Let's Go Fishing!

When we moved to this house almost 3 years ago, each of the boys got to pick a theme for their new room. Rugby chose space, Riley chose fishing. Now, 3 years later and seemingly a million room switches later (Rugby has slept in each of the 3 other bedrooms this house has, Riley's slept in two, Tucker's been in two and TJ's been in all four) The theme of those two rooms has stayed the same, though it hasn't always been the kid who chose the theme sleeping in that room. Anyway, Rugby is now in the fishing room. Aside from the movie room, this room is my favorite. The colors on the wall are great (River Reed and Marzipan from ColorPlace at Walmart) and with the big marlin on the wall it's pretty cool.

In October, we sold a bedroom set that was left in the house. We intended to sell just the dresser and chest of drawers, but the lady saw the bed that matched and wanted to keep the set together, so we sold the bed with it. Since then, Rugby's mattress has been sitting on the floor. we haven't had company coming so I wasn't too worried about it, but we'd wake in the morning to find Rugby off the bed, on the floor between the bed and the wall and all over the place. He didn't seem to mind, but it bugged me. So this weekend, Tom (Tim's twin) and his girlfriend were going to visit and I figured it was high time to get a frame for that bed. I posted on Freecycle that I was looking for one and I GOT ONE!! See, lovely, right?! lol!


I hated it! But, it's metal and free and in good condition so I knew I could alter it's appearance. And alter I did!!! I was in Walmart a little later that day and looked through the clearance paints and didn't see anything I liked, so I looked through the spray paints. They had some that were nice, but I wasn't paying $6 a can for it. I finally found a Caramel Latte color from Krylon at $3.25 a can. SCORE! Two cans later here's the bed:



Now I need to get/make new bedding for him and his room will be perfect! I love it!! And I can't wait to see his reaction after school today!!

Paint fumes suck

Really, I could do without them, ya know. Especially in the winter.....but! they were an essential part of a transformation that I'm bringing you tomorrow (after the kids are at school because it's a surprise for Rugby!!!). I did it in my laundry room, closed the door and opened the window, and STILL the house stinks like paint. I'd love to have done it in the garage, but for some reason paint won't dry when it's -10 (or feels like it, anyway). Stay tuned for something grand!!

**EDIT: Did you read this before? OMG! The paint fumes must have gone to my head, I sounded goofy(more than usual!)

Dear Mother Nature,

Dear Mother Nature,

How are you fairing this winter? Seems like you're all over the place and I'm a bit concerned. I love the balmy winter weather you've been offering. The longer days are a major plus. I can't say that I'm looking forward to cutting the lawn, but the greenery will be nice, I've even ordered some flowers to plant once you deem it warm enough. So, what's going on? Why the weather switch? I mean, most of the snow was gone. We are soooooooo ready to be out and about and out of our hibernation mode. Then, you DUMP a load of snow on us and now we are looking at subzero temps again. For real, what's the deal with that?

Take your time answering, I'm sure you're busy planning the next cruel springtime trick.

All our love,
Jess and the boys

8 days ago

8 days ago, I was excited.

My cousin was coming to visit from South Dakota, I was going to start a new job. It was all looking good.

Rach came and left. We had fun while she was here, we put together the things that Aunt Loie sent (even if they were too hard for a 6 and 7 year old AND 2 adults!) we played wii, ate dessert and lounged around. It was great!

Then, I had to think about day care and after school care. Ugh. I called around. And called some more. Did you know that there is NOT ONE childcare provider in Boyceville/Glenwood that has openings for 2 kids? Sunshine opened up and I found a center that will take both the kids....for $300 a WEEK. That's right folks, I'd roughly make $50 a week after paying for daycare....and that doesn't even factor in Rugby and Riley. Soooooooooooo, I called some more and talked to some people and I'm officially un-hired. I cried. I've been trying to work this out for over a week. I haven't slept, I've been a bit cranky and we're all suffering. So, I got un-hired and feel really good about it. I think I'm going to try and put my name out there to do daycare (since there isn't anyone with any openings, there should be people in need, right?!)

So, that's what's been going on. Sorry for the delay in blogging, that's been consuming most of my time. I have posted a couple recipes on my food blog, though!

Mommy the Volunteer

My darling 2nd grader had a class field trip Friday. Earlier in the month, they asked for volunteers to chaperone. Parent volunteers were not able to ride the bus. It was 45 minutes from home. So I was thinking that there wouldn't be too many volunteers. Boy was I wrong. There are around 60 kids in the 2nd grade, so I was thinking I'd have 3-4 kids. I had TWO. Rugby and Hunter (a girl who was also in the group I had last year on the field trip) I think the parents were most intrigued by the (1) location of the field trip and (2) the cheap cost of admission with the group. (Less than half the normal price!!)

We went to Underwater World!!

It was SO COOL! The kids had a great time. Plus, part of the program they did included tickets for their whole family to come back...FREE! (Kids free, adults reduced but still good deal!!!) So, we may have to go back another day soon.

I'll leave you with some pictures that Rugby and Hunter took. I may have taken a few of them also (for sure the jellyfish and seahorse ones...they were too tricky for the kids to get on the auto settings of the camera)

(He didn't like it at all, can you tell? lol! My little scientist!)

Petting the sharks and stingrays...they were icky and slimy! (Yup, I did it, too!)

Tuck's tubes

Yesterday, Tucker had his ear tubes put in. We got there at 9 and were leaving at 11:45, so it went well and QUICK! TJ and I hung out in the day surgery waiting room while they did it. They had Nickelodeon on the TV so TJ was super happy. He watched Backyardigans (I LOVE THAT SHOW!!), then Dora came on. He was sitting in the middle of the room on a chair (all the other chair are on the outside of the room and he turns around, VERY excitedly and says, "MOM! BABY FOOD!"

I don't know why. I don't know where it came from, but the kid calls Dora "baby food" ALL. THE. TIME. Anytime anything to do with Dora and it's "baby food". Always. It is kinda funny.

The show was only on 2 minutes when another little girl (about 3 or early 4) came into the waiting room. She curled up on the floor near but not next to him. She had some crackers. Next thing, he's sitting on the floor near her....then, he buddies up next to her and tries to take her crackers. She was having NONE of that! She gave him a dirty look before I was able to pull him back and offer him his own crackers (that were in the diaper bag and he didn't want earlier...). It wasn't long and they let me have Tucker back and we were on our way.

Tuck was wobbly, but running and having fun when we got home. Fell asleep in my arms a little while later, but didn't sleep long. He wasn't fussy, but you could tell he wasn't himself. I made sure to keep him dosed up on the Tylenol. Then, it was bedtime....he went to sleep like a trooper. But about 11:30 was up and screaming. I should have given him more tylenol then, but Mommy brain doesn't function properly when woken from a sound slumber, so he tossed and turned and hit me in the head with his head and tried to fall out of bed ALL NIGHT LONG. About 3:30 or 4 he finally fell asleep really well....and then at 4:30 Tim turned the lights on and it was all over for him. He was up. Tim kept him til he had to leave at 5:30. I got up and gave him tylenol and he fell asleep in my arms around 6:00 and slept until 9am. YAY!

He seems to be doing much better now. He's down for a nap again (went down at 10). I hope this means that we are going to be on a "normal" schedule for today. We'll see.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

New blog post up at Cafe Jessica for yesterday's Chinese New Year Celebration!

If Only I'd...WINNER!

Random Sequence Generator

Here is your sequence:

• 1
• 4
• 3
• 5
• 6
• 2
• 7

Timestamp: 2009-01-25 20:15:19 UTC

So our winner is KIM! at Prairie Mama!! Congratulations!!

Feeling Kinda SCRAPPY!

My friend Kim and other bloggers have me feeling a little scrappy....I used to do a little bit of scrapbooking, but NOTHING like what they have on their blogs. I have a few supplies from high school, my mom has bought me a few things over the years for crafting that naturally work for scrapbooking...fun scissors to make the neat edges, great papers and stickers, etc. I've got ribbon left from my Christmas project, stuff like that is all over the house! I spent a couple bucks on a glue pen that I LOVE and a buck on some napkins and I'm scrapping a few cards! Easy, but I feel like something is missing. I don't have the great stamps or markers. But, that will come in time. I really like the looks of what Copic markers can do, but I can't afford $5 EACH for markers so I make do with my Crayolas. I have decent handwriting, too so that helps a bit. Anyway, before Christmas I e-mailed Kim with a technique I found online that was really cool looking. I would have tried it, but I wasn't scrapping at that time. Now, I seem to have the itch. So, I whipped out the legal pad, saran wrap, iron, napkins and pretty embellies and make a simple, pretty card! See?

First, you get a greeting card or cut your card stock to size. Lay it on the legal pad. Have 1 or two sheet open that you can lay over when you're ready to iron.

Then, you cut a piece of saran wrap a bit bigger than the card.

Then, pull the napkin apart so it is only one ply (sorry no pic of that step) and lay it on the card how you want it to look.

Then, lay the paper over the top and iron until the saran wrap is melted and your napkin is sticking to the cardstock. You'll probably need to test it to make sure.

Trim the excess.

And you are ready to decorate! (Or leave it alone...)
With a few pretties added:

For My Daddy

My Dad left last week for South Carolina. He's got another week to be there. And now that his company gave him a laptop, he can check in on us through the blog....but my mother (who almost never updates her blog) has updated more than I have this last week! Oopsie! I think I get a free card since I have four kids to chase, but that's another story for another day.

Since I last left you, I've had a job interview and Tucker had an appointment to see the ENT. The interview went really well and I thought I'd have found out news on that this past week, but I didn't. When we were putting coats on after we left the ENT, we bumped into the lady that did my interview and they haven't made a decision yet, so that was super. At least (as of Thursday) I wasn't out of the running yet! I hope they call either way. I hate the not knowing.

That bring me to the ENT. Tucker has had ear infections and/or fluid in his ears since about August. We've tried all kinds of anitbiotics. We've tried taking away dairy. We tried an oral allergy medication. Nothing has made a difference. So, I didn't have high hopes for the ear doc. Turns out Tucker has SIGNIFICANT hearing loss. The fluid in his ear isn't watery, it's thick like mucus. (Pretty picture, hey?!) So, Tuesday he is getting ear tubes. YAY! I know that it's surgery and all, but after all we've been through in the last 5 months, I am so looking forward to not seeing doctors every three to four weeks! Not giving meds every. single. day. only to lather, rinse and repeat. So, if you are keeping track TJ had tubes Jan 8, 08. Rugby had tubes Jan 24, 08 and now Tuck gets tubes Jan 27, 09....BTW, the 24th is my dad's birthday and the 27th is my mom's birthday. Strange how that works out. Riley was supposed to see an ENT last winter because he had fluid that wouldn't clear from an ear infection last fall, but by the time we got in to see the ENT it was July so it was cleared. We are on a close watch with him. And the ENT said if one round of meds doesn't clear it, he'll get tubes too because of the family history. (That was the story he told me in July, anyway....) So, anyway. That's that. I'll leave you with some pictures for now. Have a good rest of the day/weekend! The kids are off school tomorrow and I want to do some Chinese New Year crafts with them, so I should (HOPEFULLY!) have more pictures to post tomorrow!

"Nom, nom! I love Mom's homemade yogurt!" -Tucker

Rugby and TJ enjoying the movie room.

Riley and TJ horsing around this morning. They LOVE to wrestle! (speaking of which, practice will be starting in February!!)

Riley and the "Marvelous Me Bear" from school. Each student got to take the bear home for one night and have an adventure together, write a story about the adventure and take it back to share the next day. Teddy's adventure with us was a trip to the post office (to mail a card to Tanya) and stop at the bank and library. Oh the excitement!! At least it wasn't video games like the other kids!

Who wants candy?!

Blog candy, that is!

My friend Kim (from HIGH SCHOOL!) is offering up some super fab scrapbooking blog candy. So, since I know that a couple of my readers scrap I thought I'd share her link here. Good luck!

Look around her blog, too, she's got some pretty amazing cards and I just love the candles!!

Crafts By Kim

If only I'd....

Have you ever had the thought, "My kids would think I'm an awesome mom if only I'd.....(fill in the blank)?"

...make them cookies
...play ANOTHER round of CandyLand
...stay up late watching a movie together
...paint together
...make/buy them a new toy

Why is it that we feel the need to establish ourselves as awesome parents based on what special things we do for our kids. Aren't we simply awesome just for taking great care of them? I think so. There are things that I do for my kids that will make them better people in the long run that they don't necessarily think I'm awesome for, but I am. Like teaching them manners. And responsibility for their own actions. Things that many people these days are lacking. (Not just kids, either!)

So, please, comment with why you are a super parent (dads are welcome to post, too!). Let's make it a contest. To be eligible, leave a comment with your super parent reason. Simple as that. You can earn two extra entries by (1) clicking the link in my sidebar to "follow me" and (2) let your blog readers know about this contest with a link on your blog. Just e-mail me and let me know that you've done that! Comments will be open until Sunday, January 25th at 10am central. One winner will be chosen at random for a copy of CTW's Sesame Street Parents Christmas: Holiday Projects for Parents and Children and also a copy of Mercer Mayer's book Just Go To Bed. So, you'll be a super parent for making something special with your child, but also fostering a love of books. Ready, Set, GO!

Hurry Up Cinnamon Rolls

Second new recipe this week! Check it out over at Cafe Jessica!

Resolutions

Last night, I happened to see a paper in Rugby's backpack. It was meant to be a list of things they want to work on over the new year. Rugby had only one thing listed: Make more hats.

How sweet is that?!

Christmas Crafting!

Every year for Christmas, I make a craft project for my nieces and nephew. This year, after much deliberation, I decided to make fabric covered memo boards with this tutorial. It seemed easy enough and Tim was going to make the frames for me, so how hard could it be, right?

So I gathered my materials




And got to work


And this is what they turned out like!

For Ava: (see the one little butterfly button? SO CUTE!)

Claire: (One cute little dragonfly button and some fringy stuff on this one, the frame was too big so we had to improvise and it turned out awesome!!)

Leah: (I think this one is my favorite!)

Baby Valerie: (this is the first one that I made, so it's kind of wonky. I learned as I went, that's for sure!!)
I also made one for Ryan, but apparently I forgot to take a picture of it. That bums me out, too because I used three different baseball themed buttons for his in addition to the regular buttons and it turned out super cool! Maybe my SIL Christine can post one to share?

I only bent one needle and broke three buttons while I was making them, so that's good....right?!

The Year in Review

2008 was quite a year for us. I really like this blog thing....I can look back and remember all the cool and not so cool stuff that we did...to me, it's better than scrapbooking. All my pictures have words and descriptions and I remember things so much better this way! Not to mention it's cheaper!! :) So, here's our review. Thanks for not sending the angry mob after me for not having this up Friday!

January: What a way to start the year! TJ got tubes. Then two weeks later, Rugby got tubes. And we worked on the house.

February: I cracked the whip and we got a few more projects started around the house. Many of them are now completed....others are still "in production." The kids and I made sugar cookies for the grandparents for Valentine's and I made spaghetti FOR FORTY. We also had a short-lived game with the kids....work of the weekend where we charged them for using whatever word it was that day. Tim and I paid, too. It was fun but we never kept up with it. I banned stuffed animals from the house and Tucker had his first bites of REAL food!

March: This month was a muddy and messy one for the kids, but they had a ton of fun!! They wrestled in TWO tournaments and got to take a trip to the super cool Children's Museum in St. Paul. We also went to a Tech Ed conference in Wisconsin Dells and stayed at Chula Vista resort that has a waterpark. We went with another family and had SO MUCH FUN! And we had some sort of funky bird in the yard. I think my dad said it was a Hungarian Partridge. Whatever he was, he was tasty! :)

April: Rugby hung himself upside down from the tree fort and was sleep walking. I got to have a massage WITHOUT taking any of the kids along! I was preggo with twins for a short while and we painted the living room to later have an accident destroy many things...but no injuries so we were good to go!

May: My uncle married my old 4th grade teacher. It was awesome to welcome Aunt Brenda to the family! Uncle looks so happy every time he sees her. I'm thrilled for them! His divorce was kind of hard on him and her life has been no cakewalk, either so it's awsome to see the two of them so happy! And their kids all get along, so that's better yet!! At the end of the month, RUGBY TURNED 7! WOW! Where has the time gone? We put on a super cool science party for him (his choice of themes) and had the most disgusting but coolest birthday cake evah! (Seriously, if you don't remember, click the link for May and go look through the birthday pix. It was so cool and SO GROSS!)

June: We rode our bikes, did plenty of fishing, laid hardwood floors in the living room and met a new neighbor (the guy with all the rhubarb). We ended up putting 175 CUPS of rhubarb in the freezer on top of everything I used to make jam and cakes and tortes with. Much of it is still in the freezer. I should make some of that chocolate chip rhubarb cake from the summer. I joined a weightloss challenge and ended up losing 25 pounds between May and August. YAY ME!

July: July was a busy month for us! We had a little GRADUATION party for my dear hubby who missed his graduation ceremony for my Uncle's wedding back in May. We were back "home" for the 4th of July festivities this year, like always. We had a birthday party at my mom and dad's for TJ (2) and Tucker (1). We picked berries and made pie and played in the pool. Tim spent much of this month traveling for work, so the kids and I were all alone but that wasn't too bad! I got to spend plenty of time riding my bike, too.

August: Tim and I celebrated Tucker's FIRST birthday and our EIGHTH anniversary! It was kinda sad that Tim was in NY for it, but it wasn't all bad as I got to go there and stay with him for the weekend at the end of the month and my Amazing SIL's Christine and Sue watched the kids for me! That's right, Tim and Me alone in NYC with NO KIDS! It was a great weekend and a super way to wrap up the summer! I took the kids to the Pickle Fest here in town and got some funny looks, but that's alright! I also posted some random kid pictures...like them fishing with my dad and TJ packed and ready to leave....cute stuff!!

September: The kids started back to school. Rugby in 2nd grade and Riley in Kindergarten. I can't believe how time flies! Riley is working with the first graders on reading and Rugby is in the highest group of 2nd graders (they are reading 4th grade level books). They are both excelling in their classes and doing great! Riley got in a little trouble for punching a girl, but other than that they're great! lol! The kids and I went picking apples and berries, too and even did a little fishing when Tim came home. Also, RILEY TURNED 6!! (How'd that miss the blog? I am going to plan a half-birthday party for him since we never had a birthday party other than grandma and grandpa being here and Tim coming home)

October: I guess this was the month of the meme. I seemed to do plenty of them in October. The kids got to play with my friend Monica's dog, Oliver, when we went home for ANOTHER visit. We finished more projects on the house. I am STILL loving the "bunker" storage area. Bestest ever! Tim still has some projects to do, but they are getting fewer and fewer.

November: Tim had a birthday and so did I. Rugby found out he needed glasses and Riley cried that he didn't. Rugby knit some hats for babies at the hospital. At Christmas, my uncle gave him money to buy more yarn to make more hats and he's already started. He got some blue and some more girl-ish color. He's been working on that sporadically but it's one thing that he keeps going back to. I think I have 3 or 4 hats that he's finished in my closet waiting to take to the hospital. I also made our annual Misfit/Orphan Thanksgiving Dinner. It was a smaller crowd than last year, but it was still really nice! Both my mom and Tim's parents were here the weekend before that, so we did get to see family even it they weren't here for the actual event. Tim's grandparents joined us for Thanksgiving and the neighbors and Rugby and Riley's friend Brandon and his Pappa. It was fun and I can't wait to do it again next year, though we're hoping to be in a different house by then!

December: TIM STARTED TEACHING! (how'd that miss the blog, too?) I found out I have damaged my corneas and need to wear my contacts 24/7 for the next year to correct it....at least it's correctable! R&R had Christmas programs at school and we got to have a very merry Christmas back home with our families! The kids loved all their presents and the time we got to spend with all the Grandma's and Grandpas! We were gone from BV for 6 days, so that's a lot of special time!! TJ got a huge stuffed Elmo that he now carries around all the time...and his nuk can go in the pocket in the back, so he's thrilled about that!! Tucker got a cookie monster without the pocket and likes to snuggle up with that, too. R&R got remote control creatures from Uncle Tom and like to try to scare me with them....when they aren't walking around with their MP3's plastered to their heads or fighting over the Wii.





So, that was our year. I was trying to post some pictures from Christmas but Blogger isn't letting me so I'll just post and let it go. Happy (really belated!) New Year!!

Wrap up

COMING SOON! I have it about half done!

In the meantime, I posted about making something nummy on Cafe Jessica!

Mustard Eggs

Ever google "mustard eggs"? The results are weird. Mustard deviled eggs and the like....I know that many of my blog readers don't know what I'm talking about. The ones that do are probably family....from South Dakota. Not that that's a bad thing, mind you. So, ever since my little Tucker was born, the kid has hated eggs. It doesn't help matters any that he doesn't like to be fed, either. I think he's nervous about what "strange" things we might put into his mouth. lol!

So, when I was growing up my mom made mustard eggs. My grandma made them for my dad while he was growing up and I know that my late grandfather (whose birthday would have been today!) loved them also. They are simple, really. Just beat some eggs (no milk) and fry them into a patty, kind of like scrambled eggs without the scramble. Then, top with yellow mustard. Nothing too crazy, really. So, this was something we ate as kids and I now feed my kids. They LOVE it!! Except Tucker. I can not get the kid to touch an egg. Bits and pieces of a hard cooked egg once and a while, but nothing of substance. Until this morning. He was climbing my leg trying to see what I was doing, sat on my lap and WILLINGLY let me feed him mustard eggs. He even used the signs for "more" and "please". Needless to say, I was/am shocked. I guess we'll have to wait until the next time I make them to see if this was just a fluke, but for today, he ate two whole eggs......with mustard.

New Recipes

There are three new recipes up on Cafe Jessica today. Caramel Apple Bread, Whole wheat dinner rolls and microwave s'mores. YUM!

Ho-Hum

We had a marvelous Christmas.
We have so many blessings.
I have an amazing hubby and kids.
Yet, I had a hard time getting into the spirit of the season. I have trouble getting into the new year. A friend of mine from our old church died Sunday night. She had cancer very badly and it was very quickly that she descended into her illness. My mom was extremely close to her as she is the person that talked her into taking classes to be an EMT and eventually joining the rescue squad. Rosalie was everything to sooooooooooo many people and she will be greatly missed...she already is. I think that knowing we were losing her hindered my enjoyment of the holiday. I'm so glad that she's in a better place now and pain free, but I can't help wishing she were still here. So, I've been taking things day by day and counting my blessings more often. It's not like chicks, I can count these. :)

I started working out last night with a group of ladies from town. It's an hour and a dollar on Monday nights. I can't beat that! The time with other women supporting each other and getting healthy minds and bodies is worth so much more than that! I hope that this will help me turn things around and look forward to what's happening instead of counting my blessings that something bad hasn't already happened, kwim? Forward instead of back. One day at a time. I'm going to try to have a big year end wrap up post ready to go by Friday. YELL AT ME if it's not up by then! Happy Tuesday, everyone!

My Cup Overfloweth....

This year we spent waaaaaayyyyyyyyy more that we usually do on a super duper gift for the biggest of our four boys. I knew deep down that it was a good decision and would benefit all of us (ok, except maybe Tuck since he can't work the controller yet...) But, as I sit here at my dining room table (on hubby's laptop), the joy in my heart is overflowing. The baby is sleeping and the other three boys are playing wii with their daddy in the basement. They've boxed and bowled and are laughing and having a great time! Even TJ is getting in on the action and loving every minute! I am tempted to go play along, but it's too magical to listen, so for now I'll sit and listen and enjoy the moments of love and the giggles floating up the stairs.

Happy New Year Everyone! May your year be full of love and laughter!

Merry Christmas!

Have a safe and happy holiday everyone!

It's a bird....It's a plane....NO!

It's the INCREDIBLE REINDEER!!

That was the theme of the boys' holiday concert at school this week. (It was Tuesday night, I guess I'm a little slow with the pix this time)

Rugby played Santa Claus. I think he really got into it! I know he was certainly excited!

Riley was just a singer in the kindergarten chorus, but he did a great job!

And R&R's friend Brandon was one of the Incredible Reindeer....the MIGHTY MOOSE! He looked like he was having an awesome time playing a superhero moose! :)

Here's a little sampling of the boys' songs they sang. Enjoy!!

I need a new 'do

I have a cousin that's going to do my hair for me over Christmas break, and I was on iVillage today when I found a virtual makeover. What could be better than putting in your picture and getting to check out tons of new styles with ZERO risk?!! PLUS!! I could change colors. I found a style I loved (the "what about Mary" part would have to lay down, but other than that it's perfect!). What do you think? Style and color opinions wanted, please and thank you!

Presents and Instructions

So remember that post about instructions? Yea, seems that once I figured out what I did wrong I was able to correct it and complete another one the same day. YAY ME! The second one turned out better than the first. I haven't decided what to do about that, yet. The one that didn't work according to plan is for a baby that isn't here yet, so really doesn't HAVE to go for Christmas, but I would like it, too....but....ugh. I'll figure something out. Tim is going to build me something to go along with the projects, but I don't know if he'll have time to do that before they need to be mailed. We'll see, I guess.

I have the third of five laid out and ready to go, I'll spend today getting parts sewed to it and hopefully have it finished before we go to the kids Christmas concert tonight. Watch for pictures of that tomorrow!!

Also, I bought the boys something totally cool (only $5!!), and found a lady that had a game to give away, so I snagged that. I don't know when I'll give it to them, but it's here.

Are you ready for the holidays? We got presents in the mail yesterday, so I know Tim's sister Steph is all ready! (Thanks, Steph and fam!) What presents are you making? What's your coolest gift that you are giving?

**EDIT: 3 DOWN, 2 TO GO! YAY ME!! (12:17 pm)

**EDIT #2: Just one left! I'm on a roll!! (3:02 pm)

I've been cooking!!

There are two new posts up over at Cafe Jessica from the weekend!

I hate exercise.

I think that bears repeating....I hate exercise. I can not motivate myself to do it. I hate the bittercold weather we've been getting here in the west central portion of Wisconsin. We average 8 inches a snowfall in all of December and we got that in a few days last week. I hibernate when the weather is like that. I don't want to go outside, I want to curl up in my bed with a book and some cocoa and settle in for winter. Breathing in the freezing air is SO!! not my favorite thing to do. I hate the (literal) pain my neck when I breathe too heavily (which no one but me seems concerned about). I miss riding my bike with 80 pounds of toddlers in the trailer. I miss the cool but not cold days of fall.

So, that weight loss thing I was doing over at Diet Cake? Yea, I gained a pound and a half. woohoo for me. Tis the season for giving, right? I just gave myself more weight to lose. I wasn't particularily careful about my eating until yesterday and I haven't exercised at all...unless you count chasing and lifting two toddlers and a 6 & 7 year old.

Here's my goal for this coming week: eat more carefully. Think about portion sizes. Spend 5 minutes a day (start small!) at least 3 times this week on the gazelle that's collecting dust in the basement.

So, this portion size thing. It's tricky. I don't know by sight what 4 oz of chicken is or even what a serving size should be of some things that I make. So, that's what I'll be working on this week. I know that measuring cups are super helpful. And knowing that a serving size of goldfish is 54 fish and that is equal to about 2/3 cup instead of counting out 54 fish everytime I have them is helpful. I have trail mix here, that serving is 3 tbsp. So, I get out the measuring spoon and put in a small bowl. And another for TJ to have, too. I have fruit and veggies in the house and don't measure those servings. But, if I'm having my 1/2 cup of cottage cheese, I only have half a pear and let TJ eat the rest. I measure my milk and cereal. I am more contious of reading labels. I've been pretty good about avoiding HFCS and aiming for more fiber (though I usually miss the mark on that one...I'm not too fond of salads without plenty of dressing.

And I really need to write down what's going in my mouth. I didn't realize that my 16 oz mug of hot cocoa is 300 calories and I have at least 3 of those a day. That's almost half of my calories for a day in just those 3 drinks.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of 2008...

Wear (GLASSES).

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, (GLASSES) would be it. The long-term benefits of (ABUSING YOUR CONTACTS) have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now..........................................

But trust me on the (GLASSES).

So, I had an eye doctor appointment today. I got "yelled" at. Apparently, the contacts that you can wear for 30 days shouldn't be. The eye dr said that most people can't tolerate them that long....imagine if he knew that most pairs stay in my eyes for MONTHS at a time without coming out. So, I have damaged my corneas. I am supposed to limit my contact wearing and wear my glasses as often as I possibly can. Two bits of "good" news with that....I get new glasses! Yay, hopefully something more trendy(I haven't picked them out yet)...and a bit timeless...(is there such a thing?!) Two, it's TOTALLY REVERSIBLE! So, provided I follow instructions (uh-oh! Didn't you read the last post? I'm not too good at that!), my eyes will be better. Bad news is that it can take up to a year to get better. ugh. A whole year of non-stop glasses wearing....foggy in the winter going in from outside and sliding off my nose in the summer time. But, I should be glad that it's correctable! Now, to find the time and money to go pick out my glasses and get them ordered...........

Life's Little Instructions...

Do you follow them? There are instructions every where I turn. Do this, don't do that. Today, I was working on a fairly large craft project. I have 5 of them to make, so I was going to knock them out today. I mean, it's only 5. I thought I'd have at least an hour where both babies were sleeping (ended up being a bit longer, yay!) and I'd have at least 2 of them done today. Goal was 5, settle for 2. Got that? Anywho.............it didn't turn out that way. It had nothing to do with me reading the instructions, THINKING I knew what I was doing and doing it wrong and getting frustrated with the stupid thing. Now that I've gone back and re-read the instructions, I know EXACTLY where I went wrong, but that was 4 hours ago...and I'm really no further ahead. (I haven't been working on it steady, just sporadically between laundry and other projects). So, I get to sit down and fix it....and hopefully make it work. ugh. So, loyal reader... (there's a poll here for you people that have me on a reader...)

poll by twiigs.com

Warm Fuzzy

Here's a warm fuzzy for you today:





Enjoy,

noreply-comment

I love comments. In fact, that's probably my favorite thing about blogging. I love knowing that something I'm saying or doing is enjoyed by and/or helping others. Maybe I'm just letting you know that you aren't alone in a situation. (Last week my two-year old fell down the concrete stairs at the library. Now he has a big ole gash between his eyes...that'll look GREAT for Christmas pictures! Surely I'm not the only mom with kids falling down the stairs....) So, on the RARE occassion that someone does comment, usually I can't reply because the comments come from "noreply-comment @ blogger. com" and like the address states, I can't reply. It's so sad! So, sometimes I have time to search that persons blog to get an e-mail address or reply to their post or they have no blog and I can't reply at all. So, here I am asking for you, my loyal readers, to do me a favor. Go here and read this tutorial....then follow it and come back here to leave me a comment. And I WILL reply! Simple!

Pretty please?

And the winner is..........

Thanks to the people at random.org the winner of the TOH Fast Fixes with Mixes Cookbook is #5....Kris P!!

YAY! Kris and I went to church together before we moved sooooooooooooo far away. We became good friends and I miss her! She has two of the cutest kids, too!!

I'll get that in the mail for you, Kris!

It's a CONSPIRACY!

Diet Cake: Day 1

Ok, I weighed in this morning at 180....that made me feel pretty good. I had been hovering about 183 and modified my eating a week or so ago. Yay me! So, if I'm gonna do this and do it half-way well, I'm gonna be reading and posting fitness and healthy eating tips over the next couple weeks. I believe in being educated. There is SO MUCH bad info out there, so I'll wade through it and post what I think is most helpful.

Today is that we need to eat enough. Yes, that means that you don't starve yourself to lose weight. Your body NEEDS fuel and to get that you need to eat enough calories. A yummy snack is cottage cheese with some fresh fruit on it...pears are so good with it (Yes, mother, I've been convereted to a pear eater). Try to eat 5-6 times a day. Keep your meals small, but eating more often, you don't need to eat large portions only 3 times a day. DON'T SKIP BREAKFAST. It's proven that people who eat a good breakfast lose more weight than those who don't.

We also need support. You can't "go it alone" and expect to have LONG LASTING weight loss. That's why weight watchers and other groups have meetings. You need the support of like-minded people to help you. Don't have the time and/or money for Weight Watchers? Join SparkPeople.com. I know I've mention them before but the same holds true now. There are some great tools on that website. They can give you a target calorie count and you can input what you are eating to make sure that you're getting what you need.

So, go check out the girls at Diet Cake and join me and the others for a great holiday challenge!

5-15 with PRIZES!

Do you want to lose 5, 10, maybe even 15 pounds? What are you waiting for?? Prizes? Hmm, that could POSSIBLY be arranged....The girls over at Diet Cake (click the link for the rules) are having a little contest . Between tomorrow (December 5th) and January 15th they are challenging you to lose weight. They are offering up a MYSTERY prize valued at "dozens of dollars"....isn't that tempting!! OOOOOOhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!! All you have to do is go to Diet Cake tomorrow and check in with your name and weight. Then, once a week until the 15th of January check in that you are still participating. Easy peasy!

I've gained back 3 of the 25 something pounds that I lost this spring, so I'm gonna join in with the hopes that I'm able to keep the holiday 15 off my hips this year. Maybe even lose another pants size...BOY wouldn't that be nice?? So, who wants to join me??

WFMW: Shop Local!

This year, I'm shopping locally for Christmas. Things that either I buy materials locally to make a project with or buy the gift already completed.

Thankfully, I have two places for GREAT gifts that are local.

The first is Oakridge Soap Company. They offer handmade soaps, bath salts and lotions. They also have a "miracle salve" that is wonderful! The scent is just amazing! TJ had eczema that no prescription could make any better, but this miracle salve did the trick. It's worked really well on owies around here, too. I have several scents of the soap bars and they're all wonderful, also. I was looking at the Blackberry Sage today and thinking that I need to go get some of that, also! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the lotion bars (Madagascar vanilla, please!). I have one (or maybe even 2) in my purse right now! I have one of the soap socks that they sell, too and they are wonderful! I have my shampoo bar in it and I love it (don't worry, Oakridge is working on a formula for a shampoo bar, so be patient, it's coming!!) Check them out online or come visit me and we'll take a little drive over there!

The other local place that I've tried is called Annie's Garden. They sell dip mixes and they are WONDERFUL! They were at a craft sale at The Grain Bin (another local business with AWESOME homemade breads and rolls, but no website, yet) and we sampled dips to our hearts content! I bought a few packs to tuck in some stockings or maybe I'll have to keep them. You just add the mix to one or two other ingredients like mayo/sour cream or cream cheese and you're good to go! They also sell some nifty looking pots.

And I'm sure I don't need to tell you all the benefits of buying locally and supporting our local businesses. So, if you're in the market for really nice, affordable, handmade gifts check them out and then check out Rocks In My Dryer for other helpful hints!

(Then, check out my post It's Over for a chance to win a TOH Cookbook!)

Crafty!

Did you know that my mother calls me "Martha"?? Tis true. I love baking and cooking and crafting, all GOOD THINGS for a martha-type to know and enjoy. And I love crafting with the kids, too. My little Rugby is the craft king, he just goes nuts for yarn and construction paper, add a little glue and I swear it's worse than a sugar buzz for the kid! So, a few weeks ago, I stumbled upon a website that has some awesome ideas for crafting with the kidlets. It's called The Crafty Crow and EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. there's a new project! It's great! (And on Monday's there are giveawys, but you don't need to know that part. wink, wink!) So, check it out when you need a crafty little project with your kids! And come back after Christmas to see what awesome thing I made for the nephew and nieces this year! I don't know if it will top the appliqued bath towels or the fleece pillowcases, but it's pretty cool!

(And check out the post below for a giveaway from me!!)

It's over.

I had my last birthday yesterday. I'm done with them now. I have a good friend who is having her last in June. We're going to be each others comparison. "Yes, I'm 29. I can prove it. (shows picture) She's 29, too!" Lovely how that will work, right?

I never really thought I'd be the one to have a problem with "growing older". I am constantly telling Tim that it doesn't matter to me, but as he was teasing me yesterday, it did bother me. And then it bothered me more that he wouldn't stop. And today it bothers me that I only feel ok joking about my age, but I'm not ok with him doing it. Ugh. I hate that.

Anyway, yesterday was awful. It started out that I had a headache and laid on the couch most of the day. Tim forgot, but claimed that he didn't. He and the kids quickly made a card on the computer and we ate leftovers and frozen pizza. I wanted to go swimming, but with my headache, I wasn't going anywhere. Then, my friend Kathy and two of her kids came over for a visit. That was really nice. So, that was yesterday. Today I have a little headache, but not like it was yesterday.

Enough complaining! On to the good stuff! Leave me a comment on this post by December 5th and you could win something fabulous! It might be a loaf of my fresh caramel apple bread or a jar of jam I made or it might even be handcrafted jewelry! Ya never know. I'll post the prize and the winner on the 6th!

**EDIT: I HAVE A PRIZE!! I have a Taste Of Home Fast Fixes With Mixes Cookbook for the lucky winner! These things are so easy, even my SIL Lisa can make them....very minimal ingredients and quick to throw together and make it look like you slaved away all day!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Tomorrow I will be shopping for our feast and Wednesday and Thursday will be spent preparing food and enjoying the company, so you probably won't see me again until Friday. In the meantime, you can head over to Cafe Jessica and see what I'm cooking up for Thanksgiving!! I've got our whole menu laid out WITH THE RECIPES for you. (I know Maleesa will like that!) So, head over and see what I'm cooking. There's some old stand-by recipes and some new ones I'm sure will be favorites, too.

Happy Thanksgiving!

It Won't Be Like This For Long...

Any old Hootie and the Blowfish fans out there?? I used to enjoy them back in the day. Now, Darius Rucker is hitting the road on the country side of things. I heard his first country single on the radio and didn't know that he was going country. The voice sounded SO familiar, but I couldn't place it right away. But, in a few minutes it hit me. It was a good song. This morning, one of the baby blogs I read had this video posted. It's a song that he wrote for his little girl, and while I don't have any little girls it is so sweet and I even dropped a tear or two while listening. Enjoy!