Today - October 26, 2009

Today…

Outside my window: it's dark now. It was pouring all last night and into this morning and this afternoon was glorious!!

I am hearing: The music over the monitor from Duncan's room.

I am thinking: I should be in bed. I'm wondering if I should wake Cordelia or let her sleep until she wakes up hungry. If I let her sleep I get to go to sleep earlier, but then I'll more likely have to wake up 2x in the middle of the night, and that's brutal!

I am hoping: Bill gets better soon and that none of us catch it. Oh, we've determined it's a nasty cold, not the flu.

I am reading: Still An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon. I told you I'm a slow reader!

I am creating: still working on quilts. Lots of them to make! But I suppose this week we'll be doing pumpkins too.

I am wearing: my pjs!

In the kitchen:
Monday - home made pizza (was good). Oh, for Duncan (he doesn't care for pizza) I made this recipe I just received today from Weelicious.com called Freaky Franks. It was awesome! You stick uncooked spaghetti through pieces of hot dogs and then cook it so that the spaghetti is cooked into the hotdog. Duncan devoured it!
Tuesday - Pork chops
Wednesday - chicken drumsticks
Thursday - left overs? I am so uninspired for meals this week. *sigh*
Friday - we'll figure that out on Friday

Around the house: There is always something to be done. Got some good work on Cordie's room last week, but still lots to do.

Plans for the week: Duncan's preschool Halloween Party is on Thursday so I need to bring something for that. Otherwise, trick or treating for Halloween on Saturday. But I'm wondering if Duncan is going to get dressed up this year. Last year he didn't. So far this year he doesn't want to. We'll see. Oh, and I'm planning on seeing Tanya and Warren on Friday! Let's hope the weather is dry so we can go to that awesome park.

A few of my favorite things: Cordie has discovered how to really use the jollly jumper and she just loves it!! She is so funny.

Picture Thought:

Oh yeah

Earlier today I was talking to my Mom (for the 1st time... we talk a lot. When there is a day we don't speak for one reason or another both Bill's and my Dad's reactions are "what, are you guys fighting?" *grin*) she said "go write in your blog, I need something to read". Now, seeing as we talk multiple times a day, there really isn't going to be much in here that she doesn't know, but hey, here you go Mom. Love you lots.

Oh, there is something new. We think Bill's got "it". It Being the flu. It being the H1N1 as they are saying if you have the flu it's 99% likely it's the H1N1. At 1st we thought it was a nasty cold, but I think if tomorrow he has a fever (he hasn't yet) then we'll change it to flu. Poor guy. I complimented him tonight and said I was impressed b/c he hadn't been sterotypical sick male yet. Bill says "just wait". So tomorrow I need to get him in to see the doctor if for no other reason than he'll need a note for work. He might be off for the whole week. We've been hearing some employers insisting that people take at least 7 days (Ronnie, and I think Andre too), but we don't know what his work's policy on that is. Hey, I don't want him sick, but it's nice to have him around, even if on the whole I pretend he's not there b/c it helps my routine. I just folllow him around with a can of Lysol "Did you touch that? Yes? Okay" *SPRAY*. *GRIN*. I really hope the kids and I don't get it (duh, of course I hope that), but more so the kids than me. Not that I want it, but little kids don't understand being sick, you know?

Otherwise, not much going on. It's time for bed. I think that is a theme in all of my blog posts. I need to check on Cordie and see if she wants to eat.

Oh, funny thing, since I've started doing that datebook thing on Monday's that I stole from Colorado Nancy, I've totally been holding myself accountable to the meal plan. We always make a meal plan, but it's always so easy to say "oh let's just get take out instead". But since I've been writing it down I actually feel like I'm accountable to the 3 people who read this blog, and we're sticking to it. I'll ask Bill what he wants for dinner and he'll reply "I don't know, whatever you wrote in your blog". Oh, the power.

Okay, I'm yawning. Good night. Be healthy. Love you all.

I really should be in bed

It's 10:22, I'm tired, I still need to feed Cordelia again (I always get her up and feed her one more time before I go to bed, this usually keeps her happy for a good period of time), but I am having such a relaxing evening. Bill is gaming (World of Warcraft) (and he has a cold, poor guy... I think I'll be spending some time with the Lysol tomorrow), and I've just been chillin' on the couch catching up on email, and my Google Reader. Oh, I also emailed Dole (you know, the pineapple people) because we bought some peaches that taste like they were canned well before they were ripe and we now have a box of peaches that are crunchy and tasteless. I email people. I'm one of those people who doesn't hesitate to say "I didn't get what I paid for" in a really nice way.

I'm also listening to music. I broke down today and bought 'I Gotta Feeling' by the Black eyed Peas on iTunes. Every time I hear this song I like it, so I thought why not. So I added it to my Gym Music folder, which really is more of my best of the best folder now b/c there is a lot of non-workout music in there. Okay, it's all non-workout music b/c I haven't been working out. Ha ha ha. Oh, but I told Bill I think I want EA SportsActive for Christmas. I like the Wii Fit but my problem with it is there is so much down time between exercises it's hard to maintain momentum. So a 20 minute work out can take you 45 minutes. I also told him I wouldn't mind some kind of a dancing video game. Something I can do where no one will see me. But I don't know what dancing games are good.

I had a coupon for buy one get one free Blizzard from DQ, so I popped out around 9 and got us some. Bill needed it for his sore throat you know. It was yummy. That and a cup of tea... ahhh...

Our cheap $25 dvd player is dying. Can you believe it?! I mean, come on, we didn't buy the $20 one for a reason... Okay, I guess we asked for that. But seeing as our PS3 doubles as our DVD player, we can use our "old" one. Confusing I know. We have a dvd player in the kitchen (with a tv, duh) so Duncan can watch Backyardigans etc while we're out there. yes, sometimes during meals, I'm a bad mom.

Kids are good, thanks for asking. Cordie is so funny. She talks and talks and talks. Bill just rolls his eyes and I assure him it is never going to end :) She's still been in our room but we're moving her to her own room this weekend b/c she is outgrowing the basinette. And I keep stubbing my toe on it. But I'll miss having her so close. Duncan is good too. He didn't want to nap today and fought it for an hour and a half! And finally I just turned the downstairs monitor off and went about my business and I turned it back on 10 minutes later and he was asleep! But of course we couldn't let him sleep long, and so he was quite owly for the rest of the evening. We got his school pictures (proofs) today. How cute.

Bed time!

Today...

Today…

Outside my window: it's overcast. It was foggy this morning. It's a nice fall day though. I love fall!

I am hearing: Rachel Ray. Mackenzie Philips is on there. I'm rather tired of her now.

I am thinking: if the cats, who are running around upstairs, wake the kids, furr will fly

I am hoping: that our decision to not sell next year, and stay put for a while instead, is the right one.

I am reading: Still An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon. I told you I'm a slow reader!

I am creating: still working on quilts. Lots of them to make!

I am wearing: Gap pants and a black t-shirt.

In the kitchen:
Monday - pasta
Tuesday - Beef stroganoff
Wednesday - Pork chops (shake and bake)
Thursday - pasta again
Friday - we'll figure that out on Friday

Around the house: I need to get Cordie's room cleaned up!!

Plans for the week: Bill has Friday off. Duncan is going to daycare then instead and we're going to get work outside done.

A few of my favorite things: Duncan has taken some chores upon himself - like feeding the cats each morning, and helping set the table. I love that when we went for a walk yesterday afternoon with Oma and Opa he walked the whole way, at a good pace. He's just growing up. Cordie's new sound " Ba ba ba ba ba ba". She's so cute!!!

Picture Thought:
This is a Northern Flicker. Not a great shot, but he was hanging around in our back yard this past week and I thought he was (she was?) a beautiful bird.

Vegetable Soup

Duncan received a book a while back from Theresa called "Vegetable Soup" by Ann Morris. For the life of me I can't find a direct link to this book online. Oh, he received a bunch of books from her, but he is particularly keen on this one. Going to Peek-A-Book at the library (baby story time) I learned that many children's book have a rhythm to them to read aloud. So, reading this book, we put our own rhythm to it, and it totally works.

Having read the book many, many times, we rather have it memorized (like many parents do with many books). So, with the weather turning cooler, we decided it was time to make it.

Put some water in a pot (we added the water last)
then add some more you'll need a lot.
Add fresh carrots, celery, beans
sweet potatoes and mustard greens (we didn't add mustard greens, but upon reflection I could have added some kale)
Stir in onions, tomatoes too (we used tomato sauce instead)
add green peas, you'll need a few
A bit of parsley is very nice (we didn't add parsley, I don't like it)
with salt and pepper for the spice (I used salt and Mrs. Dash)
Cook it slowly on low heat.
Simmer until it's time to eat.
When the carrots lose their crunch,
then you'll know it's time for lunch.
SIP SIP SIP SIP SIP.
It's time for sipping vegetable soup!

(and might I add, it's rather yummy!).

Random Thoughts

1. Why is it that when I sleep on my right side I put my arms a certain way, and it's totally comfortable, but when I sleep on my left I can't seem to get my arms the same way, and therefore achieve the same amount of comfort?

2. I have no problem buying No Name brand or a house brand, but I don't care what they say, there are certain things that don't compare. Like ketchup. Like most cereal. Like macaroni and cheese.

3. If we had a big earthquake today we totally would not be prepared. The whole supplies for three days thing? Yeah, not so much. That reminds me we also need to get a will done up now we've got kids.

4. Ronnie has the flu - probably H1N1. How much does that suck? She's feeling better, but it's still brutal. If I got hit with the flu (any flu) we'd be hooped b/c I wouldn't be able to watch the kids. What do single Mom's do? (or single Dads). Bless them.

5. Need a lift? Check out GivesMeHope.com

I won!

Four times in the last 3 weeks no less - I've won some of the giveaways I've been entering.

I won a book and lip liner and lip gloss from Northern Mama, and some shaving products, and a Masterlock prize from 3 Boys and a Dog. It's kind of funny because I just enter these draws (no harm, no foul) and it's all just come together lately. It's fun. Mom says I should go buy a lotto ticket, but I said since these ones cost me no money, I'll stick with them.

Otherwise, Friday tomorrow. Tanya's last day at work. Woot! I don't know what I'm doing with the kids - if we're going out or not. Duncan has been being very 3 lately - like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. He'll be super awesome, polite, well behaved one moment and then turn into this little monkey the next. His thing right now his hitting. When he does, he gets a time out, and when he apologizes he has to explain what he did wrong so I know he understands. But at this age, he knows the words to say, but he doesn't understand. Not that he actually hurts when he hits - he does it out of frustration, but how do you get through that it is not okay? Ah, we'll get there.

So Bill is gaming tonight and I think I am going to do a bit of quilting and try and hit the hay at a reasonable time. I slept miserably last night. I tried to nap. That didn't work either.