This blog is my attempt to document our busy but BLESSED lives raising and educating our children for His glory. A child of God, wife to one, and mom to 6 fabulous kids. We are in our 17th year of homeschooling using a Classical ~ Literature based approach.

Come along for the good, the bad & the ugly.



Sunday, December 6, 2009

Menu Plan ~ 12/7-12/13


Brrr...it's cold outside! I am thinking we will be having some hearty meals this week. Three of the four Christmas parties we are invited to are this week, can we say party overload. I haven't forgotten about those party pictures either! The girls and I headed out to Sams Club today to look around and do some take-backs at Target. And you know we didn't leave Target without our Icee's, even if it was 39 degrees outside. Can you say instant brain freeze...

Here's what we'll be eating this week:



Monday:
b~oatmeal, clementines, milk or juice
l~tuna salad sandwich, carrots w/ranch, apple slices
d~meatball hash brown bake, corn, hm bread
s~yogurt cup


Tuesday:
b~hm waffles, peaches, milk or juice
l~corndog muffins, fruit smoothie, pretzel sticks
d~hm chili, white rice, cornbread
s~granola bar


Wednesday:
b~bagel, strawberries, milk or juice
l~leftover chili, cornbread, rice
d~Italian stew, rolls, garden salad
s~goldfish


Thursday:
b~pancakes, pears, milk or juice
l~turkey/ham tortilla wrap, chips, pineapples
d~tatertot casserole, applesauce
s~cheese & crackers


Friday:
b~cereal friday, milk or juice
l~leftover tatertot casserole, bananas
d~soup, deli sandwiches, cantaloupe
s~hm cookies


Saturday:
b~free choice, milk or juice
l~Children's Christmas party
d~fish fry, fries, shrimp
s~popcorn


Sunday:
b~breakfast burrito, grapes, milk or juice
d~rosemary roasted chicken, hm bread, mashed potatoes, green beans
s~cheese puffs ( because the girls talked me into buying the big tub that's bigger than McKenzie at Sam's Club)

Your turn! Head on over to Org Junkie and check out all of the wonderful menu ideas. I am off to bed...
chat later!

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Everything You Always Wanted To Know About How We Celebrate Christmas...

***but didn't care enough to ask***

Todays post is a meme inspired by Missy. C'mon I know you really wanted to ask me these questions. Enjoy, I am tired tonight from the birthday party for the girls. It was a great party and all had fun. I will post pictures tomorrow, but here is a preview.

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
hot chocolate.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Santa wraps his gifts in his own special paper and leaves them in a nice bag with our name on it. He is even nice enough to leave the rest of the roll for next year's regular gifts.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
WHITE! No lights outside AGAIN this year! I am seriously thinking of hiring someone to do it next year. Hubby wont do it, hopefully the girls won't need therapy someday because of the lack of lights outside. The main tree is white. I did break down and get a colored tree for our family Secret Santa tree. I must admit it looks so pretty with the colored lights, but I won't tell them.

4. Do you hang mistletoe?
No mistletoe here.

5. When do you put your decorations up?
The Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend, but we don't light the trees until Dec. 1st.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish?
Mashed potatoes, mmm...yummy for my tummy.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child?
Christmas 1985, my Dad did the Christmas shopping that year. If I ever find the picture I will post it. My brother and I got everything and more on our lists that year

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
Not sure of the year, but my brother spilled the beans as he rummaged through the house searching for presents when the parents were gone.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
One, new jammies for all, color coordinated or matching a must :-)

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
Simple, lots of handmade ornaments and white lights.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?
Love it! I really hope it snows this year!!!

12. Can you ice skate?
Yes, without breaking my neck.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
My Cricket Doll, oh the memories and the songs. In fact I was singing the party song today while getting ready for the girls party. Goes a little something like this: We're gonna wear our party hats and party clothes, we're gonna take a present wrapped in ribbons and bows, we;re going to a party shout Hooray, Hooray, we;re going to a party, it's a very special day. Hooray!!!! Now, am I the only one out there that had a Cricket Doll?

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you?
Celebrating the BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST, with a cake and family.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?
No-bake cheesecake, mmm... double yummy!

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Christmas Eve, watching Polar Express, eating pizza, new jammies, fun!

17. What tops your tree?
Star on main tree, red bow on the secret Santa tree.

18. Which do you prefer giving or Receiving?
Giving. Giving. Receiving. Repeat.

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?
Oh, Holy Night. Point of Grace rendition.

20. Candy Canes: Yuck or Yum?
Yum Yum, can't keep them on the tree long enough!

21 Favorite Christmas Show?
The story of Jesus that comes on Christmas day.

22. Saddest Christmas Song?
I don't have an answer for this, do you know a sad Christmas song?


That's it now you know about our Christmas. And the picture I promised.



Chat later!

Friday, December 4, 2009

Chubby cheeks

Yep, I am so proud to say she's got em...The Caffey chubby cheeks.
She has come along way since birth, way to GROW my Kenzie bug!!!



Her new thing is to laugh out loud, too cute! This little girls got personality!


Chat later!

Five Question Friday- 12/4



It's question time over at Mama M's. Head on over and link up. My answers are below.


1. Favorite gift you are GIVING this year?

I can't really say the favorite gift on the blog as some of the recipients read this blog daily. But, I will tell you that my girlie's and I will start of prepping them next week. I think it is my favorite this year because they will put so much effort into it. Don't worry I will post pics after Christmas.

Can you keep a secret? 3 of my girls will be receiving Zhu Zhu pets even though i told them I would not be buying anything that resembles a crawling rat!!! I love it, they are going to be so excited. Now, don't you go telling them...

2. How many parties are you attending between now and Christmas?

Well, most likely only one, but we have been invited to 4 so far. Hubby may have to go to a few and show his face because we don't leave our babies with sitters until they are over a year. It's okay, we will enjoy that time together before hubby deploys early next year.

3. What is your favorite Christmas song?

My ALL time favorite Christmas song is Oh Holy Night. I love the rendition by Point of Grace. When I was in 8th grade I sang a solo in the Winter choir concert to this song. I still remember being scared out of my mind in front of that audience. I also remember my brother sitting in the audience next to our Mom snickering and making faces at me, older brothers, you got to love them :-)

4. Who was your favorite elementary school teacher and why?

Burning Burt, aka Mrs. Burt my 5th grade teacher. Being that my brother and I are 18 months apart I always had his teachers the next school year. Not always the best for me, but I managed. Mrs. Burt was the meanest teacher in the whole school, children trembled with fear when they saw there name on her class list. Me included. I survived her class by the skin of my teeth but she stands out in my mind as a favorite because she pushed me to succeed over my shyness.

5. If you had a choice to live in any other period of time (other than now) what era would you choose and why?

Give me a covered wagon! I used to play covered wagon with my dolls all day. Love Little House on the Prairie!

Your turn! Head on over to Mama M's and see what everyone else is saying.

Chat later!

Thursday, December 3, 2009

My 1st GIVEAWAY!!!



Do you like snowmen? I do! I am so excited to announce my very first giveaway sponsored by Joyce’s Creative Crafts. She has graciously offered up her Mr. Sebastian snowman for one lucky person, super-uber cute. And I am not just saying that because she is my Auntie!!!

Here's how to enter this giveaway!

For one (1) entry leave a comment below. Don't have a blog? Leave your email instead.

For two (2) entries write a blog post on your site and link back to me. Leave your link in a separate comment.

For a three (3) entries follow my blog. If you already do, Fantastic!!! Just leave a separate comment.

Giveaway ends on Thursday, December 10, 2009 @ 11:59 PM. US entries only. Winner will be announced on Friday morning. Please leave your email if you don't have a blog profile with your email listed. Winner will be picked randomly.

Chat later!

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Wordless Wednesday


Auntie Allie and the girls