A Mom Thing

From pre-school to dormitory in 30 seconds?

There are some things you learn just by living it.  No matter what anyone tells you ... you either don't believe it or don't understand it.

• A perfect kiss.

• Your first crush.

• Early death.

• A hangover.

• Kids.  Definitely kids.

I feel like it was just yesterday that I was changing diapers and warming bottles.  Maybe the day after yesterday that I was serving real first foods, doing playgroups and sitting on the floor playing games over and over.

And now. Suddenly. It's tomorrow.  They went from pre-school to dormitory overnight it seems.

On the down side, there are the twisted dirty clothes on the floor and unmade meds....the rolled eyes, constant wrestling matches, shared clothes and a line for the shower in the morning. 

On the up side, there are huge senses of humor, really interesting people and oftentimes helpers. There is a constant source of entertainment and friendship and professions of love. 

There are countless loaves of bread and jars of peanut butter. Constant hunger and dishes.  

Amazingly, there are little people who actually prefer to watch Mythbusters or Discovery channel than cartoons.  They'd really rather PLAY tennis than watch it or play it on a computer.

We just started sharing books?

When did all this happen?  I have NOT been asleep at the wheel.  I've been THERE. IN IT.  Every step of the way.  Yet...still...today...I'm shocked that yesterday is suddenly tomorrow.

Author's Note:  My kids are STILL young. 7, 9 and 10.  But they've made that indescribable move from child to whatever comes before adult.   It amazes me.   And today makes me a little sentimental. 

Donde Esta La Flauta?

 

We are lucky enough to have someone come help us clean the house a couple times a month. With BFH (big fat house) and Dog, it's really a huge help.

She is amazing.  She has near superhuman cleaning powers.  The only thing about her ... and really ... I'm NOT complaining (well, not really)... is that she moves (hides) things. 

She uber-organizes so much that you rarely can find items.  I typically leave the blockbuster movies or library books on the ledge near the door so I remember to take them back...but if I leave them when She comes...they will be re-organized (disappeared).  I try to do all the laundry before she comes (and fold it and put it away) or else my socks will be gone forever.  Really...still NOT complaining.

Anyway. The kids have come to blame everything on Her.  Whenever they can't find anything, it MUST be Her.  On the flip side, whenever they can't find anything, they hope She's coming soon. Works both ways, I guess. 

I wrote recently about managing by triplicate.   Yep.  I admitted to buying multiple recorders so that I wouldn't have the FREAK OUT when one of the kids couldn't find their recorders and it was time to go. Of course, Middle Guy managed to BRING HOME both recorders (the school one and the home one).  And leave them OUT when She came.  Uh-oh.  They disappeared. Gone.  Totally.

ME: Let me get this straight, BOTH recorders you brought home are now missing? BOTH?
MG: Ummmm. Yessssss.  I didn't realize one was for school. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
ME: You'd better find it or else you'll have to share Daughter's extra one (not really meaning it)
DAUGHTER: Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.
MG: Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.  I can't believe this is happening to me.

So they went to school. H and I SEARCHED the house. HIGH and LOW. OVER and UNDER.  NOTHING. NADA.

Finally, I got the bright idea to call Her on Her cell and ask Her where the recorder was. Only problem is that Her English is so-so and my Spanish is pathetic.  So I googled, "Flute" (I thought that googling Recorder would be way too advanced).  La Flauta.  OK.  I remembered "Donde Esta" from all my years of auditing college spanish.  DONDE ESTA LA FLAUTA.  I can do that!!

Believe it or not, it worked.  Apparently Las Flautas were "in the basket by the refrigerator" (OF COURSE THEY WERE!!).  Ah Ha!  VICTORY! 

Believe me, I flaunted my flautas all day with that one!

PS - this photo is of MG practicing before the Pow-wow.  He calls himself "White Feather" when he wears this jacket.  Love that.

Being Thankful

I am thankful...

• For 3 unbelievably healthy, happy children.

• For a HEALTHY, funny husband who amazes and entertains me everyday.

• For 4 parents (including in-laws) who I truly love and whose company I enjoy endlessly.

• For a near-human dog who understands my non-dog language.

• For my job that surrounds me with people I truly care about and learn from everyday.

• For my girl-friends.  You know who you are.  I would implode without you.

For ziploc bags, and black ribbed tank tops and jeans with lycra...for family and health and this BFH (big fat house).  For Diet Coke and chocolate and vodka.  For love and life ...dreams and sleep.

I AM THANKFUL.  Thank you. 

Daughter's First Slumber Party

Turning ten.  Daughter's first slumber party.  Six girls. Two movies. Spaghetti and meatballs.  Garlic Bread. Apple Pie a la mode.  Friendship bracelets. Games. Late night whispers. Early risings.  Waffles cherry sundaes.  Girls.  The best.

 

 

 
 

MY secret sauce.

OMG. H introduced this stuff to me.  It's...magic.

I swear, pure magic.  Chipotle (flavored?) Tabasco sauce.  H-E-A-V-E-N.

It's great on any-thing.  Even as salad dressing!

A "romantic" kid dinner ...

 

The kids were eating (chicken quesadillas and spanish rice).  H and I weren't quite ready to eat yet so we fed the kids at the island and sat with them.  The candle was there so I spontaneously lit it for them before I sat down.

Little Guy says, "Ooooooooooh ROMANTIC!  WAIT!!  That's not romantic..."  He walked over and turned off the lights so there was only the candle.

Sweet.  How the heck does he know what "romantic" is??  

Look at their pose....sooooo romantic!? Ahhh. I love kids.
 

xoxoxo

Daughter was staring at Middle Guy's football book during breakfast the other day.  I saw the question before she said it...

D: MG, what are all those "x" and "o"s for on your football book.

MG: Those are plays.  Don't worry...they are NOT hugs and kisses!  Don't even think about that!?

So funny.

The elephant NOT in the room...

 

My (awesome) parents decided to take Daughter to NYC for the weekend to celebrate her 10th birthday.  (Yes, they know this is precedent-setting...the boys are already planning their trips.)

She had an amazing time. She toured the Statue of Liberty.  She ate (lots of) incredible food.  She went to the Folk Art Museum...bargained with street vendors in SoHo...went to the theater.  TIme-of-her-life.

On the last night, she was crawling into her bed and realized Dumbo (her woobie) was gone. G-O-N-E.   She came crying in a total meltdown to my parents.  Hyperventilating and uber-dramatic.  Once they were able to decipher her tragedy, they got down on hands and knees, searching for Dumbo.  He-was-gone.

Granny had the bright idea to call housekeeping (rather, for Papa to call housekeeping).   Papa called. 

Papa: Excuse me, we seem to have lost our woobie.  Do you have it?

Housekeeping:  Pause. Your woobie?

Papa:  Yes, our woobie, Dumbo.

Housekeeping:  Pause. By any chance Sir, is it an elephant in a chinese dress?   Pause. We have it right here.

Papa:  YES! That's our woobie!

Housekeeping: Pause.  We will bring it right up.

--------

I don't know why but this story is tear-rolling, wet-your-pants funny to me.  I'm not even sure which part I like most. My dad actually calling it a woobie...or the fact that housekeeping had it and noticed the woobie's beautiful makeshift geisha dress.   Ahhh. New York!

Hi-lar-i-ous.

Fried Egg Crepes?

 

We tried these for dinner the other night.  I think I prematurely posted ... without the recipes or all the photos.  Sorry about that.  Anyway - here it is now!

Remember our "crepe happens" adventure?  This was just as fun.

The recipe is from Food Network Star and egg (client) spokesperson, Jeffrey Saad.

You use a basic crepe recipe (we used Fannie Farmer's).  Fannie's crepe recipe includes 2 eggs, 1 cup of milk, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 cup flour, 2 tablespoons butter, melted.  Beat. Cover. Let stand.

Here's MY interpretation of his recipe -- I did it from memory but think it's pretty close. 

To make the fried egg crepes...get a hot non-stick skillet.  Crack an egg in the middle of it. Gently pour crepe batter around the egg (like a ring).  Tilt your skillet to even out the circle -- the egg might wiggle around a bit -- don't worry about that.

The egg and crepe will all cook together. While it's cooking, grab your ingredients.  We used chopped spanish chorizo and goat cheese...honey ham and mozzarella and baby tomatoes...nutella...nutella AND goat cheese (!?).  Put your filling in the middle.  Fold the crepe in like a present. It will look like a square.  Press it down a bit with your spatula then flip over.  Cook til done to your liking.  

I recommend putting some herbs/spices/salt/pepper in with the fillings.  And then crack or dust a little on top (above photo has smoked paprika on it).

Here are some step-by-step photos...

       

They really were fun and delicious!  The kids loved them, too. Bon Appetit!
 
 
 
 

Goofy Little Guy

 

I love this photo of Little Guy.  We were at Milennium Park in Chicago this Summer. 

It's so HIM.