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Saturday, September 19, 2009

Way too long!!

Can't believe how long it has been since I blogged! Well, actually I can believe it! I've just been lazy and "not feeling it". But, I woke up this morning and am feeling it for some reason so here I go.

I guess a catch-up is in order. although my life isn't that exciting..so there won't be much to catch up on. Let's see....

Kyle--is still working for the same company but moved to another property south of town. He likes the job but doesn't love the people he works with. He should be getting a raise any day now so that will help, I'm sure!

Logan--He is in 3rd grade now and has a new love for swimming. he starts level 4 swimming lessons today. Level 4 is the last level before joining the sim team. he is excited to join the team and his goal is to be in the olympics. ;-)

Dylan--is now in 1st grade and enjoys school. He is doing well..I was a little worried about him but he is doing so well. makes me proud. He is also in swimming lessons..he starts level 3. Swimming doesn't come as easy for him as it does Logan..but he also wants to join the swim team...it'll be awhile before that happens I'm sure.

Me--same same same. I'm the mommy and the wife. Taking care of the kids and the house and the hubby..and still working from home. It's not a "perfect" life but it is a good one..and I love it!! :-)

The newest thing in all our lives is that Tony is going to live in a group home on Nov. 1. Mom will be moving in with us while she awaits getting approved for SSD. Her health is declining and she just isn't able to care for Tony anymore. She has done it for 38 years..I think she is entitled to a break! She is having a hard time but I know she knows it is for the best. The home he is moving to is 3 mins from our house and is very nice. I think he will be happy there--well as happy as Tony can be. We are doing some changes around here to make room for mom...Kyle and I will be moving down the basement--we will have a bedroom and a "living room" and bathroom, The boys will be moving to the master bedroom--kyle is building them loft beds so they will have plenty of space for playing, mom is moving in to the 2 smaller bedrooms. She will have a bedroom and an office/sitting room. So we will all have seperate areas as well as common areas. It will take some adapting..but I think it will work out well.

that's about it....

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Command Center

Our house is small. I think it is 1,056 square feet..that doesn't count the basement..but the basement isn't finished anyway..so it doesn't really count ...unless you wanna live down there with the spiders and washer and dryer.

So..the house is small and I am increasingly annoyed over the lack of space. I blame the non-organized-ness on this fact. I look around and think of all the things we could do, IF. It's a pretty stupid way to look at things, I admit it! I am starting to get past it..and make things work, small or not. Boy! could I make LESS sense?!?!

A few years ago I was talking to my friend Teresa and telling her that I thought it was impossible to be organized in a small house. That I had no room for cute shelves and units to put things in. I told her I wanted to have a house like her house and a garage like hers. She had set up a shoe area in her garage..a place for shoes to be taken off and put away before even coming into the house! SO much better than my (then) pile of shoes under the endtable next to the front door! She said that I may not have what she had..but I had to figure out something that could work for me. Yeah. easy for HER to say, right?!?!

So...I thought and considered and thought some more and then it came to me. I would put an over the door shoe holder on the inside of the hall closet door! I did..and it works and I love it. and yes, I realize that I could just not be lazy and take my shoes to my room and put them away. But..you should know by now...I AM lazy.

Last week, I had a bit of a melt down over the state of my house. The clutter was overwhelming..the kids had tons of make-up school work and home work laying all over the table. I had mail and papers to be filed laying all over the place and it was really really making me crazy. So, saturday I cleaned and purged and organized and felt much better. Then I had Kyle help me make a "command center". LOVE IT!

I wanted a place to hang a calendar--a place where we could all look at it and know what was going on with who on any given day. A place that I could look to see what is going on in case I lose my personal calendar. AGAIN! And I needed to figure out a system for the boys papers, etc.

This is what I came up with.



Now..I knew I wanted to do this..but AGAIN with the issue of WHERE. So I had a brainstorm This "command center" is on the other side of the door to the basement. So, it can be shut and no one sees it..and when we need it..we simply open the door. It's not inconvenient because we have to walk right past it to get from the living room to the bathroom and all the bedrooms.

The calendar is there, a basket with markers, 3 hanging file trays. One for Logan, one for Dylan and one for Misc. I labeled the boys trays with their names so there is no confusion. I really really love it! who knew something so simple could make me so happy!! I bet you're wondering how something so simple could take such a long blog entry, huh?

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Shopping Bags

I finally did it. I bought re-usable shopping bags. I never have to use a plastic bag from the grocery store again. I never have to get home...lift up the plastic bag and have it bust leaving the contents all over my trunk!! Yay me!!

We got our tax return deposited yesterday so I was feeling a little rich! I took mom to lunch at Olive Garden and then went to office depot to get some supplies for my new "command center" (more on that later). They had their shopping bags on sale for 99 cents a piece...so I bought 5. Later, I went to Kroger and they had theirs on sale for 5 for $4! So..I bought 5 more. The bagger put my groceries in the bags and I LOVE them.

I actually remembered to put them back in the trunk after I put the groceries away! Now..if I can just remember to take them INTO the store with me next time I go...I'll be golden!! Also...Kroger will take 3 cents off my bill for each bag I bring in. woot!

Friday, February 13, 2009

The Power of the Paddle

My kids are out of control. There, I said it.

They don't listen, they talk back, they are disrespectful and it takes me yelling and threatening to get them to half way obey. It has gone on WAY too long. I have tried reasoning with them, explaining to them, counting, threatening, yelling, ignoring, spanking, time outs. Nothing seems to really work. It's like they don't care.

Now, keep in mind that they are not like this with Kyle. Just me. He doesn't even have to spank or count. just raise his voice a little and they are quick to obey. oh..the power of a deep voice!

Awhile ago K suggested a paddle. That the spankings don't matter because it doesn't really effect them. I hated to do that. Spankings get SUCH a bad rap...although I was spanked as a child and turned out ok..and there is a HUGE difference in a spanking and a beating..and they are NOT the same..but I digress. So..I have been trying hard to not resort to that.

So..anyway. We were at my moms the other day. The kids were running around and playing..just being kids. then the playing turned to play fighting..and then real fighting. They were screaming and just acting like little idiots. I told Logan to NOT TOUCH Dylan again..and told Dylan DO NOT go where Logan is. Easy right? apparently not. before long...they were back together fighting. I seperated them and said, "the next kid that disobeys is getting spanked--with a spatula (first thing I could think of that was "paddle-like"). Logan said "oooooh...a spatula" in a little sing song voice and did this little motion with his hand as if to say..yeah, I'm SO scared. So..I got up, walked in the kitchen and got a wooden spoon. He ran. (note to all little kids out there...when your mom has had enough and gets a spoon to spank you with...DON'T run!!) I finally got him and swatted him twice on the bottom..not hard but enough to get his attention. He looked shocked and cried and carried on and tried to run away...again. I made him sit there with me and calm down. Once he was calm I told him to put his shoes on and get in the car. He did. We came home and I hugged him before we walked in the house. He came inside and did everything I asked. he was respectful, obedient and just lovely for the rest of the afternoon and evening. Which in turn made me more calm and relaxed and a better mommy. I am usually so aggravated and annoyed and just waiting for bedtime. With him being SO much more pleasant..I enjoyed him more...enjoyed talking with him more..helping him with homework more.

I explained to both boys that I was DONE. The disobedience, back-talk, etc is over. From now on, they listen..or they get spanked. period.

Now..I just need to be consistent. I don't WANT to spank them..it breaks my heart. But I KNOW I need control of them..before long it will be too late and I really really really don't want to raise little hellion teenagers.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Sickness...

I didn't get to blog at all last week because I was dealing with a very sick Dylan. He was diagnosed with Rotavirus and ended up being admitted to the hospital for dehydration. It was pretty awful and so sad seeing him so sick. He did bounce back quick though and is now 100%.

Luckily, Kyle and I have both avoided the nastiness. I washed my hands until they cracked and bled and sprayed everything the kids touched with lysol or clorox. So far so good! I did end up with a sinus-y thing..but I would take that over throwing up and diarrhea ANY day!!

So..the boys are back to school today. Today is the first day in 2 weeks that I haven't had at least 1 kid home with me. It feels very good...definitely a break that I have really needed.

Hopefully, this bout of sickness is the last one of the winter...I can't WAIT for spring!!

Monday, February 02, 2009

Meal Plan Monday

Well, this week is not going to be very exciting. We are leaving this week to head to TN. So..I have a LOT of work to get done..so I can take the days off..plus laundry, packing, etc to do. so dinners are going to be easy peasy..and leftover-y!




Monday--Chili (leftover from last night)


Tuesday--Sloppy Joes and potato chips


Wednesday--Dinner out--fast food probably


Thursday--out of town


Friday--out of town


Saturday--out of town


Sunday--coming home...probably more fast food!!


Told you it wasn't exciting. ah well. It is what it is!! :) You can view more exciting menus here.

Saturday, January 31, 2009

Super Bowl Plans??

We aren't big sport fans. Honestly, I only watch the SuperBowl for the commercials...and the food.

Logan has expressed interest in watching this year. His concern is that if he doesn't watch it and learn about football and he grows up and has a son that is interested in football..he won't be able to teach him about it! SO..Kyle is going to rectify that and teach him the ins and outs of football tomorrow.

Who's doing the half time show? (I get sidetracked easily)

I can't decide what kind of food to have. In all honesty, I should stick to my diet instead of having a "cheat day" as planned. I'm going to have to weigh in early this week because I *think* we are heading to TN at some point. So..I might just make a pot of chili or taco soup and be done with it. But I really have a hankerin' to make Pioneer Woman's Mexican Layer Dip. Who knows.

Of course it all depends on me getting to the store today. Kyle is working (and he has to work for awhile tomorrow) and Dylan has just started throwing up--this is the same sickness Logan had earlier this week. (PLEASE God...let it skip me!!!). So..I'm not sure how I am going to get to the store with all that excitement! Let's just hope I get there and I'm not forced to watch the SuperBowl while munching on fish sticks and oranges..because that's ALL we have to eat in this house right now.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Little Puffs of Love

If you have a Denny's near you, you MUST..MUST MUST MUST head there NOW and try their Pancake Puppies!!!


I had some this morning (diet..schmiet!!) and OMStars were they heavenly!!

Seriously...go....NOW!!

Monday, January 26, 2009

Menu Plan Monday

In an effort to get myself a little more (ok a LOT more) organized I am joining Menu Plan Monday. My menus will be WW friendly! You can see more menu plans at orgjunkie.com. Without further ado....



Monday--Chicken Sandwiches & Fries

Tuesday--Grilled Fish, Baked Potatoes & salad

Wednesday--Baked Chicken Breasts, Hashbrown Casserole, corn

Thursday--Chicken Stroganoff, Noodles, peas

Friday--Taco Soup
Saturday--dinner out

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Paragraphical Errors

Guess what I just realized?!?!?
My blog doesn't show paragraphs.
How does ANYONE read my posts when they look like one big huge long run-on sentence?
Huh? I ask you..HOW?!?
Stupid Blogger. I WILL figure this out.....
UPDATE:
Ok...well...it looks like all of my older posts have space between the paragraphs..so the problem is this one and the one before it. I think the problem is that I did these 2 posts in center aligning and used color and size differences on some of the words. Not sure why that makes a difference....but, apparently it does. hmph!

E-I-G-H-T-H

8th!
Logan's District Spelling Bee was today and he came in 8th! Not TOO shabby for a 2nd grader...especially a 2nd grader that did not study the word list!!
THE word was frying. Pretty easy, eh?
Apparently not!!
He spelled it f-r-i-e-i-n-g...and INSISTS he has seen it spelled that way. ah well. He was really ok with it..and is ready to try it again next year. He's a good boy! :)
In other Bee news...I found out last night (after Kyle read the note sent home a month ago--it was attached to the non-studied words) that he could only have ONE visitor. HMMPH! He asked Kyle to take him since Kyle never can go to school stuff since he works..and I already saw him in his school Bee.
So..off they went and Logan REALLY enjoyed being with him and him alone.
Dylan slept in until almost 9 so I had some alone time this morning and then some quiet time with only 1 boy--which was nice. Then Kyle and Logan brough home lunch. Gotta love a quiet morning and lunch that requires NO effort on my part!!

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Chores

As you well know..cleaning the house and keeping the house clean are not 2 of my strong suits! I am self admittedly LAZY and tend to get overwhelmed easy...I sit around and look at all that needs to be done..and don't know where to start so I usually end up doing nothing. Well, not NOTHING..but definitely the bare minimum. One of my goals for the new year was to keep the house cleaner and more organized. Yeah..that's not going so well...

I have been thinking about making up a chore chart for myself...but again with the overwhelmed/lazy blah blah blah.

Well, guess what? I was reading Lindsey's blog today and she mentioned a chore planner at motivatedmoms.com . So..I went and checked it out!! I am SOOO glad I did!! Why? because it clearly states what my daily chores should be: make the beds, do the dishes, clean the sink, etc etc..but it also has extra little chores for every day. That way, you get your stuff done and can have time for yourself. And by doing a little every day..it's never overwhelming..and you don't have to feel guilty!! This is very doable stuff and doesn't have me feeling overwhelmed and like a failure the way Fly Lady did.

The planner is an e-book for $8 you can choose whichever style you want..I chose the full size planner..it has a week on each page. You can see samples of all the styles there at the website. Anyway..I'm just excited and wanted to share. If you're curious you can

Click here to view more details!!

I'll keep you posted on how it's going for me!!!

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Inauguration...

Today is Inauguration Day. Barack Obama is our 44th President. I didn't watch the swearing in..I recorded it to watch with the boys. While I did not vote for him and do not trust him and do not agree with some of the things he stands for. The act of swearing in a President and the peaceful change of leaders is something to be very proud of...and I want to share that and the significance of this very historical event with my children. I am VERY proud to be an American.

I DO think the 2 day party leading up to this historical event is a tad overkill. It seems like people are worshipping this man...and that is bothersome to me. I can't even imagine the money that has been spent on special news casts, televised celebrations, etc. When the economy is so horrible and things need to "change".

One last thing...I saw this on Laura's blog and wanted to post it here as well since it is something that touches my heart so deeply.

Friday, January 16, 2009

Baby, it's COLD outside!!!

wow! it is SO cold here!! School has been closed for 2 days-kinda cold! Don't go outside without a coat on or you will die--kinda cold!!

When Kyle left for work this morning, it was -14 and the windchill was -30!! That kinda cold is crazy!! Tomorrow should be warmer--thank Heavens!!

In other news, the new truck either needs a new battery or a new alternator. yay! Dad took Kyle down to autozone to get a new battery last night and the autozone people checked it and said the battery is fine. Kyle is not convinced it is the alternator and apparently the only way to know for sure is to take it out and test it. So..he is hoping to nurse it for the week and then work on it next weekend, when 1) it will be warmer, 2)we'll have money to pay for it and 3) he won't be on call. all good things!

Tomorrow I go for my weigh in at WW. I am excited. I have done SO well this week. Go me!!

I'm glad it is the weekend again. I am NOT glad the kids have been home for 2 days and will be home for 3 more. I am kinda tired of them and their nonsense and fighting and gross-ness. I think I just need a break.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Weekend End

It's the end of the weekend and that makes me sad. I love our weekends of being home together.

Friday night we went to Kyle's cousins going away party. We didn't know anyone there, save him and another cousin so it was kinda awkward. We didn't stay long, but it was nice having a short "date".

Yesterday I went and joined WW and then I came home and picked up K and the boys and headed out the TGIFridays for lunch. It was SO good. I had this new macaroni and cheese thing with grilled chicken. It was wonderful! After lunch we went to Best Buy for the kids to spend the gift cards they received for Christmas.

The whole BB thing was kind of a fiasco..asking my children to make a decision is like pulling teeth. Well, no wait, Dylan made a very quick decision and was fine. Logan on the other hand was having a hard time and then freaked out because I suggested something different. In the end they each got a DS game and then pooled their money and bought a Wii game. of course mom and dad had to chip in $15...but that's alright.

We had a quiet evening at home...lots of video game playing!

This morning I ran out to get us McD's for breakfast and then finished up some paperwork I have been putting off. Kyles mom left the boys some money so I had to get all those papers filled out..had to find a missing birth certificate, etc. And then I had to fill out all the papers for re-enrollment for the kids school for next year. I can't believe it's time to do that already. Well, it's a little early but they were having an early bird special. If the packets are turned in before 1/16 we get a $25 discount per kid. Sounds like a good deal to me! I'm such a procrastinator..so I am pretty proud of myself. yay me!

Now, the boys have been fed and showered and jammied and are playing more of their wii game before bed. Actually, I just remembered Dylan has homework...so I better get him started on that.

I made my grocery list for tomorrow and will go get all my "diet" foods after I drop the boys at school in the morning.

No big plans for this week...aside from starting the diet and exercising. I also get to work too!

Thursday, January 08, 2009

Two toys for you...and you

I took the boys to McDonalds today as a treat for not acting like complete little idiots when I took them to my work for a few minutes to drop some papers off.

As we were sitting in line waiting, I noticed a sign that says Happy Meals come with 2 toys now. I told the kids and Logan asked if it was 2 of the same toy. I laughed and said, "NO!"

So...2 happy meals later we are on our way home. We get home and look in the bags and........you guessed it! 2 toys, but they are the SAME TOY!! So, now we have 4 of the same toy!!! Who needs 4 of the same crappy McDonalds toy?? Not this house!!!

I was trying to figure out WHY they would do that. Is it an economic thing...like if you have 2 kids you only need to buy the one overpriced meal for the toys and then you can buy the other stuff "a la carte" and that somehow saves you money???

Or...what???

I checked out the McD's website and no mention of it there....hmmm. I'm very perplexed.

Anyone out there wanna enlighten me??

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Undershirts

When Logan was a baby he was so "hot blooded" the ped. told me to not put him in a onesie and then his clothes..he was breaking out in heat rash! Poor baby! But how was I to know? I was a first time mom and it was December and I just thought that's what you did..put a baby in a onesie and then clothes.

So, when I had Dylan in June, I just decided to forego the whole onesie nonsense.

8 years later Logan says, "mom, some kids at school wear these white shirts under their regular shirts..what is that?" (deprived kid, right??) So, I explained that they were undershirts. Then I bought him some for Christmas.

The kid is in LOVE with undershirts!! I bought him the normal short sleeved ones and then I bought him the "wife-beater" type. He looks so cute with the white undershirt peeking out from the collar of his school uniform and there is NOTHING cuter than a little boy in boxer briefs and a "wife beater". ;-)

He is getting SO grown up.

Sunday, January 04, 2009

Tater-Tot Casserole

I have never made this before but found this recipe and HAD to have it. My sausage is browning now. I'm excited!

Tater Tot Casserole

Ingredients

2 lb. ground pork sausage
2 cans cream of mushroom soup (I used cr. of chicken)
tater tots
2 + cups sharp cheddar

Cook sausage and drain grease. Stir together with soups. Place in bottom of greased 8×8 pan. Place tater tots on top according to what you desire. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes. Take out. Turn up heat to broil. Put under broiler for 2-3 minutes - watch carefully. Enjoy!


Edited on 1/7 to say:

I thought this was ok but I didn't LOVE it...until I had it the next day for lunch. OMG it was awesome! then I had it last night for dinner. SOOOO good. I think the next time I make it for dinner I will make it a day ahead and then reheat it for dinner.

Thursday, January 01, 2009

The First Day

Today is the first day of 2009. I hope to make it one of our very best years. I don't usually do "resolutions" as I tend to live in a state of "everything is FINE" AND...I don't really like feeling like a failure when I don't uphold those resolutions.

However

I am thinking this year is going to be different....rather than "resolving" to make things different..I am going to set some goals to make changes in my life.

These are my goals:

As a Christian: I want to read my Bible more, pray more, find a good church and GO.

As a Wife: I want keep our home more clean and organized, make sure we go out for a date at least once a month and have more "play time" *wink wink*, manage our money better.

As a Mom: I want to be more fun, yell less, laugh more, talk more. Teach my boys better manners. Spend more time with each boy individually--and make sure they have more one on one time with Kyle. Take more pictures.

As a Daughter: I want to be more of a help to my mom regarding my brother--invite him over for the night, etc to give my mom a break.

As a Blogger: I want to post more...maybe even daily..definitely weekly and in that realm of posting I want to keep track of those things I am grateful for.

Just for Me: I want to lose a good amount of weight. It's been a long time coming and I plan for this year to be IT. I want my motto to be "lose 109 in 2009" Yes, I am that fat..and yes..I need to lose that much.

I think this is a good start. I'm looking forward to all the good things I believe 2009 and will bring.