I woke up while it was still dark and the kids were still snoozing. I began to go over my plan. Go downstairs and have a nice, quiet breakfast. After the kids are up and fed, I'd clean the kitchen and then clean the bathrooms upstairs. We would all jump in the shower, get dressed and head into town. The girls need their bangs cut and it's a nice day to swing by the library and the park before heading home for lunch. Maybe make a batch of muffins to freeze for next week? Lay Ella down for a nap and work with Ava on her reading homework and numbers...
I got as far as going down the stairs. Seriously. And even that BARELY happened. I must have turned wrong or stepped wrong, but suddenly a jolt went thru my neck and back and into my head. I must have pinched a nerve/pulled a muscle or something. No biggie! I'd just do what I normally do. Work it out. But this was different. I couldn't even hardly move. Breathing hurt. Talking hurt. It was awful! John was at work and the kids were coming down the stairs. I was panicked. I had no idea how I was going to get into the kitchen and get my kids breakfast going, let alone do ANYTHING I had in my plan for the day. So I did what any girl in my situation would do... I called my mommy. Now, I wasn't so sure that my mom would be up for a break-up of her own plans to come and help me out with my kids, but THANK GOD, my squeaking, high pitched voice of panic and pain, mixed with tears melted my mom and brought her straight to me! She got me ibuprofen, made me a heating pad out of a sock and rice, made my kids breakfast and played with them until I was finally able to get off the couch and move a bit. We chatted while the kids worked on their little Frankenstein's... my very favorite (easy!) go to kids craft at Halloween time. They turn out the cutest!
Don't you just love the cute little faces they drew?
While the girls worked on their craft, mom and I grabbed the chicken I had shredded the day before and started prepping for dinnertime. She grabbed all the ingredients off the shelves while I read the recipe off to her for the most delicious chicken enchiladas I've ever tasted. For real. Here's what you need:
*3-4 cooked and shredded chicken breasts
*can of cream of chicken soup
*one cup of sour cream
*an 8oz bag of shredded cheddar cheese (I use sharp for an extra kick!)
*1 small can of corn
*1/2 can green chili's
*1.5 cups of your very favorite salsa
*2 cans of your fav enchilada sauce (OR make your own using the recipe below!)
*12 soft tortilla shells
Mix together chicken, soup, sour cream, half a bag of cheese, corn, chili's, and the salsa. (You can prep this ahead of time and store in the fridge for up to 3 days if you'd like.) Top each soft shell with a heaping spoonful of filling and roll up. Lay them in the pan seam side down. Top with at least one can of enchilada sauce (two if you like a lot of sauce) and the remaining cheese. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes. I serve mine with lettuce, sour cream, guac or avocado slices, more salsa and sometimes I toss on some black olives. YUUUUUUUUMMMM.
***If you only need half of the filling, save the other half! Spoon it into a freezer bag and store in the freezer for a quick meal later on in the month! This filling freezes really well.
If your feeling up to making your own enchilada sauce (and you may as well because this recipe couldn't be easier) here are the deets:
*2 tbls canola oil
*2 tbls flour
*4 tbls chili powder
*1/2 tsp garlic powder
*1/2 tsp salt
*1/4 tsp cumin
*1/4 tsp oregano
2 cups of chicken of vegetable stock
Heat oil over medium-high heat. Add flour and mix it in there for about one minute. Then stir in your other seasonings. (chili powder through oregano) Gradually add your stock, whisking constantly to avoid lumps. Reduce heat and simmer about 10-15 minutes until your sauce thickens up. Store in an air tight container for up to two weeks.
My mom and I had such a nice time catching up, face-to-face rather than our usual over the phone conversations. She helped me out SO much, and she didn't have to. She laid her plans aside to help me get through my day. My kids loved this extra special, unexpected time with Grandma, and it served me as a good reminder that just because a plan doesn't work out EXACTLY how I had it all in my head, doesn't mean that it's all going to be horrible day. Despite the pain (and let's face it, how ticked off I was that my kids were gonna go yet another day with long bangs...) we had a pretty good day and made some memories I'll treasure.
