So I guess I should just call it 'Chocolate Cake'.  I've been making this cake for years and it is simply delicious.  When I made it this past week, I thought the dough seemed a little thick but I went with it anyway.   Once I had put the cake in the oven I realized why it was so thick - I totally forgot to put the Kahlua in!  Aughh...oh well, too late now.  (That's what happens when I talk on the phone and bake at the same time!)

The Kahlua didn't really make THAT much of a difference.  The cake was still WONDERFUL without the Kahlua.  It was just as moist and will give any chocoholic their fix.   Plus for those of you that would rather not cook with alcohol or don't have Kahlua on hand you now know you can still make this yumm-o cake!

Now be warned, this cake is not made from "SCRATCH" as Boy 2 likes to point out - although it does not stop him from eating more than his fair share!

1 box devil's food  cake mix, with pudding in the mix
1 small box instant  fudge chocolate pudding
2 cups sour cream
1 package milk  chocolate chips
4 eggs
¾ cup vegetable oil

**Feel free to add 1/3 cup  Kahlua**

Preheat oven to 350  degrees F.
Coat a Bundt cake pan with cooking spray.
Mix all ingredients  together by hand.
Bake for 45-50  minutes.

This is one of those post that I feel a little silly writing, but you never know who needs a new idea.  Maybe there is someone out there that needs a reminder about Cheesy Ham and Eggs.  Who knows?  Anyhow, they are simple and quick - perfect for that morning when you are rushing out the door.

What you will need: 
6 eggs
1/4 cup milk (your choose your poison, skim, 1%, 2%, whole, cream, whatever...)
Grated cheese, my kids like cheddar
1/2 cup diced ham
Pam spray

Put eggs and milk in a bowl and whisk until eggs are completely scrambled. (I like adding milk to our eggs, this gives them a softer texture.)

Heat skillet over medium heat, spray skillet with Pam and pour eggs into skillet. Sprinkle ham and cheese on top of eggs.  

Cook for about 1 minute, then mix eggs, ham and cheese constantly until eggs are cooked.  This should take about 3-5 minutes and eggs should be light and fluffy. 

Serve with toast & fruit!

I wrote this blog post on Sunday night, I wasn't going to post it, then I was, then I wasn't....here it is.  Maybe just maybe someone needs to hear this.....

It's true. There are days when deployment sucks more than other days. Today I planned to take the kids to Sweet Berry Farm for a little strawberry picking. It didn't happen. I stayed in my PJ's all day long. (Don't worry, I didn't leave the house - I don't think it will EVERY be THAT bad!) Yes, that is unusual for me but sometimes everyone needs a PJ day, plus the kids were more than happy to play outside with their friends and NOT go strawberry picking! 

Today was total pity party day.  Woe is me, my life is hard, blah, blah, blah.....  I know, I always preach “put your big girl panties on”, but mine were in the laundry today.  I do agree it is not OK to have a pity party EVERY DAY, but one day every few months is OK as long as it doesn’t last too long. I think this was my 3rd, maybe 4th  pity party this deployment.  For me this pity party has been building for a while now. I'm tired. I miss my husband!  I've been going 100+ miles an hour since deployment hit 10 months ago. (I'll wait for you to get your violins out…) I've been a single mom, (BUT I'm married) I've been the 'dad', I've been the only one to shuttle kids around from activity to activity, I've been the only grocery shopper, cook, nurse, vet, gardener, housekeeper (OK, I did get someone to come in and help me with that every two weeks), teacher, disciplinarian, DRIVING INSTRUCTOR (which is enough to put anyone over the edge), mechanic, (maybe I'm getting carried away here, but I DO take both cars in for routine maintenance)..... and being the only one to do all of that sucks! I've been worried about Hubby and TF Maverick more than normal these past few weeks - if you are keeping up with what is going on in Afghanistan right now you will understand why. I've been worried more about Boy 2 who has been acting out a little more than normal. He is our worrier and I know he is worrying about Daddy too - it shows in his drawings. Boy 1 is a great teenager, but even great  teenagers know how to push their mom's buttons! Girl was bullied in school this past week and Momma Bear had to go in and talk with her teacher and then to top it off somehow her Texas Brown Tarantula ended up on the wrong side of the cage and was hanging out with the Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula.  Now if you know anything about spiders, this is NOT a good thing. Girl cried for over an hour because her FAVORITE tarantula was eaten by her other tarantula.  (I know, most of you are scratching your heads wondering if you read that correctly - yes, you did and this is a story for another time.) Boy 3, well, he doesn't seem too effected other than the fact that he 'sneaks' into my bed every night and I am awoken by a foot to the face about 3AM EVERY NIGHT.  OH and did I mention that I am TIRED?  So again, woe is me.
 
Pity parties aren't all bad. Sometimes I need to have one to realize just how blessed I am, and let me tell you, I AM BLESSED!  My husband ROCKS. He is very involved when he is here. He helps take the kids to school and to sporting events; he does the lawn work, car maintenance, helps the kids with school work and so much more. He is the backbone to our family. When he is not here I actually have much more help than I let on in the previous paragraph.  Boy 1 mows the lawn and the little guys pick weeds. When I am at my wits end Boy 1 takes charge.  He is an amazing big brother and son - he ALWAYS steps up when he sees the need or when ask to.  I have AMAZING friends that bring dinners to us occasionally and that call me when they are at the commissary to see if they can pick anything up for me. I have found bottles of wine and all kinds of Cavalicious paraphernalia at my front door waiting for me when friends know I have had a rough day and many times 'just because'.  Did I mention that I am blessed?    

So I've had my pity party for today and now it is over. I finished it off with a batch of Brown Buttered Brownies and lots of hugs from a few terrific kids (If that’s not a cure all, I’m not sure what is!) Tomorrow is a new day. I will wake the kids with a song and a smile (No, I'm not joking - they wish I were!), make Texas shaped waffles and bacon and put this day behind me.

Only 6 more trash days (give or take a few)......