Just Another Day in Paradise

We have added another member to our beloved family. Meet Rufus, our new bearded dragon. He is Noah's new pet. So far everyone loves Rufus. It is very exciting every night when Rufus gets fed his nightly snack of live crickets. Rufus does not mess around when the crickets are tossed into his cage. Although the boys fight over whose turn it is to feed him, they enjoy seeing how quickly Rufus takes care of business. Bearded dragons have a life expectancy of 10 years, so Rufus may end up in a college frat house with Noah one day.

Here is the other new member of our family (I wish!). I got this giant, bigger than life poster of Tim Tebow from our local sporting goods store. The last time I was in there, I asked what they do with their window posters when they are done with them. The cashier said they usually end up in the trash. GASP! I could not let Tim Tebow end up in the trash! So I left them my name and number (thinking I would never hear back from them). Well, last week they called and said to come pick Tim (the poster, not the real Tim) up. So, now I have to decide where to hang this ginormous display.

If you have not read Tim Tebow's new book, I highly recommend it! You will not be disappointed. He is a great man with an even greater message. He would be an inspiration to any aspiring athlete you may know.

First Grade Times Two!

Every time I take a picture like this, I can think of only one thing. Senior year slide show. This is the kind of picture that you put in the slide show at the high school graduation open house. This is the kind of picture you want to remember when your kids are driving you crazy. This is the kind of picture you want to remember when your kids are taller than you and giving you sass. They grow up so fast. Don't blink. Enjoy them while they're little. You're gonna miss this. The days go slow, but the years go fast. All those mantras you keep repeating to yourself when the days aren't all that great!

So for now, I will enjoy having 2 first graders, even if that means two homework packets a week, two family projects a month, and two extra books to read each night. Because the years do really go fast!

Random Ramblings by Denise

So I've been going through old pictures on my computer and trying to decide how to organize my photos. I once was a scrapbooker. Back when I had time to work on scrapbooking. Now I'm doing good to get the kids fed, homework done, and laundry put up. I found this adorable picture of two very little boys and had to share. They grow up fast!

I have also been working on MOMSnext. We are starting this awesome ministry at our church this fall. Sadly I graduated from MOPS last spring, but this is a whole new exciting world for me. September 28th is when the fun begins!
Several weeks I posted about Dalton breaking his leg. Last week he went to the doctor, got re-xrayed, and all his restrictions were lifted. He can now walk, run, bike, jump, fight with his brothers, and climb on the counter to reach the candy. All of which he did the first day.
Have you seen the website PINTEREST? Oh. My. Word. I don't even know how to describe it. It's like a digital magazine with the search option. Are you looking for a yellow front door? They have pictures. Want to plan a barn wedding? They have pictures. I love pinterest!!
And lastly I did a little dance in the dairy section at Aldi last evening! Why? Pumpkin spice creamer is back!! And you know what that means? Candy corn, pumpkins, apple pickin', mums, sweatshirts, and Fall!! LOVE IT!!

My Family

I was playing around on a website the other day and made this. Have you seen these on the back of people's car windows? I think this would be hilarious to put on the back of my car. What do you think?!?

The boys have now been in school for 12 days. So far so good. They seem to be enjoying it and the days at home for me go really fast. I have high hopes of organizing, cleaning, scrapbooking, and decluttering. We will see how much I get done the next 168 days they are in school!

Tastes From My Home

We have a winner! thetribe (comment #8) has been picked by the random generator. I will get in touch with you for your address. Thanks to all who entered and hope you find these tasty chips at a store near you.

I am so excited to be entering The Tastes from Home with Frito-Lay recipe contest! We are big Frito-Lay fans at my house! And did you know Frito-Lay has a new delicious lineup of regional flavors made with all-natural ingredients? The Tomato & Basil chips are my absolute favorite! My husband loves the Tangy Carolina BBQ flavor. I would love to try the Honey Mustard or Balsamic Sweet Onion chips, but sadly have not seen them in our Midwest grocery stores. A bag of chips does not last long in our house!! It's amazing how fast little feet come running when they hear a chip bag being ripped open.

In honor of their new chip lineup, I am posting a recipe that is a favorite in my neck of the woods. This is an often requested item on our dinner menu for the week. I found this recipe from a blogger and adapted it to my family's tastes.

The Best Meatloaf Ever (according to my family)

2 lb. ground meat (thawed)

1 finely chopped onion

1 cup shredded cheese

1 clove garlic, minced

2 t. mustard

½ cup ketchup

2 eggs

2 cups bread crumbs

2 T. worchestire sauce

1 T. Parmesan cheese

½ t. Italian seasoning

Combine eggs, ketchup, mustard, breadcrumbs, garlic, cheeses, and spices in large bowl. Slowly add in meat and onion. This must be mixed very well, often I mix it by hand!

When thoroughly mixed, shape into a loaf. I use a 9x13 pan and make a flatter loaf so it cooks faster. Bake at 375 for 1 hour, check at this time, it may or may not need 15 more minutes (depending on your oven and the height of your loaf).

*This is great served with homemade mashed potatoes and green beans. My family’s favorite meal!!

Frito-lay is generously offering a variety pack of their regional flavors to give away to one of my lucky readers! To enter the contest, please tell me which flavor of chip you would like to try the most! Contest ends on August 23, 2011 at midnight.

*Frito-Lay provided me with the chips and this blog post is considered an entry form for their contest*

It all started with a pair of black shorts....

A few weeks ago while I was packing my oldest son for one of his many adventures (church camp, boy scout camp, vacation....really can't remember which one), he asked me to pack his new black shorts. (the shorts he's never worn) So I look for the black shorts in the 2 dresser drawers with shorts and cannot find them. I proceed to look through the rest of his 3 drawers, his closet, his brother's drawers (all 11 of them...drawers not brothers), my husband's underwear drawer, his sister's drawers (4 drawers, 1 sister), the pantry, every bag and backpack we own, behind the washer and dryer, our vehicles, and the barn. I. never. found. the. shorts.

Then my oldest son lost his retainers. Not the ones he's been wearing all summer, his old ones. I again look everywhere for them and never. find. the. retainers.

That same week my oldest son lost his dog (he ended up at the local animal shelter) and his bicycle (which we think was picked up on a hot night by someone walking by our house). It cost us $45 to get the dog back and $120 for a new bike.

While all this was going on, I decided to be funny and post this all on facebook. Now I really hardly ever do facebook status updates. I'm not one to tell my business to my facebook friends. But for some reason, I felt like venting and chose to complain about all the things we had lost.

And then the next week, my 6 year old fractured his femur, had emergency surgery, and is in a wheelchair for (at least) 4 weeks. Kind of makes a pair of black shorts, retainers, and a bicycle not all that important! So for the rest of the summer, I am not going to focus on the things we have lost and be more positive and grateful for what we do have!!

Summer Update

Three days ago our summer and all the things we had planned came to a screeching halt. Our six year old, who we call Moose fractured his femur. It happened on our trampoline with his 10 year old brother whom he was wrestling with. Now the femur is the strongest bone in your body, so to snap it in half takes a lot of force (like 850 pounds of force). The Emergency Room doctor we saw at first almost had me convinced that it wasn't really broken. But an hour later when they took the first xray and it popped up on their computer screen, I knew we were in for a long ride! Here are some of the highlights of the past couple of days:

*Moose got to ride in an ambulance to Riley Children's Hospital.

*They did emergency surgery only 6 hours after his injury!

*He has a plate and 8 screws holding his femur together.

*He does not have a cast, just an immobilizer.

*He cannot put weight on his leg for at least 4 weeks.

*He has done extremely well considering all he has gone through.

*He didn't eat a piece of candy for 2 whole days! (if you know Moose, you know that doesn't happen!!)

*He has a wheelchair to ride in. He is already learning to steer and turn.

*Right now he's only taking regular Tylenol for the pain and valium right before bed.

Now, if I was able to pick one of my sons to be unable to walk for 4 weeks, Moose would have been last. He is the most active of my children. He loves people and loves to go places. Yesterday I asked him if he needed a drink or food, and his answer was, "I just need friends". Talk about melting my heart! Today he woke up in a good mood, has worked on Legos for a little bit, now he and his brother are playing with Mario Kart on the DSi. If you prayed for us, a big THANK YOU. I think that is what is helping us get through each hour sometimes. I'm trying to enjoy this time at home (really it's too hot to do anything except stay inside) and hopefully Moose will continue doing so well!