I've moved my blog.

Not sure what I am going to do with this blog,
but my day to day posting
(when I post, anyhoos),
is here:

http://bkyoungfamily.wordpress.com/

~Christmas Baking~

Right after Thanksgiving, we decided that rather than do a bunch of last minute baking and saving it all for Christmas week, we would bake throughout the month and enjoy the treats as we go.  

Alli has pretty much become The Baker of the Family--a title previously held by Nikki.  However, Nikki has become busier w/ work and classes and just doesn't have the time that she used to.  And, Miss Alli, really enjoys baking, is always looking for something to bake...and is pretty good at it too!

One of the treats she's already made for us to enjoy was our Favorite Gingerbread Cookie recipe.  We've made this recipe for the past several years.  We've shared it w/ several people and everyone always tells us it's the best gingerbread cookie recipe ever.  It makes such a soft, delicious cookie.  Yum.~

Gingerbread Snowflake Cookie Recipe

 

Family Supper~

With hubby on this new shift, his

hours change back and forth frequently.

One thing has become pretty evident though.

All of us sitting down to eat at the same time

is only going to happen about once a week (Sunday).

When Bob worked the afternoon/evening 

shift years ago, we always had our big 

meal at lunchtime.  Supper was kept

pretty simple and more along

what lunch typically is. It worked out

really well, since I was home w/ a 

houseful of little ones.

I've been thinking doing meals 

like that again may be a good idea.

We have so many different schedules.

We have kids getting home from work

or school late in the evening.

Hubby is needing to leave anywhere

from noon - 3:30pm.

Cooking, preparing and cleaning up the

main meal early in the day.

And a lighter meal of leftovers or

whatever in the evening.

Yesterday was day 1.

And I thought it worked out really well.

For lunch we made a big pot of  a family favorite.

Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta.

It's great because

everyone here really likes it

and 

it reheats really well.

Now, I just have to figure out what 

I'm going to come up w/ for today.

Ugh~

Didn't get much done Tuesday. At All.

I spent quite a bit of time trying to get
 some pics uploaded to Photobucket too.
Our computer is very slow, old and outdated too.
Guess I shouldn't complain....but, it did get frustrating!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Other than that, nothing much to chat about...
I'm trying to make an effort to blog more...
trying to make it a regular habit.
We really like to look back over the years and
read about all the things we've done....
and the past couple of years just don't compare to when
I first began blogging.  So many big gaps between posts.....
and that makes me kinda sad....
so I'm trying to get back to the days when I posted
about our daily goings-on......
keep better track of what's going on in our day to day stuff....
alot of it's boring, I know...
but still jogs some memories
for us when we go back over and re-read it later.....
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Here's a funny for ya......I found these pics on Nikki's camera....
they are from awhile ago, but still worth sharing...
I had asked the younger 3 girls to clean their room,
as I often do(the 3 of them share a room)....
Abby decided to take pics for me...
she wanted to show me their personal shelves
 they each have in the bookcase they share...
I think it's funny that of course,
I got an "after" pic only of her shelf....
and "before" pics of the other girls shelves..
note the popcorn on Alli's shelf
from their evening snack the night before.....too funny!!!


 

Diving Back In.....Again~

Hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving.
Ours was nice.
We spent it at my parent's house.
We had awesome temps.
Warm and Sunny.
The cousins were able to spend alot of time
outside.
I think they played kickball.
~*~*~*~*~*
Over the long weekend,
we got all our Christmas decorations up.
Inside and Out.
All done.
We even went for our first ride of the season
to look at Christmas lights on
all the houses in the neighborhood.
We found lots of pretty ones.
I was surprised at how many houses were
already decorated.
We've had our first snow of the season too.
Not much and it's gone now,
but it still thrilled the girls to
wake up to the other day.
~*~*~*~*~*
Miss Alli is quite the Christmas elf.
She loves Christmas.
She's been giddy for awhile now.
Been listening to Christmas music
since Halloween at least.
So, she's loving that it's finally this time of year.
It's funny to watch her.
Most of the time anyway.
Sometimes she is a bit wound up
and I wonder how she is going to make it to Christmas
w/ all that excitement.  And of course,
Miss Abby feeds off her, and also gets excited.
For them, it's not even about the presents,
they just love this time of year.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
And, after the long weekend,
we survived the Monday back to it all.
At least most of us did.
Poor Nikki woke up with hives/rash all over her face
and neck yesterday morning.
Had to take Benedryl and it 'bout knocked her out.
She had a long day too, at school and work...
so it seemed even longer, since
she had to struggle to stay awake.
Not sure why she keeps breaking out,
if it's a cold/virus related thing or what.
But, I do know, she's about done w/ it all.
~*~*~*~*~*~
The girls and I had a nice day.
After getting our stuff done,
we played games.
I played Clue, Trouble, Sorry and
Old Maid w/ Abby.
Alli and I played a game of Battleship
and Scrabble.
Later in the evening,
Rosie and I played a game of Disney Monopoly.
I don't play Monopoly very often,
but it was fun.
Rosie and Abby also made some
snickerdoodle cookies.
Snickerdoodles are probably my
most favorite cookies.
 After supper,
which was a fend for yourself night,
the younger 3 girls and I did devotions.
Then Miss Abby and I snuggled down to read some
Christmas storybooks.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
 I have to say that I really kinda like this time of year--
when it gets dark earlier and things seem to
settle down earlier.
Right now we've been spending some of our evenings watching
some of the many Christmas movies on the Hallmark
Channel.
~*~*~*~*~*
The days seem to have a different way about them too.
Along w/ the day to day stuff,
we're playing more games
and
the girls are definitely doing more baking.
Used to be only Nat or Nik did most of the baking.
Now, the younger girls have been asking to get
in the kitchen and bake us some yummy goodies.
Alli would bake something everyday, if she could.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
 I'm sure part of the difference in our days,
is Bob's new job.
Turns out, he lost the other new job.
The place he was working completely
closed its door.
Thankfully, he was blessed to find another job
after only a week.
But it's quite a drive.
Over an hour each way.
And it's afternoon/night shift.
So he's gone much of the time.
We aren't complaining at all.
We feel very, very, very blessed that he is working
and making decent money.
But, it does change up the routine/schedule of the house.
So far, it's working out fine.
We just had to settle into the groove of it.
It's been something for the younger girls to get used to,
having Dad gone alot more and at such different times.
Bob used to work 2nd/3rd shift for many years so the rest
of us have been this road before....we remember those days.
But, not the younger girls.  It's been a bit of an
adjustment. Changes the way we do some things.
But, again, just thankful that he's working
and that, so far, it seems to be a really good job.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The Weekend~

Saturday we did some baking. I've pinned so many recipes on Pinterest. I'll never make them all. But, I've decided that we need to get busy and try some. And I've pinned so many cooler weather type recipes that I have such a hard time choosing which ones to try.

So, this weekend, we tried the Snickerdoodle bread recipe, only we made ours into muffins. It was a hit! A keeper, as we like to say. I'll be typing this one up and printing it out to put in our recipe binder. We also made our favorite Pumpkin Chip Cookies....we've had this recipe for some years now, so it's not a new one for us. I have seen it on Pinterest though. Saturday night, we all crammed into the living room, w/ the exception of Jake, who couldn't stay awake and watched a Tim Hawkins dvd......laughed ourselves silly, then called it a night.

Sunday, I woke up with a rotten headache. No church for me. Hubby stayed home with me. Let me say how awesome it was to know that even though I wasn't feeling well, all the kiddos got up and went to church. I have to say that my heart was so happy, knowing that even though we didn't make it to church, the kiddos all did. Hubby had a nice breakfast of pumpkin pancakes, chocolate chip pancakes, sausage and eggs waiting for them when they got back. He also made a delicious roast beef supper, w/ potatoes and carrots, and gravy.....so good! He also threw together another favorite recipe of ours...a warm fruit salad that goes simmers away in the crockpot all day....really nice on these cooler days.......

It was just a nice relaxing family day. Natalie and Nikki took Alli and Abby for a nice long walk. Bob and Abby went on a bike ride. Abby shadowed Bob most everywhere he went. He worked on his tree stand in the backyard for a bit. She was right out there "helping", asking all her questions (never had a kiddo who has so many questions to ask...about everything!!) He and Abby played a couple games of Sorry. We got everyone settled down and watched a couple episodes of old tv. We are currently working our way through, Leave it to Beaver, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Munsters, Lassie, and Dennis the Menace. I've also watched a couple episodes of The Andy Griffith Show. We no longer have satellite, so we've been relying on Netflix and Hulu for our shows.....we also have Amazon Prime and Christian Cinema dvd service, so we have plenty to watch...the only thing we are missing is the sports...but, we just can't afford the extras. The cost of everything is going up more each day and since groceries take up the majority of our budget, we've been really downsizing everything we can. I'd much rather have groceries in the house, than most anything that's on tv these days, that's for sure.

Today, Monday is week 3 of everyone back to school, back to work, normal routine......seems to be going pretty good so far.....Natalie loves her new job....Nikki is hanging in there w/ a very full load of classes.....All's well w/ Aaron and Jake....the younger girls were all sick last week, so we didn't do school, but it's back to it today.....We had a bit of a scare w/ Bob's new job...thought he was gonna get laid off, but it looks like it all worked out and he's still working, so we are grateful.....trying not to worry about it and just take it as it comes...easier said than done, though,lol.

I was hoping to have some pics from the weekend to share as well....Nikki was bopping around w/ her camera and got some good ones, but the batteries are dead now, so I can't upload them to my computer......as soon as we get some batteries, I will try to get all caught up.

Just call me Goofy!

Okay, just so you know these "moments" or whatever you want to call them....(I refuse to call them senior moments! No offense to anyone, I'm just not a senior yet.) are not funny!!! Even though my kids might think so, I don't! Blame it on being a mom, being hormonal, getting older, whatever, I am so over it!  So far recently, I've grabbed the conditioner bottle instead of the shampoo.....I've also shampooed my hair twice instead of shampooing, then conditioning....Today, I tried putting shampoo in my hair....wait for it......before I even wet it down!!!!  These are all hair-related I know...and can be attributed to the fact that the shampoo and conditioners look very similiar...however, I'm sure my kids could give you a whole list of goofy things that I've been doing these days and none of them are related to washing my hair......I feel like I've been losing my mind!

ps.....My siblings may not feel free to comment on this post....I can only imagine what you all might say and I'm sure that anything you come up with, my kiddos have already said to me!!!

As summer has mostly come and gone, we've been spending more time indoors.

For my kiddos, that means more baking.

Lately, we've had cupcakes twice, turnovers once, carrot cake and some cookies too.

Seems like every time I walk in the kitchen there is something tempting me!!! 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Aaron and Nikki haven't started classes yet.  Next week!

But, it seems like most everyone's schedule is picking back up.

Nikki is working in the bookstore on campus.  And they've been busy with inventory and then book sales.

Nat just recently got a new job.  We are so happy for her.  She will be teaching preschool at the Early Learning Center on campus.

She has great hours.  8:30 am - 4:30 pm and half-day on Friday.

There are two teachers in the class. Such an exciting time for her!!!!

Aaron has started back up to work.  He also works on campus.  In the tool crib for the auto/diesel departments.

They are moving to a huge brand new building. So, they've been busy getting everything from one building to the next

before classes start.  They are supposed to have an open house this Friday so everyone can see the new building.  Hope they get it all done!

Jake is still doing what he does.  Work all night. Sleep all day.  It works for him.  He's really trying to save some $$$ so he can get a car.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The younger 3 girls and I have been getting plenty of schooling done. 

We have a pretty good groove going and it's nice to be back into some sort of routine.

Though it is a very relaxed one:

5 -7am:  Mom is up (sometimes I wish I could sleep-in, but I do enjoy having the quiet time before anyone is up.  I can usually get my devotion done, listen to some Christian music, just enjoy the quiet house.)

Girls sleep til they wake up.  (I really just believe they need to listen to their body-clocks and if they are still sleeping, then they must need the extra snooze.  I think it helps keep them healthy and fight off sickness better.)  Thankfully, we don't have anyplace to be in the mornings and they are able to do this.  

Alli is usually up...somewhere between 8 and 9 am.

Abby next....between 9 and 10 am.

And of course, Miss TeenAger Rosie can usually do some serious sleeping-in, though I have noticed her waking a bit earlier lately.

They don't move very fast in the morning either.  A bit of laying around, some breakfast and then chores.

The older kids tease them, because I'm so much more laid-back then I ever was with them. But, I guess as we get older, we relax a bit

in our parenting ways.

We've just recently had to re-adjust chores. With the older kiddos being gone more now, it's time for the younger girls to step up a bit.

After chores, we start schoolwork.  

Take a break for lunch.

Finish whatever schoolwork is left.

Free time.  Usually some tv time (though we've been limiting this quite a bit.), some computer time....lately, baking time...playing outside, craft time...whatever they choose.

After supper, it's time for showers, some tv (if there is anything on), devotion, and quiet reading.

Lights out at 11pm.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I've got some pics to post, but need to get movin' and get this day started.

Back Later!

Back to blogging.....

~Good Morning~
I was up way to early.
Too too early.
Was up before Bob's alarm went off.
Couldn't get back to sleep.
Maybe I'll try again after he leaves for work.
Or maybe a nap later today.
~*~*~*~*~

Saturday:
some shopping,
for groceries and for church outfits for the 2 youngest.
Don't even get me started on the styles of clothes out
there for these girls....ugh~
Grilled cheese for supper, but w/ all different
kinds of shredded cheese mixed together,
with tomatoes and bacon.
Alli made a carrot cake.
From a box, (still super yummy).
With Granny's secret frosting recipe.
~*~*~*~*~*~*
 Sunday:
Church and Sunday school.
More trips to the grocery store.
Bbq chicken cooked on the grill
Reading the Sunday Paper
on the front porch.
Love my front porch!!!
Especially on these cooler days.
Some Nascar.
A country ride.
Lawn Mowing.
Nikki made some yummy cookies.
Football for some.
Early bed-time for the parents.
Again.
Seems to be happening alot these days.
Never would've thought all the kids
would be up later than us.
Probably why I'm up so early now.
~*~*~*~*~*~
 Monday:
Up early w/ the hubby.
Jake gets out at 5:15am.
Aaron has to be at work at 9am.
Nat and Nik both have to be to
work at Noon.
Schoolwork and Housework for
the younger 3 and I.
Maybe get out some of our fall decorations.
The girls keep asking when we're getting them out,
so maybe today.
 ~*~*~*~*~*~*
I can't believe it's already mid-September.
The leaves on the trees here are
falling too fast.  Many of them
haven't even turned colors yet,
but they are coming down already.
Not sure what will be left by October
to enjoy all the pretty colors,
but hoping there are still some left.
~*~*~*~*~*~

Happy Monday!
Hope everyone's week gets off to a good start!!

Been doing my posting at our other blog: 

 http://bkyoungfamily.xanga.com/

Hope to see ya there!!!!!

Holy Week~

Great place to visit for this Holy Week.

http://www.aholyexperience.com/

An Update

• 
  

  Good Morning
  
  Well, hopefully, it will be a good morning......It looks like we have the flu....the stomach flu....how did we avoid the stomach flu all winter long to end up w/ it now.....thankfully, it seems to be a short one....Rosie woke up w/ a horrible headache yesterday morning, and was sick to her stomach....by 2 o'clock she was feeling better, though still didn't do much the rest of the day....Nat didn't feel well all day yesterday at work...came home w/ a bad headache, ended up sick to her stomach and in bed....she's still sleeping, so not sure how she's feeling now....thankfully, she doesn't have to be out the door til 10 am......now I'm wondering if Abby's headache Sunday night was the flu or not....she never did get sick to her stomach though......Jake and I have both had upset stomachs, but no headache and haven't gotten sick yet. So who knows???
  
  Jake went from a temporary employee to a full-time company employee at his job last week.This morning is his orientation....please say a prayer it goes well....we had a glitch come up yesterday and he is a nervous wreck....so pray, pray, pray nothing comes of it and all goes just fine this morning.....
  
  Last term of the year for the 3 older kids started this week.  It always seems to be the hardest one too....
  
  Nikki is still working at the college bookstore and taking classes....She has some really long days this term....
  
  Aaron is taking 3 classes this term and still working in the college tool crib.....He is lovin' his new schedule...it's probably the best one he's had since he started college.....he doesn't have to be anywhere early any day of the week......he has no long, long days.....and he's home on the weekends.....
  
  Bob has an interview today too....so say a prayer that goes well....It's here in town and he's really been wanting to work in town for awhile now....but, we know it's a stretch, cuz no one here pays the money he gets...or that we need!!!  The job that he has now is fine.....he's just been keeping his eyes open....and is always looking for something closer to home--especially since the cost of gas is always going to be an issue now..
  
  Alli and I, along w/ some help from Abby started some spring cleaning yesterday.....we took everything out of the kitchen cabinets, washed the cupboards, and put some of it back....alot of it we packed away....too much stuff make for messy cupboards and I couldn't take it anymore.....today we are finishing up in the kitchen....then movin' on.....not sure what room we will do next....
  
  I have pictures, but they aren't uploaded to Photobucket yet, so maybe next time!

Still here.....

I've been blogging here.

~the hallway~

When we moved into our house, it was actually divided into two apartments. One upstairs, one downstairs w/ a side entrance for the downstairs.

The upstairs used the front entrance. In order for that to work, the previous owners had to cover, board over 3 doorways in the front hall, so that it wasn't accesible from the downstairs. First thing we did when we moved in was open two of the doorways....the one leading from our bedroom to the front hall and the one connecting the front hall to the downstairs living room....But, the doorway connecting the front hall to the dining room needed a bit more work, as they had paneled over the doorway on the dining room side.

So this project was put on the "little bit later" list......Ever since we moved in, I always felt like the front hall seemed cut off from the rest of the house...it just seemed like closed in space....

Well, one day a month or so ago, Jake was nice enough to tackle the project for me...While I do miss the extra space in the dining room for the buffet, I like having the doorway open, it makes the house feel more connected....it gives a certain flow to the rooms, ties them all together....

Here are the before and after pics:

Before:

(standing just inside the front door, looking into the front hall)

See the door behind the bookcase?  That's the one that is

boarded up on the other side.

After:

Before:

(From the dining room side of the wall)

The door was behind the buffet, right next to the other door in the pic.

After:

(Excuse the messy dining room.....we still have to trim the doorway up, since I'm sure they removed the trim in order to make it flush w/the wall when they covered it up.)

Friday is here.

One of my favorite days of the week.....

next to Sunday, of course.

Everyone's home early tonight,

so we get to sit down together to a family meal

and then relax for the evening....

Pork chops, mashed potatoes, muffins and corn....

then maybe catch up on our two episodes of Last Man Standing.....

it's also the night that the younger 3 get to stay up as late as they want.....
sadly, they always outlast both Bob and I.

Cleaning on tap for today..........

Looks like another beautiful weekend weather-wise.....

lots of sunshine.....

awesome!!!!

~ this is a pic of my view when I'm sitting at the computer

desk....it's our front porch and yard.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

~Rosie Posie~

I love this pic.~

Even though you can't see all of that pretty face,

you can see her smile.

Just by looking at her eyes.

Love it!!!!

Decisions, decisions, decisions....

Just ask my kiddos and they'll tell you I am incapable of making decisions.

Give me too many choices and uh-oh, we're in trouble.

For most of my life I've been drinking my coffee black.

No cream. No sugar.

Lately, I've fallen in love w/ all the different flavors out there.

Currently, we have all these flavors of coffee creamers.

Do you have any idea how long it takes me to decide

which one to put in my first cup of the morning????

I do have to say that it all started w/ the little blue cups.

They are just your typical French vanilla flavor,

also known as Nikki's creamer. Because she has never taken her coffee black

and has always used that brand, that flavor in her coffee.

So, then I decided to add the hazelnut creamer, because I love hazelnut, of course..

Well, the other day, we went looking for the

Pumpkin Spice Creamer because I've had one too many

bad cups of pumpkin coffee from the coffee places this season.

4 grocery stores later (it ended up being at the smallest

little grocery store in town)

and these are what we ended up with. 

We actually bought 2 of the pumpkin ones

 since it had been so hard to find.

 I found the pecan one at Walmart..

Super Yum!!!

Nat and I agreed to share the caramel one...

and she found the peppermint mocha one, at Kroger, while looking for the pumpkin one for me......

I guess with so many people living under one roof and everyone liking
their own thing, it makes some sort of sense to have so many,
right???

~Halloween 2011~

~My Best Friend~

I've been married to him for 24 years.

We've known each other since we were 12.

He knows me better than anyone knows me.

He knows me better than I know myself.

He's an awesome husband.

He's a great Dad to our kiddos.

He's the love of my life.

Happy Birthday Sweetie!!!
Luv Ya~

Water Play~