Thursday, April 28, 2011

Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real.


tiny blog chickens2-2 
 
Happy Easter!
This is my pretty picture, but also my real one.  Note that Jack is not wearing the dress shirt I searched every store in the greater Fitchburg area to find and Ann has lost her bow and her shoes, and John lost his beard!  Oops.  And of course, Jack is not looking.  He is busy escaping.
 
 

Can you believe how much they've grown since last year??




Friday, April 22, 2011

Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real.





I know I am late joining the linky party, but I had stomach flu and had a very difficult time getting the button to work,  Thanks, Leila for the tutorial!  I was using the older editor...
 
 
IMG_8896-3






Pretty Girl: dancing while she eats
 



Happy Siblings: enjoying each other's company




Funny Fashion Sense: fresh from the bath
 



Real Boy
 




Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Three Feet Deep in Snow

Ever since our second big snow in December, Jack has not been able to play outside. The snow was fun the first time, we made snow angles and snow balls and half-hearted snow men. After that it came up past his knees and he informed me from his position, unable to move from the drift in which I had dropped him, that he did "not like this." Since then the snow has only increased.

Earlier this week, in desperate need of milk and laundry detergent I packed the kids into their snow suits and shoved their puffy snow-suited selves down into the straps of their car seats. I then spent about fifteen fruitless minutes trying to back out of the freshly shoveled driveway, as Jack commented curiously on my efforts. That is about when he noticed the backyard: heaps and drifts and piles of snow with the top six inches of fence sticking out in some places and not in others. "Oh no!" he said, "The backyard is Broken!"

Monday, November 22, 2010

A Soy Free, Dairy Free Diet

So, one of the things that has kept me away from my blog for the last several months is learning to eat Soy and Dairy free.

You see, when Ann was about three months old, so back in April sometime, we discovered that she has a dairy and soy allergy. Since then we have learned that this is not so unusual for a baby. And hopefully is something that she will outgrow. In the mean time we have been very happy that, with an altered diet, I have been able to keep nursing her.

One thing that was very hard about this transition was that it came very suddenly with little or no direction. We noticed some unsettling symptoms in our baby, called the doctor and left a message and a couple of hours later got a call back from the nurse saying that it was "probably a dairy allergy so try eating dairy and soy free and call back in a few days if that doesn't work." There did not seem to be any understanding of how that shook my world. What?? No milk? No cheese? No ice cream?? No butter??? Doesn't that seem a little extreme?! Surely there is another option? Or shouldn't we at least make sure this is the problem first?? Imagine my surprise when I found that every cheese or butter substitute in the grocery store was made from soy! I spent a long time one day reading the ingredients on every package in the dairy isle...and everything else on my list too.

Another issue was that while there is a lot of information on how to eat dairy free there was very little available on how to eat soy free at the same time. I did find this website (or really my mother did) and the coconut curry is delicious!

So my intention is to make this the first of a series on the subject. This way, if I ever have to do this again I won't have to re-invent the wheel, and perhaps some stranger, who is hungry and scared to eat for fear of hurting her sweet little nurser, will find it useful as well!

So for now, if you're interested, check out that website, and I'll add some more recipes and substitutions and such later on!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Slip-covers: Inspired by the wonderful Mary Rosaleen!

So, I made these two slip covers for some REALLY ugly, horrible scratchy poly-somethin pillows I had. Aren't they cute? I'm not sure I'm quite sold on the red patch on the one, but I love the ruffle on the other. And it was sooo quick and easy. I did it during nap time and was done before the kids got up!


The Yellow (which I got from Ikea and love; it's so bright and cheery!) and green I already had, I'm discussing the other two.

(for some reason I can't rotate this picture...tilt your head.)



Adding the ruffle was the hardest part. I guess there might have been an easier way of doing it, but I just pinned the fabric first at the ends of the ruffle to the first layer of the cover and then in the middle and then in the two middles and then in the 4 corners, etc. till it was stable enough to sandwich the second layer (or other side) of the cover on top and sew.


See, so here is what the cover looks like inside out. It's one square piece of fabric and two rectangles that are slightly larger than the square so that they overlap in the back. So fast and easy!




Weren't they so ugly before...I'm almost embarrassed to show you...









Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Borax: a treatise on cheap effective detergent

I try to buy the cheapest laundry detergent that I can. Because we use a lot of it around here. But I also have small children who don't just wear their clothes. They get them DIRTY. So I need a detergent that will CLEAN.

So I've been buying cheap detergent (was using Arm and Hammer till my daughter was allergic to it, now using All Free and Clear) and adding a scoop of Oxyclean to every load. This works pretty well, but Oxyclean is expensive too! So shouldn't I make it simpler and just buy the expensive detergent (Tide!) and skip the booster?

Enter Auntie Leila, who suggested that I substitute Borax for Oxyclean. At $2 per box as compared to $10 for Oxyclean it is a definite savings and I am here to tell you that it works!

That being said, I still think Oxyclean is best for soaking out pesky stains. Like when Ann crawled through the mud in her white tights and turtleneck, I soaked in Borax to little or no effect whereas the Oxyclean did the trick.

And while we are on the subject of detergent, let's move to the kitchen. I've been using liquid soap (just about the cheapest: Palmolive Eccosomethingorother) in my dishwasher, because I figured that if the soap didn't have to spend time dissolving it would spend more time cleaning and that should be a good thing. Last week a dear friend suggested I try the powder instead (again about the cheapest available: Cascade) and low and behold, it works so much better! Yay! cleaner dishes!

Thursday, November 4, 2010

The catechistic method In practice

I remember in college people sneering at the use of the catechistic method as something outdated at best, barbaric, ridiculous, and sinister at worst.

I have never felt that way about it. I like the method. There is simply no substitution for memory by route. Sometimes, when push comes to shove, you need something safe, something memorized, something familiar to fall back on. This is why children love reading the same board book 8 million times every night and why we, as adults, love reading our children the same books our parents read to us. We know them. They are ours. They are safe, comfortable, lovely. As my father reminds us so often, the philosopher says, "there is pleasure in repetition."

So, we've started using this method with Jack:

It began on his birthday in May, as I wound up and down the isles in Wal-mart:
"Jack, how old are you?"
"Two!"

(With his arm thrown confidently in the air, presenting his two sausage fingers)

And continued:
"What is your name?"
"Jack!"
"what is your last name?"
"TriLOlo!"

(Always with great enthusiasm, and, unless he's strapped down, a hop, skip or a jump. Because he's a boy and everything comes with a bounce.)

And my favorite:
"Who made you?"
"God!"
"And why did God make you?"
"Because Him LOVES me!"

Said with such utter enthusiasm! I don't know if he loves this one the most because I do, or if it is because he realizes the awesomeness of it in some way, but he likes to ask me back:

"Mamma, Who made you??"
and I say, "God!"
and he says "Why did Him make you?!"
and I say, "because he loves me!
and he says, "Him loves YOU!"

And we are happy, and it is good. Because we know that it is true, we know that it is right. I enjoy that Jack knows and he enjoys that he knows and he enjoys that I enjoy that he knows. And yes, this is very sinister.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

75 watts of light therapy

For some reason, the ONLY new light bulb left in our house when the bathroom light burned out last night was 75 watts. Why we had a bulb of such outrageous wattage? I have no idea. But our bathroom is VERY bright. Despite the fact that I can now see EVERY TEENY TINY bit of dust or dirt, it is rather pleasant. It's kind of like being at the beach. In my bathroom.

Friday, October 30, 2009

It's Just a Dog

This video that my husband showed me on Hulu reminded me of Mary's recent post Dog Mania.

I have an excellent OB...

he is a world famous Catholic man. Very gentle and kind and loves his job. He occasionally has to leave town to go give a talk at the Vatican or some such nonsense and when that happens in the month that you're baby is due it kind of stinks, but unless he's out of town he delivers all of his own babies.

Like the rest of us, however, he has his days. Like Tuesday.

I went in for my regular monthly appointment and he looked at my chart and said "Let's see, you weigh (insert a very reasonable weight here) today...and how much did you weigh last time...Oh, (an even more modest figure)...and that was...Oh! Only three weeks ago! Wow!" And I sat there. Feeling fat and sheepish, but trying to look composed and unconcerned.

Next we discussed the Swine Flu, listened to the babies heart beat and then I mentioned having some back pain. So he took a look at my back and got very excited about demonstrating what he found. He stood in front of me and said, "See, your hip is kind of turned in like this and then your back is over compensating like this and so then one shoulder is higher like this!" Unfortunately I was not forward thinking enough to take a picture of what he looked like at this point, but insert a mental image of the Hunchback of Notre Damn. Thanks.

"And your ankle hurts too? Let's take a look." He moved my ankle this way and that, pressed it here and pressed it there and his comment: "My, you do have very large feet for a lady, don't you?"

Strike three! I'm going home! If I can manage it, fat, hunchbacked and swell-footed...

If you need fabric in a hurry...

I ordered some from The Attic Window Quilt Shoppe on Monday and it arrived on Wednesday! I was so surprised. Unfortunately, they do not seem to sell much by way of notions.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Kids!!

I read this little story today (a conversation with a young boy), and it was hysterical, so I thought I'd pass it on.

http://keeponspinning.wordpress.com/

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Fabric Swap

Have you all made it over to Like Mother, Like Daughter to check out the fabric swap??

I have met some lovely Internet people there, and one woman offered to send me fabric from Queensland!

Monday, September 14, 2009

Swiffer Update

So, having Swiffered under my sofa, and around my rugs, and under the radiators (hehehe) I am sorry to report that the store brand Swiffer wet pads simply don't measure up. They are a pathetic imitation of the original. It's funny, you would think to look at them that whoever designed them had never actually seen a Swiffer pad. Anyway, my vote is to spend the extra $1.50 and get the real thing which fits the mop better, is wetter, smells better and has little ridges that pick up dirt and a little ruffer strip on one edge.

I have a confession...

I bought another mop. And no, it is not to replace my lovely roller mop. I still love that, and my kitchen and bathroom floors have never been cleaner. In general. Not right now. Right now I should be mopping them.

My NEW purchase is a Swiffer Sweeper. And I feel a little sheepish about it. I have always turned my nose up at Swiffers. Aren't they for...well, you know, Fake cleaning?

But here is the thing: For the last several weeks I have been feeling guilty about my upstairs bedroom floors because since I've lived here (just under a year) I have NEVER mopped them. I do sweep them regularly, but the idea of carrying a mop and bucket up the stairs and mopping around and under all that furniture: beds, rockers, cribs, dressers, etc. was just plain daunting. Last weekend, my in-laws were here helping up scrape wallpaper and plaster the master bedroom which caused copious amounts of dust to be tracked all over the upstairs. Since this project will not be finished for some time, I have plaster footprints to look forward to for weeks to come. As we were looking at the mess and discussing the mop and bucket, my mother-in-law suggested a Swiffer. And that is when it dawned on me. Yes! a Swiffer is ridiculous in the kitchen, but it is just about perfect for wooden bedroom floors!

I bought said Swiffer on Saturday evening (for $10, I didn't realize they were so inexpensive! and I bought 12 replacement, store brand, wet pads for $3.50. I will let you know if I notice a difference.) and had to really fight the temptation to do unnecessary servile labor all day Sunday! This morning I got right on it and was really delighted by how it worked. It was so easy to get all the way under the bed and dresser in the guest room picking up all those little dust bunnies which scamper away from the straw broom. Unfortunately, it works less well in the nursery since that floor is what you might call "distressed" with a coat of red paint slapped on top. I am afraid no mop would work that well in there since the floor is so uneven. However, the Swiffer did get up the fine layer of dust that was settled under the crib, so that was good. I then moved on to the construction zone clearing a dust free path from the door to my dresser, so that I could retrieve my clothes without tracking up the other floors. Yes, I am well pleased.

I think I might go Swiffer under the sofa...This pregnant lady is enjoying her new cleaning supplies!! :P

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Today...

I am 38% of the way through my pregnancy and it is 95 degrees outside. I am not sure which of these facts is making it SOOO hard for me to keep my eyes open!

Saturday, August 15, 2009

The Stroller Dilema

Having spent more time than I care to admit thinking this question over. I have decided that it is time to share it with the broader public.

Are you ready? ?

**How many strollers does one growing family need?**

You see, I have an umbrella stroller in each car trunk (of which there are two) one of which has a bum wheel (very annoying). I also have a more heavy duty stroller that lives on the porch and is used primarily for exploring the neighborhood. I ALSO have a universal infant seat carrier which is currently living way back in the closet under the stairs, obviously obsolete for my current needs, but with an infant on the way I can't make up my mind to get rid of it.

Now for those of you who can't believe that one crazy woman would actually BUY 4 strollers in 15 months, don't worry! I only paid a total of about $60 for all of them combined. So far, so good, but the problem is that once the new baby comes I'm going to want a DOUBLE stroller right? Should that replace one or two or three that I already have? Or just add to my already surprisingly large collection?

Part of me was thinking that if I found a double stroller I could get rid of the infant seat carrier because you can carry an infant seat in a double stroller, right? Would I want to do that? Is it even safe? What if I wanted to go out sometimes with JUST the infant? Would the double stroller seam cumbersome? Should a double stroller replace the stroller on the porch, assuming that the baby will always join in the neighborhood jaunts? What about the umbrella strollers? Are they pretty well useless with two?

Honestly, at this point I am tempted to keep my eyes out for a nice inexpensive-to-free double stroller AND keep all my other four, but that makes part of me feel acquisitive and selfish, bogged down in strollers! Could one possibly really NEED 5 strollers???

Help! What do you suggest?!

Friday, July 31, 2009

Flying Bananas!! Oh My!

Do you remember my post about how cool it is that you can freeze your old bananas till you're ready to use them?

Well I've gone overboard. My freezer is so full of bananas that I can't open the door without getting pelted, whacked or even showered in frozen bananas!

I think it's time for some serious baking!

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

I love my new mop

So I thought I would share. I grew up with roller mops. I still remember having mopping races across our dining room kitchen combo. It was great fun. The dining room had a huge table down the middle, at the end of the table was a chimney and on the other side of the chimney (in the kitchen now) was a wood stove. So the rooms were split right down the center. We had two mops and two buckets and we'd race down our respective sides. One girl I raced got very clever and stole my mop to try to get an edge, but she and the two mops ended up in a tangled heap!

Anyway, last week I decided that it was time to buy a mop so I went to the mop isle at Target and spent some time comparing allllll the various types of mops and all the various brands of the various types. Jack thought this was boring but I plied him with crackers. I was determined to make a wise decision. In the end I chose this one. It was one of the two cheaper roller mops and of those two had the rougher sponge, an important feature with babies afoot.

I finally found energy to use it...yesterday? it feels like it was weeks ago, but I'm pretty sure it was just yesterday. I loved it. I enjoyed it. It was easy. My floor is clean; my mop is clean; there were no puddles and all the food stuck under Jack's high chair is history (except the new food from today of course). I am a happy woman and a satisfied customer!

Monday, June 15, 2009

yumm!

Oh My gosh! I just made the best homemade pizza ever!

Have you ever tried slicing a fresh tomato and putting that down instead of/with the tomato sauce you usually use? it is fantastic!

Add some cheese, a little left over bacon bacon (I know that doesn't happen naturally, but it can be planned for!) some sliced red bell pepper and onions and that is one tasty treat!

My husband brags on my homemade pizza to the point that it is almost embarrassing. So go ahead, try it out on your husband, I bet he'll love it too!