I added some calendars to the notebook site the other day. This time they have dates and holidays instead of being completely blank. As with everything else in the store – they have the teapot and roses theme and match the rest of the notebook files.

If you place an order before January 10th, you can get your entire order half off. Just use the coupon code blog09 when you check out.

2009 Calendars for your Household Notebook

Wow – painting can be hard work! I’m surprised at how tired I am. Of course that could be because I’m fighting that bug that Caleb has too, but whatever. The painting is harder than I remembered. Or I’m just a wimp. :O)

We’ve been working on the back room. It’s both Stephen’s study and my piano studio. It used to be just my studio, until Stephen needed a place where he could study God’s Word uninterrupted. So now it’s both. The previous owners had painted it a really dark green, and it was getting really dinged up and was starting to look really shabby. We’ve never really liked the green, but this is the first chance we’ve had to actually do something about it.

I wanted to paint it before lessons next week – and at the rate we’re going, we should be done in plenty of time. It’s a nice shade of antique white now, and it already looks MUCH better. Once we’re done, it will be antique white with pure white trim. Nice and clean – and it should make the room feel a lot bigger.

I took some before pictures, but you’ll have to wait to see them until I can post the after pictures with them.

For now, I’m going to sit down to rest for a few minutes.

Oh boy, this feels like it’s going to be an interesting week. Now Stephen is coming down with the bug that Caleb has. It’s a stomach virus. . .and I’m beginning to be thankful that I don’t have any lessons planned until next week. That’s just enough time to let all of us get sick and then get the germs out of the house by next Tuesday. I hope.

We had chicken and rice soup for dinner tonight, and it turned out absolutely delicious. I figured I’d put the recipe on here so I’d have it in case I want it later.

The measurements here are approximate. This is pretty close though.

Chicken and Brown Rice Soup

1 chicken breast, cubed
1 large carrot or 2 medium carrots, sliced
1/2 cup diced onion
1 1/2 cups cooked brown rice
1 tsp or so Soul Seasoning (similar to Old Bay. You could also use chicken boullion or soup base)
pinch garlic powder
1 Tbsp parsley flakes
2 bay leaves
black pepper to taste
Water to cover – between 1 and 2 quarts depending on how watery you like the soup

Simmer chicken and pepper over medium high heat until mostly done. Add onion, carrot, and rest of spices. Cook for 30 minutes or so, or until carrots are tender. Add rice and cook until rice is warmed through. Remove bay leaf and serve.

I know it’s not the most detailed recipe – I just dumped things in when I made it. It turned out really well though, and we all loved it, so that works for me.

I am so spoiled. My husband is the greatest.

Our little Caleb is sick. I’m the only pianist at our church that plays for services. There are a couple of teen girls that play, but they’re not ready to play for the song services yet. Since there’s nobody at church to replace me if I stay home, Stephen stayed home with Caleb today while Samuel and I went to church.

What a day. Since he was home all day, Stephen did a lot of things for me that really make me feel spoiled.
*made me breakfast
*had lunch on the stove and the table set when we got home from church. Lunch was delicious – venison cubed steak, country gravy, brown rice, and steamed mixed veggies.
*had my favorite quilt waiting on the bed for me after lunch so I could take a nap, and then came in the room to tuck me in once I laid down
*washed lunch dishes
*made supper
*made a mug of coffee for me to take on the drive to the evening service
*finished getting Samuel ready so I could get myself ready faster

Stephen makes me feel so spoiled sometimes! I don’t deserve it – but I sure am thankful for a husband like mine!

One of the teen girls from church took this picture of us Sunday morning.

Here’s a closer picture of Samuel that I took before we left for church. He is such a handsome boy – I am so glad God allowed me to be his Mommy!

Samuel trying to figure out what all this John Deere fabric is

Caleb opening his pajamas

My John Deere boys

Making Happy Birthday Jesus cake with Mommy and Uncle Andy (gingerbread)

We’re home. We had an uneventful drive home (Praise the Lord!) and now we’re here and finishing unpacking. Well, I will when I post this, lol.

I’m ready for a hot shower and some clean, comfy clothes. Going to bed early tonight sounds fabulous.

I think we’re definitely going to see a white Christmas here. They just said on the news that there’s 17 inches of snow on the ground. We’re under a winter storm warning through Christmas Day, with more lovely weather after that.

Stephen and I are just going to wait and see what happens with the weather. We may need to change our plans of when we leave for home!

I took this picture this morning out the front door.

Mom, Stephen, and Samuel went outside for a while today. Sam had so much fun! Caleb was asleep, so I took this through a window from inside the house.

Then we ran into town this afternoon to get a few things (like socks for Caleb – I bought him new ones last week, and washed them to bring them here, and they’re still at home). We slipped and slid the whole way there and back. Then, I got the car stuck in the driveway coming back in. In my defense, the driveway is 500 feet long and goes uphill. Unfortunately for me, I also got the car stuck yesterday morning when we pulled in the drive. . . so I’m getting teased pretty badly about it.

Wouldn’t you know it – the guy came to plow the drive about an hour after we got home. Wasn’t that nice of him? LOL! At least my brother was able to get up the drive easily when they got here an hour later.

This is going to be an interesting trip. I’m really hoping that we don’t have problems with weather when we get ready to go home. Thankfully, work is not a concern. Stephen has his laptop here with us and can work from here.

So. We’ll see what happens.

Here is a picture of the John Deere pajama top I made for Samuel. This is before I put the buttons on it. Their pajama pants match, but I didn’t get a picture of them.

I discovered while making it that I have a button foot for my sewing machine. My mom bought me a sewing machine at a garage sale months ago. She paid $5 for it, and it’s a big metal workhorse of a machine. It’s MUCH nicer than the one I had. That button foot is great! I don’t mind sewing buttons on by hand, but this is so much easier.

Anyway, both boys have matching John Deere pajamas. Samuel has buttons on his top, and Caleb has snaps. Other than that (and the size), they’re identical.

It’s nice to have found something that I can sew for my boys. Most of the sewing projects I find are for girls.

Samuel is going to absolutely LOVE them. I can’t wait to see his reaction.

We arrived at my parents’ house, safe and sound. It was a rather uneventful trip. It took us right at 16 hours, and that was including a stop at K-Mart to get some of the things we forgot (but didn’t end up getting, lol).

The wind was bitter cold. I know that’s to be expected here, but our boys sure aren’t used to it. They stayed snuggled up with blankets for most of the trip, but that’s ok.

I was very surprised at how clear the roads were. I was expecting a lot more snow, but am very thankful we missed it. That’s ok – there’s plenty here at Mom and Dad’s. We got stuck in their driveway on the way in and Dad had to come dig us out. :O)

Samuel is absolutely chomping at the bit to get out and play in the snow. Me – I’m happy to stay inside and maybe snap a picture or two. I’m not used to this weather anymore. I moved away 11 years ago and have definitely acclimated to the South.

So. We’re here. I’m anxious for my brothers to come over. It’s going to be good to see them again!