Visiting, Waterfalls, and Taste Testing

Happy Thursday night everyone! This week the kids and I are on Spring Break from school and honestly the week is flying by. I would like to say that I have been very productive, when in fact the opposite is true. This week has been up and down emotion wise for me. For example, today everything and everyone has been annoying me and I really don't know why. I just am annoyed. It is what it is. 

There have been some good things though this week. On Monday, I took the kids out to my sister and her partner's new apartment to check it out. We had a nice time hanging out and had sandwiches for lunch. Then we all played the game "Headbandz" which was quite fun. 

When we came home, Bill was still at work and when he came home, he surprised me with roses as he knew I have been having some bad emotional, depressive days lately.

 

Wednesday, the weather was beautiful (with highs near 74) so we headed out to see what fun we could get into. We went to Goodwill, where Rebecca found a lovely, formal dress for her choir performance in May and 2 pairs of shorts for Summer. When we left Goodwill, I decided that I needed some Nature therapy, specifically with a water feature. So, we headed out to Honey Run Waterfall. It was the perfect day to go, and I felt so much better after we hiked a little. 

Like I said, today I have been annoyed all day. However, trying to salvage the day we did a fun activity for dinner. We decided to do blind taste-testing of a few items off of fast-food restaurant menus. We decided to try out chicken nuggets, basic cheeseburger, crispy chicken sandwiches, and French fries from Wendy's, Burger King and McDonald's. 

First up, was the kids. We blindfolded them. Then they sampled a taste of each thing. After they tasted it, they scored it from 1-10 and then guessed where it was from. It was fun.

Then, it was mine and Bill's turn.

 

What we learned was that overall McDonald's was our winner. However, Burger King came in a close 2nd with Bill and I. I went in thinking Wendy's was the best, but obviously that isn't reality. It was a fun activity and one I think we will do again over Summer break with other foods (like potato chips, or something healthier like different kinds of apples or berries.)

We will have a busy couple of days this weekend. Tomorrow, I have to go to the store, CVS, make a cake for Ben's birthday, get Jacob and Rebecca to do any school work they need to do. Saturday is Benjamin's 10th birthday and we are having a small pizza party for him out at my parent's house (as they have a larger house and are dog friendly! LOL). 

How is everyone else doing? Have you ever done a blind taste test? Do you like being in nature? 

Crazy week & Crazy weather

 Happy Sunday everyone! How are you doing in your corner of the world? 

Here I had mentioned that it was going to be a crazy week last week and boy was it ever. Bill had inventory at his job and being in his new position of team lead, he had to work really long days. To give you an idea on Tuesday he went into work at 7am and he finally came home around 11:00PM and that was only having one lunch break and maybe another 15-minute break. It was insane. Then he was back up and in the store at 5AM the next morning for actual inventory day. He worked 12+ hours days for most of the week. He was sent home on Wednesday night around 7 when the store manager told him he looked sick and to go home since he had stayed around the night before. He wasn't really sick, just exhausted and dehydrated. Thankfully, he had Friday and Saturday off to recoup. 

Those days meant long days for me as well, since I was responsible for EVERYTHING those days. I also don't know about you guys, but I can't sleep very well when my husband is not at home so I couldn't fall asleep like normal and that messed up my sleep schedule which was already messed up by the change in time. Add in a change in my own work schedule, crazy weather, and a sick kid for 2 days and it wasn't the best week. 

However, I survived and there were some highlights. I packed a salad Monday to eat at the park between work and picking kids up from school as I knew that it was going to be the best weather day. It is so relaxing by the water. 

Tuesday and Wednesday, I got called to another school to work. (I would love to go a full week working the job that I am contracted for and not being pulled to work at other schools.) The weather was cloudy and icky. In fact, on Wednesday, we had tornado watches in our state. Thankfully the bad storms passed us over and we just got really heavy rains.

 

Thursday was my mom's birthday and also a day I had to call off work because Jacob was sick. He had a fever and diarrhea. I think it is the same thing that Ben had last week. I want to say I got some stuff done at home, but I didn't as I was exhausted. 

Friday morning, I was greeted with just about 3 minutes of a lovely sunrise. It was enough to make me smile.

Jacob tried to go to school, however within a half hour I got a call from the nurse's office that he wasn't feeling good, so I picked him up and brought him back home to spend the day with Bill while I went to work. Thankfully, I was back at work at my contracted school, and we were all glad because at end of the workday it was the beginning of our district's Spring Break! So, I am off for a week! 

Yesterday, we went to my parents' house to celebrate my mom's birthday and my brother's upcoming birthday (on Tuesday). We had a yummy dinner of burgers and hot dogs (cooked inside as it was snowing and freezing out). My dad and nephew made the cake, and it was super yummy! My dad insisted on putting lots of candles on the cake. There were 85 candles on it (61+1 to grow on for my mom and 22+1 to grow on for my brother!). It was a nice time!

 

Today, we woke up to snow! The kids and I ventured out to church and then back home. 

After lunch, I cleaned up the kitchen, pantry and started laundry. I am trying to get some things done today to jump start our week. I am hoping to try a new recipe for crescent chicken rollups for dinner. 

This coming week, I am trying to plan a few things so we are not just sitting at home, but I also need to get some cleaning done as we will have the family over for Ben's birthday next Saturday. The weather is supposed to be weird so not sure what we will do just yet (it is supposed to be in the upper 20s tomorrow, 30s on Tuesday, 73 on Wednesday, 60 on Thursday and then back into the 40s for the weekend!)

What are you up to today? What's the weather like where you are? 

Happy Spring!

 Happy Sunday everyone! And Happy 1st Day of Spring! Yahoo! Today it is sunny here and around 55 degrees. Thankfully, Benjamin is feeling much better than the last time I wrote and no one else got sick! 

This week the weather was gorgeous on Wednesday and Thursday. Highs in the low 70s. Wednesday, I packed my lunch for after work and ate at the park in between getting off of work and before I had to pick kids up from school.

 

Thursday, Bill picked me up from work and we repeated lunch at the park as a date before we had to pick kids up from school. Bill got us Jersey Mike's tuna subs for lunch. It was pretty yummy. 

Friday, I had to go to my first in-service day. We learned about how to use a fire extinguisher from the fire department and then were to head to our schools to clean. Instead of cleaning, I headed to my school logged on and did some new employee online trainings that I needed to complete before the end of the month (taking quizzes over things like sexual harassment, child nutrition, etc.). After I came home, I took the kids to Wolf Run to walk their storybook trail. It was a nice walk, even if the trail coming back is mainly uphill and I was struggling with my chest hurting. I still can't do inclines, but it is what it is. 

Yesterday it was raining off and on all day, and I just felt blah. Didn't really want to do anything, couldn't concentrate enough to read or anything. It was just a blah day. Bill and the boys spent most of the day watching March Madness basketball. 

Today, I have gotten a few things done. The kids and I went to mass and I taught PSR. I finished up my online training. I folded 5 loads of laundry that were in baskets. I have March Madness on for the boys. I started more laundry. And all of that laundry has been put away. I actually need to finish up this post and go flip the laundry. My goal is to have most of it done as this week is going to be crazy. It is inventory week at Bill's work so his work schedule is crazy and I will feel better going into the week if the house is clean and ready to go. 

What are you guys up to today? Have you welcomed Spring into your house? Have you been watching March Madness basketball?  

Unplanned day off, to do list and a book review

Happy Tuesday everyone! Well, I was right. Ben is sick. He still had a fever this morning of 100 and he developed some diarrhea overnight. :( So, he is home from school today. He is mad because he is missing gym class today. He is currently laying on the couch and watching Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. 

Since he is sick, I had to call off of work. I hate calling off, but it makes much more sense for me to call off than Bill, since I will miss 3 hours versus his 8+ hours. It is what it is. 

So, since I am home, I need to get some things done. I have a to do list so I can keep track. So, what do I need to do today: 

• clean out microwave
• straighten up pantry
• clean downstairs bathroom
• clean upstairs bathroom
• Laundry (including Ben's blankets off bed)
• Sweep steps 
• Cut Benjamin's fingernails and toenails.
• Blog
• Freeze overripe bananas. 

I also wanted to do a quick book review today. I finally finished reading What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon. I read this for the online book club that I belong to on Facebook. If you are interested, you can search for Kindred Readers Book Club.

From the Back Cover:

In an unforgettable love story, a woman’s impossible journey through the ages could change everything…

Anne Gallagher grew up enchanted by her grandfather’s stories of Ireland. Heartbroken at his death, she travels to his childhood home to spread his ashes. There, overcome with memories of the man she adored and consumed by a history she never knew, she is pulled into another time.

The Ireland of 1921, teetering on the edge of war, is a dangerous place in which to awaken. But there Anne finds herself, hurt, disoriented, and under the care of Dr. Thomas Smith, guardian to a young boy who is oddly familiar. Mistaken for the boy’s long-missing mother, Anne adopts her identity, convinced the woman’s disappearance is connected to her own.

As tensions rise, Thomas joins the struggle for Ireland’s independence and Anne is drawn into the conflict beside him. Caught between history and her heart, she must decide whether she’s willing to let go of the life she knew for a love she never thought she’d find. But in the end, is the choice actually hers to make? 

My thoughts: 

I had really high hopes for this story as after reading the back it sounded really intriguing. However, it fell flat for me. The basic storyline between Anne and Thomas was wonderful and interesting. However, that was overshadowed by the historical political undertones throughout the entire novel.  Harmon describes the political events and theories in more details than are needed and it seriously takes away from the story of Anne and Thomas. I am not a fan of history especially when it is not written in an interesting manner. Overall, the book fell flat to me and therefore I can only give it 2 stars.

My rating: ★★ 

So, there you have it. I need to go flip more laundry and continue on my to do list. What are you up to on this Tuesday? Do you like historical, time-travel books? 

Mother-Daughter Day Out and Bad Cats

Happy Monday everyone! How was your weekend? Ours was super busy (as usual) and throw in the time change and I am super tired today. 

Friday, I attended my very first hard rock concert! It was a fun way to start the weekend. 

Saturday, Bill took the boys to Chillicothe Ohio to a fan fest and wrestling event featuring old school wrestlers. It was a 2-hour drive there, so they were gone all day long. That meant it was a girl's day for Rebecca and me. 

We ended up going to the library, stopping at our local bookstore, browsing some shops in our little downtown, stopping at the candy store and having a late lunch at Dave's Cosmic Subs. After we had lunch, we headed to Goodwill where Rebecca found a sweater and I found a t-shirt that I can wear to work.

Rebecca and I

Someone put a scarf on the cat sculpture at the dog fountain.

Rebecca browsing through old sheet music at an antique store.

My lunch.

Rebecca's lunch. 

 

As we were leaving Goodwill, Rebecca asked if we could go home as she was tired, and her feet hurt. LOL. We came home and spent some of the afternoon just lounging and reading. It was a very enjoyable day with my daughter! 

Sunday morning, I was awoken with a start with a crash. When I turned the light on, I saw that the cats had knocked over their treats and popped the lid off and were enjoying an all you can eat buffet. 

Bad kitties. 

I swept most of the treats up and then showered. I taught PSR and went to mass, then it was home to relax. I ended up napping in the recliner for a bit. 

Today, I was back to work. Unfortunately, I am not sure if I will work tomorrow as Ben came home with a fever from school. He ate his dinner just fine but he still says he doesn't feel good. 

We shall see what tomorrow brings.  

I went to my 1st rock concert!

 Happy Saturday everyone from cold, snowy, sunny, Ohio! Wow did temperatures take a nosedive last night and today! The last few days it has been in the 50s, then rain moved in yesterday afternoon, and it turned to snow. We got about an inch of snow, and it has been snow showers off and, on all day, today. In fact, it is snowing again, after about half an hour of the sun being out. Weird Ohio weather. 

But enough about the weather. Last night I went on a date with Bill to my very first rock concert. 

I had bought tickets for Bill and I, as a Valentine's Day gift to Bill to see Ace Frehley at the Woodward Opera House in Mount Vernon. The Woodward Opera House is a 500 seat theater which is America's oldest authentic 19th century theater still standing. It dates back to as early as 1851. It was recently renovated over the last few years and this was my first time attending anything there.

Ace Frehley is the original lead guitarist and co-founder of the rock group Kiss. I knew that Bill would love to see him.

I love lots of types of music and while hard rock is not something I listen to often, if at all, I can appreciate hearing a legend perform. 

I really did enjoy the concert. It was loud, and I really couldn't understand most of the words that were being sung, but I appreciate their guitar playing and drum playing beats. I am glad that I took Bill and that we had a date night.

 

The really nice thing was that since it was here in town, we only had to drive 5 minute to the concert and home, so we were home by 10:15 last night! We left the concert not really being able to hear that well and with a constant ringing in our ears; Rebecca said when we got home we were talking really loud even though we thought we were talking in normal tones. LOL Thankfully this morning, I am hearing just fine! 

Overall, it was really enjoyable, and now I can say that at 42 years old, I attended my 1st hard rock concert! 

Have you ever been to a rock concert? Have you ever heard of Ace Frehley? 

I am still here

Happy Tuesday evening everyone! Sorry for disappearing for almost 3 weeks but you know that thing called life got in the way. So last time I wrote, the cats were fighting, Ben was gluten and lactose free as we were trying to figure out his belly issues, I had applied for a contracted position, the Olympics were on TV, and life was chaotic. So, what's been going on since then. 

Well, the cats are no longer fighting. They finally are getting along and are back to normal. 

We have had some more medical issues with Ben. He has lost 6 more pounds in one month. We took him to the doctor as he basically had stopped eating and was constantly complaining his belly was hurting and she started him on a reflux medicine, vitamin D supplement (as his tested low) and Miralax as an abdominal x-ray showed he has poop stuck in several areas of this intestine. We are waiting for a referral to Children's Hospital for a GI specialist. We have added gluten and dairy back into his diet as we don't think that that was the problem. He has eaten more in the last couple of days than he has eaten all month. 

In regard to my job, I am now in the 2nd week of my contracted position! I really do like my coworker and my job. Today was a crazy day as she was out sick and her sub was way behind schedule in getting the lunches done and it was stressful, but the kids were fed, and things got done eventually. 

In other job news, Bill got a promotion at work! He is now Team Lead. He interviewed for this position the same day I interviewed for my job. This will involve him getting a pay raise and has more responsibility! SO that is awesome! I am proud of him!

 

Since I last wrote, both Rebecca and Jacob had their 3rd quarter choir concerts. Both sounded amazing, even if Rebecca had the hiccups during her concert. 

 

The weather has been crazy. Some days were cold and snowy. Others, like Saturday were in the 70s and gorgeous. We have taken advantage of the nice days and walked, played basketball at the park and just spent time outside. 

We bought a smaller chest freezer for the basement thinking that Ben going gluten-free was going to be a longer thing and a lot of gluten free foods have to be frozen. Well, now we are using it for meat. We bought this after I had a several dreams in a row about needing to buy a freezer and the final one had Betty White shopping with me for one. 

The boys finished their Upward basketball season. Both had a blast and really came into their own with their teams this year. In his last 2 games, Benjamin finally got a rebound, for which I had to give him a dollar! Jacob did really well with passing the ball and dribbling down the court! 

In other news, I don't want to end this update without mentioning that my heart breaks for those in Ukraine. Pray, pray, pray is what I can do. I am trying really hard not to complain about gas prices, etc. when there are moms who are sheltering in place with their children. I am keeping up with the news, more so than usual, as Bill gave up scouring the news daily for Lent so I am trying to stay in the know. 

Well, this got really long, really fast. I am going to end this here and I will try not to be gone again for 3 weeks, but no promises ;) 

How are things in your area of the world?