TGTWIO- (aka Thank God The Weekend Is Over!)

I have been dreading this weekend for a long time, not only because it meant my baby monster was growing up (turning 1) but because I had little/no time to prepare for his party since I've been decorating and we committed to go to the Iowa/MSU football game on Saturday.  So I had to prep for Tailgate, make all the food, (with the exception of the Veggie Bars provided by my mother-in-law) decorate the cake, clean the house, etc.

Here's a VERY brief photo recap

Time to make cake!

Finished cakes, went to the freezer on Monday night to be thawed and decorated Sunday morning.

My baby monster was playing 'Gladiator' while I was cooking.

On Friday, I rolled out fondaunt to add to his cake.  It had to dry for 2 days.

My arms hurt from rolling all these stupid little balls.  Someday I'm going to take up working out... Someday.

Baby Monster's finished cake.

A new snow sled!  Can't wait to take this out and use it!

Some MSU gear after a big Victory Saturday.

A very fortunate boy who will have lots to keep him busy in the coming year.

 And then his mom fell in to bed exhausted at 945pm.  Shortly after, the baby monster awoke crying and did so periodically throughout the night.  He ended up in her bed, mule kicking her in the stomach until 6am.

Then, I dragged my butt outside after work today to get the garland and bows out before it gets any colder.  I've not even plugged them in yet, but this looks to be the last reasonably warm day for a while.

Yes Mom, I realize I need to get my garland hoops even... I will, when I get some help...Next week.  I'm also short 2 bows-I'll pick them up Friday on 'errand day'.

Call me crazy, because I am clearly nuts...

We moved in to our beautiful home, 2 weeks before our wedding, which is going on 4 years ago now.  We found a beautiful home in a small town between Ames and Des Moines.  We don't live on an acreage, but we have an acre.  Our home features a beautiful wrap-around porch and it happens to be red...so it may or may not draw attention to itself.

For the past 4 years, I have been ducking a local charity group that organizes a holiday home tour fundraiser.  First, we had just moved in to our home and were not unpacked, then, I still didn't have the Christmas decor worked out the next year.  Last year, it was held 2 weeks after the birth of my monster, 1 week after I almost died (OK, that might be a little dramatic, but still) and this year, I had NO excuse and they cornered me at work...  I had to say, 'yes'...well, I felt obligated to say, 'yes'.

Please, for God's sake, can I add one more thing to my plate?   I AM crazy.

So this year, our home will be decorated for an annoying amount of time.  I usually don't decorate until the Sunday after Thanksgiving (AND you're looking at the blog screen of a girl who rips the decorations down and puts them ALL away on December 26, every year.  This year, I might have it down by Christmas Eve with all this early decorating nonsense).  

So, I am challenged to make my home completely 'Christmas-ed out' by 4pm on December 4th.  Our home is beautiful, and I do love it, but we live here!! There are baby toys, my sewing and knitting stuff that will all need to be put away, that sticky stain of who knows what on my kitchen floor to clean, the windows to wash-we haven't taken them apart to wash since we've lived here.  My life is clutter, we live clutter...and I'm going to have to pick it all up.  Where's my mom?  WAH!  I hate picking up!  The though of all the cleaning, picking up, making and decorating, it's just too much!  It makes me want to cry, it's keeping me up at night... I won't go on.

So, the next few weeks, my blog (and I promise to stay on it) will be devoted to this project.  Oh, and in the meantime, preparing for a tailgate at Kinnick Stadium that my husband will be entertaining clients for, my baby monster's first birthday-complete with homemade Sesame Street cake, balloons, the whole she-bang, all while working and supervising Guyface, making 7 carseat covers I have on order and knitting my brother mittens). After December 4th, I'm hybernating until my Mama comes some time around the 21st of December.

Many of the things, I am making myself, using ideas from magazines, Pinterest (which I am still struggling to figure out) and my imagination.  Some of the things, my gracious neighbors are lending to me-thank you neighbors!  And the other things, I have collected along the way, or my mom has passed down to me when they downsized last year.

But still, I could really use some moral support and prayers for this one.  I've never done anything like it, and really want to make sure I do this lovely structure justice.

[I'm blogging while my baby monster is throwing scented pine cones all over my living room...at least he'll smell like cinnamon for the rest of the night]

Here are a few things I have been working on since Friday night.

I bought several different kinds of greens and some wired ribbon to make these.  There will be 4 of them on the spindles of my bannister.

Here's a closer look.

Shh!  Don't tell my husband, but most of the stuff you see here I bought-can we write this off on our taxes?!

My baby monster has been enjoying himself in here messing with all my stuff.  He turns 1 Friday =(

 Here is what I'm dealing with in terms of clutter...

This was an office when we bought the house, it has turned in to my catch-all room, literally.

Sadly, I will be making lots of trips up and down the stairs.  My booty will be tight by the time I'm done taking all these things to the basement!

See, cluttered mess, including girls drawing/art supplies... You can see I have already added a few Christmas things.

The living room, see my monster's cage? =)

My kitchen is FAR too small for my liking.  Too little counter space!

I cleaned the windows on the left and right, the center one is broken and won't open...can you tell?  Awful, cloudy mess, I sure hope Pella calls me back to set an appointment to fix this.  How embarrassing!?

My silver candlesticks are polished and my everyday knick-knacks are stored away.  I'm rolling up my sleeves and ready to get to work...as soon as I retrieve my monster from the dog's water dish!

My heart hurts and then made babyfood

This weekend and every weekend until the second weekend in January, we have something to do.  Traveling, weddings, football games, family in, birthdays, holidays, etc.  I looked at my calendar last week, noticed this, and about fainted.

This morning, we didn't have the girls, but they had two soccer games in 2 different towns.  Fun game.  So we took Guyface to both of them, in the 50 degree weather.  He was a good boy.  Biggest Sister's game was first, then Big Sister's.  Biggest Sister sat laughing at Big Sister's team and their ability (this is where I am going to need to remember to get video in the future, I'm pretty sure, three years ago, we found ourselves watching the same little girl, except her hair was red) she needed to be distracted.

In an effort to provide a distraction, Grandpa (known as 'Flash)  decided to 'race'.  He's trouble.  So he races her, then she rests, then her dad races her...then she starts harping on me to race her.  I couldn't resist a challenge.  So I did, I gave her a head start and let her win like I was suppose to, it wasn't fun for me.  I think I pulled my left quad and twisted my ankle and I am sure my heart has not had that much blood pumping through it since high school soccer-yeah, I'm getting old.  The whole time I'm thinking, why don't you bug your mom?? And then I decided I was happy that she wants to play with me, even though it's her mom's weekend.

So after we raced, there were a few things that I wanted to work with her on after watching her game.  Now, let's be clear, I was on the team, but I wasn't good.  I played because my friends played-did I enjoy Greg making us run our asses off at practice? No. I didn't, but you know what, I had a great time and have great memories from those seasons.  I feel like if I would have had a little more instruction as a youngster, I might have been better when I was in high school.  And even if that wouldn't have helped, I'm going to do my darndest to make sure I pass as much knowledge and skill to the children (all the children) as possible.

[In the back of my mind, I'm thinking, I'm only 22 years older than Payton, what is it going to be like when Guyface is 6 and I'm (gulp) over 30????  I can't even think about that now. ]

So, I took her over to an empty field and we worked on a few things.  And I may have knocked her down a few times and played rough with her and you know what, it didn't hurt her a bit to fall on her bottom or have someone kick her in the shin guards.  We played for about 30 minutes, what I would consider (at this point in my existence) hard.  She kept calling to her dad to come help her because I was beating her...and of course her mom kept turning around, once when she bit it on her face, but you know what, she was fine and she was having fun.

Sometimes, throughout my journey as a step-parent, I've found it very hard to find my place.  I'm not 'Mom', but I have a lot of mom-like characteristics.  I'm not just another woman in their lives, I think I'm more important than that, and I think they'd agree.  It's kind of tough to find the place you fit with each child, because where you fit with one, isn't always where you fit with the other.  I've found it a little easier now that I have a baby of my own.  He's mine and he's getting me and only me as him Mama whether he likes it or not, he has no other options, but the girls do.

So after I sacrificed my body in the name of step-parenting (sheesh, maybe I should start working out), I came home to make my monster some more baby food.  His daddy, of course, was off to have fun, playing in a golf tournament.  He liked the food so much last time and I had a number of things in my pantry and refrigerator that needed to be eaten and are great choices for a little monster, that I thought I should probably make some more.

I know there are some recipes out there for baby food, but I kind of look at it like this, if it tastes good and has good things in it and he'll eat it, it works.

So today, with the extra things I had around including tofu, peaches, butternut squash, and spinach.  We had made 3, sort of different dishes, in 1 food processor bowl.  Handy, isn't it?  Actually, it's laziness and a shear disdain for doing dishes. (is disdain the right word?  Anyone?  Mrs. Feeney? Are you there?)

So, here's how it started:  Put your baby monster down for a nap, because you know he is pesky, he'll be under your feet and whining at you to pick him up so he can stick his fingers in the food processor...while it's running (which is actually impossible, but you get the point).  Then put squash in the oven with a little bit of water in the bottom @ 350 for about an hour to get it cooked.

Do you like the nice picture of my oven, and blurry squash?  I know, I am a great photographer, thank you.

While you are waiting for it to cook, put the peaches and tofu in the food processor and mix.

Then take out a few spoonfuls for a protein packed fruit serving.

Then add in spinach and a little bit of squash.

Mmmmm, yum!

Mix again and fill the other 1/2 of the initial tray.

It looks good, right?

Fill the rest of the tray...

Then find a place in your very organized freezer where the tray can be level so your cubes don't get lopsided.  I'm glad my freezer was so organized so I don't look unprofessional while I'm showing you this, because that would be SO embarrassing!

Then, add another can of peaches, and the balance of the squash (now would be a great time to add brown rice if you can remember...I didn't remember.  I knew I was forgetting something).  And mix. Then grab a taste, because if you won't eat it, neither will he.

Surprisingly good, but I just happen to like all these things anyway.

And just when you are enjoying your creation, your baby monster will start to cry upstairs because he was awakened by the sound of you dropping the top of the food processor on the floor, and you have to go get him. And of course, he will see you making food and politely ask if he may try a bite, 'please Mama, oh please?'.  Then, he does this:

'No, I was just kidding Mama, it's green...No fank you'

'Well, what is it I taste in there? Is that peaches?'

'And a touch of spinach...'

'This is so embarrassing, stop taking my picture...'

I guess, I could stomach it.

Hey Mama, that's pretty good after all!

Then you load up a mini muffin dish because you made too much for the ice cube trays that you had to borrow from your mother-in-law because you had none... (Thank you Gloria!)

...all with this guy under your feet looking for a handout.

And then he went and made this mess and now, when it's time to clean up, he's no where to be found... =)

Thank you.

Warm fuzzies and wonderful people

Today while I was off from work, I saw a Facebook post one of my 'friends'-who is probably, actually more of an acquaintance, and maybe always was.

To provide some background, I met this individual in college.  We were in the same sorority-I guess I should probably say 'are' because as I recall, being a member of a sorority is something you take with you to the grave...but anyway.  She was a nursing student, I was in agriculture.  Other than the sorority bringing us together, I'm not sure our paths would have crossed.

We served on an executive board in the sorority and I can recall at least one heated argument we had during a meeting in the 'date-room'.  I remember feeling bad after that, but I never would have said I was sorry at that point in my life, even if I knew I was wrong.  I should have, I know that now, now that I've had a few years to grow up and live life.

She and her husband live far away from their family (I think), she did end up becoming a nurse, I think she works with babies.  And her husband is a firefighter.  I don't know him that well, I vaguely remember him from 'date-parties'.  From what I have seen and what I keep up with on her Facebook page, I think that they may be some of the most selfless people (besides my mother-in-law of course) that I know-or am acquainted with.

Both of them are spending their lives helping people and saving lives.  And on top of that, they have recently been taking in foster children. I watched (more like stalked on Facebook) them take a little boy in, they took him out and about, they fed and clothed and played with him like he was their own.  Then the day came, where he had to go somewhere else.  I think a family member wanted him with them instead of these lovely people.  I read this on Facebook, and cried, and cried and cried and cried (are you getting the point?).  It wasn't even me and it was SO SAD to think about it. I can't imagine my little guy having to go away, and I know (again from Facebook) that it wasn't easy for them. 

I cannot imagine the strength it would take to be a foster parent.  It has really opened my eyes.  You hear horror stories of foster parents in the news, people only doing in for money, abuse, etc.  I can assure you, this little boy was (and is) loved more than most children in their own homes.  He could not have been placed with better people, who would care more about him than these people. 

It is so nice to know that I know (or I guess am acquaintances with) such wonderful people.  I hope they know what a great job they are doing and the impact they are going to have on this little guy (and future children).  They probably did more with the most recent baby they had than we did with Guyface in the first 4 months. 

Next week, they will get two more children and her post (and where I was getting to in my opening paragraph) was about needing things for the newest two.  Again, two at once, that is A LOT to take on with two full time careers.  Not that I can do much, but I decided that I would make 2 burp cloths and a 'taggie' blanket to send and I may or may not have picked up some 'Hot-Wheels' while I was out and about running my errands this afternoon as well.  Below is what I'm sending, the least I could do for such great people.  I hope that they have another great experience, and I hope it ends how they want it to end. 

I'm not real sure what the desired outcome is, if families that have foster children have them forever, or if they expect just a short time, I just don't know enough about how it works.  But whatever happens, I hope that it ends the way they want it to, they deserve happiness. 

Anyway, I needed to share that today, because I think she and her husband are very special and have (and are going to) impact countless children throughout their lives.  I think we just don't hear enough 'happy' stories about children in foster care. 

A cooking day

We had a lovely late morning visit with a college friend of mine and her family.  It was great to get to catch up with her and see their almost six month old baby boy. We're glad they could make time for us on their long drive from Nebraska to Chicago.

Afterward, we stopped at Super Target (one of my all time favorite places besides the quilting and knitting stores). Brady stayed in the car with Guyface because he was napping (and there was something on ESPN radio that he wanted to hear...I don't pretend at all to think the reason had anything to do with the baby).

So, because I was on my own, I took my sweet time to grab the few things we'll need for the week.  I decided I should probably not let the 3 pounds of broccoli florets I had in the fridge go bad, so the only option with that much broccoli is broccoli cheese soup.  I made a HUGE batch.  Like a stock pot full.

And...I made the recipe up.  It was pretty good if I do say so myself.  My little brother and husband (Mr Picky Eater) agreed.  Here's what you need:

Broccoli Cheese Soup

1/2 cup of butter
1/2 cup of flour
A lot of broccoli florets
8 cups of milk
8 cups of chicken broth
1 tsp white pepper
2 cans of cream of celery soup
1.5 pounds of Velveeta (or some other type of processed cheese, shredded or cubed it so it melts in a reasonable time)
2.5 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
2 cups of shredded carrots-try a bot more coarse shred, but if you do, because to cook the shreds.  If you shred fine, they will cook with the soup.

Melt the butter at medium heat, add the flour after it's melted, whisk until thick.  Add chicken broth, milk and cream of celery soup and white pepper over medium heat.

While that is heating, boil water, add your broccoli to it, cook until cooked, but not falling apart.  Drain and set aside.  You would also want to cook your shredded carrots if you've shredded them coarsley.

Add Velveeta and shredded cheddar cheese to your soup stock stir until it's all melted.  Add broccoli and carrots. Serve when it's all warm.

I made this a like noon.

Then, for the evening meal (we skipped lunch after our late breakfast) we ate the soup, beer brats on the smoker and I made a batch of what I would call, 'candied apples'.  Brady likes them and I just happened to pick up some apples at the store today to make some baby food for my monster.

Here's how they went:  (beware, it's an exact science)

Candied Apples:

2-ish tablespoons butter (remember, butter makes everything better)
2 apples (I think I used Jonna Golds because they were what was on sale)
a heaping 1/3 cup of sugar (mostly because I use my 1/2 cup measure, to measure my dog's food each morning and night)
a (heavy) dash of nutmeg
probably a tablespoon (maybe more) of cinnamon

Peel, then slice apples fairly thin, but whatever you do, slice them all similar in size (this will keep cooking consistent).  Melt butter in a saute pan if you have it. [I found one in the racks behind our basement door just off our kitchen.  While I was using it, I was thinking, 'where have you been all my life?' Or at least since we got it for a wedding gift almost three years ago next month-if you don't have one of these pans, run out and get one, it makes a difference.  Trust me.]

So, melt the butter over medium heat.  While it is melting, mix the sugar, nutmeg and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl.  [I add nutmeg because when I used to sit on my granny's counter while we made pies, she always added nutmeg to her apple pie filling-she added Allspice too, but that is where I draw the line. My granny was famous for her pies.  I don't like pie, mostly because of the crust, but I do like apples, so I just took the important part of those lessons and serve it as a side dish.]

Oh right, back to the apples...  So put the apples in the sugar mix, coat them fully with the mixture.  Dump the apples in to your nifty saute pan on medium heat.  This part is important, if your mixture gets too hot and you aren't paying attention, your 'candy' will get burnt and it tastes nasty. So, pay attention and stir the apples frequently.

Don't step on you baby monster that worked his way in to the kitchen either...

What you're looking for is the apples to turn a cloudy translucent (oxymoron...I know) if you can imagine what that would be like.  It takes a while, so be patient 15-20 minutes, I think. Then enjoy!

What you'll need.  And yes, we do have 2 block of knives, I'm not willing to give my Foreshner's up and Brady won't put away his J.A. Henkles, so we have two.  He's such a stubborn ass! =)

Mix your dry goods and toss the apples in it.  I think a fork works best.

Add them to the heat, you'll get bubbles and liquid.

'I see you Mama...'

That is focus right there baby.  Go get 'em!

Determination...

I turned around from the stove to find this:  'I will eat your toes if you don't pay attention to me Mama!'

[Practicing my parenting skills:] Do as I say, not as I do...my apples were different sizes. You'll know they are done when most of the liquid has been absorbed and your baby is pulling on your pant leg and grunting at you.