Baking

OK, so this really has nothing to do with my kids but I wanted to write about this for a while. Well, I guess it sort of does have to do with them in a round about way, everything does to some extent, but that's how I like it.

One of my hobbies or something I enjoy doing is baking. My Kitchen Aide mixer is probably one of my top ten favorite things in this house. And I love saving and trying new recipes. A few Christmas's ago I was looking for the 'perfect' sugar cookie recipe and tried different ones with refrigerating the dough for hours, rolling it out etc.

And one of my close friends used to be a chef before she became a stay at home mom. It's fun having her as a friend for many reasons but I tend to call her up and say 'how long can I keep this cooked chicken for?' 'I need a good dessert idea' etc. Just last week I asked her about Dutch processed cocoa powder. I have had a few recipes I want to try and I can't find it in the store but yet don't want to pay like 5 dollars in a magazine and then 8 dollars to ship it. She was like, 'oh, that's Martha Stewart right? You don't need that, any cocoa powder will do.' So I may try something yummy this week. I try to have something homemade every week and I just threw out the Easter desserts, so we are ready for something new.

OK, so with that said I have found with my sugar cookie recipes, the best one.... is this Betty crocker mix. I swear I will never make then from scratch again. They are so good, they keep their form when you use cookie cutters, and they take like 20 minutes as opposed to the entire afternoon waiting for the dough to harden in the fridge.

The other thing I am guilty of is those shamrocks (or calf testicles if you ask my husband.) I got that recipe by email from Pillsbury using a tube of cookie dough, ALREADY MADE. We rolled, sugared, baked and were done. It was fun, fast and yummy. And you see those heat and served things now like the brownies and whatnot? Crazy. I'm not there yet but may be some day.

This is what I was thinking though. Can you see like our great great great grandmothers meeting together and saying 'Hey... Do you know that Mari-bell down the lane went to the market and BOUGHT HER FLOUR? And she calls herself a baker!!! I only use what my husband can grind up for me. That's REAL baking.' I can just see it.

So I may try to be Martha Stewart every once in a while. I am not above grabbing a tube of sugar cookie dough to do a fun project with my kids.

Happy Easter

Mom, it's an egg, don't get all excited!


We spent a delightful day all together. It is really nice to have a large family. Maybe it is not large to some but I think it is pretty large. My husband has 2 sisters and they have spouses and 3 kids each. This morning at church, we filled 4 pews. The 8 cousins are 10, 8, 7, 4, 3, 3, 1 and 1. It is so nice that they cal all play together and get along so well. As I am writing this, I hear the buzz of the fourwheeler outside as well as kids running around and yelling. I am very fortunate to be part of a caring and loving family... on both sides.

Baby

I'm sorta bored right now so I am going to post this thought that I have had for a while. What is a baby? I have had my dictionary up here for some time now (I was kinda picking up and I saw this dictionary and it made me think, oh yeah, I wanted to do that post.) So here is what the dictionary says a baby is:

-a very young child

-infant

-the youngest member of a family or group

-a person who behaves in an infantile way

I guess it depends on who you ask on what defines a baby. According to this dictionary, my mom as well as my husband would be considered 'babies' and I guess my brother too because they are all the youngest members of families, but I don't really think of them as babies. I would agree with an infant, but I don't really think it stops there. And a very young child... where do you draw the line with that? I mean I would consider Adam a very young child, but not a baby.

I guess I have been thinking about this because we refer to Van as 'Baby Van' a lot. And I know that Adam was pretty much a baby, until Van came along. But I have friends that refer to their children as babies and they are Adam's age, because they are the youngest in the family. And my aunt refers to her grandson as baby Jayson, and he is like 14. Some people say anything before two is considered a baby. Also once they stop sleeping up on their knees, they are no longer a baby. Hey, Baby Gap goes up to size 4T! Does that mean they are still babies until they reach that size? I don't know. But I am going to keep calling Van my baby for a while at least.

My masterpieces

I have been working on the sweater that Adam has on since July. What can I say, I am sort of slow and the only time I knit is at night because when the kids are around, I just can't stop in the middle of a row or really think about what I am doing. And of course my eyes get tired at night so I don't get that much accomplished at a time. But, I truly love it and I am itching to start my next project. I wanted to make something with a picture knitted into it. I had no idea how to do it and I wanted a little bit of a challenge. There are two fish, one at the bottom and the other on his sleeve and the other is a sailboat. At first it was kinda tricky but now I know what to do. I am pretty happy with it, I just wish it were a little bigger.

I started Van his sweater and hat set when I was pregnant with him and finished it in July. I never had done buttons and button holes before so that was my challenge on that piece. I have to admit, this is only the second time he has worn it. I am so afraid of something happening to it! But the hat he has worn more. I better make it a point to have him wear it often. I am working on something mindless for myself next and then after that, I am doing this complicated piece with cables and different stitching for Adam (if I make it for Adam, I can get two-kids wear of out it!), I will let you know about it... like next year when it is done. :)

Just because...

I took these today because Van-o was acting cutsie and he cracks me up. I just think he's great.

28 steps to get ready for a St. Patrick's Day parade.

I read this article in Parenting magazine a few days ago and I thought it was HILARIOUS. It was a mom that wrote it and it was about the steps she went to garden and I felt like I could totally relate. If you are a mom and are trying to get anywhere on time, I am sure you can relate to this as well. And with two kids, it is even more of a challenge. So here I go with the steps to get ready for a St. Patricks Day parade. Keep in mind, I told my mom when I pulled in to her driveway, I was going to blog this:

1. Arise at 7:30 to the rustlings of my children. (Honeslty something I absolutely LOVE) I need to pick my parents up at 9:30, they live 20 minutes away, NO PROBLEM!

2. Find baby Van in his crib looking like Tarzan, (he tends to get one arm out of his sleeper which is something I find HIGHLY amusing.

3.Get Van out of crib and close the gate.

4. Let Adam and Van pay together while I wash my hair.

5. Gather my brush and baby’s hand out of the toilet.

6. Get 2 undershirts, 2 pairs of socks, underwear, 2 pairs of pants and 2 shirts for both of the boys and carry the baby and outfits downstairs.

7. Let dog out.

8. Prepare breakfast for both of the boys and myself.

9. Feed the baby and myself while Adam feeds himself.

10. Clean up after breakfast.

11. Attempt to change the baby which is similar to wrestling a small alligator. Inform Adam to start dressing himself.

12. Baby is dressed, I now redress Adam because the clothes are on, just backwards.

13. Dry my hair which is pretty much already dry but it needs to be 'styled.' I do this while holding one leg on the toilet so we don't have a repeat of #5.

14. Go upstairs and dress myself.

15. Go back downstairs and start to pack the St. Patrick's Day parade supplies. (oh yes the supplies)

16. Find two blankets, and run back upstairs and grab two sweatshirts for the boys, run downstairs and pack hats and mittens. I can't find ONE pair of matching mittens for Adam.

17. I call my mom and tell her I can't find a matching pair and we should be leaving momentarily. She says she is sure she has some and her and my dad are ready.

18. Continue packing, packing a snowsuit for baby, two hats and a pair of gloves for me. Thinking about it a little and realize that I should pack a pair of mittens for baby because what if it is not cold enough for a snowsuit but he will need a coat and then he will need mittens, so I pack them.

19. Ok, now for the diaper bag. Check to make sure I have enough diapers, and a bib. Pack a bag of teddy grahams and 2 cups of milk and 2 juice boxes. Adam, upon seeing this decides he is thirsty. We have taken him off a sippy cup and since those were my last 2 juice boxes, I pour him a drink.

20. Pack batteries for my camera because it dies each time I turn it on. Realize my camera is on the third floor because the last time I used it was to do the last blog. Run up here to get it.

21. Start packing my coupons and realize I need the watch battery warrenty and run back up here to get it.

22. Ok, now it's time to get coats and shoes on. Go to put Van's socks on and see that even though I had 2 tractor socks, they don't match. Run upstairs to get 2 white ones. And throw some mascara and lip gloss on while I'm upstairs.

23. Get everyone coated and shoed and realize that Van's face isn't washed, I wash it before we go.

24. Finally out the door with a walking child, baby in arms as well as my purse, diaper bag, and the huge bag of blankets, sweatshirts and coupons and whatnot.

25. Get out to the van and load everyone in as well as 2 strollers.

26. Arrive at my parents at 9:36 as they are wating at the door.

27. Realize as we drive further, I left my husband's watch on the counter, I have the warrenty but no watch!

28. Having mostly everything I needed and survived the day.

St. Patrick's Day Parade

Ok, this isn't the NYC St. Patrick's Day parade but it still is one. Actually, I found out last night (St. Patrick's Day Eve) :) that my husband was going to be IN the St. Patrick's Day parade in NYC. I knew he was going down but I thought he was just doing a traffic detail or something. Nope, he was marching. If I knew that a few weeks prior, I may have made arrangements to actually go down and see it. But alas, we didn't and maybe we will another time. But he said he doesn't want to do it again. It was cold.

We went on Sunday to Goshen to see the St. Patrick's Day parade down there. My mom grew up in Goshen and my grandma and aunt still live there. We go there every Monday after Little Gym to visit. So my mom and dad and Adam and Van and I all went to go see the parade. We stopped in Middletown first and did a little shopping. As we were leaving the mall I called my aunt and said we weren't coming, it was raining. As we left the mall entrance I thought, hey it looks a little lighter, so we called her back and said we were coming. When we parked and walked, it was POURING and then as we were standing there waiting, it was sleeting. But when the parade actually started, it was clear. Van liked the bag pipes and Adam enjoyed watching as well. I think it was their first parade because the one at the Pumpkin Party they are in each year. I have realized though that we need to get some more green clothing!

Top o' the morning to ya!

Ya know when that guy says that on the cell phone commercial? I laugh out loud EVERY time! I think it is the way he bends back a little when he says it. So funny. Anyway, here are some shamrock cookies Adam and I made today. His job was to sugar the balls. He did a good job.

Easter Party

Adam doing the bunny hop (hop hop hop)

This past Saturday we went to our friend Melana's Easter party. The boys seemed to have a good time. I think Adam thinks HE is the Easter bunny. All the kids were supposed to sit on the stage and wait for the Easter bunny to come in. As soon as he did, Adam bolted off the stage and ran over to him. Van was also strutting around like he owned the place and playing with the big boys. But it was a very enjoyable and fun day.

Feeding updates

Here's a little update on my healthy food kick. A few days ago I made this vegetable barley bake. It turned out pretty well. My only complaint is that it took a really long time and that is because it made so much. It was in a 9x13 pan so we are eating some tonight as well. I started making dinner at 4:15 and pretty much didn't stop and sit down to eat until 6. We had pork and apples and that veg bake. I underestimated the time it would take me to cut up all the peppers, mushrooms and onions. So next time I will halve the recipe. We had stewed baby tomatoes last night too and that seemed to go over well.

My kids both have colds and aren't eating. Chip and I are trying everything (less of giving them just junk to eat) and nothing seems to be really working. Why is it as parents we are always trying to get our children to eat? My grandma told me when my uncle was a baby, (he was her first) she brought him to this special doctor because she thought he wasn't eating. The doctor told her, a child won't starve unless you don't provide food for them. And that was 60 years ago. So I guess my kids aren't going to starve. Also in a really weird sort of way, this made me think of this conversation I had with my pastor this summer. He works for Hospice and I was just saying that there is NO WAY I could do that, be around people that actually die right in front of you. And he was telling me that one thing that people do when their loved ones are actually 'dying' is they try to get them to eat and drink because that is a sign of life really. So I wonder in a really weird sort of way, do we try to get the kids to eat a lot because we think the more they eat, the healthier they are? I don't know.

So I had a can of Speghettio's in the cupboard today. I bought them before the health kick. And I thought, what kid is going to refuse these? I look at the can and it is 37% of your sodium for the day, what can be better right? Yeah... well my kids both would not eat them. Van spit it out, twice. And Adam had like two spoonfuls and that was the end for him. So I ate it and saved the rest for another day. I guess I should be happy in a way that they didn't want it right? I then tried to give Van baby food and he didn't want that either and Adam ate my carrots. (He will eat fruit and vegs until the cows come home but I want him to eat something else of substance.) I think when they feel better, they will eat more.

Barn Boys

Adam got another barn for his birthday from a friend and I absolutely LOVED it. Like Chip said, he has a barn already, why did I like it so much, but it is because it came with little people and forks and shovels and brooms and pails and hay. It was awesome! You can't find stuff like that. Well, at least I couldn't and I looked. And as you can see, the boys are having a ball. I figure hey, we have more than one barn on our farm, the kids can use more than one play barn too right?

The Easter Bunny

Here is Adam with an Easter Bunny craft I created. I don't anticipate any craft companies contacting me and asking me to design any projects! Especially since it looks pretty much like the snowman we made a few weeks ago. Ha! Oh well, he enjoyed it anyway.

Baby Parts

Daddy and Van in the pool
Van and some of his parts

So it's no secret that you love your baby's parts right? I just want to tell you a little about some of my favorites. I remember when Adam was born (and Van as well but I knew it would get better) but his skin wasn't that soft supple baby skin I was expecting. It was sort of wrinkly and dry and he didn't want to be naked for any amount of time. But then that gradually changed. I love soft baby skin! I don't know when it changes to 'normal people skin' but I hope not for a while. Adam's skin is still so soft and I just love to touch it.

I love the little 'dimples' on baby knuckles. Van didn't get his for a while, and I have even seen adults have them but they aren't as appealing. Aren't they the cutest things on babies? And I love how Van's fingers start out small on top and gradually get fatter as you get towards the knuckle. Adam's don't do that anymore.

Baby feet are also on everyone's list. What is the deal with them? I personally think they are the cutest things going and I thought about it one day and I wondered if it is because they are so small? But the thing is, so is EVERYTHING else on the baby. Baby toes and feet are so so cute though. I love to kiss and bite Van's little feet.

You know when you are so pregnant that you can't even see your private parts anymore? Well, I have decided that I don't think Van has ever seen his. He knows they are there, he checks for them at every diaper change but I don't' think he has ever seen them because he has a large protruding belly. Now I know this is the child that weighs as much as our six month old neighbor (for real) but he does have a large belly. Or a puss gut as Chip refers to it. Nice huh? But I love to kiss and blow raspberries on his belly.

woops...

gotta love a honker

I forgot the pictures.

A blessing in disguise

This probably isn't the appropriate title for this post but you'll understand in a minute. When Sesame Street Live was coming to town, of course I had to get tickets. Adam went last year with my mom and a friend and his mom but I didn't get a ticket for me because I either was going to deliver Van around that time, or be nursing him and couldn't leave him home that long. I was pretty bummed but when this year rolled around, I was psyched. We got the tickets for Saturday morning at 10:30 and were ready to go. Of course, there needed to be a snowstorm last night and into this morning and if you live around here, and/or know where I live, there was no getting off my hill by 8:30 am, nor was I driving over New Paltz mountain. So, we didn't go. I called over to the Mid-Hudson Civic Center and they told me I could buy tickets at the door for a later show. (Because of course the roads were fine by like 10:30.) So my mom and Adam and I drive over there and the lady gives us tickets to... THE SECOND ROW. It really couldn't have gotten any better. As you can see in the pictures, Adam had a blast. Those are actually pictures with the camera zoomed out. He was able to meet some of the characters and jumped around a bit. It was a fun day and next year we think we are bringing Daddy and Van.