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I had a streak of posts and then nada...sorry 'bout that! ;)

It has been quite busy for me lately. The mister is working like crazy again. Leaving at 5am and getting home at 11pm. Which means I am on full time Liam duty. It's tiring and makes for long days. He's tired too and misses Liam...he sees him through the monitor each night. :(

I've been holding off on two shows we watch together Lost and The Pacific. Anyone else watching The Pacific? It's on HBO. Like Band of Brothers...but set in, duh...the Pacific.

I understand why kids have lots of toys, it's b/c the old ones get boring for the PARENTS to play with not the kids. He has very little toys at this point in his life. I recently purchased a few and my sister is trying to give some of her kid's toys to me..some of which I gave to them!

Haven't been cooking much either since it's just me. But I did cook last night because I had been eating things like chips and salsa for dinner and 90 second rice. And then one night...ugh..out of wine...so I had ice cream instead! ;)

This weekend we have our niece's 5th birthday party and if the rain stays away a festival on Sunday.

Two weekends ago we had a neighborhood block party. They haven't had one in ten years so it was perfect for us, we got to meet everyone! Our old neighborhood had a lot of turnover and we lived there for over 5 years and didn't meet a soul.

This neighborhood is much different and much more of what I wanted. A few of them chipped in and gave us a $40 gift card to Target! I grew up in a neighborhood where we had keys to each others houses, etc. Most of the group is much older, retired, some have elementary age kids. Needless to say, the olds loved Liam. They created a unofficial HOA of sorts. They'll send out emails here and there. It's just two streets...we're both cul-de-sacs. Anyway, at the block party we were to bring something to share and then our own meat to grill. I bought this pasta salad. I would take this to work potluck all the time. It's easy and delicious. It's also good for luncheons and looks pretty. Here's the recipe!

1 1/2 cups spiral pasta (I get the veggie kind b/c the different colors looks pretty)4 cups cubed cooked ham

1 1/2 cups small broccoli florets (I steam just a little bit so they're still a little crunchy)

1/4 cup red onion (just eyeball it...in my opinion it's more b/c the purple looks pretty)

1 cup cherry tomato halves

1 1/4 cups clear french dressing

Dressing

1/3 cup sugar

1 1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup plus 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil

1/3 cup white vinegar

3 tablespoons of mustard

In small bowl whisk sugar, mustard and salt until well blended. Add oil small amount at a time whisking constantly. Then add vinegar small amount at a time whisking constantly.

Once the pasta is cooked mix everything together and refrigerate. The dressing is very heavy. I usually add a little at a time. When I would take to work I would make the night before. I would add half the dressing and then when it was time for lunch I would add the other half. It would usually settle in the bottom of the bowl so mix it very well. If you have too much dressing...it's almost too much...does that make sense...just add a little and taste.

Okay...done with all the randomness.