It's the little things....

It is the little things that make me feel like I'm doing an ok job at this Mom gig. 
A big thing happened the other night too.  Poor DS just had a meltdown. I think quite a few things just built up and he let it all out at once.  He so very rarely cries and he cried on me.  We talked and talked it out.  I got FG involved.  DS said a pretty serious thing that made my heart break into a million pieces. It wasn't about me or FG or anyone else but it showed the depth of how upset he was.  At one point during our talk FG said, "Buddy, you are only in 3rd grade.  It can't be that bad."  I reminded FG that while we tend to think of DS as a mini-adult, he isn't.  This is what he's living.  He doesn't know anything past 3rd grade and being 9 so yeah, this is as bad as it gets to him.  FG wasn't trying to blow it off at all, he was struggling just like me with the right things to say to comfort DS.  All seems to be ok now.  I let him know that we are behind him, here to talk to and protect him always.  I'm going to have him go in and talk to the school counselor because he seems to like that.  I sense therapy in his adult life, he really feels better after that. 

Anyway, the little things yesterday were....
I picked the kids up from school. I rarely do that unless I'm already at school.  I don't often leave the house to go sit in the parking lot because it's so small I have to get there early to get any sort of decent parking spot.  (Hello run on sentence).  The bus lets the kids off on the side of the house and they don't ride it long.  I just don't see a big point in going to get them every day.  But they like it, it was nasty weather yesterday and I wanted to see them. I've started working on Tuesday nights as well as Wednesday nights so I knew I wouldn't really get to see them much.  It took some of my "me" time away but it was worth it.

Earlier in the day I had picked up some library books for all of us.  DD knew one was coming - she had been waiting for it since we reserved it.  Instead of just putting them on their beds to find I decided a scavenger hunt would be fun.  So I made up 7 clues and hid them in various places.  Not too long ago, DS made a mailbox and we hung it outside of his bedroom.  We pass little notes back & forth in it (he raises the red flag when he has "outgoing mail" for me or FG to read).  I put the instructions and the first clue in there.  They had a blast!  They only spent about 10 minutes or so reading, solving and hunting down the clues.  They finally found their library books hidden in the dryer with a "Good Job!" note. 
They both thanked me about 20 times for that silly little scavenger hunt.  It was the last thing they both said when they went to bed too.  After I left for work, DS made up one for FG and DD to follow.  So it continued on well into the evening.

Then I made the night of a child shopping in the toystore last night.  Just another little thing but he spent his allowance money on something small while his sister made up her birthday registry.  They were in the store for quite awhile.  All of a sudden he came up to me at the counter and exclaimed, "I lost my tooth!" and proudly held up his tooth and showed me the hole.  Now when someone comes in with a cast on, they get a desginated present.  So I felt we just HAD to do something for this little boy.  We have these little tooth fairy boxes and I asked him if the tooth fairy comes to his house. He said yes. I asked him if he has a little box and he said no.  So I led him over to the display and told him to pick one out.  With big round eyes, he said, "Do I have to pay?"  I told him nope, I was going to give it to him.  He was thrilled.  His father had stepped out of the store to make a phone call and I told him to make sure he told his dad I let him take it for losing his tooth in the store.  I later overheard him tell his dad, "She's a really nice lady, isn't she dad?"

Now I'm about to go do another small thing for a store customer.  She called for the second day in a row asking about instructions for a kit that were not in the box.  Her daughter wants to make the kit for a school project.  I just happen to have the same kit at home.  When she left her name, phone and email asking that the store owners Please call her soon, I told her I would just email the instructions to her today.  She was SO thankful.  So I'm going to scan the 3 pages of instructions and email them to her.  It will probably take me 10 minutes.

All of these little things have made me feel pretty good and hopefully made others feel good. I know my kids were happy with me, I know the little boy will probably remember losing that tooth over some of the other ones and hopefully this mom will help her daughter who will in turn get a good grade on her project. 

Will you do something little to make someone's day today?

My life lately......

The new bathroom!

Wacky Wednesday at school with good friends.

My Ziploc HouseParty (more on that soon).  These are the goodie bags I had for my guests along with some prize giveaways.

DD dressing up the every-patient cat.

Probably my only political post

You won't find me posting much about politics.  I am frankly disgusted with our country's attitude and lack of respect.  Like him or not, he is the President and to say some of the awful things and toss out some of the awful names about him is disgusting.  I wouldn't say those things about my child's teacher or Principal and I certainly don't want to teach my children that is how to respect anyone, especially a person in an authoritative position!  Anyway, I'm glad there's some attempt at a change in the heathcare of this country.  No, I'm not a fan of 100% of the bill but I am a fan of attempting to make a change.  I've stated before that one of my biggest pet peeves is when people complain and complain about their lives but sit and do nothing about it.  I feel the same way about this.  Not every attempt to make things better works.  Maybe this will, maybe it won't but at least they aren't sitting on their ass, picking their nose and bitching about it! So go cry to the government when you need help but then call socialism.

A friend shared this and I just had to repost it.  I for one don't think that what our government is doing is socialism.  No more so than any other part of what our government has done, past or present.  We have a government for a reason.  I just luuuuuuve it when people with government jobs (and healthcare coverage!) complain about it.  Really?  Pull YOUR head out of the fucking sand.  I guess I just get to get punished because we have our own business.  Starting up a thing for ourselves and building it from scratch.  We would be better off being corporate drones and following the direction of Mr. Fat Cat. 
Now I'm rambling because I'm so pissed off.  Here is what I read and loved it! 

This morning I was awoken by my alarm clock powered by electricity generated by the public power monopoly regulated by the US Department of Energy. I then took a shower in the clean water provided by the municipal water utility. After that, I turned on the TV to one of the FCC regulated channels to see what the National Weather Service of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration determined the weather was going to be like using satellites designed, built, and launched by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. I watched this while eating breakfast of US Department of Agriculture inspected food and taking the drugs which have been determined as safe by the Food and Drug Administration.







At the appropriate time as regulated by the US Congress and kept accurate by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the US Naval Observatory. I get into my National Highway Traffic Safety Administration approved automobile and set out to work on the roads built by the local, state, and federal departments of transportation, possibly stopping to purchase additional fuel of a quality level determined by the Environmental Protection Agency, using legal tender issued by the Federal Reserve bank. On the way out the door I deposit any mail I have to send via the US Postal Service and drop the kids off at the public school.






After work, I drive my NHTSA car back home on the DOT roads, to a house which has not burned down in my absence because of the state and local building codes and fire marshal's inspection, and which has not been plundered of all it's valuables thanks to the local police department.






I then log on to the internet which was developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Administration and post on freerepublic.com and Fox News forums about how SOCIALISM in medicine is BAD because the government can't do anything right.

Computer's DEAD

Recipe Review

The Southwest Taco Pie from yesterday's menu post went over fairly well.  I added corn & black beans to about 1/4 of it.  I did use taco seasoning on the meat instead of mixing it with salsa.  The kids ate it up even though they said, "It was Ok."  But DS sure plowed through his!  FG had seconds.  It was good and a nice change from regular tacos.  I make tacos a lot because it's a good way to get some lean red meat into my kids.  It's fairly inexpensive too.  But lately I've been bored with regular tacos.  A couple of weeks ago I made nachos which were a HUGE hit with DD.  She said it was the most fun dinner ever.  She liked that I let her eat entirely with her hands.  They both love nachos so I used some Velveeta I had and melted it. I added some hot sauce and some milk to thin it out.  It turned out very well - better than the jar stuff.  Either way, nachos or taco pie, I've now got two recipes in my aresnal as a change up from regular tacos.

A couple of side notes I realized I didn't mention.... FG got his permanent cast on Friday.  We got him black so it will blend it with a suit when he's on the air.  He didn't say a thing about his splint on last week's show and I have a feeling he will keep quiet about it until he's healed. 
My dad is doing well.  He gets very tired but he's doing better.  Yay!!!
FG and I are witnessing yet another marriage fall apart.  This one we don't know which way it will go.  I am betting that they split up.  I just don't think they want to be married any longer.  Sad because they have two kids under 5.  But they really aren't good for each other either.  I found out the girl (who I do not know well at all) plays mind games with her husband.  She will use sex to get what she wants.  FG and I talked about it at length on Friday when we had a date.  We agreed that is a terrible way to have a marriage.  I think it was good for him & I to talk.  A few weeks ago, we were annoyed and irritated with each other.  I certainly didn't want to spend any time with him and I think the feeling was mutual.  Then he broke his thumb and I think things changed in his head a bit.  I think it woke him up a bit to realize what I do for him & our family and my feelings of being unappreciated and neglected were recognized.  Since then he has been thanking me more, appreciating me more too.  I have been nagging him a bit less and picking up slack because he simply cannot do certain things (like dishes, dammit, he can't do the dishes! So now instead of getting mad that he just leaves his dishes I just do them because I know he can't. What's weird is he's usually very good about helping with things like that and then when he wasn't, I was irritated.  And yes, I do thank him for helping out when he does even though he doesn't thank me for doing the dishes every day).  Funny how things happen and can have an effect on your emotions.  Watching a marriage suffer and seeing faults of others helps us too.  Neither of us want to end up there and we know it so a little wake up call once in awhile is good for us!

Menu Plan Monday! 3/8/10

Hip Hip Hooray! I went shopping the other day!~
I am happy to announce that we have food back in the house.  But I'd like to keep up with my creative dinners and use of the food we have.  I bought lots of fruit and veggies to last us two weeks.  I'm trying hard to get us all to eat more and that is a TOUGH task in this house!  I like more vegetables than the rest of the family.  They just are not veggie lovers.  Here's our menu for the week and a recipe or two.

• Sunday - BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches** w/ crispy thin onion rings, roasted rosemary red potatoes, tossed salad (I've been sneaking spinach in it and DS just started eating salad but picked out all the spinach!), brownie sundae dessert.
• Monday - Southwest Taco Pie*, rice, salad
• Tuesday - Baked pork chops, mashed potatoes & gravy, roasted eggplant slices
• Wednesday - Tupperware Buffet (I work in the evening)
• Thursday - Toasted ham & cheese sandwiches, french fries or homemade potato chips if I get time, steamed cauliflower (DS's favorite vegetable)
• Friday - out
• Saturday - MYOTO Lemon Chicken***, homemade fried rice

*Southwest Taco Pie

(I think this is a Pampered Chef recipe but I got it from my cousin.  I've never made it so I hope it goes over well with the fam!)

Crust:

1/4 cup + 1 T. cornmeal, divided

3/4 cup all purpose flour

1 1/2 t. baking powder

1/2 t. salt

1/3 cup milk

1 T. veg. oil

Filling:

1 lb. lean ground beef

1 cup salsa

1 cup shredded cheese

1 cup shredded lettuce

1/2 cup tomato (I'll omit since we don't eat them)

1/4 cup sliced olives (I'll omit)

sour cream

Preheat over to 450 degreees.  Spray 9" pie plate with vegetable oil spray.  Sprinkle 1 T. cornmeal evenly onto bottom and sides of pie plate.

For crust, combine dry ingredients into bowl. Add milk & oil. Stir until mixture forms a ball.  Transfer to a floured surface and roll out crust to 10" pie circle.  Place in prepared pie plate and shape edge to form rim.

For filling, cook and stir ground beef in frying pan over medium heat, 8-10 minutes, until no longer pink.  Drain and stir in salsa (I think I'm going to use a taco seasoning packet as if I was preparing the meat for regular tacos and put the salsa on the side since I don't think the kids will want it).  Spoon mixture into pie crust and sprinkle with cheese. 

Bake 12 - 15 minutes or until crust is golden brown and cheese is melted.  Top pie with lettuce and garnishes of your choice.

**BBQ Pulled Pork

(This is my grandmother's recipe that was one of my favorite meals as a kid. She made it for me when she came out to my wedding.  Now my husband and my son love it too!  My daughter, eh, she tolerates it. I have to bring or get a relative to bring the Brooks Ketchup to me since I can't find it out West.  I also cook a fairly large pork butt roast in the crock pot for several hours with salt, pepper, and sliced onions.  I shred it when it's tender.  My grandmother always used a pressure cooker for the pork roast. )

* Exported from MasterCook

BBQ Sauce (for ribs or shredded pork sandwiches)

1/3 cup vinegar

2 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1 small bottle Brooke's Ketcup

1 tablespoon salt

1 tablespoon powdered mustard

1 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 clove garlic -- minced

Combine all ingredients in saucepan and simmer for 15 minutes.

Mix into shredded pork for sandwiches.

NOTES : Regular Ketchup can be used - add a few drops hot sauce.

MYOTO Lemon Chicken***

(This came from Kraft Food & Family awhile ago and we really like it! It's a good way to stretch chicken breasts)

1 tablespoon oil

1 pound boneless chicken -- cut into 1-inch pieces

6 ounces vegetables (snow peas, broccoli, zucchini) -- cut into 1" pieces

1 small red pepper -- cut into strips

1 package lemon gelatin powder

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1/2 cup chicken broth

2 tablespoons italian salad dressing

2 cloves garlic -- minced

Heat Oil in large skillet on medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook 4 minute or until cooked through, stirring occasionally. Add vegetables, cook and stir for 2 minutes.

Mix dry gelatin mix and cornstarch in small bowl. Add broth, dressing and garlic. Stir until gelatin is dissolved. Add to skillet. Reduce heat to medium; cook 3 minutes or until sauce is thickened, stirring frequently.

Serve over hot cooked rice.

Hospitals, injuries, chaos, OH MY!

Well, no menu plan for me for the past few weeks.  I've been 1) flying by the seat of my pants 2) not grocery shopping so we've been eating up everything in the house.  Seriously people, it's getting bad! :) 

Last weekend my dad was sick.  We thought it was pneumonia but we couldn't get him to go to the hospital. Finally last Monday my mom was able to talk him into going to the Dr. and they admitted him to the hospital.  He had bronchitis.  But his breathing is compromised already since he needs to be on oxygen all the time.  While in the hospital he had a heart attack. A silent one that he didn't even know about.  But the nurses sure did!  That led to a couple of procedures to check his grafts from 8 years ago when he had triple bypass.  He spent the week in the hospital and it was not fun.  We worried, we prayed, we visited, the kids looked out the window and were scared and fascinated by all the wires & tubes he had.  DS wanted to go see all the parts of the hospital and would have kept watching the happenings and heart monitors at the nurse's station the whole time if he could.  He wanted to go see pulmonology and the ER.  He wanted to go watch a surgery. If that kid isn't cut out to be a doctor I don't know who is.  We'll just have to wait and see what he ends up being.   Dad ended up going home after a second heart cath on Friday.  He's feeling much much better now too.

Also last Monday a contractor came and ripped out my guest bath and entry from the garage.  The next day our friend who is a tile installer laid some sub-floor stuff for under the tile.  The tile is on order.  Our friend is going out of town and won't be able to do the floor until next week.  In my garage is the toilet, the baseboards, the old mirror that I wanted the contractor to take away and boxes of the new stuff.  It's a tad chaotic out there and a tad chaotic in the house too.  There's a tarp on the floor at the entry from the garage.  It's also where the door to the laundry room is.  My house also smells like "contruction".  Fun times!  I'll post before & after pics when it's eventually done.

Yesterday FG came home from skiing holding his arm funny.  Turns out some idiot not looking cut him off coming out of the trees and not looking.  This made FG crash, his friend crash and FG broke his thumb.  Off to the ER we went after I got my FIL to come hang with the kids.  The last thing I wanted was to drag the kids off to the ER for a few hours - as fascinating as that would have been for DS!  So FG, being a man, is now nearly helpless because he has a broken thumb.  I will give him the credit that is is difficult to do many things when you don't have the use of one hand and he IS in pain.  Thankfully it's on his left hand and he is right handed.  I've had my right hand (also a righty) immobilzed and it's not easy to function.  Yeah, you go around and try to do everything with your opposite hand.  Just try it out in the bathroom girls, it is no picnic.  He needs to see an orthopedist in the next few days and see what we need to do from there.  It's apparently an injury/break that is very easy to re-injure if it's not fixed correctly.  Yay! More bills!

DS has a biography report due at the end of this week.  It consists of a written report, an oral report and props - either costume, item or a poster.  Yay! LOVE 3rd grade and having the hardest teacher in the school!  Actually it's good for him, he just gets overwhelmed and not sure where to start and his spelling is awful.  So he needs a lot of guidance on these things.  I won't do it for him but I will help him and guide him.  I guess I did sign up for this parent gig huh?

Wish me luck ladies.  I think I'm gonna need it.  I'm actually quite surprised I have held up as well as I have this past week.  It's been very very stressfull.  I only broke down once in sobs.