Before & After

Wanna see what I did while Demand was in class and the boys napped?

I was so proud of myself until the children made very quick work of my progress. Oh, well, I get to do it tomorrow I guess.

Challenge Update

Yesterday was an odd day I can't explain why, it just was.

I went to Mass in the morning, then we homeschooled then it was lunch. I don't remember what happened between lunch and nap but I'm guessing it involved either making messes or cleaning them up. While the boys slept I napped a bit and then started a grocery list. We had a flexible play date scheduled for 3pm but, as to be expected when you make plans, Happy slept until 4pm. We bundled up rather quickly and then walked down the block. Listen I know it's been subzero temperatures in this northern state recently but I was sweating!

Leftovers again for dinner as was the case for lunch (and we still have food left over). After dinner the kids got a much needed haircut. Happy has incredible amount of hair and really needs a haircut every two weeks. Since the only way to get clippers near Happy is to strap him in a booster seat on a barstool in front of the TV and give him a sucker things get a bit messy. After haircuts it was time for a long soak in the bath. It dawned on Mr. Sloth and I that between the two of us we couldn't remember when we washed their hair last...yikes! Demand got to wear "new" jammies as I had finally gotten around to mending ones I bought for $1 at a garage sale this summer. I am proud of myself for fixing them because I have no sewing talent whatsoever.

After the kids were in bed I headed to the gym. Ugh, the gym in January, so busy. I don't know what was wrong.....right with my body last night but I ran for 15 minutes. I usually max out at 2 minutes. Boy am I feeling it today. That's my excuse though, I don't know what the kids problem is. Everyone is just off today.

As for my food challenge we are still on task. (Gosh I hope I could last two days!) Happy single-handedly finished the blueberry muffins, Demand had cereal and the both at a few clementines. For lunch we'll have more left overs (baked beans, pulled pork, buttered noodles and macNcheese). Tonight we'll have pork chop casserole probably with left over salad. Last night I started to make a list of meals I could make with things on hand. Here's what I've come up with so far.

Sunday: Grilled turkey with mushroom risotto, peas, and cranberry sauce.

other meal ideas, Chicken enchiladas, Asian rollups, tuna melts, chicken salad, and I'm pretty sure I can create some creamy chicken and vegetables over noodles dish. There's still more meat to work with, such as a ham and chicken thighs, I'll just have to think some more about what to do with them and what to serve with them.

As for the diapers. I just washed a load so I'm guessing I used at least 15 if not more in the last two to three days. I hesitantly put Happy in one today but when I bought my last set I got a trial of diaper liners for free so I'm trying those to see if they make cloth diapering a toddler easier. They are flushable liners that would, ideally, catch all the "matter" and you can then just flush the liner and since Happy goes about three times a day that would be great! Let's see if they work!

I hope the rest of the day goes a bit better as Demand has been sassy and she has class this afternoon (which makes her sassy to start with), Happy is still in his jammies (Awesome Mom!) and Pax won't stop spitting up. (6th outfit today.) If Mr. Sloth can see the upstairs floor when he gets home I'll be happy with the progress. Then again if the floor is clear you'll only see spit-up, coffee, and marker stains.

Oh, St. Joseph, please pray for us!

Guess who's 4 months?

This guy!

Pax turned one month on the 12th. He weighs16 lbs , he's 27 inches. 90th% for weight, and off the charts for height. He loves watching his brother and sister, playing in his new excersaucer, nursing, grabbing anything and putting it in his mouth, classical music, and Daddy playing guitar. Oh, and he's a pretty good sleeper.






I may just eat him up!

New Plan and a Food Challenge

After me and kiddos bust through the Church doors and disturbing Mr. Sloth's peaceful morning alone at Mass a few weeks ago Mr. Sloth came up with the idea that we would switch days going to Mass so we each could go but not have to be in the back with children like is the case most every Sunday. It has been fantastic. I've also been getting up at 7am on a regular basis as opposed to just getting up when the kids get up. Today I was up, showered and dressed by 7:20am. So not only was I on time for Mass for one but I was early and had quiet time for prayer. When I came home the kids had finished breakfast, Mr. Sloth had dressed them and he and Demand had made the beds.

I love this new system!

Now for my food challenge. Inspired by one of my friends who also uses cloth diapers I decided to be better about using mine. I had just bought two big boxes of diapers (size 2 and size 5) so I decided I wanted them to last a month. This gave me the idea to see how long I can go between grocery store visits. I'll wait as long as possible and then go an a big Sam's Club run. Of course I'll have to pick up things like milk and fruit, etc but you get the idea.

We entertained twice this weekend so we have lots of food in the fridge to start with and I had recently stocked the freezer with a decent amount of meat.

Today/tonight: yogurt with granola and oatmeal for breakfast, left over ziti bake and homemade macNcheese for lunch, fruit and spinach dip for snacks, left over pulled pork and salad for dinner.

Tomorrow: left over blueberry muffins for breakfast, clementines and pretzels for snack, left over baked beans and hot dogs for lunch, and I just took pork chops from the freezer and we'll have pork chop bake (pork chops, cream of mushroom soup and potatoes) for dinner. We may still have salad left over or I have Trader Joe's broccoli in the freezer I can serve with fresh grated Parmesan.

After we eat all that food I'll see what we can make for Wednesday and Thursday but I think we'll have lefter over French Onion soup that I put in the freezer for meatless Friday. Mr. Sloth can make the bread to go with and we have a giant block of Parmesan to shave on top.

I just dug out frozen OJ but I think we have more juice in the deep freeze somewhere. We have plenty of milk but juice is running low and that is crucial in this house. I think we'll have Turkey next week and maybe ham as they are both in the freezer as well. It will be hard coming up with sides for Turkey without going to the store but I may have enough potatoes and I have a jar of gravy and frozen veggies.

This should be fun, I love seeing what dishes I can come up with on the fly. I was getting close to emptying my fridge before I let Mr. Sloth head to the grocery store hungry and with children.

I'll let you know how the plan is working throughout the week.

Storyteller

I can't get over how cute this girl is! I wish we could adopt her.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Wqc1vvaEng

Don't Forget

Things I don't want to forget


How Demand tells "chokes". Not only does she call them "chokes" and not "jokes" but they make so little sense that sometimes she doesn't even get them.

I love how Happy plays a game where there is a "shawk" (Shark) in our fireplace. He does a good job at trying to make us afraid of it. And I have to admit at times to keep him off my heels, legs or whatever he is hanging on at the time I'll say, "Go get the shark, (Happy)!"

And I hope I never forget how the sweet smile of Pax. I love how you enter a room and he lights up his face, smiles and starts talking to you. And even if he is really trying to say, "Mom please pick me up, Happy is trying to feed me Hot Wheels."it's sweet just the same.

Update from this morning

Trip to SuperTarget went fine despite the bitter cold and Happy crying the first five minutes. Playdate went well and I was even able to get Pax to fall asleep in my arms (a Sloth miracle) The kids brought baloons home so Happy was entertained and didn't fall asleep in the van. Happy went down pretty easy for his nap, crying only half as much as he has been lately.

Mommy got a few minutes of rest in too.

Thanks for the prayers.

This man inspires me.