dinner is in the pot.

Yes, it's going into the 90s today. Yes it's almost perfect grilling whether. Yes I'm obsessed with grilled food. Yes, I'm using the croc-pot for dinner tonight.
It's not even lunch-time and dinner is cooking. For the first year of the twins life we practically lived on croc-pot meals. It was a survivors tool. We learned that when juggling more than one child the croc-pot can be a life-saver. Paul and I are big on eating dinner as a family. It is a rare occasion that we don't all eat together. Sports schedules can jeopardize the family meal, but the strong willed can still make it happen. Thus, the croc-pot.
Today is the Last Day of School!!! Kids should be home any minute. It's Friday. We always celebrate a Friday. Stephen has t-ball practice. Lot's going on in the Anderson House today. So what are we having for dinner?

Drumroll please......

Braised Beef For Tortillas

1-2 lbs beef round steak

2 large cloves of garlic

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

2 tbs lime or lemon juice

3/4 cups chopped onion

1 tsp marjoram

1/2 cup beef broth

1 can undrained diced tomatoes

Put steak at the bottom of the pot sprinkle with salt and pepper. Mix all the other ingredients together and pour on top of steak. Set your croc to low and enjoy in 8 hours. 

the joy of growing up.

I remember when the first time Paul went back to work after the twins were home. I was terrified. Catherine was still in day-care but here I was at home with a 10 month old and 2 week-old infants. The only thing I remember was how scared I was to be on my own. Somehow I made it through the day. Then the week, then the month. Before I knew it we pulled Catherine back out of day-care and I was managing a household of 4 kids under the age of 3.
This is what I can tell you from the first year: I made it. We didn't always get out of the house. I didn't always get the dishes done before Paul came home from work. I did manage to get a shower in every day. I did manage to keep the kids well fed and clean. Year 1 wasn't pretty, but we survived it. In truth, after about 6 months I transitioned from surviving the days to living the days.
Every mom has days that they simply survive. But every mom needs to switch from surviving to living or they won't make it. That much I am sure of. The distinction is this: Surviving is going through the motions. The simple act of getting from point A (wake-up) to point B (bed-time). Living is actually breathing between point a and b, and maybe even enjoying some of it.
Fast forward from the first few weeks of trying to figure out my new life to the twins turning 1. This was a huge thing for me. I was learning how to love my life with my children. That summer we took our first family vacation. A 13+ hour road trip to Myrtle Beach SC. I can honestly say that the trip on a whole was a success. We found a way to have fun and relax. My parents and sister were a part of what made that trip work. There is no way that we would have went that far without them.
I think after that trip I knew that Paul and I were all right. We were in a place that was good. It was still challenging, but we were definitely moving forward. It was the fall of 2007 that things really started to shift again.
Catherine was 4 and it was time for pre-school. We decided on a 3 day/week program that was in the mornings. Our rationale for sending her was to help her learn to take direction from someone other than me. Granted, she had been through day-care but this was different. I saw this as the transition from home-life to school life. It was time for her to learn to work with kids her own age, and to learn how to handle the school structure.
That year, again, was challenging on me. I now had a 2 yr old and two 1 year olds that I had to manage to get out the door to get Catherine to pre-school. For the first time, we had a schedule that we had to keep. It was another shift in the family dynamic. We were overjoyed to be sending Catherine off to school. This was not because it got her out of the house, but because we (the parents) had helped form the child who was now ready to be away from us at school. Catherine blossomed under the guidance of her pre-school teacher. She grew exponentially in one short school year.
When that year came to an end I was so excited. My children were growing up right before my eyes. I was proud beyond measure that my child's school year went so well. I couldn't wait to do it again. We enjoyed the summer break and in the fall of 2008 we were at it again. This time it was full-day kindergarten. And somehow we landed Stephen in a state-funded pre-school for 3 year olds. My days were crazier then ever. We lived close enough to Catherine's school that I had to bring her and pick her up every day. Stephen's program was clear across the city. So every day I would drop Catherine off drive through the city and drop Stephen off. Spend the day with the twins, go get Stephen and then go get Catherine. Catherine was 5, Stephen 3, David and Joshua were 2. Because of the timing of everything nap-times became a thing of the past. (My trick to walking three small boys)
Each year my kids get older and a new layer gets added to our routine. I can't say that I am sad that my kids are growing up. I'm excited and thrilled. I love what each new year brings. I love watching my daughter learn to read. I love watching Stephen mature and step away from his brothers to advance in his own way. I love watching David and Joshua grow and develop and discover their individuality.
When Stephen was 4 we ended back at the same pre-school Catherine was at (the state cancelled its funding for pre-school programs). David and Joshua just finished the same program (3 days a week a few hours each day). The pre-school teacher at the end of this year was gushing at how much fun she has had with my two boys. She commented on how much she's enjoyed watching them grow over the years. From little babies that could barely walk. To toddlers clinging at my legs, now to boys who are ready for the challenge of school.
I love it. I love all of it. In 2006 I was terrified that I wouldn't make it, that I would somehow fail as a parent. Within 6 months I knew that I couldn't really fail as a parent, but I had no idea what the end-point was. Now almost five years later I know that there is no end-point. I don't think it gets better with age, just different. You start off with this tiny ball of pink fuzz, that you ooh and ahh over. The first sign of communication is when they smile at you as a sign of recognition. You're heart melts at that fist smile, then leaps at the first laugh. It darn near breaks your heart the first time they say I love you and mean it. As they grow they become less attached to you and more eager to explore the world. The thing about it is, they always come back to you.
I've been a parent for eight years. It has not always been easy. But I can say with certainty that it has always brought me joy. Friday marks the end of another school year. Catherine finished second grade, Stephen kindergarten and David and Joshua pre-school. I am not sad to see the end of the year, instead I am filled with joy. I can't wait to start the summer fun, going to the movies, parks, vacation, and library days.
Come September I will be filled with joy once again. Not because I want my kids out the house, but because they have been made ready for another year of growth and discovery. 

summer treat.

I made frozen strawberry lemonade and it was so yummy.
Here's what I did:

Grabbed a bunch of frozen strawberries and put them in my blender. After the were chopped up I added a few cubes of ice and some lemonade.
I kept blending until I got the consistency I wanted. It was really tart so I added about tablespoon of sugar to the thing and it was great. I had enough for one full glass for me and one for each of the boys.

There's no science to it, just keep blending and adding until it looks and tastes good. Last time I added bananas and used water instead of lemonade, it too was really yummy.

We have also bought yoplait frozen fruit smoothies and the kids like them. I don't like yogurt, so it's not my thing.

BTW, the Ninja food prep is the best machine ever!

projects I've done.

It turns out I have a thing for sewing. I might be the laziest sewer ever though because I don't like complicated projects and I often take short-cuts. In the past few weeks I have made a few purses. I started with one for me and then made two more. One for my MIL and one for a Cousin. Pictured below is a completed bag for my cousin and the fabric from my MIL's bag.

It is such an easy project to do. I put a few hours into each bag and love the results. I found this project at AC Moore and the fabric comes from jelly rolls that I buy from the store. The selection at AC Moore isn't huge but they always have something. It's fun because the rolls are tightly wrapped so you can't really see much but the first few strips. You don't know what you're getting until you get it home. 

Using coupons I can manage a bag for about $10, adding a snap is an extra $5!!! One magnetic snap is $5 again I can wait and use a coupon and get it for less. 

Second I got adventurous and made a dress for Catherine. This was far more ambitious and the most difficult thing I have ever made. It isn't perfect but it's wearable. I'm hoping to do better next time. It wasn't so awful that I'll never do it again. But I do have a lot to learn. For one thing, I need work on zippers. 

Yup, I made David model it for me. :-) I needed to see how the straps were attaching and Catherine wasn't home yet. He was a good sport about it, and asked me to take the picture. 

My next project will most likely be some curtains for the kitchen, if that goes well I'll see what it takes to get more curtains in other parts of the house.

I find that it's not always cheaper to sew things but it is more satisfying. 

a proud moment.

There are moments in a parents life that you look forward to. As a Catholic mom watching my kids receive the sacraments is one of those moments. Better than most firsts is the First Communion. Here is my now 8 year old girl in a dress made from the fabric of my wedding dress on a wonderful day receiving Communion for the first time. 

There's not much else to say except that it was a wonderful day. Catherine had prepared well and was all to excited to finally be able to receive communion. My mom did an amazing job on her dress. I still have to get professional pictures done (I'm hoping to once school is out and my schedule is freer).
The weather in the morning was sunny and warm, unfortunately it rained in the afternoon when we had her party.
All in all it was a wonderful day. I'll be back here in two more years preparing my son for the same great joy. 

all that I've been doing and plan to do.

Well as always life has gotten busy and so my blog remains quiet. A quick run-down of recent events and maybe this coming week I'll begin a series of updates.

1. I finished setting up my garden and put in plants.
2. Catherine made her First Communion in a dress made from my wedding dress
3. I learned how to make purses and found that to be fun craft
4. I also made my first real clothing item (a sun-dress for Catherine).
5. The boys finished pre-school.
6. I'm applying for work and researching Grad schools.

There's more but for now that's all I got.. Be back soon.

the veggie garden.

I started gardening about six years ago. I had no idea what I was doing. I was bored and I wanted to try something new. We had this tiny patch of dirt that we didn't know what to do with in our backyard so we decided that I would attempt to garden.

I think the first year I planted some tomatoes and cucumbers. With limited knowledge I watched the cucumbers grow out of control. I learned the hard way that cucumbers are vines and they need a place to grow. I also learned that tomatoes grow tall and get heavy and need strong stakes. That was year one.
I took what I learned the first year and set out the second year to do better. The second year was better but I still had some learning to do. Each year I would build my knowledge base and keep going. Now, six years later I consider myself a decent vegetable gardener.

Here are some general tips to vegetable gardening:

• For me it was all about experimenting. I would buy packets of seeds dig holes in the ground plant the seeds and see what happens. At the end of the season I would take note of what worked and what didn't work. I would note what we liked to eat and what we didn't like. I would also note if we had enough of what we liked or too much. So true tip number 1: Start a journal. write down what you are growing, where you planted seeds, what you liked, did you have enough?
• Raised beds are the way to go. If you plant about normal ground level you will have better drainage and your plants will thrive. My beds this year are about 6 inches above ground level, we shall see how this goes. In my old house they were 12 inches or more. 
• Growing tomatoes? Buy cages. Stakes are fine but are more time consuming. I have collapsable triangle shaped tomato cages. Once your plants start to grow just put the cage around the plant and it will provide the support you need. Stakes require that you tie the plant to it as it grows, cages don't need any kind of ties. 
• Have a trellis for vines or give them lots of space to spread. I personally like the trellis. It looks prettier when it grows and it keeps the vegetables cleaner. A trellis won't work for heavy fruits like melons or pumpkins. 
• Weed block is your friend. If you are starting from scratch at the bottom of your bed place weed block. It's not 100% proof but it will help significantly. If you already have a bed and don't have weed block you can still put it in: You can remove about 3 inches of soil lay the block down then replace the soil. Don't want to spend money? Newspaper works too. Works best about 3inches from the surface. Put the paper down (2 to 3 layers thick) spray with water then cover with soil. (my plan for this year is to put the weed block at the bottom of the bed and the newspaper towards the top--I really hate weeding)
• When watering your plants be sure to water at the roots (and never during the hottest period of the day) and not water the tops of the plants. 
• To stimulate plant growth prune the bottom branches. If you cut of lower branches your plants will grow taller and stronger. 
• If you are transplanting (moving plants from a pot to the ground or one pot to another) be sure to loosen the roots before putting them in their new home. Squeeze the roots and shake them out. This will help them spread and take root in their new home. Also plant deep, meaning that you plant deeper then they were in their previous spot go down the stem 1-2 inches or more. Again, this is all in an effort to strengthen your plant. 

Well that's what I have for now. As I think of new things I will be sure to update this post. As of today I have tiny sprouts that my kids started from seeds that are just waiting to be put into their new home. Between too many rainy days and other family events coming up I haven't had the time to put the finishing touches on my garden, so no transplanting just yet.

I have only one book recommendation. It's called: Carrots love Tomatoes. This was a huge help for me. I started gardening in an urban environment and needed to know how to maximize my space. The book goes into great detail about plants work together well and what doesn't. It also encourages you to plant things closer together than you might think is possible.

Gardening should be fun, can be relaxing and is most definitely rewarding. Let it be one big experiment. Try not to over think what you are doing and let conventional wisdom flow out the window.