Since we've been travelling more than normal lately, we have let our pantry, refrigerator, and freezer supplies deplete. Now it's time for a refill. I started working on a menu and grocery list on Monday, and on Tuesday I was pleasently surprise to get the Albertson's grocery flier in the mail. Usually it is scanned quickly and trashed, but I saw that they were doing a big "Buy One Get One Free" sale and was thrilled. In case you are new to my blog, we cook only once in a while, but then we cook a lot. I planned for 31 meals -- that gets us through at least 6 weeks since there are leftovers, we eat out occassionally, and sometimes we are out of town. I prepared to get as much for my dollar as I could, and that took only a bit more planning. With my mega-list in hand, I loaded the kids in the car, and drove to the store where Allen met me after work in his car.
Together we had two carts each with two kids. Two hours later, we went through two check-out lanes, and we loaded two cars and headed home. In all we spent $443.88 and saved $216.50 just from the sales. I found it funny that we only paid $1.51 in sales tax for the freezer bags that I store our meals in -- everything else was food, mostly produce and around 40 pounds of meat. It took a long time to put everything away when we got home, but we finished.
What do we do with all of it? Allen and I spend a weekend cooking and freezing so that all we do on a daily basis is thaw, heat, then eat. Since all of the recipes are new to us, I won't post the recipe until we know if it is worth sharing, but here is our task list (aka: menu.)
Done today - 19 meals
2 meals - Blackened chicken salad & dressing (I will blacken chicken for 2 meals, but we always have salad stuff on hand.)
3 meals - Gardenburger patties
2 meals - Brazilian beef and black bean casserole
2 meals - Salmon packs (salmon steaks, veggies, & spices)
3 meals - Sweet & Sour pork
3 meals - Chicken dijon
2 meals - Chicken a la Provencal
2 meals - Roast Chicken in a bag
To work on tomorrow
2 meals - Creole bean patties (eaten as sandwich)
2 meals - Beef & veggie 5-spice stir fry
3 meals - Stay-in-bed stew
3 meals - Pot au feu
2 meals - Pasta Primavera with Chicken
We had the garden burgers tonight -- a vegetable and whole grain patty that we ate like a burger (on a bun, with tomato, lettuce, pickles, ketchup, mayo, etc.) They turned out very tasty, so I'll share that recipe tomorrow. Now I am going to get a drink and sit down with Allen and watch Iron Chef America.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
In the Bathroom - another story
I may give up on this before the weekend hits. Imagine, if you can:
1. Three little potties lined up by the sink (2 with whiz-gaurds, 1 without.)
2. Jon took his dirty diaper off in the crib, then peed
3. Since it was already off, I sit him on a whiz-gaurded throne
4. I go back for Maddie and was just going to change her, but she wants to "pobby" too (that's her pronunciation of potty)
5. Ben was dry, he would stay dressed
6. Oops, Ben notices Jon and Maddie sitting bare-butt
7. Ben tries to take off his clothes, gives up and just sits . . . on Jon
8. Jon shoves Ben off his lap and stands up
9. Jon, completely naked, bends over to back into the step-stool, looking through his legs to see where it is until his bottom touches the stool
10. Maddie climbs over her potty armrest and steps into the bowl of Jon's pot and stands up
11. Ben stands inside Maddie's seat
12. I undo Ben's diaper and set him on a gaurded seat
13. I get everyone seated in the proper positions
14. Ben says "bee-bee?"
15. I mistake that for "pee-pee" and smile and enthusiastically say "Yes! Pee!"
16. All three start pushing their belly-buttons enthusiastically singing "beep-beep! beep! BEEEEP!! Yay! beep! Yay-yay!"
17. The boys find their lower button "BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! Yay-yay! BEEP!"
18. I try again, "No. . .lets all go pssss"
19. All three hiss like snakes, "SSSSSS! Yay! SSSS!"
20. Four minutes have passed since Jon first sat down, but this is exhausting. I give up all too easily and spend ten minutes getting them all dressed.
21. Three adorable little toddlers whine and cry because I won't let them get back in or on the potty chairs. Too bad . . . so sad . . . get over it . . . let's go eat.
1. Three little potties lined up by the sink (2 with whiz-gaurds, 1 without.)
2. Jon took his dirty diaper off in the crib, then peed
3. Since it was already off, I sit him on a whiz-gaurded throne
4. I go back for Maddie and was just going to change her, but she wants to "pobby" too (that's her pronunciation of potty)
5. Ben was dry, he would stay dressed
6. Oops, Ben notices Jon and Maddie sitting bare-butt
7. Ben tries to take off his clothes, gives up and just sits . . . on Jon
8. Jon shoves Ben off his lap and stands up
9. Jon, completely naked, bends over to back into the step-stool, looking through his legs to see where it is until his bottom touches the stool
10. Maddie climbs over her potty armrest and steps into the bowl of Jon's pot and stands up
11. Ben stands inside Maddie's seat
12. I undo Ben's diaper and set him on a gaurded seat
13. I get everyone seated in the proper positions
14. Ben says "bee-bee?"
15. I mistake that for "pee-pee" and smile and enthusiastically say "Yes! Pee!"
16. All three start pushing their belly-buttons enthusiastically singing "beep-beep! beep! BEEEEP!! Yay! beep! Yay-yay!"
17. The boys find their lower button "BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! Yay-yay! BEEP!"
18. I try again, "No. . .lets all go pssss"
19. All three hiss like snakes, "SSSSSS! Yay! SSSS!"
20. Four minutes have passed since Jon first sat down, but this is exhausting. I give up all too easily and spend ten minutes getting them all dressed.
21. Three adorable little toddlers whine and cry because I won't let them get back in or on the potty chairs. Too bad . . . so sad . . . get over it . . . let's go eat.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
In the Bathroom
Allen came home for lunch yesterday. Later he told me that he and Will had this conversation in the bathroom:
Daddy what's wrong with you?
What? Nothing.
What happened to your clothes?
Oh! My Nomex? I'm still wearing clothes under here. It's what I wear when I go in the plant.
Why do you wear those when you go in the refinery?
To keep me safe.
From what? [with a big puzzled look]
From fire.
Oh. . . . . . . Daddy, why do you need to go to work?
You tell me. . . why do I need to go to work? [expecting him to give me the answer we've told him - to get money]
They don't give you money at work. [very serious; adult voice]
They don't?!
You get money from the machine!
What machine?? [baffled]
That machine - you go up to it and type in with the buttons and the money comes out. That's where you get money. Not at work.
Oh! [laughing] Daddy gets money from work and then he puts it in the machine so he doesn't have to carry it around with him all the time. Then when he needs more, he goes to the machine and gets some out.
OK.
Now leave me alone I'm peeing.
Daddy what's wrong with you?
What? Nothing.
What happened to your clothes?
Oh! My Nomex? I'm still wearing clothes under here. It's what I wear when I go in the plant.
Why do you wear those when you go in the refinery?
To keep me safe.
From what? [with a big puzzled look]
From fire.
Oh. . . . . . . Daddy, why do you need to go to work?
You tell me. . . why do I need to go to work? [expecting him to give me the answer we've told him - to get money]
They don't give you money at work. [very serious; adult voice]
They don't?!
You get money from the machine!
What machine?? [baffled]
That machine - you go up to it and type in with the buttons and the money comes out. That's where you get money. Not at work.
Oh! [laughing] Daddy gets money from work and then he puts it in the machine so he doesn't have to carry it around with him all the time. Then when he needs more, he goes to the machine and gets some out.
OK.
Now leave me alone I'm peeing.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Back to normal?
Allen was back to work today after having all of last week off. Now I'm pouting. I miss him already. I love having him around all day, not just for the help, but I enjoy being with him more than anyone else in the whole wide world. 
Start, start, start -- finishes are not in today's forecast. Today, I started the laundry, pulling it all from the suitcases. I started a grocery list since we seem to have nothing . . . even the freezer is ready for a refill, so I need to start menu planning again, too. I've gone through all the mail, and now I am ready for another vacation. 
Just for something new, I took the kids to the library -- the first time in this town since I didn't want to juggle four kids and try to keep them quiet. Well, quiet they were NOT. Cute they were, so I think the librarian may let us come back sometime. 
It was just a bit uncomfortable at the library since the building wasn't much bigger than the wagon I pulled the kids in, but we left with 7 books, 3 movies, a library card, and (let me check) yes, all four kids, and I still had my sense of humor, too. 
Since I was already on the same block and the little ones were in the wagon, we walked down the street for a tour of the local YMCA fitness facility. 
Since we were at our parents' last week I got to read some of the comic strips I haven't read in ages. Some were clipped for me, but I was inspired to get online and read the archives of some of my favorites. These are some I thought should go on my fridge, just as reminders that I am not alone . . . I know some of you readers can relate.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Happy Independence Day!
I couldn't resist the pretty American flag dress I found for Maddie. Then, of course, guilt set in, and I bought outfits for all the boys, too. So I had little Mr. Americas and little Miss America and I HAD to get photos. The best smile we got from Jon was when we all made funny faces, but that won't be posted because Allen and I looked rediculous. Will is the tall blonde (age 4 1/2), the babies are 20 months. Jon is wearing the white, Ben the navy, and Maddie is in the pigtails and dress.
It was a wonderful day! The kids splashed in a pool for awhile, then we tried to get everyone to nap before the parade (failed attempt). At 5, we went and watched Papa in the parade. The kids enjoyed it and the adults prayed the storm would wait until the end. The thunder and firetruck sirens drowned out any yelps of joy my kids may have had, but Will waved enthusiastically at the paraders, and the little ones watched and pointed the noisy line of cars and wagons while they stuffed animal crackers in their mouths. The raindrops started falling while we headed back to the car. We waited out the storm in the UNquiet of home while the guys did the grilling. After dinner, the babies were so tired we cleaned them up and put them in bed. Allen's parents stayed with them while Jason and Jenn and Allen and I took Will back for the Melissa festivities. Will got to sit in a firetruck, check out a medivac chelicopter, play in the bounce house, and try out some of the inflatable obstacle courses. We sat and watched a great fireworks display, but I was disappointed not to get to hear the Star Spangled Banner. I love to hear that song and it always brings tears to my eyes because it remeinds me how very blessed I am to be an American! After the show, we walked back to the car and Will was in for an awesome surprise. . . the helicopter was taking off right in front of us. Thankfully we thought to stand behind a fence so we didn't get hit by the orange cones that blew around when it lifted, but we still had to cover our eyes to keep the sand out. To Will, it was "AWESOME!" 
Thursday, July 3, 2008
July memories
The fourth of July has such happy memories for me. . . the American flag, parades, family, cookouts with watermelon and corn, facepainting, fireworks, and my favorite song "The Star Spangled Banner".
When I was living in Pittsburgh as a kid, the 4th of July meant ice cream sandwiches. Mom and Dad can tell you lots of stories about me running away from fireworks as a kid, and yes, I remember that too. But I also remember that when my family would watch fireworks (or in my case, run) we always, ALWAYS, went to the icecream truck for an icecream sandwich. Maybe mom didn't buy them in the store since they weren't nutritious enough, but as far as I knew, that creamy vanilla ice cream sandwiched by chocolate wafers only came out of the blue and white truck that cranked out Jingle Bells from its magical music box. I think one year I had an orange sherbet push-up instead, but I remember that was icecream sandwich day. Now that I can find those forzen treats so easily at the grocery store, they don't have quite the charm they did when I was a child.
So many of my 4th of July memories are the dry, hot, happy Texas days watching the parade in Lubbock going down Broadway St. I would sit with Mom, my brother Jason, Aunt Kathy and cousins Chris & Mike. We kids (well, I would start, and then as I got louder, they laughed more) would sing in a very silly voice, of course:
They say the neon lights are bright on Broadway
They say there's always magic in the air
But when you're walking down that street
And you ain't had enough to eat . . ,
I never did learn all the words, but those silly moments made the Fourth of July my other favorite holiday -- tied with Christmas. Ages 13 to 16 I painted my lips with my blue eye-liner and red and white lipstick. I would get as close as I could to an American flag. It was creepy looking, I am sure, but I did it and I loved it. Some years I wore an outfit mom made for herself in the 70s; I felt like WonderWoman wearing the one piece, red zip-up suit with blue and white stars all over it. Those are probably the shortest shorts I ever wore in my life, and I am sure mom only let me out of the house in that costume because she used to wear it, and that would've been my arguement if she said no. So many of the moments that make me happy about the holiday were created in Lubbock after we moved there when I was 13.
As an adult, I remember a few fourths fondly. . . When we were in college and still engaged, we were in Lubbock with my Aunt Kathy, and joined by my grandma and Aunt Ann, Uncle Jim, and cousins Kathryn and Jamie. I forget if we went to the parade, but I still have photos of us being silly before the fireworks show. Post wedding, but before the kids came along, we were at Allen's parents' house and left the dogs in the backyard while we went to a neighbor's to watch fireworks. When we returned we found the dogs (ours and theirs) stuck in the dog house because they both went in to get away from the noise, but somehow couldn't get turned around to get out. A few years later, Allen and I walked with Will in his stroller to the park in Independence. That's something special too, spending Independence Day in a town called Independence. We listened to the community band and watched fireworks. Two years ago when I was pregnant with the triplets, our college friends and their boys came and we went to the park for fireworks, but the town's display was gone because it caught fire earlier and they all went off. We still got to enjoy other people's efforts while we sat with our friends. Last year was definitely a different one. The kids and I vacated Independence a week earlier than planned because the town flooded and the water was shut off. We were living as flood refugees with Allen's parents for a week before we were able to move into the apartment. It was still a festive day with a parade and fireworks, but Allen was still in Kansas working to get the refinery back together after the flood and subsequent oil spill. They cancelled the celebrations in Indy because there wasn't water to put out fires.
So now our family is in Texas and I am again anxious for the Fourth of July. This weekend we are at Allen's folks again. Tomorrow's menu is full of my favorites: sweet Texas corn-on-the-cob, succulent watermelon, grilled burgers, and some baked beans. We are planning to squeeze dinner in between the parade and fireworks, and hopefully, I can manuipulate the kids' naps so everyone can enjoy it all. That may be asking too much, but my goal is to enjoy the day and savor every bit that I can.
When I was living in Pittsburgh as a kid, the 4th of July meant ice cream sandwiches. Mom and Dad can tell you lots of stories about me running away from fireworks as a kid, and yes, I remember that too. But I also remember that when my family would watch fireworks (or in my case, run) we always, ALWAYS, went to the icecream truck for an icecream sandwich. Maybe mom didn't buy them in the store since they weren't nutritious enough, but as far as I knew, that creamy vanilla ice cream sandwiched by chocolate wafers only came out of the blue and white truck that cranked out Jingle Bells from its magical music box. I think one year I had an orange sherbet push-up instead, but I remember that was icecream sandwich day. Now that I can find those forzen treats so easily at the grocery store, they don't have quite the charm they did when I was a child.
So many of my 4th of July memories are the dry, hot, happy Texas days watching the parade in Lubbock going down Broadway St. I would sit with Mom, my brother Jason, Aunt Kathy and cousins Chris & Mike. We kids (well, I would start, and then as I got louder, they laughed more) would sing in a very silly voice, of course:
They say the neon lights are bright on Broadway
They say there's always magic in the air
But when you're walking down that street
And you ain't had enough to eat . . ,
I never did learn all the words, but those silly moments made the Fourth of July my other favorite holiday -- tied with Christmas. Ages 13 to 16 I painted my lips with my blue eye-liner and red and white lipstick. I would get as close as I could to an American flag. It was creepy looking, I am sure, but I did it and I loved it. Some years I wore an outfit mom made for herself in the 70s; I felt like WonderWoman wearing the one piece, red zip-up suit with blue and white stars all over it. Those are probably the shortest shorts I ever wore in my life, and I am sure mom only let me out of the house in that costume because she used to wear it, and that would've been my arguement if she said no. So many of the moments that make me happy about the holiday were created in Lubbock after we moved there when I was 13.
As an adult, I remember a few fourths fondly. . . When we were in college and still engaged, we were in Lubbock with my Aunt Kathy, and joined by my grandma and Aunt Ann, Uncle Jim, and cousins Kathryn and Jamie. I forget if we went to the parade, but I still have photos of us being silly before the fireworks show. Post wedding, but before the kids came along, we were at Allen's parents' house and left the dogs in the backyard while we went to a neighbor's to watch fireworks. When we returned we found the dogs (ours and theirs) stuck in the dog house because they both went in to get away from the noise, but somehow couldn't get turned around to get out. A few years later, Allen and I walked with Will in his stroller to the park in Independence. That's something special too, spending Independence Day in a town called Independence. We listened to the community band and watched fireworks. Two years ago when I was pregnant with the triplets, our college friends and their boys came and we went to the park for fireworks, but the town's display was gone because it caught fire earlier and they all went off. We still got to enjoy other people's efforts while we sat with our friends. Last year was definitely a different one. The kids and I vacated Independence a week earlier than planned because the town flooded and the water was shut off. We were living as flood refugees with Allen's parents for a week before we were able to move into the apartment. It was still a festive day with a parade and fireworks, but Allen was still in Kansas working to get the refinery back together after the flood and subsequent oil spill. They cancelled the celebrations in Indy because there wasn't water to put out fires.
So now our family is in Texas and I am again anxious for the Fourth of July. This weekend we are at Allen's folks again. Tomorrow's menu is full of my favorites: sweet Texas corn-on-the-cob, succulent watermelon, grilled burgers, and some baked beans. We are planning to squeeze dinner in between the parade and fireworks, and hopefully, I can manuipulate the kids' naps so everyone can enjoy it all. That may be asking too much, but my goal is to enjoy the day and savor every bit that I can.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Back for a Bit
We had a wonderful weekend at my parents'. My brother and his family were there this weekend and we kept all the kids busy. Since I haven't gotten to go "shopping" with Mom the last few times I've been there, we took a quick girl-time trip with Maddie. Where did we go? We went to Toys-R-Us and let Maddie run up and down the aisles. Well, that's a bit of an exageration, but we did let her roam and she seemed to enjoy the freedom. I picked up a few pajamas for her and a cute strawberry outfit. Maddie got to pick out a baby-doll and outfit, and we had a little chocolate while we were out, too. A perfect girl-trip always ends with a taste of chocolate, you know. Everyone got to swim in the lake after a cookout and picnic. On Sunday, we celebrated Dad's birthday with another cookout with cake and icecream. It was a hot day so it was mostly an inside playday. Monday we took all the kids to the sprinkler park and with five kids and five adults, it wasn't so bad. My brother even had time to take pictures and I was thrilled that he let me play with his new camera, so I took some, too.
We got home yesterday and have finished up the laundry. It's so easy when it all comes out of the suitcase and goes right back in. We've decided to try to put the triplets in forward-facing carseats, so last night Will and I went to pick out a big-boy booster seat for him. Today, I spent the morning cleaning my car. I figured since we had all the seats out to switch them for the kids, I should clean up the milk spots from eight months ago. I completely emptied and scrubbed the inside, and I am pleased that it now smells fresh instead of like stale baby products. Tomorrow we are off again, this time to Allen's parents for the fourth of July weekend.
We got home yesterday and have finished up the laundry. It's so easy when it all comes out of the suitcase and goes right back in. We've decided to try to put the triplets in forward-facing carseats, so last night Will and I went to pick out a big-boy booster seat for him. Today, I spent the morning cleaning my car. I figured since we had all the seats out to switch them for the kids, I should clean up the milk spots from eight months ago. I completely emptied and scrubbed the inside, and I am pleased that it now smells fresh instead of like stale baby products. Tomorrow we are off again, this time to Allen's parents for the fourth of July weekend.
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