Liz had a speaking part in her 5th grade play! Some nice mom put some clips of it on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1GsIKPjams
Fast forward to 2:20 min, she is on the back row.
FF to 2:35, she is speaking.
FF to 7:15, she has a brief singing appearance on the back row.
Enjoy!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Quote of the Day
This is my new favorite quote, because I seem to be "living it" on a daily basis:
"It's my personal observation that we moms function at a rate slightly above the land speed record, and perspiration and wilt are the natural result." Vicki Iovine
(fellow moms: so now you know why your hair is flat!)
"It's my personal observation that we moms function at a rate slightly above the land speed record, and perspiration and wilt are the natural result." Vicki Iovine
(fellow moms: so now you know why your hair is flat!)
Domestic Diva - Bonus Edition!
Ladies, I couldn't keep this one to myself. We had the most awesome breakfast today. Even Elizabeth liked it, and she's picky in the morning. I love having a healthy breakfast with lots of whole grains and no added sugar. Here's a great recipe....get out your crock pots again!
Five Grain Breakfast (recipe from //recipes.sparkpeople.com)
Combine the following ingredients in your slow cooker:
2-1/2 tbsp bulgur wheat
2-1/2 tbsp brown rice
2 tbsp barley
2 tbsp quinoa
1/4 cup rolled oats
1 cup apples, diced
1-1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
3 cups water
1 tbsp vanilla extract
Cook on low for 6-8 hours, overnight. Add more cinnamon to taste and stir well before serving. You could also add in raisins. I put a handful of chopped nuts on top. Serves 3 generously, double it for a family of 5-6.
Here's the finished product:
If you are not familiar with whole grains like bulgur wheat and quinoa, you can find them in bulk bins at Whole Foods or Earth Fare. They are worth trying!
Monday, March 10, 2008
PetsMart vs. Babies R' US
Ok, this is an opinionated rant. Some of you may not agree with me, and that's all right. Feel free to add comments.
I wonder how many pet supply stores existed in 1950. 1960? Even 1970, the year of my birth? I’m not talking about pet stores, like the small, mom n’ pop type portrayed in the movie Because of Winn Dixie, attended by musician-turned-actor Dave Matthews. No, I’m talking about pet supply stores, like PetsMart, that exclusively offer pet toys, pet food, pet collars, pet rick-rack, pet books, “green” pet treats, ad nauseum, all under a mere 35 thousand square feet!
Don’t get me wrong. I love pets. I am the previous master to two dogs and numerous beta fish, may they rest in peace. I don’t begrudge anyone their choice to love and adopt a pet (or two) as a member of the family. But since when, as a culture, have we become so nuts for our pets?
I propose that a big part of this issue is the decline of nuclear families and rates of reproduction in this country. In 1950, 68% of the population was married and the annual birth rate per 1,000 people was 24.1. In 2003, about 58% were married and the annual birth rate per 1,000 people was 14.1. Way back when, most adults got married young and large families were the norm. Now a large family is considered anything more than 2 kids. Many adults choose not to marry or to marry much later in life and then choose either not to have children or to limit their childbearing.
We were created by God to be in relationship -first with Him, then with others. God gifted us, both men and women, to nurture life. When our homes are not full of children, often we turn to a pet to fill this need. This can be a beautiful thing! I know that the love and companionship provided by a good pet lowers blood pressure and soothes the emotions. Pets who need regular walks challenge us to improve our fitness. Special dogs are used to bring joy to sick children in hospitals and the elderly in nursing homes. All of this is wonderful, a gift from God. But since when did our pets need so much junk from the big box pet supply store??
My beef is that, as a society, we have more heart for puppies than we do for babies. Don’t think so? Then why, in the Triangle area of North Carolina, are there 16 big box pet supply stores (10 PetsMart, 6 PetCo) and a mere 5 big box baby supply stores (2 Babies R’ Us, 3 Baby Depot)? In the same geographical area, why are there more than three times as many pet supply stores than baby supply stores?
I have a friend who used to work as a nanny. Suddenly, her employers started giving her a hard time about her salary. They complained to her that the only way they were able to continue to pay her from their monthly budget was to take money from their children's college funds to pay for other expenses. Can you guess what those "other expenses" were? Their dog needed surgery. I don't know the nature of the dog's medical problem, but our priorities are certainly out of whack when we'll sacrifice our children's futures to prolong the life of a pet. My friend eventually left their employment.
I’d like to issue a challenge to all of us living in the modern, Western world: be about your family. God sets the solitary in families (Psalm 68:6). Love your pets, but love your children, even those unborn, even more. Make your offspring your priority. Maybe Babies R’ Us will need to expand to a location near you.
I wonder how many pet supply stores existed in 1950. 1960? Even 1970, the year of my birth? I’m not talking about pet stores, like the small, mom n’ pop type portrayed in the movie Because of Winn Dixie, attended by musician-turned-actor Dave Matthews. No, I’m talking about pet supply stores, like PetsMart, that exclusively offer pet toys, pet food, pet collars, pet rick-rack, pet books, “green” pet treats, ad nauseum, all under a mere 35 thousand square feet!
Don’t get me wrong. I love pets. I am the previous master to two dogs and numerous beta fish, may they rest in peace. I don’t begrudge anyone their choice to love and adopt a pet (or two) as a member of the family. But since when, as a culture, have we become so nuts for our pets?
I propose that a big part of this issue is the decline of nuclear families and rates of reproduction in this country. In 1950, 68% of the population was married and the annual birth rate per 1,000 people was 24.1. In 2003, about 58% were married and the annual birth rate per 1,000 people was 14.1. Way back when, most adults got married young and large families were the norm. Now a large family is considered anything more than 2 kids. Many adults choose not to marry or to marry much later in life and then choose either not to have children or to limit their childbearing.
We were created by God to be in relationship -first with Him, then with others. God gifted us, both men and women, to nurture life. When our homes are not full of children, often we turn to a pet to fill this need. This can be a beautiful thing! I know that the love and companionship provided by a good pet lowers blood pressure and soothes the emotions. Pets who need regular walks challenge us to improve our fitness. Special dogs are used to bring joy to sick children in hospitals and the elderly in nursing homes. All of this is wonderful, a gift from God. But since when did our pets need so much junk from the big box pet supply store??
My beef is that, as a society, we have more heart for puppies than we do for babies. Don’t think so? Then why, in the Triangle area of North Carolina, are there 16 big box pet supply stores (10 PetsMart, 6 PetCo) and a mere 5 big box baby supply stores (2 Babies R’ Us, 3 Baby Depot)? In the same geographical area, why are there more than three times as many pet supply stores than baby supply stores?
I have a friend who used to work as a nanny. Suddenly, her employers started giving her a hard time about her salary. They complained to her that the only way they were able to continue to pay her from their monthly budget was to take money from their children's college funds to pay for other expenses. Can you guess what those "other expenses" were? Their dog needed surgery. I don't know the nature of the dog's medical problem, but our priorities are certainly out of whack when we'll sacrifice our children's futures to prolong the life of a pet. My friend eventually left their employment.
I’d like to issue a challenge to all of us living in the modern, Western world: be about your family. God sets the solitary in families (Psalm 68:6). Love your pets, but love your children, even those unborn, even more. Make your offspring your priority. Maybe Babies R’ Us will need to expand to a location near you.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Domestic Diva Friday
I promise this blog will not ONLY contain Domestic Diva Friday entries. This has been a busy week with one child sick and another with a school play. My free time this week has been zilch!
1) Not sure what the leftovers are in the Tupperware in the back of the fridge? Scared to open it up and get blown away by the smell and mess? Tempted to just throw the whole thing away but you hate to lose the Tupperware? Put the item in the freezer, marked so you’ll know not to eat it later. When the contents have frozen, run the Tupperware under warm water to help the contents release, then throw the leftovers away. They won’t smell and they usually pop out in one clean chunk.
2) Does the mail pile up as fast at your house as it does at ours? The piles of mail seem never- ending sometimes. If you have a recycling bin, make a pass by it on your way in from the mailbox. Immediately dispose of any and all junk mail, catalogs, and coupon mailers that you won’t use. Open the bills and throw the envelopes into the bin, too, as well as all the annoying “add ins” usually found with the bill. You will also spend less if you don’t even look in all those tempting catalogs! I only keep the ones that I know contain something I need.
3) In the warmer months, keep cans of chickpeas or other beans, artichoke hearts, canned chicken or tuna, olives, and fruits (like canned pears) in the fridge. When you need a quick,healthy meal, add all the chilled ingredients (drained) to a package of pre-washed salad greens. Voila! Instant dinner!
4) Do you dread decorating for Christmas because the Christmas lights are a tangled mess? Here’s a tip to help keep your lights untangled . When you take them down at the end of the season, coil them around your elbow to hand, like you would the vacuum cord. Then use tin foil to secure the entire strand into a circle. Your lights will not mysteriously tangle up during the months they spend in boxes, and best of all, this is a very inexpensive to implement. Hooray!
5) If you have kids and pets, own a dustbuster (hand held cordless vacuum). ‘Nuff said.
Domestic Diva Friday – 2nd edition!
Top 5 Household tips:
Top 5 Household tips:
1) Not sure what the leftovers are in the Tupperware in the back of the fridge? Scared to open it up and get blown away by the smell and mess? Tempted to just throw the whole thing away but you hate to lose the Tupperware? Put the item in the freezer, marked so you’ll know not to eat it later. When the contents have frozen, run the Tupperware under warm water to help the contents release, then throw the leftovers away. They won’t smell and they usually pop out in one clean chunk.
2) Does the mail pile up as fast at your house as it does at ours? The piles of mail seem never- ending sometimes. If you have a recycling bin, make a pass by it on your way in from the mailbox. Immediately dispose of any and all junk mail, catalogs, and coupon mailers that you won’t use. Open the bills and throw the envelopes into the bin, too, as well as all the annoying “add ins” usually found with the bill. You will also spend less if you don’t even look in all those tempting catalogs! I only keep the ones that I know contain something I need.
3) In the warmer months, keep cans of chickpeas or other beans, artichoke hearts, canned chicken or tuna, olives, and fruits (like canned pears) in the fridge. When you need a quick,healthy meal, add all the chilled ingredients (drained) to a package of pre-washed salad greens. Voila! Instant dinner!
4) Do you dread decorating for Christmas because the Christmas lights are a tangled mess? Here’s a tip to help keep your lights untangled . When you take them down at the end of the season, coil them around your elbow to hand, like you would the vacuum cord. Then use tin foil to secure the entire strand into a circle. Your lights will not mysteriously tangle up during the months they spend in boxes, and best of all, this is a very inexpensive to implement. Hooray!
5) If you have kids and pets, own a dustbuster (hand held cordless vacuum). ‘Nuff said.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Domestic Diva Friday
Ok, I'm going to begin a weekly (hopefully!) feature - Domestic Diva Fridays. As a stay at home mother for the last 7 years, I've learned many things about running a household and providing for my family in a LIMITED amount of time! So, today's feature is....THE CROCK POT !
If you do not have a crock pot or slow cooker, run out and get one today. They are truly a friend to a busy mama. The 5-6 pm hour is usually chaos at our house, with tired cranky children and a frustrated mama, so cooking dinner at that hour is usually a challenge. Throwing some ingredients into the crock pot mid-morning is much more peaceful. The results are usually delicious, too!
My favorite crock pot cookbook is Fix-It and Forget-It Recipes for Entertaining. There are several others in the "Fix-It and Forget-It" series; I recommend them all. Many diet-friendly crock pot recipes can be found on Weightwatchers.com and Sparkpeople.com.
Without further ado, here's what we are having for dinner tonight....a tried and true favorite...Easy Beef Stroganoff!! I found this recipe in the above cookbook, pg. 6. Here's the method:
Can of Cream of Mushroom Soup
Can of Beef Broth
1 lb. Stew beef
1 cup sour cream (I use lite)
2 cups cooked egg noodles
optional add ins: can of sliced mushrooms, drained; chopped onion, chopped garlic
Whisk together the broth and the cream of mushroom soup in the crock pot until blended. Add in mushrooms (drained) and onion, if using, stir. Add raw stew beef pieces and stir. Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours then switch pot to low and cook for 3-4 hours more. Twenty minutes before serving, stir in the sour cream. Cook egg noodles in a separate pot. Serve stroganoff over noodles. ENJOY! This is great with a salad and french bread, too.
Your family will love this!
If you do not have a crock pot or slow cooker, run out and get one today. They are truly a friend to a busy mama. The 5-6 pm hour is usually chaos at our house, with tired cranky children and a frustrated mama, so cooking dinner at that hour is usually a challenge. Throwing some ingredients into the crock pot mid-morning is much more peaceful. The results are usually delicious, too!
My favorite crock pot cookbook is Fix-It and Forget-It Recipes for Entertaining. There are several others in the "Fix-It and Forget-It" series; I recommend them all. Many diet-friendly crock pot recipes can be found on Weightwatchers.com and Sparkpeople.com.
Without further ado, here's what we are having for dinner tonight....a tried and true favorite...Easy Beef Stroganoff!! I found this recipe in the above cookbook, pg. 6. Here's the method:
Can of Cream of Mushroom Soup
Can of Beef Broth
1 lb. Stew beef
1 cup sour cream (I use lite)
2 cups cooked egg noodles
optional add ins: can of sliced mushrooms, drained; chopped onion, chopped garlic
Whisk together the broth and the cream of mushroom soup in the crock pot until blended. Add in mushrooms (drained) and onion, if using, stir. Add raw stew beef pieces and stir. Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours then switch pot to low and cook for 3-4 hours more. Twenty minutes before serving, stir in the sour cream. Cook egg noodles in a separate pot. Serve stroganoff over noodles. ENJOY! This is great with a salad and french bread, too.
Your family will love this!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Potty Training Travails
This is something I wrote about 1.5 years ago while potty training my son Jack, then 2.5 yrs. My newest baby was only 8 weeks old and I pretty much spent the month of August 2006 in the downstairs half bathroom with my son and the new baby.
IS there anything more frustrating than potty training a toddler? (I’m sure there is but I just can’t think of it right now.) Is there any task that shows one more clearly how little control one truly has over a child? When our babies are little and fresh from the womb, we tote them around and provide for their every need. As they become toddlers, the ever strong & present “will” begins to rear it’s ugly head.
My son is in "big boy underpants." Aren't you proud? He’s becoming a pro at getting to the potty in time for #1. However, he will not do #2 in the potty and asks for a diaper when it's time for that. I can't force him - he pitches a fit, then holds it in. I think I'm just going to have to wait for him to decide it's time. Just hope that's before he starts kindergarten.
Potty training my first child, dear Elizabeth, was a disaster. She was a bright, beautiful little child with a potent will to boot. Introducing the potty was fine and by age 2 ½ I knew for certain she understood and had the capacity to go diaper-free. She, however, did not have the desire to retire the tried-and-true diapers. No, no, she was determined not to go down without a fight. I, then, tried everything – stickers, candy, bribery – none of which did a bit of good. She set her feet with a willful pout and stood her ground. In desperation I turned to my pediatrician, a mother of three, whose diagnosis was swift and prescription was stunning to this first-time-mom: I had set up a battle and I needed to “drop it” for at least a month. A whole month?? No asking, dragging, begging my little one to the potty for a whole month?? This sounded like insanity to me.
I’m beginning to think that potty training is simply a metaphor for all of child rearing. During this short-but-oh-so-intense time of life, the goal is to get your child to move from diapers to using the toilet, from complete dependence on an adult to being able to handle it on his own. Our little babies come from the womb so completely and utterly dependent upon us for their every everything. Isn’t the goal of parenting to train the child to complete independence by age 18 (or so)? As a mom, I never want to hear that my child will be fine without me, but as my babies grow up, I train each one to do for him or herself. With my 9 year old, we are working on laundry and dishes.
Potty training is a rite of passage for parents. Unless you have a full-time, live-in nanny, there is no escaping the travails of potty training. Even my friend Sarah, whose first child was a dream to potty train, still dreads training her second child. Shortly after my 3rd baby was born, my little 2 1/2 year old son began to want to use the potty. Not wanting to miss a golden opportunity, we went ahead and began training. These were challenging days, most of which I spent in the bathroom with my son and a crying newborn on my shoulder. When my sweet neighbor Debbie brought over a meal, she told me she’d love to help out sometime. My response was straight from the gut: I told her (only partly-kidding) what I really needed was for her to take Jack for most of the day and potty train him. She replied (only partly-kidding), “Oh, and do you want me to send him to college too?” It was then that the full significance of this parenting trial truly hit me. This is parenthood 101.
IS there anything more frustrating than potty training a toddler? (I’m sure there is but I just can’t think of it right now.) Is there any task that shows one more clearly how little control one truly has over a child? When our babies are little and fresh from the womb, we tote them around and provide for their every need. As they become toddlers, the ever strong & present “will” begins to rear it’s ugly head.
My son is in "big boy underpants." Aren't you proud? He’s becoming a pro at getting to the potty in time for #1. However, he will not do #2 in the potty and asks for a diaper when it's time for that. I can't force him - he pitches a fit, then holds it in. I think I'm just going to have to wait for him to decide it's time. Just hope that's before he starts kindergarten.
Potty training my first child, dear Elizabeth, was a disaster. She was a bright, beautiful little child with a potent will to boot. Introducing the potty was fine and by age 2 ½ I knew for certain she understood and had the capacity to go diaper-free. She, however, did not have the desire to retire the tried-and-true diapers. No, no, she was determined not to go down without a fight. I, then, tried everything – stickers, candy, bribery – none of which did a bit of good. She set her feet with a willful pout and stood her ground. In desperation I turned to my pediatrician, a mother of three, whose diagnosis was swift and prescription was stunning to this first-time-mom: I had set up a battle and I needed to “drop it” for at least a month. A whole month?? No asking, dragging, begging my little one to the potty for a whole month?? This sounded like insanity to me.
I’m beginning to think that potty training is simply a metaphor for all of child rearing. During this short-but-oh-so-intense time of life, the goal is to get your child to move from diapers to using the toilet, from complete dependence on an adult to being able to handle it on his own. Our little babies come from the womb so completely and utterly dependent upon us for their every everything. Isn’t the goal of parenting to train the child to complete independence by age 18 (or so)? As a mom, I never want to hear that my child will be fine without me, but as my babies grow up, I train each one to do for him or herself. With my 9 year old, we are working on laundry and dishes.
Potty training is a rite of passage for parents. Unless you have a full-time, live-in nanny, there is no escaping the travails of potty training. Even my friend Sarah, whose first child was a dream to potty train, still dreads training her second child. Shortly after my 3rd baby was born, my little 2 1/2 year old son began to want to use the potty. Not wanting to miss a golden opportunity, we went ahead and began training. These were challenging days, most of which I spent in the bathroom with my son and a crying newborn on my shoulder. When my sweet neighbor Debbie brought over a meal, she told me she’d love to help out sometime. My response was straight from the gut: I told her (only partly-kidding) what I really needed was for her to take Jack for most of the day and potty train him. She replied (only partly-kidding), “Oh, and do you want me to send him to college too?” It was then that the full significance of this parenting trial truly hit me. This is parenthood 101.
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