Yesterday was a little busy. I actually would have liked to take a nap, but there are things to do! I was getting my bank account updated, paying bills, getting that stuff squared away before the baby comes. Four o'clock was rolling around and I had not even thought about dinner! I really liked when I was planning out my menu for the week, but that has been on hold for the past few weeks - yes, we still eat, but I have not planned out the whole week ahead of time. Anyway, I really did not feel like making dinner, but I also did not feel like spending money to get some sort of take out. Well, we would think of something to make - maybe even something simple like pasta.
Secretly, I was wishing that someone would have invited us over for dinner...but it was kind of late for that - wishful thinking!
From about 4:30-5:00, I was on the phone with various people. Our car had to have some body work on it (which another person was paying for since they caused the damage), then it needed an oil change, inspection and who knows what else they will find! :) I was making the arrangements to have the car moved from the body shop to the dealership, making sure that things would be paid correctly, etc.
Well, as soon as I got off of the phone, it rang again and it was my next door neighbor. She asked me if I had started making dinner yet...my answer was obviously "no", and then she went on to invite us over for dinner last night! I could not believe it! I told her that I really did not feel like making dinner that night and I had just been talking with Dawson about it.
Her reply was, "well, I guess that I was led by the Holy Spirit." We had a really great time at their house, and the commute was great! I am so thankful for the neighbors that the Lord has given to us.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Christmas
We had a really nice Christmas as a family. It was a little busy, but that seems to be the way that this time of year is and it will probably stay that way since my sons are (or will be) born around Christmas.
We spent Christmas Eve with Dawson's family. Christmas day is a little bit busier. We start out as an immediate family - talking about the true meaning of Christmas and then exchanging gifts. My parents join us for breakfast and we exchange gifts with them. Then they head over to my sister's house and we follow shortly after to exchange gifts there and spend the rest of the day as a family. My sister hosts an Italian dinner - chicken parm, sausages and peppers, pasta, meatballs, and other delicious food! It is a fun two days for us, but we are definitely a little tired at the end of the day!
I am thankful that both sides of our family live so close to us so that we do not have to travel far to celebrate Christmas together.
An amusing thing that happened on Christmas morning...Brady had a great time opening presents. We opened our stocking gifts and then we were taking a break (to get breakfast started). Brady walked over to the tree (while we were not in the room) and was very quiet. Dawson decided to look in on him and found that he had opened two gifts! He did not totally understand that we were waiting to open the rest! The good thing was that he chose gifts that were his! It was somewhat amusing. So, we let him open up some more so that he could play with his new toys while we finished making breakfast.
We spent Christmas Eve with Dawson's family. Christmas day is a little bit busier. We start out as an immediate family - talking about the true meaning of Christmas and then exchanging gifts. My parents join us for breakfast and we exchange gifts with them. Then they head over to my sister's house and we follow shortly after to exchange gifts there and spend the rest of the day as a family. My sister hosts an Italian dinner - chicken parm, sausages and peppers, pasta, meatballs, and other delicious food! It is a fun two days for us, but we are definitely a little tired at the end of the day!
I am thankful that both sides of our family live so close to us so that we do not have to travel far to celebrate Christmas together.
An amusing thing that happened on Christmas morning...Brady had a great time opening presents. We opened our stocking gifts and then we were taking a break (to get breakfast started). Brady walked over to the tree (while we were not in the room) and was very quiet. Dawson decided to look in on him and found that he had opened two gifts! He did not totally understand that we were waiting to open the rest! The good thing was that he chose gifts that were his! It was somewhat amusing. So, we let him open up some more so that he could play with his new toys while we finished making breakfast.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Nesting?
Well, this is as close as I am coming to nesting. My sister thinks that I am at this stage, but I think that I am just trying to get things done.
When I think of nesting, I hear that people get these bursts of energy and are running around the house cleaning like a maniac - or something like that.
Those bursts of energy - hasn't happened...but, I still need to try and get things prepared and ready because:
1. Christmas Eve and Christmas is coming (3-4 days away). We spend Christmas Eve with Dawson's family and Christmas day with mine
2. Brady's birthday is coming (I have not planned the party yet - that will be at the end of January at some point)
3. The baby is coming (somewhere around 12 days away)
So, there have been LOTS of things that I have had to do and still have to do like:
1. Buy presents for family members, which I believe is all completed, and birthday presents for Brady, and welcome baby presents, and I am glad that you are my big brother present (a new train) and I am glad that you are my little brother present (a little bib and blanket)
2. Send presents up to MA to Dawson's grandparents via Nanny and Grandpa - including a little baking and a little candy making. This is completed
3. Make a few extra meals to store in the freezer
4. Do some shopping for things that we will be running out of soon, and knowing that I really do not want to go to the store too much more if possible - this is basically done too
5. Continue to work on the birth announcements - yes, they are still not completed, but almost! I need to add a Bible verse and then put the front together. It should be done by this weekend (before Christmas anyway)
6. Try to clean up areas in the house that got a little out of control - due to presents being "dumped" there - they still need to be wrapped
7. Trying to keep up with laundry!
We still need to:
1. Finish painting the trim in Brady's new room - hopefully Dawson can work on this tonight - he has been great with the painting, but also tired too.
2. Move Brady into his big boy room
3. Make a few more meals
4. Finish the announcements and wrap gifts (see #5 and 6 above)
5. Pack for the hospital! I at least started this!
6. Bring the baby clothes up from the basement
So, there is much to do and I have been doing a little bit here and there, but no bursts of energy. I have actually been tired lately, and I feel that more of this should already be done, but when I do not have the energy to do something, I cannot always get myself to do it.
On another note - I had my doctor appointment today and I will tell you that my body still has a ways to go before this little boy is delivered...which is good news to my list above!
When I think of nesting, I hear that people get these bursts of energy and are running around the house cleaning like a maniac - or something like that.
Those bursts of energy - hasn't happened...but, I still need to try and get things prepared and ready because:
1. Christmas Eve and Christmas is coming (3-4 days away). We spend Christmas Eve with Dawson's family and Christmas day with mine
2. Brady's birthday is coming (I have not planned the party yet - that will be at the end of January at some point)
3. The baby is coming (somewhere around 12 days away)
So, there have been LOTS of things that I have had to do and still have to do like:
1. Buy presents for family members, which I believe is all completed, and birthday presents for Brady, and welcome baby presents, and I am glad that you are my big brother present (a new train) and I am glad that you are my little brother present (a little bib and blanket)
2. Send presents up to MA to Dawson's grandparents via Nanny and Grandpa - including a little baking and a little candy making. This is completed
3. Make a few extra meals to store in the freezer
4. Do some shopping for things that we will be running out of soon, and knowing that I really do not want to go to the store too much more if possible - this is basically done too
5. Continue to work on the birth announcements - yes, they are still not completed, but almost! I need to add a Bible verse and then put the front together. It should be done by this weekend (before Christmas anyway)
6. Try to clean up areas in the house that got a little out of control - due to presents being "dumped" there - they still need to be wrapped
7. Trying to keep up with laundry!
We still need to:
1. Finish painting the trim in Brady's new room - hopefully Dawson can work on this tonight - he has been great with the painting, but also tired too.
2. Move Brady into his big boy room
3. Make a few more meals
4. Finish the announcements and wrap gifts (see #5 and 6 above)
5. Pack for the hospital! I at least started this!
6. Bring the baby clothes up from the basement
So, there is much to do and I have been doing a little bit here and there, but no bursts of energy. I have actually been tired lately, and I feel that more of this should already be done, but when I do not have the energy to do something, I cannot always get myself to do it.
On another note - I had my doctor appointment today and I will tell you that my body still has a ways to go before this little boy is delivered...which is good news to my list above!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
More "Chalk" Please
Today, I had my 37 week appointment, and one of my good friends watched Brady. She has two little kiddos of her own and all of the kids play together really well.
While I was gone, the kids drew on the wall in her kitchen that has chalkboard paint on it - which I think is a GREAT idea!!! Brady had a great time drawing and just a lot of fun playing.
When we went to leave, my friend gave Brady a little Ziploc bag with 10 mini marshmallows in it. I have never given Brady a marshmallow before, so I was interested to see what he was going to do with it.
He took two marshmallows out and gave the bag back to my friend. She was telling him that he could keep the bag. So, he then put the marshmallows back into the bag. At that point, I told my friend that he has never eaten a marshmallow before, and I was interested to see what he would do with it (I did not mind him eating them). So, Brady went ahead and took a marshmallow out and proceeded to go over to the chalkboard area of the wall and tried to draw with it - he thought that it was chalk!
The marshmallow was squished onto the wall at this point, so I took it away from him and told him that he could eat the marshmallows. My friend and I started to chuckle and said out loud, "he thought it was chalk." At the same moment, Brady ate one of the marshmallows and said,
"Mmm, more chalk please?"
It was so cute! I then told him that it was called a marshmallow (so that he would not think that chalk was edible!), and he ate the other nine in the car!
While I was gone, the kids drew on the wall in her kitchen that has chalkboard paint on it - which I think is a GREAT idea!!! Brady had a great time drawing and just a lot of fun playing.
When we went to leave, my friend gave Brady a little Ziploc bag with 10 mini marshmallows in it. I have never given Brady a marshmallow before, so I was interested to see what he was going to do with it.
He took two marshmallows out and gave the bag back to my friend. She was telling him that he could keep the bag. So, he then put the marshmallows back into the bag. At that point, I told my friend that he has never eaten a marshmallow before, and I was interested to see what he would do with it (I did not mind him eating them). So, Brady went ahead and took a marshmallow out and proceeded to go over to the chalkboard area of the wall and tried to draw with it - he thought that it was chalk!
The marshmallow was squished onto the wall at this point, so I took it away from him and told him that he could eat the marshmallows. My friend and I started to chuckle and said out loud, "he thought it was chalk." At the same moment, Brady ate one of the marshmallows and said,
"Mmm, more chalk please?"
It was so cute! I then told him that it was called a marshmallow (so that he would not think that chalk was edible!), and he ate the other nine in the car!
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Fun Christmas Meme
I have definitely been busy lately and have not really felt like blogging - mainly because I did not want to take the time and there has been nothing that I have felt like sharing - things that you just don't blog about.
So, when I saw this meme on The Gang's All Here, I decided to take a few moments to this.
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I like a combination of both.
2. Real tree or artificial? artificial - that is what I grew up with and we found a great deal on one last year after Christmas
3. When do you put up the tree? This year it was about one week after Thanksgiving. I would like to make it a tradition to do it the day after Thanksgiving, but too much was going on that weekend
4. When do you take the tree down? Well, this is our first year of having a large Christmas tree up - so, I am not sure. My one son is born on January 2nd and this next one is due around then, so I will probably wait until sometime after their birthday - maybe after the first week of January - this year...not really sure!
5. Do you like eggnog? LOVE it - especially Turkey Hill brand!
6. Favorite gift received as a child? I am not sure - I often got a lot of clothes, and I did enjoy something new to wear
7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes - we were given a large stable as a wedding gift and my in-laws just gave us a nativity set for this year - it is really nice. I also bought Brady a Veggietales one last year (after Christmas), and I know that he is going to love it! He really enjoys Veggietales lately. His favorite right now is Lord of the Beans
8. Hardest person to buy for? Most people - that is why I have asked them all for a list!
9. Easiest person to buy for? My son and nephews
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I cannot remember a bad one at the moment
11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail. This year it will be after the baby arrives though, so they will be late
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? I have no idea at the moment. I enjoy movies, but I really do not have favorite ones. I'll let you know this one another year
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Whenever I see something throughout the year that I think someone would like, but usually after the summer is over
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Only in the White Elephant gift exchanges
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Just about everything. We have an Italian Christmas, as far as food goes - it is all delicious!
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Tiny white lights - and our tree is prelit!
So, when I saw this meme on The Gang's All Here, I decided to take a few moments to this.
A Christmas Meme About Me!
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I like a combination of both.
2. Real tree or artificial? artificial - that is what I grew up with and we found a great deal on one last year after Christmas
3. When do you put up the tree? This year it was about one week after Thanksgiving. I would like to make it a tradition to do it the day after Thanksgiving, but too much was going on that weekend
4. When do you take the tree down? Well, this is our first year of having a large Christmas tree up - so, I am not sure. My one son is born on January 2nd and this next one is due around then, so I will probably wait until sometime after their birthday - maybe after the first week of January - this year...not really sure!
5. Do you like eggnog? LOVE it - especially Turkey Hill brand!
6. Favorite gift received as a child? I am not sure - I often got a lot of clothes, and I did enjoy something new to wear
7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes - we were given a large stable as a wedding gift and my in-laws just gave us a nativity set for this year - it is really nice. I also bought Brady a Veggietales one last year (after Christmas), and I know that he is going to love it! He really enjoys Veggietales lately. His favorite right now is Lord of the Beans
8. Hardest person to buy for? Most people - that is why I have asked them all for a list!
9. Easiest person to buy for? My son and nephews
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I cannot remember a bad one at the moment
11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail. This year it will be after the baby arrives though, so they will be late
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? I have no idea at the moment. I enjoy movies, but I really do not have favorite ones. I'll let you know this one another year
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Whenever I see something throughout the year that I think someone would like, but usually after the summer is over
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Only in the White Elephant gift exchanges
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Just about everything. We have an Italian Christmas, as far as food goes - it is all delicious!
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Tiny white lights - and our tree is prelit!
17. Favorite Christmas song? I like a lot of them - can't pick a favorite at the moment, but I like the ones that are about Jesus
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We open presents in the morning as a family, then my parents come over and then we all go to my sister's on Christmas day. We have been spending Christmas Eve with Dawson's family for the past few years
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? I think so - I just have to sing the song
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? We have not decided on this yet, but I am thinking a star - we just do not have it yet!
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas Eve with my in-laws and Christmas morning with our immediate family and my extended family
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Traffic, the busy-ness of everything going on (it is fun, but it takes a lot of planning with the boys birthdays happening too!)
23. What I love most about Christmas? Baking (although, I have decided that I will not be doing a lot of that this year), spending time with my family, Christmas music - it definitely put me in a good mood!
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We open presents in the morning as a family, then my parents come over and then we all go to my sister's on Christmas day. We have been spending Christmas Eve with Dawson's family for the past few years
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? I think so - I just have to sing the song
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? We have not decided on this yet, but I am thinking a star - we just do not have it yet!
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas Eve with my in-laws and Christmas morning with our immediate family and my extended family
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Traffic, the busy-ness of everything going on (it is fun, but it takes a lot of planning with the boys birthdays happening too!)
23. What I love most about Christmas? Baking (although, I have decided that I will not be doing a lot of that this year), spending time with my family, Christmas music - it definitely put me in a good mood!
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Running Errands
This morning, Brady and I road with Dawson to work - I need to do a few errands, and this is the only way to get them done during the day, since we are currently a one car family. So, we were all up and dressed to leave by around 7:30ish.
After dropping Dawson off at work - and visiting a little bit (the bladder was full already!), Brady and I started on our adventure...
We went to the chiro for our adjustment, went to the bank and then we went to BJ's. Brady does not always like to be in the cart, but I definitely "persuade" him to sit in it, so that I can quickly move through the store. We picked up our few items, and then went to check out. Brady was trying to get out of the cart, but I firmly told him that he needed to stay seated and that he was not allowed to climb out because that it dangerous. He cried a little bit, but he did obey - PTL. Usually when he cries a little bit, his nose might produce some boogies - as with anyone. I really did not notice anything at that moment - I was doing the self check out. When I was leaving the store, I noticed that something was on his jacket - what in the world was that? So, I went to pick it off of his jacket and realized...I now have a boogie on my fingers! What do I do with it? I did not have any tissues in my jacket, so I had to wait until we got to the car to take care of it - yuck!...but, part of being a mom!
After BJ's, we went to the bread outlet, and then headed over to an Asian store. The store is usually open from 8-5:30, but they had a sign on the door that said that they were closed and would return at 11:00...it was only 10:15! There was no way that we were going to wait around for that!
So, we headed over to Grammie and Poppy's house for a little visit - and my sister and Barber were also there for a visit! How nice! The two boys played together for a while, and then it was time to head home.
A busy morning, but it was nice to get out of the house! I actually enjoyed running the errands - and Brady was a good boy (overall) - he is a great helper, and I know that he will continue to be that way when the baby arrives!
Well, now that the afternoon nap is in session, it is time to do some more cooking and baking. I think that I will attempt to make the chocolate cream pie and some coleslaw. We will see what happens!
After dropping Dawson off at work - and visiting a little bit (the bladder was full already!), Brady and I started on our adventure...
We went to the chiro for our adjustment, went to the bank and then we went to BJ's. Brady does not always like to be in the cart, but I definitely "persuade" him to sit in it, so that I can quickly move through the store. We picked up our few items, and then went to check out. Brady was trying to get out of the cart, but I firmly told him that he needed to stay seated and that he was not allowed to climb out because that it dangerous. He cried a little bit, but he did obey - PTL. Usually when he cries a little bit, his nose might produce some boogies - as with anyone. I really did not notice anything at that moment - I was doing the self check out. When I was leaving the store, I noticed that something was on his jacket - what in the world was that? So, I went to pick it off of his jacket and realized...I now have a boogie on my fingers! What do I do with it? I did not have any tissues in my jacket, so I had to wait until we got to the car to take care of it - yuck!...but, part of being a mom!
After BJ's, we went to the bread outlet, and then headed over to an Asian store. The store is usually open from 8-5:30, but they had a sign on the door that said that they were closed and would return at 11:00...it was only 10:15! There was no way that we were going to wait around for that!
So, we headed over to Grammie and Poppy's house for a little visit - and my sister and Barber were also there for a visit! How nice! The two boys played together for a while, and then it was time to head home.
A busy morning, but it was nice to get out of the house! I actually enjoyed running the errands - and Brady was a good boy (overall) - he is a great helper, and I know that he will continue to be that way when the baby arrives!
Well, now that the afternoon nap is in session, it is time to do some more cooking and baking. I think that I will attempt to make the chocolate cream pie and some coleslaw. We will see what happens!
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Cooking Away!
I had a lot of veggies in my fridge that needed to be used up before they rotted! I do not like to throw food away because it has been forgotten - so, I knew that I needed to do some cooking - as I mentioned in my last post.
On Monday, I started by making a delicious turkey soup! I got this recipe from my mom - she purees the veggies before adding the meat and you are left with a delicious thick broth. YUM!!! I was so glad that I made this on Monday, because I had a headache/migraine on Tuesday and did not feel like cooking - so we ate the soup on Tuesday. I made so much of it, that I am going to freeze some so that we have something to eat after the baby is born! :) Which reminds me, I really need to stock up on some more freezer meals!
I also made colcannon - which is a delicious dish that uses kale, carrots, onions, mashed potatoes and cheddar cheese - YUM!!! We ate that tonight (along with some chicken).
Yesterday, I did absolutely no cooking - I made myself get up to get the soup heated up. I really did not feel like doing that, but I really like to have dinner ready (or close to it) when Dawson arrives home. So, the Lord helped me to do it, and then by the time that dinner was over, I was feeling so much better - the headache was gone! PTL
Today was another cooking afternoon. I had leeks and potatoes, so I decided to make a potato leek soup. This recipe that I found on the foodnetwork - made by Emeril - is SO delicious! Click here for the recipe. I left out the pancetta and I did not make the garnish - although it looks very pretty, and maybe I will do it that way at some point in my life - just not today! I also pureed the soup - delicious!
Another new recipe that I tried out was a spinach casserole - I just need to cook it tomorrow. I am not so sure about this recipe. It looks different than what it sounded like. So, I will have to let you know what I think about it.
More cooking and baking is still to be accomplished. I have quite a few cabbages that I need to do something with. I really do not like cabbages cooked and I really do not like it raw, by itself. So, I have found two recipes that I am going to try. One is a cabbage roll and the other is a coleslaw that sounds good - we will have to see. I still need to make a chocolate cream pie for my hunny. So, I think that I will be quite busy with cooking over the next few days.
We are also hosting the Christmas party for our Life Group this Sunday at our home - so, the Christmas tree needs to be put up - hopefully decorated too - we will have to see what we are able to accomplish!
I am having a great time cooking, except that my lower back is a little achy from time to time. So, I am sure to take a break here and there to give my back a break! Well, off to bed - it is WAY past my bedtime!
On Monday, I started by making a delicious turkey soup! I got this recipe from my mom - she purees the veggies before adding the meat and you are left with a delicious thick broth. YUM!!! I was so glad that I made this on Monday, because I had a headache/migraine on Tuesday and did not feel like cooking - so we ate the soup on Tuesday. I made so much of it, that I am going to freeze some so that we have something to eat after the baby is born! :) Which reminds me, I really need to stock up on some more freezer meals!
I also made colcannon - which is a delicious dish that uses kale, carrots, onions, mashed potatoes and cheddar cheese - YUM!!! We ate that tonight (along with some chicken).
Yesterday, I did absolutely no cooking - I made myself get up to get the soup heated up. I really did not feel like doing that, but I really like to have dinner ready (or close to it) when Dawson arrives home. So, the Lord helped me to do it, and then by the time that dinner was over, I was feeling so much better - the headache was gone! PTL
Today was another cooking afternoon. I had leeks and potatoes, so I decided to make a potato leek soup. This recipe that I found on the foodnetwork - made by Emeril - is SO delicious! Click here for the recipe. I left out the pancetta and I did not make the garnish - although it looks very pretty, and maybe I will do it that way at some point in my life - just not today! I also pureed the soup - delicious!
Another new recipe that I tried out was a spinach casserole - I just need to cook it tomorrow. I am not so sure about this recipe. It looks different than what it sounded like. So, I will have to let you know what I think about it.
More cooking and baking is still to be accomplished. I have quite a few cabbages that I need to do something with. I really do not like cabbages cooked and I really do not like it raw, by itself. So, I have found two recipes that I am going to try. One is a cabbage roll and the other is a coleslaw that sounds good - we will have to see. I still need to make a chocolate cream pie for my hunny. So, I think that I will be quite busy with cooking over the next few days.
We are also hosting the Christmas party for our Life Group this Sunday at our home - so, the Christmas tree needs to be put up - hopefully decorated too - we will have to see what we are able to accomplish!
I am having a great time cooking, except that my lower back is a little achy from time to time. So, I am sure to take a break here and there to give my back a break! Well, off to bed - it is WAY past my bedtime!
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