New shoes

I am finally taking the boys for new sneakers today.  A little overdue.  We were supposed to go last month.  E is off today so she will be my helper.  Which is a good thing because Squeakers cries, well, screams really.  It's quite the ordeal.
We finished painting E's room.  She picked a nice lilac for three walls and a darker purple for an accent wall.  I painted all her trim white.  It looks so clean. She likes it and is excited to decorate.  We have to look for new bedding and accessories.  Because she looooves to accessories!  lol

Gymnastics

Today was E's first day of gymnastics.  She did awesome!!!  She smiled the whole time :-)  It made me feel so good to see her so happy.  She really needs this boost of self esteem and self confidence.  She did the uneven bars, beam and floor. 
I don't know what our plans are for today.  It's supposed to rain off and on all day.  I wanted to take the kids to the covered bridge festival but not with this unpredictable weather.
M is painting and spackling E's room.  I will post pictures when he is done.
Alrighty off to find something for lunch.

Happy Friday

Yay for the weekend and no homework!!  I feel like we can't do anything during the week because E always has homework and at least 2 tests everyday.  I know I didn't have this much work in 4th grade.
We emptied out E's room and are repainting it tomorrow.  She picked out two lilac colors.  One wall will be a darker color for an accent wall.  Her room was the first to be painted in our house.  We picked out a bubble gum pink color.  We thought it was so dark!  We have learned not to be afraid of color.  Hence the dark chocolate living room walls, mossy green in the hallways and a darker grey/blue color for the addition.  And now we are going to repaint the whole house.  So many knicks and marks on the walls.  As my husband says, O the joys of ownership.

Rain, it's what we do here

Rain all day today!!  Oh, well.  My flowers and grass will be green and luscious :-)
Waiting to hear from E's soccer coach if she has practice tonight.  Our routine is drop her off and then head to the dike to walk two miles with the boys.  But with the rain it might be cancelled.
I am thinking about becoming a morning person so I could work out.  (insert laugh by my husband.  he knows how much I don't do mornings)  I am usually up early (E starts school at 7:45 am  Huge change from last year's 8:45).  Plus I don't sleep that well anyway.  I want to change my weight, get toned and have more energy for the day.  I have nice clothes that I want to fit into and I want to get rid of the twin belly/IF weight. I've got to get my mojo back.
Anyone work out in the am?  How do you do it?
The cornbread turned out great!!  Everyone liked it.  I did add a 1/4 cup of sugar.  Next time instead of using cupcake wrappers I am going to spray my muffin pan and pour the batter right in.  I do not know why I used the cupcake wrappers.  The muffins stuck right to the paper.

Rainy day

It is raining here again.  That's ok.  We could use the rain.  I cleaned out the boys' closet and put away clothes.  Their clothes  are usually in my bedroom in a clothes basket.  I put away clothes when they are sleeping.  And I won't go into their room because I don't want to wake them up.  I am getting rid of so much stuff.  E is going to sell all the stuff we don't want at the flea market.  We don't have room to keep stuff we don't use or need anyway.  Plus I feel more relaxed when things are orgazined.
Have you discovered Pinterest?  What a good time!! Tons of ideas for getting organized, meals, diy projects, kids, dogs, clothes, make up, make your own W.index, etc.  I have pinned tons of ideas now I just have to actually do them!
Yesterday's corn bread didn't turn out that great.  It was very dry and didn't have the usual yummy taste.  I'm going to try The Pioneer Woman's corn bread for our leftover gumbo.  I have made some of her recipes in the past and have had good luck with them.

Recipe: Skillet Cornbread

Prep Time: 5 Minutes  |  Cook Time: 20 Minutes  |  Difficulty: Easy  |  Servings: 12

Print Recipe 3"x5" Cards 4"x6" Cards Full Page

Ingredients

• 1 cup Yellow Cornmeal
• 1/2 cup All-purpose Flour
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1 Tablespoon Baking Powder
• 1 cup Buttermilk
• 1/2 cup Milk
• 1 whole Egg
• 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1/4 cup Shortening
• 2 Tablespoons Shortening

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Combine cornmeal, flour, salt, and baking powder in a bowl. Stir together.
Measure the buttermilk and milk in a measuring cup and add the egg. Stir together with a fork. Add the baking soda and stir.
Pour the milk mixture into the dry ingredients. Stir with a fork until combined.
In a small bowl, melt 1/4 shortening. Slowly add melted shortening to the batter, stirring until just combined. In an iron skillet, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons shortening over medium heat. Pour the batter into the hot skillet. Spread to even out the surface. (Batter should sizzle.)
Cook on stovetop for 1 minute, then bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.
Edges should be crispy!

Gumbo and cornbread

It is pouring here today.  It does have benefits (besides watering the trees, flowers and grass):  I put away all of the boys's clothes, did all the laundry, straightened up E's room, and I'm going to get started on Zac Brown's cornbread which we will eat with our gumbo.  I loooove cornbread.  And it's made with bacon drippings.  Oh, yes, healthy eating today!! lol

Howdy

Life. Is busy. Crazy. Fun. Let me catch you up: E is in a new school.  She was teased at her last school.  I feel this new school is a more nurturing and caring environment.  I feel she needs that right now.  I know it's tough being a kid.  I feel that today it's even harder.  I don't allow her to have a facebook page or a cell phone (she doesn't go anywhere yet without us). I think kids say, post or text hurtful things.  I don't want her subjected to that.  I think she has been through enough.  She is a very sensitive person.  She definitely wears her heart on her sleeve.  It is a big transition for her.  She is doing well with her course work. I just wish the whole "making a friend" thing was going faster.  I think she needs a buddy to hang out with or call. E is playing soccer again and her coach is really great. This is her 3rd season with him.  She is starting gymnastics next Saturday.  She wants to learn how to do a cartwheel in the worst way. After soccer is finished she will start basketball which she says is her sport.  I'm glad she is looking forward to it.
Peanut and Squeakers are well.  They are trying to speak. They will be evaluated for speech at their next pediatrician appointment and we'll take it from there.  I think they should be further along.  They sign and they can certainly understand a multi step command.  I feel they get frustrated sometimes because they can't tell you exactly what they want.  Peanut is definitely pulling ahead with weight gain and height.  Squeakers doesn't eat as much as Peanut does.  They love construction vehicles.  That is going to be their theme for their 2nd!!! birthday party.  And they loooove books. 
Our new addition is done.  We needed the extra room.  We are looking at kitchen tables for in there (then I can have my kitchen island :-)  ) Eventually we will have some living room furniture in there and a bar. 
We went to the local fair on Wednesday.  We picked up my Dad and headed down.  We looked at cows, pigs, goats, sheep, horses, tractors, RVs and had really yummy food like gyros and smoked pulled pork sandwiches.  I had an apple dumpling with cinnamon ice cream.  Gotta love fair food.
Our double jogger is on the way out.  We use it a lot and I'm surprised at how it's falling apart.  I found a double Bob on sale and I'm going to order it.  I would really like to get back into running and the Bob is better suited for it than our B.aby Trend.
I told E about a pumpkin race in October.  You can run or walk and you can dress up if you want.  I emailed for more information about how to sign up for it.  It's been so long since I ran it.  I was Clifford the big red dog.
I go back to work Nov 1.  I don't want to be away from the boys.  I am still only a part time employee.  So I will be gone for four hours.  My Dad will be watching Peanut and Squeakers. They love being with their Poppy.  We are so fortunate that he watched E and now the boys.
I had an ultrasound done because my monthly cycles are terrible.  I have fibroid tumors and a polyp.  My appt is Nov 9 with the doctor.  I know I will have them removed and maybe have an ablation to stop the cycles (which are irregular and heavy).
I need to step up my game to lose weight.  I have really nice clothes that I want to fit into for school and I am not happy with my body.  Hence the want to start running again.  Plus I need to eat better.  How you look is 80% what you eat and 20% exercise.  I found a really great blog about a young woman who lost half her body weight. It is packed with information and recipes and advice.  It's called http://www.canyoustayfordinner.com/  She is a real person and she tells you like it is.  That it's hard work that will get you to your weight you want.  I like when she asks herself, "Andy can you do it for just today?"  Yes I can do it for just today.  Baby steps.

                                                                E and Squeakers

                                            Peanut and Squeakers in the old farm
                                                     equipment building

                                                M, E, Peanut and Squeakers
                                                  with the biggest pumpkin