Lullabies

So quickly my babies grow. How I love to hold them, smell them, stroke the softness of their skin. The music of lullabies captures the feeling of those moments.

I was an EFY Youth Counselor with Michael R. Hicks -we called him Mike. He composed beautiful arrangements for me to sing. It was so much fun. He is a very talented musician. I went to grade school with Paul Cardall. I'm thinking that this new CD is a must have.

We Eat Tacos on Wednesday

Before I ever discovered The Food Nanny Rescues Dinner, I had a loose meal schedule of my own. Monday - pasta, Tuesday - chicken, Wednesday- fish & brown rice or bean dishes, Thursday - beef (usually our favorite meatloaf), Friday - chicken, & Saturday - pizza night. Jon used to try new recipes on Sundays - this was especially nice after he bought The Barbecue Bible.

Saturday remains our family pizza night. Jon has experimented with several whole wheat pizza crusts and we've found one we all enjoy. Tuesdays turned into pasta night or crock pot meals because of the rush of preschool carpool, Cub Scouts, and basketball practice on that day. I started trying new recipes again and the kids were up in arms.

When we have salmon, everyone is happy but James. He takes it as a personal assault when I put it on the menu. Tilapia is still a newer entree at our house. It regularly gets mixed reviews. Jacob has changed his mind about many foods - one week he hates lasagna or meatloaf and the next he claims it is his favorite.

But we've found one dish, that pleases all six of us - TACO NIGHT. They used to prefer soft shells and now favor crispy shells. Often I serve myself a taco salad instead of the traditional taco. The kids love it simple - just meat & cheese in the shell. They don't actually know or care that I use lean beef & add TVP (textured vegetable protein). It makes the meat go further and it's healthier for them.

Since I declared "Wonderful Wednesday," I decided to move taco night to Wednesday. Everyone loves dinner - no whining over that menu. I get to watch LOST. So it's a win win.

(What's the big deal about Wednesdays? See THIS post.)

Note to Self

Do not allow Jayson to self-serve his oatmeal at breakfast. I know you want him to practice with the spoon, but it's not worth the tile mopping & outfit changed - especially when you just finished getting him ready for the day.

Nap Time Part 2

It's sad that I didn't think to bring the camera to the dentist today. I mean, who really WANTS to recall the images of the dentist office. But Jacob went in for a check-up. A dozen x-rays and 4 cavities later, he was knocked out cold in the dentist chair. Not from sedation or anything, he just fell fast asleep. I tried to wake him and the hygienist tried twice. So no polish and fluoride today. He was all curled up with his head of curls flopped to the side.

Maybe tomorrow he won't wake up at 4:30 a.m. Then again, he's been sleeping since 4:30 p.m. (I barely got him to the car), so he might rise early tomorrow looking for his dinner.

Nap Time

Five

Five years since the birth of my super sweet baby. She truly was a delightful infant - slept well, ate well, content countenance. Simply a dream. We loved all the pink and how delicate she seemed (even though she was our 2nd largest baby - 9 lbs. 4 oz. induced at 39 weeks). I loved watching the expression of strangers when they first saw her curls. She could bring a smile to anyone.

Now that she's five she's got a lot more sass. She doesn't sleep as well. She is more finicky about her foods (although she eats fruits, vegetables, & items with sauces better than any of her brothers). She has a lot more to say - usually in a demanding, high volume voice. But she holds her own (and then some) in her family of brothers. Her smile can light up a room and she is a mother hen.

When I got these pictures back, I was taken back because she looks older than I think of her.

In My Motherhood

Wow! The changing stages of my little family. There's evidence of multiple developmental stages in my home. This morning I listened to Little Red Ruby Riding Hood. I've picked up Men's size 8 running shoes twice (they do NOT belong to my husband). I've had to keep the plunger away from a curious toddler & change at least one stinky diaper. I have to do two loads of darks because when I try to wash all the long jeans together, my machine starts to do a jig.

My children supposedly sleep through the night, but Jacob is inclined to wonder between his bedroom and the couch around 2 a.m. The nights that I hear him running in his half-sleep state worry me. Jessica almost always ends up in our room. We have a "no child sleeping in parents' bed policy," but she tries every time to climb in between us. Jon usually gets up to move her to her make shift bed on our floor. After Jon gets up for the day, Jessica slips into our bed again. She usually snuggles right up to me leaving most of the bed vacant. This is my first alarm clock. The other one beeps about 30 minutes later.

Also, I have started to co-teach an ongoing elementary sex-education class. Another student at school has introduced my son to lots of adult vocabulary. So a couple late nights this past week I've been sitting with my baby and explaining the makings of babies. I don't mind talking with him. In fact, I'd prefer to be his main information source. I'm just saying - motherhood is going to a whole new ballpark for me.

So I finally completed my wall display between the kitchen and family living area. It all came together in the end, but the original plan was adapted. I guess it's good to be flexible. Tell my calves that. Since starting aerobics at the church, my muscles haven't come unclenched.

Sorting it all Out

Jayson loves to sort whether it's a box of links or a basket of plastic eggs. He puts them in. He pulls them out. He lines them up. He gathers them back up again. So cute.

Easter Dress Cont.

Easter Dress

Every year my mom would buy my sister & I an Easter dress - usually pink or purple and adorned in ruffles. I liked the ones that twirled the best. I like seeing my little girl all dolled up in a pretty dress too. It's always so hard to choose.

Happy Birthday Pretty Girl

Disney on Ice Slideshow

Guess Where We Went???

I want to show you all the fun we had at Disney on Ice, but it's late and I've still got to make the slideshow. And YES, Jessica is wearing her sandals on the wrong feet. It's her style. She always has her shoes flipped.

Yummy Chocolatey No Bake Cookies

After sharing how I recently botched this recipe (see item #8 on THIS post), I know some of you might hesitate to try these. That's alright - it'll probably save you ten pounds. But for those of you who heart rich chocolate as much as me, you'll try this recipe. THIS is the link to the original recipe. There are at least 4 other versions of this recipe on the site. I used to use the recipe on the back of the Hershey's cocoa canister, but they have a different recipe on my can now.

The variation below is my Successful modification.

1 c. sugar (most peanut butter already has a bunch of sugar, so reducing to one cup is fine).
1/2 c. milk (we usually have 1% in our fridge)
1/4 c. butter (I'd rather have more peanut butter than sheer saturated fat - that's why I reduce the butter and increase the peanut butter)
4 T. unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 c. peanut butter (I use Skippy Natural creamyl - no trans fat, but sweetened for my kids. They don't like nuts and I think I prefer this treat to be chewy, not crunchy).
3 c. oats (I actually prefer the Old Fashioned variety because I like the texture, but this is a great way to use up the quick cooking variety)
1 t. vanilla
1/4 c. flaxseed flour (optional) - If I don't add the flax & coconut, I often add a bit more oats. I buy the flax seeds and grind them in a little coffee grinder - I keep a bag in the freezer ready to use. Flax has a nutty flavor and contains omega3 & fiber:)
1/4 c. coconut (optional) - I love the additional flavor

I'm no longer interested in seeing how wheat or oat germ can be added.

Directions:

In a medium saucepan combine sugar, milk, butter, & cocoa. Bring to a boil. I've never fussed over how long I boil - recipe says to cook for 1 1/2 minutes. I'm usually too eager to add the peanut butter and watch it melt in. I don't need to follow the recipe here, because I actually LIKE the cookies to be more like gooey haystacks. There are many reviews on Allrecipes discussing the cook time. Truth is that I leave the heat on low until the peanut butter is all swirled in. Then remove from heat and add remaining ingredients (vanilla, oats, flax, coconut). I like the mix to be sufficiently coated, but I let more oats join the party if the treat is looking like straight fudge. I don't think cookies are supposed to be healthy, but this minimizes the worst- for-you ingredients and enhances the better-for-you ones. I feel good about that.

Spread out some wax paper and drop by BIG TABLESPOONS (my preference). The recipe says to let cool until hardened. I love them warm and gooey.

Spring Break & Lovin' It

I was very happy to have all four kiddos with me for the week. That's not to say that I didn't need my breaks, but I loved being with them. I tried to balance planned activities with just lounging about. For my boys video games were their favorite part - always. But I got them out to the park to play and even met up with some friends.

We spent a day at the LA Zoo (which you would have thought was a torture chamber - I made them walk all the way to the orangutans before I fed my monkeys). Note to self: just feed them first - even if the picnic is in the parking lot.





I went on a date with the older boys. We went to see Race to Witch Mountain. They like shopping for treats, but NOT choosing new ties on their date.

We had days where we stayed in pjs beyond 2 p.m. We canceled the family bike ride because baby was napping and one of the kids had a low grade fever that was suspicious.

We postponed the backyard camping and instead had a BBQ & root beer floats. The camera only made it to the zoo and was actually in Jakes' hands half the time. It's cute that we share a similar interest. Next note to self: bring the old camera for Jake before he knocks off your nice lens.

Photos by Jake: