Meatless Monday

I mentioned last week that I went meatless ( I prefer that over the V word) quite a few months ago and that I would share some recipes I love on a "Meatless Monday" post. Well, since this is my brunch....

I figured what better time for a Meatless Monday post than a Tuesday morning?!
That's chickpea & avocado mash....that I'm kind of obsessed with at the moment. So easy. A can of chickpeas, 1 avocado, and a squeeze of lemon. Oat toast, spinach, and tomato. Mmmm.

I use a lot of chickpeas and beans for protein. I try to limit tofu because of the mixed reviews on too much soy.

Anyway. Recipe. Keep in mind that I'm taking pictures of the actual food, on my plate, ready to eat, not prepped and made pretty, with my iPhone camera. Ok, moving on...

Zucchini Meatballs. I do not like zucchini, but I love these.

olive oil
2 garlic cloves
2 large zucchini
3 tbsp. fresh basil/chopped
1 c Italian style breadcrumbs
1 egg
1/2 c parmesan romano cheese/grated
1 can crushed tomatoes or marinara

Preheat oven to 375.
Grate the unpeeled zucchini.
Saute garlic in olive oil until golden, then add the grated zucchini.
Season with a little salt and pepper.
Cook until all the water from zucchini has evaporated. Squeeze out any excess water.
Mix together zucchini, bread crumbs, egg, cheese, and basil.
Shape into small balls, place on a baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray, and bake for about 25 minutes until golden brown and firm.
Add to your crushed tomato or marinara and simmer for a few minutes.
I got super crazy and served over whole wheat pasta. I've also made calzones with them or just had them on their own (probably the healthiest way).

I'm also obsessed with Sweet & Sour Porcupine "Meatballs", but that's another post.

Mom loves to take pictures

While I'm printing Joseph's 3rd birthday invitations ((June 4th-save the date)), I figured I'd edit and share some pictures from Saturday. I'd also like to add that there are so many pictures where Joshua looks like, "Just hang in there. My mom loves to take pictures, I deal with this all the time."

Yes, Mom loves to take pictures!...and I have SO many baseball inspired picture ideas for Joshua's prom next year!!! haha!

I support fakebooking

I always see a lot of posts on facebook complaining about people not sharing their "real" life...you know, people only posting happy things. I don't get it or why people care. I mean, if you ask me, they are not only sparing you from their depressing situations, but I also think they're spreading positivity. I support fakebooking...some may even say I participate in it.
Yes, I post a ton of pictures. Happy pictures. Fun pictures. I do this because our family and friends are all very far away. Some love it, some pretend I don't exist....I'm cool with it either way.

Anyway, if I made posts of my every day real life, you'd all rush to start a GoFundMe account and send me on some much needed vacation. And I just can't be comfortable with that. But, if you insist, Link can be found here.

If you really clicked that....God bless you for wanting to help a mother out.haha! I'm just kidding....I know we're all going through this thing called life.

Alright. So, let's say I decided to post every day real life on facebook. I'll make today my example.

FB entry #1   3:18am- My husband had to be in work at 3:30 am, and because it sounds like a herd of buffalo are stampeding through our bedroom, I am also awake. So, I will toss, turn, and look on social media for a good hour and a half now. Thank you, husband.

FB entry #2   6:58am- My children are up and crafting...not coloring like a normal child may craft, but actually having me iron on appliques and then they are painting the shirts. Doesn't that sound enjoyable and sweet? Maybe it would be if it were 10am and I had a chance to make just one cup of coffee before this ordeal. But, I was stupid...I promised in the morning, this is the morning to them. It's really not pretty, there's a lot of blank staring at these creatures and grunting instead of forming actual words on my part. I would have a picture of this delightful ordeal to share, but I'll get to that in after a few more entries.

FB entry #3   8am- I finally make my cup of coffee....and I watch it get cold on the counter because the baby is now up and requires breakfast immediately after his eyes are open. But, that's ok...I'm pretty pumped because it's Body Combat morning and at 10:20, I'm going to get my sweat on.

FB entry #4   8:30am- A lovely woman from the gym calls to tell me Body Combat is cancelled... "NooOOooOO....oh, I'm sorry, I'm not upset with you. I just really needed this today. I mean, I guess I could try to make it to Step at 9:15, but I'm probably setting myself up to fail with 3 kids to get ready. Or I could go to Body Combat tonight at 7, but my husband was in at 3:30 this morning, so I don't think he'll go for that. Oh, sorry for holding you up, I know you have other people to call."
Yep.

FB entry #5   9:30am- Remember when I was bragging about Christopher's amazing arm yesterday? While I'm in the bath, we always play catch...it's really adorable. ((Side note: when all the kids are up, a bath is easier because I don't have everyone climbing in a shower stall with me. They respect the bath wall between us.)) Anyway, we were playing catch as I'm bathing. I start washing my face and he really must have thrown it hard because the splash was bigger than usual...then it vibrated. What?! Looking through face wash, I realized that vibration was my IPhone saying 'goodbye, sweet friend'. "WHYYYY????!!!!" I cried out to the IPhone gods.... Then Christopher started to cry, not over the situation, but because I wouldn't throw it back.

FB entry #6   10am-  I'm feeling a little sorry for myself. That is all.

FB entry #7   11am- I'm putting on my big girl panties and taking all of the kids to the AT&T store. This is fine. It will be boring for them, but a little promise of Chik Fil A after will possibly keep them in line. In line....that's where we waiting for 25 minutes before the guy told me I had to call AT&T customer service. You know, on my broken phone.

FB entry #8   1pm- I'm going to eat my feelings and this Happy Cinco de Mayo bean burrito will make me feel better. Please send margaritas. Thank you.

Had enough? Aren't happy pictures better? That's what I thought. Like I said, I support fakebooking.

"Call me crazy, but I love to see people happy and succeeding. Life is a journey, not a competition"

YOU ARE AWESOME

Just a quick update on our craziness

It's been a while and I feel guilty because this is kind of my "baby book" for the kids. I have Christopher's "ONE" blog all typed out, I just have to add pictures. I seem to be on a bit of a time constraint lately...4 kids will do that, I guess. There's always something going on...sports, school, life. It gets away from me sometimes....
Our house is pretty crazy these days...the kids are getting older, arguing more, all the fun stuff. An example of our normal...Christopher threw a huge amethyst crystal to me when I wasn't looking, leaving me with a bloody, swollen eyebrow right before I had to pick Madeline up from school earlier. I really can't make this stuff up...and don't even ask why we have huge crystals laying around.

Christopher has a great arm. He loves to play catch and has his own "catcher's stance", which is actually W sitting that I'm supposed to be discouraging if you were to ask a physical therapist ((oops)), but I find it super cute. There is absolutely zero interest in walking because crawling seems to be suiting him just fine. More on this guy when I finish his year post because I'll add some more recent info in there too.

We are currently planning Joseph's THIRD birthday. Pretty crazy because I feel like the time has gone too fast. He's a pretty amazing little dude. In these past few months, he has really grown and his language is amazing. Potty trained himself, which was a huge shock to us. We weren't even going to introduce until 3, but he decided he was ready. Joseph's current interests include baseball, super heroes, crafting, playing with his sister and brothers, doing anything outside. He has the biggest, kindest heart...but definitely doesn't take any bossing from his sister. Have a feeling they are really going to miss each other this next school year. He'll be starting preschool two days a week, for 2.5 hours. Growing into such a big boy!

Madeline is in her last month of preschool. This is a very emotional subject, so I'll move on from there. Her interests include crafting ALL DAY LONG (it's exhausting at times.haha) and is actually sitting across from me creating fans right now, playing outside with friends, being a little mommy to her brothers (including Joshua).  She is currently taking a creative dance class that includes ballet, tap, and tumbling. We're getting pretty excited for the recital next month! Our little sassy girl also just started tee-ball, which Anthony is assisting with coaching. I love seeing this because it's Anthony's first experience coaching the little guys and it cracks me up. I also love it because it feels like yesterday when I was watching Joshua do the same.

Speaking of the big, hairy, man child... Joshua is currently wrapping up his Junior year of Varsity baseball. He's been very accepting of his role as jam pitcher, but is also ready for some Legion baseball so he can play some outfield, as well. The grades are up and he is an honor roll student these days. My mom pride is beaming about that. He is working at McDonald's and not "Lovin' it", so he may be changing that soon. This weekend he will be all dressed up in a tux and escorting his beautiful girlfriend, Bridget, to her senior prom. Pictures of that will definitely be following.

Anthony and I just celebrated 6 years of marriage. Hard to believe it's been 6 years, we've increased our family to a grand total of 7, had 3 addresses, filled all of those addresses with love and unforgettable memories. I love our life together and feel blessed every single day to have such a loving, hard working husband, and to have built this beautiful family with him. It's quite chaotic with all these little ones, and we pretty much never get time away or a day off from it all. But, we always make time for each other.
Anthony has been bowling on Monday nights and the team made it to the Playoffs that are happening next week! He's also in his complete glory right now because we're planning another Disney trip in November....the man lives for Disney.haha.

I've been trying to work on myself a little lately. *insert gasp here* Yep, I take the kids to the gym just about every day for an hour. It refreshes me to get an hour of sweating in a high intensity class with real, live adults and no kids around! This will also be month 3ish or so (? haven't been keeping track) of going meatless...not because I don't love meat, y'all, it just makes me feel better/more energy/less bloat. I'm thinking I should make a "Meatless Monday" entry just to share some of these awesome recipes I've been cooking up. Maybe.

That's what's up with us lately. Just a quick update on our craziness.