Purge by 2008?

First things first...Thanksgiving went well. I cooked everything on my list (except for the turkey bacon...it wasn't necessary) and had my house cleaned and my meal nearly done by the time my guests arrived. The meal was absolutely delicious, and my guests, who were Hispanic, loved the meal also...it was their first American Thanksgiving!

But you know how it goes, there always seems to be a gliche and here's mine...First of all, I forgot to put the baking powder in my pumpkin streusel cake and secondly...when I was getting my pecan pie out of the refrigerator, I dropped it!!! Yes, a glass pie pan....Yes, it broke, upside down on the floor SO...to make a long story short, we DIDN'T have pecan pie because there was glass broken all over it!!! But the pumpkin pie and pumpkin streusel cake were STILL delicious. However, I owe my hubby a pecan pie sometime...maybe on his birthday in December, that's his favorite kind of pie.


And one to the next topic... PURGING
Well, there is a smell of change in the air for us. And that change may be moving...just to a different part of the county, but it is a change. We haven't moved in 5 years and 3 children, so PURGING is a MUST. So I am setting up a few goals on this blog that I am going to work on for the next few days...weeks...month(?)...or however long we stay in this home that we are currently renting.

GOAL #1: I have a LOT of clothes for my family...too many clothes...so here is the first challenge. I am going to start purging 5 items/child of clothing/shoes each day (or as often as possible) until things are back under control.

GOAL #2: Toys...same as above...purge 5 items/child (as often as possible).

Have you all heard of Flylady's 27 Fling Boogie? Well, that is going to start happening on a regular basis around here...SERIOUSLY!!! Honestly, I am sick of living like this...that is, having to step on things to walk through a room...not being able to open the laundry room door because there are baskets of laundry EVERYWHERE!!! Things have actually been cleaner around here for the last week or so, but if I don't do something now, things are going to get out of hand again! So there you have it.

Do you have any end of the year goals that you would like to tackle? Leave me a comment and let me know...we can lift each other up during this trying time of purging.

Blessings!
Heather

What's Going ON?

Well, THANKSGIVING!!!

You know that friend that I mentioned in my last post? Well, her family is coming over Thanksgiving Day for dinner.

Here is my menu:

Appetizers
~Cheese Ball with Crackers
~Turkey Bacon (for my pregnant guest)
~Sliced Mozzarella
~Veggie Tray with dip (celery, pickles, olives, carrots, pretzels, ranch & French onion dip)


Main Meal
~Turkey
~Dressing
~Candied Sweet Potatoes
~Rice
~Gravy
~Crescent Rolls
~Green Bean Casserole & Regular Green beans
~Cranberry Sauce


Dessert
~Pumpkin Pie w/whipped topping
~Pecan Pie
~Pumpkin Streusel Cake (by request)

Here is the plan for the week:

Monday ~

Make cheese ball.
Make pie crusts.
Slice cheese.
Put cool whip in refrigerator.
Clean girls & boys room.
Make sure kitchen is clean.

Tuesday ~

Cut veggies for veggie tray.
Cut veggies for stuffing.
Make cranberry sauce.
Clean guest room & vacuum.
Clean game room & living room including shelves, desk, piano, & table.
Make sure kitchen stays clean.

Wednesday ~

Bake pies & cake.
Make rolls.
Fry turkey bacon.
Mix up beans with mushroom soup.
Make sauce for sweet potatoes.
Clean Bedroom & both bathrooms.
Make sure kitchen is clean.

Thursday ~

Bake turkey & put into roaster to keep warm.
Bake stuffing.
Cook sweet potatoes.
Cook rice.
Make gravy.
Bake Green bean casserole.

I didn't think that we were going to have anyone over this year for Thanksgiving, but I am thankful that we get to spend it with another family!

Blessings!
Heather

Still on my "Sabbatical" from blogging, but

here is a quick update...

• Well, the whirlwind is still going around here. Homeschooling has picked up to full speed again and you can tell it! My house has been neglected, so today is catch-up day. I have been running circles today. I am in the mood to purge, but don't know how much I will get done yet.

• About two weeks ago, we went through a spell of sickness, but everyone is well again.

• Lately I have been getting my scripture reading in with my younger daughters at naptime. We are reading in the Old Testament. They usually fall asleep during the reading, but it is mainly for me anyway. I have also been reading to my school-age children in the New Testament. So I may get through the Bible in a year afterall! YEAH!

• Baby girl has not been sleeping well at night, so I have found myself staying up very late with a screaming baby and sleeping a lot on the couch downstairs. This reminds me of when I had my first daughter...she liked to stay up late at night screaming too.
  

• I have been trying to lose these extra baby pounds and so far I have lost 9 pounds. I am still trying to incorporate exercise into my day, but I usually don't do it until 10 p.m.!!! Yes, I can still sleep!!! I am thrilled about my weight loss and plan to continue trying to get this extra baby weight off my body so I can look good for my husband (who works very hard to provide for our ever-growing family).

• I have realized that part of the reason why I picked up blogging was because of the friendships that I had gained! However, I have recently been blessed with some new friendships from my church family (with a family who just started attending our church). To make a long story short, this dear friend of mine has been visiting me quite often (at my home) and blessing my home with laughter and 4 more small feet!!! When she comes my home is often turned wonderfully upside down!!!

• Dear friends, I want to encourage you to do the same...Make some good friends with young mothers at your church...invite them into your home (even if it isn't perfect) and expect to be greatly blessed with the kinship you will find!!! I have certainly been blessed!!!

Here are some recent pictures of baby girl:

Anyway, the house is crying out my name again!

Busily blessed with busyness!!!

Blessings!

Heather