Proud moments

We've had quite a bit of snow here the last few days, something that, while not entirely uncommon in these parts, certainly isn't the norm. And since we live way up in the hills, when it snows, we're pretty much stuck at home. It's not necessarily a bad thing, especially when it means that we get to go sledding and build snowmen. However, after a few days we all start to go a bit stir crazy and the walls of our house feel as though they're closing in on us. So today when it appeared that the snow was finally melting enough to make it possible to drive down into town, I took the boys out to run a few errands.

Our first stop was the post office where we dropped off some bills and sent a few packages that I needed to get out to different people. What was in those packages you ask? Oh, just some Christmas presents...on January 29. I feel terrible that it took me so long to get them out to people, but since they were just going to my parents and uncles (all of whom I had expected to see by now and be able to give them in person), I don't feel quite as bad. While waiting in line, though, Will felt the need to make and voice an observation that only a 3-year old (and a cute one at that) could get away with. The woman in front of us was rather nice and very friendly, making a point to talk to both of my boys. As we all stood there, though, Will decided to shout out, "Mommy, look at that lady's hands!" She had what had to be artificial nails with French manicure (something mommies might like to have, but who are we kidding? who has the time?)Now the woman was rather busy trying to tape up one of her packages and didn't hear what he said, but I was rather embarrassed. What the heck do I say to something like that? It's like the time in Trader Joe's when he saw a woman with a cast on her foot and asked why she wasn't wearing shoes, didn't she know you were supposed to wear shoes in the store? He was absolutely incensed that this woman was not following the rules. Have I mentioned his penchant for making sure that people follow the rules? He's a bit like his mother in that way. Except, of course, when it comes to a game of Candyland or Hi Ho Cherry-O and he's losing. Then the rules all fly out the window.

So after the post office, we trekked over to Target to pick up a few essentials, including a couple of superheroes that Will needed for his collection (and paid for with his Target gift card). As soon as we got there, I made a beeline for the bathroom. After drinking two huge bottles of water while working out earlier, I was paying the price by having to pee incessantly. Oh well, all in the name of good health, right? Anyway, we hadn't gotten a cart yet, so I was forced to hold Brody while trying to take care of business. Can I just tell you how difficult it is to get your jeans up and down with a baby in one hand? Seriously, though, how awesome at multi-tasking are we women? So as I'm finishing up and trying desperately to get my pants back up before Will manages to open the stall door, he yells out (in a crowded bathroom, no less), "Mommy, I see your vagina!" How proud was I?

What's for dinner?

Last week proved to be quite successful when it came to planning menus and following through. I think we swapped our planned meals Tuesday and Wednesday, but still managed to stay on track for the week. In attempt to keep it up, here's a look at what's cooking at our house this week.

Sunday-linguini with shrimp scampi
mixed greens

Monday-chicken chili
green salad
corn muffins

Tuesday-chicken noodle soup
fresh veggies with ranch
cheesy garlic bread

Wednesday-it's a toss-up between taco salad (the husband's request) and bbq chicken chopped
salad....stay tuned

Thursday-leftovers

Friday-yet to be decided...stay tuned

Reason #4623

As if I needed another reason to love my oldest son, this morning he just melted my heart. Anxious to get outside to play in the snow, he was more ansty than usual as I tried to get him dressed (in what seemed like 12 layers to keep him warm). I'll be the first to admit that I was struggling and starting to get frustrated, but then he looked down at me, in my disheveled state, sitting on the floor in front of him and said, "Mommy, you look beautiful this morning." He didn't care that I was still in my pajamas, hadn't washed my face, and was wearing what shih-tzu owners affectionately refer to as a top-knot. What more could a mom ask for?

Fun is...

explaining to a 3-year old the difference between Martin Luther and Martin Luther King, Jr. I'm still not sure he understood what the heck I was talking about when I started babbling about the 95 theses. Nor did he know what to make of the fact that Martin Luther King, Jr. is brownish-black (how do you explain that one when you live in a place where diversity means having people with brown, blonde, AND red hair?). His main concern, though? Whether or not Martin Luther King, Jr. wore a black suit.

What's for dinner?

In effort to be better prepared for dinners around here, I've decided to start making weekly menus. So here's a peek at what we're having for dinner here this week:

Sunday-burgers (beef for the guys, turkey for mom), oven fries, coleslaw and grapes

Monday-taco salad and cheesy garlic bread

Tuesday-chicken meatball sub sandwiches, chopped salad

Wednesday-homemade pizza, fresh veggies and ranch

Thursday-leftovers

Friday-chicken chili, green salad

From the mouths of babes...

Art Linkletter was right about kids saying the darndest things. While I generally expect to be mildly amused by most of what Will says, sometimes he says things that cause my sides to ache from laughing so hard. Here are a couple of examples from today:

In an attempt to persuade Daddy that he should have an ice cream sundae (in the middle of the day) instead of a popsicle, "Popsicles are not good for me because they are freezing." Um, apparently he's not clear on how ICE cream works.

And in the car with Mommy this afternoon, "W-I-L-L spells Will. What does A-S-S spell?"

Midas turned things to gold....

Me, not so much. Yesterday was one of those days where I should have just stayed in bed with the covers pulled way over my head.

The morning didn't start off too bad, but once the afternoon hit, watch out! I went out, with baby in tow, to run a quick errand at the bank. After missing the turn into the parking lot, I made the monumentally stupid decision to back up (on a busy street...my lane was empty behind me) three feet to try it again. Yes, I know, I should have just gone around the block, but I didn't. And while I did look to make sure there weren't any cars behind me, I didn't bother to check the opposite side of traffic. Long story short, I backed up into a car turning from the other lane of traffic. The damage to both cars wasn't too bad (her car was stopped and I was going all of three miles an hour at the time), but it was enough to shake me up and put me into a mild state of shock. After exchanging the necessary information, I went on about my business, wondering how on earth my dear husband would take the news. Let's just say he was none too pleased. Nor was he impressed by the fact that it was the first accident in which I'd ever been at fault. So now we get to spend a couple of days this week schlepping the car around town to get some estimates for the repair work.

Okay, so that was really the worst part of the day (um, could you really get worse than that anyway?), but things certainly didn't swing upward after that. There was me whining about my dead cell phone and the morons who work at AT&T and absolutely refuse to help me in any way except to offer to sell me a phone at a completely inflated price...despite the fact that I've already been to the store twice and called the company countless times. Luckily Jason stepped in and did his magic; I have a new, free (minus the $50 deductible...thanks phone insurance) phone being sent to me. Then there was the Slurpee that I dropped all over the freshly mopped floor. The Slurpee that I bought to appease Jason and make up for my overall slump of a day. I was able to save a good portion of the Slurpee, but the floor? Sticky as hell. Let's just say that by 10:00 last night, I'd had enough and decided to retire for the evening.

Thankfully, today was a far less eventful day.