Proving Ground

Do you ever have those times where you feel like the Man Upstairs is trying to see what you're made of? I'm sure I'm not alone in this one. I've caught a nasty bug that manifests itself in headaches, chills, hot flashes, achiness, sore eyes, and congestion. On top of that, I am weaning Henry because he was pinching me, giving me cut-like marks, causing me to bleed. When I saw that his mouth was covered in blood like a toddler getting into lipstick, I decided it was time. So I'm engorged. Not fun at all. I woke up unrested after one of those nights where someone needed help every hour. I went in to get Miles who had pooped all over his sheets and his body. Luckily I can't smell very well, because what I could smell was awful. Henry had a similar, but not so messy, morning greeting for me, plus he spit up all over me. Finn has missed 8 out of 10 days of school the past two weeks because of a bug he has. Plus, Travis is on a rotation at a hospital that he describes as "outer darkness" and says it's so dumb he can't even talk about it. Poor guy.

Some good things to counteract all this negative:

My new nephew Ted, born on Wednesday morning. Such a cutie!

My friend brought me chicken noodle soup and homemade bread this morning. How do I have such sweet, kind friends?

The weekend is here. Maybe I can catch up on my sleep while my main man is at home.

Virtual Treat for You!



{World Market had this pretty red paper ribbon--I couldn't pass it up}

It's Saturday night, the kids are in bed, Travis just left with some friends for the evening, and I am reveling in the quiet. The ticking clock, the sound of the dryer running, the hot air coming out of the heater vents. It is soothing. A stark contrast to the constant motion around these parts in waking hours.

This past week has been nonstop. I feel worn out and tired. Finn missed the entire week of school getting over the flu. Lucy caught it at the end of the week and stayed home to heal up too. I don't know if it's the unrelenting "on-call-ness" of being a mother to four young ones, or the time of year (read: snow and dreariness), but I feel like my reserves are depleted.

I'm kind of in this holding pattern: not soon enough to start packing, but not settled enough to dig deep. We move in a little over 3 months. I've already thought out what needs to be done between now and then (remember, I'm a planner and list-maker), but it's a little soon to get cracking on it. Do I start sewing quilts to bide my time, or just watch, ritualistically, Entertainment Tonight, like I've been doing. I take heart in my Mom's advice to watch as many movies at night as I want during these cold winter months.

The big production (having a baby) is over, and now it's time to find the next thing to sink my teeth into. Don't get me wrong: I am loving this phase of little Henry. He melts me like none other. It's just that the dust is settling and I need that healthy distraction all mothers need to keep doing their daytime jobs (i.e. a project). Always a project with me.

I'm sure I'll find the spark again. It seems I have written about this before (wink). And, as in times past, something good will surface. If I just keep putting on those winter coats and boots, keeping an eye on the horizon, letting the snow fall, something good will come of it. I can feel it.

Cupcakes for Lucy

I saw this method for decorating cupcakes in a book at the library and filed it away mentally for later use.

The petals are made by simply cutting mini marshmallows in half diagonally, then dipping the sticky part in colored sugar.

The book showed the whole top of the cupcake covered in them, but to save time I just did a single little flower, then put a dot of colored frosting in the center. With canned frosting, you can't get much easier than that.

On her birthday, we had white texas sheet cake. It is divine. Here's the recipe if you'd like to make some (and go to heaven) too.

White Texas Sheet Cake

1 cup butter
1 cup water
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda

Frosting

1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup milk
4 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon almond extract

In small saucepan, bring butter and water to boil. Remove from heat. In large bowl, mix flour, sugar, eggs, sour cream, almond extract, salt and baking soda. Add butter and water mixture. Beat until smooth. Pour into greased 15x10 inch baking pan. Bake at 375 for 16-18 minutes or until cake is golden brown and tests done. Cool for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, for frosting, combine butter and milk in saucepan. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Add sugar and almond extract and mix well. Spread over warm cake.

Nursing (Literally) Him Back to Health


We've got two sickies in the house today, Finn and Henry, and it's been a full day of administering medicine, wiping noses, calming cries, feeling foreheads, keeping the healthy kids off the sick ones, and keeping Netflix on steady. Lucy was out of school too, for a professional day, though she felt fine. As draining as it was, now that my brood is off sawing logs in dreamland, today was not that bad. It was sort of fulfilling, being needed and being able to help. I mean, I may not be the most mild-mannered person as we're rushing out the door in the morning, but I can wipe noses and give hugs. Oh, and change diapers. Today was sort of like the imaginary day a young girl plays out in her head, pretending to be a mommy, taking care of her children. And that's what it was. I kind of like this job I have.

In the Sky With Diamonds

The lone sister in a pack of brothers, she can hold her own. She can scratch, yell and boss with the best of them, skills she has developed, I'm sure, to fend for herself in the mayhem. But underneath the independent, sassy display is a tender, other-aware girl. She shares her best treats willingly and makes sure Henry has his pillows, blankets and toys (because you know how much a 4-month-old needs those things). I love this girl.

Happy 4th Birthday, Lucy!

Eat With Me

Lunch Thursday
White chicken chili with sauteed zucchini, clementine orange

Lunch Saturday
Seitan medallions with bbq sauce, sauteed red pepper, sweet potatoes

Lunch Today
Sauteed tempeh and zucchini with soy sauce, Aunt Suzy's corn bread (recipe coming soon)

Sunday Dinner
Oven-roasted chicken and vegetables, cornbread

---+++---

I've been trying to add as many vegetables into my diet as I can lately, as those (and protein) seem to be the hardest for me to get enough of. I can down carbs like no other, but with the vegetables I have to make a conscious effort. I try to get one green one a day, which ends up being either zucchini or spinach. Luckily, they are both good sauteed with a few hefty dashes of Johnny's Seasoning Salt.

I've also been inspired by reading what Trainer Momma has to say about fitness, nutrition and balancing it all.

What about you? Do you have any tricks to getting your vegetables in? I would love to hear them!

My Hiatus: An Explanation


I've been M.I.A. for a while now and I have a few explanations. One, I had a baby four months ago. Two, we've been in where-are-we-going-to-live-after-school mode. Three, I've kind of become okay with the idea that just because something important and meaningful to me happens, it doesn't mean I need to blog about it to "count it." And, finally, after a week-long trek in the West, Travis landed a job in none other than John Day, Oregon!

We are very excited about this new prospect called employment, and the small-town living this will entail. (John Day had a population of 1,200 in the year 2000, just to give you some idea of how small it really is). I'm a little out of sorts, making all the adjustments one does after a week away (including laundry, paying bills, budgeting, etc.), but also because I'm thinking of housing for this family of six in a town where the economy is slowing down at best. I'm sure we'll find something suitable, but all of the unknowns kind of switch my brain into hyper-think-ahead mode.

It feels good to know that this decade plus of schooling, between the both of us, is finally going to pay off. Travis will work for an Oregon-based company on salary with a three-year contract. There is actually alot more in John Day than I envisioned, including a McDonald's with a playland, a grocery store and even a health food store! (Maybe I won't miss Whole Foods so much). At any rate, I'm sure there will be alot of adjustments and good/bad things about our new digs. I'm just excited we've made it this far and have lived to tell about it! Here's to a new year, a new job, a fresh start and (let's hope) a decent new place to call the chicken coop!

My Baby is the Next Leonard Bernstein

He's also discovered his hands.

He must have sucked on his first for a good half hour this afternoon.

Impromptu New Year's Eve Eve Party

Someone's snitching fudge from the smorgasbord!

The Aftermath

I always get a little sad Christmas afternoon when the presents have all been opened and the excitement has died down. This was our little living room Christmas afternoon, stockings on the ground, ornaments almost completely removed from the tree (by Lucy), and the sunlight shining through the windows.

And, whoa, look at this hair! Every morning is a new concoction from a good night's rest (sprinkled with a few feedings, of course).

Christmas 2010

Highlights:

• Buzz Lightyear and Miles are inseparable
• Breakfast casserole (think bacon, sausage, bread, eggs and half and half=divine!)
• Smiling happy Henry
• Legos for Finn, Belle for Lucy
• A nap for the Missus
• T. Schuller hamburgers on ciabatta for dinner (I know, I know, so traditional)
• A surprisingly mellow crowd while we watched "The Nativity" on Christmas Eve
  

The Beckoning Sled Hill

And what sledding excursion isn't complete without a round of hot chocolates topped in huge swirls of whipped cream?

Candy Houses

What have we been up to, you ask? Among other things, decorating candy houses. I love seeing what these little minds create: gardens, flowers, trusses out of pretzels, on and on and on, out of some royal icing, marshmallows and M&M's. (I had made the houses the night before and then the kids decorated them the next day. It was nice because the houses were already set-up and we didn't have the whole slanted-house-falling-apart-shenanigan).

And, in other news, Travis finished Part II of his boards today. I feel like I can breath again. It was pretty touch and go there these last few weeks for me, single-parenting. I couldn't operate on a long-term daily basis without his help! But, he's back and we've lived to tell the story of how we almost celebrated Christmas 2010 with a Dad whose nose was stuck in a book. I think a hallelujah chorus is in order. And some wassail. Or fudge. Or both.

Teachers Lunch

Instead of giving a bag of pretzel rods this time of year, like I usually do, I decided to give Finn and Lucy's teachers a special box lunch.

Inside each clam shell box was: chicken salad croissant sandwich, fresh fruit, vegetable bundle, spinach dip and turtle brownie.

And, to down it all? Sparkling lemonade.

This gift was so fun to put together (it's all about the packaging!) I felt like a kid in a candy store picking out the containers at Dean's Supply yesterday. I used some vintage wrapping paper, satin ribbon and a tag to spruce them up and finish them off. Even the postman got one.

Decking the Halls

It was our last gig as Activities Co-chairs for our ward this past weekend: the Christmas Dinner.

White paper on the tables for coloring, white lights galore, simple and easy as it should be.

It was a bittersweet night for me. Sweet for the friends and acquaintances enjoying a traditional turkey meal together, and bitter because this girl's "party planner" hat will be on the rack for a while. Or maybe not. Lucy's birthday is coming up in January....

Edible

If only all parts of my day could create such joy for me as bathing this little guy. I had to take the opportunity the noontime sun and snow-covered backyard gave me to photograph this one. He is content most of the time and buttery skin covers his ever-growing fat rolls. He coos (doesn't talk back). He loves being kissed (doesn't resist affection). Faces provide a world of interest for him. And I thought my "babymoon" was over.

Bed Buddies

Every night we put Miles to bed in his crib and Finn to bed on the adjacent double bed.

And these are the scenes we come upon when we go to check on them before we go to bed.

I'm glad to see Elmo has made his way into the mix.

Adventing It + Blessed Baby

Day 1

Day 2

Day 4

Henry on his blessing day. He is still as sweet as can be and my late-night drinker. As I always do when they're this little, I want him to stay this small for alot longer. I think he has other plans though.

Happy December 1st!

Just listed this. Go to sidebar link to see it in my shop!