Wondering Wednesday: What do you call?

 

      Lisbeth was recently asking if we could again get "the cheese pizza on a tray with corn and a dessert in the middle", after a few more questions I figured out that she meant a TV dinner that we had gotten before.  Later when I was making out my shopping list and writing TV dinner I started wondering if they are still called that.

  So, help a mom out,  if your birthday year has perhaps an 8 in the third position as oppose to a 7 what do you call the frozen tray dinners with a dessert in the middle?

Thank you.

The Liebster Award

The lovely Kelly Jo of The Dr and the Mrs has very kindly nominated me as a:

The Liebster Award is for bloggers with less than 200 followers.  Liebster is a German word meaning dearest. The award is given to up-and-coming bloggers who deserve recognition and support to keep on blogging.

Here are the "rules":

1. List 11 facts about yourself

2. Answer the 11 questions given to you

3. Create 11 new questions for the bloggers you nominate for the award.

4. Choose 5 bloggers with 200 or less followers to nominate.

5. Go to each blogger's page and let them know about the award.

6. Thank the person who nominated you and link back to their blog!

11 things about me:

1. Despite being half-Belgian I prefer my beer COLD
2. Tulips are my favorite flowers
3. My husband and I had been dating 9 years 10 months when we got married
4. Love to read, favorite books become old friends I visit with over and over again
5. Went to Prince Edwards Island on my honeymoon.
6. Favorite movie: The Philadelphia Story
7. My first concert was John Denver, I was five.
8. I would eat mussels year round if it would not scandalise my mother
9. Staring at the ocean soothes my soul, and recharges my batteries 
10. Have been known to say 'Wicked' when I meant Very
11. Favorite color is purple.

Kelly Jo's questions:
1. What is your favorite article of clothing?
Personally nothing beats a great pair of jeans

2. If you could own any exotic animal what would it be?
Zebra

3. What is your favorite book?
Too many to pick one, favorite genre is historical fiction

4. What is your dream vacation?
Staying with my family in big, old beach house with decks to sit out on and see the ocean, an easy walk to the beach, with yummy seafood and delicious ice cream a short drive away.

5. What are some of your pet peeves?
Debbie downers & mocking children

6. What was your favorite movie growing up?
Sound of Music

7. What is your favorite recipe to cook?
Spinach Quiche

8. If you could hang out with one celebrity for a day, who would it be?
Cokie Roberts or Jennifer Gardner

9. What is one of your family traditions?
Putting a shoe out for St. Nicholas to fill.

10. What is your favorite season and why?
Autumn, I find it visually beautiful, appreciate not being too hot or too cold, and enjoy splurging on the occasional Pumpkin Latte.

11. Where do you see yourself in ten years?

Professionally: Teaching at a university having hopefully earned a doctorate.

Personally: Figuring out with my wonderful husband how to parent teenagers.

My questions:

1. Favorite breakfast?
2. First presidential election you remember?
3. Home decorating style? favoring which time period?
4. Favorite ice cream flavor?
5. And what is going on top? (Fave toppings?)
6. What country/culture fascinates you most?
7. Planner or spur of the moment personality?
8. Favorite board game?
9. White, milk or dark chocolate?
10. Favorite Easter basket candy?
11. You are hosting a 3 movie marathon: what is the theme or featured artist? 

I happily nominate:

Bonnie of A Knotted Life

Jessie of Early Bird & Night Owl

Joke of South Africa meets Belgium

Katie of The Rhodes Log

Michelle of Endless Strength

Thank you Kelly Jo for this wonderful honor!

5 minute friday; What Mama Did

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.

2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

OK, are you ready? Please give us your best five minutes on:

What Mama Did

Start:
    Every year in late April as a family we headed to the White Mountains to enjoy our yearly timeshare in a wonderful house.  The house, condo actually, was an absolute dream for a child to explore filled with lofts, ladders, and hideouts.  Going in late April we never knew what the weather would be, some years we were playing in the snow or another years we played tennis under sunny blue skies above the mountain peaks.  But always swimming in the indoor pool after which my mom would dry and dress us, leading us to the door of the rec center and then tell us to run as fast as we could the 100+ yards back to the condo, and so we did, wet hair streaming & laughing all the way.
    And in retrospect I know she was teaching us about balance: the timeshare week never fell during our school's spring break, but that didn't matter ~ we got our assignments and were expected to do them throughout the week, but this week of family togetherness and fun was much more important than any perfect attendance certificate.

Stop.

Please head to Lisa Jo's for more 5 minute friday.

Quick Takes #127

1. Was unable to watch the third (and final) episode of our lovely hosts show Minor Revisions.  So was very happy to read that all the episodes are available online here.  Happy Dance!
2. As I am struggling a bit for Lenten activities to do with the kids I was happy to find this list at call me happy: 40 lenten things to do with your kids
3. Having been told a few times over the last couple of weeks that 'something is not right about my room' by Lisbeth, decided in anticipation of her upcoming birthday to try and fix that.  Here's hoping the new 'no bad dreams allowed' sheets and rug help correct the hard-to-define problem with staying in her bed all night.
4. Shameless plug, my youngest sister has started a blog largely to share her experiences as a newly published author. Head, if you would, over and welcome her to blogosphere.
5. Kid Quote of the Week courtesy of Lisbeth: princess+butterfly=fairy
6. 6 weeks postpartum and so could start excising again, bears carefully consideration ~ perhaps until spring.
7. All week Lisa Jo, the gypsy mama has been running a wonderful series about the wonderful unexpected things that make the most potent memories of our moms; culminating today in a very special 5 minute friday.

Have a wonderful weekend ~ and please head over to Jen's for the rest of the round-up.

Wordless Wednesday: Sisterly Love

Quick Takes # 126

1. What a week, Pope's big announcement, State of the Union, Ash Wednesday, St Valentine's Day ~ and getting into the Lenten rhythm. Here's hoping for a quiet weekend!
2. Still sorting out my Lent practices; I'm again giving up reading fiction and have selected a book to read as well as download Magnificat's Lenten App hoping to read some of the prayers of the day.  Not sure yet what the focus and direction of our almsgiving will be yet.
3. Found out this week that Lisbeth was accepted into Kindergarten, the catholic school we registered at has a maximum class size of 24 and gives first preference the children with older siblings in the school.
4. Earlier this week Caitlin passed her repeat hearing test (she failed in one ear the one done in the hospital after birth) which was highly likely but still nice to have confirmed.
5. The most interesting take on Pope Benedict's decision to abdicated, in my most humble opinion, was by Elizabeth Scalia of the Anchoress.  I don't yet know if I agree but much food for thought, yes?
6. Break for baby picture:



Baby's First Ashes!

7. 4 day weekend for the kids in observance of Presidents Day and the Season Finale of Downton Abbey (how is the season ending already?!!).  Whatever your weekend holds ~ have a good one! 

Please visit Conversion Diary for the rest of this week's Quick Takes.

Why I love my husband Vol 7

In honor of St Valentine's Day ~ another installment of:

1. Dr Daddy was on clinical service last week, and so not wanting to pass any of the lovely germs he might have brought home to Newborn Caitlin he wasn't holding her, but rather talking sweet nothings from a safe distance.
2. His great patience while cooking with the kids
3. His loving and funny texts to me when work keeps him there late.
4. For agreeing to come to my roommates party twenty years ago ~ and becoming one of God's greatest blessings in my life.

Inspired by Kaitlin of More like Mary, More like Me

On Reflection

   At first I was very thrown by yesterdays announcement of Pope Benedict's abdication and did not know what to think but just knew I felt crummy.  Obviously I did not doubt the rightness of anything he prayerfully decided to do but it still felt like my dad had announced that he was too old to continue being my dad and was stopping.  However after reading many fine posts I now believe it is more like as if he has admitted that he should no longer be driving and is handing over his keys ~ he still loves us and will always pray for us.  And I will always pray for him.

Caitlin at 1 month

• Holding her head up better every day and starting to make eye contact
• Smiles the cutest smiles in her sleep
• Sleeps well through her siblings craziness
• Not a big fan of the car, but not quite the hater Liam was
• Consistently cries through most diaper changes.
• Wonderful nurser, already mastering side-lying
• A good night sleeper, usually sleeping 3 hrs between feeding
• Already starting to out-grow her newborn sleepers

Quick Takes #125

1. We keep raising the stakes on this whole 'having 3 kids' thing.  Dr Daddy was on-call all week and so I was majorly soloing.  Largely went well; perhaps a bit more junk food, tv watching, and raised voices than I had hoped but everyone is alive and well if a little worst for wear.
2. Caitlin is now a month old (separate post coming) and having her one month check-up later today with hopefully a good report.  Loving that she now tries to raise her head and make eye contact.
3. My experience of the Super Bowl: Yummy pizza, good friends meeting Caitlin, Wow Ravens way ahead, power went out, left to put kids to bed, Wow the 49ners have this almost tied up: Good game - Go bed.
4. So without saying I did not see many of the commercials or the Halftime show; but there are some interesting posts about them: gypsy mom & Patheos.
5. A lovely treat for the weekend, both my sisters are coming to visit. So excited to introduce them to their new niece and hopefully get in some good talks/catching on life, etc.
6. Lent begins in less than week, still working on plans for myself and family.  Suggestions welcomed for ways to introduce Lent to an almost five year old.
7. The coming NorEaster is suppose to mostly hit north of us; prayers for friends and family in its path.

Please visit Conversion Diary for the rest of this week's Quick Takes.

What I Wore Sunday Vol. 2

   Another Sunday; another outfit ~ this week I was joined for the first time by Caitlin who seemed to enjoy her first Mass (post-birth).

Details:

Me ~ Pants: Target

         Sweater: Christopher&Banks

         Tank: Target

         Boots: Kohls

Caitlin ~ Sleeper ~ Macy's (I think, was a gift to her big sister)

Please visit Fine Linen and Purple for the rest of this weeks link-up.