And it was a fun one!! Our neighbor is one of the coaches and so we were treated to our first IU football game. It was a blast. Wesley hung in there, even with the tail gating, and Noah ate up every last second. He even got to play football on the field after the game!! Oh and he got on television when the camera came by and focused in on him twice! (It was playing on the Big Ten channel up here in the midwest). Here's a slideshow of the days' activities.

that make me miss Texas and our house and our life there. These are going to seem so silly and I would have laughed 3 months ago if someone else was telling me this story. But I have to admit these scenarios all make me miss home. It's so strange how it's the little things.

--I distinctly remember a couple weeks before we moved, Noah and I were playing on the floor in his room. He took a minature Allied truck and stuffed 3 little bouncy balls inside of it. We both laughed at how perfectly they fit in the truck. Then he closed the doors on it and set it aside. Well, that truck was dug out of a bin of toys today as we were looking for some cars to play with. As soon as I recognized it I carefully opened the doors and showed Noah what was inside. The three bouncy balls. Something about knowing that truck was last played with in our old house and those balls hadn't moved---well, it made me extremely nostalgic and sad.

--The other day we ran out of hand soap and I was looking under the sink to see if we had any refills. I found a half used bottle of softsoap and put it on the counter. Just knowing that it came from our other house and the first half was used up there, made me sad. I know, I know, who knew?

--I was digging around in the kids' diaper bag in preparation for the beach and realized I hadn't gone through it in some time. At the bottom were many half eaten snack bags that came from many Wednesday nights at SBC (or SC as they are now called). I pulled them out and threw them away of course, but it made me feel like it was just the other day we were at church, or just last week that I went to ladies bible study and needed their bag.

So there you have it. I still refer to Texas as "home" a lot and Brian reminds me every now and again that this is home. But for now, that hasn't sunk in. It doesn't help that a friend I was getting to know here just found out she's moving back to TX (originally from San Antonio) to Flower Mound. Ouch. I was a little envious I will admit. But Indiana is beautiful and wonderful in so many ways and so dont' think for a minute that I'm not happy here. I'm just living a little in between for now.

Hopefully these little things will continue to get littler and littler and littler till they don't strike a sad bone in me anymore.

I hope everyone had a splendid weekend. We had a good one too. Not much chit chat---gotta head to the library, so here is the plan!

Monday: Chicken enchiladas with red sauce, black beans, salad

Tuesday: Hotdogs, fruit, corn

Wednesday: Bacon wrapped chicken, salad, peaches

Thursday: Breakfast for dinner (BFD)

Friday: BBQ'd chicken, broccoli, fruit

Saturday: Probably eat out (we'll be at an IU game all afternoon)

Sunday: Leftovers

1. Someone prayed for us.

2. I gave up on disposable razors.


Here's why both of those are important to me:

Today was the first time someone prayed for us since we moved here to Bloomington. She hadn't known us more than 2 minutes. Her name was Angie. We met her at church during the meet/question moment. We were asked to pray together (in groups of 4) and she took the opportunity to say a short simple prayer for Brian, me and our two little boys. The prayer itself was nothing earth shattering but it occurred to me that it was the first time we have heard someone pray for us in 2 months. It felt nice, and I was very thankful. We still haven't made a decision on a church. But with the Lord's direction we are getting closer. We have been visiting 2 churches and both of them are wonderful. Different from eachother in multiple ways, but both focused on Christ and bringing Him to the people in our city.

Now, the disposable razor thing. I have had a love hate relationship with them. They are cheaper by epic proportions (especially when used with fab coupons) --love. They do not shave me adequately enough---hate. I have bought every one on the market. 2 blades, 3 blades, 4 blades....what's next I don't know. Regardless, I constantly am amazed at how they fall short. Does anyone else have this problem???? My dad even works for P&G and gave me a sample of a Venus Embrace. STILL didn't hold up to my seemingly tough as nails hair. Yes, I know maybe too graphic for some of you. The even weirder part is that it has gotten ridiculously worse since we moved here. I was at coping level in Texas. Now I'm beyond that. It simply would be embarrassing to go any longer with this lack of success in the shaving department. So! I tell you, I will have to commit to a REAL razor. Shhhh......don't tell him but my husband's Fusion manly razor is the only one that seems to give me desired results. I dare not buy such a ridiculously priced razor myself (not to mention the refills! $2.50 a blade from SAM'S!!!!) however I will have to spy one out that is similar in mechanics. So here is where you come in. If you are happy with your real razor (not disposable) then please give a shout out to it by commenting about it. I've got a few more disposables to burn through so I'm not ready to go out today and get one. But maybe later this week. So help!

Does it mean that I'm lazy if...

--I ask my 15 month old to throw his own diapers in the trash?
--I ask my 15 month old to throw my empty drink bottles in the trash?
--I ask my 15 month old to turn the TV on?

Naaaaa. I would call it recognizing the sheer genius in the young lad and putting it to use!

***non-post***

I'm simply increasing my chances of winning a fabulous giveaway on the Simple Mom blog. I have to mention it here on my blog. For my own benefit please ignore this post. :) hee hee

I will preface this post by saying I love my life, I am quite content, and by no means does this post indicate some sort of flaw or secret longing in my life. I have the best husband in the world (the best!), two of the cutest boys to grace the planet, and a Savior who has done the best remodel of this poor soul of mine and continues to love me everyday regardless of my wrecklessness. So with that, let's just say that even with this good of a life, there are moments.......moments.........where I want certain things, feelings, behaviors, memories, to come again. And I think you'll agree with me on many of them. I have had a WONDERFUL life and have so many wonderful memories that I have moments where I want to be that, feel that, hear that, eat that, or do that again. So, sweet moments, won't you come again?

--Having my mom call out to me in the yard that dinner is ready. Then walking in the house and feeling the warmth of the oven and seeing my complete dinner sitting at the table waiting for me. Looking around and seeing my mom and dad, and two sisters sitting around me.

--Sitting down to do my homework. That wonderful busy work that so fulfilled me! Showing my mom how smart I was when I finished and seeing how truly proud she was.

--Listening to my walkman in the car on the way to Yosemite while viewing my sisters sleeping, laughing, and talking in our van.

--Experiencing the pure joy Madlibs brought to me on all our road trips.

--Participating in family vacations------ones I had no part in planning or paying for. I simply rode or flew along and had every last detail worked out for me.

--Walking along Lahaina with my family. Sitting around campfires in Yosemite.

--Hopping on my bike in the afternoon (and not having to tell anyone) and riding all around the neighborhood stopping by all my friends houses to see who is home. Maybe swinging by the convenience store to pick up some candy or chips. Feeling the wind on my face and the smell of my own sweat. The freedom I felt doing this every. single. day.

--Going to church youth group rallies and seeing boys you recognized from other churches and feeling so caught up in all of that.

--Working at Special Programs during the summer of 97 after the Lord had rocked my world and feeling the pure peace that came from reading the Bible on my bed for hours with brand new eyes.

--Knowing that going to school and learning was truly my only responsibility in life.

--That incredible feeling of having a crush on a boy. Wonderful while it's happening, miserable when it's over.

--Experiencing Christmas Eve every year. Being with my cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, sisters, and parents till what seemed like midnight eating, laughing, and opening endless piles of presents.

--Going to work with my dad. Going to Lakers or Clippers games with my dad. Seeing my dad walk all over our town and everyone knew him. (He seriously walked miles and miles everyday for exercise).

--Feeling the joy of wearing the very outfit my sister wore the previous day and knowing how cute I was going to look in it at my school.

--Feeling the joy of wearing cute outfits period. :)

--Walking the 60 miles of the Avon 3 Day breast cancer walk from Ventura to Malibu and simply having the freedom to do that for 3 days. Amazing.

--Remembering how weightless I felt when I graduated Pepperdine and all I had to do was go to work from 8-5 and have fun with my husband.

Okay, my list could go on and on. I guess I should stop before I ignore my family completely. If this list stirred memories in you, please leave a comment and post a similar "come again" list on your blog. I would love that.

I used to blog a lot about Noah and the silly things he would say. These days he doesn't say much that's comical except for the occasional "I'm bringing sexy back.....yeah!" while dancing around the room. However, tonight he was in a mood and said some great things. Some are funny, some are just sweet.

Noah had just fallen off the swing twice in a row and was very upset about it..crying quite a bit but sort of faking it.

Me: "These things happen. It's ok, honey, you are only 3."
Noah: "Ya, I'm only 3. When I am 4, then I'll be much more tough."
Me: "Oh definitely."
Noah: "Ya, I'm not tough right now!" pause..... "Oh wait, yes I am!" (with a kind of "silly me!" tone)
-------------
Noah was playing with Wesley in Wes' room and I was downstairs getting Wes' milk.

Noah: "Mom! Get up here!" with a very serious tone.
I'm thinking at this point that Wesley is seriously hurt or something got broke, etc.
Me: "Noah what is wrong? Tell me!"
Noah: "Mom!! Come up here now!!!"
Me: I bolt up the stairs and enter the room to find Noah had pee'd his pants. By the way, we are far past potty training but every once in a blue moon he'll do this. It is usually followed by a spanking if dad is around.
"Noah.....go in the bathroom and finish. Then take off your wet clothes and put them in the washer." I then continued doing what I was doing before down in the kitchen.
About 10 minutes later, Noah walks in the kitchen and says:
"I'm so glad that you aren't mad at me so much" in a real sweet sheepish tone. I hugged him and just wanted to freeze the moment.
About 10 minutes after that we were in his room getting him ready for bed and I was wiping his legs down with wipes.
Me: "So why do you think that accident happened?"
Noah: "Well, sometimes the pee comes so fast that if I ran to the bathroom I would just slip on it."

Hmm. Really? You might remember a similar one of Noah's rational excuses here.

***updated: I had to add this one that just happened a few moments ago.

Noah and I were talking about how cooking is fun and how I would teach him to cook so that he could cook for his own family someday. I said that his wife could cook and he could cook too.
Noah: I think Quinn is going to be my mom.
Me: Your mom? I'm your mom.
Noah: No, I mean........(looking confused).
Me: I am your mommy. I am daddy's wife. And someday when you grow up, you'll have a wife when you get married.
Noah thinking long and hard about this. Then says the following very slowly and clearly.
Noah: I am going to marry Quinn. Quinn is going to marry me. She will be my wife.
Just hearing those words gave me a very uneasy feeling in my stomach.
Me: That is sweet, Noah. Well, that won't be for a long long time though.
Noah: What, like maybe 40?
Me: No, maybe when you are 21.
Noah: Sooo....when am I going to be 21?

I probably won't be posting as much the next 5 days or so because my parents are here! Yep, they arrived Friday and will be here awhile. I'm loving every minute of it. The weather is INSANELY gorgeous (think 60 at night, 78-80 during the day) and so it all seems idyllic. We just enjoyed a BBQ out back with an awesome breeze blowing and it is all so relaxing. I will leave you with a few deals I scored today at CVS. I am not the gung-ho CVS'er that some are so I'm sure some of you out there have done better. But for me----starting with no ECBs, this was pretty awesome.

2 jumbo packs of Huggies Supreme diapers
1 pack of 80 Playschool baby wipes
2 Johnson's Buddies easy-grip soaps
1 large Johnson & Johnson Moisture Care Baby Wash
1 pack of 80 Huggies baby wipes

Total cost: 11 dollars and some change. Sweet! One pack of Huggies at Kroger costs $10.99 retail, so I feel like I scored some pretty awesome deals. I hope you guys get some sweet deals too this week! I'd love to hear if you want to share.

Yesterday I completed a long awaited project of making new placemats for my kiddos. Now, don't get too envious.......I am not a craft person. In fact, I actually aspired to be one at one point in my life.....um pre-kids.... and spent a fortune on every scrapbooking tool imaginable. But you know what, if it ain't you, then it doesn't really matter what fancy gadgets you have. A project once in a blue moon is about all I can put on my scoreboard.

However, when Noah was 2, his preschool made these laminated placemats that had pictures of friends, family, favorite things, etc on it for each kid. We both loved them! And considering now I have another toddler in tow, I figured it was time to start fresh with new placemats. This is particularly handy since we just moved away from all friends and family and I need to be sure Wesley remembers everyone.

So, about 5 weeks ago, I started to put together the bottom of the placemats with all my handy dandy scrapbooking paper and even used the funny shaped scissors. It was actually kind of fun but after completing one I remembered why I do not do the scrapbooking thing. Woo! Way too much work. Anyhoo, the foundation sat on my table for weeks and finally yesterday Noah and I completed it. We stuck all the pictures on and then ran to Kinkos--FedEx Kinkos--oh wait FedEx Office (seriously!) to get it laminated. They are finally done and the kids have so much fun looking at all their buddies while eating their meals. Add to that they wipe clean with no fuss (unlike pretty frilly fabric ones) which is an essential around here. So click here to see the finished products.

I'm a day late in posting this but I'm sure you could care less. I might not even post this every week because I can't tell if my readership even does the whole menu plan thing. Can you comment and let me know? I will make a menu plan whether I post it or not, so it's not so much for me that I post it. However, I like to do it time to time so I can look back and see what I ate, etc etc. And I really encourage you to go to orgjunkie.com to see the bazillions of other people who post their menu plans which give us great ideas for our own recipes at home. So without further adeu,

Monday: Pasta with homemade meat sauce. ("Best marinara sauce yet" on allrecipes.com)
Tuesday: Homemade pizza (with dough recipe claiming Pizza Hut quality)
Wednesday: BFD (breakfast for dinner)
Thursday: Beef Burgundy (http://thecrockstar.blogspot.com/2008/07/delicious-four-ingredient-crockpot-beef.html)
Friday: Smoked sausage, potatoes, and green beans
Saturday: out to eat (parents in town)
Sunday: depends on what I pick up at farmer's market

Oh and by the way, I made some awesome zucchini bread yesterday. With zucchini in season right now, I recommend picking up some and baking away! It is a really healthy (only brown sugar and very little oil) bread and my kids love it. Here is the recipe. It's one from allrecipes.com.

INGREDIENTS
3 eggs
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup apple sauce
1 2/3 cups packed brown sugar
2 cups grated zucchini (approx 1 1/2 normal zucchinis)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt

In a large bowl, beat eggs well. Add oil, brown sugar, zucchini, and vanilla; stir well. Blend in flour, cinnamon, baking powder, soda, and salt. Pour batter into 2 greased medium loaf pans.
Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 50 min to 1 hour. Cool.