I Should be Busy Right Now

Oy.

So, in less than 48 hours we are leaving to go to visit my family. And instead of packing or cleaning, I'm on the computer. I actually am in a good place right now in all the activities for packing to leave for an extended period so I guess I can do this a bit.

We haven't been out to my parents' home in nearly two years. We are heading out because on Saturday my sister is graduating with a degree in Funeral Science. Yes, my sister after having been a cosmetologist, machinist, CNA and subsequent starting of school for LPN decided to become a funeral director. It isn't a job I would want, but someone has to do it, and if this is what she wants to do, that's great. She graduates on Saturday, Sunday is Mother's Day and then on Monday she is having her gall bladder removed (so, if you think of it, pray for her that day). Tuesday, Hubbs is coming back home to be a bachelor for a week while my sister, mom, the girls and I go up and visit my grandma in PA. My sister offered to rent a mini van and take us last week. I posted before about my grandma and her lung cancer returning. At this time, she is too weak to continue radiation so they put her in hospice care. This is more than likely the last time I will get to see her. Bugs met her when she was three months old. Beans has never met her. I'm glad we get to go, and it is low cost. Hubbs and I had been praying for a way for at least me getting to see her before she's gone. And to have my agnostic sister be the one to answer that prayer is mind boggling. We'll be back somewhere around the 17th. It depends on Hubb's time off from work that week. He is going to meet my sister and me halfway to get us back. I so look forward to getting some precious time with my favorite grandma. I haven't seen her since the Bug's first Christmas. So, if there isn't any new posts for about two weeks, don't worry, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth.

I need to go write a book review and post it yet. I managed to finish my latest book from Book Sneeze. I love to read, and I rarely get to read newer books, so I joined the program. I believe this is my fifth or sixth book. Free books to read as long as you review them on your blog and a consumer site. Not a bad deal. If you want more info, just click the button in my side bar.

Well, must go write my book review and continue on with the laundry and I should feed the girls lunch. They must be in another growth spurt. They have been begging for food since they woke up this morning.

My Baby is a Big Girl

Last night, Beans decided it was a great night to learn how to climb out of her crib. And since she has the personality of if I do something once, I'm going to keep at it until I master it, we had to convert her crib to a toddler bed after Hubbs got off work. I don't think any of us was ready for it. Beans doesn't adjust to change too well without plenty of advance notice (didn't think that was genetic, I'm the same way). It was a long night. Followed by being awakened at five thirty as my babysitting boys arrived. I totally forgot they were coming today. Whoops. So, I'm tired. I'm about to make a second pot of coffee. Something I never do. It was funny, after we ended up taking the light bulb out of their over head light to keep her from turning the light on, she cried and curled up on the train table and went to sleep with a dollie pillow. However, I didn't wait long enough to move her and woke her back up. Took until twelve-thirty to get her to stay down.

Bugs is growing like a weed. I'm waiting on a book to get here to start teaching her to read. My MIL bought me Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons I can't wait to try it. I have had several friends use this successfully on their kids, and before the age of what the public schools says they should be. Bugs is three and a half, and she is itching to "know the words on the page." as she says it.

This morning, I got my kitchen somewhat decent. It isn't what I classify as a health hazard anymore. I need to pick up and mop the floor, but not with the kids awake. And I am going to be too tired after they go down tonight. Maybe Monday. Too busy tomorrow, and it is Sunday after all. I also made a batch of laundry detergent. I'm fiddling with the recipe as I didn't like how thickly it congealed last time. I have laundry in that needs swapped at the moment. I should go and do that. However, finding energy to move off the recliner is something I must do first. I keep telling myself I could make some coffee or a cup of chai, or some hot tea or something to give myself a little oomph. But the effort at the moment seems too great. However, I must stay awake. I have my boys until two thirty or so and I can't leave them unsupervised (granted, at six and eight, they are more capable of taking care of themselves than my girls, they aren't mine, so I can't risk it).

Tomorrow is church, hopefully a trip to the library to pick up the movie I requested (Up, love it) and then making desert for small group tomorrow night. For Christmas, my mom got me cupcake pans in the shape of ice cream cones. I'm going to make cupcakes in them and then we are taking frosting and sprinkles and letting people do their own, sort of like a sundae bar for real ice cream. It should be fun.

I'm contemplating what I'm doing for Valentine's day this year. It is a Sunday and we haven't decided if we are holding small group that night or not. I do have a few steaks in the freezer that I got at the salvage grocery last week for super cheap. I think I may couple it with one of those microwavable bagged dinners like a shrimp alfredo and a salad and serve it by candle light after we get the kids down one night to celebrate. Maybe rent something out of the Redbox or find something from the library. We'll see. Then, Bean's birthday is three days later. She turns two! My little baby isn't a baby any longer. We are thinking of doing a Veggie Tales themed thing. Complete with a Bob and Larry cake. And since she is turning two, she is getting her own light saber. Somehow, that has turned into a tradition in our family. I don't know why. Then, I'll be the only one without a light saber. Might have to ask for one for Mother's Day. Got to admit, that would be better than getting a washing machine...(though, in defense, it was the one I chose and we got it with out tax return that year, still running great, haven't had a single issue with it and I love it!).

Well, that is it for here today. I don't have anything deep or thought provoking, I'm too tired.

Oy

Well, for today, nothing got accomplished. Had a few potty training mishaps that resulted in an extra load of laundry that had to get done. And then I nearly stepped on a dead mouse that was lying on a pair of MY jeans at the foot of our bed. I managed to not scream (thankfully as the girls were following me at the time) and I managed to keep the kids from seeing it. I got the jeans out back on the patio and came into the house and shook for some reason. That kind of wigged me out. So, I was extremely leery of going back into our room to continue the reorganization I started yesterday.

Last night, on Mom's night out, I somehow got conned into letting the whole family come along. My fault really as my last like 3 chances to go out alone at night, I ended up inviting everyone with me. We did go to the library. I got a stack of books. Today, since it was such a waste anyway, I'm reading a fluff book. I did get a lot of good ones on homekeeping, organizing and home crafts so I'll be reading them and sharing about them in the near future. I'm glad our library has a three week check out period. I got way too many. But I can't just say no to a book. If I see a good one, it just jumps into my arms and says, "You must take me home and read me." Between what I chose for the girls and my stack (and poor Hubby's 3 small books), there wasn't room in the bag for them all. Good thing most of what I like from the library isn't in too high of a demand and renewals are easy. We then went to Wal-Mart. Used the 2.00 coupon for fabric softener from last Sunday's paper. Got a box of sheets for 1.87. Wal-Mart kept my 13 cents in overage. I decided to try the system. Next time, (and for your information), get something else to make the total just above what the coupon amount is for. No one gives you cash back if your coupon is over anymore. Sad. I gave them 13 cents. And the manufacturer gives them like an 8 cent handling fee on top of the value of the coupon anyway. Oh well, I have learned from my mistake. We then drove around and looked at the Christmas lights. Bugs loved it. She kept pointing out the window saying she loved all the sparkleys. In the next week, we hope to run over to the monastery about a half hour from here and see their huge light display. They do it as a thank you to the community for letting them be there. We went last year, and it was great. I think at last count it was well over 20,000 lights. It is lovely, and now that the eldest is more verbal (well, she's always been well above her age's average) and very observant, she will just love it. She liked it last year, but I think this year the wonder of the season is hitting her. I can't wait.

I'm babysitting tomorrow. The girls love it when the boys come over to play. I do too. It keeps them occupied and not hanging on me the whole day. (don't get me wrong, I do love my kids dearly, but it is nice when they are occupied a bit longer than normal and don't think they need me for something every ten minutes). That, and I'm saving all my "extra" money to replace my phone. It is two years old and you can tell the kids have gotten a hold of it. The track ball sticks whenever you try to scroll to the right with it. Sometimes it goes, other times it won't. I'm due for an upgrade, however, all the good phones cost money. And I want an android phone so bad. I'm still debating as I will have to add a data plan with it (Hubbs has one already,a data plan, not an android. Though he wants one too and isn't due for an upgrade yet himself) and in order to do that, I'll have to give up my newspaper subscription. I love my newspaper. Granted, there are a lot of editorial mistakes in it, and I have read better (read a lot worse too), there isn't anything like having a cup of coffee and a newspaper to help start your day. I don't know if I can be dependent on the internet for ALL of my news, local, national and world. And the comics don't seem to be as funny online as they do in print. I'm still weighing my options. I have already told Hubbs though that there is no way I will go without the Sunday paper. I need my coupons. He understood. I think.

Well, time to just be quiet for a while. And probably read a bit more. I should do something to redeem this day, however, I'm not feeling too bad. Except for maybe not getting the dishes done like I should.