Plans

Quite honestly I have today planned out.

Kids off to school
Good, hard workout for myself
Drop Smiley off at a friends house
Dental appointment for myself
Pick Smiley up
Quick stop at the grocery store
Home for lunch
Read a few books
Put Smiley down for a nap
Prime some trim ~ around a door and two windows
Clean the house and work on laundry
Listen to the sound of the mood of the house change as Sassy and Action blow in from school
Homework
Have one of Sassy's friends come over for the evening to help her Dad out
Church for Sassy and Action
Dinner
Hang out/family time ~ probably with American Idol on in the background.
Bath night for Smiley
Chat with Sassy's friend's dad
Prayers
Get Sassy, Action and Smiley ready for and settled in bed
Put my feet up and relax.

But I received a phone call at 6am and my plans kind of went right out the window.

The phone call was from the kids' school.

Today is a SNOW DAY!

This will be the first snow day since Sassy started going to preschool 7 years ago.  (When I was growing up it seemed we had at least a couple per season)

The kids are still asleep and they will be beyond EXCITED to hear the news.

Me, well I will need to adjust my schedule and my plans for the day.

I guess a snow day is a small reminder to me from God, that I am not in charge.  He is truly in charge.

Proverbs 19:21

Many are the plans of the human heart,

but it is the decision of the LORD that endures.

update....

The kids were/are excited 

their typical cereal breakfast turned into french toast and strawberries 

and now I am savoring the laughter and giggles as they play together...nicely for now anyway :)

Oh, and what are they playing you ask?

School, of course! 

Picture me {im}perfectly @ Capturing Motherhood

I finally figured it out!

I would LOVE to create a family cookbook of all of Hubby's, Sassy's, Action's, Smiley's and my favorite recipes.  That way, when they get older they have their own "special" cookbook.

Because of my desire, every now and then I ask the kids, "What is your favorite thing or things that I make for meals ~ breakfast, lunch whatever?"

I've been told these on more than one occasion:

Sticky Buns (like MY mom use to make)

(Recipe here)

And THESE chocolate chip oatmeal cookies

All 3 kids love my version of Sloppy Joe's

(Find the recipe HERE)

But for the most part.  When I ask them what they like.  I get blank stares.

And now, I have finally figured out why!

It really is obvious.

You see, this is what we had last week for dinner ~ with a couple nights of leftovers.


Chicken Pot Pie Penne via  What's Cookin' Chicago

Review ~ this was ok.  

Easy to make, but not a ton of flavor.  The kids ate it, but didn't request it as a "remaker."

Ham and Cheese Sliders with Poppyseed dressing 

via The Girl who Ate Everything

Everyone liked these.  We will definitely be making these again :)

"The worlds BEST Mac and Cheese" via Martha Stewart

This was good ~ Hubby though, has a little problem (unbeknownst to him) with food that doesn't contain some sort of meat.  Anytime I make a meatless entree, he says,  "Oh, this would be so good if it had chicken (or whatever other meat he comes up with) in it!"  So with this meatless entree...... He said, "Wow, if this had lobster in it....mmmmm lobster mac and cheese......"

So, maybe next time, I'll mix it up ~ for him :)

AND finally, I made this:

Cowboy Casserole via The Cutting Edge of Ordinary

I didn't love this, nor did I hate it.  All three kids ate it without complaining, which is always a small victory at our house.  I would probably make it again simply for that reason.  :)

So you see, I've figured out why they can't tell me their favorite things that I make.  

I like to try new recipes on a very regular basis.

It's hard to find a favorite, when I mix it up so often!

Oh well, VARIETY is the spice of life!

And just so you know, all of these meals I found on and have pinned via Pinterest.

You can find my boards here.

Hammer Time

(source)

Sheesh, It's been awhile since I blogged!

Quite honestly, I don't really have time today either.  My mind however has been busy blogging, but I just can't seem to find the time to sit down and type it out.

I've hardly even picked up my camera in the last 2 weeks and for me that is quite odd.

But today I am sneaking in a quick picture.

Smiley and I putting the 3rd and final bookcase together.  Bookcases?  Yep, I've been working on redoing Sassy's room.  Finally, the walls are painted (yep, I used that ladder in the background).  Bookshelves together and in her room.  Next up we need to do some accessorizing.  Curtains, wall art, the fun stuff really!

Anyway, while we were "working"  Smiley kept picking up the hammer trying to "help".  I kept saying "Hey, it's NOT hammer time, yet!"  :)

Hopefully I'll be back very soon.... my mind is racing really and I have a lot to say :)


Until then, don't forget to pick up your camera and embrace it ~ even if it's only a quick shot of a 3 year old helping Mommy put together a bookshelf for her big sister (with bad lighting and a messy family room!).

A girl and her dog

We were at my mother in laws house.  I looked around and I didn't see Smiley.  The last time we had been at their house and couldn't find Smiley, she was busying herself with Grandma's permanent markers on the computer desk and treadmill.  So when I didn't immediately see her, I knew I need to go find her with my fingers crossed no mischief was occurring.  I was trying to be quiet so I could sneak up on her and catch her in the act of whatever she was doing ;)

I turned the corner into the kitchen and came upon this sight.

No mischief, just loving her pup.

I love catching them when they are being sweet!

$6000 Question

Hey friends!


I need your help, experience and expertise.

You see, I am trying to decide between:

These:

Invisalign

and 

These:

Traditional braces
(if I chose this option, I would go with the ceramic ones on the left)

The cost difference is minimal.  Both would be treatment for about 15 months.

So I am asking you, since next Tuesday is decision day......

Have you had either?

What did you like?

What didn't you like?

Piano Bar

The other night, hubby and I were fortunate to spend a night out with 5 other couples.

We headed downtown to a dueling piano bar for food, drinks and fun.

The food was... shall we say bar food and since all of us are parents, can you find the item that was the absolute LAST thing any of us wanted to order?

Ants on a log..... are you kidding?

The piano part was fun and comical, the drinks were good and the company fantastic!

I put my little point and shoot in the middle of our tables and everyone took turns snapping pictures ~ honestly I was a little afraid to look at them the next morning!  And because I truly enjoy my friends and want to go out with them again, I will refrain from posting pictures of them :)  Which also means you will not be seeing any of my fabulous dance moves.......

If he would have only listened.....

It has been one week since the traumatic event occurred.

Well, traumatic for Action.  The rest of us were fine.

It was a Friday night like most of our Friday nights these days.  Kids basketball games.  This time only Action had a game.  Sassy had the night off.  When the game was over, we piled in the vehicle and came home.  Hubs and I were going about our business... reading the paper, folding laundry when all of a sudden a few feet away we heard a huge crash followed by a scream and hysterical crying.

What happened you ask?

I will preface by saying: I've told the kids over and over and over and....... well, you get the point.  NOT to rock in their chairs.  

The story goes, that as Action was coloring at the island in the kitchen, he was also rocking in his barstool.  When his barstool lost its balance, he came crashing down.  When he came crashing down, his face hit the counter and OUT popped his tooth.  Yep, the one that is front and center.  Thankfully this was still a baby tooth and not a permanent one.  Unfortunately it wasn't loose at all ~ the one next to it was though.  Funny thing is he actually caught the tooth as it came flying out, in his hand.

Anyway, for some reason, this kid is terrified of losing teeth.  The first tooth he lost, fell out while he was eating lunch at school.  What was he eating you ask?  An apple, a piece of celery, chicken perhaps?  Nope, a banana.  That thing was barely hanging on I tell you!  But that isn't even the worst part.  Action is absolutely scared to death of blood.  Not just anyones.  His own.  

We had ourselves a double wammy going on. Lost tooth AND blood.  That together equals hysteria.  I was trying to be the good Mommy.  You know comforting, loving and consoling.  But sheesh.... quit crying already.  You're going to be ok.  AND I told you..... NEVER rock in the chairs!!!!!

I think he learned his lesson!

The funny thing is, while he is terrified of losing teeth, Sassy on the other hand, can't get them out of her mouth fast enough and spend all day Saturday tormenting a tooth in her mouth that is loose.  When she couldn't get it by hand, she actually asked her Dad to get the plier.  As of today, that sucker is still in her mouth.

It always amazes me how kids can be so different!

Candyland

Action had basketball practice last night.
Hubby is the coach.
And Sassy decided she would go with to  provide expertise ;)

So, it was just Smiley and I hangin' out.

We turned on American Idol and listened to some auditions (preparing for the big American Idol League... there is still time to join in and play ~ click here for more info).

But the best part, was breaking out the game Candyland.

Good counting and color fun!

And then, after someone won 2 games fair and square, she got a little goofy.....