Movin' on up!

Well this will be my last post from blogger and from simplysain.blogspot.com
My fabulous husband has made me a new website at www.simplysain.com

I am so excited about my new blog. Chris did an awesome job and I hope you will come visit us at www.simplysain.com

We are on our way to the doctor this morning for Caleb. He is running a fever and not feeling well. This is just how we roll this week. I am working on paying for my doctor's next vacation!

Here is your moment of Hannah-talk for the day:
"Momma, Facebook says we need to go save the mermaid!"

They sure do pay attention don't they??

Grapefest

This weekend the clouds cleared long enough for us to take a family trip to Grapefest in Downtown Grapevine. It got a little warm out but we had a great time. This was our first time out to Grapefest. We will definately be going back next year but we will go on two days one with kids and one without. We did not get to do any wine tasting this year because parents with wine and kids with their own agenda just do not go together!

Welcome to Grapefest

Grapevine Vintage Rail Road

Hannah on the Carousel
Hannah got to ring the bell on the kiddie train

Caleb only got to ride the stroller since he is too small for the rides.

Overall we had a great time and we can't wait to go back next year (kids and sans kids).

Family Portraits

This weekend we completed #44: Have a Sain family portrait taken. This was no easy task. There were almost twenty of us there including my two little ones and our three week old niece. We went on Saturday to have the pictures taken at Portrait Innovations. Our trusted & favorite photographer Holly took the pictures and then we all left to go on with the day and return later to view the portraits. When we returned we were informed that none of the pictures had turned out because the digital card had been corrupted.
Anything worth doing is worth doing twice! So we managed to get EVERYONE back together again on Sunday, through the pouring rain, to take another set of pictures. As luck would have it Hannah had busted her lip during a nasty fall at church that morning but you can't see it in the pictures too much. The pictures turned out great! Here are a few:

Susan and her family

The entire Hannigan Family

Susan and her girls

Susan and her boys

It has begun

The List. I started my 101 list on Saturday and already things are getting accomplished. Tonight I worked on #53: Try one new recipe a month. I made Chicken Quesadillas with Corn Salad. It was fast and easy and a WW recipe, only 6 points!

The filling of the quesadillas: chicken, lettuce, salsa and cheese.

Make it a nice family meal!
Chicken Quesadillas with Corn Salad.

The verdict: Yum, we should do that again!

So I have one portion of one of my goals accomplished. 999 days left! :)

Dance Hannah, Dance

So today was a very important day at the Sain house. Hannah had her very first dance class. She is taking Ballet and Tap for Preschoolers at the Grapevine Rec. Center. We all know Hannah is the dramatic type, so I figured dance would be right up her alley. She loves it! She said her favorite part was the music. I am amazed that we have made it to this moment. How can she be old enough for dance? This is not the first or the last "big girl" thing she is going to do. Here a few pics from Hannah's dancing debut:

Excited in rain boots on our way to class.

Tap away Hannah!

The Dramatic Pose!

101 in 1001

Ok folks, I did it! I have made my list. I got this idea from a friend and the Internet and I am so excited to get started. This is a list of 101 things I would like to get done in the next 1001 days. This list has taken considerable time and thought to complete. Many of the items are challenging but I believe I will grow and be stretched through this process. So here is too the next 1001 days and to making every one of them count!

Start Date: September 12,2009

End Date: June 9, 2012

Jen's 101 List:

Travel
001. Go on Grand Canyon vacation with the Richards
002. Go on a romantic vacation with Chris
003. Go to Disney World
004. Go hiking in Big Bend
005. Use my passport at least once
006. Visit five Texas cities I have not been to (0/5)
007. Take a road trip
008. Go visit Allan & Becky
009. Go camping
010. Go to a Broadway show
011. Go geocaching at least 3 times (0/3)
012. Go on a hot air balloon ride

Children
013. Attend Love and Logic Seminar
014. Edit and Compose videos for the kids
015. Create chore lists for the kids
016. Teach Hannah to sew
017. Send Hannah to kindergarten
018. Send Caleb to preschool
019. Complete Caleb’s stocking
020. Write letters to the kids on their birthdays
021. Sew a dress for Hannah
022. Complete six service projects with the kids (0/6)
023. Caleb potty-trained

Health
024. Run a 5K
025. Lose 35 pounds
026. Learn to swim properly
027. Workout regularly
028. Increase my flexibility
029. Get a physical yearly (0/3)
030. Work with personal trainer
031. Give blood
032. Visit dentist every 6 months (0/5)

Finance/Work
033. Chris to be self-employed
034. Create a budget and stick to it
035. Save 10% of income
036. Use coupons
037. Pay off Chris’s car
038. Start college savings accounts for the kids

Knowledge
039. Learn to drive a stick shift
040. Go to five museums (0/5)
041. Read the bible in its entirety
042. Read 15 books
043. Be involved in women’s bible study

Friends and Family
044. Get Sain family portrait taken
045. Get Mills family portrait taken
046. Host Thanksgiving for the Allen family
047. Send 30 “Thinking of you” or Birthday cards
048. Make a new friend
049. Have new friend and family over for dinner
050. Have Wes over for dinner
051. Host board game/domino night

Food & Drink
052. Try ten new foods I have not tried before (0/10)
053. Try one new recipe a month (0/33)
054. Go to a wine tasting
055. Go to Grapefest
056. Make homemade ice cream
057. Avoid fast food for an entire month
058. Make homemade muffins
059. Bake a homemade pie from scratch including crust
060. Successfully make Aunt Evie’s chicken & dumplings
061. Shop at farmer’s market

Around the House
062. Paint master bedroom
063. Get new bedding for master bedroom
064. Redo flooring living area
065. Redo flooring in kitchen
066. Paint kitchen
067. Stick to cleaning schedule
068. Keep up to date with the kids photo albums
069. Go back and label Hannah’s albums
070. Install programmable thermostat downstairs
071. Get new kitchen towels
072. Buy one new piece of furniture
073. Make valances for the playroom
074. Put together the kids’ playset
075. Replace blinds in master bath
076. Make shower curtain for master bath
077. Have the outside of the windows cleaned
078. Plant a small garden & eat the produce
079. Clean out master closet and donate unused clothing

Fun & Games
080. Complete 5000 piece puzzle
081. Take a dance class
082. Take a cooking class
083. Fly a kite
084. Go to a UT football game
085. Watch Bollywood film
086. Ride on a motorcycle
087. Host Memorial Day cookout
088. Ride the Grapevine Vintage RR
089. Take the kids on the Polar Express train
090. Post on my blog at least 2 times a month (0/66)
091. Start my Christmas stocking
092. Shoot a gun
093. Watch a sunrise and sunset on the same day
094. Go to the Stock show

Just for ME!
095. Get 3 massages (0/3)
096. Get a facial
097. Get 10 pedicures (0/10)
098. Get laser hair removal
099. Buy a new purse
100. Take pictures and blog about completed goals (0/101)
101. Complete 101 in 1001

Thank you Peter or Matthew

This morning I awoke to the pitter patter of SILENCE in the house. Since the kids had spent the night at my dad's house I could actually lay there in my bed for a moment and "be" instead of "do." There I began to think about the blessing of days off and breaks that are so desperately needed sometimes. Today, being Labor Day, gave my dad and stepmom the opportunity to be off work so they could spend time with their grandkids. I then realized I really didn't know much about this holiday at all.

So, for all you trivia buffs out there, here is what I learned:
Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, by the Central Labor Union. They encouraged other groups in other cities to join in the celebration of laborers and workmen of the country. In 1894 Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday. Since then we have celebrated Labor Day annually.

Thank you, Peter McGuire or Matthew Maguire (the history books are in disagreement about the true founder) for founding Labor Day. Without your pride in your "workingman" status this holiday may never have come to pass and consequently I may never have woken to a silent house this morning. THANK YOU!