One good crazy cooking day and things are back to normal! Apparently, my mood and stress level is tied directly to the amount of food in the house. So now, I am feeling pretty good. :)

It had been a long time since I've done a freezer cooking day and I've never done one with someone else. But on Saturday, I went to my friend Melissa's house and we turned on the ipod and cooked for about three and a half hours. We got so much done! Entrees, soups, sides, two cakes, and cookies in the freezer in about half the time, and we are pretty sure it saved money for the month. I highly recommend it! :)

We are also trying to spend more time together as a family. Well, probably more time for me and Brian and also doing more things with Micah outside the house. This morning, we met some friends at the park and we'll try meeting friends to swim in the baby pool tomorrow. Got to take advantage of the summer while it's hot...and it'll be hot until October....so I'd better broaden the activities list!

Alright, back to it!

....what should we eat for dinner?

Honestly, I almost always know the answer to this question because of the meal plan. But it is the end of the month...only one meal left and I'm saving it for company tomorrow...and I am at a loss. We are down to jarred spaghetti sauce and pasta (NOT my favorite) or picking something up. Gar.

I feel like I am letting things slip lately in some ways. I guess it is inevitable that you cannot hold on to every list and plan and keep it all under control all the time. And at the beginning of next month, the groceries and meal plan will be back under control. But lately, things have just felt slippery. I don't want to do anything extra really...just do what has to be done, get the baby fed, loved on, played with, and put to bed...and plug into the computer to watch tv until I get sleepy. I have watched an obscene number of episodes of some tv show (seasons 1-5 in about two months) and that's about all I have to show for it, other than regular life responsibilities. Not the best way to live, but anyway.

Brian is in this eat-sleep-veg rut too...and we can't seem to get out of it. I'd like suggestions. :)

...but the past few weeks have been about survival. Nothing much post-y and interesting about making it through the day.

Hopefully, things will calm down soon (or I'll calm down about things). Either way. :)

The month of May in the Happiness Project is about leisure time and learning to spend your leisure time wisely so that you get the most out of it (since most of us just don't have that much). And while I am not allowing myself to make goals related to leisure for a whole month until I get through some more pressing things (like being more faithful and spiritual or being a better wife), I did read the chapter and perform this sort of internal "Know Thyself" exercise to get to the root of what i like to do to relax.

Ultimately, it appears that I like solitary relaxation with rules. :)

And I came to the same conclusion that Gretchen Rubin did...I just really don't like to do a lot of things other people do. The idea of playing any group sport, maybe at a potluck or gathering, makes me shudder with contempt. In fact, I don't really like potlucks or gatherings all that much either. :) I like to do a lot of things alone.

I also tend to obsess over things a bit. Not sure why that is, but I get hooked on something and I just can't stop until it is completed. Of course, when it's a leisure activity, it usually takes me a long time to complete it because I don't have much leisure time. If I start a book series, I really can't start another book or anything else until the series is complete (this only works if all the books in a series are already out...waiting for the HP books nearly killed me every time). Or if I start watching a new show, I just want to finish all seasons of it quickly...like a really really long movie. I think this may be symptomatic of my natural obsession with lists, order, and rules spilling over into my personal leisure time. :)

It was knitting for a little while in 2005, until I knitted a scarf that looked strangely like a multi-colored tongue when unrolled...gave up the hobby after that...

Sometimes it's scrapbooking...I finished a book for my mom in two days once because I spent so many hours on it in a row (this was obviously pre-baby).

Right now: rewatching all seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, in order. Nerdy awesomeness. :)

What is your favorite thing to do? And what is your least favorite thing to do that you do anyway to go along with the group?

We made it through the first birthday milestone! The party was nice...appropriately sized and Micah had a good time and never got fussy. He ate his whole cupcake in about 30 seconds and his favorite gift was the baby-sized trash can Aunt Ashley gave him. He likes to throw things away...a lot...a WHOLE lot....

Done and done.

But now that it's done, I feel unsure of what is coming next. Up until the one year mark, there have been milestones every few weeks to help me keep track of things. Three-four months: teeth come in. Six months: start solid food. Nine months: start meat. One year: eat whatever he wants, go to whole milk (no more formula!), starts walking, etc.

Now that all of those things have passed, it feels a little weird. I know he will keep growing and doing new things and learning new words. But no more is our baby as delicate as he once was...can't eat this, must have that, needs so much sleep, etc. He is a walking, talking little man who can feed himself and who has opinions about everything! This is a whole new world!

We'll just keep chugging along and see what comes. On a happier note, I may be able to focus on my April goals again now! I've been so distracted and it has not been going well. :)