Friday, October 3, 2014

It's Been One Productive Week Despite the Kids' Attempts to Take Up Every Single Minute of My Time, TToT Week 68

Want to know how (it seems) my time and brain space is divided these days?

soccersoccersoccersoccerPTOsoccersoccersoccersoccerlaundrysoccersoccersoccerfoodsoccersoccersoccersoccersoccermorelaundrysoccersoccersoccerHomecomingsoccersoccersoccercrosscountrysoccersoccersoccersoccercleansoccersoccersoccersoccerpainsoccersoccergetthingsfixedsoccersoccer

But I am bound and determined to not mention the s word in today's list.

1.  Giant received a new game for his birthday, and we've all enjoyed playing it.  It says it's for kids 8+, but Cuckoo and Turken have both joined in and done just fine. It's for 2-8 players, so we can all play together.



2.  The lawn mower is at the shop finally.  It took one serious beating this summer, and I'm sure the mechanic will come back with a long list of things that need to be fixed.  But, its getting fixed and is one more thing I was able to check off of my to do list.  Plus, it will be a whole new mower when it gets back.  It may just make me want to mow again.

3. Buttercup is going to Homecoming this weekend.  The (modest, pretty) dress she wanted was on sale when I went back to buy it.  $30, People.  $30 for a Homecoming dress.  How can I not be thankful?



4.  Bryan's birthday was last Saturday, and thanks to kids' sports, there was no time to celebrate.  I was able to make his red cake on Monday, and we at it on Tuesday.  As for gifts he got sausage casings so he can turn our ground pork into links and 12 pints of homemade sauerkraut that I personally helped make.  I love that we are happy with belated, cheap gifts and celebrations for each other.



5.  Basketball tryouts were last weekend, and I couldn't be happier with the results.  Giant and Star are on the same team, and their coaches are good friends of ours.  One of those coaches lives pretty close to us and will bring them home after practices.  (You may hear about this many times throughout the winter, because it is HUGE!)

6.  My Bible study group hasn't gotten together in months thanks to the fact we all have very different school and activity schedules now.  They were getting together Wednesday night, but I wouldn't be able to make it because 2 of the boys had games.  My wonderful friends decided to come to the game I was watching so I could be included in the evening.  It was so nice to catch up with them.

7.  We had a nice, long run of perfect weather.  No rain.  Barely any clouds.  Temperatures that made everyone want to be outside.  We knew it couldn't last forever. The rain finally moved in on Friday, but it was a pleasant, calm, consistent rain with a wonderful-sounding breeze.  And since it was Friday, I was able to stay in my PJs and simply enjoy the sound and smell through the screen door until I had to pick the kids up from school.

8.  I was able to stay in my PJs most of the day Friday.  It bears repeating.

9. I had great hair days two days in a row.  I have curly, tends-to-be-frizzy hair that hasn't been cut since June.  Great hair days just don't happen for me, let alone two in one week.  (Don't ask me why I didn't snap a photo to remember the day by.)

10.  I have been able to get back on track with my 15 minutes (at least) of decluttering per day.  I love it more than...um...lots of other chores.  My excitement is completely out of proportion with the little that I get done, but I don't care. I actually call Bryan just to tell him what I accomplished each day.  Sure, he's negotiated 10 multi-million dollar deals in 6 hours, but I CLEANED OUT TWO BAGS OF JUNK FROM THE BASEMENT!

It's getting cold out there.  Next week's thankful list may not be so upbeat.  Consider yourself warned.

Your turn! I want to hear what you were happy to see happen this week

Have a lovely day!




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48 comments:

  1. Im thankful its getting cold out there!
    Awesome cake! How old y's gotta be t get one of those? Frist?!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's just not right.

      You just have to be Bryan. I have made it for the kids once or twice, but I have since talked them into easier ones.

      Yes, frist!

      Delete
    2. "out there" means outside...not necessarily at your place... dont you like winter at all?

      Delete
  2. A great happy week without the s word, even though I'm sure it was very prevalent in your week. I know what you mean about birthday/Christmas gifts for the spouse. A token useful gift is what we do here, too. That was a lovely red cake you made. Stay warm.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. It's always prevalent in our week. :)

      Really, after this many years, we've done the big gifts. Little ones are just as special.

      Thanks!

      Delete
  3. Let's see Buttercup in her modest, pretty dress! I'm intrigued by Tsuro.

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    1. It's up!

      We just played a few more games today. The kids love it.

      Delete
  4. I want to see your good hair day (next one) nad Buttercup's dress!! Be warned... weather is turning here too, and I ain't as pretty during the dying days. ;)

    LOVE that your girls went to the game to be with you and love that the coach will be taking the kids HOME! (That is SO huge)

    I want that cake in my MOUTH.

    Love the gifts... just so cool that THOSE are the gifts.

    Pjs for a day. PERFECT. And totally bears repeating!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. :) I can't imagine you not smiling just because of cold weather.

      It is HUGE! huge, huge.

      I didn't even eat one bite. It's not my kind of cake.

      We've been married so long, there's not much we haven't gotten each other.

      I love a pajama day.

      Delete
  5. Aw. Post a pic of Buttercup in that homecoming dress! It would be pretty! Glad that the weather is getting better....it's not so warm here as well. But good things to be thankful for!

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    1. Done!
      Oh, the weather isn't getting better. It was perfect. It is now cold. And wet. And windy.

      Delete
  6. Sounds like you had a good week (busy but good ) PJs on a Friday is good. 30 dollar dress is awesome, red cake (looks yummy) and cheap gifts; da bomb- I think my family would like Tsuro too, I was just at amazon checking it out - will probably make a nice Christmas gift - good hair days are awesome I have curly, wavy, way to long ,color treated, damaged, always trying to wear it straight hair - at this point it doesn't take well to a blow-dyer or straightener (I ruined my hair) so basically I don't wash it everyday - I blow it out once a week - I wash it a couple of times during the week, apply a leave-in conditioner,tie it in a bun with a scrunchy (I blow the bangs and some of the top ) and at some point during the day I take out the scrunchy all curls - I've been wearing it like this since staycation. I'm gearing up to do some major decluttering I'm drowning here. Good luck with basketball - by far one of my favorite sports for the kids - (it's played indoors) Enjoy the weekend! :)

    ReplyDelete
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    1. It's always a busy week. but good.

      At least 2 of us have played that game every day since he got it. It's fun, but quick, too.

      Wow. Sounds like you've really done a number to your hair. Mine has never been colored or really treated in any way, so it is healthy. It just needs a really good cut to look good. Unfortunately, it hasn't had a good cut in a long time. It's finally growing long enough to look OK. I don't spend 5 minutes on my hair. Put some mousse in it, loosen it up, and let it air dry. Sometimes I have to fix the "bangs" with the curling iron, but that takes 30 seconds.
      Don't know why I just wrote an entire post about my boring hair routine.
      I do like basketball, because of the inside part, but also because my kids are never on the A team. We and they can relax and have fun. Plus, it's through school, so lots of my friends are in the stands with me.

      Delete
  7. If you are like me, after accomplishing so great a task (and calling your husband at work to tell him about it), when your husband gets home, you would then take him into the basement and say, "SEE? Can you see that there is 2 bags of stuff less in here?" Then I would do a little twirl-around dance in the empty space, just to prove my point. Well, that's what I would do if I had a basement. And if I had de-cluttered. :-)

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  8. THAT CAKE oh my goodness... also I love days I can stay in pjs all day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a cake alright. It better look good after the effort it takes to make. :)

      I live for a pajama day. Kinda.

      Delete
  9. We're having cooler mornings and evenings, but during the day it's HOT. We won't really cool off until November. I'm ready.

    Looks like that S word has your head spinning. Someday the kids will all be gone and you'll start over with the grand-kids. It will be far more fun too. You'll see.

    Have a fabulous day. ☺

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, we're past reaching hot temperatures. I even had to turn the heater on. :(

      Oh, I will love being a grandma going to all the games. I won't have to worry about logistics or kids yelling that they can't find their jerseys or socks.

      Delete
  10. I am happy for cooler weather. While I like the pace of summer, I do not like the weather. At. All. Unless it feels like fall, then I'm good. :)
    Good hair days twice? Woot! Since I got my sassy cut, I have not hated my hair every single day. Also a Woot! I'm considering getting it cut shorter. The Kidzilla says go another inch or two (like a six year old knows? oh, wait, she's my fashion girl) and the Hub says an emphatic NO. Given his choice, he'd have me wear it long and all one length down to my butt. What is it with guys and long blah hair?
    Fifteen minutes of decluttering is fantastic, isn't it? I admit I fell off that wagon when I got sick so my house looks like hell. I'm anxious to get back to health and get back on my routine, though. Even that little bit makes a huge difference in managing the mess of life.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. It was a mighty mild summer this year. I don't mind the hot weather at all. There are ways to cool off. I never seem to get warm once the cold weather hits.

      Woot for you and your sassy hair!

      We can hold each other accountable. I'll think of you every time I try to put off my 15 minutes.

      Delete
  11. Buttercup is going to homecoming and you got a dress for $30 AND had two good hair days? I say that's big thankful stuff! It's cooling off here, too and I'm not sure how I feel about that. I love fall. I hate the humidity and heat of the summer. But still, last winter and ELEVEN SNOW DAYS scarred me a little bit. Happy week! Yum to the cake!

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    Replies
    1. Pretty sure we were all scarred and quite nervous, if not down right scared, about going back into that season.

      Delete
  12. *sigh* and so comes the season where I get my GownBear friend back. It's getting cold here, too, and set to rain ALL WEEK NEXT WEEK, so our nice run of weather has well and truly broken, and I think my perspectacles are going to be even harder pushed to manage a list out of it.

    BUT well done for getting a post out without that S word (except a bajilion times at the beginning, but who's counting an intro). I'm glad all the sports and activities are going well, and I love how supportive you are of making it all HAPPEN for your brood. The red cake looks UH-MAY-ZING and you may be partially responsible for how very cake-y of a mood I've been in this week.

    I'm glad your Bible study friends came to YOU. That's awesome.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, perspectacles are going to get a workout here, too. Crossing my fingers that at least Wednesday is nice. We will be outside from 4:30-10:00 that night.

      We are doing our best to make it happen. It didn't quite on Saturday, but we're doing the best we can.

      I don't understand how people aren't always in a cake-y modd.

      It was so awesome. Made me very happy.

      Delete
    2. My cakey mood went too far! Now I must be un-cakified ready for tomorrow, when I may or may not get ice-cream (which I no longer profess to not like) and try not to feel too guilty about it.

      Delete
  13. even though I am not a 'food guy'… I say, that cake! (there is something about 4 layer cake that is still with me, as a child 2 layers is what you get, unless you were at a wedding reception or some special affair, so the modest pastry dreams were totally on 4 layer cake!… 4 times as much icing, yo!)

    good to get things done… and schedules to sort themselves into a more family friendly format.

    the cold… not the best thing in the 12 months of the year. I still resolve to not have the slightest hint of 'outrage at the un-expectedness-of-the-cold'…. got to put that aside as accept the climate (come on!!!!! global warming!!!!)

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I couldn't figure out why everyone was so gaga over the cake. I do believe you've solved it. It never crossed my mind that 4 layers was a fancy, cool thing. To me, it's just been a pain, since this is the only time I do it. You've changed my outlook on cake! Why oh why have I not been doing this for ALL birthday cakes, even if they're box cakes?!?!?

      It is a great to get things done.

      We really should accept the climate, but there's no way I can accept the ridiculous that was last winter.

      Delete
  14. 2. I will never want to mow a lawn, no matter how nice the mower.
    3. Pictures? (Oh, and we paid $12 for Emma's dress this year. Score!)
    4. Red Velvet Cake is worth the wait.
    5. A ride HOME from practice is the BEST. YOU WON'T HAVE TO LEAVE THE HOUSE TO GET THEM!!!
    6. This is such a Bible Belt area that no games are ever scheduled on Wednesday nights.
    8. I completely agree.
    9. This is far more important than most people realize. My mood for the day depends largely on whether or not I'm having a good hair day. And a GREAT hair day? I'm unstoppable.
    10. I need to do that. The worst offender for cluttering is my husband.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. 2. Come to my house. Give it a try. You may be surprised.
      3. It's there! (I had forgotten. Big score!)
      4. Eh. Not a fan.
      5. I WON'T HAVE TO WASTE TIME IN TOWN WAITING FOR THEM TO FINISH SO I CAN FINALLY GO HOME!
      6. We are mostly a Catholic/Lutheran/Modern Christian (whatever those big churches are called) area, so no Wednesday problems here.
      8. Now that I've scrolled back up to see what #8 was, of course you do! We're the same person!
      9. Walk with a little more confidence on a good hair day, don't you?
      10. This decluttering is a losing battle in this house. It's me vs 7 clutterers. I do the best I can.

      Delete
  15. That cake looks so yummy! We had red velvet cupcakes at our wedding and ever since we really love it sooo much. I haven't had a piece in a while and now you have me wanting one! Sounds like you all are back into a swing of things. Isn't that fun about school starting back? More activities and you had great hair days! I know how it can be getting your hair to be how you want it so I empathize with you on that one.

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    1. Well, it was gone in two days, so I'm going to have to think it was. I never tasted it. Red velvet isn't something I've ever taken a liking to. I'm sure you can track some down somewhere!

      Delete
  16. I've been trying to declutter each day too. I haven't made it down to the basement yet though......

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    1. I need to get the basement done, as it keeps flooding and I need to get a new washer and dryer. Delivery people need to be able to get to and from the washing machine without killing themselves. :)

      Delete
  17. 1 - The game Giant got looks intriguing, I'm glad everyone had fun playing it.
    3 - Looking forward to seeing a photo of Buttercup in her homecoming dress, I bet she looked lovely.
    4 - I've had some odd birthday/Christmas gifts over the years but sausage casings?? Definitely unusual, but I do know why :) And the red cake looks divine :)
    7 - Glad you've had a run of good weather, it's been like that over here right from the end of August, and according to the weathermen last Wednesday it's been warmer here than at Bondi beach in Australia. It was cooler today though so maybe it's coming to an end now :(
    8 - PJ days are good - I repeat, PJ days are good :) lol
    9 - Great hair days are good too - nothing worse than having a bad one, especially if you have to go somewhere you need to look good for.
    10 - Glad you're back on track with the de-cluttering. Something I really need to do, but I spend so much time doing it for other people that I lose the will to live when I have to do my own :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 1. It is fun, and each game only lasts 15 minutes.
      3. It's up, and she was.
      4. When you get a sausage stuffer for your birthday one year, it only makes sense that you get replacement casings for the next one. :)
      7. Ours is definitely at an end. We about froze our faces off this weekend.
      8. Ah, you make me smile. :)
      9. I almost always have one of those bad hair days for the firm's Christmas party each year. So aggravating.
      10. I can't imagine you would have any interest in cleaning in any way once getting home. If I had your job, I'd have to hire someone. :)

      Delete
    2. 3 - A great pic of Buttercup and Phoenix, her dress looks lovely :)

      Delete
  18. PJs all day is a true win! Red cake and sausage casings...sounds yummy! Really it does. Especially one the casings are stuffed. We have been having some great weather as well and I am hoping that it stays around for another month. Can't wait to see the homecoming pictures!

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    1. A jackpot kind of win! The pork comes back for the butcher tomorrow, so I'm sure we'll be having some sausage soon enough.
      They're up!

      Delete
  19. Hubby's birthday is at the end of the month, and it's going to be a low-key affaire as well. No need for big celebrations any more at our age :-) Hope you have a great week! Can't wait for those homecoming pics of your beautiful daughter!!

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    Replies
    1. Honestly, after all these years, we don't need the big affairs anymore. Low key is just fine by me.

      Thanks! it's up!

      Delete
  20. Buttercup sure looks pretty. The dress is lovely and $30??? I don't think my own very plain dress was that inexpensive XX years ago...Nice! Love the rare day when you get to stay in your PJ's all day. I've done that and was so comfortable that I forgot and answered the door to accept a UPS package..not realizing it until I closed the door. Oops! LOL.

    I do a 60 second cleaning/decluttering...If I can accomplish something in 60 seconds or less, then I do it right then and not put it off until later. It is pretty amazing what you can do in multiple 60 second sprints throughout the day.

    Glad you had another week filled with things to be thankful for. :-)

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I know! Our Homecoming dances were much fancier than my kids' high school's, which I'm thrilled to bits about. It's perfectly normal for kids to go without dates.
      Hope your pajamas at least cover you up a bit. :)

      My day is full of 60 second decluttering. And yet...I guess that's what happens when there are 7 other people doing the cluttering.

      Delete
  21. OK. Got to go straight to #9. Good hair days! Hurray for non-frizz. Having naturally curly hair prone to the bozo the clown look, I'm looking forward to colder weather only for the lack of humidity and a chance at decent hair. lol.
    The cake. Very excellent!
    Good list this week - birthdays and homecomings, friends and familiar teammates:)
    Hope the weather holds!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Winter is good for the hair, except when it's so cold we have to wear hats. Hats are the death of a good hair day.

      Thanks!

      It didn't, but after a week, we're back to pretty, if not as warm, days.

      Delete

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