Be Back Soon!

*Sorry for the lack of blogging lately.  Our computer is about to die and when I attempt to blog, it shuts down on me multiple times!  We hope to get the issue resolved when our tax check arrives* :)

Looking Forward To...

I do a mid-month update @ the 15th of the month... but I'm thinking about doing a "Looking Forward To" post at the beginning of each month.  February is the best month for me to start this because I'm looking forward to a LOT this month! :)

1. Valentines Day!  This is the biggy for the month.  I LOVE this holiday!  I love the decorations, I love the food, I love the crafts, I love the colors, and the romance.  
2. I will find out in the middle of the month if I will be having a new niece or nephew!  Either will be exiting :)
3. My in-laws will celebrate their 40th Anniversary and we're going out for a nice dinner to celebrate!
4. We get our taxes done!!! Getting money is always fun!
5. We are taking a mini vacation to Big Cedar Lodge in the Ozarks.  I think it will be a great trial run to see how the kids do on a longer car ride and to see how the sleeping arrangements will work out.  Our Florida trip will be here soon!
6. Allie turns 18 months and will have a well baby check up.  Minus the shots, I always enjoy those!
7. My "Uncle Keith" has a birthday this month, actually February 3rd, but we're celebrating with him on the 2nd.  I always enjoy getting to spend time with the Millers.  
8. This is Kevin's LAST month on 12 hour shifts!  At the end of the month he will go to 8 hour shifts, 5 days a week.  We may almost feel like we have a normal life!

Chocolate *Chocolate Chip* Muffins

When I saw the recipe for these, I immediately moved it to the top of my list of recipes I wanted to try!  I could eat chocolate 24/7 and never get sick of it.  I didn't really want to make these for breakfast (not the most nutritional way to start my day) but I just kept not finding the time once I got my day going.  Last night I decided today was the day - we were having chocolate muffins for breakfast!  Before bed, I premixed all my dry ingredients, laid out my muffin pans, put cupcake liners in them, got out my whisk and anything else I thought I needed to make these.  It made the process go much quicker this morning and the muffins were in the oven when the kids woke up.

Recipe from Mel's Kitchen Cafe who got it from allrecipes.com
Chocolate Chocolate Chip Muffins

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup baking cocoa
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup lowfat milk (I used skim)
1/2 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, chocolate chips and salt. Toss to combine. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, sour cream, water, milk, oil and vanilla. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and stir in the wet mixture, stirring just until moistened .
Line muffins cups with paper liners and fill the cups 1/2 to 2/3 full. Bake 18 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean. Remove the muffins to a wire rack to let cool completely.

I always use the Reynolds baking cups.  They are located with the foil & plastic wrap.  They are the BEST!

I expected these to be really heavy and dense and I was surprised by their lightness.  They aren't as light as cake, but they are a perfect density.  They are RICH, very very rich, but that's another reason why I like them.  I prefer them warmed (or right out of the oven) because I'm a sucker for the melted gooey chocolate!  I think these would make a fantastic dessert, served with ice cream and berries.  In fact, I may just have to try that tonight.....if you are a chocoholic, you need to make these!  You won't be disappointed!!!     

Things to Ponder

I've run across a couple of great quotes/thoughts lately that have really made me ponder, so I thought I would share :)

1. Kids don't do what you say, they do what you do.
• I love this for how true it is, but also hate it for how true it is.      
2. If you (or your kids) aren't exposed to it, you won't know what you're missing.
• This is SO TRUE!  Just an example, I grew up never having cable tv.  I have never seen an episode of the Brady Bunch or I Love Lucy or Bewitched, or all those other shows people use to watch.  I definitely didn't feel like I was missing out though.  Even now, since we cancelled our cable, people will say "Did you see that commercial for _____" and I just say, "No, we really don't watch much tv."  I use to see commercials for restaurants and think, oh that sounds good, and I really don't want to cook dinner anyways, so lets eat out!  I'm extra cautious about what my kids are exposed to, and I don't think that's a bad thing.
3. Children can't appreciate abundance unless they know what enough is.
• I think as parents we want to give our kids an abundance of everything, but it seems like it will only set them up for a life of discontentment.  If they are always given abundance, you are setting them up for an unappreciative heart.  If you define what is enough for your family, and stick to that, and every so often give abundantly, your kids will really appreciate abundance!
4. Teach children to find their identity in Christ, not things.
• All the Tim Tebow haters out there aren't going to like this reference, but, I think his parents did an exceptional job at this.  He is a Christ follower, then an NFL quarterback. 

Pink Shades

I have a habit of trying things on Allie, and while we were at Walmart this weekend, I couldn't resist these cute pink shades!  After I "awww"ed over her for a minute, I went to take the sunglasses off and the girl threw a down right bloody fit!  I had no intentions of buying them, but to hush her up, I put them back on her.  I know giving in to your kids evil screaming demands is on the Top 5 List of Things Not To Do as a parent, but the evil that just came out of her a minute ago was replaced with a big happy toothy smile.  She kept looking at Hayden, then me, then Hayden, then me all while smiling and being as content as an almost 18 month old girl could be.  I justified the purchase by telling myself she will need sunglasses for Florida (in MAY, and I know they will be lost or broke by then), but they make her happy, and I much prefer the happy smiling Allie to the screaming/shrieking Allie. 
P.S. The girl won't leave a bow in her hair!

Nip It!

We had a 1st with Allie this week.... she BIT for the 1st time!  Within about 3 minutes she bit Hayden two times!  (Can we say defiant!?)  Needless to say, I also started spanking her this week!  I hope we nipped that in the bud. 

The one on his leg was through his pants and actually ended up bruising!

Showing me her viscous teeth...

Singer Curvy

It's no secret I want to learn how to sew.  I have about a dozen projects I want to make, but with no sewing machine, and no idea how to sew, I needed to get the ball rolling.  I've looked at a few sewing machines recently.  The one that stood out to me was the Singer Curvy.  I was told it's very easy to use, and great for beginners.  Since I fit in that beginner category, I researched the machine a bit and was happy to find it had rave reviews.  Kevin insisted I go buy it this week, and I wasn't about to say no!

I was able to get the machine threaded all by myself.  It really is VERY to use!  I practiced some stitches, and sewing straight lines, but that's about the extent I've used it.  I'm taking a beginner class at Joanns and hope to be posting some fun things I make for my house and Allie :)

Happy Birthday Amy!

I was pregnant with Hayden and I always made fun of those scarves she wore in her hair!

Today is my BFF's birthday!  I have many funny funny stories I could share about her, buuuut I won't, not now anyways.  Here are some fun facts about her though:

1. We met at Bank of Evansville, where we both worked.
2. She has 3 adorable little boys.
3. She lives in Ft Branch and I feel like that's too far away!  I keep trying to convince her to move to Newburgh.
4. In the summer, she is the most tan person I know.  
5. She calls me Lily and in the summer constantly refers to my "lily a$$ white legs"
6. We use to not like eachother.  
1. I thought she was Pentecostal when I met her.  (She had permed hair and always wore long skirts). 
2. Our 1st day working together I don't think she spoke a word to me!
3. She referred to me as stuck up!
7. She likes Vera Bradly 
8. I want her to have a little girl!  I think she needs 4 kids, or 5 or 6, however many it takes for her to get that GIRL!
9. She makes fun of me for liking pandas, but if she ever has a little girl, I'm going to buy her panda EVERYTHING!
10. I was in the delivery room when she had her 3rd baby.  One of the neatest things ever!
11. She likes my sugar cookies
12. and my Tuxedo Brownies
13. She's catholic. Peace be with you.
14. We text each other multiples times a day at all hours of the day. 
15. She reminds me to blog if I haven't for a day or 2.
16. I really want to go on a vacation one day with her!
17. She always tells me TMI, and I do the same with her.
18. I looked to her for a lot of mothering advice when I first had Hayden.  
19. Our kids go to the same pediatrician.
20. She makes pretty flower arrangments
21. She has no problem telling me how things are (ex: My pink "diaper bag" she said looks like trash.)
22. I want her to quit her job and be a stay at home mom so we can have play dates.

Ok, that's all I can think of off the top of my head.  My life sure is more fun because she is in it!  Happy Birthday Amy!!!

Philippians

I've had a couple things on my mind lately. Usually that's not a problem, but these two things have caused me to lose my temper, bite my nails, and they both fill my mind with anger, fear, or worry. I was able to share some of these things with a dear friend today. She encouraged me and reminded me that the devil is behind these feelings. She suggested I read Philiappians. This "quiet time" today spoke right to my soul and helped erase all those negative feelings I have been having the last several days.

The first verse, Philippians 2: 3-5, spoke right to situation #1.  "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourself. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interest of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus."

The second verse, Philippians 4: 6-7, spoke right to situation #2.  "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Next time you are struggling with something, I would suggest reading Philippians! Bad attitude, and worry, and anger, and fear have been replaced by a peace that passes understanding.  My footnotes in my bible for the verse from Philippians 4 says, "God's peace is different from the world's peace.  True peace is not found in positive thinking, in absence of conflict, or in good feelings.  It comes from knowing that God is in control."  

Mud Room

If money were no object, I'd have this mud room/laundry room built on to my house!  I'm so envious of everyone that has a laundry room.  (Our washer and dryer are located in our garage.)

And a fun hidden kitty box!