Warning: Braggy Mom!!

So Carter attends a program at the health club here called Parisi.  He did it in 6th grade, but not in 7th (too sick!) and just started again over Christmas break.

He attends normally twice a week, but sometimes we find it hard to make it twice.  Especially since he became the manager of an 8th grade girls basketball team.  But for the most part, twice a week.

So today I get an email asking me to make sure that Carter is there today because he is getting an award.  We don't know what the award is for, it could be least body odor for all we know.  I just know I am super proud of him! 

Although he told me he feels guilty that he won an award because he doesn't feel he attends enough to deserve an award.

Ok, bragging done.

Thanks for listening!

Who Knows Best?

Sometimes something that is happening toy our child really bothers you.  So what do you do about it?  Well, first off, ask your child if it bothers them.  If it doesn't, then you have to drop it.

Do you know how hard this is?  It is SO hard!

I just do not see how I am going to make it through high school sports watching Carter (& Max) play.  Maybe they will both decide not to play sports.  At any rate no one is going to want to sit by me and I doubt I am going to want to sit by anyone else. 

The whole point of this is that Carter is not getting a lot of playing time during his travel basketball games.  But, it isn't bothering Carter.  And since it's really up to him for it to bother him or not we can't do anything about it!  Except complain to each other.

Random Thoughts

*I wish that salad dressing came in tester packages.  There are so many cool sounding flavors out there, but they are expensive!  And if you buy one and don't like it you feel guilty for throwing it out, but you don't need an open bottle of dressing in your fridge for a few years (or another open bottle anyway).

*I don't think Carter is the best writer, but when compared to some others whose stuff I have recently read, he is not too bad at all.

*Scott & I had a super productive Monday.  We pulled the washer and dryer out and cleaned the floor.  I don't think we'd done that since we had moved into that house and it was so needed.  We also got a bunch of small things done too.

*I made it through the whole week last week without missing a day!

*I also have slept the last few nights without taking Nyquil.

*Today is Ash Wednesday and I am giving up diet Coke for Lent.  I have been relying on it way too much lately so I am going cold turkey.  I am also going to give up my "woe is me attitude."  Things could be much, much worse!

*Tonight after youth group I am going to take a bath.  I am already planning it and know it will feel wonderful.

*I am giving my gold star for last week to my friend Darlene.  She is recovering from a bout with breast cancer.  Her attitude is so good and I am so impressed by her strength!  See, things could be much worse!

*How is your week going?

Happy Valentine's Day

For the past two days I have felt good.
Really good.
My knee is not hurting, ,my eyes are all clear although I am coughing a little bit overall my flu/cold from last week is gone.
It's so nice to feel good.

Last week at youth group we burned the palm frond from last year's palm Sunday service.  The pastor then uses those ashes for Ash Wednesday.  He also had us write a personality trait or something that we'd like to do away with.  I put down "pity party/woe is me."  I feel I have been caught into that trap way to much lately.  I am not sure if I have "guilt" that Carter has to go through so much and I am not so I creating in myself ailments.  I know they are real, because doctor's tell me they are, but it just feels like one thing after another.

So I am celebrating about not feeling lousy!!

How are you celebrating your Valentine's day?

Updates!

I am still here.  My knee is working good and things are well in my life.

I spent the weekend scrapbooking.  I will try to scan some and put them up.  I am kind of doing a new method wherein I use regular albums with occasional journaling spots.  The reason for this is that not a lot of people want to sit down and "read" five scrapbooks.  And I have a lot of really good pictures that I want people to see.  So I bought some albums from Target and doing "yearly" albums or "event" albums.  I have 2009, 2010 and 2011 all done.  I also have an album for our California vacation from a few years ago and our Oregon coast family reunion from two summers ago.  I just LOVE these.

I also am going to do a scrapbook called "my favorite pictures" because I have some awesome ones.

Carter is getting ready to register for high school.  I am hyperventilating.

And just for fun, here;s a recipe that we found via Pinterest.  Carter made it the weekend after my knee surgery and it is phenomenal.  Totally addicting and I have banned him from ever making it again.  But you might enjoy it.  Cinnamon Roll Cake.

Have a great Tuesday!

Knee Update

So, all went well with my knee surgery.
I was feeling so good on Friday when I went in that I wasn't even sure they would find anything, but there were two tears in my meniscus and a few other things he cleaned up from that long ago ACL surgery (although my ACL graft looked really good still).
 On Sunday the pain really hit hard and I was whiny and baby-ish and convinced I would never walk normal again.  I stayed home on Monday and felt really good by the end of the day!  So I am at school now.

Carter just came and gave me his registration book for HIGH SCHOOL!!!!  OMG.

Knees & Success

So, I am having my knee scoped on Friday.
It was feeling decent and then yesterday I made a move that made me knee POP.  It hurt, a lot.  I felt like throwing up.
The doctor thinks it is a meniscus tear so he is going to go in and fix it Friday.
I had this done with my other knee a few years ago.  So by the end of Friday I will have had my ACLs done on both knees and a meniscus tear fixed on both knees!  I am all evened out.

However, I have exciting news.  I am always on the lookout for recipes using round steak because I have the most of that left over when we buy part of a cow.  This week I found a slow cooker, shredded BBQ beef sandwich recipe using round steak.  I am making it today!!  I hope it turns out great...

How is your day going?

Monday & Gold Star

So, last week I was in a dark place.  I have hurt my knee and am unsure what's wrong with it.  My greatest fear is that my ACL repair that I had in high school is failing.  I am not sure that can happen, but my mind is at the worst spot possible.

At any rate, it hurts.  I am going to the doctor today.  But, back to last week I was pretty depressed about the pain.  And the fact that I couldn't just go lay in bed all week.  So, if you are keeping track my back was awful for a month or so this fall, then my eyes have had herpes, and now mu knee is horrible.

Let's just say that my 41st year of life is not the most tremendous.

Then I was visited by my "friend" this weekend and I felt so much better.  I think my depression was kind of tied to that!

Max and I went to Joyful Noise this weekend and loved it.  Great movie and a great message.  VERY feel good!

Max gets my gold star.  He and I hung out this weekend because Scott and Carter were in Helena at basketball.   He is a wonderful companion!  We had a great time.  How was your weekend?

Kids & Homework

I guess this is a blessing, but I never have to help my kids on big projects for school.

There are little things I help out with, but even that is rare. Carter gets his stuff done at school (mostly), and Max doesn't really have homework yet. However, this week Max is creating a poster on Leif Eriksson, the explorer.

The only thing he needed my help with was printing pictures from the internet. He had his vision and I couldn't help! I was kind of sad, (and kind of glad--I did have other things to do!) but he did a great job.

I just kind of thought I would be the kind of mom to help with those projects. I guess I am still that kind of mom, I just don't have those kind of kids!

(Although this week Carter's Montana history class started a big research project that I am helping with, but as the librarian. I am helping with research and I have to help everyone, not just my son.)

Have a great Friday!

New Menu Pages & 2013 Planner

So, I got a wild hair and was a bit bored last weekend and I made the pages for my 2013 planner. I also added a few new menu sheets. Again if you'd like to make a planner try this link. If you are making a planner and want the menu sheets, email me and I will send those to you.

Enjoy!

My Strange Addiciton

Well, it's not really that much of an addiction but it is a great tip for you to keep in mind.
Last summer I bought an iphone. I LOVE it. (It was an iphone 3 which was way cheaper). I also bought a case with it. I didn't love the case I got but knew I needed one and there wasn't that great of a selection at the store.

Fast forward to November when Max broke my case. I didn't have the time or money to run to the store to spend $20 for a new case, so I turned to ebay. Holy moely--they have a plethora of phone cases available. AND they are cool, AND they are cheap, AND mostly they have free shipping!!

So, now I obsess over cases. (I also found cheap cases for Carter & Max's ipod touches & Scott's phone--Orange!).

Recently I bought this one: LOVE it!


So keep it in mind the next time you need or want a new case for you phone!

Boys & Girls

Do you think that mothers of only girls ever wish they had boys?

95% of the time I am so happy and satisfied with my boys, but every now & again, like when I see a darling little girl at church, I have a longing for a little girl.

So, I wonder, do mothers of girls ever long a bit for a boy? Do fathers? I think it's a valid question.

Productive Sunday & Gold Star

So, here's how I know that I was probably in a depression this fall and how I know I am probably out of it: I am getting stuff done finally!

I planned my meals for the week and yesterday I actually did a bunch of prep work to make sure I stick with my plan!
I thawed & browned 5 lbs. of ground beef (for spaghetti, tacos & slow cooker lasagna). I cooked the chicken I need for a chicken & rice dish and to make a pot pie for a friend who is having surgery this week. I also made cookies! Haven't done that in about a month. I remember when I used to make cookies once or twice a week!

I also prepped what I need for breakfast all week. I make breakfast for Scott & I every day--Carter eats cereal (he has a hard time functioning this early in the day so that's all he can manage) and Max eats at my moms so I don't have to worry about him. What I did today was cooked a bunch of bacon in the oven (super easy and convenient method for making bacon), then cooked biscuits. Tomorrow morning I will make eggs in a pan in the oven and put it all together for bacon, egg & cheese biscuits. YUM!

So it all makes me happy to get all this done!

My gold stars for last week go to my administrators at school. I have three of them and they are awesome. Friendly, supportive and caring. They do things for the good of the school, but honestly put community and students above grades and test scores. I LOVE teaching where I do!

My Favorite Things (January Edition)

I always am really proud of myself if I actually make dinner, but if I try a new recipe and it's a success, well then I feel like I could walk on water. On Wednesday I made pork chops. The most AMAZING pork chops ever! You can get print the recipe here OR you can watch a video of them being made here (which is a wonderful website, one of my new favorites). I had to run home at lunch and when I walked into the house and smelled them cooking my knees literally went weak. The smelled so good! And they were just as good as they smelled. I normally don't like pork chops because they are so dry, but no these! They were just wonderful. And everyone gave them the thumbs up!

I don't know if you've noticed but I really am into the way things smell. Not sure if my nose has gotten more sensitive or if good smells just make me feel good, but I have found two l=things recently that smell so good and make me feel so good when I smell them!

First of all, Refresh shampoo and conditioner from Trader Joes. I don't like getting up and I really don't like showering the first thing after I get up. Using this product helps me feels better about both things. I love the way it smells!

Mrs. Meyer's Cleaning Supplies are pretty cool, but I really don't like the smell of most of their products. Except the Honeysuckle stuff, specifically the Honeysuckle dish soap. It is so good! When I add some to the hot water in my sink and lean over and smell it I am just hit by suck a summertime smell. Ahhh!

And an update:

Target has the Inkjoy pens I wrote about a little bit ago.
They have an extra big pack.
The more I use them the more I love them!!

What are your favorite things right now?

Seriously?!

First of all, if you are chatting with a mother of a 13 year old boy and she tells you her son was recently diagnosed with Crohns disease, YOU MAY NOT tell her how bad it's going to get and that he will eventually be terminal. SERIOUSLY. WTF?! That just happened to me! This woman was talking about her terminal husband (before I knew what his "disease" was) and I mentioned Carter had Crohns and her face just dropped. I mean, according to her Carter will be dead by the time he is 20. I stood up for him and told her how good he was doing and the people I knew that were older who were doing really great, etc... But obviously she wants to believe the worst because she just shook her head and gave me a sad look.

I am just a LITTLE pissed.

Even if you know someone who DIED from the disease you DO NOT tell that to a mother of a young child who has that disease! EVER!!

This is really the first negative encounter I have had since Carter got diagnosed and it just ticked me off!