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Jun 17, 2012    |       18 comments

Mid-Month Update

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I can’t resist updating everyone that we’ve paid just shy of $3,000 to debt already this month.  I know that waiting for the drum roll number on the first of the month is part of the fun for some of you…but I just did the calculations and am really excited.  There will be more paid before month end so there will still be new info to share.

The real food, home cooking list for today is as follows:  french toast, quiche, jambalaya, cornbread, squash medley, a whole chicken in the slow cooker, potatoes. spinach salad and a delicious whole wheat chocolate bundt cake (and I am really glad I just shared that bc it helped me remember that I failed to cover the cake).  No real reason to share that except to see it all typed out.

My visit to my parents was absolutely entertaining.  My parents are really funny and I left there with my face literally hurting from laughing so hard.  It was just me visiting as my kiddos were with their Dad and Steve and the boys went to the driving range…and I must say I enjoyed the one-on-one time with my folks!  We had 4 hours of pure sitting and visiting with no interruptions.  My Dad and I discussed his decision to stay enlisted in the Air Force for over 23 years and how that retirement helps tremendously.  He has several friends that are trying to make it on Social Security alone and that’s nearly impossible.  He shared that at enlistment in his late teens, 20 years seemed FOREVER down the road.  It does for so many at that age and they don’t stay in for more than 3 or 4 years.  Then, before you know it, 20 years are GONE!  He didn’t have a father figure with his own father dying of appendicitis when my Dad was only 2–so he is thankful that he found his way to the Air Force and made it a career. Anyway, these moments are what life is made of!  Priceless. On a funny note, as I left my Mom warned “now don’t be telling stories about me on Spacebook!”  My 82-year-old Dad promptly corrected her and then we all laughed again!  What a gift it is to have my parents!  I do not take that for granted.

Here’s to a great week with more memory making moments…and maybe…just maybe…some news on the job front!  Yes, I still owe you an update on that…

Jun 17, 2012    |       2 comments

Happy Father’s Day!

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It’s early on this Sunday morning…and I am already cooking!  I’m a true morning person and love having the quiet house all to myself for just a bit.  Today is going to be crazy.  Our tradition is to make a big breakfast for Dad (Steve) so that is underway.  With the real food experiment continuing I’m excited to try new things.

This afternoon I will be heading to see my Dad.  Actually he surprised me this year because I offer to bring lunch every year and he always declines.  With five kids my parents’ schedule gets booked–so then I usually take him to lunch during the week.  So I called last night and made the usual offer…and he accepted!  That’s great really….but with the real food challenge going I want to make them something new too.  Thankfully I doubled up on some recipe ingredients so this won’t be a difficult meal…but it is one more meal I am cooking today!  The old Claire would have grabbed take out for my poor parents–they might pass out when I arrive with something homecooked!

Tonight Steve’s mom is coming over and the chicken is already in the slow cooker for that meal.  I’ll have the kids’ help soon enough and I am certainly not complaining.  I’m actually having a lot of fun cooking with new things and realizing I’m not nearly as awful as I thought I was.

Happy Father’s Day to all of you who have the honor of that job.   If your Dad is geographically far away from you…be sure to call him and share your favorite childhood memory of him!  And for those of you who have lost your Dad’s in this life…remember the good times and make another Dad’s day special with a phone call!

Off to the kitchen!

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