today i had an appointment with a new eye dr. I will spare you all the details. Let just say that to help my eyes see as good as they should will cost several hundred dollars a year. the new contacts may or may not be great. for the trial run today in the office they were wonderful. but who knows what a week would do. tonight, its sad to me that everything we need relies heavily on money. that we can't just barter-not that I have anything to barter with, but still. i am struggling tonight with the fact that i just don't have the money to get those new lenses, even though they would be great, and probably the best thing for me. and I have to settle with the yucky ones just because of money. blah
hopefully tomorrow will bring a better attitude. I have been potty training this week, only 2 days of peeing everywhere (not me, him). Today was a great day. no accidents. this is wonderful. we also stayed up way too late last night finishing up 20 quarts of applesauce. i am sure that is why i feel down tonight. tomorrow will be better.

Pumpkin Carving

pumpkin carving is a favorite of the kids this time of year. Last nights pumpkin carving was one of the best we have had. it was fun.
Gage's pumpkin was the one we used for the contest on Saturday night. So he just had fun playing outside.


Cori got pretty creative this year.

I just missed dad pushing the boys around. They were having fun. Austin would rather play in the car than have anything to do with the pumpkin.

Happy Birthday Austin

October 26, 2008

Austin turned four. He is a happy boy with lots of energy. He loves to give me hugs, and have me do everything for him. well almost everything, sometimes he wants to do everything himself.

We had a fun time for his birthday. For breakfast we had waffles, that was late enough that we didn't have lunch before church. Dinner was quesidillas and green beans. We had cupcakes for the birthday boy treat.
He opened his cards and present. He loves it.




All the kids love birthday hats. Cori just doesn't like getting her picture taken.







Austin was much happier playing with his new toy than eating his cupcake.

This is to show how Jared feels after a day home with the kids. :)

Koopman's Annual Halloween Party

For the past few years, ( I don't know how long before that, before they lived here) our cousins, the Koopmans have hosted a Halloween party. We wear our costumes, eat lots of yummy treats, and finger foods. and play games. This year our game idea was eat donuts off a string. It was a hit. I got tons of pictures of everyone, here's a sample of my kids.

Here is all of our family in our costumes.










Then we had a pumpkin carving contest. This was a bit different than a normal contest. It was a relay. The mom's cut the top off, then the oldest child dug out all the seeds, then the next 4 were blind folded and drew on the pumpkin, and then the dad's carved whatever was drawn. It was fun.





There was also a haunted house in the basement. It was fun and a bit scary. Obviously I couldn't take pictures of that because it was dark.
It was a really fun night.

Crazy Hair Day

Red Ribbon Week was last week. So one of the days was Crazy Hair day to say no to drugs.




Gage wanted crazy hair too. His is usually pretty crazy anyway, but today I used hair spray.

This was Sydney after crazy hair day. I guess we now know how to do a super crazy hair do. Pretty cool.

the fall carnival

The family to family network had a great Halloween carnival tonight. I think the kids had a good time. They got all dressed up in their costumes, except Gage because he has an obsession with keeping his shirt on, so he wouldn't let me change him. They had face painting, fishing, cauldron toss, ring toss, cake walk, and a really fun one where you got to choose between sticking your hands in brains, or bones to find a prize. The kids even got to ride on a cow train, i think that is what it was called. Its individual little side cars that are strung together and pulled by what looked like a golf cart. (at the near by farm they pull it with a small tractor or something similar) The kids got all the little prizes that they love and I don't, and candy and cupcakes. We missed out on the hot dogs and chips, but we came home and had hot dogs for dinner. We did all this, and I FORGOT the camera. I'm so bummed. I promise to take pictures of the kids in their costumes on Halloween.
It was a fun night just the same. The only problem is I feel crappy. I have a headache that only sorta goes away with meds, and a sore throat and sinus pressure. I am really looking forward to bed hopefully really soon.
hope your Monday was a good one.

I love this picture from last fall. Jared is wearing my favorite shirt, and he actually smiled at the camera. He won't like it that I posted this, but as it is my favorite, this is the picture I am going to use.

Today is Jared's birthday. oh how I love this man. He is funny, helpful, loving, giving, brave, strong etc. He makes me smile each day. He works hard everyday. He takes care of us, he leads us and guides us each day. I do not tell him enough how much I appreciate all he does. With work being slow at his normal job, he has been doing other work to bring in more money. I so wanted to get today off for him, so he could relax and do the things he likes to do. but instead he is at the neighbors using a sledge hammer to take down walls, and helping with the demolition process of their house. He wanted Rain Forest Cafe for breakfast today(a little far to drive just for breakfast) , but he happily ate scrambled eggs and sausage. I have a great and understanding husband. I am so blessed.
Happy Birthday my love!! I love you for so many reasons, here are just a few (the list will probably get longer as the day goes on)

I love you for :

-waking up early, running to walmart and home to make me a surprise breakfast-just because
-brushing my hair
-putting up with all the things i do that annoy you and still loving me despite those things
-loving the kids
-playing with them
-having fun and laughing with them
-the unconditional love you have for others
-your willingness to serve those in need
-the willingness you have to serve in the church
-having a testimony of the gospel
-having a testimony and knowledge of the scriptures
-the ability you have to speak or teach without much warning and being good at it
-holding the priesthood and being worthy to use it
-giving me priesthood blessings, and the sweet way you give our children father's blessings
-for taking me to the temple so many years ago and for continuing to take me each week
-handing me the cash out of your wallet, and saying go have fun
-supporting me, in whatever task, or endeavor I take on
-being good at fixing things
-loving me
-marrying me
-loving the Lord
-being my sweet husband and a wonderful father to our children
How blessed we are that you are in our lives.

its time to vote

I saw this on a friends blog. Its worth sharing with everyone. Hope you are registered to vote. Its important, very, very important!

MPM 10/06

I haven't posted a menu in over a month. So I decided it was time. I also want to share a bread stick recipe that was super yummy!! What I did was make the bread sticks from the #1 recipe and used the topping from #2. These were the bomb. Soft, and Delicious!! try them and let me know what you think.
1.Bread sticks with Parmesan Butter
INGREDIENTS
2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
1/2 cup sugar, divided
2 cups warm water (110 degrees to 115 degrees), divided
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 egg
1 teaspoon salt
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
DIRECTIONS
In a large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar in 1 cup warm water. Add the oil, egg, salt, 2 cups flour, and remaining sugar and water. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 40 minutes.
Punch the dough down. Turn onto a floured surface; divide into 36 pieces. Shape each piece into a 6-in. rope. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 25 minutes.
Bake at 400 degrees F for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.

2.Late-Night Bread sticks
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup finely shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon onion powder
1 (1 pound) loaf frozen white bread dough, thawed
1/4 cup butter or stick margarine, melted


DIRECTIONS
In a shallow bowl, combine the first five ingredients; set aside. Divide dough into 16 pieces; roll each into a 6-in. rope. Dip ropes in butter, then roll in cheese mixture. Place 2 in. apart on a greased baking sheet. Let rest for 10 minutes. Bake at 400 degrees F for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.

So on to this weeks menu

Quiche and fruit
tamale pie( this is a new recipe. I will post it next week, if its good.)
chef salad (with lettuce from our garden)and breadsticks.
clam chowder and rolls as bread bowls
BBQ chicken, mashed potatoes, salad and homemade rolls. MMM good.
chicken and black bean burritos
clean out buffet
we have a lot of bread-think its my favorite thing? you're right!!
check out Laura's MPM here
and have a great week.

Tanners journal

okay, this may just be funny to me, but I was seriously laughing out loud. I was reading Tanner's journal that he brought home for the month of September, and on the 16th he writes " I know that I should never let my dad sleep with me because he has gass at night. I know that I should awase (always) sleep in my bed and I should never ever let eneyone(anyone) sleep in MY BED !!!!!!" (the last part is to be said strongly and manly.) He read it for me, correcting me, after I read it to him. very funny to me.