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I posted today about starting on the cleaning of the basement. For some reason it put it under the date of Monday instead of today. If you scroll down past the "Flexibility" post you will find it.

Flexibility

My plans for today have changed twice now! I'm learning (slowly!) how to be flexible with my plans. Anyone who knows me well knows that I don't always do well with changes to my plans:) I had initially had plans to meet up with my sister in law and a friend for some "friend time" today. By last night it became obvious that I wasn't going to be going anywhere since Ethan's fever went up again. (He's had a fever since Friday.) So, I reorganized my thoughts and planned to start on the Big Bad Basement project today...I even had a post all ready complete with pictures to post today. Then I woke up with an eye infection. Now, normally this wouldn't be enough to stop me from tackling the basement but in this case I can't wear my contacts and my glasses prescription is 9 years old because I never wear them anymore. The 9 year old prescription isn't strong enough for what I need so I have a headache. Nothing that can't be fixed...just another thing that changed my plans!

I have never established with a primary doctor here so I searched around our insurance's web site and located a clinic that is close by that has a lot of doctors. I called for an appointment but the earliest one they have is at 3:00. This is too close to when the twins get home from school that I don't want to take the chance that I'm not here when the bus comes home so Ethan and I are heading to the Immediate Care Center that's also attached to this clinic. I keep telling myself that in light of all the other problems that are going on in the world right now this is not a big deal. "Be Flexible!" I tell myself. "At least you have insurance, and a car, and the ability to be seen today!"

So, I'm trying to remain flexible and roll with things. And, I'm trying to take advantage of a few extra days at home that I didn't think I had this week (Ethan won't be going to preschool tomorrow because he has a close to constant cough) to get a few things done. Maybe I'll be ready to tackle that basement later today....!

Basement Blues

Time to stop procrastinating and start on the basement:( Ryan's corner has a good start but the rest of it...sigh. I'm heading down there with two bags - one for toys that are broken and need to be thrown away and one for the toys to donate/garage sale off this spring. To help give you an idea of what I'm up against here's a few pictures....

Ryan's corner which actually isn't too bad.

There's a bunch of 1/2 empty paint cans in the corner that I need to figure out how to dispose of. They all came with the house.

Then there are all the kids toys. I don't think that I blogged this but back in October I sent the kids to my moms for a few days while I cleaned out the rest of the house top to bottom. I decided that other than a few things most of the toys would be kept in the basement. This keeps the mess down there which works for me:) Now I just need to get them organized!

All my scrapbooking stuff ended up on the hutch - I'm hoping to commandeer one of Ryan's tables to get it all set up there so I can actually go down and work on things from time to time!

Eventually my plan is to find remnant carper squares to lay down so that it feels "warm" down there so that the kids will actually go down and play. I also want to get a few more fluorescent lights to brighten things up. I will post pictures when it's all done but it may take awhile!

Well, here goes! If you don't hear from me in a couple of days please send in a search party!!

Big Bad Basement - here I come!

Raining babies...

I just got home from two nights down at Andy and Val's helping out with their newest addition: RaeLynn Elizabeth born this past Monday. It's the beginning of a storm of babies that will end in May between my sisters and Ryan's sister. Val is supposed to e-mail me some pictures sometime so I can post them - I didn't even think about taking my camera down there :{

Katie is next - due in a week and a half - so I'll be back down their way to pick up Lauren and Brett for a few days. After watching Brett in action yesterday I'm even more motivated then before to get the basement done! He is one short, busy, little guy who gets into EVERYTHING that's at his level!!!

"stickers"

A few minutes ago I came across Ethan stomping on "stickers, mom" that he had put on the floor. His stickers turned out to be about $9 worth of stamps. He asked why I was taking a picture - I told him so that Daddy could see when he gets home what Ethan had done. He told me, "Well, I'll just hide from Daddy so he won't spank me." >:(

For an update on our church's mission down in Haiti click here.

We had a fun weekend relaxing with Ryan's family both Saturday night and Sunday night playing games together. Saturday was also a day to get caught up on all the housework and laundry that had been piling up since middle December since we have been on the run since then! The kids are home today (Martin Luther King Day) so we are headed to the basement in a bit to get started on the mess down there. I warned them last night that today would end up another work day going through toys and getting rid of ones that they don't play with anymore. Kaitlyn and Kenton both told me, "Maybe we should donate some of our toys to the kids down in Haiti since they lost theirs."

Speaking of Haiti Saturday night as I was laying in bed I tried envisioning what it would be like to be completely trapped and pinned by concrete. It took about 30 seconds before I had to throw the blankets off in complete panic and sit up gasping for air. I'm so claustrophobic and I cannot imagine the horror that so many people have been going through. CNN was reporting that there most likely were quite a few people who didn't die from the earthquake itself but from being trapped without water. I can only hope and pray that I could have the attitude and faith of the lady mentioned in the story in the above link!!

"From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord's name is to be praised!"

Trying today to be more thankful and not complain!

I found a blog a few days ago written by a couple who have been doing mission work down in Haiti for the past 4 years.

http://livesayhaiti.blogspot.com

It's worth looking at as they write from a Godly perspective unlike what you will find at different media outlets.

I'm not sure why it's not posting as a link - you may have to copy and paste the address.

Oh, Ethan!

Tonight we went out for supper to a local diner. Ethan ordered the Mickey Mouse pancake...and then refused to eat it because he didn't want to ruin Mickey. Ryan told him that we'd take a picture so he could remember what the pancake looked like and then he had to eat it. After the picture I started cutting up the pancake. This was met by hysterics, "Don't cut him!" "You are breaking him!" Oops - maybe we traumatized the three year old???

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I mentioned in a previous post about my visit to the orthopedic doctor. What I didn't tell you was about Ethan and the doctor's visit:) The doctor had to tell Ethan to get off the chairs so he didn't become another patient. Ethan was all the way on top of the backs of the chairs getting ready to jump off. The nurse came in next to fit me for a knee brace. Ethan was sitting on the exam table next to me saying, "Hey! Doctor! I need one too!" Then as we were leaving Ethan yelled to the nurses, "See you later, alligator!" Pause..."I SAID... SEE... YOU... LATER... ALLIGATOR!!!"

He did one more thing before we left while we were in the bathroom that I'm not going to share here because it was too embarrassing! I'll just close with what my prayer was...

"Please, Lord! Close his mouth, NOW!"

Poll results

Thanks to all who voted in my poll! It seems that all of us buy some generic and some name brand products when we shop. I'm always interested to see what others have to say!

Do you work?

Today I had a follow up appointment with the orthopedic doctor for my knee. When I checked in at the beginning of the visit the receptionist took down my new insurance information and asked a few questions. One of them was, "Do you work?" I told her that really isn't a fair question. I do not have an outside job where I'm being paid but I do WORK while I'm at home - and it's not a job for the lazy!! Think about the amount that a "house wife" or "home maker" does in the course of a day...wake everyone up, get herself ready, get all the kids ready for the day, set out breakfast, pack school lunches or at least a snack for snack-time, clean up breakfast, throw a load of laundry in the washer, make sure beds are made, make sure the kids are wearing gloves, hats, and boots when they leave the house plus their backpacks and lunch, then drive them to school. I'm only to 8:30 in the morning!

It's a job that doesn't really have a start time or an end time. When there are sick kiddos in the middle of the night or when the three year old is having a bad night and the seven year old is having nightmares and needs consoling there is no time off. It's one of the few jobs where you don't get sick leave unless you are lucky enough for your husband to be home that day or have someone close enough to help out with the kids. It's a job that requires work even while on vacation - someone has to keep the room semi-picked up and make sure that you have enough snacks, sun lotion, water, towels, etc. packed for what ever you have planned for the day.

So, do I work? Yes, I do. Even if the receptionist at the doctor's office discounts my "job" I do work. And while it can be one of the most stressful jobs at times it is also one of the most rewarding jobs in the world!

62 and heading to 70

On Facebook today I posted the question: What do you keep your thermostat set on? I've had mine set pretty low because I was anticipating high gas bills. Seems like when we lived in Kansas City in a house that is smaller then this one our bills were pretty high - even keeping it at 68 degrees during the day and lower at night. I set our thermostat here to kick on to 72 degrees in the morning while we are getting ready for the day, 62 during the day, and 72 again from 6 - 10 pm for the evening. At night it is set at 60 degrees. Based on all the responses I've received so far I think I'm kicking it up to at least 70 for the whole day! These settings worked when it was 50 degrees out but now it feels COLD! Wonder why I never am motivated to get up off the couch and from under the blankets to get things done???

What do you keep yours set at?

We have another busy week ahead of us. Seems like when the calendar is full during January and February it helps the winter pass by faster:) Today I had a dentist appointment (worth a whole post by itself!) and ran a few errands before coming home to tackle the mess that is my home! Tomorrow Ethan starts preschool at the church preschool and has his 3 year checkup (Late!) Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday we have more appointments and we go to Baby Joy Friday morning at the nursing home. At some point I'd really like to start taking Ethan to the library and to a free playgroup through the school and tackle the basement. The basement will take me an entire week so I keep putting it off:)

It's chili for supper tonight which I'd better get started! Stay Warm, Readers!!

Follow Up

This is a follow up to the comments that were left on the previous post.

I have found that I mostly buy generic except for a few things where the taste/texture is better in the name brand. For example - Cool Whip holds the air better than the generic when I'm making strawberry tapioca jello salad. The jello salad is fluffier when I use name brand over generic. Also, I have tried many American cheese brands and find that I still like Kraft the best. Or like Dona said, sometimes the flavor or type of food you want is only available in name brand - when I looked for bread flour the other night I could only find Pillsbury or the kids like GoGurt for lunch which at Wal-Mart is only available in name brand. Aldi's has generic GoGurt but most weeks it is not worth the few pennies of savings to make the trip to the nearest one for me. OH - I will not buy generic mac and cheese! Kraft has everyone else beat in that category! Otherwise I stick to generic - I have found that for most products there isn't much of a difference. Looks like everyone who's voted so far buys both, too...

BTW: It is interesting to note that when Ryan used to visit manufacturing plants he said that sometimes they would run a product and label it with a name brand label and than midway through they would switch the labels - still the same product - to a generic brand. This isn't true for every product out there but there are quite a few that are this way.

Good idea, Sara, to plan menus. I've never been good at that. I keep a standard supply of ingredients on hand and then go and buy 2 - 3 different kinds on meat and figure out what to do with them after I get home. This usually works although there are a few times when I've had to text Ryan to stop by the store on the way home to pick up something that the recipe calls for that I do not have on hand.

As far as the reusable grocery bags - I have found that if I keep them in the van I usually remember to take them in with me. I have to say that I've never taken them in to the store and then forgotten to used them! Too funny, Elizabeth!

Groceries, Cupcakes, and Snowmen...???

Grocery Shopping...if you want to send shudders down my spine just mention this phrase to me! It is the task that I dislike the most! It is something that I put off until we are absolutely desperate for food which coincidentally makes it an even bigger and overwhelming task!

When I'm actually on top of things I'm a very organized grocery shopper. I spend some time cleaning out the pantry, freezer, and fridge and carefully make a list of all the things I need. I keep on ongoing list on the fridge of items that we are running low on so that I can get them before we actually run out - i.e. ketchup, flour, or syrup - you know, the things that if you run out of you have to stop what you are making or eating to go get them because you just can't make it/eat it without 'em. Then I ditch all three kids and head to Wal-Mart or Jewel for an hour long torture session. I usually stick to the list and only allow myself 3 spur of the moment items. When I checkout I have my reusable bags that drive the check out ladies CRAZY because they have to actually take the time to open each bag up and get it to stay open while they are trying to load the groceries in. Then it's out to the van where I've parked right next to a cart corral for convenience. Load the van up, drive home, start unloading. The kids bring the bags in while I empty them all out onto the counters.

This way I can see how much food goes in the pantry, how much in the veggie drawer, in the fridge, etc. Now, like I started the paragraph off - this is WHEN I'm ORGANIZED. This hasn't happened in at least a month!!!

OH, NO, instead THIS is what my shopping experience consists of....

Load all three kids in the van after school in between homework and supper because I couldn't get it together enough to try and go when the older two were in school. They are tired, hungry, and wanting to run around. I spend my time chasing Ethan, telling the twins to quit hanging on to the cart, saying, "No, we are not buying Twinkies today", running from the front of the store to the back of the store because, "Oh, rats! I needed tomato juice which is kept in the Juice Aisle which is in the clear back of the store!" and telling Ethan to stop throwing food into the cart because he's smashing the bread. Than we head to the checkout where I've realized I've forgotten my reusable bags (which makes the aforementioned check out ladies REALLY happy and in a good mood) and I load the belt with groceries while trying to keep Ethan out of the candy, Kenton out of the arcade, and watch for Kaitlyn to come back from the bathroom because she JUST couldn't wait another minute. (She never has to go when we are in the back of the store by the bathrooms back there!) Next we head out to the van where the kids climb over the back seat into the van and proceed to start fighting over who sits where while I unload the bags into the van forgetting where I put the eggs and bread and praying that they aren't smashed!! On to home where I unload the whole van after making a quick PB&J supper for the kids because they are STARVING and can't wait another second for food. Then I hurry to get the frozen and cold stuff put away before whisking the kids off to bed and leave the rest of the groceries to get put away until sometime tomorrow...Did I mention that I dislike grocery shopping???

PLEASE, make me clean the TOILETS!!!!

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I decided to post a new poll:

Do you buy generic....

or name brand?

You can vote off to the side!

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Before all that craziness happened this evening I actually had a relaxing afternoon making cupcakes for the twins' after school snack. I realized today that I have this complex where I think cake is only for birthdays. Where did that idea come from??? The twins were pretty excited because usually I steer them towards a more healthy snack - yogurt, fruit, or wheat crackers and cheese. Plus it helped me get into a Valentine's Day mood which means I'm finally motivated to take down my Christmas decorations:)

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And Last But Definitely Not Least...

Introducing My Newest Little Buddy...

Mr. Snowman!

He has the privilege of sitting next to my computer where I can see him all day long. He was made by a sister of mine for Christmas! Isn't he cute??? I bet he's really looking forward to all that snow that I just saw on radar that is heading this way....

Warm Thoughts

After much, much thought I've decided to get the ol' blog up and running again. I'm not sure that I have any readers left though:) We are FREEZING so I decided to update my background with something warmer...and post a picture that reminds me of much warmer days!

If I didn't have to actually ever go anywhere it wouldn't be too bad!

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Since I haven't posted any pictures for awhile here are a couple of recent pics of the kids from our Christmas. It was fun to actually be able to open presents the day of Christmas Eve instead of having to do gifts a week early due to traveling.

Kait got her American Girl doll

Legos were the NUMBER 1 thing on Kenton's list!

Ethan had just as much fun helping Daddy put together his tool bench as he did playing with it once it was completed!

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I'll leave you with a warm thought:

Yesterday morning Ethan and I were having a bit of a bad day. He was crabby and I was trying to get motivated to get bills paid and laundry started (it's going to be a week long project, I'm afraid!) so we weren't meshing too smoothly. Pretty quickly after lunch I put him down for his much needed nap. He got some sleep and I got some paperwork done. I was downstairs on the computer a few hours later when I heard him start crying upstairs, "Somebody!" He called. "I scared! So-0-mebody!" I rushed upstairs to get him and carried him back down to the living room where we snuggled in the rocking chair for awhile. "I love you, Ethan" I said as I bushed his hair off his forehead and kissed his sleep induced rosy cheeks. "I love you, too!" He smiled back at me. We sat there for quite awhile just snuggling and rocking and forgetting all about our struggles from the morning. Sometimes our greatest joys can come from such seemingly small moments!

Happy New Year, Friends!