I guess he'll keep me

Late last week, I finally decided it was time to go grocery shopping, compiled a list and spent an extra 15 minutes after work FLYING around the grocery store, grabbing what I needed. I even thought to get a marinade for the pork roast I was defrosting for dinner in a couple days. 

I got home and made dinner, but realized I had forgotten the sour cream to go along with the yummy quesadillas I prepared. I called Kevin and left him a message that if he wanted sour cream, he was going to have to stop on the way home from work. 

A while later he walked in carrying a couple bags of things, including the sour cream for dinner. I said, "I told you I got groceries, what did you get?" and he said it was a couple things he didn't think I would have gotten (he bought bologna....so yes, he was right haha).

I turned around and he was holding a bottle of marinade in his hand, the one I had picked out and I asked him if he thought that sounded good. And then it dawned on me, I had already put mine in the fridge... he had gotten the exact same kind (one we have never used, or even looked at before). I said, "So I guess I did good then?"

Great minds think alike!

Last Wedding of the Season....

Kevin's brother Nate got married on Saturday! Everything turned out beautifully, even though the day was gloomy and unseasonably cold. The wedding was quick and dirty - it took about 5 minutes from the introductions to the procession out - and was performed by a friend. Seriously, I couldn't get over it. Nate was SO nervous all morning, and was blubbering like a baby when Jennie walked down the aisle, and hadn't even had time to regain his composure and they were walking out. But we are so happy for them.

Lots of interesting things happened at the wedding, also. Firstly, one of Kevin's cousins just had a baby not that long ago, so she was there (Zaniah, altho I don't know if that is how it is spelled) with her grandparents, Jeff and Tina. Who are apparently still feuding with with Kevin's other aunt, June, which I found out when I let June hold the baby after me and then I got swatted and yelled at by Tina...thanks for the warning Kevin. Also there was Aunt Kay, who was not invited to our wedding because she and Kevin's mother haven't spoken in years and years. Are you noticing a trend here? There are a lot of fights going on, and quite frankly its hard enough for me to keep the names straight because most of them begin with J, so I can't keep the fights straight too. Seriously. This makes me glad we don't see Kevin's extended family very often. 

Onto the good news at the wedding. We got our wedding video!! Kevin's cousin Jennie and I worked together in Buffalo and her husband offered to do some video for us on our wedding day and we've been patiently waiting for them to put it together (especially since they did it for us for nothing) and we finally got to watch it! I am so glad they offered, because I loved it! Its nothing fancy, very home-movie like, but it is so nice to look back and see everyone there and remember all these funny little things. 

Second piece of good news: Kevin's friend *might be* expecting! I say might be because Sara is in denial about the little pink plus that appeared on her test. We are very excited for them, and are now facing intense pressure for her and her husband Derek, and also our friends Justin and Heather, who have these grand visions of all of our kids being the same age and having play dates and so on.... I told them, I'm not the one you need to convince.

Well here's the pictures:

This is from the rehearsal dinner - Nate got the groomsmen glasses with logos of their favorite sports team on them, so that is why there is bubble wrap everywhere. This is Nate's friend Kurt, his (and Kevin's) little brother Randy, and their dad Les

Here's Kevin, playing with the bubble wrap

Its reeeeeally dark, because I was sitting back a bit, but this is Nate (on the right) and their friend Adam, who performed the ceremony

Dan and Megan

Randy, and one of the bride's sisters

Kevin and the other sister of the bride...but I don't remember their names

Best Man, Adam and Matron of Honor, Michelle

Jennie and her dad

The first dance!

Kevin and I, after I changed out of my dress and into my dancing shoes!

Kevin's best friend Justin and his wife Heather

The boys dedicated a song to their parents - it was Randy Travis "Forever and Ever, Amen"...so sweet! 

The end!

Meagan and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Well the last two days have just been packed with no good, very bad news. 

1. Firstly, my sister is sick. Really sick. 103 fever, possible swine flu kind of sick. And she is also in New Jersey, while we are all in Western New York, which makes it tough because you know she is miserable but can't take care of her. Poor Beany. 

2. I did not get the job I just applied and had an interview for. On one hand, it still turned out ok, because the recruiter, who recruits for a lot of HR positions which is where I want to be, really liked me and said she was sorry she wouldn't be giving me a second interview because she thought I was great but that this job wouldn't be a good fit for me. I suppose she knows the job better than I do, but I thought it sounded pretty cool. But on the other hand, I'm still working part time at a grocery store, fighting for hours, working until midnight or later, and completely getting shafted. It's just really not conducive to the kind of life I want right now, you know, one where I can have friends and go out for a drink together after work, and have babies and be able to get day care for them since we don't live by any family who could help us out. Oh well....just keep plugging away. At least she knows my name and liked me, right?

3. My Uncle Mike has been very very sick with esophageal cancer, and it has been very aggressive. It has spread and there is a tumor growing on one of his vertebrae, which has turned the bone to soft tissue. The doctors have given him six months to live. We all just keep praying. He was diagnosed with this cancer in May and since then it has just been a whirlwind of bad news after bad news. I know it is especially hard for them because they are not near family; both my aunt and uncle are from Buffalo but now live in PA about 7 hours away. My mom, and two of my aunts went to visit them this weekend. So if you have some spare thoughts and prayers, please send them over. 

Sorry for the downer post, but I had to get it all out. 

Smashed Potato Soup

So for my triumphant return to blogging, I bring you a RECIPE! This is a simple soup recipe that is super easy to throw together Sunday night and take for lunch the rest of the week. I just made it, had a bowl for myself and ladled the rest into 3 storage containers, currently residing in my fridge so they are ready to go when I am.

Smashed Potato Soup

½ cup coarsely chopped carrot*

½ cup coarsely chopped celery*

1 pkg. (1 lb. 4 oz.) refrigerated mashed potatoes

1 can (14 1/2 ozs.) 99% fat free chicken broth (I used the lower sodium kind)

½ cup fat free milk

1 garlic clove, pressed

¼ tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. ground black pepper

½ cup reduced fat sour cream (I used the whole 8 oz container. I don't use sour cream enough that I want it to be hanging around.)

2 tbsp. snipped fresh parsley (I usually skip this, I am lazy and don't use parsley for anything, so I don't buy it special for this)

 *As mentioned above, I am lazy. I also don't eat celery, unless it is in soup, so I don't go out of my way to buy it for this recipe. Instead, I grab the bag of diced mirepoix, which is already all set for me at the grocery store. It adds in some onion, which personally I like, and takes away some of the carrots and celery, which I could live without. Sometimes I even take it for a spin in my chopper, but be warned: this will give your soup an orange-y tint from the carrot juices.

The original instructions for this recipe ask you to coarsely chop the carrots and celery, place the mashed potatoes in a medium saucepan, gradually add in milk and broth, whisk until smooth and then add in the carrot, celery, garlic, salt and pepper. And while I think these are fine instructions, I am being lazy and using the already chopped up (and onion added) mirepoix, and so I saute this first, just to soften up the veggies and get a little additional flavor. This is supposed to be a healthy recipe, so use fats sparingly. Once the veggies look good, I stir in the garlic and let it sit another minute. THEN I add the potatoes and liquids, salt and black pepper. I think it adds a little flavor that way. But it is up to you. 

Once you have all the aforementioned ingredients combined, bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. 

Remove the pot from the heat, then stir in the sour cream and parsley. Voila!

This soup reheats wonderfully, and of course you can add a little flavor (and calories) with some shredded cheese or bacon crumbles on top, or even sliced green onions. But it is delicious as it. 

Another suggestion might be to make a baked potato, then cube that and add it in to the soup, if you would like it a little chunkier. Don't boil the potatoes, though. I made that mistake only once. Ye-uck!

Enjoy it!!