Happy New Year!

Well, since I've got a lot to catch up on, I'm just going with it, but will start out with our New Year's Day and fill in when I can and feel like it. :)

New Year's Day looks different for us each year depending on Reagan's schedule. Andrew always spends his Christmas break with his dad, so he doesn't come back until after January 2nd usually. This year school went back today, so he was back on New Year's Day.

Reagan came home yesterday afternoon as well, so we knew we'd have supper together...you know that traditional Yankee dinner that consists of pork, sauerkraut and mashed potatoes. Andrew was quick to remind me that he's from Tennessee and shouldn't have to eat the sauerkraut.  In the South hoppin' johns are eaten on New Years Day for good luck, so Andrew can't win with kraut or hoppin johns because he doesn't like either of them. Next year I think I'll make both 'cause I'm a mean mom. hahaha

 

 

Lily was completely content with her supper...although I think she only got a tiny piece of sauerkraut mixed in with her pork and potatoes.

 

 

'Til next New Years Day!

 

What are your New Years Day traditions?

Organize Schmorganize

I'm finally feeling like New Year is kicking in here.  After the week of pukes and trying to recover from that, finally taking down our Christmas tree and beginning to feel put back together.  Although my Christmas cards are still sitting on my desk because the post office just wasn't in the cards amidst last week's illness, they will go. Will.  Who doesn't love "fun" mail instead of bills?  Best of intentions.

That being said, I'm working on improving organizational skills this year.  I'm devising a plan to enlist the help of the family members who contribute to the mess before they become hoarders.  Seriously, every single piece of paper that Reagan wants to keep and every toy package that Andrew thinks he needs. I've had it. They're so good about their after school routine and accomplishing their chores and homework without even being told, but the aftermath of having to pick up after them, I am over. I just simply cannot keep up. And I shouldn't have to.  With the holidays and sickness and traveling, we've gotten lax about it.  No more. When next week begins, things will be back in order and back in place.  Beds will be made, clothes will not be thrown all over the floor when the hamper is right next to where they get dropped.

I'm working on trying new recipes.  I'm seriously sick and tired of eating the same things over and over again and having a super picky husband makes for annoying cooking sometimes.  I love him, but sheesh. Last week I was super frustrated about it amidst the sick and told him that if he didn't like it he could fix himself something or go eat at 3pm with his parents.  ha!  Such is the life of the wife.  Finding stuff HE likes is hard. Some nights I make him something different than the kids and I eat.  So much for the "this isn't a restaurant" idea.  Stubborn as a stone.  My in real life friend Julie at White Lights on Wednesday is QUEEN of delving into recipes and she's so great about posting them! So, I've been bookmarking some of her posts to try too! Check her out.  I love her!  She'll be glad to know she's helping expand the tastes of a picky eater. ;)

I lovelovelove my Erin Condren life planner and it's tremendous in keeping all of the appointments and scheduling for my family of 5 straight. I'm working on going through old magazines and pulling out the articles, recipes and activities I want and dumping the rest of the magazine. 

Things are finally moving right along in the organizational avenue. 

Now, if I could just get my thoughts from being so scattered to a little more organized, then maybe I could catch up on my journaling.  Yeah, that'd be nice for once. :)

Finally getting rid of the last of the pine needles helps with focus. Next up, coupon organization.  For those of you who did not get last week's paper, there were a TON of coupon inserts with good coupons. I ended up getting six papers, so I need to get them all filed in my binder.

Tonight's supper is beef stroganoff.  Yumaroosky!

Happy Thursday!