How Much....

I hate to come on my blog and complain and vent and worry about things, but really, this seems the best place to do it. 3 weeks ago, 2 out of the 3 kids and Greg all went to the doctor with strep. Lauryn also had scarlet fever. They all seem to be over that, and now I've got kids with fevers, colds, a ruptured ear drum, and a nine year old complaining (she has been for a couple months) about how her back hurts. Seriously, at nine years old? My dad was also having some problems a couple of weeks ago, and in the process of being checked out in the emergency room, they found he has a mass in/on one of his kidneys. It was a good thing that another problem sent him in to the ER, or he never would have known! (well, at least not right away) He had an MRI done last week, and his doctors appointment was today to find out the results. He has cancer in his kidney. The doctors assure him it's treatable, and is contained to the one kidney right now.
Meanwhile, my sister in law is like 14 months pregnant. (ok, so I exaggerate) I have been planning on going to Oregon to help her with the baby when she gets home from the hospital. She requested that I come, I am not intruding. I have been waiting patiently, and not so patiently for a couple of weeks now. You would think I was the one pregnant! After all this thats going on, I just want to get away. Only for a week, but I need a break.

It's Simple, Feed them Mac and Cheese!!

I have been trying to be creative with my menu planning lately. As you can see from all the blogs I read, Most of them have something to do with shopping, cooking, or something related. I'm also trying to lower the cost of our food bill each week. The last couple of weeks have been pretty successful. As I was searching through cookbooks and magazines planning dinners for this week, I came across a Macaroni and Cheese recipe that had been made over. The calories and fat had been lowered, but the cook submitting the recipe claimed it tastes just as good as the "non slimmed down version". I decided to make it tonight. My family usually expects meat with their dinner, so I warned them all there was no meat with dinner tonight, just mac and cheese and veggies, and fruit. My family is pretty picky when it comes to food. At least the kids are, and it can be very frustrating. I was pleasantly surprised to see ALL OF THEM eat their dinner. All. OF. THEM. I am so happy. Yes, thats right, it doesn't take much to make me happy.

Some Random "I" Thoughts.......

I saw this on a board I frequent, and I decided to fill them in.

I am…a mom and a wife. I think…I may eventually lose weight. I know…the church is true. I want…my family to be happy. I have…4 children who I love dearly. I wish…our economy were better. I hate…cleaning toilets. I miss…my family members who live too far away to visit very often. I fear…dying. I hear…a weird noise in the backyard. I smell…lotion. I search…for good recipes. I wonder…if my kids will go to college. I regret…not finishing college when I was young. I love…traveling. I care…about the future. I always…do the grocery shopping. I am not…skinny. I believe…in miracles. I dance…only when I am alone. I sing…to make my kids laugh. I don’t…bungee jump. I write…grocery lists and use them most of the time. I win…games sometimes. I lose…important papers. I dislike…cleaning. I never…have eaten menudo. I listen…to music a lot. I can usually be found…on Facebook. I am scared…of dying. I read…a lot. I am happy about…some things. I dare…not say. I hope…to travel a lot someday. I notice…when people are rude. I clean…sometimes. I express…myself not so well at times. I talk…a lot. I go…grocery shopping by myself. I drive…well. I watch…Spongebob. I dream…of Jeanie. I need…a haircut. I haven’t…taken a shower today. I tell…the truth. I pick…scabs. I find…Ryan funny. I run…never. I quit…playing the clarinet. I jump…when I am scared. I learn…easily. I play…Scrabble. I own…2 pair of shoes. I make…bread. I live…in California. I open…cupboards all day. I will…eventually clean my house to my liking. I suppose…I should do some cleaning today. I vote…for other. I buy…milk and bread all the time. I fold…socks rarely. I stand…up. I can…make a trifle almost as good as Carries. I wear…black. I smile…rarely. I cry…when my feelings are hurt. I care…about people. I pray…at night with my family. I make…good Swedish Meatballs. I like…cooking. I move…to slow. I swear…never. I try…to enjoy things. I find…telemarketers annoying. I draw…stick figures. I expect…my kids to do chores. I work…not as much as I should. I admire…my husband. I adore…my husband. I fantasize…sometimes. I look…tired. I cherish…my time with family. I appreciate…service. I treasure…my family. I could…run away for a day and feel great about it.

Yuck!

How come every time I read something about lice, my head starts to itch? That is my worst nightmare............................

Fall Weather?

I have been looking forward to the Holidays for a couple of months now. Most people who know me, know that my favorite season is Fall. I love the falling leaves, the cooler weather and just the whole feel of the Holidays. Thanksgiving is next week. Usually we put our tree up the day after, and I get to start listening to my Christmas music. With the temperature being in the 90's the whole month of November, I am debating if I want to even put my tree up at all.....and, forget any Christmas music right now. Let it Snow and Winter Wonderland just don't seem appropriate. Maybe something will change before next week. I sure hope so.

Diet Coke free!

Some of you may have opened my blog hoping to read about a way I got Diet Coke for free somehow. Sorry to disappoint. Today is 1 MONTH exactly that I have been caffeine free! Oh, I won't lie. I have had the occasional caffeine free Diet Coke, but for the most part it has been Diet 7-Up for me. I can't say I feel any better, or have any more energy but I am happy I told a friend of mine that I would give it up, and I was able to.

My redheaded genius

Well, ok. Maybe he's not a genius. He spends his days getting into anything and everything, so every once in awhile my mom offers to let me get a break and have him go to her house. He was there last week and she said, "I am going to send some flashcards home with him." Flashcards?? So I asked her what she was teaching him! She wrote out the numbers 1-10 on cards, and he knew all of them but 2!! The 2 he didn't know were 9 and 10. He told her the 9 was 6, and the 10 was just 1, because he doesn't know 0. When we go to Target or any store where the checkout lanes are numbered, he likes to quiz me, and then I quiz him. Maybe he will be a genius someday. Now, if I could just get him interested in potty training.............