why do I listen?

Sometimes I think to myself, why do I listen to Justin's advice?  Most of the time I trust his advice.  I think he is wise and knowledgable.  Other times, he really is just making stuff up.  Usually this is in the area of baking.  He won't make pancakes because he says he doesn't know how, and then I listen to him when I am pondering something regarding cooking. 

We have all seen what happened when I went to make cupcakes and realized I had no eggs, so on Justin's advice, substituted 3 eggs with applesauce.  1/2 cup of applesauce per egg....

Yesterday I wanted to make some rice crispy treats, mainly because I had two boxes of rice cereal.  I was planning to stop at the store and get some marshmallows but I thought I would make sure we didn't have any.  We had 3/4's of a bag of rock hard marshmallows.  Here is Justin's latest bit of wisdom. "Those will be perfect for rice crispy treats actually."

I started to know things weren't going well when I couldn't get them to actually melt.  They kind of made a type of taffy.  Ava kept asking what we were making and I just told her, "Rejects."   I put them in the pan and let them cool down.  I cut out a couple pieces to try.  They were still warm and Justin and Ava both ate them.  Later, I went to cut a few pieces to bring to work.  I couldn't get the knife in.  I am not exagerating.

rejects from Little Peepers on Vimeo.

Justin tells me this morning, "They are really hard to saw out of the pan, but all you have to do is microwave them and eat them when they are warm and they are fine."

Learn from my experience, hard marshmallows make hard rice crispy treats.


P.S. Justin, I love you! Thank you for always being willing to try my cooking adventures, even when I use strawberry oatmeal to make meatloaf.

tents

One of our Christmas gifts was a tent... and an air mattress and 4 sleeping bags. We are going camping! We have decided we wanted to start doing weekend camping trips build up eventually to going to see some excellent state parks...in other states. We obviously don't want to drive across the country to go camping at Yellowstone and realize it does not work to go camping with our kids and we hate it.

So now to begin researching camp sites and make some tentative plans. Where are your favorite camping sites? Sights? which way does that go. Stupid internet. What level of roughing is it? 1 being full of motor homes and pop up trailers with showers, chlorine pools, and hot showers. 5 being dig your hole to poop in and bring your mosquito netting so you don't get malaria.

rushed

I know that I have missed some major milestones, like Rhys' birthday and Christmas. I will get there, hopefully, sometime soon, hopefully. I just feel like if I don't have time to really dedicate to writing the post, then I shouldn't do it.

Christmas has come and isn't quite gone yet. We still have one extended family Christmas get together tomorrow. For us Christmas is always crazy and busy, pretty much from late afternoon on the Eve of Eve until bedtime on Christmas day. This year it has all gone pretty smoothly minus a few naps. Rhys is awesome and doesn't even get crabby. He just gets wobbly. It is like he gets bored with regular stuff and has to move on to more interesting (aka inappropriate) toys and falls constantly, so he wants to be held and then put back down, and he just squirms and does whatever he can do to keep himself awake. It really is still relatively pleasant. I wonder if we just hit our wall with chasing after him.

Justin is still on vacation this week which is good because we haven't really gotten much of anything done yet. The next few days make me feel a little crazy schedule wise, but I think we will make it. I am working the overnights tonight and tomorrow, Justin is taking Ava to a movie, we have a Christmas gathering, we are going to Chuck E. Cheese, Justin is hanging out all day with his friend and I will attempt to pretend that I am not a zombie and stay awake and pleasant all day. Ava has a laser treatment Monday morning and I work again Monday night. Hopefully we will get to spend a little bit of time after that hanging out at home, getting toys put away and organized and rooms rearranged. I am sure Justin will be back at work and we will both be back in school before we know it. We are taking a class at the same time so it will be interesting to see how that works out. I got an A- in my last class by the way. In reality, I lost my A because of split infinitives. That is how close it was to a full A...

The good thing about amazon

The good thing about amazon is when you are wrapping presents 8 hours before your first scheduled Christmas extravaganza and you are like wait, what did I buy for shmfam shmfam? Oh that is right, let me look on my amazon order history. There it is. All of my orders in detail. Turns out I didn't misplace a gift, I just never bought it! Pretty much every Christmas growing up, my mom would sit there and say things like, "Wait, what did you just open? Is that everything? Have you forgotten something?" Always making us think that we were missing out on the cool present. She would just forget where she hid things, what she really bought, things like that. I think it is a genetic problem. My grandma sends us gifts she bought years before but had hidden so well, she forgot where she put them. She also likes to buy ornaments commemorating things with the wrong years on them. I kind of like it that way. It will always make me think of her.

need a little accent

So we have had a Blockbuster mail order subscription for about two years now. I vastly preferred it over Netflix because I could exchange them in the store when I felt the need to get a movie right then and there. The problem is, they started making me return them! I know, it is very annoying. I used to have 30 days before they would charge me and even then if I returned it after the 30 day mark (it has happened) I would get a refund. They changed it to 10 days and no refund. I am just not that responsible with my rentals, so we were going to cancel it. Then I see a commercial for netflix that they now allow you to watch streaming movies on your computer or xbox with your membership in addition to getting movies mailed to you. This means Justin can actually activate his xbox live account that he got last year for Christmas and I can watch a movie with lovely British accents anytime I want. I seriously am a complete sucker for romantic comedies with British accents. I can't help myself. I crave it sometimes, so this is going to be so, so excellent.

white elephant what?

So it is the season for white elephant gift parties. I really do enjoy them. I think the whole process and swapping is fun. What I don't enjoy is having to pick out a gift to bring. I think this all stems from my first white elephant gift exchange experience.

In fifth grade we had a white elephant gift exchange in class. My instructions about what a white elephant gift were this: bring in something that is wrapped up like a present but really wouldn't be something that anyone would want. It shouldn't cost you anything. We will pick presents based on the wrapping on the outside and trade everything and once everyone has the present they want, we will open everything and see what you get.

So I wrapped up a shoe box, filled it with rocks and newspaper and inside the paper, I wrapped up my sister's old, gummy pacifier that I found under my bed. It was NOTHING like the gifts that other people brought. Packs of gum, giant rolls of toilet paper. Random hair ribbons, things like that. I took my instructions seriously. This was a completely useless gift that nobody would want. Nobody found it to be funny either.

Since this party I have done quite a few white elephant gift exchanges. I still never know what to bring. I think I have an idea this year, I just have to find it. If I don't find what I am looking for, watch out. I still have a lot of old, gummy pacifiers lying around.

the best laid plans...

So my plan of taking my final and writing my paper all weekend didn't exactly happen. I did finish my paper at 11:45pm. I am going to take my final tonight because in reality, it is the last chance I have to take it since I work tomorrow night. I am hoping not to destroy my grade with it but I should hopefully be fine if I take my time. I can't wait for it to be done. I just don't want it hanging over my head anymore. I have all these things I want to do in my "free" time that I haven't gotten to do for the last two months because I haven't had the time or haven't been able enjoy because I knew I had school stuff to do. If only I didn't have the rest of my other things to catch up on, like laundry and the house. It needs to be in order before the influx of more stuff at Christmas and we need to get Ava's room moved around. Either way, I see myself with some knitting needles and yarn in the future...preferably in a very comfy chair and a fire place, like at Caribu! Who wants a yarn play date with no children?

In other exciting news, we are about to begin our Christmas gift making tradition! We are really trying to teach Ava that to focus on giving gifts instead of receiving them. Since she has zero concept of money it doesn't always work for her to go out and buy something for someone plus it would be very random. But she does understand that she is making something for someone. So if you are lucky enough to be on a receiving end of a gift from my kids, know that we discussed who we were making it for the entire time it was being created.

By the way, why do I keep hearing about people wrapping gifts already? What do all these people do on Christmas Eve if all their gifts are wrapped?

Don't worry, I have a plan

I have my final and paper left and I am done with my class. I technically have until Thursday to finish my final. My paper is due Sunday. I have the outline done, so I have a general idea of the content (veerrrrrrrrrrrry general) and that is about it. So my plan is to take my final tonight and spend Saturday and Sunday during the day writing my paper and just be done with my class. That will buy me an extra week off in between classes. I am so looking forward to it. Justin will be off work the week of Christmas and New Years. That means we get to do our Christmasy things together, work on Ava's room, and just hang out. I hope to catch up on some shows and movies, finish a few yarn projects, and I can't wait. I figure this weekend might feel a little intense but it will be worth it to have it all over with. We have big plans like Chuck E Cheese and maybe the zoo if it isn't freezing freezing, so we should have a fun at home vacation.

I ordered glasses this week. I am looking forward to getting them in. My current glasses are 2 prescriptions ago and have been banged by kids about 10 too many times so aren't very straight anymore. It will be nice to be able to see and not have them fall off my head if I bend over.

Ava's prayer

Just a few minutes ago, I was putting Ava down to bed. I asked her what she wanted to pray for. She said, "Your nose ring." I told her to go ahead and say her prayer then. This is what she said.

"Dear God, thank you for Mommy's nose ring. Thank you for making it so healthy and comfy. Thank you for making it so glittery and shiney so it makes little kids smile. Amen."

Hey, whatever works.

not so magnificent mommy monday

The day started out so well...Both kids slept in way late, like way, way, way late. It was around 10am when I heard them both start talking to each other from their rooms. And right there is where the day went downhill. Ava wet the bed because she slept so late and then stayed in bed to talk to Rhys. We did get everything all changed and in the washer and went down and made pancakes. I used the remains of three different boxes of pancake mix to make 4 pancakes. They were green with sprinkles, it was all quite lovely. We decided on going out to lunch later since it was a fundraiser day for MOPS at CiCi's Pizza. Ava suggested inviting Miss Terra since she likes pizza. (Ava makes things up. She told Terra that I was having a baby boy named Fred when I went to get her some soup at lunch. Terra isn't that well known for her love of pizza.) We did the whole shower, getting dressed routine which can take hours. By the time we were done with lunch it was 2pm and nap time. There was a lot of whining and crabbing going on as soon as the green pancakes were consumed. I decided that I would go for nap time instead of making cookies. Ava did end up napping after about an hour or more of repeatedly coming out of her room to discuss things that her imaginary friend said or to attempt to go potty.

So whatever. I made the rules about Magnificent Mommy Mondays. I can make them as Magnificnent or normal as I want. We had green pancakes and lunch out. I didn't scream and yell that much, though if I had decided to go forth with the plans of cookie making, I probably would have because Ava is having a problem with ignoring everything I say and talking back lately and today she was in fine form. Next week, we will try to do something fun again.

lalala

Dori is home. So far Pepe doesn't like her but there haven't been any battles, just some arched backs and dirty looks. Our floors are already cleaner and more crumb free. Maybe this will turn into some competitive crumb hunting among the animals. I may never have to sweep again! That isn't true. I will just be sweeping up dog and cat hair.

Today has been a weird day. Kind of a waste of a weekend day for sure. I worked overnight last night and didn't get to sleep at all. I got home and everybody was up. Justin had to leave right away for church. Rhys has a cold with snot pouring out of his face, so that would mean no nursery for him. Ava had a complete flip out meltdown by 8:15. I just didn't think I had it in me to do battle with them to get clothes on and get out the door in time, to then have to deal with wiggly Rhys probably in the hall since he won't sit through service. As soon as I made the decision not to go, Ava kind of snapped out of it and became somewhat pleasant. Rhys decided it was nap time and slept for three hours so in the end, it was a very good thing that we didn't go. That would have been a horrible morning for sure.

Justin then came home and we had lunch and I went to bed with Ava and we slept most of the afternoon away.

I am thinking for tomorrow's Magnificent Mommy Monday, we will be making cookies. I got a cookie press and it sounds fun to me. I don't know though. I wish Rhys would sit through a movie because a dollar movie theater sounds more my speed right now. Ava keeps talking about going to a friend's house. If I had planned ahead maybe that would be what we would end up doing. Let us know if you are in the market for a playdate. We bring cookies!

My peapod delivery came tonight. I actually like putting the groceries away with the deliveries. It isn't all smashed together. They are usually bagged in general categories. There is never any extra stuff. Just the exact amount of ingredients for what we are eating this week. I have about 5 options for tomorrow night and I don't know what to pick. We always have so much extra, I have to strategically plan what I am making when and cross that with what fresh ingredients do I need.

20 page paper status: 0 pages written. Yay.

So I forgot to mention that my sleep schedule is off when I have too much adrenaline or just flat out insomnia on some days. Example it is now 12:30, I am home from work and not even close to being able to go to bed. I am up to 4am often, but I don't consider that to be part of my regular sleep schedule. That is an exception to the rule.

I moved Ava's bed today. She was excited about the plans and wanted to know when we were going to paint. I got home from work and she was in my bed. Clearly that didn't work out. Part of the benefit of her being in her own room is she can throw a fit about going to bed and come out 123 times and not wake him up.

I can't believe tomorrow is already Friday. I have less than two weeks left to finish my first class. It is surprising about how fast it has gone by. Maybe time goes by faster when this busy. We will see if the trend continues with the next class.

sleep

I have been asked many times, "So when do you sleep." I sleep, just at random times. I also keep my kids on a sleep late schedule. It has been getting better because Rhys is getting with the program instead of getting up at 7am like before. Anyway, because I know there is nothing more that you would want to do than see my schedule...here it is

Monday:
bed around midnight the night before, sleep until somewhere between 7-9am
laundry, make bed, pick up bedroom
breakfast
figure out something fun for the day.
Do MMM stuff.
2-3pm return for nap time.
misc. stuff for the rest of the day.
Bed around 11ish.

Tuesday:
Wake up between 7-9.
Tuesday's are housework days so that is what we do.
Dinner is made on Tuesdays.
I try to do homework on Tuesday night.
Bed around 11.

Wednesday:
Wake up between 7-8.
Go to playgroup in the morning.
Go home for nap time and homework.
Leave for work at 3pm.
Get home a little after midnight and go to bed sometime between 1-2.

Thursday:
Wake up between 7-9.
Depending on how early I actually got up will determine what I get done.
I like to hang out with friends on this day.
Leave for work at 3pm.
Get home a little after midnight and go to bed sometime between 1-2.

Friday:
Wake up around 7 on MOPS days.
Go to MOPS.
Get home around one.
Lunch and nap
Random activities.
Small group.
Get home around 9-10.
Leave for work at 11:10.
Work work until 7:30am. I can generally get about 2 hours of sleep while at work.

Saturday:
I get home and usually sleep for 3-4 hours. The rest of my week is normal with homework on Sunday.

I sleep. It is just mostly after 5am which a lot of my friends with children don't get to do. When Rhys was still waking up repeatedly at night, I was sleeping A LOT less. I would get home from work just in time for him to start his waking up repeatedly time.

Thank you for that very boring moment of reading. I will write something b etter soon. I promise.

And we are staying!

Our house is officially off the market for now. Not sure how long that is but probably at least the next year. So now begins the process of making it more livable for us. That means Ava is getting her own room. Sharing a room probably will continue to work out for a while, maybe even get better as time goes on, but I kind of feel like we should just make the change now and get it over with. Ava is a little apprehensive about it. I don't think she likes sleeping away from us, so being away from Rhys is even worse. The problem is she is rarely in her room and they both have very different sleep patterns. So, the solution she will be in her own room. We have to get rid of a desk holding a broken computer, figure out what to do with said computer, get rid of a broken entertainment center and recliner. (we have a lot of broken), figure out what to do with all vhs tapes that are stored in that entertainment center, move the tv into our room, drop a cable into our room from the attic, clean out at least part of the walk in closet in the den to be Ava's closet, and paint. Then there is the whole moving her furniture into that bedroom, but that is probably actually the easy part. I think it will be happening little by little with her furniture being moved first. I dont' think she will care if she has extra stuff in her room for a while, but I am sure she will love it when it is all set up as her own. It will be a HUGE room. I feel like she should get a bigger bed just to make it make more sense.

Anyway, here is the color theme I will be probably going with. Most of her furniture and bedding already goes, so it is very helpful.

I feel like for the last five years we have not been committing to doing anything to the house because it was a just for now house. Now, who knows how long we will be here. It isn't totally up to us, so I figure we might as well enjoy it while we are here.