How do you make green beans taste better?

Douse it with salt!

(advice courtesy of Ashlyn).

Remember, this?

Well, this year was a bit different (as far as Spencer is concerned)...

He either wanted to throw them or...


eat everything inside even if ants were involved.



Ashlyn and Kylie, as always, are happy to show (not share) their loot.

Everyday this little girl wants me to dress her in my clothes. I love it!

Finally made the switch...

...now, who is supposed to sleep where?

I love Mondays!

Really, I do!

It's my cleaning and 'get-the-work-done' day. I can hardly contain myself for Monday morning to get here to get to work. I really have to restrain myself on Sunday evening - not even kidding. Ashlyn and Spencer expect it and sometimes will help. After having family time all weekend, I don't feel bad letting them play by themselves (or together) especially since they can entertain themselves without the television. Here are all the things I can do and be ready for the week:

1. 6 GIANT loads of laundry
2. Clean and bleach the bathrooms.
3. Vacuum and dust all the furniture.
4. Clean the office (a huge task in itself).
5. Clean the playroom.
6. Clean my room.
7. Clean the girls' room.
8. Dishes done and put away as well wiped down counters (not an everyday thing here).
9. Switch out/clean out/straighten up clothes in dressers and closets.
10. Organize a different closet/space, etc each Monday.

The kids will jump in every now and then to help out and I will give them specific tasks to complete. Then for the rest of the week, I can give them more time because I don't feel so horrible about my house. Now, I am not saying that my house is as spic-n-span as I would like, but it is much better than the tornado that passes through over the weekend. And, besides, if Ashlyn & Spencer can have some bonding time, why not?

We saved ourselves from another $500!

Not even kidding. Our washer stopped one laundry day last week before it even drained the water. A few wonderful friends offered their washer so I didn't have to spend a fortune at the laundromat (not to even mention the adventure I would have there with 3 kids!).

David was out of town the entire week and didn't have a chance to look at it. In fact, we almost pronounced it dead and purchased a new washer. But, thanks to personal inspiration and revelation, David decided to give it a try. It was simpler to fix than either of us ever imagined. Another blessing we count especially now when we need all the blessings we can get.

Remember this post?

Well, the predictions of destroyer came true! These are only a few shots of his work. He is known to tear apart pictures, Lincoln Log houses and, especially, the kitchen, food everywhere, in seconds.