The windows of my house are completely fogged up because of the heat and humidity outside.  My kids got into my spice drawer today and managed to open and dump 3 spice jars all over my floor.  My 2 year old decided to try her hand at disassembling furniture today and took a shelf out of the television stand.  The same one she hid the remote under the other day and we couldn’t find it for ages.  My 1 year old is sick, and refused to nap at all.  My husband is still working at 7:30 at night.  He started before 6 a.m. this morning.  My basement is flooded and the carpet goes “squish” whenever I take a step.  The same 2 year old discussed above is refusing to sleep in her own bed, but is (Thank G-d) willing to sleep in the guest bed.  The sheets for the guest bed are in the washer right now, but she doesn’t seem to mind sleeping on a mattress pad, so okay.  The light in my kitchen burned out.

But, I have a lovely glass of Riesling, and am hereby telling the world it can go take care of its own self.  Mama is done for the day.

Hey, when the kool-aid is this inspiring, I’ll drink right up!

1. I’m grateful for my husband. He works crazy hours, but is still willing to get up with the kids in the morning so I have a chance to catch a few more zzzz’s.

2. I’m grateful for my adorable children. Their minds work in incredible ways and I’m always surprised by what they come up with.

3. I’m grateful for my friends, without whom I totally would be in a loony bin

4. I’m grateful for my mom, who knows when to help make grandiose plans, and when to reign me back in before I go off the deep end and buy 47 yards of fabric or a dog.

5. I’m grateful that we have a roof over our heads, and food in the fridge. All my worries are pretty much silliness because we have the things we need.

I’m actually grateful for more than just this, but the kool-aid is to list 5, so 5 it is!

As is obvious from my blog, last week went all to heck. My dad, who was supposed to just have a minor surgery the Friday of week 4, wound up being transferred to ICU at another hospital, had a second surgery on Tuesday, and will remain in the hospital for a few more weeks. He is out of ICU now, and should be transferred to rehab later today, so things are looking up. However, to add insult to injury my kids and husband came down with the exorcist flu on Friday, and I woke up with it on Sunday.

So, last week’s meal plan is being reshuffled for this week.

Sunday: I have no idea what my family ate, as I slept through the entire day.

Monday: Fish baked with lemon and herbs, potato packets, and artichokes

Tuesday: Fried chicken, roasted brussels sprouts, baked potatoes

Wednesday: Split Pea Soup (yeah, we didn’t have it – again)

Thursday: Spaghetti

Friday: Challah, steak, cauliflower, fried new potatoes

Saturday: Pizza

Dear Flylady,

I’ve never written before, and honestly never thought that I would. Today though, I have to let you know how wonderful you have been for our lives!

I’ve been flying for about 3 years now, with many crashes, but luckily no burns. We have a 2 year old, and a 10 month old.

A few months ago, my father started having difficulty walking, and in the last month it really came to a head. He was falling and could no longer be alone. So, he started coming over here first thing in the morning when my mom went to work, and staying with us all day.

Then a week ago, he could no longer walk at all. Because of house layouts, it was decided he would simply stay with us, as he wouldn’t have to battle stairs.

Obviously, things here have been a little crazed what with a toddler, a baby, and now a non-mobile adult. So yesterday he went in for surgery and today, my in-laws are coming into town to help out.

Well, my goal has always been 10 minutes from company ready, just like you say. And, after the complete insanity of the last few weeks, today we were not only 10 minutes from company ready, but only 1 hour from Mother-in-Law ready! And that includes time to wash the guest room sheets, and remake the bed since my dad left yesterday!

Thank you Flylady!

I’m beginning to think that I should just not make a plan for Saturday night. Somehow, it always seems to get thrown by the wayside. Last night, instead of having the planned tacos, we picked up fried chicken and took it over to my folks house. So, tacos need to get moved to a night this week.

Also complicating this weeks plans, Friday is my mom’s birthday, Shabbat, and my father is having major back surgery that day. How do I make a Shabbat meal, that is birthday celebratory too, and that can be eaten at whatever time my mom and I get back to the house from the hospital? Do I ask my husband – who will be home with the kids that day so I can be at the hospital, to make Challah and the rest of dinner? Ack!

Oh, and my inlaws are coming in this weekend too. I love them and they are coming to help, but it makes meal planning even more “interesting”.

I guess the jist of all this prefacing this week is that the plan for this week will probably get thrown out completely due to all the complications, but here goes anyway.

Sunday: Pizza (probably will just pick one up at Costco today)

Monday: Tacos, beans, and rice

Tuesday: Dinner with my folks, which will probably actually be here, but I don’t know what yet.

Wednesday: Baked halibut, rice, veggies

Thursday: Split pea soup (week 3 split pea soup night wound up being 11 bean soup instead), homemade bread

Friday: Challah, salad, and lasagna

Saturday: Gumbo

Sunday: Spaghetti with meat sauce, garlic bread, salad

Monday: Beef stew with Guiness, potatoes, parsnips, carrots, and homemade bread (transferred over from Saturday night of week 2)

Tuesday: Dinner with my folks, which means I don’t have to cook!

Wednesday: Oven fried chicken, roasted veggies, mashed potatoes

Thursday: Split pea soup (DH’s favorite, and I’ve never made it – so if you have a great recipe, send it over. Oh, and I’ll be using a smoked turkey leg instead of a ham bone.)

Friday (Shabbat): Homemade challah, duck confit, salad, dessert, and all I’m responsible for is the Challah because this week Shabbat dinner is at my folks house.

Saturday: tacos, beans, and rice

Before going to bed last night, I made my husband help clean up. We got the living room all clean. The rug was vacuumed, the toys were all put away, floor swept, sofas straightened out, etc. It didn’t look like a spread from Better Homes and Gardens, but it did look reasonable. I was pleased.

90 minutes after the children woke up, this is what I’m looking at.

It’s snowing like crazy and 16 degrees outside, too cold to take my monsters out.

Anyone know if Calgon still answers?

Okay, trying something new here. I’m planning out meals for the next week in advance. Okay, to be truthful, I’m planning out dinners only.

Hopefully this way I can make a shopping list, do my shopping, and be done with it. My goal is that this is one of my New Years Resolutions, and I’m starting it a bit early in the hopes that will make it more likely to stick.

As always, this is flexible. if my husband suggests we go out to dinner one night instead, or if I don’t feel like making what is scheduled, I reserve all rights to alter, modify, change, or entirely throw out the plan as needs warrant.

Sunday: Lasagna, salad, garlic bread, cheesecake (DH plans to make the cheesecake)

Monday: Potato Ale soup, homemade bread

Tuesday: Dinner at my folks. (who knows?)

Wednesday: I eat at Pepe’s for SnB, kids and DH get mac n’ cheese.

Thursday: Shabu Shabu in honor of New Years Eve

Friday: Indian Food at Gaylord’s with the SnB gals. DH and the kids get to fend for themselves (they’ll probably have leftover lasagna)

Saturday: Roasted chicken, pasta, and veggies

edit: 20 minutes in, and we’ve already made a change.

Sorry about the long absence, life kinda gets in the way sometimes. Just a quick update here.

For Chanukah, we got Miriam and Asher a play kitchen! Miriam thinks it is the best thing, ever. It may even be a better toy than her Uncle N, we’ll have to see when he comes over for Shabbat dinner.

Anyway, DH and my dad put the kitchen set together last night and the kids only got to play with it for about an hour before it was bedtime. So, this morning I got Miriam up, made her breakfast, and handed her a sippy cup of milk, just like normal. She took one sip of the milk, and then went and put it in the play fridge! She was so proud of herself!

I think we’re going to have to be checking the play kitchen for real food regularly.

Everyone has their simple pleasures.  Amelie (yes, from the film) loved to put her hands in tubs of lentils. My husband’s favorite time of day is when Asher falls asleep on his chest in the evening. Everyone has one. Take a moment and think about your own simple pleasure.  Just a little thing that makes you happy.

Well, mine is a cool pillow.  I don’t mind getting up 3 times during the night to feed my growth spurting baby, because when I get back to bed, my pillow is nice and cool.  It makes me so happy.

Except for when my darling husband decides to snuggle my pillow while I’m awake and get it all hot, and oh ugh, drooly.

Then it is not so much fun.