2010 Here We Come!

Today I have been reading blogs about New Year's Resolutions which inspired me to write down a few goals of my own. I love lists because they help me know what needs to be done!

-Save $200/month in a separate account. (This is for a larger vehicle when we someday have more kids.)

-Read my Bible daily
-Do my Precepts study! (These two are related!)

-Work daily with Eli on colors/numbers/letters

-declutter!
-Put things on Craigslist and get them outta here!

'Tis the Season

...for baking!


On my computer these pictures are right side up. I don't know what happened...

We took this plate along with dinner to friends who had a baby last week!

Eli's cookies (he ate frosting off as he worked) Eli loves to help me cook. His favorites- french toast and granola. He likes to sprinkle the cinnamon and put the bread in the gooey stuff.

So fun! More baking to come!

Cheese!

She is a sweetheart! And notice the beautiful quilt Jan from church made!

It doesn't look like he enjoys my kisses, but he does!

Me and my babies!

They love each other!

Apple Bread!

Yes, that is a picture of delicious, warm, apple cinnamon raisin bread! I used a quick bread mix that I made and added shredded apples, applesauce, cinnamon, and raisins. It turned out great even after if overflowed into my oven. I overfilled the loaf pans! So I ended up with 6 small loaves rather than 4!

I really do love to bake, because I really do love to eat!

A Smile so Sweet

Carmody has recently started smiling and I caught one on camera. I love that girl!

Baby smiles are a very fine thing! Visit Amy's Finer Things to see more!

The Comforts of Fall!

Yesterday I made two firsts for supper. Whole-wheat bread bowls and creamy broccoli soup. It was a perfect meal for a dreary October day. Both turned out great and I am sure soup in a bread bowl will be a weekly meal through the winter!

For the bread bowls I used a basic bread recipe. One loaf would make 3-4 good size bread bowls. The broccoli soup recipe was on a container of powdered milk.

The leftovers were wonderful as well!

This is a fine thing in life, to see more finer things visit Amy!

Measles? Chicken Pox? Lots of Spots!

My grandparents and great aunt came to Branson this last week. We had a great time, but Eli was in the midst of a virus, so this prohibited us from going out in public. We spent time at their condo, and got take out at our house, but no fun, touristy outings because my son was covered from head to toe in horrendous, red dots! Here are a few photos...

Dad-Dad and Eli with the cane!

Carmody- she has no spots, thankfully!

Eli had no other symptoms and his rash did not seem to itch,

but it made me sad just to look at him!

Status Update

Last night at church I helped with the youth group. I met in a small group with Sarah and 6 junior high and high school girls. The topic of discussion was prayer, which I always need reminding of!

As believers, we are told to pray continually in 1 Thessalonians 5. Sarah asked the girls what it meant or looked like to do this in their lives. I thought about it and decided that I needed to treat prayer like I treat facebook.

I stay home with the kiddos and have the computer up most of the day. I can check out facebook regularly. I will get on the the morning and update my status, then get breakfast ready. Later I will check out pictures and read new messages, then feed Carmody and switch laundry around. Then I will send some posts to friends followed by cleaning the bathroom and loading the dishwasher. I might play a game of Word Twist then read a book with Eli. As you can see I don't spend all my time on facebook, but I check it and update it continually, it is something I come back to.

My relationship with my Heavenly Father should be that way! I need to come talk to Him throughout the day! That communication ought to be part of my everyday life. Why isn't it? Do I not value prayer or truly believe it works? Perhaps my view of God is skewed. Whatever it is, I am wrong!

Menu Plan Monday 9-14

Monday: leftovers
Tuesday: rotisserie chicken, mashed potatoes, cheesy bread
Wednesday: chicken salad sandwiches w/ leftover chicken
Thursday: homemade pizza
Friday: leftovers
Saturday: breakfast burritos
Sunday: out to eat!


Snack/Breakfast/Lunch Options
bananas, strawberries, apples, kiwi
cold and hot cereal
bagels and muffins
pancakes from freezer
PB toast
pasta and sauce
cheese and crackers
leftovers


Visit Organizing Junkie to see hundreds of other menus!

Carmody's Birth Story

My due date was August 26, which came and went with no baby. This was expected because Eli was 2 and 1/2 weeks late. I was a bit more anxious to have this baby, maybe because I was chasing a crazy 2 y/o around!

On Thursday, September 3, I was having lots of contraction in the evening. Not painful, but consistently 7-10 minutes apart. These lasted til about 5am on Friday. Then they stopped. I was very disappointed! I had an appointment with my OB that morning followed by a non-stress test because I was past my due date. They wanted to make sure Carmody was still doing well. All was normal and nothing was happening.

I was stressed out however because I wanted to have a baby. It seemed everyone else got to have their babies! There were announcements posted on signs in town and on facebook. I cried when I read them! On Friday evening I reluctantly went to Panera Bread with the women from church and was asked numerous times why I was there! Apparently I should have had a baby! While driving there I began to once again have consistent, but unpainful contractions. These continued for hours. I ate delicious food and chatted with some wonderful ladies, then drove home to go to bed, still pregnant!

At 2 am on Saturday, I woke up still having contractions. I could not sleep through these anymore, so I got up. I flipped through TV channels, checked facebook, and read about pregnancy, labor, and birth. At 5:30 I woke Andy up and told him we needed a plan because I was pretty sure I was having a baby. He got up, dressed, and put our stuff in the car. When Eli woke up about 6:30 we got him ready and decided to go to Branson Landing and walk.

My contractions were still 7 or 8 minutes apart and we didn't want to call anyone so early in the morning on Saturday. The Landing is right next to the hospital, so it was a great place to be. Upon arrival at the Landing we discovered a 5K about to begin and we saw many people we knew. I don't think most of the people believed that I was in labor because I was so happy. I was excited to be having a baby! After walking down and back my contractions were 3 or 4 minutes apart.

Andy decided we had to leave. It was about 8:15 am and we call our friends Ryan and Adrian to ask if they would pick up Eli at the hospital. At 8:45 we were upstairs in Labor and Delivery. It was a busy morning and the three labor/delivery/recovery rooms were occupied. We waited in an NST room for some moving and cleaning to take place.

Once again, I don't think the L&D staff believed I was really in labor, because I was so happy, but when the nurse check me I was dilated to a 6, almost 7 centimeters. We moved rooms and settled in to have a baby. Both Andy and I thought it would be fast, because when I got to that point with Eli it was only an hour or so till I had a baby. It took longer this time! This was probably good because the staff was busy delivering another baby and performing an emergency c-section on a preterm baby. I hadn't progressed much and the doctor tried to break my water, but Carmody's head was blocking the way and just a bit of the waters leaked out.

My parents got in to town about 1:30 pm and that is when I stopped being happy. During "transition", going from 8 to 10 centimeters, I was in horrendous pain. I used the birthing ball some. I was also given oxygen because I was hyperventilating. I wanted to quit, but that is not possible! This birth was 'all natural' with no pitocin or pain medication. At 2:45 I was able to push and I did, but not effectivly at first. I was given instructions and tried again.

At 2:59 pm on September 5, 2009, Carmody Lynn Zsiga was born. She weighed 7 pounds 12 ounces and was 20 inches long. She was beautiful and crying! Andy was able to cut the cord, which he wasn't able to with Eli because Eli wasn't breathing right away.

Announcing...

Carmody Lynn Zsiga

She was born Saturday, September 5, 2009 at 2:59 pm. She was 7 lbs 12 oz and 20 inches long.

I plan to write her birth story soon and will post it!

This is a very fine thing! To see more visit Amy's Finer Things.

Question

My mom got a great deal on whole wheat graham flour and whole grain rye flour. She bought them for me and I am very glad, but I don't know what to make! I need recipes that use these or ideas of what to substitute them into.

Please comment with any suggestions! Thank you!

A New Kid By Friday

Andy and I were browsing a bookstore at the Landing when I saw this book and just had to have it because it could be life changing for me! A new kid- that is just what I want! The changing attitude, behavior and character, I could do without.

So maybe this book is not about labor and delivery... too bad!

Beautiful!

I made this very attractive triffle for the Hollister Junior High staff picnic this weekend. I love it. It tasted good, but I must say, it looked better!

I just wanted to share because this is my art!

The last Hurrah!

My mom came to visit this past weekend to finish all baby stuff! I had a rather long to do list and just about everything got marked off. I am due August 26, but I am over 38 weeks pregnant now. She could come anytime in the next few weeks!

These are some pictures of the wall decorations in Carmody's room.

Price Matching

Today was the first time I had price matched at Wal-mart. I generally go to one or two grocery stores each week when I shop. I check out the adds and decide which is the best value for my time. This week, however, there were great deals to be had a 4 or 5 different stores. I was NOT going to drag my 38 week pregnant body and 2 year old son all around town!

I had a pretty good experience price matching and I will let you know what I did that made everything go smoothly and what things were problematic.

I made a list of the items I wanted or needed to purchase, then I scanned my ads to find the lowest price advertised. Next to the the item I wrote the advertised price and the store it was at. My list looked something like this:

Highland butter- 16 oz $1.59- SF (Sunfest)
Watermelon 2.99 Jubilee
Peaches/Nectarines .69/lb Jubilee
grapes .99/lb Apple Market
Cheerios, Reeses, Trix, LC- 5/$10 (10-14oz) CM (Country Mart)
Best Choice yogurt- 6oz 30 cents SF

When I got to Walmart I went to customer service to ask a few questions. I asked about store brands. Most of my grocery stores carry Best Choice and Walmart offers Great Value. These are interchangeable! I also asked about store loyalty cards. My Walmart will match those advertised deals, but not if they have to be paired with a store coupon. (Country Mart does this often.) The woman also said that meat is not always price matched because the size of packaging is different. I found the same to be true for produce like blueberries. One store was selling 2lbs for $5 and Walmart had their berries in 11oz containers. This made the berries about $3/lb and Walmart would not match this, but they did match the rest of the produce. Things that are sold per item (like 4/$1 kiwi) or per pound (like grapes .99/lb) they will match.

When I got to the check out I separated my purchase to make it easier for the cashier and me! I put all of the non-price matched items on the conveyor belt first then all the items I wanted to match. I let her know at the beginning of my transaction that I was going to price match. Some stores or cashiers may ask to see the ads, I did have those handy, but today she just asked for the price and store. Since I had this on my list it was very easy to let her know.

Overall I think price matching went well. It does take a little longer and some forethought, but less time than visiting 3 stores! Also, if I were going to use coupons Walmart does not double them like the grocery stores. I will probably try it again!

This post is linked to Frugal Friday at Life as Mom

Happy Birthday!

The weekend of Eli's birthday, Andy had plans to see the Royals play the Texas Rangers (his favorite MLB team) in Kansas City. My mom planned a party for Eli since we would be there. Here are some highlights of that weekend!

Eli and Grammy (his great-grandmother) We had lunch with her and Dad-dad!

Playing the harmonica from Great-Uncle Larry. This must have been funny because both my sister, Amanda, and I are laughing.

Playing with a gift! His tee! Eli loves ball!

More ball!

Opening the cars from Aunt Amanda! He was much more excited than he seems.

Our family was wonderful to come help us celebrate Eli's 2nd birthday. He had so much fun and everyone was more than generous!

Strawberry Limeades

A delicious treat for summer! Cool, refreshing, and easy!


In the blender I squeezed the juice from 2 limes (be sure to roll them first and get them juicy!), about a 1/4 C sugar, 2 C Sprite or water or a combo, and a cup or so frozen sliced strawberries! I have also added frozen blueberries! Blend until chunks are gone! This makes enough for Andy and me!

This is a Finer Thing in life! Visit Amy to see more finer things!

Eli!

Here are some recent photos of my little boy! He turned 2 last week.

He is sleeping! I had to take a picture. It only woke him up for a couple minutes...

This is Eli in his Elmo underwear. He is excited to wear them!

Here is Eli's "cheese" face that he makes when he is getting his picture taken.

Pickin' Berries

Just a couple photos of Eli picking the blueberries! We had fun and I think it will be an annual family event!

Blueberries Galore! Part 2

There were still MORE blueberries, so I had to do somethings else. I saw that Crystal at Money Saving Mom was having a baking day and making Blueberry Streusel Muffins and had to try them. They are delicious. I loved this recipe and will make it often! It is not so healthy, but it does have blueberries and I think I will use 1/2 whole wheat flour next time.


Here is my batter, chock full of blueberries.

Topped with streusel, ready to go in the oven.

Just out of the oven, gooey berries overflowing!

They tasted as good as they look!

Blueberries Galore!

On Monday Andy, Eli, and I went to a farm in Lampe, MO to pick blueberries with our friend Sarah. Eli ate as many blueberries as he picked, including a couple that were green and not blue! Sarah picked about 3 pounds and we ended up with close to 7 pounds. The next question was what to do with hundreds of blueberries! The first thing I did was rinse and sort the berries, then take the stems off. I was consciense to remove the stems as I picked, but Andy and Eli were not. Eli just pulled berries off and Andy would pick whole bunches which was faster, but also meant I had unripe or overripe berries with stems. Then I froze a couple pounds by laying them out on a baking sheet in the freezer then putting them in a ziploc bag.


Here are some of our many berries! The next task was freezer jam. As with all homemaking tasks, this was new to me! I was excited at how easy it was to do and how delicious it was to eat! I just used the recipe from my Betty Crocker Cookbook. The basic recipe for freezer jam is about equal amounts of crushed fruit and sugar and a package of pectin mixed in.

Here are my berries in the midst of crushing...

After I added the sugar. It takes about 20 minutes to dissolve. Just stir every few minutes.

After the pectin was added, I stirred for a couple minutes.

My finished product! It takes up to a day to set up. I did one jar and the rest in tupperware-like containers. I am giving the jar to my daddy! He likes fresh jam! Freezer jam will keep for 3 weeks in the fridge and 6-12 months in the freezer.

We had toast with jam for breakfast this morning and it was wonderful! This recipe was a success!