Chaos Castle

Back again. . .

2010-11-13T18:02:00.004-06:00

Ok, so it's possible I have been slightly remiss in updating the blog. . . Well, life has gone on and the wheel has turned, and suddenly I find myself to be the mom of a kindergartener and a 3-going-on-13 year old! Lots of things have changed in the past several months, but one thing remains the same; these kids are the light of my life. Here are just a few random pictures to get us back into the swing of the whole blogging thing. . .

This is Sam on his first day of school. By the way, he made the "A" honor roll on his first report card!

Here is Ellen after a trip to the Attalla Heritage Festival. As you can see, she has her own sense of style and a smile that could light up a room!

This Halloween, they dressed as Luke Skywalker and Snow White.

And this is a picture I found from a few months ago. Admit it, they're adorable!!

Chicken Soup for the Sick Mom's Tummy

2009-10-23T14:36:00.004-05:00

Whew, what a slacker I have been about my blog the past few months! I guess that summer activities got in the way and left little time for the crackbrained musings I usually post here.

However, in honor or my inauspicious return to the blogosphere, I will now post my very own recipe for homemade chicken noodle soup!

*crickets*

Please, hold your applause.

Why chicken noodle soup? Because I don't feel good, and I want some comfort food, and comfort food isn't very comforting if you have to cook it yourself and it takes a lot of effort. Mac and cheese, meatloaf, and the like just take too dadgum long. Chicken noodle soup is very easy and super comforting! Also, I have some leftover spaghetti that needs to be used somehow.

Chicken Noodle Soup

1 whole fryer chicken, disjointed
Carrots
Celery
Onion
Water
Salt, pepper, and whatever spices rock your world
Noodles

Rinse the chicken and put it into a big soup pot. Cover with cold water. Add spices (I used kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, bay, and rosemary, because that's what I had available) to taste. Bring to a boil and cook until the chicken is done and falling off the bone, then remove from heat. When the chicken is cool, remove the skin and bones, chop it up, and return it to the pot with the broth. Cut the vegetables into small pieces ( I used one small onion, 4 carrots, and 3 stalks of celery, but you go on and use whatever and howevermuch you like) and add them to the pot, then simmer it all until it is done and you are hungry. You may need to add more water if a lot has boiled away during cooking. Add more salt and pepper if needed, and if the broth is not chickeny enough for you, add a little chicken bouillon too. About 20 minutes before serving add your noodles, and let the whole thing simmer until either the noodles are cooked (if they weren't) or warmed through (if they were already cooked).
Serve with crackers and a glass of cold milk!

Independence Day

2009-07-04T07:09:00.003-05:00

Happy Independence Day, everyone!

This morning, in honor of the birth of our great nation, I went online and read the Declaration of Independence. I'd read it before, of course, in History class back in high school, but it was a real pleasure to read it again today and reflect on the ideas that went into the Declaration, the men behind them, and the risks and sacrifices those men faced.

It's a brief document, and can be found online at http://www.ushistory.org/Declaration/document/index.htm . It's definitely worth a read for both the ideas it contains and the beautiful language used to portray them.

2009-06-07T19:53:00.003-05:00

How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He would give His only son
To make a wretch a treasure
--Stuart Townend

Being a parent has given me an entirely new perspective on God. My dad has told me before that when you have children, for a while, you are God to that child. You are the ultimate authority, the giver and taker away of all things, and really, that's true. You also can come to a deeper and more amazed understanding of God's love for us, His children.

I've always heard that God loves us, but until I became a parent I never understood what a complex and sometimes painful that love is. I love my children unconditionally, and I want only the best things for them, and I want to give them only love and affection and happiness. But sometimes that love means that I have to discipline and punish them, and cause them momentary unhappiness in order to keep them on the straight and narrow path. I HATE having to punish my children, but sometimes they misbehave and I have to do it. I discipline them because I love them, and I want them to do the right things and behave in the right way, and because I want them to respect me and the authority I represent. They disobey and so I punish them, because I love them, but in truth the punishment is as painful for me as it is for them.

How much more painful it must be for our Heavenly Father to see us go astray! How heartbreaking it must be for Him to punish us, His beloved children. But He does, because He loves us wholly and without reserve. Even when we stand before Him, covered in evidence of our disobedience, He loves us and cherishes us as His precious sons and daughters. I count this understanding of Him as one of the unexpected blessings of motherhood.

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Babysitting

2009-05-15T23:47:00.004-05:00

I got to spend some quality time with Taylor Wednesday night. . . Brad and Gayle asked if I could watch her for a few hours while they took in dinner and a movie. Since they have kept my kids so often that I owe them about a year's worth of uninterrupted childcare, and since Taylor is the sweetest little peanut on the planet, I happily said "Duh. See you at 7." So they dropped her off and headed out, and the kids and I got to hang with our TaterBug for a while.

It was soooooooo much fun.

She grinned, she laughed, she cooed, she chewed on her own feet. She scooted around my living room at the speed of light and tried to eat one of Sam's shoes. Sam and Ellen couldn't leave her alone; I think Ellen sighed "Aww, Baby Taylor!" and hugged her about ten times the first five minutes she was there. Sam baby talked her and tickled her belly. It was awesome. When she finally fell asleep she snuggled up on my shoulder and went out in about 3.2 seconds, and then she slept on a Boppy pillow til her parents arrived to reclaim her. I hope we get to keep her again soon!

Flowers

2009-05-08T20:28:00.002-05:00

My son brought me flowers today. A red silk carnation and a yellow daisy made from strips of craft foam, both stuck into a styrofoam cup that had been colored brown and covered in glitter. He carried it like it was the Crown Jewels and carefully handed it to me when I picked him up from daycare. There was a card too, with his handprint inside and his childish signature. And a handprint card from Ellen, but she won't give it to me because she says that it is her paper.

I'm here to tell you, the Garden of Eden never grew flowers more lovely than the ones I got today. No artwork hanging in a gallery anywhere in the world is more precious than the handprint-on-construction-paper masterpieces I was given.

There are times when being a mother can wear you down physically, mentally, and emotionally. It is indeed the toughest job you'll ever love, and it is indeed a JOB. 24/7/365. But there also are flowers.

Adventures in the land of luxury cosmetics

2009-05-02T19:31:00.003-05:00

I'm a cheap makeup kind of girl. Chances are, if they don't have it at Walgreens, it's probably not in my makeup bag. I'm lucky to have skin that isn't sensitive, so I don't have to go to the mall and spend $70 on a half ounce of foundation, y'know?

But. . .

I redeemed some credit card rewards and got a couple of gift cards to Sephora. So I decided that today I'd mosey on down to the fancy schmancy makeup store and see what all the fuss is about. It's been a lousy, crazy-busy week, and sometimes a girl just wants to treat herself to a little luxury.

It was AWESOME. Makeup, skin products, nail polish and perfume as far as the eye could see. Black clad sales associates falling all over themselves to help me. I usually prefer to browse uninterrupted, but I'd checked out their products online and wanted to see some samples of Bare Escentual Mineral Makeup. So I let them do a "foundation consultation" where a nice young woman named Sarah Beth showed me how to apply the powder foundation and extolled the virtues of the product. I ended up buying the starter kit (no need to tell Sarah Beth I'd planned on buying it before I ever walked in the door. . . I love my internet research). I also fell in love with Urban Decay eyeliner, which actually does glide on smoothly and stays put forever. I tested a couple of shades on the back of my hand 8 hours ago and still haven't managed to rub them off! At $16 a pop I won't be buying many of them, but I couldn't resist splurging on one, in a metallic rocker-chic silver. And I'll probably buy more later.

Just don't tell the nice folks at Sephora that I'll probably be buying them on ebay.

Two year checkup

2009-05-01T08:30:00.002-05:00

Wednesday Ellen and I had the fun of going to see the doctor for El's two year old checkup. We saw Nurse Heather, the nurse practitioner, first. Nurse Heather first asked how Ellen was doing with verbal skills -- is she talking much? I just laughed and said that getting her to be quiet is the real problem! Heather was suitably impressed when Ellen piped up and said "Hi Heather!" and then proceeded show off the new pink shirt she was wearing. She also informed Nurse Heather "I peepee in the potty!" (We had a successful potty visit just before they took us to the exam room) Needless to say, Ellen got a gold star on verbal skills!

The official stats were: Height 35.5 inches (90th percentile) and 27.5 lbs (50th percentile). The doctor and the NP were both very pleased with El's growth and learning, and Nurse Heather just kept acting amazed at how well Ellen can talk. Of course, I knew she is perfect, but it's nice to have some outside confirmation!

Ellen only got one shot, but of course she was pretty upset about that. I can't blame her, I still cry over shots sometimes too. The best part is that we don't have to go for any more checkups until it's time for kindergarten!

Did anyone see where I left my sandblaster?

2009-04-27T19:24:00.005-05:00

I have long contended that I can judge how good Sam's day has been by how dirty he is when he gets home. The more dirt, the better his day has been, with lots of running and playing and romping in the great outdoors. I'm thinking that today must have been a banner day in the History of Sam. At bath time, I got to deal with this:

and this:

And it looks like Ellen had a pretty good day, too:

Say it with me, now. . . Ewwww!

Happy Birthday Ellen

2009-04-23T18:31:00.001-05:00

I love you.

The Magic and Mayhem of Mothering a Daughter

2009-04-15T19:50:00.008-05:00

My daughter will turn 2 years old next week. She's not really a baby anymore, and toddlerhood will soon pass us by, as well. Sometimes I look at her and wonder how the time got away from me. I just blinked and suddenly she is two!

Two years ago it seemed impossible to me that I could love another creature as much as I loved Sam, that my house could get any messier, or that there was an episode of The Wiggles I hadn't seen. And then Ellen came along, and all of those things were proven false. Suddenly I loved another person more than I ever thought possible. The house got worse, The Wiggles taped some new episodes, and I realized that being a mom to a little girl is a whole lot different that being a mom to a little boy.

Sam was always kind of a mellow kid. . . there's NOTHING mellow about Ellen. She does everything with enthusiasm -- cries, eats, plays and laughs. She has the most wonderful, lusty, big laugh. Nothing held back with her. She's completely girly and tenderly mothers her babydolls like they were real children. She is a joy and a delight and I can't imagine life without her.

I just wish I could figure out how she got from this:

to this

to this!

Matthew 28:1- 6

2009-04-12T07:41:00.001-05:00

Matthew - Chapter 28
1In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first [day] of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
2And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
3His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
4And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead [men].
5And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Happy Easter, everyone.

According to Sam

2009-03-16T17:27:00.003-05:00

I love Facebook. Love it. Through the magic of social networking I have reconnected with old friends, kept abreast of what's new with family, and spent waaaaaaayyy too much time taking quizzes with titles like "What 80's Movie Are You?" and "Where should you be living?" A few days ago I dragged Sam into the quizzing melee by taking one where you ask your kids questions about yourself. His answers were surprisingly accurate at times and hilariously funny at others.

Q: How old is your mom?
A: Ten

Q: What is your mom good at?
A: Some special things that are neat like tracks and cooking (I think he means I'm good at putting together toy train tracks)

Q: What is your mom not very good at?
A: Giving spankings (with all the practice I get you'd think I'd be an expert!)

He surprised me by remembering that my favorite food is spaghetti and by saying the "Being nice" is what makes me happy while "Being ugly" is what makes me sad. He's referring to his own behavior there, I think, because I've told him plenty of times how sad it makes me when he misbehaves. Who'd have thought he was listening?!

According to Sam, my favorite thing to do is give hugs, and my job is to cook. I sleep when he's not around (too true) and like to tickle him to make him laugh (also true; he is THE most ticklish kid ever). Oh, and my favorite place to go on vacation is. . . the mall.

I guess he knows me better than I think!

Get well soon, Ellen

2009-03-06T16:49:00.003-06:00

My baby girl has a nasty stomach bug. Fever, diarrhea, vomiting. . . oh yeah, we're having all kinds of fun at Chaos Castle today. But there have been a couple of bright spots. Lots of snuggles, for one. Snuggles are great no matter what the circumstances.

And then there is the get well soon wish we got from Nana. I texted her the news that Ellen isn't feeling well, and this is what we got back:

"Dear Ellen, feel better soon. Love, 'Tubble'" (that's ellen-speak for Trouble, the dog's name)

How can she NOT feel better after that?

Ellen Smith, Fashion Plate

2009-02-18T18:58:00.006-06:00

Sometimes I just feel sorry for my poor kids. . . I just have so many excellent blackmail pictures to use when they are teenagers. Take for example tonight: Ellen was such an adorable hot mess at bedtime that I couldn't resist taking a few photos and documenting her appearance for future generations.

Observe the too short night gown (leftover from last year) and the even more too short leggings. Edited to add: Doesn't she look sweet with her hands clasped to say prayers?

Let's get a closer look at that hair, shall we?

And the real fashion coup de grace. . .

She insisted upon wearing these boots to bed.

That's my girl, a fashion trendsetter!

Happy Birthday to Sam!

2009-02-07T23:49:00.003-06:00

My sweet baby boy turned four years old on the 1st of this month. . . He is not a baby at all any more, but a cheerful, handsome, smart little boy with opinions and ideas all his own. This is wonderful, but it also makes me want to cry sometimes. It's true what they say; kids just grow up too doggone fast.

So today we celebrated with a small family party at Nana's house. Cake, sherbet, and potato chips, plus cousins to play with, and of course, lots of presents!

Sam wanted a "lizard cake" this year, so that's what he got. Chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream frosting.

Sam, Conner, Alexis, Taylor, and Ellen all had a great time!

And at the end of the day, Sam went to bed in his nifty new Transformers pajamas and robe. It was a terrific day!

At the movies

2009-02-06T18:40:00.002-06:00

Today, in honor of Sam's birthday (which was last Sunday) Anthony took off work and spent the day at home with us. We packed Ellen off to daycare this morning, and Sam had both parents all to himself. He spent most of the day running around giggling and acting silly and generally having a great time. He helped me bake his birthday cake for the party tomorrow. Then he helped me clean up the kitchen and start the dishwasher. After that he had a wrestling match with his dad, which pretty much consisted of Sam running fult tilt at Anthony, and Anthony picking him up and throwing him onto the bed. Hilarity ensued and a good time was had by all.

We picked Ellen up from daycare and then headed to the cinema to treat the kids (and ourselves) to a movie. We watched The Tale of Despereaux, which to be honest wasn't the best movie I've seen, but it was cute enough. The time with family was the most fun part anyway. We splurged on snacks and were amazed as Ellen scarfed piece after piece of popcorn and Sam gnawed his way through a whole pack of Twizzlers. We shared our sodas with them and Ellen peed on Anthony's lap.

Sam was pretty nonchalant about the whole 'movie' thing, but had a blast eating candy and then playing one of those video games where you drive a car around town. (I have now decided that Anthoy will have to be the one to teach him to drive!). Ellen loved the popcorn and slurped up her weight in soda, and wiggled and clapped and cheered and pretty much had a ball. She even sat on my lap and tried to dance to the background music.

And then we got home and everybody was tired and coming down from a sugar high and so they had to go to bed at 630. I am seriously thinking of joining them.

Zing, Zang, Zoom!

2009-01-28T22:35:00.003-06:00

Welcome to the Greatest Show On Earth! Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey are proud to present Zing! Zang! Zoom!

That's right, the four of us went to the circus today! It was quite an adventure. Sam hasd been looking forward to it for a couple of days, and of course Anthony and I were excited to be taking the kids. Ellen had no clue what a circus might be, but she caught the general air of festivity and got excited too.

We had to park half a block away from the BJCC in a parking deck, and followed the crowd to the arena. We had to stand outside for a while waiting to get in; incidentally, the temperature is definitely dropping! Inside the BJCC we were greeted by the usual deluge of vendors selling everything from t-shirts to food to stuffed animals. Sam wound up with a spinning light up thingy that would probably give you a seizure if you stared at it for too long; Ellen got a clown doll.

The show started with the typical huge opening number. There were clowns, acrobats, horses, and (Ellen almost lost her mind with excitement) elephants. The dancers and clowns were great, the acrobats were satisfyingly death-defying, and the animal performers were wonderful. We had a great time. Of course, by the end of it all Sam had a meltdown because the batteries ran down in his light thingy, and then he fell asleep on my lap after crying for a while and declaring that he didn't like the circus. Sam, like me, tends toward the weepy and grumpy end of the spectrum when he's tired. Ellen on the other hand clapped, cheered, and wriggled happily for most of the show. It was terrific.

Leaving the BJCC, we managed to turn the wrong way and ended up walking about 524582085 blocks to get back to the car. This is not so easy when you are carrying one sleeping 4 year old (go Anthony!) and alternately carrying and walking with a 22 month old. Sam asserted again that he didn't like the circus. We finally made it to the car and got home, and tucked the kids into bed.

I was pulling the blanket over Ellen when I heard Sam giggling behind me, from his own bed. I turned around to see him grinning from ear to ear. I guess the circus is easier to like once you're home in bed, because Sam smiled at me and said "Zing, zang, zoom!"

Chicken Salad, As You Like It

2009-01-23T18:47:00.004-06:00

I love me some chicken salad. Love love love it. When it's made right, that is. And I must say, I make some seriously good chicken salad. Feeling that it is unfair to keep this delicious concoction all to myself, I'm going to post the recipe here.

Ok, it's your basic fruited chicken salad. I never measure the ingredients, so just add as much or as little as you want of each (hence the title "As You Like It")

You will need:

Chicken
Apples
Grapes
Walnuts
Green Onion
Mayonnaise
Sour Cream
Lawry's Season Salt
Pepper

Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper and bake it in the oven til it's done. While it is cooking, chop the green onions and put them in a bowl. Then do the same with the apples. Slice the grapes in half and put them in the bowl. Once the chicken is done, dice it and put it in the bowl too. then add equal parts mayonnaise and sour cream, season it all with the Lawry's salt and some freshly ground black pepper, and top it with chopped walnuts. Serve on croissants, toast, crackers, or straight from the bowl. Deeeeelish!

I like to use Granny Smith apples, but any kind will work. If I use green apples I use red grapes, and vice versa, for a really nice color contrast. The finished product is a great textural, visual, and taste (tastual?) contrast with the soft chicken and the crunchy fruit and nuts, the sweet fruit and the tangy dressing, and the bite of the pepper.

I also keep promising myself that I will someday make a tropical version of this, using mandarin oranges, pineapple chunks, and macadamia nuts in place of apples, grapes, and walnuts, and maybe topping it with some shredded coconut. If anyone else gets around to trying this before I do, let me know how it turns out, ok?

Did you ever have one of those days?

2009-01-15T19:05:00.002-06:00

Because I've for sure had one today. I woke up with a sore throat. Ran late for work, had to go back home to get my phone, and had the AWFULLEST patient this morning. Had to cancel my weekend plans because Sam has a bad cough, and Ellen appears to getting it too. Finally got off work, went and picked up the kids, and headed home. I was sooo looking forward to trying the soup I made this morning from a new recipe. (I love soup when the weather is cold). I got home, schlepped the kids up the garage stairs, and finally was home. I went to check my soup, lifted the lid. . . and realized that I didn't plug in the crockpot this morning.

Can I have a do-over on the whole day please?

Tag, you're it!

2009-01-12T19:24:00.003-06:00

Kelli at The Land of Boys tagged me for this game. . . you go to your pictures file, click the fourth folder, and then the fourth picture in that folder. Post it to your blog. This is mine.

I tag Dixie and Sarah!

Little Miss Priss

2009-01-07T07:18:00.005-06:00

The older Ellen gets, the more I realize that she is 100% girl. She likes to run and play, but her favorite things are the stereotypical "girly" things. Baby dolls, hairbows, and just lately, her brand new purse.

Santa brought her a purse complete with keys, cell phone, mirror, play lipstick and a wallet with a debit card. My girl has decided that this purse needs to go everywhere with her. She had to take it to daycare yesterday, along with her babydoll. She slept with it last night. She has carried it all over the house this morning.

Check it out:

And yes, I know that her mouth is full of bagel in that second picture, but I challenge you to catch that child at a time when she isn't eating something. I also know that a lot of the pictures I post of Ellen are kind of blurry, and dark, but that's because the child doesn't know what it means to sit still. (Even her teachers at daycare say so) She's a busy girl with things to do. And her purse goes with her.

Oh, and here's a freebie pic of Sam in his raincoat, because he gets offended if I take Ellen's picture without taking one of him too.

I suffer from depression

2009-01-02T19:16:00.002-06:00

It has taken a really long time for me to be able to admit that. I used to blame my dour moods on everything else in the world -- fatigue, hunger, PMS, you name it. And while those things definitely have an effect (especially PMS), the truth of the matter is that sometimes I just feel at a loss to cope with my life. That doesn't make any sense on the surface; I've got a great husband, two amazing children, and a host of wonderful extended family. I've got a comfortable home, a good job, and I don't have to wonder where my next meal will come from. But in spite of the incredibly blessed life that I lead, I often feel overwhelmed, sad, and angry for no good reason. It got really bad after Ellen was born; something about the hormones, I'm sure. And don't get me wrong. I'm not suicidal. I don't cut myself or take drugs or bury my sorrows in the bottom of a booze bottle. I just find myself listless, fatigued, sleepy, and unmotivated. I take one look at my filthy house and feel paralyzed. I snap at my husband. I binge eat. I spend hours online doing NOTHING. And then I see myself doing all these things and I just get more depressed.

I really have no idea why I'm posting all this on a public blog where any and everybody can read it, except that maybe it feels kind of therapeutic to just talk about it with no reservation. Maybe by just coming right out and saying it, I'll be able to address it more effectively. Or maybe I'll get all embarassed and delete this post tomorrow. Either way, it feels pretty good to admit this to myself and everyone else, instead of treating it like a shameful secret.

I love my kids

2008-12-29T19:48:00.007-06:00

Every so often I am struck anew by how much I love those two little characters I am blessed to raise. They are beautiful and smart and funny and silly and oh! so loving. It hit me again tonight while I was getting them ready for bed. Ellen was standing on the bathroom counter making happy smiley faces at herself in the mirror while I fluffed her sweet blond curls til they were dry. And it just hit me how beautiful she is -- the aforementioned curls, the round, kissable cheeks, the dimples, that million watt smile, the sheer delight she finds in every thing around her. I could hold her down and smooch her from now til forever and it wouldn't be enough. And Sam, with those mile long eyelashes and big blue-green eyes and impish grin and silly sense of humor, laughing as I mussed his hair into a spiky mess with the hair dryer. They enrich my life every day in so many unfathomable ways. Yeah, occasionally they wear me out, but how in the world did I live before I had them? What did I do all day? (I think I must have slept a lot, because that's one thing I sure don't do enough of now.) How did I survive without the daily joy they bring to me? I am amazed every day by their intelligence and love and perception. I love my kids.

Oh yeah, that's why!

2008-12-27T22:55:00.005-06:00

I am an avid avoider of romantic movies. Give me a good sci-fi, action, fantasy, crime caper or even a comedy. I don't want to watch anything, heartwarming, moving, touching, or whatever. I just don't need that kind of freefloating drama in my life. But, since it is Saturday and there is NOTHING on TV, I ended up watching The Notebook, which may be the all time champion of sappy movies. It started out ok -- the lead actor is a cutie and had some really good chemistry with the lead actress. But of course, instead of living happily ever after, they have to end the movie by DYING together in their sleep. In the nursing home where they are living because she has senile dementia and doesn't remember him except for about 5 minutes every week or so. So now I'm sitting on my couch sniffing back tears. Gah! I knew there was a reason I avoid movies like this!

Luke 2 : 8-16

2008-12-25T11:19:00.001-06:00

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

Merry Christmas, everyone.

Recovery is going well but these kids are wearing me out!

2008-12-24T16:07:00.002-06:00

Sam had his tonsils out on Monday, and thankfully, he is recuperating well. He's eating and drinking pretty well, and not having too much pain. The pain meds (liquid Lortab) are not making him nauseated, which is a good thing, but it is making him a bit hyper. Like bouncing off the walls all day yesterday, according to Mom and Dad. That's not too big a deal, until you couple it with the fact that Ellen has decided that she wants to change her own diapers, and then things get a little dicey. See, she soiled her diaper today and instead of waiting for me to change her she took it upon herself to remove her pants, wrestle off her diaper, and get poo all over herself and the floor. When I caught her she was trying to climb up the side of the changing table, presumably to get a wipe and clean herself up! Needless to say, they are keeping me pretty busy today, but that's ok. I'm getting to spend Christmas Eve with two of my favorite people!

Goodbye tonsils, hello ice cream!

2008-12-22T16:44:00.004-06:00

So today was the big day. . . Sam had his tonsils out today. I talked with him over the weekend a little bit, and explained what would be happening and why. It is not easy to explain surgery to a 3 year old in a way that he can understand. Sam was really brave about it though. He was super good about not eating or drinking anything this morning, especially considering that it was about 9 a.m. before he went to surgery.

He did really well during the procedure (so saith the doc) and when he came back to the room where we were waiting for him he was all sleepy and pitiful looking, but not complaining about pain or anything. He really didn't want anything except to be left alone to sleep. After we got home he ate some rainbow sherbet, which is his favorite frozen treat, and then fell asleep sitting up on the couch. I put him in my bed and the two of us took a good long nap, and when he woke up he wanted two things -- more ice cream and The Polar Express.

I have been reminded today of how very thankful I am for two things. Number one is the good health of my children. Yeah, they get sick from time to time with the usual childhood ailments, but thank God, we do not spend tons of time sitting in doctors' offices and surgery clinics waiting for treatment. So many parents are not that fortunate. And secondly, I am so appreciative of the family that we have, who are willing to look after Ellen today so that we can focus on caring for Sam, and who will be coming tomorrow to watch after both children while Anthony and I go to work. I honestly don't know what we'd do without them.

And that, friends and neighbors, is about all I have to say for now. Kiss your children and be grateful for their health.

Whew!

2008-12-17T18:58:00.004-06:00

It has been one HECK of a long day. Up at 4:45 this morning (that's not unusual) and really hit the ground running. Watched The Polar Express for the umpteenth time with the kids this morning, got them off to daycare and then went home and showered. Got my eyebrows waxed, which was long overdue, since I was starting to look like Groucho Marx, then ran by the library, and then took off to do some Christmas shopping. Sam has asked for one thing -- a water gun-- and that is not easy to find in December! I'm happy to report that you can find them at Party City if you ever need one. Then I went to the craft store to get supplies for my latest craft project, which is a hand-painted rocking chair for Ellen. After that it was lunch with my best friend Sarah, whose 27 week baby bump is freakin' adorable, then to the mall for the last of the shopping. When I got home I started painting the chair, then went to the grocery store for staples and also for the stuff to make the goody baskets I'm giving for Christmas gifts this year. And then back to the daycare to pick up the kids. And then home, and here we are watching The Polar Express for the umptyFIRST time. I still have to bathe the kids and put them to bed, clean up the kitchen, and start my baking!

It's no wonder I fall asleep at 8:30 every night.

Moroccan Roast

2008-12-16T21:55:00.003-06:00

I am blessed to work with a group of women who are enthusiastic and talented cooks. We are always sharing recipes and trying new ones out on each other. I got this one from my friend Evie, who is a new mom and understands the value of a make ahead dinner. This recipe has become a favorite at my house; all four of us love it!

Moroccan Roast

1 medium sized roast (Evie uses beef, I usually use pork)
1 jar of smooth picante sauce
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/3 cup soy sauce
chili powder

Mix, picante sauce, sugar, and soy sauce in the crockpot. Rub chili powder all over the roast (use a lot!). Put the roast in the crockpot and cook on low all day. Serve over couscous.

They're Coming! Run For Your Lives!

2008-12-13T15:30:00.003-06:00

Ok, maybe that title is a smidge dramatic. Cause, you know, with a husband, two kids, and a full time job working with a bunch of other women, my life doesn't have enough drama. Suuuuurrre. But anyway, they are coming! That's right, my goofy little brother and his family are moving home! Preparations are being made, belongings are being packed, and sometime very soon the prodigal Becks will be returning from the wastelands of south Alabama. . . oh wait, there's that drama thing again. Sorry. Can you tell I'm excited that they are coming home? I have missed them soooooo much, and finally they are coming back north so that I can smooch on Taylor anytime I want. Oh, and on Brad and Gayle too; I have missed them more than I though possible since they moved. In all seriousness, I am tickled pink that they will soon be just a short drive away.

Oh, and just in case you think I'm exaggerating my brother's goofiness, check out this picture of Taylor.

She TOTALLY gets that from Brad.

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

2008-12-10T19:46:00.005-06:00

I had a pretty frustrating day today, and came home in a not-so-great mood. That mood evaporated fairly quickly once I was with Anthony and the kids, and I got to thinking about some of the things that cheer me up, make me happy, and otherwise brighten my day.

Ellen singing nonsense syllables in the back of the car on the way home from daycare. No idea what the song was, but it was definitely a song.
Sam playing with my hair.
Waking up with Anthony spooned up against my back and his arm thrown across me.
Shopping trips with my Mom.
A plate of really excellent spaghetti.
Seeing how much my children adore each other. That will last long after I've shuffled off this mortal coil.
Curling up with a good book.
Sleeping late.

Those are just a few of the things that I am so very thankful for this evening.

One Million Dollars. . .

2008-12-09T12:42:00.003-06:00

Brad sent me this picture today with the caption "One Million Dollars"

Only my dorky little brother would think of comparing this baby angel to Dr. Evil. Although considering how much she looks like him in this photo, it may not be too far from the truth ;).

Happy One Month Birthday, Taylor!

2008-12-09T01:11:00.003-06:00

My adorable niece turned one month old on Sunday. Brad and Gayle tell me that she is growing fast and already developing her own unique personality (Brad says her most outstanding quality right now is "spoiled".) He sent me a new picture a few days ago, and it is so darn cute I had to post it here.Happy one month birthday, smiley girl!

The Call

2008-12-04T08:27:00.005-06:00

I watched The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian last night on DVD. I saw it in the theater, but because it is one of my favorite movies I just HAD to get it on DVD. The day it was released. The film is pretty different from the book, by the way. The C.S. Lewis fangirl in my cringed a bit at this, but the William Mosely fangirl in me liked it just fine (I have officially added him to my list of "shaggy haired British boys who are far to young for me to be crushing on". He shares this dubious honor with Daniel Radcliffe and Robert Pattinson). Either way, it's great movie, and if you haven't seen it, then you should run, not walk, to your nearest video store and rent it.

The ending scene in the movie has a wonderful song playing in the background : The Call, sung by Regina Spektor. She has a lovely voice, and the song is just so beautiful and plaintive and poignant that I decided to post a link to it here.

Baby feet

2008-11-21T16:16:00.002-06:00

There is nothing cuter in this world to me than baby feet. I love them! The fat little feet, the adorable little toes. . . I just want to play with them and tickle them and nibble on them. Sam has gone beyond the point of having baby feet. His feet are cute, but they are definitely little boy feet -- they are big and wide and usually stinky too. I still love them, but there's just something special about Ellen's sweet baby feet. Especially when she tries to play "this little piggy" on her own toes.

Sam

2008-11-19T21:15:00.004-06:00

I just wanted to post this because it's so darn cute. And also because lately in every picture I've taken of Sam there's been food on his face, and in this one he had just gotten out of the bath so his face was clean. Pay no attention to the mess in the floor behind him. Just focus on that adorable impish smile.

Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe

2008-11-19T06:19:00.006-06:00

I like to cook (and to eat!) so from time to time I may post a few of my favorite recipes here on the blog. You'll find that most of them have this in common -- they are easy to make, don't require tons of time or ingredients, and are generally kid friendly. Although my kids will eat anything, so your mileage may vary. Today I thought I'd post the recipe for Buffalo Chicken Dip. This is a great snack potluck functions or parties (Iron Bowl party, anyone?). You will need:

About 1 lb of boneless, skinless chicken. I like to use those frozen chicken breasts, but if you are in a hurry a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store is great.
One 24 oz bottle of Ranch dressing
One bottle of your favorite buffalo sauce. I usually get either Frank's or Moore's.
Two 8 oz blocks of cream cheese, softened.
Eight oz shredded cheddar cheese

Bake the chicken til it is done. If you are using a rotisserie chicken, remove the skin and pull the meat off the bones. Chop the chicken into small bits and put it in the bottom of a 13x9 in casserole dish. Drizzle the buffalo sauce over the chicken; you can use a lot or a little, depending on how spicy you want it to be. In a separate bowl blend the cream cheese and the whole bottle of Ranch dressing together, then spread this mixture evenly over the chicken. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar over the top. Bake the whole thing in a 350 degree oven til it is hot and bubbly and the cheddar has melted. Serve with tortilla chips or Fritos.

I got this recipe from a coworker and it has become a favorite weekend treat at my house. It is great to have while watching movies or sports, and as a bonus it reheats well in the microwave. Hope you like it!

P.S. If you are feeling really lazy or just want to make this ahead of time, you can just dump all the ingredients in a crockpot on low for a couple of hours (cook the chicken first!). It will still be tasty but won't look nearly as appetizing.

Ellen

2008-11-18T05:49:00.009-06:00

It has occurred to me that while I have pictures of Sam all over the blog, I have yet to post a picture of my beautiful daughter. Lest anyone think that I have a favorite child ( I don't) Here are some pics of my Ellen in all her curly-red haired, twinkling eyed, thousand watt smile glory.

These were taken at the Botanical Gardens by an extremely talented photographer friend of mine.

And this one was taken on my cell phone the other morning. Now tell me, isn't that just about the prettiest little girl in the world? She is sweet, smart, and knows her own mind. I love that little monkey.

Dothan

2008-11-16T17:43:00.006-06:00

Sam and I have just gotten back from an over night trip to Dothan to visit my brother and his growing family. We got to meet Taylor for the first time and I am happy to report that she is every bit as wonderful as I expected. She is so dainty, with long slender fingers and feet and an adorable dimple. Brad and Gayle are absolutely head over heels for her. And Sam is utterly smitten. We got some great pictures of him with new baby cousin.

When he saw her left hand for the first time, I tried to explain to him that it was a little different than most people's. "It's special," I told him.

He grasped her (normal) right hand. "This one is special too!" he said. How wonderful that all he could see was his precious baby cousin, perfect just as she is. It's too bad that more adults don't have that same sort of tunnel vision.

You can't take your eyes off them for a minute

2008-11-13T20:22:00.010-06:00

It never fails to amaze me the amount of mischief my kids can plot in practically no time at all. The other day I was chatting on the phone with my brother while I thought Sam was taking a nap in my bed. I heard him moving around and so after a few minutes cut short my conversation with Brad and went to check on my kiddo. This is what I found:

He was so proud of himself! And then a little while later he remembered that nail polish is for girls and we had to get it off right then. Except for the purple polish on his toes, which 4 days later I am still trying to completely remove. But whatever. I just had a good laugh and reminded myself to never ever ever underestimate the power of a bored 3 year old.

Taylor Ann

2008-11-12T06:59:00.004-06:00

So, the big news for our family is the arrival of my beautiful niece, Taylor. She was born November 7 at 4:07 p.m., weighing 6 lbs 15 ozs, and 20 inches long. She has big dark eyes, sweet rosy lips, and a gorgeous dimple (so I hear; I haven't seen her yet because my brother lives 4 hours away. Yes, it stinks.) For those who may not have heard, she was also born missing 3 fingers from her left hand. This was (as you can imagine) a surprise to everyone, but her doctor tells us that it is a result of something called Amniotic Band Syndrome, which is a rare but not unheard of condition that occurs in utero. You can read all about it here . Thankfully Taylor is a healthy baby and I am confident that the missing fingers won't have too great an impact on her life overall. Brad tells me that she can use that hand pretty well already, and other than having her days and nights mixed up, she is a perfect baby. We are all so thankful that she is here and that she and Gayle are doing well.

Look at that face. Isn't she a beauty?

Welcome to Chaos Castle!

2008-11-11T05:43:00.000-06:00

So, after all this time, I've decided to try my hand at blogging. If nothing else this will be a great way for me to journal the crazy things my two kids get up to. . . and believe me, they do! And maybe some of our long distance family and friends will be able to keep up with the things that are happening in our crazy, chaotic, and wonderful lives.

Happy reading!