Dawn's Daily Life

Our Menu For 1/9/12 Through 1/15/12

2012-01-08T17:08:00.005-06:00

I am struggling with menu planning for two reasons...

1) I am in a rut! This happens from time to time. I feel like I use the same meals over and over (and over), which is okay for awhile, but it hits a point where I get bored.

2) I am trying to lose weight, and that makes planning a menu tricky. I don't want to be unrealistic while menu planning, because I won't stick with the plan. Also, it is easier for me to eat a healthy breakfast and lunch, so I can have a little room to play with at dinner.

Let's face it: menu planning can be quite tedious and difficult from time to time. This was that week for me.

Monday~Cheeseburger Soup with Beer Bread
Tuesday~Spaghetti and Sausage with Garlic Bread
Wednesday~Cinnamon Flapjacks and Bacon
Thursday~Mustgoes
Friday~Pot Roast with Mixed Vegetables (Carrots, Onions, and Cauliflower)
Saturday~Chicken Burgers with Green Beans
Sunday~BBQ Chicken Breast and Edamame

Flu Season

2012-01-05T17:53:00.003-06:00

Flu season is in full swing. Just ask my family. Jeffrey came home feeling ill on New Year's Eve...chills, vomiting, diarrhea. It then progressed to Josh, Meghan, Ali, my mom, and then myself. All in under a week. Whew! We are tuckered out, irritable, and ready to get out of this house!!

The kids were supposed to start back to school today, but I kept them home, since they were still stick yesterday. They are anxious to go back tomorrow. They are fighting with each other like crazy, and in all honesty, they are driving me batty. :-)

I suppose there is no way to fully avoid the flu, but there are steps you can take. I want to advise everyone to do so. Having just gone through a rough week, which sent one child to the emergency room, I want to prevent others from enduring something this icky! (Yes, icky is my technical term for this virus.)

So, here is my advice for everyone...

If you are sick, please stay home!! Try to spare others from suffering like you are.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. If you don't have a tissue handy, use the crook of your arm.
Wash your hands with soap and water...often!! If you aren't near soap and water, use the alcohol based hand sanitizer, but always go for good ol' soap and water first. Wash often...after going to the bathroom, before eating, etc.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, so that you don't spread germs.
Avoid close contact with sick people. I am not telling you not to help out sick people. If they need you to run to the store, do so, but make sure you leave the stuff outside their door. You don't need to actually come into contact with them to show them that you care.

So, good luck out there my friends. Protect yourself and others during this flu season. It's the right thing to do! :-)

Christmas Presents

2012-01-02T11:13:00.003-06:00

Remember that silly post I wrote to Santa? Well, it was used to buy my Christmas presents. :-)

My mother got me the cool family tree that I wanted.

My husband got me some Daisy. He didn't get me the regular Daisy like I normally wear though. Instead, he got me the Daisy Eau So Fresh, which I adore. Smells great!

I made out pretty good! How about you? Do share! :-)

Our Menu For 1/2/12 Through 1/8/12

2012-01-01T22:57:00.004-06:00

Monday~Chicken Cordon Bleu, Wild Rice, and Green Beans
Tuesday~Cheeseburger Soup and Beer Bread
Wednesday~Cinnamon Flapjacks and Bacon
Thursday~Mustgoes
Friday~Spaghetti with Italian Sausage and Garlic Bread
Saturday~Biscuits & Gravy (It's my son's 8th birthday, so he get's to choose what we eat. I love that he chooses something so yummy!!)
Sunday~Grilled Steaks with Veggies

Time To Reflect

2012-01-01T22:54:00.000-06:00

At the end of every year, I like to reflect back and see what I could change. My own personal evaluation of how I have handled life. I try not to beat myself up over what I see. Instead, I note ways I could be better, and I resolve to work on these things.

I realize this means that I essentially set New Year's Resolutions, but I never call them that. "New Year's Resolution" has become kind of joke in our society. It shouldn't be that way, but it really does seem to be. So, I will simply say that I am making some 2011 reflections, which lead me to some 2012 goals. :-)

In 2011 I have worked on becoming a better parent. I still have work to do in this area though. So, in 2012 my goal is to work on disciplining my children more, out of love, of course. Too often I want to head in the other direction of whining, fighting, and sassiness, but I know that is not the right thing to do.

In 2011 I realized that I have become utterly unorganized. Seriously. I can't find things I should be able to locate. My calendar isn't as organized as it should be, so I don't know when kids have certain extra-curricular activities (like piano parties and birthday parties). This has to change. In 2012 my goal is to become a more organized me. One who puts things where they should be so that I can find them later, and one who writes everything on the calendar (even if I swear I would never forget such an event).

In 2011 I became obese. Okay, that is totally a lie. I allowed myself to become obese years before 2011. Probably more like 2006. However, the word obese really hit home in 2011. Just so you know, I really hate the "O" word. I might hate it even more than the "F" word, much to my mother's chagrin. Anyway, my body aches from carrying this weight, and I am tired and wore out because of the weight. So, in 2012 my goal is to work on taking off some of this weight. I know, I know. You are thinking that this is a typical "resolution." It really isn't my fault that a huge portion of our society is also obese and also makes this "resolution." I'm sticking with my goal! I even have an accountability partner set up. My friend, and old college roommate, asked me to pair up with her on her weight loss journey. We even started a facebook page called 'FLOW~Finally Losing Our Weight~Dawn & Tammy's Weight Loss Journey.' Look us up and like us!!

Do you usually set "resolutions," or are you like me and you set goals? If so, what have you decided to work on this year? Do share! :-)

Happy New Year!!

2012-01-01T00:01:00.000-06:00

Hope everyone has a blessed 2012. May it be a year filled with health and happiness for all. :-)

Friday Fill-Ins

2011-12-29T23:34:00.003-06:00

1. Wait, wait I'm not ready for 2012 to start. It seems like the world was frantic over Y2K just yesterday, but that was actually over a decade ago. How can that be possible???

2. The 21st century is a little different than I expected. There aren't any flying cars on the market, and people don't walk around in shiny silver space suit type outfits.

3. In addition, I'm a bit disappointed that I don't have a robot to take care of all my needs. Where is my Rosie the Robot?.

4. One day at a time is the way we do it here! Any more than that and I get overwhelmed!

5. At the end of the year, I like to reflect on the past year and see what changes I want to make.

6. Taking a trip to Miami, Florida with my hubby is one of the things I'm looking forward to in 2012.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to taking Meghan to a birthday party and then working on cleaning my office, tomorrow my plans include working on my office some more and celebrating the New Year with my family and Sunday, I want to hopefully finish up that office and relax after church!

Cards I've Made

2011-12-27T22:40:00.004-06:00

This month I have attended two card making classes, and it has been great. Not only have I come home with 7 homemade cards, but I have also learned a few new techniques.

In the first class, I basically learned the basics of stamping, as well as a little bit about embossing. We made 4 Christmas cards. Check them out...

In the second class, I learned about coloring on glitter with Elizabeth Craft Design stickers. Super cool and very easy!! Check out how pretty it turns out...

Look at the dove! Isn't that gorgeous? I did that!

I'm really excited because there are two more classes in January. I am definitely going to do one of them because it will be teaching about working with Dreamweaver Stencils, which I have always wondered about. I'm still waiting to see what the second class is about. Can't wait! :-)

Friday Fill-Ins

2011-12-16T08:26:00.004-06:00

1. Sleigh bells ring, they sound inviting. They draw me in, I wish I were riding, in a sleigh with my love, cuddled up like two doves, riding in a winter wonderland.

2. It's coming on Christmas, they're cutting down trees, decorating them with lights. Making life sparkle, giving it a shine.

3. You're a mean one Mr(s). Crabby Employee. You really are a grouch. You are as helpful as a traffic accident, as friendly as Scrooge, Mr(s). Crabby Employee.

4. Father Christmas please, oh please, bring me a new van. One with all the bells and whistles, and put the title in my hand.

5. Silent night, Beautiful night. All is calm, STOP! Where are the children? It's way too quiet around here. (lol When it get's quiet, you know they are up to something.)

6. All I want for Christmas is peace on Earth. I don't ask for much!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to my hubby's work party, tomorrow my plans include attending my daughter's piano recital, stopping by my niece's birthday party, and possibly baking and decorating cookies with my son and Sunday, I want to go to church, relax, and attend a party for a friend! Busy, Busy!

Thursday Thirteen-Dear Santa

2011-12-14T23:32:00.012-06:00

Dear Santa,

It's that time of year again. Time for me to tell you what I want for Christmas. I must also assure you that I have been good. Very, very good! Although, I bet you already know that. :-)

1. 2012 Honda Pilot~Let's face it, Santa, my 2006 Kia Sedona stinks. I made a poor choice, and I would love for you to right my wrong.

2. Ugg Adirondak II Boots~Santa, I'm not a huge Ugg fan, but these boots look warm and cozy. Can't you see me taking Cocoa for walks in the snow?

3. Marc Jacobs Daisy Gift Set~My other bottle is practically empty. Surely you don't want me to go around stinky, Santa!

4. A Working Fireplace~Ten years! That is how long we have lived in this home, Santa, and not once have we had a fire in our fireplace. Could you please check it to be sure it is safe and clean it out? Thanks! Look at the bright side, you won't burn your bottom. ;-)

5. A Mother's Necklace~Please note that my children's birthstones are diamond, garnet, and topaz. Thank you!

6. Hobby Lobby Gift Cards~Santa, this would be a huge help! I am on a card making kick lately, and Hobby Lobby seems to be getting a lot of my money.

7. Craft Room (Fully Stocked & Organized)~This would be my little piece of Heaven on Earth!

8. Metal Family Tree~Santa, don't you think this would look nice in my house?

9. Light Fixture Above Dining Room Table~I just really think it would be nice to see what we are eating. Of course, this will probably just make my kids refuse to eat even more, and I am certain I will hear "Ewwwww, disgusting!" more often.

10. Camera Lens~I need to be able to zoom in on the football field next year.

11. Comfy Shoes~Santa, have you also noticed that the older you get, the more your back hurts? I am convinced that shoes make all the difference. They need to be comfy with good arch supports.

12. Pajamas & Slippers~I love feeling cozy in my home during the winter, and I think long flannel jammies and soft slippers would do the trick.

13. Sapphire Earrings and Necklace~You know I could rock this look, Santa! Especially paired with those flannel pj's. ;-)

I will truly be grateful for whatever you bring, Santa. Especially if it is on this list. ;-) To show my appreciation, I will leave you an extra cookie this year. I'm nice like that.

Sincerely,
Dawn

Festively Fun Dinner

2011-12-13T21:00:00.000-06:00

I love the holidays, and I enjoy embracing them in all kinds of ways. Tonight I embraced them by serving a festive, and tasty, dinner.

Take a look...

Did you see the package in the background? Christmas tree shaped pasta by Pastabilities!! Look closer...

So fun! It took my already tasty Chicken Macaroni Casserole to the next level. It really is the little things that make life enjoyable. :-)

Arthur Christmas

2011-12-11T19:54:00.002-06:00

Jeff and I took the kids to see Arthur Christmas today. It kept everyone's attention....mostly. I did catch Jeff snoozing at one point. Silly man! The movie was in 3D, which I absolutely love. As a kid I was used to the "jump out at you" 3D, but I love that nowadays it is simply realistic. It's as if you are in the movie.

The movie stresses that everyone matters. There is also the theme of family cohesiveness. It was an excellent holiday movie. If you get the chance, you should watch this one with your kiddos.

Our Menu For 12/12/11 Through 12/18/11

2011-12-11T19:44:00.002-06:00

Monday~Chicken Macaroni Casserole, Green Beans, and Oranges

Tuesday~Porcupine Meat Balls over Spaghetti and Garlic Bread

Wednesday~Pork Chops, Scalloped Potatoes and Corn

Thursday~Mustgoes

Friday~Tacos

Saturday~Pepper Steak, Rice and Green Beans

Sunday~Mustgoes or Out for Dinner

Our Menu For 11/13/11 Through 11/20/11

2011-11-13T20:20:00.002-06:00

Monday~Hearty Tuscan Roasted Chicken, Rice, and Corn
Tuesday~Pot Roast, Mashed Potatoes, and Green Beans
Wednesday~Hoagies, Chips & Yogurt
Thursday~Mustgoes
Friday~Scrambled Eggs, Bacon & Toast
Saturday~Beef Barley Soup with Beer Bread
Sunday~Taco Night

Friday Fill-Ins

2011-11-11T10:28:00.002-06:00

1. Turkey is something we only cook on Thanksgiving. Other than that it is only eaten in lunch meat form around our home.

2. I love Grandma Rose's pecan pie. Yum!

3. On and on and on we go, such is the merry-go-round of life.

4. The last time I saw my dad was about 5 1/2 years ago. Hard to believe he has been gone from this Earth that long. I pray he knew just how much I loved him.

5. Can you believe Christmas is only 43 days away? I need to start preparing my heart for this special time of year.

6. I need a few extra hours in every day. I am sure God knew what He was doing when He made a day only 24 hours, but sometimes I wonder if 30 would have been better. ;-)

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to taking the family to see A Christmas Carol at our local high school, tomorrow my plans include getting some things done around our home, as well as making pretzels with my kiddos and Sunday, I want to go to church, relax, and get organized for next week!

Have You Seen These???

2011-11-08T15:27:00.003-06:00

Santa Diapers!

My niece posted a picture of her son in these on facebook, and I just fell in love. They are adorable and funny at the same time. I am pretty sure I would buy them if I had a young child in diapers still. Just had to share!

Extended Family Living

2011-11-08T07:38:00.000-06:00

My father passed away 5 1/2 years ago. This came out of nowhere. I wasn't prepared to lose a parent. Are we ever? Though it changed my life drastically, I know that it has changed my moms even more.

She has always been a housewife. She occasionally worked jobs to bring in a little extra cash, but her focus was always on the home. On my dad. On me. So, when he passed away, it really changed her world.

She and I started hanging out all the time. She was here to help me keep up with housework. She helped out with the kids. Jeff works a lot of hours. Owning your own company isn't easy, and it requires a lot of his attention. My mom was there to help me, which in turn really helped my marriage.

After much consideration, Jeff and I agreed that it made sense to move my mother in with us. At church, I kept getting the message that Jesus' people need to take care of the widows. As much as she takes care of us, it just seems right that we also take care of her. So, we fixed up the basement for her. We added a bathtub to the bathroom, put in a closet, and painted the walls. She and I worked hard to sell the things she would no longer need, and we put her home on the market. Finally, we got to moving day, which was 2 weeks ago last Saturday.

The past 2 weeks have been pretty good. The kids love her being here. They constantly want to be down there. They have been going down there first thing in the morning and waking her up, which is a pain. She is not intrusive, and she is, and always has been, very respectful of Jeff's and my privacy and alone time. She actually helps me to be a better wife, since she is always encouraging me to do kind things for him.

The "typical" American family is the nuclear family of husband, wife, and kids, but I would love to know what percentage is "typical" anymore. Lots of people are single or divorced with kids. Some remarry and live in blended family situations. Living with extended family has become a bit more common again due to the economy. I like seeing family helping each other, supporting each other, and sharing life together, so I am a huge fan of the extended family living arrangement. Sometimes this needs to be done due to financial situations, sometimes because of health, and other times just because it makes sense. No matter why it is done, I think it can be a blessing as long as boundaries are in place.

We have had a few comments from people. Things like, "Oh, I bet Jeff loves that." or "I could never live with my mother-in-law." . Those comments hurt my mom, and they make me sad. People sometimes don't think before they speak. Jeff and I have known for years that this day would come. Does he love it? He hasn't complained yet. He is a loner to some degree. Loves to be alone, and doesn't feel the need to throw himself into social situations. However, he is also a loyal family man, and he is a man that takes providing seriously. He understands family obligations, and he doesn't think of that as a bad thing. Just so you know, this only makes me love him more! Not to mention that Jeff recognizes just how much my mother helps us out around here, and he appreciates that greatly.

I look forward to years of living as an extended family. I think my mom enriches and blesses our family. I know this arrangement wouldn't be for everyone, but I really do think it is going to work for us without any big problems. I also think more people should consider living this way, but maybe I will save that for another post. ;-)

Our Menu For 11/07/11 Through 11/13/11

2011-11-07T07:14:00.003-06:00

Monday~Chicken and Dressing Casserole, Green Beans
Tuesday~Spaghetti, Sausage Links, and Garlic Bread
Wednesday~Pork Chops, Cauliflower with Cheese, and Applesauce
Thursday~Mustgoes
Friday~Taco Casserole
Saturday~Beef Simmered in Mushroom Soup, Corn, and Mandarin Oranges
Sunday~Pot Roast with Mashed Potatoes

Don't Forget!

2011-11-05T14:00:00.000-05:00

Set your clocks back one hour before you go to bed tonight. I'm looking forward to the extra hour of sleep. I'm not, however, looking forward to it getting dark super early in the evenings. Can't have it all I suppose! ;-)

Saturday Photo Hunt~Light

2011-11-05T07:14:00.001-05:00

This balloon is light. Thank goodness Meghan held it down...even while sleeping. ;-) Love that kid!

Friday Fill-Ins

2011-11-04T08:24:00.002-05:00

1. In November, I most look forward to family gatherings. This time of year we have my youngest daughter's birthday, Thanksgiving, my nephew and niece's birthdays, and Christmas. It is a lot of extended family time, and I love it!

2. I managed to organize my pantry this week...phew! I also cleaned up my kitchen a bit. It was getting to where I couldn't even think in that chaos.

3. It's right there, in the huge pile of stuff. Pretty much describes anything you are looking for in my house. ;-)

4. Jesus gives me peace of mind. Without Him I would be a basket case!

5. Water is essential for living things...including house plants. Trust me!

6. Mustgoes is what my grandmother used to say! That was her word for leftovers. I use it now too, and every time I do I think of her. :-)

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to playing some games with my kiddos, tomorrow my plans include taking Ali to her piano practice, baking a Meghan's birthday cake, decorating for her party, and cleaning up the house a bit and Sunday, I want to go to church and then have the family over for Meghan's 5th birthday party!

Thankful Thursday

2011-11-03T08:28:00.003-05:00

Life is filled with things for which we should be thankful. Even in hard times, stressful times, there are still bright spots.

Today I am thankful for Autumn. This is such a beautiful time of year. The trees are lovely shades of gold, orange, and red. The air is crisp and cool. I just love this time of year!

I am also thankful for my amazing children. Each of them brings a smile to my face and my heart. Josh just called to tell me he forgot his lunch money. Typical Josh. I couldn't help but smile. Ali has been super-argumentative lately, but I am learning how to handle her during those times, and for that I smile big! I just stood outside Meghan's room and watched her play with her Barbies. She was just so stinkin' cute, and I was reminded of my youth. Huge smiles! Love them!

I am thankful for so much more, but the last thing I will share today is that I am thankful my bank decided to give us back the $4 Debit Card Fee. Silliness! So glad they decided to drop that fee.

Remember, life is filled with things to be thankful for. Find them. Focus on them. It makes the rough times so much better. :-)

Thursday Thirteen

2011-11-03T07:01:00.002-05:00

Lately life feels like one big to-do list. Seriously! So, I figured why not blog about all those things I need to do. These aren't in order of importance, and they don't include the everyday normal to-dos. These are things that are above and beyond my daily chores. ;-)

13 Things on My To-Do List

1. Put outdoor furniture away for the season

2. Clean my bedroom...it has been too long & I need to hang some things in my closet

3. Bake Meghan's cake for her family party on Sunday

4. Prepare things for Meghan's friend party on Monday

5. Focus more attention on my discipleship studies...memorizing scripture and such

6. Finish hanging pictures for my mom

7. Buy paint so Sam can paint front door

8. Paint garage door

9. Clean & organize office

10. Start on Christmas cards

11. Clean Mom's house & get it ready for new owners

12. Go to DMV and get new license plate sticker

13. Plan my talk for Mom's Life called 'Keeping Christ in Christmas.'

Okay, I feel a little overwhelmed seeing all of this in writing. On the other hand, it is nice to visualize what needs to get done, and what I can do quickly. I think I will go buy paint today, and while I am out, I will stop by the DMV. Check. Check. ;-)

Our Fabulous Halloween

2011-11-01T16:41:00.004-05:00

We had a truly fabulous Halloween! Last week my mom and I got to go see Meghan's class perform a little show before their Halloween party. Adorable! Look at all of them.

Now look at my little ~~stinker~~ princess. Look at that face! Such a character. Now check out Spider Man. He was a hoot! One minute he was sucking his thumb, and the next minute...

he was making hilarious faces. Talk about a character!

I also went to Ali & Josh's classroom Halloween parties, but I forgot to take my camera. Oops! Josh even let Meghan walk in his school Halloween Parade with him. So nice.

I baked some cupcakes, and Ali helped me decorate them. We did a great job, if I do say so myself. Of course, it was easy to do, since we didn't have to make the decorations that went on top. Gotta love Peeps. So cute!

On the Friday before Halloween, our family get to go to a Witches Walk. We had endured a crazy, busy week, and I really needed this family time. So nice. We had never been before, so I really didn't know what to expect, but I was very pleased. It was held at an area Farm Park, and it was decorated very cool. Check it out...

There were different things to do while we were there. Games to play, a fortune teller to visit, and an outdoor movie was playing. The whole reason we went was to visit the witch that was telling stories in the old school house. Here are the kids enjoying the story, which was told by a very nice witch, Ali's piano teacher.

In the story, there was a cat and an owl. Josh got to hold the cat, and Ali got to hold the owl. They had to hold them up each time they were mentioned.

We also carved pumpkins. Meghan wanted a tiara, since she is all about princesses lately. I did my best. Josh wanted a scary face, and I tried to carve one for him. I learned that I am much better at happy faces. Ali wanted a scary face too, but she carved her own. She wouldn't pose in the picture below because she thought her pumpkin was horrible. The girl is terribly hard on herself!

On Halloween night, we had our traditional main dish of Sloppy Joes. With that we had some applesauce and Kraft Halloween Mac 'N Cheese. (Note: Everyone in our home, except Meghan, eats Sloppy Joes on a bun. She is a tad different.)

Here are my kids before their father took them out trick-or-treating.

My two beautiful princesses!

My oh-so-scary Zombie!

I passed out candy with Mamook, while they were out trick-or-treating. When they got back they were so excited to eat their traditional "one piece of candy" that they get every Halloween night. Never mind all the candy they apparently ate at Grandma and Grandpa's. Hee, hee! Meghan actually passed out pretty quick considering she was all sugared up.

So, all in all, a fabulous Halloween. I didn't decorate nearly as much as I usually do, and life has been super busy lately, but it didn't damper our holiday. A good time was had by all, and memories were made that will last a lifetime. :-)

Happy Halloween!!

2011-10-31T08:56:00.000-05:00

I hope you have a fantastically fun Halloween! :-)

Our Menu For 10/31/11 Through 11/06/11

2011-10-30T17:11:00.003-05:00

Monday~Our annual holiday meal of Sloppy Joes, and with it we will have Kraft Halloween Macaroni & Cheese. Kraft found a sucker in me! ;-)
Tuesday~Meghan's birthday dinner...Pancakes
Wednesday~Chicken Burgers and Homemade French Fries
Thursday~Mustgoes
Friday~Pot Roast and Mashed Potatoes
Saturday~Chicken & Dressing Casserole with Green Beans
Sunday~Mustgoes

Friday Fill-Ins

2011-10-28T11:08:00.002-05:00

1. Beware of little children that eat way too much candy. They get hyper, and sometimes they even vomit. Ugh!

2. I am not ready for snow. I will officially be ready the day after Thanksgiving, so please let it hold off until then.

3. And since we never get trick-or-treaters, I haven't bought any candy. Okay, we usually get at least 20 kids, so I will make sure to have enough for them.

4. Evil spirits? No thanks!

5. Where has this year gone? It has flown by too fast!

6. Soup and grilled cheese is one of my favorite meals when it's cold out.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to taking the kids to the Witches Walk, tomorrow my plans include doing some odds 'n ends at my mom's old house and later enjoying a family movie night at our house and Sunday, I want to go to church, relax, and carve our pumpkins!

Our Menu For 10/24/11 Through 10/30/11

2011-10-24T00:01:00.004-05:00

I am going to try real hard to stick to this menu, but I make absolutely no guarantees. Life has been crazy-busy around here, and on top of that craziness I have been sick. Sure do hope I stick with it though, since everything sounds tasty to me. ;-)

Monday~Hamburger Chop Suey over Sticky Rice
Tuesday~Baked Panko Crusted Chicken, Stuffing and Maple Glazed Green Beans
Wednesday~Chili with Cornbread
Thursday~Mustgoes
Friday~Chili-Cheese Dogs with French Fries
Saturday~Chicken Burgers, Corn and Fried Potatoes
Sunday~Beef Stroganoff over Egg Noodles

Juggling Life Without Guilt

2011-10-20T11:28:00.000-05:00

Do you ever feel like life is eating you alive? Swallowing you whole? Consuming you to the point of no return? I have been feeling like that for some time.

Don't get me wrong. I love my life! It's just that sometimes it is so busy I can't figure out which way is up. Being a mom leaves you busy all the time. You have to take care of a house, the children, the family pet, and life doesn't stop there because you are more than just a mom. You are a child of God, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a friend, and so on. I love being all of these things, but sometimes I can't figure out how to juggle it all without losing myself or upsetting someone.

Lately, I have been working on scaling back, and simplifying my life. I can't say that I excel at this yet, but I am trying, and that is a start. The other day I called my good friend, who also happens to be my small group leader. I took a few weeks off of small group, but I was scheduled to go back last Tuesday. I let her know that I am taking more time off, possibly the whole year.

My evenings really need to be family focused at this time. My two oldest have scouts on Monday nights. Thankfully not every Monday. My oldest has piano on Wednesday afternoon. Then on Thursday my girls and I are at the dance/tumbling studio from 6-8. Don't forget that we also have to work in dinner, homework, reading, and baths.

Do I feel guilty backing out of small group? You betcha! Our church is big on the 3 vital involvements, which are 1) attending church on Sunday, 2) attending a small group during the week, and 3) serving God in ministry. I have gotten better about attending church regularly on Sunday. I volunteer to help in the children's ministry once-a-month, and I am very active in our Mom's Life ministry. So, backing out of small group makes me feel like a bit of a failure. Now, I do attend a discipleship group on Wednesday mornings, but I doubt that the church counts that.

I don't want to start back up at small group just to find that I am stressed out and stretched too thin again. However, I am sure at some point my guilt will get the best of me. That just seems wrong, doesn't it?

How do you juggle life? Do you have any advice? I would love to hear some, so do share! :-)

Another VBS Song

2011-06-17T16:32:00.001-05:00

Here is another song from VBS that Ali loves. Just had to share.

Vacation Bible School

2011-06-17T16:02:00.005-05:00

Tonight is the last night of Vacation Bible Study. I say this with a sense of relief, but also with a bit of sadness. My job as a helper with snacks has been pretty easy. The kids come in and work on their 'God Sightings', and it is fun to walk around and hear how kids have been seeing God working in their lives. I have heard about how He stopped the rain, healed family, created a beautiful sunrise, and many other things. It's just nice to see young kids appreciating what He gives us.

During snacks the kids get some down time, and it is fun to see them all relating to each other in a fun and positive way. They are not always close friends with all the kids in their group, but by the end of the week you would never guess that. They are all chatting together and having a great time.

The music at VBS rocks! All of my kids love it, and I am so grateful that I bought a CD. We listen to it on our way to and from the church, and I love hearing all the kids sing together. They also have fun dance moves that they do, and even my 4-year-old can do them. The words they sing are powerful truths that they can hold in their hearts and minds for life. Here is one of their favorite songs.

Oh, and I just have to share with you all that my kids have learned this week...

Awesome right??? They are learning great things this week, and they are having fun doing all that learning. So, as you can tell I am sad. Tired, but sad. VBS is such a wonderful week, and a great way to minister to lots of children. My own niece, Emma, prayed the salvation prayer last night. Yahoo!!

One final thing I have to mention is that I am really going to miss the meals. If you are a VBS helper, you and your family can eat dinner at the church beforehand, and you only pay $25 for the week. This has been such a blessing! It's hard enough to do our "normal" daily life, as well as make sure the kids get their Pandamania t-shirts washed everyday. So, not having to cook dinner is a fabulous. I'm going to be a little sad tomorrow night when I am slaving over a hot stove. ;-)

I hope all of you can get involved with a VBS near you. I think it is beneficial to the adults, as well as the children. :-)

Our Menu For 6/13/11 Through 6/19/11

2011-06-12T21:35:00.005-05:00

I have such an easy menu this week. It is time for our church's Vacation Bible School, which takes place every night this week from 6:00-8:30. Since this makes dinner time hectic, our church provides the meal each night. Families have to pay $25 in order to eat there all week, which covers some of the food, drinks, serving items, and such. Isn't that I deal? Personally, I think that is a steal! Wish I could do that every week. ;-)

Some of the meals are donated by different people, and I have volunteered to bring a meal on Wednesday evening, which happens to be Baked Spaghetti night. Here is the recipe for that...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Baked Spaghetti

Ingredients

1 package (16 oz.) spaghetti
3 tablespoons butter
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1 container (16 oz.) cottage cheese
2 pounds ground beef (80/20)
1 jar (24 oz.) Ragu Traditional “Old World Style” marinara sauce
½ cup water
1 tsp. garlic salt
½ tsp. pepper
1 pkg (8 oz.) shredded Mozzarella cheese
Disposable aluminum 9x13 baking pan

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray pan with non-stick cooking spray.

Cook spaghetti for 8 minutes. Drain and add butter; stir spaghetti until butter melts and coats spaghetti. Add ½ cup Parmesan cheese; stir to coat. Arrange spaghetti in an even layer in pan. Spread cottage cheese over spaghetti. Sprinkle with ¼ cup Parmesan cheese.

Brown ground beef, drain. Add marinara sauce, ½ cup water, 1 tsp. garlic salt, ½ tsp. pepper and heat until bubbly. Spoon over cottage cheese layer. Top with Mozzarella cheese and remaining Parmesan cheese.

Cover with foil. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking for 15 minutes or until cheese is lightly browned.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Of course, I will still have to cook on Saturday, which is going to be a taco night with guacamole. But then I luck out again because Jeff is grilling out steaks on Father's Day. Seriously, does a week get any easier than this???

Summer Fun

2011-06-09T21:32:00.005-05:00

My mom and I took the kids to a park in a neighboring town that was new to us. I had heard about it from friends, and I knew that it was just what we needed on such a hot day.

Meghan wasn't shy at all, and she went right into the water. The kids love this picture of her, by the way, and they say it looks like the water is lifting her in the air.

Ali and Josh were a bit timid, especially Ali, so I had to show them that it was okay. I am a little unsure myself. ;-)

Ali quickly started to enjoy herself!

I kept telling Meghan not to run because the pavement was slick from the water. Of course, she did not listen to me. I love the look on Josh's face. Priceless! You can tell he is concerned for her. Probably both because she fell and I had just told her not to run. Is Meghan concerned? Not at all! Little Stinker is smiling.

The park is right on the Illinois River, and Josh was excited to see the barges go by. He made me take a picture of one.

This was his happy dance over the barge. Okay, not really! Actually this is just a typical look for Josh.

Meghan never quite learn to quit running.

By the time we left, Ali's dress was drenched and just clinging to her. We decided that we would wear swimsuits next time. Oddly, I didn't even think of swimsuits, since there isn't a pool there to go swimming. My children also informed me that we need towels next time. Good idea! I was tired of being Josh's towel.

All in all it was quite a fun day! I was shocked to see how high the river was. I probably shouldn't have been, since there is flooding going on in many places these days. It just seems we haven't had that much rain. Maybe I am wrong.

Wordful Wednesday

2011-06-08T03:30:00.002-05:00

My sweet, fun, ~~four~~ four-and-a-half year old, Meghan, is learning to write her own name. As a mom I am quite proud of her. Just look at the work she did in the bathtub the other evening.

Genius! Momma is proud!

Now, as a teacher, I am realizing I have some work to do here. I suppose now might be the time to teach her that the English language always works from left to right. We read that way, and we write that way.

As adults, we realize that the direction is important to create order so that we can understand what has been written. As a child, it will probably feel like one more rule to follow. Rules Schmules! I think I might just keep her in the dark for a tad bit longer. I doubt it will hurt. What do you think? :-)

Our Menu For 6/6/11 Through 6/12/11

2011-06-06T05:23:00.000-05:00

Monday~Hamburgers, French Fries and Watermelon
Tuesday~BTC's (Bacon, Tomato and Cheese Sandwiches), Plain Lays Potato Chips and Pickles
Wednesday~Tuna Salad and Yogurt
Thursday~Baked Potato Bar
Friday~Mustgoes or Eat at the Ball Park
Saturday~Eat on our way to Monster Jam Show
Sunday~Taco night with Guacamole

Things To Celebrate...6/6/11 To 6/12/11

2011-06-05T17:00:00.001-05:00

There are many fun holidays you can celebrate this week. Remember that the reason to celebrate is to create memories, as well as possibly prompt teachable moments. You don't have to do something every day, but try to be purposeful to do one thing a week. Your family will thank you in the future!

Monday the 6th~

National Applesauce Cake Day
D-Day was this day in 1944
Drive-In Movie Day~Take your family to a drive-in movie theater. If you don't have one in your area, see if you have any movies showing in a park.
National Gardening Exercise Day~Let your children help you water and weed. While you are at it, have a water fight, and try to make rainbows.
National Yo-Yo Day

Tuesday the 7th~

National Chocolate Ice Cream Day~Take a trip to your local ice cream parlor.
Daniel Boone Day
VCR Day

Wednesday the 8th~

Jelly-Filled Doughnut Day
Shavout
Upsy Daisy Day
World Ocean Day~Watch the Oceans movie by Disneynature. If you have Netflix, you can watch it instantly. My son was fascinated by this movie.
Best Friends Day~First, be an example by doing something special for your best friend, and then let your children do something kind for one of their good friends.

Thursday the 9th~

National Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie Day
Donald Duck Day
Senior Citizens Day~Do something kind for an elderly person in your family, neighborhood, or at a local nursing home.

Friday the 10th~

Herbs & Spice Day
National Iced Tea Day
National Black Cow Day~Make Black Cows (Root Beer Floats) for your children to enjoy.
Ball Point Pen Day
On this day in 1922, Judy Garland was born.~Watch The Wizard of Oz or simply sing 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' with your children.
On this day in 1752, Ben Franklin flew a kite and discovered electricity in lightning.~Go fly a kite.

Saturday the 11th~

National German Chocolate Cake Day
Belmont Stakes~Go horseback riding or go to a farm and feed horses.
Corn on the Cob Day
The Wicket World of Croquet Day~Play a game of croquet.
Hug Holiday~Give hugs today. Lots and lots of hugs!
On this day in 1982, the movie E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial opened in theaters.~Have a 1980's theme night where you eat popular foods from the time, dress like they did then, and watch this fun movie.

Sunday the 12th~

National Peanut Butter Cookie Day
National Taco Day
Abused Women and Children's Awareness Day~Talk to your children about abuse. Make it a point to find out what your area shelters for abused women and their children need. Have your children go with you to buy those things and drop them off.
Loving Day
Raggedy Ann and Andy Day
World Wind Day
Race Unity Day
Red Rose Day
On this day in 1929, Anne Frank was born.

Our Menu For 5/30/11 Through 6/5/11

2011-05-31T09:45:00.003-05:00

Oh goodness! Some of the meals below have been on my menu for weeks. That tells you I haven't been cooking as much as I should. I am hanging my head in shame. I am going to try to be better this week. Wish me luck! :-)

Monday~Ribs, Hot Dogs, Chips, Corn on the Cob, and Marinated Veggies
Tuesday~Chili and Corn Bread
Wednesday~Cinnamon ~~Breakfast~~ Dinner Bake and Peaches
Thursday~Mustgoes
Friday~Pork Chops, Macaroni & Cheese, and Applesauce
Saturday~Pizza
Sunday~Grilled Burgers, French Fries and Backyard S'mores

Things To Celebrate...5/30/11 To 6/5/11

2011-05-29T17:00:00.002-05:00

Monday the 30th~

National Mint Julep Day
Memorial Day
Prayer for Peace Memorial Day
Water a Flower Day

Tuesday the 31st~

National Macaroon Day
What You Think Upon Grows Day~This is so true! Teach your children that their thoughts effect their behavior and attitude.
World No-Tobacco Day

Wednesday the 1st~

National Hazelnut Cake Day
Heimlich Maneuver Day
National Go Barefoot Day
Say Something Nice Day~Encourage your children, and yourself, to say something nice to everyone you see today.
Stand for Children Day

Thursday the 2nd~

National Rocky Road Ice Cream Day
Leave the Office Early Day
National Running Day

Friday the 3rd~

National Egg Day
National Doughnut Day

Saturday the 4th~

National Cheese Day
National Frozen Yogurt Day
Applesauce Cake Day
Audacity to Hope Day
Drawing Day
Pencil Day
National Trails Day

Sunday the 5th~

National Gingerbread Day
Hot Air Balloon Day
National Cancer Survivors Day
World Environment Day

I Have Become THAT Mom

2011-05-27T15:13:00.002-05:00

Summer vacation officially started here on Wednesday at 9:25 AM. Today is only Friday, and already I have face my first dilemma.

My children have been playing outside all day today. There really hasn't even been much fighting, which is music to my ears. Quiet music, but music, nonetheless. Then it happened. My two oldest came inside and said that the neighbor boy, who is one year older than my oldest, has been giving them the 'loser sign'. Really??? Didn't that go out in the 90's???

So, after about the 5th time, I decided I was going over to talk to his parents. That's right. I became the tattle-tale parent. Don't get me wrong, I think being the tattle-tale parent is often necessary in situations, but I never thought I would have to go this route.

Before I went I asked my kids if there was anything they needed to tell me. Josh confessed that he had given the sign back to this boy two times, so off to time-out he went. Our big family rule is 'treat people the way you want to be treated,' and I had even told them not to do it back to them. I told them to give him the 'whatever' sign, but I quickly recanted that. Told them I was wrong, and that this was not how Jesus would want us to behave.

When I rang the doorbell next door, the young man answered. When I asked for a parent, he knew he was in trouble. Sure, he and my kids have had issues in the past, but I never got involved. However, this time I decided to change my approach. For Pete's sake it is only the 2nd full day of summer vacation. His mom seemed appreciative, and she sent her son over to apologize. I made Josh apologize too, since he too was in the wrong. Then I said to all three of the kids that if we behave like bullies to each other this is going to be a long and miserable summer. I also said that as neighbors we should be working to get along and not doing hurtful things to each other.

I hated being THAT mom, the tattle-tale mom, but I hope in the long run the lesson was learned by everyone. How would you have handled the situation? If it does happen again, what can I do different? I am open to suggestions, so please do share. :-)

Sadness

2011-05-24T22:40:00.002-05:00

I have been off today. Grouchy, short-tempered, moody. Off. The problem is that I have been suppressing my feelings, which is just never a good thing. Five years ago today my father passed away, and I have wanted to pretend that today is just like any other day. It isn't.

Five years ago I had to say good-bye to a man that meant the world to me. A man that always seemed larger than life to me when growing up. You know the whole, "My dad can beat up your dad" argument. Well, my dad totally could have beat up your dad. Not that he would have. He was big and strong, and although he did have a bit of a temper in his younger years, I never actually saw him hurt anyone. But I always felt safe with my dad. Protected.

Tonight I finally let myself cry. Being left behind stinks! I still have much left to do on this Earth, since my three children are still young, but in an odd way I can't wait to get to Heaven. I can't wait to see my God that created this wonderful place or meet Jesus who gave his life for me (and you). After I have basked in their glory, I can't wait to see my family and friends that have gone before me. Especially my earthly father.

To ease my sorrow, I have made a list of happy memories. People may leave, possessions may break or burn or get lost, but memories will last forever. At least I hope they will.

My dad was a drummer, and he once took me to a gig of his at Cera Park in Wisconsin Rapids, WI. During one of his breaks we went and got a hamburger, and I will always remember that as the most delicious burger ever. I doubt it was. I think it just seemed like that because I was getting to spend quality time with my dad.

Sailing. Tons of hours sailing. My dad let me run the jib, trapeze off the side of the boat, and one time he even let me steer the boat. I turned the tiller way too quickly and we almost tipped over. I'm not sure he ever let me try that again.

Ah, the time he took me out driving. What a disaster! My dad and I are very similar in personality, which meant we often clashed when I was younger. He turned the chore of teaching me to drive over to my much calmer mother.

Motorcycle rides. Up until I had children I actually enjoyed being on the back of a motorcycle. Now I am one big chicken! My dad and I actually took a 6 hour ride to Chicago to see my cousin Joe's new baby girl, Anna. My rump hurt for weeks, but I am so thankful I got to go on that ride with my dad.

My dad has worked with cars all my life. He started out as a mechanic, then a salesman, and eventually he worked his way up to general manager. He made sure I had a decent car to drive when I turned 16, he didn't yell (too much) when I blew up that car's engine, and he even made sure I had a decent car to drive when that car eventually bit the dust. I remember being so excited and curious to see what he picked out. It was a 1992 Honda Del Sol in a beautiful blue. Loved that car! More than the car, I loved that note that my dad wrote me when I got the car. I still have that note. It had a list of rules. All of which I broke. I am my father's daughter.

I miss you dad! I am so thankful that you are no longer suffering, and I am grateful that you can breathe the wonderful air in Heaven without pain. Just know that someday I want a big ol' hug, and I will be there to collect it when my work here on Earth is done.

Our Menu For 5/23/11 Through 5/29/11

2011-05-23T07:44:00.002-05:00

Monday~Taco Salad with Fruit Cocktail
Tuesday~Scalloped Potatoes with Ham and Green Beans
Wednesday~Baked BBQ Chicken, Rice and Corn
Thursday~Mustgoes
Friday~Cinnamon ~~Breakfast~~ Dinner Bake with Peaches
Saturday~Chili and Corn Bread
Sunday~Grilled Hamburgers and Oven Roasted Vegetables

Things To Celebrate...5/23/11 To 5/29/11

2011-05-22T17:00:00.003-05:00

Monday the 23rd~

National Taffy Day
World Crohn's and Colitis Day
World Turtle Day~Let your kids make a Paper Plate Turtle.
Lucky Penny Day~I once had a cool penny bracelet. You could make some penny jewelry with your children.
Postal cards were sold in San Francisco for the first time on this day in 1873.~Let your children send a post card to a loved one.

Tuesday the 24th~

National Escargot Day
Brother's Day~Encourage your children to do something kind for their brother, or they could at least say something kind.
Hug Your Cat Day
Morse Code Day
National Geographic Bee
On this day in 1830, Sarah Hale wrote the familiar children's song, "Mary Had a Little Lamb."

Wednesday the 25th~

National Wine Day
African Freedom Day
Cookie Monster's Birthday~If you have young ones, you can make tasty Cookie Monster cupcakes.
National Missing Children's Day~Talk about "stranger danger" with young ones. Also, make sure they know their address and phone number.
National Tap Dance Day
Nerd Pride Day or Geek Pride Day
Towel Day
World MS Day

Thursday the 26th~

National Blueberry Cheesecake Day
National Cherry Dessert Day
Scripps National Spelling Bee
Sally Ride Day
On this day in 1959, the word Frisbee became a registered trademark of Wham-O.~Go play some Frisbee Golf.
The first Star Wars movie debuted on this day in 1977.

Friday the 27th~

National Grape Popsicle Day
Cellophane Tape Day
National Wig Out Day
Old-Time Player Piano Day
Sun Screen Day

Saturday the 28th~

National Brisket Day
Sierra Club Day~Visit the Sierra Club's website.
International Jazz Day~Put on some jazz music and enjoy!
Julia Pierpont Day

Sunday the 29th~

National Coq Au Vin Day
Indianapolis 500
International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers
Rural Life Sunday Day
On this day in 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary became the first person to climb to the top of Mount Everest.

Thankful Thursday

2011-05-19T08:53:00.003-05:00

Right now I am so thankful for my husband, which is a huge change from how I had been feeling a few weeks ago. His work schedule is hectic, and I had been feeling lonely and neglected. He is making an effort to help me feel less lonely and more loved. I am thankful that I can go to him, talk about what is bothering me, and have us work together to fix things.

I am also thankful for the book One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I still have a long way to go in this book, but every night before bed I read several pages. I usually have to force myself to put it down and get some sleep. Ann has a writing style that I thoroughly enjoy. She paints such beautiful pictures with her words that make me smile.

Oh goodness, I am also super thankful that summer vacation is right around the corner. I need to sleep! For the first few days of break I plan to sleep and only sleep. No child will wake me. I will slumber, and they will survive and thrive on their own. (Let me dream!)

Most of all, I am thankful that we have a loving God who will forgive us of our sins. My sins are many. I am imperfect, and I treasure that forgiveness and long to do better.

Thursday Thirteen

2011-05-19T06:23:00.001-05:00

13 Things Our Family is Doing or Wants to Do This Summer

1. Ali is signed up to do Dance Camp, which is just a 3 day program. She will then perform at the High Schools big sports kickoff in August.

2. Ali is also signed up for a basketball clinic, which lasts just a few days.

3. Meghan is signed up to attend Teddy Bears. This is supervised playtime in the park. They will do crafts, games, and all kinds of fun activities. This will be 2 days a week for a month.

4. Meghan is so excited that she gets to go to tumbling. They only meet on Saturday mornings for about 6-8 weeks, but she is absolutely thrilled!

5. Josh is on the waiting list for the only activity he wanted to attend. His awful mother signed him up too late! We pray that we get a call to let us know they have available room. It is for a week long outing called 'Nature Nuts.' He would get to go on hikes and learn about the outdoors.

6. Since Mommy was such a slacker, I have promised the kids that we will go to Wildlife Prairie Park. This is a park that is home to 50 different species of animals that are all native to Illinois. While there we will get to learn about black bear, bison, wolves, elk, and more.

7. Jeffrey just told myself and the kids that we are going to make a trip to Chicago this summer to go to some museums. I think we are going to try to go up on a Saturday morning and come back late Sunday evening. During that time, we want to visit both the Field Museum of Natural History and either the Museum of Science and Industry or the Shedd Aquarium. We were all very excited about this news!

8. Vacation Bible School!! This is such a busy week, but it is also a ton of fun. I have signed up to help with snacks that week. All three of my children get to attend this year, and my two oldest have already invited friends from school. Time will tell if those friends can attend. VBS is such an important week. It is time for kids to focus in on God and learn more about Him.

9. We plan on going to our area pool to play with friends. I'm not excited about being in a swimsuit in public, but I am excited about letting my kids have fun in the pool.

10. I am attending a weekday morning Book Study this summer. We are reading two books...The Uncommon Woman: Making an Ordinary Life Extraordinary and Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World: Finding Intimacy with God in the Busyness of Life. We meet at parks, so that the kids can play while we talk. The best part is that we hire babysitters to help keep an eye on the kiddos.

11. I would love to take my mom and the kids to Six Flags St. Louis this summer. Ali & Josh will love the roller coasters, and I think we would all like the water park. I just don't know if there will be room for this in the budget. I'm trying real hard to get my hands on a money tree, but I am having a difficult time.

12. A little town near here has a Turkey Festival, and we go almost every year. If we ever miss, it isn't by choice. The kids love the rides, and I love the strawberry shortcake. Sure, most people go for the turkey legs, but I could do without that.

13. Throw a 4th of July shindig for our family. We usually gather for a lunch cookout, and then at night time some of us go and watch the fireworks together. During the fall and winter we see our family a lot. There are big holidays, as we as well as several birthdays. Summer is a busy time, and we don't see each other as much. This is one day where I know we will all get together and just relax, hang out, and try to stay cool. My husband would tell you he doesn't have to try. ;-)

So, how about you? What are your big plans this summer? Do share!

Mommy Overload!!!

2011-05-16T17:46:00.003-05:00

Holy Moly! I am seriously on mommy overload right now. I picked the kids up from school at 2:30, and as I type this, it is now 5:46. Just over three hours with all three of my children and my head is spinning. Is that normal?

We had to run into Meghan's future preschool, we went through the drive-through of both the bank and McDonald's, and we went to my least favorite place to go with kids, Wal Mart. Oh, and we came home, put away groceries, made a quick dinner (Frito Chili Pie) and fed the dog. Can you say 'Busy, Busy!!'

In the last three hours I have said, "Knock it off!" more than once. I have also uttered the words, "No, you can not get that", "If you hit us with that cart, you will no longer push", as well as both "Hurry Up" and "Slow Down."

My mind feels like it is reeling, spinning, going faster than I can keep up. Aaarrrrgh!! Okay, I feel a little better having typed this. Somewhat calmer. Now I need to make sure Ali gets her softball uniform on, and I have to get her to her game ~~on time~~ 15 minutes early.

All in a days work. Someday my children will appreciate the craziness that I endured, and when that day comes, they will truly understand the depths of my love. At least I hope they will.

Our Menu for 5/16/11 Through 5/22/11

2011-05-15T19:58:00.004-05:00

Monday~Frito Chili Pie and Strawberries
Tuesday~Pork Chops, Mac 'N Cheese, and Applesauce
Wednesday~Chili and Cornbread
Thursday~Mustgoes
Friday~Eating at the Ballpark...Ali & Josh both have games
Saturday~Cinnamon ~~Breakfast~~ Dinner Bake ;-)
Sunday~Cookout with our small group...I am bringing a Pasta Salad.

Things To Celebrate...5/16/11 To 5/22/11

2011-05-15T17:00:00.001-05:00

Monday the 16th~

National Coquilles St. Jacques Day
Biographer's Day
National Sea Monkey Day
Love a Tree Day~Today you could plant a tree, prune a tree, or simply enjoy reading a book to your child underneath a tree.
Wear Purple for Peace Day
Spaghetti-O's went on sale for the first time today in 1965.
Charles Elmer Hires invented root beer on this day in 1866.~Enjoy a tasty Root Beer Float.
On this day in 1770, Louis married Marie Antoinette.

Tuesday the 17th~

National Cherry Cobbler Day
World Information Society Day
World Telecommunications Day
Pack Rat Day~Help your children clean out their closet, drawers, or toy box. Donate some of the items to Goodwill or Salvation Army.
The first Kentucky Derby was held at Churchill Downs on this day at 1875.
On this day in 1954, the US Supreme Court made their decision in the case Brown vs. Board of Education.~Talk to your children about segregation.

Wednesday the 18th~

National Cheese Souffle Day
International Museum Day~Find a local museum to visit.
Mother Whistler Day
Visit Your Relatives Day~Take time out of your busy schedule to visit relatives today. If they live far away, call them or write them a letter. Encourage your children to value family relationships.
Turn Beauty Inside Out Day~Talk with your children about how inner beauty is far more important than outer beauty. Discuss ways that a person can be internally beautiful.
No Dirty Dishes Day~It may not be the greenest option but I say eat off of paper plates today. You can also use plastic silverware and cups. Sometimes it is nice not to have any dishes to clean.
The Canadian city of Montreal was founded on this day in 1642.
On this day in 1986, David Goch finished swimming 55, 682 miles in a 25-yard pool.~Go swimming!
On this day in 1804, Napoleon became the Emperor of France.

Thursday the 19th~

National Devil's Food Cake Day
Boys Club Day
May Ray Day
On this day in 1884, Ringling Brothers opened its first circus.

Friday the 20th~

National Quiche Lorraine Day
Pick Strawberries Day
Eliza Doolittle Day
National Bike to Work Day~Take your family on a bike ride.
Rhubarb Day
Weights and Measures Day~Let your children guess how much something weighs. Then put that item on a scale, so they can see how close they were.
Christopher Columbus died on this day in 1506.
On this day in 1837, Levi Strauss and his partner patented jeans.
Charles Lindbergh flew his historic solo nonstop transatlantic flight on this day in 1927.
Amelia Earhart made her solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 1932.

Saturday the 21st~

National Strawberries and Cream Day
American Red Cross Founder's Day
Armed Forces Day~Let your children send a card to a soldier.
National Endangered Species Day
Preakness Stakes
Sister Maria Hummel Day
World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
National Waiters and Waitresses Day~If you eat out today, talk with your children about the importance of serving others. Treat your waiter especially kind, and give them a larger than normal tip.

Sunday the 22nd~

National Vanilla Pudding Day
National Maritime Day
Neighbor Day~Take your neighbors something to let them know you care. This could be a few flowers from your yard, some cookies, or even a whole dinner.
Buy a Musical Instrument Day
The first reported sighting of the Loch Ness Monster occurred on this day in 1933.~Let your child use their imagination to create their own imaginary creature. Where would it live? What would it eat? They can even draw a picture.

Things To Celebrate...5/9/11 Through 5/15/11

2011-05-08T17:00:00.004-05:00

Celebrate! Taking the time to celebrate just one of these a week can create fun family time, help develop memories that will last forever, and encourage your children to love learning. Take the time to invest in your children. Do share what you choose to celebrate! :-)

Monday the 9th~

National Butterscotch Brownie Day

Tuesday the 10th~

National Shrimp Day
Clean Up Your Room Day~This is a day all moms can appreciate. Encourage your child to clean up their room, and model for them by cleaning up your own room.

Wednesday the 11th~

Eat What You Want Day
Donate a Day's Wages to Charity~Talk about charities and the importance of helping others. Determine an amount to give, and choose a cause your family finds worthy.
The Waltz was introduced into English ballrooms on this day in 1812.~Teach your child to waltz. If you don't know how to do this dance, you can learn more on this website.

Thursday the 12th~

National Nutty Fudge Day
Limerick Day~Write a limerick with your children, or have them write one on their own. Limericks have a rhyme scheme of aabba.
Florence Nightingale was born on this day in 1820.

Friday the 13th~

National Fruit Cocktail Day
Frog Jumping Day~Young children will enjoy jumping around the house like frogs or playing leapfrog.

Saturday the 14th~

National Buttermilk Biscuit Day
National Chicken Dance Day~You can find the music for this dance on youtube, and then you and your child can dance like a chicken.
National Train Day
The Stars and Stripes Forever Day

Sunday the 15th~

National Chocolate Chip Day~How about chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast?
International Day of Families~Invite local family over for lunch or dinner. Maybe you could have a pizza party. Don't have local family? Be sure to call or skype with family. The point is to teach your children the importance of family.
National Pizza Party Day
Straw Hat Day
NASCAR Day

Teacher Appreciation

2011-05-02T18:10:00.000-05:00

This is 'Teacher Appreciation Week,' and I feel that is something worthy of celebrating. Teachers do a lot for our kiddos! Receiving a little something from their students makes them feel appreciated, and it can also help them to get through the rest of the year with ease. Let's face it, burnout can happen to many teachers at this time of year. A little gift can be just the pick-me-up they need.

I decided that this year we would honor them on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Ali and Josh took bookmarks to their teachers today. We got them Ghirardelli candy bars for Wednesday. I admit that I have not figured out what we are going to give them on Friday.

There are many choices. Here are a few that are swirling around in my head:

gift card to an area restaurant, coffee shop, or movie theater
flowers...maybe even some she can plant in her yard
notepad or notecards
pretty pen
picture drawn by your child
a letter of thanks from you and your child
a drink...water bottle, gourmet coffee, tea, etc.
any school supplies she needs or gift card to Wal Mart or office supply store
lotion
anti-bacterial soap
tasty treat...cake pops, candy bar, cupcake, muffin, etc.

You can wrap just about anything in a cute way, attach a fun tag, and it will surely be appreciated. For example, any candy can have a gift tag that mentions how she is super sweet. If you use a candy bar like the 100 Grand, you can tell her that she is worth far more than 100 Grand. Want to get her lotion? Attach a card that tells her how she is a 'scent'sational teacher. You just have to get creative!

I think I will just have the kids draw their teachers a picture, and we will send along a nice thank you. I know that anything will be appreciated, and that leaves a smile on my face. :-)

Our Menu For 5/2/11 Through 5/8/11

2011-05-02T10:44:00.003-05:00

Monday~California Cheddar Soup
Tuesday~Pot Roast with Mashed Potatoes
Wednesday~Bacon & Swiss Quiche
Thursday~Tamale Pie
Friday~Mustgoes
Saturday~Pizza
Sunday~Grilled Steak and Baked Potato

Things To Celebrate...5/2/11 Through 5/8/11

2011-05-01T17:00:00.005-05:00

Try to celebrate at least one of these holidays this week, and do not worry if you can't celebrate on that exact day. The point is to create memories with your children, as well as to expose them to a variety of experiences. If you do celebrate, please do share! :-)

Monday the 2nd~

National Truffles Day
Leonardo da Vinci Died on this day in 1519.~Show your children some of his artwork, and teach them a little about his life.

Tuesday the 3rd~

National Raspberry Tart Day
Garden Meditation Day~Take your children to visit a botanical garden in your area and enjoy the silence. Use this time to pray, write in a journal, or draw a picture.
National Two Different Colored Shoes Day~Dare to be different! Teach your children that it is okay to be different.
Childhood Depression Awareness Day
National Teacher Day~Help school-aged children do something nice for their teachers.

Wednesday the 4th~

National Homebrew Day
National Orange Juice Day
National Candied Orange Peel Day
Great American Grump Out~Nobody is allowed to be grumpy today!
Star Wars Day

Thursday the 5th~

National Chocolate Custard Day
National Hoagie Day
Oyster Day
Cinco De Mayo~Celebrate this day with mexican foods and decorations.
Cartoonists Day
National Day of Prayer~Make a point of praying with your children today...and every day.
Jim Bailey became the first U.S. runner to break the four-minute mile on this day in 1956. He was clocked at 3:58.5.~See how fast you and your kids can run or walk a mile together.

Friday the 6th~

National Crepes Suzette Day
International No Diet Day
National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy~Talk to older children about teen pregnancy. It may be difficult to do, but it is definitely necessary.

Saturday the 7th~

National Roast Leg of Lamb Day
Astronomy Day~If it is a clear night, let your kids stay up a little late to gaze at the stars with you. Not a cool night? Promise them a do-over in summer.
Kentucky Derby
National Scrapbooking Day
World Asthma Day

Sunday the 8th~

National Empanada Day
No Socks Day~Go sockless and enjoy a little less laundry.
National Miniature Golf Day~Take the family out for a little Mini Golf.
Mother's Day
World Red Cross Day
On this day, in 1945, Germany officially surrendered, ending WWII.

Friday Fill-Ins

2011-04-28T21:44:00.002-05:00

1. I love to sit in a quiet place and read a good book.

2.Every day should include a laugh and a smile.

3. It's how you look at things that matters.

4. If you know what happened in Season 3 of Veronica Mars don't tell me! I have been watching that on Netflix.

5. Well, would you rather have quantity or quality?

6. Finders Keepers and throw in some spring peepers.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to hanging with friends and the Lord at a women's retreat in Michigan, tomorrow my plans include more retreat time and Sunday, I want to finish up at the retreat, drive the 5 hours home, and spend the evening with my kiddos!

Thursday Thirteen

2011-04-27T23:08:00.002-05:00

Our pediatrician has mentioned that we need to start eating healthier. You know, more protein and less carbohydrates. He has also mentioned we need more fruits and vegetables. I know this is a change we have to make, because I don't want my kids to struggle with weight like I have. So, I have been racking my brain on healthier snacks. Here we go!

13 Healthy Snacks I Can Feed My Kids (That They Will Actually Eat)

1. Carrots with Ranch Dressing

2. Celery with Peanut Butter

3. Apples...with or without Peanut Butter

4. Hard-Boiled Eggs

5. Pickles

6. Beef Jerky

7. Yogurt

8. Emerald Cocoa Roast Almonds

9. Graham Crackers with Light Cream Cheese and Halved Grapes

10. Sugar-Free Jello

11. Sargento Light String Cheese

12. Popcorn

13. Cottage Cheese with Peaches

Do you have any healthy snacks that you or your family enjoy?
Do share!

Wordful Wednesday~Lucky Girl

2011-04-26T23:20:00.000-05:00

On Easter, we were over at Jeff's grandma's house, and my big girl found a four leaf clover. She was so proud of herself.

I was pretty proud of her too. I have never been that lucky in all my 29 36 years. Here is an up close picture of her find. It is a beauty.

Now, I am not superstitious, and I don't believe this special clover is going to bring her extra luck. Of course, if I did believe this, I would hope that the luck coming her way would be in the form of a lamp with a genie inside or a winning lottery ticket worth millions. I do like to dream!

Have you ever been so lucky as to find a four leaf clover? Do share!

Powerful!

2011-04-25T15:54:00.004-05:00

I have been struggling lately. Struggling with having a husband that works a bazillion hours a week. Struggling with the fact that he and I are in two different places. I am more about having a relationship with Christ and spending time with our family. He is more about work, letting off steam by drinking, and then comes our family.

This struggle in my marriage causes me to be depressed. It makes it difficult to do the normal day to day things. Not so much so that I can't even get out of bed or eat, but enough that I notice things aren't right. I don't really feel like cooking a meal, since he won't be home to eat it. I get tired of asking for things to be fixed, and I truly wish I understood how to do more than I do. Of course, then I get frustrated wondering why everything has to fall on my shoulders.

We had a good day yesterday. We went to church and spent time with our family. Jeff didn't go into work until close to 7:30 at night. Although yesterday was decent, I still feel "off" today.

Then I got on the K-Love website, which I rarely ever go on, and I heard this song.

It was exactly what I needed to hear. Honestly, it makes me want to cry. No matter what is wrong in my life, whether it be marriage, money, addictions, children, or any other big issue, Jesus is everything I need. I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13). The problem is I haven't been relying on His strength. I have been trying to figure out things on my own. Not all problems can be easily solved by man, but they can all be endured with Christ.

I don't share this to bash my husband. Jeffrey is a wonderful man, and he does have many terrific qualities. He is funny, smart, and a hard-working provider. He loves me and our three children. Everyone has their issues. Everyone.

I am sharing this to be real and open. Life isn't perfect. Life is hard. During these tough times, which everyone has, there are things all of us can do. We can pray more. If you are finding it hard to pray for a tough situation, enlist friends to pray for you. Delve into the word of God for wisdom and encouragement. But most of all, don't give up. Nobody ever said life would be easy. When you can't, He can, so remember to turn to Him.

Book Recommendation~Heaven is for Real

2011-04-25T13:32:00.006-05:00

Heaven is for Real! I can't say enough wonderful things about this book. It is a true story about a little boys journey to Heaven and back. He was only 3 at the time, and the picture that he paints leaves me longing for Heaven and Jesus even more than I already do.

Skeptical? I'm sure many are when they first start to read the story too. His own father, whom is a pastor, was a tad skeptical too. Of course, as you learn his story, it is hard to remain skeptical. At least it was for me.

It is a well-written and easy to read story. You feel like you are sitting down with the boys father over coffee. I kept this book in my car and only read it when I would take my kids to activities...piano, baseball, dance. I would be sad when it was actually time to leave these activities, which isn't the norm. I am usually anxious to move on and get dinner or baths or some other mommy job done. You start reading and before you know it you are half-way through this delightful story.

So, what are you waiting for? If you haven't already read this one, I highly suggest you get out there and pick it up. I can't believe you would regret the decision. If you have read it, what did you think? Do share!

Our Menu For 4/25/11 Through 5/1/11

2011-04-25T07:51:00.002-05:00

Planning this week was difficult for me. We have something in the evenings on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, which makes dinnertime difficult. Also, I leave town on Friday for a Women's Retreat in Michigan, and I will not be back until late Sunday afternoon or early evening. So, here's hoping this week goes smoothly at dinnertimes!

Monday~Hamburger Chop Suey, White Rice and Fruit Cocktail
Tuesday~Chicken Pot Pie and Yogurt
Wednesday~Nachos
Thursday~Mustgoes
Friday~Spaghetti and Garlic Bread
Saturday~Hot Dogs with Macaroni & Cheese
Sunday~Pizza

Spring Break Is Over

2011-04-24T23:31:00.004-05:00

I have mixed feelings about the fact that Spring Break is now over. On the one hand, I am going to enjoy having a calmer home during the days. On the other hand, I will no longer be able to sleep in until 8. Also, I will miss the carefree schedule.

While the kids were on break, we went shopping for summer clothes, ate out a bit too much, and stayed up a little later than normal. We had fun celebrating Ali's birthday and Easter, skipped a couple of our regular weekly activities (dance and baseball), and we spent a whole afternoon at a movie theater.

What did we see? Well, we started out with Rio in 3D.

We then spent about a half hour playing video games before our second movie started. That was the one I was really looking forward to...Hop.

Both were excellent, and a great time was had by all of us. It's not every day you get to do a double feature at the theater.

So, we may not have left the area, but we did have a fun-filled Spring Break. It gave me an idea of what to expect this summer...lots of noise, children who want to eat every two minutes, messes everywhere, and good ol' fashioned family fun. Can't wait! I may have fewer hairs on my head after this summer, or at least many more gray ones, but what matters is that I love those messy and loud little rugrats. ;-)

Things To Celebrate...4/25/11 Through 5/1/11

2011-04-24T17:00:00.006-05:00

Celebrating these silly holidays is all about creating memories and good times with your family, as well as encouraging a love of learning a variety of things. Embrace life! Try to celebrate at least one of these this week.

Monday the 25th~

National Zucchini Bread Day
A patent was granted for the thimble on this day in 1684.~Teach your children to do some simple sewing and mending.

Tuesday the 26th~

National Pretzel Day
Richter Scale Day~Read a book to your child about the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906.

Wednesday the 27th~

National Prime Rib Day
Babe Ruth Day~Go to a baseball game or get some friends together and play one.

Thursday the 28th~

National Blueberry Pie Day
Poem in Your Pocket Day~Read some poetry and then encourage your child to write some.

Friday the 29th~

National Shrimp Scampi Day
Arbor Day~Plant a tree!
National Dance Day~Dance around your living room with your children.
Duke Ellington was born on this day in 1899.~Listen to some jazz music.

Saturday the 30th~

National Raisin Day
Bugs Bunny Day
Eeyore's Birthday
National Go Birding Day~Get a book on birds from the library. See what birds you can find in your back yard or local park.
National Honesty Day~Talk to your children about the importance of honesty.
Penguin Day
Sense of Smell Day
The ice cream cone made its debut on this day in 1904.~Go out for an ice cream cone.

Sunday the 1st~

National Chocolate Parfait Day
May Day~Let your children surprise a friend with a May Basket, but remember that the idea is to leave it and run.
Mother Goose Day
World Laughter Day~Laugh!
National Loyalty Day
Mr. Potato Head was introduced on this day in 1952.~If you have a Mr. Potato Head, work together to make him look really silly.

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T07:09:00.003-05:00

I hope you have a wonderful day. A day filled with love, family, and awe over the fantastic gift that has been given to each of us. Happy Easter!

Ali is 9!!

2011-04-23T21:06:00.002-05:00

That's right! My oldest turned 9 today. She is one year away from double digits. Yikes!

Here she is enjoying her morning breakfast, which was served on a special plate. She loved that she got to wear the birthday hat.

It really is hard to believe that I gave birth to my first child 9 years ago. It was an eventful birth. I went into labor around 2 in the morning, went to the hospital around 9, and finally gave birth via c-section around 6 that evening. My labor stalled when I hit 5 centimeters, and my darling little girl was showing signs of distress.

I remember being a nervous wreck when we decided to go the c-section route. I could have waited, but I am very glad I didn't take that chance. I couldn't have handled it if anything had happened to my sweet Ali. She was an even 8 pounds and full of spunk. She was a little slow at breastfeeding, but her nervous first-time mom might have had something to do with that.

I was such a nervous first-time mom that I later realized we never got a picture of me with her at the hospital. We have a picture of her with everyone else, but none with me. So wrong! We have since made up for that mistake, and will probably make up for it again tomorrow.

Ali did enjoy a special breakfast, and then my mom took her and Meghan out for a mani/pedi. Ali then went to the movies with her friend Lexi, and they followed that up with hours of play time. I was a bit sad that she seemed to want to spend time with everyone but me, but I didn't let her know this. Nope. Instead, I snuck into her bed when she was asleep and snuggled her. She woke up when I was climbing out of that bed, and I told her I loved her. She sweetly said, "I love you too." Precious!

We are celebrating her birthday, as well as Easter, with the family tomorrow. I asked her what kind of cake she wanted, and she said an Easter Egg. Here it is...

What do you think? I don't know if you can tell, but those are little bunny marshmallows hopping around her cake.

Too cute!

So, here is to another fabulous year with the child whom is most like me. That can be good, and it can be trying, but no matter what it is always an adventure. An adventure that I am happy to be ~~surviving~~ enjoying. ;-)

An Eggy Celebration

2011-04-23T11:00:00.001-05:00

I LOVE the holidays! Of course, if you read my blog at all, you probably already know that. To me, holidays are a reason to celebrate and create memories. Just yesterday we did some celebrating, and we invited my niece and nephew to join us.

Here are all of the kids coloring their eggs. Each of them got to decorate 7 eggs, and it was fun to see them being creative.

Here are some of our finished creations.

After having fun with real eggs, we made some candy birds nests and put candy eggs inside.

My daughter, Meghan, and

my sweet niece, Emma, were both putting tons of eggs in their nests.

I think Emma finally had the most though. You really couldn't even see her nest anymore. Silly girl!

Ali didn't use quite as many eggs as the other girls. Don't mind my crazy nephew!

Josh was enjoying eating his masterpiece.

I made a few too.

They were easy to make and very tasty too. I just mixed a bag of white morsels and a bag of peanut butter morsels with 6 ounces of chow mein noodles. Then we scooped, created a little spot for the eggs, and gently dropped them into their spot. Voila! Easy and tasty treat.

All of the kids had a good time. Even those goofy boys!

Friday Fill-Ins

2011-04-22T13:19:00.001-05:00

1. Pardon me, would you happen to have any Grey Poupon? I remember those crazy commercials. Do you?

2. I am getting better at looking for a good deal.

3. I was surprised to find that I really like guacamole, and I am so thankful that I gave in and tried that green goop. It is my favorite thing to eat.

4. Television is one of my favorite forms of entertainment. I enjoy zoning out to a television show after my kids go to bed.

5. Hi, my name is Dawn and I'm a holidayaholic. I love all holidays!

6. I enjoy lazy summer afternoons. The kind where you sit in the shade, sip lemonade, and read an interesting book. Heaven!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to recuperating from an afternoon of coloring eggs and making birds nests , tomorrow my plans include baking an Easter egg shaped birthday cake for my daughter, as well as spending some time with her and Sunday, I want to go to church and then celebrate Easter, as well as my daughter's 9th birthday, with family. We are going to enjoy a tasty meal, eat delicious cake, have an Easter Egg Hunt, and let the kids take turns whacking a bunny pinata!

Our Menu For 4/18/11 Through 4/24/11

2011-04-18T13:04:00.003-05:00

Monday~Poppy Seed Chicken over Rice, Green Beans
Tuesday~Hamburger Chop Suey, Sticky Rice
Wednesday~Tacos
Thursday~Mustgoes
Friday~Pizza
Saturday~French Toast with Sausage Links
Sunday~Easter Dinner....Ham and all the fixin's

Things To Celebrate...4/18/11 Through 4/24/11

2011-04-17T17:00:00.001-05:00

Here are some special days that you can celebrate with your family. Remember the point is to make memories, as well as teach your children a variety of things. If you celebrate one of these, do share! :-)

Monday the 18th~

National Animal Crackers Day
Passover begins at Sundown
Adult Autism Day
International Amateur Radio Day
International Juggler's Day~Learn a new skill...juggling!
On this day in 1775, Paul Revere went on his famous ride.

Tuesday the 19th~

Garlic Day
National Amaretto Day
National Hanging Out Day~Invite some friends over and have a day of hanging out.
On this day in 1897, the first annual Boston Marathon was held.
The American Revolutionary War began on this day in 1775.
Today is the anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing, which took place in 1995.~Talk to older children about this horrific event. Teach them that when bad things happen to good people we often struggle to understand why and simply have to rely on our faith in Jesus.

Wednesday the 20th~

National Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Lima Bean Respect Day
Today is the anniversary of the Columbine High School Killings, which took place in 1999.~Yet another horrible day in history that you can discuss with older children. Let them know they can talk to you with all of their feelings. Encourage them that you are there to help them.
Adolf Hitler was born on this day in 1889.

Thursday the 21st~

Chocolate-Covered Cashew Truffle Day
National High-Five Day
National Teach Your Children to Save Day~If you haven't opened a savings account for your child, today is the day. If you have, take them to make a deposit.
It is said that Rome was founded on this day in 753 B.C.~Ah, but it wasn't built in one day. Talk to your children about how it often takes a long time to do something important.

Friday the 22nd~

National Jelly Bean Day
Earth Day~Plant a tree, take stuff to be recycled, or go for a bike ride, but whatever you do today, make sure you are being conscientious of the future of our planet.
Good Friday
"In God We Trust Day" Day

Saturday the 23rd~

National Cherry Cheesecake Day
National Picnic Day
Movie Theater Day...On this day in 1896, the first movie was shown in a theater in New York City.~Take your family to the movies.
Talk Like Shakespeare Day...William Shakespeare was born on this day in 1564.
Take a Chance Day~Ask your children to share one thing they are afraid to try, or share one thing with them, and then attempt to take a chance on these things. You can't succeed unless you try!
On this day in 1977, Dr. Allen Bussey completed 20,302 yo-yo loops.
On this day in 1985, the Coca-Cola Company announced that it was changing its 99-year-old formula. New Coke was not successful.

Sunday the 24th~

National Pigs-in-a-Blanket Day
Easter~Reflect on the wonderful sacrifice that Jesus made for each of us.

Friday Fill-Ins

2011-04-15T07:15:00.000-05:00

1. For me, it was a pretty normal week. I like normal.

2. I really enjoy the locally made pizza that I get at my local supermarket.

3. Behind the sound of the wind in the trees, I heard the call of the coyotes.

4. Acting on stage is something I always wanted to do. The problem is I am just too chicken!

5. When it was over, I slept for hours. Sleeping is just what I do.

6. Watching my dad die was a difficult time in my life, but I never felt alone. I have such wonderful family and friends!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to possibly having a movie night with my kiddos, tomorrow my plans include relaxing at home and Sunday, I want to go to church and then get organized for next week! Nothing too exciting. :-)

Thursday Thirteen

2011-04-14T06:37:00.002-05:00

13 Things I Love About Spring

1. Sunshine!~ I am in desperate need of some Vitamin D.

2. Birds Chirping~They sing such a beautiful song.

3. Warmer Weather~I love that I can open up the windows.

4. Baseball~I enjoy watching my son play, and my daughter should be starting soon too.

5. My Daughter's Birthday~We will be celebrating her 9th next week.

6. Easter~Jesus paid the ultimate price for each one of us!

7. Spring Break~Time to sleep in. Yahoo!!

8. Green Grass~Now mowing that green grass is another story. ;-)

9. Blooming Flowers~Beauty all around us!

10. Bare Feet~I love to go outside without shoes, and the warmer weather allows me to do just that.

11. Grilling Out~Sure, you can do this all year, but it is more fun when the weather warms up.

12. Garage Sales~I used to detest garage sales. Why would I want someones junk that they don't want? I was an idiotic snob!
13. Mushroom Hunting~Okay, I don't personally enjoy going mushroom hunting. Tried it once. Found nothing. Got bored. But I do love that my husband takes our kiddos into the woods for some quality time with dad. Plus, mom gets some much needed quiet time at home, and that is not boring at all.

Our Menu For 4/11/11 Through 4/17/11

2011-04-10T18:17:00.003-05:00

This week is going to be a challenge for me. Ali has Brownies on Monday night. Josh has baseball on Tuesday. Ali has piano after school on Wednesday & Meg has dance that evening. Then on Thursday Josh has baseball again and right after that we have the Open House at school. Friday, Saturday and Sunday look good now, but they are the weekend, and you just never know. Ugh!

Moms deal with these kinds of challenges all the time, and honestly, I know how to make it work. You simply need to plan ahead and start early. I am so good at the planning ahead, but that is where I get lost. I never start early. I think I have time. Then dinner time comes and nothing is ready. Not this week! I vow to be better prepared. I will cook in the morning if I have to. ;-)

Monday~Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Casserole, Yogurt and Fruit Cocktail
Tuesday~Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup
Wednesday~Slow Cooker Kielbasa & Kraut with Mashed Potatoes
Thursday~Cheesy Chicken Pasta, Edamame, and Applesauce
Friday~Mustgoes
Saturday~Hamburger Chop Suey with White Rice
Sunday~Grilled Steaks with Grilled Veggies

Ummmm, Mother Nature, We Need To Talk!

2011-04-10T17:30:00.003-05:00

Dear Mother Nature,

As you most definitely already know, it is 82 degrees out. Right now. On April 10th at 5:30 in the evening. In Illinois. That is a problem!

You see, Mother Nature, I am ready for Spring. You remember that season, right? It is the one that has warmer days and chilly nights. Temperatures in Spring rarely get above 70, and in the evening they usually stay around 40. Spring also has lots of rain, which perks up the dead looking grass and trees.

Now, according to the calendar, it is Spring until June 21st, when summer begins. However, I know that you usually allow summer weather to creep in a bit before that. I am okay with that, but let's make a deal. No more summer weather before June 1st. None. Zip. Nada.

Thank you so much! You have a wonderful spring.

A fan of the seasons,
Dawn

Things To Celebrate...4/11/11 through 4/17/11

2011-04-10T17:00:00.001-05:00

Have you been celebrating? If so, are you noticing any benefits? When I am purposeful in celebrating these silly holidays, I find that my family spends more quality time together. They also get spoiled more with special meals or desserts, and that makes them feel special. Remember the whole point of celebrating is to create memories, teach your children, and have fun.

Monday the 11th~

National Cheese Fondue Day
Barbershop Quartet Day~Expose your children to some music that isn't widely heard anymore. You can find videos of barbershop quartets online.
National Pet Day~If you have a pet, make them a special treat. If you don't have one, visit a local pet store and talk about the different pets. You might even think about getting one for your family.
On this day in 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first African-American to play baseball in the major leagues.~Get outside and play some baseball.
Dodge Morgan set sail in 1986 for his solo nonstop trip around the world which took 150 days.

Tuesday the 12th~

Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day
National Licorice Day
National Library Day~Visit your library. Teach your child about the Dewey Decimal System. You can also show them that the library has more than just books.
D.E.A.R. Day (Drop Everything And Read)
The Civil War began on this day in 1861.
On this day, Puerto Rico became a United States Territory in 1900.

Wednesday the 13th~

National Peach Cobbler Day
Thomas Jefferson was born on this day in 1743.
Scrabble Day~Play regular Scrabble or the Junior version.
The first elephant was brought to America from Bengal, India on this day in 1796.~Celebrate elephants by reading a book about elephants and giving young children an elephant ride. You are the elephant.

Thursday the 14th~

National Pecan Day
International Moment of Laughter Day~Laugh often today. Watch a silly movie and tell funny jokes.
Look Up At the Sky Day~Can you find any shapes in the clouds?
Harriet Tubman started the underground railroad on this day in 1853.
First dictionary of American English was published on this day in 1828.~Have dictionary races...see who can find a certain word fastest.

Friday the 15th~

National Glazed Spiral-Ham Day
Income Tax Pay Day
First McDonald's opened on this day in 1955.~You could treat the family to dinner at McDonald's, or you could serve hamburgers and fries and pretend you are at McDonald's. My family likes to do this on taco night, but we pretend we are at Taco Bell.
Leonardo DaVinci was born in 1452.
On this day in 1865, Abraham Lincoln was assassinated.
Titanic sunk on this day in 1912.

Saturday the 16th~

Day of the Mushroom
National Eggs Benedict Day
Auctioneers Day~Take your family to an auction.
Husband Appreciation Day~Let your children see you doing something kind for your husband.
Teach Your Daughter to Volunteer Day
National Stress Awareness Day

Sunday the 17th~

National Cheeseball Day
Bat Appreciation Day
Ellis Island Family History Day~Have your children search the Ellis Island website for your family.
Palm Sunday
Benjamin Franklin died on this day in 1790

If you celebrate, do share! I love to read about how you are blessing your family.

Pocahontas

2011-04-09T14:06:00.001-05:00

This past week my kids and I celebrated Pocahontas and John Rolfe's anniversary by watching a video and reading a couple of books.

We learned quite a bit about Pocahontas' life, but I think we learned something even more important. We learned that books and movies about history sometimes have conflicting information. This led us to talk about how things weren't always recorded well 1400 years ago, and information was sometimes lost or embellished along the way.

Ali and I think the best way to get fairly correct information is to do quite a bit of research. From that you can decipher for yourself what happened. Ali said that if 4 books say something, and 1 book says something different, you can be pretty sure the 4 books are accurate. History is important but not exact.

Friday Fill-Ins

2011-04-08T07:04:00.002-05:00

1. In the near darkness the 'thiefs' come out, or at least that is what my Meghan and Josh said just this past week.

2. I am on a mental vacation til further notice. ;-)

3. But this weekend should provide me with much relaxation time.

4. Last summer, we went to Gatlinburg, and we waded in the stream. Good times!

5. It's always nice to make memories with your family.

6. Friends should provide you with laughter and pleasant company.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to having a normal night at home, tomorrow my plans include helping my daughter with a school project and Sunday, I want to go to church and hang out with my family, as well as get organized for next week!

Thankful Thursday~My Mom

2011-04-07T08:48:00.000-05:00

I am so thankful for my mom. I am sure I have said that before on my blog, but it is worth repeating. Jeffrey goes to work before 7 AM Monday through Saturday. He usually doesn't get home before 8, and there are nights when it is closer to 10 or 11. During his busy season, which is April through November, he often works on Sundays too. I love my husband dearly, and I am so thankful that he is a wonderful provider, but he can be very work focused. I am told that often happens to people who own their own businesses.

My mom keeps me from going insane. Taking care of a home, as well as the three children, can be very overwhelming without support from a spouse. My mom spends much of her time at our home helping me. Without her I would go into "survival mode." I know because this is what it was like before she lived nearby. I simply tried to do what needed to be done. The kids and I rarely did anything fun, and I most definitely did not have the ability to volunteer at the kids' school or at church. Survival mode really isn't all that much fun, especially for someone like me that struggles with depression and anxiety.

She helps me with the laundry, cooking and the cleaning. She watches the kids, and she even drives the kids to their activities when needed. This is especially helpful when two children need to be at different places at the same time. My mom also watches the kids so that Jeff and I can have quality time together.

I am convinced that my marriage would not be as happy as it is without my mother. She often encourages me to make sure I am showing my husband love. I used to complain to Jeff all the time because I was overwhelmed and needed help, but now I rarely complain about these things. It is because of her that I can be the wife and mother that I am, and I don't take that for granted. I am appreciative.

So, Mom, if you are reading this, know that you are most definitely loved and appreciated. Your hard work and devotion to this family does not go unnoticed. Thank you for helping me to be a better wife and mother. I love you!

Thursday Thirteen~Keep America Beautiful

2011-04-07T07:49:00.000-05:00

April is 'Keep America Beautiful' Month. Here are...

13 Ways You Can Keep America Beautiful

1. Fix a leaky faucet. A steady drip can waste up to 20 gallons of water a day.

2. Make a personal commitment too not litter.

3. Carry around a plastic bag, and pick up at least one piece of litter each day.

4. If you smoke, don't throw your cigarette butts on the ground. They are litter too, and they are not recyclable. They are harmful to the environment, clog storm drains, and are not digestible by animals.

5. Do a project on the outside of your house to give it more "curb appeal."

6. Help an elderly or disabled person by doing a project at their home.

7. Bring reusable bags when you go shopping, instead of using plastic bags.

8. Recycle! Stay informed and know what materials are accepted in your local recycling program.

9. Plant something in your yard that is native to your area.

10. If you have a fire in an open place, be responsible and put it out properly.

11. Pick up after your pet.

12. Put outdoor lights on a timer so you don't waste electricity.

13. Encourage your library to set up an environmental corner that offers books and other educational materials about taking care of the environment.

Okay, now is the time to admit that I do not recycle. Doing this post has made me realize that I need to drive by our local recycle center and see what they accept. I think it is time to start taking care of America!

Wordful Wednesday

2011-04-06T08:53:00.002-05:00

This is a picture of Meghan from her 4th birthday, which was last November. We had a Hello Kitty birthday party for her, and she wanted to sleep with her balloon. She never let go. Isn't that sweet?

Our Menu For 4/4/11 Through 4/10/11

2011-04-04T00:09:00.001-05:00

Yet again meals are getting carried over from last week. I just can't seem to get it together. Ugh! Part of my problem is that I have the plan, but I wait until the last minute to implement the plan. That means I get frustrated and scrap it altogether. I will do better this week! ;-)

Monday~Chicken & Dressing Casserole, Peas & Yogurt
Tuesday~Deep Dish Pizza Casserole and Fruit Cocktail
Wednesday~Nachos
Thursday~Cheeseburger Soup with French Bread
Friday~Mustgoes
Saturday~Slow-Cooker Kielbasa and Kraut with Mashed Potatoes
Sunday~"Unstuffed" Cabbage Roll Casserole, Yogurt and Peaches

Things To Celebrate...4/4/11 Through 4/10/11

2011-04-03T17:00:00.001-05:00

Celebrating these silly holidays is all about creating memories and good times with your family. Embrace life! Try to celebrate at least one of these this week.

Monday the 4th~

National Cordon Bleu Day
Tater Day (Sweet Potatoes)
Vitamin C Day~Make a Vitamin C smoothie. Yum!
National Reading a Roadmap Day~Pick a nearby destination, give your (older) children a map, and have them navigate you to the location. A park would be a fun place to choose especially if it is a beautiful Spring day.
The process for making cocoa powder was patented on this day in 1828.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on this day in 1968.

Tuesday the 5th~

National Caramel Day
National Raisin and Spice Bar Day
National Deep Dish Pizza Day~Venture out to your favorite pizza place and enjoy a deep dish pizza pie.
One Day Without Shoes Day
Pocahontas married English colonist John Rolfe in Virginia on this day in 1614.

Wednesday the 6th~

National Caramel Popcorn Day
Army Day~Have young boys? Play Army. Older children? Talk about the sacrifices our Army men and women make for each of us.
National Day of Hope
National D.A.R.E. Day
The first modern Olympic games opened in Athens, Greece on this day in 1896.~Create your own family Olympics.
The North Pole was discovered on this day in 1909.
The United States entered World War 1 on this day in 1917.

Thursday the 7th~

Coffee Cake Day
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Day
International Beaver Day
Metric System Day~Let your children do some measuring around the house using the Metric System.
No Housework Day~A day we can all enjoy!

Friday the 8th~

National Empanada Day
Draw a Picture of a Bird Day

Saturday the 9th~

Chinese Almond Cookie Day
National Cherish an Antique Day
Winston Churchill Day
The Civil War ended on this day in 1865.

Sunday the 10th~

National Cinnamon Crescent Day
National Farm Animals Day~Visit an area farm and talk about the different animals.
National Sibling Day~Encourage your children to do something nice for their siblings.
Golfer's Day~Take your children golfing. Miniature golfing counts!

If you do get around to celebrating one or more of these, please do share! :-)

April Fool's!

2011-04-02T16:42:00.003-05:00

I was planning on making meatloaf cupcakes for dinner on April Fool's Day, but we just recently had meatloaf. Folks, I couldn't bring myself to eat it again so soon, and I really do like meatloaf. So, I did some searching, and I found this fun faux fish stick recipe on the Family Fun website.

This recipe was super easy. I was going to trick my kids with it, but I decided to let them get involved with the preparations. I admit that it was easier to do it this way, and I also admit I am not a huge fan of tricks. So, I made the fish sticks while the kids made the peas. Well, Mamook (a.k.a. my mom) helped make the peas, because one little boy did a lot of whining during this process. I won't mention names, but it probably doesn't escape your notice that I only have one boy. ;-)

Here are my kiddos with there creations. I think they were pretty proud of their silly snack.

I think it seriously resembles fish sticks and peas. Pretty cool!

Here is Josh acting like a fool on April Fool's Day. Silly kid!

Hope you all had a fabulously silly April Fool's Day too! Do share what you did! :-)

Ultimate Blog Party 2011

2011-04-01T09:56:00.003-05:00

Hello! Welcome to Dawn's Daily Life. I am so glad that you are here! We are partyin' today, and what good is a party without food. Would you like some fruit pizza?

How about a drink? Would you care for a coke?

Can I get you anything else? No. Well, how about I tell you a little about myself then.

My name is Dawn. Jeff and I will celebrate our 10th anniversary in June. Here is a picture of us with our three kiddos. Ali will be 9 in less than a month, Josh is 7, and Meghan is 4. Aren't they cute?

This blog is about me. My life. My life as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend. My life as a Christian. I try to be as real as possible. Life is not perfect. If you have come looking for perfection, you can move on now. ;-)

I have a passion for silly holidays. Why? Because when I celebrate these holidays with my family it creates quality family time, teachable moments, and can just be plain ol' fun. I have a feeling my children will look back on their childhood fondly because of many of these holidays we have celebrated. Here they are when we celebrated Mardi Gras.

On this blog, I try to encourage you to at least celebrate one holiday a week with your family. This past week we celebrated 'Eat Something on a Stick Day' and the fact that Coca-Cola was invented in 1886. While we drank our Coca-Cola, we did a family devotion about hard work/chores. It was a meaningful talk, and my children got to hear several verses from the bible about hard work and laziness.

I am also passionate about cookbooks. I love recipes, cooking, and kitchen gadgets. I share a lot of good recipes here on this blog, as well as my recipe blog. Every Monday I post our recipe for the week. By doing this I hope to introduce you to new things to cook for your family. Nothing super fancy here though. I am all about quick, easy and tasty. Life is too busy for anything gourmet. :-)

Sometimes the teacher in me comes out in my blog too. I have a degree in Elementary Education, which hasn't been used formally, since my first child was born right after I student taught. I sometimes post educational things you can do with your children, and I often use the Thursday Thirteen Meme to post educational tidbits. I think it is fun to learn new things, and I strongly believe you are never to old to learn.

I suppose I shouldn't keep you too much longer. I know you have many other blog parties to attend. If you think you would like to follow along with my daily life, learn to celebrate silly things with your family, or enjoy great recipes, please click the follow button in the sidebar. I hope we will become BBF's...Best Bloggy Friends. (Yes, I am a dork! No denial here.)

:-) Have a great day! (-:

Food 4 Thought Friday

2011-04-01T08:28:00.005-05:00

Breakfast...What is your favorite board game?~The Game of Life and Clue are the ones I love most. I just told my daughter that we have to get The Game of Life soon, because I know she would love playing with me.

Lunch...Are you a people watcher?~I am. I enjoy watching how people handle situations and interact with others.

Dinner...What do you have too much of?~Ummmm, cookbooks? Although, I don't think you can have too many of something so useful. ;-)

Midnight Snack...What was the most frustrating thing that happened this week?~I'll sum that up and just say 'my son's behavior.' He has just about drove me to the loony bin this week.

Recipe of the Week (instead of your recipe for life what is it just for the week?)~Live your passion.

Adoration

2011-04-01T08:25:00.002-05:00

I have found a new author that I adore. Sarah Addison Allen. She rocks! Each book has a magical component that I enjoy like you wouldn't believe.

I have read all three of the above books. Don't ask me which one is my favorite, because I am not sure that I could pick. I got swept up into each one of the stories and carried away to a wonderful place filled with fantastic characters.

Now all I have to do is get my hands on her 4th book, which is called The Peach Keeper. I am sure it will be just as wonderful as her other 3!

Have you read any of these novels? What did you think? Have any authors that you enjoy? Do share!

Friday Fill-Ins

2011-04-01T00:00:00.002-05:00

1. I can't believe April is already here. Didn't 2011 just start like 3 days ago?

2. A round of Coca-Cola for everyone. (Oh, how the times have changed!)

3. How can I make some money from home??? This question has been bouncing around my head for days.

4. Macaroni & cheese was the last thing I cooked, and that was on Monday. I haven't done much cooking again this week. My family hasn't gone hungry though. I promise!

5. Six of one or half dozen of another. What is the difference?

6.I have to pay bills ; nonono!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to my friend Tammy's house for a Lia Sophia party with my mom and my friend's Jacquie and Karen, tomorrow my plans include taking Josh to his baseball practice, buying some Girl Scout cookies from Ali at her sale, and hopefully cleaning my house and Sunday, I want to go to church for the first time in 3 weeks (Oh how I miss church!!) and spend time with my family!

Thankful Thursday~Feel No Shame!

2011-03-31T08:18:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I was talking to a very good friend on the phone. She mentioned that she met a girl at church who seemed a little embarrassed to say that she met her husband at a club. This got me thinking. Everyone has a past. Some have "squeaky clean" pasts according to society, and others have "downright dirty" pasts according to society, but everyone has sinful pasts according to the Lord. There is not one of us that doesn't need forgiveness.

Once we have embraced that forgiveness, I feel we should let go of the shame. Past shame can hinder our walk with the Lord. It can cause us to not fully embrace His gift. Psalm 34:5 says, 'Those who look to Him are radiant, their faces are never covered with shame.' So, once we are focused on Him, we need to learn to let that shame go. Feel no shame for what has already been forgiven!

I admit that it took me a while to do just that. I held onto my past sins, and therefore much shame, which was pure torture. It kept me from enjoying what Jesus has in store for me. Yes, I did many sinful things in my past. But guess what? I am a new person! I now have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and I long to please Him. The person I was no longer has a hold on me. I don't need to hide the person that I was, but I also don't need to wear it like a Scarlet Letter. This is true for all believers.

Thank you, Jesus, for sacrificing your life for my sins, as well as the sins of my brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank you for loving us enough to lead us to a better way of life. I am forever grateful!

If you are holding onto your past sins, or even a sin committed against you, let it go. Relinquish it so that you may fully enjoy your new life. A life that is eternal and glorifying to the one that created us in His image. :-)

Thursday Thirteen

2011-03-30T23:16:00.000-05:00

I'm in a shopping mood. Of course, my husband would say I am always in a shopping mood. ;-) Here are some things on my "wish list." Some are much more easily attained than others.

13 Things On My Wish List

1. Bread Machine~I really want to learn to make different types of breads, and I think the bread machine might just be the way to go.

2. Westmoreland Milk Glass Plates~I would love to have a set of these plates. I love the simple look of them, and Jeff has many Westmoreland pieces. It is really more his thing than mine, but it is growing on me. You can't just walk into a store and get these dishes, which makes them more difficult to find, as well as pricey.
3. Sandals~Summer is coming, and I would love a new pair of sandals...or two.

4. Picnic Cooler~I have always wanted a cute, adorable picnic basket lined with red and white gingham. However, I am realizing that is not super practical. It can be extremely hot in the summer, and you want your food to stay cool for a decent amount of time on a picnic. With a cooler like this, my family could go on fun picnics and not worry about food poisoning.

5. Over-the-Toilet Cabinet~We truly need one. I need a place to store bathroom items in a bad way!

6. Fireplace Insert~Jeff and I have lived in our home for almost 8 years, and we just finally had our fireplace looked at last month. The man said that we need to get a fireplace insert, which sounds easy enough to me. So, I hope we can get this accomplished before this fall. I would love to enjoy some fires with my family this fall and winter.
7. Wood Floors~I would love, love, love to have wood floors throughout our house minus the bedrooms and bathrooms. However, that sounds expensive and unlikely to happen. So, I will settle for at least having wood flooring in our fireplace room.

8. Pajamas~Lately I have been feeling the need to have some jammies. I'll be honest. I usually just sleep in a t-shirt, which has always suited me just fine. But my kids are getting older, and they are going to want to start having kids over more often. So, I think it is time to make a change, so that I can walk around in front of others in my sleepwear.

9. Shredder~With all the identity theft in the world, not to mention that our credit card was recently used without authorization, I feel it is time to get a shredder. I should probably do that sooner rather than later.

10. Candy Making Gloves~These are the least expensive thing on my list. I think they would be useful when making cake pops.

11. Comfy Reading Chair~I love to read, and I would really love a place of my own to do that reading. I have just the spot in my hearth room, and this chair would be perfect!

12. Sofa~Speaking of furniture, we could really use a new sofa. Oh sure, ours can easily be used for a few more years. Of course, if you lay on it you will feel metal and wood poking your back. If you sit on it, you will sort of sink to the side a tad. Just not comfy. I would really like to eventually have one like this without all the pillows.

13. Light Fixture~We need a light fixture over our new dining room table. I really like the look of this one.

So, what is on your wish list? Do share!

Wordful Wednesday~Sleeping Beauty

2011-03-30T08:25:00.004-05:00

Isn't my Sleeping Beauty just precious? Last weekend, while I was sitting in that chair, she crawled onto my back to sit. This isn't unusual, as she does this all the time while I am at the computer. What was unusual is that this time in just a matter of seconds my mom said to me, "Meghan is asleep." I so eloquently replied, "Nuh Uh!"

Sure enough she was asleep. So, I laid her on the chair. I checked in on her right before we ate dinner, and I just had to take a picture. She is all curled up in a fetal position. So big, but she is still my baby.

She was thankful that she missed dinner, which was meatloaf, mashed potatoes and creamed corn. She got to pick her dinner, and if I remember correctly, she picked bologna and crackers. That girl is going to turn into a big ol' piece of bologna. Don't worry! If that happens, I will be sure to snap a picture.

:-)

Love This Magazine

2011-03-29T07:53:00.000-05:00

I recently purchased Yum Food & Fun for Kids at the store. It caught my eye, since it was geared towards mothers, and I was surprised to find out that it has just entered its second year in publication. How have I not heard of this magazine before?

This magazine featured many kid friendly foods. There were desserts, snacks, and main dishes that I would not only feed my children, but I would also have them help make. Scattered throughout the pages were many fun products that a mom just might want to purchase. I know I saw several cool things! But probably my most favorite thing about the magazine was that it had lots of fun ways to celebrate holidays. This particular issue offered up ideas for Dr. Seuss's Birthday, St. Patrick's Day, April Fool's Day, Passover, Easter, Cinco de Mayo, and Mother's Day.

I know this will probably sound corny, but flipping through the pages and reading the wonderful ideas made me giddy. Truly excited! If ever I created a magazine, it would be very similar to this one. If you too are a mom that likes cooking for your family, as well as celebrating holidays with them, you should check this out the next time you are at the market. I don't think you will be disappointed! :-)

Lesson Learned

2011-03-28T14:38:00.004-05:00

Today, while grocery shopping, I got Meghan the new Crayola Colored Bubbles. Of course she wanted to use them as soon as we got home, and I told her to do so on our deck. Ohhhhhh, the mess!

She had bright blue spots all over the deck, outdoor furniture, herself and her clothes. Now, they are washable, but I didn't want to take the chance on our deck. It took a bit to scrub it off in some areas of the deck, and it also took a bit of scrubbing to get it off her feet. I haven't washed the outfit yet, but it is white so I am sure bleach will do the trick.

The lesson that I learned is that regular bubbles are just fine. Perfect as a matter of fact, and much, much cheaper. I'm not saying you shouldn't give these fun, colorful bubbles a try. I'm just saying you need to be prepared for the mess. :-)

Woot, Woot!!

2011-03-28T09:01:00.003-05:00

I finally used our treadmill!! My mom got this for Jeff and I as a Valentine's Day present. You know, so we can keep our hearts healthy. We have had it put together for weeks now, but I haven't actually used it...until today.

Sure, I only used it for 15 minutes today, but that is a start. The fact that I didn't go back to bed once I got the kids on the bus is another miracle. Woohoo! Today is a good day. Rejoice with me! :-)

Our Menu For 3/28/11 Through 4/3/11

2011-03-28T05:46:00.001-05:00

Last week was a rough week in our home. First the girls were sick, and then I was sick. So, the menu plan didn't go as, well, planned. That means I get to carry a lot of those meals over. The good thing about that is I don't have to buy as many groceries at the grocery store. Always good to find the silver lining in life. :-)

Monday~Corn Dogs, Mac 'N Cheese, and Fruit Kabobs
Tuesday~Fried Pork Chops, Edamame, and Mushrooms and Brown Rice
Wednesday~Chicken and Dressing Casserole, Peas and Yogurt
Thursday~Mustgoes
Friday~Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes that look like cupcakes and Corn
Saturday~Cheeseburger Soup and French Bread
Sunday~Mustgoes

Things To Celebrate...3/28/11 Through 4/3/11

2011-03-27T21:00:00.001-05:00

Celebrating is a way to embrace life. Some might say it is silly to celebrate these random, crazy, and sometimes wacky holidays, but I see it as a way to create memories with our children. During these celebrations you will have fun, and by exposing your children to many different random topics, you will likely have teachable moments. Teachable moments are those times when you can share something of value with your child. You don't need to celebrate something everyday, but try to do at least one a week for a while. I bet you will see that they not only enjoy these special times, but you will also start to see them learning more diverse things.

Monday the 28th~

Eat Something on a Stick Day
National Black Forest Cake Day
Weed Appreciation Day
Nathaniel Briggs patented the washing machine on this day in 1797~Have your children help with the wash today.
The Salvation Army was officially organized on this day in 1885~Visit a Salvation Army store with your child. Purchase something there or donate something for them to sell. Talk to your children about helping others in your community.
Sally Ride became the first woman in space on this day in 1983

Tuesday the 29th~

National Lemon Chiffon Cake Day
National Mom & Pop Business Owner's Day~Visit a local Mom & Pop Shop.
Coca-Cola was invented on this day in 1886~Enjoy a nice cold glass of Coca-Cola while you sit and chat with your child.
Mariner 10 became the first spacecraft to reach Mercury on this day in 1974~Research Mercury online, and learn something new about this small planet.

Wednesday the 30th~

Doctors Day~Let your child be the doctor, and you be the patient.
Grass is Always Browner on the Other Side of the Fence Day~Talk with your child about how the grass really isn't greener on the other side of the fence. We can't compare what we have with what others have. You can talk about jealousy, greed, and envy.
Take a Walk in the Park Day
Amelia Earhart became the first woman to make a solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 1932~Read a book about Amelia today.
The United States purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million on this day in 1867~Research Alaska online. Look at pictures, facts, and bits of trivia about this vast state.

Thursday the 31st~

National Clams on the Half Shell Day
Oranges and Lemons Day~Have your child help you squeeze either oranges or lemons for some juice.
Bunsen Burner Day
Mule Day
Eiffel Tower opened on this day in 1889~This monument was a celebration of the science and technology achievements of the age. What "monuments" do you or your children have of your achievements?

Friday the 1st~

National Sourdough Bread Day
April Fools Day~Serve your family a silly supper. I am planning on making "cupcakes" that are actually little meatloaves topped with mashed potatoes.
International Tatting
National Fun at Work Day
Poetry & the Creative Mind Day
Ruins of Pompeii were found on this day in 1748~Read 'The Buried City of Pompeii' by Shelley Tanaka with your child.
Oliver Pollack designed the symbol for the dollar in 1778~Give your child a lesson in money. Give them one dollar at the dollar store. They will realize they can only purchase one item, which means they have to be selective.

Saturday the 2nd~

National Peanut Butter & Jelly Day
International Children's Book Day
Reconciliation Day~Teach your child that life is too short to hold grudges. God wants us to forgive others, and here is a day where we can do just that.
World Autism Day
International Pillow Fight Day~Now this sounds like something all children will enjoy...a pillow fight with mom and/or dad.
Hans Christian Anderson was born on this day in 1805

Sunday the 3rd~

National Chocolate Mousse Day
Pony Express began delivering mail on this day in 1860
National Find a Rainbow Day~Learn how to make a rainbow or simply paint one, if you can't find a real one today. You could even decorate a cake with Skittles to make a rainbow.

It goes without saying that there is no right or wrong way to "celebrate" these holidays. The point is to be creating memories and learning moments for you and your children. However you choose to do that is just fine.

I hope this post inspires you to do some celebrating. If so, do share! :-)

He Is Excited!!

2011-03-26T15:51:00.002-05:00

Josh is playing baseball this summer, and he just found out what team he will be playing for. Our teams are named after actual major league teams.
He will be on the Cardinals!

Josh loves the Cardinals, and he was afraid he was going to get put on the Cubs. I think we would have had a hard time getting him into a Cubs uniform.

Me? I don't care what team he plays for, but boys will be boys. He feels a sense of loyalty because he knows the Cardinals are what his dad likes, and I am personally just happy that he is happy. :-)

Me + Head Cold = Cranky, Tired, Miserable Mommy

2011-03-26T10:13:00.002-05:00

Sneeze, Snort, Cough....I have a head cold. My nose is stuffed up, my ears itch, and I keep coughing. And best of all, my head feels like it may explode any second. I blame my girls for this lovely cold.

They have both been sick this week. Meghan has come in my bed every night and coughed in my face all night long. Ali has come in my bed most nights, and made it impossible for me to get rest. She tosses and turns, coughs, and whines. All of this makes it impossible for me to sleep and attacked by germs.

Ugh! So, if you are looking for me. I'll be in my bed...sleeping this head cold off.

Food 4 Thought Friday is Back!!

2011-03-26T10:04:00.000-05:00

Breakfast...What is something that has changed about you recently?~Sadly, I have gained a couple of pounds. My eyebrows have also become unruly. I plan to work on both of these problems.

Lunch...What is on your mouse pad?~My mouse pad came with my Cricut Software, and it has their logo.

Dinner...What are you listening to right now?~My children playing MarioKart on the Wii.

Midnight Snack...What talent do you want to develop?~I would like to get better at making cake pops. So fun!

Recipe of the Week (instead of your recipe for life what is it just for the week?)~Just keep on keepin' on! We have all been sick, so I have just been trying to get through the week.

Cake Pop Recipe

2011-03-25T07:49:00.003-05:00

Above are the cake pops that I made for Valentine's Day, but I recently made some for St. Patrick's Day, and I gave those away at our Mom's Life meeting. I should have taken a picture of those yummy pops. Anyway, since then, I have had a few people ask for the recipe. So, without further ado...

Cake Pops

Ingredients

Cake Mix, baked as directed
Can Frosting
Candy Melts or Almond Bark
Lollipop Sticks

Directions

After the baked cake cools, put it in a large bowl. Crumbly with a mixer. Mix in frosting until your mixture is a consistency that will stick together...approximately 1 cup. Shape into deisred shape and insert lollipop sticks. Put in the freezer for a few minutes. Meanwhile, melt candy melts according to directions. Then take your cake pops out of the freezer, dip them, and set on waxed paper. Let harden and...ENJOY!!

Friday Fill-Ins

2011-03-25T07:36:00.004-05:00

1. Why does it have to get colder again? I am ready for Spring!

2. $1,000,000 is equal to 100,000,000 pennies. I really wish I had 100,000,000 pennies. ;-)

3. My favorite breakfast includes eggs cooked over-medium, bacon, and toast.

4. Clifford's First Easter was the last book I read to my youngest daughter.

5. I am SO glad the weekend is here! I am hoping to be able to get some sleep.

6. If my children, as well as myself, were healthy that would make me feel better right now.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to spending time at home watching some of Bones: Season 4, tomorrow my plans include relaxing at home with my family and hopefully napping and Sunday, I want to go to church and nap!

Thankful Thursday

2011-03-24T08:48:00.001-05:00

My immediate reaction as I pondered this post was that there really isn't much to be thankful for. This is not true at all! There is always something to be thankful for, and 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, "Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."

I wasn't being negative when I thought that there wasn't much reason to be thankful. I just wasn't really looking. See, sometimes it is easy to see things for which you should be thankful...birth of a baby, receiving a beautiful gift, having loving words lavished on you. Other times you have to look a little harder.

When we get out of the habit of looking, we really do ourselves a disservice. Being thankful during the good times in life is easy. Being thankful during the downright awful times can be difficult. Being thankful in all circumstances, well, that simply takes practice. When we do this, it helps us to become centered on Christ, and it brings honor and glory to Him.

Apparently I haven't been taking the time to practice being thankful. Ideally, we should take a minute or two each day to tell the Lord what we are thankful for, and in doing so we will honor Him and better ourselves. If you don't already to do this, try it this coming week and see if it helps stir up a more content and grateful heart. A heart that is focused on Him and living in a way that pleases Him.

After some observation, I realize I have much to be thankful for. I have a Savior that loves me at all times, a warm home to hunker down in during this dreary, windy day, and wonderful friends and family to share my everyday life with. I hope you all have much to be thankful for, and I pray that you know how to be thankful in all circumstances. :-)

Thursday Thirteen

2011-03-24T06:07:00.002-05:00

13 Things On My ~~Cluttered, Scattered, and Overworked~~ Mind

1. Eyebrows~I am tired of eyebrows! Seriously!! Why do they grow so darn fast? I need to wax mine every two weeks, but I never do. I always wait 6 weeks or more. Hideous! Now you know I am a hairy beast.

2. Birthday Party~I am in charge of my son's teacher's birthday party tomorrow. I wanted to make the cake, but Meghan is sick. So, I simply need to pick up the cake, buy the gift, and get some balloons. Easy Peasy!

3. Japan~Japan is definitely on my mind. My heart just breaks for what they went through and are still going through.

4. Fatigue~I am trying to figure out why I am so darn tired all the time. I start to think I am just lazy, but I know that is not the answer. The tiredness consumes me and doesn't relent until I fall asleep. I detest feeling like this!

5. Allergies~Tree pollen has been crazy high around here, which is no surprise since it is Spring. All of my kids are struggling because of this though. So, while I am grateful for Spring, I am already reminded of one of the parts of Spring that stink.

6. Bowling Alley~My daughter has a class project that she hasn't started yet. She has to make the town's bowling alley out of a shoebox. This sounds like one of those projects that is going to require a lot of mom's help, and mom doesn't really like those kinds of projects. ;-) I vow that she will start working on this on Saturday!

7. Cleaning~I need to get some cleaning done. I don't remember the last time I dusted all of our bedrooms. I won't even mention how messy my office is right now. Ugh! I try to keep on top of things, but there is just too much to do. I really need a maid. A free maid.

8. Finances~Money stinks! Well, mainly it stinks because I am not swimming in it, but thankfully I can pay the bills...usually. I really wish I could make some money from home, but who doesn't wish that. I enjoy holidays, baking, and planning events for kids. Why can't I get rich off of those interests???

9. Ali's Birthday~Speaking of planning events for kids, Ali's 9th birthday is at the end of April. It is actually the day before Easter this year. So, I have to plan her friend party, which is going to be a Bingo party. I also have to let all the family know we are just going to celebrate her birthday at Easter. That will make it easier on everyone else...and myself. Sweet!

10. Libya~I don't even know what to think about this whole situation. Yet, it is floating around in my head like a dead fish. I really should read up more about all of this so that I can (hopefully) put that fish to rest.

11. Exercise~I need to get motivated to start exercising. In this area, I am lazy. I have never enjoyed sports or physical exercise. Well, that isn't completely true. I think volleyball is fun, and I used to like to go walking on trails, but that was just so I could enjoy the beauty all around me. Once I start to sweat, I am ready to quit. I'm horrible! However, I really need to start doing this to better my health, as well as set a good example for my children.

12. Summer Vacation~As a kid, summer vacation is all about fun and spontaneity. As a mom, summer vacation is all about planning and organization. I have to figure out who is going to do which activities, what educational things we will do, and what, if any, vacations or staycations we will take. Spontaneity used to be what it was all about, but now planning is the key.

13. Yard Work~It is that time of year. I have to start thinking about what flowers to plant, what areas need to be cleaned up from last fall, and how to best store the kids toys so we can still park in the garage. Planting the flowers will be my favorite part of all that.

So, what is on your mind these days? Do share!

Wordful Wednesday~Fairy Party

2011-03-23T08:00:00.003-05:00

Meghan and I got invited to a Fairy Party, and she was all too happy to get all dressed up. Isn't she adorable?

At the party they played plenty of fairy games,

read a fairy book,

and ate some tasty fairy food.

A great time was had by everyone...especially the little fairies.

Our Menu For 3/21/11 Through 3/27/11

2011-03-21T06:36:00.001-05:00

Monday~Cheeseburger Macaroni, Corn and Applesauce
Tuesday~Mushroom Beef, White Rice, and Green Beans
Wednesday~Chili with Cornbread
Thursday~Mustgoes
Friday~Chicken and Dressing Casserole, Peas and Yogurt
Saturday~Grilled Marinated Steaks with Loaded Baked Potatoes
Sunday~Fried Pork Chops, Edamame, and Mushrooms and Brown Rice

30 Day Challenge

2011-03-20T17:08:00.002-05:00

Last week at Mom's Life, a group for women with children of all ages, we had a marriage talk. An awesome marriage talk. I think I loved it most because we weren't just listening to a speaker. She had us answering questions and sharing things the whole time. At the end she presented us with a 30 Day Challenge, which can be found on Nancy Leigh DeMoss' website.

Here is the challenge...

* You can't say anything negative about your husband ...to your husband...or to anyone
else, about your husband.
* Say something that you admire or appreciate about your husband...to your
husband...and to someone else, about your husband!

This isn't easy for many, but it is definitely a worthy challenge. Nancy has a little blurb for you to read each day that encourages you in this challenge.

So, I challenge you to do this 30 Day Challenge. Let me know if you accept this challenge.