tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17130341358759595122024-03-12T22:03:00.170-05:00Infinitely BlessedLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14509535136702909516noreply@blogger.comBlogger184125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1713034135875959512.post-43800883260052339962010-08-17T15:42:00.004-05:002010-08-17T15:56:04.447-05:00KH Photography<div align="center">Kyle asked if he could take some pictures with our camera, I said yes, and here are the shots he took! </div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506483544020131954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqdoWnUWxwyJ7PTaAm9tNK8BQUvSeQAcaVD6XZezGjeCVAlJXOc0GpMQnm6GHNHX8VjbJaGkdWqHn9guMghL43gTG7-0dm6kZhXqf67t7S6bwTMEcXKCVw7k9dURJK899ujUnl7UZ0Z88/s320/IMGP8679.JPG" /><br /><div align="center">Miss Leah, 2.5yrs old</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBznhdW99xe9GS4nyIWbGcQzZXtJlDXKRoMmVO7dxxoeg0wQe0P_a_ahxsW4izKaV5fA2nnuwh1rGNxPS3ypn6Db-q-ff6GfxgrVmV22Z1nmk14JECUna38sRe2v3pSftlnS7cYJLcuRjO/s1600/IMGP8675.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506483554921715874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBznhdW99xe9GS4nyIWbGcQzZXtJlDXKRoMmVO7dxxoeg0wQe0P_a_ahxsW4izKaV5fA2nnuwh1rGNxPS3ypn6Db-q-ff6GfxgrVmV22Z1nmk14JECUna38sRe2v3pSftlnS7cYJLcuRjO/s320/IMGP8675.JPG" /></a> Kyle wasn't impressed with this. He said I needed to say "cheese!"<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbi-lcdJW-aHn_YzEH-64_juryb_1X2-YLyJMGm4WuG6NOSo3_w1EkeY6RYgvHVmKMY2UgVFMCpUPr_yY_pqOBL3Wn8kNuA-Ba-3DT7CDZS4n0DoXTEmgQaBnZB0SI4DZ8tDMAd5-HiGD/s1600/IMGP8678.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506483550178698178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbi-lcdJW-aHn_YzEH-64_juryb_1X2-YLyJMGm4WuG6NOSo3_w1EkeY6RYgvHVmKMY2UgVFMCpUPr_yY_pqOBL3Wn8kNuA-Ba-3DT7CDZS4n0DoXTEmgQaBnZB0SI4DZ8tDMAd5-HiGD/s320/IMGP8678.JPG" /></a> hehe, you always need a self-portrait<br /><div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506483236902006178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GCTs63_wu3fL-scJbdZLGOJAIOgVN4Exhi7nH7s_9R8oMuyf6g_P3qF2gh6REwzKBl5KhfjKJ5mvEgyn2QTKrI1HPHySysJ-NoowIkrcWVTr1-rpDrjHgW4K0RZI_QFmyexdeQyoKU8o/s320/IMGP8680.JPG" /><br />Lunch on the stove top.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9C2mbarat_Q5jMTyKB1vx4hDh_Lbw__IMYOa77mRJ31MH6R-jz0gWlbizyAAZzVG7gmAaPpv5g6qqGUPv_iNxld1ISnj3rRVE43xefDiki85x2oCSxZ2wvKp9SQ_oM-nfZORsTbpaWwA2/s1600/IMGP8683.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506483233778527922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9C2mbarat_Q5jMTyKB1vx4hDh_Lbw__IMYOa77mRJ31MH6R-jz0gWlbizyAAZzVG7gmAaPpv5g6qqGUPv_iNxld1ISnj3rRVE43xefDiki85x2oCSxZ2wvKp9SQ_oM-nfZORsTbpaWwA2/s320/IMGP8683.JPG" /></a> Pinpin The Spot ****** <span style="font-size:78%;"><em>(last name protected)</em></span></div><div>Yes, his blanket has a full name. ;)</div><div>Don't ask why he's (yes, we talk like it's a person, lol) is in the pantry.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPrQhnRI52W9XhJLLWC_fXmS1FZlhyphenhyphenazVW0v06V-WtUknbYGPBgQ9MxZLgTbYYCuY-gCOnQaSZeywpnkONG9BYLjKcZgRwNfcLgWA7JjV11b-R1MXBLcFhNjZcMuHC5SW9wNevvm6deUmX/s1600/IMGP8684.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506483227209417874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPrQhnRI52W9XhJLLWC_fXmS1FZlhyphenhyphenazVW0v06V-WtUknbYGPBgQ9MxZLgTbYYCuY-gCOnQaSZeywpnkONG9BYLjKcZgRwNfcLgWA7JjV11b-R1MXBLcFhNjZcMuHC5SW9wNevvm6deUmX/s320/IMGP8684.JPG" /></a><br />The kids' unhealthy snacks. Out of sight, out of mind!!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJi6MbrJDluVdLcpmN6X-w2K7X8ABjkRSCEnF926rawQqurFA1vLhxy_5C0a0Nm6tui5tiDW6XJb8YDZxuLmJp5-iLq1xq007LB6_MhuvFqsT8ZliRFFhZUPy-nzlDxF6Xq8nRmzsGMc4c/s1600/IMGP8687.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506483219306450306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJi6MbrJDluVdLcpmN6X-w2K7X8ABjkRSCEnF926rawQqurFA1vLhxy_5C0a0Nm6tui5tiDW6XJb8YDZxuLmJp5-iLq1xq007LB6_MhuvFqsT8ZliRFFhZUPy-nzlDxF6Xq8nRmzsGMc4c/s320/IMGP8687.JPG" /></a> I can't believe I'm posting this picture. My nasty microwave!!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLkzcjGXgYzc0wB3fxDxkclklqQAWaZmK7jYDpdSwxB4BZeZjusUPvaDSOi5Q9_8p7Y8ci0OqvoimdX68uLbD_D_tcYLgP9j5243QqVo6cFANEQmzK2QNx7TJNHSTOVjkbBdQbaFUvTMrf/s1600/IMGP8688.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506483215335517490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLkzcjGXgYzc0wB3fxDxkclklqQAWaZmK7jYDpdSwxB4BZeZjusUPvaDSOi5Q9_8p7Y8ci0OqvoimdX68uLbD_D_tcYLgP9j5243QqVo6cFANEQmzK2QNx7TJNHSTOVjkbBdQbaFUvTMrf/s320/IMGP8688.JPG" /></a> So, what'cha think? Can't beat that talent, right?! =)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14509535136702909516noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1713034135875959512.post-14438713114615488622010-03-30T12:36:00.008-05:002010-03-30T13:34:07.793-05:00curtains<div align="center">I finally made some curtains for our living room. </div><div align="center">Well, we have two big windows.. and I only did one, so I guess I'm half-way there. </div><div align="center">I almost don't want to do the other side. </div><div align="center">I'm scared it'll start to look small and cramped in there. </div><div align="center">But, it looks weird since only one window has curtains! Decisions! LOL</div><br /><div align="center">Here's how I made them! </div><div align="center">This..<br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 315px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454486447440796290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBw_UhMODaQcApa6BUVpZqFSC4Z25FemRs_W-Bor5L_VHb5p_J4CJ5DIrY-Q4U1gDC5BGFf7-BEiCe5HoIKmv8EzpKiAz8vFK5rHplGHuujiXU15ka_A2HMvOhegpOsJwY1ls0EyAKIV5C/s320/lg_mw_canvas_dropcloth.jpg" /><br /><div align="center">plus.. this..</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWiXiOdvtmMBSQTy5c2YwIY4CFyyA7loptCDDiiX_Nwq-e3GBrt3DwTkBLGd6L5OIxusreZ1ecFHMe9ifcwoNORrAUYFckizluPwWel7qdOLH4q6sh_EhFa0r2VqfEMiVwF8FAX3c5xV8/s1600/black.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 250px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454486449161856594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWiXiOdvtmMBSQTy5c2YwIY4CFyyA7loptCDDiiX_Nwq-e3GBrt3DwTkBLGd6L5OIxusreZ1ecFHMe9ifcwoNORrAUYFckizluPwWel7qdOLH4q6sh_EhFa0r2VqfEMiVwF8FAX3c5xV8/s320/black.jpg" /></a> and some of this..<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 172px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454486442623269026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoAFyYt_L2Omc1StSZoEmjiJpa4lwdq7dec388uS45N8-gNmv7lrvI34RSa3k9vYFR9_VHrSR1IxQZ71iApu2w1mD3ZmN-9HGaYuxn-DX8p8-E-WBto7dk_bB9dTIdd582_VCRDAx8nDMY/s320/Heat_n_Bond_hem_adhesives__super_011518.jpg" /><br />Equals my curtains!!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS-TtGvx9KEwCVXtL0vDReTSMF0tiYLfdeHqWYRKjtdR9_LiWH2K1EcwgJOle41nPoJRqKzCaVzIZnskTsUw0JCL3dBJbdewCxCxH9yiXIRfoJvRriEaMXa4hJN7HtAxrQuYY18IGruaX7/s1600/IMGP8278.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454483575736019186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS-TtGvx9KEwCVXtL0vDReTSMF0tiYLfdeHqWYRKjtdR9_LiWH2K1EcwgJOle41nPoJRqKzCaVzIZnskTsUw0JCL3dBJbdewCxCxH9yiXIRfoJvRriEaMXa4hJN7HtAxrQuYY18IGruaX7/s320/IMGP8278.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6SRVuHyUpIKz-lgcDKlSj6hASBawQOyQyfvjKIr5-t38dyCJgLjTsMdXqgXUUPwuGoadQN6Ternn3nPJQsQqJz3WlrsmPrt3553Iygohw7futuf8-Y8PKfBC07XckFGa84GaVP9dzCkG/s1600/IMGP8281.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454483422762032434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6SRVuHyUpIKz-lgcDKlSj6hASBawQOyQyfvjKIr5-t38dyCJgLjTsMdXqgXUUPwuGoadQN6Ternn3nPJQsQqJz3WlrsmPrt3553Iygohw7futuf8-Y8PKfBC07XckFGa84GaVP9dzCkG/s320/IMGP8281.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI9OEXqEdShVaGF0570YCgmon33fDGEAcjbuQ93XqSuOfrfaWDCp-HXxy9OQVQw6vcNJ_n70CkBORrc5x0aq6iLDxUo7tzYfKftl4ZqB9QufXFU0oMJxdfrkVRnQpX_EDZdCzBDqnFoFOg/s1600/IMGP8282.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454483418222007138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI9OEXqEdShVaGF0570YCgmon33fDGEAcjbuQ93XqSuOfrfaWDCp-HXxy9OQVQw6vcNJ_n70CkBORrc5x0aq6iLDxUo7tzYfKftl4ZqB9QufXFU0oMJxdfrkVRnQpX_EDZdCzBDqnFoFOg/s320/IMGP8282.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfJGY5WR6I63dUwrlIwnOYjwEuA-y1gNaLJGN1CiBOajgfT8Ct0wuWMsnexTAQSU4feBy2TXAQeZ2gZJru2uhtrq7jgZaBqy_NdqQaswKQBeDX3FGq9d4cKueWf7nTg0aKi4xnMU-Y37S/s1600/IMGP8284.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454483410521116786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfJGY5WR6I63dUwrlIwnOYjwEuA-y1gNaLJGN1CiBOajgfT8Ct0wuWMsnexTAQSU4feBy2TXAQeZ2gZJru2uhtrq7jgZaBqy_NdqQaswKQBeDX3FGq9d4cKueWf7nTg0aKi4xnMU-Y37S/s320/IMGP8284.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454483406244024130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkO6ZaWtzNlYzjD3JHWz9fNmVbjQuM7sckYHbkGW53-DSN_7EA-gW83bbiAWiBAXJ8nkObiO0O38eOn8lgpJBsAD3loZqUhgP9PKIG6TKN_zrHZV4g8TLRS01Shst-r0yvV0UiB3OIQxjh/s320/IMGP8285.JPG" /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjytAbldDU2BtApGXaIs5imm9gl3LCbPWty2cGswyCoaI2Hsun0qCXeWD41rRP07A3VoDxGYJo7jgcyvPPTd4AKY0NB9sPRwPYXmStrihJeH7TBLHQlMHGR8z3ARBpqzWFMzGHuScnC4pJI/s1600/IMGP8288.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454483398194728258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjytAbldDU2BtApGXaIs5imm9gl3LCbPWty2cGswyCoaI2Hsun0qCXeWD41rRP07A3VoDxGYJo7jgcyvPPTd4AKY0NB9sPRwPYXmStrihJeH7TBLHQlMHGR8z3ARBpqzWFMzGHuScnC4pJI/s320/IMGP8288.JPG" /></a></div></div></div></div></div><br /><br /><br /></div><p align="center">The only thing that drives me a little crazy is that the wrinkles will not come out! I was able to smooth it out.. but I'm sure you could see some of the wrinkles in these pictures. I ironed for hours and finally just had to give up. I have a wonderful sewing machine, but I'm so scared to use it! So I didn't sew one thing on these curtains. Easy peasy AND cheap! <em><span style="font-size:85%;">((the drop cloths were $9.70ea or something like that .. the fabric was $4.12 and the hemming tape was just a couple of dollars)).</span></em> My kind of decorating!</p><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></p><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">**</span></em><em><span style="font-size:85%;">I think I'll be changing the lampshades out... that's the only white thing in this room. **</span></em></p><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">** I didn't take a picture of the actual drop cloth and iron-on tape packaging that I bought.. I just googled some images. I think my size drop cloth was different. **</span></em></p><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">** if you google (use swagbucks.com!! sign up at the bottom! ;)) drop cloth.. you will actually find a lot of projects like mine! they are quite popular! **</span></em></p><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">**ignore the length on the left side.. that one turned out to be a little bit longer! lol.. I'm done with the notes now! **</span></em></p>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14509535136702909516noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1713034135875959512.post-44665920626150117532010-03-15T21:48:00.004-05:002010-03-15T22:07:34.807-05:00free decorating!I love our house, I really do. I love having a bigger house.. an extra bedroom.. lots of cabinet space, but I don't like all the extra walls I have to decorate now! It wouldn't be a problem if I was, ya know, a millionaire and could afford to go out and buy all the cool, stylish things. We're a one-income family.. not a whole lot of money going towards beautiful landscape pictures. We also happen to be military folks. Which means, we move <strong>a lot</strong>. Our next house could be itty-bitty, so I really don't want to buy so much for this house when our next might not even be able to hold it all.<br /><br />Anywho, all of that to say, I made something and I want to show you guys! ;)<br /><br />I had to be creative and use what I had around the house.<br /><br /><div align="center">Before.. another blank wall in the hallway.</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449060169599657282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjbzdTYH5qNR0QCiKNGHz2uR_xvjyKSv6SWIxXjAN_cZjbtLQWYiG4HZSg9qDdE0-2a-VQGcvN9pzzmxpvwTgBX9MEuCCjRPKafarTV2uTfTzY3migFmqmn5r9XKDuMPXIq1v1dhB1OYX/s320/100_1871.JPG" /><br /><div><div align="center">A piece of cardboard that came with a package. </div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449060156409604066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgviG7qAenCIwt_mZVokky-gOY1eH79n3kLIOpdbWQkhyCYecgHmqI-84Ta6lsqpM1j3uGKIy6ljET3PhWbvkdZIbhKwydOGzhJm-jwXmtufGK-h_OrBJtQKmezSuOmkdYAYbjfHKR1C9Vi/s320/100_1878.JPG" /></div><div> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">(I'm having some real issues moving my pictures around!!)</span> My little sign. I just put some scrapbook paper on the cardboard. Some ribbon on the edges. Glued a little sign onto some more scrapbook paper and that was it! </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 284px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 343px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449060147991659890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpydm-hXh1JIu89-LeFjG0DtwgsGUYu5ut6khfhSwWGKQYXps6LkU91J_pq5WllQ9LUSSSuQozz7lI6Hwd0SDn3Zrpb8KQjB0ISxX3TWzjfqTZRHtbSwPlpC3SmgNSG60yhplJy3YTm7Cg/s320/100_1876.JPG" /></div><div align="center">My not so boring wall! :)</div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449060136911376242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidjP_W0rolNKGbt00NEGbBiyCYjJhkbTM7_yZhG_ulZwYyHX2XeBS2w25CirT8NBgwvDmDJrDB6hAX6RuH6VjEI3zdW1yEISCMujTEpP8kyGiMLrX5XOpJMgspCQXUN8-V5UHLag88rD9/s320/100_1872.JPG" /></div></div><div align="center">The hallway is kinda tiny <span style="font-size:85%;">(and dark!)</span> so I couldn't get a picture of it all together. Had to do angle shots.</div><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449060126194669746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGg8k2qn_R_eBR3apaqnPck9u01SkB1yuDmXFhMcdpYQgfi-dr8cBUKMJpYQB-yHk0yiQEhuu6iJ9N1WyIeHyFgeRmLtrnR-m9dSo-PxPhh4qrq_KLS1UMwqclz-BIJvgzP8oLUvZp6AP/s320/100_1874.JPG" /><br />I am sooooooooo happy with it. I love that I used stuff that I had around the house and didn't have to pay a dime for it!! =)<br /><br /><br /><div></div><div> </div></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14509535136702909516noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1713034135875959512.post-65843239252941089812010-03-06T08:00:00.000-06:002010-03-06T08:00:03.154-06:00Yummy Banana PancakesMy kids will eat bananas, yes, even my picky eater, Miss Leah. But every once in awhile they'll get tired of them real fast. I still want them to eat healthy, so I decided to find ways to sneak in fruits and veggies into things they normally eat. I made these pancakes the other day and my kids seriously kept asking for more! Love it when that happens! :)<br /><br /><ul><li>1c. flour (I used white, but next time I wil do half whole wheat)</li><li>1 tbsp sugar</li><li>2 tsp baking powder</li><li>1/4 tsp salt</li><li>1 egg, beaten</li><li>1 c. milk</li><li>2 tbsp vegetable oil</li><li>1 tsp vanilla extract</li><li>2 bananas, mashed</li></ul><p>In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl, mix together the egg, milk, oil and bananas. Use 1/4c. of the batter for each pancake. </p><p><em><strong>Now time for some notes! ;)</strong></em></p><p><em>If you have a bigger family you might want to double the recipe. I made this for me and the kids and we had it for breakfast 2 days in a row, with not a whole lot left. My kids asked for more though. </em></p><p><em>Instead of mixing this by hand, I blended it all in my blender. If not the batter will be lumpy because of the bananas. I wanted it all smooth...so much better! </em></p><p><em>Be careful not to cook the pancakes on too high of a heat, they can get dark really easily with the centers not be "done" all the way.</em> </p><p> </p>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14509535136702909516noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1713034135875959512.post-38044217557281579162010-03-04T22:46:00.009-06:002010-03-04T23:30:38.623-06:00a parade!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfi51P5XqvjaupQyKFqMrGv6eytCGPKZWiRoq6K_MRKVLOSr0KJEARdBZg-cmweea_XdpgVO44ErW6MgXqYif91knNgg2iz5gciNDniSQIxiAra3p4fj1QQJYMj5iDQzPxRPqVtyhJbm-j/s1600-h/BlogParadeBannerSm.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445017895589930690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 105px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfi51P5XqvjaupQyKFqMrGv6eytCGPKZWiRoq6K_MRKVLOSr0KJEARdBZg-cmweea_XdpgVO44ErW6MgXqYif91knNgg2iz5gciNDniSQIxiAra3p4fj1QQJYMj5iDQzPxRPqVtyhJbm-j/s320/BlogParadeBannerSm.png" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong>1. What's your favorite time of the day, and why?<br /></div></strong><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#000099;">When my baby girl takes a nap! Unfortunately, Kyle doesn't do the whole sleep thing anymore. But, I can put on a movie or show for him (and he stay quiet) and get a whole bunch of stuff done. That girl of mine is needy!</span> </div><br /><div align="justify"><br /><strong>2. If health wasn't an issue, what food could you live off of?</strong></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#000099;">Ribeye steaks! Yumm!</span> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445009524639377378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3a8zaipluA-dcDv9RjXaBXNd1CM_ywOmGrod10RHYHrpLTUpbR5sQmWh9nlX4w8pUtSCTHI284JRUJPXD-nxe4FaEYkUVcV7evw20QHxkdP8yn-dqfq7T5XXnp8oc2LV1zMOzbkjGSkjS/s320/bbq_ribeye_steak.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center">drooooool!!!<br /><br /></p><br /><p align="justify"><strong>3. If you could have one wish granted (besides wishing for more wishes), what would it be?</strong><br /><span style="color:#000099;">For me and my family to live until Christ's return. I really don't want to die and leave my family. Or have any of my family die and leave me. Too sad to think about. I'd rather we all go to heaven together at the same time. =)</span> </p><strong>4. What's one thing that you get teased about a lot?</strong><br /><span style="color:#000099;">People <em>say</em> I'm a hypochondriac......</span><br /><br /><strong>5. If you could choose one movie, book, or TV show to spend your life in, which would you pick? What type of character would you be?</strong><br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Uh, can I skip this question? No idea!!</span><br /><br /><strong>6. If you could have one talent that you don't already have, what would it be?</strong><br /><span style="color:#000099;">An elegant, sophisticated sounding speaker/talker.<br /></span><br /><strong>7.If money were no object, where would you go on vacation?</strong><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Australia!</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445011251758980898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQvpSB5WJeqYQ3FuOiK-Xm_fdTrs6hww_VCBd3cJWMA8Sv2Eo3FaAzQbIbTkZtac1QS-40WYOJury7ZOWJXD564n1lqdPxyGeQxEDEUyd7ovRx_OYNfH3mFyIA184ToZxX_KRpKQLdaDb5/s320/australia.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><strong>8. If you were an awesome singer, which genre would you sing?</strong><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Country. I've always wanted a southern accent.</span><br /><br /><strong>9. If you could have a $10,000 shopping spree to one store, what would it be?</strong><br /><span style="color:#000099;">A super Target... Oh, how I miss Target.</span><br /><br /><br /><strong>10. If you could live in any point in time, when would it be?</strong><br /><span style="color:#000099;">1950's</span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445013093434629426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 317px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhAPuUc8TfSgkTO6PmbLW0pD4_KcG7qfZv7bNFp48ko5fiZjaUIlgLoQwEU9kVJ7x5hbJa5FmlK4BVwbsC2z2MJEQpYwKpCYsHo2Mz_Kv75Z6s3vEVzql3fK-Sl1NpJwwtQoBvm6FoF6C/s320/1950.jpg" border="0" /><br /><strong>11. If every outfit in your wardrobe had to be one color, what would it be?</strong><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Black.. I'm sure a lot of people would say that!</span><br /><br /><strong>12. If you were one of the seven dwarves, which one would you be?</strong><br /><strong>(Doc, Grumpy, Sneezy, Sleepy, Bashful, Happy, or Dopey)</strong><br /><br /><p><span style="color:#000099;">Sneezy (I have on and off again allergy problems! Really bad here in NM!)<br /><em>and</em></span><span style="color:#000099;"><br />Happy (I'm pretty much always happy!)</span><br /><br /><strong>14. What's something we'd be surprised to know about you?<br /></strong><span style="color:#000099;">I really don't like it when a stranger or someone I really don't know that well says my name. It's a weird thing, but it kinda irritates me, lol.</span><br /></p><br /><p align="center"><strong>Pretty fun, eh? Go join the </strong><a href="http://absartblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/32nd-street-blog-parade.html"><strong>parade</strong></a><strong>!</strong></p><br /><br /><center></center>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14509535136702909516noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1713034135875959512.post-30816085304374140442010-03-02T14:10:00.003-06:002010-03-02T14:22:39.551-06:00spring wreathThe other day I was just itchin' to make a wreath. I wanted something bright and fun!<br /><br />After a trip to the dollar store, some cutting and lots and lots of hot glueing, here's the end result.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444132126560728706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWhYYFN8RQj_gE8cxSgvy166QRuOyUdSOYZcHz0Pf0qrnGHxiW8cC5cm6BHB8L32ZaSBjtGjpbYPWVxWCCATqYdvvLoNIVLCv8J-dNxmbNLV5ApSMfB9DyPNtjOzZ7Vo8xib39m32LcPaQ/s320/100_1850.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444132124473464594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizhYOZX_EI4PbGuwJoISJDXkhm3dqxbCoZibyl2WpX_6dUUbhhTlscwy2DRj26BisjIm2xMJk4tSqHhP7jvO1_5IaZGTbzH_wgM1DVhwFetefZddTN4IYXHsXcFEbA4xrLXS5m-sx6-vEx/s320/100_1849.JPG" /><br /><p>One question! Should I add a bow to the top center or not? I think I kinda like it as it. But, feel free to tell me your opinion! The best part is that it cost me about $4 to make.</p><p>Circle cardboard cut out - Free<br />3 bags of plastic eggs - $3.00 (still have a few leftover)<br />1 bag of shredded green paper - $1 </p><p>I originally wanted some of the easter grass. But my dollar tree didn't have it, so I used the shredded paper, which is all they had.</p><p>I looooove it! Now the only thing that bothers me, is that if centered it hides my peep hole. I use that hole every.single.time someone comes to the door, so it <strong>has</strong> to be off-centered. Oh, well! My family's safety is more important than a wreath being centered, right?! =)</p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444132121379364930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN4PSXiZMrKnhEZLiISbw-3xWp9PCo70kSUsqH4hkinPrCp24f6bA7jOMVgC-wX5AlOD4GIrj582DHjKkYP_T0K2of1HqK3vvE8QvgBMtgyuMKF0zO4PgZ2dVfWelKvuDCWTsRvbnuUQmR/s320/100_1846.JPG" /></p>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14509535136702909516noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1713034135875959512.post-5379805303894773232010-02-27T12:15:00.004-06:002010-02-27T12:28:08.918-06:00twoMy baby girl is two now! I can't believe my last baby is growing up so fast.<br /><br /><div><div>We didn't do anything "huge" for her birthday. We didn't do a party since we just moved in and to me it would feel like we were just asking for gifts from our new friends. </div><div><br /></div><div>I took the kids to see the new Veggie Tales movie, came home and made Leah's cake and then we went bowling with our church. It was a good day, but I know when Kyle and Leah get older she won't be too impressed with us. Kyle's 2nd birthday was the biggest party ever. In my defence, we lived in Florida and had family was all around. </div><div><br /></div><div>Before I show you a few pictures. I need to say that I got lazy with her cake, lol. And I ran out of icing. Laziness + no icing = disastrous cake! I warned you.. just ignore the cake. Boy, Leah's really gonna hate me now, huh? LOL</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><strong>"Smile, Leah!" </strong></div><div align="center"><strong>"Cake!!!!!!"</strong></div></div><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442990283949914258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfmje2raL-1b1ZQ0pqXJ1xWSls8Ys4U0_ZU8YBDUSC-GZXd9pT5iq25u347OFWtzGTGAGlEisth2dzZMq8IiiVo_lDcd6Nfd5G1bwH2HTt_zNbHrQjFwrp2iNIKVa55AnYiIfeAgvrXbwY/s320/IMGP8239.JPG" /></p><p align="center"><strong>Oh my goodness, that face expression is priceless!! Ignore the cake!! :(</strong></p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442990295073652466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZmcWb11RO3Y8QacekNln8KAYspDGZimbWMyl0KodUKVpSHYH2O-r1EVAA-qmOS9Hg7AF-GCwcDUJqMZJbFf4S-X1JbogwjLgpR1AoqS8HP16AP9lIow6Wb6-fHTrUnpPnW6G6Yp6tTJ3r/s320/IMGP8242.JPG" /></p><p align="center"><strong>k, turned it around now.. still looks bad, lol</strong></p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442990300662444674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx85RzXfEZrDD9QPBjnjBWCIgqWeT9LVaIGwUeS_stCcZsV4ohOcvv52vqNzHfREojIt3_UUxPWQp5iZdCOHGWUaRiWHVT1TAv21fCfrg0FJKuMpqc7Oie3ezqD_nQIpZwRrdQ6xfvbsXt/s320/IMGP8244.JPG" /></p><p align="center"><strong>Blowing out the candles! <span style="font-size:85%;">In the end, Daddy helped.</span> ;)</strong></p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442990314816117634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_FxIg4NMQ7h8yGKlJ0tpGMwOW3fJBKfAdo5nrv_uqIhHbVRsMzg9nud8EVxS5h1CQzsuC65Z3HmpAr0DWrMtEpWSisXjIGyzfufl9_OXXB_EZ-znbSdQtksHdLAZZCuq4fr4mXnxYPkO_/s320/IMGP8248.JPG" /></p>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14509535136702909516noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1713034135875959512.post-8919940836281687782010-02-24T10:42:00.006-06:002010-02-24T11:26:58.098-06:00mom guiltIt didn't take me long to see that Kyle was missing out on something.<br />It didn't take me long to see that I was the different Mom.<br />It didn't take me long to see that I was the only Mom who didn't have their kid in preschool.<br /><br />Is it even called preschool if they are only 3yrs old??<br /><br />We have been here for right about a month now. And it seems like every one who has a kid who is 3yrs old is already going to school. I keep getting asked if Kyle goes to school. I actually have started to feel a little, tiny, tiny bit guilty saying "no, he doesn't, he stays home with me".<br /><br />I've started worrying that he's going to feel left out when he does start school. Or that he'll be behind because he was home with his Mama instead of being with an more educated person.<br /><br />*sigh*<br /><br />I know there's no right or wrong in this situation.<br />It's just a parent's choice.<br />But, why do I feel a little bit of guilt?<br />He's only a little boy for such a short time, right?<br />He has the rest of his life to go to school.<br /><br /><br />For now, I think he's okay staying home with me, even if the guilt does come and go.<br /><br />No regrets.<br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><p></p><p>Plus, if he went to school, I would never have these million and one adorable pictures of my handsome little man! </p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441862163490244546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcemK06IHfX9eH6q0sSvlPlDn_EKpwhRNRxOD8r2ah4RW4BkOFTQ-RbNkKEZniERmYuacDjcx2MXo3b2SMIDMLInVLSIq3ybgowveFmOuW8fniFhpeH5jE9hPWiCmqMtNnQAVSUy8m6RMx/s320/kyle.bmp" border="0" />Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14509535136702909516noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1713034135875959512.post-2202960824954436122010-02-20T14:29:00.000-06:002010-02-20T14:29:00.860-06:00"don't give this to a lion"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiujQEXL0XNvxtxwXO8FMrycBy37KZNx7c-AO9q7dS2hhdn1wAVx8_qfnxJKsAsK-zCKnbHVQ5dm66t71sSp48A1GBtxdYC3dETxXtMlXQ5Vtf5MvRLcvI4G4Rdz5KaCuD1xmrcdTg8wh3w/s1600-h/IMGP8201.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440086737560768306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiujQEXL0XNvxtxwXO8FMrycBy37KZNx7c-AO9q7dS2hhdn1wAVx8_qfnxJKsAsK-zCKnbHVQ5dm66t71sSp48A1GBtxdYC3dETxXtMlXQ5Vtf5MvRLcvI4G4Rdz5KaCuD1xmrcdTg8wh3w/s400/IMGP8201.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Kyle was looking at the back of his Transformers packaging and told me that it meant we couldn't give it to a lion. I could not stop laughing. But, seriously, what does that lion inside the triangle mean!? :<br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA7TwDFxHQ2mLAs7GPJR4yvuyjtXsfonsJBo4t7olcGGuvjJg32oQs6cxfK26RbjaewsQKVRqL7-ApdosJBGVtrD5KpAezjYlirJVagdAU0LJfZeMyiED-mzJK6c7SUAbaBuhN-cZM8eDh/s1600-h/IMGP8201.JPG"></a></p></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14509535136702909516noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1713034135875959512.post-58194005911759707652010-02-19T15:30:00.000-06:002010-02-19T16:33:17.000-06:00still here!Well, we made it to New Mexico! (which most of you guys already know, lol)<br /><br /><br />We miss Florida, but we really do like it here. It's not as bad as people make it seem. No matter where you go, you'll always run into someone who absolutely hates it.<br /><br /><br />As we crossed the Florida/Alabama line, I said outloud "goodbye Florida, hello Alabama!". Kyle seriously started crying. Not just sobbing. CRYING LOUDLY. Which of course made the tears start flowing down my face. He kept telling me that he did not want to leave Florida and he wanted to go back. It took about 10mins, but he finally calmed down. After that, every time we crossed into another state he got excited about it.<br /><br /><br />We stopped in Fort Worth, Texas to spend the night at our friend's house. During the night, the Penske truck that we were using to move ALL of our belongings, got broken in to. It was such a shocker, still is. I never thought something like that could happen to us.. but it does. Thankfully, the dumb criminals didn't empty out the truck. They took mostly lawn equipment, but the worst part was that they took Leah's suitcase of clothes and some of Kyle's toys. Kyle's heart was broken. He was upset when he thought it was just Brandon's stuff.. but once he found out that his stuff got taken, he was a mess. Thankfully Kyle is pretty much over it now. Brandon has a handgun now, so I think he feels a lot safer knowing that if someone tries to steal his stuff again, Daddy will shoot them. I know I feel a lot safer!<br /><br /><br />I always said "no guns".. and now we have two of them! Never say "never", right?! =)<br /><br /><br />Well, the day after we got to NM it started snowing. We had so much fun in it. The kids had a blast seeing snow for the first time. I guess the winter this year is unusual because we've had about 17 snow days so far. It doesn't bother me one bit! I haven't seen snow in 3yrs, before that I saw snow every winter since I was born.. so I have missed it!!<br /><br /><br />We found an awesome <a href="http://www.wbcclovis.com/">church</a> and can't wait to start serving in it. Nothing like having a great church home to make this season of our life better!<br /><br /><br />We're living in a 2story, 4bdrm military owned house that is off the base, and we are only about 4mins away from wally world! No complaints here!<br /><br /><br />That's about it, folks! I can't wait until we are completely settled in. Pictures soon to come!Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14509535136702909516noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1713034135875959512.post-83050969704286777932010-01-04T09:59:00.004-06:002010-01-06T14:41:55.048-06:00starting overWell, it's a new year! I always <em>think</em> about writing out resolutions, but I never really finish my list. I think it's because I don't want to fail!<br /><br /><br />One of the things last year that I really wanted to do was to lose weight/get healthy. I sorta, kind of did that (well, the exercising thing) for almost the whole year! Starting in October we got sooo busy or we were sick. We got hit with the h1n1 flu and then some colds. Then came Thanksgiving and Christmas! I think I only worked out three times in December!! It's pretty disappointing.. I was doing so well, too. But enough whining, I'm going back!!<br /><br /><br />One of the things I've realized is that when I'm working out, I excuse myself to eat more or to eat junkier foods. Wondering how I figured this out? I've got some extra padding in and around my mid-section. Not very nice! And I noticed that as soon as I stopped exercising and really watching what I ate, I got sick a lot more often. Being sick is no fun.<br /><br />So not only do I have to start exercising again, but I really need to watch what I'm eating. No more excuses! Just because I ran that morning, does not mean I can eat a slice of peanut butter pie AND some peppermint bark, right!? Aye, this is going to be hard.... but it will be worth it.Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14509535136702909516noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1713034135875959512.post-75392994318248535212010-01-04T09:35:00.004-06:002010-01-04T09:56:39.423-06:00smooth talkerThe other night we were invited to our friend/neighbor's house for dinner and games. About an hour before we had to be there, Kyle started begging us to go just then. I told him that I just had to put some makeup on and then we could leave. He paused for a second and replied with "Mommy, you don't need makeup, you're already pretty!". Oh my goodness, doesn't that just melt your heart!? He has been FULL of compliments recently. After dinner, he'll tell me "Mommy, you make really good food" or "you did a good job, Mommy". I could really get used to this! ;)Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14509535136702909516noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1713034135875959512.post-65537593752653522172009-12-30T10:12:00.005-06:002009-12-30T11:35:14.784-06:00the giftChristmas morning, I opened up my big present and just started laughing.. and laughing.. and laughing. Brandon gave me the weirdest look and asked me what was wrong. I showed him the box.. this is what was inside. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421083761270613586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWYmjIWrUMReW6E-Qf_h9kE-vhIGLrZplgWrvhH2sDjYKPSlH5lzyIgTQGR8Gy92WJ5bz7g7VnidlwjQmeu9fjL_u2PcUgUIpxwcPmS1MXSs9sz2nMkiIYOSClE9HlvKkaIkcQc1IkQJ-/s320/IMGP8134.JPG" /><br /><div></div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421082213251834530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7DQmxseCuIxSq-10psU8Rj5YVdnq3rYgGoSzU8Fjiw43wkAtMp5rVQnawoEKjFsexHOFsybbKn9Mh1iE7fUerDxHUtgh07jUvY-iKiNd-6KpF0OMTHdrDQo_HTKaZEuZrif5GnpUelgdR/s320/IMGP8136.JPG" />I'm sure you can figure out that this was NOT what Brandon ordered for me. There was a huge mistake! We had to wait all weekend to get a reply from customer service. Monday morning we found out that my bedspread was sent to a boy in Oklahoma and there was a big mixup. Wondering what that boy got to open up for Christmas???? <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421082883251186050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Pl20QItoFQspWdTGsHXqCOMybbWLkrOr081oWq186PrfqxQhetUZPt_wioyJl3d2TYhBTJeeDLpldUkkSLMUQxFRAaQGF7hqbFgXbCTHHNsOa_05ILAO-mfC5FEZz1it8Yb-fzVb5jfP/s320/51ZWdje5fLL__SS400_.jpg" /></div><br /><p align="center">hehehe.. I am SURE he wasn't laughing just like I was!! :)</p>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14509535136702909516noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1713034135875959512.post-67386055376063688052009-12-23T08:47:00.004-06:002009-12-23T09:25:52.551-06:00No training wheels!!December 11th, 2009, my firstborn became a grown little man. We decided to see how Kyle would do without his training wheels. He wobbled back and forth a few times, but in less than 30mins, he was off on his own. He was a pro!! I was so close to crying, but fought back the tears and cheered him on. For a split second, I considered throwing the training wheels back on. I don't like this growing up thing. It happens too fast. *sigh* He'll always be my baby boy. =)<br /><p><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxK8NZrcP7VUqra6Is9FXTvlVuHV5RTqo2sf0hLqEZmfVg_0gFxPDw7v2Sz8DwnOmlnfUSWg5PWRRvu5wefDA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzi-CHQBqSniYW3rippQKtnmV9oXZyBEIo2u9I6GQ_4z_g9FuOSYE_hJof5l-0fWZHiV6rFLtWjWLGZnoZe' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;">Wondering why Miss Leah is saying "uh,oh!" over and over?? Our neighbor across the street has a blowup Snowman decoration and in the daytime Leah ALWAYS says "uh, oh, sn-man" because it isn't inflated! :)</span> </p>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14509535136702909516noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1713034135875959512.post-25385395220153318702009-12-02T10:00:00.000-06:002009-12-02T11:18:50.478-06:00kids are so funny<strong>A recent conversation Kyle and I had on our way to church</strong><br /><br /><div></div><div><em>"Mommy, are my teachers going to miss me when we move to Mexico?"</em></div><div><em>"Yes, Baby, they'll miss you a lot"</em></div><br /><div><em>*quiet*</em></div><br /><div><em>"Mommy, is there a WalMart at Mexico?"</em></div><div><em>"Yes, Kyle, they have a WalMart in NEW Mexico"</em></div><div><em>"YES!!!!!!! Woooohoooo! Me love WalMart! Me so excited!"</em></div><br /><div><em>*driving past the boat dealership*</em></div><br /><div><em>"Mommy, me like that boat! Me want it."</em></div><div><em>"Sorry, Kyle, New Mexico doesn't have beaches"</em></div><br /><div><em>*quite shocked* "What!? Aw, man! Mexico don't have beaches!?!?"</em></div><br /><div><em>"Nope, New Mexico is just a desert, Baby" </em></div><div><em>"Mommy! Are there be cowboys there?!"</em></div><div><em></em></div><div><em>*me laughing and quite surprised he knew that cowboys live in deserts, told him "maybe"*</em></div><br /><div><em>"Mommy, are those cowboys gonna ride horsies??"</em></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong>That (almost four years old) boy of mine keeps me laughing!</strong> </div><br /><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410689182593988850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhru9jkgmwXZtPiP7lPeUd2Mh7NSOmFzWgLuURewuNvJkmO3ziUaiR5zDTww-bqHsYBfeDVfKuytYloCris1LeFtqbA7MD63KLgtLrXzIEKvhEt_zaTh-U2QgKNtZAimFf7sJkwYEr8swzH/s320/IMGP7875.JPG" /></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14509535136702909516noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1713034135875959512.post-22229512369646059442009-11-09T17:00:00.001-06:002009-11-09T17:04:46.906-06:00Chocolate Chip CookiesMy favorite cookies are Chocolate Chip Cookies. Nothing can beat it. What can I say? I'm a simple girl!<br /><br />For, like, the first 2yrs of our marriage I only made <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/award-winning-soft-chocolate-chip-cookies/Detail.aspx">these</a> cookies. They are very, very good. But I really prefer flat and chewy over anything else. It took me a really long time to find <em>my</em> perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe. But I've found it and I don't use anything else now!! These don't last for very long when I make them, too!<br /><br />Here you go! Enjoy!<br /><br />2 1/4 c. flour (I use half whole wheat flour and half white.. but I usually end up using more wheat though. I love what it does to the texture to the cookie! Healthier, too!)<br />1 tsp. baking soda<br />1 tsp salt<br />1c. (2sticks) butter, softened (I always use salted for these cookies.. just my preference!)<br />3/4 c. white sugar<br />3/4 c. brown sugar<br />1 tsp. vanilla<br />2 large eggs<br />2c. milk chocolate chocolate morsels. (I've used semi-sweet and we like milk choc. better)<br /><br />Preheat oven to 375 degrees.<br />Combine flour, baking soda, and salt.<br />Beat butter, sugars, and vanilla in mixer.<br />Add eggs 1 at a time. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels.<br />Drop by tablespoon-fuls on ungreased cookie sheets.<br />Bake 9-11mins (mine our done right at 9mins).<br />Cool a minute or two then transfer to wire racks.Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14509535136702909516noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1713034135875959512.post-14865697109548291882009-11-06T16:27:00.008-06:002009-11-06T17:32:48.997-06:00beachOkay, I know I said wedding pictures were up next, but we went to the beach yesterday afternoon and watched the sun set. It was absolutely gorgeous and I just had to come and show you guys the pictures! =)<br /><div><br /><br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401122958439688466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieHbqEPrBKnhTzehmxKwTdwuRuj6a2CESLzHZIMZYYWzaZI-lf0CUsKn25UJVhLMrIftM6V5YbR4pZRfRG0W8KTjrnnOVTaoG_tdUoAHL5-xjaZANQrBsrMFJS1gBLJ3p3_R2fcaLTdki4/s320/100_1532.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401122964991031122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWXJLykTDl0LwekpbOK6ottsw7cHkQpzGD8N-t_oaBY1xofTlnxH9CLfeY1zVO3Yjtx7kuDwGjvO7CzYti0LzSkUCLMfM3sWtYimrJSyBQgf5fvAt1ZqOnqkp-hKDrQS6tUq98mEipEl4W/s320/100_1536.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401122961815523362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKS08N49dcVc5kLNWEsqmMlqCJ8ouFKeEDIfXpvaalyiW-ruQNW49dTOE1kEltY0SMAF3MDJItt18Z8lUx9NYSsZ5cAuI95w-_DQB2zN8zoqT92tRDpf8diMHnunhd2nezIk219AC8esq1/s320/100_1535.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401122947201957090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1GpNsNeXHW8ZRsU5ZIbJmtprBniixd_8wsR7lBlBc4szrQzl_eMS455Xklv4PHa_TdRQLBVA_OEdUGz3q6fs_sa3OClekwKgKTo2XMHw5CobwFm8e__kvvERwzzeOZYVwZHkEEztTn4yL/s320/100_1530.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5gFwcbcU9ubwSHUB0YDESF0NOjOIrA4eYcoClUX-PCf0H78GBBKbAjKl_2Cpz1KizoOCsYYCIrkAFP8TAlxn5477y9TS5-hDCSToYeI6mNC0c3E7A9AzWULILYMssDpKsgpXH5bdkfLv7/s1600-h/100_1544.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401123942300863522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5gFwcbcU9ubwSHUB0YDESF0NOjOIrA4eYcoClUX-PCf0H78GBBKbAjKl_2Cpz1KizoOCsYYCIrkAFP8TAlxn5477y9TS5-hDCSToYeI6mNC0c3E7A9AzWULILYMssDpKsgpXH5bdkfLv7/s320/100_1544.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdW3euSoVmt4P8OJvsYdZl_0adbhuEEzdEZiBOKG1E_TLw-0IuHMDDchRUCwUYTf-9HhsSsOy7Y591Ccv5yYpUp9FHblofTTruduYdOb270s718fYUrWPSbHeU7IcUpflseA7NbhRghBT/s1600-h/100_1541.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401123927051944114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdW3euSoVmt4P8OJvsYdZl_0adbhuEEzdEZiBOKG1E_TLw-0IuHMDDchRUCwUYTf-9HhsSsOy7Y591Ccv5yYpUp9FHblofTTruduYdOb270s718fYUrWPSbHeU7IcUpflseA7NbhRghBT/s320/100_1541.JPG" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401134264901047442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6u783Mq5g2_BNFAkOB6TfJxT1Hx-beQ2f4aCEhyPTwZVbSCJzdU-o0-rrls9Ps8K_2LYTrdSRelwaWUJ0Jb9f2cy81ZEBACaKZ9oOnwBXYlBWMnpq1GIUAN6qfV0oi6R2MNbGB6npAead/s320/100_1553.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401134279114575442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8ZDHmyAPj1c3xXm9GaBXAkEOSitb4KhwFq82JkFSEGZcFbbXY0EOSbL3GXIU4xZWCwyb9QD3_KR7HwWEUf1HiTEvVpAcpiWmX29P9-Gf9eoKJWrRLl1AjoCQkoQCy26kjm1LIuv8BwjW/s320/100_1556.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401134273141876594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFlfih5f1fSlCynpXfqM-uKUHdF3kNCyxophl_6KLibWQcw9aCFtAPQH-3pwNlgqLcZ5-BSdmHir2wuLKxxdqhT2zJMqsrjfOe09EdeE7qgPFT1Ko2DW3THOOXBb3hbSP_N0QRtdAv1Sq/s320/100_1555.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401134284920732594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZjjwQ2xZdfj8rsmscU9k6dyG3uuamhAaHhRxLxsn0KGMznZo9P3PKBIL6W5a28ZPTuBRGJ8dTqNmLuCyjmPxgAlag5WxrWWVgixK2JD3oRMN8Kz0fRHH2ZIu4_sLr7L-oEYDHYcvKd28/s320/100_1564.JPG" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDfsCqxvCRAWWZns5_NE6e5hUTf01_CAzg3ltLsJhRv9VPA6ZXeQTPYoLU6BXY9X_lQdUstmktrzOGXbK2dtKAY7lfaPr0DINWDnnpmp7ndE-JliGnSouf0MEA7Tfu1nIQn0LMK_JP57mz/s1600-h/100_1538.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401122968956667874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDfsCqxvCRAWWZns5_NE6e5hUTf01_CAzg3ltLsJhRv9VPA6ZXeQTPYoLU6BXY9X_lQdUstmktrzOGXbK2dtKAY7lfaPr0DINWDnnpmp7ndE-JliGnSouf0MEA7Tfu1nIQn0LMK_JP57mz/s320/100_1538.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401123935439849170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjueCiPCZSp11lSHJcDUt8wAMuCJLW_EmwMuv8GU8UB2Rd9WrCo2ZUylIQiGPIzcH-F5AY6jPTQlbc52KQyRJYlKfyX8mAVXDHVT7DEiSifkISof5rM2AIF5TO36Ou3Bk2F-3dOUldo6GR/s320/100_1545.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><div align="center"><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401123945831004994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJZbfZA2-Yvk3znWzFVfthq5kQDv_YwieDW5IHq8WKcL4ydiXIhQVBVrl2zhZl0Pyx73VjsWh5XpEsO9LSyHcvuVYHI3bCASIvfXcWFiBKHCqO84rleXyMhCZoNqQTlsNlFiC0Bzq93kO/s320/100_1546.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401134281165754306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgr7mtdZEMmJrS5KE9ugBGLpg0X1m8mDCSQ-pLgJ9dFk5bcehHRjGOUVjiVbD6RxJU7eNBQtuJPpx4I7O6kkTgzNGnyWkpH1biwUHr2C4Ad8eZbzQbaS25B2EgcrfHDRecivGJLLqQ_Jpx/s320/100_1561.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401135927524745058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOG1g3pVzuwmEieFxHCDLhM7MU4G07H3i1t-IG0MNex-9FIGx5xH4JGLSsW-goMRaTH2ca-RsVsyLBjkGnTDjcL14DX02R_ZMWBwzmRaD8UBxhQ23aYCkAt_HnBVLCmzlBbvy4iDYLArj8/s320/100_1578.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401135924088548050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_NNW57RxLPKy3qCqXi3BeBRoYBB04f5jjeLM1dWfJfUF117A4tMQY5BAbBvV0Sqlw14Sp8ARI4qgIK1W86nQDzsbBpkeJ2qPrjagXynXJwh4e3_Ql089MhN1kyOcQk2hxKFuOr10iCY-s/s320/100_1574.JPG" border="0" /><br />I will definitely miss our 5 minute drive to the beach!!!!<br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14509535136702909516noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1713034135875959512.post-67701064385629228502009-11-04T16:26:00.004-06:002009-11-04T16:44:51.698-06:00a big blurThat's what life is like for me right now! My days just seem to blend together. I seriously cannot believe it's already November.<br /><br />Here's a little glimpse of our schedule right now.<br /><br /><em>Sundays</em>- Church all day. Services are 945am, 11am, and 6pm. A nap is always needed in the afternoons.<br /><em>Monday through Thursday</em> - watching my neighbor/friend's two boys, 12-4pm<br /><em>Monday night</em> - I have my <a href="http://www.faithbibleinstitute.com/Faith_Bible_Institute/Home.html">Faith Bible Institute </a>class (I recommend this class to every one who wants to learn more about the Lord and the Bible.. it's excellent!!) to go to, 630-915pm<br /><em>Wednesday night</em> - Hubby has school, the kids and I have church<br /><em>Friday night</em> - My husband and I volunteer at our church for the <a href="http://www.reformu.com/index.php">Reformers Unanimous </a>program.<br /><br />Every Saturday it seems like something is going on. Doing things/helping at church, a wedding, a car show, shopping, something!<br /><br />Add in housework, homework, running errands, grocery shopping, having a yard sale and dr. appointments (we seem to have a lot of those right now) you can see why I have neglected my blog!!<br /><br />I'm not complaining at all, I am enjoying life! I'm sure once we move and get settled next year our life will slow down and probably be boring! hehe.<br /><br />My next post is going to be overloaded with pictures! We went to a wedding not too long ago and I've got some cute photos to share!<br /><br />Until then, sayonara!Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14509535136702909516noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1713034135875959512.post-43188691988693056522009-10-27T14:51:00.004-05:002009-10-27T15:09:23.834-05:00Lime ChickenMy hubby really likes this chicken recipe. If you aren't a fan of limes (like me) then you don't want to try this one, lol. I think it's too lime-y, but my husband disagrees! Anyways, since <a href="http://www.everjoyful.blogspot.com/">Arlene</a> asked me for this one, I thought I would just post it up here for every one else.<br /><br />2tbsp lime peel<br />1/4c. lime juice<br />1/4c. olive oil<br />2 tbsp cilantro (I usually use more than this)<br />1/2 tsp sugar<br />1/2 tsp salt<br />1 small jalapeno chili seeded and chopped (I use 2 or 3)<br />1 clove garlic, minced<br />4 chicken pieces flattened to 1/4" thin (I use tenders or breasts)<br /><br />I just throw everything into a ziploc bag and let it marinate pretty much all afternoon. I have tried cooking this in my crockpot and on the grill and we prefer the grill. I haven't tried the oven yet, but I'm sure once winter rolls around I will try it that way.<br /><br />I think my blog is turning into a food blog!! Seems like all my posts have been recipes lately. Sorry.. it just seems like I don't have anything to blog about, or if I do, the time just gets away from me. October has been the craziest month this year for us. Is it like that for every one else??Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14509535136702909516noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1713034135875959512.post-22361993584414265602009-10-13T12:20:00.006-05:002009-10-13T12:43:53.054-05:00Christmas moodI can't wait for Christmas! I just want to skip Fall/Thanksgiving this year and go straight to Christmas. I'm excited to decorate for it! =) Although, the closer it gets to Christmas the closer we get to <a href="http://infinitely-blessed05.blogspot.com/2009/08/mooooooooooovin.html">moving</a> and that is not something I am looking forward to!!<br /><br />I found this idea on Melissa's blog and I could not stop thinking about this (cheap!!) project! I went to my dollar store and had a hard time finding the platters/plates/whatever they are called. I wasn't sure what section they would be in, but I finally found them on the bottom of a shelf in the baking/cooking section.<br /><br />Please excuse my horrible pictures. I am a lazy photographer, haha!<br /><br /><div align="center">Here they are just after I bought them.</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZ7kLM1wuuk2s9JZYm2_Rbzgw2nWEhNlNQkTfoCf9yrsrMb8KoB_1OAKIH9-AODeGniaq6hXc1pEZbfHaqS51pgNt3ILJ5LLoY7eKKT425csa2T_VwwTn1GqBy-ZCz9gEkySmByPBSO6Z/s1600-h/100_1429.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392138391894619426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZ7kLM1wuuk2s9JZYm2_Rbzgw2nWEhNlNQkTfoCf9yrsrMb8KoB_1OAKIH9-AODeGniaq6hXc1pEZbfHaqS51pgNt3ILJ5LLoY7eKKT425csa2T_VwwTn1GqBy-ZCz9gEkySmByPBSO6Z/s320/100_1429.JPG" /></a> Another shot with me in it :P<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlRxeEu3_f9CbhhdIj5kRoir0o9r-xyqXWUtGsDl2w_463WMOE_pHvPRW7Ibmv5PZV2dMbvJp4T_FD5wuPCJJFyh1Y9CAaeW3CczEUjfCZ5NkimCgfsPfEcnGXMHzHCnX1IUHiVZIJLHcA/s1600-h/100_1431.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392138378682060818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlRxeEu3_f9CbhhdIj5kRoir0o9r-xyqXWUtGsDl2w_463WMOE_pHvPRW7Ibmv5PZV2dMbvJp4T_FD5wuPCJJFyh1Y9CAaeW3CczEUjfCZ5NkimCgfsPfEcnGXMHzHCnX1IUHiVZIJLHcA/s320/100_1431.JPG" /></a> Spray painted them red<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGjfFtJl7AX0LPplmy5bfQPccdPgy7EMpxDPyen9K2TniePfWt2xd5hhv7LuKBjzbxWHKHz-C6i-i4HVGARzfr6j9I5cSS5bzJjmsJs-AymO3KmYWtWw-9FhBupxgVa3Si2mna7w-953hh/s1600-h/100_1433.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392138364341314322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGjfFtJl7AX0LPplmy5bfQPccdPgy7EMpxDPyen9K2TniePfWt2xd5hhv7LuKBjzbxWHKHz-C6i-i4HVGARzfr6j9I5cSS5bzJjmsJs-AymO3KmYWtWw-9FhBupxgVa3Si2mna7w-953hh/s320/100_1433.JPG" /></a><br />Here's the backside. Look, I'm a lazy spray painter, too!!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUYK6BWO3VniOfANOqbwvdFFtMnI6q-s9Xtm84Ou0UIWgytldCfy9a8M62UIpdqaQJn-hTj5Af5Lc3bQRMl53z9LrwXvslbKrc7iQ_t9rDijoqAj9jzcpzv5wh-Uh0iL9D8JOHYxqIbZoT/s1600-h/100_1434.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392138164496965794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUYK6BWO3VniOfANOqbwvdFFtMnI6q-s9Xtm84Ou0UIWgytldCfy9a8M62UIpdqaQJn-hTj5Af5Lc3bQRMl53z9LrwXvslbKrc7iQ_t9rDijoqAj9jzcpzv5wh-Uh0iL9D8JOHYxqIbZoT/s320/100_1434.JPG" /></a> The snowflakes that will be hot-glue'd to the tray.<br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392138154331531490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSppJo-421rT5qEGJDFJ1XPbcoFOYAv8I5sXhgdY9QACLRqZF_sKxELbhbWAbo-wArsxRhHkEk2t-hyzZAQnojViRbJXd1mYwH_E2bEcxZMI5f1RiIlzbcUCM-lvH45khVJ0Qn6rXPw-QI/s320/100_1435.JPG" /><br />Ta-dah!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4HWa3V1_Y39cvQCXcERto_-YdANingIP9JXSaDFrAqJviABEWHkRvpvFRQi9YLsEAnoU0muf1XzDuetYm8j0leTj6TpRpoiWkc9Ua0xQaTGFqFb5Qjg1tOqxDmvjJE4CkYKTXtqj3bOc/s1600-h/100_1436.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392138142491613762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4HWa3V1_Y39cvQCXcERto_-YdANingIP9JXSaDFrAqJviABEWHkRvpvFRQi9YLsEAnoU0muf1XzDuetYm8j0leTj6TpRpoiWkc9Ua0xQaTGFqFb5Qjg1tOqxDmvjJE4CkYKTXtqj3bOc/s320/100_1436.JPG" /></a> Closer up<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtHOHO_gmA4lW0kur77RjiF3ESa8vTz5AL2pgObibl1UIDa4Sb-RhYKMtLmnQcQYZfQ-Ps1It1Ws8dtaKLe5IFKk9Ard61tXClOWQXbI9-pwXxzjIV5SnRTb_V-enjgzxU2MWEXzfBXLV/s1600-h/100_1437.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392138132259498770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtHOHO_gmA4lW0kur77RjiF3ESa8vTz5AL2pgObibl1UIDa4Sb-RhYKMtLmnQcQYZfQ-Ps1It1Ws8dtaKLe5IFKk9Ard61tXClOWQXbI9-pwXxzjIV5SnRTb_V-enjgzxU2MWEXzfBXLV/s320/100_1437.JPG" /></a> Aren't they adorable!?<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwvHT2yZ_4eduEn5cI1toa4PDKI3dhy5gosoMJsGGGNfD3OkL72aHOSzHzsoysn6ef4sanmXcpIRqoI_ynFDFp9GfAbDfDwoi4ptyy04cXuHPk2coD1gE0jLWdLBkLdAyBM8GEaMRLk30G/s1600-h/100_1438.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392138126248686482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwvHT2yZ_4eduEn5cI1toa4PDKI3dhy5gosoMJsGGGNfD3OkL72aHOSzHzsoysn6ef4sanmXcpIRqoI_ynFDFp9GfAbDfDwoi4ptyy04cXuHPk2coD1gE0jLWdLBkLdAyBM8GEaMRLk30G/s320/100_1438.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Okay, I said this project was cheap. Here's the price break-down for ya!</div><div>2 trays from the dollar store (not dollar general) - $2.00</div><div>set of 3 snowflakes again from the dollar store - $1.00</div><div>red spray paint from Walmart (have a ton leftover to use for other projects!)- $.98</div><div>Total cost - $3.98 for 2 cute Christmas decorations!! </div><div>Love it! </div><div> </div><div>I'm going to have to go back and pick up some more. They even have some oval ones. Think of all the possible things you could do with these trays!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14509535136702909516noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1713034135875959512.post-36880603090022555592009-10-07T17:00:00.001-05:002009-10-07T17:39:53.788-05:00Zesty Chicken and Rice CasseroleI guess I'm all about comfort foods right now. I recently found this recipe, but it has become a family favorite around here!!<br /><br /><br />1 box chicken flavored rice dinner<br />2 chicken boullion cubes with 2 cups boiling water or 1 1/2 cups chicken broth<br />2 cups cooked chicken<br />1 can cream of chicken soup<br />1 envelope "Good Seasons" Italian dressing mix<br />1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese<br />1/2 cup sour cream<br /><br /><br />Prepare rice dinner as directed.<br /><br />In a mixing bowl, dissolve boullion, and add rest of the above ingredients and place in a 9x13 baking dish.<br /><br />Bake 30mins, covered with foil, @ 350 degrees. Remove foil, bake another 5-10mins. Casserole will set-up as it cools.<br /><br />--- My notes ---<br /><br />This dish can get a little too salty if you aren't careful. I'd recommend using a low-sodium chicken broth and tasting it before you bake it.<br /><br />We like it really cheesy, so I add a bit more! :)<br /><br />This doubles just fine in a 9x13 dish.Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14509535136702909516noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1713034135875959512.post-4551234961970428072009-10-01T23:43:00.003-05:002009-10-01T23:54:17.869-05:00Hot Chicken Salad CasseroleThis recipe is my ultimate favorite comfort food dish! I hardly ever get to eat it, since my hubby is a very big picky eater. If I left out all the ingredients he didn't like, it would't be the same!!<br /><br />-1 cup rice, cooked according to package directions.<br />-4 cups chopped, cooked chicken<br />-1 can cream of chicken soup<br />-1 small onion, chopped<br />-1/2 tsp salt<br />-2 tsp lemon juice<br />-3/4 cup chopped celery<br />-1 can water chesnuts, chopped<br />-1/2 cup mayo<br />-2 hard-boiled eggs (I use 3 or 4, depending on my mood. I love eggs!)<br />-8oz. Cheddar cheese, grated<br />-about 2 cups of crumbled Lays potato chips (enough to cover the dish)<br /><br />Combine all ingredients, except cheese and chips, and mix well. Spoon into a greased 9x13 casserole dish. Top with grated cheese and refrigerate. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sprinkle crumbled chips on top of casserole and bake for 35mins.<br /><br />I usually skip the refrigeration step. Not sure why the recipe tells you to do that, but I really don't think it's necessary. I just added it in there for you recipe followers out there, hehe.<br /><br /><br /><em>** shout out to my sister for passing along this yummy recipe! Love you, Marie!! **</em>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14509535136702909516noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1713034135875959512.post-74815667839057127122009-09-28T15:12:00.003-05:002009-09-28T15:25:15.490-05:00big heartOne day while I was on the treadmill at the gym, I looked up to see my baby (or as he says "Mama, me not a baby, me a KID!") boy really close to tears. He was trying to hold his tears back and his eyes were watery. I immediately slowed down and asked him what was wrong. My first thought was that he somehow got hurt. When I asked him again what was the matter, he said "the kitty drowned and died". I looked over at the movie that was playing on the TV and saw that these two dogs were trying to save the little kitten. I asked him what happened to the kitty and he told me that it got hit by a wave and drowned. I got off the treadmill and tried to get him to come to me, because at this point the tears were ever-so-slowly falling down his cheeks. I looked back at the TV and an old man had come and rescued the drowning kitten. I eventually got Kyle to look at the TV (he kept telling me no, the kitty died) and see that the kitty was okay. When my little boy realized the kitten didn't die, his face lit up.<br /><br />Oh, that boy warms my heart! Kyle is so loving and he has such a big heart - doesn't matter if it's a person or an animal. I'm so thankful that he gives me these little reminders. Reminders to be more loving, to be more compassionate. To be more like Him.<br /><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">**this is the second time an animal dying has gotten to him, read about it <a href="http://infinitely-blessed05.blogspot.com/2008/09/hes-my-sensitive-baby.html">here</a>**</span></em>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14509535136702909516noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1713034135875959512.post-715895146788070622009-09-15T14:10:00.008-05:002009-09-15T14:16:16.284-05:00My Jesus, I Love Thee<div align="center"><strong>~My Jesus, I love thee, I know thou art mine; </strong></div><div align="center"><strong>for thee all the follies of sin I resign. </strong></div><div align="center"><strong>My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art thou; </strong></div><div align="center"><strong>if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now. </strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong>~I love thee because thou hast first loved me, </strong></div><div align="center"><strong>and purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree; </strong></div><div align="center"><strong>I love thee for wearing the thorns on thy brow; </strong></div><div align="center"><strong>if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now. </strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong>~In mansions of glory and endless delight; </strong></div><div align="center"><strong>I'll ever adore thee in heaven so bright; </strong></div><div align="center"><strong>I'll sing with the glittering crown on my brow; </strong></div><div align="center"><strong>if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.</strong> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">William R. Featherstone </div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14509535136702909516noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1713034135875959512.post-7177453760168503222009-09-07T09:54:00.004-05:002009-09-07T10:15:24.541-05:00Labor Day MemeJill over at <a href="http://thediaperdiaries.net/labor-day-meme-2/">The Diaper Diaries </a>decided to do a Labor Day Meme, and I couldn't resist! If you decide to play along let me know!<br /><br /><strong><em>How long were your labors?</em><br /></strong>You know, I don't really understand this question. None of my doctors ever told me "Hey! You were in labor for 15hrs!". So, if someone could tell me when the time "starts to count", I'd be grateful.<br /><br />Anyhow, with Kyle, my contractions started Tuesday evening, didn't get any sleep that night! Wednesday had contractions ALL day long. They got closer and closer around 7pm, so we went in to the hospital. Kyle wasn't born until 4am Thursday.<br /><br />With Leah, my water broke in bed around 3am. Got to the hospital around 530am. Miss Leah was born at 2:22pm!<br /><br /><strong><em>How did you know you were in labor?</em></strong><br />Kyle: Horrible contractions.<br />Leah: Water broke.<br /><br /><strong><em>Where did you deliver?</em></strong><br />Kyle: Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho<br />Leah: An AFB in Florida<br /><br /><strong><em>Drugs?<br /></em></strong>Kyle: Asked for the epidural as soon as I walked in, had so many problems, and had to get a spinal.<br />Leah: Wanted to go natural, but asked for an epidural near the end. It wore off in no time, and I kept asking for more, but he wouldn't do anything about it.. next thing I know, I was insisting it was time to push!<br /><br /><strong><em>C-section? </em></strong><br />Nope.<br /><br /><em><strong>Who delivered?</strong><br /></em>Military doctors, but my husband could have since he was all up in my business! hahaha.. Love ya, Babe!Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14509535136702909516noreply@blogger.com11