1-
Here's one from the "I might not be cut out for farm life" department. My FIL is so not impressed with my sense of direction. The girls and I were over visiting, and MIL and FIL were in the office working on some government bureaucracy, when BIL came in and said he needed to move some equipment, so someone needed to come get him at the cattle crossing at grandma's house. It has been several years since I've been in that direction, so when it was time to go get him, I interrupted the pow wow in the office for directions. FIL kept saying "Go 1 mile south of G's house, and then 1/2 mile West." I kept asking questions...he kept repeating the same thing...so I gave up, got in the car, and called hubby (who had a good laugh) then went past the turn, called hubby again to clarify where I was supposed to turn, turned around (which made BIL sure that I was the one in the car...) and finally went to the right place. Hubby said that doing things like that is how I can learn. I told him it was how I would learn to stay home so that I don't get roped into things!
2-
We had some cats...affectionately named "Bitey" and "Scratchy". I thought the theory was to leave them locked in the shop for several days to get them used to being there and getting their food there...then, after two days, I noticed that the shop door was open yesterday. Turns out hubby thought that they'd stick around. We haven't seen them since, but rather than saying that maybe he should have left them in the shop a while longer and actually work on taming them, he has declared that they were probably too big to transplant...and besides, one of the mama cats at the feedlot should be having kittens any time. I don't think Bob Barker would approve of the number of mama cats on the farm as a whole, cause BIL has one that's about to have kittens, and MIL said that one of her cats is pregnant again (I'm not sure if this cat and the feedlot cat are the same one...)
3-
I may need another freezer at some point. Several years ago, we traded chest freezers with my parents...ours was the size of a dishwasher (we had bought it when we were apartment dwellers) and was getting too small for our growing family, there's was too big, since they had bought it when I was a kid. Well, after one cow was injured by a loader a few months ago and became hamburger, that pretty well filled up my chest freezer. Just this week we got a cow back (that was processed into steaks and roasts, and of course, some hamburger) and I had to fit our share in our house. So, I have no more ice (it all had to go to make room) and all the meat just barely fit in. Hubby is looking forward to a steak (or any meal that doesn't start with me defrosting a package of hamburger, I think) and naturally, today is Friday...and it's still Lent.
4-
My parents and brother might be coming down to visit tomorrow. Unfortunately, it looks like it may snow, so I'm not sure if they will be down tomorrow, Sunday, or next weekend...which would mean they would be here for Easter. My parents never like to come out here for holidays because they think they are huge gatherings...never mind that they've never been here for a REALLY huge gathering...and it sounds like we'll be having a smallish Easter...only 15 people (18 if my family comes down). Given that a family dinner on an average weekend starts at 8 people, having 10 more isn't that big of a deal!
5-
We inadvertently took a spring break this week. MIL stopped by on her way up to visit SIL in Denver, and asked if we wanted to come along (in front of the girls, who jumped up and down shouting "please mommy, please, please, please!) So, we were gone Saturday and Sunday, home on Monday, gone again on Tuesday (for MILs doctors appointment) and home again from Wednesday on...and I just haven't gotten to school stuff yet. Not too worried, since we only have three of her school books from Seton to finish up, and we are doing a bunch of extra review sort of stuff right now.
6-
My MIL is one of those people who pretty much can talk people into giving her what she wants. I do not have this talent, and find it pretty amazing to watch. Two examples from this week...when we went up to Denver, I got on priceline and booked a hotel room. Then we decided to make it a sort of retreat for SIL, so all 5 of us were going to stay in the room. When we got to the hotel, MIL went to check us in (and while she was waiting in line, FIL called because he couldn't figure out the TV...the clerk thought it was cute that he was calling her 200 miles away to figure out the TV...I thought it was unsurprising, since he called hubby while I was talking to him for help with the TV when MIL hung up...) and somehow she sweet talked the clerk into upgrading us from a 1 bed studio room, to a two bedroom, two bathroom suite with fold out couch. So, I had my own room and bathroom (the girls wanted to stay with SIL, who got the biggest bed as compensation) and we paid $52 with tax...all she did in return for the room was fill out their free rewards program application. Then, we got a coupon good for kids clothes at Kohls on Saturday, and on Tuesday we went to try to use it, and noticed that the coupon didn't start until the next day. She talked the cashier into taking it anyway!
7-
Hubby found a programmable thermostat for baseboard heat on Amazon...I just need to get around to purchasing it! I didn't realize how hard it would be to find a thermostat for baseboard heating, but I haven't been able to find one at any of the home improvement stores. The thermostat in our living room (which has baseboard heat on two walls) does not function right. If you turn it on, it stays on until you shut it off. This week, I took a short nap on the couch (while the girls were napping) and turned on the heat beforehand...after I woke up, I went to do something in the kitchen (and didn't remember to turn off the heat) and by the time I got back the room was 80 degrees! I think it will be nice when it works better!
More quick takes at Conversion Diary!
Friday, March 26, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Small Successes
Okay, week 2 of small successes...
1-
I got out a basket to keep my Bible and spiritual books for prayer time in...rather than having them all stacked up on a small table and having landslides anytime I want to read something. I even remembered to find a pencil and put it in the basket. At some point I'd like to add a journal and a rosary...just have to find those items first.
2-
I baked something! First time I have baked anything from scratch since we moved here, I made the Pioneer Woman's prune cake twice (Once for the family, and then again this afternoon for my Bible Study group.)
3-
I ordered a baby shower gift for shower that I won't make it to...and more importantly, I realized that driving 2 hours to a baby shower on Holy Saturday while hubby's sister will be visiting is unrealistic, and as much as I would love to make it to the shower, I am not going to go. And I am not going to feel guilty about it (well, maybe a *little* guilty!)
More small successes here!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
"...until the child turns 26 years of age."
A while back, I quoted Dr. Robert Epstein, author of The Case Against Adolescence, saying that "most Americans now believe a person isn't an adult until age 26." This still seems pretty ludicrous to me, but the federal government has now essentially enshrined this belief into law.
Under the healthcare reform bill President Obama signed into law today, insurance companies that provide coverage for dependant children are required to allow that coverage to continue up to the age of 26. I'm not necessarily saying this doesn't make sense when faced with the reality of the ever-extending childhood many young adults experience today... but I guess I'm not really comfortable with this becoming the "new normal."
I mean, by the age of 26, maybe it's time for the little baby bird to take the risk of stepping out of the nest. For crying out loud, a 26-year-old who joined the military at age 18 has already served 40% of the years necessary to retire with benefits!
I may not have really had my act completely together by 26, but I'm just sayin'...
Under the healthcare reform bill President Obama signed into law today, insurance companies that provide coverage for dependant children are required to allow that coverage to continue up to the age of 26. I'm not necessarily saying this doesn't make sense when faced with the reality of the ever-extending childhood many young adults experience today... but I guess I'm not really comfortable with this becoming the "new normal."
I mean, by the age of 26, maybe it's time for the little baby bird to take the risk of stepping out of the nest. For crying out loud, a 26-year-old who joined the military at age 18 has already served 40% of the years necessary to retire with benefits!
I may not have really had my act completely together by 26, but I'm just sayin'...
Monday, March 22, 2010
Cat Quandry...
I almost blogged about this situation this morning, but I figured I should at least try to get some stuff done around the house after a whirlwind trip to visit my SIL in Denver this weekend, and before I go back to the metro area for a doctor's appointment with MIL tomorrow.
Then hubby came home and told me that I ought to buy a small, cheap bag of cat food while I am in town for Eva's piano lesson today.
I guess I should start with I am NOT a cat person. I had a cat growing up, and that was fine...I'm fairly allergic to cat hair these days, and I hate the feeling of cat litter under my feet. I am also a city slicker, transported to a farm. Farms have cats. Not because in some romantic sense Old McDonald had a cat on his farm...they serve a function...to kill mice.
No cats came with our house, and I thought "great! no problems with mice!" Thankfully I have not seen a live mouse yet (when I do, I am moving out...I've warned hubby that I can't take mice...) but hubby found a whole lot of dead ones in our shop yesterday. Turns out the reason there wasn't a mouse problem is that the relatives that lived here before us used poison. Not really recommended with a 5 year old, a 3 year old and a pug. Then, when they came to clear stuff out of the fruit room, hubby's uncle mentioned that his wife had been storing some decorative Indian corn in there, and there was no corn left on it...and there was ummm...evidence... that mice had been in the fruit room.
So, we need farm cats. Being from the city, I believe in spaying and neutering cats, which are seen as pets. The family (doesn't that sound like I am part of the mafia, rather than part of a big farm family?) tend to leave the cat population alone, and then take them out with a shot gun if there is overpopulation (or, in the case of my MIL, she tends to run them over fairly frequently...not on purpose...I would personally stay out of her way if she's coming at you with her vehicle!)
Well, my little BIL's house DID come with cats...lots of cats...and he has kittens the right size to catch...and he's about to have more kittens...so it appears that some time in the next 24 hours, I am going to be a cat owner (against my better judgement) and in a couple of weeks I will be taking my farm cats to the vet to be spayed or neutered...because I just can't turn into a real farm wife that quickly!
Then hubby came home and told me that I ought to buy a small, cheap bag of cat food while I am in town for Eva's piano lesson today.
I guess I should start with I am NOT a cat person. I had a cat growing up, and that was fine...I'm fairly allergic to cat hair these days, and I hate the feeling of cat litter under my feet. I am also a city slicker, transported to a farm. Farms have cats. Not because in some romantic sense Old McDonald had a cat on his farm...they serve a function...to kill mice.
No cats came with our house, and I thought "great! no problems with mice!" Thankfully I have not seen a live mouse yet (when I do, I am moving out...I've warned hubby that I can't take mice...) but hubby found a whole lot of dead ones in our shop yesterday. Turns out the reason there wasn't a mouse problem is that the relatives that lived here before us used poison. Not really recommended with a 5 year old, a 3 year old and a pug. Then, when they came to clear stuff out of the fruit room, hubby's uncle mentioned that his wife had been storing some decorative Indian corn in there, and there was no corn left on it...and there was ummm...evidence... that mice had been in the fruit room.
So, we need farm cats. Being from the city, I believe in spaying and neutering cats, which are seen as pets. The family (doesn't that sound like I am part of the mafia, rather than part of a big farm family?) tend to leave the cat population alone, and then take them out with a shot gun if there is overpopulation (or, in the case of my MIL, she tends to run them over fairly frequently...not on purpose...I would personally stay out of her way if she's coming at you with her vehicle!)
Well, my little BIL's house DID come with cats...lots of cats...and he has kittens the right size to catch...and he's about to have more kittens...so it appears that some time in the next 24 hours, I am going to be a cat owner (against my better judgement) and in a couple of weeks I will be taking my farm cats to the vet to be spayed or neutered...because I just can't turn into a real farm wife that quickly!
Friday, March 19, 2010
Quick Takes Friday
1-
As I mentioned in small successes yesterday, I went to confession this week. We had our local penance service on Wednesday, so we dragged the kids with us to the 7pm start. Since we had the kids (whom I would have left at MILs house if I had known she wasn't going to come) my plan was to sit near the front on the cry room side, and be among the first in line. Well, I ended up #2 in line, but hubby (who claims he couldn't get past the girls...note to self, put both parents on the edge next time) ended up #5, and then graciously gave up his turn for an older lady in the parish. I had taken an examination of conscience paper, pulled out a pen, and circled the questions that reminded me of something I needed to confess. I also picked up a really cool little booklet that had an examination of conscience based on the ten commandments broken up into a list of mortal sins and a list of venial sins. Well, after I did my penance, I took the girls outside to run around while waiting for hubby and I left my circled examination of conscience in a pew...OOPS! So, someone is going to come across it and know what somebody was confessing...
2-
My parents and my brother are going to come out and see us (and our new house) next Saturday. We haven't seen them since Christmas, but they don't want to spend the night out here (even though we finally live in a house big enough to accommodate them!) So, their plan is to leave Denver early Saturday morning, be out here before noon, and then leave when we go to church (we'll need to leave by 4:30 or 5 to make it to Mass in one of three neighboring towns with anticipatory Masses). My in-laws really do not understand this sort of behavior. FIL offered to feed the cows for hubby in the morning if my parents were staying so that we could have more time with them as a family. Very nice gesture, but they seem all set to leave and be home before dark...
3-
I don't think I've mentioned on the blog (although hubby keeps having to hear it from me!) how much I hate that the post office in town closes at 4pm (in our old town it was open until 4:30) and that it takes a good 20 minutes to get from our house to the post office? I finally am back to paperback swap (which I put on vacation hold in October or early November, and took off vacation hold on Valentine's Day) and I keep thinking I can just mail the books next time I make it into town...which works fine every other week when I take the girls to the library for story time in the morning. It just does not seem possible to combine the post office with Eva's 5pm piano lesson. I should just learn my lesson and print postage at home more often.
4-
I didn't manage a quick takes post last week...I had hosted my Bible Study group the night before, so I was EXHAUSTED from getting the house in order. In the "I admit I must have lost my mind" category...the night before bible study, after the mini blinds we had to special order for two windows in the living room and the curtain panels arrived, I convinced hubby to drive an hour up to WalMart to get curtain rods. Then, I had him install the mini blinds and the curtain rods before my guests arrived. Not to mention cleaning the house, and stacking all the unpacked items and items that currently don't have a home into one room and cooking a main course. I didn't make it down to our shower until after the ladies in my bible study group left our old town (thankfully it takes about 40-50 minutes to drive up here!) I had a great time, though, and it is nice to have a house in a reasonable amount of order (although I admit I haven't really made any progress on the room with all the boxes since then!)
5-
My homeschooling confession of the week. I always have grand plans...the goal each week is to do school 4 days, so I plan 4 days of classwork for Eva, which includes the subjects reading, religion, math, handwriting and Spanish every day (only 5 to 10 minutes on each one, usually). Then each day I plan an additional subject, such as homemaking, science, social studies/history/geography, music, art, or PE. This week we have done three days of school (so far...still hoping to get to it this morning) and ZERO of the additional subjects. I've had straws soaking in what was once hot tap water for our science project since Monday, I never had them color, cut out and make the St. Patrick paper dolls for Art, Eva was supposed to learn how to make french toast for homemaking, and I just don't see it happening today...maybe I'll get ambitious today and we'll do our lesson on the continents for geography...we'll have to see. Plus, for Charlotte's preschool, I have mostly been doing two or three things with her (never what I suggest...she makes requests these days) and then sitting her down in front of a Veggie Tales so that I can finish school with Eva.
6-
I started a new cereal rule that I will be breaking this morning. My new rule is that we can't open a new box of cereal in the same category as one that is already open. So, we had some generic fruity pebbles style cereal, and I got a box of Trix swirls cereal on sale...Eva wanted the Trix instead of the fruity pebbles, and I told her only one fruity cereal open at a time. Then today, they both originally wanted Chocolate Cheerios, but we still have an unfinished box of Cocoa Puffs, so I told them only one chocolate cereal open at a time. However, I want some Chocolate Cheerios (and I do not like Cocoa Puffs) so I am about to crack open a box, if I can distract the girls long enough.
7-
Anyone ever put down carpet squares/carpet tiles/peel and stick carpet? The bedroom downstairs (that will eventually be a guest room) had two layers of water damaged carpet, and we are now working on scraping up the carpet backing...next step, carpeting. The carpet squares that I could find (online) ranged in price from $4.99 to $20+ per square (which were larger than a square foot) but it still looks like it might cost us around $600 for the floor of that bedroom if we go that route...still not sure if it would be significantly cheaper than having carpet laid professionally. Any thoughts? Other flooring ideas for a basement bedroom that could have water issues if we aren't careful?
More quick takes at Conversion Diary!
As I mentioned in small successes yesterday, I went to confession this week. We had our local penance service on Wednesday, so we dragged the kids with us to the 7pm start. Since we had the kids (whom I would have left at MILs house if I had known she wasn't going to come) my plan was to sit near the front on the cry room side, and be among the first in line. Well, I ended up #2 in line, but hubby (who claims he couldn't get past the girls...note to self, put both parents on the edge next time) ended up #5, and then graciously gave up his turn for an older lady in the parish. I had taken an examination of conscience paper, pulled out a pen, and circled the questions that reminded me of something I needed to confess. I also picked up a really cool little booklet that had an examination of conscience based on the ten commandments broken up into a list of mortal sins and a list of venial sins. Well, after I did my penance, I took the girls outside to run around while waiting for hubby and I left my circled examination of conscience in a pew...OOPS! So, someone is going to come across it and know what somebody was confessing...
2-
My parents and my brother are going to come out and see us (and our new house) next Saturday. We haven't seen them since Christmas, but they don't want to spend the night out here (even though we finally live in a house big enough to accommodate them!) So, their plan is to leave Denver early Saturday morning, be out here before noon, and then leave when we go to church (we'll need to leave by 4:30 or 5 to make it to Mass in one of three neighboring towns with anticipatory Masses). My in-laws really do not understand this sort of behavior. FIL offered to feed the cows for hubby in the morning if my parents were staying so that we could have more time with them as a family. Very nice gesture, but they seem all set to leave and be home before dark...
3-
I don't think I've mentioned on the blog (although hubby keeps having to hear it from me!) how much I hate that the post office in town closes at 4pm (in our old town it was open until 4:30) and that it takes a good 20 minutes to get from our house to the post office? I finally am back to paperback swap (which I put on vacation hold in October or early November, and took off vacation hold on Valentine's Day) and I keep thinking I can just mail the books next time I make it into town...which works fine every other week when I take the girls to the library for story time in the morning. It just does not seem possible to combine the post office with Eva's 5pm piano lesson. I should just learn my lesson and print postage at home more often.
4-
I didn't manage a quick takes post last week...I had hosted my Bible Study group the night before, so I was EXHAUSTED from getting the house in order. In the "I admit I must have lost my mind" category...the night before bible study, after the mini blinds we had to special order for two windows in the living room and the curtain panels arrived, I convinced hubby to drive an hour up to WalMart to get curtain rods. Then, I had him install the mini blinds and the curtain rods before my guests arrived. Not to mention cleaning the house, and stacking all the unpacked items and items that currently don't have a home into one room and cooking a main course. I didn't make it down to our shower until after the ladies in my bible study group left our old town (thankfully it takes about 40-50 minutes to drive up here!) I had a great time, though, and it is nice to have a house in a reasonable amount of order (although I admit I haven't really made any progress on the room with all the boxes since then!)
5-
My homeschooling confession of the week. I always have grand plans...the goal each week is to do school 4 days, so I plan 4 days of classwork for Eva, which includes the subjects reading, religion, math, handwriting and Spanish every day (only 5 to 10 minutes on each one, usually). Then each day I plan an additional subject, such as homemaking, science, social studies/history/geography, music, art, or PE. This week we have done three days of school (so far...still hoping to get to it this morning) and ZERO of the additional subjects. I've had straws soaking in what was once hot tap water for our science project since Monday, I never had them color, cut out and make the St. Patrick paper dolls for Art, Eva was supposed to learn how to make french toast for homemaking, and I just don't see it happening today...maybe I'll get ambitious today and we'll do our lesson on the continents for geography...we'll have to see. Plus, for Charlotte's preschool, I have mostly been doing two or three things with her (never what I suggest...she makes requests these days) and then sitting her down in front of a Veggie Tales so that I can finish school with Eva.
6-
I started a new cereal rule that I will be breaking this morning. My new rule is that we can't open a new box of cereal in the same category as one that is already open. So, we had some generic fruity pebbles style cereal, and I got a box of Trix swirls cereal on sale...Eva wanted the Trix instead of the fruity pebbles, and I told her only one fruity cereal open at a time. Then today, they both originally wanted Chocolate Cheerios, but we still have an unfinished box of Cocoa Puffs, so I told them only one chocolate cereal open at a time. However, I want some Chocolate Cheerios (and I do not like Cocoa Puffs) so I am about to crack open a box, if I can distract the girls long enough.
7-
Anyone ever put down carpet squares/carpet tiles/peel and stick carpet? The bedroom downstairs (that will eventually be a guest room) had two layers of water damaged carpet, and we are now working on scraping up the carpet backing...next step, carpeting. The carpet squares that I could find (online) ranged in price from $4.99 to $20+ per square (which were larger than a square foot) but it still looks like it might cost us around $600 for the floor of that bedroom if we go that route...still not sure if it would be significantly cheaper than having carpet laid professionally. Any thoughts? Other flooring ideas for a basement bedroom that could have water issues if we aren't careful?
More quick takes at Conversion Diary!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Small Successes
Well, this is the first edition of small successes that I have participated in, though I love reading them...does participating count as a small success?
1-
I went to confession last night. Sadly, it has been since Advent, even though I keep telling myself that I should get to confession more regularly. I even talked with hubby about planning ahead and taking one Saturday a month where we leave extra early for Mass and go to confession, then take the girls to the park until Mass starts.
2-
I organized some of our homeschooling stuff. I cleaned out Charlotte's tot school container so that all the file folder and tot book pieces were in the right place, and even added in a folder of preschool worksheets that were leftover from Eva's preschool days. I also FINALLY got around to making folders for the months of the year and liturgical seasons. So, the Advent coloring page that I have had lying around for more than two Advents without actually finding (during Advent...it seems to pop up most often during Lent) is in the Advent folder, and the instructions for making star-shaped faux sparklers is filed under July, and the Turkey craft that I had printed for both girls to do at Thanksgiving that we didn't get to because of the move is filed under November. I even got hubby to find an old file folder box to put it in (that still had craft supplies from a bridal shower I hosted about 7 or 8 years ago...oops!)
3-
I bathed the girls...I know, not a major accomplishment to normal people...but I don't really like giving them baths (probably because of Charlotte's ear-drum piercing scream when I wash her hair) and although we were pretty consistently good about baths twice a week when we lived in our old town (before farming...when hubby was home every evening and usually gave them their baths...and we had a decent shower we could throw them in if necessary) but in our new house, it has been a major struggle to get them bathed twice a week, and I am sure we have had a week or two where they only got 1 bath. I don't like bath time so much that I often suggest that grandma give them their baths when they are at her house.
Those are my small successes for this week...there are plenty more over at Faith and Family Live!
Friday, March 05, 2010
Quick Takes Friday - naptime edition
1-
It's been a little bit of a long week...Saturday afternoon, hubby and I left for Denver to see the Symphony. We had a great time, had a nice dinner beforehand, had pretty good seats where we could see the pianist during the Horn trio, and then I got a nice hotel room off of priceline. In the morning, we went to Holy Ghost parish for their 7:00am Mass, then had breakfast and headed home. MIL and SIL headed up to the nearest medium sized town for some shopping, so we met them for lunch, MIL and hubby took the girls home, and SIL and I went shopping...there went another almost $500 to Home Depot...the joys of moving!
2-
Sunday night we had the Altar and Rosary ladies annual fundraiser "Family Fun Night" with a supper prepared by the Knights of Columbus, bingo, kids games and several raffles. The girls had a great time with the kids games...Charlotte loved to go to the "grocery store" (that poor kid thinks that any store is a grocery store!) which was a table full of little Oriental Trading Company toys and candy that they could trade in their tickets for merchandise. My girls earned so many tickets, and got a ton of little stuff. Charlotte's favorite is a pink and silver princess tiara, which we have hardly gotten off her head at all. Eva liked all the games, except for Plinko, where you had to climb a ladder on the back (she smudged her face painting coming down, and refused to play the game again.) Charlotte, on the other had, was the Plinko queen...I'm expecting to see her on the Price is Right someday. Of course, the girls kept being given tickets to play games by all their aunts and uncles, etc.
3-
The adults played some Bingo, and the girls got family members to win them the toys they liked on the Bingo prize table. I ended up getting them a Disney princess Easter egg decorating kit when I got a Bingo prize. Then, FIL won a beautiful quilt that was handmade for the raffle...it fit our King sized bed really well, so we ended up with it...we all had a great time.
4-
Monday we started school again, which Eva and Charlotte were very excited about. We are mostly doing review at this point...until we are a little more settled.
5-
Tuesday we did more school, then headed over to SIL's new house and helped her paint in her basement (okay, the girl's played "Aunt T's" Wii instead...) then had pizza as the whole clan and worked on removing a wall paper border (I was also working on removing one at home on Tuesday and Wednesday.)
6-
The aunt and uncle that used to live in our house came out to start cleaning their stuff out of our fruit room...they got it about half done...of course, after the fruit room, they have a storage area in our garage, a room full of stuff they want to sell at a garage sale, and a bunch of stuff in our shop...we'll see how many months it takes before they get it all cleaned out!
7-
Yesterday was another major painting day at our house. I spent all morning cleaning stuff out of the kitchen area, then taping off doorways and baseboards. In the afternoon, MIL came over and helped me with my main wall paper, a warm tan color (called Soft Chamois...paint colors have really stupid names...) It took all afternoon, then hubby got home from work, helped me put on a second coat, and then the two of us went up to Home Depot (again...it takes a little over an hour to drive up there) to get more lights for the kitchen. Hubby has taken down and replaced one florescent light box so far, and there are three more in our kitchen area that he'll be replacing this weekend. So, today I have been removing paint and doing school with the girls. I need to get more stuff put back, but then again, we have the ceiling to paint (hopefully Sunday) and then after that is done, I have an accent wall in the eat in kitchen area, and it will also be carried over above the cabinetry in the kitchen. I am hoping to have all that done before next Thursday, when I am hosting my Bible study at our house.
More quick takes over at Conversion Diary!
It's been a little bit of a long week...Saturday afternoon, hubby and I left for Denver to see the Symphony. We had a great time, had a nice dinner beforehand, had pretty good seats where we could see the pianist during the Horn trio, and then I got a nice hotel room off of priceline. In the morning, we went to Holy Ghost parish for their 7:00am Mass, then had breakfast and headed home. MIL and SIL headed up to the nearest medium sized town for some shopping, so we met them for lunch, MIL and hubby took the girls home, and SIL and I went shopping...there went another almost $500 to Home Depot...the joys of moving!
2-
Sunday night we had the Altar and Rosary ladies annual fundraiser "Family Fun Night" with a supper prepared by the Knights of Columbus, bingo, kids games and several raffles. The girls had a great time with the kids games...Charlotte loved to go to the "grocery store" (that poor kid thinks that any store is a grocery store!) which was a table full of little Oriental Trading Company toys and candy that they could trade in their tickets for merchandise. My girls earned so many tickets, and got a ton of little stuff. Charlotte's favorite is a pink and silver princess tiara, which we have hardly gotten off her head at all. Eva liked all the games, except for Plinko, where you had to climb a ladder on the back (she smudged her face painting coming down, and refused to play the game again.) Charlotte, on the other had, was the Plinko queen...I'm expecting to see her on the Price is Right someday. Of course, the girls kept being given tickets to play games by all their aunts and uncles, etc.
3-
The adults played some Bingo, and the girls got family members to win them the toys they liked on the Bingo prize table. I ended up getting them a Disney princess Easter egg decorating kit when I got a Bingo prize. Then, FIL won a beautiful quilt that was handmade for the raffle...it fit our King sized bed really well, so we ended up with it...we all had a great time.
4-
Monday we started school again, which Eva and Charlotte were very excited about. We are mostly doing review at this point...until we are a little more settled.
5-
Tuesday we did more school, then headed over to SIL's new house and helped her paint in her basement (okay, the girl's played "Aunt T's" Wii instead...) then had pizza as the whole clan and worked on removing a wall paper border (I was also working on removing one at home on Tuesday and Wednesday.)
6-
The aunt and uncle that used to live in our house came out to start cleaning their stuff out of our fruit room...they got it about half done...of course, after the fruit room, they have a storage area in our garage, a room full of stuff they want to sell at a garage sale, and a bunch of stuff in our shop...we'll see how many months it takes before they get it all cleaned out!
7-
Yesterday was another major painting day at our house. I spent all morning cleaning stuff out of the kitchen area, then taping off doorways and baseboards. In the afternoon, MIL came over and helped me with my main wall paper, a warm tan color (called Soft Chamois...paint colors have really stupid names...) It took all afternoon, then hubby got home from work, helped me put on a second coat, and then the two of us went up to Home Depot (again...it takes a little over an hour to drive up there) to get more lights for the kitchen. Hubby has taken down and replaced one florescent light box so far, and there are three more in our kitchen area that he'll be replacing this weekend. So, today I have been removing paint and doing school with the girls. I need to get more stuff put back, but then again, we have the ceiling to paint (hopefully Sunday) and then after that is done, I have an accent wall in the eat in kitchen area, and it will also be carried over above the cabinetry in the kitchen. I am hoping to have all that done before next Thursday, when I am hosting my Bible study at our house.
More quick takes over at Conversion Diary!
Monday, March 01, 2010
Pray unceasingly!
I realize it's been a long, long time since my last post, and there are lots of things I could say to help catch you up on what's been going on in my life... but let's just say that things have been pretty busy around here!
One thing I have consciously been trying to make time for, though, is to get through a rosary every day - usually before noon. The way this usually works is for me to twirl my little finger rosary in my pocket while I am stopped and mixing a load of feed for our cattle. This builds in a certain amount of time to make sure the feed is mixed well, and gives me something to do while I wait.
The idea to do this developed soon after I started working on the farm and was reading a short description of the life of St. Isidore to the kids. As with so many holy people, St. Isidore was described as "praying unceasingly, " even while laboring in the fields. I decided that I should adopt him as a model and try to get as much prayer in as I can safely during my work day.
A couple of things have seemed noteworthy about this practice so far. First, I have heard often that "God's time is not like our time," as evidenced by St. Peter's description in 2 Peter 3:8. This seems especially true in regards to the mysteries of the rosary, and which day goes with each set. Americans often say, "T.G.I.F.," as though Fridays are particularly joyful... but Fridays are when we are to reflect on the sorrowful mysteries. And Mondays, so often dreaded by workers and students who have weekends off, are the day for the joyful mysteries!
Secondly, it seems as though God has a bit of a quirky sense of humor when it comes to my prayer routine. Often, I have the radio going in the loader or feedtruck, then step out to mix the feed and start praying. The other day, I was "rockin' out" to Free Bird as I pulled up to the protein tanks, but when I got out my little "cheat sheet" of the mysteries of the rosary, the focus of the one I was on was "for the virtue of obedience." I don't really know if that means anything, particularly, but I thought it was a funny juxtaposition.
Anyway, I hope to be able to write more often as we get more settled in to our new lifestyle. Until then, take care and God bless.
One thing I have consciously been trying to make time for, though, is to get through a rosary every day - usually before noon. The way this usually works is for me to twirl my little finger rosary in my pocket while I am stopped and mixing a load of feed for our cattle. This builds in a certain amount of time to make sure the feed is mixed well, and gives me something to do while I wait.
The idea to do this developed soon after I started working on the farm and was reading a short description of the life of St. Isidore to the kids. As with so many holy people, St. Isidore was described as "praying unceasingly, " even while laboring in the fields. I decided that I should adopt him as a model and try to get as much prayer in as I can safely during my work day.
A couple of things have seemed noteworthy about this practice so far. First, I have heard often that "God's time is not like our time," as evidenced by St. Peter's description in 2 Peter 3:8. This seems especially true in regards to the mysteries of the rosary, and which day goes with each set. Americans often say, "T.G.I.F.," as though Fridays are particularly joyful... but Fridays are when we are to reflect on the sorrowful mysteries. And Mondays, so often dreaded by workers and students who have weekends off, are the day for the joyful mysteries!
Secondly, it seems as though God has a bit of a quirky sense of humor when it comes to my prayer routine. Often, I have the radio going in the loader or feedtruck, then step out to mix the feed and start praying. The other day, I was "rockin' out" to Free Bird as I pulled up to the protein tanks, but when I got out my little "cheat sheet" of the mysteries of the rosary, the focus of the one I was on was "for the virtue of obedience." I don't really know if that means anything, particularly, but I thought it was a funny juxtaposition.
Anyway, I hope to be able to write more often as we get more settled in to our new lifestyle. Until then, take care and God bless.
It's not hard...but it takes effort
Today I finally started back up with school after an extended time off for our move. I felt like I was finally getting to the point in our old town where most people knew that we were homeschooling. With the move, we have a whole new small community asking us when our older daughter, Eva, will be starting school. She is five and extremely bright and ready to learn, but she would not be able to start Kindergarten in the school district until next year. We are currently in her 4th quarter of Kindergarten with Seton Home Study.
My sister-in-law works at the bank in town and was recently asked by her co-workers when Eva will be starting school. She told them that I was homeschooling the girls, and their reaction was (after they picked up their jaws from the floor, I guess) "how can she manage to homeschool?" SIL stated that I stayed home...which does make homeschooling much easier than trying to combine it with a career.
I think that I've finally come up with a way that might explain homeschooling to people when they express surprise and incredulity:
It's not hard...but it takes effort!
Actually, that is a pretty good philosophy for most of the things I do in my life. But in terms of homeschooling, it's really not hard...I managed to graduate from high school and college, and I even taught undergrads during my short stint in graduate school. I don't have a teaching certificate, but I am sure that I would be able to get one if I so desired. Both my parents are public school teachers...I'm very familiar with the educational system. Teaching is not hard either. Yes, it is work. Yes, it requires effort...but it's not hard.
I can teach my girls the alphabet, phonics, basic math, science, history, about our faith, how to read, how to write, how to speak, how to type...none of it is hard, because I already know how to do all those things. Homeschooling may become more challenging as the girls get older, but I am sure that I will be able to learn something in order to teach, or find someone who already knows the subject to help. All of that will take effort. Just like planning what to go over with Eva and what projects to work on with Charlotte (mainly to keep her happy and busy during school time) takes effort...I have to take the time, sit down and figure it all out.
I just wish everyone who gives me that surprised look and asks me how I can manage to homeschool understood that it's not hard....it just takes effort.
My sister-in-law works at the bank in town and was recently asked by her co-workers when Eva will be starting school. She told them that I was homeschooling the girls, and their reaction was (after they picked up their jaws from the floor, I guess) "how can she manage to homeschool?" SIL stated that I stayed home...which does make homeschooling much easier than trying to combine it with a career.
I think that I've finally come up with a way that might explain homeschooling to people when they express surprise and incredulity:
It's not hard...but it takes effort!
Actually, that is a pretty good philosophy for most of the things I do in my life. But in terms of homeschooling, it's really not hard...I managed to graduate from high school and college, and I even taught undergrads during my short stint in graduate school. I don't have a teaching certificate, but I am sure that I would be able to get one if I so desired. Both my parents are public school teachers...I'm very familiar with the educational system. Teaching is not hard either. Yes, it is work. Yes, it requires effort...but it's not hard.
I can teach my girls the alphabet, phonics, basic math, science, history, about our faith, how to read, how to write, how to speak, how to type...none of it is hard, because I already know how to do all those things. Homeschooling may become more challenging as the girls get older, but I am sure that I will be able to learn something in order to teach, or find someone who already knows the subject to help. All of that will take effort. Just like planning what to go over with Eva and what projects to work on with Charlotte (mainly to keep her happy and busy during school time) takes effort...I have to take the time, sit down and figure it all out.
I just wish everyone who gives me that surprised look and asks me how I can manage to homeschool understood that it's not hard....it just takes effort.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Quick Takes Friday
1-
We are settling into the new house and farm life a little bit more now. I have to admit that the transition to being an actual farm wife has been pretty difficult for me. It wasn't quite the same amount of pressure while living with the in-laws, so it was a bit of a shock when I had to do everything on my own. Particularly with the unpacking.
2-
My Bible Study group is currently going through the second in a series on Proverbs 31 by Kimberly Hahn called "Graced and Gifted". We were supposed to meet last night, but the woman who was hosting is 8 months pregnant and overdid it dealing with her 2 year old who has been throwing up for two days straight. In the end, we cancelled...but I did finally get around to reading what we were supposed to discuss last night (we'll discuss it in two weeks at my house) and I found a section that made me feel a little better about our current situation. Kimberly Hahn talks about a move right after her husband started his first job as a college professor. He was not able to really help with the unpacking process because he was so overwhelmed with work, and she had a 4 year old, 3 year old and 5 week old. She unpacked one room (in which she liked the previous owner's decorating) and would shield her eyes and just look at the room as a mental boost. I still haven't found that room (the girl's room is getting closer!) Anyway, she said it took about 6 weeks, unpacking at least one box a night to get unpacked and get the house livable. And I realized that although I don't have as young or as many children, I do have to make our house a home on my own (and I want to do a whole bunch of redecorating!) So, I can't expect our house to be perfect any time soon.
3-
Eva really wants to start school again, so my priority today will be to get the school stuff under control so that we can start again on Monday. Still trying to figure out how I'm going to work in painting the kitchen while doing school...maybe school in the morning, and then paint as much as I can during naptime?
4-
This weekend I get a little break from reality. Hubby was listening to the radio in his feed truck last week when the radio show was doing a movie review thing, where if you call in and review a movie, they will give you free tickets. I guess it is usually tickets to one of two movie theatres in the Denver area, but on this particular day they were giving away tickets to the Symphony. So, because we have free tickets (assuming there are still some available when we get to the box office...I don't think the symphony sells out that often...I really hope it doesn't tomorrow!) I got a hotel room on Priceline. Grandma gets the girls, and we'll get to leave at lunch time tomorrow, and then not come back to the farm until lunch time on Sunday. (Hey, it's away from the farm and to something cultural!)
5-
I got my hair cut this week...and I am resolving to put more effort into my appearance (given that my general amount of time is zero, it shouldn't be too hard to increase my amount of effort!) Both girls also got haircuts, and they look adorable...but older. What is it about haircuts that make your kids grow up overnight??? Serendipitiously, our haircuts (which I scheduled two weeks ago) fell on the same day as our family portrait for MIL's church photo directory. We really don't attend the church that often, other than special days (we did Ash Wednesday there, and will do Holy week there, too, probably.) I tried to avoid being in the directory (our parish just did one two years ago) but got suckered in...then we got suckered out of $125 for two 8x10s with one frame (and one 8x10 was allegedly free...) Oh well, the girls look cute in the picture!
6-
We are in desperate need of some tables for our living room. Our old house was so tiny, that when we wanted something to put a cup of coffee on (okay, today it is my morning tea) we would just drag over the kids little table. Well, their table isn't within dragging distance in our new living room...and we have no end or coffee tables. Currently, I have a two tiered step stool postioned between the couch and the recliner to function as a table. I looked at four thrift stores this week, and will probably drag hubby to more this weekend...I also think that we may go shopping at hubby's great-uncle's house to see if he has some spare furniture (okay we know he has plenty of spare stuff, as an antique junkie) that we could buy from him. He's been a little strapped for cash recently, so it would help us and help him if we can find some stuff there...now I just have to get that all set up!
7-
Hubby's little brother and his wife got moved into their farm house this week. The move did not go particularly well...it's kinda fun to watch newlyweds fight while moving! While they were loading up the rental house in town, a pig wandered through their yard, causing a minor distraction. Hubby posted pictures on facebook of the pig, SIL petting the pig, and then the police getting the pig back home. BIL did not find any of this amusing, and complained to his mom (and anyone else that would listen) that the pig made it so that loading up took an extra hour. Hubby reports it was more like a 20 minute distraction/delay. I don't know how the unpacking is going, but they have a lot of stuff for newlyweds!
More quick takes at Conversion Diary! (and I hope Jen's family feels better soon!)
We are settling into the new house and farm life a little bit more now. I have to admit that the transition to being an actual farm wife has been pretty difficult for me. It wasn't quite the same amount of pressure while living with the in-laws, so it was a bit of a shock when I had to do everything on my own. Particularly with the unpacking.
2-
My Bible Study group is currently going through the second in a series on Proverbs 31 by Kimberly Hahn called "Graced and Gifted". We were supposed to meet last night, but the woman who was hosting is 8 months pregnant and overdid it dealing with her 2 year old who has been throwing up for two days straight. In the end, we cancelled...but I did finally get around to reading what we were supposed to discuss last night (we'll discuss it in two weeks at my house) and I found a section that made me feel a little better about our current situation. Kimberly Hahn talks about a move right after her husband started his first job as a college professor. He was not able to really help with the unpacking process because he was so overwhelmed with work, and she had a 4 year old, 3 year old and 5 week old. She unpacked one room (in which she liked the previous owner's decorating) and would shield her eyes and just look at the room as a mental boost. I still haven't found that room (the girl's room is getting closer!) Anyway, she said it took about 6 weeks, unpacking at least one box a night to get unpacked and get the house livable. And I realized that although I don't have as young or as many children, I do have to make our house a home on my own (and I want to do a whole bunch of redecorating!) So, I can't expect our house to be perfect any time soon.
3-
Eva really wants to start school again, so my priority today will be to get the school stuff under control so that we can start again on Monday. Still trying to figure out how I'm going to work in painting the kitchen while doing school...maybe school in the morning, and then paint as much as I can during naptime?
4-
This weekend I get a little break from reality. Hubby was listening to the radio in his feed truck last week when the radio show was doing a movie review thing, where if you call in and review a movie, they will give you free tickets. I guess it is usually tickets to one of two movie theatres in the Denver area, but on this particular day they were giving away tickets to the Symphony. So, because we have free tickets (assuming there are still some available when we get to the box office...I don't think the symphony sells out that often...I really hope it doesn't tomorrow!) I got a hotel room on Priceline. Grandma gets the girls, and we'll get to leave at lunch time tomorrow, and then not come back to the farm until lunch time on Sunday. (Hey, it's away from the farm and to something cultural!)
5-
I got my hair cut this week...and I am resolving to put more effort into my appearance (given that my general amount of time is zero, it shouldn't be too hard to increase my amount of effort!) Both girls also got haircuts, and they look adorable...but older. What is it about haircuts that make your kids grow up overnight??? Serendipitiously, our haircuts (which I scheduled two weeks ago) fell on the same day as our family portrait for MIL's church photo directory. We really don't attend the church that often, other than special days (we did Ash Wednesday there, and will do Holy week there, too, probably.) I tried to avoid being in the directory (our parish just did one two years ago) but got suckered in...then we got suckered out of $125 for two 8x10s with one frame (and one 8x10 was allegedly free...) Oh well, the girls look cute in the picture!
6-
We are in desperate need of some tables for our living room. Our old house was so tiny, that when we wanted something to put a cup of coffee on (okay, today it is my morning tea) we would just drag over the kids little table. Well, their table isn't within dragging distance in our new living room...and we have no end or coffee tables. Currently, I have a two tiered step stool postioned between the couch and the recliner to function as a table. I looked at four thrift stores this week, and will probably drag hubby to more this weekend...I also think that we may go shopping at hubby's great-uncle's house to see if he has some spare furniture (okay we know he has plenty of spare stuff, as an antique junkie) that we could buy from him. He's been a little strapped for cash recently, so it would help us and help him if we can find some stuff there...now I just have to get that all set up!
7-
Hubby's little brother and his wife got moved into their farm house this week. The move did not go particularly well...it's kinda fun to watch newlyweds fight while moving! While they were loading up the rental house in town, a pig wandered through their yard, causing a minor distraction. Hubby posted pictures on facebook of the pig, SIL petting the pig, and then the police getting the pig back home. BIL did not find any of this amusing, and complained to his mom (and anyone else that would listen) that the pig made it so that loading up took an extra hour. Hubby reports it was more like a 20 minute distraction/delay. I don't know how the unpacking is going, but they have a lot of stuff for newlyweds!
More quick takes at Conversion Diary! (and I hope Jen's family feels better soon!)
Friday, February 12, 2010
Quick Takes Friday
1-
We have a house! We moved in partially on Sunday night, and then actually were able to sleep there on Monday night. We still have no Internet access (it'll be set up on Monday) so I'll have to keep this short...(well, short for me, anyway!)
2-
I have saved about $2000 since we moved in. The girl's bedroom was not big enough for both beds, and the third bedroom upstairs isn't really a bedroom because it has no window. So, hubby told me I could spend up to $1000 on bunk beds. I mentioned the idea of bunk beds to Eva, and she almost burst into tears...so instead, the girls agreed to share a bed (which they have been doing for almost 2 months, anyway...) Then, we figured out that our dishwasher is really tiny, and we have a bunch of things that won't fit in it. So hubby gave me permission to buy a dishwasher if it could be installed at the the same time our other appliances were coming. Turns out Sears can't have their delivery and installation people install dishwashers. So, saved another $500 there...then, when Sears finally delivered my appliances yesterday, the installer came in the door and said they could not install my stove because they can't convert natural gas to propane because their insurance won't let them...of course, the sales person told me it was no problem and that the delivery guys would do everything. So, rather than take the stove (it turns out the one left there was in better shape than I was led to believe) and have to find someone to install it, I just returned it. I'm figuring that it was the Holy Spirit giving me a lesson in contentment.
3-
We now have possibly the world's ugliest bathroom. I am really hoping that in a year we'll be able to save up enough to remodel it. We have a peachy pink tub (no shower), toilet (peachy pink with white seat), and a fabulous peachy pink sink with built in hair sprayer (so you can warsh your hair in the sink)...then it has the same peachy pink color and white sponge painting treatment all over the walls and ceiling, brown carpeting, and to top it off this really funky light fixture that is similar to one that a friend and her husband took out of their house a few years ago...her hubby called them testicle lights...I think that's a pretty good description, to be honest.
4-
I have all the paint for my living room, and I think some of the family will be coming over tomorrow to help me paint it. Of course, before we paint, I need to spackle all of the nail holes.
5-
Speaking of nail holes...I have taken a minimum of a dozen nails out of every room upstairs (over 30 in the living room...just over a dozen in the dining nook) I bought a huge can of spackle at the general store, and the woman there laughed at me.
6-
I also have hubby building me a pantry. Because of some weird remodeling, the coat closet is located in the kitchen. We are putting some adjustable shelving in there and making it a pantry. Eventually, I would like to put a coat closet in a little alcove next to the garage (it used to fit an upright freezer...our chest freezer is in the garage.) that way coats would be near the car or the mudroom.
7-
Hubby has the whole day off on Sunday (yeah!) to go to a Knights of Columbus meeting (note the romantic valentine's day we'll be having...) so while we are gone, I am hoping to get stuff to redo the girl's room. I have officially given in, and the room will be painted pink. We found a bedspread the girls will like, so I think I'll go get that, then go get paint for the room, maybe a few accessories, and turn their room into a super girly pink extravaganza.
That's all I have time for today, more quick takes at Conversion Diary!
We have a house! We moved in partially on Sunday night, and then actually were able to sleep there on Monday night. We still have no Internet access (it'll be set up on Monday) so I'll have to keep this short...(well, short for me, anyway!)
2-
I have saved about $2000 since we moved in. The girl's bedroom was not big enough for both beds, and the third bedroom upstairs isn't really a bedroom because it has no window. So, hubby told me I could spend up to $1000 on bunk beds. I mentioned the idea of bunk beds to Eva, and she almost burst into tears...so instead, the girls agreed to share a bed (which they have been doing for almost 2 months, anyway...) Then, we figured out that our dishwasher is really tiny, and we have a bunch of things that won't fit in it. So hubby gave me permission to buy a dishwasher if it could be installed at the the same time our other appliances were coming. Turns out Sears can't have their delivery and installation people install dishwashers. So, saved another $500 there...then, when Sears finally delivered my appliances yesterday, the installer came in the door and said they could not install my stove because they can't convert natural gas to propane because their insurance won't let them...of course, the sales person told me it was no problem and that the delivery guys would do everything. So, rather than take the stove (it turns out the one left there was in better shape than I was led to believe) and have to find someone to install it, I just returned it. I'm figuring that it was the Holy Spirit giving me a lesson in contentment.
3-
We now have possibly the world's ugliest bathroom. I am really hoping that in a year we'll be able to save up enough to remodel it. We have a peachy pink tub (no shower), toilet (peachy pink with white seat), and a fabulous peachy pink sink with built in hair sprayer (so you can warsh your hair in the sink)...then it has the same peachy pink color and white sponge painting treatment all over the walls and ceiling, brown carpeting, and to top it off this really funky light fixture that is similar to one that a friend and her husband took out of their house a few years ago...her hubby called them testicle lights...I think that's a pretty good description, to be honest.
4-
I have all the paint for my living room, and I think some of the family will be coming over tomorrow to help me paint it. Of course, before we paint, I need to spackle all of the nail holes.
5-
Speaking of nail holes...I have taken a minimum of a dozen nails out of every room upstairs (over 30 in the living room...just over a dozen in the dining nook) I bought a huge can of spackle at the general store, and the woman there laughed at me.
6-
I also have hubby building me a pantry. Because of some weird remodeling, the coat closet is located in the kitchen. We are putting some adjustable shelving in there and making it a pantry. Eventually, I would like to put a coat closet in a little alcove next to the garage (it used to fit an upright freezer...our chest freezer is in the garage.) that way coats would be near the car or the mudroom.
7-
Hubby has the whole day off on Sunday (yeah!) to go to a Knights of Columbus meeting (note the romantic valentine's day we'll be having...) so while we are gone, I am hoping to get stuff to redo the girl's room. I have officially given in, and the room will be painted pink. We found a bedspread the girls will like, so I think I'll go get that, then go get paint for the room, maybe a few accessories, and turn their room into a super girly pink extravaganza.
That's all I have time for today, more quick takes at Conversion Diary!
Friday, February 05, 2010
Quick Takes Friday
1-
The countdown has officially begun. Hubby's aunt and uncle are moving out of the house on Saturday, and although I promised hubby not to make him do major moving on Superbowl Sunday, I do plan on going in and measuring, then mapping out where the furniture will be going in between the Superbowl commercials (I mean, who actually wants to watch the game?)
2-
I finished our Federal taxes last night...we had to go over to the house to get last year's taxes in order to e-file. Turns out that I finished up my taxes on February 3rd last year. I started our state taxes, but since we actually owe taxes to the state, I figured I'd wait a while to file. Have I mentioned recently how much I love turbo tax? I used the free edition again this year, but I fear that it is probably the last year I'll be able to use turbo tax, with the slightly more complicated tax situation we might be in next year.
3-
Today the bookkeeper will be by MILs house to do data entry stuff, so I need to go put up the girl's air mattress. MIL has to work at the bookstore in town this afternoon, so instead of just hanging out and making noise, the girls and I are going to go shopping. I don't have a huge list (yet...I'm sure I will once we actually move in!) but it should be fun to go look around. I'm not getting too ambitious...just heading up to the small city with WalMart and Home Depot in it...I had thought about REALLY going shopping, but as it will be the three of us, I think we'll stay a little closer to home.
4-
I'm pretty sure that lunch today will be at McDonald's...gotta buy off the girls somehow so they behave while I browse!
5-
I wonder how many of those little paint chips I can pick up at the store before I start getting harassed by the employees...I want to find just the right colors, but it's a little hard to judge what will work with my couches, the drapes and the carpet in the living room, then of course, I need to find a coordinating color for the kitchen that will go with the curtains I am planning on buying.
6-
Speaking of the kitchen curtains...in my normal fashion, I fell in love with a particular set of valances that are only available at Lowes...of course there isn't a Lowes for well over 100 miles...I couldn't fall in love with something available at Home Depot, of course. And, to top things off, the valances are not available online. So, I'll have to wait until MILs next infusion (2 1/2 more weeks) to buy them, of course, that assumes they are still available then...
7-
My new appliances will be delivered on the 11th, so even after we have the house, we'll have to spend much of the day at MIL's house anyway...or we can wear disposable clothes and eat only items that can be prepared in the microwave. We'll have to see what sounds better next week!
More quick takes at Conversion Diary!
The countdown has officially begun. Hubby's aunt and uncle are moving out of the house on Saturday, and although I promised hubby not to make him do major moving on Superbowl Sunday, I do plan on going in and measuring, then mapping out where the furniture will be going in between the Superbowl commercials (I mean, who actually wants to watch the game?)
2-
I finished our Federal taxes last night...we had to go over to the house to get last year's taxes in order to e-file. Turns out that I finished up my taxes on February 3rd last year. I started our state taxes, but since we actually owe taxes to the state, I figured I'd wait a while to file. Have I mentioned recently how much I love turbo tax? I used the free edition again this year, but I fear that it is probably the last year I'll be able to use turbo tax, with the slightly more complicated tax situation we might be in next year.
3-
Today the bookkeeper will be by MILs house to do data entry stuff, so I need to go put up the girl's air mattress. MIL has to work at the bookstore in town this afternoon, so instead of just hanging out and making noise, the girls and I are going to go shopping. I don't have a huge list (yet...I'm sure I will once we actually move in!) but it should be fun to go look around. I'm not getting too ambitious...just heading up to the small city with WalMart and Home Depot in it...I had thought about REALLY going shopping, but as it will be the three of us, I think we'll stay a little closer to home.
4-
I'm pretty sure that lunch today will be at McDonald's...gotta buy off the girls somehow so they behave while I browse!
5-
I wonder how many of those little paint chips I can pick up at the store before I start getting harassed by the employees...I want to find just the right colors, but it's a little hard to judge what will work with my couches, the drapes and the carpet in the living room, then of course, I need to find a coordinating color for the kitchen that will go with the curtains I am planning on buying.
6-
Speaking of the kitchen curtains...in my normal fashion, I fell in love with a particular set of valances that are only available at Lowes...of course there isn't a Lowes for well over 100 miles...I couldn't fall in love with something available at Home Depot, of course. And, to top things off, the valances are not available online. So, I'll have to wait until MILs next infusion (2 1/2 more weeks) to buy them, of course, that assumes they are still available then...
7-
My new appliances will be delivered on the 11th, so even after we have the house, we'll have to spend much of the day at MIL's house anyway...or we can wear disposable clothes and eat only items that can be prepared in the microwave. We'll have to see what sounds better next week!
More quick takes at Conversion Diary!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Quick Takes Friday
1-
Well, the pantry challenge pretty much died this week. On Sunday MIL called when she was done taking communion to the sick to see if we needed anything, and I listed off several items (almost all dairy, but fresh fruits and veggies, too) and she came back with at least a dozen canned goods...so we've still been trying to use up some pantry stuff, but I gave up on the hard core pantry challenge.
2-
It has been a busy week! Monday Eva had her piano lesson, Tuesday we went to the city with MIL so that she could get her infusion for her MS, Wednesday hubby and I went into town for the blood drive and then Eva and MIL had religious ed classes, Thursday MIL went to the city with her dad to get her car fixed and he had an eye appointment and then I had bible study in the evening. Today FIL is going to be watching a video auction in just a couple of hours, so the girls and I (and maybe MIL) are going to head into town to run errands, then stop by and visit hubby's cousin Brittney, who turned 21 this week. We are so lucky to still have Brittney with us.
3-
Among the reasons this week was crazy, my little BIL (okay, well little is relative, I guess I should stop referring to him that way now that he's in his 20s and married...I still sometimes think of him as the dorky twelve year old in our wedding!) was the first to go to the ER since the new business began (this all happened on Tuesday). Hubby and BIL were riding in the bucket of the loader to take tires off the silage pile, and FIL was running the loader. When they came down, BIL got his finger caught between two of the moving parts. He was very lucky. When hubby was driving him into the hospital, he was pretty worried that BIL would lose his finger. It was cut very deeply on both sides through insulated gloves, and everyone thought it was broken. Good news is that no broken bones or tendon damage...just muscle and skin damage. So, he has stitches in his finger, and has been taping sandwich bags over his fingers to keep them clean(er) since they have been spreading manure on fields recently.
4-
I finally got around to updating the blogs on my sidebar. I came across a new one this morning that I wanted to add, so I changed names where necessary, and deleted a couple of blogs that don't post very often anymore.
5-
We are still really looking forward to moving into our own space. To the best of my knowledge, the plan is still for the aunt and uncle in the house to do their major move on February 6th. I've been looking through design books, and picking out curtains. I had a great time at a home improvement store looking at all the fun home improvement and decorating items. I just really need more info before I can buy anything.
6-
Hubby got his first farm paycheck yesterday, so I get to take it into the bank today. It was .40 more than anticipated, so he's only been farming for a month and already got a raise. I think that works out to one one-hundredth of a cent per hour, or something like that.
7-
I am so ready to get our taxes done, but I am STILL waiting on hubby's W-2 form from his old job...I am hoping it will be in our PO Box today, but the whole forwarding mail thing isn't working out too well yet...and to think, we'll get to forward it all again in the next couple of months. Maybe I'll just try to change our address on everything while we have the PO Box paid up (5 more months) to avoid some of the forwarding headache.
More quick takes over at Conversion Diary!
Well, the pantry challenge pretty much died this week. On Sunday MIL called when she was done taking communion to the sick to see if we needed anything, and I listed off several items (almost all dairy, but fresh fruits and veggies, too) and she came back with at least a dozen canned goods...so we've still been trying to use up some pantry stuff, but I gave up on the hard core pantry challenge.
2-
It has been a busy week! Monday Eva had her piano lesson, Tuesday we went to the city with MIL so that she could get her infusion for her MS, Wednesday hubby and I went into town for the blood drive and then Eva and MIL had religious ed classes, Thursday MIL went to the city with her dad to get her car fixed and he had an eye appointment and then I had bible study in the evening. Today FIL is going to be watching a video auction in just a couple of hours, so the girls and I (and maybe MIL) are going to head into town to run errands, then stop by and visit hubby's cousin Brittney, who turned 21 this week. We are so lucky to still have Brittney with us.
3-
Among the reasons this week was crazy, my little BIL (okay, well little is relative, I guess I should stop referring to him that way now that he's in his 20s and married...I still sometimes think of him as the dorky twelve year old in our wedding!) was the first to go to the ER since the new business began (this all happened on Tuesday). Hubby and BIL were riding in the bucket of the loader to take tires off the silage pile, and FIL was running the loader. When they came down, BIL got his finger caught between two of the moving parts. He was very lucky. When hubby was driving him into the hospital, he was pretty worried that BIL would lose his finger. It was cut very deeply on both sides through insulated gloves, and everyone thought it was broken. Good news is that no broken bones or tendon damage...just muscle and skin damage. So, he has stitches in his finger, and has been taping sandwich bags over his fingers to keep them clean(er) since they have been spreading manure on fields recently.
4-
I finally got around to updating the blogs on my sidebar. I came across a new one this morning that I wanted to add, so I changed names where necessary, and deleted a couple of blogs that don't post very often anymore.
5-
We are still really looking forward to moving into our own space. To the best of my knowledge, the plan is still for the aunt and uncle in the house to do their major move on February 6th. I've been looking through design books, and picking out curtains. I had a great time at a home improvement store looking at all the fun home improvement and decorating items. I just really need more info before I can buy anything.
6-
Hubby got his first farm paycheck yesterday, so I get to take it into the bank today. It was .40 more than anticipated, so he's only been farming for a month and already got a raise. I think that works out to one one-hundredth of a cent per hour, or something like that.
7-
I am so ready to get our taxes done, but I am STILL waiting on hubby's W-2 form from his old job...I am hoping it will be in our PO Box today, but the whole forwarding mail thing isn't working out too well yet...and to think, we'll get to forward it all again in the next couple of months. Maybe I'll just try to change our address on everything while we have the PO Box paid up (5 more months) to avoid some of the forwarding headache.
More quick takes over at Conversion Diary!
Friday, January 22, 2010
Quick Takes Friday
1-
I've been so wanting to tell this story, but it embarrasses hubby, so he told me not to post it to facebook (which I wanted to do from the car...) but consented to let me blog about it (although I guess I shouldn't put on facebook that I have a blog update...) Last night hubby and I went out on a date. We didn't really have anything in particular to do, so I was okay with no plan (and hubby wanted a plan...a total role reversal for us!) So, we decided while barreling down the gravel road to head towards a Nebraska town with a movie theatre, rather than to the Colorado town with a movie theatre (that shows movies on the Thursday night...the more local theatres do Friday/Saturday/Sunday movies for the most part). The Nebraska theatre had two options, one of which would be mildly entertaining. The Colorado theatre had several, none of which appealed to me. So, hubby decided to take a dirt road shortcut, but ended up on the wrong road. When we finally found a highway and turned onto it, it turns out that we ended up coming in south to the next town over to the east, when we were TRYING to get to the town to the North instead. We didn't make it to the movie, but we got plenty of time to talk while driving.
2-
Update on our eventual house...it looks like the aunt and uncle living there should be able to move out Feburary 6th, but only half of their house in town will be ready, so we have to decide if we want to move in with their son-in-law/contractor living in the basement, or if we can find somewhere else for him to stay until he finishes the house...I also have to call and put off our appliance delivery, which I had scheduled for the 4th, (since the last estimate was that their house should be DONE by the end of January and ready to move in)...so I guess I'll hope that the following Thursday will be late enough.
3-
Charlotte has been going through a naughty phase. I think part of it is all the upheaval in her life...but I think a big part of it is being 3...I sincerely had forgotten how much I struggled with Eva at 3, but I have memories coming back of very similar behavior from her...
4-
Eva read a book to Grandma last night while we were gone. MIL said that she could sound out every word in the book (just an easy reader I found at a thrift store about Nemo and Dory, so nothing major, but she doesn't like to read to me yet.) I knew she probably could, but with the no school thing for such a long period of time (we did the first week or two of December, then took off because of Hawaii and then moving, and now living with the in-laws...I am REALLY looking forward to getting back to our normal life schedule!) has made us not really practice much with reading or other subjects.
5-
Hubby is really enjoying his new job, which I am very happy about. It is a little hard for me to be as excited about it as I should, though...because it is so stressful living in someone else's home with very different household philosophies (for instance, I never would have considered myself a little bit of a neat freak until now...) I have had friends ask me how I am enjoying being a farm wife, and I have to say that I don't know yet. I just feel like we are having an extended not particularly fun visit to hubby's family. I'm sure I'll feel more farm wife-like when we have our own space.
6-
As for the own space thing, I'm contemplating going over there while no one is home and measuring all the rooms to start planning where things will go. Trying to decide if that would be appropriate or inappropriate...or honestly, whether I care whether it's appropriate or inappropriate!
7-
One thing that I am starting to get concerned about is where the girls are going to go. Our original plan was to put them in the larger of the two bedrooms on the main floor (not counting the master, of course...we get that room!) but I am not sure that the bigger room will have room for two twin beds. So the question is, do we put them together, but in the basement if they don't fit in the room together? (Hubby and I both think they are a little young to be on a different floor than us) or do we give them each one of the small upstairs bedrooms? I think that's the way we are leaning right now, but what do we do if someday they need to share a room again? I don't want them to get the idea that they are each owed their own room...and I think they might miss each other...they've shared a room since Charlotte was 9 months old.
As usual, more quick takes at Conversion Diary!
I've been so wanting to tell this story, but it embarrasses hubby, so he told me not to post it to facebook (which I wanted to do from the car...) but consented to let me blog about it (although I guess I shouldn't put on facebook that I have a blog update...) Last night hubby and I went out on a date. We didn't really have anything in particular to do, so I was okay with no plan (and hubby wanted a plan...a total role reversal for us!) So, we decided while barreling down the gravel road to head towards a Nebraska town with a movie theatre, rather than to the Colorado town with a movie theatre (that shows movies on the Thursday night...the more local theatres do Friday/Saturday/Sunday movies for the most part). The Nebraska theatre had two options, one of which would be mildly entertaining. The Colorado theatre had several, none of which appealed to me. So, hubby decided to take a dirt road shortcut, but ended up on the wrong road. When we finally found a highway and turned onto it, it turns out that we ended up coming in south to the next town over to the east, when we were TRYING to get to the town to the North instead. We didn't make it to the movie, but we got plenty of time to talk while driving.
2-
Update on our eventual house...it looks like the aunt and uncle living there should be able to move out Feburary 6th, but only half of their house in town will be ready, so we have to decide if we want to move in with their son-in-law/contractor living in the basement, or if we can find somewhere else for him to stay until he finishes the house...I also have to call and put off our appliance delivery, which I had scheduled for the 4th, (since the last estimate was that their house should be DONE by the end of January and ready to move in)...so I guess I'll hope that the following Thursday will be late enough.
3-
Charlotte has been going through a naughty phase. I think part of it is all the upheaval in her life...but I think a big part of it is being 3...I sincerely had forgotten how much I struggled with Eva at 3, but I have memories coming back of very similar behavior from her...
4-
Eva read a book to Grandma last night while we were gone. MIL said that she could sound out every word in the book (just an easy reader I found at a thrift store about Nemo and Dory, so nothing major, but she doesn't like to read to me yet.) I knew she probably could, but with the no school thing for such a long period of time (we did the first week or two of December, then took off because of Hawaii and then moving, and now living with the in-laws...I am REALLY looking forward to getting back to our normal life schedule!) has made us not really practice much with reading or other subjects.
5-
Hubby is really enjoying his new job, which I am very happy about. It is a little hard for me to be as excited about it as I should, though...because it is so stressful living in someone else's home with very different household philosophies (for instance, I never would have considered myself a little bit of a neat freak until now...) I have had friends ask me how I am enjoying being a farm wife, and I have to say that I don't know yet. I just feel like we are having an extended not particularly fun visit to hubby's family. I'm sure I'll feel more farm wife-like when we have our own space.
6-
As for the own space thing, I'm contemplating going over there while no one is home and measuring all the rooms to start planning where things will go. Trying to decide if that would be appropriate or inappropriate...or honestly, whether I care whether it's appropriate or inappropriate!
7-
One thing that I am starting to get concerned about is where the girls are going to go. Our original plan was to put them in the larger of the two bedrooms on the main floor (not counting the master, of course...we get that room!) but I am not sure that the bigger room will have room for two twin beds. So the question is, do we put them together, but in the basement if they don't fit in the room together? (Hubby and I both think they are a little young to be on a different floor than us) or do we give them each one of the small upstairs bedrooms? I think that's the way we are leaning right now, but what do we do if someday they need to share a room again? I don't want them to get the idea that they are each owed their own room...and I think they might miss each other...they've shared a room since Charlotte was 9 months old.
As usual, more quick takes at Conversion Diary!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Pantry Challenge Update
Well, last week was a really tough week for us. Monday we moved out of our old house. Tuesday we closed on it...and adjusting to the idea that there is no where for us to go until we can move into the new house has been challenging. I've even had a few run ins with my MIL, with whom I normally get along fine.
We are still doing pretty well on the pantry challenge. We've made a few exceptions (basically we've bought a few items we were entirely out of...) but we've even planned another week's worth of menus.
We've made several desserts with the extensive supply of dessert materials, including German Chocolate Upsidedown Cake for my bible study meeting last Thursday, and some cookies that included oatmeal, peanut butter, raisins, coconut, nuts, and chocolate chips for a Knights of Columbus first degree ceremony on Saturday.
Yesterday:
Lunch - lunch meat sandwiches, 5 cup fruit salad (pineapple chunks, mandarin oranges, mini marshmallows, coconut and sour cream...a cup of everything except the fruit...one can each, with 1 T. reserved pineapple juice.)
Dinner - shepherd's pie (made with leftover stew, and topped with some leftover mashed potatoes and some mashed potatoes made with flakes from the pantry) sliced cheese
Today:
Lunch - Cranberry Pot Roast (used 1 can of cranberry sauce...still 1 to go!) with Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes (last box)
Dinner - BBQ Pie (hamburger and onion mixed with a large can of baked beans, some BBQ sauce, a topping made with bisquick and cheddar cheese) served with carrots, canned peaches and cheese flavored chips (this meal was brought to you by the color orange!)
Snack - We made this really yummy recipe for an afternoon before piano lessons snack. (used up two cans of pears, I think we only have 1 to go!)
Wednesday:
Lunch - Coconut Chicken Curry (made with the can of coconut milk) and rice (still have a ton of rice to use up!)
Dinner - hamburgers, french fries and tossed salad (no pantry items here...just trying to do something easy while MIL and Eva are at CCD classes!)
Thursday:
Lunch - Szechuan Beef (using up the can of water chestnuts and some peanuts out of the pantry) with rice (we will be eating a lot of rice by the end of the month.)
Dinner - Bahama Mama Pork Chops (using up some pineapple and raisins) baked potatoes and a frozen veggie
Friday:
Lunch - Runza in a Skillet (using up the last can of tomato soup) with cottage cheese and probably something else on the side...
Dinner - Chili (using some of our dried pinto beans, and probably a can of salsa, since we are low on tomato products.)
Saturday:
Lunch - Sausage Pasta (using some of our spaghetti and a jar of kalamata olives in place of the black olives) with a tossed salad.
Dinner - We will be attending a fundraiser for a local crisis pregnancy center, so no cooking (yeah!)
Sunday:
Lunch - Sloppy Joes (using a bunch of different pantry items) and pretzel salad with whatever else I can find, or that MIL brings home after church from the store.
Dinner - Garlic Chicken with Orzo (using up hopefully the whole box of orzo in the pantry)
We are still doing pretty well on the pantry challenge. We've made a few exceptions (basically we've bought a few items we were entirely out of...) but we've even planned another week's worth of menus.
We've made several desserts with the extensive supply of dessert materials, including German Chocolate Upsidedown Cake for my bible study meeting last Thursday, and some cookies that included oatmeal, peanut butter, raisins, coconut, nuts, and chocolate chips for a Knights of Columbus first degree ceremony on Saturday.
Yesterday:
Lunch - lunch meat sandwiches, 5 cup fruit salad (pineapple chunks, mandarin oranges, mini marshmallows, coconut and sour cream...a cup of everything except the fruit...one can each, with 1 T. reserved pineapple juice.)
Dinner - shepherd's pie (made with leftover stew, and topped with some leftover mashed potatoes and some mashed potatoes made with flakes from the pantry) sliced cheese
Today:
Lunch - Cranberry Pot Roast (used 1 can of cranberry sauce...still 1 to go!) with Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes (last box)
Dinner - BBQ Pie (hamburger and onion mixed with a large can of baked beans, some BBQ sauce, a topping made with bisquick and cheddar cheese) served with carrots, canned peaches and cheese flavored chips (this meal was brought to you by the color orange!)
Snack - We made this really yummy recipe for an afternoon before piano lessons snack. (used up two cans of pears, I think we only have 1 to go!)
Wednesday:
Lunch - Coconut Chicken Curry (made with the can of coconut milk) and rice (still have a ton of rice to use up!)
Dinner - hamburgers, french fries and tossed salad (no pantry items here...just trying to do something easy while MIL and Eva are at CCD classes!)
Thursday:
Lunch - Szechuan Beef (using up the can of water chestnuts and some peanuts out of the pantry) with rice (we will be eating a lot of rice by the end of the month.)
Dinner - Bahama Mama Pork Chops (using up some pineapple and raisins) baked potatoes and a frozen veggie
Friday:
Lunch - Runza in a Skillet (using up the last can of tomato soup) with cottage cheese and probably something else on the side...
Dinner - Chili (using some of our dried pinto beans, and probably a can of salsa, since we are low on tomato products.)
Saturday:
Lunch - Sausage Pasta (using some of our spaghetti and a jar of kalamata olives in place of the black olives) with a tossed salad.
Dinner - We will be attending a fundraiser for a local crisis pregnancy center, so no cooking (yeah!)
Sunday:
Lunch - Sloppy Joes (using a bunch of different pantry items) and pretzel salad with whatever else I can find, or that MIL brings home after church from the store.
Dinner - Garlic Chicken with Orzo (using up hopefully the whole box of orzo in the pantry)
Friday, January 08, 2010
Quick Takes Friday
1-
Hubby has been farming officially for a full week now (yeah!) which means that we've been living with his parents for over a week (and still doing okay so far) and that he has been FREEZING, I think. It got down to 8 below last night, and that doesn't count windchill. I'm glad that I get to stay inside.
2-
We have a closing date on our old house. Tuesday at 4 PM. We also have a moving date for the last of our stuff...Monday morning. MIL, I and the girls went down yesterday afternoon to pack up stuff. Then after it got dark and the men were done working, hubby and his dad came down to help. We cleared out the attic (I can't believe how much baby stuff we had stored up there!), almost finished packing boxes, and moved the freezer and the kitchen table and chairs.
3-
Sometime this afternoon we will be leaving to go the a Knights of Columbus meeting down in Colorado Springs. I'm excited about hanging out with the girls, going to the pool, and going to the mass and banquet as a family. I am not excited about doing laundry and packing this morning.
4-
On Wednesday, I taught Charlotte's preschool coop class for the last time. Since most of our stuff was packed and moved, I had some last minute changes to plans, but we somehow managed to get through 4 projects...A paper bag cow puppet, a number 6 activity, a rectangle shape person, and a new years shaker (made with dried beans in a coke can.) While I was getting the snack together (juice pouches and goldfish crackers) all the kids started screaming at each other, so I put them all in corners for a time out while I finished getting ready. One little boy muttered something about never wanting to come to this house again...which I thought was funny, since it was the last time he'd come to it while we own it, anyway!
5-
I've been Internet shopping for appliances, and I think I have my plan laid out for when we get in our next house. We will definitely need a range, microwave, washer and dryer (we are bringing our fridge) and we may need a dishwasher...I know there is one in the house, but I am not sure if it works or not. It looks like I should be able to get pretty nice appliances for around $2000...which is a lot, of course, but I know it could be a lot worse. I guess we'll have to see if the prices go up by the time we are in there...
6-
Another task that needs to be done before we leave today is fixing Eva's Christmas dress (we bought it for pictures the day we had the girl's pictures taken, but found out that we needed to wrap a hair tie in the back of it to keep the neckline high enough...) so that she can wear it to the banquet tomorrow night without the hair tie. Unfortunately, I bought MIL needles to do the job last week, and we have spent much of the morning looking for those needles!
7-
I am really looking forward to having our own space. It hasn't been too bad living all together, but having the girls on an air mattress in the office space has made it difficult to get girls to sleep well AND made it difficult to get things faxed and copied, etc. It will be nice to come over and be visitors again.
More quick takes at Conversion Diary!
Hubby has been farming officially for a full week now (yeah!) which means that we've been living with his parents for over a week (and still doing okay so far) and that he has been FREEZING, I think. It got down to 8 below last night, and that doesn't count windchill. I'm glad that I get to stay inside.
2-
We have a closing date on our old house. Tuesday at 4 PM. We also have a moving date for the last of our stuff...Monday morning. MIL, I and the girls went down yesterday afternoon to pack up stuff. Then after it got dark and the men were done working, hubby and his dad came down to help. We cleared out the attic (I can't believe how much baby stuff we had stored up there!), almost finished packing boxes, and moved the freezer and the kitchen table and chairs.
3-
Sometime this afternoon we will be leaving to go the a Knights of Columbus meeting down in Colorado Springs. I'm excited about hanging out with the girls, going to the pool, and going to the mass and banquet as a family. I am not excited about doing laundry and packing this morning.
4-
On Wednesday, I taught Charlotte's preschool coop class for the last time. Since most of our stuff was packed and moved, I had some last minute changes to plans, but we somehow managed to get through 4 projects...A paper bag cow puppet, a number 6 activity, a rectangle shape person, and a new years shaker (made with dried beans in a coke can.) While I was getting the snack together (juice pouches and goldfish crackers) all the kids started screaming at each other, so I put them all in corners for a time out while I finished getting ready. One little boy muttered something about never wanting to come to this house again...which I thought was funny, since it was the last time he'd come to it while we own it, anyway!
5-
I've been Internet shopping for appliances, and I think I have my plan laid out for when we get in our next house. We will definitely need a range, microwave, washer and dryer (we are bringing our fridge) and we may need a dishwasher...I know there is one in the house, but I am not sure if it works or not. It looks like I should be able to get pretty nice appliances for around $2000...which is a lot, of course, but I know it could be a lot worse. I guess we'll have to see if the prices go up by the time we are in there...
6-
Another task that needs to be done before we leave today is fixing Eva's Christmas dress (we bought it for pictures the day we had the girl's pictures taken, but found out that we needed to wrap a hair tie in the back of it to keep the neckline high enough...) so that she can wear it to the banquet tomorrow night without the hair tie. Unfortunately, I bought MIL needles to do the job last week, and we have spent much of the morning looking for those needles!
7-
I am really looking forward to having our own space. It hasn't been too bad living all together, but having the girls on an air mattress in the office space has made it difficult to get girls to sleep well AND made it difficult to get things faxed and copied, etc. It will be nice to come over and be visitors again.
More quick takes at Conversion Diary!
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Menu Plan -Eat From The Pantry Challenge
Today MIL and I sat down to plan meals and write out a grocery list. We now have meals planned until Friday night when hubby and I heading out of town. We spent about $80 at the store, and didn't buy anything to restock the pantry. I did buy goldfish crackers and juice boxes for the preschool coop class I am teaching tomorrow morning. Here's the menu for the week:
Tuesday:
Lunch (Dinner to MIL): Meatballs with cranberry/chili sauce, Mac and Cheese, Green beans
Dinner (Supper to MIL...we're always confused about meals): Chicken noodle soup, garlic bread
Wednesday:
Lunch: Leftovers for the guys, I'll be having lunch with some friends in our old town. Not sure what MIL is planning yet.
Dinner: Tacos, fruit salad
Thursday:
Lunch: Chicken Divan casserole, baby carrots
Dinner: Sausage and Spinach Manicotti, tossed salad
Friday: Sloppy Joes, tossed salad
Tuesday:
Lunch (Dinner to MIL): Meatballs with cranberry/chili sauce, Mac and Cheese, Green beans
Dinner (Supper to MIL...we're always confused about meals): Chicken noodle soup, garlic bread
Wednesday:
Lunch: Leftovers for the guys, I'll be having lunch with some friends in our old town. Not sure what MIL is planning yet.
Dinner: Tacos, fruit salad
Thursday:
Lunch: Chicken Divan casserole, baby carrots
Dinner: Sausage and Spinach Manicotti, tossed salad
Friday: Sloppy Joes, tossed salad
Monday, January 04, 2010
Pantry Inventory - Eat From The Pantry Challenge
Well, today I finally got around to cleaning out MILs pantry, and combining my pantry items with hers. I didn't manage to fit in everything, but took out quite a few of MILs pans...so she needs to find a new home for them. Today for lunch we made a tuna casserole, and for dinner tonight we are making a taco casserole. I have a feeling there will be many more casseroles this month.
I didn't inventory everything, because between all the jello (MIL) and baking supplies (both of us) and the 13 or so packages of marshmallows (sadly, I'm not joking, and I threw out about 5 petrified open packages). But here is the incomplete list:
Canned Pumpkin 2
Cranberry Sauce 2
Crushed Pineapple 4
Pineapple Tidbits 2
Canned Pears 2
Mandarin Oranges 2
Italian Style Tomatoes 1
Vegetable Soup 2
Tomato Soup 2
Chicken Noodle 1
Cream of Mushroom 1
Chili Sauce 1
Bisquick 2
Fish n Chips Batter 1
Fryin' Magic 1
Creamy Peanut Butter 4
Graham Cracker Crumbs 1 (+ 2 boxes actual graham crackers)
Fiber Crackers 2
Salsa Jar 1
Spaghetti 3
Lasagna 1
Penne 1
Manacotti 2
Instant Rice 1
White Rice 1
Brown Rice 2
Saffron Rice 1
Stuffing 1
Croutons 2
Orzo 2
Mashed Potato Flakes 1
Scalloped Potatoes 1
Mac and Cheese 2
Macaroni Shells 1
Evaporated Milk 6
Sweetened Condensed Milk 1
Coconut Milk 1
Water Chestnuts 1
Refried Beans 1
Baked Beans 1
Pasta Sauce 1
Canned Chicken 2
Canned Salmon 1
Canned Tuna 3
Canned Spinach 2
Sauerkraut 1
Canned Corn 1
Canned Black Olives 1
Jars Kalamata Olives 2
Banana Peppers 1
So far so good, no grocery shopping at all, but since we are out of milk and bread, I think a trip to the store tomorrow would be in order.
I didn't inventory everything, because between all the jello (MIL) and baking supplies (both of us) and the 13 or so packages of marshmallows (sadly, I'm not joking, and I threw out about 5 petrified open packages). But here is the incomplete list:
Canned Pumpkin 2
Cranberry Sauce 2
Crushed Pineapple 4
Pineapple Tidbits 2
Canned Pears 2
Mandarin Oranges 2
Italian Style Tomatoes 1
Vegetable Soup 2
Tomato Soup 2
Chicken Noodle 1
Cream of Mushroom 1
Chili Sauce 1
Bisquick 2
Fish n Chips Batter 1
Fryin' Magic 1
Creamy Peanut Butter 4
Graham Cracker Crumbs 1 (+ 2 boxes actual graham crackers)
Fiber Crackers 2
Salsa Jar 1
Spaghetti 3
Lasagna 1
Penne 1
Manacotti 2
Instant Rice 1
White Rice 1
Brown Rice 2
Saffron Rice 1
Stuffing 1
Croutons 2
Orzo 2
Mashed Potato Flakes 1
Scalloped Potatoes 1
Mac and Cheese 2
Macaroni Shells 1
Evaporated Milk 6
Sweetened Condensed Milk 1
Coconut Milk 1
Water Chestnuts 1
Refried Beans 1
Baked Beans 1
Pasta Sauce 1
Canned Chicken 2
Canned Salmon 1
Canned Tuna 3
Canned Spinach 2
Sauerkraut 1
Canned Corn 1
Canned Black Olives 1
Jars Kalamata Olives 2
Banana Peppers 1
So far so good, no grocery shopping at all, but since we are out of milk and bread, I think a trip to the store tomorrow would be in order.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
2/3rds Moved and Eat From The Pantry Challenge
Today we moved more stuff out of our house, but this time it is being stored at the correct house (yeah!) so we still have more packing and all of our large furniture and garage stuff to move, but things are going along okay with the contract on our old house. Hopefully we will close on it by the 12th of January.
We also have officially moved into my MILs house, bringing suitcases with clothing and most of the contents of my pantry (which are now combined with her overflowing pantry). I just saw that Money Saving Mom is doing an "Eat From The Pantry Challenge", so I mentioned it to MIL, and she said that it looked like we had plenty of stuff in the pantry. So, I figure that since I am here for a while (I wish I had a move in date for the new house...but I am hoping we will move in before the end of January.) the two of us will try to make meals from the pantry...our rules will necessarily be slightly flexible (since we do want both of us to survive the combined living arrangements) but here's my thoughts:
No purchasing pantry items.
Dairy products will be purchased, as will produce.
Eating out will be allowed (if only to make sure that the six of us keep our sanity).
I'm not going to put a dollar amount on the groceries, since I have no idea how our different methods of shopping (me with my couponing and generic brands, my MIL buying name brands that she and FIL prefer).
The "Eat From The Pantry Challenge" will end when we move out of MILs house, since most of my pantry items will probably stay here at MILs house, and I'll have to restock at the new house.
I'll try to remember to blog occasionally about how things are going, both with the living all together, and with the pantry challenge.
We also have officially moved into my MILs house, bringing suitcases with clothing and most of the contents of my pantry (which are now combined with her overflowing pantry). I just saw that Money Saving Mom is doing an "Eat From The Pantry Challenge", so I mentioned it to MIL, and she said that it looked like we had plenty of stuff in the pantry. So, I figure that since I am here for a while (I wish I had a move in date for the new house...but I am hoping we will move in before the end of January.) the two of us will try to make meals from the pantry...our rules will necessarily be slightly flexible (since we do want both of us to survive the combined living arrangements) but here's my thoughts:
No purchasing pantry items.
Dairy products will be purchased, as will produce.
Eating out will be allowed (if only to make sure that the six of us keep our sanity).
I'm not going to put a dollar amount on the groceries, since I have no idea how our different methods of shopping (me with my couponing and generic brands, my MIL buying name brands that she and FIL prefer).
The "Eat From The Pantry Challenge" will end when we move out of MILs house, since most of my pantry items will probably stay here at MILs house, and I'll have to restock at the new house.
I'll try to remember to blog occasionally about how things are going, both with the living all together, and with the pantry challenge.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Quick Takes Friday - Leaving on a Jet Plane
1-
We've had a lot of lasts in the past week. Eva's last ballet lesson, Eva's last story time at the library...it's been a little tough, and maybe not just on Eva. Hubby and I are pretty nervous about the impending move.
2-
Things appear to be going okay for the sale. Two days ago we had the appraisers show up. We don't know what their verdict is yet, but since one of them told me that she liked our house, I'm taking that as a good sign!
3-
I'm not sure if I mentioned the not so good news portion of the sale. We had to amend the contract because the lender said that we forgot to put in the $2700 of seller concessions. It wasn't forgotten, it was the first we or our realtor had heard of it, but we figured that a buyer where we have some expenses is better than no buyer.
4-
We found Eva a piano teacher in our new town, and the teacher is willing to give it a try with Eva, even though she is pretty young. I know that my childhood piano teacher normally didn't take kids until they were 7, but I started around 6 (when I inherited the piano that hubby is dreading moving again!) She'll start lessons on January 5th.
5-
Bags are packed, we are at the in-laws to leave off the dog, and after lunch we will be heading off to my parents house to have a Christmas celebration with my brother, then stay the night. In the morning my brother will drive us all to the airport and take possession of our car for a week (I'm only a little bit nervous about that!). Then it is a 12 hour travel day. We fly to Portland, then have a 4 hour layover, then we are on the plane to Hawaii (we will get in late at night, then drive across the island to our resort.)
6-
It is kinda funny that my non-religious parents managed to take us for a week long vacation during which we will need to attend Mass three times. We'll see if my mom and dad come to any of the services...my mom might come to Christmas, but I'm having a hard time imagining my dad there.
7-
So, here comes a week with basically no naps and too much to do, I think. We'll see how Charlotte holds up with all of the activity. She's cranky this morning because she missed her nap yesterday. I'm really hoping that both girls end up sleeping on (at least some of) the planes.
More quick takes at Conversion Diary!
We've had a lot of lasts in the past week. Eva's last ballet lesson, Eva's last story time at the library...it's been a little tough, and maybe not just on Eva. Hubby and I are pretty nervous about the impending move.
2-
Things appear to be going okay for the sale. Two days ago we had the appraisers show up. We don't know what their verdict is yet, but since one of them told me that she liked our house, I'm taking that as a good sign!
3-
I'm not sure if I mentioned the not so good news portion of the sale. We had to amend the contract because the lender said that we forgot to put in the $2700 of seller concessions. It wasn't forgotten, it was the first we or our realtor had heard of it, but we figured that a buyer where we have some expenses is better than no buyer.
4-
We found Eva a piano teacher in our new town, and the teacher is willing to give it a try with Eva, even though she is pretty young. I know that my childhood piano teacher normally didn't take kids until they were 7, but I started around 6 (when I inherited the piano that hubby is dreading moving again!) She'll start lessons on January 5th.
5-
Bags are packed, we are at the in-laws to leave off the dog, and after lunch we will be heading off to my parents house to have a Christmas celebration with my brother, then stay the night. In the morning my brother will drive us all to the airport and take possession of our car for a week (I'm only a little bit nervous about that!). Then it is a 12 hour travel day. We fly to Portland, then have a 4 hour layover, then we are on the plane to Hawaii (we will get in late at night, then drive across the island to our resort.)
6-
It is kinda funny that my non-religious parents managed to take us for a week long vacation during which we will need to attend Mass three times. We'll see if my mom and dad come to any of the services...my mom might come to Christmas, but I'm having a hard time imagining my dad there.
7-
So, here comes a week with basically no naps and too much to do, I think. We'll see how Charlotte holds up with all of the activity. She's cranky this morning because she missed her nap yesterday. I'm really hoping that both girls end up sleeping on (at least some of) the planes.
More quick takes at Conversion Diary!
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