Friday Fill-Ins

1. I love to sit in a quiet place and read a good book.

2.Every day should include a laugh and a smile.

3. It's how you look at things that matters.

4. If you know what happened in Season 3 of Veronica Mars don't tell me! I have been watching that on Netflix.

5. Well, would you rather have quantity or quality?

6. Finders Keepers and throw in some spring peepers.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to hanging with friends and the Lord at a women's retreat in Michigan, tomorrow my plans include more retreat time and Sunday, I want to finish up at the retreat, drive the 5 hours home, and spend the evening with my kiddos!

Thursday Thirteen

Our pediatrician has mentioned that we need to start eating healthier. You know, more protein and less carbohydrates. He has also mentioned we need more fruits and vegetables. I know this is a change we have to make, because I don't want my kids to struggle with weight like I have. So, I have been racking my brain on healthier snacks. Here we go!

13 Healthy Snacks I Can Feed My Kids (That They Will Actually Eat)

1. Carrots with Ranch Dressing

2. Celery with Peanut Butter

3. Apples...with or without Peanut Butter

4. Hard-Boiled Eggs

5. Pickles

6. Beef Jerky

7. Yogurt

8. Emerald Cocoa Roast Almonds

9. Graham Crackers with Light Cream Cheese and Halved Grapes

10. Sugar-Free Jello

11. Sargento Light String Cheese

12. Popcorn

13. Cottage Cheese with Peaches

Do you have any healthy snacks that you or your family enjoy?
Do share!

Wordful Wednesday~Lucky Girl

On Easter, we were over at Jeff's grandma's house, and my big girl found a four leaf clover. She was so proud of herself.

I was pretty proud of her too. I have never been that lucky in all my 29 36 years. Here is an up close picture of her find. It is a beauty.

Now, I am not superstitious, and I don't believe this special clover is going to bring her extra luck. Of course, if I did believe this, I would hope that the luck coming her way would be in the form of a lamp with a genie inside or a winning lottery ticket worth millions. I do like to dream!

Have you ever been so lucky as to find a four leaf clover? Do share!

Powerful!

I have been struggling lately. Struggling with having a husband that works a bazillion hours a week. Struggling with the fact that he and I are in two different places. I am more about having a relationship with Christ and spending time with our family. He is more about work, letting off steam by drinking, and then comes our family.

This struggle in my marriage causes me to be depressed. It makes it difficult to do the normal day to day things. Not so much so that I can't even get out of bed or eat, but enough that I notice things aren't right. I don't really feel like cooking a meal, since he won't be home to eat it. I get tired of asking for things to be fixed, and I truly wish I understood how to do more than I do. Of course, then I get frustrated wondering why everything has to fall on my shoulders.

We had a good day yesterday. We went to church and spent time with our family. Jeff didn't go into work until close to 7:30 at night. Although yesterday was decent, I still feel "off" today.

Then I got on the K-Love website, which I rarely ever go on, and I heard this song.



It was exactly what I needed to hear. Honestly, it makes me want to cry. No matter what is wrong in my life, whether it be marriage, money, addictions, children, or any other big issue, Jesus is everything I need. I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13). The problem is I haven't been relying on His strength. I have been trying to figure out things on my own. Not all problems can be easily solved by man, but they can all be endured with Christ.

I don't share this to bash my husband. Jeffrey is a wonderful man, and he does have many terrific qualities. He is funny, smart, and a hard-working provider. He loves me and our three children. Everyone has their issues. Everyone.

I am sharing this to be real and open. Life isn't perfect. Life is hard. During these tough times, which everyone has, there are things all of us can do. We can pray more. If you are finding it hard to pray for a tough situation, enlist friends to pray for you. Delve into the word of God for wisdom and encouragement. But most of all, don't give up. Nobody ever said life would be easy. When you can't, He can, so remember to turn to Him.

Book Recommendation~Heaven is for Real

Heaven is for Real! I can't say enough wonderful things about this book. It is a true story about a little boys journey to Heaven and back. He was only 3 at the time, and the picture that he paints leaves me longing for Heaven and Jesus even more than I already do.

Skeptical? I'm sure many are when they first start to read the story too. His own father, whom is a pastor, was a tad skeptical too. Of course, as you learn his story, it is hard to remain skeptical. At least it was for me.

It is a well-written and easy to read story. You feel like you are sitting down with the boys father over coffee. I kept this book in my car and only read it when I would take my kids to activities...piano, baseball, dance. I would be sad when it was actually time to leave these activities, which isn't the norm. I am usually anxious to move on and get dinner or baths or some other mommy job done. You start reading and before you know it you are half-way through this delightful story.

So, what are you waiting for? If you haven't already read this one, I highly suggest you get out there and pick it up. I can't believe you would regret the decision. If you have read it, what did you think? Do share!

Our Menu For 4/25/11 Through 5/1/11

Planning this week was difficult for me. We have something in the evenings on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, which makes dinnertime difficult. Also, I leave town on Friday for a Women's Retreat in Michigan, and I will not be back until late Sunday afternoon or early evening. So, here's hoping this week goes smoothly at dinnertimes!

Monday~Hamburger Chop Suey, White Rice and Fruit Cocktail
Tuesday~Chicken Pot Pie and Yogurt
Wednesday~Nachos
Thursday~Mustgoes
Friday~Spaghetti and Garlic Bread
Saturday~Hot Dogs with Macaroni & Cheese
Sunday~Pizza

Spring Break Is Over

I have mixed feelings about the fact that Spring Break is now over. On the one hand, I am going to enjoy having a calmer home during the days. On the other hand, I will no longer be able to sleep in until 8. Also, I will miss the carefree schedule.

While the kids were on break, we went shopping for summer clothes, ate out a bit too much, and stayed up a little later than normal. We had fun celebrating Ali's birthday and Easter, skipped a couple of our regular weekly activities (dance and baseball), and we spent a whole afternoon at a movie theater.

What did we see? Well, we started out with Rio in 3D.

We then spent about a half hour playing video games before our second movie started. That was the one I was really looking forward to...Hop.

Both were excellent, and a great time was had by all of us. It's not every day you get to do a double feature at the theater.

So, we may not have left the area, but we did have a fun-filled Spring Break. It gave me an idea of what to expect this summer...lots of noise, children who want to eat every two minutes, messes everywhere, and good ol' fashioned family fun. Can't wait! I may have fewer hairs on my head after this summer, or at least many more gray ones, but what matters is that I love those messy and loud little rugrats. ;-)

Things To Celebrate...4/25/11 Through 5/1/11

Celebrating these silly holidays is all about creating memories and good times with your family, as well as encouraging a love of learning a variety of things. Embrace life! Try to celebrate at least one of these this week.

Monday the 25th~

• National Zucchini Bread Day
• A patent was granted for the thimble on this day in 1684.~Teach your children to do some simple sewing and mending.
  

Tuesday the 26th~

• National Pretzel Day
• Richter Scale Day~Read a book to your child about the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906.
  

Wednesday the 27th~

• National Prime Rib Day
• Babe Ruth Day~Go to a baseball game or get some friends together and play one.
  

Thursday the 28th~

• National Blueberry Pie Day
• Poem in Your Pocket Day~Read some poetry and then encourage your child to write some.
  

Friday the 29th~

• National Shrimp Scampi Day
• Arbor Day~Plant a tree!
  
• National Dance Day~Dance around your living room with your children.
  
• Duke Ellington was born on this day in 1899.~Listen to some jazz music.
  

Saturday the 30th~

• National Raisin Day
• Bugs Bunny Day
• Eeyore's Birthday
• National Go Birding Day~Get a book on birds from the library. See what birds you can find in your back yard or local park.
  
• National Honesty Day~Talk to your children about the importance of honesty.
  
• Penguin Day
• Sense of Smell Day
• The ice cream cone made its debut on this day in 1904.~Go out for an ice cream cone.
  

Sunday the 1st~

• National Chocolate Parfait Day
• May Day~Let your children surprise a friend with a May Basket, but remember that the idea is to leave it and run.
  
• Mother Goose Day
• World Laughter Day~Laugh!
• National Loyalty Day
• Mr. Potato Head was introduced on this day in 1952.~If you have a Mr. Potato Head, work together to make him look really silly.
  

Happy Easter!

I hope you have a wonderful day. A day filled with love, family, and awe over the fantastic gift that has been given to each of us. Happy Easter!

Ali is 9!!

That's right! My oldest turned 9 today. She is one year away from double digits. Yikes!

Here she is enjoying her morning breakfast, which was served on a special plate. She loved that she got to wear the birthday hat.

It really is hard to believe that I gave birth to my first child 9 years ago. It was an eventful birth. I went into labor around 2 in the morning, went to the hospital around 9, and finally gave birth via c-section around 6 that evening. My labor stalled when I hit 5 centimeters, and my darling little girl was showing signs of distress.

I remember being a nervous wreck when we decided to go the c-section route. I could have waited, but I am very glad I didn't take that chance. I couldn't have handled it if anything had happened to my sweet Ali. She was an even 8 pounds and full of spunk. She was a little slow at breastfeeding, but her nervous first-time mom might have had something to do with that.

I was such a nervous first-time mom that I later realized we never got a picture of me with her at the hospital. We have a picture of her with everyone else, but none with me. So wrong! We have since made up for that mistake, and will probably make up for it again tomorrow.

Ali did enjoy a special breakfast, and then my mom took her and Meghan out for a mani/pedi. Ali then went to the movies with her friend Lexi, and they followed that up with hours of play time. I was a bit sad that she seemed to want to spend time with everyone but me, but I didn't let her know this. Nope. Instead, I snuck into her bed when she was asleep and snuggled her. She woke up when I was climbing out of that bed, and I told her I loved her. She sweetly said, "I love you too." Precious!

We are celebrating her birthday, as well as Easter, with the family tomorrow. I asked her what kind of cake she wanted, and she said an Easter Egg. Here it is...

What do you think? I don't know if you can tell, but those are little bunny marshmallows hopping around her cake.

Too cute!

So, here is to another fabulous year with the child whom is most like me. That can be good, and it can be trying, but no matter what it is always an adventure. An adventure that I am happy to be surviving enjoying. ;-)

An Eggy Celebration

I LOVE the holidays! Of course, if you read my blog at all, you probably already know that. To me, holidays are a reason to celebrate and create memories. Just yesterday we did some celebrating, and we invited my niece and nephew to join us.

Here are all of the kids coloring their eggs. Each of them got to decorate 7 eggs, and it was fun to see them being creative.

Here are some of our finished creations.

After having fun with real eggs, we made some candy birds nests and put candy eggs inside.

My daughter, Meghan, and

my sweet niece, Emma, were both putting tons of eggs in their nests.

I think Emma finally had the most though. You really couldn't even see her nest anymore. Silly girl!

Ali didn't use quite as many eggs as the other girls. Don't mind my crazy nephew!

Josh was enjoying eating his masterpiece.

I made a few too.

They were easy to make and very tasty too. I just mixed a bag of white morsels and a bag of peanut butter morsels with 6 ounces of chow mein noodles. Then we scooped, created a little spot for the eggs, and gently dropped them into their spot. Voila! Easy and tasty treat.

All of the kids had a good time. Even those goofy boys!

Friday Fill-Ins

1. Pardon me, would you happen to have any Grey Poupon? I remember those crazy commercials. Do you?

2. I am getting better at looking for a good deal.

3. I was surprised to find that I really like guacamole, and I am so thankful that I gave in and tried that green goop. It is my favorite thing to eat.

4. Television is one of my favorite forms of entertainment. I enjoy zoning out to a television show after my kids go to bed.

5. Hi, my name is Dawn and I'm a holidayaholic. I love all holidays!

6. I enjoy lazy summer afternoons. The kind where you sit in the shade, sip lemonade, and read an interesting book. Heaven!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to recuperating from an afternoon of coloring eggs and making birds nests , tomorrow my plans include baking an Easter egg shaped birthday cake for my daughter, as well as spending some time with her and Sunday, I want to go to church and then celebrate Easter, as well as my daughter's 9th birthday, with family. We are going to enjoy a tasty meal, eat delicious cake, have an Easter Egg Hunt, and let the kids take turns whacking a bunny pinata!

Our Menu For 4/18/11 Through 4/24/11

Monday~Poppy Seed Chicken over Rice, Green Beans
Tuesday~Hamburger Chop Suey, Sticky Rice
Wednesday~Tacos
Thursday~Mustgoes
Friday~Pizza
Saturday~French Toast with Sausage Links
Sunday~Easter Dinner....Ham and all the fixin's

Things To Celebrate...4/18/11 Through 4/24/11

Here are some special days that you can celebrate with your family. Remember the point is to make memories, as well as teach your children a variety of things. If you celebrate one of these, do share! :-)

Monday the 18th~

• National Animal Crackers Day
  
• Passover begins at Sundown
• Adult Autism Day
  
• International Amateur Radio Day
• International Juggler's Day~Learn a new skill...juggling!
  
• On this day in 1775, Paul Revere went on his famous ride.
  

Tuesday the 19th~

• Garlic Day
• National Amaretto Day
• National Hanging Out Day~Invite some friends over and have a day of hanging out.
  
• On this day in 1897, the first annual Boston Marathon was held.
• The American Revolutionary War began on this day in 1775.
• Today is the anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing, which took place in 1995.~Talk to older children about this horrific event. Teach them that when bad things happen to good people we often struggle to understand why and simply have to rely on our faith in Jesus.
  

Wednesday the 20th~

• National Pineapple Upside Down Cake
• Lima Bean Respect Day
• Today is the anniversary of the Columbine High School Killings, which took place in 1999.~Yet another horrible day in history that you can discuss with older children. Let them know they can talk to you with all of their feelings. Encourage them that you are there to help them.
  
• Adolf Hitler was born on this day in 1889.
  

Thursday the 21st~

• Chocolate-Covered Cashew Truffle Day
• National High-Five Day
• National Teach Your Children to Save Day~If you haven't opened a savings account for your child, today is the day. If you have, take them to make a deposit.
  
• It is said that Rome was founded on this day in 753 B.C.~Ah, but it wasn't built in one day. Talk to your children about how it often takes a long time to do something important.
  

Friday the 22nd~

• National Jelly Bean Day
• Earth Day~Plant a tree, take stuff to be recycled, or go for a bike ride, but whatever you do today, make sure you are being conscientious of the future of our planet.
  
• Good Friday
• "In God We Trust Day" Day
  

Saturday the 23rd~

• National Cherry Cheesecake Day
• National Picnic Day
• Movie Theater Day...On this day in 1896, the first movie was shown in a theater in New York City.~Take your family to the movies.
  
• Talk Like Shakespeare Day...William Shakespeare was born on this day in 1564.
  
• Take a Chance Day~Ask your children to share one thing they are afraid to try, or share one thing with them, and then attempt to take a chance on these things. You can't succeed unless you try!
  
• On this day in 1977, Dr. Allen Bussey completed 20,302 yo-yo loops.
• On this day in 1985, the Coca-Cola Company announced that it was changing its 99-year-old formula. New Coke was not successful.
  

Sunday the 24th~

• National Pigs-in-a-Blanket Day
• Easter~Reflect on the wonderful sacrifice that Jesus made for each of us.
  

Friday Fill-Ins

1. For me, it was a pretty normal week. I like normal.

2. I really enjoy the locally made pizza that I get at my local supermarket.

3. Behind the sound of the wind in the trees, I heard the call of the coyotes.

4. Acting on stage is something I always wanted to do. The problem is I am just too chicken!

5. When it was over, I slept for hours. Sleeping is just what I do.

6. Watching my dad die was a difficult time in my life, but I never felt alone. I have such wonderful family and friends!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to possibly having a movie night with my kiddos, tomorrow my plans include relaxing at home and Sunday, I want to go to church and then get organized for next week! Nothing too exciting. :-)

Thursday Thirteen

13 Things I Love About Spring

1. Sunshine!~ I am in desperate need of some Vitamin D.

2. Birds Chirping~They sing such a beautiful song.

3. Warmer Weather~I love that I can open up the windows.

4. Baseball~I enjoy watching my son play, and my daughter should be starting soon too.

5. My Daughter's Birthday~We will be celebrating her 9th next week.

6. Easter~Jesus paid the ultimate price for each one of us!

7. Spring Break~Time to sleep in. Yahoo!!

8. Green Grass~Now mowing that green grass is another story. ;-)

9. Blooming Flowers~Beauty all around us!

10. Bare Feet~I love to go outside without shoes, and the warmer weather allows me to do just that.

11. Grilling Out~Sure, you can do this all year, but it is more fun when the weather warms up.

12. Garage Sales~I used to detest garage sales. Why would I want someones junk that they don't want? I was an idiotic snob!
13. Mushroom Hunting~Okay, I don't personally enjoy going mushroom hunting. Tried it once. Found nothing. Got bored. But I do love that my husband takes our kiddos into the woods for some quality time with dad. Plus, mom gets some much needed quiet time at home, and that is not boring at all.

Our Menu For 4/11/11 Through 4/17/11

This week is going to be a challenge for me. Ali has Brownies on Monday night. Josh has baseball on Tuesday. Ali has piano after school on Wednesday & Meg has dance that evening. Then on Thursday Josh has baseball again and right after that we have the Open House at school. Friday, Saturday and Sunday look good now, but they are the weekend, and you just never know. Ugh!

Moms deal with these kinds of challenges all the time, and honestly, I know how to make it work. You simply need to plan ahead and start early. I am so good at the planning ahead, but that is where I get lost. I never start early. I think I have time. Then dinner time comes and nothing is ready. Not this week! I vow to be better prepared. I will cook in the morning if I have to. ;-)

Monday~Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Casserole, Yogurt and Fruit Cocktail
Tuesday~Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup
Wednesday~Slow Cooker Kielbasa & Kraut with Mashed Potatoes
Thursday~Cheesy Chicken Pasta, Edamame, and Applesauce
Friday~Mustgoes
Saturday~Hamburger Chop Suey with White Rice
Sunday~Grilled Steaks with Grilled Veggies

Ummmm, Mother Nature, We Need To Talk!

Dear Mother Nature,

As you most definitely already know, it is 82 degrees out. Right now. On April 10th at 5:30 in the evening. In Illinois. That is a problem!

You see, Mother Nature, I am ready for Spring. You remember that season, right? It is the one that has warmer days and chilly nights. Temperatures in Spring rarely get above 70, and in the evening they usually stay around 40. Spring also has lots of rain, which perks up the dead looking grass and trees.

Now, according to the calendar, it is Spring until June 21st, when summer begins. However, I know that you usually allow summer weather to creep in a bit before that. I am okay with that, but let's make a deal. No more summer weather before June 1st. None. Zip. Nada.

Thank you so much! You have a wonderful spring.

A fan of the seasons,
Dawn

Things To Celebrate...4/11/11 through 4/17/11

Have you been celebrating? If so, are you noticing any benefits? When I am purposeful in celebrating these silly holidays, I find that my family spends more quality time together. They also get spoiled more with special meals or desserts, and that makes them feel special. Remember the whole point of celebrating is to create memories, teach your children, and have fun.

Monday the 11th~

• National Cheese Fondue Day
• Barbershop Quartet Day~Expose your children to some music that isn't widely heard anymore. You can find videos of barbershop quartets online.
  
• National Pet Day~If you have a pet, make them a special treat. If you don't have one, visit a local pet store and talk about the different pets. You might even think about getting one for your family.
  
• On this day in 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first African-American to play baseball in the major leagues.~Get outside and play some baseball.
  
• Dodge Morgan set sail in 1986 for his solo nonstop trip around the world which took 150 days.
  

Tuesday the 12th~

• Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day
• National Licorice Day
• National Library Day~Visit your library. Teach your child about the Dewey Decimal System. You can also show them that the library has more than just books.
  
• D.E.A.R. Day (Drop Everything And Read)
• The Civil War began on this day in 1861.
• On this day, Puerto Rico became a United States Territory in 1900.
  

Wednesday the 13th~

• National Peach Cobbler Day
• Thomas Jefferson was born on this day in 1743.
  
• Scrabble Day~Play regular Scrabble or the Junior version.
  
• The first elephant was brought to America from Bengal, India on this day in 1796.~Celebrate elephants by reading a book about elephants and giving young children an elephant ride. You are the elephant.
  

Thursday the 14th~

• National Pecan Day
• International Moment of Laughter Day~Laugh often today. Watch a silly movie and tell funny jokes.
  
• Look Up At the Sky Day~Can you find any shapes in the clouds?
  
• Harriet Tubman started the underground railroad on this day in 1853.
• First dictionary of American English was published on this day in 1828.~Have dictionary races...see who can find a certain word fastest.
  

Friday the 15th~

• National Glazed Spiral-Ham Day
• Income Tax Pay Day
• First McDonald's opened on this day in 1955.~You could treat the family to dinner at McDonald's, or you could serve hamburgers and fries and pretend you are at McDonald's. My family likes to do this on taco night, but we pretend we are at Taco Bell.
  
• Leonardo DaVinci was born in 1452.
• On this day in 1865, Abraham Lincoln was assassinated.
• Titanic sunk on this day in 1912.
  

Saturday the 16th~

• Day of the Mushroom
• National Eggs Benedict Day
• Auctioneers Day~Take your family to an auction.
  
• Husband Appreciation Day~Let your children see you doing something kind for your husband.
  
• Teach Your Daughter to Volunteer Day
• National Stress Awareness Day
  

Sunday the 17th~

• National Cheeseball Day
• Bat Appreciation Day
• Ellis Island Family History Day~Have your children search the Ellis Island website for your family.
  
• Palm Sunday
• Benjamin Franklin died on this day in 1790

If you celebrate, do share! I love to read about how you are blessing your family.

Pocahontas

This past week my kids and I celebrated Pocahontas and John Rolfe's anniversary by watching a video and reading a couple of books.

We learned quite a bit about Pocahontas' life, but I think we learned something even more important. We learned that books and movies about history sometimes have conflicting information. This led us to talk about how things weren't always recorded well 1400 years ago, and information was sometimes lost or embellished along the way.

Ali and I think the best way to get fairly correct information is to do quite a bit of research. From that you can decipher for yourself what happened. Ali said that if 4 books say something, and 1 book says something different, you can be pretty sure the 4 books are accurate. History is important but not exact.

Friday Fill-Ins

1. In the near darkness the 'thiefs' come out, or at least that is what my Meghan and Josh said just this past week.

2. I am on a mental vacation til further notice. ;-)

3. But this weekend should provide me with much relaxation time.

4. Last summer, we went to Gatlinburg, and we waded in the stream. Good times!

5. It's always nice to make memories with your family.

6. Friends should provide you with laughter and pleasant company.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to having a normal night at home, tomorrow my plans include helping my daughter with a school project and Sunday, I want to go to church and hang out with my family, as well as get organized for next week!

Thankful Thursday~My Mom

I am so thankful for my mom. I am sure I have said that before on my blog, but it is worth repeating. Jeffrey goes to work before 7 AM Monday through Saturday. He usually doesn't get home before 8, and there are nights when it is closer to 10 or 11. During his busy season, which is April through November, he often works on Sundays too. I love my husband dearly, and I am so thankful that he is a wonderful provider, but he can be very work focused. I am told that often happens to people who own their own businesses.

My mom keeps me from going insane. Taking care of a home, as well as the three children, can be very overwhelming without support from a spouse. My mom spends much of her time at our home helping me. Without her I would go into "survival mode." I know because this is what it was like before she lived nearby. I simply tried to do what needed to be done. The kids and I rarely did anything fun, and I most definitely did not have the ability to volunteer at the kids' school or at church. Survival mode really isn't all that much fun, especially for someone like me that struggles with depression and anxiety.

She helps me with the laundry, cooking and the cleaning. She watches the kids, and she even drives the kids to their activities when needed. This is especially helpful when two children need to be at different places at the same time. My mom also watches the kids so that Jeff and I can have quality time together.

I am convinced that my marriage would not be as happy as it is without my mother. She often encourages me to make sure I am showing my husband love. I used to complain to Jeff all the time because I was overwhelmed and needed help, but now I rarely complain about these things. It is because of her that I can be the wife and mother that I am, and I don't take that for granted. I am appreciative.

So, Mom, if you are reading this, know that you are most definitely loved and appreciated. Your hard work and devotion to this family does not go unnoticed. Thank you for helping me to be a better wife and mother. I love you!

Thursday Thirteen~Keep America Beautiful

April is 'Keep America Beautiful' Month. Here are...

13 Ways You Can Keep America Beautiful


1. Fix a leaky faucet. A steady drip can waste up to 20 gallons of water a day.

2. Make a personal commitment too not litter.

3. Carry around a plastic bag, and pick up at least one piece of litter each day.

4. If you smoke, don't throw your cigarette butts on the ground. They are litter too, and they are not recyclable. They are harmful to the environment, clog storm drains, and are not digestible by animals.

5. Do a project on the outside of your house to give it more "curb appeal."

6. Help an elderly or disabled person by doing a project at their home.

7. Bring reusable bags when you go shopping, instead of using plastic bags.

8. Recycle! Stay informed and know what materials are accepted in your local recycling program.

9. Plant something in your yard that is native to your area.

10. If you have a fire in an open place, be responsible and put it out properly.

11. Pick up after your pet.

12. Put outdoor lights on a timer so you don't waste electricity.

13. Encourage your library to set up an environmental corner that offers books and other educational materials about taking care of the environment.

Okay, now is the time to admit that I do not recycle. Doing this post has made me realize that I need to drive by our local recycle center and see what they accept. I think it is time to start taking care of America!

Wordful Wednesday

This is a picture of Meghan from her 4th birthday, which was last November. We had a Hello Kitty birthday party for her, and she wanted to sleep with her balloon. She never let go. Isn't that sweet?

Our Menu For 4/4/11 Through 4/10/11

Yet again meals are getting carried over from last week. I just can't seem to get it together. Ugh! Part of my problem is that I have the plan, but I wait until the last minute to implement the plan. That means I get frustrated and scrap it altogether. I will do better this week! ;-)

Monday~Chicken & Dressing Casserole, Peas & Yogurt
Tuesday~Deep Dish Pizza Casserole and Fruit Cocktail
Wednesday~Nachos
Thursday~Cheeseburger Soup with French Bread
Friday~Mustgoes
Saturday~Slow-Cooker Kielbasa and Kraut with Mashed Potatoes
Sunday~"Unstuffed" Cabbage Roll Casserole, Yogurt and Peaches

Things To Celebrate...4/4/11 Through 4/10/11

Celebrating these silly holidays is all about creating memories and good times with your family. Embrace life! Try to celebrate at least one of these this week.

Monday the 4th~

• National Cordon Bleu Day
• Tater Day (Sweet Potatoes)
• Vitamin C Day~Make a Vitamin C smoothie. Yum!
  
• National Reading a Roadmap Day~Pick a nearby destination, give your (older) children a map, and have them navigate you to the location. A park would be a fun place to choose especially if it is a beautiful Spring day.
  
• The process for making cocoa powder was patented on this day in 1828.
• Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on this day in 1968.
  

Tuesday the 5th~

• National Caramel Day
• National Raisin and Spice Bar Day
• National Deep Dish Pizza Day~Venture out to your favorite pizza place and enjoy a deep dish pizza pie.
  
• One Day Without Shoes Day
• Pocahontas married English colonist John Rolfe in Virginia on this day in 1614.
  

Wednesday the 6th~

• National Caramel Popcorn Day
• Army Day~Have young boys? Play Army. Older children? Talk about the sacrifices our Army men and women make for each of us.
  
• National Day of Hope
• National D.A.R.E. Day
  
• The first modern Olympic games opened in Athens, Greece on this day in 1896.~Create your own family Olympics.
  
• The North Pole was discovered on this day in 1909.
• The United States entered World War 1 on this day in 1917.
  

Thursday the 7th~

• Coffee Cake Day
• American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Day
• International Beaver Day
  
• Metric System Day~Let your children do some measuring around the house using the Metric System.
  
• No Housework Day~A day we can all enjoy!
  

Friday the 8th~

• National Empanada Day
• Draw a Picture of a Bird Day
  

Saturday the 9th~

• Chinese Almond Cookie Day
• National Cherish an Antique Day
• Winston Churchill Day
• The Civil War ended on this day in 1865.
  

Sunday the 10th~

• National Cinnamon Crescent Day
• National Farm Animals Day~Visit an area farm and talk about the different animals.
  
• National Sibling Day~Encourage your children to do something nice for their siblings.
  
• Golfer's Day~Take your children golfing. Miniature golfing counts!

If you do get around to celebrating one or more of these, please do share! :-)

April Fool's!

I was planning on making meatloaf cupcakes for dinner on April Fool's Day, but we just recently had meatloaf. Folks, I couldn't bring myself to eat it again so soon, and I really do like meatloaf. So, I did some searching, and I found this fun faux fish stick recipe on the Family Fun website.

This recipe was super easy. I was going to trick my kids with it, but I decided to let them get involved with the preparations. I admit that it was easier to do it this way, and I also admit I am not a huge fan of tricks. So, I made the fish sticks while the kids made the peas. Well, Mamook (a.k.a. my mom) helped make the peas, because one little boy did a lot of whining during this process. I won't mention names, but it probably doesn't escape your notice that I only have one boy. ;-)

Here are my kiddos with there creations. I think they were pretty proud of their silly snack.

I think it seriously resembles fish sticks and peas. Pretty cool!

Here is Josh acting like a fool on April Fool's Day. Silly kid!

Hope you all had a fabulously silly April Fool's Day too! Do share what you did! :-)