Grocery List

Is there anything worse than going to the store with your two little ones- when you finally get to the end of the store, double check your list(s), and discover you've forgot an item (or three!)?  You know the items were missed because your list was half jotted on the back of a paper towel, written on a sticky note, circled on a recipe you printed out before heading out the door, and of course those last few items you were going to 'just remember'. (This was me today- and really more days than I would like to admit!)

In an attempt to get more organized I found this Grocery Checklist. I love it because I was able to easily edit and adapted it to suit our family- adding items we use and deleting those we don't. (Though I was really disappointed at the size of the 'produce' column- not enough spaces! I guess I could switch it with the 'canned goods' column, but I like the idea of produce being first. )

Anyway. Just wondering if you all use something like this? Or if you have a better idea, I'd love to hear it!

In other food related news- anyone else ready for the Farmer's markets to open back up? I am!

Happy 6 months, Babe!

Today Bennett is 6 months old. Unbelievable. 7.5 months ago we left Germany and 5.5 months from now we will likely be moving again. In the middle of this roller coaster I'm thankful for all I have. This 'little guy' is tipping the scales at somewhere over 20lbs, getting to be a pretty good 'sitter' and just TODAY cut his second tooth- hence the funny tounge in the picture below. I've been waiting to officialy enter the 'can't remember what life was like before B', but I do remember, and while it was pretty fantastic, this guy only makes things better.

Baby swimming pool+ sand toys+ (2) 50lb bags of whole corn = hours of fun for 25 bucks.

Reasons why this is awesome.
1. Pieces of corn are a lot easier to clean than sand if it ends up out of the tub, or in the house.
2. Using out of season toys = free
3. Thrilled toddler who thinks Mommy is The Coolest


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No, I didn't think this idea up all on my own. Credit goes here. http://playathomemom3.blogspot.com/2011/09/crazy-for-corn.html

GAP

Motherhood.

It's hard work, hardly glamorous, and, at times, flat out difficult. But every. single. day I know it's 100% where I want to be.

KitchenAid

Ok I have a question. I've been seriously looking at Kitchenaids since I saw some on sale a few months ago. I look at them intermittenly, and ultimately decide I can't justify the money on something like that at the moment, but I DO have a birthday coming up and I keep coming back to them. I need some input though.

Do you have a Kitchen Aid mixer (or other stand mixer)?
Do you love it?
Use it regularly? Daily? Weekly? Monthly?
Feel like you are missing out by not mixing by hand (my fear, silly I'm sure, but isn't there some satisfaction in stirring up a batch of chocolate chip cookies by hand)?
And most importantly-WHAT COLOR!? I’m torn between black, red, or cobalt blue!

Thanks for any input!

You know you are a nursing mom when. . .

Today, on Andy’s last day of winter break, I took the luxury of going  to the store by myself at nap time. I had just started out when I heard a dropping noise. As I was juggling my keys, phone, coupons, recipes, grocery list, wallet, and a pen without a purse (because my purse is a diaper bag), I heard a noise like something had fallen from my cart. I turned around to figure out what it was and on the ground I saw two drops of what must have been milk. The irrational part of my brain took over and I could only frantically think- OH NO AM I LEAKING ON THE FLOOR? No regard to the fact of how much I would have had to been leaking for it to end up on the floor- only terror at the thought of my breastmilk on the floor at Wal-Mart.

Sorry for my lack of blogging. I made it halfway to my goal of 30 in 30 at least, right? We had an incredibly busy holiday season! Including tons of family time, two 10+ hour drives, three of our favorite people visiting from far away, New Years at my mom’s, and generally more food (and sugar) than you can imagine!

We are working on getting back on schedule. There are lists to be made, routines to work out, and plans to be put in action (oh, yeah, we are moving in about 6 months)! But the highlight of today? My fears have been tamed. I’m beginning to believe one day we will all get decent sleep again because Bennett cut his first tooth! (Hopefully this was the root of the fact that my once super-sleeper-Benny doesn’t sleep more than 2-4 hours in a stretch at night) I was SO excited I think I scared the boys a bit with my enthusiasm!

How were your holidays? Hoping I get caught up in reading your blogs soon- I'm sure they were fantastic! Best gift? . . .worst one? :)