"No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow." ~Lin Yutang

Friday, December 28, 2012

monday menu #51 of 2012

  • potato soup (i use this recipe but substitute the meat with ham or bacon.  i'm using leftover ham this time) w/ fresh bread
  • spaghetti
  • baked potatoes w/ broccoli, and chili
  • fried chicken (gramma-style)

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." 

Monday, December 17, 2012

monday menu #50 of 2012

roll-over menu for the most part:

  • meatloaf w/ czech potatoes (SMALL twice baked potatoes) and green beans
  • fajitas w/ spanish rice and refried beans
  • beef yakisoba w/ fried rice

  • i still need to get the asian store ingredients for the homemade yakisoba.

    Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

    Monday, December 10, 2012

    monday menu #49 for 2012


    • BFD (breakfast for dinner):  bacon, eggs, and pancakes.  i'm hoping to try that pinterest idea where you make the bacon and then pour the pancake batter over a slice of bacon.
    • tortilla soup
    • goulash w/ phr's (opional) and cottage cheese
    • hamburger beef stroganoff w/ peas
    • meatloaf w/ czech potatoes (SMALL twice baked potatoes) and green beans
    • fajitas w/ spanish rice and refried beans
    • beef yakisoba w/ fried rice
    Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

    Wednesday, November 28, 2012

    monday menu #48 in 2012

    i'm pretending that it's monday, and that i've done week 13/14 (can't remember where i left off)-47 and that i'm right on track for weekly menus in 2012...  just go along with me, it'll be fun...

    this week has a few new recipes too.  (i told you it'd be fun.)
    truth is, it's just been a while.  too long.  my kids need to eat.  i HATE waiting 'till 4 too start looking for "what's for dinner"!!!  this has gone on long enough. 
    so, along with menu planning, i'm also re-organizing and de-cluttering, and cleaning.  in other words, i'm resuming my possition as mom in the rehself household. 


    Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

    Monday, October 29, 2012

    monday menu #20ish of 2012

    pot roast with veggies and crescent rolls
    sloppy joes w/ green beans
    lasagna and french bread
    chili and cornbread muffins
    hot dogs and corn and chocolate ice cream (birthday dinner request for a 3-y-o on 10/31!)
    spaghetti
    taco soup

    Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

    Sunday, October 14, 2012

    intoducing me. meet me...

    i have to share this before i forget. 
    whenever we get out new clothes for buttercup, binkles always seems to be around.  she loves to ask if any of it was hand-me-downed from her. 
    the following pictures are from an outfit that WAS from her!





    Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

    Saturday, October 6, 2012

    groove it

    since school started for us:
    • boo started an extensive homeschooling preschool lesson book.  she LOVES it.  so far, she's been my first to love education. 
    • trimmed 3overgrown rose bushes and removed (by hand) 1 russian olive tree.
    • received some produce from the neighbor on the other side of the fence...  i think it was a literal example of an immediate visual for the fruits of my labor to cutting down the overgrown shrubbery since that overgrown shrubbery was hiding that neighbor from us.
    • jones has been home sick 5 days.  he was diagnosed w/ a double ear infection the first 2 days absence, and the second 3 days he visited the ER and was almost admitted to the hospital for low oxygen level...
    • we've missed the bus twice.
    • shredded up a zucchini that was about as long as boo's leg and as thick as... mine.  well, not quite THAT thick!  maybe my calves.
    • baked approximately a dozen loaves of chocolate z bread, and a carol coate zucchini cake.
    • sold our beloved suburvan...  :( & :)
    • got a costco membership, FINALLY.
    • learned how to text
    • lost my crock pot lid
    • found my crock pot lid
    • buttercup is completely mobile.  she rolls over, scoots, sits up, scoots, crawls, an sits up from laying down as well as vice verse. she hasn't started walking yet, but she's trying to learn how to pull up on things.
    • held 2 successful PTA meetings w/o dying of over-stress.
    • compiled a whole school's student information into an excel database in hopes to finish up a school's student directory. 
    • started and finished an 8-week study on Nehemiah
    it seems we're getting in the groove of a back-2-school routine...

    Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

    Wednesday, October 3, 2012

    menu #whatever of 2012

    burrito pie.
    roasted chicken w/ mashed potatoes and peas.
    potato soup w/ fresh bread.
    creamy chicken and broccoli w/ rice.
    floating tacos.

    Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

    Sunday, September 23, 2012

    things we've done since i last posted

    • joined a quadruple-million other women in a 5K race.  and won.
    • bought a really really REALLY nice new rig that fits our whole family.
    • started a long search for a new home for us to buy.
    • swam.  lots.  like, at least 3 days/week from june to august.  binkins and jones are affluent in swimming and boo and starboy are very comfortable in water now (dunking themselves on purpose).  trick for those who have little ones who are old enough but still "afraid" of getting their face wet: nose plugs.  or goggles. 
    • vbs.
    • went camping.
    • taught jones to ride a 2-wheeler w/o training wheels.
    • visited the aquarium.
    • stuck a hole in our trampoline.
    • went to the school's carnival and had the best time of a 6-y-o's life! 
    • boo and binkins rode a horse (all by their little lonesome!)
    • looked for a new church home.
    • settled back at an old one.
    • seems like a whole lot more, but i sure can't think of any of them.  no road trips.  no more broken bones.  ...  lots and lots of swimming!!!
    Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

    Friday, August 10, 2012

    so, what's YOUR excuse???

    maybe i'm being missed...  so here's my excuse:
    we're busy enjoying our summer.  we're spending a lot of it outside, at the pool!  also i haven't been oozing with energy, so i'm doing what i can to stay afloat (because i'm so punny).
    i'll try and catch you all up in a month or two when the kids are gone all day and i only have half my kids needing all of me.  deal?
    i hope to have settled out the picture dilema by then too.  because what's a blog like this, if it doesn't have some cute illustrations smiling at you every once in a while?!

    Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

    Friday, June 29, 2012

    filling my quota

    as i was trying to update the pictures to the left of my blog posts, blogspot infoms me that i have met my quota of pictures allowed and i have to purchase more space if i want to upload any more.  ??? what ???  i was replacing already existing pictures!!!  i wasn't even adding new ones...
    so, i don't know what to do.  do i delete old ones from long-ago posts???  i don't really want to go to all that trouble.  what do i do?

    Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

    Thursday, June 21, 2012

    how we spent our father's day






























    just one caption needed:  IT WAS THE BEST DAY EVER!

    Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

    Saturday, June 16, 2012

    are you HAPPY?

    i'm trying something new with the kids.  something prompted me to add another phase to my teaching list.  "fix your face" when they aren't smiling.  have you ever heard the phrase, "fake it 'till you make it"?  well, we're testing it out here at our house.
    i wonder if part of the problem with society's depressed nature is not smiling more as kids.  i'm sure there are some people that you can think of off the top of your head who's one of those people who are always smiling.  yes?  maybe not.  i don't know.  there's not a whole lot of people that are always smiling ... not any more ... not the older i get.
    i think that i was a smiler when i was younger.  maybe not.  i don't know.  of course all the pictures that i recall i was smiling in.  but those are pictures.  i still smile in pictures.  but in life... all the time.  one of my people that comes to mind to me that always have a smile on his face is my brother (i'll call him "trent").  all growing up he had a big smile on his face too.  he's just a happy guy.  always trying to make others smile too.  i like that.  and who doesn't, right?!
    as the summer started i told my kids they needed to practice laughing more.  it was just a random thought i had.  but laughing is good...  we should do it more often. 
    if you're happy and you know it then your face will surely show it.
    if you can't think of anything to be happy about, how about the FACT that you have a father in heaven that loves you.  then there's the FACT that he sent his only son to die on the cross to cover up your sins and upon your acceptance, bring you to heaven to live eternity with him.  either one of those FACTs, even if everything else in the whole world is negative, is enough positive to erase it all and bring happiness to your heart (and face). 
    the "fix your face" was prompted by a blog post i read about a dad in honor of father's day.  he is a very happy guy always with a smile.  he'd tell his kids "fix your face" when they had an attitude written on their face.  i like it.  so we're fixing our faces.  maybe you should too.  smiles really do increase your face value!  try it!

    [insert smiley faces here]
    Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

    Friday, June 15, 2012

    12 weeks old today

    unless my counting is off.
    i moved her on up to the 3-6mo. clothes.  i thought she was fine but she's a whole lot easier to get dressed in these bigger clothes!  oops.  a lot more colorful too.  those 0-3 were pretty much ALL shades of pink!
    she's still as sweet as ever. 

    i found a baby pic of binkins and put it on our fridge.  starboy noticed it and said, "dare's buttercup!"  :) 

    Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

    Monday, June 11, 2012

    monday menu #12 for 2012

    i'm excited for my menu this week.  why?  because i said so.
    otter pop and i (mostly he) have been slaving over cleaning out the garage for the past few months.  we're really making progress, and finding things.  i love cleaning and finding things!  yesterday we found all our camping gear!!!  i had packed it all up nicely in a great big huge bin to where spiders couldn't (hopefully... i mean, that was the idea) get all up in it.  in the camping gear, i included this great big 10 quart dutch oven that my sister gave me years ago.  it was still brand new in its box! 
    so, i'm excited that now it's a great size for the family we have and i also learned you can use it in your oven at home too.  so, i got out my dutch oven cookbook and ALL my recipes are from the book.  some of them i will use in the crock pot, but wooo hooo!  i'm excited. 

    here's the menu:
    • beef stew and biscuits
    • taco soup
    • swiss chicken (crock pot) with green beans
    • fried rice with mongolian beef
    • russian chicken (crock pot) with corn and rice and cherry soda cobbler
    • crown rib roast w/ mashed potatoes and cauliflower...  only thing is i have no idea what a crown rib roast is, so that might put a damper on things.  we'll see...
    maybe you could might expect some pictures and recipes for you this week...

    Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

    Tuesday, June 5, 2012

    gratituesday : interrupters

    i like to be flexible.  i like to be sporadic... fly by the seat of my pants (so to speak).  i love it when others do too.  what i REALLY love?!  when "old" friends drop in with just a moment's  notice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

    i had a friend come over today, i shall call her "holli", with her hubs, how about "jake"? and babe, we'll just protect her identity altogether not even giving her an incognito name. 
    i was so so soooo excited to see her that i let out a squeal.  i found out she was in-state just yesterday.  i'm so glad she stopped in.  i hadn't met her sweet baby doll yet and i hadn't seen her hubby in years...  she lives a bit away. 
    she's a friend from high school.  a best one.  i gave her a little forewarning that the house was a little disarray... but honestly she's the type of friend that wouldn't care anyway.  she knows me.  she loves me.  she's not a judger-of-me-er.  as they were leaving they kept apologizing for interrupting our quiet time...  seriously?!  i would LOVE IT for her to interrupt quiet time any time it works for her.  so "holli" if you're out there... if you read my blog... come interrupt again sometime soon.  bring your hubs.  bring your babe.  and interrupt all you want!!!
    thank you, God, for putting interrupters in my life.  they make me happy.  they make me squeal.  i love them!  i'm grateful for the "holli"s and "jake"s and "baby h+j"s in my life.  those that will take a little extra time to hang out when life is busy and full of other things to do...  God, YOU are good.  You know i needed that today!

    and... she told me she read my blog.  <3
    i wish i would've taken some pictures!!!!!!!!! 

    Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

    Tuesday, May 29, 2012

    appointment day

    this morning my princess buttercup had her 2 month check up with our family doctor.  i say "family doctor", but i kinda mean our pediatrician.  only he's not a pediatrician, he's a family physician DO.  so, i call him our family doctor because everyone in our family who visits a doctor, visits him.  he's great.  he's new to us and we really really like him.  he's not a pill pusher.  he's a healthy pusher.  that's kinda (in a nutshell) what a DO is. 
    anyway, here's reason 5 million 2 hundred 6 thousand 983 why i like him:  he makes me wanna brag about my babies. 
    as a parent, i try to be modest about my babes.  i'm a realist after all.  i know how annoying it is to hear parents that think there is nothing wrong with their children and that they are the best ever, blah blah blah.  so i try not to be like that.  in fact, if anything, i try to pretend that there's nothing really special about my kiddos.  they're exactly who and what God created them to be... that's nothing more or less than any other baby or kid in the world.  and really, if anyone really knew or believed this, it should be a believing doctor who has kids of his own and sees dozens of kids and babies every day.  and perhaps this is why i like our family doctor so much. 
    he knows how special each kid is and makes a big deal about that.
    here's our "big deal" about how special buttercup is:
    1. she's 12 pounds.  right on the money.  she looks great, feels great, and has gained 2 and almost 3 pounds since she was born.  this isn't anything spectacular or unheard of, but it's a good thing.  she's healthy.  she's healthy being supplemented for all her energy and activities by just my good ol' homemade breast milk.  (that's where i get to be proud.)
    2. she sleeps ALL THE WAY through the night.  every night.  she's been doing this for quite some time... pertineer 2 months.  she eats her last meal of the day anywhere from 7:00 to 9:45pm.  she goes to sleep around 9ish, but is always asleep by 10pm.  and she wakes up around 5am.  sometimes 4, but it's getting closer to 5-6 the older she gets.  that's a good amount of sleep time, but it's an even "better" amount of time to go without eating.  (which is where i'm proud again... that's the milk that i'm making that sustains her for that whole time!)
    3. she's starting to talk.  now i'm not talking about words and such... YET... but oh  mylanta she is the most adorable little thing ever when she gets on her little talkin' streak. [insert video of buttercup babble here] she just jabbers and jabbers...  coooo, ehhhhhhr, cooooooo, ahhhhhhhhh... with great big smiles and the most intense "adult-like looks" across her face.  (that's what everyone calls them.  adult-like looks.  they're just her expressions.  she's VERY VERY expressive and alert.)  the dr. said that a lot of the 2 month olds that he sees are just still laying there.  talking is normal for this age, but laughing usually doesn't come for another month or two.  ...she laughs.  she talks, she listens, AND she laughs.  it's adorable!
    4. lastly, the dr rolled her on her tummy to see how strong she was.  she not only pushed her head up to a ...oh i dunno 45 degree?... but also she started moving her legs as if she were crawling (trying to get them under her body).  he was flat shocked.  it was the second time i've seen her do it, so i was just tickled happy.  (i was shocked the first time which was a day or so ago.)
    she's 23-1/4 inches long.  she's grown 2 inches in 2 months.  both her height and her weight are in the 75th percentile.  i don't really care about those stats, but if you do... there they are for ya.  our dr. gave me the update i was hoping to hear, "your girl's an infant genius!"  :) :) :) :)

    wolfie had her orthopedic appointment for her foot this afternoon.  here's what we found out there:
    1. she's not healed completely.  (bummer.  that's what we were praying for.)
    2. the fracture isn't very bad and perhaps not even not all the way through (it's so tiny, it's kinda hard to tell for sure).
    3. she doesn't need surgery.
    4. she possibly could be healed in 4 weeks.
    5. she is to stay in the boot, putting weight on it as long as it doesn't hurt, using crutches as long as it hurts or until she can walk without pain with the boot... 
    6. she can go swimming.
    she was bummed at the first point... but was overjoyed to hear that it might only take another 4 weeks!!!

    and now tomorrow morning at the butt-crack of dawn we have 4 dental appointments.  i might not update you all with them.  but then again, maybe i will.  you'll just have to wait and find out. 

    Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

    Saturday, May 26, 2012

    summer break starts TODAY!!! (unless you counted last evening)

    today we're starting.  we have SO MANY fun things planned...
    this morning we discussed and switched out chores.  here's our list:
    • match up socks  --#2
    • pick up lawn (dog doo, shoes/socks that might've been left out there, toys, etc.)  --mom & #4
    • kitchen clean-up after each meal (including: rinse dishes, load dishwasher, wipe off counters)  --#2
    • fold and put away laundry  --#1
    • fill water bottles  --#4
    • sweep and mop (kitchen, laundry room, bathrooms, entry way)  --#1 & #2  SAT. ONLY
    • pick up living room  --#1
    • water Finnagen (3X/day)  --#3
    • clear table before meals  --#5
    • vacuum living room  --#3
    • clean both bathrooms  --mom & #3  SAT. ONLY
    • sort laundry and bring fullest pile to laundry room --#4
    • empty trash cans  --#3
    • wash off table (before and after meals)  --#2
    • organize toys and toy area  --#1 & 2  SAT. ONLY
    • vacuum rooms  --#4 SAT. ONLY
    • feed Finnagen (2X/day)  --#3
    • empty dishwasher  --#5
    • put away silverware  --#4
    • pick up toys  --#5
    • walk the dog  --#1
    • mow the lawn  --#1 / mom  FRI. ONLY
    • do laundry  --mom
    • make lunch  --mom & #2
    • clear table after meals  --mom
    #1 being the eldest...
    these are to go along WITH daily responsibilities:
    • clean room
    • make bed
    • get dressed
    • brush teeth
    • comb and style hair
    • devotions
    and a NEW implementation (is that a word???):  we're pairing the kids up.  #1/#4.  #2/#5.  #3/#6.  they are responsible for their partner. 
    SERVICE is our word/deed for this summer. 

    breakfast is to be fixed and eaten by 9am.
    chores are to be accomplished before noon (unless they are a time of day chore like the dinner-time chores).

    this is my documentation.  notes taken. 

    Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

    Friday, May 25, 2012

    the aftermath of the game...

    on tuesday, wolfie got to bring her best friend to martial arts with her.  she was so excited.  so was the best friend.  i dropped them both off and otter pop picked them up.
    they came home and wolfie CRAWLED in the door.  apparently she rolled her ankle while they were WARMING UP...  it was pretty swollen and sore.  she was icing it.  i gave her some ibuprofen.  she stayed the rest of the evening on the couch with it elevated and ice on it.  otter pop went out to a store and rented some crutches for her because she wanted to go to school the next day, it being the last week.  plus it was "middle school mayhem" and field day... so she couldn't miss that!!!  (even though it wasn't like she'd be able to participate much!!!!  when a teenager gets something in their head, ya can't do much to change it.)
    so when she went to school.  i called the dr.  i was advised that when she came home from school, if it were still swollen and sore, to take her to an urgent care center to get an x-ray.  so that was in the plans... after the rest of the plans...
    so, the aftermath of the jones' game went like this:
    we came home and sophie came to our home too so that i wouldn't have to take ALL the kids to the urgent care center.  i looked up the closest urgent care center location and saw that they were all closed.  the closest one to us stayed open until 8 and it was, low and behold 8:08!
    so, we went to the emergency room.  got it x-rayed, and found out she has a fifth metatarsal avulsion fracture resulting from ankle sprain.  she got a boot to wear at all times and was advised to use the crutches also as to not bear weight on that foot.  also, we were referred to an orthopedist for an followup appointment and further management. 
    she is devastated.  i don't know what this will mean for our summer or her dreams of becoming a ninja.  we left the hospital at about 11...  and then i was finally able to eat dinner. 
    it was quite a day!

    Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

    Thursday, May 24, 2012

    FIRE

    i had another fire accident.  would you like to hear about it?  well, read on my dear friend...

    yesterday was a FULL day!  we had one thing after another after another and then packed with several on top of each other to end it off. 

    jones' last t-ball game was from 5:30ish to 7:30ish.  wolfie had martial arts at 7 to 8.  middle school mayhem (a big end-of-the-year party) was also yesterday from after school until 5:30.m  i also had to make and serve dinner somewhere in there... before the sports because there's NO WAY these kids of mine could wait 'till after 8 to eat!  plus, 8:00 is bed time.  it was a school night. 

    so, here's how i had it planned.  i would make dinner and have it ready by 5.  serve it to the littles at 5, jump in the car at 5:20 with a plate of dinner for wolfie.  we'd fly to drop off wolfie (early) and make it to jones' warm up for his game.  aren't i good?!  see... i'm getting the hang of it!!!

    anyway, i turned on the oven to 425 to preheat while i whipped up the meal (mexican lasagna).  i had the skillet on top of the stove top, which isn't normal, but it was a clear work space, so i used it.  as i was whipping, i noticed the smoke coming from the oven, and i cursed at myself for not cleaning up that mess in there... AGAIN!  it's been smoking gross smelling aroma for the past two months it seems!!!  i kept working and it kept getting more extreme.  so i glanced down at the window and saw some flames...
    oh crap!  so i opend it to see how bad they were... or something.  i'm not sure why i opened the door.  to see if they were real???  and they got higher.  so i shut it.  and i told the kids there was a fire in the kitchen. 
    binkins went around and opened all the windows/doors and rallied the little ones.
    i opened up the other doors and windows.
    jones continued to fight with his shoe.  he was trying to get his cleats on. 
    i tried to decide what i should do.  if i open the door again, the flames will be fed more oxygen.  if i don't take care of it, it might just ruin the oven.  what other options do i have???
    so i flipped on the fan for the _____ (loss of word) option and then opened the door.  woops.  lots of smoke.  bigger flames now.  i turned around to see what the kids were doing in binkins "rally the little ones" emergency evacuation.  binkins, boo, and starboy were all gathered together in the middle of the living room with their fingers in their ears.  totally ready for what they knew was next.  (yes, it's embarrassing that they know what's to come -fire alarm- when mom starts a fire!)
    i told binkins to take them all outside instead. 
    jones continued to fight with his cleats.
    the smoke started to get really bad.  it was getting heavy in the kitchen.  that's when i noticed my sweet sleeping babe in her bouncer on the counter.  so, i picked her up and placed the bouncer outside too and told binkins that she was gonna have to watch her for a bit.  no opposition there!!!
    then i rushed back inside.  i knew i could figure out what to do.  even though every decision thus far was stupid... i'm not stupid!
    so i got the fire extinguisher.  and i blew out the fire with it. 
    and then jones came up to me with his shoe and asked me to untie the knot.  it was just too tight for him.
    and we all lived happily ever after.  except wolfie didn't go to martial arts.  and nobody attended jones' game except for buttercup and me.  and then the aftermath of the game... well, that'll have to wait for another post!

    Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

    Wednesday, May 23, 2012

    dreaming of summer!

    a month or so ago, my creative, fun, wonderful mom-of-a-sister posted about 60 things to do before her son turned 6 (in approximately 60 days from when she thought it up).  how fun, i thought.  so i marked 60 days on my calendar before my son, jones, turned 6.  and it came, and it went.  :(
    but last weekish i started getting the itches for summer break.  i miss my kids.  i'm getting antsy to hang out with them ALL DAY LONG!  and no, i'm not being sarcastic.  i'm SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!  honestly, i'm having a hard time waiting.  both last monday and the monday before that, i almost didn't want to wake them for school.  in fact, I DIDN'T... but otter pop did (being the responsible parent that he is).  anyway, i dream of all these fun things to do with them.  i get all these ideas in my head of places to go and see.  i anticipate all sorts of activities... and then the summer comes and goes. 
    i shouldn't shouldn't say that.  last summer we had a gay ol' time.  my creativity drew me towards vacation bible school every other week, all summer long.  the kids hadn't done vbs before and they really enjoyed it.  it also prepped my mr. jones for school... which i was pretty worried about. 
    this summer i've decided to get all those ideas, and write 'em down.  we're gonna have a summer bucket list!  i started it yesterday.  here's what i have so far:
    1. picnics
    2. horse races
    3. birds of prey museum
    4. botanical gardens
    5. farmer's market
    6. check out free festivals that happen all summer long
    7. wednesday evening ***** centre on the grove (live music and entertainment)
    8. travel!  road trips!  mountains, ghost towns, national parks, local ginormous canyon, up north, visit cousins, visit grandparents/aunts/uncles, beaches, hot springs...
    9. camping
    10. find a dinosaur museum
    11. and still a vbs here or there
    12. play ball in the park
    13. go swimming
    14. hiking
    15. fishing
    16. climbing
    17. tree climbing
    18. bird watching
    19. house hunting
    i'm so excited!!!!! 

    next on my to-do list-making-list is to make a bucket list of things that NEED to be done during the summer.  maybe we'll compare the lists and make it a fun if-then tally sheet.  for instance, if we accomplish 1 to-do, then we'll pick 1 fun activity.  or if we get 3 *'d to-do things done, then we'll choose a * fun bucket list thing to do.  or, if we do 5 !'d to-do things done, then we'll choose a ! fun bucket list thing to do.  (those *s and !s would be labels we could put on our fun bucket list, if you didn't catch on.)



    Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

    Monday, May 21, 2012

    monday menu #11 for 2012

    this week is an exact replica of last week's.  except minus exact because there's one item missing. 

    here's what i have: 
    • mexican lasagna with perhaps some corn bread muffins on the side
    • pulled pork sandwiches with some sort of healthy vegetable.  i'd like coleslaw... but i always get complaints because no one likes it.  even i am just pretending to like it when i eat it.  maybe just a green salad. 
    • grilled marinated chicken with grilled veggies (like, but not limited to potatoes, asparagus, green beans...)
    • hamburger helper stroganoff without the box's helper, served with green peas.
    • swiss steak and homemade fresh bread
    i am still finding it hard to budget my dinner-making-time between running 13-year-olds to and from martial arts and 5-year-olds to t-ball practices and games and nursing an 8-week-old.  i realize dinner is a priority, because we have to eat... but MAKING dinner isn't as much of a priority i guess. 
    i'm up for any tips that those of you have used.  really.

    Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

    Wednesday, May 16, 2012

    are you full?

    i started reading acts (the 5th book of the new testament) a week or so ago.  maybe i've skipped over it in the past.  i've heard stories out of it -here and there- i'm sure. 
    anyway, it is an account of the happenings directly after the gospel books of jesus' life.  (fancy it was placed directly after the gospel books...)  anyway, luke wrote it and it talks a lot about being filled with the holy spirit.  it makes me question what we, as modern day non-pentecostal christians describe as being spirit-filled.  you can tell that when luke describes the filling that it is something observable and dramatic... much like the pentecostal christians ... act (?wrong word?) it. 
    what are your thoughts on this???  if you don't know what i'm talking about, read some of acts.  i'm only on chapter 8-9, so you don't have to read much to figure out what i'm referring to. 

    Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

    Monday, May 14, 2012

    monday menu #10 for 2012

    i hope a happy mothers day was had by everyone that has a mother. 
    now it's monday and i'm up for another menu.  here's what i have: 
    • mexican lasagna with perhaps some corn bread muffins on the side
    • pulled pork sandwiches with some sort of healthy vegetable.  i'd like coleslaw... but i always get complaints because no one likes it.  even i am just pretending to like it when i eat it.  maybe just a green salad. 
    • grilled marinated chicken with grilled veggies (like, but not limited to potatoes, asparagus, green beans...)
    • hamburger helper stroganoff without the box's helper, served with green peas.
    • swiss steak and homemade fresh bread
    • bean with bacon soup (not homemade... i still haven't found a good recipe) and sandwiches
    i'm making the grocery list right now and then headin' to town.  how's it sound?!  i think it all sounds pretty darn good.
    what's on your menu this week???

    Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." 

    Sunday, May 13, 2012

    what's this "mother's day" thing???

    i wonder why God didn't liken himself to a mom... aren't they like the best things ever???  that's just my thought today on mother's day.
    i have, hands down, the absolute best and perfect mother for me in whole entire universe.  hands all the way down.  no contest. 
    let me tell you 30 reasons (for each year of my life) why she's the best:
    1. she's patient
    2. she's kind
    3. she does not boast
    4. she is not self-seeking
    5. she is not easily angered
    6. she is truthful
    7. she always protects
    8. she always perseveres
    9. she always loves
    10. she's a nurse
    11. she loves my dad
    12. she loves my kids
    13. she's full of help
    14. she's my biggest cheerleader
    15. she believes in me
    16. she has great faith in the one true God
    17. she's the best prayer warrior... she really prays without ceasing
    18. she's athletic
    19. she pushed out 4 wonderful babies and raised them with my father
    20. she never gave up on marriage
    21. she's optimistic
    22. she's stubborn
    23. she's a good role model
    24. she's really encouraging
    25. she's a great cook and baker
    26. she is a nice grandmommy
    27. she loves babies.  she's a baby-hog.
    28. she's healthy
    29. she always knows the right thing to say
    30. she knows how to pinch a penny!
    something else:  HER mother!  my granny is so wonderful and great.  i could almost duplicate the list above for my granny.  my mom definately IS her mother's daughter!!!  my granny is not a nurse though.  instead she is a great wife and mother as her career.  my papa, her husband, died at an early age and my granny's self-sufficient nature blossomed as she became a widow.  she was forced to be independant and strong even though it seemed like the odds were stacked against her.  papa was a business-owner.  granny was his right-hand man.  together they ran their store like a well oiled machine.  after he passed, she didn't have his income, but since she's so practically minded, i don't think she had too hard of a time making things last, wasting not and wanting not.  she's great like that!  the other unique strong characteristic of granny is her competitive nature.  she, like my mom, is another biggest cheerleader.  she wants, more than anything, for her children and grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to WIN (unless she's playing a game against them, that is)!  and boy does she like to play a game!!!  any game!!!  her favorites are card games (like pineochle) and word games (like scrabble). 

    i can't put into words how extremely grateful i am to have these two women as mom-models for me.  i can't even begin to express how thankful i am that i have both of them in my life right now.  what is this "mother's day" thing???  it's a day to express this sort of gratitude.  to reflect on the mothers in your life.  to take a little time to tell them "thank you".  so go ahead... give a little shout out!


    Don't "like" me on facebook... you can't find me there.
    Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

    Wednesday, May 9, 2012

    things that i teach and/or say to my kids

    1. there'll be days like this
    2. flush and wash
    3. do it the first time you're asked, the right way, with a happy heart
    4. yes ma'am
    5. listen for my voice
    6. no fighting, no biting
    7. if you wanna live here, you need to learn how to follow the rules.
    8. get along
    9. tv rotts the brain
    10. do unto others as you would have them do unto you
    11. outside excercise is great medicine
    12. laughter is the best medicine
    13. hugs, not drugs!
    14. pop/soda rotts your teeth
    15. your mouth bacteria eats sugar and poops acid
    16. choose to do what's right (even when it's hard)
    17. protect and respect
    18. serve others
    19. others first, self last
    20. ladies first... ALWAYS
    21. jesus, others, then you
    22. i love you
    23. don't drink the butt-water
    24. don't leave for later what can be done now
    25. be responsible:  don't leave something for someone else to do
    26. be respectful.  always.  to everone. 
    27. honor others.
    28. don't shake the baby!
    29. do what jesus would want you to do
    30. life is like a box of chocolates

    Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

    Friday, May 4, 2012

    car seats, can't fit 'em all in... can't throw 'em to the curb...

    so, i just randomly decided that surely someone has thought of a solution to fit three car seats in a vehicle... since, in our state at least, kids have to use a car seat up until the age of 7 and/or EIGHTY POUNDS.  (we go with the age 7 part because well, it's there.  i think it's actually like the forward facing rule where the child needs to be at least age 7 but also a minimum of 80 pounds...  that's never been spelled out for me though and they change the laws on these things every other year, so i feel law-abiding enough that i know at least part of the law.  with a law of such length (7 years is a LONG time to sit in a car seat -or booster), i'm sure that lots of families struggle with the issue of fitting 3 car seats in their vehicle.  i mean, i know great big SUVs used to be the craze, but gas prices are almost to $4/gallon... people are changing their ways!  it's not ridiculous to have three kids under the age of 7!!!  minivans are nice, but they aren't wide enough to fit three car seats in without either breaking your arm trying to buckle them in, or breaking the seats trying to smash them close enough together!
    anyway, all that rambling to say that i did indeed find a car seat solution.  it's called the "Sunshine Kids RadianXTSL Convertible Car Seat" and it claims to fit up to three of these even in a 4-door sedan.  wow eh?  so, i went to search out the cost and the practicality of purchasing new car seats JUST to make more room. 
    apparently they're supposed to retail at $289.  so... that's completely impractical.  however, they are on sale on a couple different websites, down to $89.  that's also rather impractical just for some room, but when comparing it to the previous three digit number it looks appetizing.  but, of course both of the sites that have it "on sale" are out of stock! 
    (i roll my eyes at this)
    whatever!

    in other news.  boo said "r" yesterday.  that's exciting.  now we just have to practice switching all the words with "r" in them to what they should really sound like instead of what they willy do sound like currently. 


    Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

    Thursday, May 3, 2012

    monday menu #9 for 2012

    it's funny that this is my NINETH  menu of the year... the first week of MAY!  but that's what happens when you're due to have a baby the 10th/11th week of the year!  as my last gratituesday post explained, the past 6 weeks have been taken care of with people's generosity and frozen prepared meals that i thoughtfully stocked our freezer with. 
    anyway, so for the 9th menu of the year:
    • hawaiian chicken sandwiches (the ones with chicken patties, pineapple slices, and swiss cheese.)
    • breaded pork chops (those good ones that i found, made, and now they've been taken off that website for some reason.  all i remember was egg, buttermilk, italian bread crumbs...), with this great invention i heard of called green bean fries (you dip fresh green beans in egg and bread crumbs and then bake them).
    • cheeseburgers, baked beans, corn, and french fries.
    • tacos
    • crockpot italian chicken over bow tie pasta and broccoli
    • sour cream noodle bake (i think this is the recipe a great gal brought our family for dinner.  totally delish!  the kids ALL loved it!!!!!)
    Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

    Tuesday, May 1, 2012

    gratituesday : frozen meals

    well tonight i finally made a meal for my family... from scratch... for the first time (i'm pretty sure) since buttercup was born.  oh my holy giminy moses!  i am SO SO SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO thankful for the friends and family and strangers that brought us meals!!!!  and i am also so very thankful that i was smart enough to fill our freezer with meals for me to pull out and make with one swift movement. 
    i can't tell you how frustrating it was for me to make dinner with a baby that seems like all of a sudden needs held ---because it's dinner-makin' time.  and that same baby also will need fed right when there's 3 things boiling on the stove and a beeper beeping because the bread's ready to come out of the oven. 
    freezer meals are so wonderful!  so are friends that bring meals.  THANK YOU SOOOOOOO MUCH if you were a dear friend that did that!!!  and thank you Lord, for helping me plan ahead. 
    now though the freezer's empty and i need to have the strategy of a supermom.  please pray for me in the days ahead that i might perform miracles and make dinner nightly like i used to.

    Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

    Friday, April 27, 2012

    5 weeks

    today sweet buttercup is 5 weeks old.  she's also a month and 4 days old.  she's also very cute and sweet. 
    [insert 5 week pic here]
    but she's not the only one in my life!

    wolfie started martial arts at the beginning of this month.  she has karate on monday and wednesday from 7-8.  she's doing extreme martial arts (xma) on tuesday and thursday, which is like a jackie chan type of gymnastic/martial arts form from 5-6.  on friday she's learning some other gymnastic type of funness and a weapon's class (2.5 hours of 3 classes: 4:30-7).  on saturday she has a class of self defense called krav maga from 10-11.  all these are helping her get into shape, but also teaching her some good self discipline and respect.  next month (i think) she's going to narrow down her classes to one or two of the arts to pursue. 

    binkins lost another tooth.  she's reading like a pro and is super excited to dig into chapter books finally.  she LOVES to hold her sister and help out in any other way, especially if it means not doing what she's supposed to be doing. 

    jones was the little red hen in his kindergarten visual arts performance.  it was really cute.  unfortunately i didn't get any good pictures, but i was there, so i'll just testify to its cuteness!  he's reading early reader books and unlike his two big sisters, doesn't get frustrated with it.  he's great!!!  also jones started t-ball the week before buttercup was born.  it's a hoot to watch 4-6 year-olds learn the sport.  they all clock out almost simultaneously after about 30 or 45 minutes.  but he's learning and they're improving. 

    boo has cut naps out of her day now for sure.  she needs quiet time but doesn't do very well at it either.  she has started sleeping in 'till about 8:30ish, but she doesn't go to bed early either... i don't think it's really that healthy, but i can't force the girl to sleep!

    starboy loves being a big brother.  he likes to boss his baby around, but he also absolutely LOVES to kiss and pet her.  all the kids really like to hold buttercup.  starboy is going through a rough phase and we're adjusting our training methods with him.  he's a good, sweet boy, but he's learned quite a bit of stubborn naughtiness somewhere (i can't imagine where though!)
    [insert pop and i pic here]
    otter pop and i have little bit been looking for a home to buy.  it may be 6 months up to 18 month until we get one, but it doesn't hurt to look around and see what's out there. 

    i'm still really juggling around the mom duties and staying sane, but it's getting better each week.  all the running around is new and crazy and i certainly don't love it, but i do it and then we scrounge for dinner each night because that's what i SHOULD be doing... 
    [insert dinner pic here]
    so, on to that... dinner... because that is what i should be doing right now!

    Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

    Friday, April 20, 2012

    4 weeks post partum and 4 weeks old

    Total weight gain: i  weighed myself at my mother-in-law’s house last week and I was down to my approximate pre-pregnancy weight.  that would be about 20-30 lbs over what i should be as a normal healthy 30-y-o woman .
    Maternity clothes:  currently I’m finding myself in between maternity clothes and regular garb.  I haven’t changed out my wardrobe yet, so I’m still sporting around my summer maternity ware happily because I don’t get to wear it much and it doesn’t look that bad on me right now.  I think this next week I’ll do a switcheroo of my closet though because my summer maternity ware isn’t very voluptuous.   
    Stretch marks:  they sure look funny now that they’re not all stretched out.  My belly is at a very jiggly stage.   I am planning on loosing approximately 20-30 pounds and wonder what it’ll look like then!!!    
    Sleep:  i sure love to sleep on my back and all stretched out again!  Oh… it feels glorious!  I can sleep however I want and it is so comfortable!  I sleep from about 10pm until about 3-4-5am each night interrupted.  At about 3-4-5am I have a little whimper wake me and I gladly wake right up and feed the whimperer.      
    Best moment this week:  I got my birth pictures back (via a slide show).  It was so amazing to watch the show and reminisce the birth of sweet princess buttercup.  Otter pop and I have watched it several times almost every night since we got it.  Wow.  What a great way to preserve such a miracle memory!!!!
    Miss anything:  I miss my moving belly.  I love having the baby on the outside of me, but I love being pregnant and I already miss that big kicking squirming belly to rest my bowl on.  J
    Movement:  the only movements I get nowadays are bowel movements.  And they’re rather regular. 
    Food craving:  wow.  YES!  Peanut butter!  Peanut butter and graham crackers to be specific, but peanut butter on waffles will work, as will peanut butter and jelly sandwiches…  It’s really rather weird.  I’ve never liked peanut butter.  But I do now, and I think I might have to give it up!
    Anything making you queasy or sick:  nothing abnormal.
    Gender: female.

    Labor Signs:  nothing.  Well, I am bleeding a little still.  But just barely and I don’t think that’s a labor sign anyway. 
    Symptoms:  no more heartburn, no contractions every day (or any day), no large and heavy pregnant belly, no sore back from the large and heavy belly, no cervix pain with (or without) the contractions, no energy loss, no butt-hook, no shortness of breath, and no complete lack of motivation almost all of the time (or any of the time), no swollen ankles and feet...  nothin' worth complaining about.  In fact, nothin’ at all!!!
    Belly Button in or out?  in
    Wedding rings on or off? on. 
    Happy or Moody most of the time:  happy, but with twinges of unexpected and unpredictable grumps throughout each day.  This is one thing that HASN’T changed in the past two months.  L 
    Looking forward to:  the journey of mothering 6 fine children!  So far it’s been great!
    My biggest adjustment has been managing my time.  Since I was diagnosed with major butt-hook for the last 2 (at least) months of my pregnancy –getting worse and worse as the days went by--- I’m not having a hard time sitting down to nurse my babe every 4 hours.  In fact that’s been the easiest thing to do.  The thing I’ve had a hard time doing is anything else.  I just have still been in the butt-hook groove of sitting and cuddling and hanging out with my wee ones on the couch.  That is, until about a week and a half ago when I realized what kind of slump I was in and started working on it.  Now I’m trying to find the happy medium where I’m productive with the time that I’m not boob-hooked and where I don’t get so wrapped up in getting all this stuff done that I haven’t been able to do for months and realize I have several little ones around me needing guidance, training, and lovins.  And then to beat that over the head for me, the weather has also warmed up (greatly… as in the 80s) and the outside work is now calling my name too… and the outside play.  So, I’m trying to write up a list of things to-do each day and get them done AND get some play time in as well.  It just doesn’t seem like there are enough hours in my day…  crazy how things can turn around in just a month’s time.
    So now onto the 4-week-old part of this post:
    Buttercup lost the top part of her hair this past week.  It, literally, came out in the wash.  I was giving her a bath and swiped the washcloth over her head to wash her hair and off swiped the hair instead of whatever it was I could clean out of it (as if it even NEEDED cleaning!!!!)  I was so sad –and shocked!  I just wanted to un-swipe it back on.  Seriously.  L
    Buttercup has really started sleeping even better at night and then waking up with some major happy face.  It’s so adorable.  We all love to gawk at her smilin’ face and smile back and giggle at her.  She’s a doll!  The past few nights she’s stretched her 6 hours out to 8 and even 9…  it’s nice of her and I appreciate it. 
    We had  a baby shower this past week.  It was given to me by a dear friend who I love so much.  It was the most fun party I’ve ever gone to and it was great that I knew everyone there!!!  I love parties like that… they’re never like that though.  But this one was.  It was great also because we didn’t sit around pretending like we’re ladies and such… we all got to make sweet buttercup some onesies.  You heard me right.  We made onesies at a baby shower!  I tell you, this party-throwin’ lady is AWESOME!  Anyway I left feeling totally blessed and loved… and then the next morning it hadn’t warn off.  I just had a great big smile and a happy warm and fuzzy feeling inside of me.  It was great.
    buttercup is nice and alert.  she likes to have her "awake" time although she's still sleeping for the majority of the day.  she has beautiful big, alert eyes that are starting to focus in on objects.  it's cute.  she knows who i am and finds me when i'm close enough for her to see.  i like that. 
    i have had to start using two wipes on a few of buttercup's diapers... so that says a little something about her growth.  right?
    And then last, but certainly not least, as buttercup hit her 4th week birthiversary she (and we) welcomed a new member into our family: Buttercup’s little cousin was born!!!!  Yeah for cousins being born!!!  It was a special delivery 4 weeks after buttercup and nearly identical ---well, very similar I guess--- birth stats.  It’s great to see pictures of a ‘nother newborn weighing almost the same and measuring out almost the same as my not-so-newborn (comparatively at least).  We’ve seen pictures, but even better, we (buttercup, otter pop, and i) get to meet her in person in a few days.  ---I know this because I’m writing this post as we drive to see her… I just am going to post it when I should have -2 days ago.  So, I’ll make sure and get pictures galore of the two sweet cousins together.  How exciting!!!

    Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

    Tuesday, April 17, 2012

    gratituesday : music

    i love music.  of all sorts.  it's so uplifting.  i'm thankful that it's important to God.  He made us musical.  He created us to enjoy and participate in music, i'm sure of it.  i even picture Him creating us to music... way back when. 
    i love to watch little ones around music.  my little ones can't control their hips around music, and if they recognize the tune or lyrics they can't control their lips either. 
    thank you, Lord for MUSIC!


    Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

    Friday, April 13, 2012

    3 weeks


    it's been 3 little weeks since buttercup has joined us, her family, on the outside of my body.  here's what we think of her:
    starboy:  she's really aweeesa.  i lub her.  she's my favorite.
    boo:  i really love she and she so cute.  i hope she don't cries.  she's just my little sister and my sweetie.  shes eyes are so cute. 
    jones:  she's so cute.  her feet are soooo tiny.  i wish she could grow up to play the wii.  i like to hold her because her face is so cute. 
    binkins:  fine.  good.  she's so sweet.  she's an angel.
    wolfie:  she's small and fragile.  she's quiet. 
    me:  she's awfully sweet. 
    otter pop:  i love her, she's the sweetest thing God put a nose on. 

    i had to take the sweet cute little one to the dr today.  she started complaining yesterday and wanting to be held in a specific way.  she's had a little nagging pathetic baby-cough for the past week... i kinda thought she might have an ear ache...  she did and she does.  and she now weighs a whopping 9lb.7oz.  ---she's really packing on the weight!!!  (sarcasm)

    her belly button still kinda looks weird, but it's an innie now, so that's nice.

    her hair is growing nicely.  she's a definite fuzz head now.

    she poops and pees regularly.  is healthily hydrated.  and she needs a bath...







    Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."