We're getting there

The kids are in bed and I'm having a glass of wine before Mr. Sloth gets home from CCD. This is when I convince myself I'll clean the kitchen, fold the laundry, and pay the bills as soon as I'm done, but in reality I will probably just spend the rest of the evening sitting here.

Today was our second attempt at a Children's Theater Field Trip. Why? You ask. Because I can't sit around my house forever and practice makes perfect or at least tolerable. I didn't tell Demand where we were going today but she did know we were going somewhere. Today was Wednesday which happens to be my day for morning Mass, but it's a later Mass, 8:30am and doesn't end until around 9:15am. I ended up leaving a hair early since I had to leave the house by 9:15am to get there. Arriving home at 9:12am I found the children without socks, coats, hats, or gloves, and rather fussy. Apparently they gave Mr. Sloth a hard time in the hour I was gone. The Sloths dashed around the house getting ready to leave. Chasing toddlers, shoving babies into snowsuits, and asking four year-olds for the tenth time to put their boots on while they sat there and stared at you.

Finally we were on our way. This time I had previsions. Last time I didn't know we could have snacks in the theater and I didn't think to have Happy run around before the show to get some energy out. We were running late but I finally decided half way to the theatre (a 20+ minute drive) that I wouldn't stress about it but just let it go and whatever happens, happens. Oh, yes, I forgot to mention that I didn't actually have tickets to the show. You see you can buy lap passes the day of the show and my friend convinced me to go and buy four lap passes and then she would give me two tickets and take two lap passes since she had little ones too. Since I was running late and the group wasn't expecting us so they would go in without us if we were late.

Anyway, I accepted that we were running late and went with the flow. Just as we got in the lobby doors (which was empty by the way...a bad sign. Our group leader was just leaving the ticket counter, saw me and turned around to tell the cashier that I was with them and could have any of the seven tickets that weren't claimed. Sweet, free tickets!

When we joined the rest of the group upstairs gathered outside the theater entrance. I was calm, unstressed and flexible. Much different than last time. I let Happy explore and romp, only having to fetch him twice. Now in general over the past two months he's gotten a lot more mature which makes things easier, but I've learned a lot too. I was a little nervous when we were seated third row center seats (as opposed to the end for quick exits) but again I went with the flow. I kept waiting for them to seat the rest of the audience but I figured they were waiting until just until the start. Happy decided to explore the stairs, which was fine, get the energy out now. Then the show started. Last time the theater was packed, this time it was only eight rows or so and 95% of them were homeschoolers. This was getting easier by the minute.

I forgot to mention the play, it was "Babe". Being live action and about farm animals Happy was engaged the entire time. He didn't leave his seat the entire first act. He loved it! In fact when they first brought out the sheep character, all was quiet until Happy declared "Ship!" (Sheep). It was so cute. Pax was almost asleep just as the first act ended which was a little frustrating but again, going with the flow. A lovely twelve year old fellow homeschooler offered to take and watch Happy during intermission. I was SO grateful! She took him out to the lobby and let him run around while I tried to get Pax to sleep. Finally I just decided to change Pax's diaper (false alarm) and met up with Happy. By the time we got back to our seats the show started again. Happy made it a good way into to the show before leaving his seat but he only climbed down and up onto his seat, no big deal, and he started to munch on some snacks. Finally, Pax had had enough, he desperately wanted to nap but his many attempts to nurse to sleep only left him over fed not sleeping. So I headed to the cry room before it got out of hand. Happy followed me. After five minutes in the cry room we headed back to our seats for the last few minutes of the show and that was it, we survived!

Now where was Demand you ask? Well she was there, sitting next to me but also next to friends. While she liked hanging out with her friends she was only partially into the show. I never really saw her get into the show and she did ask to go home a few times. Later she told me she didn't want to go back again. She thinks it was scary. Well then I guess that settles our plans for the next one. Pax was asleep before we got the van, and Happy fell asleep on the drive home.

It was actually quite enjoyable. The Sloths are making progress! Friday we have a playdate at an indoor playground. Happy will LOVE that! Should be fun.

"So you're saying I'm invincible? "

Mr. Sloth and I are getting new life insurance so we had to have some blood work done to make sure we were healthy. We both came back healthy including our cholesterol, in other words, at ease soldiers (ahem, extended Sloth family).

Mr. Sloth's numbers

Triglycerides-113
Cholesterol-204
LDL-126
HDL55

Lazywife's numbers

Triglycerides-47
Cholesterol-152
LDL-78
HDL-64


Ha, thumb meet nose! My steady diet of nachos and extra salty, extra butter popcorn has worked! I am in the optimal range for everything! We're celebrating by going to SmashBurger for dinner. In fact between my fantastic cholesterol and low blood pressure I may just live forever, so the joke is on you!

A Quote

Demand, "I'm going to be the fastest ballerina scientist ever!"

When you purposely give your children nerdy names, I don't see how comments like this can be surprising.

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.