What I did this summer - Part 1

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What I did this summer... Part 1!

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Well we got our first family pet! We went to our local adoption store and spent the afternoon looking at kittens! Here the kids have settled on one, a 4 month old boy and they wait with anticipation!

Here is the foster mom saying goodbye to her little charge. The kids look like they are ready to cry on behalf of the woman.

Ready for the big moment to release the box!

And here is Samson! We named him that because he has a really long tail and it reminded us of the story in the bible about Samson's long hair. ha ha

He is such a snuggler! I lurve it!

He is already settled in and using his litter box like a veteran!

 

UPDATE: Here is the picture that the adoption agency emailed me today from when he was previously advertised on the internet. Aweeeee, adorable next to that big dog looking so lovingly down at him. So glad there weren't any takers because we lurve him!

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Pret-Tea Gifts!

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What do you do when your beautiful blog friend Kat at Poetkat's Invisible Keepsakes says... "Janeen, I want to send you a little something..."? Well because your on vacation, you are home and actually get to see WHO your postman is... a very nice gentleman by the way... and you patiently wait in ANTICIPATION and make the chit-chat introductions QUICK because you see a PACKAGE with AIR-MAIL stamps on it in his arms that you want to RIP open as fast as you can!

See that red sticker on there that says, FRAGILE... so no ripping allowed! So instead I carefully open it with a pair of sissors.

And to my wonderful delight is a beautiful note tucked inside!


Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwe!
I LOVE IT KAT! You are too generous, it is so very sweet of you to bestow it upon me who will be using it... like EVERYDAY when I have tea!!! It is so beautiful and I love the deepness of it! It could probably hold several bags!

My Girl said, "Mommy, that is SO you!"
I responded smiling... "Yes, yes it is!"


It says THE BUTCHART GARDENS on it and has beautiful pink and red roses on it!

Note to self... put your face on (make-up) before you take pictures! ha ha
Oh well I AM on vacation...


Truly Kat, I REALLY lurve the special giftie! You are so sweet to think of me! Fellow readers, if you don't know Kat, I encourage you to visit her right away and say Hello and read her amusing, sometimes brooding poems and also fun posts on her love of food, books and you won't be able to resist her cats... if you're a cat lover!

THANK YOU KAT!
MAY YOU BE BLESSED DURING YOUR SABBATICAL THIS MONTH!

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I'm won over by Georgette Heyer!

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This has been a good year for me... turning 40 yrs old that is, because I have won 3 giveaways in the last year and up until then, I RARELY won anything! And this particular win was truly the highlight because I won 10 BOOKS! That's right ~ books! (Everybody swoons...)

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About a month ago I entered this drawing at one of my favorite blogs ~ Jane Austen Today ~ and last week it was revealed that....(drum roll please...) the winner was ME! The prize is 10 books written by Georgette Heyer! (Everybody sighs now...)

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And if these pictures don't reveal how excited I was to allow myself to be filmed in my evening gown for ya 'all to see, then I don't know how more real it can get here... I absolutely could not wait to open the box when my Man brought it in from the mailbox. Seriously, how could I have missed the size of this thing... perhaps I was distracted by two little people in the backseat... yes, that's it! I didn't change my clothes, put my hair back down or put my jewelry back on, I just dove right in!

THANK YOU MS. VIC & LAUREL ANN!

THANK YOU!

THANK YOU!

I called my sister to share the news and she said... "Oh I wish it were raining today, it would be a perfect day to read a crisp new book!" I couldn't agree more!

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Slowing down...

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Slowing down now...

Did I mention I've been busy this summer? I was working on my photos to post here (I promise they are coming!) and saw this one from a couple of weeks ago and it brought me right back to the moment of....

Peaceful... Quiet... Recharge... my favorite indulgence...

Tea Time and a movie!

Light a candle... now choose a tea flavor...

1/2 lump for me...

Did you know that the phrase "1 lump" means 2 sugar cubes...

a few Gingersnap cookies...

(I know the kids will sniff out my cookies so I plate some extra!)

and now the movie... a little Christopher Reeve.... sigh....


Hope your having a great week!

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I'm a Great Auntie!

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Hi everybody! I am sooooo behind in my posts! I've got lots of pictures to transfer and memories to post here from all our summer activities but this one couldn't wait....

I'm a Great Auntie!

Check out my sister Melody's blog for the news and more pics!

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Priceless memories...

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Kids: Mom, what are we going to do today?

Me: How about going fishing?

Kids: YESSSSSSSSS!!!

Me: And I can read a book... YESSSSSSSSSS!

 

My Girl writing in her journal while she waits for bite on her line...

 

My Boy... "Mom, whatcha doing?"

Me: "Reading... what are you doing?"

"Fishing... Mom, have you taken any pictures yet?"

Me: "Yep, just a couple"

My Boy: "Can I take some?"

Me: "Sure!"

Since I'm the Queen of self-portraits, my Boy took a turn at it....

Hmmm, we'll have to work on that.

My Boy: "Mom, let's do a goofy picture."

Me: "Naturally!"

My Boy: "Mom, I love you.... smoooch!"
Me: "I love you too Son!"Memories Are Priceless!
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Funny Friday!

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My girlfriend Suzanne, who unfortunately doesn't blog ~ but if she did, would probably get a million visitors a day cuz she's just that funny ~ just sent me a link to a story called “Left Brain Grocery List”. Can I just tell you that I sat here and HOWLED with laughter!

REVISED INSTRUCTIONS! Thanks Sparky! I think you will! To LISTEN click here and it will automatically take you to the page, wait for just a moment and if you have speakers you'll HEAR Jeanne tell the story in her Southern drawwwwwwwwwl about how they do things in the South and she sends her husband to the grocery store, hence the title... Left Brain Grocery List. Enjoy!

P.S..... I'm doing good, just busy working and raising this family! How can it be that there is only 6 more weeks of summer left? Lord, please slow life down just a weeee bit for us. Amen!

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Weekday Timesaver

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I thought I would share with you one of my weekday timesaver tips!

Like most of us, I work full time and already get up at O'Dark-Thirty during the week. In fact, I'm already dressed with my hair and make-up done before my kids wake up at 6:30am because once they are up, I have to keep them focused on the morning routine otherwise they are easily swayed to play with a toy or morning cartoons. So to make my weekday mornings go smoothly, several years ago I started doing this....

On either Saturday or Sunday, I ALWAYS make a double batch of pancakes or waffles so I have some already-made breakfast choices that are easy to reheat and serve. I also make a BIG batch of bacon about once a month too. We eat some on the weekend and the rest get packaged up and put in the refrigerator to use that week.

For both the pancakes and the waffles, I slightly undercook them so when they are reheated, they finish perfect everytime. Waffles go in the toaster and pancakes go in the microwave. I'll serve them up with eggs done in a variety of ways and Voila, breakfast is ready in less than 8 minutes from start to finish!

I package them up 4 per bag as my kids will each eat two and my Man will eat all 4.

Thankfully, my family doesn't get tired of pancakes and waffles but when they do, I can easily serve the old standby... milk and cereal.

What do you do to make your weekday routine easier?

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Be back soon...

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Hello my friends! Well as you can see my blog is looking a bit different now but not because I planned it that way. My computer recently took a nose dive (thus the reason I haven't been on here and visiting you all in over a week) and I had to do a clean sweep with new software protections that change my old design here. I'm still tweaking some of the items but at least I'm up and running again. I'll probably spend some more time on it tomorrow but for now we are off to visit family and friends for the holiday. Enjoy your holiday as well!

For Gina...

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For Gina, who asked...

"Janeen, what's up? No new posts?"

You're right... let me share my list of this weeks "To D0 List" with you...

1. My Niece Jackie who is my sister Melody's daughter, is getting married this fall and this weekend kicks off the first of her bridal showers, so I'm busy with that.

2. I am creating the games for the party

3. I made 2 batches of cookie dough last night that's chilling in the frig.

4. Tonight I am baking those cookies.

5. Tomorrow I am frosting those cookies so they can dry and be ready to bag in the evening.

6. Tonight I am finishing the assembly of the party favors.

7. This morning I made my children's ham sandwiches on hot dogs buns because I have no bread, therefore I need to go to the store to buy bread and other groceries.

8. Last week I started my Fresh Brewed Life Summer Book Club at church so there was a WHOLE lot of stuff to do in preparation for that; create folders, discussion materials, go to the Dollar Store and buy all the paper products needed, yada yada yada. God is good as it went great!

9. Brewed a pot of Mango Flavored tea but couldn't enjoy it because something else had to be done. So minutes ago I put it in a carry thermos to have ICED TEA in this HOT California weather!

10. Took the kids to the library to get their accounts straightened out, they both walked away with arm loads of books.

11. Tomorrow morning, I'm off to Melody's house to help set up her house for the party.

12. Call ladies who didn't make it to the book club last night and tell them I missed their smiling face and hope they didn't change their minds but understand completely if they did. Overall, I want them to know their sweet self's were missed by the group!

13. Need to get gas in my car.

14. Still trying to schedule a date with the PG girls... need a Rita, some chips and girlfriend time!

15. Get up at o-dark-thirty, make some coffee, grab my journal for the book club, go outside on the patio in the cool of the morning, light a candle and spend some uninterrupted time with my Jesus!

So that's what I have been and will be doing this week! I miss ya all but the great thing about bloggin' is that everybody is busy and no one takes it personal if you haven't been by in a week or so to comment. It's all good!

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Well ain't that something!

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My Beautiful Mother-in-Law who sent me this video (ya 'all are cracking me up so I'm going to clarify this here that the woman in the video is NOT my M-I-L. The woman is the actress from Gilligan's Island - Marianne) just shared this EASY way to peel a COOKED potato when making potato salad! Check out this 2 minute video here!

Wow, you learn something new everyday! I lurve it ~ What do you think?

UPDATE: I tried it and it works! We had bangers and mash Monday night - so easy now!

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Happy Friday - Schools Out!

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Last day of School! Yahoo!!

UPDATE: The kids were so excited today when I showed at up at the school to pick them up! Surprise! I'm always working but worked a half day instead to spend time with them and we had a great lunch together. It was sweet to see them say goodbye to their friends. Oh the highs and lows of the last day of school! As soon as we got home though they each went to the TV and have been chilling... ha ha

Well my Man just got home and we're off to go fishing until sunset!

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Need some tips

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My girl has REALLY gotten the bug to go to garage sales lately. Me, well not so much. I've only gone to a handful of them willingly and the last one was probably 5 years ago when I saw just what I was looking for and it was just down the street from me... an old, beat up, scratched up wooden vanity! Perfect for me who at the time had 2 very small children and needed something that I could sit down at in the mornings to get ready for the day and not worry if my baby boy would draw on it with a marker. I remember the lady who sold it to me for $25 said it would probably clean up pretty good with a little effort. I think I slayed her when I said it was perfect just the way it was... all beat up already. ha ha

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For several years I have also been looking for a small 2 seater couch to put in front of my vanity too. I've used folding chairs, rocker chairs and now I have a old swivel living room chair that I use. Why a couch? Because everyone wants to sit in my chair! Either I'm getting ready and they want to get ready with me OR they want to snuggle up with their Mama OR because it's cozy watching TV in it too but when you've got 2 kids, someone else has to sit in the un-comfy plastic green chair. I know the years are quickly approaching when they won't want to snuggle up with Mama on the couch but even when they outgrow it, I'd still like the little couch there for myself! Recently my Boy asked me if I had given up on looking for a couch and I told him, No I hadn't but our years of budget lock down had stopped my searching because I didn't want a hand-me-down couch unless I KNEW the house where it came from. Someday it will come our way!

Anyway, back to garage sales... my Girl thinks that they are the greatest thing EVER and thinks that the $2.00 in her pocket is going to enable her to walk away with an amazing item. I told her I would take her a few times once summer arrived and so I'm asking my Veteran Garage Sale bloggy friends out there for any advice tips you can share with us!

Thank you in advance and have a great day!

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Swooning Amore'

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I'm swooning amore' with this new coffee creamer! Have you tried it yet?

I've been using the Creme Brulee flavor for about 2 years but my Man recently brought this home, its Coffee-Mat'se new special edition flavor ~ Nestle Coffee-Mate Sweet Italian Creme! Mmmmmm Right now it's only sold in the 16 ounce size but I sent a message requesting them to upgrade to the king size version!

And while I was there, I saw this recipe posted... oh you've got to try it too! It kind of reminded me of a Orange Julius but only better and EASY! Next on my list is a recipe they had for Coffee Cake using the powdered creamer, it got 5 star reviews!



Ingredients:
2 cups ice cubes 1 cup orange juice 1/2 cup Italian Sweet Crème Flavor NESTLÉ COFFEE-MATE Liquid Coffee Creamer

Instructions:
PLACE ice, orange juice and Coffee-mate in blender; cover. Blend at high speed until smooth. Serve immediately.

Memories

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In preparation for my upcoming summer book club, I was going through one of my journals recently and found this funny entry/memory from a 5 - years ago!

The time is Midnight:
(Isabella) Mom, I had a bad dream, can I sleep with you?
(Me) Yes, get in.

1 am:
(Isabella) Mom, I want to pick out my clothes today, okay?
(Me) Yes, that's fine.
(Isabella) But I still might need your help, will you help me?
(Me) Yes, that's fine.
(Isabella) Mom, Nate was mean to Jordan today, he kept pushing her baby doll.
(Me) Isabella, Go to sleep. We'll talk about it in the morning.

1:30 am:
(Isabella) Mom, How much money do you have?
(Me) Why?
(Isabella) We need $150 so I can ride a horse for an hour. But I don't want Grant to go, okay? Just me!
(Me) Isabella, go to sleep, we'll talk about it later.
(Isabella) But Mom, do we have enough money?
(Me) No, I only have $17.
(Isabella) Okay, Mom, we need $150, so can we save that?
(Me) Yes, let's try but that means you won't be able to buy anything on Bake Sale Friday's at school for awhile.
(Isabella) Hmm, okay, can I do a few Bake Sale Fridays and save for the horse?
(Me) Yes, now go to sleep.

2 am:
(Isabella) Mom, I have homework tomorrow!
(Me) Go to sleep, we'll talk about it tomorrow!

?? am:
(Isabella) Mom
(Me) (I'm not answering)
(Isabella) Mom, MOM!
(Me- annoyed) What?
(Isabella) I love you.
(Me) I love you too, now go to sleep!

3 am:
(Isabella) Mom, can you pick me up from car line tomorrow?
(Me) No, I have to go to work. I'll be picking you up at daycare like I always do. Now go to sleep!

3:15 am
Isabella get's up to go to the bathroom. Then from down the hall I hear Grant wake up and starts coughing. I get up and make sure he's alright. He seems fine and wants to come into my bed. Okay, that's fine. I tell Isabella to go back to her bed. Then I realize that he has wet through his diaper. So, I get him cleaned up and wipe him down and put clean clothes on him. I'm too tired to strip his crib with new sheets, so he is definitely coming into my room. Isabella gets up again to see what's going on. I'm frustrated at this point and I tell my Man who has been sleeping through all these hours of interuption, TO GET UP AND HELP ME! He's up and out of bed in 2 seconds and changing Grant's crib sheets.

3:30 am:
(Isabella walks back into my bedroom) Mom, you know what?
(Me) I know your gonna be in trouble if you don't go to sleep!
I get up and walk her back into her room.
(Isabella) Mom, will you lay down with me?
(Me) Yes.

Moments later...
(Isabella) Mom, my class is going to have Bake Sale this month.
(Me) Yes, I know, go to sleep!

3:50 am
My Man gets up for work and comes into Isabella's room to tell me what time it is.
(Me) GROWLING... Yes I know what time it is!!!!!

4am
I return to my bed and Grant is sleeping in it.

4:10 am
Grant starts to cough again and this time throws up in my bed!

Ah, we have a sick child! At last I KNOW that I won't be able to go back to sleep now!

5 am:
(Isabella) Mom, I'm going to go to sleep because the sun still won't come up and I don't want to wait for it anymore, okay?
(Me) That sounds like a good idea baby, I will wake you up for school.

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