The Night Time Potty-Training Dilemma

Alex and Olivia have been potty-trained for almost 2 years now, at least during the day. I wish I could say the same for night time.

They were both easily potty-trained during the day. Alex took to it quickly after a few false starts when he wasn't really ready yet, and Olivia may have been the quickest potty-trained child ever. She literally woke up one morning and told me she was done with diapers and we've never looked back.

But every night, they still wear pull-ups to bed and their pull-ups are still wet every morning. I know it will happen eventually. I guess I just figured it would happen before they turn 5 and 4 in a few months.

So that is where I could really use some help! Isabelle never wet at night, which was wonderful at the time. Although it certainly didn't train me for this situation now.

So far we have tried limiting drinks after a certain time and cutting off drinks all together for 30 minutes before bed. They both go potty before getting in bed and usually at least one other time before falling asleep.

What has worked for you with night time potty training? Please share with me!! I could desperately use some advice.

Don't forget to stop by We Are THAT Family for more WFMW, the backwards edition.

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CFBA Review - The Real Enemy

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Real Enemy
David C. Cook (March 2009)
by
Kathy Herman
My Thoughts:
I thought this was a wonderful book. The storyline was compelling and suspenseful in all the right places. I found it easy to relate to the inner-turmoil faced by the main character. It was a powerful reminder of how God works for good in our lives, even when everything seems lost.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Suspense novelist Kathy Herman is very much at home in the Christian book industry, having worked five years on staff at the Christian Booksellers Association (CBA) in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and eleven years at Better Books Christian Center in Tyler, Texas, as product buyer/manager for the children’s department, and eventually as director of human resources.

She has conducted numerous educational seminars on children’s books at CBA Conventions in the U.S. and Canada, served a preliminary judge for the Gold Medallion Book Awards of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association , and worked as an independent product/marketing consultant to the CBA market.

Since her first novel, Tested by Fire, debuted in 2001 as a CBA national bestseller, she's added thirteen more titles to her credit, including another bestseller, All Things Hidden.

Kathy's husband Paul is her best friend and most ardent supporter and manages the LifeWay Christian Store in Tyler, Texas. They have three grown children, five adorable grandkids, a cat named Samantha—and an ongoing fascination with hummingbirds. They also enjoy world travel, deep sea fishing, stargazing, and bird watching and sometimes incorporate all these hobbies into one big adventure.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Brill Jessup just became the first female police chief in Sophie Trace, Tennessee, and is riding on the credentials of a stellar eighteen-year career on the Memphis police force. She may be a pro at finding clues, but she tends to ignore the obvious in her personal life. And she would rather work than deal with the bitterness she feels about her husband Kurt's infidelity. Kurt, is weighed down by her unrelenting anger as he struggles to let God redeem the stupidest mistake he ever made. He is genuinely contrite and making every effort to show his commitment to Brill. But she hides behind her badge and her bitterness, deciding that moving her family away from Memphis is the only change she needs to make. So why can't Brill get over this anger?

Before she ever has time to unpack her boxes, people start disappearing. Lots of them. Seven people in seven days To complicate matters, a local legend has many residents believing that the cause is unearthly─tied to the “red shadows,” or spirits of the departed Cherokee who once inhabited the land.

While Brill draws on all of her experience and instinct to solve the case, she must confront an enemy that threatens everything she holds dear─one that cannot be stopped with a badge and a gun. She is forced to confront the real enemy.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Real Enemy, go HERE

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Bloggers For A Cause

This week, I am so grateful to be a part of this wonderful blogging world. Ever since I began blogging in earnest over a year ago, I have loved being a part of this community. And now I have had the privilege of seeing a new and equally wonderful side of the blog world.

When I announced the Virtual Great American Bake Sale on Cooking During Stolen Moments, I wasn't too sure of the response I'd get. I had high hopes and a huge passion to raise a ton of money for Share Our Strength. So far, that hope and passion is only growing as I've seen more and more people embrace this project.

• I am grateful for my very good bloggy friend Amy, who has tirelessly helped me promote the VGABS. Her offers of help have meant the world to me. And her ability to listen and read my endless rambling emails as I brainstorm (and stress, maybe just a little bit), has been amazing.
• I am grateful for another very good friend, Joy, for creating the magnificent VGABS button for me, and for doing it with very little notice too. (By the way, if you are a fan of Joy's design work, like that header right up there, check out her new graphic design page.)
• I am grateful to Carissa from Good and Crazy People and Mom It Forward. When I approached her to submit a recipe, she jumped right into my vision and passion and has helped with spreading the word since then.
• I am grateful for everyone on twitter who has retweeted my countless "plea for recipes" tweets. The power of twitter amazes me and it has been a great way to get the word out.
• I am grateful to @krishanna from twitter. She heard about the VGABS and reached out to me with the idea of putting a VGABS page on Facebook. I have spent such little time on Facebook and I just wasn't sure I had the time. But you know what, she offered to do it for me. How cool is that?
• I am grateful to everyone who has written a post about VGABS on their blog and/or put the VGABS button in their sidebars. All these people taking the time to help spread the word has been so wonderful and beneficial.
• I am grateful to everyone who has submitted a recipe or who has emailed me to let me they will be submitting a recipe before the deadline. Everything sounds so good and I'm excited to share all of these wonderful recipes.
• I am grateful that so many have a passion to help Share Our Strength similar to mine. I am excited to see how much money we are able to raise for them.

So how about you...have you submitted a recipe for the Virtual Great American Bake Sale yet? Visit the Virtual Great American Bake Sale info page to read all the details and to submit a recipe.

And if you fall under one of those categories mentioned above - thank you, thank you, thank you!! I am so grateful for you today!

Stop by Heavenly Homemakers for more Gratituesday and The Lazy Organizer for more Talk About Tuesday. And then be sure to visit Hooked On Houses for more Hooked On...Fridays.

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Review & Giveaway: Exergen TemporalScanner Thermometer

More times than I care to admit, I've called my sister in a panic and asked her to remind me the fever rules for all the different ways there are to take temperatures. That's because temperature taking is always a pretty traumatic event around our house. I forget everything else except getting that accurate reading.

With the Exergen TemporalScanner thermometer, that is all about to change though. This thermometer is so easy and quick to use. The kids don't mind it all. It's not invasive. And there is nothing traumatic about the experience!

The thermometer works by measuring the temperature of the skin surface over the temporal artery, a major artery of the head. According to the Exergen website, the temporal artery "is the only such artery positioned close enough to the skin surface to provide access needed to take an accurate measurement. It is easy to use because it is ideally located at the front portion of the forehead."

Taking a temperature with the Exergen TemporalScanner is super easy too.

1. Hold the termometer so that thumb or index finger is positioned over the SCAN button and place the probe flat on the center of the forehead.
2. Press and hold the SCAN button. Lightly slide the thermometer to the left or right from the center of the forehead to the hairline, keeping the sensor flat and in contact with the skin for the entire scan, about 2 to 3 seconds.
3. Release the SCAN button, remove the thermometer from the forehead and read the temperature.

That's it! No more trying to convince a baby or child to stay still or to hold their mouth closed.

I know having the Exergen TemporalScanner thermometer will be so nice when my children are sick. There have been so many times I did not want to wake a sleeping child to take their temperature to see if they needed more medicine. Now I won't have to wake them up uneccesarily.

I definitely recommend this thermometer for everyone, whether you have children or not. It makes taking a temperature so painless and convenient. So what do you think - would you like to try the Exergen TemporalScanner?

I am giving away one Exergen thermometer to a lucky reader. To enter the giveaway, just leave me a comment. You can earn extra entries by subscribing, following on blogger, or tweeting about the giveaway. Please leave an extra comment for each extra entry. You're also entitled to the extra entires if you are already a subscriber or follower. Just make sure you let me know.

This review and giveaway opportunity was provided by the Family Review Network.

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Menu Plan Monday - Week of 3/30

This is going to be another busy week for me, as will the next two weeks also. On Tuesday I'm starting work on a new special feature that will premiere over at Happy To Be At Home the second week of April. This feature is going to be in conjunction with Sam's Club and I'm looking forward to getting started. Check back here for more details soon!

Additionally, I'm beginning to put the ebooks together for the Virtual Great American Bake Sale. If you haven't yet submitted a recipe, you have until April 5th. You can get all the details about the VGABS on my cooking blog, Cooking During Stolen Moments.

So all that to say, my menu is going to be really off this week! As of right now, I only have planned meals for Monday and Tuesday. The rest of the week is still a bit up in the air until I get the rest of my schedule figured out. But having even just a small plan is much more helpful then having none at all. I'll probably be focusing on some easier meals, as well as doing lots of freezer cooking at some point.

Monday

• Breakfast - Chocolate chip-banana muffins, smoothies
• Lunch - Sandwiches, apple slices, crackers
• Dinner - Cheese ravioli, garlic bread

Tuesday

• Breakfast - Apple-spiced oatmeal
• Lunch - Sausage & cheese turnovers (from freezer), peaches
• Dinner - Mexican potato casserole, skillet corn

I bet you can find lots more menu plans from people who have their acts together a bit better than I do over at I'm An Organizing Junkie.

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Rabbit Trails and Degrees of Separation

Photo by marttj

I have this little routine every night that kind of annoys me, yet I'm somehow powerless to stop it. Once I get the kids in bed, my plan is always to head for my computer in our bedroom and get started on blogging stuff.

But the house is quiet and there is nothing that must be done right that second - no child asking me for something or laundry waiting to be folded. Invariably, I think of something that I want to look up on the computer. So I'll stand in front of the laptop, look up what I wanted, and then it begins...I hit a rabbit trail.

I see an interesting link, so I click through. Usually I'm looking at blogs and we all know what a plethora of interesting links that is. So I click another link. And on and on until I realize I've been standing in the kitchen for an hour.

I've tried just walking straight to my bedroom, but it's like there is a magnet on the laptop and I just get pulled into it. Please tell me I am not the only one this happens to.

These rabbit trails have taught me something though. The blogosphere is a very inter-connected place. And we all like to link to each other whenever we can.

Well, why not have a little fun with that fact, six degrees of separation style? Go to your favorite bigger-named blog and see how many clicks it takes for you to get back to your own blog. And have fun heading down some rabbit trails of your own. Then come back here and let me know how many degrees of separation you are from your favorite.

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CFBA Review - Turning The Paige

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Turning The Paige
Zondervan (March 1, 2009)
by
Laura Jensen Walker
My Thoughts:
I loved, loved, loved this book! I did not want to turn the last page. The storyline was fantastic, the characters were unique and sympathetic, but to me, the best part of this book was the literary references. The main character, Paige, and her group of friends are in a book club. As a result, they quote from books often. I can't imagine the amount of research that took. It was phenomenal. Each chapter also started with a quote from a book that gave a subtle clue into what was to come. Brilliant!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Laura Jensen Walker is an award-winning writer, popular speaker, and breast-cancer survivor who loves to touch readers and audiences with the healing power of laughter.

Born in Racine, Wisconsin (home of Western Printing and Johnson’s Wax—maker of your favorite floor care products) Laura moved to Phoenix, Arizona when she was in high school. But not being a fan of blazing heat and knowing that Uncle Sam was looking for a few good women, she enlisted in the United States Air Force shortly after graduation and spent the next five years flying a typewriter through Europe.

By the time she was 23, Laura had climbed the Eiffel Tower, trod the steps of the Parthenon, skied (okay, snowplowed) in the Alps, rode in a gondola in Venice, and wept at the ovens of Dachau. She’d also learned how to fold her underwear into equal thirds, make a proper cup of English tea, and repel the amorous advances of a blind date by donning combat gear and a gas mask.

Laura is a former newspaper reporter and columnist with a degree in journalism who has written hundreds of articles on many subjects ranging from emu ranching and pigeon racing to goat-roping and cemetery board meetings. However, realizing that livestock and local government weren’t her passion, she switched to writing humor, which she calls a “total God-thing.”

Her lifelong dream of writing fiction came true in Spring 2005 with the release of her first chick lit novel, Dreaming in Black & White which won the Contemporary Fiction Book of the Year from American Christian Fiction Writers. Her sophomore novel, Dreaming in Technicolor was published in Fall 2005.

Laura’s third novel, Reconstructing Natalie, chosen as the Women of Faith Novel of the Year for 2006, is the funny and poignant story of a young, single woman who gets breast cancer and how her life is reconstructed as a result. This book was born out of Laura’s cancer speaking engagements where she started meeting younger and younger women stricken with this disease—some whose husbands had left them, and others who wondered what breast cancer would do to their dating life. She wanted to write a novel that would give voice to those women. Something real. And honest. And funny.

Because although cancer isn’t funny, humor is healing.

A popular speaker and teacher at writing conferences, Laura has also been a guest on hundreds of radio and TV shows around the country including the ABC Weekend News, The 700 Club, and The Jay Thomas Morning Show.

Another book in this series is Daring Chloe

She lives in Northern California with her Renaissance-man husband Michael, and Gracie, their piano playing dog


ABOUT THE BOOK

At 35, Paige Kelley is feeling very "in between." She's still working her temp job after two years, still not dating three years after her divorce, and still melting at every chubby-cheeked toddler she sees while her biological clock ticks ever louder. Paige even moves back home to help her ailing, high-maintenance mother.It's not exactly the life she'd dreamed of!

When her Getaway Girls book club members urge Paige to break free and get on with her life, she's afraid. How will her mother react? How can Paige honor her widowed mother and still pursue her own life? The answers come from a surprising source.
A trip to Scotland and a potential new love interest help launch an exciting new chapter in her life, and lead Paige to discover that God's plan for her promises to be more than she ever imagined.

This latest release in the Getaway Girls collection delivers a smart, funny, and warm account of one woman's challenge to reconcile who she is - a dutiful Christian daughter - with the woman she longs to be.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Turning The Paige, go HERE

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A Fantastic Afternoon Outing

Last Saturday, Eric and I wanted to take the kids out and do something fun. We also wanted to do something somewhat productive. So we combined the two and decided to head out to Sam's Club.

I have wanted a price comparison list between Sam's Club and Kroger for a long time. And now that the kids are getting older and eating bigger portions of things, we knew it was time to do this for real.

We planned our trip around lunch time so that we could grab a few slices of pizza before we started shopping. For whatever reason, our kids think eating at Sam's Club is the coolest thing ever. To be honest, Eric and I don't mind it too much ourselves.

We ate our pizza and then made the unanimous decision that we would walk up and down every single aisle. The kids were so well behaved and they had so much fun. By the time we made it over to the food section, we were no longer full from lunch and were able to try a few samples.

I had a notebook and pen with me so every time I saw something that I wanted to compare prices with, I'd stop and write it down. Some things were clearly more expensive, so I didn't bother writing those down. By the time we were done though, I had a list with over 50 items on it.

When we got to the car, we couldn't believe how much time had passed. We had spent literally 5 hours in Sam's Club, and all we had to show for it was a box of pull-ups, full tummies and some happy kids! I guess you could say we are definitely hooked on Sam's Club.

Outings like this are pretty normal. It is a finer thing in life to be able to have so much fun doing something so simple.

The afternoon itself was a pretty frugal outing, but the true frugality of the day lies in the price list. Although I haven't fully completed the comparisons yet, I know it has the potential to save us some money in the future. I will post my findings as soon as I get the list completed.

Have you submitted a recipe for the Virtual Great American Bake Sale yet? All of the proceeds go to Share Our Strength to ensure that no child goes hungry. Please check it out, help spread the word, and submit a recipe.

This post is being linked to:

• Finer Things Friday at Amy's blog, The Finer Thing In Life
• Hooked on... Fridays at Hooked On Houses
• Frugal Friday at Life As Mom
  

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Just A Random Memory

Isabelle and I were reminiscing earlier today, which is kind of fun with her because she has a memory like mine. The two of us make an awfully good team. When we work together it's safe to assume we will remember every little detail of any major or minor occurrence.

Today we were discussing an event that I can not believe I haven't written about yet - the day I set the toaster on fire.

It was about 3 days after Gracie was born and I was getting the house ready for my sister who was coming to help out for a few days. I was feeling a little frazzled still adjusting to having a new baby at home and trying to make sure the house looked presentable.

I needed something quick to eat for breakfast. There was one package of pop-tarts that my brother-in-law had left when he watched the other kids while Eric and I were at the hospital. I figured that would be a super easy thing to fix for myself. I threw them in the toaster and went to switch around the laundry.

This toaster was not one of the new ones with built in safety features. In fact, it was the toaster Eric grew up with, so it was really, really old. (At least that's Isabelle's assessment.)

It says right on the box that you are not supposed to put pop-tarts in the toaster. Did you know that? I didn't until after the fact. I'd never had a problem with it before. I even knew enough to set the toaster to the lowest setting. What I failed to realize is that if old toasters don't pop up when they are supposed to, they'll keep toasting. And toasting and toasting...

Unfortunately, when the one doing the toasting is feeling scatter-brained and overwhelmed, this does not make for a good combination. I think you can probably guess where I'm going with this.

So I walked out of the laundry room and peeked into the kitchen and saw flames shooting out of the toaster. I froze and could not for the life of me think of what to do.

First instinct was to throw a pot lid over it to contain the flames. Um, okay. Then I looked for the fire extinguisher and didn't see it under the kitchen sink. Then, I actually did the first smart thing I'd done all morning and realized I should probably unplug the toaster. And then you know what I did, because I was in such sad shape? I called Eric.

I calmly said to him "Umm...the toaster is on fire and I'm not sure what to do."

He calmly replied, "Unplug it and throw water on it."

Now, why didn't I think of that? I managed to knock the pot lid off with out burning my hands and dumped a couple of glasses of water on it. It worked. I hung up the phone, decided I was just going to skip breakfast, threw the toaster in the backyard, and pretended like it was any other day.

But it's good to know Isabelle will never forget that moment!

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CFBA Review - A Cousin's Promise

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
A Cousin's Promise
Barbour Books (March 1, 2009)
by
Wanda Brunstetter
My Thoughts:
I enjoyed the book and the storyline. It gave me an entirely different perspective of the Amish then I've had before. It was an easy read and a great way to spend a few hours.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Wanda enjoys writing about the Amish because they live a peaceful, simple life─something she says we all need in this day and age.

Using the knowledge her Amish friends have shared with her, Wanda has also produced several children’s titles in the Rachel Yoder─Always Trouble Somewhere series, an Amish cookbook, and a devotional collection entitled The Simpler Life, which was released in July 2008 and celebrates the virtues of the Amish lifestyle. Wanda and her husband are members of the fellowship of Christian Magicians.

Wanda is also a member of the North American Association of ventriloquists, American Christian Fiction Writers, and the Northwest Christian Writers Association. She lives in Washington State, where her husband pastors, but takes every opportunity to visit Amish settlements across the country.

Other books by Wanda are A Sister's Test, A Sister's Hope, and A Sister's Secret


ABOUT THE BOOK

Wayne Lambright who, crippled after a tragic accident, feels himself unworthy of her love; and Jake Beechy who, after having abandoned her to explore the English world, returns to renew their courtship.

Willkumm to the lush and lavish Amish country where Wanda Brunstetter's new romantic series, Indiana Cousins, begins with A Cousin's Promise. Loraine Miller finds herself torn between the love of two good men.

When a horrific accident cripples Wayne Lambright, he finds it difficult enough to take care of himself, much less Loraine Miller, his future bride. Will he sacrifice his happiness to give her a better life?

Having already been jilted once, Loraine is terrified of yet another rejection. But does she love Wayne enough to marry him, for better or worse? When her old boyfriend Jake Beechy returns from exploring the English world, he hopes Loraine will give him another chance.

How will God work to give Loraine the desires of her heart? To which man will she pledge her love and loyalty - for better or worse, until death they do part?

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Cousin's Promise, go HERE

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Maybe The Cold Helps Keep Sleepy Awake

Stop by 5MFM for more Wordless Wednesday.

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An Abundance of Citrus

Last night, one of our wonderful neighbors stopped by with a special delivery for us. She gave us a huge box filled to overflowing with oranges and grapefruits.

Since our children love to eat fruit whenever humanly possible, this was definitely a treat. They woke up this morning excited to have some oranges right away.
This gift of citrus definitely works for me. Also working for me this week is the fabulous neighbors we have, the sense of community in our little condo subdivision, and kids that are as excited by a box of fruit as they would be by a box of toys.

However, there are so many oranges and grapefruits that I'm just not sure we'll be able to eat them all before they go bad. I could really use some suggestions on what to do with the extras. I'm thinking I could dry some of the peels for potpourri. I know I could juice them, but can I freeze the juice? Beyond those ideas, I am stumped.

What would work for you if you had a bunch of oranges and grapefruits that needed to be used up quickly?

Have you submitted a recipe for the Virtual Great American Bake Sale yet? All of the proceeds go to Share Our Strength to insure that no child goes hungry. Please check it out, help spread the word, and submit a recipe.

Stop by We Are THAT Family for more Works For Me Wednesday.

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Bedroom Re-Do, Just In Time For Spring

Every so often, Eric and I get the urge to move furniture around. (Is it just a small house thing, or does everyone get this way?) So yesterday we made a spur-of the-moment decision to rearrange our bedroom.

Eric did all of the heavy work and got all of the furniture situated in new spots. Then once the kids were in bed, he and I tackled cleaning things up and getting the room back in shape.

I don't have any before pictures (like I said, this was literally a split-second decision), but we basically reversed the room. Our bed was between the windows and the dresser and desk were on the other wall.
I really like the fresh perspective. It makes the room feel fresh and new, even though nothing much has changed.Isabelle is excited to have her desk by the window now. I think it will be great for her to have the window open while doing her school work as the weather gets warmer.Now I'm going to embarrass myself a little bit. I'm kind of excited about this little corner on my side of the bed that Eric and I have affectionately dubbed "the grandma corner." Swap the telescope for a rocking chair and I'd be all set!
The best side effect of rearranging is definitely the cleaning and organizing that get done as a result. I've been saying for weeks that I need to get my desk under control. Well thankfully, that finally happened and everything is all nice and organized. (I won't mention that box shoved full of random papers under my desk though.)Little projects like this make me feel grateful - grateful for the pride and sense of accomplishment, grateful that a little thing can make us so happy, grateful that my husband enjoys this whole process as much as I do, and grateful that we are always finding new ways to keep our home feeling fresh when all we really want to do is move.

Have you submitted a recipe for the Virtual Great American Bake Sale yet? All of the proceeds go to Share Our Strength to insure that no child goes hungry. Please check it out, help spread the word, and submit a recipe.

Stop by Heavenly Homemakers for more Gratituesday. Then stop by Tackle-It Tuesday at 5 Minutes For Mom and Talk About Tuesday at The Lazy Organizer.

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Menu Plan Monday - Week of 3/23

I have another busy week coming up this week. I have a feeling things will be pretty busy around here the next few weeks with the Virtual Great American Bake Sale planning and preparing. Fortunately, I have quite a few meals in the freezer that we can eat.

A few weekends ago we were supposed to spend the night at my in-laws lake house to celebrate my father-in-laws birthday, and Gracie's 2nd birthday. That had to get pushed back though, so we'll be doing that this coming weekend instead.

Breakfast

• M - Banana bread French toast (using banana bread from the freezer)
• T - Peanut butter oatmeal
• W - Morning glory muffins & smoothies
  
• Th - Waffles
• F - Scrambled eggs & toast
• S - Chocolate chip coffee cake
• Su - Breakfast w/ the in-laws

Lunch

• M - Tuna pasta salad, peaches
• T - Pizza bagels (from the freezer), carrot and celery sticks
• W - Leftovers
• Th - Quesadillas, apple slices
• F - Chicken salad in pitas, pineapple & oranges
• S - Lunch w/in-laws
• Su - TBD (depending on when we leave)

Dinner

• M - Beef and rice wet burritos (from the freezer), Mexican corn casserole
• T - Something using chicken & gravy from the freezer (maybe over biscuits)
• W - Stuffed Shells (from the freezer), Tomato-basil bread
• Th - Meatloaf cups (from the freezer), mashed potatoes, maple-glazed carrots
• F - Chicken Parm fingers over garlic spaghetti, broccoli
• S - At the in-laws (I will be taking 2 cakes - one white, one chocolate)
• Su - Black bean & corn nachos
  

Have you submitted a recipe for the Virtual Great American Bake Sale yet? All of the proceeds go to Share Our Strength to insure that no child goes hungry. Please check it out, help spread the word, and submit a recipe.

For dozens and dozens and dozens and dozens more menu plans, make sure you visit Organizing Junkie.

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One For The Mommy Play Book

I learned a small lesson today about mommyhood. Something I plan to squirrel away in the recesses of my brain for those days when it's really needed.

From now on, I'm going to not let the kids play with certain toys for awhile. And when they ask to play with that toy, I'm going to say "not today."

Why? Because today Alex and Olivia pulled out our train set from the closet. They haven't played with it in months, probably because it's in the closet and not part of the daily toys. There have been a few times recently when they asked if they could play with it and I said no for whatever reason. So today, playing with that train set was thrilling for them. It captivated them all afternoon in a way that none of their daily toys do.

I've said it before and I'll say it again...I really wish we had room to rotate toys so that they only had a few in rotation at a time. Until we do, I think I'll rearrange that closet and see if I can make some more room.

Do you rotate toys? And what I really would love to know - do your children actually play with toys, or do they just make messes with them and then move on in 5 minutes?

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Ultimate Blog Party '09

Welcome to A Simple Walk...a blog desperately in need of a tagline. (I'm open to any and all suggestions!)

My name is Kate and this is my personal blog. Here I share all about my life as a wife and stay-at-home, homeschooling mom of 4. Eric, my husband, is a fantastic man, husband and father who runs his own small business. The kids are Isabelle (9), Alex (4), Olivia (3) and Gracie (2). You can read more about me here.

Our family strives to live a simple and frugal life. We love nothing more then just being together, whether that means a family sleep-over in the family room or a day spent outside.

I am a staunch supporter of menu planning, once-a-month grocery shopping and freezer cooking.

I used to be a literary snob. I acknowledge the deeper significance of toilet paper.

Some days being a mom makes me cry, some days one of my children breaks my nose, but I wouldn't change a thing about my life!

In addition to this blog, I also write Cooking During Stolen Moments where I share all of my recipes and cooking methods. I am a co-founder of Happy To Be At Home.

For my next blogging adventure, I've partnered with Share Our Strength to host the Virtual Great American Bake Sale. Please stop by Cooking During Stolen Moments to read all about it, submit your baking recipes, and prepare to participate on April 13th.

Don't forget to check out all the other blogs partying with 5 Minutes for Mom this week!

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Favorite Frugal Family Fun

We're a pretty simple family, so we tend to find the simple things are the most fun. And as an added bonus to that, the simple fun things are also usually very frugal. Here are some of our favorite ways to frugally have fun as a family.

• Root beer floats or homemade milkshakes. Adding these to any ordinary day or night just makes the whole thing special. Add some popcorn and a DVD (preferrably from the library), and you've got some great frugal fun!
• State parks. We are blessed to have a plethora of state parks within a 30 mile drive from our house. For $4 per car, we can spend all day there have lots of fun. Our favorite state park has a lake for swimming, nature trails and a petting farm.
• The Library. We love to go to the library to pick out books. But, it's also very easy to make a fun day of it. Sometimes that means we play with puzzles and games in the childrens' reading room. Other times we'll go for free activities or talks.
• Pancake breakfasts or dinners. Many of the organizations in our community have these as a fundraisers. Sure it costs a bit of money, but it is money well spent. And they are always so fun, especially the pancake breakfasts at the fire station.
• Picnics. Sometimes we picnic at the park, but most of the time, we just picnic in our backyard and it is just as fun. A special twist for this is to have a breakfast or dinner picnic and time it to coincide with the sunrise or sunset respectively.
• Exploring local towns. We love to pile in the car and drive to a nearby town that we don't usually take the time to stop at. This is especially fun when the town has a thriving Main St. with stores where we can window shop.

Stop by Cents To Get Debt-Free for more Finding Freedom Friday and Life As Mom for more Frugal Friday.

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My Wedding Ring

I love my wedding ring. I've had it since September, I believe. I only take it off when I'm kneading dough or making meatloaf. I really would hate to lose it.
Because I know how that feels. This is my third wedding ring. Although it's not as terrible as it sounds.

When Eric and I first got married, the circumstances were a little unconventional (another story for another day). We were so in love and so focused on getting married that our rings held little concern for us. And honestly, I've never been very into jewelry. So we just purchased a simple ring from a rack in a department store.

A year after we were married, Eric bought me a simple gold band to replace my original $20 ring that I had lost when it fell off my finger. I lost that replacement ring at the hospital when I had Olivia.

We couldn't afford to replace the ring right away and after a while, it just wasn't that important to me. The symbolism behind the ring mattered so much more then anything I put on my finger.

Yet there were times when I wished for a ring. A wedding ring has a lot of value and meaning in our society. Sometimes, it just didn't feel right to not wear a ring. Eric wanted me to have a ring too.

So we packed up all 4 kids and headed out to the jewelry store to pick out my wedding ring. It was kind of comical. We looked at some more traditional ones, but I instantly fell in love with this one. It is much more my style and much more representative of our marriage. It is simple, yet beautiful. It's nontraditional, yet old-fashioned. It fits in every possible way.
I love my ring because it's unique. I found it at just right the time in my life. It is so special and I'm proud to show it off. Kind of like how I feel about my husband!

Stop by The Diaper Diaries for more Things I Love Thursday.

And then stop by Amy's blog for Finer Things Friday and Hooked On Houses for Hooked on...

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CFBA Review - Breach of Trust

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Breach Of Trust
Tyndale House Publishers (February 5, 2009)

by
DiAnn Mills
My Thoughts:
This book was a fun and suspense-filled read. It was definitely a page turner. This book did raise one question in my mind though. I'm trying to figure out what a prefer in suspense novels - is it better to figure something out and wait to see how the characters figure that out, or is it better to be left as clueless as the characters? Which is a more fun read for you?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Award-winning author, DiAnn Mills, launched her career in 1998 with the publication of her first book. Currently she has over forty books in print and has sold more than a million copies.

DiAnn believes her readers should “Expect an Adventure.” DiAnn Mills is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed novels.

Six of her anthologies have appeared on the CBA Best Seller List. Three of her books have won the distinction of Best Historical of the Year by Heartsong Presents. Five of her books have won placements through American Christian Fiction Writer’s Book of the Year Awards 2003 – 2007, and she is the recipient of the Inspirational Reader’s Choice award for 2005 and 2007. She was a Christy Awards finalist in 2008.

DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope and Love, and Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. DiAnn is also a mentor for Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writer’s Guild.

She lives in sunny Houston, Texas. DiAnn and her husband have four adult sons and are active members of Metropolitan Baptist Church.



ABOUT THE BOOK

Paige Rogers survived every CIA operative’s worst nightmare.

A covert mission gone terribly wrong.

A betrayal by the one man she thought she could trust.

Forced to disappear to protect the lives of her loved ones, Paige has spent the last several years building a quiet life as a small-town librarian. But the day a stranger comes to town and starts asking questions, Paige knows her careful existence has been shattered.

He is coming after her again. And this time, he intends to silence her for good...

Paige Rogers is a former CIA agent who lost all she treasured seven years ago when her entire team was killed in a covert mission. She blames their leader—Daniel Keary—whom Paige believes betrayed them. Disillusioned and afraid for her life, she disappeared and started a new life as a librarian in small town Split Creek, Oklahoma.

But her growing relationship with high school football coach Miles Laird and the political ambitions of her former boss threaten to unmask her. When Keary announces his candidacy for governor of her state, he comes after Paige to ensure that she won't ruin his bid for office by revealing his past misdeeds. He threatens everything she holds dear, and Paige must choose between the life of hiding that has become her refuge . . . or risking everything in one last, desperate attempt to right old wrongs.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Breach Of Trust, go HERE

Watch the Book Trailer:

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Under-Priced Entreprenuers

Over the years, we've used lots of different systems for chores. We've also used different systems for chores. Sometimes we've tied the two together. But nothing has ever really stuck.

So when the kids came up with their own plan, Eric and I were very receptive to hearing what they had to say.

Their plan was simple - create a chore chart with assigned earnings for each chore, tally the earnings on the chart and receive payment at the end of the week. They also have specific goals in mind that they want to save up money for. The first is a Webkinz Jr. for Alex and Olivia to share, so that Isabelle can introduce to the world of webkinz.

Eric and I agreed to their plan with the understanding that we'd have the final say over what they came up with. We definitely appreciated their entrepreneurial spirit. Plus, we thought it would be a great outlet for them to display some teamwork and cooperation.

However, we were shocked when we saw their list. Our intelligent, "business-savvy" children came up with this chart:In case you can't read that, let me fill you in.

• Empty dishwasher - 10 cents
• Clean bathroom - 30 cents
• Clean Up - 2 cents - 5 cents, depending on how big the mess is
• Make our beds - 1 cent

And those prices are for all 3 of the oldest kids collectively! They each make their beds and the group earns a penny.

But for now we're going with it, and Eric and I are planning to tip them generously for their service. Some day we'll sit them down and discuss economics and assigning value to your work.

If it works for them, it works for me!

Make sure to visit We Are THAT Family for more Works For Me Wednesday.

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A Trip To The Henry Ford

For Christmas this year, my in-laws gave us a year long family pass to The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. We've been putting off our first trip due to Eric's busy schedule.
But now that his Saturday's are freed up, we knew it was time. So we tackled that this weekend.
Since the village is an outdoor experience, it is currently closed for the season until April. This actually worked to our benefit as it gave us more time to devote to the museum.
We took our time walking around and just seeing what we could see. Isabelle definitely got the most out of the trip, but all of the kids enjoyed themselves.
I want to cook in this kitchen! In fact, I want to live in this kitchen.What a fun day we had. I'm so glad we'll get to do it again (and again, and again). This is going to be a fun year. I envision lots of summer days spent here.I'm so grateful to my in-laws for giving us this unique and wonderful gift. Not only did they give us the gift of admissions, they also gave us the gift of creating fantastic memories with our kids. For more Gratituesday, visit Heavenly Homemakers.
For more Tackle-It Tuesday, visit 5 Minutes For Mom.
For more Talk About Tuesday, visit The Lazy Organizer.

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Menu Plan Monday - Week of 3/16

I have a really busy week ahead of me this week, so I'm relying on some easy favorites. Well, except for St. Patrick's Day. I grew up eating corned beef and potato pancakes every St. Patrick's Day, so I've loved carrying on that tradition. And Eric doesn't complain at all, since he LOVES corned beef! I've got a big corned beef so that I can guarantee leftovers for hash later in the week. And I'm sure Eric will be eating corned beef sandwiches a few times a day until it's gone.

Breakfasts

• M - Smoothies & oatmeal
• T - Crepes w/ bananas foster sauce
• W - Chocolate chip muffins & smoothies
• Th - Pancakes
• F - Breakfast cookies & smoothies
• S - French toast
• Su - Leftover muffins & breakfast cookies

Lunch

• M - Tuna pasta salad & applesauce
• T - Grilled cheese & kiwi
• W - Egg salad sandwiches & grapes
• Th - Pepperoni pasta salad & yogurt
• F - Quesadillas & grapes
• S - Ham sandwiches & strawberries
• Su - Sausage & cheese turnovers, apples

Dinner

• M - Something with ground beef and pasta
• T - Corned beef, cabbage, carrots, potato pancakes and rye bread, sugar cookies w/green frosting
• W - Cheesy pasta casserole, zucchini, breadsticks
• Th - Wet burritos, skillet corn
• F - Homemade corned beef hash, leftover cabbage & carrots
• S - Monterey chicken, corn on the cob, onion straws
• Su - TBD

Stop by $5 Dinners where Erin is hosting MPM for Laura this week.

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Pampers & Unicef: One Pack=One Vaccine

I know vaccines are a hotly debated topic. They've even been debated on a regular basis in my own house. But I believe this is one program we can all get behind, no matter our personal views. So, that topic is not up for debate right now.

The program I'd like to tell you about today is called the One Pack = One Vaccine initiative. Pampers has partnered with UNICEF to help provide life-saving tetanus shots to less-industrialized countries. Although highly preventable, "tetanus claims the lives of approximately 128,000 infants and 30,000 mothers in less industrialized nations each year – that’s approximately one death every four minutes."

From February 5 through May 1, 2009, parents in the U.S. and Canada have the opportunity to help UNICEF protect moms and babies around the world against tetanus by simply purchasing specially-marked packages of Pampers diapers and wipes. Each product they buy triggers one life-saving vaccine*. These specially marked packages of diapers and wipes cost the same as traditional products and are available wherever Pampers products are sold. For more information, go to: http://www.pampers.com/en_US/unicefhome

In addition to product, parents can also redeem a special campaign “baby body suit” or baby body suit using Gifts to Grow points though Pampers.com beginning in February – each baby body suit triggers a life-saving vaccine*. http://www.pampers.com/giftstogrow

It really couldn't be any easier. By simply buying products we need anyhow, we can help save lives. Next you need to buy diapers or wipes, just look for the specially marked packages like the one above. Each purchase will trigger the donation of a life-saving vaccine to a pregnant woman or a woman of child-bearing age in the less industrialized world.

Even if your family doesn't need diapers, why not pick up a few of the specially marked packages now to help with this program? The diapers and wipes can be donated or held onto to give as a baby shower gift.

To date, 3 million vaccines have been donated. The goal is 31 million. The power of the blogosphere is phenomenal, so I have no doubt we can help Pampers and UNICEF reach this goal. If you want to help spread the word, check out this page for widgets and other ideas.

I have 4 of the Pampers Baby Bodysuits to giveaway to 4 readers. They are all size 12 mos. They say "Together we can help save a life" on the front and the Pampers and UNICEF logos are on the bottom.

To enter the giveaway, just leave me a comment. And although it's not a requirement to enter, I strongly encourage you to visit here to help learn more and spread the word yourself.

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Restaurant Non-Frugal

This weekend, we did something very rare for our family. We went out to lunch after church. Obviously we all know going out to eat is not frugal. But sometimes a little splurge is in order.

We decided to do something different and head out to Old Country Buffet. It's an all-you-can-eat buffet, so that has to be pretty frugal, right?

Wrong! Without tip, it was $33 for our family. I guess for a family going out to eat that isn't too bad. (As an aside, if you ever go to eat at an all-you-can-eat buffet, it is still standard practice to tip the waitresses!)

So as we headed to our seats, I was kind of feeling not too bad about this decision. Sure it was a lot of money, especially compared to if we'd just eaten at home. But this was a rare Sunday afternoon treat.

As the meal progressed, both Eric and I began regretting this decision. Here are all of the reasons Old Country Buffet should be dubbed "Restaurant Non-Frugal."

1. If you care even a little bit about eating healthy, for an all-you-can-eat buffett, your options will be very limited.
   
2. Everything tastes like it came out of a can, including the "steak" and the ribs.
3. Coffee is supposed to be hot.
4. Soup is supposed to be hot.
5. Ice cream is supposed to be cold.
6. I've never in my life paid $11 dollars for a decent tasting rice krispy bar. (And yes, that was the only thing that tasted good.)
7. You paid good money to gorge yourself with an all-you-can-eat spread. It shouldn't be torturous trying to decide what else you can stomach just so you can get your money's worth.

When we left, Eric and I questioned why we had just made such a colossal mistake. Believe it or not, we've actually done this before. It was about a year ago and we walked out feeling the exact same way. Maybe we'll remember next time.

So my frugal tip for today is this - If you are going to treat yourselves to a rare meal out, make sure you like the restaurant where you are going.

I will admit it is possible that it's just this Old Country Buffet that is this bad. Although you'd be hard-pressed to ever convince me to eat at another one!

Tell me about your OCB experiences. I'd love to hear if you agree or disagree with our assessment.

Stop by the new Frugal Friday home, Life As Mom.

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Hooked On Ideal Bite

I have been receiving the Ideal Bite newsletter in my email inbox for over 6 months now and I am definitely hooked on it. In fact, I love it so much that I also signed up to receive the weekly Mama Bite emails.

Every day brings a great new tip or idea. I've been able to implement many of these things in our home. A lot of the tips also make for great blog fodder.

For example, here was the tip in today's newsletter:

If you can't compost it, put your food waste in the trash instead of using the garbage disposal to save water and energy.

It's such common sense, but something I've never thought of before. That is what so many of the Ideal Bite tips seem to be.

Want to sign up to receive the email newsletter too? Just click the Ideal Bite button above. And then sit back and be prepared to learn lots of great new stuff!

And then stop by Hooked On Houses for more Hooked On...Fridays.

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