What a day!

Today I spent the day taking the youngest two to the library for storytime, which we barely missed! Then out to the park, a park we rarely have time for, but it is so fun for them! It has 4 areas all around in a huge circle, one has an old steam engine to climb on, another 'dinosaur bones' to climb inside and onto, a toddler playset, then an old school big kid playset, not to mention the few covered, and uncovered areas to have a party or picnic, and a few hills and trails to run down! It's great! So, they kept busy for an hour. It was a nice crisp, slightly windy but sunny day! It was just beautiful!

CRAZY: Tonight coincided Drew's soccer practice at 5:30-6:30, and Grace had a volleyball game across town to be at by 6:15. So...I dropped off Drew, stayed a few minutes to talk with another Mom, and then ran Grace to her game, dropped her off so I could go back to pick Drew up from practice, which ran over by about 20 minutes, and then drove back across town to WATCH Grace's 3 games that started at 6:30 (I obviously had to miss some of it!) and didn't get over till 9pm...whew! LONG DAY! TIRED KIDDOS!

A NEW DISCOVERY FOR BEAU: Beau is really taking after Daddy, in that he has become extremely interested in knowing from Dad all there is about hunting, fishing, etc. They talk hunting. He wants to know everything! Well, I told DH to show the boy his goose/duck calls, and well...long story short...the boy can almost make them sound off better than Daddy now! He is addicted...he has begged nonstop for me to get them out again! That boy is for sure A BOY.

GIRLY GIRL: Leah has definitely taken on a personality all her own. I felt with her, as a baby, I had a hard time finding who she was while also caring for my son, still a baby, and two older girls at that time. She has broke the mold, in that she is quite the opinionated little thing. She will outright refused to get dressed in clothes, or in pajamas, unless she picks it out, and even then, it's often a struggle. Even, picking the right diaper! Drives me nuts! She loves to play 'pretties' when Grace paints her toe nails, and puts 'lips' on her. She's like a little princess, in her own little kingdom of all those that cater to her every whim...NOT. But, you gotta admit, it's funny how a boy takes on the manly character, as Beau, and yet as much as they are around eachother day in and day out, Leah is quite the opposite...such a little girly girl! Point proven in this photo of her playing the girls' old game PRETTY PRETTY PRINCESS, purple painted toenails, scraggly early morning hair, and all!

More pics from Walk in Woods

On our 'walk in the woods' the other day, we came across this small area where there was a huge fire pit and some little buildings, run down, but they were cute, and Beau and Leah were running around pretending, Leah kept saying, "Beau, come on, we on a mission!"

This area was also an old military training base, and so this broken down brick building is remaining, there are a few of them about the area in different spots, but this one they could climb around, on and into! They had a blast!

Walk in the Woods

Beau feeding this wild turkey his apple. Below: Leah trying to do the same, but the turkey's hard peck scared her bad enough that she dropped the apple, you can see it falling! LOL!

TAG-Your Favorite Recipe

My husband loves to go deep sea fishing, and when he does go, I love it when he is able to bring home fresh halibut and sea bass. We learned how to make fish tacos a year or so ago, and it is so good, here is how you do it:

Deep Frier
2-3 lbs halibut/fish meat (you can use ling cod or sea bass too! NOT tuna or salmon)
Flour
PanKo bread crumbs *found in the asian food isle
3-4 eggs, beaten
Oil, we use canola 1-2 average size bottles
1/2 green cabbage
1/2 red cabbage
cilantro
2 limes
Small Flour Tortillas
Grated Cheese *optional

After cutting the fish into thick strips, like you would chicken strips, you roll it in the flour, THEN the egg, then the panko bread crumbs, place in deep frier till crisp, be careful not to get frier too hot.
You will also need to cut cabbage into very thin strips, chop up cilantro fine, and slice the limes into quarters or smaller if you wish. Place in bowls.
Once fish is done cooking, place 1 or 2 pieces on a tortilla, top with cabbage, cilantro, and squeeze lime juice over the top! It is so good, and you won't even taste the fish flavor!
*Best part, my kids will eat it too!
If anyone tries this, let me know how you like it!

Mom, I tag you, email me yours, and Jess, you too! Susie I tag you!!!!

Aquarium Pics...finally!

That Boy!

I was swinging Beau and Leah really high, they were cracking up and having a blast this afternoon! I mentioned to Beau, "Have you been checkin' the strawberries?" Then, I started over to peek at them in the garden and Beau must have tried to jump from the swing 'cause next thing I knew he was flat on his belly crying! He got up, I dusted him off, hugged him and he said, "I wanted to check the strawberries with you!" I told him I was not going to do it without him, but he kept crying a little, then once he recovered, we picked some strawberries, and he loves them with whipped cream, so we headed back to the house, and he says to Leah,

"Weah, I can't walk so well 'cause I hurt my feelin's! I fell off the swing and I hurt my feelin's!"

Is that cute or what?

Read a book?

It has been years since I read a book that was the slightest bit geared toward anyone else but a small child. I have started, and am trying to find spare time to continue reading A Purpose Driven Life...I saw this in a magazine, and decided I want to read it. If only I could find a tiny little hole to hide...

Shuckin' Corn!

A Perfect Evaluation!

I received my 1st real sit down face to face evalution at my work last night. I am astonished to find that in every category they had rated me as PROFICIENT! I received a perfect evaluation! I could not believe it! I am so pleased, I was almost in tears as the RCM said, "Well, here it is, basically, WE LOVE YOU! We can't wait till you can work more, full time!"
Ahhhh! I am meant to do this work. :)

My Middle Name is Marie!

I'm taking a Meme from Donna's blog...
Post these rules before you give the facts. You must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your middle name. (If you don't have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had.) When you are tagged you need to write your own blog-post and then choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag. Don't' forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read your blog.

My middle name is MARIE:


M~Mommy, I am and very much absorbed by being a Mommy!
A~Type A personality, very ANAL
R~Rich in Life, by this I mean, I am blessed. I have 2 parents, married for 31 years, never divorced, I have 4 beautiful children I adore and that adore me back, a faithful, loving Husband...I have a job I love! God has given me all I could have asked for!
I~Intense, I sometimes am so absorbed by what I am dealing with that I am seemingly unapproachable/unfriendly...a misinterpretation.
E~Efficient...Emotional

If your reading, I tag...Susan, Angela *do it on your myspace, Cheryl, Jessica my Sister...that's all I have to tag!

My Boys

What a deal!

I found the greatest deal tonight at ROSS! I love Ross! I have been wanting to get Beau the pirates bedset from Olive Kids but it is sooo expensive I would never pay it. Well....I found the comforter at Ross tonight for...drum roll please...$14.99....at OliveKids.com, it's $59.99!!! I am so excited, we don't have a twin bed for the boy yet, but now I can look ever more aggressively! That boy is gonna love it! It is soooo cute! It has rope for trim on the comforter, and it is two sided, with a navy blue printed fabric on the back. I'll just have to keep my eye out for the sheets and pillow cases, and maybe even the pirate&treasure chest pillows!

Game on!

Drew had her first Soccer Game of the seaons yesterday, the 8th, and she took off like lightnin' scoring 2 goals right off, then another later in the game. She played all 4 quarters, splitting a couple with another girl that got hit in the nose with the ball, then Drew got jabbed in the neck with some other girls' elbow *OUCH!*, so she came out once too. Game tied in the end, but this year is already looking much better than last!

They are desired...

I adore my children, they are my obsession. I wanted every single one of them more than anything. I am very blessed to have them, I thank God every day. I could not imagine life without them.

I love this verse from the bible...

"More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold, sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb." ~ Psalm 19:10

Christians

By Maya Angelou

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not shouting "I'm clean-living'."

I'm whispering "I was lost,

Now I'm found and forgiven."

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I don't speak of this with pride.

I'm confessing that I stumble

And need Christ to be my guide.

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not trying to be strong.

I'm professing that I'm weak

And need His strength to carry on.

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not bragging of success.

I'm admitting I have failed

And need God to clean my mess.

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not claiming to be perfect,

My flaws are far too visible

But, God believes I am worth it.

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I still feel the sting of pain.

I have my share of heartaches

So I call upon His name.

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not holier than thou,

I'm just a simple sinner

Who received God's good grace, somehow!

Toddlerisms

Funny how toddlers talk, how they repeat something in such a strange way, makes you wonder how they hear it coming from you. Wonder what I'm talking about?
Leah says..."smashmallows" for marshmallows
"cornernuts" for pistachios/nuts
"eguck" for yogurt
"starberries" for strawberries
Beau says..."bandy corn" for candy corn
"feather catcher" for dream catcher...makes sense though doesn't it?

I remember when my oldest dtr was about 4, she went on a road trip with my parents, and they could not figure out what she was saying when they heard her repeating "ook at the poke in the cheese!" She was saying..."look at the smoke in the trees" Or, the song 'Fly like an Eagle', she would say/sing 'Fly like Peagle'...lol. Kids are so funny!

Mama Loves Giveaways

Yet, another contest I will try my chances at winning...
Pinks and Blues blog is hosting a Hanes Kids Back to School Giveaway .
Check it out! You could win too!

Infuriating!!???

I have only a few pet peeves, one of them being interrupted while on the phone. Today, Beau Michael, not once, not twice, but 4 TIMES stood at my feet as soon as he noticed me on the phone, important calls, and pleaded over and over to talk thinking it was Grandma every time! I absolutely lost it with the last call! I was trying to talk to Drew's soccer coach and that boy stood there hitting me over and over on the leg, hollering! So...I sent him to bed without a book. It was already 8pm anyway, which is the youngest 3's bedtime now that school has started back up. It takes 30-45 minutes to get them settled in...brushing teeth, vitamins, last diaper change and potty...etc...I just cannot stand when he does that to me. Am I alone in this? I don't think so. It is so utterly disrespectful. The girls know, if I am on the phone, you must wait to talk to me. NEVER INTERRUPT...unless it is ofcourse very important, or an injury. I just needed to vent on this one!

1st day 7th Grade...Random Thoughts

Gracie's first day of 7th Grade was yesterday, the 5th. She looked so pretty, so grown up! I really love how her hair is now, and she made the choice all on her own! She missed the bus, had to take her to school, they changed the bus pick up time, it was 7:10am, now 6:56am...isn't that terribly early!!!??? In her words...
"My day was wonderful!" She has had a struggle with a close friend, turning out not to be a friend at all, and quite frankly it's for the best...dare I say?...She is making many more new friends already! She loves her teachers, and seems to be very focused. I just love my Grace!
A coworker of mine has a daughter Grace's age, and whenever she comes to work she is ranting and raving about how terrible her daughter is. She has to send her to a sitter (she works NOC shift) so she won't sneak out and stay out all night long at only 12 years of age! She has caught her smoking, doing drugs, and drinking alcohol. She's not sure if she's promiscuous or not, but speculates that she is. She is always worrying, and expresses her lack of control constantly. She has said that she can't even trust her dtr to stay in school all day long, and that she cuts up and destroys every piece of clothing she gives her. It definitely makes me feel exceptionally lucky, but at the same time, how does such a young girls behaviour become so erratic, so out of control? This is when I stand firm in my beliefs of punishment being ever so important for a child. Constant follow through is pertinent. I am hackled at times by other parents, saying I'm so over the edge, so overboard with my punishments, but am I? Really, I expect my children to follow my rules, behave appropriately in company of others, be kind, respectful, they have chores. I REFUSE TO GIVE IN. I think something must be said for those parents that persevere, and never give up. It's a very sad thing to see so many parents following the lead of the child.

*A LOVELY FIND! One Zinnia discovered amongst my Tomatoes and Nasurtium in my garden. I had planted 2 entire packets of Zinnia seeds, 2 seperate times, and I had given up, nothing happened. But, then yesterday I find this!

Baby Leah

Something for fun. I was browsing my picture files, and looking at baby Leah pics got me reminiscing. I miss having a baby around. She was such a lovely baby, so beautiful. Enjoy Mom and Dad!