Friday's Letters

Dear Jesus:  Thank you for the rain. We have enjoyed the really nice weather this winter, but it is also nice to have rainy days sometimes. This has been a great winter for good weather.

Dear Michael:  I wonder what this week will bring...great job on your job interviews this past week.

Dear Cam:  I am so proud of you for completing Level 12 of Festival Theory in piano. You worked so hard...I really hope that you get a great grade.

Dear Jar:  I love to hear you getting so excited while playing games with the cousins...although sometimes I have to quiet you down...you can get really loud and excited sometimes.

Dear Me:  I organized the dining room last week...I got rid of all of the clutter. I am really happy with the results.

Dear Lily:  You got a haircut yesterday. Those new hand scissor clippers really work. It was so much easier to cut your hair.

Dear Zena:  This week you had a lot of bacon grease on your dog food. I am sure you loved that.

Dear Grocery Shopping:  The boys and I got to do our grocery shopping at Trader Joe's this week...we were near there for Cam's Theory test. I love grocery shopping at Trader Joe's.

Dear Friday Night:  We had pulled BBQ chicken on panini rolls. It was really good. I also made Nutella brownies. We watched Disney shows together as a family. Then Michael went to watch The Blacklist upstairs, and I watched The Amazing Race downstairs.

Dear Frog in Back Yard:  This morning I woke up to you croaking really loudly in the back yard. You sound so pretty. I want to find you so I can see what you look like.

Dear Mom:  Well, hopefully in a couple of weeks you will get your tax refund back and nothing was wrong with it.

Dear Job Search: Michael had two interviews this past week. It sure is nerve wracking. This waiting game is so difficult sometimes.

Dear Weather:  The weather this week was beautiful. We had sunny weather all week until today. Today is a dreary, rainy day.

Dear American Idol: We are really enjoying American Idol now that they are down to the final 12. It is just more fun to watch. We have 2-3 favorites...and they are from the guys group. We don't really like any of the girls.

Dear Dining Room: Wow! This space is so much more inviting now that I really cleaned it out and organized it. I would love to get a round table in this space. I think it would look really nice.

Dear Boys: You are both always eating. You are always hungry. It is crazy. Sometimes, you will have just eaten a large meal, and you come downstairs and want more because you are so hungry. Crazy!

Dear Theory Piano: Hallelujah!!! It is over. Cam, you have finished the final level of your Theory in piano. I am so proud of you. It was a lot of hard work on your part.

Dear Samsung Galaxy 5 Phone:  I love you so much!!! I am so glad that I got you. I love your camera...which was my main purpose for purchasing this phone. I did not care about any of the other features about the phone. I use this for all of my photos now...unless I am taking more professional ones of the boys, or we are on vacation.

Dear New Glasses:  I love you so much. I have not had any trouble now with my eyes since I picked you up a few weeks ago. I should not have waited so long to get my eyes checked. Turning 40 a few years ago certainly changed things regarding my eyesight.

Glimpse of my Weekend

On Friday night, we watched KC Undercover and Turner and Hooch. It was a relaxing evening.

Michael did office work on Saturday morning, and then he went to do Mom's taxes (she had some fun ordeals with this). Because of all of the stress surrounding work and looking for jobs, Michael has been going to the junk yard every weekend that has nice weather. He spent quite a few hours there on Saturday.

I cleaned the house...this is how Lily enjoyed her day...underneath a cozy blanket and laying on my pillows.

We stayed in on Sunday from church because Cam was sick. I made a big brunch (which Cam did not eat) of eggs, toast, and bacon. Michael worked on job searching stuff and watched tons of episodes of Flip or Flop on HGTV. I read blogs.

I also made some coconut cream for my coffee. It was pretty good...it just is not as good as the creamer in the stores. I don't buy them though because they are full of junk. This coconut cream is really good by itself though...by the spoonful.

Michael has two interviews this week. There are some other things going on at his job as well. We will see what happens.

Things I Love

1 2 3 4 5

1. I love this cute cozy room. I would have loved this room when I was growing up as a young girl/teenager. This bed looks so cozy...and I love the plank boards. It is awesome.

2. My mom used to make these butterscotch oatmeal cookies. I love them. I have only made them a couple of times. I know the boys would love them. I will have to make them for them sometime soon.

3. I think this is an awesome idea for a filing cabinet. They are normally so ugly looking...this would be a great way to decorate it and make it look pretty.

4. It is no secret that I love colorful bowls...I especially love small unique bowls. I want a cupboard full of dishes like this.

5. My mom owned these Corelle dishes when I was growing up...this brings back a lot of memories. I drank a lot of tea from these cups, and I also ate a lot of bowls of cereal from the bowls.

Pinterest Finds

source

Of course this is not true...but it sounds good. I always do a full organization of the house during spring break...and also spring cleaning. 

source

I need to save my next piece of this for Michael. I think it is a fabulous idea. 

Life Lately

This was another of our Hello Fresh meals. This was a shrimp dish, and everyone really liked it.

This was a chicken dish from Hello Fresh. This was not our favorite. 

The boys mowed the grass this week.

Jar and I are trying to get rid of a wart on our feet. We are using Apple Cider Vinegar. It is working.

Jar and I went grocery shopping this morning. I am airing out the produce.

I sprinkle some of this on some black beans and canned tomatoes...delicious.

All three boys love chocolate cream pie. This will all be gone tonight...guaranteed!!

I started taking fish oil for my joints...and for many other benefits.

I had a coupon and got some cute little candles...they smell great.

This was my lunch today. Sliced tomatoes, avocado, and black beans and canned tomatoes.

Cam had a little bit of sore throat yesterday and some congestion. He really gargled with salt water yesterday. Today he felt much better...a little tired and just a little congestion.

Glimpse of my Weekend

This weekend started on Friday evening with Red Robin burgers. Michael picked them up on his way home from work. We also watched the movie Big Hero 6. It was one of the best animated movies we have seen (I guess that is why it won an Oscar for best animated picture).

source

I also got an A Beka homeschool catalog. I have to figure out what I am going to order for Jar for next year.

On Saturday, Michael and Cam went out for their Saturday breakfast and time together at Guitar Center and Best Buy. I did laundry. Michael and Cam also installed new speakers in Cam's car. Cam was pretty excited about that.

I made a delicious Ginger Beef Stir-fry for dinner on Saturday night. WOW! It really was delicious.

Sunday was a really good day at Sunday School and church. The boys also had a really good time playing volleyball at youth group.

Michael got the taxes done...hopefully we can use that to get air conditioning in our house this year.

We also watched the season finale of Downton Abbey. It was so good. We are all very disappointed that it is done until next January. We were all happy with the ending...at least it wasn't really sad.

source

Currently in March

Currently...

• I am thinking...about how to organize the dining room more
• I am thankful...for beautiful weather
• I am creating...a list of foods to cook this month
• I am going...to try to cleanse tomorrow
• I am wondering...what job God has for Michael
• I am making...a list of things to do during spring break
• I am cooking...some shrimp and tomato farratto
• I am looking...at how pretty the shrimp dish is
• I am playing...nothing at the moment
• I am wasting...sleep time, cause I can't get to sleep right away
• I am enjoying...American Idol with the family
• I am waiting...patiently on God
• I am liking...our Sunday School class better 
• I am wondering...when Michael will get his next job
• I am noticing...that the boys are really getting some big biceps
• I am buying...a lot of food lately...the boys are always hungry
• I am reading...books on essential oils
• I am hoping...that we are able to get air conditioning on our house this year
• I am looking forward to...watching God work miracles in the next four months
• I am learning...that I cannot eat too late...it affects how I sleep
• I am pondering...what exactly to do to my hair
• I am eating...a delicious shrimp dish
• I am drinking...lots of water and green tea
• I am feeling...a little bit full from dinner
• I am watching...something about the moon (well, Michael is anyway)
• I am enjoying...watching the boys work out everyday
• I am praying for...the right job for Michael
• I am working on...trying to get better sleep
• I am needing...to be disciplined in my food choices
• I am trying...to be better about planning meals and grocery shopping
• I am discovering...that jumping on the trampoline for 30 minutes makes my whole body sore
• I am starting...to relax about the boys going out alone
• I am listening to...someone talk about space and junk (Michael's show)
• I am annoyed that...I am struggling so much to get to sleep at night
• I am anxious about...the boys and careers for them
• The world needs...a good leader
• I believe...in being helpful
• I am wanting...for Michael to get a job closer to home
• I am remembering...how the boys loved to line up matchbox cars
• I am laughing/giggling...at Lily chasing Jar
• I see...a dining room that needs more organizing
• I hear...the boys talking to their cousins upstairs
• I should...cut out sugar forever
• I start...singing when I hear a song I know
• I despise...warts
• I am NOT...happy about using apple cider vinegar on my wart (it stinks like dirty feet)
• It's been a big challenge...to keep the dining room table clean
• I know it's a little weird, but...Jar gets completely fixed up to go get the mail every day
• I'll be one happy camper if...my house would magically clean itself
• I love the fact that...the Hello Fresh meals are so healthy and easy to fix

Currently...

• Outside my window...it is really sunny and warm
• In the kitchen...I smell tomato sauce cooking
• Around the house...I need to dust the living room
• One of my favorite things is...when I am finished exercising
• Today...I had to pay bills
• Tomorrow...we have a light day of school

March Goals

These are my March Goals:

1. Exercise daily
2. Eat clean/cut out dairy, gluten, and sugar
3. Juice daily
4. Orthodontist appointment 
5. Blog 3-5 times a week
6. Go out with Mom
7. Pressure wash the house
8. Have Jar take career test
9. Play board games
10. Do something with friends
11. Plan menu out for March
12. Read 5 books
13. Journal daily
14. Devotions daily with gratitude journal
15. Clean behind washer/dryer
16. Clean garage cabinets
17. Wipe down inside doors
18. Cam meet with piano teacher about Theory tests
19. Take piano Theory tests
20. Do taxes/Mom's taxes
21. Cam open bank account
22. Cut all boys hair
23. Mow the grass
24. Call to set up Jar testing
25. Save money
26. Limit eating out
27. Jar and Michael day out
28. Michael job searching
29. Plan a weekend away

These were my February Goals:

1. Exercise daily
2. Eat clean/cut out dairy, gluten, and sugar
3. Juice daily
4. Orthodontist appointment 
5. Blog 3-5 times a week
6. Go out with Mom
7. Pressure wash the house
8. Have Jar take career test
9. Fill out Questionnaires
10. Play board games
11. Do something with friends
12. Plan menu out for February
13. Read 5 books
14. Journal daily
15. Devotions daily with gratitude journal
16. Clean behind washer/dryer
17. Clean garage cabinets
18. Wipe down inside doors
19. Take down Christmas decorations
20. Get prescription glasses
21. Cam get new glasses
22. Put rods in windows
23. New door latches
24. Paint bottom of pantry
25. Save money
26. Limit eating out
27. Superbowl party
28. Bauman Farms Sampling Day
29. Cam and Michael day out
30. Valentine's Day special surprises
31. Michael job searching
32. Plan a weekend away