MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

This year I am feeling especially blessed!! Blessed with love, friendship, family and friends! I have much to be thankful for... especially the gift of Christ in my life! Remember that he is the reason for the season!!

Today (Christmas Eve) the girls and I went ice skating with my mom and sister at the local outdoor rink. It was SO much fun! The girls went out on the ice with brave faces and unsteady feet. Thank goodness the rink had little walkers that the kids can use for support so mommy, frammie and pippi didn't have to break their backs!

After our skating adventure we drank some hot cocoa to warm up and then went to the yogurt hut for ice cream... I know... get warm and then eat frozen yogurt?! Typical fun girls day out! :)

We went out to dinner as a family tonight and came home and played Uno and watched a really random kids Christmas movie. After much argument the kids finally went to bed. They were asleep 2 hours later and Santa FINALLY came!

Now that's officially Christmas, and "A Christmas Story" is on TV it's time for santa to head to bed!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!! May your holiday abound with blessings and be filled with family, friends and happiness!!

Crop share...

Sounds interesting huh??

What is a crop share you ask?? We purchase a "share" of a local farmers crop. In turn we get twice monthly boxes of fresh organic veggies, fruits, flowers, herbs, etc! Usually farms only offer CSA's (crop share agreements) in the spring/summer seasons... but this year a local farm offered a winter one!

We decided to split a CSA with some friends down the street and it's been SO FUN! We don't know what comes in each box so it's always a surprise. But it's encouraged me to think outside of the box when it comes to cooking! (which my husband is thoroughly enjoying!)

We got our second box a few days ago and the bounty was PLENTY! In the box we got: carrots, red and yellow potatoes, red onions, leeks, kale, spinach, mixed salad greens, squash, cabbage, a rutabaga... about 15 lbs of veggies in all. The farm also sends some great recipes that we've been trying. Tonight I'll make veggie barley soup using many of the veggies... don't know how it will turn out but it's something different and I'm excited to try it! :)

If your family likes veggies and you want to help the local economy I would suggest looking into farm shares in your area! We go through the Barking Moon farm in the Rogue Valley (which is full for the winter)... but come March start looking around... it's a great investment!!

Off to figure out how to cut up a rutabaga... should be interesting! :)

withdrawls...

So in the midst of my holiday life adventures... I've decided to take a break from the black whole that is FACEBOOK. Now I love facebook and have been quite enjoying connecting and reconnecting with friends, family and random people who I've crossed paths with.

I have to admit that I've been having some serious withdrawls from that which sucked up all my non-existant free time! So I'm committing myself back to my blog. I can share my day, week and overall life adventures with those that would like to keep up with it and not get sucked into the quiz taking, mafia shooting, sorority spatting, bejeweling craziness that is facebook.

Instead I plan to use my black hole moments to get healthy, do projects with my kids, and putting more time into my volunteer work.

So be ready for the updates... and have a Merry Christmas!!!!!!!
May God bless you and yours during this holiday season!

Holiday fun has begun!

We've had a week full of holiday fun activities!
Last Sunday we attended Omar's Staff holiday Party. We are "unofficial" Omar's guests at this party ever year with my mom and step-dad. It's always a fun time to eat good food, celebrate the season and of course get a visit from Santa!!
They close the whole restaurant down told hold this party. It's the ONLY day out of the year that the restaurant is closed to patrons. They makes tons of food, keep the drinks flowing and always give generously as far as Santa is concerned. It's so cute watching my kids sit on Santa's lap and get their sweet gift. This year Mason got an air hockey set, Chloe got a paint your own piggie bank and Abby got a "betsy wetsy" doll. You know... the ones that go "potty". They all LOVE THEIR PRESENTS!! And I love that their gift opening excitement is put at bay for at least a week!!

Then Friday night we were able to enjoy our first ever Central Point City Christmas celebration!! The City put on an adorable event for the kids! We went to the Grange Hall downtown and upon walking in the door the gifts were handed goody bags and tickets. When we got into the "room" the kids matched their ticket number with a wrapped gift. We made Christmas cards, ate cookies and juice, got pictures with Santa, made jingle bell bracelets, made ornaments, got to choose books from the Kiwanas book room and of course got to open presents! It was well run and alot of fun for the whole family! Mason got to take his friend which was an added bonus.
We then went to our wards victorian Christmas celebration! The decorations were BEAUTIFUL, the food was wonderful, the atmosphere magical and the spirit abounding! The kids had a great time doing their activities including ornament making, special dinner and a "snock" fight! (snowballs made out of socks!!) The program and music was a perfect way to portray the blessings that Christ bring us in our lives. It was a wonderful evening!

I'm looking forward to the rest of December to be full of love, blessings, service and Christmas miracles!! I feel so blessed to be surrounded by family and friends who have so much love and support to give!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Not even Dr. Pepper can cure this...

Well my blogging friends it has been QUITE THE WEEK!!

* I started putting up Christmas decorations! It's the first Christmas in the first home that we own! So it's been TONS of fun finding new nooks for decos I already have, adding a few small things to my decoration collection and turning our new home into a yuletide wonderland!!

* I dressed my little angels up and took them out for a Christmas photo shoot. Which ironically ended up at the mall around "Santa's Village" so I get capture some holiday cheer in the background. (I then proceeded to use some family pics from 4th of July for our Christmas card... go figure!) :)

* I had a bunch of friends over to decorate holiday wreaths with all supplies generously gifted from Underwriters Labratories... GREAT COMPANY!! It was a total blast to gab, listen to Christmas music, drink hot cider and cocoa and let the kids run a-muck while the mommies got to be crafty!

* All 3 of my children participated in the children's Primary Program at church this week which is my favorite Sunday out of the whole year! It was so good!! The kids spoke and shared messages with passion and spirits... and their sweet little voices singing songs of love for our Savior, familes and friends... it was PERFECT!! :)

My "broken" baby....

My poor little Abby broke her wrist!! Last weekend her and her sister were playing and she "fell"... actually her sister pushed her!

She was upset when she fell but could move it, no swelling, just a big bruise at the base of her thumb. Well today I picked her up from school and she was complaining about her hand hurting. When I asked where it hurts she pointed to the cruised area... which was now a little swollen.

I took her to a friends house and her imput and decided to take her in... just to make sure...

IT WAS BROKEN!!

I feel like a TERRIBLE mom today. But she's doing much better! She now has a pretty pink cast and isn't really in pain anymore. The nurse was SO SWEET... she even gave her stuffed animal a matching "cast" so they could heal together. I LOVE good medical professionals!

So here's my brave little girl getting her cast on. She was so brave (and I was feeling SO bad) that we went and got special hot chocolate afterwards.

Halloween fun!

This past week has been FILLED with Halloween CRAZINESS! It all started last weekend with a party at a friends house. Then this week we had the moms group party here at our house, school day festivities, school carnival, pumpkin patch trip for Abby's preschool and it was all finished off with a night of TRUNK or treating at church!

BUSY WEEK!!

Mason our little Mario

I dressed up as "swine flew"

Abby our little moo cow

Chloe as a fairy with her BFF

Our happy kids at the pumpkin patch at Harry and David Country Store!

Fun fundraising photo shoots...

The past 2 weekends I've had a ball taking family portraits to raise money for the Relay for Life! I raised over $500.00!!!! WOOT WOOT!!

Here are a couple of the shots that were my favorite. I shot from 2 locations. One at beautiful Lithia Park in Ashland, Oregon and the other at White's Country Farm in Medford, Oregon.

Thanks to all who came and donated! I had a blast and we raised money for a GREAT CAUSE!!

RIP Blackberry...

Today a terrible tragedy occured! My blackberry phone... which is a pretty big lifeline for me... died. Rest is peace dear Red! (That was it's name because it was pretty and red)

Red was a part of my life, social calendar, sanity and annoyances for the past 2 years. It will be sorely missed.

And while the mourning process is still in effect the joyous recovery has shown it's lovely face... in the form of an iPhone!!

Let me tell you... I feel SPOILED ROTTEN with this new phone! But it will be VERY beneficial with the craziness that is my life. Plus I feel like my sanity could be helped as I'm listening to "Girls Just Want to Have Fun!" through the streaming music player on the new iPhone!!

I'm sure will be pics... but that is for AFTER the mourning period. :)

Here piggy piggy piggy!

And... another one bites the dust!

Chloe has been struck with high fever, head and body aches and overall miserableness. My poor girls! On Friday we found out that Abby has confirmed H1N1 flu virus. So she was in quarentine all weekend. The Dr's told us that it would run through the family and start with a fever. So here we go AGAIN!!

I've always thought little piglets were cute.... but this is just sick and wrong!

5 minute mug cake... YUMMO!

This recipe is on my friends Audrey's blog and it looks SO AWESOME that I HAD to post it on mine!! Thanks for sharing Aud! I'm going to make this for dessert tonight!
ENJOY!!

5 minute mug cake

4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
A small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug (MicroSafe)

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well.
Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
Pour in the milk and oil and mix well..
Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts.

The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!
Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.

Crumpled Fun!!!

That is the name of my new Etsy store!!

Yikes... yet ANOTHER adventure for this crazy momma... but hey! I wouldn't be me without a crazy life full of adventure right??

It all started when I decided to make Chloe's halloween costume. I made a cute tinkbell "tutu" skirt. She calls it her fairy skirt and I had to PRY it off her skinny little body!

I was very proud of my new creation and posted pics of said fairy skirt on my facebook page. Within 24 hours I had 5 people asking me to make one or two or THREE for them for Christmas gifts. I evaluated costs, time, etc and figured out... I can do this!!

So.. I decided I would try my hand at Etsy and see if there are any takers.

I'm even more proud of the fact that I made my own shop "banner" with photoshop. I've NEVER done that before!! I've got Mad Skills!!

http://jennhedge.etsy.com/

Check out the banner! There is only one skirt listed now... but more are being made daily! And I love making them!! FUN FOR ME!!

Neil's new "RIG"

Yes... Neil got a new car! Actually a truck. It's pretty and RED and holds the whole family... we love it!! We got an AMAZING deal on it... you know I have awesome negotiating skills!

Here's our pretty new rig!!

Check me out here!

I've officially been introduced on the Family Home Evening Blog!

That's right friends and followers... I'm a contributor of another great blog and I'm SO EXCITED!

I'll be writting a weekly article on food storage and emergency preparedness. So come check me and the other GREAT ladies out over there!! WOOT WOOT!! :)

feeling a bit "porkish"

Yes... that was a hint, inuendo, reference, perception, etc. I have been hit by the FLU!

It all started with a scratchy throat and headache. So I popped some vit C, started chugging water, got lots of rest. 48 hours later it's a full blown, throat killing, ear ringing, head spinning, face exploding pandemic. Thank HEAVENS it hasn't passed to the kids!! All I want to do is lie in my misery with some warm broth, a chick-flick and gallons of NyQuil... but alas I am a mommy... NOT going to happen!

But I can wish and dream right?? The best part you ask?... we were exposed to the swine flu... LOVELY! So if I'm worse tomorrow... thought God knows that I wouldn't do well with that "blessing" I'm heading to the Dr to get checked. Can anyone say "oink"?

Oh.... yes... one more thing! Hubs was "not feeling well" yesterday when he got home. So I made baked potato soup and served him, he layed in bed all evening. MEN?!?!?!?

I must sign off with "de-bde-be-de... that's all folks!" ~ it's just TOO perfect!

UPDATE: Katie is making progress and is off sedation. They hope to have her off the ventilator by tomorrow evening. With no sedation she has become more aware of the gravity of the situation and was told this morning about the loss of her husband Ryan.

I can't even begin to imagine what emotions she is feeling right now! Her progress is nothing short of a miracle... please continue to pray for this wonderful family!

Updates can be read at: www.thealders.org

PLEASE PRAY!!!!!!!

My dear blogger friends and fans... this is a desperate request for fasting and prayer!!

Our world has suffered a tragic loss. My friends, Kate and Ryan Alder were in a car accident on Friday on their way from Oregon to Utah. Ryan suffered a major head injury and was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident despite efforts to revive him. Kate also suffered head trauma and was airlifted to a trauma center in Reno where she is now. She had undergone surgery to relieve pressure on her brain. She is also being treated for numerous fractured bones, cuts and bruises. Their beautiful 3 month old daughter Cora did not suffer ANY injuries and is with grandma and grandpa right now in Reno. Kates parents, brother and sister in law are all there with her now.

This young family suffered a terrible loss! They need prayer!! Please pray for Kate's continued recovery and health, also for peace in her heart when she learns of her loss. Please pray for baby Cora and the wonderful grandparents that are her current caregivers. Please pray for all of those that are helping this family in Reno and those here at home that they may continue to do so.

My heart is aching and the only think I can think to do is pray... please join me!!

The BEST Salsa recipe EVER!

At my recent housewarming party, I made my homemade salsa which always seems to be a big hit! After NUMEROUS guests threatened to take the entire salsa bowl and hoard it I promised to post my recipe here on my blog so everyone can enjoy it at home.

My family makes a similar recipe that I have made changes to called is Bobby Sox Salsa. I don't have a name for mine yet... So if you think of the perfect name post it in a comment here! :)

In a blender mix:
2 cans Mexican style tomatoes
1 seranno pepper (top cut off)
1 bunch of green onions (greens and roots chopped off)
1 bunch of cilantro (stems chopped off)
1 clove of garlic
salt and pepper

Blend for 10 seconds on high and serve with chips! (Juanita's chip are our favorite!!)
THE salsa gets better as it sits! If you're serving it at a party I would make it a few hours ahead of time and put it in the fridge.

I'm telling you... once you try this recipe you will never go back to whatever salsa you were having before!!

Enjoy!!

Back to School!!!!

Well not quite yet but since that was the activity du jour I thought I rant about it!.



I LOVE back to school time! The change in weather, the kids excitement and the QUIET HOUSE... well for a couple hours anyway! I love the smell of freshly sharpened pencils and new shoes right out of the box... I know I'm weird but hey... you've all had fair warning!



Now as much as I love back to school I do have one gripe... I am back to school BROKE!!



The supply lists seem to get longer each year, the kids are growing like WEEDS and need not only a school outfit but new shoes, etc. Then of course there are the registration fees, sport fees, room party money, field trip money, lunch money.... AHHH!! Does it EVER end?!



I've spent over $150 in the last 2 days on supplies and fees and the kids haven't even stepped foot in their classrooms yet! OI!!



So... let's just suffice it to say that I'm greatful for the public school system and the education my kids have been getting. Because if this is what public school costs IMAGINE what private school would run me! YIKES!!



See there is always a silver lining!! Happy back to school to all parents and kids out there.... thought I'm pretty sure that some kids won't think it's "happy" :)

I WON!! I WON!!

You read it right!! I WON!!

All 3 of the baked goods I entered won a prize ribbon! I now have 3 award winning yummies I can brag about whenever I make them!! :)

My chocolate, mint, chocolate chip cookies won 2nd place in the "other cookies" category.

My Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Oatmeal cookies won 1st place in the Chocolate Chip cookie category... beating out 26 other chocolate chip cookie entries!! (none of them GF!!)

And last but not least my Lemon Decadance Cake won 1st place in the "other cake" category, 1st place in the "Cake" Lot and Reserve Grand Champion (2nd place) in the "BAKED GOODS" category!!!

Now I have a whole bunch of cool ribbons, bragging rights and a very family!! I can't wait until next year!!! :)

Do we have a winner??

I sure hope so!!

Today is the BIG day! I'm taking my baked good and photo entries down to the county fair. Now when I was growing up in CA the county fair was no big to-do. I think I went maybe twice in my life before I moved to Oregon. NOW... it's a don't miss event! (If for nothing better than to people watch because boy do people come out of the cracks for the county fair!!)

SO... wish me luck! I'm entering 2 gluten free cookies: chocolate chip oatmeal and chocolate mint chocolate chip. I also have my lemon decadance cake which is TO DIE FOR! I'm even over coming a fear by entering 2 photos...

I'm so nervous!!

You know you're from Oregon when...

My sweet friend Tana had this on her blog and I was laughing and agreeing through the whole list.... I had to share! :) ENJOY!! :)

You know your from Oregon when....

*If you've worn shorts, sandals and a parka at the same time, you live in Oregon .
*If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed the wrong number, you live in Oregon .
*If you measure distance in hours, you live in Oregon .
*If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you live in Oregon .
*If you have switched from 'heat' to 'A/C' and back again in the same day, you live in Oregon .
*If you install security lights on your house and garage but leave both doors unlocked, you live in Oregon
*If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in Central, Southern or Eastern Oregon .
*If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a 2 layers of clothes or under a raincoat, you live in Oregon .
*If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow and ice, you live in Oregon .
*If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, and road construction, you live in Oregon .
*If you feel guilty throwing aluminum cans or paper in the trash, you live in Oregon .
*If you know more than 10 ways to order coffee, you live in Oregon .
*If you know more people who own boats than air conditioners, you live in Oregon .
*If you stand on a deserted corner in the rain waiting for the "Walk" signal, you live in Oregon
*If you consider that if it has no snow or has not recently erupted, it is not a real mountain, you live in Oregon .
*If you can taste the difference between Starbucks, Seattle's Best, and Dutch Bros, you live in Oregon .
*If you know the difference between Chinook, Coho and Sockeye salmon, you live in Oregon .
*If you know how to pronounce Sequim, Puyallup , Abiqua, Issaquah , Oregon , Yachats, Yaquina, Takelma, Umpqua, Yakima and Willamette, you live in Oregon .
*If you consider swimming an indoor sport, you live in Oregon .
*If you can tell the difference between Japanese, Chinese and Thai food, you live in Oregon .
*If you never go camping without waterproof matches and a poncho, you live in Oregon .
*If you have actually used your mountain bike on a mountain, you live in Oregon .
*If you think people who use umbrellas are either wimps or tourists, you live in Oregon .
*If you buy new sunglasses every year, because you cannot find the old ones after such a long time, you live in Oregon .

I'm famous!!!

Well I consider it fame! 2 of the COOLEST people I know have a GREAT blog called Year of No Fear. They encourage others... along with themselves... to conquer fears and tell them about it! It's VERY uplifting!!

So the FAME part... they have "spotlighted" me on their blog!! I feel so special!!

And the topping on the cake is my nickname from them... FIRECRACKER! I think it fits well! :)

Love you both YONF and MRS. B!! :)

ps: I think I have a JR. Firecracker on my hands here... what do you think??

I haven't fallen off the face of the earth.... YET!

Life is just one crazy ride!! And I'm grateful that Heavenly Father has blessed me with an abundance of seat belts because OI!.... there would be some SERIOUS blood shed!

Don't have alot of time to go on and on about the last couple weeks but in a nut shell.... here you go:
1- loan file was "randomly" selected for auditing in underwritting... SO FUN!
2- Weddind anniversary came and went.... woot! 8 years!
3- Mason turned 7 and had a very explosive day... like explosive puking ALL OVER!... again SO FUN!
4- Relay For Life... SO AWESOME!! We have raised about $103,000.00 to date with couple months of fundraising still to go! YAY MEDFORD!!
5- Signed loan papers with the title company yesterday.... our app finally escaped "audit-land" we get keys on Thursday!! WOOT!!
6- Survived Chloe's 2nd grade park day today! Hot dogs, soda, soda, and soda... throw in a few water balloons and it's fun for all!

ok... that's the gist of it all... enjoy your week! I'll be offline for about a week while we move and get everything set up at the new house... so until then! STAY COOL!! And DO NOT get struck by LIGHTNING!!

VERY flattered!

Today I received a phone call from the American Cancer Society here in Medford.

They have offered me the position of Team Development Coordinator for Relay for Life 2010!! I will be in charge of recruiting and training participating teams, as well as the assistant organizer for the WHOLE EVENT!!

This is not a position that they offer lightly and I'm VERY flatter that they chose me to fill very big shoes!! I get to attend a weekend training conference with the whole West Coast in Reno in September... all expenses paid of course! LOVE IT!!

I'm so glad to be apart of such a great organization and I'm honored to be envolved at this high level!! YAY RELAY!!

May Week 3

I know it's HOT outside which makes this week's storage item pretty funny in my book!!

BEDDING!!

Yes... go around your house and pull out items that you no longer use and put them in your emergency preparedness!

Blankets, sheets, pillowcases, comforters, sleeping bags, etc.

I keep all my camping bedding in a rubbermaid bin in the garage that has towels, warm blankets, sheets, etc in it. I keep all my camping supplies next to my food storage so it can be grabbed along with everything else in an emergency.

If you don't have or don't want to grab stuff out of your house hit the local Goodwill or DI. Even TJ Maxx, Marshall's or Ross will have these items at REDICULOUSLY low prices!!

Hasta la Pasta...

Well that's a little backwards this week in our food storage adventure! More like BONJOURNO!

May week 2 is ALL ABOUT PASTA!

macaroni
spagetti
ragitoni
fussili
etc, etc....

Make sure to buy pasta that your family likes!!

*tip- noodles containing egg do not have a long shelf life so READ LABELS!!

Yard Sale THIS WEEKEND!!!

Hello friends!!!!

We are having a HUGE moving sale tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday from 9am-2pm both days!!

There are MANY great items!! Furniture, appliances, clothes, scrapbooking and crafting stuff, books, software, toys, and much much more!!!

Come check it out! If you need my address just shoot me a comment and I'll get back to you!

May week 1... sorry for my slacker-ness

OI! It's May 6th and I haven't posted yet... SORRY!!

Your assignment for May week 1 is: Prepared Foods

ideas:

Ravioli

Spagetti O's

pork and beans

BUY WHAT YOUR FAMILY WILL EAT!!!

I went down to our local grocery outlet and bought 10 cans... they were 50 cents each. I bought 5 cans of spagetti o's, 2 family size cans of ravioli and 3 family size cans of chili with no beans (I'm allergic to beans)

Have fun!! I've added these to my storage shelves and already want to crack a couple open.

WE GOT THE HOUSE!!!!

Yes AIM followers.... we FINALLY got a house!!

Our realtor called us this morning to give us the great news! I spent a large part of the day on the phone with our mortgage broker, realtor, inspectors, etc to get the ball rolling. We hope to close escrow before memorial day!

YAY!!!!!!

Here are a couple pics I snagged of the MLS site listing. We're doing a walk through tomorrow and I'll post more pictures then.

My New kitchen... SO much room and a HUGE pantry!! :)

April week 4

Is all about FLOUR!!

yes people... flour... not wheat... FLOUR!!!

So go forth and stock up! My $5 bought me 20 lbs at the local grocery outlet. It's now out on my foodstorage shelf. Since I don't have a large plastic bin to keep it in and the paper case is just too flimsy for my comfort I put each sack in a zip lock bag. I buy the 2 gallon ones from Walmart to store larger items in.

Post what you buy!! :)

April week 3!

Are you feeling accomplished? Are you spending your designated amount weekly on the specified items to slowly build your storage?

I'm proud of myself for actually sticking to all this! I spend my $5 and have to hold myself back from pulling out my little "guide book" and buying the next weeks stuff. But the budget, timeline and everything else have proven to work really well for our family!

So here's the challenge for week 3:

Build up your medicine chest

Ideas:

sunblock

peroxide

rubbing alcohol

thermometer

Asprin

Tylenol

Ibuprofen

Pepto Bismol

Ipecac

cough drop

antihistamine

laxative

gas relief

These things can be spendy so I checked out our local dollar store and stocked up! They had chewable pepto, ibuprofen, aspirin, ipecac, peroxide, alcohol and many more items!

I personally added items that were not pain relievers. I bought pepto, ipecac, antihistamine and laxatives. I also took a couple days worth of prescription medications and added those in well marked bags.

So go forth and stock! Get ready for those moments in an emergency when you know you'll need a little something for your tummy, head or whatever else ails you. (Don't forget about the kids!!)

a day at the park

It was SO beautiful today that we decided to take the kids to the park for a while. I told the kids that it was HOT outside but the only one who listened was the little zeus... so the bug and the little man were sweating!

Needless to say it was alot of fun watching them. The little man turned into the ring leader for a group of smaller kids. They were "treasure hunting" on the play structure. This one little girl took to him like a fish to water and just kept asking him to hold her hand and help her down. She was so stinking cute!!

Though the trip was a brief 20 minutes it was nice to get out and enjoy the sunshine... 90 degrees in April... yoikes!

April prepardness WEEK 2

Look at me being on top of things!!

Your prepardness assignment for April week 3 is

JAMS AND JELLIES

You know that eventually you will be making bread and what goes better with bread that jam? Or peanut butter and jelly? mmmmm!!

Jelly and Jam are great homemade canning opportunities to help save money. Get a couple friends together to split the costs! :)

JELLO AND PUDDING MIXES

You can purchase pudding cups but the mixes are cheaper and easier to store. I would also recommend having unflavored gelatin in your food storage. It's great to have to make many things, it's a great thickener in a pinch and can even be used for health benefits.

Go forth and prepare!! Remember stick to your limit because you will have other opportunities to stock up this year. You need it ALL NOW.... just get started and you will build and excellent storage!!

Good luck! :)

Big Girl Panties.... for mom!!

Holy heck... I am about to put on "the big girl panties"... are you ready?

Tomorrow (Saturday) we're officially making an offer on a house! OMGoodness!!!
After all the Pear Blossom craziness our realtor is coming over and we're writting up the offer.
SEE?! BIG GIRL PANTIES!!

ok... I can breathe through this. We're so excited and scared and excited... I can't choose an emotion right now! Imagine what my ramblings will be like if we actually get the house!! OI!!

So for those that I KNOW are going to ask... here are the 'tails:
Medford 3rd ward boundries
Still in Med but close to CP
Good yard
GREAT neighborhood

And yes... there will be a HUGE party when we move into where ever we end up.
Pray that the bank will accept our offer and we will be home owners by the summer!!
HOLY COW!! wait I already said that....

April week 1

SO sorry this post is SO late!

I've been so wrapped up in the thought of being a home owner that I forgot to share this weeks food storage items with my blog people... please except my deepest apologies!!

April week 1 is all about GARDEN SEEDS!!

Yes you read it right... seeds! Having a ready supply of garden seeds is a great asset to your food storage. They are cheap to buy and keep and will provide you with the opportunity for fresh produce! (Now if N.Korea get's all hyped up on this nuclear missile thing then the ground may have too much radiation for vegetation... but just in case that doesn't happen!)

Tip of the week: Radishes are great in an emergency!! They grow super fast and are full of vitamins, minerals and WATER. So make sure to grab at least one package of these!!

OFFICIAL GOAL SETTING HERE!!!!!!

This weekend is our local Pear Blossom festival. Every town has something.... where I grew up in CA it was the Prune festival... go figure! But here in the sunny Rogue Valley it's pears!

They hold great events including a scholarship pageant, parade, street fair, spagetti feed, BBQ, and of course the dreaded RUNNING... 5k and 10k races along with the little 1 and 2 milers for the "kiddies"

Now last year I did the 1 miler with my kids then 5 and 6 and enjoyed our little trek... super cute and fun! This year we are doing the 2 miler as a family and as of about 30 seconds ago I've decided that next year... Pear Blossom 2010 I will be doing the 5K!! Holy crap... it's out in cyber space and I'm committed.... OI!!

So... you medfordites... who's with me?! Anyone want to committ to WALKING the 5k with me next year? Just to say that we actually finished a 5k race? I need someone to stand beside me that isn't "THE MAN" (no offense computer geek of mine!)

More house hunting....

Today Abby and I are going to look at 8 properties! I am very excited about the progession of the whole process and we are having fun "shopping" for houses. We have a great realtor who has taken much time to help us on our search... we love him!!
Please keep in your prayers that we will find the right home for our family.

Happy Thursday!

store deals for the week

Since my budget is ever-shrinking I've started scouring the local ads for deals! Not only for my family weekly meals but for food-storage and household needs as well. I sent this list to my ward website person and thought I would share it with my cyber friends as well!
(These are all specials I got off each stores website... these are the circulars for Oregon... you may want to check your local store for any differences.)
Happy Shopping!

Walgreens:
Coke product 12 packs are 5/$13
24 pack Spring Water $2.99

Albertsons:
Gerber baby food 2 packs: 10/$10
Post Cereal: $1.57
General Mills Cereal: Buy one get one free
Albertsons Brand white vinegar: 10/$10
Albertsons brand ketchup and mustard: 10/$10
Jiffy muffin mix: 2/$1
10lb c&h sugar: $4.99
Green Giant veggie steamers (frozen): 10/$10
Umpqua ice cream 1/2 gallon: $2.99
Ajax dish detergent: 10/$10
Butler toothbrush or flossers: 10/$10
Dial liquid hand soap: 10/$10
Basics 3 pack bar soap: 10/$10
TIP: butcher block ground beef MUST be sold the day it's made... all leftovers are put in the meat case marked down to $1.39 lb. after 7pm.

Safeway:
safeway brand hot dog and hamburger buns: $1.00
5 lb. C&H sugar: $1.89
duncan hines brownie mix: $1
5lb. gold medal flour: 2/$4
progresso soup: 10/$10
500ml listerine: $2.99

So excited!

Today we were pre-approved for a home loan... we are house hunting with our agent tomorrow... holy cow! I'm about to put on the big girl panties! :}

March week 4

It's here! March week 4! Are you ready? Have you already spent your $5?

Today I was pricing sales ads for my weekly $5 food storage spending. If you remember this week is all about MIXES! That's right... cake, muffin, pancake, bisquick, etc. You can purchase them premade or make your own! I split my money by doing both!

Jiffy mixes are on sale at Albertsons this week 2/$1 I bought 6 mixes and spent $3. I then came home and made "mommy" mixes. Since I can't eat gluten I wouldn't benefit from those that I bought... so I made pancake and cornbread mix with my special "magic flour" and added it to the food storage. We have to remember to accomodate all in our families.

Example: Chloe our oldest is SO PICKY!! So I know that if we had to rely on our food storage I better have items that she'll eat! (She'd eat choc chip cookies all day everyday if I would let her!) They may be different from what other people buy but it's important that everyone has the things they can and will eat.

So go forth and buy! Spend your weekly food storage allowance on MIXES! Make sure to report back and let us know what you bought!

Next week we will begin April shopping! Check back for next week's items! :)

Happy shopping!

My 50 random things

I was reading through my facebook notes a few minutes ago (because there's nothing better to do at 11:23pm... LIKE SLEEP!! OI!) Anyhoo.... I was giggling at my 25 most random things about me posts and laughed even harder when I realized that my friend Nina challenged me to do another 25... they are RANDOM! I thought you would get a giggle out of my randomness!

So here they are straight from my facebook page to my bloggings fans....
Jenn's 50 random things! :) (one or two were changed to represent today not the day I wrote the lists!)

1. I am totally and completely addicted to Dr. Pepper
2. I can count the bones I haven't broken quicker than ones I have
3. Yes... I know that #2 is pretty pathetic!
4. I LOVE my husband with my whole being... though some days I want to hate him with my whole being!
5. I regularly feel certain I could die at any moment for no logical reason
6. I think I'm funny... do you?
7. If you don't like me... your problem! :)
8. I love to play the drums on Rockband... It's my way of getting agression out.
9. I love to swim
10. I hate bathing suits!
11. I am Gluten Free and proud!
12. My oven is no longer in the kitchen... no more buns for me!
13. I love to sing!
14. I'm so proud of my sister and her accomplishments in life!
15. I'm totally jealous of my sister
16. My favorite movie is "So I Married an Axe Murderer" hello! Campbell's Cup-o-ccino?
17. If I could sleep all day I would... seriously!
18. I feel incomplete if I'm not reading a book. I love to read!!
19. My husband is the biggest computer geek I know and I love him for it.
20. All 3 of my children are named after my family members.
21. I am the tallest girl in my family with the smallest feet! (6'1" size 9.5)
22. I am a Cancer Survivor
23. I have WAY TOO MUCH crap!
24. I love my relationship with Christ and try to nourish it daily
25. I hope one day to win an award as a community member or mother... I think those people are SO COOL!
26. I have recently found an amazing tummy holding tank that I now CANNOT live without called Yummie Tummie... try it!
27. It's 11:3890 and I've had 8 cans of Dr. Pepper... not good!
28. I'm the Vice President of my kids school's PTO
29. I hate lipstick! I can never find the right shade and only wear it when deemed "neccessary" tinted chapstick is a must though
30. My husband and I were married 3 months after our first date... yes VERY fast!
31. We've been married for almost 8 years now
32. My children are my life but I'm almost positive that they will someday be the death of me
33. I've lost 5 lbs in the last 2 weeks!
34. I handle money poorly. My own I mean. I want to be wise, and I can be, but being wise is so boring, and you never get to go to Agave or the movies when you are wise.
35. I was a cheerleader in High School. I was the only freshman on the cheer squad my freshman year. (there were a couple freshmen on the Song Squad)
36. My favorite color is RED! I love it! If my life could be enveloped in red I would be a happy girl :)
37. I hated high school... 'nough said!
38. I have 2 tatoos... winnie the pooh on my back which I got when I was 18 and 3 lady bugs on my big toe that I got last summer. The 3 bugs represent my kids... as I call them my little bugs. :)
39. I love flip-flops! If I could wear them all year long I would... freezing temps limit the foot function so I try to wear shoes during the winter.
40. My birthday is February 12th... feel free to make a big deal of it!
41. I am very envolved in my community. I have been on the board for our local ACS Relay for Life for the past 3 years. I volunteer for the local opera company and the local independent film festival. This year I will volunteer with the Britt Festival.
42. The real reason I'm envolved with all the artsy stuff is because I REALLY want to attend the shows but can't afford it... volunteering gets me free tickets! :)
43. I don't drink. I have before, but don't now. Mainly for religious and personal reasons but I just don't like it... it makes me feel sick even with one sip.
44. I once ran down my street naked on a dare... stupid stupid stupid!!
45. I own my own company.. Gluten Free Gourmet! Check it out! www.gfgourmet.net
46. I love my car! It's a TOTAL mommy mobile but it's very comfortable and is perfect for my family.
47. I love parades. But I hate how political they've become! I like current politicians riding on backs of cars but I hate that people have to walk down parade routes telling people they are overpopulating the world and to stop at 2 children... I want to walk behind them and scream "Families are Forever! Procreate and Replenish the Earth! Have 10 kids!!" oi!
48. I hate stupid people! I think that Bill Engvall's sign thought it BRILLIANT!! I wish I could enforce it!
49. I think bathing in a neccesary evil! I know that sounds gross.... but it takes up so much time! I don't want to stink or be dirty... but sometimes I just don't want to take the 5 minutes to hose myself down... I do it anyway!
50. I am an organized mess... it's drives my husband NUTS!!! Yes everything may be in piles but I know exactly what is in each pile and where in the pile it's located... he just calls it crap... boys... they just don't get it!

So there you go.... me listed in 50 random things! Feel free to add any in comment form ... I love hearing what others perceive of me! :)
Happy Blogging!

Challenge for you....

Make your own laundry detergent!!

I was going through our budget a few weeks ago and realized that I was spending at least $30 on laundry supplies every couple weeks... that's obsurd!! So I did some research and found a great way to make my own laundry detergent. I made it a week ago and I LOVE IT!!

My laundry is fresh, soft and smells great... the best part... it's clean and CHEAP!!

After I figured the costs it works out to be 3 cents per load. My initial $12 investment will give me 6 gallons of detergent. I use 1/4 cup of detergent in each load. That's 384 loads for $12. The best part is the next time I buy supplies I'll already have the $7 bucket with lid so I'll only need to invest $5... EVEN CHEAPER!! LOVE IT!!

So here is your challenge... find something in your home that you can made to help reduce your budget! If you want to make laundry soap I've included the directions and pictures. :)

Please post what you are going to make and share your results!!

You'll need the following:

5 gallon bucket with lid

20 mule team Borax

Arm and Hammer Washing Soda

Fels-Naptha bar soap

Directions:

Grate 1/3 bar of fels-naptha soap

Add soap to 6 cups of water in saucepan and heat until melted

Add 1 cup of borax and 1 cup of washing soda

Stir until dissolved.

Pour 4 cups of HOT water into 5 gallon bucket

Add soap mixture to bucket and stir until well mixed

Add 10 drops of essential oil (optional!) We like Sweet Orange or Eucalyptus

Final product looks like "egg drop soup"... it may be a bit chunky.

Store covered and stir once a week.

Have fun experimenting!!! :)