Fences Movie

I rented the movie Fences.  I have to say the only reason I wanted to see it was because of Viola Davis.  I had no idea what the movie was about.  But I did enjoy it.  It was pretty emotional though.  The movie is about love, life, and even a cheating husband, and then death.  Viola Davis  and Denzel Washington both do a wonderful job!! 

A Thousand Boy Kisses Book Review

Wow!  Seriously very well written! The book is sad but so good!! Five stars!! It's a must read but have you Kleenex ready! 

If you have read it, let me know what you think.  

Walking Trail

Today we went to the Shawnee Airport walking trail.  For anyone who doesn't know it is 4 miles long.  It is paved, which is nice.  And every wide so more than a one person can walk on it. And of course no cars!!  Which was nice to not have to worry about drivers running over us.  We walked it in about one hour, and that was while pushing a stroller and the winds were about 30 mph, which felt about like 60! 

But some things about the trail that needs improvement.  One is someone needs to mow!  Some of the grass was taller than me, and that is a little scary when you are walking through a trail and all you can see is grass.  Anything could be in the grass.  Another huge thing is that once you make it to MacArthur and Leo the trail circles around and doesn't continue down MacArthur, you have to cross MacArthur- which is a busy street!  And then there is a sidewalk (one of Shawnee's famous sidewalks to no where- but this one does lead down through the tunnel). At MacArthur and Airport Road, you have to cross the street again to get back on the walking trail.  Small children + lots of cars, they don't mix!  Who thought that would  be a good idea anyway??  That is just dumb, and dangerous.  Most all walkers or runners that we passed on the trail had earphones on.  It just seems dangerous to me, to make people vross MacArthur twice. 

Overall, it wasn't bad.  I wouldn't walk it alone, or at night at all.  Most of the walkers/ runners we saw were normal people, one guy looked to be up to no good though and that was around 4 in the afternoon on a Wednesday.  But I think I will keep walking in my neighborhood and dodging cars.

Chicken Noodle Soup

I will be the first to tell you that I am not a great cook.  I don't even like cooking.  I joke around and say my next house will have no kitchen, just vending machines.  But living the poor life you have to cook.  I also do NOT like soup.  I never go somewhere and think, I bet they have great soup, I think I will order soup today... no.  I do warm up canned soup for my children at times, and no, I do not eat that.  I think canned soup is pretty much gross.  I will eat soup with rice in it.  But not plan soup.  And forget about adding an extra can of water.  Yuck!  With that being said I am a pinning oholic on pinterest and I found a recipe for chicken noddle soup.  With it being winter like here (temps in the 30's as the high), I decided lets try it!!  And holy moly, it knocked my socks off!!  Some of my children will eat soup, some won't.  Samantha didn't like the soup, the boys all ate it with little complaint.  The three older boys had more than one bowl!!!  Go me!!!  And I just had it as left overs (I don't "do" left overs either), and it was still great!!!  So this is a keeper for my family!! 

Here is the recipe for anyone that wants it.

Homestyle Chicken Noodle Soup (in less than 30 minutes!)

Ingredients:
1/2 of medium onion, chopped
1 bag of egg noodles (you can use either medium or wide)
2 cans of cooked chunk chicken breast (I like the Tyson brand), strained
1 can of sliced carrots, strained
Water
Chicken Bouillon cubes
Parsley Flakes

Easy steps to homestyle, tasty goodness:
1) In a large soup pot, saute onion in olive oil until translucent.
2) Fill pot 2/3 full with hot water and add bouillon cubes (I usually use 3 or 4)- you could also use canned chicken broth.
3) Bring to a rolling boil and add bag of egg noodles.
4) Boil until noodles are tender (approx. 12-15 minutes), and stir occasionally.
5) Add carrots and chicken and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 10 more minutes. (I usually do a quick taste test here and add more seasoning if it needs it.)
6) Sprinkle parsley flakes on top and serve!!! (Don't skip out on the parsley flakes- it really adds to the "homestyle" look of the soup. I am discovering that you can put parsley flakes on an old tennis shoe and it will look appetizing! haha)

I did add more chicken bouillon cubes then the recipe calls for. 

And a link to the blog.

http://wellfeefamily.blogspot.com/2011/09/homestyle-chicken-noodle-soup-so-easy.html

Let me know if you try it and what you think!

Christmas Decorations

Here are some of our Christmas decorations.  I love decorating!!  I  need to still take photos of the outside since there are lights on the house. 

 

Our tree.  I need a tree topper someday, but I am VERY picky about the topper.  I have only found a couple that I like.

My skirt that I made.  I may add more ribbon but I am loving it!  It was worth the sore back,  burnt fingers, and burnt elbow.. don't ask!  LOL , lets just say that I shouldn't craft in my bed.  LOL!

My snowy village.

The stockings, I need a new holder for mine.  And two stockings need names.  Hopefully soon!

A flower I made.  I actually have two like this.  And I am making a red one.

And the chandelier.  I love this!!  Thank-you Pinterest!!

 

I also have ornaments hanging in my living room.  And other small decorations out.

One Month Left

Only one month left till my little guy turns ONE!  :(  That makes me so sad.  I hate how fast it has gone by. 

 

 He is trying to walk, he can stand alone for a little while, he cruises everywhere, crawling super fast now, talking some (hi, hey, bubba, mama, dada, oh, uh oh, etc), he shakes his head yes and no, he loves clapping- he does that often, he likes patty cake, his red car, being held, he doesn't like strangers, or much in the way of baby food still, he loves bath time, he loves being outside and dogs, he hates sleep- he doesn't sleep well still. 

 

Coupons

I am NO extreme couponer or anything close.  I have bene using coupons for two months to try and save money.  In October I saved $50.  And in September it was around that too.  That is with just coupons.  I also buy things on sale.  So I probably save 75 a month.... no where near what I want to save though.  I am still learning on what works.  Some cashiers have no clue about coupons.  It can be stessful and frustrating at times.  Hopefully I will get better at couponing, I would like to save 200 a month.   There was an older lady in front of me yesterday that got  a cart full with NO coupons she only paid $108.  She used price matching and saved a ton.  All she bought was chicken, yogurt, juice, and something else but for the life of me I can't remember.  I love saving money, it is like a game to me.  I get a thrill out of it.  Maybe that means I don't have a life.  LOL!  :)

Day 4 of 30 days of Thankfulness

30 days of thankfulness- Day four: I am thankful for the internet.   I do so much on the internet- pay bills, post photos, facebook, school, check my children's grades, etc.. I can't imagine life without it now.

Fall Time!!!

Autumn is my favorite time of the year and looking at ALL of the photos I take, you can tell!!  Here are just a few of them.

 

This is one of my favorites right now.  <3 p="p">

Little pumpkin butt!

Turning colors

I love this little hat on him!

The pumpkin patch in the children's area at the Myriad... we LOVED it!!!  It was super cold (30's), but it was so cute and fun!   We will be going back next year for sure!

A teepee in the myriad.

Pumpkins, teepees, and Devon

And little super baby!

 

I will post more, it took FOREVER thanks to AT&T to load these.

Day 2 of 30 Days of Thankfulness

Day two: I am thankful for our home.  A lot of people don't have a home, and I am so grateful that we do. 

My Journey {10 Days Post Op}

10 days have come and gone now.  I am a little shocked that it has been 10 days already.  But I am glad that I am very tough or I would have died in the last ten days.  This has been the worst recovery ever for me.  And this was my 5th surgery.  I am still lovely shades of bruised, mainly black.  My incisions still hurt, especially when touched.  And laying down or getting up still hurts a lot.  Who knew how much you used your stomach muscles untill your stomach was jacked up.  But I am healing, at least physically.  Mentally, it is still rocky.  I am not sure I will heal mentally though.  We shall see.  I still have like ten more days till I see my doctor, and seeing my body makes me want to hurt him also.  The swelling has been crazy with this recovery.  In the morning, I look like I am 3 months pregnant, and by the end of the day I look 5 months pregnant, all from swelling.  It's crazy!  I guess that is normal?  I truly have no idea.  And I have a crappy nurse that doesn't tell me much of anything, so I am waiting to see.  And I am off of Motrin now too.  I was usppose to stay on pain pills for 1-2 months, that lasted 2 days.  And Motrin for about the same amount of time.  I guess having a high pain tolerance pays off at times.  But it probably would of been an easier recovery if I had taken the pain pills like I should of and rested more.  But life goes on and here's to ten more days of recovery..



Well a correction. I had glue bandages over the incisions. The glue has been coming off but now they are completely gone. And in two of my incisions I have a stitch hanging out of my body and the incisions are more open where the stitch is. I guess I ripped them or pulled it. I'm going to have a scar for sure. Now I'm upset again. I'm not sure what to do.

My Journey (7 Days Post Op)

7 days, 1 week out of surgery... so when does the healing start happening?  I am more bruised today than two days ago.  My moods and emotions are everywhere.  I can't control them, and at times I can't even stand me.  I am so sad and heartbroken.  I am still in a lot of pain, even though I am not on my pain pills and haven't been for 5 days.  Yesterday I made my belly button bleed from sneezing.. a simple sneeze.  I am not sure if I tore a stitch or what.  With my last surgery I tore a stitch or two post op in my belly button, that was because I was doing too much.  But I have been too much this time too.  Resting isn't happening too much at all.  So who knows.  I just want to feel normal.  Or at least better.

Pumpkin Patch

I love the pumpkin patch!  I always look forward to going.  The kids seem to enjoy it too! We have been twice so far, and maybe another time before the season is over.  I need to edit some of the other photos from when we went but I haven't had time yet.

 I love this little outfit on my little ones, and the hat too!