Trying...again again.

Since I seem to be so great at make a few posts and then dropping off the planet for a year, let's give it another go!

I need to get busy this morning, but if all goes well I'll be back later with a decent post. :)

Jenn

The little buggers are out to get me!

I have been getting up earlier, but so have the kids! If I'm lucky, I manage about 10 minutes alone before, one by one, they start piling in my lap. I don't get it. I'm very quiet. I get up and go straight to the couch to pray and read. Then Abbie wakes up, and starts bouncing in my lap. She is one VERY chatty little girl, which might not be as annoying if I could actually understand what she was saying. Then Abbie's incessant chatter wakes up Carolyn, who insists on pushing Abbie out and being Queen of the Lap. The ensuing struggle for lap space wakes up Gavin, who comes running out of his room in his usual "LOOK AT ME!!! I'm awake!" fashion. So I try to convince them to play quietly so I can at least finish a chapter. Trent is the lazy bones who wallows in bed as late as possible- at least until the girls attack him and he realizes he is defenseless laying in bed.

*sigh*

It is getting harder to get up early at all. I get SO tired in the first trimester of my pregnancies. I just wish I could crawl in a hole and wake up in 3 months. It is a miserable feeling- I loose all motivation and I feel cranky. No matter how much I sleep, it isn't enough.

One thing that motivates me to get up- knowing that if I don't, all the kids will come crashing into my bed. As sweet as is *can* be, it usually results in a fight over who gets to lay on my pillow and who gets to lay on my tummy, and I am rendered helpless as they jump on my stomach while I desperately need to pee.

Hey- progress is progress. At least I am getting up earlier, even if it isn't quite as planned.

This Week's Menu

I have been putting off making a menu all week. I finally got it done. We have been eating a lot of leftovers since I doubled a lot of my last menu, as well as some wingin' it. Spaghetti dinner always comes in handy. ;)

1) Chicken Tetrazini
2) Oven fried chicken, glazed snow peas and carrots, rice
3) Spicy salsa mac & beef
4) Stroganoff w/ green beans
5) Red beans and rice
6) Fish and chips w/ salad
7) Cheesy chicken & rice wraps

Chaos coming to order

Slowly but surely, things are coming around. I am actually waking up earlier most days. I've even gotta up at (gasp!) 5:30am a few times. Let me just say that afternoon naps are my friend. Especially being pregnant- first trimester always makes my SOOO tired.

I have the kids doing 3 clean-ups a day: before lunch, before nap, and before bed. Sometimes I let one slide, either out of forgetfulness or laziness, but fortunately with 3 clean-ups a day it is easy to catch up. I am desperately hoping that they will stop just dumping stuff out now that they have to pick it up.

I have been much better at planning and cooking dinner. Still far from perfect, but fortunately James actually likes cooking, so he comes to my rescue some evenings.

Surprisingly- it seems the smallest things make my James happy. I have been making the bed (most) mornings. He really likes that. Even if the rest of the house looks like poo and the kids were a pill all evening, going to bed to a nice tidy bed seems to really please him.

Now- if I can wean myself of my internet addiction, I can start being REALLY productive around here.

ETA: I re-read my post, and I realized I forgot something. I absolutely cannot take any credit for the progress in my home. I have been working on making a habit of praying every morning. That helps immensely. I am not capable of much good on my own- I am stubborn, selfish, and lazy. I have to praise God for lighting a fire under me and keeping it lit. ;)

I'm...PREGNANT!

I can't believe it! It came as quite a surprise. Poor James wanted to faint, I think.

I am surprised, but I am happy. Babies are a blessing. My family is going to think we are out of our minds. I think I might explode if I hear "You DO know what causes that, don't you?" one more time. Such is the life of having a big family, I guess.

It was really neat being able to tell James on Valentine's Day. It'll be hard to top that one in years to come! :D

So- now I get to start sewing up little baby things. I guess I need to get off my duff and finish redoing my sewing room!

This Week's Menu

Actually, it's for the next 2 weeks. ;)

1. Turkey Pot Pie, Glazed Carrots (never made it from last menu)
2. Lasagna, Greenbeans
3. Beans & Rice w/ sausage, Salad
4. Easy Cheeseburger Pie, Seasoned Greenbeans
5. Baked Ziti, Salad
6. Mexican Chicken Corn Chowder, Cornbread
7. Turkey Tetrazini, Zucchini
8. Baked Tilapia, Broccoli w/ cheese sauce, Lemon butter angel hair pasta
9. Two-Bean Chili, Salad
10. Steak Tacos, Sopa de Fideo

This Week's Menu

I am so happy! I am back to my habit of menu planning! I used to do it every week, and then make my list from it. But some how in the fray of the last year, I got lazy. And dinner has really suffered because of it. There is only so many times you can stand spaghetti or noodle casserole! In an attempt at accountability, I am going to start posting my menu. I don't assign meals to days- I just make a list so I have things to choose from, and then I make what strikes my fancy for the day.

1. Lentil soup w/ ham, cornbread
2. Greek pitas w/ yogurt, confetti rice, salad
3. Pepper steak stir fry w/ broccoli over rice
4. Salisbury steak over eggnoodles, greenbeans
5. Basil tomato salmon steaks, grilled eggplant, basil & butter pasta
6. Ginger & soy marinated pork chops, baked apples, mashed potatoes, glazed carrots
7. TURKEY DINNER! (James LOVES doing this outside of Thanksgiving)- turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, gravy
8. Turkey pot pie

I know there are more than 7 meals- I am planning ahead because I seldom make it to the grocery store on time. I'm working on changing that, too- but hey- one thing at a time! ;)

-Jenn