Ordinary Days
Abbey showing off her schedule in Spanish and Isaac being weird and annoying.
We changed some bedroom situations. Did you and your siblings always switch bedrooms around? My sisters and I did, and it was so much fun.
Abbey’s friend she first met in preschool, stopping over with a cake for Abbey’s birthday. Isn’t that the sweetest thing? She wrote a paper on Abbey’s friendship for an English class, and I could hardly read it without crying.
Abbey and Jeff ran into Dairy Queen to buy a cake for her birthday. They came back with this surprise for me. (You will only get it if you are passionate about Napoleon Dynamite.)
When We Were Strangers, another amazing immigrant story.
Pamintroduced me to this book and oh boy. I want to suggest it for book club because there is a lot to talk about. I liked that I knew nothing about the book before I began. Anna Quindlen is such a good writer. I had to copy a few quotes down because I don’t know how that woman puts mothering emotions into words so exact, but there is no doubt she just hits the nail on the head every time.
This is what we go out to as many Sundays as we can. My mother-in-law and her food. It is heaven for me to not have to cook for one night. (OK, I have more than one night because we get pizza at least once a week.) BUT this is always the best home made food, and as you can see, she makes double what she needs to every single time.
LOVE! I saw this at the grocery store and I stopped dead in my tracks and I swear just like in Tom and Jerry, there were hearts radiating from my eyes. The micro fiber pad comes off so you can throw it in the wash AND the bottle is totally removable and refillable with whatever cleaner you want to use, so you are not tied down to buying all these expensive accessories all the time. (I have mostly water and a teeny bit of Murphy’s Oil Soap in there now.) It is called Rubbermaid Reveal and was on sale for 20 buckaroos.
Alleluia! Something about that trigger gets them every time.
My sister-in-law heard there is some sort of pumpkin shortage. She made her heavenly pumpkin bars the other weekend and had to go to three different stores before she found a can. That scared the bee-jibbers out of me. What’s autumn without pumpkin? I had to stock up next time I went grocery shopping just for safety’s sake. And they only had 2 cans left. I took them both, I’m sorry.
A typical day after school. Hungry kids always! Paper everywhere always!
I love your blog and I am so thankful for moms out there like you who give new mommies like me such great advice and set such an amazing example! Thanks for being wonderfully ordinary..
so glad you liked the book! got a few more for you!! 🙂 ordinary days are my favorite. which is why i'm kind of freaking about the puppy…my days will be far from ordinary for a while! what did I do?? I am SO buying that mop!
Isn't it crazy?! I've been buying my canned pumpkin in the summer these past few years because I can never find them early fall. What's fall without pumpkin bread?!
Oooh, this post is so full of wonderful, but honestly I have to start with the mop. I love mine! I mention it to so many people, they must think I work for Rubbermaid or something. Did you know you can get a big fluffy floor duster attachment for it, and extra bottles? Happy birthday to your beautiful girl, as well.
I love these posts of yours, Sarah.
I think because they're glimpses into your life.
I'm always in the mood for a good mopping tip!! Will look for that today at Target!!…and some pumpkin too I guess!:)
Switching rooms is soooo much fun. Usually it's dad who gets stuck with all the grunt work right?
Love the hungry kids and paper everywhere pic, so like that here too…and the open cabinets…drives me nuts!:)
have a happy day sarah
This post is timely, I need to find a book to recommend for book club, the Anna Quindlen book sounds like a perfect choice. Also you might be interested in knowing that Ami McKay (The Birth House) author has a new book scheduled to come out in October.
Happy Pumpkin hunting!
I love the ordinary, and seeing glimpses into your family's smaller moments.
I read Every Last One over the summer. Wonderful and haunting.
emily@remodelingthislife
Love reading about ordinary days…very similar to ours, although we only have one at home now. Love a good book, and Anna Quindlen never disappoints! Hadn't heard about the pumpkin shortage…I will have to see if I can find some. It's not fall without it!! Love the mop too. I have one with different pads that can be washed, but it doesn't hold the cleaner…it is awkward to have to hold both a spray bottle and the mop!
A great post today. I need a new book to read. And I would love one of those mops for my upstairs too and I love that you can use your own cleaner. Will search that out right after I run out and get me some cans of pumpkin!!
I added the books to my list…I've really enjoyed all of the others you've recommended, thanks!
I heard the same pumpkin rumor last year and stocked up – I still have my big old cans of Meijer pumpkin in the pantry 😉 maybe I should make some pumpkin goodness?
Why is one door missing off the kitchen cabinet behind Abbey?
i hate pumpkin shortages. 🙁 i couldn't find any at my store yesterday.
p.s. loved abbey's dq cake. you guys are so funny.
Love the ordinary days posts! I have Anna Q.'s book on my list…love her. The LaFaundah cake is the bomb !! They had a pumpkin shortage last year too..what's up??
Love the book suggestions. I can't remember if you mentioned Girl in Translation but it is a great immigrant story.
Guess I gotta go search for canned pumpkin.
Thanks for the book recommendations! I always like Anna Quindlen when I read her, but then I forget to read anything else by her.
There were the beginnings of a pumpkin shortage last year and I totally stocked up. I probably had two dozen cans. And I just checked and am down to TWO! YIKES!
Your boys room looks just like my boys room with legos and lego creations EVERYWHERE! Any suggestions on where to store the creations?
I'm going to look for that mop today at Target, and i'm going to load up on the pumpkin:)
Love ordinary days!
I love seeing your day to day Sarah! So fun that Abby has a close friend like that. I did too in High School and we are still so close!
Don't know how far you are into Every Last One…but I found it so terribly sad:( Wouldn't recommend, although it is a good book, it was just too hard. Would love to hear your comments when done.
Allison
See how Abby is standing in the last picture? That's how I stand in the kitchen too! As does my mom and my three sisters. My husband and dad always make fun of us …. good to know we're not the only ones!
Love your "ordinary days" series. 🙂 And that mop? I want it! Thanks for the tip.
Looked at Target, can't find the mop. I NEED THAT MOP! Where should I go? The canned pumpkin shortage has been going on for a few years now, which is strange because the pumpkin patches I've seen are always overflowing with pumpkins??
So, who switched bedrooms?
The mop is only online at Target for $40. But I did find it here…
http://www.meijer.com/s/rubbermaid-reveal-spray-mop-value-pack/_/R-189743;jsessionid=DB1AAF3B520B121E4A76775BCBF1949D.instance02?CAWELAID=931983631&cmpid=goobase#
I'm curious which grocery store had it? HAVE TO HAVE THAT MOP!:)
I buy organic canned pumpkin by the case off of amazon when it goes really cheap!
Oh and I heart that cake- I was laughing soo hard.
The pumpkin thing is real. My harvest is quite disappointing this year. Too much rain, is what I'm thinking. The last picture made me laugh. I stand like a flamingo too! 😉
1. Bedrooms… we just put the new baby's crib up in Henry's room and it TOTALLY freaked Henry out. That poor boy!!! He has NO idea what's coming!
2. Thank you soooo much for telling me about the new gadget thingy cleaning stick, because I was JUST staring at my Swiffer Wet Jet, thinking that I used to love that thing, but got so tired of buying refills all the time, it's been just sitting there.
3. Pumpkin! I am sooooo ready for pumpkin weather!!!!
Oh wait one more…
4. Hungry kids after school… does it drive you crazy? A little? Sometimes it doesn't, but sometimes it's 4pm and I'm making dinner soon and it just seems like no amount of food will tide them over until then. Help.
Pumpkin shortage!? Oh no! I am off to the grocery store, like….NOW! This happened 2 years ago as well and was the WORST!
And while I am at the store buying them out of their pumpkin I will be throwing one of those Rubbermaid things in my carts as well. I have tried the Hoover Floormate, Swiffer, Shark….you name it-I do NOT like being tied down to certain solutions to clean with. My whole downstairs is tile, and with three kids…well…I am sure you know! 😉
I loved seeing more everyday pictures of the kids and house. And that amazing mother in law- can I get one of those? Yum!
When I was young, we used to drive up roads in Michigan's thumb, and see canneries piled high with squash. I asked my parents, and they said they were being canned for pumpkin pie. Then I asked an uncle who lived near there, and he said the same thing. So don't stress too much about the pumpkin thing, but do consider squash.
I love reading your blog and I have found myself wondering lately how you made the decision as to which school to send your children to. Did you know where you wanted to send them from the start or did you hunt for a good school. Was your house in the vicinity of the school you chose or did you choose your house in order to be in the vicinity of the school. How did you go about selecting a small versus a large school? I am thinking about private school for my children and just wondering how you thought through this. I went to a semi-large Christian private school all my life and my kids are now in public school. Could you speak to possible differences between Catholic schools and other types of private schools and if there any benefits that you see in a Catholic-based education? Thanks!!!
i am hoarding pumpkin everywhere i find it.
i did find organic pumpkin at target in the vegetable section….fyi.
i LOVE that mop!!!
i must find one.
i didn't mop today because i just didn't want to deal with my mop!
Yopur mil's buffet looks amazing! How about a recipe sharing blog?? 🙂
Love reading about your ordinary days =)
Random comment, but I've had that mop for a long time now and jumped at it when I saw it and love it too! 🙂
I stumbled across your blog a couple of months ago, and find it very encouraging and fun. 🙂 I have to say I had no idea what to expect in "every last one" and found it so emotionally charging! loved the book though, but being a mom i hated it, too. you know?
I listened to Every Last One in audio book form. I hadn't heard anything about it before hand and OH MAN was it shocking. I don't want to give anything away so I won't say anything more about it.
I think you do a great job of putting mothering stuff into words so exact. Your blog is so helpful to me in my own journey of mothering.
Hi Ladies, I thought I'd update on the mop. My local Home Depot says they have them in store!:)
1. Loved your budgeting post and I feel closer to you than ever, seeing all those Meijer bags lined up. 🙂
2. I have always and still do stand like Abbey in that last pic. I have no idea why. I thought (hoped) I would outgrow it as an adult. No such luck.
3. I need that mop.
4. Every Last One. I read it over a year ago and I loved it. It was not at all what I expected and I think I felt momentarily betrayed, but still.
5. We always switched rooms, too. I wonder if my kids will when they get older?
6. When's dinner tonight? Do you think your MIL would mind if the 5 of us showed up? Looks like there's plenty…
I'm going to have to get a Rubbermaid Reveal! My kitchen floor is crying out for help!! I only hope that my small town grocery store will carry them too or I'll have to wait for a trip out of town to pick one up.
I have a mop like that from Target, not rubbermaid but close. Love your blog and your home, I think of it often as I am trying to neaten things up:)
I love your blog and all that you share! I wanted to share a quick tip w/ you. You can buy a neck pumpkin for approx $1.00, chop it up, remove skins, discard seeds and cook until soft/mushy. Let cool, freeze in freezer bags. I measure out 1cup & 2 cup bags and then I have it all year round. Hope you can try this sometime, maybe on a preschool day:)
Hey Sarah. Not sure if you will even see this comment on a post from almost two years ago BUT…I just found out they discontinued the Reveal mop in May 2013. In case you can find and want to stock up on clothes. I am finally getting around to getting a new mop and thought I'd give the Reveal a try. Wonder why it is discontinued? Looks like a great product.