Beautiful Weekend Just For Spring Cleaning

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It's time to start Spring Cleaning inside and out!  It is a beautiful day to start! But I won't get anything done as long as I am sitting at the computer!

I'm linking to:

Monday Menu

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We made it through Lent without eating out.  The only exception was when I was sick in bed and Dennis took the boys out to eat for a couple of days.  I did a little research in Quicken to find out that we saved $504 from eating in every night instead of eating out for the season of Lent!  I was totally excited about that fact.  So, we will continue to eat in and watch our bank account grow.  What I thought was interesting is that I did not spend any more in groceries during this time.    Thank goodness for coupons and smart shopping! 

Monday - Tater Taco casserole, cabbage (edited 3/25/11)  the casserole has corn in it and I did not have a cabbage head to cook!

Tuesday - BBQ  Chicken, green beans

 Wednesday - chicken broccoli alfredo linguine

Thursday - tacos/nachos, corn

Friday - egg salad sandwiches, red beans and rice

Saturday - homemade pepperoni pizza

Sunday -grilled hamburgers, beans

Rain and Flowers Do Not Mix

 

My snowball bush was so pretty until we had the heavy rain this past week.  Now, all the pretty blooms are on the deck and the ground.  It does make a pretty white carpet! 

This past week in recap

What a week I have had!  This week is our Spring Break and a vacation week for us.  I am still recovering from my sickness.  I have yet to have a day where my temperature has been below 99.9 - just enough to be annoying and make me tired.  I want to tell you about this week.  On Sunday, we drove to Pigeon Forge, TN for a few days. 


As part of our Lent, we gave up eating out.  We did make an exception on Sunday and ate at Applebee's as soon as we arrived at PF.  You will notice that Son #1 has talent when placing his straw on his teeth!  I don't know why he didn't use 2 straws....

There was a party going on next to us and I think these two was more interested in that instead of Deniska with his straw trick.  Imagine that! 

I did manage to get a picture of Son #2 smiling!  He hates having his picture made (just like his mama!)  I don't fuss at him about this.  The sodas were part of the kids meals, Dennis and I had water.  Still, it was expensive for all 4 of us to eat.  We have gotten spoiled to eating at home and saving that money.

 After we ate, we checked in and then went to the Nascar Speedpark.  Where the boys (all 3 of them) waited in very short lines.....

Got in the cars....

Raced around and around the tracks.....

The other boys were too fast for me to get their picture.  Not saying that Dennis is slow or anything......

And, to take a break from racing, the boys would climb the wall....

No fear here!

We all had a wonderful time at the Speedpark.  It was nice for me to see the boys having so much fun.  I stayed with Nikolai while the other 2 explored the faster rides.  We would go in the mornings, back to the hotel for lunch, they would go back in the afternoon and I stayed behind to cook our dinner.  We would eat dinner and all us would go back at night.  That's all we did for 3 days.  We had such a good time.  I think it was the best vacation we have ever been on.  Probably because we kept the boys too tired to fuss! 

And what did I do, while they went in circles on the track?  I listened to a wonderful book on my iPod touch.  Matter of fact, I stayed up past midnight last night to finish it. 

This is the write up from Amazon:  The murder of Krista Carmichael's fourteen-year-old sister by an online predator has shaken her faith and made her question God's justice and protection. Desperate to find the killer, she creates an online persona to bait the predator. But when the stalker turns his sights on her, will Krista be able to control the outcome? Ryan Adkins started the social network GrapeVyne in his college dorm and has grown it into a billion-dollar corporation. But he never expected it to become a stalking ground for online Predators. One of them lives in his town and has killed two girls and attacked a third. When Ryan meets Krista, the murders become more than a news story to him, and everything is on the line. Joining forces, he and Krista set out to stop the killer. But when hunters pursue a hunter, the tables can easily turn. Only God can protect them now. 

I really enjoy all of Terri Backstock's novel.  I would highly recommend it to anyone - especially if you want a good mystery that is wholesome to read.  


We came home on Wednesday.  I went Easter shopping this morning and Dennis and the boys worked in the yard.  Dennis worked on getting the pool ready.  I took a nap!  Life is good!!

Heavy Rain - Tornado Watch - Spring Weather

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 149 IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS....

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This is what we woke up to this morning.  It does look dreary outside with the rain and gloomy overcast.  I am always glad when the tornado watch is over.  But, this is a normal part of our spring weather.  All this rain should be good for the earth and the flowers.

What Happens When Mama is Sick?

 When Mama is home sick (which she has been since early Monday afternoon) I get to stay in bed with her all day!  She doesn't mind because the fever makes her delirious and she thinks I am a big lion.  Papa took her to Urgent Care on Monday night.  The medical excuse said not to go back to work this week so I get to stay home with her all week!

First, I yawn real big! 

See that box of graham crackers?  That's the only thing she wants to eat - that, and applesauce.  Her throat really hurts her.

Then, I go fast asleep.  I like to sleep on my back, just like Mama!  (She wakes me up sometimes snoring but she is sick after all.) 

Then, and this is the best part, I get to dream that I am SUPER KITTY flying through the air saving lives!

Mama will soon be better and blogging again.  Right now, I have to go and take a nap with her.  This being sick is hard work!

Purrs,
>^..^<
Sam

Infectious attitudes can spread very quickly!

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This past week my little boy was sick with a stomach virus.  Knowing that infectious viruses can go through a family like wildfire, I was paranoid about all of us washing our hands (using soap!)  If you have ever raised little boys, you know you have to tell them to use soap when they wash their hands.  Otherwise, they just wet them with the water and call it quits!  I read this on a site that I was surfing through, Sometimes a person is contagious to others even before they start to feel sick. In most cases, it is important that a sick person stays at home so that they do not spread the disease to others. 

I have to admit that I thought about myself.  How many times have I taken the disease of disgruntled employee in to work with me and spread it amoung my co-workers?  How many times have I taken the disease of nagging wife into my marriage and been a hindrance instead of a help meet?  How many times have I taken the disease of disapproving mother and destroyed the dreams of my children with a sharp tongue or inattention?  I would like to think that I have never been guilty of any of these, but I have. 

So, I am thinking, and bear with me on this one, a attitude of joy and thanksgiving would be a better infectious attitude.  What if I was a eager employee, a helpful wife, and a supportive mother?  Wouldn't that be better for everyone.  My challenge to myself is to be thankful and grateful for everything in my life.  That attitude is one I would love to spread to everyone!

 

Happy Anniversary to Us!

 

Happy Anniversary to us!  I have been married to my best friend for the past 16 years.  He has truly been a gift from God.  He is a wonderful Christian man, a devoted husband, and an awesome dad.  He has changed my world upside down.  We have traveled all over the world and been blessed beyond measure.  

I love you Honey!!

What is it with my boys?

 

I had to work late tonight and got home after Dennis and the boys.  He told me that Deniska was in bed with a headache.  (Deniska has terrible headaches every spring and summer.  I'm thinking it is allergy related.)  Anyway, I called for Deniska to come and let me give him some Tylenol.  And, what does the boy do?  He throws up just barely missing me!  I did manage to get him to a trashcan to continue.  Poor little thing.  He said he felt better so I am hoping it is just a little virus and will gone by tomorrow.   At least he was better at missing me.  Nikolai usually throws up on me!  Ah, the joys of motherhood!! 

Monday Plan Menu

For Lent, Dennis and I gave up eating out or bringing it home.  This is our third week of preparing and eating at home.  I admit that it is quite a challenge to come home after a long day of work and cook.  Thank goodness that Dennis is usually the one who cleans up while I help the boys with their homework.  And, thank goodness that none of us are picky eaters.  The boys will eat anything I give them.  I do use a rating system for each meal and have them tell me on a scale of 1-10 with 1 being I don't ever want this again to 10 being I could eat this every day.  I have found that the scale system allows them to tell me that they didn't like something without hurting my feelings.  It is interesting to hear their reasoning on why they did or didn't like a certain meal.  I am happy to report that the lowest rating has been a 4 and that came from me!

This has been hard on all of us.  The other side of the coin is that we are enjoying home cooked meals, our budget is healthier, our food is healthier, and I think the boys are over their McDonald's withdrawal pains!   I did buy a new stainless steel mixing bowl to use for food preparation.  I think we will continue eating at home after Lent.  Our meals are simple as you can see, but that is what we like.

Monday - Cabbage with polish sausage

Tuesday - BBQ Chicken, corn on the cob, turnip greens

Wednesday- Nachos (hamburger meat, salsa, cheese, onions, tomatoes, spinach, tortilla chips)

Thursday - Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo with Broccoli 

Friday- Salmon patties, green beans, brownies, rolls popcorn shrimp, mac and cheese, cake with chocolate icing

Saturday- homemade pepperoni pizza, salad

Sunday- burritos, peaches, leftovers from the week

My Birthday

 

My birthday was last Monday on the 29th.  My sweet husband sent me flowers to work.  I love the little ladybug that they put in my flowers.  This is a particular trademark for this florist.  The flowers were beautiful and I should have taken a picture of them on the first day.  This was taken several days later when I brought them home from work.  They are still beautiful.  

 My sweet boys gave me money for a pedicure.  I went yesterday and picked out a bright shade of pink.  I wanted to make sure that one would notice my pedicure!  The young girl who worked on me (and she really worked hard after a winter of neglected feet) shared with me some things about her life. I received many birthday cards and phone calls.  My friend, Gail, gave me a whole tin of sausage balls (which Deniska loved!) 

Dennis had my car washed, waxed, and cleaned yesterday as part of my birthday present.   All in all, a wonderful week of celebrating.  I hope this year brings lots of joy and blessings to our home.

On a happier note, my SAD seems to be disappearing with the longer days and bright sunshine.  I am glad to be coming out of the dreariness of this state.