Birthdays & Imaginations!

Around here, we celebrate birthdays daily. Calvin is especially so excited about birthdays that he chooses someone nearly every day to be the recipient of a birthday singing, a cake, and a present. Yesterday it was Nana - he sang to her and gave her a Monster's Inc. book. It's adorable and I love that he is so in to it! I think that means that his birthday was special. :)

Imaginations are always at work around here. Patrick is having lots of food conversations (between the various foods on his plate) - very funny! They also pretend to be animals, monsters, firefighters, and cowboys. Oh and Calvin pretended to be me one day. :) They make their little people and cars talk (we've had numerous conversations about how cars don't have feelings or houses like people - the Cars movie has them a little confused :)). It's delightful to see them develop their creativity!

Planning for Another Week at Home

I was desperately hoping to plan some fun outings for the boys this week since we've been cooped up for a couple of weeks... Wouldn't you know that Patrick woke up sick this morning with a runny nose, cough, and sore throat. He gets the juiciest, grossest colds - eyes and nose just drip and he is not good at blowing. Ugh. This cold is lasting at least 5-7 days. The boys are going stir crazy and so is this mama.

So here are my hopefully fun, stay-at-home ideas for this week:
Finger Paint
Make a Fort
Put up their Tent in the backyard
Decorate Cookies (only the ones they will eat themselves :))
Make Construction Paper Flags (they are really into flags!)
Sidewalk Chalk
Have a Picnic in the backyard
Make Snack Mix
Do a Photo Shoot (okay this may be more fun for me than them :))

Here is my not-so-fun list for this week:
Vacuum & Dust
Clean Bathrooms
Mop Kitchen
Clean Our Bedroom & Boys' Bedroom
Go through Toys again - sort and donate
Laundry
Organize Pantry & Kitchen
Donate More Things!

And here are my more fun things:
Finish 2 books
Have a Date-Night-In
Work on Blog
Plan Patrick's Birthday
Plan 2 Bridal Showers
Plan 1 Wedding Favor - What do you think, edible or not? I'm leaning towards the former.
Work on Menu & Cost for 1 Wedding Reception

It sounds like a lot and likely everything won't get done (I'm way behind from being out of commission) but at least I have an idea of what needs started. Hopefully we will be well enough to enjoy our 4th of July plans - Brownsburg Parade and Conner Prairie! I'm praying Andrew stays healthy. What's on your agenda this week?

What's for Dinner!

Well, last week wasn't horrible but it wasn't great either. I'll be carrying over two meals to this week and hopefully we'll get to enjoy them! For the 4th, we will be enjoying the celebration at a local living history museum and then taking a picnic supper out to an outdoor concert & fireworks with my in-laws. Andrew will be working late a couple of nights...so a couple of nights will be easy things. We'll see how it goes. :) I'm planning by day this week.

MONDAY: Bean & Cheese Burritos, Carrots, Yogurt
TUESDAY: Spaghetti, Homemade Breadsticks, Salad
WEDNESDAY: Grilled Steak & Spinach Salad w/balsamic vinaigrette, Fruit
THURSDAY: Eggs, Toast, Fruit
FRIDAY: Chicken Salad Croissant Sandwiches, Fruit Skewers, Cheese Cubes, Veggies & Dip, Salt & Vinegar and Jalapeno Chips, Triple Chocolate Chip Cookie Pizza (I'll make it like an American Flag w/blueberries & strawberries)
SATURDAY: Bacon Cheddar Burgers w/the works, Oven Fries, Strawberries
SUNDAY: Leftovers

So that's the plan. Hopefully I'll make it to the Farmer's Market and a few things may change accordingly. What are you having this week? Check out orgjunkie.com (actually Heavenly Homemakers is hosting this week!) for more menu plans. Happy Indepence Day!

How Much?

I sometimes wonder how much one family can handle. This morning we got a call that Andrew's Uncle was in an accident early this morning and died. He is the son of Andrew's grandparents (brother of my father-in-law) who both passed away a couple of months ago. I can't quite wrap my mind around the fact that Merle, too, has now gone.

Uncle Merle was always one of my favorites. He made me feel welcome in the family from day one. He was funny, kind, and always real. He didn't expect people to be a certain way, he just liked you no matter what. He was a faithful reader of our blog and nearly every week he sent us some of the most hilarious e-mail forwards. This past March, he met our boys for the first time and he was so pleased. He was quiet and unassuming but very obviously devoted to his family. I'll miss those forwards, I'll miss seeing him - his twinkling eyes, cowboy boots, and leather coat, and I'll miss knowing that he's checking in on us here in blogland.

Please pray for the family. He leaves behind children and grandchildren. His youngest son just finished his freshman year in college. I can't imagine.

In honor of Uncle Merle, I'm going to take a couple days off blogging. I'm also quite sick and need a break. I've posted a poll to the right - please feel free to vote. The blog is headed under construction in the next few weeks and I would love some feedback.

Moms Aren't Supposed to Get Sick

You know how sometimes you have to choose between laughing and crying - I'm choosing to laugh. :) It's been a tough couple of weeks recovering from my herniated disk and literally the day I started feeling back to normal, I came down with a cold. Calvin and I are both sick with runny noses, coughing, sore throats, and tiredness. Patrick by all attitude and action indications is also getting sick. This morning the following things have taken place:

Patrick (wailing as only he can): Calvin, I want the Piston Cup. MOMMY....MOMMY....(insert sobs)
Me: I don't like the way you are complaining and crying. Why don't you try trading with Calvin.
Patrick (offers Calvin a tractor): Here Calvin.
Me: Calvin, Patrick would like to trade with you. Can you give him one of the cars you have? He would like the Piston Cup car. (Calvin quietly hands Patrick a black car with a broken but fixable spoiler). Okay Patrick, this is the one he is willing to trade you.
Patrick (again wailing): Mommy, I don't want the broken car. (Calvin then dumped all his cars on the floor for Patrick and only took back the broken car)
Me: Look Patrick, Calvin gave you the Piston Cup car and all the other cars.
Patrick (wailing & sobbing): I don't want the Piston Cup, I want the broken car...

No one, no one can win in this situation and an early nap time was the solution. Calvin remained silent throughout the entire interchange.

Calvin (crying in the family room): I don't want to eat.
Me (picked him up and carried him into the kitchen): Would you like a muffin? (already on the lunch menu)
Calvin: Yes.
The end. Lunch was eaten by all. :)

We have enjoyed numerous slow-motion fits on the floor for any number of small offenses, minor injuries, or unacceptable responses from mom like "No more crackers, we are going to eat lunch soon." They are careful to make sure I am watching them display their displeasure. I have found that ignoring is the best policy today or just picking them up and hugging them. They just don't feel good and they don't know what to do with themselves. We have enjoyed some cuddle time and books and right now, they are actually playing together nicely. Ah, the sound of peace - a tenuous sound under the current circumstances. :) Both had morning rest times and all of us will have naps this afternoon. Sweet rest.

So, I'm laughing inwardly at the ridiculousness of what is making them upset - it's good medicine and sure beats the alternative. Grace is good and I'm thankful for it today.

Date Night In

My husband and I struggle to actually have date nights. Between schedules, sitters, and cost, it's just tough but we know it's important!

So last night, we decided to feed the boys and play with them for a little while before putting them to bed. While Andrew started to get them ready for bed, I began our dinner (grilled chicken, sweet potatoes and green beans, salad, and cheesecake w/strawberries). After tucking the boys in, we enjoyed a leisurely semi-gourmet dinner with uninterrupted conversation out on the deck. We finished the evening with a new movie.

So we had dinner and a movie without ever leaving - it was wonderful and cheap! We felt as relaxed and rested (if not more so!) as when we go out. We are going to *try* and do this more often! It totally works for me! For more ideas visit Rocks in My Dryer.

Nana & Papa

The boys have such a blast hanging out with Nana & Papa! We had the rare treat of joining them mid-week for dinner last week when Andrew was working late. What fun and I was able to capture some cute pictures!

Patrick was king of the living room and wanted everyone to do things his way. :)

Calvin was obsessed with napkins and ears that night... :)

I think they were all laughing as I tried to get them all to look at the camera at the same time - this was the best I could do. :)

Grandma & Rex

We enjoyed an evening at Andrew's parents last week! Grandpa had to go back to work after dinner but the boys spent some time playing with Grandma & Rex (their dog). Rex is the most patient dog I know - he loves the boys and the boys love him (especially Calvin!). They had a great time!

Pippi

Pippi often misses out on being featured here on this blog but she is a loved member of our family. So here she is...our beautiful, affectionate, smart min pin. (She was totally posing for pictures the other day. :))