Food

It's not really about the calories.

I posted a comment a while back about us not having eaten Mac 'n' cheese or fish sticks for dinner in months. Though eating healthier has been an added benefit, the whole thing is really about meal planning.

I've always dragged with planning meals and shopping trips. But after 10 years of marriage I'm finally figuring it out. Inspired by the planning and couponing of a a couple friends and relatives I decided I had to get in on it. I now plan my week's meals on Tuesday. I use the grocery store's ads (which I used to recycle without even a glance) to plan according to sales and I also plan according to coupons I've saved. These things may save us a little money, but the real benefit is that they give me some structure; a place to start. I then shop on Wednesday (to take advantage of double coupon day), and my week is set. All the way until next Wednesday. Eliza and I also make a routine out of our Wednesday activities and it's been a really fun routine. I am so much less stressed! Honestly, I don't know how I did it before. Actually I do...grouchy, irritable, and frantic. See why it was a good change!? Oh! I also plan enough food or the right kinds of meals during the week so Daniel can take leftovers to work. So the real savings is him not having to buy lunch so often. I can't imagine going into this new school year without having this plan in place. So let's hear it for the farewell to Kraft's blue box!

Valentine's Day

There's not anything I love more than receiving homemade Valentines in the mail. And it's always a surprise who "did it" this year. I smile, open the envelope, and wish I had done the same for them. Because I would love to.

Here is our Valentines wall this year (not including a few late ones we got up today and some cards standing on shelves). Andrew and our swimsuit model. I did warn you about her clothing habits this winter, didn't I?

Some loving bears Grandma and Grandpa Koski sent us a few years ago. Pardon the kissing ones, they've been going at it all week!
I did not manage to do sugar cookie cut-outs for Halloween or Christmas, so I had a hankering!
Abby is growing out her bangs. Any suggestions?

Besides the fact that our Valentines Day ended in an excess of bodily fluids caused by viruses, we had a wonderful day!

Disney on Ice

A while back, my friend, Sheri, invited the girls and I to see Disney on Ice with her and her girls. And since the show was Princess themed, we couldn't resist. Well, February 4th, the big night arrived!

Here we are before leaving for the show.
Eliza, Grace, Abby, and Hannah waiting for things to start. The anticipation was great!
You can get the idea of the set here. It was a fantastic bit of entertainment!
The girls were glued to the show, enthusiastic, and loving every moment. A couple moments I even found my eyes welling up--what!?--there is something to the Disney Magic I guess. I felt better when Sheri told me she teared up too!!

A cool lift by Prince Eric. Ariel is Eliza's favorite princess by a landslide. Or an ocean.

What starts with H and rhymes with Mouse?

You got it.

It is time. We are getting ourselves a house! It's a 4 bedroom, 2 1/2 car garage, two level plus unfinished basement, 1.88 acre (woah!), early 70's home. For us, it's practically perfect. It's brick with red siding. Inside there are plenty of updates (some fixtures, some carpet, linoleum, countertops) and plenty of originals (blue toilet, yellow fridge, dark cabinets, even some light yellow shag carpet). I must admit it's all quite tolerable--nothing made me run screaming. The sellers are even including their rider mower in the deal--thank heavens.

The part that is not perfect is that the home is zoned for a different elementary school than we currently go to. However, its MLS listing said it did go to our school. A mistake I found after we'd made an offer and accepted their counter. After much deliberation and unpleasantness we decided to go through with the purchase, finish the year at their current school, and make the switch next fall. The new school is in the district, smaller than their current one, and practically identical in appearance inside and in academics. So the transition shouldn't be too tough. Andrew is cool with it (a shock to us) but Abby is not so pleased. She's still thinking that she's going to get to stay at her current school...reality hasn't hit yet. Luckily they'll get to see their friends still since the house is only 6 minutes away from our apartment. I know it will be hard on my heart to make this transition, but I try to remember they'll be alright in the long run and they'll have twice as many friends when they hit the middle school in 6th grade.

In due time I will post pictures!

We close March 17 and will be out of the apartment by the 31st.

Andrew gets a break...

...but not the showbiz type.

This is the result of recess football out on the concrete! One pinkie + concrete head on = buckle fracture. It's a pretty small fracture but enough to go to the children's hospital to get it checked out. It'll be in a splint/wrap for 3 weeks and no gym or sledding! Bummer! The funny thing was when I told Andrew he had a break and he'd need a splint he was grinning from ear to ear. At that age this stuff is so cool. So, congratulations?