Guess what we've been up to?

"Yucky virus" + Fever + Allergies = Exhaustion

**Not all of these medications are being given at the same time. Don't worry!

Awesome Breakfast

I made these muffins yesterday and they are AMAZING. I especially love the fact that there isn't any added sugar to the recipe - other than the powdered sugar icing. But, you could easily leave that off. :)

Baked Apple & Cinnamon French Toast Cups
(adapted from Stephanie's Kitchen (not me))

8 slices whole wheat bread, cut into cubes

4 eggs

1/2 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

For the apples:

2 large apples of your choice, peeled and diced

2 tablespoons butter or margarine

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1. In a medium skillet, saute apples with butter and cinnamon for about 5 minutes, or until soft. Set aside.

2. In a medium bowl, mix the eggs, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon until well combined. Add bread cubes and mix together until all the bread is saturated. Add the apples and mix until well distributed.

3. Using a regular size muffin tin, scoop bread evenly into 12 muffin cups. Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes or until set and lightly golden brown. Allow muffins to cool a bit before drizzling with icing.

4. Mix 1 cup confectioners' sugar and 2 tablespoons milk until smooth. Drizzle on top of french toast cups. Enjoy!!

Works-For-Me-Wednesday

Up until today, Jack has had a really tough time using the computer mouse. He finally got the logistics of it down (how to move it to where he wants it on the screen), but he kept clicking the right button and causing all kinds of problems. So....today I grabbed a permanent marker and drew a star on the LEFT button. I explained to him that he has to click on the "star button" to make the computer do what he wants. "Don't press the other button." It worked like a charm!






Visit Rocks In My Dryer for more "Works-For-Me-Wednesday" tips!

Through the Years

I saw this link - http://yearbookyourself.com on another blog and just had to try it out. It's too funny!

1958 - I like my hair.

1968 - The turtleneck makes me itch just thinking about it.

1978 - Don't ask me how I got my hair to do this. It's just natural.

1988 - What I'd look like if I gained another 20 lbs. (and feathered my hair)

1998 - the year I graduated - Yep, pretty accurate!

Menu Plan Monday!!!

I am trying really hard to clean out the fridge/pantry/freezer this week. Hopefully our grocery bill will reflect that and be much smaller!

Monday - Tuna Casserole

Tuesday - Pasta Salad

Wednesday - Burger for a Bunch (made with lentils instead of ground beef!)

Thursday - General Tso's Chicken with rice

Friday - Pizza

Saturday - ??

Sunday - ??

Go check out I'm an Organizing Junkie for more menus!!!

In Limbo

Yesterday there was a baby dedication at church. At the last baby dedication (a couple of months ago) I had to leave the sanctuary and go sob in the bathroom. It just HURTS to see so many families with babies....when I want one so badly. And most of the families that are having babies dedicated are just that - families. More than one child. I know, I know, we're a family too. But doesn't it seem like a family is much more of a family when there's more than one kid?

Well, at yesterday's dedication, I made it through most of the thing without shedding a tear. But, then one found its way down my cheek. And another. And another. And, before I knew it - I was once again running to the bathroom to sob. I wish they would announce these things the week before so I could avoid them altogether and stop making a scene.

I hate being at this in-between stage. I am not infertile...because I have a child. I have what so many people struggling with infertility would die for. I have a child. I am caught between the world of raising a child and the world of infertility. I struggle with all of the typical child-rearing issues and then I am also dealing with the stresses of not being able to have anymore children.

I wish I could spout off a bunch of "spiritual" things that would make me seem like a much better person. Like, "I trust that all of this is designed to glorify the Lord." Or, "I trust that God knows what He's doing." Or, "His timing is always better than our own." But, I'm not there right now. Oh, I say those things to a lot of people - but I don't think I truly mean them. If I didn't say those things, then I am afraid of appearing to be a "bad Christian." And I logically know that that's not true...that we are supposed to be transparent and honest with those that love us and love the Lord. I guess I'm just not ready to open the flood gate of emotions to people that I don't really know that well.

I feel like we're also in-between two worlds because we're not seeking treatment for our infertility issues right now. We're just doing a whole lot of nothing...waiting for nature (haha) to take its course. So, I don't really feel like I fit in with the people who are going through IUIs, IVFs, injections and hormones galore. But, I don't fit in with the people who can get pregnant at the drop of a hat. I am stuck in the middle.

Sorry to be such a "Debbie Downer." I just need somewhere to get this out.

Apple Pie Muffins

These are a favorite around here. They are sooooo easy to make and they're delicious!

Apple Pie Muffins

2 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 cup buttermilk
5 Tbsp butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup sugar
2 cups diced apples
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

3 Tbsp. butter, melted
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 350. Spray a muffin pan (I usually make mini muffins) with cooking spray. In a large bowl, stir together flour, baking soda and salt. In a separate smaller bowl, mix together the egg, buttermilk, melted butter, vanilla and the 1 cups of sugar. Combine wet and dry ingredients, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. Fold in diced apples. Spoon batter into muffin tins, filling 3/4 full. Bake at 350 for 12-14 minutes for mini muffins, or 22-25 minutes for standard muffins. While muffins are baking, melt 3 Tbsp. butter and in a separate bowl, mix together the 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 tsp cinnamon; set aside. When muffins are done, remove from the pan, and dip the tops in the melted butter and then in the cinnamon and sugar mixture.

Biology 101

We were looking through some old pictures with Jack. He's really been enjoying this lately. So, we were showing him pictures of a (very) pregnant mommy and Lonnie asked him, "Who's in mommy's tummy?" His answer?

"Candy."

(Not) By the Book

I have always had an issue with parenting books. It's not that I don't like them....the problem is that I love them. I read A LOT of them. I have ever since I was pregnant. And, the real problem comes in because I don't know how to take what I need out of the book and forget about the rest. I tend to take it all to heart and try to follow every letter. This becomes a big problem. Especially because every "expert" has a different approach to "fixing" your child. I am horribly inconsistent with discipline and structure. I am constantly questioning myself and my actions.

I had an epiphany this weekend.

First, I realized that it's not my job to "fix" Jack. He is a unique individual and I can't change who he is. Yes, it is our job to "train [him] in the way he should go" (Proverbs 22:6), but it is not our job to force him into the mold of who our ideal child should be. I struggle with this because Jack and I have different personalities - or maybe our personalities are too similar. Either way, I am beginning to understand that life will be a little bit easier if I stop trying to fix my son and learn to accept him the way he is.

Second, the pacifier is back. Hallelujah, we can all sleep again! Jack took a 2 hour nap yesterday and slept 12 hours last night (8 pm - 8 am). I am so much more relaxed and Jack is in such a better mood. I (we) debated about giving him back his pacifier for quite awhile. I was worried that it would make me a "bad" mom and that I would be viewed as a "push-over." Well, after a good night's rest and a happier child...I don't care anymore! I don't care what "they" say in regards to this. I made a decision based on my mommy-instinct and it has been the right one for our family.

Like Daddy!

Lately, Jack has gotten into imitating things that Lonnie and I do. He's really into being "like daddy!"

Fruit Pizza

I made this a couple of weeks ago and it was sooooooooo good. Lonnie wasn't crazy about it and Jack wouldn't even try it, so I got the whole thing to myself (good and bad).

First, I made the crust. Super easy. It was just a pre-made refrigerated roll of sugar cookie dough. Sliced into pieces and then smushed out to a circle. I don't have a pizza pan (I know!), so I used the biggest cookie sheet I had. It worked out fine.

Then I made the cream cheese frosting-type-stuff. Oh yum. A word to the wise...wait until the crust cools completely before trying to spread the frosting. I got a little anxious and it turned out like this.

So, while I was waiting for the crust to cool, I sliced up my fruit. Yum.

Finally the crust was cool enough to spread the frosting without having it melt and go all over the place.

Then came the really fun part - figuring out how I wanted to put the fruit on. It turned out so pretty. :)

The last step is a glaze that goes over the whole thing. I think I didn't let mine boil long enough, because it was pretty runny and ended up all over the cookie sheet. I also didn't have any OJ on hand, so I used the canned "juice" from the mandarin oranges. It didn't matter though - it still tasted wonderful!!!

Fruit Pizza II

(adapted from allrecipes.com)




1 (18 ounce) package refrigerated sugar cookie dough
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

2 cups sliced fresh strawberries

1 pint blueberries

3 kiwis

1 small can mandarin oranges

1/2 cup white sugar
1 pinch salt
1 tablespoon cornstarch

1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup water



DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Slice cookie dough and arrange on greased pizza pan, overlapping edges. Press dough flat into pan. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Allow to cool.


In a large bowl, soften cream cheese, then fold in the whipped topping. Spread over cooled crust. You can chill for a while at this point, or continue by arranging the fruit.


Begin with strawberries, sliced in half. Arrange in a circle around the outside edge. Continue with fruit of your choice, working towards the middle. If bananas are used, dip them in lemon juice so they don't darken. Then make a sauce to spoon over fruit.


In a saucepan, combine sugar, salt, corn starch, orange juice, lemon juice and water. Cook and stir over medium heat. Bring to a boil, and cook for 1 or 2 minutes, until thickened. Remove from heat, and add grated orange rind. Allow to cool, but not set up. Spoon over fruit.



Chill for two hours, then cut into wedges and serve.

County Fair

The best fair picture, ever.

When we first went to look at the pigs, Jack was a little apprehensive about them. He wouldn't let me set him down and was clinging to me for dear life. About five minutes into walking around the pigs, he figured it was OK to be put down...and then he loved it. He got a kick out of this pig drinking water.

Enjoying some greasy, sugary fair donuts.

Yummmm, corndog.

There was a children's entertainer and she called some kids up onto the stage. Jack went up, but he was more interested in walking around the stage, touching the instruments and pulling on the microphones. In this picture, she's telling him to stay in line.

He stood in line for about 3 seconds. :)

Denial

I am choosing to ignore the fact that we saw these on our walk to the fair yesterday.






(Fair pictures to come soon!)

Mr. Manipulative

Jack hasn't napped for over 2 weeks now. I was at the point on Monday where I would have done almost anything to get him to take a nap. So, I laid down with him in his bed. I knew, in the back of my head, that this wouldn't work - but I still wanted to give it a try. So, we're laying there and Jack is trying to play with me instead of lay down and close his eyes.

Then.....

He puts his hand on my cheek, looks in my eyes, and says.....


"You're Pretty."

Chef in Training

Jack wanted to add some salt to the leftover green beans from dinner. Guess you could say that he likes things a little on the salty side.

Too smart for his own good

We often spell things out around Jack so he won't understand what we're saying. It makes for fewer meltdowns. One thing that we spell out a lot is the P-A-R-K. The other day we were trying to figure out what to do and Jack looked at us and said...

"Let's go to the P-A-R-K!" (yes, he spelled it out)