Laundry

Laundry has always been the worst for me. Even as a child I remember laundry on the sofa because no one had time to do it. When we did it was an all day event. Taking days afterward to fold. It really was terrible now that I look back when the laundry was always backed up and it was just Philip and I. Yes today I understand why he dropped his jaw when I told him I couldn't keep up on my own, and wouldn't be doing his any longer. Our new home we set a goal to keep up on it. Philip always has done the laundry to keep it up, at times it was only washed because he did it. I have been successful, not a complete turnaround each day but there is a basket holding most of it.
We purchased the Samsung front loading heavy duty machines with pedestals. The set was part of a package deal we did on appliances at APPLIANCE LIQUIDATORS. I wanted LG products after living in Europe. We knew we wanted a gas dryer after dealing with electric ones in base housing for years. It worked out well for us. The pedestals are useless except for added height. I can actually do the laundry and remember it because it bells or plays a chiming tune when finished. So all these years I should have been using a timer...then I would never have forgotten a load. hahahaha

We haven't been happy with the laundry detergent we have been trying out. It is gooey and in Europe they have the same machines but you have much thinner consistancy in the washing fluid. It has something to do with the proteins they add. In the front loading machines the washer will "sour" over time. My dad has had one for years and there is no explaination why his would smell. Which they had warned me about and sent me off thinking how to prevent this in my new machines.
So this week I am going to order the ingredients to make my own. Several sites list different rememdies to take the smell from the washer but all say the same the drain hoses become clogged by the proteins of the other washing detergent. So I am going to not only save money but keep my new machine clean of smells.
Here is what I have found at the link http://www.stretcher.com/stories/09/09sep21a.cfm
"

You can Google for homemade soap recipes. I make a powdered version with 1 bar of Fels Naphtha and 2 or 3 bars of deodorant soap (Walgreens® 3/$1 works great!), 1 to 2 cups 20 mule team borax and 1 to 2 cups baking soda. You can also add a cup of an OxiClean® if you do a lot of very dirty laundry, but for most laundry, it works great without it.

Slice the bar soap with a paring knife as you would a chunk of cheese and then put it in the food processor to chop it fine. With a damp cloth on the open edge of the feed chute, add the dry powders and process in short bursts. This makes enough soap for approximately 25 loads, using the smaller measurements. Use 1.5 to 2 tablespoons of detergent per load, placing the powder in the detergent cup. Use hot or warm water to make sure the soap dissolves completely if you do not grind the soap finely in a food processor. Store airtight; an empty ice cream pail works great. If clothes are very dirty, add a little more soap. It will not create foam/suds in quantity but you will be amazed how clean your laundry will be."

Ace Hardware carries it all. I think at first I am going to leave out the deodorant soap but add OXIclean. Carson has sensitive skin so we will see if it bothers him. I am thinking this may be a cheesy but great homemade Christmas gift for my parents who never need anything.

Cuisine

Tonight I made a great new dish and before I forget what I did will share the recipe.
Before leaving Belgium my German friend, Anja, gave me a huge bottle of MAGGI sauce.
I have been given many foods to use when leaving a country we have lived in before. Most I do try but it was never the same as my local national friends made. Example fried rice. Never can repeat the same texture or taste twice.

I had tried using the Maggi sauce in something else and forgot what. So here is what I made tonight and the kids are scarfing it down as I type this out.

I package of Beef Kelbsa cut into 1/4" slices
2 bell peppers sliced into strips
1/4 onion quartered
4 T Maggi sauce
water
oil
corn starch

white rice for the side(20 min in rice cooker to cook while making stir fry)

I sliced everything up
put oil in pan and stir fry veg first, sprinkle on Maggi sauce.
when you smell peppers/onions add meat and cup of water: bring to boil
1 cup water 2T corn starched mixed then poured into stir fry mix let boil for 5 min then simmer.
add pepper to taste
entire meal took 20 min.

October

I am sitting in the house just have finished off a can of ravioli. Being 13 weeks I feel great but am appalled at how great the taste was. Normally I am gagging at just the smell. Peaches and fish are still my favorite things to eat this pregnancy. Anything orange that is food makes me hungry. Wishing we were in Japan because I really want sushi.

The boys are outside today. The weather is beautiful and I am so glad we moved to a neighborhood where they can go out and play. There is a large open area less than a football field away where the kids can play next to the park. Our house sits to the back of the bike/walking path so I can freely let them come and go. Ethan is 11 now and able to stay by himself. He has three times now. I think for the area we are in I can be home in 10 min. Maybe suburbia isn't so bad.

Unpacking the house is still at a standstill. My eyesight is terrible and being pregnant just doesn't help things move along any faster. Philip has his own stipulations as to what he will do when. I would be happy if he would just finish the painting. He also doesn't want any of the Japanese stuff in the living room. We had this problem in Belgium too. I think this week I will just have to buckle down, go slow and move everything back that he had moved out.

Wish I had a handyman.

SNOW DAY first of WInter 2009

Its 0530 on a Saturday and Gavin comes running through the house to each person's room that it has been snowing. He is talking so fast my brain does not catch half of it so I tell him to settle down. "NO MOM, really, LOOK!" He rips open the blinds so hard I think he is pulling them out of the walls. I give in for the sake of not wanting to replace them this year.
The houses and yards were not only dusted but had a amazing amount still falling upon them. I crawled in bed with Ethan while Gavin and Carson climbed in with Philip. How long they actually slept I don't know. Ethan's side was cold as Philip said he was taking dogs and kids out..I asked for pictures. Rolled over and went back to sleep.
The smell of pancakes woke me up about the time Ethan was coming in. The boys had built a small fort wall in our back yard. Gavin quickly let me know it was only to practice for because the snow was like dust. Good I thought the best kind. No surprises as to what damage a real storm could do.
The snow kept falling as the boys were back in with wet tennis shoes. Funny in a way because we just went to stores yesterday looking for Carson a coat. He was very upset at Old Navy when the only coat he liked was $65 and didn't come in his size. Yes! I put my foot down about the tantrum..even not buying the hat and gloves he liked after he remarked Dad would get it for him, I still had compassion. How can we be in America and still not have choices available? We live near a shopping area but who wants to take their whole family shopping? Not I.
Today we all got dressed and chattered in the car. It was amazing at how little they sounded as they talked about sleds and boots, forts, teams, and all the fun stuff that goes with boys and snow. Walmart Supercenter..ugh. They did have boots for Carson who still wears a big size for a kid. Ethan and Gavin are in men's small sizes. There were no sleds to be found but we found some rocking trashcan lids. The trash can was $10 sold only with lid so we decided to wait. Why don't they sell lids seperatly? I am sure they blow away or get eaten by dogs?
Gavin floored me as we went into Dick's Sporting Goods. He was all about selling me on Underarmor. What does a 9 year old do with that expensive of an item? I know when he was 2 he wanted Levi's because they had five pockets. Underarmor is soft and fits well..ok I get it.
Besides the sales pitch for UnderArmor we didn't get much from Dick's Sporting goods. OH AND THEY MAKE SOCKS TOO LOL. The boys eyed snow boards.. no no no. They even asked to use our snowskis since we couldn't find any sleds. No way. We do have a hosptial with an emergency room three blocks away. It is small and doesn't have a good reputation but still there.
One of the hazaards of shopping is you always somehow miss a meal. I don't know how this happens but we do anyhow. Just in time to save us lots of money everyone was more tierd than hungry. We headed home for a big lunch after grabbing rotisserie chicken from HyVee. Full with a hot meal I immediatly cuddled and went to sleep on the sofa. Philip was watching Gordon Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares. This paticular kitchen served nice food in Hollywood.,from all premade products. I was glad we ate at home.
The thing about boys is once they are fed and warm it's time to rough house. We on the other hand were ready to hide in our mink blankets ( extremely warm fuzzy synthetic blanket from Korea). There is a certain point as a mom you are willing to throw your innocent husband into the frenzy to save yourself. I kept Carson with me while Ethan, Philip, and Gavin went to Super Target to get boots hopefully for them.
With great success they hunted down sleds there also. Timing is everything, the store had just put them out. I loved the half hour power nap stolen while they were gone. Carson flew off the sofa from his cuddle spot behind my knees at the first word of sled. Off they went for what snow was left on our monster neighborhood hill.
The hill is one of the things we talked about when picking this house out. It held a promise of hours of fun for us all. Our yard is small but the park with hill is down a bike path. Can't beat that. Returned were three mud balls. I haven't quite looked into the damage yet but know snow is better than the sand they have been bringing home from the park.

September Rundown

Its the first of Oct. To me this means Fall which is my favorite time of the year no matter where I live. Right now I am typing before the kids wake up for the morning and cant think of event dates.
We did go to Vala's Pumpkin Patch which is the largest in America. It was fun and interesting. Most things I watched the kids do with Philip. It was a squadron function in which we got a discounted admission. I forgot the camera so no photos folks. It was nice to walk around holding Philip's hand and having the boys chatter. Ethan did somehow manage to get lost on the way to enter the cornfield maze. Philip found him just as he had tears spurt. I don't which was worse for him lost or having his dad see him cry.
Ethan had a Birthday in Sept on the 15th. He is 11 this year and I honestly wasn't prepared for it. We spend $100 on birthdays. This includes a gift and whatever party or activity they want to do. This year is family year so we picked him up the old Star Trek Movies, a Game Stop gift card, and a gift bag of "favorite thing" goodies. Philip started the gift bag years ago for me and it was so great it stuck.
Ethan's actual birthday we went out of Chinese food where Philip met us after work. It was decent food. I hated that Ethan wasn't at home opening gifts, on that note the camera was home also. There is something to be said that is so special about homemade cakes and streamers.
We volunteered that evening at the Mable Rose Estate Homes to call Bingo. Ethan was our caller and all seemed to have fun.
Jermey Camp an alternative Christian Rock performer, came to Omaha. This is one of Gavin and Philip's favorite music groups. Philip doesn't dance freely. Gavin doesn't stop moving, so when both did opposite of the normal self I knew we were having a good time. I did like the fact we had church pews to sit in. Comfortable for the boys to fall asleep. They aren't used to staying up so late and crashed after slow song lol. It was nice to be out as a family, hear live music, and not have to deal with drunks, someone smoking pot, people making out, and language. It was all the great stuff a concert is suppose to be.
I did lose my Great Aunt Maxine Stinson. Everyone called her Aunt Mackie. What is the story behind this I wonder? She was a tiny lady who made it to 94. The past five years my Mom and Greg have made a place in their home. The boys were able to get to know her this summer when they spent a week at Mom's by themselves. Aunt Mackie was there when Mom would go into work for a few hours. Ethan I remember watched a lot of news with her. His comment when he came home was MOM THERE IS A LOT OF BAD STUFF THAT HAPPENS IN KANSAS CITY. He has been told every city is like this. Too bad they forget the good news when broadcasting.
Philip and I are very excited to have a baby coming. The doctor we have found is really friendly and proactive. Hearing the baby's heart beat was very overwhelming for me. I honestly had not fully registered it was real. Last night I felt the first flutters at 10 weeks. It was such a different odd movement I am sure of what it was. Number 4 it is possible.
One of the best things about being back in America is friends are closer. Jen was my first BFF and has been through the past 9 years with me. I don't really get why our lives have started to parallel maybe age. Last Jan she to her surprise found out she was pregnant. Well little Bethany decided to come early and sent all plans flying. I didn't think I was going to get to go. Tickets were an absurd amount to fly to Boston. She lives in Sommersworth NH. Jen told me in a message." Don't worry God will find a way to work this out" I have deep trust and faith but the little stuff I don't ask God for much. He does pretty good giving me what I need, and teaching me what I should learn. Sometimes it does feel like a spanking but for the most part doesn't hurt long. So no lie the next day after she says this I have a junk mail from Travelocity with specials from Omaha. My flight was $219 leaving a Sat and returning a Tues. I didn't have to go to Chicago to connect and had long enough layovers it wasn't stressful.
We had a great but busy two and half days. Bethany decided she liked me and didn't scream when i held her. This is a trend in General with females in my life. lol Glad i am not a man. The first night I was able to take Bethany to let parents sleep. They were zombies.. I hate the first four months of any new routine. The next day she was dedicated and we went for a great lunch. I got to babysit this night while Jen and Ian went to dinner. Monday we headed into Portsmouth to see the old square. I found a market that named that the spot where George Washington read the Declaration of Independence. Their children Natalee and Zachary spent time doing things with me also. I was chuckling as I cleaned out their fridge.. that's a friend come clean poopy diapers, pack lunches, babysit, and clean out a fridge without asking. It's in this moment that I realized I was praying and not just talking to myself. It was a humbling experience to have a person share their love, life and family without any concern or jealousy. I did miss my own guys terribly but they were having a blast with Philip. They did a guys weekend full of karting, movies, football games, and unpacking.
Our house still doesn't feel like home but our family is getting back to normal. Maybe it's time to start unpacking.

Brain DUMP

Ok it is sometimes much easier to list rather than try and make sense of the random events that overlay or in other words explain life.

No matter how much we plan, save, pray, beg, or just yell at times I am truly aware that as a person have no control over anything. ANYTIME ANYWHERE.. rather have had the best coolest life I can imagine just by experiencing every possible thing i can. Ok skip amusement park rides and anything large persons are required to obtain a doctor's note.

1. I have moved back to America and yes love Omaha.

• the roads are well done and for the most part you can get anywhere within 30 min.
  

1. I hate understanding everything everyone says around me.

• my movers talked more than I do.
  
• I am doing society a favor by making my boys be seen and not heard.
• most people have opinions about things they are totally not educated nor have experience in. It seems they feel confidence in voiceing their thoughts to cover up true issues in their life, which actually are far more interesting.
  

1. The house we bought wasnt the one of our dreams

• ie lake house or simple country home
• holds the family in which all our dreams are created and cherished.
• everyone got what they wanted since we couldn't come to any decisions
• wall to wall beechwood on main floor
• each child has a room of his own for now
• my belgian window has too much mold dust to be in a bedroom
• we are having an Asian themed bedroom hopefully I can pull off sexy geisha room and not a Korea palace look.
  
• my husband wants new furniture and is actually a far more contemporary trendy guy than I ever gave him credit for.
• Philip got a great deal on appliances for our house
• we changed everything we could to gas fuel
• I wish i had looked at the measurements for the laundry room and had the unit drain and hoses put on another wall. too late now.
• all grout in tile should match the tile you lay NOT CONTRAST..lesson learned. Nothing some white ceiling paint wont fix in a few years.
  

1. Philip has a EASY job here and I am so grateful he has supported us by being in the military. We are staying in until they tell us he has to leave... or he gets a teaching degree.

• it is so wonderful that we were able to leave Belgium when we did. Sometimes we do totally agree on things.
  
• I can't believe we were living so far away for 18 years.
• America is really an amazing place, the blend of architecture on just one street downtown I have rarely seen anywhere else.
  
• My husband has truly spared the world and given it a great gift by letting me stay at home.
  

1. My eye disease has wrecked havoc since arriving back to the states. So far no promises. Contacts didnt fit on my eye correctly, awaiting now answer from DR.
   

• If you aren't an organ donor please do the paperwork, without donors I wont be able to see in a few years. Glad to not be dying from this disease.
• last week Dr Greer fitted me with at least 5 contacts,, none worked.
  
• I do have the option of getting a cornea transplant but when?? dont know.
• have to check to see what TRICARE will cover

1. I havent been feeling well and am pregnant.
   

• motion sickness
• wanting to eat icecream
• hot flashes
• peeing constantly
• and well its not the flu
• I have taken a blood test
• will choose a DR someone else I know is using
• will be having my first baby in America
• Jen Tate thinks this is all is absolutely hysterical...
• it is so amazing to think once again we are blessed even though I was finally ready to not have anymore children
• Philip is great and supportive and hasnt made fun of my swelling ankles or the thick socks I need to wear
• I had my hair highlighted where all my gray was coming in and went dark where I had remaining natural black. Its interesting to be faux natural.
  

1. Musical instruments are too expensive

• when i was little i wanted to play the Sax and my parents either couldnt afford it or the sax slots had all been filled. I refused to play the clarinet.
• Philip played the sax in school and was good.
  
• I know the bump on his lip i have seen for years ..comes from playing the sax instead as worried I thought he lip cancer.
  
• Ethan has choose the sax and of course it has to be the most expensive to rent
• Gavin I have found a wonderful teacher for and he starts this week.
• We now need a weighted key piano..he is level 2
• Did I mention each boy has his own room.. thank goodness for this will be wonderful during practice times.
  

PAINTING

Philip and I finally found colors we could live with and started painting on Saturday. I painted the laundry in the green left by the previous owners. Its a nice color in a small room not a dining room. Ethan hasn't got his green but other boys got paint rejects from Home Depot.. 5 dollars for the gallon. Gavin picked a gray for his SPY theme and Carson got three little cans for 1 dollar each. A bright yellow, ocean blue, and navy. He is getting Tommy Hilfiger strips (yes sounds good huh_ to go with his surfer room. Anyone got a surf board? Still working on Philip to do the Purple suede and silver metallic reproduction of a euro room. I got the wall idea from a room in the Notre Dame. He doesn't know about the chandelier idea yet. lol

We decided to get bids on updating the doors with glass and adding in a wine rack and lights. BUT THEN Philip painted today and said they look really good. The new trend in cabinets is to have various sizes so we are looking into adding a taller cabinet to replace one that has mismatched sized doors. I will then use the cabinet in another bathroom. We did go ahead and use our house fund for all wood floors on the main floor. For the past few weeks we have looked at tiles, but i cant find anything we like. So just doing to do the laundry and bath.
On a funny note.. we signed last week for the house. Had tons of contractors look at all we would like to change. LOL one guy,, a great nice man, came back with a quote to finish the basement. It was 26 thousand dollars. LOL our house isn't worth improving for that amount. I mentioned to him Philip was military and it took him years to save for this house for us. That he shouldn't bid unless it was a poor mans salary to pay for it. WELL funny is we cant use him but he did a great job of floor plans for us so we have a professional idea of what it could look like. wahoo