Friday Night Leftovers

Last night there were many chuckles had when my dad requested I send him the old link to Henry drinking milk for the first time. Go HERE to see it. It is hilarious and actually quite fascinating how he gets the milk cup back into the cup holder.  Henry laughed pretty hard when I showed him today.  The amazing thing is how much Sydney is like Henry.  There are so many similarities.
Today I was gifted a few hours to holiday shop without any tag along tribe members.  Sydney and Henry had a fabulous time with friends.  I finished up my shopping for the kids and got a few other gifts checked off my list.  We draw names on my side of the family and last year I "changed someone's life" when I got them a life changing gift.  I think I might have another life changing gift to give.  Here's a glimpse at my name's gifts.  I wonder who it is? 

Today a friend texted and asked me what our holiday activity was today...I thought she was fishing for inspiration.  But then she texted and said they mailed lists to Santa and made holiday play dough.  Inspired.  I am.

Sydney slept great last night but didn't have good naps today - as a result of my selfish shopping excursion.  So that means I already ate dinner and will bathe and put her down while the boys eat. 

Charley starts basketball this weekend.  His first experience.  Should be another fun adventure.

Our Christmas tree will get picked out of the lot, roped to the top of our car, placed in the garage to open a bit, and then brought into the house to hopefully pull all the random decorations together.

Holiday specials are AWESOME.  Even if they are on at bedtime.  I dvr them and then we watch them when it works for us.  My favorite time is when they are all ready for bed and they can snuggle up and enjoy.

Sydney can clap.

When she gets some freedom, Miss Syd makes a bee line for this little nook in our play area.  And there she sits investigating each and every car she can pull from this bin.  Whenever she finds something during her explorations, she always turns and looks at me with such pride and as if she might be saying, "Look what I found mom, are you gonna come and get it?"

We have a low key weekend.
A little basketball, some Sunday football watching, some Christmas tree business...and whatever sounds up our alley. 

Leave me a leftover from your week....

or you can go here to here to fill up on more leftovers.

Friday Leftovers

It's Friday.  We had a good week.  But I totally over scheduled us.  Next week - the calendar is going to be less penciled in...except for this and this and this and this.  May is a busy month.  Fun.  But busy.  Yesterday I ended up feeling overwhelmed by about 2:30pm.  I just felt like the whole day was spent thinking about the next thing instead of enjoying the present moment.  But we survived and I even made myself leave the house at 7:45 to go grocery shopping all by myself and it was wonderful. 

I got/gave three hugs from friends yesterday.  Hugging helps.

Today we have an hour and a half oil change plus other stuff appointment.  I actually enjoy these kinds of outings with my kids because it allows me to just sit and focus on them while we wait.  I bring my bag of tricks and just let my body relax, breathe, and enjoy them.  It will be Sydney and Henry today and I plan on holding Sydney the entire time.  I hope she is ready for some solid mama time. 

I stopped watching Grey's Anatomy but caught 5 minutes of it last night during the season finale...I want to talk to someone who watches...do you?

I fell behind with my blogging this week.  I hope to grab an hour or two this weekend.  But my online classes have me feeling guilty if I sit down at the computer and am not doing my homework.  So I just avoid it. 

It has been beautiful all week.  Today and tomorrow it is supposed to rain which is fine by me.  Rain slows me down.  However, I have the kiddos tomorrow morning as "solo mama" and Charley has a soccer game at 8:30am.  So if it is raining - that will up the degree of difficulty immensely. 

Charley has a rollerskating birthday party this weekend.  He has been rollerskating once in his life when he was 4 and it wasn't good.  Ed is going to go along to help.  Love that he will do that. 

Sydney still sleeping like a champ.  Her little thighs are now what we would call pork chops and they are seriously delicious. 

My mom emailed me this week a collection of snippets from letters she wrote her good friend when she was in the trenches of being a stay at home mom.  It was like reading her blog or her email in box.  It was hilarious and insightful.  I wonder all the time what she did and felt when she was doing what I am doing.  And to know she spent her morning rolling socks into balls with my sister, reading books, and putting up with my middle school know it all attitude makes me smile. 

Couch is mounded with laundry, house is littered in piles of clutter, kitchen counter is loaded with dirty dishes, camera is full of pictures from the week, I have several chapters of reading for my classes, and 80 kindergarten graduation certificates to fill out and roll and tie.  So this afternoon...that's what I am doing.  Because this evening we have some friends coming over to make sushi and I am looking forward to a glass of wine, some raw fish, and some fun catching up.  Boys will be in bed by 7:02, and not a minute later.  

Friday Leftovers...

Wow.  Got Charley a new (to him)  fleece and spring puffy vest and he loves them so much that this morning when I came downstairs he was sitting and building Lego's and wearing both jackets.  The kiddo loves to shop.

On that same shopping outing I got sucked into the girls section.  Holy Cow.  Dangerous.  Came home with a pile of dresses and outfits for Miss Sydney.  Won't go back for awhile.  However, I do love that I have found some great consignment shops to snag some great deals and I feel good about shopping in an earth friendly way. 
It is Easter weekend and we have exciting plans!  It should make for some fun posts next week :)  I am going to enjoy my camera this weekend.  And if someone reads this who will be with me...please remind me to whip that sucker out and use it.  Because I tend to zone out on weekends like this and space the whole picture thing. 

I bombed on dinners this week. Last week I tried a new pork chop, meatloaf, and beef stroganoff recipe.  This week we had spaghetti, ordered out pizza, and ate pesto on noodles twice! 

I can make, at home, a pretty darn good latte  now!  And coming soon I am going to share with you how I managed to accomplish this!  It makes me so happy. 

Yesterday I got a haircut.  My boys sat and colored and were AWESOME.  Miss Sydney sat on my lap and took it all in.  So lucky.  Today we go to get my brows waxed. 

Idol?  anyone watching.  What are your thoughts.  I really liked Haley this last week.  Mainly, because I love Adele.  I am so sad Paul went home.  He was my favorite.  I guess I always like the people who I can see myself buying their CD.  So James is a great rocker but I would never buy his CD. 

I just finished reading this.  I read it in two days...just like everyone else I know.  It is amazing.  It sounds like it would be disturbing but the love between the mother and son and the voice in this story is amazing.  GO!  GET IT!  READ IT!

I have so many pictures on my camera and I just didn't have it in me to download them this week.  I have awesome posts still to do from my parents visit.  I have a new lamp to show you.  I have a little girl that is looking chunkier and cuter everyday.  Next week will be huge on my blog.  Stay tuned!

I have a couple fun giveaways - just for you coming up. 

Does anyone know the best way to take a picture on your iPhone and then share it on facebook?  Do you have to use an app to share it?  And also wondering...do you blog from your phone.  I would like to figure that out. 

Well, it is 8:07 and it is time to get rolling.  Time to make my latte.  Time to make the boys breakfast.  Big day!  Have  yourself a great weekend.  I am going to take a bit of a break these next few days  - unplug.  Concentrate on my family, capturing the fun with my camera, and eat.  But my 'Words with Friends' friends you can count on me to still play that! 

More leftovers over here. 

Friday Morning Leftovers...

Speaking of leftovers...Ed brought home Big Bowl last night for dinner. We hadn't had that for so long. So Delicious and there is just a teeny tiny bit left for lunch today. Yum.

Charley had his conference last night. He is doing really well. Needs to build up his confidence in how he is doing as a learner. But other than that we are very proud parents. His teacher is in a rough spot right with the classroom. It is pretty stripped down to the bones. Nothing on shelves...the walls are decorated minimally. She has to redo all her files, lesson plans, she is working without manuals. This weekend I will dig through my teaching collection and see what I can pass along. Just heartbreaking.

Sydney's doc went well this morning. Ed always comes to their well checks. I don't think this makes a great dad...because I know many dad's don't have the flexibility in their work day. However, this is one of the things that Ed is adamant about and it is just another way he is an amazing hands on father. How can I not fall in love with him all over again as he hold her during her shots...while I am the coward in the corner tearing up.

I am in the mood to tidy up today. The boys are wiped out from our exciting outing yesterday. So we will take it easy. I will get some cleaning and blogging done. The boys will work on a few things I have planned for them...and then maybe indulge in a little Scooby Doo.

We need garbage bags BAD. We are all out. I forget to buy them today at Target and there is NO WAY I am going back with all three again today. However, all three were wonderful today. The check out lady said, "Oh, you do have your hands full." I love this - I have friends with three that told me I would hear this...and it is true. I responded, "But they are all happy and under control so life is good." They were great little shoppers. So proud of them.

Sydney won't take the bottle anymore. Ugh. Ed looks so defeated after a few rounds with her in the evening. This morning we tried, hoping that a different time of day would make a difference. Nope. Boo! We are attempting daily now.

I have been blessed with a few new followers recently. I am so curious how you came across my blog. I used to do more link ups and I don't do them much these days...so if you could do a shout out and let me know how you came across me...just curious. Also, those of you who are new or old..if you don't have an email attached to your blog profile- YOU SHOULD. This allows me to respond to your comments...so if you ask a question or write something ...I can email back. I have made some really great friends this way! DO IT! and if you aren't sure how...let me know.

The sun is shining and so it gives us a burst of energy - however, it is still pretty cold out there. Spring - you have dilly dallied enough. Pull up your boot straps and march yourself into our lives...It is almost April for goodness sake!

Happy Weekending!

more blogs to come so say hi! Let's chat! Makes blogging so much more fun!

Still hungry...go here to read more leftovers!

Friday Night Leftovers

Friday Night leftovers...

This week was better than last week, even with the school fire and daylight savings time thrown in there, and so next week should be even better! Just can't wait to see what it brings!

We got our craft on here this week. Posts on that coming soon.

We baked banana bread again today and there is one piece of chocolate cake left.

Ed worked late, or had a dinner thing, and so we got crazy and made pigs in a blanket for dinner...you know the hotdog with the processed cheese wedged in there and then wrapped in the buttery crescent roll. The boys were excited - me not so much.

When it rains grandparents...it pours. We get some Grandma Charlie and Grandpa Ed time this weekend and then in a little over a week we get Grandma Barb and Grandpa Bob time. Blessed.

The boys do not put up a fight about it being light out at bedtime. Incredible. Charley still is one tuckered out 6 year old come 7pm. Henry not so much. Tonight...it was 8:45 before he quieted down.

Tomorrow we will have some outside time...I can feel it. The temps might get in the 50s. We can see the grass in spots in our yard. WOO HOO! Rain boots are on my shopping list for the boys. It is going to be a mucky spring and I plan on letting my boys enjoy it!

Miss Sydney is a nursing trooper. She has it down and it isn't taking much time for her to fill that little belly. She watches me now when she eats and I am waiting impatiently for the moment when she has to stop eating to give me a big grin. I remember when the boys did it and it is my favorite. She is on the verge...I can tell. Maybe she knows I am ready for it and is keeping my anticipation up a wee bit longer.

I turned our heat down the other day to 67 and tonight it is really cold in here. I just cranked it to 69...brrr.

I ate too many jelly beans today.

The kitchen is cleaned up and that makes me excited for Saturday morning to roll around.

Time to curl up and rest my eyes. Being a mom of three...or of a newborn, is she still considered a newborn or is she now an infant...well anyways, I see now how I am just plain busy all. the. time. If it isn't the boys then it is Sydney and if it isn't Sydney it is keeping the house from getting out of control, and then of course there is eating, and if I can fit it in...a shower and a little effort at looking like a put together mama. The days are flying by.

Happy Weekending!

 This is linked to Friday Night Leftovers over at Sippy Cups are not for Starbucks.

Friday Thoughts

1. It is Halloween weekend...do I dare do this!?

2.   The sun finally shines today and boy does it make a difference!

3.  We have family coming into town this weekend and the anticipation is incredible around here.  The infamous Uncle Mike, the loved Aunt Becca, and the cutie pie Morgan!  Well, and of course the 'always ready to play Grandma Charlie.'

4.  Charley got a bike lock for his birthday but, the weather has turned cold and super windy so he can't ride his bike. So he is entertained with practicing his lock...today I saw him sitting cris-cross against the leg of our desk with the bike lock around his waist and table leg.  Yep, gotta love that.

5.  Henry woke up dry all week and Tuesday night he called out at 3 and 5 to pee...unfortunately, Ed's turn was mis-communicated.  Henry said he had to pee...but when he was standing peeing into the big potty he also pooped all over the floor...ugh.  But I think we are verging on no diapers all together so we were very proud how he got up twice and went back to bed decently.  I think to make life easier we will stick with the diapers or pull ups for another month or two. 

6.  Are you in need of a drop leaf table, a new crock pot, or a new pair of slippers.  CSN Stores is a great place to look for Christmas presents...they often offer free shipping. 

7.  I have taken to liking La Croix sparking water...in particular Ed and I are both enjoying the sparkling cran-raspberry.  My friends Molly and Kim encouraged me to try it.  It has totally eliminated the pop craving during my day, doesn't have any calories, chemicals, or caffeine...all good things right now in my life.  Give it a try.

8.  My mom is coming to visit next week for a few days and I can't wait.  Typically, I get overwhelmed when she is here - I go from being so excited to dreading the end and I forget to enjoy the moments involved in the visit.  I am not going to do that this time.  I am not going to get snappy or crabby.  I am going to take advantage of Ed's offers and get out and do some Xmas shopping with her in the evening.  Can't wait mom!

9.  My belly button is obnoxious these days and occasionally a band aid smooth it out, but a band aid is painful to remove at the end of the day.  So I am just going with the pig snout that has resided in the middle of this mound in my midsection.  This week some gals in our mommy/child class noticed it and we discussed pregnancy belly button experiences for a good 10 minutes.  I am guessing Ed isn't having these kind of conversations with his friends/coworkers.

10.  Today the boys and I journeyed out into the sunshine to pick up sticks that littered our lawn from the high winds that occurred this week.  By 3 in the afternoon, I am just going to be honest, bending over repeatedly, is really really hard for a pregnant mama.  The job is done, but I seriously am going to freak if I have to bend over much more today to pick up toys, socks, or crumbs on the floor.

11.  Am I a bad mom if I am totally dreading and hoping to avoid the all school dance tonight.  I just think that with the weekend guests, the class Halloween party today, Halloween party tomorrow, and trick or treating on Sunday, our weekend is full enough.  My sister had a good point though...taking an hour to wander over might just be more enjoyable than the extra energy that my boys are going to want to release around 6:30 tonight.  So we'll see.

12.  We have so much Halloween candy in our house right now.  But walking through Target today did I have the urge to buy some Twix bars and Baby Ruth because those aren't part of our mix...YES!  But I had control and didn't....I am just going to try and hold out until Sunday night when the boys are in bed...I can raid their stash! 

13.  Have a festive weekend.  Enjoy the last few fall days, enjoy the Halloween festivities if you choose to, and be safe and happy with your family! 

Friday Night Leftovers

1. Tis the season for holiday shopping. I have given away gift cards for any of CSNs 200 online stores. This time around they offered that I do a little shopping. So coming up I will share what fabulous product I pick. I am excited to see if the service is easy and straight forward. I noticed yesterday that a TON of their items are free shipping - a big time must for me when I shop online. So stay tuned and maybe I will be adding a little of this or that to our house. Or Charley's birthday is coming up so maybe I will get this or this.

2.The other day I noticed a slit/hole in the plastic hand bar thingy that is on the back of the front passenger seat in our car. Yep, Charley was playing with this dumb fake camp hand knife and did that. Ugh. pissed. How in the world do you teach kids the value of your house, furniture, and car. I just feel like it is such a huge concept and even if I try and explain it to him/them it just seems like it doesn't sink in. Even if I talk calmly or YELL and stomp around.

3. I'm feeling less funkish today. Nothing planned and that feels good. Well we are going to decorate Halloween cookies for the weekend and maybe do a pumpkin craft.

4. The Chocolate Creme pie that was on sale at Ubake for $4.99 did not thaw in time last night. Ugh. Disappointing. But guess what...tonight we will indulge.

5. I have convinced Ed to watch Modern Family with me the last couple weeks. yipee! It isn't Prison Break but it is something for us to watch together. Next week I am going to have Netflix send us season 1. Since we didn't really watch last year.

6. Grey's Anatomy is still one of my favorite shows. There is always a small message that resonates with me. Last night as the show ended and Meredith and McDreamy were going to sleep I loved how he told her she shouldn't find out if she carries the Alzheimer's gene or if they can't have children. They should just live life together and what happens they will get through it together...it was much more eloquently stated. But it just was a nice message. It reminded me that this third little bean who is going to grace us with it's presence in a few months is going to change our lives in so many wonderful ways and we will also have our struggles. But we are a family and we will enjoy and conquer the challenges together. It is life.

7. Next week Charley doesn't have school. I am so excited to have a few days of freedom. We will enjoy pj mornings, a few fun outings, maybe some friend time, but mostly - we will just go with the flow.


8. We have a fun weekend ahead...it involves Grandma, Great Grandma, The Packers, time with just Ed and I, a water park and hotel with the boys, spaghetti and meatballs, eating out, and a looooong car drive. What it doesn't include...cleaning the bathrooms, raking, or any other fall yard work.

9. And now I am going to go pull something out of the freezer for dinner tonight. So it is thawed in time. I am also going to get Charley to sit down and do his homework for the week...yes, we left it until the last day. That is how we roll.

This is linked to Sippy Cups are Not for Starbucks.

Friday Thoughts

1.  Looking for a way to make some crabby kiddos happy at lunch or dinner hour.  Remember this idea...

2.  The weather has been absolutely dreamy this week.  The mornings have been filled with crisp walks to school with my boys.  The afternoons have been filled with brotherly fun inside and out.  I gave mowing a go and got halfway.  Parks were visited.  Crafts done.  Windows were open, breezes blew in, and ....


3.  Henry slept wonderfully in his big boy bed with his brother Charley in the room.  I can not share how proud I am of my two boys because I can't find the words.  But Charley has fallen asleep like a champ whether Henry struggled or not.  He talked Henry to calmness and the boys fell asleep independently all week.  Mornings...a little more sticky.  Yesterday they slept til 6:30!  Woo hoo!  Today 5:45...not such a woo hoo morning at the moment.

4.  A gal in our ECFE class shared that if your child is afraid of public restrooms because of the automatic flushers....carry post it notes in your purse.  Smack one on the sensor and you have eliminated the source of anxiety!

5.  Apples are the snack of the month here.  I am enjoying a couple a day.  The boys also don't hesitate.  We must get more apples today!

6.  I added a couple new favorite songs to my music player at the bottom of the blog.  

7.  The boys and I got our craft on yesterday.  We have a few finishing touches but I am so excited to share our creation...it is an actual craft that will decorate our house for years to come.  So proud.  I am on the look out for some teeny pumpkins for another holiday craft...but I am vowing that Henry and I stay put this morning and putter at home.  So the search will not continue this morning.

8.  However, I am yearning for a caramel apple...I LOVE them.  So maybe we will have to hop in the car.  The local chocolate factory makes them and they are the best.  One year when I was teaching I shared that I loved caramel apples and a student brought me one...but failed to leave a note telling me who it was from.  So when I asked no one came forward and it became this big thing and I started getting mystery caramel apples on my desk almost daily for the month of October.  It was such a yummy and class bonding month...the kids were all into who was surprising their teacher.  Such delicious memories.

9.  A unique giveaway and a review of a fun CD are coming up here at the For the Love of Naps.  Stay tuned!

10.  Happy Friday!  May your weekend be filled with contentment, an apple treat or two, and some fine family moments in the sun. 

Friday Thoughts

 1.   Last Friday I got bangs. 

2.  I am working on adding a button up top that will link to my recipes.  Hopefully making them easier to locate.  I am still figuring out how I want to organize them. But coming up I have a white chicken chili recipe, an egg bake, a brownie, and....something else that I can't think of. 

3.  Today when we did an early morning errand run to Target there was a man blowing leaves in the parking lot.  It is a REALLY REALLY windy day so there wasn't much success in what he was doing and with the start of fall there are only a few leaves fluttering about and I find they give this time of year character.  I am not sure if that man was being paid but I thought it was kind of dumb.  He was also blowing very closely to cars...it was almost like he was snooping around the cars.  It made me uncomfortable.  I'm just sayin'. 

4.  This morning Henry and I made our first homemade brownies and they turned out GREAT!  I doubled the recipe so they would fit in a 9 x 13 pan instead of the 8x8...that way when Ed gets home it doesn't look so obvious that I indulged every time I walked through the kitchen.  Baking with Henry is pure joy. 

5.  Henry and I also pulled out the classic Candy Land game and he creamed me twice!  We haven't played that just the two of us....ever.  I wish my camera battery hadn't been drained because the expressions he had during the entire two games were priceless.

6.  Friends that knew me before kids know that I was a homebody even before children came along.  And still now when bedtime rolls around, even though I love to pass it off to Ed, I don't have any desire to leave the house.  The best off duty time to me is cozy at home.  Tomorrow morning Saturday morning will roll around and my hormones will shoot all over and poor Ed will wonder why he looks forward to weekends...but, this Saturday I have plans with girlfriends for the morning.  And even though I am thoroughly looking forward to seeing them I still have this nag in me that has me wanting to just be home.  Even though I know my soul needs for me to leave and see friends and get away from the walls of our house and the little voices and behaviors of my boys.  So though I can't wait I also have this lazy feeling.  I am VERY lucky to have friends that keep asking and keep encouraging and reminding me to get out.

7.   I am at the stage of the pregnancy where I love my belly and I am still full of energy and sleeping pretty good.  This is the honeymoon stage they talk about.  I want this stage to slow down and allow me to enjoy it for a bit.

My blog routine is getting back into the swing.  My issue is when I have moments to blog I like to write and post immediately.  I wish I had more patience to write and schedule the posts so they are more spread out.  But I am an immediate publishing kind of girl.  So we'll see how things play out these next few days...will there continue to be 4 posts in one day (like today) or will I be able to contain myself and spread them out. 


Get yourself some Simply Apple and warm it in a mug and step outside tomorrow morning, take a deep breath of fall air, and realize the slow Saturday that is possible in your house.

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Friday Thoughts

1.  Thanks for all the kind words on the picture yesterday.  I wish I could post a comparison of my belly growth with Charley and this one...but my belly pictures are only on Shutterfly because we lost pictures when our computer crashed.  Thank goodness they are on Shutterfly...but boo on Shutterfly for not being able to reverse the control over those pictures.

2.  Paper plates - oh how I have come to love you this last month of summer.  But as this pile slowly dwindles away...we will not be supporting the paper plate industry for very much longer.  It was a heavenly month but with the addition of our compost bin we should have less garbage.   

3.  Our neighbor gave us one Spider man plastic drinking kid cup - thank you for turning the act of distributing beverages to the table into HE-double hockey sticks.  I either need to get my hands on another glass or that one is going to disappear.  Actually, I am tempted to get rid of all our kid silverware, cups, plates etc and get plain because I am SICK of the drama.  And there is major drama because I don't give in. 

4.  My hardworking husband has to do some labor this Labor day weekend.  Makes for a long week for me...but we will survive and thrive and be ready to enjoy him when he gets home. 

5.  Our house phone had lost it's umpf and would only let me talk for about 2 minutes before beeping and then dying.  So we got these new phones that announce who is calling.  So throughout the house I can hear who is calling.  I can't decide whether I like it or not.  My cell phone also rings through these phones so that is pretty schnazzy...especially since in the last month I have lost the ability to hold calls clearly on that.  Creeps me out that my cell used to work fine and now it doesn't. 

6.  I am pondering some exciting new ways to bring law and order into our house.  It is going to bring family meetings, collaborating on some nifty laws/rules/values, and some consistency and hopefully more calm reactions to some of the behaviors that leave me reacting in ways that I am not proud of...mostly raising my voice or stomping about like a child. 

7.  The phrase of the week is "Let's start over" or "Let's try that again in a better way."  Instead of snapping and getting into the talky talky talky lecture I am just going to calmly give my children a second or third or fourth try at talking/acting kindly.  So when they demand milk at dinner...we will "Try that again in a nicer voice."  Practice makes perfect....well I am not expecting perfection...just kind habits. 

8.  Prison Break...I can not say enough that I LOVE it.  I am really contemplating calling our third boy..if it is a boy...Lincoln.  I actually really like the sound of Charley, Henry, and Lincoln.  Lincoln is not my favorite character on the show but how cute are those three names together. 

9.   It is completely amazing how September greets us with a few leaves on the ground and cooler weather.  Amazing.  I know we will still have some HOT weather, but I have been itching to look out the window and know that cozy in the house is an okay place to be.  Simply Apple is on my grocery list.  My slippers need to be found...and my maternity wardrobe just doubled --more options with long sleeves and long pants in the picture.

10.  What in the world should we do today?  I feel the need to take advantage of having both boys free this morning but yet it is so nice to also just be lazy because soon enough we will be scuttling out the door to walk to school. 

11.  Happy Friday!  What's on your agenda this holiday weekend?  What is for dinner?  What's on your mind?

Friday thoughts...on an EARLY Saturday morning

1.  I had an off week of blogging.  Boo.  But my allergies have kicked in and instead of laying there sneezing next to Ed this morning I crept downstairs to the quiet residing downstairs and enjoyed catching up on some blogging...so there will be some posts this weekend and next week.  Nothing beats the quiet of an early morning - even if child number 1 pitter pats down and interrupts a little too early. 

2.  I had my appointment with my cardiologist this week.  Even though my heart has a few little things that make it special - I was told to try and relax and not let the anxiety I have when it feels like it is slowing or skipping beats.   I was assured that the stressful act of birthing this baby number three should not be cause for concern. 

3.  Friday morning was cooler and with a burst of energy I mowed most of our lawn.  Felt good to be more active than I have been.  The best part though was a call from my friend who appreciates the p things in life...popcorn, pizza, etc.  We hit the pizza buffet with our kiddos and returned home with full bellies. 

4.  The baby weight is starting to creep on.  I have held it off this far.  My body has most definitely changed but this week at the cardiologist, when they weighed me, the scale had changed a bit.  Makes sense since my belly is starting to be more real.  Pictures soon.

5.  The other night Ed sadly apologized about not giving me or the baby in the belly the attention that he remembers giving our first.  I said it was okay - that number three for me is different too.  But after he said this I felt the first substantial kick that I thought Ed might be able to feel.  So he gave it a feel and sure enough - that little doodle in there gave a nice sturdy kick to let daddy know that he/she was in there, alive, kickin', and not about to accept any more apologies from daddy about not giving it's mama a little more special attention (just kidding Ed!). 

6.  Summer T-ball ended (pause and do a happy dance - so boring to watch).  Fall Soccer has begun (pause to do a bigger happy dance) because the soccer program we have found for Charley ROCKS!

7.  I can't believe it has been a month since we were here - the cottage.  Our cottage time includes lots of time with friends.  Paul is a family friend that always gives my boys a thrill by finding "sea creatures".  Thanks Paul!

8.  We have a busy Saturday ahead of us and as the clock verges on 8 o'clock I realize that we need to be out of the house in an hour.  I best close down and whip up some pancakes to fill my boys' bellies. 

Happy Weekend Wanderings!

Final Friday Thoughts....I hope...

So I was upstairs cleaning up and I yelled down that the boys should turn off the TV. Charley said he did but that the sound was still on (a common occurrence when the boys turn off the TV). He wandered up to see what I was doing and I happened to be cleaning up books in his room. I asked him to help me since it was his mess and we had done all those fun things this morning. He said no and wandered back downstairs. Instead of getting riled up I let it pass and knew I would keep it in my pocket for later.

Coming downstairs I went to turn off the sound on the TV but found my two boys laying on the couches watching Curious George. He had lied. "No, I didn't lie mom. It was off but then I turned it back on." UGH! SO mad! But as I turned trying not to give him a piece of my mind...there on my porch stood

a lone can of Diet Coke...some would call it Nectar of the Gods.

I paused. I smiled HUGE! And all that was building inside me ready to explode was suddenly gone. Thank you my friend Paula! Thank you for making my day and sharing your stash.  I am sure my boys would thank you too if they realized what they didn't have to listen to.   It is a treat that I don't indulge in too often during my pregnancy but when I do - ahhhh!

Friday Thoughts update...the real truth...

So my blog has come up in conversation lately and I worry that I give this illusion that everything here is all happy, calm, entertaining, healthy, and balanced.  And I want to remind my friends and family that this is only a small snippet of my day.  It is the part that I sit down and reflect on and use to inspire my next days decisions.  It is hard to blog about the hard moments without crossing the line.  It is also my place that I hope my boys will look to for glimpses of who they were, who I was, and the choices and decisions that we made as a family in raising them.  It blows my mind that when we are sitting down to dinner and I have resorted to thawing some of my pesto and throwing it on some pasta and slicing up some tomatoes with some mozzarella cheese....well this is a meal that my boys will remember from their childhood.  

Anyways, getting off the topic.  Honesty....here is an update...

Since I am lacking sleep - which means my mood is set at "fly off the handle" mode by the smallest action...I decided we would get out of the house and go burn some energy.  So I got showered and did my hair - this is huge.  If you ask any of my friends they will tell you that a hat has been seen on my head a majority of this summer because...well let's be honest--  I am lazy and frustrated with my hair right now.  Growing it out from that short cut is a...twitch.  We headed to the open gym at the gymnastics center...but it wasn't all skipping out to the van.  This is how it went:

Henry came to the door with four match box cars in his hands.  I told him he could bring two.  His fit begins.  Charley comes to the door and sees that Henry is going to bring some cars and runs off...I know what he is getting...he is getting the car that Henry had me dig for this morning because it was the exact one he NEEDED (in case you are curious it is the police car with the trunk that opens and it was found in the drawer of over 100 cars - thank you very much).  Of course Charley had to go get that one and then wave it in Henry's face which put Henry into a full blast freak out.  I of course, being the quick the threaten mother, said we weren't going to the gym if we couldn't get out of the door NOW.  Both boys were whining full force.  I took the police car because according to Charley this would be "fair".  Charley and Henry got in the car but at this point Charley realized he now had NO cars.  So the crabbing continued.  A few choice words were being whispered under my breath.  Henry of course didn't get right into his seat...he is at a stage where he likes to wander the van and look in all the nooks and crannies.  I counted to 5 and then walked down the driveway to gather my cool...right after saying loudly, "If you don't get in your carseat we aren't going."  Which then put Charley on high alert that it was time for his freak out to escalate.  As I walked back to the car Henry climbed into his seat but the whining continued.  I got into my seat and heart pounding....HIT THE HORN.  And I held it down for a few seconds.  That got everyone's attention and life moved on. 

So there you have it.  The honest truth that leaving the house these days is not all smiles and smoothness. 

The gymnastics center was bliss.  We then went to a potluck at the park where the boys didn't eat because there were bees or something going on at the kids table. 

Then we ran to Macy's and had 10 minutes to spare before the morning preview special on that fabulous processor was over.  So I grabbed the box and off we went. 

I contemplated living without this beautiful machine...my birthday money was supposed to go towards a sewing machine....but let's be honest.  In the next several months....maybe year...after the morning we had...I figure that finding a space and quiet time to learn to sew is not something that is going to happen.  However, shredding and chopping the hell out of shit might be therapeutic. 

A sewing machine will be mine...at some point.  But for now.  The instruction book for this thing is so impressive and exciting that I might be slicing, dicing, puree-ing, beating, whipping, shredding, and a hole bunch more ALL. WEEKEND. LONG.

It is quiet time in our household.  The boys are settled down in front of Dinosaur Train Underwater Adventure or something...all I know is it is an hour long.  And I am going to ...I don't even know?   Breathe, sigh, and wish that I had stopped for a diet coke...because at the potluck Paula and Sarah G. were drinking one and it looked like heaven.

Happy Friday! 

Friday Thoughts

 

1.  I begin the day extremely tired.  I was up from 2:53 until 5ish.  When I was pregnant with Charley I had no allergies - heaven.  With Henry's I got them a little.  For this little bean they have hit - ANNOYING!

2.  Besides sneezing I laid awake wondering about my heart.  I had to wear a heart monitor a few weeks ago to monitor heart palpitations.  The doctor called (always scary when the actual doctor calls) and she confirmed that I am not imagining things.  My heart is slowing down and skipping beats throughout the day.  It is causing me anxiety and I have an appointment now with a cardiologist next week.  Information will be good.

3.  The last three days have been dreary for a good part of the day.  If it is going to look like it is going to rain - RAIN already. 

4.  We have our compost bin started and I am starting to remember to put my fruits, veggies, and egg shells ...among other things into the bucket sitting in my sink.  I spent some of my time in the wee hours of this morning reading a composting book ...our compost bin looks right and it doesn't stink.  But the flies are a little out of control at this point.  Need to fix that. 

5.  Yesterday I had Taco Bell in the back of my mind all day.  I didn't give in though.  I wonder what is going to be in my head today.  Typically, fast food does not even sound appealing but when it comes to making my meal I just don't want to be involved.

6.  This week when I did laundry I folded it almost right away.  I have three baskets to put away today.  

7.  A while back when I wrote about shredding cheese someone said their Cuisinart food processor did their shredding for them.  This one is on sale at Macy's right now and I have some birthday money.   Making pesto and some other things would also go twice as fast if I could make 11 cups at a time!  Will this shred my cheese - for real?  Do you recommend? 

8.  I am also wondering about back to school clothes shopping?  What are you all buying right now for your kids.  We are set on pants for Charley for the entire year.  Are you getting shorts ..since the school year usually starts out hot...or are you buying for fall and winter?  I don't want to be the only mom not doing back to school shopping but is there really a need right now?  Help!?

9.  Goodness, I have 15 green peppers to dice and looking at the picture of the food processor it looks like that one will actually chop them for me.  My current food processor is small and it would not leave the peppers diced like that...they would be a slightly shredded mashed mess.  Hmmm...feedback ASAP people!

10.  Some Friday Links I Love will be coming later today.

This is linked to Sippy Cups are Not for Starbucks.

Friday Thoughts

1. I put out an email to some local friends asking for a LOCAL sweet corn resource and today a not so close friend took the time to call and tell me she found one! So kind to have her think of me. But moments after she called my neighbor stopped by again with a large bag of corn with a few cucumbers thrown in too. Blessed.

2. It is Friday and I am so glad that my husband will be heading home in a few hours. He has had a rough week at work and I am so looking forward to a weekend with nothing on our agenda....well except getting in some more episodes of Prison Break...we are sucked in! We had lunch with daddy on Thursday, to give him a little break from the emotions at work, and the boys talked about it all the way home as being their favorite thing about the day. It was mine too.

3. Typically in the evening after the boys are in bed, I hit the pillow either to read, blog, or watch some mindless TV. Usually, I head upstairs to our bedroom and Ed putters around downstairs. I am loving that we have found a show to watch that gives us a little time together. If you are looking for an intense show...give Prison Break a try.

4. A good friend came over for the morning and we sat out in the driveway while our three boys puttered together. Then they got soaked with the hose - so fun Kim. After we headed in and enjoyed a summer BLT. A Heavenly morning.

5. I am 15-16 weeks pregnant. I forget that I am and then realize and can't believe it. I am starting to feel more energy and eating is starting to kick in. I have some anxiety about gaining weight with this one but I am telling myself that this is it...enjoy it and I can work on losing it when the time is right.

6. Corn, Basil, and my meals for meal group are on my agenda this weekend. Of course the humidity is supposed to return ...making corn and meals more of a chore. boo.

7. I put a few new songs on my playlist down at the bottom of my blog. Half of My Heart is my favorite right now!   Do you have a favorite song I should know about?

8. I bought my boys these darn play guns when we were up north...when we were wandering the tourist town it was the thing to do to be the "BEST MOM IN THE WORLD." And up there it just seemed normal. Now everything that comes out of my mouth seems to be connected to the guns and it makes me so aware of everything I am saying because anything I am saying to redirect their boy gun play sounds horrific. Fortunately, we are down from 4 guns to 3 because they left one on a chair and the other night I plunked down to talk to Ed and there was a load snap and one of the rifles was snapped in half...yes, did I say I have anxiety about gaining weight this pregnancy. HA! One gun down, three to go.

9. "TELL ON YOU CHARLEY" and "MAD AT YOU CHARLEY - REALLY MAD" continue to leave me speechless as Henry continues to whip them out whenever things are not going his way. Even Charley doesn't say this stuff. What the heck.

10. Well, Henry is up from his nap and so it is time to run and get eggs out at the farm and pick up Charley from his play date that put a skip in his step (and mine).  Life is good....soooooo good. Find the joy in your everyday little things...a clean bathroom sink (no worries Ed, ours will be clean soon), a phone that is charged, a kitchen floor without crumbs, toothpaste that isn't a battle to get out of the tube, a good song blasting while you unload the dishwasher, or the ability to call your mom or sister when the moment lends itself.

Happy Weekending - Give a shout out and tell me something you are going to enjoy this weekend or a random Friday thought!

Kabobs = KABAM!

Grocery shopping lately has me bringing home loads of fresh fruit. I can't resist the cherries, grapes, pineapple, strawberries, and more. With both my first pregnancies fruit was something that ALWAYS tasted good...especially oranges. Lately, I can eat two oranges in about 10 minutes standing in the kitchen around 9:15 at night. And all is right in the world.

Henry my picky eater is less enthused about fruit much of the time. So I found these long skewers and washed up some of the yummy fruit purchases and put them to work.  We used bing cherries that I pitted, orange, grapes, blueberries, and pineapple.

They say that getting kids involved in making the meal will encourage them to try new things. While Henry was making his fruit kabob he tried an orange and "like this mama." And he tried a pineapple, "Like this mama! see!" "watch me!"

So if you have a picky eater...give fruit kabobs a try....or as a matter a fact, throw anything on a sword stick and you might find you have found yourself success with a picky eater!


This post is linked to Worked for Me Wednesdays.

Friday Night Leftovers

1.  I hate when a telemarketer or fundraiser "person" calls and you think you are talking/ listening to a real person but when you interrupt and just make sure by saying, "Is this a real person?"  and they don't stop talking ....you feel like an idiot.  If they are going to call to ask for money then at least have a real person do it.  Ugh.

2.  We went to the beach 3 times this week.  Anyone reading that is local - this beach is just perfect!  The water is great, the sand is groomed each morning, it is 5 minutes from our house, it is never too busy, and there is shade right up to the shoreline at 9:00am.  I am in heaven with this summer outing and will go more and more!  The last two days we went with friends and Charley was in heaven swimming around with his noodle and their kick board. 

3.  I don't need a nap yet today.  woo hoo!  Could my energy be coming back.  Or am I just thrilled that the kitchen is already cleaned up so I am not avoiding that task.

4.  Ed has been calling home midday to check in.  Love him.  Not sure if he is just driving and bored, checking in on his pregnant wife, or checking to make sure we are all still alive and I haven't snapped into a crazy person. 

5.  Charley's behavior has improved dramatically since last week.  I sigh and pray that that stage has passed and we are in the next stage of making better choices.

6.  Charley is in heaven playing with the neighbor girls and I struggle because I don't want to have to sit out in the cul de sac so Henry can be out there with him.  I also don't want him to pester the girls by always wanting to play.  How do you balance neighborhood friends? 

7.  This weekend we will celebrate our anniversary and my birthday a little early.  Since next week we will be busy with work, t-ball, packing, and travel.  I am excited for the little plans we have each day this weekend....a little babysitter time for the kiddos, a movie and meal for mom and dad, and a family dinner at my favorite restaurant. 

8.  I have five 20 gallon bins sitting on our couch ready to fill for our week at the cottage.  I realized a year or two ago that packing in bins makes loading and unloading pretty slick.  It also keeps things sorted and they can act as end tables.  They are lined on the red couch because the boys have lost the privilege of sitting on this couch...since they don't sit on it anymore.  Instead they do headstands, jump, or perform other stunts that make mama's stomach drop. 

9.  I am determined to get a little color on my upper thighs so at the cottage when I am the only mom, 14 weeks pregnant at that point, standing in the knee deep water for hours they aren't blinding people.  The lower part of my legs have a nice base tan.  I got a little color on the front today. 

10.  I am impressed with all the cheese shredding mama's out there.  I am motivated to shred more! 

11.  I take pride in packing our picnic lunches in containers that I bring home and wash.  I rarely use Ziploc bags...I do use them...but this week I have not used zip bags for any of our picnic lunches and we had 3.  By the time Charley is in first grade and needs to bring his lunch to school, I will have some system down that doesn't require any garbage.  It is very easy to do.  Give it a try.  I dare you!

12.  Okay, time to get something done around here.  Stay cool and enjoy your weekend.  I would love to know what you are looking forward to doing these next two days...or what you are eating!

This post is linked to Sippy Cups Aren't for Starbucks Friday Night Leftovers

Friday Leftovers

• Rough week...tonight we are supposed to enjoy a mini vacation with our family of four. Haven't really done one just the four of us...ever. With Charley's behavior this week I have mixed emotions about doing anything too fun. But today I told him he would try and take a nap when Henry naps. So we got his sleeping bag out and he laid down in Henry's room. BAM! Both are napping and I am seriously freaking out. I am doing an insanely wild happy dance. I don't even know what to do with myself...I am afraid to breathe. Could this be the issue all week....he needed a nap?
• The last couple years my mom has brought Charley a new book to enjoy at the cottage.  Last year she brought him a book called Leo the Lighning Bug by Eric Drachman.  We get to catch lightning bugs at Grandma Barb's house so it is fitting to recieve this book from her.  Henry found it a week or so ago and the boys had me read it.  Then Charley remembered there was a cd for it.  So we played it.  It is a very heartwarming story and the voices on the cd are so soothing and the sound effects are amazing.  It lasts about 12 minutes and Henry won't even let us read to him anymore.  He just wants to crawl in bed and listen to Leo.  He LISTENS to Leo without looking at anything and falls asleep amazingly peaceful.  I would recommend this book if naptime or bedtime is causing you issues...it is worth a try. 
•  I am still not breathing...just sayin!
• Henry went to the time out this morning all. by. himself.  And he sat and I counted to 10 from the other room and he counted along:  "One, two, ree, or, ive, six, sebin, eight, nine, en!"
• I wonder how long Charley will nap today.  At this very moment I am so thrilled that he was put into morning kindergarten.  Life just works out.
• I hit 12 weeks this weekend.  I am expecting some huge bursts of energy and some huge cravings that will stimulate some pregnancy eating.  I have lost a little weight - which is kind of good - but I know this isn't the time to be losing weight so I am ready for the pregnancy hunger to kick in.  Hoping on Sunday during the family picnic!
• The vivid dreams that women talk about having when they are pregnant are in full swing here....recently I dreamt of being naked for a stressful college class, rolling out of control down a steep road in a wheelchair that I had to borrow so I didn't know how to brake, not being able to save Henry from a bottomless lake, and the emotional gut wrencher where I am left by my husband pregnant with our third.  Each of these dreams leaves me awake, sweating, heart pounding...maybe or maybe not with tears.  Pregnancy is an AMAZING journey. 
• We scored some bunk beds off Craigs list!  Solid oak, mission style, two bottom drawers, one mattress included, and located only 2 blocks away...Happy dance!  We just need to break Henry from his "ukkie" habit before we transfer.  After our week at the cottage I am determined to go for it.
• Still not breathing...
• Looking forward to some family time this weekend...hotel water park with my three handsome boys, sister and family time around a firepit with marshmellows, graham crackers, and pizza, and extended family time at a picnic with Joooooooooohnsonville BRRRRAAAATs and jello salad!
• Happy Weekending!

This is linked to Friday Leftovers! 

Friday Night Leftovers

• Danifred from Sippy Cups Are Not for Starbucks is the host of Friday Night Leftovers. She took a break because she is SUPER Woman and knows how to make choices that work for her family. But she is back! Yipee...that means my bullet lists can link with other people's bullet lists! Danifred is another blogger that I would love to meet someday. I have really enjoyed corresponding with her here and there!
• Fourth of July will be full of fun and adventure.  Look forward to some festive photos come Monday...or Tuesday!
• I feel like I am catching my stride...or however they say that.  I was so not myself for a bit there.  But I am starting to feel like I have more to say on here.  So watch out.  I think I did better this week.  And I appreciated all the comments and emails!
• I am hosting a giveaway for a $50 giftcard to any of CSN Stores 200 Online sites.  Check it out! 
• Henry loves Cheetoes and since he has a mama who "has a baby in her belly" we got a bag this week.  He eats them like they are gifts from the Gods and then grins with lips coated in cheesy lipstick!
• I HATE this time in the pregnancy.  By late afternoon my belly is bloated and I feel uncomfortable.  I just want to get to the 16-20 week mark where I have an obvious bump.  I typically feel more confident about my body during pregnancy because there is no sucking it in or worrying about sucking it in.  But this stage is such a struggle to get through.  Especially, when you tell your neighbor lady the news and she gives you a hug and then rubs your belly...um there is not anything there to rub yet.  Can anyone say awkward?
•  Tonight it took everything in me to let the boys go, but Ed took them to T-ball and I stayed home to get somethings done. (shhhh...here I sit).  It is okay if I miss a t-ball practice.  I see more than my share of extra curricular activities.  The getting things done though is tough...what I want to do is curl up on the floor and take a nap.
• Tomorrow...new me.  More patience.  I do well but then for no good reason I snap at the silliest little thing.  I know my hormones are all over the place these days...but really - tomorrow.  MORE patience.
• Okay, this list is getting pretty long.  Have a great weekend.  Enjoy the festivities.  Parades always bring tears to my eyes...even ones that have the same weird (I am talking weird) belly dancers that slowly stroll down the street shaking it year after year.  You gotta love small town parades. 

Oops hit publish a bit early. I guess you get my list on Thursday night. darn!

Welcome Friday Followers!

Friday thoughts

Mom of the year....I made one real dinner this week. The rest of the week the boys had cereal or random odd things...like a bowl of popcorn. There is an explanation...I am getting my act together though.

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I bought something at Micheal's craft store the other day and it rang up at $2.18 and I don't carry cash so I had to use my check card thingy. She asked to see identification. No, not to check my signature...she wanted to see my license. Funny how a friend can have her credit card stolen and used at Target for over $600 dollars worth of purchases and her card isn't checked...but at Micheal's...for a $2.18 purchase I had to dig around for my license....not sure if I was glad or annoyed.

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It has rained a lot this week. Makes for getting boy energy out hard. So today I am going to chance skipping Henry's nap and let them have a quiet afternoon together. We'll see if this backfires. We are meeting a new babysitter this afternoon ...I predict he will be in rare form.

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I keep having dreams about random high school people that I didn't even know. They are stressful dreams. I don't understand.

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I love this song SOOOO much. It isn't available yet on the music player for my blog. 

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I want to go to Lilith Fair July 18th here in Minnesota.  Anyone wanna go see Sarah Mclachlin!  She is my all time favorite...you know the question "If you were stuck on a deserted island and could only bring one music cd, what would you bring?"  I would bring hers!  I LOVE HER MUSIC!


I went many years ago with my sister and mom and it was an awesome experience!  Let me know!

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Can't wait for soccer tomorrow.  Charley is in charge of bringing snack...since it is raining today we will turn it into entertainment.  We are going to bake cupcakes and top them with gummy sneakers.

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I love my husband.  He puts up with my quirky little dealings these days.

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Yesterday, Henry was telling daddy something at dinner and he started it with, "My mama had doctor appointment." (doc appointment was for a heart monitor that I had to wear.  Heart palipatations etc.)  I have these moments when I look at my boys and I realize that I am REALLY a mom.  They are my children.  I am in charge of making their childhood happy and fulfilled so they can go out into the world as contributing safe citizens.  The things I do for them daily, the tiny things, are things that they will remember.  I am their mom.  This isn't playing house in the basement when I was 7.  This is real.  I can't believe it most days.  It is a huge responsibility.  I am grateful.  I wonder what they will remember.

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It is 1 o'clock and I haven't even started prepping lunch.  The boys were set on having hard boiled eggs this morning so they didn't eat until almost 9...and they are busy playing.  I am so unmotivated when it comes to my kitchen lately.

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I have double booked picnics, play dates, lunch outings, babysitters, and other stuff lately.  I need to get my calendar organization figured out.  It is stressing me out. 

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Last night I watched Glee!  They are rerunning the season on Thursday nights this summer.  I am so excited to have something new and fun to watch.  I hate summer TV...even though we are often too busy or too tired.  But it is nice to have something to zone out to.

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Okay, time to go feed them something.... Happy Weekending!