She seems so calm

We went out to dinner on Saturday evening and the husband of the couple next to us commented that Celia was so calm.  She was at that moment and all throughout the dinner.  In fact she was likely the best behaved I have seen her at a restaurant (although honestly Celia has never been a big problem when we went out to eat).  As for the husband, he wanted to chat us up the entire meal.  I wasn't very fond of that and I think Celia was a bit confused as to why this man kept talking, and talking.  Not to mention my eye gaze went to his wife who was feeding the little boy M&Ms after a few bites of his meal.  This was after the husband asked us if we knew about this juice that his son was drinking, it had 50% less sugar.  Celia was drinking water- no sugar, but I didn't say anything.  I also didn't say anything about the M&Ms but I was very curious.  Oh and the fact that they were looking for a different type of daycare for next year because the little boy went to in home daycare that has the tv on all day.  Hmmm....  Celia has watched 2 short videos on pajamma day in the nearly 2 years that she has been at her daycare.  But, again, I didn't say anything.

So back to Celia.  Calm, was not a word to describe her on Sunday.  Celia has been going to bed fine for the past week but getting up shortly after 5, I don't mean 5:15 or 5:30, I mean like 5:01 or 5:02.  So I think Sunday it all caught up to her.  I didn't realize though that we had passed that magic time and crossed over to the, well not so calm and not so nice child stage.  I haven't seen her throw a tantrum that bad in a very long time.  But we made it.  She took a good nap but was grumpy when she woke up.  Actualy she was still tired when she woke up.  At one point she was lying down next to me and slipped down a little, closed her eyes and started twirling her hair.  She was going to go back to sleep!!  I told her she couldn't and she didn't give me a huge fuss but was dissapointed.  She took a tubby and all was well after that.

I am on Spring Break this week.  I sent Celia to school today and will tomorrow then I think I will keep her home the rest of the week, not sure yet!  I went to IKEA and got some ideas for her play area down stairs.  We are in for a yucky two days- cold and rainy.  Cold, but Pete wore short sleeves today...  It is going to be almost 80 this weekend.

Carrie

My Montage 3/22/10 at OneTrueMedia.com

She hasn't really shared her views on politics yet but she is learning the players.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Spring Cleaning

I am in a mood to just clean and get rid of a ton of things.  I filled two trash bags today and filled another two bags for salvation army and an adult clothing turnabout in April.  I am leaving Celia in daycare for at least one day during the Spring Break to clean out things and organize.  The house is driving me crazy.   It feels so good to get rid of things and somehow I know that next year at this time, it will be the same thing!! 

I do really want to lead a more simple life, non-reliant on "stuff".  Pete and I both are not super materialistic and I really want to share that with Celia.  In the summer I often spend alot of time doing the clean out and this year I would love to have that taken care of so that I can tackle some other problems like painting the two bathrooms and possibly redoing some of our master bathroom.

As for Miss. Celia she seems to have caught yet another cold.  She has a loose but frequent cough that got her to bed very late tonight- along with some other complaints!  She is going to be a bear tomorrow.  I got her a memory game at a consignment sale and she actualy does very well with it.  She enjoys playing it too.  I am going to be on the look out for some other simple games.  She has had no pull-ups at nap time all this week and has done awesome!!  Night training here we come (this summer that is).

Queen Celia

We were not impressed with Celia's behavior this evening.  She ended it by hitting her Daddy when he asked for a kiss and then asked him if he would cry.  She wanted to hear him cry (he often fakes it).

The following was a conversation that took place while Celia was sitting on the toilet.

Mommy:  There will be no stories this evening because you were not nice, you did not make good choices.

Celia:  But I want stories.

Mommy:  No I will lay down with you but no stories.

Celia:  Why

Mommy:  You were not nice.  Tomorrow, you need to listen to Mommy and Daddy and do what we ask you.

Celia (yelling downstairs):  I love you Daddy.  (then gives very loud kisses in the air).  See Mommy, I am nice.  Now I get a story.

Mommy: No, you do not.

The little manipulator.  She knows exactly what she was doing!!

Longwood Gardens

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for the year pass to Longwood Gardens.  I am super excited!!  Celia and I are going to go alot this summer and of course this Spring.  I am already waiting for the 60-65 degree day to take her after school.  She had a blast when we went this past weekend.

I love this last picture!!

Meatless March

Mostly Meatless March

Okay so I literally spent the entire day cooking for some meals for Meatless dinner March.  We are not going completely meatless, just for dinners and we are going to eat fish.  It is just something different!!  My husband isn't really on board, so we might be adding in a day of meat.  This also doesn't include going out or ordering in meals!

So the freezer is packed.  I made

Cheesy Burritos (2 )

Enchildas (1 with leftovers)

Veggie Potpie with sweet potato crust (at least 3 meals)

Veggie Lasagna (2)

Stuffed Shells (2)

Manicotti (2)

Tomato Orzo Soup (2 with leftovers)

Calzones (2 with extra)

Extra noodle lasagna (1)

So one day of cooking and 17 meals, not bad.  Of course the problem with bulk cooking is that you might make a large quantity but it is multiples of the same food.  My husband doesn't love leftovers and repeat meals have to be used sparingly.

So for this week:

Week 1

Monday- Cheesy Burritos with salsa on the side and corn/ rice as sides

Tuesday- Veggie Potpie

Wednesday- Manicotti

Thursday- Leftovers

Friday- Leftovers (yes I am trying this twice, this week!)

Saturday-  out/ Grilled Cheese and tomato soup

Week 2

Sunday- Fish, maybe Cod

Monday- Eggplant Parmesan (if I can find an eggplant, Giant was out this week!!)

Tuesday- Veggie Lasagna

Wednesday- Tomato Orzo Soup

Thursday- Spaghetti

Friday- Leftovers

Saturday- Out/ Eggs

Week 3

Sunday- Trader Joe's Crabcakes

Monday- Susie's Enchilada Bake with Lime Rice

Tuesday- Calzones

Wednesday- Stuffed Shells

Thursday- Leftovers

Friday- Perogies

Saturday- out/ Grilled Cheese and soup

Week 4

Sunday- Veggie Lasagna

Monday- Veggie Potpie

Tuesday-Roasted Veggies and Cannelini Beans with Feta Cheese

Wednesday- Cheesy Burritos

Thursday- Leftovers

Friday- Boboli Pizza

Saturday- Calzones/ out

Sunday- Portabello Mushroom Burgers

I am going to end it that Sunday since midweek it will be April.  I could still plan it all the way through.  So this is just a preliminary menu.  With this, I hopefully will not have much of a grocery bill because I won't have much to buy.  I also have a Quiche that I should use up so I need to find a spot to put that on the menu.  It might go on this Friday.  I have less then $200 to spend for groceries for the rest of the month (that is my budget).  Ideally I would like to see if I could stay $50 under this month.  We will see!!  I am excited to see that I will still have leftover food in the freezer after the month.  

Snow Day and Need Help

We had a snow day today- Celia and I.  Pete went to work.  Yesterday, Celia had a snow day and both Pete and I had to go to work.  I took a half day and Celia spent the morning with our neighbors.  We both have colds so it was also a somewhat sick afternoon.  Amazingly my cold feels like just a tiny, itty bitty one but was kicking me terribly yesterday. 

In anycase..  This is what Celia wore over to our neighbor's house- oh plus a coat.

This is what she did this morning, then melted down into a tiny mess as Mommy evidently went past that "magic" time when she was just ready for her nap and went into the toddler monster stage. 

Stuck a huge amount of coins in her pockets

Sat on the couch, smiling because she was able to stuff a huge amount of gold coins in her pockets.  Interestingly, underneath her, inside places in the couch that my hands can not reach are an equal amount of coins.  Is it odd to that my child can still wear 18 month pants and she isn't all that tiny?

I have no idea.  It involved toilet training the baby, spilling a pile of coins, and then sweeping.

"washing" dishes

There was also some time spent watching Handy Manny, playing on starfall with Mommy, going over letters, singing Mat Man, baking cookies, and playing with playdough.  Oh yes and some vaccuuming- from the big one, that one that she is scared of.  She wasn't thrilled but the downstairs needed it.  She also vaccuumed with her talking and groaning vaccuum.

Okay onto the help part.  For the 3 readers that read my blog.  I need help with a blank spot in my kitchen.  I am honestly so sick of my house right now and I am just taking things slowly.  I want to really organize things and make the house look nice.  But that process is so super slow.

Here is my favorite part of the house

Except for the vaccuum cleaner handle on the side, this corner is put together.  I love it.  It is perfect.  This is in the corner of the kitchen.

Here is above my hutch in my kitchen.

That whole wall is blank.  I need something to go there.  No Pete we can not put a flat screen tv there.  I was thinking about a chalk board or cork board but am afraid that could get messy looking.  I just don't know.  Any ideas??