Tuesday

It is January 12th, a Tuesday...


I am thinking...about my day yesterday. It was day 1 at my new job with the state. I had a good day. I have an office and desk and cruddy chair. I filled out LOTS of paperwork. I was told I exceeded her expectations in how fast I completed said paperwork. I met so many people that I do not remember who is who. I got a general sense of the office and learned the code to get into the bathroom by heart. Not bad for day #1!

I am thankful for...answers to prayers. I have been worried about how Jack will get to school in the rain, right? Well I found out yesterday that my only option besides 8-5 is 8:30-5 with a 1/2 hour lunch. So, with that schedule I can drop him off by the school and he will just walk to the shade structure to wait the 10-15 minutes before he can go to his classroom. He won't have to walk the whole way in the rain. It isn't a perfect solution, but it is certainly do-able.

Today in the kitchen... my honey will be making taco's. Last night we had yummy pork chops that he made (for the first time, just dipping them in flour with salt, pepper and bbq seasoning before lightly frying them) for us.

I am going... to the grocery store to get tortilla's as soon as I finish this post... forgot them on shopping day.

I am reading... The 19th Wife, but almost finished now!

I am hoping... that the commute is just as easy today as yesterday, even though my times are 1/2 hour later.

Going on around me... Steven is eating breakfast and Jackson is upstairs watching tv.. dogs are walking around.

One of my favorite things... enjoying my coffee from my new Keurig coffee maker. Cappacino flavor made perfect each time with vanilla creamer. Plus I am getting to enjoy it this morning while having 1 on 1 time with my oldest kiddo -love it!

A picture thought I am sharing...

For Jonathan's birthday Steven got him the leg lamp from The Christmas Story. He found it at a garage sale this summer, unopened and in the box. He was so excited to have it for his dad. I really didn't expect Jonathan to be as sincerely excited about it as he was... prepping him that Steven found something related to something he liked and he really thought his dad would like it.... totally unnecessary on my part since it was a huge hit as a gift!

Menu Plan Monday 2010!

My first Menu plan Monday of the new year! A great feeling to be sure. Last week we played everything by ear with our menu as I was preparing to start work this week and cooking meals that would be able to make an extra to freeze.

Monday -pork chops, mac & cheese and a veggie
Tuesday - taco's (cook extra meat) and salad
Wednesday - Spaghetti with homemade meat sauce (already made & in freezer), salad
Thursday - Shepards Pie (made with extra meat on Tuesday)
Friday- chili in the crock pot, cornbread
Saturday- turkey pot pie, veggies
Sunday- pork roast, mashed potatoes, corn

Well.. it's Monday! I am up, showered and enjoying my first cup of coffee. I have woken Jackson and will be waking Steven as soon as I am done with this post. Lunches are made and dinner items are in the fridge. 45 minutes from now I leave for work. That seems so odd to type. I am looking forward to a great day!

It is Sunday, January 10th...

I am thinking... that I am filled with sadness. I am missing a good friend who I guess isn't my friend anymore -I have no idea why. We hadn't spoken in several months -I stopped calling her because the calls seemed to have gotten one sided, and I thought I would let her make the next call. Fast forward 4 months -no calls and the couple times I saw her at school, very cold response to my hello. I tried to approach her via email and the words she wrote, though innocuous, stung. A couple back and forth and it was obvious to me that she doesn't consider us friends anymore. That makes me sad because I miss her and thought we had a friendship that would last. I'm not going to dwell or wonder, I cannot change anything but myself, but I am still feeling the loss.

Today in the kitchen... making chicken & dumplings -a big pot so we can have them tonight and another night later this week.

I am going... into the first week of my new job. Because of furlough Fridays -I am working 4 days this week and looking forward to it I think.

I am reading... still the 19th Wife, which is quite compelling. It is a mixed book, some chapters are part of the story written in 1892 by Ann Eliza Young and other chapters are contemporary.

I am hoping... to figure out a way to get Jackson to school on rainy days, since I have to leave before he does.

I am hearing... the sound of football on tv & a dog chewing on his rawhide.

One of my favorite things... writing. It really helps me get my thoughts out of my head and clears my mind, which is a blessing to be sure.

Some plans for the rest of the week: I'll be working!
A picture thought I am sharing...





This picture was taken on my birthday last month. We had just finished dinner at the casino and stopped on the way out -snapped this with my phone, not great quality but a wonderful memory. This is what it is all about, why my husband and I do everything we do - to make a life for our family -our kids.

Last day....

It is Friday, January 8th...

I am thinking... that it is my last weekday of being a stay at home mom. I am filled with emotions, all kinds of emotions about the change. I resolve to take time for us to adjust, to be patient during the changes and to be open minded about the opportunity. I am excited about being in a social environment where I can excel, be challenged and get paid. I am concerned about the time I will miss with my boys and losing the quiet, personal interactions I have with them after school. I am confident that I will actually get more done as I seem to thrive on being busy... and around and around my emotions go.

I am thankful for... all the support I have received from my friends as I get ready to make the jump to full time working mom.

Today in the kitchen... there is cleaning and organizing going on

I am going... to go grocery shopping today

I am hoping... for a productive, great day.

I am hearing... ESPN news -Steven left the tv on downstairs.

One of my favorite things... Fridays! I love the beginning of weekends. To me it means time to spend at home with my family -togetherness rocks!
Some plans for the rest of the week: Helping Steven prepare his application for Jesuit High School! He spent yesterday there, shadowing his cousin Zack. He had a good time and really liked the environment and what he saw. He even liked the prayer and is "ok" with the dress code. So now we move to step #2 .... completing the application and getting recommendation forms to those that need to fill them out. Then on January 23rd -he takes the Placement test. On February 20th we have our parent/student interviews. On March 19th they mail the letters. So it will be a journey and we will have to wait and see what happens. We ask that if you are a prayerful person -you say one for him as he goes about this process that could be life changing.

A picture thought I am sharing... My honey and me on Christmas Eve. I am so blessed to have him in my life.

Christmas Celebration

Two of Jonathan's siblings were here for Christmas. Both Chris and Marisa joined the Army this year and are doing very well. We were blessed to be able to celebrate the holiday with them while they were home --plus their dad was home too! So we all got together at the parents house.

Our family picture...not much change over the days -but another view (this time with no heels)..

Marisa and her son Iain....

Everybody..

The boys... my kids really love spending time with their little cousin.


It was a nice way to spend the afternoon, catching up. It was too bad that the rest of the family was too far away.. they live in Colorado.. but we missed them!

Christmas 2009

I finally have the pictures from Christmas somewhat organized and so this is going to be a pretty heavy picture post for your enjoyment.

This years Christmas Eve gathering was a testament to the kids age -there was no rushing or frantic unwrapping. The gifts were handed out, one at a time, by the boys and we waited (for the most part) until that gift was unwrapped before the next was given. There was some advance handing -but the unwrapping waited until the person before them had finished. It was really nice and relaxing -which isn't how Christmas eve has always been. I forgot my camera -so these pictures were taken with my moms new camera -and neither of us had yet read the instructions -so they aren't the best ever, but they do contain great memories and I am glad we have them, spots and all.

So, here's how our Christmas Eve at my parents works... we all get there in the mid-late afternoon. Time usually depends on whether Jonathan or Brian is working and what time they are sent home early. This year, we arrived about 2:30 after making a stop along the way for bread.

We gather, chat and play games. I participated in a lively game of The Christmas Game and also played Scrabble with my mom & Ciera. There were other games and movies on tv. We had dinner around 6 (I think so anyway -I don't wear a watch so I can't be sure). Dinner was fabulous -lasagna, sausage (mild & spicy), french bread and salad. After dinner we do clean-up, move the table of of the front room and the dishes get washed, food put away. Once that is done, we put the kettle on for coffee/tea and while waiting for it to boil -I gather the children to take the yearly cousin shot by the tree. My mom likes to have this picture and at a young age we made it a requirement before we start opening presents. I have to say -this was the hardest year to get a good picture! Ciera and Steven were totally cooperative, but the younger two made it take what seems like forever (and 13 takes).

In the end, we got this picture, which I think represents their personalities and attitudes quite accurately.


While trying to get Jack to cooperate, I got this lucky shot of Ciera and Logan -love it! She was trying to pose "on top of his head" and he was flinching away (notice the forward lean of his body).




I like to get a quick family shot too -just for memories... just know I was wearing 2.5 inch heels in this picture.



Here is a shot of Brian's family too.

Then we opened presents... here is Jackson opening his new Converse shoes from G*ma and Papa with Logan looking on. I love that the two of them are still so close and they really paid attention to one another as they opened their gifts this year.



I don't really know what was happening
here -but I love that I captured the
interaction between Logan and
his uncle.



Logan got his first Titans jersey from G*ma & Papa ... like father like son? Since my brother is often seen sporting this jersey, it was so neat to see Logan following in his footsteps so to speak. In fact, that night at dinner it was explained to us that this is the most expensive and therefore nicest shirt Brian owns -so it is the one he wears to dress up.


The view on the other side of the room from me.. this is how we always sit I think.. my dad on the stairs, mom by the step, kids near them and everyone else scattered around the room. I like that some things never change, routine is comforting for me.



Jackson loves sock monkeys. He has for a long time. This is a sock monkey bookmark from Barnes & Noble my mom got him -how cool is that?

I love this pose Steven had while opening his gift.. so relaxed and mellow, just kicking back -that is so him!





So there you have our Christmas Eve in pictures... it was a great year!

Happy 2010!

It is Monday, January 4, 2010!...

I am thinking... about the fact that this time next week I'll be at work. I accepted a job with the State of California and should start next Monday. They are just waiting for my background check to be completed, which was delayed with the holidays. Wow. The changes this will bring to our lives are many.

I am thankful for...the fresh start a new year brings. The feeling of a new beginning is always comforting to me -like the first page of a new notebook. I love it!

Today in the kitchen... I am making spaghetti sauce for dinner and some to freeze for meals later this month. I am using my new HUGE stockpot and so I can make a big batch! Yesterday I cooked a turkey and bagged up the leftovers to freeze for hot turkey sandwiches and potpies later in the month too. I am participating in a Freezer Challenge -using just what we have for this month -buying only fresh fruits, veggies and milk/bread... this will hopefully clear some space in our freezers for the meals I am making ahead.

I am going... crazy with decluttering my house! I have loaded the back of my van with stuff to go to Goodwill -will drop it off around lunchtime and then come home and continue going thru everything. Nothing is safe!

I am reading... The Nineteenth Wife

I am hoping... that Steven enjoys his visit to Jesuit High School later this week. He will be shadowing his cousin and attending classes with him. I know in my heart that this school is a good fit for him and should he decide he wants to go there, he will. Private school is expensive -but so worth it. I know that in the end if it is right for him to be there, God will show us the way to make it happen.

I am hearing... the sound of silence -so nice after having everyone home for a week.

One of my favorite things... blogging. I have felt the loss of it these last few months. Sometimes it is hard to blog when there are things in my mind that aren't ready to be shared, so I don't write. But I love writing and the routine of it. I have to get over the "I'll blog once I upload the pictures" or "I'll blog later" and just write what I am thinking when I think it. So you may see a few more of these template posts before I get back into my blogging groove.. but at least you'll see something.

Some plans for the rest of the week: just working around the house, getting things organized before I head back to work.

A picture thought I am sharing..

I love these boys! Steven is now 13 and Jackson is 10 1/2 years old and it seems like just yesterday they were babies. The time has flown by... there is no way that my kid needs to tour high schools -he can't be old enough. Yet, somehow he is. Time is precious and fleeting. I am enjoying every day with them and am know we are so blessed by having them in our lives.