A good "mail" day

I L.O.V.E. to go to the mailbox each day to get the mail. I guess the anticipation of a good "mail" day always makes me anxious to see what the mail carrier will bring. Most days I just find bills and junk mail. But not today! Today there was something for everyone!

I am off to make some coffee to enjoy with my new Coastal Living. YAY!

And do you SEE THE SUNSHINE reflection in the pic???!!! Whoooo hooooo sunshine!

Hugs!

Winter blahs = color!

Before...


After.

Just about this time of year, I start painting for a little change. Today - Logan's room. Next, our room....

Nachos!

We LOVE nachos at our house, and I love trying new variations. I borrowed bits and pieces bits of a nachos recipe from Rachel Ray. I especially loved the cheese recipe she uses instead of just melting cheese. I should have taken a picture.. opps.

Beans Topping: (Rachel's calls for beef, but we are veggin' things up around here)
1 tablespoon EVOO
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons dark chili powder
1 1/2 ground cumin, half a palmful
1 can black beans, 15 ounces, drained
salsa


Cheese Sauce:
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
3/4 pound pepper jack cheese, (I used cheddar) shredded, about 2 1/2 cups

Directions

Saute Onion and garlic, add spices, salsa and beans. simmer.

In a medium sauce pot, melt butter and add flour to it. Cook flour and butter 1 to 2 minutes over moderate heat, then whisk in milk. When milk comes to a bubble, stir in cheese with a wooden spoon. Remove cheese sauce from the heat.

Pour cheese sauce evenly over the massive spread of warmed chips and top evenly with bean mixture.

They were even good warmed up for a snack!

Hugs!

"Don't put a 1 in front of that 5..."

Just a few updates from Indy...


Olivia came out of her room wearing this outfit today. Tommy said "You are only 5 sis, don't put a 1 in front of that 5".


Giving Logan a haircut is SOOOO much easier now that he is getting older. Before


and after. I have to say I like short hair on my boys!

Yesterday we took the kids to the zoo and enjoyed the indoor exhibits

It felt SOOOO good to be outside, even on a rainy day. I am SOOOOO ready for spring! I heard birds yesterday in the morning, so I KNOW its coming soon!

Hugs!

Random February Thoughts...

Having a hard time finding blog-worthy material.... so here are some of my recent random thoughts.

1. I am so blessed with great family and friends, I love each of them so much. Some (many) are just too far away for my liking though...


2. Why is it that when I am out and about on our busy days, I barely think of food unless I am really hungry. But if I am at home all day all I think about is my next snack or meal... I am sure playing outside this spring and summer will really help curtail this dilema.


3. Last year at this time Olivia wasn't sure she fully understood the concept of love. So if I said "I love you Olivia" she would say "I love you too, but you know I'm really not sure I do". I love the way she was always so polite about it, all while being truly honest. All of that has passed now and she is TRULY sure that she loves people! :)


4. I live in a big city, but I really don't feel like its big anymore.


5. When my kids are hurting, I ache in a way I can't even describe.


6. Facebook is both my friend and my enemy. I love to keep up with people but hate the hold it has over me on the days we spend at home. I check it WAY too often.


7. I get in BIG kicks of cooking great meals and then I get in a BIG SLUMP and just want to eat out. Right now I'm in a slump.


8. I am so energized by people. This goes along with #1, great people in my life!


9. I love to change things in my house, like move furniture, rehang pictures, etc.

10. A new season of Survivor is so exciting to me!


11. God continues to amaze me with his love and patience as he keeps working on me.

12. I can't wait for spring storms, (NO tornadoes please!)

13. Looking at an issue of Coastal Living Magazine gives me a slight feeling of just having been on vacation.

14. I love to go to the library. Coming out with an armful of books and movies all for free!

15. For some reason an iced tea from Chick-fil-A makes my whole day!

16. Tommy is such an amazing husband and father. I want to look for something new each day to be thankful about him. today: I am so thankful that he still chases me around the house and tickles me.


17. Last night during dinner I said "Oh! we forgot to pray!" and Olivia responded "OH DEAR GOD! thank you for our food!" I laughed out loud and she didn't understand why. opps.


18. I really like to run, but I hate it too.


19. I love the smell of my house when the windows are open.

20. I love Logan's chubby cheeks, I will be sad when he grows out of them.

21. I think I love the zoo even more than the kids.

22. They say that kids go through a phase where they think their parents don't know anything. I don't think I ever went through that phase, I have always thought they were the smartest people I know.

23. I am 33 and I still love to tell people I have a twin.

24. Eating organic, all-natural foods has become a real priority for our family.

25. Great Wolf Lodge is SERIOULSY close to Disney World in my book of the best places on earth.

26. I could put Feta cheese on just about anything!

27. I just can't get enough of Chicago.

28. I love that my kids think Lake Michigan is the ocean.

Hugs from Indy!

"Don't step right there DAD!"

Olivia: "Don't step right there DAD! God is sitting there! HE is everywhere you know"

Love that Olivia is trying to grasp God's presence. I saw her hugging the air earlier and she said "God is everywhere mom, I was giving him a hug."

Thank you God, for the soft, receptive heart you have given Olivia. Please always keep her close to you. Amen.

So blessed

I am sitting here at the dinner table. Dinner dishes have been cleared. I am so thankful that we had food to feed our family tonight. Tommy and the kids are dancing to the Beatles in the kitchen, I'm so thankful I have a fantastic husband and healthy, happy kids. I am so thankful that we have music to enjoy, and electricity to enjoy it on. Logan is now shouting "Please be quiet daddy, I am trying to watch a show!". :) I have a laundry room full of clothes, normally this would frustrate me, but tonight I am thankful that I have a pile of clothes to wash, because that means we are so blessed. I am trying to see the blessings from God in EVERY part of my life ALL day long. The things that stress me out (messy house) and frustrate me (traffic) can be turned into time to be thankful.

I am so blessed with an incredible family, with whom I talk via email or phone everyday. Friends who continue to bless me with their friendship everyday. I don't live close enough to many of them, but email, texting, blogging and facebook bring them closer.

Thank you God for continuing to show me your blessings in the big and small things in my life. I am learning that its all big to you. Thank you.

Just to remember - Olivia 1/19/2010

Whispering in my ear, so Rebecca can't hear... "Mom, did you know Rebecca isn't real?"

Me: "I did know, how do you feel about it?"

Olivia: "its ok, mom."

____________________________________

Olivia: "Sometimes I remind myself of Samson. Not because of the long hair but because of my strength" - seriously had a hard time keeping a straight face on that one!

___________________________________

Olivia: "Mom, did you know that Lazarus died and then 2 days later Jesus went to him and he UNDIED!" - glad we were in the car for this one and I could quietly giggle to myself.

How is it possible?

I took Olivia to visit her school today. How is it possible that it is time to think about school? I know its cliche' but there are days when I feel like she was born yesterday! And now she is 5!

She was so grown-up. Sitting with the kids at their table. Participating in all of their activities. She especially loved eating her apple at "fruit break" and eating her lunch at lunchtime. SHE LOVED her teacher, and her teacher was so sweet to have her join in the class!

I LOVED having the opportunity to observe how she acts in a classroom setting. She loved it! Didn't want to leave. She is sad that she has to wait until next fall to go back. She just seemed so big! Her daddy and I couldn't be more proud of her.

Quote of the day:
Olivia: "We have to go back to school soon! I'm starting to forget what my teacher looks like!"

January days

Filling our January days requires some MAJOR creativity around here... I SOOOO love the stage the kids are in, we have so much fun. Here are some of the activities I want to remember during this fun stage.

Olivia's tea party with Rebecca
Logan: "Sis, can I have a tea party?"

Olivia: {sigh} "Ok bub, but let ME pour the pretend tea"

Olivia the "super-sleuth" collecting clues in her clue-bag from Paris

We added some shelves to Olivia's room to help with the chaos, I mean organizational needs of a 5-year-old. Here is how she arranged everything. I think it looks great!

Logan's favorite hobby is Geo-trax

our "Snow Princess" - who also does ballet

Baking...

And playing outside. Have I ever mentioned that I don't care to play out in the cold? Oh the things we do for our kids...

Just a quick thought I wanted to share from my Bible Study lecture today. Our speaker shared a quote from C.S. Lewis:

"There are only 2 types of people in the world. Those who say to God "Thy will be done" and those to whom God says "Thy will be done""

It made me stop and think about the times in my life when I have tried to do things on my own. Not asking for God's direction and wisdom because I foolishly think I can handle it by myself. (lately, parenting. God has so graciously given me wisdom and direction in this area, in the past. why do I continue to go through periods of trying it on my own? I just end up frustrated and the kids end up frustrated. ) God is a gentleman and I believe He will step aside, allowing me to try things my way, which inevitably fail. (like trying to parent a 3-year-old without spending quality time in prayer over God's best way to handle it) At which time He is there to scoop me back up into His loving arms. I have found MAJOR comfort this week in John 10:29 "My Father, who has given them(us, his sheep) to me, is greater than all, no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand." Praise God I am NEVER out of his grip.

Another verse that I have recited out loud over and over this week (and its only Tuesday if that tells you the kind of week Logan is having):

"My children are taught of the Lord, GREAT is their peace!" Isaiah 54:13 (paraphrased)

Hugs from Indy!