This is our breakfast of choice today, and of late, compliments of the Whole 30 website:
1 diced sweet potato
2 tsp coconut oil ( or any oil really, olive works great too)
1 sweet onion, diced
1 red pepper, diced
1 avocado, sliced
1/2 lb cooked sausage
1-2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1//2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cumin
Saute sweet potato in oil for 5-7 minutes. Add spices, onion, and red pepper, and saute about 5 more minutes, then cover and cook til sweet potato is tender, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add sausage and heat through. Top with sliced avocado and serve.
- We also have added spinach and mushrooms, and it's the best breakfast ever! Seriously, it will make your week.
Thursday, March 24, 2016
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Growing Like Weeds
Be still my heart, Olivia had her first babysitting job tonight. Granted, she was across the street, it was only for thirty minutes, and the kid was asleep the entire time, but still. My baby was in charge of another human being! I started babysitting at the age of nine, and all my older kids have been babysitting each other since they could dial 911, but it never really occurred to me that Olivia is getting to that babysitting age. She was pretty thrilled with the idea, and now that she is experienced and all, she will probably be raising her rates. Since she made nothing tonight (I told her it was a service project), she will probably still be pretty affordable.
Another reality check into the passage of time: I ordered Will's cap and gown today. In true Will fashion, I found the order form from the school a few days ago, laying on the counter, saying that we had to order everything by March 1st. I have no idea where it came from, or how long it had been there, but I am assuming he got it sometime prior to March 1. In true me fashion, I figured that order deadline was just a scare tactic, and put off ordering for a few more days. Then today, I panicked and hopped on the website. Nothing flashed or blew up or dinged me when I put my order through, and they were very willing to take my payment, so I'm guessing we are all good. Guess we will find out soon enough. Anyhow, I think I still have Duncan's graduation gown kicking around somewhere.
And yet more news: Audrey got a job today! She is the newest front desk person at the funplex. The good part is they are closed on Sundays. The bad part is they are open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Her friend is going to work there as well though, and it is right next door to Will's job, so hopefully we can do some carpooling. She will be getting her driver's license in the next few days too, so look out world. She is gonna be unstoppable now.
Another reality check into the passage of time: I ordered Will's cap and gown today. In true Will fashion, I found the order form from the school a few days ago, laying on the counter, saying that we had to order everything by March 1st. I have no idea where it came from, or how long it had been there, but I am assuming he got it sometime prior to March 1. In true me fashion, I figured that order deadline was just a scare tactic, and put off ordering for a few more days. Then today, I panicked and hopped on the website. Nothing flashed or blew up or dinged me when I put my order through, and they were very willing to take my payment, so I'm guessing we are all good. Guess we will find out soon enough. Anyhow, I think I still have Duncan's graduation gown kicking around somewhere.
And yet more news: Audrey got a job today! She is the newest front desk person at the funplex. The good part is they are closed on Sundays. The bad part is they are open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Her friend is going to work there as well though, and it is right next door to Will's job, so hopefully we can do some carpooling. She will be getting her driver's license in the next few days too, so look out world. She is gonna be unstoppable now.
Wednesday Wranglings
It's Wednesday again. It seems like it is always Wednesday. I have a day off today, which means it is the day I stay home and let the dog and cats out and in and out all day long. The dog goes out, and tramples the cats as they hover near the door waiting to get in. Then the dog realizes the cats are in so she barks to come back in. Then I get sick of all these cats laying around my house so I throw them all out. Next thing I know the dog is begging to go out so she can bark at the neighbor. When I let her out, the cats all come stampeding in again. I don't know how they all survive on the days they are home alone. In addition to attending to the needs of my furry children today, I plan on throwing away a few things so that I can say I did my spring cleaning. Duncan is home today as well. He has a break from the mill because there is a devotional and dinner tonight.
Olivia went back to school on Monday after a three week break, so it is adjustment week around here. Then again, with year round school, it seems we are always in adjustment mode. We got the calendar for next school year, and the school gods have been merciful and granted us a full three weeks off in July! Woo hoo! We must be living right. She gets out July 1 and starts sixth grade on July 26. That is like a third of a real summer!
I can't believe that I will only have two kids left in school next year. I could really get ahead of myself and think ahead to the next year, when I will be done forever as the parent of an elementary school aged child. But I don't want to go there yet. Olivia in junior high is a thought I am just not ready to entertain yet. Life is moving way too fast.
She got up late this morning, and as we were getting ready to run out the door, she announced it was class picture day. Her hair was a bit wild, and I attempted to tame it, but she was having nothing to do with that. It's only class pictures after all, she informed me. So I backed off and let her go with her crazy hair. Then she forgot her picture money anyway, so oh well. Maybe we will get a year book instead.
Olivia went back to school on Monday after a three week break, so it is adjustment week around here. Then again, with year round school, it seems we are always in adjustment mode. We got the calendar for next school year, and the school gods have been merciful and granted us a full three weeks off in July! Woo hoo! We must be living right. She gets out July 1 and starts sixth grade on July 26. That is like a third of a real summer!
I can't believe that I will only have two kids left in school next year. I could really get ahead of myself and think ahead to the next year, when I will be done forever as the parent of an elementary school aged child. But I don't want to go there yet. Olivia in junior high is a thought I am just not ready to entertain yet. Life is moving way too fast.
She got up late this morning, and as we were getting ready to run out the door, she announced it was class picture day. Her hair was a bit wild, and I attempted to tame it, but she was having nothing to do with that. It's only class pictures after all, she informed me. So I backed off and let her go with her crazy hair. Then she forgot her picture money anyway, so oh well. Maybe we will get a year book instead.
Friday, March 18, 2016
Stuff I Just Can't Believe
We finished our Whole 30 just in time for Audrey to have a birthday and get a life. Next week she gets her drivers' license. I just want somebody to tell me where my baby went.
I have written two long blog posts about our whole 30 experiment, and I hate both of them. Suffice it to say that I hated whole 30 for 29 days. On the evening of the 29th day, I realized suddenly that my cravings were gone. Vamoosed. I didn't need or want anything treaty in my mouth. Two days later was Audrey's birthday and we gorged ourselves on cake and ice cream and pasta and cheese, and I felt so sick that night. In my agony, I vowed to keep up my new habits, and stop randomly putting crap in my mouth. I worked hard to get rid of those cravings, and I want them to stay gone.I can't believe that I made it thirty days without any sugar, caffeine or flour. I can't believe it took me 29 stinking days to stop craving all the junk. I can't believe I ate so terribly my second day off the diet. I can't believe I had a diet coke yesterday and didn't even like it. I just don't know WHAT to believe anymore. Oh, and I lost seven pounds. If it isn't obvious, I'm a little conflicted over the whole thing.
Olivia is having a sleep over tonight. I can hear her and her friends in her bedroom, belting out "I wanna know what love is...." and then one of them said, "You have no idea what love is!" Friday night entertainment, just across the hall.
Audrey's birthday celebrations continue tomorrow with Waffle Wars. She is having a waffle making party in our basement. I will be upstairs, probably making waffles for everyone and having angst over whether I should eat one or not. Which reminds me of pancakes. We made green smoothie pancakes on St. Patrick's Day, and they were so good. Spinach, eggs, flax, banana, and a little flour and baking soda, served with runny frozen strawberry jam. Who knew spinach could make a pancake green?
Sunday, February 28, 2016
Oscar Night
Well, here we all are on Oscar night, in the comfort of our family room,ballots completed (at the urging/insistence of the resident film critic), all waiting with something less than eager anticipation for the winners to be announced. I mean, DAN is eagerly anticipating. I am half heartedly attempting to feign interest, and not being very successful. The kids range from one end of the interest spectrum to the other. Every year, Dan makes us all fill out ballots, then carefully tallies our results, then announces the winner. Which is always him. Then he lords it over our heads for the rest of the night that, surprise suprise, he won AGAIN. But, he makes attempts to support my holiday efforts at carving pumpkins and hiding Easter eggs, so I indulge him.
Here is the really big news though: Today is Day 14 since I have had a diet soda. !!! Can you believe that? I almost can't. The last time I gave up diet Coke for more than a day was when Audrey was a newborn. And I never thought I would give it up again. But this year, about the time that Lent started, Alisa called and asked what I was giving up for Lent. That got me thinking, and then Audrey and I got this crazy idea to do a Whole 30 food challenge. This means that for 30 days, you eliminate basically everything worth eating from your diet. Really all we eat now are vegetables, meat, fruit and nuts. In a few hours we will be at the half way point, and now I'm wondering why this ever sounded like a good idea. But, hey, I have at least proven to myself that I CAN live without diet coke. I just don't want to.
Here is what we have learned so far: Breakfast is really important. Have a big, high protein breakfast, and you can eat healthy the rest of the day. Miss breakfast, and you will crave junk food all day. Also, I have learned that I depend on food as a cure for boredom more than anything else. When I have to take the kids somewhere and wait for them, or when it is slow at work, those are the times that I NEED a diet coke.
Like now for instance. Watching the Oscars bores me. I could really use a diet coke right now. I am going to be strong now, and drink my smoothie like a good girl. And go try to pay attention to who is who and who is winning what on this silly show.
Here is the really big news though: Today is Day 14 since I have had a diet soda. !!! Can you believe that? I almost can't. The last time I gave up diet Coke for more than a day was when Audrey was a newborn. And I never thought I would give it up again. But this year, about the time that Lent started, Alisa called and asked what I was giving up for Lent. That got me thinking, and then Audrey and I got this crazy idea to do a Whole 30 food challenge. This means that for 30 days, you eliminate basically everything worth eating from your diet. Really all we eat now are vegetables, meat, fruit and nuts. In a few hours we will be at the half way point, and now I'm wondering why this ever sounded like a good idea. But, hey, I have at least proven to myself that I CAN live without diet coke. I just don't want to.
Here is what we have learned so far: Breakfast is really important. Have a big, high protein breakfast, and you can eat healthy the rest of the day. Miss breakfast, and you will crave junk food all day. Also, I have learned that I depend on food as a cure for boredom more than anything else. When I have to take the kids somewhere and wait for them, or when it is slow at work, those are the times that I NEED a diet coke.
Like now for instance. Watching the Oscars bores me. I could really use a diet coke right now. I am going to be strong now, and drink my smoothie like a good girl. And go try to pay attention to who is who and who is winning what on this silly show.
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Five Months In
How is Duncan doing on his service mission you ask? Well, it is hard to believe he is five months in already. I am happy to report that the mission is going really well. It for sure has some challenges, but mostly they have been good challenges that have helped him grow.
The challenge for me has been to get him there every morning at 8. I have to be to work at 9, and Olivia has to be to school at 8:40, so it is a little time crunchy every morning. I try to get Duncan dropped off in Kaysville by 7:50 so that I can turn around and drive back to Syracuse to get Olivia to school on time, and then hit the southbound freeway once again to get myself to Bountiful by nine. It works, and I consider myself lucky. It's not every mom that gets to say goodbye to her missionary every morning and then welcome him home every night.
Right now, there is a group of seven service missionaries at the mill, including one sister. First thing in the morning they have a morning devotional and study time. They are in charge of it, and I would love to be a fly on the wall in one of those meetings.. The senior missionaries that work with them have told me it is often very spiritual and enlightening. I am going to bet that it is occasionally wacky and often intensely humorous. But that is just my guess. I do know Duncan is learning so much and getting a lot of opportunities to speak and teach, and that is so good for him. The senior missionaries are so great, I can't say enough good things about them. They have so much respect for those missionaries, their opinions, feelings, and abilities, and work with them at whatever level they are on, and are so encouraging and kind.
From 10 to 11:30, they serve in the mill, usually working on production with the volunteers or cleaning. Keeping a place like that clean is a never ending job, so they are always busy. Duncan has become a pallet expert. Everything they produce at the mill is boxed in different sized boxes, and each sized box has a specific pattern that is the best way to fit as many boxes onto one pallet as possible. Apparently, Duncan is really good at figuring out the best way to fit the boxes onto the pallets. Can anyone say Tetris? Lately though, he has been opting for sit down jobs on the production line. Variety is the spice of life after all.
11:30 is lunch time. After lunch they have another meeting where they either work on their journals, or work on life skills, or take care of other mission business. Then from about 1:30 to 4 they are back at work in the mill.
Once a month, they have a zone conference with all the other missionaries in their zone. They have put together hygiene kits, gone to the temple, and had a picnic and some holiday parties. Just today they had a whole zone conference on life skills. They learned about table manners, good hygiene, conversation skills, and how to iron a shirt. I bet they aren't the only missionaries that could use a refresher in those areas.
Duncan has already learned some great life lessons, like being responsible to show up ready to work, even when you don't really feel like it. There have been days when he really hasn't wanted to go, and was looking for any excuse to stay home. But don't we all have days like that? But most days he really enjoys going. He says it feels good to work hard and accomplish something and then get to come home and relax. He knows that he is really helping and working at something worthwhile.
The challenge for me has been to get him there every morning at 8. I have to be to work at 9, and Olivia has to be to school at 8:40, so it is a little time crunchy every morning. I try to get Duncan dropped off in Kaysville by 7:50 so that I can turn around and drive back to Syracuse to get Olivia to school on time, and then hit the southbound freeway once again to get myself to Bountiful by nine. It works, and I consider myself lucky. It's not every mom that gets to say goodbye to her missionary every morning and then welcome him home every night.
Right now, there is a group of seven service missionaries at the mill, including one sister. First thing in the morning they have a morning devotional and study time. They are in charge of it, and I would love to be a fly on the wall in one of those meetings.. The senior missionaries that work with them have told me it is often very spiritual and enlightening. I am going to bet that it is occasionally wacky and often intensely humorous. But that is just my guess. I do know Duncan is learning so much and getting a lot of opportunities to speak and teach, and that is so good for him. The senior missionaries are so great, I can't say enough good things about them. They have so much respect for those missionaries, their opinions, feelings, and abilities, and work with them at whatever level they are on, and are so encouraging and kind.
From 10 to 11:30, they serve in the mill, usually working on production with the volunteers or cleaning. Keeping a place like that clean is a never ending job, so they are always busy. Duncan has become a pallet expert. Everything they produce at the mill is boxed in different sized boxes, and each sized box has a specific pattern that is the best way to fit as many boxes onto one pallet as possible. Apparently, Duncan is really good at figuring out the best way to fit the boxes onto the pallets. Can anyone say Tetris? Lately though, he has been opting for sit down jobs on the production line. Variety is the spice of life after all.
11:30 is lunch time. After lunch they have another meeting where they either work on their journals, or work on life skills, or take care of other mission business. Then from about 1:30 to 4 they are back at work in the mill.
Once a month, they have a zone conference with all the other missionaries in their zone. They have put together hygiene kits, gone to the temple, and had a picnic and some holiday parties. Just today they had a whole zone conference on life skills. They learned about table manners, good hygiene, conversation skills, and how to iron a shirt. I bet they aren't the only missionaries that could use a refresher in those areas.
Duncan has already learned some great life lessons, like being responsible to show up ready to work, even when you don't really feel like it. There have been days when he really hasn't wanted to go, and was looking for any excuse to stay home. But don't we all have days like that? But most days he really enjoys going. He says it feels good to work hard and accomplish something and then get to come home and relax. He knows that he is really helping and working at something worthwhile.
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Five Guys, Burgers and Fries
Duncan and Will both had big birthdays this year- 18 and 21, respectively. I don't care. No matter how old they get, they will always be babies to me. MY babies, and they better do what I say, no matter how legally adult they think they are. Mother always knows best, and they better remember that.
In honor of this momentous year, they headed up to Logan for a little combined pre-birthday celebrating. It was back to Angie's with their childhood buddies, for lunch and a cleaning of the sink.
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