Catching up

Ahhh...the dishes are done, bed is made, bathroom cleaned, laundry going, kids doing history...it's almost lunch. I love it when things get done and the day goes smooth. I wanted take this time a catch up on my blogs.

The kids & I went on a Field Trip/PE last Friday to the zoo. We walked there is was just so nice out. I have some pics on the HS blog. The bench is from the zoo, by the playground. If you look really close you can see J beyond the tree. I have been catching the kids in my photos more!

Today we are going to go on a "Nature Walk" to the "lake" on the base. We are going to observe the bird life there. Take notes, pics, etc.

We are going to have band practice tonight. Outreach tomorrow, outreach Sat. & play prac. Sat. We perform Feb. 7Th!! Can't wait.

I have to tell you about a miracle that happened. Last Wed. I had to get a few groceries, milk, bread, etc. I had used all of out food $ already and was going to get it from another envelope. When I went to pay there was $30 in my wallet!!!! The money wasn't there before...R didn't put it there. I know I spent what was left in my wallet. Isn't God good!! It was more than I needed too!

I have also just recently taken the plunge into scrap designing! Right now all of the layouts that I make are with other people's kits. Like going to the store and buying papers, etc for scrap booking only doing it digitally. I have been wanting to learn how to design for awhile. I have all of these ideas in my head. I have already learned a few things and I'm REALLY excited about it!

I also need to get to changing the words for new songs for our band.

Well, I have to go. Have a good day!

I made a tutorial for you guys. I know that some of you don't know how to leave a comment. I didn't either.
Anyone can leave a comment.
There's no need to set up a Google Account.
If I can do it, you can!

I took pictures and added instructions for ya!

First, I suggest opening two Internet windows, so that you can look at the photo and then go to your own screen with each step.

Step One: Under each post there's info. Look for the COMMENTS. (It will have a number before it. That only tells me how many comments people have made on that one post.) Click on the COMMENTS.
I can only fit five photos per post, so the rest continues below!

After you click the "COMMENTS", a window will pop open.
This is where you leave your comment. Next, you'll type the code (the mixed up letters) into the box. This is so spammers, etc. don't get into your blog.

Under "CHOOSE AN IDENTITY", if you don't have a google account, you can click on Name/URL - you only need to put your name. There's no need for your URL.

Or you can click on Anonymous.
If you choose Name/URL your screen will look like this. Just type your name there.

You are now ready to publish your comment!!

Thanks! Look forward to all of those comments!! heehee!

Ohhhh...I'm getting antsy!! I wish they'd drive that truck right up to our house!! Spring Training is right around the corner! (Picture form the Dirt Dogs Site...truck loaded with Red Sox gear!)

I'm already singing *Diry Water* & *Sweet Caroline*!

A picture speaks a thousand words!! HA!

Yesterday, was DH's birthday!

This photo of him "blowing out" his candle has a kind of funny story. I wanted to get a good shot, but he kept blowing it out right before I snapped the picture. This picture is probably the third or fourth attempt! We were all busting up!! Oh, the pie was one of the pies left from C's party!


Here he's eating his birthday meal of Mexicali Meatloaf! A favorite from his mom!

Sat. night we had play practice. All of us are in it. J & I are behind the scenes. R is the bartender and C is a mall person. We are going to perform it Feb. 7th!! Can't wait!

Happy Birthday!!

Phew!! I think I can relax now! The holidays are over and C's birthday is done. She is 13!! Can you believe it? Some days it seems like just yesterday...
She's a really good young lady! We are really blessed by her everyday!
Last might we had her party. Friday nights is usually the youth night, so we put the two together. We had the youth bible study then had her party. We had about 20 teens, of which only five were girls! It was a good time. Dad was off and sang and danced for her in the morning! (Daaaadddd!)

Here she is blowing out her candles. I wanted to get so many more pics, but I was pretty busy. Here's the buttermilk pies! She wants these every year. I made three and only one got eaten! C helped me out a lot with the pies. Soon she'll be able to take over! She decorated these two!

Here's a photo I took of her earlier in the day.

She had two friends spend the night. R made breakfast...waffles and Chorizo con huevos (mexican sausage with eggs).

Worst Dressed!

Okay, maybe I'm stretching it a bit...but this is how I looked for our bike ride today. I wasn't about to take a pic of my hair!! I would've really made it on some body's Worst Dressed list! Funny, nu shoes look much cleaner on film them in real life.

We have had a bit of a last few days. (Does that even make sense??) So glad it's Monday to start fresh.

DH had a wake & funeral to go to of one of his co-workers. The man was like late 40's. Died in his sleep.

Our truck broke, went to the shop, got fixed (not), went back in the shop. Still there.

Sun. morning our bathroom started to overflow. DH snaked almost 75ft to get to the clog!! Roots. There was something else, I know I'm forgetting. But you get the idea.

On a good note, DD had to get her frames replaced. Her old ones broke (that explains why we had so many problems). They finally came in. We didn't have to pay the $15 replacement fee since we had to wait so long!!

When DH rented the snake, the guy asked if he knew how to use the machine, etc. DH replied that he should have a gold card for the many times he's had to rent it. They gave him a pair of gloves! He was excited!

Thank God for friends with trucks who are willing to help. They saved us lots in tow truck fees. I'll be making them some of my (Paula Dean's) Blueberry goodness!!

DH & I actually feel much closer with all of this going on.

Enough rambling. Sorry I don't have nything for Mmm Monday for ya!

Hi!

Just writing a quick note to say, I'm still here. Just busy!

Important Issue

Please check out my teaching blog for an important issue.

Good news, Bad news

Something is up with blogger, I can't load any pics.

Anyway, Good news...we have a new dishwasher! If you don't know our dishwasher saga, let's just say we've been handing washing dishes for about a month. I honestly didn't mind. We have this online yard sale here and I was looking through it, found a 3 1/2 year old Maytag for $50!! I emailed the seller. Called them...it was busy. Called again...busy. Finally got a hold of them...someone else had called before me and was going to look at It that night. Ok, I asked the guy if he could call us if they people didn't get it. He said he'd call either way. 8:20ish rolls on by, I asked DH is I should call the seller. I did, the people never came by!! DH went and got it! Our DS was more then overjoyed! He said he was grossed out by the food floating in the water when he'd do them by hand! LOL! (That's why we rinse after eating my dear boy.)

Bad news...our truck broke this morning. Here's the short of it. 2 summers ago it died. DH & a friend fixed it. We're talking new motor, etc, etc. I am the main person to drive it as DH works so far away. The clutch never felt right, too hard to push down and shift. Fast forward to a few months ago. Dh has been working closer, so he's been taking the truck. He started noticing the things that I said. Fast forward to yesterday. He said that he had to use two hands to shift! He was taking it in this morning to get fixed. He went to start it, POP! We are getting a new clutch and something else. But it's something expensive! Good news, he have an emergency fund.

Tools for Tuesday

Since this is the new year, I wanted to tell you what I do with our calendar to help me stay organized. If you're like me you are very busy with the kids' school, events, appointments, b-days, on & on. It seemed like I would write everything down, yet still miss stuff. So, for the past couple of years this is my secret and it really helps.

*First, keep your calendar where you and everyone can see at a glance. No, you won't look like Better Homes & garden.

*Second, the spaces in your date boxes should be big enough for more than one important event.

*Third, I like color. Everything has it's own color. Birthdays, Ann are red. School in green. Church events - blue. Appt. - orange. Dates w/friends etc. - purple. Other - brown.

It really helps me remember, even though we write on our chalkboard and erase board too.

Mmmm Monday

Here's a recipe for ya. This one comes from the Taste of Home Mag. April/May 2006 issue. It's easy, yummy and calls for items I usually have on hand. C & I am eating leftovers of this right now!

Spanish Rice Empanadas

Prep: 25 min. Bake: 20 min

1 pkg. Spanish Rice

1-1/2 cups cubed cooked chicken (I used grnd beef.)

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 c green onions (I used onion powder, not 1/2 c though.)

1/4 c chopped ripe olives (I used about 2 TBL chopped blk)

2 pkg refrigerated pie pastry (room temp works best)

1 egg yolk

1TBL water

Prepare rice according to package omitting oil or butter. Cook meat. In large bowl mix meat, cheese, olives and onions. Stir in prepared rice.

Roll each pastry each pastry out, place on greased cookie sheet. Spoon 1/2 rice mixture onto 1/2 of each pastry. Spread to within 1 in of pastry edge. Fold other end of pastry over filling; crimping edges to seal. Beat yolk and water; brush over tops.

Bake @ 400 for 20 - 25 min or until golden brown. Cut empanadas in half and half again. Serves eight.

I posted this on my Pressed Petals blog but wanted to share it here with you, in case you don't visit that blog. This layout (LO) is some of this past years LOs. I got the idea from another lady on Scrap Matters (SM).

Have a great day!

Call me crazy, DD did. I started a new project and with it a new blog. Some of us ladies are trying to take a photo a day for the whole year. To make it easier I made a blog just for that. Feel free to check it out if you want. http://365daysofourlives.blogspot.com/

Just wanted to say HI! I know you are out there...
You know I have to say that some of those ads are a bit silly, sorry. But thanks for clicking!

"#1 Law of Losing Weight"...Put the fork down! LOL!

Happy New Year!!

Last night was really fun! We went to church for Wed. service. I had nursery. Wow! It was a full house! We (the church) had a potluck to end the fast. Then had a testimony service and our annual No Talent Talent Show! The talent show was much smaller this year, but it did not disappoint! (Each skit, song, etc has a gospel message.)
The prizes/winners were in these categories:
Cutest - Br. Girls sang with the Jesus Take the Wheel song.
Best Gospel Message - Freddie did a street style poem, Let Me Introduce Jesus
Most Talented - A bunch of people Ve. Br. was the main character, Her DH was Jesus. This was so anointed!! Here's a link to God Tube where they got the idea. (The folks in our church were WAY better!!) http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=eaffd39d1a76c175bd32 Awesome!!!
Funniest - You have to know these people to totally understand. Three of our folks rapped! Manuel, Eileen & Liza!! TOOOOO funny! It was so cute! It was going to be in Spanish, English & Chinese. But ended up Spanish, English, English!
Better Luck Next Time - Was a group of young guys doing a skit. They knew they got it.

Anne, C recorded it on her MP3 so we'll try to get you guys out a CD. You'll Love it!

Then we prayed in the new year! We all slept in this morning, of course. Today we are cleaning, cleaning, cleaning! What a way to start off the year!