TGIF

We’ve been 2 weeks back at ‘er, and the meaning of TGIF, has never rung truer.

Things have, actually, been going really well with my new kiddos, and 5 day weeks with lots of extra little people around.   But, I’m tired by 8 pm most nights, and the weekends feel SO incredibly needed.  In fact, last night, I was asleep by 8 pm, and out cold until near 6 am.  

I am so glad I put together my crazy excel spreadsheet.  It feels very necessary and helpful.  I feel like I can be a better and more attentive wife and mom because I know all the “work” has a place and time to get done.  If I feel panicked because my floors are beginning to grow things, or my cupboards are streaky and slimy, I can just look at my chart, and see that they will get done tomorrow morning, and I need not worry about it.   I can get back to playing with the kids, or spending some quality time with Dave, and not ditch them for housework.   So, it’s been freeing in a strange way.   One of my goals for the new year was  to be really present in the moment, and get in good quality time with the kids, hubs, and friends. When I have a plan for how all the OTHER necessities (but less important things) will get done, I can just breathe a bit easier and enjoy the moment I’m in.

Another big goal Dave and I have had is, sticking firmly to the budget!  One step has been to have a weekly check in together to make sure we’ve been good and keep each other accountable.  For me, the biggest struggle is sticking to my grocery budget.  I have always done well with picking meals based around sale items, and sticking to my budget on my weekly grocery shop.  However, where I always fail, is in that mid-week run to the grocery store to grab milk.  I can never just grab milk.  I see some good sales on this or that, and end up with a half cart full!   So, my rules to stick to it goes like this.

Make a weekly menu based on sale items using 95% of the grocery budget, and saving 5% for SUPER emergency needs such as wipes, milk, or laundry detergent.  I have been cutting back on expenses by doing one vegetarian meal per week, and one SUPER CHEAP supper per week.

NO MID WEEK GROCERY VISITS!   I REPEAT, NO GOING BACK TO THE GROCERY STORE!!!  This has been sort of fun.  Making do with what we have.  I had no 5% buffer this week, and so this morning, I did actually use wet paper towels as wipes.  And this morning our fridge was super bare.  I really had nothing for breakfast as Friday morning or evening is my shopping day, and we were down to the bare bones.  But, I found a pack of bacon.  So, I fried up a huge pack of bacon for breakfast, and divied up the 2 last eggs and slices of bread between everyone.

Dave came down after dressing for work, and said, “This is certainly what heaven smells like.”  I proceeded with an argument about how we would certainly all be vegetarians in heaven, and he looked genuinely distraught and after a moment of quiet reflection replied with, “ I think I need to go and sit down.”  Ha Ha Ha

Dave is in super duper crunch mode right now with the semester ending.  He has so much marking to finish, exams to prep, and then a whole new set of exams to mark, plus a whole new semester to review for.  He was so sweet, yesterday, though.  I was in a bit of a frenzy after an overwhelming day.  Tears started trickling down my face at supper, and so I quietly picked up my plate, apologized,  and went to finish my meal upstairs in silence.  He encouraged me to take a rest, have a bath, and put the kids to bed on his own, AND cleaned up the disaster of a playroom.  What a man.

I have my head in a better place this morning.  Even though the kids are a bit whiney and testing, the snow is falling gently, the sun is shining, and tomorrow is Saturday! That is all for now.  The kids are finishing up playing with play-doh and so off I go! Thanks for reading. I’m out.