Thoughts, goals & frustrations

Another Monday!
They always make me stop and look at my week ahead. I usually have way too many things I want to accomplish in the week, and the week is never long enough. Unfortunately for me, there's no way to stretch time, there is only a certain amount allotted to each week and I am required to fit into it. I'm sure that one of the reasons I like Mondays is because it always looks like I have a L-O N-G week ahead to try and fit everything into. As the week goes by I start to panic more because I don't accomplish as much as I want to fit in, and there's also the realization that logically it really ISN'T going to all get done either.
Therefore I come to the conclusion that I set my exceptions too high. On the other hand if I didn't set them that high, would I really get as much done as I do?

Hmm, please excuse me for saying this all again. I'm sure I must repeat myself frequently, after all, it's my life!

November:
*Not in particular order*

• Finish re-doing blog
• Weekly blogging my "52 weeks challenge"
• laundry & unpacking from our weekend trip
• Finish baby bedding that didn't get done last week
• Wedding invitations made & mailed
• A birthday party for Morgen
• Cheesecakes made for wedding
• Wedding/Reception decorations bought
• Thanksgiving at our house to prepare for
• Trip to ND right after Thanksgiving to prepare for & take.

Obviously this does not include the daily repeat chores of
meals, cleaning, laundry, schooling, and trying to keep my head firmly in place.
Can I state that I'm going to have some seriously new goals for this coming year?

Have a happy Monday everyone!

44 of 52 Mom/Grammie was missing.

You've probably heard the saying..."The best laid plans of mice & men...."
Last weekend our plans were to go to ND to see our kids up there and to pick up Relyssa's wedding dress she bought when she was up there this summer. The kids had fall break on Friday from school, and our plans were to leave Thursday after they got home.
Unfortunately Thursday morning I got a call from the school, "Kara's sick, you need to come pick her up". Wouldn't you know. The kids haven't been sick for 2 years and this is the day it happens. I brought Kaela home too, as I didn't want to make a trip back a while later and about 1/2 the school was out sick anyway. Phone calls made, plans changed, and Leon, Relyssa, Meshayla and Morgen headed off to ND Thursday evening, leaving me at home with the two little girls. I sent my camera along with instructions, "Take LOTS of pictures"
This meant I couldn't take pictures of the girls & I and our activity (or lack of it) here at home, and unfortunately my idea of "take lots of pictures" and the people responsible for my camera were not on the same page. I'll post some more of their pictures from the weekend later, but here's a few good ones I really enjoyed.

Jessi bear with Grammie's camera....













I love this one! Good job Morgen!

Oh yes, while they were off having fun I was at home and since I was at home I figured I'd might as well take full advantage of having the house and weekend pretty much to myself I thoroughly enjoyed my free time, and got started on my sewing project for my youngest grandaughter. So while I missed out on being "in the picture in ND" here's me after all.

My challange

One of my blogging friends has been posting some challenges for 7 weeks now. This weeks involved the number 7 and it also involves staying off the computer. Now I can't say that my favorite number is 7 but there is something that intrigues me about this particular challenge. Maybe because I know I really do spend way too much time staring at the screen; maybe because the "stupid" bejewels game I seem to be hopelessly addicted to is finally starting to get to me....
Side note here, the reason I don't gamble is because I can't quit playing. I'd be so far in debt that if I ever did win, it would never make up for it.
Do you get the connection? No?
Back to this week's challenge I'm committing to. I'm not going to tell you what all I intend to do other than using the number 7 and limiting my computer time. I will tell you that I have a huge list of things I need and want to accomplish.
Friday I'll post how it went for my week.
Yes I am making allowances for my online tea party on Thursday, and posting this weeks "52 weeks" challenge .
If I were like my creative niece, I'm sure I would come up with some creative prize for the person who makes the most sarcastic comment about this but I'm not, so too bad. (Although If I gave away my chocolate, I wouldn't be tempted to eat it!

43 of 52

It's been a busy Three weeks at our house and in our lives. Here's my "Mom's in the pictures" for this week. These go along with my previous post a couple days ago.


When Jeanne & Lynisha came for the baby shower Oct 10-- I wanted a picture of me and my girls together. (and yes, we missed you; Jana, Laura, Dalayna!!)
Back-- L to R Relyssa, Lynisha, Alishia (DIL to be) Meshayla
Front--Grandaughter Kyrie, Jeanne with Lyrah, Kaela & Kara



At our grade school the summer birthdays all get celebrated during the year, so parents/family members get to go have lunch at school with their kids.
Leon and I generally take turns with whatever works out with his schedule, so last Thursday I got to eat lunch with Kaela, and this week on Wed. he got to go and eat lunch with Kara.


We celebrated Relyssa's 18th birthday (which was Oct 3) with a waffle supper, cheesecake & homemade ice cream Sunday night (18th) ONLY 3 weeks late.....yeah, it's been a little busy around here! (more pictures on previous post)



No, this one isn't a "mom's in the picture", but I wanted to post it too. Papa Leon saying goodbye to our baby girl after the weekend (Oct 10)

There you have it folks.....Today we're heading up to ND to see our kids up there for a long weekend. Should be great photo opps for next weeks post! :D

The last two weeks

Sorry, these aren't in order as far as dates they occurred. (And, I'm too "lazy" to change them)

Relyssa's birthday cake/supper--She's 18



Mark & Lyss--



Ryan--ready to enjoy that delicious creation :)


They were SO..SO good!! I hadn't made waffles for ages! The only thing we were missing was cinnamon syrup, and I didn't think to make it ahead of time. Here's the recipe tho. Give it a try on waffles or pancakes. It seriously is THE BEST!! (Posted at the end)


Leon & Relyssa I didn't get a picture of the yummy homemade strawberry/raspberry ice cream he made, but it sure was good too!


Lorene & Relyssa have grown up together, just 3 months apart exactly in age. I believe we have a picture of them at their birthday parties every year. This little guy is Lorene's baby, and such a cutie!

These pictures were taken at the shower that Cyndie hosted for Jeanne & Lyrah. Lynisha gave her the little outfit she's wearing, & the headband is from Dalayna.

This was the day of the shower...Oct 10. We got our first snow of the year, and there were still green leaves on the trees!


Cyndie's gift made a really cute centerpiece, and anyone that knows Cyndie, knows what an awesome & creative hostess she is!!



Hmmm, a rather random picture. Cousins. Evidently needing something worthwhile to do to work off the "Monster" drink they consumed!



Lynisha took Lyrah's pictures for her baby announcements when I was out there the first week in Oct. She was a little over a week old here. The baby legs, onsie & headband are all from Dalayna.





Kara's first Orchestra concert (Oct 12) with the other local 5th grade schools. She just started playing the violin this year. I recorded a video, but never could get it to upload to blogger or facebook either one. Maybe next time!

Here's the syrup recipe!
1 1/4 c sugar
1/4 c water
1/4 c white syrup
Boil 3-4 minutes add:
1/2 c evaporated milk
1 T. butter flavor (optional) or use a dab of butter if you wish.
1 tsp cinnamon

ENJOY!!

More Wedding bells

A week ago our middle son called me and wanted to know if I'd like to go shopping with him. I said "oh! where do you want to go?" He said "You know, to the one-kind of store"...... Being his mom, and knowing the situation Yes, I realized he meant the jewelery store.
Are you kidding? What mom would turn down an invitation like that from her son?
As it turned out we didn't get to go, but wow, I sure got warm fuzzies that he asked me to go along!
He and she did some more looking, and then he called me again and wanted me to come look at the rings she liked before he bought one, so earlier this week Relyssa and I met him at the store and gave our approval on his choice.
The kids have been "dating/seeing each other/going together" whatever you want to call it since earlier this year when they met on facebook. They soon were talking non-stop on the phone, and then actually met for the first time when Ryan flew out to California to help her move to NE. this summer. They've been pretty much inseparable since.
Ryan had the idea that he wanted to officially ask her to marry him on their first date (evidently days at the lake, eating fast food out, and just general spending time together doesn't count!)
So after buying the ring, a REAL date was planned to a nice (read expensive) sit down dinner, dress clothes & all. I extracted a promise from them to come over after their date so I could take pictures. They both had posted about their "first date" on facebook, and a few of us who knew what was going to happen made all sorts of suggestions like flowers, limos, etc.
So, here we go again. I posted last week that I needed a vacation...... what a joke. Basically the responses that I got were laughing at me for even thinking such a thing. Who am I kidding anyway? By the time I get my kids all married off, & my grandchildren born, my grandkids will start getting married.
Would I have it any other way? Nope!
But would someone just hire me a live in maid so that I can do the FUN things & not spend all my time on dishes, laundry & cleaning?
And would someone just please come be my personal shopping assistant? This is going to mean ANOTHER outfit to find to wear. ( And NO, I haven't found one for Relyssa's wedding yet.)




Isn't that a pretty ring!

Leon and I sent flowers to the restaurant for them.

42 of 52

Presenting.....My new washer :)
My daughter took this one for me...she was rolling her eyes at the idea! Anyway, no pictures of grammie & baby this week. It's going to be several weeks before I get to see her again and I'm going to be going thru withdrawals badly!


Before I left to go to my daughters for a week, with the last load of laundry in my washer, my washer filled with water but would go no further. Luckily I have another set downstairs, so took all the clothes out, wrung the extra water out by hand, took them downstairs to wash, then back upstairs to the dryer as my dryer downstairs is not very good and takes forever to dry.
Then I was gone for a week, came home and since my husband was super busy and gone most of the week on jobs himself, the washer was still sitting with water in it. Yuck!
He sucked the water out with the shop vac, called the repair man who came and informed me that it would cost nearly $400 to fix it. WHAT? I screeched (well, not really) That washer isn't even that old! "Well....it is 8 years" He informed me.
Right. That's still baby age in my opinion. My old washer was 20+ years when it finally died, and my "old set" downstairs is over that too! GRRRR!
My opinion of appliances and about a hundred other things that are made so cheaply now they die in a couple of years is really not too good! To say nothing of the fact that the "normal" person cannot even look at them to tell what is wrong, let alone fix them themselves.
I could go on & on about all that, but I'm sure you've already gotten glassy eyed from reading this far, so I'll just say so far I love it, it's VERY different, holds a ton, works great, is so quiet I can't hear it running unless I'm right in the room and I plan to enjoy it since I had to get it.
My dryer has outlasted both my old washer, & last new one, and other than wishing I had a matching set, I really couldn't find a good reason to buy a new one. You can bet my next dryer (if this one ever does die) won't last 25 years either.