Employed at Last

My days are full. They fly by. I wouldn't have it any other way. I can't think of the last time I've been this happy. (Even though I am sleep deprived due to a sleep regression from our perfect baby). My kiddos are growing too fast. This post has lots of random happenings from this month, but the highlight might be the fact that Andrew is working again! Huzzah! 

Matching outfits for my girls are my favorite

Food Goal/Health Challenge

As promised, I'll share my food goal for 2024. It is far more boring than make a new cookie recipe every week. I have never been good at making breakfast. I always eat breakfast, but sugary cereal doesn't always hit the spot. I have attempted and failed at this breakfast making goal before, but I'm off to a solid start. I've made breakfast for 4 weeks. On Saturdays, sugary cereal it is. Yogurt parfaits with fruit and granola are a favorite. So is toast with an egg in the middle of it. Making breakfast means I lose some reading time I previously had. Oh well. I feel so much better.

I've wanted to eat healthier and Andrew and I started a health challenge. I was stunned Andrew agreed. I have pitched this idea multiple times. When we succeed at our personal goals, we intend to go go-karting. (I wanted a food reward but felt like that defeated the purpose.) I am very anti dieting, so please know our health challenge is not a diet. It includes things like-- floss every night, put on lotion on my cracked hands (and Andrew on his feet) every evening, don't eat dessert EVERY night, but limit it to 3x a week. Hold back on dinner seconds at least half the week. My gym goal is very realistic for a busy mom. The challenge ends at the end of February and then we'll hopefully be speeding around the racetrack.

Contract Position

Andrew started a new job on January 8! Job searching during the holiday season felt futile at times. Most companies weren't scheduling interviews during Thanksgiving or Christmas break. We are extremely grateful that Andrew managed to get a job offer in December. This eased so much stress, especially over Christmas. This contract position is not Andrew's ideal job, but it has turned out to be better than we expected. Here's why:

• Andrew gets paid weekly. What! I'm loving this! 
• Andrew works from home full-time. This is a dream come true for me (not for him though). I get to leave napping Penny home during various school and activity drop-offs. Andrew also doesn't have a commute or traffic to deal with!
• The company Andrew works for is based out of Iowa which means Andrew works earlier hours. He works 7:30am-4:30pm. He is around much more in the evenings. It's extra helpful he can referee the kids on Monday and Thursday evenings while I'm teaching.
• We found out that the kids and I still qualify for Medicaid through October. This is a huge relief. I have little kids and go to appointments lots. Andrew's new gig does not include insurance and insurance is not cheap. His paychecks are definitely bigger without insurance being taken out.

Andrew signed a year contract which means stability! Although if an offer comes along that includes insurance, Andrew will jump on it. He is such a hard worker. We celebrated Andrew's first paycheck by watching Barbie and getting takeout. The carne asada fries at Rancheritos were everything we hoped they would be. 

Wonka

The new Wonka movie is well worth your time. The soundtrack has been playing continuously in our home. We went with the Bradshaws on a $5 Tues. The kids randomly had Jan 16 off of school. We also bought a new sticker for our massive Megaplex popcorn refillable tub. We fill this up lots and live dangerously close to the theater. Home movie nights are a step up with this mouth-watering, buttery, hot popcorn. I even contemplated going to see Wonka again (we got invited to a free showing).

Adrianna was there too

Speed Skating

Say FREE and I'm there. But really. I maybe should have thought more about taking our young family to this event, but they were entertained for a few minutes. We got to watch Olympic athlete speed skaters race. The kids were extra interested in what country the skaters were from and the various countries flags. We even saw a skater biff it which was unfortunate. We didn't last long at the event. It didn't help that there was a 20 plus minute break between races. I'm sharing this experience to be transparent. Not everything we do is amazing. I definitely regretted going to this event, especially while I was breastfeeding Penny in a smelly bathroom while standing. The kids thanked us for taking them though and did find pleasure there briefly, so I think it wasn't a complete waste. We might attempt to make better memories at the ice oval and go back for ice skating as a family another time.

Book Club

After nearly a week of nonstop snow, I think it's safe to say I'm snowed out. Maybe I'll take that back. The mountains are stunning with all the fresh powder and the air is much cleaner. The dead grass being covered is a nice perk of the snow too. Something that wasn't so nice is the fact that 2 events I planned to host the week of snow, snow, and more snow got cancelled, and not by me. My grandparents were supposed to join us for dinner. I had already made all the food. They decided it would be safer not to come given the conditions and I don't blame them. I was also supposed to host Book Club the night of an insane whiteout. We got 3 plus inches of snow very rapidly of course right before book club. I had spent all day making goodies-- cookies, rice Krispie treats, and even homemade bread. Book club was cancelled and I declared grumpily to Andrew that I'm never hosting anything again. That didn't last long.

I rescheduled book club for 2 weeks later and made new treats. Book club was on Thursday, January 24. I switched things up and had some funny ice-breaker questions that helped us get to know each other in new ways. (i.e-- what's a recent guilty pleasure of yours? If you could live anywhere, where would it be? What's the latest movie you've seen and what did you think of it? Who is your hero? What is one of your pet peeve's? What is the best surprise you've ever received?) 2 longtime members of the group learned that one served her mission where the other grew up. 

Penny likes to sit on my lap while I sing

James and Andrew went sledding while I was home with puking Izzy.

February is right around the corner and my bullet journal is full of Valentines plans, birthday happenings, and date nights. I can hardly wait. I'm even throwing myself a birthday party! Now that Andrew is employed, a weight is lifted off our shoulders.