I'm back.

Probably not full time yet but as of right now, my last day of work should be around the 15th of November. I will then start watching kids at home again. I'm so torn. I am ready to be at home again with my boys and the kids I'm watching all pretty much equal my kids' ages. I've already gone online and bookmarked websites with preschool lessons and stuff so that I can have a little morning preschool time with the kids at home. I'll be making more money and HELLO!!! I won't have to work retail at Christmas time. But, oh how I am going to miss my bookstore. The people, the books. I loved it. This has been my most favorite job ever. Do you realize I worked there for six months and only called in once? That may not sound like much to you but I worked at the DMV once for four months and probably called in a good week or two of days!

So, for right now, I'll write when I have time but I've missed my blogging world and I promise I'll come back. Lessons from the Kitchen Table may take a little longer to get going but I promise I'll get back there too.

More Fun Quizzes at QuizPox.com

Work update...

Okay, let's see. I have a interview Wednesday with Sears Essentials and another temp agency. I called in to one place today and followed up on the bookstore, I also called in at a daycare. I put in, (I think) three resumes and found out that I have awesome typing skills! It's too bad that four years online playing in groups and with blogs don't count as a job skill!!

Tomorrow is Morgan's dentist appointment so I think I'm just gonna hang out with him tomorrow and then do the interviews Wednesday and maybe hit Target and Publix if nothing looks promising on Thursday.

Our trip to see Bri went well. She has a cute little place even though she can't stand it but it's really not that bad. We figured out wedding plans, so on May 26th (a month from my anniversary), my baby sister will be a married woman. Sometimes it just seems totally unbelievable and yet at other times, it seems like this is exactly the way it should be. She talked a lot about her and Rico's relationship and she has stuff figured out that took me five or six years to realize. I think they have an extremely solid relationship to build on. That makes me happy.

I think that's all my updates!

WOO HOO!!!!!

Over $5100 has been raised so far for Heather!!!! Hallelujah!!!

You can go here for the updates.

Tuesday ramblings...

Well, I've been out of work for all of two days and I'm already feeling that desperate need to get a job! I went down yesterday and applied at a temp agency. I'm really struggling on whether or not to apply at daycares. I've watched kids for the last 10+ years and while I think I'm done, when that's the only experience you have and you need a job, it's kinda pointless to try for a career change. So...I may give it a week and then put some applications in next week.

The boys, Mom and I are going to go up and spend the weekend with Bri. We are going to leave Thursday and return on Saturday so we can spend Sunday with Chad. I'm excited to see her house and I'm hoping we can get into Savannah and drive by Lady and Sons and just look at the line of people waiting to get in! I haven't been to Savannah since I was in high school so it will be fun to go and explore for the day. Plus anytime you can get away from your daily life, it's a nice little break!

Well, I guess I'm done rambling. Matthew is waiting very patiently to play on NickJr.com so I will let him!

I wanted to post here about Heather too!

Holy Dentist Bill, Batman!!

I took Morgan to the dentist yesterday and oh my! He has to get three crowns and his front four teeth pulled and a bridge put in. He has got unbelievably horrible baby teeth and his adult teeth aren't gonna show up any time soon. I know a lot of it is my fault and I feel so awful but I'm really glad that we get another chance with his adult teeth.

Today is Amara's last day too. I will be very sad to see her go but I'm really looking forward to getting a job. There has been so many times that I have wanted so badly to be able to go get a job and bring in money that now that I can and the boys can stay with Mom, I'm excited to get out there in the adult world and make some money!! I really am praying that I find something that makes me happy and where I can make some friends.

Menu Plan Monday

This is another one I've been wanting to participate in!

Monday: Teriyaki chicken and rice

Tuesday: Tacos

Wednesday: Veggie Noodle Ham Casserole (but I'm gonna use chicken)

Thursday: Burritos (But we are having tacos Tuesday so this may change depending on whether or not we want it!)

Friday: Take out

Update...

Okay, since getting homeowner's insurance in Florida is akin to getting a new kidney (no offense to people waiting for one) I'll be staying with my present company and I won't have to deal with insurance salesmen! Woo hoo!! :)

I also hashed it out with my mom and some other bills that have been pressing down on me are taken care of too. Yay Mom! Today has been a fabulous day!!

Insurance quotes...

I have to renew our homeowner's insurance in May and I'm shopping around to get a good deal but can I just tell you that I really cannot stand dealing with insurance!! I just really don't like dealing with anybody that sells anything. Ugh...I'm sure I need to work on that attitude!

I'm going back to work.

Well, I told the mom of the little girl I babsit yesterday that I can't watch her anymore. As soon as she has a new sitter, I'm going back to work. My mom is gonna come here and watch my boys and I don't think you can get better childcare than that! I'm hoping I can get a little office job or data entry or something simple that I can pass the time and only have to work Monday through Friday with no weekends or nights. I'm hoping that there are some friendly women there also that I can become friends with. I'm actually looking forward to getting back out into the adult world but I can't think too much about leaving my boys all day because it makes me so sad. We have so much fun together but if they can't have me (or Chad), I'd rather them be with Nana. I know they are old enough that it's not like I'm leaving a newborn but I have really enjoyed being home with them for the last three years. But you do what you gotta do and I always try to do it with a smile! :)

I've been wanting to be a part of Tasty Thursday but I never remembered on Thursday and I couldn't think of a good recipe other than tacos and pretty much everyone can make tacos!

But...today's Thursday and I have a recipe! I got it from Allrecipes.com and I've made it twice so far and have done it differently both times and it still comes out good. It's such a simple and easy way to make rice that I wonder why I haven't heard of it before! Here's the original and then I'll tell you how I played with it...

INGREDIENTS
2 tablespoons oil
2 tablespoons chopped onion
1 1/2 cups uncooked white rice
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup chunky salsa

DIRECTIONS
Heat oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat. Stir in onion, and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Mix rice into skillet, stirring often. When rice begins to brown, stir in chicken broth and salsa. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 20 minutes, until liquid has been absorbed.

SUBMITTED BY: Angie (I definitely want to give credit where credit is due!)

Each time I've made it, I've added ground beef that I'm making for tacos that has the seasoning already in it and I've learned that it's better to add it at the end so it doesn't cook the seasoning off. I've also used this with beef broth and it was just as good. I've also used white and brown rice too. It is an easy dish to make and it is so stinkin' good!

I hope y'all enjoy it!

How is it?

That mothers forget so much about newborns? Even if they've had three or more they totally forget certain things until someone says something that their newborn does and you go, "wait, that sounds familiar!"

I read a blog about a new mother and the things she's worrying about are all things that I remember worrying about with my first. With my second and third, I don't think I worried at all and I KNOW they are better off for it!!

New motherhood is such a crazy, surreal time isn't it? I mean, you don't know anything, you are focused 1000% on this new little person, you are sleep deprived (probably for the first time in your life) and you still have your whole "regular" life to live...being a spouse, eating, bathing! My sister is going to be staying with us after she has her little one and while I'm so excited to be around a newborn again, that smell!, that lamb's cry, I'm thanking the Good Lord and all his angels that I don't ever have to go through that again!!!

Did you miss me???

I'm back!! My laptop died on Friday morning after a very emotional morning to begin with so I took the desk top computer that we had, that had died a couple of months ago in to be fixed and I just got it back today! I've missed all my Internet friends and I'm trying to catch up on everything but for some strange reason, life still goes on when I don't get to be a part of it!! :)

Book Meme

I got this from #!/usr/bin/mom's site.

You're supposed to bold books you've read, italicize books you'd like to read, and strike out books you will never read.

1. The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown) - I kinda want to read this one but haven't gotten around to it yet.
2. Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen) - I really tried to read her after her movies were popular but I just couldn't get into them.
3. To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee) - I've read this two or three times.
4. Gone With The Wind (Margaret Mitchell) - I've started reading it a time or two but never finished.
5. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (Tolkien) - I have no desire to read any of these. I watched the first movie and half way through I felt like I had given my life over to it.
6. The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (Tolkien)
7. The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (Tolkien)
8. Anne of Green Gables (L.M. Montgomery) - Read this series all the way through. I've got them somewhere.
9. Outlander (Diana Gabaldon) - One of my favorite series. No one writes a better Scottish accent than she does!
11. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Rowling) - Another favorite series.
12. Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)
13. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Rowling)
14. A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving)
15. Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden)
16. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Rowling)
17. Fall on Your Knees (Ann-Marie MacDonald)
18. The Stand (Stephen King) - All time favorite author. I'm looking right now at the three shelves his book take up in my office!
19. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban(Rowling)
20. Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)
21. The Hobbit (Tolkien)
22. The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger) - Another book I've tried to read and just couldn't get into.
23. Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)
24. The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold) - Is this the one about the girl who's dead?
25. Life of Pi (Yann Martel) I just read a description of this book on Amazon, how could you NOT want to read it?!
26. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams) - I've always thought this looked really stupid.
27. Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)
28. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (C. S. Lewis)
29. East of Eden (John Steinbeck)
30. Tuesdays with Morrie (Mitch Albom)
31. Dune, (Frank Herbert)
32. The Notebook (Nicholas Sparks) - I think I've read this one, I know I've read some of his stuff!
33. Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand) - I think I tried to read this one too.
34. 1984 (Orwell) - Did I read this one in school?
35. The Mists of Avalon (Marion Zimmer Bradley)
36. The Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett) - Pretty sure I've read this one...I have read this one! I remember now, good book!
37. The Power of One (Bryce Courtenay)
38. I Know This Much is True(Wally Lamb) - I have read She's Come Undone by him.
39. The Red Tent (Anita Diamant)
40. The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)
41. The Clan of the Cave Bear (Jean M. Auel) - I was Ayla for years! (minus all the sex!!)
42. The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)
43. Confessions of a Shopaholic (Sophie Kinsella) - Again, I think I've read this one but not positive.
44. The Five People You Meet In Heaven (Mitch Albom) - Eh, it was alright.
45. Bible - (Do I get to bold this even though I haven't read the whole thing?)
46. Anna Karenina (Tolstoy)
47. The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas) - I loved this book!
48. Angela's Ashes (Frank McCourt) - You guessed it, I tried to read this one too!
49. The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck)
50. She's Come Undone (Wally Lamb) - Oh, this is on the list!
51. The Poisonwood Bible (Barbara Kingsolver)
52. A Tale of Two Cities (Dickens)
53. Ender's Game (Orson Scott Card) - I'm only bolding half of it because I think I've started it!
54. Great Expectations (Dickens)
55. The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald) - I think I read some of this in school but it's Chad's favorite book.
56. The Stone Angel (Margaret Laurence)
57. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Rowling)
58. The Thorn Birds (Colleen McCullough)
59. The Handmaid's Tale (Margaret Atwood)
60. The Time Traveller's Wife (Audrew Niffenegger)
61. Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)I think I tried to read this one too.
62. The Fountainhead (Ayn Rand)
63. War and Peace (Tolsoy)
64. Interview With The Vampire (Anne Rice)
65. Fifth Business (Robertson Davis)
66. One Hundred Years Of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)
67. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (Ann Brashares)
68. Catch-22 (Joseph Heller)
69. Les Miserables (Hugo)
70. The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)
71. Bridget Jones' Diary (Fielding) - and the sequel!
72. Love in the Time of Cholera (Marquez)
73. Shogun (James Clavell) - I've seen the movie.
74. The English Patient (Michael Ondaatje)
75. The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett)
76. The Summer Tree (Guy Gavriel Kay)
77. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith)
78. The World According To Garp (John Irving)
79. The Diviners (Margaret Laurence)
80. Charlotte's Web (E.B. White) - I read this book to my preschool class at naptime.
81. Not Wanted On The Voyage (Timothy Findley)
82. Of Mice And Men (Steinbeck)
83. Rebecca (Daphne DuMaurier)
84. Wizard's First Rule (Terry Goodkind)
85. Emma (Jane Austen)
86. Watership Down (Richard Adams)
87. Brave New World (Aldous Huxley)
88. The Stone Diaries (Carol Shields)
89. Blindness (Jose Saramago)
90. Kane and Abel (Jeffrey Archer) - I don't think I've read this but Jeffrey Archer has written some good stuff.
91. In The Skin Of A Lion (Ondaatje)
92. Lord of the Flies (Golding) - I've started this one but never got through it.
93. The Good Earth (Pearl S. Buck)
94. The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd)
95. The Bourne Identity (Robert Ludlum)
96. The Outsiders (S.E. Hinton) - I liked the movie too.
97. White Oleander (Janet Fitch)
98. A Woman of Substance (Barbara Taylor Bradford) - I know I've read some of her stuff too but don't know if this is one of them!
99. The Celestine Prophecy - I don't think I've read this but I can't remember.
100.Ulysses (James Joyce)

**Thank you Lisa!! I figured it out!

Happy Thursday!

Today's been a busy day and it's only 10am! Chad has his phone interview today so I'm praying that we find something out about his new job, I'm not very good at being patient. I need to get off this computer and pick up the house a little bit and get beds made and my bible reading caught up but here I sit!

My niece, Allison came over last night and it's just so weird that she is so much like my sister, her mother! Her mom has always been one of those people who are so easy going and mellow and it's real, there aren't any false pretenses with her and she is such a joy to be around and her daughter is the same way. My house was a wreck last night and it was the first time she had seen it and usually I would have scrubbed all day to make it look good but I knew that she truly wouldn't care what it looked like, she just wanted to see us. It was nice to hang out with her for a little bit, she's at Animal Kingdom today (I'm so jealous!!) and then another park tomorrow but Saturday she'll be here all day so I'll pack up the boys and we'll probably head over to mom's house or they'll come here.

I think that's about all that's going on here today. Have a good one!

I thought this was interesting...

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Wordless Wednesday

No words just the cuteness that is three boys with a half gallon of Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream!

or

Superman on a Break!

Back on track...

Just a quick post before I go pick Morgan up. I finally am happy with the looks of my blogs. I only worked on them all stinkin' morning!!
Anyway...I'll start tomorrow with the daily entry.

I'm back!!

I stopped writing on this blog last year and now I want to start up again. I have Lessons From the Kitchen Table for my thoughts on God but I wanted one that was more personal and let's face it, I want to do the Daily Memes! So, lets get started!!