One Bad Day

This entry will be quick and poorly edited, but much needed since I feel like I have been on hiatus since January. My neglected blog is yet one more casualty in what has become my crazy life.

Starman has reached that charming toddler stage where he is into EVERYTHING!!! He has mastered the ability to scale anything in the house, so nothing is safe, but he still lacks the self-control to listen when I tell him no. Also, he's teething and he is, without a doubt, the WORST teether on the face of the planet. He screams non-stop, refuses to sleep or be comforted and it goes on for days and days for each tooth that comes in.

Add in a trip out of state to visit my birth father's family (the post-visit blog, which I promise is coming soon, is still rattling around in my head) add in end of the year stuff for the girls and I seem to be meeting myself coming and going these days. I am pretty sure I have a husband too, but I haven't seen much of him between our two crazy schedules, so spending time with The Husband has gone on my wish list as well, along with time to write and the more important, time to sleep.

That being said, I have a quick thought, in the weekend leading up to Mother's Day weekend: Why is it that we feel obligated to criticize other people's parenting?

Yesterday I had a very bad day with the girls. In all fairness, I had a bad day all by myself, the girls just pushed it over the edge. It may have been because they had a very long week with too many after-school commitments. It may have been because I had a very long week with too many after-school work commitments. It may have been the anxiousness of heading to the doctor (that always brings out the worst in my kids) or it may have been because I had all three and my oldest, Snowflake was having trouble with the fact that it was all about her little sister, Raindrop. Maybe she was just mad I took her out in the last hour of school which is art, her favorite class. I don't know what it was, but despite being impeccably well-behaved in the waiting room, and in the office room waiting for the doctor, the SECOND the Dr. walked in, all....hell....broke...loose. They were jumping off the counters and running around. They were getting into cabinets, interrupting the doctor and making so much noise I could barely hear. Snowflake was poking her sister making her cry. Raindrop was refusing to open her eyes and look at the pediatrician because she was just sure she "needed glasses." (She also purposely failed the eyesight test with that in mind). Poor Starman just watched the carnage quietly from the stroller.

Now luckily the kids' doctor knows and loves us. She knows I am a good parent and that my children (mostly) have manners. The worst part for me was when we had to give Raindrop her shot (please friends of mine who are anti-vaccinations, just skip the next paragraph, I am too tired to debate the issue and the following scenario will probably make you think I am a the worst parent ever)...

Anyway, Raindrop took one look at the needle and started screaming hysterically. She then proceeded to bite, hit, claw and kick anyone who came near her. After holding her down screaming at the top of her lungs (pretty sure they heard her in Canada) while the whole time Snowflake is not helping with, "I certainly don't act like that when I get my shots. I am a big girl. You are just a big fat baby" I was shaking and vacillating between laughing and crying. When it was all finally over, the nurses had to turn and comfort me because I started bawling like a baby and felt totally traumatized.

Flash forward. I shared this traumatic parenting experience with someone close to me who immediately made the comment that this scenario wouldn't have happened if I wasn't such a push-over parent. The gist was that if I didn't "spare the rod" my children wouldn't be so spoiled and I would not now be in tears. Seriously!!!?? Since when does having ONE bad day with your kids, who are still little and were at the end of a very long week, suddenly mean that my entire parenting structure is called into question? Last time I checked EVERYONE has a bad day...sometimes, like yesterday for us, moms and kids have bad days all together at the same time. That's when things really look bad. But, where is the support and the sympathy from people? Admitting that parenting is hard is the cornerstone to building a more supportive community for parents, which is something this blog seeks to promote. We can't do that if the very fact of admitting that our children aren't perfect immediately opens us up to public commentary on our parenting skills. No wonder we are, as a society, so obsessed with protecting our kids from every bad choice or misdeed.

I had a long talk with my girls last night and they were very apologetic. I sent them to bed two hours early (not without supper, since we all know that is a CPS-worthy offensive these days) and I heard much noise upstairs. Eventually I stomped up the stairs to see what was going on and found that they had cleaned their room AND their brother's room as an apology. They told me how sad they were that I was disappointed in them and that they understood why I was so frustrated. We sat down and had a long talk and I asked them for ideas about how they thought I could get them to listen better. I honestly told them that certain people thought that I should spank them. I then asked if they thought that would help them to remember to mind better? Horrified Snowflake said, "No Mommy! That's horrible. We don't hit people, especially when we are mad. We think you are the best mommy because you don't yell at us anymore. You are an Orange Rhino now and you never spank us. That's why we love you so much." When I told her that was how Mommy and Daddy were both raised she got very sad, put her hand up to my cheek, and as if it were the saddest thing in the world she said, "Oh I am so sorry that happened to you Mommy."

That moment reaffirmed my belief that I am doing the best I can with my specific children. I do not judge others for their choices in parenting, especially those parents who came before us and who hailed from a different culture in a different time. In turn though, I expect not to be judged for mine. My kids are kind, caring, well-meaning and polite (most of the time). They are ahead academically and have healthy friendships and an almost remarkable grasp on their spiritual compasses. As benchmarks for success go, they are doing ok. They are also human and prone to lapses in judgment. They make mistakes and have to pay for them in real-world style consequences. Maybe I am making the wrong choices, maybe not. But, the only people who have cause to judge that are me, The Husband, and my children.

So, in honor of Mother's Day, if you have the chance, please do not judge a Mom just because of One Bad Day.

Homemade Mac Cheese

A few years ago, one of my friends gave me a recipe for Homemade Mac & Cheese and it has become a staple in our house. Over the years, I have tweaked the recipe a little bit, so here is my version!

 This is what you need:

1lb box of pasta (I usually use macaroni, shells or cavatappi (curly pasta, shown)
1 container of Alfredo found in the refrigerated section (I use the light version)
1 can diced tomatoes (I use the Basil & Oregeno can)
2-3 cups of cheddar cheese (depending on how cheese-y you want it)
1 cup bread crumbs (I use Italian seasoned bread crumbs)
1 T olive oil
****************
Boil your noodles according to package directions, but for 1 minute less than it says.

Drain your noodles, but reserve 1 cup of the boiling hot water.

In your pot, combine cooked noodles, alfredo sauce & tomatoes (don't drain the tomatoes). Stir.
Side Note: If you don't like diced tomatoes, you can omit them!

Then add the 1 cup of hot water & cheese (I usually reserve a little cheese to sprinkle on top). Stir.

Spray your cooking dish with Pam & then pour all the ingredients into your dish.
(I always use my Corning Ware dish, but a 9x13 pan would work just fine)
Sprinkle some of your extra cheese on top.

Take your 1 cup of bread crumbs & olive oil & mix together in a separate bowl.

Take your bread crumb mixture & sprinkle over the top.

Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes (until cheese is bubbly)
You can bake it covered or un-covered, it just depends on if you want your crumb topping a little crispy or not!

Yum. Yum. Yum.

This meal is a perfect Fall/Winter meal & would go great with a nice green Casaer salad and/or some french bread. And, I pair it with a glass of red wine!

This is a Larson Family favorite, it is SO easy to make and both my girls will actually eat it!
Enjoy!

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Crock Pot Chicken Tacos 3 ingredients!

It's no secret that I love my Crock Pot.

 During the Fall, Winter & Spring I  use my Crock Pot at least one time per week.

I have the EASIEST recipe for you today.
This might even be easier than my Easiest Dinner Ever meal.
I actually can't believe I haven't shared this recipe before.
This is the VERY first crock pot recipe I made after Kevin and I were married almost 13 years ago & I got a crock pot for one of my showers.
Are you ready for 3 Ingredient Crock Pot Chicken Tacos?

Here is what you need:

- 2 lb bag of chicken breast tenderloins or chicken breasts

- Package of Taco Seasoning

- Bottle of Salsa (I use La Victoria Medium Thick & Chunky because it's my favorite!)

That's it....just 3 simple ingredients!

Directions:

Put your frozen chicken in the crock pot and sprinkle the package of taco seasoning over the chicken breasts.

Pour the bottle of salsa over the chicken:

Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.

When it's done, shred with a fork.

Once you have shredded the chicken, serve it up in tortilla shells & add your favorite toppings.

We love white corn tortillas and I add sour cream, guac, diced tomatoes, shredded cheese & lettuce. 

Kevin adds olives to his tacos.

Sometimes I will use this chicken for burritos 

(just add some rice & beans to the the tortilla along with the toppings.....so good!)

You can also use the chicken to make a chicken taco salad or to make THESE Chicken Nachos!

Add these 3 ingredient Crock Pot Chicken Tacos to your meal plan ASAP!
It's so easy it's almost embarrassing!

Just 3 ingredients....so, so, simple & so, so, versatile!
Tons of flavor!
Happy Friday & I hope you have a great weekend!

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On Being Team Green

There is a term for people like us who wait until the birth to find out the gender.

We are called "Team Green".

I have enjoyed people's reactions this pregnancy when I tell them we don't know what we are having. My favorite encounters have been with total strangers. They see me out with my girls and assume I know what I am having & say things like, "Did you get a boy this time?"
When I say we are waiting until birth, the look on people's face is classic.
I am finding out that being "Team Green" is a rare thing,
........especially with your 3rd child and
....especially when you have been Team Green with each pregnancy and
.....especially when you have 2 of the same gender!

I get a lot of questions when I tell people we are Team Green.
A common one is, "What about the nursery?"
This is what our nursery looks like now:
The walls are already a neutral color because it was our old Guest Room
(Fig Cookie by Kelly Moore)

There is no bedding in the crib because I am waiting until AFTER the baby is born.
I have Claire's old crib bedding that I will use if it is a girl. If it is a boy, I will buy boy bedding.
The rocker is the same one I used with the girls & it is also neutral.
If it's a girl, I will add a pink throw pillow & if it's a boy I will get a pillow to match the bedding I pick out.

And, the dresser which is white & can be used for a boy or a girl!

The walls are blank & I will just decorate them after the baby is born.
The baby will sleep in our room in a bassinet for the first few months,so I can work on the nursery then!
I don't like gender neutral nurseries, if it's a girl, I like pink & girly.
If it's a boy, I want it to look like a boys room.
I don't mind waiting to decorate until after it is born, that is what I did with the girls, and it worked out just fine!

Another question I have gotten is "What about the coming home outfit?"
This is what I did with Kate & Claire and I will do with this baby also.
I wash & bring 2 going home outfits to the hospital.
I have a pink blanket, pink outfit & pink hats that were both girls coming home outfits:

And, I have the boy version! A blue blanket, outfit & hats.

It's not a big deal to bring 2 outfits! It makes it fun!

Another common response I get about being Team Green is:
"Oh, I couldn't do that, I am too much of a planner"
Well, I am a TOTAL planner also.
Hello, I plan my girls birthday parties about 9 months before their birthdays!
I LOVE planning things.
But, for some reason, I am adamant about not knowing the gender.
I always rolled my eyes at people who didn't find out.
I thought Team Green people were SO annoying.
But, then I had my 2nd miscarriage & my focus shifted.
I had "planned" that pregnancy.
I was due in May 2006 and it was perfect planning/timing, because as a teacher, I would have the baby in May and then would be on maternity leave for May & the rest of the summer. It was a great "plan" I had. Well, that pregnancy ended in a miscarriage in October 2005 at 10 weeks. And, I was devastated.
I didn't get pregnant with Kate for 6 months after that.
It was my pregnancy with her when I decided that I wasn't going to find out what we were having because I was giving up control & trusting in God's plan.
I would wait and be patient to find out at the birth.
If you know me, patience is not my strong suit, but not knowing the gender really forces me to relax.
I don't spend time worrying about the nursery or buying clothes for the baby.
So, call me crazy, but I think Team Green is great.
I know it's not for everyone, but I am so glad we don't know and I am so glad Kevin goes along with being Team Green with me.
He wanted to find out with this one, but I wouldn't let him.
(He really wants to know if we can get rid of all those girls clothes that are in bins in our garage!)
The "It's A......" moment in the hospital is what gets me through the months & months of morning sickness. I look forward to that so much!

Being Team Green is also fun because you can do all the Gender Prediction games!
And, it's fun to have people guess what you are having!

Here are some of the gender predictions I have done:
The Chinese Gender Prediction Chart said girl with this pregnancy (and it said girl with Kate & Claire)
The old wives tale about heart rate (140s & higher is girl and below 139 is boy)
This baby (and also Kate & Claire's) were always above 140.
The wedding ring on a string gender prediction for this one said boy.
This pregnancy I have been more tired & more nauseous (It ended at 26 weeks with Kate & Claire and with this one I am STILL nauseous)

With Kate, I was 80% sure she was a girl.
With Claire, I was 99% sure she was a girl.
With this one, I am not sure...I am 50/50.
I am more drawn toward boy stuff at the stores with this one, but maybe that is because my sister is having a boy?

So, what is your guess? What do you think I am having?
Do you think we are crazy for being Team Green for the third time in a row?

its a bird its a plane its super Truman!

The verdict is in: flying with a 6 month old was much easier than anticipated. If you care to know all of the gritty details about what to pack or how to manage a baby in security lines/on the plane let me know in the comments. Otherwise I'll keep it to myself:)

So our trip to my parents house was nothing short of amazing. Actually, I could use a lot of adverbs here (ie phenomenal, awesome, fun, great, etc etc etc) but I won't. Let's just say it was the bomb and I love my family and our time spent with the whole crew was absolutely perfect. I'll let the pictures do most of the talking on this one since I did manage to take almost 300 in our 4 days there.

My boys maxing relaxing after making it through security the first time, celebrating with coffees, the iPod touch, and a paci. :)


the new desktop photo on my computer:


Flying baby in the air among the clouds, totally chill and downing a bottle. Love this one, too.


And then we arrive and mommy never gets to hold Truman again (aside from feeding him, of course). To say that my mom and the rest of my family love Truman is a gross understatement. I think he likes his Missouri folks, too.


Don't you love this shot, if not for Nate's awesome mug or Truman's adorable face, but for the pimped out pose I'm flashing in my 6 year old photo in the back?


Pepaw made my brother and I this wooden high chair and we couldn't find the straps, so we improvised. And thus, the most adorable thing ever was created.


man boobs and all...




Sweet potatoes still a hit. And do you see the fleck of brown in his inner iris? The rest of it is still that gorge greenish gray but I do see some brown in there.


Sheer happiness with her first grandchild.




And then Memaw took on the challenge of an iPod touch. So hip, this one is.


Oh, but Truman has his own tricks including pushing up on his hands.


Pepaw observing our family.


Lucie doing the same.


And Truman showing off his new vibrating strawberry teether that is basically the bomb for this teething baby. And by the way, I totally see two small white lines faintly in his lower gum line. Those phantom teeth are starting to show, alleluia!


Memaw and her first great-grandchild.






Love.


Let the feeding begin!


My dad was totally enthralling to Truman. He'd flash his smile at his grandpa from across the room and pretty much melt all of our hearts. I can just see the golf games these two will have in the future:)


My cousin Kelsey came to see her second cousin and Sophie came out to play.






Melting my heart as we speak.


Blurry but a fave, to show off Truman's new high-top Nike shoes.


And at the airport, ready to go home in his new umbrella stroller. Note the chaotic 'mommy bag' in front for special effect.


That summarizes the trip fairly well, I suppose. Sigh. It was glorious. And now I won't be so afraid to fly with Truman by myself in just two weeks when we make the trek to Keri's wedding!

This week I start my new job on Wednesday and Truman starts his new daycare. I plan to relish every second of these next two days at home with my baby boy and then suck it up and plunge head-first into our new journey in life. Wish us luck!