Developmental Biology on the homefront

We've had some toad excitement around here lately. About a week and a half ago the kids and I found a bunch of tadpoles in this recurring massive rainpuddle we have nearby. It must have been my reward for finally getting out of the house before noon and heading the kids toward the park. So exciting. Anyway, first we realized that their puddle was quickly drying out, so we scratched the park idea and made a bucket brigade bringing them water from our house. Then, we had buckets, so the kids had to scoop tadpoles into them. Sidenote: Alli was really happily playing in the mud with her shovel til I happened to point out to her that she was getting all muddy on her hands and feet and forehead (which I didn't mind). I thought she would be delighted--she was horrified and upset until we went and got more clean water for her and got her hands pristine again. Funny. So, anyway, we brought a bucketful of mud, water, and 'poles home. I think it was to show Mark later; that is the reason for a lot of things we do. I didn't feel a big rush to dump the tadpoles back out, because hey, they were living in a stagnant puddle anyway. And a few days later there was no puddle to speak of. Whenever we'd go somewhere we give the bucket a little turn and our tadpoles were still alive and kicking; plus, some teeeeeny dragonfly nymphs and some spidery younguns were swimming around in there too. Then they got legs!!!! I know, this is very predictable, of course they got legs; but I NEVER can keep things alive (I guess I should just stick to things I can find in stagnant places). Yesterday we poured them out in a shallow frisbee and:

THREE OF THEM HOPPED OUT!!!!!

They were so small, no bigger than a tadpole, just leggy. The rest of them died from the stress of multiple dumps into the Frisbee. My four-year old assistant got a little overzealous--but hey, we kept three alive and we feel pretty great about that. The end.

The apple frenzy continues . . . caramel this time.

I was just going to write about the gloriousness of caramel apples and state my plans to teach four preschoolers how to make them tomorrow. Then I realized that this is just my recent fall apple obsession being extended. They may not look as good as these tomorrow, but I plan to work out the kinks with the kids and make two somewhat like these for Mark and me later. We had a good friend give these to us a few Christmases ago, in lieu of the traditional plate of goodies, and wowie were they zowie! As for tonight, I'm just making myself sick eating too many caramels while I wait for Mark to get home . . . a pretty happy misery.

Oh, and yes, the theme I chose to teach the kids about tomorrow is: apples. Geez, Emily! Johnny Appleseed, wiggling like worms, apple prints with paint, and the aforementioned delights.

Allianna's hierarchy or, a few of our favorite things.

I'm asking Alli all day things like "don't do that" "leave that there" "can I have that please?" when she has something she shouldn't have or is doing something wrong with it. The usual response is a smile, squeal, and a good chance she'll run away squealing and smiling; or an indifferent and sassy "No. no, mom." As in, hmm, that's an interesting idea you have Mom, but I don't agree. Or other times she acts like she doesn't hear me saying anything. So, that is how much respect I get.

However, and this is a massive however, if I mention that what she's playing with is Daddy's, she gets all reverential and agreeable. "Ooh. Daddy's? Daddy's [with awe]." And then she points to it or hands it to me and tells me "Daddy's"--all while nodding her head very authoritatively and soberly ("We definitely can't let bad things happen to something so special, Mom."). It doesn't matter if it's even just a piece of paper. We may have a moment of silence before she utters another respectful "Daddy's." Then she's on her way. There's nothing we agree about more than how dear Dad-O is. ;)

Oh, we also agree that it's fun to window shop pretty things. We were on our own at Target the other day (while the boys were at the natural science museum) and I asked her if she wanted to look for pretty little girl bracelets. "Yeeeah." (in the deep drawn out raspy way she says it). So we wandered the aisles looking for them while she called all the while "Preh-dy! . . . . Wheh ah yooou??? Pretty? wehahYOU?!?!"

This is for Melanie

and for anyone else who knew me in high school or my freshman year. This is what you'd expect for my daughter to wear: thrift store blue shirt and brown pants. Blue and brown, so many options . . . maybe I'll get a better picture later (sorry about the quick webcam one).

UPDATE

The apples are still intoxicating. I nearly fell into the big bin of them at Fiesta and stayed there...

The apples know that fall is coming. You can taste it in them, even in Texas. You need to go out and eat some. Apples get a bad rap for being boring and year-round and reliable, but BABY they're in their season right now! Try a Gala or a Pink Lady or a Jonathan (if you're so lucky as to find one)!!!!!

My ability to detect this may be slightly enhanced by being pregnant--but don't worry, you'll be able to taste it too! You know, if you've ever had real, thick cider, that's a bit of what you'll be tasting.

Some more thoughts

Since Mark's co-workers found out they were expecting their third, they were worried about affording daycare. I really felt for them, as they're both post-docs (just a smidge more income than graduate school). I knew that it must be paralyzing to think of finding another nearly $1000/month. I was glad when Lyn let us know what the going rates were for daycare, nannies, and homecare. We really had no frame of reference, except that we had done the math and 700/month added up to $3.50hr.

I knew that if I brought their baby into our house I would love her. I would do everything to make her comfortable and her parents at ease. I've done it twice before for friends who were working on their masters'.

A big aspect of this is how I feel physically right now. I am barely able to accomplish the most basic things to keep my household together (e.g. being upright before 10a.m., providing my kids food regularly). Things that used to be rote, like doing all our laundry, are Herculean. If I manage to get to the grocery store with the kids once a week, I only have the gusto to get some fresh produce and a few other things. Even that effort slays me for the rest of the day. I'm usually a foodie and love to make a wild variety of interesting nutritious dinners. But take this week for example, one night it was oatmeal and the other it was instant soup and quesadillas.

So the way that it falls out is this: Mark puts in 10+ (often stressful) hours a day at work, then comes home and tries to repower by eating basically vapors for dinner, before spending the night hauling our laundry to the laundromat or going to the grocery store or doing something for church. What would it be like if I managed to take care of even less for our family . . . So I'm not accomplishing much; at home, with neighbors, in any kind of personal enrichment/achievement . . .but, I'm pressing on.

I'm not writing all of this to complain. I love the choice I've made to do what I do during this season of life. I think that for all women it's hard. We measure constantly what our impact is on those around us--and how we can alleviate things especially for those we love.

So, when I entertain this chance to care for our friends' baby, I hope hope hope that I will feel much better by October. But I still come back to a mental image of me carrying the baby in her carrier, waddling with new girth, carrying Alli as well (sometimes), and verbally directing Simon to where he needs to be. All just to get through the parking lot to our car. No elaborating on what navigating the store would be like.

So, here's my last thought. It's just not my season. Case in point: I have a favorite aunt who's having serious treatments for cancer. There's no way I can offer to come stay with her and help--because of my kids and family right now. But my older sister can and has; she's an awesome strong women who has chosen different efforts than me, and that makes her able to help right now.

I want to help other people, I want to love you whoever you are reading this, and maybe someday I'll be able to work for the U.N. too

In the meantime I think I'll tell Mark's friends about the awesome Chinese lady across from us who has adopted my kids like a devoted grandmother.

What would you do?

So I'm wrestling with a decision. One of Mark's co-workers has asked if I could watch their 2

month old baby for a few months. Here are the details of the offer. I'd watch her from 8:30-6:30 (10 hours, yikes?) monday-friday. I'd get $700/month (though I will be asking for more if I really do it). It would be during October, probably not November, and then again for two weeks in December--so not permanent. My kids are barely 4 and almost 2. There are a jillion pros and cons, but I'm just going to open it up to opinions. Am I crazy to consider? Are some things not worth whatever money, or would it be easy street with an immobile sweet thing?

Oh, and yes, of course, I am pregnant. :) Just finished the first trimester (or almost). Been saving a bunch of stories of my prego mindlessness (which will come soon). So that would be a factor . . . though I think sacrifices that will come to my family from one of their own will be different than a babysitting charge, but, a good dry run perhaps.

Any of my local gals want to split the job with me???

Let's get chile! Share a meal with us.

You may like chile/chili, you may not. Regardless, this is your next "Share a meal with us" invite--you are strongly invited. I've made about 7 very different types of chili in our marriage and this the one that Mark gives the "Only chili I can eat without crackers or bread" seal of approval. That means that he likes a chili that is thick and even still he's usually trying to fill up by putting it on crackers. I have dubbed this the Man's Chili, because:
it was created by a man, approved by both my men (received the "My Man ate 4 bowls" award), and is as easy as can-opening; but don't worry it is perfectly feminine in presentation and texture and variety. So without further beaning about the bush (oh hah!) . . .

Marti's Yummy Chile (with my variations)

1 lb. browned hamburger meat (lean) I usually use less
2 cans beef chili (any kind) or 1 large can
2 cans black beans or 1 can, this recipe gets big
1 can kidney beans
1 can white beans or 1 can hominy (that was nice tonight)
1 can Italian tomatoes, diced
2 Tbsp., brown sugar

Brown meat until deep brown. Add remaining ingredients (I rinse the beans to get rid of a metallic taste that only I can detect). Heat to boil. Serve with onions, cheese, salsa, sour cream, etc., whatever you like. Hooray!!! oh, it's good!

HA HA!

It's 7 p.m. and my kids are in bed!

Mark had a 6 p.m. Priesthood mtg. so I started their bath at 6 too; how could I resist???!!!!

Holding my breath for 20 minutes now, just to make sure!

Technical difficulties

I can't figure out why my video's not working now, but here's a link to it! Thanks for making the effort! ;)

See me run!

See me run!

Now, I thought I was taking this video mainly for my parents and siblings. A little walk down memory lane. When I was about 4 I got this green and yellow cassette tape for Christmas. It started with the song "See me run . . ." and I think I listened to it 3x a day and 4x a week (my first exercise program I guess). I had an elaborate routine of how I would run and dance that lasted me the whole tape. So a while ago I decided to sleuth out what this tape was and if I could get one and give my kids some good childhood--and dear Amazon had it. A rare commodity, now on CD from Britemusic and worth every penny. Now, I thought it was rare and part of what made me turn out soooo special; buuuuut, I've babysat two different families this week and I put it on, ready to delight the newbies with its unique fun--and they both already knew all the words!!! I guess we just associate with good stock. ;) Warning: if you were ever exposed to this as a child you will get it back in your head instantly. My mom overheard it briefly on the phone and spent the rest of the day "RUUUnning around in cir-cLES!!!"



Here's to wiggling your torso, taking a bow b/c you knew the answer right away, and going LA LA LA!!!

Now, I'm curious--did YOU know about this album??? Leave me a comment!

Turn on some Tom Petty while you watch this.

We're beach bums. The water's 85 degrees!

We're still alive!

And I'm going to brag about Mark. He's been the one accomplishing things. We found this particle board dresser a few months ago on the sidewalk and he chose the color and transformed it into this: tA DAAAA!!!
And he made a really nice omelet (now, how do you spell that?) all by himself!

Just so you know that our fingers didn't fall off and Voldemort didn't get us (yet) and we didn't melt or get flooded (yet) . . .

Maybe I've remembered how to do this--let's hope there's more to come!

I only have energy for this . . .

A wonderful montage of my newly one-year old niece Zazel Marie. Her parents did a good job (on her and on the montage). Love you guys! Readers, you'll love this! Her dad Adam is my big bro, in case you're trying to sleuth out resemblances ;)

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Monday is not a holy day

So I read this really great article in this month’s Ensign and I committed myself to read the Book of Mormon for 30 minutes a day. This is how it went this morning:

Verses read before a tantrum was being screamed: 2
Amount of time with a child crying: 28 minutes
Average number of children crying: 1.5
Minutes before one child climbed on me: 1
Minutes before both children were on me:5
Minutes before children were trying to hit each other while on me:1
Times I lost my temper before turning hypocritically back to the scriptures: 2 in the first 5 minutes
Minutes before I went and hid (in the bathroom): 8
Minutes before a child was raging outside the door:2
Minutes both children were raging and kicking outside the locked door with the fan on: 2
Minutes into the 30 min that children were deposited into their beds: 14
Minutes into the half hour that I gave up and turned on the computer for this blog: 22
Minutes before Simon came out and gave me a hug: 5

So I don’t feel as guilty as I had that I haven’t been accomplishing very much scripture reading—but this just proves how much our home really needs it . . . til tomorrow—not giving up!

My Harry Potter contribution

Which Hogwarts house will you be sorted into?

Since we're waiting for our book in the mail, and waiting on the movie until our kids can handle being left for 3 hours (or are grown up or it comes out on dvd, whichever comes first) HERE is my contribution to the Harry Potter mania! Our friends found a quiz to sort which house you're in. I was close to being a Ravenclaw.

The Best News

My big bro Aaron and fabulous Amy got engaged last weekend!!!

Carpe Di-worm!

It was a rainy day. We didn't sleep well, with all the thunder. We dragged ourselves out the door to drive Mark to school. We walked back to the front door after, wondering how we would fill this day. When, alas!, there it was:

We watched him for about five minutes and I could tell our day was looking up. The kids didn't really need to go inside and get changed out of their p.j.s; they didn't really need to keep from getting wet. Being the one who's been on the earth the longest, I knew it fell upon me to be the first to touch the worm. I don't mind worms, really, but it always takes a minute to get the guts to do it the first time after a few months (or years)!

Soooo, TX worms are much more muscular and slimey than the Idaho variety. The thing was flopping all over the place like a catfish, getting some pretty good air, and I couldn't get it off the sidewalk. The kids were squealing and would reach down and touch it's belly and all three (two kids and the worm) would go berserk. We ended up helping that one into the mud with a stick.

I locked the front door back up and we spent the next hour worm hunting, mud fishing, and learning to say "worm" in Chinese/Korean/some other asian language: "cho yu-on". We have a neighbor lady who loves the kids and can only say "hi. hi. hi." and "byyye!" She gave them some pretzels, which saved the intrepid explorers, since we hadn't had breakfast either. Simon found another worm pretty early on--"Jimmy"--which he walked around holding as eagerly as he holds my hand. Here's Jimmy in his temporary home--til Simon decided a few hours later that he looked sick and let him go.

A day well spent . . . so far. One of my favorite reality quotes:

"Find joy in your children. Don't overschedule them or yourself. You may not be able to take them on exotic vacations. It doesn't matter. When the day dawns bright and sunny, take an excursion to the canyon or the park. When it's cloudy and wet, read a book together or make something good to eat. Give them time to explore and learn about the feel of grass and the wiggliness of worms." ~ Marjorie Pay Hinckley

***Lest you think all is rosy, a child did cry through the making of the end of this post. I made her food to eat, she just wouldn't have it. Any suggestions for a child that prefers to moan through her mornings, refuse nearly all food, and finally eat and cheer up around noon?

You will need to eat this.

Hello all my dearly beloved. I have something that you need to make this week. You are not supposed to pass this by. It is called Moo Shu Pork Pockets. You are thinking that is a boring title, I know. I passed by it for over a year myself. Desperation and complete boredom with everything I have ever cooked caused me to try it. It has the best ingredients and a neat look. You will be preparing a regular weeknight dinner and then suddenly feel romantical thoughts as you roll the pockets up for your Date. You realize after not much effort that it's going to be really good and the kind of thing people with time and resources and taste make. You make this and your night becomes instantly a Date Night. And I quote Mark (as I set down his plate) "Oh wow, I've been waiting 5 years for you to cook something like this! You've finally done it." [Two disclaimers: 1-He thought it was fried. 2-Mark always raves about my cooking. So for him to put this as the ultimate dish of our marriage . . . big compliment.]

Oh, you are thinking, sure, the grownups will eat it, but a tortilla with bean sprouts and ground pork with gingersnap crumbs and etcetera is not going to cut it for the childrens. So, enter, the Jasmine Rice Sundaes. Also, they should have 1/4 of a Pocket, appetizer style--they'll eat something from it. And they'll be excited that you've given them a sharp implement (i.e. toothpick) without any coercion.

You will need to acquire a few new sauces possibly. But it will be good for your family. Hoisin sauce--this is an Asian dipping sauce that your family needs to have access to starting tomorrow. Also, duck sauce (don't worry, those who are slightly vegetarian inclined like me--its main ingredient is apricots). Toasted sesame seeds. All affordably priced at Fiesta--which is an entirely different endorsement post that I'll make soon.

Thanks Rach--any thing she concocts gets a green light to change things up on our dinner table. Let her take you on some culinary risks!

OH, AND ON CLOSER LOOK YOU NEED TO CHANGE THIS RECIPE A LITTLE FROM THE LINK!: MY BOOK SAYS USE A CAN OF WATER CHESNUTS (drained and chopped) in with the ground pork instead of the cabbage/coleslaw. also, it did not have the cabbage inside the tortillas. hey, you go with what you want, ok?