7...in New York City

Andrew turned 7 years old today.

I asked him months ago if he would like to have a birthday party. He had one when he turned 5, but not when he turned 6. I kind of thought every other year would be do-able for me.

He declined. He said he would rather have a day alone with Jeff and I like last year. Which is alternately sweet and kind of sad that he craves alone time that much.

Anyway, we decided to go to New York City with him. Something I've been wanting to experience with him, but am too chicken to take all 3 kids into the big, bad city. ;)

My parents were supposed to come for the weekend, but with all the grandma troubles, the last thing they needed was to tack on a 10 hour trip...one way. My in-laws ended up selling their Michigan/OSU tickets to come. Let me say that again...sold their Michigan/OSU tickets. That they had. That they planned to use. If my kids ever say they aren't loved...

So we left this morning, just Jeff, Andrew, and me. Andrew talked non-stop on the way to the train station. He was asking in depth questions about the Civil War and the involvement of New York in wars and if our family members had been in the early wars of this country. Wow. Conversations we could never have with the other rugrats around.

We got on the train and into the city no problem. Jeff is a pro with the trains/subways/etc. I wander like a chicken with its head cut off. I'm too distracted by all the people and cars and noises and smells and lights and tall buildings and street performers and etc etc. Chicken with head cut off. I sat with Andrew on the 90 minute train ride. He and I discussed why people would buy houses right next to a train track, and why people need heart transplants (ad for a hospital in one of the train stops), and a million different things dealing with trains (why does he punch a hole out of your ticket/what does the hole punch mean/why does he wear that hat/why don't I have a ticket/ etc etc etc.). The Riddler.

Once we got into the city, I thought Andrew was going to have a terrible time. He looked very intimidated and scared. He pressed up really close to me. I quickly explained that he should stick with Dad...because if push came to shove, Dad would be able to get him back home. I would be wandering the underbelly of New York for weeks trying to find the way back. But after an hour or so, he was charging through the crowds and reading signs and confident as all heck.

We came upon Macy's straight away. It is beautiful. We showed Andrew right where the Macy's Day Parade was filmed. We recognized the half naked Victoria Secret billboard that was in the background of all the performances on tv Thanksgiving morning. Anyhoo, we went inside to see the first escalator (it's wooden) and perhaps catch a glimpse of Santa. Whooo-buddy. No way. The Saturday after Turkey day is still a shopping hay day. It was a sea of people. An ocean. They had bouncers at the top and bottom of each escalator to help manage the crowd. So we quickly got out of there...not what we came to see. But it was beautifully decorated.

Outside Macy's we enjoyed the window displays. Each window has a different chapter of a story. When you are standing under the awning, you can only hear that particular chapter. And the characters move and spin and it is magical. Andrew was entranced. Our pictures are terrible...

Then we meandered up 5th avenue. They have a store named Saks...among others :) Andrew and I gawked at the Empire State Building while Jeff squirmed in embarrassment. We marveled at the store decorations for Christmas. In front of Trump Towers is a huge snowflake suspended over the street. Many many buildings are coated in lights. It must be quite beautiful at night. We got no pictures of these things.

We did get a picture of the New York Public Library. Because...you know...that's how I am. And it took all my restraint not to go in. ;)

We wandered some more. We ended up walking about 2 miles total. It was cold, but a beautiful day.

We got lost in the underbelly of Rockefeller Plaza. We took a random picture in front of Andrew's Ties. We saw the ice skating rink (tiny) and the line for the ice skating rink (enormous) and the Christmas tree (impressive, but Crystal Cathedral's was better). We shopped in FAO Schwartz (meh...but I had very high expectations).

Andrew wanted a shot of this store. He thought it was HI-Larious. -sigh- He's seven.

We got to Central Park and then got on a subway back to Times Square. We ate lunch and wandered around...gazing dizzily up at all the tv screens and neon lights. By this point we'd already missed the train we thought we would catch home. But Andrew really wanted to see the ferris wheel inside Toys R Us at Times Square. So we did...

(this is a ferris wheel. inside. a 3 story toy store. it was crazy busy. and crazy.)

Then we took the subway back to Penn Station and headed home. Andrew amazingly did not fall asleep on the ride back.

We picked up a pie (I've been in NYC all day...what can I say) at Andrew's favorite pizza joint, and then went home to a very excited Lily and Michael.

We had cake (which Mikey kept saying...Eat Big Cake? Eat Big Cake?)

And it was a great day. Just appreciating our first baby. He's so much fun ;)

The day after Thanksgiving...

(I'm back dating this post...because I'm a baaaaaaad blogger.)

Today we took the kids to Sesame Place. And it was cold. A bit damp. But there was NOBODY there, and we rode every ride that was open, and we went to both shows that were there. Success!

Mike and Grandpa waiting for Elmo's World to start.

Andrew got to be IN the Elmo show! He was a dreidel. Very PC of Sesame Place...since the whole show was about Christmas.

Throw a dreidel in...that will make all the Jewish families happy.

Waiting for the other show...I already can't remember what it was called. Sesame Sings Christmas Carols or something.
Nothing for the other holidays. Why pretend?

Because it was so empty, the kids got to go up and meet every single star of the show. Mike's face when he high-fived Cookie was priceless. Lily went up to Zoe twice and Abby got a big hug. Worth the cold, just for this!

Then we opened Andrew's gifts, because tomorrow we're going to New York City and he gets to pick out a toy from one of the giant toy stores. He needed to know what he was already getting.

We've never had the same Thanksgiving gathering twice. And it may just be my favorite tradition.

This year we are traveling to Jeff's cousin's house and spending the day with family.

(You can read about our Thanksgivings past here.)


I'm sorry I won't get to see my family as originally planned, but if there is one thing I've learned from all our Thanksgivings apart? It's that a holiday is special and fun, but it really doesn't matter WHEN you get together with family. That is special and fun any time of the year.

Happy Thanksgiving!

A party, a conference, and a day at home

Yesterday, Jeff used a vacation day, because I had to help at Lily's Thanksgiving party, and younger siblings are not allowed. Also, I had a conference with Andrew's teacher in the afternoon. So because Jeff was home, I also go to do some Christmas shopping alone (?!?) and run some pre-birthday/Thanksgiving errands alone. Awesome.

Lily's party:

Kids waiting for the action to start

Lily just happened to be V.I.P. (Very Important Preschooler) yesterday. A much coveted position that she has been moaning about lately. She got to point to the calendar as they talked about the day of the week, etc.
She also got to check the weather and then put the appropriate sticker on the weather chart.

She also got hold the flag during the pledge of allegiance and singing of God Bless America.

Very cute.

Then they dressed in their pilgrim and Native American costumes they made last week.

Then they traded necklaces with their Native American/Pilgrim friends.

They ate a fabulous feast of pumpkin pancakes and applesauce. And then they sat down to wait for their Mommies to come and get them and sang turkey songs while they waited. Cutest thing ever. Lily has been trying to remember the words to this song for a week...so when they started to sing it, she turned to me and yelled, "This is it! This is the turkey song, Mom!"

Andrew's conference was later that day. I took no pictures...obviously. He is wonderful and smart and perfectly perfect. The only thing to work on is to encourage him to not be so hard on himself when he doesn't do something perfect. She had no tips as to how to accomplish this. Which I would have appreciated...since I never quite mastered that myself as a student. ;) Also, she mentioned that she is getting a new student next week and she'd just met with the parents. Apparently they are moving into the house that just sold in our neighborhood. So their son will be in Andrew's class. And they also just happen to have a daughter who turned 4 in September. Hello? Stalking shall begin as soon as I see the moving truck. ;)

-

Today was destined to be a difficult day. Nobody had school. Jeff worked a normal day. I had already completed my errands, but still had almost all the cleaning and cooking left to do on my list. Blergh.

But the kids were fabulous. They played so nicely together, and it was so fun to see the playing switch. When one kid needed a break, the other two would pick up with their own game, etc etc. A nice perk to the 3 kid equation that I've never seen before in practice. I got a TON of my chores accomplished...although all the cooking will wait until tomorrow morning, and I managed to avoid the master bath. Overwhelming.

We also made a fort while I was washing the kitchen floor:

And we made place cards for the Thanksgiving table using paint and our thumbs and an old Cheerios box that I cut up to use as card stock. The kids had a blast because it was Paint! and Mom never lets us Paint! (it was miserable...FYI) (I chickened out and did it while Mikey napped...FYI)

Only the girls got googly eyes...per Lily's decree.

My in-laws get here tonight. My parents were supposed to come Friday, but with all the great-grandma/Memere issues, they are wisely skipping the long trip to Philly. Jeff's mom and dad quickly jumped on the wagon and are coming instead. And much to my dismay, they are missing the Ohio State/Michigan game that they had tickets for. If I had been aware, I wouldn't have made them choose. But as it is, they chose us (and I'm glad).

Have a happy Thanksgiving!

Day to Day

Taking a post from Emily. We've all got to share during this daily blogging thing :) Inspiration and all that...

So what does our day look like? Each day is slightly different, of course, with the beginning of the week more crammed with errands and the end of the week being more social outings. Guess which end of the week I like more ;)

5:15-5:30am; Jeff's alarm goes off, I get up and go downstairs to drink my cup of coffee before everyone is up. Often I play on the computer or watch a DVR'd show.

6:00am; Lily comes downstairs...often Andrew is with her. Jeff comes down to eat breakfast, and I run upstairs to take a shower

6:15am; Jeff is out the door to catch the train. Andrew and Lily watch tv (I am not a mother before 7 am), play pretend games, fight, etc. I usually clean up the kitchen at this point (I am bad about doing it at night...). If Mike isn't up yet, I'll run and dry my hair.

6:45ish; Mikey usually wakes up around now. He gets changed and comes down to watch a show while drinking his milk.

7:00-7:30 Breakfast time! Nobody tends to eat the same thing, but nothing is really that difficult. Lily usually grazes all morning, so she has a bagel or dry cereal. Andrew eats several courses of breakfast, cereal/yogurt/fruit/drink...I feel like I'm making breakfast for him all morning ;) Michael just sits down and hogs. I also make Andrew's lunch, double check all the papers are where they need to be, make lists for errands, and somewhere in there make my own breakfast.

7:30; My daily call to my mom. The kids usually are just entertaining themselves at this point. Often they are watching a tv show, or playing Pokemon, or just generally destroying the house. While I talk to my mom, I usually finish up the kitchen, throw a load of laundry in, wipe off the table, etc etc etc.

8:00; Time to get dressed. Everyone goes upstairs and dresses...about twice a week I'll throw bath time in as well (those mornings are a bit more harried...). Teeth are brushed, beds are made, hair is styled. Usually we have extra time to read books.

8:40; Time to get Andrew to the bus stop. Almost every morning I end up screaming during the last 5 minutes..."Getyourshoesongetyourshoesonwhereareyourshoesgetyourshoeson." No matter how early we start this process...le-sigh.

9:00-12:00; On Lily's school days, we go and drop her off, run errands or go to class or playgroup, and then pick her back up and come home for lunch. On not-Lily school days (M,W), we do other things...playdates, errands, library, playdoh, parks, etc etc.

12-1:00; lunch time/wind down for nap time

1pm-ish; Michael goes down for his nap. Lily can usually be convinced to play by herself for about 45 minutes. I will play around on the computer or fold laundry and watch a DVR'd show. My down time. Even though Lily is nearly constantly requesting help with something.

2-ish; Lily time. We play a pretend game every day for 30 minutes. I literally set my timer. Lest I go insane. When the time goes off, I do some chores. Lily usually tags along and talks my ear off. If my chores are done (or if I don't want to do them...usually the case), we will read library books, practice writing, practice using scissors, etc.

3-4:00; Michael will wake up sometime during this hour. Sometimes earlier, but usually during this time. We usually have a little snack, read books, go outside to play, play playdoh, etc.

4:00-5:00; Andrew's bus comes back home. We often walk down to get him. He comes in the door and has a snack. I go through his backpack and clean out his lunch box. We talk about what happened that day and he usually plays with Lily during this time. Michael plays too...although not usually with them.

5:00-6:00; If he hasn't already, Andrew has to start his homework at 5pm. During this hour I make dinner, help Andrew with school work, and try and keep the littles from distracting him. After he's done (it only takes 10-15 minutes), we crank up the music and they all color or play while I make dinner.

6-ish; Jeff comes home. I am usually fried by this time. We fight the kids to sit down with us for dinner, since they always HATE what is for dinner. After we inhale our food, we try and not kill them until bed time

6:30; start a show for the kiddos. General winding down time for half-hour. If I'm good I'll clean up from dinner. If I'm not, I am finishing up my dinner or talking to Jeff or whatever.

7:00; Michael and Lily go upstairs and get ready for bed. Tooth brushing, pjs, stories, songs. Andrew has to come up and get all ready for bed, but he gets to come back downstairs with us.

7:00-7:45; If Andrew has already read to us, then we play a game...UNO, Skip-Bo, Battleship, etc. If not, we cuddle up and read.

7:45-?; Jeff and I occasionally watch tv together. I'll read a book or watch tv or play around on the computer. Jeff does the same. But not usually together. I'm usually in bed by 9:30, and Jeff by 10:30.


That's pretty much a day. Of course it goes without saying that any time we are at home, I am doing little odds and ends to keep the house running...loads of laundry, mopping up spills, making phone calls, picking up toys, folding laundry, feeding pets, etc etc etc. Just so you don't think that I'm lying down eating bon bons or something while the kids are coloring ;)

To do list

Every week I try and make a list of the things I want to accomplish during that given week. I'm sure more will be added, since it is only Monday morning after all...but here's what I've got on my list this week:


Errands:

-- take Andrew to school and pick him up so that he can bring his birthday treat into class. I don't trust him to carry the cupcake tower thingy on the bus ;)

--go to grocery and claim my free turkey/lasagna. also buy milk, lunch and breakfast supplies for guests, fruit, etc.

--go get gas

-- go to Target to get Advent calendar, shoelaces for Jeff, Playdoh, other craft supplies for kids

--order Andrew's birthday cake

-- library to return movies, books and perhaps pick up new ones

--buy tickets for the historic home tour in town.

At home:
--wrap Andrew's birthday gifts

--make French stuffing

--make sauteed mushrooms

-- make 2 pies

-- clean out Lily's room and bathroom for guests

-- clean out Andrew's room to make space for inflatable mattress

-- scrub master bath till it shines, because our toilet doesn't work, so I know my FIL will be in there...yikes. I should allot more than one week for this job

-- sweep and wash kitchen floor. the only reason I hate fall

-- clean out mini-van so we can all travel together when in-laws are here

--laundry

-- send out family photos

-- order Christmas cards


Things to figure out:

-- figure out where the heck I can buy historic home tour tickets

--figure out what to do with all 3 children this week while Andrew has half days and no school. Crafts? Outings? Duct tape and rope?

-- figure out what to do with Andrew on his actual birthday...our original plans have been delayed...

--figure out what to feed everyone breakfast and lunch. and what they can drink. I am really good at planning dinners...not so much the other meals of the day...

--figure out what I want to talk to Andrew's teacher about during his conference tomorrow

The Graceful Family

We are not a graceful family. Friday night, Lily decided to take a tumble down our stairs.

The weird thing about this photo is? There is no black bruise on her eye. Yet? Does the camera show what is going to show up in a day? Is my camera a MAGIC camera? That sees the future?

This one was taken one minute before that other one. Weird, no? She's obviously no worse for the wear.

But it is a good thing we took the family Christmas photo last weekend, because I don't think we could get away with 2 black eye Christmas photos in a row. I don't think it would be funny again. And Social services would almost certainly be called on us.

If you don't remember...THIS was our family Christmas card last year:

What IS it with my kids injuring their faces in November?

Phil

I am not a music aficionado. I cannot even spell that word, that is how uncool I am with music.

I just like what I like. And I usually know after one listening. And it is almost never the "cool" stuff.

And I've never been good at it. In high school, I thought my Chicago cassette tape was a compilation of bands from the Chicago area. It took a while for me to realize they were the same band. I went to a Sting concert in college, and really like some of the "new" songs he sang. I went home and found out that he used to be in a band called The Police. Ever heard of them? I hadn't. I like Eminem. And Josh Grobin. And Taylor Swift. And Shaggy. And Tim McGraw. And Mozart. and JayZ.

You get the idea.

Well, there is one singer that I like despite myself. I had multiple cassette tapes of his solo career and his previous career with a trio. I like every song he's done for Disney movies.

I am ashamed to admit my love of this man's voice. I try to deny it. I don't listen to my tapes anymore, I never ever talk about liking his songs. (Although I may replay the credits to the Disney movie WallE over and over after we watch it. )

And then I found myself singing in the grocery store. Yes! SINGING. In. Public. Dancing down an aisle with Mikey.

And I stopped.

And realized they were playing a Phil Collins song.

DAMNIT! I am powerless to stop this! He speaks to my soul!

ABC's of me

Taking this idea from a post I saw in the summer (thanks, Kara!)

A- My Air-conditioning is set at....well, nothing. I set it at 77 in the summer. Winter we are at 67...66 if I can stand it.

B- My Bedroom theme is...dusty? furniture way too big for the room around it? dumping ground? Do those count as themes?

C- The Car in the driveway is... a gold-ish Honda Odyssey. Jeff's car is in the garage...this weekend we'll clean out the other side so both cars can get in.

D- My Desk looks like... a catalog graveyard. Seriously? We are getting 4-5 catalogs a day around here. And I want to look through them just in case the perfect gift for someone is in them. Instead, they sit in dusty heaps all over the desk.

E- The Exact time I usually wake up... usually about 5:15 am. When Jeff's alarm goes off. I'm too light of a sleeper to go back to sleep, and I like to have a cup of coffee quietly before the kids start clamoring downstairs around 6.

F- The First thing I want to wash in the shower... is my hair. That way it has a chance to drip dry while I wash the rest of myself. Plus...I always start at the top and work down.

G- My Garage is filled with... who knows. I swear it is the catch all for stuff to be donated, bikes we never use, deflated swimming pools, lawn mower, dog food, fertilizer, pots and soil, etc etc etc. Jeff's tool bench is out there too...not that we can actually walk over to it. There's just too much stuff in the way. Again...weekend project.

H- My House...is a 1900 sq. ft., 4 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath colonial. With a sweet-ass kitchen :)

I- If you peeked Inside my bedroom, you'd see... wait? Didn't we already talk about this room? Probably my least favorite room in the house. We have a king sized bed, a dresser, a wardrobe, 2 side tables. Nothing on the walls. No pictures, no mirrors. No tv.

J- My favorite Juice is...I'm not really a fan of juice. If I had to pick one, I'd go with cranberry. Or grape.

K- The best part of my Kitchen is...the counters. I love them. They don't show any dirt, they shine up so pretty...I love them.

L- The Last person who visited my home was... Well, I had playgroup here on Wednesday morning. So those 3 ladies and their children were here. And a huge dog that scared the bejeezus out of Shadow when she charged out to greet them at the car. Who knew this lady brings her dog and leaves it in the car? Shadow found out. Tee hee hee.

M- The last piece of Mail for me was... I don't get much mail. So perhaps one of the 5,000 catalogs was addressed to me.

N- My neighbors think I'm...abusive to my children. Well, I don't know...probably not. But yesterday I walked to get Andrew from the bus stop and Lily refused to put shoes on, so she was standing on our front porch barefooted screaming at me to , "COME PUT MY SHOES ON." Which would sound horribly abusive if you didn't know that I had spent 15 minutes cajoling her to put her shoes on and she decided to do it once there was no time left and I had to leave to get Andrew.

O- If you Opened my fridge you'd see...lots and lots of peppermint mocha creamer. -sigh- I love this time of year.

P- My last house Party was...House party? What does that even mean? I had book club here a few weeks ago...does that count?

Q- A Quick meal I like to make is...frozen pizza. Gourmet, I know. But everyone eats it, and I really really love pizza.

R- My favorite Room of the house is...the kitchen. Hands down.

S- The Shampoo brand I use is...I have no idea. I refill a small bottle with whatever big bottle I buy at BJ's with a coupon. My little bottle is Herbal Essenses...but I'm pretty sure that's not what it is refilled with right now.

T- My largest Television is... We only have 1 tv in the house. I know, how weird that is nowadays, right? Anyway, I can't remember how big it is...but it is BIG. And hanging on the wall. And Jeff's shining glory (his "I brought you back to the midwest" gift when we left CA).

U- Under my bed you will find...seriously? What is the obsession with the bedroom. There is nothing under out bed. Only because we have a sleigh bed, and the side boards come all the way to the ground.

V- The last time I Vacuumed was...yesterday. This time of year is vacuuming daily...with the dog and our shoes bringing in leaves, grass, etc.

W- Looking out my Window I see... deer. A buck and 3 does. They wander through our yard daily. Yesterday, I saw 3 bucks and 6 does throughout the course of the day.

X- I wish I had X-tra... time alone with Jeff. And an X-tra bedroom for guests.

Y- My Yard is...big and perfect for kids. And overgrown because we are terrible home owners.

Z- Zzzzzzz, my bedtime is...between 9:30 and 10:30. Unless I've woken up before 5:15 am...then it can go even earlier than that ;)

Some things don't change

Tonight was home movie night. We pulled out the first DVD of Andrew videos (Booooooring!) and then after much prompting, we watched Lily's first few days.

Baby Lily...um...cried a lot. She was angry at the world. At least when she was being bathed at the hospital and at home. That girl was born with a set of lungs on her. And the funny thing was...Lily hated watching this crying baby. So as we watched newborn Lily scream her lungs out, 4 year old Lily sat there and screamed her lungs out.

I have to say...4 year old Lily is more piercing.

Jeff and I just looked at each other and said, "Some things don't change."

My family, by Andrew***

this is me. Andrew:I'm nice to be with.Me and my sister like to play with each other.(I'm relly nice).

Mommy:She make's me laugh evey day.(she is nice)

Daddy:he is very very very nice! He play's with us evry day!

Lily and Michael:Both very nice!They play with me.

Shadow:a very nice dog.She is very soft.

Pikachu,Matt,PingPong are fish:We feed are fish.I like them.

***I was moaning about what to write a blog about today, and Andrew offered to write one for me. I uploaded his pictures and then left him alone. No editing. I will not run spell check for this one ;) And evidently we are all nice people. ;)

Blog roll

Carrie asked me how I know all of the people who comment on here and whose blogs I read.

So I think I'll look back at my last few posts and tell you how I know the commenters.

So let's start with Carrie. She and I were friends in Louisville. In fact, we were co-presidents of the MOM's club for a very short time. I still feel bad about that. I agreed to be co-president even though I was in my 3rd trimester. So Carrie knew she was going to carry a heavier load. Then I up and move a few months into our tenure.

Kelsey and I went to UD together. We both lived on the scholar's floor freshman year, and we were the only education majors out of 36 girls. My only memories of Kelsey are good ones...she was always sweet and kind and fun and smart and creative...and everything you would guess her to be. Oh, and she slept through alarms like nobodies business. I still remember pounding on her dorm room door at 7am our sophomore year to go to a school visit. Oh! And she was from WI, and she would come back from breaks and talk all about this store she loved that she wished was in Ohio. That store has since taken over the world (Target).

Erin also went to UD with us, and also lived on the same floor freshman year. I remember Erin being athletic and so smart and playing guitar and being ridiculously silly...like the rest of us. It really was a magical freshman year...all the girls were so great. Anyway, I didn't get to know Erin as well, due to the fact I am NOT athletic and didn't go out on the runs she organized on weekend mornings. But she was always friendly and interesting...I remember learning that sometimes your toenails fall off if you run a lot. Not a good way to encourage a non-runner to start running, but whatev'.

Erin and Kelsey were part of a group of inseparable 6 girls. We called them the 101 girls, due to their address in the Ghetto our senior year. Sorry, the "Student Neighborhood". God, I love UD. Anyhoo, I don't think any of the other 101 girls has a blog...but I know they still have reunions and are a big part of each others' lives.

Cindy is one of the 101 girls, and she has a friend from high school named Emily. I started reading Emily when she, Kelsey, and I were all pregnant with little boys and due within a few months of each other.

Bluedaisy (Jane), is somehow connected to Emily. She explained it to me when she came to visit, and I have promptly forgotten. I thought they were college roommates, but it is more like Jane's roommate knew Emily's cousin or something like that.

Swistle doesn't read my blog anymore, but I don't know her IRL. I started reading her probably the way many of you did...I thought her comments on other people's blogs were hilarious and well done, so I clicked over to her blog and was hooked.

I found Devan and Nicole the same way.

Andrea, Michelle, LisaP, KaraP, Jayme, and Amanda are all people I "know" from this board I started posting on when I started to try to get pregnant with Andrew. So, like, 9 years ago. Way before everyone had a blog and Facebook and all the other social medias became the rage. I've met Amanda and Kara in person, and someday I'm sure I'll meet all the other ladies.

Pamela is my very best friend from California.

Kate is my sister...my older sister ;) Her friend Heather comments very occasionally.

I think that is it! I read a few other blogs, but I am not a very consistent commenter and they haven't discovered me yet. Stalker! Anyhoo...

Questions?

Okay, so we are halfway through November, and I've got nothing. I *could* write about how Lily screamed and had fits all day today...from waking at 6:30 until right now, (but I have passed the baton to Jeff).

So I decided to steal some questions from other people's blogs. I would ask my own readers...but usually you guys don't have any questions for me. I would guess it is because a) I am not a very exciting person, so you already know there aren't any deep dark secrets in my past to divulge or b) I've already told you everything...

So! Question on Kelsey's blog: How do you stay connected with your spouse in the midst of kid chaos?

Um. We try to talk to each other every day. We are very affectionate...the kids don't even react when we kiss or hug each other, they are so used to it. We try to be the others' partner in crime...the two remaining soldiers in the trenches we are living in. But mostly...we just try to make sure we talk to each other every day.

Wow. That was...fabulous blog reading. No WONDER you guys don't ask questions. With scintillating answers like that, you might as well just read a post about what is on my mind.

So? You wanna know?

Meals of the Week (and the crowd goes wild!)


Tonight was chicken Parmesan...because I am going to the grocery tomorrow, and there was nothing left. Grocery tomorrow is also why meal planning is on my mind.

Tuesday- Baked Potato Soup w/ salad

Wednesday- Ruebens w/ sweet potato fries

Thursday- Crock pot...sauerkraut pork chops w/ mashed potatoes, cooked carrots, and rye bread

Friday- Homemade pizza/leftover night

Saturday- Date night! Aegean chicken (recipe from a friend in Louisville...kalamata olives, artichoke heart, diced tomatoes...yumminess!), couscous, broccoli, wine...on date nights, kids eat early and then we will eat alone after they are in bed.

Sunday- Something new...Wild rice chicken dinner...a new casserole I'm trying with french cut green beans, water chestnuts...we'll see. I always try the new stuff on weekends, because it takes more concentration.


**Usually my weekly planning ends up lasting more than a week. Inevitably there is a night when I don't feel like cooking...then we go to fall back meals like tacos or smoked sausage w/ mac and cheese or frozen ravioli's, etc. There will also be an unknown quantity of leftovers which can be used one night...pushing back the rest. And, no, my kids don't eat all this stuff. I just try to have something they will eat with each meal. Which they will always refuse...and therefore go to bed hungry. I'm mean. On the nights when I don't just make them something I know they like. Which, in looking at the list for this week, Tuesday they will definitely not eat...so I'll have fruit and crackers out...Wednesday I'll make them grilled cheese as I'm grilling up our reubens...Thursday they will actually like, because the pork chops can be served separately...Friday is pizza night...Saturday I will make them chicken nuggets so as not to interfere with our date night...Sunday should work with the chicken being pulled out and plain.

-sigh- When will they eat normally?

Stuff on my mind Sunday

--I cannot stop thinking about The Passage. You know, the book that sucked me in and forced me to read it in 2 days. I even sent an e-mail to my brother in law, imploring him to read it just so I can have someone to talk to about it. Seriously...best book I've read in a long long time. Or at least, the most addictive. And I read a lot (35 books this year so far...yes, I keep track)

-- Andrew's birthday is in less than 2 weeks. He has requested a trip to NYC with Jeff and I as his birthday present/celebration. We have said yes, but not actually planned anything. I think I may need to start researching what we will actually do in said city once the train drops us off. What could possibly go wrong during the busiest shopping weekend of the year?

-- I have had several temper tantrums the last few weeks. Literally stomping my feet when I yell at the kids. -sigh- Time to recalibrate the discipline meter again. I feel like I do this a couple times a year...I get myself to a place where I discipline calmly and without getting my emotions involved...and then slowly slip back to a place where I get frantic and out of control with them. Ditto with tv watching, eating junk for dinner, etc. This will be a reset week. Maybe someday I'll just stick to my guns instead of slipping?

-- Today after church, they had some advent activities for the kids. We made an advent wreath out of fresh evergreens, the kids painted ornaments, and at another table they got to ice and decorate Christmas cookies. Despite myself, this made me get excited about the season. Today made me actually want to decorate cookies with the kids. Which is clearly evidence of a mental illness.

--Grandma B. is now in the hospital with pneumonia and other ailments. That makes both my grandmothers in bad shape. On one hand, they are almost 91 and almost 93 years old...so practically inevitable. On the other hand, it stinks that it is happening all at once. And my grandpa's birthday is tomorrow...he would have been 92. Another tough week for my dad. And mom.

-- One of my Christmas presents for Mike isn't going to work now that we're going to Ohio. Which is a bummer, because it was free ;) It's simply too big to transport. Luckily, he is simply delightful to shop for, so I won't have any problem finding something. My wallet will not agree that this is lucky ;)

-- Jeff and I need to go out. There is the annual tour of historic homes in our town next month that we'd both really like to do. But that would entail finding a babysitter for the whole day on a Saturday. Just the thought makes me want to crawl back in my house for another 10 years. And we simply don't have very many in the youth group at our church. I've inquired and gotten no responses. And Mikey is such a bear with strangers. Ugh. Those historic homes aren't going anywhere...we'll catch it another year.

-- Not much on my calendar for the week. I'll enjoy the quiet before the holiday crazies start. ;)

Neglected

If my children are going to be neglected because of this book, then I'm afraid the blog is too. See you tomorrow (maybe).

A to Z Does It

Tonight, we packed up the whole family and went back to Andrew's school for a first grade performance, A to Z Does It, a musical about the alphabet. We've been hearing the songs for months, and tonight was the big night.

I cried.

Seriously. I have no predictable emotions. First day on the bus, when my baby leaves me for big kid school?...no tears. Cute, happy, singing 1st graders? Need tissues. (also needed tissues during a baptism at church on Sunday...for people I don't know...as if I were super religious or something.)

Anyway...if there is anything cuter than a huge group of 1st graders singing, I haven't experienced it yet. Because they are all so enthusiastic and earnest and proud and happy and randomly waving at their families. They are such...I don't know...REAL KIDS or something. The songs sounded good and they had memorized a ton of verses and motions and it was so much more put together than a preschool production. But yet...they are still so innocent and proud of their parents and...sigh. I think I love 1st graders.

Mike and Lily did fine in the audience. Lily excitedly yelled, "Look! A 'U'!" when the vowels were being paraded out. And Mike kept pointing at the gym clock saying, "Ma ma ma MAAAAA. Big clock. Locked. Big clock locked." Other than that, they did fine. :)

I wish I had better pictures and/or video. But there were about 5 million people sitting in front of me. And I had Mike and Lily. End of story.

My favorite 3 Maple Trees

Every fall I wax about these 3 beauties just outside my family room window. This year, I'll just leave you with pictures...