I really do check my blog every day. Almost every day. I log on to read the blog posts from the listing of "my blog list." I love everyone's creativity and inspiration and encouragement on their blogs. But just not mine, I guess. Three and a half months have passed since my last post.
The Family
We are all well. Hubby is still working hard but took time off to take the two older kids fishing this past weekend. He also has a six-day fishing trip in Canada coming up that will hopefully recharge his batteries and give him some much needed R&R.
My oldest daughter Alison turned FIVE years old in April and we celebrated with a "Hello Kitty" themed party. She also graduated from preschool last week and has been accepted into all-day kindergarten at our neighborhood elementary school!
My three-year-old son Christopher is still full of energy and growing by leaps and bounds every day. His current obsessions are aliens and toy guns and baby dolls. Thankfully not all at the same time.
My baby girl Katie is almost 8 months old. She is a beautiful, happy, sweet little girl that is still very much attached to her mama. I had intended to wrap up breastfeeding by now (six months is my comfort zone) but stubborn little girl hates the bottle and prefers her mama's milk straight from the tap. :-) I am hopeful that she will be weaned by our vacation in August so mama can enjoy some beach time without the hooter hider...
The House
I still love our new house, which really isn't "new" anymore since we celebrated our one-year anniversary in this house in May. We gutted our laundry room/mud room closet and had a system installed so it's much more organized now. I'm working on cleaning out some closets and getting a few messy places under control. If/when I get back into the swing of blogging, I hope to post some before/after pictures soon.
The Kitchen
I've been menu planning as usual but rarely does it get followed these days. Hubby's crazy schedule and quite a bit of traveling have left the menu plan a bit ignored. I also haven't cooked anything new in quite a while. I think my family is getting bored with the same old stuff so I am hopeful to try out some new recipes in the coming weeks and hopefully blog about some of it.
That's it for now. Baby needs a diaper change, boy has fallen while climbing up onto the potty without a step stool and oldest girl is desperately crying out for someone to play CandyLand with her.
Such is the life of a SAHM.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
My Valentines
My Alison...
who comes up and gives me the biggest hugs ever and says, "Oh mama, I just can't get enough of you!"
My Christopher...
who is energetic, kind, funny and says "Excuse me" without being prompted in the stores when he walks by people.
My Katie...
my smiley little sweetheart who giggles and smiles right before she sneeezes.
I'm lucky to have the three sweetest Valentines ever!
who comes up and gives me the biggest hugs ever and says, "Oh mama, I just can't get enough of you!"
My Christopher...
who is energetic, kind, funny and says "Excuse me" without being prompted in the stores when he walks by people.
My Katie...
my smiley little sweetheart who giggles and smiles right before she sneeezes.
I'm lucky to have the three sweetest Valentines ever!
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Bread Machine Honey Wheat Buttermilk Bread
I have making this bread at least once a week lately. It is easy to throw together, uses ingredients I have on hand, and makes the house smell terrific. I have yet to master making "real" bread (kneading for umpteen minutes, letting it rise for however many hours, etc.) so the bread machine is one of my best friends. This is a nice dense bread. My kids and husband love it and, between the four of us, we usually go through one loaf in two meals - the night I make it for a side for supper, followed by the yummiest toast you've ever had the next morning for breakfast.
Bread Machine Honey Wheat Buttermilk Bread
1 cup plus 1 T. buttermilk, at room temp (or warmed in the microwave for the few seconds)
1 T. butter, room temp and cut into small pieces
2 T. honey
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking soda
2 cups bread flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 tsp. yeast
Put the ingredients in the bread machine in the order listed. Use the whole wheat and light crust settings on your bread machine. (FYI: for my Oster bread machine, this takes 3 hours and 40 minutes until done.)
Bread Machine Honey Wheat Buttermilk Bread
1 cup plus 1 T. buttermilk, at room temp (or warmed in the microwave for the few seconds)
1 T. butter, room temp and cut into small pieces
2 T. honey
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking soda
2 cups bread flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 tsp. yeast
Put the ingredients in the bread machine in the order listed. Use the whole wheat and light crust settings on your bread machine. (FYI: for my Oster bread machine, this takes 3 hours and 40 minutes until done.)
Monday, January 30, 2012
Menu Plan Monday - 1/30/12
This week's menu plan is pretty short as the kids and I are leaving town on Thursday for at least seven days while we are having nearly the entire interior of our house painted. We'll be staying with my parents (about a 3 1/2 hour drive away) for the week. On a quiet farm with no internet access...should be relaxing (hopefully!) We will miss my husband dearly, who of course has to stay behind, work, and put up with the paint smell and mess for the whole week. Here is what I have planned for our very short cooking week:
Breakfasts:
Waffles and bananas
cold cereal and toast
Blueberry Muffins and yogurt
Lunches:
Leftovers
Chicken strips, carrots, cottage cheese
Cheese quesadillas, apple slices, chips and salsa
Suppers:
Monday: Spaghetti with slow cooker marinara sauce (from the freezer), fruit salad, garlic toast made with leftover buttermilk honey bread (recipe for the bread to come this week!)
Tuesday: Slow Cooker Chili (carryover from last week), cornbread, fruit salad
Wednesday: clean out the fridge night!
Thursday - next week: out of town!
This post is linked to Menu Plan Monday at I'm an Organizing Junkie.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Friday Favorite Finds - 1/27/12
Today I'm participating Friday Favorite Finds hosted by Finding Joy in my Kitchen. Here are some recipes I found this past week that look oh-so-yummy and I look forward to trying them out soon!
Broccoli Cheese Soup
from Mel's Kitchen Cafe
CrockPot Ranch Pork Chops
from Living, Laughing and Loving
Caulifower Fried Rice
from Full Belly Sisters
Chicken Dumpling Casserole
from The Shady Porch
Check out Finding Joy in my Kitchen for more great recipes.
Broccoli Cheese Soup
from Mel's Kitchen Cafe
CrockPot Ranch Pork Chops
from Living, Laughing and LovingCaulifower Fried Rice
from Full Belly SistersChicken Dumpling Casserole
from The Shady PorchCheck out Finding Joy in my Kitchen for more great recipes.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Whole Wheat Banana Muffins
I'm crazy about muffins. I like using what I have on hand to make a fresh batch of yummy-smelling and yummy-tasting muffins about once a week in our house. Muffin recipes that I have posted so far include Pear Blueberry Muffins, Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins, Banana Prune Muffins, Blueberry Muffins, Whole Wheat Muffins, and Raisin Bran Muffins.
Apparently I go a bit crazy with muffin recipes. Mmmm. Now I'm hungry.
And here's one more that I made this past week. I had some very ripe bananas to use up. I wanted my husband to be able to take whatever I made with him to work that morning for breakfast, so making my usual banana bread was out of the question because I didn't have one hour for baking time. So I came up with these muffins. Super easy. Super simple. Super quick. Super yummy.
Whole Wheat Banana Muffins
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
1/3 cup butter, melted
3 large very ripe bananas, mashed
In a medium bowl, sift together the flours, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In a large bowl, mix together the bananas, egg, sugar and melted butter. Add the flour mixture and stir just until combined. Scoop into greased muffin tins and bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
This recipe makes 12 yummy regular-sized muffins.
Apparently I go a bit crazy with muffin recipes. Mmmm. Now I'm hungry.
And here's one more that I made this past week. I had some very ripe bananas to use up. I wanted my husband to be able to take whatever I made with him to work that morning for breakfast, so making my usual banana bread was out of the question because I didn't have one hour for baking time. So I came up with these muffins. Super easy. Super simple. Super quick. Super yummy.
Whole Wheat Banana Muffins
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
1/3 cup butter, melted
3 large very ripe bananas, mashed
In a medium bowl, sift together the flours, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In a large bowl, mix together the bananas, egg, sugar and melted butter. Add the flour mixture and stir just until combined. Scoop into greased muffin tins and bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
This recipe makes 12 yummy regular-sized muffins.
Monday, January 23, 2012
A shout out to working moms
I watched an old episode of Dr. Phil recently on the "mommy wars." Working moms (or "work outside the home" moms") versus stay-at-home moms. The debate got pretty heated on both sides.
Stay-at-home moms claiming they are doing the best thing for their families by raising their children at home and being there for their kids "full time", keeping their kids out of daycare where they are raised by someone else, tending to the household duties, and making whatever sacrifices they have to in order to live off of one income.
Working moms claiming they are doing the best for their families and themselves by providing a second income for their family, raising thriving children by sending them to educational, social and loving childcare environments, being a better mom because they are taking care of themselves by having a career and a "life" outside of the home.
I am a full-time stay-at-home mom. By choice. I quit my job as a litigator when my oldest daughter, now 4 1/2 years old, was only 4 months old. I had the daycare for my daughter all lined up. The deposit was paid. But, my husband is also a litigator and, at the time, it just wasn't workable to me to have both of us keeping the work schedules that our job required. There were trials, depositions, client emergencies, and last-minute briefs due. This type of work life does not lend itself well to the standard "drop off and pick up" from daycare schedule. Plus, I really just wanted to be there with my kid all day. So, with the 110% full support of my awesome husband, I quit my job and have been home ever since.
I now have a kid in preschool so our days aren't quite as lazy as they used to be, but for the most part, the kids and I lead a fairly laid-back life with few stressors. We have preschool drop off three mornings a week, but otherwise we are not rushing out or getting up early in the mornings. We eat lunch at home when we want to. The kids have a fairly routine schedule throughout the day consisting of meals, naps, play, books, errands and TV time. When they go to bed, I don't have too much else to do other than pay the occasional bill or clean up the kitchen and living room. It's a good life that fits us well.
And to you working moms, let me say that you are AMAZING. You make it all work. You have to stick to stricter schedules and be more organized than I could ever be. You get everyone ready and out the door on time. You get yourself to work on time and do an amazing job there. You come home and switch gears into "mommy mode" and tend to the needs of your family. And then, when everyone is in bed, you likely have some work from the office you need to finish or start getting things ready and organized for the next day. I can only imagine that there are many times when you are at work thinking of your family and are at home thinking of work. You have a lot going on and you make it work. It works for you. It works for your family.
I often get stuck in a rut of feeling sorry for myself..."stuck at home" all day with the little ones. The only adult conversation I get is with the cashier ar Target. A daily shower is not a given. But really, I have it easy. Yes, I work very hard all day long. I am proud to say that I have never sat on the couch and ate a single Bon-Bon. :-). But I don't have to drop off a preschooler, a toddler and an infant at daycare each day while juggling my previous 60-70 hour per week career. I won't have to figure out how to leave work in order to pick up a sick child from school. I can go to Target on a Wednesday morning in order to avoid weekend errands.
But let me say this: I praise every single working mom out there. I do not judge you or think you, for whatever reason, are doing wrong by your family for having a job outside of the home. I do not judge you for having your kids attend daycare or having a nanny come into your home to watch your kids. In fact, I think you must have super-strength and super organizational skills. Not only are you able to get yourself ready in the morning, but you also manage to wake up, feed and clothe your children. You manage to get your things in order for the day as well as getting backpacks, coats, homework, lunches and mittens ready for your little ones. Many of you do this while wearing a nice suit and a pair of heels. You figure out who stays home with the sick kid and how to stay in touch with work while doing so. You get everything done, and then some. God bless you for that.
There should never be any type of "war" between moms. We are mommies, first and foremost. Let's support each other and help each other. Stay-at-home moms: please don't think your neighbor is "getting off easy" when she drives her two girls to daycare each morning. Working moms: please don't think that stay-at-home moms do nothing all day but change diapers, watch Days of our Lives, and post pictures of our kids on Facebook. We all are strong, wonderful women trying to raise strong, wonderful children. Let's do it together.
That being said, I am grateful for my "job" as a stay-at-home mom. It works for me. And right now, I wouldn't have it any other way. Hooray for moms everywhere!
This post is linked to Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers.
Stay-at-home moms claiming they are doing the best thing for their families by raising their children at home and being there for their kids "full time", keeping their kids out of daycare where they are raised by someone else, tending to the household duties, and making whatever sacrifices they have to in order to live off of one income.
Working moms claiming they are doing the best for their families and themselves by providing a second income for their family, raising thriving children by sending them to educational, social and loving childcare environments, being a better mom because they are taking care of themselves by having a career and a "life" outside of the home.
I am a full-time stay-at-home mom. By choice. I quit my job as a litigator when my oldest daughter, now 4 1/2 years old, was only 4 months old. I had the daycare for my daughter all lined up. The deposit was paid. But, my husband is also a litigator and, at the time, it just wasn't workable to me to have both of us keeping the work schedules that our job required. There were trials, depositions, client emergencies, and last-minute briefs due. This type of work life does not lend itself well to the standard "drop off and pick up" from daycare schedule. Plus, I really just wanted to be there with my kid all day. So, with the 110% full support of my awesome husband, I quit my job and have been home ever since.
I now have a kid in preschool so our days aren't quite as lazy as they used to be, but for the most part, the kids and I lead a fairly laid-back life with few stressors. We have preschool drop off three mornings a week, but otherwise we are not rushing out or getting up early in the mornings. We eat lunch at home when we want to. The kids have a fairly routine schedule throughout the day consisting of meals, naps, play, books, errands and TV time. When they go to bed, I don't have too much else to do other than pay the occasional bill or clean up the kitchen and living room. It's a good life that fits us well.
And to you working moms, let me say that you are AMAZING. You make it all work. You have to stick to stricter schedules and be more organized than I could ever be. You get everyone ready and out the door on time. You get yourself to work on time and do an amazing job there. You come home and switch gears into "mommy mode" and tend to the needs of your family. And then, when everyone is in bed, you likely have some work from the office you need to finish or start getting things ready and organized for the next day. I can only imagine that there are many times when you are at work thinking of your family and are at home thinking of work. You have a lot going on and you make it work. It works for you. It works for your family.
I often get stuck in a rut of feeling sorry for myself..."stuck at home" all day with the little ones. The only adult conversation I get is with the cashier ar Target. A daily shower is not a given. But really, I have it easy. Yes, I work very hard all day long. I am proud to say that I have never sat on the couch and ate a single Bon-Bon. :-). But I don't have to drop off a preschooler, a toddler and an infant at daycare each day while juggling my previous 60-70 hour per week career. I won't have to figure out how to leave work in order to pick up a sick child from school. I can go to Target on a Wednesday morning in order to avoid weekend errands.
But let me say this: I praise every single working mom out there. I do not judge you or think you, for whatever reason, are doing wrong by your family for having a job outside of the home. I do not judge you for having your kids attend daycare or having a nanny come into your home to watch your kids. In fact, I think you must have super-strength and super organizational skills. Not only are you able to get yourself ready in the morning, but you also manage to wake up, feed and clothe your children. You manage to get your things in order for the day as well as getting backpacks, coats, homework, lunches and mittens ready for your little ones. Many of you do this while wearing a nice suit and a pair of heels. You figure out who stays home with the sick kid and how to stay in touch with work while doing so. You get everything done, and then some. God bless you for that.
There should never be any type of "war" between moms. We are mommies, first and foremost. Let's support each other and help each other. Stay-at-home moms: please don't think your neighbor is "getting off easy" when she drives her two girls to daycare each morning. Working moms: please don't think that stay-at-home moms do nothing all day but change diapers, watch Days of our Lives, and post pictures of our kids on Facebook. We all are strong, wonderful women trying to raise strong, wonderful children. Let's do it together.
That being said, I am grateful for my "job" as a stay-at-home mom. It works for me. And right now, I wouldn't have it any other way. Hooray for moms everywhere!
This post is linked to Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers.
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