Move - Mercy Me

I haven't posted a song in quite awhile -probalby because I don't get a chance to listen to the radio much but I came across this Mercy me song on another blog and really liked it.  It is a "moving" song (thus the title MOVE!) and gets you snapping your fingers and singing along.  So enjoy :-)

What I'm Loving Wednesday

I'm loving . . . .that my kids are back home.  They got to spend some time with Papa and Nana and LOVED it.  As much as I enjoy a little break, I sure do miss their little faces!

I'm loving . . . that I finally got my scrapbooking stuff organized and cleaned out.  All the projects are ready to go and I have an updated goal list of when to get everything done. 

I'm loving . . . that all of the new shows are starting.  I was ready for some new things to record :-)

I'm loving . . .we got to go out to dinner with friends last Friday.  They treated us and we just had such a great time.  We need to do that more!

I'm loving . . .  football.  Yep :-)  My fantasy team is doing well already and I just love watching the games - both Pro and College!!!

I'm loving . . .my wonderful family!  It always feels nice when we are all together once again.



Too Cute Not To Toot!

Here's this weeks great ideas!

First up is one of my favorite blogs, Oopsey Daisy.  She shares a super cute food craft that fits in with both her Insect Mommy School unit as well as the upcoming Halloween Holiday.  I'm thinking that this will have to be an activity that makes it into our "Adventure Bucket" on an upcoming week.

Next up is a cute Halloween Countdown Felt Calendar from The Crafting Chicks.  She gives a nice tutorial for this project so if you have extra felt laying around - you could easily put this together.

You may remember that I shared an ABC photo book awhiel back from Lines Across My Face.  I have started these for my boys arealdy but, she has graciously supplied all of the pictures she took for her book.  I love it because it has given me some ideas for some of the letters.  If you are looking for inspiration or just want to print them to make a quick book feel free :-)

I just love these felt leaves from Rosy- Posy.  They would be great in a sensory bin or to be used for counting.  For older kids, they make a great craft idea too.

To go along with the leaves, you can also make felt pinecones.  There is a pretty easy to follow tutorial over at Salt Tree.

Lines Across My Face also shares a really cute photo idea using glass bottles.  To me, this would be the perfect way to keep your family close in the kitchen - the bottles would look great on a window above the sink.

My Mother-in-Law and I are throwing a Bridal Shower Brunch for my niece in a few weeks and we've decided to do a fall theme (ironic isn't it HA!) .  These pumpkin candles from A Pumpkin and a Princess will be a perfect addition to our decorations.

Yes, I Pinterest.  Sadly. HA!  I have found some cute ideas though and that is how I ended up at a site where I found this cute idea in a linky party.  It is a birthday countdown chart from Come Together Kids.

Ok, this made me giggle.  I guess because I have boys and they would think this is awesome.  I love this googly eye wreath from A Pretty Liffe in the Suburbs.  Plus, it looks super easy!

This next idea is 100% for me.  We are on the front end of potty training and by that I mean, we aren't having much luck.  Well, I came across this great idea (and a fantastic post) over at The Scrap Shop and I think it is exactly what we need.  We already have the Potty Treat Jar but I love the idea that she gives 1 sticker if he sits on the potty - it gives some encouragment that I think we need over here :-)  I will be getting this all prepared this week and we'll see how it works!!

In our house, we have a large patio door that is our main entrance to our home.  When I saw this idea I thought it would be a fun project to do with the kids plus it would look so great on the window.  Check out the full idea over at Frugal Family Fun Blog.

From the same Blog is a cute idea (and easy . .. not messy) for making Fall Sun Catchers for the window. 

This summer I saw several ideas for "Summer Checklists" and really liked the idea.  Today I came across this idea for a Fall checklist over at Come Together Kids and wanted to share it also.  What a great idea; no excuse not to get out as a family and get some things accomplished together!

Are these plaques the cutest things?  I was looking at the Pottery Barn versions and knew I couldn't buy them but now, I can make them thanks to While He was Napping

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Changes

Last week, I introduced you to a new blog I had found called The Generous Wife.  If you haven't checked it out, do so. 

I've enjoyed reading her daily posts and they have helped me shift my focus to being a servant instead of expecting so much. 

My husband and I are going through some changes in our life.  He began working a new job back in April and, at the time, we knew that there was the possibility that he could be sent overnight 1-3 nights a week.  As a matter of fact, after he was trained, he was gone for 2 nights a week the first few weeks but then, he seemed to be put on routes that were long but not overnight.  He worked his max 60 hours a week but, the schedule brought him home every night.  That all changed last week - after 5 months of a pretty consistent schedule, he was called on a Saturday and told that he was being sent on a two day route leaving at 2:00 am on Monday morning.  He was also told that this is his new route.  Now, our Sundays have been cut short and he's gone.  Alot.  He goes to bed at 6:30 on Sunday nights in order to get up at 12:30.  This past week, he got home on Tuesday at 6:00 PM, went to bed at 7:30 and got up at 1:30 on Wednesday morning to be gone over night again.  When he got home at about 3:30 on Thursday, I had figured out that since he went to bed on Sunday, I had seen him face to face for a total of 3 hours .  Now, for two people who LOVE to be together, 3 hours out of about 72 is not very many.  The days are long and it makes me even more thankful to be able to stay home with the boys - to give them that stability is just fantastic.  As with most things in life, this transition is difficult because it isn't comfortable but, again, as with most things, it gets better as you learn a routine.  We don't like losing hours on Sunday because he has to go to bed, we don't like the overnight stays but we are thankful for the job God provided and even for little things like the savings in gas because he isn't making the long commute as many days.  I'm learning to plan meals differently for just the boys and I (I don't cook much for the three of us - we eat simple!).  We can either choose to fight this or we can choose to accept it and make it work.  We are choosing to make it work. 

I'm thankful that I found The Generous Wife prior to this job change because I had already started changing my mindset and was looking for ways to cherish my husband more.  For as long as we have been married I have gotten up with Darryl to send him off to work.  I make his lunch, prepare his coffee, make sure his bag is packed, and he has everything he needs.  I enjoy this 30 minute time in the morning - we chat about things, get to say good bye and are thankful for those quiet moments.  It isn't a sacrifice for me at all but rather, a great way for us to connect in a very busy schedule.  I'm also looking for some other ways to treat him well and let him know he is thought of while he is away. 

I say all of that to say - are you taking time to cherish your spouse?  Even something as simple as making sure there are clean clothes or clean sheets are ways to show you cherish that important person.  Don't forget to take time to purposefully show love on a daily basis. 

Tot School - Ideas and More

Since I've decided to back off my original ideas for Tot School, I still wanted to share what we do as well as great ideas I find out there in blog land. 

My kids love books (which I'm thankful for) so when I see cute ideas that correspond to books, I like to save them.  I Heart Crafty Things shares some really cute (and easy) ideas to go along with the book If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. 

Using chocolate chips to practice counting skills on cutouts of "cookies"

She also shares a really cute idea to go along with the book Hooray For Fish.  This idea is a little above my boys right now but it is something I'd like to remember for a year or so down the road.

This idea is something I want to do with the boys in October - it is a "Roll a Jack-O-Lantern" Game.  Oopsey Daisy gives quick and easy instructions on how to create this fun little game.

So, after posting this POST last week, I took time to print out the pages from the Apples, Apples preschool pack.  The art work in the pack is fantastic (made even better by my AWESOME printer - yes, I really love my new "baby"!) and I love how there are different levels of work.  I did not print everything because some of it is still over the head of my kiddo's but there was a lot I could use right now.  This is what I'm planning:

Sept 12-23:  Working on the Apples, Apples unit.  I want to try to do an activity a day of some sort with the boys.  Just taking a few minutes out to do something planned.

Sept. 26-Oct 7: Work on Items for the Leaves Unit by Oopsey Daisy

Oct. 10-21 - Work on Items from the Scarecrows Unit from Itsy Bitsy Learners

Oct. 24-Nov 4: Work on Items from the Halloween Unit from Oopsey Daisy.

Super Simple :-)

Here are some pictures from our first week of Apples Apples!

Even though I took down our Circle Time Wall for now, Josh still loves to play with this magnetic calendar.  I keep it out on our shelf so he can ask for it anytime he wants.  He really loves lining up all of the shapes in the write size blocks.  I will say that he asked where are "Tree" was this week so I guess he really did like it!

We started out by using a worksheet to learn the parts of an apple.  The best part was when we cut the apple open across the middle and Josh said "Star!" - as that is the shape the core makes when cut that way.  After that, we used the apple to paint "apples" in a basket.

He loves paint and wanted more! 

After we filled the basket, we got out more colors and painted more on regular paper.

Eventually our painting turned into this. HA!  Josh saw the glitter and started making "glitter" apples.  He was having fun and this entertained him the entire afternoon.  He even got up the next day and asked to paint again! 

I am already loving this new laid paid teaching/learning.  I'm in the process of creating a "Tot Time" basket where I will put our daily "adventure".  This way, after lunch each day Josh will learn to grab the basket and we'll do the activity that is included.  Some days it will be something like our apple project and some days, it may just be a book OR maybe a few ingredients for a recipe we are going to cook together. 

Weight Watchers Saturday

Before I begin, I received a great comment this week on a post I did on Weight Watchers.  It was such an encouragement.  I always appreciate comments - they make blogging fun!

For now, I am not going to Weight Watchers meetings.  In looking at some financial things, I decided that spending that money each week, month, and so on, wasn't where I needed to be spending money.  I'd rather reserve that little bit to be able to have a dinner with my husband or even be able to pick up something special for the family on a given week.  Now, just because I'm not attending meetings right now doesn't mean I'm giving up nor does it mean I won't ever go back.  Quite the opposite, I know the in's and out's of the program so I can do what I need to do and I want to go back to the meetings eventually.  I enjoy the accountability, the mini-lessons, and meeting other people. 

I've said it before and I'll say it again . . . it was a lot easier to be on Weight Watchers before kids (who am I kidding, before a husband!) than it is with both of those to also feed!  The kids have really added a new dimension that I've had a hard time working around.  Trying to find time to cook what I need to eat has not been easy.  The one week I did fantastically on WW was the week that I specifically planned my lunches.  With that in mind, my first goal for this leg of my journey is to plan lunches.  I went through a few sites and have pulled out 14 lunch recipes.  I know that of those, I will probably widdle it down to 10 that I really love.  From those I plan on creating 5 weeks worth of meals that equal 7-10 points.  In case you are wondering about my math - most recipes make 2-3 servings so I can use 2 recipes a week.  I promise to share both the recipes and the meals themselves.  Maybe it will help you plan better too! 

What comes next?  Planning Breakfast and planning the infamous exercise ideas.  But those are something to talk about later!

The first menu plan is shown below:

Lunch 1
Thai Chicken and Pineapple Stirfry (1.25 cups) 5 points with Salpicone (1 cup) 2 points, Crystal Light - O points = 7 points Total

Lunch 2
Lettuce BLT's (2 wraps) 4 points with Salpicone (1 cup) 2 points, 1 Diet Soda Cupcake w/fat free cool whip 2 points, Crystal Light = 8 points.


I had some very specific guidelines when I looked at recipes.  1) It had to be something that I could prepare/pre-cook on Sunday.  2) It had to be very simple to reheat/put together during the week.  In fixing three plates for the little boys, I don't have the time to prepare a meal for myself too. 

Next week:  Tackling Breakfast!

Weekly Menu - Week of Sept 17

I was amazed last week how far my grocery budget stretched in order to have lots of snacks on Football Sunday :-)  Our dinners were pretty simple but that's ok, my husband was gone several nights due to work so the kids and I ate simple anyway. 

This week we are starting out without kids (they went to see Papa and Nana) so our menu is more adult friendly. 

Saturday: We have plans to work all day in our basement so I know that by the time dinner rolls around we will be ready to relax without cooking.  We will order in - probably from our favorite Italian Place!

Sunday: Roast, Potatoes, Carrots in the crock pot

Monday:  I will be on my own - can't believe it HA!  I will absolutely be getting something from somewhere - just not sure where I'll go!

Tuesday: Teriyaki Chicken Thighs, Savory Rice, Peas and Biscuits

Wednesday: BBQ Cups and French Fries

Thursday: Taco Stuffed Shells, Corn, Crescent Rolls

Friday: Cinnamon Strudel Pancakes, Hash browns, and Bacon