Wordless Wednesday 1-14

Our weekly menu

I love to try new things but lately I have been pretty stuck when it comes to cooking for my family.  I want to start trying at least one new thing a week again. I need to go looking on Pinterest for new ideas. I plan on posting my menu every week and the updating how they turned out the next week.

Eight months

My reading goals for the year.

My 2015 reading goals

Read 4 books a month.

48 books this year

I want to read at least one book that isn't romance a month.

To blog twice a month about books or reading. 

Let's make this a good year. 

What do you plan on reading this month?

Smell the flowers.

It ocoured to me as I am sitting on the couch in the quite at 6:50am while my kids are asleep and my husband at work that we often get so busy with life that we stop noticing the little things. Have you stopped and smelled a flower lately. No I haven't and this may be because it's currently winter here and we have no flowers out side. But thinking back to spring and summer I don't think I ever stopped and smelled a flower growing in the yard. I know my daughter did and I'm sure it was when I was trying to get her into the car so I impaciently urged her to hurry up. Maybe I should have stopped and smelled that flower and asked my daughter why she had chosen it. We could have talked about the color and the fragrance it would have been a wonderful chance to teach her. But instead like we often are I was in a hurry. Has that ever happened to you?

Next time I want to slow down and take the time to teach my children about that flower. More then likely the going to the store can wait, We can be a little late picking daddy up from work, Or we can be only 10 minutes early to the dr. Just slow down, notice and appreciate the little things that in our busy fast paced world get forgotten about. Take the time to teach our children about these small things because if we don't they will never learn and those little things we did as a child we stop happening. You won't see a small child pick dandelions for mommy or grandma, or stopping to marvel at a ladybug on a leaf because they will have grown up in a fast paced world where we don't slow down to smell that flower.

Now I don't know about you but I want my children and grandchildren for that matter to still slow down and smell that flower or marvel at a lady bug. I Don't want them to lose the wonder that small children have. Just because out world has gotten fast paced and electonical based. No app is going to replace our children being outside touching and smelling that flower. They may be able to learn its name and color on your iPad but they will never be able to full experience it unless you take the time to slow down and let them smell the flowers, play in the mud and just be children they why they we intended to be. Growing up can wait in fact that trip to the store can wait. My children will only be small once.

So please stop and smell the flowers.

2014 Wrap up

2014 was a year of challenges and growth
My mom was diagnosed with 2 types of cancer a few weeks after I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. This was after she has surgery to remove a tumor as well as full hysterectomy just 4 days before my due date and 10 days before my newest child came into the world.
My husband was with out work for 3 months and we struggled in every way possible during that time.
It was a challenging year for me both physically and mentally. Struggled with my health while I was pregnant and then with postpartum depression after I had my son.
My 4 year old started preschool and because of her allergies and modified diet that started as a struggle. She has also had a hard time adjusting to being in school 2 days a week.
I watched friends and family struggle emotionally, physically, and financially. Often being powerless to help.
I learned that even people who have been in my life for many year can be hurtful and need to be let go.
I have also learned that people who have just came into my life could become my best friend and be like family.
I have watched my small family grow and blossom. My baby girl went from being a sweet little toddler to a sassy and loud preschooler. My son has gone from bump to sweet newborn to active and loving 8 month old. It has been a joy watching my children grow and change this year.
I learned that my way is not the only or even the best way of doing things. But that it's okay to want to do stuff my way.
I learned to stand up for my self and tell people no and how I feel.
I have watched people I care about grow and change.
I made a wonderful friend who I can call on when I need and she is always there. She loves my children. She is has became a huge part of our lives and I can't imagine our lives with out her.

In all my year was great and I am looking forward to 2015 as I continue to watch my family and friends grow and change. I know we are looking forward to a great year.

Goal update

Read 4 books a month for a total of 48 books this year.~ I have read about 20 books this year so not quite 4 a month but still pretty good.

Sew for myself not just the children~ I haven't been sewing at all this year with my health problems  because of being pregnant.

Eat more healthy, make more meals at home and eat out less.~ We have eaten a lot more at home lately and not as much out. 

Have a weekly family game night~we haven't been having game night but we have been having a family day every week so I am happy with that.

Don't stress the small stuff~ this has been hard with my mom being diginosied with ovarian cancer and not doing chemo. 

Spend more time disconnected from electronics~I have been spending a ton of time on my phone an iPad with exclusively breast feeding Lucas I have a lot of time that I am just sitting.