snow day!

Well, a week ago today we had our first Snow Day!  We actually had our second the following day, and at having another one today!

I am all about routine, but a snow day here and there aren't a bad thing...even if it means we'll be in school into June! ;) 

A lot of people had President's Day off, but I did not...so it was a nice little surprise!  & I enjoyed a lil cake for breakfast!  

I call it a "snow day" but it should have called it an "ice day" but there wasn't much of any SNOW to get out and play in!!

R got out in it and ran around a bit...but back inside we went!  

Today is actually a snow day, so that has been fun for R!

monograms

I've had a Silhouette for 5 years or so...I remember saving up my money so I could get it for myself!  It had so many possibilities and I wanted to do so many different things with it, but once I got it, I was too scared (or lazy) to try any of them out.  I cut some stuff for Ryder's birthday parties here and there, and made a couple of banners, and book marks, but nothing crazy.

I had gotten some vinyl with my starter kit, and had created a few things, but then I guess never thought about it again...because all I could remember was "it was too hard, and too complicated and not worth the time it took to do it". 

A local Etsy shop owner who happened to be my 9th grade math teacher, posted some polka dot cups with a gold monogram on FB and she only had four...and I snagged one up for an amazing deal of $7.00.  When I got it, my mom was like, "Oh, did you make that?"  I told her no I bought it...and she said, "Kati Renee, you shouldn't be paying for that, you have a Silhouette, you should be making them!"  I realized she was right.  It was time for me to put my big girl panties on, and give the whole "vinyl" thing a try again!  I ordered some vinyl online, and bought up as many cups as I could in preparation for Christmas gifts.  

I quickly learned it is WAY easier than I was making it...and I've been on a roll lately! ;)

Dad was going to put his initials on his YETI with a sharpie (like he does everything that he takes to the farm, so it doesn't get mixed up with someone else's)....understandable.  But a SHARPIE--on a YETI?  No sir, I was NOT gonna let that happen!  So I ordered him some black vinyl, and printed him and my brother their initials to tat up their coolers!  So...monograms aren't JUST for girls after all huh!? ;)

This little circle monogram fit perfect on mom's new phone case...

Target dollar spot notebook turned into fabulous-ness!

I added a little pretty to my Chromebook as well!  Love how it turned out!  I'm really digging the circle monogram, rather than the fancy curly-ques!  Much easy to cut and place as well!

All of this to say...if you have a Silhouette or Cricut machine--do NOT be afraid of it!  You bought it for a reason--USE it!  You will be so glad you did!  My last minute gift options are endless now and I am so thankful!

white bean chicken chili

My new crock pot...that I just HAD to have when Allie sent me a picture of one that she had seen on Instagram, was just asking to be tested out!

I think the message I got from Allie said something like, "THAT'S a crock pot!"  

With a quick visit to Mr. Google searching "black and copper crock pot" I realized there was a reason I already loved Target so much.  Ordered.  Done.  Free Shipping.  Thank you Target Red Card, and thank YOU Allie!  You can get yourself on HERE!  They also have them this style in purple, red and turquoise HERE. 

White Bean Chicken Chili it was.  My Aunt Kathy made this for us while we visited them for Thanksgiving a year ago, and mom and I have been using the recipe every since!  We love it, and it's a regular around here during the winter months.     

If you want to make it not so spicy, I would stick to one package of seasoning, and you can also leave out the green chilies. 

Throw all your ingredients into your crock pot...and don't forget your crock pot liner--those things are life saver!  Cook on low for 6-8 hours, or high for 3-4 hours. 

ENJOY!  

rough monday...

I am praying that this Monday is much better than last Monday!

It was R's first day back to school after having the flu.  We were so thankful for that Tamiflu, but it sure did make my little boy CRAZY.

Monday morning was ROUGH.  He didn't want to get up, more than ever before...he is usually Mr. Chipper and is the reason it makes it so easy for me to get up so early in the mornings!  Buuuuut, not that day!  I may have yelled at him a handful of times, made him cry, etc. etc. all before getting out the door.  And THENNN...I had to drop him off at school for the day, and hope for the best.  That's always the worst feeling in the world!  

Before we even got out the door though, I went to start my car to warm it up before it was time to go, and it wouldn't even turn over.  I called my parents and no one answered.  I went and tried it again.  Nothing.  I flipped my lights on and off, and then tried again and it started.  Close call...but still odd.

I get all the way to school and turn my car off.  Tried to restart it, and again won't even turn over.  It was only by God that I got to work on time that day.

I put all my school stuff in my trunk, and I went to pop it, and it wouldn't even pop.  I went to lock my car with my clicker, and it wouldn't lock.  Yes.  Happy Monday to me.

I rarely have "bad days".  I'm just a glass half full type girl...I don't even remember the last time I had a "bad day" if that says anything.  Not to say I don't get upset or unhappy...I just try not to let those little mishaps ruin my entire day, because that seems like a waste to me!  But this day I was feeling completely defeated!   

I called a local guy in town to come look at my car/tow it to his shop...and he thought it was my battery, but come to find out, there was just a cord that wasn't connected right!  Amen and amen!  He takes care and provides!  

I had talked to my dad before class started about my morning and asked him to pray for Ryder because he was not being himself and it was a rough, rough morning for both of us.  He decided he was going to pick him up from school and take him to CFA for lunch.  Just one of the many reasons he is the greatest Poppy to my lil boy!

Knowing R was going to get a surprise at lunch time and the happiness it was going to bring him, helped me through my day, even though our morning hadn't started off so great!

They even Facetimed me from CFA, which made my day!  =)

This also helped me take some deep breaths, and remember He is in control...and He is the one we should lean on and call out to first.  

After the day we had, ice cream was necessary after school...for the both of us!!!

That night we spent some extra time with KeeKee and Poppy...staying later than we normally do, to fit in a game of Trouble with Poppy.  Poppy LOVED this game when we were little and always wanted to play it!  Love seeing him play it with R now!  

Tuesday was a new day and we were happy for the chance of starting fresh!

And tomorrow is a new day, and a new week and I hope your's starts off on the right foot! 

MORE sickness at our house...

 We dealt with some more sickness last week.  "BOO HOO HOO" as Ryder would say!!  He wasn't even finished taking his ABs for Strep yet and I could tell by touching him Wednesday night he was running fever.

I called in a sub at 2 AM (again) and went back to bed.  I planned on taking him in first thing in the morning, but he slept until 1 PM when I finally woke him up so we could go to the Dr.

The sweet nurses looked at us and said, "Y'all were just here..." "Yes, we were."  Luckily R's favorite nurse was there and took care of him like he always does!  Strep and flu tests with NO hassle!  Flu was positive of course...but we had caught it early!

So thankful for my parents and taking care of us in a million different ways while we were stuck at home disinfecting and trying to stay far away from each other!  Poor R missed snugglin' his Mama! ;)  But I just couldn't take the risk...

 Thankfully mom kept him for me on Friday...this is poor baby getting in the car to go to her house.  I'll say this:  Tamiflu worked GREAT for us.  He got the meds Thursday night at 6 PM, took them again Friday morning...He was a little crazy Thursday night after the meds, but I thought he was just exhausted and tired from being sick, but I'm pretty sure the craziness was the meds.  

The Dr. said they could make him "feel weird" and that's definitely what I was seeing!  Poor mom thought she was gonna have a relaxing day at home with a sick little boy, but she got the complete opposite!  He was on a ROLL, running around the house, asking a million questions and hardly every stopped.  Once again...it was the meds!

& Allie was so sweet to bring me a Blue Sail Coffee Friday night.  R had stopped running fever, but we were staying in to make sure we were 100% well!

I finally told him Sunday night he could sleep with me...but I drew a line with a scarf so he wouldn't get too close!  I got out of the shower to find this!  As close to the line as he could get without touching it!!

Saturday was my half birthday...and KeeKee delivered these to our house!  If you're gonna be stuck at home all weekend, it's good to have people that love and care about you to make special deliveries!  

....& just because today is Thursday!!!