Things I Love

I am constantly adding things to my list of "Stuff I Love." This week, especially, I love these things:

1. My bed. I <3 my bed. It is a king, which comes in handy when your kids don't sleep at ALL and wander into your room for snuggles or with a 105 temp--plenty of room for all of us to flail and kick. I will drive 9 hours in one day just so I can come home and sleep in my bed. John thanks me every day for being a crabby 3 month pregnant woman who refused to sleep another night on his 20 year old hand me down mattress. You're welcome hubby, You're WELCOME.

2. Margaritas. Sanity in a cup, no frilly umbrella required--though it does add a nice touch. :)

3. Three day weekends. More time with Daddy home=happier kids=happier mommy. Win win win win, my friends.

4. Oreo cookies. Toddler bribery at it's finest.

5. Children's Motrin. Though I do appreciate that fever makes my son super snuggly and adorable, I am ever-so-thankful for this little bottle of heaven.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Memorial Weekend! Shout out to the Veterans!

A Visit from Grandma Lolly

This past week, Mom Taylor has been visiting. The kids have really enjoyed spending time with their Grandma Lolly, Sloane especially. I have really enjoyed having her here, too. I love hearing stories of John's childhood, and the many tales to be told of a family with 8 children. Mom Taylor has lived a pretty rockstar life, I think.

Both kids woke up this morning asking where Grandma was. Sloane had gotten used to sharing Grandma Lolly's bowl of cereal with her, and Sam especially loved the snuggles and stories that Grandma told him. They both enjoyed the spoiling. ;)

Grandma reading Sloane the Doggies book. For the 138th time.

Grandma stealing hugs

Sloane and Grandma having breakfast and discussing the finer points of The Backyardigans.

When Grandma comes to visit, Sam gets to eat Cool Whip and Rice Krispy treats. For lunch.

Proof that I Can Grow Something Besides Humans

Remember that little garden I was telling you all about? Well, Gertie has sprouted some food! It's alive! I'm actually kind of shocked myself.

Look at that green stuff in there! And they aren't weeds!
Peppers, Tomatoes, and Peas

My rows of pea pods

I'm so proud. Gooo me!

Driving Miss Sloaney

Here's my darling daughter, crammed into her baby stroller. The princess needed a carriage...sorry baby.

Recipe For Disaster...

One part "mama who needs to go potty"
One part "someone forgot to lock the pantry door"
One part "man, Sam is really taking a long nap"

Mix them together, and you get one Hot Mess.

In case you are wondering, it's oatmeal, arborio rice, parsley, bread crumbs, creole seasoning and cinnamon sugar. And now I'm off to find the vodka...

For Dot: I Never Knew You, But Your Brownies Are Awesome.

In the Taylor family, if you bring an out-of-this-world dish to a family gathering, they name it after you. I have pumpkin bars named after me in their family, even though I fully disclosed that they were a Paula Deen recipe. It makes no matter, to the Taylors, they are called "Lindsey's Heart Attack Pumpkin Bars."

Dot Schroeder was a dear friend of John's parents. She loved the kids, and would bring this brownie dessert over often. They became known as "Dot's Brownies," and the name has stuck. I've never met Dot, but I have heard John's family tell great stories about her and her husband Bob. Sadly, she is no longer with us, but the brownie recipe and the stories have lived on.

This week I have been craving something sweet, but have resisted temptation until today. The weather is gloomy, and I wanted a comforting, yummy dessert. Enter Dot's Brownies. Any dessert where you make your own frosting is the cat's pajamas in my book. These brownies are delicious, and easy, and you will shovel them into your face with great speed.

Dot's Brownies
-2 cups sugar
-1/4 c. cocoa
-1 c. melted margarine (I used butter)
-4 eggs
-2 tsp vanilla
-1 1/2 c flour
-1 tsp salt
-1/2 c. chopped nuts--Nobody that I've seen in hubs family has ever added the nuts. I sometimes wonder why they are even mentioned, so these are totally optional.

Mix sugar and cocoa together, stir in melted margarine. Add eggs and vanilla and beat well. Sift flour (pfft. yeah right. I didn't) and salt together, stir into cocoa mixture and fold in nuts (or don't). Pour into greased jelly roll pan and bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes. While these are baking, whip up the frosting.

Frosting
-1 c sugar
- 1/2 c butter
-1/3 c milk
dash salt
-1 oz. semi sweet chocolate--I use chips, and I eyeball it. About 2 handfuls...or 3.

Throw all of this in a saucepan on medium high. Stirring constantly, bring to a boil. Boil for 1 minute. Cool in a pan of ice, about 5 minutes. Beat to spreading consistency.

When the brownies are out of the oven, let them cool for a few minutes, and then frost the brownies. Let completely cool, and then get down on it. I promise, you'll never eat boxed brownies again.

So, thank you Dot for making such an awesome brownie. If the brownies are anything like you were, you were a pretty groovy lady yourself.

Friday's Hobo bag offerings

On Fridays, I pick up Sam's room and vacuum. This is the only day of the week that I pick up his room because, well, it's pointless to do it everyday. The kid goes through and ransacks it as soon as everything is off the floor. I barely have time to run for the vacuum before he's emptying bins again. Sloane also plays a major part in this disaster. As evidence, I give you Exhibits A, B, and C. These were taken a mere 13 minutes after I finished putting toys away and vacuuming this morning.

I rest my case.

If you follow me on Facebook, you also know that today my kids decorated Sloane's room with an entire, full bottle of baby powder. If you all see a satellite image of a large volcanic ash cloud over Lawrence, KS..DO NOT PANIC. That cloud is compliments of Johnson and Johnson, not Mt. Eiliwhdiwhateverthehellit'scalled. I didn't get a picture of the mess...sometimes it's hard to have complete thoughts when you are seething with rage and trying not to scream at your darling children. Next time, I promise.

ANYWAYS, I clean Sam's room on Fridays, and I usually find one of his hobo bags. You know, the bags kids carry around full of random stuff. Certainly I am not the only one with a hobo child. I always laugh at what I find in these bags of his, and today I decided to share.

Here is the hobo bag o' the day.

Inside today's hobo bag, I found:

2 small balls

my lost Cure CD, scratched all to hell. GRRR.

a piece of railroad track

some of Sloane's necklaces, or "pretties" as we call them here

a twisty tie, like for a loaf of bread

Ming Ming the duck (Wonder Pets)

Sam's sandal

a tampon, unopened

an empty bottle that once held peanuts

a Ziploc bag

an ooolllldd picture of John and I

What goes on in their little minds to posess them to hoard the most random of objects? It's just more proof of my theory that kids are miniature crazy people, and it's our job as parents to suppress the lunacy. Or at least mask it as something creative. :)

Happy Friday.

When Did You Get So Big?

Lately, I have been waxing nostalgic about my children. Notice I called them children and not babies. There are no more babies in my house. :( Two good friends have given birth to little girls the past few weeks, and though I am soooo not having anymore kids, I do miss my little pink, angelic smelling tiny babies. The ones that snuggle and sleep and adore you for simple things like keeping their bums dry and their bellies full. We've got none of that going on in our house right now.

My tiny chubby cute babes have turned into big, tall string beans, who want "choc meeelk" and "naks" (snacks). They want pizza for dinner. Every. Single. Night. They've traded naps for digging in the trash can, and run screaming when you mention that they might need a new diaper. They mooch food off of my plate, and imitate every thing that I do.

Don't get me wrong, I love the little people they are becoming. We have fun dancing around the living room, and it is hilarious to hear Sam repeat things you say. His new fave? "Deuces mama" and he throws up 3 fingers instead of two, showing his version of the peace sign. It's a laugh-a-minute around here.

But for one day, I just want my tiny pink cuddle bugs back. I want to lay them on my chest and take a nap with them. I want to give them kisses and not have them squirming out of my embrace saying "Aww mama...no more nuggles." But, since that whole time travel thing has yet to pan out, I'll just look at pictures and remember what that was like and embrace the stinky, loud big kids that I've got on my lap.

Sloane napping with Daddy
Brand new Sloane

Sam snuggling with Mama

Hours-old Sam

Random Thoughts Tuesday.

Here's a list of things on my mind for today. Very random, of course.

1. I LOVE Oriental Trading Company. They've got awesome craft stuff for Sam, and free shipping. Mama likes.

2. Why is it so damn hard to stay off of the wet floor? COME ON KIDS. You were contently watching Yo Gabba Gabba, when you both sensed, at the same time, that I was finished mopping. Now there are cute little baby toes all over the floor. OK...I'm not so mad anymore. Baby toes are OK.

3. Cottonwood trees are some of the dirtiest things on the planet. My front yard has snow....puffy, allergen filled snow.

4. The library is an untapped resource of awesome. I've been trying to read more, and now I'm addicted to books again. I finish one about every other day. Yes, my kids are still taken care of...maybe. Really they are, I just stay up WAY TOO LATE and read.

5. I have made up some of the best desserts out of desperation. Last night I really wanted something sweet, so I broiled some fresh pineapple, sprinkled it with brown sugar, carmelized it, and put it over lowfat vanilla ice cream. It was AWESOME. And like 4 Weight Watcher points. Heaven.

6. I keep checking my garden every morning to see if any seeds have poked through. I'm now obsessed with making sure the little plant babies grow into food. It's making me a little bit crazy.

Random thoughts by Lindsey. Happy Tuesday.

For Megan, the Flying Fork Queen...

My chicken tortilla soup recipe. :)

-1 package chicken breast (or tenderloin or boneless thigh, whatev), cut into bite sized pieces, about 1 1/2 lbs
-1 large onion, chopped
-2 garlic cloves
-2 cans black beans
-2 cans diced tomatoes
-1 can corn (or 1/2 bag of frozen corn)
-2 cans diced green chiles
-chicken broth (depending on your thickness level, 1-3 cups)
-chili powder
-cumin
-pepper

1. Sprinkle chicken pieces liberally with chili powder, cumin, and pepper. Brown in a dutch oven over medium high heat with the onion. Add garlic and stir.
2. Add all the cans of stuff. No need to drain, you're making soup people!
3. This is where preferance comes in. If you like a thicker, chili-like soup, only add about 1 cup of broth. If you like it soupier, add more. Whatever's clever.
4. Simmer over low heat for 10 minutes at least. It's better if you simmer it longer.
5. Serve up in bowls, with crushed tortilla chips and cheese on top. And avocado if that's your thing.

Mmm. With baked Tostitos and 2% cheese, 7 WW points Megan. Love your face. ;)

It's A Good Thing You're Cute, Kids.

I'm not gonna lie friends...my kids are currently driving me ape-crazy bananas. So, I'll post some cute pictures of them to prove that their cunning good looks are the only thing that saves them from being thrown out the window or sold to the gypsies some days.

This is Sam showing me how cool it is that he can open the deadbolt and turn the handle of the door. Thanks for the show, Houdini. Flip locks were installed the next day.

Sloane the diva princess was looking for a snack, and was about to voice her displeasure in there being no snacks, when I swooped in and caught her pre-crab fest. Then I pulled out the emergency package of graham crackers, and all was well.

Double the trouble? Yes. Double the cute? Definitely.