This Fact Didn't Escape Me

My Mom and I were talking a few days ago, and I must have mentioned something about blogs.  She said, "Speaking of blogs, I noticed I haven't been getting updates on your blog lately."

With a smirk, I answered, "Yeah, I noticed that too."

Many Little Blessings: September 2009 Recap

I feel like I haven't been around the blog as much as I would like this past month.  I am freeing up some of my commitments soon, so hopefully I'll be able to be a bit more present than I have been this past month.  Thanks so much to everyone who has been referring people to visit though! 

A special thanks to the top 10 referrers in September:

1. We are THAT Family

2. A Wise Woman Builds Her Home

3. The Homeschool Classroom

4. Life With My 3 Boybarians

5. Facebook

6. Conversion Diary

7. Balancing Beauty and Bedlam

8. Catholic Mothers Online

9. Life as Mom

10. Simple Mom

Here are the top ten most read posts at Many Little Blessings this past month (make sure to check some out if you have missed them!):

1. Organizing Our Homeschool Papers and Plans in Weekly Files

2. Our 2009 - 2010 Homeschool Curriculum

3. Using Picture Labels to Help Pre-Readers Keep Their Toys Organized

4. Our Homeschool Classroom

5. How to Dye Pasta for Kids Crafts

6. Refinishing Our Free Piano

7. Delicious Bread and Butter Pickle Recipe (Quick and Easy)

8. Homemade Cake Donuts

9. Introducing Kids to Needlework Arts

10. First Communion Banner Examples

7 Quick Takes Friday: October 2, 2009 (Vol. 17)

~ 1 ~

We're studying early American history this year with the boys using Winter Promise's American Story I.  While we were reading on of our books (I believe it was The New Americans: Colonial Times: 1620-1689), there were some hints toward the idea of the Revolutionary War.

Jack said, "I hope the Americans win."

And, being the wonderful bad Mom that I am, I couldn't help but burst into laughter.  Of course, I didn't feel so bad, because I saw that little flicker in his eye that suggested that he really knew the answer and was saying it to be funny.

But, then he continued, "What?"

"Jack -- who do you think won the Revolutionary War?"

"I don't know."

"Are we British or are we American?"

"Ummmm...American?" in that way of asking a question that kids do sometimes when they really do know the answer.

"Okay, so who do you think won?"

"The Americans?"

"Well, there ya go," I said with a smirk.

~ 2 ~

During the same time of reading during our schooling, we were reading a few pages from Children's Encyclopedia of American History.  There was a little snippet about Benjamin Franklin on one page that we read.  (Don't worry -- we're reading more than just a snippet about him in other books.)

In telling about him, one of the things is said was that he had "made key discoveries about electricity..." (the emphasis on the word key is mine, not the book's).

Eric heard us from the other room and he and I laughed so hard!  The kids needed to be clued in to why that sentence was horribly funny.  I told Eric, "Whoever wrote that was probably laughing his butt off about it."

~ 3 ~

On the good deal alert front, I just noticed that the Wii has dropped by $50, taking it down to $200, plus Amazon has a $25 gift card if you buy the Wii through them.  We love our Wii!

The other good deal that I just heard about is that at Motivated Moms, they have the 2009 Planner marked down to just $2.  They are normally $8 for a whole year, but with having just released the 2010 edition, they marked down the previously marked down 2009 edition to $2.  This is a great way to be able to inexpensively try it out to see if you like it enough to buy it for the new year!

~ 4 ~

Isn't it funny how you can make friends with someone so deeply in a seemingly short amount of time?  I first met my friend Amanda only about a year and a half ago.  It was a bit longer ago than that, but that's the first time we really talked at all.  (Ironically, we actually went to high school together, though I didn't know her, and I was in a class with her husband.)

And, now, I feel like all the time when I am talking I say things like, "Well, do you know what my friend Amanda does?" or "My friend Amanda said...".  People probably get tired of hearing about "my friend Amanda."

I have thought many times about how God has blessed my life by bringing Amanda and her family into it.  I especially thought of it last night.  I had been having a hard time, and probably wasn't the best of friends of the phone when we had a problem come up that Amanda and I had to deal with for our homeschool group.  I later text messaged her to say that it had been a hard day for our family (because of news about a close family member who is having a very difficult time right now), and that I was sorry for being "a sucky friend and a whiner." She texted me that she adored me.

And, even better, when I saw her later in the evening, without saying a word, she just came up and hugged me.  It was a long, firm hug.  And, I couldn't help but have to fight back tears.

I suppose it's a sign of a true friend when no words are needed, isn't it?

~ 5 ~

It seems appropriate for number five to say that Molly has been counting down the "sleeps" until her fifth birthday.  It's pretty darn soon!

How do they get so old so fast?

~ 6 ~

Speaking of little girls, we were excited to find out that my sister-in-law (Eric's sister), who is pregnant, is expecting a baby girl!

In a very odd twist, they (Eric's sister and her husband) had sent Molly a gift card for her birthday and she went out on Tuesday and bought a doll that she named Elizabeth.  Well, imagine our surprise to get a call (and email) confirming that their baby is a girl, and they will be naming her (yeah, say it with me) -- Elizabeth.  Funny, huh?

~ 7 ~

 It's been a week of some real ups and downs.  When I was feeling particularly down, I saw that Amanda (from Encouragement Along the Way, not the Amanda from #4) posted on Facebook the following as her status, and it was really exactly what I needed:


His mercies are new each morning!

 




This post is linked to 7 Quick Takes Friday.

photo credits: flag by Angie @ Many Little Blessings, except: keys by Bohman, sisterhood by  patries71, pink booties by debcll

Using Leftover Hamburger Buns to Make Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

I have talked about ideas before for using leftover hamburger buns.  One of my favorites, especially when the buns are starting to get a little on the not as soft side, is to make grilled cheese sandwiches with them.

I can't claim this ideas as my own.  One of my best friends, Amanda, used hamburger buns that they had gotten from family after a big cookout to make us all grilled cheese sandwiches.  I thought she was a genius, and knew I had to try it sometime too!  (Of course, I think she's a genius anyway, not just because of cheesy sandwiches.)

To make these great tasting grilled cheese sandwiches, you just open up the buns and put butter on the insides of the bun (both halves).  These will be used as the outside of the sandwich.  Then, you just put on whatever cheese you like best.  My kids like Velveeta.  Okay, I said cheese, but I apparently meant anything that is remotely like cheese.  You know, like Velveeta.  Personally, Eric and I like a little bit of white American and then some marble cheddar.  It's a really nice combination.

This summer, while trying to feed a houseful of people all kind of different leftovers, I made these sandwiches for a few people.  Everyone seemed a little leery of the idea, but then I got lots of compliments.

I love that they are not only tasty, but it also stops me from looking in the pantry only to find a science experiment on hamburger buns that I forgot were there.  Plus, it would be a fabulous thing to make when picking up marked down hamburger buns that are not so fresh anymore (in addition to several of the things on my leftover hamburger bun usage list).








This post is linked to Works for Me Wednesday and Frugal Friday.