Like Father - Like Son

I spotted Leif and 'lil Dax reading Construction equipment magazines on this rainy, Saturday afternoon.

I love how seriously Dax is investigating the photographs.

 

 

 

Rainy Evening

Today was a long, rainy day. But it was a beautiful spring rain. 

View from my bedroom window... notice the creek is very full~ it smells delightful.

We had an earlier-than-normal bedtime. The kids were ready... and believe me, so was I! But first, Maycee insisted on giving Thor a goodnight hug and kiss. Things just got crazy, but it was so cute.

Settling down?

And in case you are wondering... I did in fact get a crib tent to contain my crazy little 21 month old. It is awesome. Worth every penny [and I happened to get a great deal on ebay!] He loves it and it keeps him in. Yes, I understand that it is highly dorky. However, the extra hours of effortless sleep it provides for him (and thus me) is definitely not dorky. Life can resume. :)

Now if only I could subdue the crazy blob on the bed!

The Question You Should Not Ask Pregnant Women.

Here is a photo that that my 4 year old took of me on my return from Zumba class last week. I realize I am bending over, so that you can not properly see my stomach. However, I thought he was going to take another photograph of my legs and or feet, and I simply cannot have one more picture like that on my iPhone.

Now. Unless I have grown immensely in one week, please tell me that I do not look obesely pregnant with twins.

Because here I was, having the time of my life (or something like that) in Zumba class this morning. I was shakin' it, poppin' it, droppin' low...

You know. Essentially forgetting that I am a frazzled, ragged mother of three. And a half. [Never mind that talk. I love my kids and mommy hood.]

Forgetting. Until, that is, someone asked an innocent question.

Middle Aged Lady: "When are you due?"

Me: "Early August... a ways to go... about 24-25 weeks..."

Middle Aged Lady: "Oh. Your tummy is really popping out there. Are you having twins?"

Me: "Nope." [meek laughter... trailing off awkwardly... glad another song is beginning.]

Speechless... thinking of a nasty rebuttal... now feeling a little aggressive... no, perhaps just edgy... finally feeling my sweat-drenched tank top... which must accentuate my lovely, growing curves... or is it more like a freaking elephant gut... now I'm not sure, but I'm leaning towards the latter.

Hmmmm... 

This post is essentially a vent, but let me leave you with this. I have been asked if I am having twins with every pregnancy, and I find many pregnant friends get asked the same thing. Is. This. Necessary.

 If I were having twins, I would probably look like I was 8 months pregnant while I was only 6 months pregnant. If I were having twins, I would probably say, "I am having twins." If I were having twins, I would be on my couch eating bonbons with my feet up, not sweating it out at Zumba class.

On a sidenote, look at this little baby. Ha.

Homemade Hotdog Buns

Do you ever feel guilty serving your family hot dogs for dinner? I know I do. Not guilty enough to not do it. But guilty enough to feel a little bit... well, guilty.

Anyways. There are some things that can be done to redeem this easy and delicious meal. First of all, let me recommend a better hot dog. We all know that hot dogs are made with "junk" meat [often by-products], cured with nitrates, and have high levels of sodium and fat. 

The other night, I used Hebrew National Beef Franks. That being said, I cannot recommend it... they are only very slightly better than the alternatives.

What I can recommend is this:

While I haven't found these locally in stores, I can get them from a co-op [Azure Standard.]

Here's why; in a nutshell. It is made from organic, grass fed beef, which is naturally significantly lower in fat than a similar all-beef frank. 

Perhaps most importantly, there are no nitrates used; it is uncured. What is wrong with nitrates?Nitrates in hotdogs form carcinogens. Read more about the link between hot dogs and cancer here.

Applegate Ingredient List:

Organic Grass-fed Beef, Water. Contains Less Than 2% Of The Following: Sea Salt, Organic Paprika, Organic Dehydrated Onion, Organic Spices, Organic Nutmeg Oil, Celery Powder.

Hotdog buns pose another problem. They are full of preservatives, high in sodium, and most contain high-fructose corn syrup. Look at the label the next time you are shopping around for hot dog buns... it is appalling! It is what drove me to look for a hot dog bun recipe.

And it was amazingly easy.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/burger-or-hot-dog-buns/

I used my bread machine to make the dough. The hardest part was shaping the dough into hot dog buns, but I learned a lot with the first batch and got the right shape the second time around. 

They were delicious-- the best hot dog bun I've ever tasted.

Not exactly a gourmet meal- but the kids think so.

Banana peppers, red onions, and pickles for relishes.

A horrible iPhone picture, but that is what happens when meal time gets crazy!

The link between hot dogs (and other nitrates found in cured meats) and childhood cancers is frightening, but it is a nice relief to know that there are healthier alternatives. Next time your serve up a hotdog this summer, try the buns-- I don't think I will ever buy them from the store again!

Bedtime Prayers

I was cuddling with Maycee before putting her in bed for the night.

Maycee: Pray with me Mommy.

Me: Ok. Dear Jesus, thank you for Maycee...

Maycee: No I want to pray...

Me: Ok.

Maycee: Dear Jesus, thank you for Mommy...

Sweet moments!

Misplaced.

The cat stole my office chair.

So I used a hard, non-office chair. It has, indeed, made me less productive. See, I am blogging instead of working.

Look at that pathetic creature behind me.

Now go ahead... take a closer look!

That's all I had to share. 

At Least He's Cute.

Twenty months old. It's a "fun" age, the coo-ers say as they are charmed by his gooey little smile and silly words.

Let me share the following, and then you can make your own conclusions.

He wakes up before 7 am, before any siblings are up, jumps out of his crib, bounds down the hallway, and immediately looks for a loud, high-impact activity. The type to cause a reaction in the household. [This morning, it was pushing the buttons on the top of the police car toy.]


After I put him in the pack-n-play, which is in my walk-in closet (don't judge), he is quiet. For about 3/4 of a minute. Then the proceeds to make a strange sound from the middle part of his throat. Think of static on a two-way radio system. "Waz dat zoun?" {Translation: What's that sound?} Repeat literally at least 18 times.

I crawl out of bed. No wait, he crawls out of bed. Prompting me to crawl out of bed. And put him back into his bed. With a swat on his little chunky leg. At which point I, being the mature mother that I am, ask him, "What's that sound?"

I get him out of his bed at 7:30 and the morning starts. Here are some samples of his current favorite activities.

• Throw dirty clothes from the laundry basket upstairs through the railing to land downstairs. Adorable.
• Playing in the cat's litter box as though his chunky little hands were an excavator and the clumps of poo were mounds of dirt. Such an imagination!
• Drinking the cups of his sibling's dirty paint water. Such a carefree little fella!
• Demanding to be held every 4.67 minutes, and when being set down lifts his feet in the air as to strain one's back as much as humanly possible. What an affectionate little guy!
• Climbing up on windowsills and trying to hold himself in the frame of the window until his legs buckle and he falls. Aw, little monkey!
• Refuse to eat his dinner, but instead let the food ooze out of his mouth, and then chuckle. Priceless.
• Scream violently and throw a huge crying tantrum about once every 9 1/2 minutes. All. Day. Long. Keep in mind this is over perceived sibling violations, toy frustrations, and generally any thing that displeases him. So expressive!

Ok, but he really is cute. And sweet. And downright hilarious. He makes us laugh, [when he is not making us pull out his hair].

I think we will keep him...

 

...and his 80's rocker hair too.

But I am getting one of these. And I don't care how dorky that is.