Eat from the Food Pantry Challenge

I am going to try throughout the month of January to "live" out of our freezer and pantry. We have plenty of meat and produce that needs to be cleaned out of our freezer so that I can defrost it. I also have plenty of cans in my pantry that would combine with the meat to make great meals. I have lived one year on a frugal lifestyle through groceries. I am trying to take it to the next level...only buying things at Walgreens and CVS if they are free. Both of those stores are great, but I am now questioning the correct pricing on the "deals" I have gotten this past year. I am going to try to live more from Super Saver and price matching and spending time in the Word with the once a day bible (which I started last year...), rather than running to all the stores. Let me know if you are in too...it will be fun to see what meals we can help each other with!

Happy meal planning!

Blizzard 2009

We were lucky enough to have a GREAT time with my family this Christmas, but unfortunately we weren't able to get to Aurora...yet. It was great to have all of us home (except for Annie and her family) to hang out, play life, and conquer Pride Rock (anyone see Lion King...here is the winter version of Pride Rock from Lion King.) This drift kept growing and growing until... My dad, Casey and the two boys tried to conquer it as a SNOW CAVE. A before pic with Daddy.

Boys still smiling and bundled up.

Isn't this cool (double meaning)? This is probably the only "lit" snow cave out there. The drift drifted over the lamp post outside my parent's house...so at night there was light in it:) It was very cool!

Kenner in the cave

Patton in the cave. My dad and Casey could sit in it...that is how deep they made it!

Patton did not get any frost bite...althought it looks like it is hard to believe.

Bubbi without his gear on. THe only thing wet or cold were his cheeks...isn't that crazy? Especially when he was wearing snow pants that were over 20 years old (yes mine!).

Our home...snow covered.

We do have a two sided porch...although you can't see it on the south side.

Snow pile formerly known as Casey's car.

They only way into our house...by way of snowblower. Thanks Daddy!

We are sad we are unable to be in Aurora now...but grateful for the time we got to spend with all our grandparents in Hebron!

Christmas Blessings....

This is 1/2 half of the room at my Grandparent's house (the family with 9 kids in my mom's family). We are so blessed to have so many and so much love. Instead of doing a grab bag this year, we decided to give back to others then come back and tell everyone what we did. It was pretty cool just sharing of love to feel the real reason for the season. * We were also very thankful for a tractor aka generator. The electricity went out just as we sat down to eat. We thought we had run out of water, which meant no going to the bathroom. Luckily, they just needed to run the tractor a bit higher:)
We had an EXTREMELY special gift presentation first...KENDRA AND TREVOR ARE GOING TO HAVE A BABY!!!!! WHAT a BLESSING!!! It reminded me that everything happens with God's timing! After the special announcement, Kendra reminded everyone to not put anything on facebook or the internet as they had not told Trevor's family yet....

Both Caleb and Craig said, "Too late." Just kidding. BUT it is sad that a person could inform the world in two seconds when we didn't have power. Gotta love technology AND NEW BABIES!!!!

Great Gpa's Bank...aka Train shop

The boys are so blessed to have so many grandparents in their lives. We were only able to hang with 7 of the many grandparents this weekend due to the snow :(. Here is a pic of Bubbi, my dad (grandpa), my grandpa (great grandpa), and Kenner watching train pictures from my dad's new iTV. Kenner got to go with Grandpa Jimmy a couple weeks ago by himself. He called it "Grandpa's Bank." This trip we were in the real bank with my mom and Kenner was requesting to go to Grandpa's bank. My mom proceeded tell Kenner that this was his Grandpa's bank. No, he continued to deny. He took my mom to the window of the Bank, pointed across the street and said, "That is Grandpa's bank." Little does Kenner know that Grandpa's Bank is really truly called, "Grandpa's Train shop." :) Grandpa took us all down to play. Here are few pictures of the boys, the awesome landscaping and good ole Grandpa at work:)

SANTA CAME and JESUS WAS BORN!

The boys (and Mommy) were very excited that Santa found us in Hebron amidst all the snow and blizzard conditions. "Santa" was organized this year and sent down all the presents to Hebron...so if the Svitak's didn't make the trip to Hebron, then Santa would not have found us. Luckily, Daddy got to leave work a day earlier and work in Hebron so Santa could find us:)

Grandma got a Snuggie Aunt Becca and Uncle Mike gave the boys a tent. THEY LOVE IT!

Great Grandma Jan with Patton by her finger:)

Patton and his barn from Santa

Kenner a wee bit excited about his Lightning McQueen Race track (that happens to eat up the largest of batteries in one sitting!...ugh!)

NU Basketball

Casey has had a lot of fun following the Husker basketball team the past few years. This year he has gotten Bubbi and Kenner into it as well. We all went as a family and were able to get pictures of the boys with Herbie and Santa...oh and the cheerleaders as well. Not so sure of Santa or Herbie

DPP 19

Magical Mint Kiss Cookies for our cookie exchange on Monday. It is great to feel better to get the stamina to bake with my boys:) Click on the title of the cookies for the link to the recipe. Yummy and EASY!

DPP 18

The love of a boy, naptime and his puppies!

DPP 17

Help! I need to pick out curtains for my dining room and I need to order them ASAP. Do these look okay? The bottom tiers would be a black or dark blue ticking curtain (just like the bottom strip on the curtain). Does the wall color and the folk flower color go together? I really like the curtain...but don't want it to clash:)

Thanks for your help!

DPP 16

The dilemma about not making it to the post office when Cindy is there...no candy for the boys. As I was preparing the boys that Cindy was not at the post office today, Kenner said, "That's okay mom. I like Halloween candy better than Post office candy." Good Kenner:)

DPP 15

The warmth of a Grandpa's heart!

Spoiler...

I couldn't help but share great pictures we got taken of the boys. yes this will be spoiling your Christmas present...but too cute to share.

Fuzz and his puppy

BMOC - Big Man on Campus

Can you say STINKER?

Pat Kenner Jr.

DPP 14

After mulling over all the things I have WANTED to do the last two weeks, my brother and sister made my #1 request a reality. They played LIFE with me. Thank you! It was fun although I came in dead last.

DPP 13

Thanks to Uncle Caleb for "taking" Kenner sledding. Unfortunately I was unable to pick just one photo...because they tell the (three minute) sledding story.
Caleb doing winter conditioning Caleb is tired and Kenner is saying, "Wheeee!"

Kenner was messing around and then got too cold.

DPP 12

Nothing like feeling better and getting to play farm with two little boys! Santa thought the boys needed more farm things...maybe Santa needed to clean out the toy bins before he created his list:)

DPP 11

My sweet little boy, Kenner, brought me breakfast in bed this morning. This was my first morning with the boys after my episode. What a joy!

DPP 10

Oatmeal Cranberry* Cookies for my home health nurse.
These are Casey's favorite cookies with raisins, but I only had cranberries here. He has been a very good nurse and waiting on me while I am home. Love you Casey!
*Boys come back today...I must throw a HUGE THANK YOU to Casey's parents and siblings for taking care of the boys while Casey and I take care of me.