Ten

I can't believe it's been ten years!



I love this one because it makes me look skinny. :) And because I loved our cake. And because he was kind and didn't smoosh it into my face.


I love this one because it reminds me how much fun we had at our wedding and reception. I think I only had that one glass of wine but my mood was as if I'd had many more! Giddy! That says something, doesn't it!


and I love this one because it says it all. Happy Anniversary, my Dear, Darling, Wonderful Husband.





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Monday teaser list

Sooooo many things I want to document here and share with my few wonderful readers. Soooo should be working and not blogging. But I just started reading a new productivity book this morning, and it’s making my To-Do List look even MORE daunting and stupid than usual. Plus, it's a post-3-day-weekend Monday, so I have very little oomph for work. My inner self is more important than my [non-life-saving] work IMHO, so inner self wins for the moment, and spills out onto the screen, in bullets:

> Three-day weekend! My company kindly gave us Good Friday off, so I spent it with both kids. I know that isn’t news to most people, but every day is so precious, especially in light of things going on around me, and I just have to treasure each extra day I get. So we went to the mall, again – I’m becoming a mall regular, which scares me just a little bit – because KT needed some 3T shorts and tee-shirts for school. I found a lot of cute things at JC Penney. Surprised me, but they’re just as good a value as our beloved Target. And, okay, I also let each kid get a toy at the Disney Store. AJ found a Perry the Platypus whoopee cushion and I PAID MONEY FOR IT. *forehead smack* But hey, it makes him laugh. KT got a Dalmation puppy (I sort-of forced it on her). She's been sleeping with it, so I guess it was a good choice -- note: Not a princess.

> Lots of singing for Easter Weekend. I was in the choir section Friday night, Saturday night, and Sunday morning. It was rewarding and fun, and I had a small solo psalm, for which I was very kindly thanked and congratulated. Most lovely was that we had a soprano “ringer” join us, and she was friendly AND talented. I was thankful for her because she made me want to sing better. Kept thinking to myself, “My new friend, S.” Hope to see her again.

> Swimming lessons continue. I’ve nearly concluded KT’s portion of the show – she’s just really too young for it, given her swimming history of only one week in the summers. She can’t take the combination of a big pool, a lot of other splashing kids, an unknown grown-up, AND 3:00 on a Sunday afternoon with no nap. She's melted down each week. It’s another *forehead smack* moment for me – really stupid – and a sunk cost (hat tip: Tess), so... whatever. We’ll swim with her this summer because we’re joining the subdivision’s pool for the first time. I’m going to continue my early Tuesday/Thursday schedule, and plan to take the kids to the pool on those afternoons after camp/daycare. AJ’s making great progress in his lessons, and he had a private one yesterday because no one else showed up (who holds classes on Easter Sunday anyway?!). He needed the extra practice and one-on-one attention, and he did really well. But man, is it a challenge for kids who don't like water in their faces. I felt pretty bad every time he spit in the coach's face. (Eek.)

> Kitchen is painted! I will have the photographic evidence to post soon, right after we re-organize the entire cabinet system and put everything that currently resides on the dining table back in its new, rightful position. Ha! No big deal! I'm hoping that a lunchtime trip to Garden Ridge today will help with those tasks. (BASKETS.) We love the paint colors we chose. *Pats on back to us!* We r so smrt!

So... more to come this week: Hopefully an extra special Before/After edition, and also something else extra special (hint, the traditional gift is.... inexplicably, Tin). :)

Quick one

Giving up sodas of all kinds for Lent really does not leave much in the way of lunchtime drink options, I gotta tell ya.

I am pretty sick of Crystal Light and unsweet iced tea. I like both, but NEED SOME VARIETY IN MY LIFE. I'm not even allowing myself those clear Crystal Bay "flavored Sprites," as I call them.

Come on, dawn of Easter morn!!

Surrounded

We seem to be surrounded lately with news of families dealing with difficult things. I mean, my Prayer List, if I actively used such a thing, is a mile long (as it is, I say, "prayer list" in my mind, and I do think about and pray for these people when I think of it, but mostly ask God to "please remember all the friends I've been meaning to pray for," and hope He knows who I'm talking about).

-- a friend from high school whose older brother died suddenly, 2 weeks ago
-- my choir director, who went in for heart surgery and has had complications (on the mend now, thank God)
-- a college acquantaince and roommate of a good friend, who's having a drug addiction relapse, again
-- AJ's teacher, whose 4-month-old baby has just been admitted to the hospital for heart trouble
-- a former colleague, who's having surgery this week
-- DH's coworkers who were laid off last week
-- my church friend whose brother, I just found out, is homeless and she doesn't know how to help or approach him
-- my book club friend whose son is having speech delays and she's walking that scary "spectrum" tightrope, waiting for diagnosis
-- another church friend whose daughter was married less than a month before her new husband began abusing her (now going thru divorce and criminal charges)
-- my coworker whose hair is falling out from chemo

It pains me that all this is happening to people I know. I can't imagine how it feels - nothing tragic has really ever happened in my own, immediate daily life. I don't know how I got so lucky (and I can't help but wonder, so morbidly and inappropriately, when will it be our turn - am I the only one who does that)? I look at my kids laughing and running and sleeping peacefully, my husband working so hard and keeping me entertained at the same time!, my parents being attentive and loving my whole life, my job staying intact, our health fine... and I am overwhelmed with the inexplicable goodness of my life.

Spring break 2011 (cont'd)

I am enjoying this week so much. It's rare time at home, doing errands, wandering, puttering, playing, and being grateful (I know it sounds nerdy but I do pinch myself and think, do I really not have to work from home while I'm here?!). (And I do not!)

Anyway, for posterity, here's what else we've been doing.

Tuesday: KT did stay home with us, and because it rained Monday night, my picnic plan was postponed, so we had our movie day instead. We met DH for lunch at Burger King and then went to see "Hop." (Much better than I expected. Russell Brand is cuter as an animated bunny.) Lots of Skittles were consumed. Afterwards there wasn't much time for anything else, but we did play outside with the neighbor kids and KT got a taste of the trampoline. She likes it. :) She crashed at 6pm and completely missed dinner, but rallied in time for a pleasant bath and regular bedtime. A great day.

Today: AJ and I had big plans to visit the local mall, where he was looking to procure a Pillow Pet. Its a pillow! It's a pet! It's a Pillow Pet! He got a blue triceratops and named it Rex, then changed that to Spike. Lunch at the Food Court! My kids think the mall is the coolest treat -- escalators, elevators, AND a Cookie Company?! Blows their little minds. KT took a Good nap at school and now the 2 of them are involved in a complicated outdoor spy and hide-n-seek game, again with the neighbors. While I sit at the patio table thumb-typing on my phone. Truly handy, these neighbors. Before I picked KT up I vacuumed and dusted the downstairs, did a load of laundry, and scheduled tomorrow (felt good to get that crap done, too):

Thursday: a picnic at Piedmont Park in ATL with my best friend from college. With the kids, of course. And frisbees.


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Spring break 2011

I took spring break off this year for the first time. Monday's report: Walgreens and Target this morning, trampoline jumping with our neighbors when we returned (yes, we both jumped!), picnic lunch with them in 75-degree weather, swimming at 2 at the public (indoor) pool, AJ getting more comfortable with it and having fun, "just us, Mommy," Frostys for snack after getting KT, then home for dinner and a kid-friendly movie (G Force).

Pretty good start. :)




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(i feel it necessary to explain that KT only naps at when she's at school and therefore had to attend today. Momma needs a break, too! Plus, I wanted to check out this pool with only 1 kid to watch, our 1st time there. She'll be hanging with us tomorrow! No swimming, but extra fun.)

Keep Calm and Carry On

I printed a postcard size image of that wonderful old British saying (in red) a few mornings ago, and pinned it near my desk at work. I'm a cheeseball, yes. I'll see it every day when I arrive and when I leave. It makes me smile. Which is exactly what I need to do regarding The Busy: just smile, keep calm, and carry on. Things have gotten better this week (thanking God for the rain which cancels t-ball games), but I don't want the kids to know we're stressed, just that we're living Quite a Nice Life. I'm always sorry when I stress out and complain about it here, but I guess it's honest so I might as well document it. Like DH said, one day we won't have all these same commitments, and I'm sure we'll kind-of long for them.
I was thinking that same thing re: the 3-yr-old in the bed, this morning. One day, I will no longer be able to snuggle under the covers with my kids. EVER. I mean, really ever. (I never snuggle in with MY Mom, even though I love her dearly!) So I'd better soak it all up. Their little open mouthed breaths, soft hair tickling my face, feet in my ribs... Well, you know what I mean. Easy for me to say right now; she's only been in the bed with us once this week, HALLELUJAH. Ask me again when she's back in the habit again. (Please, God, no.) We bribed her with princesses - those new little Polly-Pocket-esque ones with the plastic dresses - and it has mostly worked.
Moving -- Carrying! -- On!

-- This week I got to go shopping again for work. Twice. Nice little perk - two hours walking the mall. Sadly I try to stay on task, so that means no trying on, no stopping for Starbucks, no real time to people-watch. But it's still a break from the usual.

-- The painting project is going so well. We love the new color. I can't wait to post before and afters, but not until we get everything put back together. It's going to take a long time re-decorating one large wall, from which we've removed a giant print that I bought with my college roommate, three residences ago. I'm thinking of wall art like this, and shelving similar to this but not necessarily in that color (although maybe?), and a new mantle-scape with objets d'art. Heh! But I'm very indecisive. We also have to paint over the blue checkered wallpaper in our kitchen. We hope it doesn't turn out awful!

-- Swimming lessons! Our first outing went well, considering. I knew we'd have a meltdown from one of the kids, just wasn't sure which. It was KT. She was quite tired on a Sunday afternoon at 3:00, but all signs leading up to her lesson were good. "Mommy, is it my turn yet? Is it my turn? I want to go swimming. I want to swim! My turn?" She hopped up when the clock struck three, walked all the way around the pool to where her coach was waiting, and the minute he picked her up to measure her for a back float... "Waaaaaaaa! Mommyyyyyyyyyyyy! I don't wannnnnnnna swiiiiimmmm! Mommmmmmyyyyyy!!!!!" So. Nothing to be done but let her sit it out. We tried, the coach and I, to cajole her and flirt with her and offer her a chocolate milkshake if she'd just get in the water, but she was done. I'm hoping for a better outcome next time since those lessons were NOT FREE. Eek. Maybe she's too young, but if I hadn't signed her up, I KNOW she'd have been sad/jealous that big brother always gets to do everything. Understandably.

AJ, on the other hand, was my brave little bunny. He didn't like it, but he got in the water and really tried. He paddled, he kicked a little, he FACED HIS FEARS. I was amazed at him. My big boy! So brave. He did whimper a bit, but closed his eyes and soldiered on. The one time he let go of the wall and his coach had to pull him up, sputtering, brought back all of Mommy's bad summer memories (I can't seem to find a post about it, but he went under once while we were night swimming on our last beach vacation, and it scared the bejeezus out of me), but I was brave too, telling myself, "That's why we're here. That's why we're here..."

So much

I'm not stressed, I'm just... a little sad, I guess. I didn't check the calendar (but I thought I did?) and today is a baseball practice... but I scheduled a desperately needed haircut/color for myself at the same time (first world problems). No big deal, DH can take both kids to the ballpark, I know this, but it makes me feel bad. Because Monday night I left them all to go to Book Club. And Thursday night is choir practice every week, and as much as I love choir, it starts to wear on me after a full schoolyear's worth of every-week rehearsals. I've only skipped once or twice for a break, but once was last week, so I really need to GO this week. (I mean, I could be one of those people who NEVER goes to practice but shows up on Sundays and says, "What're we singing?" Except I get really irritated by those people.) And of course, this week we also have a Thursday baseball GAME. I think I can do both if we take 2 cars to the park, although I know KT will fuss and cry when it's time for me to leave without her. I don't know, maybe I'll skip again.

I want to get philosophical and come to some unique, well-written conclusions about the way I feel, but I don't think I have the mental energy for that. Everybody's crazy busy. It's not a big deal, sometimes it is a big deal... at least we got our taxes filed last night, and the painting is underway... right? I found some hand-me-downs for KT so at least she has some spring clothes and an Easter dress she can wear, but I still need to go shopping for shoes etc., and I simply can't find the time to do it. Maybe this Saturday, in between baseball pictures at 10:00 am, our game at 12:15, and me cantoring at 5:30 Mass? Er... no. And Sunday's no better -- Mass with choir goes from 10 AM until noon for me, and then we have our first swimming lesson at 2:30. I don't want to feel guilty for adding those swimming lessons -- my kids NEED swimming lessons and I think they'll enjoy them -- but MAN, do I ever feel guilty.

It's just way too much sometimes. I am so thankful I took Spring Break off - I have a week and a half to go until some much needed vacation time. No baseball, no swimming, no Fricking WORK. I hope I can make it a productive week but still feel like the days are long.

Luxury

It's Friday night and our luxury is that we had nowhere to be tonight after work and school, except our own home. This, after a week full of nightly commitments, except that I did skip choir practice last night. I think the director was frustrated because several of us were missing, but I'm sorry. Sometimes life comes before choir and I was tired. So anyway, tonight I ordered cheese pizza for our Lenten sacrifice (yeah) and had a Mojito to go with it. Mojitos are so warm-weather. And we've been having warm weather. Last night I told DH that we should really get a new table and chairs for the back deck. That is a good indication of my weather state-of-mind.

Tonight after the kids went down, we officially started the painting project. We pulled off the previous owners' gawd-awful 8" floral border -- here, evidence:



...and wiped off all the glue residue. We're right to call it gawd-awful, yes? I think I had a few Laura Ashley dresses back in 1989 with that same pattern. And/or pillow shams. It looks like a room that actually exists in the 21st century now, without that border. If we hadn't already painted patches on the blue wall, we MIGHT not even need to go any further. But we did paint patches, haha! On purpose, so we WOULD have to continue. We're going with a more neutral shade -- Hopsack by Valspar -- that we hope will "open up the room," as they say... Or, I guess they say that. I'm a geniune novice when it comes to decorating.

I can't wait for the finished room but we're trying to allow ourselves to take it one wall at a time without stress. There's just no other way to do it. So tonight we did prep work. Tomorrow, one wall maybe. Sunday, we'll see.

And now I'm going to continue my evening, reading and catching up on all your blogs, with a glass of wine (I ran out of rum for Mojitos). It's luxury to be up this late, too. I should go to bed, but it's nice to ignore the "shoulds" sometimes and do what I want. :)

Cabinet chaos might be reflective of my state of mind

More than a week since my last post? How can that be? Surely my brain has had some kind of drivel to share, no? ...No, I guess. Not really.

I did have a question pop into my brain the other day, as I was dusting KT's room -- a question that seemed perfect for the Internet. Dear readers, How do you, personally, corral the hairbows and barrettes if you are lucky enough to have a young girl living in your home?

Well, at the time it seemed a logical thing to ask - now it seems kinda lame, as if the answer is simply: "A wicker basket with the linen liner, DUH, don't you ever look at the Pottery Barn Kids catalog?" (No, indeed I stopped receiving it for some reason.)

Well, on with the topic anyway: In my own home growing up, we had plenty of cabinets and drawers. My mom used plastic dividers, if I remember correctly, and we kept all the millions of ribbons neatly out of sight.

When KT was a baby, I surprised myself by purchasing hairbows for the top of her head. (I'm combing the archives because I know I posted a picture here, but can't find it for the life of me!) I kept them all clipped to a long pink ribbon, hanging from a cute little hook in her bedroom. Very crafty, thought I. Now, however, there seem to be more pony tail holders than barrettes, and the barrettes I do have are too big for the small Tinkerbell jewlery box I have been using for everything.

What I need to do is rearrange the kids' bathroom cabinet so it's useful. Currently it's still storing an old shower curtain, folded up, a collection of infant bathtowels (with the little hoods!) that obviously need replacing since I have no infants, and a bunch of other crap.

Am I posting about a bathroom cabinet? LORDY. Sorry. Thinking about all that mess reminds me that last night I started feeling a bit stressy. About work, and other projects and things that I can't seem to do -- no need to recount all the details for you, I'm sure, but sometimes life is messy, amiright? We're about to embark on the painting project, sure to prove that theory. I can't wait, actually. (Maybe because it's a small excuse for everything being in disarray?) I will definitely take and post photos, especially since I now know about this site! Thank you, Swistle!

Behold, my thrill of a shopping list

1. Socks. Brown and black. I have been tough on my socks this winter, I guess. I keep finding pairs with holes in them. I've thrown out 3 or 4 pairs in the last 2 weeks.

2. Shoes. Specifically, boots. On clearance since it's nearly spring. Next year I want to wear more skirts with boots. (Next year they'll probably be out of style -- I'm always at least a year behind the trends.) I also need some pretty new sandals.

3. Capri pants. I want more of these for spring and summer. Obviously I can't wear shorts to work, but I'm considering whether I even want to wear shorts on the weekends. I mean, yes, I do, but should I? Am I too old to be wearing shorts out in public? I don't quite know.

4. Tops. Never do I feel I have enough tops for whatever season it is. Never. DH and I are planning a garage sale soon, and I hope to clean out my closet to make space for new things.

5. Dresses. I would like to wear more spring dresses.

6. Kids' clothes. I need some wardrobe staples, especially for KT, for summer. Shorts, t-shirts, sandals. New Crocs. Probably for her brother, too, including new uniforms before next school year. (This list seems to be getting a little out of control.)

7. Necklaces. I almost never feel like I have the right jewelry to go with any outift I wear. It's okay, though, because I've just discovered Charming Charlie. *Drooooool.*

8. PAINT SAMPLES. We are going this Saturday to purchase them. Then we are going to test them out on the walls. Then we are going to start our spring painting project.

9. New blinds for 7 windows. 2 of those will have to be custom-sized. Am ready to do this.

10. Might as well be honest, I also want new kitchen cabinets and countertops. DH keeps saying I should go ahead and get an estimate. I'm unsure but maybe I will. Or... can you paint formica? Hahahaha. No, really, can you?

Very jumbled and at peace

Lots of things swirling around in my head today, not many of which are very interesting to anyone but me. We had a great week and weekend celebrating KT's birthday. She didn't get pinkeye (thank you for your good vibes!), all the grandparents were here, we cooked, we went out, we let them babysit, she dressed up in all her princess and fairy stuff and was just the epitome of cute, and now they're gone and we're getting settled back into the rhythm of our collective daily life. I need that rhythm. I really missed it, as much as I love having everyone to visit - and I really do, having people to cook for and serve is very satisfying in its own way.

My son continues to delight me -- as the older brother, he was a star at the birthday party of 8 little 2- and 3-year old girls. He let KT be the center of attention, played his role just right, and helps "take care" of her so well on a daily basis. I watched him, this morning, as she whined and fussed for THE FAIRY ONE, an episode of Dora that he couldn't translate to the actual title, to find for her. He wanted to help her so badly, but she kept screaming at him, THE FAIRY ONE THEFAIRYONE, like a 3-year-old does, and he was very patient, up to the point he got tears in his eyes because he couldn't Figure Her Out. Poor thing. He's a great brother. He also READS constantly which is another topic altogether, obviously. This morning I was thinking of a few books I'm anxious for him to read soon: Little House in the Big Woods, Superfudge, Choose Your Own Adventure. Such fun.

DH and I got to attend another concert by our favorite band on Tuesday night. I've seen them 4 times now, more than I've seen any other band (besides a local one I followed in college). It was an amazing night, starting with the spring weather, a just-the-two-of-us chips and salsa, dinner and margaritas... then a pleasant meeting of new "friends" in line before the concert, or at least 2 dudes who also love the music as much as we do (they drove up from Florida)... getting great seats, enjoying the music so much... tweeting about it like a complete dork during the show (me)... taking pictures and just feeling very graced by the art and talent of 4 old-ish guys who can still very much rock the house. I used to not like when the guitars would soar and crash SO LOUDLY, but over the years I've come to really love the dissonance and the roar -- not to mention, I know so many more of the melodies now -- and just marveling at how the musicians are so capable, and clearly love what they do. It's a joy to watch, really. I tweeted, too, that I do love a man playing a bass guitar. I don't know - I prefer watching it to the acoustic, which surprises me because I LOVE the acoustic guitar's sound. Something very intense about the bass, though. Maybe because it's the deep beating heart, sometimes unnoticed, of the song, and that seems romantic to me. I love bass singing voices, too, and very low notes. The lead singer of The Church is a bass baritone for sure.

I laugh because, when I was pregnant with AJ, a suggestion for a name came from DH -- Kilbey, the last name of the very same lead singer. I was pretty sure he was joking, but at any rate, was firmly against it at the time. And still am... but now I at least have a healthy appreciation of WHY he would suggest it for his firstborn son. I respect the inspiration, where before I didn't have a clue. :) I love that we're able to share this years-long music experience as a couple.

Lastly, I've been trying to be more consistent about exercising and so far it's going well. I've logged 3 entire days in a row. Wooo. I will report more on that if and when there is something to report, but I'm feeling good about it.

7 Quick Takes (real quick!)

1. I'm in a hurry because I have lots of Friday tasks, and I want to STAY BUSY today so it will go by quickly. (i.e., not loll around online in G-reader and TweetDeck trying to find interesting things to do/read. NO NO NO!!) Because my parents are here, and DH's parents arrive this afternoon, and I want the weekend to hurry and get here already!


2. One of the tasks I'm supposed to do today is set up our corporate blog. YOU WOULD THINK this prospect would DELIGHT ME, as I have been blogging for 6 years this month. But I have been putting it off for 3 weeks! What gives? I have no idea. Maybe I don't want to sully my love of blogging by making it a work thing? Maybe I'm afraid I won't like Wordpress? But this has been one of MY big ideas/initiatives for the company, since before I even got the job! I'm a champion procrastinator, I guess, and this proves it.


3. I plan to make mojitos for Happy Hour. I bought a mix for DH for Valentine's Day -- kinda lame but we both like mojitos, and our previous attempt to make them with actual ingredients turned out very 'meh.' The mix, naturally, or maybe NOT naturally, tastes like Kool-Aid with lime. :)


4. Mojitos feel very spring/summery to me and it is awesome that we're having summer weather today! I'm not even wearing socks! This gorgeous 70-degree stuff is supposed to last the next five days or so. Yayyyyyy!


5. I have to thank Mighty Maggie for pointing me, last week, to the Paul Haggis vs. Scientology article. Holy (haha, not) barrels of awesome. I don't know WHY I am so fascinated with the cults, but give me the FLDS, the Scientologists, the Moonies, any of them, any day... I will read it. I have theories as to why I like learning about them so much, but that's a whole other blog post. Anyway, I've always wondered what in the heck Travolta and Cruise are all 'het up' about, and I still don't understand it, but at least now I have a vague idea of what they do, and legitimate cause to laugh at them. Bravo, Mr. Lawrence Wright (author).


6. THAT bullet led us in a completely different direction, didn't it?! In other freaky-deaky news, I have had a dream twice now, where I am walking around in some big mall-like building in the Perimeter area of Atlanta, looking for an exit. When I find the exit, I become relieved because I've found Interstate 285. 285 is a giant highway that encircles the main metro area, and my dream-self always says, Oh, good, now I can just walk around 285 to get back to where I need to be. Which I then proceed to do. Last night there was also a giant black tornado cloud spinning over the East side of 285, which I could see from where I stood. And yet, I continued to walk toward it. (I actually live on the WEST side of 285.) WHAT DOES IT ALL MEEEEEEEN? Like I said, I've dreamed this twice.


7. KT's party is tomorrow, provided she doesn't turn up with PINKEYE. There are 2 cases of it at her school (not in her class), and... I fear to tell you... she's been complaining about her eyes and having a tiny bit of morning goop in 'em (sorry). I seem to remember the last time we had pinkeye in the house that it's more of a cold/fever thing, but... well, if I have to cancel the party in order to be the good mom and not infect other children, I will just cry. Especially because all the grandparents made the trip. Frickinfrackin.


Thanks to Jen for hosting 7QT!

On Waking

The big-girl bed has been SO successful in curbing KT's since-she-was-born tendency to wake up in the middle of the night. I'm going to repeat: So Successful! Until last night, she had slept through the night every night since we removed the rail.

Unsure why she woke up last night at midnight, JUST as I had drifted off into a nice little dream and was so cozy and warm in my covers. She showed up next to my side: "MOMMY. [stage whisper] I NEED A KLEENEX for my EYES." She asked to come in my bed for a while and who can resist a little blond birthday girl? All I want to DO is cuddle with her during waking hours, so an explicit invitation to do so, when I'm half-asleep, is an easy (but ill-advised) decision. After an hour of her twitching and kicking and NOT SLEEPING, that was the end of that. Luckily she went back to her bed with minimal complaint. And then got up again at 5:45 while I was in the shower.

I guess she is wise to the fact that she's FREE, and thus we are at the beginning of the next phase: the getting up OUT of your bed at night, which AJ did for a couple of years, and which, my parents will remind you (me), I did myself until I was SEVEN.

Raising a glass to salute, and bid farewell to, these last two uninterrupted weeks. They have been nice.

Good things happening

1. Last night, for dinner, AJ suggested and I made tuna noodle casserole... and both kids cleaned their plates!! Red letter day! I think all the playing outside (thank you, 60-degree weather) had a lot to do with their (KT's) appetites, but can I get a HALLELUJAH on that?!

This week, as promised, DH and AJ created our menu:

S - aforementioned tuna casserole, fruit salad
M - pork chops (Hot-n-Spicy Shake-n-Bake!), field pieas, white rice
T - KT's choice (it's her birthday): burgers and hot dogs, fries, and ice-cream cake
W - dirty rice w/ground beef, salad for me, V8 fusion for the kids
Th - might go out if my parents arrive
F - spaghetti and turkey meatballs, green beans, garlic toast

We haven't had a couple of those meals in a while (pork chops, dirty rice), so that's good. That was my main complaint - being tired of the Same Old Same Old. I'm like a lot of you in that I serve what I want, no matter if the kids like it or not. I do like to serve things they'll eat a few times a week. But I was sick of the 8 or 10 things that fit the bill. I feel good that AJ suggested all of these -- his palette is expanding this year and he's eating a lot more of our family favorites. (Gumbo, and maybe other casseroles, here we come!)

2. We stopped in a sports store on Saturday morning to exchange something, and took a few minutes to check out the bikes. AJ hopped right up onto one with training wheels and rode around the store a few times. He did really well, and more importantly, got EXCITED about it. We've asked him a few times if he wants a bike, and we always get a very lukewarm response. But this orange bike, I think, has him hooked -- now if we can just reel him in. It was $129 so we didn't buy it right away, but I'm thinking birthday. Until then, I'm ready to borrow a friend's - he offered, and I think we should jump on it. I learned to ride a bike when I was six, too. :) Very exciting!

3. I asked for (via Twitter!) and received, a delicous Dark Chocolate Assortment of Godiva chocolates for Valentine's Day. SO simple, and even cliche! But so happy-making. :) Thank, you, honey!

Help me save dinner

I wish there were some sort of “carnival” feature on my computer screen that would only begin to play music, throw confetti and laugh uncontrollably when I logged into WORK-related websites or programs. Maybe that would make it less of a slog? I don’t know, I thought that up in 2 seconds after I opened the text window to type this.

Other things I’m bored with: Our Meal Rotation. Typical Mommy-blog topic, ahoy!! Let me tell you my meals this week, and then you can tell me yours. I’m sure we’ve done this before, but here it is, 2011, and I need some new recipes, dudes.

Monday – Picante chicken (baked with Pace Picante, brown sugar, Dijon mustard), Spanish rice w/tomatoes, guacamole/chips or, for the kids, corn on the cob. Ice cream for Dessert Night. (Do you know my kids don’t really consider it dessert unless it’s ice cream?)

Tuesday – Sausage/turkey bacon/cheese quiche (made with $5/dozen farm-fresh eggs, I might add—and aren’t I organic and impressive?), fruit salad, and all kinds of toast (some with Nutella).

Wednesday – I have frozen ravioli and sauce. Will likely cut up some bell peppers with it, and serve steamed broccoli on the side. And garlic toast sticks because pasta without garlic bread is a crime.

Thursday – no idea. Maybe we can go out or order pizza?

Friday – Maybe burgers on the grill?

I try to plan menus and usually do a better job than I did this week. But I’m sick of serving turkey hot dogs (this week is the first in a long time that I’m not PLANNING to fix them). Here are the things my kids refuse to try:

Casseroles of any kind – which rules out a HELLUVA lot of good, easy dinner meals (my DH isn’t a huge fan, either, so it’s a lost cause for me, a casserole LOVER)

Related, anything creamy. Beef stroganoff. Fettucine with cream sauce/alfredo. chicken with any kind of sour cream (delicious) sauce. OUT.

Soups/stews that aren’t “Chicken and Stars.” Heck, they pick out the teeny-tiny stars in Chicken and Stars. They say they like it but the evidence does not support this.

Quesedillas/burritos. AJ will MAYBE eat a tortilla with cheese inside. Maybe. If the planets are aligned. But anything else in there touching the cheese? Forget it.

You see, I have considered Ways to Make Dinnertime Healthy and Interesting, but I’m thwarted at every turn. Bah. I don't know. Maybe I'M the only one who's sick of our rotation (don't respond to that, DH). At least I have my freezer aisle. Fish sticks, meatballs, the dreaded chicken nuggets: I'll see you three next week, I guess. SIGH.

Front Row Seats

We sat in practically the front row at Mass on Sunday, something we never do. It was Scout Sunday, though, and AJ was required to be in front with his Tiger Den (looking so adorable in their matching uniforms), so we put ourselves right across the aisle from him. I loved glancing over at him with a wink, and getting a big grin in return. I thought of how strange it is when your kids start wanting to be part of groups other than their family unit. Strange, wonderful, heartbreaking, all at the same time.

Being part of the Cub Scouts had turned out to be a big deal for AJ the day before, because his little Pinewood Derby car – his very first one, that he designed, sanded and painted all by himself, and that his Daddy blindly attempted to properly weigh and align – WON the race. The whole race. His car, which we worried was not as fancy, not as sleek, beat kids older than him who’ve been building cars for several years. We have no idea how this happened, but oh, man, watching your child succeed, and seeing HIM swell with pride and excitement... it’s like nothing I’ve ever felt. I was most proud of his attitude, and those of his fellow Scouts, though. When their own cars weren’t racing, they were cheering each other on. I’ll never forget AJ and his buddy Shane, high fiving each other in the front line behind the ropes, as they watched each race. And Shane, when I congratulated him, telling me, “AJ’s is better!” with a huge smile. With this, and the camping trip success last fall, I'm convinced this group experience is going to be one of the best of his life.

We have floated on the happy fumes of Saturday’s win all weekend. Every time I think of it, I smile again. I’m so glad we were all there to watch it together. DH was visibly moved and in love with being a father, filling me up with happiness and love for him. Even KT was excited for her brother. “He WON!” she said more than once, with an exclamation mark in her voice as she galloped off after him. Sunday morning on my knees in front of the big altar, surrounded by friends and community members going to Communion, I was very nearly overwhelmed with the simplicity and profundity of the gift, and Gifts, of this amazing life.

Poor planning

I am excited about KT's first real birthday party with friends from her class. The girl at the place where we're having it said something about "sparkle sticks and feather boas," and I didn't hear the rest because my mind was going, "SQUEEEEEEE!" Life doesn't get any more GIRLY than that! I hope they'll let ME have a sparkle stick, whatever in the heck one IS.

However, when I decided we should just invite girls, I didn't actually realize that there are only 5 girls in KT's whole class. I could invite a few from other classrooms, with whom she eats breakfast every day so technically they're "friends," but I've been at the school long enough to know that the norm is to just invite people from your own classroom. I can think of maybe two other, non-school friends we could invite. One is a T-ball friend, and the other is, surprisingly, Yatt's daughter. Which doesn't feel quite right since KT doesn't even know the daughter, but on the other hand, she's three -- it's not like she has requested veto power over the guest list, nor is she going to remember half these people anyway.

Let me say that I'm now enjoying a cordial office friendship with Yatt; she hasn't been the Yatt of yesteryear who annoyed the (expletive) out of me.... except RIGHT THIS SECOND as I typeOMG she's telling me about her period!! I DO NOT WANT TO KNOW THIS INFORMTION, FOR THE LOVE!!!

Sorry. She also pops her gum.

Party planning. I'm slightly concerned because we had a party for AJ once, and only invited a handful of people, and then only half of them showed up. I want this party to SPARKLE, darn it, not be a sad trumpet.

Guess who got a big-girl bed this weekend?

Guess who is almost THREE, by the way and can you believe? We have been having a heckuva time with this one at night. She wakes up twice a night crying, loudly, usually during the 12-1:00 am hour, and again between 4:30 and 5:30 am. The 2nd time is the most annoying for ME, because my alarm goes off at 5:35. Argh. But the 1st wake-up is probably most annoying for DH, who has just gotten himself into a comfortable sleep (meanwhile, I’m dead to the world and hardly ever hear the 1:00 wake-up). Same story as every other non-co-sleeping mom who ever blogged: we try not to engage her, pat her back to sleep, etc etc. DH figured out a month or two ago that she wants her bedroom door OPEN, so she can see into the hallway and our room, and that seems to help somewhat, but doesn’t solve the problem entirely.

I keep saying that it’s different this time: with AJ, we closed our doors and let him cry. “Man up!” I guess. With KT, I don’t want her to wake up AJ so I caaaaaaan’t let her just cry. (I know I CAN, but I just don’t.)

Saturday night was her coup de grace: Saturday she climbed over the crib rails and THUNKED down to the floor to perform her nighttime shenanigans. I put her back in bed and walked away. She climbed out again. And that, my friends, is not going to work for me. I know that kids will get out of beds that don’t have those handy prison bars, but at least they won’t fall and break their legs in the middle of the night (twice). So Sunday I went to Target to buy her a pretty new Tinkerbell comforter and sheets set, and tasked DH with removing the crib rail for the last time. Ta-da! Toddler bed.

She seems to love it. Dragged her new big-girl pillow upstairs and down yesterday afternoon, and wanted to make and re-make the bed after we put it together. (I also got some new fabric-covered bins for storage, which we both love. Her room has been a gigantic mess for a long time and I hope this will help. We’re practically a Pottery Barn Kids catalog now!)

She stayed in her bed all through last night, but she still woke up crying and stood up, per routine, at 4:55. Bless her heart, though – when it was finally wakeup time this morning, she was hard to rouse, all cozied up under her covers. THAT is the result I’m looking for.

Life is an easy pasta dinner

Or, life should be an easy pasta dinner. I know that because I accomplished it last night along with a good start on one of my so-called Resolutions: A friend came over to eat dinner with us!

She did the easy part by suggesting we get together, and it was easier for me to say, "Sure, come up for dinner!" than to consider getting all of us downtown to her condo. But the meal was simple -- sun-dried tomato pasta with chicken, salad, and french bread -- and the company was so easy. She was my roommate before I got married and one of the best people I know. She's great with the kids (a teacher by trade), so when I start to feel awkward about how our lives have taken such different paths and what are we going to talk about now??... she doesn't mind letting the kids chat her up. She even left early, allowing us to get them bathed and in bed on-time. I'm unsure if she was aware of how helpful that was -- she couched it as "I have to get up early tomorrow," but she may just be THAT considerate. Note for any of you single ladies who visit your friends with kids: it's nice to leave early on a Sunday night.

KT has had a cough now for 3-4 weeks. Mostly at night. I'm almost certain that it's nothing, but that 2% unsure is instigating worries about pneumonia and I wouldn't want to let that sit and percolate. So to the Pediatrician we go, this afternoon. They'll say, "Has she had a fever?" No. "Any other symptoms?" No. Well, yes, nasal stuff 2 weeks ago. "Turn on a humidifier and call us if it worsens." But this is what we have to do.