What I'm reading this week~

I love to read! It is one of my favorite things to do. I actually tend to read quite a few books at once. That way, depending on my mood, I can enjoy 100% what I am reading. I want to share one of the books I am reading. It is called Breathe by Keri Wyatt Kent.

In this fast paced society we live in, we are all prey to staying too busy. I don't care what job you do, it is a struggle most of us are dealing with. Making time for quiet and slow, so that we can have time for God, family and friends. Time to create a home that is de-cluttered, clean and a haven from a hectic world. Time to shop for fresh organic food and cook meals that are home-made. Time is such a little word, but it is such a value. We must budget time as we do money. We must learn to say no with out guilt and put our own health and the health of our family's first. When we get too rushed, it can affect our mind, our bodies and our spirits.

So far this book seems like a pretty good read, and anything that can motivate me to slow down and take time for God, family and self is a good thing to me.

Our First Day of Summer Fun Club~

Today was our very first day of our summer fun club! Summer fun club is basically a version of home school done over the summer. I do lesson plans for each day. Today we started with prayer and read a chapter of the children's Bible. After that I taught the children how to draw a face. I got the instructions on a web page and taught them the basic format. Then we read two library books and did math worksheets. Later on this afternoon we are going on a little park play trip and then back home for what ever free play they would like to do. I don't like to keep things too structured, as they get plenty of that during the school year. I do like to keep them doing some of the things such as reading, math, handwriting, and add to them as well. One of the things the girls are interested in is acting, so I ordered a book, so that I can teach them the basics during summer fun club. Another subject I plan to work in, is organizational skills. I figure it is something they will need all their life, they should start practicing being organized at a young age.

We had a very nice vacation, and I do have photos to post. I will try to get those posted very soon. :) We have been busy pretty much every day we have been back. I'm hoping to fall into some kind of a routine now. Well, hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! God bless.

Weekly Menu Plan

~I am a firm believer in planning, but being willing to adjust plans as time goes by. Each week, I like to plan a menu. To me, this is a comfort, not having to come up with a meal idea at the last minute all of the time. Here is our menu plan for this week.


Saturday~ Cheese and Bean enchiladas topped with home made sauce, lettuce and tomatoes

Sunday~ Farm fresh eggs & home made hash browns with OJ to drink

Monday~ Stuffing casserole, organic broccoli & veggie Barbecue ribblets

Tuesday~ butter milk pancakes

Wednesday~ Baked Potato, Green beans, Mac & Cheese

Thursday~ Veggie Burgers on homemade buns, French fries and milk shakes

Friday~ Pizza with salad

Spring Concert

I just have to share a photo I took of my girls before they went to their spring concert the other evening. All the children looked so adorable, and did such a great job.




Then little Justin decided he needed to be in a photo too!

Help for tooth pain

I have a tooth in the back of my mouth that my dentist has tried to save, but about once every six months or so, it gets infected and hurts me as bad as child birth. No joke! Today was one of those days for me, and I was in tears with pain this afternoon. My mom (who is a nurse) told me to use some clove oil on it. I told her I had already tried so many things, like tea bags to help draw out infection, over the counter pain relievers, garlic tablets for the infection, and tea tree oil. Nothing even touched the pain today. I called my doctor who called me in an antibiotic, but it would take about a day to help me...I was not happy. I almost did not try the clove oil, because I figured it would not help. Boy am I glad I tried it. It took my pain level from a ten to a one in a few minutes. (it tasted horrible, but was very worth it for the relief it gave me!) I just put a few drops onto a cotton swab and put it between my cheek and gum by the infected tooth for a few minutes.

I hope no one else has to go through this kind of tooth pain, but if you do, it is worth it to try clove oil! Awesome stuff!

Justin's 4th Birthday Party

We celebrated Justin's 4th birthday last Saturday afternoon. In attendance (aside from our family) was His grandpa and grandma Smith, grandma Sandy, his great uncle Duane and Gianna and her mommy. We ate Papa Johns pizza for lunch and then it was time for the awesome dinosaur cake my dad made for Justin. Justin loved it! Then it was time to play pin the tail on the donkey and at last, open presents! I think it is fair to say that he had a wonderful time at his party!


I love this photo! Here is Justin with Grandpa.




Justin blowing out his candles!




Justin got to go first on pin the tail on the donkey!



The bike Steven and I got for Justin!




Justin opening his Buzz Light Year from Grandpa and Grandma.




He also got some Starwars toys and cute summer outfits from Grandma Sandy, and a very neat Discovery Kids dinosaur toy from Gianna, money from his uncle Duane and money from his great grandma Kelly and his great grandma Anna. I think he enjoyed being a birthday boy this year!

Justin's birthday party got put off a week, due to my lovely back pain. One of the joys of being a tiny person who gave birth to four children. (Although, let it be said, it was very worth it, back pain and all.) We did give little Justin his new bike, and let the other children give him their gifts last week anyways. Family will be coming to help us celebrate Justin's 4th birthday this Saturday. Justin will love it! I had a very nice mother's day this year. Lauren and Megan made me gifts at school, they were so sweet. Justin and Tristyn gave me hugs and told me they loved me! :) Yes, even my almost 14 year old did! Melts a mommy's heart. Steven took his mother and I to eat lunch at a place called the bread basket, that had the best food in the world! (not to mention, very good coffee and deserts) It was food like my grandma Kelly would make. It is hard to find home-made food these days any where you eat out. It was very good! I will post a photo or two of our family bike ride on Sunday.