here!) and I have to pick Lindsey up in a few minutes since they are getting out early because of it. We are supposed to get another 4-6" and then snow flurries pretty much all week.

AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

It feels good to get that out. I'm just sick of snow!

AMEN Sista!

It is so nice to have today off from school! I slept in until 10:30 and it felt great!

The next two weeks are going to be hellish. It is mid-term which means I have two papers due this week and then next week I have a test in each class, one each today. Fun times! I'm not really worried though, I know my stuff.

After that we have a week of winter break. My friend is taking a last minute trip to Disney that week so I am "planning" for her. She and her family are newbies and so she said she has 100% faith in me that I will come up with a great plan for them. Really all I am doing is telling them which parks to go to on each day so as to avoid the crowds as best as possible. I will of course make some recommendations on how they should tour each park but I'm not going to give them a regimented schedule as my family has never followed one and we always do fine. I just want them to have a magical trip!

It's fun planning for some else tho, isn't it?! Hope your weeks go by and you have a nice relaxing vacation!

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KC is working (at the office) so I am here finishing up all the last of the the preps for the last of our laundrypalooza. 3 bags for KC's closet alone and then prob the same for me, plus pillows, blankets and some other random stuff about the house. But when tonights laundry is done we dont have any more until after the exterminate!!! I am tired of living in a shamble! I cant wait until friday to get my house back!!!!

Then Fri night our friend is coming to stay over for a night (shes from North Carolina) so she can take a test in the city to get a film internship.

Then 2 weeks from now we have to have them come back and bomb and it SHOULD be all over. I can't wait to sleep in a clean made bed in a clean bug free house!

How was everyone's Valentine's Day???

We had a great day, I am about to blog about it so I'll link it when i'm done. We didn't do gifts or anything, just stayed home together and cooked.

I am trying to plan a coffee date with a girlfriend for tomorrow and may meet up with Pants in the evening before KC gets off work, either way I don't want to look at this house tomorrow at all.

Anyways procrastinating...gotta run.

 

[cmp1111]

Not much went on here today. I can feel a cold coming on...stuffy nose, sore throat, stuffy ears. I hope that's all this is and turns into nothing else. We were supposed to go out to dinner with my dad but he's really not feeling good so we'll wait until later this week to go. Hey, no crowds!

Hope you feel better, and sorry about the snow.

CE - what happened to your foot, glad it's ok. I still can't believe we have more snow that you do and it's half way through Feb!

Oh, I just tripped down a couple of stairs in my house and caught the edge of my foot on the edge of the stair, so I had some swelling and pain. Nothing major!

I know - we are supposed to get some tomorrow, but we've had only the one snow day so far, and Feb. is half done!

I hope your day went well. I figured the foot might bother you when you played tennis. I'm glad it is doing OK.

Thanks, but it was fine. Plus, it was just a friendly game - not really a ton of running.

You may not see much of me for the next week. Be good and have a great week!

Hope your week goes well, my dear.

Hi everyone else!!

Hi, Z!

Another exciting day in cold Central Florida. I need to clean, do laundry, get my nails done, watch the Olympics, read.

I like all the plans but the cleaning. Hope you're having a nice day.

Today is the start of my kids winter break, so I'll be pulling my hair out and lightly screaming all week. It's so hard to work with them here, but I'll do it, just not in my timeframe. Oh well. Have a Marvelous Monday all!

We're off next week, but we're renting a house and going skiing, so hopefully there won't be any murdering. Good luck.

I'm off out tonight with my BFF so that should be fun

That sounds like fun, but I didn't know we had plans. Seriously, have fun.

winter break so late? I cant imagine it feels like its already spring here!

Here in New England the schools do the holiday break, but then a week off for "winter break" in February and another week off for "spring break" in April. I find it ridiculous, but I've vowed to quit complaining, so...

Lately schol stinks. I'm taking a very heavy courseload. Waterfowl, animal behavior, systems and physiology, physics, and organic chemistry.

Sorry it stinks.

It feels good to get that out. I'm just sick of snow!

I'm sorry. I know how you feel in a "normal" year - we've just been so lucky this year.

I'm not really worried though, I know my stuff.

I'm sure you do!

Anyways procrastinating...gotta run.

Good luck.

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D & I stayed up too late watching Olympics and chatting, so I convinced him to get the kids out to school, then we both went back to sleep for a while. I got up and showered and went to school to talk about the PATT Fundraising Chair thing - which actually is nowhere near as scary as I thought. But, that means I still do have to figure out which one I want to put my name on the ballot for.

Then I had my team tennis drills, and now I've come home and had some soup and basically just vegging now. Kids are home within an hour, so... Seems like the day went quickly, but I'm sure that has to do with sleeping more this morning.

Not much else going on here. We are supposed to get in the 4-8 inch range of snow tomorrow, but I don't know when it's supposed to start, so I don't know what will happen with school. As I said, we have only had one snow day so far, so I guess another wouldn't kill me. Last year by this time we were at 6-7.

Hope those of you with the day off are enjoying it - and that those who are doing normal stuff are having a good start to the week!

 

[KatGarcia]

Since I had to type this out for the recipe site I thought you guys might wanna see it too.


PB & J Chocolate Bars

For the base:

1 stick unsalted butter
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 large egg, beaten
1 sleeve of saltines, finely crushed

For the filling and glaze:
1/4 cup grape jelly (I used slightly more than this to cover it properly)
7 tablespoons, plus 1 teaspoon unsalted butter, softened
1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped

1.
Make the base: Line an 8 inch square baking pan with foil, extending it over the sides.
Put the butter in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, making sure the water and the bowl don't touch. Once the butter melts stir in the cocoa and sugar. Whisk in the egg, cook, keep whisking, until it turns the consistency of hot fudge, approx 4-6 minutes.
Remove from heat, Mix in the saltines.
Press this crust into the pan.
Place pan in freezer for a few minutes (until next layer is ready)
2.
Make the filling:spread the jelly over the cooled crust in pan. Place back in freezer until next layer is done.
Beat 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon of butter, peanut butter and confectioners sugar with a mixer, until light.
Spread over the jelly layer.
Return pan to freezer while last layer is being made.
3.
Make the glaze: Place the chocolate and remaining 2 tablespoons of butter into the heatproof bowl, over the simmering water.
Heat until chocolate is is melted.
Remove from heat, stir until smooth.
When it's cool but still runny, spread the glaze over the chilled peanut butter layer. Smooth it out. Freeze for about 30 minutes, or until set.
Remove them from the pan by lifting the foil from the pan. Cut into squares and enjoy.

 

[Flora]

It's half term here, the girls have a week off!

Bet your girls mind better. LOL Actually not so bad here right now.

winter break so late? I cant imagine it feels like its already spring here!

It's not late. It's winter. We had Christmas break in Dec, then winter break now in Feb, and then another spring break in April.

Good Luck! Mine were off all last week due to snow but went back today. I was so freaking happy!

It's worse when you're not planning on it.

50's low 40's

That is chilly!

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KC is working (at the office) so I am here finishing up all the last of the the preps for the last of our laundrypalooza..

Somehow, you always remind me that I need to put a load in!

We're off next week, but we're renting a house and going skiing, so hopefully there won't be any murdering. Good luck.

Fun! We were going to go to Howe Caverns this Friday (near Albany), but we're postponing it for their April break. There's a neat kid play place called Fun Junction here, and we'll be doing that instead. Rob & I have a date night this Thursday. Can't wait!

 

[englishrose47]

Not gonna quote but.....

Hi Z

Lessa how fun to plan a Disney trip!!!

Kat We have been lucky with snow but not so with the temperature !!!

Is anyone else goig in September !!! I wanna sing "SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER"

 

[jcc0621]

Hey all! Crazy couple of days. We went to see LAvin and the Chipmunks yesterday. Hilarous! The Chipettes singing Beyonce cracked me up We went to Friendly's for dinner afterwards. Isn't that romantic Valentines

Today Jimmy had his OT appointment at 10:45 and the a therapy appointment at 2:00. In between we ran to PetSmart to get dog food and pet safe Ice Melt for Tink.

Now Jim is at his parents house helping his dad dig out his work car. It was dug out, then the plows came along and blocked him back in

I have Ribs in Par-Boiling before i put them in the oven. I also have some laundry going. Back to work and school tomorrow. We are supposed to get 3 -6 inches of snow, BUT THEY ARE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL TOMORROW. I'm hoping if I say it loud enough they won't get another snow day

I did read, but did not quote. PLease for give me

 

[LurrrvtheDuck]

Kat: My mom had given me chocolates with a little balloon thingy. She had to work and was too tired to go out for dinner. I went out shopping, did some scrapbooking, reading, cleaning, watched the Olympics and that's it. Very exciting day.

Hi Rosie!!! How exciting that you're going in Nov.

DM that's a lot of breaks from school . Why couldn't they have had that when I was little.

Hi CE!!

Hey Janet!

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I miss playing on here while at work. It's so much easier to keep up with everyone.

Nothing new, just working with the crazy people here at the hospital today. Since it's a holiday it's not too bad though, tomorrow is going to be worse.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Well I managed to land my friend 8:10am ressies for Crystal Palace and Donald's Safari Breakfast! I didn't think there would be anything this close to their trip.

 

[CelticBelle]

Here in New England the schools do the holiday break, but then a week off for "winter break" in February and another week off for "spring break" in April. I find it ridiculous, but I've vowed to quit complaining, so...

that is pretty cool that you get multiple breaks though. i bet it makes more sense for you guys with snow.

 

[Flora]

Hey all! Crazy couple of days. We went to see LAvin and the Chipmunks yesterday. Hilarous! The Chipettes singing Beyonce cracked me up

My 3-year-old niece got the Chipmunks soundtrack for her birthday and we must have heard that song 10x!

DM that's a lot of breaks from school . Why couldn't they have had that when I was little.

It's still 180 days of school. They start after Labor Day and end near the end of June. I guess it's the way they break things up. In Buffalo, they had a 2-week break in March, I think. I think that would be hard on parents but easy in some other ways, like for vacations.

 

[cmp1111]

We are supposed to get 3 -6 inches of snow, BUT THEY ARE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL TOMORROW. I'm hoping if I say it loud enough they won't get another snow day

I did read, but did not quote. PLease for give me

Hope it works out for you! And of course - I've done that a lot the last few days. Don't know why.

Hi CE!!

Nothing new, just working with the crazy people here at the hospital today. Since it's a holiday it's not too bad though, tomorrow is going to be worse.

Hi, Z! Hope tomorrow goes OK.

Well I managed to land my friend 8:10am ressies for Crystal Palace and Donald's Safari Breakfast! I didn't think there would be anything this close to their trip.

Good job!

that is pretty cool that you get multiple breaks though. i bet it makes more sense for you guys with snow.

Well, I just am used to the midwest deal, and to me it stinks to not get out until (with snow days, the last two years) until after Father's Day. I think this year they were really trying to avoid the Father's Day thing - we didn't get Columbus Day or today off. Luckily, as I said, we're only still at one snow day this year, but last year we had 8 and got out something like 6/24. I just don't feel like we get summer when we get out the last week of June and generally (I know DM's different) we actually do go back in the last week of August. This year we started Sept. 2nd, but that was because Labor Day was so late. But, unless we move, nothing's changing, so I'm trying not to complain about it so much.

It's still 180 days of school. They start after Labor Day and end near the end of June. I guess it's the way they break things up. In Buffalo, they had a 2-week break in March, I think. I think that would be hard on parents but easy in some other ways, like for vacations.

We only got the one week in March in Illinois, and in my small town, usually we didn't get even a week - just a few days around Easter weekend. D did get a week, in the Chicago area. They're still done a lot earlier, because they also start around 8/22. But yeah, it all has to turn out to 180 days in the end - it's just what you're used to, I guess!

 

[jcc0621]

My 3-year-old niece got the Chipmunks soundtrack for her birthday and we must have heard that song 10x!

Hope it works out for you! And of course - I've done that a lot the last few days. Don't know why.

Me too

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Jimmy is bathed and watching TV. He wants to watch a Penwuins of Madagasgar SPecial that is coming on at 8:00 so that was our deal. Bath and ready for bed then he could come back down and watch. This way he is still going to bed at the same time

I booked our trip for Williamsburg. Can't wait. We are going August 16th - 19th. We would have stayed longer but they consider the weekend Thursday, Friday and Saturday and the price jumped to stay Thursday night. We are close enough that we can do something in the morning and leave in the afternoon and still be home at a decent time that evening.

 

[Disneyland_Mama]

Hey peeps!

It's been a busy weekend, stressful AND busy.

Took the kids to the Natural History Museum on Sunday. Talk about romantic...

The weather has been beautiful! Low 80's yesterday and today, I'm loving it! I'm just finally getting to defrost!

@ DM... It is winter, isn't it?

 

[jcc0621]

Took the kids to the Natural History Museum on Sunday. Talk about romantic...

More romantic than Alvin and the Chipmunks

Where is the Natural History Museum. We went to the LeBrea Tar Pits when we were there, which was nothing like we expected it to be.

 

[cmp1111]

Jimmy is bathed and watching TV. He wants to watch a Penwuins of Madagasgar SPecial that is coming on at 8:00 so that was our deal. Bath and ready for bed then he could come back down and watch. This way he is still going to bed at the same time

We're recording it.

I booked our trip for Williamsburg. Can't wait. We are going August 16th - 19th.

Congrats!

It's been a busy weekend, stressful AND busy.

Took the kids to the Natural History Museum on Sunday. Talk about romantic...

I hope the week is calmer than the weekend, then. And hey, you were together, right?

****************************************************
Poppyseed chicken for dinner, and D is reading to the boys. Everyone I've talked to lately has been guessing about the weather for tomorrow. It looks like it's not supposed to get heavy until after noon - so definitely not a delay, but they don't much like to do early dismissal - though we did it once last year. So, it's likely either preemptive cancellation or they'll have an early dismissal.

 

[jcc0621]

How much snow are you expecting CE?

 

[cmp1111]

How much snow are you expecting CE?

Depending on which map you look at, we're in the 4-8 or 5-10 range. For us, 4-5 isn't a lot - that might not even do anything to school if it's at the right time - for example, if it mostly falls from 10-2, so that it can be cleared. But you get in over 6 and the buses have a hard time on our curvy, hilly roads.

I can't complain - this is the first significant fall in about a month, and of course it's been a ridiculously easy winter for us so far. Especially compared to you guys, DC, VA, etc.

 

[jcc0621]

Depending on which map you look at, we're in the 4-8 or 5-10 range. For us, 4-5 isn't a lot - that might not even do anything to school if it's at the right time - for example, if it mostly falls from 10-2, so that it can be cleared. But you get in over 6 and the buses have a hard time on our curvy, hilly roads.

I can't complain - this is the first significant fall in about a month, and of course it's been a ridiculously easy winter for us so far. Especially compared to you guys, DC, VA, etc.

That's what we are supposed to get, well depending on who you listen too. Some are saying 2-4 ohers ar saying 3 -6, and others are saying 4- 8. None of these would be horrible normally but on top of the 40 something inches we have already it's a killer!

 

[Disneyland_Mama]

Where is the Natural History Museum. We went to the LeBrea Tar Pits when we were there, which was nothing like we expected it to be.

It's in Exposition Park right next to the Colluseum. They're really updating everything there. The Nat. Hist. Museum is there along with the CA Science Center, the CA Space Center, African Amerian History Museum, etc. It's really a great day trip, KWIM?

I hope the week is calmer than the weekend, then. And hey, you were together, right?

Pshew! I wish! Cookie delivery is this week, so I'm in for another doosie. Good thing I've got plenty of wine to go with my whine.

Poppyseed chicken for dinner, and D is reading to the boys.

Hmmm... I don't think I have that recipe. Care to share? We love your Chicken and Noodles and Italian beef.

I can't complain - this is the first significant fall in about a month, and of course it's been a ridiculously easy winter for us so far. Especially compared to you guys, DC, VA, etc.

Or Florida!

Dinner's just about ready and then I've got work with Mads and her book report on Cheetah's. Did you know Cheetah's can't roar?

If I'm not back, G'night!

 

[jcc0621]

It's in Exposition Park right next to the Colluseum. They're really updating everything there. The Nat. Hist. Museum is there along with the CA Science Center, the CA Space Center, African Amerian History Museum, etc. It's really a great day trip, KWIM?

It sounds like it

If I'm not back, G'night!

You too!

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I am sitting here waiting for brownies to cool so I can cut them and pack them for Jimmy's class tomorrow. Their Valenite's party was supposed to be Friday, so I don't know if the teacher is planning on having it tomorrow or not so i am sending them in just in case. If she doesn't she can send them home with the kids at the end of the day. I am putting each one in an individual bag, so it will be east for transport for the kids.