Random Bits Of Knowledge

Pretty much a total loss!!!

2010-06-28T06:53:00.000-07:00

Friday night we got hit by a storm that threw down golf ball sized hail...

as you can imagine.... our garden was destroyed!!!

I am trying to look at the bright side, like...

we only have a few hail holes in our siding...

our home is still standing....

the car that got nailed with hail is our beater car....

(sad thing is, my brother in-laws car was here too... UGH!)

No one got hurt...

After 6" of rain fall, we still had a yard left....

( The flooding after the rain!)

(our shrubs were hit hard, and all of my flower pots were broken!)

But it is so hard to not think of the loss in the garden!

Our garden is our food supply for the next year! Most of the veggies we eat all year come from the garden! It is also the place my husband and I get to spend much needed time together in... each summer it brings us closer to each other and closer to our children....

I will leave you with some photos of the sad plants!!

(not pictured is our corn... stripped of most of its leaves... so sad!)

SAD SAD TOMATOES!

PEAS STRIPPED RIGHT OFF THE FENCE!

ONIONS FLATTENED AND BURIED

RIPPED APART BROCCOLI

FLATTENED GREEN BEAN PLANTS

Where have I been???

2010-06-14T06:56:00.000-07:00

WOW, long time, NO POST.... UGH!

Here are some updates....

***I ran my 1/2 marathon on May 30th! It was HOT HOT HOT... people passed out from the heat! I did OK. Some say it is one of the hardest runs around here, because STILLWATER, MN is a bunch of hills... YES, but I did train on hills.... BUT NOT IN THE HEAT HEAT HEAT! So, my goal was 2 hrs 24 min.... and I ran it in

2 hrs 30 min, 17 sec.

NOT toooo bad for my first, on a hard course, in the heat!

***My oldest baby turned 10! YES, double digits! UGH! He had friends over and went to see the last SHREK! WOW, he is getting so tall, just inches from being as tall as me..... And so kind, and so handsome!

***I figured out what was wrong with my stomach! The extra acid was being caused by the YAZ I was taking! YES, the birthcontrol I started taking right before the stomach issues, caused the stomach pain! GO FIGURE.... I asked the doctor and the pharmasist about this, and they both told me NO, that couldn't cause it!!!! BUT I tested the theory out when I ended my pills last month, and YES, I could eat without meds! SO I never started back up and have been FINE ever since.... HMMMM????

***My Baby Girl Graduated From Kindergarten!!!! Thanks Mrs. Haasis for doing such a great job this year! I AM SO PROUD OF YOU SHAYLA!!!!

***My kids are out of school for the summer! We have lots of plans! The MN Zoo, Como Zoo, Crystal Cave, Water Park, Beach, Camping 2 times, Science Museum, Movie Theater, Parks/picnics, etc..... YEAH for good times! My middle 2 are in Summer school classes for 3 weeks, and my youngest has gymnastics for 5 sessions!

***Our Garden is looking great, except for the fact that we have been getting RAIN RAIN RAIN for over a week, and NO SUN!!!! The temps for the last 2 weeks have been very COOL! Things are growing, but not like they should.... SO, we shall see! I am sure when the rain stops, we will then go into a dry spell! Just our luck! I also picked a few pounds of strawberries yesterday and will be making Jam today!!!! YUM!!!!!!!!!

***I got a new job! YEAH!!!! My brothers girlfriend has a little special needs boy. He is great and we have baby sat him a lot in the past! BUT just a few weeks ago, she asked me to be his WEEKEND PCA! I will now get paid to do what we were doing for free! Taking care of him on the weekends (every other) and playing with him!!!! This is a answered prayer!!!!
***My Oldest and I will be doing a run in 2 weeks, just after I turn 34! I will be doing a 10K and he will be doing a mile! We are both very excited for our first run together!! I will also be running another 1/2 marathon in OCT!!!! I am excited about this one, since I know it will FOR SURE NOT be hot...... and the route is NOT hilly at all!!!!!!!

OK, that is it for now..... I am sure there is plenty more to write about... BUT I will stick to that for now!!!!!!

9 more days...

2010-05-21T13:38:00.000-07:00

UGH, only 9 more days until I run my VERY FIRST 1/2 marathon!

Last sunday I went out for a 12 mile run and it was horrible! I was VERY tired because of a girlfriends weekend away, and it was VERY hot outside! I walked which isn't normal for me.... and I sweat a ton, and I even threw up at mile 9! What I didn't do is have shin splits which also isn't normal for me... so that part of the run was good!

I have one more longish run, just 5 miles tomorrow morning, then a 4 mile on monday and a 4 mile on wed. and then that is it! ALL bringing me closer to 13.1 miles!

I will of course post any photos and my results!

I decided that I was going to have a party that night in honor of ME! Drinking and Pizza and a Fire, and Smores.... and FRIENDS!!!

After next sundays run, I will decide if there will be more LONG runs in my future! Keep tuned in to find out!

RUNNING RUNNING RUNNING....

2010-05-06T06:09:00.000-07:00

So, I have been running! Running most days, Training for a 1/2 marathon on MAY 30th!

I am up to 10 miles this coming sunday for my long run... IF I feel good about it, I will try and do 11 miles!

I have set a goal of doing a 1/2 marathon in 2 1/2 hours...

At first I thought that was very slow... I mean really, I only run at about 5 1/2 MPH on average (sometimes faster, and for sure slower while climbing the hills!)

BUT then I started to remember...

I am NOT a small runner like most... IN FACT,

I am considered an ATHENA! YES, someone that weighs over 150 lbs (no height restrictions) is considered a BIGGER runner! HUH??

Oh well, atleast I have a chance in HELL of winning in something... OK, kidding....

Anyways, a friend of mine quoted a quote to me the other day... it says....

"It's not how fast you finish, but that you had the courage to start!"

Amen sister!!!

SO, I have the courage... now to get to that starting line on the 30th and give it my all!

So far so good....

2010-04-20T06:05:00.000-07:00

Remember this way back at the beginning of the year???

THE YEAR OF SIMPLICITY!!!!!
Keep things simply;

use what we have,

borrow what we need,

lend what others can use,

sell what is of value that we no longer want,

and give away all that we can that is just sitting around!

Well, this past weekend I did a garage sale with a friend of mine.... Selling off some things that we NO LONGER needed!
I Made $299.25

The kids all together made $23!

We SOLD some things that were just laying around.... Some bigger toys, but mostly kids books, some clothes, kitchen stuff, JUST STUFF!!!!

The last 2 hours of the sale on Saturday, we decided to give most things away for FREE! It was so fun to see the looks on peoples faces when we told them most stuff was just FREE!!!

NOW, I am not sure I will ever do a garage sale again... I mean the money is great, we plan on adding sides to a small trailer and a crazy looking bike rack to it also, for camping... with the money we made.... BUT I LOVE to give things away!!

AS FOR THE NOT BUYING NEW CLOTHES...

(except for underwear, socks, shoes, and my tank tops)

WE ARE ROCKING IT!!!

No clothes shopping for us! I do have a thrift store list that I plan on getting to in the next couple weeks... the boys need tank tops, and some more shorts... NOT sure what the girls need... and hubby needs more work jeans!

AND THE BEST NEWS...

We have stuck to our budget for almost 4 months now! YEAH!

We have paid off $3440 in debt ($1000 of that to a car we owe my hubby's brother for.) We have put over $2000 into an emergency fund (tax return made this possible!), and we are putting aside EXTRA MONEY from my husbands paychecks (he works commission....)

SO LETS SAY WE NEED $1000 each week to make budget.... and he makes $1123 for the week, we put $123 in savings.... then the following week he makes $925, then we PULL $75 from savings.... So far we are AHEAD... but slow times are coming... but by then hopefully that will be a bigger cushion!

We have even REFINANCED our house to a 15 yr loan... at a lower interest... and the payments only went up $250 a month... NOW TO SCRAP THAT TOGETHER EACH MONTH....LOL!

SO, like the title says....

SO FAR SO GOOD!!!! ALMOST 4 months into the year, and I don't even have a wanting to go shopping!!!! THIS FEELS SO GOOD!!!

EASTER FUN!

2010-04-08T11:50:00.000-07:00

Here they are..... all the cousins on my husbands side!!!

Matt: 15

Eric: 12

Trevor: 9 1/2

Lucas: 8

Ahren: 8 1/2

Shayla: 6 1/2

Kaylin: 4

Megan: 5

Alissa: 7

YUCK... guess what the doctor thinks I have....??

2010-04-07T06:14:00.000-07:00

OK, so for about 6 weeks or so I have been having stomach pains... which have been getting worse for the past 2 weeks or so!

Anyways, these pains come when I eat... and after I eat just a small serving of something, they get bad and I feel super full and yucky! I am sometimes to sick to my stomach to even get anything done... UGH!

SO, yesterday I went to the doctor, and he thinks I have

FUNCTIONAL DYSPEPSIA!

AKA: TOOOOO much stomach acid working in there.... causing pains!

If you wanna know more.... I read lots online of course and found this site very helpful!

http://www.ayushveda.com/health/dyspepsia.htm

I am not sure if that is it for now... but I will take the meds he gave me and see if it helps...

UPDATE COMING IN THE FUTURE!!! But for now, I will keep eating little meals and hope that the meds help!

Is this why we are getting fat????

2010-04-02T08:30:00.001-07:00

(Photo from Food Network)

YES, that is a BURGER on a GLAZED DONUT!!!! UMMM...can you say 1600+ calories???

As you all know...

2010-04-02T08:15:00.001-07:00

I am alittle FOOD CRAZY! Always looking to CHANGE what we and others are eating!
I love the heavenly homemakers blog and today she had a great blog about ICE CREAM!!!!!

YOU have to run there and check it out.... If this doesn't gross you out... then maybe you are not human???!!!

the-ice-cream-experiment

My new BIZ!!!

2010-03-19T17:59:00.000-07:00

I am so so soooooooo sooooooooooo excited!
I am working on all the necessary things to get moving on my home business!
I have my WEB Domain bought, my papers are on their way to register my name, I ordered biz. cards, I am working on all the PAPER WORK I will need, the contracts, the legal stuff....
I am ready every book I can get my hands on... and working on my SKILLS!!!!

SOOO look forward to the LAUNCH of my new website soon and the big NAME announcement!

Birthday Party Fun

2010-03-08T05:38:00.000-08:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEGAN(5) AND KAYLIN(4)!!!

2 Birthday Girls Cakes! Kaylin Loves Pink and Megan just loves LIONS!!!!

Happy Birthday Kaylin!!!!

This is what Chaos looks like when girls start to open presents all at once!

My Baby Turned 4!!!

2010-03-03T06:46:00.000-08:00

WHERE has the time gone??? My baby.... MY BABY GIRL.... MY VERY LAST BABY.... turned 4!

Kaylin has always ONLY done things when she KNEW she could do them!

*Sitting up... When she began to sit up, she just sat up, NEVER falling over!

*Crawling... the day she turned 6 months old, she got up on all 4's and crawled.... never trying, just doing!

*Walking... The day she walked, she got up and walked... no 1 step or 3 steps, Just walking!

(1 YRS OLD!)

*Going up and down the stairs... When we built our home, we made a gate to match our railing... but we really never had to use it, because she wouldn't even go near the stairs until the day she turned around and crawled down them!

*Talking... Kaylin never really said much, until she could just SAY IT! She of course said MAMA and DADA and other little words, but one day, she just spoke in 2-3 word sentences!

*Chewing gum... Kaylin had to have been the youngest child I have ever met who could chew gum... She started at just over 1 yrs old.... and just started chewing it... NEVER swallowing it! I am sure this is because we are all gum chewers... BUT STILL... 13 months and chewing gum...!

(2 Years Old)

*Potty Training... I tried and tried from 2 1/2 on to potty train the girl, but she just really wanted nothing to do with it! Then the day before she turned 3, I told her "Big Girls who are 3 don't wear diapers, they wear underpants!" and when she woke up on her birthday, she put on panties and never looked back! No accidents, No night time wetting, NOTHING!

She has ALWAYS been this way.... Not really doing until she knows how to FULLY do it! I am NOT sure if this is bad thing or a good thing... HMMMMM......

(3 Years Old)

For being the baby in the family, she is VERY independent! She wants NO help with anything! She will TELL YOU HOW IT IS, and repeat pretty much anything you DO NOT want her to!

She is also very loving still, she wants to cuddle at story time, and dance with you in the kitchen!

Hanging out with Mom is of course, STILL COOL!

She has started liking FRIENDS and wanting to PLAY with them...instead of IGNORE them!

AND, right now she is my spoiled baby, because she gets to spend all day with mom while all the others are in school!

She loves to play barbies, Polly pockets, littlest pet shops, Little ponies, Kitchen set, and Baby dolls!

She is AWESOME at Memory, Go Fish, Counting, but most of all Singing! (She loves Taylor Swift!)

SOOO, Happy 4th birthday baby girl! Your mommy and daddy love you very very much!

EASTER BASKET STUFFERS

2010-03-02T05:59:00.000-08:00

So, I just added some a new (new to my shop that is) item!

Chalk Board Mats!!!!
They are super duper fun! Just need a piece of chalk and an imagination!

You can use these babies for anything really! Practicing spelling, math, pictionary...etc.....

What a great functional item to stuff into their easter baskets!

While you're there, a Kids Tote would also make a great stuffer, or Doll Diapers !!!!

My STUDIO...

2010-02-19T06:28:00.000-08:00

OK, I don't call it my STUDIO...LOL, I call it MY ROOM! As in "GET OUT OF MY ROOM, I AM BUSY!" or " I AM GOING TO MY ROOM!" or "HEY, WANNA SEE MY ROOM?"
This is the room I LOVE in my house.... it is ALL MINE... ALL MINE!

It is not finished yet... I don't know if/when it will ever be finished... but all it really needs is a door and molding and base board... and a closet door! For now there is a sheet hanging in the door way, and that works just fine (although, it does NOT stop others from just walking in...

HELLO, ever heard of knocking on the sheet????

This is the place that all my creativity flows and the place that I make all the wonderful items I put in my Etsy Shop!

Fun things like Doll Diapers

Or Little Bags for kids that are great for trips to the library!

And Kids Aprons so they can help you in the kitchen!

Of course there are other great things like I SPY QUILTS, and CHALK BOARD MATS, and MONEY APRONS, that are also great for wearing around the house while you are cleaning, to put your little items in!

There you have it..... MY STUDIO!

P.S: No it isn't always that clean.... but I couldn't show it to you messy, could I? AND YES, the cabinets and drawers are all full of FUN FABRIC!!

What has the world come to???

2010-02-18T06:27:00.000-08:00

THRIFT STORES ROCK!

2010-02-16T05:44:00.000-08:00

So, yesterday I headed to the THRIFT STORE because it was 50% off day for presidents day! It is always crazy there, but I did learn that you should go right around lunch time... The huge 10am rush seems to be clearing out and others are busy going to get lunch... It is still BUSY, but lots better than getting there right when the doors open!

SO here is what I got... ALL FOR ONLY $47.63!!!!!

Trevor-

5 size 12 pairs of jeans

1 size 10 pair of jeans

1 size 10 pair of basketball shorts

1 size 4 1/2 pair of Nike skater shoes

1 size 12 Pair of Tan Cargo Pants

Lucas-

2 size 8 pair of basketball shorts

Shayla-
3 super cute tank tops

Kaylin-

1 purple gymnastics outfit!

MYSELF-
2 Tank tops for running

2 tank tops for summer (if you know me, I LIVE in tank top for 1/2 the year!)

3 Tee Shirts, 1 NICE cute shirt, and 1 shirt for my Sister In Law (the black and turq. one!)

Hubby-
Not Pictured, but a Plain Grey Sweatshirt

Family-
Magic Tree house book, 1 Deltora book, Scatergories for kids, and a dora memory game!
(NOT pictured is a Flower shaped Ice Pack for the cold lunches!)

I did set a goal for this year.....
My goal is....

To buy all our clothing needs at the thrift store,
except for Underwear, Socks, and Tennis Shoes!

***I know some people could never bring themselves to shop at a thrift store, and that is OK, but my belief is "WHY BUY NEW?" when these shops have so many nice things just waiting for a new home! I have never had anyone come up to me and say "Great Shirt, Did you get that at the thrift store?" In fact when I usually follow it up with "THANKS, I got this at the thrift store!" They are usually shocked that something cute and in great shape could be second hand!

My challenge to you is.... Try out a thrift store if you never have! You do NOT know what you are missing out on...

DAVE RAMSEY!

2010-02-12T05:57:00.000-08:00

So I have a new love... a daily LOVE! I love to listen to DAVE RAMSEY! I get him on my SMART PHONE with stitcher!
I have read his Total-Money-Makeover book and even gave a copy to my mother for mothers day (don't worry I wrote NICE things in it so she wouldn't think I was being mean!
Ok, what is my point???
My point is... We have one large debt... it came about from having our last child (she cost almost $5000 to have OUCH, but soooo worth it!) and from having to finish things around our house after we built it... things that we would be FINED if we DIDN'T do them... like retaining walls and such!!
Anyways, I have goals, it is part of the 101 goals in 1001days... I started mine on Feb 1st of 2009... and one of those goals is to pay off that debt by the end! Which is OCT 29th 2011, RIGHT after my baby goes to school ALL DAY!
SO I have decided I want to get that goal done quicker, so I am going gung ho with selling things on EBAY... and craigslist in my area! So far in 3 weeks I have made over $300 selling OLD partylite stuff from my days of selling!
$300 added twards are monthy payment feels AWESOME!!!!!!

Anyways, I encourage all of you to start to read/listen to dave ramsey, EVEN if you just try it out... you might learn to like it! He has great finacial advice and just SAYS IT LIKE IT IS!!!!
So try it out, you can listen HERE on his website, you can listen to archives also! You can also download them to your ipod, or get stitcher for your smart phone!

THEN come back and let me know what you think!

Check this out....

2010-01-28T05:39:00.000-08:00

http://www.amazon.com/Mountain-Three-Wolf-Short-Sleeve/dp/B002HJ377A

Scroll down and read the comments! They are too funny not to pass on!!!!

Mission Monday....

2010-01-26T05:39:00.000-08:00

A DAY LATE:::::::

SO, your mission, if you choose to take it on..... is.....

ORGANIZE YOUR FAVORITES/ BOOKMARKS!!!

YES, take the time to delete the "WHAT THE HECK ARE THESE DOING HERE?" the "WHEN DID I VISIT THAT SITE?" the "HUH?" and the "WHAT WAS I THINKING BOOKMARKING THAT?" Then organize the good ones, make folders, condense them down......

I am doing this right now because it takes way to long to SCROLL to the very bottom and PULL up a NEW one that I FEEL must be ON TOP so I can click it all the time!

Remember to make a FAVORITE BLOGS folder and then ADD MY BLOG...LOL!!!!!

This message will self destruct in 10 seconds!

My Baby Turned 8 today!

2010-01-19T19:21:00.000-08:00

OH LUCAS, my dear son, Lucas! My how you have gotten so old so quickly....

As some of you may know and some of you may not.... Lucas was our defiant one from the VERY beginning!!!!
You see, his due date was January 26th.... Of course my first born came 3 weeks early, so Lucas was due to arrive anytime in January....
I begged my body to NOT allow him to come on JANUARY 19th, of all the days in the month!
BECAUSE today was my oldest brothers birthday.... He was killed in a accident in 1998 at a very young age of 26.
I knew having a child on this day would be hard on my mother... SO I begged the baby inside to NOT be born on the 19th!
Well, wouldn't you know it... that defiant baby just had to NOT LISTEN! And that was the beginning of our son Lucas!
Needless to say, he is our VERY VERY SPIRITED child! I just know he will be the next Donald Trump....
So happy birthday to my son, who is turning my hair more grey and who has me praying for patience daily! I LOVE YOU, and wouldn't ever give you away for a calmer, less spirited child.... You are what keeps are family on it's toes!

Butterscotch Oatmeal

2010-01-19T06:25:00.000-08:00

BUTTERSCOTCH OATMEAL

1 egg, beaten

1 3/4 cups milk

1/2 cup brown sugar (can use less)

1 pinch salt

1 cup rolled oat

2 tablespoons butter
In a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat, whisk together the egg with milk, brown sugar, pinch salt and cinnamon (if using). Mix in the oats; bring to a simmer. When the oats begin to boil, cook and stir with a wooden spoon until thickened. Remove from heat and stir in the butter until melted. Serve immediately.

Dreaming, dreaming, dreaming.....

2010-01-15T05:34:00.000-08:00

Of picking these babies! ONLY 5 months until that dream can come true....

and Picking these yummy Peas......

and 7 months until we can enjoy all of this......

BUT for now I will enjoy all the garden food that we PUT UP for the winter months! Peas, Corn, Green Beans, Strawberries, canned Tomatoes, dried onions, broccoli, carrots, the list goes on and on!!! YUM!

25# OF OATS!!!!!

2010-01-12T05:19:00.000-08:00

SOOOOO What do you do when you get your Co-oP order of 25# of Oats???You start start searching high and low for recipes to use it up! At .09 a Cup, it is a great deal!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here is the first of many OATS recipes to come!!!!!!

Strawberry Oatmeal Bars

1 cup flour

1 cup rolled oat

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/3 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup strawberry Jam

Preheat oven to 375°F. In a large bowl, mix everything together but the jam. Measure out 2 cups of this mixture. Leave the rest in the bowl and set aside. Take the 2 cups of the mixture and press it into the bottom of an 8 inches square pan, coated with cooking spray. Using a large spoon, distribute jam on top of the mixture in the pan. Spread it evenly all over. Take the remaining mixture and spread it over the jam. Press down lightly. Bake 25 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and allow to cool for at least 15 minutes before cutting into bars.

The Christmas Story....

2010-01-11T06:28:00.000-08:00

Shayla the littlest donkey!

Lucas the Angel and Trevor the Inn's Keeper!!!

(don't worry Lucas, being an angel for an hour won't hurt you!)

THURSDAY CHALLENGE!!!!

2010-01-07T05:37:00.000-08:00

Here is your first

THURSDAY CHALLENGE OF THE YEAR.....

MAKE A BUDGET ....

Yes, make a budget if you don't already have one!

You can make it easy, with just a few catagories...

Or you can make it more complex with many catagories....

I used to do ours very complex, but each month I was frusterated figuring out each catagory, breaking receipts down to put in each catagory and then throwing that month out the window because I was too frusterated!

SO now I go EASY....

A few catagories

Gas

Household

Food

BILLS (all bills added up go here)

Clothes

Out to eat

OTHER

(in the other catagory is things like: Kids sports, birthday gifts, parties, all those OTHER expenses that come up each month!)

I do ROLL OVER left over money in a NUMBERS ON PAPER sense!

Say I only spent $15 on clothing and our budget is $50....

The following month I have $85 in our budget for clothing!

Some people like to take the extra and put it twards debt reduction... that is also a very good idea! I just roll ours over because I keep everything so low... I have to.... We can go 2 months without needing anything in the clothing area, and then BOOM, we all need new socks, and 2 kids need new shoes, and hubby needs jeans, ETC.....

Thus the reason we ROLL OVER!

The best advice I heard about a budget was....

"MOST people do not go into debt buying little everyday things.... they go into debt with their BIG purchases, so make sure that if you budget anything... BUDGET THESE PURCHASES!"

OK, now grab a notebook, make some sort of budget and stick to it for the next few months.... DO NOT STRAY FROM IT.... TRY HARD TO NOT purchase anything you DIDN'T budget for..... After 3 months, if you didn't enjoy it, I give you permission to quit and go back to your old ways!

OH, I almost forgot.... Our family theme this year is.....

THE YEAR OF SIMPLICITY!!!!!

Keep things simply; use what we have, borrow what we need, lend what others can use, sell what is of value that we no longer want, and give away all that we can that is just sitting around!

A Look Back At Me....

2010-01-06T07:32:00.000-08:00

I got this from Beth at "not a bow in sight"
1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before? I started running and LOVE IT... I even ran my first 5K in 29 min!
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I didn't make one....
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? UMM... My neighbor/friend had her second baby girl in june!
4. Did anyone close to you die? A Family friend died at a young age of 38... So Sad
5. What countries did you visit? I didn't leave the country, but I did take a Girlfriend trip to FL!
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? More Patience
7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? The end of Feb. When my husband and I went on a second honeymoon to celebrate our 10 yr anniversary! Of course it was just a weekend trip to the cities... but still!!!!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Working out an average of 5 times a week!
9. What was your biggest failure? Not getting my moods under control
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I got a really bad Posterior Shin Splint in my right calf while training for my 5K.... It still aches to this day, just not as bad!
11. What was the best thing you bought? A grain mill
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Kaylins, for waking up on her 3rd birthday and deciding she was a big girl! NO MORE DIAPERS... and no accidents....
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? OH, there is just tooo many to mention
14. Where did most of your money go? Our house....
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? My girlfriend trip to FL!
16. What song will always remind you of 2009? "YOU BELONG WITH ME" By Taylor Swift... only because all of my kids love to sing this while we dance around the kitchen!
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer? a) happier b) the same c) richer
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Take time with each of my kids
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? worrying about stupid stuff
20. How did you spend Christmas? Christmas Eve- Jims families Christmas Day- My families.... like always
21. Did you fall in love in 2009? Everyday.
22. What was your favorite TV program? 1) "BIGGEST LOSER" 2)"CSI:NY" 3) "CSI:MIAMI" 4) "THE OFFICE" 5) "PARKS AND RECREATION" 6) "30 ROCK" 7) "COLD CASE" 8) "SVU" These are really the only shows I watch.... and I am usually on the elliptical...LOL, oh I also love to watch DR.oz and The Doctors/dr.phil when I workout also... (LOL, that is a lot of DR. TV!)
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? Hate no... but dislike... a few
24. What was the best book you read? Love and Logic books
25. What was your greatest musical discovery? I love to just search around on ITUNES, and find music I wouldn't have thought I would ever like....
26. What did you want and get? To be accepted into college!
27. What did you want and not get? Better ways to deal with inner anger
28. What was your favorite film of this year? "Up"
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I hung with my kids and husband and I turned 33
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? There is so much
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009? "mommy chic"
32. What kept you sane? Running
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? HUH???!!!
34. What political issue stirred you the most? Healthcare And bailouts.
35. Who did you miss? I really missed my Dad this year... even though he has been gone for 7 yrs now....
36. Who was the best new person you met? My oldest sons, BEST FRIENDS, Parents! They are Great! It is so much fun getting together with them... all the kids playing (they have 3 boys, 12,9, and 8...., their youngest has Downs... he has so much fun hangin with the girls!) We have been so blessed by their friendship!!
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009. "Be calm, take a deep breath and PRAY!"
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. "be your best friend, tell the truth and over use I love you, go to work do your best dont out smart your common sense, never let your prayin knees get lazy and love like crazy"

Is it love....

2010-01-06T05:19:00.000-08:00

AH, it is always nice when your YOUNGER sister (even if it is just by 19 mo.) can wrestle you to the ground! OH, and it is always nice when your YOUNGER sister (even if it is just by 19 mo.) is now TALLER than you...... AH, Lucas, don't worry, someday you will be bigger.... SOMEDAY!

Many posts... Much to say.....

2010-01-03T12:52:00.001-08:00

OK, so it has been WAY TO LONG since I have undated this thing... A WHOLE MONTH... UGH!

SOOO, here is the update from the LAST update a month ago....

#1- Lucas saw the ORTHO and they wouldn't do anything for him... they wanted him to go to the oral surgeon, but when I called them, they said they would do nothing also.... SO I told the boy if he PULLED the tooth himself.... I would pay him $10... ALAS, the tooth was pulled out yesterday... NOW I HAVE TO COUGH UP $10! BUT our next move is to now go back to the ORTHO and and have them decide on a spacer!

Crazy news is, Shayla had to see the ORTHO also and ended up having to head to the Oral Surgeon... poor thing is now missing 7 teeth.... and she is ONLY 6!

#2- Speaking of Shayla... Her surgery for her tubes is set for January 14th! She is very much looking forward to is... as she will not hear as if she is underwater all the time! Her hearing test showed that she hears as if she has her fingers in her ears all the time! The great news is, that she hears perfect BEHIND the fluid and her drums!

#3- Jims back was feeling better, and then on new years eve some time... he hurt it again... woke up on the 1st with back pain..... I don't know how much longer I can hound him to GO SEE A DOCTOR!!!!!

#4- LOL, praying didn't work! I took all 4 kids to the YMCA on Wed. last week (because it was my only option!) I thought her having a sister and 2 brothers there to play with would help... NOPE, she screamed for a few minutes, hit the head woman, kicked the door over and over and threw her shoes.... She finally stopped and just cried quietly for the rest of the 45 min!!!!! MAYBE PRAY AGAIN, OK!

#5- In 2 days I head to school for a finacial aid meeting! I am nervous and excited at the same time! I am sure we will get some help.... and that makes me happy, but I am scared of the LOANS we will have to get also! PRAY PRAY PRAY.... and then PRAY again!OK, that is just the update on the last RANDOM STUFF post!

For this new year; I am hoping to get in connect with some old friends, keep in contact with my present friends, and maybe in the course of the year, make some new friends!

OH, and my goal for this BLOG this year is to post more family friendly recipes, post more thursday challenges, and a few monday missions! OH, and I guess over all, JUST POST MORE OFTEN!!!!!!!!!!

Here is hoping everyone has a wonderful 2010!!!!!

PRAYING that the VIKINGS WIN!!!!

2010-01-03T12:43:00.000-08:00

Lucas is a HUGE Vikings Fan!!!!

They have the chance to go to the SUPERBOWL this year... !

Here is hoping they make it ALL THE WAY!

Aren't they CUTE????

2010-01-03T12:37:00.000-08:00

I know this is late.... BUT.....

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Trevor 9 1/2

Lucas turns 8 this month

Shayla 6

Kaylin turns 4 in March

Random Stuff....

2009-12-02T06:25:00.000-08:00

**** My 7 yr old pulled a tooth out of his own mouth back in July... NOW the MOLAR next to it is falling out, 4 yrs tooo early! ALSO when he did this, he broke part of his Bone Plate in his jaw, and pieces of is bone is coming out... One has already been pulled and is making his gums expose the molars roots!!!! UGH, please pray the ORTHO appt goes well today!
**** My 6 yr old is needing to have TUBES put in her ears... NOT because she gets infections, in fact SHE HAS NEVER HAD ONE... but because it is causing hearing loss... SHE has fluid behind her drums and it has caused her to lose her HIGH Decibile hearing in her ears... and now with cold season, she has lost lots of her hearing.... HER appointment with the ENT is next thursday... PLEASE pray for this!
*****My husband threw his back out while THROWING Manuar on the garden about 6 weeks ago... he is being subborn and won't go and get seen, even though he has a horrible back and has already had 2 surgeries.... BUT I did tell him since Shayla has to have ear stuff done, BETTER get everything out of the way before MAY 1st (the start of our new Health Ins. year!!!)
****Please Pray that my 3 yr old will NOT cry for 90 min next time I take her to the YMCA's daycare so I can workout!!!!!!!!!
****I am going back to school next fall... YES, I will be a OLD college student..... UGH! I am so scared!!!! I plan on going FULL TIME, getting 18 credits...... I figure if I take 15 of them, and they will pay for the last 3 to make 18... I better take the 3 free credits!!!! That saves like $700
SOOO wish me luck and pray that it ALL COMES BACK TO ME!!!!!!!

I think that is it for now..... It has been a crazy year! So many things have gone BAD in our lives and in so many of our friends lives... lots of divorces, lots of lost jobs, lost houses, etc.... HOPEFULLY 2010 will be sooo much better!!!!!! Here is praying!

Don't forget the milk!!!!

2009-12-01T10:19:00.000-08:00

Hey, while you're in town, please pick up milk and a newspaper!

Remind Me.....

2009-11-18T05:30:00.000-08:00

To NEVER believe her when she says she isn't tired!!!!!(poor girl fell asleep here while "WAITING" for me to finish sewing.... WHO knew she wasn't playing upstairs?????)

Dead Rat anyone???

2009-11-08T06:54:00.000-08:00

So if you go back to this post from a year ago and this post you will see my fun halloween dinners.... this year was no exception (just maybe not as fun...LOL!)

We had Rat, Bloody Guts to dip our BONES in, and Rat Food! (sorry, I had to do a quick lunch since we were eating supper somewhere else.... This is all I could come up with!)

When a Tutu Meets A Ninja!!!!!

2009-10-29T06:15:00.000-07:00

(I don't know why the boy won't remove the price tag...... !!!!)

Our Fall Tradition.....

2009-10-26T07:37:00.001-07:00

Here we are another year has past since THIS day at afton apple orchard...

and yes, of course we went AGAIN this year...

We have went to afton apple orchard every year since Trevor was a baby! It is just our tradition......

I do not know HOW many more years we will go there.... their prices for gate fees keep going up.... when we first went it was $2 for anyone 5+ and free for those under... then $2 for anyone 5+ and $1 for 4 under, NOW it is $3 for anyone 5+ and $2 for 4 under.... OUCH, $17 just to get in the gate.... that is the cost of a bag of apples..... BUT THEY did have lots of fun!!!!!!!

Black Birds WHY ARE YOU HERE???

2009-10-21T08:47:00.000-07:00

The other day I look outside, just as I was walking though the kitchen and this is what I see... HUNDREDS of BLACK BIRDS....

WOW, and WHY???? Why my back yard??????

Marco Island FL!!!!

2009-10-14T05:34:00.000-07:00

I have the privilage to use my Cousins Condo in FL last week!!! It was wonderful!

A high school girlfriend and I headed down there for a few days...... A WONDERFUL, AND MUCH NEEDED Girlfriend Getaway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We hung out in the pool and got A LOT of SUN!!!!!! (different sun in that part of FL than there is up here in WI/MN!!!!)

While there we saw a very funny comedian named Brad Williams..... at Captain Brians!!!!

There was good food and TOOOOOOO much BOOZE..... but in the end, I wouldn't trade those days for anything..... In fact, we are hoping to book another trip down there this next year!!!!!!!!! Maybe with more GIRLFRIENDS....

WHO WANTS IN?????

Cakes ~ Cakes ~ Cakes

2009-10-05T05:33:00.000-07:00

Today I thought I would share some of the FUN cakes I have made for the kids though-out the years! When we gave up Red Dye 1 1/2 yrs ago... decorating was tough, but now King Author has some Natural dyes... making it a TAD bit easier!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ahhhhh, reminds me of how I sleep!!!!

2009-10-01T05:41:00.000-07:00

My Beautiful Flower!

2009-09-29T07:03:00.000-07:00

Since all the OTHER children are is school ALL DAY now, Kaylin can now have some MUCH needed one on one time with mommy!!!!!

We enjoyed the Como Zoo last week, and next week will be heading to the MN Zoo..... POOR girl, all this attention.... what is a girl to do??????

THAT'S THE SIZE OF MY UPPER ARM....

2009-09-28T05:38:00.000-07:00

For real... this carrot was as round as my bicep!!!!

200th POST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-09-17T12:30:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it.... I came here to share a great photo and realized it was my 200th post!!!!!!! YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyways, here is the great Photo!!!!

2 weeks ago I went and saw Barlowgirls and CASTING CROWNS at our state fair.... it was the BESTEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They both rocked the house! I have never been so energized than that night! If you ever have a chance to see either of those groups, DO IT!!!!!!! You won't regret it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OUCH!!!!!!!!!!

2009-09-11T09:54:00.000-07:00

I don't EVER remember being that flexible... I mean, I am sure I WAS at some point... but certainly NOT ANY MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SOOO OUCH, that is ALL I HAVE TO SAY!!!!!!!!!!!

BIG DAY YESTERDAY!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-09-03T05:33:00.000-07:00

Not ONLY was it Shayla's 6th BIRTHDAY!!! (happy birthday baby girl!!!!!!!!!!!) But it was also the first day of school!!!!! Shayla entered Kindergarden, Lucas entered 2nd grade, and Trevor (gosh where did the years go?) entered 4th grade..... UGH, is that middle school knocking at my door...??? TELL IT TO GO AWAY!!!!!!!!!!

Anyways, I just love taking picture of the kids the first day of school, standing at the front door, to see how much they have grown!!!!!!!

It is AMAZING to look back and see... When you live with them and see them daily, it is hard to notice... until they stand right by you and all of the sudden, your oldest child is taller than your shoulder..... STOP GROWN ALREADY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(not that much growth over last year.... You can tell because he is wearing the SAME SHORTS.....)

(From Eyes to mouth!)

(is it me, or did she grown a 1/2 of a foot????)

WELL, here is wishing my children a wonderful school year, as they begin another new adventure!!!!!!!!

CAMPING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-08-26T05:13:00.000-07:00

SO, we took our VERY FIRST AS A FAMILY camping trip! It was very fun!!!! The hiking, the beach, the cooking on the fire, ALL FUN!!!!!!!! NOT fun was the fact the temp got down to 45 at night... that was NOT FUN!!!! BUT that was OK, we lived.... OH, also not fun, sleeping on the ground... YES, hubby and I did have those self inflating mats, and a sleeping bag for comfort, but still.. I AM NOT SURE adult bodies should sleep on the ground!!!

Our site was great, HUGE, full of nice trees, and tucked back in the camp ground. We choose to have NO electricty, which was OK... didn't need it anyways!

Anyways we ate many smores, a few too many chips, plump on the fire hot dogs, Pocket Pizza's, and some other fun camp things!!!! We enjoyed a few hours on the beach (SO MAD I FORGOT TO GRAB MY CAMERA....) because we built a great sand castle... OK, not great, but the only one on the beach..... The kids collected TONS of rocks to bring home... YEAH (NOT!) and we also took a hike though the woods!

All of this inspired the good ol' hubby to look into saving for a pop up camper! Not only for more room, but for some storage while we camp.... I mean really, the van was LOAD to the TOP! 4 kids, a tent, 6 sleeping bags, 2 roll up mats, 6 fleece blankets, 6 pillows, a large cooler, 2 bags of food, 2 adult fold up chairs, 4 kids ones, a water jug, a suit case of towels, and a large TOTE with all the clothes in it!!!! That was just for a weekend...LOL!!!!!!

Anyways, we are planning a few camping outings next summer, the kids loved it and we had a good time too!!!!!!

CORN CORN CORN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-08-24T05:24:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the BIG DAY!!!

The day to START picking that corn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In and out of the rows my husband and I went, picking ear after ear after ear.....

220 ears of corn to be exact!!!!!!!!

(Also a few zucchinis, cucumbers, peppers, and a couple dozen tomatoes!)

We at 15 for dinner and then I PUT UP the other 205 of them! Making a whopping 28 meals worth of corn for this coming year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (3 C. per bag!)

How do my onions GROW!!!!!!!!!

2009-08-21T06:23:00.000-07:00

Apparently really WELL!!!!! Cause the little one is a NORMAL onion, and the large one is WELL, LARGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our fun ZOO trip!!!!!

2009-08-19T07:01:00.000-07:00

Our tradition is to take this PHOTO every year.....

Here they all were just 3 yrs ago at our first trip to the zoo after adding Kaylin!!!!!

This is all of the kids that went.... They are my neices and nephew!!! It is soooo darn fun to hang out with them, because from June 7th until Sept 2nd... their ages go like this.... 3,4,5,6,7,8,9.... and so on... they each FIT into my childrens ages!!!!! SOOO FUN!!!!!!

Our trips to the zoo are always oh soooo fun. Even though they look at the same thing each time... they never get bored of it!!!!!!!!

YUMMY EARTH!!!!!!!!

2009-08-06T07:21:00.001-07:00

SO, I had to run right over here and share the great deal I just got on YUMMY EARTH SUCKERS!

I/WE love these things! I have been buying them for well over a year now and will continue to do so for hopefully many more years to come.......

Anyways, the reason I had to run here and share is because this is the BEST deal EVER!!!!!! and I want you to get in on it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here is how it works.....

Go to Amazon HERE... this is the page you will need! When you purchase 2 of these 5 lb bags of suckers, you will use this CODE YEARTH44 to get 45% off your order, PLUS you will GET FREE SHIPPING.... just make sure to ADD the code FIRST, then select FREE SHIPPING in the checkout!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOT KIDDING, for just under $24 I am getting 10 lbs of suckers, THEY SAY there are about 350 suckers per bag..... I have purchased this before and that is ABOUT right..... so for about .03/.04 a sucker that is the BEST DEAL EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Putting Up Beans!

2009-08-03T12:36:00.000-07:00

So, I picked yellow and green beans for 3 hours yesterday.... We have 450 ft of bean plants~

I got 2 FULL grocery bags!

After all the cutting and steaming and freezing, we stopped at 20 quarts and hubby brought 8 quarts worth to work today to share with his c0-workers!

After just 9 days of picking and freezing, we are up to 58 quarts in the freezer! MORE than 1/2 way to my YEAR goal to get us though to next year!

Anyone wanna come over and pick??????

You know you live in the COUNTRY when......

2009-07-31T06:01:00.000-07:00

This is a traffic jam!!!!!!

Old Friendships, Good Times!

2009-07-30T08:08:00.000-07:00

(A-29mo, L-15mo, and Trevor-29mo)

LONG TIME AGO, when I was a new mom, I did daycare for this wonderful family! Her Daughter and my Son were just Days apart in age. In fact we met at Post Baby Classes! I ended up doing her daycare for her and I loved it! For a few years I loved her children as my own! Her second child came just 14 mo after her first.... YES, crazy I know! And then my second child came just 19 mo after my first.... SOOOO if you do the math, I had 4 children under the age of 2 in my care, 5 days a week!!!! It was great time..... AND then the summer before I had my 3rd baby, I quit daycare! NOT for any reason, other than I was feeling alittle overwhelmed and I knew another child of my own would take tooo much from her children!

Anyways, as time went by, we stayed close.... had playdates, and park picnics... and then.............

we moved away.......

Just 1/2 hour, but still, away..........................

and we lost touch..........................

(Trevor-9, A-9, & L-almost 8)

and then after 4 yrs of NOT seeing eachother we got together for a playdate at our house! It was sooooooooo much fun! The kids laughed and wrestled and played hard! They had so much fun and I had lots of fun catching up with an old friend!!!!!! Like I said, it was GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She also has another child who is 5 and I have our youngest (whom she had never met!)

Anyways, if there is a lesson to be learned here..... it is this=

OLD FRIENDS ARE ALWAYS THERE! JUST CALL THEM UP AND GET TOGETHER WITH THEM...... MAYBE THEY ARE TOOOOOO CHICKEN TO CONTACT YOU BECAUSE SO MUCH TIME HAS GONE BY..... SO TAKE THE FIRST STEP AND DO IT FIRST! YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT, IN FACT IT MIGHT JUST START YOUR OLD FRIENDSHIP OFF AND RUNNING AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I feel pretty... OH SO PRETTY....

2009-07-26T18:33:00.000-07:00

So, since March of this year, my sister in law and I have been working at losing weight before a family wedding (which was yesterday)....Anyways, here we are looking as pretty as it gets! I am VERY PROUD OF HER! She lost over 20 lbs and looks great! I on the other hand have only lost 9 lbs, but I feel uber healthy and am in great "HEART" shape for turning 33 last month.....

So here we are in all our glory, celebrating our success from the past few months!

(psst: Incase you didn't know, I am the one in the black dress!)

Breakfast Tortilla

2009-07-23T07:18:00.001-07:00

WOW, you need to try this!!! A inexpensive alternitive to a great breakfast!
First you will need Tortillas…. I make my own with a recipe I got HERE….(I make up a bunch and freeze them… very convienent!)
Then you just scramble some eggs (I made 10 of these the other day for lunch, I used 12 eggs for the 10 of them) and add Ham or canadian bacon or sausage… whatever suits your fancy!
Lay a spoon full in the tortilla and sprinkle with about 1 T. of cheese. Roll it up and lay it in a baking dish (no need to grease it!) Finish all of the tortillas. Sprinkle cheese all over the tops of them and put them into a 350 deg. oven to bake for 10-15 min or until cheese is melted! Pull them out and serve with salsa if you like! You could also add spinach, peppers, onions, anything you would put into an omelet…. YUM YUM YUM!!!!
The kids loved picking these up and eating them like a taco!!!! Of course I have no photos because these were scarfed down so quickly!

ANOTHER Oatmeal recipe!

2009-07-21T06:46:00.001-07:00

OH, these were so yummy and sooooo super simple to make! My oldest 2 hated them because they had RAISINS ( I used strawberry flavored one I thought that would help!) but they said they would have liked them if they didn’t have raisins!!!!!!! I enjoyed the 3 1 I have eaten so far!!!!
You can find the recipe HERE!

Oatmeal Pancakes.....

2009-07-18T05:25:00.000-07:00

2 C. Quick Oats

2 C. Whole Wheat Flour

1 1/2 T. Baking Powder

2 T. Cinnamon

1/2 t. Salt

1/2 t. Cream Of Tarter

2 Eggs

5 T. Butter , Melted

2 C. Milk
Mix all the dry ing. together. Add Wet and mix JUST until mixed… DO NOT OVER MIX. I like to let this sit for about 5 min to let the oats soak!Cook as you would other pancakes!!!! YUM!!!!!
We love these with strawberry jam and whipping cream, whipped!!!!

We have also had THIS!!! YUM YUM YUM!!!! I made it up the night before, like is says…. and cooked it up in the morning! I served it with some mini chips sprinkled over it… 2 kids had it with milk (so did I) and 2 had it just plain! EVERYONE LOVED IT!!!!!! Try it! It really does taste like a oatmeal cookie in milk!!!!!!!!!!!
AND, we've had THIS great recipe!!!!! I loved it!!! NOT diet friendly at all, but worth every calorie!!!!!!!

25# OF OATS!!!!!

2009-07-17T13:17:00.000-07:00

BUTTERSCOTCH OATMEAL

1 egg, beaten

1 3/4 cups milk

1/2 cup brown sugar (can use less)

1 pinch salt

1 cup rolled oat

Pea Shucking anyone????

2009-07-16T07:02:00.001-07:00

What have we gotten our selves into?????

10 rows of green arrow, 2 rows of OTHER garden peas, 10 rows of Snap Peas........

Here is what a picking looks like..... Worth it... hopefully..... Takes 1 1/2- 2 hours to pick one kind, and about an hour to SHUCK the garden peas to get about 14 C. Then there is the De-stringing of the snap peas and the blanching/steaming of both.... and then freezing them!!!!!!!

Snap Peas (11.5 lbs!)

Garden Peas (14 C. worth after shucking!)

What it looks like when we make our kids shuck them! They usually eat more than they shuck though!!!!!

GO FISH!

2009-07-14T05:47:00.000-07:00

What a great CONCERT this was!!!!!!!!!

The kids all had a great time..... Jim said he had an OK time... and I thought it was super fun!

The best part was looking over at my 9 yr old singing away to the music without a care in the world, worshiping God!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you have a chance to take your children to see them, DO IT!!!!!!!!! You will NOT regret the money spent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The church that held the concert sat 850 people, they sold 700 seats (to keep the seating comfy!) and since we got there early to stand in line, we were in row 6!!!!!! At one point, all the guys headed into the audience to greet the kids...... ANDY, (they LOW NOTE GUY) shook my kids hands, even TRYING to get K to shake his.... IT WAS GREAT!!!!!!!!!!

FYI: for all your moms who live around MN, they will be at the hearts-at-home conference in Rochester, MN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know I will be heading there FOR SURE!!!!!!!!!! Not just for GO FISH, but for all the wonderful workshops and speakers!

Please lift this family up in your prayers!!!!!!!!

2009-07-11T13:17:00.000-07:00

While reading one of my favorite blogs moments ago... I clicked on a link that would open the flood gates of tears! Please, just head HERE, and read their recent tragedy! And then lift the family up in your prayers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nothing makes that heart more heavy and sad than what happened to them just 2 weeks ago!

What's New Wednesday??!! ON FRIDAY!!!!!

2009-07-10T06:10:00.000-07:00

So it has been a long time since I did WHATS NEW????
here goes!
1- Our garden is on a roll..... producing more peas than I can freeze fast enough! I am heading out to pick yet again soon!!!!! (I will post pictures soon!) The green beans are flowering and the tomatoes have lots of green balls waiting to grow bigger and turn red!!!!! AND, the strawberries are ALMOST done... so sad!
2- The kids are enjoying their summer! Trev just got done with swim lessons and passed to go on to the next level! WAY TO GO BOY! Luke and Shayla are loving Gymnastics!!! Only downfall I see is they don't have the GUY things there, like the rings and the parallel bars!!!! :-(
3- We are going to see Go Fish Guys tonight and are sooo excited!!!!!! The kids love jamming out to them!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I don't think they are half bad myself!
4- We are heading to a wedding in 2 weeks and are super excited about seeing family we haven't see for awhile! Too bad the drive is 4 hours and we have to stay in a hotel....LOL!!!!
5- My husbands Co-workers are in love with me... I don't know if that is a good thing....LOL! See, I send a homemade item each week for their treat! My husband has been their since mid November and I have only made the same things twice (that was brownies....) They think I am amazing... I think I will let them keep believing that!
6- There have only been 4-5 HOT HOT days so far this summer so that is super good... unfortunatly there has only been 4-5 days with lots of rain too... that is a super bad thing!!!!!
7- My boys head to Church Bible Camp at the end of this month.... 5 days, 5 1/2 hours a day! YAHOOOOO!!!!!
8- My good friend from Wyoming might fly out here with her 3 kids at the beginning of August! I am so excited... we vacationed with them 2 yrs ago in South Dakota and I miss them dearly! Now to look into renting a passanger van.... !!!!!
9-Summer break is almost 1/2 way done..... AND my baby girl (ok she isn't the baby, but aren't they all the baby???) is almost 6! WOW, 6 and ready to start all day kindergarden!!!!!
10- I have missed blogging due to the busy summer we are having.... soon very soon my days will change again and I will be home with just one baby... (OK again, not a baby, but she is the BABY!!!!)

It Pays To Complain....

2009-07-08T05:57:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to let you all know that when you are happy with a product that you purchased, it really does pay to compliment the company! AND on the flip side, if you are unhappy, it pays to COMPLAIN about the product!
Here is a few examples….
When my husband wanted some thousand island dressing awhile back, I bought the kraft like I used to… only this time they had changed the recipe…kraft began making their dressings more natural without STUFF added in… KUDOS to them… right….????? Of course! BUT my husband hated it… he said it was horrible and didn’t want to eat it! SOOO I wrote kraft, thanked them for being ahead of the times, changing their recipes, but that their thousand island was no longer what it had been…. They sent me a coupon for a FREE bottle of any of their dressing!!!!
I also bought Hidden Valley Ranch ORGANIC (we love their orig. stuff, but wanting to find dressing without MSG, I went for this!) IT WAS SO GROSS! It tasted just like mayo… only worse! I wrote, letting them know that we loved their dressing, but the organic was NOT what I expected from them! I got a coupon for a FREE bottle (any size!) of their dressing!
I learned that DANNON Kids yogurt is NOW being made HFCS free and DYE free… OH I was sooo happy, I ran out and bought some just so the kids could try it… THEY loved it…. SO I wrote the company complimenting them on how it was great that they were the first to pull those things from the KIDS line of yogurt and how appreciative I and I am sure lots of others were! I was sent 2 free dannon kids drink pack coupons!
AND my latest was a box of truvia that I purchased for myself… It is a great product, I like to use it in my smoothies, but I pulled out 4 empty packets from a box of 40…. HELLO, these things run about .08 a packet! SOOOO I jumped online and sent them a message, stating that I loved thier product, but was disapointed in finding empty packets in my box (they were part of the 40!) I received a FREE product coupon in the mail…
I also wrote to Thomas’ about their bagels (a COMPLIMENT on having a product with out Hydr. oils and with out HFCS!!!!) I received 2 $1.00 of coupons in the mail as a thankyou for the compliment!!!!
NOW I don’t do this to get FREE things!!!! I think as comsumers, we have loud voices that we should use more often, either to complain or to compliment!!!!!! Things will not change unless the companies know about them!!!!!!!

Bread you will LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-07-06T09:11:00.001-07:00

With my new bread recipe!!! Thanks to my GREAT blog friend DONNA, I was turned onto the urban homemaker and her yummy recipe for BREAD!
Here is a secret! I use WHEY POWDER for the dough enhancer (1 T. for the 2 loaves, which actually makes 3 loaves! The picture shows 2 loaves from the recipe, but they were HUGE and next time I will make 3!!!!!!!) I also use 1 t. Vitamin C powder. The canister will last a LONG TIME!!!!!!!! I do use Coconut Oil for the oil also!!!!!!!! OH, and I added 1/4 C. gluten flour too!
I did figure out that the most costly thing in this is the honey, but a LARGE loaf only cost just under $1!!!!! NOT BAD AT ALL! considering I am using fresh milled Hard White Wheat Berries & Coconut oil. One could do this for much cheaper using cheaper flour and canola or vegtable oil!
I used this recipe for Hamburger buns the other day, and even my picky hubby was super impressed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gratituesday: A Broken Window....

2009-06-23T13:22:00.000-07:00

SO, how can one be GRATEFUL for a broken window you might ask yourself?????
WELL-------- Because I didn't do it!!!!!!!! LOL! Ok, just kidding, but really, I didn't break it, my hubby did! and it wasn't our window, it was our NEIGHBORS WINDOW... and they are not home, they are GONE on a 2 week vacation.... SOOOO what is the story you might be asking yourself????
Well, my neighbors, this family with 8 children 1-15 yrs old.... and a mom and a dad all under one roof.... are on a 2 week vacation... and they trusted me so much to let me take care of their yard and garden (ok, really their garden is amazing, on its own water timer, I just got to cut the lettuce and share it with the other neighbors!) AND I didn't really even have to do anything else yet, besides water the PORCH flowers because we have had rain alot since they left....
SOOOO yesterday all of us headed over there with hubby on the tractor to mow their yard because it was getting soooo high and they aren't back until friday this week.... you know, doing a kind deed!!!!!!!!!!!! Right near the end of mowing, somehow a rock flew out of the mower (the opposite sides of where the grass comes out) and breaks the first pain of glass of their lower window......
My hubby was sooo upset, he was mad for hours.... I wanted to be mad, but for some reason couldn't do it.... I was like "WELL, accidents happen, and we will just replace their glass....!"
SOOOO Why am I grateful you might ask......
because this gives up the opportunity to show them how great of people we are... that we are the ones that borrow things and return them in better condition than when we took them... that we always replace when we break or lose, and that they can trust us....
I only say this all because sometimes I am unsure of what they think of us... I know this shouldn't matter... but these folks are very down to earth.... the girls all wear skirts and long hair and she is so patient that she homes schools all of them....
I wear my hair at shoulder length (I have THICK THICK Hair and long hair gives me headaches), I wear speg. strap tanks daily in the summer (I truly could DIE if I wore any kind of sleeve.... I am a sweat box!!!!) and I send my kids to public school..... So I guess sometimes I just don't know how they feel about us.... KWIM???!!!!
Anyways, I am grateful for the chance to see how they handle this when we tell them.... and see if I can READ in their faces what they really think of us, if that makes sense at all!!!!!!!!!!!

Read more gratituesdays at heavenly homemakers

Gods Great Power

2009-06-18T11:58:00.000-07:00

My husband LOVES looking at the stars at night, but even more than that, HE LOVES watching thunder storms move in!!!!!!!!!!! Lastnight we were sitting on the deck together, enjoying the silence of the children sleeping in their beds and enjoying Gods Great Glory here on earth!!!!!

There is NOTHING more beautiful than this......

2009-06-13T07:52:00.000-07:00

(apparently I need to pull clover again!!! LOL!)

Como Zoo....

2009-06-12T11:07:00.001-07:00

So we took our first summer outing the other day and I had to share this Gorilla photo with you! It was tooo funny!!!! I think he was telling us all to GO AWAY!!!!!!!!!

AHHH... can you smell them from here?????

2009-06-09T10:59:00.000-07:00

My Baby Turned 9 TODAY!

2009-06-07T15:38:00.000-07:00

WOW, I can't believe it!

Today marks 9 yrs of being a MOM!!!!

Man how time flies!!!!!

SOOO here we are at UNDER WATER WORLD at the Mall Of America! It was fun spending the time with the whole family having fun, celebrating his birthday!

Psssst- the 3 kids in the middle are NOT that tall... they were standing on a step thingy!

HOW DO YOUR CHILDREN GROW????

2009-06-04T14:22:00.000-07:00

WOW, I took a photo of Shayla when she got home from

school today (it was her last day!) and My goodness how she has grown!!!!!

This is only is 9 months!!!!!!!!!!

Black and Decker Waffle Maker....

2009-06-03T05:16:00.000-07:00

I noticed it has been a long time since I reviewed an item I love!!! SOOO here it is....

a BLACK AND DECKER WAFFLE MAKER/ GRILL!!!!

This baby is HOT!!!!! And since it makes so many waffles at one time... I can please even my big family!!!! The Waffle plates also come out and flip over to make a FLAT griddle! And the top flips down so you cook on both sides!!! This has been great for cooking grilled cheese on (you can close the lid and cook both sides at once, BUT I find that this smooshes the sandwich alittle!) I have also used it to cook Tortillas on and English muffins !

I love making up a triple batch of pancake batter and making lots of waffles!!! Then I let them cool all the way and freeze them in gallon baggies! SUPER easy and then when you need some waffles you just pop them into your toaster!!!!

This Waffle makers gets ***** 5 stars in my book!!!!!!

My Big Girl Graduated!!!

2009-06-01T06:16:00.000-07:00

My 5 yr old graduated from 4 K (4 yr old kindergarden) the other day! She was so proud of herself and can't wait until REAL school starts on her BIRTHDAY!!!!!

MY SOCCER PLAYERS!!!!

2009-05-27T05:05:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to share my handsome soccer players with everyone!!!!!

Mothers Day Tradition!

2009-05-21T05:52:00.000-07:00

Every year for the past 3 yrs now, We have flown kites on mothers day! My kids look forward to this and talk about it for weeks before! This makes me soooo happy! That they remember and care about a tradition!!!!!

This year we invited some friends of ours over (a neighborhood couple and their 2 girls) to fly with us! It is always so much fun to share the fun with others!!!!!!!

AH, the house I lived in ONCE....

2009-05-13T05:32:00.000-07:00

So, yesterday was a sad day, I had to attend a funeral of a 38 yr old man I grew up with... SAD SAD! He was great friends with my older brother (who himself, passed away 11 yrs ago) and then a great friend of my younger brother. He also dated my sister for a short time... AND he was a great "DRINKING" buddy of my Dad's before my father passed away! YEP, he was a great family friend....

Anyways, his funeral was in the neighborhood that I lived in from the time I was 4 until I was almost 8! SO of course I had to drive it for old time sake... and I gotta tell ya, WOW, everything has shrunk! I mean really shrunk... it was ALL so small... even the house I lived in was A LOT smaller than I remember! Of course maybe it is all still the same size and I am the one that grew up!

AHHH... this is why I love SPRING TIME!!!!

2009-05-10T19:18:00.000-07:00

What are you wearing???

2009-05-08T05:23:00.000-07:00

So yesterday I look outside and see my oldest daughter wearing this beautiful outfit! I especially like the knee pads, don't you!!!!!

20 Things about me...

2009-05-06T05:44:00.000-07:00

20 Of My Favorite Things

1. Color- I love BLUE

2. Dessert-FUDGY BROWNIES!

3. Smell-vanilla

4. Flower- Daisies!!!!!

5. Animal- I love fuzzy little fur ball kittens

6. Month-June

7. Beverage- I drink water mostly, but I can't pass up a "Sex on the Beach!"

8. Pair of shoes- Comfy pair of sandles

9. Snack-String Cheese or an apple

10. Song- OH, I love music, there are atleast 100 songs that are my fav's!

11. Book- Any book you can LEARN from!

12. Fruit- Apple

13. Hairstyle-Long wavy beautiful hair (this is not mine!)

14. Piece of clothing- any tank top (it is getting warm out!)

15. Store to clothes shop- I love the thrift shops

16. Season-Spring into summer time

17. Hobby-Sewing

18. Thing to collect-FABRIC!!!!

19. Movie- SHAG

20. Restaurant- NONE.... I like eating at home!

I won, not once but twice!!!

2009-05-04T05:53:00.000-07:00

I rarely win anything... but when heavenly homemakers hosted a blog give-away last week... I thought... why not......!!!
So, each day I went and signed up for about 20 drawings... and by golly, I WON 2 of them!

The first one was a $25 gift cert. to AMAZON and it came from hearth management. This a a great blog written by a christian woman! My favorite part of her blog is that she links up once a week to other great blogs!!! She also has a sense of humor, and that is what makes anyones blog great!!!!!!!

The second prize was from this wonderful blog having my cake and eating it too! What a great blog this woman has! She has some great Frugal Friday posts that are super fun to read! She also has lots of links for scrapbooking templates! WOW! Might have to look into digital scrapbooking!!!
From her I won a great TILE NECKLACE from THIS wonderful seller on ETSY! I had never seen her shop before and fell in love!!! HERE is the necklace I will be getting!!! AH, I can't wait!

I guess sometimes you really do win things!

SEEING RED!!!!!

2009-04-26T18:51:00.000-07:00

SO, I go to vacuum my girls' room today (after they spent a long time cleaning it up) and what do wondering my eyes should appear, but RED color crayon drawings on their bedroom floor!

NO NOT KIDDING, 3, yes, THREE drawings like this one on their carpeting! AND the worst part is... my husband is color blind and couldn't even see it!!!!!!!!!

Todays Adventure!

2009-04-23T11:45:00.001-07:00

Today I met up with my Sister-in-Law/ Step Sister/ Girlfriend, and her 2 daughters who just happen to follow my girls ages (hers 6, mine 5, hers 4, mine 3) . Yes they are very cute all together! Anyways, the 2 oldest road their bikes and the youngest 2 rode in our double jogging stroller (we let them bike last week, but they are sort of slow...LOL!)

Anyways, we finished our walk and took the path that leads to the VERMILLION FALLS in Hastings, MN! It is so beautiful... I remember back to when my dad used to let us come down here.... This is also the place where my husband (after 3 mo. of dating) told me he wanted to marry me....

Gratituesday: I won the War!

2009-04-21T05:49:00.000-07:00

OK, today I am very grateful for my giving husband!!!!!!
NO really, I am !!!!!!!
SEE, last week he got a FREE camera (the one above) in the mail.... he has these AFTERMARKET REWARD POINTS he has been saving for a long time from ITEMS at work that you pull them off of.... Well, last week he turned them in for a NEW CAMERA and a Wii Truck game.....
The Camera came and I was in love instantly! I knew I HAD to make it mine... (SORRY, but it is true!)
I pleaded my case about how I was the one who took ALL of the family photos, how he just wanted to use it for WORK photos (progress of cars he is working on), how MY camera was ALMOST 3 yrs old.... How HIS NEW camera was SOOO much nicer than mine... ETC....
I know, BAD BAD BAD.... BUT.......................

IT WORKED, lastnight he told me that I could HAVE IT!!!!!! That he was thinking about what I said and it is true... I do take the family photos, I do order them, I do file them, I do scrapbook them, etc....... And I DO deserve the NICE camera (his is a 10.1 MP, mine was a 5 MP) WOW, double the fun...LOL!

IT IS ALL GOOD, STOP thinking I am horrible and terrible.... He is getting a great present in the mail in 2 days.... He has been wanting a MANTIS tiller for a long time, and I finally set aside enough budget to order it... HE HAS NO IDEA!!!!!

SO I am not so bad afterall, huh?????

Read more gratituesday over at Laura's Blog

I am having TOOO much fun!

2009-04-20T05:40:00.000-07:00

OK, so finally after plotting on how I could get my hands on a NUTRIMILL... I finally managed to get one!!!!

YES, ME, I GOT A GRAIN MILL!!!!!!!!!!!

HELLO DID YOU HEAR ME,

I HAVE MY OWN GRAIN MILL NOW!!!!

I have had so much fun grinding grains in this thing, and learning to cook with them! So far I have done YELLOW POPCORN for cornmeal and made SUPER YUMMY Corn Bread! I have done BROWN RICE and made banana bread, chocolate chip cookies, cheesy biscuits, and apple muffins, all without wheat! I have done Hard White Wheat Berries and made Beer Bread, Brownies, Blue Berry Muffins, Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins, Tortilas, Pizza Crust... and I am sure there are a few more things!

This thing is FUN FUN FUN! This week I am going to try Chick Peas, As a friend of mine told me it was her favorite NO WHEAT flour to use!

Do you have a grain mill, and if so.... what fun things do you do with it????

OUCH!!!!!

2009-04-18T11:51:00.001-07:00

The photo says it all!!!!!!

(she fell on her bike going down a hill..... a hill she was SUPPOSED to stop at the top and wait for us before she went down.... bet she won't be doing that again!)

I HAVE A FEVER!

2009-04-09T05:37:00.000-07:00

NO, NOT Spring Fever....

BABY FEVER!!!!

UGH, I soooo wanna look like this again!

My husband is TAKEN CARE of... :-(

I must confess that I did check on the cost of a Reversal....

OVER $7000 UGH! SO, that isn't an option!

BUT I will keep praying that if God wanted us to have more....

He has the power to make that happen!!!!!

MAYBE it is just because my baby is now 3 and potty trained,

we don't carry a diaper bag at all anymore, and

NO ONE needs me to dress them or feed them!

Who knows... I guess I will have to get my hands on some of my

friends babies, and

GET OVER IT!!!!!!

Gratituesday: Son Liking Gymnastics!

2009-04-07T05:18:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was our first day at Gymnastics.... My Second son begged and begged to get into the class... (his sister already had a spot)... So Shayla gave up her spot to Lucas and He was super excited...... In the end, there was an opening and Shayla (who's foot is in the lower Left) Got in anyways!!!! How nice of her to give her spot up though , HUH????

Anyways, I am just so Grateful that he loved it, even though he was the only boy in class! He did get alittle hyper about things and tried to run across the balance beam and fell, but he did great seated rolls and wonderful cartwheels!!!!!!

Visit more gratituesday HERE!

I mean... REALLY!!!!!

2009-04-02T05:31:00.000-07:00

Have you seen this... it is to help your kid potty train.... LOL! You can see more HERE!!!

They do have an easy fun memory game my 3 yr old liked....LOL!

Just wanted to share the humor today!!!!!!

Gratituesday: An Awesome Concert!!!!

2009-03-31T05:58:00.000-07:00

So, My friend invited me to a concert this past sunday! Of course I said YES!!!! The concert featured Israel Houghton and the main man was Chris Tomlin!!!!!!!!!
I haven't been to a concert in FOREVER!!! ! I mean really, over a decade, it is just something we don't spend money on!!!! SOOO I was so blessed by her generousity to invite me along, and NOT let me pay for the ticket (I owe her a steak dinner now!!!!!)

Israel Houghton on stage! HE WAS AWESOME!!!!

Chris Tomlin! He rocked the house!!!!!!! I laughed, I cried, I raised my hands to God! It was wonderful!!!!!!!!!!

So Today I am grateful to my wonderful friend MiRinda! Thank you SOOOO very much for allowing me to go with you!

Read MORE gratituesday at heavenly homemakers

SISTINE CHAPEL

2009-03-29T06:25:00.000-07:00

WOW, this is the most amazing thing I have ever seen on the internet! You can zoom in on the neatest details... Have fun!

SISTINE CHAPEL

The things you find....

2009-03-26T12:00:00.000-07:00

When your 3 yr old is all potty trained and "GOES" by herself!!!!!!

OH, here are the things I am dreaming of....

2009-03-21T06:56:00.000-07:00

With spring at our door step here on the border of MN and WI.... here are somethings I am dreaming of......

Playing at the beach with the little monkeys

Smores in the back yard

Flying Kites on Mothers Day

Our Yearly Photo on the Turtle at Como Zoo

Family time in the Garden

These are just a few things I look forward to in the coming months as the weather FINALLY starts to warm up!!!!!!!!!!

7 Little Things

2009-03-18T05:49:00.000-07:00

While reading this Great Blog this morning... I was encouraged to write .....

7 Little Things...
...that make me disproportionately happy!

1- Seeing all of my children sitting together and not fighting!!!!!

2- Baking something new and having it turn out SUPER YUMMY!!!!

3- Seeing a clothes line full of clothing on a warm sunny day!!!!

4- Seeing the first new plants growing out of the ground in the Late Spring!

5- Watching my children learning life skills, and how good they are at them!

6- SEWING something new!!! (need I say more????)

7- Getting together with family and friends!!!

The Dwelling Place...

2009-03-17T06:07:00.000-07:00

So, our local christian station is called KTIS... and they have a website called i can help twincities

This is where I found out about the dwelling place shelter. They were looking for people to RE-Do a bedroom in the shelter! So my family along with my girlfriend Gabbi , and her daughter Grace, took on a bedroom at the shelter! I asked some of my friends and family for donations twards the room, and we were well on our way! Saturday was the big day! I left the girls at my inlaws and headed up to Shelter with my hubby, the boys, Gabbi and Grace. They all painted while I sew'd up curtains for the windows!!!!

All and all it was a great time and it felt so good doing something for all those woman in need!

My husband might even be heading back to paint the kitchen and livingroom for the house!

I do not have before photo at this time... but the room was a plain white color...

Here is the beautiful room afterwards!!!!

If you live in the area, Check out i can help twincities .com there are so many opportunites out there to help out with!!!!!!

NEWS FLASH!!!!

2009-03-16T14:22:00.000-07:00

OH, the best thing EVER EVER EVER (ok , so far this year!) just happened this weekend! My girlfriend told me about Sprints NEW Broadband USB modem!!! So on Saturday after we finished our ROOM RE-DO ( I will blog about that later!) I went to BEST BUY and got a USB modem! AND let me tell you guys... this things is fast... ( I HAD DIAL UP TO ALL WHO WANT TO FEEL SAD FOR ME!) I would rarely download music from ITUNES because it took ATLEAST 10 min for a song... now BOOM, 30 secs! WOW~ I have had to have friends upload my photos to Shutterfly, but now... BOOM... I Can do it myself!
DOWN SIDE.... yes there is one..... I have to figure out where to scrape up $45 more dollars a month to pay for it.... YES, I could give up most of my allowance (all but $5 to be exact) BUT I would rather just try to SELL MORE on etsy! SOOO, look forward to a sale sometime in the near future!!!!!!
Just wanted to share my news!!!!!

Guess who potty trained herself???

2009-03-10T06:34:00.000-07:00

YEP, the day before she turned 3 last week, I told her "3 yr olds don't wear diapers anymore!" And so she hasn't... she had many accidents the first day, and then really only 2 poopy ones since! GEE that was easy!

FYI on that cake! I got some NATURAL DYES from king arthur flour online... I am going to do a review on them later, but the red made a beautiful pink! It would never make red, no matter how much you add... just a darker pink! BUT it was a great strong paste color!!!!

OH, want a chance to win something fun????

2009-03-07T19:35:00.000-08:00

HEAD HERE!!!

I am being honored this week for CLOTHER DIAPERING!!! So head over there and check it out! You could win some doll diapers from me and also a gift card from Kelly's Closet!

Great Post ....

2009-03-06T06:13:00.000-08:00

On my other Blog today!
I just posted about Hydrogenated oils! Something we all need to think about more and do something about!!!
head HERE to read up on them!!!!!

Embassy Suits

2009-03-05T05:47:00.000-08:00

So here it is, my review on the Embassy Suites in Down Town St. Paul, MN! You can see their site HERE....

We checked in at 5:30 PM, without any problems... Plenty of parking (I do however think $10 a day for parking is insane! Come on, we paid alot for just the room!) and the front desk man was SO very nice!

We headed right to our room (a corner king suite). The room was very easy to find, but right above the work out room... needless to say at times it sounded like someone needed some stool softeners down below! And when the weights were dropped, it sounded like a bowling alley! We did talk a walk past the "BOWLING ALLEY BATHROOM" and it was a very nice workout room! Bright and big!

My husband actually hated the suite! Well, not hated, but just thought it REALLY needed an update! All the woodwork was the color of Breast Fed Baby Poo! ISH! But it had 2 really nice big screen TV's (which we didn't really watch much) but they looked nice!

They serve FREE drinks and snacks in the eating area from 5:30-7:30 each night! A managers reception I think they call it... Either way, we did NOT see a mananger either night we were down there.... HMMM????!!!! We did however have some cold ones (Fuzzy Navels for me!) and tipped the bartender kindly!

(THANKS BLOGGER FOR FLIPPING THE PHOTO!!!! GRRR!)

We ate a the Pub that was in the hotel both nights we were there... CORKS PUB! They had great food and wonderfully expensive drinks... But we did shoot a few games of pool and met a fun couple that works for our local channel 5! HELLO GUYS!

Each morning the serve HOT breakfast to order! I was ultra impressed with the cooks ability to make an omelet... I really did stand there with my mouth wide open in AWE!!! The food was great and the area was always clean! They had fresh fruit and yummy juice! The even had this super cool toaster for my wonderful english muffins!!!!!

They did offer free shuttle service that we did use once to head to the Science Museum. The driver on the way there was So nice and kind and when I got off, I forgot to tip him... I felt horrible, and when we got back I gave his tip to a woman at the front desk and asked her to give it to him... (he was not the same man on the way back!) When we did want to head back to the hotel, we just called a number and the shuttle came to get us after just a 15 min wait! NOT bad!

All in all I would give this hotel a 4 1/2 star rating NOT a full 5 because of the need for room updates, but other than that... EVERYTHING went wonderfully! The staff was all so very nice, the area was clean, and even the other guests in the hotel were very nice! SOOO if you are ever wanting a weekend away, and live in the area, head to the embassy suites in Downtown St. Paul, and if you are ever in the area visiting, stay here.... even though the cost is alittle more... you can get a room with 2 queens and the pull out couch and sleep that family of 6 (ok, so I am excited about that myself!!!!! Hotel hunting with a big family is hard to do!)

Gratituesday: My IPOD!

2009-03-03T11:26:00.000-08:00

I know, really Denai, is that all you have????
But yes, that is it for today!
(First, I just want to say, I am grateful to even have the IPOD, I got if FREE with our credit card rewards! YEP, I could have used the rewards on lots of things, but sometimes you just have to reward yourself... NOW of course if they had a grainmill instead, I would have gotten that!!!!)

I am grateful to be able to grab it at any time and listen to any music I want to hear at the time!
I love music! I mean really LOVE music! All kinds of music, but lately I have been loving Worship Music the most! "Sara Groves" fills my heart, "Go Fish" makes me boogie, "Third Day" just is wonderful, "Casting Crowns" well, need I say more????? OH, all these great singers and more fill my IPOD with worship and praise and my soul with such love and compansion!
Who wouldn't be grateful for a THING that helps keep God with you when you need him!!!!!

Read more gratituesday at Laura's BLOG