The Mommy Diaries

Lesson Plan Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:18:00 +0000

I'm so excited to be back with another week of Lesson Plan Friday! We had a busy but fun week this week. Here's what we've been up to:

THIS WEEK WE LEARNED ABOUT: Cars, trucks and things that go

BOOKS WE ENJOYED:

Thomas the Tank Engine

My Big Train Book

Touch and Feel Tractor

Honk That Horn

Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks and Things That Go

SONGS WE SANG:

The Wheels on the Bus

Beep Beep Went the Little Blue Car

A Peanut Sat on a Railroad Track

OUR PROJECTS:

Car wheel painting- Take a variety of matchbox cars and drive them in oaint, and then drive them on paper.

Paper fire truck- made out of construction paper. You can see an example here.

Airplane color page- printed from here.

Egg carton school bus- these turned out sooo cute! You can see an example here.

Go Go Car Book- printed from here.

OTHER IDEAS FOR ENRICHMENT:
-We can't go on field trips here, but it would be fun to visit the school bus garage or fire station or even the airport during this unit. Seeing the big vehicles up close is so much fun for kids.
-When we were done painting with cars, I filled a large tub with warm soapy water, and we had a car wash. it kept them busy for quite a while!
-If the weather was warmer, we would have spent some time outside riding bikes. Don't forget that bikes are things that go too!

Have fun learning about cars and trucks and things that go together! Let me know if you have any good ideas- I'd love to hear them!

Big Brother

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:04:00 +0000

I was born into a blended family. Mom and Dad both had previous marriages. When they got married, Mom had three children- two boys and a girl, and Dad had three also- two girls and a boy. Suffice it to say that when Mom found out she was pregnant, it was a big surprise.

When I was born, my brother Mike was 21. He was out and living on his own, and when my memories of him begin, he had a job selling men's clothes at a store in Neenah, Wisconsin. (Interestingly enough, I now live around an hour away from Neenah.) He would come visit, usually around Christmas or Easter.

I ADORED Mike. I loved when he visited, especially later when he was married. He gave me big kisses and hugs, tickly kisses because of his mustache. He gave the best presents. When our family started drawing names for Christmas, I prayed that he'd get my name, because I knew I'd get something good.

Later on, when he had children, they lived closer to Milwaukee. Visits were few and far between, which I understand now that I have kids of my own and live far away in Wisconsin myself. (Our hometown is about 7 hours from Milwaukee.) We visited Mike a couple times, once for his son's baptism and another time in the summer. I loved playing with his son, Matt, and his daughter, Ann. If they were visiting, you could bet that I spent as much time as I could with them, over at Grandma's house.

When I was in high school, though, the pedestal that Mike stood on got shaky. His battle with alchoholism culminated in a divorce. The brother I thought I knew was now so different. It's one of those things about growing up--knowing that the people that you adore and almost worship are human themselves. They have their weaknesses, they have their problems.

Thanks be to God, though, that Mike went into recovery. Interestingly enough, I think our relationship grew stronger after that. I asked for advice from him when I bought my first computer my senior year of high school. I kept in touch with him all through college. I got home and visited whenever he was there. And when my first son was born, I asked Mike to be his Godfather.

I still adore my brother. He and I are very close, and I love the fact that we can talk via text or Twitter. He's remarried now, to a woman that fills his life with joy. His children have grown and are starting lives of their own. He loves my children like I love his, and sends them little treats in the mail. They, like me, adore him.

Times change, but he's still my big brother. And I am so thankful for the relationship that we share. Love you, Mike!

Write about one of your childhood heroes.

The pit of despair

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 06:01:00 +0000

Our family room is in the basement. We live down there most of the time.

Monday night Ethan lost a DS game. One of the more expensive $35 games. He's sure he put it in the case. We combed the floor, looked in the chairs. It's nowhere. We can't find it. It's gone.

Last night Dan lost a part to his computer. Thought he had it, and when he got his computer out, it was gone. He combed the floor, looked in the chairs. It's nowhere. He can't find it. It's gone.

I'm going to make sure the cats don't go down there. Next thing we know we'll be calling Hoarders to help us out.

We're all missionaries

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 06:01:00 +0000

Our church celebrated missions at church this past Sunday. It's nothing new for our church to celebrate missions--churches in the LCMS pride themselves as being mission minded. But this service opened my eyes in a new way of looking at missions.

Steve Cohen was our featured speaker. He's the founder of The Apple of His Eye Missionaries, which specializes in reaching Jewish people and bringing them the message of the Gospel. Mr. Cohen is a former Jew himself, and spoke of how he was brought to the Christian faith by a Lutheran layperson. Not only was our worship service a Messianic order of worship, but Mr. Cohen also led our Bible study.

Now, I have to confess, as a life-long Lutheran, evangelism is not something I partake in regularly. I'm not one to approach strangers on the street and start talking about my faith. I know I talk about my faith from time to time here on my blog, but it's not something that's in the forefront of my mind.

I know of a lot of bloggers out there that have taken mission trips to many places like Africa and Guatemala. Don't get me wrong, I think that is wonderful work. I believe that we should bring the Word of God to the entire world. But something that has always bugged me about mission work is the fact that there are so many people that are unchurched here in our own country. Think about your neighbors, the people you work with, the people your kids go to school with. How many of them are Christians? How many of them know God?

Mr. Cohen challenged us in that way of thinking. He brought it to us this way: As residents of Wisconsin, we love the Green Bay Packers. (With the exception of my husband, but he's a special case. That's a whole other mission opportunity. LOL) We're not afraid to talk to strangers about our love of the Packers. We'll talk football all day long. We'll try to convert those who aren't Packer fans, even those that live in our own homes. *ahem* Why aren't we in the same frame of mind when it comes to evangelizing with those who live in our communitites?

That's quite a challenge, isn't it? It really got me thinking, that's for sure. I know that I share the love of Jesus with my kiddos at work, but how often have I shared the same love with their parents? I know of one family that has a church home--what about the others? Have I invited them to church? No.

*Side note: I want to stress that I do not believe that my salvation depends on how many people I bring the Gospel to. NOTHING I do can save me. "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your doing; it is the gift of God." Ephesians 2:8. But as a believer, it is my responsibility to take that faith and share it with others.*

Believe me, this will be in the back of my mind as I go about my work this week. I'll be thinking about this while I lead a group of 1st grade boys in Cub Scouts. I'll be remembering this as I grocery shop and run errands. I'll keep it in my mind that I, too, am a missionary.

Menu Plan Monday

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 06:01:00 +0000

Happy Monday! Why does it seem like the weekend goes so very fast? Probably because I'm a working mom now, and my weekends are spent grocery shopping and doing laundry. I've got to try and keep caught up on the laundry this week...hopefully.
If you've noticed lately, my menu plans seem to be repeating themselves a lot. That's probably due to the fact that, as I mentioned, I'm a working mom now. Last week I logged 45 hours, and my pastor husband probably logs twice that. So meals have become extremely easy, and in the case of Cub Scout nights, usually McDonald's. I try to stick to my menu plan, but some nights that just isn't happening. If you have any tips for a working mom, let me know!
So here's the menu this week:
MONDAY: Steak, mac and cheese, green beans
TUESDAY: Tomato soup, grilled cheese
WEDNESDAY: Cinnamon french toast, bacon
THURSDAY: BBQ chicken in the crock pot, baked potatoes, corn
FRIDAY: Pork chops (probably in the crock pot), rice, broccoli
SATURDAY: Lasagna, garlic bread
SUNDAY: Pizza
I'm starting to think about Super Bowl food, even though the Packers won't be playing in it. *sob* We're doing a recipe swap at Mom's Group this week with Super Bowl recipes, and this is the one I'm going to share.
RANCH OYSTER CRACKERS
1 (1 ounce) package ranch dressing mix1/2 tsp. dried dill weed1/4 c. vegetable oil1/4 tsp. lemon pepper1/4 tsp. garlic powder5 c. oyster crackers
Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
In a large bowl, combine the dressing mix, dill weed, vegetable oil, lemon pepper, and garlic powder. Add oyster crackers, and toss to coat. Spread evenly on a baking sheet.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, stirring gently after 10 minutes. Remove from oven, and allow to cool before serving.
And then try not to eat them all in one sitting. Yum!
What's your favorite Super Bowl snack?

Chelsea

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:17:00 +0000

I grew up on a dairy farm. Animals were a given, of course, but animals in the house were not. According to my dad, animals belonged outside, not in the house. My childhood dog, Queenie, was always outside. As much as I wanted to bring her in and cuddle, it was forbidden.

When my aunts came, however, this was disregarded. I remember them bringing their dogs, and the dogs being around at Christmas or Easter.

A couple of the dogs I didn't like at all. My Aunt Clarice had some chocolate labs that I was TERRIFIED of. I don't know why. Maybe it was because I was uncomfortable with a dog in the house, maybe it was because I was small and they seemed huge. I just knew I didn't like them.

My Aunt Janie's dog, though, I liked. I remember her name was Chelsea. I don't know what kind of dog she was...but that she was big and furry. I loved petting her.

At Christmas time, my Grandma always had a bowl of in-the-shell nuts on the table and some nutcrackers. I remember one year, vividly, cracking nut after nut and feeding them to Chelsea. My aunt caught me at it and scolded me up one side and down the other. "IF YOU FEED HER THE WRONG FOOD SHE COULD DIE!!!!"

And I wonder where Emma gets her sense of drama.

List the names of five dogs from your lifetime. Write about why one sparks a stronger memory to you than the others.

SLUMP

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 02:24:00 +0000

I am in a blog slump right now. I don't know if it's because I'm tired, or that it's been so busy at work...I just don't have the energy. Be patient with me, please!

It was a DAY.

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:53:00 +0000

Have you ever been so tired you want to just get into bed? No changing into pajamas. Forget brushing teeth. Just falling asleep.

Yeah, that.

It's not that it was a bad day, just a very very busy day. Being that we have two 2 year olds and two babies at work, there's a lot of crying and whining and poopy diapers.

But there's a lot of smiles and giggles and cuddling. I loved the fact that I was able to cuddle with my girls and read books for a good half hour today. We made twisty snakes for our project. Seeing the smiles from a simple project with paper, crayons and a scissors was priceless. I cuddled and rocked one of the babies to sleep. Fed bottles. I did what I do.

And yes, in between, there's mostly chaos. There's piles of snowpants and wet mittens in the middle of making lunch. There's owies and a baby that won't stop screeching because she flipped onto her tummy and is stuck like a turtle until I rescue her. There's a tantrum of epic proportions, thrown by the two year old because she was coloring an elephant and nomommyisnotsupposedtocomeyetnomommyiwanttostayheeeeeeeeeere!

I ended up staying late, due to parents who had an appointment. I cancelled my Tiger Den meeting, because a girl can't do everything sometimes. We had McDonald's for supper. I collapsed into my chair and cuddled with my Ethan.

And now, at 8:52 in the evening, as soon as New Girl is finished, I'm falling into bed. Because it was a DAY. Not a bad day, just a DAY.

I promise I'll brush my teeth.

Menu Plan Monday

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Well, I have to admit I'm starting this Monday with a scowl. My dear Green Bay Packers lost yesterday...so the season is now done. Blech. It really wasn't that great of a weekend...I started out sick with the flu. But, on the bright side, Miss Wisconsin won the Miss America pageant! So yay for that, I guess!!
Enough of being a downer, here's what's on the menu this week:
MONDAY: We're eating at Golden Corral for Dan's birthday dinner!
TUESDAY: Baked beans and kielbasa, corn bread
WEDNESDAY: Mac and cheese, chicken nuggets
THURSDAY: Bacon corn chowder, beer bread
FRIDAY: BBQ Chicken, mashed potatoes, corn
SATURDAY: Steak, tater tots, green beans
SUNDAY: Pizza
OK. Now I have to admit this. I'm a little stuck! I love giving you guys recipes, but I don't always have a recipe right at hand to post. So....what would you like to see here at Menu Plan Monday? Any recipes that you'd love to have? Let me know!
And, I'd love to hear what's on your menu this week!

Motherhood Love

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:51:00 +0000

Many of us like to poke fun at some of the things that drive us crazy as parents…let’s flip the script, what are 10 things you love about motherhood?

I spent my childhood playing mommy. I loved playing with babies, and taking care of them. I dreamed of my future children, and when Dan and I got married I could hardly wait to get pregnant. The day Ethan was born was like a dream come true! Here's 10 things I LOVE about being a mom:

1. Hugs, kisses and cuddles. There's nothing better than curling up with your own child, hearing them breathe, smelling their sweet hair, enjoying the warmth you share. Even with Ethan, now a big nine year old, cuddling is such a special time.

2. Naps. Let's face it, these days naps are few and far between. But as a mom, what better excuse to lay down and take a nap than your own kids? Most of the time, too, those naps bring thing number one back into play--cuddling.

3. Hearing, "I love you, Mommy." The first time Ethan said that to me was MAGIC. We love our kids with all our hearts, but when they return the love, it's just priceless.

4. Seeing the world through a child's eyes. As adults, we can get pretty jaded. Waking up to snow in the winter brings thoughts of shoveling and driving in the muck. But for a child, it's all exciting, it's getting ready to go play in the snow, dropping down and making snow angels. Pure joy.

5. Appreciating my own parents. You never really understand the work your own parents put in raising you until you're raising your own children. It's hard work. VERY hard work. I see my parents with new eyes now.

6. Second chances. I never went to Disney World as a child. There's toys that Dan and I never had. There's cereal we were never allowed to buy. Having kids gives me a second chance to experience those things. What fun!

7. Watching faith grow. It is such an extreme honor as a new parent to bring an infant to the waters of Holy Baptism. To be there at the moment the Holy Spirit creates faith in their hearts. To help them grow that faith through the Word. After all, these are not our children...they are God's.

8. Cute kid's clothes. From the beginning, I've taken pride in the clothes that my children wear. There's nothing more fun with a newborn baby than putting them in a sweet new sleeper. Or picking out a Christmas or Easter dress for my daughter, or dressing the boys in matching shirts and ties. (Check out the sidebar for picture proof--don't they look sweet?) I'm dressing my very own dolls now. :-)

9. Catching those special moments when my children play nicely with their siblings. Granted, it doesn't happen constantly, but it happens. When I see my kids enjoying each other's company, it is so rewarding. I love seeing them having a close relationship with each other.

10. Having a community of moms around me. My friends are everything to me. Motherhood is a community activity, and I think it's so important for moms to have close mom friends. That way, we know we're not alone.

How about you? What's your favorite thing about motherhood?

A Simple Tuesday

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:47:00 +0000

Outside my window... The sun is shining! There's supposed to be a high of 50 degrees today-- so unusual for January in Wisconsin!

I am thinking... I'd like some regular winter weather. I'm one of those strange people who actually like winter, and I miss the snow.

I am thankful... for a good night's sleep. I love the fact that all my kids sleep through the night!

In the kitchen... nothing exciting...making wildberry muffins (from a mix) for snack today at work though.

I am wearing... a long sleeve shirt under a tshirt, jeans and socks. Comfortable work wear.

I am creating... a quilt for my new nephew, who's making his appearance at the end of February. It's all put together, now I just need to tie it.

I am going... to take my Tiger Cub Scouts to the nursing home tonight, to talk to the residents about how it was like when they grew up. Should be fun!

I am wondering... how my babies will be today. Yesterday they were quite needy, which is actually quite typical for a Monday.

I am reading... Where Yesterday Lives, by Karen Kingsbury. It's the first book I've ever checked out from the library for my Kindle!

I am hoping... for some snow soon. I'm afraid my spring flower bulbs are going to get confused and think it's Spring!

I am looking forward to... my day off tomorrow and Mom's Group.

I am learning... to go to bed earlier. Sometimes it's hard to shut down the old Kindle and go to sleep. But it's much easier to get out of bed in the morning when I'm asleep before 10pm....

Around the house... laundry. Sometimes I feel like it will crawl out of the hamper and strangle me in my sleep.

I am pondering... when I'll ever get my laundry put away. Probably not today.

One of my favorite things... my Kindle. What did I do before I had this thing? I. LOVE. IT.

A few plans for the rest of the week: work, Mom's Group, work, work. And laundry.

Click here for more Daybook entries. Have a simply wonderful day!

Menu Plan Monday

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 14:35:00 +0000

Happy Monday! Didn't the weekend go FAST? I had a great weekend, though, with lots of fun and friends. And great food, including a steak and shrimp dinner on Friday night and breakfast at IHOP on Saturday. Doesn't get much better than that!
Here's the menu plan for the week:
MONDAY: Tacos, rice
TUESDAY: Venison steak, potatoes and carrots in the crock pot
WEDNESDAY: Fish sticks, tater tots, applesauce
THURSDAY: BBQ chicken in the crock pot, baked potatoes, green beans
FRIDAY: Baked beans and kielbasa, corn bread
SATURDAY: Pork chops, stuffing, pears
SUNDAY: Pizza
One of the best parts about working in an in-home daycare is the fact that I can bake like I would at home. Last week Jamie (the owner) was having her parents and grandparents for dinner, and she asked me to make a couple of these pies. They are SUPER easy, and seriously the best apple pie I've ever eaten.
SOUR CREAM APPLE PIE
2 Tbsp. flour1/2 tsp. salt3/4 c. sugar1 egg1/2 tsp. vanilla1 c. sour cream2 c. chopped apples
Mix all ingredients and pour in a 9 inch unbaked pie shell. Bake in oven for 15 minutes at 400 and then at 350 for 30 minutes. Remove from oven; top with following:
1/3 c. flour 1/3 c. sugar1/4 c. butter1/2 tsp. cinnamon
(Mix well with a pastry blender or two knives.) Return to oven, bake for 15 minutes more or until golden brown.
I usually am not a big apple pie fan, but I'm telling you, this pie is FANTASTIC! (And even easier if you use store-bought pie crust like we do!)
What's on your menu this week?

What's for dinner?

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Your significant other's family is coming over in two hours..

think about what's in your kitchen.

Now QUICK...what's for dinner!?!

First of all, I would be pretty annoyed if they were coming over in two hours. They live four hours away, so that would mean that they'd be halfway here. And if they were two hours away from dinner, then I'd still have two hours left of work. Since I'd have two hours left of work, that would mean the kids would be at daycare and my house would still be a mess. Seriously, the kitchen floor is disgusting. My first inclination would be to say, "Oh, how nice! You're taking us out to dinner!" Even though I plan my menus, and know darn well that I could make a nice dinner, it's just the principle.

But whatever, the prompt says I have to use the food in my kitchen. I basically have two options for a nice dinner:

Steak, mashed potatoes (although I don't have enough potatoes for everyone, so I'd have to stop at the store on top of it), green beans and buttered carrots. Everything is easy peasy, and is a good meal to throw together. It doesn't take that much time to defrost the steak, and to broil them up in the oven.

And the other option: Pork loin chops, stuffing, green beans and buttered carrots. (See the theme? Those are the two vegetables I have on hand.) Although the stuffing would take a little bit to bake. But bonus, bake 'em together...and you're done in one shot.

For dessert? Christmas cookies, of course! I still have two cookie plates made up for "just in case." Never mind that Christmas AND New Year's are over. They're two hours away. They don't get to choose.

And wine. LOTS of wine.

How about you? What's in your kitchen?

Christmas Surprise

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:16:00 +0000

I loved watching the kids open their Christmas presents this year. Especially since when Ethan asked for a Nintendo 3DS, I told him it was MUCH too expensive, and he'd probably never get one.

I know. I'm terrible.

But look at this face:

I think I'm forgiven.

I can't just pick myself up

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 18:16:00 +0000

This Christmas break wasn't an easy one for me. It's not that I didn't enjoy my children, or celebrating the holidays. I did. There's nothing like the joy on the faces of my children on Christmas morning. I loved having them home with me, and being able to lounge around in our pajamas watching Christmas shows on TV. It wasn't easy for another reason.

I switched medications.

I've been suffering from depression for many years now. It went undiagnosed when I was a pre-teen and in high school, and for all four years of college. It wasn't until the summer before Dan and I got married that I realized that something was wrong with me. I was planning our wedding, and working through the details with a friend, when she said she had just gone on anti-depressants. She described her symptoms, and I sat there, unbelieving. It was like she was describing me. The last straw was when Dan told me, "Either you get help, or I won't marry you." Talk about a wake up call. I went on meds, and have been on anti-depressants ever since.

I started out with Zoloft, then switched to Celexa right before Ethan was born. But lately I've felt myself in that deep dark hole again. The hole I was in before Dan and I got married. The hole I'm so afraid of traveling down again. There's new stresses in my life with working and all, and sometimes the medication levels off in your body. Either way, I knew it was time for a change. So I saw my doctor before Christmas, and she agreed. I've now made the switch to Prozac.

The trouble is the in-between time. I had to wean myself off Celexa before I started the new meds, and the new ones don't really come into effect for 4-6 weeks. So the last week and a half or so have really been a struggle for me. I have mood swings...I'm grouchy...I have headaches and dizziness...I just feel yucky. Some days are better than others, but I just keep plugging through.

Before I changed meds I wondered if I really needed them. Were the meds a crutch? Some people think so. There's people out there that think that those of us that suffer from depression need to pick ourselves up and cheer up. But the reality is that I just can't. I can't pick myself up. It's not a matter of my mood, it's a matter of the chemical imbalances in my brain. And when those imbalances go untreated, trust me, it's not pretty.

The best thing is the fact that I'm aware of what's going on. I can separate myself when I feel things spinning out of control. I know that these feelings are not forever, that soon the meds will kick in and I'll feel better. In the mean time, I turn to God for help. He strengthens me.

That which does not kill me will just make me stronger.

Menu Plan Monday

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 14:46:00 +0000

Happy New Year! I had myself a bit of a blogging vacation last week, and it sure felt good. We were busy as can be with Christmas break. It was a good break, though, especially since it was fairly quiet. Seeing as all three kids got Nintendo 3DS's for Christmas. But my people got a little owly yesterday, so school starting today was welcome. I'll get to watch the Rose Parade in peace. ;-)
Here's what's on the menu this week:
MONDAY: Chicken alfredo, garlic bread
TUESDAY: Tacos, rice
WEDNESDAY: Pancakes, sausage
THURSDAY: Steak, mashed potatoes, carrots
FRIDAY: Brats/hotdogs, baked beans, chips
SATURDAY: Pork chops, stuffing, green beans
SUNDAY: Pizza
Last week I did a little blog recap of the year, and I thought it would be fun to do a recipe recap of the last year today. Enjoy!
JANUARY: Loaded baked potato chowderFEBRUARY: Ooey gooey monkey breadMARCH: Bacon corn chowderAPRIL: Slow cooked ham, egg and potato casseroleMAY: Slow cooked steak, potatoes and cornJUNE: Beef tip stew over fusilliJULY: Bacon and egg potato saladAUGUST: Macaroni and cheese bakeSEPTEMBER: Very best barbeque beef sandwiches
OCTOBER: Slow cooker BBQ chickenNOVEMBER: Stuffed green pepper soupDECEMBER: Pizza bubble
I had a lot of great recipes last year, if I do say so myself! So, how about you? What's on your menu this week?

The Mommy Diaries: A Year in Review

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 22:59:00 +0000

I can hardly believe it, but another year is about to end. So much happens in a year, and I am blessed to have this blog to remember it all. Enjoy these posts, they're my favorites from the past year. (Click on the post title to read the post.)

JANUARY: I went on a date last night.

FEBRUARY: The Super Bowl: through the eyes of a fanatic

MARCH: I have multiple personalities

APRIL: Down with the 'stache! (For the record, he did win the competition, but I only let him keep the 'stache for a few weeks. He looks normal again, thank God.)

MAY: Gold Star Mothers

JUNE: To catch a baby rabbit (We never did catch the darn thing. It will probably have babies and eat next year's garden.)

JULY: Where I'm from

AUGUST: Home visits

SEPTEMBER: Playing Pretend

OCTOBER: Homecoming King

NOVEMBER: Not Babysitting

DECEMBER: Dear Santa

Happy New Year!

This year in blog posts...choose a favorite post from each month of 2011 and share.

Merry Christmas to You, From the Burns Family!

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 06:01:00 +0000

My Best Friend--THE DAILY DAKOTAN!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 06:01:00 +0000

Congratulations, Pam. So proud of you!

You know you're a mother when....

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 18:01:00 +0000

You have a Hello Kitty bandaid on one hand, and a Transformers bandaid on your leg.

Every room in your house has toys in it, including the bathroom.

You have dark circles under your eyes from lack of sleep.

You clean up mess, only to turn around and find a new one.

You have rules like "no hugging your brother in public."

You don't recognize any of the movies in the "Best Picture" nominations for the Oscars, but you've seen every movie in the "Best Animated Movie" nominations.

You found Legos in your shoes this morning.

You can catch throw-up in your hands.

You can talk on the phone, get dinner ready, help with homework, referee a fight and send an e-mail all at the same time.

You know all the words to the "Dora the Explorer" theme song.

The contents of your purse are: your wallet, your cellphone, a broken crayon, a single piece of gum, a sock, and cheerio crumbs.

You melt when little arms hug you tight and say, "I love you Mommy."

Do you have any to add?

You know you're a mother when...

Marry Me

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 06:01:00 +0000

Last week Mama Kat had some pretty great writing prompts. I chose the one about Christmas gifts, but I really wanted to write about another one too. So here goes. It was too fun to let go!

If you HAD to marry a celebrity...

who would make your top five list and why?

(Let's just pretend you're not actually already married mkay?)

5. Kyle Chandler

Have you seen Friday Night Lights? Oh, Coach Taylor. He's a family man. He loves football. He loves his team. Oh, Coach Taylor.

4. Matt Lauer

Yeah, I know. There's just something about him. I love me some Matt Lauer.

3. Clay Matthews

Yes, please. (Plus maybe I'd get season tickets.)

2. John Krasinski

I want to cuddle with him.

1. Aaron Rodgers

I'm a Packer fan. How can he NOT be number one!!! JUST LOOK AT HIM! (And yeah, season tickets. Do you know how hard those are to come by?) Anywho, yummers.

So....what celebrity would you marry?

Menu Plan Monday

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 06:01:00 +0000

It was another busy weekend! Ethan and I braved the mall on Saturday, and had a fun Mom and Son day. It's going to be a busy week, too, getting ready for Christmas! I just have a few gifts left to wrap, and the cookie boxes to make. I may be as excited for Christmas as the kids are!
Here's what's on the menu this week:
MONDAY: Italian salisbury steak, buttered noodles, green beans
TUESDAY: Chicken tortellini soup, biscuits
WEDNESDAY: Chicken nuggets, fries, applesauce
THURSDAY: French toast, sausage
FRIDAY: Potato soup, grilled ham and cheese sandwiches
SATURDAY: McDonald's (I play the 4:30 and 7:00pm services, and we'll grab the ultimate Christmas Eve meal in between.)
SUNDAY: Merry Christmas! Manicotti, Garlic bread, jello, salad
And here's an easy recipe for this busy week:
BACON CHEESEBURGER RICE1 lb. ground beef1 3/4 c. water2/3 c. barbecue sauce1 Tbsp. prepared mustard2 tsp. dried minced onion1/2 tsp. pepper2 c. uncooked instant rice1 c. shredded cheddar cheese1/3 c. chopped dill pickles5 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
Cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink in a large skillet; drain. Add the water, barbecue sauce, mustard, onion and pepper. Bring to a boil; stir in the rice. Sprinkle with cheese. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with pickles and bacon.
I know, I know. You're wondering about the pickles. Seriously, though, it's so good. Just try it.
Do you have any special plans for meals this week?

Lesson Plan Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 06:01:00 +0000

Welcome to another week of Lesson Plan Friday!
THIS WEEK WE LEARNED ABOUT: Christmas!
BOOKS WE ENJOYED: Llama Llama Holiday DramaMerry Christmas, OllieMy Merry ChristmasThe Christmas PromiseBear Stays Up for Christmas
SONGS WE SANG:Jingle BellsHere Comes Santa ClausAway in a MangerFrosty the SnowmanRudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
OUR PROJECTS:(All of my projects were found on Pinterest!Bingo Dot WreathsHandprint GiftsNativity Coloring PageChristmas OrnamentsGingerbread Men
OTHER IDEAS FOR ENRICHMENT:-We also made sugar cookies this week. Everyone helped mix them up, and then after naptime we cut them out. I did the rolling and the work with the hot pans, and the kids helped with the cookie cutters. I then did the frosting, and the kids had a ball decorating with sprinkles. Kids love to help with baking!-Incorporate a Nativity Scene into your decorations, preferably one that the kids can play with. They love acting out the Christmas story!-Have Christmas music playing in the house. The kids have loved that this week, and they've spent a ton of time dancing around to the fun beats. Music makes the whole house cheerful!
Have fun learning!

All I ever wanted for Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 06:01:00 +0000

Way back when I was little, the biggest day of the year was when the Christmas catalog arrived. I would page through it, planning my list for Santa.

Much like my kids when the Fleet Farm catalog arrives. But that catalog is tiny compared to the ones from when I was little.

Look! I even still have one. (Thanks to my pack-rat mom.)

I paged through it today, remembering the things I coveted the most.

1. Tenderheart Bear. I had a couple Care Bears, but this one never arrived under the tree. I did get the plastic small version, but...not the same.

2. A Cabbage Patch Kid. I should correct that-- a REAL Cabbage Patch Kid. I had a fake one that I loved, but I always wanted the real thing. I still look at those in the store...

3. Staying with the Cabbage Patch theme--aren't these the best roller skates EVER? If they made these in my size, I'd be rocking the roller rink.

4. Day to night Barbie. She's got office wear. She's got evening wear. She's got Ken. Life is good.

5. I loved my babies. I was the best pretend mommy around. And this stroller would have cemented this status. I think I know a little girl in my house now who would love one of these too!

6. The Speak 'N' Spell. I had a couple of friends with these. I think if my boys saw this they'd roll their eyes. But back in the day, it was pretty sweet.

8. What better than to be able to make delicious baked goods for your friends and family, just with a light bulb? (This is another thing I'd love to buy Emma. Dan's not sure his stomach can handle it.)

9. Get In Shape, Girl! Did any of you want that ribbon thing as much as I did? And the legwarmers? I would have rocked it, man!

10. This was the ultimate. The thing I always wanted, but never ever got. The thing I'd still love to play with myself. The thing I'm pretty sure is a giant mess and I'd be sorry I bought it, just the reason my mom never bought it for me. THE SNOOPY ICE SHAVER.

What did you always want, but never got for Christmas? I'd love to hear about it!

10 things I Wanted for Christmas as a Kid but Didn’t Get and Still Want.

Christmas Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 19:17:00 +0000

I love Christmas. And I love decorating my house for Christmas. I thought it would be fun to do a little virtual tour of my house at Christmas. So come on in! Welcome to our home.

Our upstairs living room:

Those stockings are all hand-cross-stitched. My aunt made the ones for Dan and I, and I made the boys'. I have a friend working on one for Emma.

This Santa has been mine since I was little. It used to have a light in it, but it quit ages ago. He looks so happy by the fireplace.

My Nativity scenes are all in the dining room:

The boys' tree:

Emma's tree:

And the downstairs family room:

Dora looks a little creepy here. :-)

We even have a Packer/Viking tree:

I also hang these ornaments in our window. They were made by my Grandma, and are all nursery rhymes. I put them high up because they tend to get played with.

Little Red Riding Hood, Grandma and the Big Bad Wolf,

Jack be Nimble, Humpty Dumpty, and Little Jack Horner,

Raggedy Andy, Raggedy Ann, and Mary with her lamb. Aren't they sweet?

And finally, this Santa, who used to hang on our front door when I was growing up:

And that's my Christmas! I love all of our trees, and would have at least one more if I had room. I'm glad I was able to give you a tour of my home--I wish we could share some coffee and Christmas cookies together!