Such a Good Boy February 18, 2012

I hear it often and I’m not above bragging a little bit.  I’ve been told often I have good boys.  I’ve heard for years how polite, helpful and well-mannered they are.  Seeing their slightly naughty side when they were younger, I was skeptical.  As they’ve grown older I can sit back with a somewhat less critical eye and see the fine young men they’ve become.

Tyler is good with money.  He’s had to be.  We’ve never been in a financial position to dish it out and pay for everything for him.  When he got a job he became responsible for his own expenses.  His part of the cell phone bill, his car insurance, his gas money.  Right now he’s making stressful decisions about buying a house.  He’s taking his time, inspecting things thoroughly and making sound decisions.

Zach is a hard worker.  He wanted a chainsaw for Christmas (what 16-year-old kid asks for a chainsaw?) so he could cut wood and earn a little extra money.  He has spent days cutting wood, loading it up, splitting it by hand and stacking it.  His goal is to get about 5 cords or so piled up and then advertise to sell it.  He’s been telling everyone he’s selling wood and asking them if they need any.  One of the men he asked desperately needed wood but couldn’t afford to buy any.  Zach spent 4 hours of his time helping this man load, cut, and pile wood…for free.   Then today, he loaded up some of his wood he’s been trying to sell and brings it over to his grandma’s.  And while at this rate he’ll never be flush with cash, he is rich in other ways.

So if I tend to boast a little, humor me, it’s well deserved!

Happy Birthday Mom! February 15, 2012

Today is my Mom’s XXth birthday (and no, that’s not in Roman Numerals!)  I’ll let her keep some secrets so I won’t tell you her age, but let’s just say she’s old enough to know better and still too young to care!

Mom & Dad came over  tonight and we played a game of 35 (which I won) and a game of Pass the Ace (which Zach won.)  Then we had carrot cake and ice cream for dessert.

Even though it was a low-key day hopefully it was a good one for her because she deserves it.  She’s always there for me and my kids for anything we need.  She spoils us all rotten even when she’s not feeling the best or her knees are hurting and her back is aching.  She’s a very special woman and I love her with all my heart.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

 

Highlight Reel February 6th-12th, 2012 February 12, 2012

Monday-Sick

Tuesday-Sick

Wednesday-Snapping  out of it a little.  I went to town to pick Zach up from his early out day, dropped off some books at the library, picked up some more and came home.  Not much energy after days of being ill.  It’s a good thing I was on vacation this week!

Thursday- Started cleaning the house in little bursts. Still not much oomph.

Friday- feeling better finally.  Finished cleaning the house and prepping the food for tomorrow’s brunch.  Called my mother-in-law and had a nice chat with her.  I don’t call her nearly as often as I should.  I’m going to try to remedy that this year.

Saturday- Had my MegaRed houseparty at 10am this morning (see previous post)  Everyone kept commenting about the redness of my eye and wondered if I had pinkeye.  I normally get a lot of infections in my eyes, probably because I don’t change my contacts as often as I should so I honestly didn’t hink it was pinkeye.  But later that afternoon (after a short nap) I woke up with an oozing matted eye.  Great!  Just what I needed!

Sunday-made an appointment to see the doctor to get my eye checked out.  Sure enough it was pinkeye.  He gave me some eye drops and an antibiotic for my sinus infection so hopefully I will be good as new in no time!

Schiff Mega Red Krill Oil houseparty!

Uh huh!  That’s right (snapping my fingers) I’m a party animal!  I just hosted another houseparty.  If you have never heard of houseparty you need to get over to their web page and check them out!  Different companies use houseparty to advertise their products by having houseparty members like me invite friends over for a little get together.  I have done several of them in the past and I always have a great time.

Yesterday I was lucky enough to earn one of the 1,000 host spots available nationwide so I could have  Mega Red Love Your Heart houseparty.  I was sent a “party pack” which included 2 full size 30 day supply bottles of Mega Red krill oil (one for me and one for the winner of the heart healthy quiz), a pedometer, 14 Mega Red water bottles, 14 magnets, 28   3- day sample packets and 14 coupons.

I hosted a heart healthy brunch where I served Vegetable Frittata, Turkey Sausage Strata, fresh fruit, greek yogurt and granola, and a blueberry lemon yogurt bread.  They were all new recipes to me so I was a little nervous about how they would turn out, but they were WONDERFUL!

We started out by watching 2 short ads for Mega Red.

 

Then I had everyone dig into their party packs and pull out their Heart Healthy quiz.

My aunt Mary had the most answers right so she won the bottle of Mega Red!

Finally, we enjoyed our brunch and chatted!

Thank you Schiff for teaching us how to keep our heart healthy.  We love Mega Red!

 

Greetings from the sniffling, sneezing,coughing, aching, stuffy head, fever, can’t rest Simmonds February 11, 2012

Hello family!  I know you haven’t heard from me in a while, and truthfully, you probably don’t much care, but…I’m back!!!

 

It’s been a heck of a last month.  Christmas came and went, then general busyness and a huge feeling of being overwhelmed and I was so excited to finally be going on vacation so I could have some stay at home time to unwind and CLUNK!   I got sick  😦

When it hit, it hit hard.  At first I just thought it was an annoying little sinus thing.  After a couple of days of that, last Friday  I started sneezing and sneezing.  No biggie, just a cold. A day and a half into my “just a cold” and I was flat on my back in bed.  Sleeping for hours and hours on end.  When I started feeling a little bit better on Wednesday I got up out of my easy chair to catch up on some housework.  Well, after about 10 minutes of doing dishes I had broken out in a cold sweat and I started feeling shaky.  NO energy.

Here it is Saturday, going back to work on Monday, and I wake up with a pink eye.  Some vacation!

Redemption by Stacey Lannert and Kristen Kemp December 1, 2011

On July 5th, 1990, Stacey Lannert shot and killed her father who had been abusing her sexually since she was 7.  Missouri state law, a disbelieving prosecutor, and Stacey’s own fragile psyche conspired against her: she was found guilty of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Redemption is Stacey’s candid memoir of what happened after she found herself in prison for life.  It is an extraordinary account of Stacey’s will to live a positive-even triumphant- life, and ultimately, the healing power of forgiveness.

After spending as many years in prison as she had out of it, on January 10th, 2009 outgoing Missouri governor, Matt Blunt, commuted Stacey’s life sentence.  Six days later, she walked out of the prison gates a free woman.  Redemption is the story of how Stacey became a free woman while still inside those gates.

Redemption starts out as the story of an idyllic family that seems to have everything.  Quickly, it turns into something ugly as Tom, Stacey’s father starts coming home drunk every night.  A sickening, disturbing memoir, Redemption is Stacey’s attempt to free herself finally from the secret she kept for so long.  Please stop by my book blog By Book or By Crook for the full review.

Highlight Reel November 19th-25th, 2011

Saturday-  Didn’t do anything until it was time to take Zach to work at 3pm.  Then got some groceries and headed for home.

Sunday- Made a loaf of sandwiches for the church bingo today, Visited Papa and then went to the Fall Court of Honor.  Mom & Dad joined us for the award ceremony as well.

Monday- After all the hard work of earning the awards, on Scout night tonight we had pizza and a movie.  Jeff and I went out for supper while Zach was at scouts.  We stopped in at TJ’s log cabin for burger night where they have 20 different kinds of burgers to choose from!

Tuesday- Jeff and I watched Gracie while Monica went to RCIA class.  Gracie and I read and watched part of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer before we left to meet up with her mother.

Wednesday- Because of the holiday Zach didn’t have confirmation so he was excited about having a free evening and I was happy I didn’t have to drive him anywhere.

Thursday- Thanksgiving (see previous post)

Friday- Black Friday.  I don’t want to talk about it.  Just think of state fair traffic/tailgate parties/drunk customers/sales on steroids and you’ll understand.  I’m too old to still be working this mess!

Giving Thanks

There are so many reasons to be thankful this year.  We are thankful for family (and being able to have Papa out for the holiday), health (even though Zach had to go through another surgery following an ATV accident), and friends (like the Bookies who are such a blast to hang out with.)

Mom had everyone out for Thanksgiving.  I don’t know how she finds the energy with all her disabilities but she manages to pull it off.  My aunt Candy joined us this year and she brought Papa out from the nursing home.  Even though Tyler had to work, Monica and Gracie were there with us too. 

Mom always puts on quite a spread but I noticed there was one thing she was missing.  Tums for afterwards!

Fall Court of Honor 2011 November 30, 2011

Sunday our Boy Scout Troop celebrated our Fall Court of Honor.  Our Fall Court of Honor is always a nice one because this is the first award ceremony since summer camp so we have lots of merit badges to award.  After a potluck meal, each patrol does a skit before the advancement ceremony.  Zach earned his Wilderness Survival Merit Badge, Canoeing Merit Badge, Railroading Merit Badge and his Scouting for Food patch.  More patches for mom to sew on Zach’s sash!

Then towards the end of the ceremony I was also presented with an award.  I was honored to receive the Bronze Pelican medal which is a Boy Scout religious award.  I have since found out I am the only one in the Brainerd area to ever receive this award so I’m kind of excited about that. 

It was a great night and I continue to be impressed by our troop.  We have the best troop in the whole Central Minnesota Council!

Highlight Reel November 12th-18th, 2011 November 19, 2011

Saturday- Zach had to work 9-3 so he missed out on hunting this morning but he made it home in time to go out tonight.  Mom, Gracie and I went to the nursing home to visit Papa.  He loves to just sit and watch Gracie play.  After a trip to the library to replenish our children’s library books we came home.

Sunday-Well, the final day of deer hunting and we added no more to the freezer (which is fine by me!)  Two is enough for us. 

Monday-Tonight for our Ad Altare Dei class I had the boys make altar bread for our chapter on the Eucharist.  Then, during the regular Scout meeting I worked on recharter and finally got that done.  Whew! 

Tuesday- Gracie spent the evening with us and Brenda dropped off my Pampered Chef order.  I love my stir and chop utensil and the can opener is awesome!

Wednesday- Zach had a free evening because he didn’t have to work because Wednesdays are confirmation nights but there was no confirmation either.

Thursday- Bible Study tonight was on Revelation 16-18.  Small group tonight, there were only 5 of the 13 there but sometimes a smaller group makes for a more intimate discussion.

Friday-  Spent the evening reading Mayflower a non-fiction book about the pilgrims coming to America.  I thought it was a fitting read for November.