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!

I have two munchkin stories for you.

Story the first:

Yesterday, I took the kids to a shopping mall that had a wonderful indoor play area.  Due to the rain, it was packed, there were probably 50 kids crawling, climbing, and running around.  Through tunnels, over plastic animals, driving pretend cars, etc.

Fifteen month old Asher was happily crawling back and forth through a tunnel, when he was surprised by a little girl about his age crouching down at the other end of the tunnel and peering at him.  Being the bulldozer that he is, Asher barreled forwards, probably intending to plow right over this little girl.

Instead, she stopped him with a single hand, and kissed him!  Asher froze, unsure of how to react, and the girl kissed him again!

At this point, Asher started crawling backwards as fast as he could, and scurried back to me.  The girls mother and I both laughed.  It seems Asher has a girlfriend!  I wonder if he thought to get her telephone number . . .

Story the second:

We were in the car, on expressways for a long time yesterday.  Miriam, age 2.5, took it upon herself to point out every single “Yellow Bus” that she saw, and count them.  “One, Two, Three, Eight, Nine, Ten, Giggle, Two . . .”  She did a very good job, counting yellow buses for mile after mile.

There was a long pause, with nary a yellow bus to be seen, when suddenly she cried out at the top of her lungs “BABY BUS!!!”.  Just then, a bright yellow sports car zipped by.

I love how her mind works!

Asher is trying so hard to walk, but he’s not quite there yet. Which explains one of the reasons he really loves it when my dad comes over.

Watching the little dude steal my dad’s walker, thereby trapping my dad on the sofa makes me laugh, every single time.

The itsy bitsy Asher
Woke up from his sleep
He clapped and clapped and smiled
And didn’t cry a peep

He was so very happy
To start a brand new day
So the itsy bitsy Asher
He got to go and play

This song brought to you by my happy little boy, who wakes up crying every single time. In desperation, I started singing to him the other morning when nothing else would calm the tears, and he started giggling and clapping straight away.

I now sing this song about a dozen times a day.

Back when my dad had his first surgery, January 22nd, I started this sweater for Miriam.  I worked on it during his surgeries, and while visiting him in ICU, in his regular hospital room, and in rehab.  I finished the knitting ages and ages ago, but the finishing took forever.  I’m not very good at finishing work, but I think the results are worth it.

Now if I could just get her to keep it on, we’d be in great shape!

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!

http://www.wordlesswednesday.com/

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?