We are 10 hours away from boarding our flight to Hong Kong. I am excited that the kids will get to visit Joe's family in his old stomping grounds. However, it's only going to happen if Joe and I are able to make it off a 13.5 hour flight alive and still married.
I'm sorry I don't have a longer post, but I'm pretty certain there will be a lot to post about during the trip. Perhaps all the bad Engrish in Hong Kong. But please do forgive me if I don't post nearly as often, and if you are just DYING (I know you are), to read up on something, I'll have to dig into the archives and re-post some of the gems.
Otherwise, hope to blog from Hong Kong - finally going to attempt packing at merry 12:30am now.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Hair Success!
Joe's hair is untamed. It's a wild bush that grows at the speed of light, and the only time it looks reasonable is when it's freshly cut. Unfortunately, he refuses to get it cut often (it costs a ghastly $11 with the cheap barber that cuts hair out of his basement; and he is often too exhausted to go out to get his hair cut).
The solution? Me. I will cut his hair. Why not? I've cut Colin's his whole life (all 2.5 years), and his head is still attached to his neck.
However, the last time I cut Joe's hair, (it was the first time with an electric razor), there was a slight... accident.
I won't go into details (which involve a bit of a discussion about his sideburns needing just a trim after his hair was done and perfectly cut), but basically a whole side-burn was shaved off. Not just kind of shaved off and could get away with it - it was gone like the wind.
After the 5 minute stunned silence, we thought ofdivorce solutions - maybe shave the other side to even it out? my black eyeliner to maybe 'darken' the area missing? (which we tried and... doesn't work). And after a lot of flipping between pure anger and absurdity, we just left it as is - I mean, he's a manager, and none of his employees are going to be straight with him and say - "Hey Boss, where's your side-burn today?"
Well, I am proud to announce, that tonight, we have success. I was able to mow his hair, and I found a handsome man under all that wilderness again - I have my husband again! And this time, with 2 side-burns.
On another note, other things that may test your marriage: Losing your iPhone4, cutting up your replacement credit card (right before leaving for vacay), and also almost missing a flight because you left your glasses at the hotel. I'm not exactly all that on-the-ball, and I love Joe for loving me despite it all.
The solution? Me. I will cut his hair. Why not? I've cut Colin's his whole life (all 2.5 years), and his head is still attached to his neck.
However, the last time I cut Joe's hair, (it was the first time with an electric razor), there was a slight... accident.
I won't go into details (which involve a bit of a discussion about his sideburns needing just a trim after his hair was done and perfectly cut), but basically a whole side-burn was shaved off. Not just kind of shaved off and could get away with it - it was gone like the wind.
After the 5 minute stunned silence, we thought of
Well, I am proud to announce, that tonight, we have success. I was able to mow his hair, and I found a handsome man under all that wilderness again - I have my husband again! And this time, with 2 side-burns.
On another note, other things that may test your marriage: Losing your iPhone4, cutting up your replacement credit card (right before leaving for vacay), and also almost missing a flight because you left your glasses at the hotel. I'm not exactly all that on-the-ball, and I love Joe for loving me despite it all.
Monday, November 21, 2011
He spells, kind of.
Lately, he's been spelling things out for me when he gets frustrated that I can't understand him. I thought I was the mom of a Mensa member when he spelled the other day (He Spells). Well, he's been doing it more often - maybe my hearing is going, but I can't seem to understand everything he says. So he often slows down his speech like he's talking to a foreigner.
Colin: This is Chomper, and you be Sarah, and this is (can't understand him here... i think he said Bike)
Me: Who? Trike?
Colin: No, BIKE
Me: What?
Colin: C-R-O-M-V Bike.
Me: oooh.... okay. Him.
Can't wait until we go to Hong Kong, he'll be spelling a lot of things out for people.
(btw, those are all the names of dinosaurs from an assortment of televised entertainment - with the exception of Bike. still didn't figure out who he was talking about)
Colin: This is Chomper, and you be Sarah, and this is (can't understand him here... i think he said Bike)
Me: Who? Trike?
Colin: No, BIKE
Me: What?
Colin: C-R-O-M-V Bike.
Me: oooh.... okay. Him.
Can't wait until we go to Hong Kong, he'll be spelling a lot of things out for people.
(btw, those are all the names of dinosaurs from an assortment of televised entertainment - with the exception of Bike. still didn't figure out who he was talking about)
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Bad Mommy: Cara Stands with The Blur
We do, in fact, have another child. She just gets neglected a little, so I have to make a conscious effort to also make a big deal about the things #1 did for the first time (and which we actually freaked out and got the paparazzi camera gear out to capture).
Yesterday, Cara finally pulled herself up to stand using the couch. It was great, and I'm a proud momma, so I just grabbed my phone to take a quick photo to email Joe to let him know. But if you look closely (and I didn't even notice this until I looked at the picture again later on in the day),there is the blur behind Cara.
To be honest, I don't even remember all the cushions strewn on the floor, and Colin hurling himself off the couch, but, at least I now recorded the day she independently stood up coincided with the day the safety rules in this house got a little looser.
Yesterday, Cara finally pulled herself up to stand using the couch. It was great, and I'm a proud momma, so I just grabbed my phone to take a quick photo to email Joe to let him know. But if you look closely (and I didn't even notice this until I looked at the picture again later on in the day),there is the blur behind Cara.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Why are Stay at Home Moms Lazy?
.
When I was checking my blog stats (I admit - the last post about 1 vs 2 kids is getting a plethora of hits so I'm getting all gitty and checking the stats every time I check my Facebook - which is a lot), a simple-minded soul actually found its way to my blog after inputting that very phrase into the search engine.
'why are stay at home moms lazy'
First off, there are 3 ways to respond to this. No response, classy, or, gnarly. If you know me, I most probably will get quite gnarly about this. My husband calls me a loose cannon sometimes - I'm not quite sure where he gets that from.
I hope Simpleton returns to my blog, and reads what I have to say to him (sorry guys, I'm assuming it was a male that did the search).
Dear Simpleton,
I am not sure whether you have children, are married or single, working or unemployed, but there are just a few things you need to know about us moms. But I have a hunch that the 'moms' you see in public, lazing about drinking their Starbucks with their Bugaboo Strollers (possibly with their nice ass and nanny in tow) give you the impression that moms don't do anything, except for sip lattes, shop, and go to the spa for manis/pedis.
Let me tell you this. That mom - is the mom we all wish to be. I don't deny it - it'd be nice to stroll around looking relaxed all the time, I'd be showing it off too if that were my life.
Here's the reality. The moms who are aren't sipping coffee, are at home (and if you're a working mother - hats off to you for coming home to only work again!) not getting paid to work our asses off.
I know what you're thinking: I'm at home ALL DAY - with the internet, television, and a fridge stocked full of food - an absolute fantasy. Why would anybody choose to work if they could stay at home?
Well, honey, the fridge don't stock itself.
On a normal day - heck I'll even give you the best case scenario - a PERFECT day, with no tantrums, no kids hurting themselves or each other, and kids listening to each and every command, with synchronized meals and naps, no errands (grocery shopping or stepping out of the house), this is what the workload with 2 kids is like.
- wake up (before i can even brush my teeth, the kids are both awake)
- get a bottle for Kid, change diaper
- Baby is awake and needs a diaper change, and a boob
- make a somewhat nutritional breakfast
- use my octopus arms to eat my own breakfast, feed Baby (who also likes to grab spoons, point to the fruit to tell Kid to eat that, grab cheerios for Baby, catch falling food
- clean the Kid and Baby up, getting the morsels of food off their face, hands, nose, hair
- set them down somewhere for 'independent learning' (ie. neglect them so I can clean the rest of the dining room from wiping down chairs, and on my knees on the floor, and then the actual dishes)
- if they're still alive, and not whining, I may just use the time to do another cleaning task: laundry - love. sweeping - just darling. cleaning bathrooms - what a dream. dishes (either putting them away, or putting them in the dish washer - a pain either way).
- at this point, I usually smell a waft of poo in someone's diaper.
- change a poopie diaper, and then spend some time with the kids reading books, drawing, pretend I'm a Dragon (that's what I've been told to be these past couple days)and basically not letting the tv sit them as tempting as it seems.
- Baby starts to get tired, so I need to get a bottle ready, and change her diaper, and put her down for a nap
- remember to breathe
- play with Kid, and check emails for our Home Biz (ChicGeek Photography) and if necessary try, just TRY to do some editing if I can hold Kid off a little longer (he's usually using me as a human jungle gym at this point) - be really interested everytime he shows me what he built, or draws, and validate his entire being every waking moment
- snack
- make a coherent grocery list (while banging my head on the desk thinking about dinners/recipes for the week)
- probably forgot to change Kid out of pajamas still, so I should put some clothes on him
- Talk in a Dragon voice, to the Triceratops stuffie, about something intelligent (like how plants grow, or what the meaning of 'responsible' is) in hopes that Kid is learning something while changing him or folding laundry
- Prepare lunch
- (repeat meal time schedule)
- Baby usually wakes up while Kid eats, so octopus hands now have to eat my own lunch and nurse in unison
- Independent Learning
- make and feed Baby real food, and then cleaning up once again
- bottle for Kid, get him settled for nap
- read stories, play puppets, fold more laundry, and put Kid down for a nap
- get Baby's bottle ready, and put her down for a nap (because this is the PERFECT day, when they nap at exactly the same time, for 2 hours)
- clean up the messes (kitchen and play areas) - because I can't actually 'relax' when I know there's a mess somewhere
- and oh here it comes... the lazy part you must think us moms do all the time: i either nap, go on the computer, or I'll just sit and stare at the ceiling and think about nothing. really - I can think about absolutely nothing... and it would be great. silence.
Okay. Are you getting the drift? I'm only at friggin 2pm here buddy. I would continue my day, but I don't want to bore the mothers out there who are actually reading this and whose heads nearly falling off nodding in agreement.
A short summary of what goes on after this? It's absolute MADNESS when it comes to dinner - Dad comes home and tosses his socks off in 2 different directions (I hold my seething mouth shut because he's had a hard day), kids are waking up from naps, prepping raw meat with sharp knives, hot stove etc. etc. And then when bedtimes, and then when the kids are FINALLY in bed..... cleaning up the chaos, maintaining a healthy relationship with the Hubs (talking to him is a good start, but not nagging... no, we're not allowed to 'ask' him to do anything to help, because that's nagging).
Oh yeah, and breathe for the third time in the day, and then sleep. Repeat cycle.
You may have your job, it may be very stressful, and you have deadlines. You want to know what my deadline is? It's NOW. Everything, and anything, has to happen NOW. There are no sick or vacation days, and no option to quit when it gets tough. Want to know what I'm supposed to achieve as the CEO of this house? Keeping a human life safe, healthy, and teach them to be responsible, creative, caring people with whatever resources I have around me (most of time it's a cardboard box or a stuffed animal). It's not the lap of luxury you think it is, but I love my job, and that's why I keep at it the best I know how - with lots of love, patience, and tenderness. I enjoy all the work that comes along with this hat, because one day, when all this crazy is gone, it just means the kids are all grown up.
When I was checking my blog stats (I admit - the last post about 1 vs 2 kids is getting a plethora of hits so I'm getting all gitty and checking the stats every time I check my Facebook - which is a lot), a simple-minded soul actually found its way to my blog after inputting that very phrase into the search engine.
'why are stay at home moms lazy'
First off, there are 3 ways to respond to this. No response, classy, or, gnarly. If you know me, I most probably will get quite gnarly about this. My husband calls me a loose cannon sometimes - I'm not quite sure where he gets that from.
I hope Simpleton returns to my blog, and reads what I have to say to him (sorry guys, I'm assuming it was a male that did the search).
Dear Simpleton,
I am not sure whether you have children, are married or single, working or unemployed, but there are just a few things you need to know about us moms. But I have a hunch that the 'moms' you see in public, lazing about drinking their Starbucks with their Bugaboo Strollers (possibly with their nice ass and nanny in tow) give you the impression that moms don't do anything, except for sip lattes, shop, and go to the spa for manis/pedis.
Let me tell you this. That mom - is the mom we all wish to be. I don't deny it - it'd be nice to stroll around looking relaxed all the time, I'd be showing it off too if that were my life.
Here's the reality. The moms who are aren't sipping coffee, are at home (and if you're a working mother - hats off to you for coming home to only work again!) not getting paid to work our asses off.
I know what you're thinking: I'm at home ALL DAY - with the internet, television, and a fridge stocked full of food - an absolute fantasy. Why would anybody choose to work if they could stay at home?
Well, honey, the fridge don't stock itself.
On a normal day - heck I'll even give you the best case scenario - a PERFECT day, with no tantrums, no kids hurting themselves or each other, and kids listening to each and every command, with synchronized meals and naps, no errands (grocery shopping or stepping out of the house), this is what the workload with 2 kids is like.
- wake up (before i can even brush my teeth, the kids are both awake)
- get a bottle for Kid, change diaper
- Baby is awake and needs a diaper change, and a boob
- make a somewhat nutritional breakfast
- use my octopus arms to eat my own breakfast, feed Baby (who also likes to grab spoons, point to the fruit to tell Kid to eat that, grab cheerios for Baby, catch falling food
- clean the Kid and Baby up, getting the morsels of food off their face, hands, nose, hair
- set them down somewhere for 'independent learning' (ie. neglect them so I can clean the rest of the dining room from wiping down chairs, and on my knees on the floor, and then the actual dishes)
- if they're still alive, and not whining, I may just use the time to do another cleaning task: laundry - love. sweeping - just darling. cleaning bathrooms - what a dream. dishes (either putting them away, or putting them in the dish washer - a pain either way).
- at this point, I usually smell a waft of poo in someone's diaper.
- change a poopie diaper, and then spend some time with the kids reading books, drawing, pretend I'm a Dragon (that's what I've been told to be these past couple days)and basically not letting the tv sit them as tempting as it seems.
- Baby starts to get tired, so I need to get a bottle ready, and change her diaper, and put her down for a nap
- remember to breathe
- play with Kid, and check emails for our Home Biz (ChicGeek Photography) and if necessary try, just TRY to do some editing if I can hold Kid off a little longer (he's usually using me as a human jungle gym at this point) - be really interested everytime he shows me what he built, or draws, and validate his entire being every waking moment
- snack
- make a coherent grocery list (while banging my head on the desk thinking about dinners/recipes for the week)
- probably forgot to change Kid out of pajamas still, so I should put some clothes on him
- Talk in a Dragon voice, to the Triceratops stuffie, about something intelligent (like how plants grow, or what the meaning of 'responsible' is) in hopes that Kid is learning something while changing him or folding laundry
- Prepare lunch
- (repeat meal time schedule)
- Baby usually wakes up while Kid eats, so octopus hands now have to eat my own lunch and nurse in unison
- Independent Learning
- make and feed Baby real food, and then cleaning up once again
- bottle for Kid, get him settled for nap
- read stories, play puppets, fold more laundry, and put Kid down for a nap
- get Baby's bottle ready, and put her down for a nap (because this is the PERFECT day, when they nap at exactly the same time, for 2 hours)
- clean up the messes (kitchen and play areas) - because I can't actually 'relax' when I know there's a mess somewhere
- and oh here it comes... the lazy part you must think us moms do all the time: i either nap, go on the computer, or I'll just sit and stare at the ceiling and think about nothing. really - I can think about absolutely nothing... and it would be great. silence.
Okay. Are you getting the drift? I'm only at friggin 2pm here buddy. I would continue my day, but I don't want to bore the mothers out there who are actually reading this and whose heads nearly falling off nodding in agreement.
A short summary of what goes on after this? It's absolute MADNESS when it comes to dinner - Dad comes home and tosses his socks off in 2 different directions (I hold my seething mouth shut because he's had a hard day), kids are waking up from naps, prepping raw meat with sharp knives, hot stove etc. etc. And then when bedtimes, and then when the kids are FINALLY in bed..... cleaning up the chaos, maintaining a healthy relationship with the Hubs (talking to him is a good start, but not nagging... no, we're not allowed to 'ask' him to do anything to help, because that's nagging).
Oh yeah, and breathe for the third time in the day, and then sleep. Repeat cycle.
You may have your job, it may be very stressful, and you have deadlines. You want to know what my deadline is? It's NOW. Everything, and anything, has to happen NOW. There are no sick or vacation days, and no option to quit when it gets tough. Want to know what I'm supposed to achieve as the CEO of this house? Keeping a human life safe, healthy, and teach them to be responsible, creative, caring people with whatever resources I have around me (most of time it's a cardboard box or a stuffed animal). It's not the lap of luxury you think it is, but I love my job, and that's why I keep at it the best I know how - with lots of love, patience, and tenderness. I enjoy all the work that comes along with this hat, because one day, when all this crazy is gone, it just means the kids are all grown up.
Easy Cooking: Baking edition - Apple Pie (with a twist)
I confess. Apple Pie is like the symbol of a 'SuperMom'. Like gag worthy supermom. In my defense, I've baked 2 pies in my life. This is the second. The first was also a success and the only reason why I even tried to make a pie from scratch was because - why else - Colin wanted pie. He saw some show where they made a pie, and after that it was incessant whining about baking a pie.
Well, my debut pie was actually easier to make than I thought. The caloric rewards on my waist, and the smiles Joe and Colin's faces outweighed the effort that went into it, so I would consider making more pie in the future.
Well, after making 1 pie, I thought I was a culinary genius. And I think you'll agree with that statement after I tell you want I did with Pie #2.
I PUT CHEDDAR IN THE CRUST.
I thought of this all on my own - you've heard of eating apple pie with a slice of cheddar. you've heard of apple cheddar muffins. and you've heard of stuffed crust pizza. why not make a merriment of all good things in life, and have it in a pie?
Here goes the recipe:
Crust:
2.5 cups flour
1 cup butter
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
grated cheddar cheese - the more the merrier (up to 1 cup? i don't know i didn't measure)
a little bit of cold water (up to 1/4 cup)
Filling:
5 Granny Smith apples (peeled, sliced)
1/4 cup butter
3 tbsp flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
(I adapted the recipes from here: Grandma Ople's Apple Pie, and Simply Recipes)
1. Use either a food processor (which I don't have - feel free to add that to the Christmas list) or a pastry cutter to mingle all the DRY (ie. minus the water) pie crust ingredients together. Keep cutting it until it's like a dry crumbly mixture - and if you have a food processor (either give it to me, or pulse 2-3 times).
2. Add the water little by little so that it starts to form a dough - don't put too much - you want it to just come together.
3. form into 2 discs, and cover it with plastic wrap to refrigerate (anywhere from 1 hr-2 days).
4. make the filling - cut the apples, and melt the liquid goodness on a medium low heat.
5. roll out the dough, and put one in the pie plate
6. use an egg wash and wash the interior of the pie shell so it doesn't get soggy - then put the apples in, and then the filling.
7. roll out the other disc - now's the time to show-off. you can make the topping however you want, but make sure there's a hole somewhere for the steam to vent - but go wild and fulfill your Supermom dreams. I chose the lattice cause it looks like a lot of work, but it's not. I'm like that - i like to look like I work hard, but in reality I had gnomes do my work for me.
8. Egg wash, sprinkle a little sugar on top, and put it in a 425 degree oven for 10 minutes, then turn it down to 350 degrees (for 45 minutes? just keep an eye on it - it's not rocket science if something's burning).
and here you go - my apple pie cheddar crusted pie. If you make it, I'll send Joe and Colin over to taste-test approve it.
Well, my debut pie was actually easier to make than I thought. The caloric rewards on my waist, and the smiles Joe and Colin's faces outweighed the effort that went into it, so I would consider making more pie in the future.
Well, after making 1 pie, I thought I was a culinary genius. And I think you'll agree with that statement after I tell you want I did with Pie #2.
I PUT CHEDDAR IN THE CRUST.
I thought of this all on my own - you've heard of eating apple pie with a slice of cheddar. you've heard of apple cheddar muffins. and you've heard of stuffed crust pizza. why not make a merriment of all good things in life, and have it in a pie?
Here goes the recipe:
Crust:
2.5 cups flour
1 cup butter
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
grated cheddar cheese - the more the merrier (up to 1 cup? i don't know i didn't measure)
a little bit of cold water (up to 1/4 cup)
Filling:
5 Granny Smith apples (peeled, sliced)
1/4 cup butter
3 tbsp flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
(I adapted the recipes from here: Grandma Ople's Apple Pie, and Simply Recipes)
1. Use either a food processor (which I don't have - feel free to add that to the Christmas list) or a pastry cutter to mingle all the DRY (ie. minus the water) pie crust ingredients together. Keep cutting it until it's like a dry crumbly mixture - and if you have a food processor (either give it to me, or pulse 2-3 times).
2. Add the water little by little so that it starts to form a dough - don't put too much - you want it to just come together.
3. form into 2 discs, and cover it with plastic wrap to refrigerate (anywhere from 1 hr-2 days).
4. make the filling - cut the apples, and melt the liquid goodness on a medium low heat.
5. roll out the dough, and put one in the pie plate
6. use an egg wash and wash the interior of the pie shell so it doesn't get soggy - then put the apples in, and then the filling.
7. roll out the other disc - now's the time to show-off. you can make the topping however you want, but make sure there's a hole somewhere for the steam to vent - but go wild and fulfill your Supermom dreams. I chose the lattice cause it looks like a lot of work, but it's not. I'm like that - i like to look like I work hard, but in reality I had gnomes do my work for me.
8. Egg wash, sprinkle a little sugar on top, and put it in a 425 degree oven for 10 minutes, then turn it down to 350 degrees (for 45 minutes? just keep an eye on it - it's not rocket science if something's burning).
and here you go - my apple pie cheddar crusted pie. If you make it, I'll send Joe and Colin over to taste-test approve it.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
He spells
this just happened - it's pretty incredible:
C: mommy i want to play with the tap
Me: what?
C: the TAHP.
Me: the tent? what?
C: the T - A - P TAP.
Me: you mean the tent??
C: yes.
okay - so he didn't spell the right object.... but he spelled what he was saying??!??!? I think he's still 2.5, unless he's been secretly doing kindergarten by correspondence.
C: mommy i want to play with the tap
Me: what?
C: the TAHP.
Me: the tent? what?
C: the T - A - P TAP.
Me: you mean the tent??
C: yes.
okay - so he didn't spell the right object.... but he spelled what he was saying??!??!? I think he's still 2.5, unless he's been secretly doing kindergarten by correspondence.
The difference between 1 and 2 kids.
I'm at the age where a lot of my friends are expecting, or had their first-born recently. Joe and I did have a bit of an early start (yes, it's no surprise that our kids were surprises - but no regrets!), so we've been asked many many times - what's it like with 2?
Well, I'll have you know. As I was taking a hot shower this morning, while Cara was sleeping and Colin was by himself watching TV... I was thinking - I would have NEVER had a nice hot shower when it was just Colin. My new mom mentality was a bit cuckoo. But maybe my Mom of 2 brain is just more lazy? Who knows. But here are the differences between when I had just Colin, and now with 2.
The Pregnancy
1 kid:
I'm going to eat so healthy, take all my vitamins, teas and stay away from all the evil foods like cheese.
2 kids:
I'm going to eat chocolate. Cause I can. and this random cheese on the platter? i'll just have a little.
At the hospital
1 kid:
OMG. WTF. OMG.
2 kids:
Joe literally dropped me off at the emergency entrance to find cheaper parking. I waddled my way to the triage, and then to the ward by myself with contractions. (I have to insert here that hospital parking is quite ridiculous - so don't get on Joe's case too much. Just a little will do.)
The Homecoming
1 kid:
Wow (in the freaking out kind of way).... what do we do now?
2 kids:
Let's pick up some take out and do some grocery shopping before we get home.
Showers
1 kid:
I can't leave him alone... what do I do?? oh, I know. I'll bring him in his bouncy chair to sit in the bathroom with me while I shower.
2 kids:
watch tv. (Cara either sleeping, or in the neglect-o-saucer).
Food
1 kid:
I'm going to steam and freeze ONLY organic foods. And what should he be eating and how much of it? His poo was a little hard yesterday - I need to give him only pears. His poo was too soft - he needs more grains.
2 kids:
Can I mash this meat up with a fork? sure.
The TV
1 kid:
Only limited TV. It's so destructive for the brain.
2 kids:
TV is the best. (and research says it's the commercials and 'fast paced' shows that are bad anyway - at least that's what I tell myself)
Going out
1 kid:
Let's go to ALL these special programs. Story times at the library, Jungle Gyms, Strong Start... and grocery shopping
2 kids:
It takes me 45 minutes to get out of a house. I can't get anywhere on time. Grocery shopping? Forget it.
When the Baby is Crying
1 kid:
googled 'why is my 6 week old crying'; 'how to get 6 month old to sleep'; 'projectile vomiting 28 week old'; 'what should my baby's poo look like'; 'sleep consultants'; 'what should my baby's schedule look like', 'best remedy for teething' this list goes ON.... I googled everything and anything.
2 kids:
meh - growth spurt.
Sex
1 kid:
what's that?
2 kids:
what's that?
Love
1 kid:
I love you sooooo much. How could I ever love another being as much as I love you?
2 kids:
I love you and you so much. More than you both will ever know.
I don't know about people with 3+ kids. I have a theory - they either don't exist, or we don't see them exist because they can't ever get out of a house to get anywhere. If it happens to us, I'll blog about it.
Well, I'll have you know. As I was taking a hot shower this morning, while Cara was sleeping and Colin was by himself watching TV... I was thinking - I would have NEVER had a nice hot shower when it was just Colin. My new mom mentality was a bit cuckoo. But maybe my Mom of 2 brain is just more lazy? Who knows. But here are the differences between when I had just Colin, and now with 2.
The Pregnancy
1 kid:
I'm going to eat so healthy, take all my vitamins, teas and stay away from all the evil foods like cheese.
2 kids:
I'm going to eat chocolate. Cause I can. and this random cheese on the platter? i'll just have a little.
At the hospital
1 kid:
OMG. WTF. OMG.
2 kids:
Joe literally dropped me off at the emergency entrance to find cheaper parking. I waddled my way to the triage, and then to the ward by myself with contractions. (I have to insert here that hospital parking is quite ridiculous - so don't get on Joe's case too much. Just a little will do.)
The Homecoming
1 kid:
Wow (in the freaking out kind of way).... what do we do now?
2 kids:
Let's pick up some take out and do some grocery shopping before we get home.
Showers
1 kid:
I can't leave him alone... what do I do?? oh, I know. I'll bring him in his bouncy chair to sit in the bathroom with me while I shower.
2 kids:
watch tv. (Cara either sleeping, or in the neglect-o-saucer).
Food
1 kid:
I'm going to steam and freeze ONLY organic foods. And what should he be eating and how much of it? His poo was a little hard yesterday - I need to give him only pears. His poo was too soft - he needs more grains.
2 kids:
Can I mash this meat up with a fork? sure.
The TV
1 kid:
Only limited TV. It's so destructive for the brain.
2 kids:
TV is the best. (and research says it's the commercials and 'fast paced' shows that are bad anyway - at least that's what I tell myself)
Going out
1 kid:
Let's go to ALL these special programs. Story times at the library, Jungle Gyms, Strong Start... and grocery shopping
2 kids:
It takes me 45 minutes to get out of a house. I can't get anywhere on time. Grocery shopping? Forget it.
When the Baby is Crying
1 kid:
googled 'why is my 6 week old crying'; 'how to get 6 month old to sleep'; 'projectile vomiting 28 week old'; 'what should my baby's poo look like'; 'sleep consultants'; 'what should my baby's schedule look like', 'best remedy for teething' this list goes ON.... I googled everything and anything.
2 kids:
meh - growth spurt.
Sex
1 kid:
what's that?
2 kids:
what's that?
Love
1 kid:
I love you sooooo much. How could I ever love another being as much as I love you?
2 kids:
I love you and you so much. More than you both will ever know.
I don't know about people with 3+ kids. I have a theory - they either don't exist, or we don't see them exist because they can't ever get out of a house to get anywhere. If it happens to us, I'll blog about it.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Remembrance Day
Lest we forget. I took Colin to the local legion to honour the men and women who have and continue to fight for our country. I don't personally know any veterans, or have any close friends/family in the military, but I am always touched by the sacrifices people make for the comfort of others. The men and women who fight, their families who live without a parent, spouse, son, daughter, sibling... for long periods of time, the uncertainties - I just don't know how they do it.
So, on Remembrance Day, I took Colin to expose him to these important people.
It's a tough one to explain to a 2.5 year old what this day is all about. These are big ideas - sacrifice, freedom, war, death... but it's important that he learns about respect.
So, on the way to the legion, I was trying to put it all in perspective for Colin. The conversation went something like this:
Me: We are going to see some really important men and women. These people fought in a war, to help make it a safe place for us to live.
Colin: Fighting is fun!
Me: No. No. Fighting is BAD. But these people were fighting someone very mean, and had to fight back. They wanted to keep us safe, so they had to fight the really mean people.
Colin: Like Superheroes!
I thought that was very appropriate - they really are the real-life superheroes. I just hope, in time, he learns that we need to be respectful, and that all things come at a cost. Tough life lessons need to be taught early.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Easy Cooking: Bibimbap
Well, it appears I have been a VERY lazy mom. I haven't blogged in a very long time, and our trip to the East entries have stopped at Day 3.... well, I'll just summarize. Days 4-8 were great. We strolled around NYC, lost a couple more things, bumped into Samuel L. Jackson (okay, i didn't 'bump' into him, he was behind a fence for some event, but I saw him), discovered a very delicious bakery, and tried to re-create scenes from Disney's Enchanted.
You can expect that I will probably have the same amount of laziness with our next trip, to the real East. We're going to Hong Kong, and instead of being ambitious and attempting to be a good blogger, I'll just set your expectations low. And if you get a photo here or there - then consider yourself all caught up in my lazy, yet crazy busy with nothing, life.
Okay. On with the actual blog - Bibimbap. You ask what this is? it's basically a Korean mixed vegetable & rice dish. I just had a craving for it the other day, and it just seems that all the Korean and Thai restaurants in Vancouver think it's okay to charge $15 for their dishes of rice and/or noodles... so I went on a mission to just make it at home.
The only thing with this dish though, is that you HAVE to have the gochujang sauce (the red suace - red chilli paste in the soybean paste). It's what makes it... Korean. I had to go to H Mart to buy it - even T&T didn't have it.
Here are the ingredients - but in good old LM fashion... i don't measure anything.
bean sprouts (the bigger kind, not the dinky little ones)
spinach
shiitake mushrooms (sliced thinly)
carrots (julienne)
zucchini (sliced thinly)
eggs
rice
meat (can be ground, or sliced pork or beef)
sesame oil
soy sauce
garlic
korean bulgogi sauce
gochujang suace
a big bowl/platter to put all the cooked items on (part of this dish is about presentation, but really you will just mix it all up before you eat it...)
1. marinade the meat in the bulgogi sauce
2. mince up a whole lot of garlic
3. boil off your bean sprouts, when they're done sprinkle salt, sesame oil, and garlic in it. set aside on the platter.
4. boil the spinach, and when they're done a little soy, sesame oil, garlic - onto platter.
5. I have a wok, but if you don't just use a frying pan - fry off the carrots with a little garlic, sesame oil - and put on the platter.
6. do the same with the zucchini and mushrooms - hope you're getting the drift...
7. I fried off the eggs before the meat because that meant I didn't have to wipe down the wok after the meat (which is saucy) before frying the eggs.
okay, so your platter should be full of veggies, your riced cooked, and now it's just all about assembly. put all the clumps of veggies on top of your bowl of rice, put some gochujang sauce in there, a fried egg and meat on top.
dig in - mix it around, and it's a heavenly blend of happiness in your mouth.
Yes - I actually lied too a little - it's not really 'easy', and it's quite labor intensive with all the prep work - but it's easy in the sense that the ingredients aren't crazy, and the method of cooking is quite user-friendly. A healthy meal too - for kids and adults alike!
You can expect that I will probably have the same amount of laziness with our next trip, to the real East. We're going to Hong Kong, and instead of being ambitious and attempting to be a good blogger, I'll just set your expectations low. And if you get a photo here or there - then consider yourself all caught up in my lazy, yet crazy busy with nothing, life.
Okay. On with the actual blog - Bibimbap. You ask what this is? it's basically a Korean mixed vegetable & rice dish. I just had a craving for it the other day, and it just seems that all the Korean and Thai restaurants in Vancouver think it's okay to charge $15 for their dishes of rice and/or noodles... so I went on a mission to just make it at home.
The only thing with this dish though, is that you HAVE to have the gochujang sauce (the red suace - red chilli paste in the soybean paste). It's what makes it... Korean. I had to go to H Mart to buy it - even T&T didn't have it.
Here are the ingredients - but in good old LM fashion... i don't measure anything.
bean sprouts (the bigger kind, not the dinky little ones)
spinach
shiitake mushrooms (sliced thinly)
carrots (julienne)
zucchini (sliced thinly)
eggs
rice
meat (can be ground, or sliced pork or beef)
sesame oil
soy sauce
garlic
korean bulgogi sauce
gochujang suace
a big bowl/platter to put all the cooked items on (part of this dish is about presentation, but really you will just mix it all up before you eat it...)
1. marinade the meat in the bulgogi sauce
2. mince up a whole lot of garlic
3. boil off your bean sprouts, when they're done sprinkle salt, sesame oil, and garlic in it. set aside on the platter.
4. boil the spinach, and when they're done a little soy, sesame oil, garlic - onto platter.
5. I have a wok, but if you don't just use a frying pan - fry off the carrots with a little garlic, sesame oil - and put on the platter.
6. do the same with the zucchini and mushrooms - hope you're getting the drift...
7. I fried off the eggs before the meat because that meant I didn't have to wipe down the wok after the meat (which is saucy) before frying the eggs.
okay, so your platter should be full of veggies, your riced cooked, and now it's just all about assembly. put all the clumps of veggies on top of your bowl of rice, put some gochujang sauce in there, a fried egg and meat on top.
dig in - mix it around, and it's a heavenly blend of happiness in your mouth.
Yes - I actually lied too a little - it's not really 'easy', and it's quite labor intensive with all the prep work - but it's easy in the sense that the ingredients aren't crazy, and the method of cooking is quite user-friendly. A healthy meal too - for kids and adults alike!
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