1. For breakfast every morning, the kids had some variation on cereal, milk, yogurt, and fruit. I had a Kashi GoLean instant oatmeal and a banana every morning.
2. The first night, we stopped at Senor Tequilas on the way from the airport. It was not good. I had bean nachos.
3. On the second night, we ordered Papa John's pizza so that we could just be at the house and let the kids swim. There were also strawberries.
4. Tuesday night, we were driving back from visiting my husband's grandmother, so the kids had a "supper" of peanut butter crackers, apple slices, and animal crackers. I had a late night egg sandwich when we got back to the house.
5. For lunch every day, we packed it and took it to the beach/club pool. It was usually some combination of PBJs, cheese sticks, grapes, egg sandwiches, pretzels, juice boxes, or carrots and peanut butter.
6. Wednesday, we cooked. There was grilled tilapia, baked sweet potatoes, salad, chips and salsa, and the kids had grilled cheese sandwiches.
7. Thursday, we went to Doc's Beach House for overpriced, mediocre dive-bar food. I had an egg salad sandwich and chips. The kids loved picking out an ice cream bar from the cooler for dessert.
8. The last two nights we went to TGIFridays (dorky families alert!) because it is so easy and cheap to eat there. I had a spicy black bean burger both nights. They were delicious. On the second trip there, I got crazy with a Blackberry Long Island Iced Tea.
9. On the last morning, we stopped at Bread Co. for breakfast (Panera for the non-St. Louisians out there). I had an iced chai tea latte and we all shared some cinnamon crunch bagels, which is one of the more coveted treats at our home.
10. Lauren and I had Bella Sera Pinot Grigio each night and there may have been handfuls of pretzel and peanut butter M&Ms involved.
Monday
Sunday
What's In My Fun Bag For The Airplane
1. Magazines- US Weekly, People, and InStyle
2. My iPhone
3. Chapstick
4. Headphones
5. Christmas cross-stitching
6. Kind bar
7.Sour Cherries
8. Sunglasses
9. Wallet
10. Stickers and blank books for the kids
2. My iPhone
3. Chapstick
4. Headphones
5. Christmas cross-stitching
6. Kind bar
7.Sour Cherries
8. Sunglasses
9. Wallet
10. Stickers and blank books for the kids
Friday
What I've Been Eating A Lot Of Lately
1. Salty chips dipped in greek yogurt
2. THESE Field Roast apple sage "sausages"
3. Luna Peanut Honey Pretzel bars
4. Tacos
5. Kale chips
6. Frozen yogurt (we've been to Chill a lot lately)
7. Chili
8. Spinach, mushroom, and black bean quesadillas
9. Mushrooms
10. Cereal and almond milk as my night snack
11. Smoothies
2. THESE Field Roast apple sage "sausages"
3. Luna Peanut Honey Pretzel bars
4. Tacos
5. Kale chips
6. Frozen yogurt (we've been to Chill a lot lately)
7. Chili
8. Spinach, mushroom, and black bean quesadillas
9. Mushrooms
10. Cereal and almond milk as my night snack
11. Smoothies
Wednesday
Tuesday
The Kids "Fun Bags" For The Plane Ride
1. Ring pops
2. Coloring books and crayons
3. Calculators
4. W has a math workbook, and R has an activity book
5. Activity pack
6. Memory cards
7. A deck of cards
2. Coloring books and crayons
3. Calculators
4. W has a math workbook, and R has an activity book
5. Activity pack
6. Memory cards
7. A deck of cards
Monday
Our Teachers' Christmas Gifts
(spread out over 5 days, because of our trip and stomach flu, the kids only had 5 school days in December)
1. A little bag of festive things from the Kitchen Store in Conway- a cute little bird magnet, Caramel Praline Toffee hot chocolate canister, and some strawberry jam.
2. Panera gift card
3. Starbucks gift card with a Christmas clip clipped on and their favorite Starbucks coffee that morning
4. THESE apples and caramel cream cheese toffee dip (I used Heath bars instead of Skor because where in the world can you buy Skor bars). They turned out so cute and delicious!
5. A pair of earrings and a Christmas ornament tied on the gift bag
6. Their head teachers are also children's book collectors, so they each got a book- Mrs. B received Iggy Peck, Architect and Mrs. H received The Birds of Bethlehem.
1. A little bag of festive things from the Kitchen Store in Conway- a cute little bird magnet, Caramel Praline Toffee hot chocolate canister, and some strawberry jam.
2. Panera gift card
3. Starbucks gift card with a Christmas clip clipped on and their favorite Starbucks coffee that morning
4. THESE apples and caramel cream cheese toffee dip (I used Heath bars instead of Skor because where in the world can you buy Skor bars). They turned out so cute and delicious!
5. A pair of earrings and a Christmas ornament tied on the gift bag
6. Their head teachers are also children's book collectors, so they each got a book- Mrs. B received Iggy Peck, Architect and Mrs. H received The Birds of Bethlehem.
Sunday
What's In My Wrap
1. Whole wheat tortilla shell, 365 brand
2. Dijon mustard
3. Baby Spinach
4. Kale
5. Alfalfa sprouts
6. Red pepper flakes
7. Avocado
8. A leftover Gardein strip, cut up into little
9. Orange bell pepper
2. Dijon mustard
3. Baby Spinach
4. Kale
5. Alfalfa sprouts
6. Red pepper flakes
7. Avocado
8. A leftover Gardein strip, cut up into little
9. Orange bell pepper
Friday
Today
1. First of all, this heartbreaking shooting. I can't even talk about it. Some coward- walking into an elementary school with guns, himself wearing a bullet proof vest- he just destroyed so many people's lives. I can't even imagine.
2. My daughter did a great job at chapel this morning as part of the "heavenly host". She said her line! So proud.
3. We went to Nordstrom Rack afterwards and found her some sandals (perfect for our trip) for $5, and a blouse that I saw for her a long time ago at Nordstrom, but didn't buy it because it was too expensive. Found it today for $7. Win.
4. I forgot about my dog's grooming appointment, and had to race him over there to just get a bath. The kids and I picked out some things for his stocking- a cookie, a dog toy, and a new Kong.
5. I saw this quote this morning that said, "Do More Of What Makes You Happy," and I've been thinking about it all day. What makes me happy? I spend so much time worried about everyone else being happy. I need to work on that.
6. We have a freshly-baked pan of chocolate chip banana brownies. Perfect for 2 days before a bikini.
7. I want to go to bed at 7:00.
8. I have to work on getting the stains out of a load of laundry that was washed with a green crayon. I am armed with ammonia, WD-40, Oxyclean powder....I'll try anything.
9. The last of the Christmas presents are coming today-my husband's-via Amazon. Thankful for Amazon Prime this holiday season.
2. My daughter did a great job at chapel this morning as part of the "heavenly host". She said her line! So proud.
3. We went to Nordstrom Rack afterwards and found her some sandals (perfect for our trip) for $5, and a blouse that I saw for her a long time ago at Nordstrom, but didn't buy it because it was too expensive. Found it today for $7. Win.
4. I forgot about my dog's grooming appointment, and had to race him over there to just get a bath. The kids and I picked out some things for his stocking- a cookie, a dog toy, and a new Kong.
5. I saw this quote this morning that said, "Do More Of What Makes You Happy," and I've been thinking about it all day. What makes me happy? I spend so much time worried about everyone else being happy. I need to work on that.
6. We have a freshly-baked pan of chocolate chip banana brownies. Perfect for 2 days before a bikini.
7. I want to go to bed at 7:00.
8. I have to work on getting the stains out of a load of laundry that was washed with a green crayon. I am armed with ammonia, WD-40, Oxyclean powder....I'll try anything.
9. The last of the Christmas presents are coming today-my husband's-via Amazon. Thankful for Amazon Prime this holiday season.
Thursday
R's Stocking Stuffers
1. A whole bag full of Squinkies
2. 3 bigger race cars
3. Some big woods-themed Schleich figures (moose, wolf, grizzly, elk, can't remember the last one)
4. A Spiderman t-shirt
5. A Mickey Mouse cereal bowl
6. Stuart Little movie
7. A deck of cards
2. 3 bigger race cars
3. Some big woods-themed Schleich figures (moose, wolf, grizzly, elk, can't remember the last one)
4. A Spiderman t-shirt
5. A Mickey Mouse cereal bowl
6. Stuart Little movie
7. A deck of cards
Wednesday
What's Coming Up That I Am Thankful For
1. Number one, beach vacation next week with our friends! We haven't been on a family vacation since our car accident, so Feliz Navidad to us!
2. W's class is leading chapel at school on Friday. She is an angel and has the line: Now we don't have to live in darkness anymore! I'm going to be the proudest momma.
3. Obviously, Christmas...celebrating God sending his son, and JOY, to this world. (Cue my favorite Christmas song!)
4. Celebrating the holidays in Arkansas. One of the most precious things to me is my children's relationships with their cousins. It's going to be all ten of them for the whole weekend, and wildness will ensue.
5. Christmas Break from school. We need it. Mornings are so insane during the school year. I will be thankful for a bunch of relaxing mornings, pajamas all day, and not having to leave the house.
2. W's class is leading chapel at school on Friday. She is an angel and has the line: Now we don't have to live in darkness anymore! I'm going to be the proudest momma.
3. Obviously, Christmas...celebrating God sending his son, and JOY, to this world. (Cue my favorite Christmas song!)
4. Celebrating the holidays in Arkansas. One of the most precious things to me is my children's relationships with their cousins. It's going to be all ten of them for the whole weekend, and wildness will ensue.
5. Christmas Break from school. We need it. Mornings are so insane during the school year. I will be thankful for a bunch of relaxing mornings, pajamas all day, and not having to leave the house.
Tuesday
What Is In W's Treasure Basket
1. Her 3K photo album
2. Her photo album from her zoo day with her teachers and 3 friends from last summer
3. One Razorbacks pom pom
4. A pink quartz
5. A blue rock that her brother brought back for her from Petit Jean
6. A Minnie Mouse plastic ring
7. A Bible verse cut-out on a ribbon
8. Her last summer pool pass that has her photo on it, so she calls it her drivers license
2. Her photo album from her zoo day with her teachers and 3 friends from last summer
3. One Razorbacks pom pom
4. A pink quartz
5. A blue rock that her brother brought back for her from Petit Jean
6. A Minnie Mouse plastic ring
7. A Bible verse cut-out on a ribbon
8. Her last summer pool pass that has her photo on it, so she calls it her drivers license
If You Are A Sick Kid At My House
1. You get to eat whatever you want (can, really)- today W has only chosen smoothies and Cinnamon Crunch cereal.
2. You get to watch Looney Toons and Tom & Jerry all morning (my kids love that slapstick humor)
3. I make you a little pallet on the sofa and bring you books.
4. I will play as many games of Go Fish and War that you want.
5. You fall asleep, and I carry you to my bed for a nap.
6. I let you take a bath and fill the water up all the way to your neck and put in a little epsom salt.
7. You get a lot of back scratches and leg rubs and I might pat your back until you fall asleep.
8. Pajamas all day!
9. You can eat your lunch on the sofa under your blanket.
10. You can play on mom's otherwise off-limits phone.
2. You get to watch Looney Toons and Tom & Jerry all morning (my kids love that slapstick humor)
3. I make you a little pallet on the sofa and bring you books.
4. I will play as many games of Go Fish and War that you want.
5. You fall asleep, and I carry you to my bed for a nap.
6. I let you take a bath and fill the water up all the way to your neck and put in a little epsom salt.
7. You get a lot of back scratches and leg rubs and I might pat your back until you fall asleep.
8. Pajamas all day!
9. You can eat your lunch on the sofa under your blanket.
10. You can play on mom's otherwise off-limits phone.
Wednesday
Today's To-Do List
1. No school today! Should I expect the kids to sleep in?
2. Pick up my car at the body shop
3. Drop Puddy off at the groomers
4. Bake an apple crisp
5. Pick up my jacket at my friend's house & pay her for it
6. Pack for Branson/Arkansas
7. Go to the library with the kids
8. Eat the rest of our huge tub of Greek yogurt
2. Pick up my car at the body shop
3. Drop Puddy off at the groomers
4. Bake an apple crisp
5. Pick up my jacket at my friend's house & pay her for it
6. Pack for Branson/Arkansas
7. Go to the library with the kids
8. Eat the rest of our huge tub of Greek yogurt
Tuesday
W's Stocking Stuffers, Because I'm That Much Of An Early Bird
1. 5 pairs of earrings (Christmas marks the two-month mark when she can take her starters out)
2. BrainQuest cards
3. Domino set
4. Old Maid card game (my kids are bonkers for card games lately)
5. Annie
6. Minnie Mouse cereal bowl
7. Bunch of Squinkies
2. BrainQuest cards
3. Domino set
4. Old Maid card game (my kids are bonkers for card games lately)
5. Annie
6. Minnie Mouse cereal bowl
7. Bunch of Squinkies
Sunday
This Weekend's Purchases
1. Arpilleras tapestry from John Burrough's "Unique Boutique"
2. Small ceramic bowl from a local potter from Unique Boutique
3. Sweet M's cookies- our favorites!
4. Ornament set from the Disney Store that are vintage-inspired from some of our favorite Disney films- The Aristocats, Dumbo, Alice in Wonderland, etc. for the kid's tree
5. Gift card from Anthropologie for a friend
6. Jellycat stuffed owl for part of a baby shower gift
7. Groceries at Schnucks
2. Small ceramic bowl from a local potter from Unique Boutique
3. Sweet M's cookies- our favorites!
4. Ornament set from the Disney Store that are vintage-inspired from some of our favorite Disney films- The Aristocats, Dumbo, Alice in Wonderland, etc. for the kid's tree
5. Gift card from Anthropologie for a friend
6. Jellycat stuffed owl for part of a baby shower gift
7. Groceries at Schnucks
Thursday
Things I Am Loving...
1. Necklaces like this and this.
2. White potatoes. I've just been craving them like mad lately. I guess it could be worse.
3. Christmas shopping!
4. Speaking of, this article. I cannot quit laughing. Forgive the profanities. They do make it funnier.
5. The jewelry at Geranium in St. Louis
6. Dry Lavender Soda
7. Quilt patterns. I'm going to have one made soon, and can't stop looking for beautiful patterns.
8. These boots
9. I stumbled upon W just singing this song so sweetly a couple days ago. Who can blame her? It's beautiful, Annie Lennox is intoxicating, and she was named after David Gray, for goodness sakes.
10. Reading to my children chapter books that I treasured as a child...The Boxcar Children, Stuart Little, Charlotte's Web...
11. Nashville on ABC Wednesday nights
12. Chai tea soy lattes from Kaldi's Coffee or more conveniently drive-thru-able, Starbucks
13. Kale
14. The latest Avett Brothers album
2. White potatoes. I've just been craving them like mad lately. I guess it could be worse.
3. Christmas shopping!
4. Speaking of, this article. I cannot quit laughing. Forgive the profanities. They do make it funnier.
5. The jewelry at Geranium in St. Louis
6. Dry Lavender Soda
7. Quilt patterns. I'm going to have one made soon, and can't stop looking for beautiful patterns.
8. These boots
9. I stumbled upon W just singing this song so sweetly a couple days ago. Who can blame her? It's beautiful, Annie Lennox is intoxicating, and she was named after David Gray, for goodness sakes.
10. Reading to my children chapter books that I treasured as a child...The Boxcar Children, Stuart Little, Charlotte's Web...
11. Nashville on ABC Wednesday nights
12. Chai tea soy lattes from Kaldi's Coffee or more conveniently drive-thru-able, Starbucks
13. Kale
14. The latest Avett Brothers album
Wednesday
What My Children Ate Today
1. Breakfast: Kashi Honey Sunshine cereal in milk
2. Lunch: Hard-boiled egg, greek yogurt, Clif kids bar, walnuts, and almond milk
3. Snack: Grapes and mandarin oranges
4. Supper: THIS beautiful farfalline pasta that I bought at the olive oil store in Clayton, sweet potatoes, carrots, and buttered toast
4. Water throughout the day and a few Cat Cookies to snack on
Monday
What I Just Picked Up At Target And Trader Joe's
1. Kodiak Cake waffle and pancake mix (2 boxes)
2. Toothbrushes for the children- a Batman and a Hello Kitty
3. Oregon Chai tea concentrate
4. 3M picture hanging tabs for my long mirror on the bathroom door
5. Trader Joe's Cats Cookies
6. 2 pizza dough balls
7. Jar of pizza sauce
8. 2 bags of shredded cheese mix
9. 2 dark chocolate bars- one coconut caramel and one caramel black sea salt
10. Bag of prewashed, precut kale
2. Toothbrushes for the children- a Batman and a Hello Kitty
3. Oregon Chai tea concentrate
4. 3M picture hanging tabs for my long mirror on the bathroom door
5. Trader Joe's Cats Cookies
6. 2 pizza dough balls
7. Jar of pizza sauce
8. 2 bags of shredded cheese mix
9. 2 dark chocolate bars- one coconut caramel and one caramel black sea salt
10. Bag of prewashed, precut kale
Sunday
What It Takes For Me To Find The Perfect Swimsuit
1. Prayer/the hand of God
2. Contortionism
3. Liquid dieting
4. The ability to stealthily maneuver past the "juniors section" that produces swim bottoms that offer enough coverage for the bottom of my heel
5. Black magic
6. Strategically placed ruffles
7. Mental questions that sound a lot like, "What waterproof material could I stuff here that would not disintegrate or float away when submerged?"
8. Countless dressing room hours
9. Countless internet orders
10. Optical illusions
2. Contortionism
3. Liquid dieting
4. The ability to stealthily maneuver past the "juniors section" that produces swim bottoms that offer enough coverage for the bottom of my heel
5. Black magic
6. Strategically placed ruffles
7. Mental questions that sound a lot like, "What waterproof material could I stuff here that would not disintegrate or float away when submerged?"
8. Countless dressing room hours
9. Countless internet orders
10. Optical illusions
Thursday
What We Purchased From The School Book Fair
1. A birthday gift for one of W's friends who invited her to his birthday party this weekend- a paper airplane kit
2. Mr. Popper's Penguins
3. The Mouse and the Motorcycle
4. The Cricket in Times Square
5. The Boxcar Children
6. Little House on the Prairie
7. The Phantom Tollbooth
8. A flash card game for R's 3K classroom that was on his teacher's wish list
9. A book about animals from the 3K teacher's wish list
10. An art book from W's class wish list
11. The kids each got a Leap Pad 2 Explorer for Christmas- pink for W and green for R
12. A set of phonics BrainQuest cards for W
13. An encyclopedia book about horses for R
14. Two early reader books for W- Biscuit and Mittens. My little baby girl is starting to read!
2. Mr. Popper's Penguins
3. The Mouse and the Motorcycle
4. The Cricket in Times Square
5. The Boxcar Children
6. Little House on the Prairie
7. The Phantom Tollbooth
8. A flash card game for R's 3K classroom that was on his teacher's wish list
9. A book about animals from the 3K teacher's wish list
10. An art book from W's class wish list
11. The kids each got a Leap Pad 2 Explorer for Christmas- pink for W and green for R
12. A set of phonics BrainQuest cards for W
13. An encyclopedia book about horses for R
14. Two early reader books for W- Biscuit and Mittens. My little baby girl is starting to read!
Wednesday
Yesterday
1. I woke up at 6:30 so that I could be showered and ready by the time I woke the kids up at 7:15.
2. Drove the kids to school and stayed there with R for a room parent captain meeting.
3. After the meeting, I drove back downtown to vote. Luckily, one of my neighbors walked in with me, so he and I (and R) were able to visit the whole time I waited in line.
4. Then, we went to the mall so that I could buy a new case for my iPhone 5.
5. I had a lunch packed for R, but I pulled through Burger King to get a veggie burger, sweet potato curly fries (so gross), and a Dr. Pepper.
6. We went to pick up W from school.
7. Drove back downtown so that I could get my hair cut and colored.
8. Back home to clean house, play with kids, make supper
9. Watched election coverage until I fell asleep
2. Drove the kids to school and stayed there with R for a room parent captain meeting.
3. After the meeting, I drove back downtown to vote. Luckily, one of my neighbors walked in with me, so he and I (and R) were able to visit the whole time I waited in line.
4. Then, we went to the mall so that I could buy a new case for my iPhone 5.
5. I had a lunch packed for R, but I pulled through Burger King to get a veggie burger, sweet potato curly fries (so gross), and a Dr. Pepper.
6. We went to pick up W from school.
7. Drove back downtown so that I could get my hair cut and colored.
8. Back home to clean house, play with kids, make supper
9. Watched election coverage until I fell asleep
Tuesday
W's Favorite Places, As Dictated By Her
1. School
2. Story Time at the bookstore
3. Swimming lessons
4. The pool
5. Church (she especially likes getting a gold star every week for the memory verse)
6. Restaurants (her favorite restaurants are Crushed Red, Bread Company, and Zaza's)
2. Story Time at the bookstore
3. Swimming lessons
4. The pool
5. Church (she especially likes getting a gold star every week for the memory verse)
6. Restaurants (her favorite restaurants are Crushed Red, Bread Company, and Zaza's)
Monday
Today's Menu For Me
1. Peanut butter and banana toast, almond milk
2. Grilled vegetable wrap, carrot sticks, water
3. Veggie chili topped with avocado chunks and greek yogurt, water
4. Various bits of Halloween candy throughout the day, I'm sure. My favorites- Almond Joy, Twix, and Peanut M&Ms.
2. Grilled vegetable wrap, carrot sticks, water
3. Veggie chili topped with avocado chunks and greek yogurt, water
4. Various bits of Halloween candy throughout the day, I'm sure. My favorites- Almond Joy, Twix, and Peanut M&Ms.
Sunday
Three-Year-Old R's Christmas List
1. Gymnastics classes
2. Tegu wheels to accompany his Tegu blocks
3. Toy trucks
4. Cowboy boots
5. Cozy pajamas
6. Batman sheets from Pottery Barn
7. Superhero costumes
8. Backpack carrier for his Baby Max doll
2. Tegu wheels to accompany his Tegu blocks
3. Toy trucks
4. Cowboy boots
5. Cozy pajamas
6. Batman sheets from Pottery Barn
7. Superhero costumes
8. Backpack carrier for his Baby Max doll
Thursday
Halloween: The Morning After
1. Tried to comb out/salvage the Rapunzel wig, but I gave up and threw the gross thing away
2. Sorted candy into three piles: take to A's office, pack up for road trips, and can eat now
3. Spot-cleaned, Febreezed, and hung up the Batman costume we borrowed
4. Spot-cleaned, Febreezed, and hung up the Rapunzel costume that will join the dress-up drawer
5. Washed all coats, mittens, and hats
6. Washed trick-or-treating buckets and stored
7. Planned some healthy meals to combat the candy and meals-on-the-go we've allowed to happen this past week
2. Sorted candy into three piles: take to A's office, pack up for road trips, and can eat now
3. Spot-cleaned, Febreezed, and hung up the Batman costume we borrowed
4. Spot-cleaned, Febreezed, and hung up the Rapunzel costume that will join the dress-up drawer
5. Washed all coats, mittens, and hats
6. Washed trick-or-treating buckets and stored
7. Planned some healthy meals to combat the candy and meals-on-the-go we've allowed to happen this past week
Wednesday
Today
1. I dressed in pretty normal clothes this morning, yet tons of people at school drop-off commented on how nice I looked. I guess switching yoga pants and house shoes in for earrings and tall boots caused a bit of a frenzy.
2. Went on a nature walk with W's class
3. I had an hour before pick-up all to myself, so I dropped some bags off at Goodwill.
4. I also went to REI and bought a load of Odwalla drinks, a stocking-stuffer for W, some Peter Rabbit fruit&veggie squeezes, and bars out the wazoo- Kind bars, mini Kind bars, Fig Bars, Luna bars, Clif kid bars...
5. Picked up the kiddos and somehow convinced them to nap (in preparation for tonight's festivities)
6. Just ate leftovers, a bit of an Italian feast- ravioli lasagna, pizza, and wilted spinach.
7. Getting ready to curl up on the sofa and watch New Girl and The Mindy Project
8. DREADING going trick-or-treating tonight because it is so cold and we already have a dangerous amount of candy.
2. Went on a nature walk with W's class
3. I had an hour before pick-up all to myself, so I dropped some bags off at Goodwill.
4. I also went to REI and bought a load of Odwalla drinks, a stocking-stuffer for W, some Peter Rabbit fruit&veggie squeezes, and bars out the wazoo- Kind bars, mini Kind bars, Fig Bars, Luna bars, Clif kid bars...
5. Picked up the kiddos and somehow convinced them to nap (in preparation for tonight's festivities)
6. Just ate leftovers, a bit of an Italian feast- ravioli lasagna, pizza, and wilted spinach.
7. Getting ready to curl up on the sofa and watch New Girl and The Mindy Project
8. DREADING going trick-or-treating tonight because it is so cold and we already have a dangerous amount of candy.
Tuesday
Our Halloween Festivities
1. Saturday morning trick-or-treating and storytime at Left Bank Books downtown
2. Party Saturday night at one of W's classmate's house. Costumes and games with some school families.
3. Sunday night church house party- s'mores, outdoor movie, lots of people.
4. Last night at the art museum- "Halloween Happening"- costumes, art projects, treats, stories, scavenger hunt, and photo booth.
5. Tonight trick-or-treating in our building, then pizza and carving pumpkins with friends
6. (Actual) Halloween trick-or-treating with our friends in Warson Woods
2. Party Saturday night at one of W's classmate's house. Costumes and games with some school families.
3. Sunday night church house party- s'mores, outdoor movie, lots of people.
4. Last night at the art museum- "Halloween Happening"- costumes, art projects, treats, stories, scavenger hunt, and photo booth.
5. Tonight trick-or-treating in our building, then pizza and carving pumpkins with friends
6. (Actual) Halloween trick-or-treating with our friends in Warson Woods
Sunday
What's Packed In R's "Orange Day" Lunch For School Tomorrow
1. A little carton of orange juice with a little orange straw attached
2. Goldfish crackers with five little orange M&M's floating around
3. Mandarin oranges
4. Baby carrots
5. Cheddar cheese stick
6. Sweet potato chunks
2. Goldfish crackers with five little orange M&M's floating around
3. Mandarin oranges
4. Baby carrots
5. Cheddar cheese stick
6. Sweet potato chunks
Friday
Times I've Cried In The Last Week Or So
1. Watching Parenthood. Always.
2. When Ben proposed to Leslie on Parks and Recreation
3. I was painting my toenails in the bathroom floor, and R came in to pee. When he was done, before he pulled up his undies or pants, he leaned over and kissed me out of the blue, then struggled to pull up his pants before walking out without a word. So sweet.
4. At chapel at the kid's school this morning...just hearing the kids sing and worship God. I cry every week at chapel.
5. When they announced the new team on Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders
6. I cried leaving school on Wednesday after doing my "class librarian" duties for W's class. She had a rough morning wanting to cling to me instead of participating in class. Her teachers are so wonderful, and I am so thankful for them.
7. The kids and I always pray for people when an ambulance speeds by us while we're driving. Because of our accident, that's important to me. I always cry while either me or one of the kids is praying. I think it's happened twice this week.
8. I cried while talking on the phone to my Aunt Patsy about my Grandma.
2. When Ben proposed to Leslie on Parks and Recreation
3. I was painting my toenails in the bathroom floor, and R came in to pee. When he was done, before he pulled up his undies or pants, he leaned over and kissed me out of the blue, then struggled to pull up his pants before walking out without a word. So sweet.
4. At chapel at the kid's school this morning...just hearing the kids sing and worship God. I cry every week at chapel.
5. When they announced the new team on Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders
6. I cried leaving school on Wednesday after doing my "class librarian" duties for W's class. She had a rough morning wanting to cling to me instead of participating in class. Her teachers are so wonderful, and I am so thankful for them.
7. The kids and I always pray for people when an ambulance speeds by us while we're driving. Because of our accident, that's important to me. I always cry while either me or one of the kids is praying. I think it's happened twice this week.
8. I cried while talking on the phone to my Aunt Patsy about my Grandma.
Thursday
Today's To-Do List
I've enterted into the "I've fallen and I can't get up" level of cleaning in my house. Time to get serious.
1. Clean out and organize the laundry room-it also houses my reusable shopping bags, all of our art and crafting supplies, travel bags, recycling, cleaning supplies, and miscellaneous storage- it can become quite the disaster
2. Hand wash all my hand wash only items
3. Organize craft and art supplies
4. Take goodwill donations
5. Vacuum floors
6. Dust the whole place
7. Clean, no, really clean the kid's room
8. Make dental appointments
8. Make dental appointments
Wednesday
Things Annoying Me Lately
1. When people host a party where they serve wine and snacks, but offer no desserts. It really does drive me nuts. I went to a Stella & Dot/Pampered Chef party last night, and with the wine and appetizers, there was also several homemade cookie options and M&Ms. That is good hosting!
2. Dust, or just the fact that no one has come forward to volunteer to be my live-in maid. Volunteer.
3. Abortion being the only thing people care about when they vote. It's going to take another Supreme Court case; a Republican president can't do it alone. (Says the girl voting for Mitt Romney. I just tend to be more fiscally conservative, and I think that covers more of what I see as a problem right now and who I think would better handle said problem.)
3. My sweet daughter is having a tough, emotional time at school. It's not annoying, but a definite dislike.
4. My car radio has 6 preset buttons with the potential for actually 18 because there is a FM, an FM1, and FM2. For some reason, I hate that, and wish that it were FM1, FM2, and FM3. Wish Volkswagen had consulted me on that, all those many years ago.
5. I am in the throws of a full-out sweet tea addiction, with headaches and all. Help!
6. We went and saw Trampled by Turtles the other night, and a group of people kept yelling out weird, obscene, and/or redneck statements throughout the show. You've heard me say it before, this is my #1 pet peeve in life. THEY HAVE A SET-LIST. SHOUTING OUT REQUESTS DOES NOT WORK. And, after Saturday night, I might vomit the next time I hear someone say, "Merica!"
7. Outlet malls. I mean, who has made a good decision there?
8. My gray hairs that are about to fall victim to an at-home color box.
2. Dust, or just the fact that no one has come forward to volunteer to be my live-in maid. Volunteer.
3. Abortion being the only thing people care about when they vote. It's going to take another Supreme Court case; a Republican president can't do it alone. (Says the girl voting for Mitt Romney. I just tend to be more fiscally conservative, and I think that covers more of what I see as a problem right now and who I think would better handle said problem.)
3. My sweet daughter is having a tough, emotional time at school. It's not annoying, but a definite dislike.
4. My car radio has 6 preset buttons with the potential for actually 18 because there is a FM, an FM1, and FM2. For some reason, I hate that, and wish that it were FM1, FM2, and FM3. Wish Volkswagen had consulted me on that, all those many years ago.
5. I am in the throws of a full-out sweet tea addiction, with headaches and all. Help!
6. We went and saw Trampled by Turtles the other night, and a group of people kept yelling out weird, obscene, and/or redneck statements throughout the show. You've heard me say it before, this is my #1 pet peeve in life. THEY HAVE A SET-LIST. SHOUTING OUT REQUESTS DOES NOT WORK. And, after Saturday night, I might vomit the next time I hear someone say, "Merica!"
7. Outlet malls. I mean, who has made a good decision there?
8. My gray hairs that are about to fall victim to an at-home color box.
Monday
What I Did At The Gym Today
1. 20 minutes on the thing that isn't quite an elliptical, but something close...an octane? I don't know.
2. 4 laps running the track, which I believe is a mile
3. 35 minutes on the stationary bike, because it was the only other thing I knew how to do.
4. I straightened up some towels that had fallen over.
5. I did some stretching.
2. 4 laps running the track, which I believe is a mile
3. 35 minutes on the stationary bike, because it was the only other thing I knew how to do.
4. I straightened up some towels that had fallen over.
5. I did some stretching.
Tuesday
Things I Need To Return
1. The six pairs of tights I bought at Macys, Dillards, and Anthropologie for the wedding Friday night. That seventh pair (gray) from Anthropologie was the winner. I bought almost every color imaginable, from salmon to chartreuse.
2. 4 ceramic mini loaf pans I bought at Michael's, because I found metal ones at Bed Bath & Beyond I liked a lot more.
3. 2 regular-sized loaf pans I bought at Bed Bath & Beyond thinking they were smaller than regular-sized ones, only to come home to find that they were indeed not. (Today could be described as the day I was taken down by my obsession with the perfect sized loaf pans. I take teacher gifts very seriously.)
4. The quilt I bought from Pottery Barn Kids for W, because as much as I love it, the green and white dotted pattern on the edging that was hiding at the time of purchase is just a deal-breaker.
5. 2 sets of sheets from Target, because as much as I was wanting to go cheap on sheets after I went big on their quilts, turns out- I'm a bedding snob.
2. 4 ceramic mini loaf pans I bought at Michael's, because I found metal ones at Bed Bath & Beyond I liked a lot more.
3. 2 regular-sized loaf pans I bought at Bed Bath & Beyond thinking they were smaller than regular-sized ones, only to come home to find that they were indeed not. (Today could be described as the day I was taken down by my obsession with the perfect sized loaf pans. I take teacher gifts very seriously.)
4. The quilt I bought from Pottery Barn Kids for W, because as much as I love it, the green and white dotted pattern on the edging that was hiding at the time of purchase is just a deal-breaker.
5. 2 sets of sheets from Target, because as much as I was wanting to go cheap on sheets after I went big on their quilts, turns out- I'm a bedding snob.
Monday
Our Fun Weekend
1. On Friday, I had the whole afternoon to myself, so I got a manicure and took a nap.
2. A and I went to a wedding with friends on Friday night. Dancing, cupcakes, catching up with old friends, red wine, lots of laughing.
3. We came home to an eminent Cardinals lost, then watched the miraculous COMEBACK and WIN!
4. Saturday, the kids were at my in-laws, so we slept in until ELEVEN.
5. A made waffles for "breakfast," then we went and poked around at our new gym/pool/rec center.
6. We picked up the kids and had a lazy afternoon/evening.
7. Sunday morning, A took the kids to church, and I met some great old friends at Blondie's for a delicious brunch.
8. We went to one of our favorite events, the Forest Park Family Fall Fun Fest. The Langs met us up there, then we ran into some friends from school. A great afternoon!
9. NLCS Game 1 tonight...Cards win!
2. A and I went to a wedding with friends on Friday night. Dancing, cupcakes, catching up with old friends, red wine, lots of laughing.
3. We came home to an eminent Cardinals lost, then watched the miraculous COMEBACK and WIN!
4. Saturday, the kids were at my in-laws, so we slept in until ELEVEN.
5. A made waffles for "breakfast," then we went and poked around at our new gym/pool/rec center.
6. We picked up the kids and had a lazy afternoon/evening.
7. Sunday morning, A took the kids to church, and I met some great old friends at Blondie's for a delicious brunch.
8. We went to one of our favorite events, the Forest Park Family Fall Fun Fest. The Langs met us up there, then we ran into some friends from school. A great afternoon!
9. NLCS Game 1 tonight...Cards win!
Sunday
Why I Dislike The San Francisco Giants
1. Because they stand in the way of the Cardinals getting to the World Series
2. Those ridiculous guys with their ridiculous beards- they look like pedophile terrorists.
3. The Giants are a football team, not a baseball team. Doesn't seem right.
4. Their colors, black and orange, are my least favorite team color combinations. A close second would be purple and yellow (ahem, LSU).
5. I think their fans are obnoxious.
6. One of their stars is named Buster Posey. C'mon!
2. Those ridiculous guys with their ridiculous beards- they look like pedophile terrorists.
3. The Giants are a football team, not a baseball team. Doesn't seem right.
4. Their colors, black and orange, are my least favorite team color combinations. A close second would be purple and yellow (ahem, LSU).
5. I think their fans are obnoxious.
6. One of their stars is named Buster Posey. C'mon!
Saturday
What I Ate Today
1. A waffle (made out of Kodiak Cakes mix) and a glass of orange juice
2. Guacamole and tortilla chips, water
3. Ciabatta sandwich pressed in our panini maker with pesto, mushrooms, red peppers, spinach, fresh mozzarella, and broccoli sprouts and Baked Lays and a bowl of blackberries, water
4. A glass of dark chocolate almond milk and 2 pieces of Rudy's Organic cinnamon raisin bread with cream cheese in between
2. Guacamole and tortilla chips, water
3. Ciabatta sandwich pressed in our panini maker with pesto, mushrooms, red peppers, spinach, fresh mozzarella, and broccoli sprouts and Baked Lays and a bowl of blackberries, water
4. A glass of dark chocolate almond milk and 2 pieces of Rudy's Organic cinnamon raisin bread with cream cheese in between
Wednesday
Little Goals For This Week, Because Sometimes Your Children Have A Crazy Emotional Week That Only Allows You To Make One Goal Each Day
1. Monday- Grocery shop
2. Tuesday- Clean the bathrooms. Really clean the bathrooms.
3. Wednesday- Clean out the toaster oven
4. Thursday- Precook (lentils, sauce, sweet potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, and pinto beans)
5. Friday- Buy tights, get nails done, buy new lipstick (going to a wedding!)
6. Saturday- Learn how to use gym equipment
7. Sunday- No goals, just a family day of fun
2. Tuesday- Clean the bathrooms. Really clean the bathrooms.
3. Wednesday- Clean out the toaster oven
4. Thursday- Precook (lentils, sauce, sweet potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, and pinto beans)
5. Friday- Buy tights, get nails done, buy new lipstick (going to a wedding!)
6. Saturday- Learn how to use gym equipment
7. Sunday- No goals, just a family day of fun
Tuesday
Christmas List 2012, First Edition
1. Green cords
2. Dress
3. Leather bracelet
4. Earrings
2. Dress
3. Leather bracelet
4. Earrings
5. Vintage Smoke
6. Leggins
7. Tory Burch bag
8. Galleria gift card
9. Initial Pendant
10. Cute purse
6. Leggins
7. Tory Burch bag
8. Galleria gift card
9. Initial Pendant
10. Cute purse
Monday
W's Halloween Get-Up
1. Rapunzel princess dress
2. Purple glitter shoes
3. 2 foot long blond, Rapunzel wig
4. Tiara
5. Pink pumpkin for candy collecting
2. Purple glitter shoes
3. 2 foot long blond, Rapunzel wig
4. Tiara
5. Pink pumpkin for candy collecting
Sunday
Today
1. Lazy morning- cereal breakfast for all of us
2. Late service church on this chilly morning
3. Delicious lunch with the family at Crushed Red. I had the Big Island pizza, sans prosciutto
4. A left to watch baseball at Todd and Emily's house
5. The kids and I watched the Cardinals game
6. They wanted to play doctor on me, which ended up just being playing with my hair and putting lotion on my legs and back. Not complaining at all!
7. I painted my toenails and gave W a mani/pedi
8. Supper for me was a wrap filled with avocado, black beans, hard-boiled egg white, spinach, and sweet potato
9. The kids had egg burritos, sweet potatoes, fruit, and a chocolate/walnut hillbilly.
10. I drafted an email to the moms in R's preschool class.
11. We cleaned up the house and I set out kids clothes for tomorrow and packed school lunches
12. Kids to bed after a quick shower and a chapter from Little House
13. I was going to clean our bathroom, but I opted to not
14. Watched the first half of The Great Gatsby (old Robert Redford/Mia Farrow one), then early to bed
2. Late service church on this chilly morning
3. Delicious lunch with the family at Crushed Red. I had the Big Island pizza, sans prosciutto
4. A left to watch baseball at Todd and Emily's house
5. The kids and I watched the Cardinals game
6. They wanted to play doctor on me, which ended up just being playing with my hair and putting lotion on my legs and back. Not complaining at all!
7. I painted my toenails and gave W a mani/pedi
8. Supper for me was a wrap filled with avocado, black beans, hard-boiled egg white, spinach, and sweet potato
9. The kids had egg burritos, sweet potatoes, fruit, and a chocolate/walnut hillbilly.
10. I drafted an email to the moms in R's preschool class.
11. We cleaned up the house and I set out kids clothes for tomorrow and packed school lunches
12. Kids to bed after a quick shower and a chapter from Little House
13. I was going to clean our bathroom, but I opted to not
14. Watched the first half of The Great Gatsby (old Robert Redford/Mia Farrow one), then early to bed
Saturday
What's Been Going On At Our House These Days
1. R has given up his nap, and I've taken W's away. No naps is the single most difficult thing I've dealt with as a parent so far. It's devastating!
2. We are reading Little House in the Big Woods
3. I am struggling with this blog- I need to channel my inner comedian/interesting person/stylish contributor. Lately, I'm a brain-dead zombie in pajama pants at 2:00 pm.
4. My sweet little boy is developing a quite spicy temper.
5. We've been watching a lot of Guy On A Buffalo. My children love it! Does that make them awesome or weirdos?
6. Their favorite game is having one swing while the other runs in front of the swing trying not to get hit.
7. Suri's Burn Book is my favorite thing across the Internets.
8. Keeping hope alive for our Razorbacks- a big W today would really help in that department!
9. Our house has been alive with W's musical "abilities" and decorate with her paintings and drawings.
2. We are reading Little House in the Big Woods
3. I am struggling with this blog- I need to channel my inner comedian/interesting person/stylish contributor. Lately, I'm a brain-dead zombie in pajama pants at 2:00 pm.
4. My sweet little boy is developing a quite spicy temper.
5. We've been watching a lot of Guy On A Buffalo. My children love it! Does that make them awesome or weirdos?
6. Their favorite game is having one swing while the other runs in front of the swing trying not to get hit.
7. Suri's Burn Book is my favorite thing across the Internets.
8. Keeping hope alive for our Razorbacks- a big W today would really help in that department!
9. Our house has been alive with W's musical "abilities" and decorate with her paintings and drawings.
Thursday
Things In My Bathroom I Wouldn't Want To Live Without
1. Mascara. I never leave home without it. My favorite kind is Lancome Definicils.
2. Dove "Rose" bar soap- it reminds me of my great-aunt every time I use it. I love that smell.
3. Dr. Bronner's soap for my children. We are using the Lavender right now, but I love the Peppermint
4. Bare Escentuals make-up
5. My current perfume, Origins Ginger
6. I am allergic to all band-aids, except for these little kid ones that I buy in Arkansas that have angels and Bible verses on them. All normal band-aids make me want to claw my skin off, even other kiddie ones.
7. St. Ives apricot scrub
8. Aveda calming oil for the bath
2. Dove "Rose" bar soap- it reminds me of my great-aunt every time I use it. I love that smell.
3. Dr. Bronner's soap for my children. We are using the Lavender right now, but I love the Peppermint
4. Bare Escentuals make-up
5. My current perfume, Origins Ginger
6. I am allergic to all band-aids, except for these little kid ones that I buy in Arkansas that have angels and Bible verses on them. All normal band-aids make me want to claw my skin off, even other kiddie ones.
7. St. Ives apricot scrub
8. Aveda calming oil for the bath
Tuesday
What's On My Little Scribble Paper Of Notes To Myself
1. What I'm going to pack in the kids lunches for this week
2. A reminder to bring A's Kindle and charger with me when I pick him up
3. A name of someone I need to print something off for
4. Reminder for myself to pick up Starbucks tomorrow
5. A couple scribbles that I made to get my pen to start working again
6. An e-mail address I had to look up
7. A little ship that W drew
8. "W cereal bars" and "cream cheese" (to add to the grocery list)
9. A tiny bit of dried-on eco-dough
2. A reminder to bring A's Kindle and charger with me when I pick him up
3. A name of someone I need to print something off for
4. Reminder for myself to pick up Starbucks tomorrow
5. A couple scribbles that I made to get my pen to start working again
6. An e-mail address I had to look up
7. A little ship that W drew
8. "W cereal bars" and "cream cheese" (to add to the grocery list)
9. A tiny bit of dried-on eco-dough
Monday
Numbers
1. 4- tea bags waiting to be brewed
2. 39- permission forms I need back from kids at school
3. 2- bobby pins in my hair
4. 22- articles of my clothing I set out for donation today
5. 13- Luna Bars, Larabars, Fig Bars, Larabar Ubers I have in the cabinet right now
6. 4- kinds of toothpaste we have
7. 32- things on the calendar for October so far
8. 7- showers I've been taking each week. I don't even know who I am anymore.
9. 15- pairs of underwear I own
10. 8 (out of 10)- whole grains W properly identified in a kids game at Taste of St. Louis this weekend
11. 33- years old I am
12. 2 -rotten overripe bananas in the fruit basket
13. 1216- posts on this list blog
14. 6- buckets hanging in the kids art center
15. 28- people I follow on Instagram
16. 4- times R told me on the way home from school that he loved his teacher
17. 5- letter "u"'s I had in my game of Words with Friends against my aunt this morning
18. 328- posts on our family blog
19. 1- cup of sugar I put in my sweet tea
20. 9- ingredients I'm prepping for quesadilla dinner tonight
21. 61- degrees it is outside
22. 20- blogs I "follow"
23. 3- different accents W's friend has used this morning while she is here playing
24. 13- how old R said she would be when he got married
25. 29- how old W said she would be when she gets married
2. 39- permission forms I need back from kids at school
3. 2- bobby pins in my hair
4. 22- articles of my clothing I set out for donation today
5. 13- Luna Bars, Larabars, Fig Bars, Larabar Ubers I have in the cabinet right now
6. 4- kinds of toothpaste we have
7. 32- things on the calendar for October so far
8. 7- showers I've been taking each week. I don't even know who I am anymore.
9. 15- pairs of underwear I own
10. 8 (out of 10)- whole grains W properly identified in a kids game at Taste of St. Louis this weekend
11. 33- years old I am
12. 2 -
13. 1216- posts on this list blog
14. 6- buckets hanging in the kids art center
15. 28- people I follow on Instagram
16. 4- times R told me on the way home from school that he loved his teacher
17. 5- letter "u"'s I had in my game of Words with Friends against my aunt this morning
18. 328- posts on our family blog
19. 1- cup of sugar I put in my sweet tea
20. 9- ingredients I'm prepping for quesadilla dinner tonight
21. 61- degrees it is outside
22. 20- blogs I "follow"
23. 3- different accents W's friend has used this morning while she is here playing
24. 13- how old R said she would be when he got married
25. 29- how old W said she would be when she gets married
Sunday
Fun Times At The Langs This Evening
1. I was blinded twice by these freaky laser pointers. My retinas may or may not have permanent damage.
2. Three kinds of hot dogs- regular, non-meat, and kobe beef. It was a matter of opinion on which one looked the most disgusting.
3. A new fire pit
4. S'mores on that new fire pit
5. R peed his pants during the outdoor dinner; Teddy later dropped his pants and peed on the deck.
6. Some YouTube viewing of Brandi Carlisle, who Josh thinks could pass as my sister
7. End of the evening bath for the two boys
8. R now has four enormous mosquito bites. He inherited sweet blood from me.
9. The dads were entertained with NFL Red Zone.
2. Three kinds of hot dogs- regular, non-meat, and kobe beef. It was a matter of opinion on which one looked the most disgusting.
3. A new fire pit
4. S'mores on that new fire pit
5. R peed his pants during the outdoor dinner; Teddy later dropped his pants and peed on the deck.
6. Some YouTube viewing of Brandi Carlisle, who Josh thinks could pass as my sister
7. End of the evening bath for the two boys
8. R now has four enormous mosquito bites. He inherited sweet blood from me.
9. The dads were entertained with NFL Red Zone.
Saturday
The Kids Current Favorite "Trail Mix"
1. Pecans
2. Almonds
3. Cashews
4. Chocolate chips
5. Kashi GoLean Crunch cereal chunks
6. Kashi Heart to Heart cereal
7. Butterscotch chips
8. Raisins
2. Almonds
3. Cashews
4. Chocolate chips
5. Kashi GoLean Crunch cereal chunks
6. Kashi Heart to Heart cereal
7. Butterscotch chips
8. Raisins
Friday
This Busy Weekend
1. I saved Project Runway so that I could watch it with Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders tonight while my husband's out.
2. Story time with the kids at Left Bank Books tomorrow morning
3. Going to Taste of St. Louis with some friends late tomorrow morning
4. Visiting with some of my husband's childhood friends and their families tomorrow afternoon
5. Cooking out with friends Saturday night
6. Visiting a new church Sunday morning
7. Mandatory naps on Sunday
2. Story time with the kids at Left Bank Books tomorrow morning
3. Going to Taste of St. Louis with some friends late tomorrow morning
4. Visiting with some of my husband's childhood friends and their families tomorrow afternoon
5. Cooking out with friends Saturday night
6. Visiting a new church Sunday morning
7. Mandatory naps on Sunday
Thursday
What's Rollin' Around In My Head
1. I'm working really hard to get good ideas for an art project I'm heading up at my kids school. Lotta pressure.
2. I'm still mourning my Grandpa (seen here smoking while being presented a key to the city- love him). Feeling like a little of me died, too.
3. I've been in a food rut with the kids lately and am trying to get them to stretch their pallets a bit. I love packing school lunches and am always looking for new ideas.
4. Am starting to read Cleopatra: A Life to join in with the St. Louis Art Museum members book club. I'm nervously reading it and hoping something magical comes out of my mouth if I have to talk. Usually not the case.
5. I've been having pretty intense migraines lately (our car accident, the gift that keeps on giving) that are impervious to modern medicine.
6. One of my most favorite people in the world is suffering and hurting right now, and I feel a million miles away and can't stop thinking of her and wishing it were better.
7. Trying to prayerfully think about what kind of mother I want to be and what kind of mother I actually am and how I can bridge that difference.
2. I'm still mourning my Grandpa (seen here smoking while being presented a key to the city- love him). Feeling like a little of me died, too.
3. I've been in a food rut with the kids lately and am trying to get them to stretch their pallets a bit. I love packing school lunches and am always looking for new ideas.
4. Am starting to read Cleopatra: A Life to join in with the St. Louis Art Museum members book club. I'm nervously reading it and hoping something magical comes out of my mouth if I have to talk. Usually not the case.
5. I've been having pretty intense migraines lately (our car accident, the gift that keeps on giving) that are impervious to modern medicine.
6. One of my most favorite people in the world is suffering and hurting right now, and I feel a million miles away and can't stop thinking of her and wishing it were better.
7. Trying to prayerfully think about what kind of mother I want to be and what kind of mother I actually am and how I can bridge that difference.
Wednesday
My Favorite Artists At This Year's St. Louis Art Fair
1. Chris Dahlquist, my favorite photographer of the show. I'm not usually drawn to photography, but this gal. Come on...she had me at her artist statement.
2. I had lunch with Todd Alexander on Saturday and found him fascinating. His art, is so beautifully disturbing and evocative. I am saving up for one of his pieces.
3. I think that Steven Graber is one of my new favorite artists. Everything he does is lovely and soulful.
4. Rebecca Hungerford, who works with pewter to create lovely pieces. I have a few of these hooks that I love.
5. Jonathan Rutledge, a very popular jewelry designer people come to shop for. His work is breathtaking.
6. Stephen Bach, who does these oil landscapes that are just so serene and make me long to live in them
7. Paveen "Beer" Chunhaswasdikul, who was as profilic an entertainer as an artist. He had coffee mugs that whistled and really unique, not-your-grandma's teapots.
8. I've never been so captivated by felt. Amy Gillespie always had a packed booth. No internet image could do her justice.
9. This woman, Flora Zarate, is so unbelievably talented. THIS is not a painting, but a hand-sewn textile. I literally went and visited her "arpilleras" all weekend long and was sad to not have purchased one.
10. I like Michael Bauermeister because he is an amazing artist, but also because he is a really cool guy.
11. We have a piece from Aaron Hequembourg, and I can't get enough of him. He is great to visit with- lots of stories.
12. I kept coming back to this booth...Bruce Peeso captures something so comforting and American.
2. I had lunch with Todd Alexander on Saturday and found him fascinating. His art, is so beautifully disturbing and evocative. I am saving up for one of his pieces.
3. I think that Steven Graber is one of my new favorite artists. Everything he does is lovely and soulful.
4. Rebecca Hungerford, who works with pewter to create lovely pieces. I have a few of these hooks that I love.
5. Jonathan Rutledge, a very popular jewelry designer people come to shop for. His work is breathtaking.
6. Stephen Bach, who does these oil landscapes that are just so serene and make me long to live in them
7. Paveen "Beer" Chunhaswasdikul, who was as profilic an entertainer as an artist. He had coffee mugs that whistled and really unique, not-your-grandma's teapots.
8. I've never been so captivated by felt. Amy Gillespie always had a packed booth. No internet image could do her justice.
9. This woman, Flora Zarate, is so unbelievably talented. THIS is not a painting, but a hand-sewn textile. I literally went and visited her "arpilleras" all weekend long and was sad to not have purchased one.
10. I like Michael Bauermeister because he is an amazing artist, but also because he is a really cool guy.
11. We have a piece from Aaron Hequembourg, and I can't get enough of him. He is great to visit with- lots of stories.
12. I kept coming back to this booth...Bruce Peeso captures something so comforting and American.
Tuesday
10 Things
1. Pepto-Bismol is so yummy to me, yet the Pepto-Bismol tablets are the most disgusting things I can imagine.
2. 2012 will go down in history as the year of the swimming lessons. Three times a week, that's where I'll be.
3. I made homemade applesauce on Sunday with the kids. They said it was "too spicy" (I may have gone overboard with cinnamon), but I find it delicious.
4. I fell asleep last night on top of the duvet with just a light, knit blanket on me lying sideways across the bed. When my husband came home, he just slept on the sofa so as not to move me, but I slept miserably because I was freezing and never thought to climb under the duvet.
5. Our house smells funky right now. A bit like trash.
6. I thought I was going to die this weekend from an elk attack. It took about four hours for my arms to stop shaking.
7. I cannot handle it when I am trying to promote beautifully illustrated, wonderful books that might also be award winners, but all my children want to buy are Barbie Princess books, Toy Story books, and books that have stickers inside. Cannot handle it.
8. Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team is back on! I really do get so excited.
9. There are twin girls in R's class this year, and he is quite a smitten kitten. He talks about them all the time.
10. Every time I find something cute for R at BabyGap, I notice the skull on it. Why must they put skulls on everything?
2. 2012 will go down in history as the year of the swimming lessons. Three times a week, that's where I'll be.
3. I made homemade applesauce on Sunday with the kids. They said it was "too spicy" (I may have gone overboard with cinnamon), but I find it delicious.
4. I fell asleep last night on top of the duvet with just a light, knit blanket on me lying sideways across the bed. When my husband came home, he just slept on the sofa so as not to move me, but I slept miserably because I was freezing and never thought to climb under the duvet.
5. Our house smells funky right now. A bit like trash.
6. I thought I was going to die this weekend from an elk attack. It took about four hours for my arms to stop shaking.
7. I cannot handle it when I am trying to promote beautifully illustrated, wonderful books that might also be award winners, but all my children want to buy are Barbie Princess books, Toy Story books, and books that have stickers inside. Cannot handle it.
8. Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team is back on! I really do get so excited.
9. There are twin girls in R's class this year, and he is quite a smitten kitten. He talks about them all the time.
10. Every time I find something cute for R at BabyGap, I notice the skull on it. Why must they put skulls on everything?
Monday
R's Lunch At School That He Gave Two-Thumbs Up For
1. Packed in his little Stephen Joseph blue camo lunch bag
2. Two Gardein strips and a serving of black beans in a LunchBots pico
3. A Sprout Organic Toddler Puree, Acai flavor
4. Vanilla soymilk in the cute little robot Klean Kanteen
5. An Organic Valley string cheese
6. A little LunchBots condiment container with a vegan chocolate chip/chopped walnut & pecan mixture
2. Two Gardein strips and a serving of black beans in a LunchBots pico
3. A Sprout Organic Toddler Puree, Acai flavor
4. Vanilla soymilk in the cute little robot Klean Kanteen
5. An Organic Valley string cheese
6. A little LunchBots condiment container with a vegan chocolate chip/chopped walnut & pecan mixture
Saturday
Last Night's Date Night
1. Kids spent the night out at my in-law's house
2. Supper at California Pizza Kitchen. I had the thin crust Tostada, while A had the BBQ chicken pizza. Raspberry lemonades for both of us.
3. I bought these cuties.
4. A tried on some jeans and settled on a dark wash easy fit from Gap.
5. We marveled at the line at the Apple store, then shopped around at my favorite stores.
6. We came home and watched episode one of Hatfields & McCoys.
2. Supper at California Pizza Kitchen. I had the thin crust Tostada, while A had the BBQ chicken pizza. Raspberry lemonades for both of us.
3. I bought these cuties.
4. A tried on some jeans and settled on a dark wash easy fit from Gap.
5. We marveled at the line at the Apple store, then shopped around at my favorite stores.
6. We came home and watched episode one of Hatfields & McCoys.
Friday
What I Was Eating This Summer
1. Lots and lots of various fruit crisps- seriously. Made apple, blueberry, blueberry-cherry, strawberry, peach, strawberry-peach, blackberry, blueberry-blackberry...
2. Black bean, sweet potato, cheese, and avocado nachos with salsa verde
3. Salads featuring lentils
4. I was really into spicy veggie burgers
5. These are my new favorite tortilla chips
6. Chia pudding
7. Although I typically do not like peanut butter, I ate a lot of peanut butter and honey sandwiches
8. Whiskey and sodas
9. Salad-kopita from Crushed Red
10. Avocado on toast
11. Egg and sauteed veggie wraps
12. Chickpea salad with Kashi crackers
13. Cream cheese brownies in my freezer
2. Black bean, sweet potato, cheese, and avocado nachos with salsa verde
3. Salads featuring lentils
4. I was really into spicy veggie burgers
5. These are my new favorite tortilla chips
6. Chia pudding
7. Although I typically do not like peanut butter, I ate a lot of peanut butter and honey sandwiches
8. Whiskey and sodas
9. Salad-kopita from Crushed Red
10. Avocado on toast
11. Egg and sauteed veggie wraps
12. Chickpea salad with Kashi crackers
13. Cream cheese brownies in my freezer
Thursday
My Latest Wish List Of Things
1. These shoes
2. This t-shirt because I love Parks & Rec and Andy is my favorite.
3. This new dress I'm obsessed with
4. The new Avett Brothers CD
5. New bathroom rugs and towels
6. A cute iPhone 5 case (I'm getting one!)
7. Tunic (they call it a dress, but with a mile-long torso, it's a tunic on me)
8. This and this and this. I'm obsessed with her jewelry right now.
9. I desperately want a Rimi Yang. I love her work.
10. The top, the pants, the clutch!
11. A fun tablecloth. I'm on the hunt.
12. This headpiece. Love.
2. This t-shirt because I love Parks & Rec and Andy is my favorite.
3. This new dress I'm obsessed with
4. The new Avett Brothers CD
5. New bathroom rugs and towels
6. A cute iPhone 5 case (I'm getting one!)
7. Tunic (they call it a dress, but with a mile-long torso, it's a tunic on me)
8. This and this and this. I'm obsessed with her jewelry right now.
9. I desperately want a Rimi Yang. I love her work.
10. The top, the pants, the clutch!
11. A fun tablecloth. I'm on the hunt.
12. This headpiece. Love.
Tuesday
This Summer
1. We were at the pool almost every single day. It was wonderful and relaxing, and I got a killer tan.
2. Because of that, not much of our "summer to-do list" got done. And I'm perfectly okay with that. It's going to be now a "summer/fall/winter/spring/maybe even next summer to-do list."
3. I watched Laguna Beach, The Hills (productive, I know), Saved by the Bell, Dawson's Creek, The Wonder Years, and Weeds in their entirety on Netflix.
4. I started a new way of dealing with my hair--no more straightening, no more product. I'm trying to be long and natural, but sometimes fuzzy and wild. I'm okay with that.
5. R started to become a big boy. I really want to freeze time with him. He's at that super cute stage where I just want to hug and kiss him all the time.
6. We didn't go on a summer vacation, but I spent plenty of time in Arkansas and southwest Missouri.
7. I mysteriously lost a chunk of weight that I didn't need to lose, but I managed to get it back with nightly milkshakes for a couple weeks and a week of eating out when my parents were in town.
8. R turned 3, and we had a pool party at my in-laws house. It was very laid-back, just a pool, lots of kids and friends, some yard games, a train cake from Whole Foods, and about 12 cans of silly string.
9. We read through Because of Winn Dixie, The Jesus Storybook Bible, a beautiful book of classic fairy tales, and Charlotte's Web.
10. The burn ban and droughts prohibited us from celebrating the 4th of July in our wonderful traditional way, so we went swimming and ordered pizza with friends.
11. I took the summer off from running.
12. I became addicted to sweet tea. I ate an egg sandwich and a drank a glass of sweet tea for breakfast one morning and thought, "Dear Lord, when did I become my mother?"
2. Because of that, not much of our "summer to-do list" got done. And I'm perfectly okay with that. It's going to be now a "summer/fall/winter/spring/maybe even next summer to-do list."
3. I watched Laguna Beach, The Hills (productive, I know), Saved by the Bell, Dawson's Creek, The Wonder Years, and Weeds in their entirety on Netflix.
4. I started a new way of dealing with my hair--no more straightening, no more product. I'm trying to be long and natural, but sometimes fuzzy and wild. I'm okay with that.
5. R started to become a big boy. I really want to freeze time with him. He's at that super cute stage where I just want to hug and kiss him all the time.
6. We didn't go on a summer vacation, but I spent plenty of time in Arkansas and southwest Missouri.
7. I mysteriously lost a chunk of weight that I didn't need to lose, but I managed to get it back with nightly milkshakes for a couple weeks and a week of eating out when my parents were in town.
8. R turned 3, and we had a pool party at my in-laws house. It was very laid-back, just a pool, lots of kids and friends, some yard games, a train cake from Whole Foods, and about 12 cans of silly string.
9. We read through Because of Winn Dixie, The Jesus Storybook Bible, a beautiful book of classic fairy tales, and Charlotte's Web.
10. The burn ban and droughts prohibited us from celebrating the 4th of July in our wonderful traditional way, so we went swimming and ordered pizza with friends.
11. I took the summer off from running.
12. I became addicted to sweet tea. I ate an egg sandwich and a drank a glass of sweet tea for breakfast one morning and thought, "Dear Lord, when did I become my mother?"
Friday
The Fun Activities To Do With Your Kids In The Kids Area At The St. Louis Art Fair This Weekend
1. Bubble splatter painting with Chesterfield Arts
2. Making musical instruments with the Contemporary Art Museum
3. Creating treasure pouches with Crossroads College Preparatory Academy
4. Discovering Seville custom with the Flamenco Society
5. Write skits and watch them be performed with Integrity Productions
6. Making sun catchers and optical illusions with Leftovers, Etc.
7. A Chinese calligraphy lesson with Missouri Falun Dafa Association
8. Creating mystical magical masks with Rohan Woods School
9. Paper bag hat construction with Cultural Festivals
10. Making paint swatch bookmarks with St. Louis County Library
11. Animal Marionettes with Volunteen Nation
12. "Foiling Around" with The Magic House
13. Art Portfolio assembly with ArtMart
14. Creating rain sticks with University of Phoenix
2. Making musical instruments with the Contemporary Art Museum
3. Creating treasure pouches with Crossroads College Preparatory Academy
4. Discovering Seville custom with the Flamenco Society
5. Write skits and watch them be performed with Integrity Productions
6. Making sun catchers and optical illusions with Leftovers, Etc.
7. A Chinese calligraphy lesson with Missouri Falun Dafa Association
8. Creating mystical magical masks with Rohan Woods School
9. Paper bag hat construction with Cultural Festivals
10. Making paint swatch bookmarks with St. Louis County Library
11. Animal Marionettes with Volunteen Nation
12. "Foiling Around" with The Magic House
13. Art Portfolio assembly with ArtMart
14. Creating rain sticks with University of Phoenix
Wednesday
Today
1. I woke up at 6:00 (which is super early for me) to get prepared for the day and take a shower
2. School photos day, so extra care was taken with getting the kids dressed and groomed
3. We stopped at Bread Co. to pick up bread-sliced blueberry bagels to bring in for W's class snack
4. PIE meeting (not a meeting concerning pie, although that would be amazing. It's our school's version of PTA) after drop-off
5. I spent the morning in W's JK Class because it was her "All About Me" day
6. Her "All About Me" box contained her little baby doll, a baby photo of herself, a map of Arkansas with her favorite spots marked, Charlotte's Web, and a Max Beckmann-inspired drawing she did a few months ago.
7. Drove the kids home and ate guacamole and broccoli and carrots and three Nutter Butters and watched two episodes of Weeds
8. Organized and checked-off a bunch of permission forms for a fundraiser I'm helping out with
9. Folded laundry, picked up the house, and washed my face
10. Watched an episode of Super Why! with the kids
11. Art Fair meeting in Clayton...last minute details to go over
12. The kids dominated their school fundraiser walking around our building...I guess people downtown not used to seeing kids are more than willing to drop $80 for chocolate.
13. My parents are here! They are here to watch the kids during Art Fair weekend.
2. School photos day, so extra care was taken with getting the kids dressed and groomed
3. We stopped at Bread Co. to pick up bread-sliced blueberry bagels to bring in for W's class snack
4. PIE meeting (not a meeting concerning pie, although that would be amazing. It's our school's version of PTA) after drop-off
5. I spent the morning in W's JK Class because it was her "All About Me" day
6. Her "All About Me" box contained her little baby doll, a baby photo of herself, a map of Arkansas with her favorite spots marked, Charlotte's Web, and a Max Beckmann-inspired drawing she did a few months ago.
7. Drove the kids home and ate guacamole and broccoli and carrots and three Nutter Butters and watched two episodes of Weeds
8. Organized and checked-off a bunch of permission forms for a fundraiser I'm helping out with
9. Folded laundry, picked up the house, and washed my face
10. Watched an episode of Super Why! with the kids
11. Art Fair meeting in Clayton...last minute details to go over
12. The kids dominated their school fundraiser walking around our building...I guess people downtown not used to seeing kids are more than willing to drop $80 for chocolate.
13. My parents are here! They are here to watch the kids during Art Fair weekend.
Tuesday
An Excerpt From R's Counting This Morning
1. Thirteen
2. Eighteen
3. Nineteen
4. Twenty
5. Twenty Eight
6. Twenty Nine
7. Twenty Ten
8. Twenty Eight
9. Twenty Nine
10. Twenty Ten
11. Eleven
12. Twelve
13. Thirteen
14. Eighteen
15. Nineteen
16. Tenteen
17. Eleventeen
18. (and then it got so high-pitched that I couldn't understand the words coming out of his mouth)
2. Eighteen
3. Nineteen
4. Twenty
5. Twenty Eight
6. Twenty Nine
7. Twenty Ten
8. Twenty Eight
9. Twenty Nine
10. Twenty Ten
11. Eleven
12. Twelve
13. Thirteen
14. Eighteen
15. Nineteen
16. Tenteen
17. Eleventeen
18. (and then it got so high-pitched that I couldn't understand the words coming out of his mouth)
A Break
I'm taking a break from the list blog. It's become a burden for me, and I always said that when it came to that, I would stop. Plus, no one ever leaves comments, so I don't have any sort of positive feedback, except from my sweet Colorado friend who posts on facebook what she thinks about the lists. So sorry, Beth, you were my one true fan! If I ever start back up, I'll post my return on facebook.
Thursday
What I Like Doing When I Come Home To Arkansas
1. Eat! (especially Zazas, US Pizza, Stobys, Jason's Deli, Bossanova...)
2. Shop! (downtown Conway, Box Turtle, the beautiful JCrew and Anthropologie in West Little Rock, Wilkinsons, The Kitchen Store) Especially because my parents buy me things.
3. Get treats- Maggie's Cookies for German Chocolate Brownies and carrot cookies and my new favorite Arkansas Pineapple Whip and Stoby's for Strawberry Cake and Tropical Storms and a smoothie at Planet Smoothie
4. Visit the Rivermarket on Saturday mornings for the farmer's market and go play with the kids at the park and splash pad
5. Swimming at Wooly Hollow or the Buffalo River
6. Throwing a themed party for the cousins
7. Watch OnDemand movies at my parent's house. I feel like I'm at a hotel!
8. I do love most just being around my family. Even if we are just sitting around and not doing anything on this list.
2. Shop! (downtown Conway, Box Turtle, the beautiful JCrew and Anthropologie in West Little Rock, Wilkinsons, The Kitchen Store) Especially because my parents buy me things.
3. Get treats- Maggie's Cookies for German Chocolate Brownies and carrot cookies and my new favorite Arkansas Pineapple Whip and Stoby's for Strawberry Cake and Tropical Storms and a smoothie at Planet Smoothie
4. Visit the Rivermarket on Saturday mornings for the farmer's market and go play with the kids at the park and splash pad
5. Swimming at Wooly Hollow or the Buffalo River
6. Throwing a themed party for the cousins
7. Watch OnDemand movies at my parent's house. I feel like I'm at a hotel!
8. I do love most just being around my family. Even if we are just sitting around and not doing anything on this list.
Our Car Snacks
1. Popcorn
2. A little bag of Skinny Cow turtles my small group leader gave me the other night
3. Bananas
4. Coconut water
5. Juice boxes
6. Carrot sticks
7. Peanut M&Ms
2. A little bag of Skinny Cow turtles my small group leader gave me the other night
3. Bananas
4. Coconut water
5. Juice boxes
6. Carrot sticks
7. Peanut M&Ms
Wednesday
What's In The Passenger Seat On The Way To Branson
1. My iPhone
2. W's addition workbook
3. The kids DVD case
4. An envelope with our Silver Dollar City city passes inside
5. A flourishing green bean plant
6. Lunch bag
7. A pop can
8. My cell phone charger
9. A pair of earbuds
2. W's addition workbook
3. The kids DVD case
4. An envelope with our Silver Dollar City city passes inside
5. A flourishing green bean plant
6. Lunch bag
7. A pop can
8. My cell phone charger
9. A pair of earbuds
Tuesday
Today's Goodness
1. The kids are spending the day with their grandma
2. I get to go to the pool and lay out all afternoon- just me, a drink, some magazines
3. I'm already dreaming of my lunch- leftover veggie Imos pizza and lentil salad
4. I get to pack for our trip alone in the house while watching my saved Punk'd marathon. I love that show!
5. My weekly mom's group starts back up tonight- can't wait! It's such a fun and encouraging time for me.
2. I get to go to the pool and lay out all afternoon- just me, a drink, some magazines
3. I'm already dreaming of my lunch- leftover veggie Imos pizza and lentil salad
4. I get to pack for our trip alone in the house while watching my saved Punk'd marathon. I love that show!
5. My weekly mom's group starts back up tonight- can't wait! It's such a fun and encouraging time for me.
Monday
Right Now
1. I took a break from dusting to do this list and have a little cherry crisp and chocolate almond milk (late breakfast of sorts)
2. Teddy is here, so the kids are having a wild blast. W is lovingbossing them around playing with the boys.
3. The boys are currently running in circles around our island. I think they are on lap 45.
4. I have a pretty ambitious 10 item to-do list sitting next to me that I need to conquer before leaving for Arkansas Wednesday morning.
5. Listening to Gillian Welch on shuffle
6. A little worn out from just power mopping our entire loft
7. Wearing my "This Ain't My First Art Fair" t-shirt and some cut-off sweats with about 20 bobby pins in my hair and my favorite underwear- a pair of hand-me-downs from my little sister, because people do that, right?
8. Now W is putting on her Razorbacks cheerleading uniform and the boys are stuffing two purses full with Hot Wheels
9. Laundry is going, dishwasher is going
10. Trying desperately to think of more stuff to type on this list so that I do not...have....to....dust.
11. Singing along to "Dear Someone"
12. The boys have ushered into their famous "I'm sad, You're mad" argument. It makes no sense.
2. Teddy is here, so the kids are having a wild blast. W is loving
3. The boys are currently running in circles around our island. I think they are on lap 45.
4. I have a pretty ambitious 10 item to-do list sitting next to me that I need to conquer before leaving for Arkansas Wednesday morning.
5. Listening to Gillian Welch on shuffle
6. A little worn out from just power mopping our entire loft
7. Wearing my "This Ain't My First Art Fair" t-shirt and some cut-off sweats with about 20 bobby pins in my hair and my favorite underwear- a pair of hand-me-downs from my little sister, because people do that, right?
8. Now W is putting on her Razorbacks cheerleading uniform and the boys are stuffing two purses full with Hot Wheels
9. Laundry is going, dishwasher is going
10. Trying desperately to think of more stuff to type on this list so that I do not...have....to....dust.
11. Singing along to "Dear Someone"
12. The boys have ushered into their famous "I'm sad, You're mad" argument. It makes no sense.
Saturday
Weekend To-Do's
1. Clean out under all the furniture (I actually already did this, but I love a checked-off list)
2. Finish up my cherries
3. Circus Flora today with W and some friends from school
4. Find the hairpiece from the Playmobil horse-riding girl
5. Clean the floors
6. Make an Arkansas list
7. Get W's hair cut
8. Order photo prints
9. Work on butterfly book (a shutterfly book that I started last summer and never finished)
10. Dinner with Mis
11. Volunteering at Taste of Clayton tomorrow
12. Make our summer list
2. Finish up my cherries
3. Circus Flora today with W and some friends from school
4. Find the hairpiece from the Playmobil horse-riding girl
5. Clean the floors
6. Make an Arkansas list
7. Get W's hair cut
8. Order photo prints
9. Work on butterfly book (a shutterfly book that I started last summer and never finished)
10. Dinner with Mis
11. Volunteering at Taste of Clayton tomorrow
12. Make our summer list
Friday
Thursday
Why Yesterday Was A Success
1. R is potty-trained! He is a pee-and-poop-on-the-potty champ! I even trusted him enough to take him to the zoo today in underwear without even bringing a change of clothes! (Not surprising, since I was the mother of newborns who never carried a diaper bag, who never had anything, just sometimes a crumpled-up size-too-small diaper in my glove compartment)
2. I got two stains out of clothing while doing laundry
3. I prepped supper before we went to the pool so that I could be quick when we arrived back home at 6:30. I've never done early meal-prepping/crockpot cooking/frozen casseroles before.
4. I bounced back from what felt like a slow death on Tuesday, to feeling fine yesterday.
5. I made two blueberry-cherry crisps (one for ME and one for my neighbors).
6. I showered.
7. I organized the kids clothes and folded lots of laundry
2. I got two stains out of clothing while doing laundry
3. I prepped supper before we went to the pool so that I could be quick when we arrived back home at 6:30. I've never done early meal-prepping/crockpot cooking/frozen casseroles before.
4. I bounced back from what felt like a slow death on Tuesday, to feeling fine yesterday.
5. I made two blueberry-cherry crisps (one for ME and one for my neighbors).
6. I showered.
7. I organized the kids clothes and folded lots of laundry
Wednesday
What I've Done Since My Last Shower
1. Been to the pool. Twice.
2. Had a bout of diarrhea and vomiting
3. Went cherry and blueberry picking in 95 degree weather
4. Slept three nights
2. Had a bout of diarrhea and vomiting
3. Went cherry and blueberry picking in 95 degree weather
4. Slept three nights
Tuesday
When Mom's Sick
1. The kids get to watch a lot of TV
2. I have to clean up her own vomit, which isn't fun
3. W becomes my caretaker, bringing me cough drops, tissues, clean towels, chapstick...
4. R doesn't help at all
5. The kids make dots all over their bodies with markers
6. Frozen pizza makes its second appearance of the week at suppertime
7. I sit in the bathtub for two hours at a time
8. I see how flat and tight my stomach gets from puking and wish my illness with coincide with a swimsuit outing for once.
9. Puddy lays right on top of me the whole time I am lying down.
10. My lifeless body becomes R's racetrack for his cars
11. R finally decides to successfully potty-train
2. I have to clean up her own vomit, which isn't fun
3. W becomes my caretaker, bringing me cough drops, tissues, clean towels, chapstick...
4. R doesn't help at all
5. The kids make dots all over their bodies with markers
6. Frozen pizza makes its second appearance of the week at suppertime
7. I sit in the bathtub for two hours at a time
8. I see how flat and tight my stomach gets from puking and wish my illness with coincide with a swimsuit outing for once.
9. Puddy lays right on top of me the whole time I am lying down.
10. My lifeless body becomes R's racetrack for his cars
11. R finally decides to successfully potty-train
Monday
How We've Kicked Off Summer
1. Milkshakes at Fitz's
2. We bought a summer pool pass
3. Sno-cones at Oh Lolli Lolli
4. We got our traditional minor sunburn on the first day at the pool
5. Pool party with friends
6. Just bough flip flops at Target for the kids
7. Andy grilled today
8. We've been staying up late and sleeping in this holiday weekend
2. We bought a summer pool pass
3. Sno-cones at Oh Lolli Lolli
4. We got our traditional minor sunburn on the first day at the pool
5. Pool party with friends
6. Just bough flip flops at Target for the kids
7. Andy grilled today
8. We've been staying up late and sleeping in this holiday weekend
Saturday
Today's Grocery List
1. Quinoa
2. Soup
3. Chow Mein noodles
4. Chips
5. Cereal
6. Tortilla shells
7. 2 chicken breasts
8. Grapes
9. Eggs
10. Monterey Jack cheese
11. French bread
12. Scallions
13. Frozen corn
14. Tomato
15. Avocado
16. Limes
17. Vital Wheat Gluten
18. Strawberries
2. Soup
3. Chow Mein noodles
4. Chips
5. Cereal
6. Tortilla shells
7. 2 chicken breasts
8. Grapes
9. Eggs
10. Monterey Jack cheese
11. French bread
12. Scallions
13. Frozen corn
14. Tomato
15. Avocado
16. Limes
17. Vital Wheat Gluten
18. Strawberries
Friday
Our Summer Bucket List
1. Pick peaches
2. Go to Silver Dollar City
3. Bake cookies
4. Explore Elephant Rocks park
5. Go on a train ride to Illinois
6. Visit the Science Center
7. Picnic at the Arch
8. Day at the Buffalo River
9. Geocatching
10. Dessert at Crown Candy Kitchen
11. Visit the Buffalo Park
12. Host a birthday party for Puddy
13. Go to a Cardinal's Game
14. Visit the Butterfly House
15. Go to the Sea Lion Sound opening at the zoo
16. Make a bird feeder for Papaw
17. Go to a putt-putt course
18. Make popsicles
19. Visit the art museum
20. Take out the paddleboats
21. Make books
2. Go to Silver Dollar City
3. Bake cookies
4. Explore Elephant Rocks park
5. Go on a train ride to Illinois
6. Visit the Science Center
7. Picnic at the Arch
8. Day at the Buffalo River
9. Geocatching
10. Dessert at Crown Candy Kitchen
11. Visit the Buffalo Park
12. Host a birthday party for Puddy
13. Go to a Cardinal's Game
14. Visit the Butterfly House
15. Go to the Sea Lion Sound opening at the zoo
16. Make a bird feeder for Papaw
17. Go to a putt-putt course
18. Make popsicles
19. Visit the art museum
20. Take out the paddleboats
21. Make books
Thursday
Things I Want
Tuesday
Why W Has Declared This Day "The Bestest Day Ever"
1. She got to "sleep in," which is what she said, but she really woke up at 7:00, which is normal for a school day.
2. Her and R watched Sesame Street while I was meeting with another school mom at her house.
3. I took them to Demun Park for a nice morning of playing.
4. We got sno-cones next door, and she was thrilled they had her favorite- strawberry
5. Snack-Plate for lunch (I do this when I don't know what to make them. They each have a plastic plate with 4 sections. I fill the 4 sections with random things that wouldn't normally go together. It's our version of muffin-tin meals.)
6. Movie after naps
7. They get to to to "Daddy's Office!" because I have a meeting in Clayton at 5:30, so I'm just going to drop them with him so he doesn't have to come home early.
8. I let them buy a frozen pizza for Andy to make them for supper, since I'm going to be gone. Oh, the joys a $2 Totino's Party Pizza can bring.
9. Her Minnie Mouse nightgown is clean and ready to wear tonight.
2. Her and R watched Sesame Street while I was meeting with another school mom at her house.
3. I took them to Demun Park for a nice morning of playing.
4. We got sno-cones next door, and she was thrilled they had her favorite- strawberry
5. Snack-Plate for lunch (I do this when I don't know what to make them. They each have a plastic plate with 4 sections. I fill the 4 sections with random things that wouldn't normally go together. It's our version of muffin-tin meals.)
6. Movie after naps
7. They get to to to "Daddy's Office!" because I have a meeting in Clayton at 5:30, so I'm just going to drop them with him so he doesn't have to come home early.
8. I let them buy a frozen pizza for Andy to make them for supper, since I'm going to be gone. Oh, the joys a $2 Totino's Party Pizza can bring.
9. Her Minnie Mouse nightgown is clean and ready to wear tonight.
Monday
What I Ate Yesterday
1. Water and a cheese stick
2. Post-race complimentary sacked breakfast: cinnamon-raisin roll from Breadsmith, orange juice, and a banana. I skipped on the yogurt.
3. A wrap for lunch made with a Flatout tortilla, smushed avocado, mushrooms, sweet potato, onion, Organic Girl Super Greens, and garbanzo beans with some Xochitl chips
4. Farfalle with pesto and sauteed onions, peas, mushrooms, red/orange/&yellow peppers, spinach, and shallots
5. A couple chocolate-banana brownies and a glass of almond milk
2. Post-race complimentary sacked breakfast: cinnamon-raisin roll from Breadsmith, orange juice, and a banana. I skipped on the yogurt.
3. A wrap for lunch made with a Flatout tortilla, smushed avocado, mushrooms, sweet potato, onion, Organic Girl Super Greens, and garbanzo beans with some Xochitl chips
4. Farfalle with pesto and sauteed onions, peas, mushrooms, red/orange/&yellow peppers, spinach, and shallots
5. A couple chocolate-banana brownies and a glass of almond milk
Sunday
Right Now, Because I Can't Think Of Anything Else As My Brain Is Fried
1. Almost Famous is on the TV, and I'm only half-watching
2. R is building a very involved train track
3. Puddy is begging for supper
4. My ankles hurt
5. Andy and W are out shopping for balance bikes for the kids and getting an ice cream cone
6. I am trying to figure out the ins and outs of Shutterfly and getting very frustrated
7. Quinoa is simmering on the stove
8. I'm SO HUNGRY for supper....maybe a veggie-packed pasta?
9. I am horrified at the state of uncleanliness of my home. I just can't get motivated this weekend.
10. I am wearing my glasses, even though they just snapped in half at the nose bridge piece.
11. It's raining.
12. I'm making brownies tonight and can't decide if I should make them homemade or use the reduced-fat mix of Trader Joe's.
2. R is building a very involved train track
3. Puddy is begging for supper
4. My ankles hurt
5. Andy and W are out shopping for balance bikes for the kids and getting an ice cream cone
6. I am trying to figure out the ins and outs of Shutterfly and getting very frustrated
7. Quinoa is simmering on the stove
8. I'm SO HUNGRY for supper....maybe a veggie-packed pasta?
9. I am horrified at the state of uncleanliness of my home. I just can't get motivated this weekend.
10. I am wearing my glasses, even though they just snapped in half at the nose bridge piece.
11. It's raining.
12. I'm making brownies tonight and can't decide if I should make them homemade or use the reduced-fat mix of Trader Joe's.
Friday
Things I Love About My Kids
1. W's hair fresh out the bath
2. How she loves to be praised and loves to be snuggled
3. When it's too late for clothes, but too early for jammies, and I put them in a hand-me-down-from-me t-shirt (because it reminds me of getting to wear one at my Great Aunt Mert's house)
4. R's love for a backscratch and rub
5. When he goes off on a monotone blabber where I don't know what he's saying but I have to respond because his inflection suggests that it was a question
6. When W works on an art project that lasts over several days
7. How they play together. It's such a sweet, precious thing for me to watch.
8. New jammie nights
9. R's imaginary play...all by himself immersed in whatever...airplanes, Legos, train track, dinosaurs....he is so content and creative.
10. I can trust them in all situations....fancy restaurants, doctor's offices, art museums, nice stores.
11. Listening to them apologizing to one another and granting forgiveness (especially R- melt my heart)
12. The joy they have when Daddy gets home
13. Baking with them
14. W's so sensitive to my feelings and hurts alongside me when I'm hurting
15. I love when R comes sleepily stumbling out of his bed in the morning, dragging his monkey blanket and Chops the bear
16. Singing You Are My Sunshine together
17. They both love to play with my hair and fix it up with barrettes
18. R says "pinkles" instead of "sprinkles," and W calls construction paper "instruction paper." I treasure those little sweet goofs.
I could go on forever...
2. How she loves to be praised and loves to be snuggled
3. When it's too late for clothes, but too early for jammies, and I put them in a hand-me-down-from-me t-shirt (because it reminds me of getting to wear one at my Great Aunt Mert's house)
4. R's love for a backscratch and rub
5. When he goes off on a monotone blabber where I don't know what he's saying but I have to respond because his inflection suggests that it was a question
6. When W works on an art project that lasts over several days
7. How they play together. It's such a sweet, precious thing for me to watch.
8. New jammie nights
9. R's imaginary play...all by himself immersed in whatever...airplanes, Legos, train track, dinosaurs....he is so content and creative.
10. I can trust them in all situations....fancy restaurants, doctor's offices, art museums, nice stores.
11. Listening to them apologizing to one another and granting forgiveness (especially R- melt my heart)
12. The joy they have when Daddy gets home
13. Baking with them
14. W's so sensitive to my feelings and hurts alongside me when I'm hurting
15. I love when R comes sleepily stumbling out of his bed in the morning, dragging his monkey blanket and Chops the bear
16. Singing You Are My Sunshine together
17. They both love to play with my hair and fix it up with barrettes
18. R says "pinkles" instead of "sprinkles," and W calls construction paper "instruction paper." I treasure those little sweet goofs.
I could go on forever...
Thursday
Today
1. I just ran a 5K! I'm so proud of myself. My friend Aaron went with me and pushed my children in the jogging stroller to give me a break. It was easy-breezy, and I'm thankful for that.
2. Teddy is here playing with R. W thinks she's babysitting them, which is helpful.
3. W and I are going to bake some beet cookies (a weelicious recipe that we enjoy).
4. I need to make some returns to Target.
5. I am going to walk the kids down to the Redbox machine to rent Hop to watch tonight while Andy's cycling.
6. I am waiting to hear back from the mom's of W's classmates so that I can begin to work on the Shutterfly book I'm making the teachers for their end-of-the-year gift "from the class." A nicer version of THIS that has the kids answers and a photo of them. And I just got an email that Shutterfly books are currently 50% off.
7. Almost every article of clothing we own is in a clean laundry pile in my bedroom that is only getting bigger. I need to tackle that.
8. I need to shower, but don't trust 3 kids in the house alone. Since we have a tub and a shower in our master bath, I want to put the kids in the tub while I shower. I am trying to determine the inappropriateness level of showering in front of someone else's three-year-old.
9. Want to make some chickpea cutlets
10. I forgot that I never watched Sunday night's Mad Men and two episodes of Restaurant Impossible. What a surprise treat I have waiting for me!
11. Tank top weather! I've been waiting so long for this.
12. Can't stop thinking about/being challenged by/wondering what it means to me/etc. this quote my friend Ryan tweeted: "If you buy into that myth that our homes are self-sufficient incubators for child-rearing, then you will be isolated by a constant sense of failure."
2. Teddy is here playing with R. W thinks she's babysitting them, which is helpful.
3. W and I are going to bake some beet cookies (a weelicious recipe that we enjoy).
4. I need to make some returns to Target.
5. I am going to walk the kids down to the Redbox machine to rent Hop to watch tonight while Andy's cycling.
6. I am waiting to hear back from the mom's of W's classmates so that I can begin to work on the Shutterfly book I'm making the teachers for their end-of-the-year gift "from the class." A nicer version of THIS that has the kids answers and a photo of them. And I just got an email that Shutterfly books are currently 50% off.
7. Almost every article of clothing we own is in a clean laundry pile in my bedroom that is only getting bigger. I need to tackle that.
8. I need to shower, but don't trust 3 kids in the house alone. Since we have a tub and a shower in our master bath, I want to put the kids in the tub while I shower. I am trying to determine the inappropriateness level of showering in front of someone else's three-year-old.
9. Want to make some chickpea cutlets
10. I forgot that I never watched Sunday night's Mad Men and two episodes of Restaurant Impossible. What a surprise treat I have waiting for me!
11. Tank top weather! I've been waiting so long for this.
12. Can't stop thinking about/being challenged by/wondering what it means to me/etc. this quote my friend Ryan tweeted: "If you buy into that myth that our homes are self-sufficient incubators for child-rearing, then you will be isolated by a constant sense of failure."
Wednesday
Little Things I Say A Lot That My Kids Have Also Adopted
1. We gotta go, go, go, gotta rodeo!
2. Referring to the interstate as the big highway. Actually the big hah-way.
3. Well, forevermore!
4. Bless your heart.
5. I'm fixin' to...
6. Let's rock and roll
7. Do it to it
8. Hot tamales!
9. Welp...
2. Referring to the interstate as the big highway. Actually the big hah-way.
3. Well, forevermore!
4. Bless your heart.
5. I'm fixin' to...
6. Let's rock and roll
7. Do it to it
8. Hot tamales!
9. Welp...
Monday
R's Favorite Things
1. Duplos
2. His train set
3. Horses
4. Airplanes and helicopters
5. Sitting on the arch steps and watching the river
6. Backscratches and full body rubs
7. Blueberries
8. Dinosaurs
9. His friend Teddy
10. Papaw
11. Papaw's truck
12. Quinoa
13. Typing out words on the computer
14. Cookies
15. Sliding
16. He-Man
17. Going to Missy's house
18. Robin Hood
19. Playing with his sister
2. His train set
3. Horses
4. Airplanes and helicopters
5. Sitting on the arch steps and watching the river
6. Backscratches and full body rubs
7. Blueberries
8. Dinosaurs
9. His friend Teddy
10. Papaw
11. Papaw's truck
12. Quinoa
13. Typing out words on the computer
14. Cookies
15. Sliding
16. He-Man
17. Going to Missy's house
18. Robin Hood
19. Playing with his sister
Sunday
This Weekend
1. Friday afternoon, we went to the zoo for Zoo Friends Day and stayed until 7:30. It was so fun! Our favorite moment was spending time with Kenzi, the baby elephant.
2. Friday night, Andy went out, so I had a little movie party for one in my bed. I watched The Searchers, an old John Wayne film and had chia pudding.
3. Saturday morning, the kids and I went with Aaron and her kids to the farmer's market at Tower Grove, our favorite weekend ritual.
4. After produce shopping, we went to the Left Bank Books story time and the kids enjoyed stories and a special mother's day craft while I sat on the floor in a corner and poured over some expensive art books.
5. I took a too-long nap.
6. Andy went out again Saturday night, so I had another little movie party. This time I watched Melancholia (again) and had freshly baked strawberry crisp.
7. Sunday morning, I opened my mother's day cards and gift from the kids and Andy made pancakes for breakfast.
8. We went to church.
9. We went over to Andy's parent's house for brunch and let the kids play for awhile in the yard before we came home.
10. Family movie afternoon- animated Robin Hood, a family favorite.
11. A not-so-much evening of playing, eating supper, and getting ready for bed.
12. Andy and I are getting ready to watch the final 3 episodes of Fringe for this season.
2. Friday night, Andy went out, so I had a little movie party for one in my bed. I watched The Searchers, an old John Wayne film and had chia pudding.
3. Saturday morning, the kids and I went with Aaron and her kids to the farmer's market at Tower Grove, our favorite weekend ritual.
4. After produce shopping, we went to the Left Bank Books story time and the kids enjoyed stories and a special mother's day craft while I sat on the floor in a corner and poured over some expensive art books.
5. I took a too-long nap.
6. Andy went out again Saturday night, so I had another little movie party. This time I watched Melancholia (again) and had freshly baked strawberry crisp.
7. Sunday morning, I opened my mother's day cards and gift from the kids and Andy made pancakes for breakfast.
8. We went to church.
9. We went over to Andy's parent's house for brunch and let the kids play for awhile in the yard before we came home.
10. Family movie afternoon- animated Robin Hood, a family favorite.
11. A not-so-much evening of playing, eating supper, and getting ready for bed.
12. Andy and I are getting ready to watch the final 3 episodes of Fringe for this season.
Saturday
My Favorite Picks At The Farmer's Market
1. Strawberries
2. Cherries
3. Greens! (arugula, bibb, spinach, kale, chard...)
4. Beets
5. Honey
6. Brioche
7. New potatoes
8. Mushrooms
9. Green beans
10. Asparagus
11. Broccoli
2. Cherries
3. Greens! (arugula, bibb, spinach, kale, chard...)
4. Beets
5. Honey
6. Brioche
7. New potatoes
8. Mushrooms
9. Green beans
10. Asparagus
11. Broccoli
Friday
Our Teacher Appreciation Week Gifts
1. Monday- Panera gift cards
2. Wednesday- Aveda products, Starbucks gift cards, and W made them a bracelet and card
3. Friday- chocolate chip cookies on a cute tray all wrapped up with a fabric bow and dishtowel
2. Wednesday- Aveda products, Starbucks gift cards, and W made them a bracelet and card
3. Friday- chocolate chip cookies on a cute tray all wrapped up with a fabric bow and dishtowel
Thursday
Yesterday's Ridiculousness
1. I can't quit coughing and hacking stuff up. I would say I have the black lung, but everything that comes up is green/yellow.
2. I suppose my phlegm-induced nausea gave me a lapse in judgment, as I went to the store and bought the components of last night's supper- Chef Boyardee pizza box, ovaltine milkshakes, and popcorn. The kids were in heaven. I felt like I was contributing to America's obesity problem.
3. The speaker on my iPhone is wonky, so now when I get any alerts or try to use the speaker function or play a video, it sounds like an underwater Darth Vader that you cannot understand.
4. W puked pretty fiercely in her bed, so she moved to my bed and sent A to the couch. She then threw up twice in my bed. I was awake from midnight until 2:30 am.
5. We did not have internet yesterday. I had so much stuff I needed to do on the computer, but wasn't able to.
2. I suppose my phlegm-induced nausea gave me a lapse in judgment, as I went to the store and bought the components of last night's supper- Chef Boyardee pizza box, ovaltine milkshakes, and popcorn. The kids were in heaven. I felt like I was contributing to America's obesity problem.
3. The speaker on my iPhone is wonky, so now when I get any alerts or try to use the speaker function or play a video, it sounds like an underwater Darth Vader that you cannot understand.
4. W puked pretty fiercely in her bed, so she moved to my bed and sent A to the couch. She then threw up twice in my bed. I was awake from midnight until 2:30 am.
5. We did not have internet yesterday. I had so much stuff I needed to do on the computer, but wasn't able to.
Monday
This Week
1. Might be our last week with the nebulizer. Fingers crossed!
2. It's teacher appreciation week at school, so we are having fun thinking of ways to bless W's teacher and teacher helper.
3. Today was W's last Star Day for 3K. I stayed all morning and was crying every five minutes. I love her sweet class.
4. City Museum tomorrow with our neighbor kids and their grandma
5. W's first trip to the dentist tomorrow. I am so thankful that our dentist is a great family friend that she knows well.
6. Follow-up for R with the pediatrician
7. Zoo Members Day on Friday...we are going to make it another epic zoo visit.
8. Saturday with friends...day-long playdate
9. I have some free time on Thursday while the kids are spending the day with their grandma.
Sunday
Healthy Snacks and Add-Ins For Your Dog
1. Apples that have been cored and seeded
2. Carrots
3. Sweet potatoes
4. Canned salmon
5. Ground beef, chicken, or turkey
6. Boneless, skinless, chicken breast
7. Cottage cheese
8. Eggs
9. Beans- canned or cooked
10. Greens
11. Green beans
12. Broccoli
13. Cauliflower
14. Peas
15. Canned pumpkin
16. Millet, brown rice, buckwheat
17. Oats and oatmeal
18. Pasta
19. Blackstrap molasses
20. Non-fat yogurt
21. Garlic
22. Olive or safflower oil
2. Carrots
3. Sweet potatoes
4. Canned salmon
5. Ground beef, chicken, or turkey
6. Boneless, skinless, chicken breast
7. Cottage cheese
8. Eggs
9. Beans- canned or cooked
10. Greens
11. Green beans
12. Broccoli
13. Cauliflower
14. Peas
15. Canned pumpkin
16. Millet, brown rice, buckwheat
17. Oats and oatmeal
18. Pasta
19. Blackstrap molasses
20. Non-fat yogurt
21. Garlic
22. Olive or safflower oil
Saturday
Some Confessions
1. I had a panic attack on Sunday that was triggered by a tiny seed tick I found in a reusable shopping bag that had my husband's hunting clothes in it.
2. Monday night is my guilty pleasures TV night. I watch Gossip Girl and Hart of Dixie. I just can't quit. And I'll watch The Bachelorette in May when Emily's season starts.
3. I judge people when I see what they are buying at the grocery store when I'm in line behind them.
4. I accidentally "poked" (why does that feature even exist??!) an old boyfriend's wife on facebook, who I am not friends with. I was just innocently stalking her. So awkward!
5. I ate an entire strawberry crisp by myself in two days.
6. You know how clean-freak Monica (on Friends) had her hoarder/messy closet? For me, it is my toaster oven. It is always disgusting, and I don't even really understand how to clean it.
7. I was seen in public yesterday in what could only be described as inappropriate lounge wear.
8. My sister blames my frequent depression on me only reading westerns and watching war movies.
9. However, I am starting to really enjoy watching Doc McStuffins.
10. I love mushrooms, especially baby portobellos, and eat them every daty, but hate washing them. So I don't. Mushrooms have visible dirt on them. I justify this by sauteeing them and not feeding them to my children.
2. Monday night is my guilty pleasures TV night. I watch Gossip Girl and Hart of Dixie. I just can't quit. And I'll watch The Bachelorette in May when Emily's season starts.
3. I judge people when I see what they are buying at the grocery store when I'm in line behind them.
4. I accidentally "poked" (why does that feature even exist??!) an old boyfriend's wife on facebook, who I am not friends with. I was just innocently stalking her. So awkward!
5. I ate an entire strawberry crisp by myself in two days.
6. You know how clean-freak Monica (on Friends) had her hoarder/messy closet? For me, it is my toaster oven. It is always disgusting, and I don't even really understand how to clean it.
7. I was seen in public yesterday in what could only be described as inappropriate lounge wear.
8. My sister blames my frequent depression on me only reading westerns and watching war movies.
9. However, I am starting to really enjoy watching Doc McStuffins.
10. I love mushrooms, especially baby portobellos, and eat them every daty, but hate washing them. So I don't. Mushrooms have visible dirt on them. I justify this by sauteeing them and not feeding them to my children.
Friday
Why I Loved This Week's New Girl Episode
1. River is one of my favorite songs, so it was fun to see it featured so prominently in the episode. Joni does reach right into the soul.
2. Jess made a Cylon reference. A Cylon reference! If you are a Battlestar Galactica fan, which I am, you were dying on that one.
3. So hilarious when Schmidt (sweet-wish-I-had-him-bottled-up-Schmidt) "The fact that you were wearing pajamas in the presence of your lover tells me that that relationship was doomed from the start."
4. "I thought at first you were the Asian Jess, but now I realize I am just a Caucasian Jen"
5. A Tom Waits reference! Nick saying the voices in his head have the voice of Tom Waits. I was just waiting for Jess to say her voices are Crystal Gayle's and they would break into a little "One From The Heart."
6. "You've backslid...all the way down the hill into the parking lot, taken your skis off and waiting for your family."
7. When Schmidt asked Cece's grandmother if he deserved a girl as great as Cece, and she responded with, "Not with all those moles on your face." Beautiful.
8. When Schmidt told Jess she wasn't the only one hurting..."the economy stinks, bees are dying, movies are pretty much all sequels now, and I have a broken penis."
9. Schmidt (again, hilarious) when he said to give Winston's earring a break because he'd just gotten back from Carnivale.
10. This Caroline/Nick/please-Jess love triangle is coming to a head and I predict it will be awesome.
11. "I'm sorry I made you feel like Monica Lewinsky." "Stop crying. You are literally the ugliest crier I have ever seen. You cry smile!"
12. Nick's Caroline video was amazing. "Or whatever they call you in your time."
2. Jess made a Cylon reference. A Cylon reference! If you are a Battlestar Galactica fan, which I am, you were dying on that one.
3. So hilarious when Schmidt (sweet-wish-I-had-him-bottled-up-Schmidt) "The fact that you were wearing pajamas in the presence of your lover tells me that that relationship was doomed from the start."
4. "I thought at first you were the Asian Jess, but now I realize I am just a Caucasian Jen"
5. A Tom Waits reference! Nick saying the voices in his head have the voice of Tom Waits. I was just waiting for Jess to say her voices are Crystal Gayle's and they would break into a little "One From The Heart."
6. "You've backslid...all the way down the hill into the parking lot, taken your skis off and waiting for your family."
7. When Schmidt asked Cece's grandmother if he deserved a girl as great as Cece, and she responded with, "Not with all those moles on your face." Beautiful.
8. When Schmidt told Jess she wasn't the only one hurting..."the economy stinks, bees are dying, movies are pretty much all sequels now, and I have a broken penis."
9. Schmidt (again, hilarious) when he said to give Winston's earring a break because he'd just gotten back from Carnivale.
10. This Caroline/Nick/please-Jess love triangle is coming to a head and I predict it will be awesome.
11. "I'm sorry I made you feel like Monica Lewinsky." "Stop crying. You are literally the ugliest crier I have ever seen. You cry smile!"
12. Nick's Caroline video was amazing. "Or whatever they call you in your time."
Thursday
What We Did With All Those Strawberries
1. The kids ate about 20 on the way home, because I stashed them in the empty seat between their car seats. R's repeated line on the drive back was, "This'll be my LAST one."
2. Sunday after church, we had breakfast for lunch, so I made strawberry syrup on the stovetop.
3. I froze about 2 quarts whole for smoothies, and another quart sliced and diced for recipes and whatnot.
4. I made THIS Sunday night and it's pretty good. I left off the fruit slices on the top and just included them inside the bread, so mine's not as pretty as the one from the recipe.
5. I made THIS for dinner on Monday night, since we were having friends over to eat. (I omitted the white sugar in the topping, added more oats, and used whole wheat flour.)
6. I also made strawberry ice cream in the ice cream maker on Tuesday using half the sugar.
7. Thanks to Amazon Prime, my donut pan arrived in 2 quick days to make THESE for snack today and caused my daughter to squeal with excitement and name me the best momma ever!
8. Strawberries made their appearance sliced on breakfast cereal, whole in lunchbags, as a side for dinner, and rolled up with peanut butter in wraps this week.
9. I had Kashi Go Lean Crunch with sliced strawberries for breakfast almost every day this week.
10. I made a batch of veganized strawberry muffins for the freezer
11. I finished up the stash by taking some over to share with our friends for a playdate.
2. Sunday after church, we had breakfast for lunch, so I made strawberry syrup on the stovetop.
3. I froze about 2 quarts whole for smoothies, and another quart sliced and diced for recipes and whatnot.
4. I made THIS Sunday night and it's pretty good. I left off the fruit slices on the top and just included them inside the bread, so mine's not as pretty as the one from the recipe.
5. I made THIS for dinner on Monday night, since we were having friends over to eat. (I omitted the white sugar in the topping, added more oats, and used whole wheat flour.)
6. I also made strawberry ice cream in the ice cream maker on Tuesday using half the sugar.
7. Thanks to Amazon Prime, my donut pan arrived in 2 quick days to make THESE for snack today and caused my daughter to squeal with excitement and name me the best momma ever!
8. Strawberries made their appearance sliced on breakfast cereal, whole in lunchbags, as a side for dinner, and rolled up with peanut butter in wraps this week.
9. I had Kashi Go Lean Crunch with sliced strawberries for breakfast almost every day this week.
10. I made a batch of veganized strawberry muffins for the freezer
11. I finished up the stash by taking some over to share with our friends for a playdate.
Wednesday
Right Now
1. Kids are playing "motorcycle fixer shop"
2. Counting down the hours until I get to go out with Mis
3. Eating a little strawberry crisp snack
4. Listening to the latest Of Monsters and Men album
5. W just ran in with a gasp because she found Lauren's lip balm
6. Wearing a bicycle t-shirt and cropped yoga pants
7. Puddy is lying upside down on the cool, bathroom floor after a long walk
8. Now I'm listening to Walt Whitman (Trampled by Turtles)
9. Drinking almond milk
10. Now the kids are drawing bubble machines on their marker board
11. W just wanted to say to the computer, "Dear Lucy, I like to play with you every day at school. Lucy, I just love when you play with me. I think you make me so happy, and every day I like to play with you at school."
12. Evangeline- Emmylou Harris and The Band
13. Jumped over to facebook to write a friend a note
14. Realizing it's time for another nebulizer treatment. So fun. Not at all.
2. Counting down the hours until I get to go out with Mis
3. Eating a little strawberry crisp snack
4. Listening to the latest Of Monsters and Men album
5. W just ran in with a gasp because she found Lauren's lip balm
6. Wearing a bicycle t-shirt and cropped yoga pants
7. Puddy is lying upside down on the cool, bathroom floor after a long walk
8. Now I'm listening to Walt Whitman (Trampled by Turtles)
9. Drinking almond milk
10. Now the kids are drawing bubble machines on their marker board
11. W just wanted to say to the computer, "Dear Lucy, I like to play with you every day at school. Lucy, I just love when you play with me. I think you make me so happy, and every day I like to play with you at school."
12. Evangeline- Emmylou Harris and The Band
13. Jumped over to facebook to write a friend a note
14. Realizing it's time for another nebulizer treatment. So fun. Not at all.
Tuesday
What's Hanging On The Side Of Our Refrigerator
1. A W art piece- colored-in lines of a piece of notebook paper with a sun on the side and two rows of Sesame Street stickers
2. 5 big magnetic clips from Arkansas Childrens Hospital
3. A magnet from the Art Institute
4. An order for blood work for R- the lead test that they are supposed to get at 1 year. He is 2 1/2.
5. An invitation to a Duke University alumni event
6. 2 Imos coupons
7. The schedule for R's nebulizer and medicine so that we can keep track of times/days
8. A Paul Klee magnet
2. 5 big magnetic clips from Arkansas Childrens Hospital
3. A magnet from the Art Institute
4. An order for blood work for R- the lead test that they are supposed to get at 1 year. He is 2 1/2.
5. An invitation to a Duke University alumni event
6. 2 Imos coupons
7. The schedule for R's nebulizer and medicine so that we can keep track of times/days
8. A Paul Klee magnet
Monday
Things That Annoy Me
1. How long it takes iTunes to open
2. People thinking Nutella is a health food- just because the commercial says its made with skim milk and cocoa does not make it healthy
3. How Bravo shows have a fake-out scene at about the 40 minute mark that is just a non-essential scene to squeeze in more commercials
4. When people say someone has "drank the Kool-Aid"
5. Laundry
6. My eye doctor makes me fill out information papers EVERY SINGLE TIME I GO IN. Nothing has changed! I'm going to muster the strength to refuse next time.
7. Neither of my children can blow their nose
8. When I have a great idea on Draw Something, but my non-artistic gorilla fingers can't execute
9. When my showering and running schedule require me to shower more than every other day
10. If my car is dirty (much more than if, as in #9, my body is dirty)
11. I always get the wrong USB cord out when I want to load photos on the computer. Then, when I get the right one, I always try to put it in upside down.
12. The gas station "Kum & Go." I will only frequent the one in Hollister on 65, because they do have good fountain drinks.
13. Bad pens
14. People who don't put their health as a top priority. Especially if they constantly complain about their weight or their poor health.
2. People thinking Nutella is a health food- just because the commercial says its made with skim milk and cocoa does not make it healthy
3. How Bravo shows have a fake-out scene at about the 40 minute mark that is just a non-essential scene to squeeze in more commercials
4. When people say someone has "drank the Kool-Aid"
5. Laundry
6. My eye doctor makes me fill out information papers EVERY SINGLE TIME I GO IN. Nothing has changed! I'm going to muster the strength to refuse next time.
7. Neither of my children can blow their nose
8. When I have a great idea on Draw Something, but my non-artistic gorilla fingers can't execute
9. When my showering and running schedule require me to shower more than every other day
10. If my car is dirty (much more than if, as in #9, my body is dirty)
11. I always get the wrong USB cord out when I want to load photos on the computer. Then, when I get the right one, I always try to put it in upside down.
12. The gas station "Kum & Go." I will only frequent the one in Hollister on 65, because they do have good fountain drinks.
13. Bad pens
14. People who don't put their health as a top priority. Especially if they constantly complain about their weight or their poor health.
Sunday
What We Did In Willow Springs
1. My husband and Uncle Chuck went turkey hunting Friday and Saturday mornings
2. Friday morning, the kids and I ran errands with Aunt Patsy: library, egg deliveries, a stop by the hair salon, grocery shopping, and a visit with Sweet Bonnie at the nursing home
3. Back to Patsy's for lunch- mushroom and onion pizza. My kids even ate it, which was surprising. Maybe they've been holding out for local, organic mushrooms this whole time?
4. Friday afternoon we went and saw a man's house- maybe the most unbelievable experience of my life. I can't even describe it...he has so many antique collectibles (from canned goods to old ice skates) that he has built a general store, blacksmith shop, gun shop...he owns a Gatling gun, for instance. It was amazing! My eyes were like silver dollars the whole time we were there.
5. Friday night supper at their house- burgers and veggie burgers and potato salad and green salad- so good! Patsy makes this unusually delicious potato salad.
6. Late night trip to the West Plains ER with R because he was having some breathing problems
7. The nurses gave him a Beanie Baby Buffalo, so we watched many episodes of Guy on a Buffalo. R's in love.
8. Saturday morning drive over to Simpson's Strawberries in Mountain Grove for strawberry picking. I was just going to get a quart or so, but walked away with 13 pounds.
9. The kids probably ate 50 strawberries while we were picking them and were covered head to toe in red juice. The people who worked their were all pretty old and loved it.
10. W loved playing with their cat, Roxy Belle, and now wants a cat instead of a dog. Poor Puddy!
11. Egg salad sandwiches, crackers, and strawberries for lunch
12. We had to engage in a thorough tick-check after I found one on both of the kiddos.
13. Our traditional trip to Smiley's Ice Cream Shoppe on the way out of town. I had Black Forest Cake, and I think it was the best ice cream I've ever had. Maybe ties with the Peach at Kilwin's in North Carolina.
2. Friday morning, the kids and I ran errands with Aunt Patsy: library, egg deliveries, a stop by the hair salon, grocery shopping, and a visit with Sweet Bonnie at the nursing home
3. Back to Patsy's for lunch- mushroom and onion pizza. My kids even ate it, which was surprising. Maybe they've been holding out for local, organic mushrooms this whole time?
4. Friday afternoon we went and saw a man's house- maybe the most unbelievable experience of my life. I can't even describe it...he has so many antique collectibles (from canned goods to old ice skates) that he has built a general store, blacksmith shop, gun shop...he owns a Gatling gun, for instance. It was amazing! My eyes were like silver dollars the whole time we were there.
5. Friday night supper at their house- burgers and veggie burgers and potato salad and green salad- so good! Patsy makes this unusually delicious potato salad.
6. Late night trip to the West Plains ER with R because he was having some breathing problems
7. The nurses gave him a Beanie Baby Buffalo, so we watched many episodes of Guy on a Buffalo. R's in love.
8. Saturday morning drive over to Simpson's Strawberries in Mountain Grove for strawberry picking. I was just going to get a quart or so, but walked away with 13 pounds.
9. The kids probably ate 50 strawberries while we were picking them and were covered head to toe in red juice. The people who worked their were all pretty old and loved it.
10. W loved playing with their cat, Roxy Belle, and now wants a cat instead of a dog. Poor Puddy!
11. Egg salad sandwiches, crackers, and strawberries for lunch
12. We had to engage in a thorough tick-check after I found one on both of the kiddos.
13. Our traditional trip to Smiley's Ice Cream Shoppe on the way out of town. I had Black Forest Cake, and I think it was the best ice cream I've ever had. Maybe ties with the Peach at Kilwin's in North Carolina.
Friday
W's Favorite Songs
1. Travelin Soldier- Dixie Chicks
2. Part of Your World- Ariel
3. You Are My Sunshine (we've been listening to the O Brother Where Art Thou? version)
4. Rivers and Roads- The Head and the Heart
5. Die Die Die- The Avett Brothers
6. Skinny Love- the Birdy version
7. Safe and Sound- Taylor Swift
8. The One That You Love- Air Supply
9. I'll Fly Away- Gillian Welch, Emmylou, and Alison Krauss
10. I Painted My Nails So Pretty- Lisa O'Neill
11. Poker Face- Glee version
12. I've Got You Babe- Sonny and Cher
13. Everybody Wants To Be a Cat- from Aristocats
14. L-O-V-E, Love That's Why- a song from school
15. Honey Come Home- The Head and the Heart
16. Poison & Wine- The Civil Wars
2. Part of Your World- Ariel
3. You Are My Sunshine (we've been listening to the O Brother Where Art Thou? version)
4. Rivers and Roads- The Head and the Heart
5. Die Die Die- The Avett Brothers
6. Skinny Love- the Birdy version
7. Safe and Sound- Taylor Swift
8. The One That You Love- Air Supply
9. I'll Fly Away- Gillian Welch, Emmylou, and Alison Krauss
10. I Painted My Nails So Pretty- Lisa O'Neill
11. Poker Face- Glee version
12. I've Got You Babe- Sonny and Cher
13. Everybody Wants To Be a Cat- from Aristocats
14. L-O-V-E, Love That's Why- a song from school
15. Honey Come Home- The Head and the Heart
16. Poison & Wine- The Civil Wars
Thursday
The Kids Lunch
1. A hard-boiled egg
2. Mashed sweet potatoes
3. Green grapes
4. Raw almonds
5. Water
2. Mashed sweet potatoes
3. Green grapes
4. Raw almonds
5. Water
Tuesday
What I'm Loving Lately
1. Sour cherries from Oh Lolli Lolli
2. Terrarium planning, even though I don't have a terrarium
3. "Protein Wraps"- whole wheat tortilla, quinoa, scrambled egg, nutritional yeast, beans, spinach and avocado
4. St. Louis pubic radio
5. This Daniel Blue Hallelujah cover
6. Naked, raw almonds
7. The lineup of artists for the 2012 St. Louis Art Fair
8. The gargantuan pot of delicious vegetarian chili I made...even after giving Aaron half of it and eating it for nearly every meal (breakfast this morning, no joke) I don't know how I'm going to eat it all
9. I've been shaving my arms and it feels wonderful
10. The new Trampled by Turtles album
11. Melatonin tablets
12. Today's weather!
2. Terrarium planning, even though I don't have a terrarium
3. "Protein Wraps"- whole wheat tortilla, quinoa, scrambled egg, nutritional yeast, beans, spinach and avocado
4. St. Louis pubic radio
5. This Daniel Blue Hallelujah cover
6. Naked, raw almonds
7. The lineup of artists for the 2012 St. Louis Art Fair
8. The gargantuan pot of delicious vegetarian chili I made...even after giving Aaron half of it and eating it for nearly every meal (breakfast this morning, no joke) I don't know how I'm going to eat it all
9. I've been shaving my arms and it feels wonderful
10. The new Trampled by Turtles album
11. Melatonin tablets
12. Today's weather!
Monday
Notes On My Running
1. I've been running a little less than a month, and my status is being able to run 2 miles without stopping.
2. I am SLOW right now...last night I did two miles at a 12 minute/mile pace.
3. I am not going to increase distance until I can get those miles down to a 10 minute pace.
4. I bought these yesterday at Missouri Running Co. because my old, too-small cross-trainers were KILLING my feet.
5. I also got some of these Balega socks, not for any reason other than they were the cheapest of the blend socks.
6. My preferred music while running is bluegrass for the rhythm, but I like anything I would consider "old school," (especially high school music) because a song will remind me of something, then my mind will wander and I'll be distracted reminiscing. Like tonight, I was listening to Aerosmith, remembering when my friend Sam Glover and I drove my little sister and her friend Stacy to Memphis for a concert. It was a fun night to laugh about while I was running against the wind most of the time.
7. So, like I said before, it's not even been a month, and I already have obvious increase in my muscle tone. I would name where I see the differences, but I must've slept through that part of science class.
8. Running has made me more conscious of drinking more water and eating better, so it's good all around.
9. My ideal running time is around 6:30 at night. I will make the kids their dinner when A gets home, then leave so that I can be home to bathe them and put them to bed. And I hate waking up early, so that's mostly out of the question.
10. It's hard for a stay-at-home mom (especially me, as I am always struggling to find "my thing"- something that makes me feel like I have purpose and talent) to feel accomplished, and running allows me to feel proud of myself.
11. Missy and I are running the Make Tracks for the Zoo 5K in a few weeks, and I hope to run in regular 5Ks and maybe set a goal for a 10K later.
12. My earbuds are the worst. One of them is only like 5 inches long, while the other ear cord is like 2 feet long. Maybe I accidentally bought the ones fashioned for people with medically diagnosed fat face?
8. Running has made me more conscious of drinking more water and eating better, so it's good all around.
9. My ideal running time is around 6:30 at night. I will make the kids their dinner when A gets home, then leave so that I can be home to bathe them and put them to bed. And I hate waking up early, so that's mostly out of the question.
10. It's hard for a stay-at-home mom (especially me, as I am always struggling to find "my thing"- something that makes me feel like I have purpose and talent) to feel accomplished, and running allows me to feel proud of myself.
11. Missy and I are running the Make Tracks for the Zoo 5K in a few weeks, and I hope to run in regular 5Ks and maybe set a goal for a 10K later.
12. My earbuds are the worst. One of them is only like 5 inches long, while the other ear cord is like 2 feet long. Maybe I accidentally bought the ones fashioned for people with medically diagnosed fat face?
Sunday
What I Ate Today
1. A glass of orange juice and an egg sandwich (egg cooked with Penzey's Mural of Flavor and mustard and cheese)
2. A glass of lemon water, guacamole and blue corn chips, a mug of Aaron's quinoa corn chowder, and a small wrap with sweet potato, black beans, and spinach
3. A handful of roasted chickpeas
4. A pizza made with a whole wheat Flatout flatbread and topped with Classico basil pesto, roasted red peppers, roasted mushrooms, caramelized onions, kalamata olives, and spinach. And a few glasses of water.
5. A chocolate chip banana brownie and a mega glass of almond milk
2. A glass of lemon water, guacamole and blue corn chips, a mug of Aaron's quinoa corn chowder, and a small wrap with sweet potato, black beans, and spinach
3. A handful of roasted chickpeas
4. A pizza made with a whole wheat Flatout flatbread and topped with Classico basil pesto, roasted red peppers, roasted mushrooms, caramelized onions, kalamata olives, and spinach. And a few glasses of water.
5. A chocolate chip banana brownie and a mega glass of almond milk
Saturday
My If-I-Were-A-Celebrity-This-Would-Be-My-Rider Rider
1. Sweet tea Arnold Palmers
2. Lemon slices
3. Blackberries and green grapes
4. A Mr. Happy head massager
5. Dr. Pepper in bottles
6. Chunky guacamole and salsa and tortilla chips
7. Pappy Van Winkle whiskey
8. A mani-pedicurist
9. Hummingbird cupcakes
10. Fresh lilacs
11. Veggie flatbread pizza
2. Lemon slices
3. Blackberries and green grapes
4. A Mr. Happy head massager
5. Dr. Pepper in bottles
6. Chunky guacamole and salsa and tortilla chips
7. Pappy Van Winkle whiskey
8. A mani-pedicurist
9. Hummingbird cupcakes
10. Fresh lilacs
11. Veggie flatbread pizza
Friday
Yesterday
1. I remembered, just in the nick of time, that W had her 4 year check-up.
2. After leaving our (wonderful) pediatrician's office, we went to the zoo!
3. We lived it UP at the zoo- train rides, carousel, lunch at the Painted Giraffe Cafe (I really like their veggie wrap there), and killed it walking everywhere- Red Rocks, Herpetarium, River's Edge, Fragile Forest, you name it. We walked it.
4. Since my husband was not going to get home until around midnight, I took them by his office to say hello and get rehydrated.
5. We came home exhausted, but we had to take Puddy on a walk to compensate for leaving him in his crate all day...1.5 miles with the kids in the stroller eating Peach Pops from Trader Joes.
6. I wasted time on the computer while the kids watched The Care Bears Movie.
7. Egg salad on toast, carrots, and grapes for the kids for dinner, then baths and early bedtime.
8. I had a homemade Mexican dinner for one (roasted garbanzos, black bean, sweet potato, avocado, spinach burritos with Mexican Villa taco sauce and tortilla chips with nutritional yeast sauce) and watched Melancholia on Netflix.
9. I folded 4 loads of laundry and then went to bed.
2. After leaving our (wonderful) pediatrician's office, we went to the zoo!
3. We lived it UP at the zoo- train rides, carousel, lunch at the Painted Giraffe Cafe (I really like their veggie wrap there), and killed it walking everywhere- Red Rocks, Herpetarium, River's Edge, Fragile Forest, you name it. We walked it.
4. Since my husband was not going to get home until around midnight, I took them by his office to say hello and get rehydrated.
5. We came home exhausted, but we had to take Puddy on a walk to compensate for leaving him in his crate all day...1.5 miles with the kids in the stroller eating Peach Pops from Trader Joes.
6. I wasted time on the computer while the kids watched The Care Bears Movie.
7. Egg salad on toast, carrots, and grapes for the kids for dinner, then baths and early bedtime.
8. I had a homemade Mexican dinner for one (roasted garbanzos, black bean, sweet potato, avocado, spinach burritos with Mexican Villa taco sauce and tortilla chips with nutritional yeast sauce) and watched Melancholia on Netflix.
9. I folded 4 loads of laundry and then went to bed.
Thursday
Changes Around The House
1. I finally settled on a new shower curtain for the guest bathroom, which led to new hand towels and two little rugs, which led to moving two art pieces into the space...a Deona Fish piece from Asheville that's been in storage and another stored gift from my in-laws.
2. My large, beautiful cockatoo from the Biltmore came out of hibernation back to her perch in my kitchen where she belongs
3. A new succulent that is huge and lovely-colored and architecturally-beautiful now rests on the low bookshelf in the sunlight
4. Summer clothes in, winter clothes out
5. We have swapped some art around and pulled some art out of storage...moved the Mark Hoffman painting from the living room to the dining area, put the wooden pieces from the dining area above our bed, moved the two Alicia LaChance's from above our bed to the kids play area, and moved the large Alicia LaChance above our living room sofa. Whew! Andy was busy with his drill, hammer, and nails.
6. I re-discovered these three little paintings of monster/alien/creatures in jars that my parents bought for R last year- those are now hanging in their room. I hope that surrounding kids with art makes them appreciate art, because they now have 15 original art pieces in their room.
7. I pulled a couple pillow covers out of storage (I could probably operate a store out of our storage units) the added some decorative pillows and moved some around between the two sofas.
8. I hung my last year's signed art fair print by Jodi Perry in our bedroom.
9. We have a beautifully unique Aaron Hequembourg that came out of hiding (read: storage) and now hangs in the living room.
10. I pulled out some Nathan Falter pottery that I'm hoping to use as a succulent container.
11. I'm in the market for an indoor tree that needs limited sunlight to break up a void between the living room and kitchen.
2. My large, beautiful cockatoo from the Biltmore came out of hibernation back to her perch in my kitchen where she belongs
3. A new succulent that is huge and lovely-colored and architecturally-beautiful now rests on the low bookshelf in the sunlight
4. Summer clothes in, winter clothes out
5. We have swapped some art around and pulled some art out of storage...moved the Mark Hoffman painting from the living room to the dining area, put the wooden pieces from the dining area above our bed, moved the two Alicia LaChance's from above our bed to the kids play area, and moved the large Alicia LaChance above our living room sofa. Whew! Andy was busy with his drill, hammer, and nails.
6. I re-discovered these three little paintings of monster/alien/creatures in jars that my parents bought for R last year- those are now hanging in their room. I hope that surrounding kids with art makes them appreciate art, because they now have 15 original art pieces in their room.
7. I pulled a couple pillow covers out of storage (I could probably operate a store out of our storage units) the added some decorative pillows and moved some around between the two sofas.
8. I hung my last year's signed art fair print by Jodi Perry in our bedroom.
9. We have a beautifully unique Aaron Hequembourg that came out of hiding (read: storage) and now hangs in the living room.
10. I pulled out some Nathan Falter pottery that I'm hoping to use as a succulent container.
11. I'm in the market for an indoor tree that needs limited sunlight to break up a void between the living room and kitchen.
Tuesday
Woody Guthrie's New Year's 1942 Resolutions, Or "Rulins"
1. Work more and better
2. Work by a schedule
3. Wash teeth if any
4. Shave
5. Take bath
6. Eat good- fruits- vegetables- milk
7. Drink very scant if any
8. Write a song a day
9. Wear clean clothes- look good
10. Shine shoes
11. Change socks
12. Change bed clothes often
13. Read lots of good books
14. Listen to radio a lot
15. Learn people better
16. Keep rancho clean
17. Don't get lonesome
18. Stay glad
19. Keep hoping machine running
20. Dream good
21. Bank all extra money
22. Save dough
23. Have company but don't waste time
24. Send Mary and kids money
25. Play and sing good
26. Dance better
27. Help win war- beat fascism
28. Love mama
29. Love papa
30. Love Pete
31. Love everybody
32. Make up your mind
33. Wake up and fight
*source HERE
2. Work by a schedule
3. Wash teeth if any
4. Shave
5. Take bath
6. Eat good- fruits- vegetables- milk
7. Drink very scant if any
8. Write a song a day
9. Wear clean clothes- look good
10. Shine shoes
11. Change socks
12. Change bed clothes often
13. Read lots of good books
14. Listen to radio a lot
15. Learn people better
16. Keep rancho clean
17. Don't get lonesome
18. Stay glad
19. Keep hoping machine running
20. Dream good
21. Bank all extra money
22. Save dough
23. Have company but don't waste time
24. Send Mary and kids money
25. Play and sing good
26. Dance better
27. Help win war- beat fascism
28. Love mama
29. Love papa
30. Love Pete
31. Love everybody
32. Make up your mind
33. Wake up and fight
*source HERE
Monday
Kitchen Things I Want
1. A microplane zester
2. Donut baking pan
3. Springform pan
4. A pretty casserole pan
5. A garlic press
6. A Vitamix blender
7. Another DoughMakers loaf pan
8. A grain mill attachment for my KitchenAid mixer
9. More cute, cloth napkins
10. More of these
11. A trifle bowl
12. A faucet-mounted water filter
13. A cast-iron skillet
14. More of these because I use them for everything
15. Cute popsicle molds
16. One of those big mesh strainer spoons
17. A new tablecloth
18. A windowsill herb collection
19. A tree of sorts to stand at the end of our counter by the fish tank
2. Donut baking pan
3. Springform pan
4. A pretty casserole pan
5. A garlic press
6. A Vitamix blender
7. Another DoughMakers loaf pan
8. A grain mill attachment for my KitchenAid mixer
9. More cute, cloth napkins
10. More of these
11. A trifle bowl
12. A faucet-mounted water filter
13. A cast-iron skillet
14. More of these because I use them for everything
15. Cute popsicle molds
16. One of those big mesh strainer spoons
17. A new tablecloth
18. A windowsill herb collection
19. A tree of sorts to stand at the end of our counter by the fish tank
Sunday
What I Do To Take A Load Off
1. Walk the art museum and bring something to write with
2. Run (not really. I should say this, but I'm not there yet. Maybe soon? Right now its still torturous)
3. Listen to one of my friend Scott's sermons
4. Bake cookies
5. Get in my bed, under the covers, and watch something on TV
6. Yoga
7. Listen to music on headphones while the kids are sleeping
8. Soak in the tub
9. Pray
10. Go get a drink with a friend
11. Go on a walk and get some fresh air and sunshine
12. Eat an orange- those things always make me feel better
2. Run (not really. I should say this, but I'm not there yet. Maybe soon? Right now its still torturous)
3. Listen to one of my friend Scott's sermons
4. Bake cookies
5. Get in my bed, under the covers, and watch something on TV
6. Yoga
7. Listen to music on headphones while the kids are sleeping
8. Soak in the tub
9. Pray
10. Go get a drink with a friend
11. Go on a walk and get some fresh air and sunshine
12. Eat an orange- those things always make me feel better
Saturday
How I Attempt To Foster Friendship Between My Toddler Children
1. I try to brainwash them by saying at least 25 times/day, "Your brother is your BEST friend" and "Your sister is your BEST friend."
2. I want them to always root for each other, so I am constantly modeling encouragement and then praising it when I overhear them encouraging one another. Modeling is so important for kids. They have to be shown what to say in situations.
3. When the inevitable scary point of the Disney movie comes up, instead of rushing to W's side (she's more affected that he is) to comfort her, I tell her to hold her brother's hand so he can make her safe.
4. I encourage her to "read" books to him.
5. If they are playing happily together, I never, ever interrupt them. Even if they are making a huge mess or jumping on the furniture or sticking a billion stickers on each other. I can always clean up later, but I can't force them to enjoy one another.
6. I bathe them together, they sit by each other at the table, they share a room, they hold hands when we cross the street...together, together, together.
7. I model empathy between them so that they can learn to have it on their own.
8. I teach them fun, imaginative play games they can play together without me, like camping out, princess and knight, animal rescuers, fort building, restaurant, and mommy and daddy.
9. I remind W when they are in conflict that one of her jobs as a big sister right now is showing her brother God's love.
10. I'm teaching them to help each other and rely on each other, like W putting on R's clothes, R holding the elevator for W, wiping each other's faces, etc.
11. I don't set them up to be competitive towards each other.
*I would love to hear your ideas on the matter! This is something important to me.
Friday
This Weekend
1. I am going to work on some little decorative changes at our house
2. If the weather cooperates, I want to go do the paddleboats at Forest Park.
3. I have an art fair dinner Saturday night with committee chairs, board members, and jurors that I'm looking forward to.
4. While my husband goes on his long bike ride, I'm going to walk the kids down to the Arch for some good ole river watching, if it doesn't rain.
5. Banana bread baking
6. Granola making
7. Roasting garbanzo beans
8. I'm going to start reading a new book, Serena
9. I expect several rounds of Disney Princess Yahtzee Jr.
2. If the weather cooperates, I want to go do the paddleboats at Forest Park.
3. I have an art fair dinner Saturday night with committee chairs, board members, and jurors that I'm looking forward to.
4. While my husband goes on his long bike ride, I'm going to walk the kids down to the Arch for some good ole river watching, if it doesn't rain.
5. Banana bread baking
6. Granola making
7. Roasting garbanzo beans
8. I'm going to start reading a new book, Serena
9. I expect several rounds of Disney Princess Yahtzee Jr.
Thursday
The Kids And I Were Like Tourists At Union Station Today
1. We bought a t-shirt at the Cardinals Clubhouse
2. We dropped pennies in the whirling wishing well
3. We fed the fish in the big koi lake
4. We walked over the bridge outside
5. We had lunch at Einstein Bros. Bagels
6. They posed for photos in front of the mermaid fountain
7. We bought a slab of fudge at The Fudgery
2. We dropped pennies in the whirling wishing well
3. We fed the fish in the big koi lake
4. We walked over the bridge outside
5. We had lunch at Einstein Bros. Bagels
6. They posed for photos in front of the mermaid fountain
7. We bought a slab of fudge at The Fudgery
Wednesday
Internet Window Shopping
1. I love a popover top
2. I have to get a white totem
3. Cute skirt
4. Cool clutch
5. Nice everyday tank
6. A pretty maxi dress
7. Every year I want to buy a cute cover-up like this, but never do
8. I wish we had a yard for this- too cute
9. Lovely sandals
10. Pillow Love
11. I'll take the tank and the pants
12. THIS would have been perfect for our loft swing
13. Pretty dress
2. I have to get a white totem
3. Cute skirt
4. Cool clutch
5. Nice everyday tank
6. A pretty maxi dress
7. Every year I want to buy a cute cover-up like this, but never do
8. I wish we had a yard for this- too cute
9. Lovely sandals
10. Pillow Love
11. I'll take the tank and the pants
12. THIS would have been perfect for our loft swing
13. Pretty dress
Tuesday
What's Cooking This Morning
1. Quinoa (double batch)
2. Chickpea Salad (where I make chicken salad, but sub chickpeas instead of chicken and use Veganaise instead of mayo)
3. "Cheezy" Sauce from Veganomicon
4. No-bake cookies, a childhood favorite
5. Brown lentils in my rice cooker
6. Adzuki beans (a small batch to finish out the Mason jar they were store in)
7. Cinnamon-topped oatmeal muffins (a Penzey's recipe)
2. Chickpea Salad (where I make chicken salad, but sub chickpeas instead of chicken and use Veganaise instead of mayo)
3. "Cheezy" Sauce from Veganomicon
4. No-bake cookies, a childhood favorite
5. Brown lentils in my rice cooker
6. Adzuki beans (a small batch to finish out the Mason jar they were store in)
7. Cinnamon-topped oatmeal muffins (a Penzey's recipe)
Monday
If I Could Leave On Vacation Right Now, I'd Love To Go To
1. Asheville. Always Asheville. If only my parents had picked me up on their way there this week!
2. Napa Valley with Missy. Or Italy.
3. Seattle/Portland/Vancouver with my husband
4. DisneyWorld with the kids
5. A cruise with my gal pals
6. New York or Chicago with my sisters
2. Napa Valley with Missy. Or Italy.
3. Seattle/Portland/Vancouver with my husband
4. DisneyWorld with the kids
5. A cruise with my gal pals
6. New York or Chicago with my sisters
Sunday
R's Easter Basket
1. A Cars car, "Finn McMissile"
2. The last horse and man that he loves- this guy completes his set
3. A Mickey Mouse Pez dispenser
4. A Curious George movie
5. Eggs for hiding
6. Candy from Oh Lolli Lolli, the cutest little candy store in Demun (gummy bears, Smarties, and raspberry yogurt covered pretzels)
7. A Sesame Street notepad and stickers
8. Peanut M&Ms because they are his favorite
9. A note from his momma and dad
2. The last horse and man that he loves- this guy completes his set
3. A Mickey Mouse Pez dispenser
4. A Curious George movie
5. Eggs for hiding
6. Candy from Oh Lolli Lolli, the cutest little candy store in Demun (gummy bears, Smarties, and raspberry yogurt covered pretzels)
7. A Sesame Street notepad and stickers
8. Peanut M&Ms because they are his favorite
9. A note from his momma and dad
Saturday
My Birthday
1. I spent the morning at my daughter's school because it was her birthday star day
2. On the night of my actual birthday, I went to dinner at El Maguey and a 31 party with Missy
3. My birthday is less important because the next day is my daughter's birthday, and we had a amazingly fun, but exhausting day of celebrating her.
4. We celebrated my birthday on Friday night with our friends Josh & Missy and Rick & Lauren.
5. We started the evening with drinks at BrickTop's- I had a blood orange martini that was so good
6. Dinner at Paul Manno's is always a special treat. I had a few bites of Lauren's fried eggplant caprese salad and a vodka cream sauce penne dish that was a rich and delicious.
7. I was gifted a necklace from Anthropologie from my big sister, a shopping trip a couple weeks ago with my parents, and a coat from my husband. And a stack of homemade cards from my children.
2. On the night of my actual birthday, I went to dinner at El Maguey and a 31 party with Missy
3. My birthday is less important because the next day is my daughter's birthday, and we had a amazingly fun, but exhausting day of celebrating her.
4. We celebrated my birthday on Friday night with our friends Josh & Missy and Rick & Lauren.
5. We started the evening with drinks at BrickTop's- I had a blood orange martini that was so good
6. Dinner at Paul Manno's is always a special treat. I had a few bites of Lauren's fried eggplant caprese salad and a vodka cream sauce penne dish that was a rich and delicious.
7. I was gifted a necklace from Anthropologie from my big sister, a shopping trip a couple weeks ago with my parents, and a coat from my husband. And a stack of homemade cards from my children.
Wednesday
10 Things (On My Birthday, But Not At All Related To My Birthday)
1. Potty-training day 2 was such a disaster that I am not even attempting a day 3. Or a day 4 or 5. I might pick it back up on day 6 when it is the weekend.
2. Right now, the kids are playing...W hides a play-food carrot and R pretends he's a dog and tries to find it.
3. I tried watching both Smash and Awake, but neither of them are holding my attention.
4. I've been a little emotionally overwhelmed by a friend's blog post and the loss of a sweet little girl in Conway. Life sucks really bad sometimes.
5. I think that the LouFest lineup this year sounds promising.
6. My little sister left me the most painfully awkward, yet gloriously hilarious voicemail yesterday. Saving it forever.
7. I could really go for some of those Trader Joes Cat Cookies and a glass of dark chocolate almond milk right now.
8. I'm really excited to be spending a few days at my aunt and uncle's house in Willow Springs at the end of the month.
9. I couldn't be happier with these unusually early warm temperatures.
10. Buying things for and assembling Easter baskets for W and R gives me great joy.
2. Right now, the kids are playing...W hides a play-food carrot and R pretends he's a dog and tries to find it.
3. I tried watching both Smash and Awake, but neither of them are holding my attention.
4. I've been a little emotionally overwhelmed by a friend's blog post and the loss of a sweet little girl in Conway. Life sucks really bad sometimes.
5. I think that the LouFest lineup this year sounds promising.
6. My little sister left me the most painfully awkward, yet gloriously hilarious voicemail yesterday. Saving it forever.
7. I could really go for some of those Trader Joes Cat Cookies and a glass of dark chocolate almond milk right now.
8. I'm really excited to be spending a few days at my aunt and uncle's house in Willow Springs at the end of the month.
9. I couldn't be happier with these unusually early warm temperatures.
10. Buying things for and assembling Easter baskets for W and R gives me great joy.
Tuesday
Today's To-Do List
1. Run one mile
2. Finish hanging summer clothes
3. Switch out winter and summer shoes
4. Bake cookies with the kids
5. Buy W's school birthday snack
6. Clean the floors
7. Haircut at 7:00
8. Shop for the kids' Easter baskets
2. Finish hanging summer clothes
3. Switch out winter and summer shoes
4. Bake cookies with the kids
5. Buy W's school birthday snack
6. Clean the floors
7. Haircut at 7:00
8. Shop for the kids' Easter baskets
Monday
I'm A Sucker For...
1. Historical documentaries, ones about WWII, the wild West, the Civil War...I like them all
2. Fruity desserts
3. Clothing with the word "boyfriend" in it
4. Fried pickles
5. A good red lipstick
6. Veggie sandwiches and sweet potato fries at restaurants
7. Snakeskin (preferably faux)
8. Legally Blond on TV
9. A twirly skirt
10. Pie
11. A water park
12. My son saying, "Plllleeeaassee!"
2. Fruity desserts
3. Clothing with the word "boyfriend" in it
4. Fried pickles
5. A good red lipstick
6. Veggie sandwiches and sweet potato fries at restaurants
7. Snakeskin (preferably faux)
8. Legally Blond on TV
9. A twirly skirt
10. Pie
11. A water park
12. My son saying, "Plllleeeaassee!"
Friday
Books My Dad Loaned Me
1. The Big Sky- A.B. Guthrie, Jr.
2. Jubal Sackett- Louis L'Amour
3. Sons of Texas- Elmer Kelton
4. Sin Killer- Larry McMurtry
5. Beyond The Stars- David William Ross
2. Jubal Sackett- Louis L'Amour
3. Sons of Texas- Elmer Kelton
4. Sin Killer- Larry McMurtry
5. Beyond The Stars- David William Ross
Thursday
My Favorite Places In St. Louis
1. The St. Louis Art Museum
2. Bowood Gardens
3. The Penguin and Puffin Coast at the zoo
4. Government Hill area of Forest Park
5. Fitz's
6. Demun
7. The Kemper Home Gardening building in the Botanical Gardens
8. The City Museum
9. The patio at McGurk's
10. Outside at Rosalita's
11. ArtMart
12. Downtown Clayton
2. Bowood Gardens
3. The Penguin and Puffin Coast at the zoo
4. Government Hill area of Forest Park
5. Fitz's
6. Demun
7. The Kemper Home Gardening building in the Botanical Gardens
8. The City Museum
9. The patio at McGurk's
10. Outside at Rosalita's
11. ArtMart
12. Downtown Clayton
Wednesday
What I Need For A Good Road Trip
1. DVD player for the kids
2. Travel-perfect snacks (nuts, squeezies, cheese sticks, cereal bars, fruit, carrot sticks)
3. A clean and organized car
4. Fun bags for the kids (coloring books, tablets, stickers, markers, LeapFrogs, Hot Wheels, books, flash cards, etc)
5. Good music, podcasts, sermons, and earbuds for me
6. Spaced-out pit stops
7. Sunglasses
8. Pack of wipes and tissues
9. Sonic cherry-vanilla-Dr. Pepper
10. Cozy clothes
11. A loose schedule (i.e.- naps, movie, snacks, fun bags, movie, lunch) If you don't have one, you cram everything at the beginning and have a long time of nothing to look forward to
2. Travel-perfect snacks (nuts, squeezies, cheese sticks, cereal bars, fruit, carrot sticks)
3. A clean and organized car
4. Fun bags for the kids (coloring books, tablets, stickers, markers, LeapFrogs, Hot Wheels, books, flash cards, etc)
5. Good music, podcasts, sermons, and earbuds for me
6. Spaced-out pit stops
7. Sunglasses
8. Pack of wipes and tissues
9. Sonic cherry-vanilla-Dr. Pepper
10. Cozy clothes
11. A loose schedule (i.e.- naps, movie, snacks, fun bags, movie, lunch) If you don't have one, you cram everything at the beginning and have a long time of nothing to look forward to
Tuesday
The Ridiculous Amount Of Eating Out We Did While My Parents Were In Town
1. Supper at Chevy's- I had black bean and pepper jack nachos with guacamole and a raspberry iced tea
2. Lunch at Fitz's- Fried pickles aplenty (their's are the best I've ever had), a veggie burger and fries, and a root beer
3. Supper at McGurk's (just my husband and I before The Head and The Heart show)- I ate spinach and artichoke toasted ravioli and a Magner's Cider
4. Lunch at California Pizza Kitchen- I had a Pear and Gorgonzola pizza and raspberry lemonade
5. Supper at Farotto's- I had Red Pesto Tortellini and Sprite
6. Lunch at The Cheesecake Factory- We shared fried artichokes and I had water and a pear, caramelized onion, arugula, and pecan flatbread
2. Lunch at Fitz's- Fried pickles aplenty (their's are the best I've ever had), a veggie burger and fries, and a root beer
3. Supper at McGurk's (just my husband and I before The Head and The Heart show)- I ate spinach and artichoke toasted ravioli and a Magner's Cider
4. Lunch at California Pizza Kitchen- I had a Pear and Gorgonzola pizza and raspberry lemonade
5. Supper at Farotto's- I had Red Pesto Tortellini and Sprite
6. Lunch at The Cheesecake Factory- We shared fried artichokes and I had water and a pear, caramelized onion, arugula, and pecan flatbread
Saturday
Today
1. Woke up early
2. Went to the old lady 10:00 matinee to see Hunger Games with Mis
3. Spent a couple/few hours at her house and left reeking of bacon
4. Returned some items at Bed Bath & Beyond
5. Came home, ate a bowl of cereal, and cleaned up the house
6. My parents came (!) and are staying in STL for a few days
7. We went to dinner at Chevys for a little texmexicana
8. Back to my house while the husband goes out
9. I'm going to watch The Searchers and eat an apple under covers
2. Went to the old lady 10:00 matinee to see Hunger Games with Mis
3. Spent a couple/few hours at her house and left reeking of bacon
4. Returned some items at Bed Bath & Beyond
5. Came home, ate a bowl of cereal, and cleaned up the house
6. My parents came (!) and are staying in STL for a few days
7. We went to dinner at Chevys for a little texmexicana
8. Back to my house while the husband goes out
9. I'm going to watch The Searchers and eat an apple under covers
Friday
W's Birthday Plans
1. Breakfast at First Watch with her friend Eden
2. Mani-Pedis with Lucy
3. Lunch at Crown Candy with Eric
4. Ears pierced (if she doesn't chicken out) and a snack with Sonya
5. Pizza and cake party at our house with Albert and his family and Stephen
2. Mani-Pedis with Lucy
3. Lunch at Crown Candy with Eric
4. Ears pierced (if she doesn't chicken out) and a snack with Sonya
5. Pizza and cake party at our house with Albert and his family and Stephen
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