Realizations

1.  My 3-year old is hitting that age that naps are becoming optional.  This is becoming detrimental to my sanity.  If naps are skipped by 6 p.m. I become irritable, grouchy, and just plain ol' mean.

2.  There is an inner war going on within my head.  My frugality is fighting tooth and nail against my hatred of being cold.  When it got cold at the beginning of the week, I shivered...I covered up with a blanket...I made another pot of coffee.  At this point in time, my frugality is winning.  We shall revisit this topic say mid-January and February.  (How in the world did I survive in Illinois?)

3.  It is best to take showers when your toddler is asleep.  Or at least have another somewhat responsible individual there to make sure he doesn't head for the door while you are mid-shampoo.  (I realize this is a no-brainer, but I thought just maybe I could squeeze in a quick shower, wrong.)

4.  The cleanliness of my house also affects my sanity.  By no means am I a perfectionist.  Clean doesn't even mean floors vacuumed, bathrooms shiny, or furniture polished.  To me, clean just means toys picked up, dishes put away, and being able to walk through a room without going through an obstacle course.

5.  I find it very hard to deliver something I have baked/cooked without sampling it first.  What happens if it is a flop?

6.  My dryer is not shrinking my clothes.  I have gained weight, blech.  Admittance is the first step, right?  Now I just gotta get up off my hiney and get some exercise, yuck, yuck, yuck.

7.  My son can destroy a room in 13.5 seconds flat.  You can see how well this goes with realization #4.

8.  It is a good thing that the closest Target (with a Starbucks) is 30 miles away.  It is a bad thing that the closest Target (with a Starbucks) is 30 miles away.  I'll just leave it at that.

Catching Up

Life has gotten busy lately.

I've been doing some computer-work for Clint while he has been in the field harvesting corn, soybeans, and sorghum. After he finished harvest, his meetings began. To sum it all up, he is a busy guy and we haven't seen much of him.

I have quite an update to give. The first part of my update isn't all that special, but the last part is awesome.

1. You know how I said that I was a tad on the clumsy side? Well, this totally clarifies how extreme my clumsiness can be.

The kids and I were visiting my parents at the lake a couple of months ago. We had been to my cousin's wedding and stopped on the way home for some Braum's ice cream. I had managed to get myself all dressed up. Gone were the athletic shorts, t-shirt and flip flops...I was wearing a black dress and heels *gasp*. Back to the story and less of what I was wearing, we were getting ice cream. C-man was over the top excited about ice cream. He was jumping up and down and pulling on my hand as I went over to the cash register to pay for our ice cream. He pulled on my hand, I took a step, and I tripped. It was real graceful-like. I fell on my knee and other than my pride being hurt, I was pretty sure everything was fine.

My knee turned several different shades of blue, purple, and brown, but eventually the bruising went away and all looked fine.  It still hurt whenever I was on my knees picking up toys or giving my boy a bath though.  Fast forward to two weeks ago.  I was picking up toys one afternoon.  I was scooting around on my knees and didn't think much of my previous accident.  The next morning my knee was swollen right on top of my knee cap.  Apparently, I am still trying to heal from my clumsy fall.  The doctor indicated that nothing was broken and that the swelling will go away.  So all that to say, I'm so clumsy.

2.  This is the awesome update.

 

We were at church on Sunday the 23rd of October.  Our preacher was out of town and our youth minister was filling in for him.  His sermon was out-of-the-park good.  He finished and we were getting ready to sing our invitation hymn when Hailey grabbed my hand and she shakily said, "Mom, I want to be baptized." 

I was giddy with excitement and could barely control my emotions.  I was smiling, shaking, and tears were spilling out of my eyes.  I told her that that was fantastic and we would talk about it with Daddy when we got home.

The following Sunday, October 30, 2011, Hailey made Jesus Christ her Lord and Savior and was baptized by her daddy.  Her grandparents were able to come see this amazing occasion.  Our best friends were also there to see her make this decision.  It was such an emotional, wonderful moment.  Words can not describe the love and amazement I have for my girl.

Thanks for stopping by,

Carrie

Bubbles, Bubbles, Bubbles, My Bubbles!!!

My kids got a couple of bubble guns when they were being spoiled watched by my parent's last weekend.  C-man found them last night, and had been talking nonstop about them.  It was inevitable that the bubble guns would make their way into the Monday afternoon line-up. 

The kids were having a blast, but I think our four-legged beast ended up having more fun.  Gage ran, he jumped, he bit, he snapped, he frolicked, he bound...he had an all around good time.

Take a look!!

Thanks for stopping by,

Carrie

Gypsum Hills at 70 mph

First of all let me just say, this week has been absolutely Crazy. That's right crazy with a capital C! Along with the normal school routine of homework, gymnastics, and drill team, I threw in some computer work. I have spent an exorbitant amount of time staring at my computer screen and entering data. Once I finished my projects for the day, I was done. I was done with my computer, done with wanting to cook supper, done with wanting do my mile-high pile of laundry...I think you get my picture...I was done.

So here's my apology for not getting any posts written this week...sorry.

Last weekend we made a quick trip to Oklahoma. The kids were excited to see their grandparents. C-man packed all his toys up early Friday morning so that he would be ready to go. We decided to take the scenic route to their house. We drove through the Gypsum Hills between Coldwater and Ashland, Kansas.

There is some really pretty scenery right through there. I really wanted to stop to take some pictures, but the kids would not allow it. They had already done the Grandma dance and there was no more delaying. So I did what any sane, normal, country lovin' girl would do...I stuck my head out the window and started snapping pictures while we zoomed down the highway at 70 miles per hour.

Some were pretty blurry, but I got a few good ones.

Check out the rich, red soil at the base of that hill. It is truly a beautiful little section of Kansas.

One of these days, I will stop and take all the pictures my heart desires. That might be a long trip.  Drive a few miles, get out and snap a few pictures, drive a few more miles, get out and snap a few pictures...

As we continued driving East, we watched the sun set in our mirrors.

Fall Leaves, Pumpkins, Kids, and a Friend's Giveaway

It is really starting to look like fall around here. Doesn't feel so much like fall, but I welcome the cooler temperatures when they do decide to come. My air conditioner really welcomes the cooler temperatures. It is still kicking on quite regularly.

The leaves are starting to change. They are starting to fall, especially with the 900 million miles per hour winds that we are having today.

I just love the colors of fall. The reds, the oranges, the yellows...love them all. I love pumpkins and all the colors of the fall flowers.

When the winds are not going to pick them up and blow them away, my kids have enjoyed going outside to play.

They have been playing so great together. I hesitate to say it, but it has been AWESOME!!! It makes my heart sing when they play together.

Thanks for stopping by,

Carrie

P.S. My friend Beki over at The Rusted Chain is having a giveaway for 2 $25 gift certificates to her jewelry. Her hand-stamped jewelry is super cute. (I use the term friend very loosely here. She doesn't know who I am. I just stalk her blog.  And in my head we are almost BFFs.)

L,M,N,O,P

After fighting with my computer all day yesterday, I think I finally got this video uploaded.  Seriously, it was a technology disaster. 

My little guy has been working on his ABC's.  I think he about has them down.  Except for that whole awkward L,M,N,O,P sequence.  He'll get it.

His volume level is always blaring.  The kid just doesn't understand the "inside voice".  1,2,3 Hush puppies is not his forte either.

I love his comment after I tell him what a great job he did.  Listen closely.

Thanks for stopping by,

Carrie

Simple Sweet Mid-Week Treat: Caramel Apple Dip

I made this apple dip for a church get-together. It is so easy to put together that I didn't even take step-by-step pictures to go with this recipe.

You need to make this dip. You will not be disappointed.

Alright, here it goes...

8 oz cream cheese, softened

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

2/3 cup brown sugar

4 oz chopped walnuts

Apple variety of your choice

Mix cream cheese, vanilla, and brown sugar. Top with chopped walnuts. Chill.

Enjoy!!!!

Told you it was super easy.

(I really wish I had a bagel. The dip spread on a bagel would be heavenly.)

Thanks for stopping by,

Carrie