A Simpler Life

Last Day of School!!!

2011-06-02T09:43:00.000-04:00

YAY!!! It's the last day of school for Kendall! Of course, we celebrate the last day of school EVERY year, but this year it's an even bigger celebration and a sigh of relief. Kendall had a really rough year, with a teacher who was...oh, how shall I say it...less than nurturing. Downright mean some days. Not any fun at all, really. If they were having a field day, or rally, or party of any kind, she did whatever she could to suck the fun right out of it for those kids. My happy-go-lucky kid was miserable and hated school by the third month. I am SO GLAD 4th grade is over for her! On to 5th and (hopefully) a better year!

So today, on my last day of semi-autonomy ( I still have Noah attached to my side), I am taking a moment to update here, then I plan to run around the house and pick up, make beds, start laundry, and clean up the kitchen before trying to fit in 30 minutes of yoga. Shower, head into town to pick up Noah's health form for his kindergarten registration, hit the bank, and then to Kendall's school for the last-day-of-school Arnett Howard concert...always a blast!

We leave for our big trip to the Canadian Rockies on Tuesday, so I am hoping to find the time to at least sit out clothes for the kids' suitcases and start thinking ahead for things we need to take, like swimsuits, goggles, base layers, fleece pullovers (yep, it's the mountains, people!), and small items to keep them busy on the long flight and even longer drive. Photography equipment. Snacks. Some Caribou coffee for Sarah...it's her favorite, and she can't get it in Canada. Time to start getting serious! Oh yeah, and I also have to reserve our car and hotel room for the first night. So much to do, and yet I sit here blogging.... :) Oh well...a few minutes won't kill me.

We had the 4th grade band meeting last week, where the band director talked to us about band, the benefits of playing an instrument, the camaraderie of the band, etc. I already knew Kendall was interested, so there was no shock when she wanted to go back this week for a "fitting". She had thought that she wanted to play the sax, but once we went through the whole fitting, she decided the clarinet was a better fit for her. I couldn't have been happier, since we actually have a clarinet that the neighbor girl gave Kendall a year or so ago. I had brought it with me to the fitting to have it checked out and they said it was in great shape and she was good to go. How lucky am I to not have to fork out $900+ for a new instrument? Soooooooo happy!!! For the record, I also would have been thrilled if she had chosen the flute...since we still have the one I played. I could have died when she said she wanted to play the sax! But that's the way it goes more times than not, probably. Whatever instruments you have are NOT the ones the kids want to play, LOL! So anyway, I'm feeling like I totally lucked out this time around. Woo-hoooo!

Other than that, there's really not anything super exciting going on around here. I've almost got my garden finished, now I just have to make sure Luke waters while we're gone. We planted strawberries, basil, chives, oregano, cilantro, mint, flat leaf parsley, tomatoes (5 varieties), turnips, parsnips, onions, lettuce, cabbage, leeks, canteloupe, peas, and green beans. I still have 2 beds to plant, which will house zucchini, cucumbers, and carrots. I'll be very happy to have that finished! And even more happy when we start to harvest! Well, actually, we've already had a mini-harvest...check out my flat leaf parsley and lettuce I cut the other night...

Crazy, right? Does anyone need any flat-leaf parsley???? What the heck am I going to do with all that? And there is still PLENTY out there. Holy moly.

Looks like it's going to be a gorgeous day, so I'd best get my work done and get moving...have a great day, peeps!

Random Thoughts Friday

2011-04-22T16:58:00.000-04:00

Well here it is, Good Friday already! The kids didn't have school today, so we let them have a campout in the basement last night complete with tent, campfire snacks, sleeping bags, and a fire in the woodburning stove. They were in heaven! I'll tell you what, those kids were pooped from all our running this week...Noah slept until 8:45 and Kendall didn't get up until 9:15!!! What a treat for me, since I was (unfortunately) up at 6:45...for no reason whatsoever.

On this kind of icky, rainy day, I thought I'd take a minute to purge my head of all the random thoughts that bang around in there on a daily basis. It's been a while since I've done that!

1.) I made my first ever batch of cake pops for the kids to take to school on Thursday. I'm so inspired by Bakerella, and I really want to be like her! But here's the dealio peeps...I do NOT possess the patience or the attention to detail that woman must have. I mean, her creations are bonafide works of art! Don't get me wrong, mine turned out ok, and I was happy with them...but if you have a chance, check out her blog. It is UNREAL!

2.) I've been giving some thought to trying to nudge my family into a gluten-free diet. Little by little, of course. Heck, even if we cut down just halfway, I'd be pleased with that. But we'll see. I think we do pretty much ok in most cases, and I'm always intimidated by any kind of diet that is restrictive. I think we should be able to enjoy it all...IN MODERATION. But I can also see the benefit in reducing our gluten intake. Plus, I've been a follower of Stephanie O'Dea's Crockpot 365 blog, where she makes everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) in her crockpot...and her family is gluten free. Since we've been trying quite a few of her recipes, I've realized it's not THAT hard. Maybe I'll give it a go. We'll see!

3.) Remember Fletcher and Josie, the 2 kittens we adopted back in January? Well they are growing fast and getting so much personality! They are very much a part of the family, and they eventually did take to Scout...heck, Fletcher climbs all over Scout, even going so far as to stick his head in Scout's mouth. They have decided it is their "right" to share Scout's food & water whenever they see fit, and he doesn't seem to care in the slightest. It's a good thing, as Martha would say!

4.) We just booked our airfare for our trip to the Canadian Rockies this summer. It's just a little over a month away, and we are so excited! We're headed out to Canmore, Alberta to visit our friends Sarah and Torben. I can hardly wait. The kids will have an absolute ball...we'll get to take them hiking and sightseeing...it's unbelievably beautiful there!

5.) I'm very annoyed by these gas prices. I usually try not to complain, as it doesn't do any good and just ruins your mood, but geesh! With the amount of driving I do, the amount we're spending in gas is downright ridiculous!

6.) I'm working on getting my blog up to date, I promise. I've been so busy, I haven't posted about our trip to DC, the building we're building, the progress of my garden, any of the goodies I've been making, Barry's progress with finishing the basement, the kids' tkd testings, or ANY of the fun things that have been going on around here! I'm hoping to get caught up over the next week, since things may slow down just a little. Bear with me!

7.) As much as I admit it, I think I'm going to have to give up the ghost soon and upgrade my phone before long. I LOOOOOOVE my Palm Treo. I DO!! But she's been freezing up on me quite a bit here lately and I have had her for over 3 years, which doesn't sound really long, but in terms of a cell phone, I guess she's kind of outdated. I don't care, I still love her and I'm not sure another phone will measure up. We'll see. And please don't suggest a phone that requires a data package...I don't NEED internet on my phone. I'm connected much more than I need to be already!

8.) My dog is the sweetest, most handsome doggie I know. I love him so much! But I swear, if he gets into the trash and drags it all over the house ONE MORE TIME this week, we are going to be having a "come to Jesus" meeting.

9.) I do not own an MP3 player. No, there is nothing wrong with me. I just don't see the need. I have a radio, and my kids talk nonstop. I relish quiet!

10.) I watched Despicable Me with the kids this morning, and I have decided that like Gru, I NEED MINIONS! Just think of all the things I could accomplish! :)

11.) Barry ROCKED my 40th birthday, just so you know...he is the best hubby!

12.) People get on my nerves from time to time. And although I try to be a positive person most of the time, I'm okay with that. I think it's normal. Just keep me in check if I start sounding like a negative, pessimistic, downer, ok?

13.) I don't want to live in a world without chocolate! My will to live would shrivel up and die.

14.) Sometimes I'm a tad bit dramatic. (See #13)

15.) Noah and I went to Graeter's today and I actually squealed when I saw that Strawberry Chip was on the seasonal board. Girlfriend needs her ice cream fix!

16.) I'm happy with our barn, now that it's almost finished. It looks much better with all the trim up and the cupola and the concrete. Now, let's get all the stuff out of the basement, honey! :)

17.) Tomorrow we head to the big NK for Easter bowling with the Kucks...I'm actually very excited, as the bowling alley has some really good pizza, and I haven't had pizza in a while. Let's hope this year Noah lets me win.

18.) I just finished Jeannette Walls' " Half Broke Horses" and I loved it. It's a must for anyone who loved "The Glass Castle", which is a MUST for...well, everyone!

That's it for now, peeps...we've got to get to taekwondo. Enjoy the Easter weekend and make sure you eat lots of goodies!

Winner winner, chicken dinner!

2011-04-10T21:33:00.000-04:00

Hey all! I'm sure you're all waiting to see who wins the dress! But first I want to thank all of you who took the time to sit down and write a little something! So entertaining!! But as much as I enjoyed all of your little ditties, there can only be one winner tonight...and the winner is Kayris!! Here is her limerick...

There once was a masseuse who was trendy,
Who took up yoga to learn to be bendy.
As she curled into cat
On her generic black mat
She said, "Next time I want goods made by Fendi!"

Great job, Kayris!! I will contact you soon with your prize! Now don't fret, the rest of you...I hope to do another giveaway soon (as soon as I can find something cool to give away!)...this is fun!

The Big 4-0...and a giveaway to celebrate!!!

2011-04-07T23:34:00.001-04:00

WOW!!! I'm officially 40 years old today!!!

Funny...I don't feel 40...

But alas, it is true.

I have to share something with you though...I am having such a fun time with this birthday!! In fact, when Angie at Shabby Apple contacted me about hosting a giveaway, I knew right then that I wanted to do it in celebration of my 40th! What better way to celebrate than to have one of my readers win something fabulous??

So the contest starts now, peeps. The winner receives one Bali Ha'i dress from Shabby Apple...shipping included! I LOVE this dress...the color, the style, everything about it! Have you shopped Shabby Apple before? Oh my, their clothes are so trendy and cute! They have the most adorable little girls' dresses and of course, fantastic women's dresses, as well as jewelry and other accessories!! And all you have to do is write a little poem or limerick for me. See, I was just going to have everyone leave a comment and then randomly pick a number to see who wins, but my sister (yes, you can all thank her) said I had to make it more difficult than THAT to win. And so we started brainstorming and came to the conclusion that the best contest would contain laughter of some type. And would require some thinking. And creativity. Soooooo, the best poem/limerick about ME wins, I mean, it is MY birthday, after all! HAHAHA...Bring on the humor people! You know I love a good laugh!

And to sweeten the deal even a little more, I'll give you an extra entry if you "like" Shabby Apple on Facebook, and also if you become a follower of my blog. If you already are, just leave a separate comment telling me so! Also, please make sure to leave your email address in your comment so I can contact you if you win!

Entries will be judged by my family...Barry, Kendall and Noah...and the winner will be announced Sunday, April 10.

How exciting is that? Get those creative juices flowing, peeps! I can't WAIT to see what you've got!

***Contest only eligible to U.S. residents

The Giveaway...

2011-04-07T14:51:00.002-04:00

I KNOW I said there would be a giveaway posted today...and there will!!! I just completely underestimated how busy my 40th birthday would be with phone calls, emails, and lunch plans. So bear with me while I get some things under control, and I promise I'll get the details up soon!

Are you excited?!?! I am!!!

Anxious

2011-04-01T14:19:00.000-04:00

I'm feeling anxious today.

And overwhelmed.

I normally do a really great job of trying to balance it all, staying in the moment, and not stressing about the small stuff. But every once in a while, I lose that sense of balance...and today's the day. So I figure, maybe the way to combat this feeling is to just write out all the things that are contributing in the hopes that seeing them all written here will make them seem insignificant and small...or at least smallER!! So here goes...

I am anxious about the fact that this barn is getting close to being finished, and it doesn't look quite the way I had pictured it. The size and shape are fine, but the colors are not what I had envisioned. Unfortunately, when we had to pick all of the colors, we couldn't get all of the samples at the same time, so I was kind of flying blind. It makes me feel better, of course, that Barry agreed with all of the color choices, but still. The brown is much lighter than I wanted, and the green is much brighter. Well, what are ya gonna do? It's all custom ordered and cut, so there's no going back now. Just have to take a deep breath and deal with it. Crap. This is #1 on my anxiety radar today.

Noah is starting kindergarten in the fall, and I'm trying to get my ducks in a row. Since Kendall is open-enrolled in a school district we don't live in, we have to apply for enrollment every year and wait to be accepted...which hasn't been a problem so far, because her class is on the small side. However, with Noah going into kindergarten, we don't know how big the class will be, therefore I don't know how good our chances are that he will get in. It definitely helps that Kendall is already a student because he will get priority over open-enrollment students that have no siblings attending, but it is definitely playing on my mind, as our other options are really not the way we want to go, i.e. sending him to London or paying tuition for him to go to a private school which is half an hour away. So, you see why this is #2 on the anxiety scale!

I spent some time weeding out closets and dressers and I have piles of clothes everywhere, because all of my storage is FULL until the barn is finished. Clutter makes my head hurt, so it has not been the best week for Noah to be home sick...because I can't get anything accomplished! And he is on spring break next week, so looks like not a whole lot will get done then either. So this weekend is my weekend to GET IT DONE...or at least as much as I can. I went to Target today and got some rubbermaid totes and some little photo storage boxes to try to get my 'Sentimental Boxes" put together...and that's what I've been working on this afternoon. If I can find a few garage sales to participate in this spring/summer, I should be able to unload some of this stuff and make some money in the process. Wish me luck...I can't handle the clutter any more! LOL!

Did you know I'm turning the big 4-0 next Thursday? No...I promise this has nothing to do with my anxiety today. I'm actually excited! I love having a reason to celebrate (and a justification to do just about anything for the next few months...lol) and the number truly does not bother me. What bothers me is that I have no plans. I know my birthday is on a Thursday (which is inconvenient), and Barry is taking me out on Saturday (he won't tell me where), but I definitely want to do something special on my actual birthday. I don't know what...just something out of the ordinary. I mean, 40 is the new 20, right???? Hello...anyone out there???

The summer to-do list is daunting. And spring is so busy, trying to get the garden in and the flowerbeds cleaned up and mulched, as well as the other various projects around here that need done. I have to tell you that as excited as I am for spring, I am tired just thinking about it! We're planning a big trip up to Canmore, Alberta this year, and I can hardly wait! We're flying into Spokane and then driving through the Canadian Rockies up to Canmore to visit our friends Sarah & Torben. We're all so excited, but Barry and I are still trying to nail down our airfare and the actual dates. Once we get that done, it's ON! I love vacations, oh how I do!! But again, the prep is so much work!

Are you sick of hearing me whine and complain yet?

I am.

Let's move onto happier thoughts...like our trip to D.C. last week. (Actually, that's another of the causes of my little anxious state today...I really need to upload those pics and get my blog post written!) We had fun and really saw a lot! And even better, we decided to make it our "spring break trip" every year...or at least until we feel like we've seen it all! Look for the pics soon, friends!

Just another project...

2011-03-17T15:04:00.000-04:00

It's amazing how things can change in just the course of a few hours, isn't it?

When I left home yesterday morning, our yard looked like this...

And when I returned a few hours later, it looked like this....

Our little pole barn is finally going up! While I was gone, the excavator came out and leveled the pad, the stone company came and spread the gravel, the garage door guy left color samples, and our builder dropped off his bobcat and made sure everything was ready to go. YAY!

There are many reasons to be excited about the new building, but for me the #1 reason is this:

I will have some storage space!

See...when we built our house back in 2004, we drew up plans for an attached garage, which will (someday) go here...

But after a while, you kind of get used to not having one...and besides that, garages are expensive! Holy cow, are they ever! So you use your extra money on other projects, such as putting in wetlands, planting trees, putting in wood-burning stoves, and finishing basement ceilings. There is definitely no shortage of projects around here!

Of course, not having a garage does create some issues. Like, where do you keep your big ol' lawnmower? Or your tractor? Gardening tools? Leftover paint? Leftover lumber? Your chainsaw? All of the rafts and floaties for the pond? Bikes?

You get my point.

Anyway, our answer had always been to put it in the basement. Though now, our basement has gone through many "finishing" stages, and all of those things I listed are shoved into all of my wonderful closets and storage spaces. Oh, and in our small shed Barry built a few years ago. But we are just OUT OF ROOM. So Barry proposed building our pole barn this year. Nothing huge...just big enough to store the tractor, lawnmower, lumber, paint, tools, etc. At first, I had a bit of a tantrum and yelled, "That's NO FAIR! I want my garage!!!" as I laid down on the floor, kicked my feet, and held my breath until I turned blue.

Not really.

But I did consider it. If I thought it would have made a difference, I may have tried it. But the reality is that a pole barn is a lot cheaper than our garage would have been, and we don't want to take on any debt. So it's back to saving for the garage...which is fine. I can't even comprehend what it would be like to have a garage anymore! But I CAN comprehend what it will be like to have the lumber, paint, tools, chainsaw, pond floaty thingies, extra doors, Christmas decorations, and gardening paraphernalia out of the basement!! Oh, the storage space I will finally have!!!!! I can hardly wait!

American Girl!

2011-03-04T19:46:00.000-05:00

First let me begin by saying I've been trying to get this post set up FOREVER, but Blogger was being all wonky and I couldn't get my pictures to upload. UGH!

So the big trip was last weekend! Kendall was sooooooo excited to get the heck out of Dodge and see the big city. As soon as she got home from school, we loaded up our things, waited for Barry to get home, and then we headed out to pick up Mom and Aunt Jess. Kendall chatted non-stop the entire 90 minutes to my mom's house...it was too cute.

Once we picked up the girls, we headed toward Ft. Wayne and then on to South Bend, where we spent the night close to the airport (and train station!), and then we caught the 9:00 train into the city on Saturday morning. Kendall had never been on a train before, so she was totally geeked out!

After the 2 hour or so ride, we found ourselves disembarking at Millenium Station, where we caught a cab to our hotel. I didn't even think about it, but when Kendall started bouncing up and down, squealing "I've never ridden in a TAXI before!", I knew I had to get a picture of her first taxi ride. It was only 11:00 or so, and already she'd had so much excitement!

My mom is The Master at booking hotels!!! Not only did she get us a great deal, but our hotel was close to everything! We were right on Ontario and St. Clair, just a block off of Michigan. Kendall was convinced it was a 5 star hotel, at least in her book! She was in awe of the fancy lighting, bold colors, and shiny floors. She kept spinning around and around in circles in the lobby, saying "Oooooo, isn't it so pretty in here? Look at that fancy restaurant! I can't believe I'm staying in a 5 star hotel!!!". I love that kid.

We wasted no time getting our things up to our room and heading out to eat...we were hungry, man! Although we really wanted to try Genuardi's, which was recommended by a friend of ours, the wait was 40 minutes, and we were clearly starving to death. I'm sure everyone could see my ribs by that point...LOL! But in all seriousness, we headed down the street to a place the girl at our hotel had recommended...Geno's East. It was alright, but I thought the pizza lacked flavor, to be honest. And to be fair, we didn't have the Chicago-famous deep dish pie, but still. Pizza should ALWAYS be good. The salad was super yummy though!

After stuffing our faces, we decided to not waste any more time and headed down to the American Girl Place. Kendall could barely contain herself...she insisted on holding my hand and walking with her eyes closed until we got there...she didn't want anything to ruin the surprise. And I have to be honest, I in NO WAY was prepared for the experience of that store...

IT WAS CRAZY!!!!! People everywhere, girls everywhere, PINK everywhere. Dolls, dolls, and more dolls. Books about dolls, furniture for dolls, clothes for dolls, pets for dolls. A cafe, a hospital, a hair salon and SPA (don't even get me started on that one...), and a bakery. Don't get me wrong, it was totally cute, and definitely everything little girls would love, but it was just so...over the top. And, this is just my opinion of course, I thought it was ridiculously overpriced.

But you know what?

Kendall had her heart set on an American Girl. She had been saving her money for a year to buy herself one. So who am I to say what is or is not ridiculous? She was mesmerized by the store and all that it offered...she wanted to see everything. But I think it was also a little overwhelming to her. Once she had the lay of the land, she got busy picking her doll. She went with the "My American Girl" doll, and picked one with long blond hair, blue eyes, and little white teeth. She named her Lindsey immediately, and in true Kendall form, decided that before she could think about clothes for her, she needed to find her a pet! She picked out a husky named Pepper, and he is now Lindsey's best friend. Well, he and Kendall, anyway! She also made sure to get Lindsey a little pair of blue glasses that look similar to Kendall's...and let me tell you, she is stinkin' cute in them! Of course, Grandma Cindy is much more concerned with clothes than Kendall is, so she quickly found a cute little outfit that she insisted on buying for her. And that was it! Once Kendall had her doll and doggie in hand, she was ready to head out! I was mighty impressed that she wasn't interested in the hair salon or spa, or getting matching t-shirts made, or getting the dolls ears pierced, or having a photo session with her. She had what she came for, she knew how much money she had left, and by God, she was going home with some! She's just like her daddy... :)

We went out to dinner that night, and then headed back to the hotel...it was cold and we had had a long day! On Sunday morning, we headed back to AG to have brunch at the cafe. It was very cute and fancy, and they did such a nice job making Kendall feel special. Oh, and the food was good too!! That's always a plus!

After brunch, we headed back to the hotel to get packed up, as our train left at 1:30. The train ride back was pretty enjoyable because Kendall and I had the foresight to spend 45 minutes standing in line at Garrett popcorn before we left. I think everyone on the train was envious of the smells coming from out seating area! Phenomenal popcorn. I cannot quit eating it STILL. Whatever possessed me to buy a jumbo sized bag?!?!

The drive home from South Bend was icky, to say the least. Rain, icy rain, and snow all made an appearance. I was so glad to finally get to mom's! We slept soooooo good that night, let me tell you!

So all in all, we had a fun time, and Kendall loved her first experience in the 'big city'. Although, I must add that she is definitely not a fan of all the walking! Haha!! What a fun birthday experience for her! She talked about if for DAYS.

I can't wait to go back...maybe for my birthday in April?!?! :)

MIA

2011-02-09T10:34:00.000-05:00

Wow, would you just look at how fast those two weeks went by? I was doing so well, posting regularly, and then BAM! MIA again. Well, what can I say? Nothing I haven't said already, that much is for sure.

Kendall turned 10 on January 28th. 10!!!!!

I cannot fathom this. I must figure out a way to keep her from getting any older, and fast! For her birthday this year, we decided to do something a little different, so Mom, Aunt Jess, and I are taking Kendall to Chicago for the weekend to spend the afternoon at the American Girl store and just have some really fun girl time. I've never been to Chicago, so I am REALLY excited!! Of course, so is Kendall! We just had a very small little party last Saturday with the family...lunch, cake, ice cream, etc...and that's always fun too! Here are just a couple of pics...

Tonight, Kendall and I are having a little girl time...I'm taking her to see Cirque du Soleil's Dralion...my favorite!! She is going to LOVE it. I can hardly wait! If you haven't seen a Cirque du Soleil show yet, you don't know what you're missing. It is truly the most entertaining thing I've ever seen.

I didn't think we were going to get to go, as the tickets were ridiculously expensive...but then I got an email from Travelzoo saying they were running a special that cut the tickets 35-60%. I was so excited! Barry and I chatted about it, and he said, "Why don't you go and take Kendall? Noah probably won't sit that long anyway." Wasn't that nice of him?

So Kendall and I are going to get all dolled up and go out for a little girls' night out. I think it's going to be so much fun! Cold, but fun. :) Have a good night, folks...and stay warm out there!

Our family is expanding!

2011-01-26T15:10:00.000-05:00

No, I am NOT pregnant. And yes, I knew that title would get you thinking... :)

First of all, I wanted to thank you all for your kind words regarding the loss of our sweet Haley. Although it was rough there for a week or so, things eventually evened out and we went along right as rain. But as any of you who have ever shared your home with a cat know, once you've been owned by a cat, the house seems empty without one. I should have known it wouldn't be long before we'd be looking for our new feline friends...and it wasn't.

Kendall and Noah started begging for kittens quite a while back, and we always said no, because we were sure Haley wouldn't have taken to kindly to us introducing some rambunctious kitties to her kingdom. But now that she was gone and our house seemed so...empty...could that be the right word? I mean, seriously...there are four of us, my brother, and Scout. This house is hardly empty! But it still felt that way. There was a hole, and it couldn't be denied. Every day, Kendall would ask when we could get kittens. And every day, I would say to Barry, "You know we can't hold out much longer. We're soft. We're gonna cave sooner or later." And he would just smile and say, "Yep. It's gonna be soon."

So I think it's safe to say, we were all jonesin' for some of that boundless kitten energy...something to take our minds off of Haley. So I started looking at all of the nearest cat rescues on Petfinder. Oh my, there are so many cats out there that need a good home! It's so hard to choose, and to only take two! But we set some parameters from the get-go...we wanted a pair. In our experience, a pair always does better than one. Plus, they were going to need each other in their battle against the Dark Knight (Scout)! Lol! Also, we wanted very young kittens, so we could socialize them with Scout immediately and not have constant cat/dog issues. Other than that, we were pretty open. We found our kittens at Colony Cats Rescue here in Columbus, and they were wonderful to work with. They have a cageless adoption center, where all of the cats roam free and you can visit and play with them. This is where we met Josie. She was a single kitten, but so stinkin' cute that we could not resist her....wouldn't you agree?

She fancies herself as the princess of the house, that much is clear. She sits herself on a pillow and hisses and spits at Scout every time he gets near her. She spends long amounts of time grooming her beautiful long hair and lounges around at her will. But she is cuddly and cute, and loves to play too.

Fletcher was being fostered off-site with his 3 sisters by a woman named Marilyn. Marilyn obviously has a sincere love for animals, as her house was absolutely FULL of cats and dogs, many of them with disabilities. The kids were in heaven. Fletcher had our hearts from the start because this cat has personality PLUS! He is so precocious and curious and funny. He always wants to see what you're doing and be right up next to you. But my most favorite thing about him is that he chirps like a little bird. It is so sweet. Makes me want to go back and adopt his three sisters too...(don't tell Barry!)

The house is definitely full now! And Scout just wants to love those itty bitty kitties to pieces, but he really needs to work on his approach. Charging them and giving them a tongue bath when he has them cornered is really not the way to endear himself, I'm afraid! We'll get there in time...he just needs to calm the heck down.

Well, Kendall is home today with a fever of 102, and it's been a long night and day to tell you the truth. I think I'm going to go join Josie for a nap...I'm sleepy.

Have a good week, folks!

Prepping for Spring

2011-01-24T10:58:00.000-05:00

"The new phone book's here! The new phone book's here!"

(Name that movie...it's one of my favorites!)

Ok, so maybe it's not as exciting as the phone book, but guess what? The new seed catalogs are here!! Time to start planning my garden...oh, the possibilities!

There are a few new additions planned for this year...

- 2 more raised beds

- add blueberry bushes

- find that special bush or tree for Haley's grave

- build a trellis for peas

- turnips, sweet corn, potatoes, blackberries

In addition to the favorites we normally plant...peas, cukes, spaghetti squash, green beans, tomatoes, onions, zucchini, carrots, buttercrunch lettuce, ruby chard, cabbage, eggplant, peppers, cilantro, basil, watermelon, and strawberries.

Once we get my garden planted, I hope to have time to get my new gardening shed set up and organized. Since Barry is building a new pole barn here in a month or so, I am inheriting our shed as my new gardening shed. Barry will put a few windows in it and some shelves, as well as a worktable. How very exciting for me! I can hardly wait!

Starting on the Right Foot!

2011-01-17T09:40:00.001-05:00

"Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right. "

~Oprah Winfrey

The start of a new year holds so many possibilities...and to that end, I try not to make resolutions in the first few weeks of the year. See, I need those first couple of weeks to get recuperated from the holiday chaos, get some things in order around the house, and make a plan. Who has time to think of all that during the holidays? NOT ME.

So now that my house is back in order (mostly), and I do feel like I'm pretty well rested (because I didn't leave the house for a week and ruled the roost wearing super-soft black yoga pants and a fleece pullover every day), it was time this weekend to get some things in order and make a plan.

Yesterday, I cleaned out my fridge and washed it all out. Holy crackamoly, I cannot express to you how badly THAT needed done! Then I got a little crazy and took every. single. thing. out of my pantry and washed down all the walls and shelves and cleaned and organized it as well! It's truly amazing how much more 'on top of things' that can make you feel! After those little tasks were done, I was ready to move on to the next step...the meal plan.

I typically plan out a week's worth of meals at a time. I have found that in the chaos that can ensue around here at any given moment, the written out menu on the fridge helps keep me focused and less stressed about keeping us eating healthy and balanced meals. See, if you have the menu planned out, you know exactly what you need from the store...I make the meal plan first, then go to the grocery for the week. Stick to the meal plan and you will be surprised how little 'impulse buying' you will do...because you only buy what you need! Of course, you will also be buying things that aren't on your meal plan, such as lunch box staples, if you pack for your kiddos. But overall, it helps keep the impulse buys down...and keeps you from buying pre-packaged and processed foods, which we could all use less of!

Another great thing about the meal plan is the fact that you never have to worry about not having your meat thawed. I look at my menu for the week and pull all of the meat out 1-2 days ahead of time and put it in the fridge to thaw. That way when I'm ready to start dinner for that evening, I open up the fridge and there it is, ready to go. Seems pretty simple, doesn't it? Well, I can't tell you how many times I've forgotten to set something out because I had no meal plan and no idea what I was going to make for dinner...I'd get home at 3:30-4:00 and guess what? It would end up being pizza night because there was NO WAY I was pulling together something that fast. This takes all the thinking out of dinnertime and keeps you from eating PB&J and cereal for dinner three nights a week.

So here's what my menu looks like for the next two weeks:

Monday: PW's Beef and Snow Peas, Rice
Tuesday: Italian Pot Roast, steamed broccoli, biscuits
Wednesday: Rocco DiSprito's Healthy Chicken Parmigiana, spinach salad, herbed angel hair pasta
Thursday: Pasta e Fagioli soup, Italian subs
Friday: Leftovers RULE!!
Saturday: Thai Grilled Pork Tenderloin, pan seared green beans, cheesy orzo
Sunday: PW's Chicken 'n Dumplings, salad

Monday: Leftovers RULE!
Tuesday: Beef and Noodles, steamed peas
Wednesday: Roasted Veggie Quesadillas, cilantro rice, refried beans
Thursday: Wild Rice Soup, crusty bread
Friday: Kendall's birthday...probably eating out!
Saturday: Kendall's birthday party...I'll be cooking for a crowd, and haven't decided what yet!
Sunday: Baked Turkey Sausage and Swiss Chard pasta, salad

Now, I know it can look daunting. I get it. But let me tell you that it really isn't! Because you KNOW what's coming up and you have taken the hardest part of it - the thinking about it - out of the equation. I don't plan for lunches, because I almost always have leftovers, and I always leave 1-2 days to eat leftovers for dinner, as they can stack up pretty quick. Plus, my hubby packs his lunch most days, and let me just tell you that he really appreciates having a good meal to take to work, especially in the winter. Sandwiches get old quick!

My Beef 'n Noodles recipe makes a ton, so I will take half of that and freeze it for another day. That, peeps, is what we call a BONUS MEAL! Love to find those hiding out in the freezer when you're looking for something quick and easy!

One other thing to keep in mind is that if you end up not being home that night for dinner, or you want something else, or heck, you just don't feel like cooking and you want pizza... it's NO BIG DEAL. Just bump that meal back to later in the week or even to the next week. Your meal plan can be totally flexible, because you've planned for it and you have all the ingredients in the house. Go ahead and push it off to another night. The key to sticking with any new routine is to not be so rigid. No one likes rigidity, so we automatically buck the system. Make your meal plan easy, don't be too hard on yourself, and HAVE FUN! This is the perfect way to work new recipes into your favorites. I really do like sitting down to do mine...I have all kinds of recipes I've torn out of magazines throughout the years, various cookbooks, emailed recipes...all waiting for me to work my way through them. You'll never try those new recipes it you don't plan for them...you'll just keep waiting for 'the perfect day'...and it will never feel like it, because you haven't thought about dinner until 2 hours before and you're scrambling to throw something together. Put it in your rotation and find some new favorites!

Meal planning...give it a try! Start your year off on the right foot! As for me, a few of the meals on my 2-week plan are new for me, so I'm hoping to get back to regular posting on Party in the Pantry!

One Moment of Sadness

2011-01-10T23:38:00.001-05:00

I love the holidays.

I really do!

I love all the hustle and bustle, the Christmas cooking and baking...heck, even the shopping! I love the lights, the sparkle, the Christmas music, even the Salvation Army bell ringers. I love the wrapping paper and bows, the people who put antlers and a big Rudolph nose on their minivans, and the candy cane Joe-Joes. I love the Elf on the Shelf, the kids Christmas specials on TV, the fun (and sometimes, the stress) of being around so much family. And let me tell you, this year was the top of the top. Everything went smoothly from Thanksgiving to New Years, there was no family drama at any of the gatherings, everyone loved their gifts, and there was plenty of downtime to enjoy each other's company for the rest of the Christmas break.

There was only one thing that kept our holidays this year from being absolutely perfect...

Haley, our sweet cat of 17 1/2 years, had to be put to sleep two days before Christmas. We knew she had been struggling for the past 6-8 months, as she had dropped down to 5.5 lbs and had quit eating this past spring. I had taken her to the vet then, expecting the worst. But he was happy to tell me that she was actually very healthy for her age, albeit in the very beginning stages of renal failure...we just needed her to gain some weight. So we put her on a special type of food, hoping she would bulk up a bit and feel better. She did, for a while...and then we started to notice in November that she was all skin and bones again. We decided to baby her, entice her to eat, and try to make it through the holidays before making any decisions.

Well, two days before Christmas, I was in the kitchen doing some baking, and I heard this thump behind me on the floor. I turned around and there was Haley, trying to stand up. She had just been sitting there a few moments before, and had just fallen over. I panicked and ran over to her, but it was obvious that she couldn't get up...so I helped her. As I watched her, I realized she was swaying from side to side and not putting any weight on her right hind leg. This was not a good sign, and I knew it deep in the pit of my stomach. She had barely eaten at all that week...and I knew all of these things together did not bode well.

Barry called the vet immediately, and they scheduled for her to come in in just an hour and a half. We sat the kids down and gently brought them up to speed on the situation, explaining how Haley was definitely in pain and how she had had such a good, long life with us. They were both extremely upset, but most especially Kendall. She spent the next 60 minutes holding her sweet kitty...snuggling her, giving her treats, and telling her she loved her.

And then she insisted on going to the vet with Barry. I have to be honest with you...I did NOT think that was a good idea at all, given how sensitive and dramatic and emotional Kendall is. But she insisted, and Barry sided with her, so I agreed. We packed a wicker laundry basket with a soft towel and placed Haley delicately inside...and they were off. I sat here with Noah and worried. And worried some more.

Of course, as you know by now, the news was not good. She was in full renal failure, and there was little that could be done except to keep her comfortable. Barry and I had already decided that if the news was bad, we would not let her suffer, so the decision was made. Barry took Kendall for hot cocoa afterward and they had a long chat...and I must say that she was doing really well when they got home. We buried Haley out by our garden, where we are planning to plant a special tree or bush in her memory. Kendall is sure that whatever grows there will be beautiful...and I tend to agree.

Rest in peace, Haley...you were our very first baby, and we were so very blessed to have had you in our lives for so long...

A New Year!

2011-01-08T11:46:00.000-05:00

Well, the New Year has started and would you believe that I've actually started at least 3 posts between now and then, but haven't finished even ONE of them? Well, folks, that ends TODAY.

However, I am not going to force myself to finish those posts today, because well, I just don't want to.

So what I'm going to do instead is just tell you all what I've been up to. Riveting, I know. :)

This first week of the new year has been a long one for us, trying to get back into the swing of our very hectic schedule after a blissful 10 days of nothingness...no taekwondo, no swimming, no school, no piano, NO DRIVING ANYWHERE. Bliss, I tell you....pure and unadulterated bliss. I was more than happy to not leave the house at all and just live in my yoga pants and pajamas. And the munchkins were happy to play Wii, and Legos, and everything else they could come up with.

Of course, I cooked myself into a wonderful little frenzy over the holidays to be sure. Cookies, candies, an absolutely beautiful and tasty turkey complete with a festive salad and creamy mashed potatoes on Christmas Eve, cinnamon rolls and breakfast casserole on Christmas morning, turkey & noodles with mashed potatoes on Christmas Day...and then I was done. I barely stepped foot in the kitchen the rest of the week! And though you all know how much I love to cook and just be in my kitchen in general, I enjoyed the respite. And truth be told, we just didn't have any more room in the fridge, the pantry, or our bellies.

But of course, now we are trying to get back into the swing of things...back to reality! And like I said, it's been a looooong week. So this morning when Noah requested that we skip taekwondo, I graciously complied. He and Kendall got themselves up, bathed, dressed, and quickly commenced playing Lego Star Wars. Fine with me...I've had Julie & Julia sitting here for weeks, and I've been dying to watch it. So watch it I am...while I'm blogging. YAY!

Later today, the kids are headed to Aunt Jessie's for a sleepover and Harry Potter movie marathon. And I...I am going to have an awesome girls night out with my BFF. I can hardly wait! Barry is out hunting, so I can do whatever I desire...within reason, LOL! Hope you all are gearing up for a fun weekend as well!

Hope to see you back here real soon...I miss blogging so much!

To Do....

2010-12-22T16:04:00.000-05:00

It's almost 4:00 p.m. and my to-do list is seriously daunting. I've already been to the orthodontist today and taken the kiddos to lunch at First Watch (our fave!!!)...and then I rushed home to quickly pick up the house, make the beds and get the fire revived. I've made another batch of Reindeer Munchies and a batch of Peanut Blossoms (they're in the oven right now). I still have to roll out the sugar cookies and bake them, get my turkey in the brine, and make 2 pans of make-ahead mashed potatoes a la The Pioneer Woman. Yep, I'm certainly on my way, but...

I still need to clean my bathrooms. Anytime you're having company, your bathrooms HAVE to be cleaned.

I need to find some clothes, toys, and shoes for a family who lost everything to a fire this past week. These items need to be donated by tomorrow, so I've got to pull down those tubs and find some things tonight!

As I said before, I need to get the mashed potatoes made and in the fridge, as well as get the turkey into the brine.

And of course, I have to make dinner yet! Sounds like it might be a good night for leftovers or chicken from Der Dutchman! :)

Luckily, I already have all of my gifts bought and wrapped. The decorating is finished, the tree looks gorgeous, and my baking is almost complete. Looking for that silver lining... :)

Only 3 more sleeps 'til Christmas! Are YOU ready?!?!

Tired

2010-12-20T14:52:00.000-05:00

I'm tired.

There I said it. Sometimes I am so full of boundless energy, and I can go, go, go, go, go for weeks on end...and then I hit the wall. I think this past weekend did me in. The past two weeks have been insane around here for various reasons...taekwondo testing, swimming lessons, Noah being sick, Christmas shopping/baking/wrapping, and to top it off, we had two family Christmases this weekend, out of town...of course. The weekend was gone before I could blink my eyes...and while it was great to see everyone, last night went much longer than I expected and we still had an hour and a half drive home afterward. AND it was a school night. AND my kids had been up until at least 10:00 both nights...couldn't be helped. So you can just imagine what bedtime was like last night, can't you? Lots of whining, crying, over-tiredness, and lots of "I don't WANT to go to school tomorrow!!!"

That being said, once they were out...they were OUT. Same goes for me...but I still feel like I didn't get enough sleep. I spent the majority of my day today cleaning and catching up on laundry so that tomorrow and Wednesday the kids and I can finish up some holiday baking and wrapping. I'm making my lists of things that need done and my schedule for the food on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (as well as appetizers and snacks in between...)! I have a plan, and that is the important thing, right?

How is your holiday prep shaping up? What do you do to keep in the Spirit of Christmas while dealing with the stress of getting it all done? I keep my tree lit as much as possible, try to do something 'Christmas-y" every day, and play endless Christmas music. My favorite is Harry Connick Jr.'s Harry for the Holidays, but I really like my Michael Buble Christmas cd as well.

I'm going to try to get some pics tonight of the cool little teacher gifts I picked up this year, so I can post tomorrow. I think you'll love them...I sure do!

Only 5 more sleeps 'til Christmas!!!! :)

Shutterfly, baby!!

2010-12-01T14:27:00.001-05:00

Hey folks! This is the beginning of a few posts I'm going to write on some great gift ideas I'm finding, or have found in the past. We can all use some good ideas, right? So why not share them and we can all give gifts that make the people who receive them smile their brightest smile??

First up...SHUTTERFLY!!!

You all know I love to take pictures, right? I mean, I'm pretty sure we've established that by now. Digital photography is awesome because we can take so many pictures and see them before we print them! How cool is that?! Although many people are quick to point out that with digital photography comes the caveat that most people don't print their pictures anymore. We're all sharing them through our blogs, Facebook, emails, and various other mediums. And I agree! I rarely print many pictures anymore because there are so many cool things out there to do with them digitally! And of all the companies I've used, Shutterfly remains one of my favorites. They have a great selection, are easy to use, and their customer service is actually helpful! What a concept! So of course, being that the Christmas season is upon us, I thought I'd share with you why Shutterfly is a favorite of mine at the holidays.

Over the past few years, I've made my Christmas cards on Shutterfly, created a few photobooks, which are ALWAYS a hit (check out this one!), had ornaments made with a favorite picture to give away at Christmastime, designed my own mousepad, and of course, I've also had pictures actually PRINTED!!! And you know the best part? Those are just a few of the things you can do at Shutterfly! A few years ago, my sister 'pirated' some of my favorite pictures I had taken and made them into a photo calendar for me for Christmas. I loved it! Check out their designs, peeps! The grandparents LOVE these.

I've already made my Christmas card for this year too, and I must say, it's a keeper. I had it done in under 15 minutes, and I do believe it's my best ever! I'm not going to link to it though, because I don't want to ruin the surprise to all who will be receiving one! But I AM going to link to Shutterfly's holiday card designs so you can check them out for yourselves! It's so easy and they look great! Maybe you've already bought your Christmas cards, or you're one of those awesome scrapbookers who makes her own cards...well, guess what? You can also create birthday cards and thank you cards on Shutterfly, as well as invitations, blank note cards, address labels, announcements...you name it, they've got it!

I typically give most of my Shutterfly purchases away, but here are a few photobooks that I made for myself...aren't they cute?

So head on over to Shutterfly if you're having a hard time buying a gift for someone. I guarantee you'll feel inspired to make something personal and creative! I'm giving photobooks, photo tiles, and blank notecards to some special people this Christmas...what will you create? Leave a comment and let me know...I love to be inspired!

Just a few random pictures...

2010-11-20T09:39:00.000-05:00

For lack of time to do a complete rundown of what's going on around here, I thought maybe I'd just share a few pictures I've taken in the past few months. Looking back through my old pictures, I can definitely see that I'm getting a little bit better at this photography thing, and I'm really happy about that! Maybe all that aperture/shutter speed/ISO stuff is sinking in after all!! Let's hope so!

This first one was taken in Savannah in October. We were walking through Colonial Park cemetery, reading the gravestones that had been knocked over by Sherman's army in the Civil War. When they couldn't figure out where the various stones went, they hung them on the wall of the cemetery. It was eerie and cool all at the same time...they were all dated in the 1700 and 1800's!

Here are a few of Noah playing soccer this fall. He really had a good time and worked hard!

Me and my grandma at my cousin's wedding...(my sis took this one!)

This is another picture from Savannah. All of the downspouts in the historic district were very decorative, and I LOVED the ones like this that looked like big fish. Isn't it neat?

And here's Noah and his best little buddy, Alex. These two have so much fun together!

Just a random pic from out around our property...

Me and my little guy...so sweet! (Sheri took this one for me!)

And finally...Kendall Bug and my mom.

Hope you enjoyed the pictures! Blogger just gave me a message that I have just exceeded my alotted space, so I have to figure out how to proceed from here. It may be a couple of days until I can get it figured out and post again, so bear with me. Have a great week y'all!!!

Nikon School and a Few Other Things

2010-11-07T08:32:00.000-05:00

Well, since I forgot to set the clocks back last night before I went to bed (even though I told Barry before we went to bed "Hey, we don't want to forget to set the clocks back!"), I am up an entire hour earlier than I should be.

On a Sunday morning.

When my entire family is still sleeping in nice, cozy beds.

Oh well...nothing to be done about it now. To make myself feel better, I had apple crisp with ice cream for breakfast. These are the things you can do when you're up before everyone else!!! Another thing you can do when you're up first is to sit down and update your blog, which you've been sorely neglecting. This is just some advice for all of you out there, because I would NEVER neglect my blog! hahahaha.....

This weekend, I am attending Nikon School over at Easton. Yesterday was all about basic digital photography (aperture, shutter speed, exposure, white balance, RAW vs. JPEG, etc.). Today we're covering color, light, and technology. Should be interesting, and I'm hoping to come away with some new information that can help me make some better pictures! Yesterday, Deetra and I went to the class and then thought we'd do a little shopping over at Easton...what a joke! Easton was totally packed, and there were no parking spaces anywhere. We kept getting stuck in the traffic that runs through the shopping district, and it ended up being almost an hour before we got out of there...crazy!!! We decided to stop on the way home and grab dinner at Barley's Smokehouse, which was pretty good...but then we needed to get home because Deetra's son Will was having a conniption fit that she was gone. He's such a little cutie!

Soccer is over for Noah, and although he enjoyed it, we are all enjoying one last place to run on Sundays.

Kendall's piano lessons have been moved to Mondays, so we have one less place to run on Saturdays too...this is a very good thing! Of course, the holidays are right around the corner, so our schedule is bound to get crazy real quick...in fact, next weekend just might be our last free weekend until after Christmas...isn't that crazy?!?

Let's see...what else? Oh yes...Halloween! We had a fun trick-or-treat night, as our friends, the Saltsmans, had their annual pre-trick-or-treat pizza party. Of course, we all dressed up in theme again this year...

Star Wars has ruled this house for the past year, and we've known we were going with this theme since last Christmas. The kids were really into it, especially Kendall, who kept her royal attitude all night, and Noah, who reveled in being the Prince of Darkness...

Well folks, that's all I have time for today...gotta get to class! Hope you are enjoying your weekend, and I hope to see you all back here sometime this week! :)

My Grandma Made Me Do It

2010-10-25T16:35:00.001-04:00

So, we were home for my cousin's wedding this past weekend, and the first thing my grandma says to me is, "It's still on Threadless!" I had no idea what that meant, so I asked her what the heck she was talking about!

"Your blog! It's still on 'Threadless'. When are you going to write something?"

Well to be honest, I wasn't sure anyone was still reading (although she assured me that she reads every single day)...AND, my life has been so utterly crazy that taking a few minutes to sit down and write, no matter how cathartic it may be, seems SO out of the question. But you know what? My grandma asked, and I love her, so I'm going to get my butt busy writing.

Things have been busy, and I'm coming to accept the fact that this may very well be just the way it is. I've gone over things time an again, tried to simplify and condense trips in and out of Hilliard, made meal plans ahead of time to assist in the 'regular good eating' department, and scheduled days to do laundry and other cleaning tasks that I will put off as long as possible every single time. But here's the dealio...no matter how much I simplify and organize, there is still too much to do in the time I have. So...all I can do is my best. The kids are happy, the hubby is happy, and I'm happy, even though my house is rarely as clean as I'd like it and a lot of times I'm running late.

Of course, I'm still trying to make my life as efficient and productive as possible, because let's be real here...I have a lot of things I like to do. I like to dabble in photography, I like to cook, I like to write on my blogs (even though I've slipped there considerably this year), I like to do crafts and read with the kids, I like to make jewelry and photo books, and knit scarves. I'm committed to being at the gym 3 mornings per week while Noah's at preschool. I have friends that I like to spend time with, and a husband who actually likes to spend time with me! Haha!! All of these things have to find a space in my life, and I know I'm no different than any other mom out there when I say "It's a challenge!!"

So this week, I am doing some cooking. It's good for my soul and helps me to not feel so anxious. When I can't get in my kitchen and make some comfort food to sit down and enjoy with my family, I get anxious. And if I'm going to be honest with you (and I am!)...I get a little bitchy too. It's not so good for my reputation! I'm also going to try to get in at least one other blog post in the next few days. Wow...won't I feel productive? LOL! Today I helped Noah and his buddy Alex paint pictures and play with play-doh. Yep, it sure makes a mess, but they had a great time...and I had fun too!

Trick or Treat is Thursday night, so we'll be heading in to our friends, the Saltsman's, for their annual Trick or Treat party, which is always a lot of fun because we adults enjoy dressing up too. And if you really don't think it's fun, you can't be my friend anymore! I'm serious! :)

Here are a couple of things that have happened around here lately that I haven't had the chance to write about:

1.) Kendall just received her green belt and Noah received his junior yellow belt in TKD. I'm so proud of these two! They are working really hard.

2.) Kendall got glasses! She looks so cute in them, but I have to tell you...I'm not so cracked up about how grown-up she's looking lately! She got 2 pair, since Sears was having a BOGO offer...and we figured two pair were probably not a bad idea anyway, since she IS a kid!

3.) My brother has a new girlfriend! Praise the Lord! I've only just met her at the wedding this weekend, but she seems pretty awesome, and he seems pretty happy, so there you go!

4.) Luke finally shot the leader of the coyote mafia that was systematically taking out our hens. He ran off after the shooting, but confirmation was made when Scout drug the half-decayed coyote head up to the house. What a lovely sight first thing in the morning. NOT.

5.) Jessie and I made applesauce again this year. I really need to make some more, but finding the time is going to be difficult. Our next few weekends are booked!

6.) Next weekend I'm taking two photography classes with Nikon...I am VERY excited. VERY. Let's just hope I learn something.

7.) Barry and I celebrated our 15th anniversary with a trip to Savannah. It was awesome! I'll do a post soon with pics of the trip!

7.) I've had two people tell me I look like I'm getting younger. SERIOUSLY?!?!? Man, that sure made my day! Yeah, maybe I do need to keep it up at the gym...

And I'm going to end on that good note, folks. Have a nice night!!

Threadless

2010-09-25T15:10:00.000-04:00

Are you one of those lucky souls that wins every contest you enter? Do you always come away from Vegas with more money than you went with?

Not me.

But a few weeks ago, I won a $100 gift certificate to Threadless from The Great Walls of Balitmore. Head on over there to check her out...you'll like her blog! Kayris talks about parenting techniques, menu plans, and her cute little family. It's always a good read. Anyway, she was hosting a giveaway, and somehow I was the lucky winner! Threadless has all kinds of quirky and artsy tees, tanks, and hoodies for kids and adults alike. I had no problem finding enough to spend my gift certificate! Thanks Kayris!!!! Here are a few that I picked up for the kiddos for Christmas...

I love that "Dog Ate My Homework" one...too cute! And here are the ones I have my eye on for me (but in tank-tops, for the gym!)...

Head on over to Threadless and check out their adult AND kids collections! Right now, they are offering free shipping on any order that contains a hoodie...through the end of September. Check 'em out, peeps!

You want a piece of me?

2010-09-14T11:36:00.006-04:00

You may remember me mentioning that Kendall started doing taekwondo back in early spring. We decided to start out on a 6 week trial run to make sure she liked it before we made a commitment. Well, that turned out to be a non-issue...she LOVED it. By the time summer hit, she was at the gym 4 times per week. Midway through the summer, Noah decided he wanted to join too...and that made sense, since we were there anyway! Both kids really enjoy it, and we never get complaints that they don't want to go. Kendall competed in her first tournament this summer and received a 4th place medal. Of course, she was disappointed she didn't do better, but she got to see the competition that was out there and that she was going to have to "bring it" if she wants to place first! She is now a senior orange belt, and will be testing in October for her green belt. Students start sparring at senior orange belt, so that has been fun for her as well. The owners of the school do a lot of really fun activities, such as picnics, water gun wars, and lock-ins. Kendall LOVES the lock-ins. Pizza, video games, crafts, friends, and NO PARENTS...what kid wouldn't like that? It's been a positive experience all the way around so far!

Noah's class is called the Little Dragons, because he is under 7. They focus on basic moves, dealing with bullying, and stranger danger. He is still in his white belt, but will be testing in October with Kendall for his yellow belt. He's really looking forward to being old enough to be in class with the "big kids". I just think he is so cute in his little uniform!

Are you intimidated yet? How about now...

I'm sorry, but that face just cracks me up! And so does this one from Kendall...always trying to look like some big scary fighter...

Shoot, I'd better skedaddle! Looks like the kicks are starting!If you are looking for an activity for your kids, I really do recommend TKD. It is fun, physical, and demands some focus. And the kids love it! Have a great day, peeps!

Back to School!

2010-09-12T08:35:00.004-04:00

I can't believe it's September! And while I DO love having both kids at home every day and the lack of a confining schedule during the summer, I also love getting back into the school year routine when fall does roll around. Too much of a good thing, I guess. But is it just me, or did the summer go incredibly fast this year? I know we packed as much as possible into our summer, with trips to Niagara Falls, Mohican State Park, and the roadtrip to Arkansas...but geesh, it still felt like the summer blew by. Before I knew it, we were buying school supplies and making sure the kids' socks and underwear still fit.

Kendall is always very excited for school to start. We don't live in the same school district where she attends school, so she doesn't see many of her school friends during the summer months. She's usually rearin' to go, and get in there and see everyone! This year, however, she was quite apprehensive...teary even. We'd found out that she was placed in the class with "the meanest teacher in the school" and to make matters even worse, all of her really good friends were placed in the other class. She felt that this did not bode well for a good school year. We had a week or two to digest this information and talk through it, and by the time the first day of school came, she was feeling ok...not great, but ok.By the end of breakfast that morning, she was feeling much better about things...she even gave me a cheer for starting school! Now the day was looking up! After all, she is now a fourth-grader. The fourth-graders rule the school at Monroe.I am happy to report that after 2 full weeks, things are looking so much better. It seems that Kendall's teacher is not nearly as bad as she had heard. I don't think she'll ever be Kendall's favorite, but that's ok. We have to deal with a lot of people in our lives that won't be our favorites. The important thing is that she is still looking forward to going to school most every day.

Noah didn't start until this week. He is attending a 5-day per week Pre-K class at a nearby church, and was VERY excited to start. He did great this week, only complaining once on Friday morning that he wanted to stay home and build with Legos. He's having a great time at his new school, and always has so much to tell me when I pick him up!As for me, I am enjoying the start of a new routine. I get up and get myself and the kids up, dressed, and fed. We leave the house at 8:15-ish, pick up Shea, and head to Monroe to drop the girls off...then straight to Noah's school to drop him off. (I only have a 15 minute window here, and I need every single second of it!) AND as an added bonus, Noah's school is only like 5 minutes away from my gym, so I have 2.5 hours every morning to work out and hit the grocery, or Target, or whatever else I need to do. This week I took a spinning class, had a massage, and took a Piyo class. Can't wait to see what next week will bring!

My boys

2010-09-09T21:32:00.000-04:00

Look at these two handsome fellas...I just love 'em. Love, love, LOVE.

The End.

Friends, photos and online dating...

2010-09-08T19:19:00.007-04:00

So I'm loving my 55-200 mm lens. It's taking some getting used to, as I'm not used to being able to zoom in from so far away...and of course, being a longer lens, I have to account for lighting...which I still have to really think through in my head. UGH! But I've been having a little bit of fun, when time permits! And there hasn't been much of it this week...that's for sure!

This weekend, my friend Priscilla came out to the cabin for a (much overdue) trip to have her picture taken. I suspect that the reason this trip has taken so long to come to fruition is that while she WANTS to have her photo taken, the reason behind it having it done is causing just a tad bit of anxiety. Ladies and gentlemen, Priscilla is about to venture into the world of online dating.

At the age of 63.

And while she's totally committed to giving it a shot, who in their right mind wouldn't have a little anxiety over it?!? The thought of dating again makes my stomach churn. Unless I could just date Barry again...that might be fun!

But I digress. So Priscilla called Friday night to say she was coming out on Saturday afternoon to finally have the photos done. This has been going on for a year, so I didn't hold my breath, but she sounded serious this time! Wahoo! She even volunteered to bring a big pot of chili so I didn't have to cook. EVEN BETTER! When she finally got here, we sat and chatted, had dinner with the fam, and basically waited around until the sun was just right for good lighting. And then, after practicing her 'Jackie O' pose, we got to work. And here's what we came up with...Good, but not the great. I am a sucker for a big, heartfelt smile though, and that one certainly has it! This next one though, I really do like. It is very 'Priscilla'. I have seen that look a time or two, let me tell ya. Usually when I say something crass or silly...not that I would ever do such a thing. I'm just sayin'.
We both liked this next one, just because it's a different look. She liked it because her eyes are wide open...see, she squints when she smiles, and it really annoys her. I do the same thing, and it really annoys me too! But darn it, it's HARD to smile with your eyes big and wide when you're not used to doing it! Plus, then you feel like you look all surprised in the picture. Weird.

And this last one? Yeah, it's pretty much everyone's favorite. I'm tellin' ya...there's a very small window at the end of the day when the light is perfect...and this was it. The Perfect Priscilla Portrait. I just love alliterations, don't you?Lookin' good Priscilla!!! You're gonna knock 'em dead! I wonder how many 'winks' or 'pokes' or whatever it is that you get on eharmony she has already? I think I'm gonna go call her and find out...

15

2010-09-03T10:02:00.004-04:00

Yesterday was our 15th anniversary! Where did the time go? How can I be old enough to have been married 15 years???

We are going on a trip to Savannah in October to celebrate, but felt like we should do a little something on our actual anniversary...so last minute plans were thrown together!!! I had a $25 gift card to Smith & Wollensky that was getting ready to expire, so we decided to go there for dinner. A quick call to one of our favorite babysitters sealed the deal. She was so excited to see Kendall and Noah that she changed her plans so she could come over! Now that doesn't happen every day!
We had a fantastic dinner...a goat cheese & heirloom tomato tart, gorgonzola topped filets, and green beans pan fried with ham and sea salt (OMG!). They treated us to a complimentary champagne toast, which was a really nice surprise...and after dinner, when we refused dessert (we were stuffed!), our server insisted and bought us a dessert to share...complete with a candle. Wasn't that sweet? And of course, the bonus was that we could see the tv in the bar, where the OSU game was playing...so we didn't miss a thing! What a perfect night out!!!

And how can I not share with you the gift my sweetie gave me? Isn't she beautiful? I love it, and am hoping to get the chance to play with it this weekend! I can't share what I got him, however...at least, not yet. It still hasn't arrived and I don't want to spoil the surprise!

So...in honor of our 15 years, here are 15 things I love about my sweetie:

1.) His quick wit. He's actually really funny when he gets on a roll!

2.) How calm he is when it feels like everything is going wrong. Oh, how I wish I could be more like him in this way!

3.) His crooked smile. Love it.

4.) The way he is very frugal and smart with money, but not necessarily cheap. He'll spend the money where he needs to, and saves when he can. And for some reason, he never has a problem spending it on me...case in point, my new 55-200 mm lens for my camera! Thanks honey!

5.) How he takes the time to explain all kinds of details to the kids...what causes thunder, how an engine works, how to shoot a bb gun and all the safety rules that come along with it, how the pressure system in the chicken waterer works...basically all the stuff I don't (or can't) explain. LOL!

6.) The fact that the man NEEDS me to help pick out his clothes. Seriously. He NEEDS me.

7.) That he's willing to put up with my craziness and my moodiness and all my hair-brained ideas. And that he always gives me credit for the good ones!

8.) That he can change my oil and my brakes. This is very important! HA!

9.) The man will eat anything I make, as long as I don't put nuts in it. And most of the time, he likes it! Ok, ok...he eats just about everything anyway...whether I make it or not. But still. :)

10.) He thinks everything through...all the time. All the little details are present and accounted for. And budgeted for. LOL!

11.) His forearms.

12.) Oh, and his hands. I love his hands.

13.) The way he calls me Jenny... rarely Jen. Only my family and the people I grew up with call me Jenny. It feels weird when anyone from my "adult" life calls me Jenny, but I like it when he does. :)

14.) His supportive nature...he supports anything I want to do, and of course, helps me think it through...detail upon detail. It's a darn good thing he's around, I tell ya!

15.) The way he loves us. It's easy, laid-back, and unquestionable.

Every girl should have a Barry!! :)

The End of the Trip

2010-09-02T14:09:00.008-04:00

Sorry for the delay in posting, peeps! My laptop is finally all fixed up and I am ready to burn this blog up! I have so many things to post about!

So let me just finish off our little roadtrip first. The day after we checked out the Daisy Airgun Museum, we had plans to go to Devil's Den state park. Unfortunately, we got a late start to the day and it was farther away than we had bargained for, so we decided instead to go to Pea Ridge National Military Park. The Battle of Pea Ridge was a land battle of the Civil War, fought March 6–8, 1862, at Pea Ridge in northwest Arkansas. In the battle, Union forces defeated Confederate troops, the outcome of which essentially cemented Union control of Missouri. The battlefield itself was unbelievable to look at...of course, it was a beautiful day and all, but the vastness of it and the cannons set up really helped you to see what it must have been like. The kids had fun, but you know how that goes...they're interested in a few high level facts and then they're on to the next thing. But Barry LOVES this kind of stuff. He just walked around reading everything and soaking it all up. I take in things that are interesting to me and take pictures. That's how we roll. :)

After visiting Pea Ridge, we were hot and sweaty and ready to cool off, so Amy took us to the pool. It felt AWESOME. The kids played and played until they were ready for ice cream, and then we headed out. The next morning it was time to hit the road. We wanted to make it all the way to St. Louis so we could spend some time at Cabela's. Yes, Cabela's was a highlight of our trip!

We got moving early and stopped at an IHOP for brunch...Barry and the kids LOVE IHOP. I would have rather gone to Panera, but I was outnumbered. Bummer. Anyway, we scarfed down pancakes, eggs, bacon, and fruit, and then headed out to St. Louis! We went to Cabela's first and spent a few hours there. Yes, I said HOURS!!! Who knew you could spend hours in that store?? We had so much fun, checking out all the hunting, camping, & fishing supplies. We got some great deals too. Of course we still helped stimulate the economy! Hahaha. After we were done stocking up on safety glasses, hunting boots, and the like, we headed out to find our hotel and ordered a pizza. We were hungry, and the kids were itchin' to swim, so we decided to keep it simple. After a good night's sleep, it was time to hit the road. Our plan was to make it into Ohio and just over the border to my Mom's house, where we would spend the night before making the rest of the trip back to Columbus. We had had such a good time, but of course, there's no place like home! Everything was going according to schedule...we had seen the arch in St. Louis, made it through the traffic in Indianapolis, and then about 20 minutes from my Mom's, we hit a detour that took us completely out of our way on a bunch of little country roads. Ugh! But we did eventually make it, and the kids had lots of stories for Grandma Cindy!

Bentonville, Arkansas

2010-08-19T21:55:00.016-04:00

Let's see, where did I leave off? Ah yes, we had crossed the border into Arkansas and spent the night in West Memphis. Well, we got up and moving early in the day on Monday, planning to drive across the state and be at Amy's around 4:00. This was a pretty reasonable goal, since we didn't plan on stopping other than to have lunch.

Have I mentioned yet that my kids are STELLAR roadtrippers? Well they are! We have discovered that the secret to no bickering is to put Kendall in the 3rd row seat and Noah in the middle row. We put the two middle row seats together so he has a "bench" to put his things on beside him. Then both kids take fleece blankets to drape across the seats to make their own individual "tents". This works like a charm! Kendall has a shallow Rubbermaid tote which slides under her seat that she fills with movies, snacks, books, games, etc...and Noah puts all of his stuff on the seat beside him or in the pockets on the back of our seats. Everyone has exactly what they need, and it's all within reach. When they get tired of movies or video games, or looking at books, we play games like "My Father Owns a Grocery Store" or "Would You Rather...", the latter of which gets really gross from time to time. For instance, here is a question that came up during our latest game..."Would you rather drink a package of the juice left over in the hot dog package, or a cup of someone's foot sweat?" Seriously?!?! So disgusting...but just so you know, we all picked hot dog juice!

Aaaaaanyway...we stopped at a rest stop for lunch and the first thing the kids did was to find a little lizard on the picnic table they had chosen. He was a fast little sucker, and while they tracked him for a while, they could never really catch him. Plus, we just wanted them to sit down and eat! Finally they did, and afterward we let them explore a bit before loading back up in the van.

We made it to Amy's with no problem, and the kids were totally excited not only to see her, but also that she had picked up a few little gifts for them! She had a kite and a tube of bubbles with a big wand for each of them. VERY COOL! And we were blown away that she had gifts for Barry and I too...2 bottles of our very favorite wine (which we can't get in Ohio anymore)!!!! I was so touched that she thought of it! All these states we drove through, and I never thought once to stop and see if anyplace had any! But Amy was on top of things, as usual.

Once we got settled, we decided to head to a local park so the kids could play and wade in the creek...it was so hot! Plus, since Bentonville is in a dry county, we wanted to head on over to the neighboring county to pick up some beer for our cookout that evening, and maybe another bottle of our favorite wine to take home. Hey, I'm just being honest here...I love me some King Estate Pinot Noir!! The kids had fun running off some excess energy at the park, and the wading was extremely welcome since the heat was oppressive...
That evening after Joe got home and we ate dinner, we headed out for ice cream at a local place, called Braum's ...it was good, but couldn't hold a candle to my first love, Graeters. We were so glad to be there, we all slept really hard that first night!

On Tuesday, we planned to go into Rogers to check out the Daisy Airgun Museum. It was a fairly small storefront museum right in the heart of the downtown, but really cute. The tour was self-guided, with the little hand-held devices that recite the information as you walked through. The kids sure got a kick out of that! Kendall's favorite part was the display dedicated to the making of "A Christmas Story"...who doesn't love Ralphie?After the tour, the kids got fitted for their very own Daisy BB guns. Barry and I had already discussed this the night before, and I agreed...with the stipulations that we also purchase safety eyewear and have numerous gun safety lessons before the guns come out. The kids were surprised and thrilled when we pulled some guns down to try out. They had no idea!
We were so happy to have found this little gem of a museum...it was only $2.00 per person, and Noah was free! What a great way to spend some time out of the heat! so if you're ever near Rogers, Arkansas, we suggest you give it a try!

(Notice how I got myself in this picture too...in the reflection?? Hey, whatever works, I always say!)

Check back tomorrow for the continuation of our little trip...we have a few more exciting stops yet!

Technical Difficulties

2010-08-14T18:15:00.003-04:00

I know I promised a continuation of our adventures, but guess what? I'm having technical difficulties!!! You know where your charger fits into the back of your laptop? Well the little pin that my charger fits around broke off in my charger!! I'm a little worried, I must admit. The Hubster has my laptop all torn apart in hundreds (at least it seems like it) of tiny pieces and is trying to solder it back together. SOOOOOO, until it's all put back together, I have no way to access my pictures.

But no worries, peeps...the updates are coming. One way or another!!! :)

Road trippin'

2010-08-13T08:56:00.004-04:00

This week we are road trippin'.

As our "last hurrah" of the summer before school starts, we embarked on a 7-state road trip from Ohio to Arkansas and back to visit Barry's sister and her husband...and obviously, because we just couldn't get enough of the oppressive heat and humidity in Ohio. I mean, really...who goes to Arkansas in the SUMMER?!?! Ummmmm, yeah...that would be us. We really live on the edge around here, man!!

I had stocked our van with plenty of picnic food and water, movies and activities for the munchkins, and a pound of Twizzlers. We were ready to hit the road! We set out on late on Saturday afternoon after the hubster got home from a golf outing, and headed south to Bowling Green, Kentucky, where we spent the night. Nothing exciting going on there, just some swimming for the kiddos and a good night's sleep. Well, relatively speaking...I didn't sleep well at ALL, but everyone else seemed to. The next morning we headed out after breakfast to Land Between the Lakes for some fun (and to break up the long hours in the car that day). There was definitely lots to explore there, but man, I'm tellin' you...it was HOT that day. We caught a planetarium show on black holes (VERY cool), drove through an elk/bison preserve (even cooler!), and were going to attend the Hummingbird Festival (it ended at 4:00, so we were too late!), and had a picnic lunch. We all agreed that we'd like to come back to the area to camp and explore some more! Canoeing, hiking, horseback riding, mountainbiking...there is so much to do there! Definitely check it out if you're in the area!

When it was time to get back in the van (and more importantly, the A/C!), we headed southwest through Tennessee and into Memphis, stopping along the way for dinner. By the way, did you know that at Chili's happy hour means "Buy one, get one free" beer? Oh yes, indeedy! I ordered myself a Blue Moon, and the waitress brought out two. I laughed and told her I only ordered one, and she replied, "It's happy hour!". Still not getting it, I asked her what that meant. "Buy one, get one free!" was her answer. Well, who am I to turn down a deal like that?!?! I blame it on the heat. :)We spent the night in Memphis before heading on to Bentonville the next day. Oh look at me now...I can't even remember what day was what. I've reverted to using "the next day". I must be in vacation mode! Hahaha!!! Aaaaanyway...we're sure having fun and the kids think it's so cool to have been in so many states already. They cheer every time we cross a state border. They are so easy to impress sometimes! (Note that I added "sometimes" there...)

Well, the kids are waking up, so I need to take them down to get breakfast. Enjoy the pictures, and I'll attempt to update again tonight or tomorrow with pics from our fun time in Bentonville!

Tuesday Randomness

2010-07-13T07:45:00.003-04:00

Hey all! Hope your summer is going well and you are keeping busy with all sorts of fun activities! Life around here has been a whirlwind, but I'm hoping that as this week comes to a close, it will slow down a bit...at least until we have to get ready to leave for vacation in August!

I've got a bit of randomness for you today, because I haven't the time to form a coherent thought, much less a well prepared blog post. Enjoy!

1.) It is amazing (and somewhat disappointing) how fast the hair on my legs grows. It's like the sun nourishes it the way it nourishes the plants. Seriously!!! I can scarcely make it half a day without razor-sharp stubble. I am not one of those lucky girls who has soft, blond hair on their legs. Oh no...mine is black (BLACK!?!) and coarse...grody!! I seriously think it's unfair that I am fair-skinned, fair-haired, an have baby fine hair on my head...but am stuck with this dark, stiff, yucky stuff on my legs. What's up with that?!?!

2.) We have new neighbors! Finally!!! The people who lived behind us moved out last July (to another house close by) and someone just moved into their old house. They are an older couple with no kids, and I've heard they are super nice! I'm planning to bake something to take over, but this week has been insane and I haven't had the chance. We'll see what the weekend brings. Let's hope they're good neighbors!!

3.) Have I mentioned that I love The Office lately? It is by far my favorite show, and I watch it all the time, since I have 5 seasons on DVD. (Can you say 'addict'??) I am beyond bummed that Steve Carrell will be leaving after Season 7...I can't even talk about it, because there is no way that show will be the same without him. Absolutely NO WAY. Ok, now I'm getting depressed...let me end this topic with a classic 'Michael' quote:

"My philosophy is basically this and this is something that I live by and I always have and I always will. Don't ever, for any reason, so anything to anyone for any reason ever, no matter what, no matter where, or who, or who you are with, or, or where you are going, or, or where you've been...ever. For any reason whatsoever...Sometimes I'll start a sentence and I don't even know where it's going. I just hope I find it along the way. Like an improv conversation. An 'improversation'."

4.) I'm hungry and I don't know what to eat. This is a problem for me. :)

5.) I wonder if there's any ice cream in the freezer?

6.) I finished the perilous dusting of the beams yesterday. What a relief to have that finished!! I think I deserve some ice cream.

7.) Key lime pie sounds good too...

8.) Sometimes I feel rebellious and refuse to unload the dishwasher or make my bed. Somehow it backfires on me though, because I just end up having a bigger mess to clean up later. Is that just being rebellious to prove a point? And if so, exactly who am I rebelling against? Society's expectation of women in the home? Please discuss.

9.) My roosters are catching my rebellious rampage...they keep tearing up my flowerbeds. Rocky is the biggest instigator, and it is only the fact that he has lived through a mauling by some random animal and the neighbor's dog that he is still alive. It seems wrong to off him when he's already cheated death twice, don't you think? But I'm telling you...if he doesn't quit tearing up my hostas and sweet peas, we're gonna have a showdown. And it won't be pretty.

Oh, who am I kidding...I'll get my gun for hire, the hubster, to do the dirty work. My name is Jen, and I'm a wuss.

10.) Mmmm...chocolate chip cookie dough sounds good, don't you think?

11.) Barry and I are trying to plan a vacation for our 15th anniversary this fall. We've kicked around lots of ideas, but a lot of them are not as desirable to us now with the oil spill going on. What a horrible tragedy that mess is!! We are considering New England...any thoughts?! Neither of us have ever been up that way, but we're looking for some romance and serious downtime to reconnect and relax. If anyone has ideas/suggestions, please shout out!!

12.) I can't take it anymore...I have to go eat. Preferably something really tasty. That I don't have to cook. Shit, there's that rebellious streak again...I need to work on that.

Have a good day, peeps! I'm off in search of morning morsels!

The Shoes

2010-06-23T13:25:00.004-04:00

Shoes...a very important thing to consider when going on a trip where you will be doing lots of walking. In preparation of my NYC trip, I knew I wanted some cute but comfy shoes, but where to find them? And what, exactly, was I looking for? I had no idea, but I knew they had to be comfortable...and not of the Asics variety, which is my norm.

Sheri has issues with her feet, and had to be very conscious about her shoe choices. She had found 2 pairs by a company called Jambu, and she was raving about how comfortable they were. And get this...one of the pairs were RED. I LOVE RED! So I set off one day to accomplish some shopping and found a pair of Jambus that were not only completely comfy and super cute, but they were red too! I was in looooooove. However, I did not buy them, mainly because they were $119.00. Helllllooo...$119.00?!?!? For SHOES?!?!? I turned myself around and walked right out of there. (Side note: Sheri did not spend that much on hers either...she got a great deal and the style she got were significantly cheaper than the ones I fell in love with. Of course.)

So anyway, the week went on and I literally could not stop thinking about those shoes and how perfect they were for my feet. I have kind of wide feet, so the toe box on most cute shoes is never wide enough, thus rendering cute shoes uncomfortable for the most part. And I wanted a little heel, but nothing crazy, because we were going to be walking. A LOT. These, however, were perfect in every way...and need I say it again? They were RED.

Shiny red.

Sigh.....

In the end, you can justify anything, right? I went back and tried them on a second time, and the lady working the shoe department at Macy's came over and ooohed and aaahhhed over them. I told her I was trying to justify spending the money, and it wasn't working. She proceeded to tell me (like any good saleslady would) that if I applied for a Macy's card, they were offering an additional 15% off that weekend, which mean that I'd get 35% off the shoes. Hmmmmm...that still left me spending more than I wanted to. But then I remembered that I had a $25.oo Visa gift card my friend Deetra had given me for my birthday. Now I was getting closer to a range I could deal with. And even better? A lady called on my Craig's List ad and wanted to buy my car seat at full price, which gave me another $35.00!!!! That was all I needed to hear. The shiny red Jambu "Camdens" would be mine!!! I LOVE these shoes...they are everything I thought they would be and more...I also found a pair of black shoes that I loved, and were also super comfortable. They were made by BOC for Born, and while I've never owned a pair of Borns before, I'd heard rave reviews. And let's face it people, if you want to skip the feet/knee/hip problems as you age, it's about time to be buying shoes that are good on your feet. I'll admit I'm as guilty as anyone else, wearing flip flops all summer...but I feel it now more than I ever have before. And with my hip issues (more details on that in a later post), I'm feeling much more inclined to spend a little more to take care of myself.

Anyway....I originally found these shoes in a muted orange. I fell in love with them immediately, but as is my M.O., I didn't buy them on the spot. I almost always give it a few days to see if I still have to have them, and if they're worth it to me. Sometimes I forget all about an item, meaning it clearly didn't make quite the impression on me that I thought it did, and sometimes I go back for it. This time, I still loved them...but by the time I got back to DSW, they were gone. GONE!!!! I did find a pair on clearance, but in my mom's size, so guess what she got for Mother's Day? She LOVED them and assured me they were like slippers on her feet. She also told me I would not regret spending the money on a pair.

You can imagine by now how bummed I was that I had waited. I just decided to get over it. (And that's when I found my Jambus.) But then I was online one day and decided to look at DSW online and guess what they had? The Borns in black, which is what I wanted (and needed) most anyway. They are so much more versatile than the orange, even though I loved the orange too... I had a $32.00 merchandise credit from a return I had made, so that brought them down to $27.00. I thought that was quite the deal! And since I'm now a DSW rewards member, I got free shipping too!

Now the bummer of this shoe scenario is that they were delivered the day after I left for NYC, so I didn't get to wear them in the Big Apple. (Can someone please explain to me why it took 5 days to ship something from the east side of Columbus to the west side???) I had to opt for black flip flops if I needed a black shoe...shame on me!!! But I have them now, and am very happy to have found 2 really cute pairs of shoes that are super comfy AND I got decent deals on them. And I'll tell you what...my feet sure are thanking me!!!!

Girl time in the Big Apple = A week of playing catch-up!

2010-06-18T21:28:00.008-04:00

Last week, my two best friends and I went to New York City for the very first time. Of course, knowing that we would never forget our first trip to The Big Apple, we wanted to do it up right. After months of planning, June 9th was finally upon us...and my first real "girls trip" in the last 3 years.

I was so looking forward to the break from my everyday life, as well as some well-deserved time with Sheri & Sarah. And in case you aren't aware, though Sheri lives within 20 minutes of me, our dear Sarah lives all the way out west in Calgary...so we don't see her nearly enough! So, as I was saying, I was really looking forward to this trip. But the day before, I started to do what I now consider to be "normal" behavior for a mom...worrying incessantly, making lists upon lists so that everything is covered and taken care of while I'm gone, missing my munchkins and hubby like crazy before I've even left, and getting completely sad about all the things I'll miss when I'm away. It's nuts, I tell ya!!

But I pried myself away anyway, knowing I would have fun and knowing this was a break I needed. And am I glad I did! We had sooooo much fun exploring the city and taking silly pictures and riding the subway and seeing Wicked on Broadway and going out for sushi and dancing and meeting people and well, you get the picture! We figure we slept about 20 hours in the 5 days we were there. And you know what? It was well worth it!
Of course, on the day we were to leave, our flight got delayed not once, but twice. And then, at 10:30 p.m., they cancelled it. So we were stuck in NYC for another night. Never fear, though...my sweetie rescued us by finding us a hotel room close to the airport in record time. We got a solid 6 hours of sleep that night before our flight left at 9:00 the next morning. BLISS!! But I'm tellin' you what...the lack of sleep from the past 4 days really caught up with us. We both fell asleep on both legs of our flight home, and I could barely get myself to baggage claim when we landed in Columbus. I felt like I'd been hit by a truck.

No worries though...a little Graeters at Sheri's and then I was good to go! I headed home, got changed, and headed right to Noah's ball game. And from that moment on, this week has been uncommonly crazy, especially since I lost Monday to the canceled flight.

This is the price I pay for 5 days with my BFFs...and that's completely fine. It was totally worth it!!

Schoooool's OUT for SUMMER!!!

2010-06-04T16:15:00.002-04:00

Today at 2:00, the school year was officially over for Kendall...and we are SO EXCITED!!!! I can hardly believe she'll be in fourth grade next year, but I'm not going to get sidetracked by mourning the passing of the year...instead we're going to celebrate the beginning of summer break and a completely successful school year! Our summer break will begin tonight with pizza after Kendall's Taekwondo class (she tests for her orange belt tomorrow!), and then ice cream, of course! Graeter's, here we come!

On Monday, we head to our consultation with the orthodontist. Yes, it's that time already! We're going to see what she has to say and get a timeline planned. With all the orthodontia I had to endure, I can hardly see what this will entail, and more importantly, how much it's going to cost. I hear it's like having a new car. But WITHOUT the new car. :(

Then on Wednesday morning, I head to The Big Apple with Sheri and Sarah for some good girl bonding time with my BFFs! I haven't done a girl's trip in oh-so-long...I can hardly wait!!!! I've been getting myself all ready to go with an update to my wardrobe (which was sorely needed), new shoes, a new purse, and new makeup! I'll feel like a new me! And after touring the big city with lots of laughing and non-stop fun with my girls, I'll be ready to come back home and throw myself back into our summer here.

Here are some of the things we have planned for the summer:

1.) Kendall has volunteered to be our "art director" for summer break. She is planning at least 2 crafts for us to do every week. She's been printing them off the internet and tearing them out of magazines and putting them in a 3-ring binder. She loves planning activities and being the "teacher", so this should be lots of fun!

2.) I like to keep the kids from losing everything they've learned throughout the school year, so I pick up bridge workbooks and we'll do a page or two every day, just to keep things fresh. This also helps to make the back-to-school transition a little easier.

3.) Noah is starting to read, which is really exciting!!! He's been sounding out words like crazy, and not only when I ask, either. This will make the summer reading program at the library so much more fun! Kendall usually participates in the reading programs at both the London and Dublin libraries, because well, it's double the fun! I've already got her started, as I picked up 4 new books for her on Wednesday...starting with A Wrinkle in Time (one of my faves!), which she already finished! Now she's on to book five of the Harry Potter series...

4.) Noah has started T-ball and boy, is that fun! Barry is helping to coach, and says it's a riot to watch these 4 and 5 year olds. They get so excited when they hit the ball that they start jumping up and down, cheering...instead of running to the bases. I guess there's a little girl on Noah's team that runs up and takes the ball from whoever has it...she doesn't quite get the point of the game, but they're working on it! LOL!

5.) We'll be picking the kids' daily chores back up, starting next week. We fell off the wagon during the school year, mainly because it's just so busy around here that it's hard to fit them in around their schedules. But they'll be glad to get them going again, because $5.00 per week for Kendall and $3.00 per week for Noah is pretty good spending money for things like SillyBandz and candy! And this year, Kendall is learning how to do laundry! WAHOO!

6.) We are taking a long weekend to head up to Niagra Falls at the end of June. We'll be spending a day/night in Niagra, then heading up to Toronto to visit my friend Doug, then back down through NY and hoping to meet up with Barry's college roommate Marcus and his family on the way back. I'm hoping we have time to stop at Mohican State park for canoeing on our last day, but we'll see how that goes. And get this...we're not planning anything ahead of time. We're going to Hotwire it a couple of days before and see how lucky we get!

7.) In July, Noah will be attending KinderZoo at our awesome zoo every Friday. It's his first time for zoo camp, and he is VERY excited. Kendall has gone every year since she was 4, and it is by far her favorite activity of the summer. Her zoo camp is the last week of July and is going to be extra exciting this year, as her BFF Riley is coming to stay with us for that week and attending zoo camp with Kendall. Those girls have talked of nothing else since March. Oh, the plans they've been making!! It will be an awesome time for them, I'm sure!

8.) We are discussing letting Kendall attend a week-long lacrosse camp in July as well. She's never played, but is willing to give it a try. The way I see it, it's our job to expose her to as many things as we can so she find the things she really likes...so I'm pushing for this one. Now, I just have to find a lacrosse stick and mouthpiece. I'm going to try to borrow a stick or find one used, since we're not sure she's going to like it. Craig's list, here I come! :)

9.) We want to get the kids downtown to the new Huntington Field to watch a Clippers game or two...they think that will be major cool! And so do we! There's nothing like a good ball game in the summer. And Noah will be totally into it, seeing how much he loves t-ball. I'm sure it will be a good time!

10.) August brings our big trip of the summer, as we're headed down to Arkansas to visit Barry's sister and her husband. Neither of us have been to that area of the country before, so it feels like an adventure! We're going to take a day or two to get there, stopping to see and do things along the way, spend a few days with Amy & Joe, and then take a different way home, stopping to enjoy all the different parks and such on that route. I love a good road trip!

Of course, we're planning all kinds of little activities here and there...going to the pool, boating, the fountain park in Dublin, the zoo, maybe Kings Island, taking a tour of the Anthony Thomas chocolate factory, Young's Dairy, hiking in Hocking Hills, and many other things our area offers throughout the summer. I love the summer, and it kills me that it's only 10 weeks long!!! So much to cram in...how on earth will we do it all? Oh, and did I mention building a pole barn as well? Ahhhhh, that's a different post entirely... :)

WELCOME SUMMER!!!!

Eggs

2010-05-25T10:48:00.001-04:00

Today's post is all about eggs. For some reason, there is a lot of "egg stuff" rolling about in my head today...so you are lucky enough to get to read all about it! Hahaha....

We have a hen that consistently lays big eggs. I mean HUGE. In fact, everytime I pick up one of those eggs, I wince. I sometimes wonder if chickens have any pain when laying eggs...I mean, is it similar to childbirth? Because if so, this hen is laying a 24 pound baby every few days!!! Poor girl! Let me show you exactly what I mean here. This is a normal egg....

This is a super-sized egg... Holy mackerel.

I think that hen is going to get fresh strawberries tonight for dinner.

She deserves it, don't you think?

And in case you're wondering what an egg that big looks like in the skillet...here ya go. I ate this one for breakfast today, and it was Taaaaaasssty!!!

On a side note (but also egg-related), it is a little known fact that I cannot eat eggs unless they are WELL done. No nasty, runny, sunny side up eggs for me. GAG. ME. WITH. A. SPOON. I can hardly stand to watch people dip their toast in those runny eggs. ICK!!

For the same reason, I don't do poached eggs or eggs benedict or anything like that either. Egg yolk that is not cooked completely looks like ear wax to me...and that is nothing that I want to eat. (I know this sounds crazy, but I'm just being real here.) I have never been able to eat eggs other than scrambled (and not runny AT ALL), hard boiled, or fried up nice and crispy.

Ok, enough about my weird egg neuroses.

I found this out at the pond the other day while Noah and Luke were fishing.It was not in a nest, just laying out by the pond. We have a cute little mallard couple who have taken up residence on our pond, and we're wondering if this little babe belongs to them. Anyway, because Kendall the Nature Girl lives with us, the egg was immediately taken into protective custody and put into a nest fashioned out of a glittery box and lint from the dryer. Don't you just love all the Scout hair ? Lord have mercy.

So anyway, Kendall candled the egg and swears there is a baby inside. The likelihood that it will not hatch is, of course, extremely high, but she wants to try to save it just the same. And so, this is what we have going on in our basement now...
That's right...a heat lamp. Kendall checks on her egg every single day, turning it and cooing to it. I can't decide what would be better...for it to hatch, or not?

Here are a few other random egg facts, because well, I like to be random.

Can’t remember if an egg is fresh or hard boiled? Just spin the egg. If it wobbles, it’s raw. If it spins easily, it’s hard boiled.

A fresh egg will sink in water, a stale one will float.

The color of the egg shell is not related to quality, nutrients, flavor, or cooking characteristics. White shelled eggs are produced by hens with white feathers and white ear lobes. Brown shelled eggs are produced by hens with red feathers and red ear lobes. Brown egg layers usually are slightly larger and require more food, thus brown eggs usually cost more than white eggs.

Don't you just love eggs?

A date with my favorite boy!

2010-05-17T12:29:00.000-04:00

Noah and I took a day and went to the zoo...just the two of us. The weather was beautiful... not hot, but sunny. I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed this little "date" of ours! We chatted, had indepth conversations about the animals, held hands and shared ice cream. It was a perfect day, and I am so thankful to have had it! I'm thinkin' he had fun too!

Noah loves to have his picture taken, so there were many to choose from. He'd stop at the weirdest places and shout, "Hey Mama!! Take my picture RIGHT HERE!" So, like any good Mama would, I did. And here are a few we came up with...

Noah LOVES the sharks. And the snakes. But mostly the sharks. So of course, this photo op was not to be missed!

A favorite place of ours is the Australia section of the zoo. There's a boat ride (which wasn't yet open on this trip), koalas, the kangaroo walkabout, a big ol' komodo dragon, and the lorikeet garden, where you can feed the colorful little buggers.

The lorikeets are always a hit, so we stopped in to give them a little nectar. One big fella got a little aggressive with another lorikeet and ended up biting Noah's index finger. Noah decided he was done with the lorikeets after that. They are now dead to him.

We never EVER miss a chance to ride the grand carousel!

Look at this sweet girl...she was more than happy to sit and let everyone take her picture and even put her hand up to the window for the kids to mimic. So sweet...

What day is complete without a little hide and seek?Did you know that Columbus has the #1 zoo in the nation?! It's true! And let me tell you, we appreciate our zoo so much! If you can make a trip to see it, you definitely should!!!

Are you ready for some football?

2010-04-30T11:30:00.005-04:00

Just when I think I'm going to get a break from the never-ending barrage of football games, football polls, fantasy football leagues, drafts, etc...along comes the OSU Spring Game. It comes out of nowhere and smacks me right in the face every year, mostly I think, because I'm just not paying attention...unlike the rest of Central Ohio!! We haven't been down to the game in the past couple of years, but Barry always mentions it...of course he does...he is following Buckeye football every single day of the year! Well, this year, we just happened to have nothing pressing that we had to do, and the weather was supposed to be reasonably nice...so we donned our scarlet and gray and took the kiddos down to campus for their first trip inside the Shoe. OMG... their first trip into the stadium...how fun!

The weather was AWESOME at the beginning of the day. We didn't buy our tickets ahead of time(they're $5 presale and $10 the day of the game), since the weather report was iffy right up until that morning. Turned out to be a great move, though, because while we were waiting in line to purchase our tickets, and older gentleman came up and asked us if we were buying tickets for the game. When we replied yes, he handed us 3 tickets (Noah got in free) and told us to have a good time!! SWEEEEEET!!! We still had spent no money, as parking was free as well as the bus ride from West Campus.

We headed on into the stadium, checking out B deck, trying to possibly find some seats under cover, as they were predicting rain later in the afternoon. But after looking around a bit and craving the sun, we decided on C deck so we could load up on our Vitamin D. I'd never sat in C deck before, and I must say the view is awesome! I really liked it! And of course, the kiddos thought it was VERY cool and VERY high.

We only made it until halftime, as the rain started up just before...and besides, the kids had finished off their popcorn and pretzels and the excitement was starting to wear off. Noah flat out asked to leave at least 3 times leading up to halftime. We were absolutely fine with it though, as we were glad that they sat and enjoyed it as long as they did! It was a fun day! Gotta do our part to raise those Little Buckeyes up right! LOL!

Afterward, we headed to Graeters (of course) to satisfy our sweet teeth. Kendall opted for the Buckeye Blitz because she thought it would be the best flavor following a Buckeye game. I guess I'd have to agree with her, except my favorite seasonal flavor (strawberry chip) was in...so I had that. When our bellies were brimming with ice cream, we headed up north to Straders greenhouse and bought a couple of river birches for our yard...they were 50% off! WAHOO! While we were there, my mom called to say she was going to hop in the car and come on up for a quick visit, so we hightailed it home and awaited her arrival. What a fun Saturday!!

But I must admit, I'm STILL not ready to talk football yet!!

She's just like me...

2010-04-10T13:00:00.000-04:00

I am a reader...always have been, probably always will be. I have always had a voracious appetite for books...and I don't discriminate between genres. I'll read most anything. Fiction or non-fiction...comedy, horror, mystery, self-help, spiritual, how-to's, autobiographies...you name it, I'll probably read it. Unfortunately, in the past decade, I haven't had the time to read for hours like I used to. Or maybe it's that I feel guilty for sitting down long enough to read. Hey, I'm just being honest here! But whatever the reason, to feed my need for books, I've become more hooked on audio books since I'm in the car so much. It's not always the same experience as snuggling up in bed or on the couch with your book du jour, but hey, it doesn't give me any eye strain! And besides that, it's really about all I have time for right now, unless I want to give up blogging, FB, and photography. So yeah, audiobooks are a good thing.

When Kendall was on Spring Break, I had to take her to work with my one day because I only had one client and didn't see the need to arrange child care for her for one hour when she could bring her DS and sit down in Danny's salon while I saw my client. Danny spoils her rotten, so she was all too happy to comply. Afterward, we walked over to the library, where she wanted to pick up the third Harry Potter book. Well, they didn't have it in. Bummer. So after much looking around, she decided on a big book called "Here Be Monsters". As she read the inside cover, she was laughing and looking quite intrigued. Little did I know....She read the entire way home. She read that whole evening. And the next day at lunch, she walked up to me in the kitchen and handed me the book. "I'm finished", was all she said. That simple.

I said, "You read the whole thing? No skipping pages? No reading ahead?"

"No! Why would you ask that? Don't you believe me? If I skipped pages, I'd miss stuff!"

How true...my thoughts exactly! I guess I just wasn't prepared for her to read so voraciously already. But really, I don't know why I'm surprised...

In Training

2010-04-09T10:03:00.002-04:00

For 4 years, Kendall has been asking to do TaeKwonDo. We'd been pushing it off only because she was involved in weekly swimming and gymnastics classes at first, then swimming and piano...there's always a full schedule. Plus, I guess I thought it would pass...maybe it was a fleeting fancy. You know how that happens with kids!

But Barry and I had been talking with Kendall about how she's getting older, and now is about the time that kids start to find "their thing"...the activity/interest that they love more than any other...the one they want to spend all their time doing, instead of just randomly trying all different kinds of things. Sadly, in this day and age, if kids don't get it figured out early, they are really behind and then don't want to participate. We saw this particularly in soccer, as she first tried it 2 years after everyone else her age had started. Many of the kids attended soccer camps year round, and Kendall felt like she didn't pick it up fast enough and lost interest quickly. I've talked to many other parents who also feel this frustration. It's like, if your child hasn't been training since age 3, just forget about it. What's up with that?

Anyway, she wanted to give up swimming...but that's not an option in our house. Why? Because of this...Swimming is a part of life around here until I am confident that these kids are safe around that pond. Yes, she's close...she's been swimming weekly since she was 3...but I wanted her to keep it up for just a little while more. So I made her a deal. She could start TaeKwonDo if she swam until summer break, and swam her hardest and best with no complaints. That was all it took. She was sold!

So in March, she took a free class to get a feel for it and see if she wanted to try it. This, of course, was a formality because we KNEW she was going to want to do it...and a LOT of it. Were we wrong? NO. She was so excited!!! And even more so because her friend Garrett decided to give it a go as well. (And of course, this makes me happy because Garrett's mom and I have worked out a carpool...because the TKD center is 25 minutes away from my house!) So the way it works is we pay a monthly "tuition" and she can go to as many or as few classes per week as she wants or is able to get to. They offer a class for her level every day except Sunday, all at varying times. Needless to say, she's been getting there an average of 5 days per week...are you getting how much she loves this yet? On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the class is at 4:55, so she rides the bus home with Garrett, and his mom takes them and Barry picks her up on his way home from work. On Mondays,Wednesdays, and Fridays, class is at 6:25...so we eat dinner, and then pick Garrett up on the way and drop him off on his way home. Saturday is kind of a crap shoot...class is at 11:00, so we make it if we can.

I'm seeing some real positives to this sport, as opposed to some of the others she's tried. First and foremost, the emphasis is on respect and discipline. Second is the focus. Third is how much fun the instructors make it while still coaching the kids. Not once has she said she didn't want to go. Fourth is how much these 2 instructors have made it so much like a sort of family. I even enjoy going and watching. Kendall loves to teach me when we get home...it's so cute!After a the first few weeks, Kendall came running up to me after class and said, "MOM!!! I really think I've found 'my thing'!!! I'll tell you what...I think she might be right. Here she is right after receiving her 4th stripe...the red one. Yesterday she participated in her first belt test, to receive her yellow belt. She was fantastic, and I'm not just saying that because she's my baby girl. One of the parents grabbed me on our way out and told me so...to which I replied, "Do you really think so? I thought it was just me being biased!!!"

She laughed and said no, Kendall was clearly working hard and having fun.

And really, what more can I ask of her?

My Little Helper

2010-04-06T10:03:00.000-04:00

If I need help, I can almost always count on my little helper. Noah LOVES to help. Give him a job, and he's ready to go! So the other day when I was working on a new recipe for Party in the Pantry, he was VERY excited. "Can I help, Mama? I want to run the mixer!" It's all about running the mixer, folks. He's very mechanically minded and intrigued by the way things work. Oh, that and he always wants to lick the beaters too... :)

Seriously...you cannot resist this boy! So we donned our aprons and got to work...me tweaking and tasting, him measuring and mixing. We had so much fun, and the results were good too! I think you can tell by his face that the recipe was a winner...Isn't he a cutie? Ornery as hell, but a cutie nonetheless. I can't get over how much older he looks in this picture!

So be on the lookout soon for these yummy tropical oatmeal cookies. They were scrumptious!

The Four Agreements

2010-03-26T09:58:00.003-04:00

For my 32nd birthday, Sheri got me a book I'd been wanting. It's called The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz. I had heard such good things about it, and I was dying to read it...and because she is such a good friend, she went right out and bought it for me. I distinctly remember sitting down to start it that very night, but I'm a little fuzzy on the details after that. Obviously, I didn't finish it then.

Or the next time I picked it up either.

Or the next.

Many times over the next few years, I grabbed it to take on vacation or carried it in my purse, hoping to have that insatiable need to read it. But each time I was denied.

You know how sometimes you pick up a book you want to read, and when you start reading, your mind wanders? You start thinking about all sorts of random things that have nothing whatsoever to do with the book...planning your grocery list, thinking about your vacation (which is 4 months away!), trying to figure out when you can get to the gym, wondering when you'll be able to meet up with a friend for lunch...for some reason, you're just not into it. Well, that's what was happening here. I wanted to read it...I wanted the information in it. I just couldn't concentrate on it.

My mind was not ready...not peaceful. And that happens sometimes, through no fault of our own. It just isn't TIME.

Well, that all changed for me when I was working the Auto Show. Sometimes there will be periods of time when I won't have a client, so I always bring a book to read. And guess which one I grabbed on my way out the door this year? That's right...The Four Agreements. And apparently, it was finally TIME.

I read the entire thing in 2 days...it's a small book, and fairly easy reading. The concepts are easy to grasp, and promise "a practical guide to personal freedom". By committing to the four Toltec principles in the book, you can help to create love and happiness in your life. And after reading the book, I can see why. Nothing earth-shattering here, but some very good guidance, indeed. Talk about leading a simpler and drama-free life! And we could definitely all use a little of that!

The Four Agreements are:

1. Be Impeccable with your Word: Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the Word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your Word in the direction of truth and love.

2. Don’t Take Anything Personally
Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.

3. Don’t Make Assumptions
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

4. Always Do Your Best
Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret.

If you are in need of a little pick-me-up, or are looking for a way to get out of your rut...this just may be the book for you. Ruiz never promises it will be easy to stick to the Four Agreements, but he does assure you your life will undergo dramatic changes if you do. Food for thought!

And Sheri, thanks so much for the book!! It was worth the wait! And it only took me 7 years... ;)

Auto Show...and a laugh for the day!!

2010-03-22T11:45:00.001-04:00

If you've been hanging out around here for very long, you know that every year at this time, I do chair massage at the Columbus International Auto Show. I don't work on the general public, just the product specialists. It's actually really fun, although it IS a long day of work. The product specialists are normally actors or models who do this when they aren't working on a project. They do "the auto show circuit" around their other jobs. How much fun is THAT? So I get to meet people from L.A., Chicago, Detroit, NYC, etc. And even better? THE STORIES. I ask every single person I work on what is the weirdest/funniest thing they've seen while working the shows, and boy do I get some hysterical answers!! You KNOW how I love comedy!

So this past weekend, I was working on a delightful gal from Chicago. Of course, I asked her my signature question..."So what is the funniest/weirdest thing you've seen on the auto show circuit this year?" She didn't even have to think about it...not for one little second. She quickly blurted out that it was definitely while working a show in Oklahoma. She was up on the platform, halfway through her presentation, when a guy drove by on one of those motorized carts that elderly people or injured people use at Meijer or Walmart, or what have you. But here's the funny part...his had a custom paint job. It was painted like a John Deere tractor.

Not funny enough yet...oh no.

No, this guy is driving a motorized cart painted like a John Deere tractor and PULLING HIS WIFE ON A MATCHING FLATBED TRAILER!!!

Now, I ask you...what is more embarrassing here? The John Deere-inspired motorized cart? The fact that you have a flat-bed trailer to match? Or the fact that you are pulling your wife on said trailer? OR...how about the fact that your husband feels that you are big enough to warrant being pulled on a flat-bed trailer, and does so in public??? (The gal telling me the story assured me that yes, the woman was quite large, and that she was, in fact, "sitting quite unlady-like" on the trailer.) LOL!!!!

I'm sorry, but I have to tell you that I almost peed my pants while she was telling me this. I mean, picture it, will you? Of course, I had to ask if this appeared to be normal to the folks of Oklahoma, or if other people were staring as well. She informed me that yes, everyone in the area just stopped what they were doing and stared. In fact, as well as this gal had her presentation memorized, and as many times as she's done it over and over and over, even she was rendered speechless for a second or two. It takes a lot to rattle these narrators, let me tell you...so that is speaking volumes!!

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is one of the reasons while I will never miss the Columbus International Auto Show!!! Well, the comedy AND the fact that it pays pretty good. Hey, I'm just keepin' it real here!! :)

The List

2010-03-12T09:34:00.002-05:00

I just got back from taking Kendall to school, and upon taking a quick look-see around the kitchen to see what I needed to tackle first, I saw a big pile of papers sitting on the table that I hadn't noticed this morning. On closer inspection, it appeared that Kendall had decided to clean out her desk. There were notices about events in January (JANUARY!!), various graded assignments, art projects, pictures and notes from her friends...everything you would expect to find in a little girl's desk. As I was weeding through the ones that would go directly into the burn bin, I pulled one out that was a pencil-written list on lined paper. It was titled "My Mom". As I read through her list of 28 items, I laughed, cried, and felt proud...all at the same time. I thought I would share with you all...here is her list:

My Mom

by Kendall

1.) She can make me laugh.
2.) She is good at cooking.
3.) She is understanding.
4.) She loves Daddy.
5.) She has natural curl in her hair.
6.) She loves me.
7.) She used to have a cat.
8.) She loves to read.
9.) She has brown hair
10.) She takes me to special places a lot.
11.) Her clothes are nice.
12.) She is a massage therapist.
13.) She will care for others.
14.) She is nice.
15.) She is short-tempered.
16.) She runs fast.
17.) She buys me what I need.
18.) She never lets me down.
19.) She takes the time to help others.
20.) No matter what...she always smiles.
21.) She has tons of friends.
22.) She has freckles.
23.) She encourages me a lot.
24.) She plays with me a lot.
25.) She loves shopping.
26.) She rocks!
27.) She will donate.
28.) She likes to read.

Now I know I am biased, but I think I have a pretty great daughter!!! This list, in it's pure and innocent honesty ("she is short-tempered"...how true!), has made my day. In this stage of her life, where I question almost every move I make with her and wonder what mistakes I am making on a daily basis, it's so good to see that the majority of things she lists about me are positive. Maybe I'm doing some things right after all...

Things to get accomplished today...

2010-03-05T09:49:00.003-05:00

I just need one really productive day. Two or three would be nice, but I'd settle for one! Today, I'm going to try to get a lot of "little" things crossed off my list. Here are a few I've got my sights set on...

1.) My dad is going to build me a spice rack for the inside of one of my cabinets to match the one that is mounted on the other side. I need to take pictures of it and send him all the dimensions so he can get busy. He is also building me a pedestal for my front-load washer and dryer, so I need to send dimensions for that as well. I will be so grateful to have both of those things built!

2.) Finish my mileage reports so Barry can get the taxes finished. Figuring up mileage is my least favorite part of keeping my records, so I always put it off as long as possible. But hopefully today is the day to get it finished up!

3.) Season my cast iron skillets...they are in desperate need of a little TLC.

4.) Take Scout to get groomed. This is happening in one hour!

5.) Wash my Odyssey. While I was getting a massage last night, my friend Sheri stopped by and wrote "Hi Jen!" in the dust on my driver's side door. Can't be driving around like that now, can I? (Thanks for the kick in the pants, Sheri!)

6.) Schedule a consultation with the orthodontist for Kendall. Yes, it's about that time...no denying it.

7.) Reschedule my dentist appointment. I can't find anyone to watch Noah that day, and I definitely don't want to have to take him with me.

8.) Schedule an appointment for a full-body scan with a dermatologist my D.O. recommended. I've never been to a dermatologist, and never been fully checked out. She thought this was a good idea, considering how fair my skin is. I guess I can see her point.

9.) Order Scout's heartworm meds for the next 6 months. It's so much cheaper to order them online through the vet's office!

10.) Call A Friend's House, our local domestic abuse shelter. I have a table and a TV to donate, and I'm ready to get it out of here.

11.) I really need to go get my eyebrows threaded, but I think that just might be pushing it.

12.) Make dinner and special snacks for the munchkins, because Barry and I are seeing Avatar tonight (YIPPEE!!!), and the kiddos are staying home with Uncle Luke. I promised them a Star Wars movie marathon complete with snacks if they can be good for him. Cross your fingers!

I'd better get busy...this list isn't going to complete itself!!!

Star Wars Mania!

2010-02-27T21:08:00.004-05:00

It's all Star Wars, all the time around here right now, and I think it's all my fault.

For Christmas, Noah got Lego Star Wars for the Wii from Santa Claus. At first, he didn't want to play it because he thought it was too hard...but as soon as Kendall made that her "new favorite game", he did as kids do and started to take an interest. So the Saturday after Christmas, we were all sitting in the basement, the kiddos were playing Star Wars, and Kendall was explaining the story of Luke Skywalker to Noah...except she didn't really have it quite right, and who could blame her? She had learned it from a stinkin' video game, for goodness sake!

So I pointed out that we had the movies, so we should watch them, if the kids were interested. They seemed to think that was a great idea, so we all snuggled up on the couch, built a fire, turned out the lights, and had a little movie marathon...complete with snacks.

Now, I must share with you that we had never really considered letting Kendall watch the movie before that time. Don't get me wrong...Barry and I LOVE Star Wars!!! But Kendall is very sensitive, and you just never know what will scare her. Sometimes it can be the most random stuff, like Scooby Doo. She hates Scooby Doo!!! It gives her nightmares! Or any movie where an animal is in danger, gets hurt, or is abused in some way...again, nightmares.
But Star Wars??? We just couldn't be sure, so we had erred on the side of caution. Until that Saturday. I guess you could say we threw caution to the wind...

And it was the most fabulous day!!! We watched the first and second movies that day, and the third the next evening. They LOVED it!!! Through the next week, we watched the last three. The kids are now full-blown Star Wars addicts. All they talk about is lightsabers, General Grievous, Count Duku, R2-D2, Annakin, Jar-jar Binks, Yoda, and the like. While on our trip to Disney, they both HAD to have lightsabers...special lightsabers with a Mickey Mouse button. Noah is constantly using "the force". (I wish I could use "the force" to get him to eat!) We watch a Star Wars movie at least every 3 or 4 days. It's really a fun time right now!!! Check out my little Jedis-in-training...

STAR WARS ROCKS!!!

No shortage of snow...

2010-02-18T13:00:00.000-05:00

Nope, we certainly haven't had a shortage of snow around here lately. Some people hate it, but actuallyI like it. Plus, I know that no matter how much snow we get, or how cold it gets, it's all temporary. Spring is right around the corner! That's the nice thing about Ohio...just about the time you're getting sick of the weather, it changes.

The kids have been enjoying the snow too...both playing in it and enjoying the time indoors. Scout, of course, would be more than happy to be outside in it all day, but he doesn't want to be out there by himself...so he comes in when the kids do. He's such a funny pup!

I've made a few treks outside as well. Yesterday I went out to play with the kiddos a bit and also to take a few pics of them in the snow, and we also had to do some chicken duty. Now this was a comedy of errors, let me tell you. For starters, I had underestimated just how deep the snow had drifted in our backyard. Secondly, I had to carry a 50 lb. bag of chicken feed out to the coop. Kendall was carrying the chicken scraps, and Noah was carrying the egg basket. Both kiddos were fully dressed for the snow...snow pants, heavy coats, waterproof mittens, hats, boots...you know the drill. Me - I figured I'd just carry the feed out, fill the feeder and then come back in while the kiddos were playing. So I donned my big snow boots, not the comfy little Land's End pull-ons that I wear for everyday running around, but the ones my dad got me from Cabela's so I could go play in the snow too...they're not the height of winter fashion, but they do keep my feet warm and dry!So anyway, we all got suited up and ready to head out. That bag of chicken feed felt heavier than the last time, I'd swear it! Or maybe I'm just out of shape...yeah, that might be it. So I got the feed up over my shoulder and take off out into the snow. In precisely 4 steps, I realized that this was not going to to as smoothly as I had thought.

The snow was DEEP, man!! Before I knew it, I was mid-thigh in snow. It was hard enough to walk, not to mention carry the blasted feed bag slung over my shoulder! Kendall was having a hard time as well, she kept falling down and getting stuck. Noah...well, let's just say Noah was pretty much stuck. The snow was above his hips, and he could not get enough momentum going to get anywhere without falling down. But somehow, SOMEHOW, we all eventually made it to the coop...and when we got there, we were all hysterically laughing. It was just funny! Then after we got the feeder filled up, the empty feed bag caught some wind and blew just far enough away that we couldn't catch it...and it didn't help that we weren't moving fast at all. Every time Kendall would get close, it would blow just a little farther away. I finally told her to just let it go, she was never going to catch it. Which sent us all into more fits of laughter! I guess we'll just have to find it this spring. LOL!

The kiddos wanted to stay outside, of course, but I needed to get out of my *now* very cold and wet pants. After I changed into warmer clothes, I went directly to the kitchen and helped myself to some hot tea. IT WAS SO GOOD. You might not think that hot tea could taste downright tropical, but this one does! I got it at a cute little tea shop down the street from my office called Teh Ku Tea Company. Just look at it...all those little bits of tropical fruits in there just make me so happy...
Yep, I'll be drinking a lot more of this one, that's for sure! Do you like hot tea? What's your favorite kind? I'm always looking for something new and different...

Garfield

2010-02-17T16:00:00.005-05:00

So it's Wednesday, and the kids have yet another snow day today...which for us is totally fine, since we spent the whole first week full of snow days in Disneyworld, but for everyone else around these parts, it's getting a little old. Today we ventured out of the house to run to the post office, the library and a quick run into the grocery...but I'm happier right here, puttering around my kitchen, weeding out the junk drawer, planning meals, and listening to the kids play. Surprisingly, they are still getting along and having fun together.

For the most part, anyway. Hey, I never said they were perfect!!! They've played Wii, a couple of computer games, read some books, made creatures with Bendaroos, and built elaborate creations with Legos. Now they are watching a Garfield movie we picked up at the library today. Garfield...a cat who loves lasagna...oh, how Garfield makes me smile.

I will always have a special place in my heart for Garfield. Why? Because at the beginning of 1991, I was hanging out with (not dating!) this fun guy I had met early in January. He had graduated with some of my friends from a nearby country school, and I thought he was really fun and totally laid-back, which I like. Now, I didn't want to be in a relationship, and he knew it (I had just gotten out of a long one...and it was not pretty), so I felt like he was a really safe person to hang out with and have some fun. Well, after weeks of doing all kinds of fun things together and just having a really good time, he showed up at my house on Valentine's Day with a single rose and a card that had Garfield on it. I don't remember what the outside of the card said...something about being the perfect Valentine...but on the inside it said, "kind of like lasagna with sneakers". I thought it was totally sweet, innocent, and lighthearted, and well...I liked it. I liked the no-pressure thing, of course...but I also realized that he knew what I needed. He was paying attention, and it mattered to him. And from that day on, I looked at Mr. Barry Kuck a little differently.

Now... he says he knew from the start that I was "the one", and he needed to play his cards right or I'd bolt. And that's probably true. I would have...it wouldn't have mattered how much fun he was or how much I liked him. I wasn't ready. But if there's one thing you can say about Barry, it's that he has a ridiculous amount of patience when it comes to doing the right thing and getting what he wants. Lots and lots of it. And apparently, it works for him...wouldn't you say? I had no intention of dating him...ever. I had no intention of even letting him think I was going to date him! But see how that slow, no-pressure, patience works? He just hung out, made sure I was having a good time, didn't pressure me, and let me fall in love with him slowly. And here I had thought all along that I had the upper hand!! Funny how that works....

Back to the Frozen White North!

2010-02-15T15:05:00.009-05:00

Well all, we are back from our very well-timed vacation to Disneyworld. I know I didn't talk too much about it here, but you just never know who might be reading...if you know what I mean. I didn't want to come home and find our house ransacked! LOL!

But our trip was FANTASTIC!!! The kids all did really well on the plane, and loved the tram at the airport... Although it was chilly for Florida, to us it was absolutely tropical...especially since central Ohio was getting pounded with 16-18 inches of snow and subzero temperatures! We made it to the pool our first full day there, but after that it really wasn't warm enough. They had a fun pool party that day, and Kendall won a hula-hooping contest...GO KENDALL!!!!We also made it to Epcot, The Animal Kingdom, and The Magic Kingdom (which is my favorite of all time!), and made an appearance at the Ohana Best Friends Breakfast with Lilo and Stitch... It rained the entire day on Friday, which is when we wanted to hit Hollywood Studios, so we decided to bag it and hang around our villa instead. We stayed at the Animal Kingdom's Kidani Village, and it was awesome...no two ways about it! There was so much to see and do. We went with 2 other families who were totally fun, and all of the kids got along famously. I just can't say enough about how much fun we had!

Maybe some pictures will convey the message a little better than my words can...Fun with a capital "F"!!! We were all so worried about taking our kids out of school for the week, but as it turned out, they all only ended up missing one day. With all of the snow and icy conditions, school was cancelled every day but Friday! Can you believe that? I'd say we got out of Dodge at just the right time, wouldn't you?

So now we're back, and it's been snowing in a near whiteout all day...we're supposed to get 7-9 more inches today and tonight. I guess this is what you call "getting the best of both worlds", huh? No matter...my kids are enjoying playing in the snow just as much as hanging out in Florida with their friends. But me? I'd rather be at the Magic Kingdom....

Kendall's Birthday, Volume 2

2010-02-05T15:20:00.007-05:00

Well, ok...I realize that it isn't exactly "tomorrow", but in my world- where the days go by in the blink of an eye - it is. So I promised pictures of Kendall's bowling party, didn't I?

Yes, I believe I did.

Honestly, you can't believe how many pictures I have on my camera right now that I need to share. I think I'm gonna have to quit sleeping so much.

Hardy-har-har...

Anyway, here you go...pics of Kendall with her friends from school, bowling their little hearts out. Oh, and I can't forget my little Noah! He beat everyone in the first game with a score of 102!!! I hate to admit it, but that's better than I do, most of the time. Check out his form!
And here's Kendall with her buddy Garrett...these two are so stinkin' silly. Oh dear...just look at them...Of course, I laughed and took their picture...so what did they do next? That's right - they took it to the next level.
I may have to seriously reduce the sugar consumption around here. These kids are getting weird on me. :) Here's one of my girl getting ready to bowl. Seriously, does she EVER just smile nicely so I can take her picture? ( I think we ALL know the answer to that question.)
And here she is again, being chummy with her friends...One of Kendall's friends knew about our upcoming trip to Disney and got her this cute Mickey scrapbook with all the supplies to put together a really cool album. It was a great idea!And what party is complete without cupcakes and ice cream? I would never let these kiddos down!I think the kids all had a really great time, and Barry and I actually did too! But even after a whole week of celebrating my Kendall-bug's birthday, I still can't believe she's 9. Nope, I surely don't.

Now excuse me please, while I go stack some bricks on her head to keep her from growing any more.

My baby girl turned 9!!!

2010-01-31T21:37:00.016-05:00

So...this past week was full of activities, and most of them centered around Kendall's 9th birthday. We make a big deal out of birthdays around here, and I think it's safe to say that we all totally enjoy our special week! The week started off with the family all coming down for lunch, cake and ice cream last Saturday. These days are always a treat, since our family doesn't live in close proximity to us. Kendall received a few Disney gift cards and a lot of money for our upcoming trip to Disneyworld. She was THRILLED, as she wants to have some discretionary funds...and Barry and I were thrilled because now she can spend her own money at the park!
I tried a new cake recipe for the party... a lemon vanilla pound cake with a lemon glaze, and it was a hit! We also made homemade vanilla ice cream and a raspberry/cranberry sauce to go with it...DIVINE! Watch for it on Party in the Pantry, but here's a little sneaky peek...
Oh, I'm sorry...did I skip right ahead to dessert and forget to mention what I made for lunch? Silly me...I apologize. I made a huge batch of chicken and noodles in my new 7 quart dutch oven that Barry got me for Christmas. Oh, and PW's creamy mashed potatoes...they are so good! A spinach salad and whole grain rolls rounded out our tasty meal. I must admit that it was all amazing! I think I'll toot my own horn...toot TOOT!! :)

On Sunday, I hosted a Pampered Chef party here at the cabin. I made even more tasty goodies... loaded baked potato chowder, another spinach salad, lemon cheesecake cheeseball, and a warm "make your own brownie" bar. Mmmmmm!! I should probably mention that the 11 ladies there drained 5 bottles of wine as well...LOL! The weather was really crappy, and I think that contributed to the large number of guests that showed up. We really had a good time, and I am so glad I did it!!! Who says these parties aren't any fun???
Kendall's actual birthday was on Thursday, and we sure had a big day planned. Kendall requested peanut butter rice krispie treats as her birthday treat for her class, and she wore her cute birthday cake hat I got for her at IKEA. After school we came home, grabbed a snack, cleaned ourselves up a bit so we could head downtown to meet Barry and Aunt Jessie for dinner at Buca di Beppo. We had a splendid time, enjoying garlic cheese bread, salad, and proscuitto stuffed chicken. Oh, and don't think we left there without dessert! They brought Kendall her very own HUGE cupcake, and the rest of us shared a big piece of chocolate cake. YUM!After we were sufficiently stuffed, we headed over to Nationwide Arena for the kids' first Bluejackets game. I LOVE hockey, but we don't go much because of our busy schedules. Barry had scored us some club seats at work, so we had a great view of the game. The Bluejackets lost to the Kings, but hey...we had a great time. The kids absolutely loved it! And just for a little more excitement, I had arranged ahead of time for "Happy Birthday Kendall" to be put on the LED banner...she thought that was totally cool! Don't have a picture of that though...I was too busy enjoying the moment. Sorry! But sometimes you've just got to put the camera down, ya know what I mean?

Check back tomorrow for the final celebration of Kendall's birthday week...her bowling party! And yes, I am about "birthdayed out"... :)

COSI...Not just another museum!!!

2010-01-22T17:06:00.009-05:00

Well, it's Friday and somehow another week has come and gone in the blink of an eye. I swear I still don't know how that happens! I am finally settling into my new groove of being home more and not feeling that panicky feeling that I won't be able to get it all done. I've been taking time to stop and actually play with the kids, whether it be Lego Star Wars on the Wii, building elaborate Lego structures, checking out High School Musical 3 on Nintendo DS, or reading the Chronicles of Narnia. It's been hard to do in the past, knowing that I really need to get caught up with things around the house, but now having that one extra day is making it much easier and much less stressful! And you know what else? I'm having FUN!!! So yes, I am doing well with the decision to close my office...better than I expected. So all is well there!

I was finally getting around to downloading some pictures from my memory card today, and realized I had some that I hadn't shared yet. I forgot that I had so many pictures on there! These are from little trip we took to COSI, (Center of Science and Industry). If you've never experienced COSI, you definitely should...it's a fabulous place for developing little minds (and let's be honest here...refreshing our big minds too!!!). COSI has a free community day every year, and I just happened to catch wind of it this year. Kendall's friend Riley was coming for a visit, so we thought it was a perfect thing to take the kids to do in the midst of our bitter cold winter. COSI moved into a new building about 10 years ago, and I am ashamed to say that I had yet to see the new building. Kendall had been there 3 times, and Barry had gone twice. BUT THIS WAS MY TIME, I tell you!!! I was so excited!!!

The kids had a ball...there is so much to see, and so many interactive things for them to explore. We even watched the Dinosaur movie on the 7-story movie screen. It. Was. AWESOME!! We all had so much fun - it's not just for kids! Most everything is made for adults to do too. If you live in Ohio or even close, it really is worth the trip! Check out our fun day...

Noah was loving being in this roving submarine...

Kendall trying her hand at running an ice cream shop...

Noah and Daddy checking out how the rear axle gears of a car work...
Shooting water cannons was so much fun!
Noah and gears...his most favorite thing in the world...
The display on childbirth was amazing...
Everyone chips in to help turn the big gears!!
The kids learn how an engine works...
Best Friends 'til the end!!
WE LOVE COSI!!!!

Random Wednesday Thoughts

2010-01-14T13:37:00.005-05:00

It's a beautiful Wednesday afternoon...the sun is as bright as can be, the snow is stunningly white (and melting), and I am cozy in my yoga pants. I have so many thoughts running around in my brain right now...and they are very random. Instead of driving mySELF crazy, I thought I'd take you all along for a ride so you can see what's going on inside my head. Might be fun...or might not!

Where is my freakin' lens cap? I have a bad habit of taking it off to shoot a few pictures and then forgetting to put it back on. I almost always sit it in the same place, but clearly this was not the case last time. It's like it just turned to dust! And yes, this is a distinct possibility, given the level of dust in my house right now...

I'm sending off a little care package to a friend who needs some cheering up right now, and am wanting to make sure I send a good balance of stuff. I've got two non-perishable microwavable meals (both Italian), two boxes of mac and cheese (because who doesn't like mac-n-cheese?), a pound of dry spaghetti, a can of chunky marinara for the spaghetti, a microwavable bowl of udon noodles, a bag of trail mix, and a little bit of chocolate. Sound good? I'm really hoping he enjoys the yumminess!

Why does no one tell me when we are out of chicken feed? Why do I have to find out all by myself when I randomly go out to take scraps to the chickens? HELLLLLOOOOO?!?! This in info I need, since I am the one who buys the feed! Note to self: Discuss with Ms. Kendall when she gets home from school.

I have to plan the goodies for my upcoming Pampered Chef party. I'm thinking Loaded Baked Potato Chowder, Bread Bowl Artichoke Dip, maybe a salad of some sort, and a Warm Brownie Sundae Bar...make your own!! I'm sure I'll come up with something else between now and then too...but wow, I sure hope I have a good turnout! It would be a darn shame if I had to eat all the leftovers, wouldn't it?

Two laptops are really not enough computers for a household of 5 people. I don't like to share.

I'm going away Saturday morning for a girls weekend with two good friends. We will be visiting my old stomping grounds in Toledo...I haven't been there in over 10 years! I'm sure it will be weird and the town hasn't been the same since I left...LOL!! But seriously, I'm starting to wish I had enough time while there to visit some old friends. Guess I'll have to save that for another trip!!

I'm loving my new daily "The Office" desk calendar. The quotes crack me up!! For instance this little nugget for today: "Okay, Dwight, let me explain something to you. I set the rules and you follow them blindly, ok? And if you have a problem with that, then you can talk to our complaint department. It's a trashcan." I have an unnatural obsession with this show. I have all 5 seasons on DVD and watch at least an episode a day. Yes, I have issues...but so does everyone else, and besides, mine are pretty harmless. :)

I hate to admit it, but I'm kind of enjoying going to the gym. But don't ask me to run with you. EVER. I'm not interested.

I'm going to NYC this summer/fall with my two best friends. This will be the first time for all of us...and we're VERY excited. Should I keep this sassy little short cut, or let my hair grow out again and let the natural wave flow? Decisions, decisions, decisions....

I love lasagna. Enough said.

I cannot tolerate one more person complaining about the weather. It is what it is. We live in Ohio, and it snows in the winter. Deal with it or move. Quit wasting all of your energy complaining about things you have no control over.

I'm consumed with sadness over the tragedy in Haiti. I cannot even imagine. Oh, and Pat Robertson should really keep his small-minded ideas to himself. What a numbskull. And he calls himself a Christian? Really?!?!

My dog is the best dog in the world. Really!

I'm hungry. I want some chocolate chip cookie dough. But I probably won't make any...that would make last night's torture session at the gym pointless.

Snowy Days

2010-01-08T11:18:00.006-05:00

This week, we finally are in the throes of winter here in Ohio! I actually like winter, and it seems like I'm always in the minority. I like hunkering down for a winter storm, watching movies, and making hearty meals that we eat downstairs while watching a movie. And no, we don't do that all the time...but a good snowstorm is cause for special things! This particular winter, we've introduced the munchkins to Star Wars...and they LOVE it!! We had the original trilogy on VHS, but I found a sweet deal on Amazon for both trilogies, so I picked them up. We are having so much fun watching them as a family! I make some kind of special snack, we all get into our pj's, build a fire, and snuggle up in the basement to watch the power of The Force. Kendall is sooooo into it. It helps that she got Lego Star Wars for the Wii for Christmas, of course...but now she is obsessed with the movies and the entire storyline. I love it!

On Wednesday the kids had a 2 hour delay, yesterday they had an early dismissal due to the deteriorating road conditions, and today is a snow day. So what are they doing right now? Watching Attach of the Clones. OF course. But hey, I'm good with it. I may even go down and join them!

Yesterday after the early dismissal, they got bundled up and headed out in to the snow. They were so excited to have more than just a mere dusting of snow to play in! Out came the sleds, snow pants, and boots...and they were off! Of course, I had to take a few pictures...
It seems to be cold everywhere right now...what are you doing to try to lighten up the days of winter and make them a little more fun?

2010...A New Year!

2010-01-03T21:44:00.003-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I just love the promise of a new year, don't you? I mean, I'm kind of weird like that anyway...I always prefer to start a new type of schedule on a Monday, usually at the first of the month, never in the middle. I'm sure this relates to something in my childhood and I need some kind of intense therapy...but hey, it works for me, so who cares? I just like things to make sense, and starting at the beginning makes sense to me, whether it be at the beginning of the day, the week, the month or the year!

For New Year's Eve, we did the same thing we've done the past 3 or 4 years...had a party here for everyone that didn't have a babysitter or didn't want to go out on the town. It's actually quite fun...everybody gets to dress comfortably (we even had a pajama party one year), and the kiddos have their own little party in the basement while we adults get to visit. We have yummy food, plenty of drinks, and excellent company. This year we even busted out the Totally 80's Trivial Pursuit. Come to think of it, I don't think we ever finished the game! We got distracted when the ball started to drop, and never picked it back up...ADD, anyone???

Anyway, as usual, we started out our new year just the way we like it...with friends. The party was small, but just as much fun...and let me just say, I don't know as much about the 80's as I expected to! Boy, did I feel like a dunce! No matter...we were all stumped quite a few times, and it was fun anyway.

So let me ask you a question...do you make a New Year's Resolution every year? I've had years where I didn't and years where I did...and I'm not really sure I'm good at sticking with them very long. But regardless, I do like reflecting on the past year and really thinking about how I can improve. Last year, I resolved to have more patience. I have lots of patience for my clients, friends, and even perfect strangers! Why is it that I have so little with my family? It boggles my mind, and I really hate it. Well guess what? I didn't do so well last year. I mean, I improved a little...I'm pretty sure of that, but not where I want to be. So guess what's at the top of the list again this year?

Yep...PATIENCE.

What else? I'd really like to get better at keeping current on my blogging. For a while there, I really lost my inspiration in the busy-ness that is my life. But I'm feeling renewed, and also feeling like I actually do have interesting things to say once again...so blogging is something I'm resolving to do better!

One more thing...LOVING and RECEIVING LOVE. I didn't grow up in a touchy-feely-huggy type of family, so sometimes it's uncomfortable for me when people I don't know well try to hug me. For the most part, it's not a problem...I've really overcome most of the uncomfortableness over the past 20 years, and now will actually grab people out of the blue and give them a big ol' squeeze. But I want to do better at letting my friends and family know that I love and appreciate them. I want to do better at receiving love too. It's hard sometimes to receive! But you know what? I LIKE to be loved...why can't I just soften up a bit and allow myself to enjoy it? I will in 2010...you betcha!!

So those are my big 3, folks. What are you looking to improve in 2010? Or do you not make a resolution? Just curious!!

The To-Do List!

2009-12-29T16:01:00.002-05:00

This week I have a "to-do" list that's a mile long...the one pictured above is my list just for today. Don't you love that notepad...the "To Don't" list?!?! My fab friend Amy got it for me, because we are kindred spirits...you'll never see us without at least one list! It has columns for things to avoid, to sabotage, to delay, and to pawn off. I love using it!!

Anywho...I began my day with a plan. Noah was at childcare, but Kendall is on Christmas break, so I let her invite a friend over to play. I figured this would keep her occupied so that I could get some work done. And no, I don't feel guilty. I've spent PLENTY of time with her in the past week!!

Turns out that apparently I am a really fun playmate...because these girls would not leave me alone! Finally I just had to put it out there and tell them to go play because I simply HAD to get some of this stuff done! After that they were much better, and went outside to play in the snow for a bit before coming in to play the new Wii games. Or maybe they were setting a fire or cutting all the hair off the baby dolls...who knows? All I know for sure is that they left me alone long enough to accomplish almost everything on my list. And for that, I am forever grateful.

Amen.

Merry Christmas to you and yours...

2009-12-27T22:58:00.005-05:00

Hope you all had a fun, relaxing, and very Merry Christmas and are looking forward to the promise of a new year! Santa was so good to us, and we were good to each other, so our many Christmas celebrations were absolutely fabulous and I feel renewed and refreshed! Time to get back into my purging. I can't believe how much I still have to get rid of. It's INSANE!!!! Of course, now there's even more...

Anywho...here are a few pics from Christmas. I was planning a big Christmas rundown, but I've been without internet all day until now (OMG!!!) and now I have to get cookin' some dinner and take Kendall to piano lessons. So...enjoy the photos and I'll work on getting some additional posts up this week. I'm so behind!! :)Lots of WOW faces there...isn't my family cute??? I know...I'm definitely biased!

A Visit with Santa

2009-12-20T09:18:00.002-05:00

Kendall and I had eye doctor appointments, and since hers was in the afternoon, there was really no reason for her to go back to school. By the time I would have gotten her back and headed home, I would've had to turn right around and go pick her up...so I decided to just keep her out and we did some fun holiday errands. On our list was a couple of returns, a visit to Santa, and (if they were good), a trip to Cheryl's Cookies and Krispy Kreme (all in one day? OMG!) to get Kendall's report card rewards. At Cheryl's, the kids get a free cookie for every A, and it's the same with doughnuts at Krispy Kreme!! And the best part is that Kendall is always happy to share with the rest of us!

So we headed to the optometrist, the kids fully briefed on how to behave in order to get to do the "fun" things on our list. Noah was fully prepared, carrying his Leapster, so he wouldn't get bored and antsy during our eye appointments. He did great...and Kendall and I are both rockin' the house with 20/20 vision. WAHOOO!!

After we left the optometrist, I again briefed the munchkins on how to behave in the mall...plus, Santa was soooo close...did they want him to see them misbehaving? The returns went as smooth as silk...Noah's only slip-up was when he saw Auntie Annie's Pretzels, and couldn't pull himself away. But hey, can you blame the kid? They ARE darn good...and the smell is divine!

Once we got his attention and reminded him that we were walking down to the other end of the mall to see Santa, he was on board. I pointed out all of the spectacular decorations as the kids ooooohed and aaaaaahhed. We were holding hands and skipping through the mall, singing "Santa Claus is Coming to Town." I'm sure people were getting quite a kick out of that, but I didn't care. The kids were having a ball, and so was I. Let 'em laugh!! I mean, have you ever watched "ELF"? 'The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!" Take a lesson from Buddy, peeps! LOL!

Finally, Santa was in sight. Lo and behold, there was only one little girl in line...and she was kind of scared of the Big Man. Noah was in awe. It was hysterical. His eyes were as big as saucers, mouth half open, body frozen. And then, when the cute little girl in all her Christmas finery was finished, Noah's trance was broken. He went sprinting up to Santa, asking him a million questions:

"Hi Santa! I'm Noah! Where are your elves? Where are your reindeer? Has Tinker Bing-a-Ling been telling you I've been good? Have you been to my house before? Did you know we have a chimney? What kind of cookies do you like? Do you miss Buddy? Is there enough Christmas spirit this year for your sleigh to fly? What time will you come to my house? Can I touch your beard? Why were you so mean to Rudolph before the fog came?...and on and on.

Bless that Santa, for he did his best to answer each and every question. I guess he figured he had the time...no one was in line behind us! And then it was time to get down to business...

"Noah, have you been a good boy this year?"

"YES Santa, I've been really, really good!"

"Have you been nice to your sister?"

"Ummmmm....a little bit. I've picked up all my toys!"
( The boy has learned the art of distraction well.)

"Have you been good at school?"

"Yep! Except when Josh hits me. Then I get mad and use my outside voice!"

"Have you listened to your parents?"

"Ummmmmm.....ummmmmmm....I think so. A little bit. Sometimes. I've been pretty good, though, Santa."

"Well, what would you like Santa to bring you this year?"

"I really want a remote controlled WALL-E, and a combine with 2 heads, and some gears!! Do you think I've been good enough for all that? I try REALLY hard!!" (Hmmmmm.....questionable!)

"I think we can arrange that. It sounds like you've been giving your best effort this year, and I'm proud of you! Keep up the good work, Noah."

At this point, Noah's little face lit up and he got so excited, he came running toward me, totally forgetting the sucker they had for him, and the fact that he still had to have his picture taken. It was really too cute. Then it was Kendall's turn. Funny how my totally outgoing girl suddenly gets shy and backward when she's standing in front of Santa Claus himself. What was going on? She wouldn't look him in the eye, kept looking at her feet, spoke softly (softly???? I didn't even know she had a "soft" mode!), and had to be coaxed to sit on his lap. But she finally did, and explained how she's done her best all year long to do well in school and has tried(oh Lord, has she tried) to not get annoyed with Noah...

"But it's hard!!And sometimes it's best not to keep all your feelings inside you, or you just might burst!Sometimes when he's really annoying,I have to go to my room and scream and punch my pillow, 'cause I can't punch him, or I'll get in trouble...you know? I love him...he's my baby brother, but he can be SO ANNOYING SOMETIMES!!!"
(She was unloading...talking so fast that I though she might pass out! I think she was actually sweating when she was finished!)

And to this Santa replied, "Oh yes, I do know all about that. I surely do! I have 3 younger brothers and a younger sister. I know how annoying they can be. You just keep up the good work, and keep trying so hard. That's all you can do. It will get easier! Now, what is the number one thing you would like my elves to make for you?"

I could see the relief in her face. Her worst fears were laid to rest. Santa understood what she was dealing with, and there would be presents under the tree for her on Christmas morning. Apparently, she had been just a tad bit stressed out about it, but now things were all good. After the pictures were taken, we headed down to Cheryl's, where she treated Noah and I both to cookies of our choice...orange citrus for me, and lemon for him. She chose a frosted cutout cookie with red & green sprinkles for herself. We sat and ate our cookies and contemplated the things Santa had said. It was a good day...a very good day indeed!

Life

2009-12-17T09:04:00.002-05:00

Sometimes life just has a way of getting so insanely busy that you spend all of your time planning, executing, cleaning up, and planning some more. When you add to that all of things that you do out of feeling the need to contribute, or things that you let yourself be guilted into...well, life spins out of control. You know what I mean?

Over the past 9 months or so, it seems that life around here is moving at earth-shattering speed. In addition to Kendall's school schedule and her few extra-curriculars, we have Noah's school schedule and swimming lessons...as well as my work schedule and Barry's (of course). There are volunteer days every week, along with all my other "mom" duties, such as cleaning, cooking, laundry, and just the general managing of the house and everyone's schedules. Oh yeah, and to top it all off, Barry switched jobs. Two weeks before Christmas!! I've found myself running constantly, always feeling like I'm behind the 8-ball, and never feeling like I can just sit for a minute. And in case you're wondering...YES, I know this is the life of a mother!!! But, Barry and I have decided we MUST find a way to simplify, because this is no good. So after much discussion and listing of pros and cons, we have decided that the best way to do just that is to close my office. The last day of my lease is December 31, and my last official day of work in my office is next Tuesday...EEEEK!!!

I must admit that I'm a little sad about letting my office go, but here's the dealio, peeps...I need to be home more. That's just the reality. My kids need me, my husband needs me, and Lord KNOWS my house needs me...LOL!!! With things being so slow at work, it just isn't worth it for me to keep the office open. I am planning to keep my corporate work, and only do that on Tuesdays...and we will keep Noah in childcare just that one day per week. It's good for him, and it's good for me, too. Some of my faithful clients have asked (in only a slightly panicky voice) if I will come to their houses...and the answer is yes. My schedule will just be much less flexible. But on the whole, I must say that all of my clients have been overwhelmingly supportive!!! I've been seeing some of them for 10 years, so I know this was a little of a shock. But hey, I really do have wonderful people for clients. I've known that for years!

The way we see it, this is just a break. If I decide to come back in a year or so, I can. I'm keeping my skills fresh with the corporate work and a few good clients on the side. Or, maybe I'll decide there's a new path for me...a new passion. Who knows? But for right now, it's FAMILY FIRST in 2010. That's where my focus needs to be.

As I was struggling with this decision, I called my friend Beth, who called me right out by saying..."Hey, what is the name of that blog you write again? A SIMPLER LIFE???? Get on it, girl...get back to that simpler life!!"

She couldn't have been more right. I'd lost my way for a little while, but I'm back for 2010!!!! Let's just hope I haven't forgotten how to write! :)

Bring on the New Year! I'm ready...are you?!?!

Buddy and Tinker Bing-a-ling

2009-12-14T22:00:00.000-05:00

We have 2 elves that come to our house the weekend after Thanksgiving each year to keep an eye on the kids for Santa. Their names are Buddy and Tinker Bing-a-Ling. Buddy is Kendall's elf, and Tinker Bing-a-Ling is Noah's. Every night, the elves report the kids' behavior back to Santa Claus and then head back to our house to be mischievous and play. The kids so enjoy getting up every morning to see what their elves have been up to through the night, and they sure do watch their behavior, because nobody wants a bad report to Santa! Here are some of their recent shenanigans...
They have also been found playing in my mixer bowl, head-down in cereal boxes, hanging from light fixtures, and climbing the Christmas tree. Those silly elves! Too bad I didn't always have my camera handy! We sure will miss them when they head back to the North Pole on Christmas Eve!

Do you have elves that visit your house?

Thanksgiving Rundown

2009-12-08T08:15:00.000-05:00

I know this post is late folks, but Blogger has not been friendly to me this week! For some unknown reason, none of my pictures would upload. Finally, it worked today...so here ya go!

So Thanksgiving is probably crazier for us than Christmas. You see, we have 3 Thanksgiving dinners in 30 hours when it comes to this food-filled holiday.

The kids and I headed out on Wednesday, late afternoon, to get to my Mom's. We got settled in, ordered a Celina Wine Store pizza (my absolute FAVE!), and my friend Shelly came over to visit. Barry and Luke were busy cutting up the deer, so they didn't come home until Thursday morning. On Thursday, we got up and ready to go and headed to my dad's for Thanksgiving "lunch" with he and Taffy. We had a wild turkey that my dad shot and cooked himself. It was very different from your average Thanksgiving turkey, as he made it in a Dutch oven with sausage, but still very yummy! I ate my fill, but was careful not to eat too much, as we had dinner with the Kucks at 5:30 that evening. My kids ate some turkey, potatoes, and veggies, but really went to town on the pie...especially since my dad loaded it up with whipped cream for them! Noah wasn't cooperating so well at first, but my dad told him that if he ate all of his turkey and veggies, he had a surprise for him. This completely intrigued my boy...so he ate every last bite. What was his surprise, you ask? Turkey feathers and the beard from that ol' Tom Turkey we had just eaten! Noah was in 7th heaven...
He kept holding the beard up to his chin, so we took a picture, and then that became a lot of fun when Jessie decided to use the beard as a moustache...

And then Noah had to make Uncle Luke have a moustache too...I think we were having too much fun with the turkey beard, don't you think??

After we sat around and visited for a while, it was time to head to have dinner with the Kucks. The kids are always so excited to see their cousins...they played hard and both fell asleep on the way back to my mom's. Sorry...no pics of that dinner. I forgot to take my camera in, and was having too much fun socializing to take pics. :)

On Friday, we had dinner with my Mom & Joe. Joe made his turkey on the grill, and it was tasty too...wow...turkey 3 times! How did we get so lucky? The food was really yummy and I stuffed myself with 2 helpings of mashed potatoes. Remind me again why I don't make those more often??? I wandered around, taking random photos...And then it was time to head back home.

It was getting late, and we wanted to be up early to go get our tree.

Neither of my kids fell asleep on the 90 minute drive home...go figure. But rest assured, we had no problem getting them to bed. They were T.I.R.E.D.! Another successful Thanksgiving, and many blessings to be thankful for. Hope yours was wonderful too!

Deer Hunting...and all that goes with it!

2009-12-05T12:33:00.007-05:00

Every year, Barry takes advantage of hunting season to the fullest extent that he can. Sometimes all he can work out is sitting in his stand in the evenings after work, or heading out at "oh-dark-hundred" on weekend mornings. But occasionally, we'll have a free weekend where he can meet my dad and brother up at "the cabin"...a huge amount of property with a little cabin that has been designated for hunting of all types...and for family only. It was by pure luck that we happened to have 2 free weekends for Barry and Luke to go up and hunt...so of course, they did! They both took Monday off and took full advantage of the great weather and good hunting.

Now, while the boys are gone, the kiddos and I go about our normal schedule...just at a little more relaxed pace. We make big breakfasts, sometimes go out for lunch (or skip it altogether), play games, watch movies, stay up late reading, or go visit friends. Why not? The world is our oyster!

The last weekend, Kendall had piano on Saturday afternoon and Noah had a birthday party to attend on Saturday evening, which meant we didn't get home until late...so we just read a few books when we got home and called it a day. Then on Sunday, we decided to hit Wildlights at The Columbus Zoo. Wildlights is fantastic! How could it not be, coming from the #1 zoo in the nation?!? It was a really nice night, clear and chilly, but not too cold. The zoo has gone to 100% LED lights this year, and it was really amazing. The lights around "the watering hole" were all timed to music, and it was quite a show! The kids and I had a fabulous time, but were bummed that Barry had to miss it (and so was he, when we told him about it). No worries, though. We're already planning a return trip! And trust me when I tell you that the pictures do not do any of it justice...you just have to see it. Trust me on this!

Now while we were off having fun, the boys were busy doing their thing...sittin' in tree stands, keepin' the fire going, drinkin' whiskey and talkin' guns. Sound like fun? Well, let me remind you that there is no running water...you have to use the outhouse. And the shower is smack dab in the middle of the kitchen, powered by a cistern. So just keep that in mind! ANYWAY...Barry got his buck on Sunday morning...WA-HOOO!!! He was a big son of a gun...8 pts and thick around the neck. Barry was quite proud, and so was Noah...Of course, since the weather was so warm, we couldn't let that big ol' buck hang for a few days, which is what you like to do...it stretches out the meat. But like I said, it was too warm to do that, so the boys had to get to work after just a day or two.

***WARNING...the following pictures are not for the weak-stomached folks. Stop now if you get grossed out by raw meat!**

As you can see, my daughter is not at all grossed out. She is always right there, checking out everything and asking a million questions. She has decided she wants to learn to hunt. We'll see.It went much more quickly than usual, being that we had two guys cutting. I ran the food saver the first night, but they were on their own the next night, since I wasn't home. And let me tell you this...that bad boy had a lot of meat on him. My freezer is full all the way to the top! And Luke hasn't even hit his yet. Well, technically he did, but after much tracking, the men still couldn't find it...so it was a loss. You never want to see that happen, as it's a complete waste of a deer. If you're gonna kill it, you'd better eat it...or there's no reason at all to kill it.

Here, Luke is removing the connective tissue from the outside of the tenderloin...

Look at the size of that tenderloin! Holy cow!

Man oh man, that is the best part right there....sliced and sauteed with garlic, butter, and onions...HEAVEN!! I'm getting hungry right now just thinking about it! And to my Party in the Pantry readers...yes, I will be posting some venison recipes. If you've only ever had venison ground up in chili or Sloppy Doe, be prepared to have your eyes opened to a whole new world. Venison is lean, tasty, and very good for you. No hormones or antibiotics here, folks.

I'm off to enjoy a day with family...have a great weekend, peeps!

Santa Baby...

2009-11-25T08:50:00.000-05:00

Santa Baby,

I've been really, really, extra-special good this year.

I've cooked, cleaned, done mounds of laundry, played trains and Polly Pockets, wiped noses and butts, kissed ouchies, helped with homework, planned vacations & summer schedules, volunteered in classrooms, taken good care of my clients, and I most especially have done everything my sweet hubby has asked of me. Well, almost. :)

And I'm happy to do it, because this is what my life is all about! But I must admit that I do still feel like a kid around this time of year, and feel that I should be rewarded for all my good behavior!!! HAHAHAHAAAA!!! So, here is the "Wish List" of my dreams...(and no, I don't expect to get most of these, for Pete's sake! And I've been wanting to know, just who the heck is Pete, anyway?!)

Peace on Earth, of course...first and foremost.

An OSU "Block O" hat...every good fan needs one! Except I think I might like the tradional black one better...hmmmm.
And speaking of OSU fan gear, why am I the only person in my house who doesn't have a jersey? What's up with that? So Santa, I am officially asking for a ladies jersey, please. It would look really awesome with my string of buckeyes and my Block O earrings...

What else? Hmmmm....oh yeah! A new 50 mm lens for my camera...so I can take some really nice food pictures for Party in the Pantry...

And to go along with it, a set of books by Scott Kelby on digital photography. I really, really want to become a better photographer!

And just one other thing to go along with my photography theme...a book on using Photoshop Elements! Photo editing is a must anymore! And Photoshop is complicated. I need instruction!!

I would also love a brightly colored Dutch oven...doesn't have to be Le Creuset...I'm not that picky! The Lodge line is perfectly fine with me! Now to decide.
Red?Or blue?

And how about this? Just what every woman needs...A HOUSECLEANER!!!Yeah, that would be so nice!! And while she's doing all of my housework, I could relax for a bit and watch my new ...

Oh, the joy!! And maybe I could be sitting there, watching Season 5 of The Office, watching the housecleaner doing her thing, and enjoying some ice cream from Jeni's or Graeters (which I, of course, purchased with my new GIFT CARDS!!!)Thank you Santa...I love you. And I still believe!! Because if you don't believe in the spirit of Christmas, there isn't a child left inside of you, is there? Have a safe trip, Santa! I'll have the cookies waiting...

Love,
Jenny

Wow, what a Christmas list! I guess I'm looking forward to Christmas much more than I thought!! What's on your Christmas list this year? Go on, get crazy...be a kid for once! What's the biggest, most awesome thing you can comprehend waking up to on Christmas morning?

Hey, Everyone!

2009-11-23T10:07:00.002-05:00

Well, it looks like a good 2 weeks have somehow managed to slip by since my last post. I don't know how that happens...the time goes so fast, and I have so many things to say! (Just ask my family...I never shut up!)

I know it seems like my blog has taken a backseat to other things, but I assure you that is not my intention. Somehow life got crazy this summer and it hasn't slowed down yet...will it ever? Maybe I should start scheduling time in my day to blog...you know, like making time to work out. Oh wait, I don't make time for that either, hahaha...!!! First thing in the morning might work well. Hmmmm, maybe I'll give that a try! Might not wanna hold your breath, though... :)

So, what have we been up to? Well, getting things wrapped up and put to bed for the end of fall. Winter is on it's way, there's no denying it...so we've been cleaning up the yard, the flower beds, the garden, getting the chicken coop all set up with its timed lights and extra roosts and even (hopefully) some additional nesting boxes. We have 19 chickens now!!! Holy crackamoly! Sheri and I have been cooking up a storm for lots of yummy posts on Party in the Pantry...so if you still haven't checked it out, get over there! What are you waiting for??? I am making the butternut squash polenta tonight with a wild hog roast...I can hardly wait. The polenta is my new favorite dish. So easy, and such a great comfort food!!
Barry has been trying to get in as much hunting time as possible, so that means I've been having lots of evenings at home with the kids. Let's hope he and Luke each get a deer or two this year. That would really fill up our freezer and significantly reduce our grocery bill! Check him out in his gear...he really disappears in that camo, doesn't he? I'm also proud to say that since we've been burning wood in our new stove, I have become quite competent at building and maintaining a good, hot fire. Pretty proud of myself there, so I'm gonna toot my horn a little, ok? And besides the benefit of the really warm, dry, heat...there is also the smell of a woodburning fire all day...and that is what I really love! Winter is going to especially toasty this year!I'm working on Christmas ideas for the kids, since everyone's been asking...and one for myself too. Why is mine always the hardest? I don't really need anything, and most of the things I want are too expensive to ask anyone for. What I could really use is some help...help cleaning, help with flowerbeds, help babysitting...you know, just some assistance with all the things I have to get done. That would be the best thing I could ask for. And especially in this year of purging, I certainly don't need more stuff to clutter up my house. But, I'm sure I'll come up with a couple of things that I really have thought I might like throughout the year...look for that post coming soon!

I'm gearing up for some kind of holiday promotion for my office. I really need to get moving on that one...Thanksgiving is this week, and I don't even have my idea rock solid yet! But it will probably be something like last year's "Buy a 90 minute massage for yourself, and get a half hour Gift Certificate to give away!" kind of thing. Or maybe a 90 minute hot stone massage for the price of an hour... not sure yet, but like I said, I'd better get if figured out, and QUICK!

I've also been doing some online Christmas shopping, and I'm happy to say that I am very close to being finished!! My goal is to be completely done by December 1. I think I can do it! And then I would like to have the Christmas cards addressed and ready to go by Dec. 7. That is my plan! Cross your fingers for me, peeps!

There are, of course, other things I have to share...but for now, this is enough. I hope you are all doing well and getting geared up for the holiday season! It's a week to reflect on the things we are thankful for, so today I am thankful for Reggie, who gave me a kick in the pants this morning to get on here and GET BLOGGING!!! Thanks, Reg! :)

We've been invaded!

2009-11-12T09:47:00.000-05:00

Do you get these nasty little beetles every fall where you live??? We sure do, and this year has been especially bad. These little suckers are all over our house, inside AND out! I have to get out my shop vac every other day to go around sucking them up, and let me just tell you that they STINK! ICK!On the flip side of that is the fact that the kids have been plenty entertained with them. They spend hours hunting them, having "races" with them, and (of course) killing them, or transporting them to "ladybug heaven", i.e. the garden. That was until I told them that I didn't want those nasty beetles laying eggs in my garden...now they just get smushed. Or smashed. Or stomped on. Noah's favorite way to kill them is with a plastic hammer...he really gets a kick out of that. Must be a boy thing...

Purging

2009-11-11T12:46:00.002-05:00

As you all know, this year has been my year to purge this house and get rid of all the clutter. I know it sounds weird to say I'm dedicating a whole year to this process, but it takes a long time peeps...especially with the monkeys around. I have been selling things, trashing things (I really thing you could pull up a dumpster right outside my front door) and donating things. In addition to my Craig's List frenzy (which I've already told you about), I've been making piles all over this house of things to be donated this week...and let me tell you, I will NOT be sad to see all of this stuff go!!!

Of course, the sad part is that it's only the beginning. There is so MUCH STUFF that I just want gone. However, being the conscientious person I am, I can't just throw it away. I have to make sure the batteries get taken out of toys (and recycled if they are dead), I have to make sure that the clothes I donate are in somewhat good condition...no trash. I have to make sure the electronics work, and if not, that they go to the proper location for recycling. I try to include the instruction manuals of things I donate, if I can find them. I wash the shoes that I donate, because...well, just because. This takes so much time, it's unreal. But that's ok! Because it will be gone...and hopefully someone else will be able to use it.

Just wait until I share the pics of the bags and boxes of stuff that's going. It will be inspiring, I promise! :) Are any of you "fall cleaners" instead of "spring cleaners", like me?

Aunt Jessie...domestic at last???

2009-11-05T09:48:00.000-05:00

If you know my sister Jessie at all, you know one thing...she is NOT a domestic. She is fabulous in every way, I assure you...but she has no passion for cooking or homemaking at all. She is a great aunt, a social fashionista, has 1,782,589 friends, 400 obligations, and great hair! And you know what? That's ok, because she's young, hot, and single! The world is laid out before her!

But lo and behold, after hearing about my applesauce canning adventures, Jessie decided she wanted to come out and learn to make applesauce! Could this be???? I couldn't believe it, but I was game. When you have my little monkeys in the house, you can never have enough applesauce. I made a trip to the farmers market to pick up a half bushel of apples, Jess picked up the jars, and we were on our way! After peeling, peeling, and peeling some more, we cut the apples up and put them on the stove in a little water to cook them down...After quite a while, the apples were finally soft and cooked down enough to mash. Now, we like our applesauce chunky, so we used a potato masher, which leaves some nice chunkiness! Then Jessie filled the jars all by herself...carefully wiping the rim and placing the lids on so they would seal properly...
And into the hot water canner they went...After 20 minutes under a rolling boil, it was time to take them out. Look at her go!

Nice job, Jess! Aren't you all impressed?!? I think she's got potential!Seriously folks, if you like applesauce AT ALL, get out there and get yourself some yummy apples and make some applesauce. It is totally easy, and fun to do too!

Trick or Treat Fun

2009-11-04T21:30:00.000-05:00

Halloween has come and gone, and I can hardly believe it is November 4th and I'm just now getting this pics posted! But let me just say that the week of Halloween was crazy with activities around here. Trick or Treat was on Thursday night, and every year our friends have a pre-Trick-or-Treat pizza party. It's great fun, as even the adults come in costume and it's always entertaining to see what everyone comes up with. This year, we went as characters from The Incredibles, as you can see from the picture above. The kids loved their costumes, and Barry rocked the house as Syndrome. I, of course, was Edna...the superhero supersuit designer. The kids loved getting into their roles as superheros...and truth be told, I think someone (who shall remain nameless) was really enjoying being a villian!Here is the hostess with the mostess...Miss Amy, dressed as Cruella DeVille herself! Doesn't she look simply D.I.V.I.N.E.???After the pizza party, the kids were itching to get started trick-or-treating, of course! So we got the group together and headed down Main Street to see what kind of goodies we could find...
After we did significant damage on Main Street, we loaded up the family and headed out to the lake to make our way around to some friends' houses. The good thing about this strategy is that it is A LOT of walking, and the kids are more than ready for bed when we get home! They were seriously in bed asleep within 15 minutes of getting home.

Then, on Friday morning, I had to take Noah down to his preschool for the Trick-or-Treat parade, which is really great because the people who work in the building come down and sit in an auditorium with big bowls of treats and the kids parade through, filling their buckets. It's quick, fun, and a lot of the people do a great job with the treats. We had lots of goldfish crackers, gift certificates for Frostys, fruit snacks, teddy grahams, and the like. Noah doubled what he had gotten the night before, so you can only imagine his disappointment when Mama told him he couldn't have any of his candy until after lunch...
After the parade, we met Barry for lunch and headed home. I had to be at Kendall's school by 2:30 for her Harvest Party. Her room mother had done a spectacular job! She had multiple games, crafts, and we had all brought good snacks for the kids. Too much sugar of course...but whatchagonnado? We had a really great time! Here are the kids after a game where they had to race to make a mummy out of toilet paper...
It was a fun day, but I'm tellin' you what...I had to take a nap late in the afternoon! I was so stinkin' tired! I laid down around 4:30 and didn't wake up until 6:00! I couldn't believe anyone let me sleep that long. I asked Barry why he didn't get me up, and he said he didn't have the heart, I was SOOOO out. Felt awesome at the time, but notsomuch at 2:30 that night when I couldn't sleep! LOL!!!

Hope you all had a great Halloween! What was the most creative costume you saw? I've got to start thinking about next year! :)

Warm & Toasty

2009-11-03T09:00:00.002-05:00

After months of hard work put in by my sweet hubby, the woodburning stove is in! And tonight, I am sitting here all warm and toasty, enjoying our very first fire. It. Is. Awesome.
In case you're wondering why I'm so excited about this, I'll fill you in. See, we have a geothermal heating system with a furnace backup. And while geothermal is great, efficient, and inexpensive to run...you never feel that hot blast of heat, because there is none...well, at least unless the temperature dips below where it can keep up...then the furnace kicks on. But that is also when the bill goes up! LOL! The geothermal system keeps our house at a nice even temperature, but I sometimes feel a little bit chilly even when the house is 69 degrees. Once we finished the basement, we knew we'd need some supplemental heat, and the hunt was on for a woodburning stove.

We originally found an older style Buck stove, which is what we had in our house growing up, so I was totally happy with that. Plus, we got a great deal on it. The people who owned it had only burned in it like twice in the past 12 years! But as we got closer to the point where Barry was going to have to install it, he started to be on the search for stovepipe for the chimney. Stovepipe is expensive, let me just tell you that! Well, what he found was that with the tax credits he would get with buying a newer, more efficient stove and pipe, it would actually cost the same amount as buying and installing the older one. So guess what we did? We listed our old Buck stove on Ebay (and sold it!) and bought a newer, more efficient Lopi stove. It's beautiful and compact, and you can even cook on it if you lose power! You had to know that little fact would appeal to me!

So here it is, our new Lopi stove, which has been keeping me warm & toasty on these chillier evenings, and will be running nonstop this winter... I can hardly wait! Oh, how I've missed good old wood heat!!! And doesn't Barry's hearth and mantle look nice? I'm dying to get the ceiling and all of the painting finished. But hey, this will do for now.

I think the littlest boy and I will be taking advantage of snuggling in the basement today, in fact. He is a sick little boy, and we are trying to get him well. No worries, though. Just a fever, cough, and headache. Lots of love, vitamin C, rest, and oscillococcinum are on tap for the day...same as yesterday. Hopefully by tomorrow he'll be back to his normal self!

Have a great day, and stay well, peeps!

Prepping for Halloween

2009-10-26T17:27:00.000-04:00

We've been trying to get our Halloween/Fall decorations going around here, and I think we've finally got a start! The kids have been itching to decorate their pumpkins since we picked up these little "Mr Potato Head"-type pieces to use on te pumpkins this year. Jack-o-lanterns are always a bit lost on us out here, because no one sees them but us! We're too far back from the road. So we thought our pumpkins would last a little longer this way. I also ordered these cute mums in jack-o-lantern pots called "Mumkins" from Kendall's school...they are so cute!

Here are Noah's creations, with a big old yellow mumkin and our wooden witch behind him...
And here is one of Kendall's...isn't she goofy?
And just for shits and giggles, here's what the front of our house looks like right about now. I gave up on the hanging mums this year. We just get too much wind. They get totally dried out and lopsided and just plain UGLY.
Now, on to the decorations INSIDE the house. We'd better get moving before we miss it! LOL!

The Chicks are Moving!

2009-10-21T13:00:00.000-04:00

This weekend we decided to move the 4 month old "baby" chicks from the brooding pen over to the big coop. It was time...they were getting big, and boy was it ever crowded in there! So it was time to take an afternoon to do some major work in the pens.

First, we had to collect the eggs and fill up their food and water.Then we had to clean out the big coop. I'm using "we" a little loosely here, of course...I didn't do any of it. Barry scoops the poop in the coop! I'm just here to document, photograph, and give orders. No, seriously. :)After the coop was clean and had new bedding, and the coop poop had been dumped on our garden, we began transporting the chicks one by one, over to the coop and placing them inside, showing them where the feeder is. Kendall was in charge here, and here is her method for transporting chicks: Open the door to the brooding house and wait patiently for the chick to get curious enough to come out. Then grab her...gently, of course...chickens don't like change.If the chick is too spooked and won't come out, go ahead and climb into the brooding pen, scoop her up, and give her a quick snuggle so she knows everything's gonna be A-OK.Then slowly and gently, climb back out of the brooding house carrying the spooked chick and murmuring to her the whole way that she's going to be just fine...
Turn around and smile at your camera-wielding mama and say, "See, Mama? No biggie!"Then head off to the big coop on the other side of the yard, with your little brother and your big dog following closely behind...Noah and Kendall took turns, but of course, Kendall is much more comfortable with "her" chicks, so she moved a lot faster, therefore transporting more of her babies. Noah did really well though, considering it was his first time and he really isn't very gentle by nature.
Scout sat and watched, for the most part. I wonder what was going through his head, though...maybe how good chicken might taste for a snack??
After we got all of the chicks situated in the new coop, Barry had to get our light timer all set up to start turning the light in the coop on every morning at 5:00. As the days get shorter, the chickens will stop laying if we don't supply additional hours of light. They need a certain number of "daylight" hours to produce eggs. We learned that the hard way the first year we had layers. I actually had to buy eggs at the grocery! The nerve!! :) Anyway, now that we've figured out the timer trick, we are good to go for the short days of winter.

The chicks seem to be adjusting well to their new home, and the roosters are being quite nice to them so far. Let's hope it stays that way!

Fabulous Fall!

2009-10-20T09:32:00.010-04:00

Fall is such a busy time for us...is it for you too?

Between getting all of those "summer" projects finished up before the cold weather hits to cleaning out closets, trying to take advantage of the apple farms and pumpkin farms, carving jack-o-lanterns, bonfires, school parties, and getting your garden put to bed for winter... there just isn't time for anything else, is there?

Here I was, feeling like I was finally back in the groove with my blogging. I had been so good about writing every other day and taking pictures to go along with our adventures...and then fall hit. But hey, that's ok. Ya'll are probably too busy to read every other day anyway, aren't you?

So let's see...what's been going on around here? Well, my brother is still living with us, and that is going well. He started a new job a week and a half ago, and while it is not his "dream job", it will do for now until he gets settled here in central Ohio. The kids are really enjoying having him around, even though he can be a bigger pest than them most of the time!! And of course, Barry is enjoying having someone to sit and drink beer and watch football with, as well as talk hunting and practicing shooting their bows...deer season is upon us, you know! The hunters have to be ready...especially if they want to each bring 3 home! What will we do will all that meat?!?! LOL!

Remember this project??Well, Barry has been hard at work on the finishing touches of our new woodburning stove and getting the basement finished. I'm not going to show you any recent pictures, because I'm waiting for at least the stove to be finished. All in good time! This week he has been trying to get all of the stovepipe installed, and tonight he should be finishing the chimney. Then we are ready for our first fire, which we have to burn with the windows open to let the fumes out. After that, we are all set for the cold weather...YIPPPEEEE!! There's nothing better than wood heat in the middle of winter. I will probably live in the basement for the next 6 months...and I can hardly wait!! And these are the big boxes the various sections of chimney pipe came in...My kids have been coveting these for weeks, and are driving Barry crazy asking him if he's done with them yet. I think he's almost done, kids!!! I can't wait to see what they make with these!

Last week, I finally did something I've been wanting to do for years. CANNING. With my big garden, it seems silly that I don't know how to can, but I was intimidated...what can I say? So last week, Dad and Taffy came down and spend their day showing me how to make and can applesauce. We peeled and cut a bushel of Gala and Yellow Delicious apples, cooked them down, and when they tasted just perfect, canned them in my favorite quart sized Mason jars. I ended up with 11 pints (one jar broke during processing) and 8 quarts. Not too shabby!! I am so excited, I can't wait for my next canning excursion! Who knows WHAT it will be!! And let me tell you folks...it was so easy, it was almost laughable. I can't believe I was so intimidated! And homemade applesauce tastes so much better than the stuff at the grocery.I just found out that the kiddos are going to Grandma Cindy's this weekend, and I am SO PSYCHED about it! Not that I want to be away from them, but as you may or may not know, for the past year, I have been on a purging and organizing mission. I've been selling things on Craig's List left and right. I participated in my first garage sale ever this summer and made over $500. (And I still have TONS of kids clothes and other things to sell...can't wait for May!) I would say we've sold close to $3,000-$4,000 worth of stuff in the past 18 months. That's what I'm talkin' about!!! So anyway, this weekend while the kiddos are gone, I will be having my carpets cleaned and also cleaning out closets/dressers and toys. I have a big box of donations ready to go and I can't wait to get all of this stuff out of my house! I am also planning on purging my files and getting my office cleaned up and organized. Oh yeah, I almost forgot...I am also trading services with a personal organizer!!! She gets massage, I get help organizing my house!!!! WAHOOOO!!! Does it get any better than that?

And one more little tidbit...the extra Kitchenaid mixer sold on Ebay on Friday!!! We shipped it off to Arizona, and we are so happy it's done! It's been a good week, peeps. Hope yours has been good too! Now get out there and enjoy this beautiful fall weather before it's gone!!

A Little Bit of Sunshine...and Distraction!

2009-10-09T09:20:00.000-04:00

So after I carried my kicking, screaming little boy to the car and got him safely buckled in, we left the apple farm. He continued to sob and chant "I want candy. I want candy!" as we drove away. Suddenly, as Sheri was cruising down the road, all conversation stopped immediately. We had both seen it at the same time. A field of sunflowers. It was gorgeous, even in the slight drizzle that was going on. Hoping for a good distraction for the kiddos, we knew we HAD to stop. Cameras powered up and ready to go, we exited the car and set the monkeys loose. The only thing that could have possibly made this photo op better would have been the absence of rain, but even the slight mist wasn't enough to dampen our spirits!! The kids headed out into the sunflowers, exploring and oooing and ahhhing. Cameras at the ready? CHECK!!

There's my pretty girl....
And here's the boy...talking into the sunflower like a telephone. (That was Sheri's idea, of course!) Looks like he's been adequately distracted and is actually having fun, doesn't it?Is there anyone out there who doesn't feel instantly happy looking at this...?

Of course, kids aren't the only ones who look great in a field of sunflowers. How 'bout my best friend there? Could she look more natural and real? I love this picture...
Of course, I love this one too...but I'm biased. I love every picture of my kiddos hugging. Sure beats fighting!!!
Sheri snapped me as well...though I think I have an odd expression. It's rare to see me without my big ol' teeth exposed in a smile. Or a snarl, I guess. Either way, my mouth is usually open! (Yes, yes, I know. Keep your comments to yourselves please...)
After we packed up the car to head out, we noticed one more great shot that was just begging us to take notice...an artist, set up in the middle of the field, painting the sunflowers. What a treat to see! The sunflowers look a little odd from this angle...I think its from the rain and the way the slight breeze was blowing. Anyway, you get the drift. Sheri was all confident that Noah's chant of "I want candy" had been broken. I knew better, but I kept to myself. Sure enough, as soon as we had him buckled into his car seat, the first words out of his mouth were, "I want candy!"

So much for distraction!!

A Trip to the Apple Farm

2009-10-06T13:26:00.011-04:00

Fall is here!!! WAHOOO!!!! The mums, the pumpkins, the leaves turning color, the apples, the chill in the air...it is by far my favorite time of year!

If you follow Party in the Pantry, you know that Sheri and I are part of a group of ladies that get together once a month to taste various foods. We've done chocolate ice creams, nut butters, breads, cheeses, wines, tomatoes, etc...and this month we tasted apples. LOTS of different apples...12 varieties, in fact. This month's apple tasting was held at my house, so Sheri and I took a field trip (with my kiddos) to an apple farm for a bit of research and to pick up some apples. We were hoping to get some great pictures and have some fun picking apples, but it wasn't meant to be. The weather turned just yucky enough to be annoying...a constant drizzle and a little chill in the air. But still we persevered in search of some yummy apples! There were so many to choose from! Even though they had a basket of free "kid-sized" apples sitting out, Noah had already spied the candy. This was a recipe for disaster, as he was a little edgy anyway that day. By the time we left, he was throwing a huge fit in the middle of the barn because he wanted candy and had decided he wasn't leaving without it. After trying to remain calm and explaining to him over and over that we were not getting candy, I ended up having to carry him, screaming, to the car. It was such a lovely moment...wish you all could have been there. LOL!!! Sheri assured me that all of the people were laughing at him and recalling the days that their children used to act that way, but I was still disappointed in his behavior. Of course I was...I'm his mother, right?

Anyway, I digress. Although Noah refused the small "free" apples, Sheri loved them, because she loves all things small...small ketchup bottles, small ice cream tasting spoons, small salt shakers, small cakes, small apples...I often wonder if her husband will be small...hmmmmmm. Just kidding! :)

My favorite apple is and always will be the Honeycrisp...look at it in all it's glory!!! Isn't it beautiful?!?!

And this picture was taken before the famous fit, while the kids were sitting and trying to be good while Sheri and I sampled the various apples and took some pictures for PIP. They really are sweeties...every kid has their moments, don't they?Our day was somewhat productive, but the best part of that trip is yet to come...tune in on Friday to see what perked us up after the "Apple Farm Fit of 2009"!!

My Husband ROCKS!!!

2009-10-06T13:26:00.008-04:00

Reason #5,792 why my husband rocks:

I was in the kitchen cooking dinner...I don't remember what, but I'm sure it was something yummy. Barry called to say he was on his way home and that I would be VERY excited to see him. Hmmmm...really...more than any other day? But he assured me that yes, that was possible, especially since he was bringing me a surprise. A surprise?!?! Oh, how I LOVE surprises!!!

When he arrived, I was in the office, printing something off the computer. He was giddy...grabbing my hand and pulling me out of my chair. And then he handed my a piece of paper. I looked down to see what it was, and was surprised to see that it was Kohl's cash...and the amount on it was $80!!! "WHAT did you buy?!?" I asked, my eyes wide. If you are not familiar with Kohl's cash, it works like this: When Kohl's is offering the Kohl's cash, you earn $10 of Kohl's cash for every $50 that you spend. So do the math, peeps...he spent $400. Naturally, I was a little concerned what on earth he would go out and spend that kind of money on, just out of the blue!

Still grinning, he pulled me out to his truck, told me to close my eyes, and I stood there, waiting, while he dug around in his truck and found what he was looking for. "Open your eyes!", he said...and I did. There sat not one, but TWO Kitchenaid 5 qt Artisan Stand Mixers. One in Empire Red, and one in Metallic Chrome. Dumbfounded, I stood there, my mouth gaping. Finally, when I found my voice, I started giggling and doing a happy dance...and then I thought to ask the question..."Why two?"

Well, first off, he wasn't sure which color I would want. And secondly, he got such a good deal, that he figured he'd just buy two and I could sell one on Craig's List. So guess which one I kept and which one I'm selling. If you know me at all, this should be easy...but I'll give you a hint...
Isn't she pretty? I love her so so sooooo much!!!! I've been coveting the almighty Kitchenaid mixers for years, but wouldn't spend the money as long as my trusty old Sunbeam was still kickin'. And guess who else was totally excited????
That's right, my favorite little cooking buddy. He could not WAIT to get his hands on her! Since we got her, we've made a few things, and he will not let me turn her on and off. He figures that is HIS job.

But anyway, let me give you the breakdown of Barry's good deal. Ok, the mixer usually retails for $359.99. It was on sale for $299.00. They were running one of those deals where you scratch off a card and it has a certain percentage off, and he got 15% off. Then he also applied for a Kohl's card and got another 15% off. Now, Kitchenaid was also offering a $40 rebate per unit, so we'll be getting another $80 back, and we got $80 in Kohl's cash as well!!! Plus, my plan is to sell it for $250, so the overall total for my beautiful red mixer should be around $120. WAHOOO!!!!
Now I've just got to sell the chrome one... :)