Tuesday, March 17, 2009

We are Irish (kinda)

On this day last year, things were different.

This year we're having corned beef and cabbage for dinner. We're ALL dressed in green (at least Alex was - the first two times I got him dressed.)

We even have a green shamrock (painted by Robert) hanging on the fridge!

This year we ARE Irish.

Ironically, I really did have steak and potatoes on the menu again tonight... before I decided that we'll be Irish instead.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

New recipes

I have fallen behind on my new year's resolution of trying 2 new recipes each month... I'm 2 months behind, but catching up slowly.
We tried THREE new recipes just this week. Okay, so one wasn't really a recipe, but more of a concoction.

On Sunday, Bobby made Stuffed Chicken Parmesan. It was fantastic! I got the recipe from a booklet that I got in the mail with coupons in it. I was leafing through it and realized I had all the the ingredients that it listed. We made some elbow noodles on the side and it was a hit!

On Wednesday I planned to have pork. I went online and found this recipe that called for ingredients that I already had. I was excited because I had an apple that had been in my fridge forever and some cheddar cheese that would have been on its way out too.
I needed to improvise a bit because when I looked at the pork chops after defrosting them, I realized they were bone-in. oops. No problem. They were thin enough that I was able to stuff them 'taco style' and they came out great!

Tonight, I decided to make baked mac and cheese. I have childhood memories of baked mac and cheese - visiting my dad's deli when they would make it for a lunch special. They'd use up all the cheese ends from the deli and it would be so gooey and delicious. I had a bunch of different types of cheese in the fridge, so I mixed them with some half and half and some milk and butter. I used up 2 types of pasta and crushed some ritz crackers to put on top. It was just like I had remembered. Not such a big hit with the kids - of course they had just eaten their weight in gold fish crackers an hour before.

I'm not a chef, nor do I play one on this blog, but I was impressed with our break from the norm. I am also so happy that I was able ti use up some stuff that would have otherwise been thrown away!

The writing is on the couch.


A few weeks ago, Robert got hold of a pen and decided to scribble on the sofa. Yes, Robert. Not Alex.
That day, he was punished by losing his computer privileges. Later, Mommy realized she was only punishing herself because the computer is Robert's baby sitter while she runs on the treadmill and A&A nap.

I never cleaned the scribbles off of the sofa. It's only on one cushion and frankly, I don't have the desire to clean something that is only going to get more filthy. eh, whatever.

So today, while I was re-assembling the sofa -something I do several dozen times each day since Robert is into making forts these days, I decided that I am going to leave the scribbles there. The cushions are an odd shape since our sofa is 'theater style' and putting the cushions back on is almost like putting a puzzle together.
Now, at least I know that the cushion with the scribbles belongs in the middle, on the right. (right next to the one with dried snot) See how that works. (kidding)

I feel bad for punishing him. He told me he was 'only trying to help.'

And he did!

Good Boy. Now, go pick up your toys.

Monday, March 09, 2009

Park it!




I have to vent. It's been awhile since I have done that, right?

This very scenario has happened more than twice which makes it worth blogging about.

This morning, I packed up the kids and we headed to Walmart. I was running later that I would have liked due to the time change, so we got there around 10am. I found a decent parking spot, packed A&A in the stroller and headed in. We didn't buy anything on this trip - it was purely to price check a few things.
When we finished and headed back to the car, there was an SUV already waiting for me to leave so he could have my parking spot. I hadn't even unlocked the doors yet!

Dude! I have THREE KIDS to strap safely their into car seats and a double stroller to collapse and get back into my trunk before I can even think about leaving my spot. It's going to take a minimum of 3-5 minutes for me to do so.

The guy was clearly annoyed with me as he made hand gestures and was inaudibly yelling through his windshield. My cell phone rang and it was my parents calling from Florida, where they were vacationing. I had to take the call. Mr. SUV was even more pissed. He got tired of waiting and he sped away.
Right behind him was Mr. and Mrs. MiniVan. They were next in line for my spot. I still had not collapsed the stroller and I needed to climb in the back to belt in Robert. Mrs. MiniVan huffed at me. I rolled my eyes at her and began to vent to my dad on the phone about the ordeal. The couple waited until I was finished and then took my spot as soon as I vacated.

It's not like the parking lot was full. It was 11am on a Monday morning and there were a TON of empty spots. The Walmart parking lot is enormous and I have never seen it filled - not even during the holidays.
But that would mean Mr. SUV and Ms. MiniVan would have to park further away and (gasp) WALK an extra 20 feet. I suppose they'd rather spend that extra 2-5 minutes (and then some) sitting in their vehicle waiting for me to leave - and rushing me in the mean time.

Come on people, don't be lazy. Really, my spot was not exactly the best spot in the entire lot, anyway.

thats all. vent over.

Saturday, March 07, 2009

2 year stats and a blip about Robert

Ava and Alex had their 2 year well check with Dr. Novak last week. Both are growing great and everything checked out okay. They were just getting over colds and still had snotty noses, but they were okay to get their last immunization in the Hepatitis series. Now, they will not need any more shots until they are 4. They were champs for the shots - hardly crying at all. I'm so proud of them.
Ava weighed in at 24lbs 12 oz and Alex was an even 24lbs. Ave is an entire 2 inches taller than Alex. She remains in the upper half of the percetiles, while Alex is staying steady between the 10th and 25th. (Alex is wearing clothes that Robert was wearing when he had just turned ONE!)

Doctor Novak was impressed by Alex's 50+ word vocabulary. Ava isn't far behind and has really started to say more words over the past few weeks. Now on the list are "boots, moon, sock, tea, baby among others. She likes to call her daddy "Bobby" instead of Daddy.

*********

Robert will be losing his first tooth very very soon. Last summer, he banged his front teeth while playing outside. They loosened up, but stayed put. When he saw the dentist a few months later, she took x-rays that determined that the roots of both front teeth were damaged. She said it is likely they will fall out sooner than they should - usually 5 1/2 - 6 for boys. I've encouraged him not to play with it and even tried to tell him "the toothfairy doesn't visit until you are 5 years old." I want that tooth to stay put as long as possible.
Over the past week, one of Robert's front teeth has become considerbly looser and has changed in color. It won't be long before it's gone.
As a mom, this is my little boy growing up before my eyes.

The truth:
Ugh, I hate that 'new tooth coming in stage... kids look so awkward!