Just had to share this "family time episode"!

Our desire is to train our children while they are young...in all areas of life...so when they are older they can handle...Life! Which brings us to the topic of Money! This is our second episode in teaching the kids about how we handle money...and I had to excuse myself twice (sorry, Honey!) to get the camera and then a pencil...so I could remember what was said. I should have just videoed it! It went something like this..."Who can tell me what is the first thing we do with our money?" Give it to Mommy! "Um, chuckling, no." "What is the first thing?" Go to the bank! "Ok, after we give it to Mommy to go to the bank...then what do we do?" Give it to Mommy. "Stop...the first thing we do is give to the church and missionaries...before we do anything else!" Oh, yeah, we put it in the offering bowls! "Now, smirking, how much do we give to church for our tithe?" All of it! yelled Ash. "No." Half of it! yelled Alisa. "No, ten percent plus our offering."
"Next, we have to pay for our house, food, lights/gas/phone." To make our stuff work, explained Ash. "Then we put some in spending...you know, for ice cream and such." "Next, we put money aside for saving...for emergencies that might come up." Oh, for the policemen and firemen...(Teddy's take on emergencies...emergency personnel!)
We practiced counting out the dollar bills...by ones. Dimes...by tens... "Ok...let's review...how many dimes make a dollar?" 100! "How many quarters make a dollar?" 10? "How many cents are in a dollar?" 10!? Ever seen a grown man cry in frustration?! I couldn't help but laugh...sorry, honey!
We are learning! It is a process! And makes for some merry family times...stay tuned!

Word of the day...

"Saw-duh-er" Teddy was having trouble saying "solder" which Uncle Jon is doing to the pipes. Teddy keeps saying he is "burning them" or "firing them". So...Uncle Jon helped him learn a new word today...solder: n. a metallic alloy for uniting metals: v.t. to unite by a fusible metallic cement; join.

It Came...It Went...Ted shoveled...I shoveled

Whether I want to admit it or not...the snow is beautiful today! Heavy and wet and hanging on everything...
and taking another limb down with it! You may not be able to see it...but this limb is laying on the telephone wire. I tried to move it and it didn't budge...Oh, Ted....
I wonder if the bus could pick up the kids...oh, right, I am the bus driver! I drive the short bus.
I guess the Lord knew I needed a reminder this morning...the kid's cd was playing in the van this morning on the way home from school..."This is my Father's world...He shines in all that's fair...He speaks to me everywhere..." He chose to send the snow in the winter to prepare the ground for spring...and I will be thankful for that! It is hard not to be, when everything is sparkling in the sunshine!

Slacker-less Monday

Trip to the bank.
Trip to sign for taxes.
Trip to Pizza Hut for Book-it lunch for first grader.
Trip to gas station...cold weather=full tank.
Trip to Daddy's shop to waste 25 min. while waiting for kindergartener.
Trip to KFC for grocery shopper and helpers...to help us endure the task at hand.
Trip to the grocery store to "stock up" for the big snow they say is coming! Made sure we had laundry soap, baking products, and supper fixings...and it has begun to sleet/snow...so I am afraid it is coming...the weather channel shows the radar...oh sigh!
All the errands are run and groceries are put away...I have built in helpers who do a great job! So...time for a break before we brave the elements one last time to pick up the first grader!
This Monday...good, safe, and goals accomplished! I can be a "slacker Mom" the rest of the week...ha!

Ohhhh please, let them be wrong!!

The forecast for today is saying that we are to get 4-8 inches of snow again beginning today and into tomorrow. The ice layer is just beginning to melt! It is almost more than I can bear. The birds were singing. It is March soon. I know God controls the weather and He knows what we can bear. I need to focus on that...
but, oh, I hope they are wrong...they were the last couple times...maybe this time...

Family Night took us to meet Curious George!

We have a really neat children's book/toy store in our city. Every so often they have special evening visits with book characters...for free! We listened to two stories, made a monkey mask, met George, and had banana splits! The kids looked forward to it all week...and it was even better because Daddy went with us this time!
The story lady was so good with the kids! 30 preschoolers can be hilarious! All the parents sat back with their fingers crossed hoping their kid wouldn't say or do the wrong thing...cause you couldn't trip over all the bodies fast enough!
Raising his hand for his favorite ice cream flavor...he likes them all!
It was a good thing Dad was there...Teddy didn't want to be by George at all! He couldn't get away fast enough...maybe it was the big stuffed head that got to him!?
Everything is better with ice cream, chocolate, whipped cream, sprinkles, bananas, and a cherry!

"No winter lasts forever;"

"...no spring skips its turn!"

I saw this quote by H. Borland on my cherry friend's blog and breathed a sigh of relief!

And there was proof this morning...birds were singing at 6:30 a.m. outside my window...I woke up to the "strange sound" and realized what a welcomed sound it was...the sound of spring...on its way!

It didn't even bother me that I was awake that early on a Saturday! I beat Ted to the coffee pot...for once!

What? You love carbs, you say?!

I copied the recipe from Sarah blog...but not word for word and play by play (just had to let you know that in these days of "plagarism attacks!") Excuse me...had to go get my cup of coffee and said bagel in order to fill the recipe request..absolutely no will power!

Homemade Bagels
Done in a bread machine but will work fine by hand!
I had dough to make 3 mini bagels and 8 (or 9?) regular sized bagels...I tried to keep them small enough to fit in my toaster without getting stuck...burned...etc.

1 cup warm water
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 T sugar
3 cups bread flour (I used all purpose flour cause that is all I had)
2 1/4 tsp yeast (1 individual pack)
3 qts water
3T sugar
1 egg white (or melted butter)
toppings to add to bagels

Add to bread machine in order given making a well in the center for yeast. Set to dough cycle and walk away!
Or combine dry ingredients and add warmed water. Mix till combined...knead 5-10 min. and set aside to rise (till doubled or tripled or whatever).

Preheat your oven to 350. Add 3 quarts of water to pan to boil and add 3 T granulated sugar to the water.

Divide dough into small balls...depending on the size you want your bagels to be (we made some mini ones). Poke a hole and stretch the dough to your desired size.

Drop the bagels 2-3 at a time into the boiling water for 30 sec. per side. Drain on a wire rack.

Brush with egg white or Sarah's favorite...melted butter. Add whatever topping you choose! I mixed cinnamon and brown sugar and pressed the bagels into the mix (I didn't use any egg or butter and it stuck fine). I also didn't measure this mixture...sorry.

Spray your baking sheet with cooking spray (a little detail I forgot...duh!) Bake the bagels for 20-30 minutes. Sarah flipped hers over after 15 min...I did not because I had sticking issues and had to move to a new pan...then I dumped the rest of the sugar mix over the top because I didn't measure and had lots!

Make sure you have a glass of cold milk or hot coffee ready when these come out of the oven...oh, and butter...real butter!

The Glass and the Tooth Fairy

Grandma first told us about the tooth fairy's visiting habits when we were at the lakehouse this summer. You see, Ashlynn's tooth was very loose and ready to fall out. There was concern as to how the tooth fairy would know where we were! Grandma came to the rescue and told us that she had left a note for Suzy one time and the fairy found her...at the lakehouse! So, the tooth fairy knows where that is!
Grandma assured us that if we left the tooth in the glass of water...the next morning we would find out what color her wings were by the color of the water! Sure enough, the fairy found her way to the lakehouse and there were 4 quarters in green water!
Alisa was sure her fairy would have pink wings...and sure enough, there were 4 quarters in the pink water!

Note to self: 1. Wait till the kids are asleep before adding color and quarters to the water and put in a safe place (so wandering children of the night don't drink it). (The glass and tooth sitting on the counter is a good reminder for forgetful parents!) 2. When teeth are loose, always travel with a water-color marker or food coloring. 3. Grandma's way is smarter than having to deal with a crying child who lost the tooth when it was under the pillow.

Those of you who are being carb-conscious...sign off now!

This will cost you a partial bag of flour, little sugar and salt, yeast, cinnamon, brown sugar, water, electricity for the bread machine, gas for the oven, a little time, dash of effort, and...butter for the finished product. All of this being cheaper than the gas to drive to Panera, the bagel, and a cup of coffee...and the side trip to Target which is across the parking lot! I saved money... but not carbs!
After copying down my friend Sarah's bagel recipe this morning...I set up the bread machine and pushed go for the dough cycle...what follows is nothing for the carb-conscious! Sarah and I share many things...laundry issues, three children, hard-working husbands, a loathing of morning...and a love of baking. Thank you, Sarah, for sharing this yummy and easy recipe!
Boil for just a short time and then they are ready for toppings and the oven. Just don't forget to spray the pan...duh, Kari!

I thought the Panera Bread cinnamon crunch bagels were the best...oh... these are perfect and cost sooooo much less! I think next time I will "bake" some of the brown sugar and cinnamon to get it crunchy and then knead it into the bagel so the cinnamon crunch is on the inside and outside! Morning has never looked so good, huh, Sarah!?

Just had to share...cause it was a little too easy for the girls! YIKES!

Spirit Week at school brought us Clash Day today! We already are pros at this...so dressing this morning had no discussions! Is this something to be proud of? Hmmmm...

It is out!

Yesterday, Alisa woke up, wiggled her tongue, and out came her tooth! What excitement!
This morning...Proof Of The Tooth Fairy...4 quarters in a glass of perfectly pink water! Woohoo...she had pink wings...who could have guessed!? Counting the money...4 quarters equals a whole dollar! Shopping anyone?

What good is aerobics if you are craving chocolate?

Why...is there never enough chocolate around when you need it the most? Yes, I was just at the store, but told myself I didn't need anything. Well...I do want it now and this is all I could find! But you have to eat 10 of these to equal a regular size one...and this is all I could find! And, yes, I am feeling bad about eating it, especially after a good workout this morning...but I am stamping that feeling down with both feet and I Want Chocolate!!! Maybe I can distract myself...

Have hammer...will bang!

A little wall for the little bathroom...up, up, and up it goes! Where there is hole...there is a boy...with a nail...with a hammer...in goes the nail...bang goes the hammer...over and over and over again...
Watching and "helping" and asking and sweeping and talking and...

New Pets at our house...arrived on Saturday. May we introduce you?

The Mushabelly Pets with "grumbly tummies"! Or course, our children have renamed the "sounds" they make...I am sure you can guess what they said!!! They came with little cards with this cute info...including birth dates. Ashlynn's puppy: Laddy likes to eat corn dogs. When he is inside, he speaks with his inside voice. Teddy's monkey: Zachary likes to eat french fries. When he is going to be late, he always calls...before he is late. Alisa's lion: Ryder likes to eat gum drops. When he thinks he has hurt someone, he says "I'm sorry!" They are so soft and each held a fleece blanket to cuddle up in...perfect for these cold winter days!

In Progress...Junior helper...

"Uncle Jon" is so patient with his little helper! I love listening to Teddy jabber away...and Jon is "asking" him questions about what they should do next and how long the board should be and etc. This little boy is having the time of his life "building the boy's bathroom"!

Weekend Fun

Miss Alisa has her first loose tooth!!! Middle bottom left...Daddy keeps offering to help her...but we are still waiting for the tooth fairy and the chance to see what color her wings will be!
Watching the Food channel gave us a new dessert to try! MMMMM! Peanut Butter and Jelly Pizza! A pizza place serves this or an apple crumb pizza for dessert. We had made pizzas on pita bread for supper...so I decked out the last ones for dessert. MMMM! Just be sure to cover the pb with the jelly so it doesn't get black (tip from the t.v. guy!). I think it would taste even better with homemade pizza dough!
What little boy wouldn't love pb & j on a pizza crust?! It was a hit!
While we were acting as food connoisseurs...Daddy and Ash went on a date! She picked out her clothes, brushed her hair, put on a necklace, and waited all prim and proper for Daddy to come home! She even asked for lipstick...lip gloss completed the look. They had fun...Ash doesn't always get "alone time" with Daddy and she was so excited. Once again...it is the simple things in life that mean the most to our children!
Of course, we are always glad to welcome our family home...and Chevy is always the first one to the door!

Happy Birthday, dear brother...how old are you?!

Sharing the love, loot, laughter, and supper!

This much sugar can't be good!
"You need to eat a good lunch before you eat any candy!" said the wise mother.
Reading each and every card was very important...can you remember who gave you that sucker?
Loving the time with Grampy!

What Michiganders Do For Mid-winter Fun!

They have a Pinewood Derby! And here are some of the winners...(displayed beautifully on...what a Christmas tablecloth? It must be a T thing...I still have mine on too...)

Bryn! (Love the added touch of the flowers in the pasture!)
Caden! (Are you singing the Chiquita banana song like I am right now?)
And look at the glitzy car...and glamorous lady it belongs too! Two Trophies!!! Better get started decorating a new trophy case!
Congratulations to all who participated...design team, pit crew, and the rest of you know who you are!

Happy Heart Day!

What could be more fun than heart pancakes for breakfast? Watching a mommy who is not a morning person make them! Tip: Don't use a cookie cutter, even sprayed with cooking spray...just draw a V shape and use your spoon to make the heart!
Thanks for looking and smiling like you have the best mommy in the world...even if the pancake was "too dark" instead of "light brown, please Mom"...the color shade thing is an in-born trait of females (reference to aforementioned Man Rules post).
Fun treats to pass out!
Hope you have a day filled with lots of laughter and love! And, of course, chocolate!

The Valemtimes are made by local artists this year!

As promised...The Man Rules

"At last a guy has taken the time to write all this down. Finally, it is the guy's side of the story. I must admit this is pretty good. We always hear "the rules" from the female side. Now here are the rules from the MAN'S side. These are our rules, please note these are all numbered 1 on purpose!
1. Men are not mind readers!
1. Learn to work the toilet seat! You are a big girl. If it is up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining that it is down!
1. Sunday sports are like the full moon or the changing of the tides...Let it be!
1. Crying is blackmail!
1. Ask for what you want! Let us be clear about this one...subtle hints do not work. Strong hints do not work. Obvious hints do not work. Just say it!
1. Yes and no are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question!
1. Come to us with a problem, only if you want help solving it! That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for!
1. Anything we said six months ago is inadmissable in an argument...in fact, all comments become null and void after seven days!
1. If you think you are fat, you probably are...don't ask us!
1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one!
1. You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done...not both! If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself!
1. Whenever possible, please say whatever you have to say during commercials.
1. Christopher Columbus did not need directions, and neither do we.
1. All men see in only 16 colors. Like windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not a color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is!
1. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.
1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "Nothing", we will act like nothing is wrong. We know you are lying, but it is not worth the hassle.
1. If you ask a question you do not want the answer to, expect an answer that you do not want to hear.
1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine...REALLY!
1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as: baseball, football, muscle cars, or monster trucks.
1. You have enough clothes.
1. You have too many shoes.
1. I'm in shape! Round is a shape."
Ted was asked by our youth pastor's wife if he would do this reading at our Valentine banquet because "I thought of Ted when I read this". Ted wasn't convinced she "knew him well enough" at all. To that I say, "...Ha ha! It was so him...which is why we were all laughing till we were crying!" My husband could have written this word for word, but alas it came from someone over the internet who beat him to it!
And from Ted and I, for all the men helping with cleanup, we are adding another point:
1. Lightweight, plastic tableclothes are to be used once and thrown away. They make quick work of waste removal.

Laughter really does good...like a medicine!

After a really tough week, we were able to attend our all church (adults only!!) Valentine banquet on Saturday. A big thanks to auntie for watching the kiddos! The food was out of this world, the decorations cute and festive, the fellowship sweet, and the program great!
The only complaint...? Eating first...then laughing till we were crying second...indigestion! But it passed quickly! And so did all the "weights of the week that so easily beset us"!
All weekend long, we were reminded of God's love for us! And for that we are thankful! We appreciated the "extra fellowship" with Tim and Sara around a "good cup of coffee"! We needed that you two...thank you! You truly understand the demands on us...and we on you. Thanks for being the "iron that sharpens iron" and "bearing one another's burdens"!
So...we are refreshed and recharged for another week...well, I am. Ted, on the other hand, spent all day in a freezing cold shop trying to get the furnace to work correctly...so it was a seven day work week of late nights and little sleep...the "break that comes with Sunday" never came! Praying for his protection and health would be a good idea at this point! He will get a little extra spoiling this week...even after "digging a hole for himself" by reading "The Man Rules" at the banquet. I have to find his paper and I will post them for you to enjoy...our friends sure did...because it was "so Ted"!
Have a good Monday...and remember to laugh!

TGIF!!!

Today was a day that called for a little date in the midst of running some very important errands. Nothing can be sweeter than sitting across from a little guy with a buttery, chocolate-milky smile and listening to him say (around a mouthful of Panera toasted bagel), "MMM...this is really good, Mom!" Yes...it was...a cinnamon crunch bagel and cup of hazelnut coffee! It melted away the stress of the morning commute!
We saw three accidents and one lady almost pulled out into us and caused another accident...as she watched the clean-up of one! My apologies to my son for not restraining my tongue in the moment of utter fear. Idiot...is now in his vocabulary. Why is it that when I hit the steering wheel, the horn never sounds? I need to have my mechanic make it more sensitive! Why would you pull out into traffic not paying attention to the line of vehicles making their right of way?! Because her time was more valuable? Because accident scenes are so interesting that it would be fun to be in one?
I really wish I could have talked to her...she would have hit right where Teddy was sitting if I hadn't been watching and swerved...my cargo was more precious than her shiny, fancy car! Her time crunch! And her entertainment!
So...it was important to stop and enjoy the little moment with my son...and apologize for calling someone an idiot.

Perspective...

Mine...another shoveling job, wet snow clothes, cold, when is spring coming?

Kids...no school, playing in the snow, lots of hot chocolate!

Thank you, Lord, for the beauty of the snow! Thank you, Lord, for safety! And thank you, Lord, for lots of mini-marshmallows!

Our snow day...12-14 inches!

All dug out, vegged out, played out, plowed out, ate out, stamped out, baked out, movied out...back to school today! And expecting more snow off and on for the next couple days!