Fall is Here

Ahhh, the calendar has said "Fall" for a week now, but the weather the last few days, feels like "Fall". It's a welcomed change and I for one am ready for cooler weather.

Our house is decorated for the season. I did it all Monday afternoon in between bringing Rachel home from school (after having worked in the classroom all morning) and going back to get Hannah. A friend was coming over that night to tally up our candle fundraiser and get our order, etc, and I wanted our house decorated and looking festive. So I went to town and did it! I have a friend who thinks I have issues and that I need help. LOL. When I want something down for a particular event, I have to get it done! Even if it kills me. LOL.

But here, is a glimpse of how Fall has fallen in our home....

It's Fall Time at Disneyland

The Halloween season kicked off last weekend at Disneyland. I love this season at Disneyland with everything all decorated for Fall, I can do without the ugliness of Halloween. But I like the colors and smells this season brings.

Disney is really promoting Halloween time this year with a whole new fireworks show, redo of Space Mountain for the season, and a few other things. The new fireworks made it debut on Friday night and me and the girls were there to watch. We left right after we picked up Hannah from school and made our way to my Happy Place. We hit California Adventure for a while, going to the Animation Building for a while (cause it was cool in there) and taking pictures with some characters. We eventually found a classmate of Hannah's who was there celebrating her birthday and we hung out with her for a while and did a few rides. And then we went and grabbed a spot for the fireworks. The best seats in front of the castle were all ready filled up, and that was with an hour and half until showtime. We still got a good curb seat. The new show was done to all the villainous Disney music. I liked the fireworks show. Rachel cried through most of it, and Hannah said it was too loud as we were directly below a speaker. But I enjoyed them!Having been sitting for an hour and a half, I didn't realize how crowded and filled Main Street had become with people viewing the fireworks. But it was bad. And for some reason, the Cast Members appeared to be not ready for the crowds. Why? I have no idea, especially since they were handing out "In anticipation of large crowds..." notices at the parking structure. But it was gridlocked and panic set in for a brief moment as NO ONE was moving, the air was still, etc. They finally opened up the backstage area to lead out to the exits, and then it started moving. Here's a shot of Main Street, that's all people!!!Despite the crowd getting out, I had a great time. I always enjoy the time it's just me and my girls after not having been with both of them for a while. They had a good time too, and we're looking forward to returning again this Friday night to finally see Murphy, the Fantasmic dragon!

A Finished Project

With both the girls in school everyday, leaving me a little more than 3 hours a day with no kids home, I really wanted to use my time wisely. I didn't want to waste the time away on the computer or anything else unproductive. I could easily waste away hours on the computer with playing games, reading blogs, etc, etc. And I just did not want to do that.

There were/are some household deep cleaning projects I want to get done. There are some old crafts I want to do. Some craft materials I want to use up, etc.

I'm happy to say, I'm accomplishing much, especially on the deep cleaning projects around the house! I'm also happy to say I finished a craft project that's been sitting in my craft box for years.

I had all these Yo-Yo's made out of Christmas fabric that I sewed buttons into the middle of and then I sewed each one together (yes, by hand) and made this:It's just a little bit smaller than a placemat. I though it would look cute on the kitchen nook table with a festive candle in the middle or even on our family room coffee table. I haven't decided where I'll use it. But after years of sitting in the craft box, it's done!

I finished it last weekend and I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out! And now that I haven't been working on it, I miss working on such a project that I can work on five minutes here and there throughout my day. My next project will be my Christmas ornaments for a Christmas ornament exchange I'm a part of!

New Recipe is a KEEPER!

On grocery weeks (typically the week of getting paid), I sit and make our dinner menu for two weeks. We've really cut back on the amount of eating out in the last six months and since then I've been really trying to come up with new meals to make so as to not get stuck making and eating the same meals, week after week. This week, I have a few new recipes I'm trying and I tried one for dinner last night and it was a huge hit and was deemed a "keeper". So I wanted to share the recipe.

Quick Crescent Taco Bake

1 lb. ground beef
1 pkg. taco seasoning
1 small onion - chopped
1/2 c. water
1/2 c. salsa
1 can refrigerated crescent rolls
1 1/2 c. crushed corn chips
1 c. sour cream
1 c. shredded cheddar cheese
lettuce
tomatoes
extra cheese

Brown meat and onions, drain. Add seasoning mix, water and salsa. Simmer for 5 minutes.

Spread crescent roll dough in 10 inch pie plate or 8×10 inch dish to form crust. Seal edges.

Sprinkle 1 c. chips over crust.

Layer meat mixture, sour cream and cheese on top of crust.

Sprinkle with remaining corn chips. For color, I sprinkled a few chopped green onions atop.

Bake at 375° for 20 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Serve with lettuce, tomatoes, and more cheese.

Watch and Be Aware

There's a new scam happening out there. Take a look at this video and be aware!

Stealing Bank/Personal Information

On the Mend...Perhaps

This morning, I feel as though I've been hit by a Mack Truck.

Every muscle in my upper body is sore from all the coughing I did over the weekend.

I was down all weekend and it stinks. Monday mornings are supposed to be my day in Rachel's classroom and there was no way I should be in a classroom with kids today. I don't want to expose them to what I have, and I don't want to pick up any thing new from them in my state of a compromised immune system. I think for the most part, I am on the mend. Aside from the soreness and the headache (thanks to the drop in the barometric pressure), I'd be pretty good.

Time to eat some breakfast and take something for this headache and muscle soreness...

Fall is in the Air

Fall is in the air today, can you feel it?

Today is the first day in a very, very long time that we haven't had to turn our air conditioning on and it's been absolutely wonderful. With all the germies floating around in our house, it's been nice to have the windows open and get a good airing out of the house.

It's weather like that that makes me want to drag out my Fall decorations and get this place spruced up for Fall. But I'll wait a few more weeks.

Sick Day

First it was Rachel.

Then it hit Hannah.

I felt yesterday that I was battling it, and by the end of last night Steven did too. So far, he's managed to escape it.

I unfortunately did not. I have been down all day with a chest cold. Thanks to Airborne, I avoided a head cold, but it seems like in the last year or two my colds settle at the top of my lungs and it's so annoying, not to mention uncomfortable.

We had no place we had to be today, which was nice, but I had some things I was wanting to get done and that didn't happen. I've been lounging about on the couch most of the day.

Here's hoping that I can get a good nights sleep and not be up all night coughing...

This Past Weekend

I realize we are now closer to the next weekend than to the last, but things around here have been a little busy the last day or two. But I wanted to share about our adventures.

This last weekend was a three day weekend and the girls spent the long weekend with their Gramie, Steven's mom. The girls as always had a good time, unfortunately, Rachel came home sick and had to stay home from school yesterday, and today it appears that Hannah is fighting something. In addition to a congested nose, she's complaining her ears are plugged. I sense there could be another trip to our Pediatrician before the weekend if her ears should start hurting.

But anyways, back to our weekend...

On Friday night, we simply stayed home. I tried out a new recipe for dinner (oriental chicken salad) and much to my surprise, Steven liked it! It's not something I would make when the girls are home, so I was happy to have the opportunity to try it out on him. We watched a movie and then reclined to the office - I on my computer, and he on his. :) Ahhh, so romantic, isn't it?!?!

Last Spring, when the new Star Trek movie was released, it was on Steven's list of "To See", but it just didn't work out and we missed it. However, on Friday, the movie was re-released into IMAX for a few weeks. The only theater in our area showing it had a single showing at 10:30pm, and for me, that would literally be paying for a nap! So we found an IMAX theater in Los Angeles that had a middle of the day showing and ventured in L.A. to see Star Trek. Not being a fan of Star Trek, I kinda expected to be bored through the movie, etc. But it was a really good movie! I might actually pay attention to the old episodes of Star Trek from now on when Steven's watching them!

After the movie, we headed over to the Santa Monica Pier. They've recently redone parts of it in anticipation of it's centennial celebration (today, actually 09-09-09). But we decided we really didn't want to pay $10.00 to park, so we drove, and drove, and drove down the coast. We drove through all the little beach towns of Los Angeles County - Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Palos Verdes, and several other little towns we didn't know the names of. We found the Trump International Golf Course that sat on the cliffs of the Pacific Ocean. We found ourselves in neighborhoods of homes that were absolutely breathtaking, leaving us wondering what in the world people did to own such beautiful and large homes with the views they had. We ended our drive down the coast in San Pedro and had dinner at a Mexican restaurant we've frequented a few times before in Ports of Call. We enjoyed a table on the patio and once again enjoyed a meal with uninterrupted adult conversation. After a nice relaxing dinner at seaside, we hopped on the freeway and headed inland, to home. On Sunday, our morning was filled with church. Our usual lunch plans of going to Miguels Jr with two families of friends didn't happen as neither came to church that day. So, once again, we were forced to have a meal out, with uninterrupted adult conversation. Ahhhh, it was such bliss.

Mid afternoon, we had a birthday celebration to attend for a dear friend from church. This little dinner party has been in the works for a month, she chose to meet at Bucca De Peppo's as that was her favorite place to eat. There were seven couples, no kids, and to say the fellowship and food were great would be an understatement. It was unfortunate for the birthday girl that a crown came off just as our dinner was arriving and she could not eat. But aside from not being able to eat at the very place she'd been looking forward to, I know she enjoyed the time spent with friends. With a stop at The Cheesecake Factory for some cheesecake to take home, it was a perfect way to end a great afternoon!

Monday didn't hold much. I got my haircut (i"m loving this shorter length since cutting 10+ inches off and donating). And then we just hung out at home - each on our own computers as we waited for the girls to return home. And then when they returned home, it was time for doing their laundry, unpacking, and getting focused for starting the new week. It was a nice, relaxing weekend and I was thankful for it...

09-09-09

I just had to point out how cool today's date is!!!

P.S. Happy Birthday to my Sister in Law, Gracie. She's on the downside of her thirties now. :X

President Obama's Speech to Public Schools

As some of you may be aware, tomorrow, in public schools all across America, President Obama will address students and their education. He's not the first President to do so, in fact former President Bush made a similar address to public school students in 1991.

President Obama's speech pretty controversial subject among the political blogs, websites, and news sites. Therefore some schools are choosing not to show the President's speech. Some schools will. After inquiring in our school office, I was notified that our school will be showing the President's speech.

Today, President's Obama's speech was released on the White House website. You can read it here.

After reading it, putting political differences aside, I think it's a really good speech. There are rumors that parts of his speech have been edited, etc. But all in all, the speech was a good one.

To many young children, the President of the United States of America is very important person. And some of these kids might just be encouraged in their education by listening to his speech.

Not only have I read the speech, but we'll be watching it tomorrow on the internet. And we'll be discussing it with Hannah over dinner tomorrow night.

No Child Left Behind

It's no secret, we have both our children in public school. We take the public school system on a year by year basis. And so far, so good, curriculum wise. We are very involved in knowing what our kids are being taught, going on at the school, etc. We are involved.

I found this article this week No Child Left Behind: The Good and The Bad

Read it.

What you think about the article?

In your comments, please be mindful that we all school our children differently - public, private, homeschool. No one way is correct for all. It's an individual families' decision based on the needs of your children and the direction the Lord has laid out for your family.

Meet Murphy

This summers promotion at Disneyland was called "Nightastic". I wrote a post about how awesome some of it sounded.

One of those things was the new animatronic dragon that was to be added to Fantasmic!. The dragon was supposed to debut on June 11, but things went wrong and rumors were that his head fell off.

Well, finally, after months and months of delay, Murphy the Fantasmic! Dragon made his debut last night. Here is a clip of Murphy from his premiere last night. <FYI: No, I did not tape this video. All I'll say is that Disneyland and Fantasmic! Fans have been waiting for Murphy to premiere all summer and I can understand their excitement and can't wait to see him in person myself!

Keep Watching and Praying...

Last May, President Obama declined to commemorate
the National Day of Prayer at The White House.

But yet, tonight will commemorate
the end of the Muslim Ramadan by hosting a dinner.

Keep watching and praying.

"Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." Luke 21:26-28