Dinner Group

It's long, you'll figure out soon if it's worth your time reading or not. :)

For the past 5 or 6 weeks, I've been part of a dinner group where we exchange meals at the beginning of each week. Less cooking, fewer dishes, more time, more food, DEFINITELY more dinners around the table as a family. I'm LOVING it. So I thought I'd share. Just in case you have a couple of friends who have busy mommy-lives like you and want to join forces.

There are three of us in it, so you have three meals for the week. This usually seems to be more than enough since there's always at least one night that's too crazy for a conventional dinner anyway, and we like to eat out or do something weekendy on the weekends. :) And there's certainly left-overs to squeeze in if you need them.

We started out by all purchasing the exact same Pyrex containers. Julie, who'd done this before, insists on a specific one that's sold at Kohl's? I'm sure it's sold somewhere else, but I made my first trip to Kohl's to get mine, and I do love them. They're the perfect size for our 4-adult portion size, and having matching containers in your fridge stacked atop each other makes you feel SO much more organized than a balancing act of mismatched Tupperware. I have both of course. But I love my clean tower of three. They have blue lids that say Pyrex, Storage Plus, 7212-PC. Just in case, by the end of my rant, you are convinced.

We exchange on Monday nights at 5pm. Alternating houses each month. We text each other the Saturday before with what we plan to cook. Making a point to mix it up between red meat, chicken or pork, and seafood. So no two things are too similar. Only one main-dish-salad, so we can plan to eat it the first night while it's fresh. etc... You choose what you'll cook, destroy your kitchen Monday while cooking a triple batch of whatever it is (which is NOT that much harder than making a single batch), and then sit back, relax and have dinner with a clean kitchen for the rest of the week.

Usually the bulk of the food fits in the Pyrex container and we add on a grocery bag of any sides or toppings in zip locks. A couple of weeks ago I did a Spinach Asian Chicken Salad, for instance. I had the Pyrex full of a zip lock of each: craisins, parmesan, shredded chicken, chopped green onions, chopped parsley, toasted sesame seeds, mandarin oranges, and peanuts. Separately, I had a bag of marinated pasta and a bag of spinach. Whatever night you choose to eat the salad you just open all of your baggies, empty in a big bowl and TOSS. What I've found that's so wonderful too, is that--- if I had made this salad just for my family, I would have thoughtlessly tossed it all and had to dump the left-overs. But this way I've bagged everything separately for myself too, so we've got the fixings for a fresh salad days later! :) Can you tell I'm loving it?

So, Lizzie has been doing this for over a year and tried to convince me to do it when she started and I thought it wasn't for me. I like to control what I eat. Theoretically :) I want to eat healthy, (so I can save room for a silly amount of treats and maintain my fertile figure... fertile meaning i-just-HAD-a-baby-can-you-tell?) I certainly want to eat fresh food, and it sounded to me like I'd be eating a bunch of left-overs or casseroles. blah. How many foods can fit in one dish?

But after noticing the kinds of foods she had left in her fridge from dinner group.... my interest was peaked. So when they had a "member" drop out at the beginning of the year and Lizzie mentioned it again, I thought I'd give it a try. And now I'm so sold.

I did try my best to make one-dish-meals for the first couple of weeks, trying to figure it out. I did the chicken noodle soup in the pictures above, this yummy cooking light enchilada recipe, some tortilla soup.... tonight I did turkey chili. But we've also done lots of things you wouldn't think would fit in a casserole dish. Just to give you an idea: (because if you're still reading, you might actually be in to this sort of thing and not just think I'm crazy for going on and on about it).

A Few things we've eaten so far:

Pork tacos

tilapia and rice

thai shrimp salad

marinated flank steak

healthy breaded chicken (breaded in nuts and herbs... no bread, yum Liz)

Light chicken parmesan (breaded in whole wheat crumbs)

Taco salad

Zucchini pizza

Pear and gorgonzola pizza with arugula

... and other yummy salads

AND MORE! Mooohahahaha

If it's shredded pork, or meat in a soup etc... it's cooked.

If it's marinated or breaded chicken breast or meat, or fish, it's raw and ready to stick in the oven with directions taped atop the Pyrex I've been paid to advertise for. (kidding.) But don't worry, you're not eating reheated chicken breast. barf.

We supplement fruits and veggies if it's a meal that didn't come with plenty, especially for the kids. But this is the other thing I'm LOVING. My kids are EATING WITH US! I have felt like a failure as a mom wondering when that day would come. I've heard plenty of moms say how they only offer their kids what they're eating as a family. And if they don't eat it, they don't eat. I applaud them if it works... but I haven't been able to do it myself. With MY kids, it felt like one of those wins that wouldn't really feel like a win. Hungry nights and cranky kids etc..

But I think half of my problem wasn't WHAT we were eating, but that I was never really ready to serve a real dinner when they were hungry. So I'd pull out the pesto pasta I made at the beginning of the week and reheat it for them--- chop up but another apple. Then Ross and I would eat OUR meal when he got home. I'd heard the stats, I knew it was important for a family to eat TOGETHER. I just hoped we'd get around to it before it really mattered.

SO--- we're certainly still a work in progress. But my point is, I'm just excited about this dinner group because it makes it that much easier for me to have dinner ready to go each night at a consistent time, so we can sit down together around a table and eat it. I think I was always in such a hurry throwing something together before, that I didn't want to waste my time seeing if my kids would eat it--- so I'd give them their kiddie food before.

Don't get me wrong, my kids don't live on corn dogs and chicken nuggets (though my babysitters might disagree). But they had their fair share. And I've been shocked at how well they've done on fish and brown rice, tacos, soups... etc... when it's an all-together experience. I'm thrilled. Call me old fashioned, but it just feels like the way dinner's supposed to be. One of those things that seems like maybe it shouldn't matter, but it makes me feel like I've had some success as a mom.

Sitting around the table tonight, all of us with a bowl of chili and salad in front of us, Sophia thanking Heavenly Father in her blessing for "this WONDERFUL dinner that mommy made for us"... (it's a new line I've heard only since we've been sitting together), still with daylight left afterwards for some wild trampoline play (half of the springs are gone and they love it more than ever because they can jump and slide off over and over again since there's only tension on half of it). Then I clean up the 6 or so dishes from dinner listening to the most dramatic girls in the world yell "this is aMAZING.... BEST TRAMPOLINE EVER!!!" over and over again--- and I'm just feeling so grateful.

So start a dinner group.

Did I mention I got a new couch?!

So if you know me, you know I play musical…. stuff. Musical whatever. I like to move stuff. I'm never very sure of my choices. This rug from ikea… I thought I was going to return it, but then when I rolled it out to vacuum it that day… it made me oh so happy! I was never going for orange in this house… so perhaps it doesn't go with a thing. Especially the upholstered chair? But maybe I don't care because it's still making me happy…. and it's past 90 days.

I think I'll paint the coffee table white…. opinions? And the mirror maybe? Or gray? Or yellow? If only the walls weren't so tan…

I don't really know why this is the room I ALWAYS blog… it's the first one you see when you walk in the house, and the one you see from upstairs and down… so I guess it's always on my mind--- and never quite right. But I think I've decided that's half the fun-- and finally given up on this ridiculous notion of being "done" with one's house. Pfft. That's why the world still has teal carpet.

Mother's Day picnic at Sophia's preschool today…. she seems SO old these days. Sometimes I think I've already lost her… like they say happens in Kindergarten. Like more of the day is spent with teachers and friends than mom. She's got such great friends and plays with one of her favorites, Kate almost daily after school, and I love it because it keeps her so active and they play so well together, and Kate is darling. But then I realize that it's only going to get busier from here on out! That phase where their friends opinions become more important than the parents' seemed EONS away--- but now it seems to be hovering just around the corner, like some mangy cat. (Really hurting for an analogy there-- best I got.)

And now that we're all buckled in and moving forward (better? Can you see my imagery?) … I can already see how fast it's all going to go with Mila. And I panic. She's so cute right now I could eat her. Every day I worry I'm not recording enough of what she does and says and sounds like and smells like and how she furrows her brow in the worst stink-eye anyone's ever given. This must be why we just keep having babies. Maybe before I'm done someone will figure out how to freeze time.

Crossing fingers.

Shots at 4 and a half are NOT fun.

But apparently the eye exam is worse. We had Sophia's kindergarten check up yesterday... first trip to the doctor for her in... a while. I guess we never went for her 3 or 4 year old check up. It's one of those things I'm really bad at. It's like I'm still a kid. If the doctor doesn't call me and tell me I'm supposed to come in, I assume we're fine. Well apparently they stop calling after a year or so.

I guess you're supposed to have it down by then and they stop holding your hand. What?

We were all prepped for the shots and while she wasn't thrilled about it, she knew it was going to win her a "BIG lolli-pop, like the kind from Disneyland", and she said she would be brave.

On the way in she told said, "but I might be shy with the doctor"....

No biggie--- you don't have to talk to him if you don't want. He's not that friendly anyway.

But it starts with the eye exam where I'm supposed to cover one eye and she's supposed to say what she sees on the chart. PURE panic. My outgoing, vivacious little girl becomes PAINFULLY shy and her bottom lip is quivering in fear. She won't do it. All she wants to do is nestle her little four and a half year-old face as far as she can into my neck and away from this place. The nurse is kind of grumpy and abrupt and it's not helping. Now they think she's blind. And I'm in a panic because this is the LAST day to get the appt. in before the first day of registration and I don't want to end up with afternoon kinder.

Then she has to get THREE shots instead of one, because her mom forgot that having a family means you're supposed to grow up and go to the doctor when you're supposed to and not when your mom says you have to. And the doctor had to play catch up.

Then Albertsons only sold little boring tootsie pops. Not BIG disneyland lollipops.

All in all, it was WAY rougher than I expected.... but we made it through. And after seeing herself on the camera making the first funny face on accident... she forgot about all of it and remembered how cool it is to stretch your face.

Happy Saturday.

And it's not even hump day yet...

(The photo has pretty much nothing to do with the post, but it's a happy visual, and one of the few images I have on my new computer, courtesy of The Image is Found. What a fun idea right?)

My sweet sister, Lacy is about ready to have her third baby, and is feeling it. She blogged about it here--- and all I could think of was how much I wish I could relieve her burden a little bit. My kids are at a good phase, I'm NOT pregnant, and life is pretty smooth.

But then this afternoon we had to LEAVE a friend's house which is always like the end of the universe, and my kids got grumpy, and I got grumpy--- and sometimes when I'm grumpy I start making lists of things I don't like in my head. Just to feed the fire, of course. I know I should be counting my blessings since I'm not bursting with child and nursing two ear-infections like my sister is--- but instead, I took the misery-loves-company approach. And decided to bullet some things I don't like. Why not?

Here are some things I'm NOT enjoying, today.

-Living so far from Lacy -- and not having a live-in nanny like Angelina so I can just fly out and stay with her to help after she has her little boy.

- Potty training

- The owie on Mila's cheek that she keeps picking in bed so bad that I'm worried she'll make a permanent scar. On that gorgeous baby-girl skin.

- That I've had two different friends come to me post-baby to borrow my clothes until they can fit back into theirs. Good for the ego. I get it Rachelle.... it only makes sense.... but still--- I'm like the Lane Bryant of the neighborhood. Cool.

- That after my camera workshop, I wish I bought the OTHER outrageous lens instead of the outrageous lens I did buy.

- In general- buyers remorse. I really hate buyers remorse. And I get it almost inevitably if I buy something over $100.

- That I can waste so much money on things under $100 and then wonder where it all went. Target!!!!! You home-wrecker!!!!! (Not yet, but I could imagine that marriages could be ruined... it seems most husbands prefer to keep their wives far far away from it's wonderfully stocked shelves. I love you Target... forever and ever.)

- My tan walls--- why does it feel like as soon as I moved in and painted my walls-- I also became addicted to design blogs where walls are white, floors are wood, and life is clearly just SOOOOOOOO much better. just kidding. But really--- can you do white walls when you have tile, tract home carpet, and tiny baseboards? I'm thinking it has to be part of a whole package. Where are all these hard-wood floor homes with cool moldings and slanted ceilings coming from anyway?? Not desert-suburbs, USA... I'll tell you that...

- That I can't keep a clean car. I'm disgusting. It's a part of my life I'm so ashamed of. And the worst part is that I'm so used to it that sometimes I forget and let someone peek their head in. It's not until I see them try to suppress the shudder that I remember that old milk-sippies, squished grapes and a half-eaten hot-dog on the floor are not normal. And don't smell good. Ross, why did you marry me? I'm disgusting. Seriously, I once ate a little 100-calorie-cookie out of Mila's car seat because I was hungry--- and it was there. It was in my mouth for point 5 seconds before I tasted the desitin. Meaning, a: I was.... eating desitin, and b: I was eating a cookie that had been TOUCHING the desitin. uhhhh... don't know about you but I only put desitin one place. I'm DISgusting.

- The fact that I can't post any random old photos because I'm using my new imac and don't have any on here yet and CAN'T figure out how to get it to open up my external hardrive. Any pointers??? I googled it and it looks like I might need to reformat the external, and erase everything in the process?? What a pain.

- Negative Nancies. Sorry--- I'm done. I know it was all pretty serious. Life is rough.

On motherhood

Saw this on someone else's blog... probably Little Green Notebook since I did a full dive into her archives. I LOVE this photo. When I was growing up, my mom collected paintings and statues of mother-and-child. So this makes me think of her for a couple of reasons, the other being obvious. (And not because she sits in fields bottomless.)

Just feeling grateful today. For having a mom I feel so tenderly about, and BEING a mom. Oh there is nothing in the world as sweet.

Nothing.

You know how sometimes your kids say things that swell your heart so big it could burst. But to others it doesn't sound like much? This is probably one of those. Disclaimer made if bored from here on.

Last night, our family prayers by Sophia's bed were mostly just her and I. Ross was on the couch-- the pain is still in and out, he must be passing the other stones) Mila was refusing to leave the dollhouse unattended. Sophia volunteered to say it and started with some obnoxious mention of hot dogs with a big hardy laugh. This is her joke of the week. ANYTHING with the word hot-dog in it. NO idea why. But it's bugging me in normal life... so it bugged me even more in a prayer.

"We don't tell jokes in prayers Sophia. And we don't use that crazy cartoon voice... just the normal one."

I thought she'd get all grumpy like she does when I scold her a little for anything. But instead she quickly restarted... forehead against mine, her breath warm on my exhausted, mommy face.

"We're thankful for this day-- and that daddy's tummy's a little better, and we played with toys, and we played with Kate, and we're going to a birthday party tomorrow. And I like to draw... I like to draw my name. And I can draw my name berry well. And my mom--- my mom.... um... my mom is SOOO proud of me because I can write my name berry berry well.... "

this is when my eyes welled up with tears. The same eyes that had been giving her mommy-glare after a day of random "hot-dog" outbursts.

"And I love to draw my letters. I can draw M and O and P and H and I and A... and S. And E, and T, P, N, and V... lots and LOTS of letters. And we're thankful for Jesus. In the name of ......."

Sometimes it's just almost so incredible it hurts. It's just so incredible. So INCREDIBLE that we made these little girls and that they are OUR little girls to nurture and love and encourage and BUILD every ounce of confidence they'll need to take on this world. Ours to teach all about a Heavenly Father and his plan of salvation so they will be FULLY equipped to stand out and be peculiar, and be ok with that. And then I think of kids who are not uplifted and loved and TREASURED and I forget that there could be any greater sin in the world than that.

I'm all over the place.

But I'm the luckiest mom in the world. And today I think I could have a dozen... because I am TERRIFIED at the thought of reaching a day where my home is not ringing with the melody of their little voices saying these precious things.

Just so grateful to be a mommy.

But I guess my stomach DOES always feel flatter first thing in the morning... unless I had midnight icecream. Which does happen.

A blustery, COLD day at the park. I couldn't decide if I wanted to post a b/w or a color. And it's gotten too late to make decisions so we're doing both.

This morning, Sophia came in our bed like usual. And wanted to snuggle with me like usual. She's a snuggly one. VERY lovey and tactile right now. She rubs my arms and rubs my back and wraps herself up in my arms. She tells me "you're the best mom ever" like a dozen times a day. It's her new phrase--- I'll take it.

This morning she was rubbing my chest, the bony part just under the collar bone, (my CHEST let me remind you) and must have been a little sleepier than I thought... "mom, your tummy's not chubby anymore!"

Oh that my tummy could feel like (the bony-part-of) my chest (under-the-collar-bone.)

It just seems a little weird without the explanation right?

I need to record more of this stuff:

Yesterday I sat on the bench outside during Mila's nap reading Catching Fire while Sophia jumped on the trampoline. She came to the edge and sat with her legs dangling through the springs staring at me.

"Mom, Heavenly Father gave me to you--- you SUuuuuuuuuuuuuRE are lucky."

She's one smart cookie.

Just another day.

The 85 mm doesn't really do it justice... but I was too lazy to put a wide angle on and get the whole room in the shot. But trust me, it was impressive. Tanner and Kate were over and all of the kids were "playing" so well in the toy room--

we soaked it up.

Sophia came out once to tell me they were coloring, but that they weren't done yet. "but don't come in yet, NOT yet, we're not done yet."

She wasn't going to MAKE me come admire? I could stay on my bottom looking at the west elm catalogue with Lizzie ... we soaked it up.

Once the novelty of their mystery fun wore off and the normal, occasional brawling began, we went to put out a fire and found the lovely sight above. An entire roll of butcher paper from the ikea easel, ripped up, and decorating the floor. The entire thing. I know it could have been way worse--- permanant, like the highlighter all over my couch cushions--- not complaining... just documenting... and sighing. Realizing... .what am I doing blogging about a pile of paper when I should be in bed?? It's 12:30 and Ross is passed out next to me on the couch. Every night at like 10:30 I think it's nearing time for bed, and then I blink my eyes and 2-3 hours has passed. what?

gnight.

This whole month belonged to her.

Dear Sophia-- sia, phia, sophie, sophie-bug, sister-soph, and princess, (not punkin, or dude--- you get furious when I call you either of those right now. Princess is definitely preferred.)

The second day of this month marked your 4th birthday. We did donuts for breakfast, cupcakes in class, and Chuckee Cheese's at night as a family (I think that was our first and last time as a family-- mom's not a fan.) You had fun, but you kept asking me when we were having a birthday party with all of your friends. We saw a bunch of boys in the street skateboarding on the way home... "are those my friends coming to my house for my party!?" It broke my heart to disappoint you even a little.

We got you a dollhouse, but mommy picked it up the night before and left no time for Dad to set it up. So really you just looked at the box longingly. When will I think ahead like a grown-up?? I hope you don't inherit my flaky side.

The very next day, Dad swept you and Mila off to Utah for a fun vacation with Nana and Grandpa B. while Daddy and I went to Hawaii. The month was full, and on the 22nd, a few weeks later, we finally celebrated with all of your friends at Pump It Up! It was a fun party-- and watching you run and jump and slide and laugh with your friends, like such a big girl-- made me realize that I'd better put in writing some of the details of this precious phase. Four.



You are thoroughly a big sister- you love Mila. You watch out for her. You hate when she's asleep and can't play with you, and lately it takes all of your willpower to not go in and wake her up. The wrath of the mean-mommy usually deters you. :) You miss her while you're at school. You show her off to all your friends, and lots of strangers too. "This is my baby sister, Mila"-- you announce it proudly to every friendly face in Costco.

You can still throw a pretty gnarly fit if she takes your toy without your approval, but when you have time to decide all on your own, you are as generous as the desert sun.

You are smarter every day. And you are always coming up with things that surprise me. You love the temple and the idea of getting married there some day. You tell me you want to marry Tanner there in a purple dress--- I’ve stopped explaining why it needs to be white, because that just makes you furious-- you want yours PURPLE! So I guess we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. I tell you that you're too little to marry Tanner, and that you guys should just be great friends, and that only grown-ups like mommy and daddy get married. Now, you come out of your room early in the morning occasionally and ask me, "mom, am I bigger yet? Can I marry Tanner now?" He's a lucky kid, our sweet friend Tanner. You are quite the catch.

-Your body is strong and coordinated. I love watching you run and climb… jump on the tramp and swim--- you are athletic—powerful and deliberate in your movements. I cannot wait to watch you utilize those talents in whatever ways you choose as you grow older.

-You sing like an angel. All of the time. Your songs of choice are "I know you" from Sleeping Beauty and the "Let me be your wings" one from Thumbelina-- you know most the words. Well at least your version. You might belt out what sounds like "let me be your horny love!" in place of "let me be your only love!" but it's pretty close.

- You've been in speech therapy and your speech has improved a ton this past year. You're still working hard on your s-blends. So star is "tar" and smile becomes "pile" (I guess it's hard to go from the front of the mouth to the nose like that) but instead of getting frustrated like you used to, you listen closely as I repeat it correctly and you smile, focus, and repeat it back until you get it. You are so proud of yourself when you say it right----------- but not as proud as me.

- Lately, before daddy leaves for work, you say, "wait dad! and ONE. More. Thing. I forgot to blow you kiss.... (it sounds a lot cuter in person, with your morning voice.)

- You love your friends and are socially, as brave as the tiger in Quick as a Cricket. You are outgoing and friendly and never look back at me when I drop you at school...... Well maybe after I fight for your attention, and beg you to blow me a kiss... and you just want me to get out already.

- You still give me a run for my money. You are sassy and emotional. All girl. You get frustrated and impatient and even at four, you throw some fierce fits. I'm constantly reminding you right now to stop growling (uh huh) and screaming, when your mad and just tell me what's wrong. You usually mellow out and speak calmly once I remind you-- and the dimples from that oops-I-did-it-again guilty smile bring my mile-high blood pressure right back down as quickly as it went up. I wonder where you get your extreme emotions. I wonder.

- Your grouchy is really grouchy. But your sweet---oh your sweet is SOO sweet. You climb in our bed at about six every morning and snuggle in to me as close as you can, pulling at and draping my arms, trying to figure out the best way to wrap them around you. I can't lie, I don't always love this hyper-extending rag-doll, experience at 6 am. But I love that you are snugly--- and I love that you love your family. And I love that Heavenly Father sent you to us. I'm the luckiest mom in the world.

I love every single, tiny thing about you. Growling and screaming included.

You are four-- and absolutely exquisite.

Preschool!

When Sophia was still just creeping up from babyhood, I'd see commercials for the first day of school. All the supplies and shopping etc... and it made me sick with anxiety. The thought of being that kind of mom- with the van and the huge supply of pyrex-- buying notebooks and Elmer's glue and shopping at Mervyns made me very nervous. I would always remind myself that before Sophia was born, the thought of having colorful, plastic baby paraphernalia all over my house made my neck hair stand on end in the very same way. And once it was MY baby paraphernalia, it warmed my heart. "Baby steps", I thought, on several occasions. What a perfect saying.

And now she's off to a real, sizeable, preschool, and I wasn't even sure I was in to preschool a few years ago. But I feel almost completely comfortable with it all. I know it's not like she's started kindergarten. I didn't need to send her with any supplies or even lunch (except for one day a week.) But I do have to drive her about 17 minutes away as opposed to my roll out of bed, hold Mila on my lap and drop her down the street at Rachelle's house. What a wonderful first preschool that was. I do feel a little more pressure to have her hair combed so that crazy pillow-knot in the back of her head isn't showing off all day. I feel a little more responsibility to be punctual- not my forte-- I don't want to be that flaky mom. And I think more about it--will the kids be nice to her? will there be any bad apples? I knew all the kids in her first preschool.

But she loves it! No surprises there. And she still has a handful of her best friends with her, like you saw above. Tanner was a little nervous to stay, (that explains the expression above :)-- I thought it was too perfect Liz) so Lizzie's been going back and forth. But we're crossing our fingers that he stays since the teacher says they are joined at the hip all day long. How cute right? She'd be so bummed if he wasn't there.

So I'm a real-deal Tiny-Tot mom. I've signed up for snacks, filled out the field trip permission-slip, and coordinated bringing cupcakes in tomorrow for her BIRTHDAY! I still hate Mervyns, I drive a Pacifica which is really just a less convenient mini-van, and still use and reuse the tupperware that should be disposable (like the one's the costco ham comes in)...

All in due time...

but I'm really excited to have this social little (fit-throwing, door-slamming like a teenager) butterfly of mine spread her wings. ;)

It's pretty cool being a mommy.