Manic Monday: Screen Detox

My boys tried to roll out of bed at 5:40 this morning. Monday is one of the days I COULD actually sleep in, so I'm less than pleased.  I swear they are little addicts. One night, at around 1:45, I had to retrieve Four from the living room. He had gotten up to pee and decided to go play Xbox. At 1:45 AM. No, kid, no. Their eyes pop open and they need a screen in front of them ASAP. The fact that it's still pitch black outside clearly matters not. I told them to go back to bed this morning but 20 minutes later it was clear no one intended to go back to sleep so I told them "fine, I can't force you to sleep but NO SCREENS." 

Part of the problem is that on Tuesday-Friday I leave at 5:35. The Punk will sleep through them waking up and going to the bathroom and then to retrieve their games. Often he tells me that one or both boys were up before he got up. Then, he leaves for work and they are allowed screens until an alarm goes off. Their sisters are not early risers (what teens ARE when given the choice?  Besides me, who has always been up with the sun. Always.)  The alarm ensures that try turn the screens off at a reasonable time, without someone being present to tell them it's time. It also is their prompting to get dressed and eat breakfast as two days a week we have to leave immediately after I get home from work (being ready to go is a necessary habit.)

They've done extremely well with the transition of me not being around in the morning. But this screen thing is making me crazy. Right now?  I've decided Momday morning-when I AM home-should always be screen free. Monday we are extremely busy (I teach for 2 1/2 hours while they play downstairs in the gym or the playground, and then we head to Taekwondo) so after the early morning time there is no time for screens, except occasionally in the car, anyway. Wednesday is also screen free, except for the morning, just because of schedule. 

I'm going to tighten the reins in this one, as I feel like it's gotten out of hand. Also, we've had a lot of rain this winter which means more being stuck inside, which means I'm much more likely to say yes at random times during the day. 

But we've reached a point where without the screens, Four (specifically) acts like he doesn't have any clue what they COULD do!  That's ridiculous. And I'm putting an end to it. Right away. 

Screen detox week...here we come!

Sideways Saturday

OMG Y'all. We survived basketball season. Last night was our last regular season game. AND the team finally convinced Two to come to a team sleepover. Big doings on our Friday. 

Now, tournament this week. Then the following weekend. And then I get 6 weeks off. Well, they will practice to keep their skills sharp and their stamina up, and there will be summer camp. But no more basketball 5 days a week. No more dragging the boys to the gym for 4 hours at a time. 

I'm stoked. 

Don't get me wrong. I LOVE watching Two play. I LOVE watching her team play (I watched several games this season where she was injured and couldn't play...and was just as excited for them without her.) They had a great season-17-3 being the final record. 

We've been at it since September. 6

Months. In September, I'll be ready to do it again. In February, I'm ready for a break. 

Manic Monday

My life got flipped, turned upside down...

This seems to be a common occurrence over the last 5 years for me. There has been a lot of serious upheaval in my emotional state. There has also been a lot of serious joy. 

Bonus:  this time around, I've pinpointed the cause of the upheaval. Hopefully, this will allow me to keep my focus on the joy. 

Right now, my life is managed chaos. But it's a good chaos. It's a joyful chaos. And it's a chaos that I chose, versus a chaos that is happening TO me.  

Monday:  Work job 1.  TKD. Sometimes basketball. 

Tuesday:  Work job 2.  Work job 1.  Lego Club (once a month.) Sometimes basketball. Work job 1 a second time. 

Wednesday:  Work job 2.  Science class. TKD. Always basketball. 

Thursday:  Work job 2. History class. Always basketball. Work job 1. 

Friday:  Work job 2. Work job 1.  Guitar lesson. Sometimes basketball. 

Saturday:  Sometimes work job 2. Sometimes basketball.

Sunday:  Sometimes work job 2. 

*basketball ends in 2 more weeks. Well, games end. The team still has practice over the off season but it will be once a week, instead of what is currently sometimes 5 days a week. 

That's just the schedule of OUTSIDE things. In addition, I find time to do school work with the kids. Work out and run for myself. Clean this house. Spend time with the people I love. 

It's an insanely full, joy filled life.  I'm blissfully happy again. And I'm almost ready to be thankful for the upheaval that pushed me here. Again. Almost. 

Lazy/Skinny Housewife

http://www.5dollardinners.com/chorizo-rice-skillet-dinner/#_a5y_p=1744707

I made this earlier this week. It was good by all reports that count. One is vegetarian, this dish contains meat so she doesn't get a vote. Three is the pickiest eater of the bunch, so I honestly never count his opinion.  He will tell me he doesn't like something after he's cleared his plate the last three times I've served it. 

We won't be clamoring for it, it's not a "Cutthroat chicken."  But the next time I find a good price on chorizo (this batch was clearanced!) I would make it again. I would make ONE change next time. I would cook the rice with chicken broth to add an extra layer of flavor. 

I made one change in the preparation of the dish. I had a crazy busy day the day I made the dish so I made the rice in the rice cooker head of time. Then just added it in at the end. On a side note:  if I had cooked it at the time, by the directions, the tomato juices may have added a little kick to the rice. However, had I not made the rice ahead of time, I'd have been screwed out of my own dinner because it wouldn't have been finished in the 10 minute window I had to get it finished before I had to dash out the door!  The Punk could have taken over and finished it for the fam, but I'd have missed out. 

Two for Tuesday

*Disclaimer:  I'm posting from my phone, and I didn't proofread or spellcheck. I am not responsible for autocorrect or simple mistypes. Ok, technically, I am, but get over it.  The app doesn't offer spellcheck. And I'm stupid busy. And tired. *

http://www.iheartnaptime.net/easy-valentines-day-decor/

First thing I want to share is this cheap DIY valentines decor. I spent $3 at dollar general. I had a sheet of white card stock, and a frame I found while cleaning out my closet last weekend. So the $3 for lipstick was all I needed. Score!!

Second, is an app. In today's technological world, THIS app keeps me from tumbling into a pit of chaos. No joke.  A good friend shared it with me, and I've shared it with other friends. It's a game changer for us "list makers."  

wunderlist is available on both android and apple platforms. You can SHARE the list, one of my favorite features. I have a "grocery list" and if The Punk texts me on the way home from work to ask if we need something from the store, I can just share the list. I usually have my phone within reach, so whenever I finish off sown thing in the kitchen--"that's the last of the bbq sauce"--I can add it right then. I have a list of the weekly dinners, because I plan and then by Tuesday I don't recall what it was I had planned. True story. I have a list for everyday of the week, also. 

There is a screen cap of Tuesday's list. It is longer than the screen cap shows but you get the idea of what's there. I get off work at 10 on Wednesday morning, home around 10:20, and we need to be out the door by 10:30. With at least 3 kids in tow. And we don't get back home until 3:45, and I have to turn right around and take Two to practice. So, you see "prep crock pot dinner" because my family finds having dinner on Wednesday a necessity. Divas. You also see "co-op items" and "ghees" in the car. The boys have co-op and taekwondo on Wednesday so we make sure their uniform and backpacks are in the car on Tuesday to cut down on stress (for all of us.). Also, Wednesday lunch needs to be prepped.  If you could click on school, you would see the sublist of Tuesday school things. We don't get every subject everyday. And it helps me remember and make sure that we are covering ALL those bases to have each day lists out. Lastly, there are cleaning things, because I can't keep my head straight anymore!  

Manic Monday: Long time no see!

Jesus, Mary and Joseph...my life exploded. It's a good explosion, but still. I thought life was busy before....ahahahhahahahaha ha.

Brief synopsis:  

I got a second job. 5 days a week. 4 days a week it's 4 hours starting at the crack of dawn. Then, one weekend day I work a full 8 hour shift.  (more about the job on another day)

Two started playing basketball. She's on the JV team, and they are having a GREAT season.

One and I are planning a trip to Cali. My 40th, her 18th, and her completing high school all occur within a short span so we are doing it up big. She and I will spend 4 days in Southern California to celebrate. 

I plan on doing 6 Spartan races this year, including one of the toughest courses in this country. Yay?  I'm excited. And also terrified. 

I'm going to attempt to blog more often, I have so much I want to share!  More recipes, health tips, homeschooling stuff, Spartan stuff, parenting stuff, and life stuff.  Let's do this!!