"Butterfly, Fly Away"

(This actually happened a few weeks ago and I thought I posted it.) The hormones are in full swing if Miley Cyrus and Billy Ray can make me cry. Today we had "Parent/Teacher Conferences". My kids have both improved markedly this past quarter and I was very proud of them for their hard work. But I was more proud when my 5th grade daughter's teacher told me what a nice kid she is and how impressed she is with the choices she has made in friends and how she treats other students. (I was also proud of my son, but this entry has more to do with my daughter). I then had to take her to get her picture taken for her passport for a trip she is going on this summer with one of her grandmothers. As she posed for the photo I was struck by how she has grown and how beautiful she is. I can't believe middle school is next year, don't think I am ready for that. As I was paying for the photos she wanted to use my phone to text her dad, another "more grown up" thing to do, rather than just calling. Then on the way home we were listening to the Miley Cyrus CD and the song, "Butterfly, Fly Away" (don't know if that is the real title, but that was the chorus) came on. It is Miley C singing about how her Dad used to tuck her in at night, and how he cared for her growing up and how she is now growing wings to fly away. Then they sing together. I had to hide the tears because I am seeing this beautiful young woman blossom and grow and it will be time for her to fly away before I know it. It was seriously like a slide show that went through my head of her from when she started walking through the years until now. This is one of the days that I took time to give thanks for the honor it is to have all of these kids and see them grow. It is a lot of work and mundane at times, but it is totally worth it.

"Mom, You're Not Doing That Exercise Right!!"

I like to get up in the morning and do a workout video, I have mentioned before "Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred", still have yet to feel shredded, but I do feel stronger. I do it in the morning because usually no one is awake and trying to talk to me as I am sucking wind and sweating bullets trying to keep up with the 3 totally fit trainers who do the workout. However, the past couple of times my 5 year old daughter and 3 year old son have been up and laid down on the couch to watch me workout (probably much more entertaining than any show they have watched, including America's Funniest Videos"). I modify the workout so that when they do the really bouncy stuff I just march in place, so yes, it is quite different than what they are doing. These are the comments I get from these two nuts of mine (that I love dearly):
"Mom, why aren't you doing that exercise like her?"
"Mom, why aren't their bellies really big like yours?"
"Mom, her but is not big like yours."
"Mom, you are doing that wrong."
"Mom, why is she wearing that shirt?"
"How come that girl is brown?" (we live in a VERY, VERY rural area).
I also have times when doing girly pushups and my 3 year old tries to climb in between my arms, saying, "Hi Mommy" or they try to do the workout with me, stealing my weights when I am not using them. Not distracting at all, right? Working out in peace and quiet has become a novelty, like going to the bathroom without anyone opening the door (because I cannot remember to lock it until I am sitting on the pot), or taking a shower without anyone knocking and asking if they can watch TV before they eat breakfast or are ready for school (is the answer ever different?). Someday my nirvana of a workout in peace will come, but not anytime soon. That's OK, just so I can get some time in.
Updated 4/16 - the other day my 3 year old told me that the girls on the TV were jumping like penguins. As I am sucking wind our conversation was like this: "Mom, those dirls are like penguins. They look like they are flying. Do penguins fly?" "No, breath, breath, penguins don't fly." "Mom, why don't penguins fly?" "Because their wings don't (breath, breath) work like that." "Why, Mom?" "Go ask your (breath, breath) Dad." He was so fascinated with penguins NOT flying.

Homemade Pancake Syrup

Has this ever happened to you? You decide you are going to make pancakes, waffles, or french toast and get halfway through making it and find that you don't have enough syrup. This has happened to me more than once, or I have bought syrup and can't find where I put it. My husband taught me how to make syrup, and it is really easy. I actually like it better than store bought now. It is not as thick, but it tastes good.

Ingredients:
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup water
2 tablespoons of corn syrup
1 tsp. maple or vanilla flavoring, or a little cinnamon

Combine sugars, corn syrup, and water in a pan, bring to a boil. Turn heat to medium and let it cook for about 5 minutes (maybe less). Stir a few times during this process. Add flavoring or cinnamon. Remove from heat. Enjoy over pancakes and other breakfast yummies.

The Government Should Hire Us

A couple of weeks ago I decided we would take a trip to the dairy to get some ice cream as a treat. I did manage to fix the shirt my 3 year old had put on backwards. However, as he was running into the dairy I noticed his pants were on backwards. Oh well. We ordered our ice cream without incident, and then it began. My 3 year old climbed up on the table where there is a puzzle that the workers put together when they are not busy, starts taking the pieces apart. Note to self - I need to order his ice cream first next time. As we are finishing ordering a young couple walks in. I have my 21 month old on my hip, my prego belly sticking way out and 4 other kids slurping up ice cream, with my mom there helping as well. I could just see the pity in their eyes. I got my shake and went to the table. My 21 month old decided she wanted to hold the shake, which I tell her, "no" and gave her a spoon. She decided to throw a fit, laid on the floor, screamed at the top of her lungs, tried to push over a chair. What a nice family outing, right? The young couple went outside. When we are about done my 9 year old decided he wanted to get goat food for everyone to feed the goats, very nice of him. So, we went to feed the goats, my 21 MO still screaming and on my hip. I put her down and let her roll around on the grass, continuing to throw this tantrum. Finally, when I was done I picked her up and took her to the car. I looked over and the young couple just stared at me. I seriously think we put a damper on their romantic outing to the Mennonite dairy. They will think twice about having unprotected sex, let alone 6 kids.
Another incident involved getting my 11 year old her passport to go on a trip with one of her grandmothers this summer. We only had 4 kids with us this time. She was well behaved, but the youngest three acted like they had just all had a 32 oz. Mountain Dew. My 3 year old was break dancing, doing "the spin" on his back on the floor. They were playing tag, I was so thankful we were the only ones in the office and very glad my husband was there to help. I thought the passport lady was going to volunteer to give all of us free passports and get us out of the country. She was very polite about it, but the kids were CRAZY.
Seriously, instead of funding planned parenthood and abortions, the government could hire us to follow people around Walmart, or go into McDonalds, or try to pick a video at the red box (I don't bring anyone with me any more for that one) or any of the other everyday things that I don't like to do when I have everyone with me. But, if they came to our house for the campfire we had last night, or for family scripture study (most of the time), or when the kids are working really well together, they might think that a houseful is not so bad. I wouldn't trade any of them. They all bring something important and vital to our family. I hope this new one arriving in June knows what she is getting herself into. It is going to be a bumpy ride. I remember watching the movie "Parenthood" and the wife telling the husband that life is like a roller coaster and that is what makes it fun and Steve Martin just looking at her like, I want to get off this ride. We are in it for the long haul. At the end he realized that too, and it is worth it.

Salsa Chicken Over Salad

This was so easy and very fast. I like to make things that I only have to stir a couple of times so that I can get all of the rest of the work done that is around here, or at least some of it. I made a red pepper salsa by roasting the peppers and onions, then pureeing with the tomatoes and the cilantro. Then heated up about 2 to 3 cups of cooked chicken that I had frozen, added 1 to 2 cups of the salsa (just depends on how "saucy" you want it) and just cooked it on the stove on low until it was heated through. My kids ate it with chips and my 9 year old told me about 5 times how awesome it was.

Ingredients:

3 colored peppers (I used the multi colored pack from Wal-mart)

1 sweet onion

1 bunch cilantro

2 Tablespoons olive oil

1 28 oz. can of diced tomatoes

Lime juice (about 2 tablespoons)

Lemon juice (about 1 tablespoon)

Sugar to taste (I usually add about 1 teaspoon)

Salt and pepper to taste

2 teaspoons of minced garlic

1 or 2 jalapeno peppers, seeded (optional)

About 2 to 3 cups of cooked chicken (mine was shredded, you could chop it too, depending on how you are going to serve it)

Rice (If you want this meal to go further)

Beans (If you want this meal to go further)

Salad

Chips, optional

Tortillas or tostadas if you want to eat them that way

Preheat oven to 410 degrees (or whatever is closest) Cut up peppers (not jalapeno) and onion (so that they will fit in your blender or food processor), put in a 9 by 13 pan, drizzle with Olive oil. Roast for 40 minutes, stirring once. Wash and tear cilantro into pieces that will fit in your blender or food processor. Once veggies have cooled for a few minutes transfer them to a bowl. Add tomatoes, garlic, cilantro, salt and pepper, sugar, lime and lemon juice. Working in batches puree mixture, I also added about 1 cup of cooked red beans, just thickens it up and adds some fiber too. In a pan or pot, warm chicken and 1 to 2 cups of salsa. I heated mine for about 45 min, just because I kind of forgot about it. It was really good over salad with some beans and tortilla chips. You will have salsa left to enjoy later too.

Pulled Pork Sandwiches

I am starting to "hit the wall" with cooking with this pregnancy, 11 weeks left, I can do it. Maybe this is just an off week, the weather has been so nice so we are outside all of the time. I need to start looking up crock pot recipes again. But, this was totally easy. I put it in the oven in the morning and it was done at 6. I used a 4.5 pound pork tenderloin, but you could use a pork shoulder, a cut of meat with the bone, whatever.

Ingredients:

4 to 5 pound pork tenderloin (or other cut of meat)

Pork rub (I got mine at Walmart in the baking isle near the spices. There are also several recipes online for different "rubs", I am not motivated enough to make any homemade)
Aluminum foil
Rolls
Sauteed sweet onions and peppers (optional)
Mozz cheese (optional)
BBQ sauce

Rub pork with "pork rub". Place meat on 2 pieces of aluminum foil big enough to wrap meat in. Wrap foil around meat and place in a 9 by 13 pan. Cook in oven at 225 degrees 8 to 10 hours (mine took about 10 hours). Remove from oven and let it sit for about 10 to 15 minutes (I would also check with a meat thermometer to make sure it is done, which it should be). Take 2 forks and pull meat apart. You can pour BBQ sauce on it, or top it with BBQ sauce when you put it on the rolls. Top with onions, peppers, Mozz cheese. This roast made enough for about 3 meals for our family. I used it for lunch the next day and then used it in tacos for another meal. Love the cook once, use 3 times theory.

It Could Be Worse...He Could Have...

This is how I think when my 3 year old my does something that bugs me. I try to think this, rather than getting mad at him (most of the time, it does not always work). He never ceases to surprise me. Actually, I guess he does cease to surprise me because when he does something like this I just roll my eyes now and go get the camera. This afternoon was so nice outside I sent the kids out in their swimsuits and splashy clothes and let them play in the creek near our house. It tires them out, they take an early bath before dinner and then are ready to sleep by 7. Works like magic. It is very marshy in our backyard right now, so rather than wearing shoes, my son goes barefoot. I am ok with it, just wash him off before he comes in and carry him to the bath. He decided he was going to wash his feet off himself. We have a hose out there, but rather than turning it on, he dumped his lemonade from the bottle on his feet. I asked him what he did (hoping that the puddle at his feet was water, rather than pee) and he says, "What, I washed my feet off with my lemonade?" The way he said it was "Duh, Mom, we always bathe in lemonade." So, when he does stuff like this I try to think, "It could be worse". I guess he could have peed on his feet in an effort to wash himself off (I am sure that will happen later in the week, as he is still adventurous when relieving himself.) That would have been way worse.