Tic Tac Toe - 3 In a Row

Superhero Birthday Party

2012-08-28T08:42:00.000-04:00

So, my baby boy is turning FOUR! Ugh. . . I can't believe it!

Just over a year ago, I remember being 8 months pregnant and holding Evan on my lap. I thought, "Boo hoo. . . this may be one of the last times I rock you to sleep!" And I think it was :(

He is still a very affectionate and "huggy" boy, but no way does he fall asleep on me anymore!

In the beginning of August, Jessica's first birthday party was a big deal. A week later, Grandma & Grandpa came to visit (and are still here). Evan's birthday party plans took a "back burner" to all the activities that were going on, but I wanted to do something he would enjoy!

We decided on a superhero theme because he couldn't decide which superhero was his favorite. We had lots of Spiderman decorations (thanks to a high school friend), but the cake was just red, white, and blue with stars. We set up the superhero toys we had and made some superheros out of toilet paper tubes. We also played "catch the villain" - thanks to my friend's 11 yr old son :) Here are some pics:

My "Super Evan"

The kids loved those marshmallow stars!

Revealing his secret identity - lol!

The making of a super hero

Singing and blowing out the candles

Present time!!!

Sammy and Levi

Shoot out!

My super girl :)

Super cousins!

Mexican Tater Tot Casserole

2012-08-14T18:07:00.000-04:00

I don't usually post recipes because I do not consider myself a cooking connoisseur. . . in the least! But, this is one of those recipes that friends and family both enjoy, so I thought I would share :)

Let me also add, this is a very simple meal that takes little time to make. It is often difficult to prepare a meal with 3 boys running around and a 1 yr. old tugging at my apron strings, so I appreciate meals that do not require lots of chopping and mixing ;)

Ingredients:
1 lb. ground sausage or ground beef
2 Tbs. flour
2 Tbs. butter
1 c. milk
1 can of black beans (or really, any kind of bean you like)
1 can of corn
1 can chopped tomatoes & green chilis (Rotel)
Shredded cheese (any kind will work) I like Colby/Jack for this
Tater tots

In a skillet, cook ground sausage/beef and drain the fat. Put meat into a casserole dish and set aside. Preheat oven to 375. Wipe down skillet with a paper towel and then add flour and butter. Cook on medium until mixture starts to bubble (about 2 min). Add milk and stir until it becomes a think white sauce. Add in beans, corn, and tomatoes. Pour this mixture on top of the meat in the casserole dish. Add enough shredded cheese to cover the mixture, then add a layer of tater tots. Bake for about 20 min. until tater tots are browned and mixture is bubbling. Serve with a dollop of sour cream and salsa.

mmmmmm. . . cheese. . .

Butterfly Birthday Party

2012-08-11T16:21:00.000-04:00

Long before my baby girl was born, I decided butterflies would be the theme for her room. This came about as I was registering at Babies R Us online. I was looking for baby girl items that were purple - and they were not easy to come by! Finally, I spotted a soft lilac colored blanket with a butterfly in the corner. I loved it! And the best part, is that someone actually bought that blanket and gave it to me before she was even born!

She had that blanket in the hospital, and has slept with it ever since! In her nursery there is one wall painted dark purple and butterflies adorn her walls. It seemed logical, that when she had her first birthday, butterflies would be the theme!

In July, I started looking online for ideas and decided what I would do for her cake. We celebrated yesterday, and here is how it turned out:

The porch was decorated with purple tulle and purple, pink, and white balloons. I had the tables covered in pink and purple table clothes, but didn't get a photo of those.

I bought a packet of pink butterflies at the Dollar Tree and used them to decorate. Here I wrote on the words "Happy Birthday" and made them into a banner.

Since we had boys and girls of various ages, I made up separate treat bags. The girls got a lady bug mirror and comb with some candy and the boys got a toy motorcycle and candy.

All the kids received these double straws that I made to look like butterflies.

My oldest son helped make these butterfly cereal bags to give to the younger ones who couldn't eat candy.

I decided to make a smaller cake since I also had cupcakes and cookies. The butterflies are just cut out of homemade fondant. The cake was "funfetti" on the top layer with a strawberry base.

The kids enjoyed these butterfly cupcakes!

I just dipped mini pretzels in white chocolate and coated them in purple sugar. I frosted the angel food cupcakes with a pink whipped cream cheese frosting. Mmmmmm!

Of course the baby needed her own cake to "tear into," so I made this little butterfly cake with the extra batter. I think she thought the colored sugar was pretty because she just kept poking at it with her fingers :)

I decorated the piano with one of her tutus and some butterfly stuff.

And this is a place mat that I made for free from http://www.inkgarden.com/

I figured we could use it as a banner for her birthday and it worked out great!

Overall, I think the party was a success! It seemed our little "sweet pea" enjoyed herself all night!

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!!!

When Mom's Out of Commission

2012-07-27T19:03:00.000-04:00

Ever have one of those days when you just "survive" until bedtime?!? Today is one of those days. . .

Yesterday I woke up with some back pain. It didn't seem too bad, and I thought it may just be because my "sleep number bed" was set too soft. WRONG! As I got my lazy bones out of the bed, the pain became unbearable to the point that I could not stand up straight. How wonderful. . .

Fortunately, my husband was home yesterday. We packed up everyone in the car and headed out to do our grocery shopping. The whole trip was torturous to me. I leaned on the cart and moved slowly through the whole store. Ugh!

Upon arriving home, I took some Ibuprofen and that seemed to help. The only comfortable position I could find was sitting. I went to bed at 12:30, but didn't end up falling asleep until after 3 a.m. due to being so miserable.

Well, I felt a little better by morning, but that only lasted until I picked up my 25 lb daughter. . . bad move! I was in so much pain, I could barely do anything. I figured we would survive until my husband arrived home from work tonight. That being said, I thought it may be entertaining to take some pics of my day of survival.

We did our school work. . . and I did manage to make two birthday cakes, but besides that, everything else was unscheduled. I decided to walk around the house and take some pics of what I found. . .

Around 3 pm, the baby took a nap and I had the boys help me clean the house. They are really are good helpers. . . as long as they don't work together - lol! So, Evan put in the laundry and straightenend out the living room, Zack cleaned up the play room, and Kyle picked up the kitchen. Here are the before and after pics of each room. I think they did really well!

So then, if you're wondering how I am entertaining them as I type this, here you go. .

watching a movie

constrained in her high chair

Oh, and for most of the morning, this is what I had to deal with from my precious baby girl. . .

Awww, I love her!

HCG - Before and After Pictures

2012-07-25T23:27:00.000-04:00

So, I've told you all about my weight loss so far, but haven't posted any pics. This is probably unfair, because those who never see me in person have not had a chance to see the change.

I have dreaded this, because I do not like looking at the few pics I have of when I was so heavy. I mean, who wants to see pics of that?!? In the few pics I have, I am either wearing baggy clothing or hiding behind one of my children! ;)

Well, here goes. . .

On the left is a picture from December, and you can see my face is much fuller, but I think I did a good job hiding my body with that black sweater and that cute little baby on my lap. On the right is a pic from when I was halfway through doing the HCG drops (about 4 weeks ago).

Here we have some pics of my body. . . yikes!!! The left is just 2 weeks after Jessica was born - I'm huge!!! :( The middle was taken in the fall - probably when Jessica was about 3 months old. I look like I'm 6 months pregnant! And the right picture is now. . . wearing much smaller clothes, thank goodness!

Lastly, here are some pics of my face. The left one was taken around Christmas time - before dieting at all. The middle was taken in April, after I had cut most sugar and starches out of my diet, but still had extra weight. The far right was taken tonight - 2 weeks after completing the HCG drops.

So, there you have it. Those HCG drops seemed to help me the most and I plan on using them again in Sept. So thankful it worked and I hope to keep off all that extra baggage!!!

Happy Anniversary to Us!!!

2012-07-17T22:12:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow is July 18th, and my hubby and I will be celebrating our 14th wedding anniversary! I can't believe it has been that long! It seems like just yesterday we were "tying the knot." The un-air conditioned church was very hot and one of my brother-in-laws nearly passed out, but overall, everything went well. I'm really glad we have a picture of my dad blowing bubbles as we left the church (it's one of my favorite pics). But my favorite part of the ceremony was Kevin singing to me. . . ahhh, butterflies. . . :)

I thought I would honor Kevin here on my blog. I mean, it could not possibly be easy to live with a loud, bossy, type A, spoiled, only child! He is a bit of a perfectionist himself, but my OCD tendencies would have driven away the weak by now!

My husband and I joke that he grew up "on the other side of the tracks." You see, I grew up in a nice little town where we didn't even lock the doors. He grew up in Lynn.

Anyone who knows about Lynn, knows the nice little saying associated with the city - "Lynn, Lynn, city of sin - you never come out the way you went in." Yep, that just about sums things up! It wasn't unusual for my husband to hear sirens everyday. . .and they ALWAYS locked their doors!

Just as an example of his childhood experiences, let's take Kevin's 5th birthday. My in-laws had moved from Indiana, and were used to people being honest and decent. My mother-in-law planned a simple little birthday party and invited some children from their Lynn neighborhood. The children came, played games, ate cake, watched Kevin open the presents from his parents, and then left with Kevin's presents. That's right. The neighborhood children actually went home with Kevin's birthday presents!!!

As he grew up in the city, he met several "unsavory" characters who were rude, abusive, and just plain mean. What doesn't break you, only makes you stronger, right?!? Well, I would definitely say my husband is emotionally strong. By the world's standards, he was dealt a "bad hand," but, thankfully, he also had some wonderful, godly parents who prayed for him and taught him God's Word. If it wasn't for that, surely he would have led a different path. It is amazing to me that a man who grew up in such a cruel environment can be so loving and caring.

My husband is not too calloused to shed a tear, and is not embarrassed to show affection either. He also has manners. We do not sit around the table and have burping contests (even with 3 boys in the house). I just don't think it's hilarious to pass gas or flick boogers. We want our boys to grow up to be gentlemen, not just older boys!

The other day, as we were getting in the car after shopping, I noticed an older man standing by the car next to us just staring in our direction. I couldn't figure out what was wrong and started to think he was being rather rude. As my husband went to his side of the car, the man mentioned that it was so nice to see that Kevin had opened my door for me. Hmmm, very true. Many husbands don't even think about opening the door for their wife.

Another thing I appreciate about my husband, is that he is clean. Sounds odd, but it really is a big deal. He always showers, wears deodorant, and would never think of leaving the house in sweatpants and flip flops. I love that he always smells so good! Oh, and the fact that he doesn't snore is a big plus too ;)

One of the things that first attracted me to my husband was that he was always willing to listen to me. I'm not the type to "wear my heart upon my sleeve," so it was a minor miracle that I felt so comfortable talking to him . . . about everything! Even now, 14 yrs later, he calls me each day from work and asks how it's going with the kiddos. He doesn't need to do that, but he does it because he cares. I remember, before we had our own children, he would listen to me ramble on and on about the students I taught in school. Poor guy! ;)

Many people can also attest to the fact that my husband is a good worker. Before we ever dated, I remember Kevin coming to our house to split firewood for my dad. He didn't get paid, he just did it to help. It was cold out, but he didn't complain. He has had many jobs where he has had to work in rain, sleet, snow, and heat. I don't know how he does it!

When Kevin was a teenager, he started his first job at Grossman's Lumber. He was in high school and would work after school and on Saturdays. The only thing different that most kids who work at that age, is that he did not get to keep the money he earned. It did not go into a college fund, he did not get to save it for a car, he didn't even use it to buy fast food. He used his money to pay the Christian school tuition for he and his brothers. If I remember correctly, that amount was about $400 per month. I don't know of many teenagers who would do that!

I think I am most thankful for the fact that my husband is a Christian. Our home has high standards compared to most of the world - no cursing, drinking, or smoking for sure, but also, the boys are taught the Bible and the importance of knowing God. I don't have to worry about my husband blaring ungodly music or "slipping up" and swearing in front of the kids. I know he will attend church every time he can (except when at work), and he will always tithe before spending money on other things.

My husband has been by my side for these last 14 yrs, and I pray we have many more years together! He has been very patient with my "know-it-all" attitude and never complains about my cooking ;) He is supportive, dependable, loving, and generous. I love him very much!

Happy Anniversary Honey!

I made it!

2012-07-14T22:14:00.000-04:00

So, I had a goal with this HCG diet. I aimed to lose 20 lbs in 25 days. Well, I am at day 24 and down 19.4 lbs. I think that is pretty close, so I'm pretty happy (technically, I could lose another .6 lbs by tomorrow morning). I will take my last dose of the drops tonight, and then remain on the VLCD (very low calorie diet) for 72 hrs.

Through the diet, I averaged a loss of .8 lbs for most of the days. I really would like to lose 10 more lbs, but I will wait 6 weeks to see how I feel about my current condition.

With the HCG diet, you must switch to a sugar/carb free diet for 3 weeks after completing the VLCD . I don't think this will be too hard for me, since I removed sugar/carbs for 30 days in January. It will be nice to add some nuts and dairy into my life again! I will, however, be sad to have to pass up that homemade chocolate syrup I just made for my boys ;)

Overall, I think the diet was well worth the time and sacrifice. The menu was a bit boring, as I basically stuck with eating fish and chicken, but it does make it easier to cook for the rest of the family when I have a weeks worth of cooked chicken in the fridge just for me. Since this diet contains virtually no added fat, my skin became very dry, but my hair is silky smooth! I am the type that needs to wash my hair every day or it just looks oily and disgusting! Now it feels really lightweight and nice :)

I will say, if anyone is thinking of using this diet, it would be nice to have a "buddy" to do it with. During my 24 days, I attended a wedding, a church fellowship, and a cookout. It's not easy saying no to the food in front of you - especially when you have to say no to even something healthy like fruit salad!

I'm hoping these 20 lbs never show up on my body again, and now I plan on starting to exercise again so I'm healthier. During the diet, it is advised not to exercise, so I stopped altogether. Here's to being 20 lbs lighter - and fitting into my old clothes again! :)

More than halfway there!!

2012-07-05T22:08:00.004-04:00

I was just reorganizing some of my "pins" on Pinterest, and realized I have 75 desserts I need to try. Hmmmm. . . not a good predicament when I'm on such a strict diet!

I figured I should take a break from looking at pictures of chocolaty heaven and update everyone on my weight loss. I have now been on the HCG diet for 14 days. For me, that's the halfway point. It is recommended that you should stay on for at least 23 days, but I am hoping to last for 28 days. I think that many days will help me reach my goal, and still be done before our anniversary.

So far, I am down 14 pounds. That sounds like a lot for 14 days, doesn't it?!? I expect the weight loss to slow down, so I'm hoping to lose at least 8 more pounds in the next 14 days. I will see how I'm feeling at that weight, but may do the whole thing again at the end of August if I think it's needed.

I was telling someone that I would need to lose 20 more lbs. to reach my "before having any babies" weight, and I would need to lose 35 more lbs to weigh what I did on my wedding day. They found that hard to believe. Do I hide my weight that well?!? I doubt it!

I do not believe I will ever weigh the same as I did on my wedding day, and I am perfectly fine with that! After all, I'm not going to need to wear the dress again, right? ;)

The diet itself is going fine. . .and so is nursing the baby. The limited calories have not affected my supply at all. I have been eating fish, chicken, and quinoa as my proteins and spinach, onions, and tomatoes as my vegetables. I have to admit though, I can't wait to eat some cheese. . . and peanut butter. . . and chocolate. . .Well, must be time to drink some tea. That seems to help rid me of temptation! :)

Diet Update

2012-06-26T21:37:00.001-04:00

So, I started the HCG diet last Thursday, and have found it quite simple. I wanted to document it on my blog, because I am still nursing my baby - and I know that is a "touchy subject" with most HCGers.

Most people in HCG forums will say NOT to do this diet if you are still nursing a baby. I found every person who had that opinion was just voicing their opinion. None of them had done the diet while nursing. I, myself, have told people not to do the diet while nursing, because I, too, was not well informed. Then I found a lady who DID do the diet while nursing TWINS! After reading her entry, it led me to 3-4 other women who also encountered no problems.

Some fear that too many toxins will be released into the breast milk and "poison" the baby. Well, I went "sugar free" in January for 30 days, so I believe most of my toxins were released then. Also, I have been eating healthy foods, so I think my body is "cleaner" now than it was when the baby was born.

Others insist that eating 500 calories a day will not allow my body to keep up with my baby's needs. Well, it's been 3 days, and no problems yet. I drink LOTS of water and some herbal tea, and I allow myself to eat a few extra calories each day to compensate for the nursing (an extra melba toast or a few extra strawberries). I decided, especially since my baby is now eating PLENTY of solid foods, that I would give this diet a try. Believe me, if I feel it is harming my baby in any way I WILL stop!

The first 2 days you "load" yourself with high fat foods. This was a bit of a problem since I had removed most high fat "junk food" from the house. I decided to make some homemade brownies and buy a half gallon of ice cream (between my family and my brother-in-law, we finished this off in 2 days). Then I made some salmon, since that would be off limits. I ate lots of natural peanut butter - which is not junk food, but is high fat. And I gorged on one of our favorite night time snacks: chips and salsa with sour cream. I ate lots of whole milk yogurt and even had some potato chips. I think the first 2 days would have been more "fun" if I had the chance to go out and by some "real" junk food (Dove ice cream bars, fries from Five Guys, a burger from Max & Erma's, etc.) Oh well, I'll do that next time ;)

Anyway, I did go out and stock up on chicken, strawberries, spinach, onions, and Melba toast. . . mmmm ;) The 3rd day I weighed in before starting my new diet. I was 3 lbs HEAVIER from my "load" days. A bit discouraging, but I discovered this was normal. I also realized that I was still hungry after taking the drops, so I had to "up" my dosage. I've been fine since then.

So, it is true that you are not hungry while doing this diet, but that does not mean it takes away the desire to want food. Night is the worst, because I am used to having a bowl of yogurt or some peanut butter and carrots before going to bed. Now I just drink a cup of tea.

I am trying to do this for at least 25 days (hopefully 30) before taking a break. Losing 7 lbs in the first 3 days is a good motivator, but I'm sure the weight loss will slow down. Until next time. . . :)

Another day, another diet. . .

2012-06-19T23:17:00.000-04:00

Just kidding! I'm not really a "diet buff." I am not one of those people who will say, "I've been overweight my whole life and nothing has helped. I lose weight, but then can't seem to keep it off." Nope, that's not me. I was always in fair shape. Most anything I wore, fit me well. When I got married, I was a mere 100 lbs, and not watching calories at all!

After marriage, my food intake increased, as my hubby liked to watch TV and eat snacks in the evening. This wasn't a big deal. I gained a few pounds, but only went from a size 2 to a size 6. Looking back, I think this:

I mean, isn't that so true?!? I remember complaining how overweight I was, when, in reality, I was probably the right weight for my size and bone structure. By the way, I am "big boned" even though I am short. I don't think it would be reasonable for me to try to weigh 100 lbs again. I'll be happy to fit into a size 6!

Most of the times I have gone on a diet, they have worked wonders. After my first child, I did Weight Watchers and lost 15 lbs in a month (then ended up getting pregnant again). After my second child, I just watched what I ate, and lost most the baby weight (of course, I got pregnant again). After losing a baby, I couldn't get the weight off, so I did the lemonade diet. I lost 20 lbs in 30 days (and you know. . . I got pregnant again). I'm now afraid to diet!!! HA!

Well, I honestly need to lose weight, and this has been the hardest for me. I'm not sure if it's because I had a c-section, or because I'm "older," but my belly just won't go back to "normal!" It's very annoying! Even though I've lost 30 lbs, my gut still protrudes and it drives me crazy!!!

It's time to take some serious action. I am starting the HCG diet in the hopes that it will help "banish the belly." I've been doing a regimen of drinking a smoothie for breakfast and lunch and I try to walk 1-2 mi every morning, but that still has not made a dent in my belly. I do sit ups, crunches, squats, and other "belly busters" - but no luck.

After hearing the success stories of many of my friends, I decided I will give this diet a try. I'm hoping I can lose the weight by our anniversary (July 18th). I will try to continue exercising and walking because I don't want to just be smaller - I want to be healthier. We'll see how it goes!

Kyle's LEGO Birthday Party!

2012-05-29T16:51:00.001-04:00

My boys love birthday parties. . . and so do I! They often plan what theme they would like just days after the current party. Which is good - because it gives me time to plan ;) I have a bookmark on my computer for "birthdays" so I can save ideas all in the same place.

When my boys turn "5," they have their first "big boy" party with their friends (instead of just a family get-together). For Kyle's 5th birthday, he chose a LEGO theme. I have to say, it was my favorite so far! It was fun to plan and hopefully, fun for the boys too! Here are some pictures:

We started off with a game called "stack the blocks." Two boys at a time raced each other to stack all the blocks from their basket (I put 16 identical pieces in each basket - to make it fair).

Next, we played, "I Spy the LEGO Guy." I printed off and cut out a small LEGO man, and the boys took turns hiding him around the living room. Whoever found him first had a chance to hide him the next time.

pulling a string

collecting loot

After those two games, it was time for the "pull string" pinata. I have to say, this was fairly easy to make, and I really preferred it over giving 4-6 yr olds a large stick to swing about! Each boy takes a turn pulling a ribbon until one pulls the "correct" ribbon that opens the trap door.

our "pull string" pinata

Once they were done collecting all the loot from the pinata, we headed to the play room to collect more candy! You see, I had 50 candy-filled Easter eggs to get rid of! In April, our homes chool group's Easter egg hunt was cancelled due to rain. Instead of keeping all that candy in the house, the party was a perfect way to find homes for all that sugar - lol!

Finally, it was time for cake! After singing to the birthday boy, everyone went out on the porch to eat the goodies. We had cake, marshmallow pops, pretzels, popcorn, and punch. The boys enjoyed their sugar-filled snack and the frosting colored their tongues in lovely shades of red, yellow, and blue! YUMMY!!!!!

Of course, present time is the highlight of the party for the birthday boy! He was very excited about his gifts - and his helpful brother even helped put together his new LEGO toys :)

Enjoying the fun!

Here are some pictures of the rest of our "party gear:"

LEGO cupcakes formed the shape of a "5" for the birthday cake.

I made our own invitations for the party. I cut foam pieces into a LEGO shape and used sticky letters for each boy's name. On the back side, I put all the information for the party.

Kyle liked these a lot, so I made one for him to keep as a memento :)

LEGO men plates

Marshmallow pops

These were really simple and fun to make

I always feel badly for Kyle and Evan because their birthdays are always on holiday weekends. We ended up waiting until 3 days after Kyle's birthday to have his party, but I think he realized it was well worth the wait :)

Coordinating Clothing

2012-04-24T18:06:00.000-04:00

OK, so I brought the children to the dentist last week. . . all four of them. BUT, my husband was with me, so it went rather smoothly. I stayed in the waiting room with Jessica, while hubby went with each boy as they took their turn getting their teeth cleaned.

As I sat in the waiting room, the receptionist kept chatting with me (amazingly, there were no other patients around). I heard the usual, "Wow, you have your hands full" and "Awww, you finally got your girl, huh?"

When it was time to check out, she looked at the whole gang and was surprised that all the kiddos were wearing some form of orange. Like others before her, she asked, "Do you match them all the time?" The answer is NO, but I do tend to coordinate them more often than not. Part of it is a bit "OCD," but the other reason is purely logical.

Here are the kiddos in orange

Picture this: you are at the park with 3 boys - ages 4, 3, and 2. All are "mobile" and climbing and jumping everywhere. The park is crowded and you hear a blood-curdling scream. You rush over to find your youngest has tripped on his own two feet and whacked his head into the wooden frame. Blood is pouring out - as happens with any good head wound - and you realize you must head to the ER. But where are your other two children? Ahhh, there they are, with the bright orange shirts. You yell to the oldest the get the middle child and head to the car. Everyone is buckled in a matter of minutes, and off you drive.

Has this particular circumstance happened to me? NO. But, I have often "lost track" of one while watching the other and I'd like to be prepared for the worst. THIS is why my children wear bright colored, coordinating shirts when we go to the park, mall, children's museum, fireworks display, etc.

Two words: semblance and sanity. The children looking similar gives me some sort of "peace."

Anyway, back to the dentist's office.

The receptionist also asked (in relation to the coordinating clothes), "What. . . did you read some sort of parenting book?" LOLOLOLOL! No, I did not. I was not trying to copy the Duggars as I did not even know who they were when I started this. I was just learning from experience, as we all do when we are parenting.

Another reason for coordinating my children when they are in public, is so they don't look like this:

This is my middle son and a sample of his clothing choices. As you can tell from his facial expression, he is pretty goofy sometimes :) My oldest and youngest boys like things to match, but my middle son just doesn't care.

When we are at home, I don't really care what they wear, as long as they're dressed - lol! But when we are out in public, they are representing our family, so they need to look presentable!

We may not be able (or willing) to buy all name brands or the latest fashions, but I do want my children to look nice when we're out and about. So, if we have an appointment in the morning or even just plan on doing some errands, I lay out their "nice" clothes. I don't let them wear jeans with holes in the knees or shoes that are scuffed and torn. I want them to learn to be proud of how they look without becoming cocky about how they look.

As an adult, doesn't it bother you when other adults are shopping in their pj's and slippers or waltzing around without any undergarments?!? It sure bothers me! I'm not saying that I always wear make-up or that my hair is always done, but I surely don't want people to think I just crawled out of bed!

And speaking of "crawling out of bed". . . if you look closely, you can see Kyle's hair sticking up quite dramatically. It is past the point of needing a haircut, so I would definitely have combed it. . . if we had gone out today!

Thanks a lot, Pinterest! ;)

2012-04-16T20:24:00.004-04:00

So, most of my friends know how "addictive" Pinterest can be! I, personally, don't have time to sit at the computer and peruse for hours on end, so I just browse on my phone while I'm feeding the baby.

Apparently, I browse often enough. I have enough ideas for cooking, decorating, and even exercising to last me for the next 10 years! Unfortunately, the time to carry out these ideas, seems impossible to find.

I have done a few things, so I thought I'd share :)

These are photos of my kids mounted on cereal boxes. I covered the boxes with black fabric, then used spray adhesive to add the photos I had printed. Very inexpensive, and pretty easy too!

I saw this idea on Pinterest, except the lady had the letters for "Mr. & Mrs." For some reason, Hobby Lobby is the only place I could find large letters. . . and they were all out of M's! Anyway, I still think it's cute ;)

Our bed, obviously, could use a headboard. When we upgraded to a California King, we did not upgrade our headboard. I'm sure I can find an idea to make my own on Pinterest somewhere!

Jack of All Trades. . .Master of None

2012-04-12T09:48:00.002-04:00

My father is truly a "jack of all trades."

I don't remember my parent's ever calling an electrician or plumber. They didn't hire a chimney sweep or a carpet installer. I honestly don't remember my dad ever taking our vehicles to a mechanic! My parents remodeled our kitchen themselves (including staining all the cabinets!). And my dad also built his own garage/barn himself and re-sided our house on his own. He could plant and maintain a garden and also bake a great, wholesome loaf of bread. He laid his own concrete sidewalk and tore down and rebuilt the back porch too!

I think part of the reason he did everything himself is because he did not want to pay someone else to do something he could do on his own, but another reason is because he likes to stay busy with his hands. My dad is definitely a "doer!" And I don't mean that he is NOT a "thinker," but he just likes to stay busy.

Apparently, I have inherited the same behavior. The problem with being a "jane of all trades," is that I truly am a "master of none!"

I can hem or patch some pants, but I couldn't sew a dress. I can bake cookies or brownies, but can't "properly" decorate a cake. I can entertain children, but not throw an elaborate birthday party. And the list goes on. . .

It is nice that I don't need to call anyone when I want to make chicken noodle soup, but it would be nice to excel at something! I see people post pics on Facebook of beautiful hair bows they made or a 5 course meal they created. Sometimes it makes me a bit jealous, but fortunately, my family does not care.

The truth is, I like to stay busy. This means I want to accomplish as much as possible in as little time as possible. So, if that means that nothing I do is absolutely perfect, then I'm okay with that. After all, it is more important that my children are fed 3 times a day than have 1 meal with bunny shaped pancakes with fruit and yogurt on the side ;)

So. . . to all the "jane of all trades" out there - be glad you can do so much! I mean, our goal in life is to raise happy, healthy children. . . not win an award for the prettiest floral arrangement, right?!?

Sa-weeeeet Tea!

2012-03-22T21:27:00.002-04:00

When my husband and I were first married, I gave my mother-in-law a call to get a recipe from her. Not a recipe for her mac and cheese or her moist chocolate cake, but her recipe for sweet tea.

You see, growing up in Massachusetts, sweet tea was not the drink of choice. People around me drank Moxie, Tab, and Root bear (also all known as tonic) along with other basics such as milk or juice. I do remember having ice tea, but it was sweetened with a few packs of Sweet and Low.

The tea on which my husband grew up was sweet - too sweet for me, but perfect for him! Over the years I took her recipe and tweaked it to my husband's taste. He recently told me that I should share the recipe. Each night he brings a whole gallon to work because his coworkers prefer it over anything they could bring themselves.

I know most everyone knows the process of making tea, so here I'll just list the measurements I use:

2 large tea bags (sometimes called "family size" or "ice tea blend")

1 1/2 cups of sugar

Simple enough! Just be sure you add the sugar to the hot tea and mix until it is completely dissolved! Enjoy!!

How Does Your (Kinder) Garden Grow?

2012-03-14T23:42:00.005-04:00

Since I teach my children at home, I thought it would be fun to post some pics of our school/play room. Zachary does K5, Kyle does K4, and Evan does. . .hmmm what does Evan do? I don't know, but he obviously is listening since he knows most of his letters and numbers! It is so nice to have a separate place to contain toys, books, art supplies. . . kids ;)

Here is pic of my son working diligently. We are currently using the train table for school work AND playing.

I hope to find a small table and chair set soon though.

Here is a close up of our calendar. I have had this since I started teaching in '96 (wow - am I that old?!?). I have a different theme each month and the pattern becomes progressively harder each month. As you see, in March, there is a pattern of 5 different colors of kites. I think adding each day is my Kyle's favorite part of school ;)

Here's another pic. The clock is also above, but isn't shown in the picture.

Here's a way to use foam letters from one of those alphabet floor mats (found one at a yard sale). I'm pretty sure Evan must have walked off with our "Z." The letters are on with double sided tape but can be removed easily.

In the corner by the door I have all their crayons, markers, scissors, stickers, play dough, etc on a shelf. The chalkboard/whiteboard easel is also there. Since there is a place to keep this stuff, it is much easier for them to take care of it on their own!

I saw this idea on Pinterest and it works great! Instead of them littering my fridge, each boy has a clipboard on which to put his papers. I go through at the end of the week and file "important" ones while throwing away the rest. Kyle loooves putting papers up, but as you can see, Evan could care less - lol!

And after a long day of work, we have a TV with DVD/VCR for their movies. My older two can operate this themselves, so it helps when I'm feeding the baby or cooking dinner. The most used toys are on the shelves around them while other toys are in the "storage room." Isn't it amazing how toys accumulate?!? On rainy days, I'll take out a box from the storage room and they get all excited about "finding" things they thought were missing.

Well, that's a peek into part of our life. Hope you enjoy!

Why Does She Dress Like That?!?!

2012-03-09T15:30:00.003-05:00

Wow, seems I haven't "blogged" for a while! Guess I've been a little busy with moving. . . and unpacking. . . and a constantly sick baby. Well, here's hoping I can get back on track!

I wanted to write about my dress standards because I read a quote that inspired me. "Dress in front of other men as you would want women to dress in front of your husband." It led me to think that people may not know why I wear skirts/dresses all the time. I don't intend this to be "preachy" at all! I grew up wearing all different types of clothes and did not have my current standard of dress until I was in my early 20's.

Let me start off by telling you that I do NOT have this dress standard because I attend a Baptist church and I do NOT have this standard because my husband. . . or father. . . told me I should. My dress standard was a personal choice that took months to become "settled" in my heart. I will also state, the way I dress is a STANDARD not a CONVICTION. As a former pastor once stated, "If a man with a gun tells you to put on a pair of slacks, PUT THEM ON!" This is not something I will die for . . . or leave friends for. . . or preach at somebody.

OK, so now let me give you some of my history.

I grew up a "tom boy." I loved playing with LEGOS (and they didn't have pink ones back then) and Matchbox cars. I HATED Barbie and only had 1 or 2 other dolls (one of which was a Cabbage Patch Kid my grandmother won for me). I loved climbing trees and playing in mud puddles. I got greasy with my dad when he worked on the car and I climbed up on the roof with him when he was fixing the shingles. I played soccer and tennis. Up until 6th grade, I could run faster than anyone in my class (which included a group of 20 boys) and I could beat all but one in arm wrestling. I loved riding my bike and playing outside and beating up boys :)

Now, none of those things is wrong. I hope my own daughter will enjoy some of those activities (I know she'll learn to beat up boys!). But, the thing with me, is that I didn't want to be a "lady" AT ALL! I hated dresses. . .oh, and those Easter hats! I didn't paint my nails or wear bows in my hair. I didn't dress up like a princess or read fairy tales (I did read a lot of Nancy Drew though). I did not want to learn to cook or sew or clean. Ironically, I did like ballet (but not the tutu part). ;)

So, I grew up wearing pants and often put my hair in a ponytail. When I started going to a Christian school, the dress code required me to wear knee length skirts and nylons - blech! Needless to say, I did not own any and my mom had to take me on a shopping trip. Through high school and college, I had the same dress code, so I obeyed the rules, but it was not my personal standard.

When I was in my 20's, I attended a church that "preached" standards. By that, I mean, the pastor would give Biblical reasons why he had certain standards in his life (not smoking or drinking, not listening to certain music, how his family dressed, etc.). I think it was the first time I had heard such preaching.

The Lord started working in my heart and led to two thoughts that really formed my dress standard. First of all, I wanted the way I dress to be modest and secondly, I wanted it to show others that I am a lady.

As for being modest, I know there are some who will say, "If a man looks at you the wrong way, that is his problem." WRONG! It is not his problem - it's his natural tendency. He is a man. That is how God created him. If you have a man who does not notice a woman in tight jeans or a low cut shirt, then I'm sorry. Men were made to be attracted by sight. And on a side note, that's why you should stay attractive for your husband :)

Others will say, that dressing "does not a lady make." And you are correct - to some degree. I am a woman no matter how I dress, but for me, dressing in skirts helps me to act more like a lady. When I wear skirts, I don't sit with my legs spread open. When I wear skirts I don't bend over with my behind in the air. When I wear skirts, I usually "feel" more dressy and therefore "hold" myself differently. I command more respect.

Take for a minute, the lady in Proverbs 31. She was a hard worker, no doubt, but she also earned the respect of others. She bought fields and sold linen. I assume this means she did business with men - which was not the custom in those days. That leads me to believe they respected her. And also, she didn't run around in "house clothes." The Bible states she dressed in "silk and purple." She didn't look like a "street rat." She had wisdom and was virtuous.

Now, I said all that to explain my dress standards. I do not intend this to change anyone else's mind. I have many friends who dress differently than I do. They are still my friends, and I do appreciate the fact that most of them dress modestly, even if their standard is different than mine.

Our pastor has said, "What do you think when you see a lady in a skirt?" The answer? She's a Christian (or at least she's religious). How you dress identifies you (whether you like it or not). I'm proud to think that people may see me and think "Christian" instead of seeing me and thinking "Soccer Mom." Although, to be honest, most people who see me probably think "Baby Factory" - lol!

Anyway, that's my two cents and you can take it or leave it. I just felt like taking the chance to explain my dress standard. Everyone has a standard, whether they can explain it or not. I am glad I know why I do what I do, and that I am able to give an answer to others!

I Did It!!!

2012-02-03T16:02:00.002-05:00

On January 1st, 2012, I set out on a 30 day challenge to not eat any sugar or foods that act like sugar. That meant NO SWEETS, no bread, no pasta, no chips, no crackers, no store bought salad dressing or dip or barbecue sauce, no cereal, no flavored yogurt, no pizza, no juice, no potatoes or corn or bananas, no hot chocolate or coffee with creamer. Many other things were off limits too, but. . . I DID IT!!!

You may wonder, "What on earth did she eat?"

I ate carrots or apples with all natural (and sometimes homemade) peanut butter, salad with homemade dressing, lots of eggs, chicken and ground beef, plain yogurt with fruit, and sauteed vegetables. I ate spaghetti squash instead of pasta, and learned how to make chili and meat sauce that was sugar free.

So then you ask, "Was it worth it?!?!"

Definitely, YES! Not only did I lose 15 lbs and 4 in off my mid-section, but I also realized how to "survive" without sugar! Do you know how many things contain sugar?!?

Look at the labels of the products in your pantry and fridge. There is some form of sugar in just about everything! Why? Because sugar is addictive. . . and companies want us to buy more and more of their products!

During the first two weeks of my journey, I was hungry all the time. . . so I ate all the time - but the weight still came off! I stuffed myself "chock full of nuts" ;) I love almonds, cashews, and macadamia nuts, so I ate them as much as I pleased. They do contain fat, but it's a "good" fat.

After those initial two weeks, it seemed my body "regulated" itself and I became less hungry which resulted in snacking less. It was amazing!

I thought this lifestyle would be too expensive (there are not usually coupons for fresh produce, dairy, and meat), but once my body was cleansed from all the sugar, it seemed I required less food. In the end, it wasn't any more expensive because I was eating less.

My 30 days are done, but I am still maintaining a mostly sugar-free diet (I did eat some of my son's b'day cake today). I used to live for my piece of dark chocolate every afternoon, but yesterday I tried a piece and it tasted too sweet! I do like pasta, so I will probably add in some of the whole wheat variety and I do like baking, so I will try some recipes that have less sugar.

Another benefit from my taking on this "challenge," is that I found my children like many "non sugar" items, so they have been eating healthier too! All of them eat salad and fruit - and would often walk off with one of the carrots I had just peeled for myself.

I am very glad I chose to try this "challenge," and would like to "challenge" you to investigate the harm that sugar can cause. I'm no expert, so I won't try to inform you, but look into it! I feel like my body is working properly and is getting healthy again.

Now to lose another 15!

". . . called their name Adam. . ."

2012-01-16T09:21:00.003-05:00

Last night I was speaking with a very nice lady, but was a bit bothered when she started talking about her husband in a negative way. It was not a "big" issue she was complaining about. She was just bothered because she liked having short hair, and he liked her hair to be longer.

Big deal.

Honestly, if my husband had a preference, I would cut my hair to suit him. Not because he "made me," but because I love him and he's the one I want to please. As it is, my husband does not seem to have a preference in that area, but does have requests in other areas.

The other day, my husband was mentioning how the Bible says, in Gen. 5:2, that God made Adam and Eve, and blessed them, ". . .and called their name Adam." In other words, God saw Adam and Eve as one being. Two parts of a whole.

If someone were to speak bad about part of you (say your voice or your natural hair color), wouldn't you be offended? Yet, many times, spouses speak ill of each other without giving it a second thought.

Honestly, when I hear someone speak negatively about their spouse, I usually have a poor impression of the person who's doing the speaking. Haven't you ever wondered, "Why did she marry that guy if he's such a jerk?!?"

I know we're far from perfect, but I do believe my husband and I have a good relationship because neither of us makes a habit of speaking ill of the other.

I love my husband! :)

In Memory of My Mom

2012-01-09T23:24:00.007-05:00

January is known to be the month of "new beginnings," but I don't always look

forward to this month of the year. When I was 5 years old, my baby brother died in January. When I was 17 years old, my mother died in January. Both are in heaven. . . but both are missed.

I'm writing this post because the end of January marks 20 years that my mother has been gone. I don't want to tell you how her death has affected me, but rather how her life influenced me. I love you Mom!

My mom was sick. . . often. She developed Mono and Hepatitis C when she was a young adult.Though I don't know all the medical "lingo," I do know that the Hepatitis C causes Cirrhosis of the liver. Through her life, my mother had many health issues due to those two illnesses. In 1992 she had a liver transplant, but her body did not accept it. She died at the age of 42.

Through all her sickness, my mother never "let on" about how badly she felt. She was a very strong and determined woman. She was given a poor prognosis early on, but it did not cause her to give up. She often said she wanted to live long enough to see me graduate high school and get married. . . she did not make it for either.

She was a wonderful mom and all the friends in my neighborhood thought she was the "cool" mom. They would come over and chat with her and I remember one of my friends even bringing her roses when she was sick. She loved buying things for me, but didn't want me to be too spoiled. . . don't know if that worked out ;)

She was very strict with me concerning school. She pushed me to do what she knew I could do. I remember

when I was in 4th grade, I received a C in math. She was NOT happy, but my dad thought it was no big deal. She told him that it would be no big deal if I were a "C" student, but I was and "A" student, so I better get my act together. Needless to say, that was my last "C" until I took a 4 credit Chemistry course in college.

And, speaking of college, there was no question as to whether I would go or not. I grew up knowing I would attend college. Now, mind you, I could never decide what I wanted to "be" when I was an adult, but that's probably because she had me involved in so much - gymnastics, dance class, tennis lessons, soccer, track, piano,

acting, choir, . . .

Anyways, I wanted to share some pictures of my mom. I do still miss her and wish she could have met my children. I know she would have spoiled them rotten! :)

No Sugar Added!

2012-01-04T14:21:00.002-05:00

I feel like I should explain my "no sugar" diet since so many people have commented on my FB status :)

When I was a young child, my dad really became concerned about being overweight because heart disease seemed to run in his family. He decided to incorporate a "whole foods" diet into our home. That meant no sugar cereals, no boxed cakes or brownies, no white flour or white rice, and not even cow's milk (which was fine since I was allergic). At the time he was an "extremist," but now I think he would "fit in" with many people.

With the change in diet and some extra exercise (tennis and jogging) he lost A LOT of weight! Those who did not know him back when he was overweight would never believe he had been!

So I say all that to explain that I grew up on a healthy, whole foods diet. what happened? School!!!

In 10th grade I started attending a boarding school (NOT a reform school - lol!) and the food there was much different from home. I had a roommate who enjoyed HoHo's and there was plenty of junk food besides that! In the cafeteria, the food was good, but when you're feeding a large group, it's hard not to use canned vegetables and sauces (which we never used at home).

So started my demise.

After high school, I went away to college and continued eating junk food. I did not indulge in candy and soda as much as carbs. I remember eating lots of macaroni and cheese and pizza and breadsticks - yum!

I guess because I was fairly active and had a good metabolism, I did not gain much weight. Unfortunately, my sins have found me out, and now I weigh more than I ever have in my life! :(

After my fourth baby was born in August, I started keeping track of my calories on http://www.loseit.com I did lose some weight, but still felt sluggish. I had done a "cleanse" the year before, but couldn't do one now due to nursing my baby. The "fast" I had done before left me feeling good and with tons of energy. I wanted to feel that way again.

I looked up "sugar free diet" online and found http://olsonnd.com/30-sugar-free-days/ . After reading about the negative affects of sugar on many other websites, I figured I was up for the challenge - not just for weight loss, but for overall health.

I am on Day 4 and it has not been too bad. I am re-learning what snacks are "healthy" so I never feel hungry enough to grab a cookie or chunk of bread to fill up. I keep apples, almonds, cashews, and baby carrots in close reach.

After my 30 days, I am hoping to stay away from sugar as much as possible, but will probably use Stevia and some raw honey in it's place. I love to bake, so I'll just need to find some recipes that are low to no sugar.

Wish me luck!

Mawwwiage. . .

2012-01-03T13:03:00.002-05:00

I know some of you do not appreciate 'The Princess Bride" due to your young age ;) but to me, it's a classic! Even my boys enjoy watching the movie. My oldest son will say, "No more rhyming, and I mean it!" and my youngest will answer with, "Anyone want a peanut?!?" Hee hee - I think it's so cute.

Speaking of marriage though, I was under the impression that girls were mainly the ones who dreamed of growing up and meeting their "special someone." Recently, I realized otherwise. While tucking my 3 year old into bed the other night, he looked at me and seriously asked, "Mom, can I marry a girl in the morning?"

My other two boys also talk about getting married. The problem is, they do not realize that they may not have yet "met their match." One has a crush on a 13 year old and the other thinks he will marry his sister - lol!

I started thinking today - it's probably a good thing they want to get married. Hopefully, it's due to the fact that my husband and I enjoy being married to each other and they want to experience the same thing. My husband and I have been married 13 1/2 years, and we have not had any screaming matches, have not slammed doors, punched walls, or made the other one sleep on the couch. We certainly have disagreements, but after 13 years, they are few and far between and are resolved quickly.

I'm certain that my in-laws relationship with each other has had an impact on our relationship. They set a great example for their children, and my husband expected our marriage to be just as strong. I think that's part of the problem with marriages today - people don't have high expectations!

When my son says, "When I'm married, maybe I'll wash the dishes to help my wife" - it makes me smile. When they play "make believe" and the "Dad" goes to work while the "Mommy" stays home - it makes me smile. When I hear them say to their sister, "You are so beautiful" - it makes me smile.

I pray that my husband and I will be a great example of a wonderful marriage relationship and that each of my children will marry the proper mate. Apart from our relationship with God, marriage is the closest relationship we will have outside of family. So, it's important to have a good one!

Mmmmmm. . . cookies. . .

2012-01-02T18:43:00.005-05:00

Yesterday I started "30 Sugar Free Days." This means that for 30 days (Lord willing), I will not eat anything that contains sugar or acts like sugar in my body. It does seem a bit overwhelming, but not impossible! :)

OK, so you're wondering why I'm posting a cookie recipe?!? Because making goodies is fun for me! I just can't stop!!!!

These are good for many reasons. . .

- they contain peanut butter (and isn't anything with peanut butter yummy?!?)

- they can be made in one bowl (yay for less clean-up!)

- they can be made in less than 15 minutes (ahhh, efficiency!)

- they contain only 4 ingredients (cost-effective for sure!)

So, are you ready?!?

No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies:

1 c light corn syrup

1 c white sugar

1 c peanut butter

3+ c Rice Krispies

In a medium saucepan, mix sugar and corn syrup and set stove to medium heat. When mixture starts to boil, let it boil for 1 min. Remove from heat and add the peanut butter. If you would like, you can also add some chocolate at this point (mmmmm!). Mix until smooth, then gradually add in Rice Krispies. I honestly don't measure out my cereal, so I'm guessing at 3 cups. Just add until all the peanut butter mixture is used up.

When all is mixed, drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper (I pat mine down a bit). When they have cooled, they are ready to eat! And oh, are they yummy!

Now, since I'm on this "Sugar Free" challenge, I did not eat any, but sent half to work with my hubby and wrapped half for the boys for a snack tomorrow. For some reason, just making them eased the stress in my day!

Portraits of our "Chunky Monkey"

2011-12-24T10:01:00.002-05:00

Easy Three Meat Pasta Bake

2011-12-08T17:51:00.005-05:00

I don't usually posts recipes for main courses because. . .well . . . I don't like to cook! Baking is definitely more "my thing." I think it's because baking usually entails throwing a bunch of ingredients into a bowl, mixing it up, and pouring it into a pan. Cooking involves washing vegetables, slicing and dicing, digging in the fridge for the sour cream in the back, and using 2-3 pans for many meals. Oh, and let's not forget the standing by the stove to stir!

My husband is not a chef either - and probably because he is a perfectionist. We have come to the conclusion that if he made dinner, we probably would end up ordering pizza if things didn't turn out perfectly OR we would not be eating until 9 pm.

Fortunately, neither my husband or children are picky and they all like healthy foods. As a matter of fact, after we had only been married a short time, he asked for brussel sprouts. I had never eaten them, never mind made them, so I looked in my trusty Fanny Farmer cookbook. I think my mother-in-law gave it to me (it's had some wear and tear). I used it the first few years we were married to learn how to make pot roast, meatloaf, ham, and all those other things I never ate growing up.

I would say 95% of the time I try a new recipe, it's NOT from reading the recipe. I'll eat something I like (at a restaurant or friends) and just try to copy it. Isn't it more fun that way anyway?!?

OK, so enough blabbering. Here's a simple dinner that feeds 6. Serve it with salad and garlic bread, and everyone will be happy!

Three Meat Pasta Bake Ingredients:

1 box pasta

1 lb each of ground beef and ground sausage

20 slices of pepperoni

1 1/2 jars/cans of tomato sauce

8 oz mozzarella cheese

Directions:

Make 1 box of any type pasta (I used shells this time) and drain

Cook beef and sausage and drain

Add 1/2 jar of tomato sauce to each pan

Pour 1/2 the pasta in a 8x11 pan, then sprinkle on about 1/4 of the mozzarella cheese

I then add about another 1/2 jar of tomato sauce.Next, add all the ground meat, then pour on the remaining pasta. Arrange a layer of pepperoni on the top, then sprinkle on the rest of the mozzarella cheese

Bake it for just 15 min or so to let the cheese melt (when I've made 1/2 as much, I just put my 8x8 pan in the microwave to melt the cheese)

Here is a pic of it before adding the last bit of mozzarella and then after it's baked. . .cheesy goodness!