Mandy Mom

5 Goals to Accomplish in Feb.
1. Get down a good cleaning routine.  I’m working on it.  It’s getting there.
2. Finish this watercolor painting I was comissioned to do which is taking me way, way too long.  (I think I officially loathe watercolor now!)
3. Expand my culinary tastes.  I’ve never tried Indian food.
4. Spend more time with my husband. Quality time, that is.
5. Finish a book

5 Goals I accomplished in Jan.
1. Cut down on sodas, drink mostly water.
2. Eat out less often (once every other week), more homecooked meals.
3. Spend less. Save more.
4. Clean out the laundry room.
5. Work out more often (so what if it’s only 5 minutes a day, at least I’ve been making time for it!)

SIDE NOTE! Okay, did you know that for Feb. 2-3, McDonalds is offering 50 nuggets for only $8.99?  I know it’s unhealthy, but.. hey, it’s one of my favorite indulgences!

Kids Say the Darndest Things!

1. “Stars don’t have tongues.”  (Really?  WOW!)
2. “I don’t want to go to heaven and die.”  (Uh oh, she thinks heaven is where people go to die?)
3. “I’m a boy.  You’re a grill.” (Hahahahaha!)
4. (Looking at her great-grandmother in the coffin) “Who killed her?”  (Well, old age?)
5. God made the sun and the moon. And God made the Transformers.  (You can explain that one, Dad.)

Baking Soda is amazing!  Whodathunk Arm & Hammer could lend you a hand in various areas of your life… and not just in the kitchen!

1. Baking Soda is well known for killing odors.  Put an (open) box in your fridge or freezer to keep smells from overwhelming or mingling.  Sprinkle a little in your husband’s shoes.  It works wonders!

2. Make a paste with water to smooth over bee stings.  I learned first hand that the paste immediately soothes the pain.  Also works with insect bites!

3. Dump a palmful in your wash to keep clothes white!

4. Use as a paste (with water) to clean and brighten your fingernails.

5. Keep beside the stove to extinguish grease fires! (Just dump on the fire!)

6. Use it to clean (and, of course deodorize) all sorts of things from pots and pans to placemats; plastic food storage to countertops!  Even your bathtub and sink!

7. Use it to shine silverware.

8. Sprinkle it in your carpet, allow to stand for 15 minutes to half an hour, and vacuum to freshen a room!

9. Make a paste with water and use as toothpaste (combine with a bit of salt for extra oomph).

10. And, you can sprinkle a bit on a damp sponge to erase crayon from (washable) walls! (If you have non-washable walls, meaning you used a matte paint, doing this will cause some of the paint color to come off as well.)

Do you have any great uses for Baking Soda?

N’s birthday party went well.  Sure, we had over 35 people in our house, but it was smooth as can be.  The only hiccup was when our house filled with a light smoke and we realized our air conditioning unit was having major issues (AGAIN).  The A/C guy was suppose to come today to check out the fan motor (which he replaced last week).  It’s already five, so I doubt he’ll make it.

Sunday morning, our septic system backed up and filled my beautiful, beautiful jacuzzi tub with icky, icky stuff.  It was fixed this morning, and my incredibly sweet husband cleaned out the tub for me.  (Brownie Pooooints!)

Last night, we went over to John and Ashley’s apartment to celebrate John’s 29th birthday.  We watched people do really stupid things to win a spot in the Guiness Book of World Records before playing Battle of the Sexes. (The guys won, but it was one AM, so I was ready for someone to win so I could conk out!)

The kids and I hung out at the restaurant this morning (I had to help out for a couple hours) then played outside for a bit.  We pretended to be Superman (okay, I was SuperMom, M was Supergirl, and N was the offical Superman with special Supercape), played kickball, and took a walk. 

N is excited to be “THREE YEARS OLD, of cooooourse!” and I’m still thinking, “Time flies way too fast.”

I posted several pictures of the above events (well, no septic system photos.. that would be disgusting) at my Shutterbug Blog.  CLICK HERE to see them!

I shouldn’t be on here as I have way too much to do.

Nolyn’s birthday party starts at 4.  It is currently noon.
I have already baked the cookie cakes, but I still need to bake a little over a dozen single serving cookies.
And, I have to finish icing the cookie cakes.

I need to clean the kitchen, wash the sheets on the guest bed and throw in a couple towels so my parents will have fresh linens when they arrive.  I’ve made the pb&j sandwiches, but I still need to make the ham and cream cheese roll-ups (Ashley will help with that).  I prepared the sweet corn and black bean salsa, and Brandon picked up Bagel Bites (pizzas) and a smoked wieners along with a few more treats for the goodie bags.

He’s going to make shrimp salad, then help me do some last minute tidying.  (Oh, I already dusted as well.. and the house is in good order, but will need a run-through to pick up toys and such, and then a final vacuum.)

I still need to decorate and put out the extra tables, but that won’t take long… and then I need to get ready (get dressed, I’ve already showed and put on my make-up.  I’m just wearing my “work clothes” so I don’t get nice ones dirty).  I’m still thinking, “Woah, 35 guests.  What was I thinking!”

Thankfully, I don’t have any expectations except to have fun.  We’re not playing any special games.  Nolyn’s room has their play house and their play kitchen in there, so all of the kids can hang out in there.  It’ll be like a big play date!  Ashley and my Dad are bringing folding chairs for extra seating… so we should be good.

Hopefully.

These people are either family or friends from church…. and all of them are helpful, wonderful people. I’m sure we’ll have a blast!

Okay, panic gone.

*Edit*
Alright, it is 1:45 and the house is completely cleaned (my husband did a great job on the kitchen- kudos to him).  He’s out at the pit smoking sausage (instead of little wieners) along with the ribs and other meats he has to cook for our restaurant.

The table is set up, and all I really need to do is make the roll-ups (when Ashley gets here with the rest of the tortillas) and a couple more cookies…. oh, and of course, put the Bagel Bites in the oven.

Whew. Go me. Go hubby.  We rock.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzz

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

I am thoroughly exhausted.  Pooped.  Tired. 
I had to work up at our restaurant today (MIL took care of the kids).  I got off about 2, and the kids returned an hour later.  We worked on putting together party favor bags for N’s 3rd birthday.

I realized I invited A LOT of people.  We’ll have about 30 people here.  Half of those will be children.  I expect my home will nearly be demolished by the end of it, but I’m excited. This is the first party I’ve hard here.

The menu goes something like this.

-Peanut Butter sandwiches (48 whole sandwiches, which will be cut in half, diagonal style).
-Ham and Cream Cheese Roll-ups (30, cut in half)
-Shrimp Salad (Brandon is making this)
-Sweet Corn and Black Bean Salsa and chips
-Vegetable Tray (Carrots, Broccoli and Celery with Ranch)
-Fried Mushrooms (from our restaurant)
-And, if Brandon remembers to pick them up from Sam’s, Bagel bites.

I am making all of this, except where noted.

I am also baking two cookie cakes and icing them with green and yellow icing (It’s a John Deere Tractor themed party).

All of this seems a bit overwhelming.  I cannot believe we’re going to have THAT many people over.  Woah doggy!  Nevertheless, it will be fun and exciting!  I’m getting tired just thinking about it all!

Thankfully, one of my friends will show up a little early to make sure I’m on schedule and lend a hand.  *Whew*

I’ve been thinking about Peter, out there, on the water…. in the storm.  When he saw Jesus walking on the water, he asked, “If it is you, Lord, let me come out to you.”

Jesus said come, and Peter stepped out of the boat onto the the wild waves.

I think it’s about time we step out of the boat.  When we step out of the boat, Jesus can show his power through us.  When you ask Jesus to use you, like Peter did, Jesus will and in a big way. 

I can imagine Peter out there, in the midst of the wind and water, likely a bit nervous about walking out to Jesus.  He takes his eyes of Jesus, and he begins to sink.  Maybe he regrets asking to come out on the water.  Maybe he forgets Jesus is right there. 

How many times, when we’re going about our day do we forget that Jesus is right there, and He is in control.  How many times do we take our eyes off Christ and begin to sink?  (I admit, I do it on a daily basis.)

One more thing.  One of my devotionals mentioned Jesus could have stilled the seas from the shore, but He chose to come out on the water to his disciples.  Why?  He’s a personal Savior.  He’s not distant.  He’s right there with us all along the way.

Just something to think about!

Have a very Thoughtful Thursday!

Today I have to work up at our restaurant for a bit.  When my husband informed me I would be needed to fill the shift, I thought to myself, “Aw man, I have to work!”  Then it occured to me, working up at the restaurant is a breeze compared to what I do here at home.  Being a stay-at-home-mom, a homeschooling stay-at-home-mom, is A LOT of work.  Going to a “real job” (as some people call it), is a vacation in comparison.

My mother-in-law is picking up the kids this morning, and my husband will scoop them on his way home from work.  Of course, Baby K will stay with me at the restaurant.  Since I’m breastfeeding, I prefer to keep him with me as much as possible so my supply doesn’t dwindle.  He usually takes a bottle once on Sundays and another on Wednesdays while we’re at church (and he’s in the nursery where all the ladies fight over who gets to hold him).

Anyway, I assume today will likely be slow as it is pouring rain and, well, no one wants to really get out in the rain.  This means I can take my devotionals up to the restaurant and do a little reading and bible studying in between customers.

Christy may come over this afternoon with her two munchkins in tow.  So, that’ll be fun if she’s able to make it.

My brother has been staying with us on week nights (Monday through Thursday) because he’s doing a job in Beaumont for a couple months.  On the weekends, he heads back to Houston, but it’s nice to have him here during the week.  It’s good for the kids to be around their uncle.  I’m telling you, I’m not sure who wore WHO out last night.  I think we all slept well!

Due to a friend’s situation (which she recently shared with me), along with various other situations my friends and relatives are going through, I’ve been thinking about the little surprises God throws us.  At first, we think, “Oh no.  This is not what I wanted.  How am I going to handle this?“  We scold ourselves for taking the steps, even if they were in faith, that led us in this direction.

I’ve had many of these experiences in my  own life, but, now, in retrospect, I can look back with gratitude and recognize God’s hand in the guiding.  I am so thankful that our God is a big God, a Holy God, a creative, incredible, strong God who truly knows what is best for us and doesn’t always do what WE think is best for ourselves. He definitely insures that life will not be boring with Him at our side!

Just a little something to think about.  Time for breakfast!

If you’d like a banner to link my blog from yours, please, snag this!

A few changes around here.
First of all, I’m still restoring a few old entries (see previous entry), but I’ve also added a new blog (Yes, another one).  Now my pictures are hosted at My Shutterbuggin’ Blog (look at the navigation, right column).  I’ll post a couple pictures on this blog now and then, but the majority of my pictures will be hosted there.

And, of course, there is still my homeschooling blog (Noggin News).

I made a major booboo.  I messed up my blog, and therefore, had to delete it and start again.  Excuse the mess while I repair my mistake!

While I do this, feel free to look over what I’ve managed to restore (really, this makes me so sick I could puke)… along with these adorable munchkin photos.

What’s the best form of transportation around here?

Here’s a bit from a post I made in my  own personal diary in 2005:

Henny Youngman once stated, “Answers are what we have for other people’s problems.” In my search for solutions in my own life, I have found this to be most true.

I have plenty of theories. However, theories are simply made up of assumptions, grand schemes, and pure speculation. Theories are suspicions with no proven results.

It’s strangely humorous that, so often, I have given suggestions for one’s situation which I would find hard to follow if in the same position.

Why is that? Why do we have all the answers for someone else’s issues, but when it comes to our own dilemmas, we draw a blank (or, we attempt to follow our own advice which leads us into even more frustrations, stress, and complications)? It just goes to show, even the best laid plans can crumble to pieces.