Incidences not so Insignificant Day #3

(If this is your first day reading these, see initial post here for an explanation).

With the craziness of this weekend, I have been slacking on updating these.  I had a day 3 and 4 picture and then they got deleted when my camera was too full of pictures.  So, I will have to catch those up on another day. 

My little princess is fascinated with "getting married", but her definition is skewed based on what she has seen in all those Disney movies.  She thinks getting married is wearing a fancy dress and vail and dancing with her man of choice.  I am enjoying the innocence of that.  She has even been sleeping in her gowns and veil as pictured below.  She's already dreaming of that special day in her life. 

Incidences not so Insignificant Day #2

(See initial post here to see what these incidences are all about)

It's a very rare occassion that I would be able to take pictures of both kids sleeping in one day.  We have been giving Brody more freedom in his room at nap/bedtime and today, he took a nap with his door open.  His life would not be the same without his Ge-Ge (he couldn't say blankie - rhymes with Me-Me).  He always puts his ge-ge up to his mouth like this.

 Reecey girl didn't take a nap today, but fell asleep with her lamp on while trying to wait for me.  She also has her blankie and her thumb had just fallen out of her mouth.

Update on Reece

(See posts here and here if you are just hearing about this for the first time.)

Reece had her urologist appointment today.  The results were kind of what I expected, but not really what I wanted...although I really don't know what I wanted either besides a clear cut answer.  Not sure I got that, but thankfully, everything appears to be very normal. 

The doctor said that by looking at her x-ray she does seem to have a lot of stool (which is what her pediatrician said a month ago when she called).  He said what happens is pretty common with kids her age, especially girls.  They get potty trained and then they get comfortable doing it by themselves and making the decision for themselves when it is time to go.  They start holding it as long as possible because they are busy doing whatever it is they want to do.  They go, but don't completely empty because they are not relaxed, they are in a hurry.  This goes for #1 and for #2.  Reece goes #2 regularly but he is thinking she is not getting everything out - just enough to make her feel relieved.  He said just because she goes every day, doesn't mean she is getting everything out...this would cause pressure on her bladder. 

So for the next 2 MONTHS, every 2 hours, I have to make Reece go to the bathroom and sit for 2 minutes.  Even if she does not go or have to go, she is to sit on the pot and relax for two minutes.  I also have to put her back on the Miralax for the next two months until we see him next.  This means that she may...well, lets just say it now...poop 4 times a day and it may not be solid, but that is what he wants to see happen to be sure she is all cleared out (he said it should be like soft serve chocolate ice cream, which was my favorite until now).  At the end of the 2 months, she will have another x ray and we will see him at that time. 

So, I guess it's an answer of sorts but I wish it didn't cost so much money and time to find out something so small and common.  I am thankful that it is nothing serious, and am ready for the next two months to 'run its course' (pun intended).  Thanks for all the prayers over this situation and continue to pray for us over the next two months as we start this new routine.  I guess it's time to invest in a good timer!

Photo project for February - Incidences not so Insignificant Day #1

One of my friends from high school inspired me to do a  month long daily photo journal of everyday occurrences.  I loved the idea of making myself take a picture of something everyday that may seem insignificant to others, but sum up my life as I currently know it. I would love to see it a year from now and do it again next February.  I loved seeing her pictures each day so I hope you enjoy seeing mine! 

Similar to her title (she told me to steal/copy hers, but I won't completely), I am calling mine:

"Incidences not so insignificant". 

The definition of incident: something dependent on or subordinate to something else of greater or principal importance.
I even read something in my bible study yesterday that related - "sometimes in the most unlikely verses we get a glimpse into something that could be significant" (Melissa Moore, Mercy Triumphs).
So, I guess what I am saying is that sometimes the most unlikely of places or perdicaments, we get a glimpse of something that is significant to our children and their lives - which ultimately is significant in ours.  Documenting these incidences each day will help me to explore the significance of each thing my children do each day.  The scene in each picture is dependent on something of great importance - my children!  Without them, the things I am taking picures of, would not have any significance.  Got it?  So here we go. (none of these will be posed pictures, but things that I find throughout a day that was created by the imaginations of my children and left behind by them.)
For the first day I am going to post 2 pictures (since February is a short month) of incidences that I came across today in the life of each of my children.  I will post a picture each day and a little blurb about it, if needed.

Incident #1
He's a bad eater no matter how you look at it.

Incident #2 Living in a house with a little girl, you are bound to stumble across a scene like this:
make-up, shoes, and dolls with no heads.

The Prayer Project!

It's almost February...is anyone else wondering what to do with all those beautiful Christmas cards you received from all the people you love?  I proudly display mine every year around the cabinets in my kitchen.  I just love seeing all my family and friends every day - even if it is in the form of a photo.  I could keep them up all year but my husband would not agree and it does seem kind of cluttered.  I never know what to do with them and feel bad throwing them away. 

So...I have a plan that kills two birds with one stone.  I have really been wanting to find a way to pray for my family and friends.  The thought of praying for everyone I know everyday is very overwhelming.  So I made a stand up/pop up book of all those Christmas pictures (kind of like a desk calendar) that I can display on the island of my kitchen or on my dining room table.  Each day we will pray as a family for the family that is flipped to on that day.  Each day we turn it over to the next family.  I have also included anyone that had a special life event that we went to that we would haver received a picture/program for (funeral, wedding, baby announcement).  I won't always know their exact prayer needs, but if I do, I will write them on the back of the card or where there is a space to write.  Otherwise, we will just say a prayer for that family and know that God will take care of the rest.  My plan is to also incorporate the missionaries that are a part of our church.  If we got a card from you, know that you will at the very least be prayed for by our family a few times a year.  If you have prayer requests that you would like to share, please pass them along to me and I will put them on your card.

Here is where I display my cards every year.

 Here is the flip book horizontal - hole punched each picture/card, ran rings through it and attached it to a piece of card board that I hot glued together in the form of a triangle stand.  This is how it looks/stands on the table. 

 All the cards in the flip book.  A vertical view

Fun with a box

My crafty little girl cannot get enough of crafts.  I don't have the supplies to constantly do crafts, and I cannot keep her busy enough.  That's why she goes to school!

She really had been wanting a barn to house her 'my little ponies'.  Since I use to have some, I thought back to what I use to use - a box!  So I thought it would be fun to make a barn with her from an old cardboard box.  We cut out windows and a door and even made stalls.  Way nicer than the one I had to make myself when I was young.  I even took some of our old wall paint and let the kids paint it outside (since it's been nice out).  I think they play with it more than all their other toys!

Old Box

 Cut off top, cut out windows and a door; add stalls/rooms

 Make a roof with duck tape and a glue gun

 Paint it!

Happy Ponies!

Cooking for Dummies?

Do you feel lost in the kitchen?  Does cooking a meal, especially a new meal, overwhelm you and give you anxiety?  I have talked to countless women who say they hate to cook, but really what it comes down to is not feeling confident enough.  How does one gain confidence in the kitchen?  By reading the book "Cooking for Dummies"?...possibly.  But I believe you can do it by having a laid back attitude about cooking and just by cooking/experimenting more in the kitchen.  Even the most non-laid back, perfectionst type people (like me), can be laid back in the kitchen.  You just have to tell yourself "it's going to be okay...whatever I make will be eatable"...because really...we know it will be, because it's food, right!??  Even you, yes you, can not screw it up.  The most important thing you can do while cooking, is to follow the heating requirements and timing (boil, simmer, etc) and have as much laid out and measured out before you begin so that you do not feel stressed during the process.  Even if you were not taught by a parent or grandparent, you can learn to be a good cook and feel good about doing it.  Toss those fears in the garbage, and pull out of the cabinet a new attitude towards cooking.  Anyone can do this, especially if I can.  No one taught me how to cook...it just takes time and practice just like anything else.

A lot of women, including my past self, get hung up on not having all the right ingredients to make a recipe.  But really, a recipe in my opinion, is just a guide.  You can add or take away whatever you want (in most cases) and make it your own without changing the taste too much.  Don't be afraid of changing things up.  It's just food...how bad can it really be??  Okay, don't answer that, just trust me! 

Let me show you what I did to a recipe I just made this morning.  I am sure that I could never write a cookbook because most of my recipes would have a "use this...or this...or this"....several options to make essentially the same thing.  There are many things you can substitute for something else or just leave out and it really won't change the taste all that much.  Now there are other things you absolutley can not leave out, because it could totally change the texture, taste, etc (like leaving out baking soda from a cookie recipe, speaking from experience).  Whenever I need a substitute, I search online...most of the time you can find something that will work. 

I saw this recipe yesterday on Rachel Ray and it looked so tasty.  I knew I had many of the ingredients but that I would be missing a few things.  Here is what I did with the recipe.

• 6 tablespoons butter, divided - had this
• 1/2 cup orzo - I typically would not have this ingredient but I just happened to coupon one of those velveeta skillets dinners and orzo was in there.  I pulled out the other ingredients in that boxed meal and will use those for something else.  You could just use rice though and even couscous would be delicious, and a great source of protein.

1 cup long grain rice - I used a rice a roni long and wild rice mix.

2 quarts chicken stock or broth, divided - I only had 1 quart of chicken stock so my soup was more like a stew which is how I like it...but you could add additional water, make your own stock with boullion cubes, and even use beef or vegtable broth if that is all you had. 

1/4 cup parsley, finely chopped - I used dried parsley found in my spice rack.  You would need to look online to see how to convert fresh herbs into dried herbs (there is a diffence in strength/flavor).

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) - I actually just ran out of this so I used coconut oil which is better for you anyways...but of course you could use vegetable oil, just olive oil, or even more butter.  You would not want to use peanut oil or seasame oil or it would totally change the taste.  Typically I would say coconut oil could change the taste but judging from the other stronger/flavorful ingredients, I knew it would be okay.

1 to 1 1/2 pound button or cremini mushrooms, sliced - I had mini bellas.  You could used canned and then skip the process in the recipe where you cook the mushrooms for 15 minutes to soften them.

4 cloves garlic, very thinly sliced - did this

2 tablespoons fresh thyme, finely chopped - used dried thyme from my spice rack - need to use conversion online from fresh to dried.

2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, finely chopped - used dried rosemary from spice rack.

Salt and pepper - did this

1/2 cup dry sherry or Marsala - Used red cooking wine - probably changed the taste some, but since I didn't try the other version, I don't know what it should have tasted like.

1 large or 2 medium leeks, halved and thinly sliced - I didn't have leeks - but added other veggies

2 carrots, peeled and chopped into 1/4-inch dice - did this

1 onion, chopped into 1/4-inch dice - didn't have onions, can used minced onions from spice rack or skip it. 

2 ribs celery, chopped - I did not have celery but added other veggies (green peppers).  You could throw in just about any type of veggie and it will be good.

1 large bay leaf - did this

1 vine ripe tomatoes, finely chopped - used a can of organic diced tomatos with liquid since I didn't have enough broth

1 pound roast turkey or chicken, diced - used diced chicken from a rotesserie chicken I got a few weeks ago.  I had chopped up all the chicken and put it in the freezer for later use.  It thaws quickly and has already been cooked.  You could use canned chicken or any other chicken diced (breast, thighs, etc)...even lunch meat really.  Or if you find a good deal on meat at the deli, you could just have them cut it thicker.  That is if you plan the recipe in advance, in which then you'd probably have all the right ingredients.

As you can see, I didn't use much of what the recipe called for but it tasted delicious to me!  If you don't have any groceries, you really have to be creative in the kitchen sometimes!  It is very rare that I have all the ingredients for a recipe, even if I planned the recipe before going to the store!  I am sure most of you are like that also - you forget to buy something or the ingredient cost too much (not on sale).  So it's really simple to adjust the recipe to what you have at home and what your taste preferences are.  Don't let that recipe or the kitchen get the best of you.  You can conquer the kitchen and meal times! 

The link and picture of Rachel's originally recipe is here.  Compare her picture to the one below in the skillet...they don't look much different to me.

Here is a picture of my version of Rachel's recipe:

The soup mixture...

 The rice and orzo mixture - so yummy on it's own.  Rachel says to keep this separate from the soup mixture or else the liquid in the soup will make it balloon up.  The rice/orzo mixture will absorb all the liquid.  You can tell it did this in my photo with the bowl of the two mixed...I liked it that way though.