Absence and Randomness.

I'm sorry for the lack of posts and pictures. I feel like things have been busy, but I look back and wonder what the heck we've been doing. What a great feeling - hardy har har.

I'm tired of the cold. But then I'm tired of the mud too. So either's either cold or muddy and i'm not sure at this point which is better. I got my car washed/iced last night, so I'm going with cold right now. Keep it cold. Keep my car clean.

I've been working late lately. One of my favorite co-workers (for reals) is taking off a few weeks to go on a cruise. I am insanely jealous, but she deserves the time off. I, however, and filling in for several of the days she is gone....which  means I get to work until 6pm a few nights and this Saturday. Sucks.

Hallie has been fantastic lately. She's been whining and throwing tantrums less and just overall cracking us up. She wears leotards (leDohtards) and tights every, single day. Tuesday she had an accident because she couldn't pull it down fast enough. I hate to break her spirit, but we're going to try to start phasing leodohtards out of the rotation. I'm really sad for this childish delight to end. We try to encourage silliness in our house. Unless it involves teethbrushing - and then we don't mess around.

Max is dying and I am really, really sad about this. Max is my dad's dog and was my dog (and sarahs!). He really deserves a post of his own because he is a very unique (grumpy) and awesome (fat) dog. I love him. He is undergoing some major procedures to save his life and if you think about it...can you please say a prayer? The passing of this little pooch would be quite devastating to quite a few.

That's it for the day. At least you got something! And the truth is...I lost the damn camera cord again. So that's really why there have been zero posts. Whoopsie :)

Meal Plan (Feb 22-26) - EDITED

*things change.

Crockpot + Leftovers = this week.

I either work late or have meetings this week. Fun, right? So I have planned lots of crockpot meals that will be ready when I get home!

Monday: leftovers = fend for yourself.

Tuesday: BBQ Meatballs

Wednesday: Dinner with Dylan!

Thursday: Creamy Crockpot Chicken and Brown Rice

Friday: Homemade pizza...hmmmmm.

Friday is great because I am only working a half day, so I can make a full-on meal. Don't be too jealous, because I am then going to be working on Saturday for half a day.

Woot!

Oh I Love This Quote.

    Start by making your own home a place where happiness and love abound, through your love for each member of your family and for your neighbour.

Try to put in the hearts of your children a love for home. Make them long to be with their families.

So much sin could be avoided if our people really love their homes.

Mother Theresa

What Makes You Cry?

This made me cry. Hard.

Hallie: mommy?

Me: yes?

Hallie: when I go up to Heaven, will you go with me? I will be scared to go alone.

Me: (sobbing)

Meal Plan (Feb 15-19)

Here we go again! We'll see how long I remember to do this. So this is another screwy week. Dave's out Wednesday thru next Monday, so no big meals on the days he's not home. Poor Hallie. I'm a bum, I know.

I promise, the next week should be a good one. Except that I'm working late, so lots of crockpot meals.

Monday: Ranchiladas, hmmm.

Tuesday: Grandma's recipe that she just sent me and I can't remember the name of. Baked chicken crispy something.

Wednesday: Leftovers

Thursday: Casey's pizza

Friday: leftovers or something easy

Remember, no weekend planning.

(edited because I never did make the ranchiladas last week. slacker!!!)

Post Bath.

We have a routine (imagine that).

I wrap her up in a hooded bath towel (we love those things!) and carry her into the living room where I plop her down on the couch and cover her with blankets.

See?

And then I go get our "supplies," including Cera Ve (best lotion EVER!) for her eczema, steroid cream for any yucky patches, vaseline for her poor little chapped lips and nose, pajamas and a brush.

In the meantime she watches her favorite new show, "Umizoomi"

and then pretends to be sleeping when I want to take her picture.

And wants me to pretend too.

So I do.

The End.

Yesterday.

Instead of arriving to work at 7:30 in the morn, I didn't arrive until 9:57. The late opening - although totally unnecessary - was a wonderful surprise. Coupled with Dave's surprise homecoming, it's been a good week.


A great week.


We all slept in until 7:30-ish and lounged in bed watching cartoons and eating cheese and granola bars. I finally dragged myself out to make some coffee and take a shower while my favorite Others started their computer work.

And then last night Dave and I had a little date night. Dinner and shoe shopping (for him) might seem lame to you, but it was something very, very rarely do.

So, a great week. I wish it was Friday.

OH What A Beautiful Morning!

The sun is shining! The birds are sining! It's a GLORIOUS day. Why you might ask?!

Because Dave was supposed to leave yesterday and get back Monday (sad). And he did leave yesterday (sad again), but two hours into his drive the job got CANCELLED and back home to me he came!

Happy HAPPY DAY!!!! He surprised (and scared - i will admit) us by knocking on the door around 7:30 last night. Hip hip HOORAY!

So I got to spend an evening with my husband and a morning with my favorite people in the world.

And now I'm at work. With no heat. That's right. No heat.

Super Snow.

I love snow.

I'd love it even more if they cancelled work today. Alas, they did not.

How.

Rude.

THIS PICTURE BELOW is not Jacksonville. It's just a picture I found online to show snow. Period.

Meal Plan (Feb. 8-12)

Yes, I admit it. I'm a bit of a meal planner. Well hello?! It saves time AND money and both of those things are in high demand in my life right now.


And since I'm awesome I've decided to share my meal plan with all three of you in hopes that it might actually make me stick to it. (I am actually pretty good at following through, except for these last few weeks!). Time to get my butt back in gear!


This week will be a little off because Dave is gone Wednesday thru next Monday, and I don't usually cook full meals for just me and Hal. So Wednesday we'll just eat whatever is in the fridge and same with Friday. If we have leftovers, great. If not, grilled cheese it is.


Monday: Honey Sauced Chicken


Tuesday: Ranchiladas (you're intrigued, aren't you?)


Wednesday: leftovers


Thursdays: Casey's pizza (dance night!)


Friday: leftovers or something easy like grilled cheese.


I'm not into planning meals on the weekends, since things change so quickly and so does my appetite :)

Ta Da!

The new backsplash. I found it very hard to photograph - it's delightfully shiny. It consists of 3x6 white subway tiles with bright white grout. I sure am glad we went with white grout (good call, Barb).

Do you understand how difficult it is for me to get a good picture? Let me give you some out takes.

Doesn't Hallie just look thrilled to be alive? And please excuse my dishes drying. I much prefer to air dry dishes rather than dry them and put them away immediately.

Hallie Eats an Orange.

A series of photographs

Please ignore the nasty red spot on her face. The poor girl has eczema and loves to scratch. It's amost gone now, thank goodness. It was pretty gross.

And check out the new tights. White with pink hearts, courtesy of her loving mother. The leotard, courtesy of Mackenzie via Melissa, is on pretty much 24/7, or some varation. We like to alternate between the pink, light pink, hot pink, blue and purple leotards, and then add the brown with polka dots, white with hearts, red with a hole in the toe or pink tights.

We accessorize with barbie shoes and are ready to go. It's awesome.

Dear Dave,

We already miss you.

Stupid Jasper, Texas. What do they need you for anyway? We need you at home.

I'm sorry I was grouchy with you yesterday morning. You see, the time between 6:00 and 6:37a.m. is my snooze time. Your arm, which is quite heavy, is not always welcome to be draped over me during my snooze time.

I'm sorry about that.

I shouldn't have flung it off of me repeatedly, but thank you for continuing to put it back over me. I'm not always rational in the morning (as you well know), so I'm also sorry that I wigged out a bit when you also tried to clamp me between your legs. What girl in her right mind wouldn't love that?

Hallie says hello. Sort of. It was more of a "Hello poopy far-far Daddy...giggle, giggle." I just love her sense of humor. It reminds me of someone....

Anyway, hurry home so that you can leave again just as quickly. Whoops! There's me feeling sorry for myself again! As someone we know quite well loves to remind me, "we are just so lucky you have a job." I love it when she tells me that.

Anyway, darling, have a wonderful trip. Be careful and watch out for deer.

Love,
Your Wife.

This is Do-able.

If we didn't have a bunch of cows (not ours) that would probably munch on the outdoor furniture, we could totally do this.

Doesn't it look like the perfect setting for an outdoor get together or just a great place to relax?

Are you sick of these kinds of posts? I am such a slacker and need to put my camera in my purse so I remember to bring it to work and download the pictures.

I suck.

I'm sorry.

Downstairs Bathroom.

(above: not my bathroom)
I ordered this shower curtain for our downstairs bathroom. I just love it.

This time around, I know exactly how I want to decorate.

Too bad we have no drywall up and are nowhere near starting this project.

But hey, I'll be ready, right? And this way I can spread the expense out so it's not all at once.

And this is the sink I want. It's ridiculously expensive and probably won't happen, but I love the shelf on the bottom where I could put guest towels, toilet paper, etc.

I also already have this print for over the toilet. It's pink, but I thought it was a fun variation from the ever-popular Keep Calm and Carry On.

I'm still thinking about the wall color, but I do love light, light blue, so I'm sure that's what it will be. Or maybe just a cottage white.

The mirror will something simple and probably from Target. I really like the one we have in our half bathroom upstairs, so I might try to find something similar. Or a plain white medicine cabinet for storage could work.

The floor will be tile, and I do love a nice penny tile.

Or, hexagon.

We already have a toilet ready (thanks Dad and Bev!), so as soon as we sheetrock (the entire basement), hang a ceiling (for the entire basement), prime, paint, tile the floor, and install the sink and toilet (shower is already in.), we are good to go!

If.

If I could plan my wedding again, I think it would look a lot like this.

Isn't that gorgeous? (those bridesmaid dresses are navy, Aunt Liz). I love the wedding dress so much it hurts me this Monday morning.