White Chili Nachos

Gotta love any recipe that is mostly opening cans and turning on the crockpot.

 1 lb ground turkey
  1 chopped onion
1 package dry taco seasoning
2 cans white beans drained and rinsed
1 can corn (avoid the super sweet)
1 large can petite diced tomatoes
1 can chopped green chilies
chicken broth till it looks right (sorry this is not a better measure- I struggle with cooking measurements)

brown the ground turkey and onions together.  Add the taco seasoning and a little butter and water. (I know- measure!!)  Put the meat and onion mixture in the crockpot and add other ingredients.  Vary chicken broth based on desired outcome.  More for a true soup, less to serve over nacho chips.  salt to taste.  Allow to cook on low for several hours to break down beans a little and blend the tastes.  Serve with cheese and sour cream.

The Games we Play

 

I was floored at the number of runners.

Jack is 26.  He does not get grabbing flags.  He does get tackle!

 

Teams make campsites in the field.  Brian laughed at me for saying I “worry each girl across the line”  But it’s true.

I have to become a better photographer.  Brianna is in the blue and white.

Little Things

Last week was rough.  No ifs, ands or buts.  Without going into details, it literally brought me to my knees and there were plenty of tears, and not enough sleep. But..... Saturday, Brianna bettered her time by almost a minute in the 3k.  Brianna is not uber competitive and she has finished several races spitting venom at me.  But she has kept at it and this weekend, when she rounded the final curve and headed into the home stretch she caught the bug.  She was politely holding back to not run over the racer in front of her.  I began to scream "PASS HER!" and another mom started running down the rope yelling for Brianna to "sprint now!" The light bulb finally popped.  She shot around her and began to pull really hard.  She passed that girl and another before speeding across the finish line.  For the first time, she came out of the chute with a small smile on her face.  Before she even got to me, I was on the phone with Brian screaming WHOO AHH!!  She is not setting any records or even finishing in the top 20, but in races with 100 runners or so, she is creeping up that top half and finally leaving it all on the course.  But, as Brian reminded me on the phone, "I'm not at all competitive."

And then there is Lucy.  That child has obviously given up sleep and is "finished" with everyone but me and daddy.  Her newest word is "STOP."  I have had alot of hair pulled out this week.  She also had a shining moment.  About the time I thought we could take no more, Brian sat her in a chair at our table at the Lodge.  She had made eating very difficult for both of us.  She picked up a fork with red velvet cake icing on it.  She held it in her hand and licked off the icing.  She did not notice the silence that settled around us as she carefully handed the fork back to Brian and watched him put more cake on the fork.  She lifted the fork again and gently, even though it took two tries, put it in her mouth and handed the fork back.  Sometimes it is the little things that keep us going.

Ziploc Bags

Today,I am cleaning out the closet we call "The Store."  The store is actually a small closet off our bedroom that most people would use as a linen closet.  I use it as the location for extra soap, toothpaste, razors etc.  One could ask why we need such a place.  Why not just run to the store and buy a new tube of toothpaste when you run out? But that would require a different blog and perhaps some psychological analysis.  For the moment,just let me babble on about my discoveries.  First off, we obviously never use body wash.  I found huge bottles of it that are so old they are separating into waters and oils.  Don't think we don't get clean (Okay, one of my children is questionable,but that may also require counseling to answer.)  We do have an abundance of soap, ranging from Brian's Lever 2000 to stacks of wonderful home made soaps from Aunt Lana.  These smell wonderful and I must worry about running out,because I actually discovered a secret stash.  I know,more counseling.  I also discovered that I must buy men's razors every time I buy women's.  This would seem to make sense accept,in this house there is one male who shaves sporadically and 3 females whom shave regularly.  It also seems the females do not mind the smell of Gillette, but the male does mind the smell of raspberries.  If you are a male under 6 years old, it seems it is fine to use blueberry or strawberry scented products as long as Mater or Buzz Lightyear is pictured on the bottle.  An outsider looking in, would also assume we have a love of hydrogen peroxide- true, and some obsession with travel sized mouthwashes- not sure, we never use them at home and based on how few are open, obviously not when we travel either. Perhaps the most interesting discovery are the extreme number of quart sized, TSA approved, ziploc bags.  As a public rule follower (behind closed doors I have a terrible attitude), I dutifully pack for every trip in assorted bags.  I buy travel sized items because I always forget what's in the reusable ones.  Don't ask how many times I have conditioned my hair with lotion and washed my hands with conditioner. I am really anal about trip planning.  Okay, ocd doesn't even touch it.  I spend hours assembling each bag and kit and making sure we know where everything is.  But I obviously do not have the same out of control feelings about unpacking.  I found 15 travel toothpastes and even baby shampoo from Russia trips.  All packed in ziploc bags with things like unopened visine (airplanes are drying) and tide spot remover (please, most of you have seem my kids, I obviously never use this.)  But today is a new day. Out with the old and in with the..... large ziploc bags brought in to hold all the travel sized toothpaste.

Homeschool review

For the last two school years, I received an amazing gift.  I had the blessing of spending all day educating and training my oldest child.  I got to watch her think and process and discover and yes, sometimes, labor.  It was not a venture we entered into lightly and we knew from start to finish it was a two year term.  According to the book Love in a Time of Homeschooling, there is at least an anecdotal found trend in "sabbatical homeschooling."  According to her research there appears to be a growing movement of parents removing their children from more traditional school settings for only a year or two.  Most commonly in the 4th- 6th grades.  This is after kids have learned to read and work independently and before higher math classes begin.  The reasons are numerous and varied including things like filling gaps left by a bad teacher or  slower development, or getting out of bully situations.  More common was a desire to help kids rediscover a love of learning and get to do things that have been largely pushed out of the public school curriculum.  Read real books for hours at a time.  Travel. Complete huge hands on projects that reach across subject areas.  Pursue a personal passion..... or find one.  Public schools or so hounded by tests, they have little time to allow kids to think or create.  After school activities have become so demanding, that even working in a day trip to a state park or historic site can seem like a daunting task.  Anyways.....

So began our journey.  It was a a wonderful trip.  We averaged one Newberry winning book a week.  Brianna found a love of reading.  We went to space camp.  We wandered through great art exhibits at the Frist.  We watched old documentaries and sobbed through World War II novels.  Brianna made posters and built models.  We danced Native American dances, and created brilliant art pieces inspired by masters with no 45 minute time limit.  And we cried and stressed and lamented for hours, HOURS!!!, over fractions and decimals.  One of my favorite moments was one day during a social studies lesson.  I knew before hand that Brianna was an extreme kinesthetic learner, but this particular morning, we were working on identifying land formations using the globe.  "Come feel the mountain ranges, Mama.  Isn't it neat how you can slide your hand across and feel the differences?"  I just loved watching her think.

Homeschooling was the hardest job I have ever had, and I can only imagine how much harder educating several children at once would be.  Brianna came out of our experience better educated and a better thinker than she started.  She still doesn't love school, but she does enjoy knowledge.  Brian says I spent two years worrying she would have a big "H" branded on her, and he is probably right.  Now that its over, I see it is not an H that got branded on her, but a huge piece of me that walked out the door to middle school.  Hopefully it won't ruin her.

Do the Next Thing

I found the poem below while reading in car line.  I have to admit, the first few days of everyone back at school- the first time ever to be at home by myself, have not gone quite as I expected.  The twins, were far more demanding than I ever expected and homeschooling, while wonderful, drained anything else left of my lifeblood right out.  Basically, I have 3 and a half years of accumulating to do lists waiting to be tackled as soon as I dropped all 4 smiling faces at the school house door.  Not just big projects, but some things as basic as clean the basement kitchen sink, finally have all the clothes put away at one time, separate important mementos from 6 month old mail, find the charger to my nook, wash hair and shave in the same showering event. Day 7 on the island and none of these have happened.  I have spent hours in meetings, the nightmare/never ending house redecorating project, and caring for a sick child but......  Basically, I am as overwhelmed as before they went back to school, now I just feel more guilty for not having it all done.  It will get better.  I have a little more done each day, I have just had to extend projected completion date to Christmas. Or maybe May.

At an old English parsonage down by the sea,
There came in the twilight a message to me.
Its quaint Saxon legend deeply engraven
That, as it seems to me, teaching from heaven.
And all through the hours the quiet words ring,
Like a low inspiration, do the next thing.

Many a questioning, many a fear,
Many a doubt hath its quieting here.
Moment by moment, let down from heaven,
Time, opportunity, and guidance are given.
Fear not tomorrow, child of the King,
Trust them with Jesus, do the next thing.

Do it immediately, do it with prayer;
Do it reliantly, casting all care.
Do it with reverence, tracing His hand,
Who placed it before thee with earnest command.
Stayed on Omnipotence, safe'neath His wing,
Leave all results, do the next thing.

Looking to Jesus, ever serener,
Working or suffering be thy demeanor;
In His dear presence,  the rest of His calm,
The light of His countenance, be thy psalm,
Strong in His faithfulness, praise and sing.
Then as He beckons, do the next thing.

Author Unknown

Meet the Patriots 2011

 

You only thought this was about hearing from the football coach and meeting the team.  It was really about seeing and hearing my baby girl announced as part of the Patriot Cross Country Team.  Watch out world she is coming on strong!

First Day of School 2011

Update from this morning.  Girls all had a great day!  Jack's at least got better than it started.  Brianna made friends and loves her science teacher.  She and Hadley talked non stop after pickup.  Lucy fell dead asleep at cheer practice.  We just got back from cross country where Brianna ran 4 miles.  Whew!  We will need dynamite in the morning but at least they seem excited for day 2!


Rough start.  Juice was spilled, tempers flared, hormones raged.  3 people cried. (I was one of them) Lunch and one backpack forgotten.  As we walked the whole distance of the building to Jack and Lucy’s classes, Jack lamented that he wanted to “go to the same school as last year”  And who can blame him.  The idea to fruit basket toss up the entire building guaranteeing no one knows any one was a terrible plan.  So much for strong and stable. It has to get better right???  So begins the 2011- 2012 year. Two kindergartners, 5th grader and 7th grader.  Cross country and cheer tonight.  Really hoping this is not a statement on the overall year.

What 40 years of marriage will get you

 

I think the plan was for Grandma and Grandpa to be front and center, but somehow Jack and I ended up there.

This is what 15 years will get you.  Expect to see this again at Christmas!

Tooth Fairy

I am pretty good at Easter most years.  I have made resurrection rolls, dyed Easter eggs with natural colors and usually get the white shoe thing taken care of (thanks Susan for help this year!).  I am a little better than good at Christmas- neat teacher presents, theme gifts, homemade gift bags one year (yes, that was pre children.)  I even manage to get gingerbread made for Russian Christmas and at least mention the happening of major Jewish holidays, so my kids can be more well rounded. But.... I am really, really, really, really, really, really, really, REALLY AWFUL at the Tooth Fairy.  If I had it to do over again, this little tradition would never have graced our door step.  I don't have change, they forget to tell me, teeth have been lost in the yard, I have to explain why teeth are worth $1 this time and $5 the next (the change thing again) and why the teeth down the road are worth $20.  I can't answer all the questions about the boy fairy or girl fairy thing thanks to the Santa Claus movies.  And finally, sometimes, most of the time, I fall into bed exhausted and just forget.  Such was the story this week.

My sweet baby boy lost his first tooth.  It had been loose for days.  We had begun to worry it would come out in his sleep.  The grown up tooth was already coming in behind the baby tooth.  He was gnawing corn on the cob with his jaw teeth.  He would not let me touch it and finally, all on his own, he pulled that little sucker out while watching Loony Tunes.  He was so proud.  The gap is so cute.  We praised his skill at pulling it himself.  He smiled his now gaping, super self confident grin, and Hadley began to tell the wonders of the tooth fairy. UGGG.  Daddy helped him place the tooth in his shoe instead of under the pillow as this makes tooth fairy work easier and sent him off to bed.  After a few more up and downs, an issue from Lucy, and confirmation that I had set the alarm for our new early morning schedule of cross country, we climbed  into bed while discussing the debt ceiling vote and ....... forgot all about it.  The next morning, only moments after I had awoken before the alarm due to yet another headache, a somber little boy wandered into my room to exclaim "She forgot to come."  Forget the excedrin and lack of coffee.  I immediately sat up and engaged.  "Oh baby, I am sure you just can't find it."  Wheels are spinning in my head.  I have used lots of explanations about the holiday season or backlog of tooth loosing cases, but this was a first tooth.  Nothing could explain this away.  I convinced my still slightly groggy boy to lay down and watch TV, a privilege he had lost for hitting Lucy, while I went to look.  I quickly wrote a note on leftover invitation card stock giving him the right to pick out the toy of his choice from Toys R Us- Love the Tooth Fairy.  Guilt is a terrible thing.  I ran upstairs and stuffed it between the mattress and headboard and called him to see what I had found.  So by 6:15am, I had lied, connived and set an impossible future standard all to appease my guilt. Did I mention the headache?

St George- Sand and Water

 

The first day we were there, we had awesome waves.  Brianna and Hadley are both captivated by Soul Surfer right now so they loved riding boogie boards.  I was once told I would “sissify” my kids so I work very hard at making sure they do not share their mothers assorted fears.  Go big or go home.  The funny side to this is that one side of the family finds me overly cautious and the “safety queen.”  The other finds me encouraging danger and less than watchful.  One more to the list of I can’t win.  Anyways, all 4 kids had a great time.

Lucy loves to be thrown in the air and splash back down into the water.

That’s some serious height.  I admit to catching my breath on a few of these.

Jack is becoming a fish like his sisters.  Aunt Karen suggested Hadley and Lucy may have gills.

Cousin R had major construction projects to create dams and canals.  Jack was no near as focused or organized.  Jack is more of a chase down the seagulls, eat a rice crispy treat while surfing kind of guy.  Jack carries around “little men", the assorted super heroes from his play sets of batman etc.  He insisted on burying them in the sand and then thinking Mama could just keep digging until I found them.  Brian said he was like a dog with a bone as despite my constant irritation with him for hiding the little men, he always seemed to find them.

 

Brianna is my nature lover.  She can spot crabs from miles away.  We had several that lived right outside the door or in this case, on the door.

My social butterfly (Hadley) knew every kid and family on the beach.

Lucy loved the beach and playing in the water, but we could not stop the eating of sand.  A lot of sand. 

Plenty of Daddy time was without a doubt the highlight of Lucy’s trip.  She is always happiest when we are all together.  Lucy reminds us what a blessing family is.  While exhausting, walking the beach with Lucy and Brianna while usually quiet Brianna talks non stop, and Lucy squeals to put her feet in the water is simply wonderful.

Total Cheer at the Beach

 

  

Hadley loves to dress she and Lucy alike.  Lucy loves cheer.  Most loud, chaotic places make her crazy, but Lucy loves cheer competitions.  Hadley is trying to teach her to fly and makes Jack the back spot.  It is very impressive to watch how hard a child that can’t stand independently will work to do a high V.  HW + D = WT  Hard work plus determination equals winning tradition.

St George 2011

 

When you become “ancient” (Brianna’s word for her elderly parents), you appreciate the value of a floppy hat.  Brian’s word was “classy”.  I think I like his view of me better.

All the fun details to follow.  Clear water, ocean breeze, dolphins just a few yards away and crabs galore.  I love vacation.  I am going for 2 weeks or even a month just as soon as possible. It may be a few decades but a girls gotta dream. ; )

Just Pool It

 

Oh how much difference a year makes.  I can now easily handle 4 at the pool.  Everybody carries something.  Big kids can manage themselves.  Jack is close to swimming without his life jacket all the time and Lucy swims.  That’s right!!  She puts her head in, blows bubbles, kicks and rolls for more oxygen.  It is interesting to see how many people know Lucy.  She of course doesn’t tell me names,but they sure recognize her.  With the move to public, Jack and Hadley both have more buddies to play with and Brianna spends most of her time reading and sunning.  It’s been a great time for all.  The addition of life guards that smile hasn’t hurt either.

Hadley tumbles as much as she swims.  How many of you can do handstand push ups?  Didn’t think so.

Jack is in a serious posing stage.  What in the world is he showcasing??  Lucy is on the swim ten, eat ten plan.  Thank goodness for school lunches at the pool!