Lunch

We didn't have much success with the garden this year due to (1) the deer eating our stuff and (2) then we weren't motivated to water what was left of the garden.  Some little carrots did manage to survive and the kids picked them this week.  

Here's a picture of Bro's little snack pack he takes to school.  I pack two separate food bags for him:  (1) snack and (2) lunch.  Since lunch is not until 1:20, the kids eat snack in the classroom each day.  Here is his little snack on the day he took his carrots.  He was so darn proud of these carrots! 

Carrots; ranch dressing; orange-yogurt covered pretzels; and peanut, butter, and jelly mini-sandwich.

Speaking of lunch, I had to make this little chart (below) and put it the cabinet so I can pull it out when I make lunches.  It never fails that once a week I am sending one kid to school with a lunch item that he/she does not like.  Hopefully, this will avoid the confusion.  I'm not so concerned about Bri since her school offers snack to the kids (but she insists that I pack her her own snack), but there are no other options for Bro.

Here is my preliminary list for your viewing pleasure.  If it's blank, then they don't like that snack.  

I'm sure I will be adding to this list as time goes on.

Do you have any other lunch tips I need to know about???

What I'm Loving?

Sometimes I am so easy to please {{emphasis on sometimes}}...

Many folks in my State were upgraded to this new recycling can (see below).  It is (1) extremely large, (2) on wheels, and (3) with a lid.

What does a girl have to do to get one of these cans?  Really?  They gave them out for a pilot project years and years ago... and it must have gone well because they have been rolling them out ever since... but NOT in my neighborhood.  My husband goes to the dump... like... a few times a week... every single week... for years.  They know him by name... and he knows THEM!  But, they cannot issue him an upgraded recycling can.  This is beyond crazy!

Well, everyone in my neighborhood had one of these shiny new bins when I got home the other day!

HALLELUJAH!!!!!

It's the little things folks. 

 

Moving on.


Dishwasher Troubles

We have dishwasher troubles in my house.  That is, we (Dear Husband and I) cannot agree on when to run the dishwasher.  At what point do you know that it is time to run the dishwasher?

Dear Husband's system:  Run the dishwasher when it is so very full that you could not even slide one more knife into the tray or on the rack... it has to be filled to the rim.  If there is any room at all for any type of dish or utensil, then you wait until you have dirtied that dish/utensil and placed it in the dishwasher.  Never ever... under any circumstances... run the dishwasher until it is filled to the top.

Mommy's system:  Run the dishwasher when (A) you start running out of certain types of dishes and (B) the dishwasher is at least 3/4 full.  Both A and B have to be present.  In all reality, this is what happens... we run out of spoons, or spatulas, or knives... and I am in the kitchen on a busy weekday morning and someone {{Dear Husband}} filled the dishwasher with the last of certain dishes but did not RUN the dishwasher.  So, that leaves me to pull old and crusty dishes from the dishwasher and clean them and dry them (on a busy weekday morning) so that I can start to prepare breakfast for the day.  IT IS MADDENING!  JUST-RUN-THE-DISHWASHER!

You may be asking yourself, "Napmom - why don't you just run the dishwasher yourself?"
Answer:  I cannot do that because Dear Husband will hear it and run over and either (1) stop it or (2) give me his I'm-irritated-because-you-waste-money look. 

However, the answer to my prayers is upon us my friends.

We upgraded our dishwasher to a used model that someone was giving away.  And, look at the luxury feature on this new model... look closely... it is a "delay" feature.  I can "delay" the start of the dishwasher for a time later in the day when he will not be home! WHOA!!!!!!!

So, one random morning this week I set the "delay" for 2-hours later... and, yes, I took a picture of it for ya!!!  I came home to clean dishes and put them away and Dear Husband has NO IDEA that I ran the dishwasher when it was only mostly full!  And, I had plenty of clean dishes to use for breakfast the next morning! LAAAAAA!!!!

It's the little things folks!

Star Wars and a Surprise Project

For goodness sakes... we have a Star Wars fan in our house.

Little Baby Bee has a friend at daycare whose whole family loves Star Wars.  She told me she wants to be a "white trooper" (also known as a storm trooper) for Halloween.

The costume arrived in the mail and I cannot get it off of her.  She wears it for breakfast, to nap in, to play in.  NO - she does not wear it to Sunday School... but she would if she could.

She talks to anyone and everyone about Star Wars.  It is all consuming!!!

If you didn't hear, October 5 was Star Wars Reads Day.  Our local library held an event and we went, not knowing what to expect.

We had a BLAST!!!!

There was plenty for the kids to do.

Vintage figurines.  Oh - I soooooooo remember these guys.

When we first arrived we met a very life-like R2-D2.  I mean... this was practically the real deal folks. 

Bro and his Chewbacca puppet.

Then, we relaxed, played some games, made an origami Yoda, and read some books.

Finally, the storm troopers and Darth Vader arrived.  At first, Bee wanted me to hold her for the pics.   

But, then she found the courage to face Dark Vader alone!

I cannot even begin to tell you how much fun Bee had taking pictures and visiting with the characters.  She was literally star struck!   

She refused to leave the library and threw a fit like I was dragging her out of Disney World.  On the way out the door, Darth Vader stopped to shake her hand.  She asked me to hold her so she could get closer to his face.  When she got close, he gave her a high five and then said (in a real Darth Vader voice) "The force is strong with this one."

WHAT????  She lifted her face mask and gave him the biggest smile I have ever seen.  She was speechless!

What a great event and we will definitely be sure to go back next year!

When we got home, I found Dear Husband in the back yard building an ice rink with a tiller.  What is he doing?  You'll never guess.  Stay tuned!