Mommyville

Green smoothie that was more purple than green

2012-01-28T13:15:00.000-06:00

Two large carrots, chopped
1 banana (I used two pears, I don't do bananas)
One apple, chopped,
Half of a container of low-fat blueberry yogurt
1 T. flax seed
1 scoop chocolate protein powder (sub p.b. if you don't have powder)
1 cup skim milk
handful of blueberries
a handful of ice cubes
fill the rest of the blender with spinach

It tasted like a chocolate shake. It was good, a little gritty from the pear. Next time I will use a different fruit, something frozen since I rarely have ice on hand.

I will also add a cucumber, it was WAY too thick for me and I like them so you can drink them. I think the cucumber will help thin it without diluting the flavor.

Otherwise, YUM. What a great breakfast or fill me up to go lunch. I figure it is about 300 calories give or take what kind of milk and protein you choose. Be creative.

100th day of school

2012-01-28T12:17:00.002-06:00

I was this close (see me displaying my fingers a centimeter apart) to forgetting the 100th day of school this week. It was a doozie of a week. But, at the last possible moment before the kids headed out the door. I made one hundreds out of orange circles, peanut butter cracker sandwiches and twizzlers. Hey, it's the thought that counts :).

Only about 70 days left until summer!

Hi my name is Rani...

2012-01-28T11:40:00.003-06:00

and I am an internet junkie. For reals.

I feel like an intelligent person. I know how to surf my way around a lot of the web. But I have to admit, this new Google plus circle thingy has got me whipped. I have no idea how to manuever it. I used to be able to share my "deal" finds and they would conveniently show up on my deals tab in the little white box. It was so easy. Now, I don't know where the post goes when I click the share tab. It just stays in my google stream and gets lonely and dusty. I don't know how to fix that.

What I do know is that some of my readers are bargain hunter divas like me. I don't want anyone to miss out on that awesome big deal. I read hundreds of deal blogs every single day. There are amazing online deals from diapers to dog kennels and cereal to food processors. So if you are on the web and you need a place to visit, check out my posts on google. I am pretty sure you will find something you ~~need~~ want. Here is the link.

https://plus.google.com/108552033174645764240/posts

I could add you to my circles, but I am not quite sure how to do that. I have always been sort of square anyway :)

Happy hunting!

Hi

2012-01-26T15:34:00.003-06:00

And just like that the world comes crashing down.

It snowed, it got cold, I stopped running a mile a day, I am more than a week behind now. I think the challenge has officially beat me :(

Ryan has been working working working. I think the busy season has started. Between work at the hospital and first responder calls he barely has a free moment.

Ryan's aunt passed away early Saturday morning. Too sudden, it is a shock the family is still reeling from. I can't even talk about it yet, sorry.

My sister and I have plans to start up the supper club again. With a few tweaks to make it more fun and less work. I pray that I can do it, I enjoy spending time with her and my friends and the food is an added bonus.

The sun peeked out today from behind all the clouds and fog that was around earlier this week. It felt so nice. I wanted to take the girls to daycare so I could go for a run. But I didn't.

They were sitting downstairs putting puzzles together on the floor and I opened the patio blinds to let the sun shine in. "My back is too hot, mom. Close it." Addison told me. So I did.

The sun melted most of the walks so I scraped the neglected snow chunks and ice mush off while the girls pushed themselves down the hill in the backyard on sleds. It was so warm they tossed their soggy mittens aside.

Then I came in and listened to the radio. The weather man said we may get two inches in the morning. Oh well, pushing snow off the walks has to count as a workout. It's no 7 miles, though :)

My mom is getting married (Congratulations Mom!) and this Friday we have plans to look at the location, reception hall and, of course, dresses :)

If you see someone you love today, touch them, hug them, tell them that you love them. Don't waste a moment for this life here on earth is only a temporary one...

Cupstacking Championship

2012-01-18T09:06:00.001-06:00

Snow...finally

2012-01-11T09:31:00.000-06:00

Nora was dressed by the door before 7 am this morning just waiting to go out in the snow. It wasn't even light yet when she finally couldn't take it any longer and begged her biggest sister to get the sleds. They played for an hour or better. I couldn't even drag them in with bribes of hot chocolate and marshmallows. I am telling you the difference between 2 and 3 and 3 and 4 is HUGE. They were totally independent. Got the sleds for each other. Pulled them up the hill, pushed themselves down. Snow in the face, no big deal. The opposite of last year. They are growing up. Sniff, sniff...

I just had to record some of their first snow day wisdom;

Nora to her sister, "Don't sled on (dog) poop, just the white stuff."
Addi to momma who still had shower wet hair until we went out and it froze, "mom, your hair is crazy"
"We want to sled more"..chanted repeatedly when I asked them to come in.
Nora, to no one in particular, "Wow, snow is cold!"
Addi, "Look at my snow angel, mom, she is just my size."
Nora, "Shiloh (the dog) wants me to push her on the sled mom."
Nora to Addi, "Rolling down the hill is faster, Addi."
Nora, to Addi after I finally convinced them to come in, "don't tell mom, I brought a snack in, it's snow."

Create your own free photo slideshow

She gets open, she shoots!

2012-01-09T10:32:00.003-06:00

Maleah's basketball debut. She said to me the other day, "I have no clue about basketball, but I am having fun!"

She doesn't make the shot, but I am proud of her for moving around to get open and for not being afraid of the ball. Oh and for shooting, I would have never attempted that, must be those genes she inherited from her father. She has had 5 practices, I think. We got started a little late waiting for the perfect coach to volunteer. This was their very first game. She was excited. We got creamed. Oh well.

They play again tomorrow, (Tuesday) at home. Go IRISH!

December Gifts

2011-12-31T14:39:00.002-06:00

It has been so "cold" the last few mornings that our morning workouts have been slippery. I keep pinching myself and thinking, is this really December? We are still outside every morning and though we can see our breath, it is wonderful to be able to walk and run outdoors yet.

Christmas came and went. Unfortunately this year, the most popular gift was the pukes. It was awful. The flu spread like wildfire through our family. I think everyone experienced it in one way or another.

So, the new year starts tomorrow and I pray that it will bring good health to everyone. Goodbye 2011 hello 2012. Here is a photo recap of our Christmas.

Feeding the reindeer before Christmas Eve church. They are OUTSIDE, mind you, without a sweater or jacket :)

I missed getting a photo of her playing at the piano, but Maleah was one of the pianist's before church on Christmas Eve. Here we sit in our pew with our candles ready to sing Silent Night.

Then we went to Grandma Bonnie's and ate a ton of soups and breads. Then we opened presents from her.

Pajama cousins. I heart the Children's place.

We opened gifts at home on Christmas morning. Then after daddy had to use a saw to cut the rusted running boards off the Suburban (do you really even want to know why?) we headed to Scotland, SD.

Where we opened more gifts.

Addi loved her Furr Real Pet from Grandma Gordon.

Gavin went to work putting together his lego's a few minutes after opening them.

Uncle Russ and the girls.

Most of the afternoon was spent outside. The kids picked up several buckets of walnuts and the boys played football. Later on we started a fire and some even sang carols. What memories!

Gavin snapped this photo of Nora the morning after Christmas. I think she needed some quiet time. Is that even comfortable?

See you next year!

Fancy Nancy

2011-12-23T09:57:00.002-06:00

The hamster kinda calmed down the "there is no snow so my birthday is going to the worst ever" syndrome. (Thank you Grandma, kind of :))
Anyway, Nancy entered our lives and she is loved. Let's hope she makes it. The birthday party came and went without an accident or anything. The girls chose a movie and then cold stone creamery. Then we had to "hurry" home to play with Nancy. Maleah is now officially ten.

I am really old and tired, but it's not all about me.

Now, the Christmas marathon of wrapping paper and missing scotch tape begins.

Bring it.

Soon we'll be singing to Baby Jesus on Christmas Eve.

Merry Christmas Everyone.

a decade of Maleah

2011-12-21T22:03:00.000-06:00

newbornish

One year old

Two years old

Three

Fourish

Six

Five

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Happy Birthday to the best Christmas present I have ever had.

Come, Lord Jesus

2011-12-20T12:55:00.003-06:00

I am not sure what it is like at your house on the morning of the Church Christmas program. But here, it is a flurry of pantyhose, curling irons, mismatched shoes and bow tying. It feels like I run a marathon before we leave the house. Every time I leave with my hair pulled back into a pony or clip because there is just. not. enough. time. This past Sunday was pretty much the normal chaos. We made it, nonetheless. I was watching my children sing the songs and say their lines and then it hit me. What part are they going to remember, the crazy frenzied hour before we arrived here or the 15 minute program? I sure hope it's the latter.
I am such a bah humbug when it comes to this season. I am way too distracted to enjoy the real meaning. We caught up on the Jesse tree devotions last night. We were a week behind. Pathetic. The kids were losing interest by the third one so I skimmed. I skimmed the Bible verses that I want my children to hear and learn and appreciate. I tried to glean all the important parts for them. I pray that they soaked up one or two words.
Back to church, so I am watching people go through the communion line and I saw a single mom mouth the words, "Hi, I love you" to her child. The child who lives between her ex-husbands home and hers. The child who juggles time among parents, siblings, grandparents and extended family. The child who may not experience the chaos of hose and curling irons, may not have family devotions at the sticky table after supper, the child who sees her mom every other Sunday as she goes through the communion line at church. I suddenly appreciated my unorganized chaos. I pulled my baby closer to me in the pew. I tried to ignore the tug at my heart as the tears rolled down my face. "Are you okay mom?" my eldest asks. Yes, I am. I am okay. I am blessed. I have four beautiful healthy children and a husband. It doesn't matter if our hose have holes and my son is wearing a clip on tie. We are together. No matter what.

Merry Christmas.

Photo Shoot

2011-12-18T20:45:00.001-06:00

It was a beautiful day today, so after the church Christmas program we came home and took pictures in the backyard. Then we grilled brats for lunch. It felt like summer. I don't think Maleah will be getting her sledding party this week :)

How did the chicken cross the road?

2011-12-18T18:43:00.002-06:00

Right before the sun went down my dog Shiloh and I scooted out of town for a run. We took our regular route. Man was it gorgeous. Near the end of the third mile I stopped to snap a photo of the sunset.

As I started up again, Shiloh was no where to be found. There is a farm on the corner with lots of free range chickens, ducks and geese. Shiloh and I have run this route for over a year now and she has never chased a bird. Until tonight. The highway traffic was busier than normal so I called her name a few times as I crossed the road. I turned my head when she finally caught up to me to see her carrying a beautiful red/orange bird in her mouth. I was MORTIFIED. The chicken was flopping and bobbing in the dogs jaw. I immediately grabbed her collar and pried the thing out of her mouth. Handfuls of feathers fell to the ground along with the stiff chicken. It's head was cocked to one side and it was as flat as a pancake.

It was just dark and I could see into all the windows in that farmers house. I just knew he had witnessed the whole ordeal. I didn't know what to do. I speed dialed Ryan and told him to come and get his murderess dog and to bring his wallet so I could pay the farmer for his loss. By this time I was consumed with grief for the poor chicken and I felt sick about telling the family about it. What was I gonna say, "My dog killed your chicken, Merry Christmas."

Ryan picked me up and we crossed the road to the farm where I got out and knocked on the door. I burst into tears explaining to the lady that my dog mauled her egg bearing chicken and I wanted to pay her for the loss. She said over and over, "It's okay, I have lots of chickens and refused any cash." At one point she hugged me, most likely because I was an emotional wreck.

As we pulled away, Ryan was telling me I should change my route. He stopped mid sentence when we got to the corner. "Is that your dead chicken?" He said. We both watched a skinny bald chicken scamper across the highway and duck down into the farmers yard. I could hardly believe it.

The chicken came back to life. And then it ran home.

Ryan said it was a Christmas miracle. I laughed. In fact I am still laughing. Good grief. Do they go into shock or something? How in the world? I had to write this one down, because I can scarcely believe it happened and I was there.

Bustle

2011-12-15T19:47:00.001-06:00

I participated in a cookie exchange last weekend. I have to tin up the cookies immediately or else they get eaten...by me.

Addison and Nora pose before Addi's Preschool Christmas program.

The whole nursery class at the church after the program.

Addison is very thoughtful, asking Santa for gifts for everyone, don't you think? Poor Gavin.

I am not sure why the pom poms aren't all on the hand print tree but I do know that it is beautiful.

I am waiting on a few addresses and then all 75 of these will be in the mail. I think I deserve to crack open a treat tin, no?

How is the pay it forward going in your world? I have been on the receiving end all week. Wonderful blessing have been poured on our family and each time I have almost been moved to tears. This is the season I have been waiting for. The Love that has come down to be spread around. I can't wait to hear how you have blessed others or how you have been blessed.

less than 12 days

2011-12-14T15:26:00.003-06:00

It's getting closer...I finally decided what to do for Maleah's birthday next week. She has been BEGGING for a snow party, sledding or skating but since we have neither snow nor ice...we'll see.

I am still crazy busy. I quickly typed a Christmas letter that took me longer to condense to two pages than write in its entirety. Sigh.

A friend was telling me her Christmas plans. They plan to take their kids to the big city, give them some cash and let them choose how to "pay it forward". I LOVE that idea. I just think it would be an amazing memory making and character building activity. She told me days ago and it is still all I can think about.

One of the blogs am reading, Average Moms Wear Capes, is doing something cool. She is doing the 12 days of fitness with a new activity each day to help battle those calories from cookies. I have eaten my share and more of bing bars already so I am participating:)

For these last few days before Jesus' birthday I am challenging all my friends, family and readers to listen to Matthew West, and my pay it forward friend, and Give This Christmas Away.
Do something for someone, it doesn't have to cost money, it could be opening a door or holding a hand. Do something. Come back here and let me know about it. I think you will be amazed at how wonderful it will make you will feel. 'Tis so much better to give than receive!

I can't wait to hear about every one's experiences giving!

Hijacked camera

2011-12-09T10:03:00.001-06:00

Perspective

2011-12-01T06:50:00.001-06:00

You know what posting everyday for a month about thankfulness taught me? How unthankful I really am. Read my mood by my words and follow the madness in my thoughts as the month goes on. How disappointing! I am sort of a gloomy winter person, but this little exercise has really highlighted my self pity.

Last night one of Ryan's sisters was admitted to the ICU. She has been ill for over a week but just trudging through. I feel awful that I have been wrapped up in my own sadness and haven't been able to look outside to see how others are doing.

Yesterday Ryan and I spent a good amount of time googleing gifts for the kids. We never actually came up with something we could agree on. It was such a futile attempt and a major time waste. Then on facebook this morning I saw this.

I want that,too. How can I teach my kids how to not want? They have so much yet they want more.

Last night, the kids and I completed the second day of the Jesse Tree journey. The theme was God's love. We were created from dust of the earth out of LOVE. I think that is what is missing in my world right now. Can you imagine what it would be like if everyone woke up every morning and led their day in love? Said only loving words, performed only loving actions, used their talents to show love in every thing they do...The world would be an amazing place.

...like Heaven.

Unintentional

2011-11-30T10:02:00.001-06:00

It's not even December yet and I am so overwhelmed. Why do I feel like I am so far behind? In the past I have never gotten my tree up early. But this year I feel awful that we haven't done it yet. Every where I look is more stuff. The kids have lists with items on them I could never afford. Is this really what it comes down to? Ick. What happened to joy, peace, and love? Where is the contentment?

Last night Gavin and dad put together some wooden tree project that I purchased after Christmas last year at Lowe's. I envisioned it being this wholesome father/son activity. It was not.

We also had our church family night. We have a potluck and then put the decorations in the church. I envisioned it being like a soft, warm fuzzy caroling night. It was not.

This morning I was cozy on the couch shopping online for new scrubs for my hubby when my daughter brought me the fire. "Mom, I can't get this game to start." The screen said, "Thank you for your purchase of coins through the amazon app store". Say what? So I spent the next 10 minutes on the phone explaining why I would never purchase $19.99 worth of gold coins for a farm game. They were extremely understanding. I asked if they had a password protect for digital orders. They said they had a lot of people suggesting that and that they were "looking into it". Really? Until then I have to call every time one of my children accidentally purchases something using amazon's awesome 'one click' technology. They actually have an app that you enter your phone number into and customer service calls you. And yet they don't have a password protect for digital purchases. Crazy.

All of these unintentional experiences frustrate me. I want to be more intentional. I want to intentionally think of baby Jesus' birthday. I want to intentionally spend quality time with my family. I am thankful for the free will that God gave me. I pray that I will use it to glorify Him.

One more day of November thanks;

friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness
trying new things
freedom
colors
opportunities to be successful

stories

my husband

individually wrapped miniature Reece's

music

working out

technology

warmth

time

riches

homemade chicken noodle soup

distractions, healthy ones :)

springlike weather in November

the meal

making memories

scrabble

sweet potatoes

interesting Bible stories

devotions

free will

Monday Thanks

2011-11-28T19:47:00.001-06:00

Today was catch up day. I cleaned bedrooms, did laundry, organized chaos. It was needed. I feel a bit more complete for the moment. I want to do Advent devotions with the kids again this year. I love the Jesse Tree Journey. The Old Testament is good to review while we hear about Christ's birth in the New Testament. I hope that we make time each day to complete it. So today I am thankful for devotions.

Advent thanks today;

friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness
trying new things
freedom
colors
opportunities to be successful

stories

my husband

individually wrapped miniature Reece's

music

working out

technology

warmth

time

riches

homemade chicken noodle soup

distractions, healthy ones :)

springlike weather in November

the meal

making memories

scrabble

sweet potatoes

interesting Bible stories

devotions

Saturday and Sunday

2011-11-27T21:22:00.001-06:00

How can it be that a long weekend seems shorter than a regular one? We packed so much into this weekend that I find it hard to find just a couple of things to be thankful for.

Saturday morning brought us back home and Ryan worked on grinding up his deer meat for jerky. I made a few treats for dinner at my mom's and then we went to her house for dinner. It was a cold and windy day almost the complete opposite of Fridays weather. We had delicious food and a nice afternoon of playing with the kids. My sister called while we were feasting to see how her sweet potatoes fared. She was unable to make the meal so she dropped them off at my house a few nights before. I put them in the freezer and they are still there. Oops. Guess we'll be having sweet potato casserole this week :) Thanks, Josie!

Sunday was a pretty normal day. My husband tagged along with me to ABC (adult Bible class). I thought it was because we decided to grab a bite afterwards but I just now caught him reading on my Fire, in the same book that we studied this morning. We are talking about the plagues and how Pharaoh had several chances to avoid them, but his free will and hard heart kept him from believing that God was real.

Ryan got several batches of jerky dried today and the lights up. He was very productive, me? Not so much.

It is a crazy busy week. I am hoping to finish out the month of thankfulness and then take a little break from this blogging every day. It is a bit of pressure that I just don't need this time of year:)

So for yesterday and today I am very thankful for sweet potatoes and for interesting Bible stories.

This list is getting long! I am thankful for;children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness
trying new things
freedom
colors
opportunities to be successful

stories

my husband

individually wrapped miniature Reece's

music

working out

technology

warmth

time

riches

homemade chicken noodle soup

distractions, healthy ones :)

springlike weather in November

the meal

making memories

scrabble

sweet potatoes

interesting Bible stories

a deal on a Keurig

2011-11-26T18:49:00.001-06:00

To those of you who read my blog looking for deals, this one is hard to pass up. Go here to read about how to get a Keurig for only $71.51 shipped...

Keurig deal at Kohl's Thanks Hip2Save!

Words with Friends

2011-11-25T17:31:00.001-06:00

Um, today I am really thankful for this app on my Fire. I love it, too much. I spent WAY too much of the afternoon playing it with my sister in law. It is the modern version of scrabble. Don't even try it, you won't be able to stop. I promise.

Many blessings;
children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness
trying new things
freedom
colors
opportunities to be successful

stories

my husband

individually wrapped miniature Reece's

music

working out

technology

warmth

time

riches

homemade chicken noodle soup

distractions, healthy ones :)

springlike weather in November

the meal

making memories

scrabble

Moments in Time

2011-11-25T12:34:00.001-06:00

Today I am thankful for making memories. Every moment we spend together with family is quite special. We made some pretty good memories on Thanksgiving this year.

Thankful for much more than this list;

children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness
trying new things
freedom
colors
opportunities to be successful

stories

my husband

individually wrapped miniature Reece's

music

working out

technology

warmth

time

riches

homemade chicken noodle soup

distractions, healthy ones :)

springlike weather in November

the meal

making memories

Turkey, gravy and stuffing oh my...

2011-11-23T13:41:00.001-06:00

I love food. I am sure I have mentioned this before. Food is my best friend. It loves me when I am happy, sad and in between. I have tried not to love food. It just doesn't work. So I have to make better food choices. Which has been sort of working most of the time. The funny thing is we don't have a ton of money, but I always have food. What does that say about me? Am I a food hoarder? Don't answer that. Anyway tomorrow is the king of all food days and my taste buds are excited. My brain is swirling with thoughts of turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberries, green beans, corn, buttered buns, salads, pumpkin pie... The only thing that keeps me sane is that I am not cooking hardly anything so I won't have leftovers which is a very good thing:) The thing about leftovers is that I eat them. Anyway, today I am thankful for the the meal. Good food in good company always tastes the best. I am so blessed to have an amazing family to share a meal with. We will be celebrating twice this weekend, double the meals, double the blessings. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

Thanksgiving blessings;

children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness
trying new things
freedom
colors
opportunities to be successful

stories

my husband

individually wrapped miniature Reece's

music

working out

technology

warmth

time

riches

homemade chicken noodle soup

distractions, healthy ones :)

springlike weather in November

the meal

November warm weather

2011-11-22T15:54:00.001-06:00

Have you stepped outside today? It is gorgeous, almost like spring. Crazy the weather we are having, huh? Nuts. I am thankful for the nice days, though. The moon has been GORGEOUS this month. I don't think I have ever seen such a beautiful moon. It helps that I am up early :) I am really more of a stayinsideunderablanket hermit during the cold season. I know every day I can get outside and move is one more day I won't be a hermit. Not that being a hermit is all that bad. I kinda like hermits.

Twenty two days of thankfulness;

children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness
trying new things
freedom
colors
opportunities to be successful

stories

my husband

individually wrapped miniature Reece's

music

working out

technology

warmth

time

riches

homemade chicken noodle soup

distractions, healthy ones :)

springlike weather in November

Mama always said

2011-11-21T16:04:00.001-06:00

...there would be days like this. Today was one of those days. It seems the whole day has been one bumble after another. I would go into the boring details but they are just that...boring. I broke down at 2pm and went downstairs and put in the 30 day shred workout. It helped a little. For 30 minutes I didn't think about my awful day until it was over and I really needed water and realized that the water was off (boring details - the outside faucet broke when I was watering the dog) which reminded me of the terrible day I was having.
I have been spending WAY too much time playing my fire. I barely have time to read books with all my game playing. But today I decided to open the online Bible and I found some really wonderful reading plans. I am going to start a month long plan about the Christmas season. There are tons of plans to choose from and I am excited at the distraction from real life. Hopefully, I will follow through with reading. It will be a great distraction from broken faucets, sick children, hunting husbands, loads of unfolded but clean laundry, piles of dishes, unanswered emails, and a lack of decision making when it comes to choosing a cookie for the swap I want to participate in. In short, today I am thankful for distractions, schwew!

Some days are harder to find things to be thankful for, today was one of those days, but once I sat down and thought about it I had a hard time finding one thing to post about!

children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness
trying new things
freedom
colors
opportunities to be successful

stories

my husband

individually wrapped miniature Reece's

music

working out

technology

warmth

time

riches

homemade chicken noodle soup

distractions, healthy ones :)

I guess it's our turn

2011-11-20T18:56:00.001-06:00

Today I am thankful for homemade chicken noodle soup. Because the morning started WAY too early with little ones getting sick in bed. That is about all I have to say about that, except it is probably going to be a long week. If we each get one day we should be healthy by...Saturday, sigh.

I am thankful for this list of thankful things to look back upon today;

children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness
trying new things
freedom
colors
opportunities to be successful

stories

my husband

individually wrapped miniature Reece's

music

working out

technology

warmth

time

riches

homemade chicken noodle soup

Riches

2011-11-19T21:11:00.001-06:00

I was straightening up the living room today when I found a pile of change at the bottom of the basket I use to store the blankets. The girls love to play with the little tin can bank I use for spare change. It is painted like a gumball machine. They take the lid off and pour out the change and then put the coins back through the slit in the lid one by one. The basket is right below the shelf where I store the bank and I suppose the girls just dropped the change when they were playing. As soon as I saw the change it triggered a memory. I remembered when I was first married and I was babysitting for Ryan's sister. The kids had both went to sleep and I decided to pick up the living area. I picked up change in several different places. I was shocked that people could have that much money lying around. At that time in my life every penny counted and I knew where every dime was all the time. I remember thinking that this family must have a lot of money to be able to lose that much change in the sofa. I smiled today as I pushed each penny, nickel and dime back through the hole in the lid. I was partly amused because I was thinking about what my babysitter would think if she found a pile of money in the blanket basket and because I know we barely have enough money to pay all of our bills each month, let alone afford to have money lying around the house.

I am not a millionaire. But I far from poor. I have everything I need and most of the things I want. I have a home, a healthy family and a stocked pantry. I have vehicles that get me to and from where I have to go. I have warm clothes and fancy scarves and running shoes.I have a large family and a Heavenly Father who loves me dearly. I live a life full of wealth and I am thankful for that kind of riches.

Many blessings to be thankful for;

children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness
trying new things
freedom
colors
opportunities to be successful

stories

my husband

individually wrapped miniature Reece's

music

working out

technology

warmth

time

riches

Do you have time?

2011-11-18T18:56:00.001-06:00

There is never enough of it, is there? It sure makes me pretty darn appreciative of the time I do have. I whisper out a prayer for my Aunt Pam who just had a biopsy. I spend a moment combing through one of the girls'hair. I say the words out loud for my son to study them for his spelling test. I cuddle in the early morning with my youngest who wakes up when I open my bottle of vitamins, she is SUCH a light sleeper. I am so thankful for every minute that I have. Several years ago I wasn't sure how much time I had. Tonight I got to spend an hour with my wonderful sister in law Kim, visiting. My friend Duane posted about his time today, too. Today I am making the time to be thankful for time. I savor the moments in time when the little ones share their wisdom with me...

I ask Nora if she likes her hair cut. She puts one hand on her hip and says, "Well, I can't SEE it."

I put Addison's hat on her head and say to her, "This hat is so nice and warm." She put her hands to her chest and replies, "Yes, mom, I can feel it in my heart."

Take some time to be thankful for;

children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness
trying new things
freedom
colors
opportunities to be successful

stories

my husband

individually wrapped miniature Reece's

music

working out

technology

warmth

time

Baby it's cold outside

2011-11-17T16:13:00.001-06:00

Brrrrr. Well, it's about time, I guess. Rumor has it the white stuff is coming this weekend. That sounds about right since my husband has a hunting weekend planned. Usually I am home alone during at least one measurable snowfall. My plan is to stay inside. Hopefully there isn't enough for the kids to want to go out in it...
Anyway, it is cold. At least there is always hot coffee, blankets and well,...Just Dance Kids on the wii to keep our blood pumping and our bodies warm :) Today I am thankful for the warmth I have in whatever form it comes.

Seventeen thanks so far;

children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness
trying new things
freedom
colors
opportunities to be successful

stories

my husband

individually wrapped miniature Reece's

music

working out

technology

warmth

Fire

2011-11-16T14:17:00.001-06:00

It came today. My Kindle Fire. That thing is amazing. In minutes it had all my books and music uploaded from amazon cloud. I can facebook, watch netflix movies, listen to pandora, and check my email. I can even access google reader. I can't post to my blog and I haven't figured out how to upload photos otherwise in the whole four hours I have had it I am convinced it is SO much more than an ereader. Lord, where would I be without technology. I uploaded two versions of the Bible and I can't wait to take it Bible Study with me. I have the ESV and King James now and I can compare the two. Thank you Lord for giving us the creative genious to make things like computers and laptops and ereaders.

Now I just have to wait my turn...sigh.

Thankful for amazing things such as;

children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness
trying new things
freedom
colors
opportunities to be successful

stories

my husband

individually wrapped miniature Reece's

music

working out

technology

I like to move it

2011-11-15T20:59:00.001-06:00

The scale has not been my friend this past week or so. I can't seem to get the numbers to stop climbing up. Wonder if it has anything to do with chocolate? Today Ryan put two quarters in the glass machine to get a couple of York peppermint patties and then he set them on the dash of the car. Moments later he asked where they went. I had no answer. I cannot be trusted if there is chocolate anywhere near me. I have no will power. None. So this week I decided it was all about the two a days. Yep. I am working out twice a day for the rest of the week hopefully the scale goes my way by Friday. Chocolate, I love you but this week I am thankful for my two a days. Gotta love a great sweat. I think I may need to stock up on body wash.

Blessings this month;

children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness
trying new things
freedom
colors
opportunities to be successful

stories

my husband

individually wrapped miniature Reece's

music

working out

Today

2011-11-14T19:04:00.001-06:00

I am thankful for music and my new favorite noise is this song originally sung by Jamie Grace but I cannot get over this little girl's version.

Music sure does make my world go round...

Singing and dancing your praises today for thankfulness;

children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness
trying new things
freedom
colors
opportunities to be successful

stories

my husband

individually wrapped miniature reece's

music

Honestly

2011-11-13T18:03:00.001-06:00

Today was the kind of day when I bawl at every sappy commercial, the thought of making dinner overwhelms me, and listening to the kids bicker makes me want to shoot chocolate into my veins. I just want to snuggle up with my soft blanket all the livelong day. So the most I can imagine being thankful for today is the fact that those little reece's miniatures come individually wrapped. Otherwise a year and a half of work might have been lost in one bag of those bad boys.

Thank you for reminding me of these blessings, Lord;

children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness
trying new things
freedom
colors
opportunities to be successful

stories

my husband

individually wrapped miniature reece's

One Hundred, One Hundred

2011-11-13T14:07:00.001-06:00

Yesterday was catch up day here at our house. I had mountains of laundry and cleaning to do. My husband is a huge help when cleaning day comes around. He vacuums, does dishes and cleans toilets, and that is on top of all the other normal stuff he does like taking the garbage out and folding towels...he is pretty darn amazing. Then, in the midst of the chaos of the day I remembered I had Kohl's cash and after I looked at it quick I realized that yesterday was the last day I could use it. A last minute evening run to the big city was squeezed into my day as well. I was pretty tired at the end of the night. But, I felt like I accomplished much thanks to my husband. I am very thankful for such a sweet and loving soul mate. I remember when we took marriage classes with Pastor. One of the questions he asked us was, "How much do you think each of you has to contribute to the marriage to make it work?" being the know it all 23 year olds we were we both answered 50-50. We were wrong. A marraige takes all you have all the time, Pastor explained. 100 percent 100 percent. Amen.

This November reminds me I am blessed with;

children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness
trying new things
freedom
colors
opportunities to be successful

stories

my husband

Remember

2011-11-11T17:21:00.001-06:00

Telling the newest member of our extended family a story.

Singing a story.

Sharing war stories with words and photos.

Listening to stories at the Veterans Day program today.

The school hosted a Veterans Day program today. My Grandfather, Arved, pictured here with my family on Gavin's first birthday, wrote a "book" about his service in WWII. He could tell the most amazing stories. I distinctly remember the story he told about borrowing money from his friend, the judge, to purchase the materials he needed to build his first home, it was something like $1000. It intrigued my how a full blooded Italian man borrowed money from a friend who just happened to be a judge. Maybe I watch too much CSI but that has mafia written all over it, doesn't it?

Today, members of the community told their war stories. It wasn't hard to listen to what they encountered in battle. My kids kept identifying with the men by saying things like, "Mom, he goes to our church." Stories are so important to pass information down from generation to generation. Today we came together to thank those who serve today and yesterday. My children came away from that program with a much better understanding of who those men in my community are because of the stories they told.

I am thankful today for stories. My favorite thing to do is tell my story, I would love to hear yours.

Gratefully and thankfully blessed with;

children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness
trying new things
freedom
colors
opportunities to be successful

stories

Go, Fight, Win

2011-11-10T13:22:00.001-06:00

The following quotes are a couple of my favorite motivational sayings.

Stevie Wonder
We all have ability. The difference is how we use it.
Aristotle
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.

Those and this verses from the Bible.
Mark 10:27
For with God all things are possible.

The high school football team is in the state championship. They play tonight. The town is humming with an excitement about the game. There are signs up in people's yards, in the local businesses and along the highway to the interstate with streamers and glitters and cheers to the team. It's hard to to get caught up in the hoopla. In my opinion they are already winners. I am proud of them however the outcome of this last game. Undoubtedly they want to win, but working together, learning new plays, listening to the coaches, staying healthy and strong to be able to play tonight is a commendable feat as well. I think about all the nights they have spent working and strengthening themselves for this moment. It all ends with the performance tonight. I hope they are able to say they learned a lot, worked hard, and made some amazing memories.

Today I am thankful for opportunities to be successful. Playing on a team can teach a person some valuable lessons about life. I hope and pray that our team has already achieved rewards from playing together all year. This game tonight is just a bonus of learning how to use your ability to succeed.

Good luck boys, you have already proven that you can do it.

Gimme a T, Gimme a H, Gimme an A, Gimme a N, Gimme a K, What's that spell? THANK... you God for;

children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness
trying new things
freedom
colors
opportunities to be successful

We got the ears lowered tonight.

2011-11-09T21:33:00.000-06:00

Bye Bye baby hair. First up, before picture

and after.

Second up, Miss scraggly head

During...forgot the after, oops.

Before on the oldest but first

Gavin needs a high and tight. It was all in tonight baby, four for the price of, well, four.

Maleah during, she chopped it.

And after, with everybody even the cinnamon toast made it in the photo.

I haven't cried yet, but I can't get used to Nora's hair, I just kept touching it, what's left of it anyway. I know it grows back. *sigh*

Cold and colorful

2011-11-09T17:21:00.000-06:00

I am cold today. Thankful, but a little on the chilly side. As I sat down to write tonight I asked Nora what I am thankful for today and she said, "Colors". She has been immersed in markers and crayons since we got home today and last night she spent at least that much time painting with watercolors. She is a budding little artist.
I got to thinking about my day and I remembered that as I left my house for my morning groove I noticed how large and orange the moon was. It was a full moon and it felt like it was just beyond my reach. The color was so bright and amazing it hardly seemed like it was real. So, I am gonna have to agree with the four year old today, colors sure are nice. Thankfully there are many colors in the world and we are able to enjoy the beauty of them daily, sometimes on a page of a Dora coloring book and sometimes in the dawn of a huge sky. Lord, your colors are amazing, thanks for creating them.

Shivering and thankful for;

children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness
trying new things
freedom
colors

Beautiful freedom

2011-11-08T17:55:00.000-06:00

Today after I got home from school I was itching to get out for a quick run. It was so beautiful. Do you know it is almost the middle of November? What a gorgeous day. I couldn't stop thinking about how wonderful it is to be able to choose what I want to do, when I want to do it, what I want to say, how I want to worship, what I want to believe in. Freedom is something I so often overlook. I feel blessed to be an American woman who loves Jesus, her family, her job, running in the beautiful extended fall weather and chocolate. Pretty much in that order :) Thank you God for my freedom and thank you to every person who serves my country to help me keep it.

Thankful for much more than the following;

children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness
trying new things
freedom

Today

2011-11-07T18:59:00.000-06:00

I roasted my first pumpkin in the oven. It was just a tiny little pie pumpkin but I felt like such a pioneer woman, roasting pumpkin in the shell, scraping the soft orange fluff and putting into a small bowl where I looked at it for about an hour and then transferred it to a zipock baggie and threw it in the freezer. I have no idea what to do with it.

Yesterday I made pico de gallo and guacamole with some chicken fajitas for lunch. The girls helped me roll out some tortillas, too. So what do you do with leftover pico? I decided to make taco burgers. They were okay. The kids liked them.

So today, I am thankful for trying new things. A roasted pumpkin and taco burgers, life could be worse you know?

I am thankful for

children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness
trying new things

Going to the dome!

2011-11-07T07:06:00.000-06:00

Warming up before the game, my nephew is number 5.

My amazing sil Kim and her beautiful daughter Katie.

almost game time

on the field with dad on the sidelines

Here it comes.

The first catch. It was a rocky first half but they came out with a fire under them for the second half and every play was unanswered. Final score MCM 28-7. We play in the dome on Thursday night at 7:30.

Bowling or gymnastics

2011-11-07T06:49:00.001-06:00

We went bowling with my sister and her family and my brother and his kids and my mom on Friday evening for Callie and my birthday. We are going to have to do this more often. The kids have no idea what they are doing but they thoroughly enjoyed themselves. They were on the floor most of the time :) Thank goodness for bumpers!

Sunday's thankfulness

2011-11-07T06:32:00.001-06:00

Sunday came and went and I forgot to post but I was thinking about it all day. I am thankful for forgiveness of sins. I wish I could learn from my mistakes and not keep making them. Forgiveness from Jesus wipes my slate clean and reminds me of His unending love for me. I am forgiven. Thank you Lord, I am not worthy.

I am thankful for

children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness

Really quick before tomorrow comes

2011-11-05T23:26:00.002-05:00

I would like to say I am thankful for warm fall nights that we can watch our local football team play and win, together as a family. Sort of a family tradition. We drove three plus hours tonight to see my stud muffin nephew, with the help of his team earn a game in the DOME. What an exciting time for those youngsters and their parents, friends and family. I am tired, and sort of cranky, but thankful to have been a part of it.

Tonight I am thankful for

children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games (especially ones where my nephew plays and wins)

"Today was a fun day."

2011-11-04T21:57:00.001-05:00

It is hard not to be thankful on your thirty-seventh birthday.

The day began with an early morning run. I could not have asked for a better way to spend that hour. It was almost warm, the stars were out in full force and I had an amazing running partner/coach.

I walked for a bit after my run, thinking and praying and counting my numerous blessings. I prayed hard for my family, those who are well and those who are not. My heart filled with emotion and the water flowed from my eyes as I prayed hard for my family.

I had planned on taking the day to myself and just doing what I wanted, but my prayers tugged at my heart and made me lonesome for my family. So I asked my husband to come along with me on my errand trips. It took longer than I had hoped and I did not get to dig for deals at the thrift stores like I had wanted to but we made it through.

We made it home in time to unload the groceries and get back in the car to head to the bowling alley. My niece shares my birthday and she was having a party. It was great fun watching those kids try to knock down pins and just spend time together. Afterwards we ate supper and then on the way home a little voice came, exhausted, from the back seat of the van, "Momma, today was a fun day." That about sums it up.

As I sit here tonight exhausted from my long, fun, day I think hard about what I want to focus my thanks on today. My family is so important to me. My mother is so strong and independent I hope that I age as beautifully as she has and accomplish half as much as she has. My husband is a rock and without him I could not be who I am today. My sister is an intelligent, creative, passionate woman who I adore. My brothers are almost polar opposites but I love them both dearly and am so proud of who they have become and what they have been successful at. My other parents, Ryan's mom and dad, have always made me feel included like I was their own. They have a large family and it is a blessing to be a part of the chaos. I always joke that I was more attracted to my husband's large family than I was to him. The truth is sometimes funny.

Today, I am thankful for family, each and every one.

This month (and forever) I am thankful for

children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one

Day three of a month of thankfulness

2011-11-03T20:31:00.000-05:00

I had to run to the big city today for an errand and I helped a friend out by picking something up for her. When I returned with her items she handed me a bottle of Cupcake Moscato. We had visited about this wine way back at the Christmas party and she remembered that I wanted to try this brand. I love moscato.

What a wonderful surprise gift! Today I am thankful for little surprises like that. They just make you feel special.

So the tally thus far;

I am thankful for

children
friends
little surprises

Ever have

2011-11-02T18:16:00.000-05:00

one of those days where every time you turn around you find something you are thankful for? Perhaps it was just on my brain today but it was a blessed day here, and I mean blessed.

The day started with a walk with a friend (blessing) where I spotted lots of smashed pumpkins, none of them mine (blessing). I check my email and get an awesome message from another friend about God (blessing) read another amazing friends' (blessing) blog about being thankful and then get two excited (blessing) girls ready for daycare with another friend (blessing). A quick peck on the cheek from husband (blessing) getting home safely (blessing) from the night shift and off we went. Driving up to drop the girls off I notice (blessing) a highway patrolman. Returning, I keep an eye on my speed when I pass him. He does not (blessing) pull me over.

Another day at the school (blessing) where I see my children (blessing) and know that they are safe and learning. I get to read with kids and have a generally wonderful day minus junior math which I am not very good at :) I stay busy enough to only drink one cup (blessing) of coffee and reach my water goal for the day (blessing).

After school I pick up the girls. After we get home I throw together a tuna and noodle casserole which everyone eats (blessing). Dad leaves for work and I get on face book to see one of my friends (blessing) has posted her second blessing of November, too. Which brings me to right now. Now can you see why it is hard to pick just one blessing for today

Today's blessing reads something like this,

walk with friend whole pumpkins God story friend blessed friend happy kids friend who watches my children kiss from hubby no ticket school with kids one cup of coffee enough water good food full bellies blessed friend

I guess the theme is friends. So today, my friends, I am thankful for you.

Blessed in November with;

children
friends

A month of thanks *updated

2011-11-01T16:52:00.002-05:00

Today is the first day of my favorite month of the whole year. To celebrate I am going to try and post every day. To make it even more special I am going to post something I am thankful for every day. If you would like to join me I would love to hear about the things you are thankful for on your blog or in the comments. Happy November.

I subbed today. I was tired this morning and skipped my morning workout with the girls because I stayed out too late at the football game. I was feeling run down and cranky. I kind of did not want to work. A few minutes after arriving at the school I found out about a beautiful young girl who had been tragically injured in a car accident, she died later in the day. It made me realize how thankless I have been.

Today I am thankful for every moment I have spent with my four children. Every moment is so precious because who knows how long each of will be in this temporary life? Who knows exactly when Jesus will say it is our time to go? So right now, at this moment, I am so very blessed to have four wonderful, healthy, vibrant kids and for that I am eternally grateful.

UPDATE: Our God is an amazing God. Last night I was friended on Facebook by one of my friends husband. Shortly after we became friends he posted this and I just knew it was about the girl, he mentioned her name, too but I have removed it from his post...what an amazing testimony!

My Dad is up and walking (praise God)...he should be out of the ICU tomorrow and moving to pulmonary unit. He is looking forward to getting some nutrition in his feeding tube tomorrow. P.S. A young teenager was taken off of life support. She was surrounded by 30+ family/friends who loved her very much...in her last moments a palpable sense of a pressure change could be felt in my left inner ear (like taking off in a plane)...my brother confirmed this (also felt in left ear). My mother also felt a tremendous peace fall upon us...eternal perspective...the angels welcoming her home...

Trunk or Treat

2011-10-30T14:37:00.000-05:00

This year our little village did things a little bit different. We scheduled a trunk or treat on Saturday night instead of having it on Halloween. Good thing, too, because the high school football team plays on Monday night in Groton and I don't think many people will be around to hand out treats :)

Grandma Judy gets in on the dress up fun. Some people asked where her costume was. I giggled. She is the furthest thing from a witch in real life, she should have worn a saint's costume.

My little princess' decided to fall asleep 20 minutes before the fun started so they didn't get warmed up until it was nearly over. Good thing Grandma was there to make things go smoothly.

Ryan works this weekend so we didn't have a lot of time to party but I made him dress up for a couple of hours and go up to the dance with me.

We got a whole group of dodge ball wanna be's together. It was fun.

There were a couple of incognito's at the dance. We still are not sure of their identity. I uploaded the photos to facebook and told them to tag themselves. We'll see if it works.

This game is called Tippy Cup. We had never played before so we spent the first hour trying to flip the cup and then when the young kids came they told us we were playing it backwards. We are too old to learn new tricks, I guess. No wonder we were nursing our drinks so well. After the young crowd arrived things sped up considerably.

The girls team rocked. We beat the boys several times out of several times, I think :)

Sunday morning, REFORMATION, we celebrated the family birthdays at church with a waffle and sausage breakfast. MMMMMMM it was good. I really appreciate my church family and it was nice to fellowship with them.

Then we went to Grandma Bonnie's to pick the granny smith apples. These apples are never really good until it freezes so they are perfect now. I am hoping to make some sauce, but I will be content with just eating them for a day or two.

That tree has a lot of apples, Grandma.

It was a great weekend. I told the kids to count their recees and hide the candy because anything left out is considered community property and will get eaten especially anything chocolate and peanut butter.

Birthdaypalooza comes to a close

2011-10-27T10:53:00.000-05:00

For those of you who know us, October 25 brings a close to the birthday MONTH. It has been whirlwind of fun, excitement, weddings, funerals, babies and new experiences. As is our custom we went out with a band. Addi celebrated her fourth birthday at preschool, at home and at her stud cousin's football game. GO MCM! Here is a visual story for those of you who love photos, myself included.

Addison at preschool on the morning of her fourth birthday

Opening lots of pink presents at home

Marathon cupcake sprinkling before the football game

Opening more presents at the football game, it was chilly

Playing with uncle Kelly, feeding him popcorn

Watching the game in quilted style, did I mention how cold it was?

Last night we broke out the carving kits and went to town on the giant pumpkins.

Addi shows off the pumpkin she chose from the visit to Paul's patch.

Please ignore my messy garage.Yikes.

OOOOOHHHHH. AHHHHHHH. So pretty.

Happy week before Reformation! Goodbye birthday month, schwew!

one week

2011-10-24T16:28:00.003-05:00

In seven days our family has experienced one birthday, one wedding, one funeral, one newborn baby and tomorrow one more birthday.

The circle of life.

In between somewhere we had a costume reading rally at the school, a visit to the pumpkin patch, a visit to the zoo in Madison, WI and some preschool pumpkin carving. The photos to prove it except I forgot my battery when we went to the hospital to visit the new baby this morning. Hopefully this week slows down a bit...

Supper...10 pm after the 8 hour trip to WI an hour of swimming in the hotel pool and the evening funeral with family. Maleah wanted a Chinese buffet. My mom and 3 of her sisters and my cousin and her family.

Flamingos for Bobbi. They look fake when they are sleeping, we had to look real close to see them breathing to believe they were real.

Nora's birthday breakfast last weekend at the wedding.

Nora's birthday cupcakes.

A dress up reading rally at the school where my kids decided to change their costumes for this weekend.

Addi at a local pumpkin patch with her preschool class.

The pumpkin carved at preschool.

Cousins. Nora, Leah, and Addison. We tipped a whole bunch at that Chinese buffet because my kids ran around the restaurant all night long...I hope they made some memories.

We went to a zoo in Madison with my mom and my aunt Kathy while she waited for her flight back to Texas. It was a beautiful day for a visit with all the animals. The zoo was amazing and we could hardly believe it but it was free admission, too.

I am a little nervous she'll want the cake for herself...

2011-10-14T14:32:00.001-05:00

Ask Nora what we are doing this weekend and she will say, "It's my wedding." No, my about to be three year old is not getting married. Ryan's brother is and we are staying in a hotel and swimming and dancing the whole weekend away. Happy Birthday dear little baby Nora!

Time

2011-10-12T08:22:00.003-05:00

My mom just called. Aunt Patty is not doing well. If you have time today please pray for her. My mom is going out to see her again on Thursday. I am praying for peace, healing and time for me to get to see her, too.

Thank you.

“Heavenly Father, You are intimately aware of the struggle Patty is experiencing -- the pain and the despair. You know the desire of her heart to be healed of this illness. I ask now for Your healing touch. I know that You are able and that just like in Bible times, You can heal her.

“I also understand that You will chose what is best for her. I pray that through this trial, she will draw close to You -- that You will be her comfort and strength. I pray that ultimately, whatever happens, You will be glorified. I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.”

Birthdaypalooza

2011-10-09T18:47:00.000-05:00

October is our busy birthday month. We have three birthdays about a week apart. It is CRAZY. So yesterday after my fun run. My amazing sister met me with my kids and hers at the zoo where we had pizza in the park and then right as we were about to enter the zoo the KSFY truck asked us if we wanted to do the finger wave! Two groups did one and then we were off to the zoo, where the baby rhinoceros was also celebrating HIS birthday. WHEW! It was almost too much to handle. We survived and I forgot to dvr the news so of course it aired tonight. Sigh... Next up Nora's birthday combined with a wedding this Saturday. Pray for us this week! I only got a few photos before my camera died. The videos of Nora are my favorite. She absolutely loved feeding the little goats but every time a big one came close she would say,"Not YOU." It was so funny. We quickly ran out of food for the animals but Nora decided to quench their thirst.

Fall Fun

2011-10-09T18:00:00.003-05:00

Daddy got half the day off on Friday and we took great advantage of it.

Playing in the leaves, look at Addi! She is so happy.

Days like this are too far and in between.

Beautiful Day

2011-10-09T17:56:00.000-05:00

What a great Saturday I had! The sun was shining and the grass was a beautiful shade of green from the drink the rain gave it. Oh, and the company was SPECTACULAR!!!! I had a great time with Deann and coach Carey. Thanks beautiful women! If you asked me a year ago if I would have fun running 3 miles I would have laughed in your face. Today I will tell you I would do it again right now...

Golden Boy!

2011-10-07T12:24:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow my little boy turns eight, on the eighth! Golden birthdays are fun when they are little. The rest of my kids will be too old for fun and games by the time their golden birthdays roll around. I wanted to plan a fun party for him and his friends, something he would always remember. Ryan had last weekend off and Gavin wanted to invite all the boys in his class, with a limited budget I had to think fast. I decided to do an AMAZING RACE party. I wrote clues for four destinations at Grandma Bonnie's farm. They also had to complete two road blocks and one detour. Thanks to the help of several parents we were able to pull it off. Hopefully he made some awesome memories.

Each particpant pulled a colored tie from a paper bag to see what team they were on. I had 4 teams and started each one at a different destination for fear of the 3 hour game!

I sent one parent or older sibling with each group on their race to help read the clues and just chaperone while they roamed the farm.

This tree is easy to find because it has asort of house in it.

When you find it DO NOT CLIMB it. Butinstead wrap a piece

of your teams’ colored material around thetrunk of the tree.

Thentake turns shooting a can with a rubber band.

Ask the adult for your next clue.

Find the tree loaded with green fruit .

They are almost ripe and ready to fall.

Please pick ONLY ONE and not them all.

ROAD BLOCK: Choose one of the following and complete it together.

Eat the whole apple. OR

Peel the apple with the adult.

Ask the adult for your next clue.

Behind the swings was a garden green.
Grandma has since harvested it clean.
She forgot some little orange pumpkins.
Find ONE, use the permanent marker to write your name on it.
Put your pumpkin in the container in the driveway.
Go back to the garden and make 3 baskets before asking the adult for your next clue.

Several large round things are lined up in a row.

Look where lots of grass can grow.

Once you find them climb them.

Count them out loud as you jump on every one.

ROAD BLOCK: Choose and complete one of the following tasks together.

Take turns to shoot the bow and arrow at a target OR

Run across the bales and jump off the end 5 times.

Ask the adult for your next clue.

Every team had one final DETOUR: Find Gavin in the race and sing him Happy Birthday. He will give you a sticker. Once you have your sticker find Rani and she will give you your prize.

Homecoming

2011-10-03T13:38:00.000-05:00

Friday was Homecoming for our little village.

The bank always has balloons that somehow fly away to heaven before the parade is over.

The marching band played Thriller, super girl is my niece, Olivia.

Our family part of the royal court, nephew Andy.

My son on his class float, the Little Rascals, which one do you think he is?

His whole class, they were too cute!

Maleah's class used the movie Up for inspiration.

My little girls had buckets full before the parade was half over :)

The unofficial pooper scooper patrol at Friday’s homecoming parade. Uncle Steve and Daddy.

The boys won the football game against a previously undefeated team. It was a beautiful day!

Preschool Field Trip

2011-09-30T16:17:00.001-05:00

alternate title

Why I had chicken poop in my hair yesterday.

Customize your own free picture slideshow

Thankful Thursday

2011-09-29T15:15:00.003-05:00

Today I am thankful. Something about the sun, the leaves falling, the weekend approaching just makes me happy to be alive. Here are some other things I am thankful for in no particular order;

being able to run every morning this week so far
having an almost potty trained almost three year old, sigh
trying to wean off coffee and not getting too terrible of a headache
watching old little rascals movies with my son so he can choose a character to be for Homecoming tomorrow
listening to Maleah practice piano every night without me having to ask her to do it
hearing Addison beg to go to preschool, getting to attend her field trip today and see lots of chickens
eating a weeknight supper with my sister and her kiddos
feeling the sun on my face in late September
catching up on the dvr with my hubby after the kiddos turn in for the night
hanging up the school photos
planning a golden birthday party for my son, having wonderful friends and family who will help :)
watching coronation plays and laughing harder than I have in a very long time
ignoring basic housework to go for a walk with the girls in the middle of the day
enjoying a quiet afternoon when they sleep exhausted from a long midday walk
making a slideshow of photos of the field trip for Addison to share with other parents
enjoying leftovers and not having to cook every night this week
hearing my kids play outside together every evening until supper
calling my sister 10 times a day for no apparent reason
new ribbon barrettes for Maleah for homecoming thanks to my uber talented sissy
a faithful family who prays for each other in times of need

May God bless you today and in the future.

request

2011-09-28T07:08:00.001-05:00

Please pray for my Aunt Patty. I do not know specifics but the doctor did not have the best news for her yesterday considering her battle with the bully. My mother and I plan on visiting her soon.

The Appointment

2011-09-24T19:34:00.001-05:00

I was on the the last page of the third book in the Hunger Games trilogy when Dr. Keppen tapped on the door to the room. I tore myself away and immediately began sweating. What did the blood work reveal? Hold on I am getting ahead of myself...

The morning began normal enough. Wakey wakey, walky walky, talky talky...home by 6:30. I tried to shower but for some reason I got sidetracked making lists of my errands so it was after 7 before I cleaned up. I had to hit the bank before I left town and here it doesn't open until 8:30 am. Subconsciously I knew I had several "errands" planned to distract me from the real reason I had to get to town. Right before I left the house I texted my college roomie and made a lunch date. Now I had something to look forward to, good or bad news couldn't change that.

Two hours and the same number of errands later I arrived at the Cancer Center. A quick ride up the elevator and I was on the right floor. They gave me the beeper coaster thingamabob that is so weird and not convenient to carry with my purse, two books, sweater and phone. I really had to use the restroom (damn coffee) so that was my first stop after checking in. I was carrying so much that I had no place to set the stuff down (you know how disgusting those floors are) so I plopped my purse into the other sink and went to wash. Before I could, I heard the automatic faucet turn on and I saw the water pour, at full strength, into my purse and onto the annoying beeper thingy. I tried to get everything out of the sink before it got too wet. For the next hour I dripped like a leaky faucet.

I left a drying path of droplets all the way to the laboratory where I sat and waited to get poked. I read a few pages until I heard a familiar voice say, "Haven't seen you for quite some time, thank goodness." The technician did a great job of chit chatting and doing her job so well that I could not even feel the needle enter my arm. Though, as I watched each vial fill up I wondered how they can do that one handed. She repeatedly removed a vial, tilted it up and down and effortlessly inserted another vial on the needle with a single hand. I kept thinking about what would happen if i coughed or twitched. Would the needle go through my arm? Why does my brain always think of these awful things? She removed the needle, the rubber strap, and her strong hold on my arm and grabbed a cotton ball and a piece of tape to stop the trickle of blood. "Apply a bit of pressure there, dear," she said to me. "Good luck." she nodded to me as I picked up my stuff and walked down the hall and around the corner to the waiting room.

I usually love watching people. The people in waiting rooms are so interesting. There is always some drama going on and I love guessing what they do or what they are "in" for. You can always identify the ones who are coming for infusion. They usually have a large bag of stuff to occupy them and maybe some snacks. They are comfortably dressed in casual clothes or sweats. If they have been going through treatment for a while they may have a bandanna or a hat on their thinning or bald head. Some have a tubes on their chest coming from their port. Many have an iv pole or a wheelchair, recovering from surgery. We all have one terrible thing in common. The "C" word.

But this time I had no desire to people watch. The Mocking Jay was enough to keep me distracted. The hour and 15 minutes I had to wait flew by. When my beeper went off it startled me and then I smiled because I was relieved that I didn't break the darn thing by letting it go for a swim in my purse. The nurse walked me back to the room.

I rattled off the list of my vitamins. She typed them in. She asked me the required questions. I answered them between nervous fidgets. She tried to take my blood pressure. The first time she reminded me gently to not cross my legs. The second time she asked me not to wring my hands. The third time she asked me to sit on the paper sheet so she could do it the "old fashioned way".

"I guess I am a little nervous." I said.

"It's normal." she answered.

I bet. I thought in my anxious nervous brain I didn't say it out loud. I also thought this. Let's get on with it.

"So," she asked as she glanced at my book with the blue and silver cover "Are you team Peeta or team Gale?" We discussed the book for a few minutes and then she left me to finish the last 10 pages.

Minutes later the rap on the door jolted me back into reality.

So, the results?

The Doctor clears his throat. "Let's see....um hmmm....yep." "Um I just want to look at these other numbers, too... yep everything checks out. I'd like to see you in a year again."

Then I let out a BIG HUGE SIGH.

Thanks so very much for your prayers.

The night before

2011-09-20T18:10:00.000-05:00

As I sit here tonight, ignoring my dishes, the messy kitchen, the towels that need folding, the kids that need nose wiping and hugging, the homework that needs checking...I wallow in my anxiety.
I watch the news, a story about drug use in Montana, and my brain is numb to the horrific, sad, bad news headlines. It doesn't phase me. I glance at the grocery ads that came in the mail today. The rising cost of everything from meat to milk should worry me especially since the pocketbook is fading into the red with every week that passes. Still nothing moves me.
I read an email about prayer. We move our mouths in prayer but don't use our hearts to feel what we are saying. A grim reminder of just one more thing that I am not doing. I feel a pang of guilt, but it is only temporary.
I bark at my family, I resist the urge to crawl under the covers of my bed and hide.
I try to distract myself with my newly borrowed book from the bookmobile. I read a chapter. I close the book. I busy myself with supper; chop an onion, shred some cheese, boil some pasta.
I can't shake the sinking feeling.
Tomorrow I meet with the doctor, again. The needle goes in the arm, the five narrow vials get filled and labeled and I sit and wait and practice the art of distraction, unsuccessfully. Note to self: remember a book. My brain wanders again...my name is called and I head back to the white room with the paper sheet on the bed and wait. What will the blood work find, if anything? Six years later and I am reduced to a scared little child again.

I can't wait for tomorrow to be over.

If I knew then what I know now

2011-09-19T11:58:00.001-05:00

I am sure you have all heard that wedding quote, "This day I will marry my friend, the one I laugh with, live for, dream with, love...". When I got married I honestly thought it was corny. Ryan and I had been together for almost 10 years, since junior high, before we walked down the aisle. It just seemed too cliche.
Today is Mr.Mommyville's birthday. We are the same age for about two months. I got him a small, practical gift and a photo book of summer memories and am currently simmering his favorite soup, white turkey chili. He wanted monster cookies this weekend but I wasn't feeling very good and didn't get them done so I may try to tackle them sometime today.I feel a little guilty about that.
When he got up this morning the kids greeted him with,"Happy Birthday, Daddy!" and he smiled from ear to ear. I think the hugs he got beat any gift I could have bought.
We have been through a lot. I am sure every couple has. It boggles my mind to think of what the future may bring for us. I never know what we are doing until almost the minute it happens.
Then there is the goal. The things we want to accomplish. The plans we have together. We talk about them all the time. There isn't one easy street. It's a whole map full of un-navigable old dirt roads. It reminds me of that movie, "Up". When they keep planning for their dream house and it never materializes. Plans change. The theme of our marriage. Kids, maybe? Two, that feels right. How about 4? Okay. Yes, plans change. The past does not.

If we got married again today. I would send out invitations with the best friend quote on them. Because you know what? It is not corny. It's entirely the truth. Happy birthday, best friend. I love you. Today, and everyday, I am thankful for you!

A sad shoe story

2011-09-06T15:23:00.002-05:00

So this morning I took one little to preschool and the other little and I went to visit my mom who just came back from visiting my aunt in WI. We had a lovely time visiting and my aunt graciously sent some old cookbooks with my mom for me so I was lost in them for most of the morning. After I made another trip to retrieve the first little from school mom made lunch and then we went down to the creek that runs just a mile from her home.

The girls wanted to float milkweed pods in the water. They like to call them boats. Mom was looking for a monarch chrysalis. She wants to have one for the kids to watch hatch. The girls took turns tossing pods and then rocks when they had thrown all the pods their short arms could reach from the gravel road.

I was kneeling at the bridge. My mind was filled with the memories of all the times,as a child,that I had done the exact same thing as my little girls. I thought about trying to find huge rocks that kerplunked into the muddy river. I remembered, when the water was really low, finding shells. Last summer my son and oldest daughter found a ton of them and brought them to mom's in a bucket that, in a short few hours, filled the garage with the stench of rotting sea food.

It seems odd how small that part of the world is. It sure seemed so much bigger when I was little. Still, something so large in my memory had all but been forgotten. How could I forget about such an amazing little place?

Nora, while tossing fists full of sand into the water, slipped on the gravel and lost her pink flip flop on the bridge. She cried, "My shoe, my shoe..." and watched it float quickly upriver where a herd of cattle were enjoying a cool drink. She was crushed. They were her favorite shoes, her only pair of flip flops. I tried to assure her that the weather was cooling, her feet were growing and soon we would have retired the shoes. Alas,she was traumatized. It was too much for her to see that tiny shoe drifting far, far, away.

Again my brain flooded with memories of the time my sister and I lost a pole in the water. I am sure there were many more times similar to it. I could almost feel the thick mud on my legs and my feet as we swam to find the pole.

Today the creek is surrounded by electric fence. A barrier crosses under the bridge so the cattle cannot cross under it. The ditch was overgrown with weeds as tall as me. My mother and I both contemplated going down to the water with a long branch to try and stop the runaway shoe but quickly decided it wasn't worth the trouble.

Nora, however, cried all the way home. When we came upon five lost cattle she slowed her sobs down just a bit and she did only sniffle while she watched the young calf trot alongside his mother looking for a break in the thick reeds. They eventually galloped into an approach near an old shed. Then Nora's face contorted into a painful look as she cried, "I want my other pink shoe!"

As we were leaving my mom's I asked Nora if we should just leave the unlost shoe at Grandma's, since one shoe is not of much use to a person who has two feet. She hesitantly slid her little foot out of the slipper and handed it to me. Her face wrinkled up and she told grandma to throw it away. Then she reminded me that NEXT time she goes the creek she should wear tennis shoes.

On the drive home, Addi suggested that we call the "cops" and tell them that Nora lost her shoe in the creek. Because, she said, "Cops are very good at helping people with problems." I mentioned that they were probably busy helping other people today. Nora chimed in and thought that maybe a daddy had lost a boot and needed it found so he could work and since her shoe was so small the "cops" should concentrate on finding the boot for the daddy first, and besides her shoe was all wet now and she wouldn't be able to wear it.

Then the conversation was not about shoes for a while until I put her down for a rest. "Mommy, can we go shopping for some new pink flip flops when I wake up?" Sniff, sniff, sniffle.

Don't mess with a girl and her shoes.

Brooding and Baking

2011-09-04T11:34:00.001-05:00

Pastor's sermon was about being "great" today. Greatness meaning who is the most important... you know; top dog, head honcho, big cheese....

I think you know where I am going with this, God's most important is pretty much the opposite of the world's most important. Here, in the world, the most money gets you the best seat, the biggest house, the fastest car, the best cut of meat...

The Lord would say that the weakest, lowest, most needful person is the most important. The ones who are furthest from him are his most cherished. We will ALL be there at times in our lives. It is at that time that He will lift us up and carry us in our journey.

I have had a week. I am not proud of my thoughts and actions. I put myself first before others who needed more than me. I thought because I was strong enough to 'get through' that I was better. But I am not. I am not the best. Pastor's sermon gently reminded me to always think of who Jesus would want to help first. The ones who do not know Him. The ones who desperately need Him. I have not done that this week. I am the example for my children. I must be a better example. I begged for forgiveness this morning.

Now I have to get my mind off of my bad week and remember that He has forgiven me. What to do?
I think I will bake some banana bread and some zucchini squares. Yum.

Think about others today.

And an argument arose among them as to which of them might be the greatest. But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking in their heart, took a child and stood him by His side, and said to them, "Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; for he who is least among you, this is the one who is great." (Luke 9:46-48).

Is it my fault?

2011-08-30T17:30:00.000-05:00

Addison's first day of preschool was today. We have been talking about it for weeks. Since her teacher came and she cried the whole time thinking she was leaving with her. So when I got the call to sub today, I knew it would be tough, but I didn't think it would be as bad as it was. Dad took her over and helped her calmly unpack her backpack and start to play when the floodgates opened. She lasted about a half an hour and then dad brought her home. Sigh....

The house is a mess and I just cleaned it last night. The dishes are not clean, the laundry is not done and supper is not even a thought in my head and it's 5:17pm. It ~~might be~~ is a cereal night.

My calendar looks like someone scribbled all over it. I can't make out half of the notes. I have no idea where I should be or where I was.

After school I ate a calzone, a hershey bar dipped in peanut butter (otherwise known as midol), an orange sweet roll, a corn tortilla with cheddar jack cheese, a diet coke and a cup of coffee. I have no idea why I can't shake those 10 pounds I intended to lose before October.

Every other day I wash 792 pairs of size 2 panties. I am too tired and too old to potty train.

I want a dishwasher, the kind that can load and unload itself.

We have supper club twice this week. It is fun, but exhausting.

My checkbook keeps showing a negative balance. Money is allergic to my checking account.

We had a nice couple visit the house the other day. They showed up unannounced on a Saturday morning when I was leaving. The house was, well, a disaster. I am sure they will make an offer...not.

I feel like my life is nuts and crazy and then I spend an hour in a classroom with 25 thirteen and fourteen year old's.

I have nothing else to say today.

big, deep, SIGH...

2011-08-26T12:03:00.000-05:00

I think I should probably start posting my Monday multitudes again because lately I am having a hard time finding things to be thankful for.

This week was the first week that the kids went back to school. Crazy that August is almost over, isn't it?

Ryan and I stayed up late making salsa last night and I was dumping the ingredients in like I normally do, but I was off because it was WAY TOO salty. I threw a giant potato in there to cook it out a bit and it helped but this batch will probably have to be my cooking batch. I wrote salty on all the lids to remind myself.

We got a little car for Ryan to drive back and forth to work with. We did a marathon test drive all day long and the fourth town we went to had the best deal. The kids love the fact that all of us can fit in it. It has 6 seatbelts. It also has a large trunk. If you talk to any of my children about that today they will probably tell you about how we drove around with the kids in the trunk to scare people last night. We didn't really drive around with them in the trunk, I mean, we did, but only for a very short distance like...half of a block and man was it worth it to see grandma's face. She was so shocked to open the trunk and see four kids in there. The kids had so much fun the only way we could bribe them to get back in the car was to promise they could do it again to Auntie Josie and then we had to promise to do it again. Until we ran out of people to scare and it was bedtime. Yep, that is how we spend our evenings in the village these days, we are real classy.

Actually my mornings are just as fun. My early morning walks have been stalked by two kittens. We have tried everything to ditch them. We even walked them back home one day. But, they are fans of walking right on top of our feet while we try to get around town. This morning I was laughing so hard I could barely walk myself. We are going to have to get a new route to avoid picking them up every morning. This morning we also picked up a dog on our route, too. I joked that if we had a pipe, we could persuade every animal in town to follow us.

Well, I used that salt soaked potato to creat a casserole for the girls and I for lunch and the oven is beeping so I best get off the 'puter.

Happy weekend folks. May you have animals follow you wherever you go.

Fun was had by all...

2011-08-21T10:49:00.000-05:00

Customize a photo slideshow

Hello delicious...

2011-08-15T16:04:00.000-05:00

These turned out AMAZING! I sure hope one lasts until dad gets home.

The directions were easy to follow and she included a link with more photos.

I used half whole wheat flour and half white flour because that is what I do.

The only fresh herbs I had on hand were chives and cilantro and garlic. Sweet, tangy and YUMMY.

You have to try this, I love the mini loaves idea. We had to share these, too I have a lot of little people. But, in a dinner setting each person could have their own (germ free) pull apart loaf. Next time I am only going to put eight squares in each loaf and I might add pepperoni's. Can you imagine cinnamon and sugar and apples? Oh my goodness...

so much for no carbs

2011-08-15T11:54:00.000-05:00

trying out some new recipes for Sensible Sisters...all of them happen to be bread.... oh well :)
I really cannot wait to taste this one.

photo credit www.pink-parsley.com

It's over

2011-08-14T17:55:00.000-05:00

but man, what a ride! Who could have predicted that we would have made it this far? I am so proud of my hubby. Here are some shots of him pitching on Friday night.

What a stud!

Which one

2011-08-14T17:34:00.000-05:00

of these adorable girls

did this?

Sneak peek

2011-08-11T14:47:00.000-05:00

This happens to me every summer. I tire of cooking. I dread heating up the kitchen, messing up the dishes, kneading the bread with my hands.
Then one day, a couple of months later, I remember I love cooking. Then I decide to cook everything. It started on Monday. First, I made LOTS of zucchini bread.

Then my neighbors came over and we put up over 100 bags of corn.

This morning I had to use up the tomatoes that have been SLOWLY ripening in my garden and QUICKLY ripening in my mom's. So I made 4 quarts of salsa. Then I was hungry and I needed to try out this calzone recipe for sensible sisters. Here is a sneak peak...

Ryan said they were sort of crooked so I should make them again to practice the shape. "Make them again tomorrow," he said. I filled these with homemade salsa, sweet corn, ground beef, and marble cheddar cheese. Yum. Next time I want to make broccoli and cheese, I think or maybe chicken...

Family Time

2011-08-07T15:02:00.000-05:00

squeezing out some family time these past few weeks...

Madison Crazy Days

District Tournament mustache fun

a quick visit to the ZOO

watching daddy at the state tourney

waiting patiently for 50 cent foul balls

sitting with Grandpa and Grandma at the ballgame

visiting the Brookings childrens museum

trying to catch water in her mouth...

Leapin' Lizards

2011-08-05T09:51:00.000-05:00

I have so much to catch you all up on. Is that a sentence? I don't think you can end with a preposition. Oh well, Karen will set me straight.

Because I don't really have time to be writing, (read: children are doing dishes and cleaning out the car unsupervised at the moment) I am going to keep this brief (and random).

1) It's August already. (read: IT'S !@#$ AUGUST ALREADY) sigh...

2) We are still playing baseball. Yes, you read that right. We started in May and we are still going strong. Ryan pitches tonight at 5:30 in Mitchell at the State Tournament. You can listen to the game here.

3) We are still selling our house. It hasn't even been two weeks since we announced this, but I have never vacuumed my laundry room so much. It is CRAZY! I have 24 totes of house stuff in the garage. My sil helped me clean out the clutter to show the house. I owe her my life, or at least a steak dinner...

4) I am not only obsessed with prescription glasses now. I have an absurd obsession with running shorts. Last weekend I almost lost a pair, while I was wearing them in a 5k. Not a good thing. Another incomplete sentence, sorry Karen. I will only buy ones with a drawstring now. The good news is that I improved my time from May by almost 5 minutes while holding my shorts and walking one third of the race for fear of becoming spontaneously naked.

5) My electricity bill is ridiculously high this month. I have no idea why.

6) It is not quite so hot out there this week but I still find myself keeping out of the sun. I think I am allergic to it. Last week we had a long weekend of camping in Madison. I forgot my camera. It was fun. We were with a group of people from the village which made it even more fun even though Ryan had to drive back and forth from Lennox almost every night for ball games. Maleah swam in the shallow lake while Nora and Addison and Dad and Gavin caught fish and I tried to upload photos from my cell phone. It was a nice break from reality. We hope to get one or two more camping trips in before school starts.

7) The SpudFest planning is coming along quite nicely. It has been interesting to sit on the sidelines, kind of, this year. I did get my hands into a few things, but nothing terribly time consuming. We have some new and amazing events planned and if you have Saturday August 20th free on your calendar you should come to the village. It will be a bit different this year with events mostly located near the swimming pool. Vendors, volleyball, swimming, bean bags, kids games and events and much much more...

8) The girls are flooding the kitchen. That is my cue to wrap this up :)

photos of the house

2011-07-26T14:27:00.000-05:00

Create a digital slideshow

Home for Sale by Owner

2011-07-21T08:41:00.001-05:00

$97,000

1978 Rambler, on a 66 x 165 lot. The house has new cement board siding (2009) and many new windows. It has a front deck and a basement walkout and features a lower level kitchen. This home has 1040 square feet of updated living space. There are 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. The kitchen is 18x12 with laminate flooring and lots of birch cabinets. The living room is 18x14. The basement has a fireplace, large bedroom, bathroom with large, handicapped accessible shower and large living space as well as a kitchen with a cook top, fridge and convection microwave hood oven. The house has a gas furnace and central air conditioning. The lot has a spacious backyard with an apple tree, shed for storage, a cherry tree and several rhubarb bushes.
This adorable home is move in ready!. Recent updates include new trim and doors on the main level and some brick landscaping. Conveniently located only walking distance from the main street businesses, the school and several churches.

This about sums it up for me

2011-07-20T08:49:00.000-05:00

I was reading Dr. Suess to the girls this morning and I couldn't believe the parallel's to my life...

You will come to a place where the streets are not marked... A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin. Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in? How much can you lose? How much can you win? And IF you go in, should you turn left or right...or right and three quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?...Simple it's not, I'm afraid you will find for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.

I will not be stressed out...I am stressed out...

2011-07-18T19:32:00.002-05:00

Lord, when my concerns consume me, help me remember that You are with me, holding me by the hand and guiding me. I want to seek You as much as I serve You and others. Help me balance my life and give my worries to You, knowing with confidence that You care about me and are good at taking care of me! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

water bugs

2011-07-17T15:24:00.000-05:00

this moment

2011-07-17T15:17:00.000-05:00

It's 10:10 pm on a Friday night. Dad hit the tent sale on the way home from work and we unloaded the car, picked the cukes in the garden and lit a fire to roast hot dogs before the beeper went off and he had to leave again. The day has been crazy with a final ballgame, unbearable humidity and heat and crabby little girls. But the moment he handed me the campfire fork and said, "I gotta go", I felt the most in love with him that I have ever been. I wouldn't trade this moment for anything. I am so blessed.

it's that time of year again

2011-07-12T09:25:00.001-05:00

I think the title of this video should be "give me 5" you'll see why :)

Ball is winding down. Gavin's last game was on Friday and Maleah finishes up this week. Poor Addi only made it to 2 t-ball practices...maybe next year she can participate more.

Now it is time for districts and state for the Cornbelt teams. Ryan plays at home on Thursday and then again in a double header on Sunday. Next Friday districts start...so much for summer :)

Again, I ask you to pray dear faithful friends.

2011-07-06T12:03:00.000-05:00

Four very simple prayer requests;

for my aunt Correne and her family as she mourns the loss of her sister to cancer

for my aunt Patty as she applies for another research study for her cancer and for safe travel for those of us who will be visiting her

for my friend Joann and her family as she continues to struggle with illness and pain

for my dear friend Sarah and her family who are loving a baby very much and hoping God's plan for them includes him

Lord, I pray for my friends and family just as your Word tells me to pray, for healing. I believe you hear this earnest prayer from my heart and that it is powerful because of your promise. I have faith in you, Lord, to heal my friends, but I also trust in the plan you have for their life.

Lord, I don't always understand your ways. I don't know why we have to suffer, but I trust You. I ask that You look with mercy and grace toward us. Nourish our spirits and souls in this time of suffering and comfort all of us with Your presence.

Let everyone know You are here with us through this difficulty. Give us strength. And may You, through this difficulty, be glorified in their lives and also in mine.

Amen

Iced Coffee

2011-07-06T08:00:00.001-05:00

photo from thegrocerycartchallenge.blogspot.com

The pioneer woman posted a recipe a few weeks back about iced coffee. I wanted to make it but I was frightened. I had no large container like hers. I do not posses an adorable dispenser like hers. I put it out of my mind.

This weekend my mom served me a tall glass of iced coffee. It was AMAZING. I looked in her fridge. She had a large jar of coffee concentrate with a screw top lid. It wasn't beautiful but it tasted better than Starbucks. I asked her for the recipe. She sent me to Bob's post from 2006. I tried it out with some beans I have been wanting to use up. It is perfect. I am in love with iced coffee.

The two recipes are very similar. Add some water to a pound of coffee and let it sit. Ree sat hers out on the counter. I put mine in the fridge. Some reviewers say that the room temperature makes a more bitter tasting brew. I don't know. Ree uses more water in hers. I like my coffee strong enough to chew it. I like Bob's 6-8 cups of water dilute. It works for me. Of course I add two parts of milk to one part of coffee concentrate and Ree did about 50/50. I coarse ground the beans and let it 'brew' in my big Tupperware bowl in the fridge overnight. I used 4 coffee filters and some paper towels to filter it this morning. I need to find my cheesecloth it is lost in my canning supplies somewhere.

I can't wait to try a shot of the concentrate over chocolate ice cream.....mmmmmmm. Bob lists several recipe concoctions at the end of his post. They all sound delish. Are you going to try one?

Oh and let's talk money, shall we? The pound of coffee was $4 off of amazon.com. The water was free:) I used a few pennies worth of coffee filters and a few more pennies worth of paper towels. I used a half of a cup of milk and a shot of half and half and a teaspoon of splenda for my one cup. I don't know what that adds up to but I do know it is one cheap and tasty treat! You should try it.

My favorite VBS crafts

2011-07-05T17:49:00.000-05:00

Gavin made this junk mobile at GADGET VBS. I LOVE using found items to create something.

Maleah made this cross hanging from dried beans and peas. I love it when the kids can make their own designs and there is not a follow the lines diagram.

baby jar tea lights...Addison made this one, she was so proud

Faith bamboo - doesn't need dirt just water and rocks. The most fun was had picking these rocks for this project. The original container was a painted soup can embellished by the children.

You can never go wrong with a frame. Never. Parents will not throw away a photo of their munchkin.

These smashed can pandas were fun. The cans were smashed so the kids had to decide how to put feet and legs and arms on the can. Some were sitting, some were on all fours. All of them were adorable, this was at Pandamania VBS.

I love having free art for the littles. Nora was so content painting this. She told me it was a deer when she was done.

More frames. This year I put each child's frame on their bedroom door. They love it and so do I.

Gavin's bean art is a baseball :)

Rain sticks. These were fun. Take something that makes noise (we used beans) and put 'em in a holder. We used a recycled paper towel holder. Parents can help collect these items and it make a cheap or free craft for one night.

Shake, rattle and roll. Admittedly this one is probably the first to be trashed but wasn't it going there already? We just extended it's life for a bit.

I do really like themed things, that is the old teacher in me. Kits and toys are fun. But, my favorite crafts are the ones that reuse junk and that allow creative expression of the kids.

Birthday Blessings!

2011-07-04T11:02:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday USA (and auntie Tracy!)

waiting for Auntie to pick us up for storytime...

2011-07-01T15:33:00.000-05:00

moment of cuteness (rare)

sister love

strike a pose

look mom a truck!

here it comes

2011-07-01T09:02:00.003-05:00

diarrhea of the mouth that is...

This morning (in the shower) I was formulating a blog post just like a do every morning. It was a good story, it had highs and lows, a little love and war, parenting advice and a bonus freebie. Then I turned the shower off and it all went down the drain, just like it does every morning.

By the time I got upstairs to my coffee two kids were up and there was no more quiet time for mom. So here I sit while the house is in chaos typing up a post because I love you. I can't even hear myself think right now let alone form a complete thought and put it into a sentence. Hence, diarrhea of the mouth.

Are you ready? Wait for it...

It is SO STINKING HOT OUTSIDE. I can hardly breathe. I think it was last week when I was complaining about the air being cold and hurting my lungs on our morning routine. This week the air is so think I can chew it. I took my workout wear off this morning and it was as wet as my swimming suit. Ew. Sorry. Good thing I am a go with the flow kinda gal and these temperature changes don't stop me from working out. I am loving our early morning routes. It has been nuts these last two weeks with one or more of us always on vacation so I have been changing it up. My muscles are screaming at me but I sure do like not gaining anything because I have been eating CRAP.

My (smart) sister is running the concession stand at the youth games. I volunteered (stupidly) to help her out. Four or five nights a week I make chocolate covered rice crispy bars and popcorn treats to sell at the counter. We are usually down there by 5pm and things don't quiet down until after 10 most nights. It is exhausting. Then getting up early to walk and run. But that isn't the half of it. Do you know how hard it is to be around all that food all night long? I started the summer out feeding my kids supper before we went down and then they begged me for food all night long and I eventually gave in and fed them chips and cheese, walking tacos, bbq's, hot dogs, fruit and yogurt and veggies and ranch and a Gatorade with laffy taffy, ring pops, super ropes and rice crispy bars for dessert. Then I got smart and stopped feeding them supper before we went. Yep, I am a smart mom :)

The garden (yep this is how my brain works no transitions) is BURSTING with strawberries and spinach and lettuce and cilantro. I am so proud of those little green plants. I took photos about a week ago but they have changed so much it isn't even worth posting them. We get an ice cream bucket of strawberries about every other day. I have to cover the plants with tulle so the birdies don't eat them. We have been stuffing our faces with the berries. There is just no comparison. It makes the ones at the grocery taste like paper. Ours are tiny and misshapen and as sweet as honey. YUM. I have so many I don't know what to do with them. Do I freeze them? I am not much of a jelly maker but I may have to start. This is a lot of strawberries. The best crop we have ever had. I am dreaming of a balsamic vinaigrette with the spinach and strawberries and sugared pecans...yum.

Maleah made an AWESOME catch last night at the ballgame. The team we played was very good at the plate and hit the ball every time. It was the last inning and they were popping up every time. Our team is still in that stage where they are mostly afraid of the ball. They are little, ages 10 and under, and you can just see the fear in their face and they back up and hold their glove out while their other arm shields their body. Maleah, on the other hand, is a chatter box and she is always yelling out things on the field. She is telling the girls to watch or get ready or shouting encouraging phrases to her teammates to play. She yelled out, " Don't be afraid of it - catch that ball" right before a high pop came right to her. She stepped forward to it, caught it and immediately got rid of it back to the pitcher. I was screaming, "Nice catch, Mia" from the stands and she was already thinking about her next play. It must be something in her blood. It's a desire to play and run and never give up. She got herself out of a pickle last night, too. Just plain outran the second and third basemen to reclaim her base. "SAFE" the ump yelled and she didn't even blink. She put her hands on her knees and watched the batter so see when she could run again. It is a joy to watch her. I love to see her face so caught up in the game and her knowledge of the sport surprises me every time I see it. I am so blessed.

Gavin loves the game as well, has since he was 18 months old. That boy was born with a baseball glove on his hand I think. But lately, the fishing pole has taken over. He has always loved throwing a line in and he has this classmate that loves to fish, too. Last week his mom took the boys down to the part of the river that flows through town and they both caught walleye. If you could have seen the look in Gavin's face. He was so proud of that catch. He has begged to go everyday since. Almost makes me want to learn how to put a worm on a hook, ALMOST. Ryan went out the other day and out fished his buddy for the first time, EVER. It was a good week here for fishermen and it was in our own backyard, too:) I do love a good walleye baked in butter with a little lemon...mmmmmm.

Speaking of fish (the kids are engrossed in PBS cartoon so my brain is coming together now enough for smooth transition into my next topic). I got two free samples of fish oil and started taking them in the morning with my protein shake and my vita slew (I like to call it that it reminds me to eat or else I have vita slew in my belly urping up my throat all morning). I take a multi vitamin, calcium with added vitamin d (EVERYONE NEEDS TO ADD VITAMIN D if you don't do it shame on you) vitamin a and lysine. I added the fish oil this past week. The first pack was three or four pills and I didn't have a problem with it. The second pack I began a couple of days ago. Different brand. Same size pill. Very similar. Same nutritional info. on the package. Same benefit. I figured I was safe. SO WHY AM I BURPING UP FISHY GUNK ALL DAY LONG. It is terrible. I shouldn't take the last two. So I know for a fact that I will not buy this brand. Too bad I threw the other sample package away so I will never know the one that did not give me fish indigestion And that,my friends, is why the Lord created free samples :)

So I was bound and determined to get a "good" meal in yesterday because we have been eating chips and cheese and hot dogs and tacos and crap for weeks upon weeks. I spent all morning mixing up turkey meatballs and rolling them and baking them. I had a few cans of progresso light creamy mushroom soup I was going to throw them in the crock with and serve it over penne with spinach salad. I was cooking and slaving away and the house smelled like onion heaven when I popped open a couple of cans of soup and dumped them in the crock. I stirred it ever so gently so as to not break the turkey balls and this foreign smell hit me. It smelled weird...like...fishy...like... I RAN to the trash to get the soup can and read the label "Light New England Clam Chowder"! That is the story of my life.

There you have it. A post with no photos. I HAVE photos. I do. I just don't have enough patience to wait for the upload.

May your 4th of July be safe and blessed.

Ew, I just burped fish breath. Gross.

'Chip'

2011-06-30T10:00:00.001-05:00

14.5 inch walleye caught a few blocks from home :)

26.5 inch walleye caught a few miles from home :)

What did I make?

2011-06-26T17:50:00.000-05:00

He's back, project man that is...

2011-06-14T21:45:00.000-05:00

this time thanks to my MAD freecycle skills we scored 800+ free bricks with mortar on them so we chipped off each and every piece of mortar and borrowed the girls sand from their box and set them in the ground, a little around the driveway and more in the front of the house

we loaded these up on that 99 degree day last week...it was HOT

Gavin removes some of the mortar. He helped a ton.

framing the driveway...

removing the old cracked sidwalk pieces

clean slate, sort of

starting the brick

sanding the cracks, we are about 20 bricks short so now we have to decide what to do

prayer requests

2011-06-12T13:31:00.000-05:00

I believe in the power of prayer. I KNOW He hears them and answers them. The hard part for us is the understanding (come Holy Spirit) and accepting of His answer.

Friends, if you have time this week for prayer could you please include my sister in law who is getting an MRI on Tuesday? She has some interesting labs and is hoping the scan will answer some questions her doctor has about her numbers. Also, Ryan's teammate is having surgery on Tuesday. Sometimes being a kid at heart just isn't enough. He plays hard and never gives less than 200% during a game. He injured his shoulder and needs surgery to repair it. Please pray for the doctors and technicians and for the patients to get answers and heal quickly and without (too much) pain and suffering.

Thank you prayer warriors :)
Amen.

blessed exhaustion

2011-06-12T13:13:00.000-05:00

This week by the numbers;

ONE wonderful hold your belly laughing cancer survivor luncheon with the most amazing surviving women I know
FIVE 3 mile walks before the day begins
FIVE days of G.A.D.G.E.T (God's always doing great exciting things!) VBS
ONE 99 degree day hauling bricks for landscape project
THREE bruises on my shin from afore mentioned activity
ONE super helpful nephew during afore mentioned activity
ONE night of painful turbo kick after too long of a hiatus
ONE 4 mile run to help stretch the aching muscles
ONE very long cold night in the concession stand
FOUR ballgames (2 in freezing cold weather)
ONE baby blanket crocheted during
ONE softball tournament in beautiful weather
ONE rainout cornbelt baseball game :)
TWO pans of bars devoured
ONE massive garage sale organized
800+ bricks loaded and unloaded in the trailer and several hundred set in sand already
ONE amazing Saturday afternoon spent with family, wood stain, margaritas and food :)
ONE VBS church service with 50 children singing
ONE Sunday family brunch
ONE afternoon with nothing planned
MOUNTAINS of laundry to do
HUNDREDS of emails ignored
NOT ENOUGH sleep

Mega Sad Face

2011-06-01T08:29:00.000-05:00

Last night was the bigs first ballgames. Guess what supermommy didn't do? ...take one stinkin' photo.

During VBS we had this awesome lesson where I drew a sad face (or 10) on my hand to represent all the mistakes (sins) I have made. Then I walked around and asked the children if they had ever made a mistake (disobeyed mommy, fought with siblings, lied, etc.) Some children were adamant that they had NEVER made a mistake. Isn't that the truth? We feel like if we admit our faults we are broken and ugly. A long time ago started asking for forgiveness like I really mean it and since I have accepted the fact that I am not perfect and never will be it has been much easier for me to 'deal' with whatever life (the PLAN) tosses my way.

So today, just like every other day, I have a big sad face on my hand. Blessedly, it is washed clean and white with Jesus' death on the cross. Washed with the blood of the lamb. God loves me all the time. Amen. Guess what? He loves you, too, sad face and all.

Happy middle of the week to all my wonderfully and thoughtfully made friends!

Why I LOVE VBS...

2011-05-26T22:41:00.000-05:00

Personalize a free picture slideshow

Weekend Wrap Up

2011-05-23T08:27:00.001-05:00

Friday afternoon the nurse called and confirmed what the doctor thought. It is Bells Palsy, a viral infection, and with treatment it should go away. It was amazing that I heard the phone because I was in and out of the house packing up the camper for our impromtu weekend.

We are NOT planners. We camp when the opportunity presents itself. This time my sister had a spot she wasn't able to use and we snatched it up last minute. It was cool and the forecast predicted rain but we packed ponchos and mud boots and headed north.

We weren't there five minutes and the boys, Gavin brought a friend, had their lines in the water. Dad was still leveling the camper when they pulled their first fish outta the lake. What a great start to the weekend!

The rest of the weekend went fast and was a ton of fun. I think you will get more out of the photos than my jibber jabber so may I present to you the first camping weekend of 2011, gordo style...

fishing in the rain

computer games in the rain

picnic when the sun came out

more fishin'

canoe rental 3 hours $15, acutal use time 45 min before the rain and wind came back :)

even more fishin', I could see them from the camper - it was an awesome spot

it's getting hot out here

no more clothes

burying in the sand, everyone got a turn

boys

And just before our showers (read; sand where the sun don't shine) on the last day we ended the weekend the same way we began it with one super big fish on the line. We couldn't ask for anything more now could we?

Obstacle Course and 50 yd Dash plus :)

2011-05-19T13:44:00.001-05:00