Our Menu For 8/31/09 to 9/06/09

Monday~Beef Stroganoff over Egg Noodles
Tuesday~Pot Roast, Mashed Potatoes, Carrots & Onions
Wednesday~Penne with Vegetables & Kielbasa
Thursday~Mustgoes
Friday~Grilled Cheese with Tomato Soup
Saturday~Cheese Pizza
Sunday~Pork Chops, Macaroni & Cheese, and Applesauce

~~~Food Holidays~~~

This week:

August 31st~Eat Outside Day & National Trail Mix Day
September 1st~Wine Season Begins & Oyster Season Begins
September 2nd~National Blueberry Pospsicle Day
September 3rd~National Welsh Rarebit Day
September 4th~National Macadamia Nut Day
September 5th~National Cheese Pizza Day
September 6th~National Coffee Ice Cream Day

Next Week:

September 7th~National Acorn Squash Day
September 8th~National Date Nut Bread Day
September 9th~Weinerschnitzel Day
September 10th~TV Dinner Day (I love to celebrate this one!)
September 11~National Hot Cross Bun Day
September 12th~National Chocolate Milkshake Day
September 13th~National Peanut Day & Snack a Pickle Time

I'll Title This One "Breath, Poo, Eat" 'Cause I Can

For days Ali has been telling me that her stomach hurts. It actually started Friday morning. I believed her, but I admit that I thought she was being a bit dramatic too. She would be running, playing, and just having a good ol' time, and then all of the sudden she would come to me and complain. I usually told her to breath, try to go poo, or eat something. Aren't I such a good mom? Okay, I am pathetic!

Well anyway, finally, tonight she vomited. I know I shouldn't be happy but I am. I am hoping this means that she is going to start feeling better now. Maybe she got whatever sickies were in her out. Or maybe I am just a crazy, hopeful mom.

What I am not excited about is that my stomach started hurting a few hours ago. I feel like I could throw up. I tried taking my own brilliant advice (breath, poo, eat), but nothing has made me feel better. I now completely understand what my daughter was feeling, and I actually feel bad for thinking she was being a bit dramatic. I just pray that this passes quickly...for both of us!

Dear God, please help Ali and I to feel better. Remove whatever sickness is passing through us, and make us feel brand new again. Also, please help me to be a more sympathetic mother, so that next time I won't have to experience the sickness firsthand to feel sympathy. You are an awesome God, and I love that you don't ever get tired of helping me through my parenting struggles. It's in your name I pray, Amen!

Red & White Night

This summer Ali went through the Dance Camp & Cheer Camp that is put on by the high school dance squad and cheerleaders. So, last week she participated in the Red & White Night with the other girls.

This is actually her 2nd year participating, but I must say that we had much better weather last year. This year was a bit chilly and rainy. The poor girls were miserable out there, but they endured the weather and did their best. I was very proud of Ali!

I love how you can see the blue sky off to the left in this picture.

Even the poor high school girls were miserable, but they didn't quit.
I'm telling you they were all such good sports. I would have ran for the nearest umbrella. ;-)

By this point, poor Ali was soaked. She is the one closest to the middle of the picture...just to the left of the high school girl.

After all that nastiness, we were blessed with a beautiful sight.
Isn't God great?

While Ali was out there getting soaked, we were staying pretty dry under umbrellas. Josh was even more resourceful than that though. He stole the new sweatshirt that my mom bought and covered up. What a cutie patootie!

My mom went home after this, but Jeff, myself and the kids went out for pizza. Meghan got a bit unruly at the restaurant, but I suppose that was to be expected. It had been a long day, and she is only 2. All in all, it was a great night though. No complaints! ;-)

The First Day Of School

My kids started school on the 19th of August. Ali is in 2nd grade, which is simply amazing. Time flies! Here she is before we drove her to school.

Josh started kindergarten, which is only half-day in our school district. On his first day of school he only attended for an hour, and I had to go with him. Here he is before we left.

When we arrived Josh had to put his banana on a monkey.

Then he hung out at his desk while all the other kids were arriving.

The teacher gave us all a little information on what kindergarten would be like for our kids, and then she sent the parents to the gym to hear from the principal and PTO. Before we left, we got a class picture though. I wasn't sure I was going to get Josh to join in on the picture. Thankfully his teacher helped get him over there, but we never did see a smile.

The bus came and picked Josh up for school the next day. He was getting tired of waiting for the bus, and at one point I was a little worried he was going to drive himself in his Viper.

Finally the bus arrived!

Ali & Josh rode the bus home after school, and I was a bit of a nervous wreck. I never would have let Ali walk home from the bus stop when she was in kindergarten, but things are different with Josh, since he has his big sister with him. He has Lexi too. She is the 2nd grader that I have started watching 2 days before school and 4 days after school. Honestly, it isn't just the three of them. There are the other neighborhood kids too. Here they are on their way home...

I absolutely adore this picture...

Of course, when the kids get home from school they are starving. Snack time! I have promised myself that I will make them one homemade after school snack a week. I'd love to say that it would happen everyday, but that would be a big lie. However, I can promise one day each week. Piece of cake! Well, this week was pie actually. I made individual pudding pies for the kids. They were quick and easy, as well as tasty.

We had "Meet the Teacher Night" last Thursday, and it appears that both of my kids are adjusting well to school. Ali passed her first spelling test, and Josh hasn't been in major trouble yet. Hallelujah! Let's hope they can both keep up the good work. :-)

Addiction

I have an addictive personality. I know this about myself. What I hate to admit is that I am addicted to the internet. I spend a good portion of my valuable time playing games on Facebook. So, in hopes of breaking that addiction, I am going to take a one-week break from the internet...possibly two. I can't promise two. I told you I am an addict! When I come back, I hope to blog more and Facebook less. See, I think blogging is a worthy way to spend time, but playing Bubble Spinner on Facebook is not. It's a waste of time! So, I will see you all in a week or two. Pray for me! :-)

Sometimes I Love My Job

While I was messing around in my office last night, my husband and son were sleeping in the recliner. My oldest daughter decided to sleep on the couch, so that she could be near them. How sweet is that? When I went to bed, I decided that I would go sleep with my 2-year-old daughter. She woke up when I crawled into bed with her, she gave me the biggest smile you ever did see, and then she went right back to sleep. It's nights like these that make me love my job as a mommy! There was just so much sweetness I could have made an ice cream sundae. ;-)

Wordless Wednesday

This little one was wordless when these pictures were taken. It was about 6:30 at night, and my mom was babysitting her. She slept all the way through the night. She was one tired monkey!

Only 10 Months

Today we made reservations to stay at a cabin in Gatlinburg, TN next June, which is only 10 months away. This means for 10 months I will have to listen to my kiddos say, "When are we going to the cabin?," or "Is it almost time for us to go to Tennessee?" These questions will then get me all anxious, and I will have a hard time not thinking about all the fun we are going to have.

Our cabin is attached to an indoor pool by a walkway.
I can't wait to hang out in here rain or shine.

I'm pretty sure the hot tub will get quite a bit of use too,
but I'm betting it won't get as much use as the pool.

I can't wait to beat the pants off of my kids at air hockey.
I also can't wait to see their proud faces when they beat the pants off of me.

And after a long day, I look forward to sitting out on this screened in porch
enjoying a cold Bloody Mary. Yummy and relaxing!

I plan on bringing several good books with me. Reading on this swing
will be so relaxing. I only hope the view won't distract me.

My kids area especially looking forward to the movie theater with an 80" screen.
I think it will be great too, but I am just looking forward to snuggling with my kiddos on that couch while we watch movies.

Okay, so I know vacation won't be all about relaxing. We will have to do some laundry, since we are staying for 8 nights, and I don't want to pack that many clothes. We will also have to do some cooking. However, we will probably only have to make 2 meals a day,

and it will be well worth it, since we will
get to eat those meals in such a beautiful setting.

Of course, we don't plan on spending all of our time in the cabin.
We have already made reservations to eat at Dixie Stampede.

Plus, we have tickets for 2-days at Dollywood.

We also have tickets to go to the Ripley's Aquarium,

Ripley's Haunted Adventure, which Meggie will have to sit out on,

Ripley's Davy Crocket Golf,

Ripley's Moving Theater,

Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum.

and the Nascar Speedpark, which Josh will love.

I am also hoping that my kids will be up for a ride on the Gatlinburg Sky Lift,

as well as a going to enjoy the scenery at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

People that live in this area are truly blessed. Not that I am complaining. Illinois cornfields can honestly be beautiful, as can a slightly rolling pasture of cows or horses. Every area has it's beauty, and I am so looking forward to soaking in the beauty of eastern Tennessee.

It's only 10 months away!
;-)

Fire & Water

We had a fun weekend, which involved both fire and water. Saturday night we enjoyed a nice campfire in our backyard.

We sat around it just enjoying the night.

We cooked some hot dogs.

I think everyone had two except Meghan. Daddy even cooked some jalapenos over the fire.

Then we roasted marshmallows.

And eventually we got to enjoy some S'mores. So tasty!!

We had wanted to campout in the backyard too, but the rain we had earlier in the day put a damper on that. It was still a very nice family night, and I do believe it was enjoyed by every single one of us.

On Sunday night we went to a pool party hosted by some friends of ours. It was a little chilly, so I knew I wouldn't be getting in the water. Do you know what that meant? It meant Meghan couldn't go with us, since she needs to have an adult right by her. Bummer!

Ali was the first one to get in the pool. She always seems to be ready for action. Josh is a little more cautious, which you can tell by his inner tube.

He got a little irritated with Sissy because she was swimming and splashing. Imagine getting water splashed at you in a pool! How rude! ;-)

He got over it quickly and was happy once again.

Much of the night all I heard was, "Mom, take a picture of me doing _____." Here are only two of those pictures. I swear there were at least 20 of them!

While we were at the party, I got a cool tip on cake decorating. I was told that you frost the cake and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes. Then you take a paper towel, lay it on the frosting, and smooth the cake with your hand. I can't wait to give this a try!

We had a nice time at the pool party, but eventually we had to head to Mamook's house to pick up Meghan. As we were driving there, I was in awe of how beautiful the sky was.

Sunsets simply amaze me, and I can't look at one without thinking about God and his wonderfulness. I would probably feel the same way about sunrises, but I never seem to be up early enough. LOL! God starts and ends each day with a beautiful gift to each and every one of us, but all too often we are too busy (or too tired) to even notice them. I want to be a person that appreciates God's gifts, and I am working on that in myself.

So anyway, that was our weekend...fire and water. How was your weekend? Did you get to enjoy a gift from God? Do tell!