Happy Valentines Day!

One of the days, that I ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY, down to the core of who I am,

LOVE LOVE LOVE

VALENTINE'S DAY!!!!

I haven't been the greatest this year like some, ahem Lady Dunbar. But I am trying. Tonight we are keeping the tradition of Family Valentine. The table will be set, with the finest china, and glasses for all. The only light will come from candles, and there will be music streaming from the ipod nestled on the counter of the kitchen (Thanks for the reminder Cathy). Then tomorrow we get to keep the tradition set by some loved friends, and have Valentines surrounded by other marriages that support us and love us.

However, this year I pose this challenge: LOVE your Valentine. Simple and yet hard I know, but seriously. It doesn't have to be expensive, or fancy, or super elaborate, but I think now more than ever we need to celebrate our marriages. We made a promise to these men, to love, honor, and cherish them, until death do us part. I know of too many marriages right now that are crumbling or about to. I can't help but think that if we put work and effort into our marriages like we do when we are happiest on this weekend, we might be able to fight off the enemy. So I for one, am picking up the pieces of a stressful life and going to make my HONEY and little cupids some dinner. We will probably watch Charley Brown Valentine, and snuggle on the couch or make Big Bed. Not glamorous, but I hope they feel the love. NOW go love on your cupids.

P.S. When I am stressed out, I like to cook. I mean COOK. So following is a menu idea in case you are stumped for ideas, for Valentines, or any other night. Seriously can be done quick and easy, but the rewards are GREAT!

Menu Idea:

Tri-tip (premarinated from Costco)

Cheesy Mashed Potatoes: (They are from the box. Add 1/3 cup sour cream for every 4 servings and shredded cheese. Follow cooking instructions without adding time. For super fancy add French Onions around rim and bake until they are golden)

Dinner Rolls (mine are homemade, but I am super stressed! Pillsbury Grands are great too)

Salad (Hubby picking it up at store right now)

Brownies for dessert (cut with a heart shaped cookie cutter for cute factor)

Wine: Whatever your fancy

9

The puppy wants to be in on the celebration of Bubba's birthday. In a sense, they both got presents that night! He LOVES to shred paper.

( Picture taken by Missy: age 5)

This weekend, my "Little Guy" turned 9. He has grown so much in so many ways. This past year was a big one. A year of maturing, gaining a more developed sense of humor, and most importantly growing in his Faith. I couldn't be prouder of this guy, and wish there was a way to keep him 5 forever.

Missy picked this gift out herself. This is how she shows her brother love ~ Star Wars! He loved it and loved that she was so proud of it. He even busted out his other sets, which are going to be outgrown sooner than I like, and played with her. She got all the girl figures and some Ewoks. IT was too cute. I absolutely love the way they love each other.

Lemonade........

A blogging friend has made her entire blog about taking lemons and making Lemonade.......http://sashabrodeur.blogspot.com/.............



This has got me thinking A LOT lately. What strikes me about Lemonade, is the time it takes time to make it. You can not simply look at lemons on your counter or in your cute bowl and Wahlah, Lemonade. NO, it takes a bit of time and effort. This is also how I work through my feelings and emotions, with time and effort. Otherwise what I find myself doing is reacting too quickly and getting impatient, and my reward: a big ol' mouthful of sour lemon juice with extra bitterness! So I am working on changing that.


When I am stressed out that both kids are home sick, my Lemonade: extra time to get homework done for me!


Bubba's birthday is fast approaching and I am not exactly ready, my Lemonade: Family and friends who are running around town for me buying food, baggies, and whatnot because they are out and about, and I am not.


No idea what to make for dinner because I am too sick and there is SO much else to do, my Lemonade: Friends who help me order it, or family who brings it over

There is a lot right now, that I could choose to be bitter, angry, or selfish about. However, I am going to choose to take my time in reacting, add a LOT of sugar, and make the best darn LEMONADE, that God would be proud of. After all, HE is our final taste tester, and who wants to be found bitter?

Go ahead and laugh......

Here is a small list of what Ditsy things I did this week. Call it school brain, hormones, lack of sleep, not enough Starbucks......whatever. Have a laugh at my expense. Trust me, I did because if I DIDN'T laugh, I probably would have cried. Happy Friday y'all.

• Put on Night cream instead of regular moisturizer in the morning (oily face all day)
• Forgot mascara ~ twice
• Put coffee in microwave for a warm up, went and started a quiz I had to take and never went back for the coffee
• Didn't see or comprehend the specific instructions for seeing Bubba do his oral presentation for his HUGE history project. The instructions were right above where I have to sign my name! Thank goodness, his teacher is gracious and kind.
• Put on different socks
• ALMOST sent my kids to school with EMPTY lunch boxes
• Looked at lunchboxes and forgot what I was doing ~ DUH!!!
• Had to ask 3 times what time Missy's parade started, when I work at the school and it is posted.
• Can't tell you how many times, I walked into the office, and had NO IDEA what I was doing there, or who I needed to talk to.
• "Made" rice for dinner side dish, but turned the stove off instead of on low. Pitched the rice in the trash and had the kids fill up on carrots and popcorn.

Amazing..........

My hubby came home from work yesterday and told me to close my eyes. Then he told me to smell into a bag. What wafted to my senses was the amazing and delicious smell of my absolutely favorite thing: Beignets!!!

I fell in love with this tasty and delicious treat while visiting my friend in New Orleans. I have sought them out where ever I can find them since. There is a popular place in Disneyland that has pretty much the original thing, and I get them when we eat there. If you have seen the move The Princess and the Frog ~ oh yeah, they are THAT good, as the movie depicts!!! The best place though is still the Cafe Du Monde in the French Quarter of New Orleans ~ AMAZING!

Why would my hubby do this you might ask? Is it our anniversary? Birthday? NO!!! He did it because there is a new New Orleans style restaurant by his office, and because I finished my first week of school. He did it because he said :"I am proud of you and your efforts this week." He is AMAZING!!!!! Oh, and in case you are wondering ~ yes I shared!!!!

Snow Day

My little Angel, making her first snow angel.

The first race down the hill. It ended in a tie, with LOTS and LOTS of giggles

The kids were so excited about new sleds that they HAD to try them out the night before on the grass. Surprisingly, it worked fairly well and added to the excitment for the next day.

Okay, so I accidentally just lied. Sorry. However, my dear, sweet, honest friend Irene tells me that I don't post enough pictures. So here you go! This is our first snow day as a family. Missy by far was the best outfitted and warm, but Bubba was right behind her. Just so you know Scotchguard works fairly well for a day in the snow and waterproofing your pants and jackets. Rainboots with several pairs of socks, work well for makeshift snow boots. Laughing every time your Honey lands into a tree or bush.......Priceless!!!

Good-bye for now

The dawn of a new year is always exciting to me. This year brings on an old adventure spun in a new light for me and my family. I am starting back to school. After finishing my last bout with school, I never thought I would hike that particular path again. However, as of last Sunday, I am officially back on the trail and trudging along.

After church last week, I decided to go on the school's web-site and check on my class. I knew that there was at least one book I still needed to order before classes begin next week. What I wasn't expecting was the news, that I need to read a book BEFORE official classes start. Did I have the book? NO. Was I prepared to jump in like this? NO. Did I freak out???? YOU BET!!
So thankfully, I had a moment of wonderful Internet service in order to order my books from Barnes and Noble. The books came on Wednesday, which gives me four glorious days to read and then prepare a paper.

So in light of all of this, I am saying good-bye for now on blogging. I will try and use all of you for distractions from the studying awaiting for me, and possibly leave you some comments. Hopefully in the spring, like the flowers I will bloom again. In the spring, I hope to come away with the start of a new degree, the first part a license for teaching students with special needs, and most importantly a renewed understanding in how God brings us through the adventures and hikes He has mapped out for us.