The Evening Sky

A beautiful sunset behind our home this evening!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Jeff, Dixie,

Curtis, Samuel, Alex,

Briana, and Julissa

Mini Vacation in August with Grandma

In August of this year, we went on a mini vacation with my mom.  We went to Springfield, Illinois and visited many places that related to Abraham Lincoln and we also went to Missouri and visited  the home of Mark Twain.  I will post a few of the pictures from our time together.

The kids enjoyed dressing up with costumes from the time period of Lincoln. 

L to R: Samuel, Briana, Julissa, and Alex

Curtis and Grandma were shopping in the bookstore!

The kids are standing in front of the Lincoln Family. 

Julissa, Alex, and Briana enjoying themselves in the play area at the Lincoln Museum.

Samuel and Alex thoroughly enjoying being dressed the part.

Alex peeking over Samuel's shoulder.

The above pictures were all taken at the Lincoln Presidential Museum.

There was a miniature golf course not too far from our hotel, so we took advantage of it.  We enjoyed playing miniature golf with my mom.  I believe this was the first time she had ever played.

Curtis, Mom, and I

The next group of pictures were taken at Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site.

Curtis, Samuel, Alex, Briana, and Julissa

Grandma and her grandkids

Mom and I

Julissa

Briana

Alex

Samuel

Curtis

Curtis and Samuel

Now we are getting ready to tour Lincoln's home in Springfield, IL.

Lincoln's Singing Troubadours at the visitor center to Lincoln's home.  This group did a wonderful job singing acapella. I believe I could have sat there and listened to them for hours.

After touring the Lincoln Home, we got to listen to Mr. Lincoln talk in his backyard.  Curtis is listening intently to what he has to say.

Mr. Lincoln

Briana and Julissa with Mr. Lincoln

Julissa and Briana with Mrs. Lincoln

Lincoln's Tomb

3 in 30 Goals for June!

1.  HOMESCHOOL - My goal for homeschooling is really two-fold, so I will be spending June and July on this goal.  I need to prepare quarterly binders for each child and input all lesson plans into Edu-Track for the 2011-2012 school year.

2.  HOME -This goal may take me June and July as well.  I need to reorganize and declutter all bookcases in preparation for the upcoming school year.  I am running out of shelf space and I really don't have room for any more bookcases, so I must get rid of books! I have 2 double seven-foot bookcases, 3 double six-foot bookcases, 5 single six-foot bookcases, 1 really large bookcase, and 12 small bookcases. Yikes! Can you tell I am a librarian's daughter?!

3.  SELF-EDUCATION - I want to finish reading the book The 5 Love Languages of Teenagers by Gary Chapman. 

Review of 3 in 30 Goals for May

It has been a busy month and I did not accomplish everything I set out to accomplish.  But I did make progress, which is better than nothing!

1.  HOMESCHOOL - My first goal for this month is to finalize all curriculum decisions and purchase all needed curriculum for my five children for the 2011-2012 school year.  I will have a 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 8th grader this fall. It seems like just yesterday that I started PreK with my oldest!

I made quite a bit of progress with this goal, and I hope to have it finished by the weekend.  I have placed quite a few of my orders and am waiting until convention to finalize a few things.

2.  HOME - I plan to remove clutter and thoroughly clean my Master Bedroom this month. I also plan to go through all of my clothes and get rid of those that are too big! I may need to shop for some new clothes when I am done!

There is not enough time in my day!  I cleaned out my dresser and got rid of clothes, but did not get everything done in my room.  

3.  SELF-EDUCATION - I want to finish reading the book One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp.

I finished reading this book! Yeah! One goal complete in its entirety!

3 in 30 Goals for May

After taking the month of April off from 3 in 30, I am ready to participate again in the 3 in 30 challenge during the month of May.

1.  HOMESCHOOL - My first goal for this month is to finalize all curriculum decisions and purchase all needed curriculum for my five children for the 2011-2012 school year.  I will have a 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 8th grader this fall. It seems like just yesterday that I started PreK with my oldest!

2.  HOME - I plan to remove clutter and thoroughly clean my Master Bedroom this month. I also plan to go through all of my clothes and get rid of those that are too big! I may need to shop for some new clothes when I am done!

3.  SELF-EDUCATION - I want to finish reading the book One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp.

Easter 2011

I know, I know, it is a total shock to some of you to see that I have actually posted pictures! Hopefully you recover okay!

We enjoyed spending Easter weekend with Mom, Heidi (my sister) and her husband Mike.  Heidi and I bought new outfits for Easter at separate times and places, and we ended up with matching outfits!

Heidi, Mom, and I

Heidi and I

Jeff and I

My Family

Our Kids!

Menu Plan Monday

Monday - Chef Salad using leftover Teriyaki Grilled Chicken from Sunday

Tuesday - Macaroni and Cheese, Chili Dogs, and Cottage Cheese

Wednesday - Greek Style Skillet Supper

Thursday - Chicken Tortilla Soup

Friday - Beef and Bean Burritos with Pico De Gallo

Saturday - Lunch - Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and Tomato Soup

                 Supper -

Sunday - Ham, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Green Beans, Fruit Salad, Rolls

Menu Plan Monday

This week I am participating in Menu Plan Monday at I'm an Organizing Junkie.


Monday - Mexican Chow Mein

Tuesday - Chef Salad w/ Grilled Chicken

Wednesday - Barbecue Sandwiches, Potato Chips, Vegetables

Thursday - Chipotle

Friday - Mall Food Court

Saturday - Pizza Hut and/or Panera Bread

Sunday - Grilled Chicken, Baked Potatoes, Mixed Vegetables, Fruit Salad
                Supper - Taco Soup

3 in 30 - March Goals - Week Four Check-In

Wow! The month of March is about over.  It has been a busy month, but a good month.  


Earlier Bedtime 

I am going to aim for an 11:00 p.m. bedtime.  I am a night owl, so this is going to be a difficult goal for me. In order to accomplish this goal, I am going to have to move up my children's bedtime, so that I can still have that needed downtime before I go to bed.

I feel like I have developed a good habit this month in regards to an earlier bedtime.  I have been to bed around 11 p.m. every night this past week except for last night. We had a youth activity night after our church service and didn't get home until 12:45 a.m.  But I was definitely knowing it when 11 p.m. rolled around.  

Square Foot Gardening

The kids and I are wanting to do some gardening this year.  So I decided that planning a garden would be a great goal for this month.  Because of the limited space that we have, I feel that square foot gardening is the best option for us.  I plan to utilize the library and online websites to help me meet this goal.

Master Bedroom Closet

Do a purge and reorganization of closet!

I did not get any further this week with my closet or the gardening.  Instead, I spent my week catching up on laundry after being without my washer for 11 days.  And we also had nightly revival services this week.  So with extra laundry, homeschooling, extra church services, cooking, cleaning, a day with a migraine, grocery shopping, and a funeral, I didn't have the time nor the energy to tackle more on the gardening or the closet organization.  It doesn't really look too hopeful that I will tackle it this coming week either, but I definitely plan to get these finished in the coming weeks.

I have enjoyed doing 3 in 30 again this month and plan to participate again in April.

Taco Soup

Taco Soup

1 to 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 pkg Taco Seasoning
2 cans Whole Kernel Corn, undrained
2 cans Ranch Style Beans, undrained
1 can Black Beans, Rinsed and Drained
2 cans Diced Tomatoes with Jalapeños, undrained

Corn Chips
Shredded Cheese
Diced Onion
Sour Cream

Brown beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in the taco seasoning, corn, beans, and tomatoes.  Cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until heated through, stirring occasionally.  Place corn chips in soup bowls; ladle soup over top.  Top with shredded cheese, diced onion, and sour cream if desired.