Secret Life of a Stay Home Mama...

 

When the Daddy comes home from a long day in the business world and asks "what'd you guys do all day?"  well, here ya go.  We made LOTS of messes, had an array of healthy snacks, changed diapers and washed, washed, washed.  The best thing of all about our days is something I could never get a picture of... it's watching these little people interact with each other, all of the snuggles and funny things they say.  Those are the most important things that fill my day and those things make being a stay home mama all worth it.

 

Just another mess in paradise ;)

 

One of the many moments I am about to fish something small and hazardous out of the mouths of babes...

 

I LOVE whoever invented Legos.  They keep these little hands busy for hours on end!

Mama, Look Sunshine!

See how happy my little birdies are in the beautiful warm sun with all of the lovely green foliage surrounding them?  I heart the Valley.  This was our spring break escape and boy did we ever soak up every last drop!

Give Me The Meaning!

Challenges make life interesting, however, overcoming them is what makes life meaningful. 
- Mark Twain

I love this one.  I feel like lately life has thrown me a series of valuable lessons in super sonic speed succession.  I guess all I can say is thank you?


Pics. coming soon... camera cord temporarily vanished. 

Calgon Take Me....

AWAY.
Far, far away.
The baby won't stop screaming (she's sick), the house is a wreck, I have a stack of bills I haven't paid in like, a month...
I just told my middlest..."if you stick your fingers in your mouth again I'm going to chop them off"
nice Mama, huh?
He's FOUR years old, why is he still sucking and chewing on everything?  It's not like he was weaned too soon (15 months to be exact) or has been abused.  I'm tired of him always smelling like drool.

We just enjoyed a mini (very mini) Spring Break trip to the Valley of the Sun :)
It wasn't what I would call a vacay, since it was completely exhausting, still it was nice to warm up a little and see the boys play outside.  And the shopping, oh the glorious shopping :)
I will post a few pictures soon...

The real break that I've been dreaming of is a date with my hubs.  I would love to have one night and pretend like it's the old days, ya know?  We'd get dressed up, have a fancy dinner, go out dancing... just have a whole night just for each other... no interruptions.  I can't imagine anything more refreshing at this moment.

Happy Spring Everyone!!!

~Disclaimer~

I just wanted to mention that theres nothing wrong with a little "me" time now and again ;)
While I don't need a fancy spa vacay to be fully rejuvenated, a trip alone to the grocery store can work miracles.  Yesterday I perused the aisles of my local natural food store a.l.o.n.e. and let me tell you it was amazing.  I stopped, I smelled, I tasted, I went back for seconds, I read labels, asked questions, smiled, pondered.  It was really quite lovely.
Some days a full-time nanny sounds heavenly, that's where my new found perspective comes in handy.  But ladies, seriously never feel guilty about taking a breather.  A friend last night told me how her hubs had left with the kiddies for the day and instead of getting things done around the house, she had taken a three hour nap!  Then read a book for an hour!  I know, how dare she take a break from her sleep deprived state when she could've been cleaning something or cooking something or folding something.  She felt bad about the whole afternoon and I told her not to feel bad one single bit!  That may have been the last long nap she gets for the next 18 YEARS!  Mamas, we are only human... which is why I am typing this and not delving into my daily chores.
Have a beautiful Sunday :)

A New Perspective

This week I have felt the effects of being a stay at home mama to three little birds... maybe it is the continuous flow of snow we seem to have, maybe the shortened days of school due to the weather and parent/teacher conferences,  maybe the  financial stresses we are facing right now, feeling in limbo, not knowing where or when the wind will blow us in a new direction.  I had a tiny bit of a meltdown last night.  Spring break is coming, you know, and it's not feeling very spring-like out and unfortunately we aren't able to head anywhere warm due to various frustrating factors.  I began going to a place I dislike most of all...feeling sorry for myself, being truly ungrateful for the many blessings I have been given in this life.  That is when I was lead to my friend Karen's blog... worryfreemom.  Sounds lovely, huh?  NO WORRIES!  Enjoying this amazing time I have with my little birdies.  Karen wrote so beautifully how society makes us believe we deserve and need ME time, maybe more than we do.  It makes us feel jipped if we don't get it.  She went on to say something that made so much sense to me... what if God needed more "me" time, what about our friends and loved ones?  What if they pulled away right when we needed them the most?  When I'm older and my little fledglings have left the nest, will I wish I would have had more "me" time or more quality time with my most precious treasures?
I have gained a new perspective.  No more pouting for me.  I have a life that is wonderful, rich in love and good health.  I have the best hubs on earth!  I mean it!  What kind of guy loves to help out around the house, plays endlessly with his kiddies and incredibly motivated in his career AND is a hottie to boot?  Sorry ladies, he's all mine :)  Sometimes we need a little pity party and then we get the tears out and realize... IT'S A BEAUTIFUL LIFE!  I need to cherish these sweet times with my babies for as long as I can.

Quote of the Day

Do what you feel in your heart to be right- for you'll be criticized anyway. You'll be damned if you do, and damned if you don't. 

~Eleanor Roosevelt 

I think this is one of the biggest lessons I have had to learn.  Maybe it's just part of growing up.  For the longest time I felt like a puppet, like every move I made I was making either for someone or to go against someone.  Not until my late 20's early 30's-ish did I really start to become aware that this is MY life (instead of just yelling in a teenagery way... "IT'S MY LIFE!!!!!).  Call me a late bloomer :)  But, oh is it freeing when you realize you make your own life and if you really listen, your intuition will never lead you astray.  

Why couldn't I have had this kind of "aha" moment in high-school?

Split Pea For You

So, last night we made a delicious pot of split pea.  Split pea soup is one of those things that looks and smells quite disgusting... sort like cheese, but eating it is a whole 'nother story.  I love making this soup because the peas cook so fast, it tastes good and it's basically baby food ready :)

Split Pea Soup
1 lb. split peas rinsed
2 quarts homemade chicken stock (look back in Nov. for directions)
1 bunch chopped carrots
3 stalks chopped celery
1 small or 1/2 large chopped onion
2 cloves garlic minced
2 cups chopped organic ham

Now put the peas in your stock and cover and simmer.  Get them a little soft (45min. to 1 hour) and then I add my veggies and ham.  Simmer another 1-2 hours depending on your peas.  Add a little sea salt and ground black pepper to taste and you've got it!  I like it with a good sourdough bread and some really good pasture butter or homemade butter and a tall glass of raw milk!

Presentation

School all of a sudden is starting to get a little tougher. D's class just finished up a week long project of preparing individual presentations. Felt like a month really. But alas,we finished. He took it very seriously and was not afraid one bit to get up and do his thing. Title: SCORPIONS!

Everybody had to do a visual. No generic posters allowed. It just so happened that I had the perfect Anthro container on hand. So we did a shadow box with a nice little desert scene and Sory let us borrow his big black scorpion. They have that kind in the desert, right?

Sory's been begging for homework of his very own. Title: TARANTULAS!

On a side note, I just realized D's shirt looks filthy!  That is SNOW, not dirt or lunch all you Grandmas ;)

Miss Mischief

A very quiet morning. How do you do it with three little birds you ask? SIMPLE. I ignore them ;) One is somewhere playing on his Nintendo DSI, another with glazed eyes staring at Pooh. And the baby? Oh yes, the BABY! Come out, come out, wherever you are!

Yep, I see you.

GOTCHA! And don't fall for the innocent little face. See that big bruise on the forehead? Yep, from previous mischief.

Oh, but how can you resist!

Cajun Country

So it was a girls week and we were headed to Louisiana.  Home of the best food on earth, friendliest people and celebrations galore.  My only regret is that I didn't take more pictures.  What was I thinking??  I'm obviously not a picture taker.  I get so wrapped up in whatever I'm doing, I honestly forget until other people start whipping out their cameras.  I could've taken a million great photos of our journey and my beautiful family, but no, instead just three :(  Miss Aviana in full Mardi Gras spirit!

My darling cousin Jandy and I after just waking up, hence the messy, sleepy, just rolled out of bed look I'm sporting.  I hadn't seen her since she was pregnant with the cutie on her hip!  (His name is Ben, by the way).  So wonderful to catch up with her and reminisce about our summers as wild and crazy girls.

My little Bros!  Willy Philly was in for a visit at the same time and my littlest Bro Taylor with the dark hair.  My Dad on the other side of me.  It was great to see them all.  And of course they ate up my little Miss. Wonderful trip with wonderful people.  And why on earth don't I have pictures of them all???

Cajun Country Continued...

One thing I did get a picture of... THE ARCHITECTURE!  And the enthusiasm these people have.  It's contagious really.  I LOVE southern homes and loved how everyone had decorated so beautifully for Mardi and Super Bowl.

I really want a front door like this.  Isn't that gorgeous?

WHO DAT BABY?  The Saints Dat's Who!!!!!  OK, I couldn't resist.  I heard this so much while there it was like it became a part of me.  Ingrained in my memory forever ;)  It was definitely special being there to see the Saints victory.  Louisiana deserved it and the people went wild.  Yelling up and down the street, fireworks, beads.  I can't even remember how many pieces of cake I had that night!

Happy Birthday Big Boy!

Our oldest is seven today! I can't believe it, but at the same time I still feel like he's older than seven. There are so many reasons why I love this guy. Here are my top seven:

1. D is very practical. When I explain a decision we've made, he gets it. This makes things SO easy. Of course there are times when he plays lawyer with me and argues miniscule points, but I love this too because he gets very creative with his reasoning.

2. D is a true friend to all. This is the one thing all of his teachers have always said. He is kind to everyone, respectful, welcoming.

3. He's going somewhere. D has always had plans for his future, where he will live, what he will do. I have no doubt in my mind he will accomplish much!

4. He's a health nut :) Loves his raw milk. It's usually pretty easy to get him to eat something if he knows it's good for him.

5. D is a great brother/babysitter. He gives his used toys to Sory all the time (which Sory loves), plays with Avi and carries her around the house for me when I need to get things done. He's so sweet with his little sister.

6. He always does his best work. When completing a homework assignment, he really takes the time to write neatly and turn in a good paper. I admire this about him since I'm sometimes a "just get it done" kind of girl.

7. And last, but not least... D is a great conversationalist... meaning he listens, asks questions, doesn't just do all the talking, which is even a challenge for many adults I know!

Happy Birthday to you Darlin'!!! We are so blessed to have you as a part of our family. You have taught me as much as I've taught you. WE LOVE YOU DILLY DOO!

Blurb?

Has anyone at all out there ever made a blog book using Blurb?  I'm having just a little anxiety tonight about my whole entire blog disappearing since I think I almost deleted everything on my computer tonight.  I didn't think that was possible, but it is!  I almost started crying, well not almost, I did cry!  Please, I need your help to bind the bloggy asap!

The Skinny (Part II of Part I)

Just a few examples of some good fats... full fat dairy. Delicious and nutritious.

The most important Cod Liver Oil. This one is a high vitamin butter oil/ fermented cod liver oil version.

Pastured Butter :)

A wonderful saturated fat, coconut oil. Good for cooking and baking. Unlike many other oils, coconut oil won't go rancid at high heat.

The Skinny On FAT~ Part I

I thought I would begin a weekly "fat write-up".  Our culture is so fat phobic.  Who wants to be fat, right?  The problem is that we have been lead to believe that fat makes us fat.  Fortunately, this is not true!  Good, high quality fats actually can help us lose, yes lose weight, bring back balance to our moods, build a strong mind and help us assimilate all those good vitamins and minerals.  I feel so good and so strongly that FAT is the reason why I feel so good, that I just have to share :)

This week starting with cholesterol!  

Cholesterol can be a scary one for many people.  Is it too high?  Too low?  What do I eat?  What do I take? 

Here is an article talking about the why cholesterol is so important.

Just a quick note "polyunsaturated fats" are those found in vegetable oils.  When our bodies don't know what to do with something we have eaten it is "stored".

Cholesterol - Your Body's Best Friend

Cholesterol is the body's repair substance. Scar tissue contains high levels of cholesterol. When your arteries develop irritations or tears, cholesterol is there to do its job of patching up the damage.

Along with saturated fats, cholesterol in the cell membrane gives our cells necessary stiffness and stability. When the diet contains an excess of polyunsaturated fatty acids, these replace saturated fatty acids in the cell membrane so that the cell walls actually become flabby. When this happens, cholesterol from the blood is "driven" into the tissues to give them structural integrity. This is why serum cholesterol levels may go down temporarily when we replace saturated fats with polyunsaturated oils in the diet, even though the body's overall cholesterol levels actually go up.

Cholesterol acts as a precursor to vital corticosteroids, hormones that help us deal with stress and protect the body against heart disease and cancer; and to the sex hormones like androgen, testosterone, estrogen and progesterone. Cholesterol is also a precursor to vitamin D and to the bile salts. Bile is vital for digestion and assimilation of fats in the diet.

Recent research shows that cholesterol acts as an antioxidant. This is the likely explanation for the fact that cholesterol levels go up with age. As an antioxidant, cholesterol protects us against free radical damage that leads to heart disease and cancer.

Cholesterol is needed for proper function of serotonin receptors in the brain. Serotonin is the body's natural "feel-good" chemical. Low cholesterol levels have been linked to aggressive and violent behavior, depression and suicide.

Mother's milk is especially rich in cholesterol and contains a special enzyme that helps the baby utilize this nutrient. Babies and children need cholesterol-rich foods throughout their growing years to ensure proper development of the brain and nervous system.

Dietary cholesterol plays an important role in maintaining the health of the intestinal wall. This is why low-cholesterol vegetarian diets can lead to leaky gut syndrome and other intestinal disorders.

Men who have cholesterol levels over 350 mg/dl are at slightly greater risk for heart disease. For women, there is no greater risk for heart disease, even at levels as high as 1000 mg/dl. In fact, mortality is higher for women with low cholesterol than for women with high cholesterol.

Cholesterol readings are highly inaccurate. They vary with the time of day, time of the patient's last meal, levels of stress and the type of test used. Tests for HDL and LDL are especially subject to inaccuracies.

Written by Sally Fallon and Mary G. Enig PhD

Happy Hike

Today my dear friend had a birthday. What better way to celebrate than to escape the cold and enjoy WARM sunshine! We had so much fun hiking, playing, catching worms, getting muddy, throwing rocks, launching homemade boats into the creek and fishing out chunks of ice. We are so fortunate to have such a beautiful place so close to home.  And Miss Avi got to hang out with her gal pal Ellie :)

The fam.! And our wonderful Grandma Ann and Grandpa Ran, who we enjoy endless hikes with all year long. We are so blessed to have them close by!

The fisherman. There were so many little pools of water leftover from the storm. The boys fished and threw rocks while our friends little girls found fairies in the water and collected flowers. Oh, the differences between boys and girls.

Another little fisherman taking a break. I think this was the only moment he stood still all day.  Why are kids always so much happier outside?

A great day and a great way to end a long cold week.
Happy Birthday Jilly!

Storm 2010!

Would you believe no one in our little town had seen a storm like this since 1967? I feel lucky to witness something so breathtaking. I never grew up in snow, so this was definitely the most I'd ever seen.  Just incredible!  This was our driveway.  Lucky for us, our neighbor bought a snow blower and was so generous to help us out.  I really don't know how the hubby could shovel 5 ft. of snow!

Our backyard!  Do you see the fence?  Neither do I.  The snow is almost reacing the top of our 8 ft. fence!  The sandbox to the right will most likely not be accessible until June.

And the lovely front yard.  Our big tree almost completely swallowed up by white stuff.

A sad ending.  A great local bookstore and one of my favorite fabric shops collapsed under the weight of the snow, along with several other businesses including our local ice rink.  Nobody that I know of was injured.  Still, sad to see these great businesses gone in the blink of an eye.

OK, I hate to end on a sad note, so guess what? After a week of being home bound with the kiddies, school resumes tomorrow!  Hallelujah!

The Last Days

...of sunshine. Documented here. As I sit in my igloo, I can't help but reminisce a little. You know, sunshine, laughter, just a light sweater instead of a full on snow suit. Those were the good old days.

By the way, my baby girl's head really isn't that big. For some reason this picture makes her look like a monster next to her brothers!

For those of you out there in the world with blue skies, soak it up! You never know when it could be the end!
Snow pics. coming soon :)

I Can't Believe It's Butter!

What to do on the 3rd day of being snowed in with the kiddies?  Make butter of course!  I mentioned before we've been reading the "Snipp, Snapp and Snurr" books.  Well one of them is "Snipp, Snapp and Snurr and The Buttered Bread".  It is really so sweet.  The three little boys in the book go to visit their Aunt Annie to get some fresh milk from her cow, Blossom, to make butter.  Problem is that poor Blossom has only been eating old hay, so she's not making any milk.  She needs fresh green grass!  The boys talk the sun into shining again, the grass grows, Blossom makes milk, the boys get their buttered bread and all is well in Sweden :)  It really is very simple and quite delicious and makes for a good snowy day something to do.

First start with a good high quality cream.  I like Straus in the glass bottle.  Of course, if you can get raw cream, more power to ya!  Now whip, whip, whip.  You'll get whipped cream like this.  You could spoon some off of the top and save for a tasty dessert topping.  Now keeping going... mix, mix, mix.  From this point it took us twenty more minutes to get to the butter stage with an electric mixer.  My mom has an electric whisk which is much faster.

Oh, look!  The butter is starting to form!  The watery stuff is the buttermilk.  Now scoop out all of this stuff with a spatula and put it into a cheese cloth or even a clean dish towel will do the trick.  Put it over a bowl and squeeze out all of the excess liquid (buttermilk).  Open up your cloth and voila`, real BUTTER!!!!

We sprinkled a little pink Himalaya salt over ours and spread over a delicious sourdough bread.  YUM!  Sory was so cute and asked me "Mama, did you 'member the fwesh gween gwass?"  Oh Sory, if only all cows could be so lucky!

Two little boys and their buttered bread.

Three Little Words

COD. LIVER. OIL.

... and that my friends has made all the difference.  We have had virtually no sickness this year, other than a small dose in October.  Now my Dilly Doo has a little cold and what's interesting is that he is the ONLY one out of all of us that is not regular with his CLO.  I gave him a big dose today and told him he better start taking it if he wants to be well!!!  Go here to purchase yours.

"I Can't Afford To Shop There" ~ Part II

Thanks to some bloggy girlies, I discovered a fabulous little site called Ruche .... Anthro for hip, happening mamas, struggling to be cute and unique in the midst of a recession!!

So, while I can no longer afford to shop here :(

I will be shopping here :)

Because I Have Been given Much

I think in light of the devastation in Haiti, this song always helps put the small atrocities in my life in perspective:  

Because I have been given much, I too must give;

Because of thy great bounty, Lord, each day I live;

I shall divide my gifts from thee

With every brother that I see

Who has the need of help from me.

Because I have been sheltered, fed by thy good care,

I cannot see another’s lack and I not share

My glowing fire, my loaf of bread,

My roof’s safe shelter overhead,

That he too may be comforted.

Because I have been blessed by thy great love, dear Lord,

I’ll share thy love again, according to thy word. 

I shall give love to those in need;

I’ll show that love by word and deed: 

Thus shall my thanks be thanks indeed.

-- Grace Nowell Crowell

My heart goes out to the poor people of Haiti.  The images of hundreds and thousands of survivors lying on the ground with no shelter, clean water and food, mourning the loss of their loved ones.  It seems like too much to bear for anyone, let alone a country with so little to begin with.  I feel especially for the mothers and children and wonder how do these families survive something so horrendous?  The human spirit is amazing and I feel fortunate beyond measure.

"I Can't Afford To Shop There"

You wouldn't believe how often I hear this sentence when I mention shopping at my local natural food store.  I'm always a little surprised.  People spend incredible amounts of money on all sorts of things.  We just happen to spend our money on food... well, and a mortgage, but that's another story ;)
For us, eating well is living well.
“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well”

-Virginia Woolf

This is one of my favorite quotes and sums up my thoughts exactly.  What I put into my body affects EVERYTHING... my mental, physical, spiritual and emotional health.  Did you know that before our food became cheap, processed and not at all nutritious, Americans would spend 40% of their income on their meals?  Today I read the average is about 13%.  

Ladies and Gentlemen YOU ARE WORTH IT!!!!!  And so are your families.  Can you tell me one thing that is more important than the health and happiness of your loved ones?  

We have been eating a nutrient dense diet for over three years and I have seen remarkable changes.  The biggest change I have seen is in my mental stability and energy  Don't worry, I wasn't a total psycho before (just a little ;)).  The best way I know to describe it is that I finally feel content.  No, trust me, it isn't about my life or my three amazing kiddies.  Those things are great, but I could not fully appreciate that if my body was starved for nutrients and GOOD fats (so important).  I heard Dr. Oz said saturated fats were something to get rid of in the new year.  I like a lot of what he has to say, but he is dead wrong with this one.  Your brain is 50% saturated fat.  Saturated fat is CRUCIAL for a healthy brain and body.  Coconut Oil is an excellent source, so is real, organic (raw if you can get it) pastured (the cows ate grass)butter.

Those of you that know me know that I could go on and on about my passion for real food from real sources, preferably local, always fresh and delicious, BUT I must go check on the babe, so I will end my rant, but only for tonight!!  Check out "Traditional Foods" under my links to learn more.

One more thing :)  I bought a bag o' bones from the meat counter at my store for $4 and made a large crock pot of beef stock tonight.  Simple and affordable, very nutrient dense.  I add my stocks to soup, cook rice in it, potatoes, make gravy.  They taste so much better than store bought broth out of a can.  Food in our country is going in a very scary direction.  It makes sense to know exactly what we are putting into our bodies.

ok, ok night night :)

Goodbye 2009

I'll admit I'm not the least bit sad to see you go.  You have been a "trying" year to put it nicely :)  BUT, "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" right?  I'm still standing... hopefully a little wiser, a little more kind, a little more patient (working on it) and thankful, thankful, thankful for all that I have.  Despite 2009 being slightly horrid, I was blessed with the gift of a baby girl.  Having this precious angel has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl.  And she's finally here... the silver lining on our cloudy year :)
Thank you to my dear husband for continuing to amaze me with your humility, generosity and selflessness.  Thank you to all of my beautiful children for choosing us!  I know I'm not always the most patient mama, so thank you for your sweet hugs and thoughtful and cute little things you do and say to cheer me up.

Tonight Dylan said, "mama, don't worry... I understand"
me-  you do?
D-  yep, you just really need daddy around, don't ya?
me-  laughter :)

Today, after endless driving (long story, maybe later) Sory (tired of being strapped in the carseat) said, "mama, may I be "scused?".  We've been trying to get the boys to ask to be excused when they are finished with dinner, so I was totally tickled to hear him ask to be "scused" from the carseat :)
They really are listening... even when it seems they're really not.

To celebrate 2010 I thought I'd reminisce a little and write 10 things I was doing 10 years ago.  Boy how life has changed!  Here goes:

1.  I was living in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
2.  I was a nanny to two small boys who were a HANDFUL!
3.  Everyone was worried about Y2K :)
4.  One of my best friends died of a drug overdose
5.  I was wanting to move to NYC
6.  I was in a faze where I was constantly comparing myself to other girls and wondering where my life was headed.  I wondered "why is Shoshanna Lonstein so successful at such a young age and here I am in limbo?  Am I making a mistake being here?"  The the lady I worked for told me two things I'd never forget.  First, NOTHING you do in your twenties is a mistake and second, it's all about timing and who you know.  OK, Shoshanna definitely must have a few connections, right?  at least it made me feel better at the time.
7.  That whole crazy Emilio Gonzales (little boy who floated on a life raft from Cuba) thing was going on, especially crazy living in south Florida.  The city was so divided.  Cuban flags in some areas, American flags in others.
8.  The "Thong Song" was huge.
9.  Hurricane Floyd was a near direct hit!
10.  Lots of lessons learned during my time there.  Opened my eyes to a whole other world.

"There are some years in our lives that we would not want to live again. But even these years will pass away, and the lessons learned will be a future blessing."

— Marjorie Pay Hinckley

Happy New Year!!!!!

Oh, I see...

You're getting to know yourself

and you feel insecure because you realize you're imperfect

you think when you have children one day they will be perfect

then you have children

you realize they are imperfect

then you realize they are perfectly imperfect

then you realize you are perfectly imperfect.