I realize I haven't caught you up on Waterstraut happenings for three weeks. It's just there hasn't been all that much to report. I spent most of the last two weeks putting together a book of everything presidents. I ordered it on Shutterfly last night, and I'm so excited to get it, but it's been kind of a time suck. And with the president's project done, I'm kind of in this weird burnt out stage of I'm not sure what to do next, so home school has been lax beyond reading and math and some random events Asa and I threw in here and there.
Like State of the Union Bingo.... (there's something kind of awesome about hearing your kids say "did he talk about energy independence yet? Because if he did, I've got bingo!".)
Asa has taken on a couple of birthdays like Joan of Arc and Edgar Allan Poe. Just a quick, hey this is who this person is, and an activity (something easy like Snake Oil or the Bean Game) to drive some points home, and a quick info sheet on the birthday board.
Hayden, meanwhile, has been keeping himself busy with a variety of Hayden crafts.
Peyton and I went out with some friends of our neighbrs, but I didn't take any pictures. We also had a documentary movie night (which we're hoping to make a weekly event), and I whiffed on pictures then too. I think my 'January 2016' photo folder is more empty than any picture folder in at least the last year and a half. To give you even more perspective, I left my camera battery charger in Ohio at Christmas, and it hasn't been an issue yet. I think I just needed some time to regroup. With my book done, I think we'll be moving on to some projects soon.
I was also gone for a long weekend. My mom had a business trip, so someone needed to hang out with my grandma in Toledo (Ohio) and help her get her breathign treatments and such, so i offered to go. Really, it was lots of fun. We watched old home movies, she told me the best stories. (I've always known my grandma was cool, but she used to rent airplanes to fly around with friends, throw block parties, and buy canned hams to feed everyone --to help soak up the alcohol-- from late night piano parties!) I also got to hear lots about my grandpa (they met roller skating!), and fun stories about my aunts when they were younger. (Apparently, Aunt Pattie has always been the organized one!)
Anyway, everyone thought I was doing such a great thing, but my grandma is 94, and I know I won't have her forever, and it was pretty fun for me just to spend a weekend with her. I hear I am headed back in a few months. So that will be fun! I didn't take my camera with me- and my mom never took a picture of us, so I'll just have to file the weekend away in my memories. Sometimes it's better that way anyway.
In the meantime, Asa held down the fort here. In an interesting twist of fate the Steelers (Calib's team) were playing the Broncos (Peyton's team) in the playoffs, and I was not sorry I missed it.
I did make a trip out to Costco while I was in Toledo, and on an endcap were these really soft blankets for $8. I picked up one, and when I brought it back to grandmas I asked if she would like one. She sent me back to get one for everyone. They've been very popular at my house.
When I got back Asa was in need of a day out, so we went on a date day to Disney. We finally had Boma for breakfast and it totally lived up to the hype. Best Disney breakfast in my opinion, and you know how I feel about breakfast at Disney.
Plus, it's at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, so we got to check out the animals.
Then we headed over to Epcot where we walked the world and shopped in the World Showcase. And I took all of two pictures. I told you, still on the same batteries from Christmas!
We've had a cold snap, so it's been no big deal to sit on the couch, work on my book, use my comfy blanket, drink my coffee and hang out with my puppy. (I told you I needed to regroup- 2015 was Oh SO much fun, but it did take a lot out of me!)
Plus, my puppies sure like being tucked in with me.
We've had Ellie over a month now, and she is just the best. I'm just so grateful we've ended up with Ellie. She is so well behaved, and so good with the boys and all the other pets. I really feel awful I was so concerned about getting a big dog from the shelter- I just replayed all the things in my head that could go wrong, and as it turns out they were all totally unfounded. Plus, I can't tell you the wonder's Ellie has worked for Calib- losing Sophie and Gracie was hardest on him, and I know Ellie has really helped. Although, he could stop feeding her people food any day now. She gained nearly 2 pounds between her vet visits already. She's up to 65 pounds!
Sunday was Championship Sunday to determine who plays in the Super Bowl. A couple of years ago, we decided to use the NFL inspired pizza recipes on the Boboli website to make a pizza for each of the four remaining teams, and a tradition was born.
In the NFC this year we had the Carolina Shrimp Bites vs. the Arizona Fiesta Pizza.
I thought the Carolina one was better, because it was so unique, but the boys all liked the fiesta pizza more.
In the AFC we had the New England Clam Bake Pizza vs. The Denver Flank Steak Pizza.
We've had both of these before, Peyton occasionally asks for the Denver one just because he likes it so much. The New England pizza is a different story. The first year I made it, I did it according to the recipe exactly, and nobody liked it much. The next year I substituted crab for clam. It was better, but not great. This year, I took out the clam and instead thickened up some clam chowder (I took some help from Publix on this one- they make some great clam chowder!) and used that as the base. It was REALLY good. Third times a charm, I guess.
Then we sat down to watch the game. (Complete with his signed Peyton Manning jersey! Remember that day? It was pretty amazing.)
The game was slightly nerve wracking.
But we will be seeing the Bronocs play the Panthers in Super Bowl 50.
The other news of the week is that our Super Target is closing. I'm totally bummed about this (I shouldn't complain too much- there's one 6.4 miles away instead of 1.2), but I really like how close mine is, and the employees. Asa and I were in there tonight, and three different employees told us their schedule on Saturday (the last day it's open), and made us promise to come in. Another one took a picture with me.
But, my gosh- the sales! A lot of things will transfer to a new store. But something new has been marked down nearly every day. There was the day the alcohol all went 50% off, and when candy went on sale it was all at least 50% off- we stocked up for Easter, and some home school incentives/projects.
The day produce was marked way down, which nobody was more excited about than Deleno. We got greens for less than $1, oranges for 20 cents, grapes for 75 cents a pound, onions for 29 cents a pound, and garlic for basically free.
We were going every day, and then sharing the new markdowns. One day bagged beans and lentils were 40 cents, and the day yogurt was 29 cents. Then there was all the cheese marked down to half off...., and then there was the great frozen food sale of 2016. Everything was at least half off. I don't know how many bags of the steamfresh bags of veggies I got- but they were down to 40 cents. We filled two carts, and both of our freezers went from empty to a work of tetris art. Calib was really excited about the Anytizers for $3 a bag. Plus on top of that, they've still been taking coupons, making a lot of things free or nearly free. There's still some various frozen stuff that keeps getting marked down further and further, so whenever we go, we get more- and the freezers have all stayed really full.
Today we went and got Coffee half off at the Starbucks, and Eisenstein bagels for a quarter. Fresh bakery bread was marked way down too. Then, we noticed everything with a clearance sticker was an EXTRA 70% off. We got bottles of drink mixes for $1, Asa got a swimsuit for $4, and I got the boys some hoodies for $5, I got slippers for $1.78 and pajama pants for $4. We also got another bar stool for $20. It was sort of nuts. I should have taken pictures of it all, but I didn't.
That's it from here. I should have more to report soon, hopefully February has some more exciting events, and constitues more than two blogs.
Next Up:Our first "Florida Weekend" of the year.
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