Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Sand in the sandbox...

and two little kids who have only gone inside a handful of times to potty, get a fresh diaper, or to gobble down peanut butter sandwiches in record time. Oh, and Ryli did get into the fridge to get soy sauce for her sandwich (I humored her and faked pouring some on). 

This time last year, we'd have already been back indoors, all hot and sweaty (and more than likely a tad grouchy). Mother Nature has certainly been a bit of a prankster this year. Seventies for highs in May in Texas? It beats it being too cold to go out (that was last week). Or the snow in other places. 

They have played for brief periods elsewhere in the yard. We planted a postcard of wild flowers in the corner of the fence where it drains well and gets plenty of sun. 

So here I sit in my outdoor throne, watching as they now take turns pushing one another around in the Cozy Coupes, blogging and writing out a list of to-do's. And let's face it, I'm wishing I got more of my stuff done inside, because eventually, I'm going to have to take (actually, carry) their little rears in the house to do Landry's nap and the work that I'm currently TOTALLY procrastinating on. I would much rather sit out here, where Ryli and Landry can run and play and there really isn't a lot of clean up other then the mud and dirt encrusted kids. 

So help me, I'm checking tomorrow's weather prediction. I foresee myself getting up extra early so if tomorrow duplicates today, I can enjoy this fully and not worry about what I have to do.


Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Don't want to know...

I just don't. Inevitably, though, I will log in from the computer to edit and post this, and it will be there... how long it's been since I last posted. I've missed blogging. I can't explain it. Things have happened and I wanted to come here and blog about it (or go next door to Mippy Mommy), but for whatever reason, I just didn't. I have been in a funk, but I've also been taking care of a lot of other stuff (A.K.A, life in general). 

I'm going to ease back into it. It will probably be June before I attempt another Mama's Mission of the Month. I have some reviews to write, thanks to Influenster. I just need to pick myself up by the proverbial bootstraps and get my rear in gear for real. 

Saturday, March 2, 2013

What I want this blog to be...

I have been thinking, stressing and praying about what I want this blog to be about, and in turn, what I want Mippy Mommy to be about. There's just so much I have to write about that I was reaching a point of utter confusion and writer's block trying to narrow it down. Then, I started this blog, and things started to make a bit more sense in my mind. 

So, from here on in, this is the place where I'll write about the day to day life here at Mippy Manor. The things that work (and even what doesn't), meal plans, budgeting, relationships, routines, being greener (and healthier), faith, and family. Mippy Mommy will be all things Mippy related. How things get done working around my disability from the stroke and my bipolar will be discussed in both blogs, I'm sure. 

Mippy Manor will get the full on Mama's Mission, where as Mippy Mommy will just take a condensed Mippy-related version. I hope that I get the opportunity to do reviews on both. So, here's to a better, more thought out solution to split the blogs and tie them together. 

Until Monday...

Lisa

Friday, March 1, 2013

March's Mama's Mission of the Month


And without further ado, I give you Mama's Mission of the Month. January was horrid, February was better, here's to March being my month!



PERSONAL:
  • Continue to take meds and chart moods (using Mood Tracker)
  • Find a primary care doctor and a dentist then make and keep appointments
  • Continue to old school journal

MARRIAGE:

  • Get us into a rough routine
  • Have a date night

PARENTING:
  • New routine (posted on the blog on Tuesday) starting in earnest Monday, March 4
  • Fix problem with insurance and make check up appointments
  • Start chore chart for Ryli on Monday, March 4
HOMESCHOOL

  • Start “Play” school
  • Keep chugging away at Mary Pride’s Complete Guide to Getting Started in Homeschooling
  • ABCmouse.com and iPod time for Ryli

HOMEMAKING

  • Meal plan and stick to it
  • Do a budget with Ryan and STICK TO IT!
  • Spring Cleaning

FAMILY/FRIENDS/MINISTRY

  • Diaper Group on 3/8
  • Call Grandma
  • Go to a Meet-up!!!

BLOG/ONLINE ACTIVITY

  • Blog a minimum of Monday-Friday on both blogs!
  • Come up with a plan for the blogs

OTHER



 
Mission of the Month

Thursday, February 28, 2013

February Mission of the Month Recap

Here's the recap for February. If there's a line through it, I did it. If it's highlighted, progress was made, and that's it. The ones that are untouched, I didn't get done (hangs head) :




Personal:


·                     Take my medication(s) and chart moods (I use the free version of Mood Tracker)
·                     Finish making (and keeping) doctor and dental appointments
·                     Journal regularly... the old fashioned, pen and journal way!!
Marriage:
·                     Rough routine for Ryan and I
·                     At least one date night... sans kids!

Parenting:



·                     Chore Chart for Ryli (starting on 2/4)
·                     Check ups for Landry & Ryli
·                     Work on a routine with them
Homeschooling:



·                     Teach Ryli how to use a computer and start her on ABC mouse
·                     Read 8 chapters of Mary Pride's Complete Guide to Getting Started in Homeschooling
Homemaking:



·                     Make a meal plan and STICK TO IT!!
·                     Make a budget and get us back on track
·                     Do Fly Lady (start it up 2/4)
Friends/Family/Ministry:



·                     DFW Cloth Diaper Group
·                     Call Grandma more
·                     Look into local playgroups/Meet-Ups
Blog/Online Activity:



·                     Blog a minimum of five times per week
·                     Come up with planner until I can get one printed
Miscellaneous:



·                     Read some Bible daily



Overall, I have to say, Mission NOT accomplished. Next month, its ON! I'll post March's tomorrow, as I'm still working out the kinks.

Mission NOT Accomplished YET

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

The infant stages of starting a real routine...

So, the original plan was to start all this yesterday. That was adjusted slightly when I realized that that was just not going to really be feasible when there were two appointments scheduled this week and the incredibly inconveinient plumbing issues (our hot water heater being among them). So, yesterday we went with the old stand-by... we winged it. Today and tomorrow, hopefully, we'll be able to go through the routine. Thursday, Ryan will get the bulk of the morning routine, and then on Friday, we'll be able to dig in.

Here is what I have planned to start out. 

7:00-8:30          Adult Time
8:30-9:00          Kids up and dressed and fed breakfast
9:00-10:00        Tech/Art Time
10:00-12:00      Snack, free play in their room, no TV
12:00-1:00        Lunch
1:00-2:00          Play (outside, weather permitting)
2:00-3:00          Quiet Time
3:00-3:30          Snack Time
3:30-5:00          Free play in their room with some TV
5:00-6:00          Dinner
6:00-7:00          Free play
7:00-8:00          Clean room, bath, dressed, snack, hair brushed, teeth brushed
8:00-8:30          Read to them in bed
8:30-9:30          Lights out & Bedtime (while I play bedtime police)
9:30-11:00        Adult time

I know that from nothing to getting this to work won't be an easy task, but I think before March's end, it'll all pay off! Wish me luck!

Monday, February 25, 2013

Meal Plan Monday #1

March may not quite be here yet, but I decided that it'd be easier to start at the beginning of a week rather than on a week already in progress.

I get to plan the meals for the four of us. Ryli goes through random picky stages still. Landry will eat anything that he can get his hands on, with a bonus if Ryan is eating it as well. Ryan isn't picky, but particular. He has to have certain sides with certain entrees and sometimes, what I have planned just doesn't sound good to him the night of. I'll eat whatever everyone else is, within limits. I do make things I don't like for them as far as sides go, but entrees tend to be something we all like.

This week should be easy. We all love seafood, and with Lent being in full swing, most grocery stores are having sales. I've been trolling around the internet scooping up recipes that sound good and are mostly nutritious. The plan is simple: make a meal plan for the week where there will be lots of leftovers so that they can do double duty as lunches without much fuss. I also fully intend to make some snacks from Weelicious to cover snack time, because they are so good on so many fronts.

This is what I plan on making, if Ryan is agreeable to the list. I won't be doing the shopping until later today.

Breakfasts:
Steamboat Omelet (Cooks)
Eggs & Sausage
Oatmeal & Cereal
Lunches: 
Pizzas
Macaroni and Cheese
Turkey Hot Dogs
Leftovers
Entrees:
Tangy Beef Stroganoff (Once A Month Mom )
Perfect Pot Roast (The Pioneer Woman)
Slow Cooker Stout and Chicken Stew (Shine from Yahoo)
Miso Glazed Salmon (My Recipes) with Edamame Fried Rice (Once A Month Mom )
Clean Eating Broccoli Soup (Once A Month Mom) and sandwiches




For snacks, I plan on keeping it simple (cheap) and toasting up a batch of Cheerios in butter, worstechire sauce & seasoning salt, making a batch or three of Roasted Cinnamon Honey Chickpeas and some good old fruits and vegetables. Lunches will be backed up by leftovers. All in all, I think we have a winner, subject to the approval of Ryan. I'll let you all know how it went soon.