Because two is better than one......

Mommy does Mommy things

Since I start working a contract job on Monday, I thought I would have one last Betty Crocker moment before I put being a house wife on hold. I made these delicious chocolate chip cookies.
And as usual, I got about 1 and half dozen from a 4 dozen cookie recipe (I tend to make my cookies a little big).

Health Insurance

On April 1st Dirk will have been unemployed for a year! It has been a struggle but I am actually kinda proud how we have come through it so far, using our money wisely and being grateful for what we have. And I am especially proud how well our marriage has held up so far, considering how much we are prone to fight. We are actually content these days :)

And now, after a year, we finally found a health insurance company that has approved us for coverage! It is a PPO, with our same doctors, and includes dental and vision, as well as illness coverage (like sick days) for Darryl, legal advice for starting our new company and much more. And all of it for $600 less a month than we have been paying for COBRA. Today we just had a huge load lifted off our shoulders in our fight to make it through this interesting economy, and we are so very EXCITED!

One missing friend

Where, oh, where did Carebear go.
I really miss her so.
She does not post on here no mo'.
Guess she is too busy going to and fro.
Someday I will see her again, I know.

Locks of Love

So, I finally did it! I cut off almost 12 inches of my hair, so I can donate it to Locks of Love. I LOVE not having so much hair and I think I look so much better now too. Maybe this will inspire me to change some other aspects of my body.

A New Backyard

Dirk and I have been talking and preparing to redo our backyard into a play yard for Munchi for quite some time. We bought a new play climber over two months ago, and dug out a bunch of the grass for wood chips over a month ago. As projects always seem to go around here, it continued to be derailed by weather and other immediate needs or desires. Well, no longer. I can happily say after three long hard days of work (admitedly, mainly done by Dirk), the back yard is completely redone into a wonderland playground. Though I forgot to take before pictures, those of you who have seen our backyard will appreciate the change. We removed a lot of grass and put in 4 inches of woodchips (Munchi agrees it is a very soft landing!), put together his play climber, added a sandbox, chairs and a teeter totter. While doing all this, we completely cleaned our patio off too, and now it is a safe, fun environment for Munchi and his friends. He loved every moment today and I know he will wake up bright and early tomorrow ready to go play. I am so excited for all the fun we can have outside, which is where he prefers to be. And this summer we will be adding a wading pool, water table and t-ball to the fun!

The new and improved climber


Sitting area and sand box


View from our grass area


Munchi enjoying his new climber (please ignore the outfit.... we had to use something he could get really dirty in the process)


Our backyard and clean new patio (and Abbey too)


Also, during all this, I was craving turkey and stuffing (if you know, no surprise there!), so I made a roast chicken and stuffing for dinner. It was delicious!! Here is a picture of the yummy bird, though it does not so it justice. I was so proud of how beautiful it turned out!

Handmade Challenge

Because I am dying to see what Carebear will come up for me, I am posting this challenge to all of you as well.

The first FIVE people to respond to this post will get something made by yours truly!!

I get to chose what it is, and make it just for YOU!!
However, this offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make! (although I'm hoping you do!)

2- What I create will be just for you.

3- It will be done this year. (before December 31, 2009!)

4- You have no clue what it's going to be. Unlike Cherry Tree Lane I am rather limited in my creativity channels but I enjoy photography, scrapbooking, card making... so it will definitely be a suprise as to what I make you!

The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must re-post this on YOUR blog and make the same offer to the first 5 people who respond on your blog entry, thereby continuing the fun!

The first 5 people to leave a comment telling me they will be posting this on their blog will win a homemade treat by me!

Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!

I am actually looking forward to this and am welcoming the challenge!