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February 28, 2006

MIA

I have been intending to post for several days now but have also been trying to catch up on life. The girls and I took turns with the stomach flu all last week which was definitely one for the books and ended with Julia on Friday with a temp of 104.4. We're all so glad to be well and getting back into the swing of things now.
My house really shows the affects of a week of sickness but its getting back to normal. Last night I instituted the 15 minute clean up and this is a brilliant, brilliant idea (not mine of course, and that sounded way more arrogent then I intended!). I set the timer for 15 minutes and we all just go to town. In 15 minutes I was able to clean up the dinner dishes, do a quick clean up in the bathroom, and start a load of laundry- it's amazing what you can actually do in such a short amount of time. Lizzie really got into it and sang Barney's "clean up, clean up, everybody, everywhere." I really hope I can try to remember to set the timer everynight, it helps out a ton and I think its a great discipline to instill in the kids. It's also a great way to get your husband to do 15 minutes of straight cleaning without you doing any nagging. LOL
I feel like this week I've been crazy busy already. I started to piece together the girls Easter dresses and I'm hoping to pleat them on Thursday and start smocking them. Piecing them together was so easy, I wish I had started smocking and making clothes for the girls earlier. I didn't really think I would like the smocking look nor my girls wearing matching clothes but I am so excited! How silly. I was at Amy's this morning and she was showing me some old patterns that she inherited from an aunt and I fell in love with this coat pattern. I am definitely making the girls matching coats for next winter. This pattern is so adorable. I can see it in a great tweed or one in a deep purple wool and the other in a cranberry color. This pattern cost 50 cents and I couldn't find a year on it but it's pretty old. I love it!

I've also been working on a meal planning system where I write a week of meals on an index card with all the groceries needed so that I can just pull out an entire week before heading to the grocery store. I don't like meal planning and am hoping that if I do this work now then it will pay off for future shopping trips. I've realized that I am in need of some meatless meals, mostly to save money. I've started getting a few things organic now and with the increase in cost I want to cut somewhere else. My friend Christy is hooking me up with a good red beans and rice recipe and I think I might try to make some lentils. Feel free to post some recipes if you have any. Especially cheap ones!

Posted by JennR at 2:54 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

February 9, 2006

"No, I'm Katie Mommy"

Lizzie has spent most of today pretending to be Katie (what I like to call her imaginary personality). What is most shocking to me (aside from the fact that my two year old pretends to be someone else) is her ability to be so darn consistent with it.
Everytime I ask her to do something, I either have to address her as Katie or if I forget and call her Lizzie than she'll correct me EVERYTIME. It is unreal. It kind of cracks me up and creeps me out at the same time. She is pretending to be Katie while playing with her imaginary friends Hayno and Seeya. :)
We were even working on "how big is Julia" at dinner and we usually go around the table and all of us get to put our hands over our head. Then Lizzie sings "how big is Katie, sooooo big."
Andy and I just looked at eachother and laughed. It was so bizarre.
I know I've mentioned this before but one of my good friends says this is great for creativity . . . you better be right!!!

Posted by JennR at 7:13 PM | Comments (7) | TrackBack

February 2, 2006

More like a bread stick than a pretzel

So about two weeks ago I got myself into gear and started doing yoga again (finally after a workout hiatus that lasted for a year and a half). These guys in the video are unreal (or maybe the problem is my flexibility) and of course when you first start out and don't know the routine you're awkwardly trying to look up at the tv while trying to "ground your feet". The way they word things cracks me up although it tends to be so true "keep your back body firm while softening your internal organs." Oh, that really worked. And then of course at the end there is that great relaxation where you "release your inner eyes" and "let your brain sink back into the earth beneath you." Still makes me giggle. It's a wonderful nap time exercise and does really relax me. Plus if your muscles have atrophied like mine, its a great way to remind them that they have potential.

I have a great workout partner too and I think she has really good technique.

this is downward facing dog pose

this is warrior 2- obviously

"Is this the lay down part mommy"
"Is this when we're quiet"
"I'm doing yoga daddy"
"Is this the quiet part mommy"

What relaxation!

Posted by JennR at 11:00 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack