The weekend in review

So, I'm thinking that my bedtime must be earlier; no excuses.

Even when I go to bed at 10pm, I sleep until at least 7am. I feel like I just can't get enough rest lately. I think most of it is just due to us being so busy recently.

Awana Games are over now, and even though we love it, it's nice to have our Saturdays back. This past Saturday, we stayed home and I filled orders in the shop and then played Bible Challenge with Robert a couple of times. He also wants me to note that, after bringing me a blanket before he went to take a shower, I snuggled up and took a 2-hour nap on the couch.

Yesterday, I was prepared for a long day. We were meeting our SS teachers earlier than normal, followed by church service, followed by what I thought would be an hour-long piano lesson with Alexis, then a meeting at the church, followed by HOV Bible Study, followed by the going-away/ send-off party for Chuck & Grant Weinberg. Instead, we ended up throwing in lunch with the Turners between church and the piano lesson, going to the meeting at church, and Alexis was too tired to do her lesson while she was up here. We didn't do our lesson in Bible Study, because Bryce is still in Jamaica until today, and then Phil, Robert and I went up to the Weinberg's. We got home around 9:15, and I wish I'd just gone straight to bed.

I'm hoping that my being tired so frequently is just my body still recovering from that nasty cold or whatever I had 2 weeks ago. (Before anyone asks, I am not pregnant! Trust me.)

I've also cut coffee pretty much out of my diet since I was sick, so I'm going to have some today, hoping it'll kick-start the day for me.

In other news, we've got less than 2 months before we leave for Oahu. I could not be more excited! We are really needing this vacation, and don't take for granted the kindness of our family who have graciously offered to pay for lodging and our airfare for us. Also, we've almost hit our mark in savings for spending money while we're there!

Applesauce & "Katch-up"

As per my previous blog post, Robert had to do the grocery shopping this week. I asked him to buy 15 apples so I could make Kate Gosselin's "Mommy Applesauce."

Yesterday, feeling a little more like myself, and a little less sick, I decided to put it together. Since Robert cut up all the apples and prepared them, I didn't actually have to touch any ingredients. :)

This recipe is so easy. I got it out of Kate Gosselin's new book, "I Just Want You to Know."

15 apples - cored, peeled and sliced thinly
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
2 tsp. cinnamon
Combine ingredients in slow cooker and cook on low for 5 hours.

It makes the house smell sooooo good!

Anyway, today I've been busy compiling everything we need for Awana Games tomorrow - actually, scratch that. It's more like auditing everything to make sure we've got everything we need to have on hand for tomorrow. I plan on trying to re-claim the house, since nothing has been done around here since Monday. I'm getting tired fast, though, probably because the sickness is still clinging on.

Good news, though: Fever free for nearly 30 hours!

Sickness...

...really slows you down!

Monday, I was fine. I went to work from 4-8pm (I'm picking up Monday & Tuesday night shifts at H&R Block this year), and came home with chest pain and a nasty cough. It shocked me how fast it hit.

Tuesday, despite my feeling like a fever was coming on in the morning, I attempted to rest all day (I mean, rest. I didn't get out of bed until 2:45pm to get ready to leave for work at 3:30pm. I left a little early to run an errand, and got to work 15 minutes early, and was promptly sent home.

I have been in bed ever since, except to go to the bathroom and shower.

The house desperately needs to be cleaned. But I can't just jump in and do it. I really need to take it easy.

Yesterday, Robert had to do the grocery shopping, since I was layed up. Poor guy; he doesn't usually do that! His jurisdiction is the kitchen. Period. I do most everything else around here. (I don't mind, either, since he works and I am home!) But, he did a really good job, and was surprised at how much money he was able to save with coupons! Although I usually make a habit of organizing my list by section of the store I'm going to, and coupon cataloging in advance to create my meal-planned list, I had no problem letting that jurisdiction go this week. I just couldn't move.

I wasn't able to go to Awana yesterday, which totally bummed me out. :( I know I needed to stay home and rest, but I really love to serve there. Missed all my friends, missed all the kids, missed it altogether.

Today has been my first fever-free day. After 48 hours of 102-103 fever spikes, it feels great to have it behind me. (I hope!) I was allowed to go to get gas in the Trailblazer and drive myself to my violin lesson, and then come home today. It totally wore me out.

Anyway, all that to say that I'm behind on everything this week. Hopefully next week I have more exciting news to report.

ABCs of me

I am totally stealing this from Keri. But it looked fun, and I have to start working soon, so here it is! :) 

A. Age: 25

B. Bed size: Queen

C. Chore you dislike: Ugh, definitely de-cluttering. Although I like things very simple and I have a strong distaste for clutter. Interesting...

D. Dogs: Just Sargee, at my mom's house. 

 (this is a VERY old picture, from March of 2009, but he was so cute, I couldn't resist posting!) 

E. Essential start to your day: Coffee.

F. Favorite color: Blue, most any shade. 

G. Gold or silver: Silver

H. Height: 5 foot, 1 inch. Yep, I'm a foot and and 2 inches shorter than my husband!

I. Instruments you play(ed): Started on piano when I was very little, had to stop taking lessons for awhile in Elementary School, picked up on Alto Sax in beginning band (6th grade), and quickly grew bored of that during spring break of 6th grade. So my dad gave me a flute and the beginning books for it, and said, "I am NOT paying for private lessons. You want to play; you teach yourself!" Neither of us ever thought I'd switch from sax to flute completely in 8th grade, but I did, and I was first chair flute!! I dropped band in 10th grade, but picked up piano lessons again for another 5 years or so, and started teaching myself clarinet. During that time, I also learned guitar, because the youth band I was directing needed a guitarist - thus, I got my Fender Acoustic. After I graduated from UW in 2009, I wanted to be challenged, so I started violin lessons. I still play everything, except the sax and clarinet, although I own all of the instruments I play, save for the alto sax, which I think I gave to my brother. 

J. Job title: Domestic Engineer. :) 

K. Kids: Someday soon.... :) 

L. Live: Marysville, Washington

M. Mom’s name: Nancy Lynn

N. Nicknames: Kimbe, Mimi (I believe every child under the age of 3 has ALWAYS called me this), and Robert only ever calls me sweetheart. 

O. Overnight hospital stays: I don't remember it, but when I was 8, I had a Tonic-clonic (or grand mal) seizure, and I had to stay in the hospital. :( 

P. Pet peeves: When I don't have an opportunity to clean up before/ after company. 

Q. Quote from a movie: "With all due respect, Mr. Vice President, we need a solution, not dramatics!" (or something like that)

R. Righty or lefty: Righty

S. Siblings: Michael, Tristan, Ashley

T. Time you wake up: Either super early, or around 8:30-9am

U. Underwear: Um...yes. Always. 

V. Vegetables you don't like: Cauliflower. Blech. Also beets and asparagus. 

W. What makes you run late: Waiting for other people to be ready to go. 

X. X-rays you’ve had: Arm, leg, ankle, back....too many to count. 

Y. Yummy food you make: My banana spice bread. :) Also, my 4-cheese bread (which is now for sale here). 

Z. Zoo animal favorites: I always like the exotic birds, they are just so beautiful!

Saving money and good $cents

Today, I went to Albertson's & Safeway. I feel that my Safeway trip was most successful, so I'm posting a picture here of everything I bought, for a grand total of $15.78!!!

2 boxes of Nature Valley Peanut Butter granola bars, 2 containers of Lysol Cling toilet bowl cleaner, 2 jars of Ragu sauces, 1 box of Cheerios, 2 boxes of Toaster Strudel, 1 box of Splitz yogurt.

It's amazing what you can do on a budget! I was still able to get my hubby's favorites, AND save 50% ($15.74) on my bill!

Before I left for the store, I put Kate Gosselin's Mommy Applesauce recipe in the crockpot. I came home, decided that it smelled so good, I was going to make a loaf of zucchini-carrot bread, too! This house smells AMAZING!