Nature Scenes for February 25, 2018

Sunday is meant to be a day of rest and relaxation and one of the ways that I rest is to spend time in nature. I try to spend a least a little bit of time in nature each week. I have decided that I will use Sundays to share the photos of my nature adventures each week just as a way to relax and share the beauty that is God's creation with all. I hope you enjoy!

The last time I posted in this series was on February 4. This month has not been the best at getting outside. I was finally able to get out a few days so thought I would share some of the photos today. This past week even though I have felt like crap and have this head cold that one minute I have energy and the next minute I feel like death warmed over, I still tried to get out and get some fresh air. 

Photos from February 15, 2018 at the Kokosing Gap Trail

Photos from February 18, 2018 at Kokosing Gap Trail

Photos from Ariel-Foundation Park February 20, 2018-- the temperature was almost 70 degrees that day. There is still ice on the lakes (where the water looks calm)

Photos from February 23, 2018 at the Kokosing Gap Trail-- it was rainy and misty and plain wet. 

For more nature scenes you can check out my other nature posts: 

January 7, 2018

January 14, 2018

January 21, 2018

January 28, 2018

February 4, 2018

I hope everyone is having a good Sunday and if you get a chance check out the nature scenes around you! 

Sick

Sorry. No weigh in Wednesday post today as I woke up in the middle of the night with a pounding headache and fever and chills. Hope everyone our there is staying well. Back to bed I go.

Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole (new recipe #7 of 2018)

Happy Tuesday everyone! The good news is that the sun is trying to peek out and it has stopped raining for the moment. The temperatures today here are supposed to hit 72! I will take it! The bad news is I woke up all stuffed up in my sinuses and my head is throbbing. I probably am getting the cold that Rebecca and Jacob have had the last couple of days. Ugh. But I can't dwell on it, I have things to do and so I put my Thieves essential oil on and tylenoled up and now getting ready to start my day.

I thought I would take a few minutes before the madness of the day starts to share a recipe that I made last night for dinner. Monday nights are crazy between speech therapy for Ben and basketball practice for all three and Bill having to go to work and dinner is usually late and needs to be ready by the time we get home. Crockpot meals are good, however the last couple of weeks I have been making pasta bakes that we can just heat up in the microwave when we get home.

Last night, I made a chicken bacon ranch casserole that I saw over the weekend on Facebook. I showed the recipe to Bill and asked if he would eat it. He said that the ranch kind of turned him off, but he was willing to try it. I reminded him that it wasn't ranch dressing for salad but the dry mix. He gave me the go ahead to try it. 

I made it yesterday afternoon and then heated up individual portions once we got home. Rebecca ate before basketball, Jacob and Ben ate right after basketball. Bill ate closer to 8:30 when he stopped home for dinner and I ate around 8:30. 

Oh my word! It was so good! The boys each had 2 servings so I know they loved it. Rebecca asked me when I was going to make it again and Bill said I definitely need to add it to the menu again. So I say it is a definite keeper! 

Anyone else trying new recipes? Care to share?

Other new recipes in 2018 that I have tried: 

Crockpot Minestrone

Applesauce Banana Muffins

Zucchini and Sweet Potato Hash

Pork Fried Rice
Light and Fluffy Pancakes
Insane Peanut Butter Cup Cake

Happy Homemaker Monday (2/19/2018)

Happy Monday! Happy President's Day!  The kids are home from school today. Unfortunately it is dark and raining yet again so we are kind of stuck inside. The weather this past week has been raining, raining,...oh and more rain. We had flood warnings on Friday and I wouldn't be surprised if they are reissued today as it is absolutely pouring outside. I just finished breakfast so figured I would take some time to join in with the Happy Homemaker Monday theme hosted by the lovely Sandra over at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom: 

The Weather::: Rainy! It is pouring down outside right now. Supposed to be 70 and cloudy tomorrow, then more rain on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Ugh.

Right now I am::: sitting at the kitchen table typing this up. Jacob is watching a football game replay on TV. Benjamin is coloring a puzzle and Rebecca is in the living room drawing. Bill is at work.  

Thinking::: I am thinking about what projects that I would like to get done today. I got a ton of housecleaning done yesterday so today it will be more like dusting, clipping kids' fingernails, etc.  

    
On my reading pile:::

On my TV::: I have been watching the Olympics with the kids. We also watched "Cars 3" on Friday night on Netflix. It was the second time we watched it last week!   

My simple pleasure::: Flowers from my hubby

On the menu for this week:::

Monday - Chicken pasta bake (a new recipe)
Tuesday - Italian sausage, macaroni and cheese, green beans
Wednesday - Whole chicken in the crockpot, stuffing, broccoli

Thursday - Sloppy Joes, corn, pineapple
Friday - Fish fillets, baked potatoes, veggie of some kind
Saturday - Pizza and fruit
Sunday - ??? Not sure yet

On my to do list:::

For today: cut kids' fingernails, dust, finish up laundry, Ben to speech, all 3 kids have basketball practice

Tuesday: Kids to school, babysit A,  walk?, Rebecca to AHG 

Wednesday: Kids to school, babysit A, tutor I, trash and recycling out

Thursday: Kids to school, babysit A, Battle of the books meeting with team, tutor N, S and N

Friday: Kids to school, Grocery store and Walmart, walk?

Saturday: basketball games for all 3

Sunday: PSR, church, Battle of the Books scrimmage

Looking around the house:::

It looks pretty good. After being on the go last week, I took yesterday afternoon to get some stuff done that had been overlooked. Bathrooms got cleaned, bedrooms got picked up, upstairs got swept, steps got swept, most laundry got done. Today I just need to dust and do the last load of laundry.   

From the camera:::

We took advantage of it not raining or snowing yesterday to go walk. The river was pretty high. 

On my prayer list:::

My hubby as he continues taking steps to start a new career. For those who don't have shelter during this gross weather.   

Bible verse, Devotional:::

Source

 Here's to a great Monday and good start to everyone's week! 

Gus-Gus and Gronk One Year Later

Last year on Valentine's Day our family adopted 2- 7 month old kittens from a friend. We had no idea what fun they would bring to our lives. 

Gronk is on the top shelf, Gus-Gus is on the lower shelf. 

The kitties have definitely developed their personalities. When we got them Gus Gus was the more timid cat. He liked to hide underneath the couch and did not like to be touched at all. 

Fast forward a year, and Gus Gus is now playfully known as "Psycho" as he runs full force from one side of the house to the other. He will run up and down the stairs jumping off of furniture and just being crazy. He also loves to be petted. He will rub up against mine and Bill's legs begging for pets and if/when we stop he will playfully slap at our legs for more. He also loves to lay on our bed and will cuddle next to me at times if I am sitting in bed reading. 

Gronk, is now playfully called "Fat Cat" as he is the heavier of the 2 cats. His favorite activities include sleeping upstairs (either on our cedar chest or on one of the boy's beds) or on the top shelf that separates our dining room from our living room. He also loves chasing sparkling balls. He also purrs very loudly. Gronk also has recently developed a curious streak. The other day he snuck down into our basement while the door was open (we don't allow the cats down there). Then later he stuck his head out of our back door as I was waving to Bill as he was leaving.  

They definitely add something special to our house. So one year of pet ownership is behind us...here's to many more! 

Weigh In Wednesday #7 of 2018

Source

Happy Wednesday! Happy Valentine's Day! Have a Blessed Ash Wednesday! (This year is strange for Catholics as Valentine's Day and Ash Wednesday are the same day and Easter falls on April Fool's Day!)

I had steak, mashed potatoes and green beans.

Bill had a burger and fries (he asked for a baked potato but they gave him fries).

Bill and I actually had date night at home this past weekend to celebrate...having Ruby Tuesdays for dinner at home! It was super yummy!

Today I did try to make the day special. I left candy out for the kids that they can have when they get home from school. After I showered, I started with getting up early to make heart shaped cinnamon rolls for the kiddos. I also found donuts waiting downstairs from Bill.

When I left to take the kids to school, I also found a card on my driver's side seat of my van from him.

And when I got home from taking them to school, there was flowers and fuzzy socks sitting on the kitchen table for me. Makes my heart happy!

Before we began the Valentine's Day though I did get on the scale. So, let's get see where the weight numbers stand this week....

Official Starting Weight (1/3/18): 241.0

My weight last week: 233.8
My weight this week: 232.6
Weight loss from last week: -1.2 pounds! *Yay*

Total weight loss for 2018: -8.4 pounds! 

Whoo-hooo! I wasn't sure how this week was going to pan out as my schedule has been off. We have been extra busy. My stress level has been through the roof for whatever reason and honestly I haven't been making great food choices. So I am thrilled that the scale went down. I don't know why or how, but it did and I will take it.

I really need to get back in the habit of eating better (more fruits and veggies). I was doing really good for a few weeks, but I have slacked off in the last week or so.

Being that today is Ash Wednesday and the official start of Lent, I, as a Catholic, am called to give something up for Lent (or to add something that will enhance my spiritual life). I have decided that I am going to give up eating anything after dinner for Lent. I have gotten into the bad habit of snacking on m&ms or ice cream after I put the kids to bed. That is going to stop. I will allow family dessert times after dinner because that is an extension to the meal and not an everyday thing that we do (only for special occasions). I know that that will be a challenge, but will also be good for my weight loss goals.   

Source

On the exercise front: I mentioned in my 2018 goals post that I wanted to walk 3 days a week. Since there are 52 weeks in a year, that means my goal is to walk 156 times over the course of the year. 

Well this week was a carbon copy of last week. Nothing to report this week. I have not gotten any dedicated fitness time in and I think that is why my stress level is sky high. I really need to figure this out. 

So that means I am at 6 out of 156 workout walks completed for the year! This number may seem low, but honestly I expect it to be with winter. I am not going to let myself get discouraged.

So that was this week's Weigh In Wednesday-- diet wise, I am happy with the unexpected loss; fitness wise-- I have to figure it out. If you are trying to lose weight or get healthier, how is your journey going so far?