What is the best you can afford?

This is a concept I have been pondering for a while. I think with most things in life, we always try to get the biggest bang for our buck. What is the highest quality thing we can get with our dollar. We don't do that with food though. We generally try to feed our families as cheaply as possible. I guess this whole thing does revolve around what you consider to be "quality". Not everybody buys into the concept of organics for grass fed, cage free, hormone free food.

I just think it is funny, like funny odd, that I will work out to be healthy. I use an eco friendly laundry detergent. I use eco-friendly cleaning products because I don't want all the chemicals in the house. I even have ventured into cloth diapers, switched to cloth pads and the diva cup to avoid all the contact with chemicals and carcinogens, but I haven't changed my eating. I really do think it is a cost factor for me. It is hard to make that jump financially. I get why it costs more. I really do. It is the same reason why something handmade would cost more than something manufactured on a machine. It just works that way. Even with furniture we consider hand made items to be worth more and higher quality than pre-fab.

I think I am going to make the switch. I think some things will indeed cost more. Some will cost less. Somethings will cost less flat out because I am not going to be buying them. I haven't figured out exactly what this switch will look like for us. I don't know where our boundaries will be. I am actually going to try to start with pretty loose boundaries and tighten up as I go. I will still try to get the most bang for my buck, but that might just mean shopping at a co-op instead of a big name store instead of shopping at walmart.

tizzy

I have so many things to talk about. I am in a little bit of a tizzy. Three weeks from today we are leaving for vacation. We went on a vacation about a year and a half ago with my whole family. Two and a half years ago we went on a full out family vacation to San Diego. Besides that, we haven't gone anywhere as a family. We are very excited! We are going to Disney!!!!!!!!!! I am not a Disney person. I have never been. I have been ok with not going. I don't get the whole adults who like cartoon characters thing. Great America has the whole Looney Tunes thing going on and I must say that I do like Disney characters more than Looney Tunes so maybe I will buy in. Is it Looney Tunes or Looney Toons? Hmmmm both look right.

I was making all of our reservations for food and whatnot and it has made the whole thing seem more real. I know what park we will be going to each day. I also have something planned for everybody, a little something for each person. I got reservations that I never expected to be able to get. I had been checking and nothing was available. Someone must have canceled theirs and I nabbed it. Ava gets to have lunch with ALL of the princesses. When we booked our trip, we were able to get a free dining plan. This character meal is included in our dining plan. It honestly costs so much that I would probably have to really think hard over whether or not we would spend that much money for all of us to have lunch. It costs more than a concert or something like that. It is crazy how many cool things they are going to get experience on our "free" dining plan. I am trying to use it to get experiences, not just food.

I am not telling the rest of the family all the things I have planned. I want them to enjoy each day without thinking ahead to what is coming next. It is has the potential to be a great trip. I honestly don't know when the next time will be that we will be able to go on a trip. It may never be in the cards again, so we will be sure to enjoy this one.

Ava's thoughts on our trip, "I think it will be like a dream the whole time we are there, every second, because it is the place where dreams come true. Right?"

miscellaneous

I am going to attempt to get back into the blogging habit this summer. I missing out on the kid updates, and this is my record of what they did when, for when they are older.

Last week Rhys went pee on the potty for the first time ever. He says he has to go potty all the time, but has only gone once. We are going to try to do the full out potty training the week of the 27th after Ava gets her laser treatment and we are inside by default.

I am getting all set to put on my "school mom of the year" pants. I am hopefully going to the uniform resale today at Ava's school to see if there are any good deals. It is a resale put on by the PTM (parent/teacher ministry, like the PTA) as a fundraiser for the school. I also placed my first script order (thanks Diana!)and we have earned $8.80 towards our $200. So if you have any need for gift cards, let me know and I will order them for you! We will be using gift cards to pay for most things from here on out, groceries, gas. That way we can earn our money with just regular purchases instead of having to spend extra.

I have lost all motivation for knitting. It is a sad state of affairs. I have three projects started and I guess I am not all that interested in any of them right now.

I am off to go change a poopy diaper and convince Rhys so say lemonade again. He says mamalade. It is pretty cute.

summer is here!

It is officially this house's first summer vacation! Ava only went to school three days a week in the afternoons, but when you think of three days of making sure you are home by lunch, it doesn't leave a lot of room for big plans. So I am not sure what our big plans will be. I am thinking of making a list of fun things we can do this summer and when I get stuck, we can just look at the list and go from there.

Our gym has an outdoor pool, with a zero depth section. So we will be spending a day or two a week there. I am going to tell myself that we won't go to the pool unless I go first to work out. I am also not going to go to the pool EVERY time I go to the gym, or getting the kids there in the fall when we aren't going to go to swimming is going to be horrible. They are easily trained in routines.

We will probably have some fun nature walk days. There are tons of paved paths in forest preserves around us, even some paved paths through protected wetlands. We will do some berry picking, baking of fun thing, jam making, free movies on rainy days, and maybe even go to the zoo a few times. I would love to go camping a couple times. I would also like to take the kids to the beach at Lake Michigan. I just haven't figured out the whole parking thing yet.

What else should be on our list?

I knew it

During preschool orientation, the teachers did a little skit, to show parents the rules of preschool. They kindly mocked common arguments that take place to get out the door, mistakes parents make, like being late to pick up their children, etc. One of them was forgetting to send things to school. I was thinking to myself, "That will never be me. I have this whole involved parent thing down." I already had every school day, day off, special event put in the calendar. I signed up to be a room helper and had it planned out in my head what I could do with Rhys on those days. I was ready. And then Monday happened. I go to pick up Ava and the teacher pops her head in and instead of a fun little fact of the day I heard, "Ava was the Special Person today, but don't worry, we had back up snacks. Do you need a calendar?"

I am a horrible mother. On Special Person day, Ava gets to bring in a snack of her choice, something for show and tell, and lead the class in every line or special thing they do. The thing that made me bitter was the whole "do you need a calendar?" comment. I have the stinkin calendar right on the fridge. I know everyday what the theme will be. I know if she needs to wear a certain color or bring in an item. The schedule for Special Person is on the back!!!!!! I didn't flip it. I knew Ava was the special person one of the days, I just really thought it was next week. I even thought about it before we left the house. We had been discussing what she would bring in (her picture book from San Diego) and what her snack will be (cheese sticks). I apologized profusely to Ava. She is told me over and over again that it is fine. Then she will say, "Remember, when you forgot I was the Special Person?"

I knew this day would come. Soon I will show up to school in my bathrobe and slippers. Since this is often how I spend the morning, it is a distinct possibility.

all day long

All day long I have had ideas and things going through my head that I wanted to say and now I can't think of anything.

*Earlier in the week we went grocery shopping at Target. Ava was so excited, she could hardly contain herself. She acted like everything was a great find. Who needs Disney when we could just go grocery shopping.

*The painting is finished in the house. It looks awesome. It is now a small mystery to figure out when things will be hung back up on the walls. It took years the first time, I highly doubt it will take that long again.

*Ava started gymnastics last week. It isn't really gymnastics. They are mostly learning how to jump and balance. Very basic intro skills. Ava definitely needs the intro skills. She still doesn't really know how to jump. Good news though, we found a leotard so at least she will look cute while not really jumping.

*I have the whole body of the cardigan I am knitting finished. I am working on the first sleeve. I have been pretty distracted with other things going on so I haven't worked on it much lately.

*Justin ran in the warrior dash this weekend. I am sure it was a ton of fun for him and something he enjoys doing. We tried to go and watch. I am glad we got to see the set up and stuff, but it turned out to be a huge waste of a Saturday for me and the kids. Tons of waiting and being hot. Shockingly enough, we weren't the ones sunburned. Justin just dabbed it on in a few places and got burned everywhere else. The rest of us were totally fine.

*I have a new favorite Keurig coffee. It is Daybreak Blend from Caribu. I just love it and think you should know.

*We went to the pool on Friday afternoon as a family. Justin got to experience Rhys' fear/fascination with the drain at the pool. We also figured out that Rhys loves the splash station thing. He will stand under the water as it pours in his face and he really doesn't care, yet he still isn't too thrilled about the idea of standing in 6 inches of water. The lazy river was broken which was a bummer since Ava really wanted Justin to come just so she could go on it. It looks like he will have to come with us another time this summer.

*8 days until we watch Eclipse! I should re-read the book, but I must pace myself. Now that school is finished (hallelujah!!!!!!!!!) I have some more time to read so I have at least 5 days to read something else.

*I just finished reading Her Mother's Hope by Francine Rivers. LOVED IT! I can't wait until the 2nd part comes out. I read another book by the same author a while ago and got completely sucked in. I know she has quite a few other books, but for some reason I am hesitant to read them. I read the first two off of recommendations, so I am not sure what the thoughts are about her other books.

*I also finished reading Water for Elephants. I know it has been out for a while, but I really enjoyed it. I love having things on my nook! I just wish I knew more people who either had the nook or used Barnes and Noble ereader. I am a generous sharer of books, so let me know if you would like to be on my share list! Plus, somebody share with me!

and I'm back...again

I kept thinking there were things I had to write about and I would put it off, and think of another thing and my list kept getting longer. Maybe I will write about the old stuff later, if not oh well, it is lost forever and will not be blogged about.

Our doors now have child proof locks on them. Ava and Rhys attempted to run away today while I was in the bathroom. This wasn't a case of me being off doing something else. I just had to go to the bathroom. The dog had been out on her leash. I heard Ava open the door and grab the leash. Ava has let her in before, so I assumed that is what she is doing. I heard the door shut and then didn't hear anything. I came out and there was the tv turned to static and no Ava, no Rhys, and no Dori. I go outside and run around to the front of the house. I see dropped plastic easter eggs in the driveway and a neighbor running across his yard from across the street. He sees me and slows down. I of course run faster. There is Ava three houses down with Dori on a leash. She is wearing her t-shirt and a pair of tights and shoes. Rhys is in the neighbor's driveway. I grab him first and then the leash. The neighbor was concerned enough that he was waiting for me to wave over to him that things were ok. I will expect the visit from DCFS tomorrow. With the speed people fly down our street we can't really risk them getting out again. I may not ever get out of the house either since I am not so great at childproof things.

nap time disasters

Yesterday Rhys had a bad run of trying to take his nap. It took over 2 hours and still no nap actually happened. He cried for about 45 minutes off and on and seemed to get more upset so Justin went in to calm him down, make sure he had a pacifier and all that. He discovered that he had a poopy diaper and that was probably part of the problem. So he changed it and apparently left the old diaper on his dresser.

Rhys was quite for a few minutes and then started crying again. After about half an hour it stopped being fake whiney cry and turned into really crying. I mentioned that he was really upset and maybe we should go get him and end this whole nap taking idea. Justin goes in to check on him and I hear, "Oh Bubba. What happened? What did you do?" Rhys had gotten ahold of the poopy diaper. I am so glad that Justin was here for the day that Rhys apparently ate poop. He had poop all over his face and in his hair. He had stepped in it and danced all over his crib. Justin wiped his face and head off first and then gave him to me and I gave him a bath. I could not believe that I was cleaning poop out from under his nails. Justin took care of the crib mess and it has since been thoroughly sanitized.

Shortly after his bath and getting dressed he was still acting tired, so we tried for the nap again. 20 minutes later I hear him start crying again. I was pretty much thinking it wasn't worth it at this point since it was almost dinner time and he would just go to bed early. I go into his room and he had his head stuck in his shirt. I really wish I had taken a picture. He had pulled his head out of the headhole and had the front part of his shirt stretched and stuck on the top of his head. It was hilarious.

So Rhys learned a new word out of this whole experience. This morning I go to get him out of bed. He is standing in his crib, pulls up his shirt and points to his diaper and says, "Poopoo!" He was correct.

Rhys, remember that it has been true at some point when we call you a poop face. And...you probably have eaten poop.

playdate at the mall

Today our playgroup met at the mall. I need to go to the mall more often! I probably don't "need" to go to the mall, but I should. The play area was not too crowded, especially at 10am and both kids were able to play. The mall was generally empty so there wasn't the feeling of people everywhere which can get overwhelming and tiring. It was just fun and I should try to do it more often. I wonder if I would spend less on clothes if I just shopped more often and actually sought out the good sales instead of pulling the oh crap, Ava has no pants and then i go out and get what I can find because I need it then...just curious.

Rhys really did like getting to run around in the toddler play area.

But he didn't get this excited until it was time for lunch.



Either way, we didn't really even go into any store until after lunch. Ava and her friends rode on the giant carousel. We had lunch in the food court which is nice because I don't have to eat the same thing they do.

After lunch, Ava's friend Annika had a gift card for Build-A-Bear Workshop. I thought that it would be a perfect place for Ava to go do something with some Christmas gift money. She had to be convinced to pick out something to build instead of the little tiny stuffed things they have. She always picks those types of things out and really doesn't play with them at all... Anyway, she was not interested at all at having to be the person to talk to the stuffing lady or to press the peddle to fill the bear. I made her do it anyway. She was willing to pick out the heart but no kisses were given. This is a fairly unloved unicorn from the start. We will have to see if it's self esteem suffers. She was happy once she got to pick out clothes and get it dressed though. She is a fan of shopping for clothes and accessories. (We now have 4 more hair thingies thanks to sales and Ava's love of shopping.) She had to name her unicorn on the fly.

Meet Cree.

I don't know why my kids both decided to make weird faces in their pictures. I have no idea where they get it from.

oh what fun

We had an extra participant in MMM today. Justin was home so in theory we could have done some crazy fun things! But we didn't. We had normal fun. We went out to breakfast and then things got really crazy. We went grocery shopping...without a list. I haven't been shopping in an actual grocery store in months. Since the weather got colder I have zero desire to spend the little bit of time I have when we are both home to go to the grocery store or to take two bundled up kids to the store, to then bring them inside and hope I don't knock them over with the door as I freeze my butt off bringing in groceries by myself. So I have been ordering everything. We got some extra fruit and a few extra snacky items but other than that, I think we did alright. Ava has requested that I make Puerto Rican rice and she even pointed out the right kind of rice at the store. I think I have mostly everything to make it, so we will see how it goes. I found canning jars in the store which was an added bonus. There might be some jam making happening tomorrow for some extended fun. Then Justin got Ava some puzzles that had more than 24 pieces. She has gotten bored with the 24 piece puzzles she has, so he got some variety packs. We warmed up with a 50 piece and then decided to go for the 500 piece Monster's Inc. puzzle. Justin takes puzzles very seriously. I can't do them at all. Ava got bored. Ava and I bailed on him and he stayed up late to finish it, only to find he had lost one piece. (Rhys was napping during the puzzle time)

I am interested to see how Rhys acts tomorrow. He has been a little moody and I am wondering if his ear infection didn't clear up all the way. Maybe he has just been around Ava too long. We have swimming lessons in the morning. Ava says she wants to go, she just doesn't want to have a teacher. I think she just wants to go play in the water and not actually learn anything. Too bad!!!!!!!

I missed a big day.

Thursday was my 2 year stay home anniversary. I thought about it all day. I just forgot to say something. We had other important things going on, like snow storms. It has been an excellent two years home. I have done many new things including growing another little person, learned how to knit, learned how to make jam and bread, all sorts of crazy odd things that I didn't think would be on the agenda 2 years ago.

So I am in the thick of things now. I have made my life a little crazier with goals I have, possibly crazier than when I was working full time. We have a ton going on right now just in general. Maybe it seems busier because I am used to having more down time. Maybe it seems busier because it actually is busier. We will just have to see. All I know is we have 3 animals at home who all somehow demand attention,(here is where I actually looked at my weekly to do list) Ava is in weekly swimming lessons (decided to wait until she is 4 to add in dance classes), we go to a playgroup once a week, I work three nights a week, Justin and I are both taking classes right now, I am reading the Bible in a year, I have ideas of going to the gym 3 times a week, I am leading/participating in Beth Moore's Daniel study with a few ladies, we are involved in our small group and both of us have weekly committments at church and for some reason I still think I should be able to read books for fun and learn how to knit socks. (Seriously, I don't know why I am set on the sock thing. I am a little intimidated, but it just seems to small and something I could actually finish.) All of these things are great and make my life what it is, but sometimes at the end of a week I am just tired. I think some people can take on more than this, but I think I am at my limit. Until I want to make more bread or jam or raviolis...

I think that is part of the bonus of Mommy Monday's. I have to start the week on an upswing, gather momentum for the rest of the week. They have been lacking a little bit lately, I have to admit. Now that winter has set in, I need some ideas for Mommy Monday's. I want to have stuff on the calendar. I want trips planned. Who is going with me? Who just wants to make cookies? Who just wants to tell me their awesome ideas?

Ok, random train of thought is now over. See, tired.

chances are

Chances are that I will never actually get around to writing the posts that I have meant to get to. I don't have a to do list that I can cross off. Maybe I should make one.

Life is getting back to normal with Justin back at work. We didn't get a lot of things done on his vacation like we had planned, but some things were finished. He and Ava did go see a movie. We did all go Chuck E. Cheese. I worked on my knitted scarf. We got a cable line dropped into our bedroom, well at least 95% of the way. The tv is set up in our room instead of Ava's and is functional so that works. In the winter our house is extremely cold downstairs so I much prefer to hang out upstairs. This makes quiet time much more productive since I can be upstairs to enforce Ava staying in her room, not freezing, watching something without cartoon characters and folding laundry at the same time. Goal for the winter, get in the habit of folding and putting away laundry every day so by the time we venture back downstairs, it will be a part of my routine.

Ava started swimming lessons today. She took lessons before but those were the ones where I hold her and just make her try to kick in the water. These are big girl lessons. She sat on the side of the pool and did everything with her instructor, without me. She gave me many "please save me" looks at the beginning and even tried to bail out and have a meltdown, but I just put her back in the water and she stayed. The class ended up moving to the other side of the pool from where we were sitting (Ava is taking her class with her friend Annika, so that means I get to sit and talk with Annika's mom.) and I saw her smile a few times. By the end she said she had fun and is going to do it again, which is good because she has 7 more weeks!

I have managed to continue knitting my scarf without my hand falling off. A key element to this is sleeping with a wrist brace on and limiting computer activity. I apparently can't do it all. This is good news to me and I have decided to plan ahead for a few future projects. I am about 2/3's of the way done with my scarf. It is kind of a slow pattern since every row is different (I say this like i know what i am talking about...I have never followed any other pattern in knitting, but I know that it would slow me down in crocheting so whatever.) and I am looking forward to being done with it. I ordered some sock yarn today and circular needles so I am hoping that by the time my order comes, I will be done with my scarf so I can start on a pair of socks. Other projects on deck: felted bag and a baby blanket.

School started up again for both of us. I have yet to start anything for it. I did look at the syllabus and I have fewer projects than last class, but not by much. This should be interesting to see how Justin and I manage our time to allow us both to get things done.

I have decided that I want to make some scones, because it will sound fun in my head to offer people a scone. Off to find some scone recipes.

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.

so exasperating

Here is a 10 minute conversation between Ava and me.

M: Can you give me that garbage can?

A: Where?

M: Right there. (pointing to the garbage can 2 inches to her right)

A: Where? What?

M: Right there next to you.

A: Where?

Repeat about 50 times. She continues to walk around it. There is NOTHING else in the middle of the floor. Include descriptions of color, shape and size.

M: Hey Ava, can you throw this away?

A: Sure. (Puts garbage in the garbage can)

M: Aha!!!!! It is right there, that is the garbage can!

A: What?

M: Where you threw away the garbage, that is the garbage can.

A: Where?

M: Right there!!!!!!

A: This? (she pulls out another piece of garbage from inside the can)

M: NO!!!!!!!! For the love, this is insane!!!! The garbage can! You put garbage in the can!

Rhys then grabs the garbage can.

M: Thank you Rhys! Can I have the can?

Rhys drags it over to me.

This whole conversation started because Rhys wouldn't stop garbage picking and had just decided to eat a half eaten nutrigrain bar from inside the can from who knows when, but we have been out of those bars for at least a week.

Taking care of business

I made my header! With Justin's assistance and hacking we were able to get it in place with the template I chose. I have also updated my blogroll. If you would like on or off, let me know! Also, I apparently can set it up so I email a few people when I post, automatically. If you know anyone who would benefit from this feature (cough, cough, my dad, cough cough) drop me a name.

Our lovely, disgusting looking blue waffles. Our plans for the day stopped after a random lunch at Target. Nap time came and I had some school stuff to take care of. Justin went to the store and brought home dinner, so that was an extra bonus. So far the first Magnificent Mommy Monday has been a success! Corrective action for next week: have the whole house picked up by Sunday night. It will add an extra sense of relaxation to the day. Any body out there plan to do something for their own Magnificent Mommy Monday? If you do, write a post about it and link me in a comment so I can steal some ideas from you.

I have finished the Sookie Stackhouse books, at least the ones that have been published so far. I kind of think I need to read something with some sort of literary value next. What that will be...no idea.

Magnificent Mommy Monday

***Note: This concept is not my own. A woman spoke at MOPS and gave me the idea.***

Today is the first Magnificent Mommy Monday. The concept is to pick a day to celebrate me getting to be home with my kids. It is a blessing and a luxury that we work hard for. I don't want to take it for granted. So, every Monday, to start the week out right, we will celebrate ME!!!!! Magnificent Mommy. I am not sure what it will evolve to look like, but for now I am trying to make it the kind of day I imagined when I would sit at work and dream about getting to stay home.

I woke up wearing beautiful pajamas, instead of random pants and a t-shirt. I was woken up by sounds of my kids giggling and talking to each other in their beds. (this was not planned, but a lovely addition) We went downstairs and made waffles. Blue waffles because Ava picked out the color. We then put sprinkles on them. It was quite a success. We read books and sang songs. Rhys then went down for his morning nap so I took a shower alone. Ava at some point recently requested that Mommy Monday be over because she wanted to watch Scooby Doo. I am also skimming over when Rhys cried after being told not to throw waffles on the floor and when Ava got a time out for directly disobeying me. These weren't part of my dreams...Ok, moving on.

I have plans to get dressed all the way, including doing my hair and make up. We will have a lovely lunch. Go to Target, because that is where dreams come true. We might even go to the library if time allows and the kids hold out. Ava wants to make some banana bread later so we will probably do that. I am going to make some dinner and am even entertaining the idea of going to the gym later....that is not a real plan, but it makes me feel like I am at last motivated right now. Ahhhhh. What a lovely day dream. If I can do half of it, it will be a great first Magnificent Mommy Monday. Oh and I am only doing easy weekly mark of chores today, because I didn't dream about dusting.