Random

Facebook breaks and more...

Well, I'd been taking a break of sorts from FB (which I'm enjoying immensely by the way!) but I didn't expect to have to take a break from the computer all together!  Last week the computer started acting goofy.  Tim ran a hardware diagnostic and found an error code.  We ended up taking the computer in and found that the hard-drive was failing because the fan for the hard-drive was failing.  It's fixed, and I'm happy to have it back!  I can't tell you how many times in the last week I've thought, "I'll just go print that off... oh, nevermind!"  or had the boys ask a question and thought, "I'll just go look that up. Nope, not happening!"  I'm looking forward to googling again.  LOL  I'm also happy that I can use the computer to develop my menu for the next few weeks along with comprehensive lists for each menu.

Weekly menus...

I think it was back in July when I started planning weekly menus using old daycare food program cards Steph had lying around.  She told me I could use it but wasn't allowed to brag about how well it worked (if it did) because it was an unused resource at her house. ")  Well Steph, I'm going to brag anyway.  LOL  When we don't have menu it almost seems as if nothing else works quite the way it's supposed to around here.  Strange, because we've gone for years without a menu.  When I first started I used the cards, which are separated into breakfast options, lunch/supper options, and snack options, to plan my week Monday-Friday.  Supper was always something from our *typical* unofficial menu and I planned for two snacks a day.  Since then, I've started planning my week from Monday-Sunday leaving no slots empty.  Each week I would sit down on Saturday or Sunday and make my shopping list for the week based on the menu, cross off all items I already have on hand, and then make a final list for the store.  This has been working well, but I would love to create a master list for each specific menu so at some point I can simply print off a previous week along with the grocery list and cut my planning time by half (at least!).  Now that I've got the computer back, I'd like to get master lists done for at least two more weekly menus (completed one the week before the computer died) so it will be easy for Tim to get the shopping done and menus will already be planned for the few weeks following Phoenix's birth.

Baby news...

Not much to report here.  Sunday will be the official 38 week mark.  While we've been hoping for an early delivery we realize there is a possibility it could be as much as 4 weeks until we get to meet the little fellow (Oh, Lord, please don't make me wait that long!!).  Last night Tim was watching my belly as it did it's typical mutant movements and said, "WHAT was THAT!?"  LOL  What I assume was a leg (knee on down) *rolled* across the surface of my belly causing it to stick a good inch or two higher than the rest.  I love watching him move, but recently I've begun telling him that if he wants to move around THAT MUCH he needs to come on out and do that. ")  Not only am I getting anxious to meet the baby, so are the kids.  Levi and Shiloh will even talk to my belly and tell him to come out.  Shiloh said the other day, "Baby Phoenix, come out! Now!"  LOL And so the waiting continues...

Keeping busy...

Over the past 3 or 4 weeks I've crocheted several projects, sewed a few items, and even finished a KNITTING project!  For those of you that know me well, you know I always say I DO NOT knit!  Turns out, I can... I just don't prefer it. ")  Maybe someday I'll put more effort into really learning to knit, but for now I'm just pleased with the very SQUARE corners I managed on that one project. LOL  At some point I may have an entire post dedicated to the projects I've completed.  We'll see... I've found that promised posts rarely make it to the screen, so no promises on this one!

Blast from the past...

Throughout our high school years our class had the privilege of hosting several exchange students.  In 9th grade (20 years ago!!) one of them was a vivacious gal from Brazil named Helena.  Last Sunday, three high school friends and I met her at Rafferty's Pizza in Brainerd/Baxter and had a mini-reunion!  What fun... it just didn't last long enough!!  It was fun to not only reminisce about the past, but also to talk about our lives now and make tentative plans for future reunions.  I had to laugh because I think the last time I ate at Rafferty's may have been when I was in 9th grade!

Oldest and youngest...

This morning I found Jericho sound asleep (and snoring) in Alex's bed.  She has the pillow blocking the light from the window, and her Wubbanub in her mouth.  It was too sweet...  I love how Alex shows his heart in the way he cares for her.  He's growing into quite the young man!