Trying to think of what to say....

In my head I have all sorts of great blog posts.....but in reality I rarely put the pen to paper so to speak. So I figure as random as it is - here is the return to blogging.

So the other day I am attempting to clean all the bathrooms in the house. I phase the cleaning as to not mix the germs....you know sinks/counters, mirrors and generally the potty is last. So I clean all the toilets in the house. Now - some of you may have sons/husbands that leave the potty seats all the way up. I am constantly telling my hubby that I am going to fall in one day cause he leaves the seat up! So - you may see where I am going with this. After all the hard core potty cleaning, I left the potty seat up in my bathroom. So the inevitable happened as I was hurrying up to use the potty - I sat on it lid up. There are two bright sides to this story. Number one - I realized the error of my ways pretty darn quick before I got stuck. Secondly the potty was clean inside and out. So with that - blogging I am back.

Cowing Around at Chick-fil-A

We had our annual trek for free food to Chick-fil-A. This year we got to go with my adorable nieces and nephew and my amazing sister-in-law and brother. We procrastinated on our cow attire - but we pulled it together a couple hours before dinner. I was drying some of the shirts with a hair-dryer at the last minute. The girls had a fun, and I think the boys even enjoyed themselves. I know my brother was impressed that the food was in face free. We some some interesting cows while we were there. One guy looked to be putting on some sort of haz-mat converted cow costume in the parking lot. It was pretty funny to watch him get ready.

the girls ready to go


My bro (still bashful about being a cow) with his lovely wife

the girls enjoying their cow toys

me and Roon

Happy boy Finn

So...this picture sums up the last month

Lots of busy and Lots of tired! I know that some of you were really tired of seeing Woo Hoo - Walgreens at the top of the blog. No more - I am back now! I have the computer and camera up and running again...so I hope to be posting more regularly now! Here is to more blogging!

Easter Celebration

We had a wonderful day together celebrating Easter as a family yesterday. We slept in a bit then headed to celebrate at Church. It was a great service! I am so thankful for all the blessings that Jesus has bestowed on me and mine. The sacrifice for us is amazing. Praise God - He is risen!

The weather started off rainy, but cleared by mid-day! The Bunny done good in Bean's eye's when she spied a Barbie Rapunzel doll with real "zizzors!" You can attach fake hair to the doll and then cut it. Barbie does it again - those people are brilliant. Bean, though, is very curious as to how the Easter bunny obtained the barbie doll. "Mommy did the bunny take it from Target?" No - the Easter Bunny has ways of getting them I told her. Doesn't she look so happy (see below picture)?


The only piece of candy that wise bunny left was this chocolate bunny. I imagine the Easter bunny may have felt some guilt with not leaving jelly beans....but sometimes a bunny has got to do what a bunny has got to do. Don't worry though, I spied some speckled jelly beans for 50% off today at the grocery store and I bought them. I am not a huge jelly bean fan, but the speckle seams to kick the jelly beans up a notch. Those are some good munchin...just sayin.

After Church and a quick lunch we went to a local Easter Egg hunt at a nursery. Look how pretty the flowers are! Bean did great...she stayed calm, did not run and looked high and low. She really took her time enjoying the egg hunt. However...she did not when it came to the floppy eared wonder. Bean was all over that bunny like a fly to honey. Every time she saw him, she would wave, make cutie eyes or want to go talk to him. Thankfully the bunny complied and was happy to take her kisses and Barbie stories. One of the nursery workers told us she is pretty sure that our daughter is the Easter Bunny's number one fan. It got tricky when Bean spotted some skin (Mommy I saw peach skin under the costume)...don't worry I explained sometimes the bunny uses helpers like Santa....."Mom - you mean that is Santa in the bunny suit (note eyes are lit up like saucers now). No honey - bunny helpers.....and with that I quickly changed the subject. Boy she is good.

We sure hope you enjoyed your Easter!

Look Mom - I bought all this for $1.59

And guess what....I got a $2.00 on you next order coupon - so net this cost is -.41 cents. I shopped at Tom Thumb and utilized the mix and match sale and coupons I had on hand. Now that is some good shopping! So I wanted to tell you about my grocery challenge for the rest of the year. As of mid-March I decided that I was going (to try really hard) to spend $1,000 for the remainder of the year on groceries. Groceries for me includes food, beauty items, pet food, over the counter medicine and kid supplies like pull-ups. Would you cheer me along? I will keep you updated. Any rebates I get go back into the grocery money pool....so I can grow my money a bit there. How are you doing on grocery shopping? I love this blog run by Erin who is feeding her family of four for just $800 a year. She is a coupon guru...here is the linky: Jane4Girls. Hope you are having a great day.

Six Flags Fun!

This picture makes me laugh...the look on Bean's face is priceless....even the log ride can cause me to scream.

It has been probably 10 years since we last went to Six Flags. It seems the older I get the less ride adventurous I have become. The spinney rides are no friend to me - so I am real picky about what I choose to ride. Our friends were very generous and took us with their free guest tickets for being season pass holders. What a treat and what a day we had. First off the weather was gorgeous. I think the high temp was 70 degrees. The crowds were very light...during the opening there were no lines for about an hour on most of the non-thrill rides. Even the Titan and Tony Hawk ride were only about a 10-15 minute wait. Not that I rode those...my pick for adventurous ride was the parachute fall...I am so brave, I know. Bean and I did partake of the mine train....we did not even realize there was a mini-mine train so we went straight for the more daring version. It was mostly all good till the dark tunnel and then sudden drop at the end. Bean was not too pleased at that. She blamed me...but I honestly had no idea (which is good - cause with rides sometimes the less I know, the better).

We decided to try the roaring water ride...figuring that we would not get wet. Last time I rode this thing...seems like the water barely spit on me. Needless to say we were ringing our clothes out at the end of the ride. One of the scary parts of the afternoon ensued while we were waiting for the parachute ride and Bean decided to stick her pointer finger in the metal hole that holds the gate rope. The finger got stuck - real stuck. I imagined fire trucks in our very near future. Roon says he liked out how I "checked out", but really I was praying and trying not to look like I was freaking out. Thankfully Roon improvised and spit all over the finger and wiggled it out...just in time for their turn to ride the chute ride. We had such a fun time and no doubt will have to venture back again soon.

Clean Living

So - today marks day one of our home being on the market. I am seriously considering eating off of paper plates for the next several weeks - LOL! The day started with Bean screaming out - "Mom - come here right now." I arrive to a big ole pile of dog throw-up. Thank goodness it was on the laminate floors so it was easy clean up. I give you the picture Bean drew to forever document the moment. Awesome!

Dear Blog...

I am so sorry you have been neglected these past few weeks....
You see the packing and the home improvement projects have been a huge time suckage. The bathroom floor replacement project was estimated by my dear husband to take 3 hours....about 10 hours later he was finished. He did do an awesome job though and I am very proud of my handy man. Seems like all our little projects are taking a lot longer than we anticipated. I want to share pictures and stories and such...but until I can get everything in order over here...I may be sporadic at best. Here is to more regularly blogging in the very near future....Thanks for reading.

The motherload of veggies...

Those carrots were huge. This picture does not do them justice. My parents went to a farmers market and divided at least 30 pounds of carrots to my siblings and me. It took like 90 minutes to wash and peel all those carrots. They were super sweet and crunchy. Thanks Mom and Dad! P.S. the lovely green behind the carrots is Kale. Kale Rocks - you should try it sometime! Even Bean will eat Kale.

Icicles

Bet my holly bushes don't appreciate these at all!

Happy Birthday Sweet Bean!

We are back from a wonderful ski trip celebrating the lovely Bean's 5th Birthday. I have lots of stories and pics. I forgot the digital camera so I went old school with a disposable camera and have to get those developed (eek). As I went to bed last night, I thought about the woman who gave life to my precious daughter 5 years ago. I cried because I am so thankful to her...I cried because I will never meet her...and I cried cause Bean brings me so much joy and even though Mommyhood has it ups and downs, I am so thankful that I am a Mom. Thank you Jesus for blessing me with Bean. So - I should have ski pics up soon!

Goals for 2009

Well Hello! I think I have finally finished my goals. After talking some things out at our hometeam earlier this week, I realize that the key to achieving all my goals is discipline. Straight-up, say what you mean and then do it – type discipline. If I can really commit myself to it 100% I know I can achieve it! So without further ado – hear our my goals for 2009…I know I will come up with more, but these are a great start!

Get up in the morning and have quiet time / devotional time.

Get Healthy – and Stay Healthy. I have joined Weight Watchers and am really trying to learn to make this a lifestyle

Work out at least three times a week

Save Money

Spend Less Money

Sell House

Move

Enroll in and finish adoption training

Read Little House on the Prairie to Bean

Memorize one scripture verse a month

Keep house more organizedKeep up / establish cleaning routines

Wordless Wednesday...or is it?

Does anyone think I need an intervention? Is there every such a thing as too many lean pockets?

Still working on those New Year's Goals...

So far I have joined Weight Watchers - officially again. I really like the new Momentum program and feel this is the year I will follow through. The number that I weighed in at (and no I won't tell) was actually flabbergasting.......Perhaps someone was joking me I thought. Then I came home to the Wii fit - who happily told me that he missed me after 70 days of no work-outs and that I am "obese." Needless to say I was having a rough day - but made it through and am already feeling better. I am working on the budget spreadsheets and just trying to finalize our financial goals for 2009. I am really having a hard time with the "eating out" monthly expense.
So I hope to have all my goals done by Sunday...My first weight goal is to lose 11 pounds during January. Hope I can do that!

Hello 2009!

So are you working on your resolutions/goals for 2009? I am...but I always give myself a week or so to think about them. As usual, losing weight is on the list. If my Wii and DS (yes - I got that little beauty for Christmas) team up with each other - they will surely force the weight off me. You see I have Wii fit and I just purchased "My Weight Loss coach" for the DS. It even comes with a handy dandy pedometer! I am terrified to weigh in tomorrow on the Wii...I am also dreading re-doing my wii fit age...last time I tested I was 29. I imagine I will be decades older during my next test. I am also pondering joining Weight Watchers...I hope to post my resolutions tomorrow.

Here is a rough menu plan for the week - another goal I have is to menu plan better!

Monday - Chicken/Veggie bake (this is Stouffers-nothing fancy) and homemade French Bread - oh if I good eat baked bread every and stay skinny ;)

Tuesday - Tamale Pie & Salad

Wednesday - White Chicken Chili

Thursday - Spaghetti

Friday - Chicken Tenders made with corn flakes, mashed potatoes, green veggie

Saturday - probably something from the dear Italian sausage

Hope you are having a wonderful 2009 already!

Tag - I'm It!

1. Open the 4th folder in your computer.

2. Choose the 4th picture in the folder and post in in your blog.

3. Describe the picture.

4. Tag 4 people.

So here it goes - and yes this is the 4th folder in my picture file - Great Timing!! Although the file only has three pictures in it - so this is the 3rd pic in the file technically speaking!

This is our first Christmas with the Bean. She is going with the flow and enjoying Santa this year. It was at the mall by my Aunt's house. I think the Santa is very nice looking. Perhaps our Santa picture will be nice and calm like this...I hope anyways.

So the four people I tag - cause I think they will play along are: Cindi, Elisa, Lisa and Dusti!

Wonderful Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving over at my Aunt's house and really enjoyed just chilling all day. I have pictures, but unfortunately the camera is still residing at my Aunt's house so I can't upload any today. It has been a lazy and busy weekend all at the same time. I did venture out to the stores at the wee hours of the morning on Black Friday with my good friend, E. I have to say that this was (by far) the most crowded I have ever seen the stores and (in my opinion), there were really not that many great deals to be had.....I got the one thing I set out to get - a new computer monitor, 22" Flat Screen. Our old monitor was at least eight years old - and the size of a small car (ok just kidding - but it was a honker). This is a Christmas present for my dear husband, but he wanted to set it up immediately. Thus I am looking at it - all shiny and new on my desk right now.

I am also enjoying the smell of a very REAL and ALIVE Christmas tree. I don't remember the last time we had a real tree. Generally we don't get a real tree cause our cat used to drink all the water and try to play in the depths of the tree. Since our cat passed away and our dog has absolutely no interest in the tree, we figured it would be a great time to get one. I have to say I love it - except for the needles. Those needles are like dog hair....they are no where and everywhere at the same time! Hope to post pictures soon...and I hope that you had a very blessed Thanksgiving!

Weekend update, Uber Crafty Me and Mothra no more......

So this weekend, Roon, in all his hunting glory got a Buck. I think "got" sounds nicer than the alternative word...so let's just stick with that shall we? We are going to have a whole lotta sausage in a few weeks. I love me some deer sausage.

Bean got a headache around 5:30 on Friday night...by 9:30 she had the chills and a high fever. After 24 hours of Motrin/Tylenol, I web checked in for CareNow and was able to get her seen on Saturday night. Turns out it was strep throat so I am really glad that we went. After a trek all over across town trying to find a pharmacy that was open and stocked with Amoxicillin, we struck pay dirt at Walgreens (our fourth pharmacy). She really started to feel better late Sunday night so I was very happy and relieved. Thank you Jesus for Saturday doctor visits.

For those who were wondering about "Mothra" the mutant moth - it is dead. Mothra flew in the house and hid from me for a day. It then decided to go hide in the refrigerator. I just knew the stupid moth was eating my leftover pizza. After some coaxing from my girlfriends we decided the moth froze and was no longer a threat to me or the contents of the fridge. When Roon got home - he found Mothra's body and disposed of it. I do not like Moths!

Here is a fun picture of the Cereal Box Turkeys and Turkey Leg Hats we made. The Turkey leg hat's were featured in November Family Fun magazine and the cereal box turkey's can be found here at this awesome blog - linky.

recycling at work here

Bean and Emma - we improvised with newspaper cause I did not have any brown paper sack lunch boxes...still came out cute!

Happy Election Day!

Your vote counts! Our vote today impacts the generations to come. It is a privilege to live in a democratic country! During the presidential election 4 years ago - we watched the media frenzy (via TV) in a cramped hotel room in Moscow. We had one English speaking station, the BBC, and that is all I am going to say about that! I got desperate after a few hours and watched Armageddon (Bruce Willis movie) in Russian...thankfully I knew what was happening so it was a nice distraction. Happy Election Day! On a side note: explaining the election process to a four year old is quite entertaining ;)

Trick or Treat!

So this morning my Mom calls me to ask if we are all right. Uh - yeah, why? There were a couple earthquakes last night early this morning! What? Sure enough some of the surrounding cities felt tremors associated with two small earthquakes. Now that is tricky on Halloween!

For the treat - I give you this. It is not everyday I get to wake up and put eyeliner on my husband. Yes - every year my husbands work goes all out with a costume contest (that is mandatory for them) and they spend the day doing a scavenger hunt, trivia, and bowling. Yes - every year. Every year I plead with Roon to be Richard Simmons as his costume. Sadly - I am denied....but guess what - great minds think alike - cause the boss (owner of husbands company) came as..........Richard Simmons! Here is the hubs this year...do you know who he is? Happy Halloween!