The good, the bad, and the ugly....

The Good:
1) It is over 65* here, even as I type!! It is beautiful outside and it's giving me the itch to do something productive.  That's always a good thing.

2) I baked a chocolate truffle pie with a homemade pie crust and homemade whipped cream, as well as delicious au gratin potatoes to take to a church teachers' meeting this evening. (don't worry, starving people, recipes will follow)

3) Ruby has been working on cleaning her room (with daddy's help) for about 2 hours now, with NO WHINING! VICTORY!!

4) Looking forward to hanging out with some of my favorite women this evening :)

The Bad:
1) Sam is sick. Again :( For those of you who don't know, Sam has a pretty weak respiratory system and we've been in the hospital twice in the last few months and back & forth to the pediatrician more times than I can count.  He is so prone to pneumonia & bronchitis, always has been, but it seems to have gotten worse over the last year. 
He started coughing and wheezing some on Monday night. I bumped all of his breathing treatments back up to what the Dr. ordered when we came home from the hospital the last time; pulmicort 2x a day, albuterol every 6hrs as needed for wheezing.  He's also taking Singulair every morning.  After three days of full treatment, he was still not feeling well and was still wheezing, so I took him in on Friday.  I was told to keep doing the same breathing treatments, but now to also give him oral steroids every morning for 6 days.  Hopefully that's not long enough to start having some of the side effects, although at his age, I think I'd have a hard time distinguishing between steroid-induced mood swings and his regular mood swings ;)
He still isn't feeling much better and last night his ear started hurting. DANG! Can't this kid catch a break?? Seriously?  We were up and down all night and then this morning he started running a fever. BOO!  I hate this for him.  I'm going to give it a day or two and see what develops once the steroids kick in.

2) I just found out my dad has another month or so to work in New Orleans on this movie.  I'm a little bummed; I'm really missing him lately and so are the kids.

3) Money is still beyond 'tight.' Eric is working on building a table for my aunt and it really is turning out nice, but it's not finished yet.  This is the longest we've gone without 'steady' work for Eric (since October).  He has often thought of just starting to build cabinets and furniture full time, and this might be as good a time as any, I reckon.

The ugly:
1) The pile of laundry in the corner of my bedroom. That's all I'm going to say about that.

2) My homemade piecrust. It tastes pretty stinking good, but boy is it ugly!

3) My hair; it looks like I combed it with a pork chop right about now.  I think everyone would appreciate it if I finished this up and took a shower sooner than later.

That about sums it all up.  Now for a picture of the aforementioned truffle pie with an ugly (but tasty!) crust:

I don't know why my mad crimping skills failed me today, but they obviously did.  Also, I think I need to work on my 'food' pictures.  They never look nearly as appetizing as they do in real life.  Here's the recipe:

Your favorite pastry crust recipe for 1 pie crust

Filling:

12oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped,

     or 1 (11.5oz) bag bittersweet chocolate chips

1 stick unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

3 lg. eggs

3/4 c. heavy cream

1/3 c. sugar

2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp kosher salt

Follow instructions for your pie crust (or use refrigerated--GASP!!)

Heat oven to 350*

Transfer crust to 9" pie plate.  Crimp edges

Prick bottom of pie dough all over with a fork.  Refrigerate for 15 minutes.

Line dough with foil or parchment paper and fill with pie weights (HINT FOR BIRTHDAY GIFT FOR ME! FEB 29!!) or with dried beans, which is what I do.
Bake until crust is firm, about 15 min.
Remove foil and pie weights (or beans), return crust to oven and bake until golden brown, about 15-20 min.
Let cool completely

Meanwhile....
Melt butter and chocolate in a heavy saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring until smooth
Remove from heat and let cool 5 min.

In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, cream, sugar, vanilla, and salt.  Add the chocolate mixture and whisk until fully incorporated.
Scrape into cooled crust and bake until filling is puffed and set, but still slightly trembles, 30-35 min.
Let cool completely and serve with (homemade!) whipped cream. 
If you use Cool Whip on this, I probably won't talk to you ever again.  You've been warned.

Let me just mention that this is VERY rich.  Even the most devoted dark chocolate lover will only need a small sliver.... or two ;)

Ok, now for the Au Gratin potatoes:
These are really easy and so very good.  The ultimate comfort food.
3 lb. potatoes, peeled and sliced in about 1/4 slices
5 Tb butter
6 Tb flour
4 c. milk
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 tsp salt
dash (or two) of cayenne pepper
2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
1/3 c. grated parmesan
+ enough cheese to sprinkle on top
*I also like to use some smoked cheese when I have it on hand.  This time I used smoked gouda that I had left over from my potato soup.

Preheat oven to 350*
Boil potatoes until just tender.
Drain and rinse with cool water
In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat
Whisk in flour and continue to whisk for 1-2 min.
Whisk in milk and add garlic
Season with salt and cayenne
*Trade in your whisk for a spoon or this could get messy!
Stir in cheeses
Add potatoes to sauce and stir to mix evenly
Pour into a 9x13
Sprinkle cheese on top
Bake 45 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly on a foil lined baking sheet (do yourself and your oven a favor and don't skip this part, just in case!)
Let stand 5 min. before serving

Now for the crazy kid quote of the day.....

me, looking for something to nibble on in the kitchen: "I'm a hungry, hungry hippo!"
ruby: "No you're not, you're the goodness hippo!  You just take all the goodness and give it to everbody else and what do we have left to eat here, huh? You're the goodness hippo!"

hmmmm. Do I really walk around gobbling up all the goodness?  I need to work on that, I guess.



Snow Day, Round 2

Ok, I realize I just posted a blog but right after I posted it I went outside to check on everyone & this is what I saw:

Eric actually MADE the kids a sled :) He waxed it so it would go fast and the kids are having the best time! Well, truth be told, so is Eric:



I love this man :) This is something the kids will remember forever.

Round 2 is over and I've got 6 kids at the table with a loaf of bread, a jar of peanut butter and jellly, a bag of chips, a basket of clementines, and a box of capri suns fixing their own lunches while their clothes dry. Again. Thinking now that there's a sled involved, round 3 is a definite possibility.  I may even get out there on it, although there will be NO pictures to prove it.

Snow Day!

You know, snow days aren't so exciting for homeschoolers.... unless there's actually snow! Today, there is snow! Ok, so it's actually more like white ice. Horrible (and painful) for snow balls, but the kids are having a blast. 
The three of them woke me up at 6:30 to tell me to look outside. I told them it was just ice and proceeded to pull the blanket over my head.  They apparently went out into the living room and went back to sleep waiting for me, the poor things.  So, at 9am I got them all ready to head outside.  Keep in mind, we are in Louisiana.  It doesn't snow much here & we're not entirely prepared for it when it does.  Eric grew up outside of Buffalo and I grew up in KY, so we've both had our share of snow days, dressed like the poor kid in A Christmas Story.  We had snow boots and waterproof gloves and snow suits.  My kids have hoodies and flip flops.  The each had on 2 pair of socks, 2 pair of pants, various layers of tshirts, long sleeve shirts and hoodies on the top, and hat & gloves.  Eli was outside for all of 10 minutes before he asked me to 'warm his gloves up.'  HA.
I called them in about 30 minutes later & had everyone strip down to a dry layer at the door (including various neighbor kids).  I put everyone's wet clothes, shoes, gloves, etc. in the dryer and fixed oatmeal, cinnamon toast & hot chocolate for all.  By the time breakfast had settled and toes had thawed, warm clothes were coming out of the dryer, ready to be donned again for round 2 of 'The Snow Day.'
As I type, there are 9 kids with Eric 2 doors down at my daddy's trying to rig up some sort of 'sled.'  And by 'sled,' I mean something flat to tie a rope to that they can pull eachother down the street on.  We have no hills to speak of here.  Louisiana, remember?
I'm waiting for them to all tumble through the door with bright red cheeks and noses, icy fingers and toes, and soaking wet everything  giggling about who fell off the 'sled' the most.  I'll strip 'em all down and fix some soup while their clothes dry again.  Maybe we'll do a round 3 if they're up to it.  They might be over it by then; they are southerners, you know.
I am enjoying a quiet house while it lasts, with a fire going and a dog curled up next to me.  I think I only have a few more minutes of bliss left before the aforementioned 'tumbling through the door.'
Here are some pictures from round 1:

Football-a-Palooza

Well, the football birthday party bash was a great success (if I do say so myself)!  Everyone came except for one friend who has the flu.  I prayed for beautiful weather and we sure got it! It had rained for days before the party and had been getting down in the 20s at night and not much better during the day, but God must like football (or little boys' birthday parties...... or maybe it was the cake?) because it was 56* and sunny and perfect!  We started getting everything ready early that morning and, true to form, I put off decorating one of the cakes until the last minute.  My future step-mother's father (that's just a weird mouthful for me and one day I'll blog about why..... not today) came up for the weekend and taught Eric his famous 'Jambalaya for 100' recipe.  Eric had gotten a rather large cast iron outdoor cooker for Christmas and was anxious to break it in.  They sure did it right! It was delicious!  Here's a shot of Mr. Bernard and Eric watching the pot earlier in the day... Oh, and Eli showing off his new pocket knife :( That's what you get when you let DAD take them to spend their gift card at Bass Pro! I would've talked him into something a little less SHARP, like a nice life preserver or a sleeping bag or something...

So, everyone got there and the boys were all eager to start the game, which was fine with all of the adults; that meant we could eat first and in peace :)

I made some 'jerseys' for the visitor team and Eric told them they looked like a bunch of lunch ladies, to which one little boy answered, "That's right! And we're gonna' serve 'em some MEATLOAF!" I don't know what that means, but it worked because the visitors won :)  That was Eli's team, so he was happy about it.  I made a referee's apron-type thing for Eric to wear and, bless his heart, he wore it! He organized the whole game :) I love him.  There were about 25 boys playing and everyone of them played well with others.  Some were friends from church, some were from the neighborhood, some were homeschool friends, some were on our football teams but they all got along and the only cross word I heard came from one of mine when he told the referee (aka dad) that he needed new glasses :)

I wish I had gotten some pics of the cakes..... but, alas, I did not. One was chocolate cake with chocolate frosting shaped and decorated like a football.  The other was two white sheet cakes put together and decorated with a disgusting amount of green frosting to make a football field. 

The boys had a wonderful day!  I got to thinking about it and neither one of them has ever had a party like that before.  Sam has had some big parties with lots of kids and games, etc. but it's always been to benefit whatever cause was on his heart; he never wanted gifts, he wanted donated items like pet food one year, bibles the next, etc. and Eli has NEVER had a birthday party before this!  I know, I'm a horrible mother..... But I think I redeemed myself after this weekend.  The boys were just blown away by the gifts they received; they didn't expect it at all, which was so sweet and just made it even better to see their faces light up!  So, all in all, a great day :)

Happy Birthday to my one & only ELI!

Oh, man... I think this is harder than the day Sam turned 11.  I realize 8 is younger than 11 so technically, he's still closer to 'being my baby boy' and that's usually what makes me (any mom?) cry on birthdays, isn't it? It's a reminder that they are moving further and further away from climbing up in your lap the minute they wake up in the morning or dancing with complete abandon in the middle of a crowded lobby.  Eli told me he wouldn't dance in the kids' church talent show the other day. "You mean in front of people??" he asked, incredulously.  He's growing up :( It's a sad day when he won't do the chicken dance in front of the camera anymore!

Eli doing his famous chicken dance

Where to begin the story of Eli?  This is the boy who broke my heart and then filled it up to overflowing.  He is one of the funniest people I've ever met and the BEST cuddler.  His little skinny body just forms to mine like a puzzle piece; like he was always meant to be a part of me.  He came into this world weighing in at 9lb. 13oz. and looking like a boxer.  Did you know they sometimes still use forceps during a C-section?? I had no idea until I saw my little bruiser's face! He was born in January, just like his brother; he was a big baby, just like his brother; he was a boy, too... but he was NOTHING like his brother.

Eli on the slide at City Park

tasting hummus for the first time

Eli was an easy infant..... up until about 5 months or so.  Then he turned against me.  Apparently I was just the hired wet nurse.  He tolerated nursing, but REALLY didn't like for me to hold him. Or look at him. Or breathe his air.  He only wanted his daddy.  If Eli was in bed with us and woke up to see me first, he'd bite, kick scratch & scream.... He only wanted Eric or, if that wasn't possible, his Poppy (my daddy).  My mama and I were shunned and it broke our hearts. 

Eli naps on Poppy



Eli was easily frustrated and spontaneously violent.  He was a biter and Sam has the scars to prove it.  I remember when he would bite Sam, I would tell Sam to bite him back and Sam would cry and say , "But he's my brother! I don't want to hurt him!"  Sam was young and apparently hadn't been bitten hard enough yet. Eli was a late talker, which added to his frustration. I took him to have his hearing tested and it was fine.  His comprehension was off the charts, but he couldn't form the sounds to communicate.  I tried to teach him signs as a baby, like I did with Sam, but he was much less receptive to the idea.

Eli, looking like a hobbit

He always had this sad face :(

 So, there we were... The tide started to turn, however, right before hurricane Katrina.  I had enrolled Sam in preK-4 and Eli & I had more one on one time. It was just what we needed.  Then came Katrina and we all evacuated to my aunt's house further north.

Eli & his Aunt 'WallyLou' (Aunt Marilou)

 It was there that Eli really started to be happier.  I got him into speech therapy and it helped SO much.  We did it for a year, until Eli flat out told me one day that he was "tired of this place, tired of this lady, tired of these games!"  So we quit.  But, he had come so far!  Being able to communicate effectively had greatly improved his temperament. 

Eli is a pure joy now.  And he likes to sit on my lap now, too.  That helps :)  He is fiercely loyal; he may get frustrated and fuss at his siblings or his BFF across the street, but no one else better look at any of them the wrong way or Eli will jump right in there (usually throwing punches, but we're working on that).

Eli & Sam

Eli & Ruby

Eli & Ruby

He means business

 He has an incredible memory, which is why he does so well on our Junior Bible Quiz team (JBQ).  He is always the top quizzer when we have a tournament and rarely studies.  He is hilarious, but at times when he is just being himself, not really trying to be funny.  Under all of that silliness though lies an unexpected wisdom, which, as the Word says, begins with fear of the Lord.  His faith is strong and he is bold and I have no doubt that the Lord will use him for great things.  He hasn't let himself be 'spoon fed' our faith, either.  He questioned everything!  He told me a couple of years ago that he wasn't sure he wanted to be 'saved' because he didn't want to make promises he wasn't sure he couldn't keep.  Wow! After much discussion and praying, he made a conscious decision to follow Christ.  His own decision.  That's huge at 6!

Eli, unlike his older brother, would eat cookies all day long if I'd let him.  He told me once he couldn't wait until he was 18 so he could move out and eat all the Lucky Charms cereal he wanted and drink sodas all day long. If given the opportunity, he would eat marshmallows until the second coming.

mouth full of redi whip

Do you see the pure joy on his face?? The boy loves his sweets.

So, to wrap this up (because I could go on forever......) we are having a joint football party for the boys tomorrow.  They can't wait; they both eat, sleep & breathe football.  Eric's going to paint a football field in my daddy's back yard, we're going to have chili dogs and nachos and have a full game of 2 hand touch (much to Eli's dismay... he really wanted to play tackle).  I've got a lot to do to get ready (like make jerseys for the 'visitor' team and make 2 cakes). I just hope the rain holds off and it's not too terribly chilly....

mean green

Here are a few more of my favorite pictures for your viewing pleasure:

Eli the garden gnome

Eli studies penguins

Summer fun

Christmas elf

Eli

ready for a change....

Well, actually, I've been ready for a change since we moved into our house almost 2 years ago.  A change in the wall color, that is.  And complete removal of the schnozberry wallpaper in the dining room (see here)

Now, I'm sure it was LOVELY when the previous owner put this up.  I'm sure.  But, since the day I looked at the house, all I can think when I look at it is "The schnozberries taste like schnozberries!"  I was reading a very talented friend's blog, Juggling & Jellies, and have gotten re-inspired to do SOMETHING up in here.

I have had a color scheme in mind for a couple of years and every now and then I'll come home from Lowe's or somewhere else with a paint department and have my chips.... and they're ALWAYS the same! They may be a different brand and have a different name, but they're always the same colors.  And Eric always said the same thing: "Oh, no! Are you serious? It will look like a Mexican restaraunt!"  Until...... He and I were window shopping one day (and I don't mean shopping FOR windows.  I mean we were broke and just looking around) and, once again, I was looking at paint chips and picking out the same ones when, lo and behold, he opened one of the 'suggestion' pamphlets from Behr paint and THERE WAS MY COLOR SCHEME!  All of the chips I held in my hand were displayed beautifully in one home right there in living color! And it was beautiful!  And Eric agreed that it wasn't so bad after all. :)

So, since that day, I have been drooling over the pamphlet and 'my colors.' But I haven't done anything yet for a lot of reasons -- time, money.... you name it.  But I'm getting an itch and the only way to scratch it is with LOTS of color!!!  I was trying to find an image online of what I found in the booklet.. but I can't so just trust me; it's awesome!

In the mean time, I'm just waiting for the day when I can get rid of the schnozberry wallpaper and coming up with some more projects for ' The List.'  I wanted to make some floor cushions for  the living room so the kids will stop pulling the pillows off of the couches and throwing them on the floor and making the dog think they're fluffy beds for her.  I found this tutorial for floor cushions over at Living with Punks and I love them! I'm not thinking nautical.... but something more 'moroccan.' I love her blog, she has some great tutorials that are easy to follow.  I also want to do a slipcover for our (ratty but functional) ottoman and maybe our couches.  I don't know, that's pretty daunting.  I look at patterns for couch slipcovers and start twitching.  It's all Greek to me.  I have some other ideas that mostly require Eric's carpentry expertise (like a REAL sewing center, complete with cabinets and shelves and everything a girl needs to sew) and a coffee table.  Of course, that's pretty far down on his priority list.  Getting back to work is first.

Ok, I guess my 'blog time' is up.  Everyone is really quiet. Nothing good can be happening back there, I'm sure of it

I think I'm going to start adding a favorite kid quote of the day at the end of each post.  It's amazing what goes on when they think no one is watching or listening. I think Sam, at age 11, is only beginning to doubt the existence of my 'third eye' on the back of my head.  The other two still believe whole heartedly.  I want to keep it that way. 
Don't get me wrong, I have great kids.  They are always well behaved in public which, let's face it, is the most important time to behave. They usually do what I ask when I ask with very little whining.  Usually.  My biggest issue with all three of them right now is the bickering, teasing, and name calling.  It breaks my heart that they do things to aggravate or hurt each other on purpose.  I know people will say, "well, that's just how kids are!"  But, I don't think that's any excuse.  I think that's a cop out.  I have tried to get it through their heads that our home is our safe place.  Our family is our sanctuary.  We can get hurt and angered enough in the world; we don't need that here.  One of my pastors once put it something like this: Love protects.  When you love someone, that person can share their fears, their passions, their pet peeves, etc. with you and your job is to protect them from those things, not use them against them.  He was talking about marriage, but I think the same ideas apply to any relationship.  I don't know why they don't get that....
Ok, that's my soapbox for the day :) Now for my favorite kid quote of the day!

This was over heard while the kids were having lunch:
Ruby (age 5) ~ "You know, Uncle Matt and I are a lot alike.  He likes the smell of gunpowder and I like the smell of hotdogs."
WHAT?!?
Here's one of my favorite pictures of the girl so you can put a face with the quote: