sleepy head

The yucky bug germs have been transferred from one child to the other.
The princess and I were playing hide and seek and she hid under her blanket
in her room. I gave her a few minutes as she loves to "hide".
I went up to her room and she was fast asleep.
Without her dolly.
Snoring.
It was 6:20.
I noticed goopy stuff in her eye. Just like her brother had last week. I really shouldn't be surprised.
The sad thing is that her birthday is a few days away and now she gets to be sick on her special day.
The fun curves life has in it!

today

Today has been a bit of a long day.

Downs:
1. Awake with sick son at 3:45 this morning.

2. Could not ease the searing pain in his ear.

3. Knowing antibiotics were going to be needed. This equals $$.

4. Finding out he had an ear infection in the other ear too.

5. It looks like a truck has run over him with dark circles under his blood shot eyes.

Ups:
1. Able to go back to sleep around 5:30.

2. Husband came in and soothed son to sleep in a matter of seconds. He IS super dad.

3. Antiobiotics were FREE at the store.

4. He has a very high pain tolerance (though this could be a down if he breaks a bone and never tells us).

5. All sickness came at once. Two ear infections, colds (or pink eye...no one knows) in both eyes, sore throat and upset stomach.

6. He did not miss one minute of school with it being winter break.


I'm ready for bed.

snipits of the day

#1:

Sam: Mom, I had a dream last night.

Me: Really? Do you remember what it was about?

Sam: No. But you were in it.

Me: Interesting. Was I doing anything?

Sam: I don't know. Don't you remember?

Me: Don't I remember what?

Sam: Don't you remember being there?

Me: In your dream?

Sam: Yeah. You were in my dream. Don't you remember?

Me: Um...no. I don't.

Sam: oh. well..maybe next time you'll remember.



#2: 4:30 a.m.

Alina (in her bed): MOMMMYYYY??!??

Me (in my bed): Yes Alina?

Alina: I wanted you to play with me.

Me: I will when the sun comes up.

Alina: But I wanted you to play with me!

Me: Wait until the sun comes up.

Alina: silence.

Alina: Mommy???

Me: yes Alina

Alina: Where's the books?

Me: In your room.

Alina: But I want you to read them.

Me: When the sun comes up.

Alina: silence.

Ahhh...the joys of having a child that talks in her sleep and can actually carry on a conversation.

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solved

Tonight at 5:30, my niece knocked on the door and came in.
This part of the mystery I knew. The kids were so excited that she was babysitting. I was excited too. To be out for a few hours with my handsome husband.
I called Ed to let him know I was all ready and he directed me to his office book case (in our home), 4th row up, all the way to the left, green notebook, front page.
There was a map with directions of where I was to meet him.
We ended up meeting at a Japanese/Chinese restaurant where we have dined before, but always on the Chinese side.
Tonight we experienced the hibachi side. It was fabulous. We were immediately warmed up from being so close to the flames. I think I may have even acquired a sun tan.
Soup, salad, shrimp appetizer (those brave enough had the opportunity to catch a flying shrimp, by mouth, from the chef), filet mignon, fresh veggies and rice.
So very tasty and I was fascinated with the chef and what a treat to watch our food being cooked right in front of us (plus the fancy knife and spatula throwing, egg tossing/catching with the spatula and not breaking, and the volcano onion...yes....just like the Office episode...Ed and I had a good chuckle over that).
After dinner we went to a different restaurant for dessert and non-stop conversation.
Home early due to roads as my niece had to be taken back home.
It was a great evening.
It was a great birthday. :)

the mystery

I found this slip of paper on my computer this morning.

"Someone will arrive at 5:30 pm to watch Sam and Alina.
Please be dressed (no jeans) by then for our evening.
After you have briefed the sitter, please call me for further instructions."

Oh the suspense!

silverware

There are now choices on the horizon.
A horizon that dawned rather quickly.
The waiting game seems to have fallen to the back of the line.
For now.
Decisions have taken the lead.
Decisions that include several forks in the road.
One fork leads to another.
No matter which prong is chosen.
Who knew there could be so many forks.

a hearty evening

With the weather the way it has been and the Super Bowl last night, a good hearty dish was being called for. Ed's taste buds were sending messages to his brain that had to do with white chili. I was up to the challenge.

The search started. Scouring over recipes looking for the one. I thought I had found it. This white chili was what I ended up making. It was OK. Too many beans, too little chicken for my taste (these two white items were what caused this chili to be considered acceptable in the "white" category). So the rest is in the freezer for another day whenst I may add some extra chicken.


What better to go with chili than corn bread. Again, the scouring ensued. And again, I thought I had found the recipe. My palate was anticipating what I thought was going to be some mouth watering corn bread. Perfect consistency and taste. I was sorely disappointed. Too bland. Not sweet enough and too gritty. But I did enjoy trying out one of Ed's dad's iron skillets and baking the bread in the oven. It did turn out very good, but just wasn't the taste I was looking for. So now I am on the lookout for a good cornbread recipe. One that is 3/4 good for you, possibly 4/4 good for you. :)

It was a good day, all snuggled inside with our family and watching a sport (with commercials that were so/so this year) that I have come to enjoy (with many years of Ed's patience in teaching me about all the rules. Especially moving the chains. That took a loooong time to teach this volleyball/cheerleader high school gal who knew nothing of the sport.) The company sure made up for the so-so food.

current news

1. There is a blizzard warning until midnight tonight.
2. The highway is closed in 3 areas between our home and where my husband is at a retreat (of which he is supposed to come home today).
3. I have a nice big candle burning to give off a nice piney scent.
4. We are toasty and all snuggled in despite the blowing craziness outside.
5. All three of us are still in our jammies.

not there yet

I'm finding that I am not a patient person when it comes to waiting. Not waiting in line, or waiting for the water to boil, but waiting for answers. Waiting for opportunities. Waiting for the change that we've been anticipating over such a stretch of time. Today brought an answer that is going to bring forth more waiting. The answer was not one that was expected or well liked. Honestly, I did not appreciate the answer one bit. But that is something that I, personally, need to weed through. So we wait. Again. Different roads are coming up and we wait to see which will be traversed. I am not handling this well and really prefer to just ignore it, but it's right in my face day in and day out, so it can not be brushed under the rug. I hope on the other side I can look back and say that I learned from this waiting period. That I grew. That I did not become bitter or harbor ill thoughts. I hope the same for my husband. That when we do reach a pit stop, receive an answer, come to the oasis in the trying desert journey, that we will be able to look across from where we journeyed and see how we were given enough water along the way to make it one more day. And realize that the wait was absolutely worth it.

flying by

Another week has flown by without really realizing it.
This weekend is filled up with Sunday being resting day.
Today is soup/salad pot luck at work in which I have 30 minutes to make two white chocolate double mint chip pie's for Ed's birthday treat.
Tonight's event is a post Christmas music party for all people on the music teams at church.
Tomorrow is Ed's b-day filled with surprises, and in case he reads this post, I won't be spilling the beans about what is going to be happening. Though he knows something is up as I bought plastic forks.
Tomorrow is also my eldest niece's birthday. She will be turning 17. She was born when I was 15. It still blows my mind how fast time goes. How often I find myself pinning for the days when both kids are in school. Then realize that some day I'll be wishing for the battles I am facing today with my kids. How, when looking back, life was a lot easier. How the saying, "hindsight is 20/20" always seems to be true.

So happy weekend to all. Enjoy each moment of life that you breathe.

a smidge too close

Today has been one of those busy days where everything seems to pile on top of each other when nothing was really planned to begin with.

8:30-11:30 work. Typical Monday.
11:30-12:15 lunch, helping child get dressed, school. This is the time of day where I am thankful our son can get dressed by himself. Though I'm sure it's to the point where the teacher wonders if he has any other clothes besides the three outfits that he continually wears. At least they're clean.
12:25-4:12 grocery shopping with the little miss. Quite the helper she was today.
4:12 and 30 seconds. Son off bus. Today was a day I was thankful there was not one cop on Spaulding. Going 60 down a hilly street does funny things to ones stomach. Maybe that's why the speed limit is 35. I gave myself enough time at Meijer to check out. At least I thought it was enough time. I did not have a lot of items, but the cashier would scan one item and look at all the rest to see if there was something way at the end he could put in a bag. As anal as I am, I do put all boxed goods together, canned goods, produce, chips/bread last as to not get smushed. It took a total of 10 minutes to check out. With the 40 or so items I had, it took him between 20 and 30 seconds to scan each. So I was flying out of the store at 4:05 and still had to buckle little miss in and load the groceries. It took me 3 minutes to get home. Would've been shorter if I didn't get behind someone actually doing the speed limit. It was way to close of a call. Way too close.
4:15-4:30 putting groceries away.
4:30-5:00 work and catch up with Ed.
5:00-5:30 piano lesson with son.
5:30-7:30 make dinner, Ed home, jammies.
7:30-now read books and sing songs, bed.

New arrival

Ed received an instant message from me saying, "oh boy. oh boy. oh boy!!!!!"
My pots and pans came today and that's exactly what he guessed. In my head I was singing "ahhhhh" like when a bright light shines upon someone on tv. The chorus of voices announcing something glorious. Yes. That's what the sound was when I was opening the box.
Jenna said I was allowed to rub my hands all over them. I would have done that too if they weren't so cold! I had to sit on my hands after taking the pots/pans out of the box.
The chicken will be the first victim. Mwaaaahhh haaa haaa (rubbing hands together).
Who knew transitioning from angelic voices to villian laughter in a matter of seconds could happen so quickly!!

a reminder to myself

I forget how addicting Ebay can be. Those last few seconds before the bidding has ended. The exhilaration of trying to win and the let down when you were beaten by 50 cents. I've been watching and bidding on different sets of pots and pans and have to keep reminding myself not to get out of control. I told Ed last night that I just want to keep bidding and bidding so I actually win, to beat everyone else, but then remember, "oh yeah....I really do have to pay if I win". That it's not just a game to be played.

So, off I go. Back to watch the pots and pans and keep my index finger under control so as not to hit the Confirm Bid button one to many times.

shrinking food supply

It amazes me how one person can eat so much. Two bowls of oatmeal in the morning. Fruit, crackers, cheese, sandwich at lunch. Today's lunch was grilled cheese with yogurt and a sandwich and a half was consumed. Dinner usually consits of two helpings. In between each meal is one snack. When the plate is empty, I hear, "Are you going to eat that? Are you done? Can I have what ever you don't eat? Are you done yet? Can I have that?" Eating all day could very well be happening if I didn't set limits.

The 1st question in the morning, "Mom, what are we having for dinner tonight?"
Pants are getting shorter. Shirt sleeves are shrinking. Major growing is going on.

I told Ed today, I can't imagine what it's going to be like when he's a teenager and goes through a growth spurt. Let alone when he turns 6. Ed's reply, "I'll need to go donate plasma just to feed him."

Questions for the day

Does taking down Christmas lights outside count for exercise (up and down the ladder, climbing the tree, walking around the tree so many times you start to get dizzy)?

When a gift is bought for someone with a plethera of other items and a 15% discount is applied to the total bill, when the one gift is returned, should it be allowed for the store to apply the 15% discount to that one gift?

*The above question has been answered and I do understand, now that my ever patient husband explained it to me with visuals (if I can't picture it, there's a slim chance I'll grasp it). In my head it made sense of how I was thinking it wasn't correct for the store to do, but alas, I was in error.

Is it normal for it to be 50 degrees out in January in Michigan? Not that I'm complaining....

What's the best type of pots/pans out there without spending an exorbitant amount of money?

lost appetite

I have quite easily forgotten how much blood one tiny tooth popping out can produce.

I was reminded of this last night during dinner time eating pizza's no less.

It was the hit of the evening. Especially amongst the boys.

fresh start

I'm not one to make new year resolutions. I really never have. Maybe one year here, one year there. This year is different. I have just a few things of which I hope to work at in the coming year.

1. Exercise at least three times a week. The Christmas money was pooled and a stepper was bought. It is set up and ready to be used. Along with the work out bench and the videos that have been wiped free of dust.

2. As of the 1st, eating around here is going to change. Slowly, but it will change. With being the grocery shopper and cook of the family, I feel it is my responsibility to feed our family healthily. What better time to start this with a new year right around the corner. With taking better care of myself and our family, eating healthy is half the battle. Exercise is the other.

I could include many more, but when I get too bogged down I then do none, which would defeat the whole purpose of writing this. I will set goals to work at, continue good habits that have already started, and keep at breaking the bad habits that have formed.

I am looking forward to this new year. If it is nothing like the beginning of 2006, I will be more than happy (last year started with vertigo, sinus infection, pink eye in both eyes, another sinus infection, pink eye again and ended with vertigo in March).

So here's to a new year. A time to start fresh with a big gulp of clear air and a lilt to the steps that will be taken over the next 12 months.

observing changes

Every day seems to be blending into another. Once the kids' feet hit the ground the day starts and once their eyes are closed and they are actually sleeping, the day can come to an end and a breath can be taken. What goes on in between those two moments is all a blur. I can't tell one day from the next as they all consist of the same things. Work. Take Sam to school. Go to one store or another. Get home. Get Sam off the bus. Dinner. Bedtime. Do all over again. But that seems to be coming to an end.

Usually I do not look forward to change. I become content in the every day sameness and even the every day struggles seem to look alike. But changes are coming down the pipe. And I look forward to them. I'm ready for a change. Tomorrow starts the first one. Sam is done with school for the next week and a half and I'm looking forward to having him home and have ideas in my head of what we can do over the next days before schools starts again.

It has been hard to find enjoyment in each day when they fly by and seem like a repeat of the day before. I'm sure there are little changes that are happening that I don't even realize. The sun peaking through the clouds. The kids learning something new. Encouraging someone without realizing it. A step towards growth, even when it may be a small step. A stirring in the heart.

So with eyes that now see the way life has been, hopefully they can focus on the little things that can change and bring life instead of the same things that they have observed over the past days and weeks.

before the fall

I lived out a saying Tuesday night. Pride comes before the fall. And the fall comes fast and hard. Very hard.

Tuesday night was the Orienteering group Agape Feast. A time to come together, worship through singing, reading scripture, eating a Mediterranean meal and taking communion together. The evening was focused on the prophesies of Christ's coming in the Old Testament and then reading in the New Testament of how those prophesies came true through Christ's birth, death and ressurection. It was an amazing, amazing time of reflection, celebration, worship and fellowship.

Ed and I were in charge of bringing a bean dish, dessert, bread and olives. Bread was bought, hummus became the bean dish, canned olives were purchased and baklava and pirouettes were ready to go on the plates.

With being the only one bringing desserts, I wanted to make sure there was enough for everyone, and an assortment in case some people did not enjoy nuts (in the baklava0. So onto the internet I hopped and found some Jewish dessert recipes. Babka (bread with a filling in the middle, rolled up like a jelly roll), apple turnovers and cinnamon twists. Everything was on schedule. Bread was rising, dough was chilling in the refrigerator and the oven and I were ready to tackle all the food. I was excited. Excited to see how everything would turn out. Visions of how the home-made apple turnovers would look, dressed in their drizzled glaze. How the cinnamon twists would be with their sugar coatings on, looking pretty lined up next to each other. How everyone would oooo and ahhhh over the creations and I would feel good that I made something worthy of a large number of people to eat.

Come about 4:30, I started on the turnovers. Apples were peeled, sliced and diced ready to become stuffing. Little did I know that the person who wrote the recipe did not include all ingredients or state at what the turnovers should bake at. My eyes were all stars when I first read it, amazed at how easy it sounded. This should've been a red flag, but nope. I just continued on. Thankfully my mom was home, so many phone calls were made. It helps that she's been a baker for years! :) I ended up making 5 turnovers that turned out to be blobs with big holes on the top. Frustration level started to rise.

Cinnamon twists were rolled out and twisted, on the cookie sheets ready to go after the blobs came out of the oven. Not putting two and two together, the twists were actually cookies, not like taco bell cinnamon twists. So when they were taken off the cookie sheet, they all broke because they were too long and thin.

By the time I left for church, my frustration level was beyond compacity. I was driving with broken cinnamon twists, no apple turn overs and hopes that the babka turned out as it was on a cooling sheet in the back seat.

It wasn't until later, while singing and finally being able to take a deep breath that God revealed to me how prideful I had been. How I had been making all the food for my own glorification instead of just to be enjoyed by others, no matter what it turned out like. It's obvious now that the food didn't turn out for a reason. A reason called a lesson.

It was a hard lesson. A hard lesson learned a hard way with a hard fall. And you know what? Not one person noticed the broken cookies or missed the blob turnovers. The evening was a huge success and my flubbed up desserts did not make or break the evening. They were just used as an instrument to break my pride.