Ten On Tuesday

Ten Things You’d Fix in Your Home (if you had the time and money)

1. The dining room carpet has annoyed me from day one. It is so nasty! We want to put hardwood floors in there, but we just haven't gotten around to that. Here is an up close shot of a bald spot in there. Ewwww! It's one thing to be married to a man that is balding, but who wants to walk on a balding floor? Not me!


2. Windows...We have a bow window, two bedroom windows, and a sliding glass door that need to be replaced. Heck, some of them don't even open. Ugh!

3. The main bathroom has many problems. Most of them require my hubby finding the time rather than finding the money. The towel bar is coming out of the wall, sink stopper is stuck in a halfway position, shower pressure sucks, and drain in bathtub is broken. Not to mention the room is carpeted, vanity is old, and the tile around the tub is pink. Yuck! It just needs some work!

4. My kitchen requires some major money. We need to have the soffit taken out...I think that is the right word. We need new cabinets, new counter tops, wallpaper removed and walls painted, new light fixtures, and the 70's style beam and bars removed that separate the kitchen from the dining room.

5. I need to have shelves put in my laundry room closet. My husband likes to procrastinate.

6. When my husband gets the time, he needs to paint our shed.

7. I would put new hardwood trim in the older portion of the house.

8. Light bulbs need to be replaced in our stairwell. Sound easy? Sure, if you have a super-duper tall ladder and aren't afraid of heights.

9. Weather stripping (or something) needs to be added to our front door. The wind howls through there like crazy, and it actually sounds like we live in a cabin built in the 1800's in the middle of nowhere. It always makes me super cold when I hear that sound.

10. A couple door knobs in our home need to be fixed.

What I am realizing is that many things that need to be done in our home are small. They simply require my husband setting some time aside to take care of things. Do you know how frustrating that is to me? If only I were a handy woman!

You can share your Ten on Tuesday Here.

Give Me 5 Monday

Give Me Five future events you are currently looking forward to and/or planning or attending.

1. I am really looking forward to attending my cousin's Bar Mitzvah this weekend.

2. I am planning on taking my kids to the St. Louis Science Center this summer, but I don't exactly know when.

3. I am looking forward to Ali's elementary school carnival at the end of April.


4. Disney World!!! I have never been, but I have wanted to go since I was just a wee little thing. My mom and I are planning a trip there when Meghan is 5, which is only 4 years away. I can only hope my husband will be agreeable to this when the time comes and go with us.

5. Jeff and I are planning on going on an Alaskan Cruise for our 10th anniversary. This is about 3.5 years away. I fear it may turn into the 15th anniversary, but it is still nice to have something to look forward to. :-)

How about you? Why don't you share your Give Me 5 Monday Answers here!

Manic Monday

What is the sexiest part of the body? I think a person's eyes can be very sexy.

If you kissed a frog, who would you like it to turn into? My hubby! ;-)

What do you have stuck up on your refrigerator right now? 4 different cereals (Cocoa Pebbles, Fruity Pebbles, Cheerios, & Frosted Flakes), PopTarts, and Cereal Straws

Share Your Manic Monday Answers Here!

Our Menu For 3/31/08 To 4/06/08

Monday~Loaded Baked Potatoes...It's National Tater Day
Tuesday~Baked Orange Roughy and Broccoli Rice Casserole
Wednesday~Waffles & Bacon
Thursday~BBQ Chicken with Chicken Rice-a-Roni
Friday~Mustgoes
Saturday~Out of Town
Sunday~Out of Town

Share your menu here!

Another Bloggy Giveaway!

Spring seems to be the time for bloggy giveaways. I love it!! I was visiting Annie's site today when I saw that she was giving away a candle. Check it out here! Who wouldn't love to win a candle?

Friday's Feast

Appetizer~What does the color dark green make you think of?

Money. Oh, how I wish I had lots of that dark green stuff!!

Soup~How many cousins do you have?

Hmmmm??? I honestly don't really know. We are not that close to my mom's side of the family, so I have no clue what goes on over there. I have 7 that I claim, but one of those has passed away.

Salad~On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how honest are you?

8...maybe even higher. I feel that I am very honest, but if I think it will hurt your feelings I will keep it to myself or fib a bit. Well, that isn't true. I will only do that if I don't know you very well. I am probably a 9.5 with my family and close friends.

Main Course~Name something that is truly free.

Love is free and should be given freely.

Dessert~Using the letters in the word SPRING, write a sentence.

Some people really inexcusably neglect God.

Share your feast HERE.

Thursday Thirteen

I cleaned my office yesterday, which I probably haven't done for at least 6 months. Yikes! So, todays Thursday Thirteen is...

13 Things I Found In My Office Yesterday

1. a little bit of cheese popcorn...I must have dropped it while snacking. Oops!
2. Cookbooks...two of them and three cookbook magazines
3. a savings bond...I probably should have put that away as soon as I got it in the mail. My bad!
4. cobwebs...lots of them!!
5. scrapbooking stuff...and lots of it! I found papers, stickers, and ribbon. I even found a stamp that I had been looking for.
6. lots of bills and papers that needed to be filed...months worth.
7. a card from my mom's neighbor...and I still need to email her. Yikes! She must think I am a horrible person.
8. nut shells...every winter I go through a huge nut eating phase. Apparently I shot shells everywhere.
9. Christmas cards...not ones I received but ones that I didn't use. I put them up for next year. Now the key will be to remember I have them and where I put them.
10. A bill that I need to give my husband
11. USB cords...several. I actually wrapped them up and put them where they belong. That is just unheard of! :-)
12. Ali's swim lesson certificate from last year...I don't know why it was in my office. Could I really never have put it away???
13. Meghan's growth information from her last two Dr's. appointments

I just have to say that if you had visited my home you would have been shocked by the way my office looked. It was horribly messy, while the rest of my home is fairly decent. I was actually ashamed of the way it looked, and I am so happy that it is finally clean. It's a great feeling to know that I can actually find things and see the top of my desk. :-)

Are you a Thursday Thirteener? If not, you need to go HERE.

Tasty Thursday~Springtime Edition

Spring makes me want lighter foods and cookouts. Here are two recipes that we enjoy.

Glazed Baby Carrots

1 packet (1 oz.) Hidden Valley The Original Ranch Dressing Mix
1/4 cup each: butter and light brown sugar
1 package (16 oz.) ready-to-eat peeled baby carrots, cooked (boiled or steamed)

Melt butter and sugar in a large skillet. Add carrots and dressing mix; stir well. Cook over medium heat until hot and glazed; about 5 minutes. Makes 4 to 6 servings.

Veggie Marinade (Dubbed Veggie Yummy by my Sister-In-Law)

1 cup Miracle Whip
1/2 cup vinegar
3/4 cup sugar
salt & pepper

Mix all together. Pour over sliced cucumbers, sweet onions and tomatoes.

Share your Springtime recipes HERE!

Thursday Threesome~Is June Really That Close?

::Something old, Something new, Something borrowed, Something blue::

Onesome: Something old- Do you have anything that you've owned simply forever? A cherished childhood toy, an antique handed down through the family? ...the family Bible? I have a Kewpie Doll that I gave to my grandmother when I was 3 or 4. I actually remember going to the store and getting it for her. When she passed away, it came back to me. I treasure that doll, and I think of my grandmother each time I look at it. She was such a wonderful woman!

Twosome: Something new- Buy anything new lately? Let's see...I bought a new pair of shoes and an outfit for me, shoes for Ali, and a shirt and tie for Jeff. I am getting us all ready to go to my cousin's Bar Mitzvah next weekend.

Threesome: Something borrowed- Have you ever borrowed an item and never returned it? Hmmmmmm??? Not that I can think of, but I am sure there must be something.

Bonus: Something blue- Can you see anything blue from where you are? What is it? Yes, I can! I see blue Hello Kitty Christmas wrapping paper.

Ten On Tuesday...A Day Late

10 Things To Do Before You Get Married

1. Attend pre-marital counseling!!! Good pre-marital counseling will get you and your spouse talking about all the things that are important...finances, how you will raise a family, your values & beliefs, and this is super important in my opinion. Make sure you are being honest with your significant other....and yourself!!

2. Make sure you really know your future spouse. Date for at least 6 months. Work through a couple disagreements/fights. Talk, talk, talk, and be sure they aren't just saying what you want to hear. (**Disclaimer~I am not saying that people who haven't known each other for at least 6 months can't have long, happy marriages. What I am saying is what is the rush. Take the time to be sure this person is the one. Marriage is for a lifetime!**)

3. Spend a fun weekend with your friends. Generally with marriage comes family and work commitments, which make it more difficult to spend time with friends. Be sure to fit some good friend time in before your big day.

4. Really think about whether or not you want to spend that much money on a day. Don't misunderstand me. I think wedding ceremonies are wonderful, and I am all for celebrating your upcoming life together. However, when I think about how much money we spent on our big day I cringe, and we did not spend near the amount that many do. So, just really give your day some thought. Don't start your marriage out in debt.

5. Speaking of debt, splurge and buy yourself something extravagant. Treat yourself! Don't go too nuts though. :-) After you marry and start having kids you will most likely feel guilty buying yourself a really nice purse or outfit. Do it while you can!

6. Get a college degree. While I think marriage is forever, I think you still have to plan ahead. What if your spouse leaves you? How will you support yourself? What if your spouse dies? What if you all are having serious financial difficulties? Plan ahead! Whether you use it or not during your marriage is entirely up to you, but it is most definitely a good thing to have.

7. Make sure you can take care of yourself. Can you balance your checkbook, do laundry, keep a home in running order? Do you know who to call if there is something you can't do? That person can't always be your significant other, so be sure you know how to hold your own.

8. Get to know your future in-laws. They will soon be your family. You have had many years to get to know your own family, but that isn't the case with in-laws. However, they wind up being a very important part of your life. So, visit with them as much as you can.

9. Do something selfish. Marriage means thinking about someone else, not just yourself. So, before you take this big step, do something just for you. Go ahead and be selfish this one time.

10. Get a grip on reality! You need to know that all won't be perfect after you say "I do!" Life is full of ups and downs, and it is rarely ever (read~NEVER) the 'happily ever after' of fairy tales. Do not go into a marriage with unrealistic expectations. You will make both you and your spouse miserable.

Share your 10 things HERE.

Another Giveaway To Get In On

Steph at The Daily Grind is giving away a Pasta Pot. A 10-quart pasta pot! You could cook some major pasta in that baby. So, head on over to her blog and enter to win. Why wouldn't you? Unless you already own a pasta pot, and if that is the case sit back, relax, and let me win. :-)

Pictures From Easter

Things I Heard From My Little Man Today

This morning I was putting on one of my new bras, which I have to admit is very fun looking. Josh said to me, "I love that bra!" Those just aren't words I thought I would hear from my 4-year-old boy.

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This afternoon we were shopping at Bergner's. Here is the conversation:

Josh~"Hey Mom?"
Me~"Yes Josh."
Josh~"I love you!"
Two Ladies Shopping~"Awwwww." "I want one like that." (I think she was pregnant.)
Me~"They are not always like this."
Two Ladies Shopping~ (laughing)
Josh~"Nobody laughs at my Mama!"

I just thought that was the sweetest and funniest thing he has said in a long time. :-)

Heads Or Tails~Surprise!!!

Surprise!!! Ali lost her very first tooth. This was a surprise to all of us, because we didn't even know that her tooth was loose. Heck, her dad didn't even know that kids lost their teeth this early. I was in the know on that, but only because Ali has told me about kids in her class that have lost their teeth.

She kept telling us that her tooth didn't just fall out because it came out when she was biting on a lip gloss container. I had to explain that this is how teeth come out. Although, I did mention that kids are usually eating healthy treats like apples, instead of lip gloss containers.

Here she is holding her Tooth Fairy Pillow. Mamook and Grandpa bought this for her from the hospital gift shop when she was born. She has been waiting almost 6 years to put this pillow to good use.

Here is an up close and personal shot of her teeth. I probably should have had her brush before I took this shot. My bad!


When she wakes in the morning she will find $1 in her pillow. I couldn't bring myself to throw her tooth away though, so I tucked it into a Ziploc baggie, which will eventually find its way into her baby book. That seems kind of gross now that I think about it, but we moms are allowed to do gross things to preserve our babies' youthful memories. Right?

Do you have a fun surprise to share? If so, head on over to the home of Heads or Tails.

Give Me Five Monday

Give Me Five favorite memories from your Easter day 2008.

1. Meghan finding candy everywhere she turned. That girl ate more candy yesterday than she ever has in her short lifetime. One time she found some chocolate and she was dancing and smiling from ear to ear. Aunt Abby and I thought that was pretty darn cute. Too funny!

2. Got to spend time with my dear husband. We haven't had much time together lately because of his work, so having him around for a whole day was quite nice.

3. Playing games with the family. We played Rock Band on X-Box and Bowling on the Wii. I had so much fun, and I think everyone else did too. I can't even believe how badly my body hurts today from bowling. I must be pretty out of shape!

4. Another favorite memory is that Meghan crashed as soon as we left Aunt Abby & Uncle John's house. She hadn't napped all day, so when we left at 6:00 she was pretty darn exhausted. Plus I think she was coming off of her sugar high! :-) She was asleep within two minutes of leaving their driveway.

5. It snowed!! Spring has sprung, but the snow has not ended around here. I couldn't believe it when I woke up and saw big ol' flakes coming down.

Join in on the Give Me 5 Monday fun at Becca's Place!

Our Menu For 3/24/08 to 3/30/08

Monday~Chicken & Broccoli Braid
Tuesday~Waffles...it's National Waffle Day
Wednesday~Spinach Salad...it's National Spinach Day
Thursday~Baked Orange Roughy & Broccoli Rice Casserole
Friday~Mustgoes
Saturday~Pizza
Sunday~Burgers on the grill with Homemade French Fries

What are you eating this week? Share your menu HERE.

Rejoice!!

Thank you, Jesus!!

The Saturday Special

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I Say....You Answer...
Using words that are constantly mentioned during the Easter season, answer with the first word that comes to mind....~

1. Peace..... you answer?: Peace of Mind, which is what I have knowing that I will go to Heaven someday.

2. Passion..... you answer?: Romance, which is something that I have very little of these days. :-)

3. Forgive..... you answer?: Everyone!! Sometimes I am amazed that God can forgive me for some of the awful things I have done, but he can and he does. So, it is only fair to forgive those that have wronged me too.

4. Love..... you answer?: Family. I love my family with all of my heart!

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Share your Saturday Special answers here, and while you are at my blog feel free to enter my Spring Has Sprung Giveaway.

Know & Tell Friday

Question 1~Do you color your hair (give me some background info on this one)? The last time I colored my hair was back in July. This means that my hair is a light brown with many gray hairs right now. I have colored my hair off and on since I was probably 18 or 19. Actually, probably since my friend Betsy was going to cosmetology school. I was her guinea pig. :-) I currently find it more of a hassle to color my hair, but I know I probably should. No 33-year-old woman should be as gray as I am.
Question 2~What is one thing that you do with your family (or by yourself) to celebrate Easter? We color eggs. I would also like to say we go to church, but that is something that I am working on.

Question 3~How old was your oldest living relative (still living or in the past)? Well, my maternal grandfather is still living. He is in his 80's.

Question 4~What is one thing that can be a "time waster" to you? This would most definitely be the computer!!! I enjoy blogging and going to a message board filled with other moms, but it can often distract me from the things that need to be done.

Question 5~Most annoying bug? Pretty much any bug! I hate bugs!! Roaches are disgusting, but thankfully I don't have to deal with them. Ants, flies and spiders are the ones that I have to deal with the most. I don't like any of them. I have a rule. If they stay out of my home, I will leave them alone. However, the minute they come inside, they are toast!

Bonus Questions

Question 6~What does Easter mean to you? I know what it should mean, but I am really struggling here. Growing up it was a holiday about a big ol' bunny, and I am finding that it sort of is the same way in my family. I don't want it to be that way. I know the "real meaning," but it just doesn't seem to be fully computing. Maybe part of the problem is I am still in a fog from this sickness. I bet if I was feeling 100% I would have a much happier answer here, but as it is I feel like I am failing Christ.

Question 7~(Feel free to pass on this question) Is there currently a sin that you are holding onto, and you know you should let go of? Well, I overeat and in general eat very unhealthy, and I don't feel that I look at my body as a temple. I also use words that are not glorifying to God, and I am selfish. I have a lot to work on!

Friday's Feast

Appetizer~Given the choice, would you prefer to live in the country or in the city?
I would definitely choose to live in the country, but there would have to be a city nearby. I have to shop! ;-)

Soup~Who is the cutest kid you know? Ali, Josh & Meghan are the three cutest kids I know! Of course, I might be partially biased.

Salad~Fill in the blank: I couldn’t believe it when I heard ___________. about the little girl whose mom helped her write a false essay just to get Hannah Montana concert tickets. That poor girl!

Main Course~If you could star in a commercial for one of your favorite products, which one would you want to advertise? Pepsi!!

Dessert~What type(s) of vitamins and/or supplements do you take on a regular basis? I don't! I used to take prenatal vitamins, but I stopped when I quit breastfeeding. I really need to take some.

Post your Feast HERE!!

If you want to enter my contest, just click HERE!

Give Me 5 Monday

Give Me Five favorite green things or your favorite ways to be green or favorite things about St. Patrick's day or mix and match!

1. Guacamole~I love that green stuff!!!
2. Trees~Sometimes I look at a tree and am in awe at how beautiful it is. God is an artist!
3. Green beans cooked with bacon and onion...yum!
4. Emeralds~I can't say they are my favorite gem, but they are definitely high on my list.
5. Bryan Greenberg~Okay, he isn't green, but his name does have green in it. I love the show he stars in, October Road.

Head on over to Becca's to tell us all about your favorite green things.

Manic Monday

If you could have any music group or musician play at a party, who would you hire?
Well, that would have to be Carrie Underwood. My daughter would love me forever! ;-)

Name three things to be happy about today.
1) I'm almost over this illness! 2) It's St. Patty's Day! 3) My niece is coming over for a play date.

How do you release frustration?
I scream. In college I would go outside and just let loose with a loud holler. My neighbors probably thought I was crazy.

Play along with Manic Monday HERE.

Our Menu for 3/17/08-3/23/08

Monday~Corned Beef & Cabbage....of course
Tuesday~Ham & Swiss Cheese Panini
Wednesday~Chicken Broccoli Braid
Thursday~Ravioli & Garlic Bread
Friday~Mustgoes
Saturday~Mustgoes again or Pizza
Sunday~Easter Dinner! I am taking Deviled Eggs & a Broccoli Rice Casserole

What are you eating this week? Post it HERE!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Birthday Cards

Ali had two birthday parties to attend this weekend. I managed to help her make the cards amidst this sick fog I am in. Here they are:

This was the one for her friend Taylor. She had a swim party yesterday, and I was so thankful that Phoebe's mom offered to drive Ali home. God has blessed my daughter with friends from wonderful Christian families. :-)

I don't know why this one is blurry, but like I said, I have been in a fog. This card is for her friend Phoebe who is having a frog party later on today. Everyone has to wear green. Isn't that just so fun?

Ali helped more with Phoebe's card, but she did get to do her part on each of the cards. I hope she enjoys doing crafty stuff when she gets older.

National Maple Syrup Day

That's right it is National Maple Syrup Day and I still feel like poo. I actually found a recipe that I would like to try in honor of today, but it looks like I will have to try it another day. Who says we have to celebrate maple syrup today only? Not I!! Here is the recipe:

New England Hot Maple Syrup Peaches Recipe

• 2 to 3 sliced peaches
• 1 Tablespoon fresh butter
• 1/2 cup Pure Maple Syrup
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh Cinnamon

PREHEAT oven to 375 F. degrees. Place sliced peaches in oiled baking dish. Combine other ingredients and pour over the peaches. Cover and bake for 15 minutes. Uncover and bake 15 minutes longer, basting the peaches occasionally. Serve warm over your favorite plain cake.
Yield: 4 to 5 delicious servings.

Doesn't that just sound yummy? My husband and I went to a workshop on how to make Maple Syrup when we were dating (back in the good ol' days). It was actually very interesting. I think he would enjoy making his own maple syrup, if he had the time, and I would enjoy eating his syrup. :-)

The Saturday Special Meme

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~Creative Adventure XI~

Time again to use your imagination ;-}

In Honor Of St. Patrick's Day ~ Fill in the blanks.

1. While walking in a countryside in Ireland, I see a strange green glow coming from behind a large tree. Walking up to it I find __________?: a treasure chest with the lid closed, and the green glow is coming from inside.

2. Being the curious kind I decide to __________?: open it up and see what is inside this beautifully detailed, antique looking chest.

3. Much to my surprise I bend to __________?: see a sleeping leprechaun. He is sleeping on a pile of gold coins and green glowing clovers.

4. Deciding this must truly be an Irish fairytale, I laughingly think to myself _________?: that he won't miss a few gold coins and one green glowing clover. However, when I get back to America my clover won't glow anymore. Apparently Ireland truly is a magical land. At least I still have my gold coins. ;-)

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Pay It Forward

Okay, I admit that this post is late. Better late than never, right?? On February 25th I was perusing Steph's blog and this is what I found...Pay It Forward. I happily joined in. Sometime in the next 365 days, Steph will be sending me something handmade. I will pay it forward by sending something I made to the first three people who comment on my PIF post. The first three people then agree to do the same on their blog. Does that make sense? Since I was a slacker and posted late, I will count my 365 days starting from February 25th. That means three lucky ladies have less than a year to wait for a homemade creation from me. ;-) Paying it forward is such a wonderful thing, and you don't have to worry if you are super crafty or not. Trust me when I say I am not that crafty. I can't knit, sew, or paint. I can, however, make cakes and do paper crafts. Hmmmm, I don't think sending a cake through the mail is such a good thing. I'll have to think on that. LOL! So, go ahead and post a comment. Don't be afraid! I promise not to send anything too hideous. :-)

I Am So Sad!

Today is the Hearts at Home National Conference in Bloomington, IL. I was supposed to go, but this sickness has made it impossible. Meghan threw up last night. Plus she and Ali have diarrhea. Josh isn't quite himself either, and I can't even explain how cruddy I feel. Oh, okay, I will try. When I cough I feel like my lungs are going to come out. Last night I was under my electric blanket and two other blankets, but I was actually still shivering. Of course, I woke up in a pool of sweat, so that might have been a good thing. I'm so tired I can barely stay awake. I am about to put all three kids down for a nap, and then I am going to snooze myself. Maybe I can sleep this sickness away. It still stinks that I had to miss the Mommy Conference, but there is always next year.

Show & Tell Friday

Today I thought I would share with you all my collection of Lampe Bergers.
I actually bought my first one this past summer, and since then I have acquired two more. I love the way they make the air smell.

I love the curve on this blue one. It sits on the bookshelf in my living room. In this one I have the scent called Ocean Breeze. Lampe Berger describes this scent as "The invigorating burst of a radiantly fruity cocktail blended with the exotic freshness of grapefruit, embellished by a warm and lingering trail of precious wood."

This next one is in my bedroom. It is clear with little raised flowers all over. The scent in it right now is New Orleans, but I can't say that this one is my favorite. Actually, I probably won't buy it again. Lampe Berger describes this scent as "A deliciously gourmand fragrance with fruity and sweet accents, enhanced by a hint of cinnamon." Sounds good, but it just doesn't work for me.

Okay, this next one has to be my absolute favorite. It has a Claude Monet painting on it, and it sits on my mantle in my dining room. Green Apple is the scent, and I absolutely love this one. Lampe Berger says, "This fragrance revives the aroma of an apple in all its virtues with green, sparkling and juicy notes." They are so right!

Will my collection end here? Probably not! I would like to have a Lampe Berger in each of the kids rooms and my main bathroom, as well as our basement play room. I am always looking on Ebay to see if I can find a unique, old one that calls out my name. :-)

Join in on Show & Tell Friday HERE!!

Know & Tell Friday

Question 1~What can you draw well? Nothing! I am most definitely not an artist. My artwork looks like it was done by a 5 year old.

Question 2~Name a TV show (at any period in your life) that you watched that you were probably a little too old to watch. I am definitely too old to be watching Hannah Montana, That's So Raven, and Cory in the House, but I watch them anyway. Hannah is by far my favorite!

Question 3~What color is the dominant color of your wardrobe? Probably blue but I do have a variety of colors. I just know I am always drawn towards blue clothing.

Question 4~Favorite donut? Glazed!!

Question 5~Wear painful shoes just because they are cute? No! I am a big believer in comfy shoes only.

Bonus Questions

Question 6~Is there anything that you believe you do not believe God about? I think I believe just fine. The problem I have is the World around me. I am swayed very easily, and I dislike that about myself.

Question 7~In general, do you think it is ok to be frustrated with people? Well, we are only human, so I think it is natural that we would become frustrated. Does that make it okay? I think the answer in that is how you deal with the frustration. I think frustration is okay if you work it out with God. I do not think it is okay to be frustrated if you continue to let it fester and turn ugly.

Do you want to join in?? You can do that HERE.

Friday's Feast

Appetizer~On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 as highest), how much do you like your own handwriting? I'll say a 7. My handwriting isn't horrible, and if I try really hard it can look pretty decent.

Soup~Do you prefer baths or showers? I definitely prefer baths! I only shower because it is quicker and gets the shampoo/conditioner out of my hair.

Salad~What was the last bad movie you watched? Even Money starring Danny Devito, Kim Basinger, and many other good actors. I couldn't get into the movie at all. I think I turned it off after 30 minutes.

Main Course~Name something you are addicted to and describe how it affects your life. Pepsi! It's the first thing I want to drink in the morning, and it is the last thing I want to drink at night. As for how it affects my life, it could be worse. I could be a binge drinker again.

Dessert~Which instrument is your favorite to listen to? Probably the violin, but I really do like to listen to most instruments. The drums always remind me of my dad, and the guitar does too actually.

Post your Friday's Feast HERE!

Thursday Thirteen

13 Nicknames I Call My Children

1. Tiger....Josh
2. Tiger Lily....Ali
3. Tiger Rose...Meghan
4. Megatui...Meghan
5. LuLu Bear....Ali
6. Ali-gator...Ali
7. Josher Posher or Josher Posh...Josh
8. Hoover...Meghan
9. JT...Josh
10. Lexi Lou...Ali
11. Megerator...Meghan
12. Jishy Tom...Josh
13. Meggy Moo...Meghan

Post your Thursday Thirteen HERE.

Thursday Threesome~From The Late Night Edition

::Insomnia, the Cure for Sleep::

Onesome: Insomnia-- Ever have it? Some do and some don't, but have you ever been hounded awake for that endless hour after hour with no hope of sleep? ...or does the very act of touching head to pillow put you out for the count? It is honestly a rare thing for me to have insomnia. I actually can't remember the last time I felt that there was no hope of sleep.

Twosome: the cure-- Hey, if you do have the occasional bout or chronic insomnia, what do you do about it? Work? Read? Try cures? Hmmm... Did you ever find one that worked? If ever I can't sleep, I usually read a book. I enjoy reading, but at night it often makes me sleepy.

Threesome: for sleep-- Female/male, young/not so young, we all need varying amounts of sleep. What's your personal sleep cycle? Five hours? Ten hours? ...and if you had a choice, what would be your personal sleep cycle? ...and yes, "All day long" is a valid answer I usually go to bed between 10:00 and 11:30, and I am often awake by 6:30 or 7 in the morning. So, I guess on average I get about 7 hours of sleep. Of course, I would nap everyday if I had the chance. I absolutely LOVE sleep!!

How about you?? Post your answers HERE.

Tasty Thursday~Easter Edition

We usually eat ham on Easter, and this is a great recipe to use up the leftovers. This is a recipe from my Bisquick Cookbook. When I made this, I did not garnish it with tomatoes and green pepper, but that is only because my kiddos wouldn't have eaten that. :-)

Impossibly Easy Ham & Swiss Pie

1 1/2		cups cubed fully cooked smoked boneless ham
1		cup shredded Swiss cheese (4 ounces)
1/4		cup chopped green onions or chopped onion
1/2		cup Original Bisquick® mix
1		cup milk
1/4		teaspoon salt, if desired
1/8		teaspoon pepper
2		eggs
1		tomato, sliced
1		green bell pepper, cut into rings

1.	Heat oven to 400ºF. Grease 9-inch pie plate. Sprinkle ham, cheese and onions in pie plate.
2.	Stir Bisquick mix, milk, salt, pepper and eggs until blended. Pour into pie plate.
3.	Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes. Garnish with tomato and bell pepper.

If you give this recipe a try, let me know what you think. Share your Easter recipes HERE.

Heads Or Tails~Green

Well, this week it is all about GREEN. So, I went back and found a picture of each of my kids that I can use. Have I ever mentioned that I love those little rugrats? LOL!

Back in August of 2005 my mom and I (Okay, mostly my mom!) painted Ali's room a light green. Here she is showing off her new digs.

Here is a picture of Josh from May of 2005. Look how little he is! He is wearing a green shirt, and he is walking barefoot in the green grass.

Is Meghan's blanket considered green? Teal is green right? Well, even if it isn't, her jammies are most definitely green. I just love the little smile on her face, and can I just mention that I always loved those cow jammies. Just too stinkin' cute!

Well, those are my green things. I hope you enjoyed! You can join in the Heads or Tails fun HERE.

Time Travel Tuesday...On Wednesday Night~Item Of Interest

This week any has us doing a time traveling assignment. She asked us to look around our house and find an object of interest. Then we were instructed to tell you all about that item.

This is a picture of the item I chose.

The bunny bucket was bought by me about a week or two ago. I actually bought this when I realized all of my Easter decorations have mysteriously disappeared. My mom suggested I might have thrown them out, and I guess she could be right. It's just odd though, because I love holidays with all my heart. I can't imagine throwing away every single decoration. But I digress, sorry! The bunny bucket holds candy which absolutely thrills my children, especially my chocoholic son. The tissue paper flowers and card were a gift from my daughter, Ali. She is just such a sweetie! She made them for me at her recent Daisy Scout Field Trip, where she learned how to be a sister to every Daisy Scout.

Join in on Time Travel Tuesday HERE.

Craziness Around Our Home

I feel like we have been the sick house since about....December 31, 2007. Maybe even earlier than that. When is it going to end??? I took Ali to the Dr. on Monday. She had an ear infection (again) and possibly Strep Throat. The put her on Augmentin, so I didn't have her checked for Strep. I probably should have, because yesterday Josh started to get sick. He is burning up, so he will likely be going into the Dr. tomorrow. Ugh! Why do they have to share everything? ;-)

My friend, Betsy, came into town on Sunday, and I can only pray that she and her little daughter, Norie, don't come down with whatever this sickness is. Meghan too for that matter. We did have a nice visit though. Betsy had a class on Monday and Tuesday, so while she was there I watched Norie. She is such a doll! Here are some pictures that I took during their visit. I didn't get to take as many as I would have liked, because 4 kids really does keep you pretty busy. :-)

Here is a picture of Ali taking care of Norie. She sat with her one morning and rubbed her hair, talked to her, and just gave her love. It seemed to make Norie feel more comfortable.


Here is a picture of Meghan giving Norie a hug before she left today. She was actually patting her back. I love when she does that!


This is a close-up of Norie. Isn't she a cutie? You have to love those gorgeous blue eyes! I take credit for the cute outfit. It was her birthday present from our family.


Of course, if I show a close-up of Norie, I have to show a close-up of Meghan too. It's only fair! :-) She has her hands up as if she wants me to hold her, but I can't say she has actually wanted too much to do with me lately. I really miss her snuggles, hugs, and kisses. She has been giving them to my mom, Aunt Betsy, and Daddy. I think Mommy is getting just a wee bit jealous. That is okay though, because I will make sure to get some extra snuggle time tomorrow.


I can't forget to show a picture of Joshua. This is the present Aunt Betsy bought him because he was a big guy and gave up his room for three nights. He loves his Power Ranger phone.


All in all, it was a good visit amidst the sickness. I have missed blogging though, which is odd to me. I never thought I would miss blogging, but I truly did. I guess I enjoy writing and getting my thoughts out there. Not that many people read this, but that is fine with me. :-) I hope everyone else has had a better week, health-wise, than my family.