yesterday was quite a day. we woke up to frozen pipes - which meant no water. bummer. it really set back our plans for the day. jamil was heading to costco with the boys and i was going shopping for me with the girls.
while i was waiting for the water to come back on, i did my grocery order for the express lane at harris teeter. the site shut down for quite some time and then when it was time for me to checkout, i realized that you can not pick up the order on saturdays. so frustrated. i got the girls ready and then the water came back on so i could get a shower. jamil got the boys ready and they headed to costco with my dad. the boys were so excited to eat lunch at the snack bar there!
i was finished getting ready and nursing the baby when my mom and sister came over so we could head out for a day of shopping. we left our house at 2:00. we didn't get to the mall until almost 4:00. there was an accident on 85 and we sat in onlooker traffic forever. finding a parking space was ridiculous. finally we get one and get into the mall and of course everyone is starving so we eat at chili's. so we didn't begin shopping until close to 5:30. after going around the whole mall stopping in several stores, stopping to nurse the baby and then getting some cold stone ice cream we headed home at 9:30 pm. crazy long day.
this is the second or third time that i have been shopping for myself since the baby was born. and i every time i realize that i hate to shop for myself. i get so frustrated. and it is so hard to do it with kids. jordyn was sooooo good. but i get so nervous someone will snatch her up. and then pushing jaelyn in the stroller or pushing it without her is such a pain. stores are not made for strollers. and i can never find what i like - i don't even know what i like anymore. i don't have a favorite spot to shop. i desperately want to find a store that is totally me and totally on my budget.
so the shopping trip that was suppose to be for me turned into this...
~ 2 pairs of school pants, a cute pink gap coat & skechers shoes....all for jordyn
~ 2 carters outfits and.....a bib for jaelyn
and yes 1 pair of jeans from express for me (a size smaller then the last pair i bought!)
it is soooo much easier to shop for the kids or for jamil then it is for me.
after a crazy long saturday, i have one pair of jeans to wear and that is about all....
so, tell me where do you like to shop? and what do you like to wear?
1.18.2009
1.16.2009
a little competition...
well i thought that this blogging thing was off to a good start in this new year. but now the time it takes to write a blog has some competition. last week, we got cable television. probably not a big thing around most people's houses but it is HUGE at ours.
about seven years ago, we cancelled our cable television and never had it turned back on until last week. we were cutting back on expenses then so that we could swing the one income family thing. every dime counts. honestly for a long time we rarely turned the tv on and hardly missed tv. with the new television transition coming up in a few weeks, we faced a dilemna! we tried the convereter box and it didn't work so well. so then we began to research cable and satellite television. we got a great deal at time warner, bundling our internet and cable tv. so last week we began being able to watch more than 5 channels! wooohooo!!!
how much fun have i been having watching tv??? way too much!! i realized the other day that i have barely been on the computer because i have been watching tv. so my blogging now competes with cable tv. and no we do not have dvr (YET!)
here is what i have been watching regularly....
~ jon & kate plus 8
~ the baby story
~ maternity ward
~ clean sweep
~ birth day
~ baby diaries
of course i have been watching my other faves like...
~ grey's anatomy
~ private practice
and i can not wait for LOST next week and House!
we tried to watch the unit and 24 this week also, so far i think i am too far behind to catch up.
i really liked october road, but i don't think that is coming back on. so sad.
what are some of your favorite tv shows???
about seven years ago, we cancelled our cable television and never had it turned back on until last week. we were cutting back on expenses then so that we could swing the one income family thing. every dime counts. honestly for a long time we rarely turned the tv on and hardly missed tv. with the new television transition coming up in a few weeks, we faced a dilemna! we tried the convereter box and it didn't work so well. so then we began to research cable and satellite television. we got a great deal at time warner, bundling our internet and cable tv. so last week we began being able to watch more than 5 channels! wooohooo!!!
how much fun have i been having watching tv??? way too much!! i realized the other day that i have barely been on the computer because i have been watching tv. so my blogging now competes with cable tv. and no we do not have dvr (YET!)
here is what i have been watching regularly....
~ jon & kate plus 8
~ the baby story
~ maternity ward
~ clean sweep
~ birth day
~ baby diaries
of course i have been watching my other faves like...
~ grey's anatomy
~ private practice
and i can not wait for LOST next week and House!
we tried to watch the unit and 24 this week also, so far i think i am too far behind to catch up.
i really liked october road, but i don't think that is coming back on. so sad.
what are some of your favorite tv shows???
1.09.2009
off to a good start...
during the busy holiday season, i took a little blog break. our laptop was down and we just got really busy. jamil was off of work from christmas eve through this past monday. the kids also went back to school on monday after a two week break. we had a wonderful break together. we really enjoyed this christmas! the kids loved all of their gifts and have been having so much fun with all their stuff! f
or christmas we got a new laptop, it came this week. i have been enjoying being back online. i am so excited to be able to start blogging again. i spent some time this morning loading all of my pictures on the new laptop. and the other day i did a little blog makeover. as you can see, i added some new pictures and changed the title of our blog. so welcome to "more than we can imagine"!! of course i still will use "my j crew" for things and it is still our url name. but one night, that title came to me and i love it. it comes right from ephesians 3:20 which just sums up how i feel about everything right now! God sure does bless us with so much more than we can ask or imagine. and as we are entering into the new year, i know that He will show us even more than we can imagine!!
so, i this year and this blog is off to a good start!
here are a few pictures from the last few weeks during our break...
or christmas we got a new laptop, it came this week. i have been enjoying being back online. i am so excited to be able to start blogging again. i spent some time this morning loading all of my pictures on the new laptop. and the other day i did a little blog makeover. as you can see, i added some new pictures and changed the title of our blog. so welcome to "more than we can imagine"!! of course i still will use "my j crew" for things and it is still our url name. but one night, that title came to me and i love it. it comes right from ephesians 3:20 which just sums up how i feel about everything right now! God sure does bless us with so much more than we can ask or imagine. and as we are entering into the new year, i know that He will show us even more than we can imagine!!
so, i this year and this blog is off to a good start!
here are a few pictures from the last few weeks during our break...
1.07.2009
highlights of '08...
2008 was a great year. sometimes i can't imagine how it will be any better. seriously, we added a beautiful daughter to our family, we watched our son be baptized, we paid off a ton of debt, and we were part of the awesome movement of God at elevation church. what could be better than all of that??
i am so grateful for such a wonderful year of so many sweet memories. on new year's day, i spent a few minutes reflecting and writing in my journal a list of highlights of the past year. here is a list of some of my highlights of 2008.
~ finding out we were pregnant with baby #4
~ joshua's salvation and baptism
~ my sister, julie, moving here
~ finding out our dear friends, the carr's, were adopting twin girls
~ holding merideth and mallory carr for the first time (they were about 3 lbs ea.)
~ finding out we were having a healthy baby girl
~ our family beach trip to carolina beach
~ jordyn starts school
~ girlfriend's beach trip to carolina beach
~ my baby shower
~ jaelyn's birth day
~ receiving 2 large monetary blessings to be able to pay off a lot of debt
~ the events and circumstances surrounding the monetary blessings
~ stepping out on faith and giving to elevation and to the dominate campaign
~ discovering the true joy of giving
~ serving and being a part of elevation church, witnessing over 2,000 salvations and over 1,000 baptisms
wow, again, what a year it has been. i feel so blessed by all the things God has done for our family in 2008. i am ready to see how He will blow our mind in 2009!
i am so grateful for such a wonderful year of so many sweet memories. on new year's day, i spent a few minutes reflecting and writing in my journal a list of highlights of the past year. here is a list of some of my highlights of 2008.
~ finding out we were pregnant with baby #4
~ joshua's salvation and baptism
~ my sister, julie, moving here
~ finding out our dear friends, the carr's, were adopting twin girls
~ holding merideth and mallory carr for the first time (they were about 3 lbs ea.)
~ finding out we were having a healthy baby girl
~ our family beach trip to carolina beach
~ jordyn starts school
~ girlfriend's beach trip to carolina beach
~ my baby shower
~ jaelyn's birth day
~ receiving 2 large monetary blessings to be able to pay off a lot of debt
~ the events and circumstances surrounding the monetary blessings
~ stepping out on faith and giving to elevation and to the dominate campaign
~ discovering the true joy of giving
~ serving and being a part of elevation church, witnessing over 2,000 salvations and over 1,000 baptisms
wow, again, what a year it has been. i feel so blessed by all the things God has done for our family in 2008. i am ready to see how He will blow our mind in 2009!
1.01.2009
our holiday greeting card *...
"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine"
Ephesians 3:20
We hope that you celebrated and rejoiced in Him for making it great in 2008!
Now let us look ahead to God blowing our mind in 2009!
With Much Love,
Jamil, Dawn, Joshua, Jordyn, Jesiah and Jaelyn
* i had every intention of creating and sending this out to our friends and family this year. it just never happened. so i am posting it on our blog instead.
Ephesians 3:20
We hope that you celebrated and rejoiced in Him for making it great in 2008!
Now let us look ahead to God blowing our mind in 2009!
With Much Love,
Jamil, Dawn, Joshua, Jordyn, Jesiah and Jaelyn
* i had every intention of creating and sending this out to our friends and family this year. it just never happened. so i am posting it on our blog instead.
12.22.2008
delaying the inevitable...
with christmas nearly here and being busy,
because my laptop is down,
and the pictures are in the camera and can't be loaded to the laptop,
because my desktop is slow and i have no patience,
even though, i have a lot to blog about and lots to share,
the guilt of not doing it is so intense and i am frustrated,
lack of time, lack of resource and lack of patience,
i decided to stop delaying the inevitable and post an out to lunch sign like my friend, erin did!
so with that said and the decision off my shoulders... i plan to be back and blogging strong after the holidays, hopefully with a new laptop courtesy of santa! or atleast a fixed one.
until then, don't look for my christmas card and letter in the mail, because they haven't been sent, let alone ordered. they have taken residence with my thank you notes and jaelyn's birth announcements. oh and the christmas letter i planned to write and post here, will be a happy new year letter -- maybe it will make it on here by 2010!
from our family to yours: we hope that you have a wonderful wonderful christmas holiday! enjoy what means most during this time - your friends and family and celebrating the amazing birth of our savior, Jesus Christ.
because my laptop is down,
and the pictures are in the camera and can't be loaded to the laptop,
because my desktop is slow and i have no patience,
even though, i have a lot to blog about and lots to share,
the guilt of not doing it is so intense and i am frustrated,
lack of time, lack of resource and lack of patience,
i decided to stop delaying the inevitable and post an out to lunch sign like my friend, erin did!
so with that said and the decision off my shoulders... i plan to be back and blogging strong after the holidays, hopefully with a new laptop courtesy of santa! or atleast a fixed one.
until then, don't look for my christmas card and letter in the mail, because they haven't been sent, let alone ordered. they have taken residence with my thank you notes and jaelyn's birth announcements. oh and the christmas letter i planned to write and post here, will be a happy new year letter -- maybe it will make it on here by 2010!
from our family to yours: we hope that you have a wonderful wonderful christmas holiday! enjoy what means most during this time - your friends and family and celebrating the amazing birth of our savior, Jesus Christ.
12.18.2008
the beautiful mess...
i am so excited to blog about this today!!! for me it is an early christmas present and an anniversary present all wrapped in one!!
two saturdays ago, our family had the most amazing photo shoot with some very talented photographers, husband and wife team, candice and daniel lanning!! they own and operate the beautiful mess. we had such a great time during our shoot. my kids did so well. candice and daniel came to our house. with the kids in their own environment, they were able to capture our family in such a special and unique way. the photos are completely real and show who we are as a family!! there are no poses and goofy chin tilts - just all natural. jamil who in the past has dreaded family photo day even had a great time!! the kids didn't fight us or fuss about it at all. they feel like candice and daniel are like family now!!! they got to show off and be themselves. i knew the photo shoot went well and couldn't wait to see our photos!
today, one week before christmas and our ninth year anniversary, candice posted our pictures to her blog! i am so excited to be able to share our family pictures with you! just click here and you can see some pics and view our slideshow!! leave a comment and let me know what you think of them!!!
i am so thankful for the wonderful work candice and daniel have done. pictures are so important to me and capturing our family the way they did is such a tremendous blessing!!! words can't express how excited i am to have these photos!
two saturdays ago, our family had the most amazing photo shoot with some very talented photographers, husband and wife team, candice and daniel lanning!! they own and operate the beautiful mess. we had such a great time during our shoot. my kids did so well. candice and daniel came to our house. with the kids in their own environment, they were able to capture our family in such a special and unique way. the photos are completely real and show who we are as a family!! there are no poses and goofy chin tilts - just all natural. jamil who in the past has dreaded family photo day even had a great time!! the kids didn't fight us or fuss about it at all. they feel like candice and daniel are like family now!!! they got to show off and be themselves. i knew the photo shoot went well and couldn't wait to see our photos!
today, one week before christmas and our ninth year anniversary, candice posted our pictures to her blog! i am so excited to be able to share our family pictures with you! just click here and you can see some pics and view our slideshow!! leave a comment and let me know what you think of them!!!
i am so thankful for the wonderful work candice and daniel have done. pictures are so important to me and capturing our family the way they did is such a tremendous blessing!!! words can't express how excited i am to have these photos!
12.15.2008
menu plan monday...
ok, here is what we are having this week for dinner...what's on your plate???
monday.... spaghetti & meatballs (frozen not homemade!), salad & dinner rolls (again-frozen not homemade)
tuesday... for jamil and the kiddos...grilled cheese sandwiches & vegetable soup (from the can) and i am heading out for a girl's night of appetizers and desert!!!!
wednesday...easy beef stroganoff, fruit & dinner rolls
thursday...chicken tacos & refried beans
friday.... pizza night for the kids... jamil and i are going out for a date night!
saturday...chili & cornbread (oops forgot to order the mix when i did the online shopping!)
sunday... early Christmas dinner with my family
another week done!
monday.... spaghetti & meatballs (frozen not homemade!), salad & dinner rolls (again-frozen not homemade)
tuesday... for jamil and the kiddos...grilled cheese sandwiches & vegetable soup (from the can) and i am heading out for a girl's night of appetizers and desert!!!!
wednesday...easy beef stroganoff, fruit & dinner rolls
thursday...chicken tacos & refried beans
friday.... pizza night for the kids... jamil and i are going out for a date night!
saturday...chili & cornbread (oops forgot to order the mix when i did the online shopping!)
sunday... early Christmas dinner with my family
another week done!
12.12.2008
holiday tag....
my friend, beth, tagged me to do this fun holiday post!!! so to start off my holiday blogging this year i am going to take part in the fun! thanks for tagging me beth!!
1. Egg nog or Hot Chocolate?
hot chocolate
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
santa doesn't get any credit for the presents under the tree - we give them and wrap them! we are not santa believers, although we are not anti-santa either. we are truthful to who santa is and remind the kids why we celebrate this season. "jesus is the reason"
3. Colored lights or white?
white.
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
no. i am afraid if we hung mistletoe we would have like 8 kids instead of 4!
5. When do you put your decorations up?
the weekend after Thanksgiving - although this year we haven't put them all up - we are going very simple this year!
6. Favorite holiday dish?
hmmm...we don't really have a big holiday meal, so I don't know. this year my favorite dish will be the one i can eat in peace without having to manage 3 kids and a nursing baby! so it will probably be whatever jamil and i eat on our next date night!!! hurry up date night get here soon!
7. Favorite childhood memory?
i don't have one big memory, here are a few favorite traditions as a kid.
~looking for the 6 little elves that mom hides each year
~traveling to baltimore every Christmas morning to spend the day at my grandparent's house
~opening our presents on Christmas eve b/c we traveled the next day
~sleeping with my sister in one of our beds on Christmas eve and listening for santa
~traveling home from baltimore and having to go potty sooooo bad and there was like nowhere to stop, finally i think we found a place to stop
8. When/how did you learn the truth about Santa?
hmmmmm... good question, i know i "believed" but can't remember when i stopped, i guess i kind of outgrew it???
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
as an older kid, we opened all of our gifts then
as for our family now, we are starting the tradition this year, we will all open one present on Christmas Eve and it will always be pajamas for all of us - that way our Christmas morning pics we all look coordinating!!!
10. How do you decorate the tree?
hmmm... this year I opened the box, the baby started crying, so while i was nursing her, the kids put ALL of the ornaments on the tree. and i haven't taken the time to "fix" what they have done. i may not. so pretty much the kids decorated it this year. wow - i have really let go of my control issue this year!
11. Snow. Love it or dread it?
i HATE snow - grew up with A LOT of it up north. so i dread it. i am ok with one pretty day and watching the kids enjoy it, but i would be ok never to snow again - i am not a fan of cold weather.
12. Can you ice skate?
probably could do it but wouldn't want to b/c of disliking the cold so much!
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
i think that my favorite "gift" would be my husband! in 1999, we got married a week before christmas! and then as a belated christmas gift we found out 6 weeks later we were pregnant with our first son - a honeymoon baby - which was right before christmas!!!
14. What is the most important thing about the holidays to you?
being with my family and watching them get so excited about this time and celebrating the birth of jesus!
15. Favorite holiday dessert?
i haven't met a dessert i didn't like - bring on all the sweets - love them!
16. Favorite Christmas Tradition?
over the years we have taken on some traditions for our family. i love all of them. this year we brought an elf into our family - so every day the kids look for "elfie". they love it - it is fun. they think he watches them and reports to me and santa how they are behaving.
17. What tops your tree?
a gold star
18. Do you prefer giving or receiving?
my love language is gifts - so i like both!! over the last year or so, giving has taken on a whole new meaning so i really really LOVE giving - and it doesn't have to be at Christmas. unfortunately, our budget is restricted so i can not give to all the people who we love and cherish at Christmas time like i wish we could.
19. Favorite Christmas song?
wow, i haven't listened to much Christmas music yet this season! but i like o holy night and come let us adore him
20. Candy canes. Yum or yuck?
a big YUCK!!!!
21. What do you want for Christmas?
this year i really do not want anything... i have my eye on a few things but there is nothing i really really want. i am so content with my family. my new baby girl is the best gift i could have this year!! you can't top that one!!
22. Do you attend an annual Christmas party?
last year we attended a party at some friend's house - and thought we were going to attend this year but they had to cancel it :(
23. Do you dress up for Christmas Eve or wear P.J.'s?
depends on where we are!!! last year it was comfy clothes. this year we will be at elevation - so i am sure we will dress up!!!!
24. Do you own a Santa hat?
we have 2 hats for the big kids to share/wear. the baby actually has 5 or 6 different little santa hats that came with several outfits that were handed down to us from chelsea and from my other kids were babies!
25. Who do you normally spend Christmas with?
christmas eve we spend with the Carr's, this year we will get together during the day and then go to elevation for the evening. Christmas day we spend the day together just our immediate family (jamil, the kids and me!). we will celebrate Christmas with my parents the weekend before Christmas. we will see jamil's family at some point during the holiday! they are our neighbors so they will just stop by at some time!
tag you are it.....
i am choosing stephanie, erin, patti, kelly h, heather d, teri, marybeth and chelsea (you've been tagged twice so you have to do this!) to join in the fun!!!
1. Egg nog or Hot Chocolate?
hot chocolate
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
santa doesn't get any credit for the presents under the tree - we give them and wrap them! we are not santa believers, although we are not anti-santa either. we are truthful to who santa is and remind the kids why we celebrate this season. "jesus is the reason"
3. Colored lights or white?
white.
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
no. i am afraid if we hung mistletoe we would have like 8 kids instead of 4!
5. When do you put your decorations up?
the weekend after Thanksgiving - although this year we haven't put them all up - we are going very simple this year!
6. Favorite holiday dish?
hmmm...we don't really have a big holiday meal, so I don't know. this year my favorite dish will be the one i can eat in peace without having to manage 3 kids and a nursing baby! so it will probably be whatever jamil and i eat on our next date night!!! hurry up date night get here soon!
7. Favorite childhood memory?
i don't have one big memory, here are a few favorite traditions as a kid.
~looking for the 6 little elves that mom hides each year
~traveling to baltimore every Christmas morning to spend the day at my grandparent's house
~opening our presents on Christmas eve b/c we traveled the next day
~sleeping with my sister in one of our beds on Christmas eve and listening for santa
~traveling home from baltimore and having to go potty sooooo bad and there was like nowhere to stop, finally i think we found a place to stop
8. When/how did you learn the truth about Santa?
hmmmmm... good question, i know i "believed" but can't remember when i stopped, i guess i kind of outgrew it???
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
as an older kid, we opened all of our gifts then
as for our family now, we are starting the tradition this year, we will all open one present on Christmas Eve and it will always be pajamas for all of us - that way our Christmas morning pics we all look coordinating!!!
10. How do you decorate the tree?
hmmm... this year I opened the box, the baby started crying, so while i was nursing her, the kids put ALL of the ornaments on the tree. and i haven't taken the time to "fix" what they have done. i may not. so pretty much the kids decorated it this year. wow - i have really let go of my control issue this year!
11. Snow. Love it or dread it?
i HATE snow - grew up with A LOT of it up north. so i dread it. i am ok with one pretty day and watching the kids enjoy it, but i would be ok never to snow again - i am not a fan of cold weather.
12. Can you ice skate?
probably could do it but wouldn't want to b/c of disliking the cold so much!
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
i think that my favorite "gift" would be my husband! in 1999, we got married a week before christmas! and then as a belated christmas gift we found out 6 weeks later we were pregnant with our first son - a honeymoon baby - which was right before christmas!!!
14. What is the most important thing about the holidays to you?
being with my family and watching them get so excited about this time and celebrating the birth of jesus!
15. Favorite holiday dessert?
i haven't met a dessert i didn't like - bring on all the sweets - love them!
16. Favorite Christmas Tradition?
over the years we have taken on some traditions for our family. i love all of them. this year we brought an elf into our family - so every day the kids look for "elfie". they love it - it is fun. they think he watches them and reports to me and santa how they are behaving.
17. What tops your tree?
a gold star
18. Do you prefer giving or receiving?
my love language is gifts - so i like both!! over the last year or so, giving has taken on a whole new meaning so i really really LOVE giving - and it doesn't have to be at Christmas. unfortunately, our budget is restricted so i can not give to all the people who we love and cherish at Christmas time like i wish we could.
19. Favorite Christmas song?
wow, i haven't listened to much Christmas music yet this season! but i like o holy night and come let us adore him
20. Candy canes. Yum or yuck?
a big YUCK!!!!
21. What do you want for Christmas?
this year i really do not want anything... i have my eye on a few things but there is nothing i really really want. i am so content with my family. my new baby girl is the best gift i could have this year!! you can't top that one!!
22. Do you attend an annual Christmas party?
last year we attended a party at some friend's house - and thought we were going to attend this year but they had to cancel it :(
23. Do you dress up for Christmas Eve or wear P.J.'s?
depends on where we are!!! last year it was comfy clothes. this year we will be at elevation - so i am sure we will dress up!!!!
24. Do you own a Santa hat?
we have 2 hats for the big kids to share/wear. the baby actually has 5 or 6 different little santa hats that came with several outfits that were handed down to us from chelsea and from my other kids were babies!
25. Who do you normally spend Christmas with?
christmas eve we spend with the Carr's, this year we will get together during the day and then go to elevation for the evening. Christmas day we spend the day together just our immediate family (jamil, the kids and me!). we will celebrate Christmas with my parents the weekend before Christmas. we will see jamil's family at some point during the holiday! they are our neighbors so they will just stop by at some time!
tag you are it.....
i am choosing stephanie, erin, patti, kelly h, heather d, teri, marybeth and chelsea (you've been tagged twice so you have to do this!) to join in the fun!!!
12.10.2008
back on track...
today, on our way home from school, joshua informed me that "j" walked by him and kissed him on the forehead. joshua has known "j" since they were babies. i told him that "j" is a sweet loving girl and that they have been friends forever and that was sweet. althouhg i was wondering if his teacher had caught this? then he said, mom, "p" also likes me too. and to top it all off he says... wow, 3 girlfriends now i am back on track. he said "j", "p" and "r" all like me and now i have 3 girlfriends, cool. "j" and "p" are from school and "r" is from church.
it is hard to believe my eight year old has 3 "girlfriends". i am not sure how i feel about this. obviously he thinks he is "back on track". hmmm...
it is hard to believe my eight year old has 3 "girlfriends". i am not sure how i feel about this. obviously he thinks he is "back on track". hmmm...
12.09.2008
alone...
just minutes ago i finished nursing the baby and told jesiah that it was time to get ready to get the big kids from school, here is the conversation...
mom: hey jesiah, it's time to get the big kids from school. so then you will have someone to play with. are you ready to go?
jesiah: no, i like alone. i don't need none people to play with.
so that is how my three year old feels about "people" aka: his big brother and sister.
i literally laughed and had tears in my eyes. that kid cracks me up!
mom: hey jesiah, it's time to get the big kids from school. so then you will have someone to play with. are you ready to go?
jesiah: no, i like alone. i don't need none people to play with.
so that is how my three year old feels about "people" aka: his big brother and sister.
i literally laughed and had tears in my eyes. that kid cracks me up!
menu plan monday...
...even though it is tuesday!
my friend marybeth reminded me of her menu plan monday blog post when i was struggling with meal ideas. there are a lot of blogs that post a menu plan monday. so i have started looking at hers and others to get some ideas for cooking for my family. each week i struggle with what to cook. and this really helps me get some ideas. each week after i make a menu then i create a grocery list. we have been using the harris teeter express lane for our shopping, it has really helped me out. i order my groceries for the week online and then jamil picks them up on his way home. for us the online shopping has helped our budget because i don't impulse shop - b/c i am not seeing it and throwing it in the cart and neither are my kiddos. i also don't feel stressed when i am shopping. when i actually go into the store, i get really stressed because i don't want to be there and so i start putting extras in the cart but i still have to return the next week anyway. my next goal is to start using coupons to save some money.
ok, so here is my menu plan (dinners only!) for the week....
monday: meatloaf muffins, mashed potatoes & green beans
tuesday: beef tacos, chips and salsa & fruit
wednesday: chicken & dumplings in the crockpot
thursday: scrambled eggs, bacon, hash browns & blueberry muffins
friday: pizza dip, french bread, buffalo chicken dip, chips and celery
saturday: beef stroganoff in the crock pot and dinner rolls
sunday: leftovers
my friend marybeth reminded me of her menu plan monday blog post when i was struggling with meal ideas. there are a lot of blogs that post a menu plan monday. so i have started looking at hers and others to get some ideas for cooking for my family. each week i struggle with what to cook. and this really helps me get some ideas. each week after i make a menu then i create a grocery list. we have been using the harris teeter express lane for our shopping, it has really helped me out. i order my groceries for the week online and then jamil picks them up on his way home. for us the online shopping has helped our budget because i don't impulse shop - b/c i am not seeing it and throwing it in the cart and neither are my kiddos. i also don't feel stressed when i am shopping. when i actually go into the store, i get really stressed because i don't want to be there and so i start putting extras in the cart but i still have to return the next week anyway. my next goal is to start using coupons to save some money.
ok, so here is my menu plan (dinners only!) for the week....
monday: meatloaf muffins, mashed potatoes & green beans
tuesday: beef tacos, chips and salsa & fruit
wednesday: chicken & dumplings in the crockpot
thursday: scrambled eggs, bacon, hash browns & blueberry muffins
friday: pizza dip, french bread, buffalo chicken dip, chips and celery
saturday: beef stroganoff in the crock pot and dinner rolls
sunday: leftovers
12.08.2008
blogging block...
everytime i begin to write a new post, i feel like i need to start with some kind of disclaimer or apology for the lack of posts, or the lack of depth or quality or meaning in my posts. and then i start to get frustrated and overwhelmed and a lot of times i don't end up writing anything or finish what i wanted to write. and then i begin to wonder why do i do this blog thing? is it for me? is it for those of you who read this? what is it for? and then i wonder about the purpose of my blog, what is that? i am not sure anymore of what i want this blog to be. is it a journal, a scrapbook, a diary, or all of those or none of those?
i think i have gone through this before and i guess i am just there again. i guess sometimes my writer's block leads to questioning why i keep this blog. so, i am going to take some time to figure out why i blog and exactly what i want to blog. i am going to work on a mission statement of sorts for myself for this blog. a few weeks ago i took down one of the boxes on the side which explained who is my j crew. once i figure out the goal and the purpose to this blog, i plan to put that in there. i also would like to change up a few things on the side bar.
i also wonder sometimes who reads my blog, sometimes i wonder if anyone does. i know that the numbers on my counter go up but sometimes i don't think anyone reads it. and then i wonder why i care if anyone reads it because i am keeping this blog for me and not for you... aren't i? who knows...
i also get really frustrated at the lack of time i have to keep this blog going. i love to write but i rarely have time to do it. i know that is just the season of my life right now.
and the most frustrating thing is when i come up with a great idea for something to write - usually in the car - by the time i can get to my laptop i have forgotten what my idea was.
so with all of that said... i am off to bed. i do feel like that lifted a huge weight off my shoulders. maybe i should just keep this as a draft and not post it. oh, who knows?
i think i have gone through this before and i guess i am just there again. i guess sometimes my writer's block leads to questioning why i keep this blog. so, i am going to take some time to figure out why i blog and exactly what i want to blog. i am going to work on a mission statement of sorts for myself for this blog. a few weeks ago i took down one of the boxes on the side which explained who is my j crew. once i figure out the goal and the purpose to this blog, i plan to put that in there. i also would like to change up a few things on the side bar.
i also wonder sometimes who reads my blog, sometimes i wonder if anyone does. i know that the numbers on my counter go up but sometimes i don't think anyone reads it. and then i wonder why i care if anyone reads it because i am keeping this blog for me and not for you... aren't i? who knows...
i also get really frustrated at the lack of time i have to keep this blog going. i love to write but i rarely have time to do it. i know that is just the season of my life right now.
and the most frustrating thing is when i come up with a great idea for something to write - usually in the car - by the time i can get to my laptop i have forgotten what my idea was.
so with all of that said... i am off to bed. i do feel like that lifted a huge weight off my shoulders. maybe i should just keep this as a draft and not post it. oh, who knows?
12.05.2008
thankfulness not forgotten....
my mom and jaelyn
my grandparents with jesiah
my four cuties (omg - i have four kiddos)
my sister and me
jamil and his girls
big and little sister
the pictures above are representative of a big part of what i am thankful for - which are my family. somehow though, my dad didn't make it into a picture that day. but i am thankful for him.
11.30.2008
four little turkeys...
the day before thanksgiving somehow i managed to have the kids make a little craft. we made glow turkeys. they were really easy and really cute! i found the directions in a family fun magazine. here is a quick set of directions for you for next year...
supplies:
round bubble glass bowls
wooden doll heads
tissue paper
modge podge
hot glue gun
tacky glue
googly eyes, beads or pom poms can be used
battery operated tealight candles
~using hot glue gun, attach the wooden doll head for the turkey's head
~coat the outside of the bowl with modge podge, put a layer of different colored tissue paper, once covered coat again in modge podge also cover the wooden head
~make a beak and gaggle and glue onto the turkey's head, glue on the eyes.
~ twist and fold pieces of tissue paper to make a tail.
~ let dry
~ put candle inside
from my crew to yours...
a little late but...
we hope you had a wonderful thanksgiving!!!
we hope that your holiday was full of precious memories made with family and friends!
we hope you had a wonderful thanksgiving!!!
we hope that your holiday was full of precious memories made with family and friends!
11.19.2008
apologies...
to my laundry room floor ~ sorry it has been six weeks and 2 days since i have seen you! i saw you briefly one day last week and by that night you were covered again. i hope to see you soon!
to the thank you notes that are still blank ~ you have been staring at me for weeks, i promise you will get written and sent out to our wonderful friends and family who have blessed us so much during this time. it will be a big day when you finally meet the postman!
to both of my eyebrows which are in serious need of a waxing or a plucking ~ i am sorry you look the way you do, but i hope you are enjoying your time together! one day soon you will see the tweezerman again.
to the four sets of clean sheets waiting to be put on our four beds ~ i promised you weeks ago that you would replace the old dirty sheets, thank you for being patient and not giving up on me. although if you could magically come out of the closet and replace the old ones that would be great! oh and don't be jealous that the baby's crib and pack n play sheets have been replaced more than you.
to our wonderful (and newly paid off!!) honda odyssey ~ one day you will get the detail you deserve!! a wash, wax, oil change, tire rotation and vacuum is the least i can do for you because you have been so faithful in getting our family everywhere we need to go and doing it so safely! i am sorry you may have to wait another six weeks or so.
to our three bathrooms ~ i am so grateful to have three of you! but then there are days i think it would be easier to just have one.
i am sorry toilets that you are dirty and need a good cleaning.
i am sorry floors that you are dirty and bare, one day i will get the rugs to cover you again, when they are done keeping the laundry room floor company.
mr. shower stall - i really don't like cleaning you, i think you are a pain but i am sorry we have yet to fix the crack on your floor
garden tub - you have been a lifesaver and i have enjoyed the long hot baths and hanging my clothes over you - one day you will get a good cleaning.
kid's tub - you will get clean one day when i have the energy to take all of the bath toys out of you.
to the mountains and piles of paperwork ~ you are there faithfully taking up counter space and when you aren't there you are being hidden from our guests in a drawer. one day you will get organized and put where you belong. until then i will just tear through the piles in a panic when i realized i forgot to pay one of your bills or complete an assignment off of a teacher's note.
to be continued (maybe)...
to the thank you notes that are still blank ~ you have been staring at me for weeks, i promise you will get written and sent out to our wonderful friends and family who have blessed us so much during this time. it will be a big day when you finally meet the postman!
to both of my eyebrows which are in serious need of a waxing or a plucking ~ i am sorry you look the way you do, but i hope you are enjoying your time together! one day soon you will see the tweezerman again.
to the four sets of clean sheets waiting to be put on our four beds ~ i promised you weeks ago that you would replace the old dirty sheets, thank you for being patient and not giving up on me. although if you could magically come out of the closet and replace the old ones that would be great! oh and don't be jealous that the baby's crib and pack n play sheets have been replaced more than you.
to our wonderful (and newly paid off!!) honda odyssey ~ one day you will get the detail you deserve!! a wash, wax, oil change, tire rotation and vacuum is the least i can do for you because you have been so faithful in getting our family everywhere we need to go and doing it so safely! i am sorry you may have to wait another six weeks or so.
to our three bathrooms ~ i am so grateful to have three of you! but then there are days i think it would be easier to just have one.
i am sorry toilets that you are dirty and need a good cleaning.
i am sorry floors that you are dirty and bare, one day i will get the rugs to cover you again, when they are done keeping the laundry room floor company.
mr. shower stall - i really don't like cleaning you, i think you are a pain but i am sorry we have yet to fix the crack on your floor
garden tub - you have been a lifesaver and i have enjoyed the long hot baths and hanging my clothes over you - one day you will get a good cleaning.
kid's tub - you will get clean one day when i have the energy to take all of the bath toys out of you.
to the mountains and piles of paperwork ~ you are there faithfully taking up counter space and when you aren't there you are being hidden from our guests in a drawer. one day you will get organized and put where you belong. until then i will just tear through the piles in a panic when i realized i forgot to pay one of your bills or complete an assignment off of a teacher's note.
to be continued (maybe)...
one day at a time....
it has been six weeks and two days since our little angel was born. i am enjoying every second of my sweet baby girl! i have enjoyed the maternity leave i have been taking. i am so glad i have slowed down. i have not jumped back into much of anything. most days i just do what i have to do. most nights i can't wait to get to bed even if it is only a few hours at a time. (over the last two weeks i have been able to sleep five to six hours. but i still am drained)
there are days when i feel like i am coming out of the "baby daze" and ready to get back in the swing of things. sometimes, i feel a little more back to myself(i don't dare say normal!) and have things together. and then there are days when i can't even think straight. i feel like i am losing my mind. most days don't go as i plan. so i think i might give up trying to make a plan. so many things have been forgotten and so many things don't get done. sometimes i get frustrated and overwhelmed, most days i am too tired to care! i can't complete sentences or comprehend a thought, let alone write anything on this blog. in fact i have had many ideas on for posts and then when i have a chance to write one, i have forgotten my idea. sometimes i wonder if i am permanently damaging my older kids because i feel like i am neglecting them, then the guilt sets in and then the tears begin. i know it will get better and it will get easier. until then i just take one day at a time.
there are days when i feel like i am coming out of the "baby daze" and ready to get back in the swing of things. sometimes, i feel a little more back to myself(i don't dare say normal!) and have things together. and then there are days when i can't even think straight. i feel like i am losing my mind. most days don't go as i plan. so i think i might give up trying to make a plan. so many things have been forgotten and so many things don't get done. sometimes i get frustrated and overwhelmed, most days i am too tired to care! i can't complete sentences or comprehend a thought, let alone write anything on this blog. in fact i have had many ideas on for posts and then when i have a chance to write one, i have forgotten my idea. sometimes i wonder if i am permanently damaging my older kids because i feel like i am neglecting them, then the guilt sets in and then the tears begin. i know it will get better and it will get easier. until then i just take one day at a time.
11.12.2008
baby daze....
i have been at a loss for what to write on this blog lately. i guess because i have been in a baby daze for five weeks. pretty much all i think about and all of my activity has to do with the baby!! i am using her blog to keep up with stories and pictures all about jaelyn! this is my attempt to "scrapbook". i have actually thought about creating one for all of my kids - since my scrapbooking is so far behind and who knows when i will get caught up!
anyway, i have been really good at posting on jaelyn's blog. in fact i just posted several posts today! but not so much here. sorry. my next post here will be an apologetic post to all the things/people i have let go and forgotten since beginning my baby daze five weeks ago!!! although by the time i get to it, it will have been six weeks!!! stay tuned... now i must go, the baby is ready to eat!
anyway, i have been really good at posting on jaelyn's blog. in fact i just posted several posts today! but not so much here. sorry. my next post here will be an apologetic post to all the things/people i have let go and forgotten since beginning my baby daze five weeks ago!!! although by the time i get to it, it will have been six weeks!!! stay tuned... now i must go, the baby is ready to eat!
11.11.2008
emotional...
after jamil dealt with a little argument between jordyn and jesiah. jamil asked jesiah what happened and was helping them sort it out. jesiah replied to jamil...
"Oh, i don't know daddy, i just get so emotional!"
yes, those words straight from my three year old little boy! they could have just as easily been my words these days!!!
"Oh, i don't know daddy, i just get so emotional!"
yes, those words straight from my three year old little boy! they could have just as easily been my words these days!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)