I am a guest poster!

Ashley let me talk about my day! Join me over at The Domestic Wannabe!

Weekend Planning Blog Hop!

Wait, what is this??  My weekend planning post up ON TIME??  Holy cow!!

Here is what is planned for the weekend:
Friday:

• Grade.  Grade grade grade.
• Clean the bathroom
• Clean, vacuum and dust bedrooms
• Laundry
• Make chicken corn chili

Saturday:

• Thirty-One Celebrate and Connect meeting
• Thirty-One party!

Sunday:

• Sister-in-law's baby shower!  Yay for lots of gifts for my niece!

How it Works:
If you haven't already, blog about your weekend plans.  Maybe you have a bunch of projects you are going to tackle.  Maybe you are attending BBQ after BBQ.  Or perhaps you are laying low.  Whatever it is, share it on your blog! Feel free to use the "Weekend Planning" button in your post, the code is on the bottom right hand side of the blog.

Then, come back to this blog and link up your post in the link collection at the bottom of this entry.

If you want to participate in the hopping part of the Blog Hop, simply click on the "get InLinkz code" at the bottom of the post,  copy the code provided and include it in your Weekend Planning post!  The more people that participate, the further your blog will hop! :)

As a little extra incentive, the first 3 people to link up their Weekend Planning posts will be featured in the sidebars of both My Happy House and A Life in Progress!

All we ask in return is that you follow the two host blogs, My Happy House and A Life in Progress. Then be sure to comment and let us know if you are a new follower so we can follow you back.  And of course, be sure to check out the other blog links!  Simple, right?

Let's get to linking and motivating others to having a weekend with purpose!

Logan: 9 Months

...and two weeks.  Does this surprise you?  Probably not, with my posting track-record as of late.  Anyway.  Back to cuteness.

Little man.  Every month, it amazes me how much you learn and grow and come into your own little dude personality.

What have you learned this month?
-19 lbs, 3 oz.  29.5 inches (HOW THE HELL DID THAT HAPPEN??  At 4 months, you were BARELY on the height chart!).  You are in mostly 9-month clothing, but 12-month jammies and wearing size 3 diapers still.
-We moved you from baby food to only solids.  And you are beginning to love pretty much everything.
-You are a crawling maniac.  I came in to get you from your nap one day and you were standing.  Since then, you are everywhere and on everything.  It won't be long before you are walking, I am sure of it.
-You went back to your babysitter's and still love it.  You have a new friend there and her name is Madison.  We refer to her as your best friend.
-You now make a fish-face and love when we pat our hand on your mouth like a little Indian.  Ridiculously cute.
-You now have 4 teeth!  Two on top and the two on the bottom!

Everyone who meets you says you are the happiest baby.  And we are truly blessed.  It is rare that you are in a bad mood or crabby, but even then, you still give us smiles.  You love to giggle and laugh.  WE chase you around the living room (by crawling after you) and you think it is the funniest thing ever.  You love doggies and people and are always the center of attention.

Little man, Daddy and Mommy love you with our whole hearts.  Every day I thank God for bringing you to us and for making our family complete.

It is 10:53 PM...

and I am cleaning out my fridge. 

There is something wrong with me.

We Remember

Ten years ago, I was a college junior preparing to make my way from my parents' house, where I was living after my transfer to a college back home, to campus. I had an education class then would meet my best friend and my boyfriend for lunch. My aunt called as I was getting dressed and told me to turn on the television. The cable in my bedroom caused the channel to be blurry but as I turned it on, she said, "Oh my God, a plane hit the other tower!" I tuned in just in time to see the plane hit the second tower of the World Trade Center.

I made my way to class and the infuriating thing about my class was that our education professor REFUSED to stop and let us discuss what was happening in our world. It was ridiculous. In education, they always taught us about "teachable moments," when we step away from the lesson plan and discuss something important that is happening in our world. Um, pretty sure this was a teachable moment. Classes were canceled and we all returned home or to our dorms. We spent the next week glued to our televisions, watching this attack on America unfold in front of us. We watched as people in New York suffered, and suffered with them. We were shocked at the attack on the Pentagon and could not believe the courage of the passengers of Flight 93.

Today, we remember those who lost their lives on that fateful day in America's history. We remember the firemen, the police officers, and the passengers. And we pray. I pray my son will never have to live through something like this. That he will never have to witness the extreme loss of life. That he will never be frightened the way we Americans were.

We will never forget.

Changes are a-comin'...

to the blog.  So stay tuned!

Weekend Planning Blog Hop

I need to start doing my weekend planning post on Thursday night. I promise to make that effort next week. Friday just creeps up on me before I know it!!!  

WELCOME to my new followers!  I hope you stick around because this week I will be having an awesome giveaway to help with any organizing you need to do in your home! Here is what is on the agenda this weekend:

Friday:
-Thirty-One Party

Saturday:
-Weekly cleaning (dust, vacuum, mop, bathrooms)
-Laundry (including bedding)
-Making dinner
-Grocery store for lunch meat, produce, and milk

Sunday:
-Logan's 9-month pictures with THE Colleen Reed
-Watching the Browns!
-True Blood!!

How it Works:
If you haven't already, blog about your weekend plans.  Maybe you have a bunch of projects you are going to tackle.  Maybe you are attending BBQ after BBQ.  Or perhaps you are laying low.  Whatever it is, share it on your blog! Feel free to use the "Weekend Planning" button in your post, the code is on the bottom right hand side of the blog.

Then, come back to this blog and link up your post in the link collection at the bottom of this entry.

If you want to participate in the hopping part of the Blog Hop, simply click on the "get InLinkz code" at the bottom of the post,  copy the code provided and include it in your Weekend Planning post!  The more people that participate, the further your blog will hop! :)

As a little extra incentive, the first 3 people to link up their Weekend Planning posts will be featured in the sidebars of both My Happy House and A Life in Progress!

All we ask in return is that you follow the two host blogs, My Happy House and A Life in Progress. Then be sure to comment and let us know if you are a new follower so we can follow you back.  And of course, be sure to check out the other blog links!  Simple, right?

Let's get to linking and motivating others to having a weekend with purpose!

Staying Organized: Keeping Schedules Straight

One thing that is so important in our household is to stay organized. And I am the queen of the calendar. Which is ironic because my husband has refused to look at one for the last 5 years. He is JUST NOW giving in. We have my work schedule, karate, hip-hop dance, doctor's appointments, show choir, drama rehearsals...you name it. It all goes on the calendar. And I keep a correction-tape dispenser nearby because, well, shit happens and schedules change.

And yes, it is on the side of our fridge, kept up with a 3M Command hook. You can also see our color coded pens, and the invitations I keep next to the calendar. 

And my planner.  I really wanted an Erin Condren that Jen posted about at IHeart Organizing, but I couldn't justify spending that much money.  So I got one from Target from Mead and it works just fine.  It has a monthly view:

And I can go in weekly to plug in details!!

The most important thing about our calendars?  Color coding.  I am purple, C is orange (Go Browns), Alexys is green, Logan is blue, my Thirty-One stuff is pink and family events are red.  I sometimes put things in pencil until I get to the correct pen.

So, this is what works for us!  How does your family keep their busy schedules organized?  I am always looking for new ideas!  Share with us in the comments!!

Menu Planning Monday

Ah, another week.  As I mentioned in my previous post, this week is nuts, so it is all about planning and preparation!

Monday: Happy Labor Day!  Homemade soup
Tuesday:Breakfast sammies with hashbrowns
Wednesday: Leftover soup
Thursday: Pioneer Woman's Chicken Fried Steak, mashed potatoes, green beans
Friday: Pizza night
Saturday: Chicken cacciatore

What is on your menu this week?  Is the fall weather causing you to make more comfort-foods or are you still keeping it light?  Link up at OrgJunkie!

Planning for the Week

Since I missed out on our usual blog hop (I hope you joined Molly at My Happy House!), I decided to do a little weekly planning today!  We have a busy week...Alexys starts dance on Thursday, I have my first meeting for Drama Club...so today, we get to work! 

Thankfully, C and A helped out SO MUCH on Saturday by cleaning while I was out (for much longer than anticipated).  So...what is on my agenda for today (and this week)?

Monday:
-Menu plan/grocery list/grocery shop
-Laundry bedding and comforters
-Swap out summer curtains for fall/winter curtains and launder summer ones
-Take down summer decor; replace with fall decor
-Make freezer-friendly meals: breakfast burritos; lasagna; bean and beef burritos; chicken enchiladas; baked ziti
-Get homemade soup on and cooking (it feels like fall!)
-Lesson plan for the rest of my Beowulf unit (yikes)
-Mop laundry room
-A has her own little list of chores:
      -Vacuum living and dining room
     -Sweep laundry room
    

Tuesday:
-Drama meeting 3-4
-Clean upstairs bathroom

Wednesday:
-Open House for me: 5:30-7:30
-Karate 7-7:30 for C and A

Thursday:
-Dance (A): 5-6

Friday:
-31 Party (leave here at 6)
-Pizza night for the rest of the family

See?  Crazy week!  I have so much to get done today!!  Fingers crossed that the little man takes good naps for us today!!