My Daily Grind

My Status Today

Fri, 5 Mar 2010 21:00:16 -0600

I haven’t found the time to blog much lately so here’s a little look at what life was like for us today.

7:00 Getting ready for the day.

8:00 Jonathan off to work.

8:30 School time with the kids.

10:00 Giving the kids a snack.

10:30 Deep Cleaning, Organizing and Rearranging the kid’s rooms.

12:00 Having PBJ for lunch.

1:00 On our way to the Science Museum.

2:00 Watching a movie at the Omnitheatre about Elephants-really cool.

4:10- 5:05 Stuck in traffic.

5:25 Bringing overdue materials to the library.

5:30 Grocery shopping with 3 kids F-U-N (not).

6:30 Making waffles for dinner, double batch for the freezer.

7:30 Watching “Pistachio” with the kids. While baking some cookie dough I had in the freezer.

8:30 Putting the kids to bed.

8:45 Precooking. Sloppy Joes for babysitter tomorrow, taco meat for freezer.

9:15 Getting some cleaning done before Jonathan gets home.

9:30 Jonathan home from work.

Good night!

Reading to kids

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 08:32:14 -0600

My kids have always liked books and I have always liked reading to them. I think it kind of goes hand in hand. I always knew reading was important but after reading Jim Trelease’s “Read Aloud Handbook” I think it took on a new level. It is a great book for ALL parents to read or anyone that spends time with children of any age. I don’t quite agree with him 100%, but there are some excellent things that I learned.

After reading that book we started having the kids have more SSR(Sustained Silent Reading) time, which means they spend 15 minutes in their room looking at books(for those who can’t read) or reading books quietly. I also try to do it at the same time to set an example to them.

Another thing I’ve tried to work harder on is reading aloud chapter books. We have all enjoyed this and I think it will become memories that we can cherish together.

Here are some of the books that I have read to them this past year that I recommend.

Winnie the Pooh: The Complete Collection of
Stories and Poems
by A.A. Milne
Beezus and Ramona
by Beverly Cleary
Ramona the Pest
by Beverly Cleary
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
by Barbara Robinson
The Mouse and the Motorcycle
by Beverly Cleary

What books captivated you as a child?

Reading

Sat, 2 Jan 2010 17:01:22 -0600

One of the things I’ve enjoyed about the kids getting a little older is having more time to read. I don’t just mean parent how-to books or parenting magazines, although they do have their place. Looking back on 2009, I was surprised by the amount of books I have been able to read.

Here are my top 7 books of 2009:

1. “Don’t Waste Your Life” -by John Piper
2. “Jayne Eyre” -by Charlotte Bronte
3. “Feminine Appeal” -by Carolyn Mahaney
4. “This Momentary Marriage” -by John Piper
5. “The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling” -by Debra Bell
6. “Persuasion” -by Jane Austen
7. “The Read-Aloud Handbook” -by Jim Trelease

One tip I received was to keep a few different types of books on your bedside table. So, I am going to try that this year- one fiction, one non-fiction, and one that I am proofing for Abby to read.

What books do you recommend I read in 2010?

Flowers

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:22:31 -0600

Everybody is posting what they are thankful for these days. So I thought I would blog about something I am thankful for.
If you think it’s flowers, you’re wrong. What I’m thankful for is my husband. One of the things he has always been good at is getting me flowers. I don’t mean for birthdays or anniversaries, although I have occasionally received them on those dates. I also don’t mean because we fight so much and that’s how he says he’s sorry.
Most of the time I get them --- just because.
I had received so many roses by the time we were married that I bought a lamp that I filled with the rose petals. It is pretty big but still seemed to get filled fast.
One of the most memorable flower deliveries was actually a plant. He sent it to me at the pharmacy I was working at and the note attached said -- Congratulations on your new job. (My new job being a stay at home mom.) I don’t have that plant anymore, because I’m better at taking care of dead flowers than living plants, but I will always remember it.

Thank you God, for a husband that sends me flowers... just because.

What’s for dinner? Turkey

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:01:19 -0600

I have had a turkey sitting in my freezer for almost a year. I have never cooked a turkey. They intimidate me. It’s a big bird. I don’t own a roaster pan and really didn’t want to buy one to take up space and be used once or twice a year. After my husband saying he would cook it, I knew I had to step up to plate.
So, I took the first step and took it out of the freezer and put it in the fridge. Then I forgot about it. Late in the night before the day I was to cook it, I realized I had no roaster pan, and no idea how I was to cook the bird. So, I went to sleep and decided to take care of it in the morning.
After posting my status on Facebook. My friends and family came to the rescue- they said it was easy and they said I could use a regular pan!
All this to say, it IS EASY to make a turkey and I wish I would have done it sooner. I even stuffed it which was another daunting task. Just follow the directions on the wrapping and let it cook in the oven. Then ask your husband to carve it.
Needless to say I am stocking up on turkey while the prices are good. So if anyone has any good turkey recipes email me.

What’s for dinner at your house?