Week 50: Comfort and Joy, and my Crowd-Shy Boy

What's new?

My sweet, crowd-shy boy had his first Christmas program in Week 50. I knew that when they all walked in to the gym and he saw the 12 or so parents all sitting there, staring back at him, that he would probably freeze up or cry, despite the fact that I had heard almost the entire program, word-for-word, at home. He froze, then, upon seeing my face in the crowd, ran over to sit directly behind me, performing the entire program from that chair. One little boy stayed up in front of everyone, but rolled around on the ground the entire time, before he took off running. Yet another boy, kept running back and forth between his mom and every kid in the program, then back to his spot again. All of the girls stayed up there and performed. I am sorry because I normally don't notice gender differences like that, but it was too funny not to notice. It was ADORABLE. The whole thing was 15 minutes long, and just precious. My Henry Bee...I could not have been prouder of him :) 

It is not often that I live vicariously through my son, but I have to admit something totally silly and material: Since I was a little girl, I ALWAYS wanted one of those fancy stockings from Land's End with the name stitched up on the top and the pretty, stitched picture below and the velvet on the back. My Great-Grandma hand-knitted all of our stockings, which were so huge and amazing, and she stitched our names into the tops and everything, but as a stupid kid, what did I know about the value of handmade versus machine-made. Yet, I could not resist. I went to order some flannel sheets from the bargain sale Land's End site, and what should pop up, but that beautiful stocking with the choo-choo train on it! My childhood self stared up at me with puppy-dog eyes, and it was all over. Henry will grow up wondering why it is that he is the only one in the family who's mom crochets yet he ended up with a machine made stocking.

Other Newness for Week 50:

• Birds of Bethlehem, by Tomie dePoata - New Children's Fiction. Beautiful, and simple, age-appropriate version of the Nativity. The artwork is stunning, and I would like to add more of his work to our library in hardcover versions. This particular version tells the story of the Baby Jesus through the eyes of the birds in the nearby field. 

• We found a house to rent in VA! Yay. We rented it for the yard and the neighborhood, but the inside looks cozy and is well-insulated.

• I made gift truffles for the first time, and they turned out yummy! Here is the recipe I used, although I opted for a cocoa powder dusting rather than the toasted almonds.

Week 49: Keeping Warm and Bubbly

What's new?

A little, local craft brew tasting of FreeState ales (Lawrence, KS), perhaps? New artwork from an AMAZING (somewhat local) photographer that I stalked found on Etsy? Maybe a delicious new chicken tortilla soup crockpot recipe. Week 49 was all dangerous. That's right, folks. We like to live on the edge. As I find myself smack-dab in the middle of replacing light bulbs, cleaning fan blades, and scrubbing baseboards for our pre move-out special/ my-son-is-napping-so-must-take-full-advantage-of-this-time, I will leave it at this:

1. I have 2 friends here who wanted to commemorate their time in Kansas with some form of bison art, and I loved that idea. In my search of Midwest photographers, I found this extremely talented, Iowa native on Etsy. Please check out Scott Fairbairn Photography, should you have the time. The photo in the top left of my new things collage is a photo of his photo, which I plan on framing and find particularly stunning. I love these creatures, but this photo captured such a beautiful moment of pure texture and humility. 

2. FreeState! Ad Astra is a gorgeous, rich amber ale that I think my husband is going to fall in love with when he gets home and tries this! Unfortunately, I can only find this in a sampler pack. I would love it if I could just purchase the Ad Astra! Copperhead Pale Ale...well, friends, as I have mentioned before on this blog, I am not a fan of hoppy beers. This wasn't too obnoxiously-hoppy, but one was enough and the other 2 in the pack are going to my neighbor. And there you have it: My ultra-sophisticated tasting notes. Try to control your excitement. One item of interest is that Lawrence is only 45 minutes east and south of Fort Leavenworth, and FreeState was the first legal brewery in the State of Kansas.

3. Crockpot Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe...so my friend Adrian shared this recipe with me but did not provide a source. I am not sure if this is her original or not, but it was delicious!! I made quite a few changes only because I am trying to use up the stuff in my freezer/cupboard before we move! My recipe tweaks are in (italics).

Chicken Tortilla Soup (for crockpot)
2-3 chicken breasts (used 3 turkey burger patties)
2 cans black beans
2 cans stewed tomatoes (used 2 cups fresh tomatoes)
1 can green chiles (used 1 bottle of sweet chili sauce)
1 C salsa (omitted)
1 15 oz can tomato sauce
1 C frozen corn
1-2 garlic cloves (used 5)
1/2 TBS chili powder
1/2 onion, chopped (did not have onion, but added 2 cups carrots, which is totally the same)
2 TBS lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp cumin (used about 4 TBS because I love cumin so much I want to marry it)
(also added 4 C chicken broth, and lots of black pepper)

Put all ingredients in crockpot (I did mine on the high setting) for 5-6 hours. Break up meat with a fork (I chopped mine) before serving. Add tortilla chips, shredded cheese, sour cream, and/or cilantro to each bowl before serving.       

Week 48: Brr! It's Cold Outside!

New 3-year old. I find myself constantly praying for this boy. He has such a quiet nature about him, and a dry sense of humor. Terrible eater. BEST laugh I have ever heard. Loves to hold hands on the couch and do puzzles on the floor and have random dance parties. With all of my heart, I love him.

 

 

New crochet whimsey: Free-hand snowflakes. Easy and fun to make!

New breakfast: adding 1 TBS of olive oil to my oats or cream of wheat. Got this idea from Giada Delaurentiis, and it is sooo yummy in this electric-dry, Kansas cold.

New children's fiction (for b-day): Bang! Boom! Roar! and Waking Dragons. Both books are so cute, and once again, Momma has grabbed a Jane Yolen goodie in Waking Dragons, a story about a little boy whose job it is to wake up the dragons and get them ready for school (he brushes their teeth, feeds them, it is very sweet.). "Bang-Bang Rwraaaaar!!!!" as Henry calls it, is the clear winner of the entire year of new children's fiction. We read this book 1,000 times per day. Dinosaurs + construction equipment + a little I-Spy + good morals. We highly recommend both of these!

,

(Not my photo: photo credit Simply Crochet) New project idea: This beautiful crochet garland (I would also like those gold drapes, the vanity, the vintage outfit, and the door, if that is possible)...

New beverage: German mulled wine. My neighbor introduced this to me, and it is quite tasty during a cold winter's happy hour :) I think I am sufficiently sick of it though. Kind of like egg nog, this will be a once-per year purchase. I'm just not a big sweet/flavory drinks person.

New (almost finished) crochet project: Summer baby blanket! This is 100%, American-made cotton, and there will be just a few, little lemon-yellow flowers decorating this as well. One of my sweet neighbors is having a baby girl next month, so my idea sprang from having a 6-month old in 108 degree, humid KS temps...

I also tried 2 new recipes this week. No photos have been included because they were both huge fails! One was a crockpot Thai chicken, which received great reviews on Food.com, but I just did not like it. Perhaps I was not in the mood for the peanut butter (I use Sunbutter), or maybe I added too much soy. It is always weird when I don't like a food of any kind, so beware! I also attempted to make a chocolate cream pie for Thanksgiving and burned the chocolate pudding. For the record, I am terrible at puddings and custards, but I LOVE to eat them. My Mom happens to be so talented at these types of yummies, and there is no way I can do the pudding from the box. My issue is that I always burn it. Do I need more patience? A double-boiler, perhaps? Less over-thinking? :) OR, maybe I should just stick to making what I don't screw up: fruit pies (for which, I credit Southern Living and The Joy of Cooking for teaching me how to make a good pie crust and fruit pie filling).

Week 47: For The Kids

What's new?

I have no idea where Week 47 went, nor can I seem to do anything right now ('specially write) that does not include making up new voices for characters like dinosaurs, trolls, ogres, goats, slugs, or lichen. Bet you didn't know lichen had a voice? Bet some of you don't even know what lichen is :)

New children's fiction - Oh yes. Henry's Amma got him 2 very cute reads, Dinosailors (Lund and Pine) and Where Would I Be In An Evergreen Tree (Blomgren and Gabriel). Dinosailors is a fun, sing-songy rhyme with made up words and silly adventure, of which I am a huge fan. Where Would I Be In An Evergreen Tree is get-out-of-town-ridiculous-my-dream-of-writing-something-like-that-one-day, so I am obviously biased. It portrays the ecosystem of an old-growth tree on the coast of Washington/Oregon, is quite species-specific, and the artwork is stunning. I liked it because Blomgren doesn't just describe this ecosystem, she creates a living thing out of it. Henry loves it too, by the way. After all, these are for the kids, folks. Ahem.

The Three Billy Goats Gruff was one I got him a couple of weeks ago and forgot to include somewhere along the way. An age-old story of facing, outsmarting, and overcoming your fears, and in a time where my preschooler is constantly discovering new things to be afraid of, I thought it particularly appropriate. Plus, I do a wicked, mean troll voice, and when he gets pushed into the water, I flail around and splash and die dramatically. Again, for the kids.

What else?

Other Week 47 Newness:

• New glass salmon sculpture from my trip to the PNW. Because not only do I need more salmon art, I need more glass things since we move every 2 years.

• New concealer. Here's one I don't often write about: new makeup. Since my makeup typically consists of lotion, concealer, and blush, there isn't usually a lot to report on in the newness for this category. Neutrogena Skin Clearing concealer is a new product in this line, and since I am a sucker for trying new products and my Proactiv concealer just ran out, I picked this little goodie up. It is AMAZING!! 5/5 for covering up scars on your chin from years of picking your face. 

• New crochet projects. The little trinket above was a throw I finished for my Father-in-Law as a Christmas present using Lion Brand Thick n Chunky yarn. The oversized granny square pattern for a throw is always fun because you can finish it rather quickly.

• Henry randomly started singing Jingle Bells, which I am assuming he learned at preschool? I have also realized, now that I can understand him better, that he knows most song lyrics and cuss words. A listener, this one. 

Week 44: With and Without Time

What's new?

Week 44 was a memorable one, for so many reasons. I was racing against the clock, trying to get my Mom's blanket finished before we flew up to Washington. This project has been in the works for a while, evolving and growing with and without time, just like my Momma always did, in my eyes. I suppose it knew all along who it would be created for, which explains why it was such a cantankerous creature and why Amma's Grandson was suddenly so angelic all week long so I could finish it :) One morning, during the finishing process, I woke up at 4:30 and turned on AMC, and low and behold, The Grapes of Wrath was on! I had never seen this movie, and I was particularly excited to watch it because that is the next book on my pile. BEAUTIFUL story and well-done movie - I highly recommend seeing it, if you have not. Henry and I got up to my parents' house the day before Halloween, and I was so excited to take him trick-or-treating for the first time with some of the cousins. These little boys were so cute :) Henry dressed up as Curious George, and I was The Man With The Yellow Hat. However, we were still playing catch-up with the timezone change, and we passed out just as the festivities were getting underway! Next year...

The best treat of all was the arrival of my newest Nephew, baby Miles, on Halloween morning. My Sister-in-Law, Whitney was blessed with what was one of the easiest birthing stories I have ever heard (17 minutes of labor). It has been such an amazing feeling, seeing each of my 3 brothers bring sweet sons into the World, but seeing my babiest brother with his new youngling was a particularly memorable moment for this big sister.  

My Mom sent this blog to me a while back created by this writer who had collected a bunch of poems related to knitting and writing. The two for me are quite a similar process. I found this beautiful poem in her collection, though she did not have the complete piece on her blog, for some reason. At first, I read this and pictured an old woman, knitting because she had to knit as much as she had to breathe. Then you realize that she is not necessarily talking about her death, but Death as a facet of time. A memorable and inspirational find, and how appropriate as we celebrate new life, to reflect upon.

The Knitter 

By, Jackie Kay

I knit to keep death away

For hame will dae me.

On a day like this the fine mist

Is a dropped stitch across the sky.

I knit to hold a good yarn

For stories bide with me

On a night like this, by the peat fire;

I like a story with a herringbone twist.

But a yarn aye slips through your fingers.

And my small heart has shrunk with years.

I couldn’t measure the gravits, the gloves, the mittens,

The jerseys, the cuffs, the hose, the caps,

The cowls, the cravats, the cardigans,

The hems and facings over the years.

Beyond the sea wall, the waves unfurl.

I knitted through the wee stitched hours.

I knitted till my eyes filled with tears,

Till the dark sky filled with colour.

Every spare moment. Time was a ball of wool.

I knitted to keep my croft; knitted to save my life.

When my man was out at sea; I knitted the fishbone.

Three to the door, three to the fire.

The more I could knit; the more we could eat.

I knitted to mend my broken heart

When the sea took my man away, and by day

I knitted to keep the memories at bay.

I knitted my borders by the light of the fire

When the full moon in the sky was a fresh ball of yarn.

I knitted to begin again: Lay on, sweerie geng.

Takkin my makkin everywhere I gang.

Een and een. Twin pins. My good head.

A whole life of casting on, casting off

Like the North sea. I watch wave after wave,

plain and purl, casting on, casting off.

I watch the ferries coming back, going away.

Time is a loop stitch. I knit to keep death away.

Week 42: A Jolly Good Time

What's new?

"Good soup is one of the prime ingredients of good living. For soup can do more to lift the spirits and stimulate the appetite than any other one dish." 

-Louis P. De Gouy, "The Soup Book" (1949)

Thank you, to my friend Emily, for the wonderful butternut squash recipes AND for harping on me about getting a slow-cooker, in Week 42! I have used it twice already, and I just adore this kitchen gadget. I ended up getting the large one with the ceramic insert, which is cool because I can make big batches of freeze-ahead meals or a pot roast, if I choose. It's all dangerous and a huge timesaver. This one also came with a dip warmer insert, which Ted will love for his queso habit. Since I am deliberately meat-free 3 nights a week now ("deliberate" implies that I am talking about legitimate, nutritious vegetarian food, not chips and salsa because I was lazy), the first slow-cooker recipe I tried was the coconut-butternut crockpot soup recipe from Superhealthykids.com. I basically used this recipe as more of an inspirational springboard because I ended up using an acorn squash rather than a sweet potato, adding 2 cups of baby portabella mushrooms, an apple, garlic, 2 TBS more of cumin, cinnamon, lots of black pepper, and I omitted coconut flakes (though I did use lite coconut milk). The end product was extremely rich and earthy, with more of a cream-of-mushroom meets butternut squash and cumin flavor to it than anything. 5/5 stars from this mushroom fan, and if you've always wanted to be a mushroom lover but don't like the texture, I recommend them this way (crockpot + puree = soup). This made about 12 servings. 

Other Week 42 Newness:

• New beer! I haven't tried a new beer in so long! The sadness! And, to make matters even worse, my favorite kind of beer is a good porter, which I have not had in about 1.5 years. It's one of those things...I guess you could say "trigger food" although beer isn't really a food...But it's one of those things that used to be a larger part of my life when I was chubby, much like a lot of homemade yeast breads and pasta and rich cheeses :) mmmm....rich cheeses.....Cutthroat Porter from Odell Brewing Co out of Ft Collins (CO) was good! I thought it had a very strong coffee aftertaste, which I like, but it wasn't as sweet as some of the more chocolaty porters, if you happen to have a preference. I would have it again, though it is nowhere close to replacing my 1st favorite (Mac and Jacks Porter, Redmond, WA) or 2nd favorite (Black Butte Porter, Bend, OR). I forget how expensive some things like this are here in KS (craft brews). Pacific Northwesterners are spoiled. That's all there is to it.

• Wonderscope Children's Museum. I liked it okay, but it wasn't as neat as some of the other museums and discovery/learning centers we have been to in Kansas and Missouri. Henry had a GREAT time, but I think my bottom-line rating for this place is, I am glad we checked this off of our list, but we won't go back unless we are in the area of Shawnee, KS :) I am sure that if we lived there, we would love it. However, if I am going to drive that far, I would just as soon drive to the Kansas Children's Discovery Center out in Lawrence, KS or the Patee House Museum up in St Joseph, MO or the Overland Park Botanical Gardens or Ernie Miller Nature Center...We have been so spoiled with amazing learning opportunities in our midst, and I love exploring them all with Henry! 3/5 stars for Wonderscope :) 

Week 41: Some Fun Yummies

What's new?

In Week 41, Henry and I wanted to focus on re-building our immune systems with lots of warm, sticky vegetables and colorful foods, fish, nuts, and green smoothies. What a perfect opportunity, we thought, to try out a new recipe from Skinnytaste.com, Butternut Squash and Spinach Lasagna Rolls! We also decided to share some with our neighbors, after finding out our entire neighborhood had Strep. This was a delicious dish, and it was very easy to make (and inexpensive). I think I could eat this every day. Things I did differently than the recipe: Whole milk ricotta instead of lowfat; red onion instead of shallot; used about 1/3 more butternut squash; added cinnamon, oregano, and lots of black pepper to ricotta mixture; sprinkled a little cheddar cheese on top before serving :) Okay, so my version wasn't very skinny. But I don't believe in lowfat ricotta. It's against my religion. 5/5 stars.

In addition, we received Henry's Scholastic book order from school, and in that order was another Jane Yolen goodie, How Do Dinosaurs Say I'm Mad (by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague). We like books about emotions around here, and this was so much fun. I am definitely going to add this to my list of suggested deployment resources for children. We also got No More Hitting (by Maria Mayson), which also deals with the subject of acting out, but in a different way. Yolen accepts that Dinosaurs are going to be mad sometimes, and that's totally fine, but you need to go take a time out and a deep breath instead of throwing, hitting, yelling, etc. Mayson's book deals with acting out (in this case, hitting) by redirecting the anger entirely in a physical way: dancing. So anytime tiger cub wants to hit someone, he instead does a little dance, and pretty soon he feels better and doesn't want to hit anyone. I think both books are wonderful, and Henry LOVES all of Yolen's books. No More Hitting is super cute, just a teensy bit long-winded for the age-range of the audience. I usually shorten it up a bit when we read it, but I would recommend both to just about any youngling who needs a reminder to use their words :)  

Other Newness for Week 41:

• I received good news regarding the arrival of my Husband, which may or may not be a good chunk of days earlier than expected :) But I am not letting myself get TOO excited about it until the day I am actually seeing him with my own eyes.

• Began a new, scaled-back running routine, which incorporates equal parts yoga and running. The goal is to focus on moderation (for reals this time) and get myself out of that binge runner's mentality that I think I have had my entire life. I can't be approaching 37 and still in this mentality that I can run 18 miles and go eat like crap the entire weekend afterwards. And, approaching 37 means, for the first time, that weight isn't the issue anymore; it's stuff like blood pressure and arthritis and warding off dementia :)

Week 39: Let's Celebrate 75% Completion!

What's new?

In Week 39, we celebrate a milestone: 75% of the way through the year! And just because we can, we will give thanks for all of it: our successes, our failures, our dreams, and our realities. My favorite ways to celebrate just about anything include eating food, chatting with friends and family, wearing a good pair of jeans, being outside, and making lists. 

Non-mom-jeans. The last time I bought a pair of hot jeans (the really good kind) was 2006. I didn't even buy any after I lost weight! Desperately needing to channel Linda Hamilton in the Terminator (and not owning a gymnists body or a machine gun or a cigarette), I got a new pair of Joe's. And it worked. I look exactly like the photo above. 

September foodie penpal. My second foodie penpal (check out The Lean Green Bean for an explanation of foodie penpals) package was full of deliciously sweet and energy-filled treats. Brookside acai chocolates are delicious! I love dark chocolate and was quite excited to discover that these were chewy. I LOVE chewy candies. I also had no idea Brookside was owned by Hershey. Way to go, Hershey. Henry and I love the honey sticks, which he had never had, and honey is a completely underestimated, natural anti-bacterial and anti-viral food. Agave nectar has nothing on honey, as much as it tries. I had had the Sweet Leaf mint green tea before, but was pleasantly surprised by my foodie penpal's ballsiness to include a glass jar of liquid in my package. Maybe my Linda Hamilton alter ego will give me the strength I need to be that brave in my future packages :) The homemade cookies were a sweet touch - Ted would have devoured these, being that they were peanut butter and chocolate, had he been here! I love orzo and fruit leather for running fuel - Orzo always makes for a nice, chilled pasta salad. Throw in some feta, cucumber, and tomato...maybe a little olive oil, and you have a delicious meal. My penpal also included special treats for Henry, which I thought was the sweetest thing ever.

Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge (Mound City, MO). This is an hour and a half north from Fort Leavenworth and completely worth every speck of your time. What a perfect time of year as well being the fall migration! There is a 10-mile loop around the refuge that is basically a driving tour (slow) with lots of places to get out with the spotting scope or camera, or just sit in your car with binos. We enjoyed seeing American white pelicans, osprey, turkey vultures, snow geese, loons, turtles, and lots of monarchs everywhere. We will definitely be back this winter to try to spot some bald eagles! 

Used food dehydrator. We can't wait to make some homemade teas and dried fruits. I may or may not include a specimen or two as well :)

If you will recall, at the Halfway Point, I created this list of goodies for completion to have done before the end of the year:

Here is what we have completed:

• ditch the sippy cup/switch to full big-boy cups only - done, for the most part. Cups with a lid are still nice for taking on runs, hikes, and in the car, kind of like a Nalgene.

• Pass the Praxis - by the Grace of God, I did pretty well on this crazy test!

• finish current book - yes 

• make it through a playgroup session without trying to leave the building barely, but yes

• successfully find a preschool in VA before we move there - yes, though I am not head-over-heels in love with it, as compared to how I feel about his current school/teacher

• pick peaches from local orchard and freeze enough pie fillings for peach pie until the end of the year They didn't open for u-Pick this year, but I was a farmer's market stalker, and have peaches galore. 

• take Henry owling and to a local owl lecture at a nearby nature center while he is still obsessed with owls - We did go owling! However, we did not make it to a lecture because they were all late in the evening (bedtime) rather than what I was hoping for (a couple that were in the early morning). Both are good times to go owling. He is still loving learning about owls, who fascinate us both.

• get a cute grow chart for Henry's room - done! He's growing like a weed.

• start preschool - yes

• not sit in the parking lot and cry for 3 hours on the first day of preschool like a total loser - yes, thanks to a very good friend

• seriously. get a life - I still have anxiety leaving him every single time. But it goes away within about 12 seconds after dropping him off :)

• say "please" and "thank you" consistently - He has started doing this! I am so proud. This was really the only thing I cared about on this list, and it happened. I've noticed he is better at saying please and thank you to strangers than he is to his Momma, however :) I am probably the same way with my Momma...

• squaw creek national wildlife refuge

Here is what is in the process of being completed:

• potty training completion - If you could graph this progress, it would look like a wave. Just within the last few days, he has been telling me "help"; grabbing himself; then holding it for a few seconds, which is awesome. He only does this in cotton undies - Pullups are a joke in case anyone reading this is just about to start this adventure.

• KS/MO bug collection - Just have to finish and affix my labels! Would like to get a couple more species.

• finish current crochet project and complete about 5 more - I don't know about the "5 more", but should be finished with the current behemoth in a month or so

• finish the rest of current book pile...about 8-9 of them, not counting the teacher resources now on my list - Probably more like 4.

• finish writing current short work of fiction - I think this will actually happen. As usual, It needs to be simplified a LOT for a short story.

• call my grandparents more regularly - Trying...My limited phone talking time is usually spent calling one of my parents, siblings, or sister-in-laws, so I really, sadly, have to schedule time to call anyone else, including friends. Though, is it really that sad? It gets done that way. Just life, I think.

• learn new tree identification (list) - Sucking it up on this one. But I have learned a few...

• try one new smoothie week per week - More like, every 2 weeks :) But yes.

• teach my son to catch and throw a football - working on it! He has a good arm, though teaching someone to catch is HARD when you suck yourself :) haha

• teach my son to ride his bike - Well, we are getting on, being pushed, and are fascinated by big kids on their bikes. Working on it...

• find a place to live in VA - Working on it. I think my Husband has much more lavish taste than I do, but I have always known this. I like cozy. He likes an echo :)

• get my child to willingly eat a vegetable/food in general - If green smoothies count, then yes.

• complete a half marathon on Post before we leave - One more week! Yay.

• make sure he can recognize his name (written) before he gets to his first day of preschool - I think he can recognize his name...He knows the spelling. not 100% sure if he really knows it or has just memorized it :)

Week 37: Transplanting a Walnut Grove

What's new?

Do you ever find yourself compiling random lists of memories about a person or a situation in your life that you want to write about? In week 37, I created a character list for and found myself thinking a lot about my Great Grandmother, and how, during those times in life where I think I might have a total and complete meltdown, my simple memories of her and our conversations during my childhood give me comfort and strength.

Years ago, while I was going through a very painful separation and divorce, I got rid of almost everything in my house, including all artwork and photos on the wall. My Mom gave me this pillowcase that Grandma had made, and it was the only thing on my wall for almost an entire year.

As oddly dramatic as this is going to sound, I feel this spun out of control and on the verge of a meltdown EVERY time before we are about to move. And, compared to people who met their spouses early on, I haven't even moved that much! I don't think most people have this kind of emotional root system that they have to rip up every time they move, especially when it is a way of life for them. But this is how I feel about it, for whatever reason - It is very painful. It's just who I am. I put down roots in my environment and suck in the air such that it becomes the essence of my very cells. And so, my poor Husband...a Military man to his core, who, it seems, loves moving, must literally transplant a walnut grove every time. Though, he has turned out to be a pretty good arborist, so far.

Week 37 Newness:

• Found a preschool in Virginia for our Buddy (for a January start)! SO relieved and happy about this very huge answer to our prayers. He was on 5 waitlists, and we are picky. We also have found some great potential places for the 2015/2016 school year (when I plan on heading back to work full-time), which is a load off. 

• New collapsible crochet bag to hold my project yarn! In 20 years of crocheting, I have never owned one of these! It is actually a picnic basket, ha! But it is perfect for what I needed. A joyful little gift to self :)

• Grandma Susie's Backdoor Bakery zucchini coconut bread from the Parkville, MO farmer's market. Might just be the best thing Henry and I have ever eaten. It is very moist and flavorful, and worth the price just to try it at least once!

• Backfire BBQ at Legends! Oh my goodness, this place. We went with some friends who had been there before - Choppers and tattoos everywhere. Delicious barbeque, sweet and family-friendly staff (really, you guys have no idea). AMAZING bar. Though my Husband is not as into choppers and tattoos as his walnut grove wife, he would have loved this place to watch college football every Saturday :)     

Week 36: The Kindness of People, The Mush of My Brain

What's new?

Week 36 was a pretty great week, all around. That said, today was a tough one in a day-in-the-solo-life with my growing, glowing, almost-3-year-old. My brain is mush. I cannot even fake my way through this post with an attempt at some humor or ultra-fake-facebook-sounding BS about how we should all appreciate this time because it goes by so quickly. You know what? Right now, in this moment, I am proud to say that I do not appreciate it, and I can't wait until I no longer have to repeat, "please use your words, mommy can't understand you when you whine," 5,000 times a day. THERE. I said it. GASP. Now go find some sugary little Instagram quote to help you feel better. No wait. I already did that :) Don't worry, it is possible that I will delete this horridly grouchmo post and re-post a new, cheerful one when I wake up in the morning...Namaste, friends.

Week 36 Newness:

• The Sweetest Gift - A friend of a friend, whom we met ONCE, made Henry the most beautiful, random, adorable dinosaur quilt. I was so overwhelmingly blessed by this kind gesture, and Henry loved it so much that he danced on it and rolled around on it for days. Some people are so talented in this world! I love homemade.

• New Restaurants - As I mentioned last week, my Father-in-Law was here visiting. The man loves and appreciates food as much as I do (he did not pass this on to his son or to his grandson, which is probably good, or I would weigh 400 lbs, easy). We ate out a LOT and enjoyed every moment! Two new local places we tried were Osaka Sushi in Leavenworth (just outside of the main gate), and Panchos in Parkville, MO. I am so sad that I waited 1.5 years to try Osaka. See what being a food snob gets you? Nothing. It was delicious, and though I do not recommend eating there (kind of ghetto), the food was amazing, and it will be on the take-out menu often. Panchos was so fun! An old house, situated between a boxcar and a caboose. The food was good-enough-Mexican food. Having lived in San Diego, I am kind of still a Mexican food snob, but it was good! Well worth the trip, and if you have a kid who is obsessed with trains, it is a must. You get to sit inside of a traincar with a view of the real train that runs through Parkville. I heart Parkville.

• Friend Dating - While I am sure they are never going to call us back (today, the horrible, no-good, very bad day of which I spoke earlier, was our date day), I enjoyed spending some time with a very interesting, nice, patient woman and her sweet son from Henry's preschool, today. This woman was a good sport. Sooo kind. That is all.

• New Pet - Remember the little teddy bear hamster that we babysat for 6 weeks back in June/July? Well it turns out the parents of the little girl who owned him were looking to re-home this little critter, and we just fell in love with it. The little girl who previously owned him named him "Leah" and her mom suggested we change his name :) But Henry already knows "Leah" and thinks every animal slightly resembling a rodent is "like Leah", so, "Leah" stays. Him-Her.

Week 27: Sources of Energy and Motivation

What's new?

We hope you all enjoyed a safe and relaxing 4th of July in Week 27! This week, we tried a new yummy, easy quinoa recipe PACKED with pre AND post-running goodness. These muffins are amazing! Two muffins for breakfast provide me with enough energy to last until lunch without snacking. Normally, only a hard-boiled egg holds that kind of hunger power :) Quinoa is cheap, easy to prepare, and 1/4 cup of quinoa has 7g of protein, 30g of carbs, 3g of fiber, and 10% of your daily Iron. We call this nutrient-dense awesomeness. Why must we eat nutrient-dense awesomeness? Currently, life is much different than it was one year ago. I am solo-parenting a very energetic 2.5-year old. I am studying for a very hard exam in a couple of weeks and gearing up to become a student and eventually, go back to work as a middle grade science teacher (and/or maaaybe a high school biology teacher). I am also getting mentally prepped (maybe) for the Great Wall of China Marathon (May 2014)! I need foods that provide energy, motivation, and sleep. Do such foods exist? You bet they do! Do these foods include leftover bratwurst, beer and flag cakes from our 4th of July celebration? Noooot so much :) 

Bob's Red Mill Golden Quinoa Muffins

1 cup Bob's Red Mill Organic Quinoa

1 1/4 cups boiling water

1 cup fine ground cornmeal

1/2 cup raisins

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 large egg, slightly beaten

1 Tbsp orange zest (I didn't have any oranges, so used lemon)

1/2 tsp sea salt

1 1/4 cups whole wheat pastry flour (I used King Arther white whole wheat flour)

2 tsp baking powder

package instructions, per Bob himself: "In a large bowl, pour the boiling water over the quinoa grain, cornmeal, and raisins. Stir to moisten, cover and let stand refrigerated for 1 hour. Can be refrigerated up to 8 hours. Preheat oven to 375 F. Oil muffin tins and set aside. Sit into the quinoa mixture the honey, oil, egg, orange zest, salt, whole wheat pastry flour and baking powder. Mix quickly, being careful not to overmix. Spoon into prepared muffin tins. Bake for 30 minutes or until lightly browned. Makes 12 muffins."

What else?

Lots of other newness in Week 27:

• St Joseph, MO Remington Nature Center. An easy, 45-minute drive north from Fort Leavenworth (and well-worth it!), this is a beautiful building containing a plethora of phenomenal displays of native wildlife and ecological processes. The displays are both living and taxidermic, and both interactive and audio/visual. I HIGHLY recommend this place for kids and adults of any age, and the Riverwalk pathway is open at dusk, if you want to go for a great nature walk an hour or so prior to the center opening (at 10:00am). $3 admission for the general public and listed as one of the Blue Star facilities if you are a military family. 5/5 stars! :)

• Some new children's fiction worth mentioning: We are big Sandra Boynton fans around here, and I was looking for a book I knew Henry would respond to about feelings. I have seen other things that claim to be for his age-group that are either way too over-the-top serious, emotional, or just not enough to keep him coming back to read it. Boyton's Happy Hippo, Angry Duck is just our speed :) And you know what? I can think of plenty of adults of whom this would also be their speed...I am putting this under our "deployment resources" for sure. 5/5 stars. Dr Seuss always gets 5/5 stars. Biscuit books...Henry is obsessed with them. I honestly would rather read a lot of other things, but because he loves these so much, and we have already read all of the ones at the library, I figured it was time to own a few. Our new bugs book is actually non-fiction, and it has beautiful artwork and explanations of spiders, so it gets 5/5 as well. 

• Wine in a box (Bota Box Reisling). The same neighbor who told me about Green Smoothie Revolution also advised me to try wine in a box. This woman has some good advice! Why not? And white wine, too! I think the last time I drank this much white wine, I was 21...In all seriousness, this is nice for single wine servings, when you really only want one glass, and Ted and I had tried Bota individual boxes camping many times, so I knew it would be okay. Good for exhausted moms and girl's nights :) We'll just call this a momma deployment resource. 

• New neighbors...yeah, yeah, what is new, right? This is pretty much a constant. They seem very sweet, and their little girl is exactly Henry's age. He already let her give him a hug and liked it :) 

• New running shorts! It's gross how long it has been since I purchased new running shorts. Think about it: Running shorts are like underwear, but grosser. Okay, don't think about it. A message to the 15-25 year old girls who have decided to make the ONLY good fitting running shorts their latest fashion statement: "Keep your paws off of my running gear! I am flattered that you want to stick your twiggy, non-running legs in my running shorts and wear them with tall socks and a messy bun and this is considered fashion, but please. $30 for a cheap piece of nylon gives me ulcers, and thanks to you, this is how much I now have to pay. Go find something else!!"

:)

Week 26: The Halfway Mark!

image source

We are about to be 50% of the way through the year, people! How are you doing with your 2013 goals, up to this point? Are you where you envisioned you would be? Or have you become a little lost (either by accident or on purpose) and you are now brushwacking a new pathway somewhere? Perhaps you have found a really great view somewhere, and you aren't moving at all - You are just sitting, enjoying the spray of the waterfall. Maybe you didn't even make it up the mountain because you became so distracted by that amazing new pub near the trailhead, and you got to talkin' to some other distracted person, and the sun started to set...

:) 

We have tried may new things this year, and in honor of our halfway mark for Allbrandnewin52, here are 50 more new things Henry and I would like to do/try for the remaining 26 weeks:

1. squaw creek national wildlife refuge
2. potty training completion
3. KS/MO bug collection (pins only, nothing in vials, which means no spiders)
4. ditch the sippy cup/switch to full big-boy cups only
5. begin regular Pilates routine
6. begin training for The Great Wall of China Marathon (May 2014). This is kind of a big one since I have only run 3 previous full marathons, the last one being in 2008, when I developed bad Plantar Fasciitis. I really don't want to run TGWC half marathon. C'mon.
7. Oh, I don't know...maybe PASS the PRAXIS??! EEEEK!
8. finish current crochet project and complete about 5 more 
9. finish current book
10. finish the rest of current book pile...about 8-9 of them, not counting the teacher resources now on my list
11. finish writing current short work of fiction
12. finish writing current children's folktale series
13. start preschool
14. not sit in the parking lot and cry for 3 hours on the first day of preschool like a total loser
15. seriously. get a life
16. learn all of the species on the ceiling at T-Rex
17. say "please" and "thank you" consistently
18. make it through a playgroup session without trying to leave the building
19. Wonderscope
20. call my grandparents more regularly
21. learn new tree identification (list)
22. try one new beer per month
23. try one new smoothie week per week
24. try about 40 new recipes
25. teach my son to catch and throw a football
26. teach my son to hit a ball off of the T
27. teach my son to ride his bike
28. actually take my son to the pool, even though I am not a fan of pools
29. find a place to live in VA
30. successfully find a preschool in VA before we move there
31. apply to Educate VA (after hopefully passing Praxis)
32. meet new nephew/cousin
33. get my child to willingly eat a vegetable/food in general :)
34. complete a half marathon on Post before we leave
35. convince my neighbor that she likes running and is going to be a total badass at it. I am really good at this (convincing people of their secret badassness). It's like my secret talent.  
36. learn the second verse to "America the Beautiful"
37. learn the real words to "This Land is My Land/This Land is Your Land"
38. pick peaches from local orchard and freeze enough pie fillings for peach pie until the end of the year. Peach pie is one of my favorites!!!! And last year the peaches didn't do well due to the drought.
39. get a good juicer and begin juicing for preschooler
40. get rid of TVs
41. take Henry to an outdoor jazz festival
42. take Henry to the Renaissance festival
43. take Henry to Branson, MO
44. take Henry owling and to a local owl lecture at a nearby nature center while he is still obsessed with owls
45. Kansas City zoo! We've been to Omaha a few times now, but have yet to visit our own KC zoo!
46. get a cute grow chart for Henry's room
47. crochet pennant for H's room
48. make sure he can recognize his name (written) before he gets to his first day of preschool
49. visit Foucakes in town (local fancy bakery)
50. visit the Atchison farmer's market...

Week 22: Happy Dinosaurs

What's New?

We fully lived each and every moment of Ted's week-long, pre-deployment visit in Week 22, on top of which, he let me win at Scrabble. Just kidding. If you think for a second either of us would ever let the other one win at Scrabble, you totally have the wrong idea regarding the level of competitiveness in this household :) Buuut, I am pretty sure I won with a word that I misspelled, and he initially questioned it, but at the risk of losing his turn should he end up wrong (I was 99% sure of my spelling), took the chance. The word was "Ouija", which I had incorrectly spelled, "O-u-j-a-i". But what a great way to use your J (8 points!) on a double or triple letter block! 

Aside from Scrabble, puzzles and stories with our Buddy, and 99 bottles of delicious and nutritious beer on the wall (to wash down all of the BBQ we consumed), we just enjoyed each others' company and had lots of cuddle time and outside time with our Henry dinosaur. By the way, our level of dinosaur knowledge, in general, is insane right now. Ask us anything about the Cretaceous period, or rather, ask Henry. He would be happy to explain it all to you, which is good because I am pretty sure some of that is going to be on my Praxis exam in July. 

Ted and I also managed to squeeze in a wonderfully long date night at The Majestic, which is a delicious steakhouse and jazz club located in downtown Kansas City. This place had come highly-recommended by some dear friends and acquaintances alike, so we had to try it out! Though it was recommended that we get a seat downstairs, in the club, we actually opted to sit upstairs, in the main dining area, next to the beautiful bar and the jazz pianist. It was a little more open and airy, which was a plus for us. We experienced wonderful service, and any server who is willing to talk about the marbling and aging in steaks for 20 minutes had me at hello. I recommend trying one of their prohibitionist era cocktails :) Also, I am 99% sure that after a week of partying with my husband and 2.5-year old, I can no longer fit into the dress I wore for this date night :)

Ah well. I love that man so much I want to marry him. Good thing I did :)

Other Week 22 newness:

• Discovery of the most beautiful running trail ever, which I got to run sans jogging stroller while Ted and Henry went for a hike on a nearby nature trail (the one I ran was paved). From what I could tell, it was pretty non-creeper, but I would still carry mace just because I will mace your face! :) Thanks to my Lover, who showed me where this was. 

• T-Rex Cafe in Kansas City. We sat under Pachycephalosaurus and had a view of Parasaurolophous and the jelly fish forest. AND we sat by the aquarium. Overstimulating just a teensy. Good food! Best timing ever for a 2.5-year old obsessed with dinosaurs, but still a bit scary because they do a simulated meteor shower every 30 minutes and all of the animals roar, tweet, or buzz all at once. A solid 5/5 stars for us!!

• Ted and I tried 2 new beers from Boulevard: Long Strange Tripel and The Sixth Glass. Ted is a harder sell on new beer than I am, but he said he liked them both. I loved The Sixth Glass for the light molasses aftertaste and cannot wait to have it again. It has all of the flavor of a good, dark beer but with a light body. I think these Belgian dark ale finds are slowly but surely becoming my little beer treasures in life. Not the easiest to find, but I always like them. Long Strange was meh. It was good. Nothing to write home about, but then, you are reading beer notes from a gal who still likes Budweiser with her barbeque. What do I know? :)

• I finally perfected one of my favorite comfort foods of all time and one of 3 things that my Dad knows how to make: Cocoa Quickies. This is more like a candy than a cookie, which means it requires precision, patience, and exact ingredients. I had to finally just call my Dad because of course I kept screwing it up so badly. The key ingredient? Nestle Quick Cocoa. Yes. It has to be the one with the bunny :) And the key technique? Cook 3-4 minutes AFTER you bring it to a boil, otherwise it will be gummy!   

Here is the recipe for my Dad's Cocoa Quickies: 2C white sugar, 1/2C butter, 1/2C Nestle Quick, 1/2C milk, 3C oats, 1 tsp vanilla. Mix all in saucepan. Quickly bring to a full, rolling boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook 3-4 minutes. Take off heat and add oats. Drop onto waxed paper until they harden. "You will know immediately if you did it right or not." (my dad)

Week 19: A Flavor Explosion

What's New?

Week 19 was cut a little short by a nasty momma flu virus (ew!). Damn, I really need to stop licking the carts at Walmart :) Luckily, we started the week out with a bang and didn't lose any time in trying new things despite the midweek bump in the road. We were also able to get in some fantastic toddler bird-watching, and my kid is so into it! I never expected that he would be at all, but he is really good at remembering the names of things and at spotting critters. I will probably cry when he gets his first pair of binoculars. And he will think I am nuts. And that will be us for the rest of our lives together. That is all.

So, yes. I tried a new coffee, which is one I bought from the Coffeehouse at City Market in Kansas City the previous week, along with my loads of black jelly beans. It was bright, spicy, and a little green...they would hate me for saying this, but it reminded me of Starbuck's coffee. A lot of folks LOVE that, but I am going to stick with my Pete's Major Dickensen's blend, thank you very much. All time favorite is still Caffe Vita from Seattle, or Tully's, if I am near one somewhere on the West Coast. I'll try anything twice, but am a tough sell on replacing my true favorites (again, a reason this blog exists)!

A friend down the street surprised me with a jar of her homemade pineapple salsa. Since chips and salsa are a staple item (one of the 4 food groups, actually) in this household, and I have a salsa addiction, I was excited. I had never tried a tomato-based pineapple salsa before, and I have to say, I liked it! It was definitely different, and I ate the entire jar in 2 days, so I guess different is good :) I think this would be amazing on grilled tilapia, or mixed with rice and beans. A nice change of pace from a lot of cilantro.

Josh Cabernet (Vintage 2011) was actually something I tried a few weeks back, but I somehow forgot to mention it. This was a recommendation by a friend whose palate I trust more than just about anyone else's. I love how winemakers describe their wines as "approachable". What does that even mean? Have you ever met an unapproachable wine? C'mon. Yet Josh is one that I have approached several times already and loved it each time. I always love a confident cab with a soft finish that doesn't overpower everything. I think that's what "approachable" must mean :)

New Henry Stuff for Week 19:

• First time he reached up and held my hand while we were out walking. He even said, "holding momma's hand" and looked up at smiled at me :) MELT. Of course, on another occasion out walking, I reached down to grab his hand as we were crossing an intersection, and he had a complete meltdown the whole rest of the way home...

• Got our first library card! This boy loves his books, and we go through them pretty quickly now. Even with eBaying, a children's book habit (or an adult one, ahem, my HUSBAND) can spiral out of control REAL fast. The library (L-I-B-R-A-R-Y) is loads of fun :) xoxo

Week 16: Craving Comfort and Navigating Toddler Independence

Week 16 brought with it a new level of stress (can that be considered something "new"?) when I began to realize that there is no way humanly possible that I can cram all of the needed test information from every field of science into my brain before July 20. Middle Grade science teachers, I cannot believe you had to take this test! It is insane. I feel like it would be easier if I just took the one for High School biology and said to heck with it! Alas, I cannot. I am determined that I can somehow pass this. Come on, brain, you can do it (insert sound of creaky stairs, here)! :) In any case, Week 16 was all about craving comfort, be it comfort foods, comfortable clothes, yummy smells (with the exception of the downstairs pee-pee bathroom/Henry's office), good friends, good wine, hot tea, and Lego city parties.

I'll be the first one to admit that when it comes to comfort, I don't like new things. I love my rut and my old standbys. Stress comes, and I am like a donkey in mud when it comes to trying new things. That was one of the main reasons I began this blog - To force myself out of the rut I knew would come :) Having a 2-year old helps a lot with that because you start seeing the World through their eyes, which see everything new. Then, you become inspired to keep trying. Having friends also helps with that because when you don't feel like being adventurous, they are there to at least make you try a new food or suggest a new way of doing something. 

This week, my very dear friends across the street brought Henry and I an extremely good, new comfort food: Corn Chowder with Roasted Tomatillos and Poblano. I think they actually roasted the corn too, which was amazing. It is vegan, gluten-free, and soooo good with crusty bread and of course, a frothy ale.

Other Week 16 Newness:

• Overland Park Farmer's Market: The City of Overland Park is about an hour away from Fort Leavenworth. We went on opening day of the Market, so not all of the vendors from the list were there, but it was good! We walked away with carrot oatmeal raisin cookies, fresh olive oil rosemary bread, and farm-fresh eggs! I am looking forward to going again.

• First Dentist Appointment: As traumatized as Henry was (he screamed bloody murder the entire visit), he now blesses "the dentist" in our nightly prayers :) After that experience, so do I.

• Down the Stairs: Apparently, Henry has decided to start walking down the stairs front-facing, like a big boy. The first time I saw him do this, my heart leaped out of my mouth and onto the floor, but he made it the whole way, and then exclaimed, "all by myself!!" complete with one giant, sweet grin :) 

• New Running Partner: Our first running date went well! I love it when people say they don't usually talk when they run and then talk the entire run :) Or when they say they are slow and will probably have to walk and then you are sprinting to catch up with them. This new one, she's a high-energy character. I immediately liked her (before we even ran) because she was ready 15 minutes early. 

Week 14: Bandwagons, Butterflies, and dusting off my Brain

A bandwagon came rolling through Week 14, and folks, I JUMPED right on! Why have I not tried compression socks for post-run muscle recovery until now? They are amazing - Worth every penny! If someone had explained to me that wearing compression socks after a long run or a hill/speed workout would cut muscle soreness in half and feel like I had received a leg massage, I would have jumped on that wagon years ago! In fact, I am so obsessed that I got a pair of compression shorts also. They feel a little weird (like putting on a catwoman suit, not that I know from experience what that is like), but they do wonders for my hips and back. Seriously, this compression thing is fantastic. I am generally late to jump on bandwagons, but better late than never! 

Other great new things we tried during Week 14:

• Omaha Zoo Butterfly and Insect Pavilion (and some of the rest of the zoo, too). We had some lovely and generous invites to peoples' homes for Easter Sunday this year, but I was really feeling like getting as far away from tradition as possible and creating some new memories with Henry, since Ted couldn't be here. The entire day was such a blessing! Hands-down one of my favorite memories with Henry, so far! He loved the butterfly house and did so well with everything. This is probably one of the best zoos I have ever been to. I can't wait to go back! 

• Peach poppyseed vinaigrette. Delicious - We had over spinach greens with walnuts.

• First (for real, timed) practice Praxis 2 exam (middle grade science, for those of you who are new). My first big reminder regarding test taking: ALWAYS go with your first instinct answer! Ahhh! It is worse when in scoring your work you can say, "I KNEW that!!" Then all you want to do is kick yourself! Or, in my case, make some flashcards, drink hot chocolate, re-stain a teak picnic table, play trains with son, review important historical science figures and voltage equations, take son on wagon ride, then be too tired to kick yourself :)

• The Living Room Exhibit at Powell Botanical Garden in Kingsville, MO. This was such a creative and artful display! We were lucky enough to have some friends who wanted to come along with us to this. The boys seemed to really enjoy themselves, and I can't wait to get back for the wildflowers! Henry is such a fun little explorer; he seems to really enjoy just observing and touching every plant and animal we come across. What a fun little person! 

Week 13: A New Poem, Friend Dating and the No Nap Zone

New in Week 13? First, some new poetry:

little, muddy shoes lay strewn across 
the kitchen floor like sleeping kittens
whose bellies bulge from too much milk.
when they wake, clods of dirt will
my shadow, be.
I am grounded by it - the sound
of pitter-patter 
-Becca, 2013 (allbrandnewin52.blogspot.com)

There are many new things to report on this week. First, I might as well tell you all that we are dating again, and it is going very well! Henry and I have met some keepers :) Yep, back in the saddle, as they say. You think friend dating is different than romantic dating? Think again. It is a natural part of life if you ever relocate, start or end a job, quit drinking, start drinking, get married or divorced, have kids, or experience any other major change of life, it seems. And friend dating now, I am more picky; I know what I want. I love being sociable, but not to the point where I will just hang out with anyone because they are a warm body. I have recently realized that I want the same thing that I wanted when I met my Husband: A bonafide, normal person without hangups, who doesn't try to one-up you but who, instead, makes you want to be a better person in some way. Negative people, victims, drama queens, multiple personality disorder...you need not apply. I was talking to M about this the other day, and she also brought up the good point that how they treat/discipline their own kids becomes a factor - So true. I have a large amount of respect for moms who correct their children in public places - Moms who are paying attention and not just letting their kids run rampant through the streets, screaming their heads off at 1am...ahem...

I have the best collection of friends a person could ask for, but it is nice to have in-the-flesh folks who you can go on a walk with or saunter into their house and their dog attack-licks you and coffee is ready in a steaming mug of hello how are you and no one blinks twice about the fact that the kids are still in their pajamas at 2pm. And those are the rare ones (or the ones who have moved/are soon-to-be moving, booo!).    

Week 13 represents the 25% milestone! Yes, friends, we are a quarter of the way through 52 :) Here are the new things we did to celebrate:  

• went on a blind friend date and loved both mom and sons

• went to a new playgroup at a new library outside of town

• tried 3 new recipes (red lentil curry, orzo salad, and stuffed cherry tomatoes), all of which I would make again, though I have decided lentils are never as good as they are the second day. Fact.

• went to a new local farm to buy fresh goat milk (Screamin' Oaks in Tonganoxie)

• tried a new mom and pop cafe with blueberry pancakes as big as your head (Mirth Cafe Too) 

• experienced a snow-storm in mid-March

• began 2 new crochet projects, one of which is for ME (a big-time first!!!)

• treated myself to a new pair of DKNY Bermuda skinny shorts, my wardrobe for spring :)

• Henry decided to give up napping. This may be a phase or a new routine, but for the past 2 weeks, he has only gone down a couple of times. He lays in his room and reads his books for about 45 minutes and then gets up. He also is sleeping much longer at night, so I really have nothing to complain about. But I'd be lying if I said this was not an initial shock to the system (in week 13, mommy drank a LOT of wine...)

• tried a new beer! Sofie Belgian Ale 2012 (thank you, M!) It was citrus, honey-cream, and very ripe banana, which was not overpowering due to the very strong, tangy lime overtones. I thought it was good by itself and would have it again.  

• We received a very sweet Easter care package from Daddy this week...complete with Chuck the Truck stickerbook, a steamroller playdough set, and Godiva chocolates :) Best package ever.

Week 10: Kidney Bean Quinoa Burgers

Week 10 already?! Where does the time go? In Week 10, we tried a few new meatless recipes. Henry is basically already a vegetarian, except for fish, and of course, did not eat any of the new stuff I made, and that is fine :) The focus is on trying to rebuild my immune system and decongest my poor liver, after being sick for so long, being on antibiotics, and taking a gazillion supplements and medicines and sleep-aids...Just lookin' for an easy-on-my-tummy diet for a while. In addition, I have been trying to replace one of my daily fruits with a veggie to get more minerals and detoxifying goodness. AND trying not to be a fatty because I had gained back a few pounds from my original 30. Not a travesty. Not worried about it - just wanting to see that lovely 140 on Friday mornings :) It makes me happy. Thanks for the recipe, Momma :) Here is my modified version of the original:

Quinoa Kidney Bean Burgers

made 4 patties

[Served on a whole wheat bun with 1tsp mayo, (you could use Veganaise or nothing at all) some smoked paprika and Siracha, and 2 slices of avocado]

1 can of kidney beans, rinsed, drained, and mashed, leaving a few big chunks of bean

1/4 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed and drained

1/2 cup water

1 cup bread crumbs (I used Progresso Italian but you could just make your own)

1/4 cup minced yellow bell pepper

2 tbs minced onion

1 large minced garlic clove

1 1/2 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp ground pepper because I like a lot

2 tbs hot sauce (I used this Tennessee hot sauce we had in our fridge)

2 eggs

2 tbs olive oil

Directions: Bring quinoa and water to a boil in saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer until quinoa is tender and the water has been absorbed for about 15-20 minutes (it did not take this long on my stove). Mash beans (I used a potato masher but you could use a fork). Lightly beat eggs in a mixing bowl (I always let my eggs get to room temp before using in any recipe, I learned it in an online British baking class and will never go back). Add bean mixture, quinoa, bread crumbs, bell pepper, onion, garlic, cumin, black pepper and hot pepper sauce. Mix and form into patties (the original recipe said 5, which is ridiculous, unless you are a mouse). Heat olive oil in skillet and fry patties about 2-3 min per side. SUPER yum. 

 

Other new things we tried or accomplished in Week 10:

• New bedtime routine of reading a couple of stories in bed and leaving the door cracked a bit. He requested these things after we got back from San Diego and our roadtrip and every night was a total meltdown. He was used to Ted and I (or just me) sleeping in the same room as him for 5 weeks, so this new routine probably spun from that. I am more than happy to comply, as I love bedtime stories with my Buddy, and I love that he has his favorites, and it makes him happy. 

• Got to know our new fish. We love him. His name is also Sharkbait, in case you are curious. And he is also a Beta. This one seems a little less inbred and eats his food. RIP Sharkbait #1.

• Finished Sister-in-law Jenn's baby blankets for her M.O.P.S. auction. 

• 3 new non-fiction books: 8th Grade Science, Our Changing Earth, and Life Science :) All registered for both the Middle Grade Praxis II and the VCLA (State of VA required reading and writing test) and have been in contact with the Educate VA program director. Very excited!