Spot of Tea

Kids are getting excited about the upcoming candy free-for-all.  They both want to be a superhero.  Neither one knows which superhero but both want to wear a cape and pretend to fly.  So funny.  I'm looking forward to roasted pumpkin seeds.  Salty, crunchy ... Yum!  DD is not too thrilled with all the scary stuff put up everywhere.  DS doesn't really care at this age but doesn't like some of the commercials, even ones on Disney.  Can't wait for the "holiday" to be over.  I didn't like all the scary stuff when I was little either so I know just how the kids feel.

DD is enjoying all the attention since she lost both top front teeth.  The first one in her class to do so.  And the little lisp is just too cute.  Doing her nightly reading is taking a bit longer since I have to ask her to repeat a few words.  She is doing well in reading but the lisp makes it difficult to understand a few words.  We do word cards, at least two "Level 1" books and usually a few pages in a chapter book - just started the "Magic Tree House" series.  Both kids are liking it.

Found a few cool scrapbook kit clubs.  Still looking into which one will suit me best.  Here are a few I've found - Work In Progress, Scrapbooking from the Inside Out, Cocoa Daisy, Mosh Posh.  There are tons out there but I really want to pick one that fits what I need.  So many to go thru and figure out.  

New Week and a little project

We spent a good portion of last week dealing with bronchitis (DD & DS) and just trying to get caught up after that.  DD (and me too) couldn't wait for school to come on Monday.  Everyone was getting a little cranky and restless after the imposed rest.

DD lost her other front tooth yesterday in gym class.  Her teacher called just so she could let me know.  It was just so cute and sweet.  I had to take a photo so I could show DH when he got home from work, at 3am.

Actually got some more work done on the circle journal projects I've got going on.  Also worked on my little "Wish Lists" mini album.  It is very cute and I love having a spot to write down my lists in one place.  It's for tracking the music, dvds, books and places I'd like to hear, see, read and visit.  I'll be able to add to it later if I want to, in case the lists just get too long or I come up with more things to list. :)  I used a bunch of BoBunny stuff, some Chatterbox, and some scraps I found in my stash.  Mostly used pinks, oranges, greens and teals.  Love it.

A Wet Wednesday

  It has been rainy on and off all day today.  I actually kinda like a little of the "fall drizzles" once in a while.  Yeah, call me crazy.  Takes me to comfy sweaters, fresh baked scones or cookies, a pot of hot tea, a really good book, cozy blankets, naps on the couch cuddled with the kids.  A nice, happy place.  For about five minutes anyway.  Then reality sets in with sick kids, a defiant child, the usual stuff.  At least the sun came out for the rest of the day late in the afternoon and even mommy had to agree that the (not-so) sick kids could go outside and take a walk.  Most of the neighborhood trees have changed colors - gold, red, orange and even gorgeous plum.  The lawns are becoming a windswept tapestry that we all long to swish our way through, kicking up bits of bright colors to send them whooshing away.

Saw the CUTEST project over at Ali Edwards Blog - Tuesday Tutorials.  So can't wait to try this one out.  Like I need more projects to do but who can resist a mini album that is this cute???  I'm already thinking of the photos I'm going to take to go along with my version.  Just yummy.

I've been looking for a paper crafting / scrapbooking kit club to join lately.  I love to shop for paper/art/crafting supplies but I don't get the chance to do so very often.  I would love to get the "new stuff" and cool goodies all together rather than having to put it together myself by running from place to place.  I miss my local scrapbook store, not just because I worked there either.  I miss getting a chance to see the new stuff, learning the latest techniques, seeing everything at the shows and being so excited to get my hands on it all.  A kit club won't fix what I miss but it could give me a fix of new and cool right to my door once a month.  If I can find the right one that is.

Baking and Soup

Made this great soup yesterday, Ham and Wild Rice Soup.  It is super tasty and perfect for chillly fall evenings.  I even remembered to take photos.  The photos don't do it justice but I'll get better ones when I serve the soup and some fresh baked bread for dinner tonight.  Yum!  I also baked some Oatmeal Scotchies last night too.  The kids are loving all the baked goodies and yummy crockpot meals.  I love it when their little faces light up as they take a bite of a cookie or taste a new recipe I've made.  So fun.

The kids and I went to the fruit/farm market yesterday.  I wish I would have remembered my camera.  The selection of squashes were amazing, so colorful and harvest-y.  The kids had to touch and smell and check everything out.  I forgot how fun it could be to investigate at the market.  We selected Empire apples from the vast array of fruits available.  Big, juicy, lucious apples to make a variety of treats for the family.  The kids also picked out some PURPLE cauliflor.  So funny, can't wait to steam it for a dinner veggie.

Got the "scrappin' area" under control finally.  I'll be working on layouts for a few circle journals that I need to catch up on.  Also "Autumn Tea Party" invites for DD's tea party.  And I've got plenty of ideas to work on and mini albums I can't wait to dive into.  Yeah.  It really is much easier to create when you can find everything you need at hand.  It's still needs some work on the sticker and embellishment organization but it's getting there.

It's Monday

Had a nice weekend.  Did some work around the house, baked bread, had fun walking thru the woods, finished reading a good book, even worked on a couple of layouts.  Today I've got lots of things planned.  Need to get groceries, get DD's tea party invites done, do more house cleaning, have Bible study and get DH out the door early for work.

The walk in the woods was fun.  My dad went with all of us, including a friend of DD's.  We went crunching in the little wooded area around our neighborhood, just a bit of exploring.  I was bummed because my camera is out of action, no batteries.  Need to pick some up while shopping today.  I know I just purchased a new set of rechargables but can't find them.  I think someone (think DH) used them in something else.  I'm recharging my current ones but I always like to have an extra set waiting in the camera case.

Love the scent of fresh baked bread.  We made two batches of the frozen you-bake bread and one batch of homemade.  The you-bake did turn out better than the homemade.  Need to practice the kneading and punch-down techniques I guess.  Maybe new dry yeast will make it a bit better too.  I had issues with the loaf being kinda flat.  Tasted good but not very pretty.  I'm going to take photos next time too.  The you-bake loaf looked gorgeous and would have been great to photograph.

Daily Stuff

Just a normal day in my house today.  DD is at school, DS is watching PBS and DH is sleeping.  I got more scrapping stuff organized yesterday and might have a nice spot to create in pretty soon.  Yeah.  I do a little bit each day around the house to try to organize and get things in shape.  I'm excited to get my scrapping stuff organized enought to be able to actually use it at home rather than having to go to a crop.

Helped my dad donate some things of my mom's yesterday.  There were a few heart shaking moments, those moments when you realize that a loved one really is gone and not coming back.  While at my dad's house I had to borrow a pair of my mom's socks because our feet got wet outside.  I told him I'd wash them and bring them back when I come over during the weekend.  He said I could keep them, he was going to donate them so if I wanted any I could just take them home.  Little things like that seem to hit me hardest.

Our front yard has had yet another load of dirt put on the area that was dug up this summer.  The company that did the work has to come and back fill every time there is rain because the ground sinks in to leave a huge pit.  It is a real issue with little kids running around the yard.  This time they informed us that they will probably have to do this a few more times before winter sets in and then a few more times again in the spring.

Spent some time the other day at Barnes & Noble and picked up a new calendar/planner and the newest CK issue.  Love the calendar Amy Knapp's Family Organizer.  This thing even has a spot to list menus and write a tear-off grocery list.  Has made it a bit easier to get some things under control.

Bed Time Trama, Scrap Supplies and other stuff

Why does getting the kids to go to bed on Monday night usually seem to be so crazy????  Sunday night goes smoothly, they follow the usual routine.  Monday night, no way.  We get crying, screaming, "I'm gonna throw-up", "more stories", "I'm hungry", "I'm not tired" until I just want to scream, cry and go to sleep myself.  Yuck!

Anyways, now on to the good stuff. :)  Checked out my current favorite scrapbook store recently and got some yummy papers.  Moxie, Bo Bunny, Graphic 45, Little Yellow Bicycle, We-R-Memory-Keepers.  Can't wait to use some of it.  On what I'm not sure but I just had to have it.  I might just make some time to scrap tomorrow.  And also on the scrappin' front, I got a call from someone who would like me to teach a Quickutz Silhouette class.  I used to do so at the LSS where I worked before it shut down in January.  Should be fun.

The other stuff has to do with dinner time.  Yep it's food again.  Made some pretty tasty chicken nachos that DD picked out of a new recipe book.  Another crockpot delight that we enjoyed and plan on making again.  Great way to use up leftover chicken or turkey.  I'm going to use what's left of the cheesy chicken sauce in twice baked potatoes for lunch tomorrow, should be delish.  I'm also making apple crisp for dessert tomorrow.  The kids love it and it's a great way to use up the ton of apples we have before we go to the apple farm this weekend and buy tons more.  I'm going to be looking for "Gingergold" apples this time.  Found some at the market last time I went and they are great to eat plain and to bake with too.  I'd like to make my famous, well at least in my family circle it is, Praline Taffy Apple Pie using the gingergold apples.  Makes my mouth water just thinking about it.

Nature Trek

Had a great time trekking through the local woods today with DH, DD, DS and DD's friend.  The leaves are changing, the weather is just a bit brisk and the acorns have fallen all over the path.  The kids loved it all and hopped, skipped, jumped, ran and played with sticks and kept their eyes open for all the little creatures.

 

Got some really good photos of the clouds among the trees as they drifted over the sun.  Some good ones of sun dappled woods.  My lovely kids against a few trees.  Just wish I had a camera that could catch smells.  I love the color of the changing leaves and the smells of the fall woods.  Ahhhhh, fall is glorious.

 I found a slow-cooker recipe book that I purchased a long time ago but never used.  DD picked out some yummy recipes including the Ham & Wild Rice Soup I made for dinner last night.  It was delicious.  Everyone, including picky boy, loved it.  I can't wait to try more of the reicpes.  Crock-pot cooking is way to fun.
 
  

 

Cooking and Baking

I am really enjoying the organized and simplified kitchen.  I had the chance to make a crock-pot recipe (orange honey chicken) that I pulled from a magazine quite a while ago.  Love that I now have a spot to keep them and search thru them easily.  I also made "baked caramel apples", kinda like gooey apple crisp.  Yum.  DD and DS are not totally enthused about the different food I'm making.  They would rather have mac & cheese, chicken noodle soup or spaghetti.  Well, at least they try it before declaring that they don't like it.

I had a chance to plan the menu for next week including homemade snacks and desserts.  I am looking forward to cooking and baking next week.  A few family favorites and some new recipes to try out.  I love baking and am having such fun trying out new things.  Maybe I'll even have a full out tea party soon.  Since the house is getting more organized, simplified and cleaned up it could happen.

Now if I could only organize my scrapbook stuff.  I thought I had it coming together but then realized that I forgot about the two (oh no wait its three, oops 4, oh yeah 5) roll around cases that are stashed under the kitchen table and in the kitchen corner.  Good thing I organized that kitchen and found all kinds of scrappin' stuff.  And I've also got the stuff that is stored in the upper bedroom.  I thought I might get it all into the livingroom on the bookcase and the computer stand.  Not even close.  Hmmm, where can I put it all?  Maybe I don't need a pantry or we could switch to a full-size bed rather than a king.  Somehow I don't think DH would go for either.

simple still has it

Still going through some of my old scrapping magazines.  I'm still keeping all of my issues of Simple Scrapbooks, especially after looking them over.  Going through copy after copy of these treasures I still find the information, ideas, principles and inspiration as current today as it was when it premiered in Jan/Feb 2002.  So sad that it is no longer published and I will continue to miss it.  Thank goodness there are places I can go to find the vibe, theory, practice and people - especially Stacy Julian.

And along with keeping it simple ... I received new "daily" dishes as a gift from my dad.  After having dinner with us yesterday he decided that we needed some new everyday dishes so I wouldn't have to used my good china all the time.  Simple, cute and a much better fit with the kids.  And I even have non-chipped, kid-usable bowls now too.  DH and I were just talking about how we need to get new dishes since all of our original china is chipped, cracked, or unusable except for the teacups and saucers.  Gotta love Dad.

And the not so simple ... DD was having a not so good day today.  She hurt her hand, she had issues with her brother and she misses her dad.  She lost her tooth on Monday and still hasn't been able to show her daddy the open spot yet.  She is not liking his working the odd 4pm until 2am shift that he is currently working.  She doesn't get a chance to see him because he is sleeping when she leaves for school and he has already left for work by the time she gets home.  She is waiting impatiently for Friday to come along so she can spend some time with him since he works four ten-hour days.  But it is hard on a six year old to wait all week to share all the important stuff of her world with her daddy. 

I know that I feel like a single parent some days when DH has to be in early, or work late, or work the weekend.  Everyone says be thankful he has a job at the moment, and I am thankful.  But there are those days that I wish he didn't have to work such weird hours.  And there are days that I wish that I was the one working again and he was staying home with the kids.  Not because I don't like being home with them but when I worked full time I usually could depend on working 6:30am to 3pm five days a week.  Granted I could be called in anytime day or night, weekdays or weekends.  But the way things are now that wouldn't be too likely.  But we'd have more time together as a family.  But for now we'll just deal with it the way it is.