Ingredient of the month...

CUMMIN!

If I could only have five things in my spice cabinet...they would be salt, pepper, basil, cinnamon, and cummin.

Cummin is a ground spice (although you can buy it in whole seeds as well) that has a smokey but subtle flavor. I put it in lots of things.

Try...

*Sprinkle it on any veggie (I sprinkle it on frozen veggies for some interest).

*Mix with salt, pepper, and garlic powder and toss on roasted potatoes or hash browns.

*Great 'refried' beans....Mix one can of black beans with liquid, one minced clove of garlic, and 1-3 tsp cummin. Microwave for 3 minutes. Smash with potato masher or back of spoon. Allow to cool and thicken for 5 minutes.

*Add to chilis or similar dishes (e.g chili mac).

*Sprinkle flatbread with olive oil and pinches of cummin.

For more information on cummin....see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cummin

FYI...Shoe Sale

For all your frugal families...
This month, Payless Shoe Source is having their BOGO (buy 1, get 1 1/2 off) sale.

This is a good source for kids' shoes (since they only wear them one season anyways). They also have a lot of character shoes for the little ones (our 3 yo wants some Cars shoes).

For more information, visit your local Payless or see www.payless.com.

The Music Scene

So, my husband has recently been singing backup and playing various intruments in a band...Dan Beahm and the Invisible Three. So, I have checking out the local music scene...something my husband has been doing for years. There are so many great musicians out there...you just have to stay up late enough to see them. The music didn't even start until well after 9pm last night, DBi3 going on at midnight. We literally paid a sitter to watch our sleeping children (do we have to paid her the same for if they were awake?). It was so fun to hang out with friends (although you can't always talk to each other with the sound), get some drinks (non-alcoholic for me, as always), and hear some great tunes....we even danced. There is sometimes a cover charge and sometimes a minimium drink charge...knowing people in the band is a great perk!

So I urge you to check out the local music wherever you live and enjoy. And bring the kids to those afternoon shows.

In Champaign-Urbana...check out...
of course, Dan Beahm and the Invisible Three (www.danbeahm.com)
An ecceltic mix of folk and rock including some great cello with some fabulous lyrics. The songs are sometimes fun and sometimes serious (I love the new album! It rocks!).

Lynn O'Brien (www.lynnobrienmusic.com)
She is a pianist, singer, and songwriter with a mix of old-fashioned (Broadway ballad-like) and new Nora Jones-like quality. Her songs are sweet, funny, and sometimes thought-provoking.

Book Review

Pirates Don't Change Diapers

by David Shannon

This great book is a the sequel to How I Became a Pirate by David Shannon. There is no doubt that pirates are big right now. Besides the popular Pirates of the Caribbean movies, kids just love pirates (and so do adults). Backyardigans has a great episode about being pirates. Of course some people think that we shouldn't encourage kids to be like pirates...they are known for raping and pillaging...but come on...let's focus on the fun! Eye patches, hooks for hands, sailing, peg legs, great clothes, parrots, and, the best, pirate-talk! (my kids, and husband, walk around saying Sarrrrrsgarrrrrd constantly). These books take all the fun and put it with great illustrations for a fantastic read.

This book takes place awhile after Jeremy Jacob returns from his time with Braid Beard and his crew. This time, the crew needs to find their treasure but first they must help Jeremy take care of his baby sister.

The illustrations are deep and rich with so many details that every time you read it, you will find new laughs. The language, filled with pirate slang, is simple and easily gets the story across, although it is a bit wordy for our youngest. The story is great for anyone with a baby in the house. Our 3yo loves to laugh about how he thinks you should babysit. Overall, it is just fun.

A mini-spa?

Yesterday, I went to the dentist...at 8am! I actually enjoy going to the dentist. It gives me 30 minutes without the kids...I get to watch TV (those morning shows I never usually watch), lay down, have some adult conversation, and someone cleans my teeth for me! What else could you ask for? If only we could create a shower/bathing system like that...you just lay down for half an hour and relax, listen to music or watch tv, and you come out clean, legs shaved, hair washed and dried for you. That would be great!

*Just a shout-out to my dentist, Dr. Jim Yu at Creative Smiles. He actually isn't the most personable or anything...but you only spend about a minute with him at each exam. You get to spend more time with him if you haven't been taking care of yourself. He is pleasant and nice. During those extended sessions, they are great and there is no pain. Their hygienists are great! Very nice, talkative but not too much, gentle, and not judgemental (why aren't you flossing more?!). And if you are good and take care of yourself, you are in and out in 30 minutes!

*Just a word about going to the dentist...do it! Especially if you have dental insurance, go! It is so worth it....dental problems can lead to lots of other problems and, if not taken care of, can be very expensive to repair later. If you don't have insurance, it can be expensive, but try to get in for a cleaning and exam at least once a year. It is worth the expense now...do you know how much a filling or root canal costs...lots! And bring your kids! Find a good pediatric dentist...or one that is good with kids. Ours is Dr. Hemann and Dr. Cheng. Our middle one has lots of dental problems and we are so glad we took him in....he was 2 1/2 years (but we should have taken him in earlier).

Community Fun!

This weekend, we went out with our dear friends for an adult night out. First, we went to dinner at a local Mexican restaurant, Fiesta Cafe (http://www.fiestacafe.com/Welcome.html). Besides the fact there was no waiting, we got to sit outside! What a treat. The food was great...they drench everything is cheese. And they have fabulous margaritas...I don't drink often but I was out for the night, let's have some fun (and my husband did!). We like to go to local places, if possible and this is a great one in Champaign.

*This is a great place for the family. The menu varies enough to meet everyone's needs. The kids' menu is reasonably priced and they have kiddie cocktails. The service is fast and our kids love to sit outside in the summer (and they have room to move around).

So, after eating and talking about our ever-changing lives, we went to see our friend play in one of his many bands. He was playing at a fundraiser for our local organic food co-op. It was an amazing event. First of all, it was free. They had a potluck dinner (which we could have partaken of if we wanted). You could also make a donation and eat. They had wine from a local wine place for sale, as well as t-shirts and membership information. In addition to the food, wine, and people, they had fabulous music. So, the band played and people danced...lots of people danced. We had gone there to see our friend but we found this group of people that were so great.

They have this community that can party like this. Everyone chipped in and everyone was hanging out and having fun. There were people of all ages...little ones in baby wraps, kids, college students, adults in all stages of life. Besides that they welcomed us into this celebration, it really made us feel like we should be a part of this...which we have considered before (but that's another entry).

So, if you are in CU and interested in joining an organic and local food co-op, check out Common Ground Food Co-op (http://www.commonground.coop/). It's more than a grocery store!

We also enjoyed our daughter's capoeira festival this weekend. Which is another great community to participate in in town and throughout the state and beyond. (Here's a link to that info...https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ro/www/CapoeiraClubatUIUC/). Additionally, we took the kids the to Annual UIUC Vet Med Open House...an awesome, free event for all ages. We got to see and touch lots of animals, milk a cow, see where the animals go to the doctor, see x-rays, watched a video of a cow's c-section (completely fascinating, btw), horse-shoeing, police dog demo, goat cheese tasting...and on and on.

Every time we talk about moving out of our community, we have a hard time thinking about giving up all the great things about where we live. There are just so many wonderful things here...we love it.

This week (and last)...

What we ate....
Meatloaf (which my picky eater even ate!) with mashed sweet potatoes and peas
Curry chicken strips with apricot mustard sauce along with whole wheat mac and cheese*
Turkey and spinach lasagna
Burgers with onion and mushrooms and goat cheese with cummin potato wedges
Pasta with veggies and cheese
Potluck at school...yummy!!
White and Black beans with couscous and salsa veggies
Tofu stir-fry with rice noodles and peanut sauce
Barbeque tofu
Pizza with apples and carrots and peanut yogurt dip
Pasta with white bean and tomato sauce

What we read...
the toddler...Make Van Gogh's Bed, What do you say?, Let's Count (with Bob Builder)
the preschooler...a set of Mickey Mouse and friends books, Pirates Don't Change Diapers (sequel to How I Became a Pirate by David Shannon)
the 10 yo...So Be It, again, and she gave a book report about 2 books about Brazil
the mom...Seeing by Jose Saramago (sequel to Blindess that I read last summer)

What we watched....
Movies....Over the Hedge (at the theater), Cinderella, Inside Man, Borat
TV...Curious George, Backyardigans, Phil of the Future, Kids' Choice Awards, House, Ace of Cakes (my new favorite show!), the finale of Grease, the one that you want, Dancing with the Stars

What we listened to....
Scissor Sisters (my favorite band, right now....great music to dance and work out to, and the kids love it...as long as they don't listen to the words too closely....www.scissorsisters.com)
Dan Beahm and the Invisible Three (a friend of ours...it rocks...www.danbeahm.com)
Tally Hall
Our kids mix on iTunes



*Recipe of the Week
Curry Chicken Strips with Apricot Mustard Sauce

Chicken tenders (about 16) or chicken breast (4) cut into strips
2 tablespoons yogurt
1 tablespoon apricot jam
2 tablespoons orange juice
1-3 tsp curry powder
salt and pepper

Mix all ingredients except chicken in large bowl. Add chicken and mix to coat. Set aside for 10 mins to overnight. Bread in your favorite breading (I like a mix of 2 parts bread crumbs, 1 part cornmeal, 1 part flour, salt and pepper). Pan fry 3 mins per side or bake in oven for 15-20 mins.

Sauce
Mix 3 tablespoons yogurt, 2 tablespoons apricot jam, 2 tablespoons mustard (any kind you like), 1 tsp honey, salt and pepper. Allow to set for 10 minutes. Keeps for 1 week.

Whole Wheat Mac and Cheese

the recipe of 2's

2 cups whole wheat mac or noodless

2 tablespoons butter or olive oil

2 tablespoons flour

2 cups skim milk

2 cups cheese, whatever blend you like (cheddar is traditional)

pinch of dried mustard

salt and pepper

Boil a large pot of water with a lid. In a medium sauce pan, melt butter. Once melted, add flour and whisk until smooth (may be a big lump, that's ok). Cook and stir mixture for 3 minutes. Add milk and whisk until smooth. On medium heat and stirring often, bring to boil. Once to boil, reduce heat and simmer 5-10 mins, stirring often. Add mustard and salt and pepper. Add cheese and stir until combined. Turn off the heat. Meanwhile, when water comes to boil, add noodles, and drain when cooked. Return noodles to pot or large bowl. Add cheese sauce and stir until combined. Allow to set a couple minutes.

(You can put in casserole dish and top with extra cheese and buttered bread crumbs. Bake at 350 F until golden.)

Homemade mac and cheese takes just as long as the box!

Keep yours on a leash

This is the subject of an email in my inbox today (from ModernMom.com)...

Jogging Strollers, Leashes for kids, Makeup & more...

This was just after I had seen a group of small kids with harnesses and a rope connecting them while on a walk with their teacher.

Do our kids need leashes? I know some people argue that even dogs don't need to be on leashes. The sight of kids on a leash always strikes me. Yes, I understand that if you have a group of young ones on a walk to the park, especially if you have to cross a busy street, may benefit from holding hands or even holding a group rope...harnessing your child seems wrong to me.

Anyone have any thoughts?

Movie Review

Friday was Girls' Night for my daugther and I (and Boys' Night for the men of the family). So we decided to go to dinner and a movie. With a lack of movies for the younger kids, we haven't been in awhile and even so had only three to choose from....Bridge to Teribithia, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (like we really needed a remake of that one), and, our selection, The Last Mimzy.

Here is our review...

The Last Mimzy (New Line Cinema, 90 mins)

I went into this movie with no expectations and no idea what it was about...except possibly a bunny. So, for the first 45 minutes or so I was anxiously waiting for the numerous elements to come together and create the main issue at hand...saving the human race that has apparently been almost destroyed by too much toying with DNA. It starts in the future with what appears to be a storytime for a group of young children. Then we are sent back to the past...current day. We meet a family with an absent father (Timothy Hutton), mother (Joely Richardson) and two kids, Noah (Chris O'Neill) and Emma (Rhiannon Leigh Wryn). The kids find a box of odd and disconnected objects in a strange box on the beach while on vacation. These objects end up giving the children amazing powers that cause several problems in their lives including a major blackout that gains the attention of Homeland Security. In the end, with the help of Noah's science teacher (Rainn Wilson), they save the human race for several hundreds of generations.

Besides the poor acting all around (except Rainn Wilson...in a great departure from his signature role on the Office), the story has so much going on, that it never really comes together. My daughter left very confused and needed a couple explanations before she understood it all. Although the basic message of the movie is good...stop polluting and playing with DNA, which is stated by Wilson early on, it gets lost in the shuffle. There are some references to Alice in Wonderland and later Adam and Eve, but kids will not see them. The movie is slow and wordy...oppose the visual plotlines that I am used to in the animated set. I was disappointed that some character development gets brushed off after introduction (e.g. Noah's feelings of pre-teen worthlessness, a father who is losing touch with his family, a pair of siblings that find something to bond over). The humor in the movie was completely lost in the audience I sat with. It was clear where they has put in some laughs and jokes but no one laughed at them. There is also a somewhat frightening encounter with Homeland Security that may frighten some kids and provoke some questions about government being able to barge in on a family.

My daughter gave it a 6.9 out of 10. She liked the story, once she understood it. The special effects were cool, she said. She said it wasn't funny and the acting wasn't that good (she did a good impression of the Emma character).

Overall, this movie was ok. I would not recommend spending any money on it...wait for the library, if your older kids want to see it. I recommend it for kids 10 years and over.

Who is this guy?

Here is an opinion piece about breastfeeding in public. There is so much so say, I will say nothing.

http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070311/OPINION08/703110306/1109/OPINION

I suppose he is completely unaware that the law protects breastfeeding mothers.

A Politics Quickie

I just want to comment that I don't like the current George Bush. I think it is pretty clear that I am liberal and I could go on for days about all the reasons I think he and his administration are incompetent and a disgrace (how about some family policy? or some good education policy?)

but for today....

Today the Pres is trying to stop Congress from talking to officials on the record and under oath about the recent firings
(in a mom-haze on current news? its ok....http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17717399/)
Why? There is a quick way to make it look like something is fishy...say that you can't talk about it in public. This is not a time for the Republicans to try to look any worse...they have an election to try to win in 2008. Be honest Mr. President, just let us know what happened.

Movie Review

First of all...in our town, one of our movie theater shows free kid movies for about 8 weeks in the fall and again in the spring. Yes, FREE!! Hide your own snacks in your diaper bag, and you're good to go!
Here is the link to this theater chains free movies...http://www.gqti.com/

Although we did try to go to the free show this week, it was sold out (something that rarely occurs...the only other time we experienced this was when they showed Harry Potter). So instead, we ran to the movie store and rented the movie that was showing. We made our living room into a movie theater (put sheets up over the windows, set up a row of seats, made popcorn, our daughter set up a ticket booth). It was fun and our kids got that movie-theater experience, well sort of.

So here's the review...Flushed Away (Dreamworks, 124 minutes)

This is a delightful movie about a pet mouse discovering the real world of rodents in the sewer. Many things happen, but overall he has to save this new world he has come to love from being flushed away from an evil frog (and his hundreds of tadpoles). The animation is great, very colorful and entertaining. The kids loved the action (many big action sequences like any other action film) and the characters. The plot was simple enough for most of us...with a mild love story and themes of family and belonging. However, the best part of the movie is for the parents watching. I didn't count...nor found all of them...the numerous references to pop culture, particularly children's pop culture (kids TV shows, movies, books, characters) as well as some older references (love the Batman jokes!). They are everywhere...be on the look out. Additionally, the music of the film is great...many songs sung by a slew of singing slugs.

Although the DVD extras aren't great (you must watch the preview for the Bee movie!), overall the movie was great. Well, worth the $3 we spent on it. My son likes it so much, he has been sleeping with the DVD.

Birthday Magic

Of course, many people in our lives have birthdays...and we are often asked to celebrate them with them. But it is always a challenge to find that perfect (and economical) gift. Here are some ideas we have used (I think people have liked them...or are at least polite enough to pretend).

*Kid art! Especially for the grandparents! Frame it to make it extra special.

*Photos! Frame them! Or make a collection and burn them to CD (grandparents can make it their screensaver). Make a collage!

*Make them their birthday cake!

*Plan a special day with them.

*Make a great card. Recently, we spelled out "Happy Birthday, Phil!" with our bodies, taking a photo of each letter and then printing and cutting them out OR Spell out the person's name and use each letter to describe them (D is for dancin', A is for adorable....).

*Perform a show!! This is our latest (and oldest tradition) from our family...never leave the house without a leotard and some scarves.

*Make a photo slide show

*Have the kids sing a song

*Lipsync and dance to favorite or funny song

*Write a poem about the person

*Find out what happened the day they were born (for my mom, my dh found out what was happening in the world when she was as old as each of the grandchildren (e.g. when Caryn was as old as Cooper, 1 year, it was 1952...))

*Be creative and create your own traditions (my brother has started a 'make your own birthday treat' the past two years including cake decorating and cookie making).

Circumcision Follow Up

Here is a follow up article to the one from earlier this week on circumcision on msnbc.com

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17520298/

Recipe!!

I know, its been awhile. Here is a great recipe we made last week!
A little taste of Thanksgiving on a weeknight...

Pecan Turkey Patties with Cranberry Sauce
1 package ground turkey (about 1 1/3 lb)
1/4 cup coursely ground toasted pecans (I used my coffee grinder)
1/2 tsp ground sage (or poultry seasoning)
pinch of cumin
salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients. Heat large non-stick skillet on medium. Drizzle a little olive oil in pan. Make small patties (any size you like...I make small ones for the kids and hamburger-size ones for the adults). Place in hot pan. Cook until brown on one side, about 5-7 mins. Flip and cook an additional 5 mins or until browned. Top with cranberry sauce.

*Can serve like burgers with buns, etc., if desired.

Jenna's Cranberry Sauce
1 package cranberries, fresh or frozen
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
2 cinnamon sticks
5-10 whole cloves (put these in a tea ball)
(can also use 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon and 1/4 tsp ground clove)

Put ingredients in medium sauce pan on medium heat. Bring to boil. Once berries start to pop, turn heat off. Allow to cool and thicken (you can smash more berries up with the back of a spoon for smoother sauce).

Kids Music...that parents like

We love music in our house...it is almost always on. We have put together some collections of our favorites to give out to other families and have to play in the car. Here is a list of our latest CD.

WW Kids Collection II
*Just a Girl...No Doubt
*Glory Days...the Incredibles Soundtrack
*Arthur Theme Song...Arthur and Friends
*Get'ch Your Head in the Game...High School Musical
*We are Ants...Ralph Covert
*I Don't Feel Like Dancin'...Scissor Sisters
*No Mirrors in my Nana's House...Sweet Honey in the Rock
*LMNO...They Might Be Giants
*Far Away Cookies...Philadephia Chicken/Caitlin McEwan
*Thomas Theme Song...Thomas the Tank Engine
*William's Doll...Free to Be You and Me
*Somebody to Love...Happy Feet/Brittany Murphy
*Bop to the Top...High School Musical
*Alphabet Lost and Found...They Might Be Giants
*Little Patch of Heaven...Home on the Range/kd Lang
*A Spoonful of Sugar...Mary Poppins/Julie Andrews
*Wouldn't it be Loverly...My Fair Lady/Julie Andrews
*Snuggle Puppy...Philadelphia Chickens/Eric Stolz
*It's Alright to Cry...Free to be You and Me
*Kiss/Heartbreak Hotel...Happy Feet/Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman
*Upside Down...Curious George/Jack Johnson
*The Binky Song...Arthur and Friends
*The Lonely Goatherd...Sound of Music/Harry Connick Jr.
*Rhubard Pie...Laurie Berkner
*Dump Truck...Ralph Covert
*Walk in Jerusalem...Ya-Ya Sisterhood/Mahalia Jackson
*Yodel-Adle-Eedle-Idle-oo....Home on the Range/Randy Quaid

New Name, Same Blog

I finally decided to change the blog name to...

A Mom for All Seasons

The content will remain similar to before...recipes, book and movie reviews, stories about my kids, soapbox forums, news items....

So please check in often!

Jenna

Circumcision Debate

*Soapbox Alert*

On msnbc.com today there was an article about the ongoing debate about circumcision.
Here's the link...http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16776931/

You want my opinion....
Routine newborn circumcision is wrong...yes, ethically wrong. I feel extremely strongly about this. Altering your child's body in any way that is not medically necessary or in concurrence with your practicing religion or culture is wrong. I would include circumcision, ear piercing, cosmetic surgery in this category.

Obviously boys are born with foreskin on their penises...therefore it should be there. Why would you cut if off?

Oh....your son might get more urinary tract infections....if you keep everything clean (including regular diaper changes and bathing), things will be fine. Girls are more likely to get UTI's than uncircumcised boys...what should we do about that? Teach your children to bathe properly.

Oh...your son might get more STD's....not if you teach him about safe sex and how to use a condom. Yes, there are lots of studies that say that uncircumcised men are more likely to contract an STD BUT!!! not if they practice safe sex.

Oh...you or your husband are circumcised and you want your son to look like daddy...your son's penis will not look like yours until he is much older (when you probably won't be showing each other your penises anyways).

Oh...his penis won't look like his friends...with the growing trend to leave boys intact, there will be a variety of penis looks coming up.

I am very concerned that doctors perform this procedure and that health insurance companies pay for it since it is NOT recommended by any medical association (and it costs money). I can't get a mole removed...even though it has higher chances of getting cancer than my son's penis. You won't bring in your daughter and ask to have her pinky toe removed....they would call social services and psych. But bring your son in and ask to have his penis cut and they say sure. It is an ethics question.

My other concern is that parents are making this HUGE decision lightly. Many parents I have talked to say, they never even thought NOT to circumcise. People think it is the norm...and in the US, we lead the world in routine circumcision but why? Parents need to get educated and learn the pro and cons of the issue (and every other parenting issue...one of my big pet peeves). It is not in American culture to circumcise...at least not before the World Wars....only the Jewish and Islamic faith have roots in this practice.

The trends are changing and this is why....many states health insurance programs are no longer paying for the procedure. Therefore, many boys are not being circumcised for this reason. Over time, I predict that a sign of the middle-class will be circumcision. The poor can afford it and the wealthy will be more likely educated against it.

Stepping off...although I will mention that of course my two boys are intact.

Here are some resources...

Circumcision Information and Resource Page

http://www.cirp.org/

Circumcision Resource Center

http://www.circumcision.org/

Smoke Free!!!

I love that my town has gone smoke-free!! Its great!!! I went out to a bar last night to see my husband play in a band and I felt no reason to leave (usually I feel terrible after about an hour in a smokey environment..my throat hurts, asthma kicks in, contacts get foggy). You can eat in a restaurant with the kids and not have to go home and bathe everyone.

I can't really understand why so many people are opposed to this...well, I can, I have heard you all (on the news, letters to the editors, at the city events). If entire states can do it and their economy can be left intact...money loss to bar and restaurant owners being the main arguement...why can't my little town or yours?

Write to your representatives and let your opinion be heard!!! And vote!!

Reading Good...Pizza Bad

Here is a link to an article to on msnbc.com.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17422250/

It talks about the Book It reading program in which children read a certain about of books or minutes and earn a free, personal-sized pizza from Pizza Hut. Many are saying this program encourages childhood obsesity as other say it is great way to encourage reading.

If you have been reading this blog, I think it is clear that I think reading is important, for all ages. And I think any program that gets kids to read is a good thing. I remember participating in this program when I was a kid...hey, Mom, free pizza!! I was excited and wanted to read more to get that pizza (we never got to have Pizza Hut). And now my daughter is participating in the program and she loves it (not that she has to work super hard to reach the goals, she reads every day). At my daughter's school they have to read an average of 15 minutes a day all month.

In the short of it....most kids eat pizza (hey, they serve it every Friday for lunch at school). Why not give the kids and families an opportunity to earn a free pizza by doing something that is great for them...reading.

Milestone!!

Today, my youngest and I have been nursing for 18 months!! (that makes 3 1/2 continuous years for me...plus the year with our oldest...WOW, that's a lot of time from my 10 years of parenthood).

And I love breastfeeding, I will definately be missing something from my life when I eventually stop.

This Week...

What we ate...
Pork Tacos...yummy and made in the crock pot!
Valentine's Food...heart-shaped cranberry scones, heart-shaped pizza, red velvet cheesecake bars, berry smoothies
Baked Pasta with garlic, white sauce
Meatball sandwiches with veggie fries (roasted veggies) and milk shakes (banana smoothies)
Fried Chicken (actually baked) with creamed spinach (used later for omlettes) and baked potatoes
lots of leftovers!

What we read...
the toddler (who is really into puzzles this week)...Dora takes a ride, Beautiful Babies, How many bugs in a box, Peek-A-Pet
the 3 year old...Firefighters in the Dark, K is for Kitten, and working on his own ABC Book*
the 10 year 0ld...working on Harry Potters
the husband...In the Wild (another uplifting book about tragedy in the wilderness)
the mom...still working on Philip Pullman's series...but I will finish within the next 24 hours...please!

*I made a book with large index cards and a large ring clasp. The cover says "Adison's ABC Book". Each page has a letter in upper and lower case (obviously in alphabetical order). Each day, once or twice, we think about words (5-10) to add. We talk about the beginning sound and find the letter (and sound) it begins with. Then we write the word and draw a picture for the word.

Remember to use letter sounds as well as letter names. Just as we teach kids animal noises, we can ask them, what does a D say? This will help them sound out words when they are learning to read.

I did the same thing with my daughter but we put each letter on construction paper and put them up on the wall. We did one letter a day. Later on, we did it again with her writing the letters and words.

Movie Reviews

Baby Einstein
My toddler and preschooler's new addiction is Baby Einstein. I got a video from the library one day...and they loved it. So, I got another. Then, I broke down and bought a DVD. My little one never has really shown any interest in TV but he started bringing the video case to me. He watches it and laughs, points and says words and signs. He dances and claps. My three-year-old loves it too. Besides enjoying it himself, he tells the baby different words to say.

The DVD's and videos consist of series of images including toys, puppets, a variety of colorful oddities (such as those oil and water paperweight-like things), etc. with classical music in the background (perhaps based on the mythical 'beethoven effect'). There are lots of different DVD's focusing on different topics...art, colors, words, languages, animals. The DVD's also include digital flash cards to enhance vocabulary and language. Additionally, the DVD's have a repeat mode so that the DVD will continue to loop.

I try to sit down and watch with them and talk about what they are watching...but it also gives me a bit of time to get dressed, do the dishes, make lunch, or sit and read the news.

Overall, I would recommend them. It is definately a DVD that can foster development and entertain. They are short in length so your child won't be watching TV for hours...even if they watch it twice in a row. The DVD's are about $15 but our library has them on DVD and video ( as well as similar series).

See babyeinstein.com for more information.


Moster House
This Academy Award-nominated film is not for everyone. First of all, simply because it is animated does not mean it is a kiddie movie. I think it would best suit children 8 years and up, based on parents' opinion. In the theater, I think it would have been frightening for many and there are definate adolescent themes . Now, I am a horror movie junkie (not that I watch them with my kids), but I love a good one, on TV especially. And this movie started out like a great horror movie...no joke. Not a surprise from Robert Zemeckis and Steven Spielberg. The music, the symbolism, the mysterious story (very 'twisty-turny' says my 10-year-old). But it fell quite flat. Perhaps, someone stopped them halfway through and said 'this isn't a horror movie, its a kid movie'. The story turned out to be a dud without much meaning or moral (something that seems to be in all children's movies and even most horror movies).

The story is based around a neighborhood haunted house that eats anything they happens upon its lawn. The boy who lives across the street has been studying the house and decides to solve the mystery and save the children of the neighborhood (especially since it is Halloween and trick or treaters will be everywhere soon). However, the mystery of the house isn't very interesting and I didn't see how it was beneficial for my kid to understand. The character development was shallow as well. My daughter mentioned that some characters did not get a good introduction or follow through.

However, the animation is great. The skinny style of the characters is creepy enough to make some characters cute. The voice talents (including Steve Buscemi, Nick Cannon, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Kevin James, Jason Lee, Catherine O'Hara, Fred Willard, and Kathleen Turner) are well done. The run time of 91 minutes is just enough.

We didn't look through the bonus features...since none of them sounded very interesting.

Cars and Kids

Soapbox Alert!!

I read recently in the Chicago Tribune that a woman left her one-year-old in the car while she and her four-year-old ran into a grocery store. What was she thinking? Honestly, I can see the logic, in a way, I'm just running in for milk or whatever, I'll just be five minutes...but besides the fact she brought her other child with her, I wouldn't leave my child unsupervised for more than five minutes in the house...let alone leave her out in the open...out of my sight....in a situation that could easily take twice or three times the amount of time. I don't leave my kids in the car alone...except for about the 30 seconds it might take to put one in and run back to the door to get the other one. And never with the car on. Its not safe...in so many ways.

I think the greatest invention for families is the pay-at-the-pump system at gas stations. Before all the stations had that, the temptation to leave your kid in the car while you ran in to pay was so strong. I can't think of a more dangerous place to leave a child in the car unattended. So, now it is so great that you can gas up the car, pay, and never leave your little ones. Drive-thru windows are also fabulous...especially at the pharmacy and coffee shop.

Besides leaving your kids in the car...my other big pet peeve is not using a car seat. In Illinois, children must be in a car seat up until age 8. It is recommended that they stay in until they are 4ft 9in and at least 80 lbs. We kept our daughter in until she was almost 9...she won't be that tall and that weight for a long time. But she plead with us to get into a regular seat...she wasn't a baby anymore. However, she must sit in the back seat until she is at least 12, in a seat belt. Of course, our other little ones are in car seats. It drives me crazy when I see kids, not only not in car seats, but not even in seat belts! Where are the police? Not only is it physically safest place for the kids but I couldn't handle the kids all over the car. There is enough to deal with while you are driving without having the notion that your kids could (and probably would) move around the car, open the doors, hang out the windows....

Anyways. You have kids...be responsible with them...keep them safe.

Book Recommendation

My three-year-old is very interested in anything with wheels (e.g. trains, cars, trucks) so when we came across David Gordon's books, he fell in love, and so did we.

David Gordon has taken classic fairy tales and set them in the world of vehicles. The stories are classic but with his wonderfully rich illustrations.

Three Little Rigs is like the Three Little Pigs
Hansel and Diesel....Hansel and Gretel
The Ugly Truckling...the Ugly Duckling

If you and your family liked the movie Cars...then check these out.

Restaurant Review: Smokey Bones

I'll be honest, we don't take the whole family out to dinner very often. There have been times, we thought we would have to leave right after ordering...our kids cried the whole time we ate...food was thrown...drinks spilled. In addition to risk of the kids being crazy, it is expensive, and we are on a tight budget. However, our daughter brought home staight A's on her report card and the reward for that is a dinner of her choice. And she chose to go out. Additionally, our 3 year old was great yesterday and took a nap so that he could go (we were not going to risk going out with a crabby kid, so the nap was required). So we tried a new bbq place in town...which also happens to be a national chain, Smokey Bones, barbeque and grill.

Although, not for the vegetarian, the menu has a nice variety of salads, chicken, fish, steaks, burgers and sandwiches, and basic barbeque fare (including pulled pork, brisket, smoked turkey, ribs). My husband had the buffalo burger, which he really enjoyed. I sampled the pork and brisket, which were nice, tender, and delicious. Most meals come with at least one side item of your choice...which include basics like baked beans, cole slaw, mashed potatoes, fries and healthier choices of broccoli, asparagus, collard greens, baked potatoes, and apples. The baked beans were great!

As for the kiddies, the kids' menu, for those under 10 years old, included your basics of mac and cheese, burgers, and chicken fingers but also included the pulled pork, bbq chicken, and a grilled chicken breast. The kids also got to select a side item. And the price ($4.29-4.49) included a drink. My kids ate their selections and really enjoyed them.

Since it was a celebration dinner, my daughter asked to get an appetitizer (something we rarely do). We had the potato slabs (their take on potato skins). They we thin slices of potatoes covered in cheese and bacon. I really liked them and so did the kids, even the picky eater. They were lighter that the traditional potato skin.

Overall, the service was good. We were seated immediately...we were there at 530pm. Most of the booths are large and easily acommodated our family of 5, with room to move. It was a tad slow for our family, since it took awhile for the appetizer to come out but once that happened things were their way and the waitress was very attentive...especially when the baby spilled that large cup of ice water on my lap. And my husband's Coke was refilled at least three times in the hour we were there.

An interesting feature about the restaurant was there are lots of TV to watch. I am not sure whether I like this or not. They seated us near a TV on cartoons (and other families). So my kids watched some TV, while my husband and I caught up on the day. My little ones lost interest once the food came but our 10 year old couldn't focus on the conversation at all (and after all, we were out to celebrate her). I also found myself looking at the TVs while I talked...they were very distracting however I could see how it might be nice if you want to have an adult conversation while out with the kids or there is a big game on while you are at dinner. The kids were also given a kids' menu and crayons to keep them busy.

Overall, it wasn't something terribly unique but still very tasty and reasonably priced (although, with tip, our bill was $50...for 2 adult entrees, 2 kids meals, an appetitizer, and a soda) and very family-friendly. We enjoyed ourselves and would go there again.

For more information, go to www.smokeybones.com

What happened to my children?!

So, something has happened to my children...they are actually being nice, sweet, and cute to each other! Even hugging at times!

Now, its not like me kids hate each other but lately there has been lots of yelling, pushing, and hitting as each of them is finding their position in the household. Last week, we started our Family Fun Night with lots of screaming...culminating with me shouting 'everyone be quiet!'. There has been lots of competition of my attention as well. The boys were just hitting each other all the time...to the point that the baby would flinch or start crying if our 3 yr old got anywhere near him.

So, after lots of talks about 'nice choices', emotions, and even some time-outs, all the sudden, everyone is playing together. My 3 yr old, in particular, is being especially nice. He helped our baby up after he fell and asked him if he was ok. Asked him to play with him (even shared his trains!). Holds hands while walking. Gives hugs and kisses. Says hello and good bye to everyone ('bye buddy!' to his brother in the morning and a 'walk safely' to his sister). When his sister came home from school yesterday he asked her about her day and offered her snack.

It is a nice, warm, fuzzy feeling...let's hope it lasts!

What can you learn?

As we were driving to drop off my son to preschool, my daughter asked me what they do there and if they learn anything. She asked if they had 'class'-type activities. I told her they learn through play. She was terribly confused by this...as are lots of people. Of course, kids (and adults) learn as they play...how do you think they develop!

So, I gave her an example. Imagine reading the Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (a book I have memorized...as have all the children).
Here is a list of things a child can learn while reading it:
*Early literacy...reading is good and fun! as well as parts of a book (e.g. pages, words, letters, title, author, illustrations, plot (beginning, middle, end)
*Science...metamorphesis of a caterpillar into a butterfly, what happens when you eat too much, hunger, moon and sun
*Days of the week
*Names of foods
*Counting
*Size (a very little caterpillar into a big, fat caterpillar)
*Colors
*Fine motor/muscle skills...turning pages, holding a book, pointing at pictures
*Language...ask them questions, identify pictures
*Emotions...how is he feeling at different points of the book
*Spending time with you! and others!
*and more!

Can believe you child can learn that much in ten minutes of reading!!! They learn through everything they do. A classic assignment in teacher education is to make a list of everything a child can learn while playing with blocks (a lot, by the way). Take a minute and think about all the things your little one does and figure out what they are learning. You may then see the great value in your child's preschool or daycare setting when they have lots of play opportunities for the kids (and not so much 'academic time').

Of course, I think cooking and eating with your kids is a great opportunity for development as well!
Here are some ways:
*Science...chemistry, engineering (structure, construction), invention, experimentation, colors, textures, tastes, research skills
*Math...Pattern, addition, subtractions, multipication, division, fractions, spatial relationships, time, budgeting, weights and measures
*Social...family history and traditions, cultural awareness, history, eating and socialization, time management and planning, manners, doing nice things for others, sharing, spending time with others
*Reading
*Sensory...taste, texture, feeling, sight, hearing, temperature
*Hand-eye coordination (mixing, dumping ingredients, kneading, cutting)
*Safety
*Nutrition and diet
*Fun!
*Self-esteem and accomplishment

So cook with your kids more...you may both learning something!

What we are up to...

We have been busy over the past several weeks, this is what we have been doing...

Play things...
Snow! Snow angels, snowmen!
Train table and new trains
Cars and Toy Story toys
Barbie Dream House
New puzzles
Lots of ring-around-the-rosy and hide-and-seek
Family Fun Nights (movies from the library, pizza and ice cream sundaes)

Reading...
the 16 mon old...Time for Bed, Thomas books, Sandra Bonyton books
the 3 yr old...Mickey Mouse books, Polar Express, the Street Sweeper
the 10 yr old...So Be It by Sarah Weeks, The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
the husband...Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston
the mom...James Patterson's Women's Murder Club series (1st to Die, 2nd Chance...), the Golden Compass by Philip Pullman, a couple Robert Parker novels

Eating...
Holiday cookie trays included: Hershey Kiss cookies, Snowmen (made of white chocolate covered nutter butters), Cranberry nut granola, Butterscotch fudge, Chocolate truffles, Pumpkin Bread.
Christmas dinner included: baked ham with spiced cherry sauce, green bean casserole, stuffing.
New Year's Eve dinner included: ribs, baked beans, cole slaw, twice-baked potatoes, bread pudding.

I'm Back!

Gosh, it has been awhile, I know. I hope someone out there is still reading. Honestly, with a toddler now (plus the other kids as well), my computer time has been extremely limited. The baby has a talent for turning the computer off...while the preschooler can find many interesting topics from the help menu. And from Thanksgiving to last week, the time flew by! I can't believe it is a new year already. Anyways. I will try to be back here regularly now.

So...what to talk about? If there is anything you would like to see here, please let me know. You can simply 'comment' on this blog or drop an email to earlychildhoodfun@yahoo.com.

Talk to you all soon.

Ingredient of the month...

Beets!!

What?!?! Yes, beets. They are great. Now a few years ago, I thought of beets as a nasty canned item that some old lady would try to serve me. My husband refused to try them again due to his memories of sitting at the dining table until he ate all of them off his plate. But our local co-op farmer had them on the menu so we tried them.

They are delicious and very good for you! So eat up.

To prepare them you can do a couple of things....for the roots (the red parts)

Burn them!

Yes, throw them on the grill until the skin begins to blacken (similar method to roasting peppers). Then peel the skin off, salt and pepper and enjoy.

Boil them!

Throw into a pot with water and boil until fork tender. Then peel, butter and eat.

Roast them!

Peel and dice. Toss with some olive oil, salt, and pepper. Put into a hot oven (400F) for 30 mins or until fork tender.

Grate them!

Grate them into salads or cole slaw! My grandmother grates them into horseradish at Easter time to symbolize Jesus' blood.

Our favorite way to eat beets...grate beets and place into a steaming basket with a sprig of basil and a couple lemon slices. Place over simmering water with tight fitting lid and steam for five minutes. Remove beets and discard basil and lemon. Mix with a scoop of yogurt and drizzle of honey with some salt and pepper to taste. Great hot or cold. The kids love this one! Even the baby (do not give honey to children under 1 year old!).

For the greens...

You can prepare them as any other dark green...so steam them or chop up and mix into soups or stir fries.

For more information on beets, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beets

Ingredient of the month...

Apples!!

Its finally fall and nothing makes us feel like fall then apples! Going to the local orchard and picking them off the trees and tasting all different varieties. Now, we eat apples year-round but we feel like eating them more in the fall months.

What to do with them? What NOT to do with them!!

Eat them plain! Or slice up and eat with cheese or peanut butter.

Apple Crisp!

Slice up some apples thinly with the skin on--enough to fill an 8x8 pan. Top with your favorite crisp topping and bake. Use canned biscuits or oatmeal cookie dough. Our favorite is a mix of 1/2 whole wheat flour, 1 cup oatmeal, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup smashed almonds, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp each of ginger, nutmeg, ground cloves, and allspice. Cut in 4-6 tablespoons butter. Bake 30-45 mins until browned and bubbley.

Slice and add to sandwiches. Turkey or ham and apples is yummy.

Add to salads.

Make an apple salad--dice apples and combine with pineapple, peanuts, and yogurt! or grate with carrots, dried cranberries, and a poppyseed dressing.

Add to muffins or breads.

Add to soups.

Butternut Squash and Apple soup! Sautee an onion, two carrots, some celery, one butternut squash, and a couple apples, 6 cups chicken stock, cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Cook until squash is tender and puree.

Slice and sautee (a little butter, brown sugar, and spices). Add to sweet potatoes, waffles, pancakes, french toast, carrots, pork chops, or serve alone.

Enjoy fall and its fruits!!

Birthday Season

Twice a year, we have Birthday Season. In the fall, my kids' birthdays fall within six weeks of each other and my husband's and my half-birthdays are mixed in there. In the spring, my husband's and my birthdays come up and the kids' half-birthdays. What are half-birthdays, you ask? My husband's family started to celebrate their half-birthdays (six months past your actual birthday) because a year is too long for a little kid to wait for that special day. We have half of a cake and sing half of Happy Birthday. It is a great idea until you are still forcing your wife to plan a big celebration in your twenties or your child doesn't understand why no one at school is wishing her Happy Half Birthday.

Anyways....because of this season, we end of eating cake for six weeks. In many ways, we enjoy this. But as we are trying to keep off that baby weight (or loosing it, darling hubby)...it takes great restraint.

Each person gets to pick what kind of cake they want. 9.5 times out of 10, its chocolate cake. So, below is my standard cake recipe. Everyone picks different fillings and icings but the cake is usually the same. Once in awhile we throw in carrot cake (for the baby's first birthday, he likes carrots) or a cheesecake.

I also let the kids pick their theme...Toy Story, Bugs Life, Hungry Little Caterpillar, Princesses. Decorating cakes is really easy. Just be imaginative and creative. Use some ziplocks as piping bags. Color frosting to any color you want. And use small toys as cake toppers. Recently, I made a cake for my niece using small rounds a cake on top of each other to create Rapunzel's tower.

Enjoy!

WW Birthday Chocolate Cake

2 cup sugar
1 ¾ cup flour
¾ cup cocoa
1 ½ tsp baking powder
1 ½ tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
½ cup vegetable oil
2 tsp vanilla
1 cup hot water

Combine dry ingredients in large bowl. Add remaining ingredients except water. Mix for 2 minutes. Add water. Mix until well incorporated. Pour into 2 greased, and parchment-lined circle pans. Bake 30 minutes on 350oF. Cool and frost.

Chocolate Ganache Filling

1 cup heavy cream
1 cup chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla

Combine cream and chocolate in microwave-safe bowl. Heat in microwave for 1 min. Stir, repeat until chocolate is melted. Stir in vanilla. Chill one hour or until thick. (Add a layer of raspberries! my hubby's fav!) Can add any extract or liqueur to change flavor.

Chocolate Frosting

3 cup powdered sugar
2/3 cup cocoa
½ cup butter, softened
5-6 tbls milk
1 tsp vanilla

Combine cocoa, butter, about half sugar. Add remaining sugar and milk alternately. Add vanilla.

White Frosting

1/3 cup water
2 tbls meringue powder
½ cup plus 1 tbls butter, softened or shortening
6 cup powdered sugar
¼ tsp salt
½ tsp vanilla
¼ tsp almond extract

Combine water and meringue powder. Whip until soft peaks form. Add 2 cups sugar. Add butter and remaining sugar alternately. Add salt and flavorings.
Can be easily colored and great for piping.

Little Things

Its been a stressful and busy week, so here are some little things to get you through.

*My daughter's art teacher was named the Teacher of the Year for the state of Illinois today! She is a fabulous teacher and person. We love her and we are so glad that she was recognized for her outstanding dedication to our kids and community.
Check out the story at:
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2006/09/14/washington_school_teacher_named_illinois_top_educator


My husband is hilarious! Now he doesn't cook, really at all. So, when he was in charge of dinner...he lost track of things. He was making breaded chicken fillets (the pre-packaged, just heat and eat kind). When I got home I noticed that the oven was off and there was no chicken to be seen. I assumed he just didn't make them. So we were sitting down to eat--I somehow ended up serving, my daughter asks where the chicken is. The look on my husband's face was priceless. Then he explains...well I put them in the oven and set the timer for 17 mins. But he apparently completely forgot what was happening and when he went back in the kitchen, he noticed the oven on and turned it off (I don't know, thinking I left it on before I went out to run??). When the timer went off later, he simply turned it off and completely forgot he was baking the chicken in the oven. It still makes me laugh thinking about it.

**Our baby is officially walking! and into everything possible!

**Our almost 3-year-old started preschool and loves it so much he wants to go all the time--especially after dinner and on weekends. Just wait until he is a teenager and I have to bribe him to go.

**Our almost 10-year-old had artwork selected to be copied onto a tile for the wall of the new pediatric wing of the hospital. It is very special (and super cool of the hospital to think of including local, children's artwork as a permanent feature!).

This Week...

What we ate...
Pot Roast (in the crock pot) with roasted potatoes and acorn squash
Meatloaf with brown rice and veggies
Pasta Primavera
Smoothies (hubby's on the Abs Diet that includes lots of smoothie recipes)
Dove Bars!
Apple Crisp
Whole wheat french toast
Cheesy scrambled eggs with hash browns with peppers and onions
Lots of leftovers! (the pot roast and meatloaf fed us for days!)
Carrot Cake (baby's 1st bday!!)
Pumpkin Bread

What we read...
the baby...really into Baby Sign books, Five Little Ladybugs, the Eency Weency Spider
the 2-yr-old...Berenstein Bears Get into a Fight, Green Eggs and Ham, Look and Find Books
the 9-yr-old...Bone: Out from Boneville
the mom...4% Famous (a new book and I have yet to see a plot develop and I am 100 pages in...I don't even know why I am reading it still)

Baby Weight

First of all, I would like to give my love and support to anyone trying to loose weight and/or get into better physical shape. It is a hard thing to do.

Secondly, I would like to share that I am finally back to my pre-baby weight (pre-my 3 year old weight). Although I think our stomach flu of last week helped me get there...

I was very young when I was pregnant the first time and only gained about 25 pounds. I lost it right away...didn't even think about it. Second baby...gained a lot. I decided to be pregnant as much as possible and ate anything I wanted, didn't exercise....I gained almost 40 pounds (I know many people think that is nothing but consider I am only 4 ft 11 inches tall and normally weigh about 118 lbs). With that pregnancy, I had back pain all the time and swelled up like a whale. After losing the initial chunk (e.g. the baby and fluids), I didn't loose much weight at all (I kept a good 5 lbs on in the end). So, we decided to have another kid instead of trying to loose the weight.

Now 3rd time around...I gained about 30 lbs, exercised (up until the day before delivery), and ate better. I thought... I feel great, I look great. I will loose this weight in a snap--I'll be nursing (not that I stopped) and running around after three kids now. And I did loose the initial 20 lbs by my 2 week check up...and didn't loose another pound for 4 months.

What did I do? Besides sweeping away any depression about my weight (couldn't hear or see another celebrity mom who lost all her weight in a week--with the help of nannies, personal trainers, and chefs--did any of those women breastfeed?) and refusing to buy new clothes to accommodate my new size...I started taking classes at the gym (the same gym I had been going to all along and just using the cardio machines--the same gym we picked because of the classes we had never been to). The first class...cardiokickboxing was awful, I thought I would die. The second class..step was terrible, I was just waiting to fall on my face. Then, I did a core class. This is great! Then I persisted on the kickboxing class. I ended up going to the class 2-3 days a week. I have kept this up for 10 months! I love it!

I also tried to watch my diet. Just more fruits and veggies--eating the rest of the baby food doesn't count. I cut out all beverages during the day and drank only water--I allow one small glass of juice and one of milk and an ocassional cup of decaf coffee (I used to down cranberry juice like my life depended on it). I don't drink soda anyways.

I also frequented a Breastfeeding and Weight Loss message board (at ivillage.com). This is a great help. There are other women who don't bounce back in six weeks or even six months either.

Finally, the pounds trickled off. And one year later, I finally lost that extra 13 pounds (that's about a pound a month). So, I lost the weight and can I say my jeans are even a bit baggy! (know that I still have a nice, soft belly there) More than the weight, I am in good shape. This means I can play harder with my kids and be a great example of good health for them.

Sick again

Well, we went through it this week. My daughter came home after visiting her various grandparents sick. Not just tired and crabby from too much fun and spoiling from the grandparents...but throwing up sick. We figured she was exhausted, motion sickness or maybe even food poisining. She was fine the next day and even the next. But that night, it started again and it wasn't pretty. After about 4 hours of vomitting and other things (not all making it to the bathroom), it was over. She was better the next day--tired, dehydrated, and afraid to eat in case she had to get sick again...but better. Great, that was over.

Then I got it. Thankfully, I got the younger two to bed easily and finished my PTA stuff for the coming first day of school before it hit. My husband was out at fire fighting training, out of reach so if the boys woke up, I don't know what I would have done. For over 6 hours I was in the bathroom. I slept on the couch, sitting up...close to the bathroom and far away from anyone else. My husband brought the baby down a couple times to nurse. But I figured that our daughter was sick for 4 hours so I should be done soon, right? And I did feel a bit better the next day--exhausted but better. But my husband came down at 6am that morning to take his turn. Now I had only not thrown up for 3 hours and a terrible sense of anxiousness came over me.

If my husband and I were both sick...I mean really sick like this, who was going to take care of the children? Crap!! What were we going to do? Most of our friends were out of town or working and we didn't want to send our possibly infected children to anyone else's house with little ones. Should we call in the reinforcements (e.g. the parents)? Unfortunately, my mom who had been babysitting the kids while we were out of town had caught the same bug and was sick, sick, sick too. There is a crisis nursery in town that we could have used if necessary. But I was feeling better, enough to take care of the kids. And then my husband felt better (only 3 hours of real sickness for him). So we took turns napping and taking care of the kids.

Then all was well. Well, the dishes and garbage piled up (a lot) and we watched a lot more TV than usual. We fed the kids whatever they wanted (out of the meager supply we had). My husband felt better fast and was running errands (e.g. more saltines or powerade, anyone?), he threw in some laundry and a load in the dishwasher. I made up a batch of cherry jello and another of vanilla pudding. And we were all set...then I started getting sick again. Of course Mom gets the sickiest--probably because I had the least amount of time to really devote to getting better (I still had to nurse and take care of people, my husband can nap anywhere anytime).

It feels like it will never end---my kids will never eat a real meal again (I couldn't even watch Food Network, I was so nauseous), the sink will never be empty, I will spend the rest of my life in the bathroom--our one, tiny bathroom.

But alas, it did end (at least I hope so, the little ones haven't gotten it). I finally woke up this morning and felt completely different, anew. I could eat. I could play with the kids. We had an actual meal together tonight. It was only a few days but having three of us sick in the house (including the two adults) was a big blow. I feel like we should set up some kind of plan in case, god forbid, it should ever happen again. At least a sickie food stash and unwatched dvd's.

I hope none of you get sick like us--at least not at the same time.

This Week...

What we ate this week...
Teriyaki Pork Tenderloin and baked potatoes with mixed veggies
Hash Browns (using the leftover potatoes) and cheesy scrambled eggs
Taco Pizza (see below)
the Big Salad
New Barilla Plus pasta with tomato sauce
Homemade Mac and Cheese (with new pasta)
a yummy dinner at a wedding reception
lots of PB and J's (with natural PB and all-fruit J, of course)
Raisin Bran and Cheerios
Carrot, Apple, Kale Puree (for the baby)
Udon noodles with tofu and veggies
Tabouleh salad

What we read this week...
the baby...animal board book, Maisy Takes a Bath
the 2-yr-old...Buzz and the Bubble Planet, My Truck is Stuck
the 9-yr-old...American Girl Books
the mom...People and Parenting Magazine, newspaper (no books, I know...bad, bad)


I grew up in Chicagoland, so it is given that I like pizza. This was a problem with I decided to give up cheese to help with the baby's reflux. Now that I don't live in Chicago any more, it is hardly worth it to order pizza (too expensive for sub-par food). So we often make our own...plus its a great use for leftovers.

What we do...

Crusts

Crackers, tortillas, toast, store-bought crusts, homemade crust (sorry, I haven't found a recipe I like enough to pass on)

Toppings...

Leftover chicken, bbq sauce, onions, jack cheese

Ground meat, black beans, leftover pasta sauce with a splash of taco sauce, cheese, lettuce, avocado, tomatoes (last 3 add after baking)

Any leftover or fresh veggies

Ham and pineapple (a great use for that Easter ham)

*The kids like to make their own pizzas (torillas are the perfect size for that)!

A Working Vacation

Remember when you were a kid and vacation was the coolest time of the year? You would play until you dropped, ate junk food until you felt sick, got sun-burned, drove for hours and hours at a time?

Who made those priceless, childhood memories possible? Your hard-working parents.

We are on vacation this week in Wisconsin. We are here at my parents' house with my parents, brother, and niece. When I was a kid, we used to come up to Wisconsin all the time with my cousins, aunt, uncles, and dogs as well. It was a blast when we were kids. I have very vivid memories of all the fun. I don't remember the 8-hour drive. I don't remember my parents cleaning up all the time or scrambling to keep us entertained and somewhat clean and rested. I don't remember what my parents did at all actually. Probably because they were busy being thoroughly exhausted.

Honestly, I was ready to go home before we even left Illinois. We had come up early and stayed at my parents' regular house for two days before heading up. So with a teething baby, a moody two-year-old, and a overtired nine-year-old, we were done after that. But we got in the car and did it. The ride was actually ok. The baby only screamed for probably an hour or so (reaching his hands out to me with a look to break my heart). I didn't get car sick--a usual occurance. My map-loving brother navigated us passed a terrible traffic jam. Our two-year-old actually ate lunch when we stopped. So all is well. But what makes you so tired while driving. We were just sitting and talking for 6 hours.

I know why I was. It is hard to entertain two kids for that long. I used every toy I brought and found in the car, plus anything else babysafe I could find. Fed them animal crackers, teddy grahams, juice, water. Sang songs, played peek-a-boo, read books. Let the baby poke me in the eye--since it made him laugh. Tickled them, carassed them, ignored them. Finally, we made it.

Then we had to make sure they safely explored the new place. Remembering if everyone ate, slept, has clean clothes. Are the doors locked? Did the baby eat the dog food? Are the cousins fighting again? Why won't the two-year-old wear a lifejacket? Where is the three-year-old?

It is just so much work to go on vacation with the whole family. My husband and I just want to sleep, really. My mom keeps asking me what I want to do this week...and I reply 'nothing'. I just want to relax a bit. So we are trying to relax and have fun--in between the overtired tantrums, dehydrated kids, and wet dogs.

At least we are with family...the kids will love that they got to go on vacation with their cousins, uncles, aunts, and grandparents. It will build loving relationships for life. Just as our parents did for us. It is worth it in the end (I am close to all my eighty-plus family members who we still vacation with regularly).

But my husband and I are thankfully going out of town next weekend without the kids. Its to a wedding but I'll take the excuse to go overnight without the darlings. Its our vacation from the vacation.

Ingredient of the month...

Well, its time for INGREDIENT of the MONTH!!!!

Ground Turkey

This is our family's new favorite thing. We use it all the time. You can easily replace ground turkey in any recipe that calls for ground beef. It is leaner than beef as well. It can be more expensive than ground sirloin (our usual beef of choice) but if you catch it on sale and stock up...it is about the same price.

Turkey burgers are good as well. It won't taste just like beef but it is yummy nonetheless.

Turkey Chili

1 package ground turkey

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

1 sweet pepper, chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 large carrot, chopped

1 4 oz can diced green chilies

1 15 oz can of tomatoes

1 15 oz can beans, whatever you like

1 15 oz can of chicken or beef broth

1-3 tablespoons worcestershire sauce

1-3 teaspoons chili powder

salt and pepper to taste

In a large, deep skillet or pot, heat pan and add oil. Add turkey and brown. Add veggies and cook 5 minutes. Add a pinch of salt and pepper. Add chilies, tomatoes, beans, chili powder, and worcestershire sauce. Cook 3 minutes. Add broth. Bring to boil. Once to a boil, cover and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook 10 minutes. Add extra water to make desired consistency. Add salt and pepper to taste.

I usually make this in the morning when I have a bit of time and then stick it in the frig. This allows the favors to meld better. Also, serve any leftovers over grilled hot dogs with cheese and onions.

This Week...

What we ate this week...
Pork Chops with Gorgonzola and Pears (yummy and fast!!)--recipe below
Thai takeout
Turkey Chili Mac and Corn Muffins (the kids made this dinner)
Sweet and Sour Beef (crockpot meal)
Hot Ham and Cheese Sandwiches
Grilled Salmon
Pasta with Tomato Sauce

Whole Wheat French Toast

Lots of Salad and fresh veggies and fruit

What we read this week...
The baby...Hey! Wake Up! Winnie the Pooh Collection (ok, he ate these books)
The 2 -year-old...Monster Muffins, Elmo's Counting Game, What Bounces?
The 9-year-old...Babysitter's Club, Nickeloden Magazine
The Mom...A Simple Plan by Scott Smith (this was great!) and Parenting and People Magazines

Pork Chops with Gorgonzola and Pears
Source: Better Homes and Gardens, July 2006
Prep: 10 minutesCook: 20 minutes

Ingredients
4 pork rib chops, cut 3/4 to 1 inch thick
Sea salt, kosher salt, or salt
2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 medium ripe pears, peeled, cored; each pear cut into 8 wedges
2 Tbsp. butter
1/4 cup dry white wine or apple juice
1/4 cup whipping cream
8 oz. creamy Gorgonzola or blue cheese, cut up
Freshly ground black pepper
Additional Gorgonzola cheese, cut into chunks (optional)

Directions
1. Sprinkle pork chops with salt. In a 12-inch skillet cook pork chops in hot oil over medium heat for 5 minutes. Turn chops and cook 5 minutes more or until browned and juices run clear (160 degrees F). Transfer chops to a serving platter. Drain fat from skillet.
2. In same skillet cook pear wedges in butter over medium-high heat for 5 minutes or until browned, turning once. Add pears to platter.
3. For sauce, add wine and cream to skillet. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Boil gently, uncovered, 1 to 2 minutes until slightly thickened. Add the 8 ounces Gorgonzola; whisk until cheese is almost melted. Remove from heat. Serve with pork and pears. Sprinkle with pepper; serve with additional cheese. Makes 4 servings.

Breast is Best

SOAP BOX ALERT!!!

Ok, I didn't really think so but I am becoming a bit of a Breastfeeding Nazi. I was breastfed and I breastfeed my kids. Almost all the women in my family have breastfed their children as well. I didn't even debate it when I had my kids. I honestly don't think there is a debate...breastfeeding is the best choice.

We are mammals...because we feed our young with our own milk. Women are made it do this...this is the purpose of breasts (sorry, it is not to make sex more fun). Babies were made to eat it. And humans have been doing it since the creation of humans. Formula wasn't invented until 1867 (by Nestle)!

Now, I understand that their is a small, very small percentage of mothers that truly cannot breastfeed. And since their is an alternative to breastfeeding, it is a woman's choice. But I am amazed that only about 65% of mothers leave the hospital breastfeeding and by six months only about 30% and only 10% at one year*. Now, the American Academy of Pediatrics** recommends breastfeeding for 2 years and in most cultures where children are allowed to nurse as long as they want or need to, they usually self-wean between 3-4 years--yes, YEARS!

And breastfeeding in public...now there's an issue. In most states, 41, women and children are protected by law to nurse in public. And if a public place denies a woman and nursling this right...you will probably hear about in the news (recently Target and Victoria's Secret). Of course I nurse in public. I am as discret as possible and most of the time people don't even know it has happened. But if you look over and notice...so what. Baby's gotta eat. Or would you rather he scream in hunger.

Extended breastfeeding (typically nursing after 1 year)...ya, I do that too. My first baby...13 months. Second baby...20 months. Third baby..going on 11 months. Besides continued nutritional benefits, the emotional benefits are great.

Nursing while pregnant...did that too. Yes, it is safe (as long as you take care of yourself).

Breastfeeding and the Media...in the news, both sides of the debate are well-represented. In entertainment...very poor. This includes shows about babies (such as TLC's Bringing Home Baby). Where did my kids learn that babies eat from bottles? Not at home. If you can see women's breasts almost falling out of their shirts, you can show mothers nursing their babies (which doesn't show any of the breast, in most cases). The most recent media blitz has been the cover of the August issue of BabyTalk. (see http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14065706/).

Overall, I think breastfeeding is great. It works fabulously for our family. I had great support, education, and resources. Sometimes, breastfeeding takes some real work and can be frustrating and painful. So, if you are going to breastfeed, go out there and find some support (most hospitals have a lacation consultant on-call (We love the Carle Hospital Breastfeeding Clinic!!), join La Leche League (lalecheleague.org) or just call the leader for advice, find some other breastfeeding moms (either in person or online--ivillage.com has a great set of breastfeeding message boards).

Why We Love Breastfeeding...
Its the best and most natural nutrition for my baby.
It is so easy and convienent.
Its free!
It guarantees me individual time with my nursling.
It makes me sit down for 10 minutes every two hours.
It keeps my breasts to a C-cup (ok, this is my husband's addition).


Resources
*Kelly Mom
www.kellymom.com
A great breastfeeding website! Tons of information and support!

**American Academy of Pediatrics
http://www.aap.org/healthtopics/breastfeeding.cfm

Oh Poop!

You know that you are a true parent if you talk about poop on a regular basis.

And I am a parent so...

our two-year-old finally went poop on the potty! This is a big moment in life. He has been working on potty training for months. He has total control over his bladder and bowels. He runs around naked most of the time with no accidents but he resisted using the toilet for bowel movements. So much that has become chronically constipated--requiring daily doses of milk of magnesia. When he needs to poop, he would ask (or plead) for a diaper. But yesterday, we simply didn't have any diapers. We went and bought some Buzz Lightyear pull-ups but he refused to wear them. So he had no choice but the potty left. It took him several tries but he finally did it. He was so proud. We hope that is the turning point in potty training. He still won't wear underwear--he prefers to be nakey. But one step at time.

Summer Changes

This summer has been a challenge as a parent. Overall, I am exhausted but I have to find the energy and strength to continue on from day to day. What has changed the past six weeks?

Well, not much overall. But, school is out. My nine-year-old is home...all day...every day. I never realized how much she was gone at school and her other activities. Don't get me wrong, I love my daughter and overall she is a delightful person. But, I realized that having her home all the time changes the vibe and routine in the house. My usual quiet time while the boys are napping is gone. I have to divide my attention throughout the day in thirds. And the girl has got to eat! This has been a very unexpected change--not that she eats, I knew that, but the amount of food and expense was a surprise. During the school year, my daughter eats two of her three daily meals at school. And we only pay 70 cents a day for her to do so. Can you believe that?! I have tried to figure out how to do that at home, and it is impossible...so thank you school district for finding a way to nutritionally and economically feed our children. So our grocery bill has gone up a bit and I find myself having to go to the grocery store weekly (I used to make a 'big' trip every other week, and a produce and milk run once a week).

Speaking of eating...the baby is eating more food now too. Don't worry...he still nurses ten times a day (that is not hyperbole). Having all three kids home and eating has been good for our schedule. It makes us all eat, together, three times a day. This has been especially good for our picky, snacky two-year-old. He sees his sibs eating and thinks maybe its a good idea.

Speaking of the two-year-old...this summer has been the summer of transition for him. Potty training, pacifier weaning, juice reduction. And he decided to cash in on his last few months of being two...temper tantrums! Lots of them!

And the baby is crawling and learning to walk....

My husband is trying to find a new job....

And I am trying to keep us all under control.

Ingredient of the month...

This month...I love GOAT CHEESE!

This is a great ingredient that is relatively affordable and makes you feel like you are eating adult food again! And everyone will think you are a fancy chef.

At our local farmer's market sells some great stuff! But it is available in most grocery stores.

Here is how we use it...
*Add to tomato soup!

*Top it on burgers! or steaks! with mushrooms and onions!

*Mix into salads!

*Make a turkey, apple, cranberry, goat cheese quesadilla!

*Top puff pastry with goat cheese and sliced apples, drizzle with olive oil and bake 10 mins!

*Mix with dried cranberries and a drizzle of honey and spread on crackers or bread!

*Mix in pasta with sundried tomatoes and garlic!

*Smear on portabello mushrooms, sprinkle with bread crumbs and broil 5 mins!

The possibilities are endless!!! Enjoy!

What I've been doing...

This is part of my new format...this will give you a quick idea of what our family has done each week. Additionally, I will write journal-type entries.


What we have been eating...
Many of these meal recipes are or will be posted on this site.
*Thai Chicken Pizza (so yummy!)
*BBQ Tofu/Tempeh in wheat tortilllas
*Pasta with artichokes, mushrooms, and spinach (yum!) and big salad
*Homemade macaroni and cheese, grilled hot dogs, and mixed veggies with spices
*BBQ chicken sandwiches, baked red potatoes, peas
*Turkey Meatball Sandwiches
*Peanut Stir Fry with Noodles and Chicken
*the Big Salad

*the famous 'Leftovers!'

What we have been reading...

the baby--Baby Sign books, Maisy's train, Goodnight Moon

the 2 year old--How I Became a Pirate, Tarzan, The Very Busy Spider, The Very Quiet Cricket, 10 Hungry Monsters

the 9 year old--Harry Potter 4:GOF, Ella Enchanted

the Mom--Blindness by Jose Saramago (this is a great book! and it would have been even better had I had all my brain cells back intact. it is a bit difficult at times but really thought-provoking (remember when you thought about something besides poop)); Double Whammy by Carl Hiaasan (great, fun read).

What have we been watching...

BabyFirst TV (babyfirsttv.com)

(we got a month-long preview on our service). It is really great. The 'shows' are about 3-5 minutes each and are developmentally-appropriate. Our baby didn't really care about it but our 2-year-old loved it. He was very interactive with the programs.

So You Think You Can Dance (Fox)

My daughter and I like to watch. We have never really watched American Idol or anything, so this is our first show that we are getting into it all. No, we haven't voted for our favorite yet (and probably won't). Its good summer fun.

Rent

Got it from the library, of course. I haven't seen the stage show (but I have seen La Boehme) but I really liked this movie. The music is great and the cast (mostly the originals from Broadway) are great.

Pirates of the Caribbean 2

Search for the lost editor...it is WAY too long. Its all pirate action and its all good. Johnny Depp is great and I could easily be persuaded to watch Orlando Bloom for two hours. My nine-year-old liked it too but was scared at certain parts. The plot confused her a bit as well. If you liked the first one...and plan on seeing the third...head on out.

Cars

This was a good one--of course Pixar can't miss. Of course my two-year-old son loved it (and told his toy Lightning McQueen that he was home when the movie started). I thought is was a bit long (2 hours) and slow at times and right now the least favorite of the Pixar collection (but I am sure it will grow on me once my sons have requested to watch the DVD a hundred times).

New Directions

So, I have been trying to become a master 'blogger', rather unsuccessfully. I intended to use this blog to express my feelings and experiences about early childhood and parenting, including how I get through my daily life of a mother of three kids (e.g. recipes and activities). But...because I am a mother of three kids, I have been having a difficult time finding the time and energy to blog.

But rest assure, I have not given up. I have decided to use a slightly different format (and fancy new layout). Additionally, one thing that has bothered me about blogging is the lack of interactions with my readers. So, please email me or comment on the blog. If you are reading this, let me know what you think...any questions...want a recipe for something...what to share a recipe....

Please keep coming back. I really am determined to update the site weekly...I promise...at least for now.

Enjoy!

Wake Up!

So, our lives are so busy and our schedules are so full that I seem to run on autopilot. The routine that I have established in the house runs itself each day, seven days a week.... This routine is good. Kids thrive on routine--don't we all. They can predict what is going to happen next and find comfort in knowing what is going on in this crazy world they live in. Also, routines set your biological clock and allows one to sleep (or want to sleep) at regular intervals and eat in a sensible manner. Parents loves this as they can predict when their kids eat and sleep and thus can plan activities.

However, this continual routine can also be bad. It runs, and runs, and runs, and then all the sudden a month has gone by...or a year. What happened? The days run together and you find yourself in continuous motion--working only to maintain this routine. And you've been eating the same ten meals for the past three months. And it is exhausting.

What actually made me think about this was a song on the car radio--actually one of my husband's countless mixed CDs. It said--with a great dance beat--"Wake up! You're asleep at the wheel!" And indeed sometimes this is how I feel. I wake up and 'drive around' without even aware of what I am doing--nurse, change diapers, pour bowls of cereal and cups of juice, throw in some laundry......and on and on. I even find myself driving certain places without much thought--I have actually driven to a place and realized I had no real reason to be there, I simply automatically drove there.

So, I have decided to 'wake up'! Yes, I still have to 'drive'. Kids have to eat, play, and be cleaned--so do I. And a basic routine is still a good thing. But we can make things fun and interesting. Change things up! Stop and watch the kids laugh and dance, instead of taking the opportunity to finish the dishes. We can go to the park--even though lunch is supposed to be in 30 minutes. Take the time to enjoy breakfast with the kids and not be thinking two meals ahead. Take a bath or shower with the kids--with bubbles!

And to this end...here's some quick 'wake ups' for regular recipes (basically by adding fresh herbs and favors).

Mint and Lemon Peas
Frozen or fresh peas, cooked
Lemon zest
Fresh mint, finely chopped
Salt and Pepper

Make peas like usual. Add lemon zest and mint. Enojy. (good cold as well!).

Crunchy Green Beans
Frozen or fresh green beans
Dried cranberries
Roasted almonds, chopped

Cook beans like usual. Add handful of berried and almonds.

Chili Corn
Canned, frozen, or corn on the cob
Butter
Chili powder
Lime zest
Salt and Pepper

Cook corn like usual. Add butter, salt, and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with chili powder and lime zest.

Books are Back

Yes, I am still here. Sorry. We have been so busy this month...including a great vacation to Colorado. Travelling with the kids is so exhausting but the kids and even I had a great time visiting family, friends, and nature. Then we just have all these things on our calendar. Crazy! So is the life of a family. I can only imagine what it will be like when the kids are in jr. high and high school!!!

Anyways. I wanted to at the very least recommend some more reading--I know we all have tons of extra time to sit down and read, right?! Actually, I read at least 15 mins or one chapter before I go to bed each night unless its super late or I am super exhausted. I just finished R is for Ricochet by Sue Grafton and have Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code on my shelf.

The Tao of Poop by Vivian Elizabeth Glyck
This is a funny and interesting book for new and vetern moms alike. Read the whole first chapter before making a judgement. Besides including her personal experience as well as other parents, each chapter includes 'sanity savers' and 'thought exercises'. These give you some things to help out and think about your life.

Belly Laughs by Jenny McCarthy
This book is the first in a now series of books by the comedienne. It is a funny reflection of her own pregnancy including all the things that other books don't really mention including the unpleasantness of pregnancy and weight gain and loss. Its a fun read for vetern moms and a reality check for new ones.

The Breastfeeding Cafe: Mothers Share the Joys, Challenges, and Secrets of Nursing by Barbara Berhmann
This is a fabulous collection of stories from breastfeeding parents all over the nation. You'll laugh, you'll cry...what could be better?! A great book for all nursing moms.

The Complete Book of Breastfeeding by Marvin Eiger andSally Wendkos Olds
This is the breastfeeding reference book I own. (Yes, I do occasionally purchase a book). Besides all the usual info, there is a drug list for nursing moms and a great reference section.

Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
No, this is not a parenting book but its a great book to read with your child--age 9-15 years. I love Hiaasen's books and he has two young readers' books. This is a great book. My daughter and I really liked it. There is a movie that was recently released based on the book--although I have yet to see it.

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
Ok, I haven't read it yet but...this is our first summer read-together book with my daughter. There is also a fabulous movie based on this one. I'll let you know how it is.

What my 2-year-old is reading right now...Sesame Street Magazines, Maisy's Train, Arthur's Valentine Countdown

What my 9-month-old is reading right now...The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Good Night Moon, Barnyard Dance