Please tell me he's wrong!

My almost four year exclaimed to me today....
"MOM! Your hair looks just like Dora's!"

Oh, Heaven's, No.

I am not pregnant. And while my lack of energy does remind of that season in my life.... I'm just a little under the weather. I swear. :)

Mysterious Ways... Part II

Can having me watch a third child actually make my day easier?

I have not had energy lately.... not even a little bit of energy. And on Friday, we have a houseful of people coming over. Marc is gone all day today, all evening and all day tomorrow for work. So that leaves me to get the house in a state of ready for guests with 2 kiddos under foot. But I need to play "catch-up" cleaning as well as "guest" cleaning because I've done the bare minimum to get by lately.

Last night, at Bible Study we read about Joshua asking God to stop the sun. I prayed last night that even though my request isn't nearly as big, it would be just as miraculous for me. I needed supernatural strength and energy today, I needed the boys supernaturally well behaved (so I didn't end up sticking them in front of the TV) and I need my house to get supernaturally clean (by clean, I mean, not crazy "look how clean my house is", but "comfortable for guests" clean). I had a lot to do.

Praise the Lord, it's 1:30pm and I while I am taking a little sit-down, I am not ready to drift off like I have been. And my good friend thought she was in labor today so I have her son here as well. This is actually a good thing, as the boys have been supernaturally good and busy with a playmate. Praise the Lord. I still have a lot to do, but I have gotten a lot done. I may crash for the night at 7:30pm but God is Good.

Mysterious Ways...

How did God provide the $1200 that was needed to fix major problems on our car? He allowed our car to get backed into and banged up a bit. We only got the necessity body work (the side mirror) fixed and used the rest of this insurance money for the much needed maintanance work that we wouldn't have been able to afford otherwise.

Thank you, Lord... you work in funny ways sometimes, but as long as your are working, it's fine by me.

Feb. Grocery Trip II

We needed some bigger Sam's items like TP and diapers, coffee and cheese. Granted those will last us a while, but still makes for a high bill. Total = $159.87 And I still need to head out once more on Wednesday for bread from the outlet store and whole wheat flour & brown rice from the health store. So, I am going to estimate that for the month of February, grand total groceries cost approx. $370. Now - that's just groceries... there were a few McDonald's lunches in there and I know Marc eats out for lunch more than we'd like, so I can't say it's out total food bill. All right - March goal is to beat this months. (I won't keep posting my groceries anymore... but it was nice to get a good feel for our spending).

Snippits

The creation Andew made when I left him alone with his breakfast one morning.

Snow Day.

Bright Eyes.

Lately AJ has been very interested in Andrew's big boy undies and going potty (maybe this will translate into early potty training... we'll see). But the other day as I was folding clothes, he grabbed one of Andrew's Diego undies and wanted them on. He went around like this most of the day and even fussed when I made him take them off. (it made his already large behind, due to the cloth diaper, seem all that much bigger).

Our new (yes, new - no cheap used ones presented themselves in time) freezer. It's so nice! It's the same size, but has a pull out bottom drawer, two extra door shelves and a light! I LOVE the light! It's already nice and stocked.

It's one of those, again.

I know I haven't posted much this week - it's boring update time. It's been a busy one, but not with anything exciting or super 'blog-worthy'.

My parents did come up last weekend and stay through Monday since it was President's Day. We had a really nice (albiet lazy) visit. The kids loved them being here (and we did, too). Our car was also in the body shop part of the week and now in the repair shop the rest of the week. Pray for the car... we need to be fixable inexpensively. So most of the week, I didn't have a car and now I am driving the loaner minivan, "The Taco".

Tuesday, the weather was bad, Bible Study was cancelled and I we didn't have a car, so we were home. Wednesday, I did try to take the kids outside for the bit. Andrew loved it, but the snow was up to poor AJ's waist and he just could hardly walk in it. We ended up just taking a short walk on the plowed sidewalks - either way, we got some fresh air. We had Bible Study that night.

Thursday we were at home until Grease in the evening. It was chaotic getting there (Marc was out of town, so I had to get a sitter and Murphy's law ensued). But once I got there and was able to take a deep breath, it was a lot of fun! It was mostly college kids and while it was no Broadway, they did a great job and we enjoyed ourselves.

Friday, I finallly had the 'Taco', so I made the poor kids run all over town with me running errands....Meijer, Biggby Coffee, gym with friends, gas,Sam's and Aldi's. By the time we got home it was 2pm, too late for Andrew to nap since we wanted the boys to go to bed a earlier bedtime. I put AJ down, Andrew had 'quiet time' in our bed with books and I put groceries away. I quickly made some requested sugar cookie dough before loading up the kids and heading to some friend's house to meet Marc and hang out for the evening (but forgot the cookie dough at home.)

We don't have much planned for this weekend, which is nice. Hope your weekend is, too.

Yes, kid... that logic is right on.

Yesterday, I had my purse hanging on the closet doorknob. Andrew took it off and hung the purse around his neck and asked,

"Do I look like a doorknob, now?"

Grease is the Word.

I get to see our local civic theater's production of Grease tonight with my friend, Becky! Her hubby got her two tickets for her birthday ealier this month and she invited me. I am very excited about it. The thing is, is that Marc is out of town tonight for work... plus we have the "Taco" (a stinky, crummy mini van loaner car) while ours get worked on. So I have to try to get myself, the house and the boys ready, get them, dinner, and pick up the sitter with the boys in the Taco tonight before I can head out. I will have earned a night out after that. I am pretty sure tonight will be a McDonald's night for the kiddos. Now, excuse me while I pull up my bobby socks and get ready.

Seven to Seventieth in Ten

We've come along way, baby! Just 10 months ago, AJ was measuring in the mere 7th percentile for weight and now he's in the whopping 70th percentile! And while he has maintained the 50th percentile for height in the past, this checkup also put him at the 70th percentile.

So here his stats for his 22 month check-up: (We didn't hit an 18 month and we won't hit a 2 year. We just combined the two and I am OK with that!)

Weight: 29.2 lbs
Height: 34.5 in.

He also got a poke (Hep A)... which compared to the entire check-up wasn't much worse, since he screamed the entire check-up. S.C.R.E.A.M.E.D! I was borderline embarassed. I know he isn't my social guy and the docter's office isn't usually the most comfortable place - but man... he let our Dr. know that he was NOT happy with her. And that little stinker was happy and smiling and chatting right up to the point she started examining him. I am thankful that I was able to drop Andrew off at a friend's house, so I wasn't dealing with him as well. Of course, this evening, AJ was all excited to show off his 'dit-ter' ("sticker" or band-aid) to daddy during a diaper change.

As always our Dr. handled him very well and she says he is a healthy active boy. She was much more comfortable with his speech (she was a little concerned at his 15 mo appt., but Andrew also spoke late, so she waited it out). Now she is just looking for two word combinations (again, he is supposed to be doing that now... but isn't quite yet.) I'm not concerned. He is picking up new words and talking more each day that it won't be long. He even tries to say almost anything you ask him too. Asking him to say "Alligator" is hilareous.

Happy Valentine's Day

Wouldn't ya know it...

The one day when I have to decide of the fate of my frozen food and determine the popsiscles where not critical... is the day that AJ falls and cuts open his mouth. (He's fine.. but a frozen popsiscle would have sure helped.)

Our Beloved Freezer: 2004-2008

Well, actually it is much older than that since we bought it used and previously loved. But today, it up and kicked the bucket. Now, we only paid $50 for it four years ago and well, it has earned its keep, saving its cost over and again. But today, it gasped its last freon - despite my praying over it several times today. However, a miracle is not out of the question... if Joshua can pray that the sun stop for 24 hours, I feel I can pray for a little freezer CPR.

The good news is that the freezer is currently packed full. This means, that the items will keep each other nice a cold for a while.

The bad news is that the freezer is currently packed full. So we will soon need to eat or save a lot of items. (I know your saw my recent shopping trip - I shop with my freezer in mind) and I recently made several meals for the freezer as well. A few pregnant friends just might be getting blessed here real soon.

More good news is that it is really cold out still (although warmer today than it has been for a while), so our garage should buy us some time until we figure out a game plan.

More bad news is new freezers are not cheap and I just looked in our budget envelope labeled, "money for when our freezer breaks" and well, it's empty.

So, I have been babysitting the freezer today... try to balance how long to keep things in vs. moving them, not only to save the most food, but to avoid a mess as the freezer inevitably defrosts. Tonight we have Bible Study, but it looks like we just might be spending our Valentine's Day at Cupid's Appliance and Repair.

Bloggy Award

My friend Shannon gave me this award. Thanks, Shannon! Back atcha.

Flyers and Coupons and Rebates... Oh My!!

After posting my grocery post a few days ago... I think I start regretting it and almost removed it altogether. This is my blog and my space to write what I want... but I kept thinking, "Is everyone going to know how lame I am? I am neurotic about my grocery shopping and do I really want to share that with the whole world?" (Yes, I had no problem sharing my birth story, but my grocery tab, c'mon).

Anyway, my friends came through for me and not only encouraged my efforts, but shared in my zealousness. So, check out Rebecca's and Andrea's posts and if you feel like jumping on the $200 grocery wagon... let me know!

Nice Try... really.

In an effort to get out of napping today, Andrew made me an offer that I almost couldn't refuse. He asked me if I was going to nap, too and I told him that I had work to do while he naps.

He then said, "Why don't you take a nap and I'll wash the dishes."

Oh, honey.... if I thought that we would still have dishes in tact that we could eat off without catching salmonella and that you would survive the sharp blades, I would jump all over that offer! I love you, too!

$200.47

What can two Franklin's get you on grocery day?

I hate spending that much in one day morning, but I usually only go major grocery shopping every two to three weeks, unless there is a great sale. So this will last us a while. Now, I just need to get busy 'processing' it. (Dividing up meat into freezable portions, pouring a little off the top of the milk before freezing it, determining what we will eat in the next few days that stays in the fridge vs. freezer, etc...) The good thing is with the weather being so cold, I can keep things in the garage until I am ready to take care of it. Alright, now you know more about my grocery habits than you ever wanted to know. (Oh... and I will be getting $13.72 back in rebates, so my total is actually under two Benjamins. Woo Hoo).

Oh, I totally know someone will (or should) comment about how I have too much time on my hands... and I wouldn't blame them.

Snowbound.

We are getting dumped on! D.U.M.P.E.D O.N. Seriously, I snow plowed our sidewalks and drive three times between 3pm and 5pm and Marc had to again about 15 minutes ago. It's crazy. Everything is canceled tonight including our Bible Study. Poor Marc was on the road all day today and didn't get home until 7pm due to the roads. I am hoping to get out a little tomorrow... we desperately need some groceries and to return items to the library. Heaven forbid we pay the nickel overdue charge.

Even though we were stuck inside today, we still had some fun. One of my friends had an OB appt, so she dropped off her little guy to play with my boys this morning. Then another friend stopped in with her two kiddos after her OB appt. (I have another pregnant friend due the same time as these two - something was going on last June.) So the boys got some fun play time and I got some grown-up talk. Makes being couped up much better.

Marc and I are also in our annual '24'-athon. Every year about this time when the weather is crummy, we rent and watch a new season. However, because the shows are so intense and full of cliff hangers, we are exhausted by the time we are done. We end up staying up way past our bedtimes watching just one more episode and then we are dragging the next day. And because it's literally almost 24 hours of TV... we only do it once a year. (It just dawned on me that I've written about this in the past.) We are only on season four.

We are expecting another 6 inches tonight. Yikes.

Can We Fix It?

Yesterday was MOPS Monday at the Children's Museum again.... but it wasn't a normal visit because !BOB THE BUILDER! was there and that demands that I write his name in all caps with exclaimation points because that is how exciting !BOB! is. Scoop, Muck, Dizzy, Lofty, Roley, Wendy, !BOB!, and more were there along with all kinds of !BOB! related activities.

I really didn't get any decent pictures of the boys... especially since Andrew is going through a phase where he intentionally makes a silly face for the camera. Andrew even took a picture of AJ and me. And of course, both boys got caught up in their train set... y'know, the one like the exact one we have at home that we can play with for free when we don't have !BOB! everywhere.

Pizza McDonald's & and movie

If you know us at all, you know that we eat a lot of homemade pizza. I make the dough in the breadmaker and could probably do it in my sleep... most days.

However, I've been in a slump. Yesterday's dinner was supposed to be pizza. I had made a packet of dry dough ingredients a while ago for the freezer, so that all I had to do was dump in the breadmaker, add water and a little oil and I was good to go. And hour and a half later, about dinnertime, I realize that apparently I missed a cup or two of flour whenever I made that packet. The dough was runny and sticky and wasn't edible. It was dinnertime and we ended up scounging for food since it was too late to thaw or really cook much of anything.

Today, since I had already thawed the pizza toppings last night, our plan was to have pizza and movie night. We currently have our friend's projector, so were going to have pizza while watching CARS on the big screen. However, this afternoon, I apparently forgot to put yeast in the dough this time. And again, didn't realize it until it was time to make the pizza... too late to start over, to late to thaw something else. The pizza was going to be a late dinner as it was, let alone make something else. How in the world did I do this twice in row?

Off to McDonald's goes Marc. Not exactly a first (or second or fifth) choice for my dinner, but hey, dinner was already way late. And kids didn't seem to mind one bit. McDonald's and CARS... perfect!

Now, since the dough wasn't cooked, I did go ahead and added the yeast and turned the breadmaker back on. I think it turned out ok (I think, going on looks) - granted it's too late to eat pizza tonight, but tomorrow after church, all we will have to do is top, bake and enjoy (hopefully).

English to Spanish to English again?

When I work on 'school' with Andrew... often I look up the Spanish word for something using Babel Fish. It has an option of translating a whole website for you. So for kicks and giggles, tonight, I translated my blog. Of course, not being the Spanish speaking person I am, I had no idea if the translation was correct at all. So, I took the Spanish translation and translated it back to English. I am sure this is NOT the proper way to translate, but it made for some funny reading. Below is the first two paragraphs of my previous post translated in English, after being translated to Spanish.

AJ and I had I fix tonight of accounts in the supper. Orujo had a meeting
of the work through the state, so it against me was right tonight. It rejected
to eat his tallarines (it loves tallarines normally)... I hope, no, take that,
he even rejected to try them. It seated so, and he seated, and shouted and
seated and shouted, and seated. And you cannot really reason with 21 months old,
although I tried. "you cannot obtain down until taking a mordedura", "you you
can have special ours convite when you take a mordedura", etc... In the end, he
was bedtime and it had still not eaten any thing with exception of a small
mouthful after the siesta. I did not wish to send it to the bed without the
supper (I do not think that it is quite old to take hold that when he at night
wakes up hungry hours more ahead in the center that, yes, in fact he MUST have
eaten his tallarines. No, it finishes being hungry, and angered, he would hear
speak he).

Therefore, he obtained emparedado of mantequilla of peanut before bed. And,
if AJ is obtaining emparedado, then Andrew wishes emparedado well (even if great
Andrew a great supper). I removed so to our new new cutter special from the
bread - thanks to grandma. The boys do not eat the crust anyway, so this small
tool is fresh. Although, I said to Andrew that when it gives return to four he
must begin to eat the crust, because four olds of the year eat the crusts. And
yes, I know - not exactly punishiment for AJ. Way to do the payment to him for
its rebellion.