What's for Dinner - September 27, 2010

Monday
~family dinner~
Arroz Con Pollo (Dream Dinner meal)
BBQ Artichokes
Watermelon

Tuesday
~family house cleaning~
dinner out when we're done

Wednesday
~Grom - soccer~
~SK - soccer~
~Surferman - Kids Club Meeting~
~Me - School Meeting~
phew!

Dinner to Go!
Meatball Marinara Stuffed French Bread (Dream Dinners meal)
raw veggies
fruit
cookies

Thursday
Monte Cristo Chicken (Dream Dinners meal)
veggies

Friday
???

Saturday
~SK to Universal Studios~
???

Daybook September 21, 2010

FOR TODAY Tuesday September 21

Outside my window... it was a beautiful day. Warm and sunny with a little wind in the evening.

I am thinking... about a piece of furniture that we need for our bedroom. A diaper box full of books is not the look I'm going for.

I am thankful for... the Lord's mercy and grace.

From the learning rooms... Grom has been balking at writing lately. We are pushing forward with sticker math and flash cards. It's the ticket. His Montessori classroom time seems to be going well. He often has cool things that he's been working on to show me when class is over.

From the kitchen... smoothies. Today it was peaches, banana, orange juice and a little strawberry yogurt. Great breakfast for the guys.

I am wearing... black capris and a pale pale orange tee with little t-shirt flowers at the neckline. I really like it. Oh... and flip flops of course.

I am creating... I've got a photographic project in the works. I'm having trouble with the resolution of the shots. Might need to borrow my sisters camera.

I am going... to the gym in the morning. really.

I am reading... still prodding through Three Kings and Sheet Music. I haven't had much time to read.

I am hoping... that Erika is having a great time in Scotland.

I am hearing... the hum of a light. Isn't it annoying when you can hear lights?

Around the house... we've had lots of guests. First my grandmother, then an aunt and her family and now family friends.

One of my favorite things... a clean bathroom.

Vocabulary word of the week:

plaintive - (adj): expressive of suffering or woe : melancholy

synonyms: lamenting, elegiac, mournful, nostalgic, sorrowful, wistful, sad, melancholy
used in a sentence: Lamentations might be the most plaintive book of the Bible.

A few plans for the rest of the week: soccer for little kid, soccer for big kid, soccer for college kids (we're going to watch a game), a memorial service, a golf tournament - just another boring week at my house... not.

Here is picture I am sharing...


Grom and I went on a photographic letter hunt last Friday. Towards the end, he got a little rambunctious. He stepped into this photo. It one of the best shots I've had of him in a while.

How you can be praying for me and mine... Health for Grom - he's got a sporadic but nasty sounding cough. Direction for Surferman. Determination and discipline for me. SK is starting soccer at the High School - it would be great if he made the team.

Check out other daybooks at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Random Dozen - 9/22/10

1. Have you, or has someone close to you, ever won an award for anything?
Grom was awarded PAX Leader for his Kindergarten class. I am pretty proud of that.

2. Who is the nearest relative to you who has served in the US Military?
My cousin Sarah's husband Alex is a Marine.

3. Share something that stirs the patriotic spirit in you.
red, white and blue clothes at parades

4. Where are you in the birth order in your family? Do you think your "placement" made a difference in your personality?
I'm a number one. I'm an obvious oldest child.

5. Name one trait you hope you carry that was evidenced in your parents or grandparents.
frugality

6. If female, do you prefer wearing a skirt or pants? If male, shirt and tie or polo?
pants. I rarely wear a skirt, but that might be because of my size. Maybe when I lose this weight I'll try some skirts.

7. Approximately how many times do you wake during the night? What do you do to go back to sleep?
I probably wake up 2 or 3 times a night. I check the clock, change my position and usually fall back to sleep rather quickly.

8. Share a favorite movie quote.
Miracle Max from the Princess Bride: Have fun stormin' da castle.
I used to say it every morning when Surferman left for work. If he ever gets a job again, maybe I'll start it up.

9. What is your favorite Fall candle scent?
vanilla

10. What is one Fall activity you're looking forward to?
going to the apple farm and pumpkin patch

11. Tell us about a pleasant surprise that happened to you recently.
Surferman and I celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary. It happened during a retreat that we were attending for church. Our pastor surprised us with a Tiramisu Cake.

12. What was it like when you first met your in-laws-to-be?
really awkward. They were in bed with the flu. Surferman hauled me home for a mostly cancelled (due to the flu) Christmas Eve celebration. They were in bed most of the night and when they weren't we all wished they'd go back into quarantine.

How is that for random? Thanks to Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee for creating these fun lists of questions each week.

Round Two... REALLY!

In May, I wrote about starting round two of my efforts to lose weight and get healthy. I've been pretending to try to diet ever since. And if the idea of dieting is to lose weight, I haven't been pretending very well. Probably have only fooled myself.

I'm hoping that I'm not premature in writing this... actually I'm going to wait until tomorrow or even the next day to finish... stay tuned.

What's for Dinner - September 20, 2010

Monday
~Family Dinner~
my mom cooks

Tuesday
~family house cleaning~

dinner out when we're done

Wednesday
~soccer practice - Grom~
Thai Ginger Beef K-Bobs (Dream Dinner meal)
Rice
Salad

Thursday
~soccer practice - SK~
~CP Soccer~
chicken wraps
(chicken, rice, smoked cheese, bbq sauce)
chips
fruit

Friday
Pub Style Chicken with Mashers (Dream Dinners meal)
salad
fruit

Saturday
Coconut Shrimp with Rice (Dream Dinners)
veggies

Sunday
~Shoreline Family Dinner~
Lazy Mom Lasagna

First Days of School

Both Grom and Swiss Kid had their first day of school this week.

Our first grader

Can you tell I picked out his clothes today?

Grom decided he needs to use Surferman's big backpack this year.
Before it was Surferman's backpack it was Grom's diaper bag.
What goes around... comes around.

Our 11th grader.
He was so excited to finally get to go to class.
He was delayed by Labor Day Weekend.

I took his at school pictures from inside my van.
He appreciated me not embarrassing him.

quotable Grom

"I think that big kid was right...
the Tooth Fairy is really just your Mom.
But I'm not going to tell her I know"

I'm not going to tell him I know he knows.

Random Dozen - 9/8/10

1. Describe the best sandwich in the world, according to you.
sliced sourdough bread, low salt turkey, smoked cheddar, mayo, spicy mustard, dill pickles, and shredded lettuce... mmmm

2. Which inspires you more: a good conversation, a song, a book or movie?
conversation I think

3. What is your favorite board game?
Cranium. Lately though we've been playing a lot of card games. Grom has discovered Uno. We throw in a few others for variety. And then Swiss Kid showed up and he's a card player too.

4. As you grow older, are you more or less patient with small children?
more patient, but I've always excelled in patience.

5. Name one item you never let yourself run out of.
toilet paper

6. Do you agree with Tennyson's assertion, "'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all?"
Yes

7. Name one national treasure or monument that you have visited.
Mount Rushmore

8. Which is more painful, to be disappointed in someone else or to be disappointed in yourself?
I don't like to be disappointed. I can be hard on myself.

9. What makes your kitchen uniquely yours?
orange potholders

10. Are you a crafty person?
you betcha... I love to create.

11. What is your favorite traditional picnic or bbq (cookout) food?
beef ribs and bbq'd corn on the cob

12. Name one leisurely activity you enjoyed over Labor Day Weekend.
We went to a picnic.

Daybook September 7, 2010

FOR TODAY... Tuesday September 7, 2010

Outside my window... it's really dark and really late. It's actually almost Wednesday. Good chance that by the time I'm done with this blog, it will be tomorrow.

I am thinking... that I have no idea when I'm going to be able to go to bed and that tomorrow morning is going to come early.

I am thankful for... Surferman and our marriage. I am blessed. I am SO blessed.

From the learning rooms... Grom started class time today. I haven't had a chance to think about what he and I are going to do - I want to make some plans.

From the kitchen... lunches for Grom. I found the greatest lunchbox for him. I've been having fun packing them. I think the lunchbox will end up being a blog post. Don't worry, I won't make you look at daily pictures of his lunches... well... maybe a couple.

I am wearing... my pajamas which used to be clothes that I wore during the day time, which is probably a good thing with the evening/night I'm having.

I am creating... lunches, routines, lesson plans, to do lists... all the boring stuff of life... I like it.

I am going... to try to get a good nights sleep. I don't think it will happen.

I am reading... Tale of Three Kings still. I'm reading it right before bed and I never get very far before I start drifting off.

I am hoping... all ends well. And that Swiss Kid has a great first day at high school. And that the girls leave him alone. It's amazing how quickly I morphed into the overprotective mother of a teenager.

I am hearing... Grom's music...
"choose for yourself todaaaaaay.... who are you going serve... choose for yourself todaaaaaay... who are you going serve... it's in Joshua... 24:15... yeahyeahyeah yeah"
It's from a CD that I bought at a Children's Ministry conference a bunch of years ago. It's not great music, but Grom loves it and how can a momma complain when her baby is listening to "God" songs all night long... or at least until I turn it off when I go to bed.

Around the house... Swiss Kid is here and a part of the family. I want to keep him. I had a call when I was at church. They were looking for a "Welcome Family" for a boy from Switzerland who was coming for the academic year to our local high school. I put out some feelers. When they called back, I heard "we'll do it" pop out of my mouth. And suddenly we have a 17 year old around the house.

One of my favorite things... Have I ever told you how much I like my bed?

Vocabulary word of the week:

kenspeckle - (adj.): conspicuous; easily seen or recognized

synonyms: n/a
used in a sentence: Despite his superhero costume, Grom was quite kenspeckle.

A few plans for the rest of the week: routine... beautiful and welcome routine! soccer practice, church and youth group, a potluck, some leftovers and hopefully some card games.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...
The guys playing Angry Birds. Grom and Swiss Kid were taking turns lobbing birds at the pigs and Surferman had to get in on the action. Together, they completed all the levels in the lite version. $.99 bought some more fun.

How you can be praying for me and mine... Surferman and I will be out of town for a few days at the start of next week. Pray that we have enough routine for Grom and Swiss Kid for my parents who will be home. My grandma is also visiting next week.

Check out other daybooks at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

What's for Dinner - September 6, 2010

Monday
~Labor Day~
BBQ Chicken
BBQ Corn Cobs
salad
garlic bread
watermelon

Tuesday
~family house cleaning~

dinner out after

Wednesday
~soccer practice - Grom~
~youth group? - Hap~
LO Baked Ziti
Salad
Fruit

Thursday
CORD
(clean out refrigerator day)

Friday
~Exchange Student Potluck~
take brownies

Saturday
BBQ Salmon
baked potatoes
zucchini

Sunday
~Shoreline Family Dinner~
Pesto Tortellini

DONE #51. Complete Family Mission Statement#52. Design and Frame Family Mission Statement

It's finally done! It feels like I worked on this for ages.

It was an endeavor. I had to find time with Surferman to talk and pray about it... a few times. It required editing and refinement to make it our won. I designed and formatted it; brilliantly deciding on a legal size paper because there just wasn't enough room on letter sized. And then finding out that it's nearly impossible to buy a premade legal sized frame. Resigning to custom framing only to find one lonely but perfect legal sized frame on the shelf.

I pray we can live up to it.
I first read about Family Mission Statements at Simple Mom. It intrigued me and I thought it was a great idea. I presented the idea to Surferman. He saw the effect it could have on our family to have these things written down... for us to be on the same page. I think of it as the sieve that our life needs to pass through. If something contradicts or conflicts with one of these things we hold dear... now written down... in black and white... well... let's just say it's harder for me to over commit and Surferman has become quicker to pray.

If you'd like to see the complete text, let me know in the comments and I'll email you a copy.

10 down... 91 to go.

Random Dozen - 9/1/10

1. What insect are you most afraid of? Feel free to post a picture.
Potato Bugs or Jerusalem Cricket. They give me the creeps. They look like some kind of alien baby.
2. What is the greenest/most organic thing about you or that you do?
I almost always use reusable shopping bags. I have some left from the last time we worried about the planet that I still use. Grom has a totally reusable lunchbox.... not a single plastic baggie needed. It makes me happy. Isn't that silly?

3. Tell me about a recurring dream that haunts you.
I dream that I have forgotten that I'm taking a college class. Never have gone to the class, I have to take the final. It usually a class like Sociology. It's probably Sociology because I have no idea what you study when you take Sociology (and I took it when I was in college).

4. Have you ever missed a flight? What were the circumstances?
Only because of weather.

5. What do you consider your best feature?
Physical Feature - maybe my eyes?
Overall Feature - my ability to solve problems or make things work

6. What was the last concert you went to?
I'm having a hard time remembering. It might have been Grom's Christmas Concert at school. We've got to get us some more culture.

7. Describe the most embarrassing church moment you ever experienced.
It's usually when I open my mouth. Earlier this summer our interns were sent out to share Jesus and invite people to church. Someone joked that they were told not to come back until someone was saved. Quickly I said, "We may never see them again". I was embarrassed that I had slammed the interns and the power of the Gospel with those few words.

8. Are you a whistler, hummer or singer?
A whistler. I knew an old guy and he'd always tell me... "A whistling girl and a cackling hen will never come to a good end." I'm a very good whistler.

9. George Washington Carver said, "I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in." What is God saying to you through nature today, or this very minute?
Grom had soccer today. It was a beautiful day and the clover flowers in the grass were very attractive to bees. A little thing that caused worry and distress. But when left alone... pollinates and makes honey.

10. On September, 1, 1752, the Liberty Bell arrived in Philadelphia. What memorable event will take place in your life on September 1, 2010?
Today won't be memorable for any positive reasons and I choose not to share the negative ones.

11. Taco Bell or the Liberty Bell? (You must choose.)
Taco Bell... they serve Pepsi.

12. Do you believe men and women can have purely platonic friendships?
Yes, but only in carefully guarded situations. It's about being above reproach and not be in situations that could be misinterpreted.

I enjoy the Random Dozen questions posted by Linda each week. Try it?