Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen things on my to do list today (in no particular order)

1. Get kids going on their chore lists DONE
2. Sweep front porch DONE
3. Revive plant in dining room
4. dining room windows DONE
5. foyer windows (sidelights and above front door)
6. Get groceries for rest of the week's meals DONE
7. Post office to mail some things (otherwise my sweet friend Rae will forevermore think I am a total slacker)
8. Get birthday gift for Karly DONE
9. foyer floor (vacuum/polish hardwood)
10. dining room floor (vacuum/polish hardwood)
11. Take kids to library to pick up some summer reading
12. Fold/put away laundry
13. Help kids get new sheets on their beds

For Friday...

listening to Spongebob Squarepants on in the background...

eating gingerbread cake that Jake made yesterday

drinking water. I'm hoping this says water every time I post this list. (I am copying my friend, Tini)

wearing brown shorts and an orange tshirt, yellow flipflops

reading the long TO DO list I am making

feeling frustrated about my weight and difficulty getting a workout schedule together

weather warmish

wanting peace

needing more sleep

thinking about things that frustrate me

enjoying my kids

wondering if the new pizza dough I bought for tonight's calzones will taste good.

Outside my window...the sun is shining

I am thinking...about eating breakfast (it is 10:11am and my stomach is growling).

I am thankful for...summer vacation

I am wearing...running shorts and a grey BC3Day tshirt, yellow flip flops

I am creating...a long list in my head of stuff to do

I am going...to get up and eat after I post this

I am reading...several books including Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince (which I am continually comparing to the movie)

I am hoping...the weather will be cool when we're in Disney World next month

I am hearing... icarly on the TV

Around the house...the girls are chattering, the dog and boy are sleeping, the bird is chirping...

One of my favorite things...is the email my husband just sent me.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Running every day, spurring the kids on with their chores, scheduling Buster's neutering surgery, enjoying Independence Day at the pool with the fam...

Run Like a Mother and Thursday Thirteen

Go. Get. This. Book. Its great. It is wonderful. It is motivating. It has motivated me to try and run faster, it has motivated me to run more, and it has motivated me to update my blog! HA! I'm going to try and be more consistent here, keeping track of my runs, my fitness (15 pounds to go) and what I'm doing to accomplish my biggest goal to date: completing a half-marathon!

13 things to focus on during these last 15 pounds:

1. Be consistent

2. Be patient

3. Focus on the small victories

4. Remember to weight train

5. Find a running buddy

6. Faster is not always better

7. Find a training partner

8. Run outside more (even though I love the 'mill)

9. Do more hill repeats

10. When I think I am "done", do more (one more mile, one more minute, one more hill, one more lap).

11. Ask for help when I need it.

12. Add some more "fast" songs to my shuffle.

13. Find some GU that I can tolerate.

Snapshot

Inspired by this blogger: http://71toes.blogspot.com/ I'm going to take a little "snapshot" of what things are like with the Booth Family at the beginning of 2010. I've done similar things in my scrapbooks before, and its kinda fun to look back and see where we've been and what kinds of things our family was into during a certain time period:

Jason and Jake got to JuJitsu classes at Vanguard gym. I like that Jake likes to do things with his dad.

Maisy is planning to take a "How to Audition" class at the Center for The Arts.

Charlotte has not yet decided what her next activity will be. She is a real renaissance woman.

I'm taking a knitting class next week, that Jason gave me as a Christmas gift! Very excited to learn this craft - have wanted to for quite some time.

I like to go to the gym, and hope to run a few more 5ks this year. I might run a half-marathon, but sometimes I find myself wondering why I want to do that.

We keep track of the kids' growth on the laundry room door. They keep reminding me it has been a while since we've measured.

Charlotte likes to be read to at night, Maisy goes in spurts, and Jake has no interest in reading with a parent anymore. Sad.

Jake has braces. It is a real challenge to get him to brush his teeth. Blech.

We still cannot park a car in our garage.

The girls ride the bus to/from school most days. Jake is driven by Sandy Taylor, and in the afternoon, I pick up Jake and also Sandy's son from middle school.

We have lots of rooms I'd like to paint in our home.

We can't use our master bath tub because the drain leaks. This bugs me a lot.

We have a paper shredder. And a big pile of stuff to shred.

Jason likes to walk Buster over to Starbucks on Saturday mornings. The girls at Starbucks bring out a bowl of water for Buster.

Monday night is still Mac and Cheese night. Despite the fact that it isn't the most nutritious meal on the planet, the kids love it. Jason will only eat it if I make his grandma's recipe, and the kids prefer Velveeta. Even at 13, 10, and 7, they want to have a "cheese finger" when I am squeezing the bag of cheesy goodness into the pan of macaroni shells. If it is your movie pick week, you also "get the bag" to squeeze out the rest of whatever cheese is left. Jason and I usually order Chinese take-out on Mondays, because the kids don't like it, so we'd miss out on that food choice any other time. Speaking of movie picks, we still have arguments about what the "picker" has chosen, pretty much every week, except for parent pick. We always pick something for everyone, and Jake will pick a "Naruto" or "Yugioh", and the girls will pick "Annie" or some other tween version of a "chick flick".

I an concerned (and relatively convinced) that Jake will outgrow his loft bed before he graduates from HS.

Buster still surfs the counters and table for food bits, and steals whenever he sees an opening (mostly from Charlotte) . Buster gets into the trashcan. Buster likes socks.

Linus seems fragile, but can really stick it to Buster when he's being annoying. Buster has little cuts on the insides of his ears to prove it. Linus sleeps in the basement bathroom because he wakes at night and whines a lot.

I think I'll have to continue this in another post, or this will never get posted!

Reflecting...

Wow. 2009 is over.

The years seem to pass more quickly as I get older. That's pretty sad, isn't it? Some good stuff is happening and I really want to savor each and every moment. Then again, there was some bad also...maybe a remote control that I could use to fast forward through the muck and pause the really great moments? That would make an awesome movie! Oh, wait. I think they already did that. Never mind.

Highlights:

The Breast Cancer 3 Day

Weekend crop with friends (May Edition)

Weekend crop with friends (November Edition)

A brand new nephew (I love babies!)

21 inches of December snow!

A wedding

A new puppy

An OLD dog

17 years of marriage

lots of birthdays

Closing of the Lifetime Moments Message Boards and online store (BOO!)

H1N1 for the whole family! (the actual virus, not the vaccine)

Braces for Jake

Lots of time at the gym

Ran my first 5k

I am sure there are some highlights that I have forgotten. I think I'll probably remember some as soon as I hit "publish". Whatever. Not a big deal. Letting go of the small stuff for 2010.

Insanity

Why am I taking time 4 days before Christmas Eve to write in my blog? You know, this happens every December. You start taking stock of the year, and the things you got to do, the things you didn't...and with me, this blog comes to mind. Sort of like my own personal resolution. Be busier on my blog. Post more often. I will not go out on that very long limb and say I will post every day, but I certainly hope that a once a week recap could happen. Maybe.

The Letter C

The letter 'C' is on vacation for the weekend.  Back for more riveting alphabet tales on Monday.

B, B, B. What begins with B?

Breast Cancer 3 Day - I am  walking in this event October 16-18 in Philadelphia.  My donation button is over there on the right - make a donation ! Please? Thanks!! 

Buster Bluth - funny character from 'Arrested Development'.  We are planning to name our new Airedale, "Buster".

Birkenstock - my shoe love.  Back several years ago, I had serious foot issues.  Heel spurs and plantar fasciitis.  OUCH! As a result, I had to wear shoes all the time, and I was either wearing orthotic inserts (usually in my sneakers or running shoes), or I was wearing Birks.  I have quite a collection now, even though my foot problems have subsided (thanks to a 30-pound weight loss). 

Buble`, Michael - I'm not usually into lounge singer-types, but I'll make an exception here. Love, love, love this song: Everything

Brad Paisley - Adorable country singer. Great guitarist. Awesome songwriter. 'Nuff said. Take a listen: Brad 

BPS - also known as, Big Picture Scrapbooking . A really great site with online scrapbooking classes, projects and inspiration. 

Ben & Jerry's  - ice cream!  This is tops, in my book! They've thought up all the right things to 

put into a pint of vanilla or chocolate (or coffee, or banana) ice cream!  My favorite is Chubby Hubby (Fudge Covered Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels in Vanilla Malt Ice Cream Rippled with Fudge & Peanut Butter), though most flavors are yummy! 

A, A, what begins with A?

Apple Computer:  is my favorite.  I was surprised to feel this way, until Jason bought me an ibook for my birthday back in 2005. Everything about it is better than a PC.   I feel the "need" for a new one, and am saving my money.  I hope to make the purchase in late summer/early fall. 

An apple a day: only works when my favorite "Honey Crisp" apples are in seaso

n. 

Arrested Development:  Possibly the most genius comedy writing that is no longer on TV.  I stumbled on this show with Jason, and we love it. It makes us giggle, laugh, guffaw and sometimes gasp in shock...

                                                     

 Airedale Terrier: We're getting one at the end of the summer! 

 Kizzee and Sean (Connery) had a small litter of 2 boys on July 3. One is ours!   The little sweetie to the left is about 9 weeks old, exactly what ours will look like when we bring him home around August 30.   We picked the Airedale because it is a non-shedder, is a really smart breed, and Jason wanted a somewhat larger dog than our last two, which were Mini-Schnauzers.   Special thanks to breeder Corally Burmaster, who has been a pleasure to work with and welcomes us out to her place anytime we want to visit with the puppies she has on site. 

SO I bought this book a few years ago, after it was recommended by Cathy Zielske. She taught a class at CKU using this book. I have never been to CKU, but have always wanted to take a class taught by Cathy.  Yippee for me, she is teaching a form of this class at Big Picture Scrapbooking!  Part of the class prep is to take alphabet tags (that are provided as a PDF) and begin to make a list of words for my own "Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life".  My friend Stephanie is also taking the class.  She used her blog a while back to make daily alphabetical entries...and so I will try to do the same.  beginning with A today and intending to finish the alphabet before the class begins in early September.  I'm not a terribly faithful blogger, so this might be useless, but anything to try and get here on a more consistent basis! :)  

Top 13 Songs in my itunes Library...

Please keep in mind this is the Top 13 EVER (almost 4 years).   Its quite an eclectic little mix, no?  My taste in music is broad, and that's all I've got to say! 

1. Never Loved You More - Nichole Nordeman

2. Home - Nichole Nordeman

3. Brave - Nichole Nordeman

4. Stick to the Status Quo - HSM1

5. Why Georgia - John Mayer

6. I'm Feeling You - Michelle Branch

7. Hey Ya! - Outkast

8. Leave the Pieces - The Wreckers

9. That's Right - Lyle Lovett

10. Me Neither - Brad Paisley

11. Bop To The Top - HSM1

12. I Found a Way - Drake Bell

13. Baby I'm a Star - Prince 

Is there a way to show the top 13 for 2009?  That would give you a more current "snapshot" of me. 

What's your top 13 in itunes?  Share here! 

Summer's coming!

R U ready??   I'm getting geared up for a leisurely summer with my kids plus 2.  We'll have 2 neighbor girls with us - they usually go to Minnieland Daycare (a regional chain) but in chatting with their mom we thought that a break for the summer might be nice??   The decision was made easier by the fact that the younger girl and my younger girl are the same age/grade, and also my older girl and the older neighbor girl are also the same age.  Poor Jake is out in the cold, but I hope to help him line up some buddies he can bring to the pool and have over for goofing off every few days. 

Summer activities on the agenda:

Swimming Pool - opens at 11am daily and we plan to be there at opening - to get one of the choice tables under shade. 

Library - making sure all 5 kids are getting their school summer reading lists completed! We'll also be on the lookout for any programs the library might have to offer - like the turtle lady that is coming next Thursday,  and  a Native American Storyteller who will be there another day....

Movies!  Our local AMC Theatre has $1 movies on Wednesday mornings at 10am.  A variety of  kid-movies that were originally shown in the last 6 months sometime...still fine to see a second time - for $1!  They have a discount on popcorn and drinks too. Last summer we didn't really "do" lunch on Wednesdays...more like a heavy snack of fruit and cheese (which was perfectly fine after a bucket of popcorn)!

Beyond those "off-site" activities, at home, we have a trampoline out back, lots of craft supplies for the girls, and a Wii, NintendoDS, computer for all.  Hopefully there is enough to keep the crew happy! :) 

GOOD GRIEF!

Way too long since I posted here...and I can't stop to do so now, but consider this a place holder for later this evening.  As the school year winds down for the kids, I am re-thinking my daily schedule for chores and enjoying some scrapbooking and internet time in the evenings...I will put this blog at the top of my list - meaning I'll try to take time to say a quick hello here before I do that other stuff!   

Back later! :) 

Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk - Update 2

On April 25, I joined about 125 other 3 Day walkers at Tyson's Corner Mall in McLean, Virginia for a Training Walk Kick Off Event. Organized by Shawn Supers (DC Field Coordinator), and TWL (Training Walk Leader) Beth Botwright, the walk was a complete success.  Here's Beth to the left <------ (she was in the fashion show too).  What a terrific, energetic and FUN person Beth is! 

We began gathering at the New Balance Store at 7:30 a.m. and by 8:30 a.m. we had a full crowd of walkers and more than 10 TWLs to lead groups of walkers through the mall for a 3 mile walk.   Following our walk we were able to get professionally fitted for the shoes meant to carry us the 60 miles in October and all the training miles beforehand.... We also got to see a fashion show (which I participated in) of some COOL New Balance gear made for walking!  It was a really fun morning and I enjoyed my time thoroughly!                                                                                                                          

I am beginning to think that 3 Day Walkers must be some of the friendliest and most fun people on the planet!  I led the first walk team out with another TWL, Kristina, as my "caboose".  Thanks Kristina!! :)   (I'm on the left, with Kristina on the right).

Up front, I was accompanied by  Cindy, a woman from Frederick, Maryland, with more connections to breast cancer than any one person should have.  I almost felt guilty walking with her; having no personal connections to this awful disease. She actually *thanked* me for walking. Such a sweetheart! 

         

FUNDRAISING UPDATE:  I am thrilled to announce that this past week I reached $1,000 in fundraising!   With a lofty goal of $5,000,  I was encouraged to reach this first milestone.   I haven't been at all anxious about the walking (though that may change), but I have really been on alert regarding fundraising.   I'm taking steps now to follow up with emails I have already sent, but not gotten any kind of reply from. Possibly when the email was sent in "bulk" it went directly to someone's spam box?  If most people are like me, they never (and I really mean NEVER) look in their spam. I only go in there once a month or so to "select all" and delete.   I hate to think I was deleted, but if someone didn't know I was there in the first place, I guess its OK. 

     In addition to emailing, I've got donation boxes in several local merchants. Hopefully someone's extra change can be the difference in me making my goal!   

PLANS FOR THIS WEEK:  Follow-up emails, snail mail letters to some family members who don't "do" email, and checking the coin boxes I have around town.   Oh, I think I'll probably do some walking too! ;)

Do I have a life??

SUPPOSEDLY if you've seen over 85 films, you have no life. Mark the ones you've seen. Copy this list, go to your own facebook account or blog or website, paste this as a note. Then, mark X's next to the films you've seen, add them up, change the header adding your number, and click post at the bottom. Have fun.
(X) Rocky Horror Picture Show
(x) Grease
(x) Pirates of the Caribbean
(X ) Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest
( ) Boondock Saints
() Fight Club
( ) Starsky and Hutch
() Neverending Story
(x) Blazing Saddles
(x) Airplane
Total so far: 6

(x) The Princess Bride
(x ) Anchorman
(x ) Napoleon Dynamite
( ) Labyrinth
( ) Saw
( ) Saw II
( ) White Noise
( ) White Oleander
( ) Anger Management
() 50 First Dates
(x) The Princess Diaries
(x) The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Total so far: 11

() Scream
() Scream 2
() Scream 3
(x) Scary Movie
( ) Scary Movie 2
() Scary Movie 3
() Scary Movie 4
(x) American Pie
(x) American Pie 2
(x) American Wedding
( ) American Pie Band Camp
Total so far: 15

(x) Harry Potter 1
(x) Harry Potter 2
(x) Harry Potter 3
(x) Harry Potter 4
( ) Resident Evil 1
( ) Resident Evil 2
(x) The Wedding Singer
() Little Black Book
() The Village
(x ) Lilo & Stitch
Total so far:21

(x) Finding Nemo
( ) Finding Neverland
(x) Signs
(x) The Grinch
() Texas Chainsaw Massacre
( ) Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
( ) White Chicks
( ) Butterfly Effect
(x ) 13 Going on 30
() I, Robot
( ) Robots
Total so far: 25

() Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
() Universal Soldier
( x) Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
( ) Along Came Polly
() Deep Impact
() KingPin
() Never Been Kissed
(x) Meet The Parents
(x) Meet the Fockers
( ) Eight Crazy Nights
( ) Joe Dirt
( ) KING KONG
Total so far: 28

() A Cinderella Story
() The Terminal
( ) The Lizzie McGuire Movie
( ) Passport to Paris
(x) Dumb & Dumber
( ) Dumber & Dumberer
() Final Destination
() Final Destination 2
() Final Destination 3
() Halloween
() The Ring
() The Ring 2
( ) Surviving X-MAS
( ) Flubber
Total so far: 29

( ) Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
() Practical Magic
(x) Chicago
() Ghost Ship
( ) From Hell
( ) Hellboy
() Secret Window
( ) I Am Sam
( ) The Whole Nine Yards
() The Whole Ten Yards
Total so far: 30

() The Day After Tomorrow
( ) Child's Play
() Seed of Chucky
() Bride of Chucky
() Ten Things I Hate About You
() Just Married
() Gothika
( ) Nightmare on Elm Street
(x ) Sixteen Candles
() Remember the Titans
() Coach Carter
() The Grudge
() The Grudge 2
(x) The Mask
(x) Son Of The Mask
Total so far: 33

( ) Bad Boys
() Bad Boys 2
() Joy Ride
( ) Lucky Number Slevin
(x) Ocean's Eleven
() Ocean’s Thirteen
() Ocean's Twelve
(x) Bourne Identity
(x ) Bourne Supremecy
(x) Bourne Ultimatum
( ) Lone Star
( ) Bedazzled
( ) Predator I
() Predator II
() The Fog
(x) Ice Age
() Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
(x) Curious George
Total so far: 38

(x) Independence Day
( ) Cujo
() A Bronx Tale
( ) Darkness Falls
() Christine
(x) ET
( ) Children of the Corn
( ) My Bosses Daughter
() Maid in Manhattan
(x) War of the Worlds
() Rush Hour
() Rush Hour 2
() Rush Hour 3
() Rush Hour 4
Total so far: 41

( ) Best Bet
() How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
() She's All That
(x ) Calendar Girls
(x ) Sideways
() Mars Attacks
( ) Event Horizon
(x) Ever After
(x ) Wizard of Oz
(x) Forrest Gump
( ) Big Trouble in Little China
( x) The Terminator
( ) The Terminator 2
( ) The Terminator 3
Total so far: 47

( ) X-Men
() X-2
( ) X-3
(x ) Spider-Man
(x ) Spider-Man 2
() Spider-Man 3
(x) Sky High
() Jeepers Creepers
() Jeepers Creepers 2
(x) Catch Me If You Can
(x) The Little Mermaid
() Freaky Friday
() Jason Goes To Hell
() Reign of Fire
() The Skulls
() Cruel Intentions
() Cruel Intentions 2
() The Hot Chick
(x) Shrek
(x) Shrek 2
(x) Shrek 3
Total so far: 55

( ) Swimfan
() Miracle on 34th street
() Old School
() The Notebook
() K-Pax
( ) Krippendorf's Tribe
() A Walk to Remember
(x) Ice Castles
() Boogeyman
(x) The 40-year-old Virgin
Total so far: 57

(x) Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring
(x) Lord of the Rings The Two Towers
() Lord of the Rings Return Of the King
(x) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
(x) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
(x) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
() Indiana Jones and The Crystal Skull
Total so far: 62


() Baseketball
() Hostel
() Waiting for Guffman
( ) House of 1000 Corpses
( ) Devils Rejects
(x) Elf
( ) Highlander
( ) Mothman Prophecies
() American History X
( ) Three
Total so Far: 63

( ) The Jacket
( ) Kung Fu Hustle
( ) Shaolin Soccer
() Night Watch
(x ) Monsters Inc
(x) Titanic
( x) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
( ) Shaun Of the Dead
( ) Willard
Total so far: 66

( ) High Tension
( ) Club Dread
() Hulk
(x) The Incredible Hulk
( ) Dawn Of the Dead
(x ) Hook
(x) Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
() Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
() 28 days later
() 28 Weeks Later
( ) Orgazmo
() Phantasm
() Waterworld
Total so far: 69

() Kill Bill vol 1
() Kill Bill vol 2
() Mortal Kombat
( ) Wolf Creek
() Kingdom of Heaven
(x) Kung Fu Panda
() The Express
() Igor
(x) Toy Story 1
(x) Toy Story 2
(x) Dumbo
(x) Peter Pan
() Power Rangers: The Movie
() the Hills Have Eyes
( ) City of Embers
( ) I Spit on Your Grave aka the Day of the Woman
( ) The Last House on the Left
( ) Re-Animator
() Army of Darkness
Total so far: 74

(x) Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
(x) Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
(x) Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
(x) Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
(x) Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
(x) Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
(x) Star Wars: The Clone Wars
(x) The Game Plan
(x) The Holiday
() The Dark Knight
() Batman Forever
() Batman Begins
() Batman and Robin
() Batman
( ) Ewoks Caravan Of Courage
( ) Ewoks The Battle For Endor
(x) The Mummy
() The Mummy Returns
() The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
(x) Wall-e
()Wanted
() Virgin Territory
() Untraceable
() Transformers
() The Kingdom
Total so far: 73

() The Matrix
() The Matrix Revolutions
() Animatrix
( ) Evil Dead
() Evil Dead 2
() Team America: World Police
() Red Dragon
(x) Silence of the Lambs
() Hannibal
Total: 86

Apparently not. 

Whatev. 

Below is the beginning of monthly menu planning!  Yay me! Where ever it says, "recipe on mac", I have that recipe on my laptop (which just so happens to be a Mac, go figure). I am excited to try this type of planning. You will notice that the details about the days changed slightly, but the idea is the same. Some days say the "theme", but no actual meal.  I'll edit as I figure those out! :) The "code" DD means: "Dream Dinners", which is a prep-kitchen place we have here. I go once a month and put together 6 freezer meals.   I like trying things with ingredients I wouldn't normally buy, especially spices. It bugs me to buy a container of some spice that I only need 1/4 tsp of, and then never use the spice again. This way, there is no waste, so actually a savings! :)   I also like that someone else did all the slicing and dicing of the veggies and meats used in the meals. I just measure out the correct amounts, assemble the meal in a pan, and label the lid. All the instructions are right there! :)  Let me know if there are any recipes you're interested in - I'll either post the recipe or the link here for you. Do you and your family have a favorite recipe?  Please share!

April 12-18

SU: Something New

M: Pasta Macaroni and Cheese/ Hot Dogs

TU: Soup/Salad/Sandwiches (we had Subway)

W: Crockpot Chuck Roast (recipe on mac)

TH: Easy DD Oven Baked Almond Chicken

F: Pizza - Amicis

SA: Casserole

 

April 19-25

SU: Something New

M: Pasta - DD 3 Cheese Pasta w/ Meatballs

TU: Soup/Salad/Sandwiches

W: Crockpot No Peek Beef Casserole (recipe on mac)

TH: Easy DD Chicken Enchiladas

F: Pizza - DD calzones

SA: Casserole

 

April 26-May 2

SU: Something New

M: Pasta -  MACARONI AND CHEESE

TU: Soup/Salad/Sandwiches

W: Crockpot 40clove cr.pot chicken (recipe on mac)

TH:  Easy DD Old Fashioned Meatloaf

F: Pizza -  Dominos

SA: Casserole

About Menu Plan Monday...

I've been inspired by Tsh Oxenreider at Simple Mom who makes a meal plan for the month!  I like how she chooses to have each day of the week be a certain type of meal (for example, she makes Thursday crockpot day).  She also makes use of local ingredients from a farmer's market. Since my local farmer's market opens this Sunday (4/5),  I'd like to give this a whirl - let's see what I can come up with! :) 

This might be my basic weekly plan: 

Sundays - something new

Mondays - pasta

Tuesdays - soup, salad, and/or sandwiches

Wednesdays - crock-pot

Thursdays - casserole

Fridays - pizza (frozen, delivery, or homemade)

Saturdays - something easy

I will do some "homework" over the next few days and come up with a plan for the rest of April. Check back for it on Sunday! :) 

THURSDAY THIRTEEN

Thirteen Things To Share From This Week (sorry, I've got nothing more original today):

1. First off, I need to begin by wishing my friend, Kim, a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  I don't think she reads here (she's never said she does), but a few of you know her - so send her some good wishes too! :)

2. I kept Charlotte home Monday due to "goopy eyes" which turned out to be Pink Eye (as diagnosed at a Tuesday morning visit to see Doctor Bonnie).

3. So I didn't get to go to the gym on Monday.

4. I kept Charlotte home Tuesday, and then Wednesday due to fever.

5.  I didn't get to go to the gym Tuesday, so I ran in the evening (see #7)

6. I am keeping Charlotte home today due to the 102.4 fever she still had at 5pm Wednesday evening (school requests children be fever-free for 24 hours to return to school).

7. I had a good run Tuesday afternoon at the school track during Maisy's soccer practice (need to run outside more).

8. I had a great workout with Dianne Wednesday morning (ouch triceps, chest, abs).

9. There are 2 days until the kids' Spring Break begins! 

10. I shopped cameras this week. I still can't decide (nor can I pay, at the moment). 

11. Amused that Maisy put her brother's underwear in the freezer (while wet) for April Fool's Day.  He wasn't.

12. Amused that Maisy put a raisin in my toothpaste tube...and Charlotte put one in Maisy's.

13. Looking forward to a nice, rare steak for dinner tonight.

The Grace of Small Things...

Today is Wednesday. I love Wednesdays because there is no agenda for me. No appointments, no preschool, nothing to do except pick up Jake from school at 2:40.  Enjoy the small things in life. Like Wednesdays. What else is there to enjoy?

** the sunshine peeking through my windows all day

**hearing my husband tell me I'm his best friend. <3

**smelling dinner cook all day long in the crockpot

**Twitter

**a decluttered bedroom

**clean laundry

**American Idol