Merry Christmas and Seasons Greetings!


Well I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. Ours was filled with class parties, movies, goodies, and unfortunately sickness. The week before Christmas I was busy getting everything ready for Brooklyn, Jonah, and Jackson's class parties.  For Brooklyn and Jonah I made sugar cookies and got their teacher gifts ready.  For Jackson's there was a lot more involved.  We had crafts, games, food, and fun.  I like being homeroom mom!
                                                          
                                                         Christmas gifts for the teachers

                                                           
                                              Pin the tail on Rudolph game painted by Daddy!
 
                                                                            Party Tables for Jackson's Class


                                                                   Food table....yum!


                                                                         Singing 12 days of Christmas!

                                                          Needless to say the kids had a lot of fun.

Now the weather has been pretty funny.  It has been pretty warm here...some days in the 60's.  So of course we had to have some fun at the park!


                                                      Swinging good time



                                                         Climbing boy!


                                                       Sibling love


Right before Christmas we had some awesome pictures taken by one of my best friends Amber.  She is starting to do photography and she did a great job!


                                                                   Clupny Family 2011



                                                  Family Fun




                                                                 Jonah flying!



                                                             Sweet Jonah

               
                                                          Beautiful girl

                                                                Handsome boy


                                                                  My present!

                                                                      Cheese!!

So then I was busy at sewing trying to get the kids Christmas pajamas done.  I am having so much fun sewing and love that I can make the kids some cute things! The kids like having pants/dresses made just for them.

                                                         
                                                             Christmas pajama pants!

  So we planned on going to church on Christmas Eve, but then sickness hit.  Wednesday night we had my grandparents over for dinner and to open gifts before they left for Tennessee.  Jackson wasnt feeling the best and before the night was over he had thrown up.  By Saturday night Brooklyn and Jonah were coughing up a storm and running low grade temps.  So we had a nice dinner...got into our Christmas pajamas, and all camped out in the living room watching Christmas movies.
                                                             
                                                            Happy faces for sickly kiddos!

We had a wonderful Christmas breakfast and then the kids couldnt wait any longer.  They loved their presents and it was such a joy to see their happy faces.  I am glad the weather was nice so the kids could ride in their new powerwheel.  They couldnt wait.  On Monday we all went to the doctor.  Upper respiratory infections for everyone and Brooklyn and Jonah had double ear infections as well. Talk about ending the Christmas break with a bang!  Well, I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday.  Even with sickness it was a blessed Christmas...enjoying family...friends....and the true reason for the season....our Lord Jesus Christ.

A time to be busy.....


The holiday season sure is a time to be busy. Everyone and everything is in such a hurried state to get things done before Christmas and the end of the year.....we are no exception.  There are Christmas parties, and donation drives, shopping and wrapping, and decorating.  Luckily we did our Christmas shopping in September and I am finishing up my sewing projects.

So this past week was a good one.  I have been getting into my training well and not really hurting. I am working towards two races in April..a 5K and a 10K.  I am up to 4.5 miles running comfortably...i could finish, but some walking would be involved.  It will be a lot easier to run in the Spring/Summer than Winter.  Looking forward to being healthier.  Jeff is doing really well with his diet and sodium levels.  His blood pressure too has been so much better.  He has an appt on Dec 29th and I hope the doctor will be pleased.  I have a follow up on the 22nd to deal with my reflux.  They have now put me on Zantac and I am not sure it is really working.  I need to get some organic apple cider vinegar and hopefully I can take it this time...(gastritis gone?)

On Friday my sweet boy Jackson won the Pride Award for displaying compassion.  I am so proud of my sweet boy! He is so loving!!  All my children are so sweet and I thank God for them!!  Hope you all are having a wonderful week.  Now to prepare for mine....lots of Christmas parties/events coming up!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!


Hey guys!
  Well Thanksgiving was awesome and I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday as well.  We had everyone over to our house and had a great dinner.  We had fried turkey, lemon roasted chicken, roasted asparagus, potatoes, and carrots, macaroni and cheese, cheesy potatoes, rolls, cranberry sauce and relish, deviled eggs, pumpkin, pecan, and cherry pie, and a triple layered chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream and a dark chocolate ganache. 
                                                                 
   

Yep.....need to work out! The best part was having our family together and having a wonderful time.  So we ate our lunch and everyone retreated home for a deserved nap.  That evening we decided to take down all the harvest/fall decorations and up came Christmas.  All we need to do is the outside, but cant yet until our new roof is up which hopefully will be this week.
                                                     
                                                   

                                                        
                                                           Living room all decorated!

So Friday night my mom, Artie, little brother, and his friend stayed the night.  The boys played playstation and we adults played some trivial pursuit....girls vs guys. You know who of course won......GIRLS!!  Saturday morning my mom and Artie took the kids to Chuck E Cheese while Jeff and I did some grocery shopping.  Jeff went to the doctor a few days prior for a sinus infection, but really the doctor was concerned with his blood pressure.  So now he is working on losing weight and we are on a low sodium diet and some BP meds.  This morning was the first normal BP.  Yippee!!  We are all on the get healthy bandwagon! Well, I hope everyone is getting ready for Christmas.  I hope it is a time of remembering the true meaning of Christmas....God's gift of his holy son who saves us.

Hey guys!
   I am so sorry.  It really shouldn't be so hard to keep up with a blog, but the thing is I have just let life and no time get in the way.  I need to make time.  So much has happened these last two months and I really wish I had written everything when it happened so you can get the full blown story. Hmmm.. September.  September was a month of adjustment.  Just getting Jackson use to school and the rest of the family as well.  Jackson is doing awesome in kindergarten and having a blast.  In October he won the Red Hot Reader award and has already started reading.  His teacher is really proud of him and what can I say...we are too.  October was the month and busy school events and Halloween.  The kids had such a great time trick or treating except for Brooklyn who was sick.  November.....my big boy (my baby) Jonah turned two!!  He had a great party.  It was an Elmo cooking party.  They made pizza and all the kids really had a blast.  I am going to work hard on updating frequently and putting up picks.  I know there are family and friends out there who are anxious to hear every story, see every picture, and I will work better to see that you all get that.  I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving and I WILL put up pics!  I am so grateful for a loving God who is an amazing provider.  He is definitely something to be thankful for.

Fall is on it's way!

Well it has been a bit crazy around here, but what else is new? On Wednesday August 24th my nephew was born.  So exciting having another baby in the family.  Jackson is doing so well in school and making new friends.  Of course I have to sign up or agree to help out at the school.  I am homeroom mom, on the planning committee for the Fall Festival, and might be a box tops coordinator for the school.  You know it might be a lot of work and keep me busy, but I love it!  Brooklyn is getting bigger and more beautiful every day.  She starts soccer next Sunday and I am so excited to see her play. Jonah is getting more independent.  He hardly wants me to carry him anymore...he just says "I walk".  So this weekend was Labor Day weekend. My mom and her husband came into town for a visit.  On Friday I went shopping a bit with her and my grandma and then we had a nice lunch before I went home for a nap before work.  Saturday she and Artie (her hubby) took the kids to the park, chuck e cheese, and shopping while I slept and Jeff worked on the playset.  He got it all straightened, replaced some boards, stained it, and added a new slide, telescope, and ship steering wheel.

Brooklyn manning the wheel

Look out!  Jackson will see you!

The new playset

 Sunday was church and spending time with my new nephew.  Monday we spent all day outside.  It was gorgeous.  I wore jeans and a t-shirt and felt great. I had the windows open and let the house air out.  So excited for the weather to be this way all week.  Well I hope you all enjoyed your weekend!!

Open up!

Well, it has been a crazy week!  Finding more and more of my days filled and in the car.  Taking and picking up Jackson every day means a lot of time in the car, not to mention me trying to get my workout on (at the gym) and then gymnastics for the kids on Monday and Tuesday.  This Monday I had my EGD which is where they take a tube with a small camera and go down my throat and into my stomach and upper intestines.  Apparently I have a hiatal hernia and it looks like a touch of gastritis (inflammation of the stomach-it was pretty red).  I follow up with the GI doc the beginning of Sept, so I will see then.  Today my nephew was born.  I am so excited.  He and mom had a rough start so he will be in the hospital for a bit.  But I am so thankful God brought him to our family and to his mom and dad.  I know they will be great parents.  I know I am, and the rest of the family, are ready for fall.  Ready for jeans, crisps air, great food, hot cider and chocolate, and football.  This year I am taking part in my first fantasy football league.  I hope I do ok!  Praying to God that I try to slow down a bit ( I know .....it is really me talking) and just enjoy this time with my family and give myself more time to reflect and meditate on God's word and how important it is in helping me and my family through the everyday!

Wow....what a month!

Hey!

  I know....I know.....havent written.  I am so sorry!  It has been a crazy month.  My reflux is getting worse so this coming Monday (the 22nd) they are doing an EGD to see if I have any damage in my esophagus. I have really gotten into my couponing.  I guess you can say I am obsessed!  Now that I am getting the hang of it I can focus on my life, but for awhile I was glued to the computer.  Trying to work on that.  My big boy Jackson started Kindergarten this Monday.  I cant believe how big and grown up he has become in just the summer months.  So on Thursday the 11th we went and met his teacher and found his classroom.  His Kindergarten teacher is Mrs. Swingle at Westside and she is really nice.  Of course I signed up for everything under the sun so I feel I will be pretty busy!  Then came August 15th!!  I got up early, made Jackson malt o meal (he requested) and got him off to school.  We dropped him off in the art room while we parents had orientation. And then I had to leave and of course the tears came.

My big boy on the first day!

His awesome backpack

Jack's classroom

So I think Jackson is ready and today was my last day to take him inside.  We have the first week, but then the school wants us to drop them off.  He knows what to do so tomorrow I think I will drop him off.  It's all down hill from here.  Before I know it I will be at his graduation!  Ok....dont need to make myself cry again.  I will be better about keeping the blog updated especially since Jackson will be doing so much more now.  There will be school plays, parades, field trips, etc!  Have a great day and God bless!

Just when you think you are getting better....

Hey!
  Well I have started feeling better when it comes to my stomach.  I think that stronger medicine has helped.  My upper GI test went well (well as well as drinking fizzy crystals and barium can be).  It showed I had reflux and most of my barium was coming back up into my esophagus.  So I am going to continue the medicine and watch my diet to help myself heal.  So Saturday we went to see Harry Potter. It was amazing. Jonah wasnt feeling the best and by late afternoon my throat hurt so bad.  Sunday I felt like I had the flu...chills, body aches, fever, etc.  Monday I took Jonah to the doctor and he has a double ear infection.  Praying it doesnt continue and we dont need another set of tubes.  Last night I went to work but not before looking in my throat.  WOW..so red and covered in spots.  I went down to ER and they swabbed me for strep, which was negative.  The doctor thinks it still could possibly be strep since the rapid strep test is 80% accurate and my throat looked bad, but it also could be a bad viral throat infection which all I can do is let it take its course.  So I hurt bad but I have more energy and I can eat again...sorta.  Well, the kids are done with lunch.  Time to rest!!

A new visitor to the Clupny house!

Well on Sunday July 10th we had a visitor to the Clupny House.......The Tooth Fairy!  Jackson lost his first tooth.  That morning at church he kept saying he lost a tooth, but I didnt see a tooth missing.  Then I realized he meant a loose tooth, not a lost tooth.  That afternoon he was wrestling with Jeff on the couch and out it came.  At first he was so excited, but then he saw the blood and was a little upset.  I got him all cleaned up and explained everything to him and he was great after that.  He was so excited to wake up the next morning and find his prize from the tooth fairy. 

Here is Jackson's first tooth!

Jackson's first missing tooth smile!

So Monday I took the kids to the park.  I made sure we went early in the morning because of this atrocious heat. I cant believe that it is almost 100 degrees by 11am!!  But the park we went to is shaded in the morning and it was a lot fun.  Here are some pics!

Brooklyn my pretty girl going down the slide!

Jackson swinging all by himself.  He gets so red so easily!!

My big boy hanging all by himself. He is growing up fast!

You know the saying "When it rains it pours"  Well I am living that right now.  I am having some health problems and I really just want to feel normal.  On our vacation to Branson I noticed my stomach would cramp after every meal, but I just thought it was the food.  It got worse and worse and by Tuesday my chest had so much pressure especially after eating.  I talked with my doctor and he wanted some lab and an ultrasound done.  Those came back normal, but he is wondering if I have a hiatal hernia.  Either way I am in pain.  So I have an upper GI series scheduled for monday morning.  Praying that God will grant the doctors wisdom and I will feel better soon.  I hope everyone is enjoying their summer. Cant believe it is almost over and that Jackson starts kindergarten in a month!!

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Stuff happens.....

So we come home a day early from our trip because there is only so much you can do in Branson....and now after what has happened I think God was saying GET HOME....and our neighbor and a guy stop us before we even get in the garage.  They ask Jeff if he knew that water was pouring out a drain on the side of our house.  We go over there and VOILA we have our own Beaver Lake. I call a plumber and it looks like a valve on our hot water heater has broken.  He could fix it but we dont have much time left on our heater "life".  Guess they last about 10-15 years and ours is 11.  So we decided to replace the whole thing.  Fun times!! The plumber shut off our hot water until he could replace everything first thing in the morning.  There went my hot water shower.  But I have the sweetest hubby in the world.  Jeff boiled 8 pots of water and filled our bathtub just so I and Jonah could take a bath.  He is wonderful!!  So yesterday was spent dealing with the repair, but we did have a nice dinner.  I also went grocery shopping and got some deals.  I am getting so much better.  My budget is $150 and I spent $98!! I love coupons. I also made my first batch of homeade laundry soap.  Here's the recipe:

Homemade liquid laundry soap

Ingredients:
4 cups hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 cup washing soda
½ cup Borax

Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.


Fill a five-gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.


Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (It will gel.)


Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per two gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.
Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons. Top-load machine: 5/8 cup per load (approximately 180 loads). Front-load machine: ¼ cup per load (approx. 640 loads).

Here are the ingredients....minus hot water.  Super washing soda, borax, and Fels-Naptha soap

Soap is grated

Brooklyn cooking the soap

My 5 gallon bucket full of soap

I did some laundry today with it.  If you are looking for laundry that has a good soapy smell....this isnt for you.  It just smells fine (not like dirty clothes)...looks clean, but not super perfumed or as good as GAIN.  However if it is clean I can handle 0.97 for 5 gallons of detergent!

Well hope everyone has a blessed evening.  I am going to cook some dinner and get ready for book club!

Happy Fourth of July!

Happy Fourth of July everyone!  Thank you so much God that we live in a country where we can worship you and enjoy many other freedoms.  Well....we have been in Branson since Friday and have had a great time.  Friday we went and saw Cars2 wit the kids in Rogers and it was awesome!  Then we headed up to Branson.  We got to the hotel...went to dinner....and then headed to the pool.  Our kids love the water!  Saturday we headed to Silver Dollar City.  Surprisingly there werent many people and we hardly had to wait in line for the rides.  We saw Shaggy and Scooby and the kids loved that.

Brooklyn and Jonah playing with the hulas

Jackson trying the hula

Jonah is such a big boy.  He wants to do everything that big brother and sister does.  He figured if they can hula so can I!!

Jackson the big protective brother!

So we played all morning at SDC and then left for some lunch, pool time, and then naps!  We decided to head back to SDC for more fun.  We noticed everyone was leaving and we heard someone say that the rides were closed because of lightening.  We didnt mind that...the kids wanted to play and shop...no ride playing.  It wasnt long though that the rain began. It was fun seeing the kids play in the rain and it definitely cooled us off.

Sunday was the 3rd and Jeff's 30 birthday!!  We took the kids to play putt putt golf and then treated Brooklyn and Jackson to go karts.  Poor Jonah wasnt tall enough and had to watch.  Needless to say he wasnt a happy camper. Then we went to Shogun's to eat and it was so good.  We headed to the hotel for some naps and I took Jackson swimming.  After everyone was well rested we headed to the Landing.  We met Jeff's dad and mom at their hotel for a bit before going to Jeff's favorite Old Chicago.  He got his pizza!  We let the kids play on the playground and then went to Bass Pro.  At 7:30 we got into our seats to enjoy some music and fireworks.

Jackson and Brooklyn ready for fireworks

Jonah waiting with a treat

Unfortunately we never got to see the fireworks.  We heard about 30 minutes of music before the storm rolled in.  There was a lot of wind and lightening and then some rain.  We went to Jeff's parents hotel room to wait out the storm.  Then we headed back to the hotel to sleep.

This morning we had breakfast and went swimming again.  Jonah loved his new lifejacket. Now we are just hanging in the hotel while Jonah naps.  Ready for lunch!!

Happy Father's Day!

Hey guys!
  I hope everyone had a wonderful Father's Day.  I thank God everyday for my wonderful husband who is a terrific father. The kids are so lucky.  So on Friday we went to our friends' daughter's 4th birthday.  The party was at Jump Zone and the kids had so much fun.  We like to joke that Jackson is going to marry Brie Anne. We'll see in the future!!  Here's a pic of the terrific trio!

Sunday was Father's Day and after I took a little nap after working all night I got up and prepared the food.  Jeff requested cheese enchiladas and no bake cookies.  I also cut up some cantelope, lemon drop melon (which is fabulous if you havent tried it), zucchini, and cleaned my corn for grilling.  We headed over to Jeff's parents where we shared lots of food and enjoyed some pool fun and sun!  We got home and hunkered down for the evening.  Jeff picked his movies for the evening and we relaxed.  Today the kids and I went to the gym and I did some zumba.  Love it.  It is so much fun and great exercise.  Jackson was excited because the game room was open (they have been remodeling).  After the gym we came home and I made the kids some sandwiches and I made myself a healthy taco salad.  It was delish!

Taco Salad

a few torilla chips

lettuce

corn

black beans

half of an avocado sliced and diced

salsa

a little bit of fat free french dressing

Now I am getting ready to paint with Brooklyn and then take the kids to gymnastics. Have a blessed day!

A new beginning!

Hey everyone!
  Yes, I have been terribly bad!  Cant believe I havent posted since March!!  Of course I have been terribly busy and I guess it was hard just putting kids things, and I felt i had to since it was The Clupny Kids blog.  I want our family and friends to connect with us all.  So I thought I would come up with a new blog that tells about us all.....what we're doing, been up to...etc.  So a lot has happened since I wrote last. We hosted Easter at our house and the kids enjoyed seeing family and getting their baskets.  We got Jackson registered for KINDERGARTEN!!  Cant believe it.  He is so big.  Time does move fast.  I have gotten back into my card making and I have started couponing.  It really is fun and I cant believe I didnt do it sooner. I mean who wants to pay more right? Brooklyn is our little girlie girl and getting so big.  She loves playing with Jackson and is really into baby dolls and barbie dolls.  Plus she loves to read, or should I say loves for me to read.  We'll get to that eventually.  Right now I am reading Charlotte's Web to them....almost done. Jonah has gotten sooo big.  He has been sleeping in a toddler bed since he wa 14 months.  He is walking and talking up a storm.  He really loves Elmo and can sing the theme song.  It is too cute.  He is now in that independent cant make up my mind stage and that can be trying at times. I know this is short, but a lot has happened in 3 months to write everything down.  I want to get where I update this about 2-3 times a week. I am going to be better....I promise! Hope everyone has a wonderful Friday.  I am the only one awake in my house, but not for long.  I have been having sinuses all day and my throat is raw.  I need some benadryl which means sleepy time soon!

                                                                     Summertime Fun!