I will not make any entries for a few days. I have just pent the better part of the day at the Pisa ER. Today I miscarried our child at 8 weeks. I am feeling fine physically. Emotionally and spiritually, I will need a few days.
I plan to talk to Stephen when I can find the words to say how sorry I am to him that this happened and that I was not able to able to have our baby, but right now I just can't seem to do it. I can't even seem to look at him right now without feeling some kind of shame or guilt.
In a few days, after I have spent some time in deep prayer I will talk to him and we can see if we want to try this again, or just let it go. I wasn't planning on having more kids, but once this one happened, and I walked around for two months knowing that I was carrying a life inside of me, all i can say now is it's different.
25 September 2009
19 September 2009
Rock Star mini-loafs
My kids are not super huge fans of meat loaf, but I am so, awhile back I did some searching around and found a recipe that I changed up and made my own. The first night that we had it, I was a little weary that they might not take to it too kindly, so I was prepared to make something else if need be.
Much to my surprise, the whole fam LOVED it. The kids called me a rock star that night and packed the left overs for lunch. I told Leah ( my best friend) about it and forgot to send the recipe to her. Being that we are having if for Sunday night dinner I thought I would share it with everyone.
INGREDIENTS
2 pounds ground turkey
2 eggs
1 cup dry bread crumbs
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon steak seasoning ( a pre-mix mccormick thing I use)
1/2 teaspoon essence
1 small yellow onion, diced
6-8 slices bacon
8 ounces sharp Cheddar cheese, cut into small chunks
1/2-1 cup bbq sauce
***spice measurements are a guess, Im more of a dash of this pinch of that person***
DIRECTIONS
Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F
Combine ground turkey, eggs and 1/2 cup of bbq sauce in a large bowl. Mix well, then add bread crumbs, seasonings and onion.
Set mixture aside. Line the bottom of a one row of a muffin pan with bacon. Fill half of each "cup" with the meat mixture across the top of the bacon. Lay 3 of the 4 pieces of Cheddar cheese across the center of the meat. Cover the cheese with the meat mixture and mold the meat into a mounded shape. Pull the ends of the bacon up and around the loaf. Plop some bbq sauce on the tops of each. repeat the same with the next row of "cups" in the pan.
Bake in the preheated oven until no longer pink in the center, about 40-45 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 160 degrees F . Remove from the oven.
If bbq is thinned out or slightly dry looking, add a little more. Top each with the last of your cheese and return the meat loaf to the oven and continue baking until the cheese is melted, about 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow the meat loaf to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
I would place the muffin pan on top of a lined baking sheet if I were you, because the oils from the cheese ran all over the top and sides of the mini loafs and down into my oven.
Also sometimes, if I cannot get my ground turkey, I will use beef, tastes just as yummy. Also, will leave the onions out too sometimes, since not everyone likes them either.
I serve this with garlic potatoes and steamed corn.
Hope you try it, if you do, let me know how you like it!!!!
Much to my surprise, the whole fam LOVED it. The kids called me a rock star that night and packed the left overs for lunch. I told Leah ( my best friend) about it and forgot to send the recipe to her. Being that we are having if for Sunday night dinner I thought I would share it with everyone.
INGREDIENTS
2 pounds ground turkey
2 eggs
1 cup dry bread crumbs
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon steak seasoning ( a pre-mix mccormick thing I use)
1/2 teaspoon essence
1 small yellow onion, diced
6-8 slices bacon
8 ounces sharp Cheddar cheese, cut into small chunks
1/2-1 cup bbq sauce
***spice measurements are a guess, Im more of a dash of this pinch of that person***
DIRECTIONS
Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F
Combine ground turkey, eggs and 1/2 cup of bbq sauce in a large bowl. Mix well, then add bread crumbs, seasonings and onion.
Set mixture aside. Line the bottom of a one row of a muffin pan with bacon. Fill half of each "cup" with the meat mixture across the top of the bacon. Lay 3 of the 4 pieces of Cheddar cheese across the center of the meat. Cover the cheese with the meat mixture and mold the meat into a mounded shape. Pull the ends of the bacon up and around the loaf. Plop some bbq sauce on the tops of each. repeat the same with the next row of "cups" in the pan.
Bake in the preheated oven until no longer pink in the center, about 40-45 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 160 degrees F . Remove from the oven.
If bbq is thinned out or slightly dry looking, add a little more. Top each with the last of your cheese and return the meat loaf to the oven and continue baking until the cheese is melted, about 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow the meat loaf to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
I would place the muffin pan on top of a lined baking sheet if I were you, because the oils from the cheese ran all over the top and sides of the mini loafs and down into my oven.
Also sometimes, if I cannot get my ground turkey, I will use beef, tastes just as yummy. Also, will leave the onions out too sometimes, since not everyone likes them either.
I serve this with garlic potatoes and steamed corn.
Hope you try it, if you do, let me know how you like it!!!!
05 September 2009
INSOMNIA.......Ain't it just grand!!
Anybody who knows me, knows that I have this terrible little issue with sleeping. Meaning that I never get very much. Sometimes, I think that if it were not for my wonderful hubby, that I wouldn't survive.
Anyways, on to my point today......
I have doing some research on insomnia lately and have found out that not getting enough sleep leads to a persons inablility to loss weight and can also promote weight gain!!!! How insane is that. I am already way overweight, have been my whole life (yet another issue for another day), so how is it now fair that because my body doesn't want to shut off at the end of the night for proper rejuvination that I should have to suffer further consequences other than the huge bags under my eyes and the feeling of grogginess all day long.
It's not like I sit at the computer all night eating bon bons or something. I don't stuff my face with cake. I don't eat a whole carton of ice cream. In fact, because I do already have weight issues, I don't keep that stuff in the house , except for the rare occasions. But even then, that stuff is normally some kind of treat for the family and I avoid it for the most part. Most of the time, when I can't sleep the only thing that sits with me at the computer is a 1.5 litter bottle of water that I will drink before going to bed. WATER, I repeat. How can that be bad for me.
I do know the importance of sleep and all that and have tried several different things to help or aid me to sleep. NOTHING seems to help. I wrote a "night time" journal for a long time because it was suggested that if I could just get all my thoughts out before I laid down I would be able to sleep. Hence, meaning that I was simply stressing myself out, especially being that this was when Stephen was deployed and I should try to avoid it. Writing the journal only seemed to make things worse. Once I thought that I had written down everything, I would go to sleep for maybe an hour and then I would wake thinking that I had to write more. The writing would then keep me up.
I have tried sleeping pills and will still on occasion, meaning I am desperate for some much needed sleep, take them. But taking pills for me is so strange. They are designed to take effect in 1/2 an hour after taking them and are supposed to help you sleep for 8 to 9 straight hours. When I take a pill, it takes about 2-3 hours to take effect and then it knocks me out for about 14 hours. If I have to wake up before that, then I am doomed for the day. I will be sleepy all day long and will possibly take a nap without even realizing it.
So as you can plainly see, I already suffer enough from not being able to sleep. Why now does my weight have to become an issue of insomnia too, that just makes it one more thing for to worry about!!!
Anyways, on to my point today......
I have doing some research on insomnia lately and have found out that not getting enough sleep leads to a persons inablility to loss weight and can also promote weight gain!!!! How insane is that. I am already way overweight, have been my whole life (yet another issue for another day), so how is it now fair that because my body doesn't want to shut off at the end of the night for proper rejuvination that I should have to suffer further consequences other than the huge bags under my eyes and the feeling of grogginess all day long.
It's not like I sit at the computer all night eating bon bons or something. I don't stuff my face with cake. I don't eat a whole carton of ice cream. In fact, because I do already have weight issues, I don't keep that stuff in the house , except for the rare occasions. But even then, that stuff is normally some kind of treat for the family and I avoid it for the most part. Most of the time, when I can't sleep the only thing that sits with me at the computer is a 1.5 litter bottle of water that I will drink before going to bed. WATER, I repeat. How can that be bad for me.
I do know the importance of sleep and all that and have tried several different things to help or aid me to sleep. NOTHING seems to help. I wrote a "night time" journal for a long time because it was suggested that if I could just get all my thoughts out before I laid down I would be able to sleep. Hence, meaning that I was simply stressing myself out, especially being that this was when Stephen was deployed and I should try to avoid it. Writing the journal only seemed to make things worse. Once I thought that I had written down everything, I would go to sleep for maybe an hour and then I would wake thinking that I had to write more. The writing would then keep me up.
I have tried sleeping pills and will still on occasion, meaning I am desperate for some much needed sleep, take them. But taking pills for me is so strange. They are designed to take effect in 1/2 an hour after taking them and are supposed to help you sleep for 8 to 9 straight hours. When I take a pill, it takes about 2-3 hours to take effect and then it knocks me out for about 14 hours. If I have to wake up before that, then I am doomed for the day. I will be sleepy all day long and will possibly take a nap without even realizing it.
So as you can plainly see, I already suffer enough from not being able to sleep. Why now does my weight have to become an issue of insomnia too, that just makes it one more thing for to worry about!!!
01 September 2009
I'm not picky
Really, I'm not. i just like what I like and want what I want. And right now, more than anything in this world, I want for my family to start picking up and cleaning up after themselves instead of acting as if just because I no longer have a paying job that I am the maid.
For the most part they will clean up after themselves, however they have this really bad, and I mean bad habit of not cleaning up the bathroom behind themselves. Especially the toilet, if you get what I mean. And it wouldn't be so bad if it were not for the fac that it is always my bathroom that gets used and left dirty.
We have three, 1, 2,3 bathrooms in this house. I have mine which is shared with the guest bathroom being that it is on the first floor of the house. There are two up stairs. One that is in the guest bedroom, which Jeremiah has taken over, thinking that it is now his. And the main bathroom with the tub in it, that the girls use and claim as theirs.
With all these bathrooms in this house, why do they continue to feel the need to use and not clean mine. I don't use theirs, yet I still make sure that it is clean. If they have not cleaned it properly, I will either do it myself or show them how to do it right. Why can't they simply do the same in return!!!!
I will never understand this!!
For the most part they will clean up after themselves, however they have this really bad, and I mean bad habit of not cleaning up the bathroom behind themselves. Especially the toilet, if you get what I mean. And it wouldn't be so bad if it were not for the fac that it is always my bathroom that gets used and left dirty.
We have three, 1, 2,3 bathrooms in this house. I have mine which is shared with the guest bathroom being that it is on the first floor of the house. There are two up stairs. One that is in the guest bedroom, which Jeremiah has taken over, thinking that it is now his. And the main bathroom with the tub in it, that the girls use and claim as theirs.
With all these bathrooms in this house, why do they continue to feel the need to use and not clean mine. I don't use theirs, yet I still make sure that it is clean. If they have not cleaned it properly, I will either do it myself or show them how to do it right. Why can't they simply do the same in return!!!!
I will never understand this!!
29 August 2009
Why I haven't posted
I realize that I said that I would post on a much more regular basis this time around, and have tried really hard to keep that up. But as it stands now, I have not blogged in over two weeks. I have three really good reasons.
REASON ONE:
I was so busy getting everything ready for the four hour trip to Aviano where my family would be "living" out of a hotel for an entire week, that I simply did not have that much time to post. Anybody with kids should at least understand that just a little. It's hard enough that I had to make sure that every one packed enough clothes, to include underwear for some of my family, but to also have to make sure that I packed enough entertainment for the kids because we would be in a hotel room for a week. I also had to make sure that Stephen had everything that he was going to need for before, during and after his knee surgery. Then I also had to plan healthy meals, or at least give it my best shot, that could be made in a hotel room with a small kitchenette.
I must say that this trip turned out to be not as bad as I had originally thought. The hotel kitchen was an actual real sized kitchen that even had a dish washer. The kids ended up not being as bored as I thought that they would be. The hotel was full of families which lead to tons of kids for them to play with at the park right outside. And the commissary there was amazing compared to ours in so many ways that I even grocery shopped for the house and carried food back home for four hours in a cooler. I was also able to find shoes in the right sizes for all three of the kids and got all the school shopping done while there.
Stephen's knee surgery went well. The doctor was able to "clean" it up nicely. Although the news he gave us was not so good when he was finished. They scoped his knee in hopes that they would be able to fix it. Which while doing the scope they found that his knee will require much more work and may lead to a full knee replacement one day. The doctor even described the procedure as " putting a patch on a bald tire". But all and all he is healing well now and will begin physical therapy soon.
REASON TWO:
On returning home from a very long drive home from Aviano, (the drive is 4 hours as is, but we had to stop so that Stephen could get out and stretch his leg as the doc ordered to prevent any blood clots or damage, so it made it much longer of a drive) I was unpacking the car and received a very upsetting phone call. My Mawmaw was in the hospital and the doctors did not think that she was going to make through the night. This was Friday. By Friday night we got a red cross message that said that she was doing even worse and that I should try to come home.
Stephen and I spent many hours and much time talking about how i could get home. We finally came to the decision that there was just no way that I would be able to make that trip. The doctors wouldn't let him fly and I could't leave him here in this house that has four flights of stairs while he was on crutches. The kids needed to stay here so that they would be alright to start school and we just honestly did not have the money for me fly home. I talked to family back home on and off throughout the weekend and did my best to help them keep their spirits up. Mawmaw passed away on Sunday.
I spent Sunday and Monday in a state that I would call isolation. Which because of that I will have to make up Stephen's birthday. (Again, honey I am sorry that this all happened on your birthday) I didnt want to talk about it, think about it or deal with it. i was angry and sad, and confussed all at the same time. It was something that I just could not explain to anyone, not even Stephen. So I kept to my self. Thank God I have such a great family, because they all chipped in to help take care of Daddy and Mommy. The kids even made dinner.
Tuesday, I talked about it, or rather just blurted out everything that I was thinking and feeling and then just left it at that. When I was finally done, I went downstairs and crashed. I slept for pretty much the whole day. At this point, Stephen was able to get up and manage without to much assistance so he gave me my time. I guess he figured that after not sleeping more than 2-3 hours a night since Friday I needed the rest.
Wednesday, between Stephen going to the doctor and helping MR. Robinson, Elizabeth's teacher, get his room ready for school to start and cleaning up around the house from my lack of work earlier in the week, I was able to keep busy and not think too much about the fact that Mawmaw was being burried.
Thursday came around and the kids and I spent that finishing up at the school. We finished moving in all the desks and putting up all the posters and such. AFN our local tv station was there. They followed me around all day filming me doing things in the classroom and stuff. They finished up with an interview with me. i will post a link to the news segment when it is up so you can all see it. Just please keep in mind that I was working all day in the class and trying to help the new staff in the hot cafeteria to get ready for school to start too, so I am incredibly rough looking in this interview. So, be kind!!
Friday was spent at the school for the open house. What should have been a few hour thing ended up taking all day. It was nice to see all the kids again though, I am going to miss them being that I will not be working in the lunch room this year. However, I may still be able to see them if I can work out a volunteer schedule at the school.
REASON THREE:
I have never felt so tired in my life over the last two weeks and I was having so many mixed emotions over my Mawmaw passing that I just couldn't form any intelligible thoughts.
I am happy to say that I am doing much better now and with the kids starting school on Monday, finally, life will get back to normal soon.
I am truly blessed with a great family. My husband and my kids were so supportive, kind and understanding during this past week that I couldn't have asked for anything more. Even when I was not able to explain to them what exactly I was thinking, feeling or going through, they were there for me. And for the kids, the only thing that they knew to do was to hug me and tell me they me, that ended up being the best medicine anyone could give.
TODAY:
We are all much better and enjoyed the day relaxing after a quick house cleaning and laundry party. Stephen is healing nicely and is able to get around without the crutches for the most part. He will be returning to work on the 2nd barring a good report from the doctor on the 1st. The kids are excited to start school and ready to put their best foot forward this year. Jeremiah is now in middle school, my big sixth grader and Elizabeth has moved up to third grade. Keegan my possibly be able to start a half day pre-k soon. I am going to spend this coming week doing some touch up painting around the house. Maybe even start a project that I have been putting off for awhile which is to re-do a bedroom set.
REASON ONE:
I was so busy getting everything ready for the four hour trip to Aviano where my family would be "living" out of a hotel for an entire week, that I simply did not have that much time to post. Anybody with kids should at least understand that just a little. It's hard enough that I had to make sure that every one packed enough clothes, to include underwear for some of my family, but to also have to make sure that I packed enough entertainment for the kids because we would be in a hotel room for a week. I also had to make sure that Stephen had everything that he was going to need for before, during and after his knee surgery. Then I also had to plan healthy meals, or at least give it my best shot, that could be made in a hotel room with a small kitchenette.
I must say that this trip turned out to be not as bad as I had originally thought. The hotel kitchen was an actual real sized kitchen that even had a dish washer. The kids ended up not being as bored as I thought that they would be. The hotel was full of families which lead to tons of kids for them to play with at the park right outside. And the commissary there was amazing compared to ours in so many ways that I even grocery shopped for the house and carried food back home for four hours in a cooler. I was also able to find shoes in the right sizes for all three of the kids and got all the school shopping done while there.
Stephen's knee surgery went well. The doctor was able to "clean" it up nicely. Although the news he gave us was not so good when he was finished. They scoped his knee in hopes that they would be able to fix it. Which while doing the scope they found that his knee will require much more work and may lead to a full knee replacement one day. The doctor even described the procedure as " putting a patch on a bald tire". But all and all he is healing well now and will begin physical therapy soon.
REASON TWO:
On returning home from a very long drive home from Aviano, (the drive is 4 hours as is, but we had to stop so that Stephen could get out and stretch his leg as the doc ordered to prevent any blood clots or damage, so it made it much longer of a drive) I was unpacking the car and received a very upsetting phone call. My Mawmaw was in the hospital and the doctors did not think that she was going to make through the night. This was Friday. By Friday night we got a red cross message that said that she was doing even worse and that I should try to come home.
Stephen and I spent many hours and much time talking about how i could get home. We finally came to the decision that there was just no way that I would be able to make that trip. The doctors wouldn't let him fly and I could't leave him here in this house that has four flights of stairs while he was on crutches. The kids needed to stay here so that they would be alright to start school and we just honestly did not have the money for me fly home. I talked to family back home on and off throughout the weekend and did my best to help them keep their spirits up. Mawmaw passed away on Sunday.
I spent Sunday and Monday in a state that I would call isolation. Which because of that I will have to make up Stephen's birthday. (Again, honey I am sorry that this all happened on your birthday) I didnt want to talk about it, think about it or deal with it. i was angry and sad, and confussed all at the same time. It was something that I just could not explain to anyone, not even Stephen. So I kept to my self. Thank God I have such a great family, because they all chipped in to help take care of Daddy and Mommy. The kids even made dinner.
Tuesday, I talked about it, or rather just blurted out everything that I was thinking and feeling and then just left it at that. When I was finally done, I went downstairs and crashed. I slept for pretty much the whole day. At this point, Stephen was able to get up and manage without to much assistance so he gave me my time. I guess he figured that after not sleeping more than 2-3 hours a night since Friday I needed the rest.
Wednesday, between Stephen going to the doctor and helping MR. Robinson, Elizabeth's teacher, get his room ready for school to start and cleaning up around the house from my lack of work earlier in the week, I was able to keep busy and not think too much about the fact that Mawmaw was being burried.
Thursday came around and the kids and I spent that finishing up at the school. We finished moving in all the desks and putting up all the posters and such. AFN our local tv station was there. They followed me around all day filming me doing things in the classroom and stuff. They finished up with an interview with me. i will post a link to the news segment when it is up so you can all see it. Just please keep in mind that I was working all day in the class and trying to help the new staff in the hot cafeteria to get ready for school to start too, so I am incredibly rough looking in this interview. So, be kind!!
Friday was spent at the school for the open house. What should have been a few hour thing ended up taking all day. It was nice to see all the kids again though, I am going to miss them being that I will not be working in the lunch room this year. However, I may still be able to see them if I can work out a volunteer schedule at the school.
REASON THREE:
I have never felt so tired in my life over the last two weeks and I was having so many mixed emotions over my Mawmaw passing that I just couldn't form any intelligible thoughts.
I am happy to say that I am doing much better now and with the kids starting school on Monday, finally, life will get back to normal soon.
I am truly blessed with a great family. My husband and my kids were so supportive, kind and understanding during this past week that I couldn't have asked for anything more. Even when I was not able to explain to them what exactly I was thinking, feeling or going through, they were there for me. And for the kids, the only thing that they knew to do was to hug me and tell me they me, that ended up being the best medicine anyone could give.
TODAY:
We are all much better and enjoyed the day relaxing after a quick house cleaning and laundry party. Stephen is healing nicely and is able to get around without the crutches for the most part. He will be returning to work on the 2nd barring a good report from the doctor on the 1st. The kids are excited to start school and ready to put their best foot forward this year. Jeremiah is now in middle school, my big sixth grader and Elizabeth has moved up to third grade. Keegan my possibly be able to start a half day pre-k soon. I am going to spend this coming week doing some touch up painting around the house. Maybe even start a project that I have been putting off for awhile which is to re-do a bedroom set.
12 August 2009
LOST...in translation.....seriously
So we have had some major issues with the shower in my bathroom. It has leaked for a long time and when I have had somebody over here to look at it, they always do the same things:
1)turn on sink faucet and say "va biene" ....meaning good, there's water what's the problem
2)turn on shower water and say"va biene"....meaning good, this woman is crazy, there is water
3)say "ciao ciao" and walk out the door
Well, finally the shower had started to leak so bad that it was seeping through the outside wall and running down into our garage. So, housing was called again. This time, I beat them to the punch, turned on both the sink and the shower and said "NO VA BIENE!!" and made them follow me to where it was leaking to the garage. Finally they see the issue. They look around and say, "domani". This is something that all the americans over here have a hard time getting used to because it means tomorrow and sometimes with them, tomorrow never gets here.
As it is, I have been at this shower thing for about a month now. They decided that it was time to fix it. So they show up one day last week, bright and early and start busting up all the tile and marble in my bathroom, leaving a huge hole that Keegan was scared of in the middle of the floor. They worked all day on that and then left. Yesterday, they came back to finish, which didnt happen either. They have to come again sometime today!!
To the point of this blog......
Every time that they come to the house, we have to tell them over and over again that both of our front gates have to be closed behind them EVERY time that they walk in or out. We also have to remind that we have a dog and that the front door needs to be closed as well. Normally I will put Igor in his kennel while they are here to avoid any further issues with trying to get them to understand the importance of closing the door/gates.
Igor, poor thing, HAD to use the potty, badly yesterday. I could tell by the way he was scratching and whinning at the door. I was trying to make lunch for the kids and so I asked keegan to open the door and let him out while I finished lunch. I did this without even thinking about the gates. Needless to say that by the time lunch was made, and it was a simple lunch of apples and pb&j's yesterday, Igor was gone. Nowhere to be found.
I started yelling for him and looking around. The italian workers stopped me and in very rough hand signals along with the few words I know, pretty much let me know that the "cane" went out the gate. I wanted to scream at him. These people just let our 750 Euro dog out of the yard and didnt even bother to let us know that he went out.
The sad thing about it is not the amount of money that the dog cost, but rather the heart break me and kids felt yesterday after we realized he was gone and as long as these guys were still at our house we couldnt leave to look for him. Which by the way, they did not leave my house till 5pm. So we got a little bit of searching time done last night.
The kids are out searching the neighborhood and town today looking for him. So far they have found a man down the road that said he saw Igor walking along the main street. So we are not going to give up hope yet. But the whole situation is just frustrating!!!
1)turn on sink faucet and say "va biene" ....meaning good, there's water what's the problem
2)turn on shower water and say"va biene"....meaning good, this woman is crazy, there is water
3)say "ciao ciao" and walk out the door
Well, finally the shower had started to leak so bad that it was seeping through the outside wall and running down into our garage. So, housing was called again. This time, I beat them to the punch, turned on both the sink and the shower and said "NO VA BIENE!!" and made them follow me to where it was leaking to the garage. Finally they see the issue. They look around and say, "domani". This is something that all the americans over here have a hard time getting used to because it means tomorrow and sometimes with them, tomorrow never gets here.
As it is, I have been at this shower thing for about a month now. They decided that it was time to fix it. So they show up one day last week, bright and early and start busting up all the tile and marble in my bathroom, leaving a huge hole that Keegan was scared of in the middle of the floor. They worked all day on that and then left. Yesterday, they came back to finish, which didnt happen either. They have to come again sometime today!!
To the point of this blog......
Every time that they come to the house, we have to tell them over and over again that both of our front gates have to be closed behind them EVERY time that they walk in or out. We also have to remind that we have a dog and that the front door needs to be closed as well. Normally I will put Igor in his kennel while they are here to avoid any further issues with trying to get them to understand the importance of closing the door/gates.
Igor, poor thing, HAD to use the potty, badly yesterday. I could tell by the way he was scratching and whinning at the door. I was trying to make lunch for the kids and so I asked keegan to open the door and let him out while I finished lunch. I did this without even thinking about the gates. Needless to say that by the time lunch was made, and it was a simple lunch of apples and pb&j's yesterday, Igor was gone. Nowhere to be found.
I started yelling for him and looking around. The italian workers stopped me and in very rough hand signals along with the few words I know, pretty much let me know that the "cane" went out the gate. I wanted to scream at him. These people just let our 750 Euro dog out of the yard and didnt even bother to let us know that he went out.
The sad thing about it is not the amount of money that the dog cost, but rather the heart break me and kids felt yesterday after we realized he was gone and as long as these guys were still at our house we couldnt leave to look for him. Which by the way, they did not leave my house till 5pm. So we got a little bit of searching time done last night.
The kids are out searching the neighborhood and town today looking for him. So far they have found a man down the road that said he saw Igor walking along the main street. So we are not going to give up hope yet. But the whole situation is just frustrating!!!
09 August 2009
weekend retreat
Ok so Stephen and I decided to go on a marriage retreat with the Chaplain. We went on last year's retreat and learned alot about ourselves that we honestly didnt even realize we needed too. So when the retreat was offered again this year, we decided that we would go.
Last year it was held in this beautiful mountain top casa, or farm house. It was completely shut off from the world with no tvs, no phones, no radio, no computers, awesome homemade farm fresh foods. Tons of good stuff to include no heat and single beds with polite little signs that said "please do not push beds together". The setting kinda made you focus on why you were there. We loved it, and when family comes here to visit, we are planning on taking them there for a visit.
This year, it was in Garmisch, Germany. yet another beautiful mountain resort. This however, was very different. It is a military run facility that has all the latest technology. We had a wonderful time and again, learned areas in our marriage that could stand a little bit of work. But, we actually went for the right reasons, not just for the free trip to Germany. I say that because i feel very strongly that some of the couples went just for that reason.
Anyways, I strongly, STRONGLY suggest that any couple, whether you are having issues in your marriage or not, to sign up for a marriage retreat every so often. You might be amazed at the things that you will learn about yourself and your partner, for that matter, that you might not have known before. I would say to make sure that it is a faith based retreat, just because then you not only learn how to work your marriage based on some book, but the BOOK, instead.
Stephen and I have been married for a little over two years now and couldnt be happier. I believe that it is because we care enough about each other to do things like these retreats, as well as try our best to live our lives the way that God would want us to. This retreat has brought closer than we were, and I think that it came a t perfect time.
Though we normally dont have any major issues, I found through this retreat that when we do, I will be able to handle them, not better, but differently. I learned a few things about myself and abut Stephen that will help with that. And I also gained a whole new respect for my husband that I already knew was there, but took for granted at times, just by witnessing the other families there.
I was truly blessed when God brought Stephen into my life, and will do my best to cherish the man that he is for what he is. Because, he is the kindest, most caring, loving and gentle man that I could ever share my life, hopes and dreams with.
On another note, there is a book that we used during the retreat and now have at home that I think every couple should read. It is called "The five love languages" along with it's sister book, "The five languages of apology"
Last year it was held in this beautiful mountain top casa, or farm house. It was completely shut off from the world with no tvs, no phones, no radio, no computers, awesome homemade farm fresh foods. Tons of good stuff to include no heat and single beds with polite little signs that said "please do not push beds together". The setting kinda made you focus on why you were there. We loved it, and when family comes here to visit, we are planning on taking them there for a visit.
This year, it was in Garmisch, Germany. yet another beautiful mountain resort. This however, was very different. It is a military run facility that has all the latest technology. We had a wonderful time and again, learned areas in our marriage that could stand a little bit of work. But, we actually went for the right reasons, not just for the free trip to Germany. I say that because i feel very strongly that some of the couples went just for that reason.
Anyways, I strongly, STRONGLY suggest that any couple, whether you are having issues in your marriage or not, to sign up for a marriage retreat every so often. You might be amazed at the things that you will learn about yourself and your partner, for that matter, that you might not have known before. I would say to make sure that it is a faith based retreat, just because then you not only learn how to work your marriage based on some book, but the BOOK, instead.
Stephen and I have been married for a little over two years now and couldnt be happier. I believe that it is because we care enough about each other to do things like these retreats, as well as try our best to live our lives the way that God would want us to. This retreat has brought closer than we were, and I think that it came a t perfect time.
Though we normally dont have any major issues, I found through this retreat that when we do, I will be able to handle them, not better, but differently. I learned a few things about myself and abut Stephen that will help with that. And I also gained a whole new respect for my husband that I already knew was there, but took for granted at times, just by witnessing the other families there.
I was truly blessed when God brought Stephen into my life, and will do my best to cherish the man that he is for what he is. Because, he is the kindest, most caring, loving and gentle man that I could ever share my life, hopes and dreams with.
On another note, there is a book that we used during the retreat and now have at home that I think every couple should read. It is called "The five love languages" along with it's sister book, "The five languages of apology"
02 August 2009
weekend happenings
Well there was a ton of stuff that we did this weekend. Some was planned and some was kinda spur of the moment activities. Either way, they kept us busy and now I am worn out.
For starters, Friday I went to pay bills and grocery shop. I love my kids and all, but I will be sooooooo extremely happy when school starts back because they just dont seem to understand the importance of bill paying and food buying. All they were concerned about was if we were ever going to get done so that we could go swimming.(which did not happen) Regular household tasks like this normally only take me a few hours but for some reason, this trip took all day.
I know part of it was my fault because since I am no longer working, I am trying to save money and conserve better, so I am teaching the kids how to really find the best prices and how to utilize coupons. We have a community center type place called ACS, and they have a section that is filled with nothing but coupons that people will cut out and mail over to us(thanks to anyone that does that, AWESOME) that we are able to go through and take whatever we want. So that was one of our many stops.
They did not think that sitting at a table and digging through huge boxes of coupons was any fun or worth the time it took until we started to find a few really good ones. I was able to use those to explain the real savings we could get for a little of our time. one example that got them more into it was a coupon for new arm and hammer concentrated cleaners. It was 2 dollars off and they were on sale for 2.29. I explained that with the coupon we would only pay .29. That being said, what normally would have taken 1 hour to shop turned into 2 and a half. We did however save about 50 dollars in the grocery bill with our coupons so that in itself is a plus!
Saturday, I decided that I wanted to change rooms. I have been talking to Stephen about taking the room in the basement for awhile now and finally decided that Saturday was the day to do it. We moved two sets of bedroom furniture up and down 3 flights of stairs all day. Great workout, but big mess. I will now be spending the rest of the week patching walls and re-hanging/decorating both rooms. It is worth it though, the basement room is so much bigger and now the guest room/Alex's room will have a bathroom. Saturday was rounded off with a trip to the movies to see Angels and Demons. Turned out to be a good movie, but the book was much better.
Sunday morning came way to quick. We all got up, ate, and dressed and ready to head out the door for church when something snapped in the kids and it turned into a day that the morning was spent in deep discussions on their behavior and lack of respect. We did not make to church today, but after an all day talk on the basics of behavior and manners 101, again and some maybe not so friendly reminders of what is expected, we had a good day. We ended today by taking a new family that just got her Friday down to the tower so they could take pics and get out of the hotel.
For starters, Friday I went to pay bills and grocery shop. I love my kids and all, but I will be sooooooo extremely happy when school starts back because they just dont seem to understand the importance of bill paying and food buying. All they were concerned about was if we were ever going to get done so that we could go swimming.(which did not happen) Regular household tasks like this normally only take me a few hours but for some reason, this trip took all day.
I know part of it was my fault because since I am no longer working, I am trying to save money and conserve better, so I am teaching the kids how to really find the best prices and how to utilize coupons. We have a community center type place called ACS, and they have a section that is filled with nothing but coupons that people will cut out and mail over to us(thanks to anyone that does that, AWESOME) that we are able to go through and take whatever we want. So that was one of our many stops.
They did not think that sitting at a table and digging through huge boxes of coupons was any fun or worth the time it took until we started to find a few really good ones. I was able to use those to explain the real savings we could get for a little of our time. one example that got them more into it was a coupon for new arm and hammer concentrated cleaners. It was 2 dollars off and they were on sale for 2.29. I explained that with the coupon we would only pay .29. That being said, what normally would have taken 1 hour to shop turned into 2 and a half. We did however save about 50 dollars in the grocery bill with our coupons so that in itself is a plus!
Saturday, I decided that I wanted to change rooms. I have been talking to Stephen about taking the room in the basement for awhile now and finally decided that Saturday was the day to do it. We moved two sets of bedroom furniture up and down 3 flights of stairs all day. Great workout, but big mess. I will now be spending the rest of the week patching walls and re-hanging/decorating both rooms. It is worth it though, the basement room is so much bigger and now the guest room/Alex's room will have a bathroom. Saturday was rounded off with a trip to the movies to see Angels and Demons. Turned out to be a good movie, but the book was much better.
Sunday morning came way to quick. We all got up, ate, and dressed and ready to head out the door for church when something snapped in the kids and it turned into a day that the morning was spent in deep discussions on their behavior and lack of respect. We did not make to church today, but after an all day talk on the basics of behavior and manners 101, again and some maybe not so friendly reminders of what is expected, we had a good day. We ended today by taking a new family that just got her Friday down to the tower so they could take pics and get out of the hotel.
29 July 2009
cake machine
Okay, so the family and I are trying to eat more healthy and plan better snacks and treats. I have been baking much more of our muffins and as soon as I can get a bread machine, I will make alot more of our own breads too. I have always made my own cake and such. Well, anyways, we were talking the other day about how the store bought ice creams have all this "stuff" added to them which makes them not so good for you and have tried several of the no-sugar, nothing but natural ingredients kind, and to say the least, they have all fallen short.
The kids asked if either Stephen or I knew how to make homemade ice cream (they have read online that almost anything that is made from scratch is way better for you). Stephen said no, but I said kinda. I used to watch/help make it as a kid growing up. I told them that I could always get Graw's receipe, but we would have to find an Italian ice cream machine. We could use one of "ours" but that would mean that we would need a transformer and there is no room or nowhere in my kitchen to plug one up.
In the middle of explaining all this to them, Elizabeth says that she likes cake better anyways and we dont have to a machine to make that. All of a sudden Keegan's eyes brighten and she gets this look on her face like she is thinking really hard. The next thing that comes out of her mouth is that we have a cake machine. Everybody suddenly busts out laughing. She takes off in to the kitchen looking for this cake machine. Jeremiah goes after her and asks if she means the oven. She says no and starts looking through all the cabinets.
After a few mins she comes out, Jeremiah and Boo still laughing non stop, and says that she cant find it but she knows its in there. Stephen tells her that there is no such thing as a cake machine, that I make all of our cakes. She thinks on this for a few mins and finally comes to me and says, well mommy I guess you are my cake machine!!
The kids asked if either Stephen or I knew how to make homemade ice cream (they have read online that almost anything that is made from scratch is way better for you). Stephen said no, but I said kinda. I used to watch/help make it as a kid growing up. I told them that I could always get Graw's receipe, but we would have to find an Italian ice cream machine. We could use one of "ours" but that would mean that we would need a transformer and there is no room or nowhere in my kitchen to plug one up.
In the middle of explaining all this to them, Elizabeth says that she likes cake better anyways and we dont have to a machine to make that. All of a sudden Keegan's eyes brighten and she gets this look on her face like she is thinking really hard. The next thing that comes out of her mouth is that we have a cake machine. Everybody suddenly busts out laughing. She takes off in to the kitchen looking for this cake machine. Jeremiah goes after her and asks if she means the oven. She says no and starts looking through all the cabinets.
After a few mins she comes out, Jeremiah and Boo still laughing non stop, and says that she cant find it but she knows its in there. Stephen tells her that there is no such thing as a cake machine, that I make all of our cakes. She thinks on this for a few mins and finally comes to me and says, well mommy I guess you are my cake machine!!
27 July 2009
sleep...beautiful sleep
ok, so this weekend we didnt have much to do, or that we could do because miah was due home from boy scout camp sometime saturday.....so after getting up having breakfast, watching a little tv and of course working on the never ending laundry, stephen decided that he was going to take a nap.....
normally, i say again, normally, i would not take a nap in the middle of the day because i already have a hard time sleeping at night and if i nap during the day, i WONT get any sleep at night....but the thought of a nap saturday afternoon sounded so good to me and stephen's constant snoring wasnt even bothering me, so i laid down next to him on the couch......next thing i know my eyes are heavy and im asleep.......
it was beautiful little nap.....all 30 mins of it.....
so last night i slept really well.....i mean really well...but when i got up this morning, i just seemed to be exhusted.....exhusted to the point that i could not keep my eyes open.......so after all the kids had eaten breakfast, some watching t.v. and some playing the wii, i closed my eyes to take a quick nap.......this is how i was woken up....
keegan: mommy, mommy, mmmmoooommmyyyy
me: yes kee
keegan: open yours eyes
mommy: no
keegan:yes mommy
me: no
keegan: yes
me: alright, but why
keegan: because you said naps are for "little guys" that need their rest.....youre not little!!
normally, i say again, normally, i would not take a nap in the middle of the day because i already have a hard time sleeping at night and if i nap during the day, i WONT get any sleep at night....but the thought of a nap saturday afternoon sounded so good to me and stephen's constant snoring wasnt even bothering me, so i laid down next to him on the couch......next thing i know my eyes are heavy and im asleep.......
it was beautiful little nap.....all 30 mins of it.....
so last night i slept really well.....i mean really well...but when i got up this morning, i just seemed to be exhusted.....exhusted to the point that i could not keep my eyes open.......so after all the kids had eaten breakfast, some watching t.v. and some playing the wii, i closed my eyes to take a quick nap.......this is how i was woken up....
keegan: mommy, mommy, mmmmoooommmyyyy
me: yes kee
keegan: open yours eyes
mommy: no
keegan:yes mommy
me: no
keegan: yes
me: alright, but why
keegan: because you said naps are for "little guys" that need their rest.....youre not little!!
24 July 2009
its been forever
okay, so its been almost a year since i have posted......its not that i didnt have anything to say, it just seemed to me that nothing i had to say was of interest or importance.......i started to feel as though, i was losing touch with everything.....family, friends......the world........i felt that to be a successful blogger, i had to write brilliant, funny and important things, world issues and such......
because, you see, i am a simple person, i have simple intrestes, simple beliefs and i didnt think that mattered to the world......
i have learned, through my children, though, that sometimes its the simple things in life that really do matter........so i have decided to come back......ive given my blog a "facelift" and will be blogging on a regular basis, hopefully, about the simple pleasures of life and family.....i hope that the world out there will enjoy and feel as though they too, can be a part of this new phase in my life........simplicity!!!!!!
because, you see, i am a simple person, i have simple intrestes, simple beliefs and i didnt think that mattered to the world......
i have learned, through my children, though, that sometimes its the simple things in life that really do matter........so i have decided to come back......ive given my blog a "facelift" and will be blogging on a regular basis, hopefully, about the simple pleasures of life and family.....i hope that the world out there will enjoy and feel as though they too, can be a part of this new phase in my life........simplicity!!!!!!
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