wrapping presents

I've been wrapping tons of presents today. I tried something new I saw on a friend's blog. She makes bows with the paper. It turned out okay, but a little messier than I like. Maybe it's the paper?

last weekend...

How was your Sunday? Saturday? Mine were incredibly uneventful. But, that’s a good thing. Saturday I didn’t leave the house one time. Not once! I shopped for groceries Friday and just didn’t have to get anything. I had french bread pizzas for lunch and ham sandwiches on the sourdough bread I bought Friday at Panera for dinner… had pork loin to put in the crockpot for dinner Sunday after church and let everyone hit the freezer for dinner.

We have a guest speaker this week at church… Sherlock Bally. Pretty interesting. He speaks about prophecy and is informative and entertaining at the same time. I really enjoyed the day.

I had a ton of good coupons to different stores that all expired yesterday… and a great one that was for today only. But I guess there is something to be said for not spending any money all weekend… even though I could have saved so much money by spending? Oh well, tomorrow brings a new day and more coupons! I remember the days of cutting out coupons for disposable diapers.

Good News! I got the kids pic for our Christmas cards and ordered them last night. I’m really please with the picture and can’t decide if I should post it or not… what do you think?

I plan to make chicken spaghetti tomorrow night. We’ll have salad and garlic toast.

I bought a huge bag of chicken breasts from Sams so we’ll probably have chicken a few times this week.

Maybe bbq chicken and baked potatoes Tuesday! Sounds good. I wish my family shared my love for bbq sauce and did you see that special on channel 13 about the taste test? Bull’s Eye won blind test after blind test so I bought some. It is good. Mom makes delicious homemade bbq sauce but hasn’t lately. Mom! Make some!

Wednesday we’ll have burgers and fries. health food.

Thursday french bread pizzas… and salad.

Friday I’m thinking about having carryout chinese food… or something like that.

They had this fudge at Sam’s Friday when I was shopping for food. They were passing out samples. It’s called fudgie wudgie. I accepted a sample and I have to tell you it was like having a little piece of heaven right in my mouth. I bought a pound. I ate it all. Well, not all… I shared it. But it’s gone and now all I can think about is going back to Sam’s and buying more. Sad but true. Tis the season.

my new boots

So I have mentioned at least twice, maybe even three times what I remembered to be the worst Christmas present I received (as a child). So on Black Friday mom and I were shopping. I saw and tried on a pair of boots greatly reduced for early bird special at JCP. Mom swooped in and paid for them happy to have a Christmas gift bought. I didn’t object. Until Sunday. I got dressed in a brown long skirt that I had in the spring/summer months and wore really cute brown sandals. It was like 40 degrees so those shoes were completely out of the question. Knowing what a nice person my mom is I called her (at 9 a.m. as I was rushing out to church) and said, “my outfit today would be perfect with those brown boots.” to which she replied, “do you want to wear them?” duh … “why, yes! I would love to wear them!.” She left them on the front porch on her way to church and I slipped them on and out I went.

I came home and put them back in the box, not saying goodbye… just til we meet again at Christmas. Mom asked later in the day how the boots were and I said that I really like them and had packed them up to return to her for wrapping. She said I could just keep them with one condition. That I never mention that gift again from my childhood. So… I won’t. It’s as if it never happened. Thanks mom. I heart you.

this and that

HappyThanksgivingEve! My day will be full and busy... more than usual. I have all the ingredients to make a triple batch of spinach dip, and some casseroles to take to Tulsa tomorrow. Bailey has a friend over (spent the night)... the kids are out of school until Monday. I am planning to get a picture for Christmas cards today! I got an email from Dayspring about Christmas photo cards you design yourself. The email also had a coupon to Save 25% on Your Order!
Using Promo Code studio25. I have mine all ready! Just need the perfect pic of the four kiddos.

So... more good news about Iz. She did standing with Camilla yesterday and did great. Camilla and Melanie commented that her head control has greatly improved since the Summer. She was dangling her legs while sitting on a table and kicked her legs when asked by Melanie. Doesn't sound like much but with the high tone in her legs for her to be able to relax and kick each leg is a big deal. We are just building towards the kid walk. I can't wait to see her in it.

My new cell phone came Monday! I was so excited. I've been dealing with that stupid phone that I dropped in my drink for weeks and the buttons wouldn't work so I couldn't call a number unless it was stored and couldn't text. My new phone is WONDERFUL! It has gps and a cool camera with a flash... and a full keyboard and a cool trackball and the buttons all work and it is great!Did you know you can buy cellphones on Amazon.com and use your upgrade (mine was ATT). This phone was .01 cents! That's using my upgrade. On the ATT website the upgrade for the same phone would be a LOT more! I am going to be using Amazon for all my future upgrades, it's a great deal! Not a refurbished phone or anything either. It came with all the cords and even a case. I need a memory upgrade.

I got some great ideas for new books to read. Gail and Susanne both mentioned "Uncharted," by Angela Hunt. I ran by the library yesterday and got that one to have for the weekend. I really hope to have some time to read it! Camilla mentioned a book called "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society." I am going to read that one next!

today

For Today…

Outside my window… it’s chilly and sunny!

I am thinking…Monday mornings are one of my favorite times of the week. Time for catching up and having a little quiet time…

I am thankful for…Great improvements in Izzy’s feet today. I am measuring each Monday as instructed by the orthotist. I wasn’t sure about my last measurement because I thought maybe I wasn’t getting it right, but after our visit last Monday we were right on track with what Gary measured so I felt confident today to measure and to tell you that I think we have made huge gains in her feet. I’m seeing 8 degrees at least just in this one week. That is HUGE!!! I know the difference has been her wearing them while sleeping. I am so thankful that she has been able to do that now for several nights and she seems less and less annoyed when she wakes up and realizes they are on her feet.

From the kitchen…I bought a big pack of lean ground beef and you know you can’t just throw it in the freezer or you have a brick… so I need to fix it today or it will be bad, gb just doesn’t keep long at all! I am going to cook it all and then make a big batch of chili. I may freeze half for later when turkey is getting old.

I am wearing…the t-shirt and pajama pants I slept in.

I am reading…nothing really… although considering re-reading the twilight series after seeing it Saturday. Any suggestions for a good read?

I am hoping…to get a lot done today!

I am creating…a picture of me and mom for a frame that has had the picture that came in it. I put a picture of me and mom that I printed in black & white from the family reunion with my grandfather. He is not doing well at all. Please keep him in your prayers.

menu

Monday… stew with cornbread

Tuesday… hopefully leftover stew for matt and kids… I’ll be at FLO! I have to take a dessert… maybe these:

FESTIVE CARAMEL BARS
32-36 Individually wrapped caramels
2/3 C. Evaporated milk
1 C. Flour
1 C. Oats
1 C. Nuts (I used chopped pecans)
1/2 C. Brown Sugar
1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
1/4 tsp. Salt
1/2 C. Melted Butter
1.5 C. M&Ms

1. Combine unwrapped caramels and milk in heavy saucepan.

Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally until caramels are melted.

2. Combine flour, oats, nuts, brown sugar, soda and salt in a bowl;

add melted butter, mixing until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Reserve 1 C. of mixture and press remaining mixture into bottom of

a greased 9X13. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.

3. Sprinkle 1 C. M&M’s on partially baked crust. Pour caramel mixture

over M&Ms. Sprinkle reserved crumb mix and remaining 1/2 C. M&Ms

on top. Continue baking for 20-25 minutes.

4. Cool slightly and chill for 30 minutes. Cut into bars.

Wednesday… tuna on wheat toast (matt’s request)

Thursday… Baked chicken and dressing… baked pot. … carrots

Friday… taco soup

Emelia came home from school early today. She called from school because she had a temperature. She ended up sleeping almost all day. I had a weird piercing sinus headache and Izzy didn’t seem like herself either.

Amanda is all signed up and scheduled to take her ACT in December. She was very sick the day she was supposed to take it. She has decided to apply to OU and is planning to room with her friend from school. I like this friend and they are both very studious so I think it’s a good plan. Senior year is crazy! Yearbook $80. Each ACT pop is over $50. Cap and Gown $200. Senior pics $100 so far. College Apps. $40 and up. It’s something every few days!

We had a meeting last night about our monthly “for ladies only” service. This month we’re giving away turkeys to single moms. So we discussed collecting and distrubuting the turkeys. We serve dinner to any ladies (and their kids) who attend the service. I look forward to it every month. Bailey is going to help collect turkeys and then carry them to cars for the ladies.