Leaving a Legacy

I'm Moving

2012-01-20T10:24:00.000-06:00

I have decided to start fresh with a new blog and host. Check out our new family blog over at WordPress.

http://simplelittleblessings.wordpress.com/2012/01/20/a-fresh-start/

I hope each of my readers (or at least those I have left) will continue to follow me and the bits and pieces of our crazy life I share over at the new blog!!!

Olivia is 3!!

2011-09-21T15:44:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!! You are growing up so fast and it is so much fun to watch you change everyday. The past 3 years have gone by so fast and my baby is now a big girl. You have had several milestones this year: potty trained and you gave up your bedtime paci. You are a great big sister to Noah and I love to watch you two play together so well.

Here is a little interview Olivia and I did this afternoon...

1. What is your favorite food: pizza, purple hull peas and chicken.

2. What is your favorite sport to play: skateboard

3. What is your favorite thing to watch on TV: Max and Ruby

4. Who is the coolest person on earth: Me

5. What is your favorite thing to learn about in school: letters

6. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? The beach

7. What is your favorite color? Pink and purple

8. What do you want to be when you grow up? Zoo keeper

9. What is your favorite song? My God is so Great
10. Book I'm Loving Right Now: nursery rhymes ( we read this book several times a day)
11. Three words to describe me: No answer from Olivia so mommy will give a description: Strong, Energetic, Thoughtful

12. When I was little I used to: love my paci

13. Favorite season: Summer (swimming)

14. Absolute best thing about camping: playing in the water when it rained.

15. Favorite snack: peanut butter crackers, yogurt, cookies and apples

16. Food I really don't like: green beans

17. My best friend is: Levi

18. One wish: baby sister J

19. My best memory: going to the beach
20. Is there anything else you want to say? I love you too J

We will be celebrating Olivia's birthday Friday night. She has requested a Princess party this year. I will post pictures of the party later..

One, Two, Three

2011-09-07T17:09:00.000-05:00

1. The weather is beautiful here in the South this week. I'm talking 70 degree temps for the high! We haven't seen temperatures that low since May. I LOVE fall and this weather had made my week seem so pleasant. I even stopped in Lowe's yesterday and picked up a potted mum for my front porch. Now if I could just talk Eric into buying a fire pit for the backyard we would be all set up for the season. This weather makes me crave a good smore :-)

2. I am addicted to Pinterest. I have a whole list of DIY and craft/decor project I want to do around the house because of that evil little website :-) Don't you just love how handy it is to save your favorite ideas and recipes all in one place. I must get off of here soon and start working on my yarn wreath again.

3. This month is turning into a busy one! We have three birthdays, our anniversary, and a ton of appointments (eye doctor, dentist, etc). Olivia will be 3 on the 21st and we are planning a princess party this year. She has been telling everyone that she is having a princess party for the past 6 months so I hope it doesn't disappoint. We try to keep things simple with just family and a few friends. Even that is not simple since we have so much family. I think October should have a vacation planned in it for recovery :-)

It's that time of year again!!

2011-09-03T16:23:00.001-05:00

I love this time of year...SEC football, cooler weather, yummy food and good times with friends and family!!

My handsome boys having fun with their toys!!

Olivia helped her Poppy and Mawmaw plant their fall garden today. Actually I think she did a little more playing than planting. She is ready to cheer on our Hogs tonight!!

We will be calling the Hogs soon...WPS!! Razorbacks!!

Summertime

2011-08-24T16:11:00.000-05:00

Summer: A time to leave behind routine for spontaneous fun.A time to forget the big camera and beautiful pictures and settle for the camera phone.A time to set aside blogging and just make memories.

A time to cool off from the heat that took over for months.

A time to dream and plan of home projects but not actually do any. We would rather test out all the cool rides they offer.

A time to fill our bellies with delicious snow cones!

A time for snoozing away after a long day at the water park.

A time for trips to the lake with friends.

A time for Netflix and no shirts when the heat became unbearable.

A time to stop and take a little ride. One little quarter brought so much joy!

A time for Sunday morning coffee on the road.

A time for baking, dress-up, mud slides, and birthday fun with the cousins!!

A time for date night, chinese food, a movie, sleeping in and IHOP. A weekend alone for the first time in a year and a half!!

A time for haircuts and bubble gum bribes. :-)
He did so good!

A time for great big hugs!

A time for playing in the rain one last time because summer only last so long...

The 4th

2011-07-09T12:13:00.000-05:00

Hey Everyone!!

I hope you all enjoyed your Independence Day celebrations. We traveled to several locations over the weekend and got to spend time with both of our families. Last Friday we headed out to east Arkansas to stay at Eric's grandfathers hunting club. We were driving into the club around 7:30 and the sun and landscape was just perfect for taking photos.

Olivia is potty trained now (YAY!!) and she let us know several times on the trip down that she needed to stop for potty break. Since we were mostly driving through farm country that meant she had to do her business on the side of the road. Thankfully I took along her potty chair and she thought it was quite fun to "tickle' outside. :-)

The camp is actually located on a peninsula in the Mississippi River. Back in May all the farmland you see pictured was covered in water. It was the biggest flood this area of the country has seen in years.

Noah thought drinking from the leaky hose would be a good way to cool down. :-)

The kids loved riding around camp in the Ranger.

Driving out Saturday we got to see this tug boat pushing huge barges down the river.

We had a family get-together in Helena Saturday afternoon and enjoyed BBQ with all the sides.

Noah was wore out after playing with some of his cousins. We head home around 5 and stopped at my parents around dark to watch a firework show that the city puts on there. I didn't get any pictures but the kids loved every minute of it.

After church on Sunday we decided to stay with Eric's parents for the rest of the long weekend. Eric went fishing Monday morning and the kids and I slept in then played outside while Mawmaw and Poppy worked in their garden.

We cooked ribs and burgers that evening then shot some fireworks of with the kids.

I think he was trying to blow out the smoke bomb. :-)

We shot a few more off after dark then bathed the kids and headed home. It was a busy but fun weekend.

Simple Woman's Daybook

2011-07-05T16:30:00.000-05:00

For Today...Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Outside my Window...the sun is shining

What We're Learning... we are taking a week off from preschool because of the long weekend. I need some time to catch up on housework and school prep.

I am thankful for... a good report from the knee surgeon. We are going to try physical therapy instead of surgery for now.

From the kitchen... we are having breakfast for supper. Biscuits and gravy, eggs, bacon, and hash browns.

I am wearing... grey running shorts, a green t-shirt, and tennis shoes

I am reading...The Help

I am praying... that my children will regain their full health soon. We have been dealing with colds all weekend.

I am creating... a simple preschool curriculum for Olivia. Since she will not be 3 till this fall I’m just putting some stuff I have found online together for her to use.

I am hearing... the kids watch Tom and Jerry in the living room.

I am remembering... the special time we spent with family this weekend.

I am going... to relax and watch a movie with my hubby this evening after the kids are in bed.

On my mind... a new Bible study to work through…

Noticing that... the afternoon is flying by and Eric will be home soon!!

One of my favorite things... peach cobbler and homemade vanilla ice cream…YUMMY!!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... lots of cleaning and laundry to catch up on…

A Picture to Share..

Simple Woman's Daybook

2011-06-28T14:12:00.002-05:00

For Today...Tuesday, June 28th, 2011

Outside my Window...it is finally raining after a month of no rain…

What We're Learning... the letter B. Bugs are our theme this week so we have been coloring, tracing, and reading library books all about bugs and the letter B

I am thankful for... a little reprieve from the 100 degree heat wave we have been having…it is only 70 degrees right now. I'm also thankful for time to just be quiet *read below*

From the kitchen... we are going out for lunch. Tonight we’ll be having roast, new potatoes, carrots, fried squash, and green beans

I am wearing...khaki Bermuda shorts, brown and turquoise top, and brown flip flops

I am reading... The Thorn by Beverly Lewis and Choosing to See by Mary Beth Chapman

I am praying... for little Noah as he continues to cut his back molars. He seems to be having a lot of pain and is very fussy.

I am creating... a new cleaning routine with this resource.

I am hearing... Olivia and Noah playing “house” together J

I am remembering... the messages I listened to yesterday…

I am going... to meet my husband for lunch today.

On my mind... a sweet friend…

Noticing that... my floors really need mopped today.

One of my favorite things... baking cookies with Olivia.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week... I have an appointment with a knee surgeon tomorrow, library on Thursday, grocery store on Friday, then we will be enjoying a 3 day weekend with Eric!!!

A Picture to Share..

*I'm back and trying to keep it simple here in my little blogging world. I love this little blog but it was time for a break to just let life be silent and enjoy my family. I'm looking forward to blogging again and I have quite a few pictures to share!! :-)

Vacation, Popsicles, and Summer Time

2011-05-23T15:12:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to stop in a do a little picture updating. We took a vacation with my extended family the first weekend in May and the we all had a blast. The kids loved Silver Dollar City and Eric and I enjoyed riding a few rides too. It was fun and we always enjoy getting to spend time with family!!

Noah wasn't so sure about the jailhouse :-)

We've also enjoyed lots of warm weather recently so we decided it was time to pull out the kiddy pool for the summer!!

Popsicles are a new favorite at our house.

I love this picture!

Olivia found the "hidden" markers recently. You should have seen her arms and legs.

She is styling in her new shades and 80's hair-do :-)

Summer time here we come!!

Just a test

2011-05-17T23:06:00.001-05:00

This is just a test post to see how well I can post from my mobile. I got a new phone today after Noah decided to take my blackberry for a swim last night :-(.

We are enjoying some unusually cool temps right now and most of our time has been spent outdoors this week!

Hope you are all having a lovely week so far!

Easter 2011

2011-05-09T16:12:00.001-05:00

Since I'm a little behind here on the blog I will most likely be posting lots of pictures and just a few word over the next few days.

We enjoyed a lovely Easter weekend with both my family and Eric's family. We celebrated by grilling out with my family Friday evening then had a huge dinner after church on Sunday with Eric's whole family. The kids LOVED hunting eggs and waking up to their Easter baskets on Sunday morning!!

Beautiful Sunshine!!

2011-04-09T16:55:00.000-05:00

Even though I have a love/hate relationship with spring, (I like the warm up just not the stormy weather that comes with it) days like this one make me happy!!

Not a lot to say today but I thought a few pictures for my family and readers would be nice.

Happy Weekend Everyone!!

It's my birthday and I'll blog if I want to...

2011-03-30T15:19:00.000-05:00

So as you can tell I have been absent from this little blog for awhile. My life with two toddlers is my only excuse and it's a darn good one too! :-) Today is my birthday and even though my house needs a little TLC right now, I shall blog instead. Because it's my birthday and I'll...ok you get the picture.

Most of the pictures are from last week when we were enjoying warm temps and sunshine. This week has been cold and rainy and I thought I would reminisce over the good ole days. :-) My kids love Playdoh and I love that the weather is finally warm enough to take it outside. It's so messy and I'm just thankful that we don't have carpet in this house. I love my wood and tile floors!

We bought a Wii recently and the kids have a blast "pretending" to play with daddy. I'm just glad they aren't old enough to know that it is all pretend.

This face seems to be her new camera "smile." I was scrolling through my photos today and she has this look in almost ever picture. Must work on that soon...

This little dude is still battling allergies and runny nose. I'm afraid he is going to be allergy prone like his mommy.

THE FACE!! :-)

Last night my parents threw me and my youngest brother a birthday party and today I am enjoying a lovely day filled with cards, little surprise presents and a yummy lunch with friends!

Birthdays are the best!!

Be back soon...

A Year to Capture: Haircuts, Cupcakes, and Big Lots

2011-03-18T17:23:00.001-05:00

Don't you just love that title?!?! :-)

Wow another week gone by and the weekend is almost here! It's also the beginning of Spring Break for our local schools so everyone is making big plans. We on the other hand will continue on with our lives as usual since we have no school age kids yet and Eric will still be working. I do have plans to make a day trip with the kids next week and hopefully some friends and family will be joining us. The weather has been perfect here the past few days and we are LOVING every minute we spend in the sun.

Last Saturday I made a last minute decision to go get my hair chopped off. I needed something a little easier to style and it will also be cooler for the summer. This isn't the best picture to show off the cut since I just put gel in it and let it air dry, but hopefully you get the idea of how it looks.

Olivia was begging for a cupcake this week so when we went grocery shopping on Tuesday I picked up a few things to make them myself. Olivia and I made them on Wednesday so we could take them to church that evening to share with her preschool class. We had a blast making them together!! I love that she is old enough to bake/cook with now.

And eating them too :-)

See all the lovely green grass in the background. Spring is coming!!

I was a slacker this year when it come to celebrating St. Patrick's Day. I had grand plans to eat lots of green food, but the only green thing we consumed yesterday was chives on our baked potatoes at lunch and lettuce on our sub sandwiches. :-) We did all wear green though and that was enough to keep us from being pinched.

We also went to visit my mom and sibling yesterday. My mom and I attended a ladies bible study and they are walking through the book of Esther. It was a wonderful time in the Word and a welcome time of fellowship for me since I rarely get to attend a bible study.

I have recently become addicted to Big Lots. I know it's crazy but I go there like every week now. Sometimes I don't find anything, but most of the time I walk out with something in my hand. Today the kids stayed with Eric's mom while I went to a dentist appt and did a little shopping. I had a few minutes to spare before I meet Eric for a lunch date so I ran in for a few minutes. I scored in the food isles! I've been wanting some new seasoning for grilling and these looked good and were priced very reasonably. The Annie's mac and cheese was also a great find. The food coloring was just something I needed. I think I have found a new love although TJ Maxx still has them beat. :-)

TGIF!!!

Sick days, warm weather, and fun with friends

2011-03-14T15:49:00.000-05:00

I'm sure those of you that are friends with me on facebook or my e-mail group know all about our sick week. Both kids came down with a fever and cough last Monday and as of today we are still dealing with an ear infection and congestion. Olivia was over it first, but poor Noah is still battling everything but fever. he actually only ran fever one day but his little body can't seem to get over all the rest. He is on an antibiotic for his ear infection and the meds have given him a horrible diaper rash. The poor kid can't win for losing. I'm sure the crazy weather doesn't help much either. It was in the 60's and 70's last week and is in the 40's today. I was just thankful for the beautiful weekend we had!! The sunshine and fresh air was very nice after a week of being cooped up. I'm looking forward to the warmer temps that are in the forecast for later this week.

Two weeks ago we went with some friends to this local indoor play place. It was divided up into different centers (water play, dress-up, store, kitchen, trains, sand, play dough, blocks, Lego's, slides, etc) and the kids loved it all!! We spent most of the morning playing then ate a sack lunch together in the food area. I didn't take very many pictures, but here are a few of the kids playing in what seemed to be the favorite area.

Water!!

Olivia's surprised face :-) Getting a smile for the camera out of that girl in almost impossible.

The sand table was also a big hit!

The kids LOVE their trampoline and are on it every single day. It is the perfect place to race cars and play chase together and Mommy loves that they can't fall off with the safety net.

We just recently signed up with Netflix and the kids are enjoying it a lot. We have been watching lots of Super Why and Leapfrog video. I promise they don't sit like this all day. They move to the TV and watch it through the Wii too. :-) Just kidding!! I have really tried to scale back on how much TV they watch throughout the day. (though our sick week find of threw those plans out the window) We watch a couple shows a day right now, usually in the morning and while I am cooking supper. Now that the weather is warming up and the days are longer I see less and less TV time in our future.

Well now I must run (not literally) and tackle a pile of laundry on my bed then make homemade pizza for supper. Happy Monday!!

Open House means life will get busy

2011-03-07T15:18:00.001-06:00

Last week was a bit crazy around here and I decided that blogging would have to be moved to the back burner for awhile. Our church hosted us a housewarming party on Saturday and I spent all last week cleaning and finishing up a few home improvement projects. We accomplished a lot and enjoyed having lots of friends and family over for open house. It's so nice to finally have the house decorated and comfortable. It takes me forever to make up my mind on how I want things to look or what I want to buy. I'm not sure I will ever be completely finished. :-)

I know I promised to post pictures of Noah's room, but I still have a few more things I want to add. :-) That's just code to let you know that it's really not finished yet. I have so many ideas in my head and I can't make a final decision. I want something that is not to babyish (is that a word?) since he is almost 15 months. I'm thinking a animal theme (frogs, turtles, bugs) with plaid fabrics mixed in (blues, greens, and browns). I found one at Target (can't find online) and loved the colors. I just need to adapt it to work with a crib/toddler bed. I may end up making my own bedding if I can find the right fabrics. That would be a huge feat for my not so creative self, so we shall see... :-)

This week started off great! We went to a revival service at our old church last night and enjoyed visiting with friends and family there. We had plans to go back this evening, but the kids came down with a virus today. Olivia and Noah both have a cough and a low grade temperature. It seems to be going around right now and we decided to join in on the fun. On the positive side they both went down for naps without a peep today.

Last week I did a little clothes shopping for the kids. We have had a lot of warm weather here in the past few weeks and I was tired of digging through drawers everyday to come up with decent outfits. I found lots of cute stuff for Olivia at a few consignment sales we have had, but Noah has been harder to but for this year. I picked up several of these for him at Sam's and I found some cute t-shirts too. Now I just need to find a good deal on some camo, khaki, and navy shorts.

I have lots of pictures to share from last week, but I guess I will wait till later in the week to post them. Our laptop is on it's last leg and uploading pics tends to freeze it up or make it run super slow. We bought a new desktop last week, but we are waiting on the new desk to arrive before we put it together. It should be here tomorrow!

A uncompleted grocery list is calling my name so I guess I will answer. I need some creative juices to start running in my kitchen. I'm getting tired of the same old meals. If you have any recipes you are loving right now drop me a comment or email.

A Year to Capture: February 19-25

2011-02-26T20:50:00.001-06:00

Hope you are all enjoying your weekend. The sun is shining here and the temps are in the 50's. That is a little cool for me but the sun makes it seem warmer. We went to IHOP for breakfast this morning and the kids loved it! I think they would live off scrambled eggs and pancakes if we let them. :-) We have also been rather busy here finishing up some home improvement projects. Our church is throwing us a house warming party next Saturday and I have been in a bit of a panic mode trying to get some things accomplished. I think it has been a good thing though, since Eric and I both tend to procrastinate on projects.

I think I will skip dating each picture from now on and just share the highlights of our week as I go.

Waffles are a favorite breakfast around here and I try and treat everyone on occasion. I found a new recipe here and we thought they were pretty good.

Noah is not a good nap taker. The longest he usually sleeps is an hour and that is on a good day. Once this week he slept 30 minutes, woke up, then crashed on the couch for another hour. I was one happy momma!! :-)

We bought the kids a trampoline last Saturday and they have enjoyed it a lot this week. Eric finished putting up the safety net that goes around it today. Now they can jump around all they want while I do yard work or watch from the patio.

Lots of baking has been going on this week also. I plan on posting more pictures and recipes soon.

Poor Noah has had an undecorated room for far to long. I hope to finish it this week and I will post pictures soon!!

We had several rainy days this week so Mommy gave in to "the Tube" on a few occasions. I promise they don't stay like this through the whole movie. It is kind of a hit and miss thing, some days they love it and others they would rather play.

This little girl loves her sleep and for that I am very thankful!!

The kids are finally in bed and have a date with my couch tonight.

Goodnight all!!

Catching Up: A Heart of Gratefulness

2011-02-21T15:22:00.002-06:00

The gifts continue to pour in each and everyday and every time I pick up the the pen to remember them I am reminded of His great love. God is great and God is so good!!

#106-#145

A stop at daddy's office to visit
Eating lunch with great-grandma
Lots of family to visit nearby
Slipping and sliding on ice covered roads
A warm fireplace to cuddle by at my in-law's
My little ones joy over spending a few days with grandparents
Measuring six inches of snow in our area
Homemade rolls and cookies baking
Beautiful sunshine making the snow sparkle
Eric taking a day off work to play in the snow
Fun times with four-wheelers and sleds
Going inside to warm up
Lunch with friends
A warm bowl of chili
Picking out birthday gifts for my sister
A phone call to wish her a Happy 7th Birthday
Cuddling with Olivia while Noah sleeps

A day spent our after snowed in for three

Birthday parties

Lacey's excitement over princess sheets

Little girls running around in pajamas
All of us cuddling in bed on Saturday morning
Finishing a few home projects
Beautiful, warm weather
A wonderful Valentines present from Eric
A sickness that left as fast as it came
Long walks outside everyday
A great husband to comes to my rescue :-)
Lovely pictures that inspire me to bake
A fun park near our house
A sweet little girl who loves to bake with mommy
Wonderful children's books found cheap at our local thrift store
Meeting Eric for lunch
A date night out with my love
Family who offered to babysit
New spring clothing for everyone
A day spent shopping and talking with a dear friend...
...and my dear husband who watched the babies while I was away
A little girl begging to go bounce on her new trampoline
A delicious chocolate cake still warm from the oven

A Year to Capture: February 12-18

2011-02-18T15:29:00.002-06:00

It seems strange to have not blogged in almost a week. After the first of the year I made up a blogging schedule for myself and I thought I had a pretty smooth system going. Well this week was the exception. Between sickness (stomach bug), kiddos who refused to nap, lots of time spent outside in the beautiful weather, and a little girl who needed a lot of attention and discipline this week, I just never made time to blog. We have really enjoyed our week and LIVING life is what counts, right, Otherwise I wouldn't have anything to blog about.

I'm sure you will find this hard to believe, but I forgot to photograph any of our Valentine's Day fun. I did take a few pictures with my Blackberry. We kept things simple this year. I made heart shaped PB&J's for lunch and we baked heart shaped sugar cookies with pink icing. Eric gave me a gift certificate for a manicure and pedicure and I bought him a card. :-) We hadn't planned to exchange gifts, but the stinker bought one anyway and that is why I love him so much!! We are also going out on a date tomorrow night. We like to avoid the Valentine day/weekend crowds and pick a later date. The plan is to drop the kids off at Eric's sisters, go out to eat, then stop by Sam's to pick-up at trampoline for the kids (their gift) and replace Eric's lost wedding band (his gift).

So romantic!! :-)

February 12

Noah and Eric snuggling on Saturday afternoon

February 13

Don't you just love her cheesy grin :-)

Sunday morning breakfast

February 14

Both Eric and the kids LOVE spaghetti so that was our special Valentine's meal.

I came down with the bug that evening so I didn't get to enjoy the meal that much.

February 15

Noah's afternoon nap was short and he thought he would get into a little mischief while I was resting on the couch. The cool whip was in the trash can and he dug it out for a little afternoon snack :-)

February 16

Noah would take a bite of banana then brush his teeth for a while before repeating the process. Dental hygiene is very important to our kids :-)

February 17

We stopped by the local Goodwill took look around and scored in the children's book section!!

February 18

Today we ran to the doctors office for the second half of Noah's flu shot (they break it in half for little ones), went to visit my mom and siblings, ran to Wally World for some laundry detergent and Magic Erasers (lifesavers in our toddler infested house), then meet Eric to eat and play at Chick-Fil-A.

The humidity got to her hair today :-)

Be back soon...

Links I Love

2011-02-12T18:14:00.000-06:00

I was just sent this link today and I wanted to share this with my readers. Recorded audio of Elizabeth Elliot. I hope you are encouraged by the teaching of this godly woman!

A Year to Capture: February 5-11

2011-02-11T14:59:00.000-06:00

So I will just start right off by confess that I didn't take one picture this week till today!! :-D

Shocking I know. My only excuse is that we have been staying with my in-law's for a few days and I forgot my camera. We received several inches of snow on Wednesday and Eric stayed home on Thursday to play with the kids. Olivia lasted 30 minutes in the snow then she had a MAJOR meltdown over her cold hands. We had been sledding with a sled and the four-wheeler and I think all the snow spraying her in the face was the last straw. I did capture a lot of our snow fun on our video camera and maybe I can figure out how to upload it onto this blog soon.

I'm not going to post pics with the dates today so just enjoy a little glimpse into our everday life here at home. :-)

Snow!!

Olivia riding her "horsey"

Noah showing off his chair climbing skills!!

Oh yeah!! He is good.

Caught ya!!

She has a new found love for baby carrots. This momma is happy!!

Happy Weekend Everyone!!

Keep warm...

Learning to Stay: A Heart of Gratefulness

2011-02-07T15:21:00.000-06:00

The snow has flown and the cold has crept in this past week. Trying to leave my home with little ones is hard during this time of year so we have learned to be content at home. Praising God for my sweet, beautiful babies that bring such joy and laughter. So I continue to count my blessings during this season of “staying” just where He has me…

77. Special times of quiet with my love

78. Babies playing outside on a blustery day

79. A clean, warm home

80. Groceries in the fridge

81. Some alone time while the kids are in bed and Eric is at the gym

82. Seven hours of uninterrupted sleep

83. Waking to my little girls sweet voice

84. Homemade rice crispie treats for breakfast

85. Rain pouring down on the roof

86. Eric coming home for lunch

87. Chocolate cake in the oven

88. Snow falling while the sun is shining

89. Sunshine on a freezing cold day

90. Morning flurries

91. Little ones reading books on a cold day

92. Clean laundry folded and put away in drawers

93. The free gift of eternal life…Romans 6:23

94. Time for cuddling with my wonderful husband

95. A little girl who loves to splash in puddles of water

96. The smell of pumpkin bread baking

97. Chili simmering on the stove

98. House sitting for Eric parents

99. A wonderful husband who braved the snow to get me coffee

100. Slow, lazy Saturdays

101. A family dinner out

102. Praise music floating through the house on Sunday mornings

103. Sweet little voices singing praise to the Almighty

104. A wonderful evening spent with friends

105. Waking to the sight of another winter wonderland

A Year to Capture: January 29- February 4

2011-02-04T14:56:00.000-06:00

January 29

Saturday was a BEAUTIFUL day here in the south with 70 degree temps!!

We spent most of the day at the park and in our backyard.

I was also able to sneak out for a bit during the kids nap and visit a local antique mall. I bought a set of white dinner plates (something I have been looking for) and then stopped by Sonic for Happy Hour!!

Noah was really wanting some of mommy's Diet Coke. :-)

January 30

We went to church, had lunch with Eric's parents, then went home for the afternoon. Noah was still recovering from his recent sickness and was to fussy to go back to church that evening. We ordered a pizza and watched a family movie together!

Olivia enjoying her pizza :-)

January 31

No picture. We had a very busy day! I cleaned house that morning, look Eric lunch, caught up on the weekend laundry, went grocery shopping, then made supper.

February 1

It was a cold, rainy day so we spent the day at home.

Olivia wanted to wear her "Spongebob" shirt that day. She watches very little of that show so I thought it was so funny that she called it that.

February 2

We got up early and went to storytime at the library then meet Eric for lunch at McDonalds.

Olivia LOVES to watch Elmo videos on my phone. :-)

February 3

We went to visit my mom that morning, came home for naps, then went to Eric's parents for dinner last night.

I was chopping a salad to take and the kids "helped" me wash dishes.

February 4

Another cold, snowy day at home. My mom and siblings stopped by for lunch then Eric came home for a bit.

They were watching the snow fall outside and enjoying a little daddy time!!

Hope you are enjoying all this winter weather!!

Have a great weekend!!

Menu Plan for January 31- February 6

2011-01-31T21:17:00.000-06:00

Breakfast:

Cereal and bananas

Chocolate Chip Muffins and yogurt

Pancakes w/ bacon

Scrambled eggs and toast

Oatmeal and bananas

Bread Machine Cinnamon Rolls and yogurt

Sausage Cheese Muffins (from the freezer)

Lunch:

Tacos w/ chips and salsa

Turkey and cheese sandwiches

Chicken noodle soup

Grilled Cheese

Leftovers

Supper:

Breakfast for dinner (eggs, bacon, biscuits and gravy)

Chicken Spaghetti w/ tossed salad and garlic toast

Hamburgers w/ French fries

Oven Fried Chicken w/ mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls

Scalloped potatoes and ham w/ tossed salad

Chili w/ cheese toast

Extended Family Meal

Slowing Down: A Heart of Gratefulness

2011-01-31T15:11:00.000-06:00

It seems like the blessing have been overflowing this week and then I realize that they are nothing new only recognized. Sickness invaded last week and I found myself thankful for the time to slow and just linger in the moment. Praising my Father for more blessed gifts…

33. Olivia’s joy over spending the day with her friend.

34. Noah licking a spatula while I made a pie

35. Music playing softly through the house

36. Twelve people laughing around a table together

37. Little girls who empty off entire bookcase to the floor

38. Taking a meal to a friend who just gave birth

39. The beauty of a newborn baby…

43. A sick little boy cuddled up in my arms

44. A cool cloth on a feverish brow

45. Baby Motrin

46. Baking cookies with my little girl

47. Two dozen warm cookies

48. Pulling a little red wagon around the neighborhood…

60. Messy, spaghetti loving kids

61. Bath time

62. Fever breaking in the night

63. A grandmother who came to watch Noah for me

64. A time of prayer and encouragement with friends

65. A smile on Noah’s face

66. Skin cool to the touch

67. Eric cooking breakfast

68. Sunlight streaming through the windows

69. Scripture flowing through the house

70. Seventy-five degree weather in January…

75. Bread broken as a symbol of His broken body

76. Juice in the cup to remind me of His saving, grace-giving blood…

A Year to Capture: January 22-28

2011-01-28T15:44:00.001-06:00

Poor little Noah has been very sick this week so my picture taking has been limited. I took him to the doctor yesterday and he has a throat infection. His fever has been very high since Tuesday night, but it broke last night and has been lower today. Still praying that his little body will heal soon.

Hope you enjoy a glimpse at our week!!

January 22

Teeth brushing time!!

January 23

No pictures. We went to church then ate dinner with Eric's family and some friends.

January 24

I babysat Olivia's friend Levi for the day and they enjoyed a little art time together.

January 25

No pictures. I took a meal to a friend, did a little shopping, then spent the evening at home. Noah started getting sick that night.

January 26

Baking cookies with mommy

Noah washed the dishes :-)

He was very sick but still wanted to help and play.

We have been having some warmer weather so we played and colored outside that afternoon.

January 27

No pictures. We went to the doctor then took a little road trip with Eric that afternoon. We were getting cabin fever so it was a nice to get out for a bit.

January 28

Juice and cartoons this morning. Olivia and I also went to our Play and Pray group this morning while my grandmother watched Noah. Thanks Mamaw!!

A Year of Reading: The Plan and List

2011-01-26T14:54:00.000-06:00

I shared with you all in an earlier post the books I have been reading in January. I have now finished Large Family Logistics and I'm working my way through the fiction piece by Francine Rivers. I have really come to appreciate the idea of reading several books at one time. I love sitting down throughout the day and picking up whatever I feel like digging into at that time. My reading plan was to read through at least 2 books a month. I'm a little ahead of my goal for now, but I'm sure that will change through the year. I'm just glad to be ahead in January.

These next two books are my February reads, but I confess that I have already started both of them. I guess that is a good confession though :-)

March reads:

April reads:

May reads:

I plan to do a short review of each book after I finish them.

Happy Reading!!

Continuing On: A Heart of Gratefulness

2011-01-24T11:06:00.000-06:00

8. Time spent discussing His Word with Eric

9. Overcooked muffins that still taste yummy

10. Dinner with friends

11. A day spent with my little man

12. Insurance that pays for check-ups and shots

13. Early bedtimes for babies and parents :-)

14. A little girls excitement over night at her grandparents

15. Errands to run for my little family

16. Storytime fun at our local library

17. Snow falling slow as we drive to my parent’s home

18. A quiet night at home with my husband and littles

19. Homemade rolls rising in the oven

20. Lunch with my grandmother

21. Laughter of little girls over a game of Candyland

22. Singing along to love songs while holding the hand of my love

23. The warmth of a sleeping child cuddled up to by my side

24. Peace found in the reading of His Word

25. Warm coffee in hand on a cold morning

26. A fun birthday dinner out with the in-law’s

27. A day cuddled up with a blanket and book

28. A slightly warmer day and a long walk in its sunshine

29. Sunday dinner with family and friends

30. Babies splashing in the bathtub

31. A two-year-old quoting scripture

32. Fun had with Playdoh

A Year to Capture: January 15-21

2011-01-21T15:10:00.000-06:00

Hope you all had a wonderful week!! After I ran out of picture space last week I forgot all about coming back with last weeks pictures. Here are a few...

Lunch and Cartoons!!

A quick glimpse of Olivia with crazy clothes and hair from naptime :-)

Now for this weeks photos!!

January 15

My niece Anna celebrated her 7th birthday on Saturday. She had a party at the rollerskating rink. If you want to know why she has a number 1 on her cake go check out her mom's blog :-)

Olivia LOVES to rollerskate and did very well out on the rink.

Noah even got in on the fun!!

(He is the short thing out in the middle with his Uncle Dustin)

January 16

Olivia enjoying some reading time before church on Sunday.

January 17

We spent some time in the the kitchen on Monday. I made these Banana Nut Muffins. Olivia loves to cook with mommy. Noah just walks around with bowls on his head most of the time :-)

January 18

Looks like they found the animal crackers :-)

January 19

Noah has now mastered the art of chair climbing. He can push them wherever he want to go and climb right up. I'm hoping this phase passes soon!!

January 20

Our second snowfall of the season. I believe we got around 3inches.

Noah enjoying a bowl of frozen yogurt :-)

January 21

My beautiful, blue-eyed girl!!

Thanking God for each of these days and trying to enjoy each and every moment!! Well we are headed out soon to celebrate my mother-in-law's birthday at our local Japanise steakhouse!! Fried rice anyone?!?! Yummy!!

Happy Weekend!!

Change I Desire: A Heart of Gratefulness

2011-01-17T14:40:00.001-06:00

I want a heart of gratitude to grow in my life. Why is it that I don't think to jot down the wonderful blessing throughout my day?? These are things to remember and cherish. Things that should make you stop and smile or maybe sing praise to your Creator for the blessings he has seen fit to bestow on you!! Why are we so blinded by the fast pace of life?? I am broken in this area and I want things to change. I want to redeem this area of my life. I have missed so much and lived in so little of the moments. I don't praise His name enough, I don't love enough, I don't cherish the gifts of marriage and motherhood enough!! I want to smile with my babies and laugh with my love. I want to glory in His creation more, I want to know Him deeper, I want to send thanksgiving to the heavens each and everyday.

I want to be grateful and so I will count....

1. A toddler who wakes at 5am

2. A husband who forgives my un-submissive self

3. A day spent celebrating another year of life

4. My loves arrival home each night

5. A messy kitchen after a family dinner

6. A mother who blesses me with her words of encouragement

7. Our first snowfall of the season

I have been reading Ann's blog Holy Experience for quite some time now and each day that I set down and log on she has blessed my life with her words. I have been looking forward to her book release and I actually ordered mine today.

A Year To Capture: Will be back after a quick delay...

2011-01-14T16:17:00.000-06:00

Today as I was uploading my pictures to Blogger I received the dreaded message...I have used up ALL of my free pictures memory space!!! So now I have to BUY additional storage each year. YUCK!! But I do love this blog so I guess I can sacrifice a few dollars to Google each year. :-)

I had just enough space left to share a few pictures so I choose these. They pretty much explain what we did this week.

Hope you enjoyed your Winter Wonderland!!!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!!!

PS. I will be back soon to finish my week of photos

That's Life....

2011-01-13T16:03:00.002-06:00

I haven’t blogged as much this week and I guess my only excuse is that we have just been enjoying life. I love to share though so here is a glimpse at what we have been doing:

Monday was a snow day here in our area and we spent the day at home. The kids were up at the crack of dawn and I fixed everyone breakfast before Eric left for work. I wish he could have stayed home and enjoyed the snow with us, but he had/has a 4W drive truck and made it there just fine. Noah went down for a nap after that and I worked out while Olivia watched a movie. After that, Olivia and I went out to play in the snow. She lasted about 30 minutes before the cold got to her. :-) It started snowing again mid-morning so we decided to stay indoors the rest of the day. We played games, baked chocolate chip cookie, and made Chicken tortilla soup for supper.

By Tuesday the roads were clear so we went to do some grocery shopping, visited my mom, and ate lunch with Eric. We also had dinner with my parents that evening.

Wednesday was another slow day and I did some house cleaning then took the kids to play at our McDonald’s indoor playground. The temps have been very cold this week so we have tried to stay indoors as much as possible. I made pancakes and bacon for supper last night and we attended mid-week service at our church.

Today we woke up a little later that normal (7:30) so we had to rush around and get ready for Story time at the library. The kids love all the singing and craft time so we try to go every week. We also picked up quite a few books. After that we decided to join some friends at McDonald’s again then came home for lunch and naps. I'm making Sloppy Joes and french fries for supper then we have a church event to attend tonight.

I’ve also been doing a lot of reading lately and I wanted to share a few of the titles:

I finished this book last week and I will say it is a must read for mother's with littles.

I'm still working my way through this book and I have enjoyed it so far. I know that I don't have what you would call a large family yet, but I love anything that will help me stay organized with children. You might not apply everything she says because it just might not work for you, but she has lots of experience to learn from in raising a family.

I'm listening to the audio version of this book and browsing through a few sewing books just for fun.

These next 2 books I have on hold at our library and they will probably be my February reads.

I've read the first book in this series and it was a good fiction read.

I'm also working on a post to share with you all the books I plan to read this year

Happy Thursday everyone!!!

Our Menu Plan: Jan 9-15

2011-01-10T11:18:00.000-06:00

Snow is falling outside my window as I type this. This is our first snow fall of the year and we have several inches fall overnight. I'm enjoying this quiet day at home and snuggling with my babies. Hopefully Eric will join us later this afternoon!!

Breakfast:

Sunday- Church

Monday- Eggs and cereal

Tuesday- Pancakes and bacon

Wednesday- Cereal and yogurt

Thursday- Cinnamon toast and ham

Friday- Fried eggs and toast

Saturday- Biscuits and gravy

Lunch:

Sunday- Family Dinner w/ Eric’s parents

(Tacos w/ 7 layer dip and chips)

Monday- Saturday- Sandwiches, Baked Potatoes, Wraps, Leftovers, or Mac and cheese w/ fruit and chips

Supper:

Sunday –Scrambled eggs and toast

Monday – Some kind of soup…I had planned Fajitas but it snowed last night and made me want soup instead.

Tuesday- Eat with my parents (Roast w/ sides)

Wednesday – Creamy chicken noodle w/ broccoli

Thursday – Sloppy Joes w/ French fries

Friday – Spaghetti w/ garlic bread

Saturday – Out of town for niece’s birthday

Snacks:

Cookies, popcorn, fruit or yogurt

For more menu planning ideas go to orgjunkie.com

A Year to be Captured: January 1-7

2011-01-07T14:39:00.001-06:00

I have always loved the idea of joining a 365 project or starting a Project Life album to document our lives for a year. I love taking pictures of my kids and I thought I could use a project like this to keep me accountable. I also need to work a little harder at learning my camera and all it's settings. Who knows, maybe you will see some improvements in my photography skills when the year is over.

Instead of posting a picture everyday, I will post a week of pictures every Friday. Hope you enjoy getting a little glimpse into our everyday life! :-)

January 1

New Years Dinner at Mimi and Papaw Harvey's House

January 2

Planning my weekly grocery shopping

January 3

Playing outside in the beautiful sunshine

January 4

An afternoon snack at Poppy and Mawmaw's. We spent the afternoon/evening there and watched the Sugar Bowl with friends.

January 5

Playing hide and seek with Olivia after supper

Yummy cookies and sweet baby hands :-)

January 6

Two wore out babies!! We spent the day playing with cousins in Jonesboro!!

January 7

Olivia and her friend Levi enjoying a playdate at the park!

(this picture was taken with my Blackberry Storm)

Loving on My Home in 2011

2011-01-06T21:30:00.000-06:00

As many of you know, we bought and moved into a new home this past November. Eric and I have been renters since our marriage began 3 years ago so this was new territory for us. It was exciting and nerve racking at the same time. It was a huge step to make such a large purchase, but I loved the thought of owning my own home. We needed something a little larger than our rental, but still modest in size and price. We looked for over a year before this home came on the market and caught our attention.

Now that we are settled and the New Year is here, my mind is whirling with ideas to decorate and update. Our house was built in the 60’s and the previous owners already did a few renovations. I want to make this home my own and leave my only personal touches all throughout. And although I’m not the most creative person, I have a few ideas in my mind of what I want it all to look like. So this year we are will be the year of improvement. On our home that is… :-)

Here are just a few things we hope to accomplish:

• Renovate the main hall bathroom. If the full remodel doesn’t happen this year, I hope to at least paint and add a few accessories.

• Decorate the kids rooms and purchase bedding for them both

• Put new closet doors on in every bedroom

• Change the lighting fixture in our dining room.

• Frame and hang family photos throughout the house.

• Finish some touch up painting on doors and trim.

• Shop second-hand and yard sales for cute things that add character.

• Find a new piece of furniture for our computer area.

• Find and organize an area/closet for craft and school supplies

• Purchase a new lamp for my living room. (one was recently broken)

• Refinish or paint a chest we bought for our master bedroom (it was found at an antique store and needs a little TLC)

• Finish painting the laundry room

• Renovate our master half-bath

• Create a mail/keys/schedule center by our side door entrance.

• Work on the landscaping

• A few more outdoor items that Eric and I still need to decided on and add to our budget (patio, storage shed, swing set/play area)

Go to The Nester to see more Home Improvement Goals for 2011!!

A Year to Commit

2011-01-03T15:21:00.000-06:00

Happy 2011 Everyone!! It is so hard to believe that a new year is already here. Even though I love knowing a new year means I have a fresh start to accomplish all my goal, it still makes me a little sad to know my babies are another year older. I have so much I want to teach them and instill in their little hearts and yet the passing of time seems to steal those moments away. Or maybe it is the fast paced lifestyle that we live in these days. One of the goals that Eric and I have discussed for our family this year is slowing down. The past few months have been so hectic that it made us realize how much we are away from our home. We have committed to having Family Worship everyday in our home and for that to happen we need stay at home more. We live very close to most of our family and so we are at someone’s house eating or visiting several nights a week. I know that a lot of my family reads this blog so please understand that I’m not implying that we are never coming over again. :-) We love that our children are growing up so close to their grandparents. It is very important to us that they continue to develop wonderful relationships with all their family. But sometimes we have to let go of some “good” things so that we can do the “greater” things. The truth is that time together as a family and Family Worship is the greater thing and we have to let a few things go. It’s all about having your priorities in order and remember to put Christ at the center of your home life. So as we start off our new year we are going to commit to simplifying our schedule.

Commit is the word we have chosen for our family this year.

Commit to personal quiet time with the Lord.

Commit to have Family Worship everyday.

Commit to memorizing more scripture as a family.

Commit to live a life of prayer.

Commit to serving others more.

Commit to sharing the gospel.

Commit to living a more disciplined life.

Commit to sticking to a budget.

Commit to opening our home for hospitality.

Commit to living a healthy lifestyle.

So as we surrender these areas of our lives to Christ this year, we are praying that He does a great work in the heart of our home.

All Our Christmas Adventures

2010-12-31T14:16:00.000-06:00

Christmas at Poppy and Mamaw's House

(Eric's parents and siblings)

Christmas at Papaw Harvey and Mimi's House

(Great-grandparents)

Cousin Adrienne

Cousin Anna Grace

Cousin Collin

Cousin Elijah

(Isaac is the oldest grandchild and I didn't get a photo of him this year.)

Christmas Morning at our house

My grandmother and Eric's parents joined us for opening our gifts and a Christmas brunch.

Christmas Night with Papaw Kevin and Nanny

(My parents and siblings)

Delk Family Christmas

2010

We hope you had Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

Noah's 1st Birthday Celebration

2010-12-30T16:31:00.000-06:00

Noah turned 1 on December 16th and we celebrated that evening with family and friends.

We started off the day with a birthday breakfast of Chocolate Chip Pancakes.

(This was a very special treat.)

Not quite sure what I was serving him. "Where is my oatmeal, Mommy!!"

Not to bad after all. He finished every bite of that pancake!! :-)

Next he had a bath and put on his birthday outfit. This was a quick pose with daddy before he had to leave for work.

We had his party at my in-law's home and the kids spent some time outside playing while we got everything ready for the party.

Running away from mommy and that camera. :-)

His theme was Construction and Dirt :-)

My dad and Noah. We were singing the Happy Birthday song.

He was a little unsure of what to do at first...

but he soon figured it out and we had to sneak it away before he finished it off.

After a quick bath it was time to open presents!!

He got lots of trucks and cars. He really needed some boy toys. So far all he had was Olivia's kitchen set. :-)

Be back soon with pics from our week of Christmas chaos!!

2011 is Coming!!

2010-12-29T16:04:00.000-06:00

I know most of you were expecting me to post Christmas photos today and not a menu plan. :-) That was the plan but our computer is a little slow when it comes to uploading pictures and I have a LOT of pictures to share. I'm also trying to establish some sort of routine in our lives again now that Christmas is over and the New Year is almost here. I started yesterday by planning a menu and shopping with sale flyers and coupons for the first time in several weeks. Our budget is another item that needs to be worked on this week. You will probably see several post this week related to the New Year and goals for 2011. Our family logistics are changing as the kids are getting a little older. I'm looking forward to sharing with you about our family worship time and maybe even share a video of Olivia saying her Bible verses from memory!! (Yes, I'm a little proud of her)

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and that you found hope in the greatest gift ever given, Jesus Christ!!

Menu Plan for 12/27-01/02

Monday:

B- Cereal and blueberry muffins

L- Popcorn chicken and crackers

S- Kids ate at grandparents and Eric and I had Sonic after we cleaned the office. ( I clean the office building were my husband works and we had to clean on a weeknight this time because of the holidays)

Tuesday:

B- Blueberry muffins and toast

L-Pizza

S- Loaded chicken w/ salad and rolls

Wednesday:

B-Eggs and biscuits

L- Sandwiches w/ fruit and chips

S- Red beans and rice w/ polish sausage and green beans

Thursday:

B- Pancakes and bacon

L-Leftovers

S- Lasagna w/ salad

Friday:

B- Cereal and fruit

L- Leftovers

S- Chicken Quesidillas w/ corn and spanish rice

Saturday:
B-Biscuits and gravy w/ bacon
L/S- Chili and sandwiches w/ chips and dip

Sunday:
B- Cereal and cinnamon toast
L- Out
S- Leftovers

Guess Who Is Turning 1 Today?!?!

2010-12-16T16:42:00.000-06:00

My sweet little man is turning one today!!

Our family was so blessed to welcome Noah Silas into the world this time. And just like his older sister, he gave us a bit of a fright right after his birth. I had a uneventful labor and delivery with Noah and was able to have him naturally with no pain meds of any kind. He was a healthy baby boy, weighing in at 8lbs 10oz. We brought him home a week before Christmas and were very excited that he was here to help us celebrate with family and friends. On Christmas Eve we bundled up our little crew to head to Eric’s grandparents for a Christmas get-together. Noah had come down with a mild cold the day before, but other than that he seemed fine. While we were there he became very lethargic, would not eat, and started running a high fever. Within 30 minutes he was having trouble breathing. We immediately drove to the ER. They took one look at him and started breathing treatments and told us that after test he would be admitted to the hospital. He was diagnosed with RSV and we spent 5 days with him in the hospital hooked to a heart/oxygen monitor and doing breathing treatments around the clock. He finally started improving on the 5^th day and they sent us home with lots of meds and a breathing treatment machine. It took the little guy and few months to completely recover and we praise God that he didn’t develop any lasting health issues.

Noah is a very happy baby (when he isn’t teething) and has made our home a wonderful place! Olivia adores him and when he is asleep or away from her she is constantly looking for him or calling his name. He is affectionately called “bubbe” in our home and we all love him so much. I praise God every day for giving us such a sweet baby boy. My prayer for Noah is that he will know Jesus at an early age and live a life pleasing to his Savoir. That he will learn to be obedient and to put others before himself. And that he will be a strong leader in his home one day and hopefully raise up a godly family.

Happy Birthday Noah Silas!!

We Love You Little Man!!

Daddy, Mommy, and Olivia

Christmas, Christmas Time is Here!!

2010-12-14T14:43:00.000-06:00

I wanted to share with you a few of our Christmas activities that we have been enjoying as a family. Along with our family worship we are reading advent stories and singing Christmas songs with the kids. Olivia still doesn't understand it all, but she does know that presents mean birthday time. I have taken advantage of this and told her that we are celebrating Jesus birthday. I'm not sure she really gets it all, but maybe a seed planted will grow in her little heart and mind.

We went looking at Christmas lights last night and I really enjoyed the chance to just be together as a family. I had bathed the kids and put them in the pajamas before we left. Noah fell asleep and missed most of the excitement, but I think Olivia enjoyed it (or maybe it was the frozen yogurt she loved) :-)

We have also attended 2 Christmas parties!!

Last weekend we went to our town's annual Christmas parade. It was VERY COLD and the kids were so layered up that they were having trouble walking. :-) We had lots of fun and came home with pockets full of candy!!

She was so excited!!

What is taking so long??

These two are becoming best buddies :-)

They are both so handsome!!

Me and my love!!

I think the wind was blowing when daddy took this picture.

He loved the whole experience and sat perfectly still during the long parade.

She got a even more excited when the horses came at the end :-)

I have plans to do some Christmas cookie baking and candy making with the kids this weekend. Hopefully I will get those posted before our CRAZY week starts. We have a party every night starting next Tuesday through Christmas. Pray for me!! :-)

Hope you are all having a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TIME!!!

PS. Noah's 1st Birthday is Thursday and we are having a big birthday bash that evening. It makes me a little sad when I realize my baby is almost 1. Time flies by so quickly....

Our New Place: The Big Reveal

2010-12-08T14:04:00.000-06:00

Hello Everybody!! I think this many post in one week is a new record for me. I know several of you have been waiting for these pictures so I hope you enjoy this little tour of our new home. Noah was napping while I snapped these pics so I forgot his room. Since we only had two bedrooms in the other house his room is still a work in progress. Once I get it decorated, I'll have a "Noah's New Room" post. Really all of the rooms still need some TLC, so be looking for "makeover/remodeling" post over the next few months.

The Master Bedroom

Plans: I have a chest that I'm refinishing that will go on the wall between the bathroom and door, change out the throw pillows on the bed, and add a few pictures to the left wall.

Looking into the Master Half-Bath

(If we stay in this house for very long we have plans to knock out a wall and expand the Master suite.)

Olivia's Room

Plans: New bedding, replace lamp shade that was broken, and add a set of table and chairs.

Laundry Room

Plans: Finish painting and organize shelf

Hallway

Left side: Noah's room and Olivia's room

Right side: Furnace closet, hall bathroom, linen closet, laundry room, and master bedroom. The center door is another closet.

Hall/Main Bathroom

Plans: A complete remodel with tile removed and new cabinets and countertop/sink. I want to either replace the tile or add a bead board around the room and change the paint color to a blue/gray.

Dining Room

Plans: Remove off-center light-fixture and add hanging track lights, put in a vent free gas fireplace under the mirror, and add a black hutch.

Kitchen and Breakfast Nook

Plans: No changes yet. :-)

Carport entry

Living Room

Plans: New front entry door w/decorative glass center (it is ordered and coming in soon),

add three pictures over the TV, and put my glider chair in the corner after Christmas.

We are also painting all the trim and baseboards, putting up new closet doors, and replacing the air vents through the house.

Noah wanted in on the picture taking and I can't let you go away without seeing just a little bit of this cute little stinker!!

Hope you enjoyed the tour!! I can't wait to get started on the home renovations. Eric and I will be calling it "Weekend Warriors: On a Budget."

Thanksgiving 2010

2010-12-06T19:36:00.002-06:00

For the past three years Eric and I have traveled to southeast Arkansas every Thanksgiving to spend it with the extended Delk family. This year great-grandmother Delk passed away so we decided to spend Thanksgiving with my family. We will most likely alternate years with the two families after this. My family ususally celebrates the holiday at our family cabin on the river, but rain and ice were in the forecast so we went to my parents instead. Eric's grandparents joined us too.

Eric's grandma Erma Jean (left) and my "Mamaw" Faye.

Noah enjoying the building blocks

The girls decided to dress-up for pictures. :-)

Olivia showing off her dancing skills.

My handsome husband!!

My oldest brother, Luke taking a nap after our huge meal.

Me!!

My sister took over the picture taking for awile.

Noah and Papaw (my dad) playing together. Noah adores his grandpa's!!

And last but not least, my wonderful mom who I am very thatnkful for. She has been a huge help through our move and even came to my rescue today when I was a little stressed and overwhelmed with mothering/homemaking.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are looking forward to the Christmas season ahead. We sure are and I will be back soon to share with you a little bit of our Christmas activities!!

PS. I started taking pics of the house today and should have them up this week!!

Does Anyone Remember Me???

2010-12-04T12:44:00.000-06:00

I'm back!! I know several of you have been waiting to see pictures of the new house and so I thought I would give you a glimpse. Well at least a look at the mess that still surrounds me. Sorry about the quality but my blackberry has been more accessible than my Canon. I am happy to say that these are the only remaining boxes and after tomorrow they will disappear. At least that's the plan, right Eric!! :-)

This little dude is all smiles. Mommy still has him fooled that smiling at the camera is what your suppose to do. He has adjusted well to the new house and HIS OWN ROOM!! He has slept at least 8 hours straight most nights this week. Although he still comes to bed with me when he gets up because I have been...gulp...sleeping in a lot this week. After the move, a crazy busy week, and Thanksgiving festivies, I felt the need to slow down. I will most likely keep this routine till after the holidays are over. All I can say is thank goodness for coffee and Diet Coke!!

On the other hand this little stinker has become the wiser and refused to even look at the camera. She is enjoying the new house too and the extra room to make bigger messes. :-)

I actually took this pictures Tuesday when I finally finished decorating the tree. Since then I have added a few more ornaments...

and lost a few. Yes, he broke 3 the first day before I decided to move the glass ones to the top and buy more that are plastic. And for those of you who are thinking "Isn't this her 2nd child. She should have known better." Olivia was not that interested in the tree and never broke one ornament. She just stole all the candy canes off and hid behind the couch to eat them all. Smart girl! :-)

Our Christmas activies began tonight with our annual company Christmas party. We (as in the Delk owners/family) cater a fish fry for the employes. Who Dat's Cajun Restaurant provided the meal and let me just say that if you are ever in the north central Arkansas area you just eat at this place. I ate WAY to much and even splurged on the biggest piece of chocolate pie ever!! I also brought home a piece of red velvet cheesecake. I probably won't be able to button my pants tomorrow, but it was worth every last bite.

I would also like to share with you some very important information. SEC FOOTBALL IS THE BOMB!!! Eric and I went to the Arkansas vs. LSU game Saturday and cheered on our Hogs to a fabulous victory!! We got the BOOT and are now #7 in the

nation!! I think we had a pretty darn good season considering we only lost to the former National Champions (Alabama) and the #1 team in the nation this season (Auburn). And for any of you are War Eagle fans out there, let me just let you know that I will be cheering you on for the SEC title tomorrow because my hubby informed me that it make Arkansas look better in the polls. :-)

We have a fun day planned for tomorrow with lots more Christmas decorating, a little shopping, football, and even a PARADE!!

WARNING!!! Beware of all the pictures coming your way soon!!

Goodnight Everyone!!

PS. I turned the comment section back on.

We Bought a House!!!!

2010-11-10T16:48:00.001-06:00

We are now officially homeowners.!! We closed on the house this morning and I am so glad that it is finally over. Up until last night I have not been anxious about the purchase at all, but it took me a while to go to sleep last night. Thankfully, everything went as planned and Eric and I look our new house keys and went to look at the house again. We have a few cosmetic things to fix before we move in next week. Of course, I already have a To-Do List and Items To Purchase list going. :-)

I am so ready to settle into the new house and start inviting people over. After listening to Lindsay ( from Passionate Homemaking.com) talk about a radical call to generosity and hospitality, I feel a great need to begin making my home a more hospitable place. I think I tend to get in my comfort zone and shut the rest of the world out. One of the reasons Eric and I purchased this home is because of the suburban setting. We want our family to be in an area that is easily accessible to our neighbors. This is something that God has put on my heart and I want this new home to be a blessing to both my family and others.

I started Part 2 to my priorities post last night, but was just to tired to finish. I’m not sure when I will get to it with such a busy week ahead, but I promise I will get to it soon.

I’ll also be back soon with pictures of the house once we get everything situated. Hope you are all having a blessed week!!

Learning To Manage My Time Better

2010-11-08T16:29:00.001-06:00

Here is a list of what I will call

My Priorities: Things Necessary for a Healthy Lifestyle

1. My Quiet Time: At least 30 minutes everyday spent reading my Bible, journaling, working on a Bible study, and scripture memorization.

2. My Relationship with Eric: One on one time everyday, a date once a week (in or out), and a date night out once a month.

3. My Relationship with My Children: One on one time with each child everyday, including them in whatever I’m doing around the house, and as they get older, having a date/outing with them individually on occasion.

4. My Relationship with Extended Family, Church Family, and Others: Spending quality time with both mine and Eric’s family, having dinner together, nurturing my children’s relationship with their grandparents, being hospitable to our church family and neighbors in our community.

5. My Home: Keeping my home clean, organized and clutter free, making my home a haven (a place where my family and others feel welcome and comfortable), making my home beautiful with simple décor, and keeping things functional for my family.

6. Family Devotions: Bible reading, scripture memorization, catechisms, and music/worship.

7. Giving: To our local church, our Compassion child, and to two other ministries that Eric and I choose individually.

8. Homeschooling: This is more of a future priority since both of our children are young. My goal for this year is to work with Olivia 2-3 days a week for 30-45 minutes on basic preschool concepts.

9. Budgeting: Being as frugal as possible and keeping up with our finances on a monthly basis.

10. Reading: At least one book a month for myself, reading to the kids everyday, and reading together as a family.

11. Activities: Play dates, Story time at the local library, days spent with grandparents, etc. I think a few extra-curricular activities for my kids is something I want to do over the next few years. When they reach school age and we have to spend more time on that each day, I will reconsider how much time we spend out of the house.

12. Physical Fitness: This is probably one thing I struggle with the most. I do not have a weight issue at all, but I know that having an exercise routine will help me have more energy and keep me healthy.

I hope you all understand that these are priorities I plan to work on in my life. I'm sure each of your would look different. I have not perfected them and never will I'm sure. Life has a way of messing up your plans sometimes. I do consider each of them as very important to me and with God's grace I hope to live them out as best I can.

Tomorrow I plan to post things that I enjoy doing, but don’t necessarily have the time for at this season of my life. I also want to address a few things that I see as a waste of my time.

That's Life

2010-11-07T23:12:00.002-06:00

We have been enjoying time with family this weekend. Eric's brother had his first baby last week so Jacob, Rene, and baby Collin came down for the week. Collin is adorable and I can't believe that I haven't got a picture of him yet. Hopefully I will get a few before they head home Wednesday. Our family has been blessed with little ones and it is so wonderful to have another one added to the bunch :-)

We are also very excited to soon be new homeowners. We close and take possesion of the house Wednesday!! I'm hoping to be settled in before the holidays. That means we have several busy weeks ahead of us, but I'm hoping things don't get to crazy. I'm also thinking that this move should help me clean out all the clutter we have collected over the past three years. I will defiantly be having a yard sale sometime soon. Thinking about the new house has also got me in the decorating mood. I've been looking at tons of websites and magazines and I'm not sure I will ever figure out what style I prefer. I like the sleek modern look of Ikea, but I think my favorite is more of a traditional country feel. I'm sure I will try different things as we go along.

Its getting late and tomorrow is monday so I better get to bed. I plan to be back tomorrow with a detailed look at how I'm trying to plan my time wisely. Goodnight!

Weekends Are For...

2010-11-05T17:10:00.001-05:00

Fun times with daddy!!!

Taking The Time To Stop And Consider...

2010-11-03T17:00:00.002-05:00

My daily life has started to feel like a roller coaster to me and when I saw that Crystal Paine at MoneySavingMom.com was doing a series on Time Management, I knew I had to read them. Just so you get the idea of how anxious I was for this series I confess that I visited my google reader like 20 times on Monday just to see if she had posted Part 1 yet. :-) Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 have already been posted and let me just say that they have been so convicting. I won’t try to expound on what she has shared, but I will share a few of my own thoughts.

I have come to realize just how much time I waste on a daily basis. I have a tendency to get overwhelmed with all my “to-do” list and I forget about relationships. I know being a homemaker is a very important part of my role and taking care of my home is a top priority. However, if I don’t have my relationship with God, my husband, my children, and others right then everything else I “accomplish” is vain. And by vain I mean “for show” or a pride issue. And if you neglect those whom you should care for the most, then their respect for the things you do will simply go away. Your walk with Christ is not about works first, it’s about learning to deeply love the God who died for you. It’s about seeking to know Him in a very intimate way. When you truly know your Savior then the obedience/works will follow. It’s called sanctification. How can you be like Jesus if you don’t know Him

I think this example flows over into our other relationships too. Spending quality time with our spouse and children means more to them than you working yourself to death so your house looks perfect or having a gourmet meal on the table every night. There is nothing wrong with these inherently. That is until you look at the bigger picture and realize that instead of sitting down and reading to my daughter, I rushed around the house doing this and that so we could get out the door to go do something else. Both my role as a mother and a homemaker suffered in this scenario.

I’ve said all this to say that I think it is time for me to stop and examine my priorities. I need to find balance in my role as a child of God, wife, mother, and as a member of the body of Christ. We will be moving in a couple weeks and I feel the need to change some things before I step into that “new” home. I know that for me the question of this blog always come up when I’m trying to simplify my life. For now though I don’t think this takes away from my family in anyway and since I don’t spend a lot of time here I plan to keep it going. But I have decided to remove the comment section. This doesn’t mean that I don’t enjoy your comments or the relationships I have established. I just feel the need to make this more of a journal type setting where I come to share my thoughts and feeings. I would love to still hear from all of you who follow or read my blog, so I’ve added an email page at the top of the blog. I’m so much better at responding through email. :-)

I’m planning to spend some time tomorrow working through some of these issues and I plan to be back soon with a more detailed look at how I’m going to manage my time wisely. Have a great day!!

Parks, Sick Kiddos, and Rainy Days

2010-10-27T15:03:00.000-05:00

We have just been living life around here lately and I thought I would drop in and let you share in the fun!! But before I bore you with my ramblings I thought I would share our big news. WE ARE BUYING A HOUSE!!! We are very excited and things are progressing right along. We close and take posession on November 10 which is just 2 short weeks away. And no I haven't even started packing yet. :-) Guess I should get to that, but I thought I would share the news with you all first. I have plans to post pictures when we move in next month.

We have been attending Storytime at our local library and Olivia is enjoying it a lot. They read a few books, sing and dance, and do a craft. She thinks it's the next best thing to Chucky Cheese and I think it's way more educational and cheaper. :-) They have it twice and week so if we miss one day we have another one to choose from.

There is also a park behind the library and we have been taking a picnic lunch and just enjoying the beautiful fall weather. We even went twice last week. Once with some friends and then with my mom and sisters on friday.

After a very fun and eventful week the kids hit a bit of a low over the weekend. Noah is teething and came down with a double ear infection. The poor little guy was up and down through the night friday and saturday. Olivia also had a few cold symptoms and after a doctor visit we found out she had a sinus infection. They are both on antibiotics and are much better now.

The first part of this week was wet and rainy so we spent the days indoors. New books, Veggie Tales, Praise Baby and chicken noodle soup were a few favorite things that we have enjoyed while being cooped up inside.

The sun was shining bright today and while the kids stayed at there great-grandma's, I went to get my hair cut and do some grocery shopping.

Noah is awake from his nap now so I must run.

Happy Wednesday!!

Menu Plan for October 25-31

2010-10-25T15:03:00.000-05:00

Monday- Chicken Alfredo w/ steamed broccoli and garlic bread

Tuesday- Roast w/ sides (Dinner at my parents)

Wednesday- Loaded Baked Potatoes

Thursday- Pinto beans and cornbread w/ potatoes and green beans

Friday- Tacos w/ rice and refried beans

Saturday- Homemade Pizza

Sunday- Out

For more menu planning ideas go to orgjunkie.com.

Noah: 10 Months

2010-10-19T15:48:00.001-05:00

Well this little dude turned 10 months old on Saturday and we celebrated with a long car trip home from the conference. :-)

He is full of energy these days, but is still very clingy to mommy. Maybe it has something to do with the teeth he is cutting. Infant Tylenol and Orajel are our best friends right now.

Snickerdoodles

2010-10-19T13:58:00.012-05:00

Snickerdoodles

Dough:

2 ¾ cups flour

½ tsp salt

2 tsp baking powder

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter

1 ½ cups sugar

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

Topping:

1/3 cup sugar

2 tsp cinnamon

Pre-heat oven to 400. Combine flour, salt, and baking powder and sift. In mixer, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Add flour mixture to mixer, and beat just until incorporated. Shape dough into balls and roll them in cinnamon-sugar topping. *If dough is to soft to form into balls, cover and refrigerate until firm. Grease cookie sheets and bake for 8-10 minutes. Yields: approximately 35 cookies

This post is linked to:
Tasty Tuesday
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday

Home Again, Home Again...

2010-10-18T22:26:00.001-05:00

Hey everybody!! Noah and I are back from deep in the heart of Texas and let me just say that True Woman 10 was amazing!! After three days of deep, heart provoking teaching and beautiful praise and worship, I'm still on a bit of a spiritual "high" you might say. Which is a good thing, but I'm just hoping it last. :-) It is such an encouragement to see so many other Christian women seeking and praying for revival in ourselves, homes, churches, and world. I was deeply convicted to step up to the plate on issues such as my quiet time with God, motherhood, my marriage, and just finding pleasure in a holy, righteous God. If you would like to see some of the teaching for yourself just check our truewoman.com

This is our group on the last day of the conference. We are actually missing one of our gals (she was sick that morning), but I was so thankful for all the wonderful fellowship we enjoyed through the weekend. They are a great group of ladies!!

I also picked up a few new books and I can't wait to read them soon.

Well I think I will head off to bed and start one of these. And yes, I promise I will be back soon with the snickerdoodle recipe. See ya'll later!!

A Little of This and That

2010-10-11T15:09:00.001-05:00

I know that my blog readers are few and far between out there and that the only one who really cares about all the pictures is my Mamaw (another term for grandma here in the South), but I enjoy having it all out of my head and hard drive. So here is a few pictures and random thoughts about life in our neck of the woods. :-)

The weather had turned slightly cool here at the beginning of last week, but slowly warmed back up and we are once again running around in barefeet. I'm all about the cool weather and I'm so thankful that it will stay cool soon.

This little dude is growing so fast that it is hard to keep up. He will be 10 months old on Saturday and I just can't believe we are reaching that one whole year mark so fast. He is the cutest thing and loves to laugh. I think he will be walking soon!! He has tried to take a few steps but nothing consistent yet. Olivia was walking at 10 months and he has not been to far behind her in his milestones. Not so sure I'm ready for two toddlers to be running circles around me. :-)

I would like to introduce you to The Blur. Trying to keep up with this little girl has become quite a chore. She is faster than a speeding bullet and gone in a flash. :-) And if she is not zooming through the house, she is talking up a storm. I fall into bed exhausted every night and yet I wouldn't trade her for the world. She is so precious and if your lucky to steal a kiss from her, it will make your day.

Now that fall has finally arrived I'm trying to spend a little more time in the kitchen. I whipped up some delicious Snickerdoodles yesterday and I plan to post the recipe soon. They are the melt in your mouth kind and I can't leave them alone. I would love to find some more new recipes to try soon. Does anyone have any they would like to share?? They could be desserts or a meal. I'm ready to add some more variety to our menu.

And last but not least, Noah and I along with a group of women from our church our headed here Thursday.

Menu Plan for October 10-16

2010-10-11T07:58:00.000-05:00

Breakfast:

Sunday- Sausage Cheese croissants

Monday- Toast

Tuesday- Cereal

Wednesday- Pancakes

Thursday- Out of town

Friday- Out of town

Saturday- Out of town

Lunch:

Sunday- Family Dinner w/ Eric’s parents

(Pork Chops w/ sides)

Monday- Saturday- Sandwiches, Baked Potatoes, Wraps, Leftovers, or Mac and cheese w/ fruit and chips

Supper:

Sunday –Leftover Pizza

Monday – Breakfast for Supper (eggs, biscuits, gravy, bacon, and hashbrowns)

Tuesday- Tacos w/ rice and refried beans

Wednesday – Spaghetti w/ garlic bread

Thursday – Out of town

Friday – Out of town

Saturday – Out of town

Snacks:

Cookies, popcorn, fruit or yogurt

For more menu planning ideas go to orgjunkie.com

Hoping...

2010-10-08T16:30:00.000-05:00

that you have as crazy fun a weekend planned as we do!!!!

See ya soon...

Simple Woman's Daybook: October 6

2010-10-06T15:51:00.000-05:00

Outside my window…the sun is shining and the temperature is perfect!!

I am thinking…that even though we have been very sick with a stomach virus this week, It has caused me to slow down and just spend time holding my babies.

I am thankful for…a pantry and refrigerator that is full of food. God has blessed us and supplied our every need. My thoughts and prayers go out to those who are just struggling to get by.

I am praying…for my aunt (mother’s sister) today. She went to the ER early this morning because her heart rate out of control. They had to shock her heart and now she is in CCU.

From the kitchen…not much since we are all recovering form a nasty stomach bug. I think I will bake some potatoes for supper.

I am wearing…brown jogging pants w/ a green t-shirt.

I am reading…. For fun: The Thorn by Beverly Lewis

For edification/encouragement: Women Counseling Women (This book was edited by Elise Fitzpatrick. It has several authors and one of them is my pastor’s wife)

Bible reading: Working my way through 1 Corinthians this month and also finishing up my Precept study of Genesis Part 1

I am hoping…for some much needed rain.

I am creating…a Home that is a Haven. My project this week was to burn a candle everyday and pray for a peaceful home. I bought a new Pumpkin Spice candle and it smells wonderful!!

Around the house…Olivia is still napping, Noah is awake and having a snack in his highchair, all the doors and windows are open, everyone seems to be recovering from the sickness.

One of my favorite thing…whipped cream on top of my morning coffee…Yummy!!

A few plans for the rest of the week…looking at more houses’s this week (we think we may have found one we will make an offer on), running a few errands tomorrow, cleaning and laundry.

And a picture…

An evening on the beach watching a beautiful sunset!!

Menu Plan for October 3-9

2010-10-04T08:53:00.001-05:00

Breakfast:

Sunday- Donuts and pumpkin dip

Monday- Poptarts or toast

Tuesday- Fried eggs and biscuits

Wednesday- Pancakes

Thursday- Scrambled eggs and toast

Friday- Poptarts or toast

Saturday- Cinnamon Rolls

Lunch:

Sunday- Family Dinner w/ Eric’s parents

(Roast w/ sides)

Monday- Saturday- Sandwiches, Baked Potatoes, Wraps, Leftovers, or Mac and cheese w/ fruit and chips

Supper:

Sunday –Frozen pizza or Pitas

Monday – Mexican Chicken w/ salad, cheddar garlic biscuits and Ohey Gooey Butter Cake ( We are having friends over to eat and fellowship)

Tuesday- Chili and birthday cake (My baby sister’s birthday)

Wednesday – Loaded baked potato and salad

Thursday – Beans and cornbread w/ broccoli and mac and cheese

Friday – Homemade Pizza

Saturday – Brisket w/ scalloped potatoes and green beans

Snacks:

Cookies, popcorn, fruit or yogurt

Olivia's 2nd Birthday Party

2010-10-02T23:44:00.000-05:00

Life had been very busy since we got back from vacation and this blog has been put on the back-burner for awhile. I'm thinking that things will slow down this coming week and I hope to be able to share with you a little bit of what we have been doing.

Olivia turned 2 while we were on vacation, but we celebrated with family and friends the weekend before we left. Here are a few pictures from her party.

We had a Minnie Mouse theme.

This is Minnie's bow :-)

Her birthday gift from Mommy and Daddy.

She loves her new bike!!

Olivia is 2!!!!

2010-09-21T00:00:00.001-05:00

She is turning 2 today and I just can’t believe how fast the years are going by. I remember the day she was born and the little scare we had immediately after. She had a low oxygen count in her blood and one of her legs was very white. They thought she might have a hole in her heart so we had to take a few x-rays and test. She was put on oxygen and an IV and I couldn’t feed her for a few days. Thankfully she didn‘t have a heart defect and they decided it was an infection. After several days in the nursery, we introduced my pumped milk and then started nursing the day after that. She came home after 4 days in the hospital and it was a day that changed my life. I was a new mother and this was reality. Over the past two years, she has grown from a sweet little baby into a beautiful little girl. I’m so thankful God has made me her mother. I pray He gives me the grace to raise her up in a way that is pleasing to Him, that she would come to know His saving grace at an early age, and that she would live a life that is sold out to Jesus Christ.

Happy Birthday Olivia!!

We love you very much. You are a wonderful blessing to our family.

Mommy, Daddy, and Noah

Vacation Time Here We Come...

2010-09-19T22:43:00.001-05:00

(Pictures taken during our 13 hour car trip via my Blackberry)

We are on vacation this week, I celebrated 3 wonderful years of marriage to the man of my dreams last week, and this little squirt will be 2 Tuesday. (We celebrated with a party Friday night) Fun times!! I have so much to catch on on but for now I'm going to enjoy this time with my family. See ya soon!!

A Day in my Life- Wednesday's

2010-09-16T15:10:00.000-05:00

(Olivia's choice of footwear)

5:30- Wake up, Quiet Time

6:30- Shower, dress, Noah wakes and I turn on Praise Baby, make bed, tidy bathroom, and sort dirty laundry

7:00- Coffee, feed everyone breakfast, Olivia wakes up

7:30- Eric leaves for work, dress the kids, pick-up around the house, put away some laundry

8:00- Nurse Noah while I check e-mail and google reader, pack diaper bag

8:45- Drop kids of at their great-grandma's, run a few errand (library and movie rental), drive across town

9:30- Ladies bible study group

11:15- Drive back across town, meet Eric for a lunch date

12:00- Pick-up a few things from Wal-Mart

12:30- Pick-up the kids

12:45- Tidy the house while the kids look at books

1:00- Nurse Noah, read to Olivia, send a quick e-mail

1:30- Nap time for Olivia, pick-up toys

2:00- Nap time for Noah, balance checkbook, fold a load of laundry, my grandma stops by and we visit for a while

3:00- Review lesson I am teaching to the preschoolers at church tonight, wash dishes

4:00- Read a few blogs on google reader, wake kids up, put away laundry

4:30- Kids play and watch Praise baby while I work on supper prep

5:00- Eric comes home!!

5:15- Supper time

5:30- Clean up kitchen, give the kids a bath, get ready for church

6:00- Leave for church

8:30- Drive home from church

9:00- Prep everyone for bed and do a quick pick-up around the house

9:30- Family devotion time

10:00- Put kids to bed (This is an odd night for us. They usually go to bed around 9)

10:30- Eric and I read for a bit then go to bed also

Hope you enjoyed another glimpse into my everday life. I hope to do another one soon!!

Menu Plan for September 12-18

2010-09-13T14:28:00.000-05:00

We are going on our family vacation next week so I'm only planning meals this week. The two week shopping trip and menu seems to be saving us money so far and I enjoy staying out of the stores as much.

Breakfast:

Sunday- Donuts

Monday- Cereal

Tuesday- English muffins w/ strawberry freezer jam

Wednesday- Pancakes

Thursday- Oatmeal or cereal

Friday- English muffins

Saturday- Eggs and toast

Lunch:

Sunday- Family Dinner w/ Eric’s parents

(Steak w/ baked potatoes, salad, and garlic toast)

Monday- Saturday- Sandwiches, Baked Potatoes, Wraps, Leftovers, or Mac and cheese w/ fruit and chips

Supper:

Sunday –Leftovers

Monday – Breakfast for dinner (eggs, sausage, hashbrowns, biscuits, and gravy

Tuesday- Out for our 3rd anniversary

Wednesday – Potato soup

Thursday – Grilled chicken w/ green beans and baked potatoes

Friday – Olivia’s Birthday Party (Grilled hot dogs and brats, chip and dip, vegetable tray, and cake with ice cream)

Saturday – Leftovers or frozen pizza

Snacks:

Cookies, popcorn, fruit or yogurt

Bring Home Baby Nora and Win an iPad!!!

2010-09-08T14:38:00.001-05:00

Some dear friends of ours, the Anderson's, are in the process of adopting a baby girl from Ethiopia. They are in the waiting process right now and are looking forward to the day they will be bring home little Nora. During this time they will need to continue building up their funds in order to travel back and forth to Ethiopia. So if you are able to donate please consider giving to bring Nora home.

As of yesterday through October 4 you will receive one ticket for every $10 donation your give. The tickets will be for put in a drawing for this iPad they are giving away to one winner!!

Here is how it will work:

1. Click the Paypal Donate link on their blog (they will know how many chances you donate by the amount of the donation). If you choose this route, please put in your memo a contact number so they can call you to let you know if you win.

The drawing will be held on October 4th at 8pm CST. They will contact the winner by phone on October 4th for the big announcement. Please tell all of your friends, post it on your Facepage or Mybook or Twit it to your heart's content. Your $10 (or whatever amount) donation may just win you an iPad, and most definitely will help bring home Nora Carolyne from Ethiopia!!!

Simple Woman's Daybook: September 7

2010-09-07T15:58:00.000-05:00

Outside my window…cloudy with a mist of rain falling.

I am thinking…about the wonderful time in the Word I had this afternoon. Our ladies bible study begins tomorrow and we doing a Precept study (Genesis 1)

I am thankful for…a God who has given me life. I pray that I will use this life he has given me to give Him glory.

I am praying…that our nation would fall on our faces before a holy God, repent, and seek to portray His likeness to the world. This begins with the family, in our homes, and as we make our way in this world.

From the kitchen…Chili is simmering in the crock-pot and I’m about to bake some chocolate chip cookies

I am wearing…a brown top, red skirt, and brown flip-flops

I am reading…I just finished “A Mother’s Hope” by Francine Rivers. I’m working my way through “A Place of Quiet Rest” by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. In my bible reading I’m reading through the book of Romans and studying the book of Genesis (Precept)

I am hoping…that the rain we receive this week will be enough for the farmers. It hasn’t rained in about a month.

I am creating…I’m printing pictures for my family photo albums. As the weather begins to cool and the days are become shorter, I’m getting ready to pull my sewing machine out and start a few projects

Around the house…everyone is napping, Pandora is playing in the background, the laundry is all washed and ready to be ironed or folded,

One of my favorite thing…September. We will be celebrating our anniversary, Olivia’s 2nd birthday, and going on vacation this month!!

A few plans for the rest of the week…looking at a potential house to buy tonight, bible study tomorrow, a trip to our family cabin to visit my family Thursday, cleaning, laundry, baking, and the weekend with my wonderful husband!!

And a picture…

Menu Plan for August 29-September 12

2010-08-31T08:07:00.000-05:00

I went grocery shopping last night and bought 2 weeks worth of meals. I've been wanting to try this and see if it helps to save on our grocery budget.

Breakfast:

Sunday- Cinnamon Bread

Monday- Eggs and toast

Tuesday- Pancakes

Wednesday- Cereal

Thursday- Biscuits and gravy

Friday- Cereal

Saturday- Cinnamon Rolls

Sunday- At church

Monday-Eggs and toast

Tuesday-Cereal

Wednesday-Waffles

Thursday- Biscuits and gravy

Friday-Cereal

Saturday- Cinnamon Bread

Sunday- At church

Lunch:

Sunday- Family Dinner w/ Eric’s parents

Monday- Saturday: Sandwiches, Wraps, Leftovers, or Mac and cheese w/ fruit and chips

Supper:

Sunday –Sandwiches

Monday – Taco Bake w/ refried beans and corn

Tuesday- Birthday dinner for niece (out of town)

Wednesday – Grilled chicken salad w/ French bread

Thursday – Birthday dinner for my dad

Friday – Spaghetti w/ salad and garlic bread

Saturday – Sub sandwiches w/ chips

Sunday- Leftover/ Frozen Pizza

Monday- Hamburgers w/ French fries and potato salad

Tuesday- Dinner w/ my parents

Wednesday- Loaded Baked Potato

Thursday-Chicken Spaghetti w/ green beans and garlic bread

Friday- Homemade Pizza

Saturday- Chili w/ cheese toast

Sunday- Leftovers

Snacks:

Cookies, popcorn, fruit, yogurt, or ice cream

For more menu planning ideas go to orgjunkie.com