Chicken Soup

It happens probably 15 times a day: Anna asks me to do something with her and I have to say, "Aw, I'd love to, but I need to--insert baby duty--Jack right now...maybe later?" But, you know as well as I do, that "later" never comes. I cringe every single time that this dialog happens between Anna and myself. Next, she acts out in some way. This causes me to act out in my own, shrill, screechy-mom kind of way. It's an ugly cycle.

The fact of the matter is that I get zero alone time with Anna. Kevin and Anna have their things that they go do and I stay home with Jack. Jack and I have tons of alone time, while Anna is at school. Except for getting to pick her up at school without Jack in tow, (who's at home with a babysitter) which occurs twice a month, we just don't ever get to spend time alone together. It eats me alive. You also need to know that I'm a master-manipulator of schedules and naps and I've got it down to a science so that, on days that Anna doesn't have school, my kids nap at the same time. Ah. Mommy needs a break.

My usual routine includes my Friday morning yoga class. I consider that my weekly "me" time because with all of the acting-out and care-giving that I do, I need some zen time indeed. Today though--today...I got a grand idea. I decided to ditch my yoga class and instead went to the gym (like normal) dropped Jack off in childwatch and then just us girls went and spent over an hour swimming in the pool at the gym. It was so, incredibly wonderful. Just me and my girl. We splashed, we sat and visited on the steps of the pool. We hugged on each other, as she clung to me, while I walked us around the deep end of the pool. And, it turns out that that time with Anna today was way more healing than my usual yoga class. She loved it. I loved it. We're doing it again as soon as we can. Next Friday morning can't get here soon enough.

Hobbies & Past Times

In the midst of our kitchen remodel, we're all trying to find things to do to keep us out of the kitchen and keep our minds off of the squalor that we've come to live in. While t-ball still isn't Anna's favorite thing to do (at this point, we're calling it a practice in "stick-to-it-ness" as she expressed interest in playing, so we signed her up--now she's got to follow-through, yo) she's really sort of embraced it and is blooming where she was planted (way, way out in right field, sometimes laying on her belly, picking flowers). The picture is woefully terrible, as our scanner isn't working, so please forgive.

She's on the first row, sitting on the far right of the picture. Big, adorable smile on her face.

Then, there's our Jack. In case you're wondering--why no, he's still not walking. He does everything BUT walk at this point. It's sort of embarrassing. He starts school next week and I've been told that being around other kids his age who are, in fact, bi-peds, will greatly encourage him to do the same.

This dinky, pink toy laptop is always a source of conflict at our house. Kevin and I hate it with the heat of 1000 suns. It was "broken" for the longest time (somehow, someway, those batteries just popped themselves right out of it and poof!--it didn't work for a few months). When it is in working order though, it causes fights like you've never seen between Anna and her friend. Now, Jack has discovered the awesomeness that is this stupid toy. If Anna's around, brother doesn't have a chance in hell of getting near it, but once she's gone, he's all over it.

Here he is, checking sister's t-ball stats online

I will post pictures of the kitchen remodel soon. It's really coming together. I'm hesitant to post pictures until it's finished because I'm a perfectionist like that. If you know our house at all though, just know that the obnoxious reddish-maroon cabinets are gone (well, they're technically not gone, as they're in a giant pile on our back patio, awaiting a frenzy of Freecyclers who will hopefully come and clean it up, like so many turkey vultures on a dead skunk) and the 1950's Formica is a thing of the past now. Things are looking up.

What a difference 11 months makes

Anna and her best friend: last year, at the beach house in Galveston, versus this year, at the same beach house (same lounge chair) in Galveston.

Kid Tested, Mother Approved

I've spoken of our new-found love for quinoa here before, but I haven't actually shared a recipe yet. Last night, I made some and sort of free-handed my own recipe. It was delicious and, in fact, I'm having trouble talking myself out of having the leftovers for breakfast this morning. Here's what I did:


1/2 of an onion, diced
4-5 cloves of garlic, finely diced
1 Tbl olive oil
1 large zucchini, diced
1 cup rinsed quinoa
2 cup vegetable (or chicken) broth
salt, pepper and cumin to taste

Saute the onion and garlic until tender. Add zucchini and quinoa. Saute for a few minutes more. Add broth and seasoning. Bring to a boil then cover and simmer for 15 minutes.

I served this along side some lime-marinated chicken thighs and black beans. (I like a squeeze on lemon on my quinoa, just prior to serving.) It was lick-your-plate-clean, yummy. See for yourself:

Our weekend

We made our annual trip to the beach with good friends this weekend. A grand, relaxing time was had by all.

Open Letter Wednesday

Dear precious Baby Boy,

I've gotta just come right out and say this: 4:41 am is not (nor has it ever been--unless you're getting up this early to catch a flight somewhere exotic and awesome) an appropriate time to wake up in the morning*. 4:41 am falls into more of a "middle-of-the-night-wake-up-but-I-can-be-soothed-back-to-sleep," in my book, instead of a "woo hoo! Let's start our day!" kind-of-thing. And also, when you try to wake up that early, you sound the cat alarm, which leads the cats to believe that it's an acceptable time to wake up...which means "breakfast! Now!" time for them. You're on my list today, young man.

Love always,
Mama


Dear weekend at the beach,

Hurry and get here please.

Love,
Me

Dear Flies,

You are the most annoying creatures on the planet. Get out of my house. Get off of our food. Quit buzzing my head at night. I have a fly swatter and I know how to use it. I might take pity on roaches and spiders and calmly release them back outside, but you? I take no pity. You're gross and you've worn out your welcome here. Now, get back outside to our compost pile and do your work.

Buzz off,
Me

Dear Old Navy,

That was super-awesome how, last week, you stuck a flyer in my shopping bag, after I'd checked out, stating that the very next day, everything in the store was going to be 30% off. You're very lucky that I had an impatient toddler with me who kept me from staying a little longer to go through the return process on my just-purchased items, so that I could come back the next day to save a buck or two. Thanks, however, for the cute new sundresses though. They were totally worth paying 30% more than the next guy, just so that they could sit in my closet (since I've had zero opportunity to wear anything cute lately).

Yours truly,
J

Dear person on the treadmill next to me at the gym,

Here's the thing, sweetie: if you'd lower that crazy incline a tad and slow down the speed, but--here's the kicker--LET GO OF THE DAMN MACHINE (i.e. quit draping yourself over the top and holding on for dear, honking life) you'd be doing your body a big favor. I know, I know. The treadmill is telling you that you've burned 1,400 calories in 30 minutes, but the thing is, you're cheating by hanging on like that and you've likely burned less than 100 calories. I'm no personal trainer or anything, but you're not doing it right.

Thanks,
Me

*Dear Paw Paw & Granny,

If, however, you two were kind enough to keep the kids while Kevin and I enjoy an exotic vacation this Summer, I'm more than positive that Jack would not ever, ever wake up that early, while in your care. I'm sure of it. Please don't be scared.

Love,
Me

In other news, we began our kitchen remodel over the weekend. I can already see the finished product in my head and it's going to be great! Maybe, if I can recover from the early morning that I had, I'll post some pictures soon. Also, Anna had her first baseball game over the weekend. Pictures of that to come as well.