Photo Shoot

Last Friday, while out running errands we took some much overdue pictures. While doing this, I realized that Naomi CAN NOT remain still for any amount of time. I had to get everyone else in postion, smiling & looking at me...and stay that way so I could snap a picture when she came back to the group.


In this picture she was running all over the place and would randomly plop down. It was in that brief moment I would take the picture. This one is my favorite...it captures her perfectly.












After this day, I realized why it had been so long since our last photo shoot...aside from having the camera broken and not having one for awhile:) You can't tell from the pictures, but this was total chaos and afterwards I felt like a white trash mama yelling at her kids to sit down and shut up. Oops...we aren't supposed to say 'shut up' in our house. Oh well, from the pictures they look like such a sweet bunch. LOL. I wouldn't change all this craziness for anything...well, maybe a warm sandy beach...somedays:)

EXPECTING

I had my first doctors appointment today...I'm due April 8th!

Sunday Evening Fun cont.

Uh oh, he's got that look...




And he jumped.


Monkey see, monkey do.




Notice her hand...I love it!:)

Sunday Evening Fun cont.

Here's some of the kids roasting marshmallows.




Looks like Naomi lost her marshmallow.


A little volleyball over the woodpile.


And, this picture I just really liked:)

Sunday Evening Fun

Last Sunday, we had a quiet evening at home. So, we took advantage of the beautiful weather and went outside. The kids rode the go-cart, 3-wheeler, and we roasted marshmallows.




Naomi is not driving, just pretending.

Early Morning Fishing

Last Saturday, Adam, Jacob & Heidi woke up early and went fishing. Adam said those two love to fish...they just cast and reel, cast and reel.


Adam caught the catfish, Jacob caught the medium one and Heidi caught the one she's holding.

Repelling and Photo Shoots

Two weeks ago the kids and I drove to Peoria, IL to watch my sister repell from a 7 story building. Why would she do this, you ask? She works for Boy Scouts of America and it was for a fundraisor. This was way out of her comfort box, so very worth the three hour drive. She had a set time to repell...and wouldn't you know it...her husband, Ryan and I missed it!!! She went early! But, out of love for us both...she did it again so we could see. That there is love!:)



This is the 7 story building she repelled from. My knees were shaking just looking at it from the ground! Afterwards, the kids and I, my mom, my sister Mollie, and my sister Amanda and her husband went to Chili's for lunch. My favorite...and we don't have one in Quincy.:) After lunch we attempted a quick girls picture. Not so much. I only posted a few out of the many that were taken. Thanks Shawn!



Mollie doing a little tree trimming.





So, there we are...left to right...Mollie, me, mom, Amanda.

What we do for fun in Missouri

I love when the kids are creative, and come up with things on their own to do...most of the time. One day, I looked out my window to find this...



Yep, that's Jacob climbing the flagpole in our front yard, with Nemion and Naomi watching.



Nemion decides that looks like a pretty good idea and joins him...at the same time.





I got a video of Jacob climbing pretty high, but I can't get it to load. Hopefully, I can figure that out.

First Day of School

Cherry Valley Weekend

We spent last weekend at Cherry Valley with the Reinbeck family. There was alot of fishing going on, and this is just some of the catches.


This is a closeup shot. That is alot of fish!

Last week, Adam's dad, Larry came down and helped us chop and stack wood. We appreciated his help. It was also the worst possible time to be doing this, since the temperatures were in the 100's! But, when trees come down, you gotta take care of it.



Larry running the log splitter that our neighbor so kindly lets us use.




Jacob watching grandpa. Over the next couple days we completly filled that side of the wood pile.



The kids would bring me the logs and I would stack them.




Naomi loved being apart of the work.
It was alot of work, and REALLY hot, but we are so thankful come winter time!

Menu Monday...on Tuesday

We spent the weekend (Fri-Mon) at Kent H. cabin with the Reinbeck family...so no menu was posted. It's now back to reality, and cooking again. So, here's the menu for this week.

Tuesday- Enchiladas
Wednesday- Steak & Eggs
Thursday- Chicken Spaghetti
Friday- Pizza
Saturday- Meatloaf
Sunday- Burgers

Picture posts coming soon!! I'm so excited...Adam bought me a camera for my birthday. So, now I can post pics again. (Our camera was dropped and broken quite awhile ago & we just now got around to buying a new one).

Unleashing the Snack Beast

I have been noticing alot of grouchiness in my children lately..so I've decided that this week we would do a little experiment. I sat my kids down this morning and told them they no longer needed to ask for a snack, they can get one whenever they want! (This is stepping way outside of my comfort box lol) There is one stipulation, it has to be healthy. I explained what healthy meant, then unleashed them!

These are ideas from a couple of my friends, and I decided I would combine the two and see what happens. I figure it has to be a win, win situation. The kids are happy they can have a snack anytime, and I'm happy they are eating healthier.

We went to the store this morning and picked out a bunch of fruits & veggies, they were so excited! Who'd a thunk it!!

So, far today, it has gone well. No one has gorged themselves, yet, and everyone is less irritable! Yippee!!

Menu Monday

Monday: Meatballs, mashed potatoes, corn
Tuesday: Spaghetti, salad, bread
Wednesday: Eggs, toast
Thursday: Pizza

We will be spending the rest of the week/weekend at a cabin with my husband's family.

Menu Monday

Last week was crazy busy, so I had no time for other posts. I'm hoping this week will be a bit slower & relaxing.

Friday, for our potluck, Adam ended up grilling steaks. They were amazing!! He always grills them just right:)Since we have leftovers of that, I will be using that for supper tonight. Yippee!

Monday- Steak & Eggs
Tuesday- Italian Pasta Bake (pulled this from freezer for our sitters for the weekend & the ended up not using it)
Wednesday- French Toast
Thursday- Hamburger Helper
Friday- Pizza
Saturday- Leftovers...or whatever else I feel like
Sunday- Sunday School Picnic (It's no longer a picnic, we have it in the fellowship hall, thankfully)

Menu Monday

It's gonna be HOT again this week!! So, I've planned some meals that will avoid turning my oven on and heating up my kitchen:)

Monday: Spaghetti, Bread, Salad
Tuesday: Taco Salad, Corn, Fruit
Wednesday: Eggs & Toast
Thursday: Roast, Potatoes, Carrots
Friday: We are hosting Potluck (no clue what we are having)
Saturday: Out of town
Sunday: Out of town

Stay cool this week!

Heart of Discipline

The true heart of discipline is relationship-a relationship with God. John Wesley's words express this relationship beautifully:

O God, fill my soul with so entire a love of Thee that I may love nothing but for Thy sake and in subordination to Thy love. Give me grace to study Thy knowledge daily that the more I know Thee, the more I may love Thee. Create in me a zealous obedience to all Thy commands, a cheerful patience under all Thy chastisements, and a thankful resignation to all Thy disposals. Let it be the one business of my life to glorify Thee by every word of my tongue, by every work of my hand, by professing Thy truth, and engaging all men, so far as in me lies, to glorify and love Thee.

This is from my current bible study, Disciplines of a Godly Woman by Barbara Hughes. I just liked it and wanted to share it:)

Laugh at yourself

I just had one of those moments...ya know, the ones where you could get angry, cry, let it ruin your day, and control your mood. I laughed, well not out loud, but too myself.

Let me paint the picture for you. Last night I bought a new pitcher for sun tea, the kind with a tapper on it. Our old one kept leaking, so good by!

I don't like tea, but my husband does. So, I made a pitcher of sun tea for him:) It is sitting outside soaking up the suns rays. I"m putting kids down for a nap, which is a chore because Naomi just keeps popping back out of her room. In between trips taking her back to bed I bring in the tea pitcher and put it in the fridge. Aww, a pitcher that doesn't leak. Continue on with the trips back to bed. Then Jake, who is in the kitchen, says 'Uh, mom, what is that?' and points to this brown liquid all over the floor around the fridge. For a moment a just stand there, staring, with my mouth hanging open (nice image, uh). I'm trying to think...what in the world is that! Open the fridge to find...you guessed it...tea. All down the inside of the fridge, floor, and the best part. You know the trays on the fridge door, completely filled one of those! What the world!!

So, I began the task of cleanup. Meanwhile, Naomi gets up...whatever, don't even care anymore. It seems that when I put the pitcher in the fridge, the tray on the door pushed the tapper down which then lead to a waterfall of tea. Oh well, what are ya gonna do?!

Laugh, just laugh!

Thankfulness

Last night as I knelt to pray, as I was physically exhausted, as I was on the verge of complaining about grocery shopping late at night...I was struck with a thankful heart.

Thankful I am able to go to the grocery store and fill my cart and then go home and fill my cabinets.

Thankful for a husband who has a desire and is physically able to provide for us.

Thankful for the little ones.

Thankful for my vision, health.

Thankful for my families vision and health.

Thankful for a cool/warm home.

Thankful for a comfortable bed.

Thankful I get to stay home each day to care for our children and maintain our home.

Thankful for clothes to wash.

Thankful for a support group of friends.

I could go on and on, but I'm sure at some point you'd get tired of reading. My heart is just filled to overflowing with thankfulness. What amazes me about all of this is that just yesterday morning I was struggling with "the grass is greener" syndrome. I was talking to my sister and complaining about my dissatisfaction with this or that (mostly my home). She started doing the same about her home, and I said, "What! I love your home", and she said the same about mine. That's when we realized...no matter what/how/where/when we can fall into that mindset that someone else has it better. Myabe they do, maybe they don't. So what!

It's time we look around and really see all that God has blessed us with. He gives us what WE need.

I remeber the day we first looked at our house. We were living in Tremont (3 hours from here). I saw it online one morning and it was everything we said we wanted in a house and more. We drove the three hours after Adam got off work one day. As we pulled in the drive we were like kids at Christmas. As we toured the house, we could hardly contain our excitement! We wanted a ranch house in the country, a basement, a yard for the kids to play, 3 bedrooms. That's what we wanted, that's what we prayed for. We signed the contract that night! We got all we asked for and more...two more bedrooms downstairs, a shop for Adam, and more living space than we even thought of and all in our price range!

But the other day, as I pulled in my drive I realized that the excitement and joy was no longer there and in it's place was discontentment. What had changed? Our home has only gotten better with improvements, so it's me. Somehow, I became dissatisfied. My guess would be that I forgot what we had prayed for, and how God had blessed us! I forgot ALL the blessings! I had been looking at other people's blessings and asking God, 'Well, how come I don't have that?' He says, 'I gave you what you asked for and more!' Awww, yes. I am truly thankful!

Menu Monday

Well, we arrived home late Saturday night from a week long vacation, but by the looks of my posts it seems longer:] We had a wonderful time making memories with family and friends!

Now, it's back to reality...we have a busy week this week, so creativeness has been tossed out the window and replaced with easy and practical.

Monday- Hotdogs, mac & cheese
Tuesday- BBQ Pork Steaks, mashed potatoes
Wednesday- Eggs & toast
Thursday- Cheesy Beef Enchiliadas
Friday- Cereal
Saturday- Pizza, salad
Sunday- Church Potluck

*I feel I need to add that we do eat fruits/veggies...I just don't post alot of side dishes because I usually don't know what I'm gonna do. Thankfully, sidedishes are simple and whatever I have on hand:)

If you'd like a recipe feel free to ask.

Cookbooks

I was just sitting here looking at my cookbook...and thinking, I love my cookbook! So, I thought I would just share with you. It ties in with organization, that's probably why I love it so much.

Several years ago, as in, when I only had three kids and alot more time, I was frustrated with having my favorite receipes in several different cookbooks. I couldn't remember what book each receipe was in. So, I bought a three ring binder, sheet protectors, and tab dividers with pockets. With my tab dividers, created the different sections you would find in a cookbook...appetizers, main dishes, etc. I then typed out my favorite receipes, as many as I could fit per page, placed them in the sheet protectors (which could be wiped off when I make a mess cooking), then put them in the binder. All my favorites in one binder! Awwww, glorious:)

Since then I have added to that binder (I recommend the big binders). It's alot easier now. I find receipes online, print them off, put them in the pockets of the tab dividers where they wait to be tried. If we like it, I put it in a sheet protector and then put it in the binder.

I do still have a few cookbooks I use in addition to my binder. Probably because I don't have the time to add them to my binder lol. Oh well, for now I remember where things are...sometimes.

How do you keep your receipes organized?

Pour-A-Pan Pizza

1c flour
1t salt
1/2t garlic powder
1/8t pepper
2/3c milk
2 eggs, beaten
1lb italian sausage
1pkg (3 1/2oz) sliced pepperoni
2T chopped onion
2T chopped green pepper
1c pizza sauce
2c (8oz) shredded mozzarella cheese

In bowl, combine flour, salt, garlic powder, & pepper; stir in milk & eggs. Pour into greased 9x13 pan. In skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Sprinkle over crust. Top with pepperoni, onion, green pepper. Bake, uncovered, at 425 for 15 minutes. Toothpick test. Spread with pizza sauce & sprinkle with cheese. Bake 5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting.

Since this is pizza, and you can't go wrong with pizza. You can change up the ingreients...such as your meat & veggies. Make it however you like it:) Enjoy!

Menu Monday

After not having to cook dinner for my family at all last week, I'm a little spoiled. LOL. VBS was amazing, we all loved it and are so thankful for our church! With that being said, it is time to get back to the normal routine.

Monday-Pigs n' a blanket, fries, fruit
Tuesday- Chicken nuggets, mac & cheese
Wednesday-Steak & eggs, toast
Thursday-Roast, potatoes, carrots
Friday-Pour-A-Pan Pizza, salad, breadsticks
Saturday-Chicken Spaghetti, green beans
Sunday-Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, corn (Adam's favorite-for Father's Day)

My plan is to start this week to have one child per night help me make dinner. I'll let ya know next Monday how that went. I, also, hope to post some receipes from this weeks menu. If theres a receipe from a past week you'd like, let me know and I'll post that as well.

Menu Monday

Since we have VBS all this week (yeah!) I don't have to cook. So, no need for a menu this week.:)
With summer now here, I've heard alot of talk about summer schedules. So, I thought it would be fun to talk a little about that. For the last two years I've had a summer schedule. It helps alot! Without it the kids and I would float aimlessly through the days, getting nothing done, and they would complain of being bored. I love schedules:) Most important, though, is that the schedule does not control us. If I feel like spending most of the day in the pool, taking the kids to the park, going to the library, etc. we do it. The schedule is there as a guide, for some sort of structure. but it will not run are summer!
So, here is an example of our schedule, just to give you an idea.
8:30 Breakfast
9:15 Chores
11:15 Schoolwork/Free Time
12:30 Lunch
1:00 Nappers go down/Reading Time for the rest
1:15 Free Time
3:30 Snack
3:45 Pickup/Putaway
4:15 Free Time
5:00 Dinner Prep
6:00 Dinner

After a long and busy weekend, like this past weekend, the kids are tired. So, I let them sleep till whenever. If we have a fairly normal week, I will wake them so we all can have breakfast at 8:30. I've got 1-2 kids that would stay in bed till lunch everyday!
The pickup/putaway is I want everyone to spend that time just roaming the house looking for the things that don't belong, and need to be put in their correct spot. For example, the baby doll on the bathroom floor, the legos on the living room floor, the pair of shoes on the couch, the hairbands by the kitchen sink, the bowl in the family room that was from snack time last week...you get the idea:) By doing this, I hope to prevent a) me from picking all that up, b) all of that sitting there for weeks.
I, also, have intentions:) of having one child per night help me make dinner. I'll let ya know how that goes.
Well, that's pretty much it on the Reinbeck Summer Schedule. I would love to hear what others do. It's fun to share with each other, everyone has such different ideas. Have a blessed day!

Menu Monday

Here is this week's menu:

Monday: BBQ Pork Chops, mashed potatos, corn
Tuesday: Tacos, Corn
Wednesday: Eggs, Toast
Thursday: Hot dogs, Noodles
Friday: Pizzaburgers, not sure what else:)
Saturday: Chicken Quiche Florentine, Rice (I've never made this, so I'll let ya know how it turns out)
Sunday: Meatballs, Potatos, Green Beans

I know last weeks menu listed BBQ Pork Chops, but it was 5:30 yesterday & they were still in the freezer. I pulled them out of my freezer downstairs, a few days ago & thought I put them in the fridge upstairs...nope, I put them in the freezer upstairs! Oops.

Have a blessed Memorial Day!

Weekly Menu

Well, I'm gonna do it. Said I wasn't going to, but I am. I'm giving this blog over to my passion...organizing! It will be slow, for now, especially since summer just started:)
The first thing I want to start with is a weekly menu post. We've all been there, 5:00 and no clue what's for dinner. I've always hated the thought of planning a menu, but several months ago I gave it a try. I LOVE it! Well, maybe not love it, but it sure makes my life simpler. Does it take a little time at the beginning of the week? Yes, but I avoid the 5:00 stresser and the eventual cave of eating cereal, again.
My plan is to post my menu each Monday. I know today is Wednesday, but it's my first attempt and this will give you a couple extra ideas.

Monday: Spaghetti, salad, breadsticks
Tuesday: Chicken Roll-Ups, Peaches
Wednesday: Scrambled Eggs, Toast (Every Wednesday is some variation of eggs)
Thursday: Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Corn
Friday: Pizza, Salad (Every Friday is pizza night)
Saturday: Poppyseed Ham Sandwiches, Chips, Apples
Sunday: BBQ Pork Chops, Potatoes, Peas

I would love to post receipes and link them to the menu, but I haven't figured that out yet:)

"Children Of God" - Official Music Video

Shine

This song, and this message, has been on my mind the last couple days. Just wanted to share:)

There's a little flame
inside a soul
Some shine bright
Some shine small

The rains will come
And the waters rise
But don't you ever
lose your light

In this life you will know
Love and pain
Joy and sorrow

So when it hurts
When times get hard
Don't forget who's
child you are

This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
Gonna let it shine

May you live each day
With no regret
Make the most of
every chance you get

And your eyes get wide
When you look at the stars
With the same sense of wonder as a child's heart

With the ones you love
Treasure the time
And for those who are gone
Keep the memories alive

Hold on to your dreams
Don't ever let go

There's a fire inside you
Burning with hope

This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
Gonna let it shine

There will be days
when you wanna give up

When clouds settle in
But after the rain
comes the sun

Don't you ever forget
Don't forget
Don't, don't forget

One day there will be
no more pain
And we will finally see
Jesus' face

So until then I'm gonna try
To brave the dark
And let my little light shine

This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
Gonna let it shine

There's a little
light inside us all.