Questions Answered (updated)

The end of the year is rapidly approaching and since I am a compartmental thinker I am in the mood to wrap some things up. There are quite a few "loose ends" around the old blog that have been bugging me in regards to questions people have e-mailed me or left in the comments that I have not answered. So, today is the day!

Here is the link for how to pray for or give to the father of triplets whose wife passed away last week in Tuscon, Arizona.

Here is a link to more information about the infamous Pink Pig I have referred to this week. It is as much about tradition as anything else, as my husband rode the Pink Pig as a child.

I did not post my chili recipe the other day, because seriously, I am not a very good cook and I am sure there are much better recipes than what I literally made up as I went along. I will however send my highest praises for this green bean recipe from Pioneer Woman. I have made it twice this month. It is comfort food and I LOVE it!

And here's some honesty regarding some of my grand goals that haven't gone so well:

1. I still really need to get my rear in gear on consistent morning quiet times being a priority. I know all the reasons to do it. My days are so much better when I do. I really cannot explain why this is such a battle. The children are back to getting up at 6 (or earlier) and I do not like the early morning so much, which leads to #2.

2. I am back on caffeine, albeit at a much lower dose. Unless it has been a rough night with the children I normally start the day with decaffeinated coffee and strive to only have 1 Diet Coke and perhaps one glass of tea at lunch or dinner. I have my cardiologist's approval. Two servings a day is MUCH better than the 5-6 I previously enjoyed.

3. Those letters I was going to write (one a day in November)? I only managed nine.

My Christmas cards are finished and out. All gifts are purchased and everything except the kids' gifts are wrapped and under the tree. In exchange, my laundry room is overflowing with things waiting to be put away, my To Do stack is backed up and the back of my car is so full of who-knows-what that there is no room for me to put groceries.

Anything else I need to address?

EDITED TO ANSWER TONYA's QUESTION: My kiddos' closet is a very eclectic collection of things I splurged on vs. things I picked up on the $3 rack. For example, in my favorite picture of us running through the grass in Maine, the children are wearing sweatshirts I got on clearance at K-Mart for $3 each and shorts from Old Navy that were under $5. I just always have my eyes peeled because coordinating boys and girls is a challenge. (And I resell the clothes they outgrow and put it towards new ones.)

My favorite place to splurge is Tenille & Co. (who is having a huge sale right now). I also find fun things occaisionally at Ragsland, Kelly's Kids and Just Ducky Originals. For play clothes, I love Target, Children's Place and Old Navy.

I am a big fan of Ebay for myself, but cannot pull that off on kids clothes since I need 3 of each thing. Hope that helps!