The Week

This week went fast.

Monday was a snow day. Tuesday was a "sick" day. Husband was actually sick. C had a doctor's appointment and I just called him in for the day. So Wednesday was our first real day! We had a whole week off!

Thus, fast week. Last weekend I wrote my last review for 2018, which is kind of sad but also lets me really enjoy this December without worrying about work. We do have a year-end recap, kind of like the Tony Awards (Theatre's Oscars.) but I have already got that done. Yay!

Finding our groove again Wendesday and Thursday. I made two dinners that most internet blogs and BuzzFeed lists suggest kids will like to eat but that my kids, up until now, missed that memo. Well, Wednesday both kids ate AND ENJOYED sloppy joes. (I know, super fancy and kid food but I tell you they wouldn't eat them!)

Yesterday the kids ate and tolerated crack chicken. Which is the worst name ever actually so we called it "creamy chicken." But ultimately they still both actually ate it so if I make it a few more times they will probably come around to like it.

Major wins! Yay!

And today we went to Hobby Lobby and found the most perfect ornaments for our (Ant)Arctic tree.

We didn't notice the penguin was missing a foot until we got home, but we decided that we love her and that actually we are saving her! Her name is, obviously, Hoppy. 

And C finally got himself a walrus for the tree. So that's amazing and exciting. We've never done breakable ornaments, ever, since we've had kids. But these two were so perfect so we put them way up high and reiterated that they aren't toys a zillion times. Fingers crossed!

And now we are ready for December! Happy weekend everyone. 

Thanksgiving Blizzard

After a cozy 5-day weekend, the November Blizzard hit us yesterday. We went to Mass on Saturday night so we wouldn't have to go out, but the rain (and we got a lot of rain) didn't turn to snow until after we would have been home anyway. 

Around 1:00 we had a mere dusting but I was content to pretend I was in a winter wonderland. I had my fake fireplace going.

And I was working by the light of our Christmas tree. We always put up our Christmas decorations on Black Friday and I love it so much! 

By the time the kids went to bed and we went out to shovel it was about 9 inches deep and heavy! And it was still coming down. 

The visibility on the roads had improved greatly but the visibility from inside the house had certainly not. All of the windows looked like this:

They called for no school last night, which was good because as I was shoveling I had decided I was going to call him in regardless. This morning I went to shovel the front and in all my years of shoveling (and I grew up in Minnesota so I am no stranger to shoveling), this was the hardest experience of my life. For the first time ever, I shoveled the bare minimum. There is a path on the sidewalk but it isn't the whole sidewalk. The snow was just so heavy and sticky. Like it wouldn't even come off the shovel! 

It's the biggest snow event here since February 2015 and the snowiest November on record!

And the kids are enjoying this snow day by what else? Playing in all the snow!! I'm impressed they played for a long time even though it's pretty cold today and it took a lot of energy to walk through that deep snow!

Happy Thanksgiving!

True to history, we stayed home for Thanksgiving this year and did our own thing. It will go on record as the most low-key and stress-free holiday of my life.

This morning we woke up and had a mandatory pajama rule. Because I like to watch the parade in my pajamas thank you very much. So we did.

Certain family members were slightly impatient for the parade to start and they weren't wrong, 10:00 is a long time when your school day typically starts at 7:42! 

We made our traditional monkey bread. It was delicious! 

Then mostly we played or took rests. We Skyped my family. And then it was time for our version of a Thanksgiving feast. 

We had shrimp cocktail, bbq meatballs, pita chips with spinach artichoke dip, rolls, a fruit tray, a veggie tray and for dessert turkey drumstick rice krispie bars! 

There were also mashed potatoes that didn't make the picture. Because M wanted mashed potatoes.

It was very hard for our extended family to comprehend why we didn't make a turkey and all the typical things. But it's a lot of work. When we attend traditional meals, my kids eat rolls and fruit, (and M with her mashed potatoes) that's what we decided on! And it was awesome and so easy. I wasn't cajoling anyone to eat, no one was overtired (because nap and bedtime were on time!) and it was just all around wonderful. 

Here is our turkey veggie tray!

We had an amazing day and we are so thankful for each other and time together. I hope however you spent your day was perfect for you!

Snow

It snowed here. Enough to play in but not enough to really cause a lot of issues. I am trying not to be grumpy about it except for the fact I just wish I could put up the Christmas decorations! Snow equals Christmas to me. 

We are looking forward to this short week of school before Thanksgiving. Tomorrow is the kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast and to say C is excited is an understatement. All the praise hands because when he read about a Thanksgiving feast in Junie B Jones he was pretty positive he needed to have one of those and thankfully there is one!

Happy Monday! 

Belated Birthday Fun

M got some belated birthday fun the past two days! On Tuesday after school, she invited a friend to go to the trampoline park with her.

It was awesome! There was no one there at all! Truly, there were 5 other kids there at some point while we were there, not even all at the same time.) But it was practically like having the place to ourselves. The girls had a lot of fun. I made the foolish mistake of jumping in the foam pit with M. 

Sometimes trying to be the fun parent is stupid. Do you know how hard it is to remove oneself from a foam pit? BUT, I did successfully make it out, without completely embarrassing myself so that's good. 

Then yesterday she got to go to our local dinner theatre and see Annie with Husband! 

She has been looking forward to her special day with Daddy since she found out about it. She got to wear her fancy dress. (Spoiler alert, she will also be wearing this for her Christmas program and Christmas Mass.) They had a wonderful time and she was a perfect little lady at the show. 

While C was at school and they had left already I sat around and ate bonbons. While reading my book. 

In this case, the bonbons were macrons, but it's practically the same difference. Living all fancy and basking in the silence! I know I will miss the epic volume of young kids someday but that doesn't mean I can't be thankful in the moments of silence.* 

*when they aren't around I know they aren't causing mischief. 

I'm so happy that M is getting to experience some fun things and that she got some special one-on-one time with Husband, which doesn't happen as often as I think they'd like. 

A P Themed Family Movie Night

On Friday nights, we most often have Family Movie Night! Typically we eat pizza and watch a movie. The kids like it because pizza in the living room is fun PLUS a movie. The grown-ups like it because after a long week it's sure nice to sit back and relax, PLUS pizza. 

This past week C finished reading Mr. Popper's Penguins. He really enjoyed it! 

So obviously it became the movie of choice for Family Movie Night! The best part about it was that he was able to talk about the differences in the book and the movie. (They're pretty vast.) Luckily, he's six so he enjoys both of them in their specific art form. 

We got Pizza Hut because their five dollar deal is tastier than Little Ceasars! 

And M drew this picture after the movie was over and I just gush because it's so cute! She did ask for help with the spelling but the handwriting and illustration were all her!

It was a great start to our weekend with Husband. The kids and I are a little bummed that school starts back up again tomorrow but there are only 6 days of school until Thanksgiving break so I think we can do it!! Happy Monday!

Hello Fall Break!

It's Friday. And I am so glad.

Monday was pretty normal. Tuesday was a little busy because we had parent/teacher conferences. (They were good.) Wednesday was CRAZY. It was just a go go go day. But it was just fine because yesterday everything slowed to a lull with the start of our fall break. 

The kids played outside while I finished the leaves. (And our tree is basically bare so yay!) We made cookies. I went to Ladie's Night Bingo. 

Our table was superhero themed. We had way too much food and a lot of fun. I did not win, however. But that's okay! 

And today things have come to a screeching halt because look what decided to happen? 

Sure it isn't much. But it's inarguably the first real snow of the season and that means more than ever, I am perfectly content just staying home. The kids took it as a sign that it's Christmas so they're watching the Curious George Very Monkey Christmas movie. 

So if you need us today, we'll be here doing some sort of "snow day" activity. With the luxury of no school and not having to go anywhere. (Well, Husband had to go to work and has a big meeting but besides him.) Tuesday's reality is going to hit hard I imagine. But there's a lot of fun next week and then it's practically the start of Thanksgiving break so... it's good. 

Have a wonderful weekend. 

What's New?

Hello Monday!

Today started earlier than normal because Fall Back is hard on early birds. Yesterday morning M came into our room when the time started with a 4!!! Blah. But at least they're cheerful-it goes the opposite in the spring.

This weekend was low-key as I anticipated. We watched some movies, took it easy, bagged up some more leaves before a big rain. The good news is the rain took out the bulk of our leaves so when everything dries up a bit, it's the tail end of yard clean up!

I made a pie.

This is my prebaked pie. I somehow didn't get a picture of the baked pie but it was really good. I pride myself on my apple pie. I put a lot of love into it. Husband, growing up with the apple orchard, is no stranger to apple pie but he doesn't love it. I do love it and set out every year to change his mind. It's still not his favorite but he does say that if every pie had been that good when he was younger he probably wouldn't have a stigma against it.

Yesterday after the time change we went to a special adoration in the afternoon. The kids stayed for just five minutes or so and then Husband and I each took a turn. A few minutes is better than none! And then we came home and Husband and M made homemade spaghetti for dinner. Fresh pasta is so good!

And making meatball chipmunk cheeks is fun too!

But then, just before bedtime, something big happened at our house! 

C lost his first tooth! And he was SO excited! (And so tired. It was staying up late for his body!) The tooth fairy came and everything. And he gets to go on the classroom "Who Lost A Tooth" chart. He's pretty hopeful that he'd be the first kid in November, but we'll just have to see. 

So that's what we know! Have a wonderful start to your week!

November

November has slipped in quietly. The weather has been mild and so over the past two days M and I raked a ton of leaves, mulched them up with the vacuum and got them bagged up. Of course, since our big tree hasn't come close to losing all it's leaves it looks like we didn't do anything at all.

The big news this week was we got school pictures back.

Pretty cute! 

It's so hard to believe that today is already November 2! Have a cozy weekend friend. Mine seems like it will include my snuggie, watching a good movie and making an apple pie. Just keeping it real!!