October 5, 2012

Outside Temp: 22F (yes, 22, like 13 degrees below 32, which is a little chilly.)

What I cooked today:
Pot Roast: I got a roast yesterday at the store, and actually decided to cook it!  I threw in some potatoes, onions and celery, and let it bake for about 1 1/2 hours.  It turned out great, and who doesn't love potatoes roasted that way?  Yumm...

Update:
I really like Friday's.  I'm not sure if that's because I don't have to drive back and forth to Geyser 3 times on weekends, but I'm sure that doesn't hurt! 

Today was Katie's last volleyball game, and since it was in Grass Range, and neither Patrick nor I could make it anyway, she decided not to go.  I'm sure there is a part of her that is glad she stuck with it for the entire season, but I'm sure there's a bigger part of her that is glad she's done.  She didn't really like it, probably because she's so little that she couldn't get the power behind her hits.  Perhaps she'll like it more in a few years.

It was also Allen's last day of Football practice.  He has his last game on Monday.  And it couldn't have ended at a better time.  It was probably in the low 40's on the field today, which means he was a little cold.  I'm sure if it was during a game, he might have the adrenaline to keep him warm, but today, he was freezing!  I might have to find some thermals or something to wear under his uniform on Monday, since it's still supposed to be cold on Monday.

Basketball practice starts on Tuesday, but Allen thinks he will probably not join this season.  I don't think he really enjoys basketball, which is kind of a sin around here, and I think he really misses having free time.  This season he had either a game or practice until 6 every day.  Which got him home as early as 6:30, and sometimes as late as 8ish.  Which only gave a few hours to do all his homework, eat dinner and get to bed.  He never complained, and sometimes he was up until 10 finishing his homework. 

So, when I asked if he wanted to play, his first response was, "No.  I want to have more time to work on my homework.  But, I will do Track in the spring."  Hmm, interesting.

September 23, 2012

Outside Temp: 46 F (it was overcast today, but no rain... we'd really, really like some rain.)

What I cooked today:
Leek and Potato Soup: Patrick has been practically begging for this soup for the last week or so.  I finally gave in an made it.  I had to admit, it was pretty filling (I'm one of those who believe soup is an appetizer, not a meal), and tasty.  I had to borrow Grandma's immersion blender at the end, so I guess I'm adding this to my list of kitchen tools I need to get.  Yummy!

Update:
I got some pictures from Grandma of yesterday's homecoming games.


Since we were at Homecoming all day yesterday, Patrick and I got up early and went to church in Belt.  It's kind of nice to do this everyone once in a while, since it gives us an opportunity to see our family there.  We left the kids at home (with Allen), which made church all that nicer. 

Afterwards, we went into Great Falls with Connor.  He needed some new jeans, since apparently, he grew between the start of school and now.  I think that he just hated trying on jeans, and told me the one's we got fit, when they didn't.  He has pants that fit now, so I guess that's all that matters!

After our trip into town, we headed over to the Ice Cream and Pie Social at the Community Center.  This was the first thing we attended when we got into town last year, so it's kind of an anniversary thing for us!  I love the fact that we knew almost everyone there, and we had a great time!  We even picked up our St. Mary's Cookbook, with hundreds of local recipes!  I can't wait to try some of them!

September 22, 2012

Outside Temp: 62 F (it was a little warm today, but perfect for the games! )

What I cooked today:
Oh yea, like I had time to cook...

Update:
What a fun day!!

It was our Homecoming day at the school today.  We started the day early, with Allen's game at 10am.  His team won, which was wonderful.  He got to play, even though he's been sick with this stupid cough for the last week.  He even got a few tackles in!

During the Varsity game, I helped the concessions to sell these amazing Indian Tacos, which sold like wildfire (probably not a good joke right now, with everything so dry).  We sold a lot of stuff, and make a lot of money for our Smithsonian club.

After that, I got to watch Katie play her Volleyball game.  They didn't win, but I think that was more because the team our Elementary girls (5th and 6th grade) were playing against were actually their Junior High girls.  I didn't check the program, but it seemed the same girls were playing both the Elem. and the JH games.  Oh well, I think they played well!

After that, I helped the concessions again for the Booster Club, for the JV and Varsity games.   We, again, made a lot of money, but this time it was for the Booster Club, which helps our athletic teams with their equipment and uniforms and scholarships and team feeds and stuff like that.

It was an exhausting, but totally fun day!  The only bad part was that I forgot to charge my camera, so I didn't get any pictures.  I think Grandma got some, so I'll post them tomorrow!

September 15, 2012

Outside Temp: 55 F (it was less than 80 today, which is perfect.  It was still a little smoky, but not as bad as yesterday.)

What I cooked today:
Burgers and Pasta: I asked Allen what he wanted for his birthday, and he asked for burgers and pasta.  No complaints from me, since it was so easy!  Woo hoo!

Brownies: I asked Allen if he wanted a cake or brownies, and he said he's rather have brownies.  If only I could remember how to make them... They turned out a little crispy on the edges, but not too bad. 

Update:
Happy 14th birthday to my oldest.  Which means that he can get his learner's permit in 6 more months.  I can't even imagine him driving, but I guess every parent has to deal with this feeling.  And, at least there are less cars on the road here than in that place we used to live.  Although there are more deer.

Today was a busy day of sports!  Allen had a game at 10 in Stanford, which meant that we were up and moving at 8am.  I was able to stop over at the Farmer's Market and pick up some rolls and nectarines, which were really good.  They had some really pretty jewelry, but I chose not to get anything this time... maybe next time.

After Allen's game, we had lunch in Stanford and then headed home.  Only to jump back in the car an hour later to bring Katie to her game.  Yes, if we had been thinking, we could have brought Katie's game clothes to Allen's game, and then we wouldn't have had to run back and forth.  Oh well, it meant that I got an hour nap, so I had no complaints.

Katie's game was over by 4ish, so we headed back home, to get ready for church.

Amazingly, I totally forgot to get out my camera with either game, so I have no pictures.  But we have another home game for each next week, so I will make sure to get pictures next time.  Right now, I'm just looking forward to sleeping in! 

September 7, 2012

Outside Temp: 50 F (it was almost freezing this morning, 33, and it got up to 80!)

What I cooked today:
Nothing... Grandma and Grandpa got a new bar-b-que today, so we went up there for dinner.  Sometimes, it takes a while to learn how to make a new device work well.  But, with a little extra time on the stove, the meat was moist and delicious!  And Grandma paired it with corn and tater tots and beans... Could you ask for more?

Update:
I have finally finished my training at the post office!  The funny part is that my work there will be only a relief, which means I only have to work if the regular postmistress can't make it.  Which means that I probably won't be working much... perhaps a little around Christmas and maybe during the winter when the snows are bad.  And, since it may be a month or 2 before I work again, I'm sure things will change between now and then.  Which means that some of my training will have been useless.  Oh well, I guess that's how it works! 

Katie would have had a Volleyball game today in Melstone (which is about 3 hours away, one way!!), but, since she's young (and inexperienced), she asked if she could skip it.  Yea!  If she had gone, she would have left school around noon and wouldn't have been home until about midnight!  I was so grateful that her coach let her out of the game.  I can imagine for Varsity or perhaps College sports, but she's only in 5th grade! 

We are 'dog sitting' for one of our neighbors, and Katie has become very attached to the 12 year old black lab.  Of course, she (the dog) has arthritis and other medical issues, as she's old and that's just what happens.  But, Katie has never had a pet get old on her.  The cats we had in CA all got eaten by coyotes, so she never saw them old.  I'm sure this will be a good life lesson for her, but it's hard in the 'during' stage. 

Tomorrow should be a slightly relaxing day.  I have to process 20 lbs of peaches and can them, along with roasting peppers and canning them.  But, other than that, I should be bored... I hope...

September 6, 2012

Outside Temp: 42 F (we had a high of 64, which I think is perfect.  It threatened to rain most of the day, but I don't think we actually got any rain... oh well... perhaps if we stop talking about it, it might actually let some water fall!)

What I cooked today:
Nothing.. too stinking busy!

Update:
You know, the funny thing about busy days... at the end of them, you know that you did something.  It may not matter to the world at large, but you know that you were running all day, and that you were never bored.

I got to substitute teach today, again, for a different teacher this time.  Of course, by now, I know all the students and I've had all of them at one time or another.  So, it's more like private tutoring my friend's kids. 

Katie had her first Volleyball game tonight.  And while they didn't win, she played well and had fun.  Of course, she would have liked to have won, but perhaps these things take time.  Of course, I didn't realize that she needed black volleyball shorts, so she played in her jean shorts.  Oh well.  She has shorts now, so she'll look right at the next game.


After the game, we met with a friend who we are dog-watching for a few days, to go over the things we need to do.  Which allowed Katie to love all over her dog.  Then, of course, we stopped at the barn to coo and ahh over the beautiful horses.  I'm not sure how long I'll be able to keep Katie off of these horses!  She was in heaven and really, really didn't want to leave.

After that, we decided to take Connor into town to see about ordering him new glasses (he broke his last night).  The store said they didn't have his glasses in stock, so he'd need to pick out new frames and then wait a week for the new lenses to get made.  Well, we walked into the store and found a pair of glasses that were exactly like his old ones, just a different color.  Which meant that his current lenses fit into them perfectly.  We were able to walk out of the store with new glasses today, with no payment, since the original's glasses were still under warranty.  Woo hoo!

We even spoiled Connor with dinner at Fuddruckers in town, and made it home in time to get everyone into bed (albeit a little late). 

And then, I spoiled myself with a 15 minute hot shower.  Ahhh, life is good.

August 23, 2012

Outside Temp:57 F (high of 87 today... which is at least 3 degrees cooler than 90, which is really cool!)

What I cooked today:
Burgers and Tater Tots: I think I'm going to be exciting tomorrow and do something in the crock pot.  But, until then, by the time I got back from picking up the kids at practice, and chatting with my mom, it was time for bed.  Okay, not really, but I had to do something quick.  Old standby... here we come.

Update:
So, you all know how much I really hate the heat, right?  I only complain about it every time it's over 75 degrees.  But, one thing that makes it so nice up here is that it cools off at night. 

Yesterday, it was warm, not boiling hot, but warm, in the 80's.  So, as usual, as soon as the outside temperature is below the inside temperature, I open up all the windows.  It lets the breeze flow through the house, cleaning out all the teenage boy smell, and cools it down.

Well, last night was no exception.  As the kids climbed into bed at 9pm, I went around the house, opening up windows everywhere I went.  Connor was the only smart one, who requested that the back door, leading to the outside, be kept closed, to keep bugs out.  Smart kid.

When I climbed into bed around 11pm, I realized it was a little chilly, but not bad.  So, I threw an extra blanket on Katie, put an extra comforter on my bed, and went to sleep, thinking nothing of the open windows throughout the house.

Sometime in the night, I was awakened by a sound of a machine turning on, but in my sleepy haze, I wrote it off to the defrost cycle of the refrigerator, and went back to sleep.  This morning, I figured out what the sound actually was.

It was the propane heater turning on, which only happens when the inside temperature of house gets below 55F.  Ooops. 

It was 42 degrees outside this morning when we woke up, with most of the windows opened, it was just over 50 in the house.  Oh, boy, did I hear it from my kids.  The second day of school, and it was a fight to get them out of the their nice cozy blankets.  Allen even said he had a dream of being stuck in a freezing school bus, as it plunged into an icy lake. 

Perhaps, tomorrow, we'll sleep with the windows closed.

Ryan is doing great.  His doctors have already talked about going 'H', although we don't actually say it out loud (something about testing fate).  Grandma was awesome and took over watching him, so Patrick could get some work done.  We will have 2 weeks with his PICC line, which is annoying, but not awful.  I'm sure we'll survive.

I went into town today, to pick up football supplies for Allen.  Who knew there were 'football supplies'.  So, we needed first a mouth guard and a cup, obviously.  Then, we realized last night, that his helmet and pads don't fit into the NIKE bag that we had lying around, so we needed a new bag, that would be big enough to hold all his crap.  Then, Allen informed me that there were these awesome spandex shirts with padding built in, that protect your ribs from opposing helmets.  I tried not to think about other people's heads going into the rib cage of my oldest child, but in the event that it occurs, I liked the idea that he would be slightly protected.  I hope that will be $50 well spent. 

Of course, as luck would have it, mouth guards need to be 'fitted', which means they get heated up in boiling water, and then molded to the mouth.  All of which could not occur during the 3 minutes between the time he got his stuff and the time he had to be on the bus.  So, he didn't have a mouth guard.  And, as luck would have it, he managed to drop his new, un-fitted mouth guard in the field somewhere, and it didn't make it home.  Which means that he will have a third day with no mouth guard.  I'm just hoping that he can find it and I won't have to buy another one!

And, Katie will need her 'Volleyball supplies'.  Oh joy.  At least she's easier... she just needs knee pads, I think.  We'll see tomorrow if there are more things we need.  This sport thing is kind of expensive!