Ketchup (Day 197)

I have a few items to blog about I'm going to make it quick seeing as this is my second post for the day and my creative juices have been thoroughly juiced.

The holidays were wonderful. We were able to spend a lot of time quality family time together and in doing so I have been able to turn a few item bold (formerly bold and green, the blog is no longer letting me use colors for some crazy reason so now they are bold and black)

#93~ Over Thanksgiving, we had a freak cold front roll in and we ended up with around 6 inches of snow which allowed for us to build a snow fort. It wasn't the best snow fort, but the boys called it a fort so that is good enough for me.

Pre-fort picture of our house after the first snow fall.

#30~ The North Hill Community Club nominated me to be the "chair" the annual Christmas potluck. I know how to use chairs, I know how to purchase chairs and I even know how to throw chairs but when it comes to officially having the chairing title this was a first.

The event was a success and I have heard rumors of future chairing coming my way.

#60~ In all honesty, this is the reason that I haven't blogged much recently. We have nearly finished the kitchen remodel. I am SOOOOO happy with the progress that I am marking it as complete even though we still have a little bit of painting and a few cosmetic things left to do.

As far as remodels go I think we did pretty good, we are still married and mostly sane :)

This is the new breakfast bar. Not the greatest picture, but it is the only one that I have as of right now. I will post before, during and after photo's in the near future.

Got Milk? (Day 197)

It seems as though no matter how hard I try I go into a store for just a few items, I end up coming out with several bags and a receipt that is 8 feet long.

When I put #41 (make a grocery list, go into the store and ONLY buy what is on the list) I was hoping that it would compel me to become more organized about what I really need to buy. I have a knack for attracting junk food, kitchen gizzmo's and of course the "meal in a minute" cook-azines (not really a cookbook and not exactly a magazine) that are always near the check stand and never have a single "minute" recipe in them.

I am of course proud and yet a bit irritated to announce that I have completed #41. Next time I make a 101 list, I will spend a little more time thinking of items for the list and make sure that the goals are really something I am going to enjoy doing.

I know, I have lost most of you (that is assuming that anyone is reading my ramblings) and the rest of you (once again making the same assumption) are thinking "get to the point!"

Here is the point, I went in to buy milk, I walked out with only milk. I then went home put my milk in the fridge and drove right back to the store so that I could buy cereal at 75% off that I just happened to have a coupon for an additional $.75 off. I bought 3 boxes of cereal for $.27 each. THAT is amazing!!!! I probably spent more on gas than I did on the stinkin cereal.

Not forgotten, just ignored (Day 167)

My dear blog,

Please do not fret, I have not forgotten about you, I have instead been intentionally ignoring you. If you feel a bit like the red headed step child it is because.... you are. I know this may come as a shock to you, but I figure I should tell you know while you are still young.

I could tell you that I have been busy remodeling the kitchen or preparing for the holidays all of which is true, but those would just be excuses. When the real truth is, I just don't want to think about you right now so if I pretend that you don't exist maybe you will vanish, so far this has not happened.

I am 167 days into our relationship, this is about the time when the newness and sparkle begins to fizzle. I am hoping that in time we will once again grow together, how I long for day 2 or 35 or even 72.

Please don't get me wrong, I am not giving up on you. I just need a little space right now. It's me not you. We can still be friends.

Your Friend,

Tricia

PS- I should let you know that I changed #60 from helping to plan for and build a deck to helping plan for and remodel the kitchen.

I didn't tell you sooner because I knew you would understand :)

A quick blog (Day 139)

I am not the most computer savvy woman in the world, but I am not totally computer illiterate either. I know enough not to jump onto the table when my husband asks for the mouse, and I can navigate the world wide web without buying a plane ticket.


Today is one of those days that I wish I either knew it all or none at all. If I knew it all I wouldn't have spent the last hour and a half trying to update my list (the one on the right side of the screen). If I knew nothing than I wouldn't know or care about what a blog is and I would have spent the last hour and a half blissfully ignorant.


I was planning on this being a quick update on what is happening, my plans have not worked out. For some reason unbeknown to me, my list turned itself all black and bold. When I tried to fix it I just messed it up more. I have hopefully, fixed the problem and I'm now on to tackling my attitude which needs a little adjusting. Now that I have vented, I can write about some of the wonderful things that have been happening in my life.


#9- I realized that I never told you that I did indeed make it 30 days with no soda. Since I completed this I have cut WAY back. I am happy to be done with that one :)

#22 &23 - It's official Cornerstone Community Church is our home church! We are all adjusting and figuring out where we fit in. Brent is helping out with the worship team and I was able to help with their first Trunk or Treat. It took a full year but I am so glad that we patiently and prayerfully took our time in making this decision.

#30- I volunteered to chair the Northhill Community Clubs Christmas party on Dec 14th. I will let you know if this was a good idea on Dec. 15th

#47- I have not made my Persian Love Cake. I am putting it off, no good reason, just not ready to clean up the enormous mess that such a project is sure to produce.

#88- I was blessed to be able to go out to lunch with a dear friend at a cute little pub in Enumclaw. I would love to tell you what the name of the place was but I don't remember what it is. I can tell you that I liked what I ate (but can't remember what I ate, fish & chips, I think) and was happy with the service. I would totally recommend that you visit this great place next time you happen to find yourself out in the middle of nowhere, I mean Enumclaw.

#97- I have attended not one but two conferences. I attended a conference with Brent that was held at RCC (a church we use to attend). It was on the 7 letters to the 7 churches (Revelation). I really enjoyed the speakers, they were all really wonderful. It was neat getting to catch up with some old friends who were there.
The other conference that I went to was Women of Faith. I was not planning on going and then out of the blue I got a phone call and was offered a ticket.
I was overwhelmed and in awe throughout the entire event. I came away with some great information and a whole lot that I have to try and process through. I was reminded of some painful truths and reassured by a loving God who knows me and loves me anyway.

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1:2-4

I got it... well almost (Day 126)

The quest for cake ingredients has come to an end.  Today the boys and I where able to secure the rest of my ingredients for my cake.... well almost all of the ingredients.

I have given up on finding organic roses that won't cost me an arm and a leg.  I have asked several people and have yet to find a non chemically treated flower in the state.   

So, I officially give up!  I will be feeding my family, and myself, a chemically treated cake.  I am OK with this,  I know, what kind of mother/wife would feed her precious loved ones such a horrible thing you ask.  The same kind that has allowed them to digest partially hydrogenated chips, red dye 40 laden popsicles, hostess product which God only knows what is in them, and hot dogs that may or may not contain real dog.   

Gasp!  I know I am wretched.  I am also tired and annoyed and ready to bake this stupid thing.  I wanted to keep true to the recipe and to my own convictions but alas, the the easy and cost effective way wins out.  Stay tuned more of the cake baking saga.  

I never claimed to be sane (Day 123)

I signed up to do a 30 day fitness boot camp last night.  Today I am rethinking not only my decision, but also my sanity level!

They won't drown (Day 118)

Yesterday, I was told by Sam (the boys swim teacher)  that the boys were ready to advance to level Y3.

I am sure that Sam thought that my joy, was due to the fact that my children are no longer doggy paddling for their lives.  Don't get me wrong, I am very grateful that my kiddo's no longer look like they are drowning, but I am also quite happy to mark #15 as done.

Now, I just need to get them ready to swim across the lake with me next summer!