Happy Thanksgiving and Happy birthday too!

Today is a day that as a nation we take time to be thankful for all the blessings in our life. So for that I will say to you dear readers, I hope that you have a very happy Thanksgiving day full of good food and laughter!

Today I have an extra reason to be thankful as today is also my first born's birthday. 7 years ago today, we were blessed on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving to welcome into the world our daughter, Rebecca. She is the light of both her dad's and my eyes. She is a smart, sweet, energetic young lady. She is a wonderful daughter and a great big sister! Here is to her today as well!

So a Happy 7th birthday to my birthday girl! And a very Happy Thanksgiving to you dear readers!

Chocolate Lasagna

Over the weekend, Bill woke up with a sore throat. Well when my hubby gets a sore throat, he wants COLD things and chocolate.

Well I was browsing around facebook, and a friend of mine posted a recipe that she had found for Chocolate lasagna. 

I thought...I am going to make that for Bill. So after running to the store for a few ingredients (and the milk that I needed to go to the store to get anyways) Rebecca and I got to work making the Chocolate Lasagna for our after dinner dessert. 

It turned out fabulous! It was SOOOOO YUMMY!!!!!!! And it made a ton, but was light at the same time. It was that good! 

CHOCOLATE LASAGNA

INGREDIENTS


1 package regular Oreo cookies (Not Double Stuff) – about 36 cookies (I used the generic Kroger brand)
6 Tablespoon butter, melted (I used Country Crock margarine)
1- 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 Tablespoons cold milk
1- 12 ounce tub Cool Whip, divided
2 – 3.9 ounce packages Chocolate Instant Pudding.
3 1/4 cups cold milk
1 and 1/2 cups mini chocolate chips (we only had regular milk chocolate chips so I used those)

DIRECTIONS

1. Begin by crushing the cookies. Place them in a large ziplock bag and crush them with a rolling pin. When the Oreos have turned into crumbs, you are done.
2. Transfer the Oreo crumbs to a large bowl. Stir in 6 tablespoons melted butter. When the butter is all incorporated,  transfer the mixture to a 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Press the crumbs into the bottom of the pan. Place the pan in the refrigerator while you work on the additional layers.
3. Mix the softened cream cheese with a mixer until light and fluffy. Add in 2 Tablespoons of milk, and sugar, and mix well. Stir in 1 and 1/4 cups Cool Whip. Spread this mixture over the crust.
4. In a bowl, combine chocolate instant pudding with 3 and 1/4 cups cold milk. Whisk for several minutes until the pudding starts to thicken. Use a spatula to spread the mixture over the previous cream cheese layer. Allow the dessert to rest for about 5 minutes so that the pudding can firm up further.
5. Spread the remaining Cool Whip over the top. Sprinkle chocolate chips evenly over the top. Place in the freezer for 1 hour, or the refrigerator for 4 hours before serving.

This took a little bit of time to put together, but was SO worth it! This dessert would be perfect to take to a party and is so yummy! AND I think it tastes even better the next day! 

Hope you enjoy :) 

Do you have a favorite chocolate recipe? 

Gratitude Sunday #4

Over on facebook, many of my family and friends and people that I have been following are taking this month to share things that they are grateful for heading up to Thanksgiving.

I have decided to follow along but in my own way....here on my blog...

Life is so precious and I have been feeling overwhelmed with everything that is going on that often I am not taking the time to be grateful for what I do have and the good things in life.

Now is the time to change that.

I hope to come back here every Sunday and tell things that I am thankful for....one for each day of that week.
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This week was an okay week.... the boys have been sick with head colds, but other than that things were okay. So onto what I am grateful for this week...

FOR NO TORNADOES--- On Sunday we had some pretty nasty storms come through. These were the same storms that brought many tornadoes to Illinois and Indians. Thankfully, even though we did have a tornado warning, we did not have any tornadoes and even the rain that we had wasn't as bad as it could have been.

FOR LISTS--- I have to make lists when I go to the store, or when I want to get certain things done or they do not get done. 

FOR THE HEALTH OF MY PARENTS--- One of my coworkers mother-in-law has been put on a ventilator and she has had a really rough week with many ups and downs with her health. I am grateful that my parents are currently in good health and that my Mom's bladder cancer is currently in remission.

FOR THE KIDS AT WORK--- I work in an after school care program where our kids range in age from 3- 13. All of the kids are funny and lovable in their own unique way and they entertain me daily.

FOR NEW RECIPES--- I tried 2 new recipes this week...mini pumpkin muffins and Chocolate lasagna...and both turned out FABULOUS!!! ( I hope to share the recipes next week)

FOR MY HUSBAND MAKING DINNER THIS WEEK--- most nights this past week, Hubby has made dinner so that it is ready and hot when Rebecca and I get home. That really helps me not feel rushed and overworked when I get home. 

FOR CLEAN LAUNDRY---I am grateful that I have been able to keep up with clean laundry, so that my daughter can wear her favorite shirt!

So there you have it. Another week of finding things to be grateful. Even the smallest of things can make a big difference. 

What are you grateful for today? 

The annual sickness....

This is the week before Thanksgiving, the week of Rebecca's birthday....which in this household means that someone (usually one of the adults) is bound to get sick. Happens EVERY year....

For the last few days that boys have been sick with head colds (runny noses, coughing from the draining...) so I figured it would be me that would get sick....

WRONG.

Hubby woke up this morning sick with a sore throat and achiness.

Just great.

HOW ARE THINGS WHERE YOU ARE? IS EVERYONE HEALTHY??

Gratitude Sunday #3

Over on facebook, many of my family and friends and people that I have been following are taking this month to share things that they are grateful for heading up to Thanksgiving.

I have decided to follow along but in my own way....here on my blog...

Life is so precious and I have been feeling overwhelmed with everything that is going on that often I am not taking the time to be grateful for what I do have and the good things in life.

Now is the time to change that.

I hope to come back here every Sunday and tell things that I am thankful for....one for each day of that week.
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This week was a rough week. I was in a pretty depressed state during most of the week. No real reason why.....I feel a little better today and am bound and determined to work my way out of this.
One way I can do that is to be grateful for my blessings. So this past week I have been grateful for:

For family time-- On Sunday we went to church, went to walmart to pick up a couple of things and then got the kids McDonald's for lunch. It was simple family time.

For Veterans--- there are many men and women that I know that have fought for our freedom and to keep our freedom. I know that I would never be brave enough to do that...I am thankful for all those who were brave enough.

For Snow--- yes I am thankful for the white stuff. It is very pretty to look at and looks clean and fresh which makes me feel good.

For healthy staff members at work--- this past week we have had a few days of being severely understaffed as a few members were out sick. Thankfully on Wednesday I had a full staff!

For boys who love to shop with mommy---took the boys to the store and Jacob loves to shop with me, and Benjamin is usually pretty good, even when he throws things out of the cart. :)

For my sister. She babysat for me while I had to be at work early, and Bill had to go cover something for work. She is awesome!

For warmer weather--- We were able to take the kids to the park on Saturday and play at the playground as the weather was cloudy but with temps close to 55 degrees. The kids had fun running around and playing!

So there you have it...Even when I am dealing with depression issues, I still need to be thankful!

What are you thankful for today?

Snow and Cake

The snowy view outside my kitchen window....

This morning we woke up to a little over an inch of snow on the ground. There was no school delays or closings, even though Bill said the roads were icy. We started getting rain last night that changed over to snow overnight. It is also really cold outside. I guess "Old Man Winter" has decided to make an early appearance this year. I feel like this winter is going to be wet and cold! Today it was very cold, although the sun did try to peek through a little bit. Made the snow glisten and was pretty....

My first ever homemade from scratch cake!

Yumminess!

This weather makes me want to bake. So I decided to try to make a cake from scratch....something I have never done before. I decided to make this cake for dear hubby as I was not very nice to him on the phone this morning when he called. I was short tempered with him and I really should not have been. So that also means dinner will be made just for him....hamburger helper. I will eat the stuff but I don't really care for it. I even made the frosting from scratch. And after dinner, the verdict on the cake was....it was very yummy! I think I will definitely have to make it again, as the recipe was so simple to follow. Definitely a keeper!

Did you get snow where you live? Do you make desserts from scratch or from a box?

Happy Homemaker Monday

It is Monday again, which means that it’s "Happy Homemaker Monday," a project which is hosted by Sandra over at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. Each week, she hosts "Happy Homemaker Monday" as a way to highlight what is going on in her world. This week I have decided to join in... So here is a little glimpse into my world on this Monday!

As I look outside my window:::
The leaves are covering the street and the yard. It is around 40 degrees outside, nice and chilly. Tonight we are supposed to get our first snow of the season. We shall see if we actually get anything. Personally I think it has been too warm for anything to stick.

Right now I am:::
Typing up this post, sitting her in my jeans that I fixed the zipper on (YAY me!), my black, white and grey top and black flats.

Thinking and pondering:::
About what I need to do before work. I am working on the LAST load of laundry right now. Just folded a load of sheets. Wondering if I should come up with a decluttering and cleaning schedule before Thanksgiving????

On my bedside table:::
Every Day a Friday  by Joel Osteen
The Love Dare

On my tv tonight:::
Probably Monday Night Football???

Playing on the radio:::
On this Veteran's Day this song is playing in my head....


On the menu for this week:::
?????? I have NO CLUE what to cook this week!!!

Monday -
Tuesday -
Wednesday -
Thursday -
Friday -
Saturday -
Sunday -

On my to do list:::
Gather up all the recycling to take out
Pay Bills
Fill out HEAP application and get hubby to sign it
Figure out cleaning schedule


What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating:::
I am going to try out a new chocolate cake recipe this week.

My simple pleasure:::
Being with my family. Weekly date night with hubby after the kids go to bed.

Lesson learned the past week:::
That being sick is no fun.
That I have a wonderful husband.

Looking around the house:::
The house is relatively clean after being cleaned this weekend. There are a couple of cheerios on the floor from the boys' breakfast.

From the camera:::
Don't have anything today....but I did find this on facebook and thought I would share:

On my prayer list:::
For all of our country's veterans and their families.
Friends and family.
Karin, as she is fighting cancer.
All those fighting against anxiety and depression.

Bible verse, Devotional:::
“No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends." -John 15:13

Thanks to Sandra for hosting! Hope everyone has a great Monday and a great week!

Gratitude Sunday #2

Over on facebook, many of my family and friends and people that I have been following are taking this month to share things that they are grateful for heading up to Thanksgiving.

I have decided to follow along but in my own way....here on my blog...

Life is so precious and I have been feeling overwhelmed with everything that is going on that often I am not taking the time to be grateful for what I do have and the good things in life.

Now is the time to change that.

I hope to come back here every Sunday and tell things that I am thankful for....one for each day of that week.
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This has been a rough week for me. I haven't been feeling very well--been run down and fighting some sort of odd cold most of the week. But that doesn't mean that I am not grateful this week. For this week I am grateful for:

My mother-in-law--- she is a great grandmother to my kids. She adores them and I know that she doesn't like that we don't live closer, however I think in her own way she does understand. She turned 80 on Monday and I know that my children are blessed to still have her to be a part of their lives.

Elections---I am grateful to live in a country where the citizens can use their voice and their vote to make a difference. In our community, we only had to vote on a school district levy renewal and on some council seats. Even though it wasn't a large election, I am grateful that the school district levy passed. Rebecca attends a private school, but the plan is for her to go to the city high school so I support the local school district as much as I can now to ensure a good future school for her.

My work--- I work part time and my work schedule usually allows me to be home with the kids while Bill is at work and such so that I don't have to pay childcare. It is rewarding work with the kids, even with office politics going on. It was a crazy week at school with lots of schedule craziness but I am blessed and grateful to have a job.

Babysitters when I need them--- On Thursday, Bill had to go to a meeting in Columbus and would not be back for when I needed to go to work. My sister thankfully was able to come over and watch the boys for a while while I needed to be at work until Bill came home. Then that night, a good friend watched the kids for about an hour so Bill and I could go to Rebecca's parent-teacher conference.

A day off work---As much as I like my job, I enjoy having a day off now and then when I can be with my 3 kids at home and include Rebecca in some of my things that I needed to do....I was able to take her to the grocery store with me and even with 3 kids in tow, I managed to save 50% on my grocery bill! I haven't had a shop like that in at least 3-4 years.

My hubby--- I know I said I was grateful for him last week as well. But he has really stepped it up this week. On Saturday I really did not feel good and he folded 5 loads of laundry for me and allowed me to nap while he played with the 3 kiddos and fixed them lunch. He didn't say one word, except that he hated not seeing me feel well. I am so blessed that he stepped it up in the midst of football playoffs and basketball previews coming due.

So there you have it! It was a rough week for me physically, but there have been many things to be grateful for!

What are you grateful for today?

Didn't run in the 5K

A few months ago, I spent $20 and signed up for a 5K to pay off a bet that I had made with my dear hubby.

I went full speed ahead into training and doing a "Couch to 5K" program....

Then I realized, that I HATE running with a passion. I also realized that it was really hard to fit it running time in our household schedule especially in the fall.

Never fear...my plan was then to walk the 5K instead.

Then Jacob got sick with pneumonia....then a few days later, I started getting sick. Not sick enough to miss work, but sick enough to feel run down and just wierd in my chest. And that has continued to today...

After thinking about it, I decided to NOT participate in today's 5K and instead chalk it up to a charitable donation. All proceeds from this race go to our county's Food for the Hungry cause.

Never fear, I told Bill that I would participate in one by April or May of next year to pay off the bet....

An Untamed Heart (book review)

 

Untamed Heart, An

From the back cover:

Twenty-year-old Ingeborg Strand is certain she is destined to be an old maid. It's not that she's lacked suitors, but now she no longer can have the one she loved.

With the future looking bleak, her mother suggests that she leave Norway and start afresh in America, as so many other have done before her. But how will she accomplish that with little money and no one to accompany her?

Roald Bjorklund is a widower who has been planning to go to America, lured by the promise of free land. He's a good man, a hard-working man--with a young son who desperately needs a mother. Ingeborg can tell Roald is interested in her, but what about love? This isn't how she's always imagined it.

Ingeborg Strand has a heartrending decision to make....

My thoughts:

This book was a gentle surprise. While the back cover was a little misleading, I found the story to be engaging and good. In An Untamed Heart by Lauraine Snelling, I found that Ingeborg is a strong willed woman whose relationship with Nil's fascinated me, even though I really did not understand the family dynamics. I did not feel that the relationship of Nil's and his family was well developed and while this was a small distraction from the story, it did not take anything away from the story of Ingeborg, which is the main focus. I felt that the story was well written and kept me interested. There were times when I felt that I was at seter with the family.

In doing research, I found that apparently this is a prequel to a series by the author. Now that I have read this, I look forward to finding and reading the Red River of the North series.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.

What Your Dreams Are Telling You (book review)

What Your Dreams Are Telling You: Unlocking Solutions While You Sleep

From the back cover:

Why Waste One-Third of Your Life Only Sleeping?

Have you ever wanted to receive wise advice about a business proposal, a relationship or a direction in life? Tonight you will have several dreams. Did you know they could contain the very advice you need?

It's true.

Join dream interpreter Cindy McGill as she shows you that sleep is so much more than just a time to rest your body. If you pay attention, you can uncover a secret weapon for success--and the keys to unlocking your full potential.

Not only is it possible to remember your dreams, but when properly interpreted, they bring guidance, hope and strength to achieve what may seem impossible. Here Cindy gives you the tools for discovering and decoding these hidden messages, including:

•  how to get the most out of your dreams
• historical and present-day examples of life-changing dreams
• common dream themes and what they mean
• 3 steps to discover the genuine message from your dreams
• a quick-reference guide to common dream symbols 
• how to reawaken your dream life

Solutions to your problems can come on any given night. It's time to listen to what your dreams are telling you.

My Thoughts:

 

One of the things that my husband and I like to talk about is about our dreams and how to interpret them. So I was excited to get the opportunity to read and review What Your Dreams Are Telling You: Unlocking Solutions While You Sleep  by Cindy McGill. I loved that this book takes your dreams and show you how your dreams are meant to help you live your life to the fullest. What Your Dreams Are Telling You teaches us how to interpret our own dreams and how to put together the pieces of our dreams in a way that make sense to our life. McGill offers examples from other people's dreams and  biblical references to dreams to show how we are use our dreams for the good of our own lives. I love that McGill includes the dream symbol appendix in the back of the book to give me a quick help to interpret my own dreams. This was/is a great help when I am trying to figure out the meaning behind my dreams. Overall I found this book to be very inspirational and I will be using it as a reference and resource to figuring out the meaning behind my dreams.

 

Disclaimer:  I was provided a free copy of this book from Chosen Books and the Baker Publishing Group in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.

Feeling awkward around Hubby's family (celebrating my MIL's 80th bday)

This weekend we went to Columbus to my sister-in-laws house to celebrate my Mother-in-law's 80th birthday. It was a nice evening, even though both hubby and I were on edge.

My sister-in-law and brother-in-law are in a different social class than us. They make a LOT more money than we do and the live in a rich, upper class area, and we actually have very little in common. It is usually awkward when we go over there in conversation, etc. I don't want to sound petty, but they just live a very different lifestyle than Bill and I do.

Sunday night was no different. While it was nice to see them, it was awkward and I didn't realize until we were on our way home how tense I was the whole time.

My sister-in-law cooked a very elegant dinner....beef tenderloin, with a special sauce to go on top, sauteed green beans and asparagus (fresh from their CSA), bread, salad, and homemade cheesy potatoes. She did make chicken tenders for my kids and had apples and grapes for them as well, as she said she knew they probably wouldn't eat the beef or veggies. She did try. (As we were driving home, I felt guilty because the last time we had our in-laws over, they brought McDonald's for everyone....a far cry from beef tenderloin!)

We went over because it isn't every day that someone turns 80. And, I believe my mother-in-law had a good time. She was very happy that we brought the kids out to visit and she enjoyed her gifts.

I had the kids paint pictures for her that I framed. And we let Benjamin go to town with markers for the first time, so we gave her that as well.

 

All in all it was a good evening, even if I felt out of place. I don't know that I will ever feel like we fit in with Bill's family. We have chosen a completely different lifestyle for our family. It just makes family get togethers awkward. But we do what is important. And it was important to acknowledge and show my mother-in-law that her 80th birthday was important to us.

Why Diets Don't Work (Book Review)

Why Diets Don't Work: Food Is Not The Problem

From the Back cover:
It all started in the garden. “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate…” (Genesis 3:6). It looked good and she ate! Satan always baits deception with a little bit of truth. He always tells you the short term pleasure, not the long term effect.

We do the same today, if it looks good we eat it, without any thought to the consequences in our body. Eating for pleasure, not nutrition.

We know from the news that there is an obesity epidemic and the diet industry is a multi-million dollar business, but we are still obese!

How do we stop this? When we see the truth from God’s Word. Food is not the problem. Like Eve we have been given a free will to make choices for ourselves.

You will find truths in this book that will set you free from Satan's bondage and bring health to your spirit, soul and body - your whole person!

My thoughts:

I will admit that I have a problem with being overweight. I have my whole life. I read diet and nutrition books hoping to find some help or some advice that will allow me to become a healthier person. In Why Diets Don't Work: Food Is Not the Problem by Joyce Tilney, I did not find advice that I could use in my own life. However, it did give me biblical insight into why I eat the way I do and how to help overcome those habits with biblical help.

Reading this book, it almost felt like Ms. Tilney was lecturing her readers using the scriptures as her basis and basically saying if we are Christians we should get how to eat in order to honor the Scriptures. I admit I had a hard time reading some of the book as it was very preachy and I felt my defenses rising as I was reading.

I also take offense at her touting of fasting as a great thing. Talking to my doctors I know that fasting may be a short term solution but it is to be used as a very short term and not for a long term plan. I did not appreciate how Ms. Tilney says she has not studied nutrition but is saying that fasting is a great way to follow the scriptural balance with food.

The only good thing I got out of this book was Scriptural references. Other than that, it was not worth reading if you are looking for help in losing weight.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookcrash.com in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Happy Homemaker Monday

It is Monday again, which means that it’s "Happy Homemaker Monday," a project which is hosted by Sandra over at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. Each week, she hosts "Happy Homemaker Monday" as a way to highlight what is going on in her world. This week I have decided to join in... So here is a little glimpse into my world on this Monday!

As I look outside my window:::
The leaves are covering the street and the yard. They are so pretty. It is chilly outside and the sun just went behind clouds.

Right now I am:::
Typing up this post, sitting her in jeans, a long pink sweater and my black boots.

Thinking and pondering:::
About my head hurting, the kids being sick. Wondering what I need to get done today.... 

On my bedside table:::
Every Day a Friday  by Joel Osteen

On my tv tonight:::
Probably Monday Night Football

On the menu for this week:::
Monday - homemade lasagna
Tuesday - hot dogs and veggies
Wednesday - ?????
Thursday - macaroni and cheese and fish sticks
Friday - pizza
Saturday - ?????
Sunday - ??????

On my to do list:::
Laundry
Fix Rebecca's coat she broke this morning
Put plastic on downstairs windows

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating:::
I am going to try my hand at replacing a zipper on a pair of jeans that I love but the zipper busted.

My simple pleasure:::
Being with my family. Weekly date night with hubby after the kids go to bed.

Lesson learned the past week:::
That I need to work on being grateful for everything in life. That I need to work on my attitude.

Looking around the house:::
The boys are playing in the living room, watching cartoons. I have had to move things off the bottom shelf on the divider between the dining room and the living room, as Benjamin has learned he can pull all of the things off of that. Coats need to be hung up from our trip to Walmart this morning.

From the camera:::
The kids painted and used marker to make my mother in law masterpieces for her 80th birthday!

On my prayer list:::
Friends and family.
Karin, as she is fighting cancer.
All those fighting against anxiety and depression.

Bible verse, Devotional:::
“Be not solicitous therefore, saying: What shall we eat: or what shall we drink, or wherewith shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the heathens seek. For your Father knoweth that you have need of all these things. Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you.”
----Matthew 6.31-33

Thanks to Sandra for hosting! Hope everyone has a great Monday and a great week!

Gratitude Sunday

Over on facebook, many of my family and friends and people that I have been following are taking this month to share things that they are grateful for heading up to Thanksgiving.

I have decided to follow along but in my own way....here on my blog...

Life is so precious and I have been feeling overwhelmed with everything that is going on that often I am not taking the time to be grateful for what I do have and the good things in life.

Now is the time to change that.

I hope to come back here every Sunday and tell things that I am thankful for....one for each day of that week.

For today, I am going to do three things (to take care of Nov 1, 2, and 3rd) that I am grateful for....

FIRST: I am grateful for my husband. Yes he drives me insane at times, but he works hard for our family, he loves me unconditionally, and he adores our children. He says what he means. He is not fake. He is trying to better himself for our family and that is so important to me.

SECOND: I am grateful for my children. Each one has a unique personality and lovable things about them. They may be high maintenance at times, but they provide me with such enjoyment and a sense of love when I look at each one of them.

THIRD: I am grateful for our church community. We have been going to church as a family and Bill is in the process of joining the Catholic Church. The community that we live in cares so much for our family, as witnessed this past week when Jacob was at the hospital with pneumonia...we got so many messages on facebook and when I went back to work everyone kept asking about how he was. That is so awesome. I have been apart of other church communities that do not have that same sense of community. I am grateful that we have found one that is.

It is important to have and show gratitude in your life. This is a small way I can show mine.

What are you grateful or thankful for today?

How We Love Our Kids: The 5 Love Styles of Parenting (book review)

How We Love Our Kids: The Five Love Styles of Parenting

About the book:

One Small Change in How You Love
One Big Change in your Kids

Having problems with your kids? What if you are the problem and you just can’t see it? How We Love Our Kids offers a unique approach, to help you as a parent transform your kids by making specific changes in how you love. It’s the only book specifically for parents that reveals the unseen forces that shape every interaction with your kids.


• Identify which of the five love styles you have.
• Discover the surprising dynamics that shape your parenting.
• Get rid of your “buttons” so your kids can’t push them.
• Create a close connection with your kids that will last a lifetime.
• Learn the seven gifts every child needs.
Based on years of research in the area of attachment and bonding, How We Love Our Kids shows parents how to overcome the predictable challenges that arise out of the five love styles and helps parents cultivate a secure, deep connection with a child of any age. Retool your reactions and refocus on how you love. Start today. Watch your kids flourish and thrive as they receive what was missing in your love.

With four self-assessments and powerful application tools to use with children of all ages.

My thoughts:

I was excited to read How We Love Our Kids: The 5 Love Styles of Parenting by Milan and Kay Yerkovich. I have read other books about love languages and similar premises and have learned so much from them. I expected to learn so much from this book and I did.

The Yerkoviches offer insight into the different styles of parenting, as well as the different styles of children and how these work together or against one another in this realm we call parenting. They do not condemn how parents grew up, however they offer solutions and insight into how you can change and become the best parent you can be even if your own parents were not stellar. We can take our own experiences, learn from them and create and maintain healthier and better relationships with our own children. I felt that this was the first book that I have read that offers this perspective and as such should be a read for all parents. However, if you are looking for a quick fix on how to best relate to your child and not change yourself then this book is not for you.

Disclaimer:
I received this book free from WaterBrook Publishing as part of their "Blogging for Books" program. All opinions expressed are my own.

http://www.BloggingForBooks.org

Halloween was different this year....

During a normal year, on Halloween, we take the kids who are not in school to our daughter's school to watch the school's Halloween parade after lunch. Then after work, Bill meets me at school with the boys dressed up and we all go trick or treating as a family. Then we go get Wendy's for dinner and come home and eat dinner and discuss favorite costumes, etc. Then we watch "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown." Then the kids go to bed. That is the norm.

Well, with Jacob having pneumonia, and with the weather supposed to be pouring down rain and high winds, I knew that this Halloween would definitely be different.

Bill and I kind of split the duties...

He went to Rebecca's school parade and took some pictures of her, while I stayed home with the boys. For the first time in 3 years, they were able to have the parade outside. As soon as the kids went back inside for their Halloween parties, it started to rain.

During the afternoon, many communities in our area started postponing trick or treating for this weekend since the weather was getting nastier by the minute. But not our community.  We talked about going on Sunday instead to the community where my parents live as they rescheduled theirs for Sunday, but I really didn't want to do that. When I left to go to work, I still wasn't sure what I wanted to do.

Well, when I got off of work, I decided that it wasn't raining that hard so I would take Rebecca trick or treating for a little bit. We went to about half the number of houses that we normally go to...but that was okay. I gave Rebecca the choice and that is what she wanted to do. She was having fun, but she also knew that it was rainy and cold.

After we left trick or treating, I did go get everyone Wendy's for dinner...and the kids got a toy where you stuff this spring toy in a jar and when you push the button it pops out and across the room. Benjamin laughed so hard at it that he was almost crying. It was hilarious.

After dinner, we did watch "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown." and all 3 kids liked it. Bill did not get to watch all of it, as he had to fix our toilet, after Jacob flushed his underwear down the toilet then came screaming out of the bathroom. He has never done anything like that before, and I don't think he will do it again. Thankfully, Bill was able to snake it out.

Late last night I was awoken by heavy rain and wind (around 1am or so) and Bill was up watching the radar as there was a tornado warning just south of us. Thankfully we just got some rain and wind...and the kids slept through it all!

So that was our very different Halloween for 2013. It was definitely different from the norm.

Did you have a good Halloween?