prayer request

I was skimming through my blog favorites tonight and was shocked by Mary Beth's post at Salt and Chocolate. She had been off the radar for a little while and now I know why: her 16-month old son, Rainer, has been diagnosed with leukemia. So, could you:
1- Pop over there and leave her an encouraging comment?
2- Add Rainer to your prayer list?
I can only imagine how it would feel to find out that one of my children was facing such a disease- not only the fear of losing them but also the ordeal of the treatment (3 years in Rainer's case.) I know I would want everyone on the planet praying for us. So, please say a prayer for little Rainer tonight (and his parents, who probably need it even more than he does at this moment.)
Thanks, friends.

Springtime to-dos

I'm having a fit of spring cleaning. Well, I'm not actually cleaning, yet. Remember my post about my hulking mental energy? Well, I'm doing some SERIOUS mental energizing in this area. I'm making some big plans. Shall I list them for you? Yes, I shall- so you can catch a glimpse of this tremendous mental energy at work.

Things to do/accomplish/act the martyr about in the next two months:

1- Hire a yard man to come de-snake the backyard. Yes, friends. I said snake. It was black, and two feet long, and it came out and hissed at us while we were on the swingset. And I am NOT going back out there with my kids until all the dead leaves have been bagged up. (If you wonder why the man I married can't be the "yard man" it's because a) he is extremely busy with work and other things and b) he isn't exactly a "country boy." When we found the snake he tried to act like it wasn't his job to kill it. I had to remind him that he was the adult in the house with a penis, and thus responsible for all things wild-animal-related. I mean, please... it's right there on the responsibility list next to "take out smelly trash" and "lift heavy things." He was like, "You could hit it with a hoe the same as me." As if!

2- ORGANIZE THE TOYS! Oh my goodness, if I don't do this soon I'm going to lose my mind. Ever since the move, the toys have been a huge jumble spread throughout the house in a constant mess. I clean it all up every day but I think the root of the problem is that we have way too many toys out. I used to put some away and rotate them (worked beautifully) but I haven't implemented that system in the new house. We also have got sets all scrambled up, spread out, etc. The problem is that I need several (at least 3) hours without the kids in the house to accomplish the toy re-org. DH promises that over spring break he'll take them out for the morning and let me have time for this chore. I hope so, or I'm going to crack.

3- Locate my art/craft stuff in the garage and unpack! As mentioned previously, it has been tremendously frustrating not being able to access my art supplies. And in addition to wanting access to basic craft stuff (embroidery floss, adhesives, acrylic paints, etc.), I've got a bug to scrapbook again. So, getting all my stuff out is a big priority.

4- Get a grip on my wardrobe. It's time. Recently I had to attend a funeral::actually, I had to sing at the funeral- that's a tough gig, let me tell you. Anyway, I had a near break-down over what to wear. I have NOTHING nice to wear anymore. I guess it's been almost 4 years since I had to wear anything other than jeans, pants, etc. on a regular basis, and the "nice" clothes I wore in my pre-mommy days are looking dated and, ahem, somewhat tight. Thank goodness my ONE nice outfit (bless that elastic waist skirt) was black, and thus appropriate for funeral attire. Of course, I had another crisis when I realized neither of my two pairs of black shoes (Danskos, strappy black high heels) were going to be appropriate for a funeral in February. Crisis averted by my sister-in-law who loaned me a pair of her shoes (really cute black beaded pumps) but I realized that my wardrobe is in VERY BAD SHAPE! I am formulating an action plan and will discuss this in a future post.

5- Lose 10 pounds. Oh, my. There is is in black and white. I am determined to lose some weight. Specifically, 10 pounds by Memorial Day (May 31.) I don't know where the cookie dough addiction is going to fit into these plans, but I know I have GOT to get rid of the spare tire around my middle. I know the extra 10 lbs. is directly related to the frumpy wardrobe, and I've got to address both at the same time. I told my husband the plan, and his face lit up and he said, "What can I do to help?" I told him that he could help by not mentioning anything to me about what I'm eating, whether I'm exercising, etc. but that he could certainly remark if I looked thinner. I CAN'T STAND to be on a diet and have him go, "Should you be drinking that coke?" AAAAHHHHH! It makes me want to eat the most fattening thing I can think of right in front of him, for some odd reason.

6- Collect healthier recipes. This ties in with number 5. I really don't believe in diets- more in lifestyle/dietary changes that are for the long haul. I've recently started eating whole wheat bread (yes, I'm about 10 years behind the rest of the world) and am trying to eat more fresh fruits and veggies. I also need to collect more recipes that are yummy but also lower in fat, sodium, etc. It seems like most of my recipes call for heavy cream, or loads of butter and cheese, etc. If I find some good ones, I'll post them here.

So, want to help me out? I am seeking:

• Good ideas for storing/organizing toys and ways to help small children learn to clean up
• Healthy recipes

Thanks in advance for your help. (My DH hates when I say this- "Honey, I'm thanking you in advance because I know you're going to remember to take out the trash tonight." You can imagine the syrupy sweet smile that goes with it. Hey, it's better than nagging, right? OK- maybe it's the same as nagging.)

Recipe::Santa Fe Skillet

This is a recipe I promised Jennifer after I read that she was in a (minor) cooking slump. Been there, sister. This is my favorite one-skillet meal. It's really good and actually is pretty healthy too. And, miracle of miracles, my picky eaters actually love this one!

Santa Fe Skillet (it used to be called something lame like chicken-salsa skillet but that wasn't festive enough for me)
Ingredients:
package of boneless chicken breasts
2 cups instant rice
jar of salsa
can of chicken broth (I use low-sodium)
can of black beans (drained)
can of corn (drained)
cheddar cheese (grated- I use almost a whole block!)

Directions:
1. Wash the chicken and cut it up into small bite-size pieces. Set aside.
2. Grate the cheese.
3. In a large pan, cook the chicken pieces until done. (I put a small amount of oil first.)
4. When chicken is done, add the can of chicken broth, salsa, corn, and black beans. Stir and let come to a boil.
5. When boiling, add the rice (2 cups) and stir.
6. Top with grated cheese, turn off heat, and cover with lid. Let stand for 5 minutes, covered.

This makes a really yummy, cheesy southwestern style meal. I like it with chips but my husband likes it on a tortilla with a little lettuce and sour cream. Two additional notes:
*When I'm out of instant rice, I just cook a pot of rice, only add about 1/3 the can of broth for flavor, and stir cooked rice into the mix instead of instant rice. I think it's even yummier that way, but the instant rice is fine.
* I keep threatening to shred the chicken. I don't like "chunks" in my food. Gee, I wonder where Brother gets his picky eating habits?

more mini-swap mania

First off, thanks so much for all the great advice regarding my picky eaters. I'm going to do my best to respond personally to those of you who commented on my last post. Just knowing that others have faced the same problem and end up with healthy, non-growth-stunted children years later is a big relief.

So, would you like to see what we sent Kate and her boys for mini-swap? Yes, of course you would!
Here it is!

I went with a pirate theme. Kate told me that her boys weren't all that into pirates, but for some reason I just couldn't get the pirates idea out of my mind. I tried, but then I'd see something like a tube of plastic pirates at the craft store, or come across a bag of chocolate coins at the farmer's market, etc. So, pirates it was. First, I pulled out two plain chipboard boxes that I've had forever and painted them with pirate images. (One box for each boy.)

You can see Maurice the pubescent pirate monkey on the side of Caleb's box. I think the goatee makes him look rather dashing, don't you?
Then I worked on filling up the boxes with booty. Boody? Bounty? Whatever.

Here is a look at the contents of one of the boxes. Included were glass marbles, a scarf and felt eyepatch (for dress-up), gold chocolate coins, a ring pop, plastic pirates, a stuffed lizard, and some felt finger-puppets I made.

Now, about these finger puppets. I must say, I am a little ashamed of them because they are glued instead of sewn. They sat on my counter for almost two weeks waiting to be sewn together but I never could find my embroidery floss! Drat the disorganized garage! I haven't unpacked my crafting stuff since we moved (it's driving me nuts, but there is always something more pressing to do- like find the box of tax stuff or de-crud the pots and pans in the sink.)

So, having had a fit of rage in the garage to no avail (though I did manage to throw a piece of plywood halfway across the garage- quite impressive, I think) I ran to Wal-Mart at the last minute to buy some new floss. But as usual, that was a frustrating experience. They have stopped selling embroidery floss, as the very surly Wal-Mart employee told me after I searched for 20 minutes. I didn't have time to get to the far, far away craft store, so I had to settle with glue. Oh, well.

I also included two pirate-y shirts I found at the thrift store (ladies shirts- but very pirate-y, I must say) and two treasure bottles. I found that idea on Family Fun- here it is. You fill a clear drink bottle with rice and little treasures, such as jewels, shells, glitter, etc. We also made some pirate-themed shrinky dink charms. (Which was LOADS of fun- I love shrink plastic!!!) You'll have to look at Kate's blog to see those, as I never got a decent photo. In fact, none of my photos are decent because I only remembered to photograph it all in the dark of night as I was loading the box.

I think the best part of this swap is that I now have one of Brother's future birthday parties 85% planned. I am a multi-tasking queen.

OK, no big wrap-up to this post. Gotta go and get something done while Brother naps!

Sending out an SOS... (Imagine Sting singing it- it's better that way)

Help.
I am having some serious struggles with picky eaters in my house.
And just so you know, I have already done a lot of homework on this issue. I have read several books, talked to my pediatrician, discussed it with the playgroup mom crew, etc. And here's where I am:
I am not an overly-permissive parent (at all), but I have decided that our dinner table cannot be a battle zone. We've been down that road too many times, and I'm not up for it. My sweet husband (bushed from a day of being a principal) isn't' up for it. It's not good for our family morale. And every "expert" I talk to (or read) advises against forcing kids to eat foods they don't want. From my own childhood experience, I'd have to agree. We were made to eat vegetables as children, and now my brother and I have strong aversions to many of those same vegetables. In fact, the only way you will get a green pea in my mouth is to stuff it into my cold, dead body.
Some of my most vivid childhood memories involve my father and brother's nightly dinnertime stand-off over my brother cleaning his plate. Being the obedient, older child, one stern glance from my father would have me stuffing my entire vegetable serving into my mouth and swallowing them without chewing, chased by a big gulp of milk. But not my brother- he would sit there for a good hour having a stare-down with my dad. Dad always won, but it wasn't pretty. (And then there was the scene the night my dad found a big wad of chewed-up green beans in the bathroom trashcan.) I used to feel so sorry for my brother, but now that I'm a parent, I feel retrospective sympathy for my poor dad. There he was, after a hard day at the office, wanting only the recliner and newspaper, faced with my defiant brother and a plate of peas. He did what he thought was right, but it seems the end result was that he rasied a boy who became a man who hates vegetables.
I am determined that my children eat (mostly) healthy foods. I'm not a nut about it- some goldfish or animal crackers here and there don't stress me out, if they have been eating the healthy stuff too. But I really do want them to develop healthy habits- healthier than mine were as a child/adolescent.
I have tried to "put the healthy food on their plate and just let them choose what they want." It doesn't work very well at my house. Here is what happens. Brother (21 months) will look at a plate with tiny bites of roast beef, small pieces of fresh green bean, small pieces of whole wheat french bread, and watermelon bites. He will fuss that he wants the meat off the tray. We say something like, "It's OK. Just let it stay there." He will then proceed to eat every bite of watermelon and holler for more. We say, "Eat your other foods first!" He then says "No no!" and makes swiping motions at the beans and roast. He will half-heartedly eat a few bites of bread, drink some milk, and then ask again for watermelon.
Here's my question- what would you do next? We have tried holding the watermelon hostage until other foods are tasted. It results in a lot of crying and no more food is eaten.
We have tried making him stay in the chair until other foods are tasted. It results in a lot of crying and no more food is eaten.
We have tried keeping him from a favorite activity (watching Elmo on TV) until he tastes the other foods. It results in a lot of crying and no more food is eaten.
So, my friends, any suggestions???
Sister is getting (a little) easier now that she's 3 and 1/2 because we can reason with her a bit, hold out on sweets and snacks, etc. But the almost-2-year-old-boy is my challenge.
I would appreciate any and all advice. And if you do post a reply in the comments, check back because I may ask you a follow-up question there. Thanks!

Mini-Swap Mania!

We received our mini-swap package from Kate and her boys today. In fact, the timing was perfect. The afternoon was growing long, and I was having a serious sinking spell (Southern Belle style.) Suddenly DH walked in the door and called, "You've got a package!" Immediately I knew: mini-swap!

Kate did not disappoint! In fact, her box was so full of goodies, I'm a little worried that ours will look slim to her. We opened the box to find three beautiful linen bags. I must go on about these bags for a moment: they are so pretty, and so practical, and they have ribbons sewn into the seam so you can always tie them closed. Fabulous! I know they will get much use throughout the upcoming years. In fact, I think this is a brilliant idea for "wrapping" a gift- practical, reusable, beautiful. My family might start getting presents wrapped in pretty fabric bags.

There was a bag for Sister, a bag for Brother, and a bag for them to share. Sister immediately pulled out her first gift- a Cinderella set that included a small doll with two dresses. She was in Heaven. Brother pulled out a package of Thomas the Train stickers. He screamed with delight. It was funny, because I really think had that been all there was, they would have both been totally satisfied! But Kate had done lots more than that, and before it was over, we had unwrapped a collection of books, bubbles, Play-Doh, sunglasses, stickers, coloring books with scented crayons, trains, and my personal favorite- a brownie mixture in a jar with two ADORABLE homemade aprons. Sister's was made of Disney princess fabric, and Brother's was made of Thomas fabric. They are absolutely precious! Brother loved his so much that he wore it until bedtime.

So, from our end, mini-swap was a huge success. Kate was a terrific partner and I can only hope that our package brings smiles to her boys' faces too.

Thanks, Kate! I'll swap with you again anytime!

coolness::gone

The other day my SIL (Sister-in-law) and I were sitting together talking about how cool we used to be in our college days. Sort of like, "I know I'm not cool now, but I used to be cool. I had really cool clothes, and I listened to cool music. Very cool..."
My brother heard us and he said, "Um, I hate to tell you this, but the fact that you're having this conversation means neither of you were ever cool."
I told him to shut up, of course. (My duty as his older sister.)
Anyway, I was thinking about my former coolness, and how it has utterly departed from me. I devised a little top ten list for your enjoyment. Do you recognize yourself in any of these items? Anything you want to add?

You know you aren’t cool anymore when…

10.You go out to eat but don’t enjoy your meal because the restaurant is “too loud.”
9. You barely watch TV anymore because all the shows are too “trashy.” You realize that the morals of your generation far surpass those of the current younger generation.
8. You order all of your clothes from catalogs you once scorned, such as L.L. Bean and Eddie Bauer.
7. Teenagers are listening to music you listened to when you were a teenager because it’s “retro” and cool again.
6. Comfort has surpassed aesthetics when purchasing shoes. (I swear, my feet look like mushrooms in the Danskos I wear. Ask me if I care.)
5. You wonder why anyone would spend an evening in a crowded, noisy bar when they could be sitting at home watching “Seinfeld” reruns in their pajamas.
4. You catch yourself calling young people like the bag boy at the grocery store “honey.”
3. The check-out girl hasn’t carded you in years.
2. When a good-looking guy smiles in your direction at the grocery store, you know that a) it’s not sexual and b) you could care less.
Note: He’s actually smiling at your baby.
1. Most of your anecdotes for your top ten list seem to occur at the grocery store.

:-) Hope you all have a very cool weekend!