Operation Christmas Child--you don't gotta spend a fortune!

So I love doing Operation Christmas Child gift boxes.  But I usually wait until the last minute, and then it costs a lot of money.  Well, this year, I am thinking ahead!  I got my first bunch of stuff recently at a scratch-and-dent store that is in an Amish settlement near my folk's house.  Here is the first haul....

A red zippered pouch for storage of goodies--$0.50

A better shot of it without the plastic bag on it  :)

A bar of soap that smells awesome--$0.25

Mini toothpaste--$0.25

Jumprope--$0.75

A hair accessory/bendy bow thing--$0.65

Three pack of necklaces--$0.45

And some pencils I got at Walgreens on clearance for $0.25.

Grand total so far--$3.10!!!!  I will of course be adding more, and I will keep you all posted of the grand total when it is chock full.

I hope to encourage others to do as many boxes as possible!  It does not take a lot of money if you just keep your eyes peeled throughout the year.  And what a blessing to the recipients!!!!

Summer Fun Ideas 2013--so far....

• Camp in back yard 
• Scavenger Hunt/Geocaching
• Tie Dying
• Fishing
• Lemonade stand/baked goods too?
• Farmer's Market
• Free Kids Movies at Collins Road Theaters
• Write letters to Grandma, Abby
• Sherbet Watermelon Pie
• Homemade hot air balloons
• Colored pasta, make jewelry
• Freeze toys in water, get out with screwdriver and hammer
• Homemade gak
• Bake cookies
• Build a fort, pop popcorn and watch a movie
• Play salon by doing hair and painting nails, put on jewelry
• Water balloon/gun fight
• Roast marshmallows
• Make puppets, have a puppet show
• Shop for school clothes
• Sewing lessons for Rose
• Paint pictures
• Adventureland
• Treats for neighbors
• Stargazing
• Homemade Slip and Slide
• Plant flowers
• Paper Bead jewelry
• Make bird feeders
• Old McDonald's Farm
• Family movie night—go to a theater
• Board game night
• Make greeting cards
• Choose a recipe, make a meal
• Wash the cars
• Make stepping stones
• Create a scrapbook
• Milk carton boats, then float them at the stream
• Make homemade ice cream
• Teach the kids to follow the FlyLady Daily Kids Challenges
• Try out different parks in town
• Make hobo dinners
• Watermelon seed spitting contest
• Paper airplane contest
• Library reading program
• Nodland Family Reunion
• Creek stomping
• Breakfast at Belinda's
• Go to pool
• Go shopping
• Have a lot of play dates
• Ride bikes
• Get Bobs
• Learn to crochet
• 1,2,3 Cannonball on the trampoline
• Get a YouTube channel
• Learn guitar
• Make friendship bracelets
• Make cute necklaces and bracelets
• Do crafts
• Sell stuff for money (bracelets, pictures, necklaces, etc)
• Play outside
• Have breakfast outside/at a park
• Face painting
• Bubble paintings
• Toilet paper roll target practice
• Make funnel cakes
• Iowa State Fair
• Go roller skating
• Pick berries at a strawberry farm
• Have a fancy tea party

Wondering if this will ever end?

So on January 1, 2013, I joined Weight Watchers.  My weight was the highest it has ever been, 271.6.  Talk about humiliation.  I hesitate to even put that on there because I know my husband reads my blog and I don't want him to know, I am so ashamed.  :(  But maybe that is what it will take?  I don't know.  Anyway, I have lost about 12 lbs so far.  Actually more than that--but I have lost, gained, lost, gained--I would guess I have lost and regained maybe 15-20 lbs.  All in a three month period.  I want this time to be different--I want to lose 100 lbs.  I want to weigh less than I ever have in my adult life.  I believe when I had my senior pics taken, I weighed 175.  I thought I was so fat then!  Now I am nearly 100 lbs more than that.  UGH.  I want to be healthy for my family.  I want to be beautiful for my husband.  I want him to be able to carry me across the threshold  :)  I want to be able to go into a regular clothing store and buy a cute dress and have it fit me!  I want to not feel like I have let God down because I have chosen food over Him as a god in my life.  Ouch.  That hurts to admit but it is true.  I read on another blog today that if I cut out all sugar and refined flour that I will eventually stop craving it.  I think that is what needs to happen because I tell you what, if you put a box of cookies in front of me, I could eat the whole thing.  I have done it before, I know I could.  I don't know how to do it in a way that my family will accept, but I need to find a way.  Lord help me.

1. What is something Momma always says to you? 
Rose:  How was school today?
Em:  I don't know

2 What makes momma happy?

Rose:  When I make her a card
Em:  I don't know

What makes momma Sad?

Rose:  When I disobey
Em:  I don't know

4. What makes Momma laugh?

Rose:  When I tickle you or tell you a joke
Em:  (Makes a face)

5. What was momma like as a child?

Rose:  She only had some hair in one grade
Em:  I don't remember you being a little girl

6: How old is Momma?

Rose:  35?
Em:  13?

How tall is momma?

Rose:  Pretty tall
Em:  I don't know

8. what is momma's favorite thing to do?

Rose:  Spend time with her family and friends
Em:  I don't know

9. What does Momma do when you're not around?Rose:  Read and ignore my sister
Em:  (shrugs shoulders)

10. If momma becomes famous, what will it be for?Rose:  Singing
Em:  (Points to herself)

11. What is momma really good at?

Rose:  Running...actually singing
Em:  Sewing

what is momma not very good at?

Rose:  Nothing
Em:  Sewing this (points to a shirt)

13. What does Momma do for her job?

Rose:  She used to make Avon orders, but now she makes dresses!
Em:  Sew

14. What is momma's favorite food?

Rose:  Probably tacos?
Em:  I don't know

15.What makes you proud of Momma?

Rose:  Pretty much everything
Em:  (shrugs shoulders)

16. If momma was a cartoon character who would she be?

Rose:  Most likely Flip the Frog's girlfriend
Em:  (shrugs shoulders)

17 what do you and momma do together?

Rose:  Watch TV together sometimes, otherwise read a book together
Em:  I'll show you when I go inside....

18. How are you and momma the same?

Rose:  Let's see...we both like books
Em:  (shrugs shoulders)  

19. How are you and momma different?

Rose:  Ummm I don't look like you
Em:  I don't know

20. how do you know momma loves you?

Rose:  She acts like it
Em:  (Shrugs shoulders)

21. Where is momma's favorite place to go?

Rose:  I don't know, maybe Pizza Hut?
Em:  Fabric store

We'll try later for Part 2.  Em is not being very cooperative.

Day 21

If you could have one superpower, what would it be and what would you do with it first?

If I could get to places without having to drive, that would rock.  I LOATHE long car rides, so if it could be like Star Trek and I just push a little button on my shirt and *poof* I'm there...that would be awesome.

Day 20

Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.

1.  I remember my mom painting the house once.  I wanted to be out there and help her.  Jeff and Sue must have been in school already.  So she gave me a bucket of water and let me "paint" the bricks on the bottom of the house  ;)

2.  Visiting my Great Grandma Fairchild in the nursing home.  She was in a room by herself and from what I remember it only had a twin bed (the one Rose uses now), a desk (which is in our kitchen), an overstuffed chair, a small TV on a stand, and a bookshelf.  In the bottom drawer of the desk she kept a small red rubber ball that she would let us sit on the floor and bounce against the door and play catch with ourselves.  On her bookshelf she had an oval shaped thing with blue and white sand in it, and when you flipped it around and around it looked like the ocean waves.  I have never seen another like it since.  We must have visited her a lot because I am pretty sure I was only about 7 or 8 when she died.

3.  When I was in Kindergarten some other kids on the school bus dared me to kiss a boy and I did.  I think only on the cheek  ;)

Day 19

If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?

I really like water....so anywhere that is near water.  Duluth/Two Harbors, MN really is a favorite place.  Or Pensacola, FL.  Or I know of this really great cabin in Birchwood, WI.....