Been thinking on this a couple weeks...

1 Kings 3:9 (Message)

"Here's what I want: Give me a God-listening heart so I can lead your people well, discerning the difference between good and evil. For who on their own is capable of leading your glorious people?"

What's your shopping style???

I haven't ever been big on Black Friday sales. There is nothing appealing to me about getting up at the crack of dawn and fighting millions of people in order to save a couple bucks. PLUS... I have never even really seen anything in the ads that I just can't live without.

Since we've moved to our new city, there aren't many options for shopping, so I've started doing a majority of my Christmas shopping online. Cyber Monday... now that's what I'm talking about. I had a lovely morning shopping online in my PJ's snuggled in my big chair. I got several items checked off my list in less than a half hour and saved me a lot of $$$... bliss.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! What's your shopping flavor???

Menu Plan - Must Restock

*Sigh*

Well, I hadn't intended on taking a break from blogging last week, it just kinda happened. We did a little traveling last week and our trip was cut short by the stomach flu. I started feeling terrible at the end of the week and we ended up heading home so I could be in my own bed with my own bathroom... there's something therapeutic about being in your own home. I am on day number 3 of feeling crumby... but so far, no one else has come down with the ickyness. Eric has done a great job taking care of me and keeping the children alive and well while I've just laid around with my sad face.

Here's something to make us smile, though! There's nothing like a friendly game of preschool chess...


So... it's Sunday, and it's Menu Day! Quite frankly I am ready for a new start and a new week! I am also hungry... but my tummy hasn't jumped on board with that yet... at least it was easy to pick out what sounded good for the week! :)

MONDAY
Lunch - Leftovers
Supper - Pizza Noodle Bake, whatever veggie I can scrounge up before grocery day on Tuesday, Fruit

TUESDAY
Lunch - PBJ on Tortillas, Applesauce
Supper - Spicy Orange Chicken with Brown Rice, Sugar Snap Peas, Fruit

WEDNESDAY
Lunch - Leftovers
Supper - Chili & Cinnamon Rolls (if I'm operating at full speed)

THURSDAY
Lunch - Mac N Cheese with Hot Dogs, Carrots
Supper - Chicken Noodle Casserole, Salad, Fruit

FRIDAY
Lunch - Spaghetti, Salad
Supper - Penne with Mushrooms, Italian Sausage & Broccoli (don't be fooled... my kids will totally only eat the noodles out of this), Fruit

SATURDAY
Lunch - Tacos
Supper - Popcorn, Cheese, Apples

SUNDAY
Lunch- Out to Eat with Friends
Supper - Mystery Meal (that means I'm not sure what we'll be eating! ;)

This is going to be an expensive week at the grocery store! Not only is our pantry bare, but I also need household items... shampoo, conditioner, laundry detergent AND fabric softener... oh, happy day... I'm afraid I'll go over budget this week on groceries... will have to tighten up next week.

*Double Sigh*

Run, Run, As fast as you can! You can't catch me...

Oh, who am I kidding, you probably could catch me, but at least I'm running! :)

My friend Lauren and I started running a month or so ago. Up until this stretch of running, I used to really hate to move so quickly. I loved to exercise, but running was not on my list of most wonderful options. Step aerobics, now that's what I'm talkin' about... I can step with the best of 'em. But I digress...

So... Lauren invites me to run a few weeks ago and I accept because, well.. I have a hard time telling people no... and I thought it would be beneficial for my health and for the wonderful moods that I experience (please don't misunderstand... I did not say that I was MOODY... just that I experience different moods:).

Anyway... I think the reason that I've enjoyed running this time around is because of the way we have gone about it. We didn't go outside on our first day and try to plow through our first couple miles, go home exhausted and then never run again (I may have done that before). Instead we've been gradual and it has made such a huge difference! We've been using a program called From Couch to 5k... it's awesome! Check it out... their program can even help train you train for a marathon if you are crazy like that.

So, once you get all trained and in shape... come on down and we'll race! ;)

Picture Day

So... today is Family Picture Day! Checking off another item on the 30 B4 30 list!!! Our friend Jason has graciously taken time out of his week to photograph us! I have our clothing laid out and shoes ready to go... now we just need smiles and beautiful weather! Does anyone else find Family Picture Day slightly stressful??? Deep breathing... here we go!

Menu Plan Week - Thanksgiving Style

Hello Everyone and Happy Sunday! It's Menu Planning Time again... this week is easy since we will be spending some time with family. My goal for the week is to clean out some food in our freezer and fridge and to save a little money at the grocery stores this week! Here's what we'll be eating...

MONDAY
Lunch: Sandwiches & Leftovers
Supper: Turkey Burgers, Sweet Potato Fries (not the same recipe as last week... don't try grilling sweet potato fries), Fruit

TUESDAY
Lunch: Nachos w/beans, cheese, tomatoes, sour cream & salsa
Supper: Thanksgiving Feast #1 - I'm making Pumpkin Pie and Twix Cheesecake

WEDNESDAY
Lunch: Egg Sandwiches, Carrots, Fruit
Supper: Savory Steaks & Sauce, Baked Potatoes w/Cottage Cheese, Green Beans, Fruit

THURSDAY
Feasting, Feasting, Feasting

FRIDAY
More Feasting & Family
Supper: Leftovers???

SATURDAY
Lunch: Sloppy Joes, Snap Peas, Fruit
Supper: PBJ Tortillas, Applesauce

SUNDAY
Lunch: Spaghetti, Green Beans, Fruit
Supper: Popcorn, Cheese, Apples

How do I respond to THIS!?

S: "Mom! I have an idea...we can put my 4 year old fingernail in a baggie and you can put it in my book."

Me: Really? I don't think that would be a very good idea.

S: Why?

Me: It just sounds kinda gross.

S: Oh, you just know, chicken roll?!

Me: Yeah, I just know.

*and WHAT is a chicken roll? and why am I being referred to one???*

Well, it's official....

I no longer have a baby to hoist up into the high chair three times a day. *sniffle, sniffle*

He went from this....


To this...


Just another step toward independence... which, I suppose is the goal. ;)

Just my luck...

Last week I spent a couple days cleaning the windows inside and out... they were so shiny and clean... and then look what happened today...



Dumb bird.

My first review...

So... I've never done a review on Daisies 'n Dump trucks before... BUT by taking some time to shout out and tell you how much I LOVE Shutterfly, they will credit me with 50 FREE holiday cards... yet another reason to LOVE them! :)

I LOVE sending Christmas Cards and receiving them (or any card for that matter), but my favorites are by far the ones that have pics on them... cards with pictures on them make it to my refrigerator and then I smile at them all year long... a great reason to choose a photo card from Shutterfly!

This year I will be (obviously) printing Christmas Cards through Shutterfly. Next week we are going to try to get a photo that is card worthy (or maybe it will look like this) and then I'll pop it in a Shutterfly template, order it and send them off to our friends and family. Easy breezy.

Why I choose Shutterfly for photo printing:

• They store my pics FOREVER! I never have to worry about them becoming lost in cyberspace.
• The print quality is top notch... bright and crisp.
• They are quick! I ordered some Photo Wall Calendars for Christmas last week and they were at my door within 2 days! That was with FREE shipping! Holla!
• They have great offers... and send FREE things to your inbox.
  

Besides photo printing and Wall Calendars, I have also purchased Picture Mouse Pads through them... and you want to see the newest thing I am wanting??? Yeah, this Canvas Wall Art. Too cool! Swing over and give Shutterfly a try if you haven't... I think if you are a first time user, you even get some prints for FREE!

If you are a blogger, you can do this too! Check it out here!

Menu - Week of 11.15.10

MONDAY
Lunch: Leftover Buffet
Supper: Chili, Homemade Bread & Fruit (bumped from last week - needed to clean out the refrigerator!)

TUESDAY
Lunch: Turkey Turkey on Pita - I'm going to try to make it as tasty as Spangles
Supper: Steak, Grilled Potatoes, Grilled Zucchini, Fruit

WEDNESDAY
Lunch: Mac N Cheese, Hot Dogs, Carrots
Supper: Turkey Burgers, Crispy BBQ Sweet Potatoes, Grilled S'mores (all new recipes)

THURSDAY
Lunch: Tostadas
Supper: Spinach Stuffed Shells w/Red Sauce, Salad, Fruit

FRIDAY
Lunch: Eric & Cole eat out, Kristen & Sadie on the road :)
Supper: Baked Potato Bar, Cottage Cheese, Fruit

SATURDAY
Lunch: Penne w/Mushrooms, Italian Sausage & Broccoli, Fruit
Supper: Popcorn, Apples, and Cheese

SUNDAY
Lunch: Out to Eat
Supper: Minestrone Soup, Crackers, Fruit

Have lovely week!

Potty Training... Probably Not.

The top 3 reasons Cole will probably not be potty trained before the New Year...

1. He's still completely satisfied with sitting and playing in a squishy, poopy diaper.

2. He's absolutely terrified to sit on the potty.... arches his back to quickly make his escape.

3. He's still about 6 inches away from being tall enough to stand and make a successful "shot" into the toilet.

Sigh.... maybe by kindergarten round up we'll have made the necessary progress. ;)

Dream

"The beauty of childhood. Children do not know what cannot be done. They have not yet defined what is and what is not possible. No assumptions. No impossibilities. The only limitation they know is their God given imagination."
Mark Batterson, Wild Goose Chase

These made my day last week....

I love prizes... but with a tight budget, I request that prizes from my husband remain thoughtful, yet inexpensive... I don't ask much, do I?! Anyway, Eric came across a deal this week, and it made me smile! :) I was pretty surprised...

Crunch, CrUnCh, CRUNCH

All of our neighbors are on the ball with their leaf raking. For the last 3 weeks they have been out there raking, raking, raking (and probably wondering when we were going to do the same)... but Eric and I have been trying to figure out why! All of the leaves just FINALLY fell out of our trees... wouldn't it only make sense to rake them after they are all of the trees??? I don't get it... but there's a lot of things in life that I don't get.

Anyway... we decided this was the weekend that all the leaves would be picked up and bagged... but not without one last trip into the yard to jump, roll and lay in the leaves.... and then itch like crazy.

Bubba's Back!

Last year when we moved to Salina we began renting a duplex until we could find some more permanent housing. The duplex was hot in the summer, extremely cold in the winter, had amazing goldenrod appliances, and would not allow dogs (I am not complaining about the duplex... it worked great for a season... just stating the facts;). Since dogs were not a part of the package, Boston the Wonder Dog (aka Bubba) had to stay behind. Eric's parents graciously took him in for a whole year and I think he enjoyed his stay.

Now that we are more settled in the new house and life is looking a little more "normal," we decided to go and pick up Bubba. The kids were ready for him, I was ready for some "help" keeping the dining room floor clean... and Eric, well, he could have cared less about poor Boston. Boston has adjusted well to his new home and doesn't seem to be upset with us for leaving him so long... I was a little concerned he might turn on us! He's been happy to play with the kids again, has been enjoying going on walks, and STILL annoyingly nudges your hand when he wants to be loved on. We're happy he's back... and I think Eric secretly is, too.

A menu plan that's taking some effort...

So here I sit listening to some Zac Brown Band and trying to figure out what on earth to fix for meals this week. Some weeks it just comes... other weeks nothing.sounds.good.

MONDAY
Lunch - Leftover Buffet
Supper - Deep Dish Pizza, Carrot Sticks w/hummus, fruit

TUESDAY
Lunch - Turkey Deli Flat Sandwiches, Pepper Slices
Supper - Ranch Tilapia, Honey Carrots, Fruit, Bread & Butter

WEDNESDAY
Lunch - Egg Sandwiches, Applesauce
Supper - Taco Squares w/lettuce & tomato, Chips/Salsa, Fruit

THURSDAY
Lunch - PBJ on tortillas, chips, yogurt
Supper - Sassy Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Salad, Fruit

FRIDAY
Lunch - Mini Pizzas on Deli Flats
Supper - Chicken Tetrazzini, Green Beans, Fruit

SATURDAY
Lunch - Bean & Cheese Tostadas
Supper - Leftover Buffet after church

SUNDAY - Our first Sunday Service at CrossPoint Salina!!!
Lunch- eat out
Supper - Chili & homemade bread

What kind of fruit are you all eating this season??? We are eating A LOT of fresh apples and homemade applesauce... but I'm needing something new, in season and interesting. Any ideas???

r-e-s-p-e-c-t...

I've been reading For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn with a friend of mine from church. I think it's always good to read books of this nature as a gentle reminder of what being a wife looks like. Our crazy world gives us a mixed of version of what women should be and how we should interact with the men in our lives. I've only read through chapter two, but Feldhahn shares some stuff that makes you think...here's a few good reminders on respecting your husband.

• Don't compare your husband's abilities/skills/attitudes to those you've seen in your dad or brother (or other men, for that matter). God gifts us all differently. Focus on what your husband does well!
• Stop reminding (BURN! This was convicting!). It's not the reminder that's degrading to your husband as much as the implication... sometimes the reminder is hinting that he is being lazy or plain stupid. Your husband often already know what needs to be done around the house without the reminder... practice waiting... sometimes the torn apart refrigerator isn't the most important thing that needs to be accomplished for them that day (I may or may not know this from experience :).
• Soften what you say. A women's tongue that goes uncontrolled comes across as harsh and disrespectful. Remember that rule of think before you speak? Apply it.
  
• A great way to show your husband respect is by bringing your his great qualities to light... at home and in public.

So thankful for a husband who loves me deeply. Lord, help me respect him accordingly.

So long Halloween Candy!

So... I may be a little guilty of sneaking Halloween goodies out of my children's trick-r-treat buckets... but I think those days are done. I only like the good stuff... the stuff that starts with the /ch/ sound and ends in /ocolate/. Not only is that stuff about gone, but it's been hanging out with the cheap fruity stuff too long and is beginning to smell and taste a little bit, um... fruity. I don't like my chocolate and fruit to mix. Nasty (unless of course we are talking chocolate dipped fresh strawberries... then, mix on). Just sayin'.

Tooth Brushing

I was reading the October edition of Real Simple (gasp... I actually found a moment to read a mag!) this last week and came across an article that interested me. Brainpower Boosts. Although staying at home with my children is incredibly rewarding, I sometimes feel like my brain has become a little mushy... a brainpower boost sounded very intriguing.

Most of the article talked about doing things out of routine by exercising your 5 senses... switching lunches with a coworker, having a silent supper (I almost started rolling on the floor laughing out loud at that... hello, I have a 2 and 4 year old), trying to remember your grocery list when shopping (puh-lease... I would literally end up spending 5 hours getting groceries with 2 unhappy preschoolers... don't think so).

Anyway... there was one that I felt like I could try... switching up my tooth brushing routine. Listen to this... using your non dominant hand while brushing your teeth "challenges your brain to exercise nerve cells on the side that you don't typically use. Fighting cavities and memory loss." So, I tried it and I must report.... IT IS SOOOOOO HARD to brush your teeth with your left hand! Really, it is. But, if I do say so myself, I feel like my brain is firing at crazy impressive levels now. ;)

A song that takes me right to my happy place...

So... before you think I have some great new worship song that takes me right to my happy place, I have a confession to make... I love country music. It started in high school with a little Deana Carter's "Did I Shave My Legs For This." My greatest memories of that song are cruising, windows down, with my friend Jenny in her Geo Metro... that girl... her and I could sing it... and I'm pretty sure you couldn't get much cooler than us back in '99. Anyway, I'm not the classic country type, but I love the country with a groovy beat that makes you want to bust out your best moves.

I love this song... and for the record... I'm stuck on my husband... through the ups and downs... stuck like glue.

So... here ya go... getcha groove on! :)

Trick R Treaters

I have to do a little reminiscing before I show you this years Halloween pictures. It seems like every holiday or milestone we have, I have to look back. I can't believe how much Sadie and Cole have grown! I sure love being their Mommy.

Here's Sadie on her 1st Halloween as a sweet little strawberry....


And Cole, on his 1st Halloween as a dragon... I miss those gummy smiles.


For several months, Sadie had wanted to dress like a giraffe this Halloween. Usually when she decides on something, she is not easily swayed, but the Fairy costume won over this time! Here's our little white fairy...

And here's a close up of her hair... she wanted me to make it look like Tinkerbell... I DO NOT do hair, so I felt like this was quite the accomplishment.


Cole didn't seem to care about what he would dress up as (he was more concerned about candy in his bucket), so we chose one of the only costumes we could find in his size... Superman. He was pretty cute... loved the cape.