I was a little scared, but it turned out okay.

A few years ago, I heard a woman say that she prayed one year to become organized. It was the worst year of her life. The next year she prayed for organized friends and things have been great ever since. Well, yesterday, my organized friends, Mandie and Aimee came to visit. Mr. Bean and Filbert took off with the kids and I was left to fend for myself against the organizational push. Three rooms were tackled and defeated. Mandie made me get rid of my wedding shoes and then even after that she said I had get rid of at least one more pair, but preferably three pairs. (This is when it got scary.) (This is also when the term Nazi entered the conversation.) (In my defense, it was actually Mandie that said it.) (I just quietly agreed.)

After about 3 hours, 3 rooms were clean and organized, except for a couple of piles of Filbert's stuff in our bedroom. I even went a little further after and Aimee and the Nazi Mandie left. My entire fabric stash is organized and stored on a book shelf. Yay me!

And Yay for Organized Friends!

Spring Whirlwind

As spring approaches, we (the Bean family) are looking forward to some whirlwind changes. Mr. Bean has been approached about a part time job that is temporary, but could be long in nature (to start in February-ish). We are also expecting String Bean's sibling to arrive around the first week of May.

2010 is going to be interesting to say the least!

When You are a Mom...

You will appreciate the week between Christmas and New Year's Day. All the stress of pulling off the perfect Christmas is behind you and most of the hosting of dinners and parties have passed. You have a week to relax with your husband home (hopefully) and your child(ren) have all the new toys they could possibly need to keep them entertained. Christmas decorations can be left up until New Year's Day without anyone questioning your ability to keep house.

Ahh...vacation!

Merry Christmas!

I'm dreaming of a living room that looks a little more like this:


Merry Christmas from the Nuts and the Beans!

Traditions

It has been a tradition in my family since my dad was a kid (eons ago) to have a birthday party for Jesus on Christmas Eve.

String Bean is 25 months old and has adopted "Happy Birthday" as her favorite song. I believe this has something to do with her birthday 6 weeks ago and Daddy's just a week ago. There is nothing quite like explaining to your 2 year-old that we will be singing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus and watching the glee on her face as we sing her absolute favorite song.

This is our nativity. String Bean points to it when we refer to Jesus' birthday.

(This is not a photo of OUR specific nativity, just on from the Willow Tree stock photos of their product.)

Merry Christmas, String Bean! May you learn soon the meaning behind the birth of Jesus.

Operation Christmas Child Delivery!

We got our e-mail today telling us where our Operation Christmas Child shoebox went this year!

Drumroll please....
.
.
.
.
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Malawi!


There is a 2-4 year old girl in Malawi wearing a princess tiara, brushing her teeth with bubblegum toothpaste, enjoying a few Christmas-y items, and loving some candy.

Sadly, there is no WD-40 in the box.

Too Much TV

In an effort to enjoy our time off from work, we often put in a video for String Bean when she wakes up before 7 am. Often-times, lately it is A Charlie Brown Christmas.

We knew she was watching too much of it when she started quoting lines from the movie before they were said. She's only 25 months old! Usually it is quoting Charlie Brown and saying, "No, no, no!"

Today we were watching it as a family and as the parts for the Christmas play are being handed out, Linus asks, "What do you need her for?" and String Bean yelled out, "Wife!" before the reply of "She's your wife" was uttered.

*Smacks self in forehead*

At least there is a redeeming message in this movie. If only we could start getting her to quote the scripture passages instead of the silly lines.

3 Shopping Days until Christmas!

I am always shocked when people are still in the midst of Christmas shopping this late into the season. Christmas wrapping not done, yet? That I understand a bit more. I just finished mine two days ago.

I went to a shopping area today to pick up lunch for myself and started to circle looking for a parking space and got lucky with a good spot near the restaurant. I could not believe the traffic, the lines, and the lack of joy on people's faces during the "most wonderful time of the year."

I can't help but think if people took joy in gift giving rather than seeing it as a chore, they probably would enjoy the season a bit more than they do and at least the joy would be restored to the late-in-the-season shoppers.

Don't get me started on the traffic! I'm just glad I survived the ordeal.

Finally

For years, Mr. Bean and I have been the only married siblings. All that changed today (and explains my lack of posting here recently).

I am glad to have a brother-in-law who also does not know the intricate details of every childhood event of the family. Whew. No longer alone!

Congratulations, Carolyn and Ryan!

Mama's Pound Cake Recipe

Before my great grandmother, who we called Mama, died, she shared her pound cake recipe with my Aunt Joan making her promise to share it with others. So, here I am sharing it with you. I hope to make this cake for Jesus' birthday cake this year.

Light Pound Cake

1 pkg (1lbs) powdered sugar (3 ½ cups)
1 cup shorting (2 sticks of butter or margarine)
3 large eggs (4 medium to small)
1 cup milk
3 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 ½ tsp vanilla
Pinch of salt

Cream sugar and shorting together. Add eggs one at a time mixing well. Add flour, salt and baking powder, alternating with milk. Add vanilla.

Bake in greased and floured pan at 350 for 50 – 70 minutes. When toothpick comes out clean.

This cake freezes very well, and keeps for a while. You can also put in extras, like chocolate chips, nuts, etc. If you do, the cake will be a golden brown in center and darker on sides when done.

To freeze, wrap in foil.