I saw the sign... I opened up my eyes and saw the sign!

So lots has been going on lately. We have moved, almost completely done. Still some small stuff and cleaning to do at the old place. Trying to get most of it finished before I leave on Tuesday to go to California for four days for work. I also moved into a new position at work, which meant my salary increased which is totally awesome, especially with the way the economy is. But for the important stuff... Kayte asked if I wanted to go yard sale-ing with her since Chad and the kids are out of town and she wanted to find some 'yard art' for her gardens. And oh, did we find some art. We went to this crazy place just north of Bend, its a cross between a yard sale, antique store and a dump. I wish I had gotten a picture of it. Anyhow, I found THE COOLEST 'yard art' anyone has ever had. And it was only $5! Chad, you can thank me later when you get home and experience Frieda first hand. After the crazy place we went to the candy store (amazing) then cruised through the Saturday market along with the hippie market across the street (complete with bongos, hula hoop lessons and some lady waving around an incense stick) and grabbed lunch at the Pita Pit. Then we went to a couple awesome stores near downtown, Kayte scored some cool wire gates for her garden and a half door that will look awesome when she's done with it. I got a really cool hummingbird feeder and these champagne glasses that have no bottom and are kept in a vase, I'll have to get a picture of them, they are pretty awesome. Enough suspense, though. Here I give you 'Frieda', the coolest yard art in the world:

We're Moving!

But before you get too excited, we're not moving out of town. We have been wanting to move for awhile and we found a place the other day that's probably less than a mile from where we're living now. It is smaller and older than the place that we're living in now, but it has a big yard and it's a house, so no more sharing a wall with the neighbors who stomp up and down the stairs at all hours of the night. Now we will be able to take the puppies outside without being swarmed by tons of little kids. AND, it's within walking distance to the Old Mill so we can walk to movies or concerts and not have to worry about parking. The place that we're in right now is really nice, but its in a neighborhood that is all duplexes really close together. And since we live in a culdesac it feels like we live in a fishbowl, when you walk outside it's like EVERYONE can see you. So we are looking forward to having a house with neighbors that aren't as close (and hopefully not as annoying) and having a little more privacy. Whoever said a good fence makes a good neighbor was onto something. And the rent is cheaper so that is always a bonus. The carpets are getting cleaned on Friday and then we'll start moving in this weekend or early next week. Oh and the back yard is big enough that I can turn a section of it into a garden, so that will be awesome too! So, who wants to help us move?

Happy Mothers Day!

I have been making comments to Michael for the past week about today being Mothers Day, and he said I wasn't getting anything because I'm not a mom. I told him I am too, we have the puppies. He said I didn't give birth to them so that means I'm not a mom; I asked him if that means that people who adopt aren't moms. Well, it worked because this is what I found when I got up this morning. :)

My flower pots.

We don't have much garden space here, so I have been wanting some pots for the front door. I found some really awesome ones at Costco, along with some cool flowers, so here they are. I also got some really cool solar lights to line the driveway and they were up for about two weeks before the jerk face neighbor kids broke one. Why were they in our yard? Jerks. They are the most annoying kids, ever.

Sunday's Special...

So one of my goals this year is to try new recipes/foods. Since it's too crazy during the week I've decided to make Sunday my 'try out a recipe' day. Today I decided to try another crock pot recipe, so here it is:

Chicken Tortilla Casserole

-4 chicken breasts (I used the frozen ones from Costco) cut up into 1" pieces, cooked. (Reserve 1/4 C of the broth chicken was cooked in)
-10 6" flour tortillas (I used whole wheat), cut into strips about 1/2" wide x 2" long
-2 medium sized onions, chopped (I didn't have regular onions so I just used two bunches of green onions, I think 2 whole onions would be a little much)
-1 tsp. olive oil
-10 3/4 oz can fat-free chicken broth
-10 3/4 oz can fat-free cream of mushroom soup
-2 4oz cans chopped mild green chilies
-1 egg
-1 c. low-fat shredded cheese

1. Spray your crock pot with non-stick spray then put the reserved chicken broth in.
2. Scatter half the tortilla strips in the bottom of the cooker.
3. Mix everything else together, except the second half of the tortillas and the cheese.
4. Layer half the chicken mix, top with second half of tortillas then put the second half of the chicken mix in.
5. Cover. Cook on low 4-6 hours or on high 3-5 hours.
6. Add cheese to the top of the dish during the last 20-30 minutes.
7. Uncover and allow casserole to rest 15 minutes (it's worked really hard)

So, typing the recipe here has made me realize I did it way different, but not on purpose. I got half way through cooking this and realized that its almost like a 'chicken enchilada' recipe that Kayte and I like. Not only did I not put the egg in (I realized I forgot it after everything was in the crock pot) but instead of the 10 3/4oz can of chicken broth, I put in a 10 3/4 oz can of cream of chicken soup. I thought it turned out alright though, even Michael liked it enough to go back for seconds. It was a bit runny, but that's probably because I forgot the egg. Although I think the can of chicken broth would make it super runny. I think I like my version better. Tasted almost just like the recipe Kayte and I use, but this was a lot easier and less time consuming.