4 Miles

I just heard Will singing a song he made up:

Obey children, Obey children
Even if you don't want tooooooo
Obey children, Obey children
Because you have toooooo!

I was prepared for very different boys. I was looking forward to seeing how different Alex would be from his brother (my own genetics experiments, right here!!! And they're NOT fruit flies–if you didn't take Genetics, you wouldn't understand but kids are MUCH better than fruit flies, I promise!). 

I wasn't surprised to see that Alex is a runner. He has no caution, he just GOES. I wasn't surprised to discover he's a climber.  Last week Alex figured out how to climb on the piano bench. Later I heard a different sound than fingers playing a few keys. I looked over to see him climbing up ON the piano to reach the radio that sits on top.  He has also figured out how to climb up onto the computer chair and then up on the desk to try to get a pen out of the pen box that sits next to the printer. (We now keep the piano bench pushed in unless I'm there to supervise "music lessons", and the desk chair must be pushed in when not in use. Though then he walks over and turns off the computer. But that's another issue.)

Today while coming into the house from the garage, Alex tripped and fell.  Loud crying began, so it wasn't a "normal" (gentle) fall.   I was thinking it would be Goose Egg Sized Bump on His Head #3, but instead it was Alex's First Bloody Nose. (They do not make scrap book stickers for either of these. Maybe I should start a line!) As I was holding him and trying to stop the blood, I was thinking of all the things Alex has already gone through that Will never had at this age–and in most cases still as not. 

• Hospital stay and various things that went along with that…including surgery and stitches
• 2 falls that resulted in GIANT bumps on his head
• Blackened toe nail that we're still watching to see if it'll stay on or fall off
• Now the bloody nose

Nice that that list isn't that long (though if I was going for true sympathy I'd probably split up all the things that happened at the hospital, but that's not quite fair) –but he's not even a year and a half old yet!!!

Yet, I suspect our list of injuries will only be getting longer.

Those of you keeping track at home might have wondered where week #4 went. I ran out of time to post it. And was annoyed (but not surprised after the anniversery weekend) that I gained a pound.  This week I am happy to say I maintained and didn't gain anything, but I also didn't lose anything. Again.  It is frustrating because I felt this was my best week yet as far as not cheating, making wise food choices, drinking LOTS of water, working out regularly and being more active with the kids.  The Tales From The Scales main site asked today "Have you created healthier habits?" I do feel I've done that.  I'm just not seeing the weight loss from them.  I am still trying to figure out what else I'm going to change.  I'm wondering if my portions are out of wack and am thinking of joining Weight Watchers. As much as I don't like the idea of weighing my food and keeping track of points, something else must change if I want the weight to leave. 

On Thursday, at 8:47 am, we lost power.

I know this because the electric clock on our oven (the only clock in our kitchen) was stuck at that time all day. I kept looking at it (out of habit) and would see the same time.

A car hit a utility pole just down the road from us, taking out power to our street and the lights at the busy intersection just around the corner.  We got to see them bring a new pole in!  And FOUR utility trucks. The boys were really excited to watch them–even though they weren't doing anything we could see.  They had to close the street off to fix the issue and it took most of the day.

Irony #1–I had decided to take the boys to the park that day and sent out an invitation to people in our ABF (Adult Bible Fellowship class=Adult Sunday School but with a better acronym, as pointed out by my BIL, Randy). So this is the ONE TIME Will didn't want to go to the park and the ONE TIME I couldn't say "Ok, we'll stay here and watch the trucks!". No, we might have people waiting for us! We must go!

Irony #2–Only one person met us at the park, and they came just as we were leaving.

Irony #3–The day before (Wednesday) we had actually been cold in the morning and had a pleasant, cool day. Thursday we hit 90 for the first time that year…and with no fans to move air (and NO A/C) it was starting to get warm in our house.

Irony #4 (Or Blessing #1 & #2)–Just as it started to get uncomfortable, the power came on.  And I had time to get some work in that afternoon, but also had time where I just HAD to read, since I couldn't work or do anything else.

Irony #5–Well, this isn't really irony, but I was enjoying the listing habit .  Will got to discover all day what is powered by electricity as he kept asking why things wouldn't work.  Lights? TV? Water? (Remember our electric well?) The garage door opener? (Yeah, that was fun to figure out how to open the door by hand, with the spider webs on the handle we usually don't use and the dirt. What, your garage isn't like that? Please don't tell me!)  The computer? The fan?  Music/CD player?!?  I was going to tell him this is how people in the "old days" lived, but it was his nap time. And he gets time rather confused right now (and I was tired) and didn't want to try to explain it all to him.  I figure we've had this kind of stuff happen so often lately, I'll have plenty more times to tell him and make an object lesson out of it.

Awhile back I mentioned camera problems, and how they were preventing me from showing you all kinds of cool things. We kind-of sort-of have the problem fixed. "Kind-of, sort of" means we don't have the actual problem fixed (the computer suddenly will not recognize the cord so it can't download them), but it means we've figured out a way to get around the issues.

So here are our top garage sale finds of the year, so far.

Tiny, huh? Yeah, you'll have to click on it to see it full size until Tech support figures out a better way. You'll find yoursef in a web album with all kinds of pictures I've taken… I'm still looking for the best way to get them on the blog. I know I don't like this way though.

The other great find was this–Will's "motercycle with pedals" (his term for it, not mine).

But he was having trouble figuring out how to pedal a bike and someone recommended a big wheel. It did help him a great deal and now he's peadling (slowly) on his bike. This is still fun and something he and Alex can trade back and forth with, along with the red & yellow car.  It makes for more peaceful time playing on the deck.

A typical conversation with Alex will go like this:
"Alex, do you want ___?"
And Alex usually responds, enthusiastically, "YEA!"

Example, last night:
James: Alex, do you want to go to bed?"
Alex: YEA!
Will: Alex, do you not want to go to bed?
Alex: YEA!

This morning we were going to the store. I got the list, coupons, purse, diaper and kids together and we headed to the car. As I put Alex in his carseat, I smelled that tell-tell smell of a dirty diaper.
Me: Alex, are you poopy?
Alex: Nu-huh
Maybe he's starting to catch on?

I promised my SIL I'd send her this recipe, so I decided to put it up as well. This is my FAVORITE fish meal.  It's not as low fat, because it's breaded and baked–but if you're trying to add fish to your diet and don't really like it (like my husband), this is a good way to start. I got this from Better Crocker.

Crispy Baked Fish with Salsa 
From: Betty Crocker    Prep Time: 10 min., 25 min bake
 
3 T butter or margarine
2/3 c Bisquick (or an off brand like Jiffy Mix)
¼ c yellow corn meal
1 t chili powder
1 ¼ t salt
1 pound orange roughy fillets or tilapia
1 egg, beaten
1 ½ c thick-and-chunky salsa (fruit salsa, such as mango or peach, is best!)
 

1. Heat oven to 425°. Melt butter in rectangular pan (13×9) in oven.
2. Mix Bisquick, cornmeal, chili power and salt. Dip fish into egg, then coat with breading.  Place in pan.
3. Bake uncovered 10 minutes; turn fish. Bake about 15 minutes longer or until fish flakes easily with fork. Serve with salsa.

Calories: 325; Fat: 15g; Cholesterol 140 mg; Sodium 1610 mg; Carbohydtrates 25g; Protein 25g
Diet Exchange 1 starch, 3 lean meant, 2 Vegetable, 1 Fat

If you're like me, you're always looking for new & yummy foods to try. (Hmmm…sound like an info-merital there or what?!?) Tales from the Scales is doing a Recipe Swap today (and the next 4 Wednesdays).  Today is for main dishes. I must admit I don't do Weight Watchers and don't know the points value of this, but it is a low-fat family favorite!

Chicken Chimichangas

2 1/2 cups cooked chicken (about 2 chicken breasts)
about 1/2 a jar of salsa
1/2 a can of corn, drained
1 can of black beans, drained & rinsed
2 green onions, chopped
3/4-1 tsp ground cumin (more if you like spice!)
1/2 tsp oregano leaves
1/2 tsp salt
8-16 whole wheat flour tortillas
olive oil
1-2 cups shredded chedder cheese* (low fat would be better, or you can even go without)

I usually cut up the chicken into bite sized pieces and cook it in a large skillet. Then I combine it with the salsa, beans, corn, onion, cumin, oregano and salt and let it simmer for about 5 minutes, or until most of the liquid has evaporated.  Brush 1 side of the tortilla with the oil.  Turn it over and spoon on about 1/3 a cup of chicken misture into the other side; top with cheese. (But when I had to go dairy free I'd make these without cheese and they are yummy enough I didn't notice much.)  Roll up, place in 13×9 baking dish. Bake at 475 until crisp & brown (about 13 minutes). 

The key to this is the high temps…you get a crispy chimichanga without frying it.  And you can tell I'm really general with amounts, you can add or subtract things to the main chicken mix…that's how the bean and corn got added–plus I added those to make extra one time, thus the odd range in how many it makes. I love to make 2 pans and freeze one. 

Anyway, serve it with a salad and I figure it's a great meal. (And I hope this makes up to those of you who've sent me things about recipe swaps that I always forget to do!)

Well, this weekend was our REAL vacation (meaning time away from home, me not having to cook or clean and doing fun things).

In celebration of our 6th Anniversary (and that the boys were old enough to leave), James and I left the boys with my parents and went up to Chicago. Our main event was to see Wicked (a musical about the witches of Oz).  Other goals were to sleep in, eat out without children, and (my own goal) be able to go all day without having to change a shirt due to food or drool on it. I am pleased to say all goals were achieved! Friday we dropped the boys off about lunchtime and then enjoyed taking our time to get to Chicago. We got to Merriville and I needed to get some shoes, so we stopped and shopped there. Once that was done, we didn’t want to be stuck in rush hour traffic, so we chose to see a movie, eat dinner, and get James some running shoes there as well. We saw the movie “Knocked Up”.

(Mini-review here: The movie was funny & had some nice “family values”—it’s about a couple who have a one night stand and she gets pregnant. She’s a career minded woman, he’s a druggie “loveable looser” type. So we have a “yea” for the touching, family parts. We have a big “yea” for the funny parts. We have a “boo” for LOTS of swearing, “boo” for LOTS of drug usage, “boo” for other “adult” issues, and “boo” for a birth scene that showed me more then I wanted to see…and I’ve had 2 kids. Just so you can make an informed decision. Did I enjoy it? Yes. Would I recommend it? Only if you're aware of what you're getting into.)

We got to our hotel late Friday night and enjoyed being able to sleep in. We ended up deciding to drive to downtown (instead of taking the train) and that proved to be a good choice. First, once we realized we forgot the tickets, it made it easy to go back. Also, after the show, it was nice to be able to change and enjoy the downtown. We REALLY enjoyed the show. We also enjoyed our deep dish pizza afterwards. Then we walked around a bit, walked down to Navy Pier and hung out there a while, walked over to Millennium Park and eventually back to our car. They were going to have fireworks about 10 (11 our time), but we (ok, I) ended up being too tired to stick it out. Sunday was another nice day of sleeping in and brunch and then we headed back.

It was a nice time without the boys, but it was nice to see them again. They both came running to see us and Will told us “I REALLY missed you! You were gone a LONG time!”  They did have a good time at Grandpa & Grandma’s. Grandma wore them out with long walks and taking them to the petting zoo. She also spoiled them with pizza and favorite foods! They did very well.

And now, it is summer (or so I've been telling Will, who kept asking every time we had a warm day in March, April and May "Is it summer, Mommy?"). Now he wants to know "Where's summer? I can't see it!" So while we're seeing him starting to understand some concepts of time (like 'long' and 'short' times), others are still a bit over his head.  Anyway, this week we're going to start getting into our summer schedule. I'll have to let you know how it goes!