Vacations and new job…

Well Phil is leaving his big corporation at the end of May. He will take about 1 month off or more. We plan to take an early 15 anniversary trip by going to the Carribbean!!! Woohoo…I am excited. I have spent oodles of time researching deals and have found some great ones through www.applevacations.com . I had to go and apply for my passport yesterday and hopefully it gets here soon so we can make reservations.

Caleb is dealing with a case of strep throat. He missed school yesterday and that put my work schedule back a day. I forgot that I was helping at another store today but that was changed to Thursday, which was good because I needed today to do some of my own! Tomorrow is going to be a killer if I try to do too much so I might leave a store for Thursday after I help at the other one. I should be done helping early enough that I will have time to go finish my stores. Ugh. I almost thought Jake was staying home today but he got up and Phil drove him in to school. I guess he was on time. Caleb managed to finish all his “make-up” work and his “gifted homework” in school today. Whew, that’s good because tonight is scouts and that means busy.

I did plan a menu out for the week and did some orderly food shopping. I haven’t done that in weeks and it has been hurting us. So tonight is sloppy joes, beans and salad. Wed is breakfast for dinner. Thursday Jake turns 13 and he requested burgers, fries and root beer floats! lol…Friday is undecided but Saturday is pizza and chips and snacks for Jake’s laser tag party. At least I have most of the week done.

I got to chat via the webcam last night with Brit and the babies. Elizabeth is still doing the “I coulda had a V-s” head slap my brother taught her at Easter. Asher can lift his head up when on his tummy. They are just so adorable!

Yesterday, while getting my photos done for my passport, I shopped at Walgreen’s. I bought a Ped-Egg for Phil to give me for Mother’s Day! I requested one and figured I would pick it up for him while I was out. He later told me he had plans to  get one for me. LOL…figures, just when I help him, he has it all under control. I think he and the boys are getting me a bunch of flowers to plant for MD.

Ok that’s it for this week. Busy busy busy. Better get cracking on those homemade sloppy joes.

2 lbs. ground beef or turkey

1/2  vidalia sweet onion, diced

2 cloves of garlic

1 bottle chili sauce

1/2 bottle water

Brown meat, onions and garlic. Drain fat and add chili sauce and water. Simmer for 30 min. or more. You can add in salt and pepper if you like. Or more garlic! Serve on buns w/cheese if you like it like that. Seems like my crew does.

Did you miss me?

I hope so. I  know I have a few faithful readers. I am so behind in blogging. I am too tired to think, on most days, about what to blog about. I still like my job. Phil is going to hear some big news about his job today or tomorrow so I will blog again when we know something. In any case, it means big changes for us. The boys are doing great. Lauren feels good and the baby is moving around, almost to where we can feel him move from the outside. Jake loves to feel her belly. I know that I still think adoption would be best but I am certain she is going to keep her boy and raise him. It will be hard and I am not sure of how my support will look like in the future but for now, I am here for her. Life has been easier since she moved out. We get along better because both of us don’t expect much from the other any longer.

I am going against etiquitte and planning, with help, her baby shower. The first plans for one fell apart due to the dysfunction of the girl who was planning it. I knew from the beginning that it was a mistake for S to plan a shower. Her whole family is a bunch of drunks and they are violent at times. It’s not the place for a baby shower. So it’s being planned for sometime in June and I will just do it. Who cares about manners at a time like this?

I had a great visit with my mother in law and dh’s grandma, who is 88 BTW. It was a fun trip out to see Brit and family. The babies are so adorable. Elizabeth just loved on me and she always remembers me when we visit. Asher was a pip! He was a crabby butt so we didn’t do too much loving on each other.  Brit and Jonathan gave me my mother’s day gift early. It’s a webcam! Now I can talk and see them and they can talk back to me and see us and all that fun. Today we hope to hook up and talk. Caleb really misses them and wants to be able to see them and chat. See, Brit just logged in! lol…

Ok, I better go. I have some grass to rake. Our riding mower is getting repaired and Phil push mowed the back 40 and the cut grass is everywhere. I need to help him out a bit and rake. Yuck!

If anyone knows how to post pictures on here, leave a comment. I don’t like the new changes in WordPress when it comes to uploading images!

So busy…

Life has been so busy, too busy to blog. Or I am just too tired when I am online to think about blogging. Today we took a day trip into Pittsburgh to visit with my family. My baby brother is leaving for South Korea on Tuesday and this was my last chance to see him for at least a year. We took Lauren and the boys. Brit and family could not come in as the trip is too long for them and they are busy themselves. At least I brought the dvd of the babies the last time they were here.

We had a nice visit with not too much stress. Phil’s sunglasses broke on the way home and since we were driving into the setting sun, we had to switch and I drove the rest of the way home. That wasn’t too bad. He drove all the way there. My belly was upset earlier in the day but I did ok the rest of the day. It was kind of funny cause at lunch, my family all sat around sharing our “diarreha stories! We are a sick bunch of people but it seems we all had one or more to share. Funny cause my one memory of my sister’s bad situation was her only one. Hmmm makes me wonder if she was telling the truth! I wish I had her intestines.

I have a new camera and I took lots of pictures. I still can’t figure out how to get images on my blog since wordpress upgraded so bear with me. I will get some on here soon.

I am really loving my job. The weirdest thing is this-I get asked if I work for the store I am in by the customers all the time. It’s weird because, to them, I look like an employee doing “store stuff” but really I don’t know where they keep “their bleach” or “their batteries” even though I just finished scanning all 53 battery displays. It’s not my job to direct them to anything  that is a product in the store, I refer them to the service desk and I get funny looks. The only time I am not asked about being an employee is when I wear a coat on in the stores. That throws them off.

Well I have a very super busy week. I work 3 days, will visit with Brit and my inlaws on Thursday by driving half-way to Brit’s to meet her and the babies. Then the guys all go camping over the weekend and I have a training day at church on Saturday. I was hoping to have a fun day but I have to attend this training in order to be a nursery worker. Oh well, duty calls. And it’s time for bed. Night all!

Thursday Thirteen

I can’t seem to upload picture files, so I’ll do without it!

Thirteen quirks about my job:

1. I get asked way too many times if I work for the store I am in.

2. I am really tired of hearing 80’s Pop “muzak” in the stores.

3. On the other hand, I like that one store plays a local country station.

4. People think I am doing an important job cause I have a “computer-like” device in my hand. Hah!

5. The pay is still good for what I am doing.

6. I get to read funny bumper stickers. How about this one, seen on a gas-guzzling Land Rover-”Tree hugging dirt worshipper”! lol…

7. I am still finding time to complete my house duties.

8. In the busyness, I still found time to take up an old hobby-sewing.

9. I feel good about myself and what I am doing.

10. I get to see what is on sale and where to shop for good deals.

11. I spend less time online, good-but less time playing Literati=bad!

12. I am getting better at organizing my time and things.

13. I don’t have a boss hovering over me every day I go to work! That is a good part although my boss is really a nice guy.

So there are some thoughts about my job I have been wanting to blog about but haven’t found the time. Visit Thursday Thirteen for more fun!

Menu plan monday

Yep, it’s a day late. That’s ok.

Monday: roast chicken and twice baked cauliflower

Tuesday: tacos

Wednesday: Summer sausage w/ peppers, potatoes and onions

Thursday: Sloppy joes, vegges and fruits

Friday: Terriyaki chicken, rice and broccoli

Sat: camp for guys, I will scrounge for food

Sunday: Leftovers

My new project…

I needed something to keep me busy and off this computer so much. Oh but my aching back! I set out to make burp cloths for my grandbabies. Asher is only 2 months so Brit can use them with him for awhile. Lauren is due in August so I have time to make those but since I am a rusty seamstress, I began today. Good thing too! I had to buy, wash and dry  then iron all the materials and cloth diapers. I am decorating the diapers with super cute flannel for super cute burp cloths! So far the two I have done are cute. I am so proud of myself today.

Not only did I do the two burp cloths, I sewed patches on my sons’ boy scout shirts. Whew that was a chore and a half. Patches are hard. Especially any on the sleeves and there were a bunch of those.

Here are some pictures. One is of the 2 diapers with decorative stitching. I did one with the zigzag and the other a double row of straight stitches.  The other photo is the rest of the cute material I am going to use. I have to give thanks to the following bloggers for their ideas.  Barb at A Chelsea Morning for the diaper design and then I found this from Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer. I can’t wait to give some to Brit on Tuesday when they come for a day visit.

 

Menu Plan Monday

Time again for my menu plan. I haven’t had one in awhile due to job and spring break, but I am back again. Here we go….

Monday: Breakfast sandwiches-will be making extra for freezing for later in the week.

Tuesday: Potpies and fruit

Wednesday: Orzo salad w/roasted veggies and chicken

Thursday: Sausage ravioli, broccoli and bread

Friday: Soup and salad

Saturday: Marlboro Man’s favorite sandwich, veggies and dip

Sunday: Roasted chicken and twice-baked cauliflower

Be sure to stop by Organizing Junkie hosted by Laura for more menu plans and fun!

Look who’s coming to visit me!

This is Asher. He is my 7 week old grandson. And he is bringing his older sister and parents. I can’t wait.

Proud momma moment…

Last night my son Caleb earned his Arrow of Light award, the highest award in Cub Scouts. He then crossed over into Boy Scouts, joining his brother, Jake, in the local troop. He is so proud and so am I and his father. That boy worked hard! He earned it in about 5 months instead of about 2 years. He was in Webelos I in September but because of issues involving the den leaders and others, he was ready to quit. We got permission for him to join the Webelos II den and move up, since he is 11. It was in that den that he worked like crazy to complete all the requirements to get his AoL award. I will post a picture or two later. I am waiting on some through email from other parents who had cameras. We have yet buy a new one! That is coming soon.

I am loving my new job even though I am still in training. So far it’s easy but lots of headwork. I have to use my brain a lot to work this job. I am still asking myself the questions out loud while I go through a store and all it’s different displays that I have to scan. I think once I get my rhthym down, it will be easier and I won’t be asking all the questions out loud. They will just come natural.

Tomorrow is spring break for the boys. Yippee! No more getting up super early for me! I am not working again till next Thursday. Phil and I are getting away for a few days next week. The boys are visiting Brit and going to help her with the babies for a few days. I know they will love it. Maybe I will post a Thursday Thirteen later. Right now I have to make a snack for Caleb’s class since it’s my turn this month. Green rice krispy treats!

Happy 40th to my best friend…

Phil. He is 40 today. He is my best friend and lover. He is my husband and father to my children. He is everything I ever wanted in a mate and friend. How wonderful it is to enjoy time with him on his special day. His parents sent him a gift card to the Macaroni Grill and we went and had lunch today. I must have the Italian influence on him, as he isn’t Italian! lol…

Here he is with his huge piece of birthday cake, provided by MG. Thanks!