Baked French Toast with Blueberry Sauce

We have a WINNER!

1/4 c. melted butter

4 eggs

1 c. milk

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

8 slices Texas Toast

Blueberry Sauce

1/4 c. sugar

1 1/2 tsp. cornstarch

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

1 1/2 c. blueberries

2 Tbsp. orange juice

Pour melted butter into shallow baking dish (I used my large stone bar pan by Pampered Chef -which I LOVE!), evenly coat. In a large shallow bowl, whisk eggs, milk, vanilla, & nutmeg. Dip both sides of toast into egg mixture & place in baking dish. Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned.

In a large saucepan, combine sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, blueberries, & orange juice. Bring to a boil. Cook & stir until thickened. Serve over French Toast.

Sprinkle a little extra cinnamon & confectioner's sugar on top.

YUMMY!

Treasure Box Moments

I guess these moments focus on Makenzie because Austin was nowhere to be found this week.

We decided not to have "structured" lessons this week. This gave Austin the opportunity to work/play with Daddy & Papa. It worked out great because they worked on Austin's very own chicken coop that he is buying with his very own money (thanks to a loan from Papa).

Makenzie - "Mom, do you know how to calm a really fussy baby?"

Me - "No, how?"

Makenzie - "You just play with him a few minutes & when he quits, you yell BOO!"

Makenzie - "We should have named Logan "Burby McBurbyson" because he burps a lot."

Me - "So is your name "Pooty McPootyson?"

Makenzie picked up the snot sucker & (very dramatically) squealed "EEEWWW snot!"

Me - "Oh like you never touch snot"

Makenzie - "No, I don't."

Me - "but you have picked your nose..."

Makenzie - "But that's my own snot."

Makenzie talking about Logan- "I just love my baby!"

Logan learned to clap this week!

One night, after I finished nursing him, he had a big grin on his face & clapped his hands! Just like he was saying, "Good job, Momma! I'm so proud of you!"

He also laughed & clapped when the kids sang Jesus Loves Me at church!

On Board with arc

I usually don't openly endorse products, but I AM IN LOVE with the arc from Staples!!! Nope, its not a boat! The arc is a notebook that you can completely customize. AND it can keep everything in ONE place! YEAH! Simplicity is a good thing!

 If you know me, you know that I am very dependent on my planner. It is my second brain. It has papers shoved everywhere & is a crazy mess.



The arc not only holds a monthly & daily calendar, but you can add all sorts of premade pages & even your own (WHO HOO!). So now I have my planner, menus, shopping list, & homeschool planner all in the same place!



Monthly/Weekly Calendar



Shopping List





Weekly Menu



Homeschool Planner





Can you tell I am excited?! Yes, I'm a dork!



Desktop Punch to add your own paper



This is certainly a work in progress, but eventually I plan on adding my prayer lists, the schedule that I am going to make for getting my family/home/etc in order (this will be blogged later when DeAnna gets me her books!) & who knows what else.



I already need the expansion rings!

Expansion Rings

Best of all, its 25% off this week!

Justin wants one now!

Treasure Box Moments

I had to dig REALLY deep this week to find those hidden gems. I know that I am blessed but sometimes its hard to find those moments, so....

Several nights this week, I heard sweet little snores on one side of me & not so sweet or so little snores on the other - you figure it out!

Justin asked if he could take a Tylenol even though he had already taken a dose of Nyquil. I said "sure, its two different types of drugs." So he said, "so I guess if I took Cocaine, then Meth it would be ok because they are different drugs." ....... it was funny at the time!

The conversation that followed was even funnier .... Justin was talking about eating lunch somewhere (I forgot) & was amazed at the fancy fountain drink machine (why, because they served real fountains?). It looked futuristic & you could add a shot of vanilla, cherry, etc to your drink. ........ I promise it was funnier at the time - it must have been late!

Seeing Logan smile even though he has felt so bad is such a testament to his personality!

While waiting tables at our spaghetti supper fundraiser, Austin asked the people at his tables "Who ordered the spaghetti? Who ordered the sp - aghetti? Who ordered the spaghe - tti?" He's so funny! It was such a blessing to see my kids giving back instead of just receiving!

What Will You Leave Behind

Everyone knows Elvis. He was probably the most influential musician ever, but don't the events surrounding his death overshadow his accomplishments?

When you hear the name Janet Jackson, do you automatically think of that infamous wardrobe malfunction?

Do you know who Eric Harris & Dylan Klebold were? Their parents believed all their short lives that they were precious children.

Wasn't Benedict Arnold a brave soldier?

Any idea who Norma McCorvey is? She is better known as Jane Roe. Even though she is pro-life & professes Christianity now, she will never live down the aftermath of Row v. Wade.

I am positive that all of these people & many more had good qualities & positive moments in their lives. BUT, do we remember any of that?

We can live most of our lives doing good deeds & changing the world for the better, but if we fall to one or two weak moments, most people will only remember the negativity. Many times, we will beat ourselves up for years, not being able to forgive ourselves.

I was reading my devotional the other morning & my heart broke. When I am dead & gone, how will people, especially my children, remember me? More importantly, how will God look at me when I meet Him face to face?!



One of my favorite gospel songs of all time is "Look What I've Traded for a Mansion". I used to sing it to the kids when they were babies. I just hope & pray that they can look back on the life that I lived & say that I loved Jesus!

Is It REALLY That Important

Yes, I know I've been complaining A LOT these past few days. More than my fair share. We all go through troublesome times. BUT you wanna know something, I am still BLESSED!

I still have a warm bed, a full belly, & the ability to get up every day. I have eyes able to see the clutter, a nose able to smell dirty laundry, ears able to hear the squabbles, a mouth able to kiss sleeping babies, & arms able to feel just how much I am loved!

I still serve a savior who can & has fought off Hell for me. A savior who forgives me when I mess up ... again! A savior who gives me far more than I deserve & more than I can ever repay. A savior who loves me even when I don't love myself.

So what if the floor is dirty?

So what if there aren't any clean socks?

So what if we didn't follow the lesson plans that I spent so much time working on?

So what if we order pizza yet again because I don't feel like cooking?

Are any of those things what really matter?

Or is this what I should be cherishing?

Sunshine & Roses

Yep, its been one of those days weeks.

I warn you now there will be lots of complaining in the next few minutes so if you don't want to hear it, feel free to leave.

First, it seems that somehow I have offended or misled people. Dear friend, you know who you are & I HONESTLY didn't mean to! I am opinionated. I tend to whine, complain, & grumble at times, but I try to find the insanity & humor in the day to day stuff. Please don't read more into it than that.

We all had a much better night last night, but, sorry that's the bulk of my gratitude right at this moment. (NO, NOT REALLY, but please let me whine!!)

Since Logan has been sick, I have had ZERO control over schooling. The least little thing derails us. Its VERY hard to read while trying to calm a screaming baby. And for the past two days as I am still TRYING to teach after 4pm (no, that's NOT a mistake!), Justin walks in & does something off the wall which completely destroys what little bit of control I do have. Yesterday, I was trying to explain rotation & revolution with the globe & one of Logan's play cups. Justin decided to be a meteor & throw cups at the globe! Yes, it was HILARIOUS but I tried, I REALLY TRIED not to laugh!!

You do the math ..... zero minus little equals........I quit!

So, no control, kids not listening, baby screaming, distraction after distraction, blah blah blah.

My diet is shot all to kablooey because I am a stress eater. I think I ate EVERYTHING in the house last night!

Then a lovely bill collector called & was NOT nice. So, my temper got a little heated & I nicely told him off. Yeah, yeah, I admit it, I am behind on a few bills. HELLO - one income family!!

Next, while chopping onions for supper, the chopper slipped & knocked Makenzie's slushie in the floor. The sticky red liquid laughed at me!

Logan reuses to go to sleep, so he sits there & fusses. He's still awful cute though!

And then, Pillsbury has the NERVE to tell me NOT to eat raw cookie dough! Yeah right! SHHHHH! Don't tell the kids. I don't think there will be any left by the time they get home!

And to top it off, I don't get to go to church. I don't want to spread germs or bring home any new ones.

 American Idol had better be good!

Where is my Mt Dew?

OK, I'm better now......