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My Daybook, Entry #16

FOR TODAY
Monday, Jan 11, 2010...

Outside my window... Partly cloudy, 57 degrees.

I am thinking... this is gonna be a looooooong week with Pops gone to Orlando for work. He left late Friday night to catch a plane out of Portland on Saturday morning. Why drive 3 hours to catch a plane he could have taken just an hour or so from home? Well, his brother (the kids' Uncle Arty) is flying into Portland the same day that Pops flies home. They both will get into PDX around 10 PM this coming Friday. I will be soooo ready for some adults to inhabit this home!

I am thankful for... our very kind neighbors to the east across the fence. The treekids love them to pieces and are always wanting to walk down the street to say hello... I wish we had a gate between our yards so they wouldn't have to walk on the road to visit.

From the learning rooms... we are all caught up on our basic subjects except for Math. So, we are working at keeping on track and adding in math again slowly...

From the kitchen... Here's the "plan":

Monday - a "Movie Dinner" of frozen pizzas and Tinkerbelle and the Lost Treasure

Tuesday - Baked Chicken with cream sauce, noodles and peas

Wednesday - Branch has requested fish sticks... blech!

Thursday - Tyson's Chicken Anytizers - they are chicken chunks with pepperoni and marinara sauce inside - sounds yummy to me!! I just haven't decided what else will go with them!

Friday - I'm thinking breakfast as I will be preeeeeetty tired of this single parent gig!

Saturday - Uncle Arty will be here, so I hope to serve cinnamon rolls for breakfast, they'll probably be gone for lunch and then ... steaks or something yummy that Pops requests for supper

Sunday - Still will have that ornery uncle here, but don't know if they will be at the coast earlier than I am willing to be up! So, this day we'll play by ear as to what I will make - if anything! Maybe it will be eat out all day!!!

I am wearing... A green long-sleeved v-neck t-shirt, a brown knit skirt and an annoying pair of cream nubby socks.

I am creating... Christmas in review blog posts, we painted plastic suncatchers, and I am packaging up boxes to send out!!!

I am going... crazy! But, it will be an ok fun time, right?!?!!

I am reading... a Flower Fairy Craft book with Branch

I am hoping... that I can find a bit of time for myself to recharge each day so that I will last this week without eating my children!!

I am hearing... Branch talking on the phone to Geemah, Bud sliding paper back and forth on the table, and Blossom photocopying pages of the Flower Fairy Craft book! (There are fairy patterns that she wants to cut out to use as paper dolls.)

Around the house... The Christmas tree and all the decorations are put away - except the ceramic Nativity scene which is up on top of the cupboards - visible when on the stairs (and far from the loving touches of a four year old, and a six and eight year old! They have their own plastic set to fuss with!).

One of my favorite things... clean laundry. I am nearly done with ALL laundry - well, for today... it piles up so fast!

A few plans for the rest of the week... School stuff, general housekeeping, Thursday is Blue Knights for Bud, this weekend brings Uncle Arty.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

Our Nativity scene on top of the kitchen cupboards

To read more daybooks or to join in the fun, head over to Peggy's.

Gift opening,,, to kids from Mom & Dad

This year, we gave Bud an aluminum baseball bat (they don't use wood bats for little league here in Oregon) ,

an electric drum set (no worries, it came complete with headphones!),

and a pirate themed 100 piece 2 ft x 3 ft puzzle!!

We found three lovely gifts to create smiles for Branch...

a "rodeo cowgirl" buckle and belt,

a "BIG Box" with a veterinarian play set,

and a FurReal puppy dog to do her veterinary work on!

Blossom was super excited to open a cheerleader puppet (which she promptly used to stage a quick show from behind the couch!),

a new Snow White dress to replace a well-worn one,

(She put it on in a big hurry... Do you think she liked it???)

and finally a "musical sit and spin." When she first took off the wrapping, she was nearly in tears over this "baby toy." (A toddler was pictured on the box!) I told her there was NO way a baby could play this toy and when Pops got it all put together...

she had changed her mind!!!

I think that it was a fun day... so far!! Next up - presents from some grandparents and a bit of vertigo for me with a day full of sensory overload!!!

Jesus' Birthday Brunch

To begin the morning, hearing Blossom snooping around at all the things under the tree while singing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus was just so precious! So, I was sure to dig out the birthday candles for our coffee cake!!

We had a great breakfast of "Sock-it-to-me" (coffee cake), River Omelets (a baked egg dish with cheese, sausage and olives - this day! Some days the additions are different!), Bacon, Hot Cocoa, Cappuccino, Egg Nog, and various candies out of those stockings!

This is "Sock-it-to-me" and it is our very favorite coffee cake. It is very moist and there is a cinnamon sugar swirl or layer in the middle of the cake - yum yum yum!! I am not impressed with the "drizzle" as it drizzled itself all over the plate and didn't stay on the cake. Anyone know a better ratio of powdered sugar to milk and vanilla to ensure that it drizzles itself on the cake and doesn't run off everywhere?!?!!

Brunch was delicious and after it was cleaned up... it was off to see what else was wrapped up under the tree!!