What's in a name?

Sage: Wise One

Kristen: Christ Bearer

Logan: Small Cove

Riley: A Small Stream

our boy choice: can't say cause it would give the actual name away! lol

our girl choice: gift from God

We have picked our names!!!! YAY!  I love them both so much, kinda wish we were having twins, one of each so that I could use both names! :)  As of now we aren't going to tell anyone our name choices, we're still trying to decide if we'll wait until the day the baby is born for the big name reveal.  We figure since we aren't finding out the gender of the baby until then we might just keep everything else a secret!

What's happening this week?

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 14 weeks, Hello Second Trimester!

Size of Baby: a lemon!

Maternity Clothes: Nope! I can still wear all of my clothes, some of them aren't as comfortable anymore but it's still a possibility!

Gender: To be determined.  We have decided not to find out what sex the baby is, we'll see if we can stick to it.  I'm excited for that surprise but super excited to find out if we're having a boy or a girl!

Movement: According to my weekly updates, he/she is moving around lots but I haven't felt it yet

Sleep: Sleep fine except for my once a night potty break!

What I miss:  Nothing so far, wait...... maybe wine

Cravings: nothing specific yet.... I love Vanilla Dr Pepper from Sonic.  

Symptoms: heartburn has kicked in already, especially at night when I'm trying to lay down!

Best Moment(s) This Week:   I've been home a lot lately!  Work keeps canceling, so besides missing my income I'm loving my time at home!

yesterday I was 12 weeks along, can you believe it? 12 weeks already.... man this is going fast!  How have things been going? They're good!  I dealt with some sickness at about weeks 6-8, ick is all I can say.  Not once have I had morning sickness with kids, this go around it was the all day sickness.  And worse at night, which was fantastic for me since I work nights.  I'm gonna confess, yes, I threw up in a patient's bathroom. Not my finest moment!  I have no belly yet but my boobs are definitely growing!  It's making some of my work clothes slightly uncomfortable.  I'm in a wedding this Saturday, let me just tell you.....when you order your bridesmaid dress and you are 4 weeks pregnant, order the dress one size bigger.  Seriously, the headache I would have saved myself!  Luckily David's Bridal worked their magic, got me the same dress from another store and in one day had it sized down from a 20 to me (haha, yeah right, like I'd really put my size on here!).  While working their magic was fantastic, it was quite costly.  So once again, always order one size bigger!!!!!

So this was my baby update, more life updates to come..... hope you stay tuned! :)

Coming Soon....

a baby!!!!!! 

Miracle baby is on it's way, due date June 13th

To say that we are thrilled is an understatement.  This little blessing was a year in the making and we were starting to lose hope, he/she is truly a miracle!

The sonogram above was at 7 weeks along, we're 11 weeks now.  I can't wait for another one so I can show you something with arms and legs! :)

Happy Thanksgiving to all, I know I have tons to be thankful for this year!

how'd I do on my yearly goals?

HA!  All I can do is laugh when I see that on my side bar!  So, let's see....

~ run a 1/2 marathon  - absolutely won't be happening. I haven't continued with my running at all this year

~ read 3 books - haven't opened even 1, so getting 3 in between now and 2012 just isn't looking too promising

~ finish Riley's Christmas stocking - haven't worked on it once.... I suck.  But, have faith, maybe I'll get it done before Christmas!

~ lose 30 pounds (as of June I've reached my goal!) - I actually had reached this goal, pretty proud of myself. However, summer was tough and I gained some back. Still down 20lbs but would really like to be back where I was in June!

~ learn to deal with the 2 most difficult people in my life - still a work in progress but at least things are better!

So how are your goals going this year?

3rd annual Turkey Dinner

Is taking place this Saturday!  Guess that means I should go get a turkey huh? I've been waiting for Walmart or Dillons to put theirs on sale but it seems this year no one is having the turkey sale! Can you believe that? What is this world coming to?  :(


One friend is bringing mashed potatoes, another is bringing green bean casserole.  So I handle the rest.  What are you favorite holiday dishes?  Here's what's on my menu, but I'm not opposed to changing things up a little so don't be afraid to give me some ideas!


The obvious - Tom the Turkey
stuffing
gravy
rolls
pies - but what kind should I make? pumpkin - yes - but I'd like multiple desserts this time




should I make a fruit salad?
do people really like sweet potato casserole?


Let your ideas flow! :)

where has the time gone?!

I can't believe it's been almost 2 months since I've posted!  Wow do I have a lot to share!  Let's go back to September from where I last left off.....

I was very excited to meet my new nephew!  Elijah Rush was born 9-11-11, he's quite the handsome man!

Also a few weeks before that we brought home our 3rd Boston Terrier.... yes I know you're saying THREE!!!! It's a long story, but we have her and we love her!

Riley turned 3!!!!!

and also got Hand Foot and Mouth Disease.... oh my goodness, if you haven't seen this I pray for your sake you never go through it.  This poor child was miserable.  He had this back in September and still has some of the side effects from it.  These pictures were from the beginning of the sickness, I should have taken some in the middle but forgot.  Poor kid had these bumps on his bottom too.... :(

I turned 30 in October, holy smokes!  The big 3-0....and I'm gonna admit.  I seriously didn't have a problem turning 30, but it seems like ever since then life has given me tons of  hurdles.   I just keep climbing over them and hope that one day things will get easier.

The kids and I spent a day at the Renaissance Festival, sooo much fun!

October also brought Halloween!  Logan was a skeletor, yeah I don't really know what that is either, and Riley was Lightening McQueen!

October also brought the end to my time at my job, I found a job that was closer to home (I have been driving an hour each way).  So far the transition has been far from easy.  I ask for prayers in giving me strength to keep it up, and if nothing else, prayers that something brighter comes my way soon.

Here are a few other pictures from the last 2 months that I wanted to share....

Mexico

A couple weeks ago we flew out to Mexico with 25 of some of our closest friends  :)  What an amazing time!  We were at the El Dorado Royale in Riviera Maya, such a beautiful resort!  The weekend before flying out was the wedding of some of our favorite people.  Their wedding was on a lake, it was quite lovely!

hubs and me at the rehearsal dinner

Abbie (the bride) and myself

on our limo ride to the wedding

first meal in Mexico!!!!

a few of us lovely ladies...

the happy couple! :)

hanging out at the swing bar

and of course, I made sure we went horse back riding!

just a peak at what I've been doing...

advice please

My husband and I own a 2nd house that we use as a rental.  About 6 weeks ago we chose to evict the people that were in it.  They were out of contract and their payment history was pretty awful.  When they moved in a year ago I let them paint on the condition that they re-paint when they left.  Their deposit was $600.00.  When we went over to change the locks after they moved out we discovered that they didn't re-paint at all.  So I was left with a red kitchen, purple room, blue room, and gray room.  Fun.  They also appeared to have stopped mowing the yard they day we evicted them.... no joke, grass was about 2-3 feet tall.  They didn't take all of their stuff out of the house and they definitely didn't clean.  A carpet that has always cost me $250 to have cleaned cost me $340 this time because it was so gross.  So here is the problem, today the ex-renter texts me and asks me when I'm giving her back her deposit.  Seriously?  I can't even respond because I'm so frustrated and I don't want to say something I shouldn't.  So, what would you do?  Give any of it back?  The professional cleaners quote was $125, the carpet was $340.  Guess I should get a quote for a painter now, and then a mower.  I'm torn... help!

the one where I say goodbye

Turns into the one where I fill you in on life... again....


I logged on tonight deciding that it would be my last post, but then I started catching up on what I've missed for the last few weeks.... Newlywoodwards are moving into their beautiful home!  I've loved watching their progress and can't wait to see all of the finishing touches.... Shannon at Living My Life on Purpose, her little girls are so precious.... Jenny at Lucky In Love, well she was probably my first bloggie friend and I love watching her precious Natalie keep getting bigger!


So I've decided I'll keep blogging, at least for now.


What's new with me?  Well, everyone else talks about their engagements and their jobs and their pregnancies.... me, well I'm just trying to get pregnant!  You'd think (at least I do) that a person who already has 2 babies that it would be easy to get pregnant again.  Well you are thinking wrong!  This past month was our first go around with fertility drugs and I'm sad to say that we weren't successful.  I had to go in for lab work this week and unfortunately my progesterone level wasn't as high as it needs to be, bummer, but, we'll try again.  We do talk about adoption every now and then, especially now that we're a year into this process.... but we'll see!


We're about to have a new family member! Remember my gender reveal party?  It's hard to believe but Emily and Lonnie are about to welcome their new bundle of joy any day now!  Induction is scheduled for the 11th if he doesn't come on his own.  This makes me very happy because Sage and I are flying out on the 12th to head to Mexico for a week... I've been pretty worried for the last 9 months that I would miss Eli's grand entrance!  Lucky for me, and I think for Eli too, I'll still be in Kansas! ;)


Work.... well work is work.  I'm adjusting/adapting, this is new for me.  I used to work full time but that hasn't been for 2 1/2 years.  It's a big adjustment and I'm working on coping with the struggles that I'm having because of this.  Sage is finally back to work, for at least a month now, and we couldn't be happier!  He was always so depressed not being able to work every day.


Anyone remember that I own a second house that we use as a rental?  Well we do, and about 6 weeks ago I evicted them they had to be out today.  Holy mess.... they must have quit mowing the yard about 6 weeks ago, they left all of their trash, they didn't clean or repaint.  Can we say, sorry no deposit return for you!


So that's it in a nutshell.... I'm going to try and get better at blogging again.  Tasty Tuesday was fun but I've neglected to upload photos of my recipes... finding that extra 5 minutes is tough I tell ya  ;)


Hope that everyone has a great weekend!!!!

party party!!!!

Tomorrow morning I'll be pulling out of town with a load full of some of my besties!  Remember me telling you about my friends Jace and Abbie that are getting married?  Well I did! :)  I'd link you to the post but seriously, I'm just lazy and don't want to search for it.  Pathetic I know.  So, the wedding is in just 3 weeks!!!!  Yes, in less than a month they'll be saying "I Do" on a dock with a beautiful lake behind them, and then just 2 days after that we'll all be flying out to Mexico for a "Party-Moon!  I cannot wait!  So back to me pulling out of town, yep, 11 of the finest ladies I know will be helping Abbie by hosting her a fantastic bachelorette party that will last all weekend at the Lake of the Ozarks!  WOO HOO!!!!!  I cannot wait, good times to be had and all in less than 24hrs!  

So..... here's to seeing you on the flip side! 

Abbie and I at her bridal shower

oops! I missed a Tasty Tuesday! Am I the only one who noticed?   I will return with it soon.... hopefully!

Wordless Wednesday

looking in....

do you ever feel like your standing outside a glass box looking in at your life passing by?  Man it's going FAST!  Things are good with me, work is keeping me busy and stressed, I'm staying busy trying to keep up with my kids, keeping up with friends, and then I have to find the time for me and Sage.  Seriously, 24 hrs in a day isn't near enough!  I'd love to get a day where I just sit around and do nothing, but man what a waste that would be! lol

School starts next week for Logan, can you believe he'll be in 2nd grade!  Yeah, me neither.  I'm so bummed, I have to work the night before his first day, which means I can't get back into town early enough to take him in and walk him to class.  Stupid hour +  drive, I need to find something closer  :(

Next weekend I'm heading out for a weekend long bachelorette party at the Lake of the Ozarks, I can't wait!  This will be my first time down at the lakes, I've heard it's amazing!  In a little over a month I'll be flying out to Mexico!!!!!  To say I'm excited is a complete understatement!

Well this is just a quick update, I hope to start blogging more often but seriously, I just don't have the time!

Oh.... still working on the making a baby thing, it's been almost a year long process and we're really getting no where.  Who knew that at 29 I'd quit ovulating?  Makes me wonder what 30 will bring?

Tasty Tuesday

Chicken Bake

chicken thighs (however many you want, I used 8)

cream of chicken soup

can of rotel

1/2 - 1 c cheddar cheese

salsa

1. place chicken in 9x13 baking dish (I also seasoned with garlic & onion salt first)

2. spread cream of chicken soup over all pieces

3. then top with rotel

4. sprinkle cheese over top, then top with salsa (I didn't have salsa)

5. Bake at 425 for 40-50 minutes

The Review:

Oh my goodness, this one makes my mouth water as I type this.  It is soooo good!  Kids all loved it, made for great leftovers....  We made some plain pasta and then used the sauce from the chicken to put on the pasta.  This will be one of our new favorites, something easy we can make weekly!

Wordless Wednesday

Tasty Tuesday

Pork Chop Bake

4 Pork Chops

1 can cream of mushroom soup

Lipton Soup Mix (I didn't have this so omitted it)

Garlic Salt 

Onion Salt 

1. Season your chops with garlic and onion salt

2. pour soup on bottom of 9x13 baking dish, place pork chops in dish (I sprinkled with Italian Seasoning, but if you have the Lipton mix this is where I would use that)

3. Bake at 425 for 40 minutes

The Review:

I never got to try this one, I made it when I worked a 3-day stretch and just never took it in for dinner.  My husband and kids all enjoyed the meal though!  They ate it as leftovers as well and said it was just as good as the first day!  (Obviously this is a pretty basic way to make pork chops, but it's a meal that I made so it's making the cut and gets a spot on the blog! :)

The pasta salad above I've been making for years.... scrumptious!

any type of pasta you'd like (1/2 a pound will work, or 1lb will make leftovers!)

can of peas

canned or fresh chicken, if fresh it needs to be cooked and shredded

mayo

mustard

pepper and salt to taste

1. Cook the pasta, drain, rinse with cold water

2. drain can of peas, add to pasta

3. add shredded chicken to pasta

4. add mayo and mustard, along with pepper and salt, garlic/onion salt works as well.... there are no measurements here, it's all to make it to taste

We love this pasta!  It's easy to make, lasts a long time, and tastes oh so good!

Wordless Wednesday

Tasty Tuesday

Taco Pie

1 package of crescent rolls

1 lb ground beef

1 package taco seasoning mix

1 (16 oz) container sour cream

8 oz shredded mexican style cheese blend

1 (14 oz) bag tortilla chips, crushed

1. Preheat oven to 350

2. Lay crescent roll dough flat on bottom of 13x9 cake pan and bake according to package directions

3. Meanwhile brown the ground beef in large skillet, add the taco seasoning and stir together well.  When dough is done, remove from oven and place meat mixture on top, then layer with sour cream and cheese, then top off with the crushed nacho chips.

4. Return to oven and bake at 350 for 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

The Review:

YUM!!!!!  I know my reviews all are starting to sound the same, but really, what else I can I say?  The food tastes great, it was good the next night as leftover, both kids ate it, husband devoured his.... seriously, that's how you know if it's a good recipe or not!

Nutritional:

Servings: 8

Calories: can't we just skip this one? 687 :(

Fat: 43.4g

Cholesterol: 100mg

Sodium: 863mg

Carbs: 50.6g

Fiber: 3.6g

Protein: 24.4g

After reading this nutritional info will any of you even try it?  :-)

: recipe recommends using your taco toppings with this as well, lettuce, tomato.... just sprinkle on top...

Wordless Wednesday

Tasty Tuesday

Jumbalaya

2 packages of Jumbalaya mix

2 packages of Kielbasa (sausage)

1. follow the instructions on the boxes..... this is as easy as it gets people! :-)

However.... I made an error when I grabbed my 2 boxes of mix..... and I'm gonna recommend this way to all my readers!

1 package of Jumbalaya mix

1 package of red beans & rice mix

(these are right next to each other on the shelf)

FANTASTIC!

Even my kids liked it!  Makes for great leftovers as well..... the way that I made this (doubled recipe) gave us dinner for like 3 or 4 nights.... I'm a night nurse so I try and make a large meal the night I go into work so that the boys will have things to eat for the next day or two!

quick vacation

A couple of weeks ago we loaded up along with my sister and her kids, my other sister & my mom, and headed to St Louis, MO.  We headed out of town around 5 am and by 10:30 am we were walking into the City Museum!

If you are near the St Louis area you should definitely check this place out, the kids had a blast!  We could have spent hours in there!  My only recommendation, wear knee pads! lol  No, I'd say at least wear jeans and tennis shoes.  I wore shorts and flip flops, big mistake!  Along with the museum there is an aquarium.... it wasn't quite what we were expecting but it was still fun none the less.

it's a good way to wear people out! :-)

After the museum we headed to the Gateway Arch, it was nice to see the arch but really exciting seeing all of the flooding down there!

we finished our night off with a dip in the pool, then woke up early the next day and headed to the zoo!  We had a great day for the zoo, 82 was the high, we had an occasional breeze.... only problem was the zoo was packed!  Apparently Kevin James was there and they were having the premiere of Zookeeper!  Unfortunately we didn't get to see Kevin James, but we saw lots of fun animals and had a great time!

Hope you enjoyed the million pictures!  We had a blast and will definitely go back again, there is so much to do in St Louis that we didn't even have a chance to see it all!