Lessons learned

Last New Years Eve I was so ready to see 2009 to come to an end and my friends and I cheered the end of what we thought was a bad year. Yeah, well little did we know that doing that was basically cursing the year to come!!!

January came to us with John getting laid off...no good! Thankfully it was just for a few weeks, but it sure was enough to get us behind on everything! We spent the rest of the year trying (unsuccessfully by the way) to get caught up on everything. That plan is carrying over into this New Year as well.

This New Years Eve I have a whole new outlook. I'm not cheering the new year ending, instead I'm taking the lessons 2010 taught me and taking them with me to the new adventures 2011 has to offer me!

Happy New Year to all!

Yummy!

I just got back from a Costco trip and I bought the Chinese Chicken Salad kit...I love this stuff!!! Sooo yummy!!!!

Heading back to church

Since we moved to this area 9 years ago I have wanted to find a church home and thought we did find one about 3 years ago, we loved it! It was small and the girls loved it. We even got John to go with us! But when we bought our house it was too far away to make the drive, almost an hour each way :( we made it a couple of times but eventually we stopped, which I've hated! I have missed going to get that positive start to week. :(

I have several friends who attend a much larger church much closer to us, the girls have all been at one time or another and have absolutely loved it! The childrens program is wonderful! It seems since Sept every Sunday we have been busy with soccer games and haven't been able to go. Then last night Brooklyn came in before she went to bed and asked if we could go :) I also picked Sydney up from her best friends birthday party and the friends mom (my friend as well) asked if we were going to go...so I guess those are 2 strong signs that God is sending me huh? Its time to go to church!!! :) so we will be getting ready here in a few minutes to head off.

I hate being in new surroundings, I just always feel so uncomfortable, but I am missing something in my life right now, and I know its church, and why not go where I know several friends and the girls know tons of kids that go to that church as well. I need to hear Gods word in a big way these days and get my mind back on track, I know that when I'm going regularly I am a better wife and mother and really do I need any other inspiration than that?

Finally!

Vacation is here! Jordan & Brooklyn have been on vacation since Nov 11th but Sydney & I had work/school last week, but finally it is here...yippeeee!!!

We started our vacation by driving to Palm Springs for Jordans 8 am game...had to be there @ 7! Ugh!!! They tied 2-2, but they still will move onto Silver leval next season :) yay for them! Lots of hard work and practice has paid off!

As for the rest of vacation we will be getting this house into shape! We also have dentist and eye dr appts...fun right?!

I have been counting down to Thanksgiving Break since we went back to work/school in August :)

When it rains it pours

My Grandma is in the hospital with a broken hip :( apparently she slipped and fell while letting the dogs out yesterday morning, but the stubborness that I inherited from her prevented her from going to the hospital until last night. *sigh* I guess she is suposed to have surgery at some point today. All I have been thinking about since I heard is my aunt. She died almost 10 years ago from an aneuisim (I know I just butchered that spelling!) But the day shew went into the hospital I had this overwhelming sense that I needed to call her, but I was too busy....I was 5 months pregnant with Brooklyn, Sydney and Jordan were keeping me on my toes, I had a million things to do so I thought "I will call her tomorrow" well, tomorrow never came, she slipped into a coma and never recovered. Well yesterday my grandmother was on my mind more than normal, and then my mom called to tell me she was in the hospital. So now we sit and wait.....and I'm not a very patient person!

Speaking of not being very patient, my sister in law is due with their first baby any minute!!! Today is their 10th anniversary, so I'm saying baby Ella will come tomorrow! If she does she and I will share the 22nd as a birthdate :) I am so excited I can't even stand it!

So an array of emotions in the Wells household this morning!

Great giveaway!!!

I am posting this for my friend who just wrote this great cookbook! Enter for a chance to win!


http://www.frugalmom.net/blog/2010/09/the-everything-freezer-meals-cookbook-giveaway-extravaganza/

Back on Schedule?!

All 3 girls are back to school , I'm back to work, Jordan and Brooklyn are back to soccer practice and Sydney just had auditions for competition team at dance....yup, sounds like our crazy family schedule is back on!

HOWEVER!!!! I refuse to be the crazy mom I was last year, doing everything last minute, throwing a so so dinner together, rushing and fussing at the girls in the morning. I vow that this year things will run much smoother, I just can't deal with it any other way again! Sooooo, just how am I going to stop being the worlds largest procrastionator you may ask??? Well, that's where I'm a little stuck! :) So I'm going to be throwing around a few ideas and hopefully that will help me keep my sanity this year!

First off, I need to spend a few hours on the weekends and do as much prep work as I can....baking, cutting veggies, packing cookies/crackers in baggies, ironing, making a menu for the week to name a few. I also really need to make sure I'm getting enough sleep! With as much running around that I do taking care of me is a must!

I am off to make a few loaves of banana bread, get dinner going and switching the laundry over. Wish me luck! :)

"Now we aren't stuck at home anymore!"

This is Jordans facebook post. The van looks like it's fixed, and she is most excited that we are now mobile once again! However, I rather liked the fact that I couldn't go anywhere!

Having to stay at home is such a luxury and the girls just don't get it!lol! With school starting for everyone within the next 2 weeks I am just enjoying hanging out and not having to be anywhere. The Summer did not go as we planned, when does anything these days though? With John being off work the first 2 weeks that I was off with the injury to his knee he didn't get paid for that first week it really put us behind (more than we already were!) Then the bathtub got clogged up (ugh!! hopefully that will be fixed this weekend) then after the girls and I got back from visiting with my mom the van dying and Johns car having a flat, it has not been the most relaxing of vacations!

I am very grateful that all of this happened while the girls and I were off though, I can't even imagine if it happened when if we were at work/school! What a mess that would have been! I am also grateful that John was able to replace the starter on his own, pretty impressed actually! And I am very grateful that we know people that could help us to figure out what the small problem was instead of us having to pay for a tow to the shop and then neing charged whatever crazy amount it would have been to replace fuses!

This year has been such a whirlwind of change for us, and I really needed the time off, however I would LOVE if I had even more time off...ooohhhh how I would love to hit the lotto!! But, I go back to work in 2 weeks, Jordan and Brooklyn go back to school next Thursday and Sydney goes back August 6. I'm glad I have a job in these times, but I'm even happier that I have a job that allows me to be off as much as I am! hehe!

So although my 11 year old is thrilled that we aren't stuck at home anymore....I would much rather be stuck here at home!!

Slow Cooker Steak and Black Bean Chili

I thought I would share the recipe I am making today, it smells amazing!!!


2 lbs boneless beef top round steak

1 envelope onion soup mix

2 cans black beans, rinsed and drained

1 can diced tomatoes, undrained

1 can tomato sauce

1 can chopped green chiles, undrained

3 tsps chili powder

1 tsp ground cumin

1. Trim fat from beef. Cut beef into 3/4 inch cubes. Place in slow cooker and mix with dry soup mix. Stir in remaining ingredients.

2. Cover and cook on low heat setting 8- 10 hours


How easy is THAT?!?!?!

Weekends

Normally through the year our weekends are jam packed with kids activities, so when the Summer hits and we have very few things going on, I revel in it!!!

With the van not running I had to use Johns car to go to the grocery store. You should know his car has NO A/C!!! NO GOOD!!!! Anyway, Brooklyn and I went grocery shopping and then home to unload it and while we were at it I started dinner in the crockpot (steak and black bean chili) before John went to work. It won't really be ready until he gets home tonight, but it sure looks and smells good!!!

I should be starting laundry, but it is too flippin hot to be doing anything!! I will seperate it though, that counts right?! ;)

Sydney is at friends house for the weekend, so it's just me, Jordan and Brooklyn for the evening. I think we may just hibernate in my room where the air is on....I'm so tired of being hot and it's only July!!! :(

So, I guess I will throughly enjoy my non eventful weekend!!!

I am melting!

This hot, sticky weather has got to go!!! Its 103+ with thunderstorms all around us.....ugh!!! I've been hiding in my rom since my a/c works nicely in here. That, however, is not a good sign for the rest of my house!!! I am setting my alarm for early in the morning so I can get some cleaning done before the heat sets in. I hate this!!!!! :(

Lazy Days of Summer?

Oh how I wish!!! My visions of lounging around in the early mornings and simple tidying up in the house during the day haven't yet happened this Summer! :(

The beginning of the Summer started much like the rest of the year has gone...full of stress! I'm determined to not let it get me down though, God will get me through and I will be stronger for it!

I go back to work August 3, Sydney goes back August 6 and Jordan & Brooklyn go back July 29. Soooooo, within that time I will get things in order around here! I have a ton of things in my room that can be donated or thrown out, Brooklyns clothes need to be gone through, the garage needs to be cleaned up and Jordan has clutter galore in her room! It will get done, or I will stress myself out trying!!! :)

*cough*

UGH! I don't feel good! I have been fighting off a cold for a few days, but I can feel it getting the better of me, my head hurts, I'm tired and my throat is killing me, even a bit of a cough! BLAH!!! I DO NOT have time to be sick, do you hear me sickness fairy..NO TIME!!! and to top it off Jordan is sick too! No fever, but she did throw up 3 times last night..yuck! she looked and felt ok this morning, but I wouldn't be surprised to get a phone call from the school, thank goodness it's a minimum day today and John is going to pick them up. She won't go to soccer tonight though, it's just practice and I can't have her out there in the cold and wet just to practice if she's not feeling well. poor thing!

The job hunt for John is still going on...I'm trying SOOOOOOOO hard to not flip out, some days are better than others though. This economy needs to change..quick like!

Have a great day! :)

All Star weekend

Here are Brooklyn and Shyann before the first game..don't they look cute?

This is from the start of the day, it was a beautiful day to play some soccer! The girls did the best they could, but I don't know what the heck their coach (and a friend of ours) was thinking! Grrr....hopefully tomorrow will be a better day for the team! Brooklyn was so upset with todays outcome she said she didn't even want to play tomorrow...poor thing! But, we had a talk about being on a team and how just because you don't get your way that it doesn't mean you can throw a fit (there is a girl on her team that does just that and it's very VERY irritiating!) A day full of good lessons, hard ones, but good life lessons!

And the hits keep coming!

*sigh* well, John was laid off from work...can you say FREAKING OUT?! We found out 12/30 and I've been a wreck since then! We have already applied for unemployment, but haven't gotten the paperwork in the mail yet. He has been applying for jobs already, but there's really not much out there! We will just hae tpo buckle down and make this work...I mean what else can we do?! :(

Amid all of our chaos Brooklyn has an All Stars Tournament this weekend, so that will be exciting, she has turned into a pretty good little soccer player! Jordan helped out with the team, so she is excited to see the outcome this weekend as well.

Sydney is still Sydney! She was so mad the other day! Her science teacher lost one of her assignments that she KNEW she did, so Syd came home, but couldn't find it, so what does my brainiac do? She did the assignment all over! LOL! That's my Sydney! :)

I will have to finish later...gotta go make that money...or the little money I can anyway! ;)