Famiy Night

Last night was family night. It was nice and cold so we had a hot meal, then went outside for s'mores, then back inside for pumpkin carving.

Uncle Chris started us off

Aunt Lana keeping warm

Can you believe this was 90 year old GeeGee's first s'more?!

4 generations

Grandpa's turn

The fun aunt and uncle

Uncle Chris and Zak were the only ones who cared about carving the pumpkin.

It is out of control

So everyone talks about the TV show "The Office". We have never gotten on "The Office" bandwagon. And would say to each other - that show looks so stupid. We would also say, why do people buy TV shows on DVD - that is so dumb.

Well, last weekend, when there was nothing to rent at the Red Box, we succumbed to watching "The Office season 1" on DVD, that we had borrowed from my brother.

We didn't go to bed until 1am that night. We watched the entire season. Then we called my brother the next day for season 2. For the next 10 days we have watched 3 episodes every night after we put the kids to bed. I am not exaggerating. Every. Night. I am suffering from some serious sleep deprivation.

On Saturday, we started season 3. Its our little thing now. We pop popcorn, and watch "The office" every night.

We had a babysitter on Saturday night to go to a birthday party - we couldn't wait to come home and watch "The Office". We were home by 9:00pm.

If you every wondered what marriage after 11 years is - this is it.

Thank you Chris and Lana for buying the DVDs of a TV show. We will no longer chastise you.

"I don't have time" Cinnamon Rolls

When you don't want to spend forever waiting for your rolls to rise, cook up my cinnamon rolls in about 30 minutes from start to finish. Click here to find out how.

Life is too short

I've been mulling a few things around in my head lately. I am usually a VERY productive person. I've been driven since I was a little girl. I like my world organized and predictable (for the most part). I feel like when I had my 3rd child, everything went haywire, and I am just now getting back to being the "self" that I know. Sleepless nights, tight budgets, and selfishness have all been a hurdle to what I want to be doing. So now, I'm going to do some things that I've been wanting to do, and just haven't.

• At least one family activity a weekend, whether it be a movie, a walk, or an outing - somthing where we are all together and have each others undivided attention.


• Dinner on Thursday nights for friends - whether the house is clean or not! I'm usually cooking anyway, why not double it and have some company.


• Creative, intentional, educational activities with my kids at least once a week.


• Date night with my hubby once a week (don't worry family, I'll rotate the babysitters)

What are some things you want to be doing, but aren't?

A shameless plug

Alright, I have to plug my dear sister-in-law's new Etsy shop. If you've never visited Etsy, your missing out. Everything for sale has to be hand crafted. It is so fun to browse. I love hand made things, and was not given the creative gene, so I really admire those who do.

Anyway, Tricia is super talented and I was actually recently on the receiving end of her talent. She made me this adorable apron for my birthday. She has one that is the same style for sale so check it out quick before its gone.

She'd appreciate it if you'd stop by her shop and browse - and of course, buy something!!

The day from you know where

Its cliche'. I know. But it really was. We have had rain for the past 2 days so that means grey skies, and cooped up in the house. Today was the first day of sunshine in 3 days and Zak comes down with a fever. There go our "fall break" plans. And they were big.....going to the library. At least it was an outing. So we are stuck in the house for yet another day. This is when the toys are old, the TV is always on, and your just trying to get through minute by minute. I'm sure none of you other super moms have had these days. So I end up having to cancel our totally cool dinner plans at 4:00pm because Zak's fever isn't gone and Andy calls to tell me he just threw up. Now I have nothing planned for dinner, because we were going to some friends house, my husband would be of no help, and I am about to lose it. Then the call from Bethany. It was nice to hear from the outside world, if I could have heard. I couldn't hear due to the screaming of my children in the background. I moved from the bathroom, kids rooms, and then my closet - everywhere of which my children found me and continued to be loud. I got a nice "hang in there" from Bethany, hung up the phone, and proceeded to lose it. My kids were sent to their rooms until their sick father came home. I made them call Bethany back, apologize, and told them anytime the phone rings again, they have to automatically go to their rooms until they can learn to have manners. All the while doing this with Rene' on my hip, sucking her thumb. Because that is all Rene' does, all. day. long. Want to be held and suck her thumb.

While all of this is going on, I hear Lisa Whelchel in the back of my head, from the bible study I'm doing, telling me to teach my children's hearts, not just their behavior. I thank God for the reminder, with gritted teeth, and decide everyone is going to bed at 7:00pm.

Zak

Zak,

Every time I look at your face, and see those cute, tiny, freckles, I can't help but smile. You turned 6 this week. (I'm late - sorry). I remember hiding the pregnancy test in the cabinet, and then checking it later to see if that faint pink line, was any brighter. Obviously it was.

You are the kid, who everyone wants to be their friend. You make everyone laugh with your enthusiasm, that is quite contagious. You do everything with 110%, never less. You love Star Wars, puzzles, Scooby Doo, Honey Nut Cheerios, space, and your family. I think its so cute when you tell me you "don't like Paige right now, but you still love her." I see a lot of myself in you, and I wish I could spare you the mistakes I made. But I know you'll learn from them, like I did. Sometimes I just watch you interact with others, whether its on the soccer field, at school, or at church. You make me proud. But it makes me sad, too. I realize more than ever that your growing up. I can't wait to see the man you become. And my prayer every day for you is that you grow to be a man of integrity, character, and substance. And most of all that you make God the single most important thing in your life.

This year, your 6th year of life, I hope your eyes are opened to a few more things that you are good at, that you learn to become a better friend, that you trust God a little more, that you know how much your dad and I love you, and that you make memories that will last you a lifetime.

I love you,

Mom

I haven't forgotten you~

Its been a busy week with company and birthdays - I promise I'll be back by the end of the weekend with Zak's Bday party pics and Paige stories!

Why did I wait so long to get away?

Lets be honest. There's really nothing like getting away with the girls to eat, laugh, and shop. It fills the soul. And that's just what I did last weekend. 3 of my favorite people and I hit the road and headed to Dallas, where we stayed with my generous brother and shopped Canton Trade Days, and various Dallas hot spots. I'm pretty sure this will be happening again very soon, well, after my budget can replenish itself.

Breakfast early in the AM before shopping

A small glimpse of Canton Trade Days - one of the largest outdoor flea markets in the US

Even Amber braved the crowds, broken leg and all, with a scooter, of course. Although the little dog who she almost ran over would have rather her not.

shopping.......

Lunch at Ikea - you know its a serious store when there's a cafeteria in it.

Last stop, one of Oprah's favorite things - Sprinkles cupcakes.

The Posse (Left to Right) Bethany, me, April, and Amber

A much Needed break!

I'm on one!

I'm getting ready to hit Canton Trade Days with 3 of my girlfriends. I'm so excited, my stomach is all nauseous.

I'll be back with pictures and a few of my great finds (hopefully!)

A little Nostalgia

I don't consider myself overly sentimental. But lately, a little bit has been creeping in. My mom has some very old black and white pictures on her wall of her grandmother as a child and some other old relatives. I found myself looking at them the other day and realizing it was my heritage. I decided once my kids get bigger, I'm going to do some family tree research.

My mom, in her first year of retirement, is on a cleaning rampage. In a matter of weeks I have acquired my old school yearbooks, pictures, and stuffed animals. I love getting them - I just have no where to put them. I guess she doesn't either. Anyway, she brought over some old cookbooks, knowing I'm a sucker for a cookbook. As I sat down to go through them, I realized it was a treasure trove! I found cookbooks of my grandmother's that have her handwritten recipes stuck inside, newspaper clippings from 1976 with recipes on them. One had her inscription on one that was to a couple getting married, then she scratched out their names and wrote that they didn't get married. Those, to me, are priceless. And my grandmother is still living! But those are the things that some day, when she is gone, I am going to be so happy I have.

I'm afraid in the hustle and bustle of life these days, we forget all that great stuff. A time when convenience foods were almost non-existent. People went out to eat as a rare "treat". It makes me want to bring a little of that back into my family. When times were simple. And the food was always homemade and tasty.