I can't tell you how refreshing it was today to have my sister and her son come for supper and a sleep over. My house is clean, supper was made, and my heart was filled with serving others. Not that serving my children isn't something...but without a hubby around my heart was empty.
I am excited for my boys to go to Sesame Street live tomorrow. I unfortantely don't get to go, but I do get to host a Pampered Chef bridal shower and make a little money. Pictures to post on the big event of Sesame Street Live.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Decisions...
The last two weeks things have happened that only God could plan in regards to my career. I am drawing up pros and cons of the school setting versus the hospital/PRN settings. I know there are so many other things to pray and lift up to God with the people in Haiti, sick people, etc. If you have an extra breath, if you would pray that God would reveal his plan for my family and I.
Meal plan for this week
Well Meal Plan is about all that I have for this week and probably next...because it is just the boys and I. We were able to have grilled PB sandwiches last night, left over pizza tonight. We do miss our Daddy terribly...but it is nice to just break from the cookbook and formal meal:)
On our way home I asked the boys if they wanted to have a sleep over in my room tonight. They played well after we got home AND picked up their toys, so I allowed them to have a little pop for supper. After I poured the pop for Kenner, he said, "I love it when Daddy is gone." I just had to laugh and think, "I miss you Daddy!":)
On our way home I asked the boys if they wanted to have a sleep over in my room tonight. They played well after we got home AND picked up their toys, so I allowed them to have a little pop for supper. After I poured the pop for Kenner, he said, "I love it when Daddy is gone." I just had to laugh and think, "I miss you Daddy!":)
Sunday, January 10, 2010
New Year's Resolutions
As I was taking the boys back through the blog, I noted what we were doing last January. I was CRAZY to post my resolutions on the blog, but I really did do most of them for most of the year:) So that sparked me to write down some goals for 2010.
1) Spend more time in the Word. I would like to continue with the Once a Day Bible, which takes you through the Bible chronologically (which is the version I have). As of now, I am not reading it yet. I am reading a book my mother in law gave me, "The Lineage of Grace." It is great. It is about the women noted in the Bible.
2) Keep up with house work throughout the week, so my weekends can be filled with fun things with my family.
3) Blog/take pictures at least once a week. I have discovered what everyone else has been saying, "They will grow up too fast." After looking through the blog, it is true. My babies aren't babies any more. Blogging at least once a week will keep you coming back and keep history of my two boys and their stories.
4) Continue to be frugal with watching what I buy, eat, and purchase.
5) Limit my computer time. I am only allowing myself on the computer after my Motivated Mom Chore list is finished...do I sound like my mom and my chores?
How is that for a list? Let's see what I actually did in one year from now. What are your goals?
1) Spend more time in the Word. I would like to continue with the Once a Day Bible, which takes you through the Bible chronologically (which is the version I have). As of now, I am not reading it yet. I am reading a book my mother in law gave me, "The Lineage of Grace." It is great. It is about the women noted in the Bible.
2) Keep up with house work throughout the week, so my weekends can be filled with fun things with my family.
3) Blog/take pictures at least once a week. I have discovered what everyone else has been saying, "They will grow up too fast." After looking through the blog, it is true. My babies aren't babies any more. Blogging at least once a week will keep you coming back and keep history of my two boys and their stories.
4) Continue to be frugal with watching what I buy, eat, and purchase.
5) Limit my computer time. I am only allowing myself on the computer after my Motivated Mom Chore list is finished...do I sound like my mom and my chores?
How is that for a list? Let's see what I actually did in one year from now. What are your goals?
found my camera...so here is the floor!
Three days ago I thought wrapping misc things around my house for the boys to give me gifts was cute...but after folding ALL my towels and washclothes 8 + times now...it isn't so cute. 
Our bathroom
Kenner keeping himself company with Max and Ruby...
Menu Planning Mondays
I do always have a menu (or I like to) and I also told my sister, Annie, that I would email her the list of things I am making so she could possibly use the same meal or get new ideas. I am still working out of my pantry as much as possible (although a good snow storm and moving a fridge and not having one for a couple days can really wipe a pantry out).
I also just have to plan dinners...as we are not at home for lunches or breakfast during the week:)
Monday:
Spaghetti Casserole - aka leftovers from a meal we had a few weeks ago. I just layered the noodles (cooked), sauce, put mozzerella cheese on the top, and put it in the freezer for another meal in a few weeks.
Tuesday:
Pepper Steak and corn
(from the Better Homes and Garden cookbook Crockery Cooking section)
Wednesday:
Frozen Pizza - AWANA night
Thursday:
Possibly going out to eat with Grandma and Grandpa Kenner
If we don't go with them, Casey's favorite spaghetti and green beans
Friday: *Casey will be leaving for 2 weeks...so our meals will definitely be getting SIMPLE and easy:)
Green Bean Casserole
Saturday:
Breakfast - Pancakes
Lunch - Cheesy Quesadillas with pinto beans
Dinner - Homemade pizzas - the boys will get to make their very own
Sunday:
Breakfast - yogurt
Lunch - Eat in Lincoln somewhere
Dinner - Left overs
I also just have to plan dinners...as we are not at home for lunches or breakfast during the week:)
Monday:
Spaghetti Casserole - aka leftovers from a meal we had a few weeks ago. I just layered the noodles (cooked), sauce, put mozzerella cheese on the top, and put it in the freezer for another meal in a few weeks.
Tuesday:
Pepper Steak and corn
(from the Better Homes and Garden cookbook Crockery Cooking section)
Wednesday:
Frozen Pizza - AWANA night
Thursday:
Possibly going out to eat with Grandma and Grandpa Kenner
If we don't go with them, Casey's favorite spaghetti and green beans
Friday: *Casey will be leaving for 2 weeks...so our meals will definitely be getting SIMPLE and easy:)
Green Bean Casserole
Saturday:
Breakfast - Pancakes
Lunch - Cheesy Quesadillas with pinto beans
Dinner - Homemade pizzas - the boys will get to make their very own
Sunday:
Breakfast - yogurt
Lunch - Eat in Lincoln somewhere
Dinner - Left overs
New floor = new woman
You would think a person cooped up in a house would have everything done and ready for the next four weeks without a thing to do...um...not this house! The flooring guy arrived MUCH later than he told me originally on Friday (which my Autistic tendencies...not a thing to do. I was already perterbed when he got her...but hid it well. After all he was putting in our floors:)) He only laid the subflooring on Friday and had to come back on Saturday. This would mean little to you...but it was a major frustration on my part. The only place the boys and I could be was in our back room which you could only get into by our back stairway, because the fridge was in the doorway. We also did not have access to our kitchen = one room + 2 boys who had not been able to move more than 5 feet in any direction + 1 mom who wanted the flooring done yesterday = FRUSTRATION. I got over it quickly when he told me the flooring was done and without a seam. IT IS BEAUTIFUL. Too bad I can't find my camera...so pictures will be coming...just have to find the camera!
Thursday, January 07, 2010
Tomorrow...FLOORING COMES!!!!!
YIPPEE!! I couldn't be more excited to finally put one of the last finishing pieces on our kitchen. We started it a year and 1/2 ago. In order to get flooring in our kitchen we had to tear out the bathroom. The bathroom used to be a breakfast nook and our house did not have running water. When they put running water in, they put in a bathroom (which they also didn't have). There was no way we could keep the old plaster and lath due to the amount of insulation in the walls...none! THanks to the two snow days I was able to get everything cleaned out and ready for the flooring tomorrow! We will be removing the two windows in the bathroom, as soon as we can get to the side of the house without tramping through snow drifts.
This is a pic of the flooring before.
Now what our kitchen and bathroom look like before the flooring!
You can see a sample of the flooring at the bottom of this picture...very little sample:)
This is a pic of the flooring before.
Now what our kitchen and bathroom look like before the flooring!
You can see a sample of the flooring at the bottom of this picture...very little sample:)
Movie Night
The boys were very insistent that we drink the Coke we got from Whitney and Lukas' wedding the night of the wedding. We weren't stupid to have two children have full strength Coke at 9:00 at night. We promised them a movie night with popcorn, pop, and a Red Box that they got to choose all by themselves. It was fun and G-Force wasn't that bad of a movie. Fun night for us! Although Dad doesn't look as happy...he had a good time too (just tired from remodeling:))
New Year's in Aurora
We were able to make it through the HUGE drifts of snow to grandma and grandpa's house in Aurora. We were able to cheer on the Huskers (or some of us...Grandpa slept), play dominos with Great Grandma Georgene (who is probably my most frequent blog checker:)), and play in the snow. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures of playing the snow or the two weddings we attended last weekend. They were both BEAUTIFUL ceremonies and will be beautiful marriages. Congrats Shelby and Mike and Whitney and Lukas.
Snowman or shall I say snow clumps...
The boys wanted to make a snowman so bad, so we ventured out (before New Year's and the bit
ter cold) and made a snow man. I just checked on him today and he is not a her. The wind has made him a nice little skirt. I will have to take a pic:)
Monday, December 28, 2009
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!
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!!!!
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:)
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!)
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
Not so sure of Santa or Herbie
Saturday, December 19, 2009
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!
