Where Has Carol Gone?

I am very excited to bring to you this Christmas season, a study of the carols! I was reading through some of my favorites with the boys yesterday and tears came to my eyes! The original intent of the authors to shed light on the gospel is overwhelming! Don't you find it amazing that every holiday season the television stations are flooded with hollow "Christmas Specials" sung by the height of the immoral 'pop tarts' who don't even have a clue (or maybe are just ignoring that prod of their conscience)! Let's take a deeper look at these songs and bring back to light the truth of their intention! Have we forgotten what Christmas is? Praise the Lord it is His plan of salvation through the birth of His Son! Be on the lookout each week...they're coming!

The Twin

It may be common knowledge to you and I that a twin size bed is meant for one person. My youngest, however, has apparently not been notified of this well known fact. Poor little guy is super sick right now and just needs his mommy...and his blanky (the enormous down comforter as discussed in a prior post)...and Mr. Ducky, Bear, Giraffe, and sixteen pillows...all in his little twin bed. At about 3am, restless and tired of being coughed on, I relinquished my post at the top of the bed and curled down into a ball at the bottom of the bed. As long as my little could hold my hand, he was fine and would stay asleep. Mommy, on the other hand, didn't find the night as restful as she had hoped...

More to come, but for now Mommyblogger takes a break!

Adventures of Black Friday 2007

I pulled into the Meijer parking lot under the cover of dark and made my way to the back of the store. There wasn't an abundance of customers, but many more than the usual 3rd shift patrons. I was delighted to find that the pillow aisle, of all places, was abandoned and felt it beckon me to set up camp. I stacked some pillows up against the racks, laid down my goose feather 'pillow' vest and relaxed back to watch the commotion. I found a nearby bookshelf stacked with recent best sellers and sat back to take in a few chapters of Kevin Trudeau's newest smash on the drug companies. I had also brought some breakfast in form of an energy bar (very important).

About 4:15am (keeping in mind that the ropes were dropped at 5am) I asked a sales associate where a specific item would be located in the sale grid. (I had promised a friend to get this item) He informed me that this year all of the electronics were located at various points of the store and you would need to wait in line. (Now, you must remember in my post about last year we talked about the 'logistic nightmare' of the setup) They had fixed it! Good for Meijer...bad for me! I was in the wrong area all this time!

I jumped up, tossed the pillows back into the racks and bolted for the front of the store. I found the line just in time and settled in for the 45 minute wait. There were only 30 spots available for this line and I had captured number 10. Within minutes the other spots were filled! Whew... Just in time!

Thanksgiving Race Day!

"Happy Thanksgiving Day!"

" Pre-race & freezing cold...nice little icy mist falling"
"I Finished the 4 Miler with my personal best time!"
"At home with the boys and my medal...their shirts say, 'I love my marathon mommy'!"

Happy Thanksgiving!

"O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."

Psalm 136:1

Bob the Builder

"Art Class"

Okay, so the idea in art class was to re-create a 3-D "Bob" with playdough. My oldest (4) made one and I did too. Can you tell which one is his and which one was made by the adult?!

Did I Forget to Mention?

Big Win for the Ohio State Buckeyes!

Lil' Bub & Mommy are decked out for the Big Game!

GO BUCKS!!! BIG TEN CHAMPS!!!

FINAL SCORE:

OHIO STATE: 14

MICHIGAN: 3

Tales of "The Day After Thanksgiving"

Have I mentioned that I love a good deal? In all honestly, it's not about the 'brand' or having 'stuff', but rather the idea that I was a good steward with my money! Truly, I am not a craven materialist and encourage my children not to desire 'things' or even shopping. I must say, however, that the day after Thanksgiving, aka: "Black Friday", happens to be one of my most favorite days out of the year. It must be the camaraderie with all of the other adrenaline junkies of the world that want to find that 'diamond in the rough' and find it on sale for $.99.

Last year I woke up at 3am Friday morning because I couldn't sleep. (Should have had one last dose of turkey to get all that good triptophene flowing before bed). I knew that our local Meijer superstore was starting their advertised prices at 6am. So, why not head out a little early? It's a 24 hour store... I can just fill the cart with the deals, do our grocery shopping for the week and get a little alone time in the darkness and quiet of night. I'll wait around until "6am" hits and then head over to the checkout line.

HA! I arrived to a scene that will live in infamy. The entire back section of the store was roped off as off duty cart boys and sales associates held "guard duty". Every aisle from the front of the store to the back was beginning to fill with militant shoppers...ready for battle. People carried lawn chairs, coupons, and even a few with a thermos filled with piping hot coffee. These shoppers were prepared! I realized a battle plan was needed and began to quickly move to action.

I found a housewares aisle that nobody seemed interested to set up base in. I was surrounded by window treatments, chair covers, and folding chairs. Ah! Folding chairs! Perfect... I took a seat bellied up to the rope at the end of the aisle and waited. Oh, the excitement was beginning! I leaned deeper to see what was around 'my' aisle. I began to make mental notes of those other 'game face' customers...you know the ones I'm talking about...the lady decked out with running shoes and speedo shorts, the gentlemen with a cane (aka: weapon), or the innocent looking grandma with 27 grandchildren and an "agenda"!

About ten minutes later another lady came into my aisle. Friend or foe? As it would turn out, a wonderful friend! We began laughing together at our feeble attempts slip away while the kids were sleeping for some alone time. We started scheming together about techniques and strategies. She gave me her list and I gave her mine. She would head one way and I would head another. We programmed each other's cell numbers into our phones and planned to meet at the underwear aisle. (We guessed this might be a safe zone...not too many 'intimate' deals this time of year...not any worth getting trampled over anyway)

Our aisle quickly filled to thirty plus people. The manager of a local breakfast joint came by and handed us coupons for free sandwiches later that morning. We were super excited! The countdown began and the nerves grew in anticipation. I felt like a purebred about to be let out of the starting gates. "5, 4, 3, 2, 1"! And the ropes dropped. And everybody dashed into the aisles. And about ten seconds later we all stopped because we were completely stuck. Call it gridlock if you will. Imagine an area about 300 feet in length, but only 12 feet in width suddenly filled with over 1000 crazy customers...with carts. Not good... a logistics nightmare to be more exact. So what to do? I started laughing hysterically, frankly because there was nothing else to do...and nowhere else to go.

**Allow me to take a 'sidebar' for all of you clausterphobics out there. BEWARE of Black Friday! If you are a diehard shopper and must risk it...prepare yourself! My mother, for instance, would have most likely had a panic attack at this point. She thinks that my father and I have lost our minds to get up at the crack of dawn (or earlier) to fight the crowds and the traffic for a deal. Her time is much better spent in mid May when nobody has gift giving on their minds yet. (love you mommy!)** Okay, back to the story...

Most of the customers were all having fun and started working together to help eachother out. "You want Polly Pocket in Aisle 7? Hey! The lady in the red coat needs a Polly!" "How many drills?" "Here, pass that basketball to the little boy three down on your left". I felt like Pollyanna. We were all working together...for the most part.

Then entered, "The Mama". She was in no mood to be helpful and had greed on her mind. She was angry that nobody was moving and perhaps was a little overwhelmed. She started ramming her cart into people and yelling. She shoved an employee on the ground and about ran over a little kid. People began to 'boo' her conduct as we helped up the poor little lady she'd knocked over. We parted the waters to let her through. Completely sad, but unfortunately how some see the giving and gifting of Christmas.

Slowly, but surely we maneuvered our way from the 'deal aisle' to 'panty lane'. I met up with my new found 'battle buddy' and we exchanged our items that we had found for each other and made our way to the checkout lanes. We enjoyed eachothers company and talked throughout the day on our phones.

I'm looking forward to this Friday as well. My dear friend, Andi, is going to be joining me for her very first time of TDAT sales. Friendship and discount...what could be more fun?!

Proof

For all those who read my blog yesterday and had any doubt that my oldest weighed 24 lbs at 2 months of age...I offer... my proof.

Enjoy!

Recipe Round Up: Festive Broccoli Salad

Psalm 103:1

"Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name"

Festive Broccoli Salad

Dry Ingredients

Two heads broccoli (chopped)
1 cup chopped cauliflower
1 pound cooked & cooled bacon (broken up)
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
3/4 cup shredded cheese (sharp/mozz mix)

Wet Ingredients

1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sugar
2 tbsp milk

Directions

Combine wet ingredients in bowl until thoroughly blended. Pour over "dry" ingredients which have already been mixed together. Combine together and serve immediately. Otherwise, keep refrigerated until ready to serve.


Serves 10-12 +

For more information about recipe round up, please visit: http://www.rebecca-writes.com/recipe-round-up/

Getting to Know Us

As I watched my boys at dinner tonight it occurred to me that we have many funny family quirks. So, in the interest of sharing a little about our family, I have decided to put to pen some of my favorites!

Daddy:
1. Always pours his milk in the bowl first- before adding the cereal
2. Must have background noise. (This makes me a little crazy...especially if the boys are wild, the dishwasher is on, the microwave is running, the phone is ringing, we are trying to have a conversation...and John Piper is preaching it up on the laptop!)
3. Has two different colored eyes. I like to joke "Honey- love that shirt color! Really brings out your eye!"
4. Was the spelling bee champ back in his day... most days I revert to a dictionary at least once when having a conversation with him!
5. Was called to the ministry in a small church in Mexico during a short term missions trip. (Completely changed his life course immediately upon returning from the trip. He was enrolled at the State University to obtain a degree in law... ended up attending Cedarville (Baptist University in Ohio) with a pre-seminary degree!) Praise the Lord!

Mommy:
1. Can't stand to wear my hair down. Thus, my husband has given me the very affectionate nickname of "Bun". (Seriously- we'll be yards away from each other in the grocery store and I'll hear the familiar "Buuuuun! Buuuuuny!" and know that mommy is being beckoned.
2. I can't eat plain cereal. I usually mix three or four varieties and add lots of sliced fruits and nuts. Breakfast cereal is an experience at my house. (Thanks dad- he got me started on this years ago!)
3. Doing the dishes is a challenge for me. My goal is to get every dish in the washer after dinner. Not one must be left out! (This drives the hubby crazy- b/c my goal is not necessary that they all get clean...but they must all fit!)
4. Slept in the car on our wedding night b/c it turned out that the Presidents Suite at $200 a night also harbors roaches
5. I am an only child, but not a spoiled brat. (Right, honey?)

Bubby (4.5 yrs):
1. My solid child. He weighed 24 lbs at two months old. He eventually stopped at about 45 pounds at age three and just grew taller.
2. Has been to the ER five times and been on two Ambulance runs. A bit accident prone, perhaps?
3. Baseball fanatic...he hits harder and farther than I can...truly.
4. Torture equals having his hair washed or his toenails trimmed. The neighbors must wonder at his blood curdling screams.
5. When he was learning to talk, he used to add the word "ball" to all of his other words. (A baseball fan since birth, perhaps?) For instance, if would pass a beautiful lake, he would point and shout "Water-ball!"

Lil' Bub (27 months):
1. When eating a sandwich, smore, or any food item with layers- he pulls apart and seperates the top from the bottom...then proceeds to eat from the top down.
2. For some reason, the child has always referred to his...ahem...'poo' as 'cookies'.
3. Enjoys using 'excavator' & 'seriously' in his daily sentences
4. Started walking at 8 months (climbing furniture and chairs and cruising along the couch at 6 months)
5. Carries a blanky (that must go everywhere, mind you) that is just shy of a twin size down comforter.

Food For Thought

"Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see." So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead."

Daniel 1:11-16

One of my favorite things to do is create inventive healthy recipes that are super tasty! I love to eat. Truly, one of my best pastimes (past & present) is raiding the fridge in search of yummy treats to create!

My running 'career' started about two years ago, slowly and surely, as a means to energize my body and lose weight. I wanted to be healthy for my kids and maintain a good discipline that would follow me through the rest of my years. To date, I have lost almost 40 pounds through healthy eating and a consistent exercise regiment. Am I bragging? You better believe it! That was stinkin' hard work! :)

The goal now is to continue to keep it off through the disciplines that we have established in our home in regards to eating and active lifestyles.

I would love to share a recipe for homemade granola that we use every week in our home and helped me to shed the pounds!

In a large bowl, combine the following ingredients and bake on large cookie sheet for 15-20 minutes (as soon as you remove from oven use spatula to flip/mix granola to avoid sticking and allow to cool on sheet):

2 lbs rolled or quick oats (one large container)
3/4 cup olive oil
1/2- 3/4 cup raw honey

In separate bowl combine:
2 cups raisins
1/2 cup ground flax seed
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1 cup walnuts- broken up
1 cup mixed dried fruit that has been cut in small pieces (ie: apples, pears, peaches, etc.)

After granola has cooled, stir in fruit/nut mix. You can put 2 cup amounts in freezer safe ziploc bags and store in freezer for up to 3 months.

Enjoy!

Is It Just Me?

Since this is my first real season of "serious" running, I am slightly puzzled about winter training. I have been in weather as cold as 32 degrees and gone as far as three or four miles, but not much more. My goal this next spring is to train for either a full marathon or a triathlon and I don't want to lose momentum this winter.

I absolutely hate running on a treadmill. Is it just me? I can't stand to run more than two or three miles at best indoors. Frankly, I just get bored. So, here lies my dilemma. I can either explore miles of the beautiful outdoors with risk of snow, ice, and frostbite...or....get in a couple of miles here and there of unadulterated boredom when we attend our local YMCA.

I suppose in reality, I'll just have to take each day as it comes and hope for a mild winter!

And the Winner Is...

The winner of my very first book giveaway is...Tracy @ http://www.bizzyhousemommy.blogspot.com !!

Congratulations! Please email me for further details and shipping information!

Happy Monday!

Here are some fun pictures of my little guy!

Loving book time!

Big smile...bigger book!

"Look at my new underoos, ma!"

Potty training week in the "D" household!

My Little Pastry Chefs

This morning the boys and I decided to make homemade pretzels for the first time. My dough recipe turned out really well and was perfect for rolling! I doubled the batch and we made a lot! We put sea salt on some and cinnamon sugar on others! It was really a great time with little mess! The boys had a great time creating letters, shapes, balls, etc. Homemade Pretzels

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1 packet yeast

1 1/2 cup warm water

1 Tbsp salt

2 Tbsp honey (or sugar)

4 cups whole wheat flour (or white)

Knead together until bread dough consistency. (No need to let rise) Roll out into any shapes you like! Brush with egg wash and bake 10-15 minutes on cookie sheet.

**To add flavor- roll dough into either large unground sea salt or cinnamon/sugar prior to baking- do not use eggwash when using 'sweet' mixture**

Enjoy!

Book Giveaway: "Revolution in World Missions"

FREE GIVEAWAY! NEW COPY OF:

This new book giveaway is open for one full week! (closes 11/12/07 at 4pm) You will find this book challenges the way you view overseas missions- a wonderful read!
I'm not sure how other giveaway's go, but since I'm the new girl on the 'blogger block', I'd love to have some traffic on my blog!
So....All you have to do is leave a comment on this post letting me know that you're going to refer a friend! They, in turn, can leave a comment too as they refer their friends! I'll do a random draw next Monday with everyone who 'entered'! If you are the winner- you will be notified via email!
Thanks!