I Got A Chicken?

We had a pretty good day as far as the kids not fighting today. They played in Luke's room on the bunk beds and listened to TobyMac, one of their favorite singers. I wasn't paying a whole lot of attention to what they were doing until they came down singing the song J-Train only instead of singing, "I got a ticket," they were singing, "I got a chicken"! I had to laugh because they think they are so grown up listening to TobyMac but they still add in their own childish lyrics - and not even on purpose! It kind of surprised me because Luke knows the words - or at least sings - all the other songs on his CD and I've never really noticed him singing the wrong words before - I guess I will have to start paying closer attention!



This isn't the best video but you can still hear the words and get the gist of the song...it was even taken at S0nshine Fest - some of you might have some fond memories of that wonderful event...

What Was Once Lost, Is Now Found

Today I was cleaning my bread machine because I was going to start a loaf bread. I haven't used it since I moved from MI so it needed a good scrubbing. I opened it up to get the loaf pan out and there, in the bottom of the loaf pan was a newspaper wrapped item that must have been missed when I unpacked...we were so tired I decided that I would just clean my bread machine when I was ready to use it. My surprise package today was my sugar bowl! I was so excited I washed it right out and put sugar in it! It was one that matched the rest of my glassware I got when we got married so now I have 2 because I went to WalM8art and got a new one when my old one was lost.

Now I just have to find my salt and pepper shakers!

Menu Plan Monday

I didn't post a menu for last week because we were gone for most of it. We ended up eating mostly left overs on Monday and Tuesday. I still haven't figured out how to go back to cooking for 4 after almost 3 years of cooking for 8!

This week we will be eating a lot of wild game since it's that time of the year (hunting season!)

Monday: My new recipe of the week was today in 6 Layer Dinner. It didn't go over well esp. with the kids. Bob didn't care for it much either because it had rice in it. I also had to alter the recipe slightly because it called for a quart of canned tomatoes. I had 1 jar left but when I opened it to put it in it looked funny - it was a very dark - slightly brown color of tomotoes and the seeds in the top third of the jar were black. I know it can be like that from using extra-but-not-quite-over-ripe fruit but I didn't want to take any chances and end up getting everybody sick. I used spaghetti sauce instead. It wasn't a good thing. I was really upset - Luke doesn't like store bought canned tomatoes and neither do I - yuck! So chili this winter just won't be the same! Anyway, this meal was definitely a bust...I won't be using this recipe again!

Tuesday: Either Rabbit or Venison - probably both. I'll probably pan fry the venison since it's steaks and I will probably make rabbit and dumplings - we have only 3 jars of rabbit left (when we lived in MI we raised rabbit for meat and I canned some with my grandma)! But my dad is coming to visit Tuesday night so it will be well used with him here with us!

Wednesday: Crockpot Pork Roast - I will be using this recipe which we all loved the last time I made it. I don't have any red wine so I used something (I can't even remember what it is!) we had left from our honeymoon over 7 years ago! LOL Just goes to tell you how much we consume alc0h0l!

Thursday: Chicken of some kind - probably baked somehow.

Friday: Leftovers

Saturday: Surprise Birthday dinner for Bob's dad - Jozie will be cooking this day!

Sunday: Probably more leftovers again!

Check out Laura's blog for more menu ideas!

Home Again

We got home early this morning - about 12:30am - so we are a bit tired this morning. The kids actually slept until about 8:30! I was amazed! :)

We had a nice relaxing trip and it was nice to see Bob's family again. Of course there was lots of food and sweets and I probably gained 10 pounds! It's a good thing I have to get groceries - I didn't get much before we left last week so that means there isn't much to snack on right now! Thank goodness! Like any of us need it! :)

Of course, I took my camera and didn't take it out except for last night before we were leaving and Luke was making a blanket fort with his cousin, Dakota. I've been so bad at taking pictures since we moved...probably has to do with the fact that I don't care for our new home - it's little and cluttered and not very appealing, and I just sorta got out of the habit of taking them when we go anywhere else. I'm also not as thrilled with my new camera as I originally was. It just doesn't take wonderful pictures like it should. I don't know, maybe it's just user error. It's an Olympus Stylus so it's not a cheap camera but It's still just a point and shoot little thing and I want more...maybe someday! :)

Well, I'd better go and get my stuff from our trip put away. We have company coming this week - my dad is going to be here tomorrow and Bob's dad is coming over the weekend - which means I have to do laundry and clean...sounds like fun!

So, as exciting as this post has been, I'm going to end it before I put you all to sleep! :)

We're on our way out of town for the rest of the week. Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving with your friends and family!

Can You Get A Second Opinion...

For a dental exam? I know it sounds kinda silly but after spending a ton of time and money on glasses that Jozie has hardly used, I'm not sure I want to fill my kids heads full of crowns that they really don't need!

We just got home from the kids dentist check-ups and cleanings and they told me that Luke needs one crown for a really bad cavity - which I could see was big and very close to the nerve - but Jozie needs 4 crowns! I could see a place that there could be one, maybe, but 4?!! I realize that I am not a dentist but at what point do you trust some guys whom you have never met before who does what he does because it's his source of income? Maybe I just feel like I was taken advantage of over the whole glasses thing.

Here's what work they will be having done:

Luke - one crown and one filling
Jozie - 4 crowns, 4 fillings, and 2 sealants - apparently the ones from the other dentist came off...or they aren't really sure they are there because they can't really see them, her filling from the last guy did fall out for sure. The poor kid hates pain so I'm sure these will be fun visits.

I'm sure you can see where I am coming from...just a bit frustrated about the whole thing.

So, we are off to our second appointment of the day. Luke has once again picked at the cuticle on his thumb until it's raw and infected. It's really gross looking, like his skin is peeled off and his meat is exposed...I'm sure you wanted that visual. :) We are probably in for another round of antibiotics and daily soakings...

Oh, joy.

Saturday At Home

We've been spending quite a few of our weekends at home lately. I don't let the kids watch a whole lot of TV during the week - if any - I'd rather they spend their time outdoors or at least reading or playing. So Saturday I let the kids get up early and watch cartoons. I remember doing that as a kid and since we didn't have a whole lot of TV during the week, it was always a treat to get up on Saturday morning (sometimes we'd be up so early we'd watch the national anthem before the broadcasting day started!) and eat cereal then watch cartoons. They actually did it for most of the morning without fighting! I was amazed!

Then came Ninja Warrior.



It's not a cartoon so it surprised me when Luke decided he wanted to watch it. Especially since most of it is in subtitles and there is very little said by the American host. But he just loves it! It must be a guy thing because it ended up back on for Luke's turn again about the time Bob got home. He had some drafting to do for homework but he couldn't seem keep his eyes off the foolishness! It was quite comical because every time he caught me watching him watch the goofy guys try to kill themselves on a mostly unattainable obstacle coarse he'd shake his head and say, "It's just foolishness!" and keep on watching! It must be a boy thing. Luke went from doing front rolls and jumping around in the living room and saying how he would be able to beat all those guys to sitting in rapt attention - and knitting! LOL

Jozie chose to watch Ice Princess. No surprise there! Luke went to him room while that was on, he didn't want to see all that girl stuff!

Lost?

No, I'm not going to blog about the popular ab*c television show. I did used to watch it until it became more of a chore to watch the people go through their torturous lives on an island that may or may not have really existed...anyway, that's another story.

My loss comes in 2 forms this week:


1. Luke lost his third tooth! He was pretty excited and has been working on this one for quite some time. I thought he was just pushing it because he wanted a visit from the tooth fairy but when I looked at the whole in his mouth closer, I could already see the new one coming in! He is quite proud and talking a little funny because it's his top tooth. Now the one next to it is also loose! I think he's going to be able to sing, "All I want For Christmas is my Two Front Teeth" this year! My loss - my baby continues to grow up!






2. My insurance company took money out of my old checking account that I am trying to close without my authorization and since it happened on the 8th, there's pretty much nothing I can do about it. We canceled our old policy because we moved to SD and had to get a whole new policy and added renters insurance to cover Bob's tools. At the same time, which was on or about the first of the month, I canceled our old checking account info with them and gave them our new info so that we could close that old IN checking account. Apparently things didn't happen on time or correctly or whatever and they will refund our money but not until they are positive that they have it. For some odd reason their accounting department can't see that the payment came out of my account over a week ago and I no longer own that money...it's not floating around in space or anything, according to my bank it's now property of X Insurance! So I had to have my bank fax them a copy of my statement showing that the payment was indeed made and MAYBE I can get a check issued next week - isn't it wonderful that these kinds of things always happen on Fridays? Oh, and they can't just credit my checking account with the money because of some law that seems to apply to them saying that since they are a business they can't put money into personal accounts? Doesn't WalMar*t credit my credit card (which is really my PERSONAL checking account) when I bring in a return? They are a business and they can do it, why can't my insurance to it? And do you think someone from the insurance company would have the courtesy to call me back when I left a message on the voicemail of that always unavailable manager? Of course not, I guess little things like unauthorized bank payments don't really concern them that much! I did talk to one lady that said that if we incur any overdraft fees because of their mistake than the insurance company will take care of them....but at this point that isn't in writing and I won't hold my breath!

Well, now that that's off my chest, I need to go and get supper ready and play a game of Yahtzee with the kids. They (well, really Jozie) have been complaining about doing addition and subtraction lately, especially when the numbers get up into the thousands, so I thought we would play a math game and hopefully they will get the practice in without them even noticing it! Think I'm sneaky enough? Or will it be obvious when it comes to adding up their scores that I was just trying to squeeze an extra math lesson out of the day? :) Guess we will wait and see!

My New Blog

Skip on over to Welcome to My Bookshelf and see what I have been reading lately...

Menu Plan Monday

Well, this is my first Menu Plan Monday! Hopefully the first of many! I got out the Hy-vee and Econo Foods flyer on Friday and planned my menu until Thanksgiving around what was on sale and what I already have and spent less than $150 on my groceries! Something tells me that I will probably have to go again, it didn't look like a whole lot of food for the next 2 weeks - and I have already noticed a couple of things that I forgot - but this being my first try I think I did pretty good.

So without further ado, here's the menu for this week!

Monday: I'm currently making Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
Tuesday: Baked Salmon for the hubby and me and baked chicken for the kids
Wednesday: Taco Salad
Thursday: Crock pot Pot Roast
Friday: Beef Stew and biscuits (hopefully there's some post roast left to make this!)
Saturday: Crockpot Chili and cornbread
Sunday: Leftovers! (my personal favorite day of the week!)

I may have to change things around if the pot roast isn't as big as I think it is.

Oh, I just have to say that I got a pretty good deal on a pork tenderloin and although it was huge it was big enough that I cut it into 3 meals worth of meat all for about $13. I was excited except for the fact that I try not to buy pork that much - we are more red meat people. But I couldn't pass up the deal!

I have also been trying to sneak in whole wheat noodles whenever possible - it seems to have worked for the spaghetti a couple of weeks ago without any complaints. Unfortunately I forgot them for the chicken noodle soup this week so we will just have to make due with plain old egg noodles...maybe next week for the stroganoff I have planned.

I'm glad we didn't get these for the kids for Christmas this year!

It Really Makes Me Wonder...

Will there really be a Presidential Candidate that will be worthy of the title and office that they strive so hard to attain?

Like Kylene, and I'm sure many others, I have been thinking about who I would find to worthy of my vote and support for the upcoming Presidential election. I haven't found any that I would definitely say I would be excited about but there has been some thing that I can say that I am definitely not thrilled about. The following is something that I just got in my e-mail found rather disturbing. How can anybody who claims to want to uphold, serve, and lead our country not do something as simple as respecting our national anthem and flag?

Can this be possible? Let's find out about their true colors!

I had heard about this but a picture is
definitely worth 1000 words!

Respect?

Senator Bara*ck Oba*ma, Govern*or Bill Rich*ardson, Sena*tor Hilla*ry Clint*on, and Ruth Har*kin stand during the national anthem.

At least we know there's nothing wrong with his legs - he is standing...

Here's more info on this beautiful (gag me) picture that goes into more detail and even more disturbing facts about a man that could very well become our next Commander in Chief.

Ok, so maybe it's not protocol unless you are in uniform but at the same time don't we teach our children to stand and put their right hands over their hearts when they say the pledge of allegiance (my kids do it for the American Flag, along with the Christian Flag, Missionettes and Royal Ranger Flags as well)? I did it all the way through grade school and still do, why can't he?

The Man That I Adore

Bob has updated his blog! He forgot to mention one VERY important thing...he is doing GREAT in his school work! His test grades haven't fallen below a B and most of them are A's. I'm so proud of him! :)

I just love that guy!

What Will They Come Up With Next?

This week the kids have been playing with Le*gos constantly. They have come up with a new "game" - they invent a lot of games - called Wegos (pronounced "we goes"). They have a ton of the little Le*go guys that seem to have been dismembered along the way so they have collected all of the little yellow heads and they are the Wegos. The rest of the men (and a couple of girls and boys mixed in) that are fully intact - or at least have most of the body, maybe with an arm missing or the little yellow head replaced with a lamp shade or something - are their people. They have built little, VERY imaginative, pet shops for the We*gos families to buy them supplies and toys at, a car dealership, a furniture store, homes and a root beer saloon - bar and bar stools and all. Not that they have ever been in a bar but I think they got the idea from watching Kid Nat*ion. Amazingly enough they have hardly been fighting this week! I am flabbergasted! Not to say that they haven't fought AT ALL but it has been far less than normal. Maybe because they have been working together with a common goal but either way, it has been a wonderful break from our normal hitting, kicking, yelling, name-calling-fun-filled-day! I have also been assigning extra school work for those big fights that end in tears and yelling with nobody really knowing what happened or how, just that nobody did anything to anybody...it seems to help!

Yesterday morning I was cleaning my closet in my bedroom. You are probably thinking how could it need cleaning? She's only been there about 2 months?! The kids decided to use it as a hiding place without me knowing and totally destroyed it...the hanging bar is even off on one end! So I was looking through my boxes of books trying to get rid of more and get the kids books out of mine to put on their bookshelf. I have my books in boxes because I don't have a book shelf. I found a copy of a children's encyclopedia and thought they might enjoy that, they are getting big enough to understand and read most of what's in there so I put it in with their books. Luke picked it up immediately, what kid doesn't like a big new picture filled book? He said it was the "Great Bi*g B00k of Every*thing"- it's been years since he's watch "Stanley"! He was happily looking through it when I left his room after shelving the rest of the books. Some time later I went in to find both him and Jozie looking at it together and they had found the anatomy section. I am NOT prepared for that lesson! So I quickly distracted them with the Wegos and quietly took the book back to my closet.

My mom says that I should be teaching them some of that stuff now. Obviously they know the difference between a b0y and a gi*rl, they have grown up with that difference but I almost feel like if I go into more details I am taking away their innocence, know what I'm saying? Kinda like Jodie feels about the "sleeping" deer in her neighbors garage. It's part of the reason that we chose to homeschool - they grow up too fast and know things that they shouldn't know until they are way older. I know it's a little old fashion but at the same time I want them to enjoy just being a kid.

Remember?

Recently Rebecca had a post about music that brought back memories and I happened across this one tonight - Bob wanted to hear some Stryper and this was one of them. I remember requesting this one quite a bit - probably for some boy! Old Rockey didn't disappoint very often!

My Verses of the Day

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." 3 John 1:4

"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6

Here's a little girl who's parents have taken these verses and made them real. And it also shows you that they are never too young to start learning the scriptures! My kids didn't learn Psalm 23 until last year when they were in AWA*NA. They were 6 and 7 then but this little girl looks a little younger than that. She's just so cute I had to share it when I found it!

Pa's Long Rifle

Today for Reading we read chapter 3 in Little House in the Big Woods, Pa's Long Rifle. I think Luke almost liked this chapter better than Jozie. She could care less about our day of gun safety and the mechanics of a gun but as I write Luke is watching an N*R A video - that I thought was Gun Safety - about the 10 best guns in history. Jozie found it boring and asked to call her Amma on the phone - just like a girl, she'd rather talk on the phone!

Bob had his shotgun out the other day for pheasant hunting (I now have pheasant in my freezer but I'm not sure what to do with it!) with his buddies from school so tonight I'm going to try and get him to give a short gun safety demonstration and show them how his gun works.

Making Butter, Shots, and That Pesky Time Change

On Friday we had a fun project from our Prairie Primer and we got to make butter. Of course Luke wasn't that interested because he couldn't taste any of it but Jozie jumped (literally jumping to shake it!) right in and then got tired of it just as quick. So I was the one who got to do most of the work because we started it after all, I knew we had to finish it. Once we got the cream to the really thick state and it started to separate Luke decided he wanted to give it a shake and of course, took all the credit for making the butter! But Friday night my right shoulder took the tole for about an hour of shaking 3 cups of cream! By Sat. afternoon I could hardly move, it even hurt when I breathed! I was cursing the butter. Last night I hardly slept and all of Bob's snoring didn't help matters. I slept with the heating pad but it's not exactly easy to get it on a shoulder and up to my neck. I don't know what time it was but I finally found a comfortable position and despite Bob's serenade I slept for a couple of hours....only to get up this morning and get ready for church and get there to find out that we were an hour early! Bob and I were both rater shocked. At least we didn't plan on being there for Sunday School and find the doors of the church locked!

I'm usually on top of the time change, I can't remember the last time that I didn't realize it was happening but this year it caught me completely off guard! That's what I get for making my own butter!

This year in the state of SD all children are able to get the flu shot for free. I thought it sounded good and decided to make an appointment for the kids yearly check ups and at the same time have their flu shots done. I didn't think much of it except for I was a little worried about Jozie and her shot. She has an irrational fear of needles (well, of anything that will cause her pain, really). The last time she had blood taken to have her iron checked and to check for lead it took me and 2 nurses to hold her down and then the 3rd nurse to take her blood. Well, I kinda figured that she has grown up and it shouldn't be that bad this time, right? Wrong. She wouldn't take her arm out of the sleeve of her shirt so the nurse went and got 2 others and it took 3 of us to hold her and then the 3rd nurse gave her the shot. 4 people to give an 8-year-old a flu shot. Nice. To make things even better, we have to go back next month to get the second one because this is their first year getting a flu shot. Luke had to finish his chicken pox vaccine and the flu shot and had one in each arm. He didn't cry. He wasn't glad to get them and was definitely glad to get it over with but he didn't even care. I don't know how 2 kids can be so completely different.

My Confession

So it's been some time since I have posted. Some things have been happening in our home that have brought me to the edge of my sanity. No, it's nothing life threatening or relationship threatening - it's just been a trial for me and has made me realize just how lonely I am here on my great SD Sunset Prairie. There are days it feels more like a dark valley. Don't get me wrong, I will NEVER look back and wish we were back in my mom's basement again but there are times that I just feel so alone. I know, I have my family - Bob is great and I don't know what I'd do without him or the kids - but a girl needs more than that, wouldn't you agree? It's been too long since I got to spend time with friends...dinner with Jennie and Janice, W*l*Mart and coffee with Kristin or even just grocery shopping with my mom. I guess my original euphoria of having my own home and starting a new chapter of my life has worn off and I now realize that I need something more. I need friendship. I need girlf*iends to laugh and cry with and talk to and listen to. Not that my bloggy friends aren't great, but I need more. I don't even want to go grocery shopping by myself anymore, I would rather take the kids (well, maybe only one) with me just so that I'm not physically alone.

I'm not looking for sympathy or anything, and no, I'm not depressed. Just looking for my place here in my SD Sunset, Small Town America where I can be myself. I think most of you know me well enough to know that I am shy. Shy enough that I have a hard time talking to people and I think sometimes others see me as stuck up or proud. Trust me, those things I am not...but how do I get past that and where does the courage to go up to someone else and introduce myself rather than waiting for them to do the same come from?

So, that is my confession. That's why I've had a hard time posting lately.

This is me.