And Our weekend begins!

Phil got off early today which means our weekend has begun! :) The past 2 weekends he worked so we haven't been able to get much done around the house. We have a few errands to run tomorrow, cleaning house on Saturday, and the Nodak girls are hoping to go to Bismarck for the day on Sunday...IF 94 isn't closed due to a snow storm. Really though? It snowed like twice this winter but never stayed for long and the weekend we plan to go somewhere...the weatherman says a "blizzard" we'll see I guess. The weatherman isn't always right.
I have a few things on my list to get while in Bis so I'm crossing my fingers and toes that we are able to go!

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Tenley started rolling over. I can't believe it actually! Esmie started moving early and I'm thinking Tenley is following in her path. Good thing we don't have stairs in our house! Esmie learned how to climb stairs way too early lol. Of course it was exciting being our first baby. But now having three...I'd love it if they stayed put for a little longer. My hands are pretty busy with Chance alone! haha. I wouldn't change it for the world though. I love my little rascals. I just can't believe she is at that stage already! Honestly, it feels like she was just born! Time goes by too fast.

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Phil is off to get his hair cut and then I'm going to workout at the gym. Have a great rest of your week/weekend! Hopefully I will take some pictures this weekend to put next week.
Take care!

A Few Firsts

Every week when I am making my grocery list and planning my menu, I ask Phil for suggestions. He always says, Meatloaf of Meatballs. I had always told him that I will never make either of those because I do NOT like them. Well, never say never right? I made 74 meatballs last week and he loved it! I guess I will make them again, they were ok. As long as Phil appreciats it, which he did.

I've always wanted bangs but was too scared to get them. Every time I went in for a hair cut, I chickened out when it came to the bangs. Not today! I figured if i didn't like them then I could just pin them back until they grow out. I'm still not sure if I like them, may take a little bit to get used to, like any new thing. :)

:) They make me smile!

Valentine's Party

Chocolate covered pretzels and strawberries, jello, sugar cookies, veggies, cheddar chowder soup with cheese garlic biscuits, and a few animal crackers thrown in the mix! Needless to say, we were so full that we could barely breath.

(From left) Eleana, Esmie, and Teija.

(From left) Krista, Alanna, Melissa, Lorina, and myself. The married Nodak ladies minus Lana.

(From left) Teija, Esmie, Chance, Colt(?), Clint(?) Grant, and Eleana.

I may have mixed of the twins, they are Krista's nanny boys. All of the kids had so much fun! It makes me happy that my kids have friends to play with while we are out here. :)

Tomorrow is another busy day! I'm crossing my fingers that Phil has Friday off. That would make for a wonderful weekend with my beautiful family. I just love them so much and each and every one of them amazes me every day.

Goodnight!

My Saturday

For Linner (lunch/dinner) I made this. Asian Noodle Toss. From one of my Taste of Home cook books. I used thin wheat noodles, cooked chicken cubed, mandarin oranges, sugar snap peas, and shredded carrots with stir fry sauce. It was good! I'll make it again.

The ladies out here are having a little Valentine's party for our kids on Monday. So today I made sugar cookies. Sorry if you're offended by the middle one but I recieved an e-mail awhile ago and just couldn't resist making one of them! I thought it was pretty funny...the girls will get a quick chuckle.

The conversation hearts you see in the stores say, "'fax me" and such. I decided "skype me" and "text me" would be appropiate for this day and age:)

This was the first batch of cookies I decorated. I started running out of ideas towards the end so I didn't post any of those ones. It was fun though!

Phil worked today and just got home an hour ago. We are going to RELAX tonight. This past week was way too long and rough with Chance being sick and cranky. Have a good rest of your weekend!!

Take Care

Some day he'll learn...

not to dig!
The other night, Phil and I were sitting in the living room watching the Blackhawks game and Chance and Esmie were playing with toys in the kitchen. A few minutes later, Chance had come up to me saying, "ow,ow" and holding his finger out. There was a big blister on his middle finger and the rest of that finger was bright red. Well, how'd that happen, we asked each other. Phil got up to check. Come to find out, Chance had dragged his bike over to the stove and turned on the burners. Um...not good! He's going to end up with 3rd degree burns if that keeps happening!!! That was freaky.
Ok, so last night as I'm drying off after my shower, I hear Chance choking in the kitchen. (what now?!) We go in there and he has swallowed dish soap. His choking led to throwing up suds and most likely a belly ache. Serious!y Someday he will learn that digging leads into burnt fingers, belly aches, and soaking wet clothes(from turning on the water and making a mess).

This morning we woke up to big, white, fluffy, snow flakes. The ground WAS white but it is 12:46pm and it's melted. Fine by me:)

I will be bringing Chance to the doctor today to check for an ear infection. He had a fever all day on Sunday, reaching up to 104. He laid on the couch ALL day and wouldn't eat anything. Yesterday I had called the doctor but they couldn't get him in. His fever was gone in the morning anyway so I thought that maybe he had some sort of 24hr bug. Well then today it was back up to 103 so I am bringing him in this afternoon to make sure it's nothing that should go untreated. He has had plenty of ear infections since he was born and we all know how painful those are!

My little honey bear has been sleeping all day. Only waking up to eat. She must be going through another growth spurt! She has a check up on the 14th and I'm curious to see how much she weighs.
Anyway, have a good Tuesday. I'm off to tackle the dishes before I leave for the doctors.
Take care!

See You When I See You by Jason Aldean

Click on the link to listen to a really good song.

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74-epliKEMQ

Let's don't say goodbye
I hate the way it sounds
So if you don't mind
Let's just say for now
*Chorus*
See you when I see you
Another place some other time
If I ever get down your way
Or you're ever up around mine
We'll laugh about the old days
And catch up on the new
yeah I'll see you when I see you
And I hope it's someday soon

God made this old world round
And maybe it's that way
So that paths that we go down
Yeah I will cross again someday
And someday I'll...
*chorus**FINAL CHORUS*
See you when I see you
Another place some other time
If I ever get down your way
If you're ever up around mine
-just stop by
We'll laught about the old days
And catch up on the new
Yeah I'll see you when I see you
Till then my prayers are with you
And I hope it's someday soon
I'll see you when I see you

I was listening to this song on my way home from the gym tonight and I couldn't help think about all the people we're missing back home. And while I was singing the part, "We'll laugh about the old days, and catch up on the new. Yeah I'll see you when I see you, Til then my prayers are with you, and I hope it's someday soon, I'll see you when I see you." I got all choked up. I honestly can not wait to go back and visit everyone! I miss it back there...soooo much! I know that we are out here for a reason but sometimes it feels like we are missing out on so much. Hugs to everyone and We can't wait for our nice visit!

Have a great weekend!

Level 2

I'm onto level 2 of the 30 Day Shred. I forgot how hard some of the circuits are! In level 1 she has you doing jumping jacks, jump ropes, push-ups, abs, squats etc. and level 2 she has you doing a lot of different things in the plank position. It's actually quite hard when you don't really have upper body strength. I find myself shaking when I'm trying to hold myself up like that. But that's why I'm doing it right? To gain that muscle and strength back. I love it actually. Each time I do it, I find it a tiny bit easier from the last.
Today, I tried on another pair of pants that didn't fit me a few weeks ago. I could fit them up past my thighs:) My backside is still a little large so I can't wear them yet. Making progress though! I get so pumped when I start seeing a difference in my clothing.
I can't wait until I can say...Mission accomplished! Goal..met! Until then, I will continue to workout because I am D.E.T.E.R.M.I.N.E.D!!!
I was hinting to Phil that I need hand weights so we'll see if I get my wish on Valentine's Day. We don't normally do anything for Valentine's Day because quite frankly I think it's a silly holiday but this year I bought him a memory foam pillow. He's been trying to steal mine for the past few months haha it's about time he gets his own. Now I might be stealing his because his is much better than mine. :) Maybe I will just wrap up mine and see if he notices.
When my Mom was here and we were at walmart, I saw the Biggest Loser cookbook. Let me tell you, some of those recipes in there look amazing! I'll probably pick that up the next time I go there. I'm always up for new, easy, and healthy ideas. My brain has been on vacation lately when I'm trying to come up with my menu for the week.
Speaking of my menu, I should go get my potatoes baking for Baked Potato Soup.
Have a great night!