Sick Day

Today was an up early and go to church day. I was up, most of us were up, all but Paris. Sweet girl has been feeling a little ill for the past few days so we stayed home and hung out watching TV. I only wish I knew ahead of time so I could have slept in. Feel better soon my sweet!  

  

Fishy

My daughter has been asking for a year for us to buy her a fish. We originally told her to keep her room clean for three weeks and we would talk about it. A year later and she still doesn't have a fish. We told her a few days ago that if she now keeps her room clean we will get her a fish. Sigh, it looks like she might get that fish after all. Motivation!!
I'm a little intimidated to have a fish. I think I'm afraid for it to die and her heart breaking over it. I had a gold fish when I was a kid and it died right away. (They don't like Kool-Aid in their bowl, just so you know) I guess I'll make sure she doesn't put sugary powder in for it to drink and maybe it will last more then a day.
Now here I am trying to figure out which fish (cold water, tropical, salt water...) and tank is best for her, me and the wallet. I didn't realize all the stuff that is needed up front.
Also, do we get one fish, many fish, different kinds of fish... someone. please. help.
"What's the big deal, it's just a fish" but it's not a fish, it's her heart, her desire, her motivation, her reward. This fish has become a big deal, it needs to be good.

Our day at the Ren Fest 2/2011

 

We were a sight! Both of us were pretty sick today. I was dealing with vertigo and hubby was queasy and had a headache. He was fine half way through.

 

These two crazy kids!

Amelia at Ren Fest and all she wanted to do was play in the dirt!!

They look like they're ready for some fun.

Instructions before getting on the ride.

Malachi and Zion, they get really silly whenever I try to take their picture. I have fewer of them then anyone else because they get so goofy and every picture has to be an action shot. Either Zion is pretending to rip Malachi's face off or Malachi is trying to jump on Zion. Out of 65 pictures I did take of them tonight these ones are the only ones I feel comfortable enough with to be seen. They Kinda remind me of two little puppies that can't stop playing. LOL!

I can not even believe this worked! I shot this picture as fast as I could because all the kids were getting out of control!!! I didn't even care how this one turned out, I don't even think I got the camera fully to my eye, I just shot and said I was done. Sigh. I love those crazy kids!

Jakey and Daddy thumb wrestling. I wonder who won?

Today I'm having lunch with Paris. The boys are outside playing so we are taking advantage of the time. We are watching Ella Enchanted, Paris' favorite movie.

Lunch today is cottage cheese and salsa. LOVE IT!!! It's super simple and so good. All I put in my salsa is:

tomatoes, onion, garlic, jalapeno pepper, cilantro, lime juice and salt.

First take out all the seeds from the tomatoes and throw them into a food processor with all the other ingredients. Process until chunky. I like to make a big container so I have enough for more then one day.

Celebrating Valentine's Day Everyday

I like to find little simple things to do through out the day to capture moments to treasure. Today made lunch for two and put it on one plate encouraging hubby to take a lunch break with me :o) He did and we were able to spend 10 minutes with no computer, texting or phone calls. Just him and just me, spending time like we were meant to be (sorry, that was so cheesy)  Everything was the same kind of stuff I made for dinner the other night so all I had to do was plate it.

 We didn't need a sitter and we didn't need to go anywhere. Just a simple plate with simple food and I simply asked "would you like to have lunch with me?" With no flowers, no chocolates and no big expressions of love he simply said, "yes." That was love enough for me.

I think I scored big at Goodwill yesterday.
First of all, since going through the Dave Ramsey FPU I have only shopped with cash so everything is a well thought out purchase.

 

I bought these beautiful cut glass cups, six, for $3. I think I "need" to get atleast six more because my best freind's family and my family together total 12 people! (Paris helped me set the table with homemade napkins to make the picture pretty :o)  

I also picked up this small crockpot for $6. Mine broke, the insert cracked and I had juices flowing all over the counter. Now I have two small crockpots instead of one large and one small. So far I'm happy with it.

I have been looking for an affordable RED bag for some time now. I found this Kenneth Cole bag, $6. I also bought five pairs of jeans and a pair of shorts (kids are grownig fast!) I think my total was around $35!! At Wal-Mart the jeans alone would cost $50 and all that money I saved gives me a reason to carry this pretty new bag.

Hummus is What's For Dinner

Tonight's dinner was FANTASTIC!!! There was no cooking involved only grilling of the Naan. I love hummus and I have a couple different recipes I use, both very easy and simple. I didn't measure so everything is an "about". Also, I used canned chickpeas this time, I really wanted hummus and didn't have any dried chickpeas.

Hummus Recipe:

1 can Chickpeas

1 garlic clove

1/4 onion

olive oil

water

lime juice from 1/2 a lime

salt

I started by adding garlic and onion to the food prosseser and pulsed a couple times. Then I added the chickpeas, salt and oil then blended. While the prossesor was still running I added water, little bit at a time. I stopped a couple times to check consistancy and flavor. Then I scraped the hummus into a pretty bowl and placed it into the fridge to chill and frim up a little bit. 

I served with the hummus:

Naan grilled on the George Foreman grill

Apples slices

 Cauliflower, broccoli, celery, mini red, yellow and orange peppers

 Aged 24 month extra sharp cheddar cheese and spiced mix nuts.

I wanted to pack everything up and have dinner over at Betty Stradling Park but Hubby had plans last night and tonight so it was a night in forthe kids and me.

How do you capture a good day?

 Well, first you add some really cute kids, give them unexpected milk shakes and snap away! I didn't have my camera so I used my cell phone.

Four kids drinking milk shakes on a beautiful, warm, breezy, sunny South Florida winter day. I'd say that's a good day :o)

Good Day... Great day!!

   Today is a good day. No, today is a great day! Oh who am I kidding, today is a dance, spin and throw arms in the air day!! Every week for the past two months I have been trying on this pair of jeans I bought before my trip to Colorado and every week I have, in a fit, taken them off and put them back in the closet. Mind you, I bought these jeans knowing they didn't fit... but now they do!! WOOHOO!! Without tugging, without pulling, without crying or throwing myself on the bed in a crying fit, I slid the jeans on and they effortlessly zipped AND buttoned.

I didn't even like this picture when I first took it, I had it on the wrong setting. I had another one I was going to use, this is, until I started playing around with editing. The other picture is a good picture but now this one is a favorite.

This one he just looks so sweet with his Barnsie, books in the back ground. This is reading time and after he looked through the pages in all his books he fell asleep.

I love how this one came out. It looks so dreamy and wispy. You can almost feel a cool breeze and sun streaming through windows.

Christmas Day in South Florida

   The past couple years we have really struggled with Christmas. Financially we were stretched to the limit and then some. Thank God for family and friends who have blessed us more then they even know but there was a guilt that I couldn't shake.

   This year Jacob and I broke free of the typical Christmas traditions of gift giving and I have to say, it was the best Christmas I think I've ever had. Stress free and full of memories.

  ( Let me stop and say this first before anyone thinks I'm picking on gifts. I love giving and receiving them, I think gifts are good and I think they are a symbol of God giving the greatest gift of all.)

  We got up around 5, stopped to get some hot chocolate at 7-11 and drove out to the beach to watch the sun rise. We got there just as the sun was peeking above the horizon, the sky was purple, blue and still dark with streaks of gold and orange. The kids ran to mess up the smoothed out sand after every pass of the tractor. Some of them even made sand angles. The weather was perfect. Cool with a warm breeze. 

   We stayed for about an hour or so then left with only one thing on our minds... DOUGHNUTS!!! We ordered our favorites and each one of us devoured one before we left then finished them at home.

   When we did get home the kids had stockings with little goodies in them and a gift each. Simple gifts, a book, a game, tea cups that we given to me that I gave as a gift and a book, stuffed mouse and mug combo for the little one. We gave a deck of cards and Uno cards as a family gift and after eating real food the kids and daddy played games while mommy took a nap!!
   Later on in the evening we went to our friends' house for dinner. It was the perfect end to a perfect day.
   Now, over a month later and the kids are enjoying their gifts. Malachi reads his book, Zion will read it when he's done. Zion plays his game with his siblings. Paris sets up a tea party often that everyone can enjoy and Jakey snuggles his mouse while I read his book to him, almost daily. He now has the book memorized.

  

Dinner; Simple and Delicious

I started this blog yesterday, while sick in bed. Today I felt just as bad, maybe even worse. OK, definitely worse! Hubby bought and made hot dogs and mac n cheese for him and the kids. (Thank you!!)

I made soup for me. (I know he would have made it for me if I had asked.) It was very good, I love blended soups. I don’t have a name for this, maybe “Blended Cauliflower Chicken Soup” or “Silky, Smooth Cauliflower Chicken Soup”?

I cooked about 8 oz cauliflower in ½ cup chicken broth until soft.  Add more broth if needed.

Add cooked cauliflower and broth to a blender with cooked chicken breast, about 3-4 oz and blend until smooth. I also added salt, white pepper, and garlic powder then blend again. It's thick, kinda like potatoes, you can thin it with more broth if you'd like. Also you can add baked potato toppings if you like. Enjoy!!