It's All Over

Christmas is over. The built up is done and we are in full relaxation mode. Well sort of.
To update the month of December:
-The Women's Christmas event went well. I mean, up until the actual performance, the rehearsals were not great and almost terrible. The actual events went off with only one little snafu. It was a total God thing I know because no one got it completely right during rehearsals and then its like a magic wand was waved and they got it.
-I did get my house decorated, a little, at the insistence of my eldest. Not all of the decorations got up, but that's fine with me.
-Everyone who was on my list got presents.
-I finally made some Christmas cookies (albeit on Christmas Eve).
-We did our advent calendar with the verses for every day about the Christmas Story. Its nice to have an older child who remembers to do it everyday, otherwise, we'd still be on day 5.
-We got to see the light show at the rip-you-off farm. But its worth it. My kids love it. (although the lights here are even more expensive than the light show at Hershey Park, is that saying something?) But people pay it, including us, so I guess I can't complain, I'm just shocked at how much things cost in our neck-of-the-woods.
-In complete Christmas Eve tradition, my kids were in rare form. J was cranky and fell earlier in the day resulting in a sweet fat lip and nasty cut on it. Q and B completely walking side-ways and just rude. I guess its the sugar load up, or excitement, but they were just off. They were good during church, so that was a blessing.
-My dad, in his holiday tradition, came to my house and was acting strangely on Christmas Eve. So after dinner and church, I finally decided there was definitely something wrong with him and forced him to go to the ER. He was quickly diagnosed with another brain bleed (a quite large one), and right now no longer has speech abilities. Strangely, we are very thankful that this happened on Christmas, cause initially he was talking but just 'off', and I wouldn't have picked it up over the phone. But when he began wandering around my house opening and closing cabinets, and picking up random items and getting transfixed on them, I knew something was up. It took convincing at the ER that there was actually something wrong with him, but 10minutes and one head CT later, sure enough, a large, new bleed. Incidentally, God worked miracles here too cause I thought for sure there would be a huge wait at the ER, but when we got there, the waiting area was empty. When I left an hour and half later, the waiting room was packed. I think if we had gotten there later, that they would have pushed him off because his initial exam didn't warrant any urgency.
Now he sits at Jefferson Hospital, deteriorating daily. But they tell me that it is expected, and that he should recover. I'm hoping that is true, cause right now he looks like one of those old, sad men in the nursing homes just staring into space. For the first time, he seems old and frail to me, and I hate it. My brother is in town picking up slack and ensuring there is a good plan in place for him when they discharge him. Thankful for that. Its just good timing, sort of. Scott is off for the week so I can be free to do what I need to do. I have a strange peace about it all, just knowing that God is always in control and His hand is already so evident to me in this situation.
-We had a quiet Christmas morning which, is so foreign to me. Growing up the youngest of four, living with my grandmother and parents, we always had a bustling house-full. (and later in the day we'd get together with all the cousins and that was even more happy chaos!) It was a bit strange just the 5 of us. But the kids were happy and enjoyed the festivities. And I'm thankful I was able to be home to enjoy the morning.

well, I must run. Christmas is over, I'm a bit sad. And now back to your regularly scheduled program.

Thank You God for a Sick Day?

Yesterday, I took a sick day. Sort of. I have whatever ailment the little boys have, low grade fever, congestion, just miserableness. And believe me the youngest has been a charm the last 4 days or so. He wants to be held, and not just held, but rocked/swayed, while standing. You're not allowed to sit down and hold the boy, just stand and rock while he puts his sad little head on your shoulder. It would be sweet, and it is, for just a little while. But a whole morning of this yesterday, while being under the weather myself proved to be too much for this mama. So when Scott came home with the big boys from church, I declared a sick day, and horded myself away in my room. And blessed be the sick day. I took an hour and half nap, then watched at least 4 hours of Food Network. Then I ponied up and got out of bed when I heard my beloved starting to lose his mind with the youngest. Although, Scott being the resourceful man he is, put the kid in the backpack and went about his Sunday afternoon routine of laundry and trash and football watching. There was only so much he could take, which I can have sympathy for, so I undeclared the sick day and went back to work.
But honestly, I did love my long afternoon of being sick. I still feel rather crudy, but I guess mom's don't get more than 5 hours of "PTO" at time. And it was enough. I guess sick days are needed and good. As long as there are no stomach virus involved, in that case, what's a sick day, and who needs it. That's not worth it, ever.

I guess its time for a post.

But I have nothing to write.
I could go on and on about my pintrest observations (like what the heck is up with mustaches?).
I could write a moving post about Christmas, and how we are planning to keep the focus on Christ. And I could shame you into not acknowledging santa (except we do the santa thing, and see nothing wrong with it). But I won't bore you with those things.
Truth is, I'm trudging through my days, and I'm not motivated to do much. I finally got some Christmas decorations out. I have 4 presents bought. I have plans for getting a tree this weekend. But we shall see if it happens. And I just realized that Christmas is two weeks away. This always happens to me.

My mind and time has been occupied with more important things such as: the MOST AWESOME WOMEN'S CHRISTMAS EVENT THAT EVER WAS AND EVER SHALL BE! HA!(and that IS the title of the event too. Not really.)

The women's Christmas event at church, is this Friday and Saturday. I have been helping organizing the program and it has done the following to me.
-Made me crazy.
-Taught me a load of lessons when it comes to putting on a musical production of any type.
-Kept me up at night.
-Shown me how to not sweat the small stuff and God will work out details.
-Taught me how to roll with the punches and have plans B,C, D and E at the ready. No lie, I have had to alter my plans for this event so much.
-That it really is a privilege to be apart of an outreach event like this. I may not know if this event and its content will bring anyone to know Christ. But if it does, what an awesome privilege it is to be apart of that.
-Music does something to me. Even though I'm not singing in this event, when I listen to the words being sung and the musicians playing their instruments, gosh! I am overwhelmed. There's this little piece inside of me that ignites. (I hate poetic jargon like that, but there is truly no other way to describe it.). I know some or most people don't know what I'm talking about. Music speaks to me sometimes in ways nothing else can.
-Taught me a lot about myself. Like, how much I hate responsibility and hard work. For reals. I hate deadlines and making decisions.
-I am thankful for the opportunity to do something I was so passionate about not so long ago. I pray that someone else's heart ignites when they hear the message of the music and monologues.
I would covet your prayers too that this event would be a success in that someones heart is moved for God.

So maybe one day next year, I'll have something more to write. But if I don't. Have a merry Christmas!

Better Than A Baby Gate

I hate baby gates. But alas, they are needed in my house. seeing as we have a baby and all, and places/steps to keep the baby out of. I have a funky short stair case in our basement, that is impossible to gate off because there is no wall on one side. J LOVES to run to these steps and climb them as soon has his little knees and hands hit the floor. Its an exhausting game he likes to play and I was putting up barricades made out of the toy box and ottoman's to keep him from them. But he usually finds a way to get around even my best attempts. What is a mama to do?
Enter the Zhu Zhu Pet


My big boys love Zhu Zhu pets. They are mechanical little hamster rodents things. J has somehow developed a huge fear of the things. I'm not sure how. They big boys were playing with theirs one day, and J got panicked and scooted quickly away from the Zhu Zhu, screaming and with general fear/panic written across his face. This happened sometime ago, and I forgot about it. Until, last week, as the toy box was barricading the steps and J was standing next to it, the Zhu Zhu started making noise from the depths of the box. J freaked and made a bee line to my side. Hmm. An idea struck me and I experimented. I placed the zhu zhu pet on the second step, and J refused to go near the steps at all. I enjoyed 20 minutes of bliss sitting in the basement without having to get up a thousand times to get him off the steps. He just stayed away from the steps. (I'm wondering if it is wrong for me to capitalize on my baby's fear of a mechanical toy). But anyway, I tried it on the upstairs stairs and it worked as well.

So for now, my zhu zhu pet (named Rocky), is my new, very effective baby gate. I'm thinking about purchasing a couple more to make Christmas tree barricade.

On the Road to Organization

I might be on my way to organized. I'm afraid to say it, cause I'm famous for saying things like, "I'm really going to start exercising regularly." "I'm going to go on a diet." "I'm going to be organized." Well today, at least there is about 1% of my life is organized as of now. Last Saturday, I organized my linen closet (all by my self!). I so wish I had taken before and after pictures. It is a thing of beauty to me, and I want to live in it. I got rid of at least a dozen bath towels. I had to part with them, they didn't match my decor in either bathroom, and they were as old as my marriage. We prefer white bath towels that you can bleach anyway. Once I got rid of my collection of bath towels, the rest was easy! You can even find a wash cloth! Yippee!
And the biggest bonus, when you open the door, 5 floor mopping devices don't attack you. (I also threw out 4 mops--I have tried everything for my wood floors, and nothing does a good job, so I just stuck with the one the floor manufacturer recommends).
Its so exciting to have something look organized. I keep walking past it and opening the door and peek in. Just for a sense of accomplishment. AND it has stayed organized for a whole week! And it got me in the mood to do more. On Wednesday, I even turned down a friend's invitation to come play so I could work on my kitchen. Well, I did the kitchen and the whole great room and it looked GREAT! For about 2 hours. It made me sad to see the mess happen again. But that's what happens to a kitchen when you have a family. One day it will all be a nice, clean, organized space all the time, and I will be a sad, lonely, mama in her empty nest.
(But I can still try not to live in complete chaos right now right?)

Organized? Wha?

Me and the word organization are not two words that ever appear in a sentence together. I am not organized in the least bit. My words are not organized, thoughts aren't, I dream in unorganized craziness. When I see an organized home, I want to mess it up, just to mess with the organized person. Not really. But I would want to see what would happen if something got out of place with an organized person. I rebel against organization, I like to fly by the seat of my pants, unplanned and roll with it. Well, I should say, I USED to like to live this way. Lately, I find myself craving organization. My life is chaos everyday now, and I don't really like it anymore. In fact, things get a little too fly by the seat of my pants, and I feel like I'm doing everyone (including myself)a disservice by clinging to my old way of life. Now, thanks to pintrest and its plethora of pictures of beautiful-organized laundry rooms, I am craving to be organized, but where do I start?
By recognizing the organization that I have come into on my own and how it makes my life easier.
Such as,
-Only buying white socks for the kids, so finding pairs is easy peazy.
-Having a day designated to doing grocery shopping and laundry.
-Meal plans.
-making lists.

My husband happens to be the engineering type personality and is or used to be extremely organized. His system for laundry is so great, that I submitted that responsibility over to him years ago. His spaces (his closet, dresser, garage and shed), are organized and pretty to look at (at least until I am cleaning up for guests and just shove all the superfluous junk laying around the house into his beautiful organized spaces and then it looks like the rest of the cluttered mess that is my house). He's just better at it. In fact, he is the one who will, upon me asking him to help put away groceries, start purging and organizing all the cupboards and pantry. (I should re-work my grocery shopping so he's home all the time when I bring them home, it would make things easier, right? If only.) He has offered to organize the linen closet, and I will angrily say "NO THANKS!" Taking it as an insult to my homemaking skills. As if they are stellar, and I am actually good at it.
Maybe I should start there. Ask for his help. It is his strong suit. And that linen closet is bad. You can't open it without stuff falling on your head...and you can't close it all the way, due to the vacuum just thrown in there. Yes, I think that's a good jumping off place.

Birthday!

The Cake! Because my awesome sister convinced me when Q was a year old to do themed birthday parties, I now do them every year. Every birthday party, I always get stressed making the cake. I ask myself why I do it every year, but when its done, I'm mostly happy I did it, and I will continue to make them themed cakes, till they ask me not to. I do enjoy baking and planning the cake, but I always am rushed when it comes to decorating. This time was no different. I did learn from my mistakes and I made my own icing and that is ALWAYS worth it. With B's monster truck cake, I used canned icing and it was a certifiable cake wreck.








This is the first taste of cake our J has had, and he loved the icing. When he made it through the layer of icing to the cake, he spit it out like and looked at his hand like, "what the...?"
Scott made the food which was yummy. He grilled marinated chicken and made sandwiches with feta cheese and bacon on top, on a ciabatta roll with some fresh spinach. It was delicious. It was also hilarious, because we were in the middle of a snowstorm with some really heavy, wet snow and my precious Scott was out back grilling chicken. I felt bad for him. He is a man dedicated to good food. If the food were left up to me, I would have tossed it on the griddle inside and crossed my fingers that it turned out OK.
J got some cute toys that he played with that day and loved. However, he has not touched them since. He continues to enjoy racing me to the stairs to climb them, and opening my cupboards and emptying them. Also another of his favorite activities is opening the lazy susan and pinching his fingers in there, multiple times a day.
The best things in life are free, right?

It was a fun day! I am still in shock that I have a one year old!!

He Made it a Whole Year

My bitty baby is now a year old. He survived the year, something on occasion ,I wondered if he would. Cause with the two big boys constantly in his face spreading the plague and H1N1 germs, one of them picking him up and dropping him on his head, a spill out the front door thanks to a big brother, another whom thought it was funny to push him over when he got to a standing position, I thought the idea of him NOT making it to his first birthday was a slight possiblity.
Exhibit A: After falling out the front door.


But thank you Lord! He's still here. And he's so cute.
Exhibit B: Cute!


I find myself when I scoop him out of the carseat, or the crib so thankful that God has blessed me with my third little boy. His soft little head, and giant blue eyes make me want to kiss him all over. And I do. He'll only tolerate the kissing for a short time, so I will kiss him all I want for now.
I'm sad a little. He was so teensey compared to the other two, now I think he surpases them both at a year old.
Today we went to lunch with Grandma (B, J and me). To celebrate a little early, I let Gram give him her ice cream cone. It was hilarious. I usually save sweets for the first birthday, so this was appropriate, and he thoroughly enjoyed it. We'll see how his stomach enjoys it in a little while (the kid is lactose intolerant).
Exhibit C: First Icecream.



At one year J:
-Eats well, only table food. When he doesn't want to eat, the food gets thrown on the floor in a violent fashion.
-Sleeps through the night. (although last night he woke up at 1 am to celebrate his birthday a little early).
-Takes two solid naps most days.
-Is constantly on the go. Climbing stairs, crawling everywhere, pulling up to stand.
-Says "uh oh" consistently after he drops something (all of my boys have done this as a first word of sorts). And that's it. A few weeks ago, I thought he said 'ball', but he hasn't said it since. He does say "bye" sort of, and "Dad", but not consistently.
-Claps his hands on demand only sometimes.
-Does "so big" only sometimes.
-Favors Daddy.
-Loves music. He dances when his groove comes on the radio, and after you sing him a song, he sings one back. Its really cute, and I keep trying to get it on camera/video, but he's camera shy.
-Is quite extreme in his reactions to things. Goes from zero to crankfest in 3 seconds.
-Continues to be high maintenance from the hours of 4pm till bedtime. Which is my most favorite time of day.
-The kid is fearless! (except he is now afraid of the bathtub and I can't figure out why). He crawls up the playground equipment across the street and goes down the slide head first without stopping. I'm scared at what he'll do walking!
-He's a blessing! Although somewhat unexpected, he was probably the most healing gift God has given me. The day I found out I was pregnant with him, God removed so much anger from my heart. In an instant. His name means gift of God, and he truly is a gift. All my kids are gifts. I know. I was desperately trying for B and Q. God's timing with J was perfect. He was born just after my mom was finishing chemo, so she could be around to help, and so I would be able to go to appointments with her without lugging a newborn, or trying to find a sitter for 3 boys. He has been a delight (most days)
I am shocked that a year has gone by. I do miss my tiny baby. I cannot bare to post a picture of him as a newborn, cause it gives me the fever. And I know that makes me crazy to want another one.

Pinterest Observations

So after being on pinterest a while now, I have noted the following:

1. What is up with owls? Who died and decided they are the 'in' thing now?
2. Same thing with all things S'mores? S'mores are good and all, but really?
3. I am not in any way fashion forward, nor do I care to be. Nor do I want to spend time dreaming up outfits and searching them on the Internet. I just bought a pair of 'skinny jeans', that's about as current as I get.
4. Ruffles are apparently in, as well as boots. (I have to admit that I have recently bought several ruffled shirts to go with my skinny jeans, I hope I can pull it off).
5. Grey is the new wall color of choice. (I happen to like this one and will most likely be painting my whole house this color shortly).
6. Tiny animals are all the rage.
7. People have too much time on their hands if they are decorating their laundry rooms. I should take a picture of mine and post it on there, just to get reaction.
8. I wish I could get remarried so I can do all the cool ideas out their for weddings these days. (Relax, I'll just marry Scott all over again, after all, he IS my best friend and all;)
9. Mason jars are 'in'. Good thing too, cause I own a lot. (does that make me cool?)
10. I also found out thru Pinterest that Janet, does not like buttons. She's weird.

I Just Joined Pinterest

I have been wanting to 'join' pinterest for a while. I get on there and look at every one's pins at least once a day, and its interesting and fun. Well, I finally bit the bullet and clicked on the "request an invitation" link. Request an invitation? Like its some exclusive club that I have to pledge for. Irk #1.
Then when I filled out the 'request form', it put me on a waiting list. Irk #2. Really, a wait list for this exclusive club, pshaw!(if that's how you spell it). After I got that message, I was greatly displeased and thought, whatever! I ain't joining.
Then I was looking on pinterest and really wanted to pin something I saw, but alas, I could not. For I was not a member. So, I whined to Shay who sent me a private invitation to join. This when I got irk #3.
When I got Shay's invite to pintrest, I could immediately sign up (its all in who you know!). Well, when I went to sign up, there's NO way to join if you don't have a gosh darn Facebook or Twitter account (and shay, I actually e-mailed Pinterest to find out). I believe my words at this news included expletives. Bad words I can't type. Or abbreviate. But you get what I mean.
Then I was all set NOT to join Pinterest just on principle. But it happened again. I was looking at something cool and wanted to 'pin' it, and I couldn't. So what did I do?
I joined freakin' Twitter. I'm that desperate to join Pinterest.

I'm even more convinced now that Facebook will somehow rule the world and take it down with one fell keystroke one day. (I'll send a tweet when it happens).

The Sixth Family Member

Lately, Q has taken to drawing pictures. Lots and lots of pictures, and they are mainly of his family. Or construction vehicles. But the pictures of his family are the most encouraging to me. In 90% of his drawings of his family, there are six people present. Dad, Mom holding J, Q, and B and the biggest family member is God. Lord, how thankful I am that YOU are that real to Q.

Two weeks ago, Q drew pictures of the family (six in all). Each had its own piece of paper which he taped to the basement walls and ceiling using bandage tape.
Don't you know, they all fell down the next day, expect for one. This one.


Q picked up on it right away. "Look MOM! Only God's picture stayed up!" I wish I had said something as to why I thought that was so, or made a big object lesson of it, but I didn't. I let the picture stay up. Its still there now.

I love how God speaks to me through my kids sometimes. Knowing that I am in God's family is so awesome. Knowing that God is that real to Q too, beyond words. I'm thankful.

Whirlwind Weekend

This weekend, Q had a four day holiday. I had, months ago, thought to schedule something to do as a family. Like, a mini-vacation to the beach or something. But then I ended up blowing money at the dentist! Yuck. Both boys went this time, and you have to pay out of pocket and then get reimbursed at our awesome ped's dentist. (which Scott has now banned me from...like I secretly bought a Coach bag there or something). But it was a big bill, huge really, and it squashed my dreams of a weekend away. But then we got our reimbursement back from our insurance company, and it ignited my dream once again. So in a last minute effort, I tried but failed to find a place to rent to get away to. (but I have a lot of leads for some fun places to try next time we have a long weekend to piddle away some cash).
But! I could not fathom staying home all four days and not do anything so we did the following:
1. Went to the Zoo. (for free! My mom has a pass). This was cool.
2. Had dinner with my Dad (for free! He felt he needed to pay Scott back for the hours of work he has done for him lately. And well, hey, I'll help him ease his guilt by going to dinner).
3. Had breakfast out.
4. Went to the Crayola Factory, which the kids thoroughly enjoyed.
5. Had 10 people over to watch the first Phillies game of the playoffs.
(I haven't had people over in ages, but I felt like we needed to do it so we could get to know people in our care ring better and it went OK! I actually enjoyed myself.)
6. Went to church.
7. Did nothing on a Sunday afternoon and enjoyed it.

I almost convinced Scott that we should go apple picking on Sunday. But when I mentioned it, he looked at me like I had two heads and asked nicely if we could just stay home and relax. So we did. I was glad we did too cause the boys took long naps and I did get a chance to chill for a bit.
It was a busy weekend. Next weekend, I will be by myself with the three kids. We shall see how that goes.!

Thank Me Later Thursday!

So, its Thursday, and I thought I'd bless you again with my geniusness (and sarcasm).
Today, its a practical thing for food storage.
Again, this is not an original idea, my friend Barb introduced me to it.
I was at her house and she was cooking us some burgers and grabbed her ground meat out of the freezer to thaw and it looked like this.



"What? That's genius Barb!" I said. I couldn't wait to get home and buy 5lbs of ground meat to employ my new method of meat freezing!
Instead of leaving the meat in the brick-like form that it is when you buy it, you put it in a zip lock bag and squash it into a thin disk. This aids in a quicker thawing, and more space in your freezer! I'm sure everyone else knows about this, but I just found out about it, and was so happy about this new method of ground meat storage I had to share it just in case you didn't know about it. Seriously, it thaws sooo fast this way.

Now, what to do with your thawed ground meat? The possibilities are endless.
Meatloaf, mini-meatloaves, meatballs, sloppy joes, Shepard's pie, tacos, chili, soup. I always have a ton of ground beef and ground turkey in the freezer.

Here is a completely original recipe I make and my kids LOVE. Really love, like, "Oh MOM! You made Turkey Meatloaf?!! I love you." (if you know my kids and their eating habits, you know this must be some good meatloaf. Scott and I like it, its not gourmet, but tasty and healthy. And honestly, I find great joy when my kids eat my food and like it and ask for more, it makes food taste better.

Kate's Kid Lovin Turkey Meatloaf.

About a pound or more of ground turkey
1 egg
3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
1tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp poultry seasoning
1 apple peeled and grated
1 carrot peeled and grated
1/2 or less a small onion peeled and grated ( probably use less, cause the onion can get overpowering and yuck!)
1/2 cup or more grated cheddar cheese

Mix all that stuff together in a bowl and toss it with your hands till well combined. Now you can slap it on a roasting pan or a lipped cookie sheet (line it with foil first so you don't have to clean up later.) and form it into a loaf (don't put it in a loaf pan, the fat won't escape and it will be nasty and take for ever to cook) Bake at 375 till its done. I use a meat thermometer to know when it's done. It takes about 45 minutes. (ground turkey is done when a meat thermometer reads 165')
OR
You can spoon it into muffin cups sprayed with cooking spray. Bake for about 15 minutes. (again check for doneness).
Sometimes, Scott will make a glaze for the top, which I will put on half of the loaf, cause the kids don't like ketchup.
He mixes ketchup, honey, hot sauce and cumin together and slathers it on. I don't know how much he uses, but just start out with about a 1/4 cup ketchup a couple tablespoons of honey and hot sauce and cumin to taste.
Or you could put more cheese on top at the end and bake it a little longer to melt the cheese.
Tasty Stuff.

You can thank me later.

Have Mercy!

My almost 11 month old baby boy J has learned two things this week. Two things which make me nervous.
He can now climb the stairs.
He can also squirm out of the belt in the shopping cart.
I found this out by turning around in Target to look at something, only to turn back around to find him standing up, facing backwards in the cart. This is not a good thing. Q never did this. B did, but not till later.
This child is much more gross motor advanced than the other two, by all means. (B was still seeing an occupational therapist for his "delay" at this point).
I have a tradition of doing a first birthday theme based on the child's first word. Well, I have a month til J's birthday, and he has yet to say a word. He is too busy being 'busy' to talk. I'm scared. Scared that he will be walking in two weeks and climbing out of the crib in three weeks. Ha! Have mercy!

Look at him! Doesn't he just look like trouble?

You can thank me later.

Because today is Thursday, I thought I'd do a fun if not sarcastic post to share some awesome thoughts, genius ideas or genius mistakes with you. If I feel like it, it may become a regular thing. Cause I'm such a popular blogger, HA! and cause I'm awesome and all, these are the posts you will thank me for writing! But you can thank me later!

Today I will inform you of two great recipes I have stumbled upon via the Internet or iPhone app (which is the Internet, but I had to slip it in there so maybe one day Apple will thank me later for mentioning their awesome product with more of their awesome products. HA! really, I know, sarcasm is flowing today.)

This recipe I found on a bloggy linky thingy, which I cannot find the link for now, so please forgive me original recipe writer, but it was too delicious not to share it with my 4 blog readers. Karen, Shay, Janet and maybe one other person here or there that leaves me a comment.

Cranberry Pork Roast
(for your crock pot)

Ingredients:
1 pork roast or pork tenderloin
1 onion, sliced
1 can whole berry cranberry sauce
1 packet of onion soup mix
1 crock pot.
Directions:
1. Spread the sliced onion on the bottom of your slow cooker.
2. Take your pork roast and sprinkle it with salt and pepper.
Place the roast on top of the onions in the crock pot.
3. Sprinkle the entire packet of soup mix on the meat.
4.Mix up the can of cranberry sauce so its easier to spread and spread it on top of the meat.
5. Put the lid on your crock pot and turn it on to low for 6 hours. Or more if you have a gihugic roast. Less if you're using a tenderloin.

When its done carefully remove the roast from the crock pot so you don't lose all the cranberry sauce. You then slice and serve. Or make the gravy from the juices left in the pot. Its super easy. Strain the liquid left in the pot. In a pan melt a tablespoon of butter over medium heat, then add a tablespoon of flour to make a roux, let that cook a little bit then add the juices and let it simmer till it becomes a thicker gravy. I feel like the gravy is the best part, but you don't need to make it, just slop some of the juice on top of the pork when you serve it. Its delicious. Trust me. Its easy and good, what more do you want?
I served it with egg noodles. (bonus added, my kids ate it without gagging, so its worth it, right?)

And one more:

From Allrecipes:
Marinated pork tenderloin
This one is really easy but really good. I didn't have onion powder so I used about 1/4 onion finely minced and oj instead of sherry. Marinated it about 4 hours and it was tasty. The kids ate it willingly and asked for more (well, B and J did, Q never asks for more of anything unless its a chicken nugget).


Ok, go make yourself some pork goodness and thank me later.
(oh and dude, if you feel like sharing something you want me to thank YOU later for, by all means, leave a comment and direct me to your post.)

Reset

I have recently been wishing I had a reset button. Or a reboot button. A button that would take me back to my factory installed condition, erase my history. To just start over. To start over fresh, without bad habits, bad attitudes, my anger. The anger that sits beneath the surface of my skin every day, waiting to rage out at any infraction someone (most likely, a loved one)can make. I'm tired of it.
Tired of stomping around. Tired of yelling. Tired. Of. Myself.
I don't know what has made me an angry person. I don't have a big event that has caused me to become angry. I could blame my parents, cause that's a popular, acceptable thing to do. But I won't. Its not their fault. They never put me to bed without supper, nor did atrocious things to me. They loved me how they knew how. I WISH I could pass the blame, but I can't, and if I could, I wouldn't. I need to accept responsibility that I have created my own messes and attitudes.
But really, I wish I could start over. Just to get out of the awful lazy habits that I have. And out of the angry habits that I have. Like yelling and stomping my feet and giving people the cold shoulder. (I'm realizing here, I act more like my 3 year old than I should). Breaking habits is impossible for me.
I am reminded that the Bible says nothing is impossible with God, and I can do all things with Christ who gives me strength. I have seen God do the impossible, seen it in my husband, my mom, my friends. I have experienced His awesomeness myself even. But when it comes to this anger that I have, and my habits resulting from this anger, I keep waiting for God to flip the switch in me. Open my eyes and heart and smooth everything over. I know He can do it. Why not right now? Am I not doing something right?
Bleh. Just wish I could not be angry all the time. Or maybe, if I have to be angry, I wish I could just not yell. Or not say dumb things to my dearest patient husband. Or eat a whole batch of cookies.

B's First Day of School

I had to write a post just for him, so I don't accuse myself of being partial to one kid or the others.

B had his first day of preschool on Tuesday. He was really looking forward to school. We have driven past the church that houses his preschool and they have an "awesome" playground (according to B), and he kept talking about going. Last week was orientation and he was sad he only got to stay for a half hour. After the orientation, he kept telling me "Mom, I want you to take me to school and leave me there. Then you leave for a looong time." Ok kid, no problem. It was funny how different this first day of preschool was for me. First of all, at the orientation, I felt like all the kids there were too young. Oddly, B seemed like an old man to me compared to the kids in there. I couldn't understand some of the kids speech, and they just seemed soo young. I don't know why. I also was the 'old mom' this time. When I took Q to 3 year old preschool, I was definitely among the young-mom crowd. Even though that was only 3 years ago.
Then, when I dropped him off, he was the ONLY kid not clinging to their mother and crying like a baby. Truly. Q cried his eyes out when I left him there the first time. B has the same teachers Q had, which is fine with me. And they are doing the same thing curriculum wise as they did 3 years ago.
One thing about B that surprises me is, as much of a talker as this kid is, he gets quiet when he's nervous or anxious. When he was in the hospital for the quarter removal, he said maybe 3 words the whole 12 hours of the ordeal. I thought it was because he was in pain. But I noticed the other day when I took him to the dentist for the first time, he didn't say a word then either. Despite their efforts to chat him up, he only shook his head yes or no.
I think he was nervous about school once he got there, cause he told me later they asked him why he was so quiet.
Any way, when I dropped him off, he didn't hug me good-bye and I only got a picture of the back of his head as he was hanging up his back pack and heading in the class room, he didn't even turn around to see if I was gone, nervous or not.
When I picked him up, he was happy to see me, and didn't stop talking about it.
He was most excited about the cars and the playground at school. He informed me that "I went on the bikes at school! And I didn't even throw up!" (back story: A couple weeks ago, an older girl at the playground across the street, spun him around on the tire swing so much that he threw up. The bikes at school are on a merry-go-round type thing so they just ride in circles.)
He was happy to take a nap after lunch. When I had to wake him up to get Q from school, he instantly started talking about his day at school again. It was cute.
A good day for my little guy.
Scott kept asking me how my "day off" was. Why he thinks having B at school for 2.5 hrs is a day off, I don't know. However, I did waste that ENTIRE time on the computer...sorta like I'm doing now.

What We've Been Up To (in pictures)

Another first day of school.

Q's birthday at the game!

(Can you tell Q was scared in this picture. They were having batting practice and the balls were flying into our sections and he was nervous they'd hit us. I was too!)
Hitting the beach and boardwalk!

Ah, Quit yer Belly Achin'!

Everyone knows I am a complainer. I like to think that I just am analytical and analyze things and point out errors, and suggest ways of improvement for people, as my service to man. But, alas, when I observe this behavior in others, it is annoying to say the least. So, I am trying hard not to complain.

Church yesterday was an eye opening experience for me in this area. Now, our church has been blessed with a large children's ministry that I happen to love. Of course there are probably areas that need improvement, but coming from where I came from, its awesome. I have no complaints. I feel like our kids ministry was being pressured to change up its ways to accommodate its continual growth. So yesterday, they rolled out a brand new children's church. I knew it would be a mess yesterday, I came prepared for chaos, and it was. I tried to check in my kids and they didn't have all of mine listed, but we slapped a sticker on Q and sent him on his way. No biggie. But let me just say, I was sad to hear so many people whining about the process and all the changes. It was discouraging to hear the complaints. And I can only imagine how the people who are working in children's ministries must feel when the catch the comments that were freely flying yesterday in the halls. I made note how stressed all the volunteer's seemed, and felt compassion for them rather than my usual criticism that swirls in my brain and off my tongue. That's weird and different for me. I just thought that these people are trying their best to accommodate the needs of a growing church and it can't be easy.

The sermon yesterday was also a changing and inspiring experience for me. It was a guest speaker, and honestly at first I was disappointed and started making plans in my head to 'check' on J and go to the bathroom to escape him. However, he was a great speaker and I was inspired. He said something about not being in a rut (which I most likely am in), and to stop complaining and to turn it around and be grateful of the things you get to do for Christ. Instead of saying, "I have to (x,y,z...)" say, "I GET to (x, y,z...)". I've already done that a couple of times this morning and it does wonders for my attitude.

On a similar note, I have had some conversations with some young people complaining about this and that about church. Scott and I sort of clam up when that complaining starts cause we know better. We've come from some bad preaching, and have experienced so much worse, that we are truly thankful and appreciative of most things about church. Hey, we get to GO to church and have fellowship (even though that I have complained about the lack of fellowship in the past). My sister doesn't get this privilege. I do have community there (even though its not the same as before). But I do get to go and experience great biblical preaching, solid worship/music and some really great friends there. I guess having perspective is a good thing at helping you realize what you do have. I'm so guilty of complaining about things, and often get caught up in my complaints. I just need to quit it. And start being thankful and appreciative and if I can't do that, I should just be quiet. Right? Right.

Changes

With Q in school all day, several things have changed.
Our morning routine is back and as chaotic as ever from the get go. Q was so excited to start first grade the first couple of days went relatively smoothly. Today however, he did not want to get out of bed. And announced that, "School is not fun anymore!". Dear, its only day 5. And he hasn't even started getting homework yet. (P.S., Thank you dear teacher, for not giving him homework yet). He is so tired when he gets home from school, I don't know how getting him to do homework would go.
B has changed, or I have noticed more about B in the last week since Q is not around. He is so chatty. He also notices J a whole lot more. He's in his face and on his back (literally), a whole lot more. Before last week, I was constantly telling Q to get off J or get out of his face and now Q has passed that brotherly responsibility to B. Fun. B is more and more craving and asking for my attention. Strange.
I miss Q a ton. I'm sure it will get better once I get used to him not being here. But for now, I fee like I'm missing a part of me. He's not here to help me clean and isn't around to shut the van door when we all pile out. I miss his company sometimes too.
The school schedule is messing up nap schedules. Which is not good for anyone. I have to find someone to pick Q up. I need to make friend with some neighbors whom I can share this responsibility with.

There are more changes: however, MY iPHONE JUST ARRIVED AND I MUST GO PLAY!

Gibreckle

Random Tid Bits that I keep thinking about.

-I ordered an iPhone on Friday. I saved my pennies for months and got a $100 rebate for trading in my old 'dumb' phone. I'm stoked about it. I only wanted it cause I think it'd be cool to have. I'm not going to lie and say because I "needed" it for some reason. In order to justify it, I'm cutting my budgeted "blow" money to pay for the darn 'data package'. It really is ridiculous to spend so much money on a 'toy'. But
Its sorta my attempt to stay up with technology, because I don't facebook.

-J is no longer my sweet baby. He's turned into a rather rough little guy, whom everyone is somewhat afraid of. He bites, and scratches and doesn't want to be held. He's army crawling and pulling up on things. And I'm a little worried what the future might hold for this brazen little J. The big boys don't like that he is constantly deconstructing their creations. But all babies do that right? He's not abnormal right?

-B will start 2 days of preschool next week. Already the paperwork for him has started coming in and now with two kids in school, I have so much paperwork and things to keep track of, its a little crazy. I wonder what it will be like when all three are in three different schools (cause that will happen one day).

-With Q in school all day, I feel like I'm missing a part of me. Its really going to take time to adjust to. B is having a hard time adjusting to so much alone time. B is a big time talker. I never really noticed it before, but when you get alone with B, he will talk your ear off. I wonder if Q was the recipient of it, or if Q did a good job of bossing him around enough that B didn't talk as much. B is constantly saying "Hey Mom!" Sometimes followed by a question, but mostly a request for a snack or "did you know that...".

-We went to the beach on Saturday for the afternoon and evening and it went really well. Its the first time (other than family vaca) that we've been there all summer. I was dreading going cause, taking a baby to the beach isn't all that fun to me. But we went late enough that we got to the beach at 4pm (read: did not apply sunscreen to 2/3 of the kids), played for 2.5 hours then hit the boardwalk for dinner and rides.(J had a ton of fun in the sand). I was surprised at how fun it was. Scott was surprised that I wasn't begging to go home by 6pm (and therefore only put in enough money in the meter to leave at 9pm). The kids loved it. I'm wanting to go back so bad.

-I haven't been to church in a month. Between visiting friends, a hurricane closing down church and J being sick, I haven't been able to get there. I miss it.

-I decided to switch bible study again to a day that works better for My schedule. I will seriously miss the ladies in my old study. But I have good friends in the new one (which is an old one), so hopefully I won't miss the old one too much. confused?

-We are taking Q to see a Phillies game tonight, which was rescheduled from last Saturday (Irene). It's for his birthday and we got the package that puts his name up on the scoreboard. I HOPE and PRAY it doesn't rain (its forcasted to). Q has a history of being at a game and it down pouring and getting stuck in a thunderstorm. It has scarred him for life and I would hate for it to happen again. Plus, he turns into a bit of a baby at any chance of rain in the sky. On a side note and post for another day: I think I may have turned Q into a minime and he is annoyingly afraid of any type of weather.

-I have lots swirling around in my brain, but I need to end this boring long post of mine.

First Day of School

The day has approached. Its Q's 6th birthday, and the first day of first grade!
He was so excited for both events to come. When he woke up this morning, he came down to the kitchen, and Scott and I both exclaimed a "Happy Birthday." He put his hand in the air and said wait a minute. Then ran to my bedroom grabbed my scale and brought it to the kitchen and weighed himself. I'm not sure why he thought that it was a must do on his birthday, but he was delighted that he weighed 47 pounds.
I then made him a birthday stack of pancakes (chocolate chip ones from scratch!), and a glass of soy milk. He had such a hard time eating his pancakes because he was so excited and could not focus on eating. I then proceeded to ice 17 cupcakes for his new friends at school, make his lunch, dress the other two boys and dry my hair. I only screamed at them one time to hurry up. We were NOT late for school, but just in time. I was bummed cause I wanted a little extra time to get him settled into his new room.
The school is a mess, they are in the midst of major construction and there are no ceilings in the hallway. His teacher was cute, she gave them all hard hats on their desks. There is a "Kids at Work" theme throughout the building. Its sorta cute if you can ignore the fact that the PA system speakers are hanging down from the ceiling.
As I was driving Q to school, sadness overwhelmed my heart. I still do not think that he should be away from me so much. I choked down tears determined NOT to let Q see me sad. That would be the worst thing I could do is get him sad to go to school and then the both of us would be sitting there sobbing. I prayed God would let me keep it together. I did. Here I was dragging cupcakes, a baby and a 3 year old into his class room. I did manage to get 2 pictures, lousy as they are.
I am still so sad he's not here. I miss him. I'll miss him more at lunch time and the afternoon when it was just him and me to play games while the other two were sleeping.
If this whole thing isn't a reminder to savor the moments with your babies and make the most of the time you have with them, I don't know what is.
Oh and did I mention that he lost his first tooth on Friday?

My Donna Reed Moments: The Peach Addition

Several weekends ago, Scott had a wonderful idea to do a family day excursion. I was game and so we packed up the mini-van and headed out to a state park in Jersey had a picnic, then headed to an orchard and picked peaches.
This orchard had two varieties, yellow and white peaches. The trees were heavy with fruit and the peaches were huge. We quickly filled a large basket (I think its a bushel) with fruit. It was easy pickins. When we brought it back to weigh, it was 20+ pounds of peaches. Now keep in mind, I cannot eat a fresh peach. Scott had NEVER eaten a fresh peach in his life (something about the fuzz prevented him from eating it)and still won't eat a fresh peach. My kids, will eat maybe one peach in a couple of days. They don't like the slimyness of them or something, they'll take a bite or two and be done with them. So I said to myself, "Now you are NOT going to let these beautiful peaches go to waste." I love peaches, all things about them, but I cannot eat them anymore without my mouth breaking out in blisters and my whole throat itching and other bizarre events occurring. So, I was unsure what to do with the 20lbs of fruit we had collected. (Peach picking was fun, and I should have stopped at say maybe 5 lbs, but we were killing time and it seemed like a good idea at the time).
I had been wanting to try canning. My sister Kristen showed me how to do the process and even bought me some of the crazy canning implements needed to do such a thing. Canning intimidates me. Its seems like a lot of steps. And honestly, its sorta expensive if you don't have all the stuff and grow your own crops. But, I threw caution to the wind and tried some canning.
I made two kinds. Freezer jam, which was easier, did not require boiling of jars and that sort of fuss but, it did not set. However, the product was tasty, and because the sugar broke it down a bit, I could eat a tiny bit of the slurry without breaking out.
Then I made low sugar jam in real glass jars. And boiled them. And the end result was some tasty, actually really delicious, peach jam. But I think its only delicious cause I made it. However, as good as it was, I don't think I'll do peach jam or anything peach ever again. For several reasons:
1. Peaches are an ass pain to peel and prepare.
2. Apparently, I cannot handle mass amount of peaches with my hands either, cause they were a red, itchy mess when I was done with the whole process.
3. I still have about 8lbs of peaches left over, and I will most likely put them in a fattening peach cake or my grandmothers dutch peach cobbler and blow my Weight Watchers points in about 30seconds.
4. Peaches are an ass pain to peel and prepare.

Behold the peachy peachness I have created! (this is about half of what I made).


As you can tell, it is quite amatuear hour peach jam. I would probably rather use my awesome KitchenAid food processor next time (if there were to be a next time), and I'm not sure why I didn't use it. Scott asked me AFTER I was done, why I didn't use it, and I didn't have an answer for him. The recipe called for finely chopped peaches and the food processor does that, but I thought it would turn them to mush.


And so my Donna Reed intentions were good, however, probably not worth it in the end.

2 Weeks From Today

I cannot help myself. I think too much, and worry too much and get caught up analyzing what ifs and generally make myself miserable trying to cover every base. My latest new area of concern is Q going to school. Two weeks from today he starts... First grade. He'll be away from me for almost more time than he is with me awake. I find myself staring at him and noticing how cute and innocent he still is. I worry that the world will ruin him. Worry that he'll care too much what everyone else thinks of him, worry that he'll not like being with us anymore. I worry that I should have held him back a year since he just makes the cut off date by a day. I worry that someone will hurt his feelings, that he won't make friends, that someone will make fun of him, that he'll not eat his lunch and starve to death. I worry that he'll not know what to do at lunch time since we were on vacation when they took the kindergarten's down to the lunch room to show them the ropes. I worry that he won't like school. I worry like its my job.

But it's not my job to worry. Its my job to trust. Trust that my biggest boy is God's son first. That he has Q in His almighty hand. He loves him more, He loved Him first. If all the stuff I worry about happens to him, its not without God knowing about it. And God will be there for him (and me) when things happen. Trust. Trusting is simple, but not easy for me.

McGriddle, I Think I Love You.

What's not to love of a fast food breakfast sandwich made from a McDonald's M embossed griddle cake that is just slightly sweet with sausage sandwiched in between it. I've only had 3 in my whole life. But, I'm pretty sure I'm infatuated with this particular breakfast sandwich. I will go to bed dreaming of it's deliciousness.
I do not love Mc Donald's. I rarely go there, but I wanted to take my dad out for breakfast with the boys, and I've deemed restaurants with waitresses not something I will do without Scott around. So McDonald's it was. I know Chick-Fil-A has breakfast, but I wasn't in the mood for chicken nuggets for breakfast.
But oh, I will make up excuses to go there again for breakfast. McGriddles are calling my name!

I didn't think it would happen so soon.

My first born will be 6 in a couple of weeks. On the first day of school, first grade, he'll be 6. Its sad and happy. He's become helpful in his old age-happy. He's become funny and interesting in his old age-happy. He's decided he's too cool for me-sad. He's decided he doesn't want to hold my hand in public-sad. He's decided he's too grown up to ride in the car cart at the grocery store-sad (maybe happy, cause that cart is a PITA to push).

This last week Q has had some growing up moments that have made me realize the time is coming that he is definitely not a baby anymore. We went to the grocery store and B demands that car cart every time. So when they spotted the car cart they begged to get it and then both jumped right in and off shopping we went. On the way into the store, a Mom and her 4 kids got out of their van and started talking to us. Her kids were a bit older, all school aged and she was saying that I was where she was at a few years ago. Q made the observation that the older kids were no way in the habit of riding in a car cart and jumped out quickly and started to help me push the cart. "I don't want to ride in the car part anymore, Mom." I assured him it was ok if he wanted to. But I knew that he figured it out that he was definitely too old to be enjoying a baby ride. I guess its good that he's realizing these things and I don't have to convince him to give up baby things. But something happened at church yesterday that almost wounded me.

After worship in big church, the kids get dismissed to children's church, or KIDZ Church as they like to call it. I walk both boys down there, holding both their hands on the way. But as we approached the mass of children about to head down the stairs, Q shook his hand free of mine. What? I turn to look at him. "I don't want to hold your hand, Mom." *gasp* OK. Just the week before I went shopping with him at BJ's just him and me, and he ran to catch up with me to hold my hand. Now, its not cool, and he's too big to hold my hand. I didn't think it would happen so soon. Although last week when he ran to hold my hand, I thought to myself, "I wonder how long he'll be willing to be seen holding my hand."--Apparently a week longer. So sad. Well, at least I have 2 more still wanting to hold my hand for a time. And I'm sure Scott will hold my hand forever, if we were into that sorta PDA.

Raindrops on Roses *Gag!*

Whiskers on kittens. My favorite things: 'Cause sometimes I have to write them down so I can feel all warm and squishy inside for 30seconds. I can be really good at ranting, but I have to focus on being positive. So here I go. Favorite things: August 2011

-Soft baby head resting against my cheek.
-The same teensy baby head with tiny curls starting to form around the base of his head.
-B patting me when he talks to me.
-Listening to the two big boys play.
-Q being the big brother and explaining things to B.
-B refusing the help of Q. It is funny, cause I remember doing the same thing when my big sister was trying to keep me out of trouble or trying to help me.
-The love the two big ones have for the littlest brother.
-Breakfast made by Scott.
-Rocking out with the boys, music blaring dancing all over the living room.
-Peanutbutter TastyCakes (which I have taken to making from scratch..oh the joy).
-My siblings. I genuinely like them all. Wish we lived close to each other.
-Date nights with Scott. Few and far between, but when we get them, I cherish them.
-Newborn babies. I think I actually crave them. Wishing I could hold my sister's new one when he gets here later this month.
-Friends that get me. Or don't and still humor me.
-When my kids request love from me. It doesn't happen too much anymore, but occasionally they want to sit on my lap or a hug and ask to sit next to me at dinner (rather than the most preferred Scott). It does my heart good.
-When I've taken some time away from the kids and I return, they all act as if they haven't seen me in days. Especially when I pick up J from nursery at church, he hugs on to me for about a minute while he buries his head into my shoulder. Like he saying, "Oh! Its you! Ididn't think I'd ever see you again!"
-For some reason, I love to watch Scott play guitar. It may be the fact that he's a human metronome, bouncing around, unafraid of judgement from the old people at church. Or that I'm insanely proud of him and in awe of his musical abilities. Regardless, I'm so thankful that he has an outlet for his music that doesn't involve a bar. (Dude, I used to hate that he played for praise band. Was jealous of the time he spent there, I'm thankful God has changed my heart and shown me how ridiculous I am).
-I love how God changes people. How he shows you what needs to be changed and gives you strength to change it. Opens your eyes and heart to see sins that you previously thought in your heart were justified.
-Fresh tomatoes out of your own garden. Juicy and BRIGHT red. Not hard pale pink varieties found in the grocery store.
-Watermelon. (I've written about this fruit previously).We are eating a whole melon in about 3 days. Deliciousness!

OK, the end for now. But, there are lots more.

Its Over.

Life, as we know it, is over. J has learned how to army crawl. And he is enjoying it a lot. Me, not so much. The big boys definitely do not like it, he is naturally curious of their stuff and has destroyed their creations. He figured crawling out less than a week ago and has already discovered the air vents and promptly figured out how to remove them. It won't be long before I find things in there (one of my cherubs figured out they make a nice toilet while potty training, but I'm not mentioning names).
I have learned that I may not dress him in cute white undershirts or light colored shirts because he picks up a lot of dirt while scooting all over the place. And I just thoroughly cleaned my floors for my house guests. Guess they weren't that clean after all.
Oh, my little J. How time has flown. He's nine months on Thursday, and he's eating real food, crawling and has 6 teeth. I want my teensy 8lb 13oz baby back. I do love him at every stage, but I don't want time to fly. Except when he's chewing on electrical cords and finding legos to put in his mouth. Then I can't wait for him to be 10.

Say Cheese

In preparations for having guests for the weekend, I went to the grocery store today. With all three boys. Something I avoid like the plague. Normally, I wait for Scott to be home and go Sunday afternoon, but I was not afforded that luxury this week. Being the genius that I am, I waited to go till 1:30pm. (long story there, but I was in a frenzy getting stuff done around the house and didn't want to stop). So, normally 1:30 would be a half hour from nap time for 2/3 of the boys. I decided it would be fine. I also wanted to drop off some stuff at the Salvation Army and get gas. Plenty of time I thought, to get back and have naps at 2:30. Ha. I'm sorta astonished at my intellect about now. First thing that went wrong, I get to the gas station and get out to pump my gas only to find that I forgot my entire wallet. So, no BJ's card and no debit card to get gas. Whoops. That's fine. The light isn't actually lit on E yet, so I should be ok.
I get to the grocery store. In my haste to get out the door, I put B in his flip-flops. Another big mistake. Every 5th step he walks out of his flip-flop, and then has a huge fit about it. *Sigh* On top of that, the big boys are fighting on who gets to 'help'. I love it. They're so helpful. Not. I also made the mistake of going to Shop Rite. I used to LOVE me some Shop Rite. I haven't been there in over a year and now I remember why I stopped going. They have great deals there, and I like their produce and meat, however that store is a nightmare. A. Nightmare! They have sooo many stupid standing sale bins that it is a frreakin' obstacle course to get thru there. Even more fun with 3 kids in tow, and fellow idiot shoppers who see me coming and lallygag in the isle and refuse to get out of the way. And its always crowded. Crowded with old people who are lonely and try to talk to the kids, who won't answer them, forcing me to answer their questions. Ah.
I somehow made it through the whole store, only to forget one thing, while managing not to have been that mom screaming expletives at my children (who by-the-way are totally THOSE kids screaming, boogie nosed, horribly behaved kids today--must have been nap time or something).
When I checked out, I spotted a line with no one in it and quickly found out why. The cashier was sooooooooo slowwwwwwww. Like, I could have sworn it was a practical joke, she moved in slow motion. The line next to me had 4 people in it and the last person in that line beat me.
So, I may have forgotten one thing, however my helpers made sure I didn't forget the cheese. When I got home and unpacked the groceries, I found 4 different types of cheese sticks in my stuff. Four bags of completely different cheese sticks (which are the most expensive cheese products. If I could find my camera I'd show you...
There's Jack blend, String Cheese, Sharp Cheddar and Mild cheddar cheese sticks totalling over $20.
I didn't notice the cheese plunder when I was checking out because the boys helped to put it all on the belt...I was trying to hurry things along and was bagging quickly and trying to keep J happy at the same time.
Lessons learned today: No flip flops for B. Leave children at home. Double check the cart before checking out. Leave children at home.

Today's Forecast

Dude, I just saw the forecast for the rest of the week. "Plentiful sunshine, hot and humid for the next 3 days." Friday is supposed to hit 103 with a heat index of 110. Yuck.
Translation: T.V. watching a plenty.
I will try to channel Donna Reed and get creative, but me doubts it will happen. I also have house guests coming tomorrow night for the weekend, and need to clean, clean, clean. But you can't clean for guests until approximately 10 minutes before they arrive, becuase if you clean before hand, there will not be any evidence that you cleaned by the time they arrived.

Oh, its Monday.

My wagon is draggin. I'm tired and cranky. Uninspired and blah. So what is one to do after a week of awesomeness that is VBS? An excursion. Plan and simple, I like road trips. I like road trips because everyone is strapped in a car seat and can't touch one another, there's no fighting and I don't have to supervise, just drive. So that's what I did this morning. I went looking for this state park Scott and I once found that was by a river's edge, shady and picturesque and I have never seen another soul there before. Well, I didn't find the park, but I had two hours of peace and quiet in the car, stopped for ice cream and relaxed a little. Now we're home and have the rest of the afternoon to find what kind of trouble we can get into next.

J is in a funk, getting over a cold and teething at the same time. He hasn't slept well in a couple nights, so neither have I. He's also in a stage of trying to crawl, so ALL he wants to do is be on his belly on the floor kicking around and getting pissed when he gets no where. Its constant whining coming from him, and its a bit much for me to deal with. The car ride was especially nice to have a quiet J.

What to do next? Its only 2pm. I could go for another drive....

Day 4 of VBS

Today was the fourth day of VBS and I have to say, I still am enjoying myself. It is interesting to note that attendance was down today. I saw it coming though. Lots of the kids had meltdowns for no reason yesterday. I'm sure its difficult for some of the kids who aren't used to go go going, in the heat and just the shear so much fun factor, to make it a whole week. B is hanging in there, but he is so beat by noon. He is enjoying himself, but I see him being carried around by his teachers and when I picked him up today, he was half asleep on one leader's shoulder.

When I get home from VBS, I still am feeling so chipper and like super mom. Its really odd. I thought it was the steroids I am on, but I talked to another mom who, like me has some issues enjoying being home with her kids all the time, and she was experiancing the same phenomenon as me. We both had a thought that maybe we should go back to work. But I think its cause I know this is only a week that is making it so much fun. Whatever this phenomenon is due to, I'm enjoying it. I'm enjoying my kids and my mom duties and Scott has noticed that I'm generally happy. I'll take it as a gift from God. Thank you!

I love the set up of our VBS, it works really well. It does seem though that as the week progresses and the kids get familiar with everything, that it gets a little more chaotic. The kids are comfortable and think they own the place and get a little 'rammy', dart away from you from time to time and start making farty noises when innapropriate. (if the is an APPROPRIATE time for a fart noise).

I pray that this week was fruitful in the hearts of the little guys I'm with. Its hard to know what makes an impression on them and if anything is sinking in. Q comes home talking about what he learned, even B does come up with a random tid-bit of his lesson. Anyway...hope tomorrow is as fun. Praying that more and more kids can come to know Jesus and have some fun!

Day 1 of VBS

Today was my first day helping at VBS at church. I was sorta well, dreading it. I had avoided it in the past, but decided it was time to just suck it up, step up and help. How surprised was I to find that I actually enjoyed myself today. A lot. I'm helping with the kindergarten class (which Q is in), and they're still cute and not "fresh" little buggers. Its really interesting to get them talking and see what they talk about. One kid versed me in "surfs up" the movie, another one talked on end about cars. There were two 'outsiders' in our group of 44 kindergartens that kept to themselves, which makes me want to figure them out all the more.
Another thing that delighted me was to see the teenagers from our church helping out. They were completely engaged with the kids, helping to get them motivated and feel apart of the group if they were new. They didn't sit around talking to each other and were extremely helpful. They did a lot to whittle away the stereotype of teenagers that I hold in my heart. You know that stereotype of teens that think they know so much more than adults, and couldn't be bothered to help, which constantly roll their eyes at you. These teens today, were different. And I'm so proud of them. I want to call their mother's individually to tell them how great their teens are, but I won't. That wouldn't be cool.

On a side note. I returned home from VBS in the BEST mood. Like a, -something is wrong with me, why am I so chipper?-mood. Is it carry over from a good morning at VBS, the change of pace, or the steroids I'm on for a bee sting?

Summertime: Part Deux

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about it only being 3 days into summer and how things weren't going so well. Now that we are 3 weeks into it, I haven't killed anyone yet, and dare I say things are going okay. I haven't exactly followed a schedule or routine like I sorta wanted to. Not that I am a schedule person, but I found that if we have a routine going, things go a little better. Everyone sorta knows what to expect and it works. Like, Q likes to get on the computer and would ask me 24/7 if he could play. Well, I made it part of the routine during the school year that he could only get on after rest time and after homework was done. It worked beautifully, he stopped asking me all the time to play on the computer and all was well. Well, try as I might, I couldn't come up with a routine cause we don't have anywhere to be consistently during the summer, so we are playing it loosey goosey and I'm surviving. Instead, it goes like this.
Kids get up and play, eat, play, eat some more, maybe go out somewhere, rest (most of the time fight nap time), eat, play, bed.
One of the things I really want for my kids is to have fun unstructured time during the summer. Like I did when I nearly burnt down the shed and went missing all day till meal times. I also wanted for them to use their imaginations and create things.
I'm so delighted that they are doing this on their own. So far this summer, they have created awesome monster truck ramps out of left over fence posts (Scott did not appreciate this for some reason), played in the dirt building more monster truck arenas, sidewalk chalk obstacle courses in the driveway, and very intricate train track set ups. They have also built monster truck car washes and kites and other stuff with some junk around the house. And I have to say, that only once did I offer the suggestion as to what to do, all the other times its been Q that has thought up his inventions. I love that.
They do fight. Which gets on my nerves pretty quickly. But its been less frequent and I love watching their friendship in action. The big boys are best friends and its sweet. I do notice that if we have a play date over, things go downhill very quickly, so I don't do them often. In fact, we've only had 1 in the 3 weeks we've been home. I'd be happy never to do them again, but that wouldn't be very social would it?
Next week is KidzKamp at church and I'm sure it will be a struggle to get everyone (including Scott) out of the house that early. Its harder when we all have to be somewhere in the morning, Scott and I fight over the bathroom. I have reluctantly volunteered to help out at KidzKamp this year. I don't know why I agreed to help, I don't know how it will go and feel bad for J being in child care from 9-12:30 everyday. But its one week. I can do almost anything for a week. Unless it involves giving up carbohydrates. I can do this for a week. I hope.

Enjoying It

Well, I've said it before. I am living my dream. I always wanted all boys and to be home with them. I just didn't think it would be what it is and I struggle some days. So I recently decided that I needed to enjoy this more. And summer is a great time to enjoy being a mom, at home, with 3 little boys. I found that if I let go of some things, like any semblance of a clean home, things go much better. So this week, I'm making a conscious effort to let go and enjoy my blessings.

We started a 'thankful list', for each of the boys and myself. We had a great sermon on Sunday that talked about the 10 lepers that Jesus healed and only one returned to praise him and thank him. I thought to myself, darn it, I do not want to be one of the nine that isn't thankful. I'm going to be thankful and need to be more conscious in my effort, so we started to list our blessings. On Q's list is his family, on B's list is cars and Daddy. On my is my family and coffee. We are going to try to add to them everyday or every couple of days. The lists are hanging in my dining room, under our give thanks sign which I've had a while.


Along with the lists, I've been trying to take time to enjoy the 3 human blessings that God has given me. Like, playing baseball with Q, even when I don't want to or have time to. When I do take the time and do something with him, I end up having fun. And playing monster trucks with them. Oh, its so boring and hard to get into kid mode and use the imagination, but once I get into it, it can be fun. And I get to hear their conversations and get to know their world of Monster Jam a little better. They make me laugh and are really smart. Imagine that.

Thank you God for these 3 blessings. Help me to enjoy them more everyday.

Dinner of Hope

Last night, we took all 3 children to our favorite pizza place. It actually has waitresses that bring you food. And it actually went well. Really well. It gives me hope. Let me explain.
Ever since J has been born, his hour(s) of need start at about 4pm and go until he's in bed. He's just high needs if you are trying to accomplish anything involving dinner. Cooking it, eating it, cleaning up after it, he's screaming unless he's being held and entertained. This makes dinner time whether home or out, stressful to say the least. We often eat in shifts so the screaming does not occur, because I cannot handle and do NOT enjoy a screaming J plus the noise of the other two while eating. It makes me cranky. Not that it takes much to make me cranky. We have not been to a sit down restaurant in a loong time as a family because of this and the antics of the two big boys. We do go to chick-fil-a on occasion for a break.
Anyway. Lately, J has started to enjoy eating real food, like crackers and pizza crusts and it will keep him quiet, also, he can sit in a high chair. This is a glorious thing. Not only does he look sweet and angelic sucking on a pizza crust, smiling at you, the silence is glorious as well.
So last night, Scott suggested going out for pizza. I looked at him like he was crazy, but every once in a while, crazy can be fun, so I agreed. And it was great.
Everyone eats when we go out for pizza. Q gets chicken fingers or a plate of pasta and B will eat his weight in pizza. There's no fussing, and they love it there. And the price is right. The cute little girls wearing flip-flops that serve us, are sweet to the kids, and its quick. And last night, J just sucked on his pizza crust and bounced in the highchair.
Dinners like these give me hope for the future. I dream a dream of one day eating a full meal together, where everyone is happy and not asking me "how many bites?". Where we all sit and eat at the same time and someone isn't doing laps with J. Last night was as close to that dream as I'm going to get for now and I enjoyed it. Thank you very much. The end.

Jeckle and Hyde

OK, is it just me? Or am I the only one that feels a little bi-polar when it comes to mothering. Loving it for a moment then seconds later am ready to tear my hair out. Is this normal or not?
My mom seems to think she always LOVED being a mother and never fails to tell me so. So, according to her, I'm a freak of nature. I also don't remember my mom ever losing her cool...something that I do probably every day.

Motherhood

Someone posted this on their blog and I read it and it speaks volumes to me. If you have a sec, check it out. Motherhood as a Mission field.
I often feel like my "work" is not important enough. I feel as if I'm waiting to hear from God what I'm supposed to be doing with my life. A couple of months ago I started to pray and pray as to what I was supposed to be doing and kept 'hearing' the same thing. "This is what I called you for." Really. This is it. The mundane, the 'ground hog day experiences'. Sometimes, it disappoints me, when I think about it, that motherhood is what I'm supposed to be doing. Its NOT glamorous, and no one will think I'm super cool, or amazing for doing it. But God in his gentle way has shown me that it is important, though it doesn't feel like it. But then if you look at it in another light, as to really how important it is to be living the gospel for your kids, it takes on a whole new meaning. (and then I get scared thinking that I'm really stinking at my job and wholly molly -I'm FAILING!).
Anyway. Just some words to remind myself that what I'm doing today, is important, no matter how crazy, dirty, boring,fun,glamorous, repetitive, frustrating, joy-filled, unappreciated, loud, happy, crazy, ahhh!--the day seems to be.

Day 4 of Summer

Its disconcerting that I'm at a loss this early in the summer game.
A snapshot of yesterday.
Up at 6:30am.
T.V. is on before I'm even out of bed.
Breakfast is eaten and cleaned up by 7:30.
By 7:45, B is out back playing monster trucks in the dirt. Q joins him. They play so nicely together for about 30minutes. J and I join them and they decide to play soccer, then in the sandbox, then monster trucks again. At 9:30, I head in to put J in for a nap and try to get showered. They follow me in and things head downhill fast.
They're fighting over who knows what. I'm annoyed cause I'm trying to get J to nurse before bed, and he's super distracted by any noise, and they are making lots of noise. Argh.
I do get J down for a nap,and manage to shower (this was after I caved and told them to put the t.v. on for another show).
its about 10am, and try to do "table time." Q has two workbooks to complete for the summer, so I give him a couple pages to do. He finishes them in about a minute.
Because my guilt eats at me for B not knowing his letters at age 3, I decided that this summer we would work on them. So, I did a couple of things for letter A. B seemed to enjoy it (read:did not have a crying fit or object violently).
After the learning part of table time was over, I tried to get the boys to color pictures to send to a set of cousins. They were not game. Its maybe 10:30 and Q is saying to me "I feel like I want to go somewhere, I need to get out of the house." Wonder where he gets that from? Me.
So J wakes up from his nap,we eat lunch and head out to sign up for swim lessons, and the library and then take J for an ear check. (he has mysterious gunk caked all over his ear for about a week). J is fine. Waiting the 30min in the doc's office was somewhat difficult for all parties involved, but they weren't horrendous. We're back home at 2:30 and 2 out of 3 boys fall asleep in the car which is ALWAYS a bad thing.
I couldn't get anyone to take a much needed nap (much needed for them as well as me).
So, at 3:30 we're back outside, on the scooter's waiting for Scott to get home.
For some reason, I'm exhausted. I cannot or will not muster up the energy to cook dinner. Thank you God for a husband that takes pity on me and suggests we got to Chick-Fil-A for family nite. The balloon lady is there and because neither boy can think of what kind of balloon they want, she suggests swords. And swords they had. Never good. Thankfully they had both eaten and we were heading out when they got the balloons. I "accidentally" shut B's sword in the car door as we were packing up the car. WHoops. Bath time and bed time occurred without much happening. Although, I have to say, I love it when the boys are sweaty and smelling like sunblock and covered in dirt. I've said it before. I think its evidence that they have been boys and have had a good day. There is a nasty dirty ring around the tub that seems ever present. Gross, but a good thing.
What's on tap for today? Who knows. But I'm sure the boys will have a fun day, try to kill each other at some point, and I'll be exhausted and cranky by the end of it.

Summertime

Q's been out of school for 3 days now. And I'm not ready for the almost constant fighting that's been going on. Also, for the terrible behavior from the both of them when I need to go to the store. If I just take B and J, things are OK. There is the occasional melt-down tantrum over something B wants, but he is generally compliant 80% of the time. But when I throw Q in the mix, its like they feed off each other and run all over the store, almost get hit by other people's cart, hang on my cart then cry when I run them into something because I cannot see over J in the car seat in the front of the cart. But I warned them not to do it because I can't see, but do they listen? No. I have no sympathy for what happens after I warn them not to do something. Does that make me a bad mom?
Today at the playground, on two occasions, I spot B pulling down his pants and underwear because he peed in the a little. Now, its not a large playground, but I'm far enough away where he can get them around his ankles before I can reach him to intervene. When I ask him if he needs to go potty..."No mom. I just peed a little." What. the. heck.? Can I get arrested if my kid keeps disrobing in public?
I must come up with a plan for these boys. Maybe it'll settle down and it will be an awesome memorable/dreamy summer, like I had as a kid. I LOVED summer. Running barefoot in the front lawn, hanging in the pool. Riding my bike for hours and hours, hanging out with the kids down the street. Disappearing for hours, returning only to eat and sleep. The one summer I hated is when my mom decided to send us to "day camp" down at the park at the end our neighborhood. It sucked. I hated it, and I think I only did it one year. It is funny to think the amount of unsupervised and unstructured time I had as a kid. I distinctly remember playing chef in the backyard with a lit citronella candle and various vegetation I found behind the shed. Maybe that would keep the boys busy for a while? Right?