Good Medicine

Last week I came home from church and was not feeling very good. I've had a cough for what seems like forever. I had a chest cold and a coughing fit in church (you know the kind that brings you to tears) which led to a headache and I was just exhausted. Once I got home, I ate some lunch and then went to bed for a good nap.

Brad also wasn't feeling the best that day. He was coming down with a head cold.

Two of our wonderful children thought it would make us feel better if they made us a little surprise.

Isaac made a book titled "I Love Dad!" and Alex made me a book titled "My Mommey".

I won't share all the wonderful pictures but thought I would share what each book says.

Isaac's book:

I love dad Be ckuz He works for are family.
I love dad Be Ckause He lets us go to the park.
I love dad Be Ckause He buys Subway.
I love dad Be Ckause He bags are sandwichs.
I like dad Be Ckause He likes to play tag.
I like dad be caus He plays football.
I love dad Because brings me to Dunkin Donuts.

Alex's book:

I love you because you make breckfest for us and lunch and dinner for us. You are the best Mom ever.
Sometimes she makes us treats.
I love you because you give me hugs and kisses.
I love you because you play with me.
I love you because you snuggle with me.
I love you because she likes to shop with me.
I love you because you take me trick-or-treating.
I love you because you love me.
I love you because you help me get ready for school.
I love you because you do the laundry.
I love you because you make us hot chocolat in the winter.
I love you because you help me when I get hurt.
I love you because you keep me safe.
I love you because you buy stuf for me.
I love you because you let us go on vackashon.
I love you because you let us have a candy.
I love you because you let us have a birthday party on are golden birthday.

This was my favorite page. I think every mom can agree that laundry is the thankless job that we spend hours a week doing and often goes unnoticed. It's nice to know someone notices.

But I think we can all agree, books like this are sure to make anyone that is sick feel a lot better!

I'm sure we will both treasure these books for years to come.

This One Gave Me A Workout!

Besides taking a few snapshots of my kids here and there, I haven't picked up my camera much lately.

I've missed it more than I thought.

So, Saturday I headed out with my kids lookin' good and snapped some pictures for Christmas cards. Yep, it's already time to start thinking about Christmas cards.

After 45 minutes of my kids, my sister showed up with her four kids. One of them wanted nothing to do with getting her photo taken.

Can you figure out which one?

 

 

After almost 2 hours and 8 kids, I was exhausted and was sore for 2 days!

Time for some Fall Cookin'

Fall is my favorite season! And when it comes, it puts me in the mood to cook and bake.

Something about the chilly air just begs for apple recipes, pumpkin recipes, soups, and who knows what else! Last week I made Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread and then this week it was Apple Pie.

As far as supper food goes, I've been trying loads of new Pinterest recipes and every single one has been a hit lately. My family says I've been spoiling them, so either I need to make a bad recipe soon or serve them grilled cheese so that they don't get to used to this.

This recipe is actually a Pinterest recipe that I tried last winter. My family loved it but Brad thought it was a little bland. So I've spiced it up a little. And did I mention that it is Super Easy!

Crock Pot Chicken and Dumplings

1 lb Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
2 carrots
1 celery stalk
1 medium onion
Salt and Pepper
2 cans (10.5 oz each) Cream of Chicken Soup
1 (14oz) can of Chicken Broth
4 Grands Biscuits

Put Chicken in Crock Pot. Sprinkle salt and pepper on the breasts. Put diced carrots, celery, and onion on top.

Add Cream of Chicken Soup and Chicken Broth. Cook on low for 8 hours or on High for 4-6 hours.

Take out chicken and shred. Put back in the Crock Pot.

Cut each uncooked biscuit into 9 pieces. Stir into chicken mixture and cook on High for 30 minutes.

Makes 6-8 servings.

We Escaped....For a few hours anyway.

I know, I know. My last post was how my kids are so awesome and now I'm posting about getting away from them. I love my kids but sometimes it's nice to get out with just the two of us.

We own 1 Bull's Season ticket. Our brother-in-law and my sister own the other one. Before the season they have a night for Season ticket holders to come to the United Center and meet the players, take pictures, shoot baskets, and eat discounted food. They had me at discounted food and FREE parking.

There was a lot of standing in line. Standing in line to get in, then to get autographs, then to get pictures taken but it was still loads of fun.

This is Brad with the Head Coach. I have no idea what his name is and don't really feel like searching for it right now to make myself look intelligent.

This is Stacy King and Bill Wennington. They apparently played with Michael Jordan and are now announcers or something. I did remember Bill Wennington but not Stacy King.

By the time we got those 3 autographs, autograph time was over. I must also say that Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah were not there that night. Figures! Something about personal issues and family stuff. Whatever!

We then headed down by Scottie Pippen and snapped a couple shots. These kids must have thought it was really cool to just be able to touch him or maybe those are his kids and he couldn't get a babysitter. Who knows....

I snapped this picture court side and our seats are way, way, way, way, way up there. Do you see them? Me neither.

I'm not really a fan of the Luvabulls but I thought this picture was kind of cool.

I then kicked them out so I could have a picture with just us.

I thought this night was more fun than a game. Brad did not agree. That's why I probably don't get to go to a lot of them.

We didn't have time to stand in line to shoot a basket but that is probably for the best. Since Brad was once a big time basketball star they probably would have wanted to recruit him and we just don't have time for that in our busy schedule. Haha!

I Really Do Have The Best Kids

They got off the bus so excited! The next day was going to be my birthday and they were all set to make sure it was special.

Up to the girls bedroom they went..............armed with markers, crayons, and paper.

When I came up to my bedroom, I found this. These are actually wrapped presents filled with drawings and books that the kids made for me.

And signs were posted everywhere.

 

 
Then they treated me to a little play of their pets singing "Happy Birthday!" They had a special chair for me to sit in with a little carpet leading to the chair.

They definitely made me feel very special! So special, that I almost forgot I was turning another year older.

Camping Fun

It's amazing what you'll find when you download pictures from your camera.

We went camping over Labor Day and I had forgotten that I had taken a few pictures.

It was a little hot that weekend, so one afternoon we headed to the Nature Center to get a little relief. Yes, there was air conditioning there. They had a coloring contest and some crafts the kids could do. Amanda won the contest and won a bird book.

All the boys are getting older and now love building their own fires. Another big thing this year was riding their bikes to the creek to try and catch whatever animals they could find.



The two Isaac's and Jack always have a good time together, as you can see.

The kids had a blast and as they get older, surprisingly enough, camping gets a little more relaxing for Brad and I. Well, relaxing after all the packing and setting up. But after all that is done, you can often find us parked in a lawn chair.

We were actually supposed to go camping again this past weekend but ended up cancelling due to cold temps. This family does not camp in winter coats. We like our furnace!