Menu Plan Monday

Ok, Here goes:

Monday - I got to work this AM and realized I forgot to pull out Ground beef for Salisbury steaks. So I guess it will be frozen hamburger patties. I have buns in the freezer.

Tuesday - This might depend. They are predicting a winter storm. If that happens. I may work from home. We also had a board meeting scheduled for last Tuesday postponed to This day. Maybe Chicke with Squash.

Wednesday - Wrestling practice night. Chicken Noodle soup (from the can)

Thursday - Salisbury steak

Friday - Breakfast for dinner.

Now I need to remember to email this entry to Hubby so he knows what to start when he gets home. He just emailed me that lots of his co-workers are planning to take work home tonight so they can work from home tomorrow. I was planning to do the same. Last Tuesday it took me 3.5 horus to get home in the snow storm. Yuck.

For more Menu's check out Laura's blog

Slow cooker dinner disaster...

So I have the gadget pcitured here. It plugs right into the oputlet and you plus your crockpot into the bottom. You press the Cook time button to set it for 4 or 6 hours at high or 8 or 10 hours at low. After the cooking time, it reduces the power so that the food is kept warm. Since I am out of the house for close to 12 horus a day, this works well.

Except when you forget to turn the knob on the crockpot from off to high.

I came home to raw chicken breast in my crockpot. I threw them away and opened a can of spaghetti sauce and boiled a pot of noodles. Maybe next time.

Slow Cooker Thursday

It's been a while since I participated. I ran out of new ideas. I need to have recipes that will stand up to 10-12 hours in the cooker. I do have one of those gadgets that switched the cooker to warm after 8 or 10 hours.

Anyways: Today my Slow cooker has chicken breasts in it.

4 Chicken breasts

1 pkg dry itialian dressing mix

1 1/2 cups of water

Cook on low 8-10 hours.

Join Sandra for more great recipes

School's in session

So, for the first time this week, school is open. That makes life easier on Mom and Dad. The daycare we send the 7 YO too opens one hour later on days when school is closed. So it does not open until 8:00. Hubby got very flustered when he tried to drop the 7 YO off Tuesday morning at 7:30. So that's why the boy spent Tuesday at work with Dad. Dad has a class today that started promptly at 8:00 AM. He was dissapointed when I said I was unable to stay home until 8:00 to drop off the boy. He's not real happy with me carpooling.

But the 7YO asked this morning if he could come to work with me like he did Monday. He enjoyed it and he was very good. If all else fails, it is an option. Especially since I have an office with a door. A few books, an MP3 Player and a gameboy. Add in Mom's ID with that can double as a debit card and and an introduction to the lunchroom ladies. What more could a boy want.

Snow Day

This is the third day of no school. The first two days were becasue of sever cold. We only get these 0 degree mornings with -20 windchills every three years or so. They worry about kids waiting for buses out in this cold. Monday the 7YO went to work with Mom, Tuesday he went with Dad. His Daycare does not open until 8:00 when school is cancelled.

I'm working from home today. It took me 3-1/2 hours to get home in the snow yesterday. The University I work out was closed until 10 AM and my building was going to be closed at Noon to fix an electrical problem that took the power down for and hour yesterday. See the Dueling computers:
















Boys working and playing

Menu Plan Monday

Mon - Ground beef night - Ground beef is thawing. _ Not sure whether to make Meatloaf or Cheeseburger sloppy joes.
Tues - Chicken breasts - baked
Wed - Cheeseburgers from frozen patties
Thurs - MAc and Cheese
Fri - Frozen DiGiorno pizza (on sale this week, 2/$9)

For more menus check out Laura's site.

Sigh.. More organizational woes

One of the things about my 11 YO is that he is chronically unorganized. A lot of it is his ADHD. This is my child who has been know to complete a homework assignment, but is unable to find ti to turn it in. Then he gets a missing assignment slip that needs to be signed by a parent. It get's home and signed, but not turned back in. So a second MA is issued. He goes to school the next day and asked to produce all three papers and pulls the latest (unsigned) MA out of his pocket.

One of the things I did in an attempt to assist him, is to work with his "out of sight, out of mind" sensibilities. We removed conventional dressers from his room and got a could of California Closet organizers from Target that have shelves. The bottom shelves slide out. I got a couple of baskets for his underwear and socks. So we have a good system in place.

Yesterday morning I hear "A., can I borrow one of your school uniform shirts? I can't find mine." I go into his room and find 3 white polo shirts rolled into a ball and crammed on the shelf next to his sock basket.

Anyone have an idea on how to help him follow the system?

One more note. I took him last night to buy a pair of shoes. He wanted to go to the specialty shoe store. Well, It had been awhile since I had an "expert" fit his shoes. He's in the wierd range, a 7 , almost out of kids sizes, but not quite into Mens. It cost my $80. Oh My! Next time it is back to Kohls.

Menu Plan Monday

Monday - Hamburgers, buns, baked beans
Tuesday - Chicken stir fry
Wednesday - Wrestling practice night - Not Sure
Thursday - Chicken potpie - Bisquick recipe
Friday - Homemade pizza

For more great menus, visit Laura's Organizing Junkie Blog

Help - The sweets are calling my name

So in honor of great report cards from both the boys, I stopped on the way home from work Friday and picked up a bakery cake. A typical 8 inch round. Delicious! Yesterday I took the boys and their report cards to Krispy Kreme and we brought home a dozen free donuts. We also stopped by Cheryl's cookies and each boy got a mess of cookies (1 for each A, limit of 6). I can ignore the cookies - they are wrapped in cellophane and they belong to the boys. The Donuts are quiet too. They have not tempted me. But oh that cake. Yummy, yummy cake! With a great tasting frosting. And let me tell you, I am a person who believes that the purpose of cake is to hold the frosting. That combination of fat and sweetness coating my tongue...

But my innards seem to be rebelling. It has to do with the medication I am taking to bring down my insulin. Yes, Sugar should be limited. And I usually do. But it is so good. But I am being motivated by the night tiimegas pains to quit. If someone else does not eat the last peice by tonight. I am throwing it away. - After I take a swipe of the icing and lick it off my finger, I'm sure.

ADHD 11 YO pulls straight A's

So I get an email from Mrs. C, my 11 YO's teacher. She is so excited for him. He's bringing home a report card with straight As. At midterm he had a few B's and complaints about missing assignments. I told him a C was not acceptable and if he brought one home that I would severely limit his internet privleges. I also told him that with just a little bit of effort he could get straight As. And so he did!

I have emailed Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles. I want to make a huge deal out of this so he does it again. He's already gotten 4 emails in his inbox that I know of. This weekend we will allow him to decide what to do for a treat.

Oh and so far, having him both boys earn thier XBox time is working well. The 11yo is bringing out his agenda without being asked. The 7 YO is looking for work to do to earn his time.

Gotta shake these blues

Over the weekend I realized that I leave my house between 5:30 and 5:40 (AM) and I arrive home between 5:30 and 5:40 (PM). Yuck! Then when we spend all day Sunday at a wrestling meet, not wonder I am feeling like the house is falling apart.

I does not help that it is mostly cloudy with very little sunlight these last few days in SW Ohio. Hubby is frustrated with his job. He is being pressured to put in more hours at work (yes he gets OT), but he's not really thrilled with the design work he's doing as an Engineer. He would like to spend 50% of his time at his desk designing Heating and Air system and another 50% int he field. He's not really getting that chance. And he's not the type to put in 60 hours a week. Many of the folks he works with do not get that he is the one home more.

He also has the task of getting the boys up and ready every morning. He is not a morning person. Last night he was complaining about it. It is a hassle. The 11YO is ADHD. In the morning that translates to being highly distractable. Is take a lot of work to keep him moving so he is ready to catch the bus. The 7YO is self motivated and will get up, get drerssed and fix his breakfast, but he also revels in pushing his brother's buttons. So while Dad is in the shower, the 7YO is distracting his brother and a shouting match ensues. Dad gets out of the shower and adds his voice because the 11 YO is still not dressed and he is running out of time.

A year ago, before my current job, I was getting the boys on the bus. However, I am the morning person. I'd get up, go to the gym at 5:00, return home at 6:45, jump in the shower. Then I would wake the boys. Dad has thought about gettingup earlier to shower before waking up the 11 YO, but he finds he cannot achieve that. And so it goes.

I could leave the house at 6:30. That would give Dad time to get out of the shower, but becasue of traffic, it would most likely add some time to my commute. I'd have to drop my carpool. Hopefully I could get to work by 7:30, then I would leave at 4:30. That may work. I think I'll do a test run next Tuesday. My Carpool partner is taking a class Tuesday evenings, so we do not carpool that day.

Sunday's wrestling meet.

We had our first snow fall here in SW Ohio yesterday. I was signing in for my spot as a Eucharistic ministrer at church When my phone rang. Now, Hubby and I run the Wrestling team the boys are on. This means that for the meets (always on Sundays), Hubby has to arrive by 10:00 am (at the latest) for setting up the tournament brackets. We usually tag along so we do not have to drive 2 cars. But back to my phone call, a parent who decided not to brave the weather. Out of the 36 kids we expected to take, we ended up having 25 in the tournament.

But our 11 YO did not go. He was fighting a cold. Saturday he was asking for medicine. This is my stoic child. When he complains about not feeling well, he's ready to collapse. So we let him stay home. We call Grammy to let her know he was home alone and ask her to call him and check up on him. After the meet when we called, he did not want to go out to dinner. Hum. But when we got home, he had shoved the drive way, cleaned up and organizied (?!) the XBOX games. (We say he cannot organize his way out of a paper bag). Of course, he had not gotten tot he one chore I asked him to complete - emptying the dishwasher.

For the record, the 7 YO won all three of his matches and took home a first place ribbon. I got to learn how to keep score.

Menu Plan Monday

Monday - Ground beef night - Cheeseburger Sloppy Joes
Tuesday - Chicken Night - Chicken Breast w/ Flavored rice side dish
Wednesday - Wrestling Practice night - I offer to do a crockpot meal, Hubby says no. They eat early. So they will have something easy like hot dogs or microwavable Stuffed Parmesian chicken breasts
Thursday - Pork roast in the crockpot
Friday - Leftovers

For more great Menus, visit Laura's blog

Update on 11 YO organization

I have to say, my sons' school's email was down for 4 or 5 weeks. Two of those were Chrsitmas vacation, but since I "do" email for a living, I have communicated with the 11 YO's teacher a lot.

She emailed yesterday that she has not been getting assignment turned in this week for our 11YO. He did not have a poem he was supposed to write over the long weekend on Tuesday when it was due. She gave him an MA (Missing assignment) slip that had to be signed. He turned in the popem but not the signed MA, so he got anothr MA that he found in his pocket (Good Grief, I need to ensure that he is not wearing the same pair of pants all week...) the following day. Mrs. C worried that we were not aware of the missing assignment.

I emailed back that we were aware and we had in fact signed the orgininal MA. Hubby emailed her that he made the 11 YO put it in his backpack. "The paper eating fuzz ball at the bottom might have gotten a hold of it...."

I wrote that " think B’s issues are procrastination and disorganization, Out of sight, out of mind. And his desire to do other things than school work. He struggles with telling stories with a straight face most of the time. Mumbling and other vocal noises are a sure sign he does not want to answer a question. "

She said she was familiar with the mumbling behavior and she, too regarded it as a sign of trouble.

So the end result right now is that we are going to reward him for bringing home his agenda every night. As I wrote last August, I followed organizing recommendations from a book that suggested utilizing a teacher's planner to track assignments.

I am making both boys earn their XBox playing time. During the winter, it is a prime source of entertainment. We decided that every night he brings home his agenda, he'll earn 15 minutes of XBox time. If he has not earned any time, he'll not play XBox. I sure hope it works. But we do not have a long track record with such reward systems. Mom and Dad get busy and forget to follow through and/or the 11YO decides he can live without his reward.

But we are going to try.

Menu Plan Monday

Mon - Beef Stroganoff since I am off
Tues - Chicken and rice (Lipton rice sides)
Wed - Salisbury Steak (Make ahead have 11 YO son put in oven)
Thurs - (Ok I have not planned that far yet)
Fri - Unsure - Tuna Noodle casserole

For more menu's visit Laura's Blog.

Take Down Jesus!?

My boy wrestling with the youth wrestling club of a local Catholic High School.

(I have such a complicated relationship with this high school. It is not the one I went to. However, I have 17 Aunts, Uncles and Cousins who attended this school. And Since my Uncle is 2 years older than I and I was the first (from that side of the family) to go to the school with the ugly colors, I was teased unmercifully. So I have a lot of emotional issues, yet here I am, spending lots of time at this school an cringing when I wear it's colors for my boys' sake)

The addition with the wrestling room is three years old. At our Wrestling club board meeteing Tuesday it was announced that there is now a Crucifix hung in the room as well as the "takedown Jesus" not to be confused with Notre Dame's "Touchdown Jesus." At first I was worried that the poster was hung on the ceiling so that the unfortuanate soul who got taken down could look up and beg for mercy.

Works for me Wednesday

Here's a repost of my third WFMW:

Mocha Morning smoothy

A couple of months ago (May 2006)I started a new job. I am now commuting 50 miles one way. I go in early to beat the traffice. I am also a "gotta have breakfast" person. I also do better with a good dose of protein. So I created this coffee smoothy. I refridgerate leftover coffee. Or I make coffee expressly to refridgerate. After packing lunches in the morning, I get out my handy Oster Blend and Go cup, pour in about a cup of coffee, a splash of milk and a scoop of chocolate flavored protein powder, 4-6 ice cubes and blend. I put the cap that came with my cup (at WalMart), stick in the straw and run out the door. Once I get to work I add a granola bar and an orange to round out my breakfast.

Come Fall I'll have to figure out something warm. I can't see protein powder in hot coffee, but who knows. My Cold Mocha smoothies for breakfast, It works for me.

Note: I have not found a warm substitute. The protein powder tastes foul when warm. I also developed a shortcut for an "on the rocks" version instead of frozen. I use a Tupperware shaker, add the coffee, milk, protein powder and shake. I then pop the top on the shaker, Add a handful of icecubes and go.

For more contributions to the Eating Well edition of WFWM, visit Shannon.

Science Fair

Recently heard around our house:

11 YO: I need to decide on a project for the science fair
Dad: What are you interested in doing
11 YO: An Experiment you would be interested in Dad.

Crackberry

I just got a new Blackberry (Phone and email device). I broke the "ER1" button. Do you think I used it too much?

Menu Plan Monday

I need to jump back on this bandwagon -

Mon - Meatloaf - I pulled a fully-cooked one out of the freezer, add a vegetable and a some canned fruit and call it dinner

Tues - Might be fast food. Hubby has a dentist appt for a filling repair at 4:00. We have a meeting for the boys' wrestling team at 6:00.

Wed - Chicken and rice - A packaged rice mix (the boys have decided they love these - Rice a roni or Lipton) with the chicken cubed and browned and mixed with the rice. Once again add a veggie and a fruit and call it dinner

Thurs - Beef stroganoff

Fri - Kielbasa

For more Menu's, visit Laura's blog

Worry

I feel like Aunt Murry's blog title "All I want is a good night's sleep."

I had hoped that a new year would bring a bit of slowing down into my life. Nope, Not yet. I had hoped to spend the long New Year's weekend being a blob on the couch with the remote in my hand. Nope. I was glued to my Blackberry. My coworkers and I were watching a vendor migrate 5000 email accounts. Mr Murphy was there to insure that his law was in full effect.

We got the accounts moved, and the old system is behaving better. We are going to have another 5000 moved this weekend.

It looks as if there is a good chance one of my 2 techs will leave us for a bigger paycheck. I can't blame him. He has 2 kids under 3 and his wife is committed to staying home with them while they are young. He needs more money. He's good enough to deserve a bigger paycheck. I am unable to get him an increase. My remaining tech is already grumpy that we replaced our third tech was replaced by someone with Help Desk experience that we need to grow into a full-fledged tech. I have to admit I am worried about how we can handle the load.

Since I have been so busy, have I been neglecting my family? I did not do well planning meals this week. And Hubby and the boys could be leaving the house about the same time I get home. (There is this freshman wrestling meet...)

Sigh.

Post-Christmas report

The 7 YO recovered from his fever Friday. My Parents came to town Friday. The graciously stayed with the boys Saturday night while I went to dinner at a Friends and Hubby went and visited his sister in the hospital.

On Sunday our Christmas started about 1:30 with the hour drive to my Brother's (B2) house. We had appetizer's courtsey of SIL 1. Then the kids opened their presents. the 7yo got a football that seems to have been his favorite gift. But He still need to take a closer look at the things he got. Then we all went to 5:00 Mass. We came home and had a great dinner and then the grown-ups opened presents. We got home about 10:00. The 11YO made a big deal about putting out a plate with cookies and grapes for Santa.

We told the boys they had to wait until 7 AM to open gifts. The 11YO did not want to get up when 7:00 came around. They got football jerseys, sleeping bags, video games for the Gameboy and XBOX. The 7 YO got a Game Boy Micro. The 11 YO had gotten his the weekend before because he was required to pay for half of it since he lost his Game Boy advanced and his Game Boy Sp over the past year.

My Parents brought me my heart's desire from their trip to Germany: The Hummel Nativity. Just the Holy family, but I have wanted it for years.

Christmas Day was quiet after the opening of the gifts. Then at 6PM we went to a party with my Mom's family. There are over 80 family members. We were missing only 13. Santa came as usual. I did notice that my & yo was uncomfortable when Santa came in. I was hoping to preserve the innocence another year or so.

Hubby's Sister did come home from the Hospital Christmas eve. She's have some hard times over the past 2 years starting with her husband asking for a divorce Christmas Day 04. Over that time depression and loneliness seemed to have driven her to making Vodka her best friend. It caught up with her and now she is recovering. I am praying that she continue to recover and that my MIL provides enough support to help but that she is strong enough to allow SIL without breaking herself mentally, emotionally and financially.

But all-in-all, we are very blessed and lucky.

The Virus invades the house

So Wednesday was interesting. Hubby called me at work about 1:40 to tell me his 33 Yo Sister was intensive care and Mom was very upset. So we decided that I would come home early since I drove all the way in. My carpool parner had overslept, so we both drove. (The Lord does work in mysterious ways) But anyways, i would come hom in time to get the boys, get some dinner in them and take them to wrestling practice. He would go get his Mom and go to the hospital with her at visiting hours.

After I hag up with him, the phone rings. It's the school. The 7 Yo has a 101 degree fever. So I called Hubby who picks up the boy and I head home so I can send Hubby to spend time with his Mom.

Anyways, a day and a half later, my SIL is out of intensive care and apparently dealing with some demons like a divorce and unemployment. She might come home Sunday. I hope she knows she has a Mom, a Dad, tw0 brothers, SILs, 5 nephews and at least 1 cousin worried and concerned for her.

The 7 Yo still has a fever. Maybe the classic Influenza, but he only has a small amount of congestions. But he gets up, watched TV, maybe plays Xbox, naps, eats, watches more TV. He all but refuses to take Tylenol. I have Bubble gum flavor, grape flavor, cheables, meltaways,, etc...

But staying home yesterday gave me time to get caught up on a lot of stuff. Presents are wrapped. Most gifts are purchased, and important rooms of the house got cleaned.

My parents arrive today. So here's hoping that their flu shots protect them from the virus lurking in our house.

Works for Me Wednesday

Here's a works for me Wednesday post, first in a long time. I have stretched myself too thin this year. Having a long commute to work justs adds to everything. I love to decorate for Christmas. I have a lovely collection of Nativities I like to put out. I have decided that only a few will got out this year. My parents are staying with us for a week, but I am not hosting any parties at my house. It is kind of hard, because I do enjoy decorating. There is a possibility I night get to it this weekend. It will not diminish the joy of Christmas and the celebration of the birth of Christ.

Giving myself permission not to have my house decorated to the nines. That works for me.

For more ideas, check out Shannon's blog

Blog Tag

Hey I was tagged by John over at Adult ADD and Money For 5 Things you do not know about me.

1. My Parents names me Margaret after my Grandmother
2. But they gave me the nickname of Missy
3. I changed the name I wanted people to call me when I went to high School (Boy were the 40 people who went with me from Grade school to The same High school confused, but most adapted)
4. I actually taught myself to like coffee a few years ago. I decided that it might be a healthier way to get my caffine that drinking cold and fizzy stuff.
5. I really dislike vacuuming. My floor has to be really bad before I'll pull out the beast. But usually I can get my boys to do it.

I want to tag Shane.

Menu Plan Monday

I need to get back on track now that the wrestling meet I plaaned and ran is over. (Yipee!)

Mon- Tacos - provided I did put the frozen ground been in the fridge. I remember pulling it out of the freezer this morning...

Tues - Mom's Shopping night

Wed - (Wrestling Practice) - Soup and Sandwiches

Thurs - Tuna Noodle Casserole

Fri - No Sure...

For more great menu plans, go visit Laura

New Orleans trip

My Girl's trip to New Orleans was fantastic. I had been there in 1998. Becasue we sepnt most of our timein the French quarter, which is high ground and was spared from flooding, we did not observe any of the hurricane-induced damage.

Highlights:

• Saturday evening dinner at The Commander's Palace
• Cemetery tour
• Beignets - Although it took me until Sunday to get K & S there, but once there, we went twice on Sunday and twice on Monday.
• Mass at the St. Louis Cathedral
• Voodoo Brew Cocktails to go
• We did have hurricanes at Pat O's
• Bourbon street where we were told "This is Bourbon Street Ladies, not Sesame Street!"
• Walking tour of the Garden district.

Here's a pciture of me eating a Beignet

Christmas Tour of Homes -

Hi Everyone, I wanted to participate in BooMama's Christmas tour of homes, but since my life has been Madcap lately, I have not found the time to finish decorating. But a Couple of years ago I took some pictures of some of my Nativity collection.




Finally I have a picture of my tree when the boys got tired of putting the ornaments on it.

Thanks for visiting. Between my 4 day trip to New Orleans with the Girls, a wrestling meet that I have to run this weekend and Christmas shopping that is not done, I hope to get my Nativities out for display. I do enjoy them.

Checkout Boo Mama's site for more homes

Attending Church today

So today is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception ,a Catholic Holy day of Obligation. So I fulfilled my obligation by attending a Mass on the main College Campus.

I enjoy attending such a service because to attend one of these is a conscious act. It is not "Let's go to Sunday Mass because that's what we do on Sundays". While that's not bad, Holy Day Masses seem to me to have more energy. I feel like those who make the effort really want to be there.

It made my heart soar to celebrate a simple Mass with about 40-45 people. I esitmate 2/3 of them were students. I was surprised to observe that there were more young men than young women .

I offered a silent intention that these young people continue their Faith journey and make good parents or maybe even one or more of these young men will decided to enter the Priesthood. May these youg people help steer the Catholic Church away fromt he danger zones that are always lurking so close.

Spread too thin

Ok, I'm not really panicked about this, but strangely detached like I am a ghost watching myself scramble. I have too much going on this year.

There is of course the Christmas shopping. I am having trouble thinking of cool gifts for the 11 YO. And he's no help. He's too much like his Dad.

Then there is the Wrestling club. I am the director. That is like the chief cook and bottle washer. I collected the paperwork and money. I created the roster. I wnet on line, entered names and purchased the USA Wrestling club memebership cards. I purchased the local association Weigh-in cards. I got each wrestler's name, USA card, birthday and age printed on a card (40 of them). I assessed tehir wieghts and determined what size singlet they need, handed out singlets, and ordered additional singlets. I determined the number of t-shirts needed. I gathered the timers, score displays, and ankle bands for the meet. I made sure Hubby was all ready for this weekends meet.

I started to think about our home meet on the 17th. I have to communicated with the teams that are coming to let them know when they should be there, round up parent help, contract with referees, contact the pizza suppliers, buy the food for the concession stand...

And tomorrow, I am flying to New Orleans for a 4-day girls get away. When we scheduled it I had no idea our first meet would be this early. I hoped not to schedule our home meet for Dec 17th.

The fact that this year I am commuting and hour each ay to and from work is not helping. Hubby's got a big project going on at work and has been putting in overtime. However, last year at this time we did have the home meet the same weekend, however, hubby was finishing up his bachelor's degree and he graduated the day before the meet and we had out of town company in....

Why do I do this to myself? I stilla want to finish decorating the house.

Not Successful!

So I signed up for the 30-day Organizational Challenge. I failed. I managed to get the white table cleared off, but that was so I could wrap some Christmas gifts.

I really need to purge. I am having difficulty with that. I love to do all sorts of crafts. It's also nice when the 11 YO tells you, "I need to make a virus", I can gather pipe cleaners, raffia, a toilet paper tube, a clear glass ornament, glue and other odds and ends and viola, a model of a virus.

I did put my scrapbooking supplies away. I have a rolling tote to take to crops. I decided that would make a good place to store my 12x12 paper.
And yes, there are 2 sewing machines. My Mom was going to get rid of here, but it has the removable arm. Mine (that had been my Grandmother's) - does not. The free arm feature is most helpful for tight spaces like sew patch on boys pants to cover holes in the knee. Also, one is set up for quilting.

So why was I unable to get too it all? Busy-ness, I am the directory of the kid's wrestling team. I do have the paper work organized and ready to go for our meet Dec 17th ?!. I have also been trying to keep off of my sore foot, so I spent a lot of time sitting with my foot elevated and an ice pack on it.

So I am going out of town this weekend. - Girl's trip to New Orleans to celebrate our mutual 40th birthday's this year. We decided to grace the struggling city with our tourist dollars. Then I need to buy stuff for the concession stand at the meet and finish my Christmas shopping. Some day I want to finsih decorating my house for Christmas. We have 2 trees up and lights outside. My NAtivity collection needs to come out. Maybe I'll have it done by Friday for Boo Mama's bloggy holiday tour of homes.

So I will revisit my craft area after the first of the year. B ehind the camera is another set of shelves and a cubby unser the stairs. right now the bins of Christmas decorations have been pulled out. There is a path to get to the washer and dryer. I'll put away the decorations and tackle my supplies again.

But visit Laura's site for successful stories and her contest.

Stocking surprises

Mom: So what did St. Nick bring you?
7YO: Oh, the movie Cars, Bubble Gum, and orange and the usual stuff

The "usual stuff" was Hershey's miniatures, Reese's cups and a candy cane.

I got "Bearnaked for the Holiday's" - Holiday songs form the Bearnaked Ladies..

Feast of St. Nicholas - Dec. 6

St. Nicholas was born in 271 AD and died around 342 on Dec 6th. near Asia Minor. He was a bishop in the town of Myra, in modern day Turkey. He was a good friend to the poor and helpless.

Children put out their shoes the night of Dec 5 and he filles them with candy, nuts and Oranges.
The image of St. Nichloas ahs become merged with Santa Claus. I found some great information at wikipedia

When I was a child, St. Nick would leave a small toy or comic book or magazine. These days, St. Nick leaves a Christmas-themed musical CD or Movie (DVD) at our house.

Christmas Meme

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate? Hot Chocolate. But Maybe I need to try Egg Nog.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree? Wrap, with special paper that is not in the general collection
3. Colored lights or white? I prefer colored, Hubby likes white. The tree we got last year has white lights. We’ll put colored on the live tree in the basement
4. Do you hang mistletoe? Sometimes
5. When do you decorate for Christmas? I tend to do it close to the Feast of St. Nicholas since we need the stocking up for him to fill the night of the 5th. Hubby put up the tree last weekend.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish, excluding dessert? Ham, but Hubby is not a big fan. Mom used to make Au Gratin potatoes for Chirstmas dinner
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? Going to the annual Christmas party of a club my Grandfather belonged to.
8. When and how, did you learn the truth about Santa? Not really sure… Grandpa and several UNcles have been Santa Clause Helpers...
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? We celebrated Christmas with Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and cousins on my Dad’s side on Christmas eve, so there were plenty of presents. Now we get together with my family in the same fashion. We go to Mass, have a big dinner and open presents.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? Last year we got a smaller tree for the living room. I edited to ornaments so that we have the White house ornaments, 10-20 glass ornaments, some other special ornaments and photo ornaments. I did one of each boy every year. Last night I sat next to it looking at a picture of the 11 yo in a “Baby’s First Christmas” ornament with of a picture of him from last year. We put a live tree in the basement family room. It gets homemade ornaments on it.
11. Snow. Love it or hate it? I love in Ohio – I like it
12. Can you ice skate? Yes -
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Not really. I remember a handmade Raggedy Ann Doll when I was a teen. I remember an Andy Gibb album as an Exchange form my cousin.
14. What is the most important thing about the holidays to you? Enjoying the season: the music, the lights, the decorations. Getting together with Friends and family.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? Fudge
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? My Mom’s family getting together Christmas night for a party. Santa pays us a visit on his way back to the North Pole. There are 70 of us in 4 generations.
17. What tops your tree? An Angel I made out of Mom’s wedding dress that I also wore. _ Actually the pieces left over after I made a Baptismal gown.
18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving? Both
19. What is your favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night, Carol of the Bells, Mary Did You Know…
20. Candy canes. Yuck or yum? Yum.

Menu Plan Monday

I need to get back on the band wagon:

Sunday - Roasted Chicekn

Monday - Cheeseburger Sloppy joes

Tuesday - Rice a Roni and Chicken - Last week, out of some desparation, hubby cooked up a package of Rice A Roni to go witht he Burgers he made Monday night. Well, The brugers were done and the rice was not. So We ate and put the Rice a Roni in the fridge. Tueday I actually got home first (Hubby's been putting in OT) and I cut up leftover chicken and warmed it with the rice, warmed a veggie and called it dinner. The boys loved it wand wanted it again.

Wednesday - Tacos - Boys request

Thursday - Spaghetti and Meatballs

Friday - unsure

Well, I was going to send you to Laura's Org Junkie site for more Menus but she's off until tomorrow

When kids decorate the tree

Notice the bare top and the bare bottom and all the ornaments bunched up... The 7 yo was trying hard to put ornaments on the back side of the tree.

Then they got tired and went down to play with half of the ornaments to be put on the tree

Recipe - Drop Sugar cookies

Edited to add: I see Danielle is having an Advent Baking Carnival, I submitted this recipe. I freeze the backed cookies all the time. Mostly because it uses Buttermilk and I get a whole quart of it and I can make 4 double batches. And who knows when I will find the time to bake.


Since all I want to post are ramblings about how my foot hurts and I'm going to New Orleans in 10 days and how grumpy Hubby has been and...

Here's the buttermilk sugar cookie recipe from my Great Grandmother:

1/2 c Butter
1 Cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 c buttermilk
2 cups flour

So cream the butter and sugar. add in the vanilla, eggs and soda.

Alternate the buttermilk and flour.
Drop by teaspoon onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Sprinkle with sugar.
Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.

Thanksgiving preparations

My contribution to the Thanksgiving dinner was a vegetable tray and a double batch of drop sugar cookies. I had help making them. But after one pan, he became bored. He does not really like the cookies. Oh the horror! My grandmother used to make them. My brother and I are the only ones who still make them.

Menu Plan Monday

Oh My, It looks like Blogger does not want to upload the banner.

Monday - Turkey sandwiches - open face w/ Gravy -

Tuesday - Turkey and Noodles or Turkey Vegetable soup

Wed - Not Turkey - Meatloaf maybe

Thurs - Thanksgiving - I am taking cookies and a veggie tray

Fri - Um, I am going to leave it open. Odd are with my parents in town, the family will most likely get together.

For more Menu's check out Laura's site

Football weekend

So I live in Ohio. So it was the weekend of the BIG game. And this year it was bigger than ever with the teams ranked #1 and #2.  Hubby and the boys were excited about the game. Then we hear that my High school, the one the boys will most likely go to, won in their march to the state playoffs.

Then the big Ohio-Michigan game… Hubby and the boys had to go to Church Sat evening because of a wrestling meeting Sunday morning. I had to turn off the TV and push them out the door. We then got home we ate our pizza dinner in the living room picnic style to watch the game.  

Then to top it of, University of Cincinnati, close to my heart as my alma mater as well as where I make my living, pulled off a huge upset.

DS7 talks about playing football when he gets older. I just might let him.

Whoops!

Dad came home early than expected Friday afternoon. The 11 YO was doing some questionable web surfing. Ms. Home-computer-adminstrator did not get details, but we ponied up our $49.95 for Safe Eyes to block certain sites. I chose Safe Eyes as it was one of the top 3 rated but it can be installed on up to three machines. We have 2 plus Dad's laptop. It also gives me the ability to set hours that the kids can be on the net. Right now I have them blocked out from 9 PM until 5 AM. I thought about blocking out 3:45 - 5:00 but he does use the 'net for homework. So maybe now we have a clue as to why he has not been completing his homework before we get home.

I did have another package installed on the basement machine at one time, but I reloaded that machine last year and did not reload the protection software.

Now I need to figure out why my older machine won't connect to the internet at all. Sigh, I may be the supervisor at work, but at home I am still the network expert.

More Homework Wars

So Monday afternoon was hang out day after school. The youth ministry has a room when the 6^th, 7^th & 8^th grades can go after school, hang out, snack, play, watch TV and maybe get some homework help. Hubby attended a dinner meeting. So I made plans to stop by and drop off my twin nephew’s birthday gifts. The boys all love to play together. So I pick up the 6^th grader. He has homework. Oh no. He probably won’t complete it if I left him home – as if he would miss an occasion to play with the cousins. So he rushed (with my encouragement) through his definitions for History.

 

Mrs. C sends me an email I thought you'd like to know that B is redoing his History homework from yesterday.  Although hieroglyphs is a vocabulary word, he did not need to make his handwriting look like hieroglyphics.  :)

 

Tuesday he has band practice, he does not work on his homework until Dad get’s home and “motivates” him. He rushed through to get it done in time for band practice. He brings home a Missing Assignment slip saying that his science and History homework needs to be redone.

 

Wednesday is wrestling practice. He does not work on his homework until Dad gets home. Again. He starts his homework. He goes to practice and is supposed to be working on his homework. There are way too many distractions. He asks me to wake him up early. I woke him at 5:00. I let the house at 5:30 and he was working on his Math. I talked to Hubby. The boy did not complete his Math. He never got to Vocabulary or Science.

 

So here’s a plan: He really likes logging on to his email account. I am going to set up reminders at about 3:45 to start his homework. On Wednesdays he’ll get pop ups reminding him that it is Wrestling Practice night and he needs to have him homework done.

 

He has the time. He is not utilizing it efficiently.  I sure could use some thoughts and suggestions.

 

My Accent?

I saw this over at Barb's SFO Mom blog.

What American accent do you have?

Your Result: The Midland

"You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.

The Inland North

The West

The Northeast

Philadelphia

The South

Boston

North Central

What American accent do you have?
Take More Quizzes


Yup, Southern Ohio. They got it right. But they did not ask how I pronounced wash. Both of my grandmother's spoke that word like it was spelled with an R "WARSH"

Works for me Wednesday - Holiday edition

In my Holiday Traditions post, I talked about my extended family on my Mom's side. Last year I was crazy enough to tell my Aunt I'd help her with the Christmas party and she handed it over to me. With a current head count of about 70, there are quite a few different opinions as to how to structure the gift exchange. There are some people who have very firm ideas about how it should go.

When I was little, there was an adult exchange and a kids exchange. My Uncle Bob is 2 years older than me. Of course an some point he moved into the adult exchange. The tradition was that the original 11 siblings and their spouses were the only ones in that group. As the second generation grew older, there was a huge range in ages. Some of the mothers of Toddlers struggled with buying appropriate gifts for those of us in our early 20's. So there was the Adult siblings group, generation 2 group and the kids. Then some of the younger siblings wanted to be able to expand their pool of gift exchange candidates to neices and nephews who are close to them in age, but there are also 2 of the siblings who insist on keeping an exchange pool to be the traditional siblings and their spouses. If it is done this way, this Aunt and Uncle won't participate, if it is done that way, that Uncle and Aunt will not participate. Sheesh.

How do you make 70 people happy? You don't. My Mom - the oldest surviving sibling, has a goal to keep as many people coming as we can. So last Christmas I set out names of everyone on strips of paper and set out 4 large cans. 1. People who decided to sit out the exchange; 2. Only open to the original 11 siblings and their spouses. 3. Adults over 16 4. Kids 18 and under. It was a do-it-yourself, put your name in the appropriate can. The Siblings and their spouses had their choice and kids between 16 and 18 had their choice. I planned to draw names that night, but I do have one traditional-minded Aunt who was not pleased with my set up. But I look at it as only one of the 70 people had issues with it. Pretty good percentage. In July I pulled the names out of each can and entered them in a spradsheet. I engineered the Exchange. I then sent post cards to everyone with their names on it. Of course I did have a cousin who whated to know how I expected her to remember who she had for the next 6 months... LOL! I'm going to set it up this way again unless my traditional-minded aount wants to take it over.

Call Me Freaky -

Hi, My Name is Maggie and I adore Christmas Music.

Today I copied all 11 of my favorite Chirstmas CD's onto my work computer for my listening enjoyment. And yes, I have it playing right now. I probably would have been listening to some Holiday music this weekend, but I left my MP3 playing in my laptop bag at the office. I did find my SD card that has the Chirtmas music on it.

I saw an ad in our paper that the local soft rock station is going to start their non-stop Christmas music this Friday. My Mother in Law will not be happy. They play this station at her office. I think if I did not have the option of turning it off when it got to be too much.

Menu Plan Monday

Monday: Hubby has a dinner meeting and I forgot to pull Ground beef out of the freezer. So Ground Beef night will be Tuesday this week. Leftovers and Chicken Nuggets.

Tuesday - Cheeseburger sloppy joes

Wednesday - Wrestling practice night - Beef tip roast in the crockpot, slices and served on crusty rolls.

Thursday - Pork Chops

Friday - Homemade pizza

Sunday will be our traditional Sunday-before-Thanksgiving feast. I cook a Turkey and our favorite sides. This started the year Hubby said he really likes Thanksgiving leftovers. My Mother In Law and Sister in law will come too. We will have:

• Turkey and gravy
• Dressing - My favorite part, but only I eat it. Well my Sister iin law had some last year.
• Jelled cranberry sauce in a can
• Sweet potatoes with brown sugar, butter and pecans
• Broccoli Casserole

For more great menu plans visit Laura at Org Junkie.

The Great Bed switch

Over the weekend we had the boys trade beds. The 11 Yo had a double in his room and this double bed served as our guest bed. We host my parents every other time my parents come to town (the alternate visits thaey stay at my brother's) and on occasion my Father in law. The 7 YO had a twin with a trundle.

The 11 YO is organizationally and neatness challenged. His room has been rated as disaster area eligible by 3 out of 4 Governors. Some of that standard advice for such situation is to close the door. Well, when the propspect of company looms, Mom and/or Dad have to go in with a trash bag and make it presentable. We try to threaten him with that, but he always allows it to happen. So my new standard will be to do a food check and let him live in his pig stye as he likes. Another advantage of having the trundle in his room is that he cannot shove stuff under his bed. So let's see how this works.

30 Day Organizational Challenge

So I said I was going to try Irg Junkie's 30 day Challenge. I took pictures, but have not yet transfered them off the camera. I will work on that tonight. But I picked my craft area in my basement. There is a set of old kitchen cabinets hung in my basement. A few years ago Hubby installed a 6 ft piece of countertop we got a Lowe's for $36. I got some Iris carts.

I have done a lot of crafts in the past. I have some general supplies, raffia, ribbon, clothes pins, popcicle stickes, eyes, hair... I have a lot fo paints for Tole painting. General sewing supplies, scrapbooking and card making supplies - including runnber stamps. I tried to purge, but a few weeks ago, the 11 YO had to build a model virus. He used a clear glass ornament, pipe cleaners. yarn... All from my stash. So I really don't want to get rid of a whole lot. I could probably go through my paints and throw out the dried up bottles.

So I started to tackle it last weekend. I did pretty well putting my stuff away. Until I got to the 12x12 scrapbook papers. I am looking for some ideas. Laura posted my question on her site and there have been some interesting responses. I will probably hit JoAnns, Hobby Lobby and Michaels tomorrow when I am off work. I'd like to minimize the money spent.

Weekend Memories

 

So with half the family out of town, the 11 YO and I were on our own. We hung out at home Friday night. I made some stir fried shrimp for my dinner. B decided to make Bosco Breadsticks for his. I did manage to get Laundry sorted. Saturday we got up bright and early and hung out at wrestling practice. We got McDonald’s for lunch on the way home. We each got a sandwich and a shake. We shared a package of fries on the way home. Saturday afternoon we went up to the small Mall to have dinner at BW3s they were packed with Football game watchers. So we went to Friendly’s.  It was here he told me “Dad and A. are having their time together and you and I are having our time together.” Awwww. He even shared his ice cream sundae with me.

 

Sunday we went to Church and then out for a Breakfast Bagel. He came home and worked for several hours on his homework. I was pleased. I ended up cleaning his room. I was NOT pleased. We try to give him helpful hints about where to start. I’m sure cleaning his room is overwhelming for him. So we tell him:

 

1. Put your clothes in the clothes hamper (he did that)
2. Put trash in the trash can (lots of wrappers on the floor)
3. Put your books in your bookcase. – His lack of ability or maybe desire to do this really bothers me. Neither of my boys is willing to stand their books on end in the bookcase. Why not? I’ve already removed him books once. He’s such an avid reader that he has been searching them out and brining them back up to his room. But why in Heaven’s Name will he not put them in his bookcase?

 

I guess he knows he collects useless stuff. And It’s Ok for Mom and day to come into his room and throw it all away. They get off his back about cleaning his room. They won’t throw away the good stuff. I’ve read a lot of advice to just close the door. I have 2 issues with that.

1. I found an empty pop can, empty Gatorade bottle, empty Doritos package… FOOD! I am afraid of bugs in my house.
2. We have a small house. We have 3 bedrooms. My Parents live out of town and stay with us frequently. When they come in, the boys double up and the Grandparents sleep in B’s Double bed. Hubby and I decided yesterday that we are going to switch the boy’s beds. We’ll put the twin and the trundle in B's room and the Double in A’s room.  That would mean less cleaning for us when the Grandparents come to visit.

 

 

Holiday Traditions

Sandra over at Diary of a SAHM is hosting meme about Holiday traditions, So I thought I'd play along. I have not been doing well with Crock Pot Thursdays.

My Mom is one of 11 kids. I counter 69 of us before my cousin's engagement, in 4 generations. Even though my Grandparents are gone, the family is still close. The oldest sibling has passed away, but his wife, Sons and Daughters are still very much a part of the family. Most of us are within a 25 mile radius. So we have a big family get-together Christmas night about 6 PM. There is a gift exchange that is optional, we all bring goodies to much on. The highlight is a visit from Santa. He tells us he is on his way back to the North Pole and stopped by to see us. This has been going on for more than 30 years. My Grandpa was a Santa's helper is a department store for years. Several of my uncles have followed suit. It is always great to see the kids. Last year there were 2 6 YO boys who were raptured by Santa. My youngest son and my cousin's son. Sata give each child a small toy and a candy cane. Pictures are taken.

I told my DH shortly after we got married that this party was negotiable for me. I'd like to attend, but if we needed to visit his family at that time.... He decided that this party was one he enjoyed so much that he made his Mom work around it. My brother and his family is not always able to make it every year and my cousin, the firefighter is not always able to get to town. But the rest are there. I love the fact that my children know their Great Aunts and Uncles and cousins how know how many times removed... We do get together other times of the year also.

Menu Plan Monday

Mon - Cheeseburgers and baked beans

Tues & Wed - Mom is out of town. Dad will probably grab stuffed chicken breasts out of the freezer

Thursday - Pizza

Friday - The boys and I are off: I'll figure something out.

So I am not really organized this week. But the freeer is full. Have a good week For more Menus, go to Org Junkie's blog.

Nice dinner, foot problems, weekend plans

Last night Hubby’s sister came over and cooked us dinner. It was a lovely Chicken Parmesan. She is a chef by trade and walked out of the restaurant when she was the salute cook Saturday night when the Executive Chef threw a pan at her. What a volatile profession for her. She came over to the house and she and the 11 YO searched the pantry for stuff she needed and then took the Kroger gift card and went shopping. She had a good time with her nephew. I think it is important that my kids have a good relationship with their relatives.  But the dinner was delicious. I did not mind cleaning up afterwards.

 

I’m guessing this will be a quiet weekend for me. Hubby and the 7 YO are going to Chicago to visit the Sears tower and hangout with Hubby’s Dad. I think Hubby is going to work on a door at his house. I finally went to a podiatrist. I have bad feet – very flat, plantar fasciitis and bone spurs. For several years, arch supports in my shoes or orthopedic shoes worked. But now I have an acute case of tendonitis. So I got a shot and a tight, padded bandage.  While the doctor did not give me restrictions, he did say to take it easy, so I guess I will.

 

I have some projects to work on and I can commandeer the TV in the basement. I have 2 sewing projects I want to work on. My 11 YO can watch the TV upstairs. I expect him to bring home a Missing Assignment slip today since he did not have all of his books to complete his homework, so no Xbox for the weekend.  I should bring home my laptop and figure out why I cannot hook into my wireless router. I ratcheted down the security. Maybe I made it too tight. LOL!

 

He is an Alter Boy

So the 11 YO was a server at the All School All Saits Day Mass. His class was in charge of the Mass. Or at least the parts that the lay people take. He volunteered to be a server. I have to admit the I forgot to watch him. But that is a good thig. He was in the background doing his job. He did not do anything to attract attention to himself. Although, I was sitting in the Church when he passed me on the way to the working sacristy to don his robes. He was clanking. I confiscated a plastic container with Halloween candy (shaped like a coffin no less).

Actually it was the 7yo that really had me in a tail spin. He walked into Church wear shorts and a t-Shirt. I know when I dropped him off an hour before that he was wearing sweatpants and a sweatshirt. He had to walk across the parking lot to get to Church. I know it was gym day and they want the first graders to come to school in gym clothing instead of uniforms. I did let him know that evening that I though it was inappropriate for him to take off his sweats at this time of the year.

I am so thankful my boss allowed me to come into work late so I could be there. I feel so lucky that have the flexibilty.

Patch (Daytrana) Update

I got an email from a reader How is the patch working? We are having an awful time getting it to separate from the backing. I'm at the point where I'm going to give up! Amy

Oh, Those things are sticky. Hubby usually applies the patch. Because I am usually on my way to work. But the time I do put it on, I pull on the corner of the backing that is in the middle of the patch. Actually, I get both sides started, pulling form the center. I slap the center ont he skin and then proceed to pull each side of the backing off.

We are very happy with the effects. It is easy to remember and it works very well with my son. The doctor gave us a 3 month prescription to send to the mail order prescription company.

Good Luck Amy. For us the convenience is well worth any struggle to apply the patch.

Works for Me Wednesday

So What's been working for me is taking time during my drive home from work for prayer. I drive about 20 miles through city traffic. I am finding that - after I hear the initial traffic report, that turning off my radio and turning to prayer is a nice stress release. When I was not doing this, my mind was jumping all around and dwelling on negative thoughts. Now since I am Catholic, I have been praying the Rosary. I know most of the prayer so well that another part of my brain takes over and I can concentrate on driving at the same time.

For more great Works for me ideas, visit Shannon

Menu Plan Monday

Mon - Tacos

Tues - (Beggar's night) Chicken and Rice Casserole. - I will prepare tonight and have the 11 YO put it in the oven for a 5:30 dinner time

Wed - (Wrestling Practice night) - Freezer night - We have these frozen Italian-stuffed chicken breasts from Market Day. While I try to avoid this type of food because of the unpronounceable ingredients, the family loves them. So I get them for just this sort of night. They can pop them in the Microwave and eat before I get home.

Thurs - Pork Chops and Baked beans.

Fri - Hubby and the 7 YO are off to Chicago. Hubby's Dad took Hubby and his siblings to Downtown Chicago on the L for their 7th Birthday. Since we don't live there, Hubby took the older and will take the younger for the weekend and ride on the L , go to the Sears Tower and eat downtown. I think Grandpa is going to join them. So the 11 Yo and I will come up with something.

For more Menu ideas, visit Laura at Org Junkie

100TH Post

So I've made it to 100. I started the tradition 100 things about me list, but I was not happy with it. I only made it to 57. There are things I write about and things I don't. I don't feel too compelled to mark this as a special occasion...

So anyways, Yesterday I sent an email to Hubby and the 11 YO about what I planned for supper. It is amazing how many question I get about what's for supper. Maybe I should send them to my blog so they can read my menu plan monday posts. But then again, I really have not talked much to them about my blog.

Anyways, back to the email. The 11 your replied quite nicely that leftovers worked for him and he's see me when I got home. I just struck me as very mature. He tend to mumble at home and he's always in motion. One of the reasons I consented to setting him up an account is that it would be one more way to learn to compose his thoughts and communicate with Grandparents and such. So I guess it's working.

Menu Plan Monday

Ok, Here goes:

Monday- Cheeseburger Sloppy joes

Tuesday – Chicken and rice – made ahead so DS11 can put it in the oven

Wednesday – Pizza made with purchased crusts, spaghetti sauce, and what ever is in the fridge

Thursday – Crockpot – Pork loin roast

Friday – leftovers

For more ideas, go to Org Junkie’s site:

Confession

Wednesday evening, about 9 PM the 11 YO informed me he volunteered to bring is cookies for a milk and cookies event in school on Friday. Ok, I can do it tomorrow. I always have ingredients for Chocolate Chip cookies on hand. So last night, I get home and shortly afterwards we go to the local pizza polar for his soccer party. It’s about 7:15 when I remember the cookies. I have time. But I have a tendency to eat a lot of cookie dough. On top of pizza. No wonder I am overweight.

 

I drove to the store and bought a package of Oreos.

 

 

Drama king strikes again..

Last night at bed time, the 7 yo comes out to Dad in tears saying he does not know what bus to ride. He is quite distraught. I'm so confused and ask the 11 yo for the bus number so i could write it down. It turns out that is not an easy question to answer.

Since they attend a private school, the school district bus system picks them up and takes them to the Middle school where they transfer to another bus to go to their school. Apparently there are two buses at the shuttle site the transport the kids to St. C's. They divided the kids up by age. This meant the 11 YO and the 7 yo were assigned different buses. But at the beginning of the year, Hubby called the bus department and asked that both boys ride the same bus. So they were assigned the bus for the younger kids. Turns out our stubborn 7 YO does not like riding the bus with the younger children and had been getting on the other bus. The 11 Yo has been on safety patrol this week and Dad has been dropping him off at achool. The 7 YO has been riding the bus so he does not arrive at school 45 minutes early. Yesterday the bus driver looked at his roster, saw the A. was not assigned to his bus and made him get on the other bus. A. got lippy and belligerent and was reprimanded for being disagreeable. So he made a big scene last night.

Hubby was able to piece the story together this morning after he called the transportation office and go the entire story. He asked the department to feel free to let us know when they have problems with our boys.

Rainy Tuesday Morning

• I was crossing the street this AM, at the crosswalk, with the walk sign. It's dark and rainy. Some lady still has to make her left turn. Right in front of me. If I had not stopped, she'd have hit me. Yuck.
• DS11 is doing a project for All Saint's Day - He has to create a Movie poster on the theoretical movie of the Saint's life. He still needs a picture. He's procrastinating on it.
• Hubby's birthday is comming up soon. I gave my best idea to my Mother In Law. Now I have to come up with something else. He likes the bold colors of a button down chirt he saw by Tommy Hilfiger. The problem is he needs a Large-Tall because his arms are so long. They don't make all that many cool clothes in Tall. It frustrates him (and therefore me too!)
• In Email from Hubby: A. (7 YO) decided he was going to go to the bathroom by sonar this morning and forgot what water on water sounded like. I made him clean it up...it might be good for him to wash the floor around the toilet as further punishment. Because when I asked him why he pee'd on the floor he said ... "It's too hard" in the morning to make it go in. Ok, I'll make it a point to help him determine what's harder, making the toilet or cleaning the bathroom later.
• The 11 YO recently asked if he could have his own email account. I decided to create him one under our High Speed internet provider (Beep,Beep). But since I created it, I also created the password. So I can keep an eye on it. But maybe if Grandparents write to him it will be experience writing back...

Have a great day!

Menu Plan Monday

Happy Monday everyone: Here's my list

Monday - (Ground Beef night) - Meatloaf

Tuesday - Chicken breasts - Have not decided on a prep method

Wednesday - Pork - Crockpot

Thursday - Pizza at DS11's end og the season soccer party at a local Pizza Joint

Friday - Tuna Noodle Casserole befoe the football game.

Check over at Laura's site for more menus.

Weekend is here!

So the 7 yo has a soccer game tonight and tomorrow morning.
Hubby is going into work tomorrow before he coaches the noon game.

My coworker told me not to bother to come in during the wee hours of Sunday morning for the data center outage. As the manager I would be more trouble than help. Ok. The 11 YO has his last golf match and banquet early Sunday. So maybe I will go and be a Eucharistic minister at 9:00 Mass. The 7 yo can handle sitting in his pew during this time.

I am worried about how things are at home. the 11 yo has been home all day. But Hubby will arrive before me so I will not have to deal with the trash pit the child can create.

Typical ADHD behavior

My 11 YO ADHDer

He tells his teacher Tuesday that he did not complete his homework because we would not let him. He was home all afternoon and evening. But we were not.

So Tuesday night, deprived of TV, Computer and Video games, he completes all his homework and a model he has to build due Thursday.

I just called home to have him pull meat out of the freezer. He forgot the model, he did not complete his current event assignment and he got an MA because he did not bring back his signed MA from Tuesday!

Forgetting the model and not turning in the signed MA (Missing Assignment form) is typical. The Current event assignment bothers me.

Works For me Wednesday

I'm a computer geek according to my brother. I do work in the IT field. Thus I have a lot of passwords that have to be changed often. These passwrods also have to meet certain security requirments like being more than 8 characters with at least one capital andone lowercase letter, one number and one special character (@#$%&*). Oh, and to be secure, you are not supposed to write them down.

My trick is to come up with a 2 word phrase that seems to fit the current situation. Like Snow Day. I replace the o with a zero, the a with @ and capitalize the S and the D: Sn0wD@y After I had my Lasik procedure, I set my password to N3wSi&ht (New Sight). This helps me remember it the first couple of day.

Don't tell anyone, but I do try to keep a list of past passwords. It stays burined on my purse in my portable address book. I don't label or title it. I also keep a speradsheet with the usernames and current passwords of the various webistes I have created an account. I keep that on my little USA thumb drive. Works for Me.

Check out Shannon's blog for more great ideas.

Resource: Women in Technology

I am a member of an email discussion group, Women In Technology or World WIT . They have a bunch of different groups based on Geographical area, however one person can join different email lists. The groups are moderated to keep out the snarky and the spammers. But people post everything from "Hey, I'm looking for a vehicle and what do you think of this one...?" Or "I need advice on xxx".

Anyways, my point, in addition to publicizing this cool organization is to describe a post I answered a couple of weeks ago. An wuthor posted that she was looking for Mom's or cooking blogs that would be willing to read her book and write a review. So I responded that I was a Mom and I had a blog. My book arrived in the mail today. So I will read it tonight. The title is: _The Frantic Woman's Guide to Feeding Family and Friends_ by Mary Jo Rulnick.

So I'm off to start reading, after I work with the 6th grader on finishing his homework.

Busted!

The 6th grader's teacher just sent me an email. The Child told his teacher that he did not complete his homework because we would not let him. He came home from school and was supposed to be working on his homework. Then we had a wrestling meeting and he stayed home to complete his homework. So once again he is not utilizing his time well.

If someone is not sitting with him, he is not doing what he needs to do. We are trying to figure out an appropriate punishment.

Menu Plan Monday

I got taken out twice for my birthday. We went to Tunbleweed Friday and Red Lobster Saturday. The boys got Cheese sticks and french fries.

Mon- Cheeseburger sloppy joes

Tues - Chicken and rice casserole

Wed - Pork loin in the crockpot. Maybe I'll do a Coca Cola version

Thurs - Kielbasa

Fri - Homemade pizza

- Wow, very few activities this week. DS11's soccer team won their tournament yesterday. DS7 plays Friday nights and Saturday mornings and Practice Thursday nights.

For more great ideas - Go to Org Junkie's site

Lordy, Lord, Maggie's 40

Yes, today is my birthday. My fortieth. Wow, that has connotations of being middle aged, like I should slow down. I certainly don't feel that way. I guess it helps that my kids are young. I feel like I am max, 32. A lot has to do with where I am in my life at this point.

I am very satisfied. I has 2 good kids. They are not perfect, but they are both smart, funny and independent. They are capable ofdoing great things with their lives. It does take an effort to keep the ADHD 11 YO doing his homework everynight, but so far so good for 6th grade.

I have a husband who adores me and supports me no matter what. He takes on child care duty and lot of household task with gusto (bathroom cleaning not withstanding). This is critical in a dual-career marriage. It is because of him that I can be a decent Mom as well as a good employee\supervisior.

Lastly, I have a job I'm very happy with. I could not say that last year. Well, at this time I had left that consulting engagement and was looking forward to a new project with my company. But I had been with the same client for 6 years. I was facing classic burnout. I had responsibility without authority. I thank the Lord that He got me out of there and into my "dream job". I'm now at the level I want to be and doing the kind of work I love. I get to bridge the gap between techies and management. While the politics can be ridiculous, I am able to deal with it. Since I am working at the same place I went to college, I can relive some of those years which I look back on quite fondly. I can go for a walk on my lunch hour and remember back 20 years ago and that certainly contributes to my feeling young.

Thank You Lord for the wonder life I am enjoying. May it give me the fortitude to face the next challege that comes along with grace, dignity and patience.

Still in work mode

I manage Systems administrators. Our email system had a hardware failure. While the hardware was replaced within 24 hours, we had email backing up. Our system could not deliver them fast enough. It took until 4 PM to receive emails sent at 8 AM. It looked better and we all went home. Then I get an email from one of the technicians that things are out of control again. So it was a night of speaking to my bosses on the phone and sleeping with my blackberry. This morning I am creating a timeline document of the series of events.

Hiring manager Rant

Yes, I know I tend to blog more about home issues and this is a work issue. But I will be hiring a new team member. I have gotten 2 resumes so far. Neither addresses the technical skill sets the job posting says are requirements. I have a new college grad talking about his leadership skills in his cover letter. What do you know about Microsoft Windows operating systems, what do you know about managing an email server? There is no effort to even pretend they have the skills we stated as required. No wonder they are still searching for a job.

Taking walking for granted

I woke up this morning and climbed out of bed to go do my morning workout. I went into the bathroom and all of a sudden I had this pain in my leg, just below my knee that my leg buckled. I hate the idea of not being able to walk far. I enjoy walking, I enjoy moving about. I’m not very good about sitting still. I have had major problems with my feet where walking was painful. Plantar Fasciitis, bone spurs, etc.  It makes me miserable. It scares me.

 

But nope, about 3 hours later, It is feeling better. Maybe I won’t have to go to Urgent care. You’d think that working on a campus with a hospital with a medical school and a few hospitals that there would be some sort of Urgent care or walk-in clinic nearby, but nope. Hopefully it was just some sort of fluke and it will keep going away.  

Menu Plan Monday

Go to Organizing Junkie’s site to play along.

 

Mon – Meatloaf and Mac and Cheese, Mac and cheese is n the fridge and oven ready. The ground beef is thawed.

Tues – Spaghetti and Meatballs

Wed – Chicken breasts

Thurs- Pork Chops

Fri – My Birthday – hopefully Hubby will take me out before we go to watch DS11 play in the feeder school band at the HS football game.