Tonight I had to go back and remember when Elliott was a newborn.
{3 weeks old}
Back before the word “NO!”, the sassiness {and I’m not talking about the good sassy, either}, the resistance, the “I hate you’s”, the storming upstairs, THE SPELLING TESTS.
Homework this week has been bad ~ especially THE SPELLING TESTS.
Yes, I am a spelling nazi and yes, I want a 100%…but at what cost.
Flying off the handle because she still can’t spell {immigrant} correctly after 4 nights is not the answer.
I need to do LOTS of praying to get through the next 11 and a half years of homework.
A milestone birthday today for my pops {AKA Popsi}.
{taken September 2011}
Thank you for all the times you supported me and for the times you let me know you didn’t.
Thank you for all you’ve taught me and for always letting me know there is so much more to learn.
Thank you for {being there} even when the miles separated us.
We look forward to celebrating with you ~ and oh what a celebration it will be!
The happiest of birthdays to you, Pops{i}!
We love you so, so much!
*****
A man’s worth is measured by how he parents his children. What he gives them, what he keeps away from them, the lessons he teaches and the lessons he allows them to learn on their own. ~Lisa Rogers
I was back in drill sergeant mode this morning. It was not fun, but we made it out the door and to school on time.
I had to abandon my coffee and dreamt about a hot cup ALL morning.
It was 35* in the SCV this morning!
I didn’t have time to {put my face on} as my Gam used to say, so it was one of those mornings when we pulled into the preschool parking lot at 8:15 {45 minutes early} and I applied the MAC and Great Lash while Holden fiddled around on the iPod Touch. Usually, before dropping Holden off, I like to squeeze in an early morning errand {like Target or Dollar Tree for unnecessary junk} but I just didn’t have it in me this morning plus I needed my face on since I was volunteering in E’s class at 9:30.
This is my favorite new breakie….
{2 Kashi 7-grain waffles, 1 T peanut butter and half a banana, sliced}
All for under 300 calories and satisfying.
*****
Looks like we’re back to the regular morning routine ~ “Time to get up!”, “Let’s get dressed!”, “C’mon, eat your breakfast!”, “Brush your teeth!”, “Get your shoes on!”, “Please grab your messenger bag and let’s go!”.
While my car was being serviced in Lawndale on Saturday morning, we all piled into Jay’s Jeep Wrangler and headed due west to the Manhattan/Hermosa Beach area and searched for a breakfast joint. We settled on Brother’s Burritos and were pleased with the casualness and local vibe at this little place. The kids shared Hawaiian Bread French Toast squares…
I was bad and had the egg, avocado, bacon and jalapeño burrito with spicy salsa. We ended up not eating lunch so I didn’t feel so bad.
After breakfast we let the kids play on the beach for a bit to kill time. Jay shot some great pics ~ it was overcast and a bit cloudy ~ perfect picture taking conditions.
*****
The fam also took a last minute trip into Hollywood for an appointment yesterday afternoon and then ended up at a new {to us} sushi restaurant right in our own backyard here in Valencia ~ Sushi One. Yelp gave it great reviews so we gave it a try. Jay and I shared a Sapporo and some rolls and the kids devoured the bulgogi {Korean beef} and steamed rice! Here they are with their after dinner lollipops…
*****
The kids played dress up and came up with this concoction:
Reminded Jay and me of LMFAO ~ the hair. Love it!
*****
Trying to be better at meal planning…cuts down on a lot of problems like not knowing what’s for dinner at 5:00pm, unnecessary trips to the market and going over budget on groceries.
I decided to keep it easy with familiar/already tried recipes this week since it will no doubt be hectic trying to get back into the swing of things routine-wise.
Here’s what will be on our table this week…
Monday : Half of a grilled beer can chicken {Jay’s off today so he can grill}, zucchini fries and TJ’s Harvest Grains blend {Israeli couscous, orzo, baby garbanzo beans & red quinoa}
{Told Jay I wanted to buy an old piano and paint it….he said may not be a good idea because all the paint might affect the way the piano sounds. Uh, your point? Who cares how the piano sounds when it looks this cute? No offense, babe, if you’re reading}
Elliott will have had 26 days {including weekends} off for Winter Break.
That means 2o-some late nights.
Twenty-some days to sleep in.
‘Til 9:30am.
Teenage years are going to be fun.
We’ve spent A LOT of time in our pajamas.
A LOT.
Like way too much.
But the few weeks leading up to Christmas were extra crazy this year…phone ringing, driving, baking, shopping, wrapping, etc.
So I didn’t feel too guilty when we stayed in our jams and stuck close to home these past three weeks.
We were able to get together {3 times!} with dear friends that we hadn’t seen since late September maybe…too long.
We met up with Nor Cal friends passing through at one of our local parks while the mamas got caught up and the kiddos monkey barred, climbed the hill and loaded bark into dump trucks.
We enjoyed a nice family dinner at PF Changs in Santa Monica on a cold and foggy night discussing our goals and dreams for 2012 ~ a new tradition.
With Jay being home a little more, I was able to mingle in the kitchen with some fabulous new recipes ~ one of my all-time favorite things to do ~ just me, the cutting board or the Kitchen Aid and some pins on the ‘ol boards coming to life.
We enjoyed New Year’s Eve with a driveway party, fire pit, appetizers, wine, karaoke and great conversation into the early, early first hours of twenty twelve.
The kids hit a new milestone and ventured into having their own rooms. Elliott temporarily {until we move?!?} took over the guest room and quickly peppered the walls with hand drawn hearts and peace signs for a pop of color and was ecstatic to spot some new sheets featuring her current favorites ~ above mentioned hearts, peace signs, flowers in every first graders colors of choice ~ pink, purple, aqua and lime green. Holden confidently took over Elliott’s twin bed and snuggled into his favorite outer space sheets and astronaut quilt. Now to find the strength to sell their old crib…the one they’ve curled up in for the past {almost} SEVEN years!
{Anybody local interested in purchasing an antique white Pottery Barn sleigh toddler bed? We also have the PBK mattress still in the factory plastic and a white washable cover up for sale…will be placing on Craig’s List soon}
I was able to {try} to get organized and simplify as things will immediately get ridiculous again come Tuesday morning ~ for me the less clutter and STUFF, the better! When in doubt, THROW IT OUT. Or donate it. Or hand it down. Feels SO good.
I’ve also had fun turning up the volume on Holden’s fifth birthday preparations…have most everything locked and loaded, but the invites. Oops! Looks like I worked a bit backwards this time…..
Along with all these wonderful, casual, s – l – o – w days have come with lots of excuses and not nearly enough action. Jillian is most definitely calling my name from inside the DVD case and my New Balances haven’t been hitting the pavement as much as they should be after all the holiday sweets and indulgences.
Hoping that the new back-t0-schedule days will also bring some sweat and an elevated heart rate!
*****
Adios pajamas and hello backpacks, lunch boxes and homework!
For those who are already back in the saddle, I hope it wasn’t too bad climbing back in and for those who still have a day or two left, make it great!
Tonight we semi-cleared out the old guest room, put on fresh sheets, brought in the Pillow Pets and Happy Nappers and tucked Elliott into her new full size bed.
We stripped off the mermaid sheets and replaced them with the outer space variety on her old twin bed and made a cozy little nook for Holden.
They hugged each other good night and went to their new separate spaces.
Wah.
Holdy doesn’t want us to sell his old toddler bed ~ “I am almost little”, he said.
Well, that’s perfectly OK because I don’t know if I could part with it just yet…….
Last night before going to bed, Elliott had an idea to don our matching ladybug aprons, have Holden wear her green one and make breakfast burritos this morning.
I’m glad she came up with the idea last night so I had plenty of time to get in the right frame of mind for having TWO sous chefs in the kitchen.
And working with eggs.
I am really trying to listen to their interests and cater to them and I am thrilled that they see me in the kitchen loving the chopping, measuring, sautéing, flipping, roasting, etc. and want to join in. However, we always need to add one crucial ingredient to the recipe when they are helping and that is PATIENCE. I know they are four {almost 5} and 6.5 and I know that we are going to have spills and be fishing egg shells out of the bowl, but I still have to channel my inner peace and say, “It’s OK…this is how Giada and Tyler and Rachael and Bobby started out…”
I can re-bleach the grout and re-Swiffer the floors, no problem ~ {smiling with gritted teeth}.
{mixing the eggs for our breakfast burritos}
The kids have a much different idea of what goes into a breakfast burrito than I do, of course.
Tortilla. Eggs. Roll up. Done.
Mine was over the top with some leftover crumbled sausage, a couple slices of a forgotten avocado in the produce drawer, a sprinkle of cheese, some cilantro {parsley as Elliott calls it}, a little dollop of light sour cream and a whole lotta shakes of the Cholula bottle {and the scrambled eggs of course}.
Elliott was in charge of the drinks and served up a mean ice water and two apple juices complete with Cutie garnish on the rim {all her idea ~ she’s catching on!}…
{cheers!}
You know what? Breakfast burritos and {patience} do pair well together, after all.
*****
Thankful that my babies do want to wear their aprons and explore in the kitchen.
Making a commitment to accept more help with meals and snacks in Twenty Twelve.
Linking up with Sarah today over at The Fontenot Four ~ Thankful Thursdays!
{Thank you to the random woman in Toon Town that offered to take our picture for this here Christmas card!}
*****
Santa has come and gone.
Gifts have been wrapped and unwrapped.
Elliott has been face timing me all afternoon on her new iPod Touch.
Holden has mastered his Batman Lego Wii game.
Turkey is out of the brine and on the Weber.
Side dishes are prepped and ready to go in the oven.
Paula Deen’s old fashioned sweet potato pie is cooling on the counter.
It’s sunny and 70* here today ~ the kids both dressed themselves in shorts and a short-sleeved shirt.
Another typical, yet oh so special, Christmas Day.
I am already {sad} that the season is coming to a close…looking forward to 2012, though, and all that it has to offer.
Twelve months to mold into whatever we want them to be.
There will be busy days and lazy days, laughter and tears, ups and downs, meeting new friends and spending time with the {old} ones, trying to remember to live each day to the fullest and with conviction & purpose.
THANK YOU to all who come here daily, weekly or monthly and flop around with me. I truly appreciate each and every one of you!
