Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Spring Break 2010

We started our Spring Break with Easter at Grandma and Grandpa Reakers in their new home in Bremen. The kids stayed 2 more days while mom and dad worked.  Grandpa took them to Janes Park, DQ and many tours of scenic Bremen.It's hard to believe Annie was 6 months old when this was built.  I have pictures of the kids playing here every year. Beautiful park, missed Aunt!  The kids had fun with Grandma and Grandpa and I'm sure wore them out.Wednesday we headed to The Indianpolis Museum of Art.  Beautiful museum, artwork and grounds.  Aaron was less than thrilled to be there.  The museum is free and so close to home, I wanted to make sure the kids went at least once.  We will be returing to the grounds this summer for pictures though.  It was a rainy afternoon, so we headed to a movie "How to train a Dragon".  It was quite good.Friday and the weekend was spent in Cincinnati.  We went to the Creation Museum, which was way cool.  I think I learned more than the kids did.  It is very well done and affordable.  We spent the entire day there, and then headed to the hotel to swim.  We stayed at the Comfort Suites.  It was perfect for us, 6 sleep comfortably.  Breakfast and a pool too for $79.00.  It is hard finding affordable lodging for our crew, whereas someones not sleeping on the dirty hotel floor(usually Joe).This picture is of a 80 pound boa.  I chose to take the picture and miss out on the holding, thank you.We walked through the grounds and gardens, and went to the petting zoo.
Sunday found us at the Reds Vs. Cubs game.  We got there early for batting practice, and I was able to take some close ups of the players.  Too bad I didn't know who anyone was!I did know this long haired former
Irish player, Jeff Smardija.Soriano stunk it up and the Cubs dissappointed us in a loss.  The weather was HOT, but felt great. We were even able to get some sun.

Overall, the week went fast and I think the kids had fun.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

HE IS THE CHAMPION

our 7 year old delightful son ( and sometimes naughty!).  Correctly picked Duke to win the National Championship to win the Bennett Family Bracket Challenge.

well done Andrew, well done.

It was announced today that Brad Stevens the Butler basketball coach signed a 12 year contract extension to remain as coach of the Bulldogs.

well done Butler, well done.

As long as I am giving out compliments.....Gordon Hayward(Butler's best player who is a sophomore and considering leaving school to jump to the NBA) stay in school... so I can say....

well done Gordon, well done.

Seriously... it is a tough decision for Gordon.  He is an academic all-american.  Its not like he couldnt EVER go back and get his degree.  Yet if he is injured he could hurt his draft status and therefore risk millions in money.

However... my stance is...stay in school.. enjoy the time with your classmates.

jb

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Works for me Wednesday

Organizing personal data has always been tough for me.  I used to keep it in a lock box, then I would have to hunt for the key to open it.  All of the papers were thrown in together and I would have to hunt through everything.
I devised this little accordion folder found at Target on clearance a few years ago, into a safe place to stash all of our important papers. 
There is a slot for each one of us and our dog.  Items that are included are:  passports, birth certificates, ss card, shot records etc.  I keep it in my closet, so no one else messes with it.
It works for me.

I am linking up to Works for me Wednesday here

Before and After- kinda

Before:  Not truly, because I didnt think to take a picture of the ugly single sink counter before we burned it.

After:
The grout and sealing is done.  We changes the color from periwinkle blue to a Robins egg blue, looked almost green compared to the blue.  We changed out the drawers for tilt outs, since the sink takes up too much space.

The change increased the value of the house and hopefully will help teeth brushing battles.
Well, there was still screaming and gnashing of teeth last night, but baby steps....

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

The Money Pit

Funny old movie.  "Meg, Meg, bo beg, bonanafana bo beg."  Classic Tom Hanks.

We have had our little version, quite a few times with the house we currently live in.

2 weeks ago:  Faucet in kids bath(single sink) starts to leak. Granted it was the original from 1974.  I guess it was due!
I had the bright idea to put in a new sink top at the same time.  The old one was, think to yourself 1974 yellow formica. U.g.l.y.
Joe decides while we are at it, lets make it a double sink.  4 kids in one bathroom, good idea.

His friend Darrel comes down and helps him install it.  Looks great and it works.  Which is a plus in our house.  Only problem is, they chip the back splash and decide to just cut it off.
No big deal, I will just tile it all around.  Good practice for El Salvador.  I get decorative tile and we are set to go.

In the meantime, I bid on a new high efficiency toilet at the kids Winter Carnival  silent auction at school.  They were mortified when I am wheeling out a toilet in front of their friends.  Other people get Colts tickets, nah, we get a toilet( only $46.)!
Joe put it in the next day.

Fast forward to today, I am trying to grout the decorative tile-UGH!  Pretty yes, a pain, yes.

Now all we have left, is to rehang the mirrow because now it won't fit with the tile, and to install the drawer thingees, and re paint, and put a new shower curtain on and......

Just proves a simple little leaky faucet can lead to a 2 week renovation.  Pictures to come.

If you need encouragement today....

Listen here  crazy love or here http://www.crazylovebook.com/videos_stop.html.
Watch the other videos too!

Joe is reading he book and I am listening to it on my way to class.  I have to stop it a lot to just digest it. 

Good read (or listen)!

Menus

Monday
Crock pot meatballs
tater tots
applesauce
green beans

Tuesday
Broccoli Cheese soup(panera style recipe)
bread
popcorn chicken(for those who NEED meat)

Wednesday
Chicken Bacon ranch calzones(new made up recipe)
salad
leftover soup

Thursday
French dip sandwiches
(crock pot beef)
homemade french bread
salad

friday
pizza or leftovers

saturday
soup or chili

sunday
group

I haven't stayed on my $500. budget.  Costco really wrecks it when I spend $150 just there.  Other than that, I am over $23 and have 1 week left.  We will be eating from the pantry a lot!
 My biggest pitfalls are organic milk and hormone free meat.  It costs more, but tastes better and is better for you.