Ok I had to take a picture of this because....Phoenix is eating!  Rarely happens around here! Honestly!  Today was an afternoon of cooking at our house we made:

BBQ shredded chicken on fresh yeast rolls - which is what he is eating and after sandwich #1 he went back for another and.....2 Go Gurts and almost an entire apple! 

Sloppy Joes - Tried Betty Crocker recipe with Tomato Sauce- we will see how the kids like it!

Tater Tot Casserole - I use a lot of veggies in mine!

Apple Pie with home made e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g!

Sandwich Pinwheels

Homemade pizza

So......now we have meals for the week including lunches for the boys and dinner!

We had quite the productive weekend!  Daniel rearranged the kitchen!  It is amazing!  We took a lot of our overflow couponing stash downstairs and organized a rack just for food items.  Now we have room for canned and boxed goods!

I rearranged the craft room -- for the most part!  I still have 1/2 a tote to go through but I am almost there!  I also sorted all the boys toys and just need to make labels for them so they can start picking up their goodies at night and nap time! 

I went grocery shopping and picked up a bunch of things needed for my trip to get the girls!  It is soooo nice to get some of those things checked off of the list!  Still A LOT worried about the luggage situation and amount!  I don't know how in the world I am going to be able to take everything we need plus the donations that I have packed in 2 totes!  Makes me sad because the donations I have packed are literally only half of the donations I purchased couponing!  I just don't have enough room especially with only one of us traveling and only a 1 check item per person rule!  I hope someone else traveling can take some items when they go!  Coming back I am not worried I am only bringing home what I have to!

Speaking of adoption-----there is a family, Amy, that is there right now picking up their sweet 6 year old princess!  It is AMAZING to hear how the trip is going and bonding is going, tips, etc!!!  I couldn't tell you how valuable it is!   I made Daniel promise today that he would e-mail me a picture of the boys every.single.day!  I also started getting the boys packages ready for when I am gone!  I am attempting to do something special for them each day.  I made handmade cards and have gathered little items for them to open each day while I am gone just for something that they know I am still thinking about them and loving them from afar!  I will post more on that later!

I also got most of our taxes done!  WHHHHAAAT!  Yes!  I still have a ways to go but---we made it almost through the deductions list for Federal so we have made progress!  I still need to check on items like -mortgage interest paid, PMI, interest earned statements because I know we should have them but don't yet soooo....but the brunt of it is finished!  Which has lead me into organizing all of our finances ---- companies, account number, payment method, balances, etc.  That way if anything should ever god forbid happen to me Daniel wouldn't be in the blue about anything!  He thought I was very strange for doing this but........I think it is smart for me to help keep track and him for when I am away!

 I also made these shadow boxes for the girls rooms.  They are much more antiqued then they look!  I still need to antique them some more and put a clear coat on them but.....for the most part I like how they turned out!  I again, used my Silhouette machine to make my stencils then painted them!  Took the vinyl off and voila! 

 The symbol on the side means Power of Love in some African Tribes still to this day. 

This elephant......this was the first thing I ever received!  This was from my father the day I was born!  It has been through A LOT!  Not only my childhood growing up but also a major house fire!  You can see her ear is burnt on the top!  I actually still hums a lullaby when you crank it and her head moves slowly from side to side!  It....it is something that means so much to me!!  I am going to keep it in the girls room on their shelf and hopefully one day it will mean as much to them as well!