Snippets

Random bits

How to Have a Last Minute Potty Party

Well if you time it right, you can potty train your child right in time for Super Bowl weekend; which could make things absolutely pun-tastic! If you’re anything like me, by the time your third kid comes along, you’re planning has mostly resorted to a last minute now-or-never wave of effort. I literally think we finished the nursery the week of his arrival. (And don’t get me started on number four, who is already one with an unfinished nursery.) By now, we already know things will turn out fine… the biggest concern during my pregnancy was about what we were going to drive- that could accommodate all of the carseats.

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But finally my Elijah, baby number three is potty-trained and it was time to celebrate. Admittedly we’re a little over-the-top with our celebrations… but life is too short not to celebrate everything from the mundane to the mile stones! And because I am not above bribery to my children (or “incentives” if you will), I promised a party, with a cake, and presents when the diapers were off… A Potty Party! So you send out a few invitations to your closest friends and family, to let them know the moment has arrived. It’s a last minute thing really, because you have to strike while the iron is hot- you have to go with the momentum.  The texted invites have been sent! (No time for snail mail in a moment like this).

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Then, since you’ve had a couple days to prepare but haven’t called about the promised cake, you swing by the supermarket to try and pick up an undecorated cake… because he wants lightsabers on his cake, and you’re like “Cool, I’ll pick up a couple edible gel pens and make some lines and call them lightsabers, because I’m just glad everyone’s teeth are brushed and hair is combed, and we’re out the door.” But your awesome supermarket has a Star Wars cake for sale in the showcase because your timely son has chosen something that all kids want right now and happens to be readily available. Score!

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Now, you’re winging it remember, so don’t worry about making a reservation at your local Chuck E. Cheese. You never have a problem walking in anyway! That is until you realize that everyone in town has a party planned this weekend, and your particular Chuck E. Cheese has a record setting 25 parties on the same day. Ok, keep it cool, this isn’t your first rodeo. Find the first available open table, that’s where you are putting your awesome cake and setting a meeting point. The kids aren’t going to be sitting for long anyway. You split up the team, and have someone go order pizzas, drinks and tokens right away; because it’s going to take a while to get that food. You pass out those tokens and let the kids play, because that’s why we’re here!

Greet your loving and accommodating friends and family as they arrive. And if you were five minutes late to your own party, thank the ones who are already there and apologize for your lack of organization. Make sure to give them plenty of tokens and please ask them to go enjoy themselves! As adjacent tables open up to the one you’ve managed to snag, grab ’em. You’ll be ready for all to eat by the time the pizza is done.

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When the pizza arrives send out any messengers available, including yourself, to get the word out. Rendez-vouz back at the table to feed the hungry crowd. It’s also a good time to open presents, since everyone is gathered. (But that’s not how I did it, I let them off as soon as they were finished eating; because the kids were still excited and wanted to play more. Then I had a second rounding up, as some of my guest needed to leave but wanted to see Elijah open his gifts. So that is merely a suggestion from experience, but if you’re still flying by the seat of your “big kid” pants, you just keep going with your own flow.)

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Lastly, reward your child with presents. Sure some people use sticker charts and M & M’s, but not us. You got to do what works for you. And look at that face. That’s a proud big kid! He did it! Hurray! Let your guests play and eat until the food is gone and the tokens are out. Congratulations, you pulled it off! Three down and one to go! (But who’s planning?)

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Quote Me on This…

I have so much catching up to do! This has been the longest break since I started my blog. Sometimes life just has to take over. I had a great weekend with my family on a planned family getaway to an indoor waterpark. We are finally finished celebrating my daughter’s birthday. ? I’m still settling some matters that I promised my friend Barbara. ? And I’m excited that I was sent an invitation by Chobani to come up with some recipe ideas!  ? It’s been an emotional roller coaster.

I haven’t forgotten my commitment to participate in the quote challenge, so befittingly I remembered something that feels like where I’m at.

Have you seen the movie Parenthood? It’s just one of those films I saw years ago, in the 80’s probably that I’ll never forget. It’s outlandish, unexpected and completely relatable all at the same time. When I watched it the first time, I hadn’t experienced much life yet. But it wasn’t hard to understand; these people living their separate and complicated lives, all dealing with their own familial, parental, marital, etc. issues and still connected by the bond-ship of family and friends. Steve Martin, does a great job taking on a this multi-faceted role playing Gil, the son who wants the approval of his cold unappreciative father, a father of four children with different needs (one of whom is in therapy for emotional/anxiety problems, and another who has to wear a helmet because he is always ramming things with his head), sibling to an irresponsible brother (who has the admiration of their father), a grandson who takes on a lot of responsibility caring for a senile grandmother, and a husband to a supportive wife who is transitioning in her own personal life as a mother and homemaker. And all at the same time he’s trying to be this great employee to hopefully gain advancement in his career. There is this one scene in particular where a meeting with his bosses didn’t go how he had hoped it would and things at home are feeling overwhelming. If I remember correctly, he and his family are getting ready to head out to his son’s baseball game (which he coaches) and his grandmother in a moment of lucidity starts talking:

Grandma: You know, when I was nineteen, Grandpa took me on a roller coaster.

Gil: Oh?

Grandma: Up, down, up, down. Oh, what a ride!

Gil: What a great story.

Grandma: I always wanted to go again. You know, it was just so interesting to me that a ride could make me so frightened, so scared, so sick, so excited, and so thrilled all together! Some didn’t like it. They went on the merry-go-round. That just goes around. Nothing. I like the roller coaster. You get more out of it.

The grandma walks out the door and the scene finishes with Gil and his wife left in the room and she says: As far as I’m concerned, your grandmother’s brilliant!

Gil: Yeah, if she’s so brilliant, why is she sitting in the neighbor’s car?

Doesn’t it just seem like that’s how it goes sometimes? Up and down, and moments of clarity… and then loved ones helping you get back into the right car. (Well maybe not that part.) And if you’re fortunate enough to be able to see the humor in life, (and laugh at yourself) it makes it so much more enjoyable! Lately life has felt a bit like a roller coaster, with all of its fast paced ups and downs. But I get it. I don’t take the ride for granted. My life is full. God is good.

Thanks Krista at From Food Stamps to a Future for nominating me for this challenge! I apologize for breaking the rules, I’m just a rebel.

Rules for the challenge:

Thank the blogger that nominated you.
Share one new quote on three consecutive days on your blog. They can be from anywhere, anyone, or anything.
On each of the three days, nominate three more bloggers to carry on with the fun! No pressure; nominees are free to decline.

My Third (and last) Quote Challenges are to the following:

Clair Neriah

Mama Muse Me

Linda Creation

 

And I Quote…

A week or two ago I came across this little gem of a quote. So when Krista at From Food Stamps to a Future challenged me to a 3 day Quote Challenge, I knew right away that this would be something I would share. There really isn’t much to elaborate on with the quote. It’s just overall how I want to be and how I want to raise my children. Thank you Krista for inviting me to participate!

Rules for the challenge:

Thank the blogger that nominated you.
Share one new quote on three consecutive days on your blog. They can be from anywhere, anyone, or anything.
On each of the three days, nominate three more bloggers to carry on with the fun! No pressure; nominees are free to decline.

My second day Quote Challenges are to the following:

Roberta at Chorizo & Thyme

Natascha at Natascha’s Palace

Claudia at OldCountryGirl

 

Coffee and a Quote

It’s a lesser known (or not) fact that I have wanted to be a barista for quite some time. I am really impressed the art of it all. And of course I enjoy a good cup of coffee as much as the next gal, or guy… who enjoys a cup of coffee.

A while back a blogging friend of mine posted a recipe for a Caramel Macchiato. (FYI, I enjoy caramel too.) I notified her that I was going to try the recipe on that particular day, and then I had an impromptu visit from some guests that changed my plans all together. So I had to contact her later, knowing she wanted to know what I thought, with the disappointing news that I had not come through with my intentions. Alas! That is until now. On a snowy afternoon it was a lovely warm and sweet treat. And you can find the recipe at Quirky and Wonderful as well as many other recipes and writings.

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Krista is a new blog friend over at From Food Stamps to a Future as well as the creator of Krista Kemp Designs on Etsy. Recently she nominated me for the 3 Day Quote Challenge. And not one to easily back down from a challenge, I accepted. (Actually it’s just a fun participation type of thing.) Thank you Krista!

Rules for the challenge:

Thank the blogger that nominated you.
Share one new quote on three consecutive days on your blog. They can be from anywhere, anyone, or anything.
On each of the three days, nominate three more bloggers to carry on with the fun! No pressure; nominees are free to decline.

My first day Quote Challenges are to the following:

Katie at Quirky and Wonderful

Anna at Life Bellissima

Lynn at Lynz Real Cooking

The Differences Between France and Here

Some of you probably already know my love of France: the language, the bicycle baskets with baguettes sticking out, the scarves… It started at an early age, with a very influential teacher who loved the language and the country. In elementary school she would teach us the French words for colors, numbers and simple greetings. It culminated in high school when I had a fantastic educator who loved the French culture, and not only taught the language but the history, artists, literature, and architecture. And it continued in college when I decided it was what I knew and loved best… (But please don’t ask me to speak, I’m very rusty.)

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The Louvre with my girls…

 

Recently a friend of mine (seen above… all the way to the right), who accompanied me on one of my trips to France, sent me a link to demonstrate the differences between every day occurrences in the U.S. and France. I thought it was humorous (and in a particular circumstance, very true to my own experience when asking for directions). Amusez-vous bien! Enjoy!

French Girls vs. American Girls (You need to click on the video ?)

Please note as portrayed in my “Featured Image” about to lunch in Paris with my college BFF, Maria, I can eat well anywhere I am.

A Day in the Life

Owen had left for work. Breakfast had been made, and put away. My oldest son was dressed, groomed and sent to school. Diapers had been changed. The little ones were settled in front of Disney Junior. It was a good time to steal a moment for myself.

“What is that?” I asked myself, staring into the bathroom sink. All I could see against the peach porcelain bowl was little flecks of white and brown. “Is that toilet paper? Oh my gosh, is that poop?” My four year old daughter had been the last one to use the bathroom. “Naomi, come here!” I yelled across the house. “Naomi, did you put your poopy toilet paper in the sink?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“I was trying to rinse it off.”

“Why?” I asked again.

“I don’t have an answer for that.” she said. That’s her new go-to line.

“Okay, we don’t put our dirty toilet paper in the sink. It’s very yucky. After we are done, we flush it all down the toilet… Let’s get you cleaned up.” I took her to the kitchen sink to wash her up. After I felt she was sanitized, I headed back to the sanctioned off bathroom. As I was cleaning up the sink (with slight disgust mind you), I found myself in the rare position of thanking God that I actually saw the poop-stained shreds of toilet paper. At least I knew that I needed to disinfect the bathroom, and scrub Naomi. Then I had the terrifying thought of “what happens that I don’t know about?” …which I quickly dismissed… Because there are some things I’m better off not dwelling on.

Not in the too long future, I was attempting to give my three year old a dose of antibiotic medicine. He and my husband had recently taken a week-night trip to urgent care. Mostly because my husband had been miserable with what turned out to be a pretty severe sinus infection. My son, wasn’t in as bad shape so the prescription wasn’t necessary at the time, just a back-up in case his condition worsened. We had been giving him saline solution drops in his nose, and some cough medicine before bed. But now his mucus was darkening. Just to let you know Elijah, my three year old, has an uncanny self-imposed gag reflex. He can actually get himself to puking before he has ever even taken a bite of something he thinks is going to taste gross. The remedy to this usually is to have a drink of water on stand-by and have him well prepped ahead of time.

“It doesn’t taste bad. Stop that. You have water right here. It’s going to be fine. It’s going to make you feel better. Stop doing that. You haven’t even tasted it yet. It might taste good!” Medicine attempt failed. Puke everywhere. After a brief pause of disbelief, I say “That’s it. Everyone upstairs! I’m throwing you all in the tub!”

“Mom, you can’t th-wo kids.” he said.

“You’re right Elijah. I didn’t mean I was going to really throw you. I just mean I’m giving you all a bath.” The baby too, all three of them. Just on principle.

And it wasn’t even lunch time yet.

Ringing in the New Year & the Winner

I’d love to say that it’s a tradition of mine to ring in the new year with glitz & glam, song & noise, friends & fun…

That would be a bold faced lie.

In fact, it seems like for the past few years I was pregnant or up most of the night feeding an infant, so sleep was more valued than celebration… and I’ve slept right through most of them.

But not this year!

This year we feasted on food from around the world!

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This year we blew into noise makers and lit off sparklers!


  

As 2016 rolled in, I hugged my loved ones and said “Happy New Year!”

…And it was a lot of fun!

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(I get it, no promises on the future, but I get it!)
To commemorate the New Year on my blog, I started with a cookbook giveaway that celebrates family and food! (Seems befitting) I entered the number of comments on random.org and it selected #22. Congratulations Dave, you are the winner of Return to Sunday Dinner! (And Dave, aka dad, thank you for your support of my blog.) I look forward to checking out the Spam Cookbook, (a delicacy of Hawaii). Please contact me via email to claim your prize! ?

And thanks to Ryan French for many of my New Year’s photos!

 

 

New Year Cookbook Giveaway

I really can’t think of a better way to start the year than with a giveaway. I get really excited about them. I enter almost every giveaway I come across. I expect Publishers Clearing House to show up at my doorstep with a check any minute. I’ve also expressed my fondness for the cookbook, Return to Sunday Dinner, in the past. It was such a nice surprise when I came across it. I love the sentiment of slowing down and taking the time to enjoy a meal with your family and loved ones. The idea of working hard all week and taking the time to stop and celebrate life on at least a weekly basis is a notion I can appreciate. And then there are the recipes! The author, Russell Cronkhite, worked as the chef to the White House for many years and multiple administrations. His mastery of American cuisine is obvious, but his esteem for the history of the dishes and their diverse multicultural origins was insightful. It’s a winner and I am excited to give one away!

To enter, simply tell me the name of your favorite cookbook in the comment section of this post here or on Facebook (and please note that to not mess up the count, I will not be responding). Only 1 entry per person please. Entries accepted until 11:59 pm EST Monday, January 4, 2016.

 

*Comments are closed

Christmas Caroling

Years ago my Aunt Leann and Uncle Rich started a tradition of caroling to various neighbors in our community. Part of me has always felt we should invest in long wool coats, top hats and muffs. In reality we are usually just a mismatched well-wishing group of children and adults of (let’s say) assorted levels of technical ability. Some faces of cousins and family I know well, and sometimes I meet new cheerful neighbors. It’s fantastic!

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I love bringing my children along to participate in spreading Christmas joy. My uncle uses his work pick up truck (from a local family business) pulling a long flatbed trailer lined with two rows of haystacks for all of the carolers to pile on as we travel from house to house. Our stops this time included (but were not limited to) an elderly man and his wife who suffers with MS, he held the door opened wide so she could hear us from where she was at; a sweet and spry man who boasted he had just turned 93 in November and told us to keep coming back; a family relative who’s husband needed more care than she could provide and recently had moved into a nursing home; another family relative who suffered with a stroke not too long ago and was pushed to the door in her wheelchair. For the first year we didn’t stop at my Great-aunt Shirley’s house, knowing she wasn’t there. Last year the group sang for us at our house because Noah wasn’t yet a month old and not well enough to face the cold. It’s just embodies  what every season should be like, and what this time of the year gives us reason to carry out.

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At every home we pass out a poinsettia and sing two selections from our song sheet followed by “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”. When we’ve sung to every house on the list we all meet back at the warehouse to refresh ourselves with a potluck style variety of dishes and treats, hot chocolate, and Aunt Leann’s delicious Chili for a Crowd accompanied by all of the toppings. It’s the perfect time to thaw out, dry off or as the case in this year’s mild weather; catch up with old and new friends while we fill our bellies with food for heart and soul.

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Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!