To the tips of my toes

It was in the 40’s and drizzling.  Colin, Gabe and I stood shivering a little in warm coats and swimsuits.  Colin was not happy.

“It’s cold!”

“I know!! Can you believe we are going to jump in?!” I enthused back at him. “Do you still want to do it?”

When we first saw the information for the Polar Bear Plunge in our neighborhood newsletter, set for my “birthday weekend,” I told my family I was IN and went looking for recruits.  Chad was immediately OUT but Gabe and Colin thought an adventure with Mom sounded like fun.

And it was.   The cold water almost paralyzed Gabe and I had to guide him up the stairs and out of the pool as we all three rain to our towels and clothes.  We were so so cold as we dried off, but it felt good compared to the torture of those moments in the pool. Then we ate cookies and drank hot chocolate in front of the clubhouse fire with the rest of the participates and everyone clapped Gabe and Colin on the back for their bravery.  Ollie, who had watched from the sidelines with Carina and Chad, had the nerve to complain about being cold, and we three rolled our eyes collectively.

An hour later when I finally got in the hot shower, my toes still stung when the warm water hit them.

It was one of the best memories of my birthday weekend, and Gabe and Colin have already promised to do it again next year.

My 32nd Birthday

Pictures by Colin

Meatless Monday–Salad Jars

If you are on Pinterest, you might have seen this link or one like it.  The basic idea is to layer a salad in a jar, with your salad dressing at the bottom, your more robust veggies towards the bottom, and your greens on top.  Since the greens don’t touch the salad, they stay good, and you can just dump the whole thing out onto a plate when you are ready to eat. 

That link was one of my very first “pins” over a year ago, and I just finally got around to trying it a couple of weeks ago.  Some of you saw this picture on Instagram:

So let me tell you a little bit about my “salad jars"-

I made two different salads.  The ones on the left had the following ingredients in this order:

• Cranberry –Orange dressing
• Red bell peppers
• Red Quinoa
• Raisins
• Peanuts
• Zucchini
• Mixed lettuce and spinach

Here is a picture of the salad on day five or so.  As you can see, it was very fresh still.  I did find that the quinoa slipped down into the dressing and absorbed a lot of it.  Just something to keep in mind if you use quinoa – you might to put it up closer to the lettuce so it won’t slip down.  The peppers sat in the dressing the whole time and they weren’t crisp when I ate them, but they just tasted kind of marinated.  I liked it.

The second row had the following ingredients:

• Sundried-Tomato Balsamic Vinaigrette
• Yellow bell peppers
• Mushrooms
• Cannellini beans
• Cherry tomatoes
• Lettuce greens

I think both Chad and I liked the second salad better.

I really loved these salad jars and I am definitely going to make them again.  It will be fun to try lots of different combinations – I think a southwest version with black beans, corn, salsa and cilantro will be good. 

They stayed surprisingly fresh too!  We made eight salads and ate the last one a week after it was made and it wasn’t slimy or icky at all.  I liked the way that these jars put the pressure on me (and Chad ;o) to eat our veggies.  It really doesn’t leave you with any excuses not to – all you have to do is dump it out. 

Mardi Gras Parade at Waddell Language Academy

Okay, I have to admit that it is a little weird to do two posts in a row with masks, but I had to share some pictures for yesterday’s Mardi Gras parade at the boys’ school.  The French Immersion program puts on a rousing parade every year, and parents are invited to come line the hallways.  This was my first time going and I am so glad I went.  My pictures don’t capture it, but the energy was great.  The kids, who are used to wearing unifoms every day, got to wear costumes or green, purple or gold, and you combine that excitement with the permission to march through the halls chanting and blowing noisemakers…well, I am sure the teachers were pretty happy there wasn’t much class time left after the parade, because I am sure the kids were pumped up for the rest of the day.  The French classes were particularly boisterous.  I honestly don’t get out of our own Chinese program much, so it was fun to share their day.

Where was Carina?  Whimpering and clinging to my shoulder.  Waay too much for her.

The masked boy

Last week, Ollie ripped a piece of cardboard off of a box.  I found him poking eye-holes into, and he asked me to tie some yard on so that he could make a mask.  And then he sat and watched TV like this…..

And yes, I am just a freaked out as you.  Probably more so, because I have to go to sleep knowing that this guy could walk into the room at any moment.

Happy Chinese New Year!

 

Gabe and Colin both had Chinese New Year celebrations last Friday at their school.  They have scaled back the celebration the last two years and Colin’s was an student-only party.  But I got to attend Gabe’s and the anticipation of this party nearly killed him all week.  He asked me about a dozen times if I was going to come, and the night before when Chad said family prayer, Gabe fell apart because Chad neglected to bless Gabe that he would do well at his party. 

The kids sang us some songs and we played a very fun “fruit basket” type of game, all in Chinese.  I just had to learn the word for firecracker and run fast to a chair and I was set.  Then the kids feasted on noodles, fried rice, dumplings and fresh fruit.  I had to admire the vigor with which Gabe dug into that food.  He was so excited that his hands were shaking as he ate it. 

 

 

As I was on my way out, I prodded him to scoot closer to Addie, his friend that we carpool with, so that I could get a picture of them together. He firmly looked in the other direction and scooted away, highly offended.  I prodded him again, and then I heard his teacher say something very firmly in Chinese.  All I understood was “Cuh –yu-guh” (or however you write his Chinese name in pinyin) and “Ma-MAH” but he quickly moved back by Addie and let me take a quick picture, so I understood that she was telling him to listen to me.  I felt bad because I could tell I embarrassed him but it is nice to know he listens to his teacher, I guess.

I took a picture of his “100 Days” project in the hall on my way out.  I always love going to their school and seeing a peak of this world that they spend so much of their time in.  Honestly though, it makes me a little heartsick because it reminds me that they spend so much of their life away from me.

This year is the year of the snake.  People born under the sign of the snake are supposed to possess gracious morality and great wisdom.  The kids and I had a fun time last week looking at the years we were all born under.  Gabe and I are both “roosters” which means we are supposed to be deep thinkers who are very honest.  Colin is a a ram, which means he is supposed to be tender, clever, and kind-hearted.  Oliver is a rat, which a good sign for being smart and wealthy.  Carina is a rabbit, which is supposed to make her sensitive and merciful. And last but not least, is Chad, who was born under the sign of the monkey.  We always say his is the most fitting because it people born under this sign are supposed to be very playful, athletic, and quick-witted.  Click here to find out what sign you are born under and what it is supposed to say about you.

Cinder- relllllllll-a!!!

See that Cinderella lunch box/purse?  Granny gave that to Carina last week and now it goes everywhere with her.  Today she stuffed pretzels into it and brought it to church.  She is a sucker for anything with a licensed Disney princess on it.  I am not….but I have to admit that it tickles me to see her so “into” something. 

As a side note, I put Cinderella on for her the other day, and I found that even though I have watched it maybe once or twice in the past twenty years, I could quote a lot of it.  I think my sister Ashley got the VHS as a gift one year and we watched it over and over and over again.  Do any of my siblings remember that?

Family

Last Saturday, Chad and I got to go the Columbia temple while my parents watched our little ones.  It was a nice and relaxing three hours of driving, and we even got to go out to lunch together.  It also happened to be the 12th anniversary of our engagement. 

Even though it was a Chad and Katie day, I thought about my mom a lot.  When she was a young teenager, she was talking to one of her friends, who mentioned that her parents were going to the temple.   My mom asked what the temple was, and her friend explained that families can be sealed  together forever there.  This interested my mom and she wanted to know more. This was my mom’s first step towards the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, a gospel that would shape her whole life.  She always let us know how sacred the temple was when we were growing up.  I thought on Saturday of receiving my endowments in the Los Angeles temple with my mom by my side for every step. I remembered how happy she was the day she got to see my niece Callie, who is adopted, sealed to her family.  My mom kept doing temple work for as long as she could, even when it was hard to speak the words she needed to. 

This calling of mine and my mom’s, this motherhood -  my mom has always known how sacred it is.  I thought about that on Saturday, and I thought about how much I want to be like her.

Competition

Every day, we carpool with Gabe's classmate, Addie. As we make the twenty minute drive and Carina bats her eyes at her (and Addie bats her eyes at Colin), she tells Gabe all about what she is teaching her younger brother, Charlie.

Charlie will be entering kindergarten next year with Ollie, so Charlie's education is a matter of pride for her. Now Gabe has started to take Ollie's preschool education very seriously. Last week after Addie informed Gabe that Charlie can count to ten in Chinese, he sat Ollie down for a oh-so-serious study session on the playroom couch.

For over half an hour, he patiently read to Ollie and had him repeat each and every word. Ollie complied with a smile and I am told that they covered 17 pages.

Filling me in the next day, after another intense tutorial, Gabe told me that the piano lesson didn't go as well and that Ollie "couldn't even get the hand positions right."

You gotta hand to the young teacher - at least he wants a well rounded pupil.

Keepin’ It Real Wednesday

Sometimes I wonder if, because of these posts, my Wednesdays all seem a little too “real.”  I often find myself easily composing a Keepin’ It Real post in my head……and honestly, in the end, most of those posts are too complaining and self pitying to put into permanent record.  Maybe it is because it is the middle of the week and stress it its peak.  Maybe it is because sometimes if I am looking to write about something less-than-perfect, my whole life seems far-from-perfect.

Shortly before bedtime tonight I declared that we were never ever having any more kids.  It was one of those Wednesdays – when nothing was satisfyingly as- it- should- be.  My patience was thin, my groceries were unbought, my carpet was disgusting, my kids were unruly. 

Maybe it was because it was a Wednesday and I was looking for reality instead of grace, maybe it was because I really do have more on my plate than I can handle and my life is a huge, dramatic failure…….but maybe it was simply because I haven’t been going to bed when I should and have had sick kids and no exercise.

Maybe, just maybe, the solution is boring and simple and even just a little bit my own fault.

Yep, probably.

Daily Carpool- through Ollie’s eyes

Meatless Mondays–Bulgur Pilaf with Roasted Vegetables

Have you tried bulgur?  I bought some awhile from Amazon and finally got up the courage to try it out.  Turns out, there was nothing to be afraid of.  It is fast and mild tasting and easy!  I made a recipe from another book my in-laws gave me – Fresh and Fast Vegetarian. I really enjoyed this recipe, and although it is somewhat time consuming to chop everything up, it really comes together easily. 

 

 

Cook time: 25 minutes        Serves: 4 to 6

Ingredients:

• 3 red bell peppers, diced (I used red, orange and yellow because Aldi sells the three together)
• 3 zucchini, diagonally sliced (1/4 inch)
• 2 large carrots, diagonally sliced (1/4 inch)
• 1 large red onion, cut into wedges
• 4 tablespoons olive oil (I didn’t use this much)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
• freshly ground pepper
• 1 chopped onion
• 1 1/2 cups coarse grain bulgur
• 1/4 cup raisins (this way one of my favorite parts)
• 1/4 cup chopped pitted Kalamata olives
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh Italian parsley
• 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
• 2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts or 1/4 cup toasted chopped walnuts or skin-on almonds (I used walnuts)

1. Place a heavy baking sheet in the oven and preheat to 450 for 10 minutes

2. Meanwhile, combine the peppers, zuccnini, carrots and red onion in a bowl. Drizzle the vegetables with 3 tablespoons of the oil and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and a generous grinding of black pepper.

3.  Carefully remove the hot pan from the oven and spread the vegetables on the pain.  Roast the vegetables for 15 minutes.  Stir with a spatula, turning the vegetables and moving them around on the pan so they’ll brown evenly.  Roast until browned and tender, about 10 minutes.

4.  Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet.  Add the chopped onion and cook, stirring over medium heat until golden, about 10 minutes. Stir in the bulgur and raisins.  Add 2 cups water and the remaining 1 teaspoon salt and bring to a boil.  Stir once to blend.  Cover and cook over low heat until the water is absorbed, about 10 minutes.

5. Add the olives, mint, dill, parsley, and orange zest to the hot roasted vegetables.  Add half of the vegetables to the bulgur and fluff with fork.  Spoon the bulgur into a serving dish and mound the remaining vegetables on top.  Sprinkle with the nuts and serve.

So, let me tell you that this was a meal that I had to force my kids to eat.  They were NOT fans.  Also, Chad was sick that night, so he didn’t have any either.  I ended up having a lot of leftovers.  I used some of it to make wraps for my lunch the next day – the bulgur with lettuce and hummus on a tortilla.  YUM!  If I didn’t have kids to fight, this is the kind of food I would want to make every day. 

If you wonder now and then about whether or not to eat those grains or starches, here is a great article that talks about it.

Keepin’ It Real Wednesday

Colin had his Pinewood Derby last Wednesday.  As you may remember, he was sick last year, so we didn’t attend, or even finish his car.  So this year we painted it to look like a snake (since it is the year of the snake), and finished putting the weights on.  As I was putting the wheels on the night before (after Colin was in bed already), I thought I should measure it to make sure it met all the official requirements.  We had already weighed it a million times to make sure it was as close to 5 oz as possible without going over, but I wasn’t sure about the clearance on the bottom.  That was the first time it occurred to me that their track might have a tread down the middle.  Some do and some don’t and I had no idea if ours did or how high it went.  Colin had some weights underneath his, and a weight on the back that hug lower than the car.  This could be a problem.

When we got there and weighed it, it was exactly 5 ounces.  I patted myself on the back as Colin put it on the track for a test run.  Annnnnnd…..it didn’t even make it down the track.  The weights were indeed dragging.  Colin’s eyes turned red and angry.  Chad and I hurriedly pried the weights off and took it over to the pit stop table.  Chad drilled a hole in it for the biggest weight and we used a hot glue gun to glue all the weights in places as best as possible.

I wish I could tell you that after this, his car sailed down the track. It did not. I think it came in second or last in every heat.  By the end, it was wobbling down the track.  And I wish I could tell you it was because of the weight placement, but even the night before I could tell that his wheels just weren’t that fast.

                                                                 

I also wish I could tell you that Colin didn’t care about losing.  He did.  He didn’t throw a fit and he seemed to be happy for his cousins Santi and Evan who came in fourth and third. His accepted his “Most Spectacular” award with a smile. 

But he was mad.

Here’s my problem:  I know there is info out there about getting the wheels to spin faster and all that stuff.  I have read a lot of it. I would love to really dig into it and make his car the fastest car possible.  I feel like…if you are gonna bother doing it, do it the best you can.  Right?  But then I know this: At no point, when we were working on his car, did Colin say, “Hey mom, let’s work some more!”  It was always me bugging him to do things and him doing them as fast he could, or me doing it on my own. I have no problem with parents getting involved, but he needs to be just as involved as me.

So, next year he might care enough to want to work hard at it, and if he does I will jump on board with enthusiasm.  But maybe he won’t, and I am going to have to tell myself not to care more about it than him. 

But maybe I am only saying all of this because I do care, huh?

Chad’s birthday

It was Chad’s birthday yesterday.  Since Sunday birthdays are kind of a let-down, we have been trying to celebrate all weekend.  On Saturday we went to Discovery Place, and stepped out for a bit to watch the Martin Luther King Jr. Parade.  That evening after the kids went to bed I surprised him by having Lindsey come over to babysit so we could jet out for some dessert.  Out at night! After dark! It was like we were teenagers again. 

Yesterday I made him three different kinds of salsa – Roasted Tomatillo Salsa, Cindy’s “Life-changing Salsa,” and Quick and Easy Blender Salsa (which everyone went gaga for).  We chowed down on chips and salsa so much that we barely had room for the shrimp tacos I made.  No problem, we had delicious leftovers for lunch today.

Chad with his new baseball mitt. He has been practicing baseball a lot with Colin and I also wanted him to have a glove for his trip to AZ this spring.  He is going down there for a week in March to watch some spring training games with his brother Bill!

We had molten chocolate cakes, made with the famous Aldi mix, and his squiggly candles melted inside of his. 

             

Dinner was followed by some football in the front room accompanied by some very very serious piano playing by Gabe.  So serious that he couldn’t even break a smile when Chad hit the piano.

Tonight we get to use the Ruth’s Chris gift card he got from a friend/coworker for Christmas. No kids, of course.  There is no way in you-know-where we are are taking our kids there.  Would it be weird if I don’t get steak at Ruth’s Chris?

A Week Shy of 22 months

This is Carina, waiting for Daddy to come home, and watching “Punzel” (Tangled). 
She is wearing her third shirt of the day.  The first had polar bears on it, the second had a kitty cat on it and said “Puuuuurfect,” and this one has a monkey on it and is actually a pajama top.  None of them got dirty, she just loves to change.  She can take her clothes off now and brings me new shirts to put on– she has just a few with graphics on them, but they are her favorites.  She loves animals in theory only – in reality they scare her.  Even bunnies have her literally shaking with fright.
Every morning as soon as I get her dressed she pats her head and says, “Hair. Hair.”  We head to bathroom and she sits on the counter while I comb through the fine blonde tangles and make her nice and neat.  She smiles with satisfaction at her pretty reflection and then asks for her shoes.  Halfway through the day, her hoodie has been on and off, she has shaken her head “no” a dozen times, and the wisps are hanging in her eyes.  “Princess” or “Wildcat.” Both nicknames are fitting.