Day 13 through 18, have I failed?

Okay, yep... I blew it. Only 13 days in... and I blew it!!! Nope, I didn't blog every day... and since it's day 18, I really don't want to fake it and blog 5 days today. Nope. Don't want to do it.

And as I've said before... I'm cool with going a bit easy on myself. It's not like I was going to win the Publisher's Clearing house if I wrote every day. My true goal is to document a month in my life via this blog. And it's happening... this post will be a catchup-all. (Man, I want to go back and change that "c" to a "k"!) lol...

Thursday October 13th was the 3rd meeting to my daughter's 2nd grade Brownie troop. We had organized a field trip, which is always such a pleasure. No planning for this one... we just took the girls to Michael's Crafts for a self guided tour of the six elements of art. It was great! They always have a fun time off school property... of course it was raining cats and dogs, so we had the added bonus of hearing the girls' high pitched screams in and out of the car.

I made my first attempt of a chicken pot pie which turned out pretty good! A tad bit to much liquid... but the taste was delicious!

Friday October 14th was a regular work day. No real stand outs except going to bed to watch a TV show that Michael wasn't interested in... and falling asleep about ten seconds later. The middle age stuff is for the birds!

Saturday October 15th, I drove to Lake Geneva WI, leaving behind my family to meet up with my two college friends Sarah and Julie. We all turned 40 this past year, and made a promise to get together at least every ten years. We went to St. Louis when we turned 30. I had to arrive a day later then the two of them, and was thinking they might have already bonded... and I might feel uncomfortable... but of course, I was wrong. College friends. The first friends that really know who you are and love you all the same. We talked and laughed as if it were 22 years earlier... we bent over in laughter after reading a letter that Sarah had written me after she had to medically withdrawal from our Sophomore year. It. Was. Hysterical. Oh to hear her 19 year old voice!!! Honestly, not much has changed... but that was the funniest part.

We drank beer, and shopped, and had girl talk... it was just what my sometimes weary soul needed.



Sunday October 16th, I drove home after spending the morning with the girls. It was a beautifully sunny day, and the drive home through the corn fields was almost soothing. A great buffer for the re-entry into my real life... I followed this horse trailer for awhile... I just liked the look of it.

Monday October 17th, new glasses. The last time I was at the eye doctor was when Abbey was 3 months old. She will be six in December, and my eye strain was the proof! I was able to get new glasses... I kind of like them. They are a change that is for sure!

Tuesday October 18th, ketchup. ;o) Yes, a productive work day ending with a blog update? I think it's a success... and to my question... did I fail by not keeping up with my challenge to blog every day for 30 days? Yes. But, I did succeed and living a bit... hopefully documenting a teeny tiny bit for later.

And I can live with that.

Day 12- Do you remember?

Dear Grace & Abbey-
Today, I write this post to you... my sweet little girls. Whenever or if ever you read this... I wonder... do you remember?

Do you remember the day I picked you up from daycare and a neighbor to a house with no power? Do you remember turning on a light switch, and nothing happened? Do you remember Mommy picking up her cell phone with a bill in hand and head to the garage so you couldn't hear? Do you remember me calling Daddy in a panic? Do you remember me cooking the beautiful meatloaf on the grill, and the instant mashed on the stove instead of the microwave?

Do you remember me making a plate for Daddy, and meeting him at the movie theatre? Do you remember Daddy complimenting the meat loaf, while I seemed angry at him? Do remember the Smurf movie, and the giggles it gave you?

Do you remember coming home and Mommy and Daddy giving you flashlights to go to your room? Do you remember asking why your closet light wasn't on? Do you remember falling asleep instantly because we intentionally kept you out late?

Do you remember me driving you to school on a day we would normally walk? Do you remember me taking my laptop with us when I usually leave it at home? Do you remember me asking you to not talk about this at school, especially your best friends?

Abbey- do you remember going out to eat for lunch when we normally never do? Do you remember me calling home incessantly to see if the answering machine finally turned on?

Grace- Do you remember me picking you up from school in the car, when normally we would walk? Do you remember running an errand instead of going home? Do you remember me calling someplace on my cell phone over and over? And over?

Do you remember me whipping into the drive way, and asking you both to hurry inside? Do you remember the white ComEd truck in the street? Do you remember when we walked inside and I was relieved that the lights we turned on 30 hours ago were once again, back on?

Do you remember me making whatever it was you wanted to eat for dinner because I was to mentally exhausted to make a family meal?

You don't?

Well... I do.

Day 11- powerless

On Tuesday October 11th, I was unable to blog. No seriously... I couldn't. See tommorrow's post.

Day 10- attacking dinner

So a few days ago, I was whining about how I don't like to cook for my family. This week, I'm going to take a mini challenge Monday though Friday and plan meals. I'm taking this on begrudgingly... but I know that if I don't take the bull by the horns now, it will never get better.

Today, I decided to go easy on myself and cook a meal the entire family likes. It is the shredded chicken and poppy seed recipe. It's nice and fattening with cream of chicken soup and sour cream, topped off with crumbled up Ritz crackers with butter. Yeah. A dieters nightmare. (Luckily no one is dieting in this house!)

Of course, both girls wrinkled up their nose. While it was cooking, I told Abbey what we were eating, and she responded by telling me that she can't eat chicken because her tooth hurts. When I tried to remind her that she likes this dish, she just jumped up and down with tight fists and screamed.

When we all were at the table, Grace's response was to quickly shut her eyes tight rock back and front in her chair in a fit while whining... "uuuuuhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Thank goodness Michael went easy on me and dug in quietly.

After Abbey saw what recipe I was talking about, she dug in and Grace was sent to her room. As I type this, she is still at the table "eating".

I realized that THIS is why I hate cooking. If I make any effort in the kitchen, I get negative reaction from 100% of my family... so I've taken the easy way out. I realize this is my punishment for being a kid who was a picky eater herself. But I'm willing to take it on this week.

Tomorrow is meatloaf and instant mashed potatoes. I've already given Grace the menu for tomorrow so she can mentally prepare. If that works, then it should be a less drama filled dinner since the rest of us like my meatloaf.

Wish me luck.

Day 9- The Chicago Marathon

My good friend and neighbor Joy ran the Chicago Marathon today. What an incredible accomplishment!!! It was her first marathon, and to help out, my family took her parents and her children down to watch for her at Mile 20. The day went off without a hitch for us. Traffic was nill, parking was easy, and we were able to find a spot that wasn't crowded at all to cheer for the runners.

I honestly didn't think that I would enjoy spectating a marathon as much as I did. When we first arrived, about 2 1/2 hours after the race started, the runners were few and far between. It was fascinating to watch the athletes go by... so focused and determined. Every few minutes or so, you would find a runner in a tu-tu, or dressed up as a bunch of grapes, or where's Waldo. We even saw a man JUGGLING while running a decent clip.

Of course, we were there to cheer on our friend. But, it seemed selfish not to encourage the other runners as we waited. I didn't know this before today, but some runners wear their name on the front of their shirt. It's a more personal way to cheer for them other then "go runner..." When I realized this, we started to say "go Kim", "go Brandon", "go Tracy". And each time, the person would look you in the eye and give you a little wave to thank you for the encouragement. It was awesome. I know they made their goal today, and I'm glad I could be a two second part of that experience.

It for sure made me think about goals that we all set. The encouragement from others, either family, friends or strangers seem to be a very important key. Have you encouraged someone today to reach their goal?

Day 8- Mom's en route

I live in a small town in a far southwestern suburb of Chicago. (Okay, that's a lie.) Yes, my family and I do live in Plainfield, IL but it is far from a "small town". Twenty or so years ago, when the housing bubble began to grow... my town expanded quite a bit. (From 4,500 people in 1990 to 37,000 in 2007.) We moved here in 2006 when Abbey was 6 months old and Grace was not even 2.

When we moved here, we knew no one. It took a year to become friends with neighbors, and I joined a local Mom's group which introduced me to another few others. But, the friendships didn't really start to bloom until our girls started elementary school.

Many of you know that I'm the leader for Grace's Girl Scout troop. (A neighbor friend sucked me in...) I remember being so nervous to meet parents because I had no idea what I was doing. But now, I consider many of those Mom's friends. A mini Brownie troop of our own, in a weird way.

Today, our troop marched in our very first parade. The girls are definitely at an age where they don't need their Mommy's, so all of the Moms walked behind the girls and chatted the entire way. A few hooted and hollard and tried to pump up the crowd , some handed out candy and others hung back quietly but bobbed from one Mom to the next to say hello. I thought it was quite funny, because yes, being in the parade WAS all about the girls. But the Mom's had their own fun, and were Brownies for a day.

I had no idea the friends that I would make as a Mom. It has, no doubt, been an unexpected benefit for sure.

Day 7- For me

I'm giving myself a break today.... though I am officially blogging, to keep my commitment to his 31 day challenge. It's been a busy day, and I'm in for a long one tommorrow. I'm going to take myself upstairs, give myself a pedicure and call it a night.

I deserve this.

Good night blog.

Day 6- Whats for dinner?

The worst part of my job as a Mom is, hands down, preparing meals. I am horrible at it. I envy those people who can whisk through a grocery store, without a list, and buy all of the ingredients you need for a week of breakfast, lunch and dinner. That is so not me... and I honestly do not even think about meals until people are asking "whats for dinner" or my stomach is asking me the same question.

I like to think that if money grew on trees, I would be better at it. I would have all the proteins in the world to choose from. Freshly washed veggies in the fridge, and only the ripest of fruit. But, if I'm being honest... money has nothing to do with it. I just honestly don't have the interest in going through all of that effort, to gobble it up in minutes, and be left with a mess.

Recipes. Oh good lord. You should see how many of those I have! Does it inspire me? At the moment I'm ripping it out of a magazine yes. But a day later? Nope! I keep them all for some reason... you never know when you will have the gumption to make pheasant under glass. (And old family joke...)

I should also mention that my family is a bunch of picky eaters. My husband, is a meat and potatoes kind of guy. I'd prefer to have chicken or fish, and my oldest daughter doesn't like meat at all. (Or veggies, some fruit... she has survived on cheese since she was two.) My youngest daughter once made me cry when she tried and LIKED broccoli. She on the other hand, doesn't like pizza or chocolate. (Lord help me!)

So before I got home, I stopped by the store for some ground beef. (Which I had forgotten during my prior trip...) And brought it home... and starred. I grabbed one of those awful boxed hamburger helper type meals and whipped it up. Of course, Grace didn't want it, and ate a cheese pizza (on tortilla shells) but Abbey did seem to enjoy it. I thought it was okay, and when Michael got home, he finished it off. I know those type of meals are horrible to feed a family.... but I continue to fee uninspired standing in front of a stove.

I tease my husband that he would be the PERFECT partner if only he would know how to play the guitar AND love to cook.

I'm hopeful though. Hopeful that one day, the girls taste buds will mature... Michael will develop a taste for healthy options, and I will be able to get excited about cooking so that one day we all can sit around a table and enjoy a meal together without disappointment. (Oh and am I pushing it to wish for a maid to clean the kitchen too?)