Sunday, September 18, 2011

Thanks and What's Up.

First of all, I tried to write a response comment to you fab girls in the last post, but I'm having computer issues.  I won't go into the gory details, but I need to take my laptop baby in to the doctor. 


Thanks so much for all of your great ideas for dinner. 

I want to get that book Cutz was talking about and I went to Trader Joe's and picked up a few things.  Sadly, one of the things that made it into my cart was a chocolate mousse torte that only I liked.  Which means I ate it all in 3 days time.  Impressive, no?  I'm totally getting another one.  It rocked my world.  Thanks Michelle!!  My front butt thanks you, too :)

You know what?  The weather's turning more fall-like and I almost feel like cooking again.

 Noodle is happily living in her new room and she's keeping it neat and tidy!  And like any tweenager, she's in there for hours on end with the door shut.

Did I tell you Noodle's in middle school?  

Boy, is that a saga.  It's been a big deal for us.  The middle school she's attending wasn't our first choice of schools for her.  The test scores aren't great, so we planned on sending her to a college prep charter school with awesome test scores.  However, when we went to the open house for the charter school, we didn't feel good about it.  The principal seemed a little nutty.  Also, there weren't many extra curriculars to choose from and she wouldn't be able to continue her Spanish immersion.  In the end, we chose the not-so-great public school and you know what?  

It's been SO GREAT!!  

She's in the Spanish immersion program still, and she's got an amazing teacher.  Plus, the extra curriculars are awesome and she can resume the violin (it was cut from elementary schools last year) and play volleyball and be on the ski team and the tennis team!  Here she is with her bff and the little sister on the first day of school.
Don't they look old this year??




Here she is way back in kinder:

 Grade 2: 


Grade 3: 



 Grade 5: 





I started working at a new company this week.  Still as a consulting recipe editor and I love it.  

The last couple of years at my other job have been tough.  

Then in December there was a big change in the company which took away most of my work.  I still get called in occasionally, but my profession has been deeply affected by the recession.  I have only worked about 1/4th of what I used to work.

This new gig came just in time.  You see, Zuddy and I have been going all Dave Ramsey for the last 3 years and we are finally almost done paying off some serious debt.  I'm so looking forward to the freedom we will have starting in January.  I will finally be able to finish the kitchen!!

I've also been struggling a bit with the blogging.  I've been feeling self-conscious about "putting it out there".  I mean, who cares about what I'm doing?  I mean, even I'm bored by me.

Well, not many people know about this thing.  I don't share it with a lot of people and I figure I'll keep at it, just to keep in touch with my pals.  In fact, I should really write in this thing more.  

Thanks for keeping in touch with me, girls!  I'm going to get better about responding to your comments, too.  Just check back in the comment section :)  

Okay.  I'm going to go make some meatballs for my Zuddy.  

Balls of meat.  

Want the recipe?  I'll give it to you later this week.  It's from the cooking school where I used to work. 


Love, Mart

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I need to do some serious Dave Ramsey'ing up in here. But my crazy butt went back to get my Masters. What was I thinking?!?! If you blog, I will too!! Where did that little noodle go anyway!?!?!

Michelle said...

Ha ha! Tell your front butt "you're welcome". Trader Joe's can be dangerous in its awesomeness. Before I cut out gluten, one of our favorite quick meals was their frozen Mandarin Orange Chicken. I used to start the rice cooker when I preheated the oven and then throw a bag of cauliflower florets in the pan with the chicken for a complete meal. Tastes like Chinese take-out, and it's almost as easy.

I can't believe how grown-up Noodle looks! When we moved, she still looked slightly cherubic. Now she's all lanky and model-y looking. I'm glad you found a school that's a good fit for her.

Martha said...

Sarah? Here's what I believe you are thinking: ka-CHING! It will be awesome for your career...but OMG. I don't know how you do it. I think you're a robot. Are you? A robot?

Michelle,
Yummmmmm.....I got a bunch of Chinese entree-type meals, too! Noodle didn't go for it, but I'm going to keep trying.

I know....where did my baby noodle go?

Cutzi said...

Ugh. Dave Ramsey... Love him. But it's SOOO hard. Good job you guys. We need to get back on the wagon.

And don't worry Martz... I love you, even when you don't blog. ;-)

Janet said...

Nice to "see" you again Martha, I have missed you. Apparently while I was missing you Noodle grew up!

Thirkellgirl said...

Well, dang, you posted again! I'm happy for you about your new job. And I can't believe how old your daughter looks, which might be a function of how often you post photos of her more than my actual knowledge of how old she is. I think that's just GREAT about school this year. I was telling Mr. Thirkell the other day about you and your Hamburger Helper experience, so you have totally made it to real life dinner at the Thirkells. We've got an empty nest and you can only chat about the daughters' texts for so long...

Kim said...

Hey there! Good to see you post...I like all of your posts, even if you think that they are boring. Personally, I haven't posted on my blog since July, but I promise, promise one later this week :)

Oooo...looking forward to hearing about your new job!

Martha said...

Hi Kim, Janet and Thirks! Yes, Kim! I'm needing me a house update, girl!!

Thirks...How are your girls doing? Are they both at school?

Janet, how goes it? Miss you!

Mart

Thirkellgirl said...

Yes, I'm an empty-nester! It's pretty great, I cannot tell a lie. The house that has been tight for four people isn't bad at all for two, although I still need a personal walk-in closet. :) The years from age 9 to 18 fly by, in retrospect!

Martha said...

Thirks,

I've been thinking about how we won't have the Noodle to kick around much longer! The time is flying!

The Mermaid Cottage said...

Hi from Michigan! Please keep on blogging...I found you blog by accident and I do enjoy hearing about your life and times. Love Dave Ramsey and glad to hear that following his ideas has worked for your family to whittle down the debt...yay!!!!


Keep up the great work, Sheila

Martha said...

Sheila? I think I love you. Thanks for visiting and for your kind words :)