Cold Day? Warm Chai!:)

1cup nonfat dry milk powder
1cup powdered non-dairy creamer
1cup French vanilla flavored powdered non-dairy creamer
2 1/2 cups white sugar
1 1/2 cups unsweetened instant tea
2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cardamom

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Working with about half the mixture at a time, process in a food processor until fine and smooth. Store in a cool, dry place, in an airtight container.

Put 1 1/2-2 tsp full in hot water and Enjoy!

Never Say Never!

So I have a lot of friends who are pregnant right now, many of whom will be first time mommies! My best advice for them is to "Never say Never!" I can't stress this enough. There are so many things I said I would never do, that I did do, that I can't list them all. But here is a partial list...


I will never...

Let my children watch TV before the age of 2

Let my children drink juice before the age of 2

Let my children play video games before the age of 5

Drive a minivan

Live in Fishers (or any north suburb for that matter)

Bribe my children to cooperate

Bribe my children to sit on the potty

Okay, bribe my children, period

Let my children share our bed

Lock my children in their room to get them to go to sleep

Raise my voice at my children

(okay, I knew this one was unrealistic from the start;))

Let my children watch TV before bed

Let the TV babysit my children

Count fruit snacks and french fries as fruits and vegetables

Reuse a diaper becuase I had forgotten one

Lie about their age to get a free meal

Lie to them about what is actually on their plates to get them to try new food

Let my children pee in our front yard and our back yard

Encourage my children to pee in a parking garage

Send my child to daycare with a low grade fever and act surprised when I get a call later that he is sick (don't worry Liz this was with my old babysitter!;))

Take my children out in public with dirty faces or crusty noses

I think you get the idea. Now none of you have to feel guilty about the things you said you would/will never do.

My other two pieces of advice for new mothers are to 1) lower your standards as to what you are able to accomplish in a day (you can always increase it later) and 2) do whatever is best for the mommy! Happy mommy=Happy family!

Good Luck!

It Must Be in the Jeans Genes

My grandmother turned 95 on March 12th! Let me tell you how amazing this woman is. She still lives independently, with help from my mom and dad. She goes to church, she writes letters and sends birthday cards. She even makes the occassional 2 hour trip down to Indianapolis to visit her great-grandchildren. Up until a few years ago, she still volunteered at the hospital. Two years ago she lost her husband, my grandfather, at the age of 98 and after almost 70 years of marriage.

For her birthday, we had a small party at her house with family and ice cream cake from Dairy Queen. Then later that evening we took her to a bowling alley and game place where she found a love for Skeet Ball! Afterwards, we went to Steak 'N Shake and guess what she ordered?-a large vanilla milkshake and nothing else. I say, if all you want on your 95th birthday is ice cream, then go for it!

I love you Grandma and I hope some of your genes passed down to me!

The New Year

I am the New Year.
I am an unspoiled page in your book of time.
I am your next chance at the art of living.
I am your opportunity to practice what you have learned about life
during the last twelve months.
All that you sought and didn't find is hidden in me,
waiting for you to search it out with more determination.
All the good that you tried for and didn't achieve
is mine to grant when you have fewer conflicting desires.
All that you dreamed but didn't dare to do,
all that you hoped but did not will,
all the faith that you claimed but did not have --
these slumber lightly, waiting to be awakened
by the touch of a strong purpose.
I am your opportunity
to renew your allegiance to Him who said,
"behold, I make all things new."
I am the New Year.
-- Author Unknown

Happy New Year!

I have been slacking a lot on posting updates over the past few months. I'm going to try and post at least once a month for 2010! We'll see how it goes. We have been very busy with the boys, as I'm sure you can imagine. I always try to update on cute things they say, so keep your eye on the sides of my blog. Even when I haven't done an actual post in a while, I'm usually updating the boys "quotes!"

My Life with Boys

This is my life with the boys now, and I love it!

Are You Ready For Some Football?

The Smiley Boys Are!