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On Thursday we’re heading to my in-laws’ house to celebrate my brother- and sister-in-law’s pregnancy and my nephew’s first birthday. I’m looking forward to getting away for a big. I’m looking forward to being with family.
Here’s what on our short menu this week:
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Annnndddd my weekly menu plan is back. Reader(s), I’m sorry I’ve been MIA for the most part these past few months. I have no excuse, just day to day life stuff getting in the way of writing. I can’t promise this time around will end any differently, but I promise I’ll try!
Our family is actively trying to cut back on our monthly expenses. We recently started sharing our internet connection with our upstairs neighbors, we’ve canceled our gym memberships, and I’ve taken to line-drying all of our laundry except for our bed sheets, which I simply don’t have the space to hang. Additionally, I’m doing my best to chip away at our grocery budget. I’m not sure how much lower I’ll be able to get it, but I figure every penny counts, right? So! Here’s what’s cooking this week:
On Friday, Josh took some time to clean up our porch. Some dirt had fallen down onto it, as had an empty cardboard box or two and some dead leaves. There were a few spider webs hanging out (they seem to be spun daily), so I was totally hands-off of this household chore.
It’s amazing what a clean-swept floor and some new (free!) chairs can do for the decor of porch. For the first time since moving into this apartment, Josh and I were able to really use our porch space. And! Jude was finally able to play on the porch. Up until this point it has just been too dirty or cluttered. Now, after installing some screen around the porch railing and the rain gutter planters earlier in the season, and cleaning the space top to bottom, it’s finally a Jude-friendly space.
Just in case you’re looking for another awesome (and frequently updated, unlike *some* blogs) blog to read, I thought I should mention that one of my best friends, Demery, has finally joined the blogosphere.
Demery is a writer, and her blog features daily writing prompts. She invites her readers to compose their own take on each day’s prompt and to share it in the comments section of each post.
So! Head on over to Write Away Every Day and see what prompt Demery is sharing with us today.
Well, it has finally happened. Jude has gotten bitten by the Mac bug. It started off innocently enough; we watched movies on my MacBook Pro in iTunes and Super Hero Squad in QuickTime Player. Soon, Jude was requesting he be allowed to “check his email,” and so we moved on to him typing in an empty document in TextEdit (it didn’t take long for him to learn how to make capital letters by holding down the “Shift” keys). And now, we’re on to different toddler-friendly gaming websites (well, some are educational, I guess). Jude has mastered the trackpad, can switch between tabs in whatever web browser he’s using, and has recently learned how to open iTunes and select a movie for his viewing pleasure. Sometimes, when I sit down to watch him play, he does things with our MacBook Pro that I can’t figure out how to undo. At that point, I call for Josh.
In the same vein, Jude learned how to manipulate an iPod Touch over this past week. Josh’s sister Makenzie was visiting, and she was kind enough to let Jude play with hers. He likes the drawing app she has on her Touch and likes to access her playlists and select a song to listen to. Honestly, the kid just gets it. Well, he gets it more than I do, at least.
I forget where I saw these bags advertised, but man oh man, do I want some Blue Avocado reusable grocery bags. Specifically, I want this, the most expensive, kit.
Aren’t they beautiful? And all matchy, to boot.
Dear Josh,
You left at 6:15 this morning, and I’ve been missing you ever since.
This morning, Jude and I ate oatmeal for breakfast. He did a bang up job of eating. I trimmed the cats nails and scooped the litter box. After picking out some clothes to wear, he and I got the bike trailer hooked up to my bike, and we headed out to shop at The Harvest.
After huffing it home from the co-op, Jude and I put on our bathing suits and headed to Jarvis Beach to play with Dash and Stella and their families. Jude rode in his wagon and ate a peanut butter and honey sandwich on the way. Atena gave me a beautiful dress that I think you would love to see on the floor me, but sadly, it’s just a touch too big.
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Boo. My dear husband left today. He’s leading his youth group’s mission trip to Kentucky, and he won’t return until next Saturday evening. I am sad and a bit overwhelmed. While Jude and I had a lovely day together, I know it would have been even more lovely to have enjoyed it alongside my partner in crime.
This week, I’m eating simply. Some leftovers, lots of sandwiches, and a surprise dinner of enchiladas from my friend upstairs, Tracie! I have great friends, and I’m very, very grateful for them. Here’s what cooking (or reheating!) this week:
Eh. I’m feeling down today.
Jude and I have been having some great days together lately. I’ve been more present and connected with him and have started saying “yes” more. He thrives when I’m in the thick of life with him. He laughs and pretends and has full-on conversations with his toys; he responds to me, helps me, and offers me many kisses.
And then, this morning, he flat out refused to go shopping at the farmers’ market and co-op with me. I was happy Josh was home so that I didn’t have to force him to come with me, but I’ll be honest: I was hurt and sad.
I pressed on–headed out into the muggy heat of this Saturday morning and made my way to the train station. I rode the train to Evanston and shuffled my feet on the way to the market. Then I got there and saw all the amazing fruit for sale, and I just got so much sadder. I wanted my sweet boy by my side. I wanted him to sample all the fresh fruits that were available. I wanted to dance with him. I wanted to share the experience with him. As I left, all I could think about was how nice it would be to have him sitting next to me on the train, eating our entire blueberry purchase before we arrived home.
