Hooray for PJ Day....and other events

Yesterday was pajama day at school! The boys were so excited to wear their PJs to school...it was pretty funny how much this amused them. And yes...we found Cars slippers at the last minute for a GREAT deal! I had searched Target, Walmart, Payless and Kohls but finally gave up thinking they must have just been around for the holidays. Low and behold, we ran to JCPenney's Monday to look for sheets for Benjamin's "new" (still unfinished) room....and they had them! On clearance for $4 down from $16! They're pretty cute, too. One shoe is Mater and the other is McQueen. And when they are not being worn, Mater's tow cable hooks to McQueen's bumper to keep them together in the closet.

This is Benjamin's class that came over to my classroom to watch a movie. In addition to wearing PJs, the kiddos were able to enjoy a flick & munchies as well. A fun day for me, too-- no lesson plans! : )

We have this new routine on most Thursday nights (except last night which was meeting-crazy for David), of letting Benjamin go to David's school to join him while he is on duty for the basketball game(s). Preschool is a straight shot up Hwy. 439 to David's school, so we just head that way and drop him off for a little fun with Daddy. Jonathan isn't always thrilled with this set up, but he is too little for the games as we have previously found out. So he and I head home to hang out.


Speaking of J-man...I think I need some advice from the moms out there. We seem to be having a little problem of nudity on our hands. Every time I turn around, Jonathan is clothing-free from the waist down. And he is so fast, too. He can take off his pants and diaper in no time. I thought it might have been just his elastic-waisted pants, so I started putting him in jeans all the time, but he has learned to maneuver these as well. I am having a difficult time actually getting anything done at home since I have to be on clothing alert every second of the day. The major problem is probably obvious...he has accidents the second that diaper is gone. And our steam cleaner is getting a major workout-- I am so tired of lugging that thing out everytime this happens (daily). Has anyone else encountered this? At preschool, he takes his shirt off. If Ray Stevens's song, The Streak, comes to mind, you're not alone. Any advice would be very appreciated.
We are hoping to finally finish Benjamin's room this weekend. This is becoming a nightmare that I wish I hadn't started. I had no idea this paper treatment would take as long as it has. I should have just bought a couple of gallons of paint and been done with it. It would have been much cheaper, too. We're on our eighth roll of paper, third bucket of wallpaper paste and don't even get me started on the cost of glossy polyurethene. Plus all the "fun stuff". Say a prayer that we really finish this weekend. We are in Houston next weekend and the following weekend would make it a month since we started this decorating-circus-act. What was I thinking?

Just Don't Quit

I recently did a blog makeover for a fun gal that my neice connected me with. Megan is a super-fit, healthy-lifestyle gal who works through a program called CrossFit which I don't know a whole lot about (I just know it is for super healthy, in-shape people). I was just reviewing some blogs and noticed this poem on hers that was so inspiring.
Honestly, I am pretty over-whelmed right now with all that I have decided to put onto my plate (the new blog biz, teaching, keeping the house from falling apart, running here there and yonder etc.). I know it would be a million times easier if I could just quit teaching right now, but I won't let myself do that. I committed to this, and I don't want to be "that girl". Plus, I am good friends with my director and that would be the last thing she needed at this point. And the extra paycheck is a nice treat, too.
I have also gone back to Weight Watchers and that is another thing I don't want to wear out on, either. I want to see it through and get to goal...no matter how long it takes. And then I want to maintain it.
So, when I ran across this poem on Megan's blog, I just had to share it. I think everyone can find something in it that hits home. Thanks for the inspiration, Megan!

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must; but don't you quit.

Life is strange with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When we might have won had we stuck it out;
Don't give up, though the pace seems slow;
You may succeed with another blow.

Success is failure turned inside out;
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt;
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit;
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

The Things They Say...

Benjamin and his KISD therapist, Miss Robin, were working hard on his letter writing skills. She had laminated a line of B-E-N-J-A-M-I-N for him to trace over with a dry erase marker. After erasing it the second time, she asked him to start over.
Miss Robin: "Let's try it this time without ever taking your marker off the line."
Benjamin: "Sighhhhh"
Miss Robin: "Here, let's just do it one more time. What's wrong with that?"
Benjamin: "I have just had a really long, hard day."

The Top Ten Things Happening in our Household

10. We finally made time to post on the blog. (This was a close tie with number 1).
9. Benjamin is doing GREAT with his penmanship....errr, crayonship skills. Although, we may be using B-E-N for identification purposes on papers.


8. Jonathan will be two in a month...I see another Elmo party in our future. Funny, he has never sat through an entire episode of Sesame Street, but loves that furry little red monster.
7. Because we don't have enough on our plates...we thought we would throw in a little redecorating project to really keep us focused. I am papering Benjamin's walls in brown craft paper and will seal it with a shiny coat of poly. I expect to be done in June of 2012. (The photo is a lot darker than the actual walls...and this is the only section that is papered. I had to crop out the Builders' Beige to make it seem like I have made progress. And to make me feel a little better about my time management in that room).


6. David is hanging out with his good buddy, Todd, for the evening and reliving some Muleshoe fun. In Austin.
5. We had a super fun time here at El Rancho Dominguez last night with our LIFEGroup. Banana Splits were had by all. Except me and Jennifer. We're counting points.
4. We've been caffeine-free for a whole week. And head-ache free for two days now.
3. We are in a desperate search for Lightning McQueen slippers for pajama day next week. What will we do without them? Any suggestions are more than welcome.
2. We are up to our eye balls in blog designs...and loving every minute of it. My wait list is growing and so is my heart! I am so thankful to have a "job" I love so much.
1. The boys will be hitting preschool solo (duo?) next year without mom. She is staying home to design blogs, cards and anything else she can get her hands on.

Have a great week!!

Recap

In the last week we have:
- celebrated Christmas at my parents' with the Pawliks.
- celebrated 31 years of me.
- celebrated making it through the first week back to "normal" (sort of).

We had a great time in Marble Falls last Sunday afternoon hanging out with my family. We ate a lot. We opened a lot of gifties. And, in true Pawlik form, we reminisced about the holidays of yesteryear. In case you don't know...I am the youngest of four. And when I say youngest, I mean there is 16 years between me and the youngest of my brothers, Mike. And when we are all together, they enjoy telling stories of get-togethers that took place before my time. And I really do enjoy hearing about those fun times: Christmases at Uncle Butch's or Aunt Margaret's where there were 25+ in attendance. Christmases at Aunt Helen's (some of those I remember). And just funny stories of different years that would embarrass some if I put them on here...hehe.
And this year was just as fun. My mom is "getting there" in terms of healing up from her fall. She still uses her walker, but she did great that day and it was so fun to see her finally enjoying herself after all that happened to her in the last month. Here's a few photos from our day:

Amber, Connelly and Amanda
I also have to mention the foreign object in the background, as in current technology in my parents' home. (Actually, they are pretty computer savvy, I shouldn't poke too much fun). However, after 28 years, my parents finally bought a new television. We are all so proud. They thought they would join the rest of the world with the new digital switch coming up. They even bought a new Blu-Ray player. Now I feel behind. Way to go, Mom & Dad!

Keaton & Audrey

Cherie & Kayla

My mom and Benjamin (mid "Cheeeeese")

Dale

Austin had "loads" of fun with his new dump truck.

It was definitely the year of Tonka with all the little boys.

Amid a gift-opening frenzy, he clenches those cookies.

Amanda and her Longhorn loot for Grandpa...Amber also gave my dad a Longhorn shirt. He's all set. I believe I saw him open a new jacket, too. He'll be sporting all kinds of new duds in 2009.

Jonathan was super helpful with the checkers game. I think that game is also as old as the TV I mentioned. It cracks me up that all the neices and nephews still drag it out everytime they are at my parents'.

A good time was had by all!


I also had a great birthday..thank you all for your well wishes, cards, calls and emails! I ended up getting the day off of work. Jonathan had thrown up the night before and ran fever (happy birthday, mom-- your favorite!). But, it was kind of fun just hanging out at the house with him all day. Benjamin went on to preschool and had a great time without us. We had yummy Outback Steakhouse for supper and cake and presents. As you can tell from the pic, Jonathan really loved the cake. It was a short-lived tummy bug, obviously. My boys (all three) really took care of me and made my day super special! The big 3-1. Now I am in my thirties...not just thirty. Sigh. (It's really not so bad).
Have a great week!

A Special Day!

Hi Y'all!

I know it's late in the day, but I just had to sign on and wish Kristi the happiest birthday ever!

Kristi, today we celebrate YOU!

Thank you for all you do for me, Benjamin, & Jonathan.

We love you!

Good Friends & Good Cookies

Earlier this week, we got the chance to meet up with some really great friends of ours from Muleshoe. The Kettners were passing through this area so we headed up to Georgetown to catch up with them.


Deborah was one of my first pals in Muleshoe and continues to be such a dear, sweet friend even though we now live a zillion miles apart, roughly speaking. Thank goodness we both have Alltel, we can sure burn through those mobile to mobile minutes!
I met Deborah at a ladies Bible study in Muleshoe. That Bible study was something that was near and dear to both of us and we had some good times with all of those sweet ladies and friends. We were also in sorority together...it's a Muleshoe thing, you know what I am talking about if you live up there. Deborah was one of the first people to know I was preggers with Benjamin. And she was the listening ear I cried into the first morning after bringing him home from the hospital...I distinctly remember the words, "I didn't know it would be so hard" belly-aching out of me. I seem to recall a slight chuckle from her. But, she helped me get through all the hurdles and millions of questions that came with being a new mom.
During our Muleshoe time, Deborah and I also ran a Meals on Wheels route together, put together the Muleshoe community cookbook along with our friend, Faith, and spent hours upon hours just jabbering on the phone or at a kitchen table or in the car (Deborah, why do a vast majority of my memories contain us being in the car....we must have really run the miles on the road to Lubbock!). She is the definition of a good friend.
It was so great to catch up and see how all of our boys had grown! And David and Kelly were able to catch up on Muleshoe Football. I also got to meet Kyle for the first time! What a cutie. And Jacob and Riley have grown from little guys into mature elementary-school kiddos. Time sure does fly.
Seriously, Kettners...let's not let that much time go by again without a catch-up session (face to face)!
A few photos from our fun time at a great park in Georgetown:

Kyle...such a fun little guy!

Jonathan on the playground

All of our boys: (l-r) Kyle, Jacob, Riley, Jonathan and Benjamin

Good Cookies
On a completely unrelated matter, but certainly one deserving of a post: I found Hershey's Cinnamon Chips during our holiday travels. While this may not sound like a big deal to many of you, trust me...it is. Hershey's Cinnamon Chips are the tastiest little morsels you can wrap your lips around, yet they are almost scarce in this part of the country. If you ever find some, get yourself a bag or two, and a couple for me as well. If you are ever in desperation for a bag of these, go to hersheys.com, click on products and then go to the product locator. And if you are desperately desperate...I have even seen them sold on eBay. Yes. They're that good.


My good friend, Becky, knows her way around a cinammon chip and taunted us all with this recipe a few weeks ago. After munching on my friend Amanda's AWESOME Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies all through the holidays, I decided they might be fun with a little cinnamon chip flare. So, after a little recipe tweaking, I present to you our new favorite cookie:
I call it....The Cinnamon Chips Lead to Very Broad Hips Cookie, because one is just never enough. I had to add pecans since the Cinnamon Chip bag is only 10 oz. and the recipe calls for a 12 oz. bag of chips...what is up with that, Hershey's?

Cinnamon Chips Lead to Very Broad Hips Cookies
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup real butter, softened
1/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 small box instant vanilla pudding mix
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 (10 oz.) pkg. Hershey's Cinnamon Chips
1 cup old fashioned oats
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In small bowl, combine flour, oatmeal, baking soda and salt; set aside.

In a large bowl, combine butter, sugar, brown sugar, pudding mix and vanilla extract; beat until creamy. Beat in eggs.

Gradually add flour mixture. Stir in cinnamon chips and pecans (don't use your mixer for the chips & pecans, it will overbeat the cookie at this point; a wooden spoon works great).

Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheets (the new Reynolds Non-Stick Foil works wonderfully!). Bake for 10 minutes.

Makes about 2 dozen.