I really have no title for this blog.  I just want to write down how we are doing and what we are doing.

We have done 6 days of school so far and we are still hitting some "bumps"!  Yesterday, angry Lucas showed up for shcool.  After some punishments and major attitude overhauls, we made it through the day.  He's so bright, he just needs to put a little more effort into life!  We are working on that.  Yesterday, he got a 90% on his first science test.  He said, "and I really didn't know what I was doing!"  Well, Daddy took care of that- he is toutoring Lucas in Science!

Kala is going along well!  She loves science and is studying the parts of a cell.  She just gets it (must be her father's genes)!  Speaking of genes, she learned about them yesterday.  And, like most kids her age, she thought for sure that genes were jeans that you wear!  I can remember being confused about that too!  We have neglected reading so far- I know- BAD MOMMY!  Today we start reading Charlotte's Webb together!  Again- BAD MOMMY- she has never read this book!  And, it is one of my fav's.!

Colan is beginning to get the hang of school.  Although he tries to fool around and be silly, I try to keep him on track!  He's learning to write numbers to 99.  It's hard for me to start 1st grade again.  I have a hard time remembering that writing numbers can be difficult for a little one when my oldest is doing Algebra.  I need to get 1st grade into my head again! Colan also started Tiger Cubs and is so excieted!  He can't wait to wear a uniform like Lucas!

As for me, I am still trying to get into this schedule.  I'm hoping that in a month, I look back at this and wonder what the problem was!  I have my schedule all finished, and it looks great on paper.  Applying it to real life is another issue!  I'm getting there though. Tuesday's might just kill me- I need to make some adjustments! I love the Manager's of Their Homes (MOTHS) group that I'm going to.  It's at my friend's house and we have about 6 women that are coming.  It is a lot of fun!

  We added 4 new additions to our home.  We are now that proud foster parents of 4 tadpoles.  They are for a class that I'm teaching at Co-Op.  The kids are thrilled.  Colan keeps running down stairs every morning to see if they changed into frogs! It's so cute to watch!  But, I say "foster tadpoles" because, at the end of this Co-Op class in Dec., if any  mom chooses to take home a frog, they are welcome to!  My husband looked up the life span of frogs and they can live up to 15 years, depending on what type they are (which is still to be determined!)  That is like having a very noisey, bug eating baby in the house- 15 years!  If no mommy wants them, they will be set free at a very nice pond or stream in the spring!

This Friday, we are going camping with my in-laws.  When I say camping, I mean that we are renting a cabin, with beds, indoor plumbing and a little kitchen!  We even get A/C and heat!  Wouldn't you know it, we are supposed to have rain the whole weekend.  Well, maybe the weatherman is wrong.  That has been known to happen!

So, we have been busy!  But, we are having a good time! 

Blessings for a wonderful Wednesday!!!

Kelly

Well, today I schooled all 3 kids!  And, I lived through it!!  Although, Colan informed me that he does not want to be a big boy and that he does not want to do school work!!  Oh the cute little peanut!  Healthy and fussy!  Praise God!!

We also made it to market, Aldi, the dry cleaners, the pet store, got gas in the van, got stamps...Okay, now would be the time to mention that I'M TIRED!

I also had some bad news about my dad that I'm not really ready to share yet.  He's not doing well and we will leave it at that for now.  Please, if you feel led, pray for him.  He's going through some testing right now in a Vetran's hospital.

Well, I'm calling it a night and sweeping my floor, putting these little boogers in bed and laying on the sofa!

Blessings, Kelly

This weekend, I started making up my MOTHS schedule (which I am still working on).  I got all ready for our first day of school (which was yesterday).  I woke up, did my devotions, prayed, showered, had coffee (all pretty much on schedule).  Then, it happened...Colan came downstairs with a fever of 102 and a sore throat.  I still hoped for the best- maybe he just woke up tired...

So, I kept going, and so did his virus! He began throwing up and couldn't keep down any medication for his fever.  I started work with Kala and Lucas and we actually had a lot of learning going on.  But Colan, he had a really bad first day!  He held the fever all night and it finally broke at about 5 am.  Now, he's still throwing up (3 times today) and has a bad sore throat.  I have an appointment for him tonight.  I don't know if I will need to go to the Dr. though.   I'm sure that he just has a virus.  But, his best friend just found out this past Sat. that he is a strep carrier.  So, a part of me is worrying that he has strep. 

Today, the kids have their first soccer.  It's not looking good for the 2 older ones!  They really want to go, but I refuse to put a puking kid into my van!  They are hoping for the best.  I'm not too sure! 

Well, I need to at least try to keep on schedule!  Yesterday, I  only ran about 30 min. behind, even with everything going wrong.  I put my hubby's dinner on the table at 6:17 instead of 6 pm and I said, "Hurry up and eat, you only have 13 min. left for dinner!"    Hubby wasn't too happy!

Did I mention that Co-Op starts on Thursday, THIS THURSDAY!!  I have two classes that I'm teaching (Colan is in both!)

Praying for a better day!! Blessings, Kelly

PS- I'll take the !st day back to school picture when Colan can sit up and smile!

Well... I have enjoied these few "extra" days that I have given to us.  But, it is time to face facts- we will be starting school on Monday 8-25!  I just "won" Luke's math on ebay today.  All I need is to get spelling for all, math for Kala and handwriting for Kala and Colan.  I was doing a computer math for Kala, but our computer doesn't seem to be able to handle the "pressure"!  I have a feeling that a new computer will be in order this next year.  If my computer goes down, and I can't get a new one right away, I don't want Kala not to have math to do!  So, I have my program listed on my homeschooling board (and possibly a buyer) and I am watching ebay for some books!  I have some math that she can start next week (just in case!). 

Next week also starts Co-Op, so I need to plan my first classes.  I'm teaching K-2nd grades.  I have 2 classes this semester.  I will teach the life cycles of frogs and butterflies and also a class about the solar system.  So, next week, I'm searching down some live tadpoles and setting up a system to take to Co-Op every other Thursday.  Why do I punish myself??

I also moved my Girl Scout meetings to Tuesdays.  So, I need to prepare for my first meeting on 9-9.  It's a girl's planning meeting and a parent meeting.  I need to convince a parent to be my Co-leader.  The meeting on 9-15 will be a bowling party for the girls to "kick off" our year.  I've already planned this!  I just need to get permission slips together. 

I will also need to call a few cub packs for my little one.  I need to find one that hopefully meets on Thursdays!  Good luck to me- right?

Mondays Lucas has Boy Scouts.  It is also a possibility that Colan could do Cubs this night.  I will have to help more with Cubs though.

One fun thing that I am doing for myself (and to help with all of this scheduling) is, I have joined a MOTH's group (Manager's of their home group). We met for the first time yesterday and it seems like it will be fun! We will be meeting every other Tue. at 1 (might go to every Tue.)

Soccer will be starting Aug. 26th from 3:45 to 5:45. Talk about running all day on Tuesday!  We'll get home at about 6pm and Kala and I will have to eat very quickly (in about 10 minutes) to leave at 6:15 for Girl Scouts.  I might make Tuesday's sandwich night for the fall.  It's only for about 2-2 1/2 months, so it will be okay.  If I do sanwiches, then Kala and I can eat at the field.  She will be playing from 3:45-4:45 and then, we can have a picnic.  I'm just really going to have it all together this fall for Tuesdays!! 

Wednesdays will be choir in the afternoons for Kala and Lucas.  Then, after dinner, Lucas has youth at church. 

So- in a nut shell- our week looks like this (so far):

Monday- Boy Scouts

Tuesday- MOTH's, Soccer, Girl scouts

Wednesday- Choir, Youth

Thursday- CO-OP (every other week)

Friday- market and groceries

Of course, we have school every day... Okay- now I'm stressed!

Blessings, Kelly

Well...after much thought, my husband and I have decided to wait until about the last week of August to begin schooling.  My family has been so sick this summer!  We are just now starting to have some fun. So, we decided that a summer break is still needed.  We will continue our "break".  I still need to get a few more things for school anyway.  So, the warden has granted a reprieve for the time being!  Insert jumping and screaming for joy by 3 very happy children! 

Later tonight, I hope to post what we have been busy with this past week, with some pictures!!

Blessings, Kelly

We had a busy day in the kitchen!  Today, I made homemade Woopie Pies with Kala. 

I also made the homemade tomato soup that I hope to can.  This is our taste testing night.  If everyone agrees, then this is what we will do with our tomatoes.  If not, I'll come up with something else.  Keep your fingers crossed!

Well, I didn't like the tomato soup.  So, I made tomato pure with the diced tomatoes.  Since this post, I have made the pure, 40 quart jars of peaches (plus 22 for my friends who helped me can them), 4 pints of peach jam, and 8 pints of blackberry jam.  Pears are next.  I hope to get 20 quarts. 

We also put up a volleyball net in the back yard and all of the neighbors have been coming over in the evening to play.  It's too much fun!  Talk about olympic fever! 

Tomorrow, we are going to the Dr. for Luke's 13 year old check up!  Yes, Luke turned 13 on August 14th.  We went mini golfing and hung out together and had lots of fun!  After the Dr's. we are going to my mom's house to go swimming!  I am trying to "cram" as much summer into these few short days that we have been healthy!

Blessings, Kelly

Kala's labs came back and show that nothing is wrong.  Funny, after I got off the phone with the doctor, I told Kala the news and she immediately started to feel better! I told my dad this and his response was, "Sometimes you just need someone ELSE tell you that you're okay!"  If I would have known that, I would have saved some major money and had a total stranger call her on the phone to tell her that she's "Okay"!

Tomorrow, I will take Luke in for his chest x-ray.  We then go back to the doctor on Friday and hopefully will be "cleared". 

Could this all be coming to an end?  Dare I even dream it?

Blessings, Kelly

Okay- this announcement was made to my childern today and I can't say that anyone jumped for joy!  I am not jumping too much either!  I always look forward to the structure of a school day.  But, with the summer that we have had, I don't feel like I have had too much of a "break".  Never the less, we will begin on August 18th!  My little guy is very happy to be starting 1st grade "work"!  He can't wait to "weed"!  I find him in the morning "weeding" books in our upstairs family room.  Too cute!

This week I plan to post some pictures of the "little bit" of fun that we were able to have this summer.  This Saturday, we are going to Lancaster (love it there) to visit my in laws and go shopping.  They have an RV and they will be "camping" at the site next to Dutch Wonderland.  So, we are "camping" for the day and shopping at the outlits!  My MIL loves to shop and I think that my FIL is happy that she will have me to shop with her for the day!

Blessings, Kelly

This week we are trying some new recipies!  Tonight, we are trying this one-

Black Bean Enchiladas with Tomato Salsa!   UPDATE:  THESE WERE YUMMY!!!!    

for enchiladas -
1 cup dried black beans
4 cups water
2 teaspoons oil
1/2 onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
1 1/2 tespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 large tomatoes, chopped
1 can corn kernels
1/2 jalapeno chili, seeded and diced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
8 flour tortillas
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup monterey jack cheese

for salsa -
2 tomatoes, chopped
1/2 onion, finely chopped
1/2 jalapeno, seeded and diced
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon lime juice
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper

Pick, rinse and soak beans. Combine beans and water; bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium and cook, uncovered, for 1 1/2 hours; adding water if needed. Saute onion and garlic in oil for 3 minutes. Add chili powder and cumin and saute for 1 minute. Add tomatoes, corn, jalapeno, salt and pepper; simmer for 1 minute. Combine the cooked beans and sour cream. Add the beans to the sauteed vegetables; cook until warmed through. Divide the bean mixture among the tortillas. Roll and place seam side down in a greased 13in. x 9in. baking dish and top with cheese. Cover with foil and bake at 350 for about 20 minutes. For salsa, combine tomatoes, onion, jalapeno, cilantro, lime juice, salt and pepper. Stir to mix well. Top each baked enchilada with tomato salsa and serve. Enjoy!

For Tuesday- Spaghetti and Meatballs and these yummy garlic twists:

Soft Bread Twists:

1 (.25)  package active dry yeast

1 tsp. sugar

1 cup warm water (110 F degrees)

2 1/2 cups flour

2 tablespoons oil

1 tsp. salt

 Preheat oven to 425 F.  In a medium bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water.  Lest stand until creamy- 10 minutes.  Stir in flour, salt and oil.  Beat until smooth.  Let rest for 10 min.  Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a 15 x 12" rectangle.  Cut dough into 1 inch strips lengthwise and then in half.  Twist each strip several times and place 1 inch apart on greased baking sheets. 

For  Garlic Twists: Combine 3 tablespoons melted butter and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder in a small bowl and brush over dough twists.  Bake at 425 F. for 6-8 minutes- until lightly browned.  Brush with remaining butter mixture and enjoy!

For Cinnamon Twists: follow above directions and brush twists with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.  Bake at 425 F for 6-8 minutes or until lightly browned.

For Wednesday: Homemade chicken pie 

For Thursday:  Nana's sloppy joes

For Friday: Catfish

For Saturday:  Shopping in Lancaster with MIL and dinner out!

For Sunday:  Marinated Honey Mustard Pork Loin Roast

Also, I hope to make this for breakfast one morning:

Blueberry Crumb Cake:

For Streusel:

1/4 cup sugar

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 cup butter- melted

1 1/3 cups flour

For Cake:

6 T. butter

3/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. lemon zest

2/3 cup sour cream

1 1/4 cups flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup blueberries

powdered sugar

Butter and flour two 9"  round baking pans.  Combine sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon.  Stir in melted butter and then flour.  Mix well and set aside.  Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.  Add eggs, vanilla, zest, and sour cream.  Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Add to butter mixture- mix well.  Fold in blueberries.  Spoon batter into pans and top with streusel.  Bake 40 min. at 350 F.  Cool completely.  Serve sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Blessings, Kelly

I have been canning this summer (around the sick kids!).  I still have a lot of canning to do.  So far, I've finished green beans (54 jars!), bread and butter pickles and dill pickles (11 Qts. of each kind).  I have also done strawberry jelly (15 pints) and frozen 71 bags of blueberries (1 cup per bag) and about 25 bags of strawberries. My MIL canned 20 qts. of beats for me! This week, I hope to pick up 1 1/2 bushels (plus about 1 peck) of peaches to make about 40 qts. About the middle of August, I will pick up 1 bushel pears and can about 20 qts. I also am still hoping to find either raspberries or blackberries to make some jam (my dad's fav.!) This fall, I will do about 50 jars of applesauce and hopefully some apple butter and maybe some homemade tomato soup from my tomato garden. Last year, I canned homemade vegy. soup.  My family was not a fan!  I loved it, but they always asked for tomato soup instead. So, why fight it?  Homemade tomato soup is just as good!  Here is a recipie that I found...

Fresh tomato soup:

2 tsp. olive oil

1 medium onion- chopped

5 medium very ripe tomatoes, cored and cut into chunks

2 cloves garlic, pressed

1 handful fresh basil leaves, chopped

pinch of sugar

2 1/2 cups chicken broth

salt and pepper to taste

In a saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat.  Add the onions and cook till onions are translucent.  Add the tomatoes, garlic, basil and sugar.  Simmer for 10 minutes or so.  Stir in the broth, bring to a boil and simmer for a couple of minutes.  Remove from the heat and let cool.  If you prefer creamier soup (and we do!), blend in a blender in batches.  If you like cream of tomato soup, add 1/2 cup whole milk.

I'll procees the soup and can it for those nights that we need a quick meal.  I love grilled ham and cheese and tomato soup on a cool fall night!

I guess that I'm overly stressed waiting for Kala's results to come in (hopefully tomorrow!)  This past Monday, my hubby came home and handed me a ticket and said, "It's not for speeding."  He had forgotten that his car needed to be inspected in April.  We bought the car last August and "assumed" that the inspection was good until this August.  Yes, we should have looked at the little sticker in the window.  But, with everyone being so sick and all of the dr. bills, we just haven't looked at all of the little details in life.  So today, hubby called to find out how much our ticket would be for.  They don't put the fine on the ticket for some reason.  They told him that we owe $108.00!  We really don't have this (at all)!  I was going to pay some of our mounting dr. bills and start to restock our meat freezer.  All of these things will have to wait!  Now, we have to pay this crazy bill and also pay for our car to be inspected tomorrow- about another $80.00.  Well, next time my crazy neighbors act up, I won't hesitate to call our local finest to come and restore the peace!  I am always concerned with wasting taxpayers' dollars but will not be too concerned as now, they will have $108.00 from our hard earned paycheck!  Don't get me wrong, we were wrong not to pay attention to the date- we were wrong.  But the police magistrate doesn't care that our kids have been ill or that we have never done this before.  At least it's a newer car and under warranty.

So, now I'm wondering, should I broil or roast our lovely new ticket, since we will have no meat for some time!?

     Once again, we headed down the highway to our doctor.  I have gotten a little smarter over the past 3 months of illness and now ask for a specific doctor.  I hope this will make a difference.  Today was Luke's turn again.  He has pnemonia in his left lung and is on 2 asthma medicines and 1 antibiotic.  He has to go for a chest x-ray next Tuesday and be seen again next Friday. 

     Kala's labs still have not come back but are expected on Friday.  She is eating better and smiles more today.  She still has no energy and her stomach still hurts like she did sit ups or pulled a muscle on her right side.  She said that today it was the worst pain ever and that it was a sharp stabbing pain.  This makes me worry!  I can't wait until her test results come back.  I'm praying that they are all negative and that this is just a case of an "angry belly". 

     Colan found out this past weekend that his 2 best friends (twins) that live next door are moving.  They are going south and boy is my little guy upset.  He has been having bad dreams and wetting the bed these past few nights.  Between shoveling out medication to the other 2 and dealing with Colan being up every few hours, I am getting NO sleep! 

     My MIL called me this morning and asked if she could finish paying for the few books we still need for the fall.  She knows that we have all of these medical bills and medication bills now, so I guess she knows that we could use some help.  This truely is a blessing to us.  I feel like one of the small weights that have been tied to our life boat, has been cut to free us.  I know that God truely put this in her heart to do and am very thankful for the help! Two weekends ago, my MIL and FIL came over (a 1 hour, 45 min. drive) to watch the kids so that Gary and I could go out together for awhile.  We ended up going grocery shopping (I know- how romantic!!)  but it needed to be done!  She also brought me some frozen vegys, frozen soft pretzles and 48 cans of various beans from Hanover food's outlet,  2 bushels of green beans to can, and 10 lbs. of blueberries for the freezer.  She has to drive throught Amish country (Lancaster) to get to our house!  I know it sounds silly, but I love that she brings us things that we need.  It lightens our very heavy load and is such a blessing.  She always seems to know when we need something and what we need.  Don't you just love moms?

     Well, I need to put some sheets back on a few beds and do some cleaning.  I pulled some already made up chili out of the freezer.  This will be such a nice treat- not to have to cook, but still having a home cooked meal.  All I have to do is make up a salad.

Blessings, Kelly

Well, Kala had some blood taken yesterday for testing to find out what is wrong.  She's still on the sofa, still complaining about her stomach.  We will know something by the end of the week.  Lucas really needs to go back to the dr.  He's still suffering with coughing and now asthma.  He hasn't had asthma since he was 7 years old!  If he's not improved by Thursday, we'll head back down to the dr's. 

I've learned to do inside activities.  I've actually had time to read.  I have been reading "Created to be his Help Meet".  I have a love/hate relationship with this book so far.  I really love that it is teaching me to be a more loving, Godly wife to my husband.  I hate that it makes me feel like a slacker, like I'm lacking, and like I have a LOT of improving to do!!  I'm one of those people that talks myself out of a good idea.  For example, when I'm trying to lose weight, I look at other people and think, "we are all made so differently, I'm just the way that God made me to be."  Then, I go ahead and eat that piece of cake.  I seem to be doing that same thinking with this book.  I look at other couples and think, "well, I am a better wife to my husband than that woman is to her husband."  But, I know that I'm not!  I know that I could improve in so many ways!  So, I'm trying to overcome my "thinking process"!

Well, I have to get these kids into bed!  I need some quite time and a space for myself of the sofa!

Blessings, Kelly

I won't bore everyone with details- but my daughter was hospitalized for dehydration last Fri. after haveing a stomach virus for 5 days.  She still is recovering from that.  My oldest son came home from Boy Scout camp with walking pnemonia.  Now, I'm taking my daughter back to the dr's. today because I think that she has walking pnemonia too.  Please pray as you feel led.  I have been tagged by my friend Lori for a meme and promise to do it when my kids are better.  As for now, I'm the nurse- and I HATE that job!  For the record- this is the 4 illness my daughter has had since the beginning of June!

Mommy's tired!  Please also pray that my little guy doesn't catch all of this!! We start VBS this Sunday and my husband and I are supposed to help.  Is this what I get for being mostly healthy this past winter while everyone else suffered???

Blessings, Kelly

For the past year and a half, I have made my own cleaners.  At first I did it because I wanted to save money.  Then, I realized that my asthma was more "under control" using my homemade cleaners.  I make a window/glass cleaner and also an every day cleaner.  I thought that I would share the "recipies".

All Purpose Cleaner:

Mix the following ingredients right into your spray bottle:

2 T. vinegar

1 t. Borax

Hot water

A few drops of mild dish detergent (dawn or ajax cuts grease!)

First, in a 16 oz. spray bottle, mix the vinegar, borax and hot water.  Swich it around util the borax dissolves.  Add the drops of detergent and fill the rest of the bottle with water.

Window Cleaner:

1/2 t. mild dish detergent

3 T vinegar

2 cups water

Put all of these ingredients into a spray bottle.  Shake it up and it's ready!

Another good all purpose cleaner for big jobs:

1/2 cup ammonia

1/4 cup vinegar

1/4 cup baking soda

Mix ingredients with 1 gallon of warm water and use for jobs around the home. 

This works for me in my home.  Hope it works for you too!

Blessings, Kelly

Well, as I finish cleaning out the freezer, this is what we will be eating...

Monday- Turkey Chili

Tuesday- Some sortof chicken casserole

Wednesday-Pork Chops

Thursday- Glazed chicken brests

Friday- Hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill

Saturday- Tuna casserole

Sunday- Whole baked chicken

I'm hoping that we can finish out the freezer in the next 2 weeks.  I have been saving some cash and watching the sale flyers.  I'm ready for some new "stuff".  I would love some fish!! I have thought about just throwing what's left of the meat into the big freezer and thawing out the meat freezer- but that would defeat the purpose of finishing what's in the meat freezer.  Once I buy new, the old will just sit on the bottom and get freezer burnt. Patience is a virtue and a pain in my bottom!

Blessings, Kelly

Today is my and my hubby's 14th anniversary.  Unfortunately, we don't have plans.  He left for work today at 4 am, becuase of some problems that needed to be fixed.  I am hoping to see him sometime tonight- but maybe not.  My mom and dad might come over to dinner, so I will need to decide- chicken or ground beef... 

Last night, at dinner, Kala started to cry and said that her tounge really hurt and that it felt really swollen and she was having trouble breathing.  Then, she threw up, thus ending dinner time for the rest of us.  She has been sick for awhile now.  She had a double ear infection and sore throat.  The dr. put her on anitbiotic 11 days ago.  I thought that she was better.  But, 2 days ago, she started to complain that her tounge hurt.  I thought that she just had a sore on it and kindof ignored her.  (Poor girl!)  So, last night, at 8:15 pm, I took her to the dr. and found out that the first medicine she took didn't work.  She still has a double ear infection and the sore tounge is probably still a sore throat.  She is taking something else and I'm praying that this works!!

I also woke up with a little surprise!  I had an allergic reaction to something (I still don't know what!) and my bottom lip is 4 times larger than usual.  My skin just below my gignormus bottom lip has split open and is leaking a clear substance.  I look just beautiful!  Maybe it is a blessing that my husband is so busy with work!  I really need a Benadryl, but don't dare take it because I will fall asleep.  I don't sleep when my kids are awake- I'm afraid of what I will wake up to!  I have neighbors who will take naps and let their kids run around outside- I wouldn't be able to sleep, worrying that they would get into trouble or get hurt.  I saw on the local news last week that 2 kids took their mom's minivan for a joy ride- I think they were 9 and 6.  They crashed the van, totaling it.  Where was the mom?  Oh- she was sleeping and dad was at work.  Well, at least one parent was doing something right!  How are those kids not in child services now?  A perfect point as to why I don't sleep while my kids are awake! So, my swelling will just have to go down tonight!

The best part about all of this- I am going to the dentist tomorrow to have a filling replaced and my teeth cleaned.  I am wondering how the dentist will find my bottom teeth!  The really bad part- my hubby was supposed to be off from work so that I wouldn't have to the kids.  So, not only will I worry about my lip, the pain that might be caused by the filling replacement, the cleaning...oh yes, and my 3 little angles sitting in the office, tourmenting the other patients! 

Did I mention that my husband's aunt and uncle from NC are coming to stay with us this weekend and that Luke is going on a mini camping trip with Boy Scouts from Fri. to Sat.?  Maybe I'm allergic to stress!!!!!!

Blessings, Kelly

Well, it has to be done.  I've lived here for 1 year and 8 months and my 2 extra deep freezers have not been cleaned out!  I have one that is 8 ft. long and I don't even pretend to think that thing is geting cleaned out anytime soon.  But, I also have a 4 ft. freezer that holds all of my meat.  We have been eating what is in it for the past month.  I probably have another 2-3 weeks worth on meat in there to finish.  Why is it that when I do this I always end up with either whole chickens or ground beef as my 2 choices?  SO, my Monday Menue's might be on hold until about August, after I restock the freezer.

Last evening, I decided to make pasta and homemade meatballs.  I was making them and looked more carefully at the recipie.  Instead of "meatballs" being written at the top, I was on the wrong page and was following the "meatloaf" recipie.  Needless to say, the "meatballs" didn't taste so good with the pasta and sauce!  Can we all say, "Kelly could use a little more sleep!"

Have to go make pancakes.  My neighbor (and best girlfriend) and her twin 4 year old boys are coming over to breakfast.  Colan is so excieted to be having breakfast with his "best friends!" 

Blessings, Kelly

I am finally feeling good enough to continue with everyday life!  You might think that I'm kidding, but I have been sick for about 8 weeks.  I went to the Dr. about 1 month ago and he put me on steroids and antibiotic for broncial pnemonia (okay- I know that I spelled that wrong!!)  And, now that I'm feeling good, my daughter is sick with a virus.  She has been on antibiotics for a week and has been on the sofa for that long too!  She has a double ear infection to top it all off.  Poor girl!

In the mist of infections and discomfort, I did manage to go strawberry picking!  I made about 15 Qts. of jam and have 22 bags of frozed strawberries!  I am actually thinking of going back to the patch tonight- by myself- to pick about 10 more Qts.  My dad is coming Saturday for lunch and I want to make a strawberry tart and strawberry salad. 

The reason for my post- on Wednesday- is that I want to start doing a Works for me Wednesday.  Here is my tip for finding recipies in a flash or planning a monthly menu- quick and easy!  I have a ton of cookbooks.  I often know that there is a recipie that I want to make, but can never remember which book it is in.  For example, I have 10 Gooseberry patch cookbooks.  They all kindof look the same.  But, tonight, I wanted to make a homemade stromboli.  It took me 2 hours to find the recipie.  SO, I have started a list that I will be hanging inside of one of my cabnets, with the recipie name, page # and the name of the cookbook.  I also listed if it has a "special ingredient" at the end of the description.  For example, I don't usually keep cans of golden mushroom soup in the pantry and would need it for salisbury steak.  So, that way, if I don't have the necessary ingredient, I just keep going down the list!  When I make up my menu for 2 weeks or even the month, I will just open the cabnet, and make the list up.  This will also help with the grocery list too!  I am just giddy with joy in knowing the time this will save me!  So far, I have about 26 recipies listed!  Hope this works for you too!

Thought you also might enjoy the recipie that I looked so long for!

Easy Stromboli:

1 loaf frozed bread dough, thawed

2 eggs, seperated

2 T. oil

1 tsp. dried oregano

1 tsp. dried parsley

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/4 tsp. pepper

4 oz package sliced pepperoni

8 oz package shredded mozzarella cheese

1 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese

Roll out bread dough into a 12 x 15 inch rectangle; set aside.  Combine egg yolks, oil, oregano, parsley, garlic powder and pepper, spread over dough.  Arrange pepperoni and mozzarella cheese on top; sprinkle with parmesan cheese.  Roll up; place seam down on a baking sheet.  Brush with egg whites; bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes.  Makes 8 servings.  I serve this with pizza sauce and a tossed salad.  My family loves this.  I also make the above recipie with just cheese- no pep. for my little guy!  Enjoy!!

Well, I must run- A momma, daddy and 2 baby ducks are at my deck, beggin' for food!

Blessings- Kelly