What We're Eating This Week 1/52

Friday:
Pizza, nachos, donuts.  (I KNOW)
Saturday: 
Out for hockey
Sunday:
Slow cooker potato soup, green beans, salad
Monday:
PW mac and cheese, apple slices, broccoli, PW triple chocolate cookies
Tuesday:
Spaghetti and marinara, caesar salads, garlic bread, sliced peaches
Wednesday:
Deli sandwiches, chips, slaw, etc
Thursday:
Instant pot lo mein with air-fried egg rolls and crab rangoon, sliced oranges

In 2019, I want to

• Try new recipes! 
•  Eat at home EVEN MORE OFTEN than we did in 2018! 
•  Feed the kids more fruits and veggies (which is why most nights have both fruit and veggies.  I also always give them fruit for breakfast, and I put fruit and veggies in their lunches.  I am going to make sure I do 2 servings for dinner and offer fruit right after school as well).  

One big food goal is to cook more for the kids on nights Ben is late with meetings and practices.  He did a good job of this in the fall when I taught a night class, ad I want to follow his lead into the new year.

 Any 2019 feeding the family goals for you?

Can it be break forever?

Note:  This post is published on the day the kids all go back to school (YESSSSSS), but I wrote it on Friday when everyone was still sitting around in jammies fighting all day.

I have no right to look this pissy about going to a movie.  I understand this.  And yet.

 i have really been making an effort to imporve my pancake writing skillz.

 Can you even tell that she did her own makeup??

 Aaaaaahhhhhhhhh.

I am, as you know, a creature of habit, and I really do crave a routine.  In that regard, I am excited for school to return and bring with it a sense of order and normalcy.  Also, I have booked a ton of self-maintenance appointments for the first 3 days the kids are back in school.  But seriously  These lazy days of books and fighting kids an late nights?  Have been magical.

2018: The Mashup Video

I am OBSESSED with the 1 Second Everyday app. This is my second year of faithfully using it everyday, and I love this cute little video:

The Coziest New Year's Eve Ever

We kicked off our farewell to 2018 with a kiddie party at Pump It Up.  Well, Jack, Cooper, and Dorothy and I did.  Harry is too cool for a kiddie party at Pump It Up, which is kind of sad.

 Look at how sweaty Cooper is!

 Pizza!

 So loud you guys.

It was kind of dreary and icy all morning but when we got hime, the rain turned to beautiful, fluffy snow.

 The pack of Target photo opp props I bought came in hany ALL NIGHT LONG.

 Also!  We got a ton of use out of the air fryer and the entire inventory of Costco frozen snacks.

 And then!  We used the giant (too giant, but I should never be in charge of ordering anything that I might get too large for a space) blow up movie screen and projector we decided to Prime ourselves on 12/29 to watch Gremlins on the snow with fire!  And sleeping bags!  And hot cocoa!

 We spent the rest of our night taking dumb picture, playing Apples to Apples, and drinking sparkling cider/champagne

 Happy New Year!  We can't wait to see what 2019 has in store for us.

Playing in Peoria

Bowling!

A children's museum that no one hated-- even Ben who really hates children's museums!

Lunch at an old favorite!

We maximized the fun on our last trip to Peoria of 2018!

Word of the year: CORE

I love this word because it has multiple meanings.

Core, like my weak old flabby abs.  I am setting a really specific fitness goal by choosing this word, but I think I'm ready.

And also core, like the things that are most important to me: family, health, happiness, sitting on the couch/by the pool like the sloth that I truly am.

Also, I need both those sunglasses and that bikini.

December: What I Read

The top 10 books are AMAZING.  I cannot even believe that only 2 of them made my 2018 best-of list.  But wow, this was a great year for books.

17.  The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden:  Not for me, apparently.

16.  Tis the Season by Lorna Landvik:  I LOVE Lorna Landvik.  Your Oasis on Flame Lake is one of my favorite books EVER.  But this one was a no.

15. Leave No Trace by Mindy Mejia:  Meh.

14.  A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult:  NOPE.

13. Indianapolis by Lynn Vincent and Sara Vladic:  Whoa.

12.  The Carrying by Ada Limon: Poems.  Good ones.

11.  Bitter Orange by Claire Fuller:  I wish I had liked the characters more-- I think I would have been even more into this one.

10.  Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver:  I wanted to love this one because BARBARA KINGSOLVER.  But, I just didn't completely love it.  There's a current-day story and also a historical story, and I really only loved the current day story.  Sigh.

9.  The Incendiaries by R.O. Kwon:  Riveting.

8.  Are You Sleeping by Kathleen Barber:  A behind the scenes of a Serial-like podcast from the perspective of the family who is the subject of the podcast-- a really good one.

7.  My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfergh:  Hilarious.  Sharp.  Fast-paced.  Wholly original.

6.  Becoming by Michelle Obama:  READ THIS.  WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

5.  Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi:  Better than any YA I have read since Rainbow Rowell-- read this one, and don;t let the YA romance sticker fool you.

4.  Lake Success by Gary Shteyngart:  Even though this book is by a dude, I really liked it.


3.  The Glitch by Elisabeth Cohen:  This is a fantastic, hilarious, fast-paced read.  I love Shelly Stone.

2.  Good and Mad by Rebecca Traister:  YES!  This book lives up to the hype for sure.

1.  Washington Black by Esi Edugyan:  This book!  Is as good as you have heard it is!

Next up:  2019 reads!  Follow my highlighted stories on IG and also the hashtag #harrytimes2019reads