This started as a Menu Plan Monday post, but I haven't found the energy. We'll be going with the flow until after Thanksgiving. Pay day is also Wednesday, so it's slim pickins'. ;)
I still need to break down my week to stay organized, so here goes:
Food:
Probably hot dogs for the boys tomorrow, chicken sandwiches for us. Tuesday & Wednesday may be spaghetti marinara or grilled cheese sandwiches. We shall see! I look forward to a Thanksgiving feast on Thursday at my in-laws'.
Day-to-Day:
Our bathroom that was recently renovated--the shower is leaking, so they're coming back out tomorrow morning.
Monday Aidan & Pat both have school.
Tuesday is story time at the library, and Aidan's last day of school for the week.
Wednesday is pay day! Grocery shopping, Sam's Club, Pat gets out of work early, and we pick up a pie from our local orchard (Dutch Apple). Pat will be baking 2 homemade pumpkin pies.
Thursday is THANKSGIVING! Yummy muffins for breakfast, watching Macy's parade on tv (the true parade;), then going to Michigan for the feast.
Friday--Pat & I are going on a lunch date! We have a sitter for the boys, and we're using a giftcard we have to Longhorn's. I'm getting steak. Nice, juicy red meat. That someone else brings to me, and then does all the clean up!!! We may go to a store, simply to absorb the chaos & be glad we're mostly done with our shopping.
Speaking of shopping, I'm heading to Target sometime tonight or tomorrow to buy the game Guess Who for Aidan for Christmas. It's on sale for $7. He's never played the game, but I think he'll love it!
There we have it: somewhat of an organization to my week. Not nearly as busy as last year since I'm not hosting, but that's ok.
How is your week? Crazy busy, or not so bad?
Friday! Woo--hoo! And the Friday before Thanksgiving, no less.
I've had a productive day so far (at 10:57am), and it feels good. Let's hope I stay this way.
My day so far:
-Drove Pat to work, Aidan to school
-grocery shopping
-Brennan snack
-Exercised, doing the 2 mile WATP
-Booked a sitter for TWO days!
-Ordered a delicious Dutch Apple Pie from our local orchard to bring on Thanksgiving (Pat will make the pumpkin pies)
-Laundry started
-Snacking now & about to play w/ Brennan
I love productive days!
I'm most excited about getting in some exercise. I've really gotten out of shape, and pregnancy is no excuse. I'm trying to get BACK into shape before this baby is born. I have roughly 14 weeks.
I also started to write down a food journal again. Not that I'm counting calories, but I've been bad about eating fruits/veggies.
Tonight we have some family fun ahead of us: it's the FEATHER PARTY!
We went last year and it was a great time. Aidan loved hanging out w/ all of his school friends.
I'm working from 5:40-7:40 tonight, then I'll get to enjoy it. We'll be going as a family & eating a delicious dinner there of hot turkey sandwiches. I love our parish/school!
So it's a good-feeling Friday. :)
I hope you're having a great one, too!
After seeing Aidan get to make a cake with Pat, Brennan was a bit jealous and quite determined to do the same.
The other day we made cupcakes, just the two of us. :)
I am thankful for that time. Brennan really enjoyed it, and it was good bonding time.
He took his jobs very seriously, too:
Aidan earned his first Cub Scout badge last night!
I'm so excited for him & proud of him.
It's the first thing I guess they all do: recite the pledge and show the handshake. He memorized it and recited it with no mistakes. Go Aidan! ;)
I love the satisfaction he feels from Scouts, and that sense of belonging. He's really enjoying it, and it's only just begun.
Last night's meeting was long. It started at 7 and they didn't get home until just after 9. (thank Pat for taking him!). I was concerned about Aidan because he woke yesterday at 4:55 in the morning.
The Scouts & their dads were asked to make a creative cake, with no help from mom.
YES!
Aidan & Pat did a great job. Even though it was rushed, I think they had a good time.
And from what I hear, Aidan was very happy to show his cake.
Check it out:
How are we already halfway through November?! It's gone by so fast!
Monday: Southwestern Pie
Tuesday: Chicken Noodle Soup & Corn Muffins
Wednesday: Crockpot Pineapple Chicken over Rice (parent-teacher conference)
Thursday: Breakfast Casserole
Friday: TBD/Boys' Night
It's common around the blog world to post frequent snippets about what you're thankful for leading to Thanksgiving. I like to do that, simply because it helps keep perspective. Even when life seems to drag and fall, there are always blessings.
A few people have asked for pregnant-pictures (this is for you, Amanda!), so I figured why not.
We originally intended to take a picture at each week of the pregnancy, then make a book of it to show Baby C later down the road. Yeah, we've slacked on the picture taking. (do any pregnant women like their picture being taken?!)
This was taken yesterday, when unfortunately, no one was around to take a picture other than Brennan;). Hence the cheesy-take-your-own-picture-in-front-of-the-bathroom-mirror pose.
Oh well.
Here I am 23 weeks 5 days pregnant with Baby C:
When will my boys learn, that if they want to wake up with "nice mommy", the first number on the clock better not be a 5, or heaven forbid, a 4?!
Even going to bed at a reasonable hour (me), it's not a decent time for a 6 & 3 year old to wake up for the day. Then come to the breakfast table STARVING and all giggly.
At that hour, the mommy loses her ability to see any cuteness. Tolerance is left in the bed, where all 3 bodies should be SLEEPING.
The thing is, no matter how late Aidan stays up, he's up by about 6:30. Even on his Scouts camping trip, the kid was up til almost midnight, and still awake before 7 the next day. I don't get it. I love sleep.
Today it was Brennan, though. AHGH!! I guess I'd rather it be Brennan, because I don't have to worry about him behaving at school all day. Still, I DO have to be with him all day, and today, that may not be easy....
Another WHEN answered: Back around Labor Day we put down the deposit for our bath/shower to be redone. It's badly needed, with water damage on the drywall behind the existing cheap liner (thanks to the previous owners whom I curse). Because our house settled unevenly, the store-bought DIY kits wouldn't work. And because we have a cast-iron tub that weighs over 500 pounds, my pregnant self wouldn't be much help with the project.
So here we are, having waited since early September, and it's finally time for our bathroom to get worked on. Today the workers arrive around 9, and they should be finished tomorrow. I am very ready for this!
Workers being here means Brennan & I are stuck at home all day. And with only one bathroom in the house, and said bathroom being worked on, it could be a LONG day. I am hoping it goes as smoothly as possible.
Growing up, I didn't appreciate All Saints Day. Back then, it was the day after Halloween that made me get up early to go to church, not on a Sunday. Real nice, huh?
I've grown to appreciate All Saints Day and the opportunity it provides to teach my own family about the Saints. We can all learn together that we're not alone in our earthy struggles, that we can overcome them, and reach that highest level of holiness. Saints are real-life examples.
I plan to read about a different Saint each day with my family, and I'm starting with a personal favorite: St. Jude (1 of the 12 Apostles). St. Jude has interceded for my family many, many times. We often prayed & asked for his intercession when I was growing up, for his help with my brother that is schizophrenic. I am very grateful.
(For those who aren't Catholic or just unsure, we aren't worshipping Saints. We are, like many others do, asking for another to pray for us and with us, for a special intention. Intercession.)
A little about St. Jude:
"Jude is invoked in desperate situations because his New Testament letter stresses that the faithful should persevere in the environment of harsh, difficult circumstances, just as their forefathers had done before them. Therefore, he is the patron saint of desperate cases and his feast day is October 28. Saint Jude is not the same person as Judas Iscariot who betrayed OurLord and despaired because of his great sin and lack of trust in God's mercy."
Long ago written, but a life lesson that will never expire.
Today is All Souls Day, a day to remember the faithful departed. I won't go much into that, but I would like to say a few people it makes me think of: my grandmothers (one for her hospitality & cooking, and one for her crazy mouth & entertainment!), our own 2 babies in heaven, Shirley (my sister's mother-in-law), and my Uncle Jim, also my godfather.
You all are missed every single day! And I sure wish my boys could know you all.
Halloween isn't just one day any more.
Towns, shopping centers...they host their own trick-or-treating events and Halloween feels like a week-long gig. With my kids being young, though, I don't mind. They don't last too long, and we sure get our money's worth out of each costume!
Here is a recap of our Halloween "week":
