Autumn

I said my next post would be about Ivy. Autumn is hijacking that. 

1. Yesterday she asked me to hold her ball. I said I couldn't because my hands were dirty. She responded by saying, "well, in that case, I will set it down". 

2. Today I didn't have any appointments at work and decided to wear jeans and a t-shirt. I told her I was going to work and Kiki was coming to watch her. She looked at me and said, "wait, that is your work outfit??". 

3. As I was carrying her to the car today she said you have a big tummy just like Kiki. I said I do? She pointed to my ever small chest and said, "yes, right here". I told her that wasn't my tummy and showed her where that was. She asked what the other was called and I said, breasts. Then her 2 year old self said, "you and Kiki have breasts". That was weird. 

4. She has been wearing her leotard since Tuesday. It is Monday. Literally. To bed. After her bath. All day. One day she pretended she was changing and then put something on the top. 

5. She wears a 12 mo hat everywhere and would wear it to bed if it would stay on her head.  I have got to find another. 

She gets more hilarious by the day! 

Note: most of her pictures have a messy face. She HATES her face and hair washed. 

I have no idea why I don't have a picture of the favorite leotard!?!?

Updates of the Forgotten Life

April has come and gone and here I sit with nothing documented for my future.  It is seriously so very depressing. 

First things first, we made it through the no washer period of our life. 

I look back now and I wonder how that is possible.  How in the world did I manage with 3 kids to not have a washer for 2 1/2 weeks?  Well, let me think.  We made our way to the laundromat on one occasion.  Being there was horrible.  My kids were insane and thought it was one fantastic day.  I was stressed after I realized I only had enough cash for 2 loads (I mean seriously, no credit cards still?) and I had no concept of how many clothes fit into those big machines and people were staring at me.  I panicked and just tried to wash the most important things and get out of there.  People were just sitting there watching us, people who regularly do their laundry there and I could feel their judging eyes as I probably did a laughable small amount of laundry.  We hauled in all of our baskets and then when I realized I didn’t have enough money, I had Owen haul them all back outside as quickly as possible.  There was also the amazing part where Autumn was standing in front of the washer, screaming that she needed to go potty.  I was hoping to at least get our loads going, but as the crying escalated, so did my sweat and I took her.  The best part was the time I realized that I STILL HAD A WORKING DRYER at home! Considering that 1. I had no more money with me and 2. I just really wanted to be done, this was fabulous.  We loaded up all of our wet clothes and went home to dry. 

So, we did that once and then I was too traumatized to go back.  The time we loaded up our clothes and washed at Emilee’s house was much more amazing. 

All in all, we survived but I am so happy that is over.

That was fun.

Next up, Ivy. 

April 2nd??!?!

I have been saying for ages that I needed a new washer. First it started leaking water and I thought it was a goner. However, thanks to You Tube, Greg was able to fix it and postpone the inevitable. 

Second, the tub somehow got off balance and shifted to the side, causing the washer to shake vigorously, making me wonder if it was going to shake out the door. Greg did not fix this. 

Third, I went to change the load yesterday and the clothes were very wet and simply lying there on the bottom rather than the side. They looked suspiciously like they missed their spin cycle.  I started it again on rinse only. On our way out the door for school, I passed by the laundry room and it smelled of burning wires and a dying motor. The clothes were resting in a tub of water and the washer was silent. 

I was able to get the clothes to drain and there is even a chance it may work again, but the smell of burning wires makes me hesitate.  I really don't want to burn my house down and always look back and say, I knew the washer was dying. 

So, I bought a new one. The only problem..... the delivery date of April 2nd of course! That is right, I have no washer for 2 weeks. I barely have time to think, much less gather my three kids and all their clothes and head to the laundromat.  

I have a solution, we already have eat everything in the house week, and now I will be adding to that the "wear everything in your drawer week and once you have done that, pick them up off the floor and wear them again." 

It is the only way. 

The most expensive farmer's market yet

Up until last summer, I hadn't had a steak in about 4 years.  I was at the farmer's market looking for a local pasture-raised chicken and ended up buying an organic, 100% grass-fed Kobe beef steak. It was expensive but oh so delicious. 

We don't eat a lot of steak, but decided it was time for some more. While I was teaching yoga one Saturday morning, I sent Greg and the kids to the market. 

That was my first mistake. 

My second mistake was not being more specific about what Greg should buy. 

The last time Greg bought the steak, they were out of the Kobe beef so he bought the Angus beef. He had no idea how much the other kind was. 

He and the kids unloaded and located the booth of the local ranch. He studied the beef, minus the price, and picked out 4 fabulous Kobe beef steaks. He took them to check out and handed the girl his card. She rang him up and gave him the receipt and his card, while calmly letting him know that his 4 steaks just cost him $165.00. He panicked for all the obvious reasons. I am sure he considered his options, he could grab his card and just run away, he could pretend the kids picked out more steaks than he wanted, he could act cool and tell her to throw in one more, or just smile and say thank you. The last option won, although he really wanted to put one or two or three back. Too bad that wasn't an option without looking like a total loser for a) not knowing Kobe beef was $45.00 per pound or for b) failing to look at the price.  

We have eaten one of our steaks because clearly the rest are for special occasions only. Of the one we did eat, I actually think the little girls ate more than both of us. It about killed us to share. The delicious costly steak was practically wasted on little mouths with no ability to appreciate what they were eating. 

When I googled Kobe beef just now, I found something that said Kobe beef is one of the most highly coveted beefs in the culinary world. 

Greg now knows this. 

I am afraid of her teeth

Greg usually brushes the kids' teeth, but the other night they asked me to.  As I was brushing Autumn's teeth, I asked her to put her teeth together and smile so I could brush the front teeth. She did that, yet, her teeth weren't even close to touching in the front! Um, small child, can you do that again? She did and much to my dismay, the teeth matched up the same as three seconds before. 

This was one of those moments when you panic on the inside and yet try to look calm on the outside while you smile and say things like, "your teeth are amazing" and "I love when you put your teeth together like that". I couldn't let her see me panic, all the while I am secretly freaking out on the inside, wondering what this means and trying to decide which professional should be helping me. 

After studying these strange teeth while she sleeps, I am still not sure if the front top teeth need to be pushed back or if her bottom jaw should be shifted forward. Now, I haven't completely panicked yet because she still has a binky. The space in the teeth is definitely where the binky sits and there is a good chance things will move around when it is gone.  I am not in 100% panic mode yet. Soon, but not yet. 

Here she is with her teeth closed. 

Poor problem teeth child. She already had two bottom teeth grow in as one and now this. Now she is miniature with a mullet and weird teeth. Poor little thing. 

Blog for Ivy’s School–Elderberries

I blog for Ivy’s school and realized I those posts should be here as well. so here is one of them…...

In my quest to heal my family and stay healthy using natural remedies, I discovered the ELDERBERRY.  Cooked elderberries (raw, unripe elderberries can be poisonous) have been used for medicine for hundreds of years.  It is believed that elderberries can help with the flu, alleviate allergies, and boost overall respiratory health. (source)  Elderberries are an excellent source of Vitamins A and C and a good source of calcium, iron, and Vitamin B6.  (source) I came across one study showed that “symptoms of the flu were relieved on average, four days earlier and the use of rescue medication was significantly less in those receiving elderberry extract compared with placebo." (source)

So, how do you incorporate elderberries in your medicine cabinet? One of the most common ways to take elderberries is by making an elderberry syrup.  You can purchase the syrup already made, however….. making your own is so easy!  I used this recipe.  There are a few out there, but they only seem to differ with the measurement of ingredients.  

Making your own syrup:

Ingredients:

2/3 cup elderberries (I buy my elderberries here) which you can order here:
3 ½ cups water,
2 T fresh or dried ginger root,
1 tsp cinnamon powder,
½ tsp cloves or clove powder,
1 cup raw honey.  (I use raw local honey from the house down the street from the school.  Local honey has all kinds of extra benefits, plus I love supporting local businesses - and it is delicious!)

Directions

Pour water, eldberries, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves into a medium saucepan
Bring to a boil and then cover and reduce to a simmer for 45 minutes to an hour.  The amount of liquid in the plan will be reduced by about half.
Remove from the heat and let the mixture cool.
Pour through a strainer into a glass bowl.
Discard the berries.  Let the liquid cool to lukewarm and then add the honey and stir.
The standard dose is ½ tsp to 1 tsp for kids and ½ TBS- 1 TBS for adults per day.  When you feel any flu symptoms coming on, you can increase the amount by taking the same dosage but taking it 2-3 times per day. 

I have come across some information says you shouldn’t take elderberries for more than 5 days at a time, while I know that others take elderberries every day to prevent the flu during the entire flu season.  You just need to do what feels right for you.  We take it about once a week and my kids LOVE it, which is always a bonus.

Facebook

I have a confession - I check Facebook way too much. I have a busy brain and it is the perfect busy mindless task to take up time and space in my head. Let me explain how this works....When I have entirely too much to do and I don't know where to start... Check Facebook. When I am in the middle of something hard for work... Suddenly stop and check Facebook.  Look at the messy kitchen...check Facebook. Quite honestly, I don't know what I go there for. I mostly follow pages rather than people. The people post a link to something, I follow the link, that link goes somewhere else, and before I know it, I have a head spinning with information and got nothing done. 

I am addicted to information and Facebook is nothing good for an information junkie. 

In an effort to break the cycle, Emilee and I went cold turkey. We signed off until April with a rule: each time we sign on during the next month we have to put $1.00 in a jar and at the end of the month Angie gets all the money. Horrible, right? Now if that isn't a deterrent, I don't know what is.

It has been a little over a week and I cannot lie, it has been hard. I have even considered paying my $1.00 a time or two. I can't respond to a friend request, I can't reply to a message, I can't see what Food Babe has does recently, I can't look at my boot camp group page which tells me who is coming to my yoga class, and I don't know the latest home remedy that I could be using. It is amazing that I am still alive actually.  

So as we move into April, I am curious what happens. I am over checking it all day long, just because. But, can an information junkie with a jumpy brain check it once a day or once every few days?

I have a feeling the Facebook money jar will be around for awhile.  Not wanting to give Angie the money may be my only hope and works like a charm. (Especially after seeing her joy in the prospect of so much money... I must prevail!!)