I'm not going to lie. I love my dear husband, but sometimes I wish he wasn't so phobic of cooking! It took me a while to really get used to being master chef for the family...or even just us two when we were first married. Although I knew this is the way it would be for me, long before we were married, the reality of that, and acceptance of it is totally different!

I must give Dan credit, though. He will grill, and cook the occasional fatted calf. Usually the meat or a special side dish around a holiday. I love to see him get excited and make a great glazed ham, or smoked brisket. And in true Dan fashion, when he does it perfect...to a T. And it is fabulous.

So it was quite nice over this long weekend, for a Saturday lunch, he decided to whip some goodies up in our Vita mix. First was an orange julius. All I can say is mmmmm. I like banana shakes, but I love homemade orange julius. It just hit the spot.

Then he proceeded to make potato soup. He's always talked of making it growing up. So it was neat to give it a try in our mixer. It wasn't bad at all! I was surprised it wasn't too bland for his taste, but turns out everyone liked it.

The days are flying by, and sure to fly faster now that Advent is here.

Thanksgiving came and went. Turns out on my side of the family, most of them were doing things with their in-laws, in hopes of spending more time with the Lange side during Christmas (Tommy coming to town and all). I was okay with that. I thought it might be better to have a smaller crowd at our place anyway. It left me relaxed during the week, knowing I didn't have to prepare a feast of food. Until the kitchen drain decided to leak.

Dan spent Thurs. morning redoing the kitchen plumbing. I just praised him, reminding him how much money we saved my not having to call a plumber on Thanksgiving day! So now I have nice new stainless drains and new plumbing.

Thanksgiving was pretty nice. I felt like I had a lot to do, but I think it had to do with not being able to get in my kitchen all morning! The 'few' things I had to do, kinda seemed like a lot after a while. I started feeling bad when Rose threw me the 'you never just play with us' bit.

Well, long story short, we got all the food finished and ate around 6. I was so happy to see my two brothers, sister, and mom and dad. I was a bit nervous, as my brother was a bit moody that night, and tensions can run high when that happens. He had a little disagreement with my husband, so I had the delicate role of trying to fix that misunderstanding. Learned a little about family dynamics. Ahh, never-ending family drama. But that 1/4 cup of white wine tasted so good that night, and left me feeling so happy to have my family there, drama and all.

I had a wonderful time making pumpkin chiffon pie with Rose on Wed. evening. Dan came and took the boys with him, so it was just Rose and I. I could focus on helping her make the whole pie without little boys interrupting. How nice. She read the recipe, used the measuring cups and spoons and made just about the whole pie. I was so proud of her. I think she had a good time, but was bummed when the boys came home...and we hadn't played together yet.

Thank goodness this was a four day weekend. We got to play games with Rose so I think we're good for a while. If she only knew how much I'd love to ditch all my housework to just play with her! Hey, sometimes I'll have to do just that.

And that brings us to Advent. This year has been the best for my Advent stuff. The house is cleaned up from Thanksgiving, so there was nothing to de-clutter when putting out my Advent 'decos'. I stored all my Advent stuff in the house this year, instead of with the Christmas stuff. It was so easy to just go in the closet and get out our Advent wreath and candles. I love singing 'O Come, O Come Emmanuel' I love the warm glow the purple candles emit, especially in the early morning and at night.

I feel like I've been doing well at a school routine, and am afraid to change for Advent. Yet, there are so many things to do during this liturgical season, I can't just keep doing school as we are. So that's going to be fun trying to figure that out.

And then there's the reason for the season: Christmas. I'm looking forward to Advent, so as to prepare for Christmas. I have a lot of the shopping done for people I need to shop for, and that's a good feeling. I don't feel like doing much else, or going overboard for Christmas. I feel like taking it easy, keeping it simple, sticking to traditions in our family. It's hard for me, because I really do like to do it all...hate to miss a thing. But this year, that's okay.

Too tired to really blog, but I am too tired to do anything else. Wishing Dan was home already.

I felt pretty accomplished tonight. A gal from the dance school, who is a senior at UD, had a recital tonight. I braved it and took the kids. I didn't know quite what to expect. Turns out, it was in a small auditorium, and she played solo for the first piece, and was accompanied by a piano for the next two. It made me pretty nervous to see that in the lineup! I brought books and crayons to entertain the kids. DD had trouble through the first piece, and kept talking too loud. They were all really good overall, though. Sam was really good too! I was surprised how quiet he kept! So I treated them to ice cream afterward. The kids were watching the cellist for the first fifteen minutes or so, and Rose remarked to me "She doesn't even need the notes!" I was so impressed. She played three pieces, taking about an hour, all from memory!! Wow!

Overall, I had a good, productive day. I woke up, unusually happy! Sad that it's unusual, but sometimes it's hard on a Sat., knowing Dan has to leave early and be gone all day. But I woke up to Dominic getting books of the shelf, and being unusually quiet. I dozed back off. Rose creeps in our bed, and lies next to me. We doze back off. Then Sam comes in. We're awake now. He got comfy between Dan and I. He smiled at me, and cupped my face in his soft little hands. It was so sweet. Ahh, what a wonderful way to wake up.

I got to make Dan breakfast. I love cinnamon swirl bread! It makes the easiest french toast!

Dan left and I started my chores: load of laundry here, kids folding towels there, all while trying to avoid my huge stack of dishes.

Rose got to go to a tea party with my mom. It was at the library. I took her a few years ago, and my sister told me about it this year. Ironically, I was so okay not going. She got to have a good time with Grandma, and I finished my dishes, while hanging out with my boys.

I even managed to give the boys haircuts before we went to the recital. Sadly, Sam cried the whole time. It goes a lot smoother when Dan is here.

Oh well, my day in review.

Baby is starting to kick differently. Move, rather than kick. I imagine him stretching, or rolling. It's quite a funny feeling!

My whole right side is just bugging me! My hip, my ribs, my shoulder. I need to stretch more than I do, and I'm really going to try to. I'm thrilled, though, that my side pain that has been so common with each pregnancy has a new diagnosis. It's always been assumed to be gall bladder pain, but I've been a bit doubtful. I didn't seem to have the common triggers of gall bladder pain, even if it was in the right spot. I ran it past my chiropractor. She figures I have some ribs out of alignment, and the muscles in between the ribs are tight. She worked on it a bit and it was great! I'm so excited to know what it is and to know what to do for it!

I could probably ramble on, but I guess I'll end for now. Get a little rest while waiting for my honey.

Amen sister

"Here’s a study I would like to see: The number of aging women who regret not having had enough “me time” versus the number of aging women who regret not having made more room in their lives for hair bows and superman capes."

http://www.faithandfamilylive.com/blog/having_more_kids_means_more_happiness/

I want to write about our week before it slips away!  First week of Nov. is always a busy one. All Saint's Day, All Soul's day, our anniversary and my birthday.

All Saint's was overshadowed by a beautiful baptism of our nephew.  I was relieved, because for some reason, I just didn't have the energy to do saint costumes!

For All Soul's day, we went to noon Mass.  We were going to go to morning Mass at the cemetery, but it was so cold in the morning. Plus, I  thought Dan might want to go with us.  So we waited till he got home.  We ended up going to the small cemetery near our house, at Bergamo.  It's where the Marianist priests and brothers are buried.  It's so funny how the handful of people buried there are part of my memory, either because I knew them from Emmanuel as a child, or my Dad knew them. The priest that baptized me is buried there, so I like going there on all Soul's day.  We kept it simple and said some prayers, while looking through the gravestones. It wasn't as cold as in years past, thank goodness.  The kids liked walking through all the leaves.

Our Anniversary and my birthday were both so perfect in their own ways.  I planned on making a nice dinner for our anniversary, so I was focused on that.  I had kinda been a hormonal mess the last couple days, so I was glad I was glad that was passing, and I was busy making dinner special.  Dan came home with a dozen red roses, which was such a wonderful surprise.  It perfectly complimented our dinner. (Dan later said he was going to bring dinner home, but I said I was already making it. How sweet, though!)  I set out nice plates and glasses, and just really enjoyed a nice meal with the family.

Rose was funny when I told her it was our anniversary.  She immediately piped up and said, "So we're going to Uncle Dave and Aunt Jodie's tonight, right? Isn't that when you and dad go away, I mean, go somewhere by yourselves and we go somewhere, like Uncle Dave and Aunt Jodie's and have a sleepover?"  I told her, yes, sometimes we do that.  She was pretty insistent about going there that night!  Dan and I had a loose plan of possibly going overnight this weekend, but I dare not mention it to her, for fear it not happen and she'd be so disappointed.  I realized, though, whether we go anywhere or not, they need to go on their sleepover!

In contrast, my birthday was not an elegant, relaxing experience. Still, it was perfect in it's own way.  At breakfast, Rose said she wanted to throw me a party.  I told her she had to discuss it with dad, so we called him.  It was so cute to hear her conversation!  Not used to talking on the phone, she had to keep repeating herself, clearer each time.  " I was thinking we could have a bonfire.  The people can talk and we can go and swing."  I left them alone to their planning.  When she got off, she was saying something about meatballs or hamburgers.  I told her that if there is anything I am supposed to do, she needed to let me know, because I didn't know what was going on.  The day went on, and soon Dan was on his way home.  He called and asked what my plans were for the evening.  I told him I didn't know what was going on, and did nothing. (I guess Rose was supposed to tell me to thaw some ground beef).  He got home just in time for me to run out of the house to take Rose to dance class.  While gone, I called Dan and we discussed dinner, and I picked up some brats and sides while Rose was at class.  (Rose said she wanted to have something grilled).  

When we got home from dance, I was greeted by my sweet husband, and a basket of mums on the kitchen table.  I was in disbelief.  (I teased Dan the night before about the roses counting for my birthday too! I guess not!)  What a pleasant surprise!  

We went outside and started the grill and a bonfire- the first (and probably last) of this year.  It was wonderful.  The kids had such a great time throwing pine cones and needles in the fire. I loved it all...the warmth, the smell, the glowing embers.  We ate our dinner outside, but decided it was too chilly for  dessert out there too.  So we went in.  Rose helped me make rice crispy treats instead of a cake, so I started to put candles in them.  Then Dan goes to the freezer and pulls out a carvel cake!  Pleasant surprise #2!  So we moved the candles to the cake, and gobbled it up.  Yum. Yum.

We got the kids to bed, and the kids kept talking about my presents.  Rose was really sad she didn't get me a present.  I told her the bonfire and the making rice crispies with was the best present.  It wasn't cutting it.  She meant a wrapped present.  She said she wanted to go shopping that night and get me something.  I got a gift in the mail that I hadn't opened, so I went in their room with them all in bed, and opened my present.  I guess that satisfied them.  I forget, that to a kid, birthdays are ALL about presents!

I guess for me, it was wonderful to have so many thoughtful things on my birthday.  I usually don't make a big deal of it, and it doesn't bother me if the day passes with little fanfare.  But I had a lot of family call and email, which was nice. Truly, though, the best gift was Rose planning a 'party' with Dan. The bonfire was great, and Rose was so happy.  She kept coming in the house and asking what she could help with.  At first, she said she was sad that no one else was coming.  She said she wanted a lot of people to come. (Dan said he asked her who she wanted to come, and she didn't know).  Anyway, after making rice crispies together, while the boys were making a fire, she said to me something like, "It's okay if no one else comes."  She was just so happy, and that brought me much joy.  

No profound thoughts on being another year older. I guess there's too many things to look forward to in the coming months to worry about what age has to do with it.