54 Days Left………..

to pack, and find a house, and be completely moved out of this one and have it cleaned from top to bottom.

So far, I’ve taken the breadbox and the latte machine off of the counter, and moving them to the dining room table.

I have an area where a Goodwill pile lives

I’ve transferred all of our movie DVDs to sleeves in a binder (in case the next house has less square footage than this one, we’re looking for ways to store what we want to keep and save space.

I need to call various stores like Pier 1, TJ Maxx, and other various retail stores to see if they have boxes that we can have.

We need to go through various boxes in our garage to see what we want to keep and what to give away.

54 days and I’m already feeling overwhelmed.

And my son just informed me that he’s expecting some help in shaving his mustache tonight (I’ll let his dad handle that one).

Elizabeth

Just When We Were Feeling Comfortable…….

……..we find out that another moving day is around the corner.

I discovered an envelope this morning, laying on our newspaper on our front porch this morning. Inside was a 60 day notice for us to move out. It’s not because we were delinquent in paying our rent or threw wild parties, thus disturbing the neighbors. Our landlord just wants to move back into his home. He had been living with his parents while he finished college, to lower his expenses, so he rented his house to us during that time. We had planned to move…………next year. However, those plans have been accelerated for us. So now, it’s time for us to move on. There is a chance that we may be able to rent a house nearby, so already, this situation may not be as big of a concern as it was this morning.

So, I need to pack. I already have my “New-House-Starter-Box” set up. It’s really a laundry basket with some of those basic things one needs on the first night (in our experience, they’ve been late nights because we’re assembling beds and trying to get mattresses to lay just right on box springs) after moving into a new house (toiletries, fresh towels and bedsheets).

The last time we decided to move, we had 6 months to pack, plan and prepare for it. This time, we have 60 days (more like 59 now as of this post).

Can we do this in 60 days or less? I believe we can!

Can we do it without getting stressed out……….I’ll get back to you on that! We will try

Elizabeth

Father’s Day

I’m a few days late in posting about Father’s Day. Busyness always tends to supersede the need to write.

It’s always been rather hard to shop for my husband and father on Father’s Day. It’s hard to find the right card to describe them. My dad doesn’t play or watch sports, but he isn’t a couch potato either, and the gross “men” jokes don’t apply to him. He does enjoy humor, so I try to stick with that. My husband isn’t a sports fanatic, or a car guy, and he isn’t into serious cards either. Still, even in the humor section, it’s hard to find a card that isn’t over the line and might offend (in my dad’s case, I leave the insulting card giving up to his sister as they’ve been giving each other those cards for years).

For my husband, I usually make him breakfast and serve it to him in bed.

He had been told just a few days before to stop consuming dairy products for a few days, and decided to wait until after Father’s Day to start, so that he could have the gravy on the biscuits. They were delicious!!

Not pictured is the cup of his favorite brand of coffee (which we only buy for special occasions as it’s rather spendy).

I also gave him a Neil Diamond CD because, he’s a fan of Neil’s music. I don’t have a picture of that.

I also gave Kevin updated pictures of our kids, framed and ready to put on his desk at work.

The kids are growing way too fast! They can wear our shoes now, and they’re as tall as we are or close to it. I’m just happy that I was able to get the boy to give me a normal smile (and not an intense one) for these pics! They were good sports considering that it had just started to rain.

Kevin was glad to have some new pics of the kids to show off at work.

The rest of the day was spent just lounging around the house, which is very rare. Truly a day of rest for the father of our house!

Elizabeth

Sunset

Last night, I was in the bonus room putting some things away, when my son came in and told me about the really beautiful sunset happening at that moment. I looked up and noticed the beautiful orange light coming in through the blinds, so I went to my bedroom window (which faces West) to bet a better view. I grabbed my camera, hopped into the car and drove down the street to get a better view and hopefully some pictures.

“Beautiful Sunset” season has arrived!

Elizabeth

Orange Juice

My son is currently in a phase where his drink of choice, is orange juice.

If he runs out, and I don’t have any more of it in the freezer, I hear, “Well, you should have bought more” followed by endless questioning of “When will you be going to the store for more juice?” and reminders such as, “Don’t forget that you need more juice………..because sometimes you’re forgettable”.

He won’t drink milk, at least not since he heard that it can be a phlegm producer when one has a cold. He’s taking preventive measures against excess phlegm production, by avoiding the milk when he doesn’t have a cold.

He’s a “plan ahead” guy.

Elizabeth

Slow-Cooker Mexican Lasagna (From Mrs. Mama Hen)

I found this recipe at http://mrsmamahen.blogspot.com/ If you have a moment, check out her blog. Conni is a military wife and mother of 3 whose husband is in the Army. They are currently stationed in Alaska. She posts several recipes as well as articles about military life and living in Alaska (I love to see her pics of the Aurora Borealis!).

I came across this recipe a few months ago and thought it looked like something that Kevin would enjoy (he really likes Mexican-type food). I’ve made this a few times and every time that I do, I rarely have leftovers. Tonight, he even said that this was becoming a favorite meal.

Basically, the recipe calls for ground beef (I used Morning Star “crumbles” since we are meatless), black beans (I’ve tried other beans and for this recipe, I think that the black are best), taco seasoning, onion, diced tomatoes with chiles, and salt (I used sea salt because I didn’t have the regular iodized salt that we know and love), and both Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese (the recipe called for Pepper jack, either will work fine).

Dice the onion (and if you have goggles, wear them so that you won’t cry in front of your family……prompting them to ask what’s wrong……and you can tell them that “Mommy ran out of chocolate!”).

In a skillet, cook your meat and onion (and as it cooks, the need to cry will lessen)

Add the diced tomatoes & chiles

Add your black beans, rinsed & drained

Add your taco seasoning and salt, and mix ingredients thoroughly

Bring out your slow cooker, or in my case, my grandma’s circa 1970’s Rival Crock Pot that works as well as it did when it was brand new!

For layering, start with a 1/2 Cup of the meat mixture on the bottom of your cooker.

Lay a tortilla on top

Add another 1/2 Cup of the meat mixture

Top with some of the shredded cheese

repeat the layers until you have the last of the meat & cheese on the top.

Cover, and ……………….

Set your crock pot (ahem, “slow cooker”) to low.

Then, leave your kitchen (because you have a kid who has been assigned to do the dishes, and fully capable of doing so), grab a soda, relax on the couch, and watch an episode of “Gilmore Girls” or a chick flick, while your dinner is cooking!

Slow-Cooker Mexican Lasagna (by Conni Smith, aka “Mrs. Mama Hen”)

1 lb Ground Beef

1 Onion, diced

1 Tablespoon Taco Seasoning

1 14 oz can Black Beans, drained and rinsed

1 14 oz can Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes with Green Chiles

1/2 teaspoon of Salt

6-8 flour tortillas

1 1/2 Cup grated Cheddar Cheese

1 1/2 Cup grated Pepper Jack or Monterey Jack cheese

Sour Cream for topping.

In a skillet, cook ground beef and onion until fully cooked. Remove from heat.

Stir in taco seasoning, tomatoes & Green Chiles, black beans and salt.

Spread about 1/2 Cup of the meat mixture into the bottom of your slow-cooker.

Tom with tortilla (tear the tortilla if you need to make it fit.)

Tom with another 1/3-1/2 Cup meat mixture and cheese

Repeat. Alternated the layers with the two different cheeses. The final layer should have a little of both kinds.

Place the lid on your slow cooker and cook on low for 3-4 hours.

Cut into wedges, and serve with sour cream or any other topping you wish.

Supper’s on!

Baked Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal

I made this earlier today and posted a picture of it on Instagram/Facebook/Twitter, and I’ve already had a request for the recipe. So I thought that I had better post it before the kids have eaten this batch.

I found this recipe at http://tastykitchen.com (which can also be found on The Pioneer Woman’s website). This particular recipe was submitted by Lindsay on that site (giving credit where it is due, so no one will sue………there, I rhymed). I was looking for different ways to prepare oatmeal that my kids would enjoy. Since my son (who is extremely particular about food), likes pumpkin pie (and he usually doesn’t like ANY pie), I tried this recipe and he actually likes it, as does my daughter (she likes nearly everything I make anyway).

Ok, seriously, here’s the recipe:

INGREDIENTS

1-1/2 cup Quick Cooking Oats

1/4 cup of Brown sugar

1/2 cup of milk or Almond milk

1 Tablespoon of butter

1 whole egg

1teaspoon of Baking Powder

1/4 teaspoon of salt

1 teaspoon Vanilla

1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon

1 dash of Pumpkin Pie spice

1/2 Cup 100% Pumpkin, Canned

1/4 Cup Chocolate Chips

2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar

Optional Garnish: Sprinkling of Cinnamon (I think this option should be a must)

PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8×8 baking dish with cooking spray.

In a large bowl combine the oats and the next 10 ingredients (everything through and including the pumpkin). Stir until evenly mixed. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour into the greased dish, top with 2 Tablespoons of brown sugar and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the center is fully cooked.

I generally make this recipe with the purpose of storing in the freezer for future breakfasts. Today, I doubled the recipe and baked it in a 9×13 dish and then cut the oatmeal into 8 squares, packing it into containers of two. It freezes and defrosts without any problem.

Elizabeth

The Drawer

This was my project today. The file drawer where I keep the kids’ school records, tests to take, and tests already taken. Master copies of various styles of chore charts also live here.

For at least 5 months of this school year, we’ve been sort of flying by the seat of our pants as far as school goes. When the school year started, we had a schedule, a plan, a routine. Kevin had a regular work schedule. The schedule was somewhat secure.

Then, the campaign started, so the schedule was harder to adhere to. School work was done, but I wasn’t always there to help, or a school day was interrupted. Some might argue that with homeschooling, you can have a flexible schedule (and that is what I’ll call our experience this year), however, I have a student, who functions better with a schedule (so part of our “curriculum” this year involved a lot of opportunities to be flexible).

For now that season is over, and it’s time to regroup, and reorganize and plan once again.

Today, I cleared out tests, assignments, and artwork from the first 10 years of our homeschooling, categorized them and packed them away in manila envelopes.

One more thing to cross off of the “to-do” list. Only 1,000,000,000,000 left to do! At least it seems that way 🙂

I’m sure that I’m exaggerating………….a little.

Elizabeth

Settling Back Into A “Normal” Routine

I use quotation marks in my title because “normal” changes every so often.

This past week has been busy (I say that a lot, don’t I?).

Last weekend, was the beginning of “Birthday week” in our family. My sister had a birthday on Friday (no party) and my youngest nephew (in the red shirt) had his birthday on Saturday (complete with a “Spiderman” party). Heather spent most of the time at the party, taking her little cousins to the game room, and riding with them on the Merry-go-round. She loves them and they think she’s their buddy, meant to keep them entertained. She doesn’t mind.

After the party, we went straight to church, where she was scheduled to work with the 2 & 3 year olds during the service. She slept very well that night!

Last Sunday was Mother’s day. That day started with coffee and the newspaper

Breakfast served in bed

Gifts (this was from my husband, and my kids gave me things from Bath & Body Works, and chocolate covered Espresso beans……….and that last gift is gone……….very delicious!)

& flowers

After lunch, we went to wish Kevin’s mother a happy Mother’s Day. Kevin’s sister lives in Texas and because she wasn’t able to fly up for a visit, she sent us a card to take to her. Kevin’s mother has Alzheimer’s Disease and is now in a memory care facility. For this recent visit, the caregivers dressed her up a bit and put a flower in her hair. As soon as she saw Kevin, she was “dancing” in her wheelchair. She doesn’t remember his name, but she knows that she knows him and she’s happy to see him. The day was sunny and rather warm , so the caregivers put a hat on her while we were outside.

After Mother’s Day, came Election Day. Since Kevin was running for mayor, this election had extra meaning for us. A campaign involving many nights of campaign meetings, stuffing envelopes with letters asking for campaign contributions, introducing ones self at neighborhood meetings and clubs, forums and debates, and in the last week or two, standing on street corners during rush-hour holding campaign signs (which meant a lot of nights of the kids not having me cook their dinner and making veggie burgers, nachos or quesadillas for dinner………..seriously, that is what they wanted to eat). After all of that, the incumbent won. Kevin did garnish nearly 29% of the vote, which is really good for someone running for the first time. We had our election party at a local pizza parlour and watched the election results there.

Since the election, our evenings have been free, to relax, and start thinking of new goals to work toward.

The next event was our son’s 14th birthday. The day started with gifts at breakfast (and breakfast consisted of donuts). Then, since the boy had not shaved since New Year’s Eve, he wanted to be clean-shaven for his birthday. I think that this time we sort of humored him as the peach fuzz that was shaved off on New Year’s Eve, really hadn’t grown back, at least not much.

Later in the day, we met my dad, grandma, sister and nephews for the boy’s Birthday party. The theme was “CARS 2”.

Part of me wonders at times, when he’s 20…..or 40, if he’ll still want PIXAR or cartoon character themed parties.

I don’t mind 🙂

Elizabeth

Monday is for Catching up

So, another weekend has passed rather too quickly. Ours was filled with going door-to-door to campaign (Kevin & the boy), a wedding and church (me and the girl), and campaign “strategizing”. The Primary is in two weeks, the ballots have been mailed out (Oregon voted for “vote-by-mail” several years ago, though I do miss going to the local school and voting in a booth). I wouldn’t be surprised if all of the candidates go out of town for a break after the election. Running for office leaves very little room for family time.

So, As I posted above, Monday is our “catch-up” day. We haven’t been having school on Mondays this year as it seems that Monday is the day that we clean up and catch up after the weekend. So we catch up on laundry, dishes, any kind of clean up of anything left out over the weekend, correspondence, blogging, etc.

I thought that I would share some of the things we’ve been doing in the past few months that I hadn’t really had the time to chat about.

These are my friends, Brenda & Carrie. We first met in our church youth group (I actually met Carrie earlier at a church camp) years, and years ago, and have kept connected with each other over the years. Now that we’re all busy wives and mothers, time to get together and chat is more of an effort. So we had lunch on a recent Saturday at an Asian restaurant with a view of the water and the ducks and other waterfowl that congregate there. Brenda is a photographer (She’s on my list of photographers, BGE Photography), and she and I both brought our cameras along to take pictures after lunch.

Then, we went to a classic car show at the Fairgrounds. “Mater” from “CARS” was going to be there and my son is a big fan of that movie. There were several other “souped” up cars, trucks and motorcycles as well. I post the picture of the Impala as that was my first car (though mine was a ’76). A car show is also a good way to pass a rainy afternoon.

Then, Kevin had an interview regarding his run for office. His interviewer has his own show on Youtube, so he tapes in a room that also serves as a model train room and display area. So while the interview was being taped, I took pictures of the displays which included this colorful display of insulators .

Nearly a month ago, Kevin took part in a candidate’s forum with the incumbent and the other opponent. This was recorded and rebroadcast on tv and radio. He bought some dressier clothes (he had been wearing polos, shorts and a wool cap until now. However, something a bit dressier was called for this time).

Let’s just say this. HE TOTALLY ROCKED THE FORUM!

…….and he was on tv………….again.

As election day approaches, one needs to keep their name fresh in the mind of the public. So, we had a banner made, and stood on walkways over busy street, highways and street corners and waved to the rush hour traffic (more folks honked than, ahem, “saluted”)