We officially started the gas challenge last week! And it is going well! We are definitely having some successes, but there are also ways we can continue to improve.
We started the week with our mileage at 129,305.
We ended the week with our mileage at 129,543.
So, in one given week we traveled 238 miles. Not bad, I thought considering we took a trip to see my grandparents out in the far 'burbs (if you could even call their town a suburb.) I'd love to see this number halved!!!!
We consolidated trips, I walked with the kids to the library, Greg rode his bike to meet with his mentor rather than drive, and I took a long walk with the kids on Friday to the science store! We also needed a part for our bike trailer, but rather than take the trip to the bike shop, I knew we would be seeing the bike shop's owner at a party that day, so I called for "delivery!" And they happily obliged! (It helps that they are friends and we go there for all of of bike needs!)
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
Fess Up Friday
Me: Where's Foster Child #3?
Foster Dad: Down for a nap.
And reason 1,001 I love my husband, is that he didn't say,"Remember,YOU were the one who put him down not even 5 MINUTES ago."
Foster Dad: Down for a nap.
And reason 1,001 I love my husband, is that he didn't say,"Remember,YOU were the one who put him down not even 5 MINUTES ago."
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Oh Be Careful Big Mouths WhatYou Say
Foster Dad left his cell phone at my grandparents' house today. My gramma called me to let me know and Foster Dad said, "Be sure they pick up the phone if my other girlfriend calls." I relay this message to my gramma and of course we all have a good laugh.
However, after I hung up the phone Foster Child #1 pipes up from the backseat and says, "Daddy, who's your other girlfriend?"
Watch, one day Foster Child #1 is going to tell someone her daddy has two girlfriends!
However, after I hung up the phone Foster Child #1 pipes up from the backseat and says, "Daddy, who's your other girlfriend?"
Watch, one day Foster Child #1 is going to tell someone her daddy has two girlfriends!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Fess Up Friday
Foster Child #1's birthday was May 29. On May 28th she said to me, "Mommy, who's that Pinkalicious book for?"
Oh, crap!
Yup, I completely left out one of her 4 presents completely unwrapped, in plain view for her to see. I had to keep it out so Foster Dad and I could write our birthday letters in the front cover (which we still haven't done!) And oh geez, today is Foster Child #3's birthday and I have yet to even BUY his birthday book.
One night this week while in bed Foster Child #1 asked if she could get water. I told her sure she could get water from the bathroom sink. A few minutes later, Foster Dad and I hear again, "Momma, can I get some water?" I holler back, "Foster Child #1, you already got water!" And as I'm hollering, Foster Child #2 walks into the bathroom, completely disregarding my message. Good thing, because it was then I realized it was Foster Child #2 who had asked for water!
Last night I made bean burritos for dinner. I had the recipe picked out a couple of days prior and was happy I had everything on hand, or so I thought. The recipe called for frozen corn kernels, which I swore I had! Apparently, I didn't, but I did have bags of mixed vegetables, which have corn in it. You better believe I opened those 2 bags and picked out most of the corn kernels for my recipe!
Oh, crap!
Yup, I completely left out one of her 4 presents completely unwrapped, in plain view for her to see. I had to keep it out so Foster Dad and I could write our birthday letters in the front cover (which we still haven't done!) And oh geez, today is Foster Child #3's birthday and I have yet to even BUY his birthday book.
One night this week while in bed Foster Child #1 asked if she could get water. I told her sure she could get water from the bathroom sink. A few minutes later, Foster Dad and I hear again, "Momma, can I get some water?" I holler back, "Foster Child #1, you already got water!" And as I'm hollering, Foster Child #2 walks into the bathroom, completely disregarding my message. Good thing, because it was then I realized it was Foster Child #2 who had asked for water!
Last night I made bean burritos for dinner. I had the recipe picked out a couple of days prior and was happy I had everything on hand, or so I thought. The recipe called for frozen corn kernels, which I swore I had! Apparently, I didn't, but I did have bags of mixed vegetables, which have corn in it. You better believe I opened those 2 bags and picked out most of the corn kernels for my recipe!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Book Review-Promises to Keep
Promises to Keep, written by Ann Tatlock, is a story about a preteen girl, Roz, and her life after moving to a new town. Once in the town of fictional Mills River, IL, her family discovers they have a new house guest, Tillie, a rather eccentric, but wise 70 year old woman, who also, in my opinion, happens to be the best thing the family encounters.
I enjoyed the book, however, I felt like it was a slow read up until half way through. The book has 47 chapters, but is 345 pages long, so you can see that the chapters are short. This I viewed as a disadvantage because I would read only one chapter at a time, and be OK with that. I didn't feel like there was enough of a pull to make me read the next chapter in the same sitting. However, it could be an advantage for someone who doesn't have a lot of time on their hands and wants a book that they can read a chapter in five minutes. If you have the patience to make it through the first half, the second half is well worth it. I flew through the final chapters on the book. Although it was rather predictable, there was still the desire to see what would happen, and yes, some surprises!
The characters in the novel are complex, yet likable (well, at least most of them!) Ms. Tatlock did a wonderful job of developing the characters, and the different stories they all told in one novel.
Although the story is a drama, there is some humor and light-hearted moments as well, which is appreciated and frankly, needed, because the topics in the book are rather deep and complex.
All in all, my review of the book is average. There are elements I liked (the characters), but others I could do without (disliked the short chapters!) I may read more of Ms. Tatlock's work in the future if her books come across my path, but I won't go out of my way to.
**I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
I enjoyed the book, however, I felt like it was a slow read up until half way through. The book has 47 chapters, but is 345 pages long, so you can see that the chapters are short. This I viewed as a disadvantage because I would read only one chapter at a time, and be OK with that. I didn't feel like there was enough of a pull to make me read the next chapter in the same sitting. However, it could be an advantage for someone who doesn't have a lot of time on their hands and wants a book that they can read a chapter in five minutes. If you have the patience to make it through the first half, the second half is well worth it. I flew through the final chapters on the book. Although it was rather predictable, there was still the desire to see what would happen, and yes, some surprises!
The characters in the novel are complex, yet likable (well, at least most of them!) Ms. Tatlock did a wonderful job of developing the characters, and the different stories they all told in one novel.
Although the story is a drama, there is some humor and light-hearted moments as well, which is appreciated and frankly, needed, because the topics in the book are rather deep and complex.
All in all, my review of the book is average. There are elements I liked (the characters), but others I could do without (disliked the short chapters!) I may read more of Ms. Tatlock's work in the future if her books come across my path, but I won't go out of my way to.
**I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
Friday, May 27, 2011
Fess Up Friday
Considering it has been over a month since I last posted, some of these are rather old but too good not to share!
On a particularly blustery day, Foster Child #1 and I went to get haircuts. I went to pay for parking at one of Mayor Daley's most ridiculous ideas-the Parking Meter Boxes. I pushed my bank card in, pulled it out, and saw it, just-like-that, fly out of my hands! I ran down Howard Street chasing after my bank card for a block! And fortunately I was able to grab it before it blew into traffic on Clark Street!
The night before Mother's Day my mom and I prepped Baked Oatmeal for us to have for breakfast the next morning. I woke up on Sunday to a wonderful smell wafting from the kitchen, but soon enough forgot about it. As we were bustling around that morning (we had house guests, had to bathe the kids, and just general Sunday morning prep to get to church) I turned on the oven to preheat the Baked Oatmeal, and then went about my merry way getting ready. Well, it's a good thing my mom is our family's chef extraordinaire because she turned off the oven shortly thereafter as I was apparently cooking the Baked Oatmeal more. Yeah, the yummy smell that woke me up was the Baked Oatmeal already done being baked! (I failed to check the fridge first to see if my mom did bake it, but I also didn't see it out on the counter, which would be the ideal place for something already baked!) And I guess I sucked pretty bad at communicating-which is pretty sad, because my mom and I are usually pretty good at it!
Recently Foster Child #2 came downstairs with Foster Child #1's toothbrush. I questioned him, asking him why he had Foster Child #1's toothbrush for brushing his teeth, and he replied, "She's sharing with me!" I laughed and said, "Not toothbrushes!" But, yes, I still let him use it!
This week we ate at McDonald's twice! And if you know my family at all, you know that is out of the ordinary. We're more like once a month McDonald patrons. Oh, and if I'll be really honest, the two times we ate at McDonald's were 2 days in a row!
On a particularly blustery day, Foster Child #1 and I went to get haircuts. I went to pay for parking at one of Mayor Daley's most ridiculous ideas-the Parking Meter Boxes. I pushed my bank card in, pulled it out, and saw it, just-like-that, fly out of my hands! I ran down Howard Street chasing after my bank card for a block! And fortunately I was able to grab it before it blew into traffic on Clark Street!
The night before Mother's Day my mom and I prepped Baked Oatmeal for us to have for breakfast the next morning. I woke up on Sunday to a wonderful smell wafting from the kitchen, but soon enough forgot about it. As we were bustling around that morning (we had house guests, had to bathe the kids, and just general Sunday morning prep to get to church) I turned on the oven to preheat the Baked Oatmeal, and then went about my merry way getting ready. Well, it's a good thing my mom is our family's chef extraordinaire because she turned off the oven shortly thereafter as I was apparently cooking the Baked Oatmeal more. Yeah, the yummy smell that woke me up was the Baked Oatmeal already done being baked! (I failed to check the fridge first to see if my mom did bake it, but I also didn't see it out on the counter, which would be the ideal place for something already baked!) And I guess I sucked pretty bad at communicating-which is pretty sad, because my mom and I are usually pretty good at it!
Recently Foster Child #2 came downstairs with Foster Child #1's toothbrush. I questioned him, asking him why he had Foster Child #1's toothbrush for brushing his teeth, and he replied, "She's sharing with me!" I laughed and said, "Not toothbrushes!" But, yes, I still let him use it!
This week we ate at McDonald's twice! And if you know my family at all, you know that is out of the ordinary. We're more like once a month McDonald patrons. Oh, and if I'll be really honest, the two times we ate at McDonald's were 2 days in a row!
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Sometimes the best quotes are from husbands
Me: How many gifts from us do you want Foster Child #1 to open?
Foster Dad: All of them (mind you he said this without skipping a beat)
Me (sarcastically): Har, har, har, har.
OK, and then I did laugh more genuinely.
Me: OK, let me rephrase that. I know we want her to open all of our gifts, but we have choices in how many I wrap.
Foster Dad: The more the merrier.
And, I concur! She'll be opening 4 from us. :)
Foster Dad: All of them (mind you he said this without skipping a beat)
Me (sarcastically): Har, har, har, har.
OK, and then I did laugh more genuinely.
Me: OK, let me rephrase that. I know we want her to open all of our gifts, but we have choices in how many I wrap.
Foster Dad: The more the merrier.
And, I concur! She'll be opening 4 from us. :)
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