Just a Tuesday in July

I was Betty Crocker this morning. *pat on back

I made homemade granola. Here is the recipe.

It is in the oven still, but I am very anxious to see how it turned out.

I have decided upon recent weight gain that it is time to start doing something about it again.

I went to the gym yesterday. *again. pat on back

I haven't went since May. ok. Maybe April. Whenever Tancy went on her magical cruise. That's the last time I was there. *no pat on back here.

I have biked. But not regularly.

Anyway. Enough about that.

As you may know, I have 2 dogs. And my house smells like a pound. ( It probably doesn't, but... well I would hate for people to walk in and think... oh I smell putrid dog. ) So I thought I would spiffy up my couches. I wish I could just throw them right in the washer and then hang them on the clothes line for some real added freshness. But since that's possible, I don't quite know how to clean them. If you have any suggestions, PLEASE let me know.

My dogs aren't allowed on the furniture, but they still end up smelling like dogs. *gag me

Anyway, last night I poured 2 boxes of baking soda on them in hopes of deodorizing them. I will let you know how it works.

By the way, I keep getting a whif of the granola baking in the oven. ( on a pampered chef stone no doubt ) It smells PrEtTy amazing.

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Ok. It's done. And I really like the flavor. The only change I would make would be to not bake it as long. My oven bakes hot and I think it's way to done. Some parts have almost a burnt flavor to it.

But I will most certainly be making it again.

In other news......

Guess who decided she was going to potty train!!! We woke up yesterday morning and thought today is the day. And she did it. She had one tiny accident yesterday at nap time but she knew she had to go and was trying to get there. Which I still consider a success.

She has even gone #2 on the potty. *woop woop

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Goodness, now it is well into the afternoon.

We ( Maddie and I, who was on a serious book shortage )  went to the library. It was Emma's first time to the Library. She picked out 1 book. Lol. If you know me, I will probably forget to return her 1 book and the stupid thing will cost me an arm and a leg. I think I am going to set a reminder in my phone to return the book. Maybe that will help. May I also add, no accidents at the library?! :)

I have a party tonight. I love saying that I get to go to a party. That's what it really is. I get to spend time with people and try and help them releave some stresses of the day. We get to relax and enjoy each other's company even if just for a little bit.

I have in the oven a roast. I usually do it in the crockpot on low all day. But today I am trying it out in the Deep Covered Baker. I will let you know how it goes.

Last night I cooked 2 pork tenderloins.... in the microwave. EEK!!!! I am not usually a microwave chef, but I will tell you, they were surprisingly moist and juicy. I made a homemade BBQ sauce and we had BBQ Pork over some Hawaiian Sweet Rolls. DeLiSh!!!!

Next on the agenda is a chocolate lava cake in the microwave.

Enjoy the rest of your day.

P.S. I don't think the baking soda on the couches worked. Any tips will be greatly appreciated. I detest dog smell.

Look who's 2!!

This post is only a couple weeks overdue.

It isn't like I haven't had the time.

I just.... I don't know....maybe don't want to think that 2 years have gone by.

 

Little Tiny 6 # Emma.

 

 Has brought so much unbelievable joy into our lives. I truly cannot imagine a life without her here.

Sure it would be quieter. I wouldn't be as tired. I could count on sleeping through the night. Or eating a meal uninterrupted. Or a hot meal for that matter. My house would be a whole lot cleaner as well.

But goodness. I have so enjoyed watching her grow. Watching her learn. Watching her love. Watching her giggle.

She is always watching. Always learning. Always mimicking.

 

She loves her De-De. She loves to get into her stuff. To try and put on her de-dup.

 

She loves her bath.

LOVES her bath.

She loves her Daddy. She doesn't like to think that she is being left out of anything!

She loves her Bewwa.

 

She loves to help with whatever we are doing.

 

The thing she might love most is her babies. She has more babies then I can count. And she loves each and every one of them.

1 night we were with our small group and we wearing cleaning up getting ready to leave. Emma had been playing most of the night in the toy room with the babies and the little kitchen set that was there. She had been rocking this little bitty baby. She had the baby wrapped in a blanket and all. As we were getting to walk out the door, we went to put the doll down. Emma about died. She couldn't fathom that she had to leave that little doll. My friend couldn't bare to see Emma crying like that and told Emma she could take the baby home. Emma has been playing with the baby ever since.

Her cousin E-I (Eli)  is one of her favorite people. When they see each other they are inseparable. Recently Mike and Joanna came over for dinner. Eli and Emma were playing in Emma's room. Next thing we heard was a little boy screaming. Eli had gotten himself stuck in the laundry shoot. (thankfully he wasn't hurt and we were able to get him out! ) But a week or 2 after that, Emma pointed to the laundry shoot and started talking about her E-I.

She also loves her Jonas. We facetime Melanie and Jonas. I love that the kids can see each other and then they talk about each other for days after. :)

I love to watch Na-Na and Emma play together. Nathan loves his baby sister and already enjoys to torment her. It reminds me very much of an older generation....of my brother Jonathan and baby sister Joy!

 

She was the flower girl at her uncle's wedding. I snapped this picture. I am so glad I got it!!

 

 

 This might be one of my favorite pictures of Emma. I had been taking pictures of Maddie and Nathan on there 1st day of school and she had to get her picture taken as well.

 

 

1 thing I have seen in Emma is that she has a very compassionate. If someone is crying or sad she will go up to them and say....its ohtay....its ohtay...and give them a kiss. I love that about her.

Her new thing is she kinda tilts her head and says....mom....mom....mom....mom...and when you look at her....she just says...hi. And then gives you a great big smile.

Her favorite past times are: looking out the window at the big trucks, watching Elmo or Mickey Mouse, and playing babies.

Her favorite place to go: Papa's. She lights up at the mere mention of his name. She also loves to go to church and play with her friends.

 

Some of her favorite food would be: tacos, pizza, spaghetti, eggs, apples, oranges, pineapple and cinnamon rolls.

 

She loves sweet tea and ice cream.

 

Happy 2nd Birthday my little sunshine. You are a true answer to prayer.

 

My prayer for you today is that you seek after God your whole life, that you let Him use you however He wishes.

Happy December

Maddie had her "Holiday Concert" the other night.

The band did a good job. Maddie is one of the only 6th graders in the advanced band. I am pretty proud of her.

Maddie's new friend Madison. :)

Maddie's teachers all told me how much these 2 have in common. They are becoming fast friends.

Guess who is throwing tantrum's these days??

This one was because I wouldn't let her play with my nativity. Poor baby.

Jeremy put her in this chair the other night and Emma girl thought she was big stuff.

She sat their forever, just talking to everyone.

So cute.

Look at those eyes!!

She likes to play in my makeup when I am trying to get ready in the morning.

We have just come out of a rough week. I started out last week with the flu. And then Emma got it. And then Nathan got it. Not fun!

I think Emma is now fighting a cold.

Hopefully it won't last long.

 

 

My little lamb

I just realized that I forgot to post pictures of Halloween....

Nathan took off with the neighbor boys before I could get a picture. :(

And Maddie....well....she wanted to dress up, but couldn't find anything reasonable at the store.

and, well, I wasn't willing to fork over an arm and a leg for 2 hours.

So she didn't go.

She wanted to be Catniss but...well....she didn't want my help getting stuff together.

I thought it would have been cute if she was Bo Peep. ;)

Emma's costume I got for 2$ on a resale website I am on. Yah for bargains!!!!

Could she really be any cuter???

I hate making titles....

Happy Sunday!

We have had a busy day. Good, but busy day.

I still have 6 loads of laundry to do. And it's 9:35. I don't think it will get done before I go to bed.

I made a new-er recipe tonight for dinner.

It was a chicken dish. Pretty good.

Well....J and I liked it. The kids....well....not so much.

We raked leaves this afternoon.

And when I say we, I mean Jeremy and the kids.

SOMEONE had to stay inside and watch Emma, who refused to take a nap.

We actually had her outside for a little bit, but it was too chilly for her.

Emma is forever enthralled with the kids.

I love to see her watch them.

I just got done eating a delicious piece of pumpkin pie. Homemade of course by yours truly.

It was still warm, and the cool whip kinda melted off of it.

heaven

I love this picture of Maddie with Emma.

LoVe It.

Is anyone else ignoring the fact that Christmas is coming quickly?

But before Christmas......

and after Thanksgiving......

someone turns 1.

Happy 11 month bday Emma girl.

It. has. gone. to. fast.

A sweeter child there never was.

A quiet weekend

I was able to help with picture day last week....and that meant spending just a little bit of time with my dear friend Reitha. My Reitha is so very dear to me. We spent a lot of time together a couple years ago. I miss that time. I miss the heart to hearts we had.

I found it very neat that Reitha and Emma share the same birthday. Emma was quite taken herself with Reitha. :)

The American Girl Doll magazine came in the mail the other day. Maddie made Emma sit and look at it with her. Maddie has already shared her Bitty Baby with Emma. Bitty sleeps in Emma's crib with her. In the morning, I will go and and find Emma playing with her Bitty.

My Emma girl is growing so quickly.

She is into everything these days. She especially likes to try and play with a plant and my box of books I have in the living room. She still thinks "no" is a fun game. When we say "no" to her sternly, she will look and stare at us and then laugh and laugh.

Little Miss Thing is such a happy baby. I am so very blessed.

She is also trying to stand by herself.

She was thinking that she was big stuff!!

And then she did it!!!!

She stood all by herself for a couple seconds before falling into Daddy's safe arms.

It has been a quiet weekend. I think I needed it. I have a busy week ahead. Good week, but busy week. We have gotten the laundry and housework caught up (you know, just so we can get it messy again!!) and I have enjoyed doing a little extra cooking this weekend.

Church was good today. We have so been enjoying church. With hesitation we followed the Lords leading and left our church that we have called home for the last 10 years.  It was a tough decision, but with my changes in work, we knew we needed to find a church closer to home. We needed to worship together on Sundays as a family. We pray the Lord continues to make his way known to us.

I am tired now, Emma  and Nathan are finally sleeping. Maddie stayed the night at Grandma's tonight. My warm bed and Hubby are calling my name.

Have a great week.

I don't know what you are facing this week. I don't know what I am facing this week. But as you look forward, remember, fear is not of God. Remember the truths of God and walk in those. You are a child of the King.

What have we been up to you ask??

Right now, Emma is sitting in her high chair feeding Bella. She is playing the game of I eat 1 cheerio and Bella can have 2 Cheerios. Bella LOVES this game. Emma thinks its pretty fun as well.

well.... we have been to volleyball games.......

and learning new tricks, like getting in the cupboards. She likes the one across from her better. It of course has the glass bowls in it.

We have been to slumber parties and a fun fair at church.....and this is what those 2 combined in 12 hours will do to a 10 yr old boy.

We have been to more volleyball games.

We have had a little break in Mommy's work schedule which has meant fun afternoons of nap time play time with Emma. We spent the afternoon 1 rainy day on the floor. Emma thought it was pretty fun.....and I did to. Emma uses us now as a jungle gym and thinks she is hot stuff.

And of course, wherever we are......so is Bella......at 1 point in the afternoon she was trying to lay right on top of me!!

Proof you ask??

 

Emma thinks Bella is pretty cool. And that is probably why Bella hangs around her so much.

 

We have been to more volleyball games.

This day was a tournament. Long day. Emma only crashed once.

She kept herself entertained the rest of the day.

                                                        **Daddy......L.o.V.e**

And the best news of all.....the girls finally won a game!!!

Well Bella is Emma is out of Cheerios, and I might have just gotten drunk off of clean baby smell.

.......sigh......

I best be off to get ready for work.

today, keep God's presence exalted....... don't become complacent or live in fear. trust.

 God is enough.