Not Me! Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I've never jumped on the Not Me! bandwagon, but I felt that today seemed like a great day to start since I've already done so many things that were just, well, Not Me!

1. It was not me who slept until 7:15 this morning when I have to leave the house by 7:40. This was definitely not a result of being rudely awakened by my precious puppy throwing up on our carpet at 3:45 am. It was also not a result of Avery's screaming teething fits from 5:00 until 6:00 am. Nope, I would still be responsible to wake up on time so I wouldn't be late to work. 

2. It was also not me who decided to forego her shower this morning as a result of said late rising. That would just be gross.

3. And I would never wear a sweater with a hole in it all day long and not even notice until 7th period. That's not me at all. 

4. Finally, it was not me who blogged during school while her students were working diligently. That would just be a bad example. It was also not me who defended this decision with the excuse that my student teacher is teaching and I just don't want to grade the stacks of papers that are waiting for me. 

Tag, you're it! What have you not done recently?

Friday Five

1. It is COLD! Brrrr. I'm writing this on a wonderful February surprise of a snow day. We made it through 5 periods at school yesterday, and after stubbornly refusing to call it a day, "they" finally gave in and released us at 1:45. Of course, by the time the parking lot full of novice drivers cleared out, I got my own car out on the road, and somehow managed to pick up Avery from school, we didn't get home until 4:00. Oh, and I made it all the way home without any problems but then got the car stuck in our driveway and couldn't get in the garage. Go figure. And the worst part about it is that Matt's out of town at TMEA with the other music nerds and can't even enjoy the time off with us.

2. I believe this snow deserves two numbers because I have never ever seen this much snow in Texas and it is totally blowing my mind. Although it is kind of annoying to check Facebook and see nothing but snow updates/pictures. Yes people, we are all aware that it snowed. In Texas. Maybe I shouldn't check my Facebook and go do something more productive. I'll get right on that.

3. It's tax time again! Normally I have our taxes done by now. Maybe I should add that to today's To Do List.

4. Speaking of that list, I seriously need to clear out the clutter from my house. It's driving me crazy, but I can't seem to get myself in gear to actually do it. Any motivational suggestions?

5. Valentine's Day is on Sunday. Hmm. I'm a little bit of a Valentine's hater, but I'm recovering. No matter how many times I tell Matt not to do anything, he ends up doing it anyway, and usually I don't even mind. Especially if it involves chocolate. Mmm chocolate. Eh, we'll go to the youth fundraiser banquet on Saturday and eat fajitas on Sunday, and that will be plenty of Valentine's Day for me.

The love of my life comes home TOMORROW, and Avery and I need to pass the time today so we don't go crazy all snowed in and everything. I think it's time to face the snow. Happy Friday!

7 Month Update

I get later and later with these monthly Avery updates. My inability to keep up with my only child is already making me question my future ability to keep up with multiple children. Not that we're there yet. Whew, trust me we're not. I'm perfectly content with my one and only right now, especially seeing as how she's only 7 months old and I really like this whole not-being-pregnant thing. Let's not go there for awhile.

Okay, so Avery baby, here's what you're up to these days:

• You eat like a champ! You still haven't started eating meat yet, but you've expanded your fruits and vegetables this month with peas, applesauce, peaches, carrots, butternut squash, and multi grain cereal. That's all I can think of off the top of my head, and although you really don't love those peas, you think that sweet potatoes and squash are pretty darn fantastic. You'll get meat soon; I'm just a little wary of pureeing it myself like I do with your other food. We might just start with the jars for that.
  
• You have become much more mobile! In fact, you're making it very difficult for Mommy to get much done around the house because I can no longer leave you in one place. You're still not crawling, but you've become quite proficient at rolling yourself wherever you want to go. You apparently do this at school as well because Ms. Beverly has to move you away from your friends when you try to get their toys and pacifiers!
• You've started reaching for me when other people are holding you. I secretly enjoy it though because that means you know who I am and kinda like me. That's good because I like you, too. :)
• Your newest talents are clapping, clapping, and more clapping. You clap at everything! Even when Meggie beats Daddy at tug-of-war. It's really fun, and we don't mind the applause.
• Your pig snort laugh is almost gone, and you've even started laughing like a real live person lately! It might just be my favorite sound in the world.
• Your favorite song has changed from "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" to "The Itsy Bitsy Spider." I haven't decided which is more annoying. :) You can be screaming your head off (i.e. when I put you in your carseat now, which you used to love, by the way), but once I start singing about that crazy spider, you immediately start smiling. Don't get me wrong, it's an easy fix, but the quick change is a little too Jekyll/Hyde if you ask me.
• You love playing peekaboo, This Little Piggy, and Where is Thumbkin? and you are fascinated by your toys now, especially the ones that make a lot of noise.
  
• You're trying to get the hang of using a sippy cup, but you haven't quite figured out how to actually get the water out of it. You're satisfied for now just holding it in your hands and chewing on the spout. You look like such a big girl holding a cup!
  

It's been so entertaining watching your little personality come out, and you're learning new fun things every day! We're enjoying every second of being your parents. Yes, even when you wake up too early (5 am, really?!?) because that means you get to come snuggle in bed with us. Just don't make that a habit, okay?

We love you!

Mommy and Daddy

Weekend Update

What's wrong with a mid-week weekend update? Nothing, I say!

Friday night was pretty typical as of late. I ran the clock for the varsity soccer games (I'm still trying to get used to being in the press box and not on the field. It's hard not really being a part of the team.) and when I got home at 10, I even got to see Avery before she went to sleep (she's been taking late naps lately that have thrown off her bed time). Allison and her Matt came in town, so they came over along with Nick to hang out with us play Super Mario Brothers on our Wii. We only have three controllers, so Allison and I hung out while the boys played. Note to self: don't try on your wedding dress until you are back to the stick you apparently were when you got married. It's depressing.

Saturday morning Matt had to leave early for UIL Solo and Ensemble, so I thought I might sleep in with Avery. Avery didn't agree though, so we had an early morning. We played and played and played, and then went to lunch at Petaluma with Nick, Allison, and Al's boyfriend, Matt. We headed over to Bakery on the Hill for cupcakes, and then Avery, Nick and I wandered through the Old Navy baby sale. The new Old Navy is weird! It totally threw me off, so I didn't even buy anything. The colors overwhelmed me. So home we went for Avery's afternoon nap since she had been such a trooper while we were out.

Saturday night we were adventurous! We went to this little rinky dink hibachi in Arlington and it. was. yummy. We went with my family (minus Aaron and Chelsea) and had a blast watching our dinner cooked right at our table. Our cook (or is it chef? or hibachi man?) even flipped eggs on his spatula without breaking them and then when he was ready to crack it, he made it land on the spatula sideways with a clean break. It was too cool.
Sunday made me a little nervous because it was my first Sunday in the children's wing without my trusty assistant (she was out of town but graciously got the rooms ready before she left-- thanks Kendall!). Plus it was the first Sunday of the month when all of our teachers rotate and we usually have one logistical nightmare after another. It actually went more smoothly than I could've ever anticipated; in fact, I just kept waiting for some crisis to arise because I was so sure that the smooth ride was a fluke. Honestly, God has been teaching me so much through this new ministry. Things like how to work with volunteers (vs. paid workers; it's a different beast!), dependence on Him (this is a regular in His lesson plans), and countless other lessons that would take a whole blog to explain. I am not there yet. At all. And I have a feeling there's much more to come in this adventure called children's ministry.

We went to lunch with my friend Kendra, where we got to discuss a couple of upcoming events! Eek-- I can't wait to share what they are because I am just so stinking excited, but alas I must wait until things are official.

After lunch we had praise team practice up at the church, and then we didn't do anything exciting for the Super Bowl because 1) we had been gone all day and just wanted to be home, and 2) I just didn't really care about the game. There, I said it. (Although I was rooting for the Colts.) I actually spent the evening, not in front of the TV, but in front of my stove, blender, and sink as I made a couple batches of food for Avery (butternut squash and green beans). I'll be blogging soon about my attempts at making homemade baby food. Here's a preview.
I had to include this picture. Avery's such a poser. She hasn't quite figured out how to drink from the sippy cup, but she sure loves to hold it and chew the spout.

And then Monday was back to the grind, but you know, it wasn't all that bad.

Tuesday's List: Typical Grocery List

Typical Grocery List

Okay, so my grocery list is usually dependent on that week's menu, but here are the items we buy on a regular basis:

Costco:

• Bananas
• Frozen vegetables (spinach, green beans, corn, peas [for Avery and Matt only. eww.], broccoli)
• Baby carrots
• Salad (you know that huge box of organic salad? Yeah, we buy that)
• Salad dressing (you need a lot of this when you buy that much salad...)
• Tortilla chips/salsa
• Milk
• Cheese (we go through shredded cheese like nobody's business)
• Eggs
• Bread
• Ground turkey
• Frozen chicken breasts
• Diapers
• Wipes
• Formula
• Dog food (two 50-lb dogs eat a lot)

Kroger/HEB/Sprouts:

• Crescent rolls/biscuits 
• Cereal
  
• Ground beef
• Produce (cilantro, tomatoes, onions, apples, sweet potatoes, regular potatoes)
• Crackers (oh my goodness, those new Special K ones are amazing and I'm a sucker for Wheat Thins)
• Pasta/sauce (yeah, I should make my own sauce, but I don't. sorry.)
• Rice
• Whatever else we need for specific recipes and whatever I have good coupons for that match up with store specials. 

What's your typical grocery list? Join the list of list-makers here.

too much excitement for a saturday morning

Avery stayed up too late last night as a result of a late nap. I stayed up too late last night as a result of hanging out with my siblings.

Avery woke up too early this morning, and Matt had to leave early for solo and ensemble.

Therefore, I woke up too early this morning.

Avery didn't want to snuggle, so she was happy in her exersaucer. I was happy going back to sleep on the couch.

Apparently the exersaucer was a little too much excitement for her because now I have baby throw up all over me.

So Avery gets jumpy time while Mommy gets some cleany time.

She doesn't seem to mind.

Happy Saturday.

Don't bother reading. Seriously.

My favorite blogs to read are those that come with pictures on a regular basis. Sorry to break it to you, but today includes no pictures.

In fact, I can't even remember what I was getting on to blog about at all.

I shouldn't even post this now that there's nocontentwhatsoever, but...

... tomorrow is my Friday because I'm taking a mental health day on the real Friday
... my sweet friend Brooke is subbing for me while I'm out (yippee!)
... Avery is SEVEN months old today! (update post to come soon. or late.)
... my superamazingsister comes home on Friday!

That's enough excitement for a Wednesday night. I'm out.

So much for sportsmanship.

Today was a milestone. Not for Avery. For me.

Okay, maybe milestone is a little too strong a word, but it was the first time I got punched slapped in a soccer game.

I'm not even sure I fouled this chick in the first place, but all I know is that after we made contact, I had a hand coming straight toward my forehead/cheek. Um, hello, this is recreational women's soccer, not the World Cup, lady. After she immediately received a straight red, she had the gall to complain that the ref didn't call the first "foul." So me and my smart mouth politely told her as she walked by, "He can't call the first when you create the second."

To which she promptly responded, "F@#$ you!"

Classy.

Okay, so in hindsight maybe I shouldn't have said anything, but if the t-shirt that we're playing for is really that important, I'll just give her mine when we win the division.

Oh, and I scored the tying goal.

Too bad tying (is that word even spelled correctly?!?) is just as bad as losing. Have I mentioned I'm competitive?