Hee Hee! We aren't actually snowed in, Nathan's therapist is. She called this morning to say she can't get out of her driveway today. She lives on a dirt road/track thing and is pretty much stuck. That sort of cancels my plans to go down to town today! Drat! :-)
Yesterday saw 5-6 inches of snow throughout the day. I almost got stuck in the Walmart parking lot. My wheels were spinning nicely, but I managed to wrench the wheel enough to knock myself out of the rut. Whew! My van is a bit big for me to push... I really need to put the non-clumping kitty litter in the van, just for in case.
School started back up yesterday too, which was nice. With Mark back on swings, he is home in the mornings. After I took Nathan to the bus, it was just Mommy, Daddy and William. Wow! A quiet house! It's, um, different having Mark home during the day. I have this routine, it works great, it gets everyone where they need to be when they need to be there. When he's home during my routine it's a little more challenging because he doesn't really understand how exacting my timing has to be. If certain things don't happen at certain times, things go haywire. It's not that I'm a control freak, it's that I found a schedule that works and I have to stick to it!
That's going to be the trick. Making him feel needed and included, not just a body in my way, while getting him to understand that he needs to fit into our routine. Because I'm not going to drastically change things to fit the routine around him. We go through this every time he gets switched to swing shift. Don't worry, we do work things differently to some extent, because it's nice to have another adult to take care of things occasionally. ;-)
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Sunday, January 4, 2009
A brand new year!
Yay! We survived another year in the Willford household! I have some actual silvery-white hairs, but everyone is still alive and mostly sane.
This week was spent about the same as last week, trying to make it through the winter break. Some housework did get done, and some throwing away of useless or old objects. Some stuff got organized, and I feel pretty good so far!
I also started another piano student this week. My friend Amanda's little girl has been very excited to start, and was really great to wait until I got the other 6 students figured out. Her lessons are free because Amanda watches the boys during my lessons to cut back on the distractions. It works out great for both of us.
Our whole house is getting ready for school to start back up tomorrow. Mark is going back to swing shift, which is 3pm to midnight, starting this week. It's kind of a bummer, because Oren doesn't get out of school until 3, so he won't get to see Daddy during the day. Mark and I talked about that, and decided we'd try having Oren come in and talk to Daddy for a few minutes in the morning, then Mark would go back to sleep if he needs. Hopefully that will help!
Nathan starts therapy 3 times a week next week too, so my already insane schedule will be just a little more so. But our goal is to have him ready for kindergarten this fall, so whatever it takes! He was blessed with a great attitude about all this hard work, and his therapist says he is just a joy to work with. We are very grateful for that.
For some reason, I am in the mood for chocolate mug cake, so I'm going to have me a treat!
This week was spent about the same as last week, trying to make it through the winter break. Some housework did get done, and some throwing away of useless or old objects. Some stuff got organized, and I feel pretty good so far!
I also started another piano student this week. My friend Amanda's little girl has been very excited to start, and was really great to wait until I got the other 6 students figured out. Her lessons are free because Amanda watches the boys during my lessons to cut back on the distractions. It works out great for both of us.
Our whole house is getting ready for school to start back up tomorrow. Mark is going back to swing shift, which is 3pm to midnight, starting this week. It's kind of a bummer, because Oren doesn't get out of school until 3, so he won't get to see Daddy during the day. Mark and I talked about that, and decided we'd try having Oren come in and talk to Daddy for a few minutes in the morning, then Mark would go back to sleep if he needs. Hopefully that will help!
Nathan starts therapy 3 times a week next week too, so my already insane schedule will be just a little more so. But our goal is to have him ready for kindergarten this fall, so whatever it takes! He was blessed with a great attitude about all this hard work, and his therapist says he is just a joy to work with. We are very grateful for that.
For some reason, I am in the mood for chocolate mug cake, so I'm going to have me a treat!
Monday, December 29, 2008
In Recovery
I really shouldn't take a week off of homemaker duties. REALLY SHOULDNT!!!!!!! My house is, ummm, interesting.
Christmas morning was lots of fun! Santa managed to keep it a small Christmas, but it was still enough to cause Oren to do this:
This is why he was so excited!
Yep! In the living room! What a cool Santa! The yard toy lasted in the house until Saturday night, when it was forcibly expelled to the back yard. Too much noise and the kids going crazy.
Christmas morning was lots of fun! Santa managed to keep it a small Christmas, but it was still enough to cause Oren to do this:
This is why he was so excited!
Yep! In the living room! What a cool Santa! The yard toy lasted in the house until Saturday night, when it was forcibly expelled to the back yard. Too much noise and the kids going crazy.
Everyone was quite happy, and I decided to only take a few pictures instead of filming the morning, so I could just relax and watch the boys's faces as they opened their presents.
After presents and our traditional Christmas breakfast casserole we loaded up kids and headed to Grandma's house! William figured he would help Grandma get a pan. Thanks buddy!
We had a yummy turkey dinner, and got to enjoy some time with Grandma and Grandpa Danes, who had wandered over to my folk's for dinner. Owen called right before we got there and chatted with everyone. It was great to get to talk with him, and I am amazed at how much he has grown on his mission.
Marie tackled me when I walked in and asked my opinion of a print out of a new hair style. She had gone on a makeover site and wanted to know if the style would look good on her in real life. She had shoulder length, cut strait across, hair. I agreed to cut it for her, since Mom was more nervous than I was!
She is thrilled with the result. Chin length, razored ends on chunky layers, sideswept bangs. And I thinned her hair out with the razor when I cut the layers in, so it dries faster, has more swing, and is about half of how thick it used to be! Her hair is very strait, so if you make a mistake, it is very obvious. She's tilting her head in the top picture... We had to talk to her about making sure that her makeup is very neutral and age appropriate, since she is only 14, because her body looks more like 16 and the hair fits that. Marie is a very modest young lady and will be just fine. It's funny though, she is a good 3-4 inches taller than I am!
Sunday after church we were all relaxing. Actually, I was trying to get all the books rearranged on the shelves to fit in all the boys's books. Mom sent us home with a big box of kids science books and stuff, and they needed a place to go. I was about halfway done when William came in with a little bit of a mess.
Model paint for the boys's model airplane and car kits from Santa. All over his Sunday shirt, and pants. This stuff dries fast, and didn't want to come out of his shirt.
Oh, joy....
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
Let it Snow!
We are definitely having a white Christmas after all! Sunday alone saw 4 inches of new snow, and the wind whipped it up into the most amazing drifts in my backyard. I plan on taking a picture as soon as I feel up to braving the cold. Where did my snow boots go?
Some projects even managed to get done today! They weren't exactly on the schedule, but hey... The heating conduit fell off the vent in the bathroom, somehow, and is resting on the ground underneath the house. We called it into the maintenance office and are waiting to hear back on when they are swinging around to take care of it. Which means that the bathroom needed cleaned. Check! Then Mark reminded me that to get underneath the house they have to pull up the door to the crawl space.... in the hall closet. The one I need to put the shelves up in. The one that I couldn't even see the door set into the floor because of all the stuff on top of it.
That's done too! Check! Hurray for me! Now we just need the phone call of when they are coming! I'm not in any sort of rush though. The vent has been stuffed with a towel for the last week, we can live a while longer. It's a bathroom, not a bedroom.
Mark learned a valuable lesson yesterday afternoon. Everything happens for a reason. Yes, even your wife chatting after church for a good 20 minutes while you are sitting in the car is for a reason. Because if I hadn't been a little talkative, we wouldn't have left when we did. We wouldn't have pulled up to the mailbox to check the mail right as a car got high centered in a rather large drift. And the nice young man would have taken a lot longer to get his car unstuck. Same with the guy who got stuck in a drift on the other side of us! There was even a reason that Oren took his socks off this week and last week at church and handed them to his teacher, who gave them to me after church yesterday. Dirty boys socks make great gloves when you are digging out a car. Mark and I both had a pair! Even the baking sheet that I never brought inside after transporting Oren's Christmas party cupcakes for class had a purpose. That thing might just stay in the car, because it is great for shoveling snow! And kneeling on so you don't soak through your pants! Everything happens for a reason!!!
All this makes me very greatful for my van. I have no idea what AutoTrac is, but it helps keep us on the road. Anti-lock brakes are very handy too. And the fact that it sits up higher than cars is nice. Then there's always how well it starts in the winter. A very effiecient heating system is appreciated. Quite a sturdy family vehicle!
Some projects even managed to get done today! They weren't exactly on the schedule, but hey... The heating conduit fell off the vent in the bathroom, somehow, and is resting on the ground underneath the house. We called it into the maintenance office and are waiting to hear back on when they are swinging around to take care of it. Which means that the bathroom needed cleaned. Check! Then Mark reminded me that to get underneath the house they have to pull up the door to the crawl space.... in the hall closet. The one I need to put the shelves up in. The one that I couldn't even see the door set into the floor because of all the stuff on top of it.
That's done too! Check! Hurray for me! Now we just need the phone call of when they are coming! I'm not in any sort of rush though. The vent has been stuffed with a towel for the last week, we can live a while longer. It's a bathroom, not a bedroom.
Mark learned a valuable lesson yesterday afternoon. Everything happens for a reason. Yes, even your wife chatting after church for a good 20 minutes while you are sitting in the car is for a reason. Because if I hadn't been a little talkative, we wouldn't have left when we did. We wouldn't have pulled up to the mailbox to check the mail right as a car got high centered in a rather large drift. And the nice young man would have taken a lot longer to get his car unstuck. Same with the guy who got stuck in a drift on the other side of us! There was even a reason that Oren took his socks off this week and last week at church and handed them to his teacher, who gave them to me after church yesterday. Dirty boys socks make great gloves when you are digging out a car. Mark and I both had a pair! Even the baking sheet that I never brought inside after transporting Oren's Christmas party cupcakes for class had a purpose. That thing might just stay in the car, because it is great for shoveling snow! And kneeling on so you don't soak through your pants! Everything happens for a reason!!!
All this makes me very greatful for my van. I have no idea what AutoTrac is, but it helps keep us on the road. Anti-lock brakes are very handy too. And the fact that it sits up higher than cars is nice. Then there's always how well it starts in the winter. A very effiecient heating system is appreciated. Quite a sturdy family vehicle!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Oh, the weather....
We've been watching summer movies this week. Movies with warm weather, maybe a beach or too... Why? It's just a tad cold here right now.
For instance, today I got a phone call from my friend Amanda. "I know you have to go to town today, so go out right now and make sure your car will even start." Hers took several tries before it quit dying on her. Luckily I didn't have any problem with mine. But the thermostat on her car said 4 degrees. That's right.
And when I got back from town I turned on the tv to catch some of the noon news. The weather lady was talking about the current temperature with the windchill. I missed the actual temp, but the wind chill was making it feel about -7 out there. -7! With a negative on the front of the 7! I will not be walking to the end of the street to get Nathan from the bus stop. I will be driving. Thankfully Friday is the last day of school before Christmas break.
Speaking of which....
I CAN'T WAIT! (It is at this point that the power went out on base, apperantly, and my computer shut down. By the time the power came back on I was slightly busy- and so I am finishing this at 9:30. Mostly since everyone else is already in bed!)
After I pick up Oren from school on Friday, early release too, I don't have to get all three up and ready before the sun even wakes up for 2 weeks! I don't have to drive down to town twice a week for therapy for 2 weeks! I can just sit and veg. For 2 weeks!
I know stuff will still have to get done. There will still be errands and dishes and laundry and the entertaining of children. I will still have piano lessons. There will still be meals that need made and projects that desperately need finished. Anyone remember those food storage shelves? They still aren't up yet... And there will be snow that will need played in, seeing as how it is supposed to be good and stormy with plenty of white stuff falling this Thursday and Friday. A white Christmas? Maybe!
I think there may be naps that need taken, hot cocoa that needs drunk, and pancake recipes to try. Possibly even hugs that need to be given, kisses to rub in "forever", and little boys that need lots of squishies!
Hmmm.... the next 2 weeks may be busier than I thought! :-)
For instance, today I got a phone call from my friend Amanda. "I know you have to go to town today, so go out right now and make sure your car will even start." Hers took several tries before it quit dying on her. Luckily I didn't have any problem with mine. But the thermostat on her car said 4 degrees. That's right.
And when I got back from town I turned on the tv to catch some of the noon news. The weather lady was talking about the current temperature with the windchill. I missed the actual temp, but the wind chill was making it feel about -7 out there. -7! With a negative on the front of the 7! I will not be walking to the end of the street to get Nathan from the bus stop. I will be driving. Thankfully Friday is the last day of school before Christmas break.
Speaking of which....
I CAN'T WAIT! (It is at this point that the power went out on base, apperantly, and my computer shut down. By the time the power came back on I was slightly busy- and so I am finishing this at 9:30. Mostly since everyone else is already in bed!)
After I pick up Oren from school on Friday, early release too, I don't have to get all three up and ready before the sun even wakes up for 2 weeks! I don't have to drive down to town twice a week for therapy for 2 weeks! I can just sit and veg. For 2 weeks!
I know stuff will still have to get done. There will still be errands and dishes and laundry and the entertaining of children. I will still have piano lessons. There will still be meals that need made and projects that desperately need finished. Anyone remember those food storage shelves? They still aren't up yet... And there will be snow that will need played in, seeing as how it is supposed to be good and stormy with plenty of white stuff falling this Thursday and Friday. A white Christmas? Maybe!
I think there may be naps that need taken, hot cocoa that needs drunk, and pancake recipes to try. Possibly even hugs that need to be given, kisses to rub in "forever", and little boys that need lots of squishies!
Hmmm.... the next 2 weeks may be busier than I thought! :-)
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Date Night Done Right
When we went out for my birthday last Friday, we enjoyed the time without the kids but the meal left something to be desired. The food was substandard and over covered with cheese, the plates were cheap looking, and the service was sketchy. Plus the food was ridiculously overpriced!
We have been questioning why we even bother going out to eat at all? I can make food just as good if not better, for far cheaper. One night, Mark had to work late and so I fed the kids and put them to bed. When he got home I fixed the 2 of us some dinner so we could have some time together, and it was so nice that we figured we should do it more often. We decided Friday nights would be the best times to do that.
With this week being so full, somehow, Mark and I really haven't seen a lot of each other. And when we have it's been dinner with the kids, all noisy, and putting children to bed just so we can fall asleep too. Friday seemed like a good night for a "date night" to me! The kids had spaghetti, got baths, and tucked into bed. Mark relaxed a bit while I worked on our dinner. The table even got all dressed up in my "new" lace tablecloth from the thrift store, and my "fancy" china that I got 75% off last Christmas and hadn't even opened yet...
We enjoyed some artisian cheese bread from Walmart's reduced rack with Country Crock spread placed lovingly in individual serving ramekins. For the first course, a delightful lemon linguine! Which I had posted the recipe for on my food blog already and so I didn't take a picture of the pasta in my fancy dishes.
Dinner and a movie, at home. Date night done right!
We have been questioning why we even bother going out to eat at all? I can make food just as good if not better, for far cheaper. One night, Mark had to work late and so I fed the kids and put them to bed. When he got home I fixed the 2 of us some dinner so we could have some time together, and it was so nice that we figured we should do it more often. We decided Friday nights would be the best times to do that.
With this week being so full, somehow, Mark and I really haven't seen a lot of each other. And when we have it's been dinner with the kids, all noisy, and putting children to bed just so we can fall asleep too. Friday seemed like a good night for a "date night" to me! The kids had spaghetti, got baths, and tucked into bed. Mark relaxed a bit while I worked on our dinner. The table even got all dressed up in my "new" lace tablecloth from the thrift store, and my "fancy" china that I got 75% off last Christmas and hadn't even opened yet...
We enjoyed some artisian cheese bread from Walmart's reduced rack with Country Crock spread placed lovingly in individual serving ramekins. For the first course, a delightful lemon linguine! Which I had posted the recipe for on my food blog already and so I didn't take a picture of the pasta in my fancy dishes.
The spinach-stuffed chicken breasts, however, were not on my blog yet. These were lots of fun to put together, very low maintenance during cooking, and looked delicious on the plates.
Last, but very much not least, the chocolate mousse! If you ever make a chocolate mousse, this is the way to do it. In the blender! So rich and decadant!
Dinner and a movie, at home. Date night done right!
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