An Iowa Mom

Hungry Anyone?

Recently Green3 tagged me for a restaurant meme. Here are the rules:

1. Link to name of person that tagged you.
2. Include state and country you live in.
3. List top 5 favorite local restaurants
4. Tag 5 other people and let them know they've been tagged.

Okie Dokie ... I am a rule abiding citizen in Bloggityville, so here goes.

I was tagged by Green3.

I live in Iowa, which is in the USA.

The town I live in doesn't have 5 restaurants, so Cedar Rapids will be my "local" since it's pretty close.

Granite City - For lunch, their BBQ Pork Sandwich is to die for.  Love the fact they have waffle fries instead of the norm.

Buffalo Wild Wings - For reasons I just don't understand, our area doesn't have a Hooters.  Wings!  Need I say more?

Cabo - A little beach volleyball with some good food.  It's all good!  Not convenient for kids though.

Irish Democrat - A pub like atmosphere with good food.

The Starlite Room - The best burger in town, not to mention the first place we'd ever eaten in Cedar Rapids.  Our Realtor took us here while we were looking for houses.  A local favorite and usually a wait.

I'll tag Jody, Crissy, Erin, Jill, Heidi Jo

The Beginning of Withdrawls

This afternoon we leave for Des Moines, Ankeny actually, for the State Baseball Tournament.  Being the last tournament of the year, I can't help but be a little sad.  My heart hurts a bit thinking that it will all be over in just 3 short days. 

After watching all of these kids game after game, I've grown to truly enjoy watching each and every one of them play ball.  I feel their ups and downs, and it honestly brings joy to me to watch them do so well. 

I'm not normally a negative person, but I am real and honest with myself.  Jake will probably not play on this team next year with these kids.  He'll play, I don't doubt that at all ... just not on this team.  It wouldn't surprise me if Jake tries out for this team in the fall, because he WANTS to play on it with all of his friends, but it would surprise me if he makes it.  Therefore, I'll have to say goodbye to the team I've come to love so much.  After this weekend, it will all be over.  Silly how it can make an adult so sad.  But it does.

Many of my Des Moines readers suggested we get together since I'll be in the area.  As I would LOVE nothing more than to meet you all in real life, I won't be able to this trip.  We start games on Friday afternoon and play a full schedule on Saturday.  Our game times on Sunday will depend on how we do Friday and Saturday, but I'm hoping we go all the way.  Of course.  Which would mean we'd play all day.

It would be fun to plan a gathering sometime though, that sounds like nothing but a ton of fun.  I'll have to start thinking of organizing something like that.

Although I know many of you don't care ... but you are so good at pretending ... I will keep you updated this weekend as to how our Cedar Rapids Hawks are doing in the tournament.  This is the "biggie" so I'm hoping we're "ON". 

Have a great weekend!  Go Hawks!

Are You A Sucker For Creativity?

Me too!

Go visit Jody over at Iowa Geek.  She is always so creative.  Whether it be food, posts, scrapbooking, or sharing tips and tricks ... she is always putting a new spin on things.

A contest is what's up her sleeve this time, and she's going to give away one of her creations each month to a lucky participant.  This month, she is giving away this:

It's the Girl Baby Name Book.  This is a 4-page book perfect for the new mom you know. Pages are fully embellished and ready for photos and memories of baby's first days.

For more information on this contest ... or if you just want to visit a great blog, go visit Iowa Geek.

Wordless Wednesday: Daddy's Girls

Who Needs a Housekeeper?

Not me!  Well, I could surely use one to make my life easier, but that's not going to happen at this point in our lives.  Raising four children isn't exactly cheap, and while I'd like to hire someone to come in and clean bathrooms and mop floors, I realize that money would be better spent on something else ... like toilet paper.  Or cereal.  Or beer.  You know, the important things in life.

In the summer months, our dog (a Siberian Husky) sheds A LOT!!!  It's a natural thing, and while I HATE it ... it's a fact of life around here and must be dealt with accordingly.  I don't have the heart to send our pain in the ass sweet Jessie dog off while she discards 1,583 pounds of fur from May through August, so we suck it up (literally) and deal with with it.  The vacuum cleaner is run AT LEAST once a day at our house during the summer months, and it's not uncommon to run it 3 or 4 times.  I can't stand dog hair and I don't want to see clumps of it laying around my living room floor.

That's where Drew comes in!!  We added a new "duty" to his chore list.  And he LOVES it.  He is the vacuumer in our home now and is quite proud.  It keeps him busy.  It helps me out a ton.  And I no longer have to envy all my friends who have housekeepers come in and do their dirty work ... I have Drew!!

Next duty to be added ... scrubbing toilets.  Do you think he'll enjoy that one too?  I'm thinking not ... but Drew can always be bribed with food, so I'm pretty sure I can make it happen.  That's called using the resources that you have to get things done.  I'm learning!

Where are you set?

Every summer, it's an issue.  Every summer, it's a disagreement.  Every summer, it's a struggle.  How can a simple number cause so much havoc in one household?

Just out of curiosity, where is your thermostat set during the summer months?

Family of 8

It won't be long until my family of six, turns into a family of eight.  No!  I'm not pregnant with twins.  No!  We're not adopting.

My mom and step-father will be arriving soon from Montana for a couple of weeks, and I'll be preparing a dinner for eight every evening.  I hate to spend all my time in the kitchen fixing meals, while I rather be visiting and having fun with them since we don't see them as often as we'd like.

So my friends, I'm turning to you again for some ideas.  I need some recipes for quick, easy, and preferably meals that don't require the oven being on for a long period of time.  Crock pot and grill ideas are great!!! 

Help!  I can't wait to see what you all come up with.