Archive - August, 2005

finally!

By on August 30, 2005 in Celebrations, kiddos 13

Lydia finally lost her first tooth!

She’s so excited. It was getting real loose. Sunday she was at mom’s house and out it came!

The tooth fairy came and left a coin purse with 8 quarters in it. The kids LOVE quarters because of those quarter toy and candy machines. She knows we are the tooth fairy but we all play along and have fun with it!

If you see tarter, I apologize. She gets the “brush your teeth good” lecture, often. As you can see, the other tooth has already started growing in. She has several more loose teeth, so I think this ball is starting to roll. I also think braces are in her future. Her baby teeth are soooo small and close together. I don’t see how a bunch of big teeth are going to fit nicely in there. Oh well, thank goodness for payment plans!

To celebrate, she picked out ice cream for all of us to indulge in. We were pleasantly surprised by how scrumptous orange sherbert still tastes. Yum, it’s been so long I had forgotten!

“She laughs at everything you say. Why? Because she has fine teeth.” Benjamin Franklin

Minnie Winnies and 35 years

By on August 26, 2005 in Celebrations, family 17

I am so thankful to have such loving in-laws, Janet and Richard. This week they are celebrating their 35 wedding anniversary! Their marriage is a true example of loving commitment. I am so fortunate to have in-laws that treat me like a daughter and they so much deserve to be recognized for their marriage and life together. They often mentor young couples and singles, for they have much wisdom to share.

Janet and Richard posed a year or so ago in front of their old highschool where they fell in love. Fortunately, they took the pictures just in time. It wasn’t long ago that the school was demolished.

One of their favorite things to do together is to go out of town in their RV. Just a few weeks ago, they traded in their fifth wheel for this little beauty. I love the name, Minnie Winnie!

Janet and Richard are quirky but in a fun way! It’s always entertaining to find out where they are sleeping! When the weather is nice they like to sleep outside or on their screened in porch. In the winter they spend their nights on the floor in front of the wood stove. Since they drove home their new little beauty, they have spent their nights in it, parked in the driveway! Aren’t they cute!

On James’ birthday we had dinner with Janet and Richard and then we drove to their good friend, Marge’s pool. Guess what we road in? Yep, the Minnie Winnie! It was hilariously fun and the girls had a blast!


Lydia is intentionally crossing her eyes! Thought I’d point that out!


Minnie Driver

Here we are in the hot tub after our swim!

Mom and Dad, we love you so much and are so thankful for who you are and all you do. We are proud of you.

“A wedding anniversary is the celebration of love, trust, partnership, tolerance and tenacity. The order varies for any given year.” Paul Sweeney

Baked Ziti

By on August 24, 2005 in Comfort Food 42

I made this dish for dinner tonight and it ocurred to me that I should post the recipe!!!! I’ve only made this recipe a few times but when I do the whole family gobbles it up! The provolone cheese and sour cream make it stand out from among all the other various pasta dishes. It has a five star rating with 1390 reviews at All Recipes.

I discovered something really cool on that sight today. I went to make my grocery list and I decided to get on the My Recipes section where I store the recipes I want to make again. (It’s real easy to sign up for an account.) I picked several recipes and clicked Shopping list and Print and it printed me up a neato shopping list of the ingredients I need!! It catergorized them for me and everything! It even has little boxes beside each item to check them off the list! How fun is that?!!

INGREDIENTS:
1 pound dry ziti pasta
1 onion, chopped
1 pound lean ground beef
2 (26 ounce) jars spaghetti sauce
6 ounces provolone cheese, sliced
1 1/2 cups sour cream
6 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

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DIRECTIONS:
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add ziti pasta, and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes; drain.
In a large skillet, brown onion and ground beef over medium heat. Add spaghetti sauce, and simmer 15 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter a 9×13 inch baking dish. Layer as follows: 1/2 of the ziti, Provolone cheese, sour cream, 1/2 sauce mixture, remaining ziti, mozzarella cheese and remaining sauce mixture. Top with grated Parmesan cheese.
Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until cheeses are melted.

“I am not a glutton – I am an explorer of food” Erma Bombeck

first days

By on August 18, 2005 in Home, kiddos 32

The girls woke up early and quickly and excitedly dressed themselves, ate breakfast and put on their backpacks. They were ready a half hour early. If only they would stay that enthusiastic in the morning all school year. I am happy for them. They both really love school and it looks like they have great teachers, once again.

“The difference between school and life? In school, you’re taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you’re given a test that teaches you a lesson.” Tom Bodett

Mary Kay

By on August 15, 2005 in Home, kiddos 23

I think I need to start buying cheap lipstick.

“Where lipstick is concerned, the important thing is not color, but to accept God’s final word on where your lips end.” Jerry Seinfeld

celebrating Rob

By on August 12, 2005 in Celebrations, friendship 10

Happy Birthday, Rob!!! I am sorry I didn’t get this post up this morning. James needed to retrieve this story for me! I thought to honor you on your special day, I would post something James wrote on his blog, as he remininsced about the friendship he and Rob share.

Rob, I hope you’ve had a great day. You are a terrific guy and a great friend. I am sooo excited about your move to Colorado (from Texas)! God is certainly opening some awesome doors and His plans for you are better than anything you can even ask or imagine!! For more details click here.

I think Rob would love it if you would give him the gift of your favorite encouraging scripture, blessing, etc. It’s good to start a new journey with encouraging words and scriptures under your belt. Let’s give him a good send off!

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Best Friends ~posted by James, February 2005

Why is it that we refer to someone we don’t see anymore as our best friend? Carl and I get together a lot to play games and watch movies. In a lot of ways I guess you can say we are best friends. I bet, though, that if you walked up to Carl and asked who his best friend is he would say Scott. If you came up to me and asked who my best friend is I would say Rob. Now Carl gets to see Scott about as often as I get to see Rob. Rob has been living in Texas since 1992. Thirteen years! Rob has not lived up here in KC in 13 years and yet I still call him my best friend! Why do we do that? I think it is because there are just some relationships that cannot be broken.

I would bet you that most of us have people we call our best friends and yet we never see them, or even hardly ever even talk to them. Your childhood best friend is somone you learned about life with. They share in your maturity. You may have just as many memories with them as you do with your own parents or even spouse.

The above image was taken around 1985 while I was living in Lone Jack, MO. When I look at that picture a rush of memories take over my mind. Some of those memories are good and some of them aren’t and that’s ok. Those memories are what make me who I am today. Those memories are what ties me to Rob for…..well….forever. Whether it is us dropping fireworks off that tree fort or driving my go-cart around the yard those memories are what ties Rob and I together. You can’t pull our friendship apart any more than you can erase our memories all together. In 1986 we moved to Emporia, KS only to come back two years later. Rob and I returned to our friendship like I had never left. That’s what best friends do, you know. They are just always there, even if you don’t see them. Even if you don’t talk to them as much as you would like. They are just always there.

Rob, I’m always here.

“I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

bathing beauty

By on August 11, 2005 in Home, kiddos 14

Last night, as we celebrated James’ birthday, we went for a swim. We had a fun time and I hope to post about it soon. I managed to get a good picture of Anjelia, which is difficult, due to the fact that she never stops moving!! She has strikingly blue eyes. I do realize I am extremely prejudice!! She is a joy and I’m so glad we had number 4!!!

“On matters of style, swim with the current, on matters of principle, stand like a rock.”
Thomas Jefferson

Celebrating James

By on August 10, 2005 in Celebrations, family 18

dad you are the best
i iove you 100
happy birthday to you
happy birthday 34
lydia

happy birthday dad
you are 34
do you think your cake will be chocolate?
i love you
Jessica

i love you daaaddy
happy birthdayyyyyyy
does the big computer work yet
I like odie
elaina

God created you-
every little detail about you.

He gave you LIFE and SPECIAL GIFTS
to fulfill a unique purpose in this world,
a MISSION He planned just for you.
The Purpose Driven Life

I am glad we are part of your purpose and mission.

Happy Birthday!!!!!

Because God made you for a reason,
He also decided when you would be born. . .
He planned the days of your life in advance,
choosing the exact time of your birth.
The Purpose Driven Life

refreshed

By on August 8, 2005 in Home 42

James and I are back from a refreshing and relaxing weekend, just as James requested for his birthday. The actual day is Wednesday but an early celebration was fitting. We had a great time but the details are fairly uneventful.

We left late morning on Saturday and went to Wal-Mart and did our back to school shopping, which was a big help to me. I can’t believe it starts next Thursday. The girls seem ready and now I am too.

I’ve been waiting to see a new area of development that James is involved in doing cabinet installation and manufacturing and installing laminated countertops for. Some of the countertops are corian or marble but he will be doing his share of countertops, too. Touring fully furnished, primo homes is not a fun thing to do with children. This was my chance!

Here are some pictures. We pray for the success of this area of development!


Midwest Living Magazine Idea Home


The beautiful kitchen. It took many man hours to install.


A glimpse at the unique new neighborhood.

By the time we had toured several of the houses, it was time to check in at the hotel. We stayed in the Sheraton on the plaza. It’s a gorgeous hotel. Our room was sweet and relaxing. We enjoyed eating out at one of our favorite hangouts, when we make it to the city.

Sunday we watched Batman Begins, which is an excellent movie…really, it is. It’s definitely worth seeing, I kid you not.

We did some walking. The architecture and fountains are really fun to look at. There was a great band playing swing and big band stuff.

Well, those are the highlights! Oh, I nearly forgot my delicious custard dessert. Good desserts are note worthy!

I enjoyed spending time alone with James. I also enjoyed seeing him relax a little and let go of some stress. It was a much needed time for us and I am thankful for our parents for helping us out so much. The kids had a blast and were absolutely wore out last night!

“Vacation used to be a luxury, however, in today’s world, it has become a necessity.”

thankfulness

By on August 6, 2005 in Celebrations, Home 14


The girls replanted their Chia heads. James thinks they’re creepy!

Five things I am thankful for:

1. going away overnight with James!
2. going away overnight with James!
3. going away overnight with James!
4. going away overnight with James!
5. going away overnight with James!

Five more things I am thankful for:

1. wonderful grandparents!
2. wonderful grandparents!
3. wonderful grandparents!
4. wonderful grandparents!
5. wonderful grandparents!

“Let’s get out of here!” James

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