Days gone by.....

13 years ago, today, I became a mom. I still remember that sweet, little face staring up me. I was so happy and scared at the same time. I had no clue what to do and to think they were going to send this precious little baby boy home with me. Fast forward 13 years, that baby is now a teenager and today is his birthday. I can't believe how fast time flies and how my life has changed since this boy came into my life, all for the better, because I couldn't imagine not being a mom. So his birthday is very special to me, his birth and my journey into motherhood. Happy birthday Big B!!!!!!

Then:


Today:


hugs
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2nd Place Baby.....

Bryce is sooo happy, last night was J.O.'s (JO's is a wrestling tournament, something like districts in high school, but this is for elementary and junior high kids). Well he got 2nd place and now he moves on to Saturday. His goal is to make it to Erie next Saturday, this is similar to States in High School. If you aren't familiar with wrestling, then you have no clue what I am talking about. :-)





It was a good evening. Bitsy was even good, Aunt L showed up and had her bag full of goodies and it kept Bitsy entertained pretty much all night. So all I can say is thank you L, I really appreciated it.

hugs
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Calgon Take Me Away....

Do you remember this commercial? Okay so I am probably dating myself, but that's what I feel like right now. I keep singing my theme song in my head "I need a vacation from my life", not that my life isn't blessed or anything like that. I am so sick of the icky sicky. Can we have a break???? Monday night Bitsy Boo got sick, I thought she was better yesterday so took her to the church, I clean on Thursday with a friend of mine. It's also my way of having a little adult conversation during the week. Anywhoo, Bitsy started crying and then threw-up, thank goodness she didn't have alot to eat, but still I felt so awful. My friends little boy was there and I am just praying they don't get sick. So I had to scratch my plans to into town, just to say I haven't been out of the house since Sunday, going a little stir crazy. When I got home, hubby didn't look so hot and said he felt sick, GREAT!!! So I spent the whole afternoon, santizing my house, the good news is I already have a jumpstart on my spring cleaning. About 3:00 p.m. we got a call from the school saying Big Buddies threw-up in the library, and you know all I could think is, well atleast I don't have to clean it up. I mean my little man is sick and that's the first thing that popped into my head. Geesh what's wrong with me. Needless to say Big Buddies is home from school today, it's a sick day, but on a happy note, my little lady is feeling better. So the question is who will get sick next?

So I can never end a blog post without pictures, here are a few pictures of my girlies from last weekend.








hugs
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I think he's a keeper....

I have been wanting a dslr for awhile now but they are pretty pricey. So since the fall I have been saving money for one and I thought that by my birthday, in June, I would have enough money to purchase one. Well my hubby last weekend said lets just go to Ritz's and get it. They were having a pretty good sale and I got 2 lenses with it. I ended up getting a Nikon D60, it's a entry level dslr and so far I love it.
Right now I am figuring out how to use it and take better pictures. Here are a couple I have taken of my kiddos. They thought I loved to take pictures when I had my Kodak, they haven't seen nothing yet.





So what do you think? I think they are pretty good and they can only get better from here as I learn to use this baby. In 15 weeks we are going to the beach so I better get practicing and reading. So I do believe that my hubby is a definite keeper. Love ya babe and thanks so much....

hugs
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A week in review

I am sitting here today wishing for warmer weather, sunny skies, and some green scenery. Not to rush time or anything, but I am ready for spring. Right now we are getting freezing rain for the 10th time this year. Last week was absolutely gorgeous here. Last Monday was almost 60 the sun was shining, I think God gives us those days to say, "hey hang in there, warm weather is just around the corner you can make it a few more months". So I will sit here waiting patiently in my my sweat-pants and fuzzy socks, just wishing for another sunny day.

Since not to much is going on in my life, no crafty things, no frugal ideas, no money-saving tips I thought I would just share my week with yall.

my week last week:
Monday - went to Giant
Tuesday - Bryce had his last wrestling match and won
Wednesday - cleaned the house
Thursday - Cleaned the church and got flowers from my hubby for valentines. so pretty.
Friday - nada
Saturday - Family day
Sunday - felt awful, went to church and then went to look at new cameras
Monday - woke up with strep throat, yay had to go to the doctors.
Tuesday - Bryce woke up with the stomach flu, hopefully nobody else gets sick since the rest of us had it in December.

See the week started out just like any other week, but ended pretty crappy. On a good note, I am feeling much better, I can finally eat and Bryce is much better also.

My valentine's gift, not the rings, just the flowers. I put my wedding rings in the flower because i thought it looked neat.

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Cherish these days....

Do you ever have a whoo is me day? I do, I hate it when I get negative about things in my life - my body, my hair, my messy house, my kids always fighting, feeling whatever I do doesn't matter and the list goes on. I hate my whoo is me days, God has blessed my life so much and there is no reason to feel like this. Sometimes though I need a kick in the butt to make me realize how blessed I truly am. Lately I have been reading this blog this a women who has gone through so much, she is so brave and strong and I truly look up to her. All she wants is to be the wife and mother she once was. I love that. Also a good friend of mine just recently made me realize how important our families are. I know my family is important, but sometimes I take them forgranted. I get irrated when I have to pick up cat food for the tenth time that day because a little girl thinks it fun to spill it all over the floor, or when my kids seem to fight with each other constantly and I start yelling at them. I need to sit back and remember that these days won't last forever and to cherish them. There will be a time when my house looks like a magazine and it's quiet, and then I will wish for all this chaos.

My blessings......



remember to give hugs
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Make it Monday - Recipe

My poor, poor, neglected blog. I have really been a blog slacker, but it was nice to have a little break. But now I am back and ready to go.

My New Years Resolution this year is to get healthy, start an exercise routine and eat better. So far so good, I'll tell you more about my favorite type of exercise tomorrow. Cooking healthy meals that my family will like is sometimes a challenge. I am not a short-order chef, so therefore whatever I make everyone is to eat, but I try to cook things they like just to save all the whining and complaining. This makes for a more enjoyable meal time. One of my favorite meals to make in the wintertime is soup, but my hubby is not to fond of it. I, however, found a soup that even he likes and my kids like and it's healthy, now it just can't get any better than that.

Meatball Soup


Doesn't it just look so yummy.

Meatballs: Just make meatballs anyway you like, I use ground turkey to make it healthier. I make half the mixture into meatballs, and then brown the other half.

Soup:

Chicken Broth - 1 carton (now I make a huge batch so I add 3 cups water to this and then add some chicken boillion to that)
1 large can diced tomatoes

If you want you can add potatoes, it just makes it more like a stew.

Cook to a boil or until your potatoes are soft and then a chopped up cabbage ( if you want to make this easy just use a half a bag of coleslaw mix, found by the salads in your local supermarket)

add meatballs and ground hamburg and a can of navy beans

simmer until cabbage is tender

put into bowls and add some shredded cheese and serve with quesidillas or whole wheat biscuits. Easy peasy supper. Plus leftovers are very yummy.

This supper is also really budget friendly, the cost is less than $5.00 for the entire meal.

enjoy!!!
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