Menu Plan Monday - Independence Week Edition

Menu Plan Monday is hosted by Laura. This week is very abbreviated because we'll be headed to visit family. I'm just trying to use up what's in the house. Here's the menu:

Monday: Grilled steak
Tuesday: Turkey Mignon
Wednesday: TBD
Thursday: TBD
Friday: July 4th Cookout

Have a great week!

Now that's a bargain!

Kyra and I had some time to kill before we went to pick up Ian at skateboard camp this morning so we stopped in at the local Younkers. I don't do a lot of shopping there, but I do like to go when they are having their yellow-dot clearance sale because you can get some really nice clothes at really decent prices. Today it was take an extra 60% off the clearance price. Anyhow, they had some Jockey underwear on clearance which would have come up to around $5.00 per pack. Imagine my surprise when they rang up for 99 cents! A bargain and new underwear! Does it get any better than this?

The shelves - they are a-changing

Ok, forgive my failed attempt at a title. I was shopping with Kyra today at Shopko while Ian was at skateboard camp. They have their summer patio stuff on clearance already and I noticed they are starting to put up the aisles for school supplies. It seems hard to believe that Ian has been out of school for almost a month already. June has just flown by for us.

After finishing up at Shopko (and the Dollar Store - because you know you can't distract little Miss You-Know-Who from that toddler paradise!), we headed over to Hobby Lobby because they had some wall hangings on sale that I want for the newly painted bathroom. Kyra made the comment as soon as we entered "Where are the Christmas trees?" She got great joy from the Christmas tree display there last year. I told her that it was too early for the trees but as I walked a couple of aisles in, I noticed they are already stocking the shelves with ornaments! This is JUNE, people!

A Timely Reminder

I just had one of "those" mornings. Actually, it didn't start out too bad. We went to the library and the kids were really well-behaved. I even got some reading done myself. Afterward, we headed to the grocery store. I've really tried to consolidate my shopping into a once-a-week trip and I have a system that works pretty well. Kyra was doing pretty well up until the end when I realized I had forgot a couple of items on my list. She wanted to get out of the cart which, in retrospect, was fatal mistake number one. I let her help put the last two items in the cart and proceeded to checkout. She wanted to "help" put the things on the belt but it turned ito a "let's throw the things on the floor" instead. I gave her a choice to either help nicely or go back in the cart. She defiantly threw something else on the floor, so I fought her back into the cart and belted her in. It was too late to just leave so I just let her scream. Yep, I was THAT mom. I just wanted to crawl into my skin and hide. I held my ground and didn't give in to the screaming though. Still, I came home wiped out and ready to cry. I even snapped at Ian who was actually very good through the whole ordeal.

After taking quite a few deep breaths (I put Kyra down for her nap immediately upon our return), I sat down to do my current bible study. My reading was Psalms 127:1-2 but many of you know the verse that follows immediately thereafter:

Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. Psalm 127:3

I shouldn't find it amazing that the Lord is with me even when I am at a low but I do rejoice that He also finds the right words to comfort me when I am down - even when I'm not necessarily looking for them.

Menu Plan Monday - June 23, 2008

Menu Plan Monday is hosted by Laura. Here's this week's menu:

Monday: Honey Mustard Pork Tenderloin
Tuesday: Asian Chicken Roll Ups
Wednesday: Roasted Turkey Breast
Thursday: International Sales Banquet
Friday: TBD

Have a great week!

Sunday at the zoo

We decided to take a drive to the Milwaukee Zoo this afternoon. Surely the blue sky indicated that the forecasters were clearly wrong about the scattered thunderstorms! We packed a picnic lunch and set off after church. We had just started out and entered the reptile house when the first "cloud burst" came. Luckily, we were inside for most of it. It did clear up but we were caught in a massive downpour on the way back to the parking lot. Here's a few pictures from today:

The Princess & Her Daddy

One of the highlights of Ian's day was riding a camel named "Omar".

Ian & Daddy on the train right before the storm.

Amazingly, I actually got a shot of Kyra both smiling and looking somewhat at the camera. I'll have to practice with photoshop to get rid of the choclate cookie crumbs on her face!

Never smile at a crocodile! (actually, it's a Chinese alligator)

Yes, it's just an elephant, but I really like the detail that I got with the camera. I also took some close up pictures of his trunk, tusks and toes that came out great!

Thanks for looking!

I remember when . . .

Saturday meant sleeping in. Of course that was before kids where "sleeping in" now means maybe sleeping until 7:00 or 7:30ish. So, why is it that even when I can sleep in, I choose not to?

On Thursday evening, we went for a walk to the lighthouse. Ian wanted me to "race" him on the breakwall. I wasn't wearing my good shoes and I ended up tweaking my glut/hammy a bit so when the alarm rang on Friday, I just wasn't feeling up to my morning run (and, admittedly, I was way too comfortable underneath my covers). I ended up walking with the kids to the park yesterday which was a couple of miles round trip, so I did at least get some exercise. Still, I have to admit I felt "guilty" sleeping through that morning run.

Since we rented a movie last night, I told Rich I would take it back today. Yep, I got up at 6:30 and decisively chose to run it back - literally. Not only did it erase my guilt from yesterday, it was a wonderfully mind-clearing run. Now, if only I could convince myself that I can still sleep in and do the same!

Same but different

As much as I sometimes complain about the area we live, we do have a very nice, albeit small, zoo in town. Each spring, they bring baby farm animals to the "barn" which is adjacent to the playground. Ian and Kyra both love going to the park and visiting the animals. Last year, the turkey chicks were each named after a character from Harry Potter. This year, there are still turkey chicks but, as Ian so keenly informed me this morning, "these are different turkeys this year!"

Menu Plan Monday - June 16, 2008

Menu Plan Monday is hosted by Laura. Here's this week's menu:

Monday: Halibut with pesto
Tuesday: Sweet Soy Glazed Chicken
Wednesday: 40 clove garlic chicken
Thursday: grilled shrimp and veggies
Friday: TBD

Have a great week!

Looking ahead

So, here I am one day post-10K and it dawns on me that I really have nothing to "train" for. I don't think I particularly need to have a specific goal in mind when it comes to exercising, but it does motivate me a little more to get up at 5:00 a.m. and get that workout in. After a little poking around, I believe I am going to participate in the Sheboygan Brat Trot.

Admittedly, it is a little strange to be running at an event structured around fattening, beer-soaked sausages, but it does benefit a good cause - diabetes research. As a bonus, there is a 2-mile family walk so Rich will be able to participate with the kids.

It's too bad the race starts at 8:00 a.m. though as the "headliner" the night before is none other than Slaughter (which brings back way too many big-hair, concert-t-shirt wearing memories than I care to remember). Somebody hold me back!

The results are in . . .

This morning, I participated in the Bellin 10K in Green Bay. It was my first ever 10K, so I was quite nervous but having done a practice run last weekend, I wasn't too worried about not finishing. The results were just posted (oh how I love the fancy little chip timers!). Here's my results:

• Time: 55:29
• Overall place: 2630/8710
• Overall place among women: 718/4357
• Overall place in division (30-34): 106/526
• Average pace: 8:56/mile

All in all, I am quite pleased. I have some new goals to shoot for and, next year, I move up to the next age division, so I won't have to compete against so many "youngsters". Thanks to everyone for their prayers and support and special thanks to Ms. S, Ms. B and Ms. L for being my running buddies!

That little girl makes me laugh!

Ian received a CD of Veggie Rocks! for knowing all of his Bible verses for the year in Sunday school. It's been a big hit with both kids and has now replaced Curious George as our most often listened to CD in the car (even though some of it's a little "hard core" for me). One of their favorites is "Promised Land".

Anyhow, after returning from running errands today, Kyra was playing in the living room. She got on her pink and purple car, looked at me, waved and said "See you later! I'm going to the promised land!" and promptly scooted away. This is one of those moments I will truly treasure!

Once again, I am ahead of my time!

I have been touting that tomatoes are bad for you for forever! Finally, everyone is catching on! =)

Menu Plan Monday - June 9, 2008

I almost forgot even though I had it planned out this morning for my trip to the grocery store. Actually, there's a couple of repeat items from last couple of weeks because we didn't get to them. Menu Plan Monday is hosted by Laura. Here's this week's menu:

Monday: Grilled boneless pork chops
Tuesday: Peanut Butter Chicken
Wednesday: Shrimp & Veggie Salad
Thursday: BBQ Chicken Pizza
Friday: Bellin Run Spaghetti Dinner
Saturday: TBD, but carrot cake sounds like it's in the forecast!
Sunday: Father's Day Brunch

Have a great week!

The Power of GU

In anticipation of the Bellin 10K next Saturday, the group I am running with went out on a practice run this morning. Ms. B planned a great route and even had water stops for us set up along the way. She also provided us with a packet of GU. Now, it is not the most appetizing substance known to man, but we ran 7.3 miles and I had nary a cramp. I will definitely be picking some up for next weekend!

Seriously? This is June!

Aaah, tomorrow is the last day of school! Time to don our shorts and begin a carefree summer vacation. Yeah, I forgot, this is northeast Wisconsin!

Tonight Ian had another baseball game at one of the parks nearest the lake. It eerily resembled a scene from a Steven King novel. We had mist. We had fog. We had seeping into your bones cold! I'm still trying to warm up!

An easy treat

Rich signed us up to bring the treat for Ian's baseball game last night. He figured it was better to get it out of the way early. I don't know why, but I have "anxiety" about being the treat-giver. I know it's silly because kids will pretty much eat anything you put in their hands that comes in snack-pack form. That being said, I don't like sending kids home on sugar highs after the game. I asked Ian what he would like to give and his response was "some sort of cheese crackers and a drink". Easy enough - I was off to Wal-Mart and then I saw the bunches of bananas. Simple and healthy! I did end up getting the Ritz bits cheese crackers as well, but the boys loved the idea of bananas and couldn't get enough of them - glad I brought extra!

Menu Plan Monday - June 2, 2008

It's time for another edition of Menu Plan Monday hosted by Laura. Here comes summer including Ian's baseball two nights a week! Some quick meals and grilled favorites this week! Here's this week's menu:

Monday: Sirloin steaks
Tuesday: Pineapple Chicken Skewers
Wednesday: Bacon Bit Burgers
Thursday: BBQ Pork Quesadillas
Friday: Peanut Butter Chicken

Have a great week!