Feeling Hopeful

So this weekend just kind of happened. We spent lots of time at home, together doing something, but I am not too sure what. Friday night the kids had a sleepover at their friends house and Jonathan and I saw Revolutionary Road. I really liked it! A great movie with lot's of subtext. Then Saturday I had a Red Hat game day with my mom. Sunday was mostly baseball practice for Steven. Monday the boys had off from school and I took them (plus 3 others) to see Paul Blart, Mall Cop. It was a predictable movie, but there were some laughs in there. The boys all loved it and I enjoyed spending time with them and their friends.

Today was a busy day. I had places to be, things to do and little time in between. This bothered me. Mainly because I REALLY wanted to stay home and watch the Inauguration coverage on tv. So when I realized I had committed to these other appointments for today, I broke down and tivo'd the coverage.

My day started out ok. I was awake early as I went to bed early with a migraine.. so by 6 a.m. I had had enough sleep. I got up, showered and ready for my day. I took my vitamin after I brushed my teeth, before my shower. Got downstairs, made lunches, talked to Steven, made coffee and checked my email. Before I knew it, Steven was gone to school, Jackson was up and ready and it was time to go! My plan for today included dropping Jackson off right at 8:15 a.m. so I could get the dogs to the park for a run before I had to be at his school to work in his class. So we dropped him off (8:20, but pretty close for us) and the dogs and I headed to the park. They get so excited as we get closer, they know the way! We pulled into the parking lot and the gosh durn dog park is closed! Apparently it is closed every Tuesday until 10 a.m., which I don't realize because on Tuesdays I work in Jack's class from when school starts (8:30) until about 10 -so I never get to the dog park that early. Arrrrghh. So the dogs go crazy when I turn around and drive home -they can hardly believe what I am doing. They are obviously mad at me - I can see it in their eyes.

I walk them around the block (small consolation) and take them back inside. At that point I realize that my stomach is queasy. I think maybe I should eat, but the smell of food makes me more queasy. I finally decide to choke down some oatmeal and banana and I make it through about half before I just can't eat anything else. So I head to the school. I worked in class for about 45 minutes, then met my friends to head to the Book Fair Workshop.

After explaining how I feel -my friend tells me that I should already know NEVER to take a huge multi-vitamin on an empty stomach. How am I supposed to know this I ask? She isn't sure, but says she bets I'll never do it again! She is right. I was finally un-queasy about noon.

So we make it through the workshop then go to eat lunch. We stop at Logan's Roadhouse -where the food is excellent, but the service is less than great. I have no idea what the food translates to in WW points, so I opt for a hamburger (no cheese or sauce) and eat it minus the bun. Come to find out later -still like 16 points (I get 28 in a day and the oatmeal was 4).

I get home just in time for Steven to get home from school. He gets a snack, we chat about his day and his contacts. See, yesterday he tried to put in new contacts (he has 30 day disposables) but couldn't get them in in the time he had. So when I was headed to be, I stopped to turn the bathroom light off and I saw his contact case was closed, the new contact containers were both open -with contacts in them. After cursing him, I emptied the case, dumped the contacts in the trash, cleaned the case, moved the contacts from the new container into the case and went to bed making a mental note about talking with him again about the cost of contacts, taking care of them, etc. So today we talk about them and it turns out I threw away his NEW contacts. He was being responsible, he put the new ones in the case, but was unsure of what to do with the old ones so he put them in the containers he had just taken the old ones out of... So now whose feels stupid? If you guess me, then you'd be right.

After 30 minutes, we jumped in the car to head to the orthodontist. Jack wasn't home so we drove along his walking route and picked him up. I was worried about the ortho appointment as our insurance changed 1-1-09 and I was afraid we might have to switch since they weren't on the list for our new company. Turns out everything is hunkey dory there. They take that coverage and it's out of network -so they pay 50% up to $1,000 paid instead of 80% up to $1,000 paid. Since that $1,000 is over a lifetime (not per year) and the braces are like $4,000 -I am guessing it won't make too big of a difference..they'll still pay $1000 total. This was excellent news as I already had to find us all new dentists -ours do not accept our new insurance at all. Steven and I get to see the new dentist on Friday actually, so we are hoping that goes well. So as for the ortho -both kids are fine for now and he'll see them again in July. Steven is just about ready to start with braces, maybe in July, we'll have to see. Jackson is still missing 6 permanent teeth (4 on the bottom and 2 on top) -they are still not on the x-rays, but he said the others are growing in pretty well spaced and he may not end up needing implants -but we won't know for sure until he's about 13.

So I was finally home about 4 and we had pizza and watched Inauguration coverage from earlier. Jackson had karate at 6:30 -so he and I were off again, home at 7:45. I have been watching the coverage since then and turned it off after the Obama's left the final ball of the night.

I enjoyed watching them interact and dance at the balls. I like that they really seem like a couple in love, as opposed to 2 robots. I love the way Obama speaks and listening to the language and his words. I will say that after watching the coverage, I feel hopeful. I believe this is the beginning and there are good things to come. I haven't felt that way for a long time. I like the feeling of hope. All light and air and positive energy.

I feel that I discounted Obama early on because his lack of experience frightened me. Now I am a bit regretful that I didn't open my eyes to the possibilities he offered because of that. There isn't often that I wish I knew more about politics or politicians, but he is one that intrigues me. I am going to read his books and see what they say. I am looking forward to reading them -I finally got the call that it's my turn -the library is holding them for me to pick up this week.

Another week comes to an end...

We haven't done a whole lot this week that is exciting... which makes it hard to blog sometimes. I keep waiting for something exciting to say, and I got nothing. So I have been busy with work this week and haven't gotten alot of other things done. I lack the motivation to really finish any of the projects I start. I am chalking it up to the fact that it has been 65-67 degrees here and all I want to do is sit outside and read a book. It is warmer outside than it is in my house (still haven't solved the puzzle that is our heating system) and the beautiful weather beckons me. I have spent a couple hours at the dog park, walking and watching the dogs.

I have made it to Curves to work out 3 days this week. I walked at the dog park for at least 1/2 hour 4 days this week. I haven't watched much tv --so it seems I should have something done or to show for my time -but I just don't.

Yesterday I took Jackson to the dr. after school. He has been having headaches and seems to always have a stuffy nose. She said that he has very little room in there and suggested we try Flonase daily to see if that will help clear him out. She also said it will help with spring allergies too. So I snapped a photo while we were waiting.. horrible lighting in those offices.

We have kept pretty much to our menu this week.. we did have pizza last night instead of meatloaf -it was a long day and when I got home from the dog park it was later than I thought and I was beat, didn't feel like cooking. So pizza did the trick and we had dinner.

Let's see, what else? Really, nothing is going on here. I wish there was more to say -but that's all I've got.

We have a quiet weekend planned --without many plans --and I am looking forward to it. Hope you all have a great weekend too!

Tuesday is shopping day!

Well, I completely missed Menu Monday... things were busy around here yesterday and I just didn't get to it. Sorry about that! Once the boys got home, Steven and I had to go get his glasses repaired (at the mall!, remind me to never buy something that might have to be repaired frequently at the mall ever again!) On the way out of JC Penney we saw some great clearance stuff! We picked up a Fedora for Jackson (who loves hats!) regularly $50.00 for $3.97 and a 2 pack Raiders sweatshirt and t-shirt for Steven regularly $68, $15!!! Both are items I looked at before Christmas and decided to wait on.. but we picked them up yesterday at those great prices!

Then Steven accompanied me to do the "needs" grocery shopping. Those are the items that I have to buy this week to make my menu, but that aren't on sale. So I pick them up at either Winco or Walmart (I alternate between the 2 stores -one every other week or so). I have started doing the needs part of my shopping on a 10 day rotation, instead of weekly -saves me 1 whole trip per month! Then I just hit the other stores for their great sales/loss leaders on a weekly (Tuesday) basis. To go to all 4 stores (if I had to, most weeks just 2) it takes me about an hour. I find it to be a challenge and I enjoy it, so it makes it worth it. Plus the money I save is well worth it. Of course Steven went with me so we ended up with a couple of extra items... bbq chips for lunches $2.50, cookie crisp cereal $2.86.. not too bad!

I had to let him get the Cookie Crisp. I can remember being a kid and living in Germany. We would see commercials for all kinds of cool foods and things, but we didn't get those things there. After a telephone call, my Gram sent Brian & I a big box. We were not sure why, it wasn't our birthdays or Christmas???? In in was Cookie Crisp, Captain Crunch and some kind of peanut butter cereal. Things we had wanted, but couldn't get there. It was better than Christmas! It is one of my clearest childhood memories...

So far this month we have spent $102.68 for groceries.. out of our $300 budget. That leaves $197.32 to spend and we are almost 1/2 way thru the month. Of course, today I will be stocking up on some meats that are a great price... so the money may go quicker than I think...

Our menu for this week:

Monday: Spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread
Tuesday: tacos, refried beans and salad
Wednesday: mac & cheese with hot dogs, peas (Jackson's meal choice! I'll be having soup)
Thursday: meatloaf, mashed potatoes, corn
Friday: BBQ pork in the crockpot, rice, green beans
Saturday: Homemade Pizza
Sunday: Baked Chicken, stuffing and peas

I will also be making a batch of Green Pepper Soup (Jack & my favorite!) and split pea soup for me to eat as lunches and him to have for snacks. The others don't eat much soup, but Jack and I love it!

Cotton Candy? Really?

Today was the annual Knights of Colombus Free Throw Contest. Steven has participated for the last couple of years (you have to be 10 to play). As we were driving toward the church we passed what appeared to be a man carrying a stick full of cotton candy. We giggled and wondered aloud where he could possibly be going on a residential street? A carnival at the nearby school perhaps? We parked and went inside, but they were finishing up their pancake breakfast and didn't have the basketball stuff ready, so we headed out to the front of the church and there he was.. standing on the street corner selling cotton candy. I am a softie -I bought 2. 1 for Jackson and 1 for me... which I haven't eaten yet (and probably won't)... but it was pink and fluffy and cold outside -I wanted the poor man to have sold something. I think maybe he was waiting for the end of the Spanish mass, he was gone when we left.

So Thursday was a busy day for me. I went scrapbooking with my friends in the morning, then stopped to pick up a few groceries on the way home. Boys got home, did homework and then Jackson had karate. They still haven't started their new kata's and he is anxious, so he came home and found the kata online to be printed so he could start working on it on his own.

Friday I went back to Curves. I was meeting my mother and she was headed to Curves first, so I figured, I should do that too. So I did she inspired me to just go. Then my mom and I went to breakfast at IHOP and talked. It's been a long time since we've had that quiet, relaxed time to have a conversation without interuption. Then we went to Michaels and walked around, talked about scrapbooking and crafting and happened into some great gifts we put away for next year. I got home, did a couple hours of work, took the dogs to the park and then the Steven was home. We talked for a few minutes, then I had to load Sammy up and go get Jack so we could head to dog training. We are going to training at PetSmart and were pleased to find out when we arrived that we are the ONLY people in the class. So for our class fee we are getting personal training. Jackson did a great job working with Sammy. Mary (the trainer) said Sammy is very smart, but wants to be dominant, which is a trait you see alot in shepards. So we have been working with him and we'll see where it gets us.

Saturday we spent most of the day at basketball games. Steven' has joined a team with a coach he has had for several years in rec ball. The travel team played 3 games.. they lost 2 and won 1, which isn't bad for their first tournament together with only 1 practice (that was joint practice, 5 teams on 1 court!). They were playing against other 7th grade teams ...several came from the Bay Area (1 hour+ away) and were very well put together. The final game where they won) found them much better matched -size wise and skill level. The frst 2 games were both against teams where the kids were big... Steven looked tiny compared to lots of the other players. So between the drives to the venues and the games it took most of the day -but he had fun.

Jackson headed to a friends house Friday night for a sleep-over. He called in the morning to see if it was ok for him to stay while we went to Steven's games ==so he managed to miss the first 2. The last games wasn't until 5:40 and he had to go with us to that one. They watched Wall-E which we haven't yet seen so Jackson's friend offered to loan it to us to watch as a family. We will have to do that this week.

What else? Not much I guess. I feel like I am still behind in cleaning and organizing, not sure I will ever be ahead though. I am working my way thru it a little at a time. I am looking forward to a slow week -without much planned. I need to get schedules done for work and keep on going with the organizing. Tomorrow I am heading to Curves right after I drop Jackson off, then to my WW meeting right after that. So I am hoping for a positive, encouraging morning!

A great giveaway!

I know I need to post an update as I haven't posted since Wednesday.... but as I am formulating that post, here is a post about a great give-away on another blog.

I love Erin's blog $5 Dinners. She is currently having a contest to give away one of these
Great designer lunch totes. I know many of you will enjoy her blog, and some may want to enter to win (I know I hope I win!!).



http://www.5dollardinners.com/2009/01/designer-lunch-tote-giveaway.html

I was thinking...

and trying to remember a time when I didn't have the computer and internet. It is hard to do -we started online right around the time we got married (1992) on the computer my parents bought us for our wedding present. Now hardly a day goes by that I don't "check" something or look at email.

Yesterday was one of those days.. Jackson was home again and didn't want me away from him. So we were downstairs together watching old Lost episodes most of the day. I did some laundry -but no computer time for me. I am constantly amazed when a day goes by and I am not online for awhile -- how much time is that? What else could I get done? Just something I have been pondering today, on the computer trying to catch up with work/email/etc.

Last night I attended a rally for Beauticontrol. I was happy to see them re-doing their system to really encourage women to take advantage of the earning opportunity available. Plus it was great to see my friends and catch up with them.

While I was at the rally, Steven went to his grandma & papa's for a visit. He enjoyed himself, just hanging out, watching tv, talking and playing Monopoly express. It is harder for him to have these relaxed times, with his school and sports schedule plus the drive time to get there. I know he wishes it could be more often and I will have to work on that for him. He mentioned on the way home how nice it was. I have been trying to talk my parents into moving closer (like across the street or down the block) but they are staying put. I understand their reasons and I feel selfish for wanting them closer. It is nice to have a few minutes to visit and chat, without it taking 1/2 hour to get there and back.

I have been thinking alot about family lately. How staying connected and in touch isn't a given. It takes effort on both parts. I spend time worrying about relationships, but know that I can't be the only one putting in the effort. A long time ago I realized that and I stopped trying. But I still miss those people and wish they were in our lives more.. but no matter how much I want that -they have to want that too.

Enough bummer talk. Today I got to run my errands finally because Jackson went back to school. I went to the bank, grocery store, post office and weight watchers. I was pleased to lose a pound, which means that from my birthday to today -I still managed to lose 2.4 pounds!! That is all thru Christmas and New Years. I am not sure how that happened, but I'll take it!

Now my fingers are freezing and I am tired, so I am headed to a hot bath and to read my book. I just got back from taking Steven to a 2 hour basketball practice where I found out they are playing 3 games this Saturday... yikes.. it all starts again.

Also -Jack and I will be taking Sammy for training starting on Friday -wish us luck.

Menu Plan Monday

We are ready to be back on track with our menu! I feel frazzled and disoriented without a meal plan in place. We ate out several times over the last few weeks and each time I was disappointed. The cost, time and effort involved in going out to eat is no longer worth it for me. I prefer to cook and eat at home. This is a huge change over this time last year and for that I am grateful. My family just wants to eat -they are happy to eat at home, as long as there's food for them.

Our menu for this week (keep in mind this is made for groceries I already have on hand):

Monday: Spaghetti with peppers and meat sauce, garlic bread (it was yummy!)
Tuesday: Tater Tot casserole, green beans
Wednesday: baked chicken, peas, stuffing
Thursday: Shepards Pie, salad, biscuits
Friday: Roast Beef, rice, corn
Saturday: Chicken stirfry
Sunday: Hot Roast Beef in gravy, mashed potatoes, broccoli

Jackson is not really feeling any better. His throat is scratchy, his head hurts and he is not able to focus. I think he will probably be home with me again tomorrow. This is a time when having a stockpile of food and a full freezer will come in handy -we can eat this whole week even if I don't make it to the store to shop. Not many fresh fruits left, but we do have canned and frozen fruits and veggies on hand to make it thru.

My goal for this year is to stick to my groceries budget, which I have lowered from last year. Last year my budget was $4800/year and that includes all paper products, soaps, detergents, cleaners and personal hygeine products. I spent $4186 total and that includes splurges (like eating out last month) that we did just because there was still money in that budget. This year I am hoping to come in at $3600 by being diligent all year long, and not losing focus. Wish me luck!

The end of our holiday...

Today is the day. Jonathan headed back to work and the kids to school. Except Jackson is sick. He has a bug that has been going around.. so he is back in bed, sound asleep. I was planning for my first day in 13 without everyone home, but plans change and now that will have to be tomorrow or Wednesday. I hope he is feeling better tomorrow as his new karate session starts and he will be so sad if he has to miss the first class.

So for me there will be no grocery shopping, no curves, no weight watcher meeting (a blessing in disguise perhaps?) and no Target 75% of clearance shopping today. Nothing earth shattering that can't be postponed. Instead I have cleared off my desk, made oatmeal, done a load of laundry and caught up on email, work and blogs I read. When Jackson wakes up we will probably cuddle up downstairs and watch some of the 1st season of Lost -we have started watching from the beginning in preparation of the new season starting later this month.

What has been going on around here.. not much really. We have all been home, hanging out basically. I did go to scrapbook on New Years Day --12 hours and 16 pages later I was home (9a.m. to 9 p.m.) and it was a blast. I felt creative on the first day of the new year and I hope that continues for the rest of the year too.

We did not follow our menu at all really. This was a really weird week for me with eating and I probably gained a pound or 2 since I didn't follow any plan and just ate when and what sounded good. Maybe putting that weigh-in off til later this week is a blessing I wasn't expecting? I was prepared to go & weigh in, knowing that I was lazy in my planning and willing to take responsibility for the result -that is a big step for me. That is how I know this is a lifestyle change, not a diet. I wanted to relax and just take things as they came this week -a vacation per se - all the time knowing that the chips will fall where they may.

I am working on this weeks menu and will post it later today. It will have to be stuff we have in our stockpile already -as I won't get to the store until Jackson heads back to school. This is mainly because I HATE shopping in the evening when everyone else is there.. I like the grocery store at 8:30 a.m. when it is quiet and not busy -I think better then.

I learned how to play a new game Blokus at my niece's birthday dinner. It was super fun and easy. A strategy game that requires some skill, some luck. I will have to get it for us to have -I really enjoyed playing that game. If you haven't tried it -you should! Saturday we had a great dinner of ham, potatoes and peas with Ciera to celebrate her birthday. We played Blokus and Skipbo and had fun hanging out. The boys stayed outside in the garage playing pool for the most part, and there was a football game on - but Ciera was in a game mood so much more fun for us.

Sunday I spent the first part of the day (til 1p.m. ) in my warm, cozy bed with polarfleece sheets watching Friends with Jackson. He wasn't feeling great already -so we just piled into the bed and watched tv for the whole morning! Then I had to go to Steven's baseball practice.. I wanted to watch the last hour, and it was supposed to end at 2 but didn't end til 3:15 p.m., so I saw over 2 hours. Then home we went.. I worked on getting the rest of the Christmas boxes and trash out of the house and getting the kids ready to head back to school. They needed to go thru their backpacks, take out unnecessary papers, restock pens, pencils, paper, etc.

I have read several fun books in the last week and am now reading Fields of Darkness for book club. So far I like it, still have a ways to go.

That's about all that is happening here... hope everyone also had a great New Years and weekend.

ETA: I forgot to mentiont that the big thing that happened was I dropped my cell phone (which has my calendar and life in it!) into my coffee... it's gone. I am waiting anxiously for the UPS man to drop off the replacement phone today.. it is listed as out for delivery! The good thing is I learned to sync the phone weekly -so hopefully I won't have lost much info!