Princess Polish

B was painting E's fingernails on Sunday.
She wanted them to look just like a princess.
Bright pink with blue sparkles, in case you've never seen princess polish in person.
As he was finishing up, he says to me, "Would you like your nails painted too?" "Pick a color."
As I sat down, I said, "you choose".
I guess he thought I was a princess too,
because my nails are bright pink with blue sparkles as well.

The TV Is Still In A Coma

It has been THIRTY days since we shut off the TV. I read somewhere that it only takes 30 days to form a habit. So, by that reasoning, we should have fully formed the habit of not watching TV by now, right? NOT!

This has really been a struggle for me. I have found that I am trying so hard to keep busy and fill my time that I am completely exhausted. I miss just zoning out, relaxing in front of the TV, letting *it tell me what to think.

I've overheard the kids discussing old episodes of favorite TV shows that they remember. We all cringe when anyone talks about a show we missed or asks what we thought about the latest episode. Or the worst was, last night, my mother in law says she has to get home to watch Celebrity Apprentice. UGH, stab straight to the heart. The thing is, she didn't give it a second thought. The only time it has impacted her was when the kids were at her house and couldn't turn the TV on. This thing that is constantly in our thoughts has not impacted anybody around us.

That is the biggest lesson we have all learned. How we take for granted things that a lot of people do without. I will be able to draw on this experience in teaching my children compassion for all those in the world who have less than them. Also, how to face temptation and turn away from it, just as Jesus did. I guess that was the anticipated outcome of all this. It is so much more difficult to deprive yourself of something that is right in front of you, tempting you, calling you, than to learn to make do without something that is not available to you.

Menu Plan for Mar 30 - Apr 1

Monday

Breakfast: Puffy Pancakes
Lunch: hot dogs, peaches
Dinner: Hawaiian Chicken, egg rolls, rice

Tuesday
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch: Chicken Nuggets, corn

Dinner: Burritos, bean, rice and cheese squares

Wednesday

Breakfast: Oatmeal

Lunch: Bean and cheese burritos

Dinner: Grilled chicken, hasbrown caserole, green beans

Thursday
Breakfast: Scrambled eggs, toast
Lunch: Dee-licious soup

Dinner: Grilled chicken, fettucine alfredo, salad

Friday

Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs

Lunch: Mac 'n' cheese, corn
Dinner: Small Group (taking bacon/sausage)

Saturday

Breakfast: Pancakes

Lunch: leftovers

Dinner: Hamburgers, fries

Be sure to visit orgjunkie for hundreds of other menu plans.

Menu Plan for Mar 24-29

Monday

Breakfast: Puffy Pancakes
Lunch: hot dogs, peaches
Dinner: wrestling banquet (bringing coleslaw pasta salad)

Tuesday
Breakfast: Cereal
Lunch: Bean and cheese burritos

Dinner: Grilled chicken, fettucine alfredo, salad

Wednesday

Breakfast: Pancakes

Lunch: Quesadillas, apple slices

Dinner: Potato Soup, salad, bread

Thursday
Breakfast: cereal
Lunch: Chicken Nuggets, corn

Dinner: Spaghetti, salad, bread

Friday

Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs

Lunch: Mac 'n' cheese, corn
Dinner: BBQ chicken wings, coleslaw, baked beans, tator tots

Saturday

Breakfast: Pancakes

Lunch: leftovers

Dinner: Hamburgers, fries

Be sure to visit orgjunkie for hundreds of other menu plans.

Haircut

BJ had managed to "miss" the last several times Dad did assembly line clipper cuts for the boys. He kept telling big stories about how he was letting it grow, and it was going to be so cool. The longer it got, the worse it looked. Therefore the more I was put off. However, I believe in choosing one's battles and for me it will never be hair. It just isn't that important. If they want to rebel with their hair, fine by me. As long as there are no piercings or tattoos, we are good.

Eventually the glorious day came, he declared "I think I'd like to get my hair cut. I'm tired of it".
Yippee!! go ask your dad for a haircut.
"Let's do it this weekend when I have more time" was the reply.
What?! Didn't you hear the boy? He wants a haircut!
Well, the weekend came and went, and the one after that, and even the one after that. Now, I have no intention of hubby bashing here. He has been busy, so I took things into my own hands. I drove the boy straight to the nearest Great Clips and PAID to have his haircut.

Afterward, BJ says, " That was weird. Nobody else has ever cut my hair before. She messed with my collar and then she kept touching my head!"

Uh, duh.

Yada Yada Prayer Group

I've stumbled upon a new series of books, The Yada Yada Prayer Group. I love, love, love them. Prayer is a part of my spiritual life I've really wanted to focus on. These books have given me a great deal of inspiration. They are about a group of very diverse ladies (an ex-con, an ex drug addict, Jamaican, Honduran, South African) who are thrown together at a ladies conference and decide to form a "prayer group" . They make me laugh. They make me cry. They make me praise God for all the blessings in my life.

We Killed the TV

Well, we put it into a coma, anyway.

B and I talked about what the family could give up for Lent this year. We decided giving up watching TV would be an ideal sacrifice. Not only would we experience self-denial, but we hoped it would have the added bonus of getting us to spend more time together as a family.

The kids and I had already made the big step (and it was big for us, believe me) of leaving the TV off until 4 PM each weekday. We called it Happy Hour when we could turn the TV on. Anyway, I decided that since we weren't going to be watching the TV, it would be silly to be paying for it. So, I called and canceled the cable, unhooked the boxes and returned them. No going back now.

I haven't really missed any of my "must see" shows.
Well, maybe American Idol.
The hardest part has just been trying to think of something else to do.
The kids have drug out some board games that have been accumulating dust. We went for a walk down to the wetlands one night. I've been working on some crafts and reading. We had all been doing really well.
Until last night.
I stumbled.

Z and E were hanging out with their uncle. BJ had gone over to a friend's house. M was at youth group. B was sick in bed asleep. I had absolutely no idea what to do with myself. I didn't have to make dinner for anyone, so grabbed a sandwich at Subway after dropping M off at church. I returned home to a quiet, empty house and was at a total loss. I turned on my laptop, and watched the new Celebrity Apprentice, the 2 HOUR premiere. Does that count as watching TV? Yeah, I know.

Look What I Made

I've been working on a few craft projects over the last week. I knitted this hat, being modeled by BJ. We are still trying to decide if I should put the pom pom on top. What do you think?

I also made these PJ pants for E. She told me they were "extra warm and toasty because they were made with love." Isn't that the sweetest thing? I'm hoping to get a pair made for each of the boys by the end of the month also. I'll post them when they are done.

Weather in a Jar

We have moved onto studying weather this month. This week we were learning about cloud formation. Z and E are waiting for "something" to happen in the jar. We were able to create a fog, then condensation, and even a few drops of precipitation.

Menu for Mar 2-6

Monday

Breakfast: Bagels and cream cheese

Lunch: Chicken Nuggets, corn

Dinner: Chicken Fried Rice, Egg Drop Soup

Tuesday

Breakfast: Cereal

Lunch: Chicken Noodle Soup

Dinner: Stuffed Shells, peas, salad

Wednesday

Breakfast: English Muffin w/ peanut butter

Lunch: Quesadillas, apple slices

Dinner: Taco Salad

Thursday

Breakfast: Puffy Pancakes

Lunch: Bean and cheese burritos

Dinner: Chicken Pot Pie, salad

Friday

Breakfast: Oatmeal

Lunch: Ham 'n' cream cheese roll ups

Dinner: Small Group (bringing pies)

Saturday

Breakfast: English Muffin w/ PB

Lunch: soup

Dinner: BBQ Chicken Wings, potatoes, salad

Be sure to visit orgjunkie for hundreds of other menu plans.