In addition to yesterday's post!!!

Yesterday was the kids post. I just had to tell you guys about the kids first.

Now for my story. I posted here about what my Christmas present was. And, well I let, we decided that my husband needed another truck to drive, to and from work.(cheaper on gas). So, he looked and looked until one day he found one. Not exactly what he was looking for but to him pickins were slim so he settled for one he liked. (now it is broke down and has been for 3 weeks now) That is for another day and another post. 

That was suppose to be all that we got for Christmas but, on Christmas day at his grandmother's house; I was handed a wrapped package with my name on from my husband. I thought, hum, this must be a mistake. I was all smiles trying not to show everyone how excited I was to be getting a Christmas present from him. Then, I thought OH no they are playing a joke on me. I wasn't sure were to go from there.
I carefully sat down on the couch and slowly began to open my "gift".

Well blow my down this is what my husband did for me. He had been planning it since Thanksgiving. What a man!!!!

The purse and the wallet I already had, but he got the big one to match the rest of my set.

 wow I was super impressed..

But, then I felt really bad because I didn't get him anything. Like I said earlier I let, Ahem we decided he needed the new truck.

One more thing, I wanted to show you what my darling kids got for me..

Each one got me something different.

Ty gave me the pink earrings.

Syd gave me the necklace set.

Bro gave me the WWJD bracelet.

I love each one. Thanks to my family for a Great Christmas.

Christmas this year!!

Hello all. What a crazy and busy week it has been for us. Going and Going and Going. Finally, I feel like I actually have time to sit down and tell you a little something. This years Christmas was none like I had ever done. I let the kids pick out what they wanted this year so that there will be no disappointments or "I didn't really want that".  Let, me rephrase Ty and Syd were the only ones who really knew what they were getting. Bro is still at the age were anything is great. But, doing it this way was simpler.

Syd was so funny. When she was opening one of her presents she said, "it is not as exciting when you already know what you are getting." No I suppose it wouldn't be. But, hey, she got exactly what she asked for.

Ty got Legos and a new cell phone..(plus the mins to go with it). But, this is what he had to endure to get to his phone. I love holiday pranks. Don't you?

 Let us start with box #1

Box # 2..You should have seen Ty's face when he saw the diapers box. Mark told him it was never to late to be ready for whatever happens.

Box #3..Newspaper everywhere. If he didn't know better I bet he would he would have thought that is what he is getting..

Box #4..Yes it took me forever to get all that wrapped up so purtty just for him to tear into..

Yay finally he found it..

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Syd knew some of the things she got. Her list consisted of Duck Tape (all colors) and an MP3 Player, purple please.

I couldn't tell but does she look excited or what..?

Not the best picture but you can see the different colors and designs..

And there was one thing that she didn't know she was getting and that was a hot pink Wii controller...

She was not expecting this.!!!!  that's one for mom..

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Bro, like I said before had no idea what he was getting so this was fun..

 He got an ORANGE Mp3 player..

Harry Potter Lego Wii game..

This is a Lego Motorcycle kit. His Big Brother Ty wanted to get it for him for Christmas. I just thought that was so sweet..

Truly we had a very good Christmas. We also make Jesus a HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAKE.

Which tasted really good and looked like meatloaf. Yes that is right meatloaf. Hey don't judge I can cook just not bake cakes..

Merry Christmas

I pray each of you have a very blessed Christmas this year.

Family/Friends
Trees/Presents
Christmas lights/Good food

And the best of all the Birth of our Saviour.

Elf mania!!

Well we finally did it.. WE have been officially Elfed!!

What about you??

Click here for Stinkin funny antics

A New Recipe!!

And the kids actually love it. See, I have some of the most pickiest kids you will ever meet. Luckily, though through our change from processed to organic they have been great sports about it all.

Night after night I do get a little tired of cooking the same thing. And, I posted here about how my husband likes his meals.  So, tonight I did something completely out of character for Arica. I found this recipe online.

Aish's Grated Potato Kugel

3 cups of grated Potatoes
3 t of grated onions (optional) we omit kids don't like onions
4 t of Olive Oil
1 1/2  t of salt
1/8 t of pepper (I seasoned to my liking)
3 eggs
1/3 c of Potato Starch

1) Beat eggs until thick
2) Stir in Potatoes and other ingredients..(I also added Hamburger meat here)
3) Grease pan/dish
4) Bake at 350 for 1 hour.. 15 min left add cheese (optional)  we did

I have to say it was great. Simple, easy, and fast. Just the way I like to do meals. However, not to often that they are like that..

As you can see here I put the cheese on before, mistake it was a little crispy by the time it got done. I will wait next time..

All the new Pictures

I know you all are admiring our new family photos as well as I. So, I just wanted to share with you guys some of the others that we took that were well not as good as I had hoped.

And, just to let ya know I took all of these with a timer and a ladder.

Arica is not paying for a professional photographer anymore...

That is all folks..Hey look my husband can smile.. sorta

Outdoor Fun!!

Yesterday, I didn't feel very good. So, I mainly stayed inside and took plenty of meds for my head cold and fever. I was so cold that I had my husband build me a fire.

But, Syd and Bro were quiet bored and asked if they could play in the little shed. I figured sure nothing interesting in there anyway. This little shed is where I put all my Christmas decorations and "need to put it away, but where" items. I am sure all of you have a place like that.

After a little while I didn't hear anymore banging around, so I got up to check and them and this is what I saw....

That is Syd on crutches up side down.

Stiles is what they were calling them..

What a balancing act.

I was super impressed with them both. Each had their own set of crutches. I guess if you bored enough you sure can think of ways to have fun with whatever is lying around.

She made if from the trampoline to round the back side of my husbands shop.

You go Boy!!

I could never, ever do anything like that or would have ever thought of walking on upside down crutches.

All cleaned up!!!

Remember the other day when I showed you pictures of my kids nasty rooms. Today, I made them clean them and I also promised photos. Just a little bit of info...I didn't help.. Other than direct were something doesn't or does go..

First Bro's Room

Much better.. I can see the floor.

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Now we have Ty's room...

I knew he could do it.. Although I believe I may need to show him again how to make the bed.

What a way to organize..

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Finally..saving the best for last..Syd's Room

What do you mean there was carpet under there?

She got everything put away..I am so proud of my kids for working so hard..

Superb Sunday

What a beautiful day today. Yes, it was a little cool out but, just the right weather for Dec..Don't you think?

This morning our Choir sang a wonderful Cantata. I loved the music.They did a great job.
Then after church we went and ate with family. After dinner, we rushed home to make goodies for our Christmas Tree service at church..

I decided to make cupcake (all store bought ingredients). They were delicious

Sorry the picture is bad. I couldn't get my camera to focus on it. But, that was a Rolo on top of it.

I have to say, I believe everyone had a great time. We had a great gathering with fellow believers.

The kids were really blessed this year with wonder gifts from teachers, friends, and the church..
What goes with good old fellowshipping?  You guess it, FOOD..

Yummy!!!!

I am very thankful for my Church Family and the love that we all have for one another.

What do you

think when you see a school bus, cheese wagon?

"Oh, the joy of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers."    Do you know where this came from?

I know, that, I have addressed this issue many times in my posting, but it is something that I have become very passionate about.. Public school.

First, I want to tell you guys of a video I just watched call Indoctrination. If you haven't heard of it you can go to www.indoctrination.com. This video will move you.

I look up at the verse Psalm 1:1..Think about the words for a moment.

Who are the wicked? Is it the teachers or principals? What keeps God out of our school system?
The Government.
How can my two older kids be salt in their schools when their is no flavor?

Matthew 5:13 Jesus said, " You are the salt of the earth. But, what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless."

That is what is being done to the name of Jesus. It is being trampled on by the very system that was founded on Christianity. The English came to America for freedom of religion. And, now that is being taken out of our school.

When the schools are taking the name of Jesus out of every part of life in which He created are they not taking out the salt?

Proverbs says, Train your child in the way he should go and he will not part from it.
But, when I have to send my other two to public school who is doing the training?
When the state has to train the teachers then the teachers are hired to train your/mine children.

Why do I talk about this a good bit? Because, I feel very guilty that I am not able to home school them.

My dear followers, will you be in pray with me for Jesus to change the heart the man who has every other week with "our" kids? Pray that the heart change will be to home school Ty and Syd.
Do I think that the schools they are  "good school"? Yes, it has great potential if we could put Christ back into it. However, I feel that over the course of some years that it to will be subjected to teach that homosexuality is OKAY! That we are in charge of the things we want. That sex before marriage is okay as long as you use a condom...

I am afraid for my 13 year old or my 10 year old to come home with a condom in their pocket/book bag and say "The school is handing these out to practice safe sex."

How about no sex... How are they to believe what I teach at home and church when they sit 8 hours a day for 12 years in classroom that tells them it is not TRUE?

Pray with me.. I pray that my ex's eyes will be open to the dangers of what we send our children to each day. Never would you consider letting a stranger come into your home and watch your kids for you while you ran to the grocery store. But, is that not what most of us are doing now.

We don't know anything about the person that our kids spend 8 hours a day with. They are complete strangers to us, but yet we send our children there. So tell me what is the difference? There is none.

One of the things I have noticed big time in the school system is and I am sure most of you know it, that there are Christian teachers in our schools but, they are not allowed to talk about their faith at all.

What happened to our first Amendment Rights? That is part of our own Government. We can talk about it at our work place, on the street, in a story, so why not in the School? This place is no difference that that of any other place we can go into.

Jesus said in Luke 9: 26
"If anyone is ashamed of Me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person....."

There is more to that verse. But, I don't want for children to feel that they should be ashamed of God's word because it is not allowed in schools.

Doing my Best

Not long ago I mentioned in a post that I had gotten a new treadmill for Christmas. I just want to say that I am lovin it...(no sarcasm).

Many moon ago I used to be well skinny..What?!?!?

Yeah.. that's right skinny.. It's okay you can say it.. I really enjoy the word SKINNY, SKINNY, SKINNY..See just saying it makes you feel better..OK maybe not..

Anyway back to what I was saying. I used to be more in shape than I am now. I worked out really hard.
I was what you would call a Gym Rat. I was there about 5 days a week, 1 1/2 to 2 hours a day. Pumping Iron, running, you name it I was doing it. I will say that it was hard work. But, after about 6  months of making myself go I really began to enjoy working out. Funny you say. But, honestly I did. I felt as though that is what my body needed. Hanging in at around 7% body fat is not bad.. Now, I have about 85% body fat.. (just guess) because my middle looks as though I have been trying to get bread to rise for about 4 years now. I keep thinking that if I make a loud noise that the "bread" will fall. NO such luck yet..

And, I don't mean to brag but I was one HOT MAMA....oh yeah...

But, like all good things it came to an end. And, slowly pound by pound I began to grow wider.

Of course then I got married and well that just sent me over board.. I really started packing on the hips and back butt..(in case you don't know what a back butt is. It is the to large love handles right above where your booty cheeks are.) I officially have two booties and upper and a lower..

Not very attractive if you ask me.

So, I vowed that I would do my best to stay committed to running at least 1 1/2 miles a day.

Now, comes the truth. I haven't ran at all this week until today. I tried to make up for it. I ran 2.6 miles according to my trip display screen. So, I have to say that was better than nothing.

As, I climbed off the treadmill today I told my husband that I feel skinnier... I asked him if that sounded funny.. and he said NO..Thanks babe.

I love this man, because no matter what---wide hips and back butt---he still finds me ;-) !!!!!

Procrastination

---to put off repeatedly 2. to keep postponing something supposed to be done.

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Lately for me that has been cleaning. I have been praying that no one just stops by with out notice.
I have this rule/demand in my home I DO NOT clean up my kids room. I just refuse to do it. Now, I have been know to help from time to time in organization.(which I love to do). But, I have to remind myself that most of the house is mine and the kids have some chores they do around here. But, however their room is ALL their responsibility.

Is it embarrassing? Yes, because their are still people out there who have not seen our house and when they come over I would LOVE  to be able to show them every room.

But, when they look like this I just can't ....

First we will do Bro's Room........

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Next, we have Syd's room

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Now, we have Ty's room

Ok, so you ask why haven't you made them clean those messes? 

~~Well, I really don't have a reason. I just haven't made them do it. But, I am hoping that they will learn a valuable lesson.. What that lesson will be is solely up to them..

So you see procrastination is in my vocabulary.. I just wish it wasn't.

Please don't judge.. I will have the kiddos clean their rooms and when I do you will be the first to know..

Finally I'm in the Spirit of Chirtmas and this is what I needed

Syd singing in the Christmas Caroling at school last night..Seeing her all dressed up in red that brought a smile to my face and a  warm spot to my heart.

I do believe that I am ready to celebrate my Jesus' Birthday..

Okay, so I have attended this wonderful display of Christmas music..

And, you won't believe that we did Sat...!!!!

YOU guessed it we put our Christmas Tree up..

Look how purtty!!!

We also got this done too.....!!!

All the presents wrapped up...

But, I do have to say it was fun and exciting to go through and put ever thing up for this season of celebrating..

This is what it all looked like as we were getting ready for decorating...

Yes, yes, yes!!! this was all part of getting ready....Syd is riding Rudolf if you can't tell...

Ty helping with the stockings...

Bro and Syd helped get the eatin place ready too.

 Please don't look at the junk shelves behind the beautiful children.

So, now I do believe that my Christmas getting ready is done..

Now, to wait and have birthday cake and open presents...

Life in the Frugal lane!!

As some of you may know I have been trying to live a little more frugal nowadays.. which is not easy.

I am going through this book called Financial Peace by Dave Ramsey. Let me put it to you simple the man means business. NO horsing around with your money.
One of the things that he had me do what write down every where I spend money.. OUCH!!

Plus many other books.
Dummies for Financial Reports
Idiots Guide to Finances in your 20s and 30s.
Susan Orman-which I didn't get to far into until I realized, Nope not for me.


I just want to state the fact the devil made me do it. (Right). I really like to spend money on whatever.
So here and now I take a stand!!! To not be careless with what God has giving me. I will pray over how God wants me to handle my our money.

There were a few things I like to do...

Eat out
Consignment shop.

I absolutely love to do both of those.. One more than the other....

Next I need to make a budget...done one before. Sticking to it I did not. Making it was easy, staying with it very, very, very hard.

But, I must be disciplined.. ONLY with God's help.. I know WE  can do it.

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Upon trying to live on less. I am doing different things around that house like making my own laundry detergent, oatmeal, pancake mix (which by the way will also make great tasting muffins).

Just a tid bit on the laundry detergent. I had to make some adjustments to the recipe this time. I didn't like the first one. So I altered it to fit my families needs. Yes, I ended up using some more of the other ingredients but it was still cheaper then going out and buying some name laundry detergent.

Another few things that I have been doing is trying to grow some of my own food. This year we had a garden down the road. However, it didn't work out at all. Because, the deer and rabbit were needing it so much more than we were.

So, I planted tomato plants, bell pepper, and banana pepper plants here at my house in pots.
Now, when we had the very first freeze I lost all my tomtao plants. Boy, was I angry. They had just stated making a lot of tomatoes.

But, some how my Bell and Banana pepper plants survived. Now, I bring them in every night.

This is the forth pepper off this plant..

This is the only one so far. I know he looks awful. I just hope he gets bigger.

This is the first time I have ever grown these two things..

Then, the last co-op some one game me some cabbage plants and I have two growing some what well.

So you see. I am doing it the Griner way. Which also may be somewhat like other people.. But, hey being frugal should be the way to grow..or go.

There are some books I have been reading on garding as well...

All I got from my local library.....