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.

BLIZZARD 2016

It's  been a while, I have to catch up on baby blogs...I'll do that tomorrow since we will remain snowed in.
For now, pictures of BLIZZARD 2016!

Happy EIGHT Months, Christopher!!

Christopher Henry, our sweet little pumpkin. You bring us so much joy with each passing day! Such a go with the flow guy, but you also make sure that you are NOT forgotten...you will yell your heart out to get our attention if you feel we're not giving enough.
A sweet, sweet cuddle bug...always snuggling and wanting to be held every chance you get, by any one of us!!..or anyone for that matter. You absolutely love being worn and eat up that closeness...staring into our eyes, melting into us like you're putty, and feeling our face with your tiny hands.
A show-stealing ham!!! You have just perfected the most amazing cheesy smile I have ever seen. Those two little teeth, a scrunched up nose, it's pretty great. I have a feeling you are going to have this very larger than life personality because you constantly have us roaring with laughter...and you know it, so you continue to whatever it was even more. Your new "tricks" include clapping when we say "YAY!" (I swear you say "YAY" too, but that would be crazy.haha), holding on to an object and standing unassisted, crawling in your own kind of way,  alllllmost pushing yourself from laying on your belly back up to a seated position, and plenty of babbling "dada", "mama", "gaga".
It's really hard to tell what your favorite food is because we haven't found anything you don't like yet. Even when I think things may have a little too much spice or tang, you still love it. You make these amazing noises while you eat....we'll work on manners later because right now they make us crack up laughing in the middle of dinner.
You had your first real sickness this past month. It was pretty sad and you were up a lot at night....so much that I even climbed into your crib with you a couple times. You're feeling much better now though!!

 

And because THIS is what a ham you are!!!!

 

Happy EIGHT Months, Christopher!!

Happy SEVEN months, Christopher

Only a month late....that's all. We did take your picture on time, however, it is very hard to sit down and document it. Not because I don't have time for you, Christopher....but because not sitting down at the computer is the only way I DO have time for you!! Every little bit of my free time is now occupied.haha. I had to get this picture on here right away though because we're getting ready to take your EIGHT month picture!! Which is going to be FUN.
Sorry...Mommy is always rushing and tired, and gets off the subject quickly.
So, anyway, HAPPY SEVEN months, a month ago, Christopher!! I take daily pictures of you, so trust me, your life is being very documented! I am saving all of these milestones, adventures, and cute tricks for the EIGHT month blog though, so here is the picture.

You turned SEVEN months in Cape May, NJ. There was a lot of fun to be had during the few days we were there....and you were adorable, as always! The awesome SEVEN out of flip flops was Pap's idea.

School days

SCHOOL DAYS!!! YAY! Who was excited for school to start??! Who had been waiting for these days all summer?! Happy days!! WOOO HOOO!!!
NO. Leave now. I'm serious. Just leave.
School days. These days are obviously celebrated by those that either have kids that can be responsible for waking themselves up in the am, or those that can get their kids ready, drop them off, and drink mimosas for the remainder of the day. I'm not jealous at all, I promise....I just don't like you. Kidding. Kind of.

Let's start with the teenager that cannot wake himself up to save his life. SO annoying. It's super annoying that I have to give a life lesson before 7am, y'all. That's right, before 7am, I am giving a flippin life lesson on how a job is not going to care that he didn't hear his alarm. And after that, there is still no sense of urgency....he still does everything he would as if he was on time. I mean, I don't think I was ever late....however, my bus also didn't come at 7am....but that's not an excuse at all. I guess I should be up, making sure he's awake....but, 16 is kind of old enough, and I was just up nursing a baby not long before that.

Let's move on to Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Those school days. Who was happy to send their kid to preschool?! No. I already told you to leave. IF you are still here and were happy to send your kid to preschool, you probably didn't have any other children to worry about. THAT is when sh!t gets stressful. Let's run through a typical Wednesday because a Monday just wouldn't be fair.
Wednesday morning. Wake up to Madeline staring in my face before my 6:30 alarm...I don't even question why she's up so early anymore, she just is.  Slowly roll out of bed, and before my feet touch the floor, Joseph is UP...he is my very spirited child...he is not just up, he is screaming....SCREAMING for me. So, after running in to get him, I coax every one downstairs for breakfast. This includes a huge dispute over who gets which bowl, what they can agree on eating....I don't even say they have to eat the same thing, but apparently to keep the peace, they must eat the same thing. After a long, tiresome start to the day, I start getting children dressed. Usually during the most chaotic of that is when Christopher wakes up. DRESSING ALL CHILDREN AND YOURSELF IS SUPER STRESSFUL. You know, that point in the morning where Joseph is fitting out over wanting to wear boots that give him  blisters instead of comfortable shoes. Once something in our morning disrupts Joseph, it's all over from there. Madeline also likes to feed into whatever chaos is going on with Joseph, and that's always super fun.
Let's fast forward to when we get to school. All these well behaved 4 yr olds being dropped off, then there's my spirited little two year old, screaming.....SCREAMING that he has to leave his sister. Lord, help me. I mean, they seem like they can't stand each other while together, but cannot stand to be apart?? I don't understand.[only child of 10 years]. Anyway, WE are like the side show at preschool drop off in the morning. Pick up? Same. Who decided preschool for one was a swell idea? Really.
I keep telling myself it will get better. Repetition and all that.....fingers are crossed.

Happy SIX Months, Christopher!

Sorry I'm late, little buddy, but you turned SIX months at Myrtle beach!! Lately it's hard to find the time to it down at the computer so...  Happy SIX Months, Christopher! We tried to write a 6 in the sand...even though it's kind of hard to see. You were such a good boy on vacation, as we toted you back and forth from the beach, to the pool, to the room, all day long.

You are so easy going. Whatever, wherever, you are there.. Except long car rides....you could definitely do without them. We can take you anywhere though, and you're just so happy and content.

Your smile is contagious and it just lights up our home. We are all completely obsessed with you and how adorable you are. I could stare at you all day, Daddy just loves to nibble you all over, Joshua loves to make you giggle, Madeline could squish you to bits, and Joseph still treats you like a gentle newborn, with gentle forehead kisses for his little "HI". Yep, that seems to be the nickname your brother, Joseph, has given you....I think he hears us saying, "HIIIIIII" in a cute, sing song way that he may have assumed that was what you should be called. No matter how hard we have tried, he still calls you HI. You enjoy all of us just as much, though....falling all over yourself whenever we say just one word. When your sister starts to pick you up and we are running to save you, you're so laid back. haha.

Food is your most recent interest. Anything we have, you want. You have tried veggies, grains, and even some meats. Pizza crust falls under grains, right? because you LOVED it. You also really love eggs, peas, and green beans.....but, there's a possibility you love all things food.

You grab everything in sight and it goes straight in your mouth to your 2 emerging bottom, front teeth. The smaller the toy, the better, so we really have to watch you with all these big kid toys laying around.

You adore cuddling....you make it a point to wake up exactly at 3am every morning. You nurse and cuddle. It's almost like you know this is just our time. We both end up falling back asleep, while you're nursing, but I always put you back in your bed before sunrise because your sibs like to wake up a tad WAY earlier than you. Oh, and when you wake up at 3am, you're never crying, just talking...and waiting for me. It makes my heart skip a beat.

Sitting up like a big boy, you also try to maneuver your way around the floor to where you want to be. It's mostly a roll, but you're also exploring your hands and knees. I love to see you wiggle all the way across the floor, only for a big sibling to remove the toy that was your destination. You don't cry about it, you just watch how they play with the toy....either plotting revenge or how you will play with it at some point.

You are loved so much.....our little BIG surprise that we cannot imagine life without.

FIVE MONTHS & VSD update

I've been taking the pictures...just having the time to sit down and write is what holds up the process here.
Christopher, you are seriously the sweetest little guy in the world. You observe your surroundings and take it all in...watching, and waiting until you are big enough to join in the chaos. I love that about you, how inquisitive you are. You're on the go when we lay you on the floor....rolling all the way across the room, far away from where you were left. You have the cutest, most hearty giggle that it is contagious. We haven't tried any food yet, you seem to be super content with just nursing. Haven't spotted any teeth, but you're chewing on every thing, and every one, so they may be coming soon! You just started using your jumperoo and are loving it...in fact, you try to jump all the time now...even in your bouncy seat. You have given up the swaddle!!...MUCH earlier than your other siblings! Your eyes light up when we talk to you, and you babble right back. You've started to protest car rides...but hopefully you will give up on that soon, especially since we have your first vacation coming up with a long road trip to get there. You grab every thing in your path, nothing is safe. Now to teach your little big brother that you can't have every thing that he can!
We absolutely adore you, Christopher. Happy FIVE MONTHS.

Now for the medical report. I haven't mentioned the heart issue here previously because I wanted more information and needed to understand it a little better. AND OUR BABY IS PERFECTLY HEALTHY AND THRIVING....please, look at him.haha.
Christopher was born with 2 congenital heart defects, a small sized ASD (Atrial Septal Defect), and a moderate sized VSD (Ventricular Septal Defect), and also a heart murmur.
The murmur is nothing to be concerned with, it is basically just an abnormal sound that can be heard with a stethoscope and affects 45% of children.
The ASD is a hole in the wall that separates the top two chambers of the heart, but it is very common in infants and it turns out that it closed up between the time we left the hospital and his first cardiologist appointment at 3 weeks.
Now, the VSD is a hole in the wall separating the two lower chambers of the heart, it happens to be one of the more common congenital heart defects, thank God. This is the one that seems to want to stick around though. He can still thrive in life with this....the Cardiologist always jokes with me that I can let him cry. I reply, "I wouldn't let my baby cry even if he didn't have a heart defect!". She is an amazing Dr. and I feel that he is in the best hands possible.
Our most recent appointment was on Tuesday. This one proved to be a little more difficult than the previous ones because now Christopher is completely aware that he must be still, therefore held down, for the hour it takes to get an echocardiogram. We had a different technician (not as experienced as the previous) this time around and she insisted on swaddling (in this weird way that puts the baby's arms behind their back and they basically sit on them), well he decided a week or so prior to this that he was done being swaddled, let alone be put in this behind the back mess. So, it was up to me to occupy, yet keep him still. Me, and what they call "sweeties"(sugar water) to dip his Nuk in. Talk about a long hour. I sang, played peek-a-boo, made a swishing sound machine noise in his ear, put Elmo on (it's a pediatric cardiologist, so there's tvs in all rooms) so there would be a different sound in the room, I nursed (that's another blog, this new chick was not comfortable with that), everything I could do to keep him still. He was such a good boy though...he didn't cry, just let out grunts, squirmed around, and protested this whole holding still thing.
So, after the echo, we learned it didn't shrink or close, and there is still a moderate sized VSD in Christopher's heart. We will go back to check again in a few months to evaluate it again and pray it gets smaller or closes!!!. This is something he can live, grow, thrive with, so it is not supposed to be concerning (tell that to a mother!!!). We just have to keep a close eye on him....if he starts losing weight, becoming lethargic, breathing heavily, etc., then it would be of concern. But, right now, at 15 lbs. he is developing just fine. This sweet little boy of ours.

Here he is, checking his own heart.HAHA.

Let's play a little game....

Alright. It's been a while....I'm not busy or anything. Not at all.

Let's play a little game.
I'd like to call it "Am I talking to the labradoodle or the 2 yr old boy?"

"Don't eat tissues!!"
"Don't pee there!!"
"We don't put our 'tail' in people's faces!!"
"Don't eat things out of the pile I'm sweeping!"
"Don't drink out of a puddle on the ground outside....or inside if there happens to be one!"
"Don't bite tires off the toy cars!"
"Don't lick the window...or the floor...or people"
"Don't take things out of the trash"
"Don't shred toilet paper all over the floor!"
"Get down from the table!"
"Don't run outside alone!"
"Stop chasing Madeline"
"Don't bite, be easy"
"Out of the toilet!"


The two yr old. These are all things I've said to the two yr old. And most of them just today.
I rephrase in a more positive way, but you get the picture.
This boy keeps me on my toes.....
Oh, and we always dress in orange in public....it's easiest for me to find in a crowd. He has disappeared more times than I'd like to admit.