Wordless Wednesday: Future Scholars and Disco Dancers Ed

Friday's Fiascoes

Fridays tend to be a hit or miss day around here. I tend to be tired, because although I don't have a 9-5 job, I work hard all week raising children right. So I am worn out, and usually so are the kids. There tends to be fiascoes more on this day than most.

Early this morning Ellis woke with his first ever nightmare. Much to my surprise it broke my heart. The thought of my child being frightened in our home (when the spoon is not in play) broke me into a million pieces. He was completely sweaty, wet, and burning up. Fiasco #1.

This morning the kids were dragging and we were trying to get out of the house to go to the splash pad. If you are familiar all I need to say is Fiasco #2. I totally asked for that one.

Swung by a friends house to pick up something and pay money I owed her for entirely too long. Got stuck in traffic. Fiasco #3

Get home Ellis has a fever. Fiasco #4 Once again my heart hurts for my boy. I use the last of the ibuprofen.

I can't go to the grocery to pick up ingredients for tonight's dinner due to feverish sleeping child. Dinner Fiasco #5

We eat dinner at like between 5:45 and 6 everyday. Brian stopped by the store on the way home, bought food. Dinner was served at 7. Fiasco #6

Lainey screamed the entire time she got a bath tonight, because we made her take one separate from Ellis because he has a fever. Fiasco #7

I held Lainey and rocked her for the first time in a long time tonight before bedtime. We were doing some major cuddling, and I heard Brian in Ellis' room with him. Ellis wanted a story. Brian told his version of the night I went into labor with Ellis. Then after some stall...encouraging he told Lainey's story. Sitting there holding sis tight, kissing her, listening to Brian I have to say: TODAY WAS THE PERFECT DAY.

Thankful Thursday

There is so much to be thankful for. What I have been thinking of most lately is the time that Brian and I get to spend with our children. As they grow up our kids can say "We don't have this thing or that thing" (all thought they better not). I know that they will not have to say my mom or DAD didn't spend time with me, or do things with me. We go to parks, the library, bike rides, walks, and do all sorts of FAMILY activities together. I am thankful that our situation lends us to be able to spend this time with our children. It is a blessing.

I am thankful that Ellis' first week of preschool went off without a hitch. Although I am very cautious of leaving my children, I feel good about his teachers and school. It is a small program, 3 classes. I know every teacher already, Ellis is adapting great. They seem loving, and the program seems to be on pace with Ellis' love to learn. The ability to send my kids to school a few hours a week is such a blessing too. Not for me, I miss them, but it is good for them.

I am also thankful for answered prayers. So so thankful.

Wordless Wednesday

Big Boy Ellis

Ellis had his orientation today for his new school. We all went to see his room and meet his teachers. I can't believe my little boy is in a 3 year old preschool class. One awesome thing is that one of his classmates went to project help with him. It was a good surprise to see her. His teachers seem super sweet, and one went on and on how she loved his name. That makes me happy being that I had a part in naming him and all. Other than Lainey having a class 1 melt down probably due to the fact she didn't a nap yesterday, everything was good.

Oh and of course we got the famous in front of the fireplace pictures, and a ton more.

For the record there is not enough product in the world to get his hair to lay flat this morning.

Lainey insisted on bringing my umbrella and mirror to orientation.

I love my babies. Yes babies. Yes you are.

Homemade Bread Crumbs

So there are a few recipes that I use have breadcrumbs in them and I have never been impressed by the ingredients in them, even before the whole foods thing. It always grossed me out about their shelf life too. So I found this recipe on 100 Days of Real Food and decided to make my own.

I made a loaf of bread that was unsweetened by honey with making my regular loaf. Set it out all night on the counter after slicing, then baked it for 2 hrs at 200 in the oven. Stuck it in the food processor, and their ya go bread crumbs with 5 ingredients.

Art Time/Activity Time

So in my attempts to better structure the kids time, I have started an afternoon art/activity time at the kitchen table. This can be playing with play dough, coloring with markers or crayons, stickers and paper, and one day when I have the will paint. It has done wonders with my meal cooking. They enjoy the activities so much. If anyone has any ideas of other activities that are 15mos-3 yrs friendly let me know.

My favorite creative thing to do is find ways to dress my puppy like a person.

Just kidding, but the kids were cracking up.

Sundays Insight: Baggy Pants Ed

Today before church I had Brian iron some pants for me. Pants that I have not worn in years, pre-pregnancy pants. My clothes aren't really fitting me anymore, so I  thought I would take a leap and try on those pants. I needed something to wear, and they were my nice professional clothes.

I put them on and they looked terrible.

The funny thing it was not because I was popping out of them like a I was an over stuffed sausage. They were so big on me that I could in no way get by with wearing them. So I tried on another pair of pre-pregnancy pants. They were way to big, and looked ridiculous. Tried on a 3rd pair I was for sure they would fit. They were tight back in the day. Too big.

I am not on a diet. I have not been trying to lose weight. I have stopped eating "fake" foods, and I have no clothes that fit because they are too big. I am wearing a pair of shorts right now in the beginning of summer would barely button, and now whey are loose on me.

Today in the sermon our pastor was using the thought of "You are what you eat" to lead into "You are what you sing" Today we celebrated singing as a way to worship. He was talking about how you are what you eat at great length, I thought about that. I thought about how we stopped eating junk, and now my body is starting to look more like who I feel I am, and who I want to be.

I have had a private fear of my kids having the "fat mom". Not that I think of anyone else as being fat, or a fat mom. I just don't want my kids to be embarrassed of me.

Now they will just have the crazy mom that prefers they not eat gold fish. Oh well, I will be around longer that way.

For your body, you are what you eat. For your spirit, you are what you sing. The past 3 months I have been eating whole foods, and singing out of the hymnals on Sundays. I feel great.

Thankful Thursday: Fall is in The Air

Lainey's birthday party quite possibly can be our biggest shin-dig yet. I am waiting for a final count so that I can start buying and buying food, and order a cake big enough to feed everyone. I tried to make the list small, but low and behold we have many coming.

What a blessing that is. We have friends, more than we can count, that are going to come and celebrate with us. It is wonderful. I am so excited.

The weather this past week has been amazing. It has gotten me into full fall preperation mode. Which is different for everybody, but I have washed all of my kids new stockpiled fall undies and socks, neatly folded them and put them away. Now within the month the gentle care neat folding will be over, and they will just be thrown in the drawers, but I think it is very strange that I feel the compulsion to do this. I am buying a few fall outfits on Friday, and within the month will purchase jackets, and maybe even coats. Oh and some more jeans too. Lainey is good to go on tights. I am obsessive yes. Yay for seasons, yay for fall, yay for clean socks and underwear. I am thankful for these. I am also weird.

What are you thankful for today? Who are you thankful for? What can you do so that someone else is thankful for you?

Wordless Wednesday: Library Day/We made Butter!!

Thankful Thursday

I am sitting here looking at Ellis and Fisher hanging out together, acting like they have survived something together. Ellis doesn't like going on walks, Fisher doesn't care for physical activity during the sunlit hours of the day. I made them go on a walk with me, a short 20 minute walk. They are sweaty and panting, and totally buddied up giving me the stink eye. Oh well.

I am thankful for mid morning walks. They are nice and peaceful. Until your dog and 3 yr old son want you to carry them.....

I am thankful for the blessings our family has recieved this week that take a little of the stress off.

I am thankful that all of the things I clicked on at Zulily this morning did not have Lainey's size.

I am thankful for a running vehicle, air conditioner, fridge, oven, and hair dryer.

Have a good day!

Wordless Wednesday: Pretty No, Tasty Yes

Manic Monday

I woke up this morning with a fire lit under my behind. I don't know why but it is 3pm and I have been fairly productive in the kitchen.

The first thing I did was pop my "broth cubes" out if the ice trays, and refreeze them.

Then I got my bread together, let it start rising.
Next I cut up two chickens.
I used the backs, and some other bones I had in the freezer to start another batch of broth.

Then I got my yogurt going and set it out to culture.

Made the kids lunch. Pizza sandwiches, and blueberries.

Next I made several batches of pancakes to freeze.

Put the bread out for it's final rise, and now it is in the oven.

Throw in a ton of dish washing and it has been a busy day. I want a  nap but the kids aren't sleeping, so I guess I will just make myself an iced coffee instead.

I have done a lot of work today, but I am looking at it in a positive way. All of the healthy nourishing foods I have made are going to make my family happy, and I won't have to worry about pancakes, broth, or yogurt for a few weeks. : ). I will be baking bread Thursday I am sure though.



Menu August 8th-August 14th

First of all it is crazy that it is almost August 8th. Seriously.

Monday: Homemade spaghetti with zucchini
Tuesday: Bean Burritos (frozen leftover pintos, homemade tortillas)
Wednesday: Homemade Chicken nuggets, sugar snap peas, rice
Thursday: Homemade Butternut Squash Ravioli
Friday: Homemade Pizza Night
Saturday: Organic Italian Sausage/Parmesan/noddle thingy :)
Sunday: leftovers :)

Thankful Thursday: Friday Morning Edition

Yesterday was a really busy day. School, baking bread, playing hard. You know, just the daily stuff, so I missed doing Thankful Thursday. I am feeding the kids breakfast right now, and then we are going to head to the farmers market to stock up on some things.

I am thankful that my little garden is about to produce its first tomato. I know so sad, but it is my first time doing a garden. If anybody wants to give me some fall garden advice I would very much appreciate it!

I am thankful for two kids that aren't perfect angels, but beautiful and perfect in my eyes. I have really been trying to focus lately on paying close attention to my children's separate personalities and appreciating who they are. That is a nice way of saying they have been pushing it, but I am looking at the positive in it. Hey lets face it I have a 3 yr old and a nearly 2 yr old. They are figuring stuff out for themselves, so I gotta too.

I am thankful for the many blessings and opportunities that are given to our family everyday.

I am thankful that we have gotten very good at praying before meals. And although Lainey just screams "Amen!" the entire time we are trying to pray, there is something very special about praying with your children that I hate to say I have missed out on until now.

I am thankful for spell check, and that is all I am going to say about that.

Decide that today is going to be a good day, go out into the world, smile at a stranger, and enjoy yourself. All though those insurance commercials (is it liberty mutual???) where someone helps someone and it circles back around are pretty cheesy, I don't think they are far off the mark. What goes around come around.
Have a good Thu...Friday morning.

Wordless Wednesday: Grody Edition

The Moodiness of a Two Year Old..Girl

Happy 2 year old. Driving Bubba's truck. Freedom. 



Time to share. She doesn't think so.

Enforced sharing. Unhappy two year old girl.

She goes over to assault her brother in the truck.

Then changes her mind and laughs and chases him.

 She is mad.

She is happy.

Can't wait until the teen years.

As a side her brother is either in a good mood or not. Period. Thankfully he is usually in a good one. He is also a very helpful guy too.