Little Drummer Boy

Hello!  This has been a fun few days starting with this past Wednesday.  Every once in awhile things fall into place and we get to do something totally unexpected.  I've mentioned before that my husband plays in a Christian Group; they practice every Wednesday evening and he goes to practice, normally, every other week.  He was planning to attend practice this past Wednesday.  I talked to him at about 3:00 on Wednesday and mentioned that if I didn't have the munchkin, the boys and I would head into to town to meet him for dinner.  But, figuring that I couldn't get out of dodge until about 5:00, it just makes it to rushed to meet and still have him make it on time for practice.(not to mention the cost of gas, dinner, and a late night - it is NOT something we do often at all)  Then, at 3:30 the munchkin's mom pulled in the driveway a whole hour early.  I called my husband but, he was already eating so we just said "oh well" and left it at that.  Then he called back at 4:20 and said, "Why don't we just meet at the mall and you all can eat there, if there is time to kill, then the boys can play in the play area?".  Well, let me tell you, we JUMPED at that chance.  When I told the boys we were going, though, they were SURE we were going to Daddy's practice so they went looking for both their little guitars to take along.  Yes, we did go to practice too and we learned that we have a "Little Drummer Boy"!

Josh LOVED the drums. So much so that he played "air drums" with some extra sticks through most of the night and very intently watched the drummer play and tried to do whatever he did.  I think I see some drums in our future.  The good news is that Darryl can play drums so he can teach him the basics.  It was a really great night and, after one particular song, Josh exclaimed, "That was my favorite, do it again!"

This weekend was also filled with putting up outside Christmas "desherashions", going to a Chinese Buffet (which the boys LOVED - nothing better then picking out your own food and getting to eat ice cream!), driving around and looking at lights (Every time we came to a house Josh would say, "Ok, Dad, please stop a minute for me" hehehe)  and attending a concert to watch Darryl play.  It was a fun, family filled weekend!

Weekly Menu

I promise you that we ate last week even though I didn't post a menu :-)  My kids were gone until Tuesday so my husband and enjoyed eating out and easy food.  Isn't it amazing that Thanksgiving is part of this weeks menu???  Wow!  I feel like it is early this year yet it is on the same Thursday every year??  I am hosting Thanksgiving dinner but somehow I've gotten out of making most of the food - I guess that is the way to plan, right?  Anyway - this is our plan for this week!

Sunday  - I know I don't normally start with Sunday but our plans kinda changed so it's a new plan for the day!  The boys and I are attending one of Darryl's concerts and then attending a dinner afterwards for the group before heading home.  I plan on putting a chicken in the crock pot so we can have chicken, stuffing, and veggies for dinner later in the evening.

Monday - Baked Penne Pasta with broccoli, chicken and smoked mozzarella, salad and french bread.

Tuesday - Chicken Noodle Soup (using left over chicken from Sunday) and homemade bread.

Wednesday - Italian Wedding Soup and french bread.  I know, I know.  Soup two nights in a row??  Well, there is a chance we will actually have leftovers depending on how much food is left from the previous nights. 

Thursday - Happy Thanksgiving!!   We are having:  Turkey, Ham, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Stuffing, Sweet Potatoes, Corn and Green Bean Casserole, Sauted Cabbage and Bacon, Cranberry Sauce, Deviled Eggs and Rolls.  Plus Pies and Cheesecake for dessert.  Doesn't it all sound yummy???

Friday - We are going to get our Christmas tree today!  Our tradition is to stop at our favorite restaurant and get lunch after chopping down the tree. Darryl and I usually get an array of appetizers.  Then, later in the evening we'll have pizza (probably homemade) and dessert - I think I will make some Monkey bread and see how the boys like it.  Maybe it will be a new tradition.  We actually used to do all kinds of appetizers while decorating the tree but, since we now do that at lunch, we changed things around. 

Saturday - There is a possibility my husband will be working but I'm going to plan like he isn't ;-)  We'll have brunch with Holiday French Toast and Bacon.  If anyone is hungry in the afternoon I'm sure there will be left overs. If not, I will have some soup on hand to feed those that need it. Then for dinner we will have Country Fried Steak, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy and Corn.  Just a good old comfort food meal :-)

Sunday - Roast, Potatoes and Carrots after church and then, are you ready, LEFT OVERS for dinner!  We'll need to clean out the fridge for sure!!

Food Friday - Mini Cinnamon Rolls

Awhile ago, a friend of mine posted on Facebook how they have a Sunday Morning tradition of homemade cinnamon rolls.  I really liked that idea but needed to find something quick and easy so I didn't have to get up early to make them before church.  I ran across this idea on Pinterest (of course!) and they are a hit in this house.  Right now I don't make them every Sunday but I think as the boys get older, they will be something that is expected :-)

Mini Cinnamon Rolls
adapted from Very Culinary

There really is not a lot to say about these other than to say they are really good.  They are the perfect size for little hands and the perfect size to just pop into your mouth. 

 
Mini Cinnamon Rolls
Makes 16
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 12 minutes
Ingredients
• 1 (8 ounce) tube crescent seamless dough sheet **
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 4 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped pecans
• 1 teaspoon maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon skim milk
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
** If you cannot find the seamless dough, then just buy an 8 ounce tube regular crescent roll dough, but you’ll need to pinch all the seams together, then smooth out slightly with a rolling pin.
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat a non-stick mini muffin tin with cooking spray; set aside.
Layout your dough, longer side toward you. Brush with the butter. Sprinkle with the cinnamon, brown sugar, and pecans. Roll into a log and cut into 16 equal pieces.
Place mini cinnamon rolls into your mini muffin tin. Bake for 12 minutes.
Meanwhile whisk together maple syrup and milk in a bowl. Add in powdered sugar until desired consistency is reached. Drizzle over warm cinnamon rolls and enjoy!

Enjoy!! 

Stages

Have you ever noticed that life has stages?  They seem to sneak up on you, don't you?  I find that I'm moving along in my daily life, getting things done in a great routine when I start to notice that my "routine" just isn't working.  The things I used to have time for I no longer have time for and then it hits me . .. . we are in a new "stage".

What stage are we in right now?  Well, we are in the 1)Swallowing money 2)getting their own food out of the fridge, 3) interesting conversation, 4) too busy (sound familiar) stage.

1) Yes, yes yes.  I finally had a kid do something weird.  Nate swallowed money on Wednesday.  I walked into the living room to find that they had emptied a little piggy bank I have on my desk.  Josh had made a tower out of the coins and led me through the house with my eyes closed to "surprise" me with it.  Then Nate said, "And I swallowed money, but don't worry mom, it was just one!"  After asking him about 10 times if he really did swallow one of those "monies" and he said yes over and over, I called the doctor.  It appears that he's fine, now we just wait.  I guess if the coin doesn't magically reappear by Friday, I might call back :-/

2) I'm slowly rearranging how I put things in my fridge.  Josh has discovered that he likes to look in the fridge and find something to eat.  I used to keep chocolate chips in the bottom drawer so they don't melt.  They are no longer there.  HA  Instead I keep Apples, cheese, and lunch meat in that spot.  He also will search for things when I tell him we are out of something so now, if we aren't out of it I just say, "No, we are not out of it, but you don't need any more."  Otherwise he would go to the fridge and say, "Mooooom, look, there are still more chocolate chips in here" :-)

3) Oh the conversations that go on in this house now.  Nothing life changing but the full sentence, random topic conversations are just amazing.  I'm so surprised by how quickly they go from just little random thoughts to . . .. actual conversation.  On the flip side, now they can "debate" with me about things and well, I prefer to win those conversations.

4) One last thought for today.  On Monday evening, I was gone and my husband was helping the boys clean up.  Josh was playing with this tiny rubber caterpillar he got with his Halloween Candy.  The boys kept throwing it around and it would get lost.  Well, Nate threw it and no one could find it.  Darryl was looking for it and went into the classroom to find Nate.  He said, "Nate, you need to help us look for that".  Nate, who was working on a puzzle at the moment said, "No, not right now, I'm too busy" HAhahahaha!

So that's our "stage".  The boys love for me to play with them more so I often I chose blocks over cleaning and trains over planning so it takes longer to get things done but on the flip side, when I'm cleaning, I often get helpers.  Even yesterday, as I vacuumed the carpeted floors, I had two boys using the Swiffer Vac cleaning the hard floors so . . "We can be done and we can all play together mom".  So it really is a great stage!

Too Cute Not To Toot

Boo! I'm really struggling right now finding great ideas that I love, that I want to make, and that fit into my lifestyle.  I've always loved this post because there is so much fun stuff out there but . .. if I can't find it, I can't share it!  I may have to do what I was trying NOT to do and that is share ideas from Pinterest instead of ideas that people actually post on blogs.  I'm going to give it another week and see what I find!!

A few ideas of Thanksgiving Crafts :

I've been looking for some fun Thanksgiving type things to do with the kids - one a day for something fun!.  I love this simple idea from Racks and Mooby for making Turkeys.

Another great turkey craft - this one is from Crafty Journal.

Also from Crafty Journal is this simple paper plate Turkey Craft.

Maybe I'll actually have posts to share about making at least one of these crafts!

November Goals and December too!

For a goal oriented person, like myself, having no goals means I flounder.  Yet, on the other hand, when I write out goals, it gives me a jumping off point.  Now, I may now complete the goals on my list but it does help me focus on accomplishing something and that is the key.  I know I wrote goals for October but I don't remember them and, quite honestly, I don't want to look back at them and see what I didn't do!!!  Instead I'm going to go just regroup and refocus for the end of the year.  One "bonus" this month that I'm meeting with ladies for our annual Solutions Social Calendar Planning Event for 2013. 

Here is what is on my radar for the next 7 weeks?? Wow . . .

Home
1. Finish the basement. Organize, clean, and just have it done!
2. Prep the playroom - basically have everything moved out of that room that is not staying so that we can start in January on putting in some softer flower, put in a reading nook and add some fun things to the walls.
3. Decorate for Christmas - I know this is a given but it is a big deal so I think it deserves a spot on the goal list.

Family
1. Go the Santa House for Santa Photos - this is a Holiday house in the next town over that I heard about last year - looking forward to checking it out.
2. Check out Christmas Lights - the boys LOVE them so I really want to make sure that we take time to do this - a ball park near us sets up a huge display and for a small fee you can drive through - I really want to do that this year.
3. One "bonus" thing I'd like to fit in is a trip to Shipshawanna for their big Christmas Activities.  I say that it is bonus because with family parties, play practice and concerts I'm not sure IF we can fit this in or not.

Homeschool/Kids Activities
1. Create our new Advent Calendar based on the "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" AND be ready to start it on December 1st.
2. Plan special Christmas Activities to do each day (I did this last year and the kids looked forward to it each day).  I will be incorporating a book called "Truth in Tinsel" that goes through the Christmas Story and provides instructions for a craft each day so I need to prep for those as well
3. Plan some Thanksgiving activities to do throughout November - I have stuff printed, I just have to prep it all.

Christmas
1. Plan and budget all Christmas gifts - the Boys, Darryl, the parents, Sunday School Teacher, and Pastor.
2. Have all gifts purchased and wrapped by December 15
3. Prepare for Nate's Birthday (Not really "Christmas" but it is Dec 22nd so when I plan, I make sure and include this activity in my planning)
4. Make Christmas Cookies this year!!!!!

Pinterest
1.  My new goal with Pinterest is to spend a full month on 2 separate boards.  So over the next 7 or so weeks, my goal is to accomplish at least one item from the following THREE boards (since this list encompasses 1 1/2 months).  The boards are - Thanksgiving, Christmas and For the Home. Two of the three should be easy since they are the current Holidays!

That's all!  I'm printing this and posting it on my desk so I can remember!!!

Remember, I said Life is Busy?

If you have followed my blog for any length of time, you know that I post almost every single day.  I do it because I enjoy it - it is my outlet and adult conversation :-)

Sometimes, though, life gets busy and I need to put other things first.  Guess what?  This is one of those weeks. 

On Sunday, a long time family friend passed away unexpectidly.  In order to attend the funeral the boys and I are leaving on Wednesday afternoon to go to my parents home.  I am returning on Thursday (while the boys get some grandparent time) just in time for a hair appointment.  I then leave on Friday for an overnight crop with ladies from much church, getting home Saturday evening.  On Sunday I'm attending my husband's concert with him so, Yikes!

So, with that list out there, I highly doubt I will get any posts written this week . . .don't worry, I'll be back next week, refreshed and ready to go. 

Enjoy your week!