Tuesday, February 7, 2012

“Dude, get on that already!”

What??  What’s this??  TWO post in the same week??  It’s a MIRACLE!!!  :)

I am really starting to feel like I am getting my “mom” routine down.  It’s been going a little something like this:

8:00 – wake up, feed Jude, hear strange noises coming from the closet, go check it out and realize Miles has been up WAY longer than me, but is entertaining himself by hiding in my closet and playing Temple Run on my iPad (which he very sneakily got off my night stand without waking me).

8:30 – Finish feeding the Judesters and put him back down to sleep, make spinach smoothies for myself and my little sneaker, (or pancakes, or oatmeal, or cheesy eggs if he wants them,) sit up to the table and have our “morning devotional.” This consists of a prayer, working on memorizing the monthly primary scripture, singing the monthly primary song, and quizzing Miles on his addition and subtraction.

9:00 – clear dishes and send Miles to get dressed.  Once he’s presentable for the day he gets free time.  He usually chooses to use this free time by playing Temple Run on the iPad, or Tanks on the Wii.  I clean up breakfast, clean the kitchen and tidy the living room.  If it’s Monday I start my weekly cleaning routine.  If it’s T/W/TH, I go get myself ready, then change and dress Jude.  (If it’s Friday, I’ll probably let us all get back in bed & watch cartoons ‘til lunch)

9:30 – If it’s Monday, I am still cleaning.  :)  T/W/Th – Get ready to leave for Gymnastics/Play group/Primary meeting.  I get Jude in his seat, tell Miles to go get buckled, run back inside when I decide I can’t leave without a diet pepsi, realize that instead of Miles getting in the car, he has chosen to ride his bike, and is now halfway down the block. 

9:45 – Finally get Miles in the car and buckled, and we are off! 

11:30-12 – get home from wherever we went, eat a quick lunch, load back in the car to head to preschool.

12:15 – Drop Miles off at preschool

12:30 – back home, feed Jude, put him down for a nap

1:00 – 3:00 - MOMS FREE TIME!!!  (yeah right)  I try and use this time to get in a workout, grocery shop, finish cleaning, do laundry, plan my weekly menu, plan the Family Home Evening lesson, do Primary assignments, make my grocery list, shower, play with Jude, return phone calls, Blog, read OTHER people’s blogs, work on writing assignments, drink Diet Pepsi (lots and lots of Diet Pepsi), set the table, and start any necessary dinner prep. 

3:00 – Get Jude loaded in the car, leave to pick up Miles from preschool

3:15 – Pick up Miles

3:30 – back home.  We have an afternoon snack and I try to pry any information I can about his day at preschool out of my tight-lipped son.  And then we work on handwriting.

4:00 – Miles gets free time, Mom feeds Jude, then starts dinner.  If it’s a leftovers night, or dinner is in the oven, I play games with Miles, or we read stories.

5-6:30 – Dad gets home (hopefully), we eat, clear the table, Dad plays with the boys while mom finishes dishes and tidying the kitchen

6:30-7:30 – Get boys ready for bed, read stories & scriptures, prayers, lights out, then sing songs and snuggle a little.

8:00 – Miles is asleep, I feed Jude and put him to bed, finish any house work, work on blog posts or writing assignments while watching some sweet TV shows, Dad studies and falls asleep at his desk.

8:30, 9:00, 9:30 – Miles gets out of bed and says he needs to tell me something.  I put him back.  He cries and says I’m mean and that he’s not my “fwiend” anymore.

10:00 – Miles is FINALLY really asleep

12:00 – I feed Jude and go to bed

3:30-4:00  - I wake up to feed Jude and realize that Miles has snuck down and made himself a little bed in my closet.  I leave him there and go back to bed.

Then we wake up 4 hours later and do it all again!

It has been great for us to be getting into a more regular routine.  It is really helping me manage my time more effectively, and allowing me a little more time to do things I WANT to do…not just the things I NEED to do.  It has been awhile since that has happened.  Doing things I WANT to do, that is, and my “to-do” list has been growing exponentially since the Judesters was born.  Which is why I have decided to follow the lead of my Bloggie Idols over on YHL and adopt their “Dude, get on that already!” weekly challenge.  It’s simple enough.  I’ll just pick something I have been wanting to do but haven’t found the time to ACTUALLY do, and just DO IT already.

But where to start…I could:

  • pick my basement organization project that I have been wanting to get to since we moved this past June
  • Or maybe I should catch up on all the posts I have been WANTING to blog, like Christmas, Miles birthday, and oh yeah…the birth of our second baby.  :) 
  • Or should I pick a crafty project, like finally completing the nursery gallery wall, hanging the mobile I made for Jude’s nursery, or making the pennant banner I have been wanting to hang??? 

Decisions, decisions.

In keeping with my “one little word” to prioritize..(what??? I haven’t shared that with you either?  I’ll put it on the list.)  I’m going to HAVE to bump my little blue-eyed cuties to the top of my “to-do”s.  Jude is already 4.5 months old, after all, and he has hardly logged any blog time at all.  Miles’ birthday was 4 months ago, and I still haven’t shared the pictures.  AND, I just love looking at those cute little faces.

012712_1547010112_1288012812_1386

So its settled.  “Dude…I am finally going to catch up on my blog posts”. 

I’m giving myself 1 week to get it all wrapped up, and will share links to all my posts next Tuesday.

Anyone else want to play along?  I’d love a little company!  What’s your “Dude, get on that already!” project going to be??

Monday, February 6, 2012

Menu Monday: Feb 6-Feb 12 2012

Am I the only one who feels like I go to bed Sunday night and wake up on Saturday morning???  My weeks seem to just FLY by these days.  But I scrounged up a bit of time to get my menu together.  (Thank you Super Bowl for giving me permission to sit on my duff and work on my computer for a few hours!)
A little news in the Romer household:  Jude might be allergic to dairy! :(  He has been getting rashes on his forehead and the crown of his head, so the pediatrician suggested I go “dairy free” for a couple weeks to see what happens.  Long story short: After some experimenting, I became convinced it was his baby shampoo causing the rashes.  So I went full-steam ahead eating anything that listed milk as an ingredient and discontinued using the shampoo. And now his rashes are back.  Boo.  Looks like it might be the dairy after all.
So for all you dairy loving foodies…I apologize in advance for my cheese-less menus.  Feel free to add as much cheese as you want.  I’m jealous.  But its for a good cause.  Hopefully only a few “dairy free” weeks will allow us to pinpoint what is really causing the problem.

02 Feb 6 - Feb 12

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

A Mom Knows… and other announcements

I know, I know…I’ve been promising an announcement.  And probably MOST of you are already aware…but just in case you haven’t heard…
It’s official:

I'm a writer

Menu Monday: Jan 30-Feb 5

I should probably change the title to Menu Tuesday…seeing as that is when I usually get the darn thing posted, but it just doesn’t have quite the same ring.  :) 

Here’s this week’s disclaimer:  My menu is kind of lame.  I normally shy away from having so many of the same “types” of foods in one week, but I have several things in the fridge I need to use up before they expire.  And I’m not at all feeling creative in the culinary department.  And I just plain don’t want to go grocery shopping.
I never got to the Greek Pastitsio last week, so it’s a repeat.  I know.  Lame.
But here it is none the less….

Monday, January 23, 2012

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Menu Monday: Jan 9-Jan 15

Another week, and another menu.  (And another week with ONLY my menu posted on the blog.)  Ha!  I guess we know where my priorities are!  FOOD…always food. I’m trying lots of new recipes this week, and I am super excited.  The only drawback is I can’t vouch for their deliciousness, because I haven’t tried them yet.  But I am entirely confident they will be wonderful.

Monday, January 2, 2012

Menu (and hangin out with the parentals)

 

Ahhh, menu Monday.  The first of 2012.  I almost went ahead and skipped this week, because my most favorite parents are here in Michigan for a visit.  We have been having a great time hangin around, enjoying each others company, and baking LOTS of yummy treats.  So I thought I would just forgo planning my menu.  And then I realized, we still have to eat!  :)  So this is what I decided on.

Jan 2-8

Yes, I’m doing the Clam Chowder and Italian bread bowls again.  They are just SOO good.  Also, I have worked pretty darn hard lately to improve my cooking/baking. I am excited to show them off a little and impress my mom with my bread bowl making skillzzzzz.

And PUH-LEASE, do yourself a favor and make these Ooey Gooey Marshmallowey Peanut Butter Brownies from Our Best Bites.  Seriously.  Just do it.  (You can thank me later.)

 

I have green and red peppers left over from my Chicken a la king I made over Christmas, so I decided it would be a perfect chance to whip up these Amazing Chilis Fajitas from The Sisters Cafe. 

 

Sloppy Joe’s

Sloppy Joe

These Sloppy Joe’s are so yummy.  It might look like a lot of ingredients, but its really not that bad.  And its worth it.  But I admit.  When I am in a pinch, or I just don’t feel like throwing this together…I open a can of “Manwich”.  We’ll see how it plays out.

 

Cheesy Mostaccioli

Cheesy Mostaccioli

I honestly could not decide what to make for Saturday, until I remembered I had a pan of this tasty pasta in the freezer.  I {heart} a good freezer meal!  Hoorah!!!

 

Sunday’s meal is going to be pretty simple.  I am just putting a ham in the oven, and preparing the most mouthwatering funeral potatoes ever.  EVER!!!  I haven’t typed up the recipe yet, but I’ll add the link as soon as I do.

I am already stumped for next week’s recipes.  Any suggestions???  Or any foodie websites I HAVE to know about??  I am always eager to expand my list of “go to” sites!  Happy cooking!

 

Sarah signature copy bigger size