What's to come

My kids are young enough that they're not really involved in too much outside of home and school.

But I think this afternoon I'll get a taste of what is to come in a few years. And I think I'll get to know the inside of my van while I'm at it!

Here's how it will go:

4:00: I get home from work, and Meredith, her friend Suzanna, and my niece Lauren will all ride the bus together and get home from school

4:30: I go to IMS to meet up with Kent to get Jesse and take him home (after he's been at the sitters all day)

4:50: Take Lauren to violin lessons (just a few miles from our house)

5:20: Pick up Lauren from violin lessons

5:45: Take Meredith, Jesse, Suzanna, and Lauren to Kalona to drop Lauren off at her house and drop Suzanna off at the middle school where her brother has a basketball game

Then it's time to go home and eat supper. Maybe I can convince everyone to keep their coats, hats, and mittens on from 4 until 6. (We know it won't be a problem for Jesse!) That way we only have to deal with boots and buckling the booster and car seat every time we go out. Hmmmm, it's something to think about!

It makes me realize that I really need to savor this time with my kids when life isn't hectic like this every day.

Comfort

Yesterday Kent came home after a long and not-so-fun day. So I decided he needed a little comfort food. I remembered a recipe I had seen recently on Pioneer Woman for yummy chicken with bacon and cheese on top. What could be more comforting than that?!?

So I cooked up Pioneer Woman's Ranch Style Chicken and some cheddar mashed potatoes - and I believe it was a hit!

Note to readers: the above picture is not mine, but from the Pioneer Woman herself.

Note to self: next time I fry chicken in the cast iron skillet on the stove, make sure to put the splatter screen on...or I'll end up degreasing the stove, counter, and any recipe that is nearby...again!

Have you ever visited Pioneer Woman? (No, not just any old pioneer woman, but thepioneerwoman.com) If not, you should go - she has awesome recipes and great photography and photoshop tips and lots more. I really love the recipes that she has though. Not only are they scrumptious, but she has step-by-step pictures accompanying the recipe. Now that's the kind of recipe that I love!

Anyway, a nice and comforting meal was had by all last night.

What's with the coat and hat?

Jesse loves his winter coat.

And his hat.

Sometimes I seriously can't get him to take them off. at. all.

The record is him wearing his coat and hat for 2 hours after returning home one afternoon.

2 hours!

So thank you Jace, for sharing your hand-me-down coat and hat with Jesse.

He's in love with them!

Speaking of Jace, here's the cutie with his great outfit from this past Saturday: sweatshirt on top of tank top, on top of long sleeved shirt with shorts on top of pants. And to top everything off, a sideways Superman hat!

Since him and Kent were playing Mario Kart together, Kent felt the need to copy part of the outfit.**


Speaking of Mario Kart, I think maybe the game should be banned from our house. Because we love it waaaaay too much (and consequently play it waaaay too much!)

The makers of the Wii knew what they were doing when they locked different things in Mario Kart. Because it just makes you want to keep playing and keep winning so you can unlock yet another kart. Or another bike. Or another player.

**Update: Kent is not very happy with me for posting these pictures of him. So if you like the pictures and think they need to stay, then leave a comment and let us know!

Good Intentions

I've finally taken the time to follow through with my good intentions and I've tackled the messy catch-all cupboard. Here's a couple of things that I learned. First, there's no need to keep the dried up playdoh and crusty paint. Really, we will never use them, it's time to toss the stuff that has no use. Second, if I feel the need to keep every envelope without a matching card, I must containerize them - notice the basket on the bottom shelf? And third by making use of my new label maker, it's easy to find things and more importantly, easy for anyone who can read, to put them away. Hopefully I'll make more progress around the house and I'll share the results of my good intentions.

the little things...yet again!

By now you've undoubtedly grown tired of my "little things" posts.

But seriously, today seemed like it was made up of a million little things that either made me smile or had the potential to get me down.

This is my final "little thing" for today. Pinkie promise.

Does it get any better than coffee, (or tea) dessert and conversation with a good friend? (Even if the coffee shop you try to go to is closed and you are forced to go somewhere else where you don't even get coffee?)

Especially when the conversation gets beyond the daily grind of everything that's going on in our lives.

To me, it's a little thing that feels like a big thing.

Stacy, if you are reading this, then let's schedule the next time we can get away. Even if it's a month from now, if it's on our calendars then it will really happen!