Cookie recipes for Micquel to try

So here are the cake mix cookies I told Micquel might work for her:

1 cake mix (any flavor)
1 box of pudding (regular size - some complementing flavor to cake mix, or vanilla)
1/2 c oil
2 eggs
3 TBS water (or juice)

Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes.

OR

(from Adria's friend Cathryn)
---don't use Duncan Hines brand---
1 cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 c oil
1 tsp vanilla

Roll into balls. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 - 10 minutes. Bottoms will be slightly brown and tops will be wrinkled.

Good luck!

What I Learned While Mopping the Floor.

The other day after I had swept the kitchen and decided I could mop, I headed to the front entry thinking it would be good to do that little square of floor too. On my way there, cheerfully thinking of the pretty shine it would be, I looked down the stairs and felt kind of ornery. They were a mess, why did the kids do this? Then pushing away the discouragement (it made me want to sit down and give up), I thought of how pretty the kitchen floor would be when I was finished and it was all shiny. Do you see? If you look at the mess and that is all you see, it is depressing and discouraging, but if you see the potential, the pretty it will be, it is actually fun and exciting!
You'll See!
"It's all how you look at it." - PBS I think

For me it also helps to pick one thing I can face, even if I start grumpy, and I find as I get moving it's not so bad. (It's kind of like excersize when you haven't done it for a while, you dread the first steps, only to realize you feel better after you've taken them).

So, Which One do You Like Better?

Also, have any of you seen August Rush? Beautiful movie.

hmmm

So I realized yesterday, that my closet looks like (forgive me) Stephen's Mother's did the first time I met her. I remember being weirded out by it because she had almost nothing in the rest of the house. My closet got this way because towels and blankets kept piling up in the boys room and I got so tired of wearing them out washing them, I decided they could each use one, and if they wet the bed they could wash it. It isn't working so great, but at least they don't pile up in their room as bad. Also I had them pile toys and garbage and even clothes into garbage bags one day because they were whining about cleaning, and then confiscated them (well, some of them) to my room so they wouldn't end up all over the floor again. Their room is a mess anyway, somehow. I'm working on that though.
I am a little concerned about Bryce. He got up this morning fine, but when his Dad asked about whether his pants were peed (were) he cryed. This really sad cry, and it was really simply stated, and they've all wet their beds before, and we learned with T not to make a big deal about it, so we haven't with Bryce (who doesn't have anywhere near the problem T had), and he kept saying he just wiped them with a rag - also he had a bit of a bloody nose (I think he has a nervous habit where he picks it?) which he hasn't had in a long time. Anyway, his tears didn't fit the situation - if you are a mother I think you would know what I mean. You get to know your childs cries, responses, etc. You know? Probably it was just staying up too late watching a movie, and me getting ornery (don't clean the house after 10:00 at night, it is way too easy to get yourself worked up, eh) about little stupid messes that clean up easily. Although I may not have been totally out of place telling Stephen to help change a light bulb and that the yard needed weeding (however, I didn't do it nicely, which was very wrong of me, sorry).
On another note:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRYCE!

Miscellaneous

Happy Birthday!

(dang, I should have cropped that cup out of the picture, but I'm not going to do it now, heh)
Adria and I had lots of fun shopping and decorating for her birthday [She did the decorating, actually, but I had fun thinking how fun that is - 8)]. She had most of it in the trailer! Then she and her friends had a blast late into the night.


Onto copying Megan: 8)!

I love the keeping the (flylady) sink shiny thing! My kids have been pretty good about putting their dishes in the dishwasher (not the sink) and if they don't I call them back to do it. No one has complained because they decided they like not doing dirty dishes. Also, I am better about putting pans and such straight into the dishwasher because I like my shiny sink. Stephen gets ornery about it, but he gets ornery about dishes in the sink too, so we'll let it pass. Also, it seems to spread, look at this clean stove top!




Also, I have been loving my morning and bedtime routines! Just a little pampering goes a long way!