See the Animals and Clowns

The title of my blog is from a song I learned in the first grade when we put on our circus play:

"See the Animals and clowns, see the animals and clowns!

Watch the lions and the tigers as they chase away your frowns.

It's the biggest show on earth, a menagerie of mirth!

Step inside awhile and laugh and smile for all your worth!"

I won't bore you with the rest of it, but aren't you impressed I remember it even after having babies (because we all know that the minute that baby comes out, so do all of your remaining brain cells!)? I was a clown in that play and I got to ride a big wheel in school, which was a huge deal.

Anyhow, I'm singing that song because on Friday, we went to the circus! Not just any circus either, but the grandaddy of all circus kind....the Ringling Brothers and Barnham and Bailey Circus! One of the perks we are able to enjoy with my hubby's job is the occassional use of the company suite at Phillips Arena. He was sweet enough to get 4 (free) tickets to the circus, so my mom and dad (Nina and Papa) went with Molly, Jack and myself (hubby couldn't go...bummer!). I haven't been to the circus in a jillion years, but y'all, it was incredible!!!! Absolutely amazing! I wasn't sure what Molly would think. I figured she would either love it, cry, or just get distracted from it after 10 minutes and want to run around. She was MESMERIZED!!! I really don't think she took her eyes off of it for 2 whole hours. Her favorite was the animals....elephants, tigers, horses, dogs, ponies, goats, and even a porcupine!

Molly was glued to the glass!

This is what happened when I tried to pull her away for a quick picture...

So I had to settle for this....

...and this!

Papa and Jack got to bond a lot.

Jack and Nina enjoyed some time together too!

And then, being the precious little guy he is, Jack drifted off to sleep in the middle of the circus!!

We really had a great time. I highly recommend you go if you get the chance! Molly has been talking about it ever since! Of course, watching us trying to get her to leave and go home afterwards was like a circus act all in itself, but it was worth it!

On a totally random note, I'm off to make some "Deliciously Deceptive" (by Jessica Seinfeld, if you aren't familiar)carrot-cake muffins. The recipe sneaks in carrot puree, cauliflower puree (I just finished making both), apricots and prunes. I figure it might be good to get a vegetable in my daughter's body since she hasn't voluntarily eaten one in, oh, let's see, maybe a year? I'll let you know if the deception works!

My buddy

Have you seen my little buddy lately?

He is the most adorable little 6 month old ever!

At 6 months, he is 29 1/4 inches long and weighs 22 pounds, and is wearing 12-18 month clothing. He is a BIG boy!

He has the sweetest disposition ever. He is what some know as an "angel baby". When he wakes up in the morning or from a nap, he just rolls around happily in his crib until I go get him. In fact, half the time I don't have any idea when he woke up! He never cries, but just plays with his feet until I show up! He is ever so patient with me. He often has to wait a little bit more than he might want to to be fed or changed, but he never complains. He is so content watching big sister run circles around him or to just sit on the floor with his toys. He has a big smile, ready for anyone who looks at him. He loves his sister (who may or may not give him the time of day) and his daddy (he starts kicking up a storm when daddy comes home from work!). He is easy to make laugh and has the best giggle ever.

And he loves mommy the most!!! (smile!)

I just adore this little guy, and I'm so grateful that we have him! He is the most precious addition to our family.

Blog inflicted identity crisis

Both of the kids went down for long naps today, which almost NEVER happens anymore! I used my time ever so wisely to blog stalk, and now I think I have a full blown case of blogger identity crisis. Or maybe it's just an identity crisis in general.

As a mother of 2 little ones, I struggle to find a "place" for myself. A place to cultivate and use gifts or talents I have. A place to feel like I am a part of something bigger than myself. I know, I know...motherhood is being a part of something bigger than myself, but can't we all agree that it just doesn't feel that way, especially when you are cleaning up the 900th glass of spilled milk or making your 900th bottle? I mean, we all know that Target exists because it's a haven for weary mommy's who just need somewhere to go to get everyone out of the house for just a little while! But I digress...

I have so many interests. So many things I would like to learn more about. So many things I just enjoy. I love cooking. I love reading cookbooks and trying new recipes. I love watching Food Network. I love decorating. I love to look at beautiful homes and glean ideas. I love art projects. I love to make something from nothing. I love a bargain. I love to create something wonderful for cheap. I love community. I love friendships with all different people. I love bonding with other moms. I love Jesus and love to spend time talking about or learning about him with others.

I have blog hopped today and I'm still reeling from the talented ladies out there. I came across blogs for foodies, with authors who have actually competed in cooking competitions and create their own recipes (of course they are all fitness experts as well, so they don't get as big as a house eating their delicious food, as I most certainly would!). I've come across blogs for decorators, with some of the most beautiful homes I've seen outside of a magazine. I've come across blogs for bargain hunters and project lovers that would put McGyver (is that how you spell that?) to shame ("I found this lamp cord, a bunny statue, and broken picture frame at a yard sale. With a little paint, it's now a chandelier in my dining room!"). I've read many blogs that are so inspirational. So many women using their extraordinary (or sometimes just ordinary) circumstances to glorify God and point others to Him. Some blogs are just about relating to other women in the same stage of life, and they leave me laughing out loud.

It's all a little intimidating!

I don't really have an answer for my questions, which are "what is my identity here? who do I want to be? how do I accomplish being that person?" In fact, my 2 year old is very vocal about the fact that she would like for me to come and get her up from her nap now, so no time to think about it now! I guess big picture, blogland exposes a real life identity crisis.

Can I be just a little bit of everything?

I'm back for some more "Not Me!" Monday!

It's Monday, and what better way to celebrate than to join in for a little "Not Me!" Monday fun! Have anything you do not want to own up to? Join the fun by going to www.mycharmingkids.net. See what everyone else has not been up to!

This past weekend we celebrated Valentine's Day. I was in charge of snack for my daughter's preschool class. Another child had a birthday that day, so my snack was postponed. I am so glad that I did not use that as an excuse to eat all of the Valentine M&Ms that I had for part of the snack mix I was going to make. I am also glad that I did not find Halloween candy under a stack of bibs in the pantry. I also did not use the Halloween mini hershey bars to make adorable mini s'mores with graham crackers and marshmallows. As a result of not doing all of this, I did not go to the YMCA this morning and I will not attempt counting Weight Watchers points (again!). Yep, I'm so glad that I posess enough self-control that I do not have to do that.

That's all I got folks. I'm just too tired from not working out to think anymore right now. I am not going to go lay on the sofa now instead of working my post-baby abs....

A Sunday afternoon

It's 4:12 on Sunday afternoon, and everyone in my house is asleep except for me! This is RARE indeed! I don't really have anything spectacular to blog about, so here are a few random things on my mind:

1- We had some friends over for Valentine's dinner last night and it was so much fun!! We put the kids to bed and then got to work cooking a pretty fantastic dinner (if I do say so myself!). Cooking is something I always enjoy, but it was so much more fun with a friend! We made pecan chicken with honey mustard sauce, crunchy new potatoes, a fantastic salad, and Kahlua java cakes for dessert.....OH MY!!!! I would love to include all of the recipes, but it would take forever and I actually need to write out the one for the chicken, so I'll tell you the easy potato recipe and the dessert recipe at the end of this post (are you just hanging on the edge of your seat?). We ate ourselves almost sick, but it was worth every bite (and every bit of ensuing heartburn!).

2- Today was Global Outreach Sunday at church, and there was a gospel choir there from Poland.....yes, you read that right. They were INCREDIBLE!! So good, in fact, that after the service was over, we went to get the kids and then brought them back into the sanctuary to catch them singing again before the next service! When we left, Molly said, "bye bye big music!" We had a preacher from Singapore deliver the message. I always get especially inspired when we have visitors from other countries leading us in worship, because I imagine THAT is what heaven will be like. I can't wait to hear the choirs from all the nations, singing together to praise God. How utterly amazing!

3- There are some very mean-spirited pants taunting me from my closet. They are all in pretty spring colors and they just loooove that they get to hang there because they know I can't fit 1 leg in. I keep thinking that I need to do something about that, but honestly, I just can't seem to find the real drive. I definitely didn't find it in the dessert I ate last night. It wasn't in the kettle corn I made yesterday either. I don't want to be one of those people who, in 5 years, says, "wow! I weigh as much now as I did when I was 9 months pregnant!" It's time to show those spring pants who's boss. Do I dare make this a blog topic for accountability?

4- My friend commented today that her mother-in-law has said they need to do more things. I think that is probably not for her MIL to say, but what cracked me up is when my friend says, "Yea, I guess she wouldn't be very impressed with the fact that the only thing on my calendar is my period." ha ha ha ha ha!!!! I thought that was hilarious!

5- I wanted to round this out at 5 thoughts, but I don't have 5, so here are the recipes...

Crunchy Red Potatoes

12 red potatoes
1 envelope of Hidden Valley Buttermilk Ranch dressing mix
2 cups crushed corn flakes
1 cup melted butter (if you guess this is a Paula Deen recipe, you are correct!)

Boil the potatoes for 20 minutes. Cool and peel. Combine dressing mix with cornflakes in a bowl. Dip potatoes in butter and then roll in corn flake mix. Place in a greased 13x9. Bake at 400 for 20 minutes until golden.

Mocha Java Cakes

1 cup butter
8 oz. bittersweet chocolate chips
4 egg yolks
4 eggs
2 cups powdered sugar
3/4 cup flour
1 tsp. instant coffee granules
pinch of salt

Grease 6 (6 oz) ramekins with butter. Microwave butter and chocolate chips for 1 min. and whisk until smooth. Beat egg yolks and eggs for 1 minute at medium speed in a mixer. Gradually add chocolate mixture in, beating on low speed, until well blended. Sift pwd. sugar and next 3 ingredients together and whisk into chocolate mixture until well blended. Divide among ramekins and place on a jelly roll pan. Bake at 425 for 16 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the outer edge and invert on dessert plates.
* To make Kahlua Java Cakes, skip the instant coffee granules and after whisking in the pwd. sugar mixture, whisk in 1/3 cup Kahlua.

It is now 4:42, and there is still NO ONE awake. I guess I'll go see if that leftover dessert is still in the fridge...

Do you hear what I hear?

My husband and I were talking on the phone as I was getting ready to take Molly to preschool this morning. I was giving him a recap of a little event that happened last week. It was such a small thing, but I kept thinking that it's such a perfect example of how women think and respond vs. how men think and respond.

Here is the scenario:

I walk Molly into school and find the director talking to Molly's teacher. She is telling her (rather firmly, I might add) that she only has 2 immunization records from the whole class, and that they absolutely have to collect those ASAP. I actually had mine at home, because I had read the Parent handbook (as only a good former 1st grade teacher would do!) and noted that the immunization records were required. The part that I wasn't sure about was when they wanted them, because the parent handbook said they were due Sept. 2008, and this class started Jan. 2009. Did they want them right away? Did they want them with registration for fall preschool? I did not know. No one ever mentioned it, so I just held on to mine. I'll call the director "R".

R-(to Molly's teacher) I only have 2 immunization records from your class. They need to get those to me right away!

Me- Oh, hey R! I guess I'm one of the parents that needs to turn mine in. I have it, but I was a little unsure of when you wanted it.

R- (forced half smile) It was in the Parent Handbook.

Here is where I have to stop, because here is what a man hears and what a woman hears is entirely different!

What a man hears: "It was in the Parent Handbook"

What a woman hears: "It was in the Parent handbook....you know, the one that you obviously and ignorantly tossed aside because you are one of THOSE parents! You are obviously a complete moron and unfit to be a mother."

Are you on my page here? I spent the next 4 hours thinking of what I would say when I handed her my immunization form. I also relayed the whole story to 2 friends, just to have some back up! I realize this sounds completely pathetic, and I wouldn't even share such a sad story if I weren't sure that all the ladies out there will know exactly what I'm talking about!

So 4 hours later, I went back, records in hand, to pick up Molly. As fate would have it, the director came down the hall just as I walked in the door. I handed her my form and got a sincere smile and "thank you"! I figured, "Ok! All is well. I'll just explain myself a little bit..." It went something like this:

Me- "Hey R! I'm sorry I didn't turn this in earlier. I actually did read the handbook, which is why I had a copy, but it said to have it turned in last Sept., and since we weren't here then I wasn't sure......"

I stopped there because at this point she has a cold look on her face and I promise she is literally looking straight through me!

What a man thinks: "I'm done here. Cool."

What a woman thinks:" Oh my gosh!!! She thinks I am such an idiot! She thinks I am lying about reading the handbook! I was a teacher for crying out loud! Of COURSE I read it! She thinks I am so monumentally stupid that she can't even look at me!"

I am laughing out loud right now at how RIDICULOUS this all is, but don't you have stories like this of your own? While you think about it, I'm going to re-read the Parent Handbook...

Valentine's and a new blog look

After dropping my 2 year old off at Mother's Morning Out (maybe the greatest idea anyone has had since disposable diapers!) I came home, put my son down for a nap, and thought about all of the things I needed to get done around the house. I just kept right on thinking about those things as I went to http://www.thecutestblogontheblock.com/ instead of actually doing any of those things! I actually sat here and looked through all 350 free backgrounds they have available. Can you believe that? You would think I had a maid, personal chef, and babysitter (all job titles on my resume!). Anyhow, if you need a great, free background, they have lots to choose from!

Valentine's Day is around the corner, and truth be told, I'm just not a big fan. It just seems like a lot of hype. I think most men think it's a conspiracy by Hallmark to sell more cards between Christmas and Easter. I'm not entirely sure I don't agree! I guess I'm pretty low maintenance when it comes to Valentine's. Just give me a/some flowers and I'm fine! In fact, the past several years our Valentine's Day celebration has consisted of cooking dinner "together", which basically means I put the meal together while my hubby stirs something! He loves it, and really, I do too. It's one time when he doesn't get irritated with me for being bossy! (After all, the kitchen is my domain!) We are doing the same thing this year, but this time we have invited another couple to join us (so the 2 wives will put the meal together while the hubby's help each other stir something on the stove...ha ha!). There are 2 things this year that make Valentine's Day a little more exciting for me. One, I am in charge of snack for MMO the week of Valentine's (I'm making a fun snack mix with lots of pink and red!) and I love an excuse to make a fun snack! Two, my daughter has finally started with the art projects, and I LOVE children's art projects! These 2 came home today:

I do not have any idea what this painting is supposed to be of. From this angle I see the vague form of a heart, but that is probably coincidental. I still love it! Although THIS....





...is my favorite! "You're Berry Sweet!" with fingerprint strawberries....I'm a sucker for hand/foot/fingerprint art! And it's handy art too (a bookmark, in case you couldn't tell!)!

Something about these sweet little creations makes all holidays a little more special!

My favorite little artist!

"Not Me!" Monday and another recipe!

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! You can head over to http://www.mycharmingkids.net/ to read what Mckmama and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I have a hard time remembering the week, but I can remember today. And today when I went to the YMCA, I did not forget to bring a extra diaper for my 2 year old. It's a good thing too, because they did not have to come and find me on the treadmill to tell me that she had (ahem) "soiled" her diaper. I did not have to borrow a diaper from the lady on the treadmill next to mine. That would just be so embarrassing, to be revealed as such an unprepared mother!

I did not put my 2 year old down for a nap every day this past week only to have her dance, jump, and chat with her menagerie of stuffed animals instead of sleeping. I do not think that she is trying to give up the only nap she takes every day, which is good because that would not make me want to pound my fists on the floor in tears (I have not seen that act a few times lately!). I do not still think she is the cutest little girl ever, and I do not think she is so adorable with cute, springy pigtails that I want to just eat her up.

Speaking of adorable, my 6 month old is not the most adorable baby in the world. He does not lay in his crib, happily cooing, from 6:30am until I drag myself in there around 7:30. He does not remain the sweetest and most pleasant baby ever, even with a double ear infection and 2 teeth coming in. I'm so glad that I do not do dumb things like heat up his food too much and burn his little tongue. I would feel extra bad since he is so cooperative and sweet!

My husband and I did not get down over some bad news and eat an entire cake in 24 hours. We are much healthier individuals than that, and certainly we have more self control. If that had happened, it would not be this cake from The Junior League at Home cookbook...

Kahlua Cake

1 package yellow cake mix

1 small pkg. chocolate instant pudding mix

4 eggs

1 cup vegetable oil (I use 1/2 cup applesauce and 1/2 cup oil)

1/3 cup Kahlua

1/3 cup vodka

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup water

glaze- 1/4 cup Kahlua

1/2 cup powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350. Combine cake mix, pudding mix, eggs and oil with a mixer until smooth. Add Kahlua, vodka, sugar, and water individually, mixing well. The batter will be thin. Pour into a greased and floured bundt pan. Bake for 50 min. or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes and turn out on a cooling rack with wax paper underneath.

Spoon glaze over warm cake. Cool.

Yep, I sure am glad we didn't eat the whole cake......

Another soup recipe!

It just wouldn't be winter in Georgia if we didn't go from daytime highs in the 30's to highs in the 60's in under 48 hours. I just looked at the weather report for the week, and it looks like we are going from a chilly high of 39 on Wednesday to a balmy high of 60 on Friday! How do we not all have pneumonia? Anyhow, I've started planning my menu for the week and shopping on Saturdays, so I've planned some soup for the cold days. I just have a thing about hot soup on a cold day! I have made this one from Southern Living a bunch, and it's so simple and healthy. It is also so yummy! I know barley sounds a little weird if you haven't had it, but it's great! It doesn't make a ton, but enough to enjoy for a family meal.

Chunky Chicken-Barley Soup
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped carrot
1/2 cup chopped celery
2 cloves minced garlic
2 tsp. olive oil
2 cans low-sodium, fat-free chicken broth
1 3/4 cup water
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. dried thyme
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 cup chopped cooked chicken
1/2 cup uncooked quick-cooking barley

Saute first 4 ingredients in hot oil in a Dutch oven for 5 min. Add chicken broth through pepper. Bring to a boil; reduce heat; simmer, partially covered for 23-25 min. Add chicken and barley; cook 8-10 min. until barley is tender.

A fun, not as healthy bread to go with it, also from SL....

Poppy-Onion Loaf
1/4 cup melted butter
2 Tbsp. minced dried onion
1 Tbso. poppy seeds
2 (12 oz) cans refrigerated buttermilk biscuits

Stir together meled butter, dried onion and poppy seeds. Separate biscuits and dip each into butter mixture, turning to coat. Arrand biscuits standing on side edge in a loaf pan, arranging in 2 side-by-side rows. Brush with remaining butter mixture. Bake at 350 for 25-30 min. or until golden. Cool in pan 10 min.