Warp Speed
This time of year goes slowly and quickly. I wish I could say it was leisurely, but it just really isn't. I wish I could say that I look forward to this time of year, but, honestly, I really don't. It isn't the weather...it isn't the busy birthday schedule, it is the TAX season. Now, before I go on, I must inject this: I don't HATE tax season...my husband doesn't loathe his job...he's VERY good at what he does...I don't have a bad attitude--I got that out of the way years ago, and I'm very grateful that Tim has a good job that provides me the opportunity to be at home! :) I just don't see myself every saying to my family, "Kids, isn't it exciting that we won't have dinner with your dad for the next four months?" I use that as an example, because in our house, meal times together are very important, and not sharing them seems to be what takes the toll the fastest.
We've come up with several successful strategies over the last ten years or so, and while we may be used to it, it doesn't mean we like it. As I whine though, I remind myself how incredibly grateful I am that my husband comes home each night and that he is a phone call away, rather than deployed far away for years. Just because our routine changes, our schedule drives on! Sometimes the busyness of our days makes April 15th come a little faster. Sometimes it just makes me tired! :) The dispruption hit us hard enough this year in different forms that we've decided it would be wise to move back to Lincoln so that we are at least closer to the chaos rather than adding travel to it again next year. I'm sure there will be a blog or six about that as we approach the reality of it. It's really not something that we can tackle during tax season.
BUT...I heard a very wise person say "don't live in the past...don't worry about the future...live in the now!" I'm sure he isn't the first one to voice such wisdom, but it was definitely something I had to hear at the time Fr. Courtney was saying it! Thanks Father!! With that in mind, we make lemonade. :) Tim isn't a big "breakfast for dinner" fan, so when he isn't here, we eat breakfast for dinner...sometimes it's just a bowl of cereal or eggs and toast, but our favorite is pancakes! Not as good as Grandma A's mind you, but these are pretty darn yummy!
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1 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2 T sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 egg
3/4 cup milk
2 T vinegar
2 T canola oil
Combine dry ingredients in a bowl. Set aside. Pour vinegar into milk and let sit 5 minutes. Add milk and remaining ingredients to dry ingredients. Stir just until mixed together. Pour onto a hot griddle, flip, enjoy! I think this makes 4 servings, so of course I modify it (x4 most days!) and I also use whole wheat flour with a 1:3 ratio to the white...AND...sometimes I use coconut oil or add a bit of flax oil and eliminate the sugar and add blueberries, but you get the basics with the recipe above.
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I will miss this when we move.
Holidays and special occasions still stay on the calendar, and we just celebrate them however we can...Valentine's Day this year didn't involve any cookie making. We had a bag-filling session and put together Valentine's for the kids to hand out at school and saved a couple for Joe who is at Cowboy Grandma and Grandpa's house all week long.
We attempted heart-shaped cinnamon rolls and pink smoothies for breakfast and then since it was Temperature Tuesday at Runza, we splurged and brought Runzas home, but still made them festive and added them to the plate with heart-shpaed pasta. I didn't even get a picture of the kids' Valentine boxes. Honestly, by the time that we made them, I was really contemplating suggesting brown paper grocery bags with a red-Sharpie heart drawn on, but decorating them is something that they really enjoy, so I sucked it up and wrapped boxes and gave them each some stickers and doilies and glue. :) Even I got a Valentine from my dear friend Melissa!
We're approaching birthday season too. Joe will kick it all off on the 26th of this month and then five days later we'll have another for two consecutive weeks, take a week off and then one more!
This along with the everyday stuff that goes on makes one week turn into the next with the blink of an eye. We've had Catholic Schools Week, STAGE rehearsals, confirmation preparations, science fair, bake sales, a vehicle breakdown, a furnace breakdown and a well breakdown. We've gutted a bathroom and are 50% done with a remodel after a mere 5 weeks of having only 1 main bathroom, we've been snowed in one day. We manage to find a few moment here and there as a family and for the most part, Tim doesn't work on Sundays, so when there aren't a hundred other things going on that day, we have the day together...or at least a couple of hours and Mass. I think we'll survive. :)
We've come up with several successful strategies over the last ten years or so, and while we may be used to it, it doesn't mean we like it. As I whine though, I remind myself how incredibly grateful I am that my husband comes home each night and that he is a phone call away, rather than deployed far away for years. Just because our routine changes, our schedule drives on! Sometimes the busyness of our days makes April 15th come a little faster. Sometimes it just makes me tired! :) The dispruption hit us hard enough this year in different forms that we've decided it would be wise to move back to Lincoln so that we are at least closer to the chaos rather than adding travel to it again next year. I'm sure there will be a blog or six about that as we approach the reality of it. It's really not something that we can tackle during tax season.
BUT...I heard a very wise person say "don't live in the past...don't worry about the future...live in the now!" I'm sure he isn't the first one to voice such wisdom, but it was definitely something I had to hear at the time Fr. Courtney was saying it! Thanks Father!! With that in mind, we make lemonade. :) Tim isn't a big "breakfast for dinner" fan, so when he isn't here, we eat breakfast for dinner...sometimes it's just a bowl of cereal or eggs and toast, but our favorite is pancakes! Not as good as Grandma A's mind you, but these are pretty darn yummy!
.jpg)
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2 T sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 egg
3/4 cup milk
2 T vinegar
2 T canola oil
Combine dry ingredients in a bowl. Set aside. Pour vinegar into milk and let sit 5 minutes. Add milk and remaining ingredients to dry ingredients. Stir just until mixed together. Pour onto a hot griddle, flip, enjoy! I think this makes 4 servings, so of course I modify it (x4 most days!) and I also use whole wheat flour with a 1:3 ratio to the white...AND...sometimes I use coconut oil or add a bit of flax oil and eliminate the sugar and add blueberries, but you get the basics with the recipe above.
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I've been diligent in getting up in the mornings...or at least at some point in the day...to exercise. The group fitness classes at a local gym have been awesome--I definitely feel like I worked out when I'm done with them, and I'm pretty sure that during them I'm quietly wimpering to myself that I am never coming back again, but then I do because it feels so good later! Those classes have nothing on pulling kids on a sled in the snow though! THAT is a good workout!
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I will miss this when we move.
Holidays and special occasions still stay on the calendar, and we just celebrate them however we can...Valentine's Day this year didn't involve any cookie making. We had a bag-filling session and put together Valentine's for the kids to hand out at school and saved a couple for Joe who is at Cowboy Grandma and Grandpa's house all week long.
We attempted heart-shaped cinnamon rolls and pink smoothies for breakfast and then since it was Temperature Tuesday at Runza, we splurged and brought Runzas home, but still made them festive and added them to the plate with heart-shpaed pasta. I didn't even get a picture of the kids' Valentine boxes. Honestly, by the time that we made them, I was really contemplating suggesting brown paper grocery bags with a red-Sharpie heart drawn on, but decorating them is something that they really enjoy, so I sucked it up and wrapped boxes and gave them each some stickers and doilies and glue. :) Even I got a Valentine from my dear friend Melissa!
We're approaching birthday season too. Joe will kick it all off on the 26th of this month and then five days later we'll have another for two consecutive weeks, take a week off and then one more!
This along with the everyday stuff that goes on makes one week turn into the next with the blink of an eye. We've had Catholic Schools Week, STAGE rehearsals, confirmation preparations, science fair, bake sales, a vehicle breakdown, a furnace breakdown and a well breakdown. We've gutted a bathroom and are 50% done with a remodel after a mere 5 weeks of having only 1 main bathroom, we've been snowed in one day. We manage to find a few moment here and there as a family and for the most part, Tim doesn't work on Sundays, so when there aren't a hundred other things going on that day, we have the day together...or at least a couple of hours and Mass. I think we'll survive. :)
