Under the Weather

This is how I feel.

Sad thing is, I'm not the one who is sick.  I am exhausted.  Today is going be an unproductive day.  I am okay with that. 

I have things I want to post, but It's gonna have to wait.

My priority is to take care of my littlest guy who is sick with the flu.  He's had a few surges of energy (mostly in the mornings) but by afternoon/evening he crashes.  His temperature spiked last night after virtually being fever free most of yesterday.

To top it off, J is sick too.  He's supposed to head home today.  Not sure he'll be coming home.

Please pray that Nathan I stay healthy.

Be back soon, I hope!!  Enjoy your weekend.  (We are to have a "heat wave" here tomorrow -- mid 50's)  Woo Hoo!

Learning Mode

I am determined to learn some new things.

*  Photosh*p Elements

*  Our Nik*n SLR camera/photography

*  Working with yeast  :)

*  Well, that's all I can think of to list right now.  I KNOW there is more.  This is enough to start with.


Today, I sat down and worked with PSE to play/learn.  AND I actually accomplished some stuff.  I was quite proud of myself!

and with a little change

I created ALL of it! Yay, me!!

My Enemy

en-e-my:–noun

1. a person who feels hatred for, fosters harmful designs against, or engages in antagonistic activities against another; an adversary or opponent.

I don't think there is anyone who has a hatred for me, really.  At least I hope not.  I know I can't please everyone, but hey....   Anywho, I personally have a STRONG hatred for something. Yes, something.  And what may that be, you ask?  Baking with Yeast!  Yep, yeast.  I don't know what it is, but yeast and I don't mix.  We are like oil and water. 

Now, I have been told and I do think so myself that I am a pretty good cook.  I like to cook and bake, most days.  ;)  I have tried many, many times to work with yeast and Every. Single. Time. = FLOP! 

I don't know what I do to the yeast to make it HATE me.  Really, it does.  So you can see, it is a mutual feeling! 

I received a new cookbook for Christmas - (a girl can never have too many cookbooks, right?)

Get it here -- LOVE it, by the way. 

Well, all except for one recipe.  Which was, you guessed it, a FLOP!  I tried, once again to conquer my yeast dilema.  I decided to try making the pizza dough.  Homemade pizza dough.  Yum!  Right?

I got out my new handy dandy thermometer to test the water, cause frankly I must admit in the past I wondered if my problem working with yeast was the temp. of my water.  Makes sense, I know.  If I have it too cold, it won't activate the yeast, if I have it too hot, it kills the yeast.  So... back to the thermometer.  I checked the temperature.... PERFECT!  I was SO proud that I was going to have a yummy, delicious pizza crust.  I was determined, ya'll. 

So, I did EXACTLY what the recipe said.  Then came the fun part.  Mixing it.  UGH!  Let me let you in on an important fact.  I don't own a stand mixer.  (Are you seeing where this is going?)  I got out my trusty little hand mixer.  I sure didn't want to stand there all night and mix it by hand.  Well, if only you could have been a fly on the wall.  I tell ya... it was A SIGHT!  I could have won some $ on AFV with a video of my escapade.  My little mixer mixed just fine, but it never got to the "ball" stage.  I tried hand stirring it.  OH. MY. GOODNESS!  My arm just about fell off.  Seriously.  By this time, I was mad, frustrated, angry, messy, ready to give up. 

I called J in to help me.  Why??  I don't know.  I wanted help.  I wanted someone to FIX my issue.  That's what guys like to do, right?  Fix things.  Offer suggestions.  Especially on how to do things the best way.  Well, he doesn't know a whole lot about cooking or baking.  I did remember that he worked at a national pizza chain. A l-o-n-g time ago.  Guess what, they didn't make their dough.  It came to them pre-made.  No help!

So, I kept working with it.  Mind you, the sticky mess was all over the kitchen and me!  Bottom line.  We didn't have homemade pizza crust.  It ALL went in the garbage.  I cringed.  I don't like to waste things.  I have a problem with that.  A good one I guess. 

I promised myself that night, a few short weeks ago, that I WOULD persevere.  I just needed time to get over my latest episode with my enemy! 

Stay tuned for the next chapter!

Long Awaited... and your opinion!

I'd love your opinion.... (kind words, please)!

This is our current bedding:

We've purchased new bedroom furniture.... YAY!!!! It's been a long time a comin'. We just celebrated our 14th Anniversary. The furniture we have was given to us... a hand me down. While it's served us well, it was never my taste. However, I am VERY grateful that we had furniture!

While we are in transition with moving.... J will get the new stuff. I know he will be glad to be off the air mattress! Anyway.... we need bedding for the new bed. I want something that will give me options in changing with the seasons OR whenever I like! :)

This is what I picked out, but I am not 100% sure it's what I want. It was a GREAT deal! And this gal L-O-V-E-S a GREAT deal! That part I am sold on. What I really want, I can't find for a King bed. Darn Clearance Sale!!


So... your thoughts on the new set? Keep or keep looking?

Want a peek at the furniture???

This is not the best photo, but it's all I got folks! I can't wait to get to sleep on it! I'm telling you... this is long awaited stuff! I am over the top excited to have it!

Here We Go AGAIN!

We love getting snow! We've had fun playing in it and then coming in to warm up. Who doesn't love a good snowball fight, some sledding and being pulled around on the sled and making a snowman (which we haven't done yet -- shame on us, I know!). I think the boys' favorite part is warming by the fire afterwards with a cup of hot chocolate.



The boys haven't had a full week of school YET since after Christmas break. Looks like this week will follow the SAME pattern! We are due for more snow tonight and tomorrow. I love having my boys home, I really do. I however think that they are missing important stuff at school. They are moving SO fast and it's hard enough to catch it all, but being out is no help!



Looks like we may have some tutoring going on tomorrow.... well, after the snowball fight and maybe our final chance to make that snowman. If we get enough snow.... maybe a snow fort!

On A Roll!

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UPDATE: Ryan did just as well as Nathan on his report card. Kindergartener's have number grades. 1-4. Ryan recieved all 4's and two 3's. SO very proud of him too!

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Wow! Two days in a row. Can you believe it? I don't know if this trend will continue, but for now I am on a roll.


Now for good news. Nathan is on a roll too, except it's the A/B Honor Roll at school! So very proud of him and all his hard work. Even though he's in 4th grade, his spelling words alone are at least a 6 gr. level. He likes a good challenge. Keep up the great work, kiddo!


Ryan is still sick at home... he'll get his report card when he returns to school. He's a smarty too! Can't wait to see how he did this past 9 weeks.

This blogs for you.... Mom!

So I've been told I need to be blogging again. Really? Eh, I don't know. Here I am though. Kind of lost my gumption, I guess.

As I am sitting here with a sick child at home, I've been playing with my Photoshop Elements program. I am trying to figure it out. I'd love to learn how to use my camera better and how to edit my pictures. I mean, I do have 2 great subjects to photograph. ;) And well, since I don't have the moolah to get pictures made as often as I would like, then I guess it's time for me to learn how to do it myself! Can I get an, Amen?

Here are 2 pictures I took last year of the boys. I played around a bit with the editing. Still could use some work, but I don't think they are too bad (for a 1st attempt). So Mom, for your viewing enjoyment. Here are my favorite boys!!!

So serious, huh?

Precious face!!

Oh, and Happy New Year!!

Bittersweet

It's official... Nathan is back in school. While I LOVED every minute of our school year at home last year, he's back in public school for now. I have mixed feelings about this and am trusting the Lord to get us through this too! (I told you.... trusting Him for EVERYTHING)! Nathan is excited to be back at school. While a lot of teachers, the principal and students have left, he is still looking forward to 4th grade at his "old school."

Those of you who know me, this won't be a shocker. I cried and cried dropping him off! I was doing great UNTIL a sweet friend saw me outside the school waiting to get in and asked how I was doing. "I am fine," I replied as I got choked up and the tears began to flow. What a day to forget my sunglasses at home! Man, I was gonna wear them inside to help hide my tears. Oh well! I am thankful that Jason was able to go with us and be my support.

I really am missing him and once again will go through another time of greiving. The way I look at it, it's just another journey God has me on. So, what will He teach me on this journey? By the way.... how many journeys can one person be on at a time anyway?

So, I pray for Nathan as he begins his 4th grade journey back in school. He is such a sweet, bright, happy young boy. I can't wait to hear all about his first day back at school. 3:30 can't get here fast enough as far as I am concerned.

Here is a welcome "Goody" bag that his teacher had on his desk: (Yes, I cried reading it!)

Side note.... we walked in the door from dropping Nathan off at school, I was of course crying. Jason mentioned that it was a little hard for him too. Then Ryan says (a little sad and teary), "I miss him. I wish he were here. But, at least he's only there a half day." Aww, so sweet... and it made me cry some more. Then I had to tell Ryan that Nathan was gone for a full day at school, not a half day.

Stay tuned for the next chapter of back to school blues in 2 weeks. My baby starts Kindergarten. I am not sure how I am gonna survive that one!

Getting Ready

My little boy is getting ready to start Kindergarten. I can hardly believe it. I am savoring the last few moments I have with him.

This is what I found tonight as he was getting ready for bed.

MELTED my heart!!!

Goodness, I love this boy!

He can see clearly now!

In April we all had eye exams and all was well. Fast forward to July... Nathan had his 9 yr. check up at the pediatrician and "failed" his eye exam. I was shocked. Long story short, we took him back to the eye Dr. to be re-checked. Sure enough, his eyes had changed in just a few short months. I was worried that something was really wrong. The eye Dr. said it could have been due to a growth spurt. Anyway.... Nathan now has glasses.


I was afraid he was going to put up a fight, but Boy, was I wrong!! He was thrilled! Okay, really?? He was very careful to select the "right" glasses and was bummed he would have to wait a week to get them. Since he is nearsighted, he only has to wear them for distance.


Once he got them, the whole ride home was very comical (to me). He was shouting and exclaiming all the things he could see and read at a distance. We had no idea everything was blurry to him before. He can see clearly now and looks quite handsome too!