Dinner Planner

Monday was a lovely, blustery day. I love the wind. It's fresh, clean, unpredictable, and nice and cool. I even like it when its cold wind--provided I have adequate warm clothing. XD

After picking up Everest at school, we stopped by Kangaroo Coffee because they had $1.00 16-oz. coffees and hot chocolates that day. The kids love going there. They even have "kids coffee," which is basically sugared up decaf. Then it was off the church for my staff meeting. (Don't even ask about the big hand clapper thingy in the senior pastor's hand.)




That night, I made the kids chicken noodle soup while Heath and I had pan-seared chicken and roasted veggies. Nom nom. The kids got to watch The Aristocats, a video we got from the library, and a classic Disney movie. Heath went rock climbing after the kids went to bed, which was very good for him. He's go to get out to exercise regularly or he doesn't function well. Sounds familiar...

Tuesday (today--look at that; I'm caught up!), we woke up to snow on the ground. I'd heard it was going to snow, but it was hard to believe because just Sunday, we had to turn the AC on in the car because it was over 80 degrees out and hotter inside the car. What wacky contrasts! I love this state. :o)



After getting Everest, we went to the library to pick up some holds and return DVDs. Then it was off to the grocery store. We did a major cleaning out of the fridge, chest freezer, and the pantry over the last couple days. I had clearance to restock some of our staples and get enough food to keep us from eating out for at least two weeks. I believe I have managed to do just that.

While Julie was doing her homework, I made eight breakfast sandwiches (egg, cheese and ham on an English muffin) to put in the freezer for quick breakfast. I'll show Julie how to heat them up, and she can get them ready for herself in the future. Also made eight meat and cheese sandwiches, ready to grab for lunch on the go.

Finally, I hard boiled some eggs and made two loaves of garlic bread, using a half-size French baguette split in two, butter, and crushed, fresh garlic. Those are in the freezer now, waiting for spaghetti or lasagna night. I plan on making some French bread pizzas for the freezer as well, but those will have to wait until tomorrow or Thursday.



Today, I devised a new system for choosing what we have for dinner. I wrote down a bunch of ideas that would use food we already have or that I was going to get at the store. Every dinner idea is on a sticky note. Each day of the week, someone in the family gets to decide what we're having from the choices and puts the note on the stovetop so I can prepare. Because Heath forfeited his day, the kids each get two, and I get one. The weekends are going to be a free-for-all with leftovers or whatever is around; there will be plenty!



Tonight was my choice. We had oven "fried" chicken, roasted bell peppers, and a rice/pasta mix. It was pretty delicious. Even Julie enjoyed the chicken, and she's not much of a meat person. Roasting veggies is SO the way to go. The method makes any veggie much tastier.

Tomorrow is Julie's day to pick, and she chose pancakes, bacon, and fruit salad. Should be pretty yummy!

Parting Shot
Tulips at the grocery store. So many colors and so pretty!

End of the Week Rush

Wednesday, Thursday & Friday, March 21-23, were busy as usual. I'm finding it harder to actually get concentrated time to work when I have to stop in the middle of the morning to get Everest four days out of the week. Usually, I would get Tuesdays and Thursdays to work at the church for six hours or so, which helped motivate me on the other days when there was less time. But not anymore, since we are trading Heath's work hours to the daytime. Guess it's another adjustment that must be made for the time being.

On Thursday, we had lunch at Nana's store after Everest's school day. I had pad Thai for a change. Delicious! Friday, Everest decided that painting in his coloring book was a great way to keep busy while I worked upstairs.




Late Friday afternoon, I went to the church to test out a touchscreen kiosk that the church had me set up. It worked pretty well, and I think I'd gotten all the kinks worked out by time I left. It's so nice to see the fruits of your labor on display. I made the sign above the kiosk station as well as the logo on the actual kiosk and the information site accessed through the touchscreen.




That evening, I met up with Legolas at Panera for a creative night. She had her chalk and paper and was working on a drawing for a Batman t-shirt contest. I brought all my bits and pieces to work on robots for my Etsy store. We were quite a sight with all our weird stuff spread out everywhere, let me tell you! Two ladies even came up to us to ask what we were doing.

Up Until Now

By jove, I think I'm closing in on actually being caught up with my blog! Then I can go back to my regularly-scheduled, daily dosing of bloggy goodness. Huzzah!

Sunday, we did the lunch date route with the kids after church. I took Julie to Good Times, and we chatted the whole time. When we're alone, she talks about a lot more than when the family is around. Yet another reason why it is so important for us to make this special time with each of the kids.



After we got home, we relaxed a little bit while waiting for Heath to get back with Everest. Once they returned, we all kind of laid on the couch and did nothing for a good, long while. Then I took Everest to the grocery store, and Heath took Julie out to the zoo.



Everest was a great help at the store, though he was really tired by time we got back. I think we might have forgone the showers for that night because it was getting late.

Monday was our church staff retreat at beautiful Glen Eyrie. It was an all-day thing, so Heath had to pick up Everest and had him all the way until almost 3:30. The retreat was great! Since I work from home, I don't get many opportunities to connect with other staff. Monthly meetings and this annual retreat are a wonderful way to reconnect with people.




As soon as I drove up after returning from the retreat, Julie's friend M came running up, asking if Julie could come over and play. Julie had finished her homework by time I got there, so I allowed her to go over. Everest and I went to pick her up around 4:15, but I ended up talking to Corrie for a long time while all the kids played in the yard.

Tuesday afternoon, Everest and I worked on some spare parts robots that I am trying to sell on Etsy. It was great fun to be crafty again! I love making things, but there doesn't always seem to be time available.



We had Marla's daughter over for the afternoon, and after we picked up Julie, they played in the house, mostly dancing to songs off my iPod, until Marla arrived to pick up S. The girls had a fantastic time together.

Wednesday morning. Breakfast: ham-egg-cheese croissant, Greek yogurt, coffee, and Nicole Nordeman. Doesn't get much better! Hit the gym later after picking up Everest. First time in the whole week, but late is better than never.



We went to my mom's for lunch after the gym at Everest's request. I had the musman curry with garlic rice. YUM. He had his usual chicken wings and cream cheese wontons. Also YUM.



That evening, I met up with Puella at Starbucks to chat for awhile since I didn't get to see her the previous Friday. Always a fun time getting together with her!

And here we are at Thursday! I went into the office to work for a few hours and get some information on a totally new work project. I was also informed that I should be getting a new laptop in the future. Yay! Mine is decidedly going downhill.

The kids played outside awhile, and I made a delicious beans and rice burrito dinner. Strawberries and Greek yogurt were served on the side, along with some greens. Everest and I loved the burritos! Julie...not so much. She's so hard to please sometimes, but I refuse to make mac n' cheese or grilled cheese every single night.




This evening, I got some housekeeping stuff done, then made a button and chatted with Midget. It's been a nice, relaxing night (after the housework was done). Hopefully I can get to sleep before 1:00 a.m. tonight because I have had a few nights of actually getting enough sleep in the last two weeks and that has led to some funky dreams--of which I am a huge fan!

Parting Shot

February 2012: Week 5

Sunday, we had our usual dates with the kids. Everest and I chose to go to the library, which is always a nice visit. We picked a bunch of pre-readers for him to start practicing recognizing words. Fun times!




That evening, I met up with my dear sweet friend Joy for a movie, followed by a drink at Village Inn and LOTS of talking. We can't seem to get home before 2:00 a.m. when we go out.



Monday, after the gym, Everest and I went to my mom's store to have lunch again. We always get this appetizer. I should probably start taking pictures of something else when we go there!



Tuesday, I went into the office to work for a few hours, then met my dear friend Beth for lunch at Panera. It had been so long since we got together--months even! It was great to catch up, and she presented me with a customized, hand-embroidered bag that she made just for me. AWESOME.



She also gave us a huge bag of boys' clothes for Everest to go through. When I got home, Everest was thrilled to try everything on. There were shoes and coats and all kinds of shirts and pants. Hooray!



Wednesday, we stopped by my mom's again for lunch after the gym. It's SO convenient when we're both hungry after the gym. It's occurring to me now though that I ate out every day of the week so far. o.O



That afternoon after school, the weather was so nice that the kids had an impromptu playdate with their friends M & A. Corrie and I stood around the playground, watching the kids, and talking a lot. We have been chatting on a regular basis after school and are becoming pretty good friends. :o)




Thursday marked the beginning of March. Heath had to work a double shift, and it was my big day to finish the church magazine. He got the kids off to school, then I went into the office and got everything started printing. Went to get Everest, get gas, and pick up lunch, then we were right back at the church to finish all the printing stuff. Everest was a trooper through the whole afternoon. We got back just in time to meet Julie after school.



We had the collating meeting in the evening, for which I managed to make some pineapple cookies--deelish! The kids were pretty good during the meeting too. After they drew all over the dry erase board, they actually came and helped alongside the volunteers. Yay!



Everest and I hung out a lot that Friday, choosing to have our date then because we would probably do the grocery shopping together again on Sunday (in lieu of a date). We went to see The Muppets (yes, this was my third time) together after a trip to the gym. He fell asleep for the last 15-20 minutes, but otherwise, he seemed to really enjoy it.

That evening, we would normally have Midnight Muse, but Puella wasn't feeling well, so Legolas invited me over to watch the Pirates of the Caribbean movies with her and her sister. It was very fun, but I practically fell asleep on the couch during the third film. I'll have to catch that one another day, I guess.

Melancholy Monday

All day Monday, I felt like I was in a funk. I blame the fact that I stayed in basically pajama-wear all day. That does not do good things for one's concentration--feeling like you could curl up and go to bed at any time. However, the whole say was not lost. I did manage to make berry cobbler in the slow cooker (strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries with brownie topping) and make cheeseburgers for dinner.




How happy I am that I have been cooking dinners more lately. One of my favorite things to do is feed people, and the kids are getting better and better about trying new things. They are even regularly eating the salad that we put on their plates! Knowing that people will actually be eating the food makes cooking so much more desirable.

And it doesn't hurt that we are making more of an effort to eat together as a family.

After the kids were down for bed, Heath and I got to work on our respective work tasks. I submitted a novel to an agent on a whim. Her website claims a 5-7 day response time. We shall see...