Day 23 - You Tube Video

My child would not be able to sit down for the rest of his/her life if he/she chose to do this!

Day 22 - Website

I have so many websites that I enjoy...I'm not sure I can narrow it down to just one.  Here are some of the ones I use a lot:

http://quod.lib.umich.edu/k/kjv/
http://www.publix.com/save/
http://www.target.com/

Mover and a Shaker

Itty Bitty is on the move at 5 months old.  Although Kinley is not crawling in the traditional since, she can get to any toy she wants including Mom's stack of magazines which she got a hold of and tore to shreds.  She can also sit up for a few minutes on her own, she supports her torso on one of her hands.  She has found her voice, and unfortunately has started using it to really try and get her way.  She likes to be a part of the action and doesn't like being "by herself"...you know five feet away on her blanket in the family room while we are sitting at the table eating dinner.  She's got several new nicknames.  Daddy calls her Thumper because she is always got one leg that is kicking up and down, whether she's on her belly or on her back. Momma and the kids call her Froggy because of the way she gets up on her feet and bounces up and down.  I really don't remember Abbey or Brady being so active and mobile at this age.  Still no teeth, we joke that her gums are as bald as her noggin!  Although her fuzz is starting to come in a little more.  Sometimes when she wears her big bow-bow, it musses up the fuzz!  I think she is starting to develop a little bit of a Momma's Girl complex, which is fine with me because I know one of these days she will be way too busy to want to snuggle with me.  I know I say this each and every month, but I just can't believe how fast the time has gone by. 

Day 21 - A Recipe

This recipe is from publix.com/aprons.  This meal is really tasty and really easy to do and most importantly...the kids love it!

Chicken Primavera with Parmesan Pasta
1 1/2 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 Tbs EVOO, divided
2 Tbs fresh Italian parsley, coarsely chopped (I used dried parsley)
1 tsp dried Italian seasoning, divided
1/2 c dry white wine
2 medium yellow squash
1 medium zucchini
1 c fresh green beans
2 fresh garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
1 c matchstick carrots
1 c pre-diced onions (I just bought and onion and cut it myself)
1 (14.5-oz) can diced fire-roasted tomatoes, undrained (I used the publix brand)

1. Preheat large saute pan on medium-high 2-3 minutes.  Season chicken with salt and pepper.  Place 1 Tbs EVOO in pan, then add chicken; cook 2-3 minutes on each side until browned.  While chicken cooks, chop parsley.
2. Add parsley, 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning, and wine to chicken.  Reduce heat to medium-low and cover; simmer 6-8 minutes or until 165 degrees F.
3. Cut squash and zucchini in half lengthwise; then cut into 1/4" thick slices.  Trim ends of beans; cut into 2" long lengths.  Chop garlic.
4. Remove chicken from pan.  Add 1 Tbs EVOO, 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning, and garlic to pan;  cook 1 minute.  Stir in remaining ingredients (except tomatoes); cook and stir 5-7 minutes or until vegetables begin to soften.
5. Stir in tomatoes; cook 4-5 more minutes or until vegetables are tender.


Parmesan Pasta
12 oz penne pasta
2 Tbs shredded Parmesan cheese
1 Tbs herb garlic butter ( I used Land o' Lakes brand garlic butter)

1. Prepare pasta following package directions
2. Drain pasta; Place in large serving bowl.  Stir in cheese and butter.  Place vegetable mixture on top of pasta.  Cut chicken into bite size strips and add to pasta and veggies.

Day 19 & Day 20 - A Talent and a Hobby

I realize it was quite a while ago when I left off, but life with 3 kids can get busy. My sister reminded me that I had promised I would finish this task, so I decided to combine these two days, besides the fact that I'm so far behind, because to me they are essentially the same (in my case). I would say my talent/hobby is party planning. I love to throw parties. I love to decorate. I love to be creative with the invitations. I love to decorate cakes/cup cakes! Some of my favorite parties I've done were of course for my own family. I think my favorite was when Brady turned four he wanted a pirate party. Unfortunately I have no pictures of the invitations, but they were totally cool. I printed out the invitation to look like a treasure map with the "X" marks the spot at our house. I then soaked the paper in tea to give it a rustic look and then I burned the edges to finish off the look. I rolled them up and tied a string around them and placed them in a clear glass bottle and hand delivered them to each party guest. For the party day, I had a sand box filled with trinkets and "jewels" for the kids to dig for buried treasure. Kelly used eyeliner to draw scars, beards and other piratey things on the kids faces. All the kids got pirate bandannas, eye patches and a gold hoop earring as part of their goodie bag. They also got a mini bucket and shovel filled with a small vanilla pudding treat with crushed vanilla wafers on top to make it look like it was filled with sand. I of course made a pirate ship cake and for the grand finale, I had made two giant card board ships and divided the kids (and adults) into two teams. Each team got behind one of the pirate ships. Each team received a bag of jumbo marshmallows (cannons) and they had a marshmallow fight. I do believe the grownups had more fun pelting one another with marshmallows than the kids, and who knew a marshmallow could leave a welt. I do have pictures from the party itself, however they are still stuck on the computer that crashed at the end of last year. So instead I will leave you with some other pictures from parties I have done.

Motherhood Math!

I've been feeling very guilty about the lack of energy I have been experiencing of late.  At the end of the day, I look at my bomb shelter house and marvel at the incredible mess and wonder if I did anything productive the whole day.  I look at my blog as the days/weeks go by without a post and wonder where my time went.  So, as I sit here at 10:30 at night waiting for the last load of laundry to finish so I can move it to the dryer I ponder where all my time was spent and could I have made better use of the day.  I started doing calculations in my head and realized there are just not enough hours in the day to accomplish a mothers job.  So often we (stay at home moms) hear: "What do you do all day?"  So I have figured it out...the motherhood math...Mommy-by- numbers:

Feeding Kinley: 5-6 times per day at 45-60 minutes each session  = avg. 5 hours a day 7 days a week

Driving Kids to school: 40 minutes round trip 2 times a day 5 days a week

School morning breakfast/lunch boxes: 15 minutes a day 5 days a week

Preparing Dinner: I will be conservative and say 4 hours a week (since my hubby is so nice to allow meals out a lot)

Helping Kids with Homework: 1 hour a day 4 days a week

So if you do the math, these tasks alone account for a 51 hour work week.  This doesn't include all the household chores that have been taking care of (cleaning bathrooms, washing/folding clothes, dishes, grocery shopping, changing diapers, giving baths, bill paying, volunteering at school...the list could go on and on).

So why do I do it?  What keeps me sane?

It's my 10 year old saying "Mom, you are the best Mom in the whole wide world" (in appreciation for bringing her violin to school that she left at home on accident).

It's my 7 year old asking me to read a story with him.

It's my (nearly) 5 month old finding me from across the room  and smiling until her eyes disappear.

It's these things and more that make me so thankful to have the most difficult, demanding, underpaid job in the world but more importantly to appreciate the sacrifice MY mother made for me and my siblings when we were growing up.  I truly do love my life as a mother and I wouldn't change a minute of the day.  And now my washing machine is done.