The Race

Neal ran in Race for the Cure today. He walked in the door a few minutes ago. I asked him how it was and told him how I wished it had not been raining so I could have gone with the children. His quote, "There were soooo many people there. So much pink. There were so many over-zealous middle-aged women. The fountain was pink. Did you know that?" I laughed and said, "Well it is Race for the Cure, all about breast cancer. Makes sense to me."

Since I was not at the race I took his picture when he walked in the door.

Good Food

I know I have been lax for the past month or two. I don't really have an excuse - just have not done it/been into it. I have been doing dorky things in my spare time like organizing my recipes (the ones not in cookbooks that is). Which has brought on a whole new crop of cooking. It has helped me get out of the same old thing rut and try some new dishes. Here are two things that we really enjoyed and were extremely easy. I had to pass these along...

The first is Skillet-Grilled Burritos with Creamy Cilantro-Jalapeno Sauce. It makes 8 servings (one burrito per serving) but I think for nursing moms it should be 1 1/2 burritos per serving. I was probably satisfied with one but wow they were so good I had to eat a little more. And I think part of what makes it so good is the sauce so make the sauce; don't skip out on it, the lime and jalapenos were excellent.

The other new hit at my house - especially with Neal; he keeps talking about how good it is - is Creamy Bell Pepper 'n' Tomato Soup***. I know what you non-tomoato people are thinking but I had a non-tomato person try it and she liked it enough to eat a bowl. Instead of making Christmas Croutons you can use your pumpkin cookie cutter (assuming you have one) and make pumpkin ones. I actually just sliced whole wheat French bread really thin and toasted it with some salt, pepper and a tiny bit of cheddar cheese. I would imagine their croutons are very good though. The children around here loved it - I think mainly because it was pureed and they like all things they don't have to take the time to chew and they loved the dipping of the bread.

Maybe next time I am insprired to update the blog I will put the pictures from our lake vacation on or our recent beach trip.


***I realized Southern Living does not have the exact recipe on line that was in their magazine. So here are the differences so you can choose which one to try...
Instead of 3-4 roasted peppers use 2 (12oz) jars roasted red bell peppers, drained
Instead of savory tomato pasta sauce mix use 1 (0.6oz) envelope Zesty Italian dressing mix
Add 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Omit Parmesan cheese garnish

"How do men walk around with those things?" - Elaine

I actully typed this hours ago and took some cute pictures of the children that I was going to attach to the blog. One problem though...we have a new camera and I don't know how to get the pictures off of it and onto the computer. Sure I could figure it out if I wanted to take the time but I think it will be easier for Neal to show me tonight. So here it is...


We have been working hard the last few weeks reminding Dean to "point it down" when he goes to the bathroom to insure all of the tee-tee goes in the potty. This process has helped him realize that he has lots of control over where he tee-tees within the potty. Moments ago I was standing in the bathroom; I thought to myself that Dean had figured out his new skill. With the slightest movement of his finger he was changing the direction from left to right - very quickly mind you. Then he decided to move his finger ever so slightly up and you guessed it..."DEAN!!!! Buddy, you can't do that you just got tee-tee all over the room." (Thankfully he did not think it was funny; he was a little concerned by his action and insisted that we clean it up immediately.)

what's a mom to say

This morning we went to Bible study at the church. Afterward we drove past a house that had a trampoline and swing set/fort in the backyard. Anna Grace commented on it. We came back home, ate lunch, then left again to run a quick errand before nap time. While in the car I had a priceless conversation with Anna Grace who had obviously been thinking about the Pattillo's cool backyard.

Anna Grace: Mama, when can I get a jumpaline?
Me: What? (Hoping she was not really asking for a trampoline.)
Anna Grace: A jumpaline, Mama. Its a circle and you jump on it. Do you know what I am talking about? A jumpaline.
Me: Oh, you mean a trampoline.
Anna Grace: Oh, a trampoline. When can I get one?
Me: I don't know.
Anna Grace: Well, Jesus said it would be good for me to have one.
Me: What?!? Did you say Jesus said?
Anna Grace: Yes, Mama, Jesus said it would be good for me to get one.

Wow! What can I really say to that?

Me: That is interesting. How about some music? (Enter Bear music.)


Hey, Pattillo's, could you please get a fence up or invite us over to play...something?!? Your killing me.

Family Newsflash

This goes out to all children under age 5...
When your mom walks in the room and you jump up to attention the "mom antenna" goes up. When she asks what you are doing and you smile and say, "Nothin, just playin"; she will grow even more suspicious. But then when you say, "Would you go away please," while that is very polite she will most likely decide she wants to "play with you" so she can sit and stay a while and see what you are really up to.

A parenting moment...
I might be willing to say you have not really experienced life until your two year old calls you and the rest of the family into the bathroom to let you know he pooped a spaceship. As if that is not enough of a comedy the family then gets to stare into the potty talking about what a fabulous spaceship it is.


And yes I know I have not posted about our vacation. We had a great time and hopefully I will take a few hours this week to compile all of the pictures into a blog for you.

Unsolicited Advice, part 2

I say part 2 because part 1 is found on my friend Lindsey's blog (here).

People just crack me up. Like not too long ago I had a family member email me a reminder (a.k.a. impractical article) about how we should never put our purse on a table, counter or other surface that we eat off of or holds food. Apparently purses should be kept on hooks. Why you ask? Well, because we put our purses in grocery store buggies, the floor of our car, the floor in restaurants, blah, blah, blah. The germs that the bottom of our purses carry should not be spread to the table or counter. I agree. It is a great point. However, I live in the real world with three children. I just don't have time to worry about that. I like to consider my purse as a means to help build my family's immune system as it spreads germs wherever I place it!

But on to my recent unsolicited advice...Yesterday I was in the grocery store with all three children. This is something that I usually don't do but sometimes - like when there are no diapers in the house - it is necessary. So in we go. Dean and Anna Grace are in the big buggy (I could not find any of the big kid carts to strap them) and Caleb is in his carrier attached to the basket. Things start off great. Dean and Anna Grace are happily playing (which does typically mean laughing/singing/etc but not fighting) and Caleb is asleep. Not long into our trip Caleb wakes up and so it begins. Every time the buggy stops he starts to cry...loud...because he wants to be back asleep. And every time the buggy moves he stops and starts to fall back asleep. I did not want to push the buggy around the store until he fell asleep and then do my shopping so I chose to hurry though the store and let him cry. Well there was this older couple in there and it seemed that we kept going down the same aisles. The lady was fine; she smiled and then continued to shop. The man on the other hand was not pleased. The first time he saw us Caleb was just starting to whimper yet when he looked into the buggy and saw the contents - three small children and some bananas - he shot me a disgusted look. Then however with each passing and Caleb's cries getting louder his mean glances became dirty looks that ultimately became disgusted stares. I knew what he was thinking..."Do you know how this happens, Girl? You don't have to have so many children; shame on you. Hope this is your last. They are too close in age." Blah...Blah...It is the same dumb comments people are crazy enough to say to my face. As I was racing to the check out lane I saw him one last time. His look was just down right evil by this time. I wanted so bad to stop and say, "Hey, Goodin, if you have a problem with this why don't you put that case of Miller High Life back on the shelf and buy me a pack of condoms!" But instead I chose to smile at them one last time and then look at the check-out girl who seemed happy to have us in her line, crying baby and all, and say, "Are you sure you are ready for this crew?"

Catching Up

We have been busy the past few weeks therefore I thought I would take some time to catch the blog up.

First the children and I spent a week in Mississippi visiting family. We all had a great time. I tried to take pictures but I know I did not capture the essence of the trip. However here is our recap in picture.

Caleb took his first mud sink bath.

Anna Grace and Ottie played Sorry! together.

Dean joined in the fun.

Dean and Ottie had too much fun and needed to rest.

Holt spent a few hours with us on Wednesday. Since it was way more calm then (opposed to the day before when Holt, the triplets, Slade and Laurie came to play) we took a few pictures.

Anna Grace, Holt and Dean playing the fishing game.

Holt and Caleb were excited to meet.

Now on to August. So far we have made cookies, tried to get a birth announcement picture (yes I know he is 13 weeks old but I am extending lots of grace to myself since well I just am) and gone to the lake for a weekend. Here you go...

Frosted Double Chocolate Chunk here we come!

Trying to take a good picture of Caleb.

Caleb guarded the house while Neal took a nap at the lake.

Triple Threat ready for bed after a long day of play.

The boys paling around this morning.

What a grin!

We are taking a vacation to the lake in a week. I will do a better job of taking pictures and hopefully have a great post when we return.

Name Change

I have been thinking lately that after all this time some changes need to be made to the blog. This past Sunday our family went to eat after church (that is after coming home and getting a bottle for Caleb and changing his diaper and getting Dean a bib and getting him back in his big boy pants and getting Anna Grace and Dean sippy cups) by the time we sat down at our table (with the booster seat and the high chair brought by our waiter along with cups with tops just in case) Neal looked at me and said, "It will be quite an accomplishment when we can just walk in a restaurant and say, 'five please' then just sit down." I laughed but have thought about it everyday since. I can't imagine what that will be like and somehow it seems so far off - and I don't think that is a bad thing - but I am excited to see all that God has in store.

Now on to other things..

Dean's current most famous quote after I asked him what he was doing upstairs this morning is, "Eating my booger." Honestly, I have never seen him pick his nose but apparently he has a new skill that we are going to have to deal with. As for Anna Grace, yesterday she went to the bathroom all by herself when she got out of bed. That is nothing new but she seemed to have a hard time getting redressed because when I helped her change into her play clothes she had one leg of her panties around her waist, the other leg around one of her legs and her other leg coming out of the waistband. Just think about that for minute. It was quite a site to behold - once I figured out what she had done.

We have tried several new recipes this week. One of them was exceptional. I thought I would sare it with you. It is Chicken Stew with Biscuits, similar to chicken pot pie but better. You should try it sometime.

Well this entire blog post has been an attempt to procrastinate on some sewing projects that I really need to get finished. And now that I hear Dean awake I guess I need to get cracking on the sewing machine.

count it all joy

Last night was sort of a rough night. Anna Grace was up crying in her bed around 3 am then Caleb was up wanting to eat at 4. Then my morning started at 6:03 when Anna Grace came in our room wanting something to drink.

So after feeding Caleb and getting a bite to eat myself around 8:00 I was roboticly going through the motions of changing Caleb's poop diaper. While doing this I was giving myself a pep talk; you know reminding myself that no matter the circumstances I am to be joyful and my life is really a piece of cake, I am just tired at the moment...My children really are a blessing from the Lord and I am thankful to have such a great family...That sort of talk. When all of a sudden Caleb had a juicy toot that, bam, landed right on my face...my cheek, temple and forehead to be exact! All of a sudden I was wide awake and for a milla-second I thought "Really?!?" but then the hilarity of the situation that only God could orchestrate had me laughing and counting it all joy, poop face and all.

marriage

As is the case with most three year olds, Anna Grace always has a question for me. However there are several that I know she will ask in the course of the day, everyday. They are:

1. "Mama, can Caleb walk yet?"
2. "Well can he crawl?"
3. "What are we having?" (referring to breakfast, lunch and dinner)
4. "Are you still married?"
5. "Am I still big?"

It is the forth question that always gets me. The typical conversation that follows usually has to do with am I married to "Daddy" and why are we married and then she tells me her understanding of marriage - "Big people, a mama and a daddy, get married, have children and stay married forever because God wants them too."

Last night Neal was going to visit a sick friend just before Anna Grace and Dean went to bed. Being out of the ordinary, Anna Grace felt the need to check the schedule for the evening, making sure he would come back and kiss her good night, that sort of thing. Then she said, "Because he has to sleep with you in y'all's bed." I said yes then came the daily question..."Are you still married?" I said yes. This time however the conversation took a different turn. Here it is:

AG: Are you still married?
me: Yes.
AG: Am I married?
me: No.
AG: Why not?
me: Because you're 3.