No, We Never Did Own a Panini Maker and Other Changes for 2013

Why no January 2013 entries listing all my new year reservations?  Well I did not have any.  In fact, I sat down a few times and tried to start an entry.  Later this year, there will be some big changes in our family's life.  Those changes have more to do with my husband graduating law school and us moving.  I just did not know what else to expect from 2013 nor what to focus on for the year.

So far there are a few things from last year that I started and were such a great success I am continuing them on through this year.

1.  Of course I have been down sizing things in our home, organizing, packing and putting stuff into storage.  This has been going on for a few months and will be getting more intense over the coming months.  I have gotten to be creative in my organization.  Often you have to think out of the box when you are in a small space and that I have done.

Laundry hampers are great for storing toys in main rooms of the home.  Some containers can roll away and be hidden behind a sofa or wall.  Office filing systems that are not all metal and sterile looking but the ones that are sometimes made of wood, wicker or even woven bins can be used in closets and corners of small areas to hold items often used but have no place to be stored.

Get creative, have fun and make it look nice and original!

2.  Last year, I started using an online organizer, Cozi instead of a notebook or a paper organizer for the first time ever.  I had never felt good about not having things written down on paper.  That last statement is really actually odd coming from me, since I am extremely techno savy, but I have been carrying around a notebook style planner for over 20 years and swore I always would.

I did a lot of searching and looking at various online organizers.  I wanted one that was family friendly and could be accessed anytime, anywhere and from various devices.  I can keep track of everyone's schedules, meal planning, recipes, shopping lists, and to do lists.  I love how flexible and functional it is.  Even, my husband logs in and uses it!

3.  Using Quicken to keep track of our family's spending and budget, instead of just balancing the check book and using spreadsheets has been a life saver.  I have gone back and forth on using Quicken but last year I went and ahead and purchased Quicken Deluxe 2012.  I am glad I did.  I even upgraded to 2013 this month, that is how serious I am about using this product.

I have been an accountant for small businesses and large businesses and this software is easy and gives me a full picture of our finances and both my husband and I have appreciated being able to keep track of our spending this way.

Last month I practically stumbled upon a few things that literally brought such positive change to my family, I have to share.  Sometimes just a few simple steps in the right direction make a big difference and that is something my husband and I both have learned.

1.  I finally caved in and bought my family a panini maker.  If I had known that this would have stopped everyone from eating take out, trust me I would have done this years ago!!!  Seriously!!!  All I have to do is provide, bread, tortillas, lettuce, cheeses, meats.  My husband and son are even using the left overs to make creative sandwiches or wraps.  There seems to be no limits to their creativity.  This has saved us a bundle and we are all eating healthier.

2.  Although I have a small freezer, I am doing some freezer cooking.  For instance, if I make a casserole, I double the amount and freeze the extra half for a meal later.  I also make breakfast burritos and freeze them for easy breakfasts in the morning.  Having a frozen pre-made dinner that I cooked, that only needs to be re-heated for those night I don't want to cook has been awesome.  Plus I know what my family is eating.

3.  Eating fresh and saving money!  Hello!!!  Isn't this something every parent wants for their family?  I had seen a friend of mine always posting of facebook about her basket of fruit and veggies from Bountiful Baskets.  I was unaware that I could do the same even though we were hundreds of miles apart!  It's funny how doing a little research can be so eye opening.

It is a mad dash now on Monday to log in and order my basket and any other extras they may have that I could use.  I would say that I cannot wait until Saturday to pick up our basket of goodies to see what we get, but that would be a lie.  My son Kyle seems to be more eager then I am.  It really has become a major part of our weekend.  Once I pick up our basket of veggies and fruits and put them away, I can make the meal plan for the week.  Some of items I get, I do prep and freeze for meals to come.

If you have never heard of this co-op, check them out, Bountiful Baskets.

As you can see, I have learned a few good things last year that I am keeping up with and started out the new year trying out a few good things to help improve the life of myself and my family.  I think we really have started out the new year on the right foot.  Let's just hope we can keep our balance, because, we are in for a wild ride.

Trust me, February has already started out with a bang and even more surprises!  I just hope I can keep up! I may need a whole lot more coffee if things don't slow down!

TTFN

Dee

And On My Knees I Fall......

Verily I say to you, we will not end this violence with more violence but on our knees and pray.  This is not a time to point our fingers at a failed society.  The division in this Nation is a distraction from the war at hand.

I do not mean to sound so doomsdayish nor like a blithering fool.  People are running around worried about losing their guns and having them taken away.  I see such disrespect for our President and even from my fellow Christians going as far as calling him a dictator.  Our President is trying his best with what limitations he has to address the fears and concerns of a Nation who has seen too much innocent blood spilled.   

Now is the time to put aside our political fears.  These fears are the distraction that is keeping us divided.  As long as we are divided and bicker we will never be able to protect our families, our loved ones, our children. There will be more shootings in public places and we will look at the situation and wonder what could we have done?

What could we have done to prevent such a mindless, senseless, cold hearted, blood bath?  What could motivate someone to do this?  What signs were there that we missed?

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Eph 6:12

There is evil in this world.  We cannot ignore it.  It exists.  We talk about it in our movies and our tv shows.  The super natural world is something many are curious about or are very aware of.  While yes there are things we can do to help prevent violence and practice gun safety, we need to do more.

We need to get on our knees and PRAY.  We need to pray over our children, over the schools, our government, and our President.  We need to pray over our families and our communities.

I know we may not all agree on how to pray.  I know there is so much bickering and fighting and name calling.  We need to stop and take a moment each day and pray against the evil trying to divide us and attack us where it hurts most, the spilling of innocent blood.

Please,  let's unite and stand together for once.  Families are turning on each other, schools are no longer safe, public places such as theaters and malls are no longer places we can gather without concern.  Let's take back our safety and our peace.  Prayer is a good start and then .... perhaps then everything else can fall into place.

Dee Jones
Wife - Mother


I normally would not get so political in my blog.  However this is something I felt deep in my heart I needed to share and I can only hope it touches others and that they share this too.  

Snowed In and Frazzled from Winter Break!

Yes I am looking forward to Winter Break ending and getting my world back to normal.  I have enjoyed all this time with my family, the holidays and the birthdays.  However I am burnt out.  I am missing the hustle and bustle of everyday life.  I miss juggling everyone's schedules, and PAT meetings and volunteering at my son's school.  I miss my daily routines of getting everyone ready for the day and out the door for school buses and car rides.  I miss the time it is just my baby girl and I alone.  I miss being able to get house work done and not tripping over people and toys all day.

It's funny that leading up to Winter Break I was burnt out on all of that and now I want my normal busy SAHM life back.  The life where there are no breaks and you have to be on your toes constantly.  Sure, with everyone home I was running around trying to keep everyone entertained and putting on parties and making the holidays special.  However it just was different.  I never really had me time, alone time.  With my son in school and Husband in his Law classes, during the day for some days, it is just Hailey and I.  Once Hailey is down for a nap, I am free!  It is just me and whatever task I want to tackle to get done, or sit down for a coffee break.

It is a moment in time where I can shutdown.  The last three and a half weeks, I have NOT had this moment of bliss.  In fact I don't get it today, when most schools have started.  Why?  Because my school is lame and not opening until TOMORROW!!!  TOMORROW!!!  TOMORROW!!!

>>>>>TAKES A DEEP BREATHE<<<<<

Just as I typed this my adorable son came in here to let me know that it has been a LONG time since I played with him.  Mind you, I just stepped away 10 minutes ago and before that I was making him his favorite swiss cheese quesidilla on a panini press, but before that I was playing with him for HOURS!  It is funny how kids can exaggerate time.  Well I must hurry or I am sure my son will start wasting away because Mama hasn't been playing with him.  ;)  On the joys of being a SAHM.

Can I have a vacation soon?  

Trying to get a good shot of me with my little ones is never easy.  Baby Girl had just clawed my nose in this picture.

This was as good as we were going to get.  No really it was.  Trust me you don't want to see the other shots my husband took trying for that perfect one.

Restless After the Holidays

The celebrations are coming to an end in my home.  I know in many other homes they continue on.  I use to leave the tree up until mid January but this year I have taken it down already.

December for my family is non stop celebrations.  Oh I am not talking about the tradition holiday parties and dinners through out the month.  Both of my children are December babies.  I want to make their birthdays special and unique.  I want to give them the kind of birthday they ask for and not just combine it with Christmas.

I can pre-plan and purchase gifts and favors months in advance, there still are unexpected surprises. Then there is pulling off the birthday parties.  I have done prepackaged parties at Chuckie Cheese's.  They do make set up and clean up easy.  However they do lack that personal touch that throwing your own party has.

This year I did the the favor bags, crafting packs and even made up the games myself.  I hand painted a wrestler for a game of pin the championship belt on the wrestler.  I made the cake and my husband was a ton of help with everything.  It was a lot of work but worth it.

My daughter had just turned one, so we had a small party with the family.  I made her cake and she got to eat some of it and opened presents.  It was a very special time.

Since my son's birthday is the 22nd I held his party the Weekend before while his friends were in town.  Now on the 22nd, I made him his favorite breakfast, cheese danish and favorite dinner, crab legs.  I still wanted to do something for his actual birthday and this was perfect.

I am glad to say that the days leading up to Christmas we just were able to relax and enjoy spending time with our family.  We had no last minute shopping to do.  We had not place to be and there was no rush to do anything.  It was such a lovely break.  We played games, painted holiday ornaments, and watched movies.

On Christmas Eve, Kyle helped me make our Christmas pizza and we watched a movie and it was off to bed for the kids.

Once they were in bed and to our surprise they STAYED in bed, my Husband and I tackled the assembling and wrapping of gifts.  Oh we laughed as we stumbled through this process but we managed without getting hurt.

Christmas morning Santa had indeed arrived and presents were opened!  Breakfast was made and toys were played with.  We watched Avengers and devoured Prime Rib and homemade Mac & Cheese.  We called relatives and friends telling them how much we love and miss them.  We had a very Merry Christmas!

Now between Christmas and New Years, we have gone out and done a few things and done some shopping.  New Year's Eve we spent time with friends and then came home and rang in the New Year with confetti shooting poppers and toasting in the New Year.

We have had such a great time celebrating and enjoying ourselves, we just do not know what to do with ourselves now that the holidays are coming to an end.  Next week, life goes back to normal.  Right now it is like we are in limbo.  We have a few days in between all the parties and normal life.

We just do not know what to do with ourselves.  My husband and I are trying to think of things to do so we aren't so restless.  However I think our son just wants to sit around in his underwear at home hanging out.

I think we are just partied out!  Yes it was well worth it.  

Santa Claus is Real to Me

I read an article recently, written by a 27yr old women about how harmful believing in Santa is. She was telling her story how hurt, upset, betrayed and traumatic it was when she was 9 yrs old & learned Santa wasn't real.  It caught me off guard to read this from a grown woman.  There was a lot of bitterness and the spirit of Christmas seemed lost on her.

After I read the article I thought back on my own personal experience with this figure we call Santa.  As a child I looked forward to celebrating the birth of Christ our Savior with the opening of gifts from Santa Claus.  Santa was very real in our hearts and minds.  He brought gifts to everyone who was good and even if we were bad on Christmas.  I never remember any traumatic or hurtful experience from believing in Santa, nor can I say when I stopped believing in Santa Claus. There was no startling revelation that made me lose my faith in the unseen. I never stopped trusting my parents or anyone else.

With time I simply came to a realization that he is not real nor are his reindeer.  I never let on to my siblings that he wasn't real!  Each and every Christmas I kept the Santa alive. I am the eldest of three. I made sure they looked forward to finding gifts from Santa under the tree!

My parents have always kept Santa Claus alive so to speak in our home.  We never got to old or thought it was stupid or silly to say things like, "I hope Santa Claus brings me.....".

Even as we grew up to adults, my parents had gifts for us from Santa under the tree. My parents would also have gifts for each other from Santa. It was tradition and no harm came from it. Instead, we would laugh and giggle, even as teenagers opening our gifts from Santa.

As a parent of 2 young children, I wonder how will I handle that moment when Santa is no longer real to them. My wish is they never lose that joy and magic of Christmas that believing in Santa & his 8 Reindeer bring each year.  I hope they have the same experience that I had and realize that Santa Claus symbolizes so much more then just a jolly old man bringing gifts.

That's me on Christmas Morning enjoying my Coffee.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I had made a very similar post to this in my Facebook Group Coffee Time for Moms and we had a great time chatting about this.  I do feel bad for the woman who had such a horrible childhood experience.  I can't help but wonder if her parents could have helped her more and handled it all a lot better.

As parents we have such a great responsibility in raising our children.  It is NOT easy.  We are not perfect and we will make mistakes.  I would not fully blame that woman's parents, because she is now a grown woman and has chosen to keep these bitter and angry feelings towards Santa Claus instead of seeking out help and for healing.

To be a parent, our lives change as do our priorities.  These changes can come easy to some, while others may struggle.  It can be easy to rush to judge another mom or dad based on your views and perspective.  I've been guilty of this myself.

I want to be more uplifting and encouraging to other Moms.  We all make mistakes.  It is what we do afterwards that is important.  Use those mistakes as life lessons to become the best Mom that YOU can be!

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and that Santa Claus brought your family all you desired!  And I wish each of you a very Happy New Year!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you are interested in joining a group of Moms who really are accepting of each other and supportive please check out :

Coffee Time with Moms