Joseph, Gabriella, Julianna, James, and Elora

Joseph, Gabriella, Julianna, James, and Elora

Friday, January 27, 2012

Walking! (aaaahhhh...)

Sooo...guess who started walking today?

Good guess!

Today has been kind of an unproductive day in many respects, because the kids have been uber-fussy and I spent the whole afternoon trying to get them to take naps! It was kind of like herding cats. As soon as you get one back in his/her room, the others all swarm away...

BUT I did manage to make our homemade gluten free pizza for Family Night, which we attempt to observe every Friday, with pizza and some form of game or movie or interaction with us all together! And then about 5 o'clock, my father in law dropped by for a few minutes, and all of us sudden Elora started walking for him! She has been standing incredibly well for almost 2 months, and "cruising" along all the furniture, and about a month ago she took 3 steps and then decided she would rather crawl. I haven't seen any walking at all since then...until today! I was so excited that she did it while Dad was here, because even though they live here in town (or in the mountains), we don't get to see them that often due to my mother in law's health problems. (Let's face it, 4 kids ages 5 and under can be quite overwhelming even when you feel well!) Joseph took his first steps on Dad's birthday, and now he's seen Elora's too! Yay!

So I am chalking this day up in the "win" category even though the house is messy and I have a killer headache and didn't get anything done today. Focus on the victories, right? ;-)

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

Thursday, January 26, 2012

A Momentous Occasion

My dear friends! Gather 'round, for I have momentous news! Rejoice with me upon this joyous day, for an event so singular, so rare has occurred, that I am sure you shall all be astounded.

{trumpet fanfare}

MY REFRIGERATOR IS CLEAN!

{applause mingled with shouts of delighted incredulity}

Thank ye, thank ye! It gladdens my heart that you share my joy. Now you may all return to your villages.

{Inaudible murmuring}

What's that, peasant? The microwave? You DARE to inquire about the state of the MICROWAVE??

OFF WITH HIS HEAD!!!!!

{swish. thunk.}

Anyone else? No?

A pleasant day, then, good people.

Monday, January 23, 2012

At this moment I feel a bit like laundry that has been put through one of those old fashioned wringers - the kind from before modern washers and dryers, where you had to feed the laundry through and turn the crank and wring out all the water so you could hang it on the line. I feel like a limp, soggy, floppy puddle on the floor.


My head is pounding. My heart is racing. I look down and notice I have blood on my jeans. I think I still have blood on my hands, too.

See, today was the first time in 5 years of parenting that we had an "emergency." I say emergency in quotes because it turns out that it really wasn't that bad. I overreacted, and I am feeling kind of stupid about that. But in order to understand exactly why I overreacted, you have to understand my childhood.

I was an extremely accident prone child (ok, and teenager...and adult), and I hurt myself a lot. Now, lots of kids hurt themselves. Bruises. A few stitches. Maybe even stepping on a pin or a nail. Except I took it to the next level...I managed to hurt myself in the worst possible way that nearly always resulted in some kind of major surgery. I had had 3 surgeries by the time I was 11 years old to fix various body parts I'd broken in some strange way. And the worst one of these was the time I cut my thumb off. I won't go into gory details. The doctors were able to sew it back on and it works just fine. And while it was fairly traumatic at the time, I don't think it "scarred me for life" in the psychological sense. It was painful at the time, but I got over it. Honestly I wouldn't really put my accidents on my list of regrets.

But today....today my history became much more traumatic because I experienced it from a parent's perspective. Joseph and James were fooling around with the coffee table, trying to pick it up to prove who was the strongest. (Boys! Honestly!) Joseph dropped it, and the sharp edge landed on James's big toe. Screaming and bleeding ensued, and when Mama took his sock off, it looked like the cut extended all the way around the toe, in essence cutting the top of the toe off. (Turned out it was two different cuts, and they just looked connected because of the blood.) I freaked out, started putting pressure on the bleeding, and called both Robert and my mom with the "it's an emergency" call, certain that history was repeating itself and my not-quite-four-year-old son had just cut his big toe off. They both dropped everything and rushed over, bless them, and Mom stayed with the other kids while Robert and I took James to Doctors on Call. It took less than an hour, wasn't broken, and turned out to be just a deep cut that the doctor superglued (yes, superglued! evidently superglue has replaced stitches now days?) his toe back together and bandaged it up, and we came home.

Part of me feels very ridiculous for freaking out and overreacting so much. I mean, I have 4 children, and I thought I was used to the minor injuries by now. Robert and I are definitely not the "rush your kids to the emergency room for every minor thing" parents! (At least, I thought we weren't...) I also feel bad for pulling Robert away from work and wasting his and Mom's time with something I should have been able to handle on my own. I mean, I could have washed his toe and superglued it and put a bandage on it myself, for crying out loud!

Somehow I think it was just facing the possibility of my son going through the same thing that I had that unnerved me so much. I am so very grateful that he wasn't badly hurt - praise God for that! But I still feel like collapsing in a chair and trying to calm my fractured nerves! (Okay, I admit it - if I drank alcohol, today would be the day...) Chocolate. I am badly in need of a chocolate fix! God's de-stresser for moms who don't drink...

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Just a really great day

I had a terrific day today! It wasn't really due to any one big thing, but rather a bunch of little things that were wonderful and enjoyable.

Woke up this morning to find Mom at my house! She picked us up on her way home from dropping Dad at the airport and took us to her house, where we spent a lovely day together. I got to help my sister Lydia with her paper on Taming of the Shrew, which was super fun to me because I got to brush up my old literature knowledge and skills, and actually use that rusty part of my brain! ;-) Then I worked a little bit on a dress for my sister Sophie to wear to the Regency Ball! It is the MOST gorgeous dress, based on the American Girl Felicity doll's dress. It is also the most complicated pattern I've ever attempted, and we didn't get much done on it, but we will work more next time. (Promise, Sophie!)

Then Mom and the kids and I drove back into town and I got to stop by my friend Sarah's house and see her new baby boy! He is an adorable CHUNK, and it was so nice to see her after such a long time. After that we went to the pet store and admired all the animals! (Going to the pet store is way better than having a pet - the kids get to see and play with animals that I don't have to clean up after!) Then Daddy surprised us by meeting us there. He did something very sweet for me - actually went to the beauty salon and bought me a curling iron I had been wanting, along with some chocolate! ;-) Then he drove us home, and we had a crock pot full of spaghetti ready to eat when we arrived! Hooray!

I am feeling very blessed tonight and thankful for a such a wonderful ordinary day! I hope your day was half as good as mine!

Monday, January 16, 2012

The real reason you read my blog

Let's face it. As much as we pretend that we are "keeping up with old friends" or "trying to learn new skills," there are really only three reasons we read blogs. 
1) To compare our boring, mundane lives with everyone else's super-exciting lives. For example: your co-worker's 300 pictures of her fabulous trip to Paris, all of which include her looking thin, fashionable, and, well, fabulous, despite the fact that she is eating rich French food in half of them. Or the mom from your church group who not only hand-knits intricate sweaters - probably with Bible verses knitted into each row of stitches - for her seven perfectly behaved children, but also makes extra ones for the homeless in her "spare time." (Yes, I know Mrs. Weasley knit sweaters for each of her seven children AND one for Harry each Christmas, but she got to use magic!!)  


2) To make ourselves feel better about our own lives by reading about other people's problems. I realize that you all read my blog for this reason. Don't believe me? Go check your couch. Is there peanut butter on it? If no, then you are reading my blog to make you feel better about your own life. You're welcome. (If there is peanut butter on it, welcome to the club, sister!)


3. To find recipes that completely spoil your diet. I know that's my favorite kind of blog. (yeah, PioneerWoman, you know I'm talking about you. Thanks a TON, by the way! Just reading your blog makes me gain weight. But your recipes are sooooo good.....) Every once in a while I try to throw a few of these your way, just in case the peanut butter in getting old. So here you go - my latest sinfully delicious dessert that makes you gain weight just by looking at the picture. (SHUT YOUR EYES!!)


Note - my husband doesn't even LIKE cake. He's an ice-cream man. But he scarfed down his piece in less than 30 seconds. I felt so proud. ;-)


Heavenly Chocolate Cake
(adapted from this recipe)


(Did I mention that I made this cake gluten-free? It sure didn't taste gluten free! BAM!)


3/4 c butter, softened
3 eggs, room temperature
2 c pamelas baking mix
     (OR 2 c  all purpose flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 3/4 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt)
3/4 c cocoa powder
2 c sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 c milk


1. Let butter and eggs stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. (Or if you want to cheat, place eggs in warm water for a few minutes and soften butter in the microwave!) Grease and flour one 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Set pan(s) aside. Preheat oven to 350.


2. In a mixing bowl, stir together the Pamela's mix with the cocoa.


3. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with an electric butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Gradually add sugar, about 1/4 cup at a time, beating on medium speed until well combined (3 to 4 minutes). Scrape sides of bowl; continue beating on medium speed for 2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition (about 1 minute total). Beat in vanilla. 


4. Alternately add flour mixture and milk to beaten mixture, beating on low speed just until combined after each addition. Beat on medium to high speed for 20 seconds more. Spread batter evenly into the prepared pan.


5. Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool thoroughly.


6. Now for the best part - the frosting. This cake is so rich and chocolatey that I didn't really frost it. I just whipped up some fresh cream, with a touch of sugar and vanilla. Then I cut a big square of cooled cake, plopped a big spoonful of whipped cream on top, and added a maraschino cherry for effect. Pretty! And deee-licious! 



Note - I wouldn't advise frosting the whole cake with whipped cream. The cream will soak in and make the cake soggy. Just whip up enough cream to top the amount you're serving each time. Store cake in airtight containers to keep fresh.


And finally, most importantly - try not to eat it ALL at once!!! 

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Pineapple-glazed pork chops

I have seen a distressing trend lately of making very nice dinners only to discover my husband can't come home to enjoy them! It's very sad. But such is the life of a doctor's wife...a computer doctor, that is! ;-) In some ways that's almost worse because he is the only one "on call" 24/7! But I am very thankful that he has a job and his company is doing so well, and he is so well respected throughout the state of New Mexico! I just can't help wishing sometimes that he had a little LESS job security!

Tonight was a classic example of the good dinner/no husband conundrum. I made some extremely delicious pineapple-ginger pork chops that he didn't get to eat (but don't worry, I saved him some!). Since they turned out so well and I didn't get to share them with him, I've decided to share them with you all! Here's the recipe - which I invented, thank you very much!

Pineapple-ginger pork chops

1 Tablespoon butter
4 pork chops
1 large can pineapple rings or chunks, with juice
1/4 c brown sugar
2 teaspoons ginger (or to taste)
3 Tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon vinegar
1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
pinch of salt
*please note that I didn't measure these ingredients, I just added until it tasted good. These measurements are just my best guess, so feel free to tinker until you like it!

Heat large skillet, then melt butter. Add pork chops and brown on both sides. Drain pineapple juice into a medium bowl, then add brown sugar, ginger, soy sauce, vinegar, cornstarch, and salt. Stir together until combined. Place pineapple rings on top of pork chops. Pour sauce over all, then bake at 350 for about 30 minutes or until pork chops are cooked through. Serve each chop with a pineapple ring on top and a spoonful of sauce drizzled over it. I served mashed potatoes and green vegetables with mine, but this would be good over rice too - it has kind of a teriyaki flavor to it.

(this recipe would probably work well with chicken too, especially if you don't care for pork)

This is not actually a picture of my dinner - I forgot to take one. It's just to get you hungry. ;-)

Hope you enjoy!