We had a wonderful Thanksgiving last week and I hope you all did too! I made the full spread just for our family. I figured we'd have lots of leftovers that I could fill the freezer with. But either everyone was really hungry or I just didn't make as much food as I thought I did since the leftovers were sparse. The only thing I'll really be able to freeze is some turkey. I'll shred what's left and we'll use it in casseroles and soups. I'm planning to make stock with the carcass too.
By the way, if you're looking for some methods and recipes for stock making, check out the Stock Exchange going on at JessieLeigh's place. Her tips are great and there are links to other posts as well. I'll be joining up once my turkey stock is done.
Here are our dinner plans for this week. Breakfast and lunch will just be some leftovers and other easy things. I'll be doing our monthly shopping trip in a few days so I haven't nailed down those plans yet.
My Thoughts: I really enjoyed the unique perspective and subject of this book. I wasn't sure what to expect when I began reading, but I was definitely pleasantly surprised. This is one of those books that goes high on my list because I know my husband will enjoy reading it too. And any time I know I can recommend a book to him without hesitation, I know it's a winner!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Russ White is an internationally recognized internetwork engineer. He has co-authored eight books in the field of network design and routing protocols and is a regular speaker at international networking conferences.
In addition to working on several expert and senior-level network engineering certifications, he is a certified firearms instructor.
Russ, his wife, and their two children live in the Raleigh area of North Carolina, where they enjoy spending time on Jordan Lake and attending Colonial Baptist Church. Loss of Carrier is his first novel.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Bright yellow cables against a blue shirt? Carl never would have approved of that color combination. Why was his face so white? His eyes should be closed, not open. Why hadn’t one of the security guards seen this and reported it to the police? The lights were off, the cameras were useless in the dark.
Of course, the cables wrapped around Carl’s neck explained why the server wasn’t working. Loss of carrier.
Jess Wirth lives a dreary life. He spends most of his time crammed inside a cubicle, toiling as a network engineer and stewing over the details of his ugly divorce. But when he finds his co-worker dead in the basement of their office, Jess’s life takes a surprising—and unpleasant—turn.
The police quickly declare the death a suicide, but Jess isn’t so sure. Not long after he begins digging into the victim’s work, another co-worker turns up dead, convincing him once and for all that something sinister is brewing behind the cubicle walls.
His investigation leads him to a mysterious woman name Leah, who pushes him to entrust her with the information he’s collected about his dead colleagues. Wary of Leah’s motives yet inexorably drawn to her, Jess keeps her at arm’s length...until an attempt is made on both their lives. Realizing they are close on the trail of a dangerous criminal, the pair race to expose a data theft ring before they become the killer’s next victims.
For the past 7 years, we've had a most amazing Christmastime tradition. It's unique and special and I am so grateful that our kids are growing up with this tradition.
You see, it's not everyone that gets to claim Santa as a member of their family.
But we do.
Our kids love to say that their grandpa is Santa Claus. They believe he is one of Santa's helpers, filling in for Santa during this busy, busy time of year.
And this past Friday, we headed to downtown Detroit where we watched Grandpa Santa light the city Christmas Tree from our front row seats.
Alex and I were interviewed and there was a 5 second clip of us on the news Friday night. (I'm so excited for Alex but would just rather forget that I was a part of that!)
We watched the ice skaters. We enjoyed the chilly weather. And we ended the night with a dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe, where Santa is their favorite VIP.
How could I not be overflowing with gratitude for this awesome experience our children get to be a part of each year?
I am really looking forward to this week. The older kids will be home from school on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and next Monday. It will feel like old times! I'm hoping to fit in some crafts, baking projects and other things that would have been the center of our days when we were homeschooling. They are all excited to spend the extra time together.
Our Thanksgiving plans are still a bit up in the air due to some extenuating circumstances beyond our control. But I'm planning to cook a big meal anyhow. If anything, we'll have lots of leftovers for the freezer.
Breakfasts:
Mini-wheats, muffins, pancakes, French toast, Mini-blinis
For the past 5 years, we've lived without a kitchen table. All of our meals have been eaten on the floor or on the couch. We always ate together, just not around a table. We just didn't have room for one.
A few months ago, Eric and I decided we really wanted a table. The kids are getting older and there isn't as much baby stuff taking up space. The play area wasn't being used as much and there was definitely some decluttering we could do. We viewed it as a very small sacrifice to make the space for a table where we could all sit together. And surprisingly, all of the kids were on board.
So we started looking on Craigslist and a few other places to see what we could find. We came across a few good options but life happened and the table buying kind of fell off our radar.
And then life slowed back down again, bringing us up to this past Tuesday. We decided on a whim to stop in at the Salvation Army and see if there were any good tables.
I think you know where this is going.
We found the perfect table, in beautiful condition, with 4 chairs. And fortunately, there were two lone chairs that matched in color if not style. As we were mulling over the decision, an announcement came over the PA system stating that all furniture was 33% off. That settled it. We had us a new table!
For just $75.
We have all been enjoying the table so much these past few days. The kids are eating every meal there and loving it. They fight over who gets to be the two table washers after each meal. We're having discussions and establishing new rituals. We're even enjoying the novelty of eating family style. What a finer thing it is!
My Thoughts: This was a haunting and moving book. The story is definitely one I'll not forget for a long time.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Though Patti's only been writing since 2005, she thinks her latest profession of capturing stories on paper (or computer files) will stick awhile.
The Still, Small Voice encouraged Patti to write after a brave Irish friend shared memories of betrayal and her decision to forgive. In 2008, An Irishwoman’s Tale was published by Kregel Publications. Patti’s second novel, What the Bayou Saw, draws on the memories of two young girls who refused to let segregation, a chain link fence, and a brutal rape come between them.
The secrets women keep and why they keep them continue to enliven Patti's gray matter. A third book, My Name is Sheba, has been completed. Patti's WIP, Recapturing Lily, documents a tug-of-war between a Harvard-educated doctor and an American pastor and his wife for a precious child and explores adoption issues, China's "One Child" policy, and both Christian and secular views of sacrifice.
Patti also facilitates writing seminars in schools, libraries, and at conferences and has been called to present her testimony, "All the Broken Pieces," at women's retreats. She also leads a Beth Moore Bible study at her beloved Grace Church.
Patti and her husband Alan, an Illinois State faculty member, live in Normal with their handsome son Thomas, who attends Heartland Community College. On sunny evenings, you can catch the three strolling the streets of Normal with their dog Laura, whom they've dubbed a "Worchestershire Terrier" for her "little dab of this breed, a little dab of that breed.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Segregation and a chain link fence separated twelve-year-old Sally Flowers from her best friend, Ella Ward. Yet a brutal assault bound them together. Forever. Thirty-eight years later, Sally, a middle-aged Midwestern instructor, dredges up childhood secrets long buried beneath the waters of a Louisiana bayou in order to help her student, who has also been raped. Fragments of spirituals, gospel songs, and images of a Katrina-ravaged New Orleans are woven into the story.
The past can't stay buried forever Rising author Patti Lacy's second novel exposes the life of Sally, set amid the shadows of prejudice in Louisiana.
Since leaving her home in the South, Sally Stevens has held the secrets of her past at bay, smothering them in a sunny disposition and sugar-coated lies. No one, not even her husband, has heard the truth about her childhood.
But when one of her students is violently raped, Sally's memories quickly bubble to the surface unbidden, like a dead body in a bayou. As Sally's story comes to light, the lies she's told begin to catch up with her. And as her web of deceit unravels, she resolves to face the truth at last, whatever the consequences.
We are not a pop drinking family. However, my husband is a semi-occasional Pepsi drinker. About once a month, a 12 pack of Pepsi makes it into our house. And usually that means that each of the kids will have a cup or two of the bubbly stuff before it's gone. Pepsi definitely falls into the treat category for them, and against my better judgment, I'm okay with that.
So when we were in Disney World, pop was an option with every single meal. Of course the kids wanted some. We knew better than that. Not only is a daily pop habit something we don't want to encourage, but for Alex and Olivia, pop drinking equals potty trips every 10 minutes. That wouldn't have been fun for any of us.
Instead of giving in or listening to complaints, we promised the kids a Pepsi day when we got home. Any time they'd ask for some pop, we'd just remind them of our Pepsi day plans. They were so excited about that idea that they didn't care they were drinking the usual water or milk.
This past weekend, we celebrated Pepsi day. So what exactly is Pepsi day? A day when the kids get their fill of Pepsi, of course. Each kid had two Pepsi's throughout the day. They had one can each and as an extra special treat, one glass bottle each. The day turned out great and it definitely worked for us!
When preparing to go to Disney World, we've always found that the preparation work we do in advance is directly correlated to how much we enjoy the trip. Having a wonderful time in Disney World is easy. But having a wonderful, stress-free, non-painful trip is just as easy if you prepare and pack everything that you need.
Here's my own personal list of the Top 10 things to pack for Disney World. I'm sure everyone's list will be a little different. This is just what seems to work best for us.
Top 10 Things To Pack For Disney World
Your patience. Seriously, this is the most important thing of all. While not a physical item that you actually pack, start preparing yourself to be patient long before your feet hit Disney soil. There's a lot of waiting in Disney World. There's also a lot of time spent indulging the kids. But that's what Disney's for, so be prepared for that in advance. (On that note, you should probably be sure you go ahead and pack your appetite too!)
Sunscreen. No matter what time of year you go to Disney World, sunscreen is a must. So much time is spent outside and you (or the kids) can easily get burned before you even realize it.
Good shoes. I can not stress the importance of good shoes enough, for both big feet and little feet. The average person walks between 10 and 15 miles per day while at Disney World. That's a lot of walking for anyone, but it's pure torture for someone wearing flimsy, non-supportive shoes. Although I'll admit, we did notice quite a bit of painful looking shoe option. Eric and I were baffled by the woman wearing knee-high boots with 5 inch heels. Seriously, how did she do it?
Extra shoes. Just as important as good shoes is bringing a pair of extra shoes. If your go-to shoes start to rub your feet in the wrong way, or if your feet are just plain exhausted, it's a good idea to have a back up pair. That way, you can throw them on for a day, or even just a half a day, and give your feet a bit of a break.
Ben-Gay or other sports ointment. There's a good chance you'll get to your room at the end of the day with aching calves and a sore lower back, especially if you are pushing a stroller or carrying kids around. Applying some sports ointment before bed is a great way to end the day.
Pain relievers. If you're squeamish with the sports ointment, popping a tylenol or two might just give you the relief you're looking for. It's also a great quick cure for the I've-heard-this-song-500-times-already-today headaches.
Extra clothes. I pack two outfits per day for each of the kids and one or two additional outfits on top of that. When we stop at the room at the end of day and get ready for a night in the parks, just changing into a new pair of clothes is a great refresher. Obviously, it's also just a wise idea to have extra clothes on hand whenever you're dealing with little kids. But, I'm sure we all know that.
Cloth tote bags. I had 3 extra bags that I took with us on our trip. One was my carry-on, one clips onto my purse and the other was folded up in the suitcase. While we were at Disney World, I had the two bigger bags packed and ready to head out the door. They were filled with water bottles, snacks, extra sunscreen, a change of clothes for the youngest three, jackets for night time chill and whatever else I grabbed as we headed out the door. We used one bag for daytime outings and one bag for night time outings. The bag clipped to my purse came in handy so many times for leftovers when we ate out, souvenirs, or whatever other miscellaneous stuff one of the 13 of us picked up throughout the day. (I used my awesome BlogHer swag Blue Avocado bag.)
Swim Diapers and Extra batteries.. If you have little ones still in diapers, make sure to remember the Swim Diapers! You can buy them at most of the Disney Resorts, but for $1.94 each, it's probably a better idea to just stuff a few of your own in the suitcase. Just like the swim diapers, you can find extra batteries everywhere, but you'll definitely pay for the convenience. And if you use your camera a lot, there's a good chance you'll need those batteries before you head for home.
A good travel book and/or your own mapped-out agenda. Have a plan right from the start is the best way to make the most out of your Disney World trip. And whether you've been one or one hundred times, a travel book is a great resource you'll turn to over and over again throughout the planning stages and the trip itself. My favorite is the Passporter because it's a great resource and a great keepsake all in one.
I am so excited for this week to begin. I finally feel caught up on everything and ready to get back to the normal routine. My kitchen has been sorely neglected for the past 3 weeks and I just can't stay away anymore. Between all of us being sick, a trip to Disney World and a week full of easy meals while I unpacked and got caught up on laundry and work, I'm ready to start some real cooking again.
So, the plan for this week includes some extra baking and freezer cooking too. I'm also getting prepared to start the whole Christmas cookie freezing and baking routine in just a few weeks. I'm starting on my to-make list already.
As if a trip to Disney World wasn't enough, my parents decided to spoil their little princesses just a bit more during a vacation. And what better way to do that then a trip to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique inside Cinderella's Castle?
Our girls were enthralled the second we walked through the door. They quickly settled on their favorite hairstyle of choice and were then whisked away by their Fairy Godmothers-in-Training to begin the transformation process.
I was impressed with the care shown by the stylists as they quickly moved from one little princess to the next. I think our girls didn't even realize there were others waiting for their spot in the chairs.
Overall, the experience took about 30 minutes for each girl. That included hairstyle, make-up and a quick manicure. For an unforgettable treat with lasting memories, the time invested was minimal. (While all of us women and girls were in the boutique, the men and boys went to the Hall of Presidents to nap...er, watch the show.)
I think we were all amazed with the transformations. Isabelle's face when she first saw herself was priceless. She told me later that she didn't even realize she was looking at herself. I think Olivia was struck speechless.
And what better time for a photo op in front of the castle then when you have 4 little princesses all decked out in crowns, glitter and sashes? (At 2, Gracie wasn't old enough for the princess makeover, but my sister brought along her oldest daughter's crown from last time for her to wear.)
Is there anything better than being a princess with your favorite cousin while in Disney World?
While this was certainly not a simple finer thing, our girls would be the first to argue that this is most definitely a finer thing in life!
My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. The first book in the series was great, so I knew this one would be also. I like the way Robin Lee Hatcher portrays women who are strong in their convictions and in their faith. Definitely a fun read!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Robin Lee Hatcher discovered her vocation as a novelist after many years of reading everything she could put her hands on, including the backs of cereal boxes and ketchup bottles. The winner of the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction (Whispers from Yesterday), the RITA Award for Best Inspirational Romance (Patterns of Love and The Shepherd's Voice), two RT Career Achievement Awards (Americana Romance and Inspirational Fiction), and the RWA Lifetime Achievement Award, Robin is the author of over 50 novels, including Catching Katie, named one of the Best Books of 2004 by the Library Journal.
Robin enjoys being with her family, spending time in the beautiful Idaho outdoors, reading books that make her cry, and watching romantic movies. She is passionate about the theater, and several nights every summer, she can be found at the outdoor amphitheater of the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, enjoying Shakespeare under the stars. She makes her home outside of Boise, sharing it with Poppet the high-maintenance Papillon
ABOUT THE BOOK
Cleo Arlington dresses like a cowboy, is fearless and fun-loving, and can ride, rope, and wrangle a horse as well as any man. In 1916, however, those talents aren’t what most young women aspire to. But Cleo isn’t most women. Twenty-nine years old and single, Cleo loves life on her father’s Idaho ranch. Still, she hopes someday to marry and have children.
Enter Sherwood Statham, an English aristocrat whose father has sentenced him to a year of work in America to “straighten him out.” Sherwood, who expected a desk job at a posh spa, isn’t happy to be stuck on an Idaho ranch. And he has no idea how to handle Cleo, who’s been challenged with transforming this uptight playboy into a down-home cowboy, because he has never encountered a woman succeeding in a “man’s world.”
Just about everything either of them says or does leaves the other, well, fit to be tied. Cleo Arlington knows everything about horses but nothing about men. And though Cleo believes God’s plan for her includes a husband, it couldn’t possibly be Sherwood Statham. Could it?
Their bumpy trot into romance is frustrating, exhilarating, and ultimately heartwarming.
I'll admit it - I am a picture junkie. I love taking pictures and I love looking at them. I love the memories they evoke. I also admit that I don't really know what I'm doing when it comes to photography. Everything I've learned has been through trial and error. That is why I love my digital camera. I can take over 800 shots (as I did last week in Disney World) and know that at least a few of them are bound to turn out great.
When it comes to pictures, I do enjoy the posed pictures where everyone looks at the camera. But more than those, I love random pictures. You know, the kind taken when no one knows you are taking their picture? I just think those pictures really capture the moment.
During our trip, I realized some of the best times to snap those random, capturing-the-moment pictures were when we were standing in line waiting to get on rides or when we were just walking to the next ride.
Here are two of my favorite random shots from the week.
Someone drew a hopscotch grid in the middle of the road at Epcot. As soon as Olivia saw it, she broke into some spontaneous hopscotching. I'll never forget her delight as she jumped to the end, nor will I ever forget the man who stopped to watch her just because seeing the simple enjoyment was such a treat. This picture captures those things perfectly.
Look closely in the photo above. See that arm and fist on the right-hand side? That's Alex. He was running so fast in his excitement to check out something with his cousins that I completely missed the shot of him. Except I didn't, not really. Because this shot is even better. It sums up the joy of Disney World for a 5 year old boy. I'll treasure it always.
Capturing the moment with random pictures? It definitely works for me!
We went. We walked...and walked...and walked. We rode rides and stuffed ourselves silly. We had a fantastic and memorable time in a whirlwind of activity and perpetual motion. We conquered the magic that is Walt Disney World.
We learned a thing or two from Captain Jack.
We hugged Pooh Bears...
and Princesses.
We pulled swords.
We drove race cars. (Well, one of us did anyhow.)
We marveled at landmarks.
We posed for pictures.
We were sad to leave.
But we are so glad to be home. We are catching our breath, resting our weary legs and decompressing. I am up to eyeballs in laundry, but moving right through it with memories fresh in my mind.
Lots more Disney stuff to come this week!
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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.
because it's a great resource and a great keepsake all in one.
