Giveaway

Check out this website for a baby bjorn giveaway! Hurry, ends Sunday.

My New Year's Resolution

I never make them but this year I thought I would.

I'm going to make my goal weight by this time next year, at the very latest, which for me is 70 lbs away.

And just because I want to, and I've been inspired by another blogger...wish I could remember who so I could give her credit...but I'm going to post photos of myself starting with my beginning weight then a pic after every 10 lbs lost. These pics should be on the side starting in January.

Usually I'm not too fond of taking pictures of myself, especially when I weigh this much. But I know what it feels like to be 179 lbs (what I was right before I had to quit ww last time) and I know that I certainly don't feel like that now. I'm super motivated to get this weight off and keep it off (since we won't be having any more babies). I want to do a full-length picture each time. Because the weight watchers magazine likes the before and after pictures to be of the whole body and I think losing 70 lbs on weight watchers could warrant the publishers to want to feature me in their mag. That's my hope anyways. I think that'd be cool!

So check back here next month for my journey to healthy-ville. That's where I want to live.

CVS

My trip to CVS:

sports kit for our new Wii - it came with a tennis racket, steering wheel, golf club, controller handle, and baseball bat

revlon lip stick

nivea bath wash

crest mouthwash

loreal mascara

All for the low, low price of about $13. That's a savings of around $27, according to the receipts.

Yay me!!!

My cool trip...

to Albertsons was so much fun. Not necessarily the shopping part, although I did run into my older sister, that I haven't seen in 8 years. But that's a story for a different post.

I went to buy specific things on my list and I did terrific. I bought all this:

2 boxes of coco puffs
1 box of cheerios
1 box of cinnamon toast crunch
4 cans of veggies
1 can of biscuits
3 cans of soup
2 cans of evaporated milk
and 1 can of frosting

and only paid $16.67!!!

Plus I got a coupon for $5 off my next shopping trip.

So I saved a total amount of $22.88!

But the absolute best part was the guy behind me in line was watching the whole thing and finally asked,
How much did you save?

The cashier told him,
$17.88 plus she's getting back $5 off her next trip.

I smiled.

Then he asked,
Who taught you how to do that?

Save at home mommy.

What about save at home daddy?

I'm sure she'll teach you too!

Happy Birthday, Baby Nate

Our surprise baby was scheduled to be born on Monday, November 30 but the baby had other plans.

On Friday, November 27th I started going into labor. The contractions got 5 minutes apart around 6pm so I called my sister and asked her to come over to spend the night with the kids. Pascual and I got to the hospital about an hour later. Then I had the "joy" of labor contractions until about 11pm, at which time the anesthesiologist gave me a spinal and my doctor began the c-section.

Nathan Aaron Munoz was born at 11:35pm and weighed in at a hefty 10 pounds, 4 ounces with a length of 22 inches.

Happy birthday, big boy!!!

I am my child's first teacher...oh crap!

This pregnancy is almost over. Looking back, I feel like I've been a total slacker the past 9 months with my oldest child, Jeremiah. He's a terrific learner but I haven't been teaching him much. We used to do things like color the American flag and talk about the stars and stripes. Or we'd practice holding a pencil while he struggled to trace a letter. My point is that we'd do constructive, learning things.

Now our routine is breakfast, play (which is a good thing), then a nap for Beka and me. Jeremiah faithfully watches Nick Jr during these 2 hours of nappy poo time. After nap, it's snack time, either more tv or playtime, I'd prep for dinner, eat dinner, bedtime routine, bed for the kids. Notice that there is NO constructive, learning time...anywhere in our routine now.

I'm positive that the reason for my slacking is my lack of energy due to this pregnancy (which will be completely obvious later today since I've been up since 2am so far). But I still feel like I've let Jeremiah down. I'm sure he doesn't feel that way...that kid LOVES Nick Jr!

And Beka, let's not even get into her early education. I remember with Jeremiah I'd be sure to read to him 20 minutes a day. Poor Beka maybe gets 5 or 10 from me right now. Thank God for Daddy, who will make up the difference.

Ugh, I don't even want to think about this next baby and the slippery education slope I'm on.

Hopefully things will turn around next year. No, not hopefully...
Things WILL turn around next year. They have to...Jeremiah will start Kindergarten.

Bow giveaway

Check this out for more info.

Thanks again, Save At Home Mommy...

I went to her class last night and I learned a lot of stuff. I highly recommend attending one of her classes if you can.

So today I went to Target and bought this:





for $22!

I CAN save money!

Thanks to the Save At Home Mommy, I went to Target today and bought:






and all of this





so that's
8 packages of flushable wipes (I'm going to teach my 4 year old how to wipe his own butt!)
5 bottles of cranberry juice
6 boxes of cereal

for a grand total of...



$13.38!

I am SOOOOO proud of myself!!!

4, 4, 4

It's a little known fact that my little sister, Karalee

and I are 4 years, 4 months, and 4 days apart in age.

And if I have this baby on the day the c-section is scheduled (November 30th), then the baby and my first born will be 4 years, 4 months, and 4 days apart.

Crazy!!!!

HAPPY Halloween

This Halloween we had great plans! But earlier in the week both Beka and I got sick - bronchitis and pneumonia. So there went our great plans.

However, Papa and Bana came in and saved the day for Jeremiah. They took him out for Halloween and had a great time with him while Beka and I stayed home.

Thank you, Papa & Bana!!!

I've never been this tired!

He told me he was hungry for a snack so I gave him a granola bar. I don't even think he got one bite in.

One more child...

...because I need someone to mop!

My dirty, cluttered little season

I've come to the conclusion that I will live in a pig pen for the rest of 2009. I try to keep up on the clutter (I don't even try to touch the dirt) but fail miserably each night. And each night, as I look at the clutter, I decide that I'd rather watch tv than pick up.
So, I'm not taking visitors until 2010, unless you want to drop off a meal once the baby's born (so be forewarned and don't judge when you walk in!).

So I've decided to fold laundry (I have mounds of clean laundry) while I watch tv (inspiration via Raquel). I'm doing one more load as I type. And the clothes that need to be hung up, I just drape over one of our suit cases and Pascual hangs it up for me when he thinks about it (once a month or so). I hate hanging clothes so I'm ok going through the draped clothes to find a shirt. Luckily for me, my belly's getting so big that it stretches out any wrinkles in my shirt. (how sad is that!)

My filthy kitchen (breakfast dishes still in sink) can wait until morning...or even tomorrow afternoon for that fact! And my messy floors (filled with childrens books, random items and even trash...why is it that I am the only one that seems to know where the trash can is???) can wait for Pascual. It's getting too hard to bend over these days (unless it's something I really want to do...and cleaning the floors isn't one of them!) so Pascual's been picking up the slack in this area for me.

I remind myself that I am in a season right now...a season that will change once the baby is born. Then, I'll be in a new season, hopefully one where I will be self-motivated to clean. Maybe that's wishful thinking?

Disneyland...here we come!

I went to my OB check up today wondering what my doctor was going to say...
I told her that the fam and I were planning an overnight trip to Disneyland a week from Saturday and that we'd been planning it all year long since you get in free on your birthday and my hubby and I were born on the same day (just 14 hours apart...he's older). But I added if she didn't feel comfortable with me leaving town, I wouldn't go. And right away she brought up Jeremiah (funny how she never forgets this name or the circumstances around which he was born...

For our 4th anniversary, my hubby and I decided to go to Las Vegas for a 4 day weekend. I was 35 weeks pregnant but my doctor gave her blessing. And wouldn't ya know it, the morning that we were planning to come home my water broke. So we had to call 411 (no, not 911) for information as to where the nearest hospital was. Long story short, the next evening we had our first baby, Jeremiah. Needless to say, what happened in Vegas didn't stay in Vegas.)

She said Disneyland was a different story than Vegas. If my water breaks or I go into labor, we can always drive home.

So in 9 short days, my hubby, son, daughter, mother- and father-in-laws, and I are off to the magic kingdom. Yippee!

Just getting a drink...

I'll eat you up!

It's a line from Where the Wild Things Are, a children's book by Maurice Sendak. Jeremiah likes to read it every now and then. He even likes the spanish version:

Next month, the movie about the book comes out. But we're not taking Jeremiah to see it; it's rated PG. It's not so much the rating that's holding us back. It's just that the previews look like they might freak our boy out. I mean, he gets a little scared watching certain episodes of the Backyardigans. So we're thinking that watching a huge movie screen with monsters on it probably isn't the best bet.

When he gets older, we'll rent it for him.

...and it was still hot.

The chupón update

Well, it's been a while since the pacifier, aka chupón has been taken away from our baby (our 16 month old baby). That first night was terrible. But the second night was better - she only cried a little while. I can't remember exactly how long since I've blocked it from my memory. But I do think I had to get up in the middle of the night to calm her.
The third night was better and by the fourth night, she was free and clear.

Tonight, now a typical night, I laid her down after our 4-B bedtime routine (bath, brush teeth, read book, bed) and she cried for maybe 4 minutes. Now she's in there cooing to herself. Eventually she'll go to sleep without me hearing another peep from her. And she usually doesn't wake anybody up in the middle of the night.

Why does it seem as soon as you get something completed, I have to start all over again? The new baby should arrive in about 10 weeks...then we start all over again. But it's worth it.

That dreaded day has come

My firstborn gave up his pacifier all on his own at 9 months.

Rebekah is a horse of a different color. I think she'd be one of "those kids" walking around with that thing in her mouth at 3 or 4 years old. I don't know why, but that always bothers me.

So last night my hubby and I decided that it was a good time to have her one and only pacifier break, aka cut off the tip, and start the weaning process.

And last night SUCKED!

She finally went to sleep after over an hour of crying. I would go in to calm her down after 10 minutes, then 15, then 20. By the 25 minute mark, which was actually a little over an hour into the process, she fell asleep; no doubt completely exhausted. I noticed she started to get this cough but I assumed it was from all that crying that was causing her throat to itch.

That didn't seem too bad. But it was the middle of the night wake ups that I hated. I'm not sure how many times my hubby got up (we took turns) but I got up 2 or 3. Typing that now it doesn't seem a lot but last night it was a ton for me. Not only was she crying but her cough turned into a hack and she had a slight fever to boot.

Everyone woke up exhausted this morning, even Jeremiah who slept on my floor next to my bed because Beka's crying kept "bothering" him. And today Beka's cough, slight fever (99 degrees) and clear snot didn't clear up. So we doped her up on Tylenol and kept tissues handy. If I hadn't cut her pacifier I would've given it back to her to start this weaning process when she felt better. But I refuse to go out to buy one pacifier for her to have for a few days. So we are committed.

During afternoon snack time she gagged on her pear and ended up throwing up all over me. What a great day it was!

So tonight she was very tired. I put her down at 6:30 (normal bedtime is 7pm) and she cried for 5 minutes then stopped. She started back up a minute or two later, so I started the 10 minute timer over. But she didn't last that long. She's asleep now. I hope it lasts.

All in all, I'm glad we are weaning her of the pacifier. I'd rather go through his now, than when the new baby is here.

100 days until...

my due date. Which means about 93ish days left for me since my dr. plans the c-section a week before the due date.

And the first 100 days after the baby's born are not my favorite; I'm usually so sleep deprived. Hopefully, with this being our last baby, I'll try to enjoy those first days more.

I got my hair cut yesterday and the girl cutting my hair, Candy, mentioned how her and her hubby are in the process of buying a house. Well I let that conversation die and we started a new one. Later, Candy brought up her house buying experience again. Hmmm, maybe God's in this?

So we talked about it and she told me her realtor's name and how she's so great and is saving them a lot of money on closing costs (what costs?), blah blah blah.

Candy didn't know that my hubby and I are talking about buying our first house. And we are sooo ignorant about the entire process...as in we don't know what half, if not more, of the jargon means, we have no idea how much we qualify for, and had no clue where to start...except for in prayer with the Lord.

We've talked to my hubby's father, a Godly man with sound advice, about buying a house and he's been encouraging us to pray and be first steppers.

Well, maybe calling this realtor is our first step? I got her name and googled her so now I have her number. Maybe my hubby will call her next week.

As a side note: I don't think buying a house is a NEED for us. We live in a 2 bedroom mobile home so with this 3rd baby coming it's going to be a tight fit, but I still don't think of a bigger home as a need, more like a want.

Let me tell you what I consider a need: if the third car seat doesn't fit in the back of my car, then trading it in for a different car is a NEED.

But there are lots of people who live in homes and their kids share a room. If we really wanted only two kids in a room, we could always convert the den into a third bedroom.

My point is, I'm content with staying where we are. But don't get me wrong, I'd like to live in a house.

Anyways, I think we'll take this first step by making the call, even in our total ignorance, and see what she says. If God's in it, then He'll show us the 2nd step to take. If He's not in it, I pray that our first step would die and that we'd be redirected.

My very first...

diaper cake!


It's for my friend, Carrie. I checked out her registry and she wants bedding, etc that's outdoorsy and woodsy so I figured I'd go with that theme.
It's plain, aka frugal - as in it doesn't have all the extra baby things that can go on a diaper cake. But I really like how it turned out. And it was super easy...after I did some online research. I can't wait until Saturday to give it to her!

How cute are these...

cupcakes!

My friend, Lynette, made them for my son's 4th birthday party.

Thanks so much, Lynette. They were the cutest cupcakes ever! You did a great job!

Homemade ding dongs

From time to time I get invited to try out recipes in progress from a website. Here's their latest creation and it's worth posting.

Bon Appetite!

Cupcakes:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup boiling water
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 Tbsp instant coffee or espresso
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract

Filling:
6 Tbsp water
1 1/2 tsp unflavored gelatin
8 Tbsp unsalted butter
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 Pinches salt
2 1/2 cups marshmallow creme (2 jars of Kraft Jet-Puffed marshmallow cream)

Glaze:
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
3 Tbsp unsalted butter

1. Make the batter: Preheat oven to 325. Grease 12-cup muffin tin. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Whisk water, cocoa, chocolate, and coffee in large bowl until smooth. Add sugar, sour cream, oil, eggs, and vanilla and mix until combined. Whisk in flour mixture until incorporated. Divide batter evenly into muffin cups. Bake until toothpick inserted comes out clean with a few dry crumbs attached 18-22 minutes. Cool in tin 10 minutes, then turn out cupcakes onto rack and cool completely.

2. Prepare filling: Combine water and gelatin in large bowl and let sit until gelatin softens, about 5 minutes. Microwave until mixture is bubbling around edges and gelatin dissolves, about 1 minute. Stir in butter, vanilla, and salt until combined. Let mixture cool until just warm to the touch, about 5 minutes, then whisk in marshmallow creme until smooth; refrigerate until set, about 45 minutes. Reserve 1/3 cup filling for decorating cupcakes and use remaining for filling cupcakes.

3. Fill cupcakes: with a knife held at a 45 degree angle, cut out a cone shape from the top of cupcake. Cut off the "point" of the cone, leaving about 1/4 inch of the top then hollow out the cupcake. Fill cupcake with creme then replace the top of cupcake.

4. Finish: microwave chocolate and butter for the glaze in a small bowl. Glaze top of cupcakes then take the remaining creme and place in a plastic bag. Cut off a corner of the bag and pipe the creme on top of cupcake in a connected loop pattern.

Yellow Layer Cake with Chocolate Glaze

I made this cake yesterday and my whole family loved it. I had a piece (or two) today and it was still moist and delicious. Here's the recipe from a website I got it off of. Please note that I didn't follow it to a tee. I forgot to sift my flour (oops) and I sprayed my cake pans with Pam and that's it...no parchment paper or anything else. Also, because I'm still waiting on Santa to bring me a Kitchenaid mixer (funny joke if you know me), I followed the "hand-mixer" instructions - they're in parentheses at the bottom of step 2.


To quickly bring the eggs and milk to room temperature (65°F), submerge them in a bowl of warm water for about 10 minutes after mixing them together. Adding the butter pieces to the mixing bowl one at a time prevents the dry ingredients from flying up and out of the bowl.

Makes two 9-inch cakes
4 large eggs , room temperature
1/2 cup whole milk , room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups sifted cake flour
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon table salt
1/2 pound unsalted butter (2 sticks), softened (see illustration 1), each stick cut into 8 pieces


1. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Generously grease two 9-by-1 1/2-inch cake pans with vegetable shortening and cover pan bottoms with rounds of parchment paper or wax paper. Grease parchment rounds, dust cake pans with flour, and tap out excess.

2. Beat eggs, milk, and vanilla with fork in small bowl; measure out 1 cup of this mixture and set aside. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in bowl of standing mixer fitted with paddle attachment; mix on lowest speed to blend, about 30 seconds. With mixer still running at lowest speed, add butter one piece at a time; mix until butter and flour begin to clump together and look sandy and pebbly, with pieces about the size of peas, 30 to 40 seconds after all butter is added. Add reserved 1 cup of egg mixture and mix at lowest speed until incorporated, 5 to 10 seconds. Increase speed to medium-high (setting 6 on KitchenAid) and beat until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Add remaining egg mixture (about 1/2 cup) in slow steady stream, about 30 seconds. Stop mixer and thoroughly scrape sides and bottom of bowl. Beat on medium-high until thoroughly combined and batter looks slightly curdled, about 15 seconds longer.

(To mix using hand mixer, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in large bowl. Add butter pieces and cut into the flour mixture with a pastry blender. Add reserved 1 cup of egg mixture; beat with hand mixer at lowest speed until incorporated, 20 to 30 seconds. Increase speed to high, add remaining egg mixture, and beat until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Stop mixer and thoroughly scrape sides and bottom of bowl. Beat at high speed 15 seconds longer.)

3. Divide batter equally between prepared cake pans; spread to sides of pan and smooth with rubber spatula. Bake until cake tops are light golden and skewer inserted in center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. (Cakes may mound slightly but will level when cooled.) Cool on rack 10 minutes. Run a knife around pan perimeter to loosen. Invert cake onto large plate, peel off parchment, and re-invert onto lightly greased rack. Cool completely before icing.


Chocolate Glaze

1 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
3 ounces bittersweet chocolate , melted
4 1/2 tablespoons milk
1 1/2 pinches table salt

Mix all the glaze ingredients together until smooth. Pour small amount of glaze on first layer of cake, then top with the 2nd cake layer. Pour the glaze over the top of the cake, allowing the glaze to drip down the sides. Let set before serving, about 10 minutes.

A deep & meaningful talk...

with my 3 year old son was not exactly what I thought it was going to be.
Out of the blue, it began:

Jeremiah- God made everything, Mom.

Mom- Yes, He did. And what did He say about it?

J- That it was good.

M- And do you know why it was good. Because God doesn't make junk. He makes beautiful things. Like you! You are very special.

J- Yes I am.

M- Yes, God made you special.

J- Ok. That's enough talking for now.



I guess when I think about it, it's a normal response for a boy; even for a man (but men just never want to end a conversation that way because it typically begins an argument! lol)

That's my boy!

A park day I won't forget...

Wednesday was a scheduled park day for my MOPS group. We met at a fun spray park that had lots of toys too. The kids and I had a fun time, in spite of the cool weather and intermittent sprinkles (odd for June but whatever).

So the kids and I sit down to have a packed lunch and when Jeremiah finished he asks to go play with the kids. So off he went. I mean, that's what we were there for, right?!?

Beka stayed with me as I sat with mommy friends and talked.

Raquel's son comes up to me and tells me Jeremiah is hurt. I scan the park for him and sure enough, here he comes walking towards me; one of his shoulders looks a little saggy and he's crying. I meet him, leaving Beka with my dear friends, Raquel and Tara (thank you girls for all you did and offered) and carry him back to the picnic tables. As I look over his body I notice a red mark on his shoulder. I keep scanning his body and there it is:

his collar bone looks a little out of place. Immediately I want to cry for him but I hold it together, scoop him up and take the kids to urgent care; which is just down the road - seriously like a 5 minute drive.

Jeremiah did such a good job waiting in the lobby. He would cry every so often and wanted me to hold him. Beka did a good job waiting too! I put her in her stroller and she waited as patiently as a one year old can.

They took us to the back and did a couple of x-rays on his collar bone. And sure enough, a fractured clavicle. It's a greenstick break (imagine stripping a healthy, small branch off a tree, then trying to snap it in two...it doesn't snap but rather twists and bends - well that's similar to what happened to his collar bone). So the dr. gave us a prescription to get a figure 8 brace to help it heal correctly.

I take the kids home and we wake up dad (who is getting in his beauty sleep since he's on the graveyard shift at work). Jeremiah springs the news: "Dad, I went to the park and fell off a ladder and broke my bone." The drowsy, I'm-so-sleep-deprived-because-you-only-let-me-sleep-3-hours look on his face is classic once he hears the unbelievable news.

Needless to say, he couldn't go back to sleep after that. But the kids took a nap. That was my cue to go get that prescription filled.

After 4 stores, I finally find one that had the brace AND took my insurance, which completely covered the cost of the brace. But I need to have Jeremiah there to be fitted. So I go home, get the family and off we go.

Afterwards, we let Jeremiah pick dinner. He wanted breakfast, pancakes and eggs to be specific (a boy after my own heart - breakfast for dinner!). So off we went to Denny's.

Here's more pics of Jeremiah and his first broken bone, which costs us a total of $15 (who needs Aflac!?! he he)

See, he's feeling great, with a little help from Tylenol.

In this picture I told him to look like it hurts. I think he gave me "pathetic" instead. But hey, I'll take what I can get.

You can see the red mark where he landed on his shoulder and the bump where his clavicle broke.

Vaccination Update

Yesterday was Beka's doctor appointment. She had an ear infection...news to me. She must have just got it. Well, come to think of it, she did start coughing about an hour or two before her appointment. And on the way home, she started pulling at her ear. So, no shots for her. Those are scheduled for next week.

We did tell our doctor that we wanted to separate out the MMR shot. She told us that they don't do that.

-What?

-Well, we could do it but it would cost you a lot of money, the doctor said.

-Ok, how much money are we talking here?

-About $1,000!

-WHAT?!?

-We can't just get one missile of the vaccine, she said. We have to buy a lot of them, and you'd have to pay for it.

That just sounds wrong. Once I got home I called our insurance and explained it to the guy on the other end of the phone. It was late where he was, central time. So he's supposed to get some answers and call me back today.

Needless to say, we're still praying about it.

To be continued...

A vaccination decision

After prayer, thought, and research we've decided to give Beka her scheduled shots next week. However, we are going to request her doctor separate the MMR vaccine into 3 separate shots over time. I've called our insurance and they cover all vaccinations no matter how we, meaning our doctor and us, decide to administer them. So that's nice.

Thanks for your input, ladies. I really appreciate your time and thoughts!

Please note: if there's one thing I know about God it's that all of my above plans are tentative. There's still lots of time for Him to tell us to do something else!

I need some advice

So Beka's one year well-baby appointment is in a couple of weeks and she's scheduled for a slew of shots. So far she's been vaccinated according to our doctor's schedule. And it's not that we don't want to vaccinate her. But we're wondering if we should delay some of the vaccinations so that we're not bombarding her immune system with so much stuff all at once.

I know there are ladies out there with wonderful info because you've done a ton of homework on this topic already.

Would you mind sharing what you've learned? Any websites you've found trustworthy or just knowledge you wouldn't mind imparting would be terrific.

Thanks!

Giveaway

My friend Tara is having a wonderful giveaway. So check it out here!

Yes, it's true...

I'm pregnant! This baby is definitely a surprise! We actually wanted to wait about one more year before we tried to have another one. But obviously God had different plans.

This baby is due December 6 so I'm thinking we'll meet at the end of November. I think it'd be fun to not know whether it's a boy or girl and be completely surprised when the doctor pulls him/her out. Pascual, on the other hand, is hoping I'll change my mind in a few months. Time will tell.

Day Fourteen - check

Ha, the essay was all about calendars and how they can help you organize your life. Am I a believer!!! I've been doing that for ... well, ever since I've been married.

Ok, day 15:


Hmm, did I miss something? I thought that this was already supposed to be part of my morning routine? Well, in any case, I've been doing it. So it won't be anything new for me.

Although I foresee a major problem with this in a couple of days. Sunday Pascual starts his new shift: graveyards - 10pm-6am. Then he'll come home around 6:30am and sleep all morning (and hopefully part of the afternoon, we'll see). So I'm thinking for the next 4 months making my bed during my morning routine will be put on hold. I guess I can always make it before I go to bed? I don't really see the point though.

Day Thirteen - check

It's really amazing how quickly the time flies and how much stuff I get done when Beka's asleep and Jeremiah's watching Handy Manny (God bless that Disney show!).

Prep for day 14:

Tomorrow I'll read an essay. I don't think I've read an essay since I graded my students' papers on mathematicians throughout history. This should be interesting.

Day ...what day am I on???

It feels like I've been cleaning forever!

Oh ya, day 12, check!

There are days when I wonder, "why bother???" since the tornadoes, aka my family, just come behind me and causes what I've done to become undone.
But then I remind myself that I'm not cleaning for them (sounds bad but it's the truth-I've actually thought this one through!); I'm cleaning for me. When I let our home become disarrayed I lose my peace. And my family can attest: I need peace!

Ok, so tomorrow is the start of my week and we're adding on to my routine:


Ah, Kelly's missions. I actually love her missions. I'm looking forward to checking it out here and following through. I'm assuming I do it once my other morning routine blessings have been completed. I really hope I have time to get to it. If not, it won't be the end of the world. There will always be the following day to start again.

There will always be the following day to start again.

Hold on, I need to tell this to myself one more time...

There will always be the following day to start again.

Did you guys see it??? The light bulb that went off in my head? Do you hear the angelic choir singing in the background??? BREAKTHROUGH!!!


There will always be the following day to start again. I won't just give up because the day didn't go according to my plans.

There will always be the following day to start again.

Days Ten and Eleven - check & check!

Ok, I can't do anything for 15 minutes unless the kids stay alseep, busy, etc. But I'll do my best for as long as I've got.

Day 11 was
So here's the sayings I wrote down:

- Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the LORD rather than for men... Col 3:23

- My family is worth it!

- You can't organize clutter.

- You cannot go back and start again but you can start from now and have a brand new end.

- Anyone can work hard when they want to. Champions do it when they don't.

- Housework done incorrectly still blesses my family.

Let's prep for day 12 now, shall we...

Ha ha! I am the email deleting queen! This one is not a problem!!! An easy day for me!!!

"You can do anything for 15 minutes"...really?

I set my timer for 15 minutes to throw all the trash out of the home yesterday and I had to stop with 9 minutes left because Beka woke up from her nap. I meant to finish the 9 minutes later on in the day when I had time but the time never came.

So I really can't do anything in 15 minutes because whose to say I'll have 15 consecutive minutes to do something.

So I'll just do what I can in the time that I have. How's that sound? It's going to have to work.

Day Nine - check

I cleaned off my dining room table. I was amazed what I found:
my can opener
rubber scraper
Jeremiah's new shoes I bought him (he said he threw them in the trash...sad when he calls my dining room table "trash")
New Weight Watcher Dining Out Companion
not to mention all Jeremiah's toys he's been "storing" there.

Well, no more storage on that table. I collapsed it since we don't use it anyways.

Ok, new day:

These 15 minutes are meant to be a trash collection time, according to the fly lady.
No problemo!!!

Day Eight - check

Binder is done and ready to go. Actually, my binder is more than done. It has the following in it:
-The Fly Lady's Eleven Commandments
-Morning Routine
-Bedtime Routine
-Weekly Checklist (note: not that I've done any of it)
click here for more details on those routines and the checklist
-Weekly Bless My Home checklist (see note two lines up)
-The Fly Lady's detailed cleaning list categorized into zones
-A printout of age appropriate chores from ages 9 months up to 12 years
-Extra paper
-Personal Contact Info (like an address book)
-And an Emergency Contact page (has directions on how to get to my home, how to open the front gate, and important phone numbers: our pediatrician, pedi center, poison control, my doctor, and me and my hubby's cell phone numbers).

Please note: I had already completed this stuff 3 years ago. I didn't just sit down and do it over the weekend. But it's nice to know it's there.

Ok, tomorrow is a non-MOPS Monday which means I usually go to the gym in the morning. However, tomorrow is special because my hubby and I are going to do a spin class together at 5:30pm. So I won't be going to the gym in the morning. Which means, my day is actually going to start around 6am. (It usually doesn't start until 10am, when I come home from the gym.)
So here's what I mean by starting my day: I'll shower, get dressed, shine my sink, make my bed, spend 2 minutes on my hot spots and...



I'll attempt to do this during nappy poo time.

Wish me luck.

P.S. I think this is the most link-ridden post I've ever had!!! Some of them I did for complete fun! Boy, did I have fun!!!

Eureka!!!

I found it!!!

The recipe for my most favorite, absolutely most delicious cheesecake ever!


I've only had it twice. Once at a dinner party at a very ritzy house on the river. They flew it in for us from the Carnegie Deli in New York. And the other time I had it was right before Jeremiah was born when we visited Las Vegas. They have a Carnegie Deli inside the Mirage.

And who would've ever thought the Carnegie Deli would post their recipe for this most delicious, decadent, heavenly cheesecake. I'm very tempted to make it. But I wonder if it will lose its mysterious appeal to me if I know how and can actually replicate this thing of beauty? I'll have to work myself up to make this scrumptious dessert. And this month is not the month! But at least I know how now.

Day Seven - check

Getting my clothes ready last night saved me about 30 seconds of time this morning. But I can see how on busier days it will be a better thing.

Is it me or does it seem like things are moving at a zippy speed now. Let's review: I'm shining my sink, doing a load of laundry daily, making my bed consistently, getting dressed everyday, putting out hot spots...

Wow, I almost need a day off to let these new routines sink in.

Well, let's see what the fly lady has in store for me tomorrow:

Day 8 -



Aha! Here's my day off! (And a good thing too - tomorrow is the beginning of Pascual's weekend. Remember: his days off are mine too!)
I already have this ready to go...from the last time I way over did the fly lady and took an afternoon to create and perfect my control journal. Kinda sick...I know. I'll re-write my morning and evening routine so far and rip out the

pages

that

I

did...

wait. I can't rip those out. How about I just won't look at them for now.

Confession time: I haven't even attempted to clean in the zone of the week. But that'll come with time...I hope.

Day Six - check Wow...

Those 2 minutes went by sooo fast! I didn't even finish my hot spot! Well, there's always tomorrow. Bet ya never thought I'd say that, huh?

So I added "2 minutes for hot spots" as a sticky note to my bathroom and kitchen. Now what...


Tonight I pick out my clothes. Hmmm, isn't it just the same thing every day? Pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Okie dokie artichokie. I hope I remember...bedtime is still hours away. A lot gets lost in my head in that amount of time.

I've noticed...

that my day doesn't begin until 10am, when I come home from the gym.

And I'm ok with that! It works for me!!!

Day Five - check

I've noticed that my ANTs are thoughts like
I've got to take care of ____________ now so it'll get done.
Or
If I start the washing machine right now, I can work on _________ while it's washing.
It's like multi-tasking with machines.

And what ends up happening with me is I get overwhelmed with all the stuff that needs to get done and do hardly anything instead.

So today, when I really wanted to start my day before I took my shower and got dressed I told myself,
"Self, (not really but I like saying that) do it in the correct order!"

And ya know what...stuff got done today! So YIPPEE!

OK, let's prep for day 6:


I already know where my hot spots are:
a. the tiny corner of my kitchen table - I'm surprised by how much stuff is there.
b. my dining room table - we don't use it so it collects stuff; my stuff and Jeremiah's toys
c. computer desk
d. any surface in my den

Don't worry. I'm not going to over do it tomorrow. I'll set my timer for 2 minutes and work on that tiny corner until I hear the "ding". Then I'll be done for the day. I'm so excited!!!

Day Four - check

Ok, back to work...for the hubby and me!

I had to miss MOPS today because of my child's runny nose and cough...little stinker! I've gotta remind myself that she's not having cold-symptoms on purpose. :)

So day four was to put sticky notes around, writing what I do so far (which isn't much):
1. Get dressed for the day - as in be ready to leave the house.
2. Shine my sink - for me that's just cleaning up breakfast dishes and any dishes that didn't make it into the dishwasher (because it was full already) last night. And clean any green bags that I've let accumulate on my counter.
3. Check the reminder emails (love this one!).

So 3 sticky notes are attached to my bathroom mirror. I'll add 3 more, saying the same things, to my kitchen in just a moment.
That'll do.

Ok, so let's prep for day 5:

"Are you hearing any of those nagging negative voices popping into your head? I want you to take a piece of paper and write down what you hear then I want you to turn those ugly words around and say something nice to yourself to negate the ugly words that they said." (note: quote taken from here)
Ok, I'll just be honest. My first reaction to day 5's advice is, "Oh puhleeze!"
But upon further thought, I'm reminded that I've done this before...from my weight watcher meetings. Yep, those negative thoughts are called 'ANTs' - automatic negative thoughts and they must be sprayed!

So I'll just write down any negative thoughts, whether it comes from cleaning or eating or the fat on my body. It is a good idea...even if it sounds like hokey.

A break from the fly lady's routine...it's cake time!!!

Is it me or when it's the hubby's days off, it's the wife's days off too? Who wants to clean house when it's just going to get messy with fun life. Fooey on that. So, sorry fly lady, but I've been taking a break to kick it for a couple of days. But don't you worry, I'm coming back! I'll resume with day 4...or whatever day I'm on.

I went to our MOPS spring social silent auction and won a $100 certificate to a new cake place in town. They are so new that they actually don't have a store front yet; they're working out of their kitchen. We thought it'd be a good idea to get Jeremiah a cool looking pirate themed cake for his birthday this year. Today was our sampling appointment. And they were so smart about it: they baked up the 9 different cake flavors we chose, then in separate dishes had different flavored fillings and different flavored icings.

Oh mercy, were most of those samples delish! Some I didn't care for: the brownie and anything with the chocolate filling. But then again, I'm not a big chocolate fan. Freakish- I know.

But my favorites were: lemon cake with lemon filling (reminded me of a lemon merangue pie...oh lordy) and vanilla frosting, cherry chip cake with cherry filling and almond frosting (that cherry/almond combo was fantastic!!!), pineapple coconut cake with pineapple filling and vanilla frosting (I think it was vanilla anyways..can't remember we tried so many), and finally pineapple coconut cake with bavarian cream filling and vanilla frosting (gosh, was it vanilla?). The pineapple coconut cake was so moist and the pineapple filling had such texture (the cake did too!). Oh man, T-A-S-T-Y!!!

When we left we were sooo full.

On our way home we discussed how hospitable they were and how we feel like they went out of their way for a couple who really isn't bringing them much money since they donated the gift certificate to MOPS.

So I think we're going to break the family tradition of using only using Rosie's for family get togethers and we're going to use Keep Sake Kakes for both of our kids' birthday cakes...yep, it was that good. Plus they can make a cake in the shape of a pirate treasure chest for Jeremiah


and a piñata for Beka. How cute will these be!!!

Day Three - check

Did what I was doing.

Prep for day 4:


I'm a master list maker. I've got this one in the bag!!!

Day Two - check

This morning I got "dressed". Well I'm calling it dressed. I basically put a bra on and kept the closed on that I slept in. I did some dishes and re-shined my sink. I also had Jeremiah help me clean up the toy room - uh the living room.

Beka took an early nap since she was up so early; which worked out great for me...I got to go to zumba class at the gym at 9:30.

After lunch, Beka took her 2nd nap, Jeremiah watched a video and I took my shower for the day and got re-dressed.

You think I get bonus points for getting dressed twice in one day?

Prep for day 3:


I really want to jump ahead and do the next 3 or 4 days but I shall refrain. Babysteps, Dani...babysteps!

Day One...check

I shined my sink.

I didn't do it until 2pm but I did it none the less.

Prep for day 2:


Ugh. I really don't like this one. Seriously, I can and know that I will get my household going without shoes on. But I know for me, I cannot get my day going without a bra on. You think the fly lady would mind if I substituted "bra" for "shoes"?

Hey, I'm making it work for me.

If I burn out again and restart the fly lady's routine I promise I'll change my ways and lace up my shoes next time. But this time, I'm just going to make sure I get dressed up to my shoes.

And as far as hair and make-up...you really think I have to do it when I don't do every day anyways. Heck, today I went to Target after the gym with my hair in disarray, no make-up and a t-shirt that had so much visible sweat in it I'm pretty sure I could've wrung it out and made the ground wet. Kinda gross but I had a great workout!!!

Well, were calling day 2, "Dani's modified day 2".

Day One-eve

Tomorrow is Monday - a great day to start with the fly lady's routine.

I'm a pretty organized person but I just hate to clean - and I really need to. I've got clutter in places that take my peace away. And trust me when I say, if mama ain't got peace, ain't nobody got peace.

Ok, tomorrow it is. And this time, I'm going to start the fly lady with utterly ridiculously small baby steps. Maybe I'll stick with it and not burn out this time.

Thanks for the inspiration, Tara! You're a terrific friend!!!

Stay tuned for a recap of each day of the routine.

Let's see, tomorrow's goal according to the fly lady is:


I know I can manage that. That's the problem with me. I'll want to do days 2, 3, and 4 tomorrow too. But I shall resist the urge! One day at a time! That's a promise.

Where are the people that give compliments?

Yesterday I was at Costco putting the items into my car. Jeremiah was already in his car seat, waiting patiently to be buckled in, and Beka was sitting in the basket. This older couple passed by and played with Beka's toes, asking, "which isle do we find one of these?"

Oh, it's so cute when older people get a kick out of babies.

My guard dropped...

Then they went in for the kill.

With a change of tone in their voice they added, "And your mommy is letting you sit right in the sun." And they walked off.

I stood there thinking, where are the people who tell you what a good job you're doing? Why are these neigh-sayers a dime a dozen?"

So today, as I go out to the marketplace, I'm going to try to compliment a mother's skills because I know it would make her day. I know it would make mine!!!

Amish Friendship WHAT?!?

On Monday at MOPS, my friend Lynette gave me an Amish Friendship Bread starter. The girls at my table asked me if it was breastmilk.
Which leads me to a few disturbing thoughts:
a. that the girls at my table would think that I would bring my breastmilk in a large ziplock bag
b. that the girls at my table would think my breastmilk would be that thick and off color
c. that the girls at my table would think that I'd be that uncouth to just flop a bag of breastmilk on the table
These thoughts are making me wonder about the girls at my table...weirdos!
Anyways...

Later that night I told my hubby about the bag of bread starter and what the girls at my table thought. Then I told him the process that will eventually lead to delicious loaves of bread.

And that's when he stared at me with a disgusting look on his face.

What?

"I'm NOT eating that!", he said.

Why not???

"I'm NOT eating bread made with another woman's breastmilk! I wouldn't even eat it if it was made with your own breastmilk."

Huh? What are you talking about?

He assumed after all that talk about the girls at my table thinking that was large bag of zip locked milk, that there was actually breastmilk in the bag - that Lynette had made the starter with her milk - and she's sharing it with us.

Holy cow, that made my night. I still giggle over that miscommunication!

I wonder if he'll try the bread next week when I make it?

Never Alone

Jobs are not a sure thing in this economy. And even though Pascual is still employed, we can still pay our bills, and God is totally taking care of us I know people that don't know how they will pay their bills, and they don't see God moving for them at all.
The following song lyrics really ministered to me...and I hope will bless you to!



I waited for you today
But you didn't show
Oh no
I needed You today
So where did You go?

You told me to call
Said You'd be there
And though I haven't seen You
Are You still there?

I cry out with no reply
And I can't feel You by my side
So I'll hold tight to what I know
You're here and I'm never alone

And though I cannot see You
And I can't explain why
Such a deep, deep reassurance
You've placed in my life

We cannot separate
'Cause You're part of me
And though You're invisible
I'll trust the unseen

I cry out with no reply
And I can't feel You by my side
So I'll hold tight to what I know
You're here and I'm never alone


"Never Alone"
By Barlow Girl

Dentists

Yesterday Jeremiah had his 6 month cleaning appointment with his dentist. He's 3 years old... And he had a dentist appointment. Actually this is his 3rd dentist appointment. His first one he had at 2 1/2 years when they did a visual exam and cleaned his teeth. 6 months ago, they took x-rays and cleaned his teeth.

I know this is foreign to some of you out there in bloggy land but we only pay 10% of the bill so I figure why not. And besides, the ADA recommends that kids have their first check up at 12 months. Now, I didn't go that far. I think that's kinda pushing it. I mean, come on. That could tramatise a little tike.

Ok, back to the story. So they go to take him back and I ask if they're going to clean his teeth and the lady tells me they're going to do x-rays and a cleaning. X-rays? Again? Why???

And her answer was great! (not!...keep a visual in your head of money hungry people doing anything to get more money) She said that my insurance allows him to have x-rays every 6 months. I just stared at her. Then she finally added that a lot of cavities show up in between teeth and x-rays are the best way to find them. And how they're x-ray machine only emits 10% of the radiation that conventional x-ray machines emit.

Hello, have you seen Jeremiah's teeth??? They have such a spread to them that I have to buy those Christmas tree looking brushes to "floss" his teeth. And do I really want my son to glow in the dark by the time he's in high school??

So I tell her that I don't want him to have x-rays this time. So they write in his chart about how I'm an irresponsible mom...

Just kidding. But they did write in his chart about how cavities are best detected with x-rays and I'm declining the use of x-rays at this visit. And they have me sign it.

I don't care. Seriously, I don't think a 3 year old needs x-rays done every 6 months. Can someone say overkill???

Besides, there's nothing like a $9 dentist visit! :-)

A Dangerous Weapon

Jeremiah's been watching the Pirates Who Don't Do Anything and is really into pirates. He likes to play with his cutlass (aka my butter knife, actually all of my butter knives). So this morning he took his cutlass with us to the grocery store. A fellow shopper stopped me and proceeded to tell me that if my boy fell he could get hurt. Naturally assuming she was kidding I said, "I know. It's really sharp, huh." Well from that point on I could tell she didn't like me one bit. She got on to me saying how if the police saw him with that "dangerous weapon" (oh yes, I quoted her there!) that I would be arrested and CPS would take my children from me. I just kept saying, "you're kidding, right?". And she would answer me with more astounding "facts" about how sharp and dangerous this knife he was carrying was. CRAZY!

By this time my flesh was ready for its turn but God kept me in line. When she was done I told her thank you (without any sarcasm..can you believe it!) and she came back with a sarcastic you're welcome.

The lady walked away. Now I stood at a crossroad. Jeremiah saw the whole thing so I bent down and told him that lady didn't want him to have his cutlass and that God wants us to live at peace with people as much as possible. So I told him I was going to hold his cutlass until we got outside where he could have it back. Amazingly, he said ok.

Lady, if you're reading this please note: I did NOT take away the butter knife because I was afraid the cops were coming to arrest me and take my kids away, give me a break you crazy old coot! I did it to teach my son a lesson in loving people...even the crazy, freak pots like you!

Looking back on the whole ordeal we learned another lesson: don't take the butter knife to the store. It's just easier to leave it at home where he can run all around the house with it than to bring it to the store.

My New Found Love

I just bought a bottle of Tapatio, requested by my hubby. It was my very first time buying and trying this stuff. And this stuff is fantastic. For the past 2 days, which has been ever since I'd had the bottle of deliciousness, my afternoon 1 point snack has been half a cup of Costco's egg starts, scrambled with a few dashes of seasoning salt. Then wrapped in a very warm La Bonita Low Carb tortilla. I enjoy my egg burrito with the bottle of Tapatio in hand...because every bite has to have some, who am I kidding...a lot!!!, of this goodness on it.

I always just assumed it tasted like Tabasco. No, no, no! It's more like chorizo and eggs, but without the chorizo. It doesn't taste like vinegar but more along the lines of spices.

I am looking forward to tomorrow's afternoon snack already!

Dang it, I should've bought the big bottle! I hope this little one lasts until payday.

My Very First Turkey

So my sister made me make the Christmas turkey this year. I was really intimidated by it but I did my research (I know my sister would be rolling her eyes thinking what a nerd of a sister she has) and decided to go with the Pioneer Woman's rendition. Can I just say how much I love that lady! Not only did my turkey look terrific



but it tasted great!!!

I followed the PW's brining recipe the day before I cooked it. Aw so good. I'll be the one making the turkey from now on...and it won't intimidate me again!