June Dinners Theme: Vegetarian! June 1, 2010

Hello Friends! Wow, I am so excited! My Husband (of all people) asked that I do vegetarian dinners the month of June. He is becoming more and more like me, all on his own. ( when it comes to food)  I am so proud! I have come up with out June Dinners and thought it be fun to share! Each week I have 5 meals, and recipes so you can create :1 shopping list! this way you can shop for exactly what you need each week- Save money, time and eat yummy healthier foods!  You can mix the meals in any order you choose each week.

I suggest you print this out so you can work your shopping list, and have fun!

I will post the meals here and the recipes below. Enjoy! <3

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** I posted weeks 1 and 2 recipes and will add weeks 3 and 4 recipes next week!!!***

Week 1

Spicy Vegetarian Chili & Corn Bread
Black Bean, Veggie and Cheese Nachos
Cuban Rice Casserole & Salad
Fruit Smoothies and Sandwiches
Basil and Tomato Pasta & Salad

Week 2

Spinach and Cheese Quiche, fruit side
Minestrone and Corn Bread
Homemade Veggie Burgers and Potato Fries
Spanish Rice, Rancho Beans  & Corn
Veggie omelets and pancakes

Week 3

Baked Potatoes with the works & Salad
Navy Bean Soup and Rolls
Asparagus  Frittata and Fruit
Spiral Pasta with Ricotta& peas.  Asparagus
Wheat  quesadillas with black beans, cheese, and veggies

Week 4

Homemade Garlic, Alfredo, cheese and tomato pizza, steamed veggies
Hard Tacos with beans and veggies, salsa, sour cream and cheese, fruit side
Veggie Stir Fry over Rice, Pineapple
Cream of Asparagus Soup, Garlic bread, Salad
Veggie pitas with hummus, Side of fruit

RECIPIES:

Spicy Vegetarian Chili Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 1-pound eggplant, cut into 1-inch cubes
• Olive oil
• 2 yellow onions, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 medium zucchini, chopped
• 2 large red bell peppers, cored, seeded, diced
• 1 to 2 jalapeño peppers, seeded, finely minced (Taste and check the heat of the jalapeños. If very hot only use one, if mildly hot, use two. Wash hands with soap and water after handling. Do not rub eyes.)
• 1 28-ounce can Italian plum tomatoes, coarsely chopped, including liquid (or 2 pounds fresh plum tomatoes, peeled and chopped)
• 1 Tbsp ground cumin
• 1-2 Tbsp chili powder
• 2 Tbsp chopped fresh chopped oregano or 2 teaspoons dried
• 1 1/2 cup cooked white beans (1 15-ounce can, drained and rinsed)
• 1 1/2 cup cooked kidney beans (1 15-ounce can, drained and rinsed)
• Zest of one lemon
• 3 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro (can sub parsley if you have an aversion to cilantro)
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Method

1 Preheat oven to 350°F. Scatter eggplant cubes in a shallow roasting pan and slather with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake for about 30 minutes, stirring once during the cooking. Remove from the oven and set aside.

2 In a large (5-6 quart) thick-bottomed Dutch oven, heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil on medium heat. Add the onions and cook until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about a minute more. Add the red bell peppers, zucchini, and jalapeño chili peppers. Cook for about 5 more minutes, stirring occasionally.

3 Add the tomatoes to the pot along with any liquid that may have been in the can (if using canned). Add oregano, cumin, and fennel seeds. Add chili powder to desired heat. Stir in the eggplant cubes (carefully as to not break them up), and simmer for 20 minutes over low heat.

4 Add the white beans and kidney beans, lemon zest, lemon juice, sugar, and chopped cilantro. Add salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Simmer for 5 minutes.

Serve with sour cream, grated cheddar cheese, and chopped green onions.

Serves 8-10.

Black Bean Nachos

1 bag tortilla chips

2 cups shredded cheese

1 bunch green onions, chopped

3 vine tomatoes, chopped

1 can black beans, rinsed

*Sour Cream and Salsa

Method: Spread tortilla Chips over large baking sheet, Top with onions,tomatoes, black beans and cheese

Broil on low until cheese is melted and  begins to bubble. Top with Sour Cream and Cheese

Prep time: 10 mins, cook time approx 5 mins! 15 min. meal

*Serve with a fruit side

Cuban Rice Casserole! * Flavor is awesome in this dish!

1 onion

1 pound of Queron ( optional)

2-3 garlic cloves, diced

1 large can of tomato sauce

1 red or green bell pepper

1 can black olives

2 cups brown rice, cooked

1 bunch of Cilantro

1/4 cup Golden Raisins

1/2 tsp. Salt & pepper

1tbsp Cumin

2 tbsp Chilli powder

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

juice of 1 large or 2 small limes

1 can black beans

2 tbsp Olive oil

1 cup shredded cheese

Method: Sautee Onion and garlic in olive oil over low until golden, add cooked rice, and *Queron, tomato sauce and seasonings,cook over low heat while stiring together, add bell pepper, raisins, black beans, and then lime juice. Stir in chopped cilantro, and then pour all contents into 9×13 baking dish. Top with sliced olives and cheese.

Bake @350 for 20 mins.  Enjoy!

Fruit Smoothies and Sandwiches

2 cups Strawberries

2 banannas

1 container of Greek ( or any) yogurt

1/2 cup ice

3/4 cup milk

Blend in Blender until smooth, makes 4 glasses

*optional add flax seeds /nuts and spinach leaves to boost vitamins!(my kids love it, and can’t taste the spinach)

Sandwiches:

Favorite Cheese and Bread, Grilled! Easy as 1-2-3!

TOMATO AND BASIL PASTA

2 lg. tomatoes 1 tsp. dried basil, or 1 1/2 tbsp. fresh basil, finely chopped 1 tsp. finely minced garlic 1/2 tsp. salt 1/8 tsp. pepper 6 oz. angel hair pasta Parmesan cheese In a bowl, combine the tomatoes, basil, minced garlic, salt and pepper and let it sit at room temperature for at least an hour. Cook the angel hair pasta according to package directions, omitting oil and salt. Drain the pasta and add tomato mixture. Serve immediately and top with Parmesan cheese.Makes 4 cups. Salad: 1 head of romaine, 1 tomato, and 1 bunch of broccoli, chopped. Cut, and Serve with fave. dressing and croutons

CHEESE AND SPINACH QUICHE

2 eggs, beaten 1 c. milk 1 lb. shredded Monterey Jack cheese 1 pkg. chopped spinach, thawed and drained 1 c. flour 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. baking powder 1/4 stick butter Mix eggs, milk, flour, salt and baking powder. Add cheese and spinach. Melt butter in pie pan. Pour into mixture. Pour mixture into pan and bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Serve with a fruit side! We like Pears with this meal Minestrone Soup with Pasta, Beans and Vegetables Ingredients 3 cups reduced-sodium vegetable or chicken broth 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes 1 (15-ounce) can white (cannellini or navy) beans, drained 2 carrots peeled and chopped 1 celery stalk, chopped 1 cup onion, chopped 1 teaspoon dried thyme 1/2 teaspoon dried sage 2 bay leaves Salt and ground black pepper 2 cups cooked ditalini pasta (or any tiny pasta!) 1 medium zucchini, chopped 2 cups coarsely chopped fresh or frozen spinach, defrosted 4 tablespoons grated Parmesan or Romano cheese Basil sprigs, garnish, optional Directions In a slow cooker, combine broth, tomatoes, beans, carrots, celery, onion, thyme, sage, bay leaves, and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and black pepper. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours. Thirty minutes before the soup is done cooking, add ditalini, zucchini and spinach. Cover and cook 30 more minutes. Remove bay leaves and season, to taste, with salt and black pepper. Ladle soup into bowls and sprinkle parmesan cheese over top. Garnish with basil, if desired. EASY CORN BREAD 1 1/4 c. all-purpose flour 3/4 c. cornmeal 1/4 c. sugar 2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt 1 c. skim milk 1/4 c. vegetable oil 1 egg, beaten Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease 8 or 9 inch square pan. Combine dry ingredients. Stir in milk, oil and egg until moistened. Pour into pan. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Veggie Burgers We double this recipe for our family and make slightly larger burgers! 2tbsp finely chopped carrots 2tbsp fineley chopped red bell pepper 2 tbsp frozen kernel corn 1 cup cooked beans and rice 1 egg yolk 1tbsp bread crumbs (dry) 1 tbsp olive oil 6 small whole grain buns 6 small bibb lettuce leaves 6 tomato slices 1/4 cup plain yogurt 2 tsp honey mustard 1) Place carrot, red pepper, and corn in 1 tbsp water in bowl, microwave 2-3 mins. until tender, drain and set aside 2)Place beans and rice in bowl and mash with fork, stir in cooked veggies and egg yolk, with wet hands shape well rounded tablespoons of mixture into balls, then roll in bread crumbs to coat. Flatten into patties. 3) Heat oil in skillet on medium. Cook patties for 2-3 mins per side. Serve on buns with lettuce and tomato and a dip made of stirred honey mustard and plain yogurt. Serves 6 Potato Fries Take 2 potatoes, either regular or sweet! Clean and slice into “fry” shaped strips Salt and bake on baking sheet for 30 mins @ 400 (check and turn after 15 mins) Easy Spanish Rice & Rancho Beans Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups rice 2 1/2 cups chicken broth 1 cup plain tomato sauce* 3 cloves finely chopped garlic * 1/4 of a medium onion* 2 tablespoons oil 4 heaping tablespoons of finely chopped parsley (optional) Preparation: In a medium sauce pan, heat oil over medium heat. Add in the fresh garlic and onion. Saute for 1-2 minutes until softened. Add in dry rice. Stir for about 5 minutes until rice becomes a golden brown color.Add in broth and tomato sauce (Slowly into rice, not directly onto hot pan!) Add in the parsley if you’re using it. Stir it up and bring to a boil. Once it starts boiling, turn the heat to low and cover. Let it simmer for 20 minutes and fluff with a fork. *If you don’t have fresh garlic or onions on hand you can use the equivalent in powder form. Do not saute the powder, just skip that step and add the garlic powder and/or onion powder when you add the liquids. If you don’t have tomato sauce you can use unseasoned stewed tomatoes, or canned diced tomatoes with their liquid Rancho Beans 1 lb. dried beans 1 onion, chopped 1 green pepper, chopped 2 tsp. salt 1 lb. can tomatoes 2 tbsp. brown sugar 2 tsp. mustard 1 tsp. Tabasco sauce 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce Wash beans and simmer 1 hour. Drain and measure 1 cup liquid to use in crockpot with the other ingredients. Put beans and other ingredients in crockpot. Cook 10-12 hours on low or 3-4 hours on high. (I cook mine overnight). Veggie Omletes and Pancakes Ingredients 2 tablespoons butter 1 small onion, chopped 1 green bell pepper, chopped 4 eggs 2 tablespoons milk 3/4 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 ounces shredded Swiss cheese Directions Melt one tablespoon butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Place onion and bell pepper inside of the skillet. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes stirring occasionally until vegetables are just tender. While the vegetables are cooking beat the eggs with the milk, 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper. Shred the cheese into a small bowl and set it aside. Remove the vegetables from heat, transfer them to another bowl and sprinkle the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt over them. Melt the remaining 1 tablespoon butter (in the skillet just used to cook the vegetables) over medium heat. Coat the skillet with the butter. When the butter is bubbly add the egg mixture and cook the egg for 2 minutes or until the eggs begin to set on the bottom of the pan. Gently lift the edges of the omelet with a spatula to let the uncooked part of the eggs flow toward the edges and cook. Continue cooking for 2 to 3 minutes or until the center of the omelet starts to look dry. Sprinkle the cheese over the omelet and spoon the vegetable mixture into the center of the omelet. Using a spatula gently fold one edge of the omelet over the vegetables. Let the omelet cook for another two minutes or until the cheese melts to your desired consistency. Slide the omelet out of the skillet and onto a plate. Cut in half and serve. Pancakes: Ingredients 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon white sugar 1 1/4 cups milk 1 egg 3 tablespoons butter, melted Directions In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Make a well in the center and pour in the milk, egg and melted butter; mix until smooth. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.

Do I have to have a title? May 15, 2010

I have the personality that screams ” Don’t hold it in” when it comes to trying to “fix” problems, situations, etc. I have had to learn that I can’t blurt out whatever I want whenever I want…which is very difficult for me to do.  I have a huge peeve, and its when people 1) Lie and 2) Hide their feelings. Now, I k now there is a “time and a place” for everything… but I look at people around me, people I know, people I don’t… and see this big ole’ group of people that make the biggest deals out of the silliest things, for no reason, other then they don’t communicate. What we see isn’t always truth, but it is our preception of truth. What we hear is not always truth, but it is our opinion of it.  Is it so hard to figure out?

We all know what “Assume” means (Ass-u-me) – but so many of us assume, perceive, and for opinions on things that ever even existed in the first place.

In my family, growing up with multiple siblings, we learned early that if we wanted to have a voice, then we needed to use it, and if we had an opinion, that we were free to share it. It was always safe to express our thoughts and feelings with eachother and our parents, with no worry or shame. We could tell eachother “how it is’ without worrying that we would hurt the other’s feelings or blah, blah, blah. We are siblings, therefore our love as a given ( the way we were raised) was unconditional and we never competed with eachother, esp. now as adults, even more so, we can express our hearts and view with eachother, even if we dissagree and still come out of it, like it was nothing. I thank God for parents who were not secreative, who didn’t hide their emotions or feelings, and who raised us to have a voice, and use it, as well as have respect and reverence for God’s voice.

What is with this world of “no winners and no losers” ?? Or the whole ” My relality is not your reality so whatever wisdom from your past you want to share with me, I ignore because times have changed!” This is really how people think now days!

I can honestly say the people we are closest to when it comes to advice, are people that have gone before us.. decades before us. Yes, times have changed, but what we can learn from someone who has been there, can change our life, and mold our future.

I guess I will never understand the selfishness and self-absorbed people in this world. God help me to see when I start to be that way and help me get out quick.. to a pure and selfless person who cares, and loves always…

The most important things in this world, are right infront of us. Family. Friends. Break out of yourself, and start thinking about others.. it really lightens the load when your heart and mind are on what you can do for someone else instead of what they can do for you.

So random I know, but Just needed to get it out. Feels good. =)

<3

Inner Beauty May 13, 2010

Your adornment must not be merely external…but let it be the hidden person of the heart…” – I Peter 3:3-4

Today this is on my heart. Inner Beauty. The longing, and striving to possess this, and shine this isn’t as easy as I wish. My heart aches to be still and listen to God in all things, to wait patiently on him like His word says to do. However, my flesh cries to fix things myself, and act without waiting.

Inner Beauty-  God tells us, is to be hidden in our hearts.

I want to have Purity, Selflessness,  be slow to anger, quick to love. Not assuming ,not bickering.. but most of all-at least for me, these things come from waiting.  When I wait for God and don’t try to fix everything on my own, temperance comes, purity comes, and peace and selflessness comes. . .

Things no longer are about me and what I think is right or wrong, up or down, but about God and how he can take up all things in his perfect timing and plans.  Jeramiah 29:11 tells us that He has a plan for us,  plans that are good, and not evil, of future and hope!

For me, I feel like when I choose to act in my “flesh” that I am not recognizing the power in the scripture… I believe that patience demonstrates Faith…. so God must be telling me to Have Faith, and Be Patient!

But, I won’t lie… it is HARD!  Especially when things are wrong, and just plain  undeserved, and flat out  don’t make sense why you or your loved ones are going through “this”. . .

So, what if, I adorn my inner heart with praise… And Thank God that He has gone before me, that He knows my every thought, pain, struggle, and fight. He wants my to be happy and free, and most of all, he wants me to allow him to be in my life, and move in his great Power!

Today, I do Praise Him for all things, good and bad… and ask that He would direct my path, and give me peace and hope, temperance and joy!

…<3

Psalm 33:18-22 March 13, 2010

BEHOLD, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him,

upon them that hope in his mercy.

19 To deliver their soul from death and to keep them alive in famine.

20 Out soul waiteth for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.

21 For out heart  shall rejoice in him because we have trusted in his holy name.

22 Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.

Last night I read the book of Daniel, chapter 9 as well as some appendixes that went with it. Reading it brought to my attention once again how real the Bible is, how very real God is and how soon Jesus is coming back! I thought all night about having the Fear of God in life.  The fear of God isn’t fear as in being scared of him for those who are unfamilar with this term.. The Fear of God is a reverance and obedience for how great and powerful he is… loving and merciful and also mighty Judge and King! He holds everything in his hands. His desire is that we, his kids would HOPE in his mercy and seek after him.  Then he turns to us, he hears us, and he saves us from the darkness we are in without him.

When we trust in Jesus as our Savior, our soul rejoices in this. As verse 19 says ,HE is our help and our sheild.

If we and when we put our fear or our trust in MAN, we serve man. And as we all know, man Fails! When we put our fear and trust in God, we serve God, and he will never leave us or forsake us.

Yes, Bad things do happen. Things that we do not understand. People ask God why… they blame him.  Yet we live in a world of evil, of sin and immorality. God, who created us, and Loves us, and Longs for relationship with us…gave us free will to choose our lives, and our eternity.  God created everything Good.. it is sin that corrupt things!  imagine how it greives him to see his children walking in darkness, pain, sickness….  yet he waits …. for US to want to Love him!

My hope is in You Lord. My sterngth is in you Lord. My Life is in you Lord!

Uh Oh.. Spaghetti O’s… March 12, 2010

The title of this BLOG has an entirely new meaning to me today.  It has been a long few days as my almost 2 year old has had a fever for 4 days, and we are still waiting to see if he has “strep throat”. Nothing we can do to help until we know other then fever reducer.. ahh.

So, Back to the Spaghetti O’s…

I never buy things like this, but in the occasion of sick toddler, and tired Momma, I thought one time wouldn’t hurt. I opened the can, while holding my very needy, not feeling well boy, poured it in a pan, heat it, served it.. All went well right? Then came time to put it in Tupperware with a lid.. with one hand while holding kid in other… and ….

UH OH… (says my son) as I take captive what I want to say….

Spaghetti O’s went FLYING across my kitchen floor in every direction, on my floor, on my counters, all over the oven door and any crevis that exsisted around it…

So I know this isn’t that big of a deal to blog about, but as I was cleaining it up (which isn’t easy) I was thinking about how this little accident was my fault… but it was just an accident. The thought came to me about what I would have said or done or how I would have acted if it was my toddler that had the same accident. Would he have gottten time out? Would I have corrected him?   I was reminded as I crouched down cleaning that we all make mistakes… we all have accidents.  God knows us and he knows our intentions.  . . He loves us and wants to help us in our walk , even when we mistep, or stumble. Even when we make a mess. He is there to help us clean it up so it doesn’t happen again.

I almost cried at the sight of the pasta and sauce covering my kitchen until I literally felt like it was a moment to learn from…

1) Ok, so there is a mess.

2) So what are you going to do about it? If you leave it .. it is going to be so hard to scrub clean!

3) Get down there and get to work to clean it up!

4) Put down the distractions that don’t allow you to focus on the task at hand

5) After its cleaned up, move on and don’t dwell on the mess that once was…

thought January 30, 2010

I am so impressed with the following thoughts that have recently been shared with me that I must write it out so I don’t forget.. as well as share!

On “feelings” I never thought about this until it was brought to my attention. But as we know, words are powerful. We, in our lives have so many different emotions and feelings we experience day to day.. even hour by hour. We can feel sad, mad, hurt, embarrassed, happy, excited, glad, joyful. There is a difference though in “Feeling Sad” and “Being Sad”   The thought is, do we sometimes say we are something that we really aren’t. Do we take ownership of feelings as being a part of us..which then becomes how we see ourselves? If I am really feeling mad about a situation, I am learning to be more precise in my wording. I am not mad, that isn’t who I am.. .but I am FEELING mad. Also, no one person made me mad, but the situaion, or the actions are causing the feeling. I hope that makes sense in my late night tiredness while writting here!

The thought continues that maybe we blame our feelings on other people, and even take personal ownership of them, when really its not the people, or person or whatever… its the situation, the actions, or lack there of.. etc. that is causing this emotion that we Feel.

SOOOOoooo.. We feel. Thank God we do! There is happy/good feelings. There are Sad/bad feelings…   and we can do stuff with them… to bring Glory to God.

In The Good feelings- we can thank him and praise him for them!

In the  bad, we can decide to not take ownership, but to give those feelings/situaions to HIM and rest in his mercy and justice!

It brings me a new understanding of Eph. 4:26 (Be angry and sin not)-

If I can recogize the feeling, and not take it on as part of me.. I can still FEEL, but take it, and bring it to the Lord!

Captured & Renewed January 24, 2010

R.E.N.E.W.
Refreshing
Enjoyable
Nice
Energized
Warm

This word keeps sticking with me.  I started thinking of it as this acronym, the above words being ME. Not necessarily how I am, but how I want to be. This year as God continues to work in me and through me, I want to be one that shows others HIM just by living! I want people that know me, or meet me to leave feeling that sense of Renewal. Refreshed. Energized!

What I have been in the past, I put behind me and I press on toward the GOAL. His Goal! (His, being Jesus!) I want others to KNOW HIM more deeply. I want to know him more deeply!

Can you imagine running into people and them exuding joy and peace, goodness, faith and kindness!?! I CAN imagine it and I am going to look for it. The fruits of the Spirit are real, and I want to dress in them.

Anyone want to join?

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:5

Spit Happens December 30, 2009

Spit Happens. This I know.. for my children show me so.

SO as I sit at 10:05 pm… the first time I get to sit down today as the 20 and 2 month old kiddos are finally asleep… I am forced to remember just how much “fun” my day was by the smell coming from my upper left shoulder…. Ok and to be honest down my shirt as well. Spit Up.

Now, mind you this doesn’t happen at night. My sweet little boy is able to contain his regurgitated milk all night long as he sleeps and then feasts off and on throughout the long night.  The day time is an entirely different story and I do know why. For fun and maybe a reason to laugh I will elaborate the day…

Today:

5:30 am- Baby punches me in the face. I pat his back. Whack! Fist in the face. Pat,pat,pat… dang it.. now its double time fist punching from my baby boxer. Ahhh… ok, baby eat. Baby fed. Baby back to sleep….

8:20 am- Phone rings. Don’t realize it until the machine picks up. Its a friend who is also a county sheriff. Wants me to call his cell.  I panick. Whats wrong? He never calls this early. Must slowly reach for phone as not to wake sleeping boxer baby from his dreamy bliss. I whisper to hubby “Phone.”

8:23 am- “Hello, Ed? Everything ok?”  “Annette! Yes, I had a horrible night last night!”  “Oh, no, what happened?” “My hair got jacked up, it’s so bad, can you help me!”           I’m thinking: Serious? He is a cop and his bad night was a misshapen hair cut!? You’ve got to be kidding me!

——feed baby, get other baby out of bed. Change diapers. While holding baby… Pour sippy cup of milk and warm wheat pancakes,unload and load dishwasher, start load of clothes——–Baby Spits.

9:15- Door knocks. I roll my eyes. Ed is here, but he said he would be here at 9:30. I am in my pjs, no my hair is not brushed, either are my teeth. Coffee is not made. Kids are up, baby crying, Daddy gone for work. Well, what does he expect? I was just fast a sleep an hour ago!   “Come in Ed, your early… excuse my house!”  (Though I don’t think he cares since he is so focused on his hair!) Baby continues to cry in his baby chair for the next 40 mins while I cut hair.

10:00 am- Hair is fixed. He is happy and leaves.  Baby fell asleep. I rush to throw on clean clothes, brush hair and put back into a messy bun, get toddler dressed. Then wake sleeping baby to dress him. Feed him. Toddler poops. Change him. Pick baby back up, burp him.  Wipe his spit up off my shirt. Lay him down to pick up the clothes my toddler has strewn across the living room while I cut hair. Pick up now crying baby, calm him. Put him in car seat. Carry toddler to car, then baby.

10:45- Arrive at the dentist. Take children to the daycare room, baby spits… AGAIN. Toddler cries… I got up for my appointment.

11:45- Appointment done. Run down the stairs to get my kids. Dentist follows me because he feels bad after seeing me carry both children down the stairs earlier and offers to help carry them back up and out to car. Nice.

12:00 arrive home, but Toddler is just starting to fall asleep and baby has just stopped screaming his head off. Decide to go to McDonald’s for a .99 cent iced tea… so I turn back around.

12:20- Home. Debate. Bring baby or toddler in first. Pick my poison. I decide baby. Once in, he is crying. Get him out. He Spits.  Yuck. Chunky. Lay him on sofa, get toddler and lay him on chair knowing this is my only chance at him napping is letting him do it in the living room. He cries. I say ‘mommy has to feed baby’, and he to my delight nods his head in agreement and nods off to sleep.

12:22- Feed baby. Baby wants to play. Play with baby, make lunch, talk to kids daddy on phone and says he can come home for a couple hours since he has a late appt. tonight. Baby Spits.

3pm- Daddy leaves, toddler wakes. Toddler eats late lunch. And runs off to play. Baby sleeps. I run to the shower. Door open so toddler doesn’t think mommy left him. Urgh.  Hot water. Soap. Smells good. Nice. Spit -up smelling shirt retired for the day. (well that one anyways)

3:15-Door knocks. I’m not dressed. Throw on workout pants and oversized strip shirt. Answer door- and thank friend who I forgot was coming even though I just talked to her for the baby hand-me-downs. Look at myself and think “Maybe I will get to work out today!”

4:00- Read Jesse Bear What will you wear five times. Baby wakes. Baby eats. Toddler wants to play more. Read Jesse Bear again. Play on floor with kids. Toddler hits baby in head with plastic Wii Bat. Time out. Baby goes with mom to start the timer, then to pick up books, back to toddler for hugs and talk, and – guess what? Baby spits. Dang it. so much for  a clean shirt.

4:20- talk on phone to friend. Realize we both need to make dinner. Off to the kitchen.

6- Dinner made. Dinner ate. Start bath, feed baby. Turn off classical baby music that has been playing for past 3 hours. Think to myself I haven’t drank water today. then I get distracted and continue to not drink it!

6:40- Stare at clock .  Wish it was later so I could put kids to bed. What to do?  Toddler wants to play drums with an audience. I cover baby’s ears and cheer him on. Now its on to cars. No, drums… oh wait.. how about play the drums with the cars. Baby eats. Baby Spits.. A LOT this time! I smell.

Until 7:45- Clean house. Carry baby. Lay baby down to  play. Pick baby up. Toddler says he is still hungry. Make oatmeal with peaches. Bounce baby on knee while feeding toddler. Put on “Brainy baby” for toddler. Quiet time. Feed baby AGAIN. Baby spits as I re-load the dishwasher and change the laundry while holding him. Could be the bouncy pressure?!

8:45- Toddler in crib. Baby in arms. Me in rocking chair by the crib holding toddlers hand with my right hand and baby with my left. We pray. . . Peace.  Claim peace. Speak peace.

9pm- Toddler is almost asleep, but remains his death grip hold on my fingers. Baby spits all over my shirt and then proceeds to eat it since he got on his hands. I am stuck- can’t let go of toddler without him waking and screaming. Dad walks in the door. Toddler Up. “Dadddyyy!! Me!  DAAAAAd, ME!”   I sigh. Daddy takes toddler and rocks him. I take baby and clean more house.

9:30- Daddy is out of toddler room, and is “starving” I put pizza in the oven knowing he won’t want what we had for dinner. He eats. Baby eats. Baby spits.. before Daddy gets him of course!

10:05 – I sit down to write my first blog. And smell like spit. My hair is still up in a wet messy bun from my 3:00 shower. I didn’t get to work out. I did manage to read 5 more pages of a book while I went to the bathroom today. I did manage to only stink up two shirts, 3 burp rags and a blanket with “spit”.

10:50. now. Can’t belive I just took 45 mins of time I could have been in bed reading to write on here about my spit-ful day!  But it was kinda nice to get it out, if anything but for me. As someday I shall look back ( as time does fly) and be thankful for my smelly shirt.

10:51- Goodnight!