So sweet!

In all the craziness that is our daily lives there are moments, brief glimpses if you will that we are doing something right... below is a message from a substitute teacher for Evan's Sunday School class last week...

I was in Evan's SS class yesterday and I just wanted to share with you how incredibly kind and loving he was.  We had a special needs child, Sean, in class yesterday.  Evan reached out to him several times.  It was really amazing!  Very special.  You would have been so proud of him.  I was for sure!  And he said a precious prayer!

Hope your summer is off to a good start!

Kelly

On Wednesday nights early last year one of Avery's teachers remarked how sweet & caring he was - there were some of the children who would just cry and cry because their parents had left and Avery would take them toys and talk to them to try and make them happy.

There are also moments between the boys that just make my heart melt. Today I asked Evan to help Owen get his underwear & shorts on - Evan did that and pointed out the Avengers to Owen and Owen started shooting his Iron Man bullets and Evan just started giggling - so fun to watch!

I am so very proud (not all the time, but much of it) of the people they are becoming!

The things they say...

Evan "Mommy when I grow up I want to a Lego expert!"

Had to laugh yesterday... I took the boys to see a $1 movie and there was a life size poster of the new Lone Ranger & Tonto and Avery points to Tonto and says "Look! There is Captain Jack Sparrow!". They haven't seen the movies, but they have met Captain Jack Sparrow at Disney the last two years and they have gotten on stage with him to learn to be pirates. Thought it was hysterical that in different make-up, a different character he as still recognizable.

Evan's conversation this morning with Alex... Evan "daddy i have a surprise in my pants for you"-- Alex - now i'm worried.

 June 7

Avery loves to help me in the kitchen this morning he pushed down the press on the French press coffee for me - he remembered he had to do it very slowly. When he was done I told him he had done a great job and that he was a good helper. He said "I actually is". Confidence is obviously not a problem for him ;o)

June 4 via mobile

At dinner the boys did not like the zucchini fries but couldn't get enough celery... who knew? Ya never know what will happen at mealtime.

February 28 via mobile

So sad awhen a trip to Trader Joe's by yourself seems like a vacation.

February 27

So impressed with my hubby, Alex Lind. I left him with three boys and come home to discover he had made green eggs and ham to celebrate Dr Seuss' birthday. 

July 22, 2012

Evan "God is with me everywhere I go"

Evan "I am thirsty out of my bones!"

Evan "Mommy, you look handsome tonight"
Me "Why thank you Evan. Typically you say a man or boy looks handsome, but that a lady or girl looks pretty or beautiful."
Evan "I like the boy word better - handsome. You look handsome."

Oatmeal pancakes

Oatmeal Pancakes

1.25 c rolled oats (I like the thick Bob's Red Mill ones)

1.25 c milk (any type - cow, almond...)

Soak oats in milk for 20 mins

½ c wheat flour

1 T dark brown sugar

1 t baking powder

½ t salt

I typically sprinkle in some cinnamon

Mix

1 T butter

1 eggs 

1/4 c applesauce (without sugar)

Mix oat mixture with dry mixture then add in butter & eggs/applesauce.

Use about ¼ c of mixture on hot griddle or pan.

I love to add fresh blueberries, apples and/or red raspberries with this or in the winter I will use dried craisins or dried blueberries and rehydrate them and add them – also great to make an cinnamon apple topping for them. I also typically chop up walnuts and include those - the boys even love them in there. I love these even plain

Avery "Mommy, I love you all the way to Pluto. That's a dog." Ha! Even though my poor little guy is sick and miserable, he is still making me laugh.

Mommy, when I grow up I want to be a Super Spy! Evan told me as he dressed himself all in black - because you know that is what Super Spies wear!

Evan today in the van talking to Avery... Avery can you please sing a different song. You are annoying me! I had a hard time not laughing out loud! 

Evan how are you feeling?

good

are you up to going to karate tonight with daddy?

no, i am sick - cough, cough

Just now… he saw the box from Nana that is now empty and asked what had been in it. I told him the vitamins she had sent and some books. He asked what kind of books and I replied a few for me to read… then he got all poutyand asked if she had sent him any… I said not this time… and he replied, but she always send me books… why not this time??? 

 
Ok... in theory... Evan is set for next year. He will be attending IB Cotswold Elementary! He will be provided transportation. I am to receive letter #4 stating all of this. Now all of this may have been avoided if they would have listened to me when I asked did I really need to register him due to the fact he has been registered with CMS since he was two because of speech... and they insisted yes it was different... but that is why he had 2 numbers... gees people! Anyway thankful that it is hopefully resolved now and we can enjoy this wonderful holiday weekend!

So the holiday weekend wasn't so wonderful... Evan got sick late Saturday afternoon and was coughing the entire night, Owen woke up screeching in pain - Alex starting packing us up around 2:00 am, but we got Owen quieted down so we stayed. Alex attended the sunrise service with his father in the rain while the boys and I stayed in our room. When he returned he, Avery & Owen went to hunt for eggs in Laura, Bill, Diana and Tim's room. Then they continued on and went to brunch while Evan and I stayed in the room and watched tv/read. Owen climbed up on the bed with Evan at one point and I said he needed to get down and Evan told him that he didn't want to make Owen sick - sooooo sad & soooooo sweet!

We have cancelled part of our vacation - we were going to go down to String Break then on to Disney World then to south Florida to see family & Ellen. We have already cancelled String Break due to the doctor agreeing with us that the dirt/dust would be horrible for the boys right now who are all fighting this nasty virus. Plus the thought of  having a night in a tent (or 3) like we had in Winston-Salem is terrifying!

Wanting so much to make this a special day for Owen - it isn't every day that you turn 2, but with everyone sick, we will just have to see what all we can do. We were going to have a family plus a friend party on Saturday and I am thinking we will need to postpone it also. I have explained to Evan we may need to cancel it, but that we will still do it - just at a later date. 

Owen is potty training - yesterday he manged to go poopy in the potty TWICE! We celebrated with chocolate ;o) The things in life that excite us these days - ha!8u' 

Sweet Potato Oven Fries with Avocado Dip

Sweet Potato Oven Fries with Avocado Dip (This is AMAZING!!! Can't wait to make it again)
Ingrid Hoffmann

Total Time:
45 min
Prep
15 min
Cook
30 min

Yield:
6 servings 

Sweet Potato Fries:

2 large sweet potatoes, peeled or unpeeled, cut into 4-inch long and 1/4 to 1/2-inch thick fries (I used one purple and one red - so pretty & yummy!)
2 tablespoons olive oil, or more as needed (I just poured a little in - enough to coat)
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon chili powder (I used chipotle chili powder)
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
Coarse ground rock salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Avocado Dip, recipe follows

Directions

Preheat your oven to 450 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and set aside. (I did them on my Pampered Chef large stone - no foil - and highly recommend this as some of the reviewers said theirs got soggy on the foil)

Place the sweet potatoes in a large bowl and toss with olive oil until the sweet potatoes are coated. Add the paprika, chili powder, coriander, salt, and pepper; toss to distribute evenly.

Arrange the coated fries in a single layer on the prepared pan. Bake for 20 minutes on the lower rack until the sweet potatoes soften. Transfer the pan to the upper rack of the oven and bake 10 minutes longer, until fries are crispy. Serve with Avocado Dip.
Avocado Dip:

1 avocado, see Cook's Note* (I used 1.5 of the small ones)
1/3 cup mayonnaise (I used organic - may try with Greek yogurt next time)
1/3 cup cream cheese
1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped.
2 scallions, white and light green part only, chopped (I forgot to add these - it was a bit crazy here!)
1 lime, juiced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Place the avocado, mayonnaise, cream cheese, jalapeno, scallions, and lime juice into a blender or small food processor. Blend for 1 minute or until you have a smooth paste. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve as a dip for the Sweet Potato Oven Fries.

* Cook's Note: We find that Hass avocados make the smoothest and best tasting Avocado dip.

Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ingrid-hoffmann/sweet-potato-oven-fries-with-avocado-dip-recipe/index.html?oc=linkback

Life as we know it

Evan just came downstairs with one orange croc & one green. When I said something about that he said "I just like it that way". Already trying to set the trends instead of following the norm.

Been a crazy few weeks - first I had the nasty stomach bug, thankfully the rest of the family managed to avoid it - whew! The following week Evan had an unknown virus with a high fever (103/104) that lasted off & on for a week. Then the next Owen had a UTI. I was up with him most of the night and from about 2:00 am on he was screaming in such pain. The  look on his face just broke my heart - it is so hard to be a parent and be sooooo helpless to help. He is on medication and doing much better now. We have started potty training him. He showed interest last fall and so we decided to push it and see if we could make it stick - we will see - up & down on that one.

Avery has decided that sticking his head in the toilet is fun... why? NO IDEA! Maybe it is a way to get extra showers - he does love the water!

Tonight we are having turkey - my first attempt all by myself. We will see. Rick, our neighbor gave us a 20 lb turkey so I am trying one of Ina Garten's recipes for it. She hasn't failed me yet so we will see. Then I will make Coley's turkey pot pies with the leftovers - one to eat & one to freeze. Mmmm!

Next weekend we head to Winston-Salem for Easter to do the Moravian sunrise service there. That has been a tradition with Alex's family for quite some time now. Saturday before we leave we will go to the church for the Easter rock hunt there.

Tomorrow Evan celebrates 100 days of school. Today we counted out 100 pieces of banana chips for him to take and make a trail mix with his classmates. Then Tuesday they have an Easter egg hunt & party. Last week it was teacher appreciation week so he took his teachers a large Disney book for the classroom and some seeds for the nighttime flowers we love.

This morning Alex ran a 5 mile mud race in the rain and cold (41 degrees). He did well and is quite sore, but is out with the boys now and putting down mulch around our raised garden beds. He is working on putting out the second trailer load. When he brought home the first load he managed to get the van stuck in the yard, amazingly he got it out - impressive.

The boys are all growing so quickly. They are all so loving and sweet - when they aren't trying to hurt one another that is.

Two weeks ago we celebrated Avery's birthday - #3! He wanted a dinosaur doughnut party so I ordered a pan to make dinosaur doughnuts then we also got Krispy Kreme and made a cake out of those. G'ma, Bodaddy, Aunt Diana, Uncle Tim, Aunt Kristen, Cason, and friends Max & Colby with their parents Erin & Jonathon were all here. The boys all dug for dinosaurs in the sand. We had lasagna, homemade wheat bread with herb butter and caprese salad was what we had for dinner.

We are now planning Evan & Owen's party - Evan has requested a soccer theme so I am trying to figure that one out. He wants to invite his friend Charlotte & her brother Yorke will be Owen's friend attending.

We leave in less than a month for String Break, Disney & to see family & Ellen down in south Florida. It should be a good/busy/exhausting trip!

Mom will come down on April 20th (while we are still in Florida) and stay through the beginning of May. We look forward to spending time with Nana - it has been too long!

Tomorrow we have to go to church early for Extended Session training. Then in the afternoon we will go to Ryan's 6th birthday party at Chuck E. Cheeses - should be the typical crazy there - but the boys will love it! Owen has never been there and it has been a couple of years now since the other two have been.

A month or so ago when Evan was at speech he and his friend Trey were playing on top of one of the brick columns and he decided to push Evan off. I watched in horror as Evan landed on his head (I just kept thinking about my dad). He seemed ok so we took him to school. I took him in and explained the situation to Ms. Debbie. A while later the school called & said he wasn't feeling very well. Alex was closer than I was so he rushed over to get him. Evan then got sick & didn't want to stay awake so he rushed him to the ER. So scary! He had a concussion, but beyond that he was fine.

Evan was accepted into Cotswold IB for next year! So that means his brothers will also be able to attend there. He will have to wear navy on the bottom and white shirts. We know it will be a challenge going to a school so far away from home, but we really believe it is the best option for him. One day at a time and we will figure it all out. CMS did try to scare me this week by sending a second letter stating he was to attend Pineville Elementary - they had given him two numbers with two different schools. According to them it is now straightened out and he now has one number which is assigned to Cotswold IB. Nothing ever seems to be simple around here.

This week

Me "Avery are you going to finish your lunch?" Avery "When I hungry I eat more, I not hungry right now" Ok... I guess that makes perfect sense! Duh!

So this week (since Monday) I have made two batches of whole wheat artisan bread - each batch makes four round, about six, inch loaves. I am cooking up the last loaf for French toast as I type... how will we ever afford to feed these boys when they are teenagers?

"Mommy, when I bigger I going to make you breakfast ALL the time!" Avery

The other night I attended the preliminary consignment sale at Evan's school and Kristen went with me - we had a great time! Alex took all three boys with him to karate. Instead of participating he watched Owen. I had fixed chili and told him it was in the refrigerator and he just needed to heat it up when he got home. When I got home, I found him making Green Eggs & Ham for the boys to celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday! Evan ate two eggs even though he currently does not like eggs, Avery & Owen both ate three and could have eaten more! Amazing!

The next day I had a moment of freak out when I changed Owen's diaper... then I remembered Alex made them GREEN eggs & ham last night - Ha!  

So sad when a trip to Trader Joe's by yourself seems like a vacation. Last night Alex watched the boys so I could run to Trader Joe's and Target quickly. The things you take for granted or see as monotonous prior to having children can take on a whole new meaning after children!

I think Owen must be getting in more of his 2 year molars because he has been waking up at night again. It was at one something a few nights ago then 4 something the next two nights. So thankful he slept through the night last night! 

Poor Avery... he has two pairs of the same pjs and I am so tired (this was after the three nights without much sleep) I gave him two shirts by mistake. He looked at both & held them up and asked Alex which one was the pants. How sad is that?

I continue to be thankful for whomever it was that invented the Magic Eraser! I knew that Owen had gotten a hold of one the other day and written on our dining room carpet (not thrilled but didn't freak out as I hate our carpet and can't wait until we get wood flooring), but just discovered he also wrote on my dining room hutch that was my grandparents that they purchased in 1952 in Chicago. AGH! Luckily the Magic Eraser worked! Whew! Gees!

Evan - mommy is it still winter? Me - yes. Evan -errrrrg!
I guess someone is ready for summer!   

This morning Evan asked me for toast with butter & snow on it - translation - he wanted me to make French toast with butter & powdered sugar. When I gave it to him he told me I make the best French toast EVER and that it is the best thing he has ever eaten - even better than CANDY - WOW! That must be good - ha! It was made with the whole wheat bread I made this week.

 Evan was such a good helper this morning! Owen was screaming because he was struggling to get up into his chair so Evan helped him get into it then fastened him because he wanted to make sure he was safe.

Alex measured the boys this week. Evan had grown an inch over the last month or so and is now tall enough to ride Magic Mountain - so he has been running/jumping around exclaiming he gets to ride Magic Mountain. Due to the fact that Avery can't we reminded him he gets to ride Buzz Lightyear so he has been running/jumping around exclaiming such!  

Surviving

I haven't written in quite some time - lately it has been about just surviving. The boys have had a variety of illnesses Fifth's disease, bronchitis, pneumonia, cold.

We were also checking out schools for Evan to go for Kindergarten next year - we have now submitted the lottery sheet with three options - we are really hoping for one of the top two. Which one of the top two? It depends on the moment you ask us - so we are praying for the best program for Evan (and then also the next two). We will find out in March if we have "won". Unfortunately too late we also looked into charter schools. At least we know about them for next year should we not be pleased with his first year of school. The charter school we are looking at has a minimum IQ that is necessary and he meets that without a problem - so we will see - good to know there are other options to pursue if we don't like Kindergarten. It is overwhelming how many options there are available here in Charlotte - and that is a good thing - but I feel you need to know someone who has been through all of it to walk you through it all - ha! Yesterday as I filled out the form - we kept going back between what should be our #1 & our #2 options and I was getting so stressed it was making me physically ill - CRAZY!!! Let go, let God.

We were at the grocery yesterday after we picked Evan up from pre-school and a little girl handed each of the boys a lollipop with a note saying to smile & letting them know it was random act of kindness week so now I think we need to pass that on. I think we will put a chocolate covered pretzel with a note in our mailbox for our mail person and then do the same for the garbage men tomorrow. Then I think we will bake some chai banana bread muffins for our neighbors. Last week we put together 13 bags of snacks for kids who are less fortunate who attend an after-school program at our church. Love coming up with ways to remind them that everyone isn't as blessed as we are - that everyone doesn't have enough food & clothing. Hopefully they will remember this and still be excited with their Goodwill clothing as they get older ;o)

Yesterday Evan asked to watch another tv show and I stated that we could start another one, but wouldn't be able to finish it as we had to leave soon for school. He then told me that Avery & Owen could watch it, but I said they needed to go with us. He then proceeded to tell me that they could stay home as God would be here with them. So I tried to explain that yes, God is always with us, we can always talk to him, he is always there for us but that an adult really needs to be with little ones... don't think I did very well with that. Kind of like when he told me he thought Heaven sounded like a fun place to go. He still brings that up and asks when I am going. My standard reply is something to the effect that I hope it is a long time from now as I want to see him and his brothers grow up, but that only God knows for sure how much time each of us have here on this earth.

Last Friday Evan gave me a glimpse of the person I think/hope/pray he is becoming. As we were getting ready to go jump for a play date with his friend Gilbert he cleaned up some wooden boards that he and his brothers were playing with without me even asking him to. Then he listened pretty well when we were leaving the jumping place - I didn't have to carry anyone out screaming and kicking - very nice! Then he listened and helped the rest of the day too - mind you I haven't seen that continue so well since then, but I believe it is there. Each of them can be so sweet and caring. The other day at the playground Avery was hugging Owen who was sitting down and crying - mind you he may have knocked him down, but at least he was then comforting him - ha!

A couple of weeks ago I was trying to get the boys to take naps in their sleep room and Avery kept refusing - I told him he must stay IN his castle - he came out again and informed me he loved me and gave me a hug, then out again to tell me he loved all the people, then a third time to put a pillow behind my back (I was sitting on the floor with my back against the wall). Such a little charmer! Finally he did then go sleep.

Owen is still refusing to talk much - he uses the word backpack to ask for "Dora" or "Diego", he will say "cheese" for a photograph, but not to ask for the item, "mommy, daddy, ball, more" are a few others. I talked to a speech pathologist the other day and she said that between 18 months & 24 months they should have between 25-50 words, so it looks like we are going to get him tested and start another into the speech program. But as with Evan I am not concerned about his intelligence - he knows exactly what we are saying and finds ways to get exactly what he wants.

I guess I should get started on the banana bread & banana bread muffins!

Green Beans with Roasted Onions

 My version adapted from Bon Appetit, November 1995
4 Servings

2 medium onions - peels, each cut vertically through root end into 12-14 wedges
2 T butter
.5 c chicken broth
1 T sugar
2 t red wine vinegar
1 lb slender green beans - ends trimmed

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Arrange onions on large bar pan stone. Dot onions with 1-1/2 T butter - dividing equally. Season with salt & pepper. Bake until onions are dark brown on bottom - about 35 minutes.

Meanwhile boil broth in heavy large skillet over high heat until reduced to 1/2 cup, about 6 minutes. Add sugar & vinegar & whisk until sugar dissolves & mixture comes to a boil.

Add onions to sauce; reduce heat to med-low. Simmer until liquid is slightly reduced, about 5 minutes. Season with salt & pepper (can be prepared 1 day ahead of time. Cover & refrigerate. Rewarm over low heat before continuing.)

Steam green beans until crisp-tender. Place in bowl or pot & add remaining 1/2 T of butter & toss. Mound beans in a large shallow bowl. Top with onion mixture & serve.

YUMMY! These are sooooo amazing!

Coley's Chicken/Turkey Pot Pie

Yum! Typically do this with turkey after Thanksgiving - soooo yummy! This is Coley Patton's recipe with a few modifications.

4 c cooked chicken or turkey
1 medium onion - chopped
2 stalks celery (I typically skip this)
4-5 large carrots - sliced thin & cooked until crisp-tender
3-4 potatoes - diced & cooked til crisp-tender
2 cubes chicken bullion (I typically use around 2 t Organic Better than Boullion)
Pastry for 10" pie
2 cans cream of chicken or mushroom soup (I make my own with a rue, cream or milk, thyme & fresh nutmeg and sauteed creminis)
1.5-2c milk
1 package frozen peas (have also used fresh peas)
1 t salt
pepper
poultry seasoning

Put chicken/turkey in a 13"x9" pan. Sautee onion & celery until tender (I sometimes add cremini mushrooms here too). Add these to chicken. Add cooked carrots & potatoes. Add peas mix gently. Sprinkle with salt, pepper & poultry seasoning. Combine 1.5 c milk with the soup (cream sauce) & chicken boullion. Heat through. Pour over chicken mixture (add additional milk if veggies aren't covered) top with pastry and make slits. Bake at 425 degrees until browned - about 30-45 minutes.

Have done with crust on top & bottom - also yummy.