Outside my window...24C and only 7 am! Oy its gonna be a HOT day!

I am thinking...Forget the chores, its playtime all day!

I am thankful for...
My amazing husband and 4 stellar kids

From the Kitchen....COFFEE

I am wearing....pjs................yes I'm still in my pjs!

I am creating....DVD case colouring books for the drive this summer

I am going...take all the kids to an indoor playground today :-)

I am reading..."you can let go of stress" - HA

I am hoping....
for some sleep tonight

I am hearing..."extreme heat alert" report on the radio

Around the house...books, so many books - its summer time

One of my favorite things...Starbucks iced coffee

Surviving Husband Business Trips

(also titled, surviving on a diet of cappuchinos and chocolate!)

Hubby usually has 2 or so long trips in the year over to the head office in France. While I would one day love to go, we try to make the most of our week solo and really enjoy the times with the kidlets. Back when we had 2 wee ones it was a lot more difficult then now with 4, the difference being that the older 3 are a lot of help with things around the house and when we go on outings. I used to have to goal of the week without Daddy being FUN but found that it ended up with him coming home to exhausted children and stressed out wife. Not the way to go! So now our goal for the week he is away is SIMPLIFICATION!

First off Meals.

When Hubby is away we eat very simply. Healthy, but simply. Even more simply then usual, which for those who know us in Reality we already eat pretty simply anyways. This means Peanut butter & homemade jam sandwiches on whole wheat bread with veggie sticks and dip. Healthy but simple. Its made healthy by using homemade freezer jam (almost no sugar), whole wheat bread, natural peanut butter. I will also splurge on precooked diced chicken which easily converts into wraps for dinner. Eggs is also an easy dinner! breakfast is usually the same as usual, cold oats with fruit or yogurt and fruit. Lunch is always sandwiches :-)

Planning.

We will have 1 thing planned for each day. SIMPLE outings of things to do at home. Library visit. Grocery shopping. Watermelon cookies.  Painting. Splash Pad. See,.....simple fun. No major driving to Toronto to the zoo or science center like I used to.

Sleeping.

While they are in school or on vacation when he is away I find extra sleep is essential. So instead of going to bed at 7:30-8 I aim to have them in bed by 7-7:30. That extra half hour to myself with baby is good on the nerves and I find that there is less arguing among themselves when they have loads of sleep :-) and then they also are rested for any extra fun that they get into with Mummy the nest day.

HELP....

yep. Except that offer of help. Mum & Dad B will usually have the children and I over after meeting for lunch on the Sunday and over for dinner in the week. Popping over to a SIL for a few hours in a day can be a sanity saver and count as their fun item for the day. Tea, chocolate and chats for Mum go a long way.

COFFEE........

nothing to add. Just a very important word.

Housework.

Forget about it. Seriously. If you or the kidlets need laundry done then do it. But other then a quick wipe up of the kitchen after they are in bed and disinfecting the bathrooms, just leave it. Set aside the morning of his return to whip the house into shape with the kids helping (my I suggest fun music and a treat for lunch that day) and it'll all be good. Worst comes to worst he won't care what the house looks like when he comes home anyways, he will be thrilled to home with you and the kids and after that you can all get caught up :-)

So if you find yourself having to do the single Mum thing for a week. Don't stress, just plan ahead and you'll be fine.

Hugs
L

Monday Menus

Monday: Quesadillas

Tuesday: BBQ veggies & chicken

Wednesday: Cheese & veggie sandwiches

Thursday: BBQ sausages & veggies

Friday: Roast chicken, brown & wild rice & BBQ veggies

Saturday: BBQ steak wrapped in bacon, loaded baked spuds, garden salad, Strawberry shortcake for dessert :-)

Sunday: Whole wheat vegetable pasta with stir fried veggies & leftover chicken (from fri)

Monday Menu

whoops, wee bit late!

Monday: Poached eggs, stirfry (tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, green pepper), roasted potatoes
Tuesday: BBQ Salmon (tin foil packets), rice, BBQ veggies
Wednesday: Garden salad with boiled eggs & cut up chicken
Thursday: Roast chicken with brown rice & garden salad
Friday: Cheese & Veggie sandwhiches
Saturday: BBQ Hotdogs/hamburgers & BBQ mixed veg
Sunday: Crackers, kielbasa, cheese, veggies & dip

Five Minute Friday: Expectation

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..
OK, are you ready? Please give me your best five minutes on:

...

Really? Right now? sleep.

period

listening to Baby try to put herself to sleep by herself

its only been a minute and a half

yes I'm COUNTING!

and the expectation of that silence is so taunt I can feel my head crouch down into my shoulders and tense up and breath holding...

wait. That's it! are..........................you..................................serious! I've been waiting SIX months and she is asleep. Wow. okay Husband was right (he really honestly always is)

That was too easy. So now? I'm looking at the sky and expecting rain. we;'re in drought in Ontario in June so this is a desperate expectation.

but just hold on a second. What am I really expecting. Every day.

Other then chocolate people!

The return of Christ. Really that is all I should be expecting and should be longing for. Only he can make everything right again. Heal our hearts. Stop the pain and then take it all away.

Peace. That aching longing for peace that you feel pulsing through every single microscopic cell of your being, long for that serenity that is completely filling and whole.

and that expectation is all that matters. More then sleep. More then chocolate. More then acceptance. More then well anything.

Even so come, Lord Jesus!

Tuesday Contemplations

Outside my window...
Mock Orange bush in blossom

I am thinking...
Life needs to sssssssssssssssllllllllllllllllllllllloooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwww down

I am thankful for...
Food on the table & Laundry in the wash

From the Kitchen....Chocolate chip banana bread

I am wearing....Comfy denim skirt & black polo

I am creating....nothing :-(

I am reading....
The Duet (not sure if I like it yet)

I am listening to...
Monkey waking up

I am hoping for.....
A feeling of peace throughout the day

MONDAY MENUS

Monday: BBQ veggies (zucchini, onion, garlic, broccoli, tomatoes) brushed with olive oil & Romano cheese served with 20min french bread

Tuesday: Tossed garden salad BBQ steak & potatoes

Wednesday: Fahijas (leftover steak from night before, peppers, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, cucumber) & hummus

Thursday: Chicken sandwiches & pickles & veggies with hummus

Friday: BBQ Burgers & BBQ veggies

Saturday: (Pot luck dinner) crock pot Kraft sausage macaroni stew

Sunday: Roast Chicken with potatoes, carrots, parsnips, onions, peas & Rhubarb strawberry pie

The Return!
Cue the full orchestral music...........

We're back! and the comments concern is fixed...............

and we're back.

It really does feel good to be able to write that. What have we been up too? Colic Baby for 4 months. Ending of this school year. Topsy-turvy discussions about said school moving location. The idea of it moving locations, after we'd asked about the possibility and been told "no" 2 years ago has really upset us but that's how life goes sometimes!This year had been a tough one for our family and there are still momments that "I want to move" feelings from last summer come back. There have been moments I've been thinking missionary work in Nunavut....................okay not that seriously.....but occasionally you may hear that stated in my exasperated "I've had it with politics and gunk" voice. It's been a really REALLY hard year. Seriously! Without my wonderful Husband & four insane children.................and most importantly our Heavenly Father.............there is no way I would have survived the last 12 or so months.

So. "The Return" also means we're changing things up. I've been hunting the web for good stuff on raising a big family. Okay, not those with 18 kids but with 4+ (and no don't get any ideas, we are perfectly happy with our 4 blessings "thank you very much" and are not expecting ANYMORE) and I've discovered...................................drumroll>

THERE ARE HARDLY ANY

and most are old and haven't been updated in a bizzillion years. Okay not quite that long...but you get the picture.

so me thinkest we MAY open up our struggles and trials or what works and doesn't for our family as we stumble along this road called life.

Which we sometimes refer to as insanity....

at the ZOO

you will NOT be seeing anything remotely resembling Martha Stewart. Nor will you be seeing clean floors. They only stay clean around here RIGHT after I steam them and only for approximately 5 minutes..................IF I'm lucky! After all what is more important a happy home or a clean home......

the answer is chocolate...........

whoops that wasn't an option. Obviously the happy home people!

& I don't want this to be one of those "look at me I do everything right" blogs. Crumbs some of you poor dears actually know and have to deal with me in REALITY and know that is far from the truth! ha!

So Until tomorrow :-)
Welcome BACK!