I am back from dropping off Tommy at daycare and the Truck at the dealership.  I got my exercise in for the day and walked home from the dealership.    So now I need to clean up around here and do some more laundy so we can pack!   Later!!

Tommy to Daycare - DONE
Truck to the Dealer - DONE
Wash Dishes  -DONE
Figure Out Supper -DONE
Pick up Rental Van - DONE
Laundry - WORKING ON
Pack for vacation
Chiropractor - CANCELLED
Clean out Fridge
Pay Bills - WORKING ON NOW
Mail Flyers for Cooking Session

Off and running

Another busy vacation day!  I am not very good at relaxing on a vacation.  LOL!!   Erik is doing pretty good this morning I just gave him some more tylenol.  Last night I had him sitting on the couch watching movies and he wanted to get up and play, which was a great sign.  I was so impressed how well he did getting the 4 teeth removed.  What a trooper!  He did bettter than I would have!  This morning he is a little sore and woke up early so I gave him some more tylenol. 

Last night we went to look at two vans.   One was not too bad, but I still want to look around a bit.   On the way home driving on the freeway my truck stopped running again.  Weird.   The radio and everything keeps going, but the engine jsut shuts off while you are driving.  But it starts back up again though.  I have to drop it off at the dealer this morning after I take Tommy to daycare.  Then I am going to pick up the rental van for our trip to South Dakota.    I hate car troubles!

Tommy is in the bath tub playing and Erik fell back to sleep on our bed after taking his Tylenol.  Josh is still sleeping, but I will have to wake him as the neighbors called for him to mow the lawn before we leave on vacation.

I guess I better get Tommy out of the tub and shower and get this day going!

mscaffieneaddict - the bread thrift store is called Taystee Outlet.  It is a store with day old bread from the grocery stores and the bread is very cheap.  I buy tortillas, buns, bread, granola bars and light bread there at a fraction of the cost at the grocery store.   I freeze the extra to keep it fresh. 

TO DO TODAY!

Tommy to Daycare - DONE
Truck to the Dealer - DONE
Wash Dishes
Figure Out Supper
Pick up Rental Van
Laundry
Pack for vacation
Chiropractor
Clean out Fridge
Pay Bills
Mail Flyers for Cooking Session

Off and running...............................

I am relaxing a bit before taking Erik to the dentist.  I have had a productive day.  I went to the bread thrift store, Sam's and Target this morning.  Then I rolled those older two boys out of bed!   I think they stayed up a bit late last night.  Josh made us some great sandwiches for lunch.  Then it was time to do our chores. 

Erik is always a great helper and gets his chores done quickly.  Josh is slow as molasses.  But they are all done!   We divided Dad's chores between the three of us and those are done too.  

I have some shrimp marinating in the fridge for supper.  I think I will end up making ramen for Erik if he even wants to eat after having his teeth removed.  I am taking him to the library to rent two movies to watch tonight while he is recooperating tonight. 

Well I need to switch around laundry and do lunch dishes before we head to the library.   Have a great day!  

LEMON & GARLIC MARINADE

This marinade is suppose to be for chicken but I am trying it tonight on shrimp.  Should be good!  

2 cloves chopped garlic
4 Tablespoons Olive Oil
2 Tablespoons chopped Parsley
3 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
1/8 Teaspoons pepper

 

I'm ON VACATION!!!  I slept in until after 8:00 this morning!  YEAH!!   

I called to set up a time to look at the van we wanted to buy and it was sold last night.  What a bummer......now we have to be looking for another van again.  ARGH!!   It just didn't work out to look it earlier since I had to work late, etc. 

I am off to take Tom to daycare and run errands.  Later!

Ok..we have been debating and debating about this, but we are going to look at a different van.  It is used one of course but it has under 50,000 miles on it, but of course it is all the way in Princeton, MN .  We are going to try to meet the people 1/2 way and take a look at it.   I think the payment on the loan will be low enough that my pay raise in August and my monthly mileage reimbrsement will cover it.  It is always a crazy juggling game with our tight budget.  If this van looks as good as it sounds, we can't pass it up at this low price.  Always leary buying from a private party.    Wish us luck!  Would be nice if we wouldn't have to rent a van for our trip to South Dakota.  That would save us over $400.00. 

It is getting harder and harder to keep up with my blog.   I have a few minutes while my supper is cooling off.   OUCH, I burnt my tongue!   I nuked it a bit too much!   Life is going well.   I have to say work is great....home is great.  The kids are great.   I love June!   Today is my last day of work.  I am doing 12 hours, but then I am off until July 11th!  YEAH!!!   We are going to SD over the weekend, but the rest of the time I will be home with my boys. 

Josh came home on Sunday from his mission trip in MIssissippi.  He had a good time.  They painted about 6 houses and did a kids club as well.   Erik has been glued to Josh of course.   He is very happy that Josh is home again. 

Monday was a late night for me, so by the time I got home Tommy was already in bed and I went straight there myself.  I didn't do very well at weigh in on Monday at Weight Watchers....I am not happy about that.  They increased my predisone dosage, which has really increased my appetite this time.  Not helpful for weight loss. 

   Today will be another late night.   I need ot finish up a few things at the office before being gone on vacation.  I hate leaving loose ends.    Darn..the electricity jsut went out at my office again!  ARGH...I might not be working late tonight after all.  I will keep typing here and hope the electricty come back on!!  

And there was light!!!!!   Hey...all I had to do was type that sentence and I have light.  YEAH!  

Tomorrow I am sleeping in!   I told the daycare provider I wouldn't have Tommy there until I woke up.  LOL!!   In the late afternoon poor Erik needs to have some teeth pulled in preparation for his braces.   

Well I suppose should get back to work before we loose electricity again. 

RESPONSES TO COMMENTS:

FireWifeMom - PDD is prevasive developmental disorder, it is on the autism spectrum.  I have autism related diagnoses on my hubbys side and now my side of the family as well.  

IMMAX3 - Hey..welcome back!   What book are you reading for book group this month???   We are reading Anna Karenina both for June and July.  I must admit I had to go to the library and get it on tape as I was having a time reading it.  It is very slow going.   I hope to read something a bit more fun on vacation.  I am almost done with Drowning Ruth, which isn't bad, has some slow parts.  

WISCONSONMOM -  I am not reading much lately.  The kids are keeping me very busy.    I do a little reading competition with the boys and so far Erik is winning!!   I need to make more time to read.  But so far this summe I have read the following......

May

The Things They Carried - Tom O'Brien - 3/5

Never Change - Elizabeth Berg - 4/5

Vanishing Act - Jodi Picoult - 4/5

Until They Bring the Streetcars Back - Stanley Gordon West - 4/5

Being Perfect - Anna Quindlen - 3/5

 

June

To Have and To Hold - Jane Green - 3.5/5

The Namesake - Jhumpa Lahiri - 4/5

The Everything Budgeting Book -

 

Back to work.....later all!!!  Have a great evening!

Get ready for a picture intense blog....LOL!!    

FRIDAY

We waited for Erik's mom to come and pick him up and then we headed out of town.  It took us forever to get out of the city due to traffic.  It took us 1.5 hours longer to get here than anticipated.  We checked into our room and headed to my sister's house for supper and to visit. 

My great nephew, Mason.  He is 2 years old.  He is so cute.  He isn't talking yet but is beginning to use some sign language.   He has PDD. 

Mason and Tommy playing.

My neice, Missy.   She is Mason's Mommy.  She is due with her second son in August.

 

SATURDAY

We got up and enjoyed a great free breakfast at the motel.  Then Mason and Missy came over to go swimming before the wedding. 

Tommy in the little raft Mason brought over. 

For lunch we went to Space Aliens.  It is a restaurant that looks like Pizza Planet in the Toy Story movie.  Tommy's all time favorite movie.  He loved the place and the food was pretty good!

 

 

Sitting with the alien!

 

Tommy had an martian drink.  WOW was that sweet.

Tommy is in the corner climbing like he is Spiderman.

WOW...the space alien game like in the movie Toy Story!

Tommy's space lunch.  A grill cheese sandwhich and a rocket of french fries.

THE WEDDING

Mason and Tommy chilling until time for the food to be served.

Jesse (my nephew and the groom) and Tommy.

Tommy eating his cupcake!

 

My family that was at the wedding...

My bro, Dan, My dad, Me with Tommy in front of me, My Mom and my sister Doreen.

Mom, Tommy, Me and Doreen.

Your lucky I posted these pictures...I always HATE every picture of myself!

On the way home from the wedding, Tommy fell asleep and I took a little nap as well.  Now we are waiting for my sister, and Mason and Missy to come over and go swimming.  The pool is open until 11:00 so we should have plenty of time to swim yet. 

I have done TERRIBLE on my eating this weekend.  I am not looking forward to my weigh in on Monday.  It will not be good!  Eating out and weddings do that to you!   Starting next Wednesday I am on vacation and we are leaving on Friday to go to my Mom and Dad's house in South Dakota. 

Later!

Up early on my day off....YUCK!!   Book group was fun last night.  I got lost trying to find my friends house out in Prior Lake, MN.  Only four of us were there.  

Today's agenda is very busy.  Tom has a ear re-check this morning at 8:20 and then I have to go to Target to get a wedding gift for my nephew.  Then I have to come home and pack us for our trip to the wedding in Fargo, ND.   Busy, Busy.....I have to wash one more laod of laundry too since I want to pack a shirt that is in the laundry.  

Time to get ready and get this day going!    I hope to get alot of reading done on the trip there and back!    I might blog over the weekend, not sure I will be taking my laptop with or not.   Later!

The electricity has gone out at my office....argh....laptop battery will only last for a bit.  Hmm....what do I do for the rest of my afternoon until the power comes back on????    I have 2 hours of power left on my laptop so I can work for a while more.  But it is really dark!   Later!

I love evenings I am home for!  We had a good evening.  I went to the chiropractor and then came home and made some supper while hubby took Erik to get a haircut.   I wouldn't let Tommy get a haircut and he was mad!   He stayed home and worked on his MAZE workbook that he found.  I had hid it to take with us this weekend to Fargo.  But he found it and has done almost the entire workbook already.  He loves mazes!  So he did that while I made supper.  He is getting better about coloring and writing again.  For a while he would jsut refuse, but he is willing again.

Then I laid down with the heating pad since I was a little sore from the Chiropractor.   Tommy and I watched part of a movie while I did this.   Erik went to Holiday and got a small treat.   I am so impressed at how well Erik is doing.  We usually have a difficult first two weeks with the summer, but we aren't.  We had a couple of issue last weekend, but that seems to be gone now.   I started a positive reinforcement program with him that seems to be working so far.    Each night when I tuck him in at the end of the day we talk about his day and he earns his reinforcement if he hasn't done the behaviors that drive me nuts!   See I win in this situation too, since he isn't doing the things i have trouble with, which is really only being untruthful.  I have a very difficult time if he lies and he was alot. It has stopped so far.    I am very proud of him!  

Tonight we made popsicles.  Erik had threw away alot of the sticks.  I might have to buy a different set now.  He made some with Cherry Coke.  We forgot that pop expands when it freezes and made a bit of a mess in the freezer.  Tommy and I tried some popsicles that were in the new Quick Cooking Magazine. 

Well I think I have put the van issue to rest.  We decided to trust in a higher power and try to make it one more year.   As I was paying the bills tonight, I just couldn't see where we would be able to make another car payment.  So I will have to make extra payments and get my truck paid off and then it will be more doable.   I also will be getting a raise in August.  So we will keep praying for the Lord to provide for us how he sees fit.   He has always provided for us. 

So I did get to balance the check book and do the budget and bills tonight. FUN!  I also did my weekly chores since I will not be home tomorrow night as it is my monthly book group!    I didn't get to go last month so I am looking forward to it!  I am suppose to be 1/2 done with Anna Karenina, which I am not.  ARGH!   I have one homevisit tomorrow so I will try and listen to the book on tape while I drive. 

Well I am getting blurry eyed here so I better get to bed.  I will leave you with the recipe for the Fudge Pops we made tonight.  I haven't tried them yet though, but they smelled good and were very easy to make!

FUDGE POPS

3/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons baking cocoa
4 cups milk
10 popsicle molds or plastic cups (3 oz) and Popsicle sticks

In a saucepan, combine he sugar, flour and cocoa.  Gradually stir in milk until smooth.  Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.  Cool slightly.  Pour 1/4 cup into each mold or plastic cup; top with holders or insert popsicle sticks.  Freeze until set.  Maybe Frozen for up to 3 months.  YIELD: 10 servings

Quick Cooking July/August 2005