Christmas Time

I have been slowly moving away from the whole buy buy buy of Christmas these past couple of years. My friends and I have a gift exchange in which we have to give something that was either made or re-used that you got for $5 or less. How many "things" can one person have. The hubs and I are incredibly blessed and have more than we need, and its true we don't need anymore. We're branching out and I'm going to be making even more gifts this year for family and friends. I've been practicing with my sewing machine and have been getting decent with it. I love this idea of not trying to show your love by buying things but doing it by actually giving your time to show it, then giving your money to the people who really need it. Hmm a Wii or a new well for a village, its not a hard choice.

So Thankful

just one side of our family for my cousin Mo's wedding in August

Reflecting today on the things that God has given me. Our little family is a very blessed one. We are blessed to have a huge loving extended family as well. I'm so thankful for the things that we have a loving marriage, a home to call our own, a crazy little kitten cat. Most importantly I have faith and hope in Jesus, as well as the knowledge that I have a God who loves me as His child. Looking at the sales ads for Black Friday the hubs and I both decided that we don't need anything and that is an amazing place to be. We know that all of our needs have been met and we pray that God would continue to show us how to bless others with the bounty He has given.

Wishing all of you the most wonderful Thanksgiving!

Just popping in to say Hi

So hi!
I'm done with the office as of Friday, been working on getting my house together. It looks great right now. I've been a cleaning fiend the past few days; laundry is completely done, I organized our toys, cds, cleaned the kitchen, vacuumed, scrubbed. I'm currently in the middle of the craziness that is my laundry room. I would post a before picture but to be honest its that bad. I have soooo much stuff in there that I'm finding places for and organizing. I spent a good part of the afternoon organizing my fabric stash and going through craft supplies. I also made 9lbs of sweet potato fries today, yeah, overkill much?!?! Lol, good thing they freeze!!

We also got our Flip Video back in the mail. They ended up sending us a brand new Flip Video, Underwater Case and also another accessory as an "I'm sorry". All in all I'm pretty happy with their customer service and I'm in LOVE with the camera (not so much the UW case). I will be using it a ton with the twinkies. The plan is for them to arrive tomorrow at La Casa de Dirkey. I'm hoping to have the rest of the house in order by the time they get here then I can just focus on getting to know them more (they really have only met me 3 times).

Don't know how much I'll be around in the coming days but if I don't get on I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and make sure to enjoy your families. The hubs and I are planning a very very quiet Thanksgiving, we will probably visit with his family then spend some quiet time with friends later on. My family is all coming over for the twinkies 1st birthday party this Saturday all except My Gracie and My Meggie as they will be in DISNEY WORLD!! Which even I agree is better than Aunt Kristi's house.

Making A Mei Tai

So when we found out we were getting the twins I started wondering how you do certain things.  I couldn't for the life of me figure out grocery shopping.  If you put both of them in the cart where do you put groceries?  I figured that making a baby carrier would be a necessary thing and found a Neat Website that gave general directions on how to make one.  The carrier is made from super soft corduroy, I added an extra pocket in a contrasting fabric/color.  I really like the way it turned out, it was probably the first real quality thing that I've made on my sewing machine.  I'll take a pic with me wearing it next week and once I make sure that it works well and that I like it I am going to make another one using some yummie brown corduroy and a funky contrasting fabric for the days I'm wearing earth tones. :)

As far as costs go, the cord cost about $8 and the contrasting fabric $1.

Holy Moly

I just played on my sewing machine for a few hours and I'm pretty proud and impressed with what came out of it.  The hubs was watching the flyers game so I figured I should tackle one of the crafts that I wanted to get done.  There are about 1,000 more that need to be worked on but hey 1 down 999 to go, right?

I'll update tomorrow with some pictures but be prepared to be wowed with my seamstressocity.  I'm not good with patterns so I loosely based it off of something that I found on the internet.  Let me just say that one of the twins is going to be carried in style. 

Have a wonderful night!

Dirkey

Big Day

Sunset from the other day

Sorry that I've been quiet around the bloggy world this week. There is just so much going on. I'm trying to tie up any loose strings at work and get some projects done around the house. My last day at the office is today, AHHHH! I am looking forward to being home and to having the twins when they come (Wednesday!), its just such a strange thing to think that tomorrow I won't have a leave the house type of job. Although I would have loved to not leave the house this morning when I was cleaning SNOW off of my car and driving to work. The hubs and I have been cleaning (actually mostly laundry), winterizing the house and reorganizing to make room for the two little ones.
As far as the twins go, things are moving along. My poor niece has been running around getting everything in order (power of attorney, medical power of attorney, military id cards for them, doctors, toddler car seats). There is just so much to do with the twins moving up here and her moving down to Southern VA. Please say some prayers for her as this is a really difficult time, I just can't even imagine what she's going through.
As far as our house goes we just put the shrink wrap plastic stuff over our windows and I think I already notice a difference. Yes, we're due for some new windows sometime soon. I'm going to be paying attention to our electric bill and comparing to last year to see if there is a difference in our usage. I also want to insulate our laundry room door (to the outside) more too as its always so drafty in there. We have the twin's room all set to move in the cribs, with a bed in there for my niece for when she's up visiting. There is still a huge to do list but I think I'll be able to get the house in order by the time the twins come.

Our first snow of the year from this morning!!

Weekend Goodness

We went over my brothers house to babysit my adorable nieces this weekend. It had been awhile since we'd seen them so we were soo happy to do it! They are both ridiculously funny. At one point we asked my niece Gracie (5 yrs old) who her favorite uncle was, of course she said Uncle J. So being the loving sister I am I called my brother and put him on speaker and asked her. She pointed at Uncle J but said Uncle Wil, the little stinker :) We read them books, ran around the house, went on a treasure hunt, played eye spy, played red light/green light, played dress up and generally had a very busy weekend, lol.

Meggie wearing the tutu I made her

My pretty princess

She asked Uncle J to read her a book

but didn't like the view sitting next to him

Me and my Gracie, I look surprised here about something!

Meggie cheasin it up for the camera, love the pig tails!

Why its good to have family

So this week we found out that were probably going to get the twins early. In this I realized that I have a good support system around me in my friends and family. My friends are all willing and volunteering to help the hubs and I transition from just us to a family of four (if only for a few months). It makes me really thankful to have them around me, I just feel incredibly loved which is an amazing place to be. I've been researching some groups and I will be joining my local MOP's Group and also The Holistic Mom's Network so that both the kids and I get out and meet some new people!

I'm excited to begin this journey and I'm sure I'll be updating more about this as it comes. Right now my last day of work is November 26th then I will be for the first time in my adult life, without an employer. Such a weird transition :)

I wish I thought of this!

Trust me watching it through is worth it!

A Beautiful Link

Biblical Womanhood gives a nice mini lesson on comparing ourselves to others. How quickly this can move from admiration to resentment, I don't know about you but I don't want to find a place for resentment to live in my life. If there is any I pray that God would completely wipe it out.

Update-Projector Pictures

Looking at the back of our family room behind the couch is our toy center which is why this is Hannah's favorite room. She was very upset that the toys were all covered up during the movie.

This is the projected image, the hubs of course chose Star Wars as his tester movie, lol. After this he moved it back so the screen was about 9 feet wide and 4.5 to 5 feet high. He also hooked it up to our sterio so the sound was pretty good too :)

We watched a movie Sat night then again on Sunday night. Its such a good rainy day thing to do, I definitely want to make it a special treat for us to break it out so it doesn't get old. :)

Fun Freebie

So the hubs is one of those smart people and because of this works in a smart people field. Well his company just switched offices and was getting rid of a TON of things. He brought home a bunch of computer equipment and while explaining their very specific uses my brain exploded due to non-understandiness. One thing that he brought home though I am interested in, it's a VERY nice projector, one that basically turns my family room into a movie theatre. He's working on setting it up for a nice rainy day movie for after we are done our chores. The cat is in heaven because right now it is projecting his computer screen on the wall and let me just say that pointer that was moving across the wall is VERY tempting to my little kitten cat. He just jumped 3 feet up in the air to attack it and slid down the wall. Seriously I'm in tears its cracking me up.

We were out and about all day, had to get brakes for the hubs car, pick up his front forks for his motorcycle, check out wood flooring for our house, stop at Lowes to get stuff for Christmas and a pedestal sink for the downstairs bathroom. We found Teak flooring that we're going to put in the Kitchen, Hallway, Living room and Dining Room. We have to wait till January for it to come in though. Thankfully my family is going to help with installation so the price won't be too bad.

My Christmas adventure this year is going to be soap making. I was having a hard time finding Lye anywhere but after some searching online I realized that Lowes sells it as drain cleaner. The hubs doesn't understand how drain cleaner will make soap I told him its like a chemical peel but cheaper, LOL I'm horrible I know.

Some Good Dinner

Last night I was soo close to ordering out, I was just tired when I got home and didn't feel like cooking. I stopped at my sister in laws house and took in some of the cuteness that is my niece. The pit stop fueled me on and gave me the boost I needed to make some dinner. So I made some roasted potatoes, chicken and asparagus.

We had a lovely dinner with a stimulating dinner guest, Kitten Cat Snuggle Fluffy Pants III (we're trying to rename him because his name now isn't safe to say in front of children, he got the name from his love of jumping on the dining room table).

The hubs was REALLY happy I made asparagus.
I also made a Cranberry Lemon Cake from A Hippie with a Minivan's blog and it was goooooooood

Election

Here is a great article about how, as Christians, we should be looking at the outcome of this election.

Thats about as much as you'll get out of me, I try not to go to far into politics with people I don't know and most of the time even with people I do know. I will be praying for our future president the same as I pray for the current one and I encourage you all to do the same. I will enjoy the blessed silence of all the political ads!

The Big 3-0

Sunrise in Hawaii on my birthday
So you all might remember that my 30th birthday was a couple of weeks ago, it happened to fall while I was in Hawaii (yes I planned it like that). It was a wonderful day spent relaxing on the beach in Hawaii, then frantically packing our condo (we got the check out time wrong), walking around Waikiki and topping it off by taking a 14 hour plane trip. Interspersed in there were some great phone calls from friends and family wishing me a happy birthday. I felt (and feel) incredibly loved and blessed to have the friends and family that I have. My mom met me at work the next day with cake for the office, a gift and a balloon (yes, she's that sweet). The hubs got me an awesome present in an old lady bike with a bell (he gave me a choice and I was like OLD LADY BIKE HERE I COME!!!). Just have to pick up some velour track suits and I'm ready for the grandkids.... errrr... kids.. whatever :)
Pics of my birthday party friends top row right to left: Mama K, Eminstitches, Dirkey, Kitten Mom, bottom row: Anne, Tamara, Gelsey and Becky

Well last Saturday the hubs had to work so I had exciting plans to clean my house the whole day then have Mama K, Eminstitches and my very unbloggy friend Tamara over for some leftover chicken soup. Well Mama K showed up first and we're talking then the doorbell rings and its a bunch of my good friends with balloons, a feather boa and a princess hat (compliments of Kitten Mom). They brought a whole fondue party over to my house!! We had some incredible cheese and chocolate fondue, crazy drinks and then a choice of a bunch of movies (I picked Love Guru). It was so incredibly sweet of everyone. I was amazed at the amount of planning that went into it too, to bring all those ingredients over, to have everyone show up at the right time, to really think of something that I would like. I'm still overwhelmed with gratitude to the really great friends that I have! I am a very blessed girl!
Also next party at my house cause jeez louis they all left a bunch of booze!

Go VOTE!!!

Line to vote 11/4/08

Todays the day, get out and vote!

We have a great responsibility to vote for who we feel is the best for us now.

The hubs and I have already gone early this morning and were happy to see a nice long line.
Buut we didn't get a sticker, I think with all my taxes I should at least get an "I voted" sticker!!
Now to pick up my freebies:
Starbucks-Get a free tall brewed coffee when you tell the Starbucks barista that you voted
Also I heard Ben and Jerry's are giving out free ice cream 5-8pm, Krispy Kreme is giving away free donuts and Chick Fil A is giving away free chicken sandwhiches.

I'm only rocking the starbucks but you should get all the voting freebies you can!

Rustic Butternut Squash with Linguini

Oh mama thats the stuff.

I was trying to think of what to make with a yummie looking butternut squash that I have had.  Today I was inspired by one of my favorite reads, Apartment Therapy The Kitchen when they had an article about how butternut squash tastes amazing roasted with butter and thyme.  

I thinly sliced my squash and roasted it in layers with sliced portabellos, mozzerella, provolone, lots of fresh garlic, pepper, salt, onion powder, thyme, sage and pats of butter.  When it was all layered up I poured about a half cup of cream on top. I put this mixture in the oven at 450 degrees until it bubbled and the squash was tender.

I mixed this into some linguini and let me just say FANTASTIC!!!

A really nice rustic tasting fall dish :)