The destructive duo are having a dynamic day. They have emptied out diaper creme, dish soap, baking soda and salt today. They have disassembled my entire canned tomato shelf. They have climbed on the end table next to the entertainment center to play frisbee w/ the DVD's. In some ways, it's been a very frustrating day.
In other ways, it's been a lot of fun. Cans make great blocks. Kosher salt makes a fun sand substitute. And at least they were cleaning when they were playing the soap.
They've learned some important skills too. They took turns with the cans. They shared the soap bottle. They practiced balancing and climbing. The sharpie did not end up on the walls or carpet. Princess P has acquired the coordination to keep it on her skin.
Now if I could just acquire the time and patience to keep up with them, and get it all cleaned up!
I guess we all have something to learn.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Two syllables that strike fear in every parents heart..
Uh-Oh.
Whether followed by the impish grin of a toddler, or the ummom of an older child, we all know that uh-oh means trouble.
Sometimes it's just a clean up job, like the two year old who decided to wash herself in the bathroom sink with an entire warehouse club sized bottle of shampoo. Those are the moments you'd want to take a picture of.....if you still had a camera. The camera in the toilet was an uh-oh of an entirely different level.
It was more on par w/ the toothpaste in the charger of the cell phone. The phone still works. We just switch batteries to charge it.
But those little kid uh-ohs aren't anything compared to what happens when they get older.
After toilets and toothpaste come markers and scissors. Some kids give themselves sharpie art "tattoos." Almost all kids color murals on the walls. Some kids cut their hair. Other kids cut their dolls hair. A few, especially creative kids make snowflakes out of their bedsheets. Uh-Oh.
The middle childhood uh-ohs are more forgotten projects, homework w/ food spilled on it, younger siblings in the backpack & missing library books. Now our oldest is approaching the tween and teen years, I'm wondering what uh-ohs lie ahead. Will they still be fixed with a hug, a smile, and maybe a trip to Wal-mart or Lowes? I certainly hope so, but fear it won't be.
As a mom, am I really prepared for what lies ahead? Where the minor uh-ohs are still minor, a bad haircut or a forgotten chore. It's the majors that are intimidating. Instead of a camera, it's a car. But uh-ohs are still mostly about things. So hopefully God will give me the grace to remember an uh-oh is an opportunity to learn. To have a positive attitude about mistakes, about consequences, and about moving on. That uh-ohs are opportunities to encourage our kids to grow, accept responsibility, and live in grace.
Now I hear mom! It's time for me to go. I just hope the next to syllables aren't uh-oh.
Whether followed by the impish grin of a toddler, or the ummom of an older child, we all know that uh-oh means trouble.
Sometimes it's just a clean up job, like the two year old who decided to wash herself in the bathroom sink with an entire warehouse club sized bottle of shampoo. Those are the moments you'd want to take a picture of.....if you still had a camera. The camera in the toilet was an uh-oh of an entirely different level.
It was more on par w/ the toothpaste in the charger of the cell phone. The phone still works. We just switch batteries to charge it.
But those little kid uh-ohs aren't anything compared to what happens when they get older.
After toilets and toothpaste come markers and scissors. Some kids give themselves sharpie art "tattoos." Almost all kids color murals on the walls. Some kids cut their hair. Other kids cut their dolls hair. A few, especially creative kids make snowflakes out of their bedsheets. Uh-Oh.
The middle childhood uh-ohs are more forgotten projects, homework w/ food spilled on it, younger siblings in the backpack & missing library books. Now our oldest is approaching the tween and teen years, I'm wondering what uh-ohs lie ahead. Will they still be fixed with a hug, a smile, and maybe a trip to Wal-mart or Lowes? I certainly hope so, but fear it won't be.
As a mom, am I really prepared for what lies ahead? Where the minor uh-ohs are still minor, a bad haircut or a forgotten chore. It's the majors that are intimidating. Instead of a camera, it's a car. But uh-ohs are still mostly about things. So hopefully God will give me the grace to remember an uh-oh is an opportunity to learn. To have a positive attitude about mistakes, about consequences, and about moving on. That uh-ohs are opportunities to encourage our kids to grow, accept responsibility, and live in grace.
Now I hear mom! It's time for me to go. I just hope the next to syllables aren't uh-oh.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Babies are drugs.
My name is mama M and I am a babyholic. I have had a baby in the house for the last ten years. Now our last baby is sixteen moths old and I'm not pg again, it's dawned on me that this is probably it until grandkids.
Baby Guy isn't stopping any clocks for me either. Sure he still considers me his own personal 24 hour buffet, but he's started choosing other things first sometimes. I'm nothing compared to some applesauce or diced peaches. He likes to be held when he's tired, but loves to run after a ball. He still likes to nap in my bed, but sleeps in a toddler bed at night. He even has teeth and can use a few words, like mom and juice.and NO. Another six months, and the only baby thing left will be diapers.
Another year or two, then it's preschool or parents day out. Then, for the first time in over a decade, it will just be me and an empty house. The first day will be liberating. I'll go to the grocery store, alone, before the kids are in bed. Maybe I'll do something exotic like go to a bookstore or have lunch with a friend. The second day I'll clean like a madwoman thinking, finally! I can get caught up! The third day I'll be crying, just wishing someone would color on a wall...or take apart the pan cabinet...or need me somehow.
Yet inside I'll know they all still need me, to sign their homework, take them to practice, watch their concerts and games, and assure them all of what great people they're becoming. They'll need me to volunteer in the school, the church, and elsewhere to show them how to be a giving member of the community. They'll need me to listen to them, as they learn how to make decisions & figure out who they are. They'll need me to start following my own path again, to show them I trust them to find theirs. They'll need me as their counselor and friend...hopefully for a long time.
And then they'll have babies of their own. If I'm lucky, they'll share.
Baby Guy isn't stopping any clocks for me either. Sure he still considers me his own personal 24 hour buffet, but he's started choosing other things first sometimes. I'm nothing compared to some applesauce or diced peaches. He likes to be held when he's tired, but loves to run after a ball. He still likes to nap in my bed, but sleeps in a toddler bed at night. He even has teeth and can use a few words, like mom and juice.and NO. Another six months, and the only baby thing left will be diapers.
Another year or two, then it's preschool or parents day out. Then, for the first time in over a decade, it will just be me and an empty house. The first day will be liberating. I'll go to the grocery store, alone, before the kids are in bed. Maybe I'll do something exotic like go to a bookstore or have lunch with a friend. The second day I'll clean like a madwoman thinking, finally! I can get caught up! The third day I'll be crying, just wishing someone would color on a wall...or take apart the pan cabinet...or need me somehow.
Yet inside I'll know they all still need me, to sign their homework, take them to practice, watch their concerts and games, and assure them all of what great people they're becoming. They'll need me to volunteer in the school, the church, and elsewhere to show them how to be a giving member of the community. They'll need me to listen to them, as they learn how to make decisions & figure out who they are. They'll need me to start following my own path again, to show them I trust them to find theirs. They'll need me as their counselor and friend...hopefully for a long time.
And then they'll have babies of their own. If I'm lucky, they'll share.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
I just had my best birthday, ever.
I didn't get lots of presents. The only material gift I received was from my mom. My cake and ice cream was generic swiss roles and gallon tub vanilla in front of a t.v. after the kids had gone to bed. We didn't do any special activity, just for me. Didn't matter. It's still number one.
My kids went the whole morning without an argument or complaint. The bigger kids got the littler ones breakfast so Dad & I could just hang out together a little longer. They kept the t.v. on approved preschool aged programming without being asked. They went on a couple of last minute errands before lunch without begging to eat out. It was great.
Right after lunch, our oldest had a soccer game in breezy, rainy weather...that his team lost. Yet the whole team remained positive, pointing out to each other how they had improved. My son helped bring the equipment up the hill without being asked. He was focused during the game and smiling afterwards. My in laws came to watch, and stayed! It was a great way to start the afternoon.
As soon as we were loaded up from that game, we had to hustle across town to our third son's first flag football game. It was raining more, and colder. The kids had forgotten their coats. There wasn't much room to play. Yet G'ma and G'pa stayed, and the kids alternated between watching and playing, and still no one complained. They were just happy their brothers team won! It was his first team game ever, and he cooperated every inch of the way.
After that, it was time for dinner! So we went to our favorite kids eat free on Saturday place. Everyone drank water, and no one complained. Everyone stayed at the table, and our family had a fun, relaxed meal together that I didn't have to cook! It was great.
Then we came home, and the kids showered, storied, and went to bed....with Dad supervising while I hit our favorite one dollar movie place. I got to watch a chick flick eating ice cream and swiss rolls, alone on the couch....and now it's quiet.
I've gotten to see how my kids are growing in character in great ways. That, truly made this the best birthday ever.
My kids went the whole morning without an argument or complaint. The bigger kids got the littler ones breakfast so Dad & I could just hang out together a little longer. They kept the t.v. on approved preschool aged programming without being asked. They went on a couple of last minute errands before lunch without begging to eat out. It was great.
Right after lunch, our oldest had a soccer game in breezy, rainy weather...that his team lost. Yet the whole team remained positive, pointing out to each other how they had improved. My son helped bring the equipment up the hill without being asked. He was focused during the game and smiling afterwards. My in laws came to watch, and stayed! It was a great way to start the afternoon.
As soon as we were loaded up from that game, we had to hustle across town to our third son's first flag football game. It was raining more, and colder. The kids had forgotten their coats. There wasn't much room to play. Yet G'ma and G'pa stayed, and the kids alternated between watching and playing, and still no one complained. They were just happy their brothers team won! It was his first team game ever, and he cooperated every inch of the way.
After that, it was time for dinner! So we went to our favorite kids eat free on Saturday place. Everyone drank water, and no one complained. Everyone stayed at the table, and our family had a fun, relaxed meal together that I didn't have to cook! It was great.
Then we came home, and the kids showered, storied, and went to bed....with Dad supervising while I hit our favorite one dollar movie place. I got to watch a chick flick eating ice cream and swiss rolls, alone on the couch....and now it's quiet.
I've gotten to see how my kids are growing in character in great ways. That, truly made this the best birthday ever.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Our three sons, the oldest ones
For some of us, kids are like potato chips. Even though we know they'll raise our blood pressure and make us fat, we can't have just one.
My husband and I have been blessed with six children, four of whom are male. I like to call our oldest three boys the the three musketeers. Usually they're pretty good at the one for all and all for one! But there are some days when they act more like the three stooges.
Last night at bedtime was definitely one of those days. They went with a friend to a skating party, a fun, harmless activity. Over the course of that two hours they apparently forgot their parents were overprotective, weapon banning pacifists. They came home with inflatable light sabers.
Kids are smart. They know Dad & I like the Star Wars movies a lot...and they knew they had found a loop-hole. You see, other than water guns, a couple of plastic light sabers are the only toy weapons of any kind they'd ever been allowed to keep. We figured they weren't "real" so what harm could it do?
Well, the plastic ones could break stuff and accidently hurt people, so the boys understand why those are outside toys. These inflatable ones are just like balloons though, right? So why can't they have a fight with them in their room, an hour past bed time? Or hit their sister with it in the morning? They're just playing, mo-om.
Yet once they've put them away, and are serious about getting ready for school it's back to the three musketeers again.
"Here are shoes, Chip."
"Abe, I've got your jacket."
"Mom, can we go now?"
And off they go, together.
My husband and I have been blessed with six children, four of whom are male. I like to call our oldest three boys the the three musketeers. Usually they're pretty good at the one for all and all for one! But there are some days when they act more like the three stooges.
Last night at bedtime was definitely one of those days. They went with a friend to a skating party, a fun, harmless activity. Over the course of that two hours they apparently forgot their parents were overprotective, weapon banning pacifists. They came home with inflatable light sabers.
Kids are smart. They know Dad & I like the Star Wars movies a lot...and they knew they had found a loop-hole. You see, other than water guns, a couple of plastic light sabers are the only toy weapons of any kind they'd ever been allowed to keep. We figured they weren't "real" so what harm could it do?
Well, the plastic ones could break stuff and accidently hurt people, so the boys understand why those are outside toys. These inflatable ones are just like balloons though, right? So why can't they have a fight with them in their room, an hour past bed time? Or hit their sister with it in the morning? They're just playing, mo-om.
Yet once they've put them away, and are serious about getting ready for school it's back to the three musketeers again.
"Here are shoes, Chip."
"Abe, I've got your jacket."
"Mom, can we go now?"
And off they go, together.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
30 days hath September.....that last 30 seconds each.
The kids love September. They get to see their friends every day. They get to a park almost every day. One missed grocery run and they get to eat BK. School is mostly review, so their homework takes about 30 seconds.
I hate September, and not just because of my birthday. It's the annual schedule and wardrobe shuffle that gets to me.
I now understand why so many large families pick one activity for all their kids, like it or lump it. We don't. We have kids in AWANA, scouts, football, and soccer. They want to add painting, acting, and dance. Between Sept. 1 and Oct. 20ish I see my comfy couch in the evening maybe once a week, if I'm lucky. We eat a lot of microwaved hot dogs and sandwiches in September....in the car. It's okay. We'll probably have time to clean the car in October.
September is also when the weather changes. I don't know about you, but I save clothes in plastic totes. So in September, we pull them out and try to figure out which clothes we'll need for the next few months. The sweatshirts come out and the tank tops go in...but what about shorts and short sleeves? Will it be a cool, wet, fall or an indian summer? It really doesn't matter. Whichever way I guess will be wrong...so the totes are a fashionable fixture in my living room until mid October....when finally everyone is convinced it really is too cold for sandals because their toes are turning blue.
After the tote shuffle we usually have the additional joy of shopping for our two oldest boys, who are opposite builds. They're too old for me just to buy stuff and say wear it. Someday I'll write about shopping w/ a preteen and a one year old....
There are some good things about September though. There's an energy in the air that's like Spring. The massive holiday season is just around the corner. The kids don't balk at homework yet because it's still fun and new to be in a "big kid" grade. Rejoining the communities of women's bible study, sports parents and PTA gives me some much needed adult fellowship. Towards the end of the month, the trees change colors, and driving through the park is like having my own personal art gallery. The chaos has settled into a routine of sorts, and there's peace in my life again...so maybe I don't hate September as much as I thought after all.
I hate September, and not just because of my birthday. It's the annual schedule and wardrobe shuffle that gets to me.
I now understand why so many large families pick one activity for all their kids, like it or lump it. We don't. We have kids in AWANA, scouts, football, and soccer. They want to add painting, acting, and dance. Between Sept. 1 and Oct. 20ish I see my comfy couch in the evening maybe once a week, if I'm lucky. We eat a lot of microwaved hot dogs and sandwiches in September....in the car. It's okay. We'll probably have time to clean the car in October.
September is also when the weather changes. I don't know about you, but I save clothes in plastic totes. So in September, we pull them out and try to figure out which clothes we'll need for the next few months. The sweatshirts come out and the tank tops go in...but what about shorts and short sleeves? Will it be a cool, wet, fall or an indian summer? It really doesn't matter. Whichever way I guess will be wrong...so the totes are a fashionable fixture in my living room until mid October....when finally everyone is convinced it really is too cold for sandals because their toes are turning blue.
After the tote shuffle we usually have the additional joy of shopping for our two oldest boys, who are opposite builds. They're too old for me just to buy stuff and say wear it. Someday I'll write about shopping w/ a preteen and a one year old....
There are some good things about September though. There's an energy in the air that's like Spring. The massive holiday season is just around the corner. The kids don't balk at homework yet because it's still fun and new to be in a "big kid" grade. Rejoining the communities of women's bible study, sports parents and PTA gives me some much needed adult fellowship. Towards the end of the month, the trees change colors, and driving through the park is like having my own personal art gallery. The chaos has settled into a routine of sorts, and there's peace in my life again...so maybe I don't hate September as much as I thought after all.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Bob's gluten free dairy free zucchinni bread
People are constantly asking me, what do I feed my kids?
The answer is pretty simple, I live in my kitchen.
Yeah, I made zucchinni bread last night. One zucchini made two loaves, with zucchinni left over! Gotta love that farmer's market. This was a newish recipe for us, but I believe it was a success!
This recipe is gluten free, soy free, dairy free, corn free(unless you count xantham gum), and nut free. It is NOT egg free...Although I'm almost certain it could be adapted further to meet that criteria.
So....What did we do?
I preheat my toaster oven to 350. I don't have a regular oven right now, but from past expereince, it would *probably* be 325.
Start w/ 2 cups of zucc. 3 eggs, 1 cup of oil and 1 cup of crushed pineapple, drained. Mix well and set aside. (We especially like apricot kernel oil in baked goods.)
On the dry team!
2-2 1/2 cups of teff flour, depending on how soggy your zucc is.
1/2 cup sorghum or millet flour
1/4 c tapioca flour
1/4 cup potato starch
3/4 tsp baking powder, corn free of course
2 tsp. xantham gum
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2-1tsp powdered vanilla...this stuff is much stronger than extract, we use authentic foods brand because so many of the others have corn in them
1/2-3/4 tsp freshly ground nutmeg. The preground stuff doesn't even come close.
1/8-1/4 tsp ground cloves if you like them.
Now the sugar we're still playing with, but last night I used about 3/4c brown and 1/4 cup white. I think next time I'll use 1c. brown and 1/4 cup white. The recipe I adapted this from used 2c white, and that was just sick to us.
So anyway, combine all those dry ingredients thoroughly. It's important for those flours to be well blended or you'll end up w/ a layer of crumbly stuff w/ a rubber ball on top.
Then incorporate the wet into the bowl w/ the dry until it's about 1/2 mixed. Then add your "goodie." Our favorite goodie is 1c raisins. It would taste great w/ dried blueberries or cranberries too. Finish the mixing.
This makes 2 pans! Take your pick.
9 x9 for 33-38 minutes.
loaf pan for 60-65 minutes.
We use one of each.
Then, cool completely in pan! This is important, unless you like soggy middles. GF breads finish setting as they cool. They tend to either fall apart or be gummy if you cut into them too soon.
The 9x9 pan was breakfast this morning...Since it's gone and I haven't found any crumbs, I'm assuming the kids liked it just fine. :)
Gotta go deal w/ the destructive duo. They're coloring this morning, hopefully on paper!
The answer is pretty simple, I live in my kitchen.
Yeah, I made zucchinni bread last night. One zucchini made two loaves, with zucchinni left over! Gotta love that farmer's market. This was a newish recipe for us, but I believe it was a success!
This recipe is gluten free, soy free, dairy free, corn free(unless you count xantham gum), and nut free. It is NOT egg free...Although I'm almost certain it could be adapted further to meet that criteria.
So....What did we do?
I preheat my toaster oven to 350. I don't have a regular oven right now, but from past expereince, it would *probably* be 325.
Start w/ 2 cups of zucc. 3 eggs, 1 cup of oil and 1 cup of crushed pineapple, drained. Mix well and set aside. (We especially like apricot kernel oil in baked goods.)
On the dry team!
2-2 1/2 cups of teff flour, depending on how soggy your zucc is.
1/2 cup sorghum or millet flour
1/4 c tapioca flour
1/4 cup potato starch
3/4 tsp baking powder, corn free of course
2 tsp. xantham gum
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2-1tsp powdered vanilla...this stuff is much stronger than extract, we use authentic foods brand because so many of the others have corn in them
1/2-3/4 tsp freshly ground nutmeg. The preground stuff doesn't even come close.
1/8-1/4 tsp ground cloves if you like them.
Now the sugar we're still playing with, but last night I used about 3/4c brown and 1/4 cup white. I think next time I'll use 1c. brown and 1/4 cup white. The recipe I adapted this from used 2c white, and that was just sick to us.
So anyway, combine all those dry ingredients thoroughly. It's important for those flours to be well blended or you'll end up w/ a layer of crumbly stuff w/ a rubber ball on top.
Then incorporate the wet into the bowl w/ the dry until it's about 1/2 mixed. Then add your "goodie." Our favorite goodie is 1c raisins. It would taste great w/ dried blueberries or cranberries too. Finish the mixing.
This makes 2 pans! Take your pick.
9 x9 for 33-38 minutes.
loaf pan for 60-65 minutes.
We use one of each.
Then, cool completely in pan! This is important, unless you like soggy middles. GF breads finish setting as they cool. They tend to either fall apart or be gummy if you cut into them too soon.
The 9x9 pan was breakfast this morning...Since it's gone and I haven't found any crumbs, I'm assuming the kids liked it just fine. :)
Gotta go deal w/ the destructive duo. They're coloring this morning, hopefully on paper!
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