In Training

I am finally buckling down with Isaac's potty training. Today was my first day and NO ACCIDENTS! Here's the deal. . . he knows how to go to the bathroom in the toilet, he's been doing that for over a year. He just gets lazy and would rather wear a diaper than tell me when he needs to go. I hear boys can be harder. . . I sure hope that's true because I don't look forward to doing this again with Ainsley!

Here's a picture of my Little Miss Grumpy. She tends to be in a bad mood quite often, and I thought a Popsicle would cheer her up. It didn't.

It's Only Just Begun

My week has progressively gotten worse. . . and it is only Tuesday!!! Now before I start my post, I need to ask people to keep any bad thoughts or comments to themselves. I have debated whether or not I wanted to post about this. . . but it's my journal and this is what is going on in my life right now. So please do not judge too harshly, I am doing my best!

This morning Isaac had unlocked the front door and said he wanted to go outside. I told him not right now, that we would be going outside later. I then went to get ready for the day. The kids were busying playing in their bounce house. . . so I thought.

I came back into the living room a short while later and the kids weren't in the living room. I turned off their slide, and noticed the door wasn't all of the way shut. My heart kind of skipped a beat, and I called in the house for Isaac. . . no reply. I immediately ran out the front door and didn't see either of my children in the front yard. I ran back inside and yelled for the kids, as I quickly looked through each room. . . not too panicked yet, but definitely getting worried.

I ran back outside and looked on the side of our house and the neighbors houses, and started running down the street and around the corner (our normal route on our daily walk). The kids were NOWHERE in sight. By now my heart was sinking and I started to hyperventilate a bit. I had grabbed my phone before heading out the door (somehow forgot shoes!) and called Mike and I started to cry and hyperventilate at the same time. He didn't understand what I was trying to say and I finally got out "Mike the front door was open and the kids are gone!" He quickly said he was on his way home.

By now I was running toward the park, because it is a daily route for us as well and they know the way. As I am running to the park, I called the Holgates (my "Texas Family") and let them know what was going on. . . after a few attempts they understood what I was saying. After that phone call I finally broke down and called the police. I kept having images of someone stopping and picking up two toddlers off the street. Scared does not even describe how I was feeling.

When I didn't see anyone at the park I made my way back home to wait for everyone who was meeting me there, and I was still on the phone with the 911 operator. I made one last attempt through the house, this time looking in cupboards and closets.

I get to Isaac's room and guess what I find. Isaac sitting in the corner behind his bookcase playing legos, and Ainsley sitting in the closet chewing on a pair of shoes and playing with something else. I started laughing and yelling and the poor lady on the phone kept saying "Mam, what's going on?" I said I found my kids and everyone is okay.

I have never been so relieved, not two minutes later Bryan (Holgate son) was at my house and Mike pulling up a minute later. Bryan was just as sweet as can be (he is like a brother to me), grabbed Isaac and wouldn't put him down. Just sat there holding him and told me how scared he was as he was driving over. Bryan is 19, and I love him to death. He then sat with me for a few hours, because I guess he thought I wasn't doing so well. Let's be honest I probably looked like a complete wreck. I really was relieved that I had found my children, and the shock of them being gone completely disappeared. Mike was worried too, hugged both of his kids and me, then headed back to work. I really am lucky he can be home in moments notice.

What a slew of emotions. Nervous. Scared. Terrified. Relieved. Mortified/embarrassed. Thankful. Really my week has been hard, and it's only Tuesday, but more importantly I have had MANY MANY prayers answered immediately and it's only Tuesday. I really am so blessed!

P.S. Yes Isaac was just as obedient as he always is. . . but I still feel it's time to put chain locks on my doors!

Nervous Wreck

Isaac gave me quite the scare today. I was busy folding laundry when he started screaming bloody murder. Scared me right away because I have never heard him yell like that. I ran to him and I immediately knew something was wrong with his eye. Second thing I noticed, as I surveyed the room, was a cup with a straw (you know the hard straws that come with the cup). So I guessed pretty quickly what had happened, and I got pretty nervous.

I became even more nervous when he refused to open his eye for me. I kept asking him to try so I could see his eye. Every time he tried his eye would roll back, freaking me out even more. . . then I noticed blood on his eye ball. By this time I was crying with him.

I called Mike to come home (we only have one car right now), and then called his doctors office, who told us we could come in right away. By the time Mike got home Isaac could open his eye, and the blood was gone, but I could see a definite scratch.

Amazing how fast you eyes heal though. By the time we got to the Dr.'s office, you could barely see the scratch, but the deepest part was still clearly visible. Isaac's doctor put some iodine on his eye, looked at with a black light and the image I saw was a little freaky. The iodine sinks into the cut and then glows florescent yellow. Isaac's cut ran from the corner of his eye (by the bridge of his nose), ending just on the colored part of his eye.

Thankfully it didn't go any deeper and there wasn't a flap, and thankfully it didn't go any further and cover the pupil. His doctor said it was just a minor corneal abrasion, but because it is a little longer than she was hoping we have to go back in for a check up in two days.

I am SO THANKFUL it was only a "minor" scratch, and also thankful that Mike answered his phone and was able to get home so quickly. I am also thankful that we were able to find such a nice doctor. . . I have been looking for awhile (thanks Janette for the tip!!). Basically tonight I am full of THANKS!

Little Bit Naked

I have felt a little bit naked this weekend. You know that feeling when you forget to put on a piece of jewelry you wear daily. . . that is how I have felt without my camera. I rarely go anywhere without my camera. I sold it this weekend and am waiting for my new one to come in the mail. My new Canon Rebel should be here by the end of the week.

Funny how much you miss something when it's gone. Yesterday Isaac and I had, Mommy and Me time all day. We ran some errands, spent a few hours at the trade day market. He picked out new crocks for himself and Ainsley. I know the shoes will still be around when my camera gets here, but I missed my camera, because I couldn't get that very first moment of Ainsley wearing her new hot pink crocks! Today we went out and flew a kite. . . Isaac's first time, and I didn't have my camera.

I have to be completely honest though. It was kind of nice to enjoy these few moments and be in on the action, and not behind the camera. It is a nice break.

Since I don't have any pictures from this weekend, here are last weeks:

Isaac cracks me up on this bike. He has one with pedals, but loves this one. If you notice it doesn't have pedals. It's for when they are too small to do the foot work on their own. I am hoping by Christmas time he is ready for a big boy bike with training wheels, because that's what Santa wants to bring him (if I can hold out that long!)

This isn't the best picture of Ainsley, but another one where you can see her eyes are two different colors.
I would like to end talking about my cute little girl. She is one that definitely keeps me on my toes, and it has been that way since she was walking at eight months old. The girl is into EVERYTHING literally! She is however a little later than Isaac in talking. I think she is making up for lost time now though. In the past two weeks she has been talking NONSTOP. A lot of jibber jabber, but also a lot of words that are understandable. Here's a few of the words she uses the most:

Pacheeze PLEASE
Ba Ba WATER
Brabra BROTHER
Ba BALL
Bu BYE
Me ME
Dis THIS

Birdie Birdie in the Sky

Have I mentioned I heart SPRING?! The nice weather has gotten me back into a crafty mood. These are some canvasses I have done for Ainsley's room. I got the bird idea from Elizabeth. Check out her blog for AMAZING ideas! Anyway, I just can't figure out what these are missing. I don't know if I should antique them to kind of tone them down. . . plus I love antiquing everything. . . or if there is something else that needs to be done. Basically I am really missing Sarah these days. She was my go to gal, whenever I got stuck. My plea for advice doesn't end there. I have a total of four canvases. I haven't decided if I should do flowers on the other two, or if I should stick with just birds. . . OR just do one more with A bird on it. So crafters unite and give me some advice. . . please!!

Since I am begging for some advice tonight, I thought I would throw some ideas out there too.

I am definitely a creature of habit. Especially when it comes to eating. I have noticed lately that we have a schedule of foods we like to eat on a regular basis. . . which isn't a bad thing really, but it was time for a change. Here are two new recipes we tried this week and enjoyed! Well everyone but Isaac!! Just so you know the pictures to come are not my own. I am not the best at taking pictures of food. Something to work on. . .

Sunday night we had Baked Rigatoni.

1/2 lb dry Rigatoni pasta (we used whole wheat)

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 large onion, finely chopped
1 small red bell pepper, finely diced
4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
3/4 lb Italian Hot Sausage
Pinch of salt and fresh ground pepper
3 Cups fresh baby spinach leaves, coarsely chopped
2 14 oz cans diced fire roasted tomatoes with garlic
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
8 fresh basil leaves, stacked, rolled and thinly sliced (chiffonade)
Pinch of salt and fresh ground pepper
1/4 Cup fresh grated Romano Cheese
2 Cups shredded mozzarella Cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cook pasta according to package directions, drain and set aside. Heat oil into a large dutch oven or other large pot. Saute onion and red bell pepper for 5 minutes or until softened, stirring frequently. Stir in garlic, sausage, salt and pepper. Cook and stir until sausage is cooked through.

2. Add spinach leaves and cook until wilted down. Stir in tomatoes, tomato sauce, basil leaves, salt and pepper. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes. Add cooked pasta, stir to combine, then transfer to a 9x13inch baking dish. Sprinkle top with Romano Cheese and mozzarella Cheese. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.


Last night we had Asian Lettuce Wraps. I am a HUGE fan of the dish. I have been somewhat intimidated thinking they wouldn't turn out as good as PF Chang's. But this recipe is a MUST TRY. Super Easy and Super Good!!!


2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 Cup finely chopped onion
1 lb ground turkey breast
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
¼ teaspoon garlic salt
1 12 oz bag of Broccoli Slaw (can be found at Super Target, or Sprouts)
(I didn't have the broccoli slaw so I just sliced up red cabbage, grated some carrots and zucchini and used 1 cup of each vegetable.)
1 small can drained water chestnuts
½ Cup Yoshida’s Teriyaki Sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil

Approximately 15 Butter Lettuce leaves (you can also use iceberg lettuce leaves)

1. Place oil into a large 5 qt skillet or other large pan over medium heat. When hot, add onion and cook for 5 minutes to soften. Add ground turkey, salt, pepper and garlic salt. Brown and crumble until cooked through.

2. When turkey is cooked, stir in broccoli slaw, water chestnuts, teriyaki sauce and sesame oil. Cook for another 10-15 minutes or until heated through. Reduce heat to low until ready to serve. Serve spoonfuls inside lettuce leaves. Enjoy!

Both of these recipes I found here. One of my new favorite places for recipes!!

Spring is in the Air

Who doesn't love spring? I have to say that moving to Texas and actually having seasons is a nice change from the Arizona heat. We spend as much time as we can outdoors and it shows. We are all a little nicer to each other, children are actually asking to go to bed at night, I have a renewed desire for craft projects, and I have gotten a few sunburns. It's true, I can burn in 15 minutes while my children walk away with nothing. They get the non burning part from Mike, and they get their WHITE skin that doesn't tan from me.

Most of you probably don't know this about me but I LOVE SPRING CLEANING. I have always loved getting organized. I love the deep cleaning, throwing stuff out, and then reorganizing everything. Mind you it never stays clean or organized for long, but I enjoy every minute of it while it lasts!!

I find flylady a big help. They walk you through how to organize but not stress about it. There are different "zones" set up and each week you work on a different "zone" until everything is done. It's all about BABY STEPS!! Makes my life so much easier.

Daddy's on a Campout

I always get anxious when I know Mike isn't going to be home at night. . . even if it is just an overnight camp out with the scouts. I planned some fun activities to make Friday night go by a little quicker, for us staying at home.

First on our agenda was making chocolate suckers. Isaac was excited for this project and was ready for Mike to leave, because he knew that's when we would start making candy. Yes, it was a little messy, but cleanable! Not to mention we all enjoyed licking off our fingers at the end!

We spent the rest of the evening enjoying the nice weather. Painting with sidewalk paint, going on a walk, and playing in the garage. I have no idea why, but that's the kids' favorite place to play. Kind of grosses me out because it's always dusty and I just know there is a spider lurking around somewhere. . . Luckily I had little helpers to sweep out the garage. They both took turns pushing around the broom.


Sidewalk painting is almost a daily event at our house. It is just like sidewalk chalk just in paint form. For those worried about getting dirty, it comes off clothes VERY EASILY! I switched to paint because I was sick of Ainsley eating chunks out of the chalk. . . of course today she had to take a taste of the paint as well. Why wouldn't she, seeing as EVERYTHING goes into her mouth!

We had pizza delivered to us and watched us some Disney Channel, got bathed, read stories and went to bed. We all survived Daddy being gone, and even had fun! Maybe I should stop getting myself so worked up about the nights Mike has to be gone. . .