It's been a week!!

I can't believe it has been one week since I have updated my blog! YIKES!! Sorry to all of you that check it for updates. Cameron turned 7 on Tuesday and I was just studying for my exam. I only ended up with a 91 this time. Still an A, but I could have done better. Oh well, there is always next time.


Monday: Tuna casserole
Tuesday: Pizza
Wednesday: Whatever the guys eat. I have an OSHA class that evening
Thursday: Grilled chicken with salad
Friday: Chinese chicken pasta salad
Saturday: Out to dinner for Michael's birthday


I'm still working on my Fall Into Reading challenge. I started These is my words by Nancy Turner again. I am just having the hardest time getting into it. It could be because I am trying to read it during Cameron's swim class. I'm also reading another book that is not on my list, but I am caught up for the month so all is good.

My list to read by the end of the challenge (December 21st):

1. These is my words - Nancy Turner
2. 2nd Chance - James Patterson
3. Pope Joan - Donna Cross
4. The Memory Keepers' Daughter - Kim Edwards
5. Night - Elie Wiesel
6. Key of Light - Nora Roberts
7. The Known World - Edward P. Jones
8. The Guy Not Taken - Jennifer Weiner
9. The Good Earth - Pearl S. Buck

Menu Plan Monday

Last week I didn't follow any menu plan. I think we only ate dinner as a family twice. This week I vow to be different. I haven't been doing very well with my daily blog updates, but again, I vow to be different.

Monday: Taco Soup with chips
Tuesday: Sloppy Joes with fruit
Wednesday: Cheesy Chicken with Rice and broccoli
Thursday: Mock Chicken Pot Pie
Friday: Leftovers
Saturday: Chili with cornbread

I have a test this Friday and this time I really am freaking out over it. We've done 11 sections in the past two weeks and some of them are downright HARD!! Can I just tell you that I HATE story problems?!?!?

Tomorrow is Cameron's 7th birthday! Boy does time sure go quickly!!

So far I am doing pretty darn good on my Fall Into Reading challenge. I have read two books and am trying to figure out which one on the list I want to read next. I think I am heading towards Night since it is pretty small. I am half way through the month and 2 books done on my 3 book per month goal! I've been doing more reading at Cameron's swimming lessons and before bed. I am even taking the books to work with me and reading on my lunch break. Much better than going out to spend money.

My list to read by the end of the challenge (December 21st):
1. These is my words - Nancy Turner
2. 2nd Chance - James Patterson
3. Pope Joan - Donna Cross
4. The Memory Keepers' Daughter - Kim Edwards
5. Night - Elie Wiesel
6. Key of Light - Nora Roberts
7. The Known World - Edward P. Jones
8. The Guy Not Taken - Jennifer Weiner
9. The Good Earth - Pearl S. Buck

Photos from our weekend

There aren't too many photos from our weekend, but I will share a few with you. I also have NO idea how the pics will show up on your monitors because they are all wonky for me.


















The last picture is soon after we arrived at the Homestead. Cameron and Michael were watching some cartoon on tv while I was putting my hair up to go to the pool.

The Other ramblings

Blogger is being a booger! I can't upload anymore photos right now so I can't share our time at Heber/Midway from the weekend. I will try later. Off to clean the house and get ready to pick up Cameron from school.

Tackle It Tuesday and other ramblings

My tackle of the day is the pantry. This has been a bother of mine for some time and I just needed to set some time to just clean and declutter it. Some of the appliances and other items that aren't used that often have been banished to the basement. I have a few other areas that I am going to tackle as well today, but after I take care of some basic household chores.

BEFORE

AFTER

Menu Plan Monday

Today is my first Menu Plan Monday. We have a fairly busy week so it will be fairly simple.

Monday: Soup and Sandwiches
Tuesday: BBQ Pork Sandwiches (crockpot)
Wednesday: Meatball Minestrone Soup, Rolls
Thursday: Cheesy Chicken with Rice
Friday: Pizza

I hate it when my weeks are so busy that I have to do things quick. Today and tomorrow we have swimming. Then I work on W, Th. I have school Friday night so I will pick up a pizza on the way home. How boring is this week?

We had a great time this weekend up in Midway and Homestead. Cameron has only stayed in a hotel once before so they whole way there he was very excited and asked if every building was the hotel. When we finally got to the hotel he wanted to go swimming right away. We made him wait about 30 minutes before we went and he had a BLAST! Tomorrow is his last night of this swimming session and he is doing awesome! He is finally moving up to the second level. I just loved watching him tonight. He was so confident in what he was doing. He would swim back to the wall from his teacher then look at me giving me the "thumbs up" sign. Too cute!

I will post pictures tomorrow from our Heeber Creeper outing. I don't think I took any pics at Homestead to share, but I might have. I will have to look tomorrow.

YIKES!!

So, this is what my scrapbook room looks like yet again!

Why, oh, why do I have such a hard time keeping this room clean?!?! I have been busy working on my All About Me swap and I really don't have much room to work on it. I guess I could clean the room, but I have more important things to do today. None of which has gotten done. I did clean two of the bathrooms. I have one more to do and then some light picking up. I have SOOOO much tv that I need to catch up on as well. I just haven't been in the tv mood lately.

Friday Feast

Appetizer
Name a song you know by heart.
The Itsy Bitsy Spider (I know, that is lame, but that is all I could think of. I'm sure I know lots by heart.)
Soup
What will you absolutely not do in front of another person?
Umm, pass gas.
Salad
How often do you use mouthwash and what kind do you like?
I never use it. I don't like the stuff. It's all too strong. They have a new kind out that doesn't have alcohol in it, but it leaves an icky aftertaste.
Main Course
Finish this sentence: I am embarrassed when...
Hmm, I don't get too embarrasses so I don't really have an answer for this one.
Dessert
What was the last food you craved?
The Pie pizza (didn't get it either!!)

Today is going to be a pretty lax day for me. I'm going to work more on my swaps, declutter some areas of the house, pack a bag and do some reading. We have Michael's company picnic tomorrow up in Midway. Michael is staying up there tonight with a bunch of guys and I will be picking him up before the picnic to take a ride on the Heber Creeper then we will head to the picnic for a late lunch. After the picnic we will be heading to Homestead to spend the night. I have stayed at the Homestead resort twice and LOVE it. Each time it has been this weekend too. The days are usually pretty nice and the evenings a bit chilly. This is the first time we will be taking Cameron with us.

Have a fabulous weekend everyone!

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things I have to do today
(Thursday Thirteen)
1. Remember to leave earlier to take Cameron to daycare.
(They've closed down a road for construction for a month)
2. Take some change to the bank for deposit
(It's been sitting here way to long)
3. Try to collect money from a patient who refuses to pay.
(I don't like confrontation so this will be hard)
4. Take Cameron to swimming.
5. Vacuum the house.
6. Clean off my scrapbook table.
(I need to work on a swap and there's just too much stuff on it)
7. Pick up books from the library.
8. Do some spelling with Cameron.
9. Scrub the toilets, counters, showers.
10. Finish up some laundry
11. Read a few chapters before bed.
(Need to work on my Fall into Reading challenge)
12. Work on swap
13. Make a list of what needs to be done Friday.
(I'm sure that will be longer than this list.)
14. Sweep off porch.
15. Get out Halloween decorations.

Gosh, that was a hard list to type up today. I normally have about 7 things I need to take care of, but today there is just a lot to be accomplished. I hope your Thursday is more relaxed than mine will be.

Wordless Wednesday...Homework

I have been checking out so many blogs lately that have all these fun activities for each day of the week. I decided that I am going to join them on their quests, visions, chores, whatever they may be. So today is:

For my first "Tackle It Tuesday" I am going to tackle the basement landing. As you can see by the picture it could be a chore to get to the basement in an emergency. As if we would have an emergency in UT that would warrant going down there, but anyway...

Basement Landing Before

Basement Landing After

Another challenge I found today was "Fall into Reading" hosted by Katrina. This is one challenge I am definitely up for. I have WAY to many books sitting on my shelves begging to be read. I have 2 in my car.
My list to read by the end of the challenge (December 21st):
1. These is my words - Nancy Turner
2. 2nd Chance - James Patterson
3. Pope Joan - Donna Cross
4. The Memory Keepers' Daughter - Kim Edwards
5. Night - Elie Wiesel
6. Key of Light - Nora Roberts
7. The Known World - Edward P. Jones
8. The Guy Not Taken - Jennifer Weiner
9. The Good Earth - Pearl S. Buck

I figure I could do this challenge. It's only 3 books per month. I have been slacking a little on my reading, but really wanting to catch back up. Now is my chance.

Here's what I read the last 2 months.

August

The Husband by Dean Koontz

Shadow Spinner by Susan Fletcher

September

Prep:A Novel by Curtis Sittenfeld

Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs

Out for a Sunday drive

After church today we went up Butterfield Canyon. What a beautiful drive! The road is pretty much only big enough for one car and I really recommend a 4x4 if you head up to the very top. It was pretty bumpy! Here are some pictures from our outing.


We stopped for lunch in Tooele, grabbed some stuff at the store and now we are finally home.

I had my test yesterday. I wasn't feeling all that confindent when I went in, but I got a 100%! My second one ever on a math test! Yeah me!

Soundtracks of your life

I saw this posted over at Becky Thompsons blog and thought I would try it.

IF YOUR LIFE WAS A MOVIE, WHAT WOULD THE SOUNDTRACK BE?

Here's how you play:
1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button

Opening Credits:
Wasted-Carrie Underwood
Waking Up:
Stickwitu-The Pussycat Dolls
First Day At School:
Welcome to the Jungle-Guns N' Roses
Falling In Love:
Not the Doctor-Alanis Morissette
Fight Song:
Romans-Jennifer Knapp
Breaking Up:
No One Needs to Know-Shania Twain
Prom:
Turn it up-Josh Gracin
Life's OK:
Far Away-Nickelback
Mental Breakdown:
In Me-Casting Crowns
Driving:
All Consuming Fire-Jennifer Knapp
Flashback:
Everybody's Fool-Evanescence
Getting Back Together:
Ready To Run-Dixie Chicks
Wedding:
A Public Affair-Jessica Simpson
Birth of Child:
Sitting, Waiting, Wishing-Jack Johnson
Final Battle:
Disco Club-Black Eyed Peas
Death Scene:
Sexyback-Justin Timberlake
Funeral Song:
867-5309-Tommy Tutone
End Credits:
I've Loved Enough to Know-Deana Carter

So....share yours!

Another weekend

I am taking a quick break from my Friday cleaning just to post here for a minute. There isn't much to report from the past week.

Cameron started swimming again 2 weeks ago and so far is doing well. I'm pretty sure he will move to the next level this time. They've had him at level 1 for so long...we actually stopped going because they weren't moving him up. We knew he could do everything they wanted him to do, but they always had the "report card" done before classes were even finished. Now they have a new standard so we shall see.

I really need to mow the lawn today as I haven't mowed it in 2 weeks! The backyard is pretty long. I'm sure I will need to go over it a few times to get it to the length we usually keep it. I wish Michael could mow, but it is too hard for him still. Our backyard has a bit of a slope so it makes it difficult for him to walk straight.

I have my second test tomorrow. I'm not feeling all that confident. I hope I do well. I should be studying right now, but I have LOTS to do in the house. The house hasn't had a GOOD cleaning in awhile so I am doing that today. All I really have left to do is dust and mop. It's 9:15 and I am almost done! I guess I should stop typing and finish cleaning.

I hope your weekend is good. We don't really have anything planned.

It's been awhile

Well, I haven't posted in awhile so I suppose today is as good a day as any. There will be a few pictures in this post today.

On Tuesday of last week Cameron and I met up with Shannon and her kids to check out the new Children's Museum. What a fun day was had by all. Shannon was tired from her late night out before and I just kept yawning. Here are some of our pictures:



This is what it looks like right now when you walk in from the garage. I say, what is the point of the shoe rack if the shoes don't make it on there. As you can see I am also to blame for the mess. The Walmart bag contains Cameron's towel and swim trunks from Thursday. Normally the shoe area is pretty clean on Tuesdays, Fridays (I clean on T & F) and the weekend. As you might have guessed I didn't clean on Friday. I will be cleaning this up today. I just hate walking over shoes to get to the laundry room so I kick them out of the way. I need to get better about this spot of my house. The rest of the house looks pretty good.


After church today we will be heading home to watch the Seahawks game at 2:15. I will most likely be reading the paper and finishing up some homework during that time. I also need to start thinking about what we will have for dinner tonight. I picked up the new Everyday with Rachael Ray magazine yesterday and there looks like a pretty easy and yummy Chicken w/Rice recipe in there. Perhaps that is what we will eat tonight. Yum-O! Have you caught the new Rachael Ray tv show yet? If not, you must. I watched 3 episodes yesterday while doing homework. I love it. She sure makes some yummy looking items.

I hope you all have a great week!

New shoes and a COLD day

For some reason I am on a new shoe kick. I bought a pair yesterday and then one today. Like I need anymore shoes, but don't your feet feel happy when you have new pairs? I am thinking I need some cute little tennis shoe type shoes too. I bought the black ones at Target of all places. I never look at shoes there, but for some reason I decided to head over that way. I found the Born clogs at TJMaxx. I've been looking for some Born clogs too! What a find! They were over half off of what I would have bought them for elsewhere!


Is it cold where you live? It's COLD here! I am getting ready to turn on my heater. As I look out my window here I see snow on the mountains with snow clouds hiding most of the tops. There were actually some people snowboarding already. I saw that on the news! CRAZY!! We are a little early on it getting so cold, but it truly is a nice welcoming since I am so tired of the heat. Here is the forcast for the rest of the week.I should be doing some homework while the lectures from last night and today are still fresh in my head, but I am going to do it tomorrow after church. I'm sure Cameron and Michael will be playing video games most of the day anyway. They both bought new ones recently. Cameron just bought his today. He hasn't left his room since we got home. He has been playing with friends too though...not just playing his game.

Have a great week everyone! We are planning on going to the new Children's Museum on Tuesday with Shannon and her children. I hope it isn't TOO busy. The museum just opened today. From what I saw in the paper last week it looks pretty awesome. I think we will probably buy a season pass if we enjoy it.

Costumes and nothing more

Well, as you can tell, Cameron is going to be Superman for Halloween this year. I tried to talk him into being something other than Superman because I figure there might be a bunch of the guy this year. Oh well, he persisted and will be the flashy superhero. Go Superman!

Cameron and I ended up going to the fair on Tuesday. It sure was hot! We got there around 10:30 and left at 3:00. We looked at all the animals and most of the exhibits...then it was time for Cameron to go on rides. We ate lunch, bought a wristband (for unlimited rides...tickets were $.85 for 1 and most rides were 3-5 tickets) and had fun. It was fun to watch Cameron on the rides. However, I was pretty tired and hot. There are hardly any shady areas to sit and still be able to see the children on the rides. By 3:00 I was pretty miserable and begged him to go home. It really wasn't that hard to get him to agree. We got home and I took a nap. I really wanted to do some studying for tomorrows class, but I decided I will just do that tomorrow (Friday). I would like to know what we will be talking about before I get there. I don't think most of the people in class even look at their books until class.

Well, it is almost 10:00 and I am a little tired. I am heading to bed to read a book and probably fall asleep while reading it. I don't know what I am going to start. I just finished reading Prep: A Novel by Curtis Sittenfeld.

YEEHAW!!!!

No, I didn't turn cowgirl on ya. I had my first math test on Saturday and I got a 100%!!! I have NEVER gotten a 100% on a freakin' math test before in my life. I just hope it continues this way. However, I am sure it is just going to keep getting more difficult as time goes on. I just had to share my happiness with everyone.

Not much has been going on. We had a busy weekend running all around town. We bought Cameron a new monitor/tv for his room. I never wanted him to have a tv in his room, but I am tired of him hanging out in mine. I get sick of the kids playing in my room and all the toys that end up in there. Now they have no excuse. They can play video games and watch tv in his room. If you are wondering why I don't just have them in the family room....well, I don't like toys downstairs and I hate to have the tv on during the day. Cameron now has the nicest monitor (23") in the house and it is a lcd tv too. It is very nice, but I told him he will not be getting much for his birthday or Christmas this year.

Off to pick up the house so I don't have to do it tomorrow. I am getting my blood tested in the morning for the thyroid issue then possibly taking Cameron to the fair. Michael isn't up for walking around that long. It still hurts him to be up and about for a long time.

Cans and two wheels

We decided to try our hands at canning this weekend. After I picked the peaches and nectarines we knew that there was no way we would eat them all before they went bad. Michael mentioned canning them and so yesterday morning I ran out to buy stuff to do it. How fun! We had to start from scratch buying the water bath canner and everything. It was really easy and fun. Here are the fruits of our labor. The reddish looking ones are the nectarines. It's too bad we didn't have enough to do even more fruit. Perhaps next year we will get to the fruit before the birds.Last night after dinner we stopped at the store and bought stuff to jar some salsa. I would have used the peppers from our garden, but Michael did some pickling with them about 2 weeks ago. Here are my 5 little jars. I am afraid this is going to be a runnier salsa than we like since the tomatoes wouldn't chop properly and I had to use the little mini chopper which basically minced them up pretty good. I think I might stop and buy more today to try to make chunkier salsa.We took Cameron up to his school yesterday to practice riding his bike without training wheels. He finally got it! I didn't have my camera with me, but next time I will and I will share them. He still needs LOTS of practice and it is hard to do it at our house since we are on a main street (sort of) and cars think they can speed past. Not fun when there are lots of kids around that like to play in the streets.