Menu Plan Monday

Because of the craziness of last week, I declared myself "off duty" more nights than I would have liked. So there are some repeats this week.

Monday ~ Homemade chicken noodle soup (we ARE having this because the chicken is currently thawing!)

Tuesday ~ Popcorn chicken and homemade french fries

Wednesday ~ FFY

Thursday ~ Cheesy chicken and rice

Friday ~ Penne hamburger stroganoff

Saturday ~ Hamburgers and chips

Sunday ~ Spaghetti, homemade "Olive Garden" salad, and breadsticks

Have a great week!

Valentine's Day Recap

Valentine's Day was several days ago, but with my super-crazy week, this is the first chance I have had to sit down and post about it.

Rick and Dawson came home from their Tahoe trip on Monday afternoon. I had already given Brynne and Eli their Valentines and had gone to Eli's party at school.

We kept things really low-key that day, although when everybody got home the kids presented me with a card.

Drake and Kyndal exchanged their Valentines on Sunday. Kyndal got a Drew Brees t-shirt, roses, chocolate and a hand-made card. Kyndal had some personalized M&M's made and gave Drake a tiara, because she says he always acts like a princess.

On Tuesday night Rick and I went on a date to Fuji's Japanese Cuisine and Sushi Bar. We were home early, but enjoyed our dinner out together.

Tonight we are having Family Game Night 2. Eli loves when our family plays all of his board games in a family competition. We had our first Family Game Night on New Year's Eve. We'll have make-your-own mini pizzas and then get to the games!

Some New Favorites ~ Completely Random

I have a few new favorite things. And they are random, but here they are:

1. Fiber One 90 Calorie bars. First of all ... Yummy!! They are chocolately goodness! Second of all, they are only 1 Weight Watchers Point! Third, with 5 grams of fiber they are extremely filling!

I wish they didn't cost quite so much for five bars, but I'll just be on the lookout for coupons. And even without one, I will continue to buy them. That's saying a lot from this frugal gal!

2.  Harry's Law. When Rick and I saw the previews for this show, we were not optimistic. I honestly thought Kathy Bates had made a poor choice. But I should have known that the "King of Legal Shows", David E. Kelley, wouldn't make a dud. It is fantastic! I caught the tail end of the pilot and was immediately hooked! Kathy Bates is her usual amazing self! She is solid and whitty and hard and loveable all at the same time. This has become something Rick and I look forward to watching every week! It even seems to have taken the lofty place of Lie to Me in our hearts.

3. Lemi Shine. Told you this was random! Our dishwasher had gotten so grody! It had hard water stains and gunk all around the drain and our dishes were not getting clean! I hate unloading the dishwasher! I especially hate it when I have to rinse and dry every dish I take out of it after it's run through a full cycle! I took a chance on this product and it has worked wonders! Rick asked me if I wanted to take a before and after pic (good blogging husband), and I didn't do it. I sure wish I would have because the difference is amazing! Our dishwasher is sparkly clean and our dishes have been sparkly shiny ever since. It recommends using some in every load, but I have just been running an empty dishwasher with it once a week.

So, there are some new favorites of mine. Do you have any you want to share?

Some Light Reading

I haven't touched one of these in over 15 years! ... Yes, it's a Business Law textbook!

This is the textbook I will be using to write the curriculum I have been hired to write. So, this weekend I will be reading through this fun book! (Actually, I am looking forward to it.)

** Also, take a few minutes to head over to Journey to Excellence to read about the trip Brynne and I took to our state Capitol today. **

Nicole's Daybook

Outside my window... Soppy, wet, muddy yards from the mass exodus of snow melting, with increased temperatures.

I am thinking... about the date I have with a hottie tonight who called me this morning, asked if I was 'Nicole Taulman' and, when confirmed, told me to be ready to leave my house at 7:00 tonight and to dress nice.

I am thankful ... that my men are home from their trip to Tahoe and that no one has any broken bones.

I am wearing... a pair of gray sweats, a blue and gray 'Cayman Islands' baseball shirt and my slippers.

I am planning... the travel plans for our day trip to the Oklahoma City Capitol building.

I am creating... piles and piles and piles of folded laundry.

I am going... to go to Eli's Parent/Teacher Conference this afternoon so we can discuss his progress, weaknesses and preliminary plans for services for next year.

I am reading... Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner, Stepping Heavenward by Mrs. E. Prentiss and the Book of Psalms (daily devotional), A Room for Cathy by Catherine Woolley (my favorite book as a child, published in 1950),  The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli (Dawson's read-aloud).

I am hoping... that I always have a good "talking" relationship with my husband and kids.

Scripture I'm memorizing ... "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me ... Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me." ~ Psalm 51:10-11

From the learning rooms... We are back to school this week .... Yea!!!! Kyndal has had some friendship changes, so her schedule at school is a little different right now and she's back to riding the bus because of it. Eli had his Valentine's Day party yesterday so he was really excited to get back to school .. not so much this morning. Brynne got back to her studies yesterday and we have had a couple of really productive days, although she hasn't wanted to "do school" .. too many days off playing. And Dawson officially started back today, and has done well getting back into it. We have now moved on to The Middle Ages and plant science.

Noticing that ... duh, I feel so much better when I get, even minimal, exercise!

From the kitchen... I started fixing Rick breakfast this morning and packing him a lunch, instead of him skipping breakfast and going out to eat for lunch. He's hoping this will help him to lose some weight.

Around the house... are muddy little paw prints all over the stained concrete floors and the leather couch.

One of my favorite things... is taking care of my family and their needs.

A few plans for the rest of the week... P/T Conference today and then date night, going to OKC Thursday for Homeschool Day at the Capitol, going to Brynne's Coop Valentine party Friday and then grocery shopping and then taking it easy this weekend (or possibly writing the curriculum for the class I am writing, if my textbook comes in).

From my picture journal.

My man snowboarding in Lake Tahoe.

Lots of women Daybook. See what they have to say at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Menu Plan Monday ~ For the Sweets

Rick and Dawson get back from their Tahoe trip this afternoon. I am ready for them to come home! Today we are back at school, after 9 days off due to the snow. Brynne and I are trying to get everything done so we can go to Eli's Valentine party this afternoon.

Here's our meal plan for the next week ...

Valentine Monday ~ Chicken fettucine, brownies and sprinkled snow cream

Tuesday ~ Hot dogs and mac and cheese for the kids (Rick and I are going on our Valentine date)

Wednesday ~ FFY

Thursday ~ Cheesy chicken and rice

Friday ~ Tacos

Saturday ~ Mini pizzas for Family Game Night 2

Sunday ~ Homemade chicken noodle soup (didn't have last week)

Eli and Brynne would like to wish you a Happy Valentine's Day (and so would the rest of the family).

Clearing my head

With the snow rapidly melting, and the temps already climbing into the 60s (it will be in the 70s all week), I went out to stretch my legs and get some fresh air. Although I am a homebody, being in the house with not much to do for almost two weeks has taken its toll even on me. I needed to get out!

So, Crusoe and I took a leisurely stroll around the neighborhood. I even let him run without a leash so he could stretch his legs (he's a border collie, so he needs that!). He just ran and ran and ran.

It's amazing what a little fresh air, sunshine and exercise can do to your psyche! I was feeling  a little low and blah. But I'm feeling much better now!

So, get out for a few minutes today and take a walk, if you can! It will clear your head and get you ready to start a fresh, new week!

Book and Movie Reviews

When you are snowed in, you read a lot and watch movies to pretend you are somwhere else to pass the time.

So I thought I might as well give you some reviews of what I have read and watched.

First, I just finished the best series of books by Donna Ball called A Year on Ladybug Farm, At Home on Ladybug Farm and Love Letters from Ladybug Farm. I started reading them at the beginning of January and finished the third one last week. These books are the easiest read, and so engaging.

Their husbands were gone, their families were grown, and the future stretched out before them like an unfulfilled promise...

Tired of always dreaming and never doing, Cici, Lindsay, and Bridget make a life-altering decision. Uprooting themselves from their comfortable lives in the suburbs, the three friends buy a run-down mansion, nestled in the picturesque Shenandoah Valley. They christen their new home "Ladybug Farm," hoping that the name will bring them luck.

As the friends take on a home improvement challenge of epic proportions, they encounter disaster after disaster, from renegade sheep and garden thieves to a seemingly ghostly inhabitant. Over the course of a year, overwhelming obstacles make the three women question their decision, but they ultimately learn that sometimes the best things can happen when everything goes wrong...

 

When I finished the last book I felt like I had just driven out of the driveway away from my favorite place in the world, away from my three best friends and their families, and I would never see them again. I was sad. I felt like something had been taken away from me that I treasured.

I highly recommend these books!

Now on to the movies!

Based on the Novel "Secretariat: The Making of a Champion" By William Nack, Secretariat chronicles the spectacular journey of the 1973 Triple Crown winner. Housewife and mother Penny Chenery (Diane Lane) agrees to take over her ailing father's Virginia-based Meadow Stables, despite her lack of horse-racing knowledge. Against all odds, Chenery-with the help of veteran trainer Lucien Laurin (John Malkovich)-manages to navigate the male-dominated business, ultimately fostering the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years and what may be the greatest racehorse of all time.

Based on the Novel "Secretariat: The Making of a Champion" By William Nack, Secretariat chronicles the spectacular journey of the 1973 Triple Crown...

This movie stars my favorite actress, Diane Lane (I want her to play me in my life story and Vin Diesel to play Rick, but I digress). This was an all-American feel good movie. I highly recommend it as a movie that the whole family will enjoy!

*****************

Work causes a single mother to move to China with her young son; in his new home, the boy embraces kung fu, taught to him by a master.

If you grew up in the '80s, then this movie won't even begin to match up to the original. However, that Jaden Smith is the cutest kid in the world and a phenomenal actor (in my opinion). He's going to be huge! The movie had some good emotional parts and a triumphant ending. Eli and Brynne spent much of the rest of the evening in a Kung Fu match. I would recommend it as a good family movie.

****************

A couple find their routine date night becomes much more than just dinner and a movie.

A couple find their routine date night becomes much more than just dinner and a movie.

Rick asked me if I wrote the script to this movie. Phil and Claire's marriage was very reminiscent of what most marriages with kids look like. Although I am not a huge Steve Carell or Tina Fey fan, it was a pretty cute movie. I wouldn't personally run out and rent this movie, but Rick might disagree. He loves their humor! It certainly wasn't a waste of time, especially if you are a married couple and feel in a rut in your marriage. After watching this movie you might decide your rut is just fine!

****************

 In a world where technology exists to enter the human mind through dream invasion, a highly skilled thief is given a final chance at redemption which involves executing his toughest job to date: Inception.

Rick loved this movie! Through most of it I was saying, "huh?" Now, in my defense we did start watching it at 7:00 p.m. and my brain shuts completely down by 6:30 p.m. To me it kind of had a Matrix vibe to it. It had a really great ending. And then that night I had a dream within a dream, about snakes and an owl. Creepy! Would I recommend it? I think I would, to someone who likes these kinds of movies. They, honestly, require too much of me and I don't enjoy them quite as much.

****************

When a young owl is abducted by an evil Owl army, he must escape with newfound friends to seek out the legendary Guardians to stop the menace.

The graphics on this movie were amazing! Loved them! I honestly wasn't paying total attention to the movie. But Brynne was. And I did watch it closely enough to see that there are lots of heroes that defeat the bad owl army. If you love Happy Feet (which we do!), then you'll enjoy the Guardians, as well. I would recommend it.

****************

 A guy suffering from a midlife crisis takes in a dog that's crazier than he is.

I'll be honest. We rented this movie because that dog looks just like our border collie, Crusoe. Can't resist one of those movies! This was a wonderful movie of the power of love. However, it ended and we were, like, "That's it?" The movie had lots of Rising Action, no Climax, and then it was over. The message of the movie was, though, "Beginnings are the hard part." It was obviously a movie about new beginnings, for both the dog and his owner. It had some emotional parts. And, we cried and hugged our Crusoe while we watched it. I don't know if I would recommend it. If you want a similar movie that is so good, rent Hachi! And, get your tissues ready!

*****************

 Juli Baker devoutly believes in three things: the sanctity of trees (especially her beloved sycamore), the wholesomeness of the eggs she collects from her backyard flock of chickens, and that someday she will kiss Bryce Loski. Ever since she saw Bryce's baby blues back in second grade, Juli has been smitten. Unfortunately, Bryce has never felt the same. Frankly, he thinks Juli Baker is a little weird--after all, what kind of freak raises chickens and sits in trees for fun? Then, in eighth grade, everything changes. Bryce begins to see that Juli's unusual interests and pride in her family are, well, kind of cool. And Juli starts to think that maybe Bryce's brilliant blue eyes are as empty as the rest of Bryce seems to be. After all, what kind of jerk doesn't care about other people's feelings about chickens and trees?

This was a sweet, sweet movie and is now one of Kyndal's favorites. It had a My Girl vibe to it. It moves a little slow, but the sweetness of the ending makes it all worth it!

****************

And yesterday we watched Karate Dog and Beverly Hills Chihuahua. Those don't really need reviews, do they?

God Even Uses Toasters to Do His Will, and He'll Do it in His Timing

Several months ago I posted, on my previously private blog, about how my toaster got involved in my life. Here is that story:

A few weeks ago I did what I do every morning ... I popped Eli's frozen waffle into the toaster. It popped up only seconds later. I adjusted the toasting knob and put it back in. It ran through the full two minute cycle and then popped up. But, the waffle wasn't toasted. I tried the other set (it's a four-slot toaster). Still same, general problem.

That night Rick was going to get his hair cut at the little salon inside Walmart. He called and asked if I needed anything. I told him about the toaster and asked him to just pick up the cheapest one he could find, just in case ours was on the outs.

And this is what happened.

He put his name on the list at the hair salon. He was three or four down on the list so the girl told him he could go ahead and do his shopping. He went and bought a $7.00 toaster and picked up a couple of other things and paid.

When he got back to the hair salon his name was already crossed off. They had called his name while he was gone. She told him it would only be a couple of minutes, so he hung around and got his hair cut. When he was done he paid and walked out the door.

While walking out he ran into a guy who we used to go to church with. I actually never met him. But, Rick knew him from men's Bible study. He asked him how he was doing and how work was going. The guy told Rick how busy they had been. Through the course of the conversation Rick mentioned that I had a law degree. The guy's face lit up. And this is why.

This guy works for a consulting firm that outsources professionals to write curriculum and teach online courses at Christian universities, Bible colleges and small colleges (like University of Phoenix). He told Rick how much he needs professionals with legal degrees to teach law-related courses. He took down my name and e-mail address. And Rick called me and told me what happened. I was intrigued, but honestly never thought anything would come out of it.

The very next morning I had an e-mail from this guy. I sent him my resume. And the process began.

Although there are not any classes available at this time, I was told even as early as yesterday that my credentials are great and I will be added to the "faculty ranks" of these universities. As soon as a class opens up that I can teach, I'll get the job.
 

You see, had my toaster not been pooping out, Rick would have been standing there when his name was called at the hair salon. He would have gotten his haircut sooner than he did. And he would have left Walmart sooner than he did. He would never have run into this guy. And we don't go to our old church anymore, so we would have never known about this opportunity.

Why is my post titled "God Even Uses Toasters To Do His Will?" Because ... the next morning my existing toaster worked fine and it's never had a problem since.

This post was written last February 10th. Then I was confused because I never heard back from the company about any viable positions. I wondered what it all meant.

I realized that it must not be God's timing because with homeschooling Dawson, and then bringing Brynne home, I didn't have any extra time to work anyway. And I was almost relieved he hadn't contacted me.

This week I started thinking, again, about how I should possibly work toward getting my teaching degree so that I could work in the future to relieve some financial stress off Rick. Minutes later I went out to my computer to check my e-mail and I had been contacted by the consulting firm about a possible position.

I received the contract by e-mail yesterday.

I have a job to write the curriculum for a business law and regulatory course for MBA students at a Christian university.

I have a job.

I have a job doing exactly what I have always wanted to do (and frankly do every day with Dawson and Brynne.)

I have a job that I can do from home.

I have a job that is going to pay me a real contract fee.

I have a job that scares me half to death because it's really important and I've never really done it before and I want to do a good job so I get hired again and it's my dream job.

Whew!

I can do this.

I just need to take a deep breath and remind myself that I am capable.

The timing is perfect. The curriculum has to be completed by March 15th, just in time for our spring break trip to Pensacola.

** insert big, deep breath **

Here I go ...

Nicole's Daybook

Outside my window... The smell of more snow! We are supposed to get around a foot of snow again tonight.

I am thinking... about my friend Vee and how she will be delivering her precious Carter tomorrow, without her husband. Please be praying for her.

I am thankful ... that Kyndal is spending the day serving pb&j's to the homeless.

I am wearing... a "love" t-shirt with a black long-sleeved shirt under it, a black military jacket, scarf, skinny jeans and black boots.

I am planning... our Spring Break trip to Pensacola.

I am creating... Eli and Brynne's valentines. Hoping they will have school by Monday so they can hand them out!

I am going... absolutely nowhere.

I am reading... Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner (I have to admit, I just haven't been in the mood to start reading any classics), Stepping Heavenward by Mrs. E. Prentiss and the Book of Psalms (daily devotional), A Room for Cathy by Catherine Woolley (my favorite book as a child, published in 1950),  Meet Josefina by Valerie Tripp (Brynne's read-aloud) and The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli (Dawson's read-aloud).

I am hoping... that the snow doesn't keep Rick and Dawson from their Tahoe trip.

Scripture I'm memorizing ... "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me ... Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me." ~ Psalm 51:10-11

From the learning rooms... We have been out of school because of snow since last Tuesday. We are out the rest of this week, too, so we have just decided to call school off until next Monday.

Noticing that ... the birds know a snow storm is coming. They've been pretty quiet for the past couple of days. But first thing this morning they were everywhere, eating up all of our birdseed.

From the kitchen... kid foods and snacks.

Around the house... snow clothes, boots and sleds.

One of my favorite things... is sleeping in on winter days, and I've been doing that a lot lately! Reality is going to hit hard at some point in the near future!

A few plans for the rest of the week... watching lots of movies, laying around in our pj's, sleeping in, staying up late, drinking hot cocoa, eating snow cream, snacking, playing in the snow.

From my picture journal.

The snowman Brynne and I made.

Lots of women Daybook. See what they have to say at The Simple Woman's Daybook.