I Hate to Read

That's right folks.  I pretty much hate to read.  Unless it has pretty pictures...as in crafting or quilting magazines...or it has really interesting illustrations, as in reading to my kids.  Even some children's books I feel like stabbing myself in the eye with a fork when I see some of the artwork, but I guess that comes from all my years of drawing and doodling.  I read blogs (the more pretty pictures they have the better) and I do have a very short list of favorites that I have read several times.  Like the Loves Comes Softly series from Janette Oak.  I read them for the first time as a tween and have read them several times since.  My mom and sister read them also, and there are times when we are together when we talk about the characters like they are family.  One of us will say something like, "What does this remind you of?"  And someone will chime in with something that has happened in one of the books, and then we all laugh and chit chat about it.  Then we look up and dad is looking at us like we are crazy because he doesn't have any idea what or who we are talking about!  I have seen on the Hallmark Channel where they have made a couple of them into a movie, but just like any other book made into a movie, they leave out so much important information (to me, anyway) that all I can do when I watch it is say, "That's not how that happened!"  Then you really aren't enjoying the movie!

Here are a few more that she wrote that I really liked in case you are interested...
Once Upon a Summer  I think there were 4 books in this one.
When Calls the Heart  There were 4 books in this one, also.

Hallmark did a movie series of When Calls the Heart also, but it's really nothing like the book.

I have read the Twilight Series and thought it was really good.  I only read it once, but if I had time I could read it again.  I don't really like Sci-fi stuff so I found it really weird that I enjoyed it as much as I did.  It ended up being one of those book series that I put off laundry and other important tasks until I could get it all read.  I do remember a few conversations that went a little like this....

Stephen:  "When are you going to wash jeans?"
Me:  "I don't know!?!  When I'm done with this book, I guess?  Why are you asking me such stupid questions?!?"

I read the Hunger Games and took my older boys to see the movie when it came out.  Brayden had read them a few years before I had even heard of them.  Blaine is too much like me so he read the first page (maybe) and then complained when he didn't like certain parts of the movie.  Which I sounded like my sister and told him if he would read the book first, he would get more out of the movie.  She would really be proud of me for telling him that.

So, unless I know I am going to have a lot of time to sit and read, I am better off not picking up a book that I know I will really like.

But I did just order two books from Amazon yesterday that I am really excited about getting.  They are written by a girl who's blog I have followed for several years.  In fact, the first blog post I read, was the one that she was in labor with the baby girl that the book all started from.  Her blog name was Bring On the Rain and her name is Angie Smith.  Her husband sings in the Christian group Selah, which I had never heard of until I stumbled across her blog.  The book is called I will Carry You and is about her pregnancy and loss of one of her daughters.  I read through the 'look inside" part on amazon as far as it would let me and it had me on the edge of the chair.  Even though I pretty much know what happens because I had followed her on her blog through that time of grief.  I started to order it on Kindle but Blaine's kindle has been acting weird and I thought with having the actual book, I could let my friends borrow it.  And since I was going to have to pay for shipping anyway, I bought Mended.  Angie Smith wrote this one also.  So I can't wait to get them in the mail and hopefully I will be able to find time to read them!  Have any of you read either of these, or any other books from this author?  She has several out now.  

I will keep you posted on what I think of the books as I get them read!

Sara

Hexagons

I love Pinterest.  I know a lot of you probably feel the same way.  There is so much to see and so many neat ideas.  I love looking at all the quilts on Pinterest.  It amazes me how many patterns there are and how they can all look so different from the next.  Some are made to look old and some look modern.  

Ever since I was a little girl, I have always been fascinated with hexagon quilts.  My mom has one that belonged to my Grandma and it hung on a quilt rack in "the pink room".  Anyone that knew my Grandparents knows what that means.  There are so many ways to put together a hexagon quilt but hers was put together in a very popular way called "Grandmother's Flower Garden".  The pieces are very small and all done by hand.  I have a great appreciation for this as I learned how to piece blocks by hand before I ever learned how to use a sewing machine.  When I look at it I can only imagine where the fabrics came from and what they were used for before they became scraps.  Maybe scraps left from an apron she made herself or a top...or maybe a skirt.  I don't ever remember her wearing pants until my mom bought her a pair when she was in the nursing home and always talked about how cold her legs were.  Once she put them on she couldn't believe she had gone that long without wearing them!  She saved every piece of scraps because she could always use it to make something.  She wasn't wasteful at all.  I guess most people of that generation weren't wasteful as they were very appreciative to have anything, as small as it may be.

After lots of blog reading and researching the best way to do hexagon blocks, I have finally started one.  Will I ever finish it or will it be added to the WIP pile?  I don't know.  But so far, I am enjoying having something to do while catching up on Downton Abbey or watching Dukes of Hazard with Bryson.  I ordered the pre cut hexagons from Etsy as I didn't want to waste time cutting them by hand and they only cost $5 for 66.  They are die cut so they are all exactly the same which means the corners will go together smoothly.  Unmatched corners are not good! I ordered the 1 1/2" hexagons thinking that would be the size across but I was wrong.  Hexagons are measured by the length of the side.  So my scraps are too small but don't worry!  I have plenty of fabric to cut into to make them.  Then I went back and ordered the smaller size for the smaller scraps.  I will be able to make 2 quilts now, different sizes and I can lay them out differently to look totally different.  Here is a picture of some of them after basting.  I will try to get a picture of some of the finished ones soon!  I took this picture on my footstool and the lighting isn't great.  Hopefully the next one will be better, but you get the idea.

Have any of you ever made a hexagon quilt?  I would love to see pictures if you have.  Feel free to leave a link in the comments!

Sara

It Ain't Food Network, But They Eat It....Tuesday!

Meatball Alphabet Soup
Makes 6 servings

This is a recipe that I found YEARS ago in a Family Fun Magazine.  I typed it out here for you but then realized I could probably find it on their website.  So I searched for Family Fun, which apparently has changed to Spoonful.com.  But I did search and find the recipe.  The amount of pasta on the website listed more than what I had on my recipe card, but Stephen did say when we were eating that it needed more.  So either I wrote it down wrong or others thought the same and they modified the recipe.  Anyway, I am making the change here too, and listing the recipe in case they should take it off the site.

For Meatballs:
1/2 cup dried breadcrumbs
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
2 Tbsp. onion, minced
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tsp. dried basil
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 lb. ground beef

For the Soup:
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 celery rib, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
5 cups chicken stock
1 cup crushed can tomatoes in puree
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp. salt
 pepper to taste
2 cups dry  ABC pasta

To make the meatballs:
Combine bread crumbs, cheese, garlic, onion, herbs and spices in large mixing bowl.  Mix in egg with fork then add ground beef.  Shape into 1 inch balls (4 dozen).  Add oil to skillet and brown meatballs for 8-10 minutes.

For soup:
Heat oil  in saucepan.  Add onion, celery and garlic.  Cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Add chicken stock, tomatoes and spices.  Simmer over low heat then add pasta.  Simmer until pasta is cooked.  Add meatballs and cook for 3 more minutes.  

Enjoy!
Sara

It Ain't Food Network, But They Eat It....Tuesday!

Brown Bean Casserole
2 cans pintos
1 can cream of mushroom soup (I use the cream of something from pinterest)
1 can Ro-Tel
1 lb. ground beef
small onion
garlic powder (didn't measure!)
2 boxes of Jiffy cornbread mix (I only use 1 box)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray.
Brown ground beef with onion.  Drain.  In a large bowl, combine the meat mixture with everything else EXCEPT the cornbread mixture.  Pour into prepared 9x13 pan. Mix Jiffy mix according to package directions.  Pour over the bean mixture and then bake for 45 minutes.  Done!

All of my family eats this.  The 6 year old takes the leftovers in his thermos the next day if there is anything left!

Enjoy!
Sara

My Facebook Year in Review

I just noticed that on Facebook they have added on the sidebar my "Year in Review" so I clicked and started looking.  Most of it was conversations with the boys that I had completely forgotten about, already!  They got me tickled and I thought I would post them here for you to enjoy and so when I do forget I can look back and read them!


Feb. 19, 2013
Conversations with Bryson....
Bryson woke up at 6am and I could hear him whining in his bed. Stephen went to go check on him. He brought him into our room and set him on the edge of the bed. When Bryson said he was gonna throw up, Stephen grabbed him ran him to the toilet just in time. Bryson turns around and looks at me.....

"I love you mommy."

It's no secret who is his favorite parent  I don't even have to do anything. hahaha!


March 11, 2013
Conversations with Bryson.....
Bryson has learned that it annoys his dad when he calls him by his first name. So what does he do? Calls him by his first name.

Yesterday afternoon.....Stephen walks in from the backyard....
Bryson: "How's the weather outside....Steve?" 
Looks at me, covers his mouth and giggles.....
Stephen: "It's good....Bryce." 
Bryson: "What???"

Tonight....bathtub filling with water but Bryson is in his room....
Stephen: "Bryson! Get.in.the.tub.now!!!"
Bryson: "I'm getting my underwear....STEVE!!!"

Cracks me up every time.

March 15, 2013
Conversations with Blaine.....at Brayden's baseball game.....

Blaine: "Mom.....I have 2 balls stuck in my pants."
Me: "Are you kidding me????? We are in public, Blaine. Quit being gross."
Blaine: "No, seriously. I have baseballs stuck in my back pockets and I can't get them out." 

He turns around and sticks his rear end out at me, and yes, there is a baseball stuck in each back pocket of his SLIM jeans. Meaning SLIM pockets. I look back and all the parents and other family members behind us are dying laughing. Apparently he was sitting with them when he did this and they had all been trying to get them out.
So he goes to the bathroom to pull his pants down so he will have some slack in the fabric....

Blaine: "I think the man in the bathroom thought something was wrong in there. I was grunting and pushing and came out with a baseball!"

Me rolling my eyes: "Just get in the car."

August 16, 2013
Conversations with Bryson...

Bryson: "You will never ground me mom, will you?"
Me: "I'm sure I will at some point in your life. Just look at Blaine."
Bryson: "Oh...YEAH! He is like the most groundedest person in our family!!!"
Me: "Yes, Bryson, yes he is."


August 24, 2013
Conversations with Bryson...
Bryson wanted us to take him junkin' this morning...

Bryson: "Mom, can I go outside and play while you finish getting ready?"
Me: "Are you ready to go?"
Bryson: "Yes!"
Me: "Did you brush your teeth?"
Bryson: Huffs and rolls eyes...."No, but can I just use mouth wash? I'm not planning on smiling much today."
Me: "You might want to smile next week but you're gonna look funny when you do it because you won't have teeth."

Sara

Happy Birthday Week to Me!!!

Hello All!
This week is my birthday week!  I thought I would share it with my readers.  Go to my shop blog for more info.  Not a follower of my shop blog?  What are you waiting for then???  Happy Shopping!

Sara

First Day of School 2013

The boys started back to school again this past Monday.  Everyone is doing well so far and enjoying it, as much as school can be enjoyed. 

                                                                Bryson is in 1st grade!

                                                               Blaine is in 7th grade!

                                                             Brayden is in 10th grade!

 They are all exactly 1 foot apart....Bryson is 3'10", Blaine is 4'10" and Brayden is 5'10".  I love how they are all stair steps in this picture.  Brayden forgot his shoes at his dad's house so we were waiting for him to bring them when I was taking their pictures.

Bryson wanted to get a silly picture.  And this is what happens when you ask a 15 year old for a silly picture!  I hope everyone else's first week of school is going great!

Sara

Days of the Week

I have tried to get my boys, for years now, to lay out their clothes the night before so they can sleep an extra 15 or so minutes in the morning.  And so they aren't stopping me from getting things done to help them dig through the dryer or iron something at the last minute.  Bryson is the worst with this.  Last year he would lay out an outfit, only to change his mind the next morning and us go through the above listed scenario.  And then what he would decide on looked totally ridiculous and didn't even come close to matching.

There were even days where I wrote letters to his teacher apologizing for how ridiculous he looked and made sure she understood I didn't not dress him like that!  

And let me just add that this ended up in arguments and tears every morning.  And me yelling.  Which gets me in a bad mood!  So I saw on Pinterest (don't you just love Pinterest?!?) a site to print off the days of the week on door hangers.  I went to the site and then found out you had to pay now for the download.  Which I didn't mind doing since it was someone else's work.  But then I read through it and you had to use a certain type of paper.  Then I thought that one through a second.  I then realized that these would not last very long.  That is, if Bryson would even go for this.  So honestly, I didn't even want to spend THAT much money on it.

I then remembered the foam door hangers that the boys had made one year at VBS and thought that would be a good starting point.  I went to Hobby Lobby and got a pack of 10 door hangers, a pack of big letters and a pack of small letters.  They just happened to be 50% off.  Score!

 I decided to put the letter in which the day started, at the top of the hanger.  Then I put the day of the week in smaller letters.  This will also help him in reading and learning how to spell the days of the week.  Then I remembered my MIL had given him  two containers of animals, one jungle container and one farm container. 

So I thought, "Hey!  I can let him decorate with the animals that start with that letter!"

NO.

There were no monkeys.  There were no turtles.  What animal starts with "W" anyway?  Okay, a whale, but those aren't in the jungle or on a farm.  This fun craft we could do together was quickly going down hill and very quickly making a big mess all over the kitchen table 30 minutes before the big boys would start swarming for dinner like vultures.  

We ended up forgetting the decorating with animals that start with the same letter and just did the days of the week.  I know....how boring.

And it was probably gonna be the biggest waste of time.  Saturday night I helped him match up 7 outfits that he could wear over the first week of school.  I hung the shirts on hangers and then the pants on pant hangers behind the shirts.  Then I put his days of the week door hangers over each set.  And guess what!?!  It's the 4th day of school and Bryson is still wearing the outfits that he picked out last Saturday night!  I hope this lasts because it sure is helping us get to school on time.  And I'm not having to worry about the laundry as much.  Now it can wait a few days if we aren't home!  

Here is the link to the pin that I found on Pinterest, in case anyone is interested in printing them off that way!

Sara  

Conversations With Bryson

Conversations with Bryson...

Bryson: "You will never ground me mom, will you?"
Me: "I'm sure I will at some point in your life. Just look at Blaine."
Bryson: "Oh...YEAH! He is like the most groundedest person in our family!!!"
Me: "Yes, Bryson, yes he is."

Conversations With Bryson

Conversations with Bryson.....

Me: "Bryson, would you like a bowl of tomato bisque soup?"

Bryson: "YES! YES! YES!"

Bryson hates tomatoes and he has no idea this has tomatoes in it, so let's keep this between us, okay?

Conversations With Bryson...

Conversations with Bryson:

Bryson comes into the kitchen one morning before school....

Me: "Bryson, that doesn't match very well."
Bryson: "I don't care."
Me: "Well....it looks pretty stupid."
Bryson: "Matching is stupid."
Me: "Well alrighty then." 

So next time you see Bryson and he doesn't match (because he won't) please remember this conversation. I am choosing my battles here!!!!

Trunk or Treat 2012

This year's Halloween was kinda disappointing for me.  I had some funny ideas for my kids' costumes, but they are old enough to object.  Brayden and all his friends dressed up as M&M's, Blaine was a skeleton, and Bryson just wanted to wear Blaine's old Spiderman costume from when he was younger.  I have kept most of their costumes because Blaine and Bryson both liked to play dress-up in them.  It still looked brand new and I didn't have to spend hardly any money!  That was the best part :)

 This was the only photo I have of Blaine and someone else took it!  He refused to let me take one!

 A maskless Spiderman!
Below, Bryson and several of his friends got together and "traded" what they didn't want.  Bryson didn't get the hang of it very well and gave most of his away without getting in return.  Don't worry....I'm not complaining.  I throw most of it away every year anyway :)

The "big" kids

Happy Halloween!


Sara

Conversations....

Conversations....
Yesterday morning getting ready for school....

At the kitchen table and at the top of his lungs, Bryson: "Ohhhhhh yeaaaaahhhh!"

In the bathroom and at the top of his lungs, Blaine: "Ohhh yeeaaaaahhhh!"

In his room getting dressed and at the top of his lungs,

Brayden: "Oh yeah! Oh yeah! OHHH YEAAAHHHHH!"

(It's like some sort of animal call they do back and forth to each other. Proof they should be living in the wild.)

Me, shaking my head, choosing my battles and thinking to myself, "At least they are in different rooms, not fighting, and actually doing what they are supposed to be doing. And no one is bleeding."

Have a great weekend everyone!
Sara

Conversations with Blaine

Conversations with Blaine...

Blaine: "You know how they say that if you listen to classical music when you are a baby it will make you smarter?"

Me: "Are you asking me if I listened to rap when I was pregnant with you?" (snicker snicker)

Blaine: "Mom. Seriously. I listened to classical when I was going to sleep last night and I felt smarter in school today."

Me: "Really."

Baine: "Yes! We had to write poems and everyone was talking about how hard it was and I just jotted mine right down!"

Me: "That's awesome."

Blaine: "I know!"


Sara

Bryson's 1st Day of Kindergarten!

Bryson did great on his first day of Kindergarten! No tears, no hesitation! Went right in, put his lunchbox away then asked his teacher where he should put his book bag. Hugged and kissed me bye and I was outta there! I hope it is like this every day!

 Showing off his backpack and lunchbox

 This is the true Bryson right here.....sometimes there are no words.

Weird Eaters

There is never a dull moment at my house. During dinner, I looked over and saw that Brayden had eaten part of his tomato and had already started eating his beef stroganoff. Everybody that has ever eaten with him knows that he eats one thing at a time until it's gone. When I noticed this, I pointed it out to him. Everybody at the table stopped and looked at him. He tossed his fork down on the table like he was mad and said, "Great! Now I don't know which one to eat now!!!" I almost choked on my food.

Does anyone else have weird kids like this?

Sara

Hello!

Hi everyone!  If you haven't started following my Etsy Shop blog, you are missing out on surprise sales!  Today I added a SALE section and have marked down several items from blankets to zipper bags!  Go check it out!

Sara

Conversations

Here are a few conversations that I had posted on my facebook page over the last few weeks.  I am copying and pasting here for all you not on facebook :)

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Bryson: "MOM! Why did you burn my bacon?!? It is SO good like this! Can you burn my bacon everyday?"

Me: "Sure. I could probably do that for you everyday. I'm glad you like it."

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While reading tonight from the Magic Treehouse Books, where Jack and Annie are in Africa....
Me: "Laughing Hyenas are known to be thieves and cowards."
Bryson: "OH! So they smell good!"
Me: "Um....no."

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Conversations with Bryson....on the way home from dropping off Blaine to spend the night with a friend....
Bryson: "Why don't I ever get to spend the night with someone?"
Me: "Because you have a class full of girls."
Bryson: "Can I spend the night with Brayden?"
Me: "I guess so. If it's okay with Brayden."
Bryson: " YES! I need to go pack my suitcase!!!!"
Me: "You're going across the hall."
Bryson: "I know! I am so excited!"

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Earlier today when I was getting ready, the TV in my bedroom was on and it was on TLC. A Baby Story was on and the lady was pregnant with triplets.
Conversation with Bryson....
Me: "She is going to have 3 babies at once! Do you know what that is called?"
Bryson: "A double?"
Me: "No. Triplets."
Bryson: "Oh, like in baseball, when Brayden hit a triplet!"
Me: "Ummmm.......yeah. Kinda like that. Maybe."
Bryson: "I.am.a.genius."
Me: "Yes, you are."
Pauses to think about this......
Bryson: "Are we triplets?"
Me: "No. If you all were triplets, you would all be the same age."
Then he starts getting slightly irritated....
Bryson: "But I want to be triplets!!!!"
Me: "Too bad."

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Have a great week!

Sara

Conversations With Bryson

Earlier today when I was getting ready, the TV in my bedroom was on and it was on TLC. A Baby Story was on and the lady was pregnant with triplets. 

Conversation with Bryson....

Me: "She is going to have 3 babies at once! Do you know what that is called?"
Bryson: "A double?"
Me: "No. Triplets."
Bryson: "Oh, like in baseball, when Brayden hit a triplet!"
Me: "Ummmm.......yeah. Kinda like that. Maybe."
Bryson: "I.am.a.genius."
Me: "Yes, you are."

Pauses to think about this......

Bryson: "Are we triplets?"
Me: "No. If you all were triplets, you would all be the same age."
Then he starts getting slightly irritated....
Bryson: "But I want to be triplets!!!!"
Me: "Too bad."

Camera Giveaway

Maybe if I won this camera I would remember to take it to my kids' activities and take pics?  Would be awesome!  Go enter!

Sara