The Thankful Project: 28-30 + WILD GINGER IS HERE!

Day 28: The Anti-Decorator a.k.a. Nathan

On this day, the Friday after Thanksgiving, all those who side with me and choose to give Thanksgiving it's rightful glory, put their Christmas decorations up today (I will not pretend and hide my bitterness for the commercial world that tries to overlook the greatness that is Thanksgiving...boo hisss!)  I am so thankful for my dear sweet, wonderful husband, a.k.a. the Anti-Decorator.  This means that anything remotely seasonal is HUGE.  The downfall, is that any small tree besides the actual Christmas tree decoratively placed around the house is TOOOO much.  I bet if I asked now, he would whip out some bag/box/large container and be ready to take any other decor resembling the shape of a Christmas tree straight to the nearest Salvation Army (He knows I would be so angry if he burned it b/c someone else wouldn't be able to enjoy the Christmas Cheer!)  I love him for this quality though, because I will never disappoint him with my decoration skills...and I love to see how irritated he gets when there's another mini Christmas tree each year.  He's so cute when he's irritated.

Day 29: Austin & Madison

These two wonderful, dear sweet children deleted all the data on my phone Friday night before bed. This taught be a few great lessons.

1. Don't leave my phone in their reach.
2. Back up pictures and music on your phone to your computer...especially when you have a newborn and you primarily take most of your pictures with your phone.
3. DON'T PUT SO MUCH HEART AND SOUL INTO THAT THING THAT IS YOUR PHONE.  It can disappear at any point. Humbling really...

Day 30: WILD GINGER

It's happening!  I'm doing it!  I'm going Blog-stal....Postal + Blogger! (or should it be Pogger...) Yeah, I just made that up, but still!  Check it out!  I am combining my blog and my business, and I'm making it bigger.  I've decided that if I really want to take steps toward being a stay-at-home mom, I have to take this HUGE step!

So, this will be my last post here.
Now, click here and enter into the new world that is WILD GINGER.

No worries.  I will keep this blog here until the end of the year so you can click through, but make
www.wildgingerblog.com one of you favorites!  Make the switch!  It will be so much easier!  Well, and way more entertaining since I wont be posting here anymore... duh.

The Thankful Project: Days 10-21

This is about the point we people start thinking in their head..."Well,maybe she is ungreatful!"  

This was about the time I stopped last year...BUT  I'M PUSHING THROUGH!  

Day 10: My Job!  

Not only do I get to work around some awesome people and some stellar kids, I get the summers off!  LOVE IT!

Day 11: Small Town Life

We do football and Caseys and muddin' and stuff.  We drive tractors to school and take off work and school for the first day of *insert animal that you plan to kill here* season.  Everyone knows everyone and, like 'em or not, still is there when you need help.  Yup, we're staying.  

Day 12: Diet Pepsi... nuff said.

Day 13:  Hairbands

I'm at that point in life where I can count on one hand the day withing the last month that my hair as stayed down all day.  It's a mom thing I think...Tess has some grabby hands. 

Day 14: Bacon...again nuff said. 

Day 15: eMeals  

I'll blog more about this one later with LOTS of details, but on the night of the 15th, I sat down at the kitchen table with my meal plans from emails and my thanksgiving plans, wrote out my shopping list for the rest of the month, and now, I know exactly what food is and that we have what we need for every night until Dec. 1!

Day 16: Bedtimes

Within these last few weeks, I have gotten sooo much done after 8:30p and it's crazy!  I forgot what it was like to have an evening to myself.  It's been a long time!

Day 17: Photoshop...it makes dreams reality. (At least on paper :)

Day 18: Chocolate

Dove Chocolate particularly, and if there's caramel in it, extra points!

Day 19: Guatemala

It has been decided!  This summer, I am headed to Guatemala City for a mission trip!  There will be twelve of us going.  I'm pumped!

Day 20: Red hair

I'm of the 2%!  If I didn't think I was special, I do now! And I'm even luckier that I past it on to my sweet peas. 

Day 21: IT'S FRIDAY!  

Some weeks it's like, "Oh yeah! It's friday! I forgot."  But today it was, "Praise the good and sweet Heavenly Father Above, IT'S FRIDAY!!"

BOOM! Caught up!

The Thankful Project: Weekend Edition 6-9

Day 1: End of Football
Day 2: Gilmore Girls
Day 3: Mascara
Day 4: The Smiles
Day 5: Coffee

The Thankful Project: Day 6-9

Day 6: Sleep
 ... no explanation required.

Day 7: Chalkboard Paint

Yes, i am thankful for chalkboard paint.  It's easy artwork for the walls that can change...and i love change...i thrive off of change...

I make this Thursday night.  Ruthie already is in the habit of taking her shoes off and hanging her coat up right when she walks in.  AWESOME!

Day 8: No pants Saturdays

Shortly after Nathan and I got married, I was introduced to this...and it's everything it's cracked up to be (no pun intended).  It is sometimes literal, yes...(if it's T.M.I. sorry), but it's more so the idea that we got nothin' to do and MAN am i thankful for THOSE Saturdays.  I don't believe one is in our future again for a very long time.

Day 9: Mom

It's Mom's birthday today!  She's turning.....drum roll please.....into an even younger looking person than she looked last year!  *psh...I'm no dumbie.*

10 Reason's I'm Thankful for my mom in just this Past Month

1. She came over and helped me clean up my house.
2. She helps watch the girls every Wednesday so I can be a part of the church Christmas Choir.
3. She offered to take the girls while Nathan and I go on vacation in December.
4. She made a valiant effort along with Dad to come to Nathan's football games.
5. She went on the Spoon River Drive with Brittany and I ...and Tes and Bells.
6. She encouraged me on my Apple week blog post.
7. She watched the girls last weekend and church while I had to be at a meeting and so Nathan could hunt. 
8. She's committed to helping paint my kitchen cabinets when I finally get the go ahead from my darling husband to do so.
9. She is letting me host Thanksgiving.
10. She still gives me hugs and kisses everything I see her!

Happy **muffle**th Birthday Mom!  Love you to the moon!

Ruthie put on a birthday hat and starting singing Happy Brif - day!  I'll see if I can snag a recording!

The Thankful Project: Days 3-5

Day 3: Mascara

I'm not sure if anyone really appreciates mascara more than a blond-eyelashes girl.  Yes, yes...this may seem silly to a brunette or one with dark features, but to a ginger or toe blonde, MAN the power of mascara is almost a crutch.

Wow, I didnt realize the creepy-ness of this photo until now, but it solidifies my point.  POP!

Day 4: The Smiles...

Oh, sweet cheese, the SMILES!  

Cue bad day...

"Ruthie, will you take your passie out and smile for mommy?  I'm having a bad day."

*muffled* "Otay, Mommy." *takes passie out...* "Cheeeeeeese."

"Oh, thank you, sweet girl.  That was wonderful."

"Yous we-come, mommy."  *puts passie back in*

With Tess, you just have to look at her with a side eye and she thinks that's funny.  

Sigh...I'm printing this picture out for my office.  It can really make and day better. 

Day 5: Coffee

The smell, the taste, the effects...COFFEE...

Favorite brand, you ask?  INTELLIGENTSIA

And, where might you find that?  Cyds!  (Hey cool kats!  Miss you!) You can drink and buy it there...they also sell it at Fresh Market here in town, but please try it!  

InstaFunday Sunday

Nothin' too crazy this week...

InstaFunday Sunday is just a way I post my past week at a glance...and to motivate myself to take more pictures.

A new fav picture of Ruthie...sooo happy.

Tessa Faces...She's a talking fool.  

APPLESAUCE!  So yummy...yummy in my belly.

Mommy's quiet time yesterday afternoon.  

Wecipe Wednesday: Apple Week Edition

Part One:  "I Declare this APPLE WEEK!"

So I've been feeling realllly discourages...like boarder line depressed.  (Yeah, I'll be transparent.) Ruthie is all in on the "terrible twos."  There's nothing stopping her.  Tess is officially out of the newborn "sleep all the time" stage and is in the coo-ing and "look how cute I am/talk to me" stage.

Those two stages mixed together + dirty house + football coach husband + LOTS o' laundry + work + *enter whatever else you want here* = the guilty failure feeling of a mother that I have become.

Now I know I'm not a failure, but the guilt that I was feeling of being a working mom and not taking care of my own children (Julie, I love you...I couldn't ask for a better sitter) was laid on thick.  AND, I was getting anxious and upset about my dirty house, so I hired a cleaning lady (Heather, you're my hero).  Those combined have been tearing me apart.  Like I was incapable of being a mom/wife.  And icing on the cake was that Nathan hasn't really been home at all with football practices and games.  We agreed to it, so I'm not upset with him, but it adds, ya know...

So, Ashley (aka Ashes aka Sister in Law) asked if we wanted to go to Tanners Apple Orchard here near us and I thought it was perfect.  Ruthie is at the perfect age where she will enjoy the animals and Tess is still at the "take me anywhere as long as I'm strapped into the Moby and warm" stage...(wow, I didn't know until I starting typing how many stages there are:).

So here are some of our favoritest pictures from the festivities.

She liked the llamas the best, but she only wanted to feed them one pellet at a time, and they weren't too happy about that.

I see one of these in her near future.  She would have done this 10 more times. 

Slides...if there was a swing set with 4 different slides on it, that would be Ruthie's.

APPLE PICKING!  I love this one, because of Tess looking at the apple.  

This was a slight issue, but we were pretty leanent.  Every time Rue would pick an apple, she would want to take a bite of out it.  I brought one or two home like that.  

She made my heart so happy with how much fun she had.  

It was the perfect antitdote for my aching heart.  Ruthie was happy...Tess was content and I got to spend quality time with my girls. 

Part Two: Wecipie Wednesday, Apple Pies

In continuation of Apple Week, I made apple pies.  We are having a potluck at school tomorrow, and I just happen to have a TON of apples from this weekend. 

I ended up making two different apple pies.  Via Facebook, I went with the peoples' choice and made a crunch top apple pie.  Then, when Nathan heard that I was making apple pie and not keeping any here at home, I decided to cut up a few extra apples and make the Pioneer Woman's Flat Apple Pie (Thanks, Ree!)

*Attempting food blogging again…

I would have to say that apple pie is one of my favorite pies to make, because of this...

God Bless this WONDERFUL tool!  I can peel and core 8 apples in 5 minutes!  I used 8 golden delicious apples, but it's recomended that you use Granny Smiths and Fujis for their tartness.  My pies will definitely not be short on sweetness.  

And it makes the PERFECT size apples!  I then added 4 T of flour, 3/4 c. brown sugar, 2 T lemon juice, 1/2 tsp of cinnamon and about 1/8 tsp of salt.  

NOTE:  Don't throw these away immediately.  You will need something to snack on after you're famished from putting the pies together, and something to feed your daughter when she comes in a million times asking, "What you do-een, Mommy?"

Yes, I cheated and used frozen pie crust.  Maybe when I have a four year old, I'll make my own again, but not happening tonight.  I dished 2/3 of the apples into the pie crust making the middle a little taller.  I cut up 3 T of real butter and randomly placed them over the apples.  Then, in another bowl, I cut together, 1/4 c. brown sugar, 1/8 c. white sugar, 1/4 c. flour, about 1/8 c. rolled oats, 1/8 c. chopped pecans and 1/4 tsp of cinnamon with 3 T of butter. 

Then I evenly distributed it across the top of the pie and placed in a preheated oven at 425 degrees for 10 min.  Then, I knocked the temp down to 350 and finished it out for another 35 minutes.  If you notice the crust getting too brown, take it out and lightly cover it with foil.  Works like a champ.

Then, I had one extra dough roll and about 3 c. of apples.  Easy solution...Ree makes these Flat Apple Pies that are soooo easy and very portable if you need them on the go.  I opened up the dough on my pizza stone (i use it for WAY more than just pizza) and rolled it out so I could get an extra few inches on each side.  

Then i put the rest of the apples in the center, put 4-5 one inch cubes of butter over the apples and starting folding up the sides over the apples.  It doesnt have to look pretty, It looks so rustic and yummy and home made looking!  

Then, I just put it in the oven.  It cooked at 375 for about 30 minutes.  Basically, you just cook it to the doneness of the color of the crust you like.  

HERE ARE MY FINAL PRODUCTS!

Um...I'm eating this right now, and beside having a burnt tongue because I cant stop, it's AMAZING.

My yummy apple pie...If I work with you, I hope you enjoy during lunch tomorrow.  If I could send you the smell in my house right now, I totally would.

Oh, how I love cooking...especially extremely yummy things.  

Enjoy,

Burnt Tongue

To Our Aunts and Uncles....

For 5 VERY important (and often talked about) people in my house...

To the aunt who has the best snacks...who takes great pictures...who's super creative...and who provides the best play buddies, Be-ya (Bella) & Yah-ya (Layla)

Aunt Nitny  

To the uncle who's name Rue got first...who gives the best hugs...who will probably be the giver of the girls' Nikes!  :)

Uncle "D"  

To the aunt who's name comes out as a cuss word...who will give sour candies one after the other solely for the funny faces...who will burp the snot out of anyone...who is by far the most chattered about around our house...

Aunt Asses *supposed to be Ashes*

To the uncle we know and talk about, but just met...who came home for both births...who helps with anything he can...and serves his country and family proud.

To the uncle who left again today to head back to CA for his second deployment...Rue asked about him all day today...who plays with his drink coasters with his pictures in them...

Uncle Dake 

*gonna miss you...proud of you...be safe...come home soon*

To the uncle who teaches bad things...who cuddles hands down the best....who may be the hardest on them besides mom and dad, but would give them the world...

Uncle Bubba

Getting ready for the family picture...Ruthie looks exasperated.  

The Act of Nesting...Who knew...

This concept is new to me.  I never had this before, and it happened this week...like BAAAAM!

I've been looking at some things to do while feeling the nesting bug, but i should prob stop because they're adding to my list of things to get done:

• Pad the Pantry- snacks, soups for casseroles, pasta, staples...DONE
• Cook in quantity- when browning hamburger, thaw 2 lb and brown one for later and stick it in the freezer, grill extra chicken and put in freezer, make twice the pasta cassaroles and store, etc...NEED TO DO
•  Wash the Other stuff- Duvey covers, curtains, spare sets of sheets, blankets, anything that needs to be washed... DOING
• Deep Clean- blinds, windows, registers, wipe down chairs, clean the car REALLY well...NEED TO DO!
• (I don't know about this one) Finish your birth announcements on all but pictures and stats so that all the printer needs in numbers.  Address your envelopes and get them ready....We'll see.
•  The Hospital bag- this would have been helpful with Ruthie.  This is its own blog post about the do's and dont's of the hospital bag, but needless to say, I need to do it. 
• Stay ahead of bills- *if Tes arrives when she's supposed to* I will be in the hospital over a "Bills Due" date.  

So now you see where my head is right now...how is it that pregger brain has the ability to forget EVERYTHING, and yet thing of ALL this STUFF that has to happen?!?!

Sunday night/Monday morning, 2am actually, i was overwhelmed with EVERYTHING that needed to happen by July.  i.e. a banister so that my children don't plummet to their death down the stairs...cleaning junk out, my last blog post which was getting rid of TONS of stuff.  Monday was that day.  By the end of the day, I couldn't move anything but the smile on my face when i had taken TWO carloads to salvation army, filled all our giant trash cans outside, had a burn pile ready, and laundry loads left were in the single digits.  I felt accomplished...

Is that even nesting?  Or just me freaking out that I'm behind, b/c Wednesday was the start of my third trimester, and I am feeling every day of it!

My mom-in-law wanted to throw me a "Sprinkle" or a diaper shower, or something for the arrival of Miss Tes, but I have been is such freak out mode of what needs to get done, we have turned that day into a "Spackle" instead of a "Sprinkle."  We are inviting people to come over that day and DO WORK in exchange for an awesome cook out that I'm throwing afterward to thank EVERYONE for their help.  It will feel soooo good to have some of this stuff done.

A Few Planned Projects:

• Banister @ the top of the steps
• Wood floor the kitchen and dining room
• put together and get Ruthie transitioned into a new room
• Revamp nursery for Tes
• Organize clothes by size
• Paint/put together some furniture

There's a few things I'm forgetting, but by July, they will be monumental!  

Right now, this calm Sunday afternoon, i am debating between sleep of working...I know what will win, but i feel that Nesting-ness pulling hard....but this bed feels soooo good...

The Eagle Bows it's Solemn Head Tonight...

I want to preface this post (because prefacing is one of my OTHER spiritual gifts) by saying that what I am about to post is my opinion.  I do not want to portray anything as fact unless I reference something from a source and say that it is in fact, a fact.  I am going to be talking about Dunlap and all of its glory, so if you get easily twerked or bothered by this topic I would high encourage you to LOOK AWAY!  SHIELD YOUR EYES! DON’T DO IT!!

This could also be semi boring for some of my blog readers…. Sorry about that…

2-Part Blog: Insta-Funday Sunday & The Blog Snob

Part 1: Insta- Funday Sunday

I haven't done this in SOOO long and I had some really good pictures backed up.  Let's see how consistent I can be with this again.  .

And go.

We say, "Ruthie...YODA!"  and this is what she does.  We sent this one morning while Daddy was plowing to cheer him up.

Wild Ginger Project:  I did these for my dear friend, Megan, and I loved how they turned out...stay tuned for the wedding invite...love them more.  But I'll let her debut them.  

I lost this battle a week or so ago.  I told her she was too big.  She disagreed and this is how I found her eating breakfast.

I posted this a week-ish ago kind of proud yet slightly ashamed at how tall my clean dishes stack was.  

And this loveliness was yesterday at Panera.  Nathan had to clean up the shopping center that Panera was in so we took advantage if the trip to Peoria and had some morning giggles with apple juice, fruit & Dr. Seuss.  

Part 2: The Blog Snob

It’s been a dream of mine to become a pro blogger, but Nathan and I were talking yesterday about an acquaintance of ours that is a local blogger and he/she has begun to act differently because of some success she/he has had.  Now, I have not experienced this first hand, and I find this person very pleasant and I semi relate to and kind of envy him/her in many ways.  Although, I could see how it is TOTALLY possible.  Even on here, all I do is talk about myself, my kid (almost plural), my job/side graphic stuff (almost as shameless advertising), and well…everything about me and what I do/have done. 

So this is me blogging about how I need to revaluate why I blog. HA  (Click "Read More" to keep going.  If you don't want to see my rant, scroll up and look at Ruthie again.  It's ok...I do it all the time)  

Family Snaps with Courter!

Family pictures are probably not the priority they need to be in our house, but I make an effort to keep them fairly updated especially since I am surrounded by wonderful photographic resources as friends.  Therefore, I have no excuse to not have some good family portraits.

My (VERY) long time friend, Courtney, was planning on taking the Davis Family Pictures, but through some schedule debacles, it turned into the Weenie Wineinger Family Picture session.  This worked out SUPER well actually, because Ruthie had just turned one so it was a two-fr! If you remember, Court also took Ruthie's newborn shots.  Now, I understand that a photo becomes outdated as soon as you take the picture, but now I am struggling with what to order with a new addition being added to pictures in a few months.  (We are gonna be a family of 4... WHAT!?!)

Oh no worries...I will still order TONS, but now I guess I need more pictures taken...

Here are the pictures from Courtney!  Our belly growing just happens to be a week apart from each other as well.  Make sure to check out her photography & her Hands of Love Project!  Both are stunning!

Also, just to preface these (prefacing is another one of my spiritual gifts), I planned on picking out 3 or 4, but I just kept downloading....I'm sorry. Wait...no I'm not.

The family Picture we decided on

SO BIG!  She had tons of fun.

She loved wearing her boots...Gigi, don't look! They're not CAT

Peek a Boo!

The serious look.  Also, only the 2nd time Nathan has worn his Chuck Taylors...I love them

Please see my conundrum in trying to pick only a few to post.  She's just so stinkin' cute!

She was really getting ready to cry in the picture, but you can't tell.  It was cold. 

This is her about to get in trouble.