Leap Year 2024

It's Leap Year once again. Last time we had one of these it was four years ago. Heh Heh.

Actually last time, Jet and I were both sick on Leap Day. Then the whole world got sick that year, 2020.

Today, I have a mild cold and Jet also has a cold but his is a bit worse. His nose is a lot more goopy. Oh, and Jr. has a bit of a cold, too, but he doesn't get to stop and rest because tomorrow is Opening Night for "Beauty and the Beast" at his high school and he is in the pit orchestra again this year.

Leap Day in 2016 several people in the family were sick.

It doesn't look like we were sick for Leap Year in 2012.

I don't know how 2008 was. I wasn't blogging yet.

I still have a lot of catching up to do because recently I was too tired to blog, then our internet was out for several days, then I got this cold so didn't feel up to it, now we're back to me being tired again, so to go along with tradition, here is a picture of the sky.

Happy Leap Day.

Oh, and Jeremy and I did watch the movie, Leap Year, yesterday.

Birding Bonding Time

February 3, Jeremy took Nichole, Lucky, Jet, and I birding at Farmington Bay. It was Play Outside Day (first Saturday of every month is Play Outside Day).

In the hurry of getting out that morning, I forgot to celebrate Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day. Jeremy pointed out we could have breakfast for dinner. So we did.

Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day Observed

January 29 was Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day but we didn't get around to playing with bubble wrap that day so Jet took it upon himself to celebrate another day.

Progression

We heard there was supposed to be a storm around the time we were going to go to my aunt's funeral so we were paying attention to the days leading up to it. 

Wednesday afternoon was sunny and clear so I took a picture.

 

Thursday afternoon was cloudy so I took a picture.

Friday afternoon was raining so I took a picture. It was a little slushy on the way home from the funeral that night but not too bad.

 

Then Saturday afternoon, even though the funeral was over, it was snowing when a few of us got back from a birding trip to Farmington Bay (weather was fine that morning and all while we were up there then turned to snow on the way back). So... I took a picture. 

This is My Life

Sometimes I feel I can be very productive. The other day, I took a walk to the post office to mail a letter. Jet was asleep. Jeremy was home. I got exercise and something done at the same time.

Sometimes I feel I can take a break and give Jet attention that he needs. Even if that means stopping to let him sit on my lap for a while.

And sometimes I try to be productive (or just eat my food) and someone makes it not so easy.

I wouldn't give it up, though. I love being a mom. It is one of the greatest blessings I have. I choose this.

Groundhog Day 2024

Okay. The last three posts? I couldn't help it. We were quoting the Bill Murray movie throughout the day on Groundhog Day. Jeremy and I listened to "I Got You Babe" by Sonny and Cher.

It all started Thursday, February 1, when Jeremy sent me a link to a commercial with Stephen Tobolowsky, who played Ned in the movie Groundhog Day.

Happy Groundhog Lay's.

As February 2 was also Tater Tot Day, Jeremy went to look for Tater Tots on his way home from work Thursday. He walked in our door and said, "Tater tots were not a good price. But these were on sale and I thought, 'Groundhog Lay's,'" and set down a bag of Lay's potato chips. He then went outside and came back in with another package of Lay's potato chips and said the same thing. Then he went outside again and came in with one more package saying the same words. Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha. We all got a kick out of it. 

So on Friday, February 2, we ate a bag of those chips. Then Saturday, February 3, we ate another bag since it was "Groundhog Day" again. See previous three posts.

Friday morning I also mentioned it was World Wetlands Day. I'd have loved to go to a wetlands area but it was raining so I was driving on wet lands.

That evening was a funeral or celebration of life for my aunt who passed away recently. Jeremy, Nichole, and I went. It was so good to see so many relatives- so many cousins. I haven't seen most of them in years. Even though we don't get together as often as when we were kids (yearly family reunions at Grandma's), the love in our family is still there and always will be. 

My sister brought one of her kids so we got to represent my parents' family since the weather was not such that my parents could travel from Oregon.

I am grateful that my aunt doesn't have to worry about any of her health troubles any more. She is missed but she gets to be with her parents, one of her daughters, and two of her brothers again. I am grateful for the Plan of Salvation. Life continues after death and we do get to see loved ones again.

February 2, 2024

Happy Groundhog Day.

Get it?

Ground "hog"

Pork = Pig = Hog

Hahahahahahahahaha

February 2, 2024

 

Happy Groundhog Day.

Get it?

Ground "hog"

Pork = Pig = Hog

Hahahahahahahahaha

February 2, 2024

Happy Groundhog Day.

Get it?

Ground "hog"

Pork = Pig = Hog

Hahahahahahahahaha

Still Cookin', Shelf Cookin' That Is

I'm still using my book, "A Season of Family Meal Plans," volume 1. I'm planning on a whole year of this because I also have volumes 2, 3, and 4. It's fun to try out new meals and some new tastes.

Tuesday we had Sweet & Spicy Sticky Chicken (original recipe is pork, but we used chicken) and Broccoli Stir-Fry for dinner. While I was working on the broccoli, two of my boys came in and said, "It smells like Brussels Sprouts in here." Nope. Broccoli. But honestly, I think the stir fry sauce would be really good with Brussels Sprouts.

We saved the Brussels Sprouts until Wednesday, January 31, Eat Brussels Sprouts Day. I saved a recipe from last week to use this week since it had Brussels Sprouts in it- Sheet Pan Sausage & Veggies. The meal had parmesan rice as a side dish so I used the recipe we always use instead of trying out a new one. If you've got a tried and true recipe, no use trying something else if you don't want to.

I wanted to keep Jet occupied while I was making dinner so I asked him to help me with the Brussels Sprouts. I was getting brown spots off, sometimes taking off whole leaves. I gave him a Brussels Sprout with instructions. After he got a leaf or two off, I told him he did a good job and he could switch for a new sprout. He really didn't want to switch and just kept taking leaves off. Well, it kept him occupied while I finished the rest of the sprouts and cut up veggies and sausages. 

He really did a number on that Brussels Sprout. So cute.

Tonight for dinner we had Instant Pot Mexican Pork with Enchilada Rice. I had only used part of a pork roast for the Mississippi Pot Roast week 1 so I cooked up this Mexican Pork another day that same week and just threw it in the freezer until we needed it. These meal plan books also have freezing suggestions for quite a lot of the recipes.

The Enchilada Rice called for enchilada sauce and I found a homemade enchilada sauce that went along with a later recipe in the book. I used that. I love that I can find so many things right in one book.

Jet liked the dinner. He kept shoveling the rice in his mouth, every once in while having to blow out through his mouth because it was spicy. So cute.