Today I was needing some motivation to get things done mainly my coupons. Ever just feel burnt out my "couponing"? I sure did today. I was looking at the mounds and stacks of coupons to cut and sort and was having a very hard time getting started. I decided to update my savings for the month and total them up. Still I was feeling unmotivated by the daunting task of my coupons. Then I decided why not total up for the year the amount of coupons I've "cashed" in so to speak. After calculating I hit on this number $924.98 say what! Yup you got it that is the number in cash dollars I've used in coupons. I'm now motivated to cut out those coupons and organize them all and counting til I hit $1,000.00...WOOHOOOOO!
This past weekend we went away for a basketball tournament for Lucas' basketball team. With games on both Friday and Saturday we decided to stay the night in a hotel with four other homeschooling families. It was a two hour drive one way and with a four year old that made the most sense. Anyway we had a great time here are some highlights of the little getaway.
Roman in the car drawing he loves to color and draw so this kept him entertained for awhile.
Roman at the pool he kept trying to "sneak" the boys goggles from them..:)
Little Kaleb we called him the bench warmer this year. He was going to be on the team since Ben was the coach but he technically wasn't old enough. Two other boys joined late so he got bumped Ben let him go to practice a lot and sit on the bench during games. Next year he'll be on it for sure he's very excited! He looks thrilled I took his picture doesn't he?
Lucas is number three in the middle jumping for the ball this was his last game on elementary. Next year he moves up to Jr. High which terrifies me those kids are huge compared to Lucas. I hope he grows a lot this year. He played really good in his games this weekend we were very proud of him.
The team slapping hands we won this game by 30 points which was awesome because we only won 2 out of 24 games this year. The boys were pumped we won and by so much.
I Started out baking day making this 100% whole wheat bread...so yummy here's the recipe:
Whole Wheat Bread
2 Cups warm water 1/4 C canola or olive oil 1/4 C. honey 1 tbs salt 6 Cups whole wheat flour 1 Tbs vital wheat gluten 2 1/2 tps. yeast
I put everything in my bread machine on the dough cycle. When that's done I put it in my own pans and let rise until double and then bake at 350 for 30 min. When done I spread a small amount of butter over the top of the bread. This makes two loaves of bread.
I also made some peanut butter cookies the best recipe ever from Ben's great grandma here it is:
Peanut Butter Cookies
1 C. brown sugar 1 C. White sugar 1 1/2 sticks butter softened 2 C. flour 1 1/2 tsp. soda pinch of salt 1 egg 1 C. peanut butter
Mix all ingredients together. Drop on cookie sheet and then push down with a fork and bake at 350 for 10-11 min.
Lastly I had some rotten banana's to use up so the kids and I made some chocolate chip banana muffins from Tammy's recipes.com. Very moist and yummy these are my kids favorite.
1 1/2 cups flour 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 Teaspoon salt 1 egg 1/2 cup Miracle Whip or mayonnaise 3 ripe bananas (the riper the better!!) 1 cup chocolate chips
1. In large bowl, combine dry flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt.
2. In medium sized bowl, beat egg. Add banana and mash thoroughly, using a potato masher. Stir in Miracle Whip. Add to dry ingredients and stir just until moistened.
3. Fill paper-lined muffin tins 3/4 full; sprinkle tops with chocolate chips. Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until muffin tests done with toothpick. Allow muffins to cool 5 minutes in the pan, and then remove to wire racks to finish cooling. Store loosely covered to help prevent stickyness! :)
This pictures are actually a few months old just haven't unloaded my camera for awhile. The above picture is a b-ball tournament Lucas did with three of his buddies. They won first place so they all got a trophy. Don't the kids look thrilled us moms wanted pictures:)
Kaleb after I highlighted his hair. I didn't do the greatest job and fixed some of it the next day but he thought it was the best. I had a left over highlight kit in my cupboard for years so I decided to use it on the boys just for fun.
Here's Roman showing off his airplane he made with lego's. It's his new favorite toy to play with not the "baby" ones he tells me but the big boy ones. It actually resembled an airplane and he played with it for hours. He might have that artistic gene that skipped Ben and I:)
The below picture is a mask that Lucas made for Roman one night when he was babysitting. I found it on my camera I'm not sure who took it but that's why it's so blurry. I thought the mask was really cute it's Roman's favorite costume. Watch out for those biggggg muscles!!
Remember when our basement flooded from the washer? This is what these pictures are from. I know a little late ah well. Anyway we ripped out all the carpet and discovered we had just some lovely linoleum underneath it. This brown covered the whole rec room. Lucas' room had a different brown in it and the steps bright orange..yuck! The white on the linoleum is actually white paint don't know the story on that one. Anyway here are the before and after pic's.
This picture is the rec room lovely huh:) Wait till you see the steps you'll be so jealous.
The lovely orange we thought about leaving it..hahahaha
The steps now with the new carpet on them. I do have to touch up the paint a bit.
This is the rec room now pretty much the kid area. It's fantastic when they have friends over and sleep overs. They have their own space to hang out in.
This is the other side of the rec room opposite the tv area. Remember the game table I bought the kids love it they play with that thing more than anything. All the neighbor kids love to come over and play pool. It's so tiny but they have a ton of fun with it.
So there you have it the finished basement it's so much nicer than it was I'm really enjoying it. I have a few pic's I'm waiting for Ben to hang up and that's about it.
I am a God fearing wife of 14 years to Ben, and stay at home mom. We are raising three boys Lucas 13, Kaleb 10, and Roman 5 who keep life very interesting to say the least:) We are a homeschooling family and loving everyday of it. I enjoy running, reading, being in God's great outdoors doing pretty much anything, gardening, spending time with my kids, spending time with my hubby, friends, and life in general. We have so much to be thankful for and strive to serve the Lord in all that I do everyday.
