Going Through Life One Blog Post at a Time
….eat Fish Sticks for dinner! Even with my menu planning, I sometimes just want something very simple. Today, Andy isn’t feeling well, I’m really tired, and the kids are grumpy. Insert Fish Sticks, Tomato Parmesan Pasta Roni, and veggies. As Laura likes to say, “easy peasy, lemon squeezie.”
This is the first picture we have of Laura with her eyes open.
Today, Andy and I took Laura and those beautiful eyes to Advanced Vision to have her first eye examination for Kindergarten registration next week. Her vision and eyes are perfect. While it most likely won’t stay that way forever, she doesn’t have to go back for two years. She was such a brave girl and Dr. Jalali was absolutely fantastic with her. Andy and I were very proud of her! To go with her *first* eye examination, we took her for her *first* trip to Baskin Robbins afterward where she tasted four different ice creams and then ate plain, old chocolate. Some things just don’t change. 🙂
I’m beginning to refer to the observations that Laura makes as “Laura-isms.” This morning produced another such statement from her. In a perfectly straight face and just as serious as could be, she said, “You are fun and I love you Mommy, but you simply aren’t as cute as me.” I had to leave the room because I was about to start laughing and she was so serious. Love that girl!
This is one of the favorite things in my kitchen. Andy came up with this idea after watching an episode of “Good Eats” with Alton Brown. In that kitchen, the spice rack was inside the cabinet doors. That wouldn’t work in our kitchen, but we do have the back of a pantry door. We bought the metal from Home Depot and then got all the magnetic spice tins from Kitchen Collection (Bed, Bath, and Beyond has them too). We started out with 16 spice tins and continued on until we had 32. It’s awesome and I love it! It makes all the spices that we use the most so convenient and easy to find. At times, we have knocked off a canister or two by hitting them with something and we’ve had to replace a few of them, but I still wouldn’t change it.
Today, we went to the ARC (Activity and Recreation Center) for Ben’s first birthday party. Ben is the youngest child at daycare. Both Laura and John LOVE the ARC because their swimming facilities are just really neat. They have a kid pool, jumping ledges, a lazy river, a swirlie pool, and a big slide. Laura was very excited because her best friend EVER, Kathryn, was invited and planning to be there! Upon arriving at the ARC, I didn’t think John was going to make it to the birthday room before he had all his clothes off to go swimming. We did manage to eat pizza and cake though before hitting the pool. A great time was had by all and we were sad to see the party end. We could have stayed and swam all day if we wanted, but John was extremely tired and Laura’s eyes were really bothering her from the chemicals. Upon arriving home, Daddy set up Toy Story 2 for the kids and they snuggled under blankets and relaxed.
Laura and Kathryn enjoying cake
John enjoying cake
All the kids with Ben while he digs into his giant cupcake
This morning, I said welcome back to a pair of pants that I love, but have not been able to wear for quite a while. It’s so nice to finally lose some weight! In May, I had a uterine ablation done, meaning the doctor removed my uterine lining. For about 8 months before the surgery, I had been having what I considered one long menstrual cycle. It was not fun and I had reached the pointed of being anemic. I was missing at least one day of work per week and just had no energy at all. All I wanted to do was sleep. Also, I put on a lot of weight during that time. Not as much as the doctor expected, but still a substantial amount. I do have to be honest and admit that part of my weight gain was pure laziness too. I wasn’t paying any attention to what I was eating and I was certainly not exercising.
Not too long after my surgery, I started doing research about portion control and that sort of thing. I did not want to deprive myself of the foods I love, but I could not control my portions. The best suggestion I found was to eat your meals using a salad plate instead of a standard-size dinner plate. It REALLY works. Even that first night when I did it, I wasn’t hungry after finishing my much smaller salad plate portions. I get to eat the food I want to eat and not count every stupid calorie. It’s amazing the difference it makes. I’m able to wear some clothes that I haven’t worn in a long time. Now I’m just itching for the weather to get a bit better so that I can begin walking again! Come on weather! Cooperate with me!
I’m getting quite the little collection of office wall art made by Laura. When I’m having a bad day, I look at these and it makes me smile. 🙂
