Organizing and Such

Well we are home today due to the amazing snowflakes that fell earlier and the slushy stuff underneath. :) Makes this momma and her children happy. At the moment, the 3 rugrats are enjoying some hot chocolate and a good movie while snuggled under the blankets. Me, I am updating and will get some cleaning and the rest of the Christmas decorations put away....yes you read that right, I said Christmas. I know- it is sad!

I have been re-designing in my head for the last year, things that I want to do around our home. We have now been in it for a little over 2 years, folks. We loved it when we moved in, and to be honest- I didn't want to paint. I knew I would be getting Riley out of the crib soon and we would be doing her room then, and the boys.....well, I had NO CLUE what I wanted to do in there and they both had such different ideas. So we have left it all as is. Since we had to repair Riley's ceiling from the AC leaking, now is the time to get started!

So now that it is the first of the year. I have set goals for getting things done: Decorating, re-arranging, organizing, painting, and all that jazz. I have been searching sites and such to get it all in and try to find the best tools for a decent amount. Now this will be a long process as we do it all slow and a few things each month. But I have made my list and can't wait to get started.

One of the first things we will do are the kids rooms. We are going to paint and get some storage in there. Matt and I will be building storage units that we will attach to the walls in the kids rooms. We are also going to re-do the kids closets so it will be easier for them to put their own clothing away. I am SO pumped to get it done.

We plan on painting other rooms and possibly re-arranging furniture. I would LOVE to re-do our kitchen someday (and we have huge plans if we stay in the house for a long time), but till then, I plan on organizing the space as best I can. I found these really cool kitchen storage racks over at Vanilla Joy and I am so pumped to maybe do this over the summer! If you go here it will take you to the Shelf Reliance home page. They have huge systems, that if I ever get a pantry that would be so nice to have. they also have smaller systems that fit into your cabinets. The thing that I think is cool about this is that, the system helps keep you from using the stuff you just bought rather that the older cans. To me this sounds great since i have been known here lately to forget to put the new stuff in the back if I am in a hurry.

Anyway, I'm sure this post has not been to interesting to many of you, but sometimes it helps to get my thoughts down. Do any of you have tried and true storage systems that work in your home? If so- let me know- I would love to see what everyone is doing, and maybe steal your ideas! :)

Game Night

We have been trying to have a game night sometime during each week. Last week we played a game that I bought after Christmas at a great price ($3.95). We got the Horton Hears a Who game. The kids had a blast. They enjoyed putting Horton on and hunting for the clovers. On the clover tiles, in order to go get them you have to do what it says. So you may have to crawl, hop, tiptoe and so on. The kids had a blast and I think they will get some time out of it. Our game closet is growing steadily and the kids have so much fun with them!

Here we go!

The idea is to copy & paste it into your blog, then highlight the things you have done. The items in bold are things I’ve done in my life. (You’re not supposed to copy the words in italics, I added those.)

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland/world

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch-hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching

63. Gotten flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar

72 . Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85 Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

I refuse to tag anyone, but if you want to do it go for it!

Home for a day -YEA!!!

I woke up this morning with a terrible headache (the one that makes you cross-eyed and feel like you could die at any moment- that one), and the Advil was not kicking in. I don't have many days left, but decided to use one today. Matt took Caleb to school and he was so excited to be going by himself. He got up, ate breakfast and was dressed with in 10 min. That NEVER happens when they are all going. Then I got some quiet time before Riley got up at 7:30. She and Ian have played so good today. No arguing, fighting, tantrums.....nada. I have been cleaning since my headache has almost gone away, worked on lesson plans for the next month and had a blast watching my kids play. They are at this moment upstairs in the same room, supposedly sleeping, but I hear things that tell me other wise :) I have been sitting here enjoying my time at home. Sometimes I get caught up in the business of getting ready for school and getting the kids ready and to school that I forget to enjoy the little things. The laughter over cereal, oatmeal or eggs. The cute way they get ready in the morning and the drive to school. I cannot wait for spring break and summer to come!

I am at the moment praying for a job a the school that Caleb attends and where Ian will go next year. I want to be closer and on the same schedule as they are. I am looking at going down to the elementary level and regular ed. I am so blessed to have the opportunity to teach the kids I do, but it can become draining as you deal with one behavior problem after another (especially if you get bit during a restraint!) and the paperwork is not a hoot either! If you will please keep that in your prayers.

Well the noises I now hear tell me that there is more than sleeping going on and I probably should go investigate.

Changes are coming

I am going to be making a few minor changes here in the next week. I will be changing backgrounds and editing blog rolls. So be patient as it may change from day to day (not that many of you are still reading this check every day....but thought I would warn you!)

I will also be posting some pictures soon. I also have some updates that I want to post about and a ton of thoughtful things that I have been pondering. I will be updating more often too. I know most people don't check it often at all epically since I haven't been updating it. I made a resolution to update more often about anything going on or thoughts. So hopefully I haven't lost all of the few readers I had- come on by and you will notice better things coming off this blog! :)

Way cool Lunch tote giveaway

Not sure how many of you take your lunch to work or out with you, but I have tried to start doing more of it as I think it will help me in the healthier area of my resolutions. Head on over to $5 dinners and go for it! Good Luck!


Click here : http://www.5dollardinners.com/


or look under Family life mixed with Frugal Living Links

Christmas 2008

I finally got the pictures loaded on the laptop AND I finally figured out how do a slide show! Lucky you!! I think the problem with me trying the last few time was the operating system I was using to store the pictures in....regardless I am so excited that it went smoothly! The joy of the little thing :)

This year we stayed home and everyone came to us. We celebrated with my parents Christmas day and then Lee and Linda came in that evening. Scott and Heather and the family came in Friday for the day. It was so nice to have everyone here. I definitely got a lot of cooking in. The kids had a great Christmas this year. The only thing that Caleb asked Sana for was a DS.......I was in shock a little bit, till I picked him up from school and say 8 kindergartners with DS'. So we actually found a good deal on that and told Santa about it. He has been begging to take it to school, but I cannot bring myself to allow him. I am worried it might get taken or lost. Ian got the Leapster 2, but now I am wishing we had gone the digi route. The one thing he loves is that it is a Star Wars one. :) Riley got all things dress up and has been having a blast. We got her a pop up tent and she has had so much fun with it. It was so relaxing and we so enjoyed being with family. My parents took the kids the week of New Years and I was able to enjoy some time alone with Matt before 8pm. We went and spent a few days at mom and dad's and then came home. We are now all back at work and school, but ready for the weekend. Now that we are done with the quick synopsis, lets get to the part you all are waiting for.....Pictures!