The First Snow

A few weeks ago we got our first snow storm, and it was a big one!  We got about 8-10 inches at our house.  The kids were so excited to go out and play!  I was less than excited because snow means LOTS of snow gear and no place to put any of it!  (A mud room is DEFINITELY on my 'someday' list!)

 

Where was Jayden during all this?

He was cold... And he had just gotten a new DS game... 

Jayden is a Bear!

At the end of October, Jayden got his Bear badge for Cub Scouts.  This badge was night and day different from his last one (Wolf).  I don't want to say bad things about anyone, especially when they are giving service to someone else, so we'll just say it makes a BIG difference to have such amazing leaders!  (Not that the last ones were bad, they just weren't organized)

Anyways, he got all the requirements for this badge really fast and we hardly had to do anything at home!

 Getting his award

 Putting the pin on my shirt

Congratulations Jayden!

Halloween

So, I got a bit behind on the blog.  It happens to us all, right?  I procrastinate one post and then I feel like I cant do any more because they (apparently) have to be in a certain order... 

So, I'm  catching up!  Here's our Halloween! Just 1 month late :)

At the kids' school (charter school), they have the kids dress up for Halloween according to what they are learning about in history.  Personally, I love it.  I really don't like the whole scary, bloody Halloween thing.  Who am I kidding, I don't like Halloween in general, but I feel like I can handle dressing up by history theme for school.

 Ashlyn as an indian (obviously...)

 Another indian

 The cutest cowboy in the west!

 Our Wild West kids!

We went out trick-or-treating around 6 and just went around our neighborhood.  We sort of met up with some friends that live across the street which was fun to walk together.  I didn't really think through things too well this year.  Johnathan had to work so I went around with kids trick-or-treating.  No one was at home to hand out candy so we ended up with WAY to much left over candy.  I made Johnathan take it to work since he can eat it all and gain 0 pounds...  Not fair, BELIEVE ME, I know!

 

 Waiting at a door. SO CUTE!

 Jacob's not afraid to hold hands with his friend :)

Jacob was super funny while we were walking around.  He was so slow choosing candy from people.  He tried to pick a different kind at each house, then just gave up.  But he was still slow.  The older kids kept wanting to run from door to door but I made them wait for Jacob.  He also started telling everyone "Have a Happy Halloween!"  It surprised most people to hear a 4 year old say that rather than just running off.  It was cute, but then again, I'm biased.

 We stopped by the Fire Station to say Hi 

*sigh*  I love my man in uniform!

 We also stopped by to see our cute cousins!

They dressed up in a Star Wars theme

We hope you had a Happy Halloween!

The Liebster Award!

One of my friends nominated me for The Liebster Blog Award.  Awww... Thanks Kristin!  So, here are the rules...

1. Each person awarded must post 11 facts about themselves.
2. Answer the 11 questions the nominator has set for them.
3. Choose five bloggers to nominate.
4. Create 11 more questions for the bloggers they will nominate.
5. Let the lucky bloggers know. 

It seems weird that it uses 11 so much, but whatever.  Here are my 11 random facts about myself.

1.      I love learning about Personality Styles.  Two common methods are the Color Code & Meyers Briggs.  (Google them if you want to learn more about them)

With the Meyers Briggs method, I am ISTJ.  Here’s a little overview of my personality: 
ISTJs are faithful, logical, organized, sensible, and earnest traditionalists who enjoy keeping their lives and environments well-regulated. Typically reserved and serious individuals, and take a practical, logical approach to their endeavors, and are able to make the tough decisions that other types avoid. Realistic and responsible, ISTJs are often seen as worker bees striving steadily toward their goals. They take special joy in maintaining institutions and are often highly religious. 

With the Color Code method I am Blue.  Blues are motivated by intimacy. They seek to genuinely connect with others, and need to be understood and appreciated. Everything they do is quality-based. They are loyal friends, employers, and employees. Whatever or whomever they commit to is their sole (and soul) focus. They love to serve and give themselves freely in order to nurture others' lives. Their personal code of ethics is remarkably strong and they expect others to live honest, committed lives as well. They enjoy meaningful moments in conversation as well as paying close attention to special life events (e.g. birthdays and anniversaries). BLUES are dependable, thoughtful, and analytical.

Basically, if you didn’t read all that (I don’t blame you it was LONG), I am loyal, logical, practical, organized, & dependable.  I have a high emphasis on quality relationships, structure and routines. 

I have an awesome book called ‘Mother Styles’ that talks about the Myers Briggs type and tells strengths and weaknesses of each of the 16 personalities.  I highly recommend it!

2.     I love making lists!  I make all sorts of lists.  My daily To-Do lists, Christmas shopping lists, ‘Someday I’ll Buy’ lists, and more.  With a list I am focused and get more accomplished.  It feels so productive to check things off a list, and YES, I do frequently write things down I’ve already done so I can check it off!  (I need to confess that I made a list of these 11 facts about me before typing them up.  Yep, that’s me!)

3.     I hate chocolate!  I’ve hated it for as long as I can remember.  I should clarify that I am okay with thin coatings of chocolate on a candy bar, but even some of that can be too much.  I do LOVE white chocolate, just not the brown stuff.

4.     I have a fascination with the Regency Era, you know, like Jane Austin.  Some of my favorite movies & books are based on that era.  I love Pride & Prejudice (the 6 hour one with Collin Firth), Emma, Sense & Sensibility and my current favorite book is ‘Edenbrooke’.

5.     Some things I enjoy doing are genealogy, anything with Johnathan, reading (except non-fiction books.  I have a hard time getting through a whole non-fiction book), playing board games and sewing things.

6.     I HATE being in front of people.  I don’t like talking in front of or to large groups of people (like more than 3 or 4 people is considered large to me).  I don’t like a lot of attention from people, like someone asking me a question in class or walking in late to a meeting or even the attention from getting a new haircut.  I don’t like large crowds either.  When there’s too much noise and craziness I get anxiety.  I also feel like I’m very awkward in conversations with people.  

7.     I am not a typical girl.  I hate shopping (clothes or anything that I can’t just get in & get out), I have a hard time spending money on myself, I hate talking on the phone (except for a select few people), I'm not a huge fan of jewelry, I hate putting on make-up & I hate having to do my hair every day (other than a ponytail).  I know… I’m weird.

8.     I also hate doing housework.  (Is it just me or do I hate a lot of things…)  I get so tired of doing the same things over and over and over and the kids just mess it up.  I wish I could spend more time doing more exciting things.  Like genealogy :)  Actually, I should admit that I like cleaning the bathroom.  That is probably the one room I don’t complain about cleaning.

9.     I enjoy doing finances & budgeting.  

10.   The top 3 things I wish I could change about myself are: 1. I wish I was more comfortable around people (see #6)  2. I wish I had kept taking piano lessons and was really good.  Then again, that might draw attention to myself, so maybe not… 3. I wish I loved to run!  

11.  I cannot improvise things.  I have to have a plan or a list.  If one of my kids get hurt (like ER hurt), I panic and cannot think clearly.



Now for Kristin's questions to me...

1.  What movie would you recommend to me that I probably haven't seen?   I have no idea if you’ve seen them, but my favorites are listed in my #4.  If you don’t like Jane Austin type movies, maybe perhaps The Man Who Knew Too Little. 

2.  If you could go back to college, or just start over if you're there, what would you major in?  Possibly finances.  Not Accounting, but more of a financial planner.  Or maybe becoming a Professional Genealogist.
 

3.  What's your favorite recipe that you'd like to share with me?  My kids (and us adults too, but the kids are pickier) really like Hamburger Roll-ups.  Here’s the recipe:

Hamburger Roll-ups

2 containers of crescent rolls (best if you can buy the Seamless Dough, but not necessary)

2 cups cooked hamburger

Some chopped onion (depending on how much you like it)

3T flour

½ tsp salt

½ cup milk

Place ingredients (except for crescent rolls :) ) in a pan.  Stir over med/med high heat until it thickens.  Turn off heat and let cool a bit.  Meanwhile, roll out the crescent rolls into a large square-ish shape (one side will be a little longer than the other) & pinch the seams so it’s solid.  Spread the Hamburger mixture out over the dough staying away from the edges.  Then just roll the dough up (THINK CINNAMON ROLLS) over the hamburger.  You’ll have a long tube of the dough.  Just cut it the same way you would a cinnamon roll, into slices and place on a baking pan. 

Bake at 350* for 10-15 minutes.  (Let it get pretty golden brown to make sure the dough gets cooked all the way through)

Then I make a white sauce with cheese melted in it to serve on top of the hamburger roll-ups.

White Sauce w/cheese

4 Tbl margarine or butter

4 Tbl flour

2 cups milk

¼ tsp salt

Shredded cheese (I never measure, but I would guess it would be abt 1 cup)

Melt the marg. Or butter in pan & add flour.  Let cook while stirring for abt 30 seconds or so.  SLOWLY add salt and milk.  (I just add about 1/3 cup of milk at a time and stir until it’s getting thick and then I add some more.  Don’t add too much milk at once or it takes longer to thicken up.)  When it’s the thickness I want I add the shredded cheese and melt it.  Done!

  

4.  What's the funniest thing you've heard a child say?  Naturally, it could be your own.  Jacob is always saying the funniest things, but I cannot think of any off the top of my head.  Last week however, he hurt himself and needed a band-aid so I sent him up to my bathroom to get one.  He came down with a box of feminine supplies and said, "Look Mom!  I found a HUGE bandaid!"

5.  How much time do you spend on the computer each day?  Eeekkk...  I don’t want to answer this one…  I know I spend too much time, but I would guess it’s an average of 2 hours a day.  (WOW!  That sounds AWFUL!)  Some days I hardly spend any time on it, and then others I get bored with daily things and read blogs and stuff. 
 

6.  If you had to be lactose intolerant or gluten intolerant, which would you choose?   Lactose Intolerance for sure.  I actually am lactose intolerant.  It’s just mild, but I can’t drink milk.  I drink  Almond Milk instead, but I can still eat yogurt and cheese so it’s not bad.  I think it’s pretty easy to manage but it would be so much harder to be gluten intolerant!
 

7.  Tell me about the funnest date you've been on.  This year I made a packet for Johnathan of dates for us and they’ve all been fun!  We were really in a Date Funk and couldn’t think of new things on the spot.  Some of the ones we’ve done were hike to a waterfall, a scenic drive to look at the fall colors, going golfing (actually Johnathan golfed and I drove the cart :) ), and going geo-caching.
 

8.  In what ways have you changed since childhood?  I'm not talking physically. . .  I used to be more outgoing & I used to think I was carefree.  Now I feel like I am a homebody who stresses about everything.  I’m a lot more serious too.
 

9.  If there was one thing you'd change about yourself, what would it be?  I didn’t see this till I answered my facts.  See #10 above
 

10.  What would you do if you were given one million dollars tomorrow?  I have thought about this so many times!  Who hasn’t, right?  First of all, in my dream I don’t have to pay taxes.  I would pay tithing though.  Now to play!

I would first buy a house in the country, probably on 5 acres (I need my space).  Nothing too fancy (I could care less about granite counter-tops.)  I just need a big tub for me, a pantry, a mud room (I am sitting here looking at all the winter gear scattered everywhere with no place to store it...) and a storage room.  Now that I think about it, I currently have none of those things…  That’s why they’re on my top priority list I guess.

Next I would buy Johnathan his dream vehicle.  A yellow Jeep!

I would buy me a nice Honda Odyssey.

Then I would buy my parents a vehicle.  Actually two.  They have never owned a nice car with less than 200,000 miles on it. (Okay, that was a guess, Dad).  My dad is always fixing up vehicles, so I would love to end that for him!

I would also get a tent trailer.  Or since it’s a dream, a nicer trailer.  I don’t really care, just a trailer so I don’t have to camp in a tent anymore!

Right about now I have about $300,000 left.  I would spend a little on little things I really want, like a laptop, a smart phone, a new camera, new couches.

Then I would put the rest in savings and spend it slowly.  Half I would use to help other people out.  I would love to be able to give out $1000 every month to someone I think really needs it.  The other half I would use for super fun family vacations!  Maybe like $10,000 a year just for going places together!

    

11.  Did you make it clear to the end?  Yep!  No problem.

Now for my nominations!  I choose:

Kathryn M
Jessie A
Marci P
Kelli R
Mary Ann L

My questions to you are: 
 

1.      What is your worst fear?

2.     What are your favorite & least favorite chores?

3.     What do you typically do when kids go to bed?

4.     What are your top 3 favorite books?

5.     What are your top 3 favorite movies or TV shows?

6.     If you could give your younger self a tip or piece of advice, what would it be?

7.     What is one of your most embarrassing moments?

8.     In your opinion, what is your best feature or characteristic?

9.     If you had $1,000,000, what would you do with it?

10.   What is the most rebellious thing you’ve done?

11.    What is the number 1 thing that makes your marriage great?

Thanks for playing!