Eeee-vie Time

So, a few weeks ago Heidi's cousins came over to spend the night. Heidi hadn't really had cousins come spend the night before and Heidi's mom (i.e. me) knew that if she didn't plan something she'd probably go out of her mind with four little rugrats running around where there's usually just one. So we decided to have a Movie Night. I blew up the air mattress on the floor in the family room, we picked out a movie, we piled up the blankets and pillows, and we all lunkered down.

Heidi was so excited. Long before her cousins were ready to quit playing and watch the movie, Heidi was lounging out on the air mattress going "watch eee-vie?"

Of course, she only lasted through about 3.5 minutes of the movie before she started mercilessly jumping up and down on the air mattress despite the protests from Triston and Seth who were engrossed in The Land Before Time.

Ever since that night, the lure of "eevie night" is going strong with Heidi Jean. It was amplified last weekend when we had a Family Movie night that included the best movie accompaniment of all: popcorn (which shall hereafter forever be linked to movies. Movies = Popcorn).

It should be noted, the only movie that Heidi will watch in its entirety is Baby Signing Time, which she knows by heart.

Face-licking good

In one of my attempts to be a "hands-on" parent and teach my daughter all the wonderful things about life, along with spending some quality time together over one of our last days of summer, I asked Heidi if she'd like to help me make cookies. The problem was that I really didn't think this through. See, I was making "no-bake" cookies, so pretty much the entire process was going to occur in a hot saucepan, which isn't necessarily the best place for a 2-year-old.

I was able to find one job that was suitable for her during the cookie-making process: peanut butter jar-licker-outer. She fully embraced the job at hand.

Not pictured was her arm, which was coated in peanut butter from elbow to fingertips. And, yes, it is difficult to remove a layer of peanut butter from the skin, if you were wondering.

Menu Monday 8/23

Monday: Grilled Mojito Chicken drumsticks. Along with whatever the mother-in-law makes. We got invited out there, but I already had the chicken marinating, so it's going along.

Tuesday: Pork ribs, sweet corn, asparagus. I'm putting the ribs in the crock pot even though they aren't as good that way. First day of teacher inservice, can't put cooking on top of that.

Wednesday: Eating out. Josh has a haircut and errands to run.

Thursday: We have a staff social. I'm taking Bok Choy Salad and Sea Glass Jell-O.

Friday: Brinner. You know, breakfast for dinner. Josh has been craving hashbrowns, so we picked up some of those. We'll have eggs and sausage with 'em.

Saturday: Chicken Cacciatore. I think. Or roast chicken. I'm not sure.

Bring on the Polident and Granny Panties.

Top 10 ways I know we're old...

1. Rarely see anything past 10 o'clock pm. When I'm on the computer at 10:30 friends start to harass me ("isn't it past your bedtime?"). This even applies when we're "out" for the evening, except then we sometimes make 11pm.
2. Have started saying "back when I was young." As in "back when I was young we played outside all day long..."
3. Grocery shop on Monday mornings along with all the white hairs. And one of the most exciting parts of the week is finishing the weekly meal-plan.
4. Only got carded once in the last couple of years.
5. Started driving with my hands on "10" and "2." And turning down the radio because it's giving me a headache.
6. Can't have caffeine in the afternoon if I want to sleep (which I do, see #1).
7. Spend a lot of time thinking about 401Ks and Roth IRA's. And gas prices. And the weather.
8. All my favorite shows are shown only in re-run syndication (Friends, Everybody Loves Raymond, Seinfeld...)
9. Must right down daily reminders and lists or chance forgetting any mundane task. Often then forget to check the reminders and still forget the task until the next day.
10. Have 2 lawn chairs permanently set up in the garage that we regularly sit in. The old style of lawn chairs too, not those ones that fold into a carrying bag.

Old and loving every minute of it.

What we're eatin'

Someday I'll get back to blogging about actual things, but these days I'm reserving my brain power. It is summer break after all. For one more week anyway.

This week we're havin'...

Sunday: Pita Pizzas (they got moved back from Friday, when we ended up having fish sticks instead). I think I'm having mini pepperoni, black olives, mushrooms, and red onion on mine.

Monday: Spicy chicken tacos. Been dying to try this recipe. And it involves my crockpot, which is my best friend.

Tuesday: Sloppy Joes. Sloppy Joe, sloppy, sloppy Joe. Sloppy Joe's are one of those foods that once I hear about them I start craving them and must have them. We'll have something with 'em, not sure what. Maybe Bok Choy. Another one of those things you crave.

Wednesday: Leftover night. Early this week because I anticipate Monday and Tuesday's meals will have leftovers.

Thursday: Grilled Salmon, rice, veggies. We all love salmon. Yum.

Friday: Potato Nachos. Read about these in two different places within the last couple of weeks and took that as a sign from God that I'm meant to have them.

Saturday: Get-together night. I think. We'll probably grill or make pudgie pies.

How trends are made.

• Perhaps because it's been hotter than hot this week.
• And humid, to boot.
• Perhaps because she was having a bad hair day.
• On the same day as a bad hand day.
• Perhaps because she just likes hats (which has been proven).
• And she enjoys accessories of all kinds, really.
• Perhaps because it's pink and has a giant poofball.
• And they're striped and warm and fun to take on and off.

Whatever the reason. Heidi Jean decided this was the perfect outfit to wear on her Monday evening. She had the mittens on at one point, but I'm assuming it was too difficult to get the hat on with the mittens on, so she's just carrying them at this point. You'll have to take my word for it that she had them on.

You'll also have to take my word for it that right after this picture was taken, Heidi Jean traipsed back down the stairs, back to the hat basket, grabbed my winter hat, brought it upstairs, and said "Mama, hat!"

To which she was informed that it was way too hot for mama to wear a hat today. But nice try. Trendsetter and all.