It’s hard to believe that it’s already August! Moco and Bubba will be home in 16 days. Auntie Mariah will be home in 17 days — the same day that Moco and Bubba start school! Mariah starts classes the following Monday (8/22). This is peak time at work as well, so August will feel like it’s dragging but at the same time, it will be over before we know it!
Life hasn’t changed much for me… it’s mostly work and hanging out at home with Deacon.
The kids, however, have had a great time with Gamma and Papa. They spent part of their first week in Durango, CO, visiting our friends Linda and Richard — better known as MeeMaw and HoHoHo. They returned to NM just in time for Daddy’s arrival to spend this past weekend with them. I wish I could have been there, too!!! They did a lot of biking and put up a zip line in the backyard. They ate at Rancho de Chimayo, which made me a wee bit jealous, but I’m glad they had the chance to experience one of my favorite places in NM. I know that I can’t be in 100% of the memories that they will have in life… but I’m glad that there is a little piece of me in those particular memories from this weekend.
Also, in typical Gamma and Papa style, they are returning Bubba as a training-wheel-free-biking-riding-machine. Well, okay, except for the fact that he doesn’t really know how to slow down or use his brakes, so he is a little prone to “wipeouts” right now. First potty training, now two-wheel training… they make parenting so much easier for me and Daddy! ;)
Daddy is now back in Tulsa, and the new football players report tomorrow. We’re looking forward to traveling to Tulsa about once a month to see Daddy and to watch some Golden Hurricane football, but this is when reality starts to kick in with this whole long-distance thing!
It’s a good thing, then, that my new ErinCondren.com life planner arrived this weekend, so I can start to organize and plan our weekends between Moco’s travel soccer, Bubba’s rec soccer, trips to Tulsa, and everything else that we have going on! I agonized over the cover design, but finally settled on the “favorite things” cover:
I haven’t used it much yet, so only time will tell how much I love it — but I have a good feeling about it. I absolutely love how the cover looks, and I’m probably going to wear this thing out! I also have to put in a plug for Zulily — which is where I discovered ErinCondren.com when I bought three $50 gift certificates for $20 each (but paid only $45 because I had $15 in referral credit). This planner was quite a deal — but that shouldn’t surprise anyone since I’m always on the hunt for a good bargains!
Anyhow… I’m going to settle in for the evening with the iPad. I downloaded my first real e-book, Catching Fire, which is the second book in The Hunger Games trilogy. It has taken a bit to get used to swiping to turn the pages, but I have to admit, I’m enjoying the Kindle App for the iPad, so there will be plenty more e-books in my future!!
Bubba has learned to text and does so nearly daily on my phone, mostly to Papa, but Auntie Mariah and Daddy round out the top three recipients.
Here are some excerpts straight from my phone, with my commentary in italics:
Me (7:36pm): PAPA
Dad (7:36pm): GRAYSON
Me (7:37pm): (Cancel)
Me (7:38pm): I love you
Dad (7:39pm): I love you so so so much more
Me (7:41pm): Hahahaha [This reminds me of when Gamma thought LOL stood for "Lots of Love"... as in "Congratulations on your wedding! LOL!"]
Dad (7:43pm): How is Memphis?
Me (7:44pm): Good
Me (8:41pm): Papapap
Dad (8:43pm): I love you, gamma. [Gamma tells me she's a little jealous that she doesn't get texts, so she had to get into the mix.]
Me (8:51pm): Papa [Apparently Bubba didn't like her interruption.]
Dad (8:52pm): Ok this is papa now. I love you.
Wednesday
Me (8:05am): What kind of berry can you color with? A crayon-berry! (cranberry) From Memphis and grayson [Moco helps out with a joke.]
Me (8:18am): Pooop [Bubba. All Bubba.]
Thursday
Me (7:40am): Papa
Dad (7:41am): G I love you buddy
Me (7:43am): I love you
Dad (7:43am): Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Me (7:45am): Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
Dad (7:46am): Muffins? [Huh?]
Me (7:59am): Ah, good morning texts from Grayson. The child needs his own cell phone… [Me, discovering the early morning texts -- and Papa and Gamma are an hour behind us.]
Dad (8:10am): Yup
Me (8:26am): I read there is a texting app for the iPad. I might look into that. [I haven't found anything decent yet. Any suggestions?]
Dad (8:48am): Let us know
Me (2:47pm): Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox [The Bubs returns.]
I have a confession to make: I let my kids sleep in my bed when R is not home (which, of course, is pretty much always now). Even though they have their own bedrooms, they often sleep together in Bubba’s room. They have been asking to sleep in my bed a lot, and unless I’m in the kind of mood where I absolutely don’t want to be punched in the mouth or kicked in the side repeatedly or turn over and find myself nose-to-Boo-stench, I usually let them sleep with me. I know the pros and cons because we co-slept with Moco for the first four years of her life and opted not to co-sleep with Bubba after he was born. For the most part, this has worked out fine, although more and more often I wake up with Bubba snuggled in next to me, and I don’t remember him ever coming into the room — which is weird because he always asks, “Can I sleep with you?” before he crawls in.
Tonight, after tucking the kids into my bed, Bubba walked out and laid down in his own bed, claiming I told him he couldn’t sleep in my bed. (Lies!) I have no patience for the drama, and Bubba has put on regular heart-wrenching theatrical performances lately. I (rolled my eyes and) told him that he was more than welcome to sleep in my bed, but if he wants to sleep his own, that’s fine too, and then told him “good night!” I left the room, but checked on him a few minutes later because he was crying. He told me his legs don’t work in the dark, so he couldn’t walk from his room to mine. Really? Didn’t you just do the reverse a few minutes ago?! I (rolled my eyes and) left again. Have I mentioned that I have absolutely NO patience for drama??
Not but 30 seconds later, he was scream-crying like a tantrum-throwing toddler. Last I checked, he is FIVE, so this behavior is AWESOME. Auntie Mariah was headed up the stairs to her room, and I told her not to talk to him on her way there. She claimed she couldn’t because he was in the hallway. Last I checked, she is NINETEEN and he is FIVE, and even though she’s short, she’s still bigger than him. At what point can I declare, “I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul”?!
The scream-crying stopped, but the silence didn’t feel right. After a few minutes of trying to determine if this was a good silence or not, I found Bubba half-asleep at the bottom of the staircase, his head resting on the bottom step. I picked him up, carried him upstairs, and laid him on my bed. He insisted, “But I WANT to sleep in my own bed!” (Did I miss the opposite day memo?) but I told him firmly, “You will be sleeping here tonight. Good night.” and walked out again.
Of course, there hasn’t been a peep from him since, so I’m gonna enjoy the real silence with my pouch of Daily’s Ready to Drink Frozen Margarita, which is pre-spiked (context clue: ”ALCOHOL IS IN IT!”) with a rip-open top, for desperate moms like me. I suppose I could pour it into these plastic cups from Party City for a more upscale feel, but I kinda like it with a bendy straw. It’s like a Capri Sun for mommies…
Here’s to a quiet remainder of the evening… *cheers*
For the past month, we have not been following “our regular routine”. Three back-to-back weeks of spring break (first Mariah’s, then Daddy’s, then Moco and Bubba’s) followed by my work trip to Denver and Gamma’s visit meant we canceled most of our before and after school care options because the kids could be at home more often. This isn’t saying much, of course, as “our regular routine” started in February when Daddy went to Tulsa… and it will only be this way until school ends (mid-May for Auntie Mariah, end of May for the kids).
So… today was our first Monday back in “our regular routine”. Auntie Mariah took the kids to school, I went to work, Moco had after school program, and Bubba would be picked up by his babysitter, Ali… I called her to ask a favor, and from our conversation — I quickly realized we still aren’t on a regular routine! Bubba went home with Ms. Leslie (who is the director of his preschool, and Ali’s mom) because Ali had a summer job interview that she scheduled when she normally babysits — but she hasn’t been to our house for a month, so the time conflict slipped her mind. Not a big deal, but she felt bad about shuffling Bubba around. It worked out because he got to play with her younger brother Kyle for an hour!
I took my lunch break at 4:30 (yeah, I know!) to pick up Moco from the after school program, get her home to change into soccer gear, and head across town to drop her off at practice. Seriously, it takes 15-20 minutes (sometimes longer, depending on traffic and stoplights) to get to the practice/game fields — not my idea of time efficiency! We were 5 minutes late, but it was worth it because we had the chance to hold hands and talked about her day on the drive there — no interruptions by Bubba, who tries to talk over us because he can be such a little attention hog! It was really nice to have that 1:1 time with her and to hear from her about her day. I usually get the abbreviated version because someone else has already had that conversation with her, so I get the “it was fine” version. I definitely cherish the moments when I can have that type of conversation with her without other distractions, and I know she appreciates it, too.
I dropped Moco off at the practice fields and turned right back around to go home to meet Ali, who was bringing Bubba back to our house. When I arrived home, they were playing with sidewalk chalk on the driveway — Ali forgot her keys to our house. Seriously, it was just one of those days!
We let Deacon out the back door to stretch his legs and take a potty break; he has been kenneled a lot lately because he is so terribly naughty right now! He has been affected by our modified routine as well — pulling stuff off the counters, scratching up the kitchen table looking for food, and scattering the kids’ things all over the main floor, and he even tore into and ate two boxes of Girl Scouts cookies (non-chocolate, thankfully)! Because he has been so sneaky and naughty and destructive, we now kennel him while we’re out of the house when he normally has free reign. When we got home tonight, he was bouncing off the walls, running and sliding across the floors, and just being his obnoxious self because he was so excited to see us (and because he had to pee).
Bubba and I ate supper (leftovers) together, and he and I had a great 1:1 time together too. Bubba also has been very naughty (mouthy and mean) and sneaky lately, and I appreciated the uninterrupted time to just enjoy my happy little boy. I think he appreciated it, too. I love the way he looks right at me with his smiling eyes when we’re talking; I can’t help but melt into a little puddle of mommy love mush. The best part was that he suggested that we have breakfast for supper tomorrow night — his face lit up, and he was so proud of his suggestion that I couldn’t turn him down! (We made a breakfast casserole.)
Before long, we had to head back to pick up Moco from practice, and poor Deacon was looking rather pathetic knowing we were headed out the door yet again… but he was ecstatic when I let him out the front door and opened the truck for him to hop in and join us for the ride! He spent half the ride in the back seat with Bubba, but then he moved to the front seat and put his face about 4 inches from mine and stared at me until I told him to knock it off. He’s so weird sometimes!!
Moco was thrilled that Deacon was with us — riding in the truck makes him happy, and when he’s happy, she’s happy. She also told me that she enjoys being busy, so I don’t feel guilty about three days of soccer practice, one day of air rifle practice, and up to two game days on the weekends. She loves physical activity, and I can tell when she doesn’t get enough of it — she’s grumpy and bored and (like the boys) mischievous!
After Moco ate, the kids talked on Skype with Daddy, and they went to bed pretty easily compared to last night when they got out of bed every few minutes over about a two hour time span. I about checked myself into a hotel because it was driving me nuts!!! Auntie Mariah came home from class, and she and I got some 1:1 time doing her taxes while watching the NCAA Championship on TV after the kids fell asleep. Deacon got some individual attention as well (lots of scratching behind the ears), and it’s quite possible that a few morsels of food conveniently fell in front of him while I was making lunch for the kids… ;)
I guess you can say all four of my kiddos got 1:1 time with me tonight, so we’re all pretty happy with our first Monday back to normal. (Whatever that is!)
We had another very short weekend with Daddy. They come and go so quickly! Fortunately, he will be home again next weekend and will stick around for a week because TU is on spring break! Unfortunately, we will likely not have him home again for another month because of spring football. We haven’t been out to Tulsa yet — because it’s a little easier for him to do the long drive than for me with two kids, plus he has been staying in a one-bed-no-microwave-or-fridge hotel room for the past month — and we’d be eating out every meal! There is more room and less food money spent when he comes home!
We had another surprise this weekend — Grandma Lavera didn’t tell us she was headed our way until she was on the road! So, we have her here for a couple days! The kids get both grandmas this month, as Gamma Phiyen will be here in a couple weeks!
On Saturday Moco had her last basketball game of the season! She was bummed because she is really enjoying basketball! Looks like we’ll have to find another league and plan to get her into some camps this summer!
My social butterfly, Bubba, went to a classmate’s birthday party at the bowling & billiards center on the ISU campus. He had a fabulous time with his buddies! Air hockey was the highlight of the party.
(Speaking of birthday parties, we still haven’t planned a party for either kid. And, yes, Bubba’s birthday was almost a month ago. Terrible, right?! R wanted to be here to celebrate with them, so we’ll see what we can do while he’s here next week.)
On Sunday, Daddy took the kids and Deacon out to run around at a nearby park, then they came home so we could enjoy a delicious brunch — scrambled eggs, uncured pepper bacon, banana pancakes, and mixed fruit (strawberries, red & green grapes, and blueberries) — before Daddy headed back to Tulsa. The rest of us spent the early part of the afternoon at The Garlic Press (a local kitchen/home/gifts store) and the mall. I finally used a gift certificate from my staff and bought a set of Joseph Joseph nesting bowls, a set of measuring spoons, a new apron, and a few Driin phone holders (for charging cell phones, iPods, and Nintendo DSes)! At the mall, we found jeans for Moco at Gap Kids that actually fit (finding pants for either of us sucks!) and a cardigan to throw over her spring t-shirts and tank tops. After that, the kids had a “rest” at home with Grandma Lavera while Auntie Mariah and I went to get our nails done. It feels good to pamper myself from time to time!
Now it’s back to work for me and back to school for the kids while Grandma Lavera enjoys a few days with Mariah while she’s on spring break!
I seem to have an ever-growing list of drafts that I just never finish or post here… so I’m compiling some of them that I have written. These are things that have happened, or things that I have thought or said over the past few months…
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I couldn’t sleep last night. I seriously just stared at the ceiling, thinking and thinking for what felt like hours. (I kinda hate when my mind doesn’t shut off; it keeps me up at night, starts up again first thing in the morning, and sometimes aha! moments hit me in the shower.) I contemplated getting out of bed to start writing my thoughts, in a Jerry Maguire “The Things We Think and Do Not Say” kind of moment, but I didn’t move. I just laid there, consumed by my racing thoughts.
I heard Bubba get up to use the bathroom before he wandered into our bedroom. He snuggled in next to me, and when I asked him if he had a bad dream, he told me, “Yeah, I was being eaten by a big monster.”
Wow. Ditto. The things we think and do not say. Sometimes it feels like I’m being eaten by a big monster, too.
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I packed Moco a do-it-yourself BLT for lunch — bread in a sandwich container; separate baggies for lettuce, tomatoes, and bacon; mayo in little plastic container. She proudly put together her sandwich, but some of her classmates told her that it was disgusting. One even asked her, “Why doesn’t your mom just pack you Lunchables?”
When I asked Moco how she responded, she told me she ignored the comment but “smirked” to herself.
I love that girl.
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Dear Laundry, it’s about time you learned to fold and put yourself away. Love, Mommy
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If the bathroom sink had teeth, it would never have cavities. So. Much. Crusty. Toothpaste!
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I appreciate your opinions, but they do not rule my ovaries.
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(To Mariah) Bring it! My Oreo against your Nutter Butter!
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I spent about five minutes trying to decipher what Bubba meant when he insisted that we return to the “bitter batter” to get a piece of cake. Turns out he was talking about the break room in my office where, upon his first visit there, someone had brought frosted pumpkin bars to share. He just wanted another piece of that yummy treat!
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Bubba slipped one of Auntie Mariah’s rings on my left ring finger and announced “You may now kiss the bride!” and gave me a kiss.
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Auntie Mariah: If you ever open an Etsy store, you should name it “FOR. THE. LOVE!”
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Auntie Mariah (sitting at table while I’m messing with her): “I’m gonna kick your butt!” (Trying to get down from chair.) “I can’t get down! My legs are too short!”
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Auntie Mariah: “I don’t think anyone looks like a Gladys.”
Tonight Moco and I had a Girl Scouts troop event — bell-ringing for the Salvation Army at our local Kmart.
Bubba was incredibly upset that he couldn’t go to Girl Scouts, too, so he was acting up in protest. He didn’t want to stay with Auntie Mariah, and he was raising hell. So, I did what any good mother would do: I bribed him.
Before you gasp at the horror of my mad parenting skillz, hear me out.
I think I’ve posted about this before, but Bubba loves, loves, LOVES mail. He loves to write “letters”, stuff them in envelopes, seal them, address them, add a return label, and (most of all) stamp them. He could spend all day writing “letters” to Gamma, Grandma, Great Grandma, Sherry, and especially Papa. The letter content is consistent: recipient’s name, I LOVE YOU, Bubba’s name, and an occasional Mommy, Daddy, Moco, Mariah, or Deacon. I don’t usually get to see what he writes because he does it all so quickly, and usually I catch him at the envelope-licking part of the process.
Earlier this week, my box of (FREE!) holiday cards from Shutterfly arrived in the mail, so Bubba has been a *wee* bit jealous. He has begged me every day to let him send one to Sherry, but I just haven’t gotten around to working on them yet — and I really don’t want him messing with them right now. Once he starts, he won’t be able to stop. So I keep putting him off, encouraging him to make his own or draw a picture. He huffs and puffs and sighs and retreats from his request for a few minutes before starting all over again, but I have been able to keep his grubby fingers off my cards thus far.
Enter the bribe.
Bubba was flailing around, telling me I’m mean, and pouting about not getting to go to Girl Scouts. (I think there might have been a few statements about denying him access to opening Christmas presents as well.) So, I told him I would bring him back something from Kmart. He paused.
“If you are good for Mariah, I will bring you back your own box of Christmas cards. But if Mariah calls me or texts me to let me know that you are misbehaving, I will not bring you anything.”
I didn’t have to say any more. It was a deal — and he was on his best behavior for Auntie Mariah, who confirmed it when I called home after the meeting. Moco and I picked out a box for each of them (my kids are all about justice, equal opportunity, and equitable distribution of all purchases — as in, “How come SHE gets something, and I don’t?!?!”), and we headed home.
Bubba ripped into his box immediately. If only you could see the instant gratification on that child’s face as he set to work on his mailings for Great Grandma and Papa, complete with free, shiny holiday return address labels from one of those charitable organizations that sends you address labels and wants a donation in return. He was poking around for stamps, but I caught him before he could add enough postage to send it around the world a few times.
Please feel free to write a letter to Bubba. I can almost guarantee you can expect a prompt yet brief response from him!
It’s the month to give thanks! Each day this month, I posted about the things and people for which I’m thankful on Facebook. Here’s a recap (with a few modifications):
11/1 - Today I’m thankful for my other half, Daddy ♥, who is also celebrating his birthday today! 10 years, 2 kids, 1 dog, a new house, a bucket list, and still so many adventures ahead of us!
11/2 - Today I’m thankful for Moco and Bubba, and all the laughter, love and joy they bring to my life. I have learned a lot about fortitude, patience, courage, respect, responsibility, tolerance, flexibility, accountability, prudence, discipline, faith, hope, humility, justice, loyalty, selflessness, trust, trustworthiness, and (of course) love through my children. I’m thankful for the opportunity to be their mama!
11/3 - Today I am thankful for the random little moments in life that make me grin — like Bubba insisting that we raise our water bottles and say “cheers!” as we started supper or our Vizsla draped over Daddy’s lap and loving every minute of the attention…
11/4 - Even though it’s a 12 hour workday, today I am thankful for my job and my career in higher education. On this evening’s agenda: educating prospective students and their parents on the benefits of the community college experience! Go Hawks!
11/5 - Today I am thankful for the inevitability of change and the opportunity to take a deep breath, re-evaluate the landscape, and keep on keeping on.
“Leaders establish the vision for the future and set the strategy for getting there; they cause change. They motivate and inspire others to go in the right direction and they, along with everyone else, sacrifice to get there.”
~John Kotter
11/6 - Today I’m thankful for the opportunity to sleep in! Woke up with curls in my nose, with my boy snuggled up next to me, while R, Moco & Deacon are pheasant hunting.
11/7 - Today I am thankful to be able to spoil my kids a little: cinnamon butterbraid for breakfast, Megamind in 3D, then trading in leftover Halloween candy for FREE Noodles (kids under 12 only). Trading candy for noodles is spoiling, right?!
11/8 - Today I am thankful for the influence of Auntie Mariah on my children. I think.
11/9 - Today I am thankful for my parents for more reasons than I could possibly list… and we’re looking forward to heading “home” to New Mexico for Xmas!!!
11/10 - Tonight Bubba said he wanted ‘the song about 2nd base’. We couldn’t figure it out, but then George Strait performed on CMAs: ”Life’s not the breaths you take/The breathing in and out/That gets you through the day/Ain’t what it’s all about/Ya just might miss the point/Try’n to win the race/Life’s not the breaths you take/But the moments that take your breath away”. Today I’m thankful for that reminder.
11/11 - Today I am thankful for the service men and women who serve and sacrifice for our country as well as the families and friends that love and support them!!!
11/12 - Today I am thankful for Sherry and all she has done for our family over the past 4+ years. She has helped shape Bubba’s sense of humor, his love for Troy Polamalu & the Steelers, and his attachment to a fringed piece of fleece named Boo. It’s hard to find people you can trust with your children, but we’re fortunate to have Sherry and her family in our lives!!!
11/13 - Today I am thankful for a final game win vs. EIU and a winning season for the Redbirds. I am also thankful for a full house with “Uncle” Tommy, Uncle Danny, Aunt Lisa, and Cousin Mattie this weekend!!!
11/14 - Today I am thankful for our new house and those who help us fill it with love and laughter. This weekend the table leaf came out… every bed and couch was claimed… wings, pizza, honey crisp apple cider, & Dunkin’ Donuts coffee were consumed in obscene amounts. My only complaint is that the weekend went by so quickly!!!
“The ornaments of your house will be the guests who frequent it.”
~Author Unknown
11/15 - Today I am thankful for my brothers, Tío Javi and Tío Gabi. We have had a lot of fun times over the years, and some not-as-fun times (thank goodness they outgrew the pesky little brothers stage), but I’m very proud to be their sister… and I can’t wait to see them next month!!!
11/16 - Today I’m thankful to start my morning at 5:45am for a 35 minute walk with the dog. My cheeks are rosy and my thighs are numb, but I feel productive already…
11/17 - Today I am thankful for the funny things my kids say. This morning Moco told me, “Dinosaurs aren’t house broken, you know” while explaining a short play about cavemen. And Bubba told me, “You smell like beef and cheddar”… to which I conveniently replied, “You mean I don’t smell like Santa?”
11/18 - Today I am thankful for Unks, the sister-in-law otherwise known as Auntie Mariah. She took us up on an offer to live with us while she knocks out her first two years of college, and we’re glad she’s here… although she’s probably thinking “3 months down, 17 more before I can escape these fools!!!”
11/19 - Today I am thankful for the AAWCC Lunch & Learn with Terry Mullin… he made 12 different holiday hors d’oeuvres and and desserts in one hour in Heartland’s new demo kitchen. The baked brie and caramel pie were out of this world!
11/20 - Today I am thankful for a weekend with Papa! After a lazy morning at home, he took Moco & Bubba to the park. Auntie Mariah & I made homemade hibachi chicken & veggies with rice and a caramel pie. Papa and the kids are going to watch a movie OnDemand while Auntie Mariah & I see Harry Potter!!!
11/21 - Today I am thankful for the creativity and frugality that runs in our family… Moco saw a doll bunk bed she wanted, but Papa and I decided we could probably do something for cheaper. Two free boxes from Sam’s Club, four pieces of wood @ 97¢ each, a few minutes with a hot glue gun — and here it is! Still needs to be decorated and mattresses & bedding added, but it fits 2 American Girl dolls perfectly!
11/22 - Today I am thankful for the last couple hours of peace & quiet, just lounging in bed with the laptop. Kids are asleep, Daddy and Deacon are out of town… sometimes I just need some “me” time while still in the comfort of my own home, you know?
11/23 - Yesterday I was thankful that Daddy called to say he was headed back from Kansas. Except now it’s today and he won’t be home for several more hours… but at least he’s on the way!
11/24 - Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday bc it’s all about food, family & friends. Growing up, we spent many Thanksgivings with our Iowa State “family”. Today I am thankful for our spin on tradition: Daddy & I are also Iowa State grads and now spend turkey days with family in Iowa. We wish we could spend the day with all of our extended family & friends… much ♥ to each and every one of you!
“Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family.
Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.”
~ Jane Howard
11/25 – Happy Thanksgiving! Today I continue to be thankful for everyone and everything I have posted about each day this month… Here’s to family, friends, food, health, happiness & love this holiday season and always!
11/26 - Today am I thankful for a dog who hardly ever barks. The guests across the hall went out for the evening and theirs won’t stop!!!
11/27 - Today I am thankful for another great day with my family. Sleeping in with Daddy & the kids, spending time with Grandma Lavera & Great Grandma, driving back in the crammed truck, grocery shopping and prepping meals with Auntie Mariah… I wish these long weekends didn’t have to come to an end!
11/28 - Today I am thankful for a second turkey dinner… but I’m thoroughly stuffed and ready to get back on track! Headed to bed so I can get up early for a workout!!!
11/29 - Today I am thankful for moments like these… I would have taken a picture of Moco, too, but her hygienist was lightning fast!
Today I was looking for something in my black and white canvas NACADA bag (aka “my purse”), and I ended up pulling out everything in the search process… and this is what I had:
1. Juicy Juice reusable bag that I got in a HousePartyparty pack. This particular bag had a Pyrex container with remnants of leftover breakfast casserole and a fork.
2. Both kids’ winter hats. They took them off while at the dentist’s office today. Why the hats didn’t make it back on either head when I returned them to school is beyond me, but it puts me in contention for Mother of the Year on a cold, rainy day like today.
3. Auntie Mariah’s pink umbrella
4. Boo
5. Pink & white cosmetics bag filled with pens, dead batteries, lip gloss, lipstick, Chapstick, and a memory card for my lost camera
6. Crest toothpaste that I bought at Walgreens with coupon and Register Rewards offer
7. Walgreens weekly ad and December coupon book
8. American Girl catalog – CyberMonday was a flop for me.
9. Manila folder with eclectic assortment of papers
12. Checkbook. Yes, I still use one of these, but it will be a loooooooong time before I need to reorder new ones (if ever)!
13. Bic 537R Pen – the best pen I have ever used!!! I prefer the 0.5mm extra fine point, but the 0.7mm will suffice. I watch like a hawk when this pen is borrowed.
14. Empty green envelope for dentist’s office. Got the bill in the mail and paid in person. Saving 44¢ for that bill was really not that exciting.
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