Nuttin' new....

So...I haven't blogged in quite awhile....
We had the computer worked on to get rid of those pesky viruses....yuck. The viruses probably started because of my love (and sometimes addiction) to Facebook games......
Once the computer came home...I could not log onto my blog....ugh....so, I just forgot about the blog for awhile....too many other things going on here!!

3 of my children came down with the dreaded H1N1 flu.....I think that the media has scared people witless about this flu....they even had me terrified....but, in reality, it wasn't as bad as the regular seasonal flu....only lasted a few days...the aftermath of it was worse for us...one child developed bronchitis and another developed a sinus infection....other than that, it wasn't bad....well, with the exception of a VERY worn out Mama Bear and us getting behind in school....ugh....but that's one of the joys of homechooling...right??? It still frustrates me to be behind.....guess I am what you call a 'type A' personality..... :)
So, maybe now that I have figured out how to get into my blog....and we are s...l...o...w...l....y catching up with school....I can devote more time to this blog.
I am trying to figure out what direction I would like this blog to go in......still figuring on that one!!

Mammograms....

Have you had your yearly mammogram?? I went in today for mine....uh, and I was only 11 months late!! Why is it when your Dr tells you that you should do something, we, as moms and wives put EVERYTHING on the list but US?? This is what I did. At the time of my yearly appointment with my Ob/Gyn, I told him that I would make the appointment....and, at the time, I meant it......like Scarlett O'Hara said, "I can't think of that today, I will think of that tomorrow".
~but, tomorrow had on it's list- ball games or ball practice, school work, children's dr appts., errands to run, laundry to do, house to clean, food to buy, food to cook, dishes to wash......etc.
Last week, we had a house full of family visiting....after they left to go home, I jumped into the much needed shower to 'unwind'.....then....the unmentionable happened...I felt a lump, under my arm. The day before, I had noticed that I had a tender spot under that arm....I just figured that it was my under wire bra and couldn't wait for night to fall and I could take the bra off.......
Needless to say, the lump IMMEDIATELY got my attention and I thought of that little piece of paper that had been hanging on my fridge for 11 months telling me to call and schedule the mammogram.......I did....the next day.
So today I went in for that mammogram (lump had left days earlier)....and I was wondering as I walked out of the building exactly 16 minutes after my appointment time......(the mammogram was over)....WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG TO MAKE THIS IMPORTANT APPOINTMENT....AN APPOINTMENT THAT ONLY TOOK 16 MINUTES + DRIVING TIME???
I should get the results in a week.....and next time....I will not wait 11 months.....
I WILL think of that tomorrow and I WILL do something about it....tomorrow.

ARBY'S....er, I mean, MamaBear's Values....

Saturday, the family was out enjoying lunch at a local resturant. As I sat there, I looked over the table an saw something very interesting....on the bag of food was a list of values. I found these values quite profound and decided to adopt them into our family values.

*If you can dream it, you can do it!!

*Do the best you can, in all that you do!

*Set high goals and make them happen!

*Always treat others with respect and fairness.

*Make the most of everyday. Life is mean to be enjoyed!

*Help make life better for those around you!

In a few weeks when our family starts school back....you can bet this will be part of our curriculum!!

Family

This past weekend, we had the pleasure of having my brother and his family in for a stay. They live about 2 hours away from here. The kids were so excited....I actually had one son who got up early, got dressed (without me having to tell him too!) and then took a chair to the sidewalk to 'wait' on Uncle Joe!!...well, actually, he wasn't waiting on 'Uncle Joe'...more like waiting on 'cousin Zachary'!! The weekend was filled with lots of noise (well, there were 8 kids running around here), swimming (after all, we do have a pool---and it was HOT!) and of course, what we do best...EAT!
Saturday night my sweet husband did a 'low country boil'....yum....for those of you that do not know of this southern delight, it is corn on the cob, potatoes, chicken or sausage, shrimp all boiled in a pot with crab boil....it is a little zesty and simply scrumptious! There were no left overs!!
The girls (Miss Sara (my niece) and my daughter, Ridgley) made a dessert we call, 'cookies and cream'....simply dip chocolate chip cookies in milk and layer in casserole dish, then top with whip cream, make another layer of this and on top of the whip cream, crumple a cookie --for decoration! YUM.... The girls did a good job!!!
It was a great weekend...wish it could have lasted longer.....

Goulash....

O.K.,....one usually doesn't receive recipes from one's brother...but, I have to admit...my brother "Joe" shared this one with me....now I will share with you....it is quite tasty. Probably could be in the category of a 'frugal' meal, probably could be added to or taken from...I personally like it as is.

GOULASH

sausage (whatever you like- we use hot breakfast sausage)
can of pinto beans
rice (however much your family usually eats)

brown sausage and drain- add pintos (I added without the juice from can) cover and let sit (not on heat) while rice cooks. Cook rice according to package directions.
Add sausage mixture to rice; mix well. Serve.
YUM!
** 'the Father bear' and I did add some salsa to ours-that made it a little more zesty...very yummy!!

~Thanks Joe for sharing with your dear old (no comment there!!) sister!!

Dogs

Does this look like a sweet little dog to you?? He is not...He is a BAD DOG... very BAD DOG!!

We were leaving the other night to go to my son's baseball tournament...my oldest daughter had a friend going with us (a friend of the opposite gender--more on that later)...so I go out to the garage and start clearing some things out of the van to make way for an 'extra' person....

one of the things I clear out is our 'church bag'....what is a 'church bag' you ask...It is a tote bag (that I made) that holds our bibles, pens, small note book, and any papers the kids may have accumulated in Sunday school.... I put our 'church bag' on the golf cart and proceed to clear a few other things out of the van. I forget to put the church bag back into the van.....we go to the game (daughter and friend of the opposite gender do not ride with us, but ride in friend of the opposite gender's truck---Dad said they could---more on that later). Later that evening we arrive home and I had completely forgotten all about the church bag sitting on the golf cart....it stays there all night and all the next day--the dog doesn't bother it at all....

The following day, we have yet another baseball tournament to attend. Same friend of the opposite gender goes along too (more on that later)....when we arrive home, everyone is freezing cold and soaking wet--yep, played baseball in the rain....and we lost....BAD. Driving into the garage, I notice some paper all over the garage. I am thinking to myself, 'oh, daughter has a mess to clean up' (the dog belongs to my oldest daughter)....grateful to be home-so we can dry off and finally eat supper---I did say we were starving didn't I?? Yes, we are starving! I open my door of the van to inspect the papers that are littering the floor of the garage...and to my HORROR....I notice that the papers are MINE.....excuse me, but now I have to change ink colors because Mama Bear is FURIOUS at this point....those papers that belong to ME...also belong in my BIBLE!!!! GRRRRRRR....the dog has gone into the church bag that is on the golf cart and taken out my bible...completely left the dad's bible alone! ~and has proceeded to eat my bible!

For years I shared a bible with my husband. I have given him several over the years. Every year, several times a year I would 'hint' about how much I wanted a bible of my own....sweet dear husband never got the hint....so I just went and got myself a bible...it was so nice. Leather bound, name embossed on it, NIV version, complete with devotions for every day reading, a Woman's bible....and now, it was in the belly of the BEAST dog!! GRRRRR.

Guess he was hungry for 'the Word'...bad joke I know....sorry....but right now I have to find the funny or I will cry!! Needless to say, the dog is staying out of Mama Bear's way these days!

I will get another bible--don't know when....but in the mean time, I will go back to one of my husband's old bibles--that the dog didn't EAT!

Learning and letting go

So...here we are...end of May...done with another school year...notice how I said 'done' and not finished. I don't think we will EVER be totally finished. This year has been a 'learning' year for all of us. We all have learned valuable lessons this year. Nothing that I can put my finger on, but just those 'life' lessons.
This time of year I am usually stressing over our end of the year tests...not so this year. I have been completely happy with where we are...not that my children are brilliant....but they are smart (to me) and I am happy with the people that they are growing into...that isn't to say that we don't have our off days---we do---but, I am overall happy with the lessons they are learning.
This past week the baby (she is 5--almost 6---but to us, she is still 'the baby') had strep throat....through her sickness, I watched the other 4 kids dote on her, worry about her, sit with her while she watched her 'baby shows' (as the bigger kids call it!) The showed her LOVE.
I have heard my kids one by one ask me, 'can I do anything to help you mom?'......wow.
Personally, I have learned some 'life lessons' myself. My lessons weren't easy...but, I guess had to happen. In a way, it was almost a relief...because I was finally able to let go of a huge struggle that I have carried for years. It was bittersweet...but I am glad it is over.
So, with school done--not finished....I have HUGE plans for the summer......
I plan to spend as much time as I can out by the pool with the kids,
I plan to race each child swimming as much as I can,
I plan to sing in the mornings--even though I can't carry a tune in a bucket...but I will sing! LOUD!
I plan to make thousands of cookies for my kids this summer,
I plan to hug each child 100 times a day!
I plan to tell my kids I love them even more!
I plan to sit and just admire my husband...for the man that he is.
I plan to tell my husband I love him...every chance I get.
I plan to have a few more picnics
I plan to let the kids invite friends over...whenever this summer
I plan to laugh, and laugh often
I plan to....just BE with my family

oh, and my oldest son starts his baseball tournaments this week...I plan to yell for him...as loud as I can!!!