Mason in Public

I am sure that Mason has the ability to fool nearly every stranger we come in contact with. He just flutters his long eyelashes and gives a slightly crooked smile, and "snap" they are enamored with his cuteness. It's quite an amazing trick he can do.

This exact thing happened today at the customer service counter in the Palmer Fred Meyer. But before I can get to that point, let's back track the morning and see why I am in awe of his abilities.

We dropped Kara off promptly tardy to school this morning at 9:30. Then made our way to Wal-Mart so that I could order some contacts. While there, he modeled his monkey hat to a nice lady who proceeded to tell him how cute he was right AFTER I just picked him up because he was taking things off the shelves and then running around like a possessed rabbit. He was under the desks, on the chairs, rolling chairs away, handing me eye glass cleaning kits, and so on! Following the vision center fun, which btw, was only entertaining for the grandma that thought he was adorable (supposing this is because she's in a completely different phase in life), we wandered over to the Pillow Pets so that he could pick one out, so that the "Easter Bunny" brings a fun thing for him. He completely forgot about the pillow pet and threw some M&Ms up on the register. Yeah .. like this kid needs more energy!

Okay, moving on! So from Wal-Mart we ventured over to Thrifters Rock to see if they still had a game I was looking for. I ran in, without him, I KNOW I KNOW!! Big no no .. but while in there .. I took a breath because I was sure that Fred Meyer was going to be such a great experience. Have you ever stood near a lion's den fence at a zoo with a cheeseburger? Well, shopping with Mason in a grocery store is a lot like torturing that lion with your cheeseburger. It's a task.

Anyway, so we get in and get the chickens (because at .89/lb who doesn't go and buy 5 whole chickens?) And we get some other meats on sale. Because that's how I roll! The other reason I went to the grocery store was for stamps. Why? Well because the Palmer Post Office is slower than molasses, it's about as fast as a stampeding group of worms. So I purchase my stamps at the Fred Meyer. And the customer service lady always giggles. And then Mason flirts and here we are back to the public cuteness of my son.

He is a frustratingly cute and funny little man. He has such a great determined personality! He challenges every ounce of my sanity and pushes me to the brink of a padded room. Then he flutters his long eyelashes and smiles and makes you want to hug and kiss him. RAWR! The lady at the Fred Meyer told me that her boys are 11 and she's dreading puberty. She told me that she wishes they were little like Mason again! I, politely, giggle and say awe he's got me on my toes for sure. And she says "He's just a cutey! Enjoy this time."

REALLY!?!?! REALLY!?!?! REALLY!!!!!! "ENJOY THIS TIME!!" I am aware that all moms have been in this time at some point. Hopefully. Or is it just me?? Am I just the one with the full-fledged terrible two-year-old in the house?? I can't be. Because honestly, I'm about done with "THIS TIME." I'm ready to shop without the constant request of all the food he can see. I'm ready to buckle him into his carseat without a fight. I'm ready to not have to close every door in the house because his curiosity is just too much to deny. I'm SO ready to not have him chuck his plate on the floor, across the table, or at me. LOL

I love my boy! I love watching him grow and learn and try new things. I really love his snuggles and his kisses. I so love his "hucks" (hugs). And I really love how he plays with his toys. There are things I'm not ready to move past. But I really could do without all the challenges, for maybe one day. :)

Peace

Shamrock Pancakes

I don't know why, but I really love St. Patrick's Day. Perhaps it's because it's a significant day in about a man who brought Christianity to Ireland. Or maybe because green is my favorite color. =) But I really like to have fun with it. And as my kids get older I do more things with and for them about this day. Today I added Shamrock Pancakes to our day of celebration.

The shamrock was used as a symbol of the Holy Trinity; Father, Son and Holy Ghost. It's a cool way to describe the Trinity to preschoolers, or kids in general.

To make shamrock pancakes:

Ingredients:
1cup flour
1.5 tablespoon of sugar
2 tsp of baking powder
1/2 tsp of salt

1 cup milk
1 egg
1 tablespoon vanilla
Green food coloring

Mix the dry ingredients together and the wet .. then combine.
Heat your skillet -- about 25 degrees below the normal setting for pancakes .. 300 degrees is what I did.

Draw an outline of a shamrock on the skillet to create a controlled border

After a few minutes fill in the shamrock .. I used green sprinkles to make it more fun for the kids.

Once the pancake is cooked about halfway through flip.

You'll see that there is a darker border around. This is why you want to have the skillet temp down because otherwise that delicate border would burn.
This part takes a little bit longer to cook because of the sugar crystals. But when it's done.....

 

You have a fun breakfast for your kids. :)

One thing that works best for designing ANYTHING for pancakes is to purchase some of those empty condiment bottles. They work like pens with pancake batter. :)

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

A bit of therapy

I am going to preface this post as possibly offensive, emotional, angry, and happy. If you don't want to read it, stop now, but at the end of this post you will know more about my emotional state at the moment than you probably care to know. So consider this your warning!

I have been dealing a lot with my sadness about not having more babies. I know I've stated in a past blog post about how Mason growing makes me sad. But I haven't actually clarified the emotional state of losing this ability by a lack of choice has for me.

When a couple decides their family is complete, they usually take steps to ensure that the process is removed and from that they continue in life with their family completed. There have been times after giving birth to Mason, fleeting moments really, when I was asked if we were done having children. Feeling like the proper answer was 'yes,' I would often say, "yes, we're done." Which is what happened at one doctor appointment. My doctor is amazing, and his demeanor was never by force or influence. After all, he makes his living delivering babies!! But at this stage in my life, during that appointment, and with all the issues I was having, I was 100% convinced in a moment of weakness I was done having children. A surgery that directly followed that appointment made it so! Following that surgery, of course, I found out that I would, indeed, be done having kids, regardless of my own choice, by the results of a biopsy! Which then lead to a complete hysterectomy.

How this second surgery effected me was deeply more emotional than I ever anticipated. I love, adore, cherish my children, but I feel like something or someone is missing. Perhaps a puppy would suffice, I don't know. :) But I know that the deep rooted sadness, which I'm forging through, is hard. It effects the way I think; the emotions I feel when I see a pregnant woman; the grief I feel when I hold a baby; the forgone memory that a newborn has on a lifestyle when I see my two are sleeping peacefully.

When I think about the life I was anticipating and the life I have, it's not that different really. I am still very happy and blessed to have two healthy children, a marriage full of love and laughter with a little stress thrown in there, and a bunch of friends that have helped and supported me through this process. After doing some research into others that have had hysterectomies at a young age, I found that what I was feeling was completely normal. I really felt abnormal for a while, as if I was sinking into a depression. But the truth is I've lost something. It's completely normal to go through the similar motions of grief and sadness. I felt like this was something that I should deny, these emotions were childish and that I was just being a dweller. I hadn't said anything to anyone, keeping all my emotions inside, attempting to not burden anyone about my state of mind. It's stable, in case you were curious.

I didn't even say anything to my own husband. A person who I love and trust and I know would just help me and be there for me. He, too, had to go through some motions of not having more children. I mean we're in this for life together. He lost this too! But it's not quite the same. For a long time I felt like damaged goods, less womanly. I don't have any reproductive organs designed specifically for me to grow and give life now. This is all just a bit overwhelming. I have been struggling through a lot of this privately and somewhat unsuccessfully because I was denying the support of my loving husband.

I finally told him what I was dealing with, and to my surprise I felt so much better! :) Like there was hope. If only I had done this weeks (months) ago. I could've saved myself so much heartache. I didn't look to my two children the next day as if I was missing that third one. I didn't wake up with the sadness about it. I'm still bummed and I'm sure as time goes on I'll feel better about it and process it better. But I am not allowing it to be a controlling aspect now.

I've recently been attending First Baptist Church in Palmer. There is some significant power in prayer and even though my battles have been somewhat private, I leave church services with hope, I know that God has a plan for me, He wouldn't leave me to handle this sadness and transition in life alone. He's been there for me the whole time and I only need to stretch out my hand and He's there. I love that He has so humorously placed so many pregnant women in my life. :) I do think He has a "different" way to support. It's more of an in-your-face support. :) I am a believer!

I guess the point of this blog was part therapeutic and part informative. I'm not as fragile as I thought. I am pushing through this and winning. I have a wonderful spouse, friend and partner in life, and two very exciting and fun kids. Life is phenomenal!

Peace.

Six Years

Six years, five cars, four homes, three moves, two kids and one dog later, we are still happy and going strong!

Today is our 6th wedding anniversary and I can't believe that we've been married six years. I look back over the past 7ish years we've been together and life hasn't always been easy for us. We've been through a lot together and have come out on top. We are still young and in love. I still see that young and maturing man I met 7 years ago with his ambitious smile and zest for life. I fall in love with Aaron all over again everyday and I couldn't imagine my life without him.

He has taught me so much in being together, including how to be accepting and forgiving, What will the next six years bring? I have no idea, but I'm super excited to find out!

Soap Opera Choices

My beautifully honest daughter posed a particularly interesting question to me, "Why do you like "Days of Our Lives, Mom?" In complete confusion, I simply could not come up with an answer that would suffice, nor justify, why I like my soap. I have been watching "Days" since age 14. I have watched my mom my entire life record and watch "General Hospital." She'd come home from work, make dinner, we'd eat, then she'd retreat to her room to watch "GH." Fast forwarding through the commercials. Perhaps this is where my aversion to commercials came from. I tend to mute the TV when watching episodes of my favorite shows. This provides for ample entertainment and peace and quiet from the annoying decibel changes in the sound.

Anyway, back to my soap opera addiction, I think the reason I watch this specific show is because I find the storylines absurd and intriguing at the same time. The acting is awful most days, the character creation is horrific, and the constant "island banishings" are annoying, but some of the characters have grown on me. Perhaps it's because the characters are in the same stage in life as I am with young children. There is one major difference between me and those characters that I minimally identify with, I have only been married one time, to someone that has not and will not cheat on me, brainwash me, disrespect me, hide my children from me, or have a secret in his past so terrible that it would rattle the graves of our ancestors. :)

To be honest, I have no idea, logically speaking, why I watch the shows I watch. It's a bit of a mental escape. It's something that gives me a moment of a peek into a fantasy life where no one works, but they all have phenomenal bodies, flawless makeup, designer clothes, beautiful homes, and they drink fancy coffee all the time. :) Who wouldn't want that life???

I am incredibly grateful for my life. I have friends, family, kids, and a special husband that adores and loves me. So to answer Kara's question as to why I watch this show, I still don't know. LOL! I doubt I will ever have the answer. I don't particularly enjoy the terrible acting, the corny storyline, or the constant bedroom eyes. But it is somewhat of an entertaining show. :)

Becoming Sami Homemaker

So, in an effort to be more "Susie Homemaker" I took on the task of baking bread from scratch. I'm talking warm water and yeast style baking. The kind of bread you let rise for hours then punch it (which is a great stress reliever) and then let rise a second time in the bread pan. In all my excitement to see that the yeast was WORKING I didn't let it rise to the size of the bread pan. So I had a runt loaf. But still yummy nonetheless.

If you know me at all you know that being a housewife was never a goal I had when I was in my undergrad years. I was convinced that I would be a working mom with daycare kids. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but for the time I do not have to participate in the working mom game of things. So to pass the time, I bake, clean, play with my kids, color, do crafts, workout, see friends, and in all provide my husband and children a happy environment to flourish in. I LOVE being home with my kids. I love that I can bake bread or cakes or cookies on a whim if I wanted to midday on a Wednesday. Although with the current workout routine, cakes and cookies are going to have to wait. ;)

My family means the world to me and I take it as a personal responsibility to provide them with the healthiest choices possible in my control. I made bread. Sure you might say, "Whoppididoodah!" But let me tell you something, if you don't have organic breads in your house, try to pronounce ALL the ingredients they put into bread to make it fluffy, taste good, and sellable. This bread had 8 ingredients. Wheat flour, white flour, molasses, honey, yeast, water, butter and salt. All words I know what they are. This bread was a recipe I borrowed from another friend. Her recipe made 4 loaves. I cut it in half to make 2 to try it out.

Whole Wheat Bread(makes 4 loaves)
2 pkg dry yeast
4 C warm water
1/2 C soft butter
1/4 C molasses    

1/2 C honey
2 tsp salt
6 C whole wheat flour
4 C white flour

‎1. Dissolve yeast in warm water
2. Combine butter, molasses, honey and salt. Mix well. Add yeast mixture. Gradually add flour. Turn onto floured surface, knead until smooth. Place in greased bowl and let rise until double. Punch down. Let d...ough rest a few minutes. Shape into four loaves. Place in greased bread pans. Let rise about one hour. Bake at 375 for 35-40 minutes.  

Simple enough I think. It was easy and messy.

I cannot bake or cook without making a mess in my kitchen.

But when I put my mind to things, they turn out pretty perfect. The bread is rising. IT'S WORKING!!

 Split into two bread pans. One bread pan is slightly larger than the other bread pan.

 This bread is pretty even in a picture.

YUM YUM!!

Pretty happy kids. They really liked it!

So as I conclude this bread-making adventure with a blog, I will state that I think it was a good experience. Saved quite a few bucks... at about 55 cents per loaf, who wouldn't make their own bread? And I know that my family is getting the healthiest option out there for bread. That puts a smile on my face.


Happy homemaking to you!

Crafts and such

If your children are like my children they require a lot of attention. This means that they need to be doing something every minute of their wake time. This can be very exhausting and fun at the same time. I haven't really ever been a "crafty" person. In fact, my husband, lovely man, has diagnosed me with Arts and Crafts A.D.D. This of course is not a REAL illness, per say, but ironically it fits with me and my focus when it comes to things like arts and crafts. Though, for my children's sake and their development I have become pretty good (I think) at creating fun crafts for them to do.

Seeing that March is filled with all sorts of things, i.e. St. Patrick's Day, Spring Equinox, Dr. Suess' Birthday, National Reading Month, oh the list goes on, I thought we would make some St. Patrick's Day cards for family members. These little cards are fun to make. The thing with Arts and Crafts with your kids is the developmental aspect that is super important. They learn that perfection isn't key to success with imagination. They learn eye-hand coordination with scissors, coloring, glue, etc. They will grow with their creativity. And when you step back and just let their little minds go, you will be surprised at what they can create.

That last part is a bit of a task for me since I'm a tad OCD. However, I do try to let them do the crafts how they want with some guidance from me. :) These are the cards we (me and Kara) made. Mason was napping during both craft sessions.

Have a fun time with your kids and let them be the artists that they want to be. :)