I'm Madeline

Hi!
I'm Madeline and I love eating small pieces of pineapple. I also enjoy peas and small pieces of bread.  Like a birdie. Mommy won't give me much more because she doesn't want me to grow up too fast.  I'm almost eight months old!  I'm pleased to announce I got my first tooth today. Mommy was sure I wouldn't get them for another few months.
I adore my big brother and sister. And everyone else...

My Veggie Bake

My Veggie Bake

I'm doing a 5 day slim down program through Beachbody. It's been fun because now I have a reason to eat all the things I've been wanting to, and should have been doing.
You could consider this "eating clean" or clean eating, or whatever.

My Veggie Bake:

Cauliflower
Broccoli
Carrots sliced thinly or baby carrots
Squash cut thinly
Onion(fresh or powdered)
Garlic (fresh or powdered)
Pepper
Olive Oil
Water

Combine veggies and coat very lightly with olive oil. You only want a hint, not greasy veggies. Pour the water in the pan (obviously don't use water if you're using a flat pan, just use a little more olive oil. I use these pans so I can use less oil and more water to cook the veggies). If I have garlic cloves on hand, I dump a few in, whole. They are delicious. Minced or chopped tend to burn. Sprinkle your seasonings to taste. More is more, less is less. I prefer more, healthy, seasonings in my dishes. This is exact, I use more broccoli than cauliflower because we like it more. I've put other vegetables in, too.

I DO NOT USE SALT. We get too much of that in other foods, no need to add it. If you feel it's bland, add some spices.

Bakes at 375-400 degrees, covered, for 40-45 minutes. Take the foil off and bake for 10 more minutes to get the veggies crispy on top. If that is too long, broil them after the foil comes off but keep your eyes on the prize or they'll burn.

Enjoy!

Another Wednesday, Worded

I've been waking up late, lately and I don't like it. I had every intention of going to a senior yoga class for a morning stretch and slept through that. I eventually got up and got the kids dressed for a splash pad date with their cousins. The clouds parted and the sun beamed like it was meant for us to be there.
They played for almost 2 hours! What fun! I love to go there, it's right beside the YMCA. It's free and 5 minutes away.
Back to the house for lunch and nap time, and that was great by me! Madeline fell asleep without even a peep in her bed and Carson walked me to his bed so I could sing his good-nap song. Sehara was Sehara and asked me a billion questions when I didn't feel like being awake, much less answering them.
I took Sehara to jazz, then picked her up and got us all to church in time. I even made a Kroger pit stop in between all of that.
I really missed my husband throughout the day. It's such a long time for me to go without him. I mean, but he's working, so I am definitely not complaining. 
We got some nasty weather alerts and I'm going to bed, while Tim and Sehara watch the Justice League cartoons.

Busy Keeping Busy

The summer is just kicking off and it's already as busy as I hoped it would be.
Marybeth graduated high school, and she's off to BCTCS, branched off of UK. It's not too far from my alma mater, and that's always an exciting thing...
Sehara has been busy keeping me busy with all of her activities, not to mention the things I have planned for the little ones and myself & Tim.

Let's see, I got my hair cut! It's pretty good looking, easily managed.

I made it down to Kentucky to see my sissy graduate high school and brought Madeline along. Sehara had too many expensive activities to be present for. Carson got quality time with Grandmother. I did miss them though.  While down there, I got quality time with some family members and it was much needed. A girl needs her parents and sisters and brothers every once in a while.

We have been purposefully busy with church activities, and Christian play-dates. The splash pad has been a huge hit with my kids (kind of). I have a stack of letters laying here next to my computer that need to be mailed off. The public library offers wonderful free programs that I'm taking advantage of.

Tim took a police recruit test, and I hope and literally pray often that something will come out of it. I guess I should be more specific: I want him to get accepted into the academy.

I don't have a phone right now and I feel so cut off from my friends and family, lol. The one thing I never really wanted and I realize it's hard to manage in these days without one. So, it is what it is.

I have become addicted to candy crush. Nothing else needs to be said about this.

That's been our summer thus far. Actually, is it even technically summer yet? You know what I mean.

A Busy Saturday

My day has been so busy. I made a goal for this summer to keep busy with my kids, providing them ample opportunities to develop social and physical areas.
So this morning, we had Carson's swim lesson in which he has greatly improved in regards to comfort in the water.
We took a long, hot shower, then it was Sehara's turn for swimming. My girl has progressed from the beginner class, which I shouldn't have put her in, to the advanced class. I think they are called the "sharks". She has always been a water bug.
Madeline stayed with her Auntie Jeanine for the swimming because Tim had to work and I didn't have anywhere to put her.
We rushed back to the house for a quick lunch full of nutritious foods! This was the point where Sehara decided she wanted to argue with me about a picture in the paper. Not that I argued back, but she kept going. She threw away an opportunity to have a sleepover with Elli.
Right after that, we had her soccer game, where we ran into the tail end of Garon's game and got to see Kayt, Larry, Addison, and Garon for a few minutes. Kayt gave me her leftover cookies and those saved my life and her waistline. I'm a good friend.
Sehara performed so well during her game! Her team gets better every week!
Melanie, Gabe, and Hunter came out to cheer her on! She loves visitors!
I grabbed a diet coke, and we went back to the house so the kiddos could nap. I dropped my brand new and fresh diet coke on the carpet!! UGH. I soaked it up while Carson played on the stairs (a no-no). He wouldn't go upstairs! Madeline had soaked her diaper and onsie and she was starving. I got everyone up, plopped her on the bed and got Carson in his bed. I fed Madeline and messaged a friend(the mother of Elli to let her know Sehara wouldn't come and why).
So now, I have started a soup for dinner. Chicken is thawing and Tim should get off work in 30 minutes. I'm so excited! I miss him.

I also wanted to point out that I did something great last night. I love to help people out, and not be recognized, usually. But here's where I'm going to pat myself on the back because it has to do with helping AND avoiding sin. I donated my time and some money for a friend, and went to do physical activity to show support (it was a group thing). When I handed the money over, I was told to wait so I could get some raffle tickets. I wondered what for, because I didn't understand and I asked about it. I very politely said, "No thank you, I am just donating money and I don't need the tickets!"

Look at me, actually applying lessons from the Bible to my everyday life. In case you're wondering, raffle tickets are a part of gambling. But we won't dwell on that.

I know this post misses my pizaz and flare, but here it is! I didn't fill in the cracks, and there's a lot of them. I'm not asking for a super mommy reward or any of that junk. I'm just telling ya about my day thus far. ;)

FlashBack Friday: Paris, France

My friend, Kari and I on our excursion to Paris for a week before summer classes stared in Denmark. Enjoy!

My Favorite Headband/Bow Holder Tutorials {Links}

I have been busy making hairbows and headbands and all this D.I.Y. stuff and I wanted to give credit to where my inspiration comes from. I dislike taking credit for doing things when they aren't my idea. I'll be blogging pages with links in them to share with my friends where these things came from!

Firstly, these are by far my most favorite tutorials for headband and hair bow holders! I altered mine(and I'll blog about those later) to the way I liked them and how they'd work best for me.

Photo from: The Paro Post

 I loved this one because you can put everything on it. And it's pink, so that's a plus. For the tutorial, click here.

Photo from: *lyssa beth*

 These headband holders are perfect for Sehara and I, they suck for Madeline. Preferably, if the headband is open, these are great. If not, you have to pull one over all of them and it just ruins my whole day. Presentation is almost everything and this is maj! For the tutorial, click here!

Photo from: Simply Modern Mom

 This one is for open headbands, as well. I love it because it's simple and cute and that's fine with me. For the tutorial, click here.

Photo from: tinkerwiththis

I can't even talk about this one, because it's simply stunning. Not only is it gorgeous, but it's PERFECT for baby headbands. The clothes pins are the best way to hand up Madeline's headbands. When I go to pick one out, I look at the width of the headband, and what it is made out of (along with the color, and whether it's a bow or flower, blah blah) and the clothes pin allows me to actually see that. I haven't made this one yet, it's definitely on my list though. For this amazing tutorial, click here!

My Box

I have immersed myself completely into my husband, my family, student loans, house searching, the Bible, church, Ladies class, friends and family (not really in order). I've done this slowly for the past two years. I was confused and angry and mean, anxiety was written all over my face when I graduated. I had left a friendship horribly, left a religion, and stepped away to a new scenario.

I mean, I came out pretty well. I have some more tools in my belt. I have a great relationship with my husband and love him and my kids too deeply to describe. I have made new friends, lost some, and made newer ones. I understand the Bible better, even though I get confused with a different doctrine sometimes. I took a step back from "the world" without knowing it and zoned in on me. I let myself feel everything I needed to feel. I have figured out honesty is best, and know how to speak it.

When I realized I didn't know anything that was happening out there, that I wasn't making friends around town, and that I basically didn't have any substantial long term goals, honestly, I was okay with it. I soaked in it. It was freeing. I loved being able to see things from an unbiased view.

There's always something that knocks you off your feet though. We were visiting with a friend and I realized I didn't know anything new. I mean, shoot, what a great way to feel so stupid: when you're conversing with a group of people. Ugh.

It's all great and dandy to know and love yourself and all this great stuff I'd been working on, but sooner or later I have to figure out what's going on around me. The thing is, I think I can do the things I have been doing and figure out how to learn some other things. What would it hurt to read some books every now and again? How about helping out and volunteering, or toting my kids around at the library more, to sports, and school functions. Exposing them to the harmless, and appropriate activities. Gosh, maybe whip my behind in shape like I've been wanting to for a year and a half?!

Maybe, since I have all the important stuff together, I can step out of the nice, tight square box I so willingly like to sit in.

Family, Zoo, Driving, & Church

My little family and I went to Kentucky this past weekend. We picked Sehara up on the way down, from Carrollton and made it to Buckner.

Saturday morning, we went to the Louisville Zoo. We met up with our friend Josh and his daughter, Mira, and his family. Boy, has she grown! I love seeing my friends! My goal is to try to meet up with as many as I can, when I can.

The trip to the zoo confirmed that we do need to go ahead and purchase that double stroller I have been wanting. I'm even willing to put my single strollers in storage! (I love my babytrend jogging stroller) It's officially not just a want, but now it's a need. :D

We spent Saturday evening back at my parent's house. Went grocery shopping and made the best tacos and fajitas for dinner. We ate too many donuts, but had fun. Tim and Daniel took the shutter off the house and cleaned up. Daniel invited Tim to bowl (Daniel's on a bowling league) and they had a blast.

Sunday morning we hosed down the front porch and scrubbed the bricks and pebbled area right in front of the door. It felt great outside and we all just lounged around on the front porch while the kids played on the swingset.

We left a little before 3 and got stuck in stop and go traffic for over an hour and made it back to Fairborn and church 2 minutes before it started. Sehara packed in shoes (and left another pair in KY) in her duffel, Carson had gotten his shoes muddy and and wet his whole outfit. We were a mess when we pulled in the parking lot. But we made it!

Not Such A Good Memory

I've had trouble sleeping lately. My mind is filled with all these memories and I keep replaying them over and over again.
Most definitely, they are brought on by my kids. I observe their growth all day and I bask in the utmost fulfillment of every emotion they give me. They range in obsession, love, anger, joy, hurt, disappointment, pride. All those things, plus. They certainly don't know how to give  me nothing. In Tim, too. Even on our worst days, he's the bees knees. The peanut to my butter. I see all this and wonder many things. I wonder how parents (mother's especially) can abandon their kids.
One of my memories starts with my (bio) dad sitting on his stool at the counter in the kitchen. The part of the counter that doesn't really belong to the kitchen, it's more for the phone and calendar. I remember his startling blue eyes looking worried and staring at the calendar. I think he was smoking. I can't remember that part. I know he and my (bio) mom had court that morning. I had been home from school for a little while when they got back. I got back from school and no one was home, a really eerie feeling. She disappeared somewhere, frantic with the phone. It's all really a blur.
He said that everything was fine. I've always been a worrier, or felt guilty about anything. I can remember knowing how much money my dad brought home on paydays and I always knew how much they spent and around about what they had left, and that stress got bad after a few days. I always waited for it.
Between then and not much longer later, these cars pulled in the driveway, parked there and in the cul de sac, some of them police cars. We lived on RedRock Court. I saw our social worker's face, as I got in the back of her car. I'm pretty sure her name was Linda. All of us were taken to Home of the Innocents. We were checked in on the first day they opened.

Just writing this down has gotten it out of my head. I waited a good week before I remembered, and I have debated whether to post any of this. BUT, I'm just going to go ahead and do it. Besides, I feel so relieved now. It's down and I can look at it when I want.