Monster Card

Aiden's best buddy is turning 6!  To celebrate, Evan's mom is taking 5 boys to a pizza place an hour away that has games and entertainment. Oh boy!  I know those boys are going to have so much fun, and Aiden is beyond excited about it!  Here's the card I made for Evan.

Have a great weekend, see you Monday!
Erin

I'm Sorry

I am sorry for not being around the last week or two.  Nothing personal, I just haven't been into blogging.  Call it writers block, call it nothing to talk about, call it I needed a break. Whatever it was I'm back and I'm sorry.

So, what has been going on since my last post?? Not much.  I have been very good about exercising every day but the weekends and still I'm not seeing results.  At least not in the mirror.  I have noticed other changes, though, and those were just as important at the slimming down so I'm keeping at it.  What other changes?  Well, I haven't had any of my stomach issues since I can't remember when.  I'm not at all tired during the day, and haven't felt the need for a mid-day nap in quite some time.  Also, my anxiety attacks have stopped.  The true test for those will come next week when I leave for a long weekend with a few of my friends.  In the mean time I am enjoying feeling good!  I also love that I have energy!  I actually get up and play ball with the boys now!  And push them on their swings! Since having Aiden I haven't felt like doing any of that.  Exercise has been a great thing for me.  I guess I need to take a good look at my diet to start seeing results in the weight area.  Boo!

School is winding down for Aiden.  I can't believe he's almost done with Kindergarten!  Then he starts into the number grades, and I'm sure those will tick off quicker than I'd like.  Brennan starts preschool next year, oh boy.  Glad it's only 2 days a week.  But they are full days (we live in such a small community that no one works in town so it's hard for parents to get their kids mid-day, thus the full day of preschool).  I am looking forward to having those days to volunteer at school and at our church retail store.  And maybe some mommy time???  I might actually get a massage sometime!

I owe you a few recipes.  I have pics taken of a couple recipes so I'll work on getting one of those posted tomorrow.  I also made a cute birthday card for Aiden's buddy so I'll post that soon. 

I hope you can forgive me, I'll be better about posting again. :)

Erin

A Big Day

Today is a big day for my family, especially for my husband.  Today he is taking the PE exam to become a licensed engineer.  That man has studied his butt off!  He has buried himself in his books (and our basement) every day for 2 months, a few times a week the month or so before that.  And today, April 13th, FRIDAY THE 13TH, is his test day.  This is a 2 part test, one part in the morning and the other in the afternoon.  He called me at 11:30, 30 minutes before the morning session was to be over, to tell me he finished in 2 1/2 hrs and it wasn't too bad.  Phew.  Now for the afternoon session, which will be more difficult than the morning.  But I know he can do this, I know he will pass this test!  He deserves it!  I am so proud of him.

Erin

Boredom Busters

I am trying to get ahead of summer by coming up with some activities and ideas to keep Aiden busy and all three of us active once school is out.  One thing I know I will need are some 'Boredom Busters'.  Aiden told me Saturday morning, and hour and fifteen minutes after he woke up, that he was bored.  Seriously?  In that short amount of time he'd eaten, gotten dressed, brushed him teeth and made him bed, so it's not like he was just sitting around not doing anything.  Right then and there I realized I needed an arsenal of ideas for when he told me for the 100th time that he was bored.  So I came up with the idea for a jar of 'Boredom Buster' ideas.  I don't have it made yet but here is the list of ideas I have come up with...so far. :)

Wipe down the baseboards

 Pick up toys in your bedroom 

Pick up toys in your brother’s room 

Pick up toys in the basement 

Color a picture of a farm 

Color a picture in a coloring book 

Write the ABC’s 2 times 

Write everyone’s names that you know 

Play Matchbox cars 

Run around the house 3 times as fast as you can 

Play play dough 

Make a batch of cookies with Mom 

Water the outside plants 

Straighten up the book shelf

Fold a load of laundry 

Put away all the shoes 

Imagine you are a race car driver 

Read a book 

Listen to music and sing along 

Write out a menu for supper 

Color with sidewalk chalk/paint 

Build a sand castle in your sandbox 

Play farm 

Ride your bike 

Kick a soccer ball around the house 2 times 

Wash the table legs and chairs 

Weed the garden 

Put a puzzle together

If you have any suggestions of more ideas please send them to me, these won't last but a week!

Have a great night,
Erin

Easter Fun

Happy Easter to all!  I hope you had a fabulous Easter weekend with family and loved ones.  Our boys were spoiled by Grandma's/Pa's, Aunts and Uncles and by the Easter Bunny.  You should see the 2 bowls of candy we now have to eat.  Here are a couple pics of the boys hunting for Easter eggs.

Have a great week!
Erin

Changes

Are you the type of person who likes to rearrange your furniture often?  I love to, but in our old house we didn't have a room that lended itself to changes so it's been 5 years since I've put my back into it and pushed the couch and chair around.  I also like to change other things, like this blog.  So I went back to my original title, Homemade Happenings.  I won't do this again, just realized that Dear Grandma wasn't what I was going for anymore.  So I hope you don't mind this change too much. I also changed my settings to allow for anonymous comments.  You don't have to be a member of anything to comment now, so hopefully you'll drop me a line soon!

One quick thing -- we had a cow in our yard this afternoon!  I saw something pass by the window out of the corner of my eye and jumped up to see what it was.  And it was a calf!  A cute, little brown thing.  I thought I heard moo-ing earlier and now I know why.  It ran out of my yard before it's owner could catch it, now it's on the loose again.  Wonder how long they'll be chasing it!

Have a great afternoon!
Erin

What's On The Menu? Monday -- Italian Beef Sandwiches

A couple of years ago while tailgating at a football game Andy and I had our first Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich.  Yum!  Prior to this we were never adventurous eaters, not that eating a PCSS is adventurous.  But, trying this opened our eyes (and mouths!) to trying new food.  I tried making a version of this at home and it turned out pretty good so I told a co-worker about it.  Then she said, "You have to try my Italian Beef Sandwich recipe."  So she brought it the next day and the rest, as they say, is history!  (Double yum!)

Italian Beef Sandwiches
(Makes about 10)
3lb Rump Roast
1/2 can beef broth
1 T red pepper flakes (more if you like it spicy!)
2 tsp Italian Seasoning
1 onion, chunked up
1 green pepper, chunked up

Put all of this into your handy, dandy crock pot on low for 4 hours.  Then add 2 small cans of diced green chilies.  Cook for another 6 hours.  When done cooking it'll be so tender the roast will be falling apart.  If there's any fat on your roast pull that off, then use forks to shred the meat in the crock pot with all of the juices and flavors. 

I toast up hoagie buns then put a slice of cheese on them and melt that under the broiler for a minute.  Top with your delicious meat and some of the juices.  Enjoy! 

Erin