About Italy!

We hosted homeschool group again today. This week, we talked about Italy!  I was trying to keep in line with the theme of love since it is February.  I figured the Italians are passionate people who have love for life and really great food! So, we colored the Italian flag, discussed facts about the country and made our own pizzas! We also had a yummy Italian salad, fruit and biscotti for dessert!

I would share some fun facts about Italy, but the most important thing you need  know is that they introduced the world to pasta and gelato! Ok, maybe they are also known for the incredible artists, Michelangelo and da Vinci, operas, beautiful fashion and amazing history.  It is a beautiful country that I would love to visit sometime in my life!  For now, I will just have to eat enough gelato to feel like I am there!  Dio ti benedice!

Awww spring!

I finally feel like I can take a deep breath! I was very excited about the fall and Christmas, but I have to say that I am really really pumped about spring this year!  We already have the start of some flowers coming up in the yard, and the weather is SOOO much better.  I am keeping my fingers crossed that the cold is over.  Spring always makes me want to organize and clean and open up the windows (which drives Lyndon nuts)! We have been in this house just over a year now, so it is time for the master list of to-dos around here (something else I do that drives Lyndon nuts)! I already have a start with painting the family room.  Now, I am looking at kitchen cabinets, the laundry room and perhaps taking out a wall, but that may have to wait! I will share that list once it is complete.

                                                         In the meantime, we are spending
                                                               our days updating hairdos...

...and do you remember this closet from a few weeks ago???

Here is the update!

I really wanted it to function as storage for art supplies but be a place for the boys can hang out.  I found the cabinet, ottomans and rug all at Target for about $100.  The ottomans are hollow which provided even more storage! I would still like to do more with the shelves.  They are organized, but they don't really appeal to me.  That will take a bit more time.  Cute organizing bins and such are expensive. But, I am happy with the start and feel like it is more user-friendly!

They boys have really enjoyed it!

In other news, I finally have a successful black-bean burger recipe!! One of the yummiest black bean burgers I have had was from Chili's (thanks to Melissa for introducing it to me)!  I actually found the recipe for it online http://www.kitchenlink.com/cookbooks/2006/141169709X_1.html.  Lyndon was really impressed and Logan liked it.  Luke would not touch it, but 3 out of 4 is not bad! It is a good alternative to burger nights or a great vegetarian meal!   

Meal planning!

Saturday Feb. 19th-25th!

19) Angel hair spaghetti with bread and asparagus
20) Chicken and Dumplings
21) Black bean burgers (trying a new recipe for this)
22) Egg sandwiches (all the boys love these)
23) Homemade chicken soup
24) Eggplant croquettes with tomato sauce
25) leftovers/out to eat!

We are trying to get in one or two more chicken and dumplings before the cold weather leaves us (which I am very excited about).  I consider it a winter meal.  I also have two vegetarian meals this week I am anxious to try out.  My last black bean burgers were awful, so I am attempting a different recipe this week!  I will be happy to share if it comes out ok!  Happy meal planning!

Valentine's Tradition!

For the last 7 years that we have been together, Lyndon and I have maintained a very sweet and sappy tradition!  Believe it or not, he is the one who suggested it, but it has turned out to be a lot of fun for us and far less expensive than the typical Valentine's Day spend.  We have to make each other's gifts using $30 and whatever we can find in an hour at Michael's.  Then, we have an hour to construct and present. We have come up with some pretty crafty and useful ideas over the last few years such as clocks, Sweet-Reminder jars, personalized storage boxes, picture frames and candle holders! I love the personal touches of each gift and the fact that it is not breaking the bank!  Here is what we came up with this year!!

I am kind of a slob in the kitchen, so I am sure that Lyndon thought this was quite appropriate!  He even decorated with a few of my favorite things! 

If you know my husband, or if you have heard me talk at all about his OCD, then you know this is for him.  A cork board for organizing business cards, receipts, notes etc. just seemed appropriate for office or home.  I printed off some black and whites of the boys and added them to the decor. That way he can see their sweet faces each time he adds something!

Hope you had a fabulous day with your loved ones!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

We hope you have had a wonderful Valentine's Day with your special someone!  The boys started their celebration last week with Homeschool group!  I cut out heart and star-shaped bread for some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!

It is amazing what kids will eat when it is in fun shapes!

 Lyndon watched me cut the bread into shapes and was concerned about the amount of bread going to waste.  I assured him it would not go to waste, and I toasted it and make it into bread crumbs to freeze!  Thanks for the idea, Kelly!

We also exchanged Valentine's with our friends at Homeschool group.

Our meeting place that day was close to these very friendly horses.  We stopped and bought them some carrots.  As you can see, they were pumped about a special treat.  They love the boys and always come running when we stop to say hi! 

My boys got me these beautiful roses!  Thank you Logan and Luke for thinking of me!  Logan did very well at keeping the secret from me!  He even made sure to tell me that my surprise was NOT flowers!  It totally threw me off when he said that :-)

And...we started our violin lessons today!  I thought is was a great way to celebrate Valentine's Day! Logan was sooo excited and can't wait for the next lesson!

XOXOXOXO

Meal planning!

Here are the meals for Sat. Feb. 12-18!

12) Tomato soup and grilled cheese
13) Orzo-stuffed peppers
14) Salmon patties, mashed potatoes and green beans
15) Three-cheese pasta with chicken and asparagus
16) Paninis
17) Greek ragout with raw veggies
18) leftovers/out for dinner!

Happy meal planning!

My new ride and a new need for ear plugs!

Here she is! 

This is Lulu! Lyndon found her one day while out running errands and decided I had to have her.  I know, I know...you are asking yourself why there is no basket!  We are on the search for the perfect wire basket that we can attach to the back. We feel it is only right and would go with the fenders perfectly!  I was the only one in the house who did not have a bike to ride, and the boys really want to hit the road when (if) the weather warms up!  I am excited to show her off!

As for the need for ear plugs, Logan has taken up the violin.

Originally, we were hoping to find him guitar lessons, but I hit a wall with that in the beginning.  No one said that he was old enough.  He was pretty upset about this, so I looked into violin which I know they teach to really young kids.  I finally found someone for violin lessons, and about that time a guitar teacher told me he would be willing to evaluate Logan for lessons.  So, I sat Logan down and gave him a choice.  He begged for the violin.  I was pretty surprised and waited a couple of days and asked him again.  As you can see, violin it is. I think this is working out, however!

Luke is really pumped about the guitar. So, right now, it pretty much sounds like a dying cat around here. Hopefully soon, we will have a sweet band!

Meals!

Sorry, being gone on Saturday threw me off of my routine!  Here are the meals for the week of Feb 5-11!

5) Lasagna, bread and caeser salad
6) Incognito burritos with black beans
7) Sneaky baked ziti and asparagus
8) Sloppy Joes with fresh, raw veggies
9) Homemade pizza
10) Chicken pot pie and green beans
11) leftovers/out to eat

Happy meal planning!

The Biltmore!

This past weekend Lyndon and I attended an awards ceremony in Ashville, home of the Biltmore the largest private residence in the U.S.  If you have never been here, I highly recommend you make a visit at some point in your life.  It is incredible!  The Biltmore was the home of George Washington Vanderbilt III.  The house alone has 4 acres of floor space, 250 rooms, 33 family and guest bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, 65 fireplaces, 3 kitchens, an indoor swimming pool, an indoor gym and bowling alley.  Pretty amazing considering it was constructed in 1889.  He lived there with his wife and their only daughter.  Just walking around the place was overwhelming, and you need a GPS to navigate. I can't believe it was for a family of three!  I will say that they housed probably hundreds of staff to keep it up and prepare food and accomodations for the MANY parties they threw.  It also sits on thousands of acres of land that he purchased at the time, and in the summer, there are beautiful gardens and a winery that produces some very tasty wine and beer.  They also now have a hotel on the property which is where we stayed.  I took pictures where I could, but they would not allow pics inside the mansion, so I bought some post cards so you can take a peek!

The Walled Garden

The Winter Garden which sat just inside the front door.  The ceiling was made of all glass so flowers and greenery could be enjoyed year round.

The Banquet Hall that could seat about 65 people.  It was the size of a standard basketball court.

The Billard Room

The Library which housed over 10,000 of the 23,000 books in the house! George loved to read!

Mr. Vanderbilt's Bedroom which overlooked the 125,000 acres that made up the estate!

Mrs. Vanderbilt's Bedroom which was decorated with silk imported from France.  George built the house before he married Edith and brought her over to this house after they honeymooned in Europe.  I am pretty sure they had to give her a paper bag to breathe into upon her arrival!  Can you imagine this being your first house after getting married? It is said that the Vanderbilts were very friendly and generous especially to those who worked in and around the house.  They gave fair pay and nice accomodations complete with indoor bathrooms for staff. After the George's death, Edith continued to live in the house and oversaw the dairy and vegatable farm.  Their only child Corneila took over the estate later on.  It was her and her husband who started the restoration and public viewings in the house during the depression.

This is the sitting room of the hotel that sits on the land, a mere four miles from the actual mansion. While not as grand as the mansion, it was very nice, nonetheless!

The winery used to be the dairy farm!

We got to do a wine and chocolate tasting which was pretty very yummy!

The view from our room!

More wine please!

A little change!

This is what I did at the beginning of this week.  This room was just too dark for me, so I made a slight change! The first few pics are some random ones showing the before color, a really dark burgundy.  It was ok, but it made the room feel small and dark.  Sorry for the lack of befores.  I have some somewhere of just the room, but they are lost somewhere in cyber world!

So, we did a little rearranging and added a new paint color!

What a HUGE difference!  I have to say that it was a pain to paint over the red, but I was thrilled with the way it turned out!  This paint color is called Peaceful.  I think it is very fitting!