weekEnd

Jamie, Jeff & I watched "To Kill A Mockingbird" this afternoon (and evening) - what a great movie!  It's one of my favorites - and the book is at the top of my list of must-read American novels.  New movie trivia:  a young Robert Duvall plays Arthur "Boo" Radley!  I don't know how many times I've seen the movie and never noticed it.  Today Jeff said, "Doesn't he look like a very young...?" And sure enough, a quick Google search later - it's Robert Duvall - with not a single line to deliver!  Still love the movie after all these years.  I think I find a new favorite scene every time.  I love Jem & Scout together - their relationship is just so easy and seems SO real.  And Gregory Peck - so perfect.  The entire courtroom scene.  And I'm still scared every time Scout & Jem are coming home through the woods in the night! Do you have a favorite scene?  Did you know Robert Duvall was "Boo?"  Comment below!


Alex performed with the jr high FM Area Youth Symphony for the last time this afternoon for their Spring Concert.  It was fun as ever.  They performed "Prelude in C" with guest pianist, Mary King - area music teacher still giving lessons and today, performing, at 98 years old!  So cool.  Mr Cole is always looking for new, creative and fun opportunities for learning and musicianship.  This afternoon, they performed the US debut of the "Catcerto", complete with the large screen video of the cat playing the piano you see in this video.  It was very fun.  Alex hasn't decided whether or not he will audition for the high school youth symphony program for next year - the audition pieces are very challenging!  He did begin lessons with a cello teacher this week which will help him prepare for the May audition should he decide to go for it!  He will continue playing with Moorhead High School program and may audition for the community group in years ahead.


Nate & Jamie helped the youth group at Valley prepare breakfast early Easter morning - then we all went to services together at Salem.  We had a delicious mid-afternoon meal and enjoyed Easter baskets (will the kids ever outgrow them?)  It was a beautiful spring day - I posted some pics on facebook.

Each month seems to bring another string of appointments - dentist, orthodontist, lessons, etc.  Jamie had an exciting visit the Dr Deb this week for help with a wart that keeps coming back on her index finger. Dr Deb scraped and froze the bothersome little thing and sent her home to use the usual wart remover treatment for a month.  Then she'll go back for more digging and freezing!  Brave girl.  Jamie's graduation announcements arrived this week - look for yours in the mail!  Open House and Grad dates are posted in the sidebar over there ------>  We're looking forward to celebrating with Jamie!  We're all looking forward to a visit from my parents at the same time.  She will be leaving to work at Pine Haven right after graduation.  She has been assigned to half time on the "Outdoor Crew" and half time on the "Indoor Crew."  She is so excited.


Jeff & I have been slowly building a social life.  ;-)  I have been having coffee about once a month with an old friend I hadn't spent time with in years.  We just talk, talk the minutes away and are surprised when our hour is gone!  Jeff & I had dessert at our house with her and her husband last month.  This Friday we're going to their house for dinner.  They are both educators and conversation is lively, entertaining, thought-provoking and just plain fun.  We're looking forward to the visit.


The beautiful weather has been brought all the kids out - our basketball hoop has been busy and we're having more visitors than ever.  I'm glad our house is a good place to come - but I'm pretty sure Jeff would rather not be chasing little kids and girls out of our basement window wells!  (yep - too much fun in the side yard this afternoon!)  

Mia finds the silliest sleeping positions!

With the windows open, Mia has been making everyone crazy barking & growling at every new noise.  We've become more aware of her age.  We adopted her when Alex was 5.  The vet estimated her age at maybe 2 at that time - so we figure she's about 11.  She has had seasonal allergies for the last several summers that make her very, very itchy.  We were hoping that she could get by with just the antihistamine this year, but it doesn't seem to be helping so looks like we'll need to add a steroid again.  (She loves taking her pills since I found Pill Pockets at her vet's office.  Genius.)  She also seems to be having back pain off and on.  And now has added a weird circling behavior and sideways walking thing more and more often.  Poor old puppy.  She's such a good dog.    


Hope you're having a lovely spring where you are - let us know how you're doing!


~L

wordless wednesday: 1800 Spring!

1800 CentreSquare
early spring 2010

Monday Menu Planning and The Week Ahead

So I got inspired by the vast and rich blogging world to make yet another attempt to tame the meal planning, shopping, cooking plan.  We're starting with our favorites and adding in from there.  Get your own Monday Menu Planning ideas and nifty form(s) at I'm An Organizing Junkie.  


MONDAY:  Frozen bag of Dinner from WalMart.  Chicken, sauce and pasta all in one bag.  I thought it would be a skillet dinner, but it was all microwaved - in one bowl.  A masterpiece in 10 minutes.  I added rolls and veggies and it was family dinner for mom and kids.  We even did an acceptable job getting the kitchen cleaned up before Jeff came home from work at 9:30.  I LOVE having supper with my kids.  I love still having us all in the same room at the same time for the same reason - each contributing to meal and conversation and debate and more food and cleaning up and sharing.  


The boys have spring fever.  I had to pull them in from driveway basketball for supper and away from hitting golf balls across the college practice field next door for HOMEWORK.  (worst part of mom-ing ever.)


TUESDAY:  Tater Tot Hotdish.  Nothing new or fancy about this one and you get in trouble if you try at my house.  Hamburger.  Cream of Mushroom soup.  Arrange the Tater Tots carefully on top, maybe add a little cheese if you can work it in.  Bake it.  Eat it hot with veggies or salad for something green.


Nate's study group for his AP American History Test starts at 7:15 am today.  They will meet Tuesdays & Thursdays to prepare for the test in May.


Alex has his 1st cello lesson Tuesday at 5.  Probably I'll take him there, run home to put the hotdish in the oven and send Jamie to pick him up before I leave to be at our Mary Kary studio by 6 for our Tuesday night event!   


Jeff is working 5 - 9 Tuesday at the Relay - he has been picking up extra hours as he can and will have more hours in his regular schedule starting in May.  We're looking forward to seeing what his final schedule will look like.


WEDNESDAY:  Jeff will figure it out - probably leftover lovelies as the kids have supper at church on Wednesday nights (I think that's a smart thing the church does!) and I will be driving to Grand Forks with Karen to do several facials at an event we're putting on at the Holiday Inn Express there.  Hoping that goes well so I can do my special Happy made a goal dance when I get home.  [In my ideal week I would have 3 events with 9 - 12 women at each.  I would meet 3 people who would like to know more about being an MK consultant like me with whom I can have a cup of (shade-grown) coffee.  If I can do $300 in sales in the midst of all that, that would be truly Wonderful.]


Jamie picks up her graduation paraphernalia at school today!


THURSDAY:  Tuna Melts.  These are the most yummy thing to do with leftover Easter Eggs.  You dice up the hardboiled eggs, add tuna and then whatever you like to make a salad like tuna/egg salad with mayonaise or miracle whip or what you like. I like to add chunks of any kind of cheese that will melt into the sandwiches.   Put the filling in hamburger buns or any you like.  Wrap in foil and heat in oven at about 350 degrees for 20 - 25 minutes or until everything is hot and melty.


These are good with pickles and raw veggies and potato chips and whatever you have around that's delicious.


This one won't be a sit-down dinner either!  Jeff & I will be at Qdoba with friends and then I have ANOTHER MK Event at our Studio - A Chocolate Affair. I have guests scheduled all week and hope all my appointments hold and are fun!


FRIDAY:  we still need something quick and easy for Friday.  Maybe the pizza & salad standby.  Nobody ever complains about pizza.  How could they?  It's perfection on a cardboard tray.  We often schedule Friday food around watching a special TV show or movie together.  Sometimes the boys (including) Jeff get pretty involved in some video game!


SATURDAY:  White Bean Soup with Ham made with the ham hock from last sunday's Easter dinner!  yum!  Add some corn muffins.  This is one of our main sit-downs of the week - everybody sit down at the table - we're all going to eat and talk and visit and laugh and have fun together.  And then clean up together, too!   :-)  Sometimes Kathryn is free to join us.  We're looking forward to having Marissa here as well.


SUNDAY.  Well, with all this excellent monday menu planning, someone will surely think of something by sunday.  I'm thinking crockpot.  I'll keep you posted.  Or better yet.  Give me some suggestions.  


Alex has a dress rehearsal at 2 for a 4 pm Youth Symphony Spring Concert.  He is deciding whether or not he will audition for the High School Youth Symphony in May.  He will be working to prepare with his new teacher - they really play at a whole 'nother level in that group!   


I'm making a master list this week of dishes and meals we all enjoy - with the aim to leave room for some experimentation, creativity and healthier choices.  I think it's going to be fun. Send me your favorite suggestions if you think of it!!