The Bloggergirl's Mommy Manifesto... Part 1

After much thought & careful typing.... I bring to you, The Mommy-Manifesto... part 1
(according to this Bloggergirl)

1)      You will never believe that you can love and protect another human being like this creature.

2)      The cliché about ‘heart walking around outside your body’?.... yeah, its true.

3)   You will never shower without an audience again… at least that’s how it feels.)      

4)   You will never ‘go potty’ again without an audience again… see #3 

5)   You will start using the phrase “go potty”…. Even when the phrase has the same effect as nails on a chalkboard to you.

6)   Your house will never be as clean as you think your childless friends’ houses are. 

7)   Your house will never be as clean as you think your mommy-friends’ houses are.

8)   You will lose socks to the dryer monster. (the “sock baggie”?... yeah. Give it up.)

9)   Your washer and dryer will become your new BFF’s.

10) You will interview and cull through babysitter applicants as if they are applying for top-secret government work... but at some point, you will just hire someone so you can Get Out of the House for an hour or 2. 

11) You will feel guilty about #10.

12) At some point, you will get over #11.

And there you have it. #1-12. I was going to stop at #10... but I felt that #11 & #12 were needed in this case. I'll have my part 2 up soon!

The Triumph. The Tragedy. The Broken Ankle.

Well.

So....

It's been an interesting week around here. (putting it mildly)

Wednesday night, I was on my way into church to pick up the short one from choir when my cell phone rang. It was my dear hubby's ring tone, so I assumed it would be him on the other end.

Nope.

It was my brother-in-law.

Not what I was expecting.

My lovely Bro had some news. He was driving E's car & he was behind the ambulance that was taking E to the hospital. (this would be the moment I stopped walking and did my best statue impersonation)

Let me back up for a moment, that morning, E and I had a convo about our plans that evening. I was on short one detail. E was going to play racquetball with his big brother.

Can you see where this is going?

E broke his ankle playing racquetball.
Good. Grief.
(When I inquired of E later how this happened, he said that he was playing extra-sucky & thought he could make up for the sucktitude by playing extra physical and with more energy. Yeah. My response was probably less than supportive.)

Isn't it cute? E's first broken bone. First IV. First hospital visit. First surgery. My baby is growing up! (Yes, I did just call my husband 'my baby'. Deal.)

He had to have surgery. A couple of pins, steel rod, staples, wire, duct tape and a Jedi Mind Trick were involved with putting that ankle back together. I was more nervous about the surgery than E was. I've had surgery a couple of times, shall we say. And I knew what was to come. But, what I didn't know was how nerve-wracking it would be to have a loved one wheeled away from me. I pretty much, in every way, hated it.

The surgery was super fast- and our surgeon was amazing. He was knowledgeable and really put me at ease. (and thought I was a nurse. I'm not. but, still. that was cool.)

E's on crutches this week and part of next. I'm driving him everywhere his sweet heart desires. He's a bit more than giddy to have me playing chauffeur. Next week he gets his staples out and a walking boot... and hopefully starts driving again!

I'm in every way tempted to post a picture of E in the hospital, but I was informed that any posted pictures would NOT be to the amusement of my beloved.

So, I'll leave you with this one!

A Day out with Thomas the Train

This past weekend, we had the chance to do something that has become a Spring-time *Event* for us.

A Day Out with Thomas.

We've gone every year for the past 3 years & I do believe that we will be keeping up the tradition for as long as I can convince everyone involved to participate! It's just a fun day. Around us, it's located in downtown Grapevine, Texas. Thomas the Train and his pint-sized followers take over the (working) train station for 2 weekends every year. 

The main event, naturally, is to take a ride in a train car, pulled by Thomas. But there are plenty of kid-friendly things to do while you are waiting for your train time. 

This year, Jacob's favorite tent was the one with the working train exhibit. I think he, E & my Dad spent most of our time in that tent. Jacob (and everyone else) was mesmerized by the trains going round and round!

There's another tent filled with trains for the ankle-biters to play with & another station (ha!, trains. station. get it?) for story-time when a little down time is needed for the junior engineers.

There's also a chance for the kids to meet Sir Topham Hatt. 

Jacob still won't walk up there by himself.

But. The center piece of the entire day really is Thomas.

When Jacob heard the whistle and saw Thomas coming down the tracks for our turn... well. 

Delight.

Thomas is a welcome event every year.

Don't forget to have your picture taken with Thomas! It's worth the wait.... at least for me & mine!

(You can buy the pictures they take or you can bring your own camera!)

Someone thought he was hot stuff when the conductor came around to check our tickets!

The Thomas ride, itself, is about 25 minutes long. We spent a grand total of 4 (count them!).... 4 hours there this time. If Thomas the train going rolling around you, go check it out! It's a lot of fun!

~Taylor

The Week

So, we're in the midst of what I've been taking to call, "THE WEEK."

Not to sound overly dramatic or anything (because that would be sooo out of character for me!), but this week has been my dread since I learned that it would be THE WEEK. Why is it, THE WEEK?

Well, E is working every. single. day. for about 15 hours. From this past Friday to this coming Saturday (with the exception of the blessed Sunday break). Yikes. E went to bed at 8:30 on Sunday night. And I have seen/and or spoken with him a grand total of 1 minute ever since. (about 2 sentences each yesterday & this morning). I miss my hubby. And it's only Tuesday!

This past Sunday, we went to church & then came home and crashed. I missed a MOPS event that evening that I had been looking forward to. Sad day. I was bummed, but I've realized  more and more how important it is to guard and protect my family's family time as much as I can. I was bummed at missing the Date Night... but, I was so blessed Sunday afternoon and evening with the precious time the three of us had together. It was time spent at the park, riding bikes. And my guys coming home hot & sweaty and smiling like a couple of wet puppy dogs. It was a time of giggling when they both decided to jump in the pool & came out 30 minutes late- teeth chattering. Making cookies with my sous-chef and sitting down for a family dinner.

Next Sunday will be another Family Day. E and I are taking Jacob to see Thomas the Train with Poppi (my dad). Jacob is so stinking excited! He's been talking about springtime & springtime meaning that Thomas would be coming back. He tells me every single day how much he misses Thomas. We're all excited for Sunday to come around.

But, first- we have to survive THE WEEK.

The picture? Oh, just because I want to. :-) I love pictures of my 2 favorite people. They are the loves of my life. What can I say?

Dinner, Dinner, Chicken- oh wait...

There's no meat in this dinner.

I made soup last night. Yes, soup. That wonderful creation that requires I throw in a bunch of ingredients, stir every few minutes and then be rewarded with plenty of food to feed a house dominated by males (2-1).

And, as a bonus, my brother-from-a-different-mother was over last night having dinner with us. Did I also mention that E worked late last night? Till 8pm? So a typical, sit down dinner was not going to cut it?

So, the Soup.

I found the recipe for 3-Bean Soup in one of my 900 hundred cooking magazines. (really, it's a sickness) I didn't have everything that the recipe called for (shocking!) but I decided that (as usual) I could play fast and loose with the ingredient list and I was right.

3-Bean Soup 
(honestly.... it's a meatless chili)
(adapted from Taste of Home magazine)

1 large onion (just chop it)
1 can spinach (rinsed & drained as best as you can)
garlic (so, I just measured out a teaspoon and a 1/2)
1 can (16-oz) kidney beans; rinse & drain
2 cans (16-oz) black beans; rinse & drain
1 can (16-oz) refried beans (no, I'm not kidding.)
14 oz of chicken broth (meh. eye ball it.)
1 can stewed tomatoes (sort of mash 'em up with you toss them in the pot)
salsa (again. eye ball it. I used somewhere between 3/4-1 cup. I used mild, cause it's what I had in the fridge)
chili powder (to taste)
cumin (ditto)
2 bay leaves (why? cause it's soup! and soup needs- it begs for bay leaves!)


Get a big 'ol pot and put it on your stove. Throw down some olive oil and the onions. Let them the onions get all nice and cooked. Then toss in the spinach. I tried to get the spinach to crisp and brown a little. It kinda worked! When that was nice and cooked, I added the garlic.
Then, I just dumped the rest of the ingredients in.
Easy, Peasy.

Let it cook for 30 minutes or so.
Taste it.
Adjust seasonings for taste.

Done.

(I served with shredded cheese and sour cream.)

The next time I make it, I will probably get fancy with the some added ingredients. But, honestly. If you're looking for a super fast, low-key way to feed your people some good food.... well, make this soup.

Yup. We got hitched

A couple of weeks ago :-)











Tune in next time & I'll tell you exactly where to eat in San Antonio. I may have been on my honeymoon, but hey! Priorities!

(And I think we all know how I feel about eating and documenting tasty food!)


- Taylor

'Tis This Season

I love Lent.

There, I said it.
That could, perhaps, sound odd to some.

Lent is, generally, thought of as a season of denial. Of penitence. Of restraint.

All of these terribly downer-feeling words. Words that no one really enjoys hearing.... especially when it comes to their own lives. (me included) But, in spite of and (perchance) because of that... it's one of my favorite seasons of the year.

Confession, it wasn't until I was in my 20's that I truly began to observe (understand) the Lenten season.

This time that leads up to the Holy Sacrifice.

When my son was born and my world started to crumble~ yes, I understood it more.

As I've grown up & come to understand the magical power of grace... oh, that grace... I've embraced this time more and more.

To see and feel and touch and taste the mess that I can make of my life. And then to know that it has been Redeemed. Not by my sad self. But by a God (the One) who sees me and loves me.

Me.
The happy, smiley, shiny, sparkly me.
The dark, ugly, tarnished, fragile me.

Not because of me.
(Never)
Because of Him.
(Forever)

Lent reminds me of that.

And, whatever my sacrifice this season (or any). It's a poor, shallow, all-encompassing, small, fleeting but powerful & mighty shadow of the gift that was freely given for me by sacrifice of the Lamb.

It's a sacred time, this time of Lent.