craft idea

I saw this idea on Lisa Leonard's blog and thought I would give it a try. All you need is a canvas- any size will do (I buy my when on sale at hobby lobby), acrylic paint (any color), glitter (any color), and a paint brush.

Apply paint heavily and spread in any pattern (can you see the texture of the paint?)- I then used a cookie cutter and set it in the paint just so I could see the shape and then sprinkled with glitter- let dry several days. My canvas is sitting on my desk propped up by a picture frame stand!

The possibilities are endless- any shape, also you could do a word or name- use a toothpick to outline the letters and then sprinkle glitter.

Forgiveness

Remember my earlier posts about Lists to Live by for Every Married Couple?



One quality that is vital to every relationship but especially marriage is forgiveness.



Four Promises of Forgiveness:



1. I will no longer dwell on this incident



2. I will not bring up this incident again and use it against you



3. I will not talk to others about this incident



4. I will not allow this incident to stand between us or hinder or relationship



These things are difficult for me but I think a challenge for us all. How many people in a relationship have things go south and just decide to give up? LOTS. Most of the time if we do not get real and deal with the issues then the same issues come up in another relationship. Do you agree?

I Won!

Remember the giveaway this past weekend by Lisa Leonard? Well I won. I was so excited. I was looking at comments on my blog and saw 1 comment under the post about the giveaway. I thought that is a little weird for someone to leave a comment and guess what it was from Lisa herself saying I won. Anyway I have yet to decide what I want with my 50 dollar gift card. It is so hard to decide because I like everything. What would you choose?

sailing

Sometimes tubby time needs a little extra fun. This week we have been sailing our boats. I asked my mom to get these boats for the kids for Christmas from Nova Toys! I had seen the boats on Ginny's blog and loved them. We will be sailing the boats in the pool and maybe a stream or two if we can do that safely. The kids love them.

Valentines Craft

Sydney loves crafts so we made this Valentine butterfly creature! I helped some but tried to let Sydney pick what supplies she wanted to use. She thought the creature needed some teeth so she drew the mouth herself. We had fun.

a favorite

My mom bought the kids a book titled "I'll Tell You a Story, I'll Sing You a Song" by Christine Allison and it is a favorite. The book is divided into Fairy Tales, Rhymes, Fables, Songs, Motion Songs and Finger Play, Lullabies, and Hymns and Prayers plus additional information. I am familiar with most of the fairy tales such as Cinderella, The Little Red Hen, The Tortoise and the Hare, some of the rhymes and very few of the fables. Sydney are I read some selections on Saturday while Griffin took a second nap. Our library has a copy of this book but I am glad we have our own, it is a book to enjoy for years.

this boy

Griffin gets himself into all sorts of places

A giveway by Lisa

Lisa Leonard is hosting a giveaway this weekend. I would love to win a gift certificate because I love all her stuff but I am on a budget so no extra spending right now. I have her mama necklace and I wear it almost every single day!

word

Have you heard any talk of picking a word for 2011? Several blogs that I follow have been posting about picking a word for this year, for instance Lisa and Michelle. I entered Lisa's contest and I said my word was JOY. My challenge for myself for this year is to find joy despite my circumstances. Not that my circumstances are all that bad but you know what I mean. I desire to be a joyful person and bring joy to those around me. Well this morning I was listening to KLOVE on the way to work and they were discussing picking a word for 2011 and I decided I want two words for the year! My other word is TRUST. Now, this is a challenge because I am very independent and have a tendency to take control. I need to learn to TRUST the Lord in everything instead of trying to plan and work to fix things myself. My mind goes to a song by Jennifer Knapp called "In the Name".

In The Name
------Jennifer Knapp

All these years to many ahead to think clear.
some say where's my crystal ball.
some men play the lottery makin bets against the governments economy.

They say I'd rather be rich than be alive at all.
When men in miry circumstances fall.
it won't be hard to tell where they placed their resolve.
Some trust in chariots. but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
To each his own won't lead you home and prob'ly never will.
I won't trust in the things I do.
they will not stand.
they won't come through.

So I'll trust in the name of the Lord my God...I'll trust in the name..
Picket fences may build our defense. In domestic wars of leisure suits.

That's OK it doesn't bother me. you can hold onto your philosophy of.

What's mine is mine, what's yours is yours, but whats the truth?

When the walls do crumble and they fall.
It won't be hard to tell where we place our resolve.
when the walls do crumble and what will I find to hold on to.
thats stronger than my Jesus?

Sing hallelujah... hallelujah..
When the walls do crumble and they fall
It won't be hard to see where we place our resolve...

I also think of Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding". I am going to do my best to TRUST and be full of JOY.



What would your word be for the year 2011?

The reason why...

I no longer have kitchen chairs in my kitchen.

Girl Day

Sydney and I had a girl day Wednesday! She had a dentist appointment in the morning and she did such a good job. She sat in the chair for the first time, she usually lays across my lap. Sydney let the hygienist use all her tools including the water sprayer and the special suck straw. Sydney needed some follow up x-rays from when she hit her mouth and her gums were bruised and bleeding- everything looked great. She got to pick a prize and then we went to lunch at Panera. Sydney really wanted McDonald's but I mentioned the cookies at Panera and changed her mind. I rarely eat out and when I do I do NOT want McDonald's. So we had Panera lunch and then she got to pick her own cookie- she picked a M&M cookie. Yummy. We had a few errands to run in Greensboro including Pet Smart to get more bedding for Squeaky. Then we hit the library and she played a few computer games and we picked some books. Lastly she had an appointment to get her hair trimmed and she did super. Minus a few melt downs it was a good day. We picked up Griffin and headed home for dinner. I really enjoy a girl day with my special girl!

Four years ago

Sydney Nicole four years ago

I just love her little bare pigs

this little outfit was from Bill's mom, so sweet and comfy

I am amazed at how quickly the time has past

and how she has grown

Homemade Veggie Wash

I found this recipe for veggie (and fruit) wash and I was so excited because I usually buy it. Now I am going to make my own.

recipe:

1 Tbsp real lemon juice

2 Tbsp white vinegar

1 cup water



combine all of above and put in spray bottle

Cowboys and Cowgirls

Last Saturday was Nathaniel's birthday party at a ranch. It was COLD and WINDY but we had a great time.
Sydney and Nate


Nate and Missy

Chow time

My little cowboy







Sydney and I on a wagon ride, did I mention it was cold.

Sydney riding and brushing a horse

Sister Scrapbook Page

I do not think these pictures do the page justice but here it is

Close up
Sticker that I added some sparkles to

Metal embellishments

Sydney and I have used the last 3 days (2 snow days) at Griffin's nap time to scrapbook

I finished this sister page and three others

and made numerous cards

So fun

Little Momma

A few Saturdays ago I was trying to get lunch prepared and Griffin was starving so Sydney offered to start feeding him while I got our food on the table. She did such a good job. She was praising him and offering him the spoon to feed himself "here buddy, you can do it". My heart just melted.

sleeping

Sydney and reading

Sydney loves to read, always has and I hope always will. Sydney and I have been reading together since she was in my belly. We have been reading chapter books lately and she received a few for Christmas from Grammie La la. We just started reading Mandy by Julie Andrews Edwards. I do not remember ever reading Mandy but I may have. Sydney loves it and has already incorporated parts of the book into her imaginary play. She was talking about plans for a house she is creating and how it will have a room covered in sea shells. Sydney and I usually read together right before she gets in bed and this is our special time. Have you read Mandy? What have you read with your kids lately?

Sydney with Aunt Rita

Sydney with Grandma Patti

new book from la la


looking at books

books and puzzle book

listening to momma

now what

Griffin loves emptying the lazy susan, he also thinks this is a great place to sit. He always seems to find the sticky syrup.

Fort fun

random info

Sydney was walking around the house last night singing Sugarland "Joey, I'm so sorry." Cracks me up.

I took Sydney to the ENT yesterday for a check up and she is doing great, tubes look wonderful, which I knew because I check periodically. Afterwards I took her to McDonald's and she got a free ice cream cone (yeah coupons) and you would have thought she won the lotto!

I went for a power walk yesterday (part of my New Year's goals to get more exercise and tone up) but I took a cookie on the walk. Oh well. There were more geese on the golf course than golfers but it was rather cold.

I thought we had a doctor meeting today but I was mistaken so now I have no lunch. I have so many yummy left overs at home.

I am going to have to take all the chairs out of the kitchen unless we are sitting in them because Griffin will not stay off the table! I told my friends with boys that I am so sorry for ever thinking their children were unruly because they climb. I now know that there is no way to control these little boys. Sydney was never a climber so this is new territory.

I am amazed that my kitchen floor can go from completely clean to trashed in less than a day, oh thats right I have a 4 year old and a 15 month old. Oh well, thank God for dustbusters.

Squeaky Update

Sydney is still in love with squeaky. She is so sweet and so is he. First thing in the morning she asks to hold him and first thing when we get home. He seems to feel safe with her. He is now more active in his cage when we are around, running around and eating in front of us. So far my allergy has not bothered me much. Sydney is so happy to have a real pet!

Our little Climber

A few recipes

Double Cranberry Muffins

1 3/4 cup flour

4 tsp baking powder

2 cups Post selects cranberry almond cereal, divided

3/4 cup fat free milk

1 egg

1 tsp grated orange peel

1/3 cup orange juice

2 tbsp plus 1 tsp divided oil (canola)

1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, coarsely chopped

Preheat oven to 375. Combine flour, 1 cup sugar and baking powder in large bowl. Mix 1 cup cereal and milk in medium bowl and let stand 3 min. Add egg, orange peel, orange juice and 2 Tbsp oil- mix well. Add to flour mixture and stir just until moistened. Gently stir in cranberries. Crush remaining cereal and mix with 1 tbsp sugar and 1 tsp oil. Spoon batter into lined muffin tin (or spray first with Pam) and top with cereal mixture, Bake 22 min or until top is lightly golden. Cool in pan 5 min and then move to wire rack to cool completely.

I have made this recipe according to above directions from Food and Family magazine but today I did not have the Post cereal. I actually had Post banana nut crunch and only 1 cup so I used what I had and I added 1 cup of oatmeal. I sipped the topping and used a little more than a cup of milk and let the oatmeal and the cereal soak. I also did not have orange juice but after zesting my orange I squeezed fresh juice from 2 oranges. They are so yummy and healthy.

1 muffin

cal 160, fat 3 g (0 saturated) sodium 15- mg, carb 31 g, fiber 1 g, sugars 16 g, protein 3 g, vit A 2%dv, vit C 2%dv, calcium 8%dv, iron 6% dv.

Black Beans and Rice

(from Robert Irvine curtesy of Food Network)

1 Tbsp salt

1 lb dried black beans

1 Tbsp vegetable oil

1 onion, diced

3 cups rice

1 (8oz) bag frozen okra defrosted

5 fresh tomatoes, cut in wedges

Bring 2 quarts of water to boil in large pan (stockpot), add salt and beans. Allow beans to rehydrate by boiling for 15 mins, then allow to sit covered for 1 hour. (Mine were not as tender as I wanted them so I brought mine to a boil again and let them set for another 15). Heat oil in a separate pot and saute onion until translucent, add 6 cups of water to this pot then add rice, allow to simmer (stir occasionally) until all water is absorbed and rice is soft (about 20 mins). Stir okra into pot of rice to warm and gently mix with beans and tomatoes. Serve

I left out the okra and instead of fresh tomatoes I added a can of fire roasted tomatoes. The recipe says it makes 8 servings- well they are huge servings. Half of my large stockpot was full. You could definately freeze this for later. We are having rice and beans as a side twice this week. We have plenty!

December 26th- the view from here