WE MADE IT

Well, folks, we made it. The flight was ridiculously easy. You can hardly count flying business class as really flying, though. The seats completely folded down into beds so we were able to just put our kids to bed and they slept all night. The boys were so excited to get to watch movies while they were awake. That's all they did! Jack got restless a few times, but overall was a champ.

When we arrived at the airport the company had arranged for a meet and greet service to get us through customs. That all went quickly and smoothly. (We are pretty terrified for having to do all this ourselves next time, like flying economy and standing in the super long customs line.) Then came time to load up our 20 suitcases and drive home. Buuuuut, the meet and greet service hadn't reserved us a car. So they called someone to come pick us up. So we waited and waited and finally a driver arrived. In a Honda Odyssey. For 7 people and 20 suitcases. Right. So we loaded up the suitcases in the Odyssey and there was just enough room for 2 people to ride. So Jack and I loaded up and Dan went with the driver to go call a taxi for the rest of them. The driver had left the van literally in the middle of the road, and people kept honking and honking and getting all mad. I was a little nervous sitting there all alone!

Anyways, we made it to our house after 21 total hours of travel time. The boys had slept really well on the plane, so even though it was bedtime here, they were all wide awake!

It was a really strange feeling coming into our new house and realizing that this is no weekend trip. We're really not coming back for a long time. Even if we come home at Christmas time, it'll still be the longest I have ever been away from home. This is an adventure for sure, but the realities of every day life hit pretty quickly. I admit that I took a moment when we got here and just had to sit on the floor and .... I don't even know the word. I just had to sit and stare at the wall.  I didn't even know where to start, there was too much and it was too overwhelming. I just knew the place I felt the most comfortable was in the kitchen.

So we're here and now we have to feed a family of 7. We feel like it's 4 in the afternoon, but it's midnight here and we have no car. The company provides a "care pack" with 6 eggs, a loaf of bread, some milk (1 liter), some jam, and some cornflakes. So we had to ration that out between dinner and breakfast. I did, however, have a moment of accidental genius. On our way out of our house, I put a cake mix in my suitcase. My goodness, did it ever raise our spirits to have a cake the first night in our new house!! Of course, I didn't have a cake pan, but there was a roaster pan under the range, so that did the trick! Other moment of accidental genius was when I put an unopened jar of Nutella in our suitcase. Nutella toast is especially delicious when there's nothing else around. Funny how just having those two items made us feel so much better. I realized something that I may have known subconsciously but had never articulated to myself: cooking for my family actually makes me feel good. In all the disarray of arriving and having suitcases everywhere, and being in an unfamiliar place, I knew I could bring comfort to us all by putting food on the table.

One of the first things I did when we got here put up one of the only decorations I brought with me: my Rosie the Riveter magnet. For some reason it gives me so much strength. And I know WE CAN DO IT!!!

3 years ago

I don't have time to write a blog post right now... which is usually when I write blog posts...Scroll down to the pictures if you don't want to read the birth story. :)

June 1-Three years ago tonight I was making dinner for my little family, when suddenly I began to have some pretty intense contractions. I was right around my due date and having delivered my last baby about 40 minutes after I got to the hospital, I decided to call my mom to come over so I could get to the hospital sooner this time. I had decided not to use any pain killers, since my last delivery showed me I could do it and live to tell the tale... I also called Dan at work and told him to get his tail onto a bus pronto.

So my mom and Dan showed up about an hour after I called them... but my contractions hadn't gotten any more intense. In fact, they were somewhat erratic. I felt like a moron for calling everyone home. So we decided to wait a while to see if they got any worse. I had a few intense ones here or there, but there was no clear intensification. I asked my mom to stay the night in case I need to leave for the hospital at some ungodly hour. I had maybe one or two bad ones in the night, but otherwise got a good night sleep.

June 2- I had a regular OB appointment that morning at 9, so my mom stayed with the kids and I packed a bag just in case she sent me to the hospital. I felt fine, but was having only irregular contractions. When I got there I told the doctor what was going on and she checked me. I will never forget what she said next, "Well, you're a 7 with a bulging bag. Go straight to the hospital and don't hit any bumps on your way there." Soooo off we went. I knew they wouldn't let me eat once I got to the hospital, so I did the only prudent thing: I stopped at Burger King and got a large Oreo milkshake. :)

The doctor had called ahead to tell the hospital nurses I was coming. When I arrived at the hospital, the nurses were in disbelief that I was just walking into the hospital at a 7! I really still felt pretty good. So they got me to a room and hooked me up to a monitor. Then they pretty much disappeared for a couple hours. Dan and I just sat watching TV. The anesthesiologist came in and asked if I wanted an epidural and I said no. He asked me if I was sure and I informed him I was pretty sure.  A few minutes later a nurse burst into my room and breathlessly asked me if I was OK. I was a little baffled but I told her I was doing just fine. Her response made me laugh: "Well, I heard a scream and you're the only woman on the floor who does not have an epidural, so I assumed it must be you." Well, anyways, finally the doctor came in a broke my water then left saying, "Push the call button when you need help." Approximately five and a half seconds later I had a crazy intense contraction and pushed the call button for help. Of course, I pretty much couldn't talk through the contraction, so I kind of moaned for help :). At that point I turned to Dan and said, "Dang blast it, I could have had an epidural..." Oh well...I did it and this little guy was born about 15 minutes later....

And from the very beginning, he has been one of the sweetest little children I have ever seen. I am so in love with this child, I find it somewhat overwhelming - it almost makes me feel breathless. 

I know every mom thinks her baby is the most beautiful. And I think every mom is right, because babies are straight from heaven, and they radiate that heavenly light and beauty. Babies are so, so wonderful. And, yes, I think my babies are extremely beautiful. 

I am so grateful this boy joined our family three years ago. He has brought so much love and such a gentle spirit to our home. Happy birthday to my darling boy.

A slice of life.... and cheese.

2:50 walk to school to pick up George.

3:10 get George from school

3:40 get home. We all have a case of the grumpies. We make banana peanut butter smoothies to try to feel better (I never measure, but it's roughly: 2 bananas, 4tbsp peanut butter,  1 cup of milk, 1/2 cup plain yogurt, 1 1/2 c. ice and BLEND!). I realize I have no plan for dinner. Dang it.

4:10 I realize George has scouts in 20 minutes. Dang it. I tell George to go get ready and load the other boys into the car.

4:34 Drop George off at scouts. I run into a friend who compliments my dress today and tells me I look like I should be walking through a French market or something. We chat for a few minutes and I head toward home....

4;55 Arrive at.... La Madeleine... The closest thing to a French market anywhere around here, but it does the trick. The power of suggestion was just too strong to resist! So with pain au chocolat and a baguette in hand, I head back to my car.... Don't judge me...

5:15 Arrive at home and realize there's not even time to get out of the car, so I head back to get George from scouts.

5:50 Arrive home. Still no plan for dinner, although now I at least have a baguette. It's a start.

6:00 The kids really want to play in the sprinklers in the backyard. I say ok.. Within 5 seconds there are several little nakiepants running around looking for swimsuits...

6:10 The boys want me to blow up the pool. I don't want to. I haven't made dinner yet! But I guilt myself into it and blow it up for them...

6:30 Shoot, I forgot to nurse the baby... Boys are outside filling up the pool. So I sit down to nurse on the couch where I can see the boys playing outside. Pray they'll be ok while I nurse... They turn the hose on to the trampoline and are shooting each other with it while they jump.

6:45 I put baby soap all over the trampoline so the boys can jump, have fun, and get clean at the same time...Multitasking!

6:50 Call Dan to see if relief is coming soon. He won't be home until 7:40. Dang it. Well, at least there's more time to think about dinner...

7:00 THINK! what can we have for dinner... Looks like we might be eating a baguette...Hmmm what goes with baguettes. Cheese! I look in the fridge and find all sorts of random cheeses left over from various random recipes... Fontina! Parmesan! Dubliner! Let's have a cheese plate! I also find "Parisienne Carrots" in the freezer.... Sounds French to me! Then a couple cans of tomato soup, just so something looks like a main course. Voila!

7:45 Dan gets home and I try to convince the boys to come inside.

8:00 Everyone is in and ready to eat. We have fun talking about France and French food.

8:30 Everyone declares dinner a success. They loved it! I think we'll have another cheese plate night again soon!

Bon apettit!

The way to a man's heart is through his stomach...

I have been realizing over and over and over (and over) lately that prior to my tenure as a "boy mom" I had no clue what boys were like. Sure, growing up I had one brother, but there's something that happens... some kind of synergy that makes a group of boys quite a bit different than one boy alone. A lone boy may love to wrestle, but give him 4 brothers to wrestle with and... well...wrestle-mania!!

Anyways, the point of my story is one of the things I have learned from being the mom of 5 handsome little gentlemen is that it is really true that "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach." One day last year I made cookies for my boys after school. I had never done it before, but ventured into new territory. I was amazed at their reaction. Suddenly I became, officially, the "best mom ever." I got more "I love you"s and more spontaneous hugs and kisses that day than I had in a long time. It was somewhat intoxicating... it kind of made me want to bake for them every day! Up to that point I would stress a lot about giving my kids super healthy after school snacks, but I realized it probably wouldn't hurt to make a treat every once in a while. So maybe every couple of weeks or so I would make them some cookies or something. 

Around the same time I discovered "Chocolate Covered Katie." (http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/) She is a Godsend! She blended my desire to get at my little men's hearts with my desire to feed them healthy food! It's kind of amazing. (Now, don't get me wrong, I am not that mom that hides healthy things in brownies in order to trick her kids into eating vegetables. NO NO NO! My kids make these things with me, they see what goes in them, and I still present vegetables and such to them at mealtime and fully expect them to eat them. Had to make sure that was clear ;) )

Aaaanyways, here are a few of our recent successes.

Comments in orange are from me :)

Copycat Chocolate VitaTops

(makes 12)

• 2 tbsp milk of choice (30g)
• 2 tbsp oil, or 2 more tbsp milk of choice (30g)
• 1/2 tbsp pure vanilla extract (6g)
• 1 tbsp ground flax (6g) or 1 tsp energ powder (Can omit; they will just be a little denser.) I used a heaping tbsp flax
• 1/2 cup pureed prunes or pumpkin (120g) I used pumpkin
• 1/2 cup spelt flour (all-purpose flour works too, and a reader says you can use Bob’s gf mix.) (65g) I used all whole wheat flour
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder (10g)
• 2 tbsp xylitol or sugar (25g) I used sugar
• 1 to 2 more tbsp sugar or 1 to 2 nunaturals stevia packets (scant 1/16 tsp uncut) (Add 1 tbsp if using prunes, 2 if using the pumpkin.)
• highly recommended: 1/4 cup chocolate chips or mini chips (mixed into the batter) 
• optional: 2-4 chocolate chips per muffin, for decoration

Preheat oven to 350 F, and grease a standard-sized muffin pan. In a mixing bowl, combine first 5 ingredients and whisk. In a separate bowl, combine all remaining ingredients except the decoration ingredient, and stir well. Now mix wet into dry and stir until just combined. Don’t over-mix. Distribute batter evenly among 12 muffin cups, and—if desired—place two or three chocolate chips on the top of each muffin. Bake 12 minutes, then allow to cool 5-10 minutes before removing from the muffin tins. Note: these bake in exactly the shape you put them in the muffin tin. I just threw mine in the muffin cup and they were ugly :) next time I might be more careful to make them prettier... http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2013/01/16/copycat-chocolate-brownie-vitamuffins/

Raspberry Vanilla Coffee Cake

(makes 10 slices)

• 1 cup milk of choice (240g)
• 1/2 cup vanilla-flavored yogurt (such as Wholesoy or Silk) (115g) All I had was raspberry-on-the-bottom greek yogurt. It worked well!
• 1 tbsp ground flax (5g)
• 1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract (6g)
• 3 tbsp coconut or veg oil (30g) I used coconut oil
• 2 cups spelt flour, all-purpose, or Bob’s gf (250g) I used 1/2 all purpose, 1/2 whole wheat
• 2/3 cups xylitol or sugar (or sucanat) (130g) I used sugar
• 4 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/16 tsp pure stevia, or 2 extra tbsp sugar (or 2 NuNaturals packets)
• 1 2/3 cups raspberries (230g)
• 1/3 cup more raspberries (50g)
• optional: chocolate chips Um, no. It's unholy to mix chocolate in with a fruit coffee cake. ;)

Preheat oven to 350 F, and grease a 9 1/2-in springform pan. Combine first 5 ingredients (yes, the flax too) and whisk. Set aside. In a separate, large measuring bowl, combine all remaining ingredients except the final 1/3 cup raspberries, and stir well. Pour wet into dry and stir until evenly combined (don’t overmix). Pour into the prepared pan, then sprinkle the remaining berries on top. Bake 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out relatively clean. Cool the healthy raspberry coffee cake in pan on a wire rack, 15 minutes, then remove the sides of the pan. http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2013/04/02/raspberry-vanilla-coffee-cake/

Samoas Babies

• Packed 1/2 cup dates (90g)
• 2 tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut (30g)
• 1/16 tsp pure vanilla extract
• scant 1/8 tsp salt
• 1-2 tbsp chocolate chips or bar (14-28g) I used 72% Ghiradelli dark chocolate

Put all the ingredients together in your food processor, and blend. (I like to make 1/2 a batch and use the Magic Bullet short cup.) You can reserve a few of the chocolate chips to add, post-blending, if you so desire. Roll into little balls. http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2011/04/11/girl-scout-samoas-in-larabar-form/

OH, and here's my modified peanut butter cookie recipe:

New PB cookie recipe

1 cup PB

1 cup oatmeal

1 egg

1 tsp baking soda

1 tbsp ground flax seeds

1/2 c. sugar

optional: Ghiradelli 60% cocoa chocolate chips, or mini chocolate chips.

Mix. Bake 10 min at 350.

And while I was writing this, one of the little man-creatures tracked little muddy footprints all the way across the kitchen floor.  

Happy eating :)

Easiest meal ever.

I got this meal from our church cookbook. It's so easy and every ingredient is shelf stable, so you can just keep it in your pantry for nights when you need a super, super quick meal. May I also add that George requested this tonight because he LOVED it when I made it last week, and he made it BY HIMSELF.

Four bean soup
from Beth Caskey

1 can garbanzo beans*
1 can black beans*
1 can kidney beans*
1 can Ranch style beans
1 jar salsa (I used PACE)

Dump ingredients together (DO NOT rinse or drain beans) and heat them up. Can be stovetop or crockpot. Serve with chips or crackers.

*I used low sodium beans and it was still good :)

The end.

Let them eat cake!

I asked Dan this year if he could pick any cake in the world for his birthday, what would it be. He told me something cinnamon-y and streusel-y  and carmel-y. So I typed those words into google and came up with this.

http://www.marthastewart.com/965160/cinnamon-streusel-coffee-cake

It didn't fit the carmel-y description, but I figured it would work. It was really delicious. I ended up making it again for book club with a few changes, and I think I liked it better my way. So, here's my way :) (basically no nuts, more cinnamon, less salt)

Martha Stewart Cinnamon Struesel Coffee Cake

Ingredients

• FOR THE STREUSEL TOPPING AND CENTER

  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup packed light-brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • Coarse salt
  • 1 1/2 sticks cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
  • 
    

• FOR THE CAKE

  • 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • Coarse salt
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup sour cream

• FOR THE GLAZE

  • 1 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 2 tablespoons whole milk

Directions

1. Make the streusel topping: Mix together flour, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cut in butter using a pastry cutter or rub in with your fingers until small to medium clumps form.  Refrigerate until ready to use.
2. Make the streusel center: Mix together remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Make the cake: Butter a 9-inch tube pan with a removable bottom. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon salt into a bowl.
4. Beat butter and granulated sugar with a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, then vanilla. Beat in flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with sour cream, beginning and ending with flour. Continue to beat until well combined.
5. Spoon half the batter into pan. Sprinkle streusel center mixture evenly over batter. Top with remaining batter, and spread evenly using an offset spatula. Sprinkle streusel topping mixture evenly over batter.
6. Bake until cake is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 55 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack, and let cool completely. Remove cake from pan, and transfer to parchment.
7. Make the glaze: Mix together confectioners' sugar and milk. Drizzle over cake, and let drip down sides. Let set for 5 minutes before serving.

It was very tasty. After Dan told me how good it was, he said he imagined something more carmel-y and with apples (not in his original search terms!) Of course after we talked about it more, I realized he had a specific cake in mind that I had made once about 4 years ago.  This one is really delicious, too. Here you go:

Apple Cake


1 1/2 c. oil

2 c sugar

3 eggs

1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

3 c. plain flour

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. soda

1 tbsp. vanilla

3 medium apples (2 large)

1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional) (I've never used the nuts)

Mix oil, sugar, eggs in a stand mixer 3 minutes on medium. Blend in dry ingredients and vanilla. Fold in apples and nuts. Bake in greased bundt cake pan at 350 for 1 hour and 20 minutes.

When cake is almost done: Whisk together over medium heat: 1 stick butter, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 2 tbsp. milk. for about 5 minutes.. Glaze will be runny. Pour over top of hot cake.

ENJOY!

Spinach Dip!

I hosted a baby shower last night for a sweet friend of mine and made this artichoke dip. Lots of people asked for the recipe, so here it is! I doubled the recipe for the party, although I still wanted to eat it all by myself :) Soooooo yummy!

1 can 14 oz artichoke hearts
1 pkg 10 oz frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
3/4 cup parmesan cheese
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup shredded mozarella cheese
1/2 tsp garlic powder


Heat oven to 350. Mix all ingredients, spoon into 9 inch pie plate. Bake 20 minutes or until heated through.

NOTE: I buy the Marinated artichoke hearts. They come in 7 oz and 12 oz glass jars and are usually right next to the canned artichokes. They add a little more flavor to the dip.


Serve with chips or pita bread. Enjoy!