Taxes

My taxes are done and filed. Ahhh, what a good feeling to know I have so much money coming back. With any luck it wont be a fiasco like it was last year to actually get my return. It literally took months. I had to open a dispute case with the IRS and they assigned an advocate to my case in order to see why it was taking so long. I had to resubmit everything also.

My summer vacation is only made possible from using part of my tax return. So, I was in panic mode when July rolled around and still no return. Luckily, the advocate came though and I got my return just weeks before my trip. Cross your fingers it doesn't take nearly that long this year!

Now that I know what I'm getting back, time to allocate. Part for my summer vacation & fun with the kids, part put away for the kids education, a bit for the inevitable emergency or unexpected expense, and the rest for the house/remodeling (..and I've had a couple things on my wish list for a very long time, if there's anything leftover).

Thankful Thursday

Of the many blessings I have, I am thankful for:

• Finding new board games the whole family loves
• Healthy homemade snacks
• Sharing other's traditions
• Laughing until your side ache
• Knowing that tomorrow (Fridays) are short days. 
• Seeing A's on my kids report cards
• Sun dried tomatoes
• Hummus
• Homemade smoothies
• House plants

Compare

I didn't order from Bountiful Basket this last week. Instead, I shopped at my local grocery store. Most of the produce I bought was on sale, and the picture on the left shows what I bought. Out of curiosity, I deducted the couple other things I had bought on that trip to see my total spent on these fruits & veggies. $16.23. Compared to the picture on the right from one of our Bountiful Baskets which is $16.50 ($15 for the basket & $1.5 handling fee) Huge difference! I compared a week that had similar items: bananas, apples, pears, oranges, celery & red onion.

62 Items versus 21 for (basically) the same price! I'm so thankful for this food co-op so I can keep feeding my family this quantity of fresh healthy foods.

Thankful Thursday

Of the many blessings I have, I am thankful for:

• Board games
• Snuggling up on the couch & watching movies with someone I love
• Whip cream, dusted with cinnamon on top of a warm drink
• Seeing my kids setting goals for themselves
• Watching my children accomplish their goals
• The feeling of being on an adventure when the power goes out
• Having something to look forward to
• The feeling of sunshine on my face
• A new book
• Good health

The Library

Have I mentioned how much I love, love, love the public library? Actually, I know I have, but I'm mentioning it again. When you turn 5 in this household, not only does it mean time for kindergarten.. but time for your own library card.

I love putting books on hold.

We borrow a lot of books.

It's not uncommon for us to reach our limit of books we can have on hold...on each card.

It's exciting, like Christmas morning.. to walk into the library and see a whole shelf of books, with colorful pieces of paper peeking out of the pages with your name on it.

It's something you've wanted, and there it is, waiting for you to take it home and carefully thumb though the pages and absorb all it has to offer.

And.. is it just me or is there something about a really great bookmark that makes a book even better?

Thankful Thursday

Of the many blessings I have, I am thankful for:

• Green Tea
• The smell of lemon
• Bamboo
• Skype
• Toe socks
• Down pillows
• K-Love
• Peppermint bark
• Crepes
• Brie

13

I am officially the mother of a teenager. Holy-Moly. You know how grown ups have always told you, wait till you have kids and see how fast time goes by.. they weren't kidding! Turning 30 this last year did not make me feel old. Having a teenager does. I was talking to my Mom and she said, Hey! I have a grandchild that's a teenager, think how I feel! Haha. I love my Mom. I thank God for such a good kid. I remember, when I was still pregnant, being worried about the teenage years. Granted I've got a while to go, but so far, so good. (knock on wood). It seems like everyone I know with pre-teens/teens are having so much trouble. I thank my lucky stars for her. She may be growing up fast but she will always be my baby girl.

For her birthday dinner, Jackson and I made her our famous mushroom stroganoff (with portobello mushrooms) and since Ashleigh is the lover of all things tiny and miniature we made her mini cheesecakes.

That weekend my Mom surprised her with lunch at one of her favorite restaurants, Simply Sushi, with the whole family. It was delicious (as always). They served her mango ice cream, with a candle and we all sang Happy Birthday to her. She wasn't sure about eating ice cream with chopsticks, that was a first for all of us!

Next weekend is her birthday party; a sleepover (on the trampoline of course). A house full of teenage girls, movies, snacks & decorations.. so fun!

Wordless Wednesday

2010 At A Glance

Good Times:

     

 and Bad:

Being Silly:

Having Adventures:

       

 Facing New Challenges:

and Sharing it all with Family & Friends:

 Looking forward to 2011 and what it has to bring. Facing it head on, acknowledging that everyday is a blessing, making the most out of it, and taking time to really enjoy it!

Thankful Thursday

This year has been great, although a bit of a roller coaster. We have lost people we love, yet have build stronger relationships with the people we still have. Everyday is truly a gift and that in itself, I am very grateful for. Of the many other blessings I have, here are a few things I am thankful for:

• Long lasting friendships
• Great advise from my Mom when "they are at it again" (no, not my children haha)
• Those deep meaningful conversations that last through the wee hours of the morning
• Laughing till you cry
• Really, really good food
• A good nights sleep 
• Growing our own food
• Watching my children play together
• New books
• Traditions

Ashleigh at 13

How old are you? I'm 13

What is your favorite color? Lime green

What is your favorite animal? Zebra

What is your favorite food? Everything

What do you want to be when you grow up? Actress

What is your favorite book? The BFG (by Roald Dahl)

What is your favorite song? I don't have a favorite song

What is your favorite TV show? The Office

What was your biggest accomplishment this last year? I passed pre-Algebra

What is your favorite season? Summer Why? Because I can go swimming and it's not cold

Where would you most like to go for a vacation? Hawaii

What is your favorite thing to do? Hang out with my friends

Where do you like to go for dinner? Joe's Crab Shack

Who is your best friend? Kylee

Wordless Wednesday

Change...

Everyone on this Earth wants the same things. We want to be happy, healthy, able to support ourselves/families, to be loved and have someone to love. It still boggles my mind to think this and realize how much hate is in this world. I wish everyone would open their eyes, minds and hearts. The amazing thing is that you will feel better, and have more joy in your life, if you are more open to helping others. I urge you this year to be more thankful, more forgiving, and giving of yourself to others, like the quote says,

"be the change you want to see in the world" -Gandhi

This topic has been weighing heavily on my mind for months now. This was the first song I heard in 2011. It came on the radio as I was driving to work. I've heard it a few times since and it still gives me goosebumps. I wanted to share it with you: