Imagination

Yesterday we stayed at home most of the day. I had a good bit of house stuff to do and honestly I've been "just letting it go" so we could hang out at the pool and do outside fun summer stuff! Since we have company coming from out of town, I thought I should as least try to make the house presentable! So we stayed home!

Normally I'd watch TV while ironing, but since the TV isn't working, I didn't watch any. Luke did go play on the computer so that left Avery and I to play/work together! What a fun time we had too!!!

As it turns out, Avery has a great imagination! For about an hour and a half while I ironed Avery pretended.

What did she pretend you may ask?

She pretended that she was going camping. So she put her sleeping bag (which fits nicely into this cute backpack thingy) on and started gathering a few "needed" items such as her brothers flashlight and some sunglasses. And "off she went"! While walking in the "Cinderella woods" she told me she was going to look for animals, so we pretended to look for all sorts of forest animals such as...

a Cinderella squirrel...

a Cinderella turtle...

a Cinderella frog...

a Cinderella bunny...

a Cinderella bird...

a Cinderella deer...

and can you guess what else??

Cinderella herself! 5 Cinderella's to be exact!

And who can guess what color all the animals where?

Yup - PINK!!!!!!!!

I think I told you the other day that most things in Avery's world these days revolve around princess stuff! See what I mean?!?!

So then she wanted to ride on her "train", which is the 2 chairs from her little table set that she got for Christmas moved into a line, and she invited me to join. Well, unfortunately there was still ironing to do, so I had to take a rain check. But she go on board and rode the train to the pool.

But before she got too far, she had to stop and fix the tires.

Too cute!

But then it was "ALL ABOARD" and off she went!



Upon arrival at the pool (which co-in sided with putting the newly pressed clothing away) we shared some (and by some, I mean about 20) SpongeBob Popsicle's (cause that's what they sell at the real pool!)! And then it was back on the train for the ride home.



I just love that she is developing so much of her own strong personality. She's always had a strong will - pray about that ALL THE TIME!! But it's so fun to see her personality coming out and her having such a good time! I loved that time she and I got to spend together! I was thankful the TV was broken!!

Roots

I'm having one of those deep- inside- warm- homey feeling moments.

Does that make sense to ya?

I'm talking about the kind of thing that just happened to me on Facebook (don't ya just love FB?)! I made a comment on a friends (she's an actual friend - not one of those people you just happen to know... but a real friend. She was my best friend in high school!) picture of her son who happens to be taking a trip to somewhere in Europe with his Boy Scout Troop.

I mentioned that I knew another guy and his son who were going as well. This other guy I know through a whole different friend, but we go to church with the second family and have been at a couple of picnics together. They are a really great family!

So my high school friend posts back that it just so happens that the boys are in the same Scout troop! And what a small world it is!

I gotta say - I love that! I love that the longer I live here in this wonderful little town of Colfax NC, the more I feel I have roots here.

You see I've now lived in NC longer than I did in PA, that actually happend a couple of years ago. But this is the kind of thing that makes this feel like home. I have lots of family still in PA, and I miss them a ton! And can I tell you that moving away from them at 15 years old seemed like the end of my world!! But God is good, and He had a plan for my life - like His Word says He does - and I couldn't be happier living where I'm living with my amazing husband and our children!

And I have friends.

Good friends!

And I have family here too. Although it's hard with my parents and sis and bro-in-law living far away!

Good family!

And the longer I live here, the more wonderful people I meet and I know that not only do I have roots here now, but that my children will too (Good Lord willing and He doesn't ask us to move!) and that's really cool.

So I just wanted to share that little bit of inside warmth with you! I hope that you feel like wherever your living is home to you as well!

No TV Land

You know how God has this really great sense of humor, right?!? So I post this nice post about being with and enjoying my kids, and then our TV gets fried due to some lighting strike or something like that, and now we've been without our TV for almost a week!

I've never thought we watched that much TV, but let me tell ya - I guess we watched more than I thought cause the first few days without it was pretty hard! The kids keep asking - "Can we watch TV?" "PLEASE!" Like we were just saying no to their request. It took a few days - but even Avery is finally starting to get that the TV just doesn't work!

So we've gotten to spend a bit more quality time together as a result! AND I've started reading a book. It's been maybe a year since I read a book. I love to read, but in the evenings instead of reading, David and I would sit and watch TV. But since there isn't any TV... I've been reading! I forgot how much I like to read!

In the "wake" of no TV David and I have reevaluated the amount of time we allow the kids to watch it. Since I'm home with them each and every day... I try to limit it as a general rule, but honestly it's nice to have it every now and then so that I can get a few things done with minimal interruptions! Like cooking dinner! It's hard to make dinner when there is fussing and fighting going on and I have to keep stopping the dinner making to play referee... but the last couple of days the kids have done pretty well making it through the dinner making hour without too much trouble!

I've also noticed a new quietness at night... after going to bed, it just seems so very quiet! David said it's because all that crap from the TV isn't in my head. Maybe he's right, I don't know, but I do know that it's nice and quiet in the evenings, and I do really like that!

We should be getting a call sometime in the next day or so from the repair place, so it'll be interesting to see if we go back to our "old ways" after the TV is fixed or if we decide to leave it off more often!

Yesterday before going to the pool, I had a few things to get done and so the kids were actually playing - NICELY - together and here are a few pictures of what they did! I love it when they play together and enjoy each other! It's so fun!

They call this "the Princess House" (everything in Avery's world right now has something to do with being a Princess!)


I don't know why Avery has her helmet on, but that's OK, cause they were playing and having fun!
Who knew all the cushions from the sofa could be so much fun?

Dinner anyone?

I’ve been outta whack this week! I know – “just this week?” Anyway – I’ve been off track with the whole cooking and planning meals and such!

Last week was a bit off as well, since the other family I “cook for” was very busy and they didn’t need any meals last week at all, so I got a little slack about cooking for my family too. We ate a couple of new egg dishes… neither of which were all that great, and sandwiches.

Then this week we had a birthday party (at Chuck E. Cheeses’) to go to on Monday night, and then the kids and I were gone Tuesday night, not to return home until Wednesday afternoon. I had planned on cooking on Wednesday night… BUT David ended up having to work until like 1AM, and Luke ended up sick – which was no fun for any of us! So I had to cancel the meal. I felt bad, but who wants to eat food that’s been prepared in a house where there’s a sick kid?!?!?

His sickness didn’t last too long, thankfully, and so for Thursday I was back on track and ready to cook. I actually missed cooking and was looking forward to this meal!

I made an Italian chicken dish recipe provided by Taste of Home Healthy Cooking!

Makeover Italian Chicken:
2 ½ cups sliced fresh mushrooms – I used button mushrooms
2 tablespoons butter – I used olive oil and a bit of fat free chicken broth
6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (6 oz each)
2 tablespoons Italian salad dressing mix
1 can (10 ¾ oz) reduced fat reduced sodium condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1 carton (8oz) reduced fat spreadable chive and onion cream cheese
1/3 cup dry white wine or reduced – sodium chicken broth
¼ cup fat free milk
3 cups uncooked yolk-free whole wheat egg noodles
1 tablespoon minced chives

Directions:
In a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray, sauté mushrooms in butter (or olive oil) until tender. Remove with slotted spoon and keep warm; set aside.

Sprinkle chicken with the salad dressing mix. In the same skillet, brown chicken on both sides. Transfer to a 13x9 inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Stir the soup, cream cheese, chicken broth, milk and reserved mushrooms into skillet; heat through. Spoon over chicken.

Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 25 – 30 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 170 degrees.

Meanwhile, cook noodles according to the package directions; drain. Serve with chicken and sauce; sprinkle with chives.









And to go along with it I made a cold broccoli salad. I know it seems kinda weird those two things together, but I was in the mood for both and I thought they might go ok together. I like to serve a side of something green or at least vegetable-y with a meal and since David’s not big on your basic green leaf salad I try to be creative and have fun with the dishes I make. So thanks to Weight Watchers for this yummy recipe, it’s pretty easy and I’ve posted it here so you too can try it if you would like! It would make a great picnic dish as well.

Broccoli Salad:
1/3 cup light mayo
¼ plain fat-free yogurt
3 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 (12 ounce) package broccoli florets, cut into bit sized pieces – I used fresh and cut it myself
3 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled – I used readymade bacon bits!
1/3 cup chopped red onion
1/3 cup reduced fat shredded cheddar cheese
¼ cup golden raisins – I forgot to get the raisins at the store so I used dried cranberries!
¼ teaspoon fresh ground pepper

Directions:
Combine first 4 ingredients in a medium bowl. Add broccoli and remaining ingredients; toss gently to coat.







Since that’s the only meal I really made this week, I took lots of pictures! Check back next week for another night’s meal. I’ve started working on the menu!!!

Enjoying each day

I've been struggling with a new post. Sometimes posting is like having writers block. Not that I'm a writer, but you remember what it was like in school when you had some sort of writing assignment and you sat down to do it, and there was NOTHING there!! Yup - sometimes blogging is like that for me.

And then other times - I feel like I have TOO much to say - and it's not all always good for posting for the whole world wide web to see - so I don't say anything at all.

So today I'm gonna try and focus my thoughts and share something meaningful... not just a post, just to say I posted!

This summer I've set a personal goal. To some it might sound logical, or you may even think "well, duh, your a mom, that's how your supposed to feel", but I'm hoping that for some - you will be able to relate to this goal!

My goal is...

To really enjoy my kids this summer!

Yup - simple as that! Just to enjoy them.

Are you asking yourself what kinda mom I am? What kinda mother doesn't enjoy her children? What kinda stay at home mom doesn't WANT to stay at home and be with her kids 24/7? Well, if you're asking that, you are not a stay at home mom! Believe it or not - staying at home is just like (and in my humble opinion - harder than) working outside the home.

Anyway, I have decided that since this is the last summer before we start "real" school - that we're gonna have a fun summer and I'm really gonna try and enjoy the kids and their personalities! I'm gonna try to see things as funny - like when Avery gets into the diaper rash cream and puts it all over herself and on the carpet in her bedroom. Then I have to give her a bath to get it all off - and when I get to her belly I cannot get it all out of her belly button - see I gotta see that as funny instead of being angry at her! Cause you see, that kinda thing happens A LOT around here!

Both kids have very different personalities and sometimes that makes daily life a challenge! But I wanna be with them and I wanna enjoy them and I wanna make memories for both them and me! So each day (and sometimes about a million times during the day!) I remind myself to see the gifts that God has given me and ask Him to help me enjoy those gifts today!

So when each day begins at 6:30AM or before, I try to develop a plan for the day (which could prove to be very long) that allows time for me to get some things done around the house, for the kids to watch a bit of TV AND for us to spend quality time together - doing crafts, or playing outside, or going to the pool or whatever the day/weather allows for! I'm also learning the value of sending each child to their room for a bit of down time. Since neither of them take naps anymore, sometimes the best thing for all of us is 10 - 15 minutes apart from each other.

I'm no super mom - I often lose my cool - but I'm really trying, with the Lord's help, to make my home a happy, comfy, organized and fun home! I'll try to post some pictures of some of the fun things we'll be doing!

I'll also take suggestions - if there are fun things you like to do with your kids during the summer please share! I got a couple of great ideas from my cousin-in-law (who doesn't even have kids, but she talked to her mom about things they used to do when she and her brothers where small!) and I would love to hear any and all ideas you have to make the day run fun and smooth!

Fun Stuff

My cousin Jessi over at Crocuses in March tagged me in one of her blog posts and this is what she's asked me to do.

I'm supposed to list 12 likes, 1 love and 8 hates. Oh, this is hard!! There's so many! Oh, well...here goes!

Likes:
summer time, the Lake, this great pair of terry lounge pants I got at CVS, the developing personality of my 2 year old, shoes, coffee, grilling out, my Bible Study and the ladies in it, the beach, shopping, traveling/vacations, and going to the spa for a massage

Love:
Date nights!

Hates:
it for all those who are hurting right now, changing stinky diapers, that no matter how much laundry I do - there's always MORE to do, same with the dishes, when I don't get to see friends and family as much as I'd like, private issues being aired on Facebook (this was Jessi's but I gotta agree with it!), anything that hurts my kids (again, Jessi's but I gotta keep it cause it's true!), and when I blow it as a Mom.

Now I'm supposed to tag 3 others... Let's see, who should I tag? Since Jessi's already done it, I guess I cannot re-tag her... so... Let's go with Leslie at A Goat's Tale, and Nan at The Sellers' Express (she hasn't blogged in a while, come on Nan - join in the fun!)and Crystal at Clear As Crystal

OK Ladies - it's fun, join in! And I'll check back soon to see if you've played along!

Yard Sale

This Saturday our community - Ballard Farms - will be having a community wide yard sale! And we're participating!

What does that mean?

It means a couple of things...

1) this is the first yard sale that David and I have done since we've been married (nearly 10 years now)!

2) I have a LOT of work to do!

3) It's kinda like being a spy and sneaking stuff (like old toys) outta the house without the kids seeing them. And once they are gone... no one will even remember they had them!

4) I got about 3 hours worth of pricing done yesterday (why is there still so much left to do?!?)!

5) it's amazing the amount of stuff one family can gather in a short 3 years!

6) Thank God for grandparents who are willing to keep the kids so we don't have to deal with them at the yard sale too!

So, if you live in the Greensboro, High Point, Colfax, Oak Ridge NC area and are looking for a fun way to spend your Saturday morning come on over to Ballard Farms and shop around!

Food

So it feels like it’s been about 92 years since I posted last! Hope everyone is well!

We’re dealing with some kind of yucky here with Avery. I thought it was just allergies, but after two nights of little sleep and a low grade fever this morning, I’m thinking it must be something else! Poor baby!

Also, I told you I’d keep you updated on the cooking thing, so here’s the update!

When we started we agreed to a 2 week “trial period.” Just to make sure it would all work out with me doing the cooking and the food being picked up and all that type of stuff. So technically this week would be the 3rd week, but due to scheduling stuff – we’re taking the week “off.” Anyway, the first 2 weeks went pretty well overall! It was a bunch of fun, and it wasn’t really a big deal to cook for 2 more people. Most of the meals I make are enough for 4 and the kids either don’t eat the food I make, or there’s way more than we need. We usually had leftovers, which sometimes did and sometimes didn’t get eaten. Well, that hasn’t been the case the last 2 weeks. It’s been really nice not having leftovers!

I only managed to take a few pictures one night. I meant to be doing that each night, but for some reason… I never got around to it! So the pictures from this night ended up being pictures from the only night there was a bit of a portion issue.

Do you know what it’s like to “just have a feeling?” Well, I just had a feeling when I looked at the recipe that there wouldn’t be enough chicken. But I put the feeling to the side (don’t do that, that feelings there for a reason!) and made dinner just at the recipe called for. Guess what? There wasn’t enough! I mean there was enough to eat – but really there should have been more, and there wasn’t. I was really upset! I sent the right amount to my guests, and David and I had some, but both of us ended up eating something in addition to the chicken we had.

David told me know to worry about it, but I was a bit upset anyway! I guess it’s just part of the learning experience, but each night I really want everything to be just right, and this night it wasn’t! Now I know, and I’ll listen the next time I have “just one of those feelings!”

Here’s the recipe that goes with the food you’ll see below! It’s a really yummy meal, and relatively easy to make!



Lemon – Rosemary Chicken
1 ½ lbs chicken breast tenders
½ teaspoon grated fresh lemon rind
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
¼ teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
Directions:
Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add chicken to pan; cook 4 minutes on each side or until done.

While chicken cooks, combine lemon ride and next 6 ingredients in a small bowl.

Transfer chicken to a serving platter. Pour lemon juice mixture over chicken; cover and let stand 4 minutes.

I served this with Fresh Spinach Rice, which is even easier than the chicken!



Fresh Spinach Rice
1 (8.8 ounce) package precooked whole-grain brown rice (I used Uncle Ben’s Ready Rice)
Olive oil flavored cooking spray
¼ cup chopped onion
1 garlic clove, minced
2 cups packed fresh baby spinach, coarsely chopped
¼ teaspoon salt

Directions:
Microwave rice according to the package directions; set aside, and keep warm.

While rice cooks (which takes about 90 seconds!), heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add onion and garlic; sauté 3 minutes or until tender.

Place spinach in medium bowl. Add cooked rice, onion mixture and salt; fluff with fork until spinach wilts.

So here are just a few pictures! I'll try to get some good ones next time I make a really yummy meal!

This is what I started with...



And here it all is in the oven being warm.