Boys...

Liam is such a character.  He tells us lots of facts he's learned.  This morning, though, he told me, "I pretty much hate school."  

"Pretty much?" I asked.  

"Yeah," he said.  "Is the last day of school June 1st?"

Killian told him that it would be June 3rd.

"Good," he said. "So I will get to bring treats for my birthday."  

Killian told me during the same conversation, "I wish we could just be homeschooled."  Then, before he left, he told me that he scored the highest among the 5th graders on the "Battle of the Books" quiz.  He scored a 16 (I don't know out of how many), and the second highest score in his class was a 7.  Other people on the team  had scored 3's, so apparently, the overall scores must have been pretty bad.  It's funny because he generally only picks up books by force at home.  Apparently, he is an avid reader at school. 

Girls...

Molly told me today:  "I either need to go to the doctor or the piropractor. I think the piropractor."

Last night, Reagan, after  missing her afternoon nap, fell asleep for a bit after 6:00, and did not want to sleep when it was time for bed.  She was bouncing around and singing, "Twinka Twinka little staaa....LMNOPQRS...baby fall...."I think that's all the songs she knows combined.  "Baby fall" would be, "Rock-a-bye baby." I am hoping I can get some video of this today, but who knows if she'll do it again....She was chattering up a storm and laughing.  I have no idea what she was saying, but she definitely does.  And she's very funny.

Gas

Good grief.  I should probably have stopped for gas when I went through town on the way to the library.  It was 20 cents cheaper in town than a block away "out of town." I do have to go back to the library as I missed one video.  The disc was in the van, but the case is on the entertainment center downstairs.  So, maybe I'll swing over there when Ben gets home.  

Groceries 2009

So, it's the first grocery trip of the year.  It was a poor decision on my part.  I decided at the last minute to go before the boys would get back from school.  We left at about 2:20 PM.  Sadly, this is Reagan's prime naptime.   We saw one of the women I share milk pick up with, and she unfortunately witnessed Reagan's repeated attempts to dive from the cart.  Yes, the two-year old in her was definitely evident on this trip.  Molly did well, though she did have a snowflake tattoo on her forehead, purple floral Vans, bare legs, her fairy spinny  skirt, and a red sparkly Cat in the Hat long sleeved t-shirt (on backwards).  She actually wore her snowpants and coat into the store, but took them off after we got inside.  

Soooo.  I initially only planned to buy groceries for about 2 weeks worth of meals, but I wound up buying more meat than I needed because some of it was at really good prices.  

Amount Spent: 52.93.

1 bunch bananas

3 lbs Naturewell ground beef 

2 doz. eggs

4 + lb. chuck roast

6 lb. pork roast (picnic)

10 lb+ boneless skinless chicken breast

1 bunch celery

1 3lb bag carrots

1 cup yogurt (starter for homemade)

2 bags frozen broccoli

1 20 lb. bag of grapefruit

I have to refigure my meal plans, but I think this should get us through a month with minimal additions. This time, I'll let you know what we're eating around here! ;)

Spring

Yeah, I said spring.  I just read that the Irish recognize February 2nd as the beginning of spring.  I don't know how much the Irish climate varies from ours, but it sounds good to me.  So, we are officially going to celebrate the beginning of spring on February 2.  I'm not sure what that will involve--but I'll let you know.

*sigh*

I'm tired.  Maybe it's just post-holiday let down.  Maybe it's the tremendous amount of sugar I consumed. I'm sad to see Christmas vacation come to an end and the boys head off to school in the cold.  I'm ready, though, for life to resume some state of normalcy, to gain a handle on the holiday explosion that has occurred here (our kitchen table is currently home to 3 huge lego creations, the tree is still up, and there are a number of Christmas items that either need packing away or to find homes).  I need to track down two 2009 calendars that Grandma Honey gifted the kids so that we are up to date, LOL.    

I would drink some caffeine, but I fear that would mean Reagan wouldn't go to sleep come bedtime.  

Sadly, I have slacked horribly in acknowledging Ben's 40th birthday (I  organized a surprise road trip with him, his brothers, and his brothers-in-law for the 27th, but by the time his actual birthday was here, on the 29th, we didn't do much, having just returned the night before from St. Joe.  Ben worked all day, told me he didn't want a cake or anything sweet, and came home to a mess of a house).  Pretty sad.  

Now, I am struggling with Reagan's birthday.  I may not be remembering right, but we always felt like Jeremy got the short end of the stick when it came to birthdays.  It was always bitter cold, we were always, it seemed, snowed in about then.  Mom and Dad always seemed a little sad that his birthday wasn't more special.  Maybe that's me putting my own emotions in there now.  I'm not much worried at the moment, but for future years.  Reagan's birthday is one day after Jeremy's.  Since she's only turning two now, she'll hardly know the difference.  But January 11 is hardly the time to bet on whether folks could come up for a party to celebrate with us,  or whether we could travel to celebrate with them.  Add to that my current state of burnout.  I am ever so thankful I picked up a birthday gift for her during our Christmas shopping.  We have been chatting about getting together with the Dills this weekend, where birthdays are currently abounding--Jeremy  on the 10th, Reagan and Nora on the 11th, and Marlene on the 13th--but according to the weatherman, an "arctic blast" is scheduled for this weekend.  I don't know if that means tons of snow or just cold, but I know, no matter what, we'll still have a good time.  Even if we're snowed in, we can just turn up the tunes and have a dance party with our little birthday girl.  

In other news, I got an email the Friday before Christmas break letting me know that enrollment was much lower than they had expected and my class was cancelled.  So, no online teaching this term.  I am told I will get first dibs on a class after full-time employees in March.

In the meantime, I hope to focus my energy on our household and family...that is, once I find my energy, LOL.  

I have been getting some things done, and I've been spending a bit of time reviewing the seed catalogs and thinking about what we want to do garden-wise this spring.  I have to talk to Ben, too, and think about how much we really want to deal with.  I have problems with going into a nursery (or seed catalog) and wanting everything I see.  

The Work

Someone recommended this author to me.  I am listening to one of her books (Loving What Is) right now.  I have barely begun, but already some of the things she says already ring with me and, truly, have the potential to be life-changing.  

I know I need to update you all on what's going on around here.  In a nutshell--kids were ill the week and a half before Christmas, but we made it through the holidays with everyone healthy and had a wonderful time.  Details to come as life resumes to normal...Whatever that is!