Have we got a movie for you!

In the January "Veggie-Gram", there is a sneak peak at the new Veggie Tales' movie that will be released in theatres next year (February, 2008).

Although this is "exclusively for VeggieGram readers", I thought I would share it with you. Click here to see a trailer for...

"The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything".

(Ainsley's favorite Veggie Tales' character is Bob. She hopes he makes an appearance!)

"Six of One, Half a Dozen of the Other" Meme

Thanks for sharing this meme, Southern Girl!

1. Name six things in your refrigerator:
~ Milk (2% and skim)
~ Blue's Clues' yogurt (for Ainsley)
~ Probiotics
~ Peanut Butter (natural)
~ Left over "Goldfish" chicken noodle soup for Ainsely
~ Fuji apples

2. Name six things in your freezer:
~ Candles (helps them burn longer)
~ Frosty Bear (for Ainsley's bumps and bruises)
~ Tyson Chicken Nuggets (in the shapes of Veggie Tales' characters)
~ Popsicles (Ainsley has one every day so they are "sugar free")
~ Multi-grain bread (so the peanut butter spreads easier)
~ Coffee (keeps it fresher)

3. Name six things under your kitchen sink:
~ Electrosol 3-in-1 tabs (the best dishwasher soap every invented)
~ Collander
~ Joy dishwashing liquid
~ Clorox cleaner
~ Dish cloths
~ Container with wax paper, foil, plastic bags, etc.

4. Name six things around my computer:
~ Left speaker
~ Right speaker
~ Photo of Dan and I in front of Wrigley Field
~ CD burner
~ Blue "bucket" that Ainsley decorated for me for Mother's Day 2005. (Ainsley's tiny fingerprints were made into ladybugs.) I keep pens and scissors in it.
~ My day planner / calendar

5. Name six things in your medicine cabinet:
~ Toothpaste
~ Floss
~ Mouth guard I wear at night (so I won't keep Dan awake grinding my teeth)
~ Advil
~ Shaving Cream
~ Cetaphil (for cleaning my face)

6. Name six things on or around your nightstand:
~ Photo of Dan and I from our wedding day
~ Photo of Ainsley in her "macaroni and cheese" Halloween costume
~ Photo of Ainsley as a baby
~ Remote control for the TV
~ Latest "Parenting" magazine
~ Journal I am writing for Ainsley

Friday's Feast #128

Thank you for feasting with me!

Appetizer ~ If you could take lessons to learn any musical instrument, which would you want to learn?
The bagpipes. One of my favorite sounds is hearing "Amazing Grace" played on the bagpipes. BEAUTIFUL!

Soup ~ Have you ever mistaken a person for someone else?
Yes. Dan and I were walking through a restaurant and I thought I saw a friend of mine. I kept waving at her and she just looked at me with this weird face. As I came closer, I realized she was not the person I thought she was. Needless to say, I was very embarrassed.

Salad ~ On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how well do you keep secrets?
I am pretty good at it. I would say a 9!

Main Course ~ What's the closest you've ever been to a dangerous animal?
Ainsley's Uncle Ken and Aunt Ebby took us to Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Glen Rose, TX. It is a wildlife park you drive through in your car. We had rams, giraffe, zebra and deer come right up to our car!

Dessert ~ When was the last time you lost your patience?
Unfortunately, I think I lose my patience every day. I wish I were a more patient person.

Thankful Thursday #3

"...give thanks to Him and praise His name." ~ Psalm 100:4

****************************************************

22. I am thankful that Dan has friends he can depend on...like Tom and William.

23. I am thankful that Dan took the day off from work to be with Ainsley and I and to see Ainsley participate in gymnastics.

24. I am thankful for the many blogs that encourage me to be a better wife, mother and homemaker. (I will be adding a list of these to my blog soon!)

25. I am thankful for doctors and nurses who help us when we are sick or hurt.

26. I am thankful for having a polite daughter who says "please" and "thank you".

****************************************************

(More to come next Thursday.)

My favorite song from the 80's

Two coaches with CHARACTER

My wonderful husband emailed me a link to "one of the best sports' articles" he has ever read. It is about Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith - the coaches who have led their teams to this year's Super Bowl.

This article really touched me. Although I am a Bears' fan and will be rooting for the Bears to win on February 4, I will be fine with whatever team wins. Why? Because Dungy and Smith love the Lord and they love their families!

Here is an excerpt from the article, written by Michael Smith on ESPN.com:

"Their priorities are, in order: faith, their families and football. The outcome of the Super Bowl or any game does not define them. They personify words such as class, grace, dignity, honor and integrity. We all can draw inspiration from men such as these.

You won't hear either utter a word of profanity. And they still win. They care about and foster relationships with their players. And they still win. They serve their communities. And still, somehow, they find time to do what it takes to prepare their teams.

Dungy can -- imagine -- spend the Saturday evening before the AFC Championship Game against the Patriots at the mall with his family. Or Dungy, Smith, Edwards and each of their wives can gather for dinner at P.F. Chang's the night before Dungy's Colts and Edwards' Chiefs met in the first round of the playoffs. And yet it didn't halt the Bears' or Colts' journeys to Miami.

Dungy and Smith are Christian men who serve the Lord first and spend nearly as much time serving their communities. Doesn't prevent them from winning. And often. In just three seasons Smith, last season's Coach of the Year, has helped build the Bears into a league power. Dungy has won more regular season games than any coach since 1999. Where does color factor into that?

After they won their conference championships, you heard Smith talk about his "being blessed" and Dungy give thanks to God. That isn't just lip service with these guys. As Christians they believe it is their responsibility to let their light shine whenever they're in the spotlight. Just as they have a game plan for each other come Super Bowl Sunday, both plan to use the global platform that the Super Bowl provides to speak words that could make an impact beyond football. At his oldest son James' funeral last year, Dungy used the eulogy as an opportunity to teach lessons about manhood and fatherhood."

I can't wait to see the match-up of two coaches "who serve the Lord first."

Thank you for sharing this article with me, Dan!

(Click here to read the entire article.)

My 100th post! (Homemaking Meme)

I can't believe I finally made it to my 100th post! YAY!

I thought I might participate in the great bloggy tradition of posting "100 things about me", but decided not to. Instead I thought I would participate in this "Homemaking Meme" I found over at Lindsey's blog.

Aprons – Y/N?
No - but Ainsley has one she wears everyday when she is helping me in the kitchen. (It says "Chef Ainsley".)

Baking – Favorite thing to bake:
Banana Bread

Clothesline – Y/N?
No - but if I ever lived out in the country, I would consider using one to dry sheets and towels.

Donuts – Have you ever made them?
Yes - years ago when I was a child. I used to help my grandmother make potato donuts - made from left over mashed potatoes. (very yummy!)

Every day – One homemaking thing you do every day:
Unload the dishwasher

Freezer – Do you have a separate deep freeze?
No. After we move into a house, I would like to have one so I can stock up on frozen foods.

Garbage Disposal – Y/N?
Yes. It makes cleaning up after a meal a breeze!

Handbook – What is your favorite homemaking resource?
Ainsley's Ma, Ainsley's Aunt Meghan, Ainsley's Aunt Ebby, and Ainsley's Aunt Ninny - They all provide me with great recipes, decorating tips and a good example of how to be a good homemaker.

Ironing – Love it or hate it?
Hate it! Luckily most of my hubby's work clothes are "anti-wrinkle".

Junk drawer – Y/N?
No. I am very organized and everything has its place.

Kitchen: Design & Decorating?
Americana - Red, White and Blue - lots of baskets and flags

Love – What is your favorite part of homemaking?
Providing a "home" for my little family and a place Dan wants to come home to at the end of the day.

Mop – Y/N?
Yes - but not as often as I should.

Nylons – Wash by hand or in the washing machine?
I haven't worn nylons in years.

Oven – Do you use the window or open the oven to check?
I open the door. The light in our oven is not very bright.

Pizza – What do you put on yours?
When ordering pizza, my favorite toppings are bacon and spinach. When making pizza at home, we make it with pepperoni, onions, green peppers and lots of mozzarella.

Quiet – What do you do during the day when you get a quiet moment?
Read blogs and respond to email

Recipe card box – Y/N?
Yes. It holds our favorite recipes. (Only those that have been tried and true.)

Style of house
We currently live in a townhouse.

Tablecloths and napkins – Y/N?
No tablecloth - generally use placemats and paper napkins.

Under the kitchen sink – Organized or toxic wasteland?
Very organized

Vacuum – How many times per week?
Usually 3 to 4 times a week (try to every other day)

Wash – How many loads of laundry do you do per week?
Around 9 loads a week

X’s – Do you keep a daily list of things to do that you cross off?
Not a "daily" list but I do have an ongoing list of things to do.

Yard – Y/N?
NO! One advantage to living in a townhouse is no yard work!

Zzz’s – What is your last homemaking task for the day before going to bed?
Turn off lights! (I keep up with all my tasks during the day so by the time I have cleaned up after dinner, I can sit and relax with my hubby and Ainsley!)

Poll: Bears or Colts?

Who are you rooting for in the SuperBowl?
	Bears
	Colts
pollcode.com free polls

(Thanks for sharing "pollcode.com" with me, Amy!)

Bears

One more game...

Although this video was made midseason, the highlights and intensity are great!

Friday's Feast #127

Won't you join me as I feast?

Appetizer ~ Which television shows do you just refuse to miss?
We TIVO most of our shows. My favorite shows right now are Ugly Betty, Heroes, and The Office.

Soup ~ Who did you last speak to on the telephone?
Ainsley's Ma

Salad ~ How many pillows do you keep on your bed?
I have one and it is my "dream" pillow! (Ainsley's Ma and Pa gave it to me for Christmas.) It is a down pillow and it is SO soft. Dan has the same pillow.

Main Course ~ Name one addition to your computer (software, hardware, etc.) that you'd love to have.
A scrapbooking creator.

Dessert ~ What is your favorite foreign food?
Hmmmm...just about anything Italian.

My favorite new quote

"There's nothing on my horizon except everything.

Everything is on my horizon."
~ Dwight Schrute

Thankful Thursday #2

"...give thanks to Him and praise His name." ~ Psalm 100:4

********************************
16. Heat in our home
17. Grocery stores
18. Friendship of the Markart family
19. The new direction of our LIFE group
20. Friendship of the Montgomery family
21. the Bible
*******************************
(More to come next Thursday)

Doin' the "Super Bowl Shuffle"

Click here!

(Thanks for the reminder, Kelly!)

Bring on the Saints!

Whew! The game today had me on the edge of my seat in overtime...especially when the Bears lost the coin toss.

They pulled it off though (thanks to Gould's great aim) and are on their way to the NFC Championship game next Sunday at 2 pm (CST).

GO BEARS!

My plans for Sunday

1. Go to early church services with Dan and Ainsley
2. Come home and change into my favorite Christmas present - a Chicago Bears long-sleeved t-shirt
3. Put pepperoni pizza in oven to be ready by noon
4. At noon, have a "pizza picnic" in the living room with Dan and Ainsley, while watching the Chicago Bears defeat the Seattle "Chicken"hawks
5. After game, take a little snooze on the couch
6. Go to our LIFE group meeting for great fellowship
7. Come home and go to bed with a smile on my face knowing (#1) the Bears have moved on to the Division Championship and (#2) that Dan does not work on Monday. (MLK holiday)

It's going to be a GREAT day!

My hubby is a music savant

OK...can anyone out there name every artist who sings a solo in "We Are the World"? And if you can...can you name the artists in order?

My hubby can! (He proved it to me tonight.)

Friday's Feast #126

Won't you join me as I feast?

Appetizer ~ What comes to mind when you see the color orange?
The next Super Bowl Champs (I hope!) - The CHICAGO BEARS

Soup ~ Did you ever get in trouble while you were in school? If so, what was it for?
I was a very straight-laced student. I did get in trouble for talking to friends during class every once in a while.

Salad ~ Which topping(s) make up your perfect pizza?
Bacon (real bacon...not "Canadian") and Spinach (This has to be on a Little Villa thin crust!)

Main Course ~ Do you believe in UFOs/aliens/etc.? Why or why not?
No. There is no real proof they exist.

Dessert ~ What color is your bedspread/comforter/quilt?
It is a white quilt with many different designs of fabrics. The quilt was made by members of the church my parents attended when I was born. Each family in the church made a block, with their names, and added it to the quilt. Very sentimental!

Thankful Thursday #1

I am going to start a new post on Thursdays called "Thankful Thursday". Each Thursday I will list a few things that our family is thankful for.
**********************************************
1. All the presents Santa gave me (Ainsley)
2. Ma and Pa Shultz (Ainsley)
3. The healthy birth of Sienna Mae
4. Ainsley's gymnastics' class and her coach
5. The library
6. Mommy and Daddy (Ainsley)
7. Daddy taking me to the Grizzlies' games (Ainsley)
8. My wooshie cooshie that Uncle Ken and Aunt Ebby gave me (Ainsley)
9. Ainsley's smile
10. Talking to Daddy on the phone (Ainsley)
11. Playing on the computer (Ainsley)
12. Email
13. Tickles (Ainsley)
14. Balloons (Ainsley)
15. TV (Ainsley)
*****************************************
"...give thanks to Him and praise His name." ~ Psalm 100:4
*****************************************
(More to come next Thursday.)

Works for Me: Stuffed Shells

Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer has a weekly challenge on Wednesdays....to post something that "works for me". (aka: Works-For-Me-Wednesdays or WFMW)

I have always enjoyed reading WFMW. So many fellow bloggers leave helpful tips and ideas.

This week, the WFMW challenge is to post a healthy recipe. Here is one I have made a few times that I need to make more because it is oh SO yummy!

Stuffed Shells (from Kraft Foods - Healthy Living)

1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, well drained
1 container (16 oz) fat free cottage cheese
1 cup low-moisture, part skim mozzarella cheese
1 egg white
1 medium red pepper, chopped
1 envelope Italian salad dressing mix
20 jumbo macaroni shells (for filling), cooked and drained
1 small jar (13.5 oz) spaghetti sauce

Mix spinach, cottage cheese, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, egg white, red pepper and salad dressing mix in large bowl until well blended. Fill each shell with 1 heaping tablespoon spinach mixture.

Spoon 1/2 of the sauce into 13x9 inch baking dish. Arrange shells in baking dish; spoon remaining sauce over shells. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese. Cover with foil.

Bake at 400 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

Enjoy!

Sienna Mae

Quotes by Ainsley:

"Ohhhhhh...she's SO cute!" and "Another cousin for ME!"

The boy that shared with Jesus...according to Ainsley

"Once upon a time, a very long time ago, there was a little boy.

Then one day he wanted to share his lunch with Jesus.

They shared and shared and shared.

Then his tummy was really full.

It hurted.

There was two fish and 5 loafs of bread.

Jesus prayed to God.

We should pray to God and Jesus.

And we should share, too."

Congratulations, Cal and Tony!

Per my prediction, Mark McGwire was not elected to the Hall of Fame...although 128 people did vote for him. (Why?)

Two players with ethics...who did not need steroids to play the game of baseball...were elected: Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn.

Congratulations, Cal and Tony!

Click here for the story.

(By the way...I hope to visit the NBHOF with Dan during the summer of 2009 to watch the induction of Mark Grace.)

Friday's Feast #125

I'm feasting again! Won't you join me?

Appetizer - Which celebrity (or celebrities) do you think will make headlines this year?
I don't really follow celebrity news too much. So...I think I will substitute "athlete" for this course. Mark McGwire will NOT be voted into the Hall of Fame this year. (Cal Ripken, Jr. will.)

Soup - They say that good things come in small packages? What is something little that you think is great?
My daughter - Ainsley Liberty. She is so loving and puts a smile on my face everyday.

Salad - Name a song that makes you want to dance.
"Take On Me" by a-ha

Main Course - What is your favorite font?
GweetHMK - from Hallmark Card Creator

Dessert - If you were to write a do-it-yourself article, what would it be about?
Being more organized

Ainsley has a new cousin!

We are so excited to welcome

Sienna Mae Morgan

into our extended family!

Sienna was born today at 1:01 am.

Proud parents are Eric and Trisha. (Dan's cousin and wife)

Sugar and spice and everything nice~

that's what little girls are made of!