Simple Woman's Daybook #2

FOR TODAY:

Outside my window...Michael and Austin are putting rocks around the end of the driveway to raise it up a bit. Since we got the new concrete slab, and added road base the level of the rocks went down...

I am thinking…about my classmates going to our 15 year reunion at Iverson Park in Stevens Point - right now. I'm waiting until the 20th, more formal, better turn out.....I hope!

I am thankful for…my body that can still run and do yoga!

From the kitchen…it is clean....!

I am wearing…capris and a t shirt.

I am creating…an organized computer. I got a new hard drive so it needs desperately to be decluttered and reorganzied.

I am going…to take Austin and Ethan for a bike ride today. I got a 'trailer' for them to ride in behind my bike.

I am reading…Eat, Pray, Love. (Which, I should do LOTS of!) (Yes, I'm not done yet!)

I am praying…that Austin will stop poking, stepping on, hovering over, hitting, waking up, and laying ontop of his brother. It's starting to get old!

I am hearing…the hum of my computer. Ethan's asleep and Michael and Austin are outside.

Around the house…there are toys out. Boys were playing on the rug in the living room...

One of my favorite things…candles. I have one burning right now.

A few plans for the rest of the week…to plant the garden on the north side of the concrete slab, go to Point tomorrow, take a bike ride, run more, do yoga......

Simple Woman's Daybook #1

I wound up on this blog today..and just loved it...so I am going to do my own daybooks here and there...hope you enjoy!

Ready?

Ready or not...

Here I go....!

FOR TODAY:

Outside my window…the wind is blowing. It’s a cool 64 degrees today, and it's mid July!?

I am thinking…about my new hard drive and CD burner I ordered last night, and the fact I finally decided on which case to buy!

I am thankful for…my amazing husband who can do just about everything!

From the kitchen…areness...grocery shopping with the boys in less than an hour!

I am wearing…my favorite jeans and a t shirt.

I am creating…a baby shower on Saturday for my friend who is having her first baby in 2 months!

I am going…to take Austin and Ethan and my hubby to Costa Rica someday. It's all Austin talks about. I apparently own the country since he calls it 'Mama's Costa Rica'. Wish it were true, hon.

I am reading…Eat, Pray, Love. (Which, I should do LOTS of!)

I am praying…for patience with my very spirited and inquisitive 3 year old boy.

I am hearing…my wind chime singing in the wind.

Around the house…
its just me and the animals. Michael is at work, the boys are at 'school' for the morning. Ahhhh...a few moments of peace and just worrying about me!

One of my favorite things…a clean, picked up house - which I have at this very moment!!

A few plans for the rest of the week…to extend a garden on the north side of the concrete slab, throw a baby shower for Nicole on Saturday, stop by friends' house on Friday night to see their one month old boy, Orin....we'll see what else happens! I'm open!

Together We Are A Family!

Here is an updated (how much more recent can 'yesterday' be?) photo of the four of us. We're all snazzy looking because we just returned home from church and breakfast with friends. I love that white skirt! Ethan isn't looking at the camera; there was no one behind it taking the picture to call his attention....oh well. Next time!

The First One....Sweet!

The first raspberry of the year! As sweet as I remember. Austin is thrilled once again to have the (limited) endless supply of raspberries in our garden. Ethan will find out this summer what all the hype is about. The raspberries really overtook my strawberries, so we had only 2 strawberries this year. Thank goodness for grandma Julie and granddad Ron's strawberries (whose plants actually came from my garden!) I LOVE RASPBERRIES!!!!!

Uhh...if you want some raspberries come spring 2010, let me know!! Seriously, I gave over 30 plants away this last spring, and it barely, I mean barely made a dent in the number of plants I have. Just drop me an email or comment on this post and I'll get you some in the spring!!

Arnold!

My newest obsession: Arnold Select Sandwich Thins. I had gone through (devoured, to be more accurate) most of the bag, when my brother and his girlfriend stopped over the morning of the 4th and stayed for lunch. I am glad I had some left for them to try. I didn't have to twist their arms to get them to become addicted to them as well! I'll quote my brother: "They're less breddy" (if that is even a word, which I'm pretty sure it isn't but it describes them to a T). I had them in whole wheat that day, but later also bought the whole grain white since Michael favors white over wheat. Wonder why? So....the latest concoction is the sandwich thins, some Real Mayo, freshly sliced mild cheddar, sprouts, tomato, and sun-dried tomato turkey breast....yum-o!

PS I tried uploading the image 2x, and it keeps on coming up this way. Don't know what is happening.....?!?!?

Ethan, Ethan, Ethan!

Sitting in an Elmo chair I got for $2 at a garage sale...what a ham!

He's going to be a heartbreaker!

On the 4th of July.....

I can't believe Ethan cut his first tooth on Friday. The one next to it is about to cut..I think it will be sometime this week. My baby! He's eating like a champ; loves all the foods but green beans and peas....anything green, come to think of it. He loves sitting in the sand box, pulling grass, watching Daddy on the tractor, pulling my hair and gnawing on my face. He says 'ba', pulls himself around with his arms, and can even get on his hands and knees - I think he'll be crawling in no time! He can get around now as it is...it's something reminiscent of Austin's army crawl. Look out world!

You Are My Sunshine

From the boys' great grandma Eileen....made with love!

Pots & Pans...advice? Anyone?

A few years ago it was my New Year's resolution a to try two new recipes a month. I was getting sick of making the same things over, and over, and over again. I've been getting better at making some pretty darn good food. I actually love to do it. I'm finding joy in my kitchen!

However.....yes, there is a however. If you could actually see me right now, you could see the embarrassment written all over my face as I am about to admit this. Ugh.....we have not-so-good pots and pans. I have a decent non-stick pan (actually, a large one and a small one), and a mediocre pot for pasta and the like. I really, really yearn for some good cookware. New pots and pans. I am surprised we're still cooking and using a 4 qt pot that Michael had when he lived on his own. The one that the handle is loose, and you can tell how old it is like you can tell how old a tree is by the rings...well, on the pot you could count the spoon marks in the Teflon that was scraped away by stirring Macaroni & Cheese, one of Michael's staples when he was on his own. I entered, and the pot stayed. Why is that? Why did we never register for new pots and pans when we got married? I don't need a whole set of 15 pieces or anything...just a few nice, good quality, I-never-have-to-buy-pots-and-pans-again kind of cookware.

I think I deserve it. The welfare of my children's nutrition (not to mention mine and Michael's) depends on it.

Any suggestions? Brands?? Le Creuset, Calphalon, All-Clad....???? I beg of you....help! What's good? What do you use?