Time Outs and Tenutos

so...m just has to get under control. she's strong willed and demanding (this picture says it all, yes?) it's her way or the interstate. i've tried time out with her...but she wiggles, squirms, kicks, screams, etc. i need to try again in earnest. so...today's the day!

had bells last nite. that seems to be going well....there were a few tense moments. mostly b/c people don't listen to what is said or they just like to hear themselves talk. frankly, i thing that gm's cues are very clear and to make them any more self explanatory or clear would be the equivalent of him just standing in front of the group clapping the steady beat. goodbye conducting artistry! perhaps we should just eliminate all fermatas, tenutos, transitions, and whole notes? i digress...

b has school today. i hope to get a couple of bins of clothes down from the attic for m. i've been blessed with friends who give me their kids' clothes! it's been very nice...i've only had to buy b and m a few things here and there. it's another way that God has provided for us now that we're on one income.

making fajitas tonight. which, btw, i only spend $69 on groceries for the whole week! i only saved $14 (a far cry from the $30+ weeks) but i had to buy so little b/c my freezer and pantry are so well stocked. it feels great!

so, dear readers...a summary:

1. time out training (for me and m)

2. shut up and let him conduct!

3. ole.

Vacay Debrief

so, i was quite relieved when we arrived at the microtel in aransas pass on thursday. i chose it for three reasons 1) price ($55 each night...$124 for both nights...ACE) 2)location - 10 minutes from ferry and 3) i've always been pleased with the microtel we frequent on i-10 to mississippi. anyhoot...i was relieved b/c it was just as nice as the pictures and super-duper clean. the breakfast was great too. i really have a thing about staying in hotels - regardless of the price. i don't like sleeping in beds that have hosted who knows who or what. i've even considered buying one of those bed sock things that you take with you. it's like a sleeping bag for hotel beds. anyway...we'll stay there again...it was great.

AYE the mosquitoes! they were horrid! poor m looks like she has leprosy!

on friday, we went for a drive after breakfast. the microbrewery where i want us to have lunch (and sample some of their wares, of course) was closed until the 25th! we drove around looking for a good beach spot and found a big pier...walked up and down (the smell was putrid, btw...lots of fisherman...yuck) we stopped at a beachy store and bought hats (b had fit #1) anyhoot...we had lunch at a local pizzeria. it was delish...then we were off the to beach. we ended up staying near the pier (the stench was apparently just on/around the pier). the kids loved the water. we met a nice lady who brough over a sack of bread so they could feed the birds. fit #2 was when we had to leave the beach. friday evening we went to pelican's landing and had some terrific shrimps...b had fit #3 b/c he "wasn't hungry". then we found deserted island ice cream company. mightee fine, i must say.

on saturday, we got up and went to the texas aquarium. b had fit #4 b/c he didn't want to leave the hotel room. it was great (the aquarium, not the fit). we saw a dolphin show...fit #5...then we let the kids play on the playground...altho the mosquitoes were so horrible we had to cut that short...fit #6 ensued...

so...w and i tried to have a nice, relaxing time...that is...between fits...so we're back home now and the unpacking has begun...

in summary

#1 microtel good, mosquitoes bad
#2 you can please some bennetts some of the time, some bennetts most of the time...but you can't please all bennetts all the time
#3 vacays are always good...no matter what...

Big Girl Panties Alert

so...i have bells tonight...first rehearsal of the new season. since i'm the assistant conductor, my role is to warm up the group, run the rehearsal if gm isn't there, etc. i think i got appointed to this job just b/c no one else wanted to do it. i am uncomfy conducting adult groups. give me 100 kids ages 3-10 and i'm good to go. anyhoot, we'll see how tonight goes. i'll just have to find my big girl panties.

children's church went okay yesterday with the new format. i had 12 kids in the 4-6 year old choir and only 2 in the 2nd - 5th grade choir. that's actually the fewest number that i've had all summer so i'm sure the numbers will only increase.

the weather is nice out. i have the windows open...first time for that in a loooooong time!

and now...a brief summary for a brief post:

1. nervous nellie
2. APB on big girl panties
3. fall is in the air...finally.

Roulade Respite

so...an update from last post:

*All 3 avocados were usable...ACE!!!
*It was raining about the time for the Freedom Walk...so we went to Sonic instead. That's American, right?
*We went to Home Depot to look for knobs. Turns out they are all horribly shaped and between $2-4 each. Since we have 40 knobs, I think I'll just continue ripping Umbros.

Now to today's events:

Ahhhh...I have such an amazing hubby. He got up with the kids this morning (M at 7, B at 7:30) so that I could sleep. He also made breakfast.

We attended the Schertz Jazz Festival today and heard some friends' bands...the boys (B and his best pal, B) played on the playground. Michelle W. and I listened from afar.

I made a roulade tonight with sirloin - which was really too thick to pound out...I had to butterfly it then pound it to smithereens. I had a "clean out the fridge" roulade...spinach, garlic, ricotta, sun-dried tomatoes, and parm. It was quite tasty alongside some pasta with pesto. I think that B ate about 1/2 pound of penne tonight.

Kids are in bed, W is in the tub, I'm debating about getting my stuff together for church tomorrow. I wish I were more proactive in the "getting ready for stuff" department. I tend to wait until time to go to do the "run and grab"...I digress.

I meet GM tomorrow during a performance of Madame Butterfly at Municipal Auditorium. He's fitting me in between warming up the chorus and Act 2. Perhaps I will, uh, accidentally stumble into a seat, say, 5th row center?

In summation:

1. Best husband ever
2. Hope the "quotes" police aren't reading this
3. Righteous Roulade

Consignment Allergy

M woke bright and early...6 AM. Went with Pam to a children's clothing/stuff consignment show...whereupon entering, I encountered racks and racks of assorted clothing. There were MANY women (some who brought there own laundry-basket-on-wheels...sheesh) who were frantically hunting and digging thru the clothes. I am not a digger. I like shopping for clothes that are neatly arranged by style, color, and size with prices clearly marked. I do not get any pleasure out of scooting myriad hangars around while keeping an eye on the kids, feeling around for the price tag, then bending up the back collar to see what size the item is. I almost broke out into hives. I can't take it. I'd just rather pay full price.



We got home and Pam and I discussed two very exciting topics. Cabinet knobs and what color to paint B's furniture. I hate our kitchen knobs. They are shaped so that anytime you walk past one it catches on your clothes. I have ripped two pair of Umbros (which...fashionable or not...I LOVE umbros) not to mention all the near-misses with other unsuspecting pants, shorts, and skirts.



I laid down with B today. I accidentally fell asleep. (Not really...this is what all SAHM's say...it's a conspiracy. We take naps b/c we can and we deserve them. You learn this on your first day as a SAHM.)



Now the kids are eating raisins and sorting plastic bears. I'm about to make some enchies for dinner. I have some red sauce and tomatillo sauce along with some Oaxacan cheese. I'll also make some guacamole. I bought 3 avacados b/c you can never be sure if they'll be any good or not. I bought 3 last time and all 3 were bad. You can't win them all.



We're off after dinner to the Freedom Walk. We're all wearing our perfunctory Old Navy American Flag 2009 shirts.



In summary:

1. No Digging

2. Knobs Suck

3. We Love America!