That Moment on 3/16/15...

That moment when you are getting your 9-year-old ready for school and the 4-year-old decides to drop his yogurt drink all over his new toy grill and as you're walking over to clean that up your 1-year-old puts his hand through the handle of your FAVORITE coffee mug like it's a bracelet and as you see him and start, "No, no, no, no, no. no-ing," he flings his arm out throwing your jumbo-sized mug--which is completely full and holds a good two regular mugs of coffee at a time--across the living room.

‪#‎AllBefore8AM‬ #JustAnotherManicMonday ‪#‎FavoriteCoffeeMugEulogy‬ ‪#‎BrewingAnotherPot‬ ‪#‎SomeoneHelpMe

Happy 4th Birthday, Wyatt!!!

My sweet boy is 4 today!!! He's getting SO big SO quick!! Today, he woke up to a HUGE wrapped box in the living room which he responded to by an equally HUGE open mouth. It took seconds for him to shred the wrapping paper revealing an awesome toy grill that he has wanted. When we weren't at church--where he told everyone that it was his birthday--we were picking out baseball cupcakes to enjoy, ingredients for a spaghetti dinner, watching a new movie, and playing with his new grill. It's been a great day!

Wyatt's Current Stats in his language and English:

Favorite Color: "Lellow" (Yellow)

Favorite Food: "Bisgetti" (Spaghetti)

Favorite Drink: "Chockat Milk" (Chocolate Milk)

Favorite Things: his monkey, his "gween banky (green blanket), his new "girl" (grill), Star Wars Rebels, his train tent

Favorite Hobbies: Crafts, Playing in the Sandbox, Playing with Play-doh, doing his lessons on ABC Mouse, playing baseball (that kid can HIT!!) and doing "homework" in a special composition book with Caleb and Ryleigh when they get home from school

Favorite Movie: "Baymax" (Big Hero 6)

A Day of Rest

Actress Leelee Sobieski's Aha! Moment (and mine!)

I, like many people, am constantly on my phone. I text my girlfriends. I look at Facebook. I check email. If I’m away from the news cycle for more than a few hours, I feel out o touch. If I’m caught up on people’s lives I have their information right at my fingertips at all times.

But about three years ago my boyfriend, who’s now my husband, noticed how technology made it so that even when we were alone, we were never truly alone—our friends were always popping up in our inboxes. So we decided that from Friday night to Saturday night, we would try to unplug.

We started off small: no emails and I’d answer the phone only if my mom or brother called. When we explained what we were doing, we started receiving fewer calls. People just got it. We told them, “If you need us, come over.” Soon friends and family started dropping by. It wasn’t long before we took our weekend time-outs a step further: We shut off our phones, televisions, and Internet. We did no work. No planning, no chores. We played backgammon and read. We took walks in the park. When time-out was over each week, we went right back to our phones and television and Internet—but we felt refreshed by the break we’d taken.

When I had my daughter, Louisanna, two and a half years ago, I started recording every funny or sweet thing she said or did on my phone. But on one of our unplugged days, I realized that I had been so focused on capturing those moments that I hadn’t been feeling them. I’d missed opportunities to connect with my daughter because my face was always hidden behind my cell phone. Now when I see something beautiful or funny or sweet, sometimes I reach for my camera, but other times I simply think I need to let this moment exist. I don’t have to capture everything. I just want to experience it.

It’s so freeing to allow yourself time to just be. I’m a natural worrier, but now, for 24 hours a week, I have to take a break from that, too. I have to let go. I can’t send that email to deal with this or that work-related question—which usually helps me to realize that I probably don’t need to send it at all.

When the 24 hours are over, it’s exciting to go back to my regular life. There are so many new things to share with the people I love. And I feel like my spirit has been reset, like I’ve fallen in love with my husband and daughter all over again. It’s just one day, but it makes the whole week better.

--adapted from The Oprah Magazine - May 2012 Issue

I hope you you were as enlightened as I was after reading this. Now make like Nike and just do it! I am. Right now...

Weaning Chronicles: Day 23

Well, today's the day. This evening I plan to wean Wyatt from all of his middle of the night feedings. I’m experiencing a mixture of feelings right now from the sadness of knowing how much I will miss this type of bonding with my munchkin to being nervous that he "needs" me for that feeling of being nurtured and I that in weaning him I may be neglecting that need and the relief of having the freedom of my own body back. Lewis brought home a bottle of wine to celebrate--jeez, it's been almost 2 years since I've had a glass. I was nervous to even try it because once I did, that would be it, I definitely couldn't feed Wyatt tonight--but that was the plan, right? I’ve conceded, knowing this is something that I need to do, both for myself and for Wyatt now that he's turned a year. I have to admit, the wine is good. I've missed having a nice glass of wine with dinner but something tells me I'm going to miss breastfeeding even more.

Weaning Chronicles: Day 17

Last night we began phasing out our evening feeding, leaving only the couple of nighttime feedings left which we'll work on next week (not looking forward to that since it's Wyatt's favorite time to feed and one that helps us all sleep). I started getting pretty uncomfortable in the evening and was so happy that Wyatt woke up a little early so that I could feed him. I think it might be time to go buy some cabbage. Oy vey. Perhaps I could introduce the family to steamed cabbage at dinner one night. I wonder if they'd eat it once they found out that I cooked it in my bra though? ;)

5 Days. 10 Things. 1 Family. = 250 Items Closer to Simplicity.

I know when I see a great blog or blog posting and much like my recipes and food photography, when I come across something great I want to tell the world. I simply HAD to share this blog posting. By the GREAT weekend for doing some Spring Cleaning! Click on the 10x5 Project below and get started--leave me some comments on how everything worked for you--inquiring minds (me) want to know :)

The 10x5 Project. Make like Nike--just do it!




**Photo credits care of TheHappyFamilyMovement.com**

D is for Delicious

I have a friend who's really more like family who always talks about how she hates when people post photos of their food on Facebook. God love her, but there's nothing like gorging on a delicious dish while seated around the dinner table with the fam and you know you've made a great meal when you feel the unstoppable urge to grab your camera and share it with others. Therefore, I'm in favor of food photography and so feast your eyes on these babies!! Believe me, they taste as good as they look, enough to make you want to slap your Mama and because I love sharing good food with good people, here's my recipe :)

Slap Your Mama Good Stuffed Green Peppers

Ingredients:

6 green bell peppers, tops cut away and seeds removed
1/4 cup dried onion spice
1/2 cup finely chopped red bell peppers
1 lb. ground pork or beef or an even mixture of both
1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic
1/4 cup dried parsley
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups cooked long or medium grain white rice
2 8oz. cans of tomatoe sauce
water
grated parmesan or parmesan/romano cheese blend

Directions:

-Preheat over to 350 degrees.
-In a large pot of boiling water, parboil the peppers until just tender--3 minutes. Drain water and leave peppers in pot.
-In a large saute pan, brown meat along with minced garlic and half of the dried onions and parsley. While meat is browning prepare rice.
-Drain meat mixture and add to prepared rice along with other half of dried parsley and onions, salt, pepper, and 1 can of tomato sauce. Mix well.
-Stuff peppers with meat and rice mixture.
-Pour enough water into a baking dish to just cover the bottom, about 1/8 inch deep
-Stand peppers in dish and bake for 30 minutes or until peppers are very tender and filling is heated throughout. Meanwhile, warm the other can of tomato sauce in a sauce pan over low heat.
-When peppers are finished baking, top with heated tomato sauce and parmesan cheese.
-Enjoy!

Makes 6 servings