Stuff...

Well, I feel like I'm on my way, but it seems I always feel like I'm "just about" to where I want to be with stuff and then never quite accomplish it.  Here are my accomplishments for the last few days.  It's actually been a pretty good week, especially since we're coming off a busy few weeks of visiting and fun.  

1) I've cooked every night this week--Monday: chicken pot pie; Tuesday: roast chicken, rice, and corn; Wednesday: chicken soup from the leftover roast chicken; Thursday (today): black bean soup from a ham bone in the freezer.  It's clear out the pantry and freezer time, so I'm trying to plan and stay on top of the kitchen so that I can keep on cooking.  For tomorrow, there will either be steak, mac and cheese, and green beans or pizza.  I froze enough of that pizza dough last week that there is an easy meal of pizza to assemble.  The dough has not been declared "the pizza dough,"  but it is OK.  It might be better if I were using a stone to bake on.

Other food stuff:

Waffles 

Made Kefir

Harvested Kombucha

Made Graham Gems .  (The recipe is in the comments). I thought they were good, though a bit bland.  Killian liked them and then decided they had an aftertaste.  I haven't decided whether that was the coconut oil or the spelt flour.  I may try them another time, but if I do I will likely add the nuts or chocolate chips.  Started a batch of 5-minute Artisan Bread.  I have the book waiting for my pick-up at the library.  I will pick it up tomorrow when I'm out picking up milk, but for now, I got started with the basic recipe.  I'm actually pretty excited about this since the day-old bread store that was at the end of town moved like 20 miles away.  I hate spending money on bread.  This is strictly white bread, but I hear that some whole wheat can be added to this base--I'll experiment with that later. 

Other stuff:

Cleaned the upstairs living room

laundry, laundry laundry

ran to urgent care

went to the co-op to pick up eggs, coconut milk, and baking soda.  

Dropped off library books and picked up some holds.

cleaned the kitchen, except it's a mess again now, and I need to get at it.

dead-headed flowers and pulled weeds in the flour beds

harvested and dried oregano and lavender

meal planning--working on this and a grocery list

budget planning

planning a mid-summer planting.  I'll have to clear a new spot in the yard, but I have seeds from awhile back, so pretty much any food that they produce is free food at this point!  Already started some basil seeds--hoping for basil by the time the tomatoes are ripe!

Better get off of here so I can get some more done!

Well...

That wasn't how I expected to spend and hour and a half before lunch.  Molly was showing me how she could lift a two-pound weight over her head and then dropped it.  It landed on Reagan's toe.  I didn't see it hit.  I saw it bounce, and I started to say, "Thank goodness that didn't hit anyone's toes," and Reagan started crying.  We took her in and had an x-ray.  They didn't see anything.  The PA did say, "She had an xray on the same foot 18 months ago; what was that about?"  I told him that I had pinched her poor little baby toes in a door.  It's something I don't really like talking about.  She wasn't even two weeks old, darn it.  So, I'm thinking it was good I turned around the day I was about to take her in because she fell off the bed.  They'd probably be calling social services.  Ugh...  Poor baby.

I guess I have to get in the habit of watching my kids for a bit before I scramble them over to the urgent care center unless there is obvious urgency. Good Grief.

In other news, I harvested some oregano from the back yard today.  I plan to harvest some mint and lavender from the front flower beds later after the oregano is dried.  I don't exactly know what I'll do with them, but I'll have them.

I haven't had the chance to write about our great weekend fun yet either, but hopefully soon.  

Molly Update

The baby is fine.  Molly was throwing up all day yesterday, and her blood sugar was way down, and, thus, so was the baby's.  So, everyone's OK!  Thank goodness!

Molly (Grace)

I told Molly that she needed to say a prayer for Aunt Molly's baby.  She said, "Is it born yet?"  I said, "No, we just need to say a prayer that he's OK. Can you do that?"  

"You'll have to leave me alone with this," she said.  Then she walked out of my room, into the boys' room, and shut the door.  She came out a few minutes later.

Molly (Erinne)

Ben's mom called this morning to tell me that Molly is concerned about the baby.  She had severe heartburn last night, was really sick, and this morning the baby is not moving.  Please say a prayer that all is well and the little guy is just running out of room in there.  She is around 36 weeks, I think....

New recipes and new words

I'm trying a new pizza dough recipe today.  I won't be able to tell you the results until tomorrow, because it rises in the fridge.  I put half of the dough in the freezer for later, and have enough for about 2 pizzas for tomorrows dinner in the fridge.

Today, Reagan started saying Molly very clearly.  She's said it before, but not this clearly.  She stood by the door this morning when Molly went over to visit the neighbor girl, saying, "Molly, Molly."  And, again, just a bit ago while she watched Liam and Molly playing in the sprinkler out back.

So stinking cute.

Wow

It's been a couple of crazy weeks.  Julie, her three littles, and their two dogs visited for much of the week June 18-24.  We went strawberry picking, checked out a couple of local parks, and Ben took Jacob and Jen fishing, which they seemed to really enjoy.  Ben said when they first got on the boat, Jen asked, "Now, where are the seatbelts?"  The kids got along famously, loved playing with each other and playing with the dogs, and while they were all ready for a bit of down-time before heading to Chicago for Marlene and Jeremy's wedding, they were sad to part.  

On Tuesday, June 24 at 12:00 AM, Kaleb Rae Bishop was born.  He is our newest nephew and son to Katey (Shine) Bishop and Adam Bishop.  We got to have a brief visit with him (and his parents) on Sunday on our way back to Rockford from Chicago.  He is a sweet little boy, and his parents are doing a great job!

On Thursday, we got up very early and drove to Joliet for the rehearsal for Marlene and Jeremy's wedding.  It was great to see everyone and to meet more of Marlene's family, though I don't feel like I talked to anyone, really.  The kids had fun, though Killian and Liam pooped out just as the dancing started.  Molly, on the other hand, wanted to stay until the party ended.  She pouted out to the car, crying, when we made her leave.  We explained that we would see all of the kids on Saturday at the picnic.  She exclaimed, "But the babysitters won't be there!!!"  and cried, "It's not fair!"  Then, she fell asleep about 3 minutes later.  ;)

The wedding was beautiful, and Ben did a great job of officiating (if I do say so myself).  It sounds goofy, but it seemed so special to have him doing the marrying--there seemed to be more love in the air, more connection, corny as it sounds.  Marlene looked gorgeous--like some sort of earthy goddess with the butterflies fluttering in her veil.  

It was a great weekend.  I can't wait to see the pictures!  And we're looking forward to seeing everyone again on the 4th (though, sadly, for us, Jeremy and Marlene will be off on a short jaunt to Mexico).  I hope they have a great time! They need some R&R!  

As for us, we've been eating far too much junk, so we are trying to do better for the next few days.  Reagan and I took a long nap this afternoon.  I really didn't intend to, but I guess, really, a nap was a better choice than the Cherry Coke I considered consuming instead.