Merry Christmas!

Hope everyone had a great Christmas! We sure did! The kids got just about everything they asked for and more! My hubby and kids got me a present that I have been wanting for quite some time.....a Kitchen Aid! plus I got a cold too....see the last picture in my video! My Grandma gave all of the family a very special gift, which I helped her with, 4 CDs of my Grandpa playing the fiddle, her singing gospel music and the grandkids annual Christmas program on Christmas day! It was really touching and special. My sister read the letter out load that we put on the back of the CD cover. It brought tears to everyone's eyes!

Disney Desperate Housewives

Can you relate? Let's see, I think I can identify with at least 3 of them :-)

Blog Anniversary!

Oh my goodness! I have been soooo busy with life and a new business that I forgot my blog anniversary!

One year ago yesterday was the date of my first post! I was planning on blogging about the last year! As well as giving an update on my progress of my 40 before 40 list! I will do that later this week.....

Tackle It Tuesday (Sydney's Bedroom)

I'm embarrassed to upload a before picture of my daughter's room .....so I won't and upload the after when I get it finished. For some reason, Sydney's room becomes a drop off/hide it room for Gracie & Sydney's folded clothes, etc. There is no reason for this because I have plenty of room in their closets and drawers to put away their clothes. I am just a little lazy, I guess!

My tackle for today is to put all of the clothes away properly, clean out her sock drawer and her dance drawer. I will post the after pictures when I have it completed!

Okay....I didn't get this project quite done. I have about half of it done. Something came up & I didn't get it completed before I had to leave for dance.

I did get my Christmas decorations put on the tree however...I will upload those pictures with the Tackle It Tuesday final project!

Accountability (Week of 12-3-07)

I managed to stay on task last week with the help of my accountability to-do list. I had a few things that I wasn't able to get accomplished that I will work on this week. Here's my to-do list for the week:

1. Rearrange bedroom.
2. Put laundry away in Sydney & Gracie's room. This is my tackle-it Tuesday project! Okay-I am not quite done with this project, I will continue working on it for Wednesday.
3. Put garage sale items up in attic.
4. Stone Bushel & Peck costume.
5. Paint kitchen.
6. Put up Christmas decorations.-I have pulled out the Christmas trees & decorations. The tree is up but isn't decorated yet.
7. Work on Mindi's keepsake album.
8. Take recycle items to recycle bins.
9. Put up recycled cartridges/check from the Ink Factory.
10. Hang up coats.
11. Mop kitchen floor.
12. Dust.
13. Inventory freezer.
14. Finish mailing out Christmas cards.
15. Work out three times this week.
16. Clean out refrigerator.
17. Charge camcorder. Need to find the charger-it's not in the bag or in the drawer where it's stored away.
18. Finish mailing out referee checks.

What's in Your Freezer?

I know what's in mine! A freezer full of quick and simple meals for my family! I'm in a freezer co-op called The Freezer Chicks and we prepare 3 meal (5 times) for each family in the co-op & we meet once a month to exchange our frozen goodies and plan the next months meal. It works great for our family-I have 15 meals each month to serve my family! It saves me a lot of time & money each month on food. My typical grocery bill was running me close to $200.00 a week, plus $200.00 a month buying food from Schwans, PLUS the times we ate out because that was quicker than running home and trying to prepare a meal that I had bought on the ingredients for etc! Most of the meals that I have in my freezer can be defrosted really quickly in the microwave (if I forgot to set it out to thaw that morning!) and on the table in less than 30 minutes! My grocery bill, including eating out, is now down to about $600.00-I have saved closed to $400 to 600 a month using wants in my freezer to feed my family!

So why I am blogging about my freezer...well my friend Tina (Notes from the Queen) and I have started a new business based on this concept! We are preparing freezer meal for your family. Our website (blog) is up & running-it's still needs a little work-the header is too big, etc. etc but the main concept, meal choices, price list etc is up on the website for you to order from. We already have clients-we delivered meals to 2 families this week! Come check it out & see if we can help you get dinner on the table to your family each evening. We have lots of ideas that we will be implementing and adding each month:
1. A monthly newsletter.
2. Cash & carry meals-just in case you need something quick for the evening and your freezer is empty.
3. Meal cards-ideas of what to serve with the entrees.
4. Tasting events-where a client hosts and evening or afternoon at their home and we bring in same sample entrees for your friends to try & take orders.
5. Customer appreciation card.
6. We are currently working on getting the nutritional value of the meals that we prepare.

Etc. Etc. We do prepare the meals in a commerical kitchen to meet the Health and Safety Guidelines. Each month we have will have a list of meals that we prepare for your family. The monthly menu features the following groups of foods:
1. Monthly entrees-in season meals.
2. Fast meals-quick simple, on the table in less than 30 minutes.
3. Family favorites-tested by our families and the most requested!
4. Figure friendly-meals that are low in fat.
5. Crowd pleasers-enough to serve 12 people.
6. Soups, stews, stoups & chili.
7. Desserts

We are working on a "catalog." We would also love the challenge of preparing dinners that are your family's favorite by submitting a recipe to us & letting us prepare it for your freezer!

All of your meals will come to you frozen & ready for your freezer.

If you are interested in ordering from us or would like to check it out. Come visit us at The Friendly Freezer!

If you want to place an order give us a call (the phone numbers are on the website) or email us your order at thefriendlyfreezer@gmail.com. We are currently taking orders. Order by Dec 14th for delivery on Dec 19th-21st. Just in time for the holidays!

So....what's in YOUR freezer? Hopefully, you will do yourself a flavor & order some magnificent meals from the Friendly Freezer!

Accountability (Week of 11-26-2007)

Okay blogger buddies! You all have just become my accountability partners! I have an list of things that I need to get accomplished over the next couple of weeks before I have to start working on soccer items again and I get more accomplished when I blog about it! Cheer me on, congratulate me for getting so much accomplished in a short amount of time, etc etc! Here goes....

1. Tapes converted to CDs for my grandma. -Called Troy to set up appointment for this week.
2. Call hotel in St Charles for Starpower. Emailed phone number to competion dancers.
3. Send in gym request to Columbia Public Schools.
4. Call Stephen's College-re: gym.
5. Finish menu for business.
6. Take back item's to Home Depot-exchange them. Need to go again b/c the facuet still doesn't fit!
7. Clothes put away in Sydney's room.
8. Go through Sydney's sock drawer.
9. Email Board of Director's about bonuses and purchase of new fax machine.
10. Get out Christmas decorations.
11. Mail out Christmas cards. Addressed cards to my family. Need to address them for friends and mail them out. ****This was one of my 40 Before 40 items that I wanted to complete before I turned 40! Yeah! I get t cross another one off that list! I hadn't sent out Christmas Cards since I was pregnant with Gracie-she is now 8 years old! Everyone will be rather surprised!
12. Paint kitchen.
13. Put garage sales items away in garage on my side-so I can park in the garage again.
14. Clean out car.
15. Pick up recycled cartridges and check.
16. Get to the gym at least 3 times this week.
17. Mail out referee checks that I still have on my desk.
18. ??



I think that is it for know....I'm sure as the week goes on I will add to the list!

Enjoy the Holidays....

My friend, Mindi, posted this fun dancing elf clip & thought we would join in on the fun with my family....check it out!

www.elfyourself.com/?id=9586397235

Tackle it Tuesday (12 Things to Do Before Thanksgiving Break)

I haven't done a TT in a couple of months and would really like to tackle a big project but I have a lot of little items that I need to get done before the kids get home for their Thanksgiving break from school....today is the only day to get them done! So here is my list of 12 things I need to get done!

1. Pick up kitchen.

2. Run the sweeper.

3. Clean off desk.

4. Clean out CMSL basket.

5. Change sheets on beds-all beds.

6. Sweep/mop kitchen floor.

7. Clean bathrooms.

8. Set out dinner.

9. Send out Futsal reminder to teams.

10. Put dance costumes away-dance bag too.

11. Place popcorn order for dance.

12. Hotel for Starpower-email out phone number to Fairfield.

Plus...I need to get all of this done before 2:30!!

What are you tackling today? Check out more tackles at http://www.5minutesformom.com/

When God Paints

A friend sent me an email with the most beautiful pictures of nature...thought I would share them with you in a slide show....enjoy....

Words to Live By

Life is short, Break the rules, Forgive quickly, Kiss slowly, Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably, And never regret anything that made you smile....

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should dance....

Life on the Road

by Connor Hollrah

(For English, Connor has free writing assignments-his last assignment he wrote about his trip with his Poppy during the summer of 2006. My dad is an over-the-road truck driver and he took each of the boys on a trip that summer. They both had a ball and they got to see lots of wonderful country and got to spend some quality time with my dad. Here is what Connor wrote about....)

I will always remember the time when I went on a road trip with my grandpa in his truck. He had been driving semi-trucks for his entire life, but had just started driving all over the country. He would go away for long periods of time and sometimes got lonely. So, my grandpa and I decided we would go for a week on the road.

In the summer of ’06 I went on a road trip with my grandpa. It started at 5 O’clock in the morning when we left his house in Sedalia. I didn’t know that this would be one of the greatest vacations of my lifetime. I will never forget the time I went on the road with my grandpa because of the places we went, the living accommodations, and the fact I got to spend time with him.

My trip started when we went Joplin. It started in disappointment. While we waited for our truck to load up we were bored because we had nothing to do. It took an hour just to load the stuff onto the truck. I had thought the next week would be really boring and I had a mistake in coming. Little did I know it would be excessively exciting.

The second day of the trip I became sick and felt like I wanted to go home. I spent the entire day sleeping and throwing up because whenever I would not be sleeping I felt sick. I thought about going home, but I I thought better of it because I knew something good was bound to happen.

Our first stop was in South Carolina, right off the ocean, near Myrtle Beach. We arrived in the morning with the sight of a pink and orange sunset that covered the sky. We ate breakfast at a truck stop and enjoyed each other’s company over a plate of sizzling bacon, hearty scrambled eggs, and jelly-spread toast, a breakfast I would be thrilled to have any day. The third day of the trip was very enjoyable.

Late that night, we received the news that we would be going to Wisconsin for out next stop, but would first have to stop in North Carolina. I was excited we would be going through North Carolina because at the time the Tar Heels were my favorite college team. When we arrived in North Carolina we missed the exit to the stop. It was then very hard to find out way back. After about an hour of wandering around lost we found the stop and were still two hours early! We were surprised to find out that. The fourth day was very crazy.

On our way to Wisconsin we were held up by traffic in Indiana. It was amazing to just be sitting there over a rock quarry that was a long way down. I felt adventurous because I thought the bridge could fall at any time.

Wisconsin welcomed us with lots of clouds and plenty of rain. Our time In Wisconsin was long because we did not receive any instructions for the next delivery. By the time we got our load to Texas, I had to go home for soccer. I was disappointed that the trip had been so short and couldn't wait to do it again.

I will also remember the living conditions while on the trip. The biggest thing I wild remember was bed. My grandpa and I had to share a bed in the back of the truck which squeezed us together close. I was mesmerized by the fact we slept well each night. Also, we only took a shower twice because the showers could only be found at truck stops. Finally, whenever there was not a restaurant nearby we would have to eat soup or sandwiches. The soup took an average of one hour to make and the sandwiches were always the same. However, both were very delicious.

My time with my grandpa brought us close together and I now appreciate him more. Whenever I see him we always have something to talk about. I love him a lot and am glad we are so close.

Seven Wonders of the World

This is awesome....before you click play, scroll down & pause the music playlist in red. You will what to listen to this as the video plays.....enjoy.....

Tackle it Tuesday (To-Do List)

I don't have a major project to tackle today except getting a lot of things that need catching up-caught up! So I am posting my to-do list today and hopefully at the end of the day, I will have everything crossed off! Wish me luck!

1. Bible Study
2. Workout
3. Set out dinner-we are having Pork Chops with Apples and Herbed Dressing
4. Hotels finalized for Dance
5. Schedule set for Nov 3/4 soccer weekend
6. Referee Spreadsheet
7. Hallway picked up
8. Kitchen/Dining Room picked up
9. Living Room picked up
10. Laundry
11. Quiet time
12. Futsal registration forms emailed out & sent to webmaster
13. MYSA registration payment form emailed to Mick
14. Teacher Appreciation Committee emailed re: Luncheon and Monthly Birthdays
15. Update Hickman Blog
16. Try either yoga (5:30 pm) or Pilate's (6:30 pm) today
17. Drop off or Pick up at Dance this evening

As you can see, I have a lot to get accomplished today. I plan to take 15 minutes at a time to work on the little tasks, ie Hickman blog, registration forms, spreadsheet, schedule, etc. Then taking longer times to work on the bigger projects. Hopefully, I will get everything completed if I stay focused!

Check out more Tackle it Tuesday projects at http://www.5minutesformoms.com/!

Monday Menu Plan (10.22.07)

Monday: Orange Beef and Broccoli Stir-fry with steamed rice

Tuesday: Pork Chops with Apple and Herbed Dressing, Peas and Salad

Wednesday: Italian Sub Stoup and Sandwiches

Thursday: Mustard-Maple Chicken (in crockpot), Rice or Noodles, Green Beans and Salad

Friday: Order Pizza

What are you having this week. Check out more menu plans at www.orgjunkie.blogspot.com!

Taking it to the streets....

My daughter made the front page of the newspaper! Read below:

Published Sunday, October 21, 2007

(Julia Robinson photo)

Above, 6-year-old Sydney Hollrah cheers as she marches yesterday along Broadway in the University of Missouri-Columbia Homecoming Parade with other dancers from the Academy of Fine Arts. Below, Marching Mizzou steps in unison along Broadway. A few hours later, an announced crowd of 63,396 watched Missouri defeat Texas Tech 41-10 at Faurot Field.

(Nick King photo)

Goals for Week of 10/22/07 (#1)

It's been a while since I posted about life and what I have been up to. Soccer is winding down, we have a tournament next weekend and our last weekend of league games (make-up games) so I can start focusing on life....my life. So I decided that I would post my weekly goals on Sunday of each week and revisit those goals at the end of the week to see if I accomplished them!

Here are my goals for 10.22.07:

1. Start workout program (I would really like to work up to 2 hours per day in the gym on M, T, W and F each week). I really need to get serious about losing the extra weight that I have put on over the last three years.

2. Quiet time each day at 6:45 am-before I need to wake up the girls and get them ready for school.

3. Focus on one zone a week (Flylady) and get my house back in order! This week, I will be working in the Master Bedroom! Good! I think that I am going to do some summer/winter switching of my closet since Fall is in the air!

4. Start my weekly scrapbooking routine. I just purchased a photo album this week for Connor-the outside cover is a leather soccer ball. I have newspaper clippings and pictures from this season which I will get in his album and that will be caught up! I wanted to archive his High School Soccer Career and since that is currently taking place, no time like the present to get that done!

Well, I think 4 goals for this week should do me! It's going to be a struggle to get these accomplished I'm sure!

Wish me luck! Encourage me! I am going to need it :-)

Have a good week! See you on Monday with my weekly Menu Planning!

I hate chocolate...

thought that would get someones attention! No, I really don't hate chocolate BUT one day I did hate chocolate....first take a look at this picture and I will tell you the story behind it!

This picture was taken the summer of 2002. We moved the end of June that year and while I was unpacking, I came downstairs to find my girls or shall I say the youngest, Sydney, finger painting and licking chocolate syrup off of the coffee table. Gracie isn't innocent, even though she is trying to be an innocent bystander in this! You can tell that she has this look on her face & it's saying, I had nothing to do with this!

Instead of getting really mad, I grabbed my camera and emailed this picture to their grandma (my mom) with the subject.....I HATE CHOCOLATE!

Are You A Slacker Mom?

I took this little quiz today that was linked on my Gmail called "Are you a slacker mom?" Well, I just had to check because I don't think I am! The link is http://www.areyouaslackermom.com Check it out & see what type of mom you are.

Here are my results:

"Your quiz score makes you: Zen Mom

How do you do it? Even when explosions are all around, you are able to take a deep cleansing breath and chant your mantra "this too shall pass." You are a calming influence on your kids in a hectic world."

I wonder that myself, how do I do it some days?

40-before-40 Revisited

Every once in a while I need to revisit my list & make a plan to accomplish the list! Better get to work....I only have a few crossed off!

1. Clean/Organize Garage Starting this weekend (June 30/July 1)
2. Clean/Organize Attic
3. Lose 50 pounds---75 would be better but 50 would be great! (I have lost 8 pounds so far!) Will lose 25 pounds by September 1st. DID NOT DO :-(
4. Read the Chronicles of Narnia with my kids. (reading on my own first-finished the first book)5. Bake through Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook. Need to purchase a KitchenAid first for all that mixing...I've been hinting... working on..
6. Knit a blanket for each of my kids.
7. Renew my wedding vows.
8. Read the Bible completely. (started reading each day)
9. Purchase "1001 Books to Read Before I Die" and read one book a month.
10. Catch up on my scrapbooks. Starting on Friday!
11. Give up Diet Dr Pepper (this will be a really hard one, I have been drinking Dr Pepper since I can remember!Maybe just for a day...like the day I turn 40!) Better yet, add more water to diet!
12. Make a quilt.
13. Take Networking at church..discover my God given talents. (Registered for Networking-class starts Jan 21-23)
14. Burn all my home VHS onto DVDs. Purchased a program for my computer & will start working on this next week!
15. Rip CDs I don't listen to often and sell them.
16. Go to a spa for a massage.
17. Get a pedicure. Update-have one scheduled for July 17th!
18. Take a cooking class.
19. Read everything I haven't read yet on my bookshelf.
20. Watch all five Best Picture nominees prior to the Oscars.
21. Get a will (mostly for if something happens to both S & I-details for Mom & Dad re: the kids) Have mine done...need to get Sean's completed & have SIL file.
22. Learn cake decorating. Looked into classes but need to wait until Fall.
23. Plant a herb garden to be used all year long.
24. Try yoga.
25. Try pilates.
26. Incorporate a regular date night with hubby. (I thinking every other Friday or Saturday evening.)
27. Visit NY and go to a Broadway musical or play. (would like to see Wicked)
28. Make a household inventory notebook including pictures, serial numbers, etc for insurance purposes. Purchased notebook 6/29/07. Started working on inventory with kitchen.
29. Get finances in order and everything paid off.
30. Take family to Disney World.
31. Send out Christmas Cards (I haven't sent out cards since I was pregnant with my 3rd child!)32. Clean out car-keep it clean for an entire month-figure this would help me set a habit.
33. Take a second honeymoon with hubby.
34. Take family on a ski trip to Steamboat.
35. Go ice skating with my family.
36. Drink Milk. Plain, Chocolate or Strawberry flavored. (at least one for that day-this one is for my son-I do not like milk &; don't drink milk & he thought that it would be a good one to add to my list!)
37. See "Gone with the Wind."
38. Take Tennis Lessons.
39.
40

Tackle It Tuesday (Things I Need to Do Today)

I am doing a boring TIT...I'm posting my to-do list:

1. Hair appointment
2. Referee payroll
3. Box up Recycle Fundraiser items
4. Take to UPS
5. Email Secretary @ school with Teacher's Appreciation Committee for blurb in newsletter
6. Bible Study
7. Pick up girls-take to dance
8. Pick up ALL laundry & put away
9. Start working on referee schedule for this weekend

It doesn't look like much & most of it our things that will be easy to cross off my list BUT they need to get done! AND I need to see some progress today!

What are you tackling today? Check out more great tackles.

Monday Plan Menu (Week of 9-17)

I'm back in my grove and routine! We are busier than ever and would be lost without...or shall I say puttering around without my Menu plans or the Freezer Chicks! We had freezer exchange last Wednesday & I got 2 months worth of food! My freezer is full therefore, my families' belly will be full :-)

What are we having this week?

Monday (Soccer): Stromboli

Tuesday (Dance): BBQ Fillets, Baked Potatoes, Peas, & Salad

Wednesday (Soccer): Sesame Chicken w/ Garlicky Broccoli, Salad & Bread

Thursday (Dance & Soccer Game): Grandma's Secret, Salad & Bread

Friday (Football game-cousin is playing): White Castle Burgers, Chips & Salad

Saturday (Soccer): Eat out-games are at 5:15 & & 7:00 pm

Sunday: Party in Sedalia for my Dad's 60th Birthday....it's a surprise. His birthday was in June & we are surprising him on Sunday.

Check out other menu plans @ Organized Junkie.

Tackle It Tuesday (Clean Up the Mess!)

Today I am doing a typical clean up! My kitchen table, front door area & living room have become the drop off point for everything! Everything must go to it's proper place today:

What a mess! What are you tackling today? Check out more Tackle it Tuesday Projects.

Thursday Thirteen #18 (Thoughts about Today)

Where has the week gone? I can't believe it's already Thursday! Today's TT is random thoughts about today:

1. It was a short week BUT too many things on the calendar & to-do list! I still can't believe it's Thursday already.

2. Kick off today at Woodcrest for Take 2. I am excited about seeing friends and reconnecting with God today. I have NO clue what classes are being offered this semester so I am going in with an open mind and heart to where God will lead me today.

3. Lunch with friends! Yeah! Wonder where will we eat today?

4. Run some quick errands after lunch.

5. Make some phone calls regarding indoor soccer.

6. Get Connor's soccer gear, pick him up after school. Take him to meet the bus for his game this evening in Smithton.

7. Print MYSA cards.

8. Get video camera ready for Sean so he can video tape the game this evening. I am working and will not be able to go.

9. Pack girls dance bags, snacks for dance this evening.

10. Get fundraiser box & car wash $.

11. Pick up Rebekah.

12. Pick up girls from school.

13. Work at dance this evening. Take Collin (plus soccer gear)- a teammate is taking him to soccer this evening.

That's what I need to get done today. I still have a few more things that I need to do when we get home from dance this evening....type Connor's English assignment (he won't be home until late from his soccer game) and enter a couple of team's registrations for their MYSA cards/roster.

Whew...I'm tired already!

Tackle It Tuesday (Sitting Routines & a Few Other Loose Ends)

Today officially starts the beginning of my school routine. I realize that school started a couple of weeks ago BUT it took me that long to get the house back in order! Yesterday while driving to Sedalia, I thought about what I wanted to get accomplished this school year and I realized that I wasn't going to get these goals accomplished without sitting a daily routine for the school year! This morning during my quiet time, I developed my daily routine:

Monday/Wednesday/Friday:

5:45-6:00 am-Wake, shower & dress

6:30 am-Quiet Time

7:15-7:30 am-Wake the girls (Boys get up around 6:15 & are on the bus by 6:40 am)

7:30-8:30 am-While the girls are getting ready for school, empty dishwasher, put a load of laundry in, make beds, check email.

8:30 am -10:00 am-Head to gym-work out.

10:15 am-10:30 am-Take quick shower & dress for the day.

10:30 am to 12:00 pm-Work (CMSL)

12:00 pm to 1:00 pm-Eat lunch/Take break.

1:00 pm-4:00 pm-Housework, CMSL (if need), start dinner plans, etc.

4:00 pm-Start evening routine (recheck calendar) Every other Wednesday, work at the Academy from 4:00 to 8:00 pm.

5:00 pm-Start Dinner

7:00 pm-TV off/Homework time with kids. Every other Wednesday, attend Community Live @ Church.

Tuesday and Thursday: On Tuesday morning, the morning routine will be the same as M/W/F. At 12:30, I will be attending the Tuesday Bible study group. We will be studying a book by Joyce Meyer call "Battlefield of the Mind." The study will continue until November 13.

On Tuesday after the study, I will be picking up the girls and taking them to dance. They have dance from 4:30 to 8:15 pm. The evening routine will be the same as my M/W/F unless Connor has a soccer game.

On Thursday mornings, I will be attending, Take 2. A bible study at my church. Not sure what I'm taking yet. Our first meeting is this Thursday. Bible study is from 9:15 am to 11:15 am. After Bible study, a group of us usually go out for lunch. I really cherish this time, it's a great time for me to reconnect with a group of women & talk!

Thursday afternoon: We usually are done by 1:00 pm. I'm planning on using this afternoon to run errands-grocery store, etc.

On Thursday's, the girls have dance from 4:30 until 7:30 pm and I work the front desk on Thursday's as well.

With my daily routines in mind, here are my evening dinner plans:

Monday-Cook.

Tuesday-Cook.

Wednesday-Quick & easy meal for Community Live night & crockpot meal for work night.

Thursday-Crockpot dinner.

Friday-Family fun night-eat out, pizza, etc.

What are we having this week?

Monday-done

Tuesday-We will be eating dinner early (around 4 pm). Connor has a game in Smithton at 7:30 pm & we will be leaving town around 5:00 pm. We are having Garlicky Spaghetti & Chicken Tenders. I'm sure that Connor will eat again after his game. The rest of the family can eat when they get home.

Wednesday-Chili Pork Chops, Steamed Veggies & Salad.

Thursday-Something in the crockpot-not sure yet.

Friday-We will be eating out, if Connor plays on Friday evening in Smithton.

Last tackle it project....tying up loose ends or things that I need to do today (or this week will work too!) still!

1. Finish entering MYSA registrations. Mail them out this evening.

2. Get dance bags ready for girls.

3. Finish cleaning girls room.

4. Finish packing up garage sale items in garage.

5. Call library to make donation of garage sale books.

6. Set up meeting to get tapes transferred to CDs.

7. Freezer Chick meals done.

8. AFA blog.

Okay...I think I'm done! What are you tackling?

Thursday Thirteen #17 (Favorite Pictures)

Many of you will remember my Wordless Wednesday post of all of the film that I needed to have process. Well, I sent in 18 rolls of film to Kodak Gallery & have enjoyed looking through the pictures that I had taken. I am posting my 13 favorite pictures from the rolls of film:

1. Brotherly Love-my close friends and family know that CWH & GLH has a love/hate relationship. This picture is a one of a kind picture. It is priceless. I ordered 4 copies of this picture and also cropped it & ordered it in a 5x7 size to display in my home. This is the second day of school (GLHs Kindergarten year & CWHs 3rd grade year). They are in standing in our driveway waiting for the school bus.

2. SJH the Fashion Queen- you just got to love this child's fashion sense. She had just taken a bag of trash to the corner for trash day. She had these purple snow boots that she loved. She would always pick them out when I would ask her to get her shoes on!

3. I want to go to school, too! GLH is pouting a little. I had taken CSH & CWH to their first day of school & she kept telling me that she was big enough to go to school too! She is sitting on the steps in the gym here ignoring the fact that I'm telling her it's time to go home!

4. I got a couple of photos of SJH sleeping in very strange spots & positions. Here she feel asleep in front of the kitchen sink.

5. Here she is sleeping on both the couch & loveseat.

5. Easter morning picture of the four kiddos. The girls were sporting their new pink shades! Dress to the nines!

6. As I was going through the pictures-just about every picture of GLH she is posing! This is her first day of preschool. Don't you just love how she has her foot up! Her foot popped! (from Princess Diaries!)

7. First Day of School playground pictures. This was SJHs first year of school. Big sister showing her the ropes!

8. My 2 Boys-here they are waiting around for us. This picture was taken at the girls recital.

9. Not sure what GLH was up to...but she was stripping off her clothes at a CWHs soccer game. Don't you just love the head of curls!

10. SJHs Luau Birthday Party!

11. CSH and Greatmaw! These pictures are really special!

12. Another great pose!

13. CWHs first soccer game!

Honors English Writing Assignment-CSH

My oldest had a writing assignment this week. They were assigned a time frame & they needed to write a poem about that time. Connor was assigned 8:00 pm. Here is his poem:

8 P.M.
by Connor Hollrah

8 P.M.
The wind dies down to a light, serene breeze and the wolf howls at the moon.
8 P.M.
The sunset clashes orange and pink with the transforming blue to black sky.
8 P.M.
The young child is ready for bed, while the old child is finishing put off homework.
8 P.M.
The athletes celebrate with friends after their last minute win.
8 P.M.
The old man returns from work and collapses on the sofa to watch late night television.
8 P.M.
The quiet hour with crickets chirping speeds by like a racecar.
8 P.M.
The wind dies down to a light, serene breeze and the wolf howls at the moon.

Tackle It Tuesday (Playing Catch Up!)

I have been rather busy the last couple of weeks & I have let a lot of things pile up around the house & on my desk. Since the end of July, I have been busy scheduling soccer games & getting the CMSL league up & running. We just completed 2 weekends & I have a couple of weekends where we don't have any league games being played because of local tournaments. So no assigning referees or scheduling issues. This week, I have a lot of items that I need to catch up on so my Tackle it Tuesday will be a list of things that I need to get done this week....it would be really great if I could get them done today BUT I do need to leave the house & do a few errands. Here is what needs to be tackled:

1. Put laundry away.

2. Re-organize the boys room.

3. Wash sheets & freshen all linens.

4. Put school paper boxes away-right now they are sitting in my LR in front of the front door...what a welcoming site :-(

5. Return trash can.

6. Go through shoes in basket by door & put in proper bedroom.

7. Clean upstairs bathroom (wow! I can now differentiate between upstairs & downstairs!)

8. Go through cookbooks on sideboard table in kitchen.

9. Prepare my 3 freezer meals for the Freezer Chicks.

10. Enter remaining MYSA registrations.

11. Update referee information on new program.

12. Clean Master Bedroom.

13. Clean GLHs Bedroom.

14. Clean SJHs Bedroom.

15. Take camera to Columbia Photo.

16. Email regarding audio tapes-transfering them to CDs for Christmas.

17. Update calendar for Mom-add soccer games etc.

18. Mop floors.

19. Dust.

20. Start packing up items from garage sale.

21. Clean out car.

Well, this is a start...I have a lot more things that need to be done. I don't want to overwhelm myself even though I have already been there and back!

Check out more projects at 5 Minutes for Moms.

Two New Toys!

I had a post about 13 Things I Wanted for My Birthday, well, this week I got 2 off that list! My digital camera all of a sudden decided it didn't want to work anymore (I think it might be that I need a new battery-I did some research & the batteries are only good for a couple of years!) so last Thursday I bought a new camera. I wanted a camera that would fit easily in my purse for snap shots. My other digital camera is too bulky & won't fit in my purse. I bought a Nikon Coolpix L12, it a 7.1 mega pixel camera. So far it takes beautiful snap shots. Used it for the first day of school
pictures.


My second toy is a photo printer. I was standing in line at Office Depot last night & in the clearance section they had a printer marked down for $29.00. The original price was $99.99. It is really cool, I don't need to hook it up to the computer to print pictures. What's also great is that today I actually printed pictures that I took today! Over the last couple of years, they stay on my digital camera and I don't share them with family & friends. This might jump start me to start working on my scrapbooking goal!

My next purchase is going to be a Nikon Digital SLR. I really need something for action shots. This camera has a slight delay & it's good for taking sports or dance pictures. I have one picked out & my next paycheck will go to that purchase!

First Day of School Pictures

Back-to-School

My four kids started back-to-school today.

It's a bitter sweet feeling. I am excited that they will be in school each day so I can reclaim & reorganize my space after they have been home for the last 3 months. But we did have a great summer & I will miss hanging out with them each day.

CSH (orange)-started 9th grade this year. He isn't at the High School yet but has spent the last 2 weeks with the high schoolers at soccer practice.

CWH (white)-started Middle School today. He is a 6th grader and was rather excited about his new school and making friends.

GLH (green)-She is in 3rd grade this year. I noticed this morning that she is quite the "Queen Bee" around her school. Everyone was rather excited about seeing her this morning. She loves being with her friends and was excited about school this morning.

SJH (brown)- This is her second year of school. Her last year of Unit A and our last year with Mrs. Steitz. Mrs. Steitz has been our teacher in Unit A with all four kiddos. We will really miss having her as a teacher! Syd didn't want to go to school last year. This year, she was saying the same thing. But this morning, she whispered to me while she was playing on the play ground that she was glad to be back at school!

Monday Menu Planning (Week of 8/20)

I'm back! The last couple of weeks have been really crazy around my house. I have had work (scheduling soccer for Fall season for 90 teams), a bathroom installation, HS soccer practice (2 practice sessions a day), dance camp & sick kids! So any plans that I would have had over the last couple of weeks were thrown out the window! School is starting tomorrow & I hope to get back into my routine again!

What are we having this week? First, I need to plan a major cooking session because the Freezer Chicks meet last Friday to exchange their food for August-I haven't cooked anything! So one day this week, I need to cook my 3 meals.

Monday (soccer-both boys & back-to-school night): Sloppy Joes, Sweet Potatoe Fries & Salad

Tuesday (soccer-Collin): BBQ Jerk Chicken, Rice & Salad

Wednedsay (soccer-Collin): Meatloaf -one of my freezer meals I need to make, mashed potatoes, green beans & salad

Thursday (dance, Purple/Gold Soccer game & soccer-Collin): Farmer's Casserole, Fresh Fruit & Salad

Friday (leave for tournament in St Louis):

Saturday & Sunday-tournament in St Louis

Check out Organizing Junkie for more menu ideas!

Coming soon....a 25 cent sale!

Many of you know that I have been cleaning out the garage & attic and having several garage sales to get rid of the accumulated clothes & items that we have been packing from house to house & storing in the attic. I have had 4 garage sales over the past four weekends. Next Saturday will be my last garage sales with the items that I have in the garage. I want to get the garage reorganized so I can start parking the vehicles in there again & also create another spot where I can start going through the remaining items up in the attic. I still have a pretty full attic even after I pulled down all of the Rubbermaid boxes (35 to be exact!) with clothes in them a couple of weeks ago. I have decorating items that I'm no longer using, Christmas decorations (I have 3 or 4 different color schemes!), more books and lots of other things. They were packed away so many years ago, I'm not sure what's up there!

Anyway, I will be boxing the items up (kids clothes) and taking them to my grandma's in Sedalia. She lives on a main street (we live out just past the city limits & we don't get the traffic that houses do in a subdivision or in town) & will be having a garage sale before winter arrives. I was planing on sending the leftover clothes to my sister's place of employment in Sedalia any way. She works at a women's abuse shelter & I plan on taking the kids clothes to her to give to the women & their children who arrive with no clothes or very little. BUT before I take everything to Sedalia I will have ONE more sale here in Columbia on Saturday, August 18th. If you know anyone here....let them know. I have girls & boys clothes, lots of boys clothes! The girls have been really picked over...there are lots of nice outfits still but not quite the amount compared to the boys. I plan on having a 25 cent sale on everything this weekend except for some items will remain at a different price. I really would like to get rid of a lot next Saturday. In fact, I will be listing it in the newspaper as a 25 cent sale!

Check my blog tomorrow...I plan on posting pictures of the tables of clothes & the progress of my bathroom!

A New Bathroom!!!!

Most of you know that our four bedroom house only has ONE bathroom, since we moved in 5 years ago, we have been wanting to put a bathroom in downstairs. My brother-in-law (hubby's brother) is a plumber and we thought...no problem, we will get Jayson up here one weekend & get that bathroom installed. He has been so busy that he hadn't been able to help put it in! Tuesday night at 9:00 pm, he calls Sean & says, "Empty out the space where you want that bathroom & I will be there tomorrow morning to start installing it."

Okay....the room is full of storage. It's not cleared out. I have 3 more soccer schedules to complete. It's 9:00 pm. Oh, I should also mention that we were at the hospital at the time-Sean was on call that evening & we took one car to a soccer meeting & he got called in. He had another 1 1/2 hours worth of work to do! I loaded the kids in the vehicle & took them home. I worked until he called me to come & pick him up. At 11:00 pm that evening, he was moving everything out of the closet/storage area....or shall our new bathroom.

The pump system is installed, the shower is installed, all the plumbing is installed, the vanity counter top is installed. All that's left to do it, install the toilet, the sink & sheet rock the walls!

We are so excited to have a second bathroom....I will post pictures after it's completed!

Thursday Thirteen #16 (Things I NeedTo Get Done B4 School Starts)

Thirteen Things I Need (Want) To Get Done Before School Starts:

My four kiddos go back to school on August 21st...wow, where has the summer gone? I have gotten some things accomplished this summer that have been on my to-do list since LAST May! The biggest thing is...

Cleaned out the garage-now it needs to be cleaned again but that's because I have 6 tables set up with my garage sale goodies!

I have had 3 garage sales....will probably have a few more before I pack it all up & take to some areas places for donations.

What do I need to get done before school starts?

1. Clean out the kids sock & underwear drawers.
2. Finish school supply shopping...first I need to check what we have "in-stock" from last year.
3. Get soccer schedule for scheduling referees on a spreadsheet.
4. Find a stand-up shower for our bathroom downstairs.
5. Find a vanity for the sink.
6. Have ice-maker fixed.
7. Clean out car.
8. Organize the girls dance shoes.
9. Cook & prepare quick & easy after-school snack foods for the kids (Connor will have soccer everyday after school & the girls will have dance 2 nights a week & they need something that will get them through until dinner time.)
10. Put Fall activities on calendars.
11. Cancel hotel reservations for my annual Ohio trip.
12. Clean off items on computer hit by lightning & take to have checked for insurance claim.
13. Clean my bedroom....

Check out other 13 Thursdays here.

Monday Menu Planning (Week of 7-30-07)

I'm really going to be depending on my Freezer Chicks this week because I am working on soccer schedules & need to have them all completed by Friday. I am the League Commissioner for the Central Missouri Soccer League and one of my jobs is to provide a game schedule for all of the teams that register within the league. This season I have 75 plus team, they each play 10 games per season. That means I have over 300 games to schedule at 4 different venues! So, no cooking for this chick....just heat & serve!

Monday: Corn Dogs, Mac & Cheese & Green Beans

Tuesday: Chicken Night-clean out the frig of Chicken meals-Cranberry Chicken, Margarita Chicken & Sticky Chicken

Wednesday: Tuna Tortellini Gratin & Peas

Thursday: T-Bone Steaks on the Grill, Potatoes, Carrots & Salad

Friday: Out to Eat...will need it!

For more great recipes, check out I'm an Organizing Junkie's Blog.

Sending It in....

Remember this picture?

Well, I just sent in 15 rolls of film to Kodak Gallery. I can't wait to see what pictures on on these rolls of film!

I'm wanting to get all of the film developed by the end of September so I can start working on my scrapbooks. (which is one of my 40-before-40 goals!)

My Life Plan...

Your Life Path Number is 4

Your purpose in life is to build your vision. You are practical and responsible. You work hard, knowing that there are no shortcuts in life. You work for a better life for yourself and those you love, but you are not an idealist. Trustworthy and honest, you also demonstrate great courage. People can count on you. In love, you are a loyal and committed partner. You are the ideal spouse. You don't give up easily, and sometimes you can be too stubborn and unwilling to change. You also can be too conservative at times. You sometime miss out on good opportunities. Also remember that not everyone can work as hard as you, as disappointing as that is!

What Is Your Life Path Number?