The Week in Review

Been a whole week since I posted. Oops. Been kinda busy around here. Big decisions. Business trips. Halloween. 'Nuf said.

So. Katie is going back to school full time. Now don't go assuming it's because I'm incapable of teaching her or that she's difficult to teach. Fact of the matter is she's an awesome kid with a sweet spirit. It was not an easy decision but I truly feel that she is supposed to be in school. God doesn't seem to want my children in a private christian school or at home. He's made it clear to me that I need to stop fighting Him on this point and just trust that He knows best. That may sound like a bunch of crazy talk to some of you, but for me it's the truth. I'm glad to have help in this journey of raising children and living my life!

I've got me a new job. A paying job. The kind where you go in and work and then leave and then get a paycheck. An actual, for real, paycheck. The kind that can be put in the bank or spent at the mall. I haven't had this kind of a job in 14 years!! I'm now a substitute paraprofessional at Becky and Allison's school. I'll work one on one with special needs learners, help in a classroom, or fill in at lunch and recess duty. Funny that I've done some of this as a volunteer but now I can actually get paid for it. Cool. Being a substitute is right up my alley because I'll still have plenty of time to volunteer in the girls' classes, write, and do my regular errands, and be home with my girls! I'm excited to start.

Ed was gone again all week. I don't like it too much when he's gone. I miss him. The girls miss him. It's too quiet around here. I have to take the trash out and I don't like that too much. The week goes by slowly for all of us. But we love when he gets home! The girls fight for his attention and he bops around the house saying things like, "I love my girls!" He enjoys being the center of attention among his adoring fans!

It snowed this week. Can you even believe that! I'm not talking flurries in the sky but actual, stick to the ground, build a snowman snow!! The girls loved it! I love snow too but in October?- not so much!

Yesterday (Halloween) Katie and Becky both had parties in their classrooms and I volunteered to make cupcakes for both. Then I talked Katie into making the cupcakes. She made over 70 cupcakes! I was so glad that she was willing to do it! The parties were lots of fun. The school does Character Dress Up day where the kids dress as a book character. I loved seeing all the kids dressed up! Allison was Hannah Montana - I know she isn't technically a book character but try telling that to a five year old! Becky was Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz. They both looked adorable! Then of course last night was trick or treating. They got dressed up in different costumes! Katie handed out candy and Lucy tried to devour a chihuahua dressed as a bumble bee. A fun time was had by all...

Becky the Clown ready for some trick or treating!
Allison the Princess in her princess pose!

Today we are getting a couple of house projects done and then heading to Albany. Our house is still officially 'on the market' but no one has looked at it in a couple of months. We figured it was no big deal and we'll just stay here. We like our house. Well, the realtor called and asked if she could show the house on Monday. The listing contract expires this weekend but I told her to go ahead and show it...whatever, right? She'll take the sign with her when their done looking at the house. And if they don't want the house that's fine - it will be off the market and we won't be showing it to anyone else. Still, there are a couple of small projects that should be done before people come traipsing through here. I'm so glad Ed is here to do them!! I'm sure that right about now, he is too!
No soccer this weekend! This is the first time since Labor Day! Next weekend is a tournament in Rhode Island and then we are officially done with the fall soccer season! The tournament is fun - we get to stay in a beautiful hotel, in a beautiful spot, close to Providence, and with a pool! Not a shabby way to spend a weekend!

And finally...a video that demonstrates Katie's evil tendencies!

Gappy Grinned Girl

Check out that gappy grin! Allison lost her first front tooth the other day while she was at school. I worked in the library that afternoon so I got to see her and hear all about it from her and her friends! I just love the gappy grin but it does mark the end of that baby toothed smile I've loved for the past five and a half years :( She's definitely loosing her teeth earlier than her sisters - it's got to be that "I've got to keep up with my sisters" attitude -LOL! Apparently Allison has a less than positive view of the tooth fairy, although I honestly don't know why. Thursday morning she came into my room with her empty tooth pillow and announced that the tooth fairy didn't come. I insisted that she had indeed come because Allison's tooth was gone from the pillow. "But she didn't leave me anything..." We looked high and low and finally found her treasure UNDER the bed. Phew! Then later that night at bedtime Allison told me this story...."When I got up to go to the baffroom in the night I dropped my Beary on the floor. When I got back to my bed from the baffroom I couldn't find my Beary anywhere. I fought the Toof Fairy took him! But then I saw him on the floor." Why, oh why would a little girl think that the tooth fairy stole her bear?! Kind of sad. I assured her that the tooth fairy wouldn't do anything like that. Never a dull moment!


I also need to share some of Allison's artistic ability with you. I'm always amazed by my children's creativeness because I am SO lacking in that area! Especially when it comes to DRAWING anything! They must get their abilities from their Dad.

It's a Giraffe - in case you can't tell - which of course you can because of Allison's exceptional artistic ability!! Never mind about the five legs - she just got carried away is all.

Shop Talk & Finding Favor with God

Shop Talk: "Whoopie Pie" is on its way to Kid Zone magazine. This article was my tenth and final assignment for the writing course I took. I'm officially done! I say that with a bit of hesitation because I'm nervous about being on my own. The course motivated me to write something. It gave me an 'assignment' which had to be completed at a certain time. I liked that accountability. It will harder now to be motivated, but I have my critique group. They are encouraging and inspiring. With all the changes in our daily schedules since school started it's no wonder I've been too busy to focus. Now things are settling down and I can take time to get to it!
A few days ago I got a forwarded e-mail regarding some political stuff and some religious stuff combined. It was interesting enough that I did in fact forward it to a few people I thought would also find it interesting. As these things go it got forwarded many more times by people I sent it to. A day after I e-mailed it I got a response from someone I don't know. She (I assume it was a woman) seemed very offended that the e-mail contained some, what she considered false, religious information. She went so far as to say that our country was NOT founded on christian beliefs but rather the belief that we should all worship as we choose. That of course is NOT true so I had to respond back to her. Our country was founded by people who wanted to worship GOD. BIBLICAL principles guided our forefathers and set the foundation for this country. Shame on anyone who doesn't acknowledge the truth of that. As we have gotten away from God and our foundation the evidence is clear that things are literally crumbling around us. The blessings of living in a country that worships the one true God are disappearing as people turn their backs on Him and look to other FALSE gods. So this woman and I have exchanged a couple of e-mails back and forth. She is clearly misled about who God is and seems confident that anyone who loves God will find favor with Him. True enough that those of us who love Him will find favor with Him but she seemed to miss the most important part. We need to acknowledge the fact that we all sin; we needed Jesus to die and take the punishment for those sins; we need to ask Him to forgive us and cleanse us; we need to ask Him to come into our lives and fill us with His Holy Spirit; and we need to thank Him for loving us enough to save us. You can love God in word only or you can love Him through your faith and belief in what He did for you. That's when we find 'favor' with Him. We have to be saved in order to truly LOVE Him and have a REAL relationship with Him. I expressed all of this to this woman and my prayer is that she (and you) will take this seriously and accept Jesus as "the way, the truth, and the life."

More Fish!

Last night was fish night. I must say that the idea of adding something healthy to my family's diet is the driving force behind trying to overcome my lifelong aversion to fish. I'd like to have more variety and who knew there were so many kinds of fish out there just waiting for me to cook 'em!!! I find that when I spend some time getting a bit adventurous in the kitchen I really enjoy cooking - did I just admit that?!- Must be that I enjoy feeding my family healthy meals... So here's last night's recipe.

Quick Easy 'n Fast Crusty Potato Fish Fillets Recipe

6 white fish fillets, about 3/4 inch thick (I used Haddock)
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
pinch salt
pinch freshly ground black pepper
1 4 oz. pouch roasted garlic mashed potatoes or regular instant potatoes

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Cover broiler pan with foil and grease well or spray with nonstick vegetable spray.

In a medium bowl, beat eggs and lemon juice; add salt and pepper to egg mixture. Empty pouch of potatoes into a separate medium size bow.

Dip fish fillets in egg mixture, then into dry potatoes and coat both sides. Spread fillets on prepared broiler pan and bake in preheated oven for 10 - 15 minutes. Set oven to broil and cook until tops are golden brown. (If you cook in a convection oven you probably won't need to broil as the tops brown while they cook).

Makes 6 servings.

Note: Fillets may be grilled or sauteed in hot vegetable oil.