FMM ~ Giving Thanks

It has been such a long time since I've participated in FMM {such a long time since I've had the time to participate in any blog carnival, for that matter}, and I've missed it. So imagine my surprise when I see that my dear bloggy friend, Becca, is hosting this week! I just had to link up.

She asks about our Top 10 of 2010 ~ What we are most thankful for.

{This should be easy, right? Unless you're like me, and can't narrow down the 4 MILLION things I have to be thankful for to just 10}

Here goes:

1. My three beautiful daughters. My life *revolves* around these people. I love them so much, and cannot imagine spending my time any other way than taking care of them. How quiet and boring and sad my life would be without them. Some days are chaotic, and others I'm praying for bedtime to come ;) But I wouldn't have it any other way.

2. My husband. This year we celebrated 8 years together. I love our time together {though sometimes limited}. I love all that he does to provide for us. And don't tell him, but I even kind of enjoy all his teasing. I think I'd worry a little if he became too serious.

3. My faith. Specifically the opportunity to go through several Bible studies this year, thanks to my sweet MIL for hosting them {and allowing me to bring my wild little monkeys!}. I love the fellowship. I love the accountability. I love going deeper into His word.

4. Our new house! We've got a ways to go but have also come a long way! And I'm still in a state of shock that we are actually going to have a brand new house to enjoy in a few short months. Mostly I am thankful to my husband who has put in countless hours working on the house {after spending countless hours working his "real" job at the fire station}.

5. Extended Family. I love that we live so close to grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. We aren't short on love or family gatherings around here!

6. Friends. My sweet IRL friends, and my bloggy friends. What would I do without you?

7. Blogging. Seriously, I love looking back on blog posts ~ remembering where we've come from, and the places we've stopped along the way. Months seem to speed by, and I can't always remember the little daily moments that can be so special. I love having a place to document so that I can remember.

8. My camera. Can I take a moment to be materialistic? ;) I love my camera. I love that I was able to get a new one in August. I love that in less than 3 months I've already snapped over 3,000 pictures on that thing. I love capturing everyday moments.

9. Homeschooling. We are in our 4th year of homeschooling {Holy moly, how did that happen?!}, and I am so thankful to continue to have this opportunity. I cannot imagine sending my girls off to school to spend more time with teachers and classmates each day than with me. I love having them at home. I love that our first year homeschooling TWO daughters is going so smoothly. And I love having them at home {did I already say that?}. Mmmkay.

10. Clickin' Moms and several other photography-related sites and blogs that have offered so much in the way of resources, support, and help. I have grown so much in photography because of them.

10. Mini Trips, Vacations, and Family Visits. It's been awhile since we've had a "real" vacation, but we've been blessed to be able to take several mini trips this year. A couple of visits down south to visit my sister and her family, trips to the beach and Kah-nee-ta, and a birthday trip to Great Wolf Lodge were so much fun!

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Head on over to Becca's to see what others are thankful for!

Friend Makin' Monday ~ Spring Is Here!

I'm BACK! {I think}

I'm starting to feel a little better,

and am so happy to be able to sit here and participate in FMM!

Head on over to Amber's to join in. This week we're talking about SPRING!

1. Favorite things about Spring:

Birds singing, sun shining, flowers in bloom, fresh cut grass, saying good-bye to winter clothes!

2. What I'm doing for Spring Break:

We are homeschoolers, and originally we had planned on taking our Spring Break this week right along with everyone else in Oregon. But at the last minute {today, in fact} we decided to wait a week and take our break next week. I'm still really tired, not feeling great, and we didn't have anything exciting planned anyway. Next week, if we decide to head out, we won't have to battle crowds, and hopefully we'll see nicer weather. I love having the option.

3. Favorite Spring flower:

Tulips. I love tulips. But I also love daffodils {aren't they the cheeriest?}

4. Do you have a garden?

I do not. Sadly, I have no green thumb :(

5. If so, what do you grow?

We do plant strawberries {you can't kill those no matter how hard you try, so they're perfect for me!}, and the girls love picking them all summer long. My mom has a garden, and she lives right next door, so we are blessed with lots of tomatoes, beans, peas, and corn.

6. Do you do Spring cleaning?

Not really. But I should!

7. What is your weather *really* like right now? {Just b/c it's "officially" spring, doesn't mean that it feels like it for some of you}

We had a beautiful weekend {ya know, when I was sick in bed}. Gorgeous sunshiney days near 70 degrees. Now we're back to cool, wind, and rain. Blech.

8. Snapped any weather related photos lately? Share one with us!

I am so sad to say that I haven't touched my camera in about a week! But that's going to change!! For now, I'll leave you with some oldies ;)

First signs of Spring!

Ahhh, I love these trees.

9. What's your favorite thing to do on a sunny afternoon?

Lately we've been going on nature walks. We are on 20 acres out in the country, and my parents own the adjoining 20 acres. It's a lot of room to roam around, and we love it.

10. Favorite TV show right now?

I don't watch TV :)

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What do you love about Spring?

Friend Makin' Monday ~ Random Thoughts

I am going to be 30 this year. Aagghhh!
I think I need more hours in the day.
I should be cleaning house, but instead I'm on the computer.
I dream about warm, Summer days.

I want more babies. :)
I know Kam is tired and needs a nap, but she just won't go down.
I don't like Winter!
I smell homemade bread rising in the kitchen.
I hear the clock ticking and Kam babbling.
I fear not being around to watch my children grow.
I usually am pretty good about keeping up on laundry.
I search for missing things way too often.
I miss my sister and her babies. We don't see each other often enough.
I always love a good snuggle.
I regret when I say too much/when my mouth runs away from me.
I wonder what my children will be like when they are grown.
I crave more time in His word.
I remember when 30 sounded so grown up. Now I'm almost there, and I don't feel very grown up ;)
I need to go through the house and de-clutter, but getting started seems overwhelming.
I forget a lot of things.
I feel blessed. I can still do the splits.
I can't remember what life was like before I had children.
I am happy with what I have.
I lose more socks than I can count.
I sing poorly. Very poorly.
I listen well, but talk too much.
I shop..... more than I should, but WAY less than I'd love to.
I eat too much, but I cannot help it. I love food.
I love My family!

Head on over to Amber's for more Random Thoughts :)

Friend Makin' Monday ~ Design Style

It's Friend Makin' Monday! How I've missed it!

Today, Amber asks us about our Design Style. Hmmm, what's that? Juuust kidding. I have so many dreams of decorating and designing; but am a little short on the money end of it ;) A girl can dream, though, right? So, Amber sent us on over to Sproost. Ever heard of it? I had not {gasp! I know!}. What a fun place. I took their Interior Design Style Quiz, and whatdoyaknow, here are my results:

I'm 50% French Eclectic

30% Classic

and 20% Nantucket

What's your style???

Friend Makin' Monday ~ My Simple Daybook

Welcome back to another Friend Makin' Monday! Today we are participating in this wonderful meme: The Simple Woman's Daybook. Head on over to Amber's, link up your own post, and check out other great blogs. The last couple of weeks have been a little chaotic, but I plan to do a better job of making the rounds this week!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window . . .

It's gray and gloomy. Again. But, hey, no rain yet.

I am thinking . . .

That maybe, just maybe, I am not a true Oregonian at all. I need the sun, people. I need some warm weather! And if I have to wait until July for regular doses of the glorious sunshine, I might just cry.

I am thankful . . .

That I get to be at home with my daughters every day. Some days I take it for granted, but not today. I cherish the time I have with them. They grow so quickly.

I am praying . . .

For faith and guidance. To follow the path that God has mapped out for me and my family.

I am reading . . .

The Bible ~ specifically Isaiah, for our newest study: Breaking Free

I am creating . . .

Lots o' decorations for Kami's first birthday party coming up soon!

From the kitchen . . .

I hear the breakfast dishes calling my name.

Around the house . . .

Needs some serious organization! I'm trying to simplify and get rid of the clutter, but every time I feel like I'm making progress I find more and more to go through. Ugh!

One of my favorite things . . .

Is listening to my girls laugh . . . together. I love it when they are getting along and playing together happily ~ the way I envisioned it when we found out we'd be giving our first-born daughter a sister.

A few plans for the rest of the week . . .

Schooling, dance classes, and Kam's big days. Her birthday, on Wednesday, and her party day on Sunday! Such a big, exciting week. But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't just a little sad. How can it be that it is already time to celebrate her first birthday??? Waaahhhhh!

Friend Makin' Monday ~ It's {almost} a New Year!

Another week, another Friend Makin' Monday! Last week flew by faster than the rest, it seems, with so many Christmas celebrations. I plan on posting photos soon, it's just been a tad busy around here. And it doesn't look like it will slow down anytime soon. But that's another story.

So, today Amber asks us:

What are our New Year's Resolutions?

I'm still working on my list, but a few of mine are:

♥ Exercise {I know, I know, this one always makes the list for me, but doesn't get taken seriously enough. I need to get in the habit of exercising again. It's been years since I've exercised regularly, and I know I need it.}

♥ Find a new church home. This has been a difficult year for me. After having Kam we were convinced that God was calling us to a new church home. Now I'm not sure where it is that God wants us. I'm praying for guidance.

♥ Build a house. When we bought our property {20 acres} in 2005 there was a lot of work to be done. We put a manufactured home on it in 2006 in hopes of building a house in the future. I think we may be getting close to that future, and I am so excited!

♥ Continue to work on being the kind of wife and mother God has called me to be. To always use soft words {even in times of frustration}, to lead by example, to submit completely to my husband. This is a work in progress, don'tchaknow.

♥ To work on improving my photography in hopes of making it less hobby and more serious {?} This is a big stretch, but I just love taking pictures. And someday, when we are done having babies {sniffle, sniffle}, and they aren't tiny anymore {more sniffles}, I will need to think about returning to work. The thought actually terrifies me. I would love to find something that I can do at home, where I make the schedule. This is one of my biggest prayers.

I'm sure I'll be adding to this list, but for now these are a few of my resolutions for 2010

Friend Makin' Monday ~ All I Want For Christmas

Wow y'all, Christmas is only 4 days away! Aaagghhhh! We're getting there, but there is still so much left to do. Today's Friend Makin' Monday task is to list what we'd like for Christmas. Great idea, Amber! {And then, yes, I plan to get my boot off the computer and get some things done, already!}

My number 1 wish for Christmas is that we all have a joyful day of memories {not too many meltdowns}, enjoying our time together as a family. This is Kameryn's first Christmas, and it's so special to us. As our family grows, each holiday {each day} is more special and more fun. The best part: Jeremy was scheduled to work Christmas day {he's a firefighter, and stations don't close down for holidays, don'tchaknow}, and he managed to get it off. His last day was Saturday, and he's off until the 28th. YAY! Honestly, having him home with us is, hands down, the best Christmas gift I could ask for.

Presents can be fun, though. If money weren't an issue, and I could pick out whatever I wanted . . . I wouldn't mind one of these:

Canon 50d

Wait a minute, money's not an issue?

May as well go for one of these:

Canon 7d

Or Ooooohh, one of these:

Canon 5d Mark II

See, that's how I get myself into trouble.

Happy FMM! And, if I don't get around to all my favorite blogs this week, have a very Merry Christmas!

Friend Makin' Monday ~ What do *you* say?

It's Monday again! Can you believe it? I can't. I really can't. And it's making me a bit panicky because that means we're *this* much closer to Christmas. Yikes! But anyway. Today Amber has another survey for us. Yay. I like these. Quick and easy! Head on over to Amber's to participate. Here we go!

1. Favorite website It's a tie between my email tab and my blogger dashboard tab.

2. Favorite color: Black

3. Facebook? {Post a link or share your name if you want some new Facebook friends!} Nope. I know, I'm the only one!

4. Favorite Christmas song? Little Drummer Boy

5. Christmas tree: Real or fake? Real.

6. Hottest celebrity? I love Vince Vaughan.

7. Favorite restaurant? The Cheesecake Factory

8. Favorite magazine? Taste of Home. Catalog ~ Pottery Barn Kids

9. Favorite thing to drink around the holidays? My dad makes really yummy Smith & Kearns {sp?}

10. Favorite Christmas movie Too many to list! But I'll try. Polar Express, White Christmas, {though this isn't a Christmas movie, per se, it's a tradition to watch it while wrapping presents} The Sound of Music, ABC Family movies {Snowglobe, Holiday in Handcuffs, etc.}, ALL the animated ones {Charlie Brown, Garfield, Rudolph, Frosty}. I love them ALL!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

I'm hoping to be back later today with another idea for Countdown to Christmas. Stay tuned!

Friend Makin' Monday ~ Cook Me Up Some of That!

Welcome back to another Friend Makin' Monday!

This week Amber asks us about our favorite recipes.

We spend more time in the kitchen {especially baking} this time of year than any other time.

I'd rather bake than cook, but that's not all that practical :)

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Chicken and Rice Dinner ~ super easy and quick!

Chicken breasts {4-6 or more depending on the size of your family and appetite!}

Rice {I make up 4-6 cups for our family}

Broccoli {2 cups chopped}

2 cans Cream of Chicken Soup

1 cup Mayonnaise

1 tsp. lemon juice

sprinkling of oregano and lemon pepper

Grated Cheese

Slivered Almonds

Cook and shred chicken. Cook rice. Mix soup, mayonnaise, lemon juice, and seasonings together. Spread broccoli in the bottom of a 13 x 9 pan, add rice to the top. Top the rice with chicken. Spread soup and mayonnaise mixture on top of the chicken. Sprinkle with grated cheese {if you like!}, and add slivered almonds to the top.

Bake at 350 degrees until cheese is melted and casserole is heated through. {20 minutes}

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I love it because it's so easy to make up ahead of time and then just pop in the oven when you're ready for dinner!

Can't wait to check out more great recipes!

Happy Monday!

Friend Makin' Mondays ~ Scents of the Season

Thank goodness for a new week!

Last week was too much for me.

Too much sickness, to much sadness. I am ready for a fresh start.

{Though I'm sorry to report that the girls are all STILL sick. Eight days now. But who's counting?Ugh!}

And one of the things that makes me the happiest about a start to a new week is . . .

Friend Makin' Mondays!

I know, I know, it doesn't take much to make me happy ;)

This week Amber asks:

What are your favorite candles/scents?

I love candles. Especially this time of year. They just make a house a home.

They're so warm and delicious. Mmmmmm.

But, I have to tell ya a secret . . .

I'm a candle snob.

Sigh.

It's true.

I've tried not to be, but I can be a bit snooty about my candles.

Please don't hate.

You see, when I was a mere 18 years, I started selling Partylite

and I've been hooked ever since.

I no longer sell them, of course, but to this day, no other candle will do.

They burn so long and smell so good, and leave no mess.

I have a few favorite scents:

My number one is Iced Snowberries.

I just got word that they are discontinuing this scent. {why, oh why?}

I also love Holiday Spices, Cherry Orchard, Mulberry, and plain ol' Vanilla.

Ooooh, I cannot wait to decorate for Christmas!

I love jar candles! :)

Happy FMM! Hope this week finds you healthy and happy!

Friend Makin' Mondays ~ Halloween Candy!

Can it really be Monday again already???

Welcome to another edition of Friend Makin' Mondays, hosted by our fabulous, Amber!

This week she asks about our favorite Halloween candy.

Yeah, like I can choose just one {or five!}

I'm sorry to say but we've had candy in our house all month.

An enormous bag {245 pieces, to be exact} made its way into our home several weeks ago.

If said bag had consisted of sweet tarts, suckers, and the like, I could have stayed away.

I would have stayed away.

But no. It had to contain chocolate.

I LOVE chocolate.

Some of my favorites include {but are definitely not limited to}:

Yep, that's right, all of those.

Well, the Butterfinger and regular Hershey's I can take or leave.

But I love the Snickers, love. And Kit Kats are the best.

I love me some Peanut M&Ms, yes I do.

The best thing is that these are Fun Size.

They're smaller, which means I can eat more, right? Right???

******************

Soooooo, I didn't get the greatest pictures on Halloween :( Jeremy and I hunted until dark, so by the time the girls got into their costumes and we made it to a couple of houses, it was too dark to get any decent photos. But, I have to share this precious one of Kam. She just couldn't make it any longer, poor little butterfly:

Hope y'all had a great weekend, and that you've finally recooped!

Bring on Thanksgiving!

Friend Makin' Mondays ~ Movie Style

It's Friend Makin' Monday again!

Someone please make time slow down, full weeks are completely getting away from me!

And Amber and Kenz have asked this question:

If life were a movie, which movie would you want to live in?

I would have to say The Notebook.

I love this movie. Probably my all time favorite, if I really had to pick.

I love the era, the clothes, the romance, the passion. Ahhhhhhh.

How about you? Which movie would you choose?

Happy FMM, y'all!

Friend Makin Mondays ~ The Little Things

It's Friend Makin' Monday again!

I LOVE Mondays!

There's just something I love about a fresh start to the week.

I guess it doesn't hurt that I get to be at home.

If I had to work outside the house, perhaps I'd reconsider my love for Mondays ;)

So, this week Amber wants us to focus on the little things that bring happiness to our lives.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

All the adorable little holiday dresses from Hanna Andersson

Call me lazy, but I love these cute little cookies!

From the moment I saw these luminaries, I knew I wanted one. They're pretty, and they smell great! Plus, no worries about candles getting knocked over. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE candles, but most of them are in the form of sconces in my home these days with the little ones roamin' around. And I'm runnin' out of room on my walls! :)

Yesterday was my nephew's birthday, so we drove into Portland to celebrate with family. After all the cake and ice cream, we were craving some FOOD! I remembered that we had a gift card to Claim Jumper. Score! I love going out to dinner. The girls were perfect, AND they even brought Kameryn a complimentary "baby plate", full of turkey, cheeses, applesauce, crackers, and fruit! I highly recommend this restaurant!

This Bible Study by Beth Moore makes me so happy. I love spending more time in His word. I love getting together with other ladies once a week to fellowship and become closer to God. And let's face it, I don't get out much, so everything about Bible Study makes me one happy gal!

These are no "small things", but my family brings me the most joy!

Try to tell me you wouldn't rejoice daily when surrounded by girls as sweet as these!

Happy Monday!

It's Halloween at Friend Makin' Mondays!

It's Monday! And you know what that means . . .

Friend Makin' Monday!!!

This week, Amber asks:

What are you going to be for Halloween?

Oh, how the girls change their minds about a billion times before finally settling on a costume, but I think we've finally figured it out. Makenna and Kameryn are going to be little butterflies

{sorry, but I could not find a butterfly costume picture that even remotely looked like the girls' costumes}

and Sierra is going to be a bumble bee. This isn't the exact costume, but you get the idea.

That's it! Now, I'd better get to bed. We've got a big day full of pumpkin pickin' in the morning. I'm praying the rain holds off.

Friend Makin' Mondays ~ Hobbies

Amber is hosting another week of FMM, and Kenz has jumped in to help :) These lovely ladies have come up with a fabulous topic:

What are your hobbies?

What do you wish that you knew how to do?

My hobbies {and I use that term loosely, as most hobbies have been put on the back burner for longer than I care to admit} are:

Sewing

Though I'm not great at it. I don't even know how to read patterns, people. But I do love a little time at the sewing machine.

Scrapbooking

I used to LOVE to scrapbook. Now the thought is overwhelming to me because I'm so far behind. I'm seriously considering having some digital albums made just to catch up so that I can enjoy scrapbooking again.

Reading

Another thing that I love that I don't make time for.

Crochet

Oh how I love to crochet. It is one of those projects that is super easy to set down if you get interrupted, and you can take it with you anywhere. Not great at reading crochet patterns either, but I can make a mean scarf, hat, afghan, and my newest: a baby cocoon ~photo prop.

***********************

I would love to learn how to:

Knit

I have really been wanting to learn to knit lately. Anyone do both? Which is easier?

*****************

It's going to be a busy day today. The boys {Jeremy, his dad, my dad, and a family friend} left yesterday for a hunt in Wyoming, and are planning to be gone most of the week. That means GIRL time! The girls and I are skipping out on homeschool today {shhhh, don't tell} to go shopping with my mom. Once we get home and get all our goodies put away, I'll be around to check on everyone's FMM posts! Can't wait to find out more about everyone's hobbies!

Happy Monday, y'all!

Friend Makin Mondays ~ Favorite Things!

Thanks so much to Amber for hosting the Super-Fun Friend Makin' Mondays!

And a big thanks to Kenlie {Kenz}~ All The Weigh for helping out with this week's topic!!

You ladies are fabulous!

This week's topic:

List a few things you cannot live without!

First and foremost, my family. I cannot imagine life without them!

Also, my camera. This thing goes with me everywhere!

I don't go anywhere without makeup on. It's a must.

And I am a BIG water-drinker. I can't imagine going even a few hours without a glass of ice cold water!

There are many others.

My cell phone {I need a new one, BTW}, my laptop.

There are many things I simply can't live without, it seems!

Happy Monday, y'all! We're off to go get flu shots. Yay.

Friend Makin Monday!

Let's hear it for another edition of Friend Makin' Monday!

Thanks so much to Amber for hosting while Kasey is away.

Today's Topic: Our Favorite Things About Fall!

Oh how I love Fall! I am going to go ahead and admit that it is my favorite season {gasp!} Don't get me wrong, I do love Summer, but there is something about Fall that I long for all year long.

I'm lovin' the Frosty mornings . . .

Warm Apple Pie, MMMMMmmmmm

All the beautifully colored trees . . .

Pumpkins, pumpkins, and more pumpkins!

{Can't wait to go to the Pumpkin Patch!}

And the list goes on!

I love sweater-and-jeans-weather, going back to school, looking forward to the holidays.

The only thing I don't like? That Winter is right around the corner.

Happy Fall!

~Liz

Friend Makin Mondays

Late to the party again.

{do we see a pattern here? Mmyeah}

So, Amber has graciously stepped in to host Friend Makin' Mondays.

YAY!

That Amber, she's a nosey gal . . . this week, she's askin' us 20 questions.

Here we go

{Sorry, no time for chit chat, ladies. I've got a kitchen to clean and girls to bathe}

1. Do you cook every night?

I cook almost every night. I cook every night that Jeremy is home, and on the nights he is gone the girls and I generally have leftovers.

2. What kind of laundry detergent do you use & why?

It depends, but typically I use All Free & Clear. We cloth diaper, so it is a must when washing the diapers and it just makes sense to use it for all the laundry so that I'm not buying several different kinds. I do love Gain, though.

3. Do you do laundry every day or loads at a time?

Every day. And sometimes it is loads at a time.

4. How often do you eat out per week?

Rarely. If the girls and I are in town and they are begging for food, I'll run through McDonald's. Other than that we rarely eat out.

5. Where do you eat out?

I'm sorry to say that it's usually McDonald's or Carl's Jr.

6. What is your favorite retail store?

Yep, Target.

7. What's your favorite thing to drink?

Water. I love it. I used to drink nothing but water, but diet coke started sneaking in from time to time. My new goal is back to water only.

8. Do you take vitamins? What kind?

You know, I'm not great about it. Mostly because I have the world's most sensitive stomach and I haven't found a vitamin that didn't bother it. I do try to sneak prenatal vitamins in, but it's not on a regular basis.

9. What percentage of the household chores to you do?

Typical household chores? Dishes, laundry, vacuum, dust, straighten, take out garbage, etc.?

100%

10. Do your children do chores? {Or will they, did they, etc}

Okay, I guess I don't do 100% of the chores. Sierra makes her own bed. And actually, both Sierra and Makenna are pretty good about helping out when I ask. Sierra, especially is a tremendous help.

11. Do you go to church?

We currently do not. We went faithfully for years, and unfortunately there were circumstances that have led us to try to find a different church. We are sort of looking, but while "in between" the girls and I do Sunday School together on Sunday mornings.

12. Do you have a housework schedule?

No, I wish I did. I need one. I kind of just run around from room to room each day. I pretty much get nowhere fast.

13. Do you keep a working budget?

No, we don't. But I must say that we manage money a lot better now than we used to. We were never bad at managing, but we are far more aware now than we used to be, where our money goes.

14. What do you do at night as a family?

Dinner, baths, read books, pray.

15. How do you prepare yourself for a new week?

I'm a list-maker. I try to make a list of what needs to be done for each day of the week. Our calendar comes in handy!

16. What do your mornings look like?

Pretty laid back right now. As soon as school starts, Sierra and I will be up at 7am to get ourselves ready for the day. Showers, dressed, breakfast, organize, and our homeschool morning will start at 8:30am.

17. What time do you get up in the mornings?

It depends. Some mornings it's 5:30, some it's 7:00. But usually shortly after 6am.

18. What time do you go to bed at night?

Also depends. On the nights that Jeremy is at work I try to go to bed early with the girls. This can be as early as 9pm. However, sometimes I like the quiet time alone, and I'll stay up too late. When Jeremy is at home, now that we've gotten the girls into a more parent-friendly bedtime routine, we're usually in bed by 10:30. Wow. Bo-ring. ;)

19. How do you manage all of the paperwork that floods into your household?

I don't. No, just kidding. I make myself go through papers on a regular basis and I toss, toss, toss. Otherwise those papers can take over, I tell ya. Anything I can't toss {important receipts, etc.} I file away.

20. How do you keep your household organized?

I don't know that we're super organized, though I'd like to be. Our calendar in the kitchen is a great help. Any of Jeremy's schedule changes get written down there, as well as meetings, appointments, etc. I also keep a pocket calendar in my purse, and of course, my to-do lists ;)

This has been great fun, Amber! Thanks! Can't wait to get around to read everyone's answers!

Friend Makin' Mondays ~ Vacations!

Yay for another installment of FMM!

Kasey from All That is Good usually hosts, but she is on an extended vacay, so this week

Jolanthe from No Ordinary Moments, is hosting. And the task?

Vacations!!!

1. Tell us the best or worst vacation that you've ever taken

Oooooh, I've got two.

Hawaii ~ October 2006

We had SO.MUCH.FUN! My parents came along, as well as two cousins, an aunt, and their families. Hanging around the beach was, obviously, our favorite activity :)

And . . . .

DISNEYLAND ~ April 2008

Oh what fun!

The girls were in awe the entire time.

*Sorry this is a little late . . . it was another long day :)

I love vacations so much, I just had to get in on it.

Better late than never, right?

Happy Monday, y'all!