Now for the New Couch

I wasn't trying to tease you all with the previous post. ;)
I was trying to wait to get a picture until the kids were in bed, so the toys would be put away, etc.

Oh well. For now, here is what we bought:

and the new comfy chair I'm claiming as "mine"

We may paint the wall behind the couch one color, then the wall behind the entertainment center (opposing wall) another color. The beige paint was there when we moved in.

So there ya have it. Nothing fancy or outrageously expensive, and pictures are done by a minorly-skilled picture taker. But we're happy with it. :)

Just How GHETTO Was the Couch?

The one we just now replaced?
The one we bought off Craigslist when I was pregnant with Brennan for $50, from an Indian couple...it came to us smelling strongly like curry for about 2 months?

(I'd say we got our $50 worth, using that couch for 4 years!)

The picture doesn't even show it as accurately, but this couch is FILTHY, sinks, and the insides are literally falling out.
Even our couch cover has had it (the cover is 2 years old, bought for $30 from Big Lots).

The ghetto couch:

Ah, yes, people, with that beauty eye sore, we had people over. We hosted family events.
Consider yourself left out lucky if you didn't get to see it for yourself in person. :)

Grab some Cheese

I've got the whine.

I hate morning sickness.
Can I just vent?

I'm all for the baby part, but the morning sickness just feels terrible and brings me down.

It's worse today because of something I ate (I'm pretty sure), and of course my hubby is gone to school tonight. AND it's the day that my children were up before the sun, awake by 5:30 (why God, why?!)

When I meet God, I really need to chat with HIM in person about this whole sickness thing. I mean, seriously.
If we have to sacrifice our bodies to the extent we do...unpleasant bathroom experiences, stretch marks, ligament pain, not to mention the weight gain that comes so easily yet leaves so slowly...if we endure all of that, why must we also get sick?
HE could change it. I'm going to encourage him to do so. Future generations of women can thank me. ;)

So I'm whining because I feel crappy, exhausted, and gross, and I want to be pampered. I want to be taken care of.
Only my husband is in school (with a final next week), and both sides of our family live in different states.
So I can't be taken care of, I have to do the taking care of.
My two boys are dirty, in need of showers and getting put to bed. Then the dishwasher needs to be loaded.
I do enjoy taking care of them (most of the time), but right now, I just want to lay down. I want to lay down and be taken care of. I want someone to bring me something to eat that will make me feel better. Same with a drink. And I want my back rubbed, especially the lower back, near my hip.
SIGH.

Told ya to grab some cheese.
You just had a good bit of whine.

Overheard

Brennan: My dad is a BOY!

Aidan: Brennan, are you going to be a dad when you grow up?

Brennan: NO!

Aidan: Why not, Brennan?

Brennan: Because....Because...I'm going to be a tunnel flide!(slide)

Overheard this morning after dropping Patrick off at work.
Ya gotta love Brennan's big plans for the future.

A Summer Day at the Zoo

Last Thursday we had quite the full day: tee-ball game in the morning, and not even an hour later we joined friends at the zoo. 

We're very fortunate in that our zoo is WONDERFUL. Their kids' area is awesome, and I barely even got pictures to show for it. 

Aidan loved seeing some friends from school, and I enjoyed watching him have fun. Brennan loved it, too. 

It's definitely a memory worth looking back on, so here are some pictures to help with that:

The wading creek where the kids could build a dam; rocks & sticks provided.

Aidan got to hold & brush a gerbil! It made me sneeze, but he had fun. ;)

The indoor part was super cool for the kids. This was the play-honeycomb at the Bee center. Big hit.

There were also animal costumes for dress up. First Brennan was a zebra.

Then a bumblebee

Then some free face-painting!

It was a fun 3 hours at the zoo. I was beyond beat that night!

Thank you, God, for my kids having friends to enjoy childhood with.

Menu Plan Monday: July 26, 2010

Woo-hoo! It's the final week of July!
I'm excited because that means we're one step closer to Fall, which I love.
It also means we're closer to going to northern Michigan for a few days. I can't wait to be at the cabin and RELAX.

I'm not doing so well with the menu planning & cooking in the midst of morning sickness, but I'm trying.
So here is my latest effort:

Monday: Chicken with Grapes, pasta
Tuesday: Cereal or frozen waffles night (hubby at class)
Wednesday: Shepherd's Pie, bread rolls (similar recipe)
Thursday: leftovers or TBD
Friday: Vegetable Quesadillas

Recipe: Chicken with Grapes

Chicken with Grapes

Ingredients:
-Nonstick cooking spray
-4 small, boneless skinless chicken breasts (12-16 ounces total)
-1/2 cup white grape juice, apple juice, or apple cider
-1 teaspoon instant chicken bouillon granules
-1 teaspoon cornstarch
-1 cup seedless green and/or red grapes, halved
-Hot cooked linguine (optional)
-Fresh herb, such as oregano or thyme (optional)

Directions:
1. Coast an unheated large skillet with cooking spray. Preheat over medium to medium-high heat. Add chicken. Cook chicken for 8-10 minutes or until tender and no longer pink (170 degrees), turning to brown evenly. Remove chicken from skillet; keep warm.
2. Combine the juice or cider, chicken bouillon granules, and cornstarch. Add to the skillet. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir for 2 minutes more. Stir in the halved grapes; heat through.
3. Serve the sauce over chicken. If desired, serve chicken with hot cooked linguine and garnish with fresh herb.
Makes 4 servings.

Nutritional Information/Serving:
143 calories
3g total fat
1g saturated fat
45 mg cholesterol
258 mg sodium
13g carbohydrate
0g fiber
17g protein

Source: Big Book of Family Dinners

Baby's 1st Pictures

Taken Friday. :)

The baby is head down, so the round part on bottom is the head, trace up the left and that's the back/bum area. The thing jutting out on the right is the umbilical cord. 

Too early to know the gender (but we will find out).

I know it's blurry, and to most it looks like a blob.

This is our baby right now-almost 9 weeks!

I'M PREGNANT!

(yes, most of you already know this because of Facebook)

I've known since I was 4 weeks, and given my history, went for early blood work and a progesterone screening. Everything looked great.

I told Pat on Father's Day, writing "Hi Daddy" across my belly.

The boys are excited, especially Aidan. He prays at night for a baby sister. I hope he gets his wish.

We're expected to meet this little one February 28.

Wordless Wednesday: Looking Forward To

This should be the year for Aidan to start Boy Scouts (Cub Scouts for1st grade, I believe). 

I am so excited and I really think this could be a great thing. I hope he enjoys it as much as we're anticipating.

And I really hope he sticks with it long enough to become an Eagle Scout. (I'm willing to arrange a bribe for that;).

I'm Dreaming of a White...CHRISTMAS

I heard that clip on the radio today. There was an advertisement for a "Christmas in July" sale.
It's been in my head ever since.

I'm not dreaming of Christmas (just yet).
I've been dreaming of another home, a bigger home. Hopefully our next house will be such a home.

Lately I've felt cramped and slightly claustrophobic in our house.
Grant it, it is a small house, but people get by in houses this small with more members in their family.
Deep down I know we made a good decision buying this house-it's our starter house. It's better than renting, and we've already built something up should/when we sell.
We live in a great area, and our town is one many people want to move to.
According to our newspaper, our first year living here, property value increased around 13%.
This year (already) it's estimated it's increased 12%. It's looking good.

But this house is a small ranch with no basement and a single car garage.
it's around 1056 sq ft., I believe. Like I said, small.

In my mind, a house like this would be my dream home:

I think Victorian homes are beautiful, and I love the gazebo porch. I don't need 3 stories, but I'd take it.

I don't think this will be our next home. I don't think a home like this will ever be one we own.

I do think our next home will be 2 stories with a basement. I do think it will be fitting for our family at the perfect moment.

Until that time comes (or until school starts back and we feel some more space;), I'm thinking of the above picture. It's my motivation to stay frugal and save for that next house. :) 

Menu Plan Monday--July 19, 2010

Monday: Parmesan Chicken, steamed green beans, pasta
Tuesday: Something in the Slow Cooker, I hope
Wednesday: Sloppy Joes, raw carrots
Thursday: Pork with Peaches
Friday: Boys Decide

This is my first posted MPM for July. Crazy.
More on that to come Friday.

I'm at a loss for what to throw in the crock pot tomorrow, so please give me an idea if you have one!
I hope you're staying cool in this heat & enjoying your summer.

I am CRAVING

Not chocolate.
Not avocados (my usual cravings during a month).

I am craving FALL.
I want 55 degree weather.
I want to wear jeans and cute shoes.
I want to feel a cool breeze that's not filthy with humidity.

I am craving fall. Badly.

We've had hotter & more humid than usual weather. It's gross.
I normally don't tolerate the heat well, let alone right now.
It's just TOO hot.
I am miserable in heat like this. I wish I was living in Washington state!

I'm craving the other part of fall, too: the return to a routine, kids going back to school, etc.
I feel slightly guilty admitting I am feeling excited about my child going back to school, but it all comes together-go back to school, a set routine takes over for the next 9-10 months.

But mostly, I am craving fall weather. Because when it is cooler outside, I can tolerate the park and playing outside all day long. I even enjoy it.

Fall....come quickly.
If you can't, then this dang weather just really needs to cool down. NOW.

"Living Like No One Else"

If you know anything about Dave Ramsey, you know those words come from his mouth more times than one can count.
And yes, it's true...live like no one else, so later, you can LIVE like no one else.

I get that.
We've been living like no one else for some time now. We've made choices people would die before doing, or so they say in casual conversation.
We've had only one car since early 2006.
We have a very small house, with only one bathroom.
We don't belong to the YMCA, and this is living in a town where everyone goes to the Y.
I go without needed clothes and shoes for some time.
Our furniture is seriously beyond crappy. Even our couch cover is beyond crappy. Shoot, in our living room, the couch is ALL we have. Lack of furniture.

And yes, these are our choices. We could have chosen differently.
However, I'd like to think it's starting to pay off.
We no longer have a car payment or any credit card debt. Just out mortgage and student loans.
We live in a small house, but it's one we can afford. I don't have to worry month to month if we'll be able to pay the mortgage. And soon, we will be buying a second car again. Only this time, paying for it in cash, fully, up front.

We have made progress.
Still, human nature kicks in, and I feel frustrated at times. I want to have a tantrum and complain, ask why others get this or that when we don't, and we live within our means, etc.

We had a playdate today. The friends are very nice, generous people. They are very hard workers. They have earned & deserve all they have.
But let me tell ya, being in their nice big home, their home with the upstairs, basement and a few play rooms...it made me really wish that I had more right now.
Do you realize how much less frustrating my days would be if I simply had more SPACE?

Sigh. I don't want to complain. But I do feel a tad...envious? Jealous?
Certainly ready to be there.

Hopefully our day will come, and when we're there, we'll be there with no debt to haunt us. And our kids will learn from that, and be able to start their adult lives in a good financial position.
Perhaps I'll have my bigger home when my kids are adolescents, a time when they care more about appearances. When space is needed more for developmental reasons, and perhaps when we'll have more kids and a true need for more space, not just the want.

Today is one of those days.
A little sad, but also where I clearly see the urge to set aside $600 for our next down payment, and tolerate the beastly couch even longer.

Living like no one else...we've been on the end where it stinks. Often feels lonely.
Hopefully one day we'll be on the end where we feel free and good.

Wordless Wednesday:My Side of the Family

It happens a few times a decade, at most.

This picture is all of us-my parents, myself, and my 7 siblings. 

We're scattered across 5 different states between us all.

The last time all 8 kids were together, I was pregnant with Aidan!

This picture means a lot to me.

Despite differences we all might have, we are family.

We're Advancing In the Technology Age (Wii-Less no more)

My hubby got a Wii today, free, from work. Can't beat free, right?
He's excited, as are the boys. I haven't made up my mind yet.
I'm not a huge fan of video games, but if it's only brought out on occasion/rainy days, I think it could be nice.

One of the perks of his job: things that are for promotional use to give to clients, when they go unclaimed or they "clean out the closet", sometimes great freebies pop up.
Before this, the best was free tickets to Cedar Point. As in enough to bring our little family, and some of my siblings and their kids. (that's when I was pregnant with Brennan).

So we are no longer Wii-less.

Happy Birthday, Patrick!

The BIG 3-0!

Happy 30th to my amazing, patient husband.
The day you were born, God not only blessed your immediate family, but He truly blessed me.
Sounds selfish, but true.
I wasn't apart of the first 20 years of your life, but the past decade I have, and it's been an amazing time seeing the way you've grown, matured, and all that you've accomplished.
God could not have picked a better life-long partner for me.

You are such an excellent husband, and an equally wonderful father.
Our kids are so lucky to have you, such a hands-on dad.
We're blessed for the example you're setting, working full-time while earning your MBA, balancing school, family life, and the day-to-day responsibilities.

I hope you have a wonderful birthday (being away from home, yet again, on your birthday!).
We love you!
Happy Happy Birthday!!