HS Boys State Basketball Tournament

Cutie

About 5 inches at 6:30 PM

This is Morgan "winking" at me. I finally caught it in a picture!!

This is the dress that Anne sent for the girls. Jaden and Morgan have matching dresses. Since it was cold out, I just put the dress over her sleepers. What a nice surprise to get that in the mail today!!! Rebekah said that Morgan looked like a princess.

Well, it's 6:30 PM, and the snow has pretty much stopped. We are at 5 inches right now. I don't know if it plans to snow some more over night. I guess we will see in the morning. Good grief!!

No, these are NOT the same pictures from the other day

Morgan eating with the big kids!

OK... I don't know what's going on around here, but it is snowing again!!! It is coming down hard and fast, too. We should have a blanket of snow in a few hours. I will post more pistures after the snow accumulates a little. Unlike two days ago, though, it is FREEZING outside!!! I don't think we are going to play in it today!

Making "Snow Day" pictures

The kids made pictures of snow. We talked about what color it is, the fact that it's cold, and the different things we can do with it (i.e. make a snow man, etc.)

Having fun in the snow

Jaden's snowman

Jaden sitting in her fort

Wow!! Jaden had a blast! Morgan wasn't so sure about it. I guess it's understandable since she couldn't even walk through the snow without falling face first into it. It was so deep for her. Jaden made a snow man, and LeCount and I helped her make a little fort. We stayed out for about an hour. Jaden wanted to stay out all day, but we had to come in and get ready for our day (baths, lunch, etc.) Rebekah and Joshua will be here any minute, and then, it will be nap time. Too bad the snow will probably be gone by the time they are through with their naps. (don't forget to click on the play button twice to see the 4 videos. The one with Morgan is really funny!)

Help end world hunger

I know that not everyone likes to use their money to help with this cause, but how about playing a game. Go to this link, and for every word you get right, they will donate 20 grains of rice to a needy child. You can look up the words in the dictionary, too. I am including a link to an online dictionary as well. However, you should try to answer what you believe the words to mean. When you do it that way, the words stay more at your vocabulary level. You can play for as long as you want.
http://www.freerice.com/index.php
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/

From strange to stranger

This is what the car looked like last night (above)

This is the car this morning (above)

Our poor bushes!!

Now this is really starnge. I woke up this morning at 7 AM. The snow had stopped falling, but we are covered in snow. Usually it melts by morning, but not this time. I went out and took some more pictures and measures how deep it is. It is 5 1/2 inches deep!!!! I have never seen this before!! Not here, anyway. Here are some pictures.

Hmmmmmmm

OK, I wasn't planning to post 3 times today, but I just looked outside and saw snow. You may remember that on Friday, the kids got to run through the sprinkler (it was in the 80's)... Today it was absolutely freezing. Thank goodness the snow waited until night time. Brrrrrrrrrrr!!!!

Pictures from the art contest

Children International has an art contest every year. These kids are so talented! Here are just a few of their beautiful creations.

Awwwwwww! Nap time!!

I can't believe it! Today is the first day with Rebekah and Joshua here early enough for nap time. I can't believe they are all sleeping peacefully at the same time!! This is total BLISS!! They got here a little after 10 AM. We played and read stories. Then, I fed them an early lunch at 11:30 AM. When they were finished, I layed Morgan down in her crib (she went right to sleep). The other kids took about 45 minutes to wind down, but they all fell asleep. Now I can breathe for a minute before it all starts back up :) The weather is yucky (rainy and cold), so I am going to take them to BK to play, after snack time. I am going to sit down and prop my feet up for a few minutes, and then, start on some chores.

Job ideas, anyone?

I am so stressed right now. I am hoping some of you may have some ideas for us. LeCount and I no longer get unemployment. The mystery shopping has slowed (I don't see any available shops on any of the sites I go to). Our only income now is the money from watching the 2 kids (basically, nothing)... So, anyone have some ideas? LeCount has applied almost everywhere for a full-time job, or so it seems. I was thinking maybe retail now, until he can find something better. Anyone know of a store in particular that is hiring? Also, I think I will have to do something at night and on the weekends. Any ideas? Thanks, guys!

February's country focus- *USA*

Here are some more great recipes. Enjoy!



Squash Casserole (taken from CopyKat) ******



4 1/2 C. Zucchini (diced)
4 1/2 C. Yellow Squash (diced)
1 1/2 C. Yellow Onion (chopped)
1 Box Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix (prepare as directed on box)
1 1/2 Stick of Butter
8 oz. American Processed Cheese (diced, use a store brand not Velveeta)
3 Cubes of Chicken Bouillon
1 tsp. Garlic (minced)
1 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. Ground Pepper
1/2 tsp. Thyme
1 Tbsp. Parsley (chopped)

Prepare Jiffy Mix as directed, set aside to cool.Place zucchini and yellow squash in a large sauce pan and add just enough of water to cover. Cook on medium low heat just until tender, remove from heat. Drain squash, reserve one cup of water for casserole. On medium low temperature place all of the butter in large sauce pan and saute the onions until the onions turn clear, add salt, pepper, thyme, and parsley . Add chicken bouillon cubes and garlic to onions, stir. Add drained squash and diced cheese, stir. Crumble corn bread in squash and pour the reserved cup of water and mix well.Place squash mixture in a 13"x11" baking pan that has been sprayed with a none stick spray. Cover casserole and place in a preheated oven at 350 degrees. Bake for 50 - 60 minutes. Remove cover the last 20 minutes of baking time.

Versatile Chicken (from ISBN#1-56173-798-4)*****

1 pint buttermilk

2 tablespoons chicken flavored bouillon

1 teaspoon oregano leaves

3 pounds of chicken

1 cup flour

1 teaspoon paprika

1/2 cup melted butter

In a bowl big enough to marinade with, mix buttermilk, bouillon and oregano. let stand 10 minutes. Add chicken, stirring to coat. Let soak for 30 minutes. In a plastic ziploc bag, combine flour and paprika. Add chicken a few pieces at a time. Shake to coat. Arrange chicken in a baking dish. Drizzle chicken pieces with butter. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until golden. (note: I cubed my chicken pieces because I like the crunchy crust. Also, I broiled the top of the chicken for about 3 minutes, to make it even crunchier)

Crunchy Potato Bites (an American twist on a German recipe)*****

2 cups very stiff mashed potatoes

2 cups finely chopped fully cooked ham

1 cup shredded cheddar or swiss cheese

3/4 cup mayo

1 egg, beaten

1 t. mustard

1/4 t. pepper

2-4 T flour

1 3/4 cups crushed cornflakes

In a bowl, combine potatoes, ham, cheese, mayo, egg, mustard and pepper, mix well. Add just enough flour to make a stiff mixture. Chill.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease cookie sheets. Shape mixture into 1-inch balls & roll in cornflakes. Place on a cookie sheet and bake 25 to 30 minutes. Makes about 6 dozen. (recipe taken from February 2008 ed. of Home Cooking magazine)

Enjoy!

First Day

We had a fun-filled and exhausting day. We did so much!! It was 80 degrees outside, so the kids ran through the sprinkler for awhile. We talked about cats, colored a cat, and recited a rhyme about cats (I recited it, and they were all off in their own little world- I guess they thought that I just like reciting rhymes to myself- hahahaha). Rebekah and Joshua were only here for 5 hours today, but starting on Monday, it will be for the whole day Monday through Friday. Plus, very soon, we will, also, be having a baby joining the party. Nathan will start as soon as his mom finds a job (he is 2 months old).

Today went pretty well for a first day. I was surprised to find that the one that I counted on to be so big, and that I thought I wouldn't have to worry about- was the very one who took it the hardest (Jaden). It's hard to share your mommy. She had a bad day. Every small thing that happened (even if nothing happened) was enough to push her over the edge. Poor baby!! I am glad we will have 2 days to bond before it starts full-force next week.

Dancing at Chuck E Cheese

Jaden was really dancing for awhile. She danced through 4 songs by the time I got the camera out. This was the 5th song. I think she was getting tired because she started to do more jumping than dancing. You would think she would be really tired right now, but she's not. She is running all over the house playing tag with Morgan (and it's 10PM). Oh, well. At least they are having fun. I sure hate to be the one to break up the party...

Dancing videos

Morgan was dancing to my ringtone (Back at One by Brian McKnight), so I decided to video tape her. I, also, got a video text that has a song that she likes to dance to. That's what these videos are about. Also, for those of you that aren't around the girls a lot, here is a list of some of Morgan's words and phrases (I am putting the word the way she pronounces it first, with the translation second):
Ha Lo- hello
I you- I love you
peas- peace
ka ka- cracker
The rest of her words are pretty easy to understand.

Alone time

I just bought this cool play yard for the kids on Ebay a few days ago. The girls like it, especially, Jaden. She uses it to get time to herself & keep Morgan from tearing up what she is playing wirh. My thought was that I could have the kids get in there with some toys while I fix lunch- That way, they won't be running 4 different directions through the house. Now, it will be even more beneficial because it turns out that I may be watching a baby as well. So when it is the baby's tummy time, I can put him/her in the play yard & the kids can't mess with the baby. I'm glad I still have all of my baby things from Morgan and Jaden(like the exersaucer, travel crib, and play mat). I am off to bed now, but be on the look out for the recipes that will be posted at the end of the month, with this country's focus. Good night!

So much to do...

I haven't written in a couple of days. I've been pretty busy with the shopping (the job), volunteering, and get stuff done around the house. I went to the World Vision experience: Step Into Africa (that I blogged about a month ago). I volunteered at that for 4 1/2 hours. It was a great experience. For anyone who has been or who is going, the child's experience that I walked through was Babirye from Uganda. There are 4 different children's stories, so if you want to see it all, you really have to walk through 4 different times. Each experience lasts about 20 minutes. After I did my walk through, the volunteer shift began. I was placed in the Health clinic. Everyone that goes through the experience winds up in the health clinic to find out if they are HIV+ or HIV-. As people would come up, I had to stamp their hand with a big red plus sign or a black negative sign. It was interesting. It was sad. We are so blessed. If you get a chance to go, they are on tour now (going all over the country).
Today my mom came by to help me with a project that the girls are putting together for mother's day (for all of the grandmothers). We did that project, and a whole bunch more. We got so much done!!! By the time she left, I was EXHAUSTED!! I think I'll turn in early tonight. Good night!

I need everyone's help, please~

Anyone who can help me, please help. I will begin my miniature day care next Friday. The Monday following that, I will be going at it full-time. My idea is every week I will focus on a different letter, number and country. For example, the first week would be the letter "A", the number "1", and the country of Australia. The next week word be b, 2, and Belguim... And so on. I need help with some recipes for the country noted for that week. They should be pretty simple recipes, that I will be fixing them for lunch, as well as any recommended snacks. So, any of you who know about a certain country and can provide some recipes, please e-mail them to me (with a note as to which country is being represented). As I use the recipes, I will post them on the blog. Any simple recipes that you like that are just American recipes are great, too. I will need all that I can get as I try to provide a variety of experiences for the children. Thanks to everyone who decides to participate!!