Dear Snowmen,
I normally keep you around until the end of January.
However, with our 50 degree weather and
very noticeable lack of snow, I'm putting you away early!
Out with the snow...in with pink and red, hearts, and LOVE!

The kids and I spent last weekend at Mom and Dad's.
We enjoyed our time on the farm, special time time
with special people and listened to some
much needed help and encouragement for the upcoming year.

Soup Recipe

Here is the soup recipe from the last post.

I made it up...so feel free to blame me if you don't like it! 

Add to your Crockpot in the following order: 

Four Johnsonville Chicken Sausages with Herbs and Cheese

(I cooked them on the stovetop first in a bit of water and

then cut them into small pieces.)

Carrots - cut into small pieces

(I didn't measure...my kids like them so I add a lot)

Red Potatoes - cut into small pieces

(same as above)

Onions - diced and cooked until clear

One can of white beans - drained and rinsed

One can of petite diced tomatoes

(I used low sodium)

One large can of reduced sodium chicken broth

About two-three handfuls of fresh spinach - washed

Four bay leaves

(be sure to remove these afterwards)

Cook on High

It took about six hours for me.

Could take four if you cut your vegies really small

~~~

Enjoy!

Just a few of today's thoughts:

I love my Crock-Pot (and Johnsonville Chicken Sausages make a great addition

to the soup pictured above).

It's amazing how better choices are made throughout the day when you

start the day out right.

The next person to ask me to do something might just hear the word "no."

But a nice "no."

I love having Bob and the kids home, but it is SO nice when everyone goes back

to their regular routine so I can really clean the house.

I know that there are those that miss the snow, but you can't beat these

gorgeous days!

I can't leg press as much as I could in high school...yet!

I've got some very creative, talented friends!

I'm thinking "Lake Cottage (dusty blue)" for our bathrooms and "Foaming Waters (lightly tinted dusty blue) for our hallway.  Should go awesome with the existing "Bundled Rye."  I've almost accomplished my mission to have not a single white wall in the house.

Magic Erasers have got to be my favorite cleaning invention (just don't use them

on counters or tables with a shiny finish!".

Can't wait to watch Ryan play basketball.

I want need! to craft...soon!

The view out my kitchen window tonight...gorgeous!

Happy Seventh!

Dear Emmalee,

Seven years ago today, you completed our family.  You brought to us your sweet, dimpled smiles and your contagious laugh.   You brought your soft heart, which has helped the rest of us be just a bit kinder.  We are so thankful for you.

You at seven:

*You love school and are sad when we have a day off.  You love to learn, help your teacher,

and play with your friends.  You tell me that your favorite subjects are math, reading,

and spelling.

*Your favorite things to do you play with your friends, read with Mom and Dad, Play DS with Ryan,

and explore out at the poor farm.

*I love to listen to you and your friends play.  You and the three friends that you have over to the house are so imaginative.  Very few of your toys "do" anything, but you all bring them to life with your stories and playacting.

*I've loved watching you learn to read.  It's so much fun to go looking for you and find you with your head bent over a book, sounding out the words you don't know.

*You have a secret language with your best friend at school...Meep!

*You want to be an artist when you grow up.  I've got quite the collection of drawings and paintings that you've done...and they are beautiful!

*You don't weigh very much, so you're still able to give us monkey hugs.

I'll miss those when you're bigger!

Baby Girl, happy seventh birthday!

May this year be full of fun, new discoveries and lots of hugs for Mommy!



Happy Eleventh!

Dear Ryan,

Today you turn eleven! 

It's so hard for me to believe that it's been eleven years since we brought home that tiny 6 lb 10 oz baby and thought, "Oh my!  What do we do now?!"  Somehow, you've managed to survive

your parents as we've made all of the mistakes parents make with their first born. 

Hopefully that will continue, as I'm sure we'll make more!  :)

How to describe you at eleven?

^You love to learn...especially science.  I love to watch as you pull out your science kit and let your sister help you with experiments.

 

^Playing the saxaphone is your passion, and you fill the house with beautiful music.

^You've inherited both your dad's and my love for books.  You also inherited my ability to stay up late in the night because the book is just too good to put down!

^Most toys are a thing of the past.  You'll still have Nerf battles in the backyard with your friends and you'll occasionally play with your Legos. 

^Your uncle and Hop keep you supplied in your quest to build up your collection of knives.  They've taught you knife safety well, but this mother's heart still skips a beat occasionally.

^When you opened your birthday and Christmas money this year, your first thoughts were to buy something for your sister, for your dad, for Hop...and you offered to buy me a mocha...and I let you!

^Most of the time, you are a sweet, kind young man (I can't say little boy anymore!) with a soft heart who thinks of others.  Sometimes, we have moments of frustrastion and anger as you learn that we are indeed still your parents and still get to tell  you what to do. 

^You split your time between being nice to your sister and being mean to her.  The two of you can get into some pretty emotional arguments, but you can also be so sweet to each other. 

^You still give me hugs and tell me you love me.  I savor each and every time since I know that, someday soon, it will change.

^You do really well in school, but you do occasionally try to test the boundaries.  It's hard

for me as your mother to see you experience the consequences, but I love to see that the lesson is learned and the behavior not repeated.

^You are growing up so quickly.  From the time when you were a tiny little guy walking at ten months, to singing your ZYX's at two, to learning to fly at three, preschool at age four, being the best big brother at five, starting your long school career at six, learning the joy of a best friend at seven, adapting well to a new state, new friends and new school at eight, finally getting your first dog at nine, and trying new things at ten (saxaphone and basketball), we've enjoyed every moment.

Happy eleventh birthday, Ryan!



Give-Away Winner

Thanks so much for your kind words.

Emma drew a name last night...and came out with the person

that I've known the longest but have seen the least.  We met years ago at Parma, and then wrote letters back and forth between ID and TX through high school.  I love that we've connected again through our blogs and hope to see her again in person someday!

Kristen, can you please private message me your address on Facebook, and please

let me know your favorite color!

Thanks again, all.

Holiday Bazaar and (read the fine print!)

Amy and I survived our first holiday craft bazaar!
We sent our husbands and kids over to my house on Friday night, while I headed over to her house.  We started what we thought would be a quick practice set-up of our table.  After an entertaining run to Craft Warehouse and 4 1/2 hours at it, we finally got it all figured out!  Back up again at 630 the next morning, we stopped at Starbucks and then headed for the bazaar. 
~~~
We had the perfect location...visitors either came to our table first as they entered the gym or last as they left the gym.  There was a decent sized crowd and lots of friendly folks.  We were so luck to have so many familiar faces stop by...thanks so much to our friends and families!

Me with my display

Amy with her awesome creations

A friend's mother was visiting from CA, so she joined us with her beautifully crocheted and felted hats and scarves.

I might be a bit biased, but this little group were my favorite visitors!!
~~~
We ended up doing pretty well at the bazaar and have already started making plans for next year.
Luckily, neither of our husbands threatened to have us committed when they heard this!  :)
~~~
The Fine Print:
I just noticed that this is my 600th post!  600!!  Even I didn't know that I could babble that much!  :)
So, how about we have a give-a-way?
Leave a comment on this post telling me, well, anything.
I'll have the kids draw a name a week from today and the winner will receive
a little box of goodies from me.
Thanks so much for choosing to spend a bit of your time here on my blog and
at CraftedbyKatieB.

I can't stop!

I can't stop making these!
The pink and turquoise flowers are a new design.