End of Week...

I have been battling a cold since Saturday morning. It started with a sore throat which moved to headaches and stuff/runny nose all day Sunday through, well, this morning. It hasn't been pleasant. I decided not to close, because, honestly, I wouldn't have sent any of the children home with these symptoms so I didn't feel it was fair to close. Needless to say, the children, save one, have caught whatever it is I have. I feel bad, especially since 2 of the parents have it now too. Hopefully, it is on it's way out. I felt more energetic yesterday, but back to the blah feeling this morning. We have a big weekend planned, so I best be on the mend! Hear that cold....GO.AWAY! hehe :)

So my schedule for the week has been a bit off. Therefore, today, tomorrow and Saturday, I have my work cut out for me...yay me! Thankfully, fingerscrossed, DH will be home on Friday (early) and can cut the grass, help me move one peice of furniture, take on some clean-up tasks and/or run out for last minute supplies. I'm including last night's TO DOS because, I didn't quite get everything accomplished.

DONE; NEEDS DONE

Wednesday TO DOS:

• Go to grocery store


• Go to dollar store


• Go to Target


• Go to Liquer store - wine


• move dresser upstairs to spare room


• move desk/office clutter to office


• move dc strategically in front of other desk :)


• move bar and stools to useful spot


• put liquer, glasses and accoutrement in bar -- clean bar, items and stools


• change cat box


• place felt pads on dining room chair legs


• Fold LDF -Colors

Thursday TO DOS:

• Everything orange from Wednesday
• Clean Kitchen (normal RDF for today) Hoover floor and wash cabinet surfaces
• Take out Trash -- DH is OOT so it's my job this week :(
• Clean UP bathroom
• Hoover hall floor, wipe walls, trim, doors and baseboards
• Hoover DC floor
• Vacuum basement carpet & stairs, bedroom, dc carpets
• Clean out fridge and organize foodstuffs...make list of last minutes grocery items
• LDF - Whites

Friday TO DOS: Dinner with friends

• Everything orange from Wednesday and Thursday
• Prep/Marinate pork chops
• Make shortcake
• Trim/Hull strawberries and sugar
• Tidy Kithen, UP bathroom, dc room & Hallway
• Clean DWN bathroom & Laundry room
• LDF - Sheets
• Dogs Nails Trimmed/Pets Mart shopping: dog food, cat litter, treats for dogs, Greenies teeth bones, pooper scooper
• Clear & Clean table
• Set Table
• Dinner with DH's friend & his wife;
  Dinner will be:
  Rosemary Pork Chops with parsely butter noodles, asparagus, salad, and strawberry shortcake
  

Saturday TO DOS:

• Farmer's Market (perhaps not...haven't decided...if I sleep in...not going)


• Menu Plan & Grocery shop; go to Pets Mart...dogs nails cut & dog food, cat litter, pooper scooper, greenies bones, and dog treats


• Get fresh flowers for Sunday lunch


• Get SMIL Mother's Day gift


• Make Family Project list for Front yard...go purchase/order supplies


• Tidy up rooms, dishes, LDF -daycare & RDF - daycare


• Dinner out with hubs
• Bed early...hopefully :)

Sunday TO DOS:

• Church 9:30
• Give/drop off SMIL's Mother's Day gift
• Home to tidy...prep for dinner
• Prep dinner
• Prep drinks
• Dinner @ 2:30pm
• MIL & SFIL, Mom arrive around 2pm
• Start with special *pink torpedo cocktail* & Fruit & Brie Quesadilla App
• Tour of basement
• Dinner @ 2:30
  Dinner is:
  Lemon Chicken with Sweet Pea Tortellini
  Herbed Quinoa
  Avacado & Citrus Salad
  Mango Napoleons for dessert
• Clean up and hang out for awhile
  

So busy weekend planned...hopefully the weather will hold out and it will be beautiful! Can't wait. I'll post and update on Monday. Hope your weekend is just as eventful, in a good way!

NYC & Disappointments...

Yesterday I went to New York on a bus trip with my step-mother, J and step-sister, O. It was a long and tiring day, but I feel so exhilarated that I have finally been there and "been there, done that". Which does NOT mean I won't be going back. I want to move there tomorrow, lol. The vibrancy of the city and the differences between neighborhoods, and the feel and look (not the smell, though) were just enthralling and fascinating. I guess being from the "country" I never noticed how clean it smells here...but there is a smell of garbage in bigger cities that just permeates everything. It however, does not detract from the general splendor that is New York. We did the Empire State Building, and walked a ton; from Canal Street & Mulberry St. ALL the way to ESB @ 5th Ave. & 34th St. The consenses was not to pay for a taxi, although I wouldn't have minded. We stepped foot inside Central Park, shopped at FAO Schwartz and some street vendors at the San Gerrano Feast in Little Italy. We had amazing burgers (and a good beer) at HB Burger on W. 43rd St. and all in all had a good time. We were also told a joke by some NY firefighters having a smoke break outside their firehouse...NY's diplomatic policy...make the tourists laugh! Here it is...Did you hear the news about a cement truck that collided with a Fed. Penitentary Bus? Apparantly now they're on the look out for 'hardened criminals!' CUTE, right?!

In disappointing news, the little girl I interviewed with a few weeks ago, hasn't returned my follow-up emails and her cousin (who just turned 3 and used to be in my dc class) has decided to stay where she's at. She just moved to the preschool room and lives right across the street from the daycare...so I can totally understand her parents' point, although I feel very sad and disappointed I won't get to see K everyday.

I have made fliers and business cards to pass out and try to drum up business. DH's step-mom has agreed to post a flier at church, so I hope someone will be interested from that. DH's cousin, M, seemed interested in my caring for her second son, D, but hasn't yet returned my emails...so hopefully she isn't turned off from my paperwork.

Friday was also the last day for the boys I recently terminated. They are starting next Tuesday at a center near mom's work. That I think will be good...older dcb will be able to play with and interact with kids his own age, and he'll enjoy greater stimulation and be less likely to be bored and realize he misses his mommy. I hope younger dcb does as well there as he has here...he started getting rough with the other boy I have here. He was holding him down Friday and squeezing on his head and ended up poking him in the eye. I had a hard time separating them apart, he was holding on so hard. It definitely wasn't "hugging" or playing.

I am very down about the business right now...I am trying to stay positive, but it's hard to know what the next move is. DH says I should just enjoy the ones I have, but I am still afraid I will lose the two full timers I have now...if I do...I am really up the creek. Wish me luck!
Anyway...I am off today to my friend's H's house...I have a sneaking suspicion this is a "bridesmaid's lunch." You know where she asks her friends to be in her wedding as a bridesmaid...it's me, her cousin and friend D, her sister-in-law-to-be, J, and her two best friends, T & L. I already know they are all going to be asked....so I expect at least a request to do a reading, lol. I'd be so honored to be included and can't wait to eat tacos and drink a margarita or two!

I also have to go buy more fish for the fish tank...since I tend to kill them :(, and more dog food. The dogs have a vet appointment tomorrow, so I will FINALLY know how much Panzer weighs...I know it's over 115 at this point!

Girl's Night...

So, last night I hosted a girl's night at my home with several friends. I had planned this at the end of July, but just on Wednesday had decided to cancel, what with school starting Tuesday, the zoning hearing that night and having to mow the lawn and actually take care of my lawn maitenance; but decided to continue because my friend Nichole was coming down. We very rarely get to spend a whole lot of time together and it's important to be available, especially when she makes so much effort to get here. We had a good time, it was a very limited circle...just a few close friends. We talked of husbands, other friends, and kids! It was fun. Thanks girls for taking the time to come over and share your Saturday night with me!

PAST POST...Mr. & Mrs. H...

Aaron & Jennifer H!

The wedding of the year turned into the second of four...but I have to think mine was the most beautiful, most elegant, most fun wedding of them all. We were married on June 20, 2009 at Kevin's Place Restaurant in Lykens. We had 10 attendants (5 each: my side: my sister, B (MOH), friends, NN & H, DH's niece AL (JBM), and his friend, S; his side: his brothers, AH & T, and friends, NP (BM), R, & W) and a flower girl (my DNc, MG) and ring bearer (his DNp, G) as well as DH's cousin, Z play guitar for our processional and our friend, M do a reading of the Traditional Irish Wedding Blesssing.

We danced, laughed, ate, kissed everyone & each other ;P, hugged lots of people many many times, and drank lots of champagne. DH had the flu that week and was just getting over it...so he was pretty tired and worn out after everything was said and done. There were a few disappointing moments (leading up to with "bridesmaid from hell" and a couple of people who thought their lives more important to us on OUR wedding day) but all in all we had fun (we got NN drizunk!!!), we got married and that was the desired end result...so IT'S ALL GOOD! (Visualize head rolling and snapping motion here!)

My bridal bouquet had a ribbon which held the wedding bands of DH's maternal great-grandmother, maternal grandmother, his mother and my wedding band. To represent the past, the present and the future. It was important to me and DH to incorporate his grandmother into the wedding since she and DH's grandfather passed away withing 4 months of each other a year before our wedding. He was very close with them and it was a devastating loss to his family. My DNc, MG who loved being a part of Aunt Jenny's day and still talks about wearing her "pretty dress in your wedding to my Aaron". She's too cute. My biggest fan! "You may now kiss the bride!"

The handsome groom and his groomsmen!

Traditional Irish Wedding Blessing...

Traditional Irish Wedding Blessing

May God go with you and bless you,

May you see your children's children,

May you be poor in misfortune and rich in blessings,

May you know nothing buy happiness from this day forward.

May joy and peace surround you both,

Contentment latch your door,

And happiness be with you now.

And God Bless you ever more.

May you live your life with trust, and nurture lifelong affection,

May your lifelong dreams come true for you,

Moving ever that direction.

May the road rise to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

the rains fall soft upon your fields.

May the light of friendship guide your paths together,

May the laughter of children grace the halls of your home.

May the joy of living for each other trip a smile from your lips, a twinkle from you eye.

And when eternity beckons,

at the end of the life heaped high with love,

May the good Lord embrace you

with the arms that have nurtured you

the whole length of your joy-filled days.

May the gracious God hold you both in the palm of His hands.

And, today, may the Spirit of Love

Find a dwelling place in your hearts.

Thank you M for reading this at our wedding and to all our friends and family for your love and support! We are so grateful and blessed to have each and everyone of you in our lives. Thank you for sharing this day with us and being apart of our memories of love, friendship, and family!