Wednesday, August 27, 2014

My cup is overflowing

My life is more interesting lately than seems necessary. Five days ago I was back to school shopping, signing my son up for soccer, and washing new born baby clothes. In the past few days my energetic 4yr old son broke his leg, got a blue long leg cast, and I've just about lost my mind. I've averaged 5 hrs of sleep each night and have sought therapeutic relief from heating pads, chocolate, and caffeinated sodas.

The cast will remain for 6-8 weeks. My due date is in two weeks, and my hubby returns to teaching in one week. The math is not in my favor. And added bonus: As we pull into our driveway from the orthopedic surgeon we notice our street is full of dump trucks, excavators and various construction vehicles that will be digging our street for the next 45 days. See, I told you it is more interesting than necessary.

So here are the contents of my "cup": swollen belly, heavy immobile child, two other energetic girls desiring my attention, and a partially accessible street. Upon first glance it appears only half-full of lemon juice. But upon closer observation the sugar is added.
1tsp sugar- My baby within is active and healthy. Honestly, the hospital stay may be more like a vacation.
3tsp sugar- My son's sturdy blue cast now allows him to start rolling over and giving his healing bone more support so the pain killers are no longer necessary.
The latest in preschooler fashion Blue Long Leg Casts!
7tsp sugar- Social media has once again blessed our lives. A sweet angel saw my need for a pediatric wheelchair and acquired it for free. He is now getting around the house better and able to join us for meals at the table. He loves his new ride!
Not the best shot of the wheelchair but it is glorious! And they are enjoying wind up motor boats I found on sale today in dishes of water.

3tsp sugar- Kind friends and family have showered us with love and concern. My little one's received get well cards, toy trucks, a movie and a giant get well cookie. 
So awesome!
4tsp sugar-My girls are beautiful and maddening all at once. They make me smile and grit my teeth in the same breath. 
my girls are good helpers.....most of the time.
10tsp sugar- the variety of construction vehicles roaming our small street is loud. My children's ears perk up at each engine roar and horn blast. This requires us to race to the front porch. We sit and wave as the workers pass. We try to imagine what their next move will be. Breakfast is enjoyed to the blaring sounds of a concrete cutter. Afternoon popsicles cool us as the two-story tall excavator is delivered.

My cup isn't perfect. It is covered in sticky finger smudges. The rim is lipstick stained. The lemonade is sometimes cloudy, but it is sweet to the taste. Our Heavenly Father blesses us more than we deserve. He carries me through the dark days and holds my hand through the sunny ones. I'm still tired, my patience is short and my back aches. But my heart is full, and for that I am grateful.

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Life can be hard

I'm a bag of emotions. I feel pain for my son who is splinted from foot to hip after his fall from the monkey bars. Guilt washes through me as I recall how I told him from a distance he could accomplish them all by himself without me as he cried for help. Relief calms my soul as I remember the tender mercy of the Lord because I bought a phenomenal extra wide single stroller at a yard sale yesterday morning for only $10. This stroller is my little man's "wheelchair" at the moment. Financial peace is granted as I hand my insurance card to everyone we meet. Embarrassed as the nurses wrap his feet and see the dirt smudges from his barefoot adventures. Laughter fills the air as the pain killers calm him and we can see the silly side of life and pretend every superhero has a broken leg too. My superhero is temporarily out of commission. My heart aches as I reflect on his muscular form in his new Captain America costume he wore most of the day yesterday. He flexed throughout lunch and would respond to all our questions with a thumbs up and a deep voice. Concern and confusion take over as I contemplate my life for the next while.

Four hours of interrupted sleep is all that's in my fuel tank this morning. Today life seems hard. My back is sore, my ankles are swollen and my baby within is getting anxious. The last few weeks I've encouraged my baby to make his debut, how quickly that changed. I need this baby to wait as long as he can and perhaps add a few days beyond the due date.

But the Lord continues to bless me. He swept my little man off to dream land after many hours of writhing in pain. He brings my hubby to the rescue when my words and back aren't enough. He granted me wonderful parents who fill in all my gaps and missing links. He allows me social media to reach out to family and friends who in return offer prayers and well wishes. He soothes my soul during all of this. He forgives my wrongs and lifts my chin reminding me I get another chance.

Today life is hard, but at least I know I'm not left alone.


Friday, August 22, 2014

Pantry Living Week 9

We're almost done Pantry Living Take 2! I can hardly believe it. Only one more week to go.
Pantry after week 9

Here's the update:
    • Boxes of cereal after week 8: 15
    • Boxes of cereal after week 9: 10.5 (again the stack of individual servings make the .5)
    • Allowable Purchases: bananas, blueberries, apples, 
    • Necessary purchases: school supplies (my 1st grader is ready to learn)
    • Cash purchases: ice cream cones, a few clothes for my post prego body, a new skirt for Lilia, 
    • Cheats: jammies for my upcoming hospital stay, and a post prego dress, and some slimming under the clothes things for my soon to be flabby belly. Truthfully, I consider each of these necessary, (and reminder they're considered "cheats" cause I used my credit card.)
    • Opened jars/bags- sugar, spaghetti sauce, lasagna noodles, chips, raspberry lemonade mix, 
    • Confession: I'm losing my mind. I usually refer to it as "mommy brain". Lately I've become so consumed with my impending labor I forget to start the dishwasher. I almost (I repeat almost) forget that I've invited people over. I forget to re-diaper my overactive toddler until she jumps on the couch and her bare bum is revealed. I forget to pee... this may sound particularly bizarre but all of a sudden I'm super uncomfortable and realize its cause I've needed to go for over an hour and just kept putting it off and so my belly has a contraction to remind me. Seriously, I'm this forgetful!!! So this also flows into the blog and keeping track of the "purchases", "cheats", "opened jars" etc. I try desperately to think back over the last 7 days but I'm sure things have been forgotten or added to the wrong week. oh well. 
We're nearly at the end and I'm excited to grocery shop again but at the same time I love my Pantry Living obligation. I love sending the kiddos to retrieve a new bottle of dressing or a can of veggies. It is exhilarating to know we can survive.
Happy Summer!

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Lasagna Rolls with invisible zucchini

Tonight as I pull our dinner from the oven I hear the words "Not zucchini again!" I carefully responded with "I made lasagna." hehehe little did he know it had 2 cups of zucchini hidden within. We spent the lovely day at the beach. Yup, four hours playing in the waves and digging in the sand. Life is good. Life is especially good when I plan ahead and make dinner before leaving the house. I tried out this awesome new recipe called Three Cheese Zucchini Lasagna Roll. DELECTABLE!
Before they went into the fridge for the day. But they are ready to be baked!

Ready to enter my belly!

Here's the recipe:



Ingredients:
    • 10 lasagna noodles, cooked (that was 1/2 of the box)
    • 1 tsp olive oil
    • A couple spoonfuls of minced garlic
    • 2 cups zucchini grated
    • 1 cup ricotta cheese
    • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
    • 1 large egg, beaten
    • 1/2 tsp salt
    • a few shakes of pepper
    • 1 3/4 cups Marinara sauce
    • 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
    • fresh basil for garnish (optional)
Directions:

    • Ladle about 1 cup sauce on the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch baking dish.
    • Cook lasagna noodles according to package, drain and rinse in cold water.
    • In a medium nonstick skillet, sauté garlic and olive oil over medium heat for about 1 minute; add zucchini, salt and pepper to taste and cook about 4-5 minutes, until soft.
    • Combine the zucchini, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg, salt and pepper in a medium bowl.  
    • Lay out the lasagna noodles on a clean work surface. Make sure noodles are a little dry. Take 1/4 cup of ricotta mixture and spread evenly over the noodle. Roll carefully and place seam side down onto the prepared baking dish. Repeat with remaining noodles. 
    • Ladle the remaining sauce over the lasagna rolls and top each one with 1 tbsp mozzarella cheese. Put foil over baking dish and bake at 350 for about 40 minutes, or until the inside is heated through and the cheese is melted. Top with fresh basil if desired and eat hot.
My family gobbled it up and no one found any trace of the zucchini. I'm a sneaky one! Hope you enjoy it as much as we did! 
Happy Summer!

Monday, August 18, 2014

How does your garden grow?

Last year I had one cherry tomato plant in a pot on my deck. After I killed it I dug a hole in the yard and tried to transplant it. The roots and plant separated from each other in my hands. I shoved them back together, buried it with dirt, and turned my back on it for the rest of the summer. Without my black thumb it flourished and provided us with delicious tomatoes through Sept.

I was more ambitious this year even though I know my tendency to kill plants. Pinterest to the rescue again! I found lots of great tips for a raised bed garden and I bought all the plants from our grocery store. We built the perimeter with concrete blocks, turned the earth, and added fertilizer and soil. I inserted six 36" wooden posts to hold up our green plastic garden fence. I used zip ties to attach the fence to the posts and left one side accessible. Where the two ends met I closed it with strips of velcro for easy access.

My hubby turning the earth
Our garden this year was:
    Our garden after about one month
    • 1 zucchini plant
    • 2 green bell peppers that magically grew into pablano peppers
    • 1 cherry tomato plant
    • 1 tomato plant
    • 1 plum tomato plant
    • 2 green bean plants
    • 2 cut onions
    • 2 cilantro plants
    • 1 raspberry stick that would theoretically turn into a bush (in a side plot)
Our raspberry stick
Our results:
    • Oodles and gobs of lovely zucchini. Probably 10 or so with a few more still growing
    • 7 pablano peppers
    • a bushel  of cherry tomatoes, we were able to keep up with them.
    • a bunch of slicing tomatoes that tend to outgrow their skins. unfortunately I've had to chuck a lot of them. they rot too quickly for us.
    • more plum tomatoes than I could ever handle, I'm researching tomato recipes today cause I brought in tons of all three varieties this morning. 
    • a few meals worth of green beans. they are delish but the yield isn't high enough
    • one onion rotted in the soil the other grew 2 small bulbs the size of bouncey balls
    • somehow I killed the cilantro. I tried to keep up with them and pop the buds off regularly but they never grew the round flat leaves while I had them, only skiny ones. and eventually it became brown sticks.
    • I still have one brown raspberry stick. 
Our garden now, 3 months later
The plan for next year:
    • Another single zucchini plant, don't think I could handle more than that.
    • No peppers, they were tasty but not worth the water for only 7.
    • Only two tomato plants. Three plants are too many for us. The plum are the most prolific this year but I like the taste of the other two better. So we'll see.
    • More green beans. Forgot to add I had a lovely lattice in place for it to climb and discovered later the plant was bush beans not pole beans. Oh well. But I would love three or four plants next year. 
    • The onions were an experiment this year, I won't do them again.
    • I love cilantro but I may only do one next year and not add to the actual garden. I'm thinking the garden didn't mind when I ignored it for a bit but the cilantro was offended. 
    • I will not dig up the raspberry stick for another year or two. Perhaps it will eventually decide to produce something. But I may invest in a real bush next year; I adore raspberries. 
    • Cucumbers. I wanted to try them this year but discovered you have to do them from seed which I was not prepared to try. My kids recently got these "crazy cucumber seeds" in paper from McDonald's at National Night Out. You just plant the paper in the dirt and water it. It sounds like it may survive my black thumb. We shall see. 
Future endeavors:
    • We have 2 random trees in our yard, a giant evergreen planted next to a flag pole and a half dead something near the fence. We hope to remove both of them and where the half dead one is I'd like to plant a fruit tree next year. I'm thinking peach.
    • We have a great back yard with lots of room for more raised beds. We won't add another next year but perhaps as our family gets hungrier we'll add to it. 
Additional Lessons learned:
    • We planted marigolds throughout the garden between plants and in many of the concrete blocks. They were beautiful and did the trick of keeping away the pests.
    • Next year I'll need access to the garden from both long sides instead of just one. Weeding became acrobatic at times.
    • The fence was great; it kept out animals as well as little "helpers". 
    • Will need to research more about getting tomato plants to grow taller instead of bushier. That was a big issue this year but it didn't seem to hurt our harvest. 
    • Watering the garden is therapeutic. I usually went out around bedtime for my kids (7pm) and would be able to reflect on our day as I watered the earth. 
    • Frequent rain is much cheaper and more nutritious for the plants. I always noticed more growth after a rainfall. 
    • Miracle Gro for tomatoes can be poured on all the plants. I did this maybe 3x this summer before the plants began to produce actual vegetables. I think they liked it.
    • Gardening isn't my favorite activity but it sure is rewarding, especially baking and enjoying the harvest!
Decadent Chocolate Zucchini Cake
Zucchini Bread and muffins
Chile Relleno made from our pablano peppers
I'd love to hear what was in your garden and the tips and tricks that work for you!
Happy Summer!


Sunday, August 17, 2014

Peanut Butter, Choc Chip, Honey & Banana ICE CREAM

Lately I buy bananas and hope for them to ripen faster so I can get creating in the kitchen. Last week I made this yummy ice cream that only called for 4 ingredients and bonus for any lactose intolerance people like myself, it is dairy free!

Peanut Butter, Choc Chip, Honey & Banana Ice Cream


Ingredients:
1-1/2 peeled medium bananas, sliced into coins and frozen until solid
3 tablespoons peanut butter
2 teaspoons honey
1 rounded tablespoon dark chocolate chips
Directions:

  1. Slice bananas into coins and freeze until solid.
  2. Blend bananas in food processor or electric chopper until thoroughly smashed into a smooth pulp, like mashed potatoes.
  3. Add the peanut butter and honey and mix thoroughly.
  4. Remove from the food processor/chopper and place in a freezer-safe container. Add the dark chocolate chips and mix well by hand.
  5. Freeze until solid. *note: the first night I was anxious so it only sat in the freezer for an hour or two. It was soft and yummy, kinda like soft serve. The next day I shared the leftover with the kids. They had a very hard ice cream. So it depends on how you like it. 
This is a small recipe. It really only yields two small bowls worth. I would recommend doubling it if you plan to share with anyone. 
My family loved it! I enjoyed it, but truthfully it still tastes a lot like bananas. I'm not the biggest banana lover so I was hoping the peanut butter would mask the flavor a touch more but it was still creamy and delicious. (note: when you bake with bananas it usually loses that signature banana flavor, which is my preference.)

Enjoy! Happy Summer!

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Pantry Living Week 8

We're nearing the end of Pantry Living, summer and this pregnancy.

Pantry after week 8


Here's the update:
    • Cereal after 7: 19.5
    • Cereal after 8: 15
    • Allowable purchases: bananas, watermelon, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, potatoes, cucumbers, eggs,
    • Cheats: brown sugar(I was totally out and had baking to do), 
    • Sorta cheats but necessary so not sure if they really count: prenatal vitamins, socks for Max and Lilia, a few new school clothes for the kids, baby outfit for the new one from the kids, new beach chair to replace a broken one, 2 clearance summer dresses for me for next summer, a new backpack diaper bag, a 3piece dish set on clearance for Max for christmas, more Lenox dishes that match my pattern(they had a great sale)
    • Completely out of- brown sugar(hence the purchase), pancake mix, Italian dressing, chicken breasts
    • Opened jars/bags: flour, sugar, Cheese Nips, jam, peanut butter, ranch dressing, crackers, rice, Cheetos, chocolate graham crackers, rasp granola, honey, sandwich bags
    • Lessons learned: 
      • I choose to live this way. No one is going to punish me for running out of brown sugar or whatever. If I must have the item I will hurt no one when I buy it. As long as I learn from this and am prepared for the future it is alright. This might seem silly but I occasionally beat myself up for not being as prepared as I think I should be. I made an inventory of my pantry before this began and when it is over I will update it. I'm excited to see what items we ran out of(like flour 2x and brown sugar) and what items we hardly touched (like balsamic vinaigrette and bread crumbs). 
      • Pantry Living is not an exciting experiment. But I learn a lot about my lifestyle, my family and our financial choices. 
Happy Summer!

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Are you done having kids?

    I'm 8 months pregnant. My belly is swollen, my ankles are puffy and my internal thermostat is way too high. But with each wiggle and bump of my baby within I feel more alive than ever. I feel like we have a secret. No one else in the world feels him and is aware of him. With each nudge of the ribs I'm reminded he's coming ready or not. I pray I'm ready.
     But this isn't an entirely new experience for me. With my eldest daughter I would grab the hand of whomever was closest and press it to her tiny feet while she'd kick me repeatedly. Some adored sharing this moment and finding it was a real person. Others jumped and yelled startled by the same realization.   Pregnancy after pregnancy I've enjoyed the divine process of growing another's mortal body. I am forever in awe of the human capability to create life.
    This is my 4th pregnancy. Our children go Girl, Boy, Girl and now Boy. Some have said "Somebody's been talking to God! You've got it perfect!" I agree on both accounts; yes, I speak almost constantly to my Father in Heaven, and I have a beautifully (im)perfect family. But not because I've got an even number of males to females.
Typical responses to each of my pregnancies
  • Baby 1- Congratulations! How many children do you plan on having?
  • Baby 2- First a girl and now a boy, that's perfect. The rich man's family. You don't have to have anymore now.
  • Baby 3- Another one already? Do you want a girl or a boy? Are you done now?
  • Baby 4- Wow! You know how this happens right? (insert giggles) Good for you. Are you done having kids now?

And truthfully my answer to the later is
"I don't know."

    I've never been offended by a response to my pregnancy. I get a lot of jokes involving various size athletic teams, and if I'm in competition with (insert person with a larger family). I get many confessions from moms about how they are done after one or two because it is just so hard. I receive praise from grandparents who wish they had more grandchildren of their own. I appreciate anyone who is kind enough to notice my increasing size and all that means for the changes in my life.
    I'm 31yrs old. I'm healthy, fertile and live a comfortable life. I try my best to be a good mother and sometimes even aspire to be a great one. My hubby's opinion on the issue is the same as always "whatever you can handle". He lovingly supports my decisions as far as my body and our babies. He is a tenured teacher and we are blessed with an income that allows me to be at home with our children. We resist fancy cars, vacations, expensive clothes and dinners out. I yard sale, do pantry living all summer, and pinch my pennies. But we make it work and our lives are blessed.
    But emotionally I'm a rollercoaster. I feel strongly that my life is blessed, that our home is full of love and fun, and it is a good place to bring sweet angels from heaven. My body is capable of creating life and I'm still young. My point is I feel horribly guilty to declare that our family is finished growing just because I'm tired. I feel guilty because we are so blessed. I always thought I would just know when I was done. Like when its time to flip the pancakes, you just know. But the problem is I don't feel that. I feel confused. I feel undecided. I feel lost. I've never felt that before.
    And I was that #5 baby. I was the baby that my parents could not afford. I was the baby that my dad said "no" when my mom said "yes, there is one more!" What if my mom hadn't fought for me when she was 35. Where would I be? Who would I be?
    I realize that 8months pregnant with baby #4 is not the time to be making the decision about future children. Its not a good time to make any decision beyond what's for dinner. Rationality is a trait you misplace while pregnant. But I know it will need to be addressed someday. And maybe then I'll have an answer.

Friday, August 8, 2014

Pantry Living Week 7

Another week with no grocery shopping trips.

Pantry after week 7


Here is the update:
  • Cereal after week 6: 24
  • Cereal after week 7: 19.5 ( I will explain)
  • Allowable purchases: raspberries, strawberries, cilantro, eggs, 
  • Cash purchases: McD's, Ice Cream, Rita's Water Ice, Max's school sneakers
  • Opened jars/bags: salsa, flour, cookies, fruit rolls ups, granola bars, strawberry applesauce, handsoap, alfredo sauce, Italian dressing, peaches
  • So about the .5 box of cereal. I mentioned last week how we were given a stack of those individual bowls of rice krispies. Well the kids have eaten about half of that stack. I counted the full 12 as one box so what's left is about half. 
  • I cooked 4 of my poblano peppers and made a tasty chile relleno. I'll post more about that later. 
  • Warning: I'm anxiously awaiting the back-to-school shopping list from the school. When it arrives I will be using a credit card to buy all the crayons and items required. 
Katy cackling like a crazy person cause she stole the syrup.
Happy Summer!

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Carrot & Zucchini Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

So I decided two things about this recipe: first, it doesn't photograph well, and second, it requires a second slice :)


Not an impressive picture, but boy is it tasty!
Here is the recipe:


For the bars:

  • 2 eggs, slightly beaten
  • 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup canola oil
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 1/4 cups grated carrot
  • 1 cup grated zucchini
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp ground ginger (I had none, I grated fresh ginger instead and added to my wet mix)
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon



For the Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • 1 (8 oz) pkg reduced fat cream cheese
  • 1.5- 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, brown sugar, oil, honey, and vanilla. Fold in the grated carrot, zucchini, and walnuts (if using).
  3. In another bowl whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon.
  4. Add the flour mixture to the wet mixture and stir just until combined. Spread batter evenly into an un-greased 9×13” baking pan.
  5. Bake for about 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
  1. In a medium mixing bowl, beat the frosting ingredients with an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy.  
  2. Spread the frosting over the cooled bars.

They are simple to make and delicious to the taste. Enjoy!