A Late Sunday Post

I had a post scheduled to go up today - you may have even seen it before I took it down for mulitiple reasons.

1)  It was title something to the effect of "What I'm Singing" because it was a post about the song I was singing today at church but, well, didn't.

2) The You tube video I embedded into the post had disappeared.

3) As referenced above I did not sing today.  Why?  Because at 6:45 this morning I was holding a puke bucket for a kid as he puked from the tips of his toenails.  (it was that bad - poor little guy).  Wasn't going to haul a "freshly" puking kid to church just to sing and the hubby worked today and wasn't going to be able to make it home in time for me to run to church.  So, no singing :-) 

Therefore, I'll save that post for when I REALLY sing that song :-)

The good news?  Said kid got sick one other time (about the time we would have been leaving for church had we gone); then ate lunch this afternoon and is outside playing. 

Should I also mentioned that my dog and I were awake from 3:30-6:30 listening to the neighbors dogs bark and howl in their garage . .. which is "right next to" my bedroom window?  My dog kept "woofing" in response and was driving me nuts too!  So, we are chillin' at home today. 

Enjoy your Sunday and yes, for the record, my kids were sad to miss church because they enjoy it so much! 

I'd like to be a Schedule Person

I like to say that I am a routine driven; that I can write a schedule and stick to it.  In reality, though, I tend to be more "chair driven".  I like to sit and relax.  Some might call that lazy but I call it the ability to relax. The problem is that sometimes I probably relax a little too much :-)   I've had a few months off from babysitting which has allowed freedom for my schedule and I've been taking advantage it.  Such as, not needing to set an alarm (my kids are my alarm) not needing to watch the clock to make sure lunch and snacks are served on time or making sure my kitchen is cleaned up before the 3:00.  :-)  While it has been nice I'm starting to feel the after effects of it - that feeling of not accomplishing much.  I'm also starting to see that as my kids get older, they need a little more structure to make sure that I can help direct them to some things throughout the day.  I don't mind cartoon watching but we working on watching less of it; I don't mind computer games but we are limiting those as well.  Other things, like crafts, schooling, and exercise time all taking planning.  I'm a really good planner but not a great finisher so I'm working on that too.

I figured that now that I'm getting close to "working" again (I.e.babysitting) it was time to implement a schedule of some kind once again.  Even though I put times into this, I'm well aware that with three boys ages 2, 3, and 4 plus a newborn, the times really don't matter.  I only use them as a guideline to help me stay on track throughout the day.

Basic Daily Schedule

6:00-7:00 - (yuck - but I have too!) - Do my Morning Routine (which consists of showering, getting ready for the day, making my bed and having my quiet time.)

7:00-8:00 - Kid time - this is when the munchkin and princess arrive and my kids get up so breakfast and getting kids dressed for the day are all part of this time.  My kids normally eat Pop Tarts or Fruit/Grain bars for breakfast so it is easy :-)

8:00-10:00 - Kids play time/my "work" time.  I have daily routines such as specific cleaning tasks, preschool planning, baking, or making stuff for my lunch for the next week etc. that needs to get done during this time.

10:00-11:00 - Preschool Time (we don't normally do preschool on Friday's - but we do our theme activities  and/or plug in some special activity during this time or on a nice day, we can all go to the park and have a picnic for lunch or take off to the mall to play in the playland or other fun activity that is "easy" to do with pre-school age kids.)

11:00-12:00 - Finish up Preschool activities (if we are doing a special project), do small tasks such as folding laundry, emptying the DW and also fixing lunch.

12:00-1:00 - Lunch time/clean up time/chore time for the boys (this is something new - the boys are going to have 4 basic chores they need to do after lunch such as - brush their teeth, make their beds, put their dishes away, and feed the animals.)

1:00-2:00 - "Gym" time (exercise time).  I want to do a small workout during this time and think the boys will have a fun time doing it with me; plus depending on the weather we can go for a walk or play a game inside or outside.

2:00-3:00 - Planned time for the kids - games, computer time, reading, etc.  (I want to start reading chapter books to the boys so I think we'll start this time with reading each day and then play learning games either computer driven or "floor" driven HA) I would even like to get them things like Army Guys and "teach" them how to play; build with legos and Lincoln Logs and more. Sidwalk chalk and paint, the pool (when it is warm enough), squirt guns, bubbles and more.  Really - this is directed play time to get the boys doing something other than sitting in front of the TV.

3:00-4:00 - Free time - for all of us :-) (This hour of time, for me, allows me to "gear up" for the end of the day which is pretty crazy with tired, hungry kids)

4:00-7:30 - Evening Routine - a lot goes on during this time; The munchkin and princess head home, dinner prep, Darryl comes home, family play time, dinner, bath time and bedtime.

7:30-9:30 - Adult time.  Kids are in bed and Darryl and I just watch our favorite shows and catch up on our computers.

9:30ish - bedtime.  (Well, I'm going to try!!)


There are some weekly things that aren't in the schedule such as grocery shopping and other errands.  I'm not really keen on hauling four kids to the grocery store if I don't have to so I will either shop on Saturday mornings with the boys (crazy, I know) or go in the evening after Darryl gets home - maybe on his 3:00 day or just go on Thursday's since he has ever other Thursday off (I can go during the day on those Thursdays).  We'll see :-) 

Weekends are not planned :-)  On Weekends that Darryl has to work my goal is to get scrapbooking done or plan some fun time with the boys.   The weekends he doesn't work - we try to do something as a family.   The kids get lots of free time :-)

 How's that for a schedule?  It really is similar to what we normally do but it contains more structure then what I do right now. 

Now . . to print this and up it into action!

Food Friday - Pan Fried Pork Chops

Pan Fried Pork Chops
adapted from The Pioneer Woman

  I love "The Pioneer Woman".  Her recipes tend to be more "down home" and I have yet to try one that I haven't liked.  (What I would like more is to have her kitchen. . .or her entire house HA!).  This recipe earned rave reviews from my husband and he has already asked that I make it for his birthday . . . which is not until next February! (He doesn't know that I already have this planned for Father's Day so HE doesn't have to cook!)  I will say that he also loved what I served with it - corn and "homemade"mac and cheese which was just medium shell pasta, cooked per the directions, and then melt a quarter block of Velveeta into the hot noodles.  Soooo yummy! 

 

Ingredients

1 teaspoon seasoned salt, plus more for seasoning
1 teaspoon ground black pepper, plus more for seasoning
8 pork breakfast chops
1 cup all-purpose flour
Cayenne pepper
1/2 cup canola oil
1 tablespoon butter

Directions

Salt and pepper both sides of the pork chops.

Combine the flour and some cayenne, salt and black pepper. Dredge each side of the pork chops in the flour mixture, and then set aside on a plate.

Heat the canola oil over medium to medium-high heat. Add the butter. When the butter is melted and the butter/oil mixture is hot, cook 3 pork chops at a time, 2 to 3 minutes on the first side. Flip and cook until the chops are golden brown on the other side, 1 to 2 minutes (make sure no pink juices remain). Remove to a plate and repeat with the remaining pork chops

Weekly Menu

I think (cross my fingers) that this coming week is pretty normal.  I've decided, after cleaning out my very small recipe book shelf (for real - I have very few recipe books . .. .which is nice!) that I want to start using a few of them more to try out recipes.  These are the two books I've decided to work through for now.

The Live Laugh Cook Cookbook was one a bought through a blog a year or so ago as a fundraiser.  I've never once cracked it open.  The Revere book is for my pressure cooker.  My pressure cooker scares me, no lie.  I have used it but very rarely.  With summer coming, I thought it might be nice to have some pressure cooker recipes to use on hot days since it doesn't heat up the house with the stove.

So, here is what is on the menu for this week.

Thursday - The kids are coming home this afternoon so I decided to go super simple and just do Hot Dogs and Mac and Cheese.  Nothing fancy - just foods they like and that take all of 15 minutes to cook.

Friday - Baked Pesto Chicken and Tortellini (From Live Laugh Cook!), and Homemade Carrabba's Bread and Dipping sauce (From a blog I follow).  I'm also going to a Ladies Movie night with church ladies and am supposed to bring a snack. I think I'm just going to take some chips and Onion Soup Mix Dip and maybe some fruit.

Saturday - We have tentitive plans to have dinner with friends but they may have to cancel (Ha!  don't you love that - I understand why though so it is all good) so if that cancels, we'll probably grab a pizza or taco bell for dinner.

Sunday -BBQ pork chops (from the Revere Cookbook), Mac and Cheese, corn and rolls

Monday -Crispy Cheddar Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, green beans and biscuits

Tuesday -Tacos!!!  Tonight is gymnastics so it has to be something easy and fast that we can eat either before or after depending on when Darryl gets home.

Wednesday - Darryl has a concert tonight so the boys and I will have something simple - maybe Pancakes and Sausage since Nate loves Pancakes more than anything else!

 That's it.  A sneak peek for next week . .. it's the week with my BIRTHDAY!!!! :-)

A New Spring Wreath

As much as I loved my last wreath, I was ready for something new.  I shared this idea from Polka Dot Chair in a Pinterest Post.  This is a photo of the inspiration:

This is what I created:

I think it is pretty :-)  I picked everything up at Wal-mart, which was kinda nice and it cost a total of $12.00.  I just bought to bundles of Tulips and then cut them apart and hot glued them onto the grapevine wreath and then made a scary cute little bow and added that. 

Another project crossed off the list!

Too Cute Not To Toot

First up is a great gift idea from How Does She.  I don't currently have any friends/family expecting but I'd love to have a few of these (and some cool burp clothes) on hand to give out as gifts. 

Speaking of burp clothes.  Here is a great tutorial from diary of a quilter.  I love these template because you could use the same fabric for the blanket above and the clothes OR a coordinating fabric.  What a cute gift!!

I love dressing my boys up . . and dressing them CUTE so when I saw this idea over at Vanilla Joy for boys neck-ties, I had to share.  Great for special days, holidays or photo shoots.

Here's a cute, quite game idea for these rainy days of sprint :-)  I've seen this ideas many places but this comes from Wisdom For Mom.

That's all for this week.  I really struggled with finding some ideas this week . . .. :-)

My Dad's 70th Birthday

Remember when you were a kid and you thought your parents were SOOOO old . . .and they were barely 40?  Now, YOU are that age and they are turning . . 70!  It kinda blows my mind that my dad is 70, really, I always thought that at 70 people were stuck in chairs with canes but that is not that case at all! 

Per my dad's request, we did not throw him a big party (party pooper HA) but we did celebrate as family on Saturday the 13th.  Remember this POST about my brother and his family coming home - that was the BIG surprise for his birthday. 

We all gathered at my brother's house and the boys quickly discovered my niece's American Girl house and had a blast. 

Funny story, one of the rooms is a "Hair Dresser".  We were all sitting in the dining room while the boys played.  What we didn't know is that there were scissors in that "room" and Josh . . .well, he likes to play Barber with his tools at home . . .so he cut the hair on one of the American Girl Dolls.  Seriously.  Thankfully my niece was a sweetheart about it but I still feel a little bad.

 After a fabulous Steak dinner we had cake.  Now, we "roped" my brother Ken into grilling steaks (in the snow HA).  We felt it was penance for all of the lying he did previously hehehehe 

 Now, I did not take a ton of photos and I'm not sure why.  I guess we were all wondering from room to room having conversations and I never took photos.  We did have fun though and even played cards (Up and Down the River) until 10:30. 

Sunday, we all went to church and there was a little surprise planned for my dad there as well.

After the service, my dad was brought in (he teaches a class during the second service) - we sang to him and there was this awesome cake.  He had no idea (and neither did my mom).  It was so much fun!

The family then gathered at my parents for the afternoon.  My mom made a great dinner and we hung out.  We took Josh, Nate and Kate out to the "Ice Cream Store" for Ice Cream Cones per Josh's request (Should I mention that Kate is Josh and Nate's favorite person in the whole world???)  Then my wonderful husband played with the boys outside with their Big Wheels and took them for a walk.  Some how he always gets that job :-) 

We really had a great weekend and I think my dad actually enjoyed his birthday weekend

Happy Birthday Dad!