Menu Plan Monday!

I can't remember if I've shared this or not, but Mark & I have enrolled in Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University to get a better handle on all things budget, saving, planning....finances...bluck. I can see how this program (if followed) can result in saving more, investing better and how to budget to accomplish that. I can see how all of that is liberating...but so far I still equate finances to math...and you KNOW how I feel about math. BLUCK.

Anyway - what does this have to do with Menu Plan Monday? Well, since we started chipping away at the daunting task named "budget" I've been looking for ways I can maintain my love for all things Target, Thrifting addiction and my beloved Diet Coke. So to give me a LITTLE sumpin' sumpin' in these categories, I'm trying to chisel down the grocery budget. (yes, I know this isn't the point - the point is to chisel down so you can SAVE more/give more/eliminate debt, etc., etc....but we haven't gotten there yet...so whatever..i'm manipulating the system for now). Anyway - to lessen the grocery bill, I've found that menu planning works WONDERS! If I plan out the week's meals on Sunday, buy the groceries we need for those meals only....I'm eliminating stupid little trips to the grocery for stuff we won't use. This saves $$$$!!!

So Thank you so much to orgjunkie for getting me going on this....stop over there and see what everyone else is eating this week!

Monday: Pork Chops/Scalloped Potatoes/Green Beans

Tuesday: Tacos/Spanish Rice/Pudding

Wednesday: Quiche

Thursday: Sesame Chicken/Egg Rolls (box kit & Schwan's)

Friday: Pizza Rolls (still looking for non-crescent roll recipe...something w/frozen bread dough or pizza dough maybe? anyone?)

Saturday: Chicken Salad Sandwiches - maybe Panini style (unless I can swing it & take Mark out for his b-day...the b-day he spent with the flu last week)

Sunday: Hamburger/Rice Casserole

Here are the recipes for the Hamburger/Rice Casserole (very economical & yummy) & the Quiche (super easy recipe) - enjoy!

Pizza Quiche

(the only thing that makes it pizza-ish is the cheese & the pepperoni…just mix up the meats or omit the meats and call it any kind of quiche you want)

Deep dish pie crust – Bake @ 350 for about 10 min.

Then mix the following:

2 C. cottage cheese
5 beaten eggs
4 oz. browned sausage
2-3oz. sliced pepperoni – sliced in strips
1 ½ C. shredded mozzarella
½ C. grated parmesan (or ramon, asiago, etc.)
¼ c. chopped onion &/or peppers, mushrooms, etc. – whatever you want

350 degrees for 45 min. or until center is done (almost ALWAYS longer by 15-20 min.)

Tips:
I use frozen sausage patties, warm in micro & chop up w/my chopper
Use any combo of cheeses you like
Also any veggies you like, etc.
Can vary from “pizza” to ham & cheese, broccoli, etc.
Important note:
Might look “milky” in center – that’s probably the cottage cheese – the yellow “egg” part will be yellow-ish

Hamburger/Rice Casserole

1 lb. hamburger
1 T. onion flakes
Salt/pepper to taste
1 C. raw rice OR 1 ½ C. Minute Rice
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can either cream of chicken or cream of celery soup (I use cream of onion)
2 soup cans of water
2 T. soy sauce

Brown hamburger w/onion flakes, salt & pepper. In a large casserole, put uncooked rice, soups and water; mix. Add drained meat & soy sauce; mix. Bake at 350 degrees (if using raw rice, cook for 1 hour, 15 min…..Minute Rice – 1 hour). I’ve often made this recipe w/out the soy sauce & it is still good.
Note: BEST as left-overs…..and feel free to melt some cheese over the top or sprinkle shredded over indiv. Servings ---- mmmm.

When we were sick, my Mom dropped off video games for the kids/husband. The kids haven't really played video games....it was a really sweet gesture from a desperate Grandma who just wanted to make it all better. Since she wasn't allowed in the house (quarantined!) she just dropped them off. Today was the first day anyone felt well enough to give them a try. Here's Lauren's first video game experience. She's really gettin' into "Dora Saves The Mermaids"... SOO funny to watch her try to control what's going on on-screen. She lifts her body up off of the floor trying to get Dora to jump, she leans right, leans left....lifts the controls way up in the air. hilarious! But also quite amazing. With little to no instruction, she pretty much just knew how to hold it, how to make Dora move, etc. What a different generation of kids. Here's video of the little gamer. =-)

Today Lauren was busy writing her shopping list. She carried around a pencil and note pad scribbling things like "cookies" and "juice boxes." It got me thinking...in a few short years I'll be able to actually have her write my list and then I can send Bailey to the store to buy it. Life will be good.

We made it!

By Thursday night we ALL (The Mom of 'Em included) were down & out with the nastiest stomach "flu" to hit our house EVER. Even the baby had a version of it - but no vomiting from him thank goodness. He did however have the NASTIEST diapers I've ever encountered, poor baby. I gave him a bath yesterday and afterwards he still smelled. Sickness is seeping from his pores I think. He is still battling the nasty diapers today but seems to feel okay otherwise. The rest of us are up, feeling well and hungry. We are a little nervous about what to put in our stomachs, but we feel pretty confident that we are over it.

On today's agenda? CLEANING! I'm going to open this germ-ridden stink hole out and fill my bucket with bleach water and get busy.

The Mom stands alone. The Mom stands alone. Hi-Ho The Dairy-Oh, the Mom stands alone. Yep - I'm the only one left standing. The stomach "flu" has knocked down Lauren, then Bailey last night, then Mark this morning...and then the baby...who isn't vomiting but the other delightful effect of the flu. It's just me now....and I'm determined I am NOT going to get it. And if I do? We're in BIG trouble.

A quick update:

Bailey got sick at 3 a.m. last night....Mark only made it a couple hours before coming home from work. Grant isn't eating....sleeping a lot....FOWL diaper. I'm the only one left....and I am NOT going to get it.

The eyes open....5 p.m.

More of the same... 1:00 p.m.

52 Blessings - #8 (yes, I'm behind)

After our unexpected trip to the emergency room last night, I am reminded how blessed we are to have good medical insurance as well as excellent health care providers in our area.

Better...but still sick.She's hydrated again - VERY thirsty and a fever today. She's pretty much just lying around, poor baby. She's not lethargic though and has some pink back in her skin, so much, MUCH better than last night.

It started at 12:30...complaining of "tummy hurt"...but I didn't think much of it b/c she's been saying that on-an-off since she was sick 3 weeks ago....usually she says that followed by...I need a pop (b/c we gave her 7-Up then)....at 3 she woke up crying and then BAM! Undigested mac & cheese everywhere. I threw her in the tub to wash chunks out of her hair. She continued to vomit all afternoon....when I didn't give her something to drink...she vomited bile. By evening she wasn't even lifting her head or sitting up to vomit...just lying there. Around 7:30 she vomited bile with little chunks of blood in it.

15 minutes until walk-in closed and we're off...Bailey rode along to hold the bowl while I stayed home w/Grant who is bawling and has a fever from shots yesterday. Mark called shortly after 8 to say they want to send her to the E.R. because she is deyhydrated, lethargic and they want to run tests that they can't at walk-in.

So I'm at home....worrying...hoping it is just the flu and that it wasn't really blood chunks but a Fruit Loop fragment or something from breakfast. If they admit her or if it will be late I'll have my Mom come over to stay with Grant (who is now asleep...for now).

I'm worried....how can a Mom NOT be? Even if it is just a bug....to see your toddler lethargic is horrible.

UPDATE: They started an IV to replenish her fluids. This took about 45 min....to find a vein. But the Child Life people are AMAZING and were great at distracting. They gave her some sort of anti-nausea drug, which ended the vomiting. Her electrolytes looked good...so about 30 more minutes on the drip and then she can come home! She is currently sleeping in Mark's arms....hasn't thrown up in awhile...just really thirsty. I know all of this thanks to text messages from Mark....what did we do without that technology in the past????? Iowa Methodist Rocks!

Lauren performing the Caillou number...

All Before 8:00 a.m.

Grant had shots yesterday (6 months...just a little early). He was/is fussy, running a low-grade fever, not hungry, wants to be held....poor baby. Because of this he was up at 2 a.m., 4 a.m. and 6:30 a.m....poor baby/me.

While I'm mothering my sick little man, Lauren brought me these in a plastic cup from her play kitchen:
She said "I broke my baby." Apparently ripped the eyelashes right off of her doll! And to think...just the other day she declared "Daddy? God is in my heart." =-) Thank goodness we don't buy NEW things - things that cost good money...I bought this Bitty Baby from a friend on-the-cheap...and here she is....eyelashless:

I explained to her that we need to treat our toys nicely, etc.....to which she replied "OK! Mommy!" in the absolute sassiest tone I"ve ever heard. She was immediately put in a TIME OUT. This led to much kicking and screaming and carrying on....which led to a move to her bedroom where there was about 15 more minutes of this behavior. I know they say a minute for every year...but what lesson is learned if they haven't calmed down yet first? I think she needed to calm down and reach remorse (the I'm sorry) before she gets outta that time out. Finally she got there. shwew.

Then Bailey missed the bus, so Mark had to take her to school, making HIM late for work. yikes. All before 8 a.m.

Busy Easter!

The day began at 5:30 a.m. - Bailey & Mark had to be at church by 7 a.m. (confirmation kids served breakfast and Mark supervised) and I wanted to grab a shower before they left. When the little ones woke I fed Grant, put him down for a cat nap and set out to get Lauren ready. You can read about THAT here.

Miraculously, I had everyone ready and loaded up for church by 8:30 a.m. Shwew! We had a nice service at church - and so nice to have Bailey sitting with us. She is usually in Sunday School while we are at church.

During church I started to sneeze, my eyes watered, my nose filled up, my throat was scratchy....not sure if it was the lillies or something else...still feeling it tonight. ugh.

After church we came home to find that the EASTER BUNNY had been here (that sneaky little bunny!) Then I hosted Easter Dinner (my parents came over). i cooked almost everything the night before and the ham cooked all morning while we were at church. MMMMM..smelled good!

Here are a few pics of our weekend - and my good lookin' family. (i can say that b/c I'm not in the pics (of course).

I don't have all of the details worked out yet on my meals this week, but I will tell you this....it will be much like the quote below...just substitute the word "Easter Ham"...

From the movie Forrest Gump...

Bubba: Anyway, like I was sayin', shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, sautee it. Dey's uh, shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. There's pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. That- that's about it.

I'll try to post the ACTUAL meals for the week...but seriously...lots of left-over ham involved.

Thanks to orgjunkie for hosting Meal Plan Monday....go see what other people are eating....wonder if I could barter ham for something on their menus?

Lauren: I want a bwuuuuuu dress.

Me: Your blue dress is for summer - this is your pretty Easter dress! (with encouraging enthusiasm) You look like such a beautiful princess in this pretty yellow dress!

Lauren: I no WANT a lellow dress. (arms crossed, lips pouted, brows furrowed)

Me: Lauren could you please go get me the phone? I need to call the Easter Bunny and let him know about this.......

Happy Easter!!!!

How DEEP the Father's love for us

HEARTBREAKING!!!

I can't believe the end of the Drake game - absolutely heartbreaking! The game went in to overtime....and it was tied with just a few seconds left. Western Kentucky has the ball and with literally LESS THAN A SECOND left on the clock, they shoot a 3-pointer and win. Not jsut any 3-pointer....it was closer to the half-court mark than the 3-point arch I think....and a one-in-a-million shot of making it un-manned, let alone with THREE Bulldogs on ya. Swish. And there I stood....stunned....mad....heartbroken. So here is what I have to say about that:

What the heck is a Hilltopper anyway? And what sort of stupid brand identity crisis does that school have going on? Ok - so you are "hilltoppers"....your mascot is a big red blob...and that's what they call him! And your logo? A red towel. That's the dumbest thing I've ever seen/heard. I'm mad at you hilltopper towel blobs - stealing away my victory (and ruining pools across the nation).

I'm rooting for Butler now....at least I can say Drake beat them recently. Ugh - I'm mad.

Today's schedule:

1. Kids to see Easter Bunny
2. DRAKE game!!! 11:30 a.m. Central.... My Bulldogs take on the Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky!!!
3. Nap for Lauren
4. Grant to Grandma & Grandpa's house
5. We (Mark took a vacation day) take the girls to see Horton Hears A Who
6. Clean (hear that family?)

Grant's Five Month Pictures

I took Lauren every month her first year to get her picture taken. I was nuts. The idea was to just walk away with my free 8x10 and boom - the entire first year of life documented in pictures. I was rarely able to accomplish this because inevitably there were more than one picture that tugged at my heart. All in all I never spent much though. So, now I would love to not haul the kids out each month...but how do you have one baby scrapbook (would-be scrapbook that is) with 12 portraits and the youngest with just a few....so off we go each month to keep things fair. Here are Grant's 5 months shots....the pictures I bought anyway. I had a free 8x10 coupon, another free 8x10 for being part of their "Smile Club" and so I actually only paid for one of these three. There were several other really good shots...but I narrowed it down to these three.

I just LOVE the spit drop in the one picture....it is almost the perfect droplet. And he LOVES to play "airplane" so I really like that shot. Here you go - have a look:

So I was wrong - it WAS Rocker Girl who went home last night....but I'm definitely not upset by that. I AM upset that Carly was in the bottom three. WHAT?! I'm hoping it is a case of America just assuming she'd be a top contender and taking a vote for her for granted. A few more so-so's to go and then it is going to be a really, REALLY great field of competitors.

No pictures the last few days because my camera battery went dead and I could not find my charger and extra battery anywhere! (help me, org junkie!) I finally found it in the pantry. ?! I was probably in the middle of carrying it to where it should have been when interrupted by a certain 2-yr-old I know.

Speaking of which, she is at Grandma & Grandpa's this morning. I had hoped to scrapbook w/a friend today, but there is just SO much to do around here. Hopefully soon. Having Lauren gone is going to allow Bailey, Grant & I some better quality time I think. We are headed to the mall to find Bailey a new belt and maybe get Grant's picture taken....we'll see.

I'll leave you with a few quotes from Lauren. Contrary to what it is going to sound like - we are not trying to raise her to be a prejudice nark (is that how you spell nark?)

While at Target recently: "Who is THAT yucky guy?"

While at home: Head down, lips pouted, shuffling pathetically (the girl will be up for an Oscar someday - mark my words).....
Me: What's wrong, Lauren?
Lauren: Sissy is BOOOOOORING.

As I'm coming up from the basement: "Mommy? Sissy went upstairs and she woke up Grant!"

You'd think with a 10-year age gap between the girls they'd get along a little better, now wouldn't you? =-)

My American Idol Picks This Week...

My favorite three in order of preference based on last night's performances:

Carly - MAN! This girl can sing! Contrary to Simon's thoughts on the song choice - I thought it was brilliant on all-counts.




David - Definitely the most-talented vocals of the "men." He needs to really shine with a non-ballad next week.

Brooke - Most talent overall. Vocally she may not be THE best...but musically - the girl gets it. She plays multiple instruments - well...and has a very clear understanding of her style, her limitations....and I like her.

And my pick for who should go home this week:

Ramiele - Cute as a button, for sure...and good pipes...but the girl just can't pick a song to save her life! Because of this, she goes home before Rocker Girl with far less vocal talent.

Monday: Blue Hake fish filets/asparagus

Tuesday: Cheesy ranch chicken w/veggies

Wednesday: Chili

Thursday: Cashew chicken, rice, egg rolls

Friday: Pizza night

Saturday: Fend for yourself/leftover night

Sunday: Ham, corn casserole, potatoes, rolls (Easter)

Head on over to Laura's site for more meal ideas! She hosts an amazing Menu Plan Monday with dozens, if not hundreds of ideas each week.

The older our eldest daughter becomes, the more we like this:

APPLICATION FOR PERMISSION TO DATE MY DAUGHTER
NOTE: This application will be incomplete and rejected unless accompanied by a complete financial statement, job history, lineage, and current medical report from your doctor.
NAME_____________________________________

DATE OF BIRTH_____________HEIGHT___________ WEIGHT____________

IQ__________ GPA_____________ SOCIAL SECURITY #_________________

DRIVERS LICENSE #________________

BOY SCOUT RANK AND BADGES__________________________________________

HOME ADDRESS_______________________ CITY/STATE___________ ZIP______

Do you have parents? ___Yes ___No
Is one male and the other female? ___Yes ___No
If No, explain: ______________________________________________________________

Number of years they have been married _______________________________________If less than your age, explain ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

ACCESSORIES SECTION:A. Do you own or have access to a van? __Yes __No

B. A truck with oversized tires? __Yes __No

C. A waterbed? __Yes __No

D. A pickup with a mattress in the back? __Yes __No

E. A tattoo? __Yes __No

F. Do you have an earring, nose ring, __Yes __No
pierced tongue, pierced cheek or a belly button ring?
(IF YOU ANSWERED 'YES' TO ANY OF THE ABOVE, DISCONTINUE APPLICATION AND LEAVE PREMISES IMMEDIATELY I SUGGEST RUNNING.)

ESSAY SECTION: In 50 words or less, what does 'LATE' mean to you? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

In 50 words or less, what does 'DON'T TOUCH MY DAUGHTER' mean to you? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

In 50 words or less, what does' ABSTINENCE' mean to you? ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

REFERENCES SECTION:Church you attend ___________________________________________________
How often you attend ________________________________________________ When would be the best time to interview your:
father? _____________ mother? _____________ pastor? _____________

SHORT ANSWER SECTION: Answer by filling in the blank. Please answer freely, all answers are confidential.

A: If I were shot, the last place I would want to be shot would be: ______________________________________________________________
B: If I were beaten, the last bone I would want broken is my: ______________________________________________________________
C: A woman's place is in the: ______________________________________________________________
D: The one thing I hope this application does not ask me about is: ______________________________________________________________
E. What do you want to do IF you grow up? ___________________________ ______________________________________________________________
F. When I meet a girl, the thing I always notice about her first is: ______________________________________________________________
G. What is the current going rate of a hotel room? ________________________

I SWEAR THAT ALL INFORMATION SUPPLIED ABOVE IS TRUE AND CORRECT TOTHE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE UNDER PENALTY OF DEATH, DISMEMBERMENT,NATIVE AMERICAN ANT TORTURE, CRUCIFIXION, ELECTROCUTION, CHINESE WATER TORTURE, RED HOT POKERS, AND HILLARY CLINTON KISS TORTURE.___________________________________________________________________

Applicant's Signature (that means sign your name, moron!) _______________________________ ________________________________
Mother's Signature Father's Signature _______________________________ ________________________________ Pastor/Priest/Rabbi State Representative/Congressman

Thank you for your interest, and it had better be genuine and non-sexual. Please allow four to six years for processing.You will be contacted in writing if you are approved. Please do not try to call or write (since you probably can't, and it would cause you injury).

If your application is rejected, you will be notified by two gentleman wearing white ties carrying violin cases. (you might watch your back)
To prepare yourself, start studying Daddy's Rules for Dating .

Daddy's Rules for Dating Your dad 's rules for your boyfriend (or for you if you're a guy) :

Rule One: If you pull into my driveway and honk you'd better be delivering a package, because you're sure not picking anything up.

Rule Two: You do not touch my daughter in front of me. You may glance at her, so long as you do not peer at anything below her neck. If you cannot keep your eyes or hands off of my daughter's body, I will remove them..

Rule Three: I am aware that it is considered fashionable for boys of your age to wear their trousers so loosely that they appear to be falling off their hips. Please don't take this as an insult, but you and all of your friends are complete idiots. Still, I want to be fair and open minded about this issue, so I propose this compromise: You may come to the door with your underwear showing and your pants ten sizes too big, and I will not object. However, in order to ensure that your clothes do not, in fact come off during the course of your date with my daughter, I will take my nail gun and fasten your trousers securely in place to your waist.

Rule Four: I'm sure you've been told that in today's world, sex without utilizing a 'Barrier method' of some kind can kill you. Let me elaborate, when it comes to sex, I am the barrier, and I will kill you.

Rule Five: It is usually understood that in order for us to get to know each other, we should talk about sports, politics, and other issues of the day. Please do not do this. The only information I require from you is an indication of when you expect to have my daughter safely back at my house, and the only word I need from you on this subject is: 'early.'

Rule Six: I have no doubt you are a popular fellow, with many opportunities to date other girls. This is fine with me as long as it is okay with my daughter. Otherwise, once you have gone out with my little girl, you will continue to date no one but her until she is finished with you. If you make her cry, I will make you cry.

Rule Seven: As you stand in my front hallway, waiting for my daughter to appear, and more than an hour goes by, do not sigh and fidget. If you want to be on time for the movie, you should not be dating. My daughter is putting on her makeup, a process than can take longer than painting the Golden Gate Bridge. Instead of just standing there, why don't you do something useful , like changing the oil in my car?

Rule Eight: The following places are not appropriate for a date with my daughter: Places where there are beds, sofas, or anything softer than a wooden stool. Places where there is darkness. Places where there is dancing, holding hands, or happiness places where the ambient temperature is warm enough to induce my daughter to wear shorts, tank tops, midriff T-shirts, or anything other than overalls, a sweater, and a goose down parka - zipped up to her throat. Movies with a strong romantic or sexual theme are to be avoided; movies which feature chain saws are okay. Hockey games are okay. Old folks homes are better.

Rule Nine: Do not lie to me. I may appear to be a potbellied, balding, middle-aged, dimwitted has-been. But on issues relating to my daughter, I am the all-knowing, merciless god of your universe. If I ask you where you are going and with whom, you have one chance to tell me the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I have a shotgun, a shovel, and five acres behind the house. Do not trifle with me.

Rule Ten: Be afraid. Be very afraid. It takes very little for me to mistake the sound of your car in the driveway for a chopper coming in over a rice paddy near Hanoi. When my Agent Orange starts acting up, the voices in my head frequently tell me to clean the guns as I wait for you to bring my daughter home. As soon as you pull into the driveway you should exit the car with both hands in plain sight. Speak the perimeter password, announce in a clear voice that you have brought my daughter home safely and early, then return to your car - there is no need for you to come inside. The camouflaged face at the window is mine.

Happy Palm/Selection Sunday! What the little ones wore to church - Go Drake!

(the women are on-fire as well - championship game today for them....followed by NCAA SELECTIONS!!!):

52 Blessings - Week 7?

I know I'm behind on my 52 weeks of blessings posts - so I'm going to post a few this week. First up.... My sister, Jami

My little sister - we've always been so vastly different. She was always organized - me? not so much. She only eats when she's hungry. Me? not so much. She is much more driven than I am, much more worldly in her experiences and travels. We spent much of our years at each other's throats. She put up with years of my big-sister bossing - I was the oldest and therefore I decided what channel we would watch, I decided what chores on my list SHE would do, etc. She endured sharing a room with her older sister - MY posters were on the wall, MY choices of music on the alarm clock radio, MY entire wardrobe littering the bedroom floor, etc. Very different - inside and out. Recently, however I've really come to appreciate and enjoy the woman she's become. We may not share a ton in common, but we have grown to really like each other - not just because we are sisters and we are supposed to...but because (at least on my end) I really DO like her. She makes me laugh. Her initiative inspires me. Her beauty and sense of style amaze me. Her knack for organization puts me to shame. She's a great friend - and I'm so blessed to also call her my sister.

And the Blog Party Winner is: (drumroll please......)

Dolls123 - Congrats! You won my giveaway of a Mary Kay Signature Black Mascara! I used random.org to generate a random number and you won! I'll be emailing you for mailing information.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by my blog during the Ultimate Blog Party 2008! Stop by again soon!

And Spring Break......Begins.......Now!

No school today, which begins Spring Break! Are we going on a cruise? Visiting family in neighboring states? Taking the fam to DisneyWorld? Ummmm....nope. Just hangin' out at home, playing outside (hopefully), maybe catching a movie (which would be Lauren's first), getting Grant's 5-month picture taken, maybe a pic with all three kids in their Drake-wear (Go Bulldogs!)....just relaxing and enjoying the time with Bailey home.

Of course the best-laid plans, right? "Work" emailed earlier this week wanting to set up a meeting and get things going again. (I freelanced back in November and now they are ready to ramp up again). But hopefully I will only be gone a couple hours today (between drive-time and actual meeting time) and then hopefully they won't need me to start until after Spring Break. Family first....the freelance gig is just a side-thing to my full-time job as Mommy. I'll know more about their expectations after 3 p.m. today. I don't know why I'm dreading the meeting/work so much - it isn't like the work is hard - it is more the balancing thing. Granted, only 10 hours a week, but finding those 10 hours in-between naps and laundry IS a big job.

Ok - enough about that. Spring has sprung - at least for two days. Snow forecasted again for weekend. But the last two days have been upper 50's or lower 60's - BEAUTIFUL! I was able to get OUTSIDE with the kids and play! yipee! (cabin fever was hitting us big-time). Lauren got a tricycle for her 2nd b-day back in August and she didn't get to use it much before cold temps hit. We've pulled it back out and it is like a new toy for her. I also scored a little Barbie VW battery car for her from a friend for $20 so she's LOVIN' that too. Here's a look at our faux Spring fun....and a cute one of my boys...just chillin'.

1 sickie, 2 sickie, 3 sickie, four....too many sickies inside our front door!

First Lauren, then Bailey, then Lauren again, then Grant...and today it's Mark. Too many sickies! Lauren has had 3 doses of Zithromax for her ears. Last night before bed she started complaining about her "bottom" and when I took off her pjs I found a huge raised rash all over her bottom and legs. Ugh. So today - during nap time of course - I'm taking both kids in for a check. I'm guessing her rash was a reaction to the antibiotic, but it was pretty much gone when she woke up this morning. I'm not giving her today's dose of medicine yet - just in case. Grant MAYBE had 4 ounces of bottle all day yesterday - so something isn't right there, either.

Bring on Spring so we can let these germs out of the house!

It's MARCH MADNESS time!

Having a brother that works here makes the whole family nuts about basketball...but THIS year, it's MY turn....my alma mater is kickin' some college basketball butt! Currently ranked 20th in the NATION...and probably better when the new poll comes out...we're goin' to the big dance! Woo-Hoo! Here you have a team that includes two starters who were WALK-ONs...yes, that's right - they chose a school based on academic excellence and THEN decided they'd like to play basketball too. Now that is admirable. Am I jumping on the Bulldog bandwagon? No...It's MY school and I paid for that bandwagon - I can jump on it or off it as I please. But woo-eee this year's tourney is gonna be exciting for me. Go Dawgs!!!

Daddy & His Little Princess

The Blog Party is HERE!

It's finally time for the Ultimate Blog party that 5 Minutes for Mom puts on every year. Welcome to the party - and welcome to my blog! If you are here as a result of the party - thanks for taking the time to stop by! A little bit about me?

I'm a stay-at-home/occasionally PR freelance-from-home Mom with three kiddos. Bailey is 12, Lauren is 2 1/2 and Grant is 5 months old. (um - yeah...busy around here). I love to scrapbook but never have the time or space, love, love, LOVE TiVo and Diet Coke. I enjoy being home with the kids but would go NUTS without blogs. (now I feel like a crazy for typing that).

Daily I try to form coherent sentences on my blog while babies are screaming or whining or Dora! is singing in the background. Sometimes it doesn't work out so well - but I try. I love to read and am in a book club but haven't finished a book selection in probably a year. I like to try new recipes and read blogs. I love to craft but also haven't found the time for it in quite awhile....another season.

Now, on to the good stuff! What would a party be without a giveaway?! I've got a Mary Kay giveaway for you (oh yeah - I do that too...but not so much of a consultant as I am a 50% discount for myself kinda gal). Anyway, I'm giving away a NEW MK Signature black MASCARA! (value - $15) I was going to make you search through my blog to answer a couple questions to enter - but I hate that, don't you? So I'm going to make it easy. All you have to do is leave me a comment on this post and promise to visit me every single day and leave me lots of encouraging feedback. Ok - that may be what I REALLY want...but all you have to do is leave me a single comment on this post....milling around my site is optional but encouraged. US Only - sorry! =-( Be sure if you don't have a blog to leave me your e-mail address so I can contact you if you win.

Have fun at the party!

The party is going to run today through March 14 at Midnight. You have until then to enter. I'll announce the winner on Monday, March 15.

It has been many days since I've posted. Between late-night laundry from sick kids to oil changes and parent-teacher conferences, it has been a very busy week! Lauren started the sick thing Tuesday night and then yesterday Bailey came home from school about an hour after she'd arrived there. She slept from Noon to 4 p.m. in the chair, despite the chaos happening around her. Happy to report she seems to be feeling better today!

Last night we had Bailey's parent-teacher conference. She is getting A's in her core subjects.....except Math.

I started Grant on rice cereal again. This time around he seems to be digesting it a LOT more easily. Now....keeping him awake long enough to eat it at night is a trick. He is still a nightmare when it comes to an afternoon nap so he wants to fall asleep at 5 or so. Must fix this!

Lauren is almost completely potty-trained after a week of hard-core training. She hasn't had an "accident" during her waking hours in many many days. She actually stopped playing this morning three different times and told me "I gotta go." Yeah!!!

But...she IS a naughty lil bugger...I set up a play tent for her, suggested she take her babies in there and read to them, maybe have a snack in the tent, etc. She was having fun....and then it got quiet. (and you KNOW the horrible sound of quiet).....she had gotten into my craft stuff when I wasn't looking (hello! busy with more than one of 'em!)....and this is how I found her:

This is stamp ink...supposedly washable....we'll see. Oh to be 2 years old and have absolutely NO self-control. If it weren't for THESE LONG, BEAUTIFUL lashes coated with big sad tears, she'd be down for a nap already....but I guess I'll let her eat first. =-)

Last night Lauren wouldn't touch her dinner - nothing unusual. But a half-hour later she started to say "I don't feel so well." Then she said she was hungry. I assumed this is why she didn't feel well, so I offered her the supper she didn't touch. No dice. Finally I caved and made her toast. She ate one nibble. Then she said she STILL didn't feel so well. I gave her a little Diet 7-Up and tucked her into bed. Less than 20 minutes later - you guessed it. Luckily I had put her hair in a ponytail on top of her head before she went to bed, so we didn't have to have a full bath or shower. However we DID have to change sheets, mattress pad, bed skirt, move the bed to clean it off of the frame and floor.

She seemed to feel better...so after we cleaned everything up we put her back to bed after another sip of 7-up. 10 minutes later? AGAIN! So we cleaned it all up again and let her watch The Backyardigans for about 15 minutes before we put her to sleep again. This time it stuck.

So far this morning she is doing fine. Maybe a little tired - but doesn't seem sick. She never had a fever...and it was an all of a sudden kind of thing. We are so lucky that she's really only thrown up a few times in her 2 1/2 years - and the other times were a one time deal and then she was done. This was the first time it was more than once. She was sweet - poor baby. Don't you just hate it when they don't feel good?

Here's hoping for a good day - and that the baby doesn't catch whatever it is she had - he's too little for that business.

On another note - prayers for a little boy named Kooper today who is waiting for biopsy results on a small cyst they found on his chest. Tests at Madison - so ultimate faith in his care - but I can only image the worry his parents must be going through - please pray it all comes out benign and fine.

Pizzazz and Potty Chair Success!

First of all, Bailey's show choir WON their competition on Friday night. Not only did they place first overall, but they brought home awards for Best Vocals and Best Choreography. Great job, Bailey and the entire group! You've worked so hard and it showed!

In Two-year-old news...well, it seems the potty chair was the magic we needed to conquer this daunting task called potty training. Since purchasing the chair late last week, Lauren has not had an accident during her waking hours. She doesn't even announce her need to go anymore - she just walks over to the chair, pulls down her pants and voila!

We haven't braved the outside world with big-girl underwear on yet....baby steps. However, at church yesterday she told the nursery workers that she had to go and used the big-girl potty twice! I think we're almost there!

The weekend also consisted of BEAUTIFUL weather! Saturday and Sunday we had sunny skies, melting snow (yeah! Finally!) and temperatures that didn't require a heavy winter coat and mittens......until last night that is. You see, yesterday it was in the upper 50's - low 60's actually....and last night? A significant drop in temps and about 4 inches of snow. CRUEL that Mother Nature! So here we go again. We had a very brief sample of Spring and now back to March in Iowa.

Grant has been better at napping, although still doesn't sleep for long - but at least he is getting easier to put down for a nap. He usually doesn't cry anymore - and if he does he just fusses for a few mintues. Progress!

Today I'll be busy planning the week's menu and cleaning up. (Weekends create disasters).

More later!