blogs & books

I mentioned that I had a new blog in the works.  I had hoped to open it today.  But then I resized the header that my husband had made for me.  That, of course, distorted it.  {smile}  He’s going to work on that for me and add a few details that we noticed would look good.  And then I tried my hand at making title buttons for the sidebar.  They are cute but not uniform.  Like I said I tried.  {smile}  In other words, the blog is simply not ready for opening yet.

And since I also mentioned that I’m trying to keep this Christmas season calmer, more simple,  and as stress free (as much as I can), I have decided to wait to open the blog in January.  This gives me a month to fix that header and figure out making the sidebar title buttons, etc.  One less thing on my plate this month means a much calmer mom.

But I wanted to share a few blog posts that I have read this week and a couple new blogs that I have discovered. 

• I don’t have time to be sick

I usually get sick ( and am currently sick) in December.  After researching, I’m wondering if it is the increase in sugar (lowers immunity) and the increase of go-go-go!  This is one reason why I’m trying to slow down this month. 

• Homeschooling & Realistic Expectations 

I read this to David and we both laughed.  I told him (and he agreed) that I really can not be all five things on this list all on one day.  (visit the link to see the list)  Except where she has “willing” wife, I would put the words “hair fixed, all makeup on, and non-stained clothing” wife.  {smile}

• 10 things I’ve Learned Getting to Mother Little Ones 6 Times

Yep!  What she’s said.

• The 2012 Homesteader’s Gift Guide

Because my heart is the heart of a homesteader…one day…

• A 25-Day Christmas Countdown That Counts (FREE eBooklet)

New to me blogs:

• Together in Ten

Because I really am trying to get dressed everyday…and in if ten…even better!

• The Flourishing Abode

I came across this blog on Pinterest.  Many  great blog tips. 

I hope y’all have a great weekend!  Leave us a comment and tell us of any great blog posts or blogs that you’ve read recently!

Friday Five {food, fitness, and finds}

It’s Friday evening and we are waiting for David to get home from work.  There’s pizza dough rising and a blueberry cobbler baking.  When you add in a movie, you’ve got some great fixings for a family night!  Here’s a quick Friday Five post for today:

 

#1  Fitness Friday

I joined in on the 42 days to fit challenge over at Marathon Mom this past week.  This week the challenge was to give up sugar.  Since I most definitely have a sugar addiction and most of it is in the form of soda, I knew this would be a tough challenge for me.  I figured that since I was trying to homeschool that fighting a sugar addiction withdrawal would not be fun.  (Can you imagine…algebra + sugar addiction withdrawal…scary mom, for sure!) 

I do realize that this is an excuse but I’ve tried this before…it’s not pretty…especially if you add in teaching algebra to a teenager.  So I decided to limit myself to one soda a day and then once I got close to the weekend I would try to completely cut out the soda since my husband would be home to help with the kids.  Overall, I’ve done well with one soda a day but am not to the no soda over the weekend.  Why is that step so hard for me to take?  Baby steps…

 

#2  Yummy, quick, and healthy lunch

 

Last weekend I took a little time to prep some lunches for myself.  I need to eat a little differently from the kids in order to help my weight loss.  So I cut some chicken breasts in to small pieces and froze them in individual freezer bags.  While preparing the kids’ meal, I stir fry the chicken in a little olive oil, add some garlic and seasonings and then throw in some veggies and little soy sauce.  One day, I used spinach and sprinkled with a little more garlic powder while cooking.  It was incredibly yummy, quick, and healthy!

 

#3  Cooking with beans

I found this new to me blog with a great post on cooking beans.  I love cooking with beans and am always on the look out for new recipes.  I’ve not gotten far into checking this new to me blog out yet but it looks like a great read!  Check it out:

The Prudent Homemaker:  How to eat beans every night

** I just realized that she also has a website here.  I can’t wait to check it out! 

 

#4  My daughter is becoming a cook

My oldest daughter baked cookies for us today.  And she did most of it by herself.  My baby is growing up {sigh}

 

#5  Good Food on a Tight Budget

I’m always on the lookout for ways to save money in the kitchen.  I recently stumbled across this guide to good food on a tight budget.  I haven’t actually read it yet but wanted to share it.  I hope to read that soon also (I’m seeing a trend here.)  If you get a chance to read it, please let me know what you think about it. 

Good Food on a Tight Budget

That’s all the time I have today.  I just pulled the blueberry cobbler out of the oven and now I’m off to roll out some pizza dough and have a fun family night with my kids and husband! 

I hope you have a great weekend!

Adriane

A birthday celebration at the lake

Our Flower Girl was born on Memorial Day weekend.  Every year, we celebrate her birthday while at the lake on a mini-vacation.  This year, we celebrated her eighth birthday.  I can not believe that my baby girl is all ready eight! 

We returned home yesterday and you can imagine how many clothes need to be washed and how much unpacking that I need to do.  Also, the garden decided to leave me some work to do.  Right now my kitchen is holding some garden goodies that I need to take care of.  I’m not complaining…not at all…but this post will just be a picture post.  Here’s our weekend at the lake. ~

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Birthday, Emma Grace!  We love you! 

The birthday weekend ~

Thursday morning will be a big deal around our house.  For the first time ever, we awaken as the home of a teenager (and I believe that we will be a teenager home for the next 15 or so years).  When did I get old enough to be a mom to a teenager?  A teenager!  {wink}

The boys wanted to do something special this year to ring in the teenager years for Bryce.  Not only that, we wanted to celebrate the 11th birthday of Grant.  My two oldest boys have birthdays only nine days apart.  They have shared a big party for years and they haven’t seemed to mind the least bit.  They have a very special brother/friend bond.  So to celebrate the guys’ birthdays, we headed out to our favorite camping site with a few of their buddies for a fishing birthday weekend. 

It’s hard to get pictures of the guys.  They don’t always take kindly to me snapping away especially when friends are around…so I had to be sneaky! {smile}

While we were at the lake, we did a little fishing…

and a little turtle catching.

We did a lot of splashing and rock skipping…

and were amazed as we watch the sun quickly sink into the horizon.

We roasted hot dogs & marshmallows for smores…

 

and even did a little night fishing (sorry about picture quality).

 

We spent the weekend with friends and family as we celebrated the birthdays of two special guys.  It was a very special weekend.

Happy 11th birthday and Happy 13th birthday, Grant & Bryce! 

 

 

Counting my blessings ~

After my post earlier today, I figure the best way to rejoice in this day is to count my blessings.   Today has not been the easiest day.  It is a day that requires me to choose to be glad.  So today, I’m glad for: 

• our little white house ~ It is small for our family but after seeing a pioneer house this weekend that held more children than ours and was much smaller, I am thankful.
• our little white house {again} ~ because of this house, I am able to stay home with my children.
• my husband who wants me to be at home with our children and encourages me.  He does what he needs to in order for us to do what we feel God is leading us to do.

• modern conveniences that make cooking much easier than pioneer times
• grocery stores and department stores so we don’t have to depend on us to supply all of our food & clothing needs

• a pumpkin patch and a little boy who ran around and exclaimed, “pumpins, pumpins” as he searched for the one that was “just right”
• the joy of children who enjoy simple pleasures like a patch of brightly colored pumpkins

• friends who share with you knowledge of new pumpkin patches
• friends whom you can call  {or they call you} and they “get you”
• friends with whom you can laugh or cry

• RAIN for a dry and weary land
• a boy who is excited that it is raining and asks you at least five times if he can go out and play {despite the thunder}

• the colors of autumn
• a boy who helped me decorate the porch and stoop with fall colors and donated his pumpkin that he bought with his very own money

• two little girls who can and will spend time everyday creating things
• girls who bring pictures to me and tell me, “I made this just for you, Mommy”.

• visits with parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents
• talking with my Grandma and hearing of when my brother and I were little
• making a new friend with my Grandma’s roommate.  Ms. Foster had eight children herself.  Her eyes had the sparkle of a woman who loved life.
• hugging my old friend, Denny, whom I’ve not seen since I was quite young.  He still asked me to hug him though I’m sure he didn’t remember me.

• a hay ride around PawPaw & Grammy’s yard {minus the hay}
• roasting hot dogs & making s’mores over the fire pit
• eating outside surrounded by my family and nature

• little boys in overalls {you should have seen when he was barefoot – CUTE!}
• my Mom & my Dad ~ I wish we lived closer.  I love them dearly.
• my husband who thought to snap some pictures with his phone because I forgot the camera.  He knows I love pictures.  He always thinks of the “little things”.

• children who love the outdoors
• children who love their grandparents
• a boy who gives me glimpses of memories of my brother whom I miss

• teacher declared holidays {we took the day off today}
• a rainy day nap under my favorite quilt
• sharing a rainy day nap with Sunshine Girl who slept on the other end of the couch

I am truly blessed!

 

 

A weekend at the circus ~

This weekend we took a little trip to the circus.

We loved ~

{The tigers}

{The clowns}

{The Russian Sleigh}

 

{The animals}

 

 

{The thrilling moments}

We had fun at the circus!