Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Perpetual State of Ugliness

Ever feel like you live in or as a perpetual state of ugliness? If it's not toys scattered all over your house, it's the lawn that hasn't been mowed for weeks. If it's not 3 year olds screaming, "no" right at your face, it's YOU screaming, "no" to your hubby. (Not all ugliness is outward afterall.) If it's not spit up running down your shirt, it's simply that your shirt doesn't match your pants, and you walked out of the house not even noticing. If somehow you managed to get your hair done before you walked out the door, you certainly didn't get makeup on as well. And, the rare occasion, if it happens at all, that you walk out the door feeling like you look like a million bucks, I'm sure a bird will poop in your hair or something.

So, today I get to go to TWO different doctor's appointments...for what you ask? WARTS. Isn't that lovely? I hate warts. Specifically, I hate warts on my body. I've had one on my foot since before the boys were born...yes, that would be years now! And, right before Bella was born, one showed up on my thumb. I've already had it frozen once; it didn't go away. Today, I get to subject myself to that minor form of torture again as well as get a shot in the bottom of my foot, yet one more attempt to rid myself of this disgusting thing!

I'm not really sure why I'm going through with these painful procedures to get rid of these ugly, pesky little things especially when/if these things ever go away, there will just be the next thing on my list of things to do in order to rid myself of this perpetual state of ugliness. :)

Friday, August 24, 2007

Spider Girl!

This is how my friend, Laurie, affectionately referred to my efforts to scale a wall. I'll have you know I made it all the way to the top AND rang the cow bell! I feel oh so accomplished! :)

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Going to the Letters

This morning, I have the opportunity to ride on a friend's guest pass and work out at the "Y". So, I was telling the boys this morning about our day. Here's how the conversation went:

Me: "Boys, you're going to go with mommy to the YMCA and play with your friends while mommy works out with her friends."

Me: (to clarify for them, thinking to myself they probably don't know what the YMCA is since they've never been there) "We're going to the gym."

Judah: "Mommy, can I go to the letters with you?"

Is that too adorable or what?!

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Need More Advice

Thanks for all the advice re: potty training.
I think the consensus is I wait a few more months.
I may give it a go with only one of the boys and see how that goes. But, if it doesn't go well, I feel better about waiting given all the input regarding boys and their "delayed" cooperation!

Moving on from potty training to painting....
Lawrence and I have LONG wanted to overhaul our master bedroom, like since we moved into the house in 2003! Anyone who has seen the bedroom will agree that it needs some serious attention. Lawrence and I are not agreeing (surprise!) about where to begin. I say get the bedding first and work the paint around it. He says pick out paint first and work the bedding around that. Any other opinions out there? Help!

Monday, August 20, 2007

Potty Training Advice?

Anyone want to offer some potty training advice to a clueless mom of 3 year old twin boys?
Laurie and Suzanne, I'm particularly interested in hearing from ya'll, of course! But, anyone is free to give their two cents. :)

Do I leave diapers on them? Pull ups worth it? Let 'em go naked? Sit in the bathroom all day? Only train one at a time given only one of them seems really interested in it anyway? The other is nearly refusing to go on the potty? What about naptime and bedtime? They still wet their diapers at nap and bedtimes. Stay home all day until they get it? What to do when we have to go out? And, anything else you might think I need to know about.

Thanks for your input!

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Use For Garden Tomatoes

I haven't written in a bit but not for a lack of things to write about as much as a lack of time to do so. Lawrence just finished up two weeks on the road except for a much too short "visit" home this past weekend which we were all grateful for. He's home now, and life feels right again. In his absence, we kept quite busy. Made a trip to PA to spend a few days at grandma and grandpa's house. Thanks Mom and Dad. The boys had a blast swimming in the pool with you, going to Knoebels Grove (the most wonderful family park around!), and watching much more TV than they usually get to watch here at home. On Demand Kids' Channels are amazing!!

In addition to our trip to grandma's, Bella had her 6 month checkup which, apart from having to keep the boys from climbing the walls, went rather well. She appears to be growing just as she should and, though she cried like any normal baby would when receiving shots, did rather well.

Again, Judah proved to be the bravest little boy around at the eye doctor last week. In addition to cooperating well with the parts of the exam he knows well, he also allowed Dr. Abrams to check his pressures which is typically done with him under anesthesia as it involves eye drops and allowing the doctor to basically poke on his eyeball with something called a "tonopen". He was hesitant, but mustered up the courage to sit still for this. And, his pressures were the lowest they've ever been in his life, a definite sign that the surgical interventions he's had are working and were worth it. We are definitely giving thanks for this.

And, finally I come to the reason for this post's title: "Use for Garden Tomatoes".
My mom gave me some fresh tomatoes from her garden which I used in a great, easy recipe tonight out of my Real Simple magazine. The recipe is for something they call, "Pasta with marinated tomatoes and mozzarella". (I have to laugh at their recipe titles as they are basically just a list of all the ingredients) :)

Here it is with my improvisations:

1 1/2 pounds tomatoes, diced
1/2 small sweet onion, roughly chopped
2 T. olive oil
8 oz. fresh mozzarella, cubed
1 pound fettuccine (used spaghetti but it would probably be better with thicker noodles)
1/2 cup fresh basil, torn

In a large bowl, gently combine the tomatoes, onion, oil, mozzarella, 1 1/2 tsp. salt, and 3/4 tsp. pepper. Set aside and let marinate at room temperature for at least 10 minutes. Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to package directions. Add the drained pasta and basil to marinated tomatoes and toss to combine. Divide among individual bowls.

**I added some shredded chicken breast to it that was first boiled and then heated up with an oil/butter combination to add a bit more protein to the meal.

For me, it had all the components of a great summer dish: fast, easy, oven-free, healthy, use of fresh ingredients and tasty!! Really, it doesn't get any better than that!

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Miracles DO Happen!

Beginning last night, I mentally prepared for today's adventure with the kiddos: a trip to Sears Photo Studio....ALONE! Yes, I went where no mom should go alone and survived! The miracle is that every child remained CLEAN (no clumsy falls into the dirt loading into the car, no juice spills down one's shirt, not even spit up from the baby until right after the photo shoot was over).

As if this isn't enough, NO child threw a temper tantrum, not even mild whining!! My boys obediently held on to the stroller to and from the car (twice because I forgot a coupon in the car and had to go out and get it); they played contentedly with their cars on the floor while I chose photos and sat quietly eating their animal crackers while the photographer shot a few individual poses of Bella. And, while the pictures aren't the most amazing in the world, I walked away with some "good enough" pictures of my babies who are all growing up so fast!

If you'd like to view them, let me know and I'll send you the link. Make sure I have your email address.

Monday, August 06, 2007

A Fun Tag

I have several things to write about, like the boys' recent 3rd birthday that we celebrated with great fun or the week ahead of me when I must 'hold down the fort' while my hubby travels for work. But, instead, I wanted to do this fun 'tag' found on my friend, Beth's blog.





A--Available/Single?--Always and Forever to the best hubby ever, Lawrence!


B--Best Friend? God has blessed me with many close friends


C--Cake or Pie? Cake, but only if it's super moist or anything from "Apple Annie's"


D--Drink of Choice? water or this summer, iced coffee


E--Essential Item You Use Everyday? glasses or contacts


F--Favorite Color? any bright color on my husband



G--Gummy Bears or Worms? worms, but not really a gummy fan



H--Hometown? Lehighton, PA



I--Indulgence? getting my hair done at Bubbles, Dunkin donuts coffee and choc. chip muffin, watching TV in the evening and anything chocolate



J--January or February? February, the month my Bella was born



K--Kids and their names? Judah, Tucker and Isabela



L--Life is incomplete without? God, His church, my family and friends



M--Marriage Date? March 16, 2002



N--Number of Siblings? 2 sisters and 4 brothers



O--Oranges or Apples? Mandarin Oranges



P--Phobias/Fears? massive, nearly unhealthy fear of bats and of my hubby dying on me



Q--Favorite Quote? don't really have one



R--Reason to Smile? I get to see my daughter smile and sons laugh nearly everyday.



S--Season? I'm definitely a fall girl...love hayrides, pickin' pumpkins, making apple everything, fall smelling candles, pulling out jeans again, the crisp air, etc.



T--Tag people? I don't usually like to



U--Unknown fact about me? Given my LOVE of chocolate, it might seem strange that I don't really prefer chocolate icecream.



V--Vegetable you don't like? beets



W--Worst Habit? eating something sweet in place of a meal



X--X-rays you've had? teeth and wrists



Y--Your favorite food? fruit, chocolate, anything my mom bakes



Z--Zodiac sign? Libra