Or at least that's what Eric and I jokingly remind each other all the time.
You see, from the time that Olivia was old enough to know better and express her wants, she and Alex have been engaged in a battle of wills. And a battle of "if you get it, I do too," or something like that. Frankly, life with the two of them often feels like living in Annie, Get Your Gun - anything you can do, I can do better... I think Isabelle is little past getting in on the act and Gracie is getting there, although she's a little more independent. But with Alex and Olivia, it's each and every little thing.
This afternoon, Alex chewed off a hang-nail and started bleeding. I washed his hands in the sink and put on a band-aid. Next thing I know, Olivia is biting her own finger and saying that she hurt it. So of course she needs her hand rinsed off and a band-aid put on.
I think Eric gets the brunt of this competition though. He can't pick up one of them, or tickle one of them, or do pretty much anything with one of them without the other begging for the same.
Honestly, we really enjoy this little competition between them. It's been interesting watching it change and develop as they've grown, and watching how Isabelle and Gracie react to it. I think a lot of it has to do with their age difference of only 10 1/2 months.
Or is this just common behavior between siblings? Will Gracie be the same as she gets older too? I'd love to hear your experiences.
Right at the top of my list of Finer Things is toddler talk. You know - those mispronunciations that are just so cute we can't stand to correct them. Here are a few of my favorites from each of the kids.
Isabelle
Corn of macbre = corn on the cob
Pupcakes = cupcakes
Statula = spatula
Grocious = Ferocious
Alex
Fiber-Man = Spider-Man
Nessie = onesie
And a whole host of things that I can't even pronounce, much less attempt to spell. His knack of mispronunciation and blending words together has made for some interesting combination. I wish I had a video clip of him saying washing machine. It's priceless!
Olivia
Foon = spoon
Barfie - barbie
Cutie pie = cooties (as in the game)
Gracie
Dauter = water
Gaykey = Gracie
Ju = juice
What a sad, sad day it is when they pronounce the word correctly for the first time.
I've been noticing the subtle signs lately that either all of our kids are going through a growth-spurt at the same time, or that their appetites are increasing as they are getting older. Where a loaf of bread used to last us 2 days at least, we now can go through a whole loaf in one meal.
I think this realization hit me the most a few days ago when we were out running errands and we missed lunchtime. It was a Wednesday, so Eric suggested that we pick up a treat - the $3.99 pepperoni pizza from Little Ceasar's. We debated ordering two, but decided we would because we could always have leftovers the next day. One large pizza used to be enough for us. Now, we couldn't even pretend that one was enough. In fact, two was just enough. We finished both of them and I only had 1 1/2 pieces.
So I've come to the conclusion that I need to re-examine some things. If we really need to, we could up our budget a bit, but I just don't think we're at that point yet. I think I need to come up with some smart solutions and substitutions and see if that helps.
Here are some of the ideas I've been mulling over:
Breakfasts with as much substance as possible. Although rare, there are mornings when we just have toast for breakfast. Even when it is toast with peanut butter, we easily eat a whole loaf. I often opt to make toast on those mornings when I don't have anything prepared ahead of time and we've gotten a late start to our day. That's just not a feasible excuse though. Scrambling up some eggs to go along with our toast would take the same amount of time as buttering a whole loaf of bread and it would be more filling.
A mid-morning snack. Our normal schedule includes our 3 daily meals, one afternoon snack and a small dessert after dinner. I think I might start adding in a morning snack of some apple slices with a small scoop of peanut butter or something similar.
Less white flour. I always try to use at least 50/50 ratio with my flour, but I'm going to experiment with upping that to 100% as often as possible. The empty calories from white flour do not fill up the growing bellies of my kiddos long enough.
That is my starting point for right now. I would love to hear any tips you might have on how you adjust your grocery budget with growing children. Do you up the budget or do you come up with sensible substitutions.
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Isabelle has always loved the idea of keeping a journal or diary. She starts on one and writes for hours. Then the next day rolls around and she comes to me asking what she should write about.
So when Family Review Network presented me with the opportunity to review Journal Buddies, I was thrilled. I thought this just might be a perfect solution. As soon as we received the journal and Isabelle and I began flipping through, I knew my assumption was correct.
The first 31 pages of Journal Buddies are dedicated to journaling information, including a fantastic list of 89 creative journaling ideas. The author, Jill Schoenberg, has used these pages to create a fantastic journaling resource and a to instill confidence and creativity in the journal writer.
There is an unique aspect with Journal Buddies in that it is meant to be shared. Each journal entry begins with a page for the journal writer and that day's chosen buddy (parent, sibling, real-or-imaginary friend, etc.) to list three qualities, traits or talents that they enjoy in each other. I can see this proving to be a wonderful bonding experience.
After that section, each entry comes with a focus word to help the journal writer answer that "what should I write about" question. There is plenty of space provided in each entry for journaling and doodling.
Simple but powerful, Journal Buddies is no ordinary journal. It's an invitation to expand your creativity and express your feelings. Most of all, it's an invitation to strenthen your self-esteem, build healty relationships and create a positive outlook on life.
Visit the Journal Buddies website to learn more about this fabulous book, view the boy's edition, and order a personally signed copy.
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I have had so much fun this week reading all of the comments on my Bloggy Giveaway post. When I posted about the whisk I had originally intended to use for the giveaway, I had no idea I'd get so many clever comments in return. Above is the whisk in its original state and below is the whisk after I carelessly dropped it on the floor. Here are 13 of my favorite comments I've gotten on this predicament.
Southerner said...Aw, poor headless whisk! You killed her. Quick, get the super glue. Add some pearls so she feels beautiful. Stand her in a special crock until she is needed to whisk away the night.
Skywaywaver said...Oh what that lovely whisk lady gave up for the name of the Bloggy Carnival!
angelacisco said...She was very cute.may she rest in pieces.Thanks for the giveaway!
Jaime said...That is how I feel most days....running around like a mom with her head cut off. So that item might have been appropriate! LOL
mannequin said...Oh, I'm so sorry over your loss. And ours too. She was so beautiful. Too bad she was badly beaten.
Amber said...RIP dear cute whisk, though you may be broken, you're still missed and appreciated ;)
Shannon said...Isn't life just like that? Just when things are going smoothly....your head falls off!
paula h said...You could leave the head off and call it "artsy".
Estelle said...Too bad about the whisk. It was really cute. She reminds me of myself. I always lose my head when I'm in the kitchen!
Marin... said...Hold a new giveaway and include a tube of krazy glue?
Jesica said...that is the cutest whisk I've ever seen. I'm so sorry it's gone, now. So sad. We should have a moment of silence.
Roxy said...off with your head ! well thats too bad she broke her neck over your giveaway. ;)
carlton170 said...She must have been a wife of King Henry VIII, they were always getting their heads chopped off!
Do you have any others for me? I'd LOVE to hear them! If you haven't entered the alternate giveaway yet, you can do that here.
We are in the very early stages of potty training our youngest. And to be honest, I should say SHE is in the very early stages of potty training herself! Apparently this girl has decided she's ready to go potty just like her older sisters and brother.
This probably would have surprised me a few years ago, but Gracie is actually the second of our children to do this. Olivia potty-trained herself completely, without any help from us. She just woke up one morning and said "No more diapers, I'm wearing underwear today" and that was it. Now, we did have to help her and remind her, but she took the initiative because she was ready, not because we mapped out a potty-training plan for her.
I realize this is a unique situation and we are incredibly blessed. However, there are a few things we learned along the way.
When potty-training an older child, it helps to get the younger ones in on the act, no matter how young they are.
When a child shows an interest of any kind in using the toilet, encourage it. We did this with all three of our youngest and it really helped.
Don't pressure. This has been true with all 4 children. Isabelle was started with potty-training before she was ready, just because I thought it was time. That backfired! I ended up just backing off and leaving using the potty as an option any time she was ready for it. It took a couple months, but once she was ready, she was fully trained within a week.
Expect accidents and be prepared for them. We have never made a big deal about accidents. Just clean them up, set them on the toilet to finish or as a reminder, and get back to life. Carry extra underwear and pants when you go out.
In the beginning, or whenever there is a slip in training, remind your child(ren) every 30 minutes or so to go to the bathroom.
Nighttime training is a whole separate beast. At least this has been our experience. And from what I've read, this is perfectly normal. So instead of worrying about it, we just accept it. The kids will not be wearing pull-ups forever.
Ignore the inconvenience. I am not ready to potty-train Gracie yet, but I would be foolish if I let this opportunity pass me by. When we are out, it is normal for our kids to have to go to the bathroom frequently (VERY, very frequently in the beginning). Sure, it would be easier to put a pull-up on them before going out, but that really is just counter-productive. Better to just add a potty-break buffer into all outings.
These tips have definitely worked for us in the past, and I'm looking forward to them working for us now! What has worked best for you with potty training?
A few weeks ago, our family was excited to participate in a review opportunity from Newbaby.com. We reviewed an awesome product called Boogie Wipes. (You can see our video review of Boogie Wipes here.)
I think Boogie Wipes are an ingenious product. They are made with a unique formula which includes saline, vitamin E, aloe and chamomile. This formula means that the Boogie Wipes offer quick and gentle clean-up for tender noses dealing with colds and allergies.
Gracie tends to wake up with a very dry nose every morning and lots of crustiness. The Boogie Wipes have been a wonderful tool for getting her cleaned up without her complaining. In fact, our youngest three all love the Boogie Wipes.
I plan on keeping Boogie Wipes around the house and in my purse/diaper bag. I know they will come in especially handy the next time a cold moves through our house.
Boogie Wipes has generously offered to send 2 30-count packages (1 grape scented and 1 original) to one of my readers.To enter this giveaway, just leave a comment on this post. I will randomly select one winner on Sunday, Feb. 1st. THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED! And make sure to visit the Bloggy Giveaway home to enter over a thousand more giveaways this week!
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Tuesday, January 27 is Eric's 40th Birthday. I thought of all kinds of different post ideas to celebrate the event and wish him a Happy Birthday. But everything I thought of seemed just not enough. I've concluded that there are not enough words I can write or speak to fully convey the love I feel for my husband, or the wishes I hold in my heart for him on his birthday.
Anyone who has read my blog before probably knows that I tend to be a little long-winded. I can go on, and on, and on sometimes! Instead of doing that again, I want to choose 40 deeply felt and truly meant words for my wonderful man on his birthday.
Every day I am reminded how blessed I am to call you mine. You're everything good that I've ever wanted, and even everything I never knew I wanted but now could not live without. I love growing old with you!
Happy Birthday Eric! I love you more than I have words!
This weekend, Eric requested cream cheese wontons for lunch. That's a favorite around our house for sure. Unfortunately, I only had enough cream cheese to make a about a dozen. I decided to get creative and come up with another wonton-lunch alternative.
Peanut butter seemed only logical. They turned out SO good. The peanut butter got nice and melty and they were delicious dipped in strawberry jam. The kids fell in love instantly, and Eric and I definitely agreed.
All I did was add about a teaspoon of peanut butter into the center of a wonton wrapper, sealed and fried on both sides in about an inch of hot oil. Super easy!
There have been lots of sales lately where I've found the wrappers on sale for just $1 a pack too. Half a package is plenty for our family of 6 for lunch too, so that's not bad at all!
This weekend, I found a great item for the Bloggy Giveaway Carnival. I was so excited to post it. Isn't it cute?
I put it in a bowl and started carrying it toward the window to get a nice, natural-light picture of it. And then, it fell out of the bowl. This is how it looks now.So, although my husband told me I could do 2 giveaways now (1 for the head, 1 for the rest, and if you're lucky you'd win both), I decided to come up with an alternative.
The new giveaway? $20 deposited in your paypal account. I know it's not very creative, but as I said, it's a victim of circumstance.
To enter, just leave me a comment. (And if you'd like to commiserate with me over the loss of the original giveaway, that'd be great!) You can receive one extra entry each for the following - stumble any post on this blog, tweet the giveaway, subscribe to the A Simple Walk RSS, and/or follow on blogger. Make sure you leave a separate comment for each additional entry. (If you already subscribe and/or follow, just let me know.) Also, if you do not have a blog, please leave your email address so I can contact you if you win.
I'll randomly select one winner on Sunday, February 1st.
This week I'll get to enjoy a few days off by taking advantage of some meals I made earlier in the month and froze. I won't get as many meals off as usual though since there are a few things I'm planning on saving for while I'm at Blissdom.
My husband's 40th birthday is on Tuesday. I'll try to make him something special for each meal, but his big birthday dinner of choice will be reserved for Saturday or Sunday when we have his family over.
I tucked the kids in bed and headed to the computer. Little did I know there was a conspiracy in the works. And I missed all the clues.
Missed clue #1 - Alex got out of bed to go potty less than 5 minutes after getting in bed.
Missed clue #2 - Olivia also got out of bed to go potty, even though her brother was still in the bathroom.
Missed clue #3 - 2 minutes turned into 5 minutes.
Missed clue #4 - In those 5 minutes, the toilet did not flush.
Missed clue #5 - The water in the sink started running.
Missed clue #6 - Lots of loud, 3-year-old-style whispering and laughter.
I finally wised up after a minute or so of the laughter.
And now, I'd really like to know who in the world taught my children that wet toilet paper balls stick to mirrors and ceilings. If they figured that out on their own, I am in awe of their intelligence. But that doesn't lessen the punishment they're in for in the morning when I make them wipe down the entire bathroom.
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My Thoughts: It took a little while for me to get into this book, but once I did, I really enjoyed it. I loved the story and the unique historical/biblical perspective. I think this book would appeal to lots of people, so much so that I've added it to Eric's reading list.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Davis Bunn is an internationally acclaimed author who has sold more than six million books in fifteen languages. His audiences span reading genres from high drama and action thrillers to heartwarming relationship stories, in both contemporary and historical settings.
Honored with three Christy Awards for excellence in historical and suspense fiction, his bestsellers include My Soul To Keep, and Full Circle. A sought-after lecturer in the art of writing, Bunn was named Novelist in Residence at Regent's Park College, Oxford University.
He and his wife, Isabella, make their home in Florida for some of each year, and spend the rest near Oxford, England, where they each teach and write.
Her first novel, a prairie love story titled Love Comes Softly, was published by Bethany House in 1979. This book was followed by more than 75 others.
After Love Comes Softly was published, Oke found her readers asking for more. That book led to a series of eight others in her Love Comes Softly series. She has written multiple fiction series, including The Canadian West, Seasons of the Heart and Women of the West. Her most recent releases include a beautiful children's picture book, I Wonder...Did Jesus Have a Pet Lamb and The Song of Acadia series, co-written with T. Davis Bunn.
Janette Oke's warm writing style has won the hearts of millions of readers. She has received numerous awards, including the Gold Medallion Award, The Christy Award of Excellence, the 1992 President's Award for her significant contribution to the category of Christian fiction from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, and in 1999 the Life Impact Award from the Christian Booksellers Association International. Beloved worldwide, her books have been translated into fourteen languages.
She and her husband live nearby in Alberta, Canada.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Janette Oke has dreamed for years of retelling a story in a biblical time frame from a female protagonist's perspective, and Davis Bunn is elated to be working with her again on this sweeping saga of the dramatic events surrounding the birth of Christianity...and the very personal story of Leah, a young Jewess of mixed heritage trapped in a vortex of competing political agendas and private trauma.
Caught up in the maelstrom following the death of an obscure rabbi in the Roman backwater of first-century Palestine, Leah finds herself also engulfed in her own turmoil--facing the prospect of an arranged marriage to a Roman soldier, Alban, who seems to care for nothing but his own ambitions.
Head of the garrison near Galilee, he has been assigned by Palestine's governor to ferret out the truth behind rumors of a political execution gone awry. Leah's mistress, the governor's wife, secretly commissions Leah also to discover what really has become of this man whose death--and missing body--is causing such furor.
This epic drama is threaded with the tale of an unlikely romance and framed with dangers and betrayals from unexpected sources. At its core, the story unfolds the testing of loyalties--between two young people whose inner searchings they cannot express, between their irreconcilable heritages, and ultimately between their humanity and the Divine they yearn to encounter.
Reading time is definitely one of the finer things in life in our home. We all love to read, even those of us who don't know how to read yet.
Eric and I spent many of our dating days at our favorite coffee house, curled up with books and coffee in front of the fire place. Now most of our reading time is in bed as we drift off to sleep, but we still cherish that time together.
Isabelle has become a book fiend. She spends an average of at least 3 hours a night reading before we insist she turn off her lights. She reads during the day and in the car. This is the stack of books next to her bed. Whenever Isabelle pulls out a book and sits down to read, all of the the other have to get in on the action too.Books pop up in the most unusual places. Our bookshelves are sparse, but the number of books is not, so we store them wherever we can. And it's probably a good thing we don't have more bookshelves, because they never stay organized. Eric and I really try, but the kids just can't help themselves.Eric and I are looking forward to the days when the whole family will curl up together on the couch with our books. Reading together...definitely a finer thing!
Here are a few frugal tips on stocking the family library:
For Eric, Isabelle and myself, books are always the first thing to fill up our gift lists. We keep a running list of books we'd like to own and whenever someone needs a gift idea, we suggest one of those books.
We rarely buy a book unless we've read it from the library first. All of us love to re-read books, so when we find a book we really love, we know it might be a worthwhile purchase at some point.
We scour thrift store shelves for books. Our local Salvation Army sells most of their books for $3 or less, and most of the paperbacks are $.50-$1.00 at most. It may take some digging, but it is so worthwhile.
Like thrift stores, used book sales at the library are a wonderful resource if you're willing to spend the time digging.
Unfortunately we do not have any used book stores in our area, but whenever we do come across one, we try to stop in. A lot of used book stores have a trade-in program where you can sell them books you no longer want in return for a store credit to buy some more books.
Garage sales are a wonderful resource for books for our little kids.
Two weeks from right now I will be finishing up packing and getting the house organized so that everything runs smoothly while I am gone. Then, I'll be boarding a plane and heading to Nashville to attend Blissdom. Needless to say, Blissdom has been on my mind a lot lately. Here are just a few of the things I've been thinking about.
Clothes! I have no idea what I'm going to wear and I really need to go through my closet and see what I can find. I'm hoping I can find at least a few options.
How on earth am I going to get over my shyness? I can be painfully shy, as I know I've mentioned before, especially in large groups. At least I already feel like I know some of the women I'll be meeting.
Meeting Joy and Toni. I am NOT worried about being shy around Joy and Toni. I got over that a long time ago. Now I'm just thrilled to get the chance to spend some time together face to face.
I don't like flying. I had planned on driving to Nashville. It's only an 8 1/2 hour drive so I didn't think that was too bad. But then Eric pointed out how much easier it would be for everyone, and how much more comfortable he'd feel, if I flew. When we found an airfare deal that was close enough to the cost of driving, we decided to jump on it. But now that means I have to fly. On a plane. By myself. I'm not looking forward to it.
The list of speakers is amazing! There are so many women I'm looking forward to hearing speak. But I'm also feeling like there are SO many speakers and so little time. We get to pick and choose which sessions we want to sit in on, but some of them will be so difficult to choose between the two.
I wish Joy and I had started the 2 Moms, 20 Pounds series about 3 months ago instead of 3 weeks ago.
The quality and content of some of the sessions sounds so inspiring. I know I'm going to want to take notes. Will I look like a dork if I pull out an actual notebook and a pen instead of my laptop? I use a lot of shorthand and symbols when I take notes that I just can't do on a laptop.
Live tweeting. This past weekend, I received a late birthday present from Eric. My cell phone was scheduled for an upgrade and Eric surprised me with a big upgrade - an iPhone. Now I have to practice using it so that Joy, Toni and I can tweet throughout the weekend.
Clothes! Did I mention I don't have the slightest idea what I'm going to wear.
My kids. I have not been without at least one of my children for more than a few hours in at least 5 years. What am I going to do without them??
My husband. His support is awesome! He encourages my blogging and is completely supportive of this trip to Nashville. I think he's even a little excited for me. If I had any doubt about his real feelings, I don't think I could comfortably go. Instead, I have a feeling he'll be pushing me out of the car at the airport.
I really need to get a plan in place to make sure I have laundry caught up, food in the freezer, and homeschooling plans all laid out. I know Eric will do a great job while I'm gone, and I know my in-laws will be able to handle everything while Eric is at work, but I am going to do everything in my power to make sure the weekend runs as smoothly as possible.
I wish that everybody I know through blogging was going to be at Blissdom! If you will be there, please let me know. If you won't be there, I'm sorry! I wish you were going!
My Thoughts: This was a fun, yet thought-provoking book. I enjoyed the story and found myself staying up way later than I should have so that I could keep reading. I really appreciated the faith of the main characters' ad how that faith was expressed throughout the book. I'm looking forward to reading the next book by Ms. Dacus.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kaye Dacus is an author and editor who has been writing fiction for more than twenty years. A former Vice President of American Christian Fiction Writers, Kaye enjoys being an active ACFW member and the fellowship and community of hundreds of other writers from across the country and around the world that she finds there.
She currently serves as President of Middle Tennessee Christian Writers, which she co-founded in 2003 with three other writers. Each month, she teaches a two-hour workshop on an aspect of the craft of writing at the MTCW monthly meeting. But her greatest joy comes from mentoring new writers through her website and seeing them experience those “aha” moments when a tricky concept becomes clear.
ABOUT THE BOOK
When wedding planner Anne Hawthorne meets George Laurence, she thinks she's found the man of her dreams. But when he turns out to be a client, her "dream" quickly turns into a nightmare. Will Anne risk her heart and career on this engaging Englishman?
George came to Louisiana to plan his employer's wedding and pose as the groom. But how can he feign affection for a supposed fiancee when he's so achingly attracted to the wedding planner? And what will happen when Anne discovers his role has been Stand-In Groom only? Will she ever trust George again? Can God help these two believers find a happy ending?
“Dacus pulls off a delightful story that places readers in the heart of the South with the debut of the Brides of Bonneterre series. Readers will enjoy this look at how lives are transformed through devastating events and how forgiveness is the key to a promising future. Nothing is as it seems in this heartwarming story.” –Romantic Times, 4-Star Review
“Absolutely delightful! I enjoyed Stand-In Groom from cover to cover! Ms. Dacus’s clever story and wonderful prose will draw you away to a place deep in the heart of Louisiana, surrounding you with the scents, sounds, and sights of the deep south. A story filled with romance and intrigue, betrayal and forgiveness, I found myself laughing, crying and rejoicing right along with the characters.” –M.L. Tyndall, author of The Falcon and the Sparrow and the award-winning Legacy of the King’s Pirates series
“Stand-In Groom is as sweet, beautiful, and chaotic as a perfectly planned wedding. Anne is a bright and wounded heroine you’re going to care about for a long time. George is a hero to capture your heart. Kaye Dacus will take you along for a fun, poignent ride in Stand-In Groom.” –Mary Connealy, author of the Lassoed in Texas series and Of Mice...and Murder
A few years ago, back when we were living below the poverty line, there were many days when our situation felt overwhelming. There's one day in particular that really stands out in my mind though.
We were expecting payment from a client within a few days, and we had a reasonable amount of food to last until that point. Beyond that, we didn't have any extras. I don't remember the specifics of what set us off, but for some reason, Eric and I decided to gather up all of the extra money we had, just to see how much there was. And you see that bag of pennies up there? That's what we came up with. The grand total was 27 cents and 1 Canadian dime.
I think we were both kind of speechless at this concrete proof of our financial lives. Instead of become depressed over our situation, we chose to be thankful and turn it all over to God once again.
We didn't touch that bag. It was some kind of safety net, all be it an extremely minuscule one. And it became of vivid reminder of the work ahead and the days behind.
That bag of pennies has remained untouched until this day. We no longer need the visual reminder on a daily basis, so I store it in my jewelry box. We pull it out at random times and reminisce about how far we've come and dream about what is still yet down the road.
Those pennies are a wonderful reminder of God's loving hand and providence. They are a reminder of hard work and dreams; of why we chose this path, and why we have chosen to live simply and frugally. They are a reminder of just how little value money has and the extraordinary wealth found in faith and family.
We plan on keeping this bag of pennies and sharing the story with our children. Someday, we will send them out of the house with their portion of these pennies in a bag of their own. And hopefully with that, they'll take away the understanding that God's faithfulness is never-ending and that in the long run, the payoff isn't nearly as important as the process.
What are some mementos that you've kept of previous stages in your life? Do you plan to share them with your children some day?
So, it has happened! I am definitely sporting a few gray hairs nowadays. I vacillate between being completely shocked and secretly pleased each time I look in the mirror.
After the birth of each of my children, I get new hair growth along the top of my hairline. For some reason, about 50% of the new growth since Gracie was born has been coming in gray. I don't know if I'll ever dye it. It's kind of starting to grow on me. To me, these gray hairs officially mean I am an adult. Not that I feel like an adult, but that I can at least pass myself off for one whenever I want.
I'm grateful to be getting older.
Each year I get further removed from the teenage stupidity of my past.
I grow more comfortable in my own skin and more confident in my own voice.
I learn something new every day of my life.
I get to spend wonderful time just loving my family, because I've learned that there is nothing more important than the simple love of family.
I've come to recognize the value in making mistakes and the importance of perseverance.
I no longer take the little moments for granted.
I've decided to embrace these few gray hairs as a sign of wisdom gleaned through 32 years of living. I won't be plucking them out and I won't be dyeing them, at least not yet. (I might feel differently when there's more gray than blond and brown.)
We love bananas in our house. We buy pounds and pounds of them every month. My kids would eat bananas with every meal if I let them (although their digestive systems probably wouldn't be too happy with me). So that is why I am always surprised when I notice a bunch of bananas on the brink. But yet it happens often.Today, I had portions of two different bunches that were starting to turn the corner. I know that's not a lot, and it's actually a lot less than I'd like to have, but they still needed to be tackled.
First I made up a batch of bananas foster sauce using 4 of the bananas. The kids had some of it over their oatmeal for breakfast. The rest went in the freezer.Then I made 2 dozen banana-chocolate chip muffins. I was hoping to make more but realized too late that I was almost out of flour. Unfortunately, 2 dozen muffins go pretty quickly in our house. In fact, a dozen of them are gone already after the kids' snack time and Eric taking some to snack on at work. The second dozen will be eaten for breakfast tomorrow. I really wanted to have some extras to freeze, but I guess that will have to wait until next week. Head over to 5 Minutes For Mom for more Tackle-It Tuesday and stop by Money Saving Mom for more baking day posts.
This is one of my favorite, most versatile recipes to have on hand. I call it a Bananas Foster sauce because that's what it reminds me of, although I know it's not necessarily authentic. It is still delicious though, and it tastes great with so many things.
Bananas Foster Sauce This recipe adjusts very easily, so make as much or as little as you want.
1/2 c. butter or margarine
1 c. brown sugar
1 t. cinnamon
4 bananas, sliced
2 t. vanilla
1. Melt butter or margarine in a medium skillet over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar and cinnamon. Bring to a slow boil and simmer about 5 minutes, stirring frequently. 2. Stir in sliced bananas and cook another 2-3 minutes. 3. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
Serve hot or cold. Here are a few of our favorite ways to use this sauce.
Over crepes or pancakes.
Over ice cream.
Over simple bread pudding or rice pudding.
Over oatmeal.
Stirred into plain yogurt.
As a dip with homemade cinnamon-sugar tortilla chips.
Mixed with cream cheese as a bagel spread.
Bananas Foster sauce over oatmeal.
Extras freeze wonderfully or keep in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
Find more Tempt My Tummy Tuesday here. Find more Kitchen Tips here. Find more Blissfully Domestic entries here.Read more...
I'm planning to finish up a few things for the freezer this week, with the thought of starting to prepare for my time away at Blissdom. I'd like to scatter that out so I'm going to start a little this week. I'd also like to get a few other things in the freezer that we can use throughout the rest of the month.
I'm hoping to try a few new baking recipes at some point this week also. I need a few light treats on hand for myself in the evenings and some snacks for the kids that won't be so tempting to me.
Breakfast
M - Banana oatmeal, toast
T - Cheesy scrambled eggs, English muffin bread
W - Banana muffins, smoothies
Th - Pancakes
F - Morning glory muffins (from the freezer. I made these last week and they are SO good!)
Our family lives in a 1000-square foot house. We have 4 children whom we homeschool. Do you see the problem?
Actually, I say that it is a problem, but I really don't mean it. After 5 years of homeschooling, we've learned to make the most of our small space by schooling simply, yet substantially. Space just isn't much of an issue for us because when we really need a new space for something, we always find a way somehow.
To read the rest of this post, please stop by at Keeper of the Home today, where I am honored to be guest posting.
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Isn't it wonderful how many times in our lives we can recognize the error of ways and choose to try something different? It's never failure - just a fresh approach.
That's what I've been working on this past week. There's been nothing major going wrong, but plenty of things that I want to go better. So I'm opting for a do-over in a few areas.
We were past the 10-week mark of our homeschooling year when we took a break for the holidays. I had planned to continue our schooling the same way we'd been doing. The only difference I had considered was on my part. I wanted to start writing out lesson plans a month at a time instead of weekly. Then, I read a post that Joy wrote about a new 12 week plan that she was implementing. I fell in love with that idea instantly. Joy was nice enough to create a form for me just like the one she shows on her blog. (Just one of the MANY, many benefits of being friends with Joy. She's great at what she does and she loves to share! Thanks Joy!)
So I spent last weekend writing out the lesson plans for the next 12 weeks. I presented it to Isabelle and we discussed how we were going to implement it in our house. She was so excited and ready to take on this new program.
And that little do-over has worked beautifully so far. I feel so much better knowing that my lesson planning is done for the next 3 months. Isabelle feels pride in her new responsibility. And everyone else benefits because I am not worrying about getting lesson plans done.
The other thing I've been working on is a do-over with some of my homemaking duties. I've been digging in and making sure I am actually accomplishing everything in a day that I plan to do. It's required a bit of a do-over in my attitude as well. Sometimes it means walking away from the computer or stepping out of my comfort-zone in the kitchen.
But it's getting done. I feel like these little fresh approaches are adding up to something so worthwhile. So I'm officially giving myself permission to re-evaluate and call a do-over whenever needed.
My Thoughts: Loved, loved, loved this book! I did not want to turn the last page. The story reminded me of so many of my favorite books, but the message was SO much better! The Biblical elements woven throughout the book just touched me to the core. This is a book that I will be sharing with people for a long time to come.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Denise lives in Indiana with her husband Kevin and their three sons. In 1996, Denise began her first book, a Christian romance novel, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she's been writing ever since. Her books often contain a strong romantic element, and her husband Kevin says he provides all her romantic material, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!
ABOUT THE BOOK
A story of new beginnings from best-selling Romance for Good™ author Denise Hunter. When Josephine's family insists she come home to help with the harvest, the timing works. But her return isn't simple benevolence-she plans to persuade the family to sell the failing orchard.
The new manager's presence is making it difficult. Grady MacKenzie takes an immediate disliking to Josephine and becomes outright cantankerous when she tries talking her family into selling. As she and Grady work side by side in the orchard, she begins to appreciate his devotion and quiet faith. She senses a vulnerability in him that makes her want to delve deeper, but there's no point letting her heart have its way-he's tied to the orchard, and she could never stay there.
A brush with death tears down Josephine's defenses and for the first time in her life, she feels freedom-freedom from the heavy burden of guilt, freedom to live her life the way it was intended, with a heart full of love.
We all have final frontiers in our frugality - that line we've thought about crossing but haven't yet taken the plunge. Maybe it's baking bread from scratch or switching from paper towels to a cloth alternative. But whatever your frugal final frontier is, I challenge you to give it a trial run and then decide if you're ready, once and for all, to take that leap.
I know for our family, there are quite a few final frontiers we haven't crossed yet. For example, I have yet to try making our own laundry detergent. I really want to and there is no real excuse why I haven't yet. That is the challenge I am going to undertake the next time we run out of detergent.
I think when it comes to these individual final frontiers we all have, an open mind and a willing attitude is very important. Baby steps are also important. I know baby steps always helped me in the past. But once I developed an "I'll just give it a shot" attitude, things became much easier.
I started testing this method by not instantly adding things to our grocery list. When we ran out of barbecue sauce, I thought I'd try making my own. If we didn't like it, then I would add it to the list. The same can be said of making homemade tortillas and crackers. The tortillas flopped initially, so they got added back on the list. Then I kept trying and I'm now at the point where tortillas are never purchased from the store.
So, I'll try out homemade laundry soap next time. I'll either stick with it or not. The important thing is that I'll try. And after that, I'll look for the next final frontier, because I'm sure there's always a next.
What is your frugal final frontier and what keeps you from making that leap?
There is no work more important than stopping to give one of my children a hug when they ask for one.
When my neighbor brings over a freshly made loaf of bread, it is a good idea to remember that I'm trying to lose 20 pounds. Slowly savoring one thin slice is much more rewarding treat than eating half the loaf, by myself, in 5 minutes.
Christmas was 3 weeks ago. There are thank you cards that must, without excuse, be written and mailed out immediately!
Putting 8 meals in the freezer is a legitimate excuse for falling behind in the laundry.
The bathroom floor does not clean itself - ever!
My children will remember my example far longer then they will remember the words I speak.
The best way to keep all of the wonderful relationships I've built in the blogging community is to actually comment on blogs, at least once in a while. (Sorry!)
Playing with balloons is a fun part of childhood. I need to let my kids be kids when they are given balloons by the nice lady at the grocery store instead of letting my over-the-top fear of popping balloons get in the way.
Coffee is good, but water is better!
It doesn't hurt to say yes once in a while.
I bought 2 calendars just after Christmas to organize my blogging time. They are still blank, and blank pages really don't help organize anything.
Blogging is good, but sleep is better! (That's almost as hard as, if not harder then, remembering #9.)
Eric does not know what I am thinking unless I tell him. Just because he is my husband doesn't mean he can read my mind.
In case you haven't heard, the old Thursday Thirteen hub is no longer up and running. So, Joy, Toni and I decided to start a new version over at Happy To Be At Home. We are calling it "3 Moms Thursday {Thirteen}." I always enjoyed participating in Thursday 13, so I'm really excited about this. I hope you'll come join us each week.
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My thoughts: I was hooked on this story by the end of the first chapter. It is so action-packed it just pulls you along through the pages. I couldn't wait to read the resolution. I've already told Eric that as soon as he's done reading the book he's reading now, this one is his next read.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ted is the son of missionaries John and Helen Dekker, whose incredible story of life among headhunters in Indonesia has been told in several books. Surrounded by the vivid colors of the jungle and a myriad of cultures, each steeped in their own interpretation of life and faith, Dekker received a first-class education on human nature and behavior. This, he believes, is the foundation of his writing.
After graduating from a multi-cultural high school, he took up permanent residence in the United States to study Religion and Philosophy. After earning his Bachelor's Degree, Dekker entered the corporate world in management for a large healthcare company in California. Dekker was quickly recognized as a talent in the field of marketing and was soon promoted to Director of Marketing. This experience gave him a background which enabled him to eventually form his own company and steadily climb the corporate ladder.
Since 1997, Dekker has written full-time. He states that each time he writes, he finds his understanding of life and love just a little clearer and his expression of that understanding a little more vivid. Dekker's body of work encompassing seven mysteries, three thrillers and ten fantasies includes Heaven's Wager, When Heaven Weeps, Thunder of Heaven, Blessed Child, A Man Called Blessed, Blink, Thr3e, The Circle Trilogy (Black, Red, White), Obsessed, Renegade, and Chaos.
*******************
Erin Healy is an award-winning fiction editor who has worked with talented novelists such as James Scott Bell, Melody Carlson, Colleen Coble, Brandilyn Collins, L. B. Graham, Rene Gutteridge, Michelle McKinney Hammond, Robin Lee Hatcher, Denise Hildreth, Denise Hunter, Randy Ingermanson, Jane Kirkpatrick, Gilbert Morris, Frank Peretti, Lisa Samson, Randy Singer, Robert Whitlow, and many others.
She began working with Ted Dekker in 2002 and edited twelve of his heart-pounding storiesbefore their collaboration on Kiss, the first novel to seat her on "the other side of the desk."
Erin is the owner of WordWright Editorial Services, a Colorado-based consulting firm specializing in fiction book development. She and her husband, Tim, are the proud parents of two children
ABOUT THE BOOK
Let me tell you all I know for sure. My name. Shauna. I woke up in a hospital bed missing six months of my memory. In the room was my loving boyfriend-how could I have forgotten him?-my uncle and my abusive stepmother. Everyone blames me for the tragic car accident that left me near death and my dear brother brain damaged. But what they say can't be true-can it?
I believe the medicine is doing strange things to my memory. I'm unsure who I can trust and who I should run from. And I'm starting to remember things I've never known. Things not about me. I think I'm going crazy.
And even worse, I think they want to kill me.
But who? And for what? Is dying for the truth really better than living with a lie?
Sometimes dying with the truth is better than living with a lie.
After a car accident puts Shauna McAllister in a coma and wipes out six months of her memory, she returns to her childhood home to recover, but her arrival is fraught with confusion.
Her estranged father, a senator bidding on the White House, and her abusive stepmother blame Shauna for the tragedy, which has left her beloved brother severely brain damaged. Leaning on Wayne Spade, a forgotten but hopeful lover who stays by her side, Shauna tries to sort out what happened that night by jarring her memory to life. Instead, she acquires a mysterious mental ability that will either lead her to truth or get her killed by the people trying to hide it.
In this blind game of cat and mouse that stares even the darkest memories in the face, Shauna is sure of only one thing: if she remembers, she dies.
If you would like to read the first chapter of KISS, go HERE
Watch the Video Trailer
What people are saying about KISS:
“The human brain could actually be the real final frontier—we know so little about it and yet it drives the world as we know it. So when authors like Erin and Ted bravely explore these mysterious regions, going into complex places like memory and soul and relationships, I become hooked. The creativity of this suspenseful story is sure to hook other readers as well. Very memorable!” ~Melody Carlson, author of Finding Alice and The Other Side of Darkness
“Dekker and Healy prove a winning team in this intriguing, imaginative thriller.” ~James Scott Bell, bestselling author of Try Darkness
“Kiss by Erin Healy and Ted Dekker is a superb thriller that hooked me from the first sentence. The original plot kept me guessing, and I may never look at a kiss the same way again. I’ll be watching for the next book!” ~Colleen Coble, author of Cry in the Night
“The writing team of Erin Healy and Ted Dekker has taken me through a page-turner with Kiss. It’s one of those books that you think about when you’re not reading it. I highly recommend it, especially if you don’t mind staying up late because you can’t put the book down!” ~Rene Gutteridge, author of Skid and My Life As a Doormat
I freely admit to consistently using improper grammar in the following areas: 1. I like run-on sentences. 2. I have a tendency to end sentences with a pronoun. (I really do. I can't help it.) 3. I always seem to use passive voice in my sentences. (See?)
I've been trying to break this habit, unsuccessfully, for years, so now I just accept that as my writing style, and since I'm not writing for grades anymore, I embrace it. (Again, see?)
Hence, I invoke Blogger Artistic License for this blog!
Copyright 2008. A Simple Walk. All Rights Reserved.
I think Isabelle is little past getting in on the act and Gracie is getting there, although she's a little more independent. But with Alex and Olivia, it's each and every little thing.
