Loving Fall

I am really enjoying this beautiful fall weather with my kiddos. Since leaving my job, my stress level is slowing down, I'm starting to feel better and I can't express how thankful I am to be home with my little guy. We have time to do things I've never been able to do. Having 3 kids, involved in multiple sports and working a 40 hour a week job with a 40 minute commute makes for stressed, rushed days.

Our town has a beautiful river running through the middle. We've been able to take advantage of the weather to go exploring, watching the water drift by, and talking about how the weather is starting to change. See that smile? That's a happy boy!

 

 

 

Baking Bread

Have you ever tried to bake bread? Its hard. And I know, with today's world of Gluten Free not very popular. Still....my mother in law makes the best bread. Every time we are at their house the kids and I enjoy it. So I thought, I'm a stay at home mom now, I got time. Right?? Armed with her recipe,  I set out to accomplish my goal. Let me tell you....it was not successful.

I ended up with a house that smelled wonderful, but flour everywhere and bread that resembled some kind of crazy looking rock. It was very hard, dense, and had their been snow I'm pretty sure my son could have used it for hockey pucks. Rats. This was much harder than I thought it was going to be. So, I convinced my husband we should go to his parents that weekend, and I fessed up on my mistake. When I showed her the picture, she said "knead". Oops....knew I forgot something.

The next day we made bread together, with me trying to take some pictures so I could remember how it felt. I learned that you can use your hands (really!) and how to "fold" the bread. The end result with her help was beautiful. Returning home, I waited five whole days before I attempted again. The end result:

 

I had bread!!! Okay, so only one loaf really turned out really good, but I learned the others are good for French toast. The beast thing about it? My husband came home, tried the bread and proclaimed "Just like Mom's". And then he called her and told her! Little things to make my family happy really make me happy too. Who says bread isn't good for you?

A Sweepstake WIN?!

The other day, early morning, I was entering some "instant win" sweepstakes.... If you've never done anything like this, its a time waster. Similar to CandyCrush, except you are providing your address and email (hint- set up a separate email for this), and you never ever win anything cool.

 Back to the story.... I was entering a bunch, like I've done dozens of times, when all of a sudden it said "you won". I almost clicked right through it, I was so used to seeing "SORRY". So after I cleaned my glasses I relooked, and sure enough I had won a $500 gift card to Omaha Steaks courtesy of Prevacid 24hr.

How cool is that????!! Now I know realistically this will NEVER happen again, but for a moment I thought I was pretty darn special. So, I did what every sane person would do. Went on line and order $499.92 worth of sirloin, filet mignon and ribeyes! Got my shipping confirmation and its on its way. I'll let you know how it looks!

Hockey Camp?

Yesterday we brought our son to college, got him settled in his dorm. How strange! It seems like yesterday I was finishing my own finals early....9 months pregnant. That little boy has been through so much, and has turned into the most capable, wonderful young man. I'm so proud of him (even though he drives me crazy at times). He has confidence, talent and the brains to become a big part of our world. Leaving him at his dorm was very bittersweet. I know its time for him to go, but I selfishly want him home. It was me and him against the world for so very long, that its hard to let go.

 

Driving away, I just said...."We are leaving him at Hockey Camp right? He'll be home again....".